Right, I've been able to get things back to something resembling a kind of normality on this Blog after the last few prize giveaways ave been completed.I mean they all very rapidly merged into one megaprize giveaway!!! and keeping track of it all was far too much like multitasking for my poor in effective make brain. So with the last couple of days only having the Sedition Wars: Battle for Alabaster giveaway to run I've been able to get on top of some articles and hobby stuff I've been wanting to finish... but more on those over the coming weeks. Firstly I'd like to congratulate Elbrun on winning the signed Freebooter's Fate rulebook, sounds like the poor blighter is having a rough time of it, what with this screwed up economy. So I'm glad the fates have smiled on him a little.
I'd also like to be able to congratulate Blackbrunswicker on being the 5000th commenter on my Blog... for this post:
"I'm with you Frontline, the bustle looks much better."
On this review. True that comment may have been short, but what the hell, he's commented on so many of my articles over the past year I'll let him off for the brevity this one time I thought. However, he's not got in touch with me yet to claim his prize. So I'm going to give him until Monday 11th June 2012 at 12:00 PM GMT to claim it. Or it goes to someone else for something I've yet to determine. Regular viewers of my Blog will have noticed that this prize giveaway of Ax Factions Victorian Darling Kraken Hunter follows a very different path to this Blogs other prize giveaways. There is a very good reason for that... I wanted to give a little something back to those followers / readers who participate on my Blog. This is definitely the sort of thing I'll be looking to do more of in the future.
So any way, that's enough of that sort of stuff, onto the Blood Maw Vore from BaneLegions, this was donated by the lovely Rob Lane of BaneLegions and Maelstrom Games fame. You can read my review of the miniature here, and boy was it ever so close to receiving an Approved by Cats award. As it stands though the Cats felt its aesthetic design was a little too divisive for it to warrant such a prestigious accolade... although there was a major cat fight over that decision and a certain cat (Tybs) had to be put in the time out room, or as we like to call it cat Borstal. Apparently Tybs now worships the Vore miniature like an idol of a Demigod, because he thinks it is some God of eating destruction, and that's the sort of God a cat like Tybs can appreciate. But enough of that cats twisted brain, you want to know how to enter the competition, right? Here it is:
- You must be a public follower of this Blog. I can not emphasise this point enough. In all of the prize draws so far there have been people enter who aren't actually public followers of this Blog. I have really simple and easy way of checking if you're a member or not, AND more importantly I do check.
- You need to leave a comment in the comments section below, I will take this as an indication you want to be entered into the prize draw. Simple as that. If you don't want to be entered then don't leave a comment. It's not a complex system, so please don't mess it up!
- You need to have done both of the above by Friday the 18th June 2012, 12:00 PM GMT. Why? Because that's when I'll be drawing one lucky winners name at random. (EDIT: Well I was bound to make a cock up with these prize draws wasn't I? I intended to put Friday the 15th , but put 18th instead. So that people can't complain and say I made the competition confusing I'll be drawing the Prize on Monday the 18th June 2012, 12:00 PM GMT).
- I will give an extra entry to anyone who Tweets, Blogs, posts on Facebook or Google+ about this competition, to a maximum of two total entries, that's the one entry for commenting and one entry for spreading the word.
This is pretty much the pattern I've adopted so far for my prize draws, and it has served me well I think. Plus it's not to hard on my tired aching brain. I'd like to point out there are actually a few days left to run still on the Sedition Wars prize draw, so if you haven't entered that competition there is still plenty of time. I'll also remind you all of what prizes are still to be unlocked on the Blog as part of my Birthday Bonanza:
- At 750 followers I'll post a competition for $100's worth of store credit at Dragon Forge Designs.
- At 800 followers I'll post a competition to win the complete Dwarf Kings Hold set from Mantic Games, signed by the games designer Jake Thornton.
So as you can see we're rapidly nearing the end of my mammoth prize giveaway. Although I have to say that thankfully things have started to slow down in terms of new members, so I'm now able to keep on top of things I feel, so hopefully I'll be able to get back to posting my regular sorts of articles. Obviously my current follower total is at 721, meaning we're only 29 more followers away from giving away that Dragon Forge Designs prize, and 79 followers away from giving away a stash of Dwarf Kings Hold stuff to one lucky winner. Peace out!
Am in it to win it as always.. will post something up on my blog.. again.. soon.. I feel like I am an advert agency for you these days ;)
ReplyDeleteYeah sorry about that. I seem to be rattling through these targets much quicker than I thought I would. Still it's all good as soon enough I'll be done with these prize draws, and we can all get back to something resembling normality... I hope. o.0
DeleteI want him in my life..
ReplyDeleteI want in
ReplyDeleteWhat a lovely looking monstrosity! I'd give him a good home.
ReplyDeleteMe, me, pick me
ReplyDeleteI like your giveaway posts !! please "random god" choose me this time ;)
ReplyDeleteyeah, feel like painting that puppy!
ReplyDeleteYes please! I see a fanged-themed nurgle army being built around that monstrosity!
ReplyDelete"TEEFUS! OMA NOM NOM NOM!" It roughly translates as "Oh my, what a terrifying looking miniature. I would like very much to have this please." or something like that.
ReplyDeleteI know a cat who wouldn't mind squaring up against that. Count me in for the draw, please.
ReplyDeleteI think I can find something for him to eat ^^.
ReplyDeleteI'm in, he would be welcome addition to the family
ReplyDeleteI'm with Tybs. That's the kind of thing I'm into. Please put my name in the hat, and let Tybs draw.
ReplyDeleteFollowed and Tweeted :)
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your review of this beast, especially the mini in it's mouth for scale. Pls add my name to the contest list!
ReplyDeleteHey now that would be cool to win that on my birthday! Enter me and I'll put it on my blog for Strange Aeons Adventures.
ReplyDeleteAhhhh I leave my computer for one day... ONE DAY to deal with the better half's sick cat and you give away a fantastic miniature -_-...
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it would be pretty sweet to win something as massive as this model!
ME ME ME, I really wanna use this beast in Hero Quest. LOL. Vivian will crap himself. Plus after your reveiw of this monster I actually went and ordered a couple of Bane Legions figures, Muldo and Ulric are on their way to me from Maelstrom, though I have no idea of their ETA. As soon as I get them I'll post some pretty pictures an put in a mention to your reveiws and Birthday Givaways then.
ReplyDeletePosted a nice post that mentions you, your blog and how wonderfull you are over on my blog just this morning. Mr. Lee is correct though, however it is worth it, LOL.
www.voidsigns.blogspot.co.uk
-Voidsign-
I'm in, please. And I've +1'd you on google.
ReplyDeleteOn that note, how do you check who +1'd you? I haven't been able to work that out on my blog yet. I can see how many +1's I've got, but not by whom.
If you go to posts and click on the +number it gives you a list of peeps who have +1'ed the article.
Delete:)
Strange, I only get the total. Stupid blogspot...
DeleteThat is a gorgeous miniature. Please put me down for the draw!
ReplyDeleteNasty critter. I would really like him in my collection.
ReplyDeleteI even pimped this competition:-)
Deletehttp://miniatyrmannen.blogspot.se/2012/06/competionat-frontline-gamer.html
I'm In!
ReplyDeleteMaybe I'll be lucky this time...I NEED that mini in my Blood Bowl team!
If I saw that mini in my opponents Blood Bowl team I think I might be inclined to forfeit the match. lol.
DeletePANDAmonium!!! That is what that freaking model is screaming.
ReplyDeleteI don't want this (or is this reverse psychology!)
ReplyDeleteYes please, and tweeted ;-)
ReplyDeleteHuge toothy monster? Yes please! Sign me up!
ReplyDeleteIf I get that guy he's totally becoming my Lord Chompy Bits for a Malifaux Crew.
ReplyDeleteI totally want this dude. Awesome unit filler for Warriors of Chaos! GO! Also tweeted this! See @Kainthedragoonx ;)
ReplyDeletelink to the tweet thingy: http://twitter.com/kainthedragoonx/status/211084119105482752
Deletevery good mini, how big is it?
ReplyDeleteDude, if you click on the picture it will give you the dimensions :-)
DeleteMy brain's already gone through about 10 different paintjobs for this guy, yes please!
ReplyDeletepick me, pick me, pick me :D
ReplyDeletePick me, please! I promise to give the critter a good home. And if not, pick The Miniatures Man, he brought me here.
ReplyDeleteDefinitly going to find a use for him in my chaos army
ReplyDeleteYes please, what a wonderful mini to paint
ReplyDeleteMoar prizes!
ReplyDeleteSuch an awesome monster! Saw Kain's tweet and posted it to my Facebook!
ReplyDeleteI'm in! I haven't mentioned it before, but you get a good amount of goodies to review and are very gracious in giving them away. Thank you for that. As for me, if I win this guy, I'm gonna turn all Gollum with it. "Mine. My precioussss..."
ReplyDeleteI, like your cat, would worship this figure as an incarnation of the divine Appetite. Particularly for barbecue.
ReplyDeleteTweeted about it, including this shortened link: http://bit.ly/KTz5Qe
DeleteI am definatley in for this one.
ReplyDeleteThe most awesome BaneBeast I have seen so far and I have LOADS of ides for this mini as a monster rampaging through Pulp City, eating Super Heroes whole!
Comp has also been Facebooked!
Deletehttps://www.facebook.com/ncbab
Add my name into the pool as well please.
ReplyDeleteI'm in, he would make a fine addition to the family
ReplyDeleteSign me up please.
ReplyDeleteDamn you lady luck for shunning me so far!!! Now is the time to make amends!
ReplyDeleteOk I will join this contest! Wonder what looks I'd get if a brought him into work as a desk deocoration.
ReplyDeleteFour paws up! That's how cool this model is. I added a shoutout on google+ and twitter (@the_skywatcher)
ReplyDeleteI have pimped you out, again, here:
ReplyDeletehttp://ahunt-dulceetdecorum.blogspot.com/2012/06/free-stuff.html
"in it, to win it" as Henning Wehn said on Fighting Talk...
ReplyDeleteI'm in! Come to Papa, Mr. Vore!!
ReplyDeleteThat is an amazing piece to be putting up as a prize. Great blog too by the way!
ReplyDeleteSign me up as a follower / hopeful entrant. :)
Count me in
ReplyDeletecount me in too please
ReplyDeleteCount me in please. This is a great sculpt- he'd be useful in so many genres: sci-fi, VSF, fantasy, horror, and since he has no armor or weapon details, he'd work great in 15mm for a truly massive creature, not just in 28mm.
ReplyDeleteI added an update on my blog for this:
Deletehttp://laughingferret.blogspot.com/2012/06/maw-goodness-what-big-teeth-you-have.html
Count me in too, please!! I can see a new Dagon´s child in my games!!
ReplyDeleteThanks!!
hey ho lets go... i am in
ReplyDeleteand will post on my blog as well
I'd like to enter please ^_^
ReplyDeleteBeen missing reading your stuff as been at a new job, have to catch up over the weekend!!
Oh and Facebooked as Twitter is PAINFULLY slow on my phone lol.
Should have gotten cat award - the monster is awesome and desrves such an accolade.
ReplyDeleteI find it hard enough to update my blog at all right now, let alone run comps. Kudo's to you sir!
PICK ME PICK ME!!!
ReplyDelete"At 1000 followers I will renounce gaming, give away everything I own, and close this blog"
ReplyDeleteWhen will this give away madness end!
I think you need to RADICALLY rethink your follower goal levels, not just the minor tweak you have done. Postage alone will be moving you to the poor house. Something a little more exponential.
Sadly, I have no interest in the Blood Maw.. Hope who ever get's it enjoys it!
Would make a handy "boss" for a Zombie-type game! Count me in for a chance to win.
ReplyDeleteAs Brucie says... Good Game - Good game!
Pretty sure it can be a proxy for a Haqqislam Hassassin Fiday, right? It'll do - please count me in!
ReplyDeleteI'd like this. Yep.
ReplyDeleteA truly impressive piece of miniature madness. It would be great in all kinds of games, eating all kinds of protagonists. Yes yes do count me in for the draw, I would løøøve to put some paint to this beastie and push him around the games table while making growling noizez.
ReplyDeleteEven if I wake up one day to have him chewing on my arm I want him!
ReplyDeleteI'm in!
Pretty crazy mini. Count me in.
ReplyDeleteThat's a pretty sweet fig. Would look terrifying in a Chaos army. I want him!
ReplyDeleteI love the attention to detail on that guy. As well as the design aspect. WANT! :)
ReplyDeleteBane Legions look very nice, but I haven't been able to see one in person, so I'm hoping for a win here. I pimped you out on twitter at https://twitter.com/#!/Twa_Corbies again too.
ReplyDeleteOne of the things I like about the figure is it looks like a 'parent' or elder version of the Mawe from Hasselfree's line where they just recently came out with the tiny versions of those faceless maw monsters.
ReplyDeleteOh yes please, sign me up.
ReplyDeleteSign me up please
ReplyDeleteTweeted and posted on FaceBook by me :-)
ReplyDeleteJust followed, pick me please :D
ReplyDeleteWell jee willickers I would just LOVE to have one of those Vores. Now I just gotta hope that this account is the same as the one I'm registered to your site with.
ReplyDeleteAs your blog is responsible for most of my expenses with the hobby (yes, your articles are that influential) I think I deserve to participate in all competitions! :D And I am sharing through twitter.
ReplyDeletehttps://twitter.com/#!/GoediBra
thks
Join me, and we will rule the tabletop world!
ReplyDeleteNo you join me and we'll rule the Tabletop world... also bagsy the silly hat and the title "King of the Geeks, ruler of Nerds!!!"
Delete:P
Me, me, me! Pathetic isn't it, only here for the resin it seems :)
ReplyDeleteI'm in please! +1'd on Google too. Matakishi shouldn't be allowed, it offends me that he actually finishes projects :)
ReplyDeleteI'm totally in!
ReplyDeleteCount me in please
ReplyDeleteSimply monstrous and terrifying, should it be a great diorama for my warhammer fantasy army
ReplyDeleteWhat a beastie! Count me in, my good man. And thanks to Bane legions for offering it as a prize.
ReplyDeleteYou were blogged (is once enough?!)
http://infrequentwargamer.blogspot.co.uk/2012/05/giveaways-galore-at-frontline-gamer.html
Think of the orthodontists bill...
ReplyDeleteI wants WIN!!! Enjoys read miniatures!!!!
ReplyDeleteCount me in
ReplyDeleteVore all the way .. count me in
ReplyDeleteFollowed, promoted and entered contest. Phew! Now to read some of the old post.
ReplyDeleteI think I got the follower thing right this time. Going for the win!
ReplyDeleteGreat site! Keep it up.
ReplyDeleteLooks like my comment didn't post. I want to thank you for committing the time and resources to your blog and contest. Neither are trivial.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteim in for this one!
ReplyDeleteSign me up for that disgusting ( in the best possibly way ) looking beast
ReplyDeletePick me! Pick me!
ReplyDeletelooks like its fresh off the innsmouth docks....count me in to win !
ReplyDeleteDon't know what I will use it for. A rather scary paper weight?
ReplyDeleteI want one, count me in.
Oh hell yes!!! Yes please! :-D
ReplyDeleteIf I win him he'll be chasing around a load of unsuspecting zombie hunters in ATZ :-D probably after making them sh*t themselves by bursting out of a building ;-D RAWRRR!!!!
Oh my, yes please!
ReplyDeleteCount me in please
ReplyDeleteI would if you were a follower of my Blog!!!
DeleteI'd love to get my hands on that bad boy, count me in!
ReplyDeleteAwesome "Mini"!!! I'm in! I posted a link on my Facebook page too! :)
ReplyDeleteI think I may have to link this on my blog as well as facebook :D
ReplyDeleteLove this site... love the mini....
More love to TFG!!!
Please add me in on this one, I'd love to give him a home...he can try to threaten the cats!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on making a glorious appearance in your Sunday Best over at The Chaos Manifesto. Here is the link to the shout out that I included your contest in.
ReplyDeletehttp://thechaosmanifesto.blogspot.ca/2012/06/sunday-best-44-contests-that-need-you.html
Cheers.
That is one fine mini, which I wouldn't mind having
ReplyDeleteI like the big beastie, count me in!
ReplyDeleteThat is one beasty you definately don't want to bump into down a dark alley way...or at all for that matter!
ReplyDelete+1'd you r post aswell :)
Okay now that's a lot of teeth.
ReplyDeleteCount me in please. Thanks!
ReplyDeleteSign me up, me wants.......
ReplyDeleteWow, popular contest! I would definitely like to be entered.
ReplyDeleteI want to be in the draw... Awesome looking mini. BTW. Thanks for the awesome reviews and giveaways. I haven't entered before - been sort of lurking, but I thought it was time. I am kinda sad I missed the Sedition Wars thing. Awesome looking minis and game - but like you mentioned in one of your posts with that friend of yours sending you unsolicited mails containing awesome looking minis making you wanna buy, but not having the cash - I am definitely in that boat for now.
ReplyDeleteThanks again. Maybe this is the wrong place to post about this, but I also noted you wanted some more feedback on what your readers want to read about. I love a good review of minis personally - I don't play any games but I collect figures (and sometimes games) purely based on esthetics. Therefore - good pictures of the actual contents is the thing I value most so I can see the quality for myself. The problem is far from everyone takes good pics of minis (me included) and taking pics of metal minis is the hardest, but can be done. Anyway - that's my opinions and "needs" covered :) Thanks!
Any place you want to plonk a comment is the right place.
DeleteAre you saying my pictures are poor? If so what is it you don't like about them? If I was employed and had some money to throw at this blog I'd almost certainly build myself a light box and get a better camera.
Hmm... Well it sounds kind of harsh when you put it that way. I would say - just like how you yourself are implying from the above comment - that they are a tad unproffessional. This is fine in itself, but the quality is quite uneven. Some of them are in essence perfect with the setup you have. Yes a light tent would make a huge difference and I definitely think you should make it a project and do a write up about it. Research/builds like that are always interesting to read about and then there are super cheap ones on ebay that are portable if you don't want to make one.
DeleteThat is beside the point of what you can do to improve the photos you currently take though. Here are the most notable problems I see from time to time (specific to minis) and a tip on how to perhaps improve them:
A) Not in focus - Take a few more pics. Also it looks like you are using the macro function. Try experimenting taking pics without macro which will give you a wider depth of field and keep more of the picture in focus. Given todays tech you probably have enough megapixels to crop it down and still get a lot of detail in there.
B) Too much light/overexposure - Not sure if you are using the flash on your camera/phone, but especially for metals there is too much light being reflected making a lot of pictures essentially pointless since you can't make out the details. I find metals the hardest to photograph. Having read a few mini blogs there is one (that is no more) where he used to wash the minis in black ink essentially to bring out all the detail. That made wonders for the photos. However - I understand you perhaps not wanting to do that to your own minis since you are not getting paid :)
The other thing you could do is try and take photos outside during the day so as to get as much natural light as possible which also means you get a lot of indirect light which will soften and remove a lot of sharp shadows and negate washed out detail from a direct flash.
The third thing you could do is play around with the exposure settings/white balance on the camera or afterwards in gimp or photoshop or whatever photo program you use.
I want to put a disclaimer here though: I am no expert and I don't even have a blog so I am not complaining per se; I appreciate you putting your time into this and I love reading reviews and stuff - but that little extra time in your photos would make this place THAT much better imho.
Kind Regards /Greg
My pictures are as professional as I can get them right now. I'm not a professional photographer and nor do I have the equipment or money to get the equipment right now that would allow me to vastly improve my pictures. I actually don't use a Macro function that much at all. I normally take my pictures in a very naturally well lit (outside when I can) areas. If they're taken indoors it's with two light sources (diffused) that have daylight bulbs. I've fiddled with exposure settings as well as saturation levels, half of the problem is that vagarious companies use quite different metals and so sometimes you can struggle to get good pictures off of one batch and then be fine the next. Also as I'm doing this Blog on my own I really don't have the time to spend editing, and photoshoping pictures. If people want to pay me to do this Blog full time I'd consider it, and I'd take some lesson in photography, but as no one does I think I'll stick to doing the best I can. There's no chance I'm ruining the miniatures that I buy either by inking them just so others get to see them better. I had considered it but no way, I'm not made of money and that's just a no, no for me.
DeleteOh, definitely in for this one. That just looks so incredibly evil, and fun to paint :)
ReplyDeleteI would love one.
ReplyDeleteWell, count me in too, I guess :P.
ReplyDeleteBlob with teeth! Pick Me!!
ReplyDeleteMe!
ReplyDeletechickenbone chickenbone lucky lucky chickenbone
Excellent prizes and comps. Just wish I had found you sooner! Have google +1 and signed up :) Just one point I need to say the 18th of June is a Monday not a Friday lol.
ReplyDeleteGood luck with the comp and blog. Look forward to reading more.
Im very much interested in the Vore!!
ReplyDeleteTweeted this blogpost aswell!
Thanks for an awesome blog!!
Count me in sucka ;-)
ReplyDeleteI'll link in a blog post from my site...
Beast Mayhem count me in!
ReplyDeleteI'll throw my hat into this wonderful giveaway
ReplyDeleteMayhaps I'd like this. or mayhaps I would really want it. count me in, tweeted @chargincarnifex much as it pains me to do so. thanks for the contests!
ReplyDeletepick me
ReplyDeleteThat is quite nifty
ReplyDeleteI'm dying to see rules for this game. It seems like every sculpt is a new favorite. This ones no exception. After seeing it I decided I would go with vikings as my second value over the Ysians. Fomorians are still first pick though. Although you can't really have a first faction without a game can you?
ReplyDeleteI'm in, thanks
ReplyDeleteWOW, this is a busy one. LOL
ReplyDeleteAnyhow just thought I would let you know that I have now posted on my blog with reguards to this comp.
Heres the link
http://voidsigns.blogspot.co.uk/2012/06/front-line-gamer-at-it-again.html
Cheers
-Voidsign-
I'm thinking that would be good paired with some Hasslefree Mawes in a sci-fi monster hunt ala doom.
ReplyDeleteIt's ugly. It's creepy. Bleh!
ReplyDeleteBut...when I start an Ogre Kingdoms army this would make a great giant...a Maw Giant!
Good lord that thing is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I very much want to paint it and pet it and give it a crazy name like George or something similar.
ReplyDeleteCongrats on 800 members mate, awesome effort. I really get a kick out of reading your blog posts keep up the good work.
Definitely usable for my Mordheim campaign!
ReplyDelete