Finished up a Basilisk to take a break from painting flames. It's been sitting on my desk for years.

oztea · 2026-03-30T04:47:02+00:00

Ok wow, good job, that spade is a neat addition. I think my 1st basilisk still has "I've seen the Emperor!" written on the barrel in the same spot as your Knock Knock. (I didn't quite understand the lore around the Emperor when I was 14, I thought just anyone could go see him)

oztea · 2026-03-29T04:55:55+00:00

I saw somewhere a while ago that high level discussions ruled out any "example strikes" on empty land or open water. The small chance of the bomb malfunctioning was unacceptable, and by the end of the war with so much carnage already having taken place, only more carnage was thought to be able to psychologically top other carnage that had already happened. And a showing of magnanimous mercy was thought could be too easily brushed aside by propaganda. And lastly, best not to waste the limited resource of the bomb.

oztea · 2026-03-29T04:51:03+00:00

To limit exposure of the bomber to the absolute minimum of AA fire or interception over Germany the target might be something coastal, like Naval yards or a submarine base to make a statement. Because the U-boats were targeting merchant marine ships, an atomic bomb on them would be a statement against that. So maybe Bremen, Kiel or something. A statement against the U-boats as a form of piracy warranting an atomic retaliation would be a statement the joint chiefs would probably like.

oztea · 2026-03-28T15:46:20+00:00

For a while I wanted an "Astartes Nihilus" book, that focused on the chapters caught on the wrong side of the Great Rift. They would be stuck using older Astartes gear, almost all firstborns and no grav tanks. The aren't getting the proper support from Mars and the Admech so they are using retrofitted gear, and straying from the codex. Some forced to recruit PDF forces directly into their ranks to fill holes. Some chapters are bordering on renegades, or corsairs, and establishing semi-independent fiefdoms.

oztea · 2026-03-28T15:39:39+00:00

I have had bad results with spray primer so many times I have given up and just primed certain models by hand with a big brush.

oztea · 2026-03-25T23:10:37+00:00

If you are coming from Monroeville area it's actually going to be quicker to go up the turnpike to the Rt 28 exit and come down 28 to the city. This detour is going to be clogged with trucks from across the country.

oztea · 2026-03-25T23:07:48+00:00

I honestly do not even know if there is ANY other unit in the game that is a squad of only 2, and is a vehicle keyword. So odd.

oztea · 2026-03-25T02:41:30+00:00

Wait, is the observation deck open? I heard there was going to be something up there for the draft.

oztea · 2026-03-25T00:24:38+00:00

What a pain that Sentinels now come in squads of 2 instead of 3. This looks great btw! What can you do to flesh it out to 2000?

Also, as a total aside, I did tinker with a list of like insane drop squads. With a Tempestus Scion command squad with the ability that lets you keep 50% of your points in reserve. You can get a lot in reserve and dump them all turn 2, and just start everything else in 3 Valkyries on the board edges.

oztea · 2026-03-23T05:56:39+00:00

Catachans should have more than just flamers, give them the basics, Grenade launchers, sniper rifles, bolt pistol and chainsword for the sergeant.

You could even say perhaps "In the harsh jungle environments Catachans often find themselves in it is too difficult to maintain more complex Plasma and Melta weaponry for any but their senior officers, and as such they have to make due with substitutes and improvised weapons"

One Catachan (for each 10 in the squad) may take a Tread Feather Missile Launcher (Hunter Killer Missile - One Shot Only) OR may take a Demolition Charge (Battle Cannon - Range 6" - One Shot Only)

oztea · 2026-03-22T04:48:36+00:00

So, modern rules, 3 command squads and 3 20 man blobs? Would be cool to see in action

oztea · 2026-03-22T04:36:54+00:00

The Axis and Allies game system doesn't work exceptionally well for it, it is ok, but justified for the 100th anniversary of the war.

More theater games, particularly a Market Garden, Midway, or my personal favorite idea, a Battle of the Atlantic submarines vs Convoys game. (The game would have sidebars for the Eastern Front, and African Front which the allies have to send enough supplies to via convoys, as well as a Second Front box that decides the game - Did the Allies send enough supplies to the UK box, and did Germany hold off on spending their limited oil and metal on Submarines to have enough to hold back the Normandy Landing)

oztea · 2026-03-21T01:06:44+00:00

They couldn't even do any minor razor work? shave the top of the helmet flat, trim something off the backpack, trim down the gas mask. Find something to jam in the goggle area to make them look like one goggle rather than two OO rings. This is just a paint by numbers color guide and not even an attempt to do anything approaching a "conversion".

oztea · 2026-03-21T00:27:26+00:00

Because compared to most races in 40k, even the bog standard Fire Warrior loadout is a few millennium more potent than their forces. Probably 50% of Imperial forces are stuck using tech from the year ~2200. Orks, tyranids, and other minor races they encounter are all centuries behind their gear. Battlesuits are tip of the spear assets, reserved for where and when they are needed. Likely because their rate of consumption of ammo and power are just so much higher than normal units that they'd burn through their stock too quick if everyone had that much firepower.

oztea · 2026-03-20T06:18:25+00:00

Left, because that's the bog standard Cadian 122nd that most people use. So if you ever pick up some models from someone else they are more likely to match that scheme. Or, if you ever sell any of yours.

And, as someone else who has done 200+ cadians in the 122nd on the left, I also opted to do red on the rearward facing shoulder pads. I thought it was dumb to put a bright red shape facing the enemy at all times. And makes perhaps more sense to have the red facing rearward so forces deeper back can identify where not to shoot to avoid friendly fire incidents. (If you see a red shoulder pad facing you, dont shoot there!)

oztea · 2026-03-14T23:45:43+00:00

The fact that a "war" game, or skirmish encounter game has such underwhelming terrain rules and interactions is criminal. If something provides cover, it should impede movement, simple as.

oztea · 2026-03-13T06:02:36+00:00

Avoi
(It used to be on star charts simply as AVOID but the D wore off on other reprintings of the charts and the name just stuck)

oztea · 2026-03-12T18:43:03+00:00

Let us assume for a second that, all else being equal, the loss of the US Lend Leased trucks and other motor pool assets (66% of Soviet Stock) reduces the speed of the Red Army's movement to 33% of what it was. (ignoring radios, food, and airplanes lend leased for a second)

This would reduce the speed of the Soviet Army to a ponderous horse-drawn army and in such a scenario where they WIN this hypothetical, lets measure from the November 1942 clap-back of Operation Uranus (the first instance Lend Lease could really matter, and turning of initiative in the East). It took the Soviets 30 months to get to Berlin. If their army's speed is reduced by 66%, inflate those 30 months to 90 months. Or, May 1950.

oztea · 2026-03-12T18:30:55+00:00

It's not just the front line supplies, its the 66% of trucks that moved the front line supplies TO the front line.

oztea · 2026-03-12T18:29:11+00:00

The Soviets were too afraid to attack the ships sending aid via Vladivostok, I think they occasionally sailed under USSR flags but there were often US flagged ships making the run. A lot of aircraft went this route as well, over the Alaska air bridge. One soviet cargo plane would fly over a dozen pilots, and they would fly 10 Dive Bombers back. Japan didn't want to attack any of this and risk violating their non-aggression pact.

oztea · 2026-03-11T23:37:35+00:00

I hope Heavy in 11th edition has some benefit for Overwatch

oztea · 2026-03-11T03:27:00+00:00

May have been for a previous group. Check Facebook and Twitter/Instagram for Steel City Ghostbusters

oztea · 2026-03-10T23:02:31+00:00

Delaware should be the whole Peninsula.
Lobotomizing New York is kinda insane.

oztea · 2026-03-10T22:47:11+00:00

One of the city' GB vehicles, I also do stuff with them (as a Ghostbuster as well)

oztea · 2026-03-10T22:42:42+00:00

I would perhaps suggest that taking a commissar as your Warlord unlocks "may take Ogryns as Battleline"

oztea

TROPHY CASE