From JamesB: New Years Zombicide (250 Points)

So for my 40 Birthday I ask my wife for the game Zombicide and I was very surprised when the next weekend after I had invited my Daughter and her boyfriend round for Sunday roast and a game of Zombicide that my wife wanted to give the game a try.

Well our first run through did not go to well and most of us died except my Wife who finished the game striding down the road blasting zombies with twin usi sub machine guns, and she was hooked. Thus started our family love for the game and we can often be found slaying together in fact the last two boxing days have seen Zombicide games with my Family my Mum and Dad and my Sister and her kids so three generations. Since our first game three years ago its been a tradition that New Years eve afternoon is spent playing Zombicide followed by a Chinese banquet. this year we have moved on to season two and Prison Break that introduces the Berserk Zombies only snag with this is I had not painted them.

Action from the New Years Eve Game

My fully painted Survivors from Season 1&2 plus the Toxin expansion

While my survivors are painted in full detail my Zombies are monochrome with just a splash of colour, Basic Zombies have been black the Toxic one I painted green so the new ones were planned as red. I enjoyed painting these but in my rush to get them on the gaming table I tried to varnish them when it was not warm enough this morning leading to a bit of clouding on them it not terminal but annoying.

Along side these Zombies I painted a pack of Zombie dogs which did not get an outing today but will be used shortly.

So over the last week I have painted 29 Zombies and 20 Zombie Dogs. Pictures were taken after our game in which we were well beaten (does not often happen), but I am sure we will perform better next time.

I recommend Zombicide to everyone its a game simple to learn and complex enough for each game to feel different. It encourages team work as if you try and go it alone you will be swamped. 

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Great stuff James! That sounds like a fun New Years Eve tradition you've got going there. We played through the 'Boomtown' campaign last year and enjoyed the linked missions. 

I like the glossy rancid red you've used for your zombies - they look very, um... icky. I've not tried the game with the dogs yet, but I want to after seeing your pups here. I'm sure they add some challenges for the Survivors.

I'm going to give you a few more points for the Fattys and the A-Bomb as they are quite large figures. Well done James!

From JamesB: Blood Bowl Orc Team (70 Points)

So here I am starting my third winter challenge, it seemed fitting that this forms my return to the hobby when it was into the first month of the forth challenge when I fell out of love with painting and gaming. I am already staggered with the output of (to me) new challengers and I look forward to getting to know the people behind this talent.

In the spirit of returning my first entry throws back to a young James who in 1989 was all about the GW and Warhammer, I had been one of the kids who watch the channel four NFL show so when GW released a game based on football but set in the Warhammer world I was sold.

I played Blood bowl with a human team for a good year or two and if exams had not got in the way I would probably have been one of those who kept the game alive as a cult classic since. But while I did not play BB again I did keep the passion so after a commission opened my eyes to the vast collection of BB miniatures from other companies I started to collect them with a view to one day restarting. 

Then 2016 saw GW re-release the game and I asked Santa for a copy for my Christmas present so out from the lead pile came all my BB figures and you will see many as the winter continues. These Orc players are a bit special as not only are they Old school GW figures (some of their best IMO) but this team is to form my Dad’s Christmas present.

The Whole team

Giving yourself only 5 days to complete your Dad’s Christmas present with no plan B might seem mad to some but anyone who watched my output in my first Winter challenge will know I work best with tight a schedule.

Linesmen

I love the character in these figures the faces are the real star of the sculpts, the team consists of 2 throwers 2 blitzers 2 Black Orc Blockers and 8 linemen. All the numbers are free hand and the base has colour mark so to indicate the position.

Blitzers

Black Orc Blockers

Throwers

Sorry about the photographs still working out the kink's on my set up (need a bit more light, dam you English winter). I have a few more figures on the go which will form my second entry in the new year.
Peace James

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It's great to have you back with us James -  Welcome! 

These old skool Blood Bowl orcs look terrific! You've done a wonderful job on the classic, punchy greenskin paintjob. Also, that is some very neat brushwork on the numbers and the coloured base markings - bravo!

I'm sure you're dad will be delighted with the gift. I hope you get in a game with him soon!