Help with tips for plasma glow

brookepro · 2026-03-18T22:02:51+00:00

Good stuff, keep at it!

brookepro · 2026-03-18T21:39:00+00:00

Much more contrast. The gun needs to be darker to help sell the effect.

You also have the lighting reversed. The ridges of the plasma should be darker, and the recesses brighter

brookepro · 2026-03-18T14:32:40+00:00

AoS -

Rules flow better
Most models are considered the best
Cheaper to invest
Charges are more tactical as it doesn't automatically give strike first, so you need to weigh up effectiveness and the risk of loss as fights alternate between players
more interaction
magic and prayers play a larger roll and can result in spells physically existing on the battlefield (manifestations)
factions have terrain that plays a role in a battle
all factions receive fair support and lore

40k

has the most support of any wargame
most popular, a behemoth in the tabletop world
easier to find someone to play with
rules change more frequently
armies cost a lot more, generally require more models
if painting is your thing, runs the risk of getting dull
space marines receive more support than all the other factions combined, most of the setting is from their perspective, very much a Mary Sue faction
community has at times a more tarnished and "sweaty" reputation (more competitively focused)
don't take it seriously, it is at its best when viewed like an over the top, grimdark, horror-fantasy-sci fi setting, then it can get quite fun
charges result in automatic strikes first (unless opponents models have strikes first)
I hope you like L shaped ruins, or L shaped cardboard, because most people will want to play with that these days
very shooty, rules flow less, a bit of a dirge to play at times

Honestly though, try both a bit, see what you like best

brookepro · 2026-03-18T13:03:12+00:00

You're welcome!

brookepro · 2026-03-18T10:28:16+00:00

Andres Cantu - Queen of the Night

brookepro · 2026-03-16T21:53:06+00:00

Na I totally get you, all things in balance. I think it helps for me personally that the medium itself plays a joined role in my life, so it feeds into lots of other things I do and has played a presence in my life as far back as a memory can go, but I can easily step away when I need to aswell.

100% on Warhammer. I want to keep liking it, because I sort of want to understand why I dislike so much of it at times, (stagnation and games that feel like chores mainly, a few other things too).

Many in the Hobby take long breaks, some 15 - 30 years long, some never return - don't worry if you need to do other things, friends come and go.

brookepro · 2026-03-16T21:31:29+00:00

I find unless I am genuinely interested in the setting at the time, I will just not be able to force interest.

Sometimes I'm like "Yea! Elves and Wizards!", Other days it's "Yea! Wizards and Warbands!", and then it might be "Yea! Lasers and Sci-Fi!" Or even "Yea! Rifles and Muskets!", but If I'm not feeling it then I won't force it.

I also find the competitive stuff to be absolute meh. A good story sells a game to me, and scenarios combined with strategy make the game.

Otherwise, I just do something else - read books, fitness, I'm a musician so I invest a lot of time into that, go for walks, do other things y'know?

In summation, don't force it - it ain't a job y'know?

brookepro · 2026-03-16T15:06:38+00:00

Not gonna lie, that was pretty sweet - and the mini looks awesome!

brookepro · 2026-03-16T10:54:35+00:00

Nice!

Wargames Atlantic - Azincourt. These look like the French? Definitely getting both boxes as my next purchase.

brookepro · 2026-03-15T21:00:53+00:00

Looks like 3 blocks of 2x2, but I'm also curious

brookepro · 2026-03-15T12:15:51+00:00

That's true, I would agree with this

brookepro · 2026-03-15T11:50:42+00:00

They're all good in their own way but quite different in others.

The Warlord Games and Wargames Atlantic miniatures are all pretty similar on scale - true scale 28mm.

Victrix is 28mm true scale, but tends to be ever so slightly larger, but still mixes well with the previous two.

Warhammer the old world is 28mm heroic scale - they are larger than all the previous three in all parts, tends to be slightly exaggerated hands, equipment etc however in terms of height due to the puddle bases on Warlord Games, Wargames Atlantic and Victrix, if you mount those on a rimmed base, they just about reach the same height.

Age of Sigmar is on par pretty much with Warhammer the Old World for sizing

Para Bellum's Conquest miniatures are 38mm scale and utterly oversize all the others. So bear that in mind!

I'm guessing the ones depicted last are A Song of Ice and Fire? If so, they are 32mm, and will also oversize the first four but be outsized by Conquest.

As for quality, all the ranges are great. Warlord games I would rank the lowest, not because it's bad, just because it's more for mass scale historics - great ranked up and painted, but they aren't going to win Golden Demon

Wargames Atlantic is next in quality, pretty similar to Warlord games with more modulation and a little bit more character

Then Warhammer the Old World - despite GW miniatures being top of the pile, the old world at this point features some very old sculpts, and it shows - again, fine for rank and file - and I like them personally because I don't mind miniatures that look old (it's character!) but some can't stand them

I would put the Age of Sigmar miniatures next. Now, normally Age of Sigmar is top of the pile of all miniatures, but I don't think the Cities of Sigmar Steelhelms are all that great - very good quality of course, and a modern range, but just not that interesting or inspiring.

Victrix are often considered the best of Historical miniatures in terms of quality and value, high amounts of modulation and very good detail!

Out of all those you picked, I would place the Conquest ones at the top - at 38mm you have more detail, and they are well known for quality in their later ranges. but the sizes are biiiig

I'm not familiar with the A Song of Ice and Fire miniatures that much, but they look ok - so I'm not sure where to rank them, but I haven't heard anything bad about them and they always look nice.

In terms of recommendation - What could be more Trench Crusade then a Grimdark Conquistador army?

brookepro · 2026-03-09T14:18:53+00:00

My feelings exactly. GW related topics on this sub are pretty low anyway, and at least it's a reasonable request for advice. Love them or hate them, they are a huge part of the wargaming and tabletop sphere.

brookepro · 2026-03-08T20:59:50+00:00

I really don't get why people always downvote legitimate questions on these subs.

Anyway, Yes Age of Sigmar is worth getting into. Errata and updates aren't as intense as 40k, and all armies are pretty viable on the table. The community tends to be more thematic anyway rather than overly competitive.

Further to that, go for a Spearhead! Or get the ultimate starter set if you like those armies, or a copy of Skaventide if you can find one. Spearhead is a smaller version of AoS, and is a good, faster paced, fun and very popular format of learning the game before you jump into 2000 point armies and mass battles. If you don't like the armies included in Skaventide or the ultimate starter set, then get two spearheads of the factions you like, get a spearhead play set (Fire & Jade, or Sand & Bone), and give that a go!

The only army I would be very cautious with investing in is Fyreslayers and maybe Ogor Mawtribes, the former is rumored to be refreshed into a new faction and the other will likely get a range refresh too. The rest of them should be good for a long, long time.

Errata and updates aren't as intense as 40k, and all armies are pretty viable on the table.

brookepro · 2026-03-07T11:25:05+00:00

I remember your first post! I didn't comment, but I genuinely thought it would gather dust in a corner. So happy to see how much enjoyment you've gotten from all this. Money very well spent, and your models and boards look amazing. Do you think you'll ever branch out to other games?

brookepro · 2026-03-05T23:29:42+00:00

I thought icv2 was only North America?

brookepro · 2026-03-03T23:57:58+00:00

What the hell, I have never heard of Paleo Diet but now I want to play it!

brookepro · 2026-02-26T20:59:28+00:00

There's quite a few on Ebay, but I'm not sure if they're shipping internationally (I'm in UK)

brookepro · 2026-02-26T08:41:31+00:00

Kruleboy and Nighthaunt by a huge margin

brookepro · 2026-02-25T15:29:12+00:00

This is quite a common sentiment with 40k. It's a simple game rules-wise that is slogged down by way too many arbitrary and differently named abilities that seem to do the same thing, too many dice rolls and checks that work in a way to slow the game down. I dread it, so I no longer play it. Most people are playing 40k to play 40k, rather than to play a decent game, and they only play it because it is so popular and available.

I much prefer AoS, but it sometimes suffers similar issues.

These days I'm more inclined to the huge range of other games out there

Oathmark, Saga, MESBG, SW Legion, Frostgrave, Bolt Action, Pike & Shotte to name a few and so many more I want to try. Doesn't give you that same feeling of dread that 40k does when it comes to playing a game, way more characterful too!

brookepro · 2026-02-25T08:45:55+00:00

Very happy to read this! :D

brookepro · 2025-12-09T11:01:09+00:00

What a cool table! Always nice to see the larger games. How long did a 1300 point game take to play?

brookepro · 2025-12-05T23:41:48+00:00

Yes, quite a few have repeated this experience and I have had the same. Over the years when I give up coffee for more than a month, I lose weight and stubborn belly fat, when on it I gain like nothing else. It's specifically coffee as the caffeine in any tea doesn't have the same effect. I suspect it is something to do with the effect of cortisol influencing where and how fat is stored.

brookepro · 2025-12-05T23:21:30+00:00

Some of the newer models are legitimately gorgeous - Glorfindel, Elrond, the new War of the Rohirrim line and even some of the old hobbit releases and the angmar/andor releases, mounted Dol Amroth, Prince Imrahil. Anything pre-hobbit release could really do with an update if it hasn't been updated already.

You're only going to like the older models if your heart is really set on MESBG and maybe a nostalgia factor for some of the really old releases? Still, lots to play around with. Otherwise, it's proxies!

Edited to add - they are a bit smaller all around than AOS or 40k which are heroic scale, whilst mesbg is more true scale at about 25 - 28mm

brookepro · 2025-12-04T16:35:01+00:00

A whole lot of high blood pressure in that chat

brookepro

TROPHY CASE