The Future is Unwritten

Recently there has been alot of hating on GW and certain policies and price raises. Alot of it is valid however after looking at it recently and the moves of other war games companies I can see why decisions have been made. I'm going to leave all that alone though and discuss one problem I do have with GW, I want to know whats coming out!


A couple of chats with GW employees I've discovered that the recent workshop policy of only releasing images a week in advance of a release is to encourage more brick and mortar sales over web sales. They also don't tell staff anything, and I for one am seeing fewer and fewer "black boxes" around.

All this means I, and you good people need to rely on forum speculations (unless we all band together to buy a team of ninjas) to find out anything, and forums by and large SUCK!

I've just paused and made my self a drink, and in that time have reevaluated my problem, (I'm keeping the early part as it lets you see my thoughts), while work shops policy annoys me the anger I feel is directed at blurry fail images and peoples wish listing which dilutes the real leaks we all want to see just because some troll wants to seem important. (Hi pot, I'm Kettle, you're so black)

I'll calm down, Forum like **** ** **** ***** and ******* (yeah I'm not taking flak, work them out :P, you all know though) are full of so many people claiming to have insights who are either wish listing using the last (usually broken codex) as war gaming porn for new ideas, or are repeating information so and real facts get Chinese whispered into lies.



I'd like facts (preferably from GW) but failing that real leaks not your wish listing post you've hidden with a bit of fluff from a 2nd ed book that's no longer canon (that's right Tau... but their another rant for another time!!)

I've bored you enough, now to go flame them all.

now for sticking with my tedious rant you get to meet a lovely young lady known only as

Mosh

Battle Brother Magron Davaal

So today (as I still vainly try to keep to an article a day this week) I thought I'd talk a little about my deathwatch character Magron, MAGRON!!! (a little in joke, when I chose the name from a random name chart I yelled it like the cookie monster, it just kind of stuck) After his humble orgins as an unskilled Dark Angel, he's now blossomed into a stealthy, gregarious Raven Guard.

I just thought I'd type up a little back ground and a few plans for his development. Fitst off in game terms I've used the 'create your own chapter' rules to make the rules for Raven guard. Magron (for those who know the game or care) has bonuses to stealth, shaow and silent move.

 Recently he also gained a 'Stalker' pattern bolt gun, in the hope of one day the tyranical and leg stealing, arm destorying GM we all bow to the whims of allows him to have one.The whole kill teams progress can be viewed over at 'Kill Team Epsilon' (in the left side bar).

To finish the little of Magron's background I've written. (then a lady of course)

A veteran of Shadow Captain Shrike's 'hit and run' campaign agianst the Orks on Targus VIII. After seeing his squad wiped out and being away from his battle brother for so long and leading lighting raid in enemy terratory then Sgt Magron became a great leader drawing the attention of those in higher ranks.


Chapter Master Corrar him self reccommended Magron's secondment to the deathwatch who hoped the extreme experience would bring out the natural skill he saw.

I will write more once I've decided or told (:p) what Magron's past is.

Finally I know alot of this weeks posts haven't been great but the week has been an exerceise in how often and well I can realistically post quality pieces. After the weekend we'll be back to two or three times a week unless a muse decends.

Now as promised.

List Help Redo

ITS YOUR LIST CITIZEN, IT'S NOT UP TO SCRATCH. 

So it seems the list I posted yesterday isn't good enough, so a few adjustments, as I have very little else to post about as my time has been taken up painting and creating a website.

Right this much of the list is all good;

Captain Kayvaan Shrike - 195

Dreadnought + Heavy flamer + Multimelta + Droppod - 150

Dreadnought + Heavy flamer + Multimelta + Droppod - 150

Tactical Squad (10 men) + Multimelta + Meltagun + Powerfist + Droppod - 230

Tactical Squad (10 men) + Multimelta + Meltagun + Powerfist + Droppod - 230

Tactical Squad (10 men) + Multimelta + Meltagun + Powerfist + Droppod - 230

Assault Squad (10 men) + Flamer x 2 + Power Fist - 225

and leaves us with 340pt.

So what can we buy for this 340? Well we've used 1 HQ slot, 3 Troops slots, 2 Elites slots and 1 Fast Attack slot.

Another Droppod dread would fit nicely and give a first wave of three multimelta dreads, though I know snaz has a spare iron clad, which would work better.

Iron Clad - 135
Heavy Flamer - 10
Droppod - 35

so for 180 e little more expensive but armour 13 in combat makes a big difference.

Right we're now out of Elites slots with 160 not the best amount of points. To stay in theme I'd be tempted by a scout squad but for effective impact we'll go with a landspeeders.

2 of these babies properly equipped (heavy flamer multi melta) cost are going to us 140

This gives your 20 points for all those extra gubbins we all love to stick in.

Whole list reads as;

Captain Kayvaan Shrike - 195

Ironclad Dreadnought + Heavy flamer + Droppod - 180

Dreadnought + Heavy flamer + Multimelta + Droppod - 150

Dreadnought + Heavy flamer + Multimelta + Droppod - 150

Tactical Squad (10 men) + Multimelta + Meltagun + Powerfist + Droppod - 230

Tactical Squad (10 men) + Multimelta + Meltagun + Powerfist + Droppod - 230

Tactical Squad (10 men) + Multimelta + Meltagun + Powerfist + Droppod - 230

Assault Squad (10 men) + Flamer x 2 + Power Fist - 225

Landspeeder + Multimelta + Heavy flamer - 70

Landspeeder + Multimelta + Heavy flamer - 70

Hope this ones ok.

Another lovely Sister of Battle and a Space Marine to read all your lovely comments

List Help... "Once More In To The Breach"

On request once more I have written a Ravens list given these parameters on Facebook;

"Louis Snazle: I'm cleaning up 4 tactical, 2 jumppack marine squad. I have all the heros. 3 assault on black reach dreads, 6 drop pods. so they are the basis of some sort of army" (I've tidied the grammar a little)

Raven Guard - 1750

Captain Kayvaan Shrike - 195

Vanguard Squad (5 men) + 10 x lightning claws + 5 x Jumppack - 310 (Shrikes wing)

Dreadnought + Heavy flamer + Multimelta + Droppod - 150

Dreadnought + Heavy flamer + Multimelta + Droppod - 150

Tactical Squad (10 men) + Multimelta + Meltagun + Powerfist + Droppod - 230

Tactical Squad (10 men) + Multimelta + Meltagun + Powerfist + Droppod - 230

Tactical Squad (10 men) + Multimelta + Meltagun + Powerfist + Droppod - 230

Assault Squad (10 men) + Flamer x 2 + Power Fist - 225

this come to 1720, giving you some wiggle points.

Fluffy but effective and using all your cleaned stuff. Give me a shout if you need more.

A short post today but I'm working on a webstore (there's a link in the left hand side bar)

For now I shall leave you all in the capable hands of one of the Emperors finest.

Looking To The Future.

Just a quick update before the post, Hector Rex has spent 24 hours in his cosy smelly bath and has come out clean, I wanted to show you all a pic but I've base coated him as I didn't think so will show you the finished model soon. On the downside my hands stink of dettol.



Also Ravens have had one of the 5 man squads finished and I've been working on the command squad I'm hoping to have a shiny update post up at the weekend.

But for now my mind has been wandering, due to clearing out my hobby cupboard I've come to realise I've only done power armoured armies (Marines, Chaos Marines, Sisters of Battle) and many of my gamer friends are starting new armies several of them the armies I wanted to do, then I looked at Eldar.



I've always liked the aspect warriors, especially as you can paint a few different colours in one force to add some variety which I would very much enjoy. Then i picked up the codex and thought about the units I like, that combined with pen and paper led to this.

Eldar - 2000pts (ish)

Jain Zar (I will be converting the model): 190



10 Howling Banshees (Exarch + Executioner + War Shout + Acrobatics): 192
Wave Serpent + Twin-linked Bright Lance: 145




10 Howling Banshees (Exarch + Executioner + War Shout + Acrobatics): 192
Wave Serpent + Twin-linked Bright Lance: 145

10 Howling Banshees (Exarch + Executioner + War Shout + Acrobatics): 192
Wave Serpent + Twin-linked Bright Lance: 145

10 Dire Avengers (Exarch + Power Weapon & Shimmer Shield + Defend + Bladestorm); 177
Wave Serpent + Twin-linked Bright Lance: 145



10 Dire Avengers (Exarch + Power Weapon & Shimmer Shield + Defend + Bladestorm); 177
Wave Serpent + Twin-linked Bright Lance: 145

Wraithlord (Wraith Sword + Shuriken Cannon) (converted to look like a Banshee): 110



While not the most effective list I think it will be fun to paint and use.

Comments, crits, poems, limericks welcome

new secretary theme for a bit, 40k cosplay ladies ;)

Stripping

No my blog hasn't taken a very strange turn. Like many of the people in the world, I am poor, so in a recent clear out of my hobby boxes I've found many models that either I started and left due to being a hobby magpie in my youth, or ruined as I used to be an awful painter.

One such model is Hector Rex



He's a model I fell in love with bought and proceeded to cover in far too much paint. This led to a shopping trip this morning to buy



Yes this seemingly innocuous stuff is the key to stripping, a friend of mine (there's a link to his blog "CALIBAN'S LAMENT" in the left side bar, please take a look) has recently had some success in stripping models with this stuff.

So I'm jumping on that smelly band wagon in the hope of saving some models and selling them for some mush needed cash. :P



Not a great post so todays secretary is similarly ok, Charisma Carpenter.

Distractions

OK work on the Ravens continues, as does the Salamanders side project for Istvaan V. However I sensibly decided to sort out my hobby cupboards to make all this easier. Then the problems began.

I found several unpainted chaos models and some half finished snap fit marines I'd used as testers, so dutifully, I did a few chaos testers and smartened up the others.

Here's what happened.





First off my Black Legion attempt. Was actually really fun to do, and something I've never considered before.






Next I tried a Word Bearer as I used to have and army of them back in the day.






Lastly a Red Corsair as I thought it would be a challenge.








Then I tried my hand at the three loyalist Istvaan Legions



As usual, comments, crits and rants about my blog straying from its point are welcome (well mostly). Today's secretary is Miss Sarah Michelle Gellar (sensing a theme? 5 points if you can guess what I've been watching)

Shadow Captain Kayvaan Shrike

I love marines, and even more than that I love Raven Guard, so when i decided to do them as an army naturally i chose the one character in the Space Marine codex who turns yout list in to a more Raven Guardy one.

However I soon found that creating and effective yet fluffy 'Hit and run', 'See but don't be seen' style army isn't easy. So I moved to the Blood Angel codex.

Now a quick bit of back ground, I've been thinking of an idea furthering GW's current idea of the character leading your army themes your army, but I don't think they go far enough. For example currently, a spacemarine captain on a bike makes bikes troops, and in the Dark Angels and Space Wolf codicies the terminator armoured character makes termies troops or at least scoring. I believe the war gear your captain (or named character) is armed with shoul theme your force. So...

A Bike = Bike squads as troops
A Jump pack = Assault squads as troops
Terminator Armour = Terminators as troops
Special issue ammo = Sternguard as troops

it wouldn't take up much more space on the page and would make setting an army to a theme much easier. (I know some wargears costs would need to be increased, and I think the captains equipment should affect the command squad too)

With all this in mind I have decided to rewrite Captain Shrikes rules.



So here goes;

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Shadow Captain Kayvaan Shrike

WS BS S T W I A Ld Sv
6 5 4 4 3 5 3 10 3+

Unit Composition: 1 (Unique)
Unit Type: Infantry
War Gear: Power armour; Frag and krak grenades; Bolt pistol; The Raven's Talons; Jump Pack; Iron Halo

(I have no issues with the profile, pretty standard captain rules, however its the special rules we're looking at)

Special rules:
And They Shall Know No Fear, Combat Tactics, Independant Character, Infiltrate.

See, But Remain Unseen;
Before deployment roll a D3, in addition to his own unit, shrike gives this many units in your army the infiltrate special rule.

Chapter Tactics;
If you include Kayvaan Shrike then all units in your army exchange the Combat Tactics special rule for the Fleet special rule. If more than one character in your army has the Chapter Tactics special rule, you must choose which verson will apply.

Winged Assault;
If you include Kayvaan Skrike Assault Squads, of ten models become troops, however you cannot take any Thunderfire Cannons.

Shrike's Wing; Shrike is usually accompanied into battle by vetrans from the Targus viii campaign. If you include Kayvaan Shrike, one command squad in army may be equipped with Jumppacks at +50pts for the squad.

Wargear
The Raven's Talons; These are a pair of master-crafted lightning claw. They also bestow the Rending special rule on Shrike's close combat attacks.

Points: 220 (not much of an increase but enough to pay for the extra infiltrate)

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hope you like, I'd do a few more of these but only Shrike seems relevant to the blog. Let me know what you think, or more specifically let miss Alyson Hannigan know.