Art: First Forays Into Digital Painting

My first ever digital painting, done over a scanned pencil sketch.
I think the character turned out OK. Hate the background, though.
Photoshop CS2, Wacom Graphire 4 tablet

Second digital painting. No sketch this time, start to finish in Photoshop CS3

40K: Braxus Secundus

Braxus is a special character I made back in 3rd edition. I thought that Marneus Calgar's Gauntlets of Ultramar were kinda cool, and wanted to make something along those lines to fit the Blood Angel theme.

At the time, I thought it was a novel idea to pair Lightning Claws with a jump pack. Little did I realize that Captain Shrike had been around for a while, at least in the fluff.

This was my first attempt at a conversion. I feel pretty good about how the model turned out.

Braxus Secundus ~ Master of the Rage

Notes: Braxus may join a Blood Angels army of 1500+ points. He counts as one ELITE choice and must be used as described below. He may only be used when the use of special characters is agreed upon by both players prior to the battle.

Points: 150

Wargear: "Fangs of Baal (see below)," Jump Pack, Terminator Honours (included in stats), frag grenades, and purity seals.

Stats:

WS	BS	S	T	W	I	A	Ld	Sv
5	4	4	4	2	5	3+D3	9	3+

Special Rules:
Fangs of Baal: A pair of Lightning Claws with a built-in bolt pistol and flamer. Braxus may only use one of the two weapons per shooting phase. As they are Lightning Claws, the model may re-roll any wound rolls that fail to wound. No additional attack modifiers may be added.

Battle Hunger: Braxus (and the DC he may be with) ALWAYS fails the test for the Black Rage and moves D6" toward the enemy (in addition to normal movement).

Rage Channel: Braxus can channel the Rage instead of being completely overwhelmed by it. As soon as he is in close-combat, he takes a Leadership text. Passing adds +D3 attacks that assault phase. He must do this for each turn he is locked in close-combat.

Independent Character: Unless accompanied by a Death Company (and ONLY a DC), Braxus is an independent character and follows all the Independent Character special rules in the 40K rulebook. However, he may not lead any units.

Death Company: Braxus also follows all special rules for the Death Company (Red Thirst, Fearless, Ignore Injury, Deep Strike, and Deployment).

DnD: Pendulum Map

First off, I have to give credit where it's due: This idea was directly inspired after seeing this image.

The Pendulum Map



Description
A large, flat circular depression contains a map. It is surrounded by a number of columns, each with a rune or glyph or marking of some sort. These columns are made in such a way as to hold something - a stone or a rod of some sort.

Additionally, two to four raised platforms surrounding the map, in between the columns. These platforms are also marked in some way. A metal pendulum is suspended directly over the center of the map.

Operation
The map can be presented as either a magical or a mechanical device, but the basic operation remains the same: One or more lodestones are placed on the columns. The pendulum is then released from one of the platforms and allowed to swing. The lodestones will either pull or push the pendulum in such a way as to affect its movement across the map.

A marking device will repeatedly cross over certain areas of the map, while other portions will remain relatively untouched. The areas that are marked will vary depending on which columns the stones are placed on as well as from which platform from which the pendulum is released.

The method by which the map is marked may vary: a magical crystal that leaves fading lines of light, sand, chalk or (more crudely) charcoal, etc.

Recommended Environments
A device such as this is best suited to larger Arcane or Mechanical institutions - academies, libraries, observatories, or possibly guild headquarters. The delicate nature of the map means that not just anyone would be given access to it.

Possible Use
The PC's need the map to find a hidden location. Before they can use it, though, the [lodestone, marking device, appropriate column/platform combination] must be found.

In the Beginning . . .

I'll try and make this as painless as possible . . .

Who are you?
Who cares?

Why do you have a blog?
I am changing the focus (and domain name) of my personal website. It will no longer be a general portfolio/repository of things I've worked on, but a site dedicated to showcasing and offering my services as an amateur freelance website developer and graphic designer. Any art that I'm particularly fond of will probably wind up on there as well. Consequently, I needed (read: wanted) a place to display and talk about my hobby-related projects.

How often will you update it?
Aiming for a couple times a week.

What can we expect to find on your blog?
Files, ideas, conversions, terrain, artwork and the occasional tutorial primarily related to Dungeons & Dragons (4E) and Warhammer 40K. Also, you can expect to see the template change quite a bit until I'm happy with it. It just won't do for a self-styled designer to go using someone else's template without messing with it at least a tiny bit.

Can I critique your work?
Certainly, as long as your comments are professional and constructive. Just know that I suffer from mild depression and happen to be terribly insecure.

How long have to you been doing these hobbies?
Drawing: For as long as I can remember, with large gaps during and after college. I've recently tried to focus on my art more - particularly digital painting and illustration using Photoshop, and Corel Painter with my trusty Wacom tablet.

40K: Since High School. A friend got me into it and I got hooked. He's since stopped playing, but I soldier on (pun intended). It started with one 2000 point army, and now I'm working on my fourth. I have Blood Angels, Dark Eldar, Tyranids, and Orks - all at various stages of completion.

D&D: I've dabbled in pen-n-paper RPG's over the past decade, but the groups would always fall apart due to scheduling difficulties and/or personality conflicts. I decided I was going to jump into D&D 4th edition with both feet after listening to the first set of Penny Arcade/PVP podcasts. So far, it's been a pretty good experience.