Some done stuff

 Over the two weeks I have painted some stuff for all of my current projects (28mm 15th century, Battletech, and 40k). As you will notice it is all sloppy, but I care not. The older I get the more I care just about a hint of personalization, and tabletop ready

1st) A vile Rhino for my sick old men army (i.e the Death Guard for 40k)

2nd) The last infantry for my Mark Smylie Artesia inspired 15th century 28mm Armyu 

3rd) A Thudnerbolt for my Battletech 

Fourth Game at Atlanta: Battletech At Level UP Duluth

 

Last Sunday I played my second game in the ongoing Level UP Duluth Battletech campaign. My characte Yang Tomaras was lost ,as he was pushed over the edge of the map, while making a last stand to give time to others to escape. Brave but Stupid. Jolly good show, and will continue with a new character. 

Third Game in Atlanta: Warhammer 40k Imeprial Guard vs. my Death Guard

 Some pictures from my third game in Atlanta, which pitted my Death Guard against Imperial Guard. I lost 40 to 100 VPs after a nice game. 

Update on Hobby Plans and Budget for 2024-2025

"Edited post as I learned both my hobby stores have rechargable gift cards" 

 Our move to Atlanta, cost us lot of money, and despite having now two incomes we will be a bit under pressure for two years (after care costs for Zoe, a car for Ceren, double rents in September, health costs etc).  This requires a realistic re-assessment of the budget for 2024-2025. First of all I sold a couple of things

1)      Sold my Tau Combat Patrol. While it gave me good games at Elko, I felt I had played it enough. The money from the selling were used to buy paint supplies and the BattleTech Clan Invasion Boxed Set

2)      Sold the still in box Space Marine Scout Team and Sentinel. Used the funds to buy BattleTech A Game of Armored Battles boxed set.

Second, I closed all my Patreons, Crunchyroll, and even my support for the Wargames Website. While this hurts me, I need to prioritize the hobby.

I essentially have three gaming opportunities. Once a month BattleTech (ongoing campaign), once a month Warhammer 40k (Incursion level games), more infrequently historical gaming. Considering this I decided to just focus on each of these three areas.

For 2024-2025 my projected budget and plans are

1)      Warhammer 40k, Death Guard. Add a Rhino for my Incursion level lists (65 USD). My existing collection is now fully painted. I have more than enough for the Incursion level games I will be playing.

2)      BattleTech. BattleTech Universe Book (50 USD), paint my remaining miniatures from the existing two box sets. These are more than enough for games of Classica Battle Tech and Alpha Strike.

3)      Historical.  Finish my 28mm 15^th Century Western European Generic force. This will require buying movement trays (20-30 USD). No action on the rest. If my mother in law brings me my 10mm ACW I will need to decide whether I sale them for hobby funds, or rebase for Altar of Freedom. If I rebase I might still sale as a Altar of Freedom complete package (rules, scenarios, armies). We will see. I do have my Battle of Gribomvo 1897 set up and miniatures. I do need to get mats for To the Strongest (60 USD) and want to buy War and Conquest (50 USD)

4)      Other hobby matters: Money to spend at the stores when I got to game (5-10 USD, twice a month 120-240 USD a year minus the stuff I buyt from them). This will cover hobby supplies.

5)      As much as I want to go to a convention, and Atlanta and the area are rich with them, I will have to decide on the fly. I probably would go to Siege of Augusta (so assume another 150 USD for a same day visit)

Total: 385 to 535

Progress on projects: Death Guard and Battletech

 I reached a couple of mlistones since coming to Atlanta. First I finished my first Battletech Lance. The "Evzone" Scout Lance of the "Hellas Heteriea" Company of the Free Worlds League. 

And I finished the last (for now ) of my Death Guard from Immatierium Gods , giving me a second squad. 

Second game of the year in Atanta: Warhammer 40k! Sisters of Battle vs. Death Guard

 My second game in Atlanta was at Challenge Comics and Games, were I played an incursion level game of Warhammer 40k with Drew. Drew fielded Sisters of Battle and I fielded my Death Guard. My first two turns were rather bad, as I lost my Plague Marine squad to the firepower of the Sisters. But once they were close, I was able to get my blood back. My Hellbrute for the first time did great, killing an immolator and a sisters squad. But by turn four I was left with two units to his remaining five. My Hellbrute died and exploded taking with it my Deamon Prince. Thus a defeat, but a good game! 

Assorted pictures in more or less a correct order from deployment to turn four. 

First game of the year at Atlanta: BattleTech!

 I got my first game in Atlanta. I was lucky to be permitted to participate in an ongoing BattleTech Campaign that meets once a month at Level UP-Duluth. I played my Shadohawk (pilot Yang Tomaras) and were part of a mercenary company that was seeking to liberate a certain item, and capture a certain person from the enemy. We were quite successful and won with no mech losses, and with two kills to our group. All in all a great experience, and a big thank you to our GM and my fellow players. BT is definitely a different animal than 40k  or my usual historicals, but playing it in this form was quite fun and a good way to get the hang of it. 

The campaign included three maps, and I played in one of them. Pictures below 

The map I played on.