Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Call him 'Eftarm and call it a day!

Great blog! You inspired me to get my sister involved in painting, she's 13.

Btw Your MW are coming along nicely as well

Thanks F4... both blogs have been very rewarding to do, and I'm really glad this one seems to be filling a need. They take a LOT of work though. Some times I think I spend more time yappin' than paintin'.

Fix that tonight. Our local shop has a kids night every Friday and I want to get those terminators "in the bag" in time for Thing 1 to field the fully painted figs. That means I need to do the eyes and some of the edge highlighting tonight, so he can practice/finish the edge highlighting on his own tomorrow and do the basing. Then we move on to one or two projects with thing 2... THEN I get to go back to my Mantis Warriors... can't wait... I'm just so cranked up about them. Maybe I can sneak in some late night building of the Vanguard prototype....


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Eftarm.... I just got that... after what... 9 hours??

OK. Figured out the prob with the nob. Gun arm is indeed a nob arm... he's just got a subluxation of the right shoulder, same as I do. (For the non-sports injury savvy out there... that means he's stretched the ligaments holding his arm bone and shoulder bones together, which once stretched... never un-stretch). In other words his right arm is loose in the shoulder and hangs lower than the other arm. In OTHER words Thing 1 didn't glue them in the same positions. So I did a little green stuff work. It won't win me any sculpting prizes... but once it's painted I don't think it'll be noticeable. All I need do now is drill the gun barrels and this puppy is ready for priming!



Finished my part on the termies tonight (eyes)... the rest gets kicked back into his court for tomorrow. Hopefully he won't have too much homework.

Thing 1's terminators are finally finished!

We shared the flocking, washing and static grassing duties, and I can't tell which are his and which are mine. Thanks for all your help everyone... 1 unit down... a dozen to go!

Don't forget to paint the rims! But damn, those are excellent.

Done. How on earth did you see that from the photo??

Think we'll do the assault cannon termie next... though I think he wants to do his ork Nob first.

I honestly cringed every time I saw one of those old terminator models. I can honestly say now I am quite pleased with the result. I would play against that army any day of the week. It is painted much better than some of the stuff I play against.

Today's project... building a better gaming table!

We (both boys and I) tore apart a half-a**ed attempt at a model RR set up and turned it into a new 4x8' gaming table. Landscaping it so it basically looks like a giant version of one of our bases, minus the largest rocks as they might interfere with figure balance. The boys and I hope to play a game tonight... Orks & Eldar vs. my Mantis Warriors... IF the table dries. Right now I've got a space heater cranked up in the vicinity of the table in hopes in encouraging the process.

So the battle reports will look a bit different from now on. We still have a lot of work to do on it. I want to put wooden edging on the table and a big shelf underneath for terrain... perhaps even dice trays. But for now, it's a big step up over the spray-painted piece of plywood. Thing 1 helped with the painting (his first experience using a roller) and the flocking.

Wow, absolutely amazing terminators . Your son is talented. Also there's a great website that's full of tips on how to make good terrain at http://www.terragenesis.co.uk

@pie : Thanks for the tip... I'll be certain to give that site a good long look.



Well, when I started this thread I promised that I'd be talking philosophy and there hasn't been a whole lot of that. Now that there is a pause in the action (for reasons which will become apparent) it might be a good time to kick something around.

At this point... I expected to be writing up a battle report for our first battle on our new gaming table. As you can see I am not. "Why?" you might well ask? "Because" says I, Thing 1 and Thing 2 were at each other's throats all weekend finding any excuse they could to hamper, irritate and hurt one another.... and I finally got sick of it and "grounded" them both from 40k for a week. No games, no painting, no computer games (DOW) and no discussions about it. Nada. Can't control what they do at school of course, but once they're home it's a taboo subject for the week. And they'll be "aware" of the loss of it because I'll be painting and getting ready for a tournament this weekend.

So, I was wondering what any of you other dads (or kids) thought about using access to 40k as a disciplinary tool. In this case 40k had nothing to do with the problems they were having, but it is something they care about and taking it off the menu will get their attention without any hitting, screaming or other unpleasantness on my part. So it's not that I'm really singling out 40k... I could use access to anything they enjoyed as a way of helping them realize the negative consequences of poor behavior, but since they both love 40k, it's kind of a natural fit. I'm not asking for your approval as that would put you, the reader, in an awkward position. I would, however like your honest opinion as to if you think 40k is fair game as a disciplinary tool or not... & perhaps a bit of reasoning as to why you make your choice.

Gitsplitta
"bad daddy... no biscuit!"

I think it's very apropriate, I learned in that way when I were younger that my parents took something from me or restricted me from doing the fun stuff. (I'm 17 atm if you wonder) but the point whit this is that I think they will learn to behave beter in the future, at least i did back in the days lol

Good luck with it.

I have a friend who is having trouble with his boy at the mo and we are planning on using the opportunity to do some model painting at the local club day as an incentive for good behaviour. The chance to paint and learn 40k with the older guys is something that he has been wanting to do for ages and should help alter his attitude..we hope!

That's a good point Blackhand, and I do use 40k to reinforce good behavior as well. Case-in-point. "If you guys stay focused and finish up your homework before dinner... *after dinner* we can play the next turn of our 40k game." Participation in our local shop's weekly "do" for kids, or a kids tournament is also good incentive. Plus as I've mentioned before, the kids both have jobs around the house to earn money to buy their own gaming supplies. This works better with the 9-year-old than the 6-year-old... but it does work.

My parents have shot down my younger brother from playing when he got bad grades. They used to do the same thing with me and videogames, tv, anything else they could think of. There is a critical point where once you "ground" them from everything, there is nothing else to stop them from being "RLB"s, as I was called. I was a, well, not good, kid.

I think you really shouldn't have qualms about it. It's a good system, as long as one doesn't go too far. My parents use it to take away my *in a Gollum voice* PRECIOUS... WORLD OF WARCRAFT, and i'm not totally screwed up. Thing is that even though I get angry at the moment I eventually realize that it's not in my best interest. However, be sure it doesn't turn into a cycle where they just behave for a bit to get their privileges back, and then go and misbehave once they have it back. Also, a good idea is to lecture them for an hour about team spirit. It's like brainwashing, only better...

Just a kid's eye view...

Problem with lecturing... like anything else... is that if you get too much of it, you shut it off mentally. My father used to lecture me endlessly on a variety of topics & it got to the stage where whenever he talked it was like one of the adults talking in the Peanuts cartoons (whaa wha whaaaa whaa).

So, the boys do get occasional lectures, but I try ti mix them up with other types of things so the lectures don't lose their punch.

As far as children and hobbies go, this is a very interesting thread.

My child is 2. He likes to help me paint. I got a bag of plastic army men that I plan on priming for him to mess with. That way he will have a chance to have his own and it won't cost me a fortune. In the future, I think it is something we'll all be able to enjoy as a family.

@lorana: Most of the figures in my older son's space marine army are hand-me-downs from me or gifts (also second-hand) from friends. Not quite as economical as a bag of army men... but generally the same idea. And at two... your son won't care, he just will know he gets to do something cool with toy solders. Kinda like us adults in the hobby... *grin*


We did start our game before the boys got in trouble... if I think about it tonight I'll post a pic or two. They each had 1000 pts (orks and eldar) vs. my 2000 pt Mantis Warrior army. Playing on an 8' table is kind of fun because distance really starts to matter, mobility and weapons range play the type of roles that they don't usually do on a little 4x6 table. Even at 2000 pts per side... it just looks to me to be a more realistic looking deployment because there are empty spaces on each side of the board that are not filled with figures. Given that however, we all took basically foot-slogging armies. Go figure... Thing 1 has 1 battlewagon, Thing 2 has one wave serpent and I've got a couple of drop pods... that's it for "transports".

We set out 5 objectives. One in the middle of the board and two in each of our deployment zones. At game's end (random) you get...
5 pts for middle objective
1 pt for each of your own objectives that you hold
3 pts for each of your opponent's objectives that you hold.
And 2 pts each for headhunting the oppositions commanders.

Thing 2's Eldar are spread pretty thin... I'm not too worried about him unless his avatar, wraith lord & banshees get into assault range... hopefully I'll have shot up 2 out of 3 of those units by turn 3. It's Thing 1's 75 orks with Gahzgull (sp?) that has me worried. I have a lot of stuff in reserve... which is OK as it gives me a lot of room to maneuver, but if it doesn't come in on time... I could be in big trouble.

The table is really nice to play on though... seriously, if you're playing on a piece of plywood (like we were) or felt... you need to fix up your gaming surface. Ours took about 1 hour to do total... both kids got to help and it cost maybe $25 in materials and supplies.

pie_2054 wrote:However, be sure it doesn't turn into a cycle where they just behave for a bit to get their privileges back, and then go and misbehave once they have it back.

I figure that a reasonable punishment carried out as promised works way better than a severe punishment that you don't carry out or an indefinite punishment that gets lifted "when they start behaving." It also works best if you emphasize cause and effect: "You and your brother didn't get along with each other, so no 40k for X days," rather than "No 40k for you two until you learn to get along." Adding positive reinforcement along the way helps too: "I'm glad to see that you two are getting along so well. Keep it up, and we'll play a game as soon as your grounding is over."

Very wise advice.

For your game did you let them split a FoC or double up on your? That way its more like 2v2 or 1v1 rather then 2v1 (and all the advantages/disadvantages tha go with it)

They split the FOC, but really I didn't have to force it on them, they each took 1 HQ, 2 troop, 1 heavy, 1 elite with Thing 2 taking a FA choice as well (and maybe Thing 1 did as well... can't remember off-hand). Together the orks and eldar make a formidable force. Neat thing is they're picking their own armies... Thing 1 uses Army Builder himself, just leaves an extra 100 - 200 points for me to add in the subtle things he sometimes forgets (wargear, upgrades, etc.). Thing 2 just tells me what units he wants with what kind of weapons and I do the rest.

I'm using these games to experiment with my Mantis Warriors (as well as having fun playing with my boys)... while the army in this game isn't quite it... I think I've hit on a really good build. Probably not "competitive" in an 'Aard Boyz sense... but should look very unique and be fun to play under normal circumstances. The trick is to work in enough of my "signature units" to really make the army stand out... which of course is tough because the signature units are mostly veteran squads that are quite pricey. Know I can do it with 2000 pts... think I can do it with 1850. Not sure about 1500... but maybe. I'll have to hammer some things out on Army Builder and see.

Can you give me a link to the army builder you use? I don't want to get a virus, thanks in advance.

http://www.wolflair.com/

This blog is by far one of the most intersting ones i've come across - it's a pleasure to see the handover of the torch to the younger generation. love the thoughts, pics and battles. please don't stop.

Cheers,

Kensei

Lol thats soo fuuny I hope your boy becomes an awesome gamer


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Lol thats soo fuuny I hope your boy becomes an awesome gamer

This thread continues to entertain.

Can't wait to see how that table progresses.

As far as kids and discipline, I know my youngest is really loving to "play warhammer with dad" at the moment,and it has become a good incentive to get him to do certain things or as is often the case with kids: stop doing certain things...

Lists...

Mantis Warriors (2000 pts)
HQ: MoTF
HQ: Chaplain in termie armor
Elite: Sternguard (7) w/ 2 meltas, Srg w/ plas pist & PW
Elite: Venerable Dread w/ MM & CCW, drop pod
Elite: Terminators (5) w/ CML & 2 CF
Troops: Sniper Scouts (10) w/ ML + Telion
Troops: Sniper Scouts (10) w/ HB
FA: Land Speeders (3) w/ MM
Hvy: Devestators (8) w/ 4 ML
Hvy: Dread w/ TL-LC & ML
Hvy: Dread w/ TL-LC & ML

Bad Moonz (1000 pts)
HQ: Ghazghkull
Troops: Slugga Boyz (30) w/ 3 BS & nob w/ PK, BP & EA
Troops: Shoota Boyz (30) w/ 3 BS & nob w/ BC, BP & EA
Elite: Burna's (12) + mekboy w/ KMB
Hvy: Battlewagon w/ Zzap Gun & 2 BS

Eldar (1000 pts)
HQ: Avatar
Elite: Banshees (5) + exarch w/ PW & both powers, WS w/ TL-SCn, spirit stones
Troops: Dire Avengers (9) + exarch w/ PW & SS, both powers
Troops: Pathfinders (5)
FA: Vypers (2) w/ BL
Hvy: Wraithlord w BL, 1 flmr, 1 S-cat (just the model I have)


Termies, Land Speeders and Venerable are all in reserve... everything else for both sides starts on the table. Marines win roll and elect to go first.



Deployment as follows...



Red arrows indicate the objectives, with the longer red arrow pointing to the center (5 VP) objective.

Your Kids are REALLY talented! keep up the good work guys!

Thanks guys, the boys are talented... but mostly enthusiastic... I think that makes up about 90% of it.


OK, well... until the "hammer of justice" came down, we'd only done my half of turn 1... so I'll do that now.


I don't have to take a pic of the table because nothing really changed... I'd formed a gun line (which I can't remember doing before under the current set of rules) so I kept my behinds right where they were so all my "heavy" weapons could fire. There was a lot to be concerned about... the burna's and Ghaz could be in my face on turn 2, not to mention the banshees, with close support supplied by the two huge boyz mobs and the dire avengers. And I didn't want those pesky vypers roaming freely around the table popping my dreads.

So, starting from my left... my first priority was to disembark Ghaz and the burnas. This was facilitated by some very lucky rolling on the part of one of my fire support dreadnoughts, which hit, penetrated and blew up the battlewagon with a lascannon shot, killing 3 burnas in the blast. Telion and the two sniper squads on his flank then opened up on the surviving passengers, killing 3 more and putting a wound on Ghaz. On the eldar side, one of the scout squads opened fire on the Vypers, stunning them. The dev's fired at the Wave Serpent, knocking out the main turret (but certainly not what I had hoped for). The remaining snipers and the sternguard opened up on the pathfinders, hoping to hit the eldar where they were weakest... scoring units... and in spite of the pathfinders great cover save in the ruins... 2 went down to the concentrated fire (sternguard rounds that ignore cover help considerably).

Just one shot to share... Ghaz and burnas looking rather forlorn in the crater left by the exploding Battlewagon. Great crater by-the-way... made by Dugg. Comes in 3 sizes (LR, Rhino & Dred) and the rims are made so that you can easily stand guys up on them... really makes them useful as gaming aids, and the look great on the tabletop!



I apologize for the condition of the burnas & Ghaz, they were all either picked up off the net with no time to re-paint, or hastily assembled for 'Aard Boyz. They'll be finished by the next battle report.