Games I Play

I've been an on-and-off gamer for most of my life. Most recently I've gotten back into D&D. I play a 3.5 campaign with some friends in CA, and DM a 4E campaign for three of my kids (ages 8-12) and a few of their friends. I've only been into 40k for about two years, and have mainly been trying to figure out how to paint the little buggers.

1. Warhammer 40k
2. Dungeons & Dragons 3.5
3. Dungeons & Dragons 4E

Modeling/Painting Works in Progress

Having very little artistic skill, coupled with an incredibly shaky hand makes for an interesting painting experience. That being said, I find it to be a rather relaxing way to spend an hour or so with the kids in the evening.

1. Space Marines
   
   After collection a couple of AoBR sets for the Orks, I ended up with a few left-over Space Marines. My son thought it might be nice to have a "Guest" army in the house, for Newbies who might want to learn how to play the game. With that in mind, we started assembling our first Space Marine Chapter. I've posted a few pictures of my efforts to get this army painted up over in my fledgling Gallery
   
   
2. Orks
   
   My son and I got into the hobby with the BfM set a couple of years back. I ended up building a Tyranid hive because it was fairly cheap and pretty easy to paint (if you have low standards). I decided to pick up some Ork boys at the GWS just to try something new, and by the time the AoBR set was released, I was hooked and started building up an army. Shortly there after starting that set, I visited the new Phoenix Games store and took a short clinic on how to use Greenstuff. My artistic skills are horrid, but I started practicing by making little "snot sleeves" for the Orks. Given that they're Bad Moonz, I figured they'd like a huge fancy handkerchief to blow their noses in. Being Orks, I figured having a large, flamboyant sleeve covered in snot would be the way to go. My first batch of sleeved Orks didn't turn out too great, but I'm still learning. They're also posted in my Gallery.
   
   
3. Lord of the Rings (Starter Set)
   
   I found this boxed set on sale at a local comic book store, so we bought it and assembled them in an afternoon. My youngest son (9) particularly enjoyed the Goblins, so we're hoping to paint these guys up and start fleshing out armies for The War of the Ring stuff sometime soon.
   
   

40k Armies

About two years ago, my oldest son and I wandered into a GW Store at our local mall, and we started playing 40k. He eventually picked up a Tau army while I built up a Tyranid hive. The AoBR set led me to start an Ork Army as well, and I've also started a Space Marine chapter, just because we had the bits.

1. Tyranids
2. Orks
3. Space Marines

The Stores I Frequent

1. Phoenix Games, Buford, GA
   
   Ken is responsible for getting me and my sons into the 40k hobby. He ran the GW store at the mall, and we went first wandered in he was very welcoming, friendly, and extremely informative. He helped us get excited about the hobby, and was always happy to hear about our progress and invite us into the shop for games. About a year after we started gaming, he and Matt (also from the GW store) launched Phoenix Games - it's a gorgeous store just a couple of miles from our house. If you haven't visited it, I highly recommend it. Feel free to read my Opening Day "review," for some more info, or checkout their website.
   
   
2. The Gaming Pit, Lawrenceville, GA
   
   I suppose this store is more interesting to the really hard-core Magic players, but we frequent it for the stock of D&D paraphernalia including rule books, dice, and a great selection of the collectable miniatures.