Killzone: All Good Things…

 I am not sure of the correct sentiment or words exactly, but I have officially tendered my resignation from Special Operations: Killzone (how does one “resign” from something so wondrously unofficial?). Still. There it is.

Please be assured, the KZ dynamic will continue to thrive over at The Codex Project, and Big Jim has already made several announcements with regard to his forthcoming supplemental works in progress: Killzone Evolution, Evo, Killzone Forlorn Hope, and some more. All of this is tremendously exciting. On top of all this, I suspect there will be some modest revisions to accompany the looming release of 6^th edition.

It is, admittedly, with an unfamiliar sense of ambivalence that I now depart from a project into which I have placed so very, very, very much time and such extraordinary sums of energy …but it seems the best path. I am tremendously proud of the refined and professional standard of this fan-based gaming supplement, and I am particularly proud of the game’s showing at AdeptiCon these last two years. The tables were a grand labor of love, but the game itself has really blossomed in ways that I would not have imagined possible just over two years ago when this began.

And for this last year in particular (15 months at least), Joe and Vlad deserve tremendous applause for taking a rough but compelling game and making it function in ways that very few fan supplements ever can/do (thinking on it now, actually, I cannot think of another to rival killzone). I believe those fine fellows will still be making contributions to Killzone in their own particular idiom, and that is, in my opinion, a very good thing for the game.

As mentioned, Big Jim will carry on with these projects, and he has been quite sporting about all of this. Alas. I must be the Ringo to Big Jim’s John. The game has grown and is growing in some wild new directions, and my contributions have taken the entire affair away from the concept that Big Jim initially envisioned with his project. So, as the game’s originator and spiritual core, Jim needs to be able to reassert his presence and to shape the game according to his specific vision. I am genuinely looking forward to see what he and his team produce down the road. There is a lot going on, to be sure.

Perhaps more importantly from my specific point of view, the entire experience has given me generous servings of confidence with which I intend to spread my wings a bit. If I may mix my metaphors further, I might offer that I already have two immense irons in very different fires indeed.

More on those in future posts, coming soon.

Until then, so long Killzone!!! …and thanks for all the fish!

To celebrate,  I leave you with a modest collection of my favorite images from these last two years. 

Killzone: Orks v. Space Wolves

These are some photos taken from one of the supremely illuminating games that occurred during Killzone v3.0’s rigorous playtest phase. Here, we were specifically testing the relative value of an Armored Might theme and the potential hazards this might prove for the dynamic.

As evidenced by these games, we needn’t have worried. The Wolves got hammered. Hard.

Frozencore Joe, this time, kindly took the mantle of my Orks and let the Kan demonstrate why well-rounded, all-comer Teams are best in this game. I simply couldn’t kill that Kan. Invariably, we have found that going “all in” with this kind of themed dynamic opens up some serious flaws that are really quite easily exploitable for the observant enemy commander.

…But never mind all that. Perhaps the “best” thing about getting trounced by one’s own models is that very small feeling of victory still available to the opportunistic/optimistic gamer. After all, my models still won the game –ahem- right?

This scenario repeated itself during AdeptiCon, when between sessions Skarvald was kind enough to use these same Orks to hand my Wolves another kicking

At least the models look spiffing enough. Apart from that, those poor wolves have had a tough run of it.  

Killzone: Iron Warriors SOG

Continuing the conversation from last post. Nearly a year and a half ago, I started a small gaggle of Iron Warriors for Special Operations purposes in order to scratch that particular hobby itch. I wanted each model in the team to be distinctly OOP and particularly full of the warm, glowing, warming glow that those old sculpts offer.

Of course, this was slightly controversial decision -not for the OOP nature of the project, but rather because (as longtime readers will know) the Iron Warriors are one and only army that my favorite frienemy, Referee Pitmann, has enjoyed for nearly 12 years now. How many of us can say that? He has only ever collected and played Iron Warriors in his entire 40K career.

Astonishing.

Perhaps unwittingly working from the time-tested motto “if you can’t beat them join them,” I actually slapped these bad boys together almost a long while ago… and they have only just now made it on to the pages of A Gentleman’s Ones (you might be surprised to hear how many other projects remain untouched on this site). There’s been a lot going on and only so much time to post. So, in slower hobby moments, here we are.

I absolutely must offer a very warm a specific “thank you” to Derina, who quite kindly donated most of these models. Thank you.

The Heavy Bolter marine is my favorite, and therefore the Team Leader of the bunch –that’s how it works with me, practical considerations be damned.

I’m not sure what to make of the fellow in the back right –that gun is just weird, really weird. Certainly, he is not Berzerker as the helmet might suggest but rather from a time in which the aesthetic of these things remained wondrously in flux. Perhaps that is part of my attraction to these models now… how peculiar and raw they seem. I don’t know. 

WIP Killzone: Lost and Damned SOG

I already shared a few pictures of these fellows in the promotion for Cards and Tokens * (of which there are a few, very few, left. Act now). The keen observer might have noticed. Still, with the run up to a Chaotic New Codex and with rumors of Allies and Traitor Guard floating through the interwebs, I felt compelled to revisit these fledgling psycopaths.

Pictured here is the beginning of a Traitor Guard Special Operations Group for Killzone –which remains the very, very best way to indulge absolutely any and every hobby gumption one has.

Roughly 15 models. 2 Rough Riders. Some quirky but simple conversions. Done and Done. My Traitor Guard hobby itch has been sufficiently scratched.

…and if/when the new Chaos Codex prods me for more, well then I have a fine foundation upon which to build.

Glory. 

* I had meant to ship a batch of these earlier in the week, though this was impossible. Instead, ANY and ALL orders will be shipped by Saturday. If you'd like to get in on the action, be certain to do so by then... 

Cheers.
B 

CARDS and TOKENS BACK IN STOCK limited

Winning!

The Cards and Tokens made a much, much bigger splash in this little pond than we could ever have anticipated

The continued response has been so enthusiastic that we have ordered a second (and final) round of these gaming supplements for your hobby glory. These are already going rather quickly, so if you are inclined please don’t wait. When these last sets go, they will be gone for good.

The tokens and the cards have brought an immeasurably cool dynamic to our Special Operations: Killzone games. From the outset, our goal was to produce something rather unique and ambitiously professional to the table with this endeavor. From the rules, to the treatment of the codex, to the AdeptiCon events themselves, we have worked incredibly hard to ensure that the product was aesthetically and substantially top tier material. Both the Tokens and the Cards are indicative of that level of commitment. Full stop. They are beautiful. And fun. 

And now we can share it all with you, all of you …though it merits mention that you need not actually own or use these tokens nor these cards for Killzone if you don’t want. For my part, I am quite simply addicted, and finding all manner of useful purposes for them.

I’m running out of superlatives.

Here’s what you can get…

OPTION 1 - The Full Token Set: $12.50

5 Overwatch tokens (with reversible target marker on the back) +

3 Objective Markers, numbered 1-3 (as above) +

3 Markers, each of which features an image that mirrors the “suits” we have created for the SO: Killzone decks. Extremely cool.

OPTION 2 - The Full Operative Set = $17.50

54-card deck + custom Tuckbox: this set has it all. All the Primary Mission Cards appear in triplicate, but with several cards offering an alternative deployment for the mission as well as several special cards representative of the Night Fight dynamic (who says Special Operations should happen in broad daylight?). Likewise, the Secondary and Tertiary Missions repeat, so that players might conceivably (and unknown to the opponent) draw the same Secondary or Tertiary Mission (tremendous fun). Finally, the Fate set includes two bonus results not included in the rulebook. With this set, you are covered.

OPTION 3 - The Full Monty: Full Token and Operative Card sets = $27.50

Please include $5 shipping for all orders in the US (lower 48), and $10 shipping for all orders outside the US. This additional cost only needs to be added once per order no matter how many items you order (if you would like to place a combined order with a friend, for example).  

At this time, I am only able to accept PayPal to the following address: gentlemanones (at) g mail (dot) com.

Get yours now. Thank you in advance for your support!

Stay frosty.

ADEPTICON: KZ THIRD ROUND (3)

Though not exactly Day of the Living Dead, there were certainly some wounded individuals shambling about the Westin come Sunday morning and early afternoon. The convention had taken its toll from the mortal husks of several thousand gaming enthusiasts, to be sure. Indeed. The energy at the Killzone tables was subdued compared to Friday’s frenzy, but that seemed the perfect pitch to round out a staggering weekend: gentle, cordial, and kind.

In sum, Sunday was a day of hellos and goodbyes. Skarvald said his farewells to the event telephonically, and secreted himself away in sunny Palatine Illinios –never making the event at all, ahem. Still, in his stead Elbrun made a cracking show of it on the day, and I greatly enjoyed talking shop and ideas for Killzone. I also got to meet Adam, the man behind the very, very cool Killzone Rosters. Tall Paul stopped with the Right and Honorable Referee Pitmann in order to have a gander at his handiwork. And Loquacious even popped round with the Dude for a quick chat -two absolutely ace individuals if I may say so. 

One final note: there’s been a wonderful response for the tables (thank you, one and all, for the kind words), and Sunday was a day of “goodbyes” also for seven of that bunch. There are, however, three tables leftover in my garage. They are for sale if anyone is at all interested. Just saying. 

Shorthanded as we were (looking at you, Skarvald), I wasn’t able to take as many pictures for this round, which is certainly an unintended shame. I’m certain by this point, however, that you get the idea. A highlight for me, I must say, that in order to complement the appearance of Gaunt’s Ghosts on Friday, the Last Chancers also deployed on Sunday. One good turn deserves another.

Names of Note from this round:

Most Cinematic: John Stentz

Wildest Theme: Ben Richardson

Player’s Choice: Jason Lewis

Special Operations Commander: Max Shuchard 

Ben's GK v the Last Chancers. Tremendous.

I'm foggy by this point. Elbrun, are these your puppies?

My greatest regret from the day that I didn't get a better shot of Adam's stupendously cool Sentinel conversion.

Many, many thanks to all the folks that made this year's event so wildly successful. The players on the weekend were legendary. I think it fair to say that the Chicago faction of the Killzone experience has stumbled away from the event physically exhausted but spiritually inspired. By dusk on Sunday evening, great plans were already taking shape. Great, great plans. Just wait until next year. oh baby.

Glorious.

ADEPTICON: KZ SECOND ROUND (2)

We served up three rounds of glory this weekend: two on Friday, one on Sunday. And let me just say, the second round of Killzone at AdeptiCon took a humble Friday evening and shook it upside down by its ankles. There was a line of people eager to play, and the ensuing action was fast, ferocious.

Glorious.

We saw our first ever “perfect game,” in which a Special Operations Team earned all 13 possible Mission Points –and then we saw it happen four more times before the round ended. Wow. Brutal. Though merciless, the atmosphere was both jovial and, at times, saucy. Dr. Gabe was administering medicine like the consummate career professional he is, and the masses responded in good cheer. Huzzah.  

The hobbiest in me celebrated when Gaunt’s Ghosts made an extraordinary and notable appearance; however, the creative Mr. Abnett was not on hand to script them out of a few dire jams. More’s the pity. My own models got a bit more time on the table, and Skarvald and I even got a moment to square off in a quick skirmish –affording yet another opportunity for me to get clubbed by my own models. Still Glorious. 

Enjoy.

Names of Note from this round:

Most Cinematic: Dr. Gabe of Glory

Wildest Theme: Carl Gladys

Player’s Choice: Nick Bosler and Patrick Brynildenson (sp? Apologies. I am typing from memory)

Special Operations Commander: Merlin Havlik

The Ghosts finally find their home on the tabletop. Killzone Ho!

Paul's potent Harlequin troupe. One note to SOGs facing the Quins: Overwatch

The Ghosts get themselves in a pickle

The Wolves are a little jumpy in the Necron tomb

only to get pounded by Skarvald's deft use of my own Orks: harsh but fair.

Some stellar individuals in this shot -and you will be hearing much, much more from the fellow at bottom left in the reasonably near future. I promise.

Love this shot.

for another perspective, check out Dr. Gabe's writeup of the events...