Cocktail: The Elliots Feature #3: Christmas Crackers

Ahoyhoy internets and a Ho ho ho to you all! I must first apologise for the inactivity this week, but as you can imagine, this is the craziest week of the year at work, which isn't really conducive to blogging. However, over the past week we've accumulated a lot of material that will be coming out over the coming week or so, including a Drinking a Man's drink feature and some major Deathwatch progress, watch this space! So with the festive period well and truely upon us, we at Elliots thought it would be nice to make you a couple of winter warmers to brighten your day and give you that Christmas spirit (or spirits in this case). Today's Elliots feature is showcasing a couple of cocktails by perhaps our most talented bartenders, our esteemed master of ceremonies and bar manager, Mark and the guru of all things liquid, David McJ.

Some updates

Ahoyhoy all, just a few updates tonight whilst building some more of the Deathwatch. The Cocktails and Dreams page has been updated with all of the 3++ Birthday celebration week drinks and the latest Elliots Feature. Along with that, I've added another link to the 3rd Party Cocktails section, Andy Gemmell's Christmas Cocktails to hopefully give some of you a few ideas for winter warmers.

Further, Hunt the Alien recieved a small update, but obviously more will come as painting begins on the DW.

Speaking of that actually, tonight I'll be posting up the new look Commander Severus and the squad of Sternguard finally. I don't hold out much hope for painting before Christmas with increased demads at work, but I'm trying to get a guest author for some more weekly 40k related articles, so if you are interested or know someone that is, please email me at: lord_davidoff@hotmail.co.uk

Love, Dave

3++ Week Day 7 - And Finally...

The ultimate cocktail to celebrate with, some sweet tasty action, hits like a freight train and is unashamedly a man's drink. I've had a lot of fun with these cocktails this week for you Kirby and the gang, I hope you've enjoyed them too!

If anyone has any requests from me and the gang, give me an email with the contents of your liquer cabinet and we'll see what we can shake up.

Sweet Manhattan #3++

Sweet Vemouth  2 Measures
Bourbon             2 Measures
Cointreau          1/2 Measure

Method:

In a boston/mixing glass filled with ice, pour the sweet vemouth and stir in ice for 20 seconds. Drain liquid, keeping the ice. Into the glass pour the bourbon and the Cointreau and stir again for another 20 seconds. Fine strain into a Old Fashioned glass over ice or into a chilled martini glass neat. Garnish with a cocktail cherry and an orange peel, squeezing the oils of the peel over the drink.

Love, Dave

3++ Week: Day 6 - VT2

Prepare yourselves internets...it's time...for Him. On a serious note, I love VT2's work. He is frank, cuts right to the core and doth-takith no $%"£. Plus he's a gem to be on chat with. Particular favourite articles of mine? Any Formuitis article, I think they are all a hoot; his "coverage" (well...verbal decimation) of the ETC was a riot and his review of C:SM actually helped me to pick Vanilla over Space Wolves for the Deathwatch.

Kirb, think you made a good choice with this one. VT2, we salute you!

The Black and Blue VT2

Blue Curacao  1/2 Measure
Tia Maria        1/2 Measure
Baileys            Float

Method:

We have our first shot of the series! In fact I think it may be the first one on the site, I'll have to double check.(Edit: It totally is!!!) Dead simple, half fill your shot glass with blue curacao then layer the Tia Maria on top (our black and blue). Then gently float a thin layer of Baileys Irish Cream on top of the shot and shoot for what should taste something like an orange coffee. What can we do to change it up you ask? Replace the Tia Maria for Creme de Cacao for something akin to a chocolate orange. Oddly festive I think.

Love, Dave

3++ Day 5: Koop/Koopa/MKoop/Mat *error!! error!!*

Ahh we come to a relatively new 3++ author who has more names on that site than I have had hot dinners - we're gonna run with Koop though for the purposes not causing a fatal system crash coherency. In that time though Koop has come out with a few good articles, I'm loving his continued progress on his Hybrid BA and found his article on paint thinning to be very helpful.

Koop, we at CSNS salute you! POST MORE!!!

Koopa Libre

Gold Rum     1 Measure
Amaretto      1 Measure
Pepsi/Coke   Top

Method:

Pour everything into a highball over ice and squeeze in the juice of two lime segments. Thrown them in and add an orange peel to garnish. Dead simple, variation on a Cuba Libre that we all know and love -well...I know Brother Loring REALLY knows and loves it- just with that added amaretto twist. You can use any gold rum, but I found that Havana Especial or El Dorado 8 complemented the sweetness of the amaretto the best and gave the smoothest outcome.

Tomorrow (Edit: in a couple of hours) we will enter the wicked mind of VT2...be prepared for your face to explode with disbelief.

Love, Dave

Playing catch up

Well it's that time of year where the hours in the industry pile up anf free time becomes zilcho which is a shame because I'm neglecting my blog duties. SO today I'm playing catch up from the past few days of non-activity; the rest of the 3++ cocktails will be going up once every two hours starting from 14:00 GMT.

Futhermore, hopefully before I head off to worky work tonight I'll manage to get a little Deathwatch update out, Severus has been remodeled using some plastic Captain components and progress on the first unit of Sternguard is coming along nicely.

3++ Week: Day 4 AbusePuppy

AbusePuppy produces some really interesting articles on 3++, really making you think about how to use certain rules well -eg his latest post about the Stealth rule- and talking frankly about the game and staying into it. I like that, because these articles really make you think about the little nuances of this game we all love.

Time to commit some animal cruelty and get a puppy drunky!

3++ Week: Day 3 Fester

Fester (with a little f...but for the purposes or accurate english has a capitol at the beginning of a sentence) is one of my favourite writers on 3++. He's frank but fun and one hell of a guy to be on chat with. His enthusiasm for the hobby is inspiring and he should be treated as a fine 40k writing talent.

We salute you fester 40k!

3++ festering 6ft Down Under

Black Grouse                 2 Measures
Sugar Syrup                1/2 Measure
Bitters                            1 dash
Pressed apple juice        1 measure

Method:

Pour all ingredients into an Old Fashioned glass and fill with ice. Stir for 20 seconds. Garbish with a slice of apple and a sprinkle of cinnamon. Serve. Dead simple cocktail here, we have a peaty blended whisky stirred with sugar and apple to give it a bit of sweetness that makes it a bit more palatable for those unused to the taste of a straight whisky. The small amount of bitters serves those who do like their drink strong though, as it brings a sharpness that brings out the taste of the isla malts in the blend. Leaves an almost spicey aftertaste. Tastey as sin and will definately take you to an early grave if consumed too much...which it's easy to do with this bad boy because it's damn drinkable.
 
Tomorrow, expect AbusePuppy to get some loving  for a change.

Love, Dave

40k: Hunt the Alien - Lord Severus and new inductees

Ahoyhoy interwebs, a bit of Deathwatch news to update you all with. I've decided to switch to C:SM for the Deathwatch, and as such am moving for a more Sternguard/Tactical themed army. So you can find V1 of the C:SM list at 1500pts HERE. I think it might be amended to add another unit of SG in, with combi meltas/flamers and heavy flamers, but more about that later.

Now, in a Sternguard themed army we have to have a Pedo. He may be a bit guff but he's thematic, so he'll be used in the "fluff" themed lists at 1750+ and (as yet un-named) Librarian will be used in competative play. Woo Hoo!

3++ Week: Day 2 BroLo

Ahoyhoy internets, here we find ourselves on day 2 of the 3++ birthday week marathon, today celebrating with our favourite all round awesome dude, Brother (Doctor Love) Loring.

Here's one for you, you rum mad monster!

3++ BroLong Daquiri

Rum          2 Measures
Cointreau  1 Measure
Lime Juice 1.5 Measures
Sugar Syrup 1 Measure
Lemonade Top

Method:

Another mega simple 3++ cocktail that can easily be made in any bar. Pour all ingredients except the lemonade into a cocktail shaker over ice and shake vigourously for  10 seconds.  Pour into a highball glass over ice and top with lemonade. Strong like a mofo and tastey as sin, a must for anyone who likes their classic rum cocktails and wants a little bit of a contemporary twist. Garnish with a wedge of lime.

Love, Dave

P.S. Tomorrow our favourite friend with the little "f" - fester!

Happy Birthday 3++

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here with some great and wonderful news! In my mind the ultimate 40k advice site has turned 1 today; 3++ is the new black. Our awesome Aussie, Kirby and his gang of epic authors have skyrocketed to stardom on the 40k and gaming blogsphere over the past year and rightly so. As stated on the blog, it's like YTTH without the emo bitching; you'll only ever see helpful gaming advice from a dedicated group of talented authors who teach rather than mock -well...we don't talk about VT2...-

I love the style, and the interwebs do too. So 3++ we give you the CSNS salute the only way we know how.

Let's get drunk with a week of cocktails for all you author types!!

Today Kirby, tomorrow our favourite bro, Brother Loring! Expect some rum madness.

Day 1:- 3++ Kirbtini
Vodka              1 Measure
Pineapple Juice 1 Meaure
Raspberries       3
Rose Champagne Top

Method:

Add the vodka, pineapple and raspberries to a cocktail shaker, over ice and shake vigourously for 10 seconds. Fine strain into a champagne flute and top with rose champagne. Garnish with candy of your choice. A variation of the Flirtini with an unashamedly pink twist, keeping with the theme of our beloved Kirby himself. Sweet, sweet cocktail, perfect for a celebration. It even comes with some sweets! Who can say no to that! add a cupcake on the side with a sparkler to really celebrate.

Love, Dave

P.S. Long live King Kirby.

77 Years since the USA became cool again.

Ahoyhoy internets, today we celebrate a great day for our cousins on the other side of the pond -or well...ON that side of the pond if you are actually American- Yes, we just HAD to feature something about this momentous day on CSNS and proudly so.

Today marks 77 years since the end of prohibition in America, the day the states became cool again. Let's explore a little bit about The Noble Experiment and it's history and see the effect that it has had on the drinking habbits of the world today.

COCKTAIL: The Elliots Feature #2

"Holy crap...I'm on the internets?!"

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here and still on a mission to get you all into something a little bit different in the bar! This week The Elliots Feature is showcasing a young up and coming talent in the bar, Mr Andrew Crook.

Andrew is a fine young talent who hasn't really been given his shot...yet, but he's been coming up with some interesting concepts. His style differs vastly from my own; where I try to exploit the sour and the bitter part of the balance -as was taught by my masters Andy, Dave and other Dave- he will go for something a bit sweeter. Very savvy of him, it takes note of the collective taste of the area in which we are situated and will appeal to a wide audience.

Knowing what the American/London/Edinburgh cocktail style is perhaps Andrew's creations wouldn't fly out of the bar as well as they would here, but that does nothing to take away from the fact that in his short time in the industry he has shown himself off as an intelectual bartender who can give the people what they want and experiment with flavours that have perhaps fallen out of favour with his peers. One to watch in the future if you're ever in a high class bar in Scotland ;)

Dave's Day Off #5

Enjoy your Saturday everybody. Remember to be safe and look after yourselves and each other. Get out and party.

40k: Hunt the Alien - A new approach?

Ah Codex Space Marines, how long it has been since I looked upon thee. I think I got far too wrapped up in my obsession with SW representing Deathwatch I missed the charm of the original codex. Here's a little list idea, give us a shout with what you think compared to the current SW list.

Deathwatch 1500

Librarian 100
Null Zone, The Avenger

Tactical Squad 90
Razorback 40
LasPlas 35
165
x2

Tactical Squad x10 180
Flamer
Combi Melta
Multi Melta
Rhino 35
225
x2

Sternguard Vets x5 125
Lascannon x2 30
Rhino 35
(190)

Land Speeder 50
Multi Melta 10
Heavy Flamer 10
70
x2

Predator 60
Heavy Bolters 25
Storm Bolter 10
95
x3

Big thanks to Archnomad and VT2 for giving me a boot up the arse with it; the end result being a far better list than the one I originally considered.

Love, Dave

COCKTAIL: BoLS Time: Bigred and Darkwynn

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here celebrating a great day for the blog. Bigred decided in his wisdom to put CSNS on the BoLS blogroll and induct the blog into the Bell of Lost Souls Alliance. Suffice to say, I'm chuffed.

I want to steal this logo, or the glass...f&^% you guys!

-and not just "oh let's have a cup of tea chuffed, chuffed like let's have a sexy party chuffed-

Booya. So in a similar move to when Lauby and Dethtron decided to let me into their collective insanity of HoP -long may it shine as a beacon of hugs and gropings- here are some awesome BoLS themed cocktails.

The guys requested a couple so I've been working on the all day and I think these should fit his specifications perfectly. Try them out guys, who knows maybe a future competition could have you winning some ;)

40k: Hunt the Alien - 500pts Built

Ahoyhoy internets, quick update to show the first built 500pts of Deathwatch! Painting progress to follow tomorrow.

The Strike Force

40k: Hunt the Alien List v3

Ahoyhoy internets, here I think will be the final draft of the shooty Deathwatch 1500pts list. On the advice of Fester on 3++ chat a few days ago, I've decided to drop the idea of a thunderwolf "hammer" for this points level and just went with an all shooty, all singy, all dancy Deathwatch. Any comments are still more than welcome however. -That means you Archnomad-

The Calixian Schism: The Raven's Tale Chapter 2

++Chapter Two++

The Princess and the Paupers

The first thing to hit him was the smell. Damp and greasy to the nose, this is what they all smelt like, at least all of the ones he had been to in his short life. The slums of the Coché Hurrum province on the southern continent of the great hive world of Malfi were no different to Drake than the twenty other slum hives he had visited in his lifetime. Dirty, dank and above all depressing.

The rockcrete street outside of the boarding house was potted and filthy from the dirty sub-tropical rainfall that so often passed over the slums, full of acid, chemical and soot thrown into the planet's atmosphere from the innumerable manufactorum complexes on the northern continent of the hive. He looked to the emerald sky, polluted with grey and magenta clouds of toxic gasses and sighed to himself, lifting the collar of his jet stormcoat as he did.

There was no point in throwing on any other clothes in the current climate, meteorological scans obtained from a planet wide vox frequency indicated that the acid rain would stay away for at least another eighteen hours. So Drake hoped anyway.

Dave's Day Off #4

Happy weekend folks! Let's get old skool with a tune from a great man not with us anymore.
Stick it on, get your gladrags on and have an awesome weekend.



Please remember to drink responsibly, don't hurt yourselves or someone else.

Love, Dave

40k Hunt the Alien: Ordo Xenos Thunderwolves and other such hammers.

As the name of the post suggests, what do you think of the concept of Thunderwolves in a Deathwatch themed army. Good, bad, ugly? How would you do them if you did include them, the same as Space Wolves, some kind of killy machine of death a la Penitant Engine or something completely different.

Concept? I think so!

Hmmm....

In my mind the "classic" -can it be classic yet?- Thunderwolf aka big growly model shouldn't be in the army, mainly because they are about as rare as the Emperor farting gold dust, but some sort of machine construct with a marine riding/driving it could work. The only thing is I think I'm trying to include the Thunderwolf unit as a hammer, because as the DW list currently stands I really don't have one. I'd much rather have Speeders in my DW, but theres nothing else I can see, save taking out one of my 3 Lone Wolves and putting in WG. What do you think about thematic hammers?

The floor is open.

Love, Dave

COCKTAIL: BroLo LoCo

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here with a little something for your Friday night  (though not mine because I am VERY hungover...thank you work friends....) dedicated to the man who inspired last week's Drinking a Man's Drink article, Brother Loring of 3++ is the new black fame. The man likes his rum, and I am more than happy to oblige in that respect -as long as I'm not drinking it...bleeeehhhh not feeling it today-

BroLo LoCo Tiki Punch

Pampero Ron Anejo Especial     2 Measures
Blue Curacao                             1 Measure
Mango Juice                               3 Measures                                      
Passionfruit Juice                        3 Measures
Grenadine                                  1/2 Measure
Juice of half a squeezed lime

Method:

Super simple, just build in a tall glass or some kind of cool ceramic tiki mug over cubed ice and stir. Garnish with a big old chunk of mango. A real simple fun drink and tastes like liquid Bahamas, just the thing to make you forget the cold winter night...or if you are in the land of Aus, the perfect thing to sit on the beach with and wait for Santa.

40k Hunt the Alien: FNGs

Pictures of some recently inducted marines. Enjoy!

The Blood Angels arrive in force...well...3 is a kind of force ain't it.

Group picture of all the FNGs in the Tactical Kill Teams.

KT Beta: Desciple of Iron, Blood Angel, Storm Warden, Red Templar, Crimson Fist [No pad]

The question still stands about which codex to use, currently it's geared for C:SW but obv can be re-written for C:SM or BA, please leave your thoughts about which book to use for a Deathwatch dedicated force.

Love, Dave

The Calixian Schism: The Raven's Tale

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here finally getting into GM mode and getting something done campaign wise. After much deliberation about how to chronicle the events of the upcoming epic yarn in the grim dark future that myself and a few enthusiastic individuals are about to embark on, I came up with a rather spiffy conclusion. Each session, I'll be putting up a piece of fiction focussing on the events which took place in the previous session and another piece about the session or events beyond the session from the eyes of our Inquisitor, Thaddeus Drake. With that in mind, I'll be putting up a few prelude pieces that I heartily encourage my players to read and for the rest of you to have a look at before we start the game.

I really hope you enjoy what is the come in the following weeks and months, this story is a bit of a labour of love of mine. Its not Abnett, but I'm incredibly proud of the spin I've put on the 40k universe and the characters who you will see in these pieces. The Raven's Tale tells the story of the Calixian Schism from the viewpoint of Inquisitor Thaddeus Drake and The Emperor's Will tells the story of Team Nova and their endevour to expunge a heresy that will take them from the Calixis sector to the soil of Holy Terra itself and beyond.

Love, Dave

Hunt the Alien: The B Team and Other Ponderings

Ahoyhoy internets, some more Deathwatch progress has been made today, though lack of other chapter shoulder pads has been a bit of a pain in the bum -still waiting in Ultramarines, Imperial/Crimson Fists and Silver Skulls pads from GW along with another 10 sets of Deathwatch gear...but who's counting...hurry up post- but hey, you have to get on with things don't you! On the plus side, Kill Team Delta is completely built and Team Beta have been completed minus some shoulder pads which is a cheeky bonus as well as the "Team Leader" of Kill Team Alpha -aka the poster boys- has been modelled and is awaiting Ultramarine pad.

Now a few things bothering me with this army. First and foremost I don't know about using the SW book. It does pander to my idea of the more "kitted out" Marines, with acute senses (better helmet augmentation or something) and counter attack (well, they're combat vets aren't they) as well as able to include some epic parts of the Deathwatch fluff (Lone Wolves as Black Shields, supercool Libbies etc etc). However, lack of special ammunition, a staple of the chapter in the fluff and a key feature of Sternguard Vets that are unavailable to the Wolves and the more "fragile" leadership state of the army is causing me some concern. I also don't want to be labelled as WAAC for using the commonly considered "best" power armour book in the game. I like winning, don't get me wrong I LOVE winning more than I love lemon cake, but I do like a bit of theme continuity in there too.

So my friends, what to do? Well I'd love some feedback in that respect. What fits the Deathwatch in your mind: C:SM, C:BA, C:SW or any other book for that matter?

Love, Dave

RPG: How do you GM?

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer putting out a little call to my fellow GMs. Now as you know, my DH will be starting fairly soon and with that in mind, I've been writing my GM notes for the game. Now I'm fairly well known in our parts for my notes being....extensive. Example -prepare for wall of text-

[NOTE: THESE ARE NOT MY GM NOTES FOR THIS GAME, THEY WERE TRIAL ONES THAT HAVE BEEN SCRAPPED. ALMOST SPOILER FREE...BUT NOT QUITE]

The Ordo WTF???

MONDAY PIMP #2

The long anticipated return of the useless filler valuable resource that is the Monday Pimp has come! -Good lord I hear you cry, he has got off his arse and actually written something-

So in a week where...well...everyone's blog has been full of the 1.1 40k FAQ, Dark Eldar shenanagans and those crappy November blues, I thought this week's Pimp should centre around things that were a little different. Enjoy friends!


1) A Call to Arms, Will it Pick Up or Just Hit Ignore? by Dethtron @ Dick Move

I frikkin love Dethtron and his blog, his music, the fact that he's an ace guy and pretty much everything about him -in a completely non-gay way- So on Thursday when I saw this article the first thing I said to myself was; "So typically Deth...I loves it." Dethtron takes a stab at those people we all love to hate -though not as much as That F***ing Guy, and slightly less than Archnomad- the fluff at all costs gamer (FAAC). Rightly so in my mind, mind your own damn business when it comes to how someone want's to build an army list. If you have geniune critique go right ahead, but FFS if the arguement comes down to taking TH/SS Termies in a -insert random shooty Chapter- army is worse than papering your walls with dead kittens, you can sling your hook. So, internets, let's take a leaf from Deth's book and spread the term FAAC (fluff at all costs) around the interwebs and slander these people! I love the background as much as the next guy...but get a grip.

AWESOMETER: A W E S O

2) [Weekly Whimsy] Brutal Beauty by Loquacious @ World of Wonder  (also see HoP)

I'm sure most of you know I'm a big fan of Loq's blog and this post that appeared on HoP earlier in the week is no exception, and further I agree with her 100% on the matter. The article is a response to the general hatred around the webs of the Stormraven model, and puts forward the case that it has a kind of brutal, killy, I'm going to eat your face kind of charm to it. It does guys come on! a flying Land Raider coming at you, you'd make a brown mess in your armour. Reading through the comments I find something though, relating to the above article (Dethtron's). There seems to be a few -a lot- of mentions of the aerodynamics of this vehicle and the fact that IRL it would not fly. Guys and dolls I have some news for you: IT'S A GAME. It's a frikkin model, not a new model of fighter plane! But, on that strand of thought, lets look at the Eurofighter- the most aerodynamically unstable plane in the air, yet flies like a dream due to awesome tech. How about them apples. Be happy it's there, looks like flying awesome to the face and that GW put in the effort to make one and not make you keep buying Land Raiders and Valks to convert them. Seriously...stop bitching, they put hundreds of hours and thousands of pounds into their models. You don't like it? Don't use it. FAACs...

AWESOMETER: A W E S O

3) Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay: A Beginning by Archnomad @ Skavenblight

Archy is a massive douche gem to read -unless he critiques your list...in which case prepare to cry- and this really got me salivating. Like myself he is starting up a RPG game, but where I'm taking the 40k route, he is taking the Fantasy. Anything to do with RPG games gets me excited...but to be honest this excites me because a) it's a good prologue  b) I'm near him so I can play -woo hoo- Check out Skavenblight for WFB its finger lickin' good.


AWESOMETER: A W E S 

Tune in when I can be bothered next week for more pimp action, or I'll get you with my strong hand!

Love, Dave

How would you get through the Zombie Apocalypse?

At the moment it's between a pile of bank statements with a bottle of Triple Berry Vitamin Water and my Xbox 360. Well...since Maggie isn't going ANYWHERE -yeah...I named her, so what?- bank statements and Vitamin Water, I CHOOSE YOU!

So guys, what are you using to fight off the undead masses?

Totally pilfered from geeksaresexy.net check em out!

Love, Dave

Dave's Day Off #3

Ahoyhoy internets, DJ Dave Howitzer here giving you tunes to get your weekend started every Friday/Saturday (well...from now on...) So stick this on, grab a drink, don your gladrags and go mental!



At the weekend folks remember, its the guys in my line of work; bartenders, bouncers and taxi drivers that have to look after you, so please drink responsibly and don't hurt yourselves or anyone else.

And suit up....

Love, Dave

COCKTAIL: Skavenblight Sour for Archnomad

Ahoyhoy internets, here we have a little something I've bashed up for all round douchebag legendary Fantasy blogger Archnomad! Little bit of Strawberry & Melon Sour action, give it a bash this weekend.

Skavenblight Sour

Midori                           1 Measure
Aivy White Vodka         1 Measure
Lime Juice                      1 Measure
Sugar Syrup                   1/2 Measure
4 Mint Leaves
White of half an egg

Method:

Mega simple for this one, throw your 4 mint leaves and the Sugar Syrup into the bottom of your shaker set and muddle the leaves. -or for those of you who don't know, that means hit them till they BREAK!!!! YEAH!!- Then pour all other ingredients into your shaken. Shake vigourously for 10 seconds and strain into a rock/old fashioned glass, garnishing with a spirg of mint. The end result; a sweet and fruity cocktail perfect for those nights when the party just doesn't want to stop. The melon notes come through quite strongly, but are complemented by the sweetness of the Aivy very well, and comes as a real surprise when drinking due to the very heavy nose of mint. Finally that half egg white ensures the sour is not as dry as perhaps a Whisky or Amaretto sour but still gives that great thick texture.

Plus, it's green...so its a bit Skaven -yeah...-

Please drink responsibly this weekend guys!

Love, Dave

Hunt The Alien: Beginnings of the Watch

Ahoyhoy internets, some 40k gubbins here from your local interweb hero, DaveHowitzer. As you know, the Deathwatch army has begun and I figured whilst I wait for yet another shipment of Chapter shoulderpads (another DW set, Ultramarines, Crimson/Imperial Fists and Silver Skulls) to arrive I figured I'd show you some awesome progress with the models. Currently We have 4/5 of Beta Team modelled (one minus Chapter pad) and 3/5 of Alpha Team -or the poster boys as I call them, the squad SHOULD mimic the one on the front of the DW rulebook from FFG- with many, many, many more marines WiP.



Enjoy!

COCKTAIL: The Pablo Martinez

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here making a triumphant return to the interweb after a metric ton of...well...stuff that I've been doing away from the blog, but that'll all be explained in another post, for now, here's something for your weekend...and trust me, it's not for the faint of heart. Let's get a little hot under the collar with this winter warmer:

Pablo Martinez

Patrón Anejo     2 measures
Chilli Bitters       2-4 dashes
Agave Nectar    2 Bar/Teaspoons


Made exactly like  an Old Fashioned or a Treacle: pour 2 barspoons full of Agave Nectar Honey into the bottom of an Old Fashioned or rock glass and add bitters. Half fill the glass with ice and add one measure of tequila and stir thoroughly. Fill the glass with ice, add the next measure of tequila, rinse and repeat. Finally garnish with a fairly hot chili and a wedge of lime for awesome results. Done. We add so little agave nectar because it is about twice as sweet as normal sugar (as I found out the first time I made this...looking like a right silly boy in front of a room full of fellow bartenders at Andy Gemmel's new Tiki Bar in Glasgow...bad times) and the chill works very well with the aged Patron, giving it the proverbial boot up the arse. What can we do to mix things up a bit? Perhaps a splash of fresh pressed apple juice over the top to add a little bit more freshness to the drink? Or maybe, if your wallet feels a bit heavy you could splash out and replace the Patron with Jose Cuervo Reserva de la Familia. Hellz yeah.

Love, Dave

Hunt The Alien: Deathwatch 1.5k Mk. II

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here. Apologise for the lack of content this week, but it's been a busy old one at the salt mines. However I have got my first batch of 30 Deathwatch on order, arriving Monday and I've had time to punch up a new 1500pts list.

Tear it apart:

Deathwatch 1500pts DakkaBosh

Rune Priest 100
Chooser of the Slain 10
Living Lightning
Murderous Hurricane
110

-Elites-

Lone Wolf  20
Terminator Armour 25
Storm Shield 25
Chainfist 15
85
x3

-Troops-

Grey Hunters Pack (5) 75
Flamer
75
-Razorback 40
- Las/Plas 35
-75
x4

-Fast Attack-

Land Speeder Typhoon 90

-Heavy Support-

Long Fangs Pack (6) 90
Missile Launcher (5) 50
140
x3

Its at 1475, so pointers appreciated.

Love Dave

COCKTAIL: The Elliots Feature #1

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again with useless filler an awesome cocktail feature! Ok so you all know how I feel about my work...

-Yeah I know...I'm cool like that...-

I'm not the only barman with some cocktails to pimp on the internets you know! So, faithful internets, fill your boots with the best that Elliots, Prestwick has to offer. As usual, give them a try at your local bar this weekend for an awesome surprise and give us your feedback! Just remember who sent you; The Elliots Bar Team mofo!

Submission for HoP Scary Model Contest!

So HoP want some more filler content ehh...scary models ehh, well I put it to you sir that this would terrify any man!

"Blue Waffle ain't got s*** on me..."

-Armorcast Decapussywhipper-

Happy holidays everyone!

Love, Dave

Drinking a Man's Drink #2: Scotch Whiskies

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here with the first of a couple of drink's articles to be released today. Now I've been promising an article on the drink of my homeland so I figure I'd better sit my arse down and write it! Prepare for a monster post folks, for it has driven me mad! Enjoy!

So Scottish Whisky (or just whisky if you live in the UK...tends to be either foriegn folks -who are allowed- or pretentious people who think they know more about the world than they actually do who call it Scotch) is an old, old spirit. The drink was first noted as the Gaelic "usquebaugh", meaning "Water of Life", phonetically became "usky" and then "whisky" in modern English. According to the Scotch Whisky Association, no one knows exactly when the art of distilling was first practised in Scotland; it is known that the ancient Celts practised distilling and that the liquid they produced -the usquebaugh - evolved into Scotch Whisky.

The Calixian Schism: Prelude III - Our Own Little Heresies...

Ahoyhoy internets, in the storytelling mood once agin, so here is the final prelude article for the Calixian Schism. I hope they have inspired you to get involved. Once again, drop me an email at lord_davidoff@hotmail.co.uk if you would like to participate and I'll get you pimped out with a character sheet and all the relevant data/programs you need.

++File M.41 959 – 000829+++

+++Log of Interrogator Thaddeus Drake+++

++Record Begins++

“Throne!” I yelped as I awoke with a start, cold sweat dripping profusely from my brow and down my back, coming to a grey pool at the base of my spine. Throne, the residual pain was astonishing. Pronounced veins on my forehead coursing with blood, bloodshot eyes struggling to focus and a pale disposition gave me the look of a man of far more advanced years than my own, and Throne the sound, the sound of those blasted drums just wouldn't go away. Frost coated the obsidian walls of the chamber and the vicious smell of ozone penetrated the sweet scent of incense sticks, making every breath a hellish struggle against my gag reflex. He was there again! The man.

The Calixian Schism: Prelude II - Drake...

Inquisitor Drake's log, M41 979.230 18.03 hours standard time.

++Recording Begins++

[Singing heard in background, male, Dark High Baritone/Tenor and Soprano]

I looked into your heart and saw you pure and whole

Cloaked under the night with nothing to suppress

A woman and a man, no more and yet no less

We said things in the dark we never dared to say...

[Audio log beeps, showing low charge]

[Male vocal ceases]

Frak...I left this thing on! Sod! [Calls to background] Serena, my apologies my dear, my journal was on, we can continue my...lesson...now darling.

++Recording Ends++

The Calixian Schism: Prelude

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again with some content for my upcoming web based Dark Heresy game! -good God Emperor, 2 relevant posts in 2 days?-

So first thing's first, the day of the game. After seeing some comments, notably from the American/Canadian guys who want to join in, it seems Tuesday at 3pm your time is a little...difficult shall we say. Thus the plan is to have the game on a Sunday evening (GMT) which should make things easier for pretty much everyone. Please, if you're interested at playing at this time, give me a comment or send an email to lord_davidoff@hotmail.co.uk
We'll discuss your class ideas and the way this will work, it looks like it will involve Ventrillo, online dicerollers, Googledocs and an online whiteboard at the moment, but any suggestions will be greatly appreciated.

So with that in mind, here's a little something to wet your whistle so to speak and get you in the RP mood. Enjoy!

Hunt the Alien: Seconded to the Deathwatch

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again with some hobby for a change.

-Good lord, I hear you cry, the chap has gone insane, some hobby talk on a 40k blog, this is heresy!-

Well for those of you that remember, last week I posted my thoughts on building a new Imperial army in response to the way 5th edition has treated my beloved Deathwing. After a lot of thought I realised that I didn't fancy making my own chapter, becuase I have such a connection with my Dark Angels -as cheesy as that sounds- So what to do, what to do. I moved to my second love, the Daemonhunters, but I realised there that I just wanted to make the characters in my DH game into an army on the table top...and besides...Daemonhunters competative? Nahh

So then it hit me. I love the Inquisition, and what's ALMOST as cool as Grey Knights and ISTs? The Deathwatch.

MONDAY PIMP #1

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again in my quest for awesome filler content -woo lazy times- So here is #1 of a new weekly feature, showcasing some awesome articles other folks have done on the internet this week -pretty awesome ehhh-

I love all the guys who are featured this week, some have really informative pieces that helped me with my vast ignorance of things in general, some made me laugh, some made me cry, some even made me want to get drunk and sky dive naked with a large hippo


.....yeah I know....

Dave's Day Off #2

Feel the awesome. enjoy your Saturday everybody.




Love, Dave

RPG: The Calixian Schism, we need heroes...

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here with a little follow-up to last week's Curse of the GM PC post that's going to take an interesting turn -....for the awesome!-

So after the post went live and I re-read through it again, I discovered something - I really miss roleplaying. I mean for a start, it's super fun; a group of mates all together hanging out and chilling whilst playing an awesome game. Second it's an escape of sorts, to live like someone else for a few hours a week. Finally it's an outlet for creativity, be it in the demenour of the character or the narrative of a plot- intregue, action, investigation, emotion etc coming into play.

So I was bummed out somewhat by the realisation that half of the old group has "left" (well...I say left...became somewhat douchey, but that's another story with far too much politics for my liking) and we would never have those times again. Then, browsing -stalking Lauby, Brent and Dethtron- the HoP page I came upon a startling discovery: CLICK HERE TO SEE MY DISCOVERY

40k: Caught the Imperial Bug...and help a Bro out.

First thing's first. I'm sure you've seen because it's on every other blog out there, Big Jim's marines have been stolen so please, please, please keep an eye out for them on ebay etc. Having the models you've spend hours of your time and hundreds of your hard earned bucks stolen like that really sucks so I urge you all, be on the lookout, theres a chance (albeit slim) that we can help a brother out and get his models back.

Anyhoo internets, on to the jist of our little post. The Eldar are progressing well, however one thing really is bugging me at the moment. Eldar can play 1 list and be viable. Mechdar -woop- with Dragons and Avengers in serpents, Eldrad and Falcons/Prisms to dakka dakka. I love my Eldar, but I don't want to play like that. So until we get a glorious new dex that will make the useless units that I love -Warp Spiders, Support Platforms and Guardians...oh yeah and more psychic awesome- viable I intend on getting back into an Imperial book. Now my DA were awesome back in the day, but the book...well...the book isn't so grand...

Crap 'Dex makes Brother Berathor angry...very angry indeed.

WoW catacalysm trailer out now !

Hey guys and girl, just thought id post the best world of warcraft trailer i have seen so far, enjoy!



click here for the link :) Gav x

Dave's Day Off #1

Ahoyhoy all DaveHowitzer here once again with shizzle completely unrelated to gaming -as usual- So I feel this may become a somewhat regular feature depending on my nights off from worky work. This feature needs very little explaination, simply put, I'll be featuring awesome tunes for your weekend if I happen to have an evening off. Simple!

Enjoy


Love,Dave

RPG: The Curse of the GM PC

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer back once again with something a little different. Something gaming related.

Yes, dear readers, today we shall be delving into the world of the RPG, more specifically the pen and paper RPG -even, even more specifically, I'll be discussing this from the standpoint of a Dark Heresy GM- and to be really specific I'm going to be talking about the man we all love to hate. The GM.

Now, being a GM is tough business, I know, I was a Dark Heresy GM for 2 years until teenage stupidity, gossip and the insatiable need to smoke weed of some members broke the group up, which was very sad. I think it kinda gets to good GMs who have an excelent story planned out if they don't get to bring it to a conclusion -but I digress, that's for another article. The GM has to come to the table each week with at least a rough plan of what is going to happen; even if it's a sandbox game; has to balance the power of the players against the foes they face and most importantly juggle the real life personalities in the room and make sure people get with the proverbial program. -which trust me...is never easy-

Dead Rising 2 Review

-Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here, with a little announcement! It's time to introduce a brand new member of the CSNS family, my very good friend Steve the Llama who will be our new commentator on all things videogame. expect some reviews of the most kickass new console games in the future, starting off with his awesome Dead Rising 2 review. Check it out, give him some comments and support a borther trying to live the dream.

Love Dave-

Ah… Dead rising, if ever a game deserved a sequel it was this. For me, Dead Rising was one of the best things about the 360 (aside from perhaps Mass Effect). A combination of aneurism inducing difficulty (in parts) along with a simple yet addicting formula as likely to get you hooked faster than the finest Class A wonders available on the streets of Glasgow. Its premise simple, funny and brutal all at once: pick up random crap, kill zombies with said crap; repeat. Unusual features like the limited 72 hour game cycle, real time events which didn’t wait for you and the ability to spit with the power of a 9mm handgun all add to make an experience to warm the heart of anybody who loves to slay the undead.

GAMING: WoW players, I feel your pain

Ahoy there buddies, gavtheman here with a cool and exciting new post. First of all i need to apologise for my inexcusable lack of posting, second of all I was scared to open internet explorer due to this catostrohpic world of warcraft patch 4.0.1 (5.29 gigabytes....you  heard me). Recently I've been revising for exams which are due in a month so I won't be posting quite so much over the upcoming weeks.

FIRSTLY I have a question. Throughout the last couple months I have had a part-time job at a local hotel and I'm stuck on what to buy. I was thinking about buying an Xbox 360 and Halo Reach but is it worth the money? There is so much more I could buy and I just don't know what to do :/ if you could leave a comment in the comment section below it would be greatly appreciated. ttfn xx <3

Gav

EDITORIAL: Suit Up, Win Games, Be Awesome

Ahoyhoy internets, it's your favourite lifestyle guru and mixology extraordinaire; the one, the only, the Howitzer here once again, wishing you a very happy first annual International Suit Up Day. To celebrate this momentous occassion in our history, I felt that today should be all about the debonair, the successful and the down right awesome. So with that in mind my dearest readers today we will talk about The Gamer.

-disclaimer: This article is tongue in cheek, so please don't take it too seriously.-

We all know or have been "that guy" in the gaming group. Sweaty, unclean band tee-shirts, the unwashed 2ft long hair, the famous "gamerstench" following you around in a kind of teenage green cloud. Why is The Gamer like this? I think we can pinpoint it down to three main reasons:

1) A lack of self esteem or confidence

2) A lack of ethic to change or make things better in his/her life.

3) A lust for knowledge about their own certain gaming pursuit in the hope that through that they can attain the prestige/acknowledgement that they crave and probably deserve.

So internets, I know I make a bit of a song and dance about the HIMYM -praise be Saint Stinson- lifestyle but that is both tongue in cheek -to raise the kind of campness/undeserved sense of achievement of this blog - and a serious statement. As I have said in a previous article, we gamers are mostly categoriesed socially as smelly metalheads who will grow up to live in their mother's basement and never feel the gentle touch of the opposite sex .-or rough...you know- So in writing CSNS I consciously made the decision to promote the "opposite" idea of the gamer, a successful, well dressed, finely refined human being. So in honour of this tremendous day let's explore that side of what a gamer can be.

COCKTAIL: Dethtron and Kirby Requests

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again and hot off the heels of yesterday's super popular cocktail feature lets run with another one! First off, big, big thanks to Dethtron, one of our evil IHoP overlords over at Dick Move who found the time (after posting himself in a suit, which is unashamedly awesome, go Dethtron getting into the CSNS way of life already) in his busy schedule to do a little feature on gaming cocktails a-la me. So to say thank you...big guy, this is for you.

Internets, I need YOU!

In bed...right now...

Ahoyhoy internets, your cherished bartender here with a plea! HELP ME!

What do YOU want from CSNS, the hottest new blog on the sphere. - and way better than that Archnomad guy's blog...what was it called again...-

Drop me an email at lord_davidoff@hotmail.co.uk or add me on msn or facebook yadda yadda and hit me up with what you want to see on this blog. More gaming? More 40k? More drink? DO IT

Don't be afraid I don't bite...

-Much-

Love, Dave

COCKTAIL: IHoP Selection

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again, taking it down a few gears after a heavy, heavy weekend at the bar. I'll tell you, I'm going to spend today finishing an Avenger unit, playing some Reach and drinking copious amounts of Lilt. -which will be awesome-

So I spent this morning catching up with my podcasts and the blogsphere when what do I find but the name of my little drunken corner of the internet right on the IHoP Top X post!

40k: 2k Warhost 1.2

Ahoyhoy folks. Based on yesterday's comments from you guys -which I'm very thankful for- here's the updated list. Do the same as yesterday.

40k: 2k Warhost First Attempt

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here with the first draft of the 2k Eldar. Thoughts/ripping it apart please. And yes, Archnomad has already =P

Eldrad 210

Farseer 55
Runes of Witnessing 10
Spirit Stones 20
Fortune 30
Doom 25
140

Fire Dragons x5 80
Wave serpent 90`
T/l Shuriken Cannons 10
Chin Shuriken Cannon 10
190

International Suit Up Day

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here to have some serious talk.

-No, not serious like your Gran just passed away or your credit card has been used to pay for a condo in Bermuda-

As you know, this blog not only promotes Warhammer and all things gamey, I like to think it promotes a certain kind of lifestyle. One where all us gamer geeks can have fun with little plastic men, then go to a bar and be relatively successful with the opposite sex. One where a gamer can not only wear that 4 year old black/grey 'tallica teeshirt, but also wear a fine shirt and tie ensemble that gives him a fiendish glow of awesome. One where personal hygene does not merely extend to brushing your teeth once a week. One where the average length of hair in a group of guys is less than the extreme range of a Boltgun. -insert more gamer steriotypes here-

IHoP Response: Drinking a Man's Drink #1

Ahoyhoy folks, DaveHowitzer here with another drink related post here! First of all, I give MASSIVE plugs to Lauby and all the chaps over at Int'l House of Paincakes for allowing me and my particular brand of insanity into their network.  -and Lauby I LOVE the fact that you dig the theme.-

Now to the task at hand where I shall spin you a disasterous and tragic yarn of horrible nasty times. Browsing my new blogging home I came upon a STARTLING discovery. Now readers, those of you of a tender age look away now...

ARMY LISTS: The H-Bomb 2k

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again with a 40k fix.

Before anything though, I'd very much like to thank my good friend Archnomad over at Skavenblight for the plugs on the banner I did him, I don't think it's that great but hey I friggin love praise! Happy times!

So as you know I'm busy working away on my Eldar list in my Assembling the Warhost articles and the first 1k points of fully painted Ulthwé goodness is nearly done.

-I say nearly done...we'll see when I get round to finishing it-

EDITORIAL: Getting back in the game.

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again asking for a little advice this time.

I dunno if I've mentioned it, but I've not been back to a GW or to a club for a game in...phhh....ermm.....hmmm....

-Well you get the picture, a while-

So, recently the only games I've managed to get are Vassal games with some buddies or the occassional tabletop game with a mate from Uni, which I now no longer attend. So it seems to get my fix I really, really, really get back into the old social scene of playing this game. But that for me seems a bit daunting for several reasons;

1) It's like being a new gamer again. By this I mean remember when you got into the hobby? Maybe you were an older guy who saw these guys your age or a bit younger playing with SUPER COOL SPACE DUDES and thought to yourself, "Hmm me, to alleviate myself of this chocolate and Honey-Nut Cheerios addiction I have here, perhaps I should indulge in that spiffy looking hobby." 

-Alas dear reader, the chap in the above example swapped gluttony for plastic crack. An all too common case of GW Syndrome, or "Adeptusastartesitis" -

40k: Assembling the Warhost Update #2

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again with a little Eldar progress update. Hobby time hasn't been given to me in droves this week due to my second love - being the job but in what little time I've had to paint a little I've manage to complete the first block of the 1000pts list, my 2 Troops and 1 HQ...well...besides a weapon platform but we'll overlook that. I have a couple days off as of tomorrow, so I'll hopefully be starting work on the Dire Avengers or Fire Dragons, which I haven't decided yet, but hopefully we'll have another complete unit by the end of the week. So I'll leave you with a few pics of the legal army as it stands, hope you enjoy.

40k: I Got Char-grilled Dragon Beef

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here with just a quick little post whilst I'm at work. Browsing the internet in my lunch hour I've noticed a very disconcerting trend in the Eldar lists I've been seeing on the Blogsphere: the maxing out of Fire Dragons in the army Elite slots.

Ok guys, I know Dragons are good; really good at what they do but is it just me or does having 3 "disposable" anti-tank not make sense. Ok, they WILL kill their designated target, but then you have the rest of a leafblower or a BloodWolves army to eat them for breakfast. And to me that doesn't make sense when you can only knock out a max of 3 transports with them. 1 unit, I'm more than happy with, I employ one myself; 2 ok personal choice but you're cutting it fine. When we get to three, I just say, "Dude, what you are doing." OVERKILL. We already have a metric ton of S6 for light armour and Prisms/Falcons to mop up what that doesn't kill.

All of the Eldar CC goodness is in our Elites slot and to not use one unit at least of them, we leave ourselves open to assault with little or no countermeasures in place.

What's wrong with 2 Dragon units and a unit of Harlies with a Shadowseer and kisses? Maybe a couple of fusion pistols in the mix?

Come on internets, you know it makes sense. We aren't the best army around right now, but don't pansy out with so many Dragons. Grab life by the balls!

Love, Dave.

40k: Tidy Gamer is Happy

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here once again! I must apologise for lack of hobby posting recently, between work and Reach my hobby time has been limited in the last week. However this week I did have time to re-locate my hobby operations one level up. Literally.

I got the chance this week to get some space in the loft of my building to put some gear so I jumped at the chance at getting a better area for my modelling and painting. The area of the loft is well lit and ventilated and with a little...ok a lot of elbow greese and a new table from a certain mainland European furnature company I now have an excelent area for hobbying.

GAMING: Reach, The Review

Ahoyhoy internets, DaveHowitzer here again, back from my time engrossed in my Xbox and my heavy weekend of work. As you could probably gather from my  GAMING: Remember Reach... article last week, I was a little excited about the release of this game.

Like really excited.

Like...REALLY excited.

To this point I think I've devoted every waking second where I haven't been at the bar to this game and having played through the campaign a couple of times, kicked some ass and taken names online and developing a Forge obsession, it's time for a review! Spoiler free don't worry.

Look, just because it's an armour-plated alien killing machine that salivates unspeakable slobber, doesn't mean it's a bad person.

My pretty pretty 'niddys (most of which are unpainted/ half painted/ semi painted/ painted in anger or under the influence of the alco-demon) are my pride and joy as of last year when the urge to have 6 limbed, acid spouting, gut wrenching, armour cladded, alien monstrositys just became to much.
I was very very very lucky to nab a couple of battleforces when they had the 'fexes in them, i mean whats better than a carnifex; a FREE carnifex of cource. sadly the stingey goat lovers at GW took out the pretty pretty 'fexes and jacked up the price by 10 quid.
Once i have a brood of something finnished or mostly ill upload a few pictures. OH the joys of painting the swarm.
Alrighty y'alll