Gaming Table Project : Mat-O-War Gaming Mat

As mentioned in my last Postcards from the Edge, I placed an order for a 6'x4' gaming mat to begin a gaming table project, having secured ad hoc terraforming rights to the dining room from my good lady wife.

Blood Drinker Scout Squad Pugio

I have realised, quite ashamedly, that the Edge has been suffering from a distinct lack of 'lead in its posts' and I hereby attempt to remedy that rather embarrassing condition. (Please note this is not an invite for spam bots to send me links offering prescriptions for Ultra pills from Dr M.Calgar!)

Gone From The Warp : Ron Hangs Up His Hat

It is with great sadness that I read today of Ron's decision to suspend indefinitely his From The Warp Blog Spot. Ron has been and will remain a giant amongst the 40k blogging community; it was his site that first lured me away from the forums, inspired me to join in with the community and start a blog of my own.

Books in Brief : Galaxy in Flames by Ben Counter

A worthy end to the beginning; after the hectic excess of Fulgrim it was good to come off the accelerator and return to solid steady writing.

Counter brings the opening salvo of the Heresy to its dramatic conclusion at Isstvan III and as such is gifted the headline event of this trilogy of the series; he does not disappoint and proves more than up to the task, with a well paced, exciting read.

This book is dark with a capital D, as loyalties are betrayed, sides finally drawn and true natures revealed. The might and horror of conflict between Astartes is portrayed in some overwhelming action set pieces.

Despite knowing the ultimate outcome, there were enough little surprises to keep me guessing and through all the sad loss of heroes, the possibility of a few unfinished tales left a burning ember of hope for future books.

Pardon Our Dust

Had a couple of spare hours today and decided to have a tidy up and do some more remodeling to the Edge. I know, you'd of thought I'd have learnt my lesson by now, but I just can't help tinkering; Blogger has such wonderful toys.

Forty First's Famous Faces : Take Two

As this topic from last month was so popular, generating more comments than any other of my posts thus far; not difficult I know, but hey, always take time to celebrate the little things in life. I thought I'd give it a second outing, especially as your comments have generated some great new examples and ideas.

Blood Drinkers Fandex : Chapter Fortress

Well it's been a couple of months since I've posted on this subject, I keep going back and tweaking what I've already done as ideas get refined and new ones come to mind; it's a blessing and a curse as it means the material gets better but forward momentum is lost. It's a character trait which affects my painting efforts as well, as I'm constantly going back over finished miniatures to bring them into line with my newer stuff.

Anyway, here is a new addition to the Blood Drinkers Fandex detailing the various Chapter facilities of their homeworld.

Battle Report 4 : The Quater Mine

The next battle that I fought in the Lalinta Prime campaign was against Tom and his Chaos Space Marines. Flushed with my decisive victory over Will's Eldar, I made the lazy and as it would turn out foolhardy decision to field much the same army as the previous game; just swapping out flamers for melta guns due to the increased armour of the Traitor Legions and leaving Heavy Bolters on the Razorbacks.

1500 point battle Blood Drinkers v's Chaos Space Marines

Books in Brief : Fulgrim by Graham McNeill

As with all the Heresy books if you are a fan; the subject matter sells itself. This instalment starts well introducing more of the Emperors Children and digging deeper into their ethos of perfection and thus their terrible flaw.

However I found as the book went on, the writing became frantic and rushed; it's narrative bloated and excessive. It was almost as if McNeill, in writing about the 'Children', was being tainted by them; there is a sense of arrogance in his writing here. I read another review which said and I quote 'McNeill if only you were as good as you think you are.' That's more than a little unkind, but not without basis in this instance.

The author layers on overused descriptive passages to cover an apparent lack of original thought and crams so much of it into the final chapters as to make you wade through it in search of the end of the book. I also got the feeling he may have taken some personal offence at not getting to write Galaxy in Flames and took it upon himself to insert his version of the Isstvan campaign in at the end. As I was reading this as a bridge between False Gods and Flames, it kind of spoiled the plot for Flames.

All in all its an 'ok' addition to the series, but McNeill, like his chosen subject, succumbs to mad excess and destroys his art.

A Matter of Choice : Your Thoughts?

I'm currently suffering the nightly after effects of a hard training week at work; with my body not so kindly reminding me, via various aches and pains, that I'm not as young as I used to be. My power save function seems to kick in as soon as my tired arse graces the sofa; as a result there has been little activity on the hobby front for me since my last post.

In the meantime I'd like to ask for your valued opinions on a special character / unit I'm considering for my Blood Drinker army.