Top (TV) Duels

To go with my posts on top one-on-one fights (in films) here's a quick selection from television.

#5 Agents of SHIELD (May vs. Ward)

This was a fascinating struggle - May and Ward were both enigmas at this stage of the show - and I really had no idea who was going to win out; but it was still nice to see some ass get kicked (and a nail gun too!)

#4 Vikings (Ragnar Lothbrok vs. Earl Haraldson)

So as much as I did not care at all for Gabriel Byrne's role/acting on this show, it was still good to see him get his moment in the sun. Fairly traditional/accurate depiction of classic Viking duelling; and nice to see shields get some serious use (even if they are discarded). 

#3 Hannibal (Jack Crawford vs. Hannibal)

No embedding allowed :-( but this really deserves a click through.

A fantastic match-up with a lot of variety. This had me sitting at the edge of the seat during, and even when waiting season-long for the true aftermath.

#2 Deadwood (Dan Dority vs. Captain Turner)

Again with the embedding!

I recall the preparation for the fight clear as day. With Turner limbering up and Dority greasing himself up! The tension in the onlooking principals is incredibly tense. But wait for the finish...

#1 Game of Thrones (The Mountain vs. The Red Viper)

No one likes embedding anymore!
I did write something like 'redefining no-holds barred' for Hannibal and Deadwood above, but then I realised what was at #1. Enough said. Some brilliant moves, and wonderful to see the spear get pride of place in a fight for once!

Melees next obviously!

Lead Painters' League - Season 9 is underway!

Round 5 of Season 9 of the Lead Painters League is underway over on the Lead Adventure Forum.
If you're not familiar with it get yourself over there to see some fantastic eye candy (as well as people going through their lead mountains at a cracking rate!)

In summary, paint up a team of miniatures, you're randomly paired off with another contestant, everyone votes for their favourite in the pairing and then onto the next round. There are ten rounds after which a league table of sorts has been established. There are bonus points for matching themes in three of the rounds. The theme from round 5 is 'Animals'.

I'd urge you to join up, take a good look and vote - you've still got a few days to do so.

Like previous years, I won't be telling you any of my favourites, but I will highlight a few match-ups where I reckon the opponents are very closely matched:

ATTACK OF THE CLOCKWORK MONKEYS vs SUN OF WINTER

SHOPPING IN CAIRO vs MASAI

LEGIONARIES vs THE HUNT

AFRICAN WILDLIFE vs TEXIANS

‘FORM RANKS, YOU MAGGOTS’ vs SOME MICE AND THEIR LEADERS

I missed out on the start of the league this year, but really looking forward to what's to come...

Final Confrontation

The Nazis have sent in their hit assassins to take care of SSR and Lehmann for once and for all…

A

Blazkowicz, 

Duggan and Carter approach the fort where the remains of Lehmann's operation

 are located

With the remainder of the tribe, Omar holds the fort - they've deployed a small field gun to cover the approaches.

The fearsome Red Nun leads her coterie, while Stahl and the noted sniper Ziefle back her up

Rightly concerned about the Red Queen's rapid approach, Omar sends a heavy volume of fire in her direction, killing all of her henchmen and sending her back into cover

Meanwhile, the SSR have made it to cover nearby, and exchange fire with the rooftop cadre led by Rashid

Coming up behind them, Stahl and Kramrisch gun down Blazkowicz and send the others diving for cover

Ziefle starts to fire into the fort, hoping to pin them down and give the Red Queen a chance to close

Hamid hauls the gun out of the fort (where it's arc of fire was severely limited) to take a shot at the SSR agents to the flank

Duggan is wounded by the fire, and runs for the hill (whereupon Ziefle takes him out). But Carter kills Kramrisch as she flees

The Red Queen rushes the fort, pistols at the ready

Ziefle take cover from the full attention of the remaining tribesmen inside the fort

Stahl backs up the Red Queen - they'll storm the fort in 3...2...1

Stahl is killed by Omar in a deadly fist-fight, and amazingly he takes out the Red Queen as well. Carter runs for the other side of the fort as Ziefle takes aim

Ziefle finally has to go in to take out Omar herself.

With only heroes left to fight over the fort eventually, this one was a real nail-biter!

Race to the Prize

Lone Star leads Duggan and an SSR team into the underground temple complex.

Lehmann is inside undertaking some horrible ritual (with a captured Marine) to call forth otherworldly power from the Black Sun, but he quickly forgets about that once the bullets start flying.

Lehmann's tribesmen make their way towards the entrances to intercept the invaders

There's not much room in the dusty corridors, but there is enough light, for now at least

Duggan, takes position at the end of a long passageway covering it with his improbably large machine gun

He quickly attracts a lot of attention, taking a serious wound from the fusilade!

The two marines back him up, returning fire to some effect

Reinforcements rush down the other stairwell and join forces with the others, making it difficult at best for the SSR to force the way to Lehmann

Azzan takes up a position against the fearsome Major Texas (aka Lone Star) and despite his shield and powerful physique, the hero succumbs to dozens of musket shots 

More reinforcements arrive and now the tribesmen seek to force the passageway

But the injured Duggan (now only able to carry a pistol) finds a secret way around the well-defended corners. A group of Lehmann's protectors race back around to the rear of the temple complex to prevent an attack on their beloved leader

But they have been tricked! Duggan rushes back the way he came, losing them in the secret tunnel. He races around the corner to confront the amazed Lehmann, and sends his giant fist through the rogue Nazi scientist's face! 

This was an amazing game - everyone was sure that the SSR had failed until the last-turn bait and switch occured! Set up beautifully for the finale...

Gone Hunting

Both the Nazis and SSR have tracked Lehmann to this locality, but his exact whereabouts are still unknown. Both groups have send scouting parties and it’s almost inevitable that they make contact with each other at some stage.

Some of Lehmann’s loyal tribesmen look on from their village and seek to roll up the remains.

SSR approach from behind the pilings on the left, while the Nazis advance through the rock columns on the right

Mounir races from the village to intercept the Nazis

Blazkowicz and his Marines come over the ridge and open fire on Ali's men behind the battlements - wiping out the entire group

McPherson and Arkley take point on the rooftop and Blazkowicz and Weaver stay below

The Nazis are cautious advancing, Bilal peers around the corner and spied Wasim on the rocky outcrop ahead. Wasim opens up and the German's backup is gunned down

Mounir returns to the village and takes aim at the Marines across the way, in the heavy exchange of fire both Marines are killed

Avoiding Wasim's shotgun, Bilal leads his remaining men in to overwhelm and capture the tribal leader

Blazkowicz and Weaver rush Mounir on the opposite rooftop and take him prisoner. Blazkowicz starts firing at the Nazis beyond as they try to escape with their captive.

Blazkowicz races across, avoiding incoming fire and then shooting Niemann and the prisoner. Having ensure that the Nazis won't be able to find Lehmann before them, he returns to the village

However, Mounir escaped his bonds in the meantime and leapt to the ground. He escapes into the desert avoiding Weavers attempts to catch him!

Will Blazkowicz and the SSR be able to track down Lehmann without a prisoner? Will the Nazis recover?

(With apologies for the low-quality of the photos; my camera ran out of power, so I was forced to use my phone instead...)

Centre of the World!

Bill Blazkowicz succeeded in defeating the Nazi attempt to recover the Black Sun, but Dr. Lehmann escaped into the Libyan desert despite the SSR’s best efforts.

With war erupting in Europe, both sides have renewed their efforts to find Lehmann and use his occult knowledge to further their plans. But in the depths of the desert, Lehmann is developing a device to harness the otherworldly power of the Black Sun while this newfound sway has prompted neighbouring tribes to gather round him.

SSR is sending some of their greatest agents after Lehmann, including Lone Star and Agent Duggan, but the Nazis have powerful allies of their own…

Play out the SSR’s struggle with the Nazis to take control of Lehmann’s centre of occult power!

I'll be running this three-part campaign at Leprecon this weekend (who have a wonderful Mythos theme this year...)