The new Balance Data Slate was released today for Warhammer 40k 9th edition and my beloved Dark Angels Deathwing list took a beating.  If you don't have the codex, the fourth bullet point was the rule that gave Inner Circle infantry units, like Deathwing Terminators, Transhuman Physiology. Basically, the key feature that most players loved about the list.  Rest in peace, Deathwing, we hardly knew ye. Also, what a crappy way to write that rule?! Why not simply include a sentence that says, Inner Circle models do not benefit from transhuman without use of a strategem? I know 10th edition is supposed to be cleaner and easier to understand, but this does not bode well. I'm not really a loyal Dark Angels player (see what I did there?) so I'll just shift back to playing one of my other Marines armies or orks. I've been day dreaming about a Thunder Warriors army again and dug out some bits to work on conversions. I'm loving the idea of a Age of Stryfe White Scars/Star Hunt...

  The Salamanders homeworld, Nocturne and it's moon Prometheus, during the "Time of Trial." Both are classified as Death-Worlds by the Imperium. Once every Nocturne year, or 15-Terran years, Prometheus' orbit causes catastrophic geological events on both planets, causing the population seek shelter underground or in large shielded areas to survive. I just ran a Photoshop tutorial on painting planets and I decided to make my favorite chapter's homeworld. I hope I did it justice!   

I just realized, as I post this photo, that I forgot to give him a "crimson fist." Fluff fail. #miniaturepainting #oldhammer #crimsonfists #spacemarines40k #grimdark #Warhammer40k #warhammercommunity #new40k #28mm

Into the fires of battle, unto the anvil of war!  Here's the rest of my first squad of Intercessors for my Salamanders army, the Hellbenders.  I've been day dreaming a lot about creating my own custom or homebrew Space Marine chapter. I certainly have enough models to build an army out... but I've also been thinking about how cool Celestial Lions would be to paint. AND If really like to make a "grimdark" version of an army and I can only figure out how to combine two out of three of those things. The gold of the Celestial Lions doesn't seem to be gritty, weathered, and chipped.  A custom army would be nifty, but I can't decide on a scheme that doesn't already exist, like Raptors, Thunderwolfen's Soul Haunters, or Caphminipainting's Nurgui Ghosts. Maybe I'll alter my White Scars?  #miniaturepainting #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #warhammercommunity #salamanders #salamanders40k #new40k #spacemarines #astartes #intercessor #badabwar

Games Workshop and the Warhammer Community team have let leak a few of the changes coming in Warhammer 40k 9th Edition - hashtag NEW40k. (I say let leak, but they really are featuring the new info to whet our appetites.)      This is a look at one of the new new mission briefs, and at first glance, I like the approach of focusing everything off the center of the board or battle grid. I think that will go a long way to creating a "level" playing field when combined with the fixed position of the objective markers. Players, especially new players or non tournament players, will have a little more flexibility when they set up their first battlefield whether it's on a kitchen table, Foosball table in the basement, or a folding table at a FLGS. Also, note that there is an additional secondary objective, in this case, Surgical Assault. I'm speculating that most of the missions will have additional rules like this example and I feel that this will help create that "forg...

Kastelan Robot pressganged into service of the Pilgryms of Erudition.  Designation unknown. 

"I fawt fo da Empawah!" #warhammer40k #paintingwarhammer #spacemarines #new40k

I'm disappointed in the 9th edition of Warhammer 40,000 announcement. First, I think it's too soon on the heels of the fantastic 8th edition. The constant updates after the Herculean task of releasing all the codexes was phenomenal! It may have been the most balanced game that Games Workshop has ever had.  Second, the 400 current items getting a price hikes sucks. It's already an expensive game and frankly, it's too much. Now I also need to buy another set of rules and likely codexes, annual updates, Chapter Approved, cards, etc.  Third,  the new models don't look "grim dark" (except for the Executioner.) The style guide has been thrown away.  There are a couple of standout models like Ragnar Blackmane from the Space Wolves army but the generic "locked down" poses of the Primaris marines has made the formerly character filled models very bland. I feel like quitting and putting my junk on Ebay.  I don't know... maybe. Maybe it's just a bre...

Add caption I finished the subassembly of my termite assault drill from forgeworld. I've never had a model this big (especially resin) be so easily constructed, and the flash was minimal! My techpriest is waiting for the spring rain to stop to begin priming.  #warhammer40k #forgeworld #termite #admech #mechanicus 

An ancient brother from the Crimson Fists. He is sporting an unapproved gasmask, possibly due to local battle conditions against rogue traders. #warhammer40k #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #spacemarines #crimsonfists #crimsonfists40k #oldhammer #roguetrader

Just another of my ork repaints for my Death Skulls clan. As you can see from the battle damage to his helmet, he was shot in battle. Luckily, he was hit in the head.

I have been repainting my ork army from when I first started 40k. This lad didn't have any arms so he got a pair of more recent limbs that are way out of scale. However, when painted, I think he kind of works. In my mind, he's the warband's pushup champion. #warhammer40k #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #orks #40korks #40kork #oldhammer #miniaturewargaming

This is my new tech priest engineseer converted from Blackstone Fortress' Taddeus the Purifier. His pistol has yet to be fired. He will likely join my Forgeworld, The Pilgrims of Erudition or be seconded to my Astra Millitarum force. #warhammer40k #paintingwarhammer #grimdark #blackstonefortress #techpriest #admech #astramilitarum #conversion #mechanicus #gamesworkshop #inquisition #inq28 #28mmminiatures

Thunderfire cannon, techmarine, servitors for the Hellbenders. The servitors have recently upgraded their programming from "interference" to engineering" for battles in the ITC warzones.

Brother Sergeant of devastator squad armed with grav cannons and delivered to the battlefield via drop pod.

Salamanders Centurion Squad 3 from the company known as the Hellbenders. #warhammer40k #paintingwarhammer #citadelminatures #grimdark #gamesworkshop #centurions #inq28 #spacemarines #salamanders40k

Chaplain Tigos is known for ordering his troopers to follow the blue flame of his jump pack to guide them to the heart of the enemy ranks. #warhammer40k #paintingwarhammer #salamanders40k #grimdark #inq28 #chaplain40k #Badab #armageddon

I got a game in with Jim from the FLGS I used to co-own and brought my White Scars for a change. One of the models I recently added was the Invictor Tactical Warsuit - one of my favorites in the new Primaris line of Space Marines.  Even with only one game under its belt, I think this beast needs some weathering and badging. I've got the 'ol White Scars icon on the shoulder, but I need some red scars to break up these white panels. 

I've been spending more of my time on Instagram lately for my social media needs. I've been fixated on improving my painting skills, rather than writing or playing the game, and I've found that the simple act of taking photos and looking at the model not under my desk lamp has really helped my technique. Also, the feedback from painters of all skill levels has been very helpful and is pushing me to improve my craft. Also, while airbrushing is a great skill, Darren Latham and Duncan Rhodes are my current luminary idols. Latham especially is fantastic at breaking down some steps and his delivery is hypnotic. That being said, here's a recent photo dump of some recent and ancient models in my "portfolio." Is there an app that can cross post directly from Instagram to Blogger? The Captain of my Astral Claws army, the Bastards of Badab, who usually strolls behind my vehicle line. The Lieutenant of my Astral Claws army, the Bastards of Badab. He is moc...

Chief librarian Boer of the Grey Knights company assigned to the protection of KS-34. I really hope the Grey Knights get a boost in the new Psychic Awakening books. They really only need a conscript unit to use as frontline troops, in my humble opinion. I'd like it to actually be Grey Knight "troops" as opposed to allied Imperial Guard to keep the purity of single codex armies.