Dark and Dangerous is the World. — Hot Dice Miniatures

“There is no counting the numbers of Orcs and Goblins which infest the barren places of the world and no matter how many are slain, there are always more. Certain other creatures slink and grovel around the Orc encampments such as Trolls, who are foul and ghastly beyond description and the Snotlings who infest the dungheaps in their multitudes.” - Venerable Hieronymous of Nuln

“Our beautiful empire is the largest, the most powerful nation in all of the Old World. We, the sons of Sigmar, have a right to be proud. For over two millennia the banner of the Griffon has flown over Castle Reikschlosse, proclaiming the might and glory of the Emperors.” - Hieronymous of Nuln

The midway point of this 15mm project is where I’m at after exactly one year (to the week) of purchasing my first figures for it. The Talabheimers and Orcs have each had a 1250-point Kings of War (second edition) army list painted. That leaves another 1750pts awaiting tedious brushwork.

Some terrain was acquired and painted along the way. This house needed a mason to fix some brickwork.

The most tedious part of painting 15mm is the same at any scale: the base coating! Once the washes are applied each unit jazzes up quickly, and with less resistance than I first anticipated.

MLG Pro-Gamer Brandon about to unleash a fist-full-of-sixes

To celebrate this milestone my good buddy Brandon (resident Infinity-ass-kicker) came over for a surprise game of Kings of War. We adjusted by switching to cm from inches to account for the smaller base sizes.

Brandon picked up the rules fast, and in less than 10 minutes of explanation we were on our way. He advanced his Orcs across the table methodically; constantly checking charge ranges. The “Wood Tosser” scored a lucky hit on his first turn, obliterating one of my small archer units.

The game plays largely the same as I remember. I used to play a ton , but fell out of love with the mechanics after a few tournaments. My problem is that each unit feels like a brick in a sling-shot, instead of ranks of warriors marching about to the orders of their leaders.