Paul Unboxes Five More Doctor Who: Exterminate Sets!

 

Hi, I'm Paul, and welcome to The Asylum.


We're on something of a Doctor Who: Exterminate! kick here at The Asylum, and we're sharing our love for this great game with you once again. Not only that, but—being of a generous nature—this week we bring you two more unboxing videos. So what are we waiting for...? Allons-y!


Our entrée includes not one, not two, but three sets of miniatures, namely the Zygon, Clockwork Droids and Judoon boosters. Whilst the contents of said sets may not be a surprise, we're fairly confident that those of you unfamiliar with this superb range will be astonished at the quality of the miniatures therein.

 

Need more proof just how good these miniatures are? Well, here's your plat principal: the Tenth Doctor and His Companions, and the Twelfth Doctor and His Companions sets. Bon appetite!

 

 

See? I told you they were good. They meet—and, in some cases, exceed—the standards set by the Missy and Davros miniatures in their respective Doctor Who: Exterminate! sets (my review of which you can see here). Expertly sculpted, superbly cast, and possessed of a remarkable poise, these miniatures are, I might argue, the best Warlord have ever produced. It remains to be seen if the rest of the Doctor Who: Exterminate! line can maintain this high standard. I for one am keen to find out.

 

That's it for this post. Join us next time when we'll bring you more wargaming goodness. Until then, inmates...

 

...Au revoir. And no, there's no dessert. 

A Question of Honour: an Interview with Warring States Organiser Kieran Byrne

 

Hi, I'm Paul, and welcome to The Asylum.

As part of our continued and ongoing commitment to organised play, we at Asylum Wargaming will be attending the forthcoming Warring States event in Nottingham. Don't know what a Warring States event is? Or even where Nottingham's at? Then don't worry, you don't need to know ... because I've interviewed event organiser Kieran Byrne to get your answers for you. You're welcome.

Hello Kieran, and thank you for joining me. Can you begin by introducing yourself?

Many will know me from various social media outputs surrounding Warlord Games. Being a member of both the Combined Operations podcast—which is based around my first love, Bolt Action—and the relatively new Three Swords podcast, which focuses on Test of Honour. I also run two Bolt Action groups on Facebook, being Bolt Action KL and the Bolt Action Honved, which are for players of Dutch and Hungarian armies in Bolt Action.

Apart from that I playtest for Warlord Games, whether on my own or at the club I attend, Infamous Wargaming.

You cite Bolt Action as your 'first love'; how long have you been playing BA, and what first attracted you to it?

I was a big gamer in my early teens but drifted away from the hobby in my late teens when the group split up. Some years later I discovered Airsoft guns and the subgenre of WWII Airsoft events, in which groups of grown men disappear into the woods together, get dressed up in World War II kit and shoot one another all weekend. Unsurprisingly, there are a large number of wargamers in that scene, and in late 2012 / early 2013 one such wargamer brought some of his Bolt Action armies to play with in the mess after an event; I couldn't have been more hooked more quickly.

Kieran in Airsoft action!

So, moving onto Test of Honour and Warring States, can you tell me about the event?

Absolutely. Warring States will be a campaign event for Test of Honour; that is to say the day doesn't focus entirely on a competitive tournament. I have a background of putting on what have been described as 'story driven' Bolt Action tournaments with a narrative element; I wanted to do Warring States in the same way.

The key aim for Warring States is to ensure everyone gets as much out of it as they can, so I want to steer away from the kind of tournament which encourages a certain section of players to embrace their more 'competitive' nature and  side, especially as Test of Honour is still relatively new and a lot of our players may still be learning the game.

Good to hear. As a guy who rarely dips his toe into tournament play I can relate to those who find the thought of min/maxing and cheese lists daunting. But how do you aim to avoid the kind of scenario where 'newbs' may be pummelled by power gamers?

Look, you can't really complain about power play, min/maxing or whatever if that's the way the tournament's structured; you're going to get it as soon as you offer big prizes for those who win the most games. With Test of Honour, however, the basis of the game—and its various unit cards—means nothing really stands out as overtly powerful; that mitigates against the concept of only winning if you take 'x' unit. 

Also, in Test of Honour the only game mechanic that can be open to abuse is the Fate Card deck. Whilst some decks could be stuffed with what are regarded as 'better cards' from all the expansions, we've tried to curb that by stipulating which cards can be included in a player's deck. It's all going to be a bit of a trial and error with this first event, but the feedback I've had regarding the tournament pack has been positive.

The other thing about tournaments is you have to be up front with your players; make the statement of what is expected at the event and you'll be surprised by how your players buy into it, and those that don't like it just don't book on.

A Test of Honour battle rages. Photo by Alfonso Oclaf

And what has take up been like so far?

When we were looking at where to hold the event, and through our club links with Warlord, we only really had it in our heads that we wanted to hold it at Warlord HQ in Nottingham. The building they're in includes a really good event space so it seemed like a no brainer to go there. Thanks to that and generous offers to lend us scenery and buildings on the day we can easily accommodate 40 players. At present we have 20 confirmed players with others expressing interest and waiting to confirm once pay days roll round, etc.

Even at 20 players it should still be a great event, right?

Oh yeah, totally. Numbers don't always translate to bigger being better. Also, as I will be doing all the admin on the day, smaller numbers is better for me...

More Test of Honour awesome courtesy of Alfonso Oclaf

So what format can players expect on the day?

There will be four rounds of games, so hopefully people will play against a good mixture of warbands. This as a campaign event which focuses on the build up to a famous battle from the period, and all the games propel the storyline toward that battle. If players invest and immerse themselves in the event and its narrative they will leave with a good tale to tell about their hero and warband.

And how many points can players field?

It's going to be 24  points, which is seen as the set level in many cases. However, the points total builds from round to round, so a player's full warband won't hit the table until the final game. This means the player will have a bit of decision making to do from game to game. We have put the Event Guide on the Facebook group already, so hopefully people will already be planning and counter planning...

Thanks for your time, Kieran; Warring States sounds like an awesome event in the making, and we can't wait to see you there.

Find out More about Kieran's 3 Swords Tests of Honour podcast.
Art by The Lucky Orc.

Warring States takes place on Saturday 30th September at Warlord Games HQ in Nottingham. Tickets are still available, and those interested in attending should contact Kieran via the Warring States Facebook page.

Asylum Wargaming will be in attendance at Warring States, and we shall show much honour, fail many tests, and do much losing...

...We will, however, draw the line at sepukku.

Paul Unboxes More Doctor Who: Exterminate Goodness!

 

Hi, I'm Paul, and welcome to The Asylum.


Last week we took Warlord Game's new Doctor Who: Exterminate! Miniatures Game out of its box, and today we're unboxing the Missy and the Cybermen and Davros and the New Dalek Empire sets.


Whilst these two sets may appear to be little more than troop builders—containing as they do more of the Dalek and Cyberman sprues from the base game—they also contain unique Missy and Davros miniatures ... and therein lay two real gems. As our video shows, these two miniatures are both excellently sculpted and cast with astonishing elegance; it's no exaggeration when I say Missy and Davros are two of the best miniatures I have ever seen. Don't believe me? Then check this out:

 

Whetted your appetite? Good, because next week we're reviewing more sets from Warlord's Doctor Who: Exterminate range. Join us once again and you'll learn that, from the delicacy of the Twelfth Doctor's guitar's and Madame Vastra's ankles to the detail of the Zygons and the Judoon, these miniatures are incredible.

 

Until then...

 

...Stay crazy.

Paul Unboxes the Doctor Who: Exterminate! Miniatures Game

 

 

Hi, I'm Paul, and welcome to The Asylum.


It's safe to say the boxed miniatures game is not only de rigueur right now, but it's also a fiercely competitive sector of the market. The likes of Test of Honour, Project Z and the forthcoming Blood Red Skies, however, prove Warlord Games' mettle against stiff competition.


The Doctor Who: Exterminate! Miniatures Game continues in the same demonstrative manner, mining as it does that rich seam of compelling gameplay, high-quality components and neat miniatures at an excellent price. In doing so not only does it excite, but it also underlines Warlord Games' continued ability to catch lightning in a bottle...

...Long may it continue.

March of the Idiots: Paul Goes to War

Hi, I’m Paul, and welcome to The Asylum.

Today I bring you a further episode of our March of the Idiots series, in which I detail Asylum Wargaming's misadventures in various tournaments across the country. As part of our commitment to organised and community play, we’re proud to both promote and to engage in these tournaments.

I am, therefore, thrilled to announce my friend—and the man even Warlord Games calls Mr. Bolt Action—Jamie Tranter has invited me to be his partner at a forthcoming event. Entitled Peak Offensive, this doubles tournament sees teams of two players—each fielding 500 points of Bolt Action goodness—competing for prizes and the adulation of their peer group. Lacking a partner (and being desperate) Jamie asked me to be his Wing Man. Once he told me the really cool theme for our entry, I just couldn’t say no…

Jamie’s pitch? An actual WWII action called Operation Varsity. Launched by the Allies against Nazi Germany in March, 1945, Operation Varsity saw Allied airborne forces from the U.S., Canada and Great Britain dropped on the village of Hamminkeln and the town of Wesel (both on the banks of the Rhine River). Their intention was to capture key territories and disrupt German defences in the face of the oncoming Allied ground forces.

Due to a mistake by a pilot, however, U.S. Paratroopers from the 513^th Parachute Infantry Regiment missed their designated drop zone and instead landed in one held by the British 6^th Airlanding Brigade. Not to be deterred, both divisions worked shoulder-to-shoulder to secure the town of Hamminkeln.

So, after a brief discussion (i.e, Jamie told me to), we decided we’d create two 500 point forces which reflected this joint operation. Jamie chose to field the British Airborne of the 6^th, and I the U.S. Airborne of the 513^th. Being Mr. Bolt Action, Jamie already knew the best way to start his force: the venerable Bolt Action British Airborne WWII Allied Paratroopers boxed set.

I, meanwhile, needed some Airborne, and fast. But, as a Bolt Action newb (I’ve played one game against our man Spud Tate!) neither did I own any Bolt Action miniatures, or have any idea where to start. Fortunately, Warlord’s excellent Bolt Action US Airborne set proved to be an ideal place to start. Why so…?

…Here so:

With five sprues each with six Airborne, this set had more than enough grunts for my 500 point force. Assembling the paratroopers was a scream, and I haven’t had as much fun gluing plastic together since the very first plastic Space Marines boxed set. Yeah, that long ago. And this time I didn’t even glue anything to my face.

So, you're bang up to date. As of today, Jamie and I have an idea, fists full of plastic, and a deadline. Said deadline is a month away and neither of us are known for being quick painters. Can we complete our miniatures in time and do justice to the brave men of Operation Varsity…?

…Watch this space.


Peak Offensive will be held at the Whitworth Centre, Darley Dale, Matlock, on Sunday 23^rd July. Jamie and I will hold a victory parade in Nottingham on Monday 25^th.* No, really.**


*This may not be true.

** It’s really not true.

Bolt Action, Konflikt '47 and all manner of other Warlord Games goodies are available at our webstore

ChillCon '17 Just Got Cooler

Hi, I'm Paul, and welcome to The Asylum.


Today I present a wee update on ChillCon '17. Now, if you don't know what ChillCon '17 even is, then you must be new around here. It's Asylum Wargaming and Chilling Wargamers' very own wargames show, and it's being held on 27th May, 2017. I've even heard a rumour The Asylum may be allowed to play there as well...


I unveiled a astonishing line-up of traders last week. But today I bring even more astonishment, with news that these industry leaders will be at ChillCon '17, making an awesome show even more awesome-er. Check this lot out:

Creating delicious handmade cakes and other confectionaries.

The highest quality 15mm wargaming miniatures and vehicles for your gaming needs!

Miniatures for collectors, by collectors.



Purveyors of Greenskins and the forces who oppose them.



The home of affordable wargames miniatures and fantastic tabletop games.

Publisher of hobby rules and games.



28mm historical and sci-fi wargames miniatures.

Producer of white metal miniature figures for the collector or wargamer.

Yes, you read that read. We now have the likes of Mantic Games, Wargames Foundry, Warlord Games and Westwind Productions at ChillCon '17. Not bad, eh?

Tickets are available here. You can also save £1.00 by buying your tickets in advance. For every ticket sold we will donate £1.00 to the following charities:

The three of us involved in the organisation of ChillCon—Steve, Spud and myself—have picked these charities as they all mean something to us on a personal level. Please take a moment to visit their sites and consider making a donation. Thank you.




ChillCon '17 is sponsored by Daruma Productions' S.L.A. Industries: CS1...

...And Word Forge Games.