tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-22868869682910491412024-02-06T18:50:41.498-08:00What I DoSomewhat coherent ramblings from a student/gamerMichaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-7865428725165712432010-11-29T08:44:00.000-08:002010-11-29T09:00:31.790-08:00Update the Last?So awhile back I updated after a long break and promised to get some more posts up despite my busy and hectic life. Big surprise, I didn't get any done. I did play some games in there, and also got a bit of painting done, but never got around to posting any of it. Shame on me right?<br /><br />So now it's time for it all to come to an end.<br /><br />Just kidding, just trying to throw some drama in there, really hook all 5 of my readers.<br /><br />So the blog will quiet for a bit, or maybe even for a big bit. I am just running out of time for this little personal play area. Sad as it is, there are bigger and better things in store!<br /><br />Jawaballs has called! He sent out a request a long time back and asked for contributors. I responded and he decided to add me on as a writer. Woot Woot! Makes me way excited. It's a big boost to my 40k ego as it were, getting some validation from one of the big names. Not that I'm the best at anything, but that I do some of it well enough.<br /><br />Anyways, My first post is up <a href="http://warhammer40kbloodangels.blogspot.com/2010/11/lets-do-this-thing.html">HERE</a>. Check it out, leave me a comment or three. I'm fairly certain that if you are reading this you are reading Jawaballs periodically anyways. But head on over!<br /><br />I won't let this blog die completely. I will probably do some posts every now and again. I put a lot into it, and don't want it to go away altogether.<br /><br />I do want to say thanks to all you that commented and gave me a reason to continue. See ya at my new venue!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-77951789358778321572010-07-21T18:42:00.001-07:002010-07-21T18:52:56.641-07:00A little update . . .Well, a concerned citizen by the name of Anonymous brought the fact that I have not updated in awhile to my attention. And who am I to not give the public what they want . . .<br /><br />So here goes!<br /><br />RL has been kinda crazy. I have been shuffling around trying to get my license to practice optometry in AZ and get a job at the same time. Thank goodness the economy is so bad and made the job hunting REAL easy. Anyways, got both of those taken care of, and now onto other things.<br /><br />I have to buy a car to fit my family now that doesn't fit in our Altima so much. I have to buy a house because the one we have for dirt cheap now is no longer ours in December. Curses to living in your parents house, that's what I say.<br /><br />Lastly, I just haven't had any time to paint or play much. I have gotten in a few games and tried to finish up some of my bikes, but nothing substantial.<br /><br />I did play two games last week though with my little Tau army. Relevant points: railguns eat razorbacks and dreads for lunch, Plasma rifle/missile pod is the only configuration if you want to really compete, My tau army excels at kill points, but is horrible in objective games that end on turn 5 from a lucky roll from the opponent. I had him about 10 Kp to 3Kp when it ended, but you have to play the mission not to annihilate, I know. Also, more than 2 troops choices is a good idea . . . <br /><br />And before I forget, I did get some games in with my Blood Angels, and I am loving an army with 6 rzbs, 3x TL-HF and 3x TLplas/las with assault squads, 2x libbys, 2x sang priests and 2x furioso dreads. It has been really fun to play. It is way mobile which wins games, but the dreads are out of place a bit, they are too slow to really contribute to the game meaningfully, except when they kill 20 boyz in one go from the Blood Talons. Now that was fun.<br /><br />So the little update turned into a long boring one, but I will be trying to get back on my feet, but with much less frequency than before, I just don't have loads of time to do it, and frankly, life is more important than plastic soldiers.<br /><br />Until next time.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-39885015913618110962010-05-06T13:05:00.000-07:002010-05-06T13:18:38.392-07:00Battle Report - Blood Angels vs. SalamandersHello boys and girls! It’s everyone’s favorite time here again. BATREP time!!!<br /><br />Thought I’d start with something a little different, lol. As luck would have it, my wife let me sneak out again with my Blood Angels for a little game time at the LGS. I took the new list I just posted about and found some unsuspecting Salamander player to sink my vampire teeth into. He was a younger guy, but fun to play against. He had a decent looking army, and by decent I mean completely painted with no proxies or counts-as. I’m one of the worst offenders, so I look at a fully-painted army, suppress my jealousy, and tell them how cool it looks. I just really need to stop playing FF XIII and do some painting. Great game btw if anyone was curious.<br /><br />So onto the game. I used my ChaplainHammer list posted earlier.<br />Salamander army was this:<br />Vulkan with obligate 5x TH/SS Termies in LR Crusader<br />2x Tactical squad w/ flamer and multi-melta w/ TL-heavy bolter Razorback<br />1x Tactical squad with flamer and multi-melta on foot<br />1x 5-man assault squad with flamer and plasma pistol + power weapon on the sarge.<br />2x multi-melta attack bikes<br />2x Dreadnought with multi-melta and storm bolter<br /><br />Annihilation game with Spearhead deployment. 1750 points.<br /><br />I won the roll off and chose to go first.<br /><br />I put my Land Raiders centrally, a few inches off the center circle, and my 2 Razorbacks on the opposite side of a building next to my LR’s. They were deployed as far back as possible while still maintaining LOS on most of the other deployment zone. My attack bikes were put in reserve to try and do some backdoor melta late game. <br /><br />My opponent set up just off the center circle with his own Land Raider, Razorbacks slightly behind and more leftward. His two Dreads were further back, one to each side of the LR. Neither Tac squad took advantage of the Razorbacks, which was bad, and they all deployed on foot a little behind the LR. That was also bad. He should have had everything way forward to take advantage of his mostly immobile multi-meltas. His bikes were behind the dreads ready to zoom around a large central building to flank my LR’s. His assault squad was deepstriking. Right at deployment I knew things were going to be easier for me. He was not aggressive enough with his deployment. I was afraid of all those TL-multi-meltas, and for good reason. I had 4/5 of my army tied up in LR’s and if those baskets were opened then all the eggs would come spilling out.<br /><br />Turn 1<br />I had to get rid of his dreads; they posed the biggest threat to my LR’s. With the multi-melta and str 10 attacks, they had to go. So I moved my Razorbacks into position and fired away at them. I immobilized one of them, and stunned the second. Pretty good start. My LR’s stayed still for fear of all the melta on his side of the table. His side of the turn sees his bikes trying to round the building towards me, and everything that could advance did, although his LR stayed back for some reason. Neither of us wanted to commit just yet. No shooting from him, he was out of range.<br /><br />Turn 2<br />I rolled for my bikes and they came on. Sweet! I had the perfect counter to his bikes. Things were looking good for me I thought. My Razors scooted away a bit to keep the lascannons firing without any kind of reprisal. My LR’s stood still again. My Razorbacks blew a HB off one razorback and that was it. Not so good this turn. Attack bikes get ready to fire and I roll snake eyes. What a joke. I just handed him an easy kill point. Things were not looking good here.<br /><br />His end of the turn he still can’t draw a bead on my Razors in the corner with any of his firepower except for the HB Razorback. He fired at me but no effect. Then came the moment of truth, as he fired his attack bikes at mine. He hit both times, but rolled a one for the second wound! Lucky me, I only lost one bike, and still had a chance to protect my flank.<br /><br />Turn 3<br />I still keep my Land Raiders out of striking distance from his multi-meltas, I am just not ready to jump in there and toss my LR to all of his multi-meltas. I don’t trust the dice this game. So I am still hanging back, from the middle of the board. I take my bike and run it into some ruins to try to get cover from the shots that will be coming that way. Shooting was ineffective this round from my Land Raiders, but my Razorbacks blew up one of his Razorbacks. Then my attack bike made good with his multi-melta and fried one of the opposing ones. Other than that it was an uneventful turn, again.<br /><br />On the opposing side, he moved up a bit more to get some better shots at my Razorbacks. He blew up my last attack bike when I failed my cover save, of course. He also got one of my Razorbacks with his Land Raider. That was unfortunate, but they had lasted longer than I had thought they would. <br /><br />Turn 4<br />This was time to get things going finally. I was sick of holding back, but I knew that whoever got the charge on the other was going to be in better position. So I got more offensive and moved my Land Raiders forward to put the pressure on him. They moved up, but I still had to take care of the last bike hanging out on my flank. A multi-melta from my Redeemer took care of it well enough. My Crusader managed to take out his Land Raider with a well placed shot from the multi-melta on top, while my assault cannon took the multi-melta arm of the adjacent dreadnought. I finally got Vulkan and his crew out of their box, and it was time to crush them. The rest of my shooting was effective, in that my last lascannon popped the final Razorback.<br /><br />His turn was unfortunate for him, but good for me. His dread advanced on my Redeemer for assault, and Vulkan failed to reach my Crusader while struggling to get out of his wrecked ride. His dread failed to hurt my Redeemer in assault. But he had my assault ramp and tank blocked off from moving forward and frying the remainder of his foot slogging marines with my flamestorm cannons.<br /><br />Turn 5<br />This was the beginning of the end for him. I disembarked all of my termies and prepared to erase Vulkan and his squad. The Redeemer smoked the dread blocking his path, while the Crusader sent a boat load of shots into Vulkan and his cronies. He lost only one terminator from the shooting and had a wound on Vulkan. My Las Razorback also managed to toast his remaining dread that had been immobilized turn one. The kill points were adding up for me! The scrum in the middle of the table was about to begin. I was able to charge Vulkan and Co with both squads for a total of 10 terminators, 2 Sanguinary Priests in Terminator armor, and a Reclusiarch in termy armor. It was epic. The Chaplain killed a termy; the priests took down another one and wounded Vulkan again. The 4 LC termies took another termy and Vulkan, while Vulkan took down one TH/SS terminator with his attacks back. Then I had 5 terminators with TH/SS attacking back. I hit 10 times out of 15 and wounded 10 times. His last Terminator couldn’t take the hurt and was wiped off the face of the planet. What an assault, I thought I was going to lose more men than that, but the LC termies and Priests really carried their weight in the assault. The chaplain didn’t kill much, but his re-rolls were great for the other 12 bodies in the assault. I then consolidated towards the remaining tac squads that he had ready for me to assault. <br /><br />On his turn he just lined up to shoot me to pieces, as all my terminators were lined up 10” away from both his tac squads. He put down 2 termies each from the two squads, which wasn’t too bad I suppose. But it wasn’t enough for him. I asked him at this point if he wanted to continue, and he said yes. It was about 8 or nine KPs to 2, and he had no way to come back. He is a fighter I guess, and thought he could get some things done.<br /><br />Turn 6<br />I was finally able to put my Redeemer to good use this turn. I ran it up 12” right next to a beautiful line of marines. I got 8 of them under the template and fried 7 of them. I love the smell of flamestorm cannon at any time of day. The pesky marines stuck around, and were assaulted for their foolishness. They were wiped in assault, but the other squad was too far into some terrain and I couldn’t come to grips with them with my other Termy assault squad.<br /><br />His turn he shot me some more, killed a terminator maybe, and finally remembered his Assault squad. They dropped in next to my Razorback and other assault squad that was hiding out in the crater left by their ride. He shot at me, and I lost just one marine. I asked again if he wanted to call it, but he said no, so we rolled for it and the game went on.<br /><br />Turn 7<br />My Redeemer put both templates down on his tac squad nearby and cleansed their filth from the Emperor’s sight. On the other side of the board, my two assault squads attacked his jump-packers and wiped them as well. All he had was one remaining tac squad in a fortified position in a far corner of the board that I couldn’t reach in <br />time to do anything about, and it hadn’t done anything all game. Game over.<br /><br />Blood Angels were victorious! I kind of felt bad for the guy though. I don’t know how new he was to the game, but he made the game easy for me. He deployed so far from my army that he couldn’t use half the points in his army. His multi-meltas were all out of range for 3/4ths the game. And they were the real threat to my list. He should have packed some multi-meltas into the Razorbacks and bum rushed me. It would have made the game completely different. His dreads were a non-factor because of deployment too. They could have given me some fits, but were neutralized easily. It was nice to win a game again, but it unfortunately was not a hard fought game, and those are the types of games I enjoy the most.<br /><br />My MVP was hard to determine. The large terminator fight in the middle of the table was fun for me, but I really think that the Land Raider Redeemer was the winner. He slagged the lone melta bike coming for me, popped a dreadnought, popped a Razorback, and toasted nearly 2 full tactical squads. Not too bad of a kill tally. I have always wanted to run a Redeemer in a game, and it fulfilled my expectations fully.<br />Now I just need to find a way to balance this list some more. It is such a “rock” type list that I don’t want to get stuck in noobslayer mode. I want to build balanced lists that can take all comers. The game was fun, but it is back to the drawing board.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-44360167816383269502010-05-04T10:42:00.000-07:002010-05-04T11:00:58.335-07:00New Blood Angel List - for funsies!<a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/?action=view¤t=IMG_1664.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/IMG_1664.jpg" border="0" alt="LR1 and LR2"></a><br /><br />Ok, new army list time. I am going back to my roots, with extreme prejudice, lol. For those of you that followed my blog from the beginning, I used to run a dual Land Raider list with Mephiston, and some other assault elements, terminators or Dreads, depending on how I was feeling that day. The list worked well for me, and incorporated some of my favorite things about 40k. First, Land Raiders. I’m a sucker for the big beautiful anvils of doom. I just like them, one of my favorite units hands down. Second, I really like the assault phase. Like Goatboy and some of the other internet personalities, I like to win the game in close combat. I think it is time I go back to what I know how to do, at least reasonably well.<br /><br />Just so we can get this out there, this is a “rock” list, as in paper, rock, scissors. I expect this list to do well against a few armies, and not so well against the others. My support elements will have to be designed to pick up the slack when my assaulting units don’t have the strength of numbers to take down horde Orks or ‘Nids. And that is ok with me, I can live with that. <br />So onto my list. I’d like to talk this through a bit so stay with me. It’s important to get the evolution of the thought process down, so you can find the weaknesses and fix them. So let us get to evolving. <br /><br />First off HQ. Librarian with Blood Lance and Shield of Sanguinius right? Wrong. I’m mixing it up here. I have loved Librarians in the past and still will, but this is going to be an all-out assault army, and I’m not sure they fit the bill here. So onto another HQ unit I have wanted to try, the Reclusiarch. He is a combat machine, and with the Blood Litanies, he makes a squad of Terminators even more dangerous. Rerolling to hit is dangerous when swinging thunder hammers around. So we have a Reclusiarch and a little gaggle of Termies following him around. Let’s put that hammer unit into a Land Raider so they can get where they want to ideally. Now the question is what kind of Land Raider. There is the Crusader and the Redeemer to choose from in my mind, but which one suits my purposes better? In this case it is the Crusader. I want this unit to be super killy so I will throw in a Sanguinary Priest for the Furious Charge and Feel No Pain. Str: 5 I: 5 lightning claw Terminators that reroll to hit are absolutely ridiculous. So that makes for 7 models in the unit, and a Redeemer isn’t capable of holding that many Terminators so the Crusader will have to do.<br /><br />Now one Land Raider is good, but two is better. So this time we take a Redeemer, because flamestorm cannons are super cool, and I at least need to play test with them a bit. I may make some lists with flamestorm Baals in the future, and I’d like to be able to gauge their effectiveness. We don’t want this sweet ride to be empty so let’s get some more Terminators, of the assault variety of course. This leaves us one empty seat in the Redeemer, and who better to fill it than another Sanguinary Priest. This ensures both squads of Terminators will have FNP and FC at all times.<br /><br />So we have our super killy units of death and destruction ready, how about some Troops to make things legal. We are going to have to minimize these squads because I have already used most of my points for my standard 1750 list. What to take in this slot? I am surely lacking in any kind of long range fire support, and the cheapest way to get some of this in is with assault squads and Razorbacks. Two assault squads with a Razorback apiece fit the bill. So we will throw some heavy weapons on the Razorbacks so they can open up tanks from the other side of the board. I will need all the shots I can get, so let’s do the lascannon and twin linked plasma gun. I will lose some accuracy at long range, but the extra shots at close range will make up for that loss. For when the marines get taken out of their Razorbacks I will give them some goodies to help them retain some kind of effectiveness. Let’s start with a meltagun and finish with an infernus pistol on the sergeant. That should give them a bit of punch still. And discourage people from trying to tank shock them off objectives late game. Death or Glory ftw! I could also put in a power weapon instead of the infernus pistol, but I’d rather not but a CC upgrade when I don’t really want these guys in CC.<br /><br />This leaves me with about 125 points or so left over. What to do with these points? I still have the need to pop tanks and give my Terminators juicy targets to assault. I like speeders, but I don’t have the points to fit in some with melta and Typhoon missile launchers. The long range of the missiles would be nice, but I don’t know how I would squeeze them in. I could try Predators for long range support, but again, only one autocannon/lascannon Predator won’t do the job. A Vindicator could possibly work, but I don’t have the model so that is out. This leaves me with some attack bikes with multi-meltas on them. This is a unit I have used before and really enjoy. They have some tactical flexibility that I like. They can be reserved easily to come on the board later game to pop tanks that are getting into your own deployment zone. They have a 36” threat range for light armor, and a 24” threat range for heavy armor. They are resilient to small arms fire, and they can tie up weak CC units for an entire game. Lastly, I can put 2 of them down for the points I have left over. Sounds like a winner to me.<br /><br />So to recap I have:<br />Reclusiarch with Terminator Armor-170<br />Sanguinary Priests x2 w/ Terminator armor and power weapon -160<br />5 man Terminator Assault Squad, 2x LC, 3x TH/SS - 215<br />Land Raider Crusader with multimelta-260<br />5 man Terminator Assault Squad, 2x LC, 3c TH/SS - 215<br />Land Raider Redeemer with multi-melta – 250<br />5 man Assault Squad w/ meltagun and infernus pistol – 125<br />Razorback with TL plasmagun and lascannon - 55<br />5 man Assault squad w/ meltaguns and infernus pistol – 125<br />Razorback with TL plasmagun and lascannon – 55<br />Attack bike w/ multi-melta x2 – 100 points<br />Total: 1730<br /><br />This leaves me 20 points for some upgrades. I was thinking about a combi weapon on my Reclusiarch and maybe some melta bombs for my sergeants. That would round out my squads with some extra tank killing up close, and I can’t see anywhere else to use the points.<br /><br />So let me have it. I want to hear some opinions on the list, even if it is to tell me that I am half retarded for even putting this list on the intarwebz. Be honest with me, I’m ready for the truth.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-36193664918177331492010-04-29T11:42:00.000-07:002010-04-29T11:45:30.948-07:00Blood Angel Devastation-and not in the good way . . .I got another game in last week sometime, can’t even remember what day. I took my same list and went up against a Chaos Marines army. I will spare the unimportant details, and try again to get to the important parts of the game. It was an ugly game for me; I was totally tabled. I hate being tabled. It has never happened to me before, and it sure hurts me inside to see it happen.<br /><br />Anyways, on with the show. The Chaos list looked like this:<br /><br />Demon Price, Wings and Warptime<br />1x Obliterator<br />3x Squads of Chaos Marines w/ 2x plasma guns, plasma pistol and PF<br />1x squad of Chaos marines w/ 2x melta and power weapon<br />1x squad of plague marines w/ 2x melta<br />2 havoc squads, one with 2x lascannons and 1 missile launcher. Other one had 2x heavy bolters and 1x auto cannon.<br />1x Chaos Dread with TL-las and missile launcher.<br /><br />Game is 1750 points, Annihilation with Dawn of War deployment.<br /><br />I won the die roll and gave him first turn, and reserved everything. He set up his army across the middle 2/3rds of the board. It wasn’t the best deployment, but it was obviously good enough. He moved around a bit first and second turns, not able to do anything.<br /><br />My second turn I start to drop things in on him, and just like I have done previously, I split up my units as I drop them, meaning no support for each other. I really don’t understand why I can’t do a decent drop. I just lose focus and start putting squads all over the place and right in the lines of fire, it is really quite stupid of me, and it costs me the game. Secondly and less important, I can’t get even one squad of Vanguard in. This really cripples my army I think. Surviving to turn 2 on the board is difficult to do if his whole army can shoot me to pieces. Had I been able to get in one squad, then the two squads with plasma that I forced out of rhinos with shooting would not have been shooting me with 10 plasma shots. I could have multi-charged them and taken both squads out of the equation, and I would have really fared much better in the long run. But let me reiterate that I lost because of my crappy choice of landing sites.<br /><br />I landed 2 naked 5-man squads and another 5-man squad with meltas and a priest attached behind them right in front of the majority of his army. It was utter madness is all there is to it, lol. They were subsequently eradicated with concentrated fire from his army. I have got to remember that 10 pistol shots will really get little done and that my jump marines have much more mobility then I give them credit for.<br /><br />I got slaughtered turn 3. Completely shot to pieces. And I deserved it for my stupid deployment. Most everything was killed except for one Librarian I think. Next round both my Vanguard squads come in and they smash face. I kill the two CSM squads that were toting plasma, and my Libby hopped over and smashed the Chaos dread in the face with some Str 10 attacks. That round of combat was satisfying at least. At this point the kill point total was about 8-5, with me losing.<br />The next round his Prince comes over to mop up my Vanguard, but their Storm Shields hold out vs. the monster, but I still lose a few models of course. My Libby was hiding so he couldn’t be shot.<br /><br />Turn 5 I take my Libby to the havocs and he fails to kill enough of them to make any difference. The prince finishes up my Vanguard. Turn 6 he torrents my Libby down in the ruins and game over.<br /><br />That was a brutal wake-up call for me. Even more so than the last beating I took at the hands of the Space Wolves. It makes me want to drop the army in favor of a more user-friendly mech army. This army takes some finesse to run right, and I don’t know if I have the ability to make it work well all the time. Mech armies are much easier to run, and I tend to do much better with them. <br /><br />What are your thoughts out there? Do I stick with my Descent of Angels Army, or do I start using a different list? Here are the options so far: Razorback spam army with some Predators, Assault Terminator based army with Land raiders, Assault army with RAS squads and Dreads(meched up or coming out of proxied Storm Ravens), or a Death Company themed army?<br /><br />Please give me your thoughts and comments. And if you have a good army list idea you want to see me try out, then post it up. I will give just about anything a whirl. Just put it at 1750-2000 points, and I will play each suggested list that is put up here, at least once. Of course I am limited by models, but I am not afraid to proxy, or counts as. Just no blatantly crappy lists is all I ask. <br /><br />So here is your chance to put up a somewhat gimmicky army and see how it performs in the hands of a not so skilled general! So let me have it all of you out there, I want to see some lists put up.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-3331564613145988822010-04-19T16:35:00.000-07:002010-04-19T17:11:33.349-07:00Battle Report: Blood Angles v Space Wolves, pics included!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA8hyDP8g8McBAkYls9_arZNCYwbqPCES2hMGUTyQWnHjidcorzPKhnNxvKREHSd3xQJJwP_AJVWYE5cs5eYEoy-R2gq63wzfjneUxqyQ8K4wFmqJ5pYqIHgs_18fIYrvpm1D_OsFONs/s1600/BASquad.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIA8hyDP8g8McBAkYls9_arZNCYwbqPCES2hMGUTyQWnHjidcorzPKhnNxvKREHSd3xQJJwP_AJVWYE5cs5eYEoy-R2gq63wzfjneUxqyQ8K4wFmqJ5pYqIHgs_18fIYrvpm1D_OsFONs/s400/BASquad.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5462003992258470546" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br />I had a chance to play this last Friday against a friend of mine by the name of John. He is one of the coolest guys I have met in the gaming world in quite awhile. He is a really good 40k general. He is also pretty good at Fantasy, if you think that 6th place nationally in the Fantasy ‘Ard Boyz last year is good. I had met and played him once before with my pdf Blood Angels, and it was a hard fought game. I barely came out on top in VP’s after we tied on objectives. It was the toughest game I had ever played of 40k. And he had a fluffier list with his Wolves, lol.<br /><br />So I called him up and asked if he wanted a game, and told him to bring me a tough list to face. He obliged and brought a decent list to smash my face.<br /><br />I brought my <a href="http://seeifeyecare.blogspot.com/2010/03/blood-angel-army-list-descent-of-angels.html">Descent of Angels</a> list to playtest it some more.<br /><br />Space Wolves List:<br />Ragnar Blackmane with a squad of 10 Grey Hunters in a LR Crusader. Pfist and 2x meltas<br />Land Raider with Las sponsons and a 10 man squad of Grey hunters with pfist and 2x melta<br />5 man squad of Grey Hunters with melta in a TL-las Razorback.<br />6 man scout squad with melta and a plasma pistol<br />4 man Long Fangs with 2x lascannons and a plasma cannon<br />2 speeders, one with multi-melta, and one with multi-melta and Typhoon ML<br />We rolled for mission and deployment and got 2 objective game with Dawn of War deployment.<br /><br />He won the die roll and passed me first turn. I told him I was reserving everything and deepstriking it, to which he replied he was reserving all also. Well, I was beaten at my own game. He was smart enough to reserve it all to take away my alpha-strike, and truth be told, it ruined my whole game for me. Ruined my game in that I am new enough to this army to not know immediately how to deal with this type of deployment, and because of that, I lost the game. Now that the cat is out of the bag, let’s proceed with how things went down.<br /><br />Turn 1<br />Nothing happens, we are all in reserve.<br /><br />Turn 2<br />I got about 4 squads to drop this round, although I wanted none of them to come down. I placed them foolishly quite frankly. I placed one combat squad back on my objective, and some over to the right hand side of the board near some ruins to run into for cover. Melta squad with Priest and Libby drop on his board edge, along with a squad of Vanguard Vets. Stupid placement and bad deployment, we will go over this at the end of the report. Here is how that looked.<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/?action=view¤t=DSC00003.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/DSC00003.jpg" border="0" alt="Deployment"></a> I have one unit hiding on the far side of the building at the top-left of the pic<br /><br />His part of the turn saw the razorback and 2 speeders hit the table. His scout squad also sneaks on the board right behind my objective. Razorback kills one marine from the Libby squad, Typhoon speeder kills another marine from the same squad, and other speeder whiffs with the melta. The scouts kill 2 marines in shooting then assault me and kill the remainder. What a mess for me. I was not able to make my saves.<br /><br />Here is how he came on.<br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/?action=view¤t=DSC00006.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/DSC00006.jpg" border="0" alt="Speeder 2 and Razorback"></a> speeder and Razorback<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/?action=view¤t=DSC00005.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/DSC00005.jpg" border="0" alt="Speeder landing"></a> second speeder. you can see my hiding squad now.<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/?action=view¤t=DSC00004.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/DSC00004.jpg" border="0" alt="Scouts coming on"></a> here are the scouts coming on. the model on the container is my objective :)<br /><br />Turn 3<br />My other Vanguard squad and Honor Guard come in along with the other Libby/Priest squad. Vanguard in between the Razorback and MM speeder, and the HG mishap and are sent back into reserves. Bad luck, but it could have been worse. Libby lands in front of the speeder near the just landed Vanguard squad. Libby vaporizes the speeder with a blood lance, and the nearby Vanguard roll snake eyes to hit the Razorback with their meltas, after I forget to call a Heroic Intervention with them. What a failure there. The other Libby detaches from his squad and moves towards the other speeder along with a combat squad and an Honor Guard squad. Mistake number about 26. Second Librarian sears a hole in the speeder with a blood lance causing it to explode in a ball of fire. Not too bad I thought. Meanwhile the remaining priest and attached squad run into a building, and the other Vanguard squad climb up to the next level to weather the shooting from next turn.<br /><br />His part of the turn is the beginning of the end for me. Both Land Raiders roll on and promptly smash my face. Ragnar’s Raider heads for the building with 2 squads in it, and the other raider towards my second Libby Squad. <br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/?action=view¤t=DSC00007.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/DSC00007.jpg" border="0" alt="Land Raiders"></a><br /><br />His Long Fangs also march onto the board to the left of the building housing my 2 squads. Shooting phase was bad. The crusader melts the lone Libby into a mound of blue power armor with the multi-melta. The other Raider obliterates one of the marines in the other Libby squad with a well placed lascannon shot. The Razorback spits out its marines and they score 2 bolter wounds on my Vanguard hanging out nearby, and I promptly roll snake eyes with them again. Ugg, 2 dead Vanguard. The Grey Hunters from the Las Raider shoot up my Libby squad and kill one of my marines because I can’t seem to make a FNP save at all. His scouts move away from my objective towards my HG unit and a combat squad. Assault phase is even worse. Ragnar wipes the Priest unit in the basement of the building, and his cronies assault the Vanguard on the top. I lose one Vet, and save his one powerfist wound on a storm shield wielding Veteran. I then smack the cronies around a bit, but still lose combat but pass the test and am stuck in combat. The Libby squad was assaulted and my Libby failed me miserably. The Libby gets pulped by the powerfist, after only killing one marine. My priest survives and I lose combat but stick in there. The scouts assault my combat squad near the speeder wreck and kill a few of them, and I kill a few of his in return with a drawn combat result.<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/?action=view¤t=DSC00008.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Batrep%20Pics/DSC00008.jpg" border="0" alt="Scouts coming for me"></a><br />scouts assaulting me near the speeder wreck, and the honor guard coming from behind to help out<br /><br />I didn't take any pictures after this, it was just too bloody for me, lol. I was too wrapped up in losing to remember my camera.<br /><br />Turn 4<br />My Vanguard jump into assault to help the Priest out, ignoring the jerks who just shot them up. The Honor Guard jump in against the scouts to turn the tide there. The second HG squad mishaps again! And this time they try to avoid their battle brethren and smear themselves all over the ground in a really bad landing. Ouch, that one really hurt. I have no shooting to resolve, so we move right into combat. I win both combats with the HG and assault squad combo and the Vanguard and Priest combat. The result being units stuck out in the open ready to be shot up. My Vanguard on top of the building finally die to mass attacks, but they take a few more guys down with them, barely.<br /><br />His turn is the end of the game essentially. His Long Fangs score a direct hit with a plasma cannon against my Vets that just won combat. Adios to the Veterans. The combat squad loses 2 of the three to shooting also and has to fall back, which is kind of helpful because it brings me closer to my objective. I lose a few more marines to lascannons shots over on the other side of the board, but my Priest is still kicking along with a few other Vets. Ragnar meanwhile has hopped back into his Land Raider and zooms towards my objective.<br /><br />Turn 5 was just for fun at this point, to see if I could get anything done. My priest shakes the lascannons LR with his infernus pistol and the Vanguard blow up his Razorback with some powerfist love. My last marine jumps over to my objective behind cover, hopefully keeping Ragnar and his LR of death at bay.<br /><br />His turn has Ragnar getting out of the Land Raider and running through the terrain to get to my last guy. As an aside, he had Ragnar modeled on a terminator base. Is that legal? I ask because it gave him another inch or so out of the front of the LR because of the wider base. He said that was the base the model came with, but after looking on GW’s website, they have Ragnar on a standard base. I’m calling shenanigans. I don’t think he was trying to cheat me, but I think it wasn’t correct. It just gives him way more base coverage to get into CC, and to get into btb with more models. It didn’t change the game on its own because we went to turn 6, but had the game ended, it would have been a draw.<br /><br />Turn 6 was the last bit of fail as my priest and Veteran powerfist fail again to blow up the LR. I get 3 pens against the tank and they all end up 2’s, every single result. How fitting for this game. One final set of crappy rolls.<br /><br />So I lost to the Space wolves. I had had such a good winning streak vs crappy lists that I was bound to face a good list piloted by a good general and get stomped on. I was glad it happened, I had become complacent as a player and I really learned from this game.<br /><br />Here are some of the more important things. First off, I should not have dropped into his deployment zone. Way dumb. He has a good 20” threat radius with those Land Raiders and I just handed him those units by leaving them near his table edge. He entered, shot at me, and assaulted me, and subsequently cleared me out. Second, I should not have detached my Libby early on. Big mistake there too. I just handed him the ideal multi-melta target, and he capitalized on it. Third, with no targets to shoot at, I should have kept my assault squads together, and attached my IC’s to the Honor Guard Units. I should have had a full assault squad on my objective so when the scouts inevitably came for it, I had strength of numbers to beat them down. Fourth, I need to be more careful when deepstriking my units in. I should not have to lose units to mishaps. I have little enough scatter to keep them safe, I just need to estimate distances better, and not try to stick the landing every time. Fifth, I need to let my army units support the others. I look at my deployment after the fact, and it makes me think that I was retarded or something. I have units all over the place and no cohesion at all to my force. I give him individual units piecemeal. Stupid.<br /><br />This was a good learning experience for me, and will help me with deployment, especially dealing with the jerks that reserve their whole army on me ;) So I have to thank John for pimp slapping me around, and helping me to up my game a little bit. I need to call him again and get some more games again, it was loads of fun!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-19950132374347310992010-04-15T14:28:00.001-07:002010-04-15T14:28:51.910-07:00How do I get in more games???<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BsgRlnSmPsk2oMbkXClFQpiNcnn1o4Dke0ljnW3QOkzzQYt9P7252px5Vhu8ESBmVPIBC3nk8wcZPBewUo_NkF1hSV76juYdXvhn6h0NjSMFD5A7DTJiQ38DBX7IhKRodny_MBrGwfk/s1600/1084821407-00.png"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 160px; height: 144px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7BsgRlnSmPsk2oMbkXClFQpiNcnn1o4Dke0ljnW3QOkzzQYt9P7252px5Vhu8ESBmVPIBC3nk8wcZPBewUo_NkF1hSV76juYdXvhn6h0NjSMFD5A7DTJiQ38DBX7IhKRodny_MBrGwfk/s400/1084821407-00.png" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5460478056528658162" /></a><br />I think we all probably feel like we could use more practice with our armies, or more test games to help tune your list. Practice makes perfect after all.<br /><br />But I have a question for all those guys out there in my similar situation. You have work or school, family, or whatever other thing that is more important than your hobby of little plastic toys. How do you find the time to get in practice with your army? How do you play test it enough to know that you have a good list going? How do you know your new tactic ideas are worthwhile or not?<br /><br />I have read about how some people play games out in their mind. I'm not entirely sure that is valid, but if it works for someone else, then by all means. I have heard about Vassal as well, and being able to play online vs. other people. I have never tried it personally, but I think there would be some loss in translation from table top to computer monitor. Maybe I'm wrong. <br /><br />There is one idea I haven't ever read about, and maybe because I am looking in the wrong places, but does anyone ever play test against themselves? I'm wondering if this is a viable way to play test an army. Maybe this sounds like craziness, maybe not, but hear me out on the subject.<br /><br />First off, I would say the majority of players at my LGS are not super competitive. They are all good guys, and make for friendly games. They like to win and all, but it doesn't show in their lists. Read through my battle reports and you will see what I mean. Playing weak lists doesn't help improve my game. Granted it is the only real playtime I get, so I really enjoy it, but it doesn't up my game much. I don't get to see where my lists weaknesses are. I feel like I mostly roll over the people I play. I'm not trying to say I am a great player, and I never lose and so on, I am speaking of the general lack of competition I seem to face. Mech just beats up on foot slogging lists, it is mostly a fact.<br /><br />Second, one game a week at best, and once a month at worst, does not help with list building skills and playing your best. It just doesn't cut it if you want to tune a list to be tough. It doesn't allow you the chance to hone your tactics with your list either. More games are necessary to really improve yourself.<br /><br />So what are my options then? My super cool wife would play with me, but only about up to 1000 points. And she wouldn't want to play competitively against me, let alone learn all the intricacies of the game to do so. She is smart enough to stay away from my competitive nature, lol. I can't take off and leave the fam a couple nights a week and be a poor parent, and neither do I want to. I have been thinking these things over and have decided to play games against myself and see how it goes.<br /><br />I know there are those with disposable income who have multiple armies, sometimes across different game systems, but I'm not one of them, nor will I ever be I'm pretty sure. I do have some extra Tau models knocking about my house and they will soon be recruited into games vs. my Blood Angels, as well as my extra marines that are gathering dust. I will have to do some proxying and "counts as" all along the way, but I'm ok with that. I will have to look at the current winning lists, be they good or bad, and start going up against them. Play as hard as I can for each side, and see how things go.<br /><br />Has anyone ever tried this before? How did it go? Anyone have any better ideas? I'd love to hear all about it, so please let me know how you all would go about this process. I need the help, so let's hear it!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-42034531833725375912010-04-08T13:02:00.000-07:002010-04-08T13:07:39.808-07:00Battle Report: Blood Angels v Tau<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrhLq7EdDFrb9s_TlxfJhz9MvRlKIaHOssCQ-cRuFpxNVogdFpq5PSgkJ2iccpGmMGDE7lDjdXZvtdu8oJdO_qhnvO3Je24LfS-JzQWmoaNVN6gx_Gg5pH-UPiDIXjIR4Ki_gphU4gSs/s1600/BASquad.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 360px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyrhLq7EdDFrb9s_TlxfJhz9MvRlKIaHOssCQ-cRuFpxNVogdFpq5PSgkJ2iccpGmMGDE7lDjdXZvtdu8oJdO_qhnvO3Je24LfS-JzQWmoaNVN6gx_Gg5pH-UPiDIXjIR4Ki_gphU4gSs/s400/BASquad.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5457859918358550258" /></a><br />(Image taken from www.danscottart.com/Images/BASquad.jpg)<br /><br />Batrep time!<br /><br />I got a game in yesterday at the LGS. I took my new Blood Angel jump-pack army for a spin. All I can say is wow! I had high expectations of the list, and they were met entirely. Maybe it was the poor army list I went up against, or the “out of practice” player I was playing, I don’t know. But the army did very well, with lots of versatility built in.<br /><br />My list was the <a href="http://seeifeyecare.blogspot.com/2010/03/blood-angel-army-list-descent-of-angels.html">Descent of Angels</a> list I had posted earlier on the site.<br />My opponent was running Tau. It wasn’t an optimized list, but there were still some things I was afraid of. His list was this:<br />Farsight with 7 bodyguards. 3 had missile pods and fusion blasters. 4 had plasma rifles and missile pods.<br />2x full Firewarrior squads on foot<br />1 Hammerhead with smart missiles<br />1 Broadside team with 2 suits, 4 shield drones and 1 marker drone<br />1 Piranha squadron with 3 Piranhas. 1 with fusion blaster and 2 with burst cannons<br />3 man Stealth suit team with a marker drone<br />1 squad of Pathfinders with 3 rail rifles (str6 AP3) and obligatory Devilfish<br /><br />Mission was 4 objectives, with Spearhead deployment. Tau won the roll and decided to go first.<br /><br />Turn 1 - He set up in his corner with Broadsides 3 stories up in the deepest corner, and a squad of firewarriors on the second floor, and an objective just below them. Fish was on the right flank of the building and the Hammerhead on the left. Further towards the middle was the Farsight Deathstar. Middle of his table edge was the second firewarrior squad, and the Stealth suits were in a building flanking the Farsight blob. He scouted his Pathfinders way on the left side of the board in another building. I deployed nothing, reserving all my units.<br /><br />Turn 2 - He moves a bit to widen the board out (bad idea) and get some movement on his vehicles so they aren’t auto-hit in combat (good). On my half of the turn, 6 of 8 of my squads are rolled in. 2 extra ones coming in on the re-rolls from Descent of Angels rule. I first try to place my Librarian, Sang Priest and meltaguns from a combat squad in between the hammerhead, Farsight and the Fish. And mishap. I scattered into the Hammerhead engines. Had the squad not had 2 extra IC’s in it, it would have survived, but oh well, the dice Gods are fickle. So I lost about 1/5th of my army on the first scatter. I was pretty demoralized, and almost felt like calling the game there and then. But I’m a fighter, and wanted to see if my Angels could rally from the loss. All my other squads came down safely. The two Honor Guard squads and a combat squad with meltas landing where I tried to land the first squad, and the other two combat squads landing further towards the center in between the middle FW squad and the Farsight squad. Shooting saw me unloading everything into Farsight and his cronies. I had one bolt pistol wound in there, and he lost 2 suits to all the meltas. His 4+ invul saves were off the chain. Good rolling for him. No Vanguard came down so no assaults.<br /><br />Turn 3 – He opened up on me. I lost both of my combat squads in the middle of the table and one marine each from the other 3 squads. Undeterred, my Blood Angels began to exact their vengeance. My two Vanguard squads landed in close proximity to Farsight and his overpriced suits. One Honor Guard squad took out the Stealth suits, one headed for the Broadsides. The remaining combat squad went for the central FWs and their objective. Librarian detached and went after the Hammerhead, and the Priest detached to join one of the Vanguard squads. I couldn’t shoot his XV-8s because I would lose charge range. Stealth suits were wiped out to a man. FW’s lost combat and were run down. Broadsides held with their stupid 2+ save. In the Farsight combat, most of my Vanguard failed, only managing a few wounds that were all saved. They struck back with Farsight whiffing completely, and the other suits’ blows were fended off with disdain. Full of disappointment in my pricey Vanguard, the two powerfists stepped up to the plate. Between their 6 attacks, 5 landed and all of them wounded, he then failed all of his 4+ saves, watching as his fancy suits were turned to mangled heaps of scrap and pulped blue alien. The one remaining suit promptly fled and was cut down mercilessly. On a side note, the Librarian only managed to immobilize the hammerhead with 4 str 10 attacks.<br /><br />The game was over at this point, but we went one more turn to be sure, and a turn 3 walloping is not so fun, for the other guy at least.<br /><br />Turn four saw my Librarian eat 24 pulse rifles and not survive, and I lost one Vet to a rail rifle from the corner. And that was it. Combat was lost by the Tau on top of the building. The suits fled from the fight and were executed as they turned their backs on the Emperor’s finest. Bottom of turn 4 ended with no Tau left on the board. Both tanks dropped to meltaguns, Firewarriors lost combat and were massacred as they tried to flee the Emperor’s justice. And the Piranhas also were scrapped by melta fire and a well placed Infernus pistol shot. Lastly, the Pathfinders were lost to the blades of the other Vanguard squad.<br />Complete Victory for the Blood Angels!<br /><br />It was a good starter game for my new list. Lots of fun. The other list really just didn’t have a chance against mine. He needed two turns of shooting at me at least, but because of my deployment he only got one. Had my vanguard landed 2nd turn, it would have been even worse for him as I tied up Farsight in combat. But when I lost that first squad he had a fighting chance, although he couldn’t capitalize. His target priority was poor. Had he killed an honor guard squad with Farsight, it would have gone better for him, but the chips were not in his favor either way. Also, he shouldn’t have spread the board against me. It opened up spots for me to drop in and kill his dangerous squads, rather than forcing me out of his deployment and only offering up Firewarriors or Piranhas to my assault next round.<br /><br />MVP for me was the Sanguinary Priests. They are so very powerful. Furious charge and Feel No Pain are very hard to deal with when they encompass my whole army. I made about 90% of my FNP rolls. His pulse weaponry was wounding me often, but my power armor and FNP just shrugged it off continually. Runner-up goes to my Vanguard squads. They were great. Very versatile unit as they are equipped to handle most anything, and assaulting out of deepstrike is absolutely invaluable in this list.<br /><br />I love this list. It plays exactly how I like to play 40k. Dropping in where I want, shooting big things down, and then getting right into the mix with strong assault units. If I get the chance to play in ‘Ard Boyz, which I doubt, I will be using an expanded version of this same list. I need to keep playing it to get better at judging distances for my deepstrikes, so I don’t mishap so often.<br />Thoughts, comments, and criticisms are always welcome. Don’t be a stranger. If you visit, then leave me a comment, if nothing else than to tell me that I need to take more battle pics and paint my army!<br /><br />Until next time!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-42133642419206310792010-03-31T09:56:00.000-07:002010-03-31T14:20:10.542-07:00Blood Angel Army List-Descent of Angels<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHt5tBk_EmISjCjWvuVOLy6Socvmf7GKe9b2jCq2Ti5lHej9XvnzOWS5BbUXHbbPf4alDnGBhRMmJyMiGbWlmveXT8dtmR2yEfwxk1zUKB7jefOGj4Hl_UH7ptwOOyjrQQfT-hKfEzMQ/s1600/BA-rafen.jpg"><img style="display:block; margin:0px auto 10px; text-align:center;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 116px; height: 119px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbHt5tBk_EmISjCjWvuVOLy6Socvmf7GKe9b2jCq2Ti5lHej9XvnzOWS5BbUXHbbPf4alDnGBhRMmJyMiGbWlmveXT8dtmR2yEfwxk1zUKB7jefOGj4Hl_UH7ptwOOyjrQQfT-hKfEzMQ/s400/BA-rafen.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5454910798952894018" /></a><br /><br /><br />I've been making lists and toying with ideas since the rumors started hitting the blogosphere about the new Blood Angels codex. I've had some lists I thought were strong, key word is thought lol, and some that were for fun. I think the new codex has lots of cool options, and thankfully some strong options as well. I've posted some of the lists I was going to try out.<br /><br />One list variant I didn't think would be too powerful was the all jump-pack army. Who wants to start on the board and hoof it all the way across and get shot to pieces? The answer is nobody. Then I learned about the Descent of Angels rule that allows you to reroll the reserve rolls, and scatter is only 1d6. I didn't get the full import of what that meant until I started writing a list for an all jump-pack army. I was writing the list and seeing the units I could add in and the options available and I started to get really excited about the list. I then read <a href="http://saimhann.blogspot.com/2010/03/blood-angles-everything-you-knew-about.html">Fritz's article</a> about deployment and reserves and so on, and I got more excited. The idea of using m list in this manner was great. I love to assault, I love to deepstrike, and I love to play unorthodox armies.<br /><br />So I had my list and was tweaking it and wondering how I could make it better. What were the weaknesses, where could I shore up some more strengths? Then I saw <a href="http://www.yesthetruthhurts.com/2010/03/blood-angels-ard-boyz-approved.html">Stelek's jump-pack list</a>, and it was the exact same in FOC composition as mine, excepting wargear in a few spots. I liked how he laid out the army and put redundancy in there to cover eventualities. He made the squads dual-purpose, in that they could kill armor or infantry on the charge. It made so much sense to me. Best of all, I already own the vast majority of the models needed.<br /><br />So here we are. This is the serious BA army I will start to work on and tweak to my liking. The list I wrote was for 1750, because that is what I usually play. <br /><br />HQ<br />Librarian x2 w/ jump-pack. Blood Lance and Sanguine Sword<br /><br />Honor Guard x2 w/ jump-packs. 2x Melta<br /><br />Troops<br />10 man Assault squad x2 with 2x melta and infernus pistol on the sarge<br /><br />Elite<br />Sanguinary Priest x2 w/ jump-pack and power weapon<br /><br />Fast Attack<br />Vanguard Veterans x2. 5 man. Glaive encarmine on sarge. 2x melta, 2x storm shield, power fist.<br /><br />As soon as I get some time to play, this bad boy will be hitting the table at the FLGS. I'm super excited to try it out.<br /><br />Comments and criticisms welcome. I'd love to hear others' ideas!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-76083530346667520192010-03-22T15:27:00.000-07:002010-03-22T16:23:12.471-07:00Blood Angels Mech List - Razorback Spam<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6LMhnIiOrRkwuwGirtByYlrpXI6mtpiYwuvrHAC8KVKn6px2TgcPTkpvQ6-BawDy3vNSfi11iVJV-Sl1LpB7EQiEToX6UM1jAs-DnFB986qM65tg2Hv-hYe9K15NjT7f7epBaFXR2Zc/s1600-h/spam.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 150px; height: 113px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjA6LMhnIiOrRkwuwGirtByYlrpXI6mtpiYwuvrHAC8KVKn6px2TgcPTkpvQ6-BawDy3vNSfi11iVJV-Sl1LpB7EQiEToX6UM1jAs-DnFB986qM65tg2Hv-hYe9K15NjT7f7epBaFXR2Zc/s400/spam.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5451602310348165778" /></a><br /><br /><br />So here is a list I cooked up last night while playing around with the new codex. I'm not going to say this list is super original, because the basis has been floating around for quite some time in various places. <br /><br />So here's the list:<br /><br />HQ<br />Librarian-cover save power, and maybe the lance power, not sure here.<br /><br />Troops<br />6x 5 man Assault squad with melta in a Razorback with Lascannon and twin-linked Plasma<br /><br />Fast Attack<br />3x Baal Predators with Flamestorm cannons, or Assault cannons, or any combination that you like.<br /><br />Heavy Support<br />3x Predators with Autocannon and Heavy Bolter sponsons<br /><br />Total points is 1750, which is what I usually play. But it gives you some wiggle room to add some elites, or add some sponsons to the Baals, or add some toys to the Assault squads to hit 2000 points. Maybe some Sanguinary Priests or lascannon sponsons on the Autocannon preds, you know, whatever your taste.<br /><br />I really like this list, a lot. 12 tanks total, 6 of which are Predators, and all of which are fast vehicles. The list packs some serious fire power at 1750 and has the mobility to get where you want it to go, without suffering too much in firepower. Want to redeploy first turn without losing all your shots? Go ahead and make the 12" move with all your tanks and still fire your lascannons. Take first turn each time and watch as you play a refused flank on your opponent, and still fire 6 lascannons and 6 autocannon shots at him, minimum.<br /><br />I need to start speed painting my Rhino/Razorbacks and Predators now.<br /><br />Give me your thoughts on the list, improvements, problems, etc. Any ideas appreciated.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-47551640002501042922010-03-19T15:51:00.000-07:002010-03-19T16:53:48.526-07:00First Blood Angels List - For Reals this time!<a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/?action=view¤t=IMG_0171.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/IMG_0171.jpg" border="0" alt="Dread chest"></a><br /><br />Ok, so I looked some stuff up at the FLGS and solidified my DC list I just posted. I'm excited about the list. Funny thing is I have no scoring units. I have to wipe the enemy to win objective games. I think it kind of fits the while Death Company raving lunatics theme. The only victory is in annihilation of the enemy or death.<br /><br />HQ-Astorath the Grim<br /><br />Elites- 2x Furioso Dreadnought, 1xBlood Talons, 1x Blood Fists, heavy flamer, meltagun and magnagrapple on each<br /><br />Troops- 20x Death company infantry, 5x power weapons<br />4x Death company dreadnoughts, 2x Blood talons, 2x Blood fists, Heavy flamer, meltagun and magnagrapple on each<br /><br />Fast Attack- 3x Baal Predators. 2x with assault cannon and heavy bolter sponsons, 1x with flamestorm cannon<br /><br />Baal predators scout ahead to get side shots or mow down infantry. Flamestorm moves fast to torch squads emptied out of their transports by shooting. Dreadnoughts advance at the front providing cover for the infantry, popping smoke first turn if there are no targets. Next turn is assault time, with the Dreadnoughts yanking tanks towards themselves for the infantry to chew on.<br /><br />This list seems like so much fun to build and play. A serious alpha-strike list could damage me beyond repair, but that goes for most armies, and that is why it is just a fun list and not a tournament list.<br /><br />Astorath has to make an appearance in the list, the reasons already given. But I can easily see myself subbing him out for a regular Reclusiarch as HQ. I really don't think Astorath adds anything to the list, other than coolness factor, which I can live without after a few games. The points drop would allow me to squeeze in a Librarian. The powers would be up in the air as far as what I would choose, but the psychic defense would be great.<br /><br />So tell me what you all think, and I'll get cracking on a less gimmicky list.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-10418641354001519472010-03-18T14:03:00.000-07:002010-03-18T14:55:09.111-07:00First Blood Angels Army List<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-y_qJYCswVbx-eGoTteLzhVOhIl_zFvI90C6EeaddP2pZSobVq_mwZFZxgIbf707m8PlD_e8_h-DXp4tAYmFxG7yT-B4YrfKdBy5XmStjuy0pWHU4grJmt1xCjfAouNDj0h9EcY_3EE/s1600-h/DeathCompanyArt.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 300px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEih-y_qJYCswVbx-eGoTteLzhVOhIl_zFvI90C6EeaddP2pZSobVq_mwZFZxgIbf707m8PlD_e8_h-DXp4tAYmFxG7yT-B4YrfKdBy5XmStjuy0pWHU4grJmt1xCjfAouNDj0h9EcY_3EE/s400/DeathCompanyArt.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5450095059921633170" /></a><br />(pic taken from Bloodandblades.blogspot.com)<br />So for my first try at a list from the new codex, I am going to jump on the Death Company bandwagon. I realize that it won't be the most competitive list, but I am going for fun on this. Maybe it will be able to stomp face, but I'm not betting on it, lol.<br /><br />So here is how the list will pan out I think. Granted I still have no point values, so this list is as rough a draft as you could imagine.<br /><br />HQ<br />Astorath-because I love the model, plain and simple. He is on order and will be used, and lovingly painted ;)<br /><br />Librarian-maybe one of these, probably not because of points issues. But the 5+ cover save would be nice for my DC charging across the board.<br /><br />Troops<br />Death Company-30 man strong I think. Odds are it will be without jump packs, because it is too many points. Thanks for the screw-up on that GW. There will be some power weapons tossed in, and some fists or thunder hammers for tank smashing<br /><br />Death Company Dreadnoughts-I will try to max these out in numbers. Put some blood talons on a few, a magna grapple or two, so I can bring the enemy to me. I just love death company dreads, and will need to get some more dread models.<br /><br />Elites<br />Librarian Dreadnoughts- I can't wait for these. I want to look at them more in depth to see what options will be viable. But I'm thinking of jump pack power and the Preferred enemy power with Blood talons. Rerolls to hit, and wounds give extra attacks. That just seems crazy-killy to me.<br /><br />Sanguinary Priests-I don't know if these guys will have a place in the army or not. I have to see the DC rules and the Priest rules to know what gaps need to be filled. The FNP will be great for a 30 man strong squad at the very least, especially for only 50 points.<br /><br />Fast Attack<br />Baal Predators-Fast scout tanks will be awesome. Get into position to open transports or silence heavy tanks while my DC are coming to get them.<br /><br />Heavy Support<br />Predators-maybe annihilators, because there is no ranged anti-tank in the list as of now. Although this slot will probably be empty. I just don't think I will have the points under 2K to get anything done. I usually play only 1750 or 1850 games, and all of this will probably not fit in. I will probably have to trim Astorath down to a Reclusiarch, and trim some power weapons/fists, and pare down the dreads while I am at it<br /><br />So there it is. All over the board, little focus, lots of glaring holes, but I think it will be a friggen blast to play. Until I run into a fast mobile army that I just can't catch. I will have to use the DC infantry as a long strung-out net to hem the opposition in, then close in with the dreads to make them pay. But I will design the list and certainly play it a few times before I change it up to make a more competitive list.<br /><br />Comments as always are welcome!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-83267820130892568822010-03-09T12:28:00.000-08:002010-03-09T13:12:41.026-08:00New Blood Angels are in!<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZp6CvOqPWPq9OA8JQb_B8l4kZTTUZ5Y88vHSRdRsg1FCeSgw9uPWkgbnhMGwsJ3DHQ4DG01THPSgSk6dsVhN7uiwHJYE6MO0tsUc0Erq6m27Pe3oVejb4BECrpCrr-AjJjp9HAaAG0A/s1600-h/BA-Sanguinary-guard-preview.jpg"><img style="float:left; margin:0 10px 10px 0;cursor:pointer; cursor:hand;width: 400px; height: 299px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaZp6CvOqPWPq9OA8JQb_B8l4kZTTUZ5Y88vHSRdRsg1FCeSgw9uPWkgbnhMGwsJ3DHQ4DG01THPSgSk6dsVhN7uiwHJYE6MO0tsUc0Erq6m27Pe3oVejb4BECrpCrr-AjJjp9HAaAG0A/s400/BA-Sanguinary-guard-preview.jpg" border="0" alt=""id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5446743787072123586" /></a><br />So we all know the advanced orders are up. It was one of the best Mondays I have had in awhile :) <br /><br />I have yet to see the codex in person,and it is killing me, lol. I need to see if the FLGS has their black box yet, and get in to see it. I am way excited about it though. <br /><br />I am stoked to get into the book and start list building. It will start with all the fluffy, super-cool units and characters. I will have a few dreadnoughts in there, most likely at least one librarian dread. I will think I have the uber list, and I am sure I won't. It will be a process to get my list refined and tuned so be as deadly as possible. But the journey with a list is most of the fun.<br /><br />Who knows what the dominant list type will be? There are a few archetypes that have been floating around in my head and the internet. Not that the two coincide, but here are some of my ideas.<br /><br />1. Mephiston centered lists. This guy looks to be a CC beast. I will make and play a list with him for sure, and other will do so as well. If the non-IC thing is real, then delivery modes will be hard to come by. He won't warrant his own LR. He can't join in with other squads in Rhino/Razorbacks, and won't join footslogging units to hide him from fire. He will have to be bubble wrapped to prevent him from dying while crossing the board. And marines don't have any cheap bubble wrap, unless you are inducting IG. Who knows where this list will go.<br /><br />2. Stormraven spam armies. I don't know the points cost for this guy, but again, I want to spam it. Don't know if it is a dedicated transport or a heavy choice, so I don't know how many will fit into a list. But the lists will appear and be played, despite the lack of a model. I know I'll be proxying Rhinos to start.<br /><br />3. Dante deepstrike lists. I love to deepstrike, even though it is less than optimal in most cases. I just like the variability of it. When you stick the landing in the perfect spot it makes for a really fun game. It is too unreliable most of the time, but Dante fixes that. Apparently he doesn't scatter on a deepstrike. Granted you still have to rely on reserve rolls to get him in play, but most of the danger of the deepstrike is mitigated by his rule. Just imagine him droppping down with 30 death company, wherever he wants. Its ridiculous. With a model footprint that large, just imagine the amount of multicharges you could get. Upgrade the unit with Lemartes, and add in a Librarian for an added cover save from the incoming shooting you will get. It's gotta be a points sink, but loads of fun in my opinion.<br /><br />4. Land Raider deepstrike. I don't imagine this will fare too well in the melta heavy environment that is 5th ed, but who doesn't at least want to try this out? Who doesn't want to drop some Land Raider Redeemers into enemy lines and melt faces? Don't forget you can still fire one weapon because of Power of the Machine Spirit after landing. Use the multi-melta to pop that Leman Russ, or chew up some Orks with your hurricane bolters or assault cannon. Or you could pop smoke to prevent some of the incoming damage from shooting. Then disgorge your termies or whatever other assault unit packed inside to chew up everything around it. Sounds like win to me!<br /><br />5. My last entry is an all jump-pack army. I don't see the real merits of this incarnation, but I'm sure I will see it on the gaming board or on the interwebs. I've read that lots of people enjoy jump troops, but you will have a hard time convincing me it is as effective as a mechanized army. AP2 blasts will ruin your day, along with any AP3 or less weapons. This guy will show up, but I don't think it will last very long.<br /><br />That's all I have for now. Granted those are really open-ended ideas with some wriggle room, but I'm sure you all get my point. Some other things you may see are triple flamestorm Baals, 8+ dreadnought builds, and librarian heavy builds. With the preponderance of cover saves in 5th, fast moving predators with Marine killing flamers are very attractive. Add in the sponson heavy flamers and you have some serious face melting going on. Who doesn't love armor 13 furioso dreads? Only the people being stomped on by them is all. Expect to see them in full force. I'm not sold entirely on the psychic powers, but I just need to see them in person to wrap my head around them all the way.<br /><br />I'll start posting some more concrete list ideas when I have a tangible codex in hand and the points values. Until then, I'll just be dreaming in Blood Red each night . . .Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-43828332766514133132010-03-08T11:48:00.001-08:002010-03-08T11:48:31.738-08:00Librarian Pics<a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/?action=view¤t=IMG_2024.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/IMG_2024.jpg" border="0" alt="Librarian front"></a><br /><br />This is my first Librarian that I had painted, and maybe one of my minis I am most proud of. This guy took lots of time to finish. I tried to be meticulous, and get every detail right. I did some of my first blending ever on this guy. I really like the model, and the Librarian part of it makes it even cooler for me. I love their iconography.<br /><br />Here are some other shots. Please enjoy!<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/?action=view¤t=IMG_2027.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/IMG_2027.jpg" border="0" alt="librarian right"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/?action=view¤t=IMG_2026.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/IMG_2026.jpg" border="0" alt="Librarian back"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/?action=view¤t=IMG_2029.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/IMG_2029.jpg" border="0" alt="Librarian legs close"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/?action=view¤t=IMG_2028.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/IMG_2028.jpg" border="0" alt="Librarian axe close"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/?action=view¤t=Shouldercloseuplibrarian.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/Shouldercloseuplibrarian.jpg" border="0" alt="Librarian Choulder close"></a><br /><br />Comments and Criticisms welcome!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-35947265346555949942010-03-04T09:55:00.000-08:002010-03-04T10:04:04.572-08:00Blood Angels RumorsSo I usually don't post stuff like this, but <a href="http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2010/03/40k-rumors-blood-angel-latest.html">BoLS</a> just put up some new rumors for the Blood Angel release.<br /><br />WOW was my first reaction. The new kits sound absolutely incredible. Who knows how reliable this is, but if it is for realsies, sign me up. x15!<br /><br />Now I normally don't react so big to things like this, I tend to be more skeptical, but I just couldn't help but get excited. The artisan armor, 2h weapons of various types, wrist mounted weapons, and angel wings = pure win for me. I know not everyone is for this type of change, but I dig it.<br /><br />Who knows about the fast skimmer, I'm holding judgement, although I really want to see it. Hopefully it isn't the IA lander that was previewed before at one of the Gamesdays. That model was terrible.<br /><br />I'm way too excited for this to be released, it can't come soon enough.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-73661279794231084762010-03-03T08:23:00.000-08:002010-03-03T09:56:33.143-08:00Battle Report - Tau vs Space WolvesFor a little change of pace I took my small tau army out for a spin on Monday. I was reading the <a href="http://tauofwar.blogspot.com/">Tau of War</a> recently and began to miss my neglected blue friends. So here it goes.<br /><br />1550 points, Pitched Battle, Annihilation.<br /><br />Tau Army<br />Shas'el plasma rifle and missile pod(PR/MP), bonding knife and 1 shield drone<br /><br />2x Crisis teams-3 man squads all with PR/MP<br /><br />2x 6 man firewarrior squads, 1 with Devilfish with smart missiles, disruption pods, targeting array and multi-tracker.<br /><br />1 six man pathfinder squad with devilfish, same as above<br /><br />2x Hammerheads with railguns, smart missiles, multi-tracker, and disruption pods.<br /><br />1 three suit squad of Broadsides with 2 shield drones.<br /><br />Space Wolves:<br />2x Rune priests JotWW on both, Living lightning, and the 5+ cover save as the other 2 powers<br /><br />1 Long Fang squad w/ ML, plasma cannon, and Lascannon<br /><br />1 Lone Wolf<br /><br />1 Terminator squad with Arjac upgrade<br /><br />3x troops with Terminator leader with combi-meltas<br /><br />1x other troop choice with Lukas the Trickster in it.<br /><br />He won the die roll and passed me first turn. I have no idea why. So I set up centrally with eveything but one devilfish, and let him go. When he set up I saw no transports, and my heart went out to the poor guy. It was going to be a shooting gallery.<br /><br />First turn, I had to eliminate his long fangs, they were the only immediate threat to my army. They were camping in a central building with LOS to the whole board about. They had to die. Markerlights went up and only 2 hits. This was my first go with them in my army, and the jury is still out on whether I like them or not. So my suits shot the long fangs to pieces, leaving only the lascannon standing. The rest of my shots went into the troop squad at the base of the building. They lost a few guys, but both squads passed their Ld.<br /><br />His turn he came forward running. His lascannon managed to shake the crew of one of my hammerheads and that was the end of his turn.<br /><br />Next turn I got 4 marker light hits, much better. I nailed his Terminator squad that was hugging a forest and launched a load of shots into them. The markerlights dropped their cover so my plasma rifles would be more effective, and boosted my ballistic skill. And his storm shields laughed off plasma, much to my dismay. I did get a few kills in to force a Ld test, but he passed that easily.<br /><br />His turn he ran towards me screaming some more. He had a few combi-meltas in range of one of my tanks, and managed to shoot the railgun off one of them. His lascannon did nothing, and that was the end of his turn.<br /><br />Turn 3 I blasted him some more. Wiping one squad and killing a few more terminators. On the far side I had a devilfish shooting the crap out of his Lone Wolf, and this turn I finally managed to down him. And I didn't move one of my Hammerheads, which was a mistake.<br /><br />His turn he brought another combi-melta around a bulding and blew my Hammerhead to bits, ugghh. And wouldn't you know it, the explosion engulfed all my Pathfinders, and killed all but 2 of them. What a blow. The pathfinders booked it off the table, being much too afraid of the Wolves closing in on them. End of turn.<br /><br />The rest of the games was mostly unremarkable, in that I just continued to retreat in front of him and shoot him to smoking piles of melted power armour. On turn 5 I finally got the last of his army, a lone Rune Priest hiding in some trees. It took all of my suits to finally kill him off, coming to rolling 6 2+ saves vs my 14 missile pod shots. The priest had only one wound left, and he managed to fail just one of the saves. It was epic to see, It all came down to the last roll. We both had a good laugh about it.<br /><br />Total victory for the Greater Good! MVP was the Crisis suits. They put out so many shots it was kind of silly. They killed more than 3/4ths the army. I had a good time, although I would have preferred more competition from his list. I know the Wolves have much more than that to throw at me, and it was a little underwhelming. Jaws was fail for the game. He managed to get it off twice, and I passed the test on the 1 model he got each time. Lucky rolling by me, but it could, and should have been much worse. Even rhinos would have made the game interesting, but such is life, every game can't be a nail-biter. <br /><br />Until next time!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-86203115466827226732010-02-24T10:54:00.000-08:002010-02-24T12:39:49.580-08:00Battle Report Blood Angels vs Marine ScoutsI got a really fun game in last weekend vs two of my buddies at the FLGS. A lot of different circumstances led to this game. I was playing a very different list than normal versus a very different army list. I had left m laptop at home, which has all my army lists on it. So I had to make up a list on the spot, from point values memorized from the dex. I was playing one army, but my other two friends had split it in half to play me. It was a "strange" game. I can't really put a finger on why, but it turned out to be a great game.<br /><br />Lists are as follows, as best as I can remember.<br /><br />Blood Angels: 1500 points<br />Lemartes<br />10x Death Company with jumppacks<br />2x tac squads w/ flamer and lascannon w/ Rhinos (combat squaded)<br />2x Baal preds w/ HB sponsons<br />1 Speeder squadron w/ 2 speeders, MM and HF, one with typhoon ML<br />1 Attack bike squad with 3 bikes all w/ MM<br /><br />Opponent had:<br />Marine captain w/ PW<br />1 pred annihilator<br />2x scout squads w/ CC weapons<br />2x scout squads w/ sniper rifles<br />1 scout squad with ML and Telion<br />1 8 man marine squad<br />1 land speeder storm with MM<br />1 10 man dev squad w/ 4x ML<br />1 5 man terminator squad with assault cannon<br /><br />Standard deployment with 4 objectives to capture.<br /><br />Other guys deployed first and set up mostly in a building to give the snipers and shooty termies good cover and on the first objective. Pred on the right with the tactical squad behind a bulding with an objective, and land speeder and Telion squad on the left. I deployed a Tac squad combat squaded down on each side, behind cover, with the Baal preds on the left, and the speeders and bikes on the right. Lemartes went to the left to get the most cover before assaulting.<br /><br />First turn he only manages to knock an assault cannon off one pred with a lucky shot from Telions ML. All other shots are ignored by cover. On my turn I came out of cover, turboboosting forward with the bikes to get the Predator next turn. The Landspeeders moved up 12" to fire on the marines in cover on the objective. Death Co went forwards creaming madly and my rhinos advanced up to move on the other objectives. I killed a few marines sitting on the objective, and they passed the Ld test, got a few scouts in Telions squad with Baal fire, and my lascannons were useless as usual.<br /><br />Turn 2, the land speeder storm comes out of nowhere (it was hiding behind a bulding and I totally forgot about it, lol) and blows one of my baal preds to pieces, the intact one unfortunately. Massed ML fire knocks a MM off one of my speeders and gets a can't move/can't shoot. Now here is where I failed, and forgot that squadrons ignore those results . . . what a pain. Things would have gone easier for me had I played the rules. Here his snipers start doing some damage. They begin to pick off my death company bit by bit, and because I can't pass a FNP roll for my life they begin to fall a few models a turn. That was all for his turn. My side, my lascannons fail to do what they should, except I was able to take the MM off the storm. My bikes only stunned the predator, and the speeders were out of commission due to my poor rules knowledge. The rhino rolled up and flamed a few more marines on the objective out of the hatch, and forced a Ld test again, and they failed! Lucky me. They run off the board and the objective is mine. The Baals chew up a few more scouts, but can't get to the ML or Telion yet. The DC are still struggling through the ruins, and make poor movement rolls, so I will be stuck with another turn of being shot to pieces.<br /><br />Turn 3 has his scouts bailing from the storm and charging towards me. One of his two reserved squads of scouts show up and charge towards my left sided combat squad. His ML's blow one of my speeders up and immobilize the other. Predator does nothing, snipers chew up a few more DC, and Telion accomplishes nothing. Scouts charge my combat squad and get stomped in combat. They run from combat, and are later killed. My turn I blow his predator up with my bikes, kill a few more scouts with my remaining Baal, and get a few of the devastator squad with my Land speeder missiles. My DC finally are able to charge, and I plough into one of his scout squads on the bottom floor of a ruin. I didn't even kill them all. Lemartes was fail, and the DC didn't do much better. So I'm stuck in combat for another round, but did save me from some shooting. <br /><br />Turn 4 has his termies charging down a floor from the building to get my DC in combat. His Devastators didn't do any damage, but his Commander came out of reserve right next to the combat squad that broke his last scout squad. This one had a PF and a PW on the commander, so things were looking bad there. The termies came into the combat and Lemartes and the DC failed again. Lemartes didn't do any wounds, and the termies saved all the DC wounds. Ugg. They then pupled my squad with their power fists. What a waste of points they were. His commander was unable to kill off my squad so they were lock in combat. My turn I finally got his Telion squad mopped up. My bikes moved over and back-doored the dev squad in the building. I killed a few of them, but they passed their Ld again. Combat was a push in the corner. Not too exciting, although models were being lost on each side.<br /><br />This was the last turn due to time constraints. His ML took out all of my bikes this turn. He had 3 scouts that hurried up to get back on his second objective and the termies were making their way back to his other objective I was holding. Combat in the corner was a push again, and I was down to only 2 models left. That power sword was getting the best of me, and luckily the PF was missing every time. So bottom of his turn it was 2-1 objectives in my favor, and the combat was not looking good for me by one of my objectives. This could easily become a tie instead of the win I thought I had solidly. So with my turn I brought my last Baal pred around to try to get some shots off on the scouts on the objective, and I prayed my combat squad would hold the objective, which they really had no right to do. So my shooting phase would make or break the game. My last lascannon finally decided to do something worthwhile. I took one potshot at the scouts in the ruins through a window and wounded a killed one of the three scouts. What a lucky break for me. That forced a Ld test and they broke right off the objective! How sweet it was. And just for curiosity's sake we played out the combat in the corner and my sarge held out against all the odds to tie combat again with the commander and the PF.<br /><br />Victory for the Blood Angels!<br /><br />This game was so much fun. There were some really cool swings in who was winning it felt like as each turn ticked away. When the commander assaulted my marines I thought the objective was a goner. When he blew up my Baal predator second turn it was a big blow. But I came through it all ok. <br /><br />I can't really say there was an MVP in the match, and maybe that is a good thing. All the pieces, except the Deach Co losers, played their parts well. Maybe a sign of good list-building? Probably not, lol. I know it isn't a list I will play again, thats for sure. It didn't speak too well to my playstyle. Oh well, it was an impromptu list anyways. <br /><br />Comments welcome as always!<br /><br />So lots of family things are coming up in the next 2 weeks, so this place may be a bit sparse. I do have some more minis to post up, some that I am proud to show off, so I'll have to put them up as space filler till I can get some other content going.<br /><br />Until then.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-58555804770403711122010-02-20T12:49:00.000-08:002010-02-20T12:57:12.185-08:00Chaplain with Jump Pack-picsSo I learned how to take some half-decent pictures, and with the help of photoshop, got them looking much better than all my previous attempts. <br /><br />Next logical step was to get some pictures of some of my better-painted minis. First off is my jump pack Chaplain. This guy won me a painting competition at the FLGS up in Oregon. The competition wasn't too stiff, obviously, but I am still proud of how he looks. Here ya go.<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/?action=view¤t=JPChaplainfront.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/JPChaplainfront.jpg" border="0" alt="Chaplain front 2"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/?action=view¤t=IMG_2032.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/IMG_2032.jpg" border="0" alt="chaplain left2"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/?action=view¤t=IMG_2033.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/IMG_2033.jpg" border="0" alt="Chaplain back"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/?action=view¤t=IMG_2031.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Chaplain%20Tycho%20Librarian%20with%20axe/IMG_2031.jpg" border="0" alt="Chaplain left"></a><br /><br />The last picture was to show the shoulder pad down on the base. I liked how it turned out. The scroll from the waist is one of the best parts of the model. I had grand plans for it, as usual, but it still looks decent in my opinion.<br /><br />Comments and criticisms welcome as always!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-23470308940586501582010-02-17T13:07:00.001-08:002010-02-18T16:18:51.722-08:00Finished Librarian Conversion-picsSo I finally got my Librarian finished. And by finished I mean painted. Who knows how long it has been since I have properly based a mini? He turned out well I think. Let me know what you all think. Please! I love to get comments, and even better, criticisms. I'd like to know what didn't work, and what did. So let me have it!<br /><br />Here he is:<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/?action=view¤t=IMG_2018.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/IMG_2018.jpg" border="0" alt="photobox"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/?action=view¤t=IMG_2019.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/IMG_2019.jpg" border="0" alt="photobox"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/?action=view¤t=IMG_2016.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/IMG_2016.jpg" border="0" alt="photobox"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/?action=view¤t=IMG_2014.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/IMG_2014.jpg" border="0" alt="photobox"></a><br /><br />As always, the photos are sub-par. I saw a small tutorial on <a href="http://exodites.blogspot.com/2010/02/semi-pro-pictures-for-my-blog.html">Cannonfodder's blog</a> and maybe next time I will give it a whirl. If anyone else has any helpful tips/websites for taking good photos, let me know please!<br /><br />Edit time! So I downloaded a trial version of Adobe elements, and we will see if these images are better than the other ones from photobucket. Here's the newer ones.<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/?action=view¤t=zoomedtopview.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/zoomedtopview.jpg" border="0" alt="soomed top"></a><br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/?action=view¤t=zoomedcloak.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/zoomedcloak.jpg" border="0" alt="zoomed cloak"></a><br /><br />Much better. Ok, now I need to start getting some pictures up of my painted minis, I have no more excuses.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-24182397285894898592010-02-06T13:23:00.000-08:002010-02-07T12:27:38.303-08:00Battle Report - Blood Angels v SalamandersTime for another batrep. I was able to sneak out of the house for a few hours and got a game in vs. a new friend at the FLGS. He is relatively new to the game, and he is still learning some of the basics of the game. I helped him out a bit as we went, giving tips etc. I think it is really fun to teach new people the game. It is great to watch them pick up on the nuances as they learn.<br /><br />I went back to my roots for this game, switching up my army list back to one I really like, the dual LR list with Mephiston. Only this time I took out the DC Furioso dreads, and put in another Terminator assault squad. My, what fun to drop that combo out of LRs on another army. The list I had concocted was a 1750 list, but it was pared down to 1500 to accommodate the newer guys smaller model count.<br /><br />My list was this:<br />Mephiston<br />Corbulo<br />2x 5 man assault Marines in Rhinos<br />2x LR crusader<br />2x 5-man Terminator Assault squads (3x LC, and 2x TH/SS)<br />I only put on 2x DC models, just now realizing there should have been 4 of them, lol<br /><br />My opponent had:<br />Vulkan<br />1 squad of TH/SS terminators<br />2x Tac squads, flamer/ML and melta/plasma cannon, each with a Razorback, one with h. bolter and one with TL lascannon<br />1 Dread with MM and H. Flamer<br />1 Ironclad Dread in Drop pod<br />Predator Annihilator<br />Thunderfire cannon with Techmarine.<br /><br />I believe that was all of his army.<br /><br />We decided to play annihilation for simplicity's sake, and he won the die roll and chose to go first. He spread his whole army out across his board edge. I then deployed everything in my right corner. This took his dread w/ MM out of play for most of the game, along with Vulkan and the attached tac squad guarding the opposite side of the board for a few turns. I love castling in a corner and then plowing into a flank and mowing them down in assault. It just feels right to me :) And with only half his army on that side of the field, none of it assault oriented, it was ripe for the picking.<br /><br />So first turn I have all my tanks behind cover for his shooting that is coming my way, but I couldn’t really block off my LRs from his podding in Ironclad. I could have sacrificed my rhinos for that, but I didn't think about it at the time. I should have made a wall with my rhinos 4 or so inches from my LRs to block him out of landing within melta range of my LRs. I never used the troops this game, so that would have been a good trade. So he drops his Ironclad not too far from my LR next to the board edge in a gutsy move, and sticks the landing. His predator and las razorback open up on me and don't accomplish anything thanks to my cover saves. His Ironclad then tries to melta my LR and fails to harm it. Lucky for me he rolled poor on his penetrate.<br />On my side of the turn I only move 6" with my LRs to be able to melta his dread. And nothing of his was in assault range so there wasn't a point in going flat out. I fired on his dread and the first shot it and destroyed the poor dread left sitting there. Lucky rolling for me! End of turn 1.<br /><br />Turn 2 he unloads on me again with all his lascannons, and manages to stun my LR with Mephiston and a squad of termies in it. And that is all he has accomplished. His techmarine had been firing at my Rhino behind cover but never managed to do any damage. Bottom of turn 2 things start going downhill for him. I dump Mephiston out of the stunned LR he was in, and jump pack him 12" forward to get into the mix. My DC close on his Las razorback, and my other LR advances up the left side of the board towards his razorbacks and Techmarine. My DC assault the las razorback manage to get a don't move/shoot roll result and my LR shoots the other razorback with the MM. I pen it and blow it up. The marines take no casualties, but are subsequently pinned down in the wreckage. End of turn 2.<br /><br />Turn 3 he continues to run Vulkan and his squad and the dread towards me from the opposite side of the board. His one combat squad hops out of the stunned razorback and shoots up my DC to no effect, those DC are tough buggers. His thunderfire cannon still fails to do any good, and his Predator manages to maybe chip the fancy paint job on my LR. No luck for the poor guy. On my turn I unloaded death all over his flank. Because of bad luck, or poor moving or who knows what, but I manage to make a triple assault on the pinned marines, the stunned razorback, and the combat squad that just hopped out of their ride with one squad of termies. The DC assault the combat squad as does Mephiston. With Corbulo hanging out in a nearby LR, things got messy with furiously charging termies. I wrecked everything of course. Mephiston smears the combat squad all over the side of the razorback before anyone else attacks, then my TH terminator wrecks said razorback just to add insult to injury. The pinned squad was torn to shreds by the LC termies. End of turn 3.<br /><br />Turn 4 he turns his Thunderfire cannon on my termy + Mephiston squad and manages to kill one with the shot, and forces them to all make dangerous terrain tests next turn. Luckily Corbulo was close enough to ignore the failed armor save for the poor terminator. His Predator was able to knock a gun off my LR this turn, but not much else. Vulkan was getting close in range, and the tac squad he was attached to was able to fire their plasma cannon. It scattered onto his own Thunderfire cannon! And of course I fail to wound it. I guess the dice gods don't hate him too bad after all. Vulkan flamed one of the DC down, then assaulted and killed the other. My turn I overran his thunderfire cannon, but not before another of my Terminators failed a dangerous terrain test, that Corbulo subsequently ignored for me. My last MM shot and killed his dread that was threatening with multi-melta shots and str 10 attacks next turn. I had unloaded the second squad of termies to assault the dread just in case. They were left twiddling their thumbs after the explosion. End of turn 4.<br /><br />Turn 5 he moved Vulkan back into the safety of the tac squad. And his Termies finally arrived from deep strike. His shooting killed one of my terminators, and that is about it. My turn Mephiston scored his second perils of the warp and took his second wound, the first time I failed to gain extra attacks on the Cannon. So Mephiston was out of range to assault the Predator, but he was in range for the Termies who had just landed. I unloaded both of my crusaders on his termies and killed 2 of them with storm bolters, then assaulted and wiped them with Mephiston alone. End of turn 5. Die roll showed a 4 so we went into turn 6, even though the game was already over for him. All that remained was his tac squad with Vulkan, and his predator. I had lost the assault cannons of my land raiders, and my 2 DC models.<br /><br />Turn 6 he assaults Mephiston with Vulkan and the tac squad. Big mistake. Mephiston goes first and kills 6 tac marines. Vulkan puts one wound on Mephiston, and then my remaining termies kill all but his sarge. His serge fails morale and books it away. On my side of the turn I finish everything else off, finally getting his predator and the fleeing sergeant. Game over, Salamanders annihilated!<br /><br />It was a fun game overall, although more resistance would have made for a more fun and challenging game. His starting turns had some poor dice rolling, but that happens to everyone. Mephiston was MVP of this game hands down. This guy wrecked nearly half of the opposing army single-handedly. Stick him in a terminator squad and his survivability goes up exponentially. This guy just needs an Iron Halo and he will be so tough, although the rumors are not pointing that direction. MVP runner-up was Corbulo. Corbulo + LC terminators = win. Strength 5, Initiative 5, reroll to wound attacks are so strong! And this game I was finally able to use his exsanguinator. My last few games with him in I either forgot about the ability, or was never able to use it. And this game he was saving terminators, well worth his points. <br /><br />I am getting way excited for the codex. Mephiston will cost a crap load of points, but I will still take him. This guy smashes nearly everything in front of him. Power weapons are his doom, but with the rumored psychic power to stop a single models attacks, he will plow through squads. I can’t wait!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-41127007143277249902010-01-24T14:43:00.000-08:002010-01-24T16:55:38.673-08:00Pics and WIPsTime for an update around here. I got some pictures taken of some of my mostly painted minis. Also a few pics of a conversion I just began working on. So if you haven't noticed yet, everything I have is a work in progress. I have painting/modeling ADD I'm pretty sure, so little ever gets completely done. But at least is doesn't look too crappy on the table. Right?<br /><br />So here is my Land Raider salvage job. I bought the hull from a friend for 5 bucks. Best deal of my life. I then got the Redeemer/Crusader sprue from the local store and put all the weapons on. I wanted a different looking tank than the others I have painted, and I got some inspiration from the DH codex. Turned out all right.<br /><br />By the way, I take craptastic pictures with an incredible camera. It belongs to the wife and I am blundering through trying to figure it out. So try to get past the shoddy pics and enjoy the minis.<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/?action=view¤t=IMG_1658.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/IMG_1658.jpg" border="0" alt="LR2 rt side"></a><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/?action=view¤t=IMG_1665.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/IMG_1665.jpg" border="0" alt="LR2 rt side full"></a><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/?action=view¤t=IMG_1667.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/IMG_1667.jpg" border="0" alt="LR2 rt side close"></a><br /><br />And here it is with my other LR. I magnetized the sponsons on this one as well. If you are interested there is a tutorial <a href="http://seeifeyecare.blogspot.com/2009/03/how-to-magnetize-your-land-raider.html">here</a>.<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/?action=view¤t=IMG_1664.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/IMG_1664.jpg" border="0" alt="LR1 and LR2"></a><br /><br />Here is a speeder I just finished. This guy was one of my MVP's for the recent tournament. Heavy flamer and multi-melta work wonders.<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/?action=view¤t=IMG_1647.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Vehicles/IMG_1647.jpg" border="0" alt="Speeder1"></a><br /><br />Don't mind the missing flamer, it is coming, lol.<br /><br />Now for my latest conversion. I love librarians, in the fluff and in-game. They may not be the best HQ's but I totally dig them. When the new BA dex comes out I am going to run Librarian heavy for sure. My list will probably be created around librarians, with some assault vehicles for fast action. As far as models go, I have Mephiston, a generic Librarian, and now I am converting this guy out of the Assault on Black Reach Captain.<br /><br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/?action=view¤t=IMG_1708-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/IMG_1708-1.jpg" border="0" alt="good libby pic"></a><br /><br />This was my first shot at greenstuff work, and I am very happy with how it turned out. I have a ways to go before I can do it confidently, but it was a great start I think.<br /><br />The banner was shaved off with a sharp hobby knife, then the Librarian skull with horns went up there. I left the scroll on the bottom to write in some cool name. I sculpted a psychic hood on the head to really make the conversion work. I drilled into the sword hand and inserted a piece of metal rod into to make the weapon a glaive, then glued the skull from the pommel back onto the end of the glaive haft. This book <a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/?action=view¤t=IMG_1715.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/IMG_1715.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a> is going into the outstretched arm. That skull on the cover wasn't as clean as I would like, but it went well.<br /><br />There are a few bits I need to clean up where I hacked the mini up, but it is almost ready to prime, assemble, and paint.<br /><br />Here is a close up of the banner, so all you greenstuff pros can give me some tips.<br /><a href="http://s580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/?action=view¤t=IMG_1712-1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i580.photobucket.com/albums/ss241/aldo8880/Librarian%20Conversion/IMG_1712-1.jpg" border="0" alt="banner real close"></a><br /><br />As always, comments are welcome, and even appreciated.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-6626534128571710902010-01-19T13:19:00.000-08:002010-01-19T13:59:38.414-08:00Business Ethics . . .Ok, this post has nothing to do with business, but whenever I hear the word ethics it makes me think of Billy Madison . . . what a great movie.<br /><br />Anyways on to the topic. I played in a local tournament and did reasonably well for my first time. I lost one game to a 20 year 40k veteran. He was playing Space Wolves and had a tough army list with all the options you can throw on there. He knew I was a relative newb at 40k, and he deliberately took advantage of that.<br /><br />So, to start it all off, my list was in limbo right up until it was time to deploy the first game almost. I had the 2 razorback list, but at the last minute I figured I'd drop the TL lascannons and go for more Rhinos for my combat squaded tac squads. Come to find out, that is illegal. Only one transport per squad, even though you are dividing them up. I didn't know that, and my opponent pointed it out kindly to me. I felt mostly retarded, but then he said, "That's fine, don't worry about it." I told him I could change my list easy enough, but he said again not to worry about it. So I didn't. We played on, and he won solidly, but only because he was cheating. I don't know who would have won in the end had it been a legitimate game, he could have still wiped the floor with me, but I don't think that would have been the case.<br /><br />He had Logan Grimnar in his list who can give one of a few USR's to the squad he has joined. Fearless, preferred enemy, relentless, and another I can't remember. Strong ability right? Well it's even stronger when you call out the ability you want mid-turn rather than at the beginning of the turn like the rule states. Now you might think, who cares. But he was into combat before he tells me that he wants preferred enemy. Then I shoot up Logan's squad and force a Ld check, and here is what could have turned the game around, Logan failed his check. He starts to roll the fallback distance and then declares, "I'll make him fearless this round." I didn't know he was cheating, but he did. He had to call that at the start of my turn, not after I force the check and he fails.<br /><br />Secondly, he was cheating with his wolf claws. He would roll to hit me, and if was a terrible roll then he would call re-rolls to hit. If it went well, then it was re-rolls to wound. He had to call that before he started making rolls at all. It pisses me off.<br /><br />And this is the kicker, mid-game he was trying to get his rune priest free line-of-sight on one of my dreads, and makes an illegal move. He moved right next to my tank, well within an inch, and I called him on it. So he moved his character slightly, and then was in coherency with another of his units, so he had to join. So I told him that, and he said, "Come on, you are playing with an illegal list, and you are trying to call me on this?" And I said, "You know what, you are right, its not that big of a deal, I don't want to be that guy." I let it slide, because it didn't affect the game much, his living lightning failed to hurt my dread and no big deal. But he tried to hang his supposedly wonderful sportsmanship over my head to guilt me into allowing him to bend/break the rules. Had I known he was pulling the BS with Logan and his wolf claw termies, who knows what would have happened. And he was the one that insisted I keep my list the way it was, and not revert to my legal version.<br /><br />So what's the point of my rant? That's a good question, and I'm not sure I know the answer. I'm not going to confront the guy over it. If it happened again, I would call him on the rule at that time. I had an "illegal" list to begin with, but he was fine with that. If you all were in a similar situation where your opponent gave you a favorable call, do you then allow them to walk over you with their rules violations? I'm not going to let it happen again, that is for sure.<br /><br />To top it all off, he was a nice guy after the game. He is apparently a Blood Angels fan, and showed me his list and how he runs it. He talked tactics with me after the game, and told me all the things I already knew, but just didn't do in deployment. I don't dislike the guy in the end, I would play him again. I just need to make sure I know the codex well enough of each of the armies to know when they aren't following it.<br /><br />Chime in with your thoughts, ideas, etc. I'd really like to know how others feel about this.<br /><br />And on a personal note, I passed part 2 of my national licensing exam for my Optometric License!!! WOOT WOOT! I am so stoked. Just 4 more months and one more exam to go and I will finally have some disposable income for this hobby! :)Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-63413909566330716362010-01-17T07:16:00.000-08:002010-01-17T14:54:27.765-08:00Tournament ResultsThe tournament was a total blast for me. It was the first one I had ever played in. and it went pretty well. After the advice I got on the blog I decided to take my own list, with a few changes. Here it is:<br /><br />Librarian<br />2x Death Company Furioso Dreads w/ HF and meltagun<br />2x Tactical squads w/ flamer and Lascannon and rhinos<br />3x Baal preds<br />2x Attack bike squads with MM, 2 bikes each<br />1 Landspeeder squadron, 2 speeders with HF and MM, and one with a typhoon ML<br /><br />The list worked pretty well I thought. I was pleased with each of the units in the end. Although, I would drop the lascannon from the tac squads without too much hesitation. With all the moving I had to do, they just didn't get fired enough to justify the points, although in one game, one of them stopped an annihilator pred.<br /><br />So on to the games! The point of the tournament was to mix it up a bit, so they used 3rd and 4th ed scenarios. I began playing with 5th, so they were new to me, and I thought they were pretty fun.<br /><br />Game 1 was Cleanse, control table quarters with troops. I was matched vs a nice guy named Luke who proceeded to kick my teeth in with his drop pod wolves. He ran a tough list, but I played terrible. I didn't place anything in reserves like I should have, I deployed poorly, I didn't even pop smoke on my tanks and dreads at the end of the first turn before he dropped on me. It was abysmal to say the least. Even had I played well, his list was tough, and I don't know if I could have beaten him. Wolves are tough, and they have an answer for everything in each squad it seems. Melta and chainfists for vehicles, 3-4 attacks on the charge, and counterassault. So, he beats me in table quarters 2-1, and mostly destroyed my whole army. I did get more than half of his army, but I still lost.<br /><br />Game 2 was vs a cool kid named Brett playing foot slogging orcs. Mission was to get into your opponents deployment zone for bonus points. He had about 150 models on the table and things weren't looking to wonderful. The game went well for me though. I had lots of shooty, and the flamers on the dreads and the speeders took their toll heavily on the poor orcs. He deployed first and had to be spread out, so I took one side of the board and rolled his flank. He got a few of my preds, a speeder, and a bike. Everything else of mine made it into his zone and I scored major points for all the units and the rhinos. He had a few squads in my zone, but I won the game squarely.<br /><br />Game 3 was against a fellow named Aaron. He was a good opponent overall, but his Chaos Marines list could have been better. It was Fabius Bile and a load of his enhanced plague marines. 3 squads in rhinos, and one 20 man squad with a predator annihilator. The mission called for me to defend a 2'x2' square from him. I had a building right in the middle of it, so I parked my bikes and speeders right on top and fired at him as he advanced towards me. I popped his rides so he had to get out to fight me, and the combats just didn't go too well for him. He had a really bad time with his powerfists against my dreadnoughts, and I ended up grinding him down. Fabius took out my Libby in an epic assault on top of the building. I gave him 2 wounds and he gave me 3, I failed one of the 3+ saves and that means ID against Fabius. Too bad. I won the game pretty solidly. His 20 man squad was down to about 15 marines and locked in assault with my dread, and his predator was immobilized. I had lost one baal pred to massed Lascannon fire, on baal was immobilized from meltagun fire, and lost 3 attack bikes and Libby. It was a fun game overall.<br /><br />So the results came in and I had tied a few people in battle points. There were 3 of us tied with 2-1 records. But my victory points were the highest of anyone else at the tournament. I had gotten loads of bonus points for fulfilling the objectives during the missions. So I came in second! I was stoked over it. The guy I lost to was the first place winner, so that was a little consolation for me. <br /><br />I'm glad I stuck with my own list in the end, rather than borrowing from Stelek. I had played similar versions of this list before and was certainly more comfortable with it than I would have been with the razorback spam list.<br /><br />Long report I know, but hopefully worth the read.<br /><br />I'm just waiting now for the next time!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-83039600585095350282010-01-12T20:03:00.000-08:002010-01-12T20:32:25.418-08:00Tournament List Help . . . Please!Ok, so my first ever tournament is coming up. It's a 1750 shindig at my local store. I am way excited to get out and play some "competitive" 40k. Who knows what the actual competition will be like, I'll likely get crushed. But no matter, it'll be a fun time to at least get out and play some games.<br /><br />Point of the post really is to get some input on my lists. I have two that I would like to run. One is borrowed mostly from another site, and the other is a list I made up myself. I'd like input on both of them. Which list I should run, what changes to make if any. Any comments or criticism are welcome.<br /><br />List 1:<br />Librarian-Plasma pistol, Null zone and Gate of Infinity<br />Rifleman dread x3-2x twin linked autocannons<br />Dakka pred x3-Autocannon and heavy bolter sponsons<br />5 man tactical squad with Razorback w/ Lascannon and twin linked plasma gun x4<br />Attack bike squad w/ 3 bikes w/ multi-meltas<br />Landspeeder w/ heavy bolter and typhoon missile launcher x2<br /><br />So that is some serious long-range firepower. It looks like a great list on paper, but I dont know how well the razorbacks will do. It's much too easy to pop armor 11. But I think the list will put out loads of wounds to force saves and take out light armor pretty easily. This is the borrowed list by the way. My lists certainly don't look that strong on paper.<br /><br />List 2:<br />Corbulo<br />Death Company Furioso Dreadnoughtx2-venerable, melta, heavy flamer<br />Death Company marine x2 w/ rhino<br />Baal Predator x3-twin linked assault cannon w/ heavy bolter sponsons<br />Tactical Squad x2-Flamer and lascannon w/ razorbacks w/ twin linked lascannons<br />Attack bike squad x2- 2 bikes w/ multimeltas<br />Landspeeder Squadron- 2 speeders w/ heavy flamers and multi-meltas<br /><br />This list still has lots of shooty, but the Furioso dreads are there for some close combat love. They work pretty well in tandem with Corbulo.<br /><br />So I just can't decide which army to take. I want to stay true to my Blood Angels, but I don't want to be gimped in the tournament by a sub-par codex. So please, please chime in with your ideas on which list to take and how to improve it.<br /><br />I'd be ever so grateful.Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2286886968291049141.post-3701666497169518242009-12-28T09:01:00.000-08:002009-12-28T09:12:58.448-08:00Merry Chistmas . . . To Me!I hope you all had a very merry Christmas out there. I know I certainly did. And to top it all off with a week off work is even better!<br /><br />I did get the best Christmas present ever this year! My wife surprised me with tickets to Austin come the end of July, and registration for BoLSCon 2010!!! I am still nearly speechless. She has always been supportive of me being a nerdy gamer, but this goes above and beyond. I have the best wife ever!<br /><br />Enough gushy for now, that can wait till later. I am looking for a doubles partner for the Friday doubles tourny. If anyone is interested then drop me a line.<br /><br />Now its time to finish mechanising my army, and start praying for the new Blood Angels codex to drop in time and be the best ever!Michaelhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06870969601837388581noreply@blogger.com0