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[serrate]

So, what's in the painting queue for everyone?  I actually did a little painting yesterday, mainly just assembly and base-coating, but it felt good to pick up the brushes again.  I'm working on some ASF's. 

Also, was reading a thread over on the boards about how to introduce new players to Aerotech, and someone suggested the scenario out of the old Battlespace book: 2 Congress-class frigates versus 1 Black Lion in an asteroid field.  I thought that sounded like a good start for capital-class aerotech, so I've got them assembled as well.  I also picked up some of the micro ASF's, but I'm unsure about how to base these.  Am I supposed to use the multi-hole bases, and put some on there to represent a fighter squadron?  Or base each individually?  If using the multi-hole base, am I supposed to not glue the fighters onto it, so that they can individually be removed as destroyed?  Or does the fighter stand only represent a squadron and is not intended to be used  WYSIWYG, similar to how we use infantry and BA bases?  Is there any advantage to basing individually, or is it the case that once you've got capital ships on the board, then fighters must be played at the squadron level?  Anyway, looking forward to learning some AT.   

Lastly, I really need to start using magnification for painting.  I just can't get the details I want without it, I think.  Plus it's giving me eye-strain trying to pick out small details, although that's partially the fault of just not having enough light.  Can you guys recommend a good light/magnifier?  Is something like this good enough:  http://www.staples.com/VisionMax-Black-Adjustable-Full-Spectrum-Magnifying-Clip-On-Desk-Lamp/product_612507#answerbox_content?  Would I be better off with a head-mounted magnifier?  I'm leaning more towards the magnification light combo, because then solving two problems at once, more light and magnification.  Please help. 

 

[phlop]

Personally, I like the head magnifier. I have an Optivisor, don't remember the magnification. They are made to be able to change lenses. I have a desk lamp, that I picked up a K-mart years ago. Still works great and haven't had to get a new bulb. (Now that I have mentioned it, it will probably go out tonight)
I tried something like what you showed and didn't like it. I do like hands free magnification.
I picked my visor up at a model train store, like $30.00; if I remember correctly.

[ItsTehPope]

Nothing on the bench right now between getting ready to move and a shoulder injury.  Hopefully can start painting again in a few weeks.

[Death or Glory]

Well I'm currently reorganizing my gaming collection, painting area, bedroom, and basement, so nothing's on the table until I finish moving furniture around.  After that, I'm probably going to start gluing and then painting some WoB mechs.

[Black Omega]

I'm trying to find the time to work on my entry to the next "Iron Painter."  The due date is 10/16.

On the micro fighter front, some time back I bought a bunch of 20mm square magnetic bases from Gale Force 9.  My plan is to drive 2 half-inch tack nails up from underneath and mount the fighters on the nails (2 fighters per base).  With metal strips in the case they should be pretty secure to transport.

Good luck on the magnifier.  I tried that once and it screwed up my depth perception.  Now I just take off my glasses.  My extreme nearsightedness is paying off for once.  I get a good look at details at a range of about 6 inches.

[Darrian Wolffe]

What's on my painting table?

Lately, mainly Elessar.  Thus, I'm not getting a lot done.



As for the AreoTech into scenario, 2 Congress against a Black Lion is a HORRIBLE matchup if you're just playing the WarShips themselves.  You must play with a full Dropship/ASF complement for the Congress's to have a snowball's chance.  Otherwise, the BL just cruises down the middle of the board and wipes out a Congress every 2-3 turns of fire with its multiple 60-point NAC batteries.

The preferred starting scenario was one I came up with during the AreoTech QSR playtesting was the following setup (using TRO3057R stats for the WarShips):

x6 AreoTech maps, set up as follows:

*north end*
[][][]...1...2...3
[][][]...4...5...6
*south end*


Force North (setup on Map 3):
Lola III Destroyer
Whirlwind Destroyer
Congress Frigate

Force South (set up on Map 4):
x2 Essex Destroyer
Sovetskii Soyuz Heavy Cruiser

All Crews are 4GUN/5PLT

OPTIONAL SUPPORT CRAFT PACKAGE (once you've played with just the WarShips a few times):

Force North:
Lola III Destroyer
-x6 Sabre ASF

Whirlwind Destroyer
-x6 Corsair ASFs

Congress Frigate
-x6 Stuka ASFs
-x6 Eagle ASFs
-x1 Intruder-class DropShip
=x2 Stuka ASFs
-x1 Achilles-class Dropship
=x2 Stingray ASFs

WarShip Crews are 4/5.  DropShip Crews are 3/4.  All fighter crews are 4/5 except the Corsair and Stuka squadron (NOT the Stuka Flight) which are 3/4.

Force South:
x2 Essex Destroyer
-x6 Spad ASF (Essex #1)
-x6 Zero ASF (Essex #2)

Sovetskii Soyuz Heavy Cruiser
-x6 Ironsides ASFs
-x6 Transgressor ASFs
-x6 Cheetah ASFs
-x2 Avenger-class DropShip
-x1 Leopard-class DropShip
=x2 Riever ASFs

All crews are 4/5.

[serrate]

Very nice Rob!  Is that based on a canon event, or just a well balanced scenario you developed on your own?

As for the Black Lion vs Congress, it is supposed to be in an asteroid field, so I don't know if that would help or not.  But the person who mentioned it did say it was near impossible for the Black Lion to lose.

Seems like it might be a fun campaign idea to be a navy, and have our own warships, with full fighter/dropship complements. 

[Riegien]

Whats been on my painting table:

Whos that pokemon!?!





One Ironclad for warmachine, painted up for the journeyman league thingy.

[ItsTehPope]

Whats been on my painting table:

Whos that pokemon!?!

I sincerly hope you die painfully for that.

[Darrian Wolffe]

Very nice Rob!  Is that based on a canon event, or just a well balanced scenario you developed on your own?

It's a force i came up with on the fly when I complained once too often that the Black Lion/astreroid field scenario was (in the technical parlance) "bad", and got told to come up with something better.

It's really, REALLY hard to balance WarShip fights.  First, there's not a lot of warships that have similar enough stats.  You can take a Crusader and a Thunderbolt and have decent fight; they're both the same weight, with similar movement profiles, armor, and throw-weights.  But grab a SovSoy and there's not a lot else that gets anywhere near its armor/movement/firepower profile.  So a lot of basic fights end up being mirror-matches to compensate.  This was done deliberately to keep the different forces different, but still end up with overall similar defensive and offensive profiles (Force North has more staying power, Force South has more long-range firepower).

 Then you add Dropships and ASFs into the mix and anything resembling balances goes right out the window.  Your only option is to eyeball it.

[serrate]

Force North:
Lola III Destroyer
-x6 Sabre ASF

Whirlwind Destroyer
-x6 Corsair ASFs

Congress Frigate
-x6 Stuka ASFs
-x6 Eagle ASFs
-x1 Intruder-class DropShip
=x2 Stuka ASFs
-x1 Achilles-class Dropship
=x2 Stingray ASFs

Hey Rob, that Congress can only hold 6 ASF's.  What would you keep, the Stukas or the Eagles?

[Darrian Wolffe]

Dammit - the Clan Congress holds 10, and I thought they had dropped it from 12, not uprated from 6.

Keep the Eagles, and improve their P/G scores to 2/3.  Swap out the Stingrays aboard the Achillies for another pair of Stukas. 

[serrate]

On a somewhat related note, why is there a one-winged Spad on the IWM site?

http://ironwindmetals.com/store/product_info.php?products_id=3969

[Darrian Wolffe]

Because the 2750 artwork for the Spad only shows one wing, and they're legally bound to recreate the art. 

Even if the art is functionally retarded.

[Maddog3025]

I started on these hovers a long time ago but as usual, I am just poking along.  I tried to copy a scheme used in the old Camospecs book.  I have a couple of other hovers & a Jenner I was going to put in the same scheme.  I haven't been able to paint much lately, and as I got into home brewing , thats eaten into somemore of my spare time..but its been enjoyable

As for magnifiers & light, I bought one of those portable Ott lites from Lowes and I found that to be useful for getting extra light where its needed.  I also bought one of those magnifiers on the flexible arm that has sometimes been handy. I bought a small LED light that is on a flexible line that I rubber banded to the magnifier arm when I want even more light.    But I usually just take off my glasses  or look over the top of them when painting details.  I also find magnifiers tough on the depth perception plus its not as easy for me to stay focused on one point for very long.