Primed some old RT era Marines today.

I primed some of my favorite models today, can't wait to get them painted...

Clearly this one took a power fist to the face at some point.

There is some helmet damage on this one...

Heavy bolter, this is one of my all time favorite models from the RT days.

Two more of the Gaping Maw are ready

They may not be pretty, but I am going for a grim, dirty look. These are as done as they are going to get. I need the practice obviously and to learn more patience.

New lamp, one painted Marine.

I bought a new lamp/magnifying glass today to help my aging eyes (even though my eyes are still fatigued after painting all day) and tested it out on Sgt. Zwar, the first real painting I have done in years.

My new lamp..

Mission Statement for my return to Oldhammer 40k.

I suppose I should state my aim with my newly kindled interest in Oldhammer 40k. While working on my WARBAND! game (basically chaos 40k D&D in a space hulk), I started rummaging through my old 40k collections and digging out my old minis. This lead me to buying a few of the newer models (at quite a discount) on ebay, and the next thing I know, I have bought new paints, brushes, you know, I’m in deep.

Sadly I haven’t gamed in the 40k universe since the mid-90’s (I got into the game in 87 with RT). I had bought a codex here and there since then, but never had the interest to sink the amount of money needed to get back into the game seriously (I honestly don’t know how GW expects a kid to play this game, but that is a well worn out subject). So, I dusted off Rogue Trader, and my 2nd edition books.

My plan is to get enough models painted so I can introduce my son and step-sons to the game.

I don’t plan on grand battles with tons of models, I want small skirmishes with maybe 10 to 20 models per side, but with plenty of character. So, I tossed out the 40k universe, and started working on something my Ugarit 40k setting.

The battles will be between 750 point warbands, with points based on the army lists for 2nd edition. The first list I have completed is for the Gaping Maw legion (Sons of Moloch). The list includes a Captain, standard bearer (if wanted), veteran sergeants, veterans, assault squads, and tactical squads. Squads will generally be between 3 and 12 or so models.

I have not included weapons designed for anti-vehicles, nor any grenades other than frag. I want to keep this small and simple (not just for the kids, but for my aging mind).

I hope to get a few figures painted up in the coming days so we can start pushing some minis around the battlefield soon.

Here is the army list / wargear for the Sons of Moloch (the Eater of Worlds), Gaping Maw legion.

The Gaping Maw Wargear List

The Warbands of the Gaping Maw legion prefer close quarter combat, and are known to charge fearlessly into melee.

Armor

Terminator Armor              49

(with stormbolter and power fist)

Terminator Armor              49

(with lightning claws)

Terminator Armor              51

(with stormbolter and chain fist)

Terminator Armor              45

(with stormbolter and power sword)

Assault Weapons

Chain Blade (axe or sword)    2

Power Blade (axe or sword)     7

Power Fist                      10

Bolt Pistol                    2

Hand Flamer                   7

Plasma Pistol                  8

Special Weapons

Bolt Gun                       3

Flamer                         9

Meltagun                      8

Plasma Gun                    8

Heavy Weapons

Heavy Bolter                  15

Lascannon                      45

Mult-Melta                    65

Heavy Plasma Gun              40

Terminator Heavy Weapons

Assault Cannon                41

Heavy Flamer                  21

Terminator Assault Weapons

Power Sword                   6

Lightning Claws               7

Chain Fist                     2

WARBAND RESAR (Chief) 95 points

A Warband must be lead by a Resar.

M WS BS S T W I A Ld

4 7 7 5 5 3 7 3 10

Weapons: Bolt pistol and frag grenades

Armour: Power armor (3+ save)

Wargear: May have additional equipment from the Armor, Assault Weapons,

and Special Weapons.

Strategy: Rating of 5

Special: Any warrior of his Warband within 12” may use his Ld when taking

a leadership test.

WARBAND STANDARD 55 points

A Warband can have 1 standard if desired.

M WS BS S T W I A Ld

4 5 5 4 4 1 5 1 9

Weapons: Bolt pistol and frag grenades.

Armor: Power armor (3+ save)

Wargear: May have additional equipment from the Armor, Assault Weapons,

and Special Weapons.

Special: Any member of the same Warband within 12” of the standard may re-roll the dice if they fail a break test.

VETERAN SERGEANT +5 points

A Veteran Sergeant can be purchased as a replacement for any Assault or Tactical squad.

M WS BS S T W I A Ld

4 5 5 4 4 1 5 1 9

Weapons: Bolt pistol and frag grenades.

Armor: Power armor (3+ save)

Wargear: May have additional equipment from the Armor, Assault Weapons,

and Special Weapons.

VETERAN WARBAND SQUAD 30 points/model

M WS BS S T W I A Ld

4 5 5 4 4 1 5 1 9

Weapons: Bolt pistol and frag grenades.

Armor: Power armor (3+ save)

Wargear: May have additional equipment from the Assault Weapons,

or Special Weapons.

Up to one model may take a weapon from the Heavy Weapons list.

ASSAULT SQUAD 25 points/model

M WS BS S T W I A Ld

4 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 8

Weapons: Bolt pistol and frag grenades.

Armor: Power armor (3+ save)

Wargear: May have additional equipment from the Assault Weapons list.

Up to 2 models may be equipped from the Special Weapons list.

The entire squad may be equipped with Jump Packs for +5

points/model.

TACTICAL SQUAD 25 points/model

M WS BS S T W I A Ld

4 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 8

Weapons: Bolter, Bolt pistol and frag grenades.

Armor: Power armor (3+ save)

Wargear: Up to 1 model may be equipped from the Heavy Weapons list.

Up to 2 models may be equipped from the Special Weapons list.

Simple green stripping day....

This afternoon / evening was spent scrubbing paint from a lot of models that had been soaking for the last 48 hours. It seems simple green works pretty well (with a good toothbrush and elbow grease).  I have some before and after shots of a Striking Scorpion, as well as the lot I cleaned up (mostly) today...

My hands are cramping like crazy now, so no painting tonight...

More musings on the Ugarit 40k (the Future/Past)

UGARITIC LEGIONS

The legions of Ugarit are large bodies of warriors composed of hundreds of warbands, the overall leader of the legions is the  Sadsar (army chief). The Sadsar is one of the god-like beings created by Ilu (the god-king of the Ugarit Empire). Each legion is different, and there is little uniformity, either in size or tactics.

SADSARS OF ILU LEGION NAME

Anat (Mother of Fury) Sons of Wrath

Baal (Bull of the Heavens) Storm Bulls

Dagon (Wolf of the Wild) Wolf Sons

Eshmun (Host of Serpents) Serpent Fangs

Kothar (Master of the Forge) Golden Hammers

Moloch (Eater of Worlds) Gaping Maw

Mot (Angel of Death) Skulls of Death

Yam (Lord of Terror) Eyes of Terror

The legions are responsible for their own patrol areas within the systems of the Ugarit Empire. Unfortunately for Ilu, the Sadsars often squabble over overlapping territories and sometimes raids and skirmishes between brother legions are unavoidable. These clashes never escalate to a full scale war. The Sadsars know better than to bring the wrath of Ilu upon themselves and always seek his favor.

UGARITIC WARBANDS

A typical warband consists of between 10 to 40 warriors and are lead by a Resar (chief). In game terms, a warband consists of 750 points worth of models (and war gear), this should field a unit consistent with a typcial warband.

As you can see from above, I have gone back to the sacred number of 8 for the children of Ilu, and have added Kothar to the mix. Also, I have worked out names for the other armies in my galaxy of man:

• The Aegyptian Confederation (humans, but using Eldar for models on the battlefield).
• The Orkish Hordes of Lagash (orks, naturally).
• The Mycenaean Legions (more humans, using grey knights for their forces and maybe some normal space marines as well - got some cheap grey knight models on ebay the other day).

Below we see a child being offered up to a representative of Moloch for recruitment into the Gaping Maw Legion.