I’m really excited to hear about the new Citadel paint range from Games Workshop. It seems the pigments are rich, ie white covers over black undercoat, and the gold/silvers are easy to use or don’t get splotchy. Also the washes or shades flow well. Together with many new colors, it should speed up your painting as you eliminate the need for mixing and can paint directly from the pot.

As one who struggles to keep up with painting, I’m going to head down to the nearest hobby shop to check them out!

Oh my! I’m pretty excited to hear that William King (of Gotrex and Felix fame) has penned a new Warhammer fantasy novel called Blood of Aenarion: A Tyrion and Teclis Novel. I was disappointment of the general lack of High Elves novels and the few by Graham McNeill are in my humble opinion quite boring. So I can’t wait! Meanwhile, check out the description below:

Tyrion: Unparalleled swordsman and tactician

Teclis: Greatest natural sorcerer of the age, his power rivalling that of fabled Caledor

Together these twins are the greatest high elf heroes to walk the earth.

A powerful daemon, banished millennia ago by the twins’ ancestor, Aenarion the Defender, has returned to wreak bloody revenge. Plucked from their home in the wilds of Chrace, Tyrion and Teclis must learn the arts of war and the mysteries of magic, as well as the secrets of survival in the Phoenix King’s court. Hunted by daemonic assassins and beset by treachery, they must fight to survive and claim their destiny as the greatest heroes of the age.

Pre-Order it now at Black Library site.

GW has released a awesome preview of the Storm of Magic on their site. Unfortunately it does not seem to be any new models for our beloved High Elves but it seems now monsters are interchangeable between races. So our well missed Griffin or Pegasus riding Heroes are now back!

But be prepared for an awesome blast from the past!

The High Elves are amongst the most powerful magicians in the Warhammer world and with access to every Lore of Magic and High Magic, they can choose the spell list they feel is most suited to the battle they are about to fight. High Magic now contains Coruscation of Finreir, the only spell in the game that can create new Arcane Fulcrums, which give High Elf mages a distinct advantage over lesser races. Just be sure to protect them with a suitable bodyguard – a Dragon works nicely in this role.

Veterans will remember the well loved Coruscation of Finreir! Though originally part of the lore of fire and Finreir was a human wizard if I can remember, I’m looking forward to see how GW is going to spin the fluff on this one.

But wait there is more! I’ve shamelessly lifted the entire list of High Elves goodies (below) from the Storm of Magic mini site.

Of all the races of the Warhammer world, the High Elves are arguably the most adept in the ways of magic. It is therefore no surprise to discover that they are highly suited to Storm of Magic games. Able to wield High Magic and any of the eight Lores of Magic, a High Elf Mage is spoilt for choice with his easy access to a huger number of powerful Cataclysm spells. The Lore of Metal is potent in the hands of the Asur, with Meteoric Ironclad granting their expensive but fragile units a 2+ ward save, and Quicksilver Swords making a humble unit of Spearmen utterly deadly in conjunction with their Speed of Asuryan and Martial Prowess special rules. But remember, High Magic also grants you access to the incredible Coruscation of Finreir, which allows you to summon forth a new Arcane Fulcrum should you so desire!

Dragon Mages are susceptible to sustained enemy archery, but really come into their own in Storm of Magic games. Indeed, the 3+ ward save provided by the Arcane Fulcrum’s defensive enchantments will make a Dragon Mage incredibly difficult to shift from his lofty perch. The additional casting dice generated each time a Dragon Mage unleashes a spell will also make 20+ to cast spells such as Fireball Barrage and Withering Heat a relative cinch to unleash.

A brief glance at Vaul’s Forge reveals some fantastic magic items available to the High Elf army. For example, Folariath’s Robe will render your Mage all but immune to the enemy monsters that are so prevalent in Storm of Magic. On the topic of immunity, if your opponent is getting a bit trigger happy with his devastating new Cataclysm spells, why not solve the problem by protecting your most valuable unit with a Battle Standard Bearer carrying the Banner of the World Dragon? The Amulet of Fire is a bargain at 20 points, lending a Mage some excellent protection against both enemy magic and Flaming Attacks.

High Elves already have access to a number of monsters in the guise of Griffons, Great Eagles and three grades of Dragon. However, the availability of really tough bound monsters such as Giants, Ghorgons, Arachnarok Spiders and Stegadons can lend the Asur a solid core around which their elite units can fight. Fans of Tiranoc Chariots can also rejoice, as you’ll finally be able to use all your spare White Lions by fielding them as an independent pack of War Beasts in their own right!

Oh MY! Packs of White Lions? Wow! Mystical monsters aside, I’ve always felt a little sad that our High Elves magic has been dumbed down since the 5th edition, so this new expansion, firmly puts the High Elves back on top in the magic arms race. I’m really looking forward to this expansion, and I hope it can some how comfortably fit into casual games without players screaming “Cheese!” all the time.

What about you? I love to hear your thoughts.

I was pretty excited to hear (in early April) about the new Warhammer Fantasy Battles expansion set: Storm of Magic that will be launched in July. Veteran players would probably remember that the early editions of Warhammer was all about expansions. I still have the old Battle Magic expansion lying around somewhere in my home. But I digress, I’m excited about Storm of Magic because it means our beloved High Elves may finally return to magical dominance, and rightly so!

Here is the official write up:

Incoming: Storm of Magic

Storm of Magic – when the eight winds howl…

The Winds of Magic are tumultuous. Drawn by Morrslieb, they are prone to rise from a strong gale into a howling tempest. And when they do no kingdom or realm is safe.

Monsters awaken from their slumber and are summoned from their lairs at the bidding of sorcerous masters. Armies assemble, ready to defend their borders or seize the opportunity to gain limitless power. It is in these desperate times tenuous pacts between wizards and creatures of darkness are sealed to create alliances never thought possible.

A time of doom and great deeds is at hand. Will you rise to meet the storm?

Announcing the impending arrival of Storm of Magic, the latest and largest Expansion for Warhammer, the Game of Fantasy Battles. Launched in July 2011, Storm of Magic describes what happens when great eldritch maelstroms roil across the lands. Magic becomes far more powerful and there is a whole range of Cataclysm spells to cast, unleashing untold devastation on the enemy. Arcane Fulcrums burst from the ground, not only acting as loci for the swirling energies that pervade a battle fought amidst the Storm of Magic, but changing the way a Warhammer tabletop looks and interacts with your armies. With such things so crucial to your Storm of Magic games a new range of Warhammer scenery and Wizards will soon be released in time for you to wage cataclysmic battles.

Then there are the monsters. When the Winds of Magic blow with such strength, the fell creatures of the world gravitate towards the tempest, slithering from deep tunnels or emerging from mountain lairs.

With the new Expansion allowing you to use so many different creatures there are a whole host of new monstrous plastic kits on their way. Citadel’s queen of creatures, Trish Morrison, has spent the last few years in her own lair preparing for the new monsters to be unleashed upon the world and you can see two brief glimpses of what is to come below:

July is still a few months away; we are in the calm before the storm so now is the time to prepare. Bolster your forces, prepare your regiments and summon your wizards in time for the ultimate war. Keep checking White Dwarf and the website for updates, for when the storm hits nowhere will be safe!

Here are some rumors I’ve found thanks to the usual Warseer and various forum communities. This is latest update April 16th.

Confirmed
- we get a new expansion for WFB that focuses on magic and monsters
- this is not limited to WD
- this is not a specific campaign or new rules system, but a build-on to the core WFB rules
- we get new wizard models
- we get new monster models
- we get new scenery

Unconfirmed
- this is in scale Apocalypse for WFB
- the pics may be of a Black Dragon and Manticore
- others have suggested that the first monster may be an Abyssal Terror
- they may in fact both be spell related creatures (as e.g. Transformation of Kadon)
- we get generic monsters
- we get many new wizards
- we may get resin models
- the new scenery is magical (i.e. magical structures/magical effects/something utterly new)
- there is a new rumour of a new Nagash model

Information from a friend with an advance copy of the ruleset:
- Magic Re-adjusted “alot”
- 9th type of magic
-No level 5 wizards – Tomb King only thing
- releases spread out over a few months.

So there you go…again I’m pretty excited, but rather annoyed to learn that Tomb King only enjoys Level 5 wizards. I may go take a look at the TK rules now.

Be forewarned I’m now going to share some of the stuff that happened to me in the last 6-9 months. Some would see it as pretty mundane and boring, but bear with me as I see it as a form of therapy. Oh, if it is not your cup of tea please avert your eyes and click on a few links on the right!

August 2010: In preparation for the October 2010 month of the High Elves launch I sent out a bunch of unpainted High Elves to a notable figure painting outfit in Sri Lanka. The company, who shall remain anonymous, totally f*ucked up my models. They assembled the figures incorrectly and painted them in the wrong colors, with resulted in weeks of hair pulling frustration. The worst thing was that it could have been prevented if the right check and balances were in place. I should have insisted that they were. What is the moral of the story? If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself, or at least work with someone you trust.

September 2010: I happily bought Island of blood box set and the Big Red Rulebook. Man, that rulebook keeps on growing bigger and heavier!

October 2010: The month dedicated to the High Elves, and the time that everything should have happened but nothing did.

November 2010: I got back my figures from Sri Lanka to much heart wrenching dismay. As 50% of my models were plastic, they were essentially ruined, as they could not be fixed. The models also came back dusty, dirty and grimy.

December 2010: I had hoped that I could bring some newly painted models along to a trip in Sydney Australia to play at a GW store there. Nevertheless I still manage a game but with the store’s Island of Blood demo set. I was happy to play a dumb down game because I wanted to get a refresher and a brief run down of the 8th edition rules. I’ll post a separate post about this in time to come, but I have to say the High Elves are just over powered against the Goblins if you just take what comes in the box set.

January – March 2011: I fought with my miniature cabinet. You see, my miniature cabinet was attacked by green mold and fungus, not once but twice.

The first attacked resulted in my doing a massive clean up. I hand washed and scrubbed my 200+ models. I scrub my hands raw, not to mention breaking a few models as well. Sadly, I decided to throw out some of my unrepairable, unpainted and redundant models like Silver Helms. I also finally decided to throw out the ruined plastic figures from my failed painting outsourcing adventure to India.
The second time the fungus came back; I angrily chucked out the cabinet entirely.

April 2011: I look on sadly at my miniatures stacked in plastic boxes, and how this blog has not been updated.

May 2011: So here we are. I’m planning somehow to get back into the hobby. I like to get back into painting and some gaming. But I think I’ll start with this blog. I did manage to paint a few heroes and experiment with the new inks a few months back, but I have not got a chance to pick up a brush recently.

Any suggestions how I could ease myself back into the hobby? I would love to hear your thoughts.

A new interesting campaign is being run ay my old dwarf hangout at bugmans brewery. I’m sure they will be beating up on some High Elves. Nevertheless check out their cool trailer above and the written into below.

The City of Skulls is a cursed place. Once one of the most powerful of the Dwarven Kingdoms, it is now ruled by the wandering undead, remants of the noble dwarf defenders and those of the armies which invaded it once before. Vile roots, corrupted fungus, twisted trees, and wicked plants burst forth from the stone walls, echos of the curse brought down upon the Dwarves by Nagash and his darkest magics.

Deep within this fallen place lays treasure beyond the riches of all the Old World. Riches that would make anyone who seeks to claim it the most powerful individual not just in the Old World, but in the entire Globe.

But it is not only gold and jewels that is to be found there, many powerful artifacts lay silently amongest the piles and chests of precious metals and gems. A great and powerful Horn, said to have been forged by the Old Ones for Grungni himself, slumbers deep within a most ancient Shrine, guarded by runes and spirits of the long dead.

Rumors of the cities hidden wealth has spread, and many have been drawn to the desolate dwarf hold, all seeking to gain power and glory. Commanding armies and bands of warriors, these raiders seek to unlock the cities secrets

Amongest these invaders are four powerful individuals, each commanding their own powerful alliances.

Marcus Hotchmann, a fallen prince of Averland, whom commands the mighty Geld Legion. Seeking to gain riches and redeem his name, Marcus hopes to unlock the cities treasures for himself and those who will follow him.

Kestus Bloodgruel, ruling over the Nemhian Brigade, who himself is under the command of Nagash. Driven to claim the horn for Nagash, Kestus will stop at nothing to finish what he started in the city many centuries ago.

Varnum Spinestabba, Warshaman of the Blood Moon Tribe, whose crazed madness drives the Falsch alliance. Guided by visions from the Green Star, Varnum seeks to establish the City as the beginning of an Empire of Greenskins and Skaven.

And Finally Thane Argus Shieldbreaker, marches forth at the head of the Erbe Army, seeking to restore control of the city to the Dwarves and restore honor to his blood line.

Whom will you join? Whom will you fight beside?

The Choice is yours.

This marks the first Campaign produced by Bugmans Brewery. Registration is beginning soon.

Please check out our Campaign PDFs and Campaign Teasers, found on Warseer and Bugmans for more information. Keywords for searches, Bugmans and/or Campaign.

I believe registrations has started 2 days ago, you can find instructions on how to go about signing up at Bugman’s Brewery.

Holy cow! These dice could literally do some massive damage. Get them at Shapeways.

Reported in various forums and confirmed by several reliable sources, Rick Priestly has left Games Workshop after 28 years with the company.

A sad loss and a passing of an era.

Via: Tabletop Gaming News

The High Elves are a strange, long-lived and mystical race. They are a race of many differing qualities, which makes them a challenging prospect for our artists. Paul Dainton has drawn his fair share of High Elves, painting not only the cover of the latest High Elf army book but most of bestiary pieces as well. “Compared to the other races in Warhammer, High Elves look reasonably human, but they are far from it. In fact, they’re more alien in their behaviour than, say an Orc is to a human,” he says.

‘The challenge is to make them utterly alien, rather than just very tall humans,” he continues.  “Another pitfall is to make them overly fey and effeminate, when the opposite is actually true. You want them to look threatening, almost sinister; they are beings that are basically immortal and far from being overtly good, I could imagine them looking down upon humans as we look upon an insect.”

Paul is also keen to point out that you should never draw a smiling Elf.  “They are a stern race, and a smile would rob them of that power. The exception is what I’d term as a “cat’s smile”. A slight uplift at the corner of the mouth can give them an a knowing or arrogant air – a look that is more than suitable.”

A common element that you’ll see in a lot of High Elf art are the creatures. Whilst drawing Elves there is a danger of them looking too mundane you have no such issues when painting Dragons, Griffons and other mythical beasts.  “The creatures are part of the tapestry, as important an element to High Elves as their magic or the serried ranks. You can clearly see that in the pictures we’ve done right through the ages. It links into the fact that the High Elves are steeped in history and magic, after all, it is they who once rode Dragons to war.”

Paul briefly mentioned the well-regimented ranks of High Elves in the previous paragraph and I bring it up now as it’s not only a key image that’s associated with the Elves of Ulthuan but there’s an important point he wants to make. “You’ll find descriptions in the army book and in articles about how well disciplined the High Elves are and their exceptional abilities at fighting in a group. But – in my mind, anyway – they’re not drilled like in the same way that humans learn to fight in ranks; I see it as far more natural. I imagine observing a unit of High Elves on the battlefield to be an almost beautiful dance. You know when you see undersea footage of giant shoals of fish and how they swirl and change direction as one with no noticeable signal – it’s natural and fluid, and somehow striking. That’s how I think High Elf infantry regiments fight, it’s certainly what I try to get across in my artwork.”

via Art of Warhammer: High Elves | Games Workshop.

The month for High Elves has begun with a bumper release of online articles and painted High Elves models (not all are nice though and many looked rushed…) at the Games Workshop site. I went down today for the latest White Dwarf but it was sold out! Imagine that…but I manage to get my hands on the High Elves Magic Card Deck. A full review on that soon! Meanwhile check out the links and some selected images below.

1) High Elf Art

2) High Elves Painting Tips (Part 1)

3) High Elves Painting Tips (Part 2)

4) Island of Blood Box Set High Elves Painting Tips

5) High Elves Sample Armies