Akitsushima Litoria Clan and 10mm HOTT Lizardmen

Akitsushima Litoria Clan

Here is a quick photo of another Kermitian Clan about to take to the Akitsushima field.

I give you… the Litoria Clan! 

From left to right: Gracilenta (Hunter), Dartaign (from the Dart Frog Clan as Ref), Chloris (Bruiser), Caerulea (Leader on Giant Frog) and Aurea (Reed Bearer).

Playtesting has contined successfully, although the experience system has seen some dramatic overhauls and now works alot better. Here is a mock setup below. The coloured dice are representative of the Dragonflies. Akitsushima will be recommended for a 4 foot table, but for this photo, its on a 3 foot table.

Hopefully I should have some more updates on Song of Fur and Buttons and Akitsushima. Stay tuned

Hordes of the Things 10mm Lizardmen Army… or at least, the start of.

I have been basing up some 10mm Lizardmen (Warmaster minis) for HOTT. I decided to experiment a bit with the basing and so have gone with 28mm basing, but 10mm figures. I really like the effect.

From left to right: A Skink Command (Hero, Horde or Warband), Skinks (Horde or Shooter), Skink Salamander Handlers (Artillery, Shooters, or Beasts (with a smaller depth – 40mm instead of 60mm), and in the back a Lizardman God (28mm Kroxigor and 10mm Skinks – God or Behemoth)

Cheers,
Ben.

Akitsushima Team Photo

Akitsushima – The Land of the Dragonflies Team Photo

Well, here is the first team photo of the Kermitian “Marsh Frog Clan” Akitsushima Team

The team from left to right:

Dumerellii (Reed Bearer), Bibronii (Referee), Peronii (Frog Rider – Cpt), Ornatus (Hunter), Fletcherii (Hunter)

The team is a new entry to Akitsushima and the Captain has chosen the Poison Dart option to start with. The referee is always from a different clan, in this case, the Pseudophryne clan. Each member of the team has a set of abilities that help them play the sport. As your team increases in experience, you can train your players to be specialties, such as Jesters or Herders. You can also increase their stats or give them bonuses to help the team out.

Basic playtesting for the game has gone very well and I am now working on the campaign and experience rules, including different arenas and Guest players such as Sir Maurice Fursworth, the first non-Kermitian to ever participate. An honor bestowed upon him after helping defend the Kermitians from the Picnic Bear/Terrashell attacks.

I will be looking for external playtesters in the near future, so if you have any questions, please reply to this post or email me at ben.boersma@gmail.com

Cheers,
Ben.

Song of Fur and Buttons Now Available!

Well after alot of hard work, blood, sweat and tears, Song of Fur and Buttons has been released and is now available from Wargame Vault for the usual Ganesha Games price of $8.00 USD

This time however the book is in full colour with lots and lots of photographs, depicting the scenarios and the story.

Song of Fur and Buttons on Wargames Vault

So what is Song of Fur and Buttons?
Song of Fur and Buttons is a campaign book for the Origins Award Nominated Skirmish rules Song of Blades and Heroes. It follows the exploits of three adventurous Teddy Bears, Sir Maurice Fursworth, Sir William Cuddlesbury and Sir Uppity Paws.

The book contains 12 story chapters, each accompanied by a scenario. Fight, catch and ride dinosaurs, make alliances with the Kermitians, swashbuckle pirates, duel on board Captain Longfur’s ship, fight off the Picnic Bear/Terrashell armies while trying to save your friends.

The story is based on Eureka’s fantastic Teddy Bear and Warrior Frog lines and is perfect for parent/child gaming, or just for adults who like to have fun. Remember, nobody ever dies in this book! A few stitches and some stuffing and your heroes are back on the battlefield before you can say “Honey and Milk”.

You can of course reuse the scenarios with your own figures as each one is different and unique.

I am happy to answer any questions, but I really hope that you all enjoy it.

Cheers,
Ben.

You can get the book from Wargames Vault

You can get the miniatures from Eureka Miniatures

Painting Update

Well the holidays were almost a complete write off – I have been crook right through which really hampered any progress I was making with my projects.

I did however complete Song of Fur and Buttons which is great news. I hope to see it released very soon.

As I started feeling better I also got back to the painting desk. I completed my Uncharted Seas Iron Dwarf and Dragon Lord fleets…

…as well as a small Otter Warband for Song of the Splintered Lands – a Song of Blades and Heroes expansion.

I hope you enjoy the photos and I hope to have more work done soon. I’ll keep you all posted.

- Ben.

Picnic Bear and Terrashell Alliance

Behold! The Picnic Bear and Terrashell Alliance!

Coming soon in Song of Fur and Buttons…

Miniatures are from Eureka Miniatures and the dinosaur is from Schleich.

- Ben

Bits and Bobs

This is just a very small update for the moment as things have been very hectic around here. I really want to get some more painting done so I can post more units up, but so far it has been a little more real life and work related.

Song of Fur and Buttons

Photos continue to be taken for this expansion which is nearing closer to final layout completion each and every day. I was playing around with some photos and I took this one (which I rather enjoyed). The dinosaur is from the Shleich line of dinosaurs and is not retouched in any way. That is the store bought paintjob.

Kermitian Akitsushima – aka Land of the Dragonflies

Kermitian Akitsushima is a game I’ve been working on behind the scenes. Akitsushima is japanese for Land of the Dragonflies and in the game represents the name of an ancient Kermitian sporting field where teams compete to catch the most Dragonflies. The game will use the basic Song of Blades and Heroes mechanics with several twists and minor modifications to help it suit the sporting arena.

The release of this game will depend on the success of Song of Fur and Buttons and may be included if there was ever a Song of Fur and Buttons 2.

Playtesting on the basic game is set to begin in the next week or so, with the campaign rules still being written as we speak.

Fear and Faith Campaign Supplement – Ghost Rangers “Whom Shall You Call?”

This supplement is currently being written as a homage to a certain movies. It will provide rules to play Fear and Faith games set in the Ghost Rangers universe, but will also provide a short 4 scenario mini campaign. Look out for more information shortly.

Battlelore Project

After much debate I’ve chosen my Troll. As cool as the Splintered Light Miniatures one is, its just far too small compared to the other figures to be represented accurately. Remember that this guy has an attack of 6! He needs to be big and menacing. So I chose the Troll from the Warhammer Battle of Skull Pass set. Its a perfect size and looks very intimidating. I’ve just based him on a 40mm washer so I can reuse him for everything from Battlelore to Song of Blades and Heroes to Mighty Armies or HOTT (with a custom base using a holesaw)

Nuthin’ But Net

I have also been writing more material for Nuthin’ But Net, with rules for an All Star Dunk Competition in nearing playtest, in addition to a 3 point competition and the Plantmen team. Alternative team rules are also being worked on, but I don’t know when it will see the light of day. Just know that it is being worked on I’m particularly excited about the Slam Dunk Competition which plays like a game all of its own.

Well, that turned out to be more info than I was originally going to write, so I hope you found it interesting. Feel free to ask questions or make comments.

- Ben.

Being Sick Isn’t a Picnic… or is it?

Well, I’ve been crook for the last week, so I haven’t got alot done (besides watching lots of Lost, The Muppet Show and Futurama in bed). But I did want to share something on this blog, so am here with an update on Song of Fur and Buttons and my Battlelore Project.

Song of Fur and Buttons

Although I haven’t been able to work on this for the past week, it is almost laid out and the photos are making their way into the book a bit at a time. Below you can see the dreaded Picnic Bears, who have aspirations of not only taking over the Honey Fields, but the whole of the world, one fluffy step at a time. Here you can see them moments before launching their attack against the Colonial/Kermitian alliance in the Swamps near Mozzie Point.

Click to enlarge photo

Battlelore Project

In regards to my Battlelore Project (which I am really enjoying by the way! ) I have received my Troll from Splintered Light Miniatures (along with their entire collection of Druid’s Children – bloody brilliant figs!) The Troll is a very cool miniature, but for my Battlelore Project, I think he is too small. What is your opinion? I have provided a photo of it next to the Giant Spider and the Hill Giant. I have also provided a picture of a GW Lord of the Rings Cave Troll with them to show another option. Not sure what to do yet.

Let me know what you think. Thanks.

I will hopefully have more updates over the next week – now I’m off to write some reports!

- Ben.

Look Out! Ostrich Riders!

Well after ordering two of Ebob’s excellent Giant Spiders, it was time for some more painting.

I polished off the second unit of Goblin Slingers and then put together the paint scheme for my Ostrich Riders. I’m fairly happy with the result, but there are a couple of touch ups I’d like to do to fix up the model.

The rider here has a throwing javelin I know, but some of the other riders have reflex bows. For the purpose of variety, I’m happy having both in the same unit.

As a side note, all my Goblin Slingers, bar two (one that fled and the other that survived by the skin of his teeth) were destroyed in a recent game of Song of Blades and Heroes. Let’s hope they fair better in Battlelore when I finally get to use them for it!

If anyone is interested I can post stats for the Battlelore minis to use with SoBH (which is a great way to use them while your slowly painting them up)

- Ben.

Special Birthday Cake and Photos of Models in New Basing

G’day, just a brief update today.

I recently had my 27th birthday. I celebrated with a few close friends and caught up with family. They all know that I’ve been working on Song of Fur and Buttons, which is based on the Teddy Bear models produced by Eureka Miniatures. Little did I expect my mum to bake a cake quite like the following.

Needless to say I was wrapped! So a big thanks to my mum for not only taking an interest in what I’m doing, but to follow through with such an awesome cake! Thanks mum. xoxo

I also just thought I’d post some photos of how the new bases look with a variety of models sitting in them. You can click on them to view them at a larger size.

ERM15 Frogfolk

Unreleased Rebel Minis Swamp Dwellers

Splintered Light Miniatures Bat Goblin Clan Bat Riders

Splintered Light Miniatures Bat Goblin Clan General and Shaman Bases

(Notice the removable tree to help with creating interesting scenes on the bases – this can also be applied to capturing enemy flags, heroes etc…)

Well, hopefully soon I can give you some more updates on Song of Fur and Buttons, Dusk and Mighty Armies Invasion, which are all going quite well.

- Ben.

Multipurpose Basing Done the Right Way!

Time to pop in for another blog update I thought to myself this morning.

I had been looking at the new Splintered Light Druid’s Children minis recently and thinking – man I really want these guys. They conjure up images of Redwall and Mouse Guard, but I was even more excited when I heard about a supplement being written for Song of Blades and Heroes specifically for these models – awesome!

I also thought how cool would they be in Mighty Armies, HOTT or Fantasy Rules! This brought me back to multi purpose basing again. My last attempt at it was ok, but too time consuming. I also found that the putty I used began to flake with the constant removing and replacing of models. They weren’t practical for longevity.

So I went down to the local Mitre 10 and asked around. After about a total of 6 minutes, I was walking out with some holesaws of various sizes. Now these weren’t the cheapest things I’ve ever bought, but well worth it if you’re going to be doing a lot of multibase stuff. A 20mm was perfect for the washers I use for basing my 15mm stuff. The 25mm one will be perfect for both basing 28mm models and 15mm cavalry. I intend to get a 40mm one for monsters as well – the system works that well that I intend to make bases for my 28mm stuff too.

Next, I grabbed a base and marked out some circles using spare washers that I use for basing 15mm. You could put as many as you want on – being sure to leave some space between so you don’t split the wood. I have tried this on 80mmx40mm bases and 80mmx80mm bases.

The demonstration is on 80mmx80mm bases simply because I liked how this one came out

Next, I attached the drill bit and used a work station to drill the holes halfway through the wood. Then I flipped and drilled through the rest. Its easy to keep your place because the bit shown above actually screws onto an actual drill bit, so you have the small hole in the middle to guide you. I did it this way after several bases came out with quite a bit of splintering around the edge. Doing it this way helps to stop this.

After some quick sanding (all of 5 seconds on each hole), I spread some PVA glue on the underside (not too much) and place it on top of another undrilled base. I made sure that the grains went in opposite directions to avoid warping. Then I just chucked some cheap hand clamps on each edge and left it for 30 mins. I had a set of 8 clamps, so I have two bases going at once and I just did some over the course of the day.

After half an hour, I just take the clamps off and use a stanley knife to trim the excess glue from around the edge of the base. The extra glue in the base holes can be removed with a toothpick or other small implement and will take all of 20 seconds for the whole base.

The next step was to paint them black and the flock them. It sounds like a long process, but in reality its quite quick. You just set a few up and come back to them later in the day. I have been able to whip up quite a number in very short time. The great thing is that you can drill the holes wherever you want to provide an interesting display for your models rather than packing them in on a base. I prefer this new method, but I know your milage may vary. If you do try this, please let me know how it goes – I’d love to see how your bases come out!

Remember, you can click on any of the images to view them at a larger size!

- Ben.