Over the last few days I was off enjoying Christmas the forces of Chaos -- otherwise called spammers -- have been hard at work spamming this blog with "comment spam".  After nearly a hundred spam messages in three days I have decided to impose moderation on all comments from now on.  Sorry, but it's the only apparently way to stop the scourge.  So, if your comments don't pop up immediately now you know why.  At least it is better than having to remove comments completely.

I have an update as to the Armoury Games break-in -- the name of the confessed perpetrator.  Ironically, I have a picture of him because he was at the World's Largest Apocalypse Game at Origins this last year.

William Dupree

Apparently, Mr. Dupree had gotten himself in trouble on various online trading sites for "selling" GW models he didn't actually have.  Partially in an attempt to get out from beneath the problem he broke into Armoury Games to steal its GW stock.  He immediately began to ship out full or partial kits to satisfy the "sales" he made previously.  So, if you have received (or will) models from him in the last week you are likely holding stolen goods.  Don't worry -- since the kits have for the most part been sent out as individual bits Armoury Games will not want the pieces back as they are no longer fit to be sold -- and insurance will cover the losses.  Just keep in mind what happened.

He was caught thanks to an accomplice who gave up his name to the police when questioned.  In turn, William confessed when the police confronted him.  It is likely that he had a third partner named Todd Piotrowski, but so far there is insufficient evidence to arrest him (in large part because Dupree will not give him up).  The best estimate at this time is that Mr. Dupree is looking at 1-3 years of hard time.

Frankly, I have no sympathy which is why I am posting his picture and the name of his likely accomplice.  Whatever happens they shouldn't be welcome in any gaming establishment or group ever again.

Good news -- the primary thief behind the Armoury Games break-in has been caught and has confessed to the crime.  I won't say here who he is (at least until I know it is appropriate), but it was indeed a gamer.  Fortunately, he turned out to be a rotten criminal.  Most of the stolen material has been recovered.  Hopefully, the rest will soon follow.

Looks like Christmas may be pretty good after all!

Back to something more upbeat -- here are pictires of the sprues from the new Fortess of Redemption.

 

 

The model looks great.  What is not clear is how easy it will be to combine this set with the bastion to create something new.

This is turning out to be just a great week.  More bad news -- Armoury Games, one of the local gaming shops here in Columbus (technically in Pickerington, a suburb), was the victim of a break-in this last weekend.  The thieves took as much as half the stock, primarily Games Workshop models.

What's telling -- and disturbing -- is that the theft was clearly the work of someone who knew the shop well.  That means that in all likelihood a gamer(s) is behind this.

So, I would like to ask everyone to keep an eye open for anyone from the Columbus area with a sudden surplus of models, most likely to sell.  This is the sort of crime that gamers can't afford to let go unpunished.

Some of you might be wondering why GBPrime doesn't post all that much here.  One reason is that he has three young children (including twins!), but lately it is also because of a slow motion tragedy in his family.  His kid sister has been suffering from cancer.  Sadly, she lost her battle with the disease yesterday afternoon.

Julie Elizabeth Meadows
6 May 1973 - 13 Dec 2009

She leaves behind her husband, two young kids (4 and 6), parents, brother -- and all the rest of us.  She was only 36.

I hope you will join me in offering the deepest possible condolences for their loss.

(...which I suspect is more interesting than bugging out over geeks)

Games Workshop has come out with a bunch of new Tyranids -- including the new codex -- up on advanced order.  That makes for a great opportunity to talk about the models and generally what the posted pictures and material tell us about the new book (I am intentionally avoiding rumors in this case and going only with what GW has released).

First thing to notice is that GW has placed the new models in their catalog according to their type within the new codex -- and moved old units to match as well.  The end result gives us an updated list of what Tyranid unit goes where (new stuff is in italics):

HQ:  Hive Tyrants, Tyrant Guard
Elites: Pyrovore, Hive Guard, Lictor, Death Leaper, Venomthrope, Zoanthrope
Troops: Warriors, Genestealers, Termagants, Hormaguants, Broodlord, Rippers
Fast Attack: Raveners, Gargolyes, Red Terror
Heavy Support:  Trygon/Mawloc, Carnifex, Old One Eye, Biovore

Clearly GW is continuing their post-Dark Angels (sigh) policy of making sure new books come with cool new toys.  More interesting is this new list -- I like all the troop options (multi-wound Warriors as troops!), but don't like so many elite choices, especially when fast attack and heavy support are compartively meager. 

I assume that the returning old "character" models (Leaper, Red Terror, and One Eye) are unique examples of their core bug type.  No matter -- it's good to see them (now I have a reason to paint my Red Terror figure!). I guess everyone is going to have to bring a Hive Tyrant now whether they want to or not.  Thankfully, I already have two.  Finally, I feel sorry for the poor Zoanthropes -- unless they have been improved becoming elites will mean we we'll see even fewer of them now. 

Let's take a closer look at the new models or sculpts for old units (these are taken from the GW website -- click to biggen):

The Trygon/Mawloc:  This model makes me glad for the new book all by itself!  It looks great and is huge.  It's even plastic!  Guaranteed to be a centerpiece of most any bug army. 

The New Ravener -- Now in Plastic:  I like the figure, but mostly because it is so much like the old one which I also liked.  Still, moving to plastic is a virtue as the old metal ones were frustratingly top-heavy.

New Gargoyles -- Also in Plastic:  So much for my conversion project for flying bugs on the cheap, but it is hard to not like having gargoyles available in plastic.  The old metals ones were top-heavy and way too pricey for such a mediocre unit.  I hope the new rules justify taking some.  It would be even more cool if there turns out to be a way to take them as troops (say, with a winged tyrant).

Pyrovore:  Another great looking new model, but I am confused -- it sure looks like a big walking gun (biovores on alien steroids?) but it is listed as an elite.  Bwah?  That makes no sense unless the unit isn't just a big gun, but if that's true why make it look like just a big gun?

Hive Guard:  Yet another great new model...and yet another elite choice.  When I first saw these I thought they were alternative Tyrant Guard (as a second option, not replacement) and it might turn out to be best if they were.  I assume the gun must be fairly nifty as otherwise these units are a waste of time.  If it is effective I may have to rethink my general policy that shooty bug armies don't work.

Venomthrope:  Yes, it is another great new model.  My one worry is that it is apparently all metal.  That's going to make for an unbalanced model with a lot of bits that will inevitably snap off with use.  Be prepared to bring extra glue if you use one.  The Venomthrope is also yet another elite choice -- Good grief!  Come on, we couldn't have either the Venomthrope or Pyrovore as a heavy support choice instead?

Criticisms aside this stuff makes me eager to see the new codex and see the actual stats.  Gotta come up with some justification for buying the new models, after all.

I'm sure some of you may have already seen this, but it was too good not to post to pass along the word.

Inkygirl did this in response to GW's latest jihad against fan made materials.  I am usually more willing than many to cut GW a break in such matters, but they sure do seem to go out of their way to anger their best customers.

Something like this happens on a regular basis and despite the numerous complaints GW seems to go on without changing or even big effect.  Yet, sales are down and shops are closing all across the business, not just in miniatures but gaming in general.  Likewise, GW prices continue to skyrocket.  I fear that in the end something is going to have to give.

After all, wasn't there a time when TSR looked like the unstoppable juggernaut in Role-Playing?  Now it doesn't even exist.  I hope GW is paying attention.