Both Chort and I have off today and you know what that means... a trip to the Games Workshop Battle Bunker! And could you ask for better weather than today? A blue, cloudless sky, temperatures in the 80's and the Bradford pear trees in full bloom. On the way, we stopped off at Panera Bread for lunch. Chort has never been, but he enjoyed it and concluded his DW would also love it.

After a short five minute drive we were ushered into the Battle Bunker by one of Games Workshop's cordial greeters...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/speakertoanimals/9183937/

The Battle Bunker is like your local Games Workshop store, but fully stocked with everything Games Workshop makes. That's because the headquarters and factory are right next door. The Battle Bunker also displays many many highly detailed miniatures and Forge World models behind glass cases. Drooled over several Tau, Imperial and Ork armies as well as Forge World flyers. Next door a large gaming room decorated in cheery Imperial Space Marine inspired Feng Shui awaits... but Chort and I aren't here to play, we're here to place special orders for individual Warhammer 40K sprues. After a long discussion with another 40K enthusiast, I decided to also buy a Tau XV-88 Broadside Battlesuit. Outfitting a balanced 40K army takes a certain amount of planning and skill. Hee hee... my Tau army is gonna rip through Chort's Ork mobs like a hot knife through butter (evil feline lear).

One of the joys of the Battle Bunker are the 3D scenery displays. Chatted with their master scenary designer and their model painter, and picked up some good tips on scenery materials foraging and construction. A most enjoyable and educational visit.

Our next port of call... the local Games Workshop retail store where Chort picked up an item that the Battle Bunker didn't have in stock. I bought two reference books. Next stop... Hobby Works, where I found Renier Knizia's Samurai boardgame, a couple Pirates of the Crimson Coast expansion packs and a new Imperial Walker model from AMT. I'm also keeping my eyes opened for inexpensive model kits that I can cannibalize to build a "Tau titan", but in my deepest, darkest dreams of vast carnage, I'd *really* like to see a Basti titan for Wargods of Egyptus... ooooh baby!

Returning to Chort's place we prepared for a game of Dead Lands with the Monday night gaming crowd. I have some time on my hands so I broke open the Pirates packs. "Hmmmmm ... what's an American ship doing in this expansion pack? I thought Americans hadn't been released yet." Chort says The Roanoke is an ultra rare card so I guess I'll keep it. :-)

It isn't often I get to play hookie for *a whole day* and appreciated just relaxing with Chort and his DW in the warm spring evening. Ate chili and munched on nachos while waiting for Todd and Ed to arrive. We chatted to great length about Warhammer 40K and other games but, ironically, decided to postpone the Dead Land's game until next Monday.

An excellent way to spend a warm, sunny Monday ...