Astronomi-con Trophies

Ever have on of those moments when you're speechless? Well the crew at TGR had that experience last night and today. We've received the trophies for the mighty Astronomi-con and all I have to say is ... "Wow" and "I want one!"

From my understanding this is just the tip of the iceberg. Cool prizes and support as well as little additions like these trophies will make this a really really cool GT.

So without too much further ado here we go:


As you can see here it's a pretty impressive trophy in it's own right, but you want to go "Wow"?

We have all the trophies on display at the Store so stop by and take a look at all of them. Don't forget to also head out and sign up for a chance to win one of these babies by bringing it to your opponents! www.astronomi-con.com

TGR - Escalation League Cycle 3

As April arrives so does TGR's Escalation League Third Cycle. Below you will find the scenario used and don't forget that we are at 1000 points now. So grab your troops and head into the dark depths to face your enemy. Be victorious or die trying!

Warhammer 40k Escalation League Scenario 3: Underground
(Cycle 3 – 1000 points)

Background: Landing zones for the various factions warring on the planet surface have been secured and the hunt for the Rogue Trader can begin in earnest. During the previous conflicts, survivors noted fissures in the earth. Investigation has led to the discovery of an extensive cave complex located under the surface.

Strategists within each faction have seized upon the discovered subsurface passages as the most likely explanation for the escape of the Rogue Trader. Exploration of the caves reveals a mixture of natural and artificial passages. There is evidence of recent usage scattered among the detritus left behind by more ancient travelers.

Each faction has dispatched forces to reconnoiter the cave system and find clues among the scattered campsites believed to belong to the Rogue Trader. It is hoped that analysis of the sites and their contents can lead to anticipating where the Rogue Trader is headed and what his goal is.

Set-Up: A standard 4’ x 6’ table is used in this scenario. A total of d6 +1 pieces of terrain should be placed on the table.

Force Organization: The standard force organization rules are used.

Mission Objective: Seize Ground (see page 91 in the rulebook for details)

Special Rules:
At least two (2) of the objectives must be placed in No Man’s Land.

Combat is assumed to be taking place in a series of underground chambers. Access to this cave system is limited. Also, space within the cave system is restricted.

· Monstrous creatures (units with the monstrous creature unit type) and vehicles (any unit with an armour value) are not permitted.
· Jump infantry are restricted to normal troop movement (6”).

Deployment: Pitched Battle (see page 92 of the rulebook for details)

Victory Conditions: The game lasts the standard length (5 turns with checks to see if it runs to 7). At the conclusion of the last turn use the Victory Conditions of the scenario to determine a winner. (details are available on page 91 of the rulebook) In the event of a tie, the player with the most scoring units left is the victor. If both players have the same number of scoring units, the player with the highest point value scoring unit holding an objective wins. If there is a tie once more, the player who went first is the victor.


Previous Winner Advantages: Any player who is a member of the winning team from Cycle 2 enjoys the following advantages during the game:

The first troop unit that is completely wiped out can return to the game as if coming in from reserve. (deployment would follow the reserves rules from page 94 of the rulebook)

Any player who is considered to be a winner from Cycle 2 has the following advantages:
A single troop unit can be given the Scout special rule. (see page 76 for details)

TGR Escalation League - Scenario 2

Warhammer 40k Escalation League Scenario 2: Survival

(Cycle 2 – 750 points)

Background: Having established a beach head on the planet, reinforcements begin to bolster these forces. However, the planet itself seems to be taking exception to the arrival of so many newcomers and the very terrain begins to turn against the armies. Now, not only are there unknown enemies lurking at every turn trying to kill them, but the very ground upon which each faction moves is attacking them as well.

Reports are finally beginning to come in as to where the Rogue Trader may have gone. Also there are hints of something strange about the planet beyond its bizarre architecture. As each faction struggles to survive, the soldiers on the ground notice the planet trying to herd them away from certain areas.

Each faction must struggle against both enemy and planet as they begin to pierce the veil of secrecy around what is happening. The only question remaining is can they survive long enough to get answers?

Set-Up: A 4’ x 4’ table is used in this scenario. A total of 2d6 +3 pieces of terrain should be placed on the table by the players, alternating back and forth between the selected items. Players should agree on the type of each terrain piece before game play begins.

Force Organization: The standard force organization rules are used with the following modifications:
- Headquarters: Players must take 1 choice
- Troops: Players are only required to have 1 choice

Mission Objective: The object is to survive with the greatest amount of points intact.

Special Rules: All terrain is considered dangerous terrain. The rules for Dangerous Terrain on page 14 of the rulebook apply. For vehicles, see the rules on page 57 under Terrain Effects.

Deployment: Special. The board is divided diagonally and opposite corners selected as deployment zones. The far corner of each deployment zone has a 12” square that cannot be used for deployment. There is also a 12” strip down the diagonal – 6” on either side of the midline – that cannot be used for deployment. (See the picture below.)


Victory Conditions: The game lasts the standard length (5 turns with checks to see if it runs to 7). At the conclusion of the last turn, each side counts the number of points left alive in their army. (For scoring purposes immobilized vehicles and fleeing troops are not considered alive.) The player with the highest number of points left is the winner. If both players have the same number of points left, then the player with the most units left is the winner. If both players have the same number of units, then the player with the highest single point model remaining is the winner. If there is a tie once more, the player who went first is the winner.

Previous Winner Advantages: Any player who is a ‘member’ of the winning team* from Cycle 1 enjoys the following advantages during the game:
Prior to deployment, but after sides have been selected, a single piece of terrain can be moved anywhere on the board. If both players are on the winning team then the player who is designated to go first in the game moves the first piece of terrain and then the second player moves a piece.

Any player who is considered to be a winner from Cycle 1 has the following advantages:
Once per turn, a single unit may re-roll a dangerous terrain test. If a re-roll is used, all models in the unit re-roll and the second roll is used even if the results are worse.

* The teams are:
Team 1: Space Marines, Imperial Guard, Witch Hunters
Team 2: Chaos Space Marines, Dark Eldar, Orks
Team 3: Daemonhunters, Eldar, Tau
Team 4: Chaos Daemons, Necrons, Tyranids

TGR Escalation League - Army Background Contest

As Cycle 2 of the Escalation League begins, The Gamers Realm is happy to announce the second contest of the league – an Army Background Writing Contest. A lot of people develop a back story for their force – whether it is a unique army or a representation of a standard army. No matter which road you travel, we want to read about your army.

The contest starts with Cycle 2, 21 March, and runs through 01 May. This gives you six weeks to work on your background.

For more information go here.

TGR Escalation League - Week 2

So things are in full swing, we've had about 12 out of 28 or so players report games during the first week. Games were played throughout all of last week and over the weekend. Some people only got one game in but it looks like the majority played 3 or more games (only the first 3 counted). Personally I played CoolKidRoc for my first game and I was like his 6th opponent for the day.

All things considered things seem to be moving along quite well with the league. Even had a couple late sign ups on Thursday and they got in a game then as well. Everyone seems to be having a good time and enjoying the league's first scenario. Speaking of which Scenario 2 is posted for the 750 point scale.

I do urge the players to make sure they note their wins/loss at the front counter. I know we had a couple people play that doesn't appear to have made it on the score sheet. So make sure that gets done and in order.

Glad everyone is having fun and hope to continue this into week 3 and beyond. Stay tuned for more of my escalation army build up. Also check out www.thegamersrealm.com for more up to date info and also Jack Salva's Army build up.

My Escalation League Army Build Up Part 2

BLOGS FOR THE BLOG GOD!!!!

Okay so I've been a bit remiss about keeping up with my plan on the Escalation league. Unfortunately life has been keeping me busy and haven't had the time to keep on track with my army build up plan.


I do have some things to report though and of course some pictures for everyone to ooo and aaah at. Okay maybe complain about it being washed out or blurry.

Let me start off by saying... I hate painting red over white. I used the white so it picks out the detail better but man what a pain. I started out layering up Brick Red as a base for the red bits. This took about 3 to 4 coats on most areas, but some places required 6 layers. It was an interesting color to say the least, kind of had a purple hue to it, but it actually worked in the end.

Here's a mini with the first coat of Brick Red put on it. As you can see one coat allowed quite a bit of the white to show through. The Brick Red seemed to rub off quite easily too on the tips of the model. Just handling them caused a bit to rub off.

My next color I used to layer up was Reaper's Blood Red. It's a more vibrant red then the Brick Red, but not as bright as GW's Blood Red. I didn't get any pictures of the mini in this color but you'll see it on the Rhino below. This is close to a color between GW's Blood Red and Red Gore I think. Not too bad a color over all, but not as vibrant as the Blood Red from GW.


As you can see it's a nice red, I've left the Brick Red in some of the more recessed areas for shading. I really like how this Rhino is turning out, also like how the Berzerkers are turning out.

Unfortunately I didn't take into account the many layers of reds I would need. Even this Blood Red from Reaper still took several coats to cover up the Brick Red completely. I do have to say though I'm pleased overall with it, just wish I could find a short cut to save some time.



I'll have to look into that at a later time. To the right you see the Rhino with the final layer of red. I used Vallejo's Game Color Blood Red as I like their paints a little bit more then GW's.

I also used Brassy Brass from Vallejo and Tarnished Steel from Reaper as base coats for the other bits you see on the Rhino. I'll wash the brass with a brown/black ink wash I use for most of my metallic colors. I will also wash the tarnished steel and then use a chainmail color to highlight those. Same with the Brass color. I'll most likely just use the base color over top the washed brass first layer.

Half finished Berzerker

Below is the top down look on the Rhino from Steps 2 to 3 with the red colors. Second one is a bit blurry, sorry about that, but you can definitely see the color difference. I think an army that looks like this is going to be very sharp on the tabletop indeed.

TGR Escalation Army Build Up

"BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!!"

"SKULLS FOR THE SKULL THRONE!!!"

I enjoy themed armies like crazy. Always looking for the next theme to throw together. As you seen from elsewhere on my blog my last army was DeathWing. I'm working on an Elysian one next that will be all Airborne Assault even under the normal Codex.

So when The Gamers Realm started up an Escalation League I decided, hey it's time for another new Army. One that can be built and painted up as the League moves forward. With being one of the store owners it means I won't win any prizes, but I'm not really doing this for the prizes. I'm using it as motivation to get a fully painted themed army on the table.

So starting Sunday the 7th of March, we can start playing a modified Combat Patrol. 500 Points, 1 Troop Choice minimum, 0-1 HQ choice. With this in mind I went out and did some purchasing. I picked up two box sets of Khorne Berzerkers, 1 Chaos Rhino, I had 1 Loyalist Rhino I'll convert, and then picked up some ForgeWorld ChainAxes. One of the things I don't like about the Berzerker box set is the lack of ChainAxes. I mean come on, that's the iconic weapon of choice for them.


So off I went and cleaned, filed, cut, clip, etc 8 Berzerkers out. I'm keeping my squads at 8 since that's the Sacred Number for Khorne. The nice thing about 2 boxes of Berzerkers is I can build 3 squads of 8. I need to figure out my Skull Champions weapon choices, but to start out I'm just keeping him base.

Here's one of my standard Berzerkers. ChainAxe is from ForgeWorld, everything else is standard from the box set. I do have to say I really liked the box set overall. It has some decent options and additional bits for your Berzerkers, like the Plasma Pistol and such. I couldn't find a good place to attach the additional Frag Grenades though. Ah well

Below is my plasma pistol Berzerker. He looks righteous enough ;). I intend to get these guys painted up and ready for Sunday. I'm going with a mixture of Reaper Master Paints and Vallejo Game Colors. Going to try out the game color washes as well.


I hope to get the one squad and rhino painted up this week, and the second squad and Rhino Assembled and primed by Sunday. My goal is to have the initial 500 points painted completely before we jump up to the 700 point mark. At that point I'll have a core Troop selection set and ready for any point size game.

And just so you all know, yes the theme is Khorne. Expect to see a lot of Red on this site and on the table. ;) Below is the squad and converted Loyalist Rhino. I got them all primed white last night and touched up this morning.

Yes I went with white as to a) pick out all the detail on the minis and b) easier to build up the red on. I want these mini's to "shine" with the color red. So I want it nice and bright on the minis. Should be interesting to say the least.

Tonight will see base coats on at least the Rhino and the Berzerkers. I'm thinking that I might place an order to ForgeWorld here soon and get some Rhino Doors and possibly the conversion packs for the World Eaters, both normal squads and terminators. Maybe pick up some Brass Etched Khorne Icons as well, although those can be easily made with green stuff.

Here is my assembled first squad:

So stay tuned and we'll walk this road together. Maybe see me fail, maybe see a kick ass themed army come to fruition, or possibly just a neat escalation army.

Escalation League at The Gamers Realm

The Gamers Realm is sponsoring a Warhammer 40k Escalation League starting 07 March. This league is designed to introduce new players to the Warhammer 40k system by allowing them to build up their army over the course of the Spring. Veteran players can start that other army they have been wanting to begin and join the fun as well.

All one needs to do to join the league is to stop by The Gamers Realm at 300 N. Coit Rd, Suite 230, and purchase a box item (squad, character, creature or vehicle) for the army you wish to play and let one of the friendly staff members know that you want to sign up for the league. They will take your name, the army you will be playing and what item you purchased for that army. They can also provide you details about the league or you can read them in the attachment to this post or stop by the gaming area and see the posting there.

To go along with this I'll be posting building up my new Khorne Army. Last time I checked we also have about 10 people committed right now to the League. So call or stop by and get signed up.

First Scenario is up here.