tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-75199376850893658252024-02-20T22:15:46.204-05:00Blackjack & HookersYear of the NarrativeChumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.comBlogger238125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-92194142335144229252014-01-10T14:54:00.001-05:002014-01-10T14:54:52.658-05:00Crusade of Fire: Phase One<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Year of the Narrative is in full swing, folks. Here's a report on the Crusade of Fire campaign we just finished up. The campaign itself is pretty fun, but it's nothing more than what you and your pals could come up with, definitely not worth the $50. Read my fanfic and cringe!<br />
<br />
<i>"After nearly a thousand years, the Warp Storms that have isolated the Corvus sub-sector from the rest of the Imperium have begun to abate. Once a rich and prosperous sub-sector sitting at the nexus of military and economic power in the galactic region, who knows what changes a thousand years of isolation will have wreaked on the sector? Chaos and ruin might reign, or some vestige of Imperial governance may yet remain, as might arcane technology thought lost to the Warp."</i><br />
<br />
The tides of the Warp are fickle. One day the storms engulf a huge swath of space, a thousand years later they vomit it back into reality. The Corvus sub-sector had finally returned, and it brought something with it. Centuries in the Empyrean had tainted the sub-sector, leaving not one planet free from the touch of Chaos. Bustling Hive Cities reduced to charnel houses, gargantuan Manufactorii filled with smoke and wreckage, ancient Space Stations quietly rotting save for the echoes of the dead, such was the state of the Corvus sub-sector upon its reentry into real space. <br />
<br />
Despite the desolation, Corvus was a strategic lynchpin in the Imperium's continued survival. The Crusade of Light was quickly assembled to reclaim and purify the sub-sector. At the tip of the spear were elements of the Ultramarines, Crimson Fists, Iron Hands and Space Wolves. They launched early, taking the fight to the enemy and paving the way for the more ponderous elements of the Crusade.<br />
<br />
The ruins of Corvus were not abandoned. Chaos had taken root in every planet and awaited new blood to drink. The capitol planet, Corvus Majoris, was once a teeming Hive World. What emerged was a desiccated plague husk. Typhus, the Herald of Nurgle himself, had spread his contagion to the entire planet and looked to claim the system in Nurgle's name.<br />
<br />
The Death World Alfrost had survived the millennium with much intact. However, as a barren, ice-covered rock, an Alfrost barely surviving was not much different from Alfrost at the height of Imperial control. On this frozen wasteland, a band of Dark Eldar led by the Wet Knife Haemonculus coven set up their diabolical workshop in the remains of an Imperial command bunker. A thousand years in the Immaterium was nothing to the torments meted out by the Haemonculi.<br />
<br />
As the Warp spewed out the planets Corvus Majoris and Alfrost something else came along. A massive conglomeration of interstellar flotsam, a Space Hulk, emerged in orbit of the Forge Wold Junkatta. The Hulk was far from abandoned, for within minutes of arrival massive chunks of rock and metal launched towards Junkatta. Junkatta's masters had long since abandoned the tenets of the Omnissiah, turning to the Dark Gods to keep the forges churning out demonic machines. Mighty as their chaotic war engines were, they were swiftly overwhelmed and driven off by the Green Tide. Big Mek Gubsnagga and his Dreadmob, "Da Urfshakaz" claimed Junkatta and its Mantufactorii to produce more and larger smoke-belching monstrosities.<br />
<br />
Initial landings by the Crusade of Light were disastrous. Erik Morkai of the Space Wolves, Master of Runes and overall commander, was ground to paste under the Deff Rolla of Gubsnagga's personal Battlewagon "Da Skwisha". Varro Tigurious barely escaped a Dark Eldar ambush even his powers of foresight could not detect. Iron Father S'mahs Erckuf, however, led his warriors to establish a beachhead on Corvus Majoris with the help of his Cadre of Ancients, half a dozen Ironclad Dreadnoughts.<br />
<br />
Gubsnagga quickly went to work adding the remains of the Space Wolves to his infamous "pit uv gubbinz". As he worked he was contacted by a vision of Typhus. The Herald of Nurgle declare Corvus the dominion of Nurgle and any Imperials were to be surrendered for sacrifice. He promised no harm to the Orks if they complied, provided they limit their ambition to Junkatta alone.<br />
<br />
"Ya spiky boyz gotz more stinkz den brainz. Deze beakies I krumped belongs ta me. Dis rock belongs ta me. Dat rock belongs ta me. ALL DA ROCKS BELONG TA ME! I'z gonna stomp all deze humies first, den I'm setting me Kanz on yer stinkin spiky boyz."<br />
<br />
Gubsnagga set to constructing the first of many Stompaz, the personification of Orky belligerence. Typhus consolidated his position, plotting his revenge on both the Imperials and Orks. The Dark Eldar observed this in between their "experiments" and decided to let the brutes sort things out between themselves. Imperial forces regrouped and prepared for the next offensive, attempting to take advantage of their divided foes. Meanwhile, the Warp continued to churn and more planets began to emerge. Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com77tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-90554822707969529392014-01-01T01:21:00.000-05:002014-01-01T01:21:27.656-05:00Year of the Narrative<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Happy New Year everybody!<br />
<br />
A lot of people talk about
making changes this time of year. All too often these resolutions are
abandoned within a month and nothing comes of it.<br />
<br />
Well, I'm hopping on that bandwagon and I can get the internet to keep me honest.<br />
<br />
The
Year of the Narrative is just that, I'm taking a year off of
competitive 40k and diving into the cinematic side of things. We're
talking fluffy armies, narrative events, campaigns and maybe even a
little writing (yikes). There's a couple reasons for this and I'll
elaborate a little on them.<br />
<br />
1) NOVA. This was my 2nd
year in a row participating in the NOVA Narrative event and it was a
blast as always. Mike announced that next year's Narrative will be
expanded to incorporate daytime activities to go along with the late
night gaming. Me being the Protagonist for 2 years running, I can't say
no. As we get closer to NOVA I'm going to try and prep my army,
particularly converting up NOVA-specific units/models to step up my
cinematic game.<br />
<br />
2) Perspective. At the Alamo GT I took
a goofy Angry Marines army to take advantage of free beer. I lost at
all costs, forcing myself into the lowest score possible and picking up
the "fluffy bunny" award. It was great. This year I'll be seeing how
the other half lives, bouncing around the bottom tables with all the
cool kids.<br />
<br />
3) Sanity. 40k has become a clusterfuck in
the past few months. Escalation, Forge World, Stronghold, Dataslates,
Formations, Supplements and even a new edition are flying around causing
chaos for casual and tourney play alike. It's going to be a very
interesting season this year and I think it'll be really fun to watch
everyone lose their minds while I'm off forging narratives.<br />
<br />
<br />
The
hard part is settling on an army. I've got Necrons, Orks and Dark
Angels. DA are the ultimate cinematic army, pretty shitty in-game but
with all their awesome fluff and minis they are pretty much the ultimate
tryhard when it comes to narrative play. Orks and Necrons are more fun
in the "we just showed up because we felt like fucking with you guys"
sense, which has its own merits. Dark Angels will be a Cypher-hunting
task force, complete with my own set of Cypher and Fallen to provide for
opponents as needed. Orks will be a Dreadmob-esque set up with lots of
walkers and looted tanks to go with my Stompa. Necrons I'm not so sure
on since I can't pick a particular aspect of them I like the most.
Plus whatever I come up with as things progress.<br />
<br />
So begins the Year of the Narrative. It'll be cinemagnificent.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-35869270648100539122013-06-12T09:36:00.001-04:002013-06-12T09:36:37.318-04:00WarGamesCon Game 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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We're talking WarGamesCon on B&H, battle reports in particular.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I put up my list earlier <a href="http://bnhblog.blogspot.com/2013/06/wargamescon-2013.html" target="_blank">here</a> and on 3++, so refer to that as we go along.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Game 1 was Relic and Crusade with Dawn of War deployment. My opponent was Chaos with Daemon allies.</div>
<div>
Chaos Lord w/ MoN, fist, wings</div>
<div>
Sorc w/ ML3, MoN, wings</div>
<div>
2x10 cultists</div>
<div>
14 Raptors w/ MoN, 2 meltas, champ w/ powerfist</div>
<div>
Heldrake w/ baleflamer</div>
<div>
2x2 Noblits</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
GUO</div>
<div>
2x10 PBs</div>
<div>
3 Blight Drones</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Aegis w/ Comms Relay</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
So, big smashy death star with supporting cast and a good chunk of disposable scoring. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We set up terrain and forts for a midfield confrontation. Objectives get thrown into various corners. No Night Fight. He elects to go first.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Raptors deploy dead center with the drones, oblits flanking and everything else in reserve. I put my Acanthrites opposite the Raptors and Zahndrekh's unit off to one side to draw baddies away before teleporting. Everything else goes into reserve.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
He shuffles up and throws out some pot shots to no effect. I respond with a glorious charge by the Acanthrites, after unloading with meltafaces and killing a few marines. The Sorceror passes MSS but fails to wound the Destroyer Lord, getting cloven in twain in return. A couple marines get killed, a few wounds go on the bugs. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
His GUO, drake and cultists arrive. Drones rush Zahndrekh's unit after the drake fails to get past Obyron's 2+ save (Chronometron re-roll ftw). After a drawn combat, Zahndrekh & friends bid the Drones adieu and start assassinating cultists. My flyers all come on and wtfpwn the drake, one bomb failing to hit the mark on the drones. In the big scrum, the champion passes MSS and is struck down before getting to swing. More marines die and an acanthrite gets dragged down. </div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Oblits and GUO dive into the ongoing combat to rescure their Warlord. The Chaos Lord passes MSS (grr) and smashes the D Lord into paste after taking a wound. The Acanthrites lose a good number, but keep whittling down the raptor squad. Zahndrekh and friends gleefully gun down cultists while the flyers thin out his scoring. The Acanthrites finally buckle and free his units to do something useful.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
The Lord and Raptors chase down Zahndrekh & Co while the Nurgle daemons shamble towards objectives. He has 1 unit of Plaguebearers and Cultists remaining. The assault is stymied by the Chronometron making Zahndrekh an unkillable motherfucker and Obyron promptly flips the bird before teleporting out of combat. Shooting reduces the 4 oblits to 1 and the Raptors to a very unhappy Lord with 1 wound left. I control 1 objective with each of my immortal units, he controls 2 with a single cultist and unit of PBs. Relic is free.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Turn 5 rolls around and he moves to seize the relic. My Bomber and loaded Night Scythe go into ongoing reserves to prepare for a possible turn 6, but not before blowing up the unlucky Plaguebearer holding the relic. Unfortunately, turn 5 never came.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
We tied on objectives, 2-2 and no relic. I got first blood from his Sorceror, we both got Linebreaker (him from the drones, me from Zahndrekh & Co) and our Warlords remained active. However, his Warlord rolled the Legendary Fighter trait and received a bonus point from my poor Destroyer Lord. And, with my Bomber, Warriors and Scythe off the board he received an extra 3 KP, netting him a tiebreaker win by 2 lousy KPs! Regardless, due to the way BPs work neither of us walked away with many points. A fantastically close game and thoroughly enjoyable at that.</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<div>
Acanthrite Impact: most of a Raptor unit, Sorceror, and taking the focus of an entire army for 3 turns.</div>
<div>
Nightshroud Impact: killed a Plaguebearer holding the relic</div>
<div>
MSS tests failed: 0/3</div>
</div>
Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-26051618640492132692013-06-11T23:59:00.000-04:002013-06-12T00:00:40.429-04:00WarGamesCon 2013<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hey, this is still a blog right?<br />
<br />
Howdy folks, long time no see. I just flew in from WarGamesCon and boy are my arms tired. Coming up I'll be doing a series of battle reports and analysis on the event (heh, anal). For now, here's my stupid army and the stupid list to go with it.<br />
<br />
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<br />
HQ (580)<br />
Zahndrekh (185)<br />
Obyron (160)<br />
Destroyer Lord - warscythe, mindshackle scarabs, sempiternal weave (160)<br />
Royal Court - Harbinger of Eternity w/ Chronometron, Harbinger of the Storm w/ Lightning Field (75)<br />
<br />
Troops (420)<br />
Immortals - 10, gauss blasters (170)<br />
Warriors - 5, Night Scythe (165)<br />
Immortals - 5, tesla carbines (85)<br />
<br />
Fast Attack (450)<br />
Canoptek Acanthrites - 9 (450)<br />
<br />
Heavy Support (400)<br />
Nightshroud Bomber (225)<br />
Doom Scythe (175)<br />
<br />
Total - 1850<br />
<br />
Watch this space. Internets are happening.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-56673778292696947422012-11-01T10:42:00.003-04:002012-11-01T10:42:36.168-04:00Feast of Blades<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a name='more'></a>So, this past weekend was Feast of Blades. About a hundred players qualified from local events across the country, and they all came together in Denver to throw down for the fame, fortune and bitches.<br />
<br />
I brought the Necrorks along:<br />
<strong>HQ (320)</strong><br />Nemesor Zahndrekh (185)<br />Royal Court - 1 harbinger of destruction w/ pulse, 1 harbinger of despair, 2 harbingers of the storm (135)<br />
<br />
<strong>Elites (195)</strong><br />Deathmarks - 5, Night Scythe (195)<br />
<br />
<strong>Troops (466)</strong><br />Warriors - 5, Scythe (165)<br />Warriors - 5, Scythe (165)<br />Immortals - 8, tesla carbines (136)<br />
<br />
<strong>Fast Attack (90)</strong><br />Canoptek Scarabs - 6 (90)<br />
<br />
<strong>Heavy Support (345)</strong><br />Canoptek Spyders - 3, 1 w/ Gloom Prism (165)<br />Annihilation Barge - tesla cannon (90)<br />Annihilation Barge - gauss cannon (90)<br />
<br />
<em>Primary Total - 1416</em><br />
<br />
<strong>HQ (110)</strong><br />Big Mek - KFF, PK (110)<br />
<br />
<strong>Troops (470)</strong><br />Shoota Boyz - 30, 3 big shootas, Nob w/ powerklaw, bosspole (235)<br />Shoota Boyz - 30, 3 big shootas, Nob w/ powerklaw, bosspole (235)<br />
<br />
<em>Allied Total - 580</em><br />
<br />
<strong><em>Grand Total – 1996</em></strong><br />
<strong><em></em></strong><br />
I'll be doing battle reports on my 7 games, some post-event thoughts, potential changes and whatever else I feel like writing about.<br />
<br />
WhatevsChumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-85262972047265683182012-10-26T21:01:00.000-04:002012-10-26T21:01:01.577-04:00Feast of Blades Blogger PanelThe blogger live panel is starting at 7:30 mountain standard time. It features me, some people who aren't me and, most importantly, me.<br />
<br />
Check it out at www.feastofblades.comChumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-12021016086331959222012-10-15T11:00:00.001-04:002012-10-15T11:00:32.262-04:00Nova 2012 GT: Round 6<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a name='more'></a>Sorry about the delay folks, let's dive right in.<br />
<br />
Game 6 featured Hammer and Anvil deployment with Quarters > Objectives > Kill Points. Further, the mission used modified Scouring rules, allowing Fast Attack to count for quarters but not objectives.<br />
<br />
My opponent was Sisters with allied GKs. <br />
Celestine<br />
3x 10 Sisters w/ multi-melta, flamer in Rhinos<br />
10 Dominions w/ 4 flamers in Rhino<br />
10 Seraphim w/ hand flamers<br />
2 Exorcists<br />
10 Retributors w/ heavy bolters<br />
Bastion w/ quad gun<br />
Coteaz<br />
Gun-servitor and monkey henchmen<br />
monkey henchmen in Rhino<br />
Dreadknight w/ teleporter<br />
<br />
I might have missed something, but you get the point. Lots of bodies, lots of shooty and shenanigans from faith and Coteaz.<br />
<br />
I figure here I can use the boyz to hold up midfield while my shooty units shred armor and force enough saves to drop the girls. Finally, my Tomb Blades will get some use as late objective grabbers.<br />
<br />
I get stuck going forst, so I deployed my A Barges out of sight in the middle with boyz heavy on one flank to go after his bastion and corner objective. Zahnny and his friends sit on an objective while the Lootas/Kannonz/Tomb Blades sit on another. He responded with Retributors in the bastion, Coteaz and friends on top with the quad gun, Sisters camping a nearby objective, Exorcists in the back and the other 2 units along with the Seraphim on the opposite flank.<br />
<br />
I advance and shoot with limited effectiveness. He shunts the DK in the middle of my army, killing a handful of boyz and preparing for retaliation. That effing DK proceeds to laugh off my entire army's firepower and dives into combat, continuing to enjoy impervious armor and eventually dragging down a whole mob.<br />
<br />
While the DK was busy shrugging off everything, the Seraphim sneak up to nail an A Barge with an absurdly long charge. Retributors whittle down the other boyz mob while Coteaz prepares to gun down a Scythe. The Scythes arrive, shrug off the quad gun and proceed to blow it up. The combined dakka of 5 Tesla Destructors wipes out the Seraphim and drops Celestine. <br />
<br />
The Deathmarks made their...mark by wiping out their target unit as well as a weakened unit nearby. Exorcists drop to haywire and an objective is wrested from the Sisters. <br />
<br />
Later on, I run out the Tomb Blades to grab a quarter, failing to remember that Jokaero sport heavy flamers. The DK finally falls after killing 30 boyz and the Mek, the Retributors send the other mob packing, the Dominions arrive and die horribly and the bastion-side objective remains untouched.<br />
<br />
And to top it all off, Celestine hops back up on the last turn (7) and wipes out my Orky fire support, losing the quarter and giving him the 2-1 win. I would have won on objectives and KPs and tie breaker, but that's the way it goes.<br />
<br />
I made some pretty crucial mistakes here, easy stuff that would win the game. Simply detaching Zahndrekh and skipping 3" to the adjacent quarter wins it. The Tomb Blades were expended wastefully, another easy quarter controlled. The Orks should have simply tied down the DK all game, even if it passed every save it would be useless. I also noticed that I was extremely reliant on my Scythes after losing just one Barge. Without the board presence of Orks and Barge, my army didn't have much of anything outside of the buttery croissants of death.<br />
<br />
So endeth my Nova GT. Next time I'll catch up on the Narrative events, some local tournies, my thoughts going into Feast of Blades and some new Chaos fun.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-12301106960339978112012-09-17T09:58:00.001-04:002012-09-17T10:05:49.212-04:00E-mail: <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://mesl.ce.gatech.edu/images/StingRay1.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://mesl.ce.gatech.edu/images/StingRay1.bmp" width="271" /></a></div>
<i></i><br />
<a name='more'></a><i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Hey Chumbalaya,</span></i><br />
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">I got some Deamons in a trade and
want your advice on direction for 6th. I have done some research and see
that being are fielding Flying Deamons a lot with Flamers and
Screamers. How are my favorite unit, the Bloodcrushers in this edition?
Fate-Crusher was a strong build in 5th, but has it survived the edition
change? </span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">What about the more obscure units like Seekers and Demonettes?</span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Bloodletters having power weapons> did they get better, worse, the same?</span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div>
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;">Nobody
can deny the awesome-ness that is Breath of Chaos and Flamers when you
split your waves do you tend to divide evenly or something else? Like
having two units of 6 flamers, and 6 Screamers so you have support no
matter what wave you get.</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></i>
<br />
<div style="font-style: italic;">
Thank you,</div>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
James</div>
<div style="font-style: italic;">
<br /></div>
Well, Jim, I'm glad you asked. First off, thanks for the e-mail. Any reason to put off writing battle reports is a good one. Then it'll be liked I never actually lost a game and we can continue in the wonderful dreamworld full of magic and happiness.<br />
<br />
Daemons got a big boost in 6th. Reserves come in more reliably (3+ on Turn 2 as opposed to 4+), Deep Strike is safer (you only asplode on a 1 instead of 1-2 on a Mishap) and vehicles are a lot easier to drag down with assault and glancing hits, both of which Daemons can do very well. Add in Allies, Flying Monstrous Creatures and new rules for Flamers, Screamers and chariots and life gets much easier.<br />
<br />
However, Daemons do still suffer from the same critical design flaws that ultimately leave them heavily reliant on a handful of dice rolls. Your primary wave is still not guaranteed, your army is still stuck deep striking every game and you still do almost all of your damage in combat. With cover saves generally worse, Daemons are relying upon their relatively poor invulnerable saves and/or low toughness. 6th edition is very friendly to medium strength, high rate of fire weaponry and large, durable scoring units. Daemons have neither of these and medium S, high RoF weaponry excels at tearing them apart.<br />
<br />
More good than bad came from 6th, I believe, as evidenced by Nick pulling 2nd place at Nova with Daemons. I wouldn't recommend Daemons to somebody looking to compete, but a good player can really make any army work just by knowing the game, knowing their army and knowing how to win (missions). I'd consider them more of a "fun" army, better suited to casual play and forging narratives, but that doesn't mean one can't be successful with them.<br />
<br />
This is turning into an update for my Daemon Discourse, so let's get back to the task at hand. <br />
<br />
Jimbo, I'd say that Khorne units end up the worst in 6th. Getting slapped with AP3 power weapons and no option to swap for axes or mauls really hurts here. Combine that with fragile Bloodletters, no fleet or enhanced movement and no grenades and I wouldn't field Bloodletters unless you just love the models. Bloodcrushers have similar problems, but they are obviously more durable with multiple wounds and 3+ armor. Their main problem is that they compete with Fiends and Flamers. Flesh Hounds are still fairly decent with changes to beasts and unit-wide 2++ against psychic attacks, but they are overshadowed by Screamers. <br />
<br />
Slaanesh still has Fiends as his/her go-to unit. Cheap, fast and lethally efficient, Fiends are still one of your best Elite choices. Daemonettes and Seekers enjoy fleet, grenades and rending with a high initiative but they drop like flies with T3 and 5++. The new Heavy Support chariots are quite good for the price, the 40 point basic chariot are fragile, but they mulch infantry, particularly those guard blobs everybody is so fond of.<br />
<br />
Nurgle is about the same, providing Plaguebearers as your only decent scoring unit. T5 and FNP is pretty tough, but focused fire will still drop them. Beasts suck, Nurglings are cute and life is pretty much the same for Papa Nurgle.<br />
<br />
Tzeentch got a big buff with new Screamers and Flamers. Screamers are the new Fiends: cheap, mobile and deadly in assault. The best part is that they don't compete with anything good being all alone in that Fast Attack slot. Flamers got cheaper and tougher too, plus Breath and flamer weapons in general are quite good now. They offer serious competition for Fiends in your Elite slots.<br />
<br />
Flying Monstrous Creatures are an interesting mechanic, but they are still expensive and nowhere near as durable as your typical Flyer. Giving them Skyfire was a welcome change, but dropping out of the sky to get glomped on or hosed down with bullets is crippling. If you field FMCs, make sure to keep them cheap and focused on a particular job. A Tzeentch FMC with bolt is a fairly effective flyer hunter, and its 4++ definitely helps against bumping its head on ground. With a glorious 3++, a Lord of Change makes for a solid FMC candidate, Fatey too.<br />
<br />
As for wave splits, I'd still recommend front-loading your preferred wave with offensive units to put pressure on early. Your second wave can have some threats, but I'd focus more on the second wave supporting the first with hiding units, icons and the like. <br />
<br />
Ultimately, 6th is still relatively new and we haven't figured it out yet. I'd take whatever you've got and just play a lot with it. See what works and adjust as needed. Knowing your army is more important that taking "approved" units. And now I've got a lot to put into my Daemon Discourse, so everybody wins.<br />
</div>
<div>
</div>
<div>
</div>
Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-47824553650742397592012-09-11T06:00:00.000-04:002012-09-11T06:00:11.147-04:00Nova 2012 GT: Round 5<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Tesla3.jpg/220px-Tesla3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/56/Tesla3.jpg/220px-Tesla3.jpg" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a>After 4 rounds I found myself 3-1 and in the top bracket. Myself and 15 of the best players that weekend scrapping for the top spot. Yikes.<br />
<br />
Round 5 was Vanguard deployment with Objectives > Quarters > KPs. The twist here was the central objective providing Skyfire to whoever controlled it. Uh oh.<br />
<br />
My opponent was another GK list with Wolf allies.<br />
<br />
Malleus Inquisitor w/ Terminator Armor, Psycannon and hammer<br />
4x5 Strikes in Passbacks<br />
5 Strikes in Psyback<br />
3 Psyflemen<br />
Rune Priest<br />
10 GH in Rhino<br />
5 Fangs w/ 4 missiles<br />
<br />
He deployed first, putting most of his units over to my right near the corner with a token force (Dread, Psyback, Fangs) on my left. I responded by sticking my Boyz behind the giant wall in the center and closer to his left. A Barges and Kannonz went opposite his tanks while the Lootaz deployed with Zahndrekh and his friends in my ruin with Tomb Blades hiding behind the ruin.<br />
<br />
With Night Fight turn 1, his shooting was largely ineffectual. In turn, my A Barges began ripping up Razorback hulls. Orks advanced to reach the middle objective and clear his weak corner, Tomb Blades rushing up a flank. <br />
<br />
I pulsed on turn 2 to further hamper his shooting, leaving my A Barges intact while the kannonz and boyz suffered minimal casualties. Both Warrior Scythes came in, laying waste to more hulls while the A Barges dropped marines with forced saves. The Orks and Tomb Blades wiped out his weak flank, the Tomb Blades accounting for a Psyfleman and Razorback while the Shootaz torrented down the Strikes.<br />
<br />
After neutering two turns of his shooting, it was all down hill from there. The MSU units were too easily dropped by massed tesla while being unable to kill off Orks in sufficient quantities. One unit of Warriors knocked out his last Dread and held up his far right flank for a couple turns, giving the Boyz complete control of the middle. The Deathmarks wiped out his middle corner objective thanks to the greatness of the Abyssal Staff. The last Warrior unit got dropped off on the recently vacated corner, giving me the win on quarters.<br />
<br />
This game further convinced me that pure 5th ed-style MSU just doesn't work in 6th. Vehicles are easier to take out, small units drop quicker and nothing is able to withstand focused fire or put out enough to drop big, durable units. Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-85292126472226786862012-09-09T09:13:00.005-04:002012-09-10T23:08:35.797-04:00E-mail: Curious About Your List Experience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE88-jWT_EwpXOVh1drh1wBJZblikAezYbavuj4L0Lh8WdbqHy8BZWYtI-oPpZbkhjQjVeQPIwp-fwXO2avwQHWuKLKDd5KmfhkmqxCVVSu3lceGli-zzfnfw7-6tbCNDH7t0J9BW4PXB/s1600/sbemail.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgLE88-jWT_EwpXOVh1drh1wBJZblikAezYbavuj4L0Lh8WdbqHy8BZWYtI-oPpZbkhjQjVeQPIwp-fwXO2avwQHWuKLKDd5KmfhkmqxCVVSu3lceGli-zzfnfw7-6tbCNDH7t0J9BW4PXB/s320/sbemail.png" width="320" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a>Holy shit, people still e-mail me?<br />
<br />
<br />
<i>Hey Chumbalaya,</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>This is Eric, the purple necron player
from the NOVA Invitational/Open. It was a pleasure to briefly talk with
you on thursday, and to glance over and see you kick ass with the Necron
foot horde during the Open. I'm very curious to hear how you feel your
list performed at NOVA. After doing fairly well but having my wraiths
eaten by small arms fire, I'm looking to add a bit of resiliency to my
list. ...And that means Boyz. Mind taking a look at what I'm building
and give me some feedback?</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Necron Primary</i><br />
<i>Destroyer Lord: Warscythe, Weave 140</i><br />
<i>Destroyer Lord: Warscythe, Weave 140</i><br />
<i>5xWarriors in Night Scythe 165</i><br />
<i>5xWarriors in Night Scythe 165</i><br />
<i>5xWarriors in Night Scythe 165</i><br />
<i>6xWraiths w/ 2xWhip Coil 230</i><br />
<i>6xWraiths w/ 2xWhip Coil 230</i><br />
<i>Annihilation Barge: Tesla Cannon 90</i><br />
<i>Annihilation Barge: Tesla Cannon 90</i><br />
<i>Annihilation Barge: Tesla Cannon 90</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Ork Allies</i><br />
<i>Mek: KFF 85</i><br />
<i>30xBoyz: 3xBig Shoota 195</i><br />
<i>30xBoyz: 3xBig Shoota 195</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Basically the Destroyer Lords lead the
Wraiths and tank wounds from them up front; they flank the boyz and
provide a hell of a counter-assault. I've been thinking about adding
Nobs w/ Power Klaws, but having trouble finding the points. Could always
drop an annihilation barge or flyer, but both of those are rather fun.</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Thanks in advance for the advice,</i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Eric</i><br />
<br />
Hey Eric, thanks for the e-mail. It does a lot to keep my ego at a healthy, ridiculous level. It was great meeting you and all kinds of awesome folks at Nova, and the armies looked incredible. Those purple Necrons looked great, any chance you've got some pictures to show off how much betterer they are than mine?<br />
<i> </i><br />
I think my Necrorks did quite well. I got into the top bracket and even though I lost 2 games, they were very winnable and taught me a lot about how to use the army going forward. Having that big pile of bodies clogging up midfield just leaves my shooting units a lot safer and puts pressure on the opposite side. Focused fire, particularly cover-ignoring stuff, can get the Orks blown up, but they are incredibly durable otherwise.<br />
<br />
I think a more combat-oriented bend would be plenty good. The Wraiths and D Lord can lurk around, jumping over units/terrain to get their charge on while the Orks mill about taking bullets to the face and tying units down. You would probably be ok with just the one unit of Wraiths, which would free up a good chunk of points for Nobz, a Powerklaw on the KFF (to prevent challenge denial from gimping you) and whatever else you'd like to fit in (Scarabs, more Warriors, a Stalker, Deathmarks, Lootaz, etc).<br />
<br />
Ultimately it comes down to your experience and preferences, so just play a load of games and find out what works for you. I know I wouldn't be happy about seeing that across from me.<br />
<br />
See you at Nova next year, and thanks againChumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-25878374629793839782012-09-06T10:08:00.001-04:002012-09-06T10:09:00.684-04:00Nova 2012 GT: Round 4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
It's a sad day when friends fight. Best friends. Internet best friends. My final opponent for placement was none other than GlanceOnASix of chatbawks fame. We ended up playing 3 times over the weekend, twice in the narrative and once in the GT. He brought his NecroKnights.<br />
<br />
<br />
Nemesor Zandrekh<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>185<br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Crypteks<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>1x Destruction + Pulse, 2x Storm<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>105<br />
6<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Warriors<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Night Scythe<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>178<br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Warriors<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Night Scythe<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>165<br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Warriors<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Night Scythe<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>165<br />
5<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Canoptek Scarabs<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>75<br />
3<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Canoptek Spyders<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>150<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Annihilation Barge<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>90<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Annihilation Barge<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>90<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Grey Knight Grand Master<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Sword, Rad/Psychotrope Grenades, Incinerator<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>210<br />
10<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Grey Knight Termi<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2x Psycannon, 3x DH<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>450<br />
<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Dreadnought<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>2x Autocannon, Psybolt, Searchlight<span class="Apple-tab-span" style="white-space: pre;"> </span>136<br />
<br />
<br />
Mission was Quarters > Objectives > KPs with Big Guns Never Tire, making Heavy Support scoring for purposes of quarters and worth an extra 50 points for tiebreaker. Dawn of War deployment.<br />
<br />
Our lists are very similar, he just has a shootier midfield unit and the canopteks to smash vehicles out of position or mop up units in combat. I figured I could hold up his scarabs with boyz and swamp his GKTs with numbers, while trading firepower and getting the Deathmarks in position to wipe out an objective camper.<br />
<br />
I deployed first, sticking my boyz near the center, A Barges and Kannonz to the left, Zahnny and the rest on the right. He responded by making a strong flank, putting everything but the GKTs on my right corner with the canopteks deployed centrally and the GKTs opposite my A Barges. <br />
<br />
I ran everything forward as far as possible, immobilizing a Barge along the way. He stayed back and spawned scarabs, but nothing of note happened. I left my A Barges exposed (unintentionally, but I'll never admit to it) and he got his scarabs into position to make a devastating charge. Unfortunately, he missed by an inch and the Scarabs were at the mercy of da boyz. <br />
<br />
After that the game quickly turned into a rout. His charges failed miserably, his reserves never arrived (thanks, Warlord trait!) and my units carved a bloody swath through his army. Notably, my Deathmarks' Scythe took about 10 hits on the chin thanks to Evade and Stealth from Zahndrekh. <br />
<br />
The GKTs were simply unable to deal with that many bodies and that many saves coming in from the shootaz and tesla destructors. Beyond that, Spyders and Scarabs aren't capable of taking on anything close to a full strength Ork mob. I have more bodies and more firepower on the board. However, they are capable of getting bogged down in terrain and can be susceptible to getting castled up on. I think playing this game 9 more times would result in a 6/4, 5/5 or 4/6 split. It just happened to roll in my favor this time around.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-86996557576218420882012-09-05T13:00:00.000-04:002012-09-05T13:00:03.734-04:00Nova 2012 GT: Round 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c0/Super_Friends.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/c/c0/Super_Friends.jpg" /></a></div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Now we're on to day 2. My first game was against Grey Knights with Dark Angel allies. A "double wing" if you will (you won't).<br />
<br />
Draigo<br />
Coteaz<br />
10 Paladins - 4 psycannons, brobanner, mix of weapons, psybolts<br />
5 Strikes in a Psyback<br />
Dreadknight w/ Heavy Incinerator<br />
Belial<br />
2x Deathwing Squads w/ hammershields and cyclones<br />
<br />
Mission was Objectives > KPs > Quarters with objectives outside of your deployment zones counting as Targeting Relays. Vanguard Deployment.<br />
<br />
Yikes, not a lot of models here. One of my Boyz mobs outnumbers his whole army. If I could hold up the Paladerps and focus on everything else, I should be in good shape. The super unit can hold one objective or quarter while my mounted Warriors can jump onto rear objectives like assholes. <br />
<br />
He deployed first, pushing his death star as far up the middle as possible with Strikes hiding behind a hill for an easy objective snag. The DW and DK were Deep Striking. I screwed up here, putting my Lootaz and Kannonz too close to his Paladins while my Boyz set up to hold them at midfield. <br />
<br />
The Paladins advanced to midfield and shot Boyz all game, eventually amounting to a wipeout of one unit. The Deathwing and DK dropped in to reinforce the Strikes, exploiting my poor positioning to prevent retaliation from the other mob of Boyz. Even then, I managed to get into 6" to get off a charge, called the Waagh! and proceeded to roll a 5" charge. <br />
<br />
When I woke up and focused on the small units, they dropped. Massed fire erased the Deathwing while the Dreadknight laughed off everything else. Deathmarks deleted the marked Strikes in short order (this will be a recurring theme) while Warriors waited until late to beam down onto far objectives. The Dreadknight tangled with Zahndrekh for a few turns, passing 20-something saves and eventually dragging them down.<br />
<br />
We ended up tying on primary and secondary. The Paladins were at dead center so we had to roll to determine which quarter they occupied. Unfortunately, they rolled one of my quarters (50% chance) and that was it.<br />
<br />
Quite simply, I deployed poorly here. I should have put my firepower units on the far end of my deployment zone to contest everything but the Paladins while the Boyz occupied their attention all game. A little more firepower onto the Dreadknight or even Zahndrekh sacrificing himself to hold it up would have been enough.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-30269732394652185262012-09-05T10:55:00.001-04:002012-09-05T11:12:40.344-04:00NOVA 2012 GT: Round 2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<a name='more'></a>My next game was against Grey Knights with Space Wolf allies.<br />
<br />
Ordo Xenos Inquisitor (mandatory HQ)<br />
5 Strikes in Psybacks x1 million<br />
3 Psyflemen<br />
Rune Priest<br />
10 GH in Rhino<br />
10 GH in Rhino<br />
Rifleman<br />
Vindicator<br />
<br />
Lots of hulls, lots of medium S and TL weapons and a couple beefier units to strengthen any position. <br />
<br />
The mission was Quarters > Objectives > KPs with the center objective operating as the Relic. Deployment was modified Hammer & Anvil, with each player taking a 24"x36" area on the short board edges. <br />
<br />
Hammer & Anvil seems like a problem for the Orks, but between fleet on demand and their own firepower, I think they'll be ok. I was more concerned with knocking out enough of those hulls before my flyers show up.<br />
<br />
He deployed first and clogged midfield with hulls, leaving 1 GH unit in back on his home objective. I set up my Boyz in the center, as close as possible, with kannonz covering one objective while Zahndrekh's crew and the Lootas covered another. The Barges deployed in front of Zahndrekh's team with intervening cover. <br />
<br />
Initial shooting was largely ineffectual thanks to cover for my A Barges and no viable targets for his Razors (S6 vs AV13 wut). Losing 3 or 4 Orks here and there is far from crippling. My Boyz run up as far as possible in an attempt to mob up on the Relic and hold him in place, while the A Barges, Lootaz and Zahndrekh's team proceed to start cutting back on his vehicle count. <br />
<br />
He advanced his GH and Vindicator to start clearing out Boyz, but focused fire managed to negate his flamers' effectiveness while cover kept my losses to a minimum. He had 2 units dangerously out of position, so I went for it. Flyers arrived to devastate more armor while the Boyz made good use of Fleet to reach combat turn 2. And they didn't leave combat for the rest of the game. <br />
<br />
While the Boyz chewed through his units one at a time, my A Barges eventually got dragged down by glances while his parking lot was removed rather quickly. His Vindicator was felled by a Voltaic Staff, forcing units away from the Orks to deal with the Warriors. His objective camping GH were torched by the Deathmarks who had picked them as their victim. Eventually his firepower units were silenced one by one and infantry ground down by Boyz or massed Tesla fire.<br />
<br />
I finished the game with 2 seriously depleted mobs of Boyz and a few fewer Warriors and A Barges. He had a Rifleman with 1 arm left. I won all 3 missions and picked up a ton of tiebreaker points to finish the first day.<br />
<br />
The Boyz getting off an early charge was key here. Once they were in assault, he could only feed them one unit at a time and had nobody to grab the Relic and flee. Flyers allowed me to pick out priority targets and knock them out, even if it meant sacrificing units in the process. For all the firepower a MSU mech army has, they were not durable enough to last all game and keep dealing damage. Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-72884964693305654582012-09-04T21:44:00.002-04:002012-09-05T10:32:04.068-04:00NOVA 2012: GT game 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a name='more'></a>So, let's kick things off with the battle reports. In my sleepless stupor I failed to take quality pictures, or recover all the lists I picked up. Regardless, I'll fight through things and deliver the kind of groundbreaking, high quality content you, the reader, have come to expect from such a respected publication as Blackjack & Hookers.<br />
<br />
My first game was against pure Necrons. his list was very different from mine, including such hits as:<br />
Illuminor Szeras<br />
Overlord w/ warscythe, sempiternal weave, mindshackle scarabs, phylactery<br />
Royal Court of 1 destructek w/ solar pulse, 1 tremortek w/ harp of dissonance, 1 Lord w/ warscythe, orb<br />
5 Lychguard w/ shields in a Night Scythe<br />
Triarch Stalker w/ TL heavy gauss cannon<br />
17 Warriors with Szeras' loving<br />
9 Warriors plus Ghost Ark<br />
10 Warriors<br />
8 Immortals w/ gauss<br />
2x5 scarabs<br />
2 A barges<br />
<br />
Round 1 was Dawn of War deployment with KPs > Quarters > Objectives as Primary > Secondary > Tertiary.<br />
<br />
I deployed first. I stuck Zahndrekh on a corner objective, boyz and barges in the middle and Ork fire support over on the opposite flank. He deployed Szeras' unit centrally, loading Zahndrekh's opposite side with Warriors, Barges, Triarch and the Ark. Immortals and Scarabs covered the far side.<br />
<br />
Orks ran up the middle, getting shot up along the way, and ultimately drew all fire from my army while trading with their own firepower. I shouldn't have run through the central terrain, rather just shoved my army down one flank and overwhelmed it. But 60 Fearless bodies in cover is a massive pain to remove.<br />
<br />
Scarabs dropped as soon as they got into sight, Tesla Destructors winning hard. Stalker was taken out by tank hunting gauss flayers at range. Ark by Scythes. Immortals by Deathmarks.<br />
<br />
The Lychguard dropped on top of Zahndrekh and the two units fought to a standstill with one Lychguard stubbornly refusing to die while Zahndrekh tanked the Overlord.<br />
<br />
In the end we tied on KPs. There was not a lot of killing going on with big units on both ends, me losing my Blades, a Barge and a mob while he lost the Ark, Stalker, Immortals and Scarabs. We tied on quarters, but I won on objectives. His strong deployment to one flank left his objective open for my Warriors, while the boyz held the middle.<br />
<br />
Deployment worked, but my method wasn't the best. The boyz should have rushed his strong flank to control midfield and hem his army into a cornerr. Deathmarks excel at clearing small to medium objective camping units, leaving them free for Warriors to take over late in the game. Lychguard dropping in can be focused down rather easily, or even ignored while other quarters/objectives got focused on.<br />
<br />
This game was basically my warm up. I hadn't gotten
enough practice in beforehand so I was learning things as I went along.
It was really sloppy on my part, so the game ended much closer than it
should have been.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-26437529560802853132012-09-03T17:50:00.000-04:002012-09-03T17:51:21.750-04:00NOVA 2012: The Lists<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2CDrilJoJlLufnkiumKENlD0yBHs-bTnTR7FZI9N-Ays1aTtUh0It5pUNqPFTmGsTETE2KIKkI4R6Ww4RFiL7DSIGe6McKz8PyN48gkWQx-8pfuEqWOBQXrJCM-Sx-S9xss_o1NHzjY2/s1600/Decepticons.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs2CDrilJoJlLufnkiumKENlD0yBHs-bTnTR7FZI9N-Ays1aTtUh0It5pUNqPFTmGsTETE2KIKkI4R6Ww4RFiL7DSIGe6McKz8PyN48gkWQx-8pfuEqWOBQXrJCM-Sx-S9xss_o1NHzjY2/s320/Decepticons.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<a name='more'></a>I participated in the GT and Narrative events at NOVA 2012. After lots of thinking and maybe some playtesting I decided on the glorious combination of my two favorite races: Brobots and Boyz.<br />
<br />
GT<br />
HQ (320)<br />
Nemesor Starscream (Zahndrekh) (185)<br />
Royal Court - 1 harbinger of destruction w/ pulse, 1 harbinger of despair, 2 harbingers of the storm (135)<br />
<br />
Elites (195)<br />
Deathmarks - 5, Night Scythe (195)<br />
<br />
Troops (434)<br />
Warriors - 5, Scythe (165)<br />
Warriors - 5, Scythe (165)<br />
Warriors – 8 (104)<br />
<br />
Fast Attack (100)<br />
Tomb Blades - 5, TL Gauss Blaster (100)<br />
<br />
Heavy Support (270)<br />
Annihilation Barge - tesla cannon (90)<br />
Annihilation Barge - tesla cannon (90)<br />
Annihilation Barge - gauss cannon (90)<br />
<br />
Primary Total - 1319<br />
<br />
HQ (85)<br />
Big Mek - KFF (85)<br />
<br />
Elites (75)<br />
Lootas - 5 (75)<br />
<br />
Troops (460)<br />
Shoota Boyz - 30, 3 big shootas, Nob w/ powerklaw (230)<br />
Shoota Boyz - 30, 3 big shootas, Nob w/ powerklaw (230)<br />
<br />
Heavy Support (60)<br />
Big Gunz - 3 kannonz (60)<br />
<br />
Allied Total - 680<br />
<br />
Grand Total – 1999<br />
<br />
This list combines the mobility and dakka of a Necron army with the midfield presence and durability of a green tide. Zahndrekh is probably my favorite Necron HQ for his utility and ability to tank hits endlessly. Add in flyers and Barges for mobile firepower and a redonkulous amount of Tesla Destructors (I got sick of rolling them by the end of the weekend, if that's even possible). The KFF Mek gives my boyz cover all the time and the Lootas and Kannonz provide a little extra on-board presence and backfield firepower.<br />
<br />
And here's my Narrative list, the Legion of Doom:<br />
<br />
HQ (755)<br />
Dr Baron von Evilstorm (Imotekh) – Warlord, Dust of a Thousand Worlds (225)<br />
The Sinister Minister (Trazyn) (175)<br />
Royal Court - 4 Lords: The Marquis of Pain (Warscythe, Mindshackle Scarabs, Tesseract Labyrinth), #13 (Warscythe, Mindshackle Scarabs, Tesseract Labyrinth), Sergeant Slaughter (Warscythe, Mindshackle Scarabs, Sempiternal Weave Tesseract Labyrinth), Even Task (Warscythe, Mindshackle Scarabs, Tesseract Labyrinth); 1 Cryptek: Clockblocker (Harbinger of Eternity w/ Chronometron)<br />
<br />
Troops (130)<br />
Warriors - 5 (65)<br />
Warriors - 5 (65)<br />
<br />
Heavy Support (180)<br />
Annihilation Barge – tesla cannon (90)<br />
Annihilation Barge – tesla cannon (90)<br />
<br />
Primary Detachment: 1065<br />
<br />
HQ (510)<br />
General Disarray (Zahndrekh) (185)<br />
Corporal Punishment (Obyron) (160)<br />
Darkstalk, the Void Walker (Anrakyr) (165)<br />
<br />
Troops (245) <br />
Warriors - 5, Ghost Ark (180)<br />
Warriors - 5 (65)<br />
<br />
Heavy Support (180)<br />
Annihilation Barge – gauss cannon (90)<br />
Annihilation Barge – gauss cannon (90)<br />
<br />
Secondary Detachment: 935<br />
<br />
Grand Total: 2000<br />
<br />
Yes, that's 5 special character HQs <i>and</i> a Royal Court riding in a Ghost Ark for high adventure. Shenanigans ensued.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-16309699061045845102012-09-03T16:40:00.006-04:002012-09-03T16:41:11.925-04:00NOVA 2012 Recap<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a name='more'></a>So, I'm back. NOVA was great. I played a ton of games (12 in total) and had an awesome time. Mike and his crew know how to run an event, so big kudos to them.<br />
<br />
I'm going to be writing up a little recap of all my games, my armies, anything else that came up and I'll finish it off with a little forward thinking. Or I'll just make poop jokes, whatever.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-51469910184332221862012-07-10T10:48:00.003-04:002012-07-10T21:23:34.277-04:00Beep Boop Waagh<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<a name='more'></a>With the new edition barely a week old and NoVa fast approaching, I've got my work cut out for me. There's lots of playtesting, building and, ugh, painting.<br />
<br />
Necrons got a lot of buffs in the new edition, my favorite probably being allies. Allies of Convenience for Necrons include Grey Knights, Tau, Chaos Space Marines and Orks. Looking in my closet I've got well over 3000 points of Orks lying around. So the wheels begin turning and this is the result.<br />
<br />
<b>HQ (270)</b><br />
<u>Overlord</u> - Warscythe, Sempiternal Weave, Mindshackle Scarabs (130)<br />
<i>Cheap HQ to unlock my Court and to present an incredibly efficient challenger.</i><br />
<u>Royal Court</u> - 2 Harbingers of Destruction, 1 w/ Solar Pulse, 2 Harbingers of the Storm (140)<br />
<i>S8 AP2 is hard to pass up and, while less effective than before, Solar Pulses are still incredibly useful. Voltaic Staffs are the new melta, even 1 will average 2 HP stripped. </i><br />
<br />
<b>Troops (740)</b><br />
<u>Immortals</u> - 5, Gauss Blasters, Night Scythe (185)<br />
<u>Immortals</u> - 5, Gauss Blasters, Night Scythe (185)<br />
<u>Immortals</u> - 5, Gauss Blasters, Night Scythe (185)<br />
<u>Immortals</u> - 5, Tesla Carbine, Night Scythe (185)<br />
<i>Cheap MSU pew pew that doesn't have to worry about holding objectives thanks to the Orks. The Overlord joins the Tesla unit so they can shoot and charge.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Heavy Support (270)</b><br />
<u>Annihilation Barge</u> - Gauss Cannon (90)<br />
<u>Annihilation Barge</u> - Gauss Cannon (90)
<br />
<u>Annihilation Barge</u> - Gauss Cannon (90)<br />
<i>Rich get richer. Dirt cheap, incredible firepower, solid AA and all around awesome sauce.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Fortification (70)</b><br />
<u>Aegis Defense Line</u> - Comms Relay<br />
<i>4+ cover for my Big Gunz, making them insanely durable, as well as re-roll to ensure all my flyers come on when needed.</i><br />
<br />
Allied Orks<br />
<b>HQ (120)</b><br />
<u>Big Mek</u> - Power Klaw, Kustom Force Field (120)<br />
<i>KFF gives cover to both big units, leaving no Ork out in the open to get focus fired. With LO,S and Precision Strikes, the PK Mek is very, very useful.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Troops (460)</b><br />
<u>Shoota Boyz</u> - 30, 3 Big Shootas, Nob w/ Power Klaw (230)<br />
<u>Shoota Boyz</u> - 30, 3 Big Shootas, Nob w/ Power Klaw (230)
<br />
<i>60 Fearless models dumped at midfield, come at me bro. Lotsa dakka, overwatch fun times, and an impressive assault potential.</i><br />
<br />
<b>Heavy Support (69)</b><br />
<u>Big Gunz</u> - 3 Kannonz, 3 ammo runts (69)<br />
<i>12 T7 wounds and 3 BS3 missiles with re-rolls for under 70 points?! Hell yes!</i><br />
<br />
Grand Total - 1999<br />
<br />
Hope you managed to stay with me on this.<br />
<br />
I find that Necrons have always had some difficulty when it comes to holding in place. With no Fearless or Stubborn Troops and a pretty pathetic assault capability, parking on objectives near midfield is asking for trouble. Dumping 60 Fearless bodies into midfield with guaranteed cover (no focus firing!) and an assload of dakka, Orks drop right into the list. This frees up my brobots to focus on doing what they do best: zooming around with loads of shooting and making stuff disappear.<br />
<br />
So we've got 7 Tesla Destructors, 3 Kannonz, loads of small arms firepower and 4 flyers. Bodies and bullets (or lightning bolts) aplenty. <br />
<br />
<i>+++Overlord, Mindshackle Scarab Batch 3X24D has proven unsuccessful in application upon the Orkoids. Their systems, while crude, are innately robust and are able to resist shortly after initial implantation. Canoptek units are still restoring structural integrity to the lower levels of Tomb XZ54. The new devices have yet to be overcome. However, combat efficiency has only increased by 0.03%, though I propose this is due to the simplistic nature of the subjects. I am sending the earliest subjects to the Stormlord as tribute, perhaps he will see fit to increase your standing when he witnesses a supposed lowly vassal tame the nuisance he believed uncontrollable.+++</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
>>>Exerpt>>>Message Recovered>>>Derelict Necron/Ork Vessel>>>Location UNKNOWNChumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-35605094644708065332012-07-05T12:31:00.000-04:002012-07-05T22:39:24.188-04:00Daemons in 6th<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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</div>
<br />
<a name='more'></a>Everybody changed big time with the new edition, and so did our favorite red-headed stepchild. Daemons aren't getting a lot of press these days, but I think they are one of armies that received the most buffs. I'm going to do a more comprehensive overview as I get more practice in, eventually creating a new guide for 6th edition, but here are the quick hits.<br />
<br />
The biggest buffs to Daemons:<br />
<br />
<b>Vehicles </b><br />
Daemons can now reliably tear up tanks in combat, hitting on a 3+ at the worst. This lessens our reliance on Bolt and just makes Fiends that much better. Hull Points make life easier as well. All this means that mech doesn't ruin our day all the time any more. That's reserved for something else.<br />
<br />
<b>Fearless</b><br />
No Retreat is gone, commence the dancing in the street. We no longer lose wounds on MCs from lesser Daemons getting slapped around. This is a huge boon to Slaanesh Daemons and Nurglings, who are cheap, fragile and numerous. Now once Daemons are in combat, they'll stick it out to the end, for better or worse.<br />
<br />
<b>Reserves and Deep Strike</b><br />
Reserves comes in on a 3+ every turn and automatically on turn 4. That is huge in mitigating the negative effect of Daemonic Assault. Now expect to have 2/3 of your second wave to arrive T2, essentially giving you 5/6 of your army and almost all of it by turn 3. Furthermore, Deep Strike is much safer and more reliable.<br />
<br />
<b>Allies</b><br />
Daemon Troops aren't so hot, so maybe add in some Guard, CSM or Tau to buff you up. Flyers causing a problem? Field fortifications or allied units. Allies give you a whole new level of flexibility in your list.<br />
<br />
Of course, GW giveth and taketh away.<br />
<br />
<b>Flyers</b><br />
This is the bugaboo of 6th edition so far. Flyers are very much an all-or-nothing deal, dealing lots of damage while being very durable unless you have dedicated anti-air. Daemons don't have that, obviously. Our only anti-tank is the single shot Bolt. The best way Daemons can handle aircraft will be Vector strikes from Greater Daemons (particularly Bloodthirsters) and Daemon Princes, fortifications (lolwut?) and allies, particularly Guard and Tau. <br />
<br />
<b>Power Weapons</b><br />
AP3 blows. Bloodletters, Bloodcrushers and Khorne Heralds are boned. Boned.<br />
<br />
<b>Cover</b><br />
Now most cover is no better than your typical invulnerable save. Unless you're hiding in ruins, Daemons are much more vulnerable to getting blown off the board by shooting. Bigger units or closing quicker are very important.<br />
<br />
<b>Charging and Overwatch</b><br />
Random charging without Fleet is not terribly reliable beyond 6-7". Overwatch can potentially kill a charge, particularly a long one. You'll have to get closer for reliable charges and will need more than 1-2 models in range.<br />
<br />
Overall, more good than bad I think. The positive changes have a much larger impact, really saving Daemons from the scrappy heap. Time will tell obviously, but I think things are looking up.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-27956599452294738692012-07-05T10:05:00.002-04:002012-07-05T10:05:51.268-04:00WarGamesCon 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
<a name='more'></a>Hello internet, long time no see.<br />
<br />
I went to WarGamesCon this year, my last 5th edition tournament. Loganwing made their final appearance in 5th ed and had a great time. I met lots of nice folks, mingled with internet celebrities and checked out all sorts of jaw droppingly amazing armies. I'm not going to do any detailed battle reports since nobody cares about 5th any more, but here are the quick hits.<br />
<br />
My list<br />
Logan<br />
Rune Priest w/ Chooser, Living Lightning, Murderous Hurricane<br />
Lone Wolf w/ Terminator Armor, TH, SS, pup<br />
Lone Wolf w/ Terminator Armor, CF, SS, pup<br />
10 Wolf Guard, 2 Terminators w/ Cyclones<br />
3x 5 Wolf Guard, 1 Terminator w/ CF, Cyclone<br />
3x 1 Thunderwolf w/ PF, SS<br />
6 Long Fangs, 3 PC, 2 HB<br />
2x 5 Long Fangs, 4 ML<br />
<br />
Pretty standard as far as Loganwing goes, lotsa missiles, scoring units and disposable CC units. The big change was the Plasma Fangs, which performed very well even with cover so prevalent. <br />
<br />
WGC is a 2-day, 7-game GT. The first day has 4 games and your performance determines seeding for the next day. The top 32 go on to a 3-game GT. WGC uses Battle Points and 3 objectives per mission, each worth 10 points. <br />
<br />
Day 1 I played against Codex Marines, Grey Knights, Tyranids and, surprise, Grey Knights<br />
<br />
The Marine list was a single Land Raider Vulkan list with a mix of Tacticals, Speeders and Attack Bikes. I was able to roflstomp midfield with my TWC and LW, while missiles whittled down the armor. 30-0 me.<br />
<br />
GKs were a mix up of Coteaz, Purifiers, Acolyte Razorspam and Psyflemen. Loganwing midfield control and sustained firepower won out. 20-10<br />
<br />
Tyranids featured a Tyrantstar, 2 Tervigons, lots of little bugs, Hive Guard and Doom. I deployed like a chump and basically played against myself. 20-10 for me just because Loganwing poops on Tyranids so hard.<br />
<br />
GKs again were a mix up of Coteaz, Purifiers, Acolyte Razorspam and Psyflemen. No way. These Razors had ACs, so I deployed way back and basically got to shoot my entire army with only his Psyflemen able to trade back. 20-10, very close once he got into range.<br />
<br />
So I ended Day 1 4-0 with 90 BPs. I got into the top 32 and went on to Day 2. Day 2 featured Blood Angels, more GKs and Necrons.<br />
<br />
Blood Angels were a lopsided list with 2 loaded Storm Ravens and 3 Razorbacks. Should be easy, right? Well, thanks to some critical mistakes on my part (poor deployment, being too forgiving on charges and rules) I scratched out 5 points. It was one of those games where playing 9 more times would see me winning all 9.<br />
<br />
I replayed my last GK opponent from Day 1. I didn't have the luxury of deploying away from his Passbacks and we proved just how close a matchup we had. 10-20 here, leaving us even for the event. Great game.<br />
<br />
Finally, I played Brent (of Strictly Average fame) and his Necrons. Imotekh, Warrior blobs, Spyders and Flayed Ones. Lots of back and forth, fun assaults, and once the lights came on turn 3 I put his lights out. 30-0.<br />
<br />
So, I picked up 135 BPs on the event and ended up 15th place. Not a bad showing for Loganwing and a good sendoff for 5th edition. It hit all the points: GK proliferation, lots of mech, lots of missiles and super terrain.<br />
<br />
All in all it was a great event and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. I'm not a huge fan of the 3 equal objectives format. I feel it doesn't give the game a real focus and cheapens the importance of your primary objective. Battle Points I still don't like as I feel it encourages capitalizing on bad matchups and doesn't reward close games. <br />
<br />
Now I've got NoVa and Feast of Blades to prepare for and a whole new edition to learn. Watch this space for fun times and analysis coming soon.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-91027622802054437772011-08-08T10:21:00.000-04:002011-08-08T10:21:09.283-04:00'Ard Boyz 2011<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.hstreasures.com/img/hardyboys1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://www.hstreasures.com/img/hardyboys1.jpg" width="209" /></a></div><br />
<a name='more'></a>So, I'm going to 'Ard Boyz this year. Yay. I wasn't planning on it originally, but it's hard to turn down a free event, no matter how crappy it is.<br />
<br />
So, my list:<br />
<br />
<b>HQ</b><br />
Ghazgkhull Mag Uruk Thraka<br />
Big Mek - Kustom Force Field<br />
<br />
<b>Elites</b><br />
Kommandoz - 15, 2 burnaz, Boss Snikrot<br />
2x 9 Lootas<br />
<br />
<b>Troops</b><br />
Nobz - 6, Painboy, cybork bodies, powerklaw, kombi-skorcha, powerklaw, bosspole, Waagh! Banner, kombi-skorcha, Battlewagon w/ deff rolla, big shoota, boardin' plank, grot riggers<br />
2x 20 Boyz, Nob w/ powerklaw, bosspole<br />
2x 12 Boyz, Nob w/ powerklaw, bosspole, Trukk w/ reinforced ram, boardin' plank<br />
12 Grotz, Runtherd<br />
<br />
<b>Fast Attack</b><br />
3x Deff Kopta w/ twin-linked rokkit launcha and buzzsaw<br />
<br />
<b>Heavy Support</b><br />
2x Battlewagon w/ deff rolla, big shoota, boardin' plank, grot riggers<br />
Looted Wagon w/ boomgun, big shoota, 'ard case (unless I can get my Kannonz finished in time)<br />
<br />
Total ~ 2500<br />
<br />
So yeah, Orks. Not a great competitive army, but 'Ard Boyz isn't a great competitive event. Too reliant on matchups, rewarding seal clubbing over close matches and 2500 is a ridiculous point level.<br />
<br />
Still, should be amusing.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-85105906940459092032011-07-31T13:05:00.000-04:002011-07-31T13:05:11.125-04:00Quake Con<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0V8OJlWnhl28soEYUhPmDDrRYDvTm78Ms3mpxYtmqOr8SyfZGHY2N3NRX13oa2v4lq2CdgrITIYuaONj9Cm2XGiKhEjslD2SO52uu14sE9mDlyD5TDBITmCFz0yFfcvJA4kxn2oFRqlz/s1600/QuakeCon-2011_logo.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="154" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS0V8OJlWnhl28soEYUhPmDDrRYDvTm78Ms3mpxYtmqOr8SyfZGHY2N3NRX13oa2v4lq2CdgrITIYuaONj9Cm2XGiKhEjslD2SO52uu14sE9mDlyD5TDBITmCFz0yFfcvJA4kxn2oFRqlz/s320/QuakeCon-2011_logo.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<a name='more'></a>Who's going? Me, that's who.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-68003529586274071972011-07-28T13:34:00.000-04:002011-07-28T13:34:13.740-04:00Vassal Ladder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://kidsdungeonadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/chutes-and-ladders.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://kidsdungeonadventure.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/05/chutes-and-ladders.jpg" width="315" /></a></div><br />
<a name='more'></a>Katie Drake is organizing a <a href="http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2011/07/3-vassal-ladder-season-1-launch.html">Vassal Ladder </a>over on 3++. I know, Vassal isn't real 40k, but it's a great way to connect with people across the world and this ladder should be good for some laughs. If you haven't done so already, sign up.<br />
<br />
The rules are simple: 1 Codex with list alterations every 2 weeks. That means I need to decide on an army.<br />
<br />
Here's the fun part. I want YOU to help me pick my army. I know I haven't been posting much, but I'll use this (and NOVA) as the catalyst to get me back to blogging regularly. <br />
<br />
Any and all suggestions are welcome. If things go well enough, I may have a new army to build. Fuck.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-88129435373799958022011-06-17T00:25:00.000-04:002011-06-17T00:25:46.616-04:00Party in Forth WorthWhat's a party without some internet celebrities? Shitty.<br />
<br />
Tonight's party was, however, decidedly unshitty.<br />
<br />
Not to drop any names-ok, I'm dropping names deliberately to show you how cool I am-but I was hanging out with Mike Brandt. Yes, that Mike. Of Nova Open fame.<br />
<br />
Yes, such if the life of an internet celebrity. And here's the best part, we were just acting like normal, social people. You couldn't even tell we played with toy soldiers. It was neat.<br />
<br />
There were cowboy hats, burgers with quail eggs, a 21st birthday celebration, bachelorette party, pickles and multiple acoustic guitars. Texas, baby.<br />
<br />
Also girls. Yes, female girls. No fucking way. Totally.<br />
<br />
Anyway, just bragging about my awesome time. If you ever find yourself lacking in pleasant company when traipsing through the DFW area, give me a holler. We can totally hang out and drink beer, like *gasp* normal people.<br />
<br />
See you at WarGamesCon.Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-10783963210910698252011-04-01T19:41:00.001-04:002011-04-01T19:42:23.975-04:00METAL<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOsZREfkRENV4u7_LuULRcagCVSLtLz7W_44jVYfmciEpX9fiRhAgc5pIiCgz-c9ZgyIUMHck5ewbGTrgH5AjcMz7r8OuggcUP8tyjHwJorCE7Tfzm2n47j-K3tLaP_0JE2-XqsD3KtMr/s1600/April+2nd+flier+front.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgFOsZREfkRENV4u7_LuULRcagCVSLtLz7W_44jVYfmciEpX9fiRhAgc5pIiCgz-c9ZgyIUMHck5ewbGTrgH5AjcMz7r8OuggcUP8tyjHwJorCE7Tfzm2n47j-K3tLaP_0JE2-XqsD3KtMr/s320/April+2nd+flier+front.jpg" width="262" /></a></div><br />
<a name='more'></a>40k and METAL is probably the greatest combination since peanut butter & jelly, blackjack & hookers or mouths & penises. Our friend Dethtron of Dick Move plays 40k and plays metal, so I'm pretty sure that makes him cooler than any of you nerds.<br />
<br />
Any of you nerds heading to Adepticon or in the Chi-town area should go see Dethtron play METAL and maybe go play some 40k afterward.<br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;">Deets follow:</div>Dethtron's band, Crusader:<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Crusader/172112556153977?sk=app_178091127385" target="_blank">http://www.facebook.com/pages/<wbr></wbr>Crusader/172112556153977?sk=<wbr></wbr>app_178091127385</a><br />
<br />
Show info<br />
<br />
when: Saturday, April 2nd <br />
doors at 8:30<br />
<br />
where: Ardmore Lounge<br />
340 S Ardmore Ave<br />
Villa Park, IL<br />
<br />
who: She Likes Todd<br />
Situation Red<br />
Crusader<br />
<br />
how much: free!!!!!!!<br />
<br />
age: 21+<br />
<br />
directions from Adepticon:<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Head <b>west</b> on <b>Yorktown Mall Dr</b> toward <b>S Grace St</b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">276 ft </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">2.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Take the 1st right onto <b>S Grace St</b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">0.2 mi </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">3.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Take the 1st right onto <b>E 22nd St</b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">0.7 mi </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">4.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Turn left at <b>S Meyers Rd</b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1.0 mi </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">5.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Turn right at <b>IL-38 E/E Roosevelt Rd</b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">0.8 mi </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">6.</span></b><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;"> Turn left at <b>S Ardmore Ave</b> </span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">1.5 mi</span></div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><br />
</div><div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0.0001pt;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman","serif"; font-size: 12pt;">METAL </span></div>Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7519937685089365825.post-3420260391471524912011-03-01T12:56:00.000-05:002011-03-01T12:56:16.861-05:00Old Stuff Day: Chumby's Definitive Daemon Discourse Extended EditionHowdy folks, long time no post. Still busy with life so no new posts quite yet, but since everybody's riding the old nostalgia express, I figured I'd get in on it too. Here's one of my favorite articles for you to enjoy again, fully remastered with digital audio and some totally non-intrusive and relevant extended scenes certainly not added in just because I wanted more CGI shit cluttering up the action.<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<br />
Daemons. They're a weird bunch. If CSM was the victim of the late 4th dumb down design paradigm, Daemons were the gooey fun bits left over, stapled together, prettied up and sent out into the world, which I guess means they're the benficiary? Anyway, we're left with a new Codex, first of its kind, with a unique style of play. Daemons are also in effect in WHFB, but that's another tale. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0qUjsCODGnE" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
I've been playing them since the books came out and I still enjoy them. They're a bit gimmicky and don't have the kind of variety we've gotten used to with the recent 5th ed books, but overall it's an enjoyable army. Unfortunately, due to their relative newness and quirky workings, a lot of people don't understand how they work, what they can and can't do well, or how to effectively use/stop them. I'm here to fix that, cuz I'm just good like that. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://dvdmedia.ign.com/dvd/image/et_16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="http://dvdmedia.ign.com/dvd/image/et_16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> Everything in the army Deep Strikes, bar none. Every army is divided into two "waves" consisting of approximately 1/2 the total number of units. On turn 1, 1 of those waves comes in all together. You can pick the wave, but you only get it on a 3+. Wave 2 comes in normal reserves. Right off the bat, you see just how random this army is. Deep Strike is bad enough, but you're not even guaranteed of getting the wave you want. A botched roll on your wave can put you in a bad position or even cost you the game. It's possible to mitigate the effects of scatter with icons, but they have to be on the board to start in order to work. That means the first wave (the important one) can't use them, so that's a fail. For other units to make use, they have to get nice and close, clustered in "please pie plate me" formation. Mobile units don't need them and most slow units are shooty or static anyway, so icons just aren't very useful.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/lbrzQMbTYZM" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
Like any Deep Striking army, Daemons have difficulties dealing with mobile forces and any army that can effectively castle or reserve to negate their first strike/surprise attack capabilities. They also suffer from a critical lack of anti-tank power with no melta or any reliable weapons above S8 (thought it is AP1). Daemons rely on a few highly mobile units to catch up with enemy armor and either destroy/disable them through weight of attacks in HtH, or blast them with S8 AP1 on side and rear armor. <br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/2nbE8Lyi0M8" title="YouTube video player" width="640"></iframe><br />
Overall, it's a fun army with a unique playstyle and lots of potential, but the built in randomness and difficulties handling mobile and mech armies leave something to be desired competitively. I like playing them in casual settings, or for a fun change competitively, but this isn't your normal tourney army.<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="390" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/PiDRgDmXGi4" title="YouTube video player" width="480"></iframe><br />
I'll follow up with a review of each FOC slot, some strats for and against, and a couple lists for perusal. Unlike my Necron blurb there's actually stuff worth reviewing here :P<br />
<br />
Links!!<br />
<a href="http://bnhblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/chumbys-definitive-daemon-discourse-hqs.html">HQs</a><br />
<a href="http://bnhblog.blogspot.com/2010/03/chumbys-definitive-daemon-discourse.html">Elites</a><br />
<a href="http://bnhblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/chumbys-definitive-daemon-discourse.html">Troops</a><br />
<a href="http://bnhblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/chumbys-definitive-daemon-discourse_02.html">Fast Attack</a><br />
<a href="http://bnhblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/chumbys-definitive-daemon-discourse_4921.html">Heavy Support</a><br />
<a href="http://bnhblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/chumbys-definitive-daemon-discourse_04.html">Wave Splits and Deployment</a><br />
<a href="http://bnhblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/chumbys-definitive-daemon-discourse_05.html">Lists</a><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxe-OP31LzQzLlKxh7DW8df5MI3EU7c-HIboc0LDjhFR9B_U6nf55Q5Qjpo1dkI99ibxca7u5qaz2-bmDFzIdKTZ-FGYjL6P5r9r-ondt5Y8_GaUItSDz80SBEEHJBlnIjte39qwcH5pn/s1600/232980-jar_jar_binks_large.jpeg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBxe-OP31LzQzLlKxh7DW8df5MI3EU7c-HIboc0LDjhFR9B_U6nf55Q5Qjpo1dkI99ibxca7u5qaz2-bmDFzIdKTZ-FGYjL6P5r9r-ondt5Y8_GaUItSDz80SBEEHJBlnIjte39qwcH5pn/s320/232980-jar_jar_binks_large.jpeg" width="296" /></a></div>Chumbalayahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/15543857960730597490noreply@blogger.com2