Weekly Waffle #376 – I am the law
26th April 2025
For this week’s weekly waffle I’ve stayed in the Infinity universe, simply because I’m enjoying my painting time and didn’t want to mix things up and disrupt the mojo. And I’ve stayed with my Yu Jing, but I have gone with a unit that fit’s squarely in a sectorial force. So much so it would probably be a lynch pin type unit in such a force. To go along with a hobby update on how this unit made its way to the table top I have also tasked the hackers to spend some time trawling the interwebs again to compile the collective wisdom on how to best integrate and us this unit on the tabletop. So, a very two-part update again for you.
On the hobby front I’ve changed up the scale a little bit this week and painted something that isn’t likely to see any action on the tabletop for a little while. Mainly because all the early games in line with Operation Sand Trap use basic troops and build up to more advanced units. And this week I have gone for one of the most advanced and most iconic units within the Infinity universe. That’s right I’ve gone for a TAG. Granted it’s not the largest of TAG’s, it’s not even the largest TAG available to Yu Jing, but it is the newest. This week I would like to introduce to you the Lóngwáng Police Tag. And I have to say that it has been a real joy to pain this up this week. I’ll go into more details about the unit itself and how it fits into the Yu Jing army later in the post but for now I’m going to concentrate on the hobby side of building and painting it up this week.
The first thing you will notice is that this isn’t a metal miniature, which is a real joy. I’m not sure if its injection moulded or 3d printed but what I can tell you is that it is a very crisp and well-fitting kit. It really didn’t take a lot of cleaning up and everything fit’s together really well. No gaps and no issues of any kind. I’ve put it on a scenic base, and I think it everything works well together and give a unit that will look good on any tabletop.
Right from the outset with this I wanted to try and push myself by doing some non-metallic metal (NMM) on this and decided to use the box art as my inspiration. Now before you see any pictures I will manage your expectations by saying I have failed to delver in this regard. But I’m still treating it as a success because whilst it’s nowhere near as good as I was hoping for. I do think it still looks good on the tabletop, and I’ve learned a lot form the process and will be continuing to work on developing this technique.
Before I get to the NMM I’ll go cover what I did with the rest of the mini and that is just the same as what I have done for the armour on all my other Yu Jing minis. I started with a black primer and then when over this with a jade green to lay down a good base colour. I then use a very dark brown and do what I refer to as a revers zenith getting into all of the shadows. I’ve talked about this in other posts, but I can’t stress how important the shadows are in the finished mini. I don’t think I really appreciated this for some time, but I think about I now on every mini that I paint.
I then went back to the jade green and applied a zenithally highlight to the whole mini before mixing in some grey green to lighten the jade. This is concentrated on the front and head of the model to push the highlights as you are looking at the model. I then did the boring job of applying an edge highlight to everything which again really helps to define some of the shapes on the mini. And on this type of heavily armoured model, it really does make a big difference.
That simple process covered about ninety percent of the mini and left me with two key things to think about. The first I’ve already touch on and was the NMM elements and the second was how I go about distinguishing units form different sectorial forces. So, for my Immortals I have use black, white, and red strips on the arm. I wanted to keep this idea but come with some different colours for my Imperial Service forces. In the end I just decided to go with red and white. Partly because I could think of anything else and also partly because red and white fit the police theme which is one of the roles the Imperial Service cover with Yu Jing. It’s a small change but I think it works well and will be an easy way for me to tell which minis belong to which factions.
Now then let’s deal with the elephant in the room which is my attempt at NMM. I’ve said that this hasn’t really worked but I think I’m being a bit harsh on myself. When I compare mine to the box art it is no where near as good. But when I look at it on the tabletop it’s not all bad. I think you can certainly see that the bits that are supposed to be metallic and you get something of a metallic feel here. But the transitions could be much sharper and smoother to really make the effect work. And that is only going to come with practice. I just used a couple of greys with a white to highlight them and use as the final highlight. I’ve then used a turquoise as a glaze over the top to try and really sell the effect. Whilst I don’t think it is great I’m feeling really happy with myself for trying it and I’m going to keep working on it with the hope that one day in the not too distant future I manage to get to grips with it.
But what do you think of it?
You can see more Infinity miniatures at my gallery here
So now that I’ve covered off the hobby section let’s have a look at what the interwebs have to say the Longwang.
The Longwang Imperial TAG Police Unit embodies the essence of Yu Jing’s commitment to law, order, and the enforcement of its societal structure. In a world rife with conflict, the Longwang serves as the imperial hand, a highly specialized police force that showcases both technological prowess and martial discipline.
Narratively, the Longwang unit is not merely a combat force; it is a symbol of the state’s reach into every aspect of life, ensuring compliance and quelling dissent. Its presence in the streets of Yu Jing’s megacities is a reminder of the empire’s vigilance. Each Longwang officer is not only trained in combat but is also steeped in the ideological principles of the state, acting as enforcers who maintain the delicate balance of power.
The Longwang’s role extends into the game as well, where it can represent the themes of control, authority, and the consequences of rebellion. Players can invoke the narrative weight of their deployment, reinforcing the idea that every action taken on the battlefield is a reflection of larger societal issues within the Yu Jing faction.
When it comes to gameplay, the Longwang Imperial TAG is a tool that excels in both offensive and defensive scenarios. With its high firepower and armor, the Longwang can dominate the battlefield when you use it effectively. So here I have some tips that I hope help you get the most out of this cool TAG.
The first thing to think about is positioning. Leverage the Longwang’s mobility to control key areas of the board. By utilising cover and high ground you can enhance its effectiveness, allowing for better sight lines to engage enemy units while minimising your exposure to incoming fire.
A really good way to use the Longwang is to deploy it in the Fire Support role as a support unit. Use its range and firepower to suppress enemy advances, targeting high-value threats or units that could disrupt your strategy. The Longwang’s ability to engage multiple units in a single turn can turn the tide of battle, particularly in scenarios where area control is paramount.
Building on the support role you can pair it with forward-deployed troops or specialist units that can capitalize on the distraction it creates. This synergy can help secure objectives or flank enemy positions.
Finally the Longwang TAG isn’t just about brute force; its presence can intimidate opponents, forcing them to rethink their strategies. Use this psychological advantage to control objectives and dictate the flow of the game.
Incorporating the Longwang into a Yu Jing army list can enhance both its thematic and tactical depth. Its high cost means that careful planning is essential to ensure it fits within your overall strategy. But before you do here are some things to think about.
First up you need to think about balancing out your units. Think about pairing the Longwang with fast-moving units or specialists that can secure objectives while the TAG provides cover fire. Units like the Celestial Guard or the Zuyong Invincible Army can create a solid backbone for your force.
Look for units that can benefit from the Longwang’s presence. For instance, integrating hackers or engineers can provide necessary support, allowing you to maintain your TAG while countering enemy tech threats.
Ensure that your army list aligns with the missions at hand. The Longwang’s strengths shine in scenarios that require area control or aggressive engagement, so tailor your build accordingly.
To wrap things up the Longwang is more than just a piece of hardware on the battlefield; By understanding its societal in the narrative side of things and mastering its capabilities in-game, players can fully harness the potential of this powerful unit. As players engage with the Longwang, they not only navigate the complexities of warfare but also dive deeper into the rich lore that makes Infinity such a compelling universe. Embrace the order, wield the power, and let the Longwang lead your forces to victory!
And that just about wraps things up for this week. There isn’t going to be an update next week because I have some time off work and have a few things planned with misses. I still have lots of projects on the horizon so I’ve not lost my mojo. I’m just not pushing myself to fit something in this week. So until the 11th of May I hope you all keep safe, get lots of hobby time and generally keep yourselves entertained.
