Resuming Normal Service

More than a month has gone by since the last post, almost without me realising it! There's been a lot going on which has prevented me from updating (or at least, sapped the energy needed to write any posts!) but I'm getting back into the swing of things now, so hopefully I'll be able to post more often.

Anywho, what have I been up to during this quiet spell? Well, another year ticked over on my Life Calendar, and with it came a few goodies including The Ortegas box for Malifaux. Along with Rasputina's Cult of December box, this means I now have two starting Crews for Malifaux available so at some point in the relatively near future, I'm hoping to get some paint on them and get a few games in. I've managed to talk my better half into playing (in theory, at least) so if nothing else I have at least one reluctant opponent!

February also saw the first Fantasy game of 2013 in the form of a 5k clash between O&G, Skaven and Lizardmen. Myself and G (of G's Spot fame) teamed up with 2,500pts of Skaven and O&G respectively, facing off against 5k of Paul's Lizardmen. Needless to say, much abuse was given about the overpowered cheesiness of Paul's ridiculously powerful Slann (mostly by me, to be honest...) and the ridiculous number of attacks his Cold One Cavalry Bus (accompanied by two Old Bloods and a Scar Veteran) dished out, but in the end the weight of numbers took it's toll - the Skaven did what they do best (died in droves, that is) and the O&G were mostly happy to let the Skaven do the dying for them (helpfully staying put for most of the game, and only chipping in when their own lives were threatened!), but in the end we were victorious.

Anyway, I'll stop grumbling and instead drop this helpful photo-bomb:

The game begins with a mass Lizardmen advance across the table; in response the
 Screaming Bell gets as far forward as it can while the rest of the Skaven edge as far as they can away from the first turn Comet of Cassandora (the yellow gems in the middle of my army!)

The Doomwheel faces off against the Skink-Krox combo.
Inevitably, it doesn't end well for the Ratmen

The Screaming Bell prior to the forthcoming magical bombardment of the Slann

Meanwhile, the O&G force make great progress....

The Cavalry Bus performs its first trick as it causes one Clanrat unit to vanish!
The second volunteer unit eagerly awaits a similar fate
(P.S. Also note the similar disappearance of the Screaming Bell Clanrats!)

Finally, the Rat Ogres get into the action and the tide starts to turn as more
Clanrats break through the wood to appear on the Saurus' flank.

The Cavalry Bus reforms in the sights of a Ratling Gun. Unfortunately, it's fleeing so can't gun them down.
Meanwhile, the second Rat Ogres prepare to make a meal of the Skink-Krox unit as the other Ogres make short work of their Saurus opponents

The last Saurus unit still can't finish off the Screaming Bell, as other chargers line up to pounce on them

Rat Ogres, Clanrats, a Giant and some Trolls all pile in to the last Saurus unit. The other Rat Ogres make short work of the Kroxigors, while the Night Goblins and Savage Orcs (who've both done nothing all game!) face off against the Bus.

The final deciding combat. The outcome is inevitable, although the Saurus
 finally manage to take down the Bell before they get trampled into the dirt

So there you have it; an enjoyable game, although 5k with two horde armies proved a challenge to fit in the deployment zone. We'll definitely need to downsize for future games, but this was the biggest game of Fantasy that we've ever played, and it was worth it in the end!

Of course, the more astute of you will notice the appearance of an almost-painted Screaming Bell and a third almost-painted unit of Clanrats in this battle. I spent the week before the game frantically trying to get as much of both of them painted in time. I didn't quite manage it, but I'm not far off completing the Bell and my third unit of 40 Clanrats. I'll make a post on them in due course!