Bolt Action Test Models and Deathwatch Showcase

Greetings, folks! Bob here with a brief hobby related update. A substantial winter storm recently moved through the South East and smote us with snow and ice shutting down my little corner of the world for the better part of a week. I managed to finally get around to painting a test model for my Germans and Americans for Bolt Action. I also got some good WIP shots from my friend Scott who I got those Cataphractii from a while back. He was looking for bitz to get a Deathwatch force going and I was able to get him well on his way via a rummage through the old bitz bag. Give his models a look. They are more than a little kick ass!


German Heer Early War

American Airborne Mid to Late War

Scott's Deathwatch WIP

Bolt Action battle No.2 and what I have been painting.

Howdy, folks!

This past Friday I got to get my second game of Bolt Action in. I decided to take my American Airborne force this time for another 500 point match. Check out Da Masta Cheef's blog for a battle report.

So what are my thoughts on a Paratrooper only army? Well, to start off let me say that rolling fairly shittily again did indeed factor into my thoughts on the force I fielded. I was outnumbered practically 2:1 (as Airborne should be), but my dice allowed me none of the heroics of 101st or 82nd. The very clear advantages of fielding a all veteran force is the high leadership (10) and the 5+ required to wound them. The very clear disadvantage is the possibility of being heavily outnumbered. I think the main issue I had in fielding this formation was not being aggressive enough. I also probably should not have taken 2 almost full squads. Fire teams would have been a better option in hindsight. Just some things to think about for the next go around. I am really enjoying Bolt Action so far though. I can't wait to get some more games in!

Now for the second part of this post. While things have been fairly hectic lately, I have somehow managed to finish a few models. I recently got 3 Death Guard Grave Warden terminators through trade, and in a fit of productivity I managed to clean off the Death Guard iconography and get them painted up as part of my growing Iron Warriors.

I also finally finished up the Empire Greatswords I had been working on.

And here is a random Halberdier I decided to paint up on a whim.

Cheers folks and happy gaming!

Getting in to Bolt Action

Howdy, folks!

Bob here with my first thoughts on the gaming system Bolt Action from Warlord Games. The company includes a slew of ex-GW folks from what I consider the "good old days" and their miniatures are of pretty good quality. They also have rule sets for other historical periods including Biblical, Classical Greece, Roman Empire, Dark and Middle Ages, as well as Pike and Shot and the Victorian Era. Go check their website out through the above link!

 Just to give a brief run down, Bolt Action is primarily centered around 28mm platoon sized actions during the Second World War. Infantry and infantry support (machine guns, mortars, artillery, etc) are the primary focus of the action with armour relegated to a supporting role of one Tank or SPG (Self Propelled Gun) per side. Transports and scout vehicles are a more common site on the battlefield, however. Many of the major and minor combatants of the war are represented with models and rules with multiple formations available through faction suppliments. For example, the US has access to regular army units, airborne, and Marines with unique rules and stats for each. Game play follows a random activation order for unit (a marker is chosen at random for a bag or cup) rather than a "you go, I go" system like 40k. While inflicting casualties is of course an important part of the game, the real focus is accruing pin markers on units. Pin markers represent the volume of incoming fire a unit is taking. Each pin marker on a unit lowers the base leadership of the unit resulting in the unit being required to take moral and leadership checks on a reduced value. This reduces the chances for a unit to successfully perform their assigned action.

I recently got to play my first  game with Da Masta Cheef ( check out the battle report ) at the FLGS. It just happened to be the first game ever for both of us. We agreed to a 500 point game (one of the standard point limits) and rolled for a random scenario. I used my early war Blitzkrieg German force and he used a British Home Guard army list (in this case represented by humanoid aardvarks). My first impressions of the game were extremely positive. The random activation order provided a tactical challenge as did the ever changing pin markers on units. We also learned that forward artillery and air observers can be incredibly deadly for both damage and weighing units down with pin markers. Da Cheef has a full battle report on his blog so hit the link above to check it out. My only comment on the whole game is a resounding "fuck you" to my bastard dice.

So what are my goals for this game? I plan on doing an Early War German army force of mechanized infantry with a tank (Panzer III or IV) for support as well as a Mid to Late War American Airborne force based around the famous 101st Airborne Division (I like Band of Brothers, so sue me for lack of originality). Eventually, depending on what the interest level proves to be at the local shop I may also add a Early War French Army force. Right now I around 500 to 600 points of Germans and Americans respectively. Nothing is painted so far so no pictures of my models for you.  

Happy gaming!