Showing posts with label Warlord Games. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Warlord Games. Show all posts

Monday, April 3, 2017

Adepticon 2017 Bolt Action Coverage





Adpeticon 2017 is in the books and it was another one to remember. 4 days of Bolt Action, 4 different styled events, one ultimate weekend. Bolt Action happened!

Before we go into results and coverage, I would like to thank our sponsors organizers.

Warlord Games
Trenchworx
Cigar Battle Mats
Pworks Battle Mats
Stoessi’s Heroes
Noble Knight Games, WI

Of course the big one, Adepticon. Without the continued support, trust, and ass kickery, we would not be able to have these events. On top of that, our local terrain contributions should not go unrecognized.

Jeremy Olsen
Mercenary Miniatures
Brent Sinclair

Friday, March 24
Bolt Action Team Event

22 teams entered the arena and fought 3 games of tough, 4 way order dice battle. Teams brought 1600 total points, 800 per side. 1 armored platoon per team. Reinforced, theater selectors, and campaign books all included. We organized proper Axis vs Allied match ups and had an even mix of those sides for the event. With one willing partisan team swapping sides where needed….

Nationality make ups included, Japanese, Finnish, German, US, Soviet, Italian, Polish, Vichy French, British, Sikh, Aussie, and Romanians.

The theme for the event was Spring Awakening. The Axis generals were organizing one last offensive to repel the Allied invasion. There were not predetermined missions. Each round, the results were weighed, and whichever side had 51% victories, dictated the direction on the flow chart we would follow. A choose your own adventure if you will.

The Allies carried the day through each round, so we followed the far left track on the chart below. Sectors, Key positions, and No Man’s Land. 



I also had made up secret bonuses to be achieved and rewarded depending on certain map results and depending on which side may need a little more support. Some included, Increased AP shells +1, out of fuel chart, misguided air and artillery strikes, bonus medic model etc. These were given out on the judge’s discretion to whichever side need a boost. The Axis more or less given battle results.

Winners and Awards

For those that attend my events in the past, this will be no surprise, but I do not award a “Best Overall” in this team event. I find it encourages a harder mindset and more aggressive lists. I award “Sportsmanship” as a top prize followed by Generals and Appearance.

Best Sportsmanship
Ben Thompson and Andrew Verticchio

Best Axis Generals
Sean Vilmont and Ryan Carlson

Best Allied Generals
Ryan Miller and Chris Pawl

Best Appearance
Dan Van Hese and Jeremy Olsen



Saturday/Sunday, March 25/26
US Nationals

The second annual US Nationals continued its success with 34 registered players, over two days and five games. The missions chosen were slightly modified 2nd edition missions.

Again, we had a great mix of armies with a slight leaning towards more Axis players. A significant drop in USA forces, I believe can be attributed to the increase in AA gun power in 2nd edition.

Winners and Awards

Best Overall
Dexter Wallis

Best Sportsmanship
Matt Doyle

Best Axis General
Sean Vilmont

Best Allied General
Geoffrey Wing

Best Appearance
Dan Van Hese



For the first time I have ever seen in a tournament, we had a dead tie for best overall. Battle scores were used to break the tie.

Full photo coverage can be found here and to the right on the “Adepticon 2017 photo album”

Disclaimer: You may see some odd tables or photos of those said battles. These campy or cheesy looking tables were deployed for a reason. We all have the great opportunity to play this game and have a good time. Sometimes this is forgotten and tempers rise or arguments ensue. These tables were meant to remind us to not be so serious and laugh at ourselves instead of scowl. Taking us back to when we did just play cops and robbers or setting up elaborate battlefields for our toy soldiers with whatever we had around us. Children at heart.

Depending how one may react to seeing these tables in use for a  historical game, maybe you should ask yourself, “why so serious?”

Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Las Vegas Open 2017 Bolt Action Results and Recap



 While the NY skyline was outside, inside was some great bolt action! The Las Vegas Open 2017 hosted their first Bolt Event. We had 22 players arrive with 11 tables. We had some great sponsors provide startup terrain for the event. Angry Mojo Games Laser cut us a wide variety of terrain to get a good foundation. 

Desert, city ruins, bunkers, roads and the like. 

 Italians facing off in the Tunisia desert
 The Russian rockets storm the ruins of their once great city.
 Japanese loyalists find themselves storming an airfield
 British 8th army fights to expel the Germans from Africa and into Italy.
  A KV-1 prowls the ruins of a Russian apartment block.
 Some slick banners set up for our 3 rows of tables.
 The Germans advance behind a T-34 wreck. The battle of Kursk is far from over.

 A tiger defends the homeland....
 Hunting a tiger in the jungle is very tricky. You have to be very very quiet...

 DAK forces surround a Japanese squad...
 Defending that Italian wine is the #1 order for these Brits...

 Group shot of the crew
 Table row 1
 Table row 2

 Table row 3




Here is a quick recap of the results from the Las Vegas Open Bolt Action 2017 Tournament. It is ranked in overall score which was a weighted value on each of the side columns. Theme max was x/5, Painting max was x/15. Recap and more photos to follow.

A big shout and thanks to our sponsors, prize support, hosts, and helpers.

Warlord Games and Jay Casper (prizes and support)
Kraken Skulls Consortium (Trophies)
Angry Mojo Games (Terrain)
Trenchworx (prizes)
Frontline (terrain and hosts)

Sunday, October 30, 2016

1943: Battle of Kiev and Operation Sting


 Finished up the diorama for my "Battle of Kiev" Bolt Action German Army. Hoping I can lead it to more victories than what the 4th Panzers faced that November.



 This gem came from a Painting War magazine, top notch sculpt.
 Enemy at the gates inspiration.....

 "Get me those TPS reports!"
 3 man weapon team bases. All are magnetized for kill counting...

 The puppy has +4 penetration in close quarters combat. Also fires a mean russian LMG...
 The German Mario Brothers, just reminds me of those bricks you smash...
 Explosion modeled folks.
 Medium mortar made from a bazooka piece.... one of these days I will buy the actual mortar kit for an army....

 NCO "Badass". Nothing can stop him.
 Dead tank commander... maybe it would have rolled better if they had a live commander....
 Mist cloud....
 German MMGs line up for the Russian inexperienced horde....

 Pretty Bofors ready to go

 Panther 187's 2nd confirmed kill, another French tank...
 Hot tank on tank action. Late Night Operation Sting....
 Awaiting the USMC advance.
BARs and shotguns make mince meat out of even the toughest ambush order.

Not to blame dice....but lets just say those 3 bricks will not ever be leaving that hotel trash can... Time for a new dice order. Panthers don't not kill stuff, bad dice rolling doesn't kill things.... the new German national rules rock and I can't wait for 'Tiger fear" for these big cats. I really want to get these guys out more but I fear the hobby bug has bit and I am again torn in a new direction for a new army.... gonna keep it in the German family though. 

Sunday, July 24, 2016

Batte of Kiev: Uncut




The first of my battle of Kiev diorama is going live! All the models are based and ready for paint! This is one image that really inspired this display piece. I also have just really wanted to do a German force since the beginning but never got around to it. Since making some battle of the bulge snow covered shermans, this cemented my terrain season for the force.

 The Bolt Action list rests in the eastern front because of the first introduction of the Panther tank. The rules are cool because for a reduced point cost, there is a fun theme of the tank potentially breaking down each time you move it.
 I also really wanted to make this piece be a giant action scene. Who remembers the Halo 3 ad campaign? This building has the debris explosions added. It is simulating an artillery round coming from above. Inside will be my very own ARC reactor....

I Tony Starked it and cut up some of these tap lights. They will be inside the building shining bright to simulate the exact moment the round explodes. Total Hollywood.



This thing rocked. I wanted to translate that to a World War 2 setting. Just absolute chaos with mini scenes unfolding all around. Each time you look at it you see something new.

 The models have a lot of Hollywood poses and each model is caught in its own heroic movie moment. This is a raw version. 75% of the special effects and fine details cannot be added until after painting. This half track has a T34 armor piercing round flying through it on its way to hit the panther....
 There are around 40 magnets all over this piece each allowing different models to be moved to bases for game play, special effects to be removed or attached. Blood splatters, snow clouds from shock waves, exploding bricks, ricocheting bullets, mid-air tank rounds, mortar muzzle flash are all in store.

The tank top comes off and inside is a PoweredPlay LED board. It is set to flicker to simulate sparking wires in the engine.