Zen 40,000

Grey Knights as Space Sharks commission tester...

2012-02-12T03:51:00.003-06:00

Got an interesting request for a commission. It's a Grey Knights army that is going to be painted Space Shark-y. I was told to downplay the Grey Knights visuals and embellish with a little shark tooth freehand. I went with the RT era helmet stripe, because it's old school, and distracts from the psychic hood.

Couple pics from a tournament I played Saturday. I didn't do well but I had some really fun games.

A tight game against Sisters of Battle.

Blood Angels v. Lamenters!

From the Tables...When Flat Out Gets Hot

2012-02-09T08:49:00.004-06:00

Sometimes you really have to stop a pair of Stormravens...

...and you don't.

Played my 2,500 league game this week (thankfully going down to 1750 next week) with Dawn of War, Capture and Control v. IG. My opponent conceded turn 3 after he failed to down my Stormravens at the top of turn 2 and my bottom of 2 assaults were absolutely brutal. Blood Talons are fun v. an IG blob, hadn't gotten to do that before. More fun than against an Ork mob because IG don't have a Power Klaw :p.

From the Tables...The Gehenna Campaign

2012-02-07T00:42:00.007-06:00

I got in a game on Monday against a mostly mechanized Blood Angels army. Played at a game store I hadn't been to before, Red Castle Games. It was a really big space and they were in the middle of expanding. There were only a couple tables this time, but there are suppose to be 8(?) by next week. I played with 2000 pts of Tyranids in a Seize Ground(3), Dawn of War mission. I didn't really get pics covering every part of the battle, but my opponents army was so pretty I wasn't going to miss posting the pics I did have.

* * * * *

Blood Angels get Turn 1 and roll onto the board. The ripper base by the Tervigon in the lower right corner is an objective; there is another in the building with a second Tervigon, the third is just out of shot to the left. On reflection I should have deployed both Tervigons on the building objective. Turn 2 he runs the DC Rhino right on top of the lower objective.

Dante precision strikes right on my board edge, throwing a couple wounds on the Tervigon with Melta shots.

Both my Ygmarl units get double charges off. Turn 2 one units came in and charged two Razorbacks, wrecking one, but in turn being gunned down by a Baal. Turn 3 the other unit came in and charged the de-meched Assault unit and the remaining Razorback. They wiped out the Assault Squad, did no damage to the Razorback, and were wiped out by a Baal in the following turn.

So Dante and his units get shot at and charged by 32 Termagants, but only lose two Marines and Hit and Run.

I charged the Tervigon into the Death Company to hold them in place for the Doom; didn't hurt that they didn't have a Power Fist.

The Doom was an absolute beast this game, killing all the Death Company, putting three wounds on Dante (who was by his lonesome), and killing a few Assault Marines. The Assault Marines pasted two test in a row with no casualties before finally smacking him with a Power Fist on turn 5.

The Tervigon on the far flank was killed pretty quickly, after it sputtered out on spawning turn 1. This meant that I didn't have a scoring presence on the two objectives on the left flank. Thus my opponent smartly pushed all his forces onto the other objective, leaving a decent portion of my army (Tyrant unit and a Trygon) un-used. Savvy play by my opponent.

A single Assault Squad disembarked to clear the last of my Gants off the lower right objective. I have nothing else to contest it, my opponent wins 1-0.

Here are the lists we used:

Hive Tyrant w/ Scythes, Hive Commander
2*Tyrant Guard w/ Whips
Prime w/ Sword, Whip, Adrenal Glands
(8*Ygmarl Genestealers)*2
Doom of Malantai in Pod
(Tervigon w/ Catalyst, Toxin Sacs)*2
(10*Termagants)*2
(Trygon) *3

Dante
Librarian w/ Unleash Rage, Shield of Sanguinius
2*Priests (1*Power Weapon, 1*Jump Pack)
3*(5*Assault Squad w/ Meltagun, Power Weapon, Razorback w/ LasPlas)
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltagun, Power Fist
5*Death Company w/ Power Weapon, Rhino
2*(Baal Predator w/ Assault Cannon, Heavy Bolters)
Predator w/ Autocannon, Lascannons
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missles

From the Tables... The Skorvald Incursion

2012-02-06T03:12:00.006-06:00

Got in a 1750 point game on Superbowl Sunday to practice for an upcoming tournament, the Guardian Cup. I played versus Blood Angels with Pitched Battle and 3 objective Seize Ground using my Chaos Daemons army. I don't know if I'll actually use Daemons for the tournament, but it was certainly fun to play with them for a game.

* * * * *

Blood Angel deployment, he also has first turn.

In 732.M48 the Shrine world of Skorvald was enveloped in a large warp storm originating from the Dalmas Rift, a nearby, naturally-occuring phenomena. As Skorvald tossed and skipped on the eddies of the Warp, it drew the attention of the Changer of Ways. Mutation spread throughout the populace. The people began to lose hope, and that was almost the end of it. Some amongst the inhabitants began to worship the Dark Gods, some fully embracing Tzeentch and the mutation, others towards bloody Khorne. Eventually these warring factions broke into civil war.
As this occured in the mortal plane, Tzeentch and Khorne began to observe from on high, and made a wager. They would each send their best followers to the planet, and the winner would attain the whole planet, as well as the loyalty of the losing survivors. Tzeentch sent his representatives, while Khorne sent ten of his most powerful Bloodthirsters and Daemon Princes. Khorne was so certain of their victory he did not worry about losing the loyalty of these most powerful Daemons. For thirty days and nights the Khornate Daemons fought the followers of Tzeentch on every face of the planet, and it was torn asunder.
Khorne proved dominant in most of these battles, so it was that only small cadre of Tzeentch Daemons remained when the Blood Angels arrived. Summoned by astropathic relay, but too late to save the populace, the Sons of Sanguinius struck to the planet with red fury, falling on the Daemons as they cavorted in the corpses of the fallen. Though they suffered heavy losses, the Blood Angels were able to push the Skorvald Incursion from real space, and secure the planet for future re-population.

My initial drop. I land three Bloodletter units (with Skulltaker), Fiends, and Horrors.

I dropped a bit too close and half my Bloodletters get Furious Charged away. Skulltaker kills Mephiston 9 times out of 10, but this time I failed two of four 2+ Invulnerables and die before I can Instant Kill him on a 4+.

This game was characterized by these brutal combat phases.

Here you can see the Fiends engaged with his Devastators. You can also see what is left of his initial charge into my Bloodletters.

Again I drop a bit too close, but it is where my Icon was. My Bloodthirster mishapped and died without doing anything (didn't use the Icon with him).

My beautiful newly arrived unit is wiped out without mercy.

My Daemon Princes land on his flanks and start taking out units with Breath and assault. They were definitely MVPs of my army.

The game went a full seven turns and this is how it ended, his last five scoring models charging in and killing the last unit in my army. He had ten models left. If Skulltaker had killed Mephiston and my Bloodthirster hadn't mishapped I feel like it could have been a very different game.

Here are the army lists we used:

Mephiston
2*Priests w/ Jump Pack, Power Weapon, Melta Bombs

4*(10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltaguns, Power Fist)
2*(5*Devastators w/ 3*Missles)
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missles

Bloodthirster w/ Blessing of Khorne
Skulltaker
Herald of Tzeentch w/ Bolt
5*Fiends w/ Unholy Might
5*Horrors w/ Bolt, Changeling (who I forgot about)
5*Bloodletter w/ Icon
2*(12*Bloodletters)
11*Bloodletters
2*(Daemon Prince of Tzeentch w/ Bolt, Breath)

If I do end up using this army for the tournament I will be switching out the Heralds for a second Bloodthirster and switching the small Horrors and Bloodletter units for Plaguebearers, then maybe adding some Flesh Hounds or a third Prince. No way to really slice it, I just don't have the pieces for a fully competitive Daemon army.

Tharas Kull, the Bound One

2012-02-04T23:45:00.002-06:00

Tharas Kull, the Bound One, Two God, Puppethead

Tharas Kull is another member of Hans Kho'ren's grotesque menagerie of pyskers. Like any true follower of Khorne Kho'ren abhors sorcery and psykers, but as a commander he recognizes the strategic benefits of such things. Kull was once a member of the Word Bearers Legion, a powerful Sorcerer dedicated to Tzeentch. When the Skull Takers clashed with his Word Bearer's band, Kull was captured, and his patron Dark Apostle slain.
Kho'ren intensely distrusted the Word Bearer, but still wanted to find a way to utilize his power. Consulting with his Daemon Seers, Kho'ren determined the best course of action would be to possess Kull's body with a Bloodletter. The process worked, but from behind the veil of consciousness the real Kull hates his liege lord more than anything.

Varamyr's Slayers

2012-02-03T18:51:00.002-06:00

The lowest dregs among the Skull Takers, Varamyr's Slayers have fought together as a unit in some form since the Siege of Terra. They only joined the Skull Takers and pledged loyalty to Hans Kho'ren in M.40, making them the newest additions to the warband. Before that the Slayers served the Chaos Lord Kossolax the Foresworn, but switched sides during the Battle of Ranos'tar.

Brother Varamyr

The leader of this unit has served under various Chaos Lords for the last ten thousand years. He was a Sergeant during the Siege of Terra and his original unit numbered twenty of the most crazed World Eaters Veterans. Through time the unit has become smaller and smaller, its mortally rate always surpassing its recruitment rate. Now the unit numbers only five Marines, two of which are original members; Varamyr himself, and Brother Edor.

Brother Edor

Though most World Eaters are known for their combat prowess if anything, Brother Edor was once known as one of the best marksmen in the Legion. This reputation has followed him through the aeons.

New Project: No One Expects the Inquisition

2012-02-03T04:55:00.003-06:00

So I realized that with a few small additions I could use elements of my Lamenters army and IG army together in a Grey Knight list. I've resolved to make 19 Death Cult Assassin/Crusaders from Flagellants (going to give them Greek Hoplite helmets and power weapons) and get three sets of Dreadnought Autocannons. Only other thing I need is an Inquisitor to use an Coteaz, I'm thinking of going with one of the female ones. The rationale for the army would be a Lamenter Pentinent Strike Force pushed all the way to the end and then absorbed into an Inquisitors retinue. Here is the list I'm making:

HQ
Librarian w/ Stave, Quicksilver, Might of Titan, Shrouding, Warp Rift 205
Coteaz 100

Elites
Techmarine w/ Rad, Psychotroke 115
Techmarine w/ Rad, Psychotroke 115

Troops
5*Assassins, 3*Crusaders, Banisher w/ Eviscerator 150
6*Assassins, 3*Crusaders, Banisher w/ Eviscerator 165
5*Warriors w/ Razorback w/ Psybolt 70
5*Warriors w/ Razorback w/Assault Cannon, Psybolt 105
5*Warriors w/ 2*Melta, Rhino 80
5*Warriors w/ 2*Melta, Rhino 80

Fast Attack
Stormraven 205
Stormraven 205

Heavy Support
Psyfleman 135
Psyfleman 135
Psyfleman 135

From the Tables... Titan Goes to War

2012-02-02T03:50:00.007-06:00

So this month the league is 2,500 points. Week 1 I played Dawn of War, Annihilation against a nasty Draigo list. This was going to be an extremely uphill battle for me, as our armies had a 19-8 KP spread, and all of his units were extremely durable. I'd have to hit hard and fast while trying to mitigate loss on my more fragile units (read: Rhino hulls). I get first turn and place nothing, my opponent places two fat blobs of Paladins with Draigo at mid table.

I rush on Turn 1 and Night Fight protects me from the Psyflemen.

I get a charge off on one of the Paladin units with the Death Company and two Blood Talon Dreadnoughts. Blood Talons are pretty good against these guys. Here you can see where I had a Stormraven blow up and kill two of my Assault Terminators.

I kill Draigo and a whole unit of Paladins without them claiming a KP. Unfortunately his Psyflemen have been eating up light vehicles in my backfield, and I'm in a big hole KP wise.

Here we see his line shifting away from me, as I have lost my mobility and long range power. He is up in KP and can simply conserve his remaining units.

Probably would have been more entertaining and in no way challenged his win if my opponent had opted to engage me for the last few turns. It got a little boring watching him move backwards and shooting at me, but his prerogative I guess.

So I lost 10-5 KPs even though my opponent only had 9 models left on the board, but I guess that is Draigowing. My opponent had a very good turn 2, where he was able to knock out both Stormravens, a Rhino (plus a key immobilization on another), and disabled both Typhoons. I was happy taking out Draigo and his Paladin unit, I just wished I had done it a little faster so that Mephiston could have gone Dreadnought hunting sooner.

Here are the army lists we used (each x is a KP that was yielded):

Draigo x
3*Venerable Psyflemen xx
10*Paladins w/ 4*Psycannon, 2*Hammers, and full wound allocation x
10*Paladins w/ 4*Psycannon, 2*Hammers, and full wound allocation
2*Psyflemen x

Mephiston
Furioso w/ Blood Talons
5*Assault Terminators w/ 3*Hammers
Priest*2
5*Assault Marines w/ Meltagun, Razorback w/ Heavy Bolter x
5*Assault Marines w/ Meltagun, Razorback w/ Assault Cannon x
5*Death Company w/ Thunder Hammer, Lemartes x
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltaguns, Power Fist, Rhino xx
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltaguns, Power Fist, Rhino x
Death Company Dreadnought w/ Blood Talons x
Land Speeder Typhoon w/ Heavy Flamer x
Land Speeder Typhoon w/ Heavy Flamer
Stormraven w/ Extra Armour x
Stormraven w/ Extra Armour x

WIP: More World Eaters

2012-02-02T01:00:00.004-06:00

My second Rune Priest. This one a bound servant of Tzeentch.
He'll have a nice little story once I'm done with him. I think I'll paint the Mark of Khorne on his face to represent the binding. Maybe I'll drill out the three eyes too....

The last six infantry for my 2000 point force. Managed to get them together off one last scrounging of my bitz box, it's definitely spent for CSM bitz now. You can't see from this angle, but the guy in the back left has one Terminator leg ;). I have ten other guys I haven't posted up because they are waiting on some metal World Eater shoulder pads, but they are finished besides that.

From the Tables...The Purging of Kasr Sund

2012-01-24T00:39:00.011-06:00

So this week I played a 2000 point , Spearhead, three objective Seize Ground mission against Imperial Guard. I used a balanced mechanized list. The opposition was classic MechVets. We ended up with an objective in each or our deployment zones, with the third roughly in the middle. It would be a tough time to get to the objective in the middle of his parking lot, so my objective had to be hold my own and absolutely smash the middle.
* * * * * *

In 731.M39 the planetary governor of the fortress world of Kasr Sund designated himself Chief Magnate of Sund and immediately ceased all payment of Imperial tithes. The High Lords of Terra censured the rebel planet and dispatched the Lamenters to break the command structure of the planet. A Strike Force under the auspices of the Chapters Chief Librarian landed in the heart of the capitol under suppressing firepower from the Battle Barge 'Heart of Fury'. A swift and bloody battle followed, which saw Kasr Sund justly returned to Imperial rule.

My deployment as the Vendettas Scout forward. That solid tower in
my deployment zone is impassable. This becomes relevant.

His first turn fire was decent, wrecking one 'Baal', immobilizing a Rhino, and stunning the other 'Baal'. You can see above how I was forced to swing out to the left around the stunned tank and the impassible tower. My immobilized Rhino blocked the other way.

The squad from the immobile Rhino disembark and charge into a Veteran squad.

Here you can see that Mephiston hitching a ride in the Devastators Razorback. My Devastators knocked down both Vendettas.

The frag cannon Furioso isn't great against an entirely mechanized foe, but you can see above I got hit on the side armour of two Chimeras and did some damage. The Furiosos real strength in this mission was forcing my opponent to pull units from the center back towards his lines to deal with him.

Mephiston hopped out and ate a Veteran squad in the upper left, while the Assault squad takes one out in the lower right. I blow the cannon off the Demolisher.

Here you can see the havoc the Furioso caused. Both of those disembarked units moved back a full twelve inches to get to him. Both the Furioso and the Drop Pod went on to explode with magnificent explosions, killing over half of the Veteran squad and breaking them.

They knock off the cannon, but it takes the Librarian
charging in with his Sanguine Sword to wreck it.

Mephiston bounds off and wrecks the Company Command Chimera.
My Assault squads start cleaning up the middle.

What remained of this unit after a round of rapid-fire plasma wrecked another Chimera.

Through cover and fortunate positioning, Mephisotn gets gets all the way into the IG deployment zone with three wounds remaining.

These five Cadians were the last Imperial Guardsmen near the middle,
and they didn't last long. Lamenter Objective.

Mephiston tears into the backfield, causing major disruptions. Uncontested Objective.

If you take care of business, you get to go home early. Lamenter Objective.

Here are the army lists we used:

Company Command Squad w/ 3*Meltaguns, Officer of the Fleet, Chimera
6*Sanctioned Psykers, Chimera
2*(Veterans w/ 3*Melta)
Veterans w/ 3*Melta, Chimera)
3*(Veterans w/ 3*Plasmaguns, Chimera)
2*(Vendetta)
2*(Manticore)

Mephiston
Librarian w/ Sword, Shield
Furioso w/ Frag Cannon, Heavy Flamer, Searchlight, Drop Pod
Priest
8*Assault Marines w/ Meltagun, Power Fist, Rhino
2*(10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltaguns, Power Fist, Rhino)
2*('Baal' Predator w/ Assault Cannon)
2*Land Speeder Typhoon w/ Heavy Flamer
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missle Launchers
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missle Launchers, Razorback

For the Dark Gods...!

2012-01-23T02:40:00.000-06:00

Ancient Varren Zhul, the Bloodstalker

2012-01-22T04:10:00.004-06:00

I made this guy for my counts as Wolf Priest. I used the Chaos Khorne Exalted Hero, who also provided a lot of extra cool pieces to put on other troops (like his awesome Khorne stormshield). I gave him a Chaos bolt pistol and CCW arm, though I switched out the chainsword for a mace from the Chaos Knight kit. I fitted a backpack to him, but I had to cut down the bottom part of it to fit.

More Khornate Marines...

2012-01-17T04:41:00.002-06:00

So this is what I have been working on with my World Eaters. This guy is a Terminator-armoured squad leader. I'm pretty happy with the tiny World Eater symbol I did on his knee.

These guys are my Flesh-Servitors (counts-as Wolf Scouts)

And here are a couple shots of the whole army so far with some good lighting...

From the Tables... The Brindisi Betrayal

2012-01-11T22:55:00.019-06:00

So this week I played a 2,000 point, Pitched Battle, Capture and Control mission against Dark Angels. I used a new double Stormraven list I liked quite a bit. This would be a tough objective mission, because the additions of Belial and Sammael, almost his entire army was Troops. My opponent got first turn and I put both Stormravens in reserve. Our objectives were both set up about in the middle of our deployment zones.

In 998.M41 the Lamenters of Strike Force Ostro encountered a Dark Angels expeditionary force on the edge of Imperial space. Not expecting to see Brothers so far abroad, the forces met on the war torn planet Brindisi. It soon became apparent that not only had the Dark Angels been seeking the Lamenters, but that they were being led by Belial, Master of the Deathwing. Belial demanded audience with the leader of the Strike Force, Chief Librarian Menoloth. Apparently Belial wished to question Menoloth about the time he spent on his pilgrimage to the Maelstrom, and about any individuals he may have met there. Menoloth, filled with rage and recklessness,took this as a threat. Menoloth refused Belial and claimed that he would sooner die than parlay with the Dark Angels. Following a bloody skirmish, the few remaining Dark Angels barely escaped the planet.

The Deathwing prepare to charge in and wreck a Rhino.

Menoloth (Mephiston) is broken from combat. My opponent could have just stayed within 6" of him and escorted him off the board, but he charged in with Sammael, who was obviously butchered.

One of my Stormravens comes in from reserve and up to midfield. It is filled with Death Company featuring Lemartes and a Blood Talon Dreadnought.

The Stormraven gets destroyed (see very top photo),
but its contents get to the Dark Angels objective.

My brave Razorback Assault squads claim my objective.

Lemartes uses his pumped up stats to clear off the Dark Angel objective.

Here are our army lists:

Belial
Sammael
10*Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Lascannon
10*Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Lascannon
10*Tactical Marines w/ Flamer, Missle Launcher, Power Fist, Rhino
5*Deathwing Terminators w/ Heavy Flamer, Apothecary, Banner, Chainfist
6*Ravenwing Bikes w/ 2*Plasmaguns
Attack Bike w/ Multimelta
Land Speeder
5*Devastators w/ 2*Heavy Bolters, Plasma Cannon, Missle Launcher
Vindicator

Mephiston
Furioso w/ Blood Talons
Furioso w/ Frag Cannon, Heavy Flamer
Priest w/ Meltabombs
5*Assault Marines w/ Meltagun, Razorback w/ Heavy Bolter
5*Assault Marines w/ Meltagun, Razorback w/ Assault Cannon
5*Death Company w/ Thunder Hammer, Lemartes
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltaguns, Power Fist, Rhino
Land Speeder Typhoon w/ Heavy Flamer
Land Speeder Typhoon w/ Heavy Flamer
Stormraven w/ Extra Armour
Stormraven w/ Extra Armour

From the Tables... The Raid on Ytrexia

2012-01-04T23:57:00.010-06:00

So I played a 2000 point, 3 objective Seize Ground, Dawn of War mission against a mechanized Dark Eldar army. I took a bunch of pics, so I'll caption those, then post the lists, after which I'll go into some of my mistakes in the game and how it was a bit closer match than one would think.

The horde rushes onto the table.

Both the Tervigons get splattered Turn 1 (I probably
should have Outflanked one with Hive Commander and not set up the other so far forward).

Five Termagants wreck a Trueborn Venom.

Ygmarls come in Turn 2 and multi-charge a pair of Venoms,
wrecking one, sending the Trueborn running.

Duke Sliscus thinks about taking on a Trygon one on
one, but dark light weaponry finished the big beast first.

A Haemoculus puts his Liquifier to
good use on my scoring units.

The Tyrant squad held the center, but I definitely didn't get value from them.

The Ygamrls are much more capable against Wyches than
normal Genestealers, but the Doom did most of the heavy lifting.

Termagants on the other hand...

Dark Eldar win by one objective.

The battle around the center, my opponent was able to kill off the last of my scoring units on Turn 6, when the game ended.

Here are our two lists:

Duke Sliscus
(Haemoculous w/ Liquifier) *3
(4*Trueborn w/ 4*Blasters in: Venom w/ 2*Splinter Cannons)*3
(9*Wyches w/ Power Weapon, Haywire Grenades in: Raider w/ Flicker Field, Grisly Trophies, Shock Prow, Torment Launchers)*3
9*Warriors in: Raider w/ Flicker Field, Grisly Trophies, Splinter Racks
(Ravager w/ 3*Dark Lances, Flicker Field)*3

Hive Tyrant w/ Scythes, Hive Commander
2*Tyrant Guard w/ Whips
Prime w/ Sword, Whip, Adrenal Glands
(8*Ygmarl Genestealers)*2
Doom of Malantai in Pod
(Tervigon w/ Catalyst, Toxin Sacs)*2
(10*Termagants)*2
(Trygon) *3

As you can see from a quick analysis of the lists, I'm was in for a very uphill battle from the beginning. Not only is his army completely mounted, but my lists eschews even the modicum of anti-tank a Tyranid list usually has. I would say off the bat that winning this match-up would require a bit of luck and near perfect generalship, but I didn't execute. I should have done different placement with my Tervigons (one outflanking w/ Hive Commander and the other behind cover of Trygons) and one of the Ygmarl units (should have been near the far objective). Of course I also think that if my opponent had been more aggressive with some of his Troop elements he could have wiped me by turn 4, so who knows.

World Eater Objective Marker

2012-01-04T02:09:00.000-06:00

A poor tortured psyker...

Jonos Craegan, the Skullsworn, Honorblade

2012-01-02T23:58:00.004-06:00

The Skullsworn,
Seventh Headsman of the Skull Takers,
Honorblade

Jonos Craegan is another one of the Lesser Champions that pays fealty to the banner of Hans Kho'ren. Before Skalathrax Craegan was Captain of the 9th Company, but his forces were crushed there, and he was forced to join Kho'ren or die. In fealty Craegan proclaimed himself as Skullsworn, his skull promised to one day meet his masters blade. It has been proven that he made the right decision for both parties, time and again on the battlefield.
Craegan bears the sword of a mighty Space Marine hero, perfectly balanced with a formidable reach. He favors the blade, but his companions have taken to calling him by the mocking honorific 'Honorblade' with derision.

Ancient Brother Asturius

2011-12-28T22:12:00.002-06:00

New Project: Krell, my counts-as Wolf Priest?

2011-12-26T16:37:00.002-06:00

So this guy broke yesterday and I think he might be just what I need for my World Eaters army to count as a Wolf Priest/ ancient Chaos Champ. Adding a CSM backpack, replacing his winged shoulder pad with a Khorne one, then sculpting SM greaves onto his shins shouldn't be difficult. And he has that awesome skull face. I guess I'll have to see the model in person first...

Methalor Penal Legion- Breakin' out the boys.

2011-12-26T00:29:00.002-06:00

Merry Christmas everyone, hope you all had some good holidays.

I got back down to see my family and friends in Austin, Texas and played a few 1750 games with the army I left behind, my Methalor Imperial Guard. It is kind of a wacky list, but since it's IG it still has the tools to do any job needed tactically. Besides the Platoon I have given it a very close-range bent, which I really like. I usually put Yarrick with the Veterans backing up the Infantry line, sometimes the Penal Legion Outflank, and Strakens squad + Priest go in the Valk and Scout up close if I have first turn. I love playing with Yarrick, he is such a beast, anyone else play with him regularly?

Company Command Squad w/ 2*Meltaguns, Straken, Medic
Commisar Yarrick
Priest w/ Eviscerator

Le Soldat Marbo

Platoon Command Squad w/ Missle
Infantry w/ Autocannon, Grenade Launcher
Infantry w/ Autocannon, Grenade Launcher

Penal Squad
Penal Squad

Veterans w/ 3*Plasmaguns, Chimera

Valkyrie w/ Missle Pods
Devil Dog w/ Smoke
Devil Dog w/ Smoke

Demolisher w/ Lascannon
Demolisher w/ Lascannon

=1750

The Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren

2011-12-22T23:12:00.004-06:00

Angron’s Horde …file ref. Krr44/993/11-193/2W…
…source: Ord Mal archive…
…input: Armag/first war
…3837.M40

Extracted from the suppressed memoirs
of Lord-General Gustav Karlson. II

WORLD EATERS COMPANIES
Angron’s Chosen………………………1 Company
The Warband of Kossolax
the Foresworn……………………………1 Company
Lord Skchalick’s Elite ……………1 Company
The Skull Takers of Hans Kho’ren……………………………1 Company

...traitoris/World Eaters...
...Hans Kho'ren/War Hounds.

The Skull Takers warband is composed primarily of World Eaters of the 2nd Assault Company. Leading them is the fearsome Lord Hans Kho'ren, Slaughtermaster of Khorne, the Bonemoulder.
Records show that Kho'ren was originally inducted from Terra, into the War Hounds Legion, before their reunion with their Primarch Angron. He rose through the ranks and was a Sergeant when the Heresy broke out. The next record of Kho'ren does not come until the Battle of Skalathrax, when he is noted as Captain of the 2nd Assault Company. Some time shortly after this it is surmised he founded the Skull Takers, from the remnants of his Company and anyone who would give fealty to him.
From M.32-M.40 the Skull Takers participated in over a dozen raids into Imperial space, including half of Abaddons Black Crusades. Despite this proclivity, many scholars have posed that the majority of the Skull Takers aggressive engagements have occurred deep inside the the Eye of Terror, against Daemons and their Traitor brothers.
The mad Warpseer Aetegeus claimed to have had visions of Kho'ren kneeling before the Skull Throne of Khorne himself, being bound to a monstrous Daemon. The Warpseer was executed, but when Kho'ren was seen during the 13th Black Crusade, he was riding a titanic Daemonic mount like none ever seen before.

Other Worlds Games Tournament 12/10

2011-12-19T02:51:00.004-06:00

So this past Saturday I went down to a tournament at a local shop I hadn’t been to before, Other Worlds Games, in SW Portland. The tournament was 1500 points with rulebook missions and straight win/loss bracketing. The venue was nice, a little cramped, but with great terrain on all the tables. I brought my Lamenters (BA) and used this list.

Game 1 v. Chris O.'s Emperor's Children

Game one I played against Chris and his Emperor’s Children army, the mission was Annihilation/ Spearhead. The table was a mix of walls, towers, and jungle. Chris had two Lash Sorcerers, a Summoned Greater daemon, two Noise Marine squads in Rhinos, two CSM squads in Rhinos, a Defiler, and an Obliterator.

Chris got first turn and deployed strong in the center, with one Noise Marine unit off to one side. I put my Devastators on high ground, and put my Rhinos and one Predator strong to the middle. On the left flank Mephiston deployed ready to hop into the Devastators Razorback, while the remaining ‘Baal’ Outflanked.

Chris advanced and put some shots out with his Obliterator (which bounced off the Razorback) and Defiler (which killed some Devastators). On my turn Mephiston mounted up and advanced towards his Obliterator and a CSM squad. My remaining Devastators immobilized and weapon destroyed his Defiler, while the Razorback took a wound off his Obliterator. Return fire wrecked the Razorback and Mephiston was Lashed 11” back. Sonic weaponry from his flanking Noise Marines destroyed a Devastator squad.

His Greater Daemon comes in and charges Mephiston (after he killed the Obliterator), but they draw combat in the first round. My Outflanking Baal comes in behind his lines and wrecks a Noise Marine Rhino. One of my Assault squads wrecks his Defiler with Meltaguns, while the other charges into the Daemon and kill it. Mephiston , unengaged and free to pick his target, killed the Lash Sorcerer and Noise Marine unit that the Baal de-meched. Win for the Lamenters.

Game 2 v. Jeremy's Sisters of Battle

Game two I played against Jeremy, who was using Eben’s Sisters of Battle army, the mission was Capture and Control/ Dawn of War. The table was mostly clear, but for a few bunches of trees, and a gigantic imposing ziggurat in the middle of the board. We placed our objectives on either side of the ziggurat. The Sisters army consisted of St. Celestine, Uriah with Assassins/Crusaders in a Rhino, two Battle Sister squads in Rhinos, two Dominion squads w/ two flamers and a Multi-melta Immolator, two Exorcists, and a Retributer squad w/ four heavy bolters.

Jeremy got first turn and opted to have everything roll on first; I deployed Mephiston about half way up the ziggurat. When they came in all the Rhinos and Celestine went behind the ziggurat, while the fire support elements took up position in a wood on the left flank. My Rhinos/Predators mirrored his, coming in out of line of sight, while the Devastators walked onto a hill opposite the Exorcists.

Celestine went to the top of the ziggurat to try and bait Mephiston, but instead I insta-killed her with an Assault Cannon. Unfortunately she was already in great position at the point; about 12” from my objective. His Dominions came in and killed the Devastators and Mephiston had to turn away from the objective to deal with Uriah and the Assassins. All this meant I wasn’t in position to even draw the game, especially when the Saint came back to life and destroyed the scoring unit on my objective. I didn’t keep focused on the mission objective and was careless in the placement of my Devastators with regards to the Dominions. First time playing against the new Sisters though, fun stuff.

Game 3 v. Steve's Tyranids

Game three I played against Steve with his Tyranid army. The mission was Seize Ground (3)/ Pitched Battle. The table was dominated by a Fortress of Redemption in the center, with a ruin in each deployment zone. The Tyranid army consisted of a Tervigon w/ Catalyst+Toxin Sacs, two Venomthropes, two three-man Hive Guard units, two ten-man Termagaunt units, two Dakkafexes in a squad, and two Trygons w/ Adrenal Glands.

Steve went first and his horde (or brick) went behind the Fortress, all wrapped in Gaunts. I put one Dev unit up in the ruins, and the other one and the extreme flank, with firing lanes to his big bugs. My Assault squads went together in flat out range of two objectives on a flank, while the ‘Baal’s and Razorback went on the opposite flank. Mephiston took the middle.

So first turn his horde advances, and I take a couple wounds off his Trygons with missle and Assault Cannon fire. My Assault squads advance on his side of the board. I focus on the Venomthropes and take them out. His Trygon barely misses a charge on my ‘Baal’, and is in turn charged by Mephiston. I miscount my psychic powers and am left unable to force weapon the Trygon, who knocks him down to one wound. The Carnifexi charge into Mephiston; he manages to kill the Trygon and one Fex before the last one drags him down. The Devastators finish off the other Trygon. One of my Assault squads and Devastators focus fire on his Tervigon and kill it, leaving him without Synapse. After that it was all monster truck rally as I tank-shocked the rest of his army off the board.

All in all a great event, things ran quickly and smoothly with minimal downtime between rounds (the whole tournament only ran from 12 to 6). I managed to win Best Sportsman when the dust had settled, so thanks to all my great opponents! For my prize I picked up a new Venerable Dreadnought kit for my Lamenters.

1500 Lamenters

2011-12-12T00:57:00.002-06:00

Mephiston
Sanguinary Priest
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Melta, Power Fist, Rhino
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Melta, Power Fist, Rhino
5*Assault Marines, Flamer, Rhino
'Baal' Predator w/ Twin-linked Assault Cannon
'Baal' Predator w/ Twin-linked Assault Cannon
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missle Launchers
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missle Launchers, Razorback w/ Twin-Linked Assault Cannon

From the Tables...

2011-11-29T21:09:00.002-06:00

The Sanguinor battles a fearsome Iron Warrior Daemon Prince

Just an old shot that showcases this fantastic conversion from Alamo GT 2011...

Lord Hans Kho'ren, Slaughtermaster of Khorne

2011-11-21T16:57:00.010-06:00

So I got this bad boy done, and I'm pretty happy with him, definitely fits as one of those "Oh S#%t" HQ models. He is absolutely huge, though he'll just be a Thunderwolf Lord for now (until Legions comes out at least).

Jarl the Gutsman

2011-11-06T18:27:00.001-06:00

Jarl the Gutsman, Blood Sorcerer of Nurgle,
Pledged to the World Eater Lord Hans Kho'ren

While it is true that almost every single Brother of the World Eaters Legion pledged himself to Khorne during the Heresy, their are exceptions to every rule. Exceptions such as the Gutsman. Like all World Eaters, even before the Heresy, Jarl was enthralled with killing in the most savage ways. But it was truly mortality that interested the young Brother the most. And as he studied he came upon Nurgle, who whispered in his ear. And so when the World Eaters fell upon Holy Terra, Nurgle bestowed his gifts upon Brother Jarl, showing him his enemies death in their blood. From then on he was not just Jarl, he was the Gutsman. Though no longer fully trusted by his Legion brothers, Jarl proved useful as an ally.
On Skalathrax, as the Legion scattered, the Gutsman joined forces with a Captain named Hans Kho'ren. Ever since then they have marched against the Imperium together. During the First War for Armageddon, while most of the hoard marched through the jungles toward Armageddon Secundus, Jarl stayed on Prime, in Hive Death Mire. While at Death Mire the Gutsman sacrificed the blood of thousands in practicing his dark arts, and forged the daemon weapon Patroclus.

The Gutsman carries the Daemonic stave Patroclus.

The plastic Nurgle Chaos Lord is just a pleasure to work with. Great molding, minimal lines, it's just awesome that it is a plastic kit. And as far as characters go, it's super cheap!

Brother Krogors Bloodied Fists

2011-10-26T04:12:00.002-05:00

Like most of the models in this army so far, these guy were made out of my bitz box.

My World Eaters objective marker. Made it using a standard
from the Ogre Kingdoms Stonehorn kit with a bit of plasticard.

The Headsmen of Drogos

2011-10-24T00:51:00.003-05:00

First unit actually done. I'm pretty happy with the brass Juggernauts, and I don't think the riders' red clashes with it too much. Plenty more of this stuff coming down the pipeline, whenever I have time between commissions. I think these guys look quite the part.

Luthor Brax, the Red Ruin, Exalted of Khorne

2011-10-22T14:59:00.006-05:00

Warden of the Brass Keep, Sixth Headsman of the Skull Takers,
The Red Ruin

Luthor Brax is one of the many Lesser Champions who heeds the call of the Skull Takers. Almost all of the Skull Takers are original World Eaters veterans, though Luthor Brax is an exception, he was one a Brother of the Marines Exemplar. Though he is much younger than any of the other Champions, his favor with Khorne is strong, as is shown by his fearsome, brass mount.
Brax is said to have battled his way to the heart of Khorne's realm deep in the Warp, in search of the Blood God's favor. Luthor Brax does not represent the butchery and savagery so many of Khorne's followers have embraced. He is a paragon of martial prowess and battlefield honor, awesome and terrifying for his foes to behold.

Brother Krogors Bloodied Fists: another five, 2/3 done.

2011-10-21T17:43:00.002-05:00

Got another five of my Khorne marines knocked out. Lots of Chaos Knights parts in these, but mostly just my bitz box....

Guardian Tournament Oct 11'

2011-10-18T13:22:00.000-05:00

So my local game store, Guardian Games, hosted a 2000 point tournament recently. It was based off a pure W-L system ala Nova. With 18 people and 3 rounds there would still be two people at 3-0 at the end of the day, so total mission objectives achieved as the first tiebreaker, and straight victory points as the final tiebreaker for Best General. There was also a Best Sportsman and Best Painted award. There was a really nice mix of armies, almost fifty percent non-Imperial, including the Eldar I decided to bring. I used the same list I took to WargamesCon, seen here:

HQ
Eldrad 210
Autarch w/ Fusion Gun 80
Elites
7*Fire Dragons 112
in Wave Serpent w/ Scatter Laser 115
7*Fire Dragons 112
in Wave Serpent w/ Scatter Laser 115
Troops
9*Dire Avengers w/ Exarch w/ Double Catapults, Bladestorm 140
in Wave Serpent w/ Scatter Laser 115
8*Dire Avengers w/ Exarch w/ Double Catapults, Bladestorm 128
in Wave Serpent w/ Shuriken Cannon 100
5*Dire Avengers 60
5*Dire Avengers 60
3*Jetbikes w/ Cannon 76
3*Jetbikes w/ Cannon 76
Heavy Support
Falcon w/ Scatter Laser, Holofields, Stones 175
Falcon w/ Scatter Laser, Holofields, Stones 175
Fire Prism w/ Holofields 150
=1999

Round 1 v. Emporer's Children
The Defense of Sor Vaelon

So a nice, adversarial first round match up with some Slaaneshi Chaos Space Marines. My opponent had a Lord w/ Blissgiver, a Lash Sorcerer, 5*Terminators w/ Lightning Claws and Icon of Slaanesh, Land Raider, 2 5*Chaos Marines w/ Meltagun, Power Sword, and Icon of Slaanesh, Rhino, 2 5 *Noise Marines, Blastmaster, Rhino, 5* Raptors, Predator, Dreadnought, and a Vindicator.
The primary objective was table quarters, the secondary kill points, and tertiary objective markers. The table was set up with a large Imperial ruin in the middle of the table and scattered groups of trees everywhere else. The set up was Dawn of War.
My opponents got first turn and set up his Sorcerer with a squad of Chaos Marines in a Rhino, in the middle of the board, directly behind the ruin. I set up nothing, holding my Bikes and Falcons in reserve, while everything else got ready to roll in Turn 1. He didn't have a large scoring presence, so I decided I would wreck those small units, and win on the first objective. He brought on his entire army on one side of the board, so I came out on the other side, using the ruin to split his army. When he swings his armour back towards the other side, my Falcons come in behind them and start wrecking their rear armour. Eldrad was locked in combat with the Chaos Dreadnought for three turns. I destroyed his Land Raider with some Fire Dragons that fled from combat with his Raptors. In the end he only had one unit of Noise Marines in a Rhino on an objective. I got all three mission objectives and 1800 something VPs.

Round 2 v. Speed Freaks
The Shadow on Brightfall

Round two I was matched up with an Ork Speed Freak army. He had a Warboss on a Bike, a Mek with a Burna, 6*Burnas in a Battle Wagon, 5*Nobz in a Trukk, 3 12*Boyz in a Trukk, 20 Boyz in a Battle Wagon, 9*Warbikes, 3*Deff Koptas, and 3*Rokkit Buggies.
The set up was pitched battle. I don't remember the priority of the objectives in this mission. The table was covered in small brick buildings and bunkers.
My opponent got first turn and set up in a battle line across the whole table. The Bikers with Warboss and Nobz anchored one end, while the two Battlewagons anchored the other end. He outflanked his Koptas. I again reserved my Jetbikes and Falcons, and deployed strong in the corner facing the Battlewagons, with a lone Fire Prism in the far corner against the Bikes. We exchanged some long range fire, I wrecked a couple Trukks while he wrecked Eldrads Serpent. The Deffkoptas which came in charged into Eldrad an his Avengers, but were cut down.

My reserves came in half on each flank, which made his Bikers boost back and forth a few times to no effect. Fire Dragons are able to instakill his Nobz after they wreck the Fire Prism. Remember killing a lot of Greenskins, all he had left at the end was 2 Buggies and his Warbikes. Three mission objectives and 1700 something VPs.

Round 3 v. Deathwing
The Struggle for Terreo Secundus

So round 3 I was matched up against a REAL Deathwing army, none of this support stuff, just straight Terminators. 41 of them, 28 with Storm Shields, one nasty list, and a definite challenge.
Spearhead set up with primary objective markers, secondary kill points, tertiary quarters. I would have to win this mission on the primary, there was no way my 17 KP army could compete with his 9 KP army.

My opponent deployed strong in the center, ready to cover the board in Terminators. Knowing I had to play the objective game, I went all reserve, denying a couple turns of Cyclone fire at my tanks. It was going to a rought ride no matter what. I played somewhat sloppy in this game, getting too close to Terminators and allowing charges when it wasn't necessary, but the overall resiliency of my tanks held up over the course of the game. The Deathwing were drawn off objectives on turn 4 charges toward tanks. Those tanks then hopped back over their heads to claim the objectives on the bottom of turn 5, when the game ended, for the win. Classic Eldar bullsh*t. I lost KPs but won Table Quarters.

So in the end I was 3-0 with 8 total objectives, edging me over a Grey Knight player for the Best General award. It was an awesome tournament, and I look forward to more.

The Lord w/o paint

2011-10-16T05:33:00.001-05:00

Going back, adding detail...

2011-10-08T01:01:00.002-05:00

So looking at some pics of my Lamenters lately and really realized that the infantry are a step above the vehicles, appearance wise. Considering the amount of time each kind of model spends on the board in an average game, I realized I needed to step it up.
So I decided the way to go with my old tanks would be to add something I've never done before, weathering and paint chipping. I wanted to keep it fairly minimal (I've seen some paint jobs that look like it had almost all chipped off).

I think it really makes the tank pop, and it was a really simple addition. Usually I try and keep my vehicles fairground style, but that is not really fitting for a crusading Chapter like the Lamenters. It's nothing super fancy, but I think I like it.

From the Tables... Lamenters v. GK

2011-10-07T02:26:00.003-05:00

Who has the better Terminators...

This is an old shot I never posted, from my Lamenters first tournament with the new BA book, the Alamo GT 2010. Here my Assault Terminators charge and die against the Grey Knight characters, they've always been a hard match for Blood Angels...

From the Tables... The Fall of Svelgard

2011-10-06T00:10:00.006-05:00

Couple shots from my weekly league game. 1500 points v. Steel Legion, Seize Ground (4), Spearhead. There were two objectives in the large building seen above, so I lodged it full of scoring models. I was able to take out his Vendettas early, and destroyed the units which approached the building.

Here is my 1500 point list, for fun:

HQ
Librarian w/ Shield, Sword 100

Elites
Priest 50

Troops
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Melta, Power Fist, Rhino 250
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Melta, Power Fist, Rhino 250
5*Assault Marines w/Melta, Rhino 125

Fast Attack
'Baal' Predator w/ Assault Cannon 115
'Baal' Predator w/ Assault Cannon 115
Land Speeder Typhoon w/ Heavy Flamer 90

Heavy Support
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missles 130
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missles 130
Vindicator 145

=1500

Brother Krogors Bloodied Fists 1/3 Done

2011-09-17T05:48:00.002-05:00

I'm doing this fifteen man squad five at a time. When the whole squad is done I'll do the story...

Aego the Bull, Exalted of Khorne

2011-09-09T02:32:00.005-05:00

Slayer of Charaxes, Fifth Headsman of the Skull Takers,
The Skull Rider

Aego the Bull is one of the many powerful Chosen who accompany the Skull Takers of Hans Kho'ren; a small but powerful World Eaters warband championed by a powerful Lord, their namesake. Aego rides a powerful and fierce Juggernaut of Khorne, clad in brass.
He is called the Bull because of his impressive set of horns, a gift from Khorne after he slew the leader of a rival warband, a Lord named Charaxes. Aego is one of the original World Eaters, a veteran of the Terran Unification Wars, and he was part of the Assault on Terra. Since the Heresy, Aego has taken one hundred thousand skulls for Khorne.

From the Tables

2011-08-24T22:58:00.002-05:00

The Lamenters are overwhelmed by a savage 13th Company force.

This is a shot from 'Ard Boyz a couple weeks back. The army I played against was all foot with Logan, I couldn't have hoped to kill even a fraction of them. But when Mephiston, Sanguinor, and a Furioso whiffed their turn 2 assault, I didn't have a chance...

So, how should I use this model...?

2011-08-20T15:05:00.002-05:00

I'm sure by now most people have seen this model. It is a little newer for me, as I only recently got online access since my move. But basically, it screams at me, and I must have it. But there is no way I'm starting Ogres. Fortunately the army I am working on is Chaos themed, and everything fits in a Chaos force, most of all big, nasty beasties. But I have a problem.

My plan for the army was based off Codex: Space Wolves (no Long Fangs for my Khorne guys, I just wanted to field a dozen or so Juggernaut riders), and beyond the Thunderwolves, there just isn't a big nasty monster in the army list. So what should I do? How many Juggernauts could I fit in a normal CSM army? Then he could just be a Summoned Greater Daemon, easy. But I don't want to lose all the Juggers. Should I bite the bullet and just field a CSM army? Or is there something this model could be in a SW list that I am just missing? I should have prefaced the question by saying I have never liked the concept of fielding organics with vehicle rules, but this guy could be an exception.

What say the few readers I may actually have left?

ATX to PDX

2011-07-31T16:47:00.003-05:00

I'm moving from Austin to Portland, Oregon this coming month. Let me know if any of you are from my new area, we can get in a game!

WAR Games Con Game VI v. Orks & Game VII v. Imperial Guard

2011-07-21T04:41:00.007-05:00

WAR Games Con was here in Austin, Texas and, like I posted last, I decided to break out my old Craftworld Eldar. You can see the list I played here. I only got one picture of my Game 6, so I combined it with 7, needed to get it all done anyways.

Game VI
Dawn of War
Random Game Length
Primary: Annihilation
Secondary: Capture and Control
Tertiary: Highest number of surviving Troops units.

Game 6 I played against CQ and his Ork army. His list looked like this:
HQ
Warboss w/ Bike, Klaw, Attack Squig, Cybork
Big Mek w/ KFF, Burna
Troops
Deff Dread w/ Extra CCWs
30*Shoota Ard' Boyz w/ PK Nob
10*Nob Bikers w/ various stuff
Fast Attack
Skorcha
Skorcha
Heavy Support
Battlewagon w/ Deff Rolla, stuff
3*Lobbas
3*Lobbas
Since I only have the one pic I'll just do a complete summary. I didn't shoot at the Nobz once. He broke his Warboss off and I killed him w/ Fire Dragons. The Nobz really got onto me. Eldrad fought the entire thirty man mob for almost the whole game, before breaking them on the last turn. One of my five man Avenger squads beat and ran down a battery of Lobbas. I forgot to move my Bike to win the secondary on the last turn, but CQ graciously allowed me to make the move out of sequence. Ended up 8-8 on KPs and I won the other objectives.

****************************

Game VII
Pitched Battle
Random Game Length
Primary: Seize Ground (5)
Secondary: Annihilation
Tertiary: Destroy opponents most expensive unit.

So Game 7 I played against Jon and his absolutely awesome Bloodborn Renegade IG army! Of course I also was glad to have another test against Mech IG after my Game 2. His army looked like this:

HQ
Company Command Squad x5 - Plasmagun x3
- Medic
- Astropath
- Chimera
Company Command Squad x5 - Plasmagun x3
- Chimera

Troops
Infantry Platoon
Platoon Command Squad x5 - Flamer x3
- Chimera - Heavy flamer
Infantry Squad x10 - Flamer, Autocannon
- Chimera - Heavy flamer
Infantry Squad x10 - Flamer, Autocannon
- Chimera - Heavy flamer
Special Weapons Squad x6 - Meltagun x3

Infantry Platoon
Platoon Command Squad x5 - Flamer x3
- Chimera - Heavy flamer
Infantry Squad x10 - Flamer, Autocannon
- Chimera - Heavy flamer
Infantry Squad x10 - Flamer
- Chimera - Heavy flamer
Special Weapons Squad x6 - Meltagun x3

Fast Attack
Vendetta
Vendetta

Heavy Support
Hydra battery x2
Manticore
Medusa x2

So overall very similar to the other list I played, but less melta. I got first turn and Jon went all reserves, so I did this on his board edge. I had to put a Dragon unit on each end because he could pick which side of the line to come in on.

He got pretty lucky on his reserve rolls, combined with his Astropath, so I scattered my vehicles. As you can see in the picture below,a couple tanks go down, including Eldrad's Serpent. I take out a Hydra and a Vendetta. You can also get a good feel for where the objectives are in this shot.

Eldrad Fortuned up and ran in to start wreckin' stuff. A theme of this battle became the fact that single characters and small units were left alive as Jon poured all his shots into my remaining armour. My tanks flew in lots of circles.

Eldrad went down to a melta shot eventually, but the Autarch w/ Fusion Gun started his solo routine. My initial move meant that Jon still is unable to take the middle of the board, where most of the objectives are.

My tanks start taking a lot of damage results, but they aren't going down. They continue to rotate between objectives, flat-outing and contesting. I end of winning the Primary when my Guardian Jetbikes wreck a Chimera with their Shuriken Cannons, then charge in and break the squad inside, giving me a 1-0 edge at the bottom of Turn 7. Great game Jon!

Tournament/Army Analysis: Overall I'd say I still see the virtue of a Battle Point Tournament format. I like to play in different kinds of tournaments, and I believe the existence of this variety is a good thing. As far as the Eldar go, I think I definitely proved to myself that they are still a viable tournament choice. I did not yield a Primary objective in any of my seven games, and that was with zero practice. However, they are probably not a BP tournament winning army, as they have a very difficult time winning big enough in that format.

WAR Games Con Game V v. Chaos Daemons

2011-07-18T12:47:00.006-05:00

So this past weekend was WAR Games Con here in Austin, Texas and, like I posted last, I decided to break out my old Craftworld Eldar. You can see the list I played here. After Day 1 I sat at 76 points, two shy of the top bracket, unfortunately.

Game V
Spearhead
Random Game Length
Primary: Seize Ground (3)
Secondary: Capture and Control
Tertiary: Have more total units in opponents deployment zone then they have in yours.

Game 5 I played against Matt and his Daemons, who had been my Game 3 opponents teammate when we played in the Doubles Tournament. All told, this meant I faced 72 Fiends in 3 days, here is his list:
HQ
Keeper of Secrets w/ stuff
Herald w/ Legion, Chariot, Bolt
The Masque
Elites
6*Fiends
6*Fiends
6*Fiends
Troops
5*Horrors w/ Bolt
5*Horrors w/ Bolt
5*Horrors w/ Bolt
5*Horrors w/ Bolt, Icon, Changeling
Heavy Support
Daemon Prince w/ Mark of Nurgle, Noxious Touch, Flight, Iron Hide, Cloud of Flies, Breath
Daemon Prince w/ Mark of Tzeentch, Bolt, Breath
Daemon Prince w/ Mark of Tzeentch, Bolt, Gaze

Matt gave me first turn, so I deployed and circled the wagons (seen below)
He got the wrong wave and deployed his Daemon Princes and Horrors to begin with. I should have focused on killing his few scoring units with my whole army, but instead I killed the big stuff. His Horrors then capitalized on their shooting and crippled one of my Avenger units. His Fiends came in and we started to played tag. Fire Dragons charged in and killed his Tzeentch Herald.

My Jetbikes reserved in turn 2 and finally found something they are better than in combat.
After about three turns Matt finally manages to knock down a tank. Eldrad and the other Avengers are charged by Fiends.
Matt's Keeper of Secrets doesn't come in until turn 5, and I dance around some more. We draw the first two and Matt gets Tertiary by knocking down a Wave Serpent in the bottom of turn 7.
12/30. boo. I did make this fun little score/contest move though...

Post Game Analysis: As I said before, I should have focused on the scoring units early, and I should have focused on getting to the objectives faster. I got charged by all three Fiend units multiple turns, their is no reason for that with my mobility. Matt played a great game, forcing me into hard choices all the time.

WAR Games Con Game IV v. Lamenters (BA)

2011-07-18T02:05:00.004-05:00

So this past weekend was WAR Games Con here in Austin, Texas and, like I posted last, I decided t0 break out my old Craftworld Eldar. You can see the list I played here.

Game IV
Dawn of War
Random Game Length
Primary: Capture and Control
Secondary: Annihilation
Tertiary: Kill the most expensive HQ

Game 4 I played against Donovan and his really nice air-brushed Lamenters. He works for Next Level Painting. His army looked like this:

HQ
Reclusiarch
Librarian w/ Shield, Lance

Elites
Terminator Assault Squad w/ 3*Thunder Hammers
3*Priests

Troops
5*Assault Marines w/ Flamer, Power Weapon
in Razorback w/ Lascannon & Plasmagun
5*Assault Marines w/ Flamer, Power Weapon
in Razorback w/ Lascannon & Plasmagun
5*Assault Marines w/ Flamer, Power Weapon
in Razorback w/ Lascannon & Plasmagun
5*Assault Marines w/ Flamer, Power Weapon
in Razorback w/ Lascannon & Plasmagun
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltaguns, Powerfist

Fast Attack
'Baal' Predator w/ Flamestorm, Dozer Blade
'Baal' Predator w/ Flamestorm, Dozer Blade

Heavy Support
Stormraven w/ Lascannon, Multi-melta, Extra Armour

I win the first turn roll and opt to go second. I deploy nothing and opt to roll on turn 1. I make a major mistake off the bat and choose to overly aggressive. I should have held back a couple turns, especially considering how the early engagement seemed to slow the game down. So here is the top of two, where I have engaged his lines with a unit of Fire Dragons.

I manage to draw out his Terminator squad in his turn 2, they charge tanks and wreck a Serpent. I give him a Bladestorm+Doom reprisal.

Unfortunately I was not able to finish them off with the Avengers so I had to waste Fire Dragon shooting (which was intended for the Stomraven).
Eldrad has to finish off the Reclusiarch in combat (Tertiary).

No more pictures because we only got 4 turns. I lost Annihilation and drew Capture and Control, but I feel like I could have done better with another turn. 12/30.

Post Game Analysis: It was really unfortunate we only got 4 turns, only game I didn't finish all weekend. Donovan had alot of questions about Eldar, and I didn't help any by chatting him up about Lamenters (they just need checkers!). So with 76 points on the day, that left me 2 points out of the GT. Guess I should have gotten that Tertiary Game 1! D'oh!

WAR Games Con Game III v. Chaos Daemons

2011-07-15T06:06:00.001-05:00

So this past weekend was WAR Games Con here in Austin, Texas and, like I posted last, I decided t0 break out my old Craftworld Eldar. You can see the list I played here.

Game III
Pitched Battle
Random Game Length
Primary: Annihilation
Secondary: Seize Ground (3)
Tertiary: Control more Terrain features

Game 3 I played against Dan (from Hogs of War) and his mixed Daemon army.I played a fun game against Dan and his friend the day before in the doubles tournament, his list looked like this:

HQ
Lord Of Change
The Masque
Herald of Tzeentch on Chariot w/ Legion, Bolt
Elites
6*Fiends w/ 1*Unholy Might
6*Fiends w/ 1*Unholy Might
6*Fiends w/ 1*Unholy Might
Troops
5*Horrors w/ Bolt
5*Horrors w/ Bolt
5*Horrors w/ Bolt
5*Horrors w/ Bolt
Heavy Support
Daemon Prince w/ MoT, Flight, Iron Hide, Bolt, Breath, Gaze
Daemon Prince w/ MoN, Flight, Iron Hide, Cloud of Flies, Noxious Touch, Breath

I win the roll off and make Dan go first, I go all reserves. Here is his initial drop after he got the wave he wanted. You can also see the three Seize Ground objectives. His Nurgle DP is out of frame to the lower right.
Both my Fire Dragon units come in to try and kill the Nurgle Prince, but are unable to deal the final wound to him. One unit pays for this error with their lives.
A couple of my other tanks zip up the right flank, and the Lord of Change lands right beside them. One of my three man bike squads goes up the extreme left and essentially takes a Fiend unit out of the battle.
His shooting fails to down any tanks an his Fiends are still a turn out. In my turn 2 I Doom the Tzeentch Prince and the Lord of Change, and show them what Bladestorm means, killing both. Small fire from my tanks kills the Masque.
Eldrad charges in and after a few rounds of combat finishes off the Nurgle Prince, and I manage to Bladestorm a Fiend unit. I kill his Herald from contesting to win the Secondary (1-0) and the Primary (KPs 6-5). We got a draw on the Tertiary. 26/30.

Eldar

Contested

Post Game Analysis: Baiting the one unit of Fiends was essential, if I had to deal with all three, tanks would have started falling fast. Destroying his large Daemons fast was essential to trying to manage the objectives, and walling in the Fiends with my armour. It was a close game, but I felt pretty confident throughout.

WAR Games Con Game II v. Imperial Guard

2011-07-14T01:07:00.003-05:00

So this past weekend was WAR Games Con here in Austin, Texas and, like I posted last, I decided t0 break out my old Craftworld Eldar. You can see the list I played here.

Game II
Spearhead
Random Game Length
Primary: Capture and Control
Secondary: Seize Ground (3)
Tertiary: Kill least expensive unit (Platoon Command Squad)

So Game 2 I played against Matt and his nasty mechanized Imperial Guard list:

HQ
Company Command Squad x5 - Plasmagun x4
- Company Commander - Plasma Pistol
- Astropath
- Chimera - Heavy flamer
Company Command Squad x5 - Plasmagun x4
- Company Commander - Plasma Pistol, Melta bombs
- Chimera - Heavy flamer

Troops
Infantry Platoon
Platoon Command Squad x5 - Flamer x4
- Chimera - Heavy flamer
Infantry Squad x10 - Flamer, Autocannon
- Chimera - Heavy flamer
Infantry Squad x10 - Flamer, Autocannon
- Chimera - Heavy flamer
Special Weapons Squad x6 - Flamer, Meltagun x2
Special Weapons Squad x6 - Flamer, Meltagun x2
Veteran Squad - Meltagun x3
- Chimera - Heavy flamer
Veteran Squad - Meltagun x3
- Chimera - Heavy flamer

Fast Attack
Vendetta
Vendetta
Banewolf

Heavy Support
Hydra battery x2
Manticore
Medusa

Matt gets first turn and deploys on my left flank as seen below. Their is a very large LOS blocking building in the middle of the table. I opt to go all reserves. Both of our Capture and Control objectives are close to our board edges in the corner.

Matt swung most of his tanks around one side of the building, with two going to the other side. Thanks to my Autarch most of my army comes in turn 2, taking up positions out of LOS behind the building and the cacti seen below. Those Hydras really scared me.

On his turn 3 he managed to knock out one of my Fire Dragon Wave Serpents, who in turn explode an Infantry squad Chimera. I unwisely put one Falcon ahead, closer inside the ruin, and it gets wrecked, with my least expensive unit (Dire Avengers) in it.

My advance on the left, towards his objective, gets stalled, when a Wave Serpent goes down. My other Dragons get bogged down in assault after wrecking a Chimera.
The battle for my objective was pretty epic, with both Vendettas going in for the contest. A lucky glance from a Pulse Laser takes out the first one, while the other wrecked itself 'flat-outing' onto the first one. We had a little argument about whether he could grav-chute out after wrecking with a flat out (apparently you can...).

Eldrad stopped this other Chimera from contesting my home objective, and contested this one after seeing off an Infantry squad. Fortune and a 3++ works pretty well.

I had enough tanks to contest the other two as well...

So I drew Capture and Control 1-1, drew Seize Ground 0-0, and didn't get the Tertiary, as that Platoon Command squad never came out of his deployment zone. 12/30 points.

Post Game Analysis: Once my main push on his objective failed I was playing for the draw. He had too many tanks for me to wreck, and he didn't have enough high S shots either it seems. It was reassuring to see that the army could handle that kind of army, as it didn't really exist the last time I was playing this force. This middling game would get me out of the top tables and into a Daemon army!

WAR Games Con Game I v. Black Templars

2011-07-12T01:35:00.012-05:00

So this past weekend was WAR Games Con here in Austin, Texas and, like I posted last, I decided t0 break out my old Craftworld Eldar. I know my way around the army and don't really lose my feel for them. So with that in mind, I played a total of 0 practice games with this army, or with Eldar at all. This is the list I took:

HQ
Eldrad 210
Autarch w/ Fusion Gun 80
Elites
7*Fire Dragons 112
in Wave Serpent w/ Scatter Laser 115
7*Fire Dragons 112
in Wave Serpent w/ Scatter Laser 115
Troops
9*Dire Avengers w/ Exarch w/ Double Catapults, Bladestorm 140
in Wave Serpent w/ Scatter Laser 115
8*Dire Avengers w/ Exarch w/ Double Catapults, Bladestorm 128
in Wave Serpent w/ Shuriken Cannon 100
5*Dire Avengers 60
5*Dire Avengers 60
3*Jetbikes w/ Cannon 76
3*Jetbikes w/ Cannon 76
Heavy Support
Falcon w/ Scatter Laser, Holofields, Stones 175
Falcon w/ Scatter Laser, Holofields, Stones 175
Fire Prism w/ Holofields 150
=1999

Game I
Dawn of War
Random Game Length
Primary: Seize Ground (5)
Secondary: Annihilation
Tertiary: Table Quarters

Game 1 I played against Doug and his Black Templar army, here is his list:

HQ
Commander w/ Artificer Armour, Crusader Seals, Lightning Claw, Storm Shield, Frags
Emperor's Champion w/ Accept Any Challenge
Elites
5*Assault Terminators w/ Furious Charge, 2*Hammers
in Land Raider Crusader w/ Extra Armour, Smoke
Troops
8*Crusaders w/ Power Fist, Meltagun, 2*Neophytes
in Rhino w/ Extra Armour, Smoke
7*Crusaders w/ Power Fist, Meltagun, 2*Neophytes
in Rhino w/ Extra Armour, Smoke
7*Crusaders w/ Power Fist, Meltagun, 2*Neophytes
in Rhino w/ Extra Armour, Smoke
5*Crusaders w/ Lascannon, Flamer
5*Crusaders w/ Lascannon, Flamer
Fast Attack
Land Speeder Typhoon
Heavy Support
Predator Destructor w/ Lascannon Sponsons
Predator Destructor w/ Lascannon Sponsons

Doug got first turn and deployed his small Crusader squads on objectives. I opted not to deploy, and to roll on turn 1. His Land Raider and Rhino squads went strong up the middle, while his fire support elements took up positions on either flank. I came on in a large phalanx, tightly around the hill of skulls. Below is a shot from the top of turn 2. You can see four of the objectives, the fifth is in the ruin you can see it in the upper left.

On the bottom of turn 2 both my Fire Dragon units moved up and exploded the Land Raider. A Terminator died in the explosion. The Terminators killed both units on the top of 3. Most of my Grav tanks move up the right flank, while the Prism stayed back.

On my turn 3 I Doomed and double-Bladestormed the Terminators to kill them. One of the empty Fire Dragon Wave Serpents moved up the left towards the objective in the ruin. One of my Falcons wrecks the Land Speeder. Eldrad Fortuned himself, hopped out of a Falcon, and wrecked the Predator on the right flank.

Turn 4 Eldrad stayed Fortuned and charged one of the small Crusader squads on an objective. My tanks wrecked a Rhino. Turn 5 I take some casualties from an Avenger squad, but nothing else. I finish off the squad from the Rhino with Avengers, and pull back on objectives. Game ends. Here are the 5 objectives.

Black Templar

Contested

Eldar

So I won objectives 2-1, Annihilation 6-2, and drew on table quarters. 26/30 points.

Post Game Analysis: My first game back with the Eldar felt good, though the Turn 5 Eldar win definitely helped. I was glad to see the old Dragon then Bladestorm combo still works well on Terminator units in Land Raiders. I think if Doug made any mistake it was being too passive with his Rhino units in the middle, as I think I would have had more trouble if he was more aggressive. I probably could have gotten quarters, but honestly didn't try that hard. I don't really like getting max points Game 1 anyway. Of course that didn't help my match up, as I ended up played a nasty Mech Guard army in Game 2! Coming soon...

WargamesCon Army

2011-07-04T04:08:00.004-05:00

So I decided to break out my old Mech Eldar for this years WargamesCon. I think they are pretty decent in the prevailing tournament metagame (not to mention a good match-up vs. this years army darling, Grey Knights). I went with a mix of units I am comfortable using, and even painted up some Jetbikes for extra objective grabbing power, and a couple new Wave Serpents. Theese were the first additions to the army in years. I haven't really gotten to test the army, but I am very comfortable with Mech Eldar, having played them for many years.

Works in Progress...

2011-06-28T16:03:00.000-05:00

Khornate Marine Tester #2

2011-06-18T05:39:00.002-05:00

With a nice new red scheme this time. I like this one a lot better, what about y'all?

Railhead Rumble 11' Day II

2011-06-13T03:40:00.006-05:00

So I arrive on Sunday morning to find out I am matched up against Hulksmash and his nasty Space Wolf army. The mall complex was a lot more calm the second day, and it was a nice change of pace. On the day the Primary would be scored W/D/L 16/8/4, the Secondary was W 4 (last mission having D 2), and up to 4 bonus points per round.

Game I v. Brad T.'s Space Wolves

Dawn of War

Primary Objective Markers (5)

Secondary Table Quarters

Bonus Kill a chosen HQ

Brad had a very competitive and well built Razorback list with Logan Grimnar w/ big Wolf Guard Terminator squad (2 Cyclones, assorted wargear), 2 Lone Wolves (TDA, Storm Shields, and Chainfists), 2*Greyhunters (Meltagun, Wolf Guard w/ Combi-melta, HB Razorback), Greyhunters (Meltagun, Wolf Guard w/ Combi-melta, AC Razorback), Greyhunters (Flamer, Wolf Guard w/ Combi-flamer, AC Razorback) , and 3*Long Fangs (5*Missles, AC Razorback).
I always really enjoy playing against really strong opponents and trying to learn from such games, this was just such an instance, however, I honestly played horribly. We'll go through it at the end. Brad got first turn and deployed his big unit of Terminators with Logan in the center of the board, hidden behind the platform seen above. The objectives were one in the middle and one in each quarter roughly. I fly my Stormraven straight down the middle onto the platform. My Devastators take positions on either flank, and my Rhino hide behind the other side of the platform. The Flamestorms outflank.
Turn two the Wolf Guard wreck the Stormraven with Tank Hunting missles (thanks to Logan) and charge the Furioso (seen above). Menoloth uses Wings to get out of there and charge his Long Fangs in the middle, while my missles are ineffective.
The Flamestorms come in and roast a Long Fang pack, while his Terminators wreck the Dreadnought. I am eventually able to kill all the Wolf Guard, but Logan kills all my scoring units, while the Lone Wolves go tag Menoloth. Bottom of six I have my Priest and one missle laucher Marine.
That is when things are interesting. Brad is so ahead that he didn't move onto more than one objective, an objective that happens to be about 8" away from my lone Devastator. So I need a Difficult Terrain test plus a run to equal 5" to get a draw on the Primary. DT roll, snake eyes, run, 2. C'est la vie. That didn't lose me the game. I think I lost in the first turn with my Stormraven placement, I should have never sent it head on into the Wolf Guard, I mean, seriously. It should have gone down the left flank to threaten his Grey Hunters and Long Fangs, and potentially forced him to choose between it and my Assault squads. As it was I gave him the best of both worlds. I made other mistakes, but none of them would have ever happened if I hadn't made that first mistake. 4 points.

Game II v. Mark M.'s Blood Angels

Spearhead
Primary Annihilation
Secondary Most units outside either deployment zone.
Bonus Highest cost unit/HQ with in 12" of the center.

So I played Mark again Day 2. You can see his list on the Day One post. After our game we had talked about him going away from his initial game plan in our first game and splitting up his forces. He got first turn and I held the Stormraven in reserve and all the Baals outflanking. His shooting was super hot through the first two turns, as he wrecked all of my Rhinos. After I had no reserves come in turn two I started to wonder whether I'd have much left by the time they came in.

My Assault squads destroyed one of his jumper squads. He did a great job keeping his army centralized and away from the flanks, but one of my Flamestorms got into his flanks. Then Menoloth came in and got crazy again, killing his Librarian, a Razorback, and an Assault squad while claiming the middle. The Furioso Dreadnought finished off that flank. If Mark made any mistake in the second game it was not finishing off remnant units, as I had multiple squads of less than three models in my KP win. 24 points.

Game III v. Mike K.'s Chaos Marines

Pitched Battle
Primary Capture and Control
Secondary Reduce all enemy units to half strength.
Bonus 4 marked enemy units are worth a point each.

I got a lot of pictures of this game because Mike's army was so awesome looking, and I didn't have to worry about more pictures for later games, so the battery wasn't an issue. He had two Daemon Princes (one Lash, one Tzeentch/Warptime), 5*Chosen (2*Melta, 2*Flamer), 8*Berserkers (Rhino, Power Weapon), two 8*Plague Marines (Rhino, Melta, Flamer, Power Fists), 9*Thousand Sons (Rhino, Wind), 2*Defilers, and 2*Obliterators.
We set up our objectives in opposite corners and both deployed strong objective taking forces. His Chosen infiltrated near my objective. I outflanked my Flamestorms.

So I have a hazy memory of the game at this point, but I was able to take his objective after Menoloth and an Assault Squad handled the Daemon Princes, and the Furioso tore through the Plague Marines. I was able to zoom back to contest my home objective with fast Rhinos

Here are pictures of the final objective positions. I got the Primary, and three bonus points for 19.

***
So all in all a great tournament. I don't know where I finished overall exactly, as the final standings haven't been released yet, but I did win Player's Choice! Thanks to the players that voted for me!

Railhead Rumble 11' Day I

2011-06-13T02:40:00.011-05:00

So this past weekend I played in the Rail Rumble at AKON (which is apparently some well known anime and gaming convention) put on by the Heroic 28s Podcast. It was held in this megalithic hotel/mall complex, which was a pretty cool venue. It was a two-day seven game event, with the first day being pure win/loss to determine brackets for the second day battle point based finals. So Day I each game had three equally weighted objectives, the player with more got the win. There were no ties so if mission objectives were tied, it went to Victory Points. My camera was almost out of battery and I had no extra/charger, so you'll see the number of photos vary greatly from game to game. Saturday was the day the convention had their costume contest, and let's just say the people watching between games (the hall had some comfy chairs perched over three stories of packed people right outside the door) was... interesting...

Game I v. Mark M.'s Blood Angels

Dawn of War

Objectives

Annihilation

Objective Markers (3, one in the center of the board, one in each deployment zone)

Kill opponents most Costly Unit

Special Rules

The center objective will explode mighty powerful-like on a D6 chance every turn, a 3+ after turn four (4+ wound with no armour, vehicles penetrated on a 4+ within 6")

Mark had a hybrid Jumper/ AV13 Wall kind of list w/ a Librarian (Jump Pack, Shield of Sanguinius, Blood Lance), a decked out 215 point Honor Guard, a naked Priest, two naked 5 man TL lascannon Razorback Assault squads, two ten man Assault Squads (dual melta, PF), decked out 220 point Vanguard, two AC Baals, two LC Predators, and a Vindicator.
We both placed our objectives on the right flank. I lost the roll to go first and Mark made the mistake of splitting his forces far apart on the far flanks (you can see the left flank above). In return I moved my Assault squads on around the objective (the Techmarine seen below), and my Devastators in the middle. I outflanked the Flamestorm Baals and bum rushed his left flank with the Stormraven. Turn 2 both Baals came in and roasted an Assault squad while Menoloth charged in and killed pretty much everything seen above (eventually), and a Devastator squad popped his Vindicator. On his turn the Vanguard came in and killed a Devastator squad.

On the flank with the objective, I surged forward with two Assault squads, leaving one to claim. In return Mark had a decent concept in trying to bottle up my Assault squads, but didn't really know how to handle the Rhino Rush. The Assault Squads inside wrecked both Predators with their Meltaguns and went on to kill the Razorbacks, and their occupants, taking that objective.

The Furioso hitched a ride back to the deployment zone and killed the Vanguard before they could contest any objectives. Mark didn't have much left. 3/3 Objectives. 1-0.

Game II v. Brian B.'s Dark Angels

Spearhead

Objectives

Assassination (kill chosen HQ)- Chaplain

Objective Markers (5)

Table Quarters (most points in a quarter to control it, units holding objectives don't count for points)

Special Rules

Two of the objectives are placed within 12" of the enter of the board, a player must control one of these to take any other objectives, and they may only be contested by scoring units.

~~~

Brian's army was mostly Doublewing w/ Belial, a Chaplain, and an upgraded Deathwing squad in a Crusader, two Deathwing squads(2*Storm Shield, Cyclone, Chainfist), two Deathwing squads(2*Storm Shield, Assault Cannon, Chainfist), two separate Typhoons w/ Multi-Meltas, three Bikes w/ 2*Melta, and two Autocannon/Heavy Bolter Predators.
I played Brian last November in an RTT, but his army got a lot better with the improved Dark Angels. Things could be worse, but I really learned over the course of the tournament that this army really doesn't have many ways to handle Terminators (makes me wish I had found a way to fit in the 4*Plasma Honor Guard). I managed to handle all his non-Terminator units, but he was definitely ahead all game.
My Flamestorms are not good against Terminators, so I parked them both in a corner for a quarter. However, my scoring units were gone, and he had an objective. Then Menoloth went crazy again, and charged his command squad (after it killed the squad seen below) killing the Chaplain (an Objective), then Belial, then most of the squad, while not ever dying. I got two missions to one, giving me the win. 2/3 Objectives. 2-0.

Game III v. John C.'s Chaos Marines

Pitched Battle

Objectives

Recon (most units in opposing deployment zone)

Objective Markers (3, two in opposing corners 12" in, one placed outside deployment zones)

Table Quarters (as above)

Special Rules

Warp Rift: In each movement phase a player may Deep Strike a single unit anywhere on the board (including out of combat), though this Deep Strike may not be aided in any way. (both my opponent and I completely forgot this rule unfortunately)

John had a cool Chaos army w/ two Slaaneshi Daemon Princes (one Lash, one Warptime), two squads of Chaos Marines, two squads of Plague Marines (all troops with melta, power fists, and Rhinos), and nine Obliterators.
I got first turn and John held everything but his Obilterators in reserve. I deployed my Devastators on either flank and the Stormraven in the center with the Assault Squads and the Baal. Both Flamestorms outflanked. The Stormraven went right up the middle and soaked nine lascannon shots on Johns turn, while the Assault Squads went for an objective in the middle to the right.
Turn two I charged the Furioso into his middle Obliterators and killed two. The missles on the right flank killed an Obliterator. On his turn a Daemon Prince charged the Furioso, but didn't wreck it. Three of his troop squads met mine at the objective, while the last claimed the objective in his corner. The second Daemon Prince came in and wrecked the Furioso, but was then charged by Menoloth. The other Daemon Prince went into the middle objective area to help. The Prince was able to kill Menoloth, but limped out of the fight. Obliterators immobilized the Stormraven, and it let it's Bloodstrikes fly on the wounded Daemon prince and killed it. Seven exploded Rhino hulls littered the area around the middle objective, we both firmly controlled our corner objective. Out of the smoke comes five Plague Marines and three Assault Marines, the Plague Marines claim the objective, and my three Assault Marines run into his deployment zone to win me the Recon objective. I also claim quarters 3-1. 2/3 Objectives. 3-0.

Game IV v. Jesse P.'s Hounds of the Legion (SW)

Dusk of War (like it's sister, but with Night Fight coming in Reserves starting turn 4)

Objectives

Annihilation

Assassination

Kill opponents most Costly Unit

Special Rules

Setting Sun (explained above)

So being 3-0 and already assured the top bracket I just goofed around with my opponent (lots of Baals jokes) and fed my troops into the meatgrinder, I was mentally exhausted at that point. Jesse had a really gnarly army w/ two Thunderwolf Lords, each with 15*Wolves, 50 Grey Hunters (in 5 squads with 2*Melta and a Rhino), a single SS Thunder Wolf, a Vindicator, and three Lone Wolves (TDA, Power Fist, Combi-Melta). Not really much to report with this one besides just having a really nice and fun opponent.

2011-06-10T05:20:00.003-05:00

AKON List, Consistence equals confidence

Instead of trying to craft some new list, I decided to stick to a tried and true concept which I have performed well with before. I am confident enough in its ability to believe it handles a variety of armies.

Mephiston
Furioso with Blood Talons, Heavy Flamer
Sanguinary Priest w/ Combi -Flamer
10*Assault Marines w/ Power Fist, 2*Meltaguns, Rhino
10*Assault Marines w/ Power Fist, 2*Meltaguns, Rhino
8*Assault Marines w/ Power Fist, Flamer, Rhino
Baal w/ Flamestorm
Baal w/ Flamestorm
Baal w/ Assault cannon, Heavy Bolters
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missle Launchers
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missle Launchers
Stormraven w/ Extra Armour, Multi-melta, Lascannon,

A Blast from the Past, Lost and the Damned Goatmen

2011-05-25T23:56:00.002-05:00

I found these in a box and they took me back. They are part of my unit of 25 goat-headed mutants I used in my Lost in the Damned army circa 2006 or so. It has little relevance, but I also found my old 1850 list from back then, crazy...

The Royal House of Lord Alphonis
1st Head of the Aventine Shadow Crusades (Alpha Legion Cell A3.93//)

HQ
ALLIED Daemon Prince Quentis Augustine Alphonis, Chainfist, Terminator Armour, Spiky Bitz, Bionics, Ether Lance, Daemonic Rune, Daemonic Mutation, Daemonic Essence 230

Operative Marach(Lieutenant-), Power Weapon, Infiltration, Pistol, Frag Grenade 77

Elites
ALLIED The Bohemian Guard 5*Chosen Terminators , 2*Chainfists, 1*Power Fist, 1*Reaper Autocannon, 2*Champio, 2*CCWs, Spiky Bitz, Furious Charge, Counter-attack 278

Troops
De Rojo Mano, 25*Burly Mutants , Champion , 2* Flamers
Power Weapon 251

Los Insaniatas, 16*Armoured(nurglesque) Mutants , 2* Flamers Champion ,
Combi-bolter 163

Unit 1.1,9*Traitors , Missile Launcher , Agitator , Chaos Hound 109

Unit 1.2, 9*Traitors , Lascannon, Agitator, Chaos Hound 114

ALLIED The Disciples of Avenbrook, 20*Cultists , Assassins (free), Champion , Power Weapon 135

ALLIED Sub Cell A3.93.4//, 10*Chaos Space Marines , Infiltrate , Plasma Gun , Aspiring Champion , Teleport Homer 178

Heavy Support
‘Modeste’ Leman Russ Battle Tank , Lascannon, Improved Comms,
Track Guards 190

‘The Captain Ryan’ Basilisk , Indirect Fire 125

New AKON List -Shifting with the Meta-

2011-05-24T03:32:00.003-05:00

So I made my list a bit more solid and removed the Stormravens completely. But what came out of it is I think a pretty nasty list of its own. It's not really like anything I've played before, but I don't think that is a bad thing in this case...

2000 Points-
made changes now, more refined I think

Librarian w/ Shield of Sanguinius, Fear the Darkness 100

Terminator Assault Squad w/ 4*Thunder Hammers
in Land Raider Redeemer, Multi-Melta, Extra Armour 485

10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltaguns, Power Fist
in Land Raider, Extra Armour 465

10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltaguns, Meltabomb, Rhino 230

Honorguard w/ 4*Plasmaguns, Meltabomb, Rhino 230

'Baal' Predator w/ Flamestorm 115

'Baal' Predator w/ Flamestorm 115

5*Devastators w/ 4*Missles 130

5*Devastators w/ 4*Missles 130

Master Calix Mafrais

2011-05-20T03:46:00.001-05:00

My new Sanguinary Priest, a 'counts as' Corbulo...

Railhead Rumble is up Next!

2011-05-18T02:37:00.003-05:00

So the next decent size event we have coming in Texas is Railhead Rumble at A-Kon June 11-12 in Dallas. It is 2000 pts and seven(!) rounds. At first I was almost sure I would take my Tyranids, but I don't have a army base for them, nor the time to make one. Not to mention, it is hard for me to convince myself to take the Nids over the Lamenters, who are both better painted and more competitive. I enjoyed playing with the double Ravens this past weekend, but I feel like I really missed the support I had in my one Stormraven list that I won the tournament with back in March...

Reclusiarch 130
5*Assault Terminators w/ 4*Thunder Hammers 220
Corbulo 105
Furioso w/ Blood Talons 125
Honor Guard w/ 2*Plasma guns, Rhino 195
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Melta, Power Fist, Rhino 250
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Melta, Power Fist, Rhino 250
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Melta, Power Fist, Rhino 250
Stormraven w/ Lascannon, Multi-melta, Extra Armour 215
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missle Launchers 130
5*Devastators w/ 4*Missle Launchers 130

=2000

Alamo 40K GT 11'

2011-05-15T21:58:00.020-05:00

So it's May and that means the start of the Texas GT season with our trip slightly south to SA. John Bailey organizes an absolutely awesome event. The missions are almost completely just straight up rulebook affairs, which is perfect in my opinion. Not to mention, it's held in a beer hall, I obviously had a blast. This is the army I used.

Game I v. Sarat's Salamanders

Primary- Seize Ground; 5 Objectives
Bonus- Table Quarters
Pitched Battle

Sarat had an interesting Salamander list sporting Vulkan with Assault Terminators (Hammers) in Redeemer, a Sternguard with a couple melta guns, a Dreadnought in a Drop Pod, two Tactical squad in Rhinos (Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Flamer), two Land Speeders, and two Vindicators. I looked over the list and noticed that it was entirely restricted to weapons with range 24" and less. We ended up with our five objectives spread with one in each quarter and one in the middle. He got first turn and deployed strong in the center while reserving his Tactical squads. I deployed my Assault squads in Rhinos to move onto the close objectives and held the Stormravens in reserve. He surged forward. His Dreadnought came in near my deployment zone, and my seven-man Assault squad got out to charge it. This was enough to tempt Vulkan and his buddies out of their ride. They wrecked the Assault squad, but were stuck sitting in my deployment zone when the Ravens came in. They all died after being charged by all the occupants of both Gunships. Sanguinor ended up being able to charge a Tactical squad Turn 4, but really it was the Stormravens who ended up wreaking havoc. They wrecked a few vehicles and ended up contesting his objectives. 16/20.

Turn 5

Game II v. Joshua's Farsight Enclave

Primary- Capture and Control
Bonus- Most units outside either players DZ
Spearhead

To say this army was unique would be an understatement. It was comprised of O'Shovah with a five suit retinue w/ various weaponry, an additional Commander, a three man Fireknife, three Stealth suits w/ two marker drones each (drones pictured above), six Fire Warriors w/ two marker drones, ten Fire Warriors w/ carbines in a Devilfish, six gun drones, two Broadsides, and a Skyray. He had a lot of markerlights, which I think is a very smart way to play the army. He even had cool markerlight counters (also seen above), and got a deserved Player's Choice placing. A Spearhead Capture and Control is always a challenging mission, and in retrospect I feel like a made a major mistake in not reserving both my Stormravens, even though I had first turn. I deployed them front and center and surged towards Farsights bodyguard, fully knowing they would be shot down immediately, with three of my Rhino units around my objective in the corner. I figured the Stormravens cargo would eventually march there way to his objective. The Ravens went down and I got the turn two charge on his lines. (The red Dreadnought is actually part of Farsight)
One Furioso got a charge on his Stealth team, and wiped them out. The Terminators go down to shooting. It takes Sanguinor and the other Furioso until turn 4 to wipe out the whole Farsight bodyguard, with the Dreadnought going down in the process. Meanwhile, his Devilfish is able to break from his lines towards my objective. Bottom turn 5, Sanguinor is in combat with his foot Fire Warriors contesting his objective, I'm holding mine. We get turn 6. I am unable to disable his Devilfish, and he moves it in for the contest. Game over. Draw. Josh got the secondary for his Gun Drones chilling in the middle of the table. 8/20

Game III v. David's Iron Warriors

Primary- Annihilation
Bonus- Reduce all enemy units below 50%
Dawn of War

David had an absolutely beautiful Iron Warriors army that won Player's Choice and got 2nd Best Painted. His army consisted of a Daemon Prince w/ Warptime and Wings, a Dreadnought with combat weapons, Kharn the Betrayer with eight Khorne Berserkers w/ a Power Fist, in a Land Raider, three Obilterators, a Defiler (pictured above), and three squads of Chaos Marines with dual special weapons (2 melta, 1 plasma) and a Powerfist in a Rhino. I got first turn and zoomed my Stormravens towards his lines, one going at each end. Sanguinor got a charge off the next turn on his Daemon Prince and killed him with the re-rolls from Avenging Angel.

The Terminators and Librarian in the other Stormraven flew to his board edge, over all his tanks, and get shot down. The Assault Terminators charge and kill the Obliterators. They are in turn shot up by his Chaos Marine squads until only one survives (he doesn't die). My Rhinos catch up to his lines and the Land Raider destroys one and the Berserks charge them and kill them. The Berserkers are then charged by a Furioso, and wiped out barring Kharn. Kharn then proceeds to chop off both the Dreadnoughts arms and legs, then finish him off next turn.
The Sanguinor is gunned down. The lone Terminator starts wrecking Rhinos while the remaining Stormraven makes a bother of itself, and my Assault squads get into his Chaos Marines. The Stormraven spectacularly destroys his Defiler, shooting it's lascannon, multi-melta, and all four Bloodstrikes to do it. I don't remember the exact count, but I won on Kill Points. 16/20.

Game IV v. Bushido's Deathwing

Primary- Capture and Control
Bonus- Most scoring units in enemy DZ
Pitched Battle

With such a big crew it is always bound to happen, finally drew one of the locals. And to make it worse, I had to march through thirty Storm Shields to grab his objective. He stole the initiative and immobilized both my Stormravens. Boo. So my guys have to hoof it.
Sanguinor kills Belial. So I'll make it short, I neutralized his contesters (three Land Speeders, a Drop Pod, Scouts), and failed a difficult terrain for an assault move that could have possibly left me with my own Terminators on top of his objective at the end of the game ( his objective is in that crater you can see above). Draw. I get the bonus for an Assault squad in his DZ. Game is done in 45 minutes. And on day two we have three hour rounds. Time for a long lunch. 12/20.

Game V v. Brad's Craftworld Eldar

Primary- Seize Ground; 3 Objectives
Bonus- Four selected enemy units are worth a bonus point each
Dawn of War

Brad had a cool Mech Eldar army that managed to cram in nine tanks. He had a Farseer with Doom, an Autarch on Bike with Reaper Launcher, three units of five Fire Dragons in Wave Serpents, three Jetbikes, five Avengers in a Falcon, five Avengers in a Wave Serpent, two Flame Storm Guardian units in Wave Serpents, and two Fire Prisms (w/o holos). So I was just completely worn out by this game, and made tons of mistakes left and right. I mark all three Dragon units and one Fire Prism for my objective points. He went all reserves, so I took all three objectives and put my Stormravens near his board edge (again realizing a good chance of their destruction at the hands of the Dragons, but by delivering their cargo they will have done their job). The Dragons take out one. The Terminators and Dreadnoughts kill the Fire Dragons, while Sanguinor hops over and and engages the Jetbikes and kills the Autarch. I then mention to my opponent the idea to skim his still living Wave Serpents over my Dreads and shoot them in the back. He says that he may not have even thought of that. D'oh! (Maneuver seen above). He completely disables both of them. Sanguinor wrecks a Guardian Serpent and kills the occupants. The remaining Stormraven is destroyed by linked Fire Prism. I then make another huge mistake and move off the center objective (flight base seen below) and don't get back to it.
Then Turn 5, remaining Guardian Serpent zooms onto center objective, and other tanks move to contest the other two. Fritz'ed! Game ends. I was playing way too loose on my objectives and put the wrong Assault squads in the wrong places. Thanks for the fun game Brad! 8/20.

The final breakdowns haven't been released yet but I imagine I scored around average on battle points, and a little above average on appearance and sportsmanship. All in all a fun tournament where I learned a lot about playing double Stormravens. The Sanguinor killed an enemy HQ every game, and I only played against nice looking armies, which is doubly awesome.

Strikeforce Helios

2011-05-11T04:06:00.004-05:00

*This is a little fluff bit for the army I'm taking to this weekend's Alamo GT. You can see the actual list here*

In 988.M41 Chapter Master Malakim Phoros commissioned a Strikeforce to be assembled under the augury of Codicier Sygovax, one of his trusted advisers. The Strikeforce was charged with giving the Lamenters a presence in the Alamnos sector, where great turmoil was brewing. An area of wild space deep on the Eastern fringe, Alamnos appeared ready to break out in chaotic bloodshed. In the galactic north of the sector a small warp rift left attack by Daemons and Chaos Space Marine warbands an ever present danger, while at the same time a Tyranid Splinter fleet intersected the sector from below the galactic plane. The smell of war drew roving Ork warbands from all around, while hosts of Eldar looked to protect future interests. All the while every Imperial world in the sector fully mobilized their Planetary Defense Forces, and every Space Marine Chapter with forces in the area responded.

Sygovax was allowed to personally choose every unit for the Strikeforce, from anywhere within the Chapter. First and foremost he chose the council of a pair of Ancients, both Viridian, Master of the Depths, and brooding Tyrus. He also asked Veteran Crixus, and his unit of Honor Suits, to do battle at his side. Because the exact location of battle would be unknown, he knew speed would be of utmost importance, and thus requested two Stormraven Gunships from the Chapter Armoury. Sygovax then commissioned every Assault squad of Strikeforce Iltempus to join his Strikeforce Helios, and received squads Ignacio, Rigio, Volare, and Venturos. With his force assembled on the Gladius class frigate Storm Eye, Sygovax headed to the Alamnos sector.

Vindicator Cake

2011-05-02T02:36:00.000-05:00

this was my groom's cake...

Assault Squad Venturos

2011-04-27T03:59:00.005-05:00

Composed entirely of Brothers who were initiates at the time of the Badab War, squads such as the one led by Sergeant Venturos have become an unfortunate necessity during the Lamenters Crusade. They, and many other units, bear the minimum compliment of brothers while they wait for Initiates from the 10th to be ready. These undermanned units are used for utility and recon, which this squad does for Strikeforce Iltempus. Venturos himself is a former member of the doomed 8th Company and was given command of the new unit after the Badab Wars conclusion.

Here we can see Sergeant Venturos' many battle honorifics and reliquaries. He wears the death mask in recognition of his fallen Brothers of the 8th. The reliquary on his chest was given to him in recognition for his bravery fighting Biel-tan Eldar on Duledain. The parchment on his left shoulder is a copy of the Consecration of Lamentation, which he reads to his unit daily. From his right shoulder pad hangs a vial of blood, said to have been given to him as part of a mysterious debt from the Calix Priesthood. He is armed with an MK IV 'Redemptor' Chainsword and a Cruciform pattern Storm Shield he calls Vex. This level of ornamentation is typical of Veterans of the Lamenters Chapter.

Assault Squad Venturos' dedicated transport, the Rhino Inculos

Army List: Double Raven

2011-04-25T03:55:00.005-05:00

Sanguinor
Librarian w/ Unleash Rage, Blood Lance
Furioso w/ Blood Talons
Furioso w/ Blood Talons
5* Assault Terminators, 5*Hammers
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltaguns, Power Fist, Rhino, Searchlight
7*Assault Marines w/ Meltagun, Power Fist, Rhino, Searchlight
5*Assault Marines w/ Flamer, Storm Shield, Rhino, Searchlight
5*Assault Marines w/ Flamer, Storm Shield, Rhino, Searchlight
Stormraven w/ Multi-Melta, Lascannon, Extra Armour
Stormraven w/ Multi-Melta, Assault Cannon, Extra Armour
=2000

A Flight of Stormravens...

2011-04-21T15:35:00.002-05:00

Got em' done! (barring some free-hand)

Not dead... stuff on the workbench...

2011-04-19T01:25:00.002-05:00

Been really busy, just got married this past weekend. Finally bought my second Stormraven, and made a new finalized version of the Flying Lamenters Brothers army list. Bigred over at BoLS got some long lost Video Battle Reports of mine off a defunct flip camera, so check out the links to those, its 'Lamenters v. Dark Eldar', 'Tyranids v. Mantis Warriors', and 'Penal Legion v. Orks'...

Finally adding the icons...

2011-04-06T00:45:00.004-05:00

After several failed attempts at applying the BoLS transfers to my army, I finally decided to bite the bullet and do a little freehand work on the whole army. Now, this is around 5,000-ish points of army, but I think I can knock it out pretty fast...

Khornate Chaos Marine tester...

2011-04-05T01:29:00.002-05:00

So Khornate Chaos Marines were my first army ever, so I'll always have a soft spot for them. While not a full blown army, I do have a fun little project involving them coming up...

What does everyone think of the brass armour scheme?

From the Tables... ~Attack on Sulaco~

2011-03-29T22:31:00.007-05:00

Played a 1,500 point Spearhead Annihilation v. Kings' Mantis Warriors...

In 943.M41 a Mantis Warrior Strike Force under the command of First Company Captain Hoenir encountered the Tyranid Splinter Fleet known as Chupacabra. The Tyranids were engaged in an assault on the Civilized world of Sulaco, but had not yet defeated the local PDF. The Chapter still remembered the sting of the loss it suffered to this same group of Tyranids on the planet Durjah in 935.M41. Captain Hoenir himself led a force onto the planets surface. There they took up defense in the ruins of the city Mansolos and awaited the Swarm.

Kings reserved a large portion of his army and I was able to Infiltrate pretty close with the Genestealers. The Tactical Squad below moved onto the board, but failed to do much damage to the Genestealers, even though they were rapid-firing.

So both Genestealer units got off a Turn 2 charge...

The Doom came down into the heart of his deployment zone via Mycetic Spore and was a big headache for Kings all game.

The Genestealers meet up with the Doom after they finish off Kings first Terminator unit...

My play on his backfield probably would have won me the game if his Devastator unit hadn't so effectively pinned down my Monstrous Creature force. As it was, Hoenir (Sicarius), delivered his Coup de Gras attack on the Doom, insta-killing him, and securing Kings a 1 KP victory.

Angels Sanguine Furioso for a friend...

2011-03-28T05:51:00.001-05:00

Army List: The Angel and Demon take Flight

2011-03-22T20:50:00.005-05:00

This is the list I am planning on taking to this years GT season. It is hard-hitting, with possibilities of Alpha-Strikes, and enough boots on the ground to not be screwed in objective missions. The units in the list work well together, and I am fairly versed in the chemistry Sanguinor and Mephiston have. Anyway, here is the list at 2000 points...

Sanguinor
Mephiston
Furioso w/ Blood Talons, Heavy Flamer
Furioso w/ Blood Talons, Heavy Flamer
Sanguinary Priest w/ Combi-Flamer, Melta Bombs
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltaguns, Power Fist, Rhino
10*Assault Marines w/ 2*Meltaguns, Power Fist, Rhino
9*Assault Marines w/ Flamer, Storm Shield, Rhino
Stormraven w/ Multi-Melta, Lascannon, Extra Armour, Searchlight
Stormraven w/ Multi-Melta, Assault Cannon, Extra Armour

For 1850 one 10 man unit is replaced by a 5 man Jump Pack unit w/ a Melta Gun, and one Dreadnought loses its Heavy Flamer. Played the smaller version in a game today and it did very well against a Dreadnought spam, Mephiston list. I went first, then made all six 'Flat Out' saves I was forced to make on his turn 1 and then all my stuff got into it. My Mephiston did 4 wounds to his Mephiston before it got to strike thanks to the Priest giving him higher Initiative, my opponent then killed himself with a perils test when he went to strike me back. I had him pretty well mopped up by turn 3.

Brother-Librarian Sygovax

2011-03-20T06:14:00.006-05:00

Brother Sygovax was a member of the Lamenters Librarium from 435.M41 until 989.M41, when he was nearly killed during the Battle of Alamnos, a valiant last stand in a war torn and destructive land. Sygovax has been interned in his Dreadnought, the ancient master artifice known as Psylum for less than a decade. The fact that he has spent so little time interned means he is quite lucid. Brother Sygovax is one of the wisest individuals in the Chapter, and has been trusted adviser to both Chapter Master Phoros and Captain Eurico before, and after, his internment.