Many Moons Have Passed....

Well its been a while hasn't it? Probably not far off a year to be honest since I've posted on this glorious blog. Well, this time I won't be making promises to keep posting regular, as its not worked for me before. But there is hope I will! So far 2017 has been good gaming wise, and it follows a strong 2016. The Gwent Reavers, the gaming club I am part of, has had a good time with gaming and it looks to continue. Many board games have been played, 40k once again is being played, Age of Sigmar is picking up some serous momentum with members and other new games are taking root like Blood Bowl an Tanks.

We've had some new members too which is great, fresh blood is always good to sacrifice in the name of the blood god! Lewis and Adam are both in a similar spot where they've always been interested in the hobby but its only now they're starting to get stuck in and its great to see the enthusiasm. Another new member Patrick is also incredibly enthusiastic about his Necrons and its good to see some 40k kicking of again. I need to get my Genestealer Cult painted up and my Space Marines are also itching for some games... perhaps the setting of Fall of Cadia will be a good place to shoot some bolters and launch some assaults. 

As I mentioned Age of Sigmar is taking off at club although I'm the least enthusiastic about it seeming as I annot get any luck when playing! I've got Khorne Daemons, and heres how the blood thirter looks so far having started painting him yesterday. Trying to get a bit of a blend on the wings, shall be going over it with a wash and seeing how it looks 

If theres something that has got everyones attention at club, its the old faithful roleplaying game, Dungeons and Dragons. We currently have three different sessions at club with various dungeon masters and players, and every session is going well. I'm currently running Out of the Abyss, which is set in the Underdark. The story so far has been a little of my own creation, where a Derro called Buppido, who is in the book and is convinced he is an insane god of murder has killed a couple of the parties allies and they've gone to chase him down. I'll report more on this in another post as theres a lot to speak of! 

Something I've been working on occasionally over the last year is a small warband for an Inquisitor 28 style idea. Blanchitsu is one of my favourite parts of White Dwarf and above is a picture of two models I've melded together. .A large gun servitor on the left, and an adeptus mechanicus chef on the right, complete with power spatula, krootox burgers and some kind of sausage. Green stuff chefs hat too which I was proud of! I'm looking to add more when I can and get some interesting bits to play with.

Over Xmas club stalwart Morg picked up Scythe and its a really interesting game. I find the larger games a bit intimidating to play and really need to get myself in the mood to play them, but from what I have played its a really good game. Some interesting mechanics, a theme thats not in your face and done well with some really nice looking components and a rules system thats not too complicated. The amount of components are scary mind, but persevere theres a good game there!

Higgy and Jay had a large game of Tanks recently too, playing up the board starting off with a beach landing making their way into a town. If you've not played think X-Wing with a simpler system, much cheaper models but still looks really good, the boys are well into it and we're hoping to host a Tanks tournament at the end of February. 

In the future we have possible trips to Warhammer Fest, the UK Games Expo, events we'd like to host too along with many other things. I haven't even spoken about Blood Bowl yet and my Skaven team.

Like I said, no promises about lots of posts, but this is a start and we'll see how it goes!

SCUM COMETH!

So I went and got me a Mist Hunter. And painted it in a day. Its not like me to finish things so quick so thought I'd take a few snaps and post!

So there we go, I'm unsure as to how much more I'll add as I do have a few Headhunters too but I'm not a fan of the ship so we'll see if I use them. Another IG would be tempting and perhaps a Jump Master when they're available again. Influence is Cyclonus and the Sweeps from Transformers, and I'll be doing all the canopies red like the Mist Hunters red cockpit which I used Citadels Blood for the Bloog God technical paint and got a nice shine to it.

All Dayer Board Gamingasm

Last Sunday we, the Gwent Reavers, got together for an easter banquet of gaming. First of all... CODENAMES!

This game has a Minesweep/Battleship/Dixit feel to it. Yes thats three games, but this combines them perfectly with an almost Resistence theme of spies and agents. Each team has a spymaster, and they they have to direct his team mates to select the right cards, laid out 5x5, and the correct agents. Each card has one word on it, and the Spymaster may only say one word along with a number of guesses. The reason for that, is that if you can tie in more than one card with just one single clue, you can get more cards found. The first to 8/9 wins the game. However... if you select a card thats either the opposite teams or a 'bystander', you lose your turn and it passes to the other team. Find the assassin, and you lose. Outright. 

As you can see above, the Spymasters share the same card which tells you where the correct cards are. The game tests friendships and knowledge of peoples interest, especially in the more vague of clues! We played several rounds and it went down pretty well, a worthy game!

I picked up Evoultion a couple of weeks back and its another game that people have enjoyed. 

Each player is given a species, in itself shows you your population and body mass. Population helps earn you points at the end and the amount of food you can collect (another source of points), while body mass can defend against any species that goes carnivore. 

Theres a bunch of card upgrades to help evolve your species and give you skills from being able to collect more food or to help defend against those meat eaters. Its a lovely looking game too, being bright and vibrant.

The Resistence also got some play, and I got to be this courageous lass! Not a spy. No, never. Always good I am!

 

Also a few weeks ago, Morg picked up Skull. 

A little like Liars/Pirate dice but with lovely looking beermats, three of whic are illustrated with flowers, one with a skull! Each player puts cards down and then one can challenge to show over  cards upto a certain number, all must be flowers and you have to start from your own pile. You get some outrageous bluffs and guesses but its another game thats proven to be great fun, upto 6 players too!

As expected the classic Ticket To Ride got a playthrough, and Mike picked up a win. Despite its simplicity this is one of those games we love going back to swearing at friends for blocking routes then cackling maniaclly when we do it tot hem. 

.0

While not on the same day, (although some Xwing was played I'll dedicate that to its own post) Bam, Sturdy and Louis did play some Warmachine two weeks back, Bams been interested and seems to be really enjoying. Anything that makes him even almost raise half a smile is worth it!

So some Xwing posts to come, I'll be participating in the Welsh Regionals in Cardiff so plenty of practice games coming for that! We're also looking for more games to be recommended so please share the games you love!

Ghost and X-Wing Batrep

 So its been a quiet due to many reasons, but here we are with an X-Wing Battle Report. 100 pts, Rebels versus Rebels! Gav hadn't played for a while and wanted to give a K-Wing a go, and having painted up a B-Wing I just had to use it in a batrep. Heres my list!

Keyan Farlander, no upgrades.

2x Blue Squadron B-Wings with Fire Control Systems

Gemma Sojan with Chaardon Refit, and Lone Wold (I'd also taken the card that allows me to take an elite pilot talent)

Gav had taken Wedge in his X-Wing, Dutch Vander in a Y-Wing, and Esege Tuketu in the K-Wing. I forget the upgrades he chose, but there was a blaster turret and recon on the K, wedge had decoy, and I think the Ywing had a droid that gave him a free target lock when he did red moves and some photon torpedoes.

First turn we were both pretty cautious, but soon we were locked in action. 

Wedge got into range one of Keyan, and took four shields off with a torrent of fire. The K-Wing took another shield off and gave me a crit, a direct hit. Gav however rolled two blanks with Dutch and thankfully Keyan lived on for a round... but not for long. I stripped the shields of the K-Wing but no other damage. 

The next turn was just about getting out of the way ready to make another pass, although Wedge did a K-turn and finished Farlander off. Boo!

 

After a couple more K-turns and my B-Wings taking some damage the A-wing and a B-Wing took out the K-wing, then the B's swept in and took out Wedge. Needless to say with the Y-Wing out of position and three ships looking to gun him down, Gav conceded. 

So what did I think of the list? Keyan didn't get much use and its the first time I used him, my preferred B-Wing elite pilot is Ten Numb, Mangler cannon and a couple other upgrades so it maximises his ability to get those crits through. I do love Blue Squadron B-Wings though, even at pilot skill 2 they survive fire and then dish it back out, and Gemma with Lone Wolf also works well. Being in range one rerolling one blank with an extra evade dice is useful and helps her attack get some reliability too. I'm not sure what to make of the K-Wing and I'm unsure as to whether I'd get one, but they do get raved abotu so perhaps one day. 

Also, Gav being the darling that he is, picked this up for me from Firestorm Games who are based in Cardiff. I'm hoping to do an unboxing post soon, possibly in video! The cards look great though and I can't wait to use this, not only is it massive but with a native 4 firepower its gonna do some damage!

Gaming Aplenty

So thought I'd update you all the games we've been enjoying over the last couple of weeks at the Gwent Reavers Tabletop Gaming Club. I'll hopefully get a post up soon about our first D&D session but for now, heres what we've been playing!

A few weeks ago Gav picked up a few games, one of them being Dixit Odyssey. I'd played the original version and this is much of the same, and just as enjoyable as the first version. More beautifully illustrated cards to try and describe in a vague way yet that people may guess right to earn you some points. Its a difficult one to master but such an easy premise, really works well for new and old players!

Gav also picked up Francis Drake, a resource gathering blind voting point grabbing extravaganza. The first turn of the game we played was hilarious as we had no idea what we were doing, but as we got through the rounds seeing people realise what they needed was fantastic. 

Its also a gorgeous looking game with some awesome components, little chests to keep gems in, the lovely map to roam around yet containing so much strategy I can't wait for another game. I was winning for most of it but kept saying I was gonna be last, everyone didn't believe me but when we added up the bonus points I did end up in last place! Four of us finished with just 10 or so points between 5th and 2nd place, while Gav actually managed to win on his first attempt at his own game, leading by around 20 points. Highly recomend this one! 

With Louis puffing on his vape we couldn't resist adding some mist to the high seas!

Speaking of Louis, he also brought up two of these polystyrene structures. Now what to build with them! Im thinking some sort of cathederal structure perhaps, but we'll see. Something large and epic is certainly to happen however.

Another new game for the club, this time purchased by Morg, is Spartacus, by Gale Force Nine, who also made a club favourite, Sons of Anarchy. This is very much in a similar vein as SOA, but with a lot more depth!

Theres plenty of scheming to be done with the intrigue card system, plus each player gets their own special rules with their player card. Trading and deals can be made before being stabbed in the back, much like in SOA, but where this game takes it to another level is in its advanced combat arena. 

Here warriors are thrust into the fighting pit, where combat comes down to a 'trump off' system. I don't mean in the bum windy way, but in having to beat values of the dice. Each fighter gets different stats and rules, all of which make a difference.  Its still quite simple but adds a nice element that Sons of Anarchy could do with.

 

Alliances have been made and broken already in just a few games that we have played, and its been a joy to watch every single time. Another game we highly recommend!

Finally myself and James had a game of Xwing, 100pts rebels derby match! I fancied taking an easy to use list where I didn't need to remember rules, so everything I took was PS 2 or lower. 2 B Wings, 2 Headhunters (which I still don't like) and 2 Awings (which I adore!). James took an Xwing with Biggs, a PS 3 Ewing and Han solo. 

I lost ships slowly as I slowly battered Han, eventually knock his shields off while losing two ships. It really felt like we were dealing clubbing blow after clubbing blow to each other, and it eventually came down to two ships. 

One B wing vs one X wing, James managing to dodge my shots and delivering the last of my hull points to the god of dead ships. He only had one hull point himself making this an incredibly close game and very enjoyable to play! Taking 6 ships was nice, although if I was take a similar list I'd drop the Headhunters, take another Awing and a couple of upgrades, fire control systems perhaps for the Bwings. 

So thats the last couple of weeks of gaming from us, we've got a few more games to get to play including an expansion for Dominion and Splendour to try, plus I think Spartacus wants to be played again. And if I get to try and gain revenge in Francis Drake I will be ready! 

So what have you guys been playing and would recommend? Leave your thoughts below!

Heel Over Face Podcast: ep 1 THE ROYAL RUMBLE

 

 

 

Welcome all, Death By Die is proud to bring you in conjunction with Conquest Community Gaming the first ever episode of our Heel Over Face podcast! Link is below to listen on Soundcloud, and we'll be working to get it up on youtube in the next few days too.

 

 

EPISODE ONE OF HEEL OVER FACE!

 

Thoughts are most welcome and if you have any questions get in touch!

Heel Over Face: Rumblings

So just a few weeks ago a manifesto was set by this very blog.

MORE POSTS! MORE GAMING! SOME VIDEOGAMES! SOME FILMS!..... Well, just more of everything that fills my nerdy heart with goodness. Todays post is the first Heel over Face wrestling post. I asked a few friends about the Royal Rumble PPV 2016, and copy and pasted those thoughts onto this very blog along with my own. If you're not a wrestling fan then please skirt over this post an await the gaming goodness... but onwards!

QUESTION!

What is the best possible, yet realistic ending to the Royal Rumble this year taking into account the amount of injuries WWE are dealing with?

RHYS - The Royal Rumble match in its self is one of the biggest matches of the wrestling year, everybody can't wait for it to come back around and see which superstar will overcome the odds and go on to headline the big on. Over the past few years the match has been underwhelming to say the least, riddled with predictability, 'surprise' returns that amounted to nothing and general structuring issues.

This year's match needs to come out swinging and get it right before people start to see the pay per view as an afterthought much like how Survivor Series is now viewed as by having their main theme matches be un-inspiring. How could they rejuvenate the Royal Rumble match this year? I'll tell you:-

A) Roman Reigns needs to walk out of the match without the strap. If Reigns managed to somehow overcome the odds on his 'Road to WrestleMania' sticking it once again to The Authority then we have another John Cena type character that the fans will resent. Roman has to be screwed out of the title by having Triple H return and get Reigns thrown over the top rope. (HHH won't be in the match.) This will then allow Roman and Triple H to enter a WrestleMania feud once Triple H has cost Roman his rematch for the title at Fast Lane. Roman is now a two-time World Champion and the time will come for him to regain the gold after WrestleMania.

B) Surprise returns need to be kept to a minimum and should only be reserved for returning superstars that are going to compete regularly on the active roster. Whilst some of the annual Royal Rumble surprises have been welcomed in the past, it gets to the point where they now amount to nothing and get forgotten very fast, with the superstar appearing for the match and then disapearing straight after. The only way I see these types of superstars helping anything at all is by allowing younger, up and coming talent to be the ones to throw them over effectively helping build up another star. On the flip side, superstars returning after an injury, you do not want to fill the match with these either because then it lessens the impact of such returns, by only having one or two come back to TV from an injury a bigger deal is made of such feats.

C) Brock Lesnar also needs to walk out of the match without the WWE World Heavyweight Championship. Another part-time reign is NOT what we need right now, the way to stop this from happening yet still making Lesnar look like gold is simple, Brock goes on a bit of a rampage after entering, throwing bodies around left, right and center. Give him four or five superstars (maybe six) to eliminate making him look like he's going to win it all. Have one of those superstars be what should be his WrestleMania opponent, Kevin Owens the only current superstar left in the business who we see as a good match for Lesnar to have against. Either before Owens walks to the back or much later near the end, have him rush back into the ring and attack Lesnar and send him over the top rope, this will allow Lesnar to have remained a big part of the Royal Rumble and look very credible on his path to 'Mania as well as give Kevin Owens a big push and a headlining marquee match for WrestleMania. With the amount of injuries we need a diverse packed WrestleMania card full of hard-hitting main-event caliber matches.

D) Who to walk out as champion then if not those mentioned above? Bray Wyatt. Finally giving the leader of the Wyatt Family a big win and his biggest yet to date. With his allied following him every step of the way, Harper, Rowan and Strowman will be the instruments used to get Wyatt to walk out as champion. The four have the chance to OWN the Royal Rumble Match by getting four of them in the ring at the same time they can do some real damage and be a big threat to anybody else that enters the fray. If the fans aren't with the Family yet, they will be as this could be the perfect opportunity to have the Wyatt Family clash with the League Of Nations inside the match not turning Bray face but having them prove they have no allies but each other within the group. The win for Wyatt will also give him his big WrestleMania match, not to say that without the gold his match at 'Mania wouldn't mean anything, but a World Championship match at the top show gives him one of the Main Event matches not only that he deserves but one the WWE needs. Not only that but imagine the possible storylines that could arrive at WWE creatives feet by having the creepy, destructive and eccentric Wyatt as their champion, we haven't had a character like Bray Wyatt's as champion in some time.

The Royal Rumble is the chance to cement some really strong feuds and headlining matches for the biggest show of year by having Roman Vs. Triple H, Lesnar Vs. Owens and Bray Wyatt defend in a World Title Match. I could go on about what the rest of the card would look like but I believe that's best left for another article.

KEVIN - I agree wholeheartedly about Reigns. I like the guy and think his upside is outstanding, but if they push him like Cena then he'll never get truly over. Cena has become the main heel of WWE because he's the obstacle everyone else has to overcome... which used to be the heels job.

If you're going to have a surprise return I think it'll be Daniel Bryan. There must be some reason they kept him out and the need to inject some heat into an upcoming heel can be done by having someone suitable throw out Daniel Bryan setting up a fued for Mania. I don't think AJ Styles will be there, and I don't know what they'd do with him after the Rumble so think him debuting there would probably not be needed.

Brock Owens. Yeah I'll take that too.

Wyatt getting the belt would be superb. It finallty elevates him to being THE heel of the company, even though I'd cheer my arse off for him, and after his loss to Undertaker and Cena in the previous two years he needs to win at Wrestlemania, it just makes sense. Although... might I present an alternative?

Brock, Reigns, Bryan in the ring, one entrant left. 'Bell Tolls*.

Taker entrance. Brock is shocked, Reigns wets his pants and Bryan shakes his head to pump himself up. Taker leaps on Brock and pummels him with strikes, as Brock fights back Bryan hits him with a knee, Reigns with a superman punch then taker clothelines him over the top rope. Kevin Owens comes out and beats Lesnar, chair shots, stairs etc, sets up their fued. The other three battle it out, Reigns takes out Bryan setting up a turn and making it look like he'll hold onto the belt before Undertaker unleashes hell, they have a back and fore before Taker eliminates Reigns, becoming a champion.

Now, if WWE were retiring undertaker this year thats how I'd like to see him go, on top. Everyone things he'll lose at Mania for just the second time but he goes out with the belt. HOF induction next year set in stone. Raw the next night the belt is vacated and we have a tribute show to the deadman, superstars praise him and blah blah blah. Undertaker goes to the ring, entrance one last time. As hes about to speak, Reigns comes out and just blitzes him, finalising the heel turn hints since the Rumble to Mania.

ERIC - This is a difficult question to have a true definitive answer for, especially when you consider all the factors involved. Now there a lot of people that are saying that it's pretty much a given that Roman Reigns will retain his title, but when you consider the negative reception from his rumble win last year and strong rumours of him facing Triple H at Wrestlemania. It would seem that this outcome isn't that strong a possibility and certainly isn't the best (though still not out of the question). So with Reigns out the way and a bunch of top stars injured, who is there left to pick up the win? The safest option here is to have Brock Lesnar win the title, the crowd still likes him a lot and hos matches always have a big match feel which is exactly what you want going in the Wrestlemania main event. Of course this is also a great opportunity for a superstar to prove themselves and a get their first World Heavyweight Championship, and there are a couple of people that I think really could: Bray Wyatt – After being thrown on the back burner a bit, Wyatt's new and improved family are stronger than ever and I feel like this is a great time for him finally get that title. His crowd reaction can vary and his character can be a little unfocused and rambly, but he still stands out from the rest with his larger than life persona and a big title win is something that he really needs to stay relevant and strong and it's something I think the crowd could get behind. Dean Ambrose – Here's someone who I think may be slightly overlooked here, but I feel if booked right, him winning the title would get a big reaction. He was in number of WWE title matches last year and came very close to winning the title but always missed out, he's had a year of struggles and what better way to end these struggles than finally getting that title at the Rumble. There are a few others that could be considered like Kevin Owens but I feel he's not quite the right choice to win and that Ambrose and Wyatt could use it most.

There is one more possibility that I would like to suggest that I think would have a great reaction and is still quite a viable option though a lot less likely. While still not confirmed by WWE, news has a erupted about a bunch of big WWE signings. One of those signings is AJ styles, a wrestler who has had a great last few years and has established himself as one of the top wrestlers in the world today. Now there are rumours that WWE had wanted to debut in the Royal Rumble match. This in itself I think would get a big crowd reaction, so imagine if he actually won the title in his debut, I think the crowd would go nuts. I think it's totally plausible if WWE take the chance with it. He's proven himself to be a star and main eventer around the world in every promotion and I think he's established enough to actually do it. I just think it's an interesting Idea that is a small possibility.

So these are the choices I pick, I think Lesnar winning is most realistic choice at the moment, but anything could happen.

KEVIN - See, Dean Ambrose is boring the shit out of me at the moment, someone recently said hes like the Jim Carrey of wrestling, all face not much substance and thats pretty spot on. Him and Owens are having a falls count anywhere match I think I read? Could help me get back behind him. Its crazy how out of the Shield, he was the one people said had the most upside. However hes the one who hasn't held the main belt.

AJ Styles winning is a very long shot in my opinion too, I don't think Vince would give an old TNA guy the belt in his first match on WWE. Well... not quite first but you know.

Does anyone see Somoa Joe featuring in the Rumble? Finn Balor or Sami Zayn even?

ERIC - Yeah I get what you mean and I do agree he needs to do something more interesting with his character, I'm just struggling to imagine many of the other people winning. I think Zayn will likely be in the rumble, Joe's a possibility, not so sure about Balor though it would be cool

RHYS - A few good points, however Ambrose as champion I'm not sure is a right fit ATM, I loved his feud with Rollins and love his matched but WWE need to get on the ball with his character and storylines to push him towards main event naturally.

Sami Zayn could certainly make a good jump to main roster in the rumble by surprising Owens and going for him.

Owens Vs Ambrose I'm thought was Last Man Standing? Haha.

JOSH - Unlike the rest of you I can't go into to much detail as I don't tend to watch the product on a regular basis but I do try to keep myself informed.

The royal rumble is one of my all time favourites, however as mentioned by some if you the last fair years have seemed.. ok.. This year I hope they really get behind it. The potential returns and debut are crazily close to being a reality, from the number of "superstars" that have been injured, the long list of hall of famers that might still have some gas in the tank, to the number of hard working up and comers in NXT and to top it off the Number of Independent contracts that have recently expired outside of the WWE.

Me personally would love for all the rumours of all the recent NJPW talent to come true. AJ Styles is one of my all time favourite wrestlers, so be it the fan in me would likes the idea of seeing him under the WWE Banner. Another Guy that could make his Big PPV debut is none other than Finn Balor, the idea of him and AJ being in the rumble would just be great.

Other name that I think we may see is Same Zayn, Samoa Joe and Daniel Bryan.

As for winning, personally I think Roman is most likely to win, it wouldn't suprising me if they attempt something real convoluted such as two guys getting eliminated at the same time or something silly.

So some interesting thoughts looking ahead to tonights PPV, the Rumble always throws up some interesting discussion whether for better or worse, and what better way than to do another post like this Tuesday. Well, there could be a better way. We might record it instead of type it. Eyes peeled! 

Whats your thoughts on tonights Rumble? What did you think of the Rumble if you're reading this after the PPV? Let us know along with any questions and we may answer them Tuesday!