Real first name: Michael

Age and gender: 40, Male

Location: Bryant, Arkansas

Occupation: IT Specialist, Telecom Industry

How did you get into wargaming?
I started out playing AD&D, but way back in 1986, one of my relatives purchased a copy of Battletech, and the giant stompy robots just kinda hooked me! From there, my introduction to 28mm wargaming was the game VOR: The Maelstrom, and the Force Creation Rules of that system led me to look for alternate miniatures for an army I was planning to create...

How did you get into Tau?
...and that led me to the Tau (and 40K in general). I've always had a fascination with mecha, and the Tau were the natural extension for me into 40k.

What would be your second piece of advice (after "read the freakin' rules") to a new Tau player?
Avoid melee combat!

What is your Tau colour scheme?
When I first found images of Tau models online, I decided that the standard tan/Tau Ochre and burgandy color scheme was very much to my liking, so I have generally used that in the models that I have painted. However, I have also used a dark red/white color scheme as well.

How did you find this site/the old site, and how long have you been a member?
I discovered this site when looking for modelling ideas for my nascent Tau army, and I have now been a member for maybe 20 minutes

What are the origins of your ATT username?
It is a username that derives from a custom WarShip class in Battletech, and it was then turned into a recurrent username for various online functions.

Have you reviewed the ATT Member Primers?
Yes, I have.

Where and how often do you usually play?
I and my gaming group play here at my home, usually once or twice a week.

Do you have any other armies, for 40K or another system?
40K Armies: Tau, Tyranid, Space Marine, Imperial Guard, Eldar, Chaos Space Marine, Chaos Daemons, Necrons and Traitor Guard/Lost and the Damned
VOR: The Maelstrom: Union, Neo-Soviet, Growler, Zykhee, Shard and Pharon
Battletech: 3rd Crucis Lancers, ComGuard 6th Division, various Clan and Inner Sphere units

What is your best and worst 40K moment?
My best and worst 40k moment both occurred in the single 40k game that I have played (more on that in a moment)
Tau vs. Tyranids, about 2000 points.
Best Moment: A J-S-J move by a Crisis Team that ripped the heart of the Tyranid player's main advance across the board.
Worst Moment: That same Crisis Team mobbed and destroyed in an assault in the very next turn.

General Caveat:
I have played (as mentioned above) only a single game of WH40K. Although I have the 4th, 5th and now 6th edition rulebooks, the system just doesn't spark a huge amount of interest for me as it stands today. I love the models and the fluff, however. My Tau Army (and all other 40K armies that I have collected) have been converted to use the VOR: The Maelstrom ruleset for 28mm gaming, using an in-house modified and expanded version of the custom force creation rules from that game system.

With that being said, I am well-versed in the 40K rules system, as I have adapted components of the system to fit with our home-brewed games.

My first love, so to speak, with gaming is for general modelling and conversions, however.

What does/do your family/significant other/friends think about your 'funny toys'?
My family views it with Amused Tolerance, for the most part; my kids have made some painting attempts here and there, though.

What are some of you other interests?
Guitar and bass guitar, reading (variety of topics and genres), American Football (especially NCAA) and firearms

Do you have any pets?
I have three dogs: Simon, Sadie and Sam(antha)

What is your favourite band?
Tough call. Going with a three-way tie between Tool, Death and Metallica.