The Tavern: Part One

I've always really like the idea of custom dugouts and stadiums, and always had plans to do both. My Dwarf team became the primary modelling focus of my Blood Bowl projects, and as such I started work on a custom Dugout. I figured the Dwarves would like nothing more than to drink during the game, so I started planning a Tavern for them to hang out in. As an added bonus, when I get my Halfling team going, it'll be perfect for them too!

One of my "design edicts" was that the Tavern still look like an element of a board game. I thought about incorporating all the necessary information the Dugout normally has into subtle terrain features, but in the end wanted to maintain the look and feel of a board game tracking board. I found an interestingly shaped picture frame (it was actually for a decorative plate) to use as a base and laid out the front steps, which contains the turn marker. To save space, I just did slots for the eight turns, and then that fancy post on the left will indicate which half it is.

The frame is ultimately a little smaller than I'd really like, space is at a premium, and in all honesty I may eventually regret not finding something bigger. Although with the second floor I'm hoping everything will work out. A lot of the front step is built out of a handful of Hirstarts stuff I have left over from some old 40k and Malifaux projects. 

I cut out and set numbered discs into the slots for the turn marker, using a dremel to very carefully smooth out and size the holes. Because the marble panels are all smaller individual pieces, this was a delicate procedure.

I used a leftover piece of the marble slab to base the marker with, it looks pretty great when it's being used! The bricks on the front will be the name plate, once I decide on a name, and there will be reroll and score tracks added to the left and right of the name plate. I'm not sure I'm going to keep the stairs/side entrance on the right there? I may need the extra little bit of space an entryway would take up.

The first floor, all framed up. The big door at the back gets a ramp, it's the special entrance for the Deathroller. I'd contemplated losing the Deathroller Garage for a little while, again for the space. But it's so badass it needs to be in there. I'll figure out the spacing somehow.

First test of the wall slat pattern. I'd thought about doing something far more elaborate, some kind of cross hatch pattern or something? But in the end, simplicity and laziness won out. I've started to lay out the floor plan of the second level, and think about a partial roof to finish it all off.

I'm really pleased with how this is turning out, despite how time consuming it is. I'm really glad it'll work so well for the 'flings too, as this will NOT be something I do for each of my teams. Probably only this one, and one other. Most likely the Klingons.

-Chris

Bloodbowl: The House of N'ohrd, Part 1 - Introduction/Summary

A jewel in my crown, a fine fluffy feather to place in my jaunty cap! Modiphius released a Star Trek RPG last year, and with it, several sets of mini's... MUCH to my joyous exclamations. I don't have the time and/or energy to play pen and paper RPG's the way I want, so they've kind of fallen by the wayside in favour of mini games that satiate several of my hobby needs at once. But I bought the book. I'd like to play someday, who knows if I will?

But the minis?

Holy crap I couldn't wait to get my hands on them. Not really sure what my plans were, maybe they'd be my first ever, non-gaming diorama? I got a box of Klingons and the TNG crew box for Christmas, and after staring at them for weeks, finally hit upon an absolutely GENIUS idea. I've been converting the Klingon box (plus a second) into a "Norse" team for Bloodbowl!

This is the Head Coach. Basically untouched. He's the Captain of the squad box, looked Head Coach'y enough for me? The models are really nice, Modiphius did a great job. A couple of them have dodgy phaser handles at holster on their belts, but that's pretty minor.

Throwers, which will eventually get balls/fingers sculpted into their hands. Originally I'd intended on doing much more "conversion", playing around with helmets, and heavier padding at first. But the more of the Klingon-ness they lost, the less happy I was with them. They're cool exactly because they're Klingons!

 These are the pair of Ulfwerenar, big strong dudes. For the most part, all I ended up doing was weapon trimming and some pose conversion. I really didn't want to lose ALL the Bat'leths though, they are pretty iconic Klingon weapons, again... I didn't want to lose too much of the Klingon-ness.

And finally, the first pair of straight up Linemen. Simple weapon trimming, and a little repositioning. Straightforward, keeps them relatively Klingon, but I think looks decently like a Blood Bowl team!

I'm really enjoying these, and I'm going to take some time with them. I've got plans for a custom dugout done up like a Klingon bridge, and some markers and tokens. I got my hands on a Yhetee model and have got the conversion all figured out (I think... maybe...) and want to do a really good paint job on them. I've never had Star Trek minis and want to do them justice.

-Chris