GW Store Coming to Raleigh, NC

Games Workshop is opening a store in Raleigh, NC.  While no official date is set, the two previous dates listed for store openings are for March and April, so this Spring/Summer seems likely.

I can't see a downside to having a GW store in the area.  I don't think it's likely to hurt the two stores I really like, which have a lot of diversity to their product and don't rely solely, or even a great deal, on GW products.  These stores also offer discounts which will keep their customer base happy and intact.

What having a GW store around will definitely mean is having a greater access to Finecast products, which I generally have to order online from GW at the moment.  It also is another potential spot for tournaments, if it's a larger store, and should give our local group access to some of the contests and promotions that the GW stores sometimes run.

All in all, it's a good, if not earth shattering development for the local GW community, and I look forward to the store opening.

Here's the link from which I got this information:


http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?aId=14700021

Grail Quest Results Loaded on Rankings HQ

Grail Quest IV's results are now loaded on Rankings HQ, so all you crazy kids have now received points and can now brag to your spouses about how elite you are in the national rankings*.  Check it out here:  http://rankingshq.com/public/tournamentprofile.aspx?TournamentId=2975

*  Note:  May cause the opposite of intended effects. 

The Armies of Grail Quest, Part 2

Here are the rest of my pictures of the armies that participated at Grail Quest this year.  Hope you enjoy them, and that we'll see your army there next year. 

Warriors of Chaos on Parade

Robert's High Elves Storm the Shore

Two Trebuchets...never leave home without them!

Eric's High Elves, including Maiden Guard

More Painted Skaven!

Scott's Warriors of Chaos

Best Sportsman Tony Nelson's Ogres

Eoin Whelan's amazing army and display board helped him to Best Overall.

Warriors of Chaos everywhere!

Marcus had over one hundred painted Night Goblins in his army.

Weekend Update: February 27th, 2011

Another weekend down, and more stuff done.  This weekend, I didn't manage to paint (again!)  It's getting a bit sad, but I hope to get some painting in on my day off today.  At the very least, I'd like to get the painting station set up again, so as to have the ability to paint.  I did go to a Fantasy tournament on Saturday, where my Beastmen, bravely lead by Skeletor the Bray Shaman, came in first.  I walked out with a box of Lord of the Rings Wood Elves, who will one day be Waywatchers in my Avelorn army, as well as the Warhammer 40K 25th Anniversary model. 

He's going to look pretty good as an Imperial Fist, I think, and make a good objective marker. 

Time for some painting!*

* or procastinating

The Armies of Grail Quest, Part One

I managed to snap a few photos of the armies on parade at Grail Quest during the tournament lunch break.  There were some very nicely done armies that attended, and I'll get all the pictures up today and tomorrow.  

Billy's Three Arachnoroks!

Erik's Bretonnians

This is Sparta!

Bart's Daemons (sadly, his list of six Greater Daemons was vetoed)

Joel's Fully Painted Skaven (They Do Exist!)

Nick's Empire

These Lizardmen had some pop!

The Dark Elves have captured Gary Busey!

Grail Quest Winners and Final Results

Congratulations to the winners at Grail Quest IV:  Lethal Flagon!

Best Overall:  Eoin Whelan
Best General:  Jason Conca
2nd Best Overall:  Jerry Parsley
3rd Best Overall:  Chris Cline
Best Painted:  Jim Chadwick
Best Sportsman:  Tony Nelson

Grail Quest Final Score Report

Soft Score Explanation:

Each section of the questionnaire that you filled out at the end of each round (sports and painting) contained ten questions. Each positive response to a question was worth 125 vp for the opposing player. For example, if Tom and Collins played a game and Tom answered "Yes" to all ten sportsmanship questions about playing Collins, Collins would receive a sportsmanship score of 1250. When Tom then answered only five of the painting questions about Collins army with a "Yes", then Collins would only earn a painting score of 625 for that round.

All three round scores were then averaged and added to total battle vp for the overall score. In addition, each time a player received a vote for best painted army, they received an additional fifty points to their overall score. Each time a player received a vote for favorite opponent, they received an additional one hundred points to their overall score. Soft scores combined made up roughly 25-40% of overall scores, depending on battle vp.

Any feedback for next year's tournament is very welcome, as I always aim to improve the tournament experience from year to year.