Boardgames and Baseing

Hello friends!!!

Ok, I have a lot of pictures today, so bare with me.

My progress on putting together the base etc for my Halloween girl got slighting put on hold due to a miss-hap with some matte varnish. Now, I was very unhappy with the colours coming through on her umbrella and fan so Painting Sage suggested we seal her off before I continue to work away.

I have to say, I LOVED the sprays effect on my minis colours!! She actually looked better blended and even a little brighter maybe? Either way, she has these big crevasses in her hair (as mentioned before when I was talking about painting said hair) which undoubtedly trapped some of the spray.

This is something I have most definitely dealt with before with my own ‘paint on’ matte varnish and so I got to glossing her to pull it back.

She has now lost the effect of ‘grey’ that you see above, I just don’t have a snap of it yet!! But she has recovered well, and is sitting in the ICU waiting for completion!

Moving onto her base!

So, my plan was to have her standing at her “front door” waiting for ‘Trick or Treaters” to give them candy.

My biggest problem with this door, is that is has a far more…um…clean and simple paint job compared to her, so they might end up clashing when it’s all put together….we shall see.

For her and her door, Painting Sage had this awesome base he had made in a box and goes ‘Is this maybe what you were thinking??’. EEEEeeee, Perfect!!

So I got to priming and painting it up!

The stones have been drybrushed to give effect. I point that out, because this is one technique I don’t ever seem to understand. So this time, I had Sage show me step by step how it’s done.
I can’t believe……this entire time…..I’ve been trying to do it COMPLETELY WRONG. Ahhh well. Hahaha.

The rest of her base is slowly coming together, in the form of SCULPEY!

Oh how I love Sculpey III. You brilliant little bake putty you.
More photos soon when it’s assembled!

In other news, Sage and I had a bit of a boardgame run through after some touching up of minis was completed and we did a test run of a game he had been given as a gift/favor.

It was actually pretty fun! Albeit, I don’t think I fully understand some of the rules.

These little guys look like they are a calling out for amaaaazing paint jobs, yes yes?

So I played the green team.

Sage part way through goes ‘Oh hey, why did you choose those guys?’ and I was caught a little off guard.
When I thought about it, I realised I tend to do that, without thinking, in a lot of ‘first time play’ or ‘starter set choosing’. If I see either “beasts” or “green” as part of one of the factions or options – I will always choose those.
So at the end of the day, I chose green because of the colour, not because of what those characters could do, nor the characters themselves. Hahaha.

As you can see, it’s bascially a map of ‘Thieves roam the city breaking into chests and stabbing each other’. You have these big ‘Story’ cards that you use to adjust the objectives of different games (i.e. Obtain a scroll and keys to break into the treasury).

The other thing we did was a small came of X-Wing!

I was super hesitant about this game, a game comprised of totally ‘vehicle’ type characters didn’t really appeal to me. And just space battles? Yea whatever.

I actually quite liked it!! Although, my X-Wing ship had the turning circle of my Toyota Camry and ended up spending half it’s time trying to even keep someone in RANGE of it’s phasers let alone be on the offensive.

Well, that is all for today happy people! We shall see each other again soon.

~ El.

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Finally an update!

Uuugh, sorry for the delayed replies, comments and posts folks. Life has kind of exploded with family, school and work and I haven’t had a chance to do much of anything!

Hello everyone. This is me in Pokemon land – just casually posing for my trainer license like a pro model.

1 thing I have been filling in my short breaks between commitments is the new Pokemon X game! I have bought and played through every Pokemon game since my original obsession with Blue way back when – and I must say, I’m between feelings on the new one.

If you don’t follow the games as I do, you may not know this already, but this is the game Nintendo announced was their start to changing the experience of the Pokemon gaming franchise. It has a big story, cut scenes, 3D animation and all that jazz (in addition to a bunch of additional internet connectivity and bonuses related).

So, here are some snaps I took of my screen while playing:

For starters, this game is a lot more customisable in regards to what you look like. So I took the general route of making my character “somewhat” like myself.
This is the wholly arrogant and obnoxious fist pump my character does when beating a trainer for plot required purposes.

I honestly don’t know if the change view makes exploring dungeons better or worse to be honest.

At least it’s pretty, I suppose?

As tradition dictates, I chose the fire starter. Now this is the second stage evolution (Braixen).

This thing actually pulls a ‘branch’ out of it’s tail and uses it like a wand. I actually hate it.

The main evil ‘TEAM’ in this game is a group named ‘Flare’. Now, don’t get me wrong, Team s always have a tendency to look rather comical.
These guys are absolutely no exception in that regard.

One of the things I do very much enjoy about this game is the customisation through hair cuts and various accessories.
For once I have a character I’m playing in Pokemon that I identify with.

At least it’s not the mushroom headed girl from Black, anyways.

And finally, another feature they have added is on occasion you encounter a sign with a camera on it. This summons a photographer to take a commemorative ‘snap shot’ of you on your adventures.
The DS responds in your hands the same way a camera would (ie. tilting the device, tilts the camera angle).

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Other than Pokemon, all the painting I have been doing has been for my Rotten Harvest entry for the Wyrd painting competition and due to rules I can’t post anything about it. 😦

The only other thing I have managed to find the time to do, is to keep up with the ‘Paint-along’ thread for free handing. As of week 3 highlighting has been completed:

I found the highlighting on this really tricky, as there was no obvious ‘light source’ for where I had done the highlighting on the coat initially!
I ended up doing a few shades of the gold/yellow colour to highlight – but it appears only one shows in this photo.

I shall have to get a better picture when I do the next round of touch ups!!

Well, Love you all!!
Sincerely,
Ellie.

Defiance of Thrones

I am finally getting around to watching the series ‘Defiance’.

The basic concept of this series is very much my style, and the idea of a series paired to the story of a current running MMO I found very appealing – I just hadn’t had the time to really watch it.

Three episodes in and my thoughts on it are only 1 repeating one:
This show is suffering from a SEVERE damned case of

‘We wish we were Game of Thrones’

2/10 for effort.

Image Heavy Post: So have a macaron

Yeaaaa…I’m one of those creepers that photographs most of their food. Am I posting it anywhere? Not particularly 90% of the time, but on occasion something pretty shows up like these beautiful McCafe Macarons. In case anyone goes and tries these bad boys – Yellow and Green are both delicious and I will be happy to live off all things lemon and pistachio for the remainder of my existence.

Ok, so I recently started getting interested in the Cygnar faction of Warmachine (this has been an on and off interest for a while) and deciding to have a go at painting my Warmachine Gungirl in small sessions when just bored watching TV or something.

Greeeey, is the colour of my heart? Cloak? Hair? Whatever…

So this is her … er… completed. I question saying ‘completed’ because even though I’ve had a go at building her a little base, she doesn’t feel finished, and I kind of regret not waiting to paint her at my friends.

I used a flash on this image to pick up the finer lines in the paint work, and as you can see – the shading on the cloak is…all over the place and not particularly following any kind of ‘light source’.
In addition her hair is too red (really) and the blue and brown badly used. I would like to say ‘but I only have a couple of colours’ and hide behind that shield of artistic excuse – but it’s really not why they ended up this way; merely a contribution to why I chose Red, Green and Blue schemes.

I also flash snapped some images of this guy (He’s an easily forgotten $3 Reaper miniature). I was using the coloured areas to practice getting a good colour blended effect going up to the highlight.
1. Looks sliiightly better without the flash on, but I’m not going to hold my breath for the diamond brush award ANY time soon
2. What am I doing wrong that it ends up so distinct like this?

All the arrows indicate which colours were used when I was trying a blending technique.
So what I was trying:
1. lightened the colour by nearly the most unnoticable amount
2. watered it down like AAAALLL hell
3. bunch of really really really thin layers slowly building up to lightest colour
4. finally washed with a watered down version of the 3rd or 2nd lightest colour (but watered down to the point that really it might as well of just been water at this point….)

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Well, finally – I have been learning to play Warmachine (as mentioned previously) with a Cygnar team my painting mentor did up when the game first came out on the shelves.
So far, I’m thoroughly enjoying learning all about the campaigns/fluff/mechanics.

Final, last note, was just to cap off my nerd filled weekend, got given a couple of Magic the Gathering ‘learn to play’ decks a co-worked had (as I’m the only person they know that plays MTG) and used them to teach my younger cousin how to play. Seems like she enjoyed it!

Haha, hopefully she might be interested in playing some other things with me in the future too?~ Love Always,
Ellie.

Eating, Gaming and Miniature Painting!

Heeeeeey, that title kind of rhymes?

So, I’ve been ridiculously stressed out lately. University Exams were on, at the same time as my job get’s super busy, at the same time as a number of my friends suddenly dissapear off the face of the Earth (Not dead, just avoidant!) and yea – you get it.
*First world problems, right?*

Well, I explained that because when I’m stressed out I cook – so the other day I find a fishmonger selling Moreton Bay Bugs, so I nabbed a few and did them in a garlic, butter and parsley dressing, sprinkle of rock salt and optional lemon.

Yea, kinda tasted like … fish prawns. Very meaty.

Another stress release, painting up my new Malifaux miniatures! Arrived safely in the mail the other day and I’m having a crack at painting up Myranda first.
Now, please keep in mind:
1. I am not very good at this
2. Any level of ‘success’ I achieve is because I’m planted next to a professional painter who’s saving my arse every time I stuff something up hahaha.

So this is her with skin and blue fabric done so far.

Oi, El…You’re not leaving me GREY haired are you? This is awful.

With the FLASH on looks really bad, but wanted to show that I’d painted on shine…even though, yea it kind of looks like smudge like this hahaha.

Other than these two activites, got in a little Neverwinter time, kind of dull now that the Event is over – but either way got to questing.

I was sent into this dungeon when a lot of sections of roofs have caved in and you walk up the debris to get tot he next ‘level’ of the dungeon and I discovered a somewhat glitch.
Was stuck here for a good 10-15 minutes trying worm my way out of the crack.

Don’t step on a crack, or you’ll fall and break your….ability to move forever.

Mirrors Edge? or Dull reflections?

I have to admit, I love Mirror’s Edge‘s graphics. They are slick, realistic, and I get excited when there are flashes of sections of faces and a tattoo gun.
But overall, is it just me, or is this trailer really really boring? It DOES NOT make me want to rush out and purchase the game in anyway.

My Face?

I’ve mentioned in the past, that I like to use myself as a basic template for my in-game persona’s. By this I mean I like to keep them female, short, long black hair and blue eyes (and when possible, I’ll attempt specific facial features and body shape as well, but that’s often not much of an option).

So, I thought I’d put a short collection of some of the ones I have shots of at the moment. I wonder if I over-layer all the images, I would see my face?

Skyrim.
Oh how I love this game. I was playing it on PS3 and this image was taken with my phone, hence looks a bit warped sorry.

Star Trek Online.
I do not in fact have pointed ears and extremely slanted eyebrows.

Dragon Age: Origins.
I actually love the characters faces in this game. They’re not overly ‘pretty’ all the time, and makes them a little more realistic.

DC Universe Online.
Yea, can’t really see her face but without the mask she basically looks like the STO girl. Her long black hair is in a ponytail but I didn’t have a good screenshot on hand showing it.

Neverwinter.
My current love. This is actually a really nice angle for this character to be shot on. Straight on she has A LOT of white in her eyes, making her look a bit creeper.

Well! That’s all for today!
🙂
~ El.

Adventures of the Neverwinter 3.0

So, still playing Neverwinter – wow this game is ADDICTIVE.

I have been mostly doing my questing alone.

Here, let me teach you the dance of my people.

Questing alone appears to be getting more and more difficult. Beginning to think I might need to re-spec my Cleric because she literally can’t do diddly squat without Mr. Meat Shield – and even with him, life’s getting tough.

Don’t just stand there taking photos for your Instagram, help me down!

I did however managed to talk a few friends from both work and university into signing up to play.

First place I show them, is obviously the bar.

When questing alone, it’s moments like these ones that send my stomach into a knot. No matter how pretty it is, it still looks very ominous.

Welcome to my home, would you like a cup of tea?
I DRINK COFFEE, BITCH. IT’S OOOOOON.

I have been basically signing into the queues as soon as I log on because I’ve been enjoying group dungeons so much. I think because I don’t often have friends on to play with – this kind of forcibly gives me party companions for a while haha.

DOOF.

So the tokens you get for horses when you turn level 20 do not let you keep the horse, merely ‘rent’ it.
So I saved up my gold and went and purchased ‘Laddy’, my new palamino…something.

Don’t kick me off, buddy. We need to go forward. FORWARD. I knew I shouldn’t have let that merchant talk me into the bargin equine.

Final discovery for this week – I finally worked out where the bloody ZOOM button is.

I are so pretty in the camp fire light.

It also wasn’t until this discovery, that I realised how much bigger than me Meat Shield is!!

Hold back on those steroids, brother. I think you’re done.

Well, da da da dats all folks!

Sincerely, Ellison.

Neverwinter, Neversummer

Hello friends! So, my adventures in Dragon Age Origins appear to have been placed shortly on hold to make way for my new found addiction to Neverwinter.

To be entirely serious, I would have to say that this is one of the best games I’ve played in a while. And it’s an MMO? Surprising, given that most new F2P MMOs actually somewhat annoy me due to their keyboard warrior type player communities.

I had the opportunity to party with a group of people doing a PvP. It’s a kind of ‘capture the flag‘ but a little more – capture the ‘magical spiral tower’.

Ello ello ello, you gots a purdy mouth

Started healing a random person on my map who turned out to be very friendly and took me on a tour through some dungeons.

T’was great fun!

Ended up queueing up for something that was a daily dungeon event? Or something similar? Unsure – either way, joined with a random group of 3 and off we set.

And if you’ll look directly to your right, you will see a supernova in it’s natural habitat.

Our groups bravery was rewarded with a big treasure chest.

That yielded EXTREMELY little for me. Poo!

Went on dungeionearing by myself and found this one that involved turning these giant statues to activate hidden pathways.

There you go, ladies. A nice view of the park.

I am actually in love with looking around a lot of the dungeons and buildings in this game. They are actually quite pretty to look at. Most of my screenshots aren’t for this blog, they’re because I’m like ‘woah that’s cool, lemme get a picture’.

I shall call her Lydia.

Got myself a few nifty treasures for getting levels. The first of which is my beloved companion named ‘Mr. Meat Shield‘.

He’s a tad full of himself…

If you look at him up close, turns out he has green eyes and a bridge scar.

Oh Mr. Meat Shield. Cut yourself shaving again?

In addition, upgraded my head to have some level of defense. Unsure what was protecting it before, but it makes my characters eyes look far less…er…creepy.

Any my personal favorite, I GOTS A POOOONY.

Don’t kick, Neighneigh. You might hurt someone.

Oh, and due to some people taking advantage of a fault in the games ‘Auction House’ the entire server got rolled back by 7 hours (I think?) losing a few completed quests of mine, but no big deal.
As compensation, the admins decided to give everyone a gift.

This is my ‘I survived Caturday’ cape.
Uhhh….I don’t think I’ll be rolling about in THAT somehow.

Ever wanted to date a pigeon?

Then have I got the game for you!

Hatoful Boyfriend is a Japanese dating sim based on the story of a girl attending an ALL PIGEON SCHOOL.
She is the only human character in this game (despite the male pigeons having human ‘avatars’), and the goal is to get to know and then date the male pigeon students.

Now, when I said that the male pigeons have avatars, this is merely a figment of the girls imagination, and the feature can be turned off via a setting in the game – if you would prefer to enjoy your male counterparts in all their feathered glory.

I have to be honest, while playing the game, I did feel a tad suss…

Normally, I don’t mind Japanese dating sims, or at least – the one or two I’ve played before – but there was something about the idea of fictionally romancing a bird that made me….uneasy.
However, that could also be the fault of the dialogue.

If you say so…

Either way, in the same rhelm as my previous post regarding ‘Umadonna’ I wonder how many others of these are out there?

Actually, I take that back.
I don’t need to know.

Haha, sincerely – El