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Top 5 Spooky Board Games for a Halloween Game Night
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Top 5 Spooky Board Games for a Halloween Game N...

Citadel Contrast Paints: Tips & Techniques
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Citadel Contrast Paints: Tips & Techniques

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What’s On My Hobby Desk: Imperial Knight Meets ...

Top 5 Spooky Board Games for a Halloween Game Night board games
By Michael Parente

Top 5 Spooky Board Games for a Halloween Game N...

Top 5 Spooky Board Games for a Halloween Game Night As the nights get longer and Halloween approaches, there’s no better time to gather friends, dim the lights, and enjoy some spooky board games. Whether you love horror themes, dark fantasy, or clever strategy, these titles are perfect for an October gaming session. At Wandering Adventures, your local board game store in Woodbridge, we’ve got a selection of board games in Vaughan to set the mood—and right now, all board games are on sale: browse the collection here. 1. Blood Rage – Ragnarök Awaits The world is ending, and the only question is how gloriously you’ll go down fighting. In the Blood Rage board game, each player commands a Viking clan in the final days before Ragnarök. Will you earn glory by conquering provinces, crushing opponents in battle, fulfilling quests, or even dying spectacularly to secure your place in Valhalla? With card drafting that aligns your clan with Norse gods like Thor, Loki, and Tyr, every round offers new strategies and opportunities to adapt. Sometimes the path to victory is in crushing your foes… and other times it’s in embracing defeat to reap even greater rewards. Perfect for gamers who love Viking mythology board games with a dark twist. 2. The Crow: Fire It Up – Justice in the Shadows Step into the gritty world of The Crow: Fire It Up board game, where one player becomes Eric Draven, rising from the grave to exact revenge on the gang that destroyed his life. The other players take on the role of the Motor City Gang, spreading chaos while trying to lure the undead avenger into the open. This horror-themed title blends tension, strategy, and theme beautifully—making it a great choice for fans of revenge stories and supernatural grit. It’s immersive, moody, and dripping with atmosphere, ideal for a scary board game night. 3. Destinies – A Dark Medieval Quest If you’re looking for a story-driven adventure, Destinies board game is an excellent pick. Set in a grim medieval fantasy world, this competitive board game uses an app to weave branching quests and narrative choices into the experience. Each player pursues a personal destiny with multiple possible paths to victory, and the choices you make permanently shape the unfolding story. With its mix of exploration, RPG elements, and haunting atmosphere, Destinies is one of the best story-driven horror board games you can bring to the table. 4. Folklore: The Affliction – A Cooperative Horror Epic For groups who prefer cooperation, Folklore: The Affliction board game offers a deep, campaign-style experience where players battle vampires, werewolves, and other horrors. You’ll create unique characters, explore a dark world, and face branching storylines filled with supernatural threats. What makes Folklore stand out is that death isn’t the end—fallen heroes return as ghosts with unique abilities, keeping everyone involved in the fight. With its RPG-style mechanics, this is a must-try for fans of cooperative horror board games. 5. Nightmare Productions – Horror Hits the Big Screen If your group prefers something lighter but still on theme, Nightmare Productions board game is a perfect pick. Designed by Reiner Knizia, this auction-style game has players bidding on creatures, locations, directors, and effects to produce their own horror movies. It’s fast, clever, and fun—especially when you compare the final “films” created by each player. Think of it as part strategy game, part parody, and one of the best Halloween board games if you want laughter with your scares. Bonus Picks for Extra Fright Catacombs Conquest board game – A fast-paced dexterity game where cards and flicks of the wrist decide your fate. Dead Man’s Cabal board game – You’re a necromancer bringing the dead back to life… just to have someone to party with. A clever mix of humor, macabre themes, and strategy. Whether you want to conquer Valhalla, seek revenge in the shadows, or dive into a cooperative horror campaign, these spooky board games are sure to make your Halloween game night unforgettable. And don’t forget—all of these titles (and more) are currently on sale at Wandering Adventures, your local hobby store in Woodbridge. Check out the full collection here: Board Games on Sale in Canada
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Citadel Contrast Paints: Tips & Techniques contrast
By Michael Parente

Citadel Contrast Paints: Tips & Techniques

Citadel Contrast Paints: What They Really Do and How to Use Them for Miniature Painting When Citadel first released Contrast paints, many hobbyists thought they’d finally found a “paint and go” solution. Brush it on, watch it shade itself, and your miniatures would be tabletop-ready in minutes. The reality? Contrast paints can save time—but only if you understand their quirks and how to use them properly. We’ve seen plenty of hobbyists jump straight into Contrast paints without realizing their nuances. With the right approach, you can get excellent results and speed up your painting workflow.   The Reality of Citadel Contrast Paints Contrast paints are pigment suspended in a medium that naturally flows into recesses. On a light, matte basecoat they can look impressive—but darker or glossy surfaces can give unpredictable results. Pooling, streaking, or uneven textures are common if you’re not careful. Getting the Best Results with Contrast Paints 1. Start with the Right BasecoatContrast paints work best over smooth, mid-to-light colors like white, light grey, or tan. Dark primers can muddy the color, and glossy surfaces make the paint slide too much. 2. Thin Where NeededSome Contrast paint colors are thicker than others. Add a drop of water or medium to help them flow on large surfaces. This prevents heavy pooling and gives better control. 3. Use Targeted ApplicationUse smaller brushes for details like armor edges, clothing folds, or straps. Contrast paints exaggerate recesses, so broad strokes can look messy. 4. Layer After ContrastContrast paints rarely give a finished look on their own. After drying, go back with standard GW paints to highlight edges, sharpen details, or smooth transitions. This hybrid method saves time while keeping miniatures polished. 5. Try GlazesThinning Contrast paints with water or medium lets you glaze areas subtly. This tints without darkening shadows too much, giving more control than straight application.   Practical Ways to Use Citadel Contrast Paints on Miniatures Snakebite Leather on straps and pouches Snakebite Leather is a remake of an old beloved color. Luckily the Contrast version is a great re-imagining. Use it on straps or pouches for a rich brown that finishes with yellow edges. Skeleton Horde on Bones or SkullsBasecoat skeletons with light grey or white, then apply Skeleton Horde. It naturally settles in recesses, giving depth. Finish with a dry highlight of Ushabti Bone or even a pure white. Talassar Blue for Magical EffectsApply Talassar Blue over a pale base for energy effects or runes. Pooling creates natural shading; touch highlights with lighter blue or white. Try it over white for best results, but a bright silver might work too. Plaguebearer Flesh for Muted Skin TonesUse Plaguebearer Flesh over pale pink or grey for undead or diseased skin. Brush into recesses, then highlight raised areas with a flesh tone. Magmadroth Flame for Flames Use Magmadroth Flame on fire effects or glowing embers. Apply over a white, and let it flow naturally into recesses. Add a small highlight of Yriel Yellow or White Scar on raised areas to make the effect pop. Finish it with streaks of black to recreate ash. Common Mistakes When Using Contrast Paints Skipping proper drying time – Rushing the next step while the paint is still wet can lift color or create streaks. Patience pays off. Using too much paint at once; let it flow naturally. Expecting Contrast paints to replace layering and shading—they’re a shortcut, not a miracle. Assuming all colors behave the same – Every Contrast paint has its own viscosity and opacity. Test on a scrap or hidden area before committing to a miniature. Citadel Contrast paints aren’t magic, but they’re a useful tool when used correctly. Think of them as a basecoat or underpainting to save time, then add traditional GW paints for detail and control. Understanding how to use Contrast paints properly keeps miniatures looking good while avoiding the frustration of “easy” painting turning into a cleanup nightmare. If you’re in the Vaughan area, stop by Wandering Adventures at 7766 Martin Grove Road, Unit 5 to see examples, get tips, or pick up all the paints and tools you need for your next miniature project.
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What-s-On-My-Hobby-Desk-Imperial-Knight-Meets-Toronto-Maple-Leafs Wandering Adventures imperial knights
By Michael Parente

What’s On My Hobby Desk: Imperial Knight Meets ...

One of the best parts about running a hobby store in Vaughan is that I get to share not only new releases and events but also my own projects. Right now, my painting desk is completely taken over by a very strange crossover: an Imperial Knight done up like a Toronto Maple Leafs goalie. The vision is simple (if a little ridiculous): a towering war machine done up like it just skated off the ice. I’m leaning into the classic Leafs look — white knee pads with “CCM” across them, some sharp white striping on the blue armor, and of course, the Maple Leafs logo worked into the design. The pièce de résistance will be the faceplate. I’m going to do my best (and I mean my best “poor impression”) of painting it like Felix Potvin’s iconic goalie mask. If it ends up even half as recognizable as I hope, I’ll call it a win.   Projects like this remind me why I love tabletop gaming. You can take a serious Warhammer model and spin it into something totally personal — a mashup that makes people smile when it hits the table. That’s what the hobby is all about. Riftbound TCG Coming Soon On top of the painting project, I’m also looking ahead to something new for our gaming community in Vaughan: the launch of Riftbound, a brand-new trading card game coming out on October 31st. We’re expecting to get trial decks in September, so players can swing by, test it out, and see if Riftbound clicks for them. If you’ve been looking for a fresh TCG in Vaughan, this could be one worth checking out. Lately, I’ve been watching Arcane to get in the right headspace for League of Legends, and it’s definitely fueling the hype. Between hobby time and upcoming releases, there’s no shortage of things to be excited about at the store. So that’s what’s on my desk: a hockey-mech mashup and the anticipation of a brand-new card game. If you’re local and looking to connect with others who love tabletop gaming in Vaughan, come by the shop — whether you’re into Warhammer, trading card games, or just need some hobby inspiration, there’s always something happening here.
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