After a long disappearing act, I'm back! I guess it's been around four months since I last wrote here, but as I'm the only reader I'm sure that's OK.
So, what have I been doing? Well, besides the banalities of every day life, I placed rather well in the Fantasy TSHFT last month with a 2nd place and Best Overall for division A which is more than I could have hoped for for 7th's last hurrah. After the tourney, though, I didn't do much in terms of wargaming. Sure, I've played a game here and there (mostly getting ROFLstomped at Warmachine), but I think the encroaching 8th edition of WHFB really put a damper on things these last few months. I know that I'm probably overreacting with the doom and gloom (actually, the more I think on 8th, the more I realize it'll be fun), but I just can't help feeling trapped in terms of projects to finish.
You see, I had this idea for an awesome Dark Elf army about a year and a half ago. Problem was that I didn't have the funds to do it right away and my time was siphoned away by the very project this blog is about. Add to this the impending massive change that 8th represented and you're left with a man who had little reason to pursue his idea. Still, I collected a few of the key pieces for the project which I guess I'll now have to repurpose, but that's not all bad. I mean, I really like the new plastic Daemonettes and Stegadons anyway so it's not really a huge deal. After reading the changes that 8th is bringing, I do believe I will put the army on the back burner while I figure out what its latest incarnation will look like (the Cult of Pleasure never truly dies out, after all).
I do, however, have something 40k-related to announce: I have been working on my Space Wolves in the mean time! I know, I know, I'm excited too, but it only makes sense as I'm going for max hobby points at the next 40k TSHFT which takes place in September. To this end, I have rewritten my list to include all the units I've already finished while slightly fine tuning my army to fit me a little better.
13th Company x2.0
Wolf Lord
-Thunderwolf, Thunderhammer, Storm Shield, Saga of the Bear, Wolf Tail Talisman, 2xFenrisian Wolves
Rune Priest
-Terminator Armor
Wolf Scouts
-Meltagun
Wolf Guard
-2xWG w/ Combi-Melta, Power Fist
-1xWG w/ Bike, 2xWolf Claws
-1xWG w/ MotW, Combi-Melta
-1xWG w/ Cyclone Missile Launcher, Terminator Armor
Grey Huntersx8
-MotW, Wolf Standard, Meltagun
-Rhino
Grey Huntersx8
-MotW, Wolf Standard, Meltagun
-Rhino
Grey Huntersx8
-MotW, Wolf Standard, Meltagun
-Rhino
Fenrisian Wolvesx10
Thunderwolf Cavalryx3
-Frost Weapon, Meltabomb
Swiftclaw Bikesx5
-Attack Bike w/ Multi-melta, Meltagun, Power Weapon
Long Fangsx6
-5xMissile Launchers
Long Fangsx6
-5xMissile Launchers
Little different from my previous lists mostly as it brings its damage potential right into the mid range/close combat where the wolves should be anyway. I'll have to play a few games trying it out, but I think that it has potential while also sating my need for unique builds even if the unit equipment is standardized. While I still hate netdecking, I feel that enough of the stuff I have in here is from my own head that it doesn't matter if it's super effective as defined by the masses as the whole is definitely my own.
Sunday, June 27, 2010
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
New army fever
As most of my friends would tell you, I am a collector at heart. I love to covet new kits and armies and definitely have "shiny!" fever. Because of this, I have quite an extensive collection of GW products and a nice sampling of other games (although my Warmachine is definitely becoming less of a sampling and more of five-course meal). In this haze of new armies and new games, I have collected some truly outrageous amounts of things that have really peaked my interest. Generally, these collections are based upon available funds at the time, interest in the project, and luck of the draw deals that I've stumbled upon. Among these are armies such as my Elysian Fields/Hades Daemonhunters army that numbered at 40 or so Grey Knights in Power Armor, 10 in terminator, a bevvy of vehicles, and somewhere around 100 Guardsmen. This army was my pride and joy for a good while just because I fell in love with the stories I wrote for it along with the models themselves, but even it pales in comparison to my true love child: Blood Angels.
As I've probably stated before, I started my wargaming lifestyle with the Blood Angels back when their book was released for 3rd edition (around when I was 10 or so). I fell in love with the red armor, the forlorn history, and the tragic heroism that they embodied. To top things off, I've always been a speed nut in my play style so the Blood Angels were just one of those serendipitous choices that we sometimes find in life.
Now I find that my attention is waning towards my Space Wolves and an old itch is suddenly burning within me again: the need for red robots. I feel terrible about it, but I just can't help myself. It's like when you know that the girl staring at you from across the bar is going to be nothing but trouble and yet you go and chat her up anyway. The heart wants what the heart wants. With this said, I'm not going to be stupid enough to announce any plans towards making or not making a Blood Angels army, but I can definitely say that the Wolves are officially dead for me. They were an incredibly fun army to learn the game again with, but I find that they are not meshing well with my style. I plan to redirect myself down the original path I had for the Space Wolves army when I created it which was getting it ready to sell. What shall be finished before I do is listed below:
Njal Stormcaller (partially done)
Thunderwolf Wolfen Character (converted)
5xWolf Scouts w/ MotW and Meltagun (almost complete)
Thunderwolf Iron Priest w/ Cyberwolves (partially done)
3xWolf Guard w/ Power Fist + Combi-melta (almost complete)
2xWolf Guard w/ Terminator armor and special weapons (one done, one started)
30xGrey Hunters w/ a mix of Power Fists, Meltaguns, MotW, and Standards (in varying stages, but all at least partially completed)
2x Rhino/Razorback conversion kits (one completed, one almost complete)
7xBikers w/ Attack Bike, Wolf Guard w/ Wolf Clawsx2, Meltagun, and Power Weapon (complete)
Dakka Pred (partially done)
6xLong Fangs w/ Missile Launchers (complete)
As you can see, there's still a good bit to do, but I'm hoping to finish it all this Spring and get a decent price for the lot (something in the ballpark of double MSRP would be just right). Now, back to the paint mines! *whip crack*
As I've probably stated before, I started my wargaming lifestyle with the Blood Angels back when their book was released for 3rd edition (around when I was 10 or so). I fell in love with the red armor, the forlorn history, and the tragic heroism that they embodied. To top things off, I've always been a speed nut in my play style so the Blood Angels were just one of those serendipitous choices that we sometimes find in life.
Now I find that my attention is waning towards my Space Wolves and an old itch is suddenly burning within me again: the need for red robots. I feel terrible about it, but I just can't help myself. It's like when you know that the girl staring at you from across the bar is going to be nothing but trouble and yet you go and chat her up anyway. The heart wants what the heart wants. With this said, I'm not going to be stupid enough to announce any plans towards making or not making a Blood Angels army, but I can definitely say that the Wolves are officially dead for me. They were an incredibly fun army to learn the game again with, but I find that they are not meshing well with my style. I plan to redirect myself down the original path I had for the Space Wolves army when I created it which was getting it ready to sell. What shall be finished before I do is listed below:
Njal Stormcaller (partially done)
Thunderwolf Wolfen Character (converted)
5xWolf Scouts w/ MotW and Meltagun (almost complete)
Thunderwolf Iron Priest w/ Cyberwolves (partially done)
3xWolf Guard w/ Power Fist + Combi-melta (almost complete)
2xWolf Guard w/ Terminator armor and special weapons (one done, one started)
30xGrey Hunters w/ a mix of Power Fists, Meltaguns, MotW, and Standards (in varying stages, but all at least partially completed)
2x Rhino/Razorback conversion kits (one completed, one almost complete)
7xBikers w/ Attack Bike, Wolf Guard w/ Wolf Clawsx2, Meltagun, and Power Weapon (complete)
Dakka Pred (partially done)
6xLong Fangs w/ Missile Launchers (complete)
As you can see, there's still a good bit to do, but I'm hoping to finish it all this Spring and get a decent price for the lot (something in the ballpark of double MSRP would be just right). Now, back to the paint mines! *whip crack*
Friday, March 26, 2010
Not Dead Yet!
So, TSHFT has passed and I'm left with a 40k army that I never truly intended to keep possession of. After all, I was always the Blood Angel fan of the group so why would I be siding with these wolves who are more about objective camping and counters? Well, people change and so have I.
Coming into this crazy plan to go to the 40k TSHFT, I was not expecting to truly stick around for long. I mean, I pretty much just thought it would be a fun change of pace and give me a bit more practice at some more neglected painting skills of mine (armor, rounded surfaces, etc). Over time, though, this has become more of a renaissance for me as I learn that I enjoy 40k more and more. Sure, it doesn't have quite the same level of thinking that Fantasy or Warmachine have, but 5th edition did change my biggest problem with the game which was that the movement was too simplistic.
In a game that was all about VPs, why was everything based around 6's? Everyone had reactive 6-12" movement with only a few armies capable of useful 24" movement while everyone else just compensated with stupidly long ranges like 120" (seriously, IG?). Now, things are different. Rules like Outflank, Infiltrate, Deep Strike, and cheaper mech portions in armies really make it so armies have interesting movement besides the simple 2d affairs that existed before. Sure, a lot of those rules existed before, but 5th really brings them into their own by having the developers actually write around these core concepts of objective-based movement. After all, what makes or breaks a game should not always be about raw power. Sometimes, you just need to be in the right place at the right time.
Anyway, with that ramble done, I'd like to say that I'm sticking with the wolves...at least for now. I really enjoyed the modeling and simple-yet-decent paint scheme that I've come up with for the army and playing it is turning out to be an excellent reintroduction to the 41st millennium. Sure, now that I've been blooded with the army I want to change some things, but that's normal. Nothing can truly replace real play time and tournaments are an excellent place to learn about what works for YOU. With that said, I'm currently in the process of retooling my list to work for me.
In most places, this retooling means that a lot of my units have had quite drastic battlefield role changes (such as the majority of my Grey Hunter squads), but I've also taken the time to look at some of the models that I just don't have the heart to drop (such as the Rune Priest in termie armor). This has changed my force from one that has a strong firebase coupled with mobile swiss knife squads to one that ups my firebase even more while using more specialized squads to do my fighting instead of the troops.
This shift goes against what I see to be one of the central strengths of Space Wolves or at least partially does. See, one of the main strengths of playing the pups is that you gain access to one of the most versatile and deadly troop squads in the game: the Grey Hunters. Early in my play testing with them, these boys ripped up the field. Even with only statistically average rolls, they just destroyed armies on their own, but that's just it: you cannot, and should not, rely on average rolling to carry you through a game. With the Grey Hunters being used as my main combat units, I was relying on them not to roll poorly and get stuck places they shouldn't get stuck in which was a rather large weakness in my list. Granted, I'm not the end all of 40k tacticians, but I do fancy myself a rather shrewd individual who knows the difference between a positive gamble and suicide (meaning that I can tell when odds are in my favor). This may work for some who believe in their dice or maybe are just luckier in their roll placement than me, but I've decided that it's too frustrating and demoralizing to watch my boys go and lose combat after combat (or miss time and time again with their meltas) that they should easily win only to end up swarmed or negated by units that should easily be defeated.
No, instead I've adopted a new model which I think utilizes the strengths found in the wolves' mech options coupled with their cav (and, of course, Long Fangs). This new list, without giving too much away, gels with my play style a lot smoother as I get to preserve the units that will cause me the most consternation if destroyed through poor statistical placement while I simultaneously gain the rush allowed from units built for destruction found in the SW cav options. The only thing that bothers me is that I lose some of the flavor of the 13th Company by mech'ing up, but I do gain the modeling options allowed by more cav (aka, big wolfen).
For your pleasure, and as a thank you for reading this far, I give you my under construction 2k SW list:
HQ:
Rune Priest
-Terminator Armor
Elites:
Iron Priest
-Thunderwolf Mount, Wolf Tooth Necklace
-4xCyber Wolves
Iron Priest
-Thunderwolf Mount, Wolf Tooth Necklace
-4xCyber Wolves
Wolf Guard
-Mark of the Wolfen w/ Combi-melta
-3x Terminators w/ 1xChain Fist
-Terminator w/ Cyclone Missile Launcher
Troops:
Grey Huntersx5
-Mark of the Wolfen w/ Flamer
-Razorback w/ Lascannon and TL Plasma Gun
Grey Huntersx5
-Mark of the Wolfen w/ Flamer
-Razorback w/ Lascannon and TL Plasma Gun
Grey Huntersx5
-Meltagun
-Razorback w/ TL Lascannon
Grey Huntersx8
-Mark of the Wolfen w/ Meltagun, Wolf Standard
-Rhino
Fast Attack:
Thunderwolf Cavalryx3
-Frost Blade, Bolter
Thunderwolf Cavalryx3
-Frost Blade, Bolter
Heavy Support:
Long Fangsx6
-5xMissile Launcher
Predator
-Autocannon, Sponsoned Heavy Bolters
Whirlwind
Total: 2000 pts
I'm currently playing around with the Whirlwind, but only because I've literally never used one. I might swap it out for some kit on the remaining squads and maybe another Rhino just for foolin', but who knows for now. It's been a very entertaining list to just shove the cav down non-aggressive forces throats while setting up counter charges against others. As always, if you have any comments, fel free to drop them.
Coming into this crazy plan to go to the 40k TSHFT, I was not expecting to truly stick around for long. I mean, I pretty much just thought it would be a fun change of pace and give me a bit more practice at some more neglected painting skills of mine (armor, rounded surfaces, etc). Over time, though, this has become more of a renaissance for me as I learn that I enjoy 40k more and more. Sure, it doesn't have quite the same level of thinking that Fantasy or Warmachine have, but 5th edition did change my biggest problem with the game which was that the movement was too simplistic.
In a game that was all about VPs, why was everything based around 6's? Everyone had reactive 6-12" movement with only a few armies capable of useful 24" movement while everyone else just compensated with stupidly long ranges like 120" (seriously, IG?). Now, things are different. Rules like Outflank, Infiltrate, Deep Strike, and cheaper mech portions in armies really make it so armies have interesting movement besides the simple 2d affairs that existed before. Sure, a lot of those rules existed before, but 5th really brings them into their own by having the developers actually write around these core concepts of objective-based movement. After all, what makes or breaks a game should not always be about raw power. Sometimes, you just need to be in the right place at the right time.
Anyway, with that ramble done, I'd like to say that I'm sticking with the wolves...at least for now. I really enjoyed the modeling and simple-yet-decent paint scheme that I've come up with for the army and playing it is turning out to be an excellent reintroduction to the 41st millennium. Sure, now that I've been blooded with the army I want to change some things, but that's normal. Nothing can truly replace real play time and tournaments are an excellent place to learn about what works for YOU. With that said, I'm currently in the process of retooling my list to work for me.
In most places, this retooling means that a lot of my units have had quite drastic battlefield role changes (such as the majority of my Grey Hunter squads), but I've also taken the time to look at some of the models that I just don't have the heart to drop (such as the Rune Priest in termie armor). This has changed my force from one that has a strong firebase coupled with mobile swiss knife squads to one that ups my firebase even more while using more specialized squads to do my fighting instead of the troops.
This shift goes against what I see to be one of the central strengths of Space Wolves or at least partially does. See, one of the main strengths of playing the pups is that you gain access to one of the most versatile and deadly troop squads in the game: the Grey Hunters. Early in my play testing with them, these boys ripped up the field. Even with only statistically average rolls, they just destroyed armies on their own, but that's just it: you cannot, and should not, rely on average rolling to carry you through a game. With the Grey Hunters being used as my main combat units, I was relying on them not to roll poorly and get stuck places they shouldn't get stuck in which was a rather large weakness in my list. Granted, I'm not the end all of 40k tacticians, but I do fancy myself a rather shrewd individual who knows the difference between a positive gamble and suicide (meaning that I can tell when odds are in my favor). This may work for some who believe in their dice or maybe are just luckier in their roll placement than me, but I've decided that it's too frustrating and demoralizing to watch my boys go and lose combat after combat (or miss time and time again with their meltas) that they should easily win only to end up swarmed or negated by units that should easily be defeated.
No, instead I've adopted a new model which I think utilizes the strengths found in the wolves' mech options coupled with their cav (and, of course, Long Fangs). This new list, without giving too much away, gels with my play style a lot smoother as I get to preserve the units that will cause me the most consternation if destroyed through poor statistical placement while I simultaneously gain the rush allowed from units built for destruction found in the SW cav options. The only thing that bothers me is that I lose some of the flavor of the 13th Company by mech'ing up, but I do gain the modeling options allowed by more cav (aka, big wolfen).
For your pleasure, and as a thank you for reading this far, I give you my under construction 2k SW list:
HQ:
Rune Priest
-Terminator Armor
Elites:
Iron Priest
-Thunderwolf Mount, Wolf Tooth Necklace
-4xCyber Wolves
Iron Priest
-Thunderwolf Mount, Wolf Tooth Necklace
-4xCyber Wolves
Wolf Guard
-Mark of the Wolfen w/ Combi-melta
-3x Terminators w/ 1xChain Fist
-Terminator w/ Cyclone Missile Launcher
Troops:
Grey Huntersx5
-Mark of the Wolfen w/ Flamer
-Razorback w/ Lascannon and TL Plasma Gun
Grey Huntersx5
-Mark of the Wolfen w/ Flamer
-Razorback w/ Lascannon and TL Plasma Gun
Grey Huntersx5
-Meltagun
-Razorback w/ TL Lascannon
Grey Huntersx8
-Mark of the Wolfen w/ Meltagun, Wolf Standard
-Rhino
Fast Attack:
Thunderwolf Cavalryx3
-Frost Blade, Bolter
Thunderwolf Cavalryx3
-Frost Blade, Bolter
Heavy Support:
Long Fangsx6
-5xMissile Launcher
Predator
-Autocannon, Sponsoned Heavy Bolters
Whirlwind
Total: 2000 pts
I'm currently playing around with the Whirlwind, but only because I've literally never used one. I might swap it out for some kit on the remaining squads and maybe another Rhino just for foolin', but who knows for now. It's been a very entertaining list to just shove the cav down non-aggressive forces throats while setting up counter charges against others. As always, if you have any comments, fel free to drop them.
Tuesday, March 16, 2010
TSHFT Batreps: Day One
In an effort to subvert Fluger's legendary tales, I shall place my own Saga of the Team Awesome's Wolf down for your judgment.
So, my TSHFT story starts way back in December with a certain buddy of mine who posted his German WWII themed IG army up on these boards. He was met with some rather hilarious debate involving Godwin's Law, but through this he decided to bring the army down to TSHFT for people to judge it in person. Well, with me being the little fire starter that I am, I decided that I would assemble my own team to go down to TSHFT mostly for the reason of giving him a hard time about a very beautiful army that is hardly worth the controversy. With this in mind, I gathered all the remnants of old 40k marines I hadn't placed paint on from my parent's storage in N. Carolina and coerced some buddies into playing 40k with me (one of which purchased a full Death Korps army so he could come).
This pretty continued how one would expect (have interest, lost interest, repeat) for a few months until it was suddenly March and I had to get my butt in gear. In the last week and a half before the tournament, I put three colors on: One Razorback, one Rhino, one Predator, 13 Grey Hunters, one Iron Priest on Thunderwolf plus his four Cyberwolves, Njal Stormcaller, a Drop Pod, and six scouts. This was in addition to the five bikes plus attack bike, six Long Fangs plus termie CML WG, ten Grey Hunters, and display board that I finished that week (not to mention the Lone Wolf and cubs plus extra Grey Hunters I rotated out of the list at the last second). The paint didn't turn out too horrible and it did what I wanted it to do which was to give me a bit more practice working with rounded surfaces, extreme highlighting, and armored individuals after all this time spent on Fantasy.
My list was as follows:
Njal Stormcaller in Terminator Armor
6xWolf Scouts
-Meltagun
-WG w/ Combi-melta+Power Fist
Iron Priest
-Thunderwolf, Wolftooth Necklace
-4xCyberwolves
8xGrey Hunters
-Meltagun, Wolf Standard, Power Fist, MotW
-WG with Combi-melta plus Power Fist
-Drop Pod
10xGrey Hunters
-Meltagun, Wolf Standard, Power Fist, MotW
-WG with Combi-melta plus Power Fist
-Rhino
5xGrey Hunters
-Meltagun
-Razorback w/ TL Lascannon
6xSwiftclaw Bikers
-Meltagun, Power Weapon
-Attack Bike w/ Mutli-melta
-WG w/ 2xWolf Claws plus Meltabombs
6xLong Fangs
-5xMissile Launchers
Predator
-Sponsoned Heavy Bolters
Predator
-Sponsoned Heavy Bolters
There was quite a bit of fat in my list that I had because I wanted to use the models (the bike squads and the Scouts being chief among them). Were I to go again, I'd probably change things up considerably, but I was happy with what I brought in the end as it was very dissimilar from the other wolves I saw there.
Game One: Kenny and his Lashaddon
I have all of my opponent's exact lists in my car, but I'm lazy and typing this instead of doing school work so just take it all with a grain of salt (just ONE!).
Lash Sorceror
Abaddon
8xPlague Marines in Rhino
8xPlague Marines in Rhino
9xThousand Sons in Rhino
3xOblits
Possessed Vindi
Kenny had a very, very nicely painted army with an absolutely gorgeous Abaddon conversion. I won choice to set up and took first turn. Setting up in a castle on my right hand quarter, I was hoping to better utilize the ruin and hill that was over there. The only unit I had break from the castle was the bike unit who decided to set up by his edge in case he brought in his reserves from there. Surprisingly, Kenny decided to not reserve anything but Abaddon and the Oblits. The game went how you'd expect with me popping the Rhinos early with my 48" fire while Kenny tried to slog it over to me. Coupling that with some bad rolls on his part, it was just a slaughter with the Space Wolves losing nary a dude which was terrible considering it was Kill Points. Late in the game, Abaddon got close to Njal and, feeling the need for at least one combat this game, I attempted to charge the little clone. With a double two for my difficult terrain test, I dutifully failed at this attempt which was followed by a prompt '1' on the game ending roll. Pity, really
I ended up getting two points for the secondary (have more Fast Attack than your enemy) and both the tertiaries (which were about having more kill points and having the unit with the most kill points)
Result: 18 points to me
Game Two: Gerry and his Blood Angels
Gerry's list I could tell was going to be trouble, but us wolves never back down from a fight!
Lemartes
10xDeath Company
5xTactical Squad w/ Meltagun and TL Lascannon Razorback
5xTactical Squad w/ Meltagun and TL Lascannon Razorback
5xTactical Squad w/ Meltagun and TL Lascannon Razorback
5xTactical Squad w/ Meltagun and TL Lascannon Razorback
3xAttack Bikes w/ Multi-meltas
3xAttack Bikes w/ Multi-meltas
Baal Predator
Baal Predator
Baal Predator
Just a brutal list played by a very competent general.
The mission was to set up three objectives in your opponent's quarter (setup being Spearhead) which you had to get to with tertiaries for contesting all of your opponent's objectives and getting the fewest kill points. I won the roll and decided to go first.
Now, before I get into the battle, let me say that I fully realized my mistake in choosing to go first, but decided that I would make the most of it in and hope that Gerry just failed his reserve rolls which would give me plenty of time to blast away at a list that just contained no fat at all.
I started by full deploying except for Njal's pod, the scouts, and my Rhino full of dudes while Gerry deployed nothing. Njal dropped onto two objectives and set up a perimeter of cover just in case I would need it while the rest of my army set up for cover saves around the hill in the center and the forest on my left. Now, I did do one thing that seemed to confuse everyone there which was slap my bikes on the table edge opposite my own quarter. Gerry asked me why I did this after the game and the answer was simple: the Death Company. What I mean is that I had set up a you-cannot-enter zone opposite my Gerry's objectives that was flanked by difficult terrain. If Gerry decided to ignore my bikes with his DC and instead just attempt to shoo me with the rest of his force, I would destroy what he placed over there piece by piece (hopefully, at least). Gerry being no fool decided to counter my bikes with the Death Company and Lemartes which, while affective, had the side effect of leaving the Death Company no where near my own objectives and right on his table edge where I could shot at them freely as time went on. Towards the end of the game, we had had quite the brutal match with the DC mulching through my units while my shooting downed Razor after Razor. This all culminated in a late turn turbo boost by Gerry onto my objectives with his bikes and destroying my last Dakka Pred that valiantly tried to contest Gerry's objectives and the game ending turn five.
I don't think I would've won had the game continued, but it was a great game nonetheless. Gerry is a quality general that really helped me with my understanding of 40k in 5th.
Result: 7 points to me
Game Three: I can't remember his name, but will change it later when I have my sheets and his IG
Ah yes, it was about time for some IG fighting! This list was very vet spammy and I shall correct any mistakes I make later.
Command Platoon in Chimera
Inq Lord with three Mystics
10xVets w/ three Plasma Guns in Chimera w/ hull mounted Heavy Bolter
10xVets w/ three Plasma Guns in Chimera w/ hull mounted Heavy Bolter
10xVets w/ three Meltaguns in Chimera w/ hull mounted Heavy Flamer
10xVets w/ three Meltaguns in Chimera w/ hull mounted Heavy Flamer
8xRough Riders w/ the Khan
Manticore
Leman Russ Demolisher
Basilisk
This list was not messing around so neither could I. The mission was Echelon deployment with four objectives (one in each deployment zone and one each in no man's land) with secondary giving points for killing choices from each part of the FOG (notice my opponent has no elites, though) and a tertiary giving points for owning all of the no man's land and/or deployment zone objectives. I lost the roll to go first and was given second so I chose to deploy nothing while he castled up in the right hand corner. Turn one, I slapped Njal down right next to his castle for an alpha strike. As I had made his army -1 BS that turn, the mystic-guided demolisher cannon did nothing but scare off some rabbits. Njal's squad, on the other hand, was more effective as they blew up the commander's Chimera and scared off the squad inside. On the following turn, he unloaded into Njal not hitting with too much, but I balanced this out by failing every last save I rolled which left just Njal to fight off the castle.
Njal charged and (barely) killed the Inquisitor who had attempted to back off the hill away from him. Now, if I rolled over a two, I could get off the hill and inbetween his Basilisk and Manticore who would be trapped by both the hill and Njal so they could not give the rest of the army the chance to fire at my little mystical man. Of course, Njal rolled a one and decided that death by every damn gun on the planet sounded nice which the IG were only happy to provide. The rest of the game went on with me failing to hurt any of the tanks while all of my reserves sans the Razorback and the Long Fangs stayed off the board until turn five. Some of the funnier moments were my scouts again deciding to come in where THEY wanted and not where I wanted them only to attempt a charge through difficult terrain and have the dice again fail me. But the funny part with the scouts is that they all died except for the meltagun which started falling back towards my lines always with a tank within 6" of him which he would then blow up, fall back and blow up another tank. Amusing to say the least.
My opponent was also cursed by bad luck through out the game with his pie plates veering off to no where or, on the turn they finally hit, failing to kill either of my scoring units remaining and thus giving me the tie. An amusing battle caused by dice rolls that would've done nothing but sour my day were this the Fantasy TSHFT.
Result: 13 points to me with the draw
Thus ended day one with me thinking I couldn't roll any worse than the game I had just had. Day two would go on to prove me wrong, but that's a post for later.
So, my TSHFT story starts way back in December with a certain buddy of mine who posted his German WWII themed IG army up on these boards. He was met with some rather hilarious debate involving Godwin's Law, but through this he decided to bring the army down to TSHFT for people to judge it in person. Well, with me being the little fire starter that I am, I decided that I would assemble my own team to go down to TSHFT mostly for the reason of giving him a hard time about a very beautiful army that is hardly worth the controversy. With this in mind, I gathered all the remnants of old 40k marines I hadn't placed paint on from my parent's storage in N. Carolina and coerced some buddies into playing 40k with me (one of which purchased a full Death Korps army so he could come).
This pretty continued how one would expect (have interest, lost interest, repeat) for a few months until it was suddenly March and I had to get my butt in gear. In the last week and a half before the tournament, I put three colors on: One Razorback, one Rhino, one Predator, 13 Grey Hunters, one Iron Priest on Thunderwolf plus his four Cyberwolves, Njal Stormcaller, a Drop Pod, and six scouts. This was in addition to the five bikes plus attack bike, six Long Fangs plus termie CML WG, ten Grey Hunters, and display board that I finished that week (not to mention the Lone Wolf and cubs plus extra Grey Hunters I rotated out of the list at the last second). The paint didn't turn out too horrible and it did what I wanted it to do which was to give me a bit more practice working with rounded surfaces, extreme highlighting, and armored individuals after all this time spent on Fantasy.
My list was as follows:
Njal Stormcaller in Terminator Armor
6xWolf Scouts
-Meltagun
-WG w/ Combi-melta+Power Fist
Iron Priest
-Thunderwolf, Wolftooth Necklace
-4xCyberwolves
8xGrey Hunters
-Meltagun, Wolf Standard, Power Fist, MotW
-WG with Combi-melta plus Power Fist
-Drop Pod
10xGrey Hunters
-Meltagun, Wolf Standard, Power Fist, MotW
-WG with Combi-melta plus Power Fist
-Rhino
5xGrey Hunters
-Meltagun
-Razorback w/ TL Lascannon
6xSwiftclaw Bikers
-Meltagun, Power Weapon
-Attack Bike w/ Mutli-melta
-WG w/ 2xWolf Claws plus Meltabombs
6xLong Fangs
-5xMissile Launchers
Predator
-Sponsoned Heavy Bolters
Predator
-Sponsoned Heavy Bolters
There was quite a bit of fat in my list that I had because I wanted to use the models (the bike squads and the Scouts being chief among them). Were I to go again, I'd probably change things up considerably, but I was happy with what I brought in the end as it was very dissimilar from the other wolves I saw there.
Game One: Kenny and his Lashaddon
I have all of my opponent's exact lists in my car, but I'm lazy and typing this instead of doing school work so just take it all with a grain of salt (just ONE!).
Lash Sorceror
Abaddon
8xPlague Marines in Rhino
8xPlague Marines in Rhino
9xThousand Sons in Rhino
3xOblits
Possessed Vindi
Kenny had a very, very nicely painted army with an absolutely gorgeous Abaddon conversion. I won choice to set up and took first turn. Setting up in a castle on my right hand quarter, I was hoping to better utilize the ruin and hill that was over there. The only unit I had break from the castle was the bike unit who decided to set up by his edge in case he brought in his reserves from there. Surprisingly, Kenny decided to not reserve anything but Abaddon and the Oblits. The game went how you'd expect with me popping the Rhinos early with my 48" fire while Kenny tried to slog it over to me. Coupling that with some bad rolls on his part, it was just a slaughter with the Space Wolves losing nary a dude which was terrible considering it was Kill Points. Late in the game, Abaddon got close to Njal and, feeling the need for at least one combat this game, I attempted to charge the little clone. With a double two for my difficult terrain test, I dutifully failed at this attempt which was followed by a prompt '1' on the game ending roll. Pity, really
I ended up getting two points for the secondary (have more Fast Attack than your enemy) and both the tertiaries (which were about having more kill points and having the unit with the most kill points)
Result: 18 points to me
Game Two: Gerry and his Blood Angels
Gerry's list I could tell was going to be trouble, but us wolves never back down from a fight!
Lemartes
10xDeath Company
5xTactical Squad w/ Meltagun and TL Lascannon Razorback
5xTactical Squad w/ Meltagun and TL Lascannon Razorback
5xTactical Squad w/ Meltagun and TL Lascannon Razorback
5xTactical Squad w/ Meltagun and TL Lascannon Razorback
3xAttack Bikes w/ Multi-meltas
3xAttack Bikes w/ Multi-meltas
Baal Predator
Baal Predator
Baal Predator
Just a brutal list played by a very competent general.
The mission was to set up three objectives in your opponent's quarter (setup being Spearhead) which you had to get to with tertiaries for contesting all of your opponent's objectives and getting the fewest kill points. I won the roll and decided to go first.
Now, before I get into the battle, let me say that I fully realized my mistake in choosing to go first, but decided that I would make the most of it in and hope that Gerry just failed his reserve rolls which would give me plenty of time to blast away at a list that just contained no fat at all.
I started by full deploying except for Njal's pod, the scouts, and my Rhino full of dudes while Gerry deployed nothing. Njal dropped onto two objectives and set up a perimeter of cover just in case I would need it while the rest of my army set up for cover saves around the hill in the center and the forest on my left. Now, I did do one thing that seemed to confuse everyone there which was slap my bikes on the table edge opposite my own quarter. Gerry asked me why I did this after the game and the answer was simple: the Death Company. What I mean is that I had set up a you-cannot-enter zone opposite my Gerry's objectives that was flanked by difficult terrain. If Gerry decided to ignore my bikes with his DC and instead just attempt to shoo me with the rest of his force, I would destroy what he placed over there piece by piece (hopefully, at least). Gerry being no fool decided to counter my bikes with the Death Company and Lemartes which, while affective, had the side effect of leaving the Death Company no where near my own objectives and right on his table edge where I could shot at them freely as time went on. Towards the end of the game, we had had quite the brutal match with the DC mulching through my units while my shooting downed Razor after Razor. This all culminated in a late turn turbo boost by Gerry onto my objectives with his bikes and destroying my last Dakka Pred that valiantly tried to contest Gerry's objectives and the game ending turn five.
I don't think I would've won had the game continued, but it was a great game nonetheless. Gerry is a quality general that really helped me with my understanding of 40k in 5th.
Result: 7 points to me
Game Three: I can't remember his name, but will change it later when I have my sheets and his IG
Ah yes, it was about time for some IG fighting! This list was very vet spammy and I shall correct any mistakes I make later.
Command Platoon in Chimera
Inq Lord with three Mystics
10xVets w/ three Plasma Guns in Chimera w/ hull mounted Heavy Bolter
10xVets w/ three Plasma Guns in Chimera w/ hull mounted Heavy Bolter
10xVets w/ three Meltaguns in Chimera w/ hull mounted Heavy Flamer
10xVets w/ three Meltaguns in Chimera w/ hull mounted Heavy Flamer
8xRough Riders w/ the Khan
Manticore
Leman Russ Demolisher
Basilisk
This list was not messing around so neither could I. The mission was Echelon deployment with four objectives (one in each deployment zone and one each in no man's land) with secondary giving points for killing choices from each part of the FOG (notice my opponent has no elites, though) and a tertiary giving points for owning all of the no man's land and/or deployment zone objectives. I lost the roll to go first and was given second so I chose to deploy nothing while he castled up in the right hand corner. Turn one, I slapped Njal down right next to his castle for an alpha strike. As I had made his army -1 BS that turn, the mystic-guided demolisher cannon did nothing but scare off some rabbits. Njal's squad, on the other hand, was more effective as they blew up the commander's Chimera and scared off the squad inside. On the following turn, he unloaded into Njal not hitting with too much, but I balanced this out by failing every last save I rolled which left just Njal to fight off the castle.
Njal charged and (barely) killed the Inquisitor who had attempted to back off the hill away from him. Now, if I rolled over a two, I could get off the hill and inbetween his Basilisk and Manticore who would be trapped by both the hill and Njal so they could not give the rest of the army the chance to fire at my little mystical man. Of course, Njal rolled a one and decided that death by every damn gun on the planet sounded nice which the IG were only happy to provide. The rest of the game went on with me failing to hurt any of the tanks while all of my reserves sans the Razorback and the Long Fangs stayed off the board until turn five. Some of the funnier moments were my scouts again deciding to come in where THEY wanted and not where I wanted them only to attempt a charge through difficult terrain and have the dice again fail me. But the funny part with the scouts is that they all died except for the meltagun which started falling back towards my lines always with a tank within 6" of him which he would then blow up, fall back and blow up another tank. Amusing to say the least.
My opponent was also cursed by bad luck through out the game with his pie plates veering off to no where or, on the turn they finally hit, failing to kill either of my scoring units remaining and thus giving me the tie. An amusing battle caused by dice rolls that would've done nothing but sour my day were this the Fantasy TSHFT.
Result: 13 points to me with the draw
Thus ended day one with me thinking I couldn't roll any worse than the game I had just had. Day two would go on to prove me wrong, but that's a post for later.
Monday, March 15, 2010
Tournament Ovah!
So, TSHFT is over and, even with some bad rolling on my part, I don't feel any of the frustration I have felt in the past at the end of the Fantasy tournaments. Really, this is probably because the bad dice simply don’t matter as much in 40k if you keep your eye on the prize. I had some great games against some fun generals and especially enjoyed my game against ASUgrad’s Dark Eldar from the Ordo forums. Just good clean fun and I highly recommend it for anyone who’s a little tired of the taking it in the pooper at the Fantasy TSHFT due to dice.
As for the army in terms of completion, I actually got pretty far. Really, only 13 Grey Hunters and the Iron Priest + Njal are left for the troops. The vehicles will obviously need work, but it’s actually kind of fun to be working on something that size and with the unique compositions that constructs bring. I’m still looking into selling off the wolves after completion as I don’t feel they’re the army for me, but I had great fun playing around with them in the interim.
Now, the nitty gritty of my stats:
I went 2-1-2 with a total of 64 battle points (out of 100) and a surprising 37 paint points (out of 50). Really, the battle score didn’t surprise me too much as I hadn’t played the list I brought at all and wasn’t familiar with the edition itself, but the paint points really gave me a decent score. Most of this I’m sure was due to the amount of conversion and basing that went into the army along with sticking with the simple-yet-effective paint scheme on what did get finished. I’m glad I stayed up a little late on Friday to get the three base colors and washes on the tanks as it really helped the appearance that I thought I owed my opponents.
Unfortunately, it is time for sleep and a final picture that was taken of my army at the tourney with the display board I made.
Thursday, March 11, 2010
Agh!
With only a few days left, I've been painting like a mad man. Well, not exactly, but I have been painting!
Since last you saw, I've received my air brushed transports from a nice buddy of mine along with finished the bikers, the last members of Njal's squad (wolfen and standard), and the Long Fangs. On top of this, I've three colored all of the non-tank models in the army and have plans to finish the tri-color rule on the armor along with finishing painting the scouts. Now, some of you (by you I mean me when I read this later) might think it a little counter productive to finish all the special guys in the army before I finish all the troops. Yes, you're correct in the assumption that it is foolish to leave no reward for yourself when painting an army, but really I had no other choice. I highly doubt I could keep myself interested in painting Grey Hunter upon Grey Hunter this week while keeping up with my finals and personal life. Plus, there's the fact that I have a tournament this weekend. Why does that matter, you ask? Well, because people get bored of looking at basic guys very, very quickly and want some eye candy to look at. This means that, to get the best "feel" (which is where a majority of the always-subjective paint score comes from) for your army to your opponent, you need everything done to a basic standard, a good chunk of the basics done to a high standard, and hopefully all of your toys done to that same high standard. Joe Space Marine is probably going to be lost in the crowd (even if the crowd is only his 27 Grey Hunter friends), but nobody is going to miss that you didn't fully paint the Wolf Guard and his converted scout buddies.
Do yourself a favor when time is running out: paint up the eye candy. It'll keep your sanity and up your score.
Since last you saw, I've received my air brushed transports from a nice buddy of mine along with finished the bikers, the last members of Njal's squad (wolfen and standard), and the Long Fangs. On top of this, I've three colored all of the non-tank models in the army and have plans to finish the tri-color rule on the armor along with finishing painting the scouts. Now, some of you (by you I mean me when I read this later) might think it a little counter productive to finish all the special guys in the army before I finish all the troops. Yes, you're correct in the assumption that it is foolish to leave no reward for yourself when painting an army, but really I had no other choice. I highly doubt I could keep myself interested in painting Grey Hunter upon Grey Hunter this week while keeping up with my finals and personal life. Plus, there's the fact that I have a tournament this weekend. Why does that matter, you ask? Well, because people get bored of looking at basic guys very, very quickly and want some eye candy to look at. This means that, to get the best "feel" (which is where a majority of the always-subjective paint score comes from) for your army to your opponent, you need everything done to a basic standard, a good chunk of the basics done to a high standard, and hopefully all of your toys done to that same high standard. Joe Space Marine is probably going to be lost in the crowd (even if the crowd is only his 27 Grey Hunter friends), but nobody is going to miss that you didn't fully paint the Wolf Guard and his converted scout buddies.
Do yourself a favor when time is running out: paint up the eye candy. It'll keep your sanity and up your score.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
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