Tabletop Teacher

One of the interesting things that has cropped up with me starting the blog is the number of people handing me stories. I've posted them a few times, and even had one battle report, but there's one guy who keeps sending me some slightly disturbing stuff. But I'd be lying if I didn't say they weren't enthralling. Here's one story from the guy. "Hi Teach, I was reading your post about DnD, and I just wanted to share this story. Like I said before, I DM games over on [redacted], and had just started with a new PUG [Ed- pick up group]. Simple enough game, literally going through the Pathfinder starter box kit but they'd made some custom characters for it. Awful, awful players though, as you'd expect from my stories. There was a "spell sword" who had taken the starter wizard and given him a Great sword, an atheist cleric (real original), and a gnome paladin. As you'd expect, the wizard got his head cut off by Goblins be...

Can't blog. Writing reports. Up to 8,000 words. However, here's some new High Elves (Aelves/Asur) I got in the mail. This whole army for £15, thanks to eBay! A nice counterpoint to the Stormcast, Chaos, Undead and Orks that are currently populating our Age of Sigmar tables.  The whole thing  The swift hammer...  The nimble anvil Geoff has been an enthusiastic student and will ne- Damn wrong text box. I hope to god I haven't written about elves and griffons in someone's report. Until next time! Thanks for reading. If you liked what you saw, and you want to help out, please leave a comment. Sharing this with your friends, and following me on Twitter , Facebook or Google+ would also be hugely appreciated. If you have anything you want me to look at, let me know in the comments below. I'll probably be able to write an article about that topic within a day! If you really love what I do here, you can make a one off donation ...

Where limited is about a year. This year's anniversary model is unsurprisingly a Primaris Space Marine.  Taken from Warhammer Community Not a bad looking model, this is a Primaris Captain. Worth getting if you're not too enamoured with the other captain being released soon:  Not as special as the above Captain These two are very similar, but I have to admit there's something a little better about the Birthday Battle Brother. The Birthday model will be available whenever your local shop has its opening day anniversary. It will effectively be available all year if you're willing to travel for it. Other than that, not much to say. With 8th Edition released, most table toppers are feverishly putting together models. enjoy the quiet time for now until the next big update. probably the Primaris Space Codex. Until next time! Thanks for reading. If you liked what you saw, and you want to help out, please leave a comment. Sharing this with your...

The General's Handbook last year is perhaps what saved Age of Sigmar in many people's minds. The biggest change was the inclusion of points values for matched play, something that had been sorely lacking in AoS up to its release. Whilst many people tried to create weird and wonderful systems (such as the Wound counting method which really favoured glass cannons), actual competitive play was very difficult. The AoS core rules only take into account relative army sizes, again sort of meaningless when we don't know relative strengths of individual models. Bringing in points, thus fair competitive play, meant that tourney players could once again get invested in Warhammer. The new General's Handbook, rather than being a band aid on a somewhat broken game (regardless of what you may think, competitive games without balance are never received well by players... and yes, tabletop war games are inherently competitive), this new book is going to be adding layers of co...

Perhaps not of much interest to veteran players, but of great interest to a teacher like myself, there are three new hobby hooks for new players looking to start in 40K. Starting with what I think is the best is First Strike.  Budget starter for 40K Probably worth it for that 3 man Intercessor squad data sheet alone, this box represents the cheapest way to get games of 40K going. As someone who regularly has to recommend a £100 box set as the best place to start to students, this is very welcome. A minor criticism I've been holding for Dark Imperium has been the lack of tutorial missions, but according to Warhammer Community this box set will have those crucial starter games. The gaming mat and box set turning into cardboard scenery is of major interest to myself, as my students are getting a bit fed up with fighting on the Varnished Wood wasteland of Lab Count'a. This is a great segue into Dark Imperium, particularly if you like the Death Guard. Frankly ...

Just a quick one on these guys, and a little pat on the back for Games Workshop.  Gooey. These are easy build Death Guard Plague Marines, as revealed on Warhammer Community . There's absolutely nothing wrong with the models, and they even match well with the Dark Imperium numbers. Right now, the Dark Imperium box comes with 7 Plague Marines (Nurgle's number). These easy build plague Marines not only bump that up to a full squad of 10, but bring a special weapon with them. What this means is that you can now field one big Plague Marine unit, or two 5-man units each with a special weapon. Good.  Really gooey. Not so great with these guys, but easy to build horde models are alwas welcome. Unfortunately these look like they come in packs of six, and thus don't really gel well with the models you get from Dark Imperium. That said, they do have a rule where models they kill have a chance of adding to their unit, so maybe having some spare will be ...

You blink for a second, and the marketing wheels spins out 3 new kits. Keep your eyes on Warhammer Community guys, because there are new Primaris Space Marines on the horizon!  True Grit... real men hold bolters one handed. First up is the Captain. Games Workshop have been a bit Spartan on the details for this model, but what we do know is good. Despite rocking the Roman Mohawk, there will be no chapter icons on the model. You can make this guy into a White Scar, Ultramarine or even something a bit more special. As for rules, well, we can speculate it to have Rites of Battle like the current Captain in Gravis armour. It's simply too good a synergy with the Primaris Lieutenants, the Captain giving re-rolls on To-Hits of 1, and the Lieutenants giving the same on wounds. This guy looks familiar... Lookingsuspiciously like the Dark Vengeance Librarian crossed with Obi-Wan Kenobi, the next model up is a Primaris Librarian. That's all I really have to s...

The first of the Primaris Field Police squads are done. Commissioned by Guilliman and the current Chapter Masters to maintain law and order amongst the besieged Imperium, these Primaris Marines have a clear mandate that stretches them beyond mere Founding Chapter loyalties. Their mission is simple; ensure the Emperor's Laws are upheld. Whether these are broken by citizens, Space Marines or even the new Primaris Marines, no one is above the law. Indeed, to maintain their objectivity, the gene-seed origin of this chapter is known only to Guilliman and the other Chapter Masters. Thus no chapter can plead with them for clemency based on shared genetics. Not that they are beyond mercy. For them is the constant debate between the Letter and Spirit of The Law. For a set of laws as expansive as the Imperium's, such interpretation is necessary. Thus, when a citizen steals bread to feed his family, the Judge Veterans of the chapter can step in to grant mercy. And their judg...

The quick and easy Plague Marines I posted about earlier are complete. These are the Nurgle's Gardeners. Whilst they may not have as bone chilling name as other Death Guard, their reputation is perhaps more terrifying. Not simple content with waging war in Nurgle's name, their goal is to create wondrous farms and gardens where Nurgle's creatures may grow. As soon as they make planet fall, poxes and airborne diseases are released into the atmosphere, in the hope that they will take root in the inhabitants there and prosper. The Gardeners will emerge from their ships, investigating population centers and carefully selecting organisms for host bodies. Sometimes these organisms will resist and attempt to struggle against their tender care, but the Gardeners simply smile and set to gently removing these obstacles with bolter and plague knife. Slowly, and inexorably, the planet and inhabitants succumb to their good natured invasions and infections, until peace is sp...

Page 113 of the new Rule Book for 40K has a full spread devoted to the Eldar. A little mystery (but one I'm sure could be solved speedily) is a mysterious extra part to the Eldar family tree. The artwork is pure classic 40K, from the Blanche-ian style, dripping with gothic metal style. These are re-purposed images. The little mystery piece for me is the third image, the one that was redacted from Imperial records. What's irritating me right now is that I could swear I've seen it before. The symbol is obviously Slaanesh, and there's every chance that was some early artwork of daemonettes or the Prince(cess) of Pleasure themselves. But I'd like to know... Symbolism is everything to the Eldar, and you can see how the lines for the Craftworlders, Dark Eldar and Corsairs feed into the Slaaenshi emblazoned image. Clearly they are linked there, but that's nothing new. What's interesting is that the Exodites are not. There's a tenuous link be...

Ok, I know I promised a rocket video, but I need to edit out the students. Child Protection is something any teacher worth their chalk takes seriously. Instead here's my guide to painting Khorne Bloodbound: Don't bother with the brush... just dunk him in there. Khorne loves that. Ok, that's not how I really paint these guys, and here's a link to an actual painting guide . The conical flask there is full of fake blood I'm using for a murder mystery.  Blood group testing The samples out of the blood group test teaching packet looked more like water melon juice than blood. I'm just doing some custom samples now. What? Theatricality is important in the classroom. Why wouldn't I spend my free time making realistic looking blood samples? Until next time! Thanks for reading. If you liked what you saw, and you want to help out, please leave a comment. Sharing this with your friends, and following me on Twitter , Facebook or Google+...

... or how to compromise. The Twitter poll was a bit of a dud, ending in 50% for White Scars, and 50% for Field Police. So I put them together. Behold! The Primaris Field Police! Just... not done yet You know what? I like it. There's certainly a nice theme to be had of a new chapter out to police the new Primaris Marines in this founding. Flipping the colours around from the old Field Police means that my old Marines will still stand out amongst the newbies. I'll also reserve the black armour for veterans, who can now be properly termed Judges... Judge Dreadnought approves of his new Veteran status What do you guys think? Until next time! Thanks for reading. If you liked what you saw, and you want to help out, please leave a comment. Sharing this with your friends, and following me on Twitter , Facebook or Google+ would also be hugely appreciated. If you have anything you want me to look at, let me know in the comments below. I'll probably be abl...

Sometimes I feel as though I do things for the awful puns I can title the projects with. I do not apologise for this behaviour. Quick and dirty plague marine This is a Plague Marine from the Dark Imperium box set. My students aren't ever so fussed about the paint job of Chaos Marines, and they tend to say that the spiky bits and tentacles carry the model no matter what the colour. Basically they were just excited to play with the damn thing, and as a teacher I was happy to oblige. Getting students engaged in anything is the first step to outstanding teaching. This took about one hour to paint, and that included letting the paint dry. Undercoat White Wash the white with thinned Ushabti Bone. Base coat the restof the armour (WAAAGH Flesh, Hashut Copper, Khorne Red) Heavy wash of Agrax Earthshade Done. There's certainly more detail I can do later, but in terms of getting this model to tabletop and looking the part, it's done the trick. Until next ti...

For some Astartes, jump packs are not enough. For some Astartes, true flight for mankind is the goal. For this Space Marine... only piercing the heavens will do...  Primaris Inceptors think their jet packs are cool...  This Astartes sneers at Swooping Hawk wings! This is where Warhammer 40K and teaching Science intersect. And... It. Is. Glorious. MWAAHAAHAHAHAHAHA!! Launch tomorrow. Thanks for reading. If you liked what you saw, and you want to help out, please leave a comment. Sharing this with your friends, and following me on Twitter , Facebook or Google+ would also be hugely appreciated. If you have anything you want me to look at, let me know in the comments below. I'll probably be able to write an article about that topic within a day! If you really love what I do here, you can make a one off donation at my  PayPal , or become a true hero to table top education and make a regular donation to my  Patreon . Every Li...

You know... my wife knows exactly what to put in my toddler son's hands for a good Father's Day treat! Thanks to both of them! Until next time! Thanks for reading. If you liked what you saw, and you want to help out, please leave a comment. Sharing this with your friends, and following me on Twitter , Facebook or Google+ would also be hugely appreciated. If you have anything you want me to look at, let me know in the comments below. I'll probably be able to write an article about that topic within a day! If you really love what I do here, you can make a one off donation at my  PayPal , or become a true hero to table top education and make a regular donation to my  Patreon . Every Little helps!

Time to go to the shops! Well for you guys at least. I have a staff training session this morning. Followed by Open Morning where I'm leading one of the key activities. And then house barbecue. But you guys have no excuse! Go out, get the 8 ED box now! Thanks for reading. If you liked what you saw, and you want to help out, please leave a comment. Sharing this with your friends, and following me on Twitter , Facebook or Google+ would also be hugely appreciated. If you have anything you want me to look at, let me know in the comments below. I'll probably be able to write an article about that topic within a day! If you really love what I do here, you can make a one off donation at my  PayPal , or become a true hero to table top education and make a regular donation to my  Patreon . Every Little helps!

As I shot past the 6 month mark without realising, thanks to a combination of 8th Edition and exam season kicking off, I thought it would be a good idea to do a quick stock check of how things were progressing now. In case you were wondering, unlike the other two Birthday blogs where I was at a parents evening, I'm acting as monitor for a GCSE exam as I write this. This is like an unofficial invigilator, who is just a spare person to take people to the loo, escort unwell students to the school nurse etc. There's not much to do apart from work on a laptop at the back of the exam room, so I have some time to do this. The blog was started on the 24th October 2016, so we're closer to the 8 month mark than anything. As of when I write this (14th June 2017), there are the following stats: Post count: 261 Days active: 233 Posts per day: 1.12 Previous posts per day: 1.27 Laws of averages fully coming into effect here. As long as I stick to a post-a-day s...

So... with 8th Edition just a few days away, I have a decision to make. What chapter should the clubs new Primaris Space Marines belong to? There are two options: White Scars or my own Space Marine Field Police. Both are fairly unique, and I haven't seen any White Scars up. I enjoy painting both, but they are complete opposites to each other. What should I choose? White Scars or Space Marine Field Police... There will be a Twitter poll up here , but I wanted to put something extra fun in this. People that comment on this post with good, quality reasons for choosing Scars or Police will count for 5 votes on the poll. If you really impress, I'll up that to 10. As a final bonus, commenters will get the chance to name the Characters in the new Primaris army. This could be as simple as a Sergeant in a squad, all the way up to the Captain. Of course, if you have any better ideas, I would go for that too! Any original chapter, or other established ...

The Chaos side of the starter pack, Warhammer TV's Duncan has released a video on how to construct the Death Guard models in Dark Imperium. Not much more to report on that, but tune in tomorrow for a brief run down of Adeptus Mechanicus in 8th Edition. Until next time! Thanks for reading. If you liked what you saw, and you want to help out, please leave a comment. Sharing this with your friends, and following me on Twitter , Facebook or Google+ would also be hugely appreciated. If you have anything you want me to look at, let me know in the comments below. I'll probably be able to write an article about that topic within a day! If you really love what I do here, you can make a one off donation at my  PayPal , or become a true hero to table top education and make a regular donation to my  Patreon . Every Little helps!