About
Who are you?
I’m Brendon, a twenty thirty-something Software Engineer from the midwest. I’m a typical nerd in that I enjoy Sci-Fi and Fantasy and know nothing about (and am terrible at) all things sports. I enjoy Dungeons & Dragons, painting small toys, and I have a near-encyclopedic knowledge of movie soundtracks.
How did you get into the hobby?
I started painting models when I was about 10. My father is an avid model train enthusiast and car guy (he is an automotive engineer), and I enjoyed helping him build model cars and tinker with model trains. After a few model car kits, I decided I was tired of working on things just to put them on a shelf.
I started looking and asking around for some type of model I could play with – something that was part model kit, part game. Of course, I stumbled across Warhammer 40k. I started with the 3rd Ed kit, Space Marines vs Dark Eldar. I painted them exactly as shown on the box, and I don’t think that I actually played a game with them for several years…
What do you play now?
As of 2017, largely Infinity – PanOceania (Military Orders, Neoterra soon), Combined Army (Onyx Contact Force and Morats) and I have some Nomads. I also enjoy video games, like World of Warcraft, Overwatch, and Horizon Zero Dawn.
2021 update: I don’t play tabletop wargames much at all, and the pandemic had nothing to do with that. I’ve picked up Star Wars Legion, and I’ve painted a far bit of Tyranids, but neither have seen the tabletop. Video games currently in favor are Satisfactory, Cities Skylines, a little Hades, and Among Us from time to time.
Why paint miniatures?
I really enjoy the creative process – taking an idea and making it real. It’s also relaxing, uses different mental muscles than my day job, and unlike video games, I get a demonstrable product out of the time I put in.
Holy crap, that portrait is so full of win! I would hang it over my fireplace or mantle or something.
Heh, thanks! I won it at Templecon 2011 during a demo of Dystopian Wars run by the D6 Generation guys. I’ll be in the next DW Rulebook as a character.
Holy coincidence Batman! I stroll across the interwebs and find I have a local PGer. Granted I’m usually occupied on Thursdays, but I figured Game Parlor didn’t have much of a Warmachine presence since I never see new merch coming into the store, tournaments, anything of that sort. Looks like I found someone to harass about getting events run closer than Fredericksburg, though I guess I missed out on the Journeyman league stuff.
We definitely have a solid gaming group at Game Parlor! We’re fairly active Thursday nights, and occasionally Saturday evenings too.
Plarzoid, sorry I have not been in touch lately regarding the painting of the extreme avatar but I was off in Arizona getting married. I am back now, but found out that I could be transferred before the end of the year and now my wife is also pregnant. I would like to try and meet up next weekend to get the Avatar to you if possible. Please let me know.
Best regards,
Chad Fogel