One big thing I have been struggling with this year is Version 4 of Flames of War. When this was first announced I was concerned that the change in the rules would put me off, but once I read through the rules and the freebie EW/LW conversion books and played a few games, the rules are actually good. I like a lot of the changes (Recon got hosed a bit IMO, but I guess I can live with that) and the game flows well. The issue I have with V4 is their army list model. Battlefront has embraced the product model they first deployed with Team Yankee which is fine for new players (like I was with Team Yankee), but for players with large existing collections it stinks IMO. The Afrika Korps and Desert Rats books contain only a portion of what the German and British lists in V3's North Africa book had, then they release cards with additional content that could have been in each book...so for your $50 you get part of what was in North Africa for 2 of the 4 nationalities. This is a step backward in army list options AND existing players are being nickle and dimed. That said, the answer for me is to play the V4 rules for all periods using the V3 army list books; the games are fine and though some points may not be properly aligned to the V4 changes, it is all relative in friendly games. Unfortunately I think Flames of War will be seeing a bit less table time in the near future as the local players figure out what is going to happen.
All is not doom and gloom though. As Battlefront turns off some players, it appears that GW is pulling others like me back in. I haven't played 40k since 5th edition and the failure that was 6th edition at which time I got rid of my armies. I also haven't played Necromunda in years. That is all changing. GW has done a better job of marketing their product and showing the changes in the upcoming 8th edition IMO; so much so that I picked up the Shadow War rules, have some 8th edition stuff on pre-order, and started collecting Space Marine and Genestealer Cult forces. I really like the 30k models from the Prospero and Calth sets, and got the Overkill box as a start on the core GSC force. Now I just have to assemble and get painting (along with acquiring more stuff of course...). I also got in a game of CAV: Strike Operations which I really liked. Unfortunately I traded off my stuff from the first Kickstarter because I thought the game was never going to get off the ground locally, so I will have to reacquire some figures to play that game.
I have also been laboring on painting an Ogre army for Kings of War. I like how the army plays on the table, and I like how it is turning out painting-wise, but painting them has turned into a chore. THERE ARE JUST WAY TOO MANY STRAPS AND BELTS ON THESE THINGS!!!!!!! I have come to loathe painting all of the belts and straps and am forcing myself to paint them and not just blow through with a quick paint job. I also got my stuff from the Shield Maiden Kickstarter that Shieldwolf Miniatures (http://www.shieldwolfminiatures.com/) and these are amazing. They will be the next fantasy army that I work on and I hope I enjoy painting them more than the Ogres. Shieldwolf is going to run another Kickstarter later this summer which will include more heavily armored maidens along with Sci-fi options (think plastic Sisters!).
The rest of the year I will be focused on finishing the Ogres and getting a viable Space Marine force assembled and painted. If I can do that and finish up a couple of other odds and ends, I will be happy. Now, here are some pictures of what I have been focused on:
The start of my Space Marines
Ogres
Closer shot of the Beserker Braves and some Boomers
Some characters, Boomers and Siege Breakers
A couple of GW Mournfangs and some Fleabag riders used as Chariots
Boom Wagon!
Mirliton Mammoth with Shooters; Mahout and crew are not permanently attached - this will allow me to use the Mammoth with other riders for other armies
Resin markers for Shadow War that a friend made and I painted up.
