Things You Don't Tell GMort

With Christmas looming most people in the hobby community are gearing up for new toys especially those at our FLGS as many are beginning their preparations for October GT (yes we're incredibly well prepared). Normally I resent all these people as my family had a "no 40K for Christmas" policy, this year no more!

So my list to Santa (I live with two children, he still exists in our house) consisted of a lot of ... well the army I intend to take to said ToS.

Having sat patiently for a while as the band waggon emptied and the models stayed pretty my plan for ToS is Dark Eldar. My list idea is simple, what models do I like? What can I paint up well? This goes against what we agreed as a group but I think every one in our group would agree that I'm the least competitive player in the group.  So as it stands my rough list is this;

150 - Sliscus
81 - Kabalite Warriors
70 - Raider + Flicker Field

115 - 10 Kabalite Warriors + Sybarite + Splinter Cannon + Shredder
70 - Raider + Flicker Field

235 - 10 Incubi + Klaivex
70 - Raider + Flicker Field

95 - Archon + Webway Portal
65 - Venom + Splinter Cannon

160 - 15 Wyhes + Hekatrix


160 - 15 Wyhes + Hekatrix
172 - 6 Reavers + Arena Champion + 2 x Blaster

155 - Void Raven + Flicker Field

Total - 1498

(1750 Option)

250 - 10 Harlequins + Troupe Master + Shadow Seer + 2 x Fusion Pistol

Basic idea is Sliscus boosts basic troops (and reavers I think...) then Archon jets forward (or drops) with the other transports and jumps out to throw the portal, wyches and harls jump through. Not the most competitive army but should be fun.

Not a lot to go on but I'm hoping to do a few testers over the Xmas break, mainly to break up painting guard, which is so dull after the first one.

This is my xmas aim

A Drunk And Sexy Cactus

  

So the list of "The Cactus" (I have no idea, but its on his team shirt)

Its a solid enough dual wing list that I think will work well with the sallies but we'll have to see. 

Yeah thats right google has an image for a drunk sexy cactus

DEATHWING

HQ

Belial with eitherlightning claws or thunder hammer and storm shield = 130

TROOPS

Deathwing squad with apothecary, company standard, cyclone missile launcher and chainfist= 305

Deathwing squad with cyclone missile launcher and chainfist = 250

FAST ATTACK

Ravenwing attacksquadron (3 fearless bikers with teleport homers) with two meltaguns; attack bike with multi-melta (also fearless and comes with a teleport homer) = 190

TOTAL

875 points, 15 models, 3 scoring units

Not too much to say until we start play testing over Xmas

Nobody Tosses a Dwarf

So it seems my scheduled posts failed, however I have returned from America to a V short period of painting time to get my guard done.

Here is The Dwarfs army list.

SALAMANDERS

HQ

Vulkan He’stan = 190pts

TROOPS

Tactical Squad (10 man) with Missile Launcher, Flamer and Power Weapon = 185

Scout Squad (5 man) with Combi-Melta, P.Fist, T.Homer = 125

ELITES

Sternguard Veterans (6 man) with Melta Guns x2, Power Fist = 195

    Drop Pod = 35

FAST ATTACK

Land Speeder Storm with Heavy Flamer = 60

HEAVY

Predator with Auto Cannon with Heavy Bolter Sponsons = 85

TOTAL

875 points

The list is a variation on the Sallies list I painted (mostly) and sold to him and is being combined with a death wing contingent. We've yet to test it out but I'm hoping that we can play test it against A.D.s list and mine if I lend The Dwarf some of my Deathwing (just need to find which of the 100 he wants to use.)

Next Time; A Drunk And Sexy Cactus

Objective Objects

 So in the rules pack for the doubles under the what to bring section, "Each Army will be required to bring five objective markers with them for the weekend. These should be themed to your Army, based on 40mm (Terminator sized) round bases and no bigger than a standard Terminator. These objectives will be used in the scenarios as described in the pack; there will also be an award for the best on the weekend!"

So this left me with a little bit of a puzzle, I have objective markers already but any additional paiting/ modelling challenges always interest me especially when I have to tie them in to two armues. Here's a look at my current objectives...
 

So I;m thinking some thing similar for the doubles objectives, but larger bases means more architeciteture and more ravens (I need to buy more Nagals) and a few guard casualties, but I'm not sure of what else, for my 5th one which I'd like to be really impressive.

Not alot of point but hopefully I'll come up with some ideas in Florida.
Next time - No One Tosses a Dwarf.

Impromptue Post

Nothing much to say, just wanted to show you what I did to day like an over eager child.Quick crack at an emporers champion.

A.D. The Raven Time

So now the "sexy" element of our team.

A.D.'s half of our list runs as follows

LIbrarian + Jumppack

Assault Squad (10 man) + Power Fist + 2 x Meltagun

Assault Squad (10 man) + Power Fist + 2 x Meltagun

Sanguniary Priest + Jumppack + Lightning Claw

Sanguinary Priest (lives with the guard)

2 x Land Speeder + Multimelta

So A.D.'s section is the hard hitting combat element of the army, charging and counter charging the enemy as they advance on the guard or deep striking down on a bunkered oponent.

In tests so far the Ravens have been a little sacrificial and haven't really shown their mettle (this may also be becuase we were playing GMort.)

Not too much more to say hopefully get some pics of the force up when I'm back.

Next time - Objective Objects

Drunk, Sexy and Full of Points.

Sexy and gets you drunk, this is our team personified.

 Doubles is set at 1750 this year, this has been an interesting issue combined with the doubles format as far as list writing is concerned, balancing your own list with a different one and making it all gel and be within the limits has been much more challenging and more fun than a standard list write.

So lets begin the "Team Drunk and Sexy" list posts. First up my own section.

HQ - Command Squad + Regimental Standard + Vox

Troops - Platoon Command + Vox + Autocannon

Infantry Squad + Vox + Lascannon

Infantry Squad + Vox + Lascannon + Commissar


Heavy Weapon Squad + 3 x Autocannon

Troops - Platoon Command + Vox + Autocannon

Infantry Squad + Vox + Lascannon

Infantry Squad + Vox + Lascannon + Commissar

Heavy Weapon Squad + 3 x Autocannon

Heavy Support - Medusa

Now after a hard days testing with Gmort, A.D. and I fine tweaked this list and the addition of more points for this years doubles meant a few more heavy weapons. The basic idea of my "force" in the army is a bunker that sits in a corner and pounds anything within 48" and levels anything within 12".
I have all the models required now except for one commissar, though I think I'll have two if this model...

 He's always been a favourite of mine.

So the colour scheme I'm going with was formally this...

The GW standard Cadian scheme but once we decided to use my Raven Guard I thought I'd try to tie them in more with my force, so they became the Kiavahr PDF....

Yeah he's not done but you get the idea.

So now I have 60 odd guard models to paint :S

Next time - A.D. The Raven Time.
Addendum - A.D. and I are away for the next two weeks so I'm writing the rest of the initial doubles articles today and scheduled posting them, if they fail to appear blame blogger for failing me and look forward to a barrage of posts on my return.

Also there other blog and links round here if you are bored or looking for more to read take a look and leave a comment I know the guys would appreciate it.

 

This just made me laugh

Guard! On the Double!

Right a day late due to Blogger hating me but here goes. "A.D." (you'll see his comments about) and I are heading to doubles with "The Dwarf" and his cousin.

So after a few test plays and alot of discussion we've decided on the following

Me : Imperial Guard
A.D.; Blood Angels (using my Raven Guard)

The Dwarf: Salamanders (they will look familiar in pics ;p)
His Cousin: Dark Angels (the dwarf will be proxing his cousins army with my old Deathwing for test games)

So for a brief over view of the army rules.
1750 divided in half and one force organisation chart between the pair. Each player must take 1 HQ and one troops choice the rest of the choices are free reign. There is an allies matrix with rewards and punishments for fluffy and non fluffy alliances. Both our pairs have a "battle brothers" alliance and can take a veteran skill for once squad which must be noted in the list.

Tomorrow I'll post the total 1750 for A.D. and I once I spray it tomorrow morning, and our list too as I'm waiting for a confirmed version of his half.

Next time - Drunk, Sexy and full of Points.

Painting and Planning

So another busy week, full of hardcore death watching and painting, so I thought I'd let you all see what I've been up to this week before I start my "Doubles 2012" buildup tomorrow.

So a day in my FLGS and the manager and I are bored with many hours to go until the shop closes so we stumble on a challenge one single minature in the 5 hours until the storw closes. This was my effort after a mutual friend choose the model we'd paint. I will attempt to get a picture of Brendon's effort too.

Another single model, this time thats sat in my bitz box since his release but has found a new lease of life as I#m hoping to enter him in a painting competition run by my other FLGS (yes I go to two).

The first model for my ToS october list.... here we go again

Finally, the stat of my necron army. While not 40k i am painting sveral plastic darleks for my 11 year old sister who didn't realise her new toys were model kits.

So see you here tomorrow for the final doubles list of team "Drunk and Sexy".

Deliverace Lost - A Book Review

Before I begin proper let me just tell you a little story of my own. Saturday 5th March 2011 I attend Black Library live and see the above piece of artwork for the first time. I wanted the book then and no one could tell me when the book was due out other than late 2011 at the earliest. So patiently I waited and enjoyed Gav Thorpe's audio books and George Mann's waiting for more "raveny" goodness.

Then I get a text telling me that the book was available at the second October ToS so a few tats later its mine.

So to the book itself, the 18th book in the Horus Heresy series, we begin after the Istvaan V massacre, tying in with the "Raven's Flight" audio novel and unexpectedly the short story "The Face of Treachery" from "Age of Darkness". Now anyone that knows me in real life will know I haven't always been the biggest fan of Gav's writing but recently anything i viewed as an issue has gone, his writing seems more eloquent and has detail his earlier novels lack.


As you would expect the book contains the usual amount of tantalising information about the Heresy period we’ve previously not known (as much as I want to share I will try to keep spoilers to a minimum) about the Primarchs, the Raven Guard and the Alpha Legion. The sections dealing with the Alpha legion seem a little at odds with some of the  information n “Legion” but due to the nature of the Heresy writing team I assume any slight changes (and they are minor) have been approved by Dan Abnett. The book also contains more interaction with the Emperor than we’ve really seen before but like any other glimpses we’ve seen Gav keeps it vague, well most of it (won’t tell you about what Corax is sent to find, but its good).
One of the most stand out sections for me as a Ravens fan (besides the things I really want to tell you.) is the description of Delieverance as Corax comes into land, stating that he’s kept the moon the same since his slave revolt. It’s nice to see one of the more over looked Primarch’s given a little more personality; it gives me hope for those I’ve always viewed as dull such as the Khan and Guilliman. We also get an insight into the uprising on Deliverance and Corax's past (including his first name, think Latin for Raven if your stuck) but the interaction between the Primarch and his legion is a really interesting dynamic especially the before and after of the Astartes becoming legionaries.

Overall I thoroughly enjoyed the book,  (though I am a little biased due to my love of all things Raven) though surprisingly it was the Alpha Legion I really enjoyed especially Alpharius (no not that one) and Omegron's (yes that one) slow subversion of a world is amazing. I am now looking forward to Gav's next Heresy book and George Mann's Raven novel.
I'm giving the book 4 Raven's out of 5, whilst good it still lacks a little something that Heresy novels like "Legion", "First Heretic" and "Fulgrim" have.

I hope you enjoyed AMOR's first book review I had some good feedback from the Kill team review so I may do a few more.

The book is available here

ToS Game 5 Retrospective

 

Mission - Seize Ground, 5 objectives.
Depolyment - Dawn of War

List: (list he had on paper)

Dante 225
Sanguinor 275
5 Saguniary Guard + Banner + Powerfist +  Infernus Pistol + Death Masks 275
5 Saguniary Guard + 4 x Infernus Pistol + Powerfist 265
5 Saguniary Guard + Powerfist + Infernus Pistol 220
5 Saguniary Guard + Powerfist + Infernus Pistol 220
3 Sanguinary Priests + Jumppack + Power Weapon 270
1750

List (as he used it)
Dante    225
Sanguinor    275
5 Saguniary Guard + Banner + Powerfist+  Infernus Pistol + Death Masks    275
5 Saguniary Guard + 4 x Infernus Pistol + Powerfist + Death Masks    290
5 Saguniary Guard + Powerfist +  Infernus Pistol + Death Masks    245
5 Saguniary Guard + Powerfist +  Infernus Pistol + Death Masks    245
3 Sanguinary Priests + Jumppack + Power Weapon + 3 x Infernus Pistol 315
  1870

So I approached the table and saw elite Bloog Angels and my heart leapt, I'd trained for this! So we exchange lists and all I have in my head is if i deploy and go first  I can win. Then it comes to passm so I deployn  my units in the terrain near the objectives as my opponent deep strikes his squads as I knew he would. You join the action my turn 3 as I go on the hunt. My command squad target the sanquinor and for every 10 men he deep strikes I counter charge with 20 with furious charge.

The Banner did not last long, Though these two squads with something like 8 melta shots did vaguely worry me, until I remembered this is why i was in cover.

Dante's squad die to mass initative 5 attacks as my command squad dude to their melta guns and extra attacks from the banner drag the sanguinor down kicking and screaming.

As we inter my turn 4 (turn one being nothing as my opponent couldn't drop) I move to take out the last squad.. While my remaining squad including a fresh 10 man unit start to move to the objectives.

The final sang priests put up a valiant effort to contest objectives.

The last blood angel in engaged.

Turn 5 - at the start I hold 5 objectives and there isn't an enemy model left on the board. I felt bad for the guy but did tell him where he went wrong over a victory beer.

So rounding up enjoyable weekend (except one game) and fun was had by all. the more I think on it I should only really have lost game one and the other two losses were more my mental state and playing poorly. Though besides the Eldar player everyone was lovely and had some good hobby chats.

No one in the group placed though we had a few people do well. GMort has full coverage for the group so please pop over and see him if you didn't find your way here from him.

Oh and one last thing, while none of us placed one of the group did leave with a certificate...

So thats all folks. Coming up will be a book review, deathwatch GMing, and why my doubles partners drives me mad. See you soon.