Better Know A Blogger- Part 19: Code 40K

This week's Better Know a Blogger features Mike (AKA extremedoc1 AKA Doc) from Code 40K.

Doc is chief amongst the large number of contributors to Code 40K. As a result of having various people writing for the same blog, you will find a wealth of different writing styles and work on various different armies and projects to keep you entertained.

Doc's own work includes his great series of posts on building and painting his Cerastus Knight, with plenty advice on building the massive kit and some great links to tutorial videos for certain aspects of the build.

You will also find various posts on his 30K Death Guard and some great terrain pieces on show.

Doc is also a fan of video blogging (vlogging) and you can find many videos on different parts of his 40k collection on the blog. You will also find some great video battle reports on the blog.

One of the most recent series on Code 40k is "Using the interwebs for hobby purposes". In this series, Doc aims to collate a number of hobby videos and hobby blogs, each to do with a different topic. The first in the series, Mechanicum, features some great hobby links and content and will be a great resource for anyone interested in the army or who is thinking about collecting the force.

Here are Mike's answers to my questions:

Hi Mike,

So first off I am ‘DOC’ the chief of the code40k blog and a member of the group of the same name. We have been blogging since 2010 and have been running our gaming group since 2006 with many of the core members gaming together since the 1990’s. 

Our blog is www.code40k.blogspot.co.uk

Our facebook page is: https://www.facebook.com/code40k/

Our youtube account is: https://www.youtube.com/user/extremedoc1

All members of the code have gamer nicknames developed over the years of our gaming life, although mine is my childhood nickname. I loved the young gun films and DOC was my favourite character and simply it stuck. I also used it for all the three letter scoreboards men of certain age will remember putting their initials into. My real name is also Mike, like you Corrm. 

1. What age did you get into gaming and what started it off?

I started a long time ago at the age of 10 drawn into the hobby by the old MB game heroquest, like many gamers my age. I fondly remember neither of my parents being able to work out where you start your models off in the game and we were stuck that Christmas until my parents asked other parents for the answer! 

2. What was the first model you ever bought/painted?

Well I didn’t buy many models for myself at the age of 10, but I did have a copy of heroquest and space crusade and remember painting the heroes with the wizard coming first if memory serves. After that I went on the Warhammer fantasy 3rd edition with the goblins, elves and cardboard heroes. This is also leads to another epic family fail after my mum decided to help paint the goblins green skin using green paint…… which turned out to be shining gold which hadn’t been shaken. My first 40k army was fondly known as the rhubarb and custard marines in my local GW, a very badly painted Howling Griffons army.

3. What is your favourite aspect of gaming?

This has changed over the years for the most part gaming as I love the social aspect of the hobby spending time with some lifelong friends and also just talking all things geek. However, I think if you asked any of my friends they would probably say terrain as I love it! I think the visual of fully painted armies and nicely crafted / painted terrain is something to behold. I also came from the era pre plastic and mdf terrain where we made our own! (A man after my own heart. I still collect random packing and bits of rubbish to make terrain- the other Mike)

Our blog also includes a brief description of each contributor and mine has been crafted by Luko Dakka and states:

DOC:

Terrain building is this guy’s forte, if you’re looking for tips on building it, he's the man. The organiser, if there's a big game to be had, he's the one jotting down ideas and writing up mission packs. Superb workhorse in terms of painting, whose skills are rising to a superb level, a testament being his recent nomination of best painted army at SVA XIII for his super neat Necron army which is expanding by the second. Look out for his Pre-Heresy Death Guard, should be the pinnacle of his hobby so far.

4. Fondest memory in gaming?

So many…. I once catalogued a few old pictures in this blog post:

http://code40k.blogspot.co.uk/2013/11/code40k-history.html

But I guess running our first Worcester War, which I was particularly proud of and stoked with all the extra terrain myself and Innermech made for the event.

We have played a 30,000 pt per side game, which I will never forget. I have also won a doubles event with Innermech, the only competitive type event I have ever won. But the proudest moment was winning the sportsman award at Pork Attack in September last year (I’m the bald bloke) lol. The event was on to a winner being held in a pub with the ‘oiling’ helping the spirit of the event.

5. What are you working on right now?

Decorating at home….. EEK adult life can be such a drag. However, I have just finished this forgeworld knight.

But to answer the question, building Deadzone Enforcers, building a Valkyrie flyer and lastly building a Scorpius Whirlwind. They will all hit the blog soon. 

6. When you are not conquering the tabletop, what do you do?

I am currently re training to become an accredited town planner. So I am working full time and completing a masters on day release.

7. What would you say about your blog to someone who has never read it to draw them in?

Well hopefully they will find some inspiration to paint some more minis. Also they can pick up some hints and tips from a bunch of guys who have been going for a while. We also hold special events each December from; Dreadful December to Forgemas and Ho Ho Ho Horus Heresy. I am currently dreaming up this year’s incredible PUN. (all puns are incredible!- Mike)

8. What is your favourite article that you have written?

That’s easy and I will stick to the same answer I gave for Old Stuff Day back in March.

http://code40k.blogspot.co.uk/2013/05/playing-40k-different-way-write-up.html

This is a blog post all about bringing story and background to life in your games of 40k. It’s the longest post on the blog which doesn’t necessarily make it the best post, but I think it makes a good read and reminds me of how fun a small narrative game can be.

9. Which rule would you like to see changed or removed entirely?

Formations which grant free anything! Especially the Mechanium and Skitari combined formation from the white dwarf!

10. Which of your armies is your favourite?

Fluff wise, fondness and memories SPACE WOLVES hands down however, painting wise…

Necrons and now my emerging 30K Death Guard and Imperila Guard ‘19th Dicers’ as it showcases my improving skills and airbrushing.

11. Secret wargamer or loud and proud?

Up to about the age of 25 secret and then at certain point in life names / brands and what people think is no longer as important, so now LOUD and PROUD. Hard to avoid when you write a blog, run events and walk around in a t-shirt emblazoned with CODE40k on (I need to get some blog advertising T-shirts for the events I go to!- Mike)

12. Any hobby tips or cheats to share?

Airbrush is the best hobby hack I have found in recent years. Even if it’s just base coating it will save you time and, in the end, money, despite the initial outlay. In time you will move on from base coating and learn new techniques. I am currently in the biggest learning curve I have had in modelling in years and its ace!

13. Tournament or Casual?

I have been both at different stages in my model hobby life. The current 40k ruleset doesn’t really lend to competitive gaming in my opinion, plus I am older and less inclined to worry anymore so have gone casual. I am currently playing through a narrative campaign called The Cypra Incident Birth of the Beast which is also helping me paint my imperial guard army the 19th dicers. This is being catalogued on the blog.

14. Nintendo or Sega?

Nintendo I was a Mario kart wiz, but also loved my cape on super Mario world and my Ryu dragon punches (Hadouken!- Mike)

15. Xbox or Playstation?

Both at different stages. Currently PS4, but was Xbox360. Honestly don’t find much time for it at present and spare time tends to get directed to the model hobby instead.

16. McDonalds or Burger King?

McDonalds, but not very often. 

17. Coke or Pepsi?

Coke, with some ‘Jack Daniels’.

Thanks to Mike for answering my questions. Be sure to check out the great content on Code 40k. 

If you have your own blog and would like to take part in Better Know a Blogger, contact me on corrm83@gmail.com