Two worlds

My (ir)regular RPG group has played a lot of superhero games in our day, and over time I've bought a bunch of Heroclix figures to use in those games.  Depending on what they have available, I've placed orders with two main places, Troll and Toad and Popular Collections.   

Years ago, as detailed HERE, I ended up entered in a contest at Troll and Toad through an order I made, and didn't realize there even was a contest until I received the prize along with my order.

Great!  

More recently, this past August, Popular Collections had a Heroclix related contest up on Facebook.  I entered as a lark, and managed to win!  Great!  I sent them my information and waited.  

And waited.

And waited.

I don't keep up with when the various Heroclix sets come out, so figured it might be an issue with that.  Looking online, I saw that the set in question came out some time ago, so I contacted them again, figuring it somehow slipped through the cracks.  Things happen, no worries.

So again I waited.

And waited.

And contact them again, they again say it will be right out, then nothing.

Sigh.  

The prize itself isn't even a big deal.  I'm not out any actual money, like from an order that wasn't shipped, but it makes me concerned that if I did have a problem with an order, I would similarly wind up in eternal customer service limbo.  Add to this that in the contest someone else had mentioned that they were still waiting on a prize from an even *earlier* contest, and it seems unfortunately to be a pattern.  It's just disappointing to be promised something and repeatedly let down.

(Facebook messages, with address info removed)

08/19/2016 12:30pmJames

Wow! Thanks so much for the Heroclix prize! Go Black Manta! My address is XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

08/19/2016 2:32pmPopularcollections.com

Congrats James! We have you down and your brick will ship when the Joker's Wild Set is out. Have a good weekend!

Jan 31st, 11:37pmJames

Hi, I just wanted to check on this Joker's Wild giveaway; I have not received anything or heard any more since August. Thanks!

Feb 1st, 12:14pmPopularcollections.com

Hi James, Our apologies as this should have been shipped months ago. I am checking our shipping records right now to have this figured out for you. No matter what we will get you your Brick of Joker's Wild! I will be in touch by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Thanks, PC

Mar 9th, 7:28amJames

Hi, hadn't heard anything back. Thanks.

Mar 10th, 4:20pmPopularcollections.com

Hi James, I spoke with Shipping and went though all records and cannot find record of the shipment which is very strange. I just submitted an order with one of our suppliers and we should have the Joker's Wild Brick in house by mid next week to ship. Until then if you have any questions please email me at any time. Thank you. PC

Popularcollections.com

P.S. Could you please let me now your shipping address?

James

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Tue 11:06pmJames

Hi, any word on this? Thank you.

So...Troll and Toad.  Great site.

UPDATE 04/10/17 - Rather than send me a brick, they've given me a code for credit on an order.  That'll probably work out better anyways as I tend to like the various common figs, and this'll let me order from various sets.  We'll see how the order goes...

UPDATE 05/24/17 - So nothing came.  I got an automated notice on 04/26 saying it had shipped, but without any tracking info.  I emailed 05/17 asking for a status and tracking info.  On the 20th they said they would look into it that weekend, then nothing.  Tonight I disputed the charge and they refunded the extra amount I had paid beyond the credit.  So, not out anything anymore but a very disappointing experience.  

So again - Troll and Toad, great site, check them out for any Heroclix needs you may have, plus they sell a variety of other gaming items.  Collectible figures, cards, RPGs, board games and more.  I fully expect that you'll have a great experience.

Looted Post

Saved for a deeper read later, perhaps others will find it useful too - great post on tools and resources for conversion work.  Check it out!

Recalcitrant Daze

No Honor among Traitors - Chaos Space Marine campaign idea

With the recent Chaos Marine releases - Traitor's Hate, Wrath of Magnus and now Traitor Legions, there are likely a lot of players looking to get started with new Chaos Marine armies.  I had some thoughts on a campaign to let you build up your army along with its narrative over time and give you some modelling inspiration along the way.

NO HONOR AMONG TRAITORS

This is a Warhammer 40K escalation campaign/league focusing on an aspect unique to Chaos Space Marines - the Chaos Boon table.

Warbands: All armies must be chosen from Codex: Chaos Space Marines, including such supplements as Traitor Legions.  If the characters involved have the Champion of Chaos rule, it should be OK.  So armies of Khorne Daemonkin for example do not have this rule and should not be used.  Armies may not include a Daemon Prince unless they have had one ascend through the Dark Apotheosis result from the boon table.  Decide if you want to allow allies, especially non-Chaos Space Marine allies for your campaign.  

Boons of the Dark Gods:  The Chaos Boon table is central to the campaign.  Champions are vying against each other for power in the Eye and the favor of the gods, and this table is how that favor is bestowed.  Unlike in regular games where the benefits of a boon fade after a battle, here the boon is permanent - assuming the character survives.  

If a character has a Gift of Mutation, roll for it the first time the character is fielded and note that result for future games as well (again assuming the character survives).

If a character with existing boons is killed during a game, after the game roll to see if they are able to survive and come back.  For an independent character they succeed on a 2+, while a non-independent character only succeeds on a 4+.  

• -1 to roll if they were killed by an attack that would have caused Instant Death to them
• -1 to roll if they were killed by Perils of the Warp

 If the character fails the roll, that character with their accumulated boons cannot be used anymore.  (Of course you can still use the same model for a new champion if desired.)  The slain champion can however still be useful interred in a dreadnought (see below).

Spawnhood: If the character has been turned into a Chaos Spawn, they do not get to roll to come back.  However, you may now take that Chaos Spawn for free in future games, not taking up any force organization slot and outside of any detachments or formations.  If that Chaos Spawn is killed in a game, it can come back for the next game on a 4+ (-1 to roll if was killed by an attack that would have caused Instant Death to it).  If the character that fell to spawndom had a Mark of Chaos, the spawn has the same mark.

Dark Apotheosis:  If a character ascends to daemonhood in the game this is just an intermediate form.  Add a bullet point under the Dark Apotheosis result on the Chaos Boon table reading, "If the champion had any accumulated boons, apply them to the Daemon Prince."

The blessed character can no longer be taken in their previous mortal form, but you can now buy them as a Daemon Prince for future games.  If the character was marked they will be a daemon of the corresponding type.  The Daemon Prince keeps any boons previously accumulated, but of course as Daemon Princes do not have the Champion of Chaos rule themselves, it will not accumulate any further boons.  Otherwise you can build out the Daemon Prince as normal, but it is recommended that you build them the same way each time.  If a Daemon Prince is killed in a game, it can automatically come back for future games. NOTE: In this campaign Cultist Champions cannot attain this result; re-roll for them.  

Dreadnoughts/Helbrutes: If a non-cultist character with accumulated boons was slain (but not turned into a spawn or a prince) and failed his roll to survive, he can be placed into a dreadnought.  The fallen champion keeps any accumulated boons but cannot acquire any new ones.  The dreadnought is considered a character for purposes of challenges but does not have the Champion of Chaos rule.  Some boons function differently as a vehicle:

• Fragment of Immortality - The first explode damage result the vehicle suffers in each game is ignored and the vehicle instead takes 1 hull point.
• Bloated - +1 Hull Point
• Crystalline Body - +1 Hull Point
• Mechanoid - Improve all armour values by 1
• Cosmic Fate - Can force enemy to re-roll damage result, but must accept second result
• Meteoric Charge - Do two Hammer of Wrath hits instead of one
• Voice of Horus - Counts as being equipped with Dirge Casters
• Masochism - It Will not Die

 
If the character interred in the dreadnought was a psyker they can have up to the same mastery level they previously had, at a cost of 30pts per level.  Death and near death are traumatic, so it is reasonable to purchase them at a lower mastery level if you so desire. 

If the character interred in the dreadnought had a Mark of Chaos, apply the same mark to the vehicle at no cost, even though they normally cannot take Marks.  For Mark of Nurgle, treat as +1 Hull Point.

If the character interred was a Possessed Champion, the dreadnought may take the Daemonic Possession upgrade for free.     

If the dreadnought is destroyed in a game, after the game roll for survival as you would for a character.  On a 2+ it can be rebuilt and used again.  If the vehicle exploded, apply a -1 to the roll.

Advancement: Unit champions may advance in their warband.  

A power-armored unit champion with two or more earned boons (not counting any from Gift of Mutation) can be promoted to a Chosen Champion, Possessed Champion, Warp Talon Champion or Terminator Champion.  They keep their boons, but gain the new base statline and can choose different equipment and upgrades as appropriate for their new position.  If they had a Mark of Chaos they should retain the same mark. 

A non-cultist, non-daemon unit champion with four or more earned boons (not counting any from Gift of Mutation) can be promoted to an independent character.  They can become a Chaos Lord, Sorcerer, Warpsmith or Dark Apostle as you prefer.  If they had a Mark of Chaos they should retain the same mark, but otherwise may re-select equipment as appropriate and retain any previously accumulated boons.  

Missions:  Any missions should work, either use standard missions, develop missions for the campaign, or have players decide on what mission to use for each game.

Escalation: You can of course start at any level, but I would recommend starting out small, such as at 500pts with Combat Patrol-like restrictions and gradually moving up from there.  How fast you escalate will depend upon your group.

Winning: By the end of the campaign each player should have an army with an impressive history and a lot of love (and hate) poured into it, so everyone wins!  However, some other victory conditions are probably appropriate.  Work out with your group what you want to use to measure overall victory.

Notes on detachments and formations:

• The Chosen of Abaddon: Blessed by the Chaos Gods - change this to read, "Chaos Lords and Sorcerers in this Formation may re-roll results on the Chaos Boon table but must accept the second result."
• Black Crusade Detachment: Path to Glory - change this to read, "If a model in this Detachment with the Champion of Chaos special rule slays a model in close combat with more boons than the model from this Detachment has, it may absorb one boon of its choice from the slain model.  If the slain model survives its post-game test, it still has lost this boon.  This does not replace the victor's normal roll on the Chaos Boon table if any."

Scythiak Usurpation vs. Ultramarines, Iron Warriors progress, Massilla campaign prelude

Sonofsonsoftaurus and I played a game at home, his Ultra vs. my Chaos Guard, the Scythiak Usurpation.  2000pts, and I had him set up the terrain and scenario.  I am attacking the entrenched Ultramarines, having driven them out of the city (or did I?  Likely a feigned retreat to overextend the heretics) and am trying to break through to their landing areas.  We each get a point for each unit destroyed, and I get a point for every unit I get off the far table edge.  Ultras have to all start on the table, no reserves.

Shards of Anaris - Finale

Today we culminated the Shards of Anaris campaign.  Scott and his Space Wolves and Leonard and his Orks were tied far ahead of the rest of us, and no one would have time to catch up.  Since they were the clear leaders, I floated the idea to them that they should slug it out in a large game for supremacy, and any other players available could support them.  This also was our first game using the splendid ork scrapyard terrain that awesome guy but infrequent player Ben created.

Southern Front 2016

Sonofsonsoftaurus and I made it out to this year's Southern Front convention in Raleigh, missing the first day but arriving early Saturday morning for day two.  Above, the jungles of Venus prepare for all sorts of dinosaurs, walking machines and airships.

Shards of Anaris: Weeks Seven and Eight

Two weeks of pictures, some games with more than others.

Shards of Anaris - campaign week six

Another week of mayhem and merriment hunting down the Shards of Anaris!

sonofsonsoftaurus is getting the knack for themed tables, developing a battle scene with several chaotic shrines.  My Endless Ones faced off against his Ultramarines to recover bits of information that would help lead us to additional pieces of the god-weapon, Anaris.

Shards of Anaris - Week 5

My family and I were on vacation the prior week, but sonofsonsoftaurus and I returned to the campaign today.  Counting us we had six players and five games were played.  We also did some work on updating a few of the store terrain pieces.  

My first game was with Scott's Space Wolves, fighting over one of the Shards of Anaris.  I brought a Nurgle force this time led by Typhus.  Scott had a variety of marines and a formation of rune priests.  Our fight was held on an old battleground, with several minefields scattered about.  

Shards of Anaris - week 3

Three Recovery missions played today:  my Endless Ones CSM vs. Scott's Space Wolves, John's Khorne Daemonkin vs. sonofsonsoftaurus' Ultramarines, and Leonard's Orks vs. Josh M's Grey Knights.  

Shards of Anaris Campaign Week 2

Another week into the Shards of Anaris campaign!  Today we had six players turn out, with Chaos Marines, Khorne Daemonkin, Necrons, Orks, Space Wolves and Ultramarines.  Above, Leonard's Orks and Nathan's Necrons battle over a Shard in an old warzone littered with minefields.  

The Shards of Anaris Campaign Report

We started our Shards of Anaris campaign a week early as there was a lot of interest in folks showing up.  We turned out to have seven players show up and had five games played, a great start!

 

Jornath: Blood Axes vs. Salamanders, Road Rage!

Imperial attacks, led by elements of several chapters of Space Marines - Mortifactors, White Scars, Salamanders and Blood Angels - have blunted the initial ork advances on Jornath and eliminated several of their leaders, though not without loss to the marines themselves.  A new ork leader emerges uniting several of the Blood Axe warbands and heads south, striking towards a highway that will lead to rich pickings.  Elements of the Salamanders are dispatched to defend the junction and stop the advancing orks with flame and fury.

The ork warboss, Donald J. Krump whipped his boyz up into a frenzy before sending them out.  "We goin over dere to fight da beakies.  I love da beakies, no one loves da beakies more than I do.  But these are terrible beakies, so we gotta krump em.  Den we get into da oomie cities and get some lootin on.  Da oomies love me, cause I'm gonna give all da oomies jobs buildin what we need to keep krumpin.  We're gonna build da Waaaagh - it's gonna be a bootiful Waaagh - they said we couldn't, so you know what?  Da Waaaagh just got bigger!  We're gonna build da Waaagh, and da Imperium is gonna pay for it!  Weze gonna make Gork n' Mork great again!"

Jornath: Da Scent of Angels

"Beakies is comin!  I can smell em!"

This is a battle set on the world of Jornath, where a bunch of locals who are getting back into 40K are bashing some Orks and Imperials together.  Here we have a bunch of Blood Axes rallying in the north, protected from orbital fire by a power field generator.  Intent on disrupting the Ork advances against the beleaguered planetary defenders, elements of several Chapters launch strikes against Ork concentrations.

Campaign Rough Draft: The Shards of Anaris

Here's the rough draft for our next campaign, "The Shards of Anaris".  Things may change for the final draft depending on feedback.  

Basic concept is to be able to be inclusive, with anyone playing anything and some being erratic attendees, while still being able to have an overall story.  

Feel free to use/modify for your own groups and purposes.  If you do, let me know how it goes!

League Battle Report - Sons of Taurus vs. Imperial Fists, Angels of Death edition!

I picked up the Angels of Death supplement today, and Leonard and I used some parts of it for our battle with my Sons of Taurus Chaos Marines against his Imperial Fists.

Our league is at 1500pts now.  I added 20 marines tricked out with extra close combat weapons, two meltaguns, Mark of Hashut Enraged (aka Khorne), icon of wrath and powerfist champion, as well as a vindicator.

Leonard's Imperial Fists are largely built out of the Betrayal at Calth box, and he has been using the Contemptor dreadnought as an Ironclad.  We decided to use the handy rules for Contemptors (really GW?  No drop pod or heavy flamer options?) to swap the Ironclad for a Contemptor, and rolled up one of the Altar of War missions, Emperor's Fist.  

The Commissar's in Town, uh oh

I had a nice email from reader Catachan Commissar with some pictures of his kitbashed guard and other things I had asked him about back in the comments on my kitbashing post a while back, and graciously agreed to let me post them so all of you can see them too.  You may be able to see more on Twitter under #warmongers.

Above are rough riders on bikes, an idea he was inspired to do by Mordian 7th.  Ramshackle Games bikes plus parts from Victoria Lamb.

The Bell Tolls

Nathan would be the most likely person I've known to know the Old English version, btw

My dear friend and partner in crime, Nathan, passed away this weekend.  Forgive this catharsis.  I miss him most of course as a person, a wonderful human being and friend who was a devoted friend, son, brother, uncle, and godfather.  I miss his sense of humor, his snorting laugh as he tried to avoid laughing at something he found damned funny but was also WRONG.  I miss his random esoteric knowledge of things that may have been practical 150+ years ago.  I miss all the time we spent in his beat up pickup with one door that wouldn't open from the inside when I was too young to drive or didn't have a car of my own and he would pick me up for games, movies or other get-togethers.  We would talk and laugh about all sorts of things, make plans, bounce ideas off of each other or rehash our recent session on the way home.  It's on one of those rides that I had my longest running sneeze fest, something like 130 in a row.

He was a gamer, as my really close friends are.  I'm not close friends with everyone I've gamed with, but spending that time together and sharing common interests and a common language (being able to watch a movie and stat out characters from it on the ride back, for example) certainly helps friendships develop, as it would with any shared hobby you can do together.  The loss of him as a fellow gamer who I played with for close to 30 years adds to the loss.  Definitely a lesser part of the immensely larger loss of the person and friend, but real nonetheless.  I've been thinking of it like I might if I were friends with an author or musician whose work I also enjoyed.  I was a fan of Nathan's.

As a game master he had rich worlds with interesting NPCs and villains.  Our styles meshed well and I really enjoyed the interactions and immersion in his games, something I can't do nearly as well in the games I run myself.  We had something of a mind-link, enabling me to often see where things were going and lean into them for more impact, or enabling him to understand what I was building towards and helping to provide the payoff.  With his loss, I also feel the loss of many others - I will never see Dragonfist, Gator, Lady Liberty, Crystal/Shard, Shialla of the Hawklords, Serpentra or many others ever played again by their creator.  I will never again experience his version of Greyhawk or the Forgotten Realms, or travel across the Empire of Turan with its glittering Emerald City or the city-states of Therosia.  If Los Banditos del Diablo ever take the field again, it will be in a strangely different Inner Sphere.  Not only has my own world been forever changed, but many others are sealed away forever.

The wardrobe doesn't work anymore.  But once a King in Narnia, always a King in Narnia.

Godspeed Nathan.  When my time comes, I expect you to come get me in that old pickup.

League Battle Report: Sons of Taurus vs. Death Korps of Krieg 1000pts Big Guns Never Tire!

Got in a 1000pt league battle with Scott's Death Korps of Krieg, on his new mat from Gamemat.eu.

League Battle Report: Sons of Taurus vs. Eldar 1000pts

Played a 1000pt game with Cayla's Ulthwe' Eldar as part of our league, rolling up Relic.  Not wanting to immediately get assaulted by the Wraithknight, I chose to let the Eldar go first, which with Jetbikes and the Relic is generally not a good idea.