[The weird story about how AoS helped me go from a toxic egg to a happier trans girl]

On 2/4/2022 at 10:17 AM, Public Universal Duardin said:

One of us! One of us!

I am so happy for you having found yourself, @HollowHills and I am proud that this community--not just TGA, but AoS as a whole--has affected you so positively. I want to shout out to the mods of TGA; they are all wonderful people, but I have first-hand experience of @Enoby being an upright individual and ensuring TGA stays free from bigotry (in this case, transphobic language), and later being very humble about receiving any thanks for that.

This may or may not come as a surprise to anyone, but I am a trans woman too. What strikes me is how your events remind me of mine. I too came out as a teenager, but I received zero support and went 'back to the closet' for nigh a decade, fostering a very toxic attitude born from self-hatred until everything came down during 2019. My user name on this very forum, which at times have confounded users, is a relic of that early gender questioning, referencing a non-binary 18th century preacher.

Warhammer has played a big part in my journey to find myself; while the community might have contributed me to stay in the closet in my youth, in recent years I have found nothing but support. I know a few of you outside of TGA, even if I am sure not everyone of them would recognise me on other platforms. I've had the pleasure of meeting life-long friends in the AoS-community, pushing me to put my creativity in good (well, that's debatable) use. A good example was making a small video essay on Slaanesh, whom often is brought up in transphobic contexts especially in the 40K community. It got a couple hundred views and I deleted it due to voice dysphoria, but the thesis was that Games Workshop has evolved Slaanesh from their more problematic roots, discussing their usage by reactionaries and my own experiences with Slaanesh (CSM 3rd ed codex was my first foray into Warhammer, alongside SM:DA, going as far as holding a presentation about Horus Heresy in English class at 12yo, lol!). But the way us q u e e r folks were talked about by bigots, often liking us to Warhammer's Slaanesh, pushed even deeply-egged baby me away from wanting to collect Slaaneshi chaos figures.

The last few years have been the toughest in my life, as in Nordic countries from the moment you realise you are trans to a doctor prescribing you hormones is a multi-year process, only worsened during COVID. I don't know if I would have survived the pandemic, that terrible, terrible wait and having close people reject me due to my identity, if not for thse friends I have found in the Warhammer community and TGA. In many ways, browsing the Rumour thread or posting low-quality memes were an escapism, an escapism that seems to slowly pay off. 

Anyway, I am doing the Abe Simpson rambling thing again. I am very happy for you, Hollow, you aren't alone and we are here for you 💪

I had no idea it took so long in our countries to go through the process. I thought it took longer then other places in the US to get HRT since I'm living in the southern US. 

 

I hope the process keeps going well and moving forward for you! 

 

Also this is open to anyone, if you are having issues and need someone to vent to, don't hesitate to reach out! 

[The weird story about how AoS helped me go from a toxic egg to a happier trans girl]

On 1/23/2022 at 10:41 AM, HollowHills said:

I don't want to go off topic or be political, but I thought this story might be helpful for some people out there who have gone through or might be going through similar experiences.

In early 2021 I came out personally and professionally as a transgender woman and have been living full time as a woman ever since.

The truth is this wasn't a massive surprise to me. In my teens I'd tried to come out and transition before, but due to various factors and some failings with the healthcare I received I went back "into the closet". As part of that I'd learnt to think that if I could be "manly enough" I could fix myself.

When I got back into Warhammer in 2016 I basically didn't have a social life. I was always uncomfortable around people and had poor mental health. I decided to get back into painting models as a way to manage my mental health. It also meant that I had one thing which would get me out the house and socialising (other than work). 

I later came to realise that painting those little figures probably saved my life. My mental health continued to get worse, to the extent I tried some silly things. During those low periods painting my Idoneth models was an outlet for creativity, colour and passion when I felt so repressed in the rest of my life.

Unfortunately, due to internalised transphobia and mysogyny I wasn't always the best person. I felt resentful to ****** people and women involved in the hobby, because that was the life I wanted but was too ashamed to embrace. At times I made "jokes" and comments I'm not proud of, some on this very forum, to try and prove to myself that I could be "one of the lads".

However, at the same time as I saw increased representation in the hobby and Games Workshop embracing greater diversity I began to imagine at least one part of my life where I could be trans and still be accepted.

So AoS ended up giving me two things, a creative outlet to be completely free and express myself when I didn't have one anywhere else and a safe space where I could still have social interaction when I was early in my journey.

I'm pleased to say I'm so much happier now and have a wide range of social relationships both within and outside the hobby. My passion for Warhammer has never been greater and since I started HRT I've painted more models than ever before!

I wanted to share this story for two reasons. Firstly, as an apology to the people I may have made uncomfortable with exclusionary comments back when I was a "toxic egg". Secondly, if there is anyone reading this going through struggles around their own identity. The hobby is, and will always be, a place for you. I am committed to do everything I can to make sure that everyone, regardless of gender, sexuality, race or neurodiversity has a place in our game.

I'd like to invite anyone who feels comfortable doing so to share their own experiences of how Warhammer helped get them through a tough time.

Thanks for reading.

I'm glad you can be yourself and be happy! I'm also glad to have other trans people in the community! I've taken to the AoS community because it's been much more open to transgender people like us! 

 

Again I'm happy you can be yourself!

[Cities of Sigmar in AoS 3]

30 minutes ago, Tonhel said:

Another question about those legend units. The Swifthawk Chariots have Charioteers bow with a range of 2" and damage 2. What would be the correct profile for those bows?

since you have to make sure your opponent is ok with them anyways, (and if it's a friend group/regulars shouldnt be hard to chat with.) I'd use the bow profile from the swifthawk skycutters. 

I'd use this profile- Swifthawk bows- 16", 3 attacks, 4+,4+ 1 damage. it's the profile from their scroll. they are both the same "faction" both manned by the same people and use the same weapons. so it makes the most sense

 

It really is weird they gave those scrolls an update but then didnt even check what they were doing. 

 

[AoS 2 - Settler's Gain (Broken Realms: Teclis) Discussion]

I'm torn on using the settlers gain city for Dawnriders, at only 15 more points then drakespawn knights, they seem so much better. 

Though I just cant figure out the best way to keep a battlemage alive, especially now that the amulet was nerfed for low wound models as well. I also feel like the command traits just dont fit a battlemage anyways, to help keep them alive I feel like you kind of have to have them as your general for the bodyguard ability. 

What are some of the things yall have tried?

[Cities conversions and ideas]

Does anyone have any ideas on a stl file or model that looks similar to Gandalf that's in AoS scale? well old empire/bretonnia scale. 

Im going to play hallowheart and make an Anointed on foot into a wizard and model them off Gandalf. 

[Stormdrake Guard Are Beyond Absurd]

I feel there are two matched play game type people play. Matched- narrative, and Matched- competitive. 

I'm a casual player, and unless playing at a tournament, so is most the people in the area I live. There are a few players who go competitive regardless. When aos came out, I was excited but then I was turned off on how there wasnt a point system. I didnt start really playing until they started fixing "matched" rules. most people I've met in my gaming group are like me in that they want a point "blanace" but still play a Matched- narrative game type.

Just to also clarify I havent played agasint the dragons yet, but feel like playing against a spam list at a pickup game would make me just fold and do something else. 

[Stormdrake Guard Are Beyond Absurd]

16 minutes ago, RuneBrush said:

Bring back maximum unit limits is my answer.  Appreciate it's not a popular one, but certain units just shouldn't be seen multiple times in one army.  Even 40k's very crude rule of 3 (where you can only take a unit 3 times) tempers the min-max mentality that we see more and more frequently in wargaming.

I agree with this, though doesn't that rule not work for troop choices which I guess would be similar to our battle line units? but over all I agree that outside standard battle line choices (,I play CoS so like freeguild guard) it should be limited to X amount per army. A varied list makes for more interesting games then spamming a single unit for your army like the dragons. 

[Cities of Sigmar in AoS 3]

7 hours ago, Tonhel said:

Thank you for the info! Very helpful!

Looking at the warscroll of the Dragon Blades, it seems that they made a bit of a mess. I guess that Dragon lance and lance charge are the same thing and they forgot to remove one of the two. Also, I assume they have a 3+ save?

it is a mess because it's still legends, it's odd they updated a few models that aren't in production anymore (not complaining) but sadly they kind of just copy and pasted without checking it afterwards. 

but to the save. It's still a 4+ with an add one to rolls ability. so that's not an automatic 3+. so it's the same as mystic shield. the restrictions with save "stacking" still will happen with this unit. 

I'm currently very tired so if this doesn't make much sense I apologize. 

[Cities conversions and ideas]

Another "ranger" more of a Dunedain style, with mail shoulders. Really just love the lore for AoS to allow for pretty much any type of army you can think up for fantasy!

[The Rumour Thread]

Just now, zilberfrid said:

Also StD, Daughters and Death (though that GA isnt the best example of living horses).

Must need my morning redbull, I can't believe I forgot blood knights. literally the only reason I wanted to play Death. 

[The Rumour Thread]

I'd love for a blood and wine styled expansion to the CoS line. They could even remake Bretonnia in AoS and not be nearly as limited since the realms are crazy as can be anyways. 

 

There are horses, a few CoS units still use them, and LRL have Dawnriders who use "normal" horses. 

 

I miss my mounted knights

[Cities conversions and ideas]

On 12/30/2021 at 10:37 AM, zilberfrid said:

I purchased Victrix Vikings, and they'd be a perfect replacement for Freeguild Guard (spears or swords & shields are easy, but you can probably sell the two handed axes as halberds as well (would fit better, having no reach or charge defense but better rend)), the sculpts are better detailed, better designed, they all have shoes, and they are that bit wider than most historicals so they'd fit in perfectly with GW models. They are also about 43 euros for 60, instead of the 20 you'd get for the same money from GW.

Haven't built or painted any, but I will, soonish. 

 

definitely post them up when you do! I've never been a fan of the current human kit. Just weird pajamas arnt my thing. always struck me as odd they didnt rebrand the bretonnia Men-at-Arms as halberd troops. They have the same units with different kits in 40k so it's not a big deal. 

 

I really hope when they do a refresh they make it less old world empire. The undead skeletons from cursed city have great armor kit, if they made a fleshy version of it.

[Stormcast Eternals 3.0 - There is no "a" in Vindictors]

I'm not a stormcast main, I normally use them as addons for my CoS, I fell in love with the Vigilors kit. I'm making a unit of 5 as rangers to match my ranger themed CoS army, I like to imagine these are what swifthawk agents are remade into. 

If I play a narrative campaign I'm thinking that it my hero/general (human ranger with the head) dies, he will be remade into a stormcast. 

[Cities conversions and ideas]

Did a test model for my "rangers". Going to either use them as Shadow Warriors or Sisters of the watch. I did the arrows to have a "magical" property to them.

[Cities conversions and ideas]

Working on a ranger themed army, and decided to make my general from a Rangers of Shadow Deep model. I'm going to use it as a waywatcher. my group is pretty open about proxies and alternatives models, I'm pretty happy how this guy turned out. Was going for the strider feel. 

[AoS 2 - Slaves to Darkness 2 Discussion]

Working on a Greek styled city state in the Realm of beasts. I put this army on the back burner for a long while but decided to restart it. Saw the Idolators army and fell in love with having a chariot priest hero. 

These guys are my chaos warriors, I green stuffed shoulders and added a rim to the neck and back to make their chests bronze breastplates. I like to think its cursed bronze fused to their bodies. 

the Bestgor is what I'm going to use for my chosen unit. I really enjoy the look of beasts of chaos so I wanted to incorporate them into the force as slaves to darkness. Also fits the mythical greek style. 

[AoS3 - Soulblight Gravelord Discussion]

16 minutes ago, BaylorCorvette said:

-1 To Hit from Unleash Hell means they are hitting on 5s, so don't expect to get much damage through with them. While I would love a little bit of range support I am not convinced we need it. We have a ton of options for mobility, via graves or outflank in Legion of Night or Kastelai Blood Knights. Also have a Deep Strike option with Vargheists and then there is Mannfreds shenanigans. At the end of the day it is an objective game and GHB 2021's missions favor objectives near the center of the map, meaning you're likely to get your melee army into combat one way or another. Even at the 2 day GT I went to last month I was paired up against KO and a shooting/magic heavy Seraphon list, while they did hit my army hard, I just zoned them out or controlled the board because they didn't want to get into combat and it resulted in them falling too far behind on Victory Points.

Thanks for the advice! I havent played as soulblight yet, (or in 3rd edition yet) and while working on the army I see other forces with either mixed or range heavy. Blood Knights are 100 percent why I decided with soulblight. I'll have my glorious Knights fighting for the lady somehow!

 

I do wish we could ally in bonereapers, just for flavor I really want to use a trebuchet, and the crawler is good substitute for it.

[AoS3 - Soulblight Gravelord Discussion]

I had a quick general question on what other peoples thoughts were on chainghasts. Since in general death has barely any range units, I saw that a few units of allied chainghasts for their alright range attack may be worth while. For 150 points its 8 wounds and 4 d3, 15 inch range attacks at -2 rend. they could sit behind a screen to unleash hell, which is something we sorely lack. 

[Soulblight Gravelords Hobby and Lore]

I finally got around to reading the neferata novels for AoS. I fell in love with the idea of her legion having mortal followers and vampire infantry. I decided to build an army based around a human/vampire dukedom that worships her as the lady of the blood grail. I'm working on a living thralls to be a noble and honorable dukedom under her control.

Sadly the face on the banner had a casting bubble and I had to file away some of it to smooth it out. ain't the greatest at painting but I like it. I based the banner off of the art from the novel.

The knight unit is vampire heavy infantry (graveguard)

[Cities conversions and ideas]

Looks great! gotta love bretonnia! there is something about standard fantasy knights that I just love so much!

[Are Games Workshop models "the best"?]

1 hour ago, GrogTheGrognard said:

Northstar Military Figures has a wide range of models from many different lines. Some are metal, resin, or plastic. I haven't gone through them all, but the Oathmark ones at least have some hard plastic options like the dwarven heavy infantry I mentioned before. Wargames Atlantic is also one I've heard about but they seem much more limited in what hard plastic options they have and aren't as good as GW miniatures, but are significantly cheaper. You can get a box of 30 guys for around £26. Which is pretty nice especially if you want test models to try out paint schemes on without feeling like you need to be perfect.

I have a couple different sets from Northstar, I have the oathmark human infantry, human cavalry, light elf infantry, dwarf heavy infantry and the frostgrave knights. They are all great kits in hard plasic. I have a love for bretonnia so the human kits were perfect for my "bretonnia" army. The quality is really good, the price is also amazing, 30 figures for 35 usd is great. it's got pretty great customization potential as well. The detail on the dwarf heavy infantry is great. 

Personally I like the oathmark kits over games workshops comparable stuff.  though I've never been a fan of games workshops human infantry models (old bretonnian men at arms. current freeguild everything) 

[Soulblight Gravelords Hobby and Lore]

still a work in progress as I'm going to be moving it over to a larger base with a building for it to perch on and men at arms below, but here is the Black Serpent.

 

rules I'm going to be using Mannfreds, though I'm using legion of blood for my bloodline. 

A kingdom under the Black Serpent, who has sworn his serves to the lady Neferata. During the age of chaos, she came to their defense. The kingdom is a feudal lordship where the humans and undead work together in order to survive and prosper. During times of war the undead will rise to defend their family lines. They are so devote to their worship that it's an honor to be brought back as an undead from dying in combat. besides man power, the lower classes give a blood tithe to the nobility, who form the ranks of heavy shock cavalry. 

based loosely on Mallobaude the black Serpent of Mousillon and of bretonnia. 

[Brettonian Soulblight]

I know this is an older post, but any update on the army? I've been working on a Mousillon army myself. 

I'm in love with how the realm of death have undead kingdoms with humans "living side by side" I'm using men at arms as fanatic thralls (Skeleton rules, when one men at arms dies they are brought back to continue to serve and protect their lord and families) I also saw where someone took and made mounted yoemen mixed with dire wolfs thats a cool idea. they have the same armor as the black knights. and its cool to have the youngest knights errent have to go to battle as the vanguard with their wolfs. those who survive move to the hire ranks, those who die continue to serve in other rolls.

personally the real of death have so many cool ideas and stories to be explored. 

Hope your army works out!

[Soulblight Gravelords Hobby and Lore]

I've been thinking of making a faction based on the different mixed human and undead kingdoms from lore. Partially based on Mousillon of old. Also because I still want to use my old bretonnia knights as feudal blood knights. 

When reading through lore from the Wiki I saw where souls from the world that was were taken and and could be brought back. I want to make mallobaude the leader of a remade bretonnia kingdom with devote human thralls (skeletons) and when they perish they are brought back as zombies. I did a test model of a thrall unit, Mousillon foot vampire who is recently turned. similar idea of knights errent, they have to prove themselves in combat before they fight on horseback. I'm also going to repaint the shields to be black and yellow. at some point I also plan on making a unit of zombied thralls. going to get emblems for the shields as well at some point.

I always liked the idea of a mixed human/undead army for Mousillon.

[Cities of Sigmar in AoS 3]

1 hour ago, swarmofseals said:

Yeah, I think LRL is there because of Settler's Gain.

I'm big dumb, thanks! might switch over to settlers gain, and just run them all as dawnriders.