Necromunda - Old vs. New Goliath Models

When I was taking the pictures of my Necomunda Underhive Goliath models I thought it might be cool to do some comparison pictures between the old and new models.  People are always asking if new models match up with older stuff so take a look.

On the left we have the original 12 plastic Goliath models that were included in the original Necromunda box set and were later released on their own.  In my opinion, these are some of the worst models GW ever produced.  They are bad.  As a bit of a disclaimer, I painted these models somewhere around 20 years ago and they are some of my first paint jobs.  On the right are the new plastic Goliath models included in the new Necromunda Underhive box set.  The difference is night and day.

On the left is one of two metal Goliath leader models from the the original release of the game.  I named this Chain-head for obvious reasons.  This is not a bad model and generally speaking the old metals are much better than the old plastics.  Compared to the new Goliath leader on the right he is kind of tiny. 

The Heavy Stubber guy on the left is a really cool model from the original game.  This guy was all about long range suppresive fire.  Sadly, Underhive does not have Heavies any more so I am not sure you will ever get to use a guy like this in your Goliath gangs.  The Rivet gunner on the right is as close as you will get now.

Another old metal Goliath figure on the left.  This guy has the trusty Lasgun which Goliath can no longer take.  On the right the new Goliath ganger has the Stub Cannon which is the current standard weapon for Goliath gangs.  It is a pretty cool gun in game turns but I am not sure how I feel about the model.

Where oh where have my hand flamers gone?  What a cool weapon as a back-up.  I must admit that the old sculpt on the left leave a lot to be desired but in the game this guys was really good.  On the right we have a new Goliath with the 'Combat Shotgun.'  I must admit I did not know this was a shotgun until the first time I used the model in the game.  This looks more like a Bolter or a Bolt pistol to me.

In the basic rules for Necromunda Underhive there are no Juves (these are introduced as a character class in Gang War I).  As such there are no models specifically called Juves, you just identify them based on how they are equipped or painted.  The old Goliath Juve figure on the left really demonstrates the fetish nature of the old sculpts in a dramatic way.  This little guy is kind of creepy to be honest.  The modern equivalent on the right just looks like a bad-ass.

Here we have another Juve(ish) comparison.  The dual CCW weapons on the right really illustrate the theme of Goliath gangs in the current game - Close Combat.  The only real complaint I have about the new models (and and area where I think the old models are better) is the grenades.  The new Goliath models are quipped with very Orkish stick grenades that are ridiculously long.  The old model on the left has more reasonable 'pineapple' grenades.  If I build any more of the new Goliath models i will dig out some old plastic Space Marine or IG grenades and save these for my Orks.

There you have it.  In my opinion the old and new models are not just different in size and style but also in game equipment and use.  These differences really make the old models quite useless for thew current version of the game.  Having said that, I still have some gaps in my Goliath collection so I will be keeping my eye out for the old models.

Necromunda Underhive Goliath

As many of you know I am a huge Necromunda fan.  When I heard it was going to have a new edition I knew I was going to jumping in with both feet.  The last time this game got a new edition I had a really crappy attitude and took a bit of a hard line against it.  I was a first edition purist.  Looking back this was a HUGE mistake and one I am determined not to make again.

The group shot of the 10 Goliath miniatures that are included in the game.  I built these as depicted in the game.  These miniatures are stunning!  Really, these are some of the best I have ever worked with.

Skullshank - the leader

Grendel with a rivet gun

Splitter Korg with the Renderizer

Bonesnapper with a combat shotgun.  It doesn't really look like a shotgun to me.

Brakk with a stub gun and a spud jacker...No I do not know what a spud jacker is.

Drago with a stub cannon

Kruger with a grenade launcher

Nox the Ripper

Rork withe stub cannon.  This is my favorite figure.

Varik with a stub cannon

I have managed to get in a couple of games of the new rules.  Right now I have been focused on the 2D game using the tiles and the contents of the base game.  It is actually really fun.  I am not a big fan on the layout of the rules as things tend to be scattered all over.  I also think the overall artistic quality is not up to the standards of the original game.  The art work is really sub-par for a GW publication and the almost complete lack of pictures of painted figures on cool terrain is really strange.  It really gives the game a rushed out the door feel.

February Work in Progress #2

Another new unit for my 40K Orks.  This time Deff Koptas with big shootas and bigbomms.

ACW Union Camp

I have completed another ACW vignette project.  This time we have Perry Miniatures Union Camp set with Renedra bell tents.  This is just a fun little piece that will help spice up a large table.  I might find some game function for it in a scenario.

February Work in Progress #1

After my last game of 40K over the weekend I have concluded I need more Killa Kans.  They really worked well.  Fortunately I had three more waiting to be built.

Union Field Hospital for Black Powder

One of the things I love about playing games in a large scale, such as 28mm, is the spectacle of it.  Our ACW Black Powder games have mostly been huge affairs that really draw in spectators.  For these large games there is a lot of opportunity to draw in gamers and viewers alike by the inclusion of details and vignettes.  Almost from the start I wanted to use actual casualty figures in my Black Powder games just as the authors suggested.  Naturally, the inclusion of these specialty pieces would bring a new dimension to our games but it seemed a shame to just leave them in a box off the table until needed.  After all, it takes almost as much time to paint a casualty as it does a normal figure.  I thought the perfect place for these markers would be a field hospital on the corner of the table so I set about building one.  Fortunately, Old Glory makes just about everything you need for this.  I bought all this stuff several years ago and the first phase was the casualties themselves.  They are the most important part after all.  Next I painted the surgeon vignette and I have already had this out for the last couple games.  The last part was the ambulance and the stretcher team.

If you are interested in building one for yourself this is the Old Glory Hospital Brigade set.  The casualty figures are also Old Glory from the Infantry Lying Dead with Command set.

Black Powder ACW Point-match Game

Yesterday Tim and I tried out a game of Black Powder using the points from the Glory Hallelujah! supplement.  We tried this with 700 points.  This gave us forces of about three brigades with a total bout about 11 regiments and two guns.  The cool thing about the points is the ability to customize units with special rules and modified stats.  After creating lists we threw them on the table for a quick game.

The battlefield had a central farm complex surrounded by fields.  Tim had an orchard on his side while I had a partial fenced field on my side.  The far end had some light woods

The center of the Confederate line was help by a poor quality brigade.  Low command value and unreliable troops would mean the Confederates would have a tough time getting them to move.

The Union left was help by Eastwood's brigade.  This small brigade was comprised of three 'uppity' regiments. They had a small 12lb battery in support.

The battle opened with a Union blunder.  Eastwood's brigade ended up moving to the right and slightly forward rather than forward to the left to attack the objective.  This movement would make the center a little crowded.

The Confederate right formed an 'L' that threatened to crush Eastwood's brigade like a walnut.

After failing to move in the center the weakest Union brigade, Melvin's brigade, succeeded in advancing and capturing the objective on the right.  This brigade is filled with unreliable and low stamina units and the commander is below average.  All they would need to do is stand and fight to hold their objective.

Back on the Union left the Confederate vice closes in on Eastwood's brigade. The 76th Penn made a brilliant maneuver in close proximity to the enemy to get to the flank of the Confederates.  Unfortunately, we were using the GH special rule that prevents a unit from firing after 2 or more moves. 

Their position was perfect for a brutal dose of enfilading fire but they could not get the volley off in time.

The rebs charge the shaken 114th Penn and do no damage!  The fight would continue for another round.

The 76th Penn charged the flank and the slaughter would be enormous.  The rebel unit would be completely destroyed.  The first losses of the battle.

Back on the Union left Brigadier Melvin attempted to have the 10th Indiana pass through the shaken regiment in front but the order was blundered and the 10th would advance all the way to the enemy.  Fortunately the Confederate units were already disordered and so were unable to take advantage of the mistake.

Gibson's brigade got bogged down for most of the battle trying to get to the farm compound.

The 10th Indiana was able to withdraw back to the brigade but this opened the flank to the Confederates who were quick to take advantage.  This left Melvin's brigade nearly surrounded.  The Confederates would pour on the fire and Melvin's Brigade would break under the strain.

Eastwood's Brigade broke after two volleys of enfilading fire drove the 5th New York back.

Gibson's Brigade finally captured the farm just as the flanks of the Union army collapsed.

The day would go to the Confederates.  This game was a lot of fun.  I think the points approach will work very well for fun games and maybe even a campaign.

Perry Plastic American Civil War Confederate Artillery

The work on the Black Powder American Civil War project continues.  This time we have Perry plastic artillery models.  I have painted these as Confederate artillery units.  I really love these models and I think they are and excellent value.  You get three guns and limbers that can be built in any of 4 different guns and as either Union or Confederate. 

The group shot.

3" Ordinance rifle

10lb Parrott rifle

12lb Howitzer