MONDAY 14 DECEMBER
So, the fleet has arrived and I feel better already. It’s time to work out what to do with it.
While waiting for the fleet, I had taken the opportunity to build some terrain and had ‘improved’ it over time, for instance there are now better wave effects around the sandbars and rocks.
For those who are asking about the size of terrain pieces, suggested sizes are included in the Armada Map Pack, available as a free download from the Mantic website. HERE
I found this sand effect product to be very good.
I had a gaming mat custom-made by Gilli’s houSEWork.
I tested various water/wave effects to base then fleet and come up with a satisfactory solution.
I also got in some solo practise games using laminated cardboard ship pictures.
I was fortunate to have been given 2 early models and I painted these up to test colour schemes. The Orc Hammerfist was first on the painting table. I wasn’t keen on the rotating hammers and so rearranged the fists. I also thought that the masts were a bit flimsy and so replaced them with wooden poles and rearranged the sail scheme. I wanted a fleet-wide embellishment to make my fleet stand out and went with gilded sea monster skulls on the mast tops. I’m not a great painter and I hoped the skulls might distract from the painting disasters.
The Basilean ship needed different treatment. I wanted to limit the Basilean influence and have it similar colours to my Orc fleet and so went with the red and black scheme of my Rhordian army. So, here is the RS (Rhordian Ship) ‘Dowager Duchess’, first ship to be launched for the Rhordian fleet (its along story).
I have in fact decided not to pursue this colour scheme and will probably go with the ghost ship theme developed while waiting for delivery.
TUESDAY 15 DECEMBER
Big unboxing ceremony today. I have bought the starter set, Orc booster, 2 Smashers and the acrylic token set. Great fun. Initial thoughts:
• The rule book is outstanding. Really nicely presented and well-sized to take to tournaments and away games. I would have liked to see the ship statistics inside but that’s a small criticism. The rules are clear and concise.
• The ship models are really good. I don’t like the orc masts and the aesthetic of the Orc Hammerfist is not for me but a bit of minor modelling gets them back on track. As a personal bugbear, I would have liked to see the ships fit completely on their bases with no overhang.
• The other components in the box are presented to a very high quality.
And so on to clipping off the components and washing them before priming. Being that man who stuck the legs on his Goblin Slasher the wrong way up, I really appreciated the pictures in the album on the Armada Fanatics page showing how the ships fit together. [HERE]
Noticing the small parts, I very carefully identified the parts for each ship and kept them separate. And then mixed them all up when washing them. Sigh.
So, the first ships are being primed ready for a big painting day tomorrow.