Holiday News, Awards, and Anniversaries

Well, that crazy Chicago winter could be an excuse for my hibernation, sure, lets call it; but I am back with some cool news that is late to the point most likely.

First things first, I won! The internet is full of awesome, real awards; and this is the highest among them!

This fella is called the Liebster Award and given by bloggers to bloggers. A tip of the cap with no wag of the finger. So that is cool. Here are the qualifications.

1. Copy and paste the award on your blog linking it to the blogger who has given it you.

2. Pass the award to your top 5 favourite blogs with less than 200 followers by leaving a comment on one of their posts to notify them that they have won the award and listing them on your own blog.

3. Sit back and bask in the warm fuzzy feeling that comes with knowing you have made someones day!

4. There is no obligation to pass this onto someone else but its nice if you take the time to do so.  

I am totally going to break the rules and issue a challenge! I am going to nominate only 3 fellow blogs, until I see some returns from this nomination! Sneaky Hobbitseesssss

1. There and Blog Again

Brent, occasional blogger, ordinary friend ;), and evil Colts supporter! while his updates maybe hot or cold, his constant torch bearing for The Lord of the Rings SBG game, now The Hobbit, proves his worth. Organizer of the now largest Indy Rings US event, hopefully this can spur some more frequent updates! 

2. Purple Sounds Wargaming

Matt made it out to last years Adepticon and hopefully we can get him out again! Loves to paint and lots of new models going up all the time. Keep up the good work!

3. Chicago Terrain Factory

Rich, member of the inner sanctum of Adepticon; I admit that I have not devoted enough time reading all the back log of great articles but real cool emphasis on historical models. Great stuff there. 

With this glorious blogger achievement a weird milestone of my hobby world has been reached. 11 years have passed since stepping from my door and traveling down the path of hobby stuff. This odd year milestone is represented by Rings of Paint. 

 While it may not be 11 years worth of paint, it is damn near close. Time to start a new pile of paint and mixing pad for the future.


Up next, some new game came out to preface the release of a great new movie. 

Yes folks, coming to you in 3D and BluRay, The Hobbit! Lots of model previews and reviews have been all over the web so we can avoid that repetition but they can be found here. Gamesworkshop

A lot has been said over the Starter set drama, being that the starter rulebook did not contain complete profiles for the models. While some slight of hand with GW's marketing is surely present (it was actually a great profit practice from that sole angle) overall I think GW did not mess up this release too badly.

Yes the main rulebook costs $85, but that is in line with the other big systems, Warhammer and Warhammer 40k. From an equality stand point it is an upgrade to The Lord of the Rings popularity.

Just like the first go around, GW has made some great models based on the movie to those that are interested in those factions or sculpts. Some veteran players like myself are waiting for the juicier releases that will premiere with the later movies.

 No new Rings armies planned, but adding a custom built Watcher in the water to my goblin force is in the works. Having not seen one of these on the table at this past Bilbo's Birthday Bash tournament I really wanted to get one out there and deep strike some enemy formations.

 I finally want to get my troll catapult chief painted up and maybe clear out some of the backlog.

 Another side project is something completely different and going revolutionary with some Legends of the high seas marines!