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.

Yep, I'm still watching and can't wait for "finished" photos . A painting night, that is a very good idea... I wonder if any of my local group would be up for such a thing. Would be good for motivation / encouragement, I think

 RiTides wrote:
Yep, I'm still watching and can't wait for "finished" photos . A painting night, that is a very good idea... I wonder if any of my local group would be up for such a thing. Would be good for motivation / encouragement, I think

Those recurring nights are great. Most of us in the group are father with young childrens. We can't really get in stores to play early like younger folks do, as we need to take care of the families before having our free time. We're lucky as one of the local store stays open really late, usually until we're all ready to go, as most of the staff just join us in painting. So we set-up a day, early in the week so it doesn't interfere with job's 5-7, or familiy dinners, which all usually happen Thur-Fri anyway. We get at the store between 7 and 8, and stay there past midnight. Great time for painting in group, and for a game once in a while. We call them Oldies' Hobby Nights.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Third pour done. The picture is at half-cured state. Once dry, the river should appear darker. The resin contracted again a lot, but this time, I think I'll leave it like that. I fear that if I put more in, it will overflow through the lines between the tiles. So the river is probably done. Now, I'm only missing the accessories, that should be painted tonight.

Wip53 - Third pour


Here is a question for the "after" of the board. It might be easier to visualize on other pics, but I wonder if I should make a background for what is the back of the board in this picture. Something to cover the "hole" that is the tunnel entrance, and the chasm where the river passes. I have a painted backdrop in mind, to give the illusion of continuity.

Any opinion/comment on that idea?

I don't think it suffers without a backdrop. Most tactical games did not have backdrops to ellude to further distance. In battle, as far as you were concerned, the world did not exist beyond your battlefield.

We've tried doing painted backdrops and it is a lot of work. Not saying you aren't up for it, but its very easy to do it wrong.

A basic black backdrop would work pretty well I think, but all in all, I think you've earned a rest!

Speaking of this, Misk... idk if I'm going to be able to get the EFT table done for GenCon, I don't have the cash monies

 miskatonicalum wrote:
A basic black backdrop would work pretty well I think, but all in all, I think you've earned a rest!

Yeah, I think that too. It's a future project, not something I would do this week.

Rest wise, I'm taking a week to finish stuff before putting the house on sale, but after that, I need to jump on the next project. I have a deadline for this one, and I'm really happy for the couple of long weekends coming soon here.

 Alfndrate wrote:
Speaking of this, Misk... idk if I'm going to be able to get the EFT table done for GenCon, I don't have the cash monies

Speaking of Gencon, I'm still looking for someone making the drive down there from Montreal, but if I do find someone, you'll have my table to help out.

Looking forward to that next project

As for Gencon, We've got the big heavy board.. but I'd prefer to use that as a secondary table. I'm hoping to have 2 EFT Demo tables and 2 Brushfire Demo tables at the booth, just gotta see if we can get another 2 Popup tables.

 Cyporiean wrote:
Looking forward to that next project

I'm sure you do.


Automatically Appended Next Post:

 miskatonicalum wrote:
Amazing work. I love the little vein of crystals (even if it takes a bit of fluff twisting to explain in the setting )

Matt, I've been meaning to ask you to elaborate on the part in bold, but forgot to until today. Care to give some details? I've skimmed over the fluff section a couple of time, but was waiting for the final version before doing it thoroughly.

It's a really beautiful table Tonio! Backdrop wise I agree with what's been said already although it might be nice to see how it looks with a simple black backdrop just to fill the gaps so to speak. That might even be more aesthetically pleasing than trying to trick perspective with something painted? Worth testing out I think.

I took the table out for our hobby night yesterday. There is some small stuff to finish, but the board was still ready for a go.

I won't do a full battle report, as it was a massacre, which is not that interesting to read. But I took pictures, and those ARE interesting. Models are from Super Dungeon Explore, while I wait for my KS pledge to get here. Their relation to the classes we played with from Endless are a bit vague, but I was going with what I have painted, and I also only have a single set of cards given to me at Templecon to use (thanks againg Cyp ), so no double take on classes or equipment. The stack of bases in the middle is the objective, as we were playing the King of the Hill scenario.

Let's just say something quick before the pics: I'm REALLY happy with how it turned out.

I want it... I want it so much...

Is this something you can also use with Super Dungeon Explore? I'm guessing not with the set "missions", but with other scenarios.

Can't wait to see some Endless models on it but I think a fantastic grid-based board like that will always have a use . Amazing work!!

 RiTides wrote:
Is this something you can also use with Super Dungeon Explore? I'm guessing not with the set "missions", but with other scenarios.

Straight out of the box, no, it doesn't fit. The game tiles (12x12) are quite important in the game, even more when you get to the last extension, where you can turn them during play. But like you mentioned, it could easily but customized to play with it. I know we plan on doing it.

I think OTL would like to hear your battle report, or at least any opinions on the rules.

We're in the midst of doing our next pass on the EFT PDF and would be glad for any critiques or insight!

On Topic: The board looks great with minis on it. Great job Tonio! What size did the board end up being? Did the game feel appropriately sized for the number of minis/board size?

Whoa, it really lifts another notch when you see models on it! Endless fun to be had!

 Casey's Law wrote:
Whoa, it really lifts another notch when you see models on it! Endless fun to be had!

I get it!

Don't lie! That joke was so subtle and witty no one will ever see it!

What joke?

Better...

Sorry about the derail Tonio.

 miskatonicalum wrote:
I think OTL would like to hear your battle report, or at least any opinions on the rules.

We're in the midst of doing our next pass on the EFT PDF and would be glad for any critiques or insight!

On Topic: The board looks great with minis on it. Great job Tonio! What size did the board end up being? Did the game feel appropriately sized for the number of minis/board size?

I'll try a quick BR then. I don't remember all items and commands, and didn't take notes, so it's probably not fully accurate. We were playing King of the Hill.

I had, deployed from the back of the board to the bottom: Archer, Rune Fencer, Cleric a couple square back, Dragoon, Pugilist

My opponent had, in the same order: Sorcerer, Thief, Templar, Alchemist, Berserker.

First turn: everything move up a bit on both side. I misjudged distance, and the sorcerer do an Ice blast on my Archer, for some damage. The Dragoon Jump. The Rune Fencer got to the objective, giving me 2 points.

Second turn: The dragoon get in the back of the sorcerer, but whiff his attack, then move to the other side of the pillar with On the bounce. The archer, instead of shooting the sorcerer, do a AoE 2 down in the melee to tag the Thief and the Templar, but I only do a point on each. The sorcerer then get behind the Dragoon (forgot his Teleport command) and one shot him with Ice Blast. The Rune Fencer revive the Dragoon, staying close to the objective. My opponent gets 2 models in b2b with the objective, giving him 1 points.

Third turn: Archer take a shot at the sorcerer, but only a point of Damage. The sorcerer re-kill the dragoon. The Pugilist finally reach the flank, and attack the Chemist in the back, but doesn't do a lot. (There is a trend going on...) The berkersker attack the Rune Fencer and push him back, making him close enough for the Thief to get in his back and finish him. The Cleric is still too far to contest the objective, but shy try her big attack on the Berserker, for nothing... 2 more points for my opponent.

Fourth turn: The Archer try another AoE down the bridge, but once again, do almost nothing. The sorcerer then kills him. The pugilist reach the Templar, and for once in the game, I roll good and one shot him. Berserker attacks the cleric for some Damage, while the Thief begin to chip at the Pugilist. 2 points for my opponent.

Fifth turn: The cleric try her big attack on the Berserker again, to no avail. She then fall to his axe. The thief get in the back of the Pugilist and finish him.

Results: I have 3pts (2 from kills), and my opponents have 19 (10 from kills).


Comments: the game was fun, even if we were both a bit rusted. We also played aggressively, not really keeping stuff behind, as we were restricted on time. The limitation on classes and items was a bit hard on party selection (we played with only the cards from Templecon, which also mean we might be playing some stuff not up to date, as I didn't double check before the game.

It seemed strange to us that the Archer got Jump 3, while the Thief only had Jump 2. Sure, the Archer is a kind of forest Ranger, but the Thief should be able to move more easily. He got stuck a couple of time, not reaching where he wanted to go because of that.

The board was huge. 10 spaces between deployment is fine, but there is no need for 5 squares of deployment, and the 20 squares wide were never used. I need to play some more, but I would probably suggest a bit smaller board for 10 Crystals. 16 or 18 would be big enough for that size of game.

In scenarios other then Skirmish, should we continue the game after a party wipe, to count the right objectives points? Or does a party wipe gives you the game fair and square?

 Tonio wrote:

In scenarios other then Skirmish, should we continue the game after a party wipe, to count the right objectives points? Or does a party wipe gives you the game fair and square?

Hrm, that's something to think about. Coming from Malifaux, I like the idea that I could still potentially win the game even if I'm tabled, and I think that is something we thought of while designing the scenarios. I'll have to discuss it with Matt.

I'd say in other game scenarios that kill points would be used in tiebreakers only. Otherwise every game is a skirmish AND another game type.

On the Thief....after review of the stat line....It has lower stats than it should. Its too late to reprint the first line of cards, but the book will be fixed. It was supposed to have more ITM than the Archer, because of Mug. Thanks for pointing that out, and thanks for the quick review of your match.

Edit: On further review! The final cards for the Thief have ITM 3. So they are equivalent in power, but different from the Archer. These aren't Garret or Ezio. No parkour for them, but their pockets are deep!

Tonio, I request turn-by-turn pics for next time . I'm guessing you're just using the SDE figs for now, right?

In exchange, I have cookies...

 RiTides wrote:
Tonio, I request turn-by-turn pics for next time . I'm guessing you're just using the SDE figs for now, right?

In exchange, I have cookies...

I have them, in fact. But they are top down pics, and doesn't look as good. That's why I skipped adding them. But for cookies, I could go back and add them...

For SDE, yea, I'm using them while I wait for my KS minis to get here. Also, those are already painted, so I limited myself to them to have better looking pics.

I think that was smart... can't have unpainted minis on such a fantastically painted board!

And I think you're right, isometric / from an angle pics look best (I've discovered this from bat reps, too)

I worked on my Conquistador conversion during the weekend (a three day one up here in Quebec), but to no real results. I discovered that the metal used for the Conscripts has a tendency to break more than bend. Also, when it breaks, it's not a nice cut, but two jagged ends that need filing, pinning and resculpting. After three breaks just for the legs, while trying to simply adjust their angle a bit, I gave up. It will be less work just sculpting new ones in the end.

 Tonio wrote:
The board was huge. 10 spaces between deployment is fine, but there is no need for 5 squares of deployment, and the 20 squares wide were never used. I need to play some more, but I would probably suggest a bit smaller board for 10 Crystals. 16 or 18 would be big enough for that size of game.

I spoke to my opponent about that during the weekend, and he has the same view as I had. The board could be smaller by a square or two all around, giving 16 or 18 squares wide boards. Either that, or adjust Move and Range on all models to be able to make use of the space. I think 20 squares would work nice once we get to 15 or 20 Crystals.

Are they resin? Did you try heating them? Wehrkind has told me in the past that if I want to bend that material I need to heat it up.

 RiTides wrote:
Are they resin? Did you try heating them? Wehrkind has told me in the past that if I want to bend that material I need to heat it up.

The conscripts are still metal.

 RiTides wrote:
Are they resin? Did you try heating them? Wehrkind has told me in the past that if I want to bend that material I need to heat it up.

WHO SUMMONS ME?!


Heating sometimes helps bend metal too, but generally if they are breaking really rough, like with a grainy texture inside, you are pretty much hosed no matter what you do. I think that's a question of the metal composition and how hot it was when poured, though don't quote me on that. It's been a little since I studied metallurgy.

Table looks great Tonio. Seriously, you really outdid yourself.

 Wehrkind wrote:
Heating sometimes helps bend metal too, but generally if they are breaking really rough, like with a grainy texture inside, you are pretty much hosed no matter what you do. I think that's a question of the metal composition and how hot it was when poured, though don't quote me on that. It's been a little since I studied metallurgy.

That's how it looks, yep. I know I had the same results when I casted my own pieces year ago. Luckily, I didn't really have to bend anything at the time, and since then, the casting cauldron has been used only for flat stuff anyway. I do use that trick with plastic and resin thought. I have a cool (I think) Rök conversion for my Trollbloods that only need painting which used that method.

Wehrkind wrote:Table looks great Tonio. Seriously, you really outdid yourself.

Thanks a lot. I agree with you, it's really a outstanding piece fro stuff I did previously. I just hope I'll be able to get the same result on the next one.

By the way, I forgot to mention it, but I also worked on the accessories last night. Two barrels done, 1 bucket almost done, wood done on the 4 pike/shovels. Depending on how long my Dystopian Legions take at this evening gaming club night, I might have enough time left to finish them. I only have to do the content of the bucket, the metal parts of the 4 tools and finish the base for the barrels' tile. So it seems like I will probably be able to take and post final pictures this week.

Accessories, I didn't even think of that! They sound fun and should round things out very nicely

 RiTides wrote:
Accessories, I didn't even think of that! They sound fun and should round this out very nicely

I finished painting them yesterday, and sadly, apart from the group on their own base, they don't really look good on the board. :( I think it is probably the fault of the different scale and style. I'll take some test pictures tonight to gather your opinions on that matter, but I might be leaving them off in the end.

I also put some water effect around the rocks that pierced the water, and that's another case of not so great looking mod. It doesn't look terrible, just not as good as I thought it would.

Tape walls for the river went away too. I just have some touch up to the exterior paint to do, and after that, it is really over. Final photoshoot this weekend.