Chaos Space Marines: Christian Byrne's Chaos Space Marine Army Games Workshop
We have another W40K article on the Astronomican this week, this time Christian Byrnes Chaos Space Marine Army. The article is presented as the ongoing collection of a Chaos Space Marine and should be viewed as such. The miniatures are exquisitely painted with the army seemingly based around his original Iron Warriors force rather than Black Legion as talked about in the article. I can remember the army fighting against Salamanders in a battle report, about four or five years ago. He had lots of vehicles and a couple of Obliterators, what the list lacked was actual Chaos Space Marines and in the end he was all but wiped out.
Anyways the article as mentioned is more about inspiration, getting the units built and painted and collecting until you cab collect no more. If that is at all possible… The last section lists his sample armylist, there always has to be an armylist - right? I think it is supposed to be an Americanised 1750 list, as that seems to be the norm they play over the pond. We play 1500, but everything bigger over in the U.S., so they say. He will have upset them by taking 1755, he could have dropped the Heavy Flamer from the Chaos Terminators for example, but I think the idea is that he drew a list based on what he built/ painted.
The list is HQ heavy, filling all three slots with plenty of Troops, an Elite and Heavy. I have to say that whilst it is not a list I would have put together, it looks to play competitively enough amongst friends as long as they were not building tournament style lists. My only censure is when he makes the following comment:
Since the units all have Icons, my Terminators and Summoned Greater Daemon can't fail to turn up in a place where they're bound to be most useful and from there storm into battle to save the day!
I was initially confused, the Summoned Greater Daemon possesses an Aspiring Champion, icons have nothing to do with its arrival.
Anyway check the article out!
Friday, 24 September 2010
Thursday, 23 September 2010
Chaos Space Marines: World Eaters Tactica | Games Workshop
Chaos Space Marines: World Eaters Tactica | Games Workshop
So this past Monday a W40k article on the Astronomican, how dare they – doesn’t Games Workshop know that they can only release articles on their new 8th edition Warhammer Fantasy Battle, just like White Dwarf? Only kidding, although it was a shock so see an article for W40K on the website after nearly a month of WFB, well it feels like a month or longer, perhaps the upcoming Games Day has reminded GW that there is more than one string to their bow?
So you can catch the link to the article above my rant, and if you are curious and click the link you will end up reading how a ‘gamer’ Wade Pryce plays his well painted/ modelled World Eaters army. Lots of pics, some useful chicken nugget sized and an armylist of 2492 points, I presume for all those 2500 point games we gamers regularly play? It does look to more a case of this is what I own and have painted it costs 2492 points, which is fine but the list would struggle against a more conservative list in any arena.
I will first comment on the four sound bites of advice he makes in reference to his army:
Footsoldiers of Khorne, charge the enemy as quickly as possible in ranks rather than columns so that the squads can screen each other. All sensible advice, however I do find that the first rank which is closest to the enemy is normally targeted first in preference to the rear rank, and it is normally targeted until it either dies or makes contact with the enemy. I would have thought advising stringing out the units across the board creating multiple targets that all cannot be eliminated and have more chance of hiding would be beneficial. In rows you are just lining up casualties for the blast template gods!
Exalted of the Blood God, a Daemon Prince with wings hides behind a squad of Berserkers to gain a 4+ cover save? The ruling for Monstrous Creatures is that they need to be 50% covered in order to gain a cover save; it was 4th edition that ruled cover just needed to be up to their knee. The Chaos Rhino he refers to as being cover for the Khorne Berserkers is more useful, although it would be even more useful if there was more than one.
Deep Striking, there are a total of three squads that deepstrike in this list, two Terminator squads with Khorne Banner and one Obliterator. Given the lack of firepower in the list the Obliterators should always start on the table, if they roll poorly and do not turn up until turns three or four the battle could already be over at this point. They can advance using their lascannons if needed in order to get in multi-melta range, better yet hide them in terrain and hope to immobilise or destroy a vehicle each turn. The Terminators are expensive and the tactic of deep striking in the right spot due to the icons so they can unleash hell is pretty until you realise that anything with a template is going to have a field day, especially an AP2 template. I always find that Deep Striking squads need to move on the turn they impact otherwise they quickly leave the table.
Fire Support, a Chaos Dreadnought and two tanks is the sum of fire support. Only one of the tanks has lascannons, the first weapon destroyed result against either tank and they are just moving scenery. For a themed 2.5k list the firepower is poor, surely Khorne would see fit to arm a couple of Defilers and take one of the two firepower weapons off the Chaos Dreadnought to that it can collect skulls in the more traditional manner, close combat.
The complaints over tactics lead us onto the armylist itself:
HQ
Despite being told that the Daemon Prince is a beast in close combat, the listed Chaos Lord could have been given a Juggernaut giving a potential seventeen strength five attacks on the charge, it will kill on average over five Space Marines on the charge compared to over two off the beast.
Elite
For a themed list the Chaos Dreadnought needs to be armed either with two close combat weapons, or one and a good gun. The listed Chaos Dreadnought feels unnatural with two shooting weapons.
I like Chaos Terminators; I like them even more with an Icon of Khorne; however the mix of additional weapons is here and there. They should be kitted out to fight in close combat so a sprinkling of lightening claws can be added along with an anti-vehicle (Dreadnought) element, so a couple of combi-meltas and/ or chainfists. Everything else is just gravy and there is too much gravy in this army.
Troops
I have no complaints about the make-up of any of the Berserker squads, eight dudes with a champion. The Champion has a powerfist or melta bomb/ power weapon combo, along with an icon bearer in each squad. One squad has a Chaos Rhino for transport, why? The Chaos Spawn taken as a Fast (see below) could have been traded in for a second Chaos Rhino. Four in total is better, each allowing a potential second turn charge. And while I am ranting, if the points were better co-ordinated throughout this list I am sure we could have seen a fifth Berserker squad, even if it is sans Chaos Rhino.
Fast Attack
A Chaos Spawn, why? One is going to add nothing to the army and the points could be spend batter on anything else.
Heavy Support
Obliterators are a great option, having Deep Striked them in several battles I have come to the conclusion that unless you have other firepower available for the first couple of turns set them up on the table from the start. Each tank is effectively destroyed on a 3, 5 or 6 as they only have a single weapon. Sponson lascannons are expensive, but points better spent than on extra armour.
To conclude the army is pretty, but please…
So this past Monday a W40k article on the Astronomican, how dare they – doesn’t Games Workshop know that they can only release articles on their new 8th edition Warhammer Fantasy Battle, just like White Dwarf? Only kidding, although it was a shock so see an article for W40K on the website after nearly a month of WFB, well it feels like a month or longer, perhaps the upcoming Games Day has reminded GW that there is more than one string to their bow?
So you can catch the link to the article above my rant, and if you are curious and click the link you will end up reading how a ‘gamer’ Wade Pryce plays his well painted/ modelled World Eaters army. Lots of pics, some useful chicken nugget sized and an armylist of 2492 points, I presume for all those 2500 point games we gamers regularly play? It does look to more a case of this is what I own and have painted it costs 2492 points, which is fine but the list would struggle against a more conservative list in any arena.
I will first comment on the four sound bites of advice he makes in reference to his army:
Footsoldiers of Khorne, charge the enemy as quickly as possible in ranks rather than columns so that the squads can screen each other. All sensible advice, however I do find that the first rank which is closest to the enemy is normally targeted first in preference to the rear rank, and it is normally targeted until it either dies or makes contact with the enemy. I would have thought advising stringing out the units across the board creating multiple targets that all cannot be eliminated and have more chance of hiding would be beneficial. In rows you are just lining up casualties for the blast template gods!
Exalted of the Blood God, a Daemon Prince with wings hides behind a squad of Berserkers to gain a 4+ cover save? The ruling for Monstrous Creatures is that they need to be 50% covered in order to gain a cover save; it was 4th edition that ruled cover just needed to be up to their knee. The Chaos Rhino he refers to as being cover for the Khorne Berserkers is more useful, although it would be even more useful if there was more than one.
Deep Striking, there are a total of three squads that deepstrike in this list, two Terminator squads with Khorne Banner and one Obliterator. Given the lack of firepower in the list the Obliterators should always start on the table, if they roll poorly and do not turn up until turns three or four the battle could already be over at this point. They can advance using their lascannons if needed in order to get in multi-melta range, better yet hide them in terrain and hope to immobilise or destroy a vehicle each turn. The Terminators are expensive and the tactic of deep striking in the right spot due to the icons so they can unleash hell is pretty until you realise that anything with a template is going to have a field day, especially an AP2 template. I always find that Deep Striking squads need to move on the turn they impact otherwise they quickly leave the table.
Fire Support, a Chaos Dreadnought and two tanks is the sum of fire support. Only one of the tanks has lascannons, the first weapon destroyed result against either tank and they are just moving scenery. For a themed 2.5k list the firepower is poor, surely Khorne would see fit to arm a couple of Defilers and take one of the two firepower weapons off the Chaos Dreadnought to that it can collect skulls in the more traditional manner, close combat.
The complaints over tactics lead us onto the armylist itself:
HQ
Despite being told that the Daemon Prince is a beast in close combat, the listed Chaos Lord could have been given a Juggernaut giving a potential seventeen strength five attacks on the charge, it will kill on average over five Space Marines on the charge compared to over two off the beast.
Elite
For a themed list the Chaos Dreadnought needs to be armed either with two close combat weapons, or one and a good gun. The listed Chaos Dreadnought feels unnatural with two shooting weapons.
I like Chaos Terminators; I like them even more with an Icon of Khorne; however the mix of additional weapons is here and there. They should be kitted out to fight in close combat so a sprinkling of lightening claws can be added along with an anti-vehicle (Dreadnought) element, so a couple of combi-meltas and/ or chainfists. Everything else is just gravy and there is too much gravy in this army.
Troops
I have no complaints about the make-up of any of the Berserker squads, eight dudes with a champion. The Champion has a powerfist or melta bomb/ power weapon combo, along with an icon bearer in each squad. One squad has a Chaos Rhino for transport, why? The Chaos Spawn taken as a Fast (see below) could have been traded in for a second Chaos Rhino. Four in total is better, each allowing a potential second turn charge. And while I am ranting, if the points were better co-ordinated throughout this list I am sure we could have seen a fifth Berserker squad, even if it is sans Chaos Rhino.
Fast Attack
A Chaos Spawn, why? One is going to add nothing to the army and the points could be spend batter on anything else.
Heavy Support
Obliterators are a great option, having Deep Striked them in several battles I have come to the conclusion that unless you have other firepower available for the first couple of turns set them up on the table from the start. Each tank is effectively destroyed on a 3, 5 or 6 as they only have a single weapon. Sponson lascannons are expensive, but points better spent than on extra armour.
To conclude the army is pretty, but please…
Wednesday, 22 September 2010
Ebay Purchases: Part 2
The Forces of Disorder have been slacking this past two months; however most of the purchases have been for Emperors Children or their successors.
Emperors Children
An undercoated Chaos Spawn has already been added to my Flawless Host as a sign to all of the consequences of weakness. I will need to add purples and pinks to blend in with the colour scheme and then watch all my opponents ignore them on the battlefield.
Four Chaos Bikes have been put to one side for the Emperors Children, as I want a small biker bodyguard for Doomrider. Space Marine Command Retinues are five models strong and this seems a goodly number with Doomrider making six. I do not expect to see them often on the table, but they will be in my next Apocalypse game, which should be a straight-up fight of Emperors Children versus World Eaters.
Two more Sonic Blasters and a Blast Master have been added to eleven more recruits to Slaanesh. One of these is now on his way to becoming a Flawless Host Chaos Lord as the numbers of regular troops owned now allow me to build all four armies that I had planned, the two mirror armies from White Dwarf – one of which I have already talked about, a Flawless Host and my own Emperors Children warband. They should total five or six thousand points when they are all built and painted.
I have nearly finished a squad of six Chaos Terminators in Emperors Children colours. I have held off adding a Banner of Slaanesh due to numbers of powerfists and chainfists in the squad. They are intended to destroy Dreadnoughts in close combat and with their three combi-plasma guns heavy infantry (yes you loyalist Terminator scum).
I have finally managed to pick up one of the two Chaos Predators needed for my mirror Emperors Children army. Along with a Chaos Rhino for the Subjugators I should soon have all the pieces needed to get the two mirror armies built, if not painted.
Chaos Space Marines (Misc)
I have won a classic second edition World Eater armed with powerfist and chainsword; he will be accompanying a Chaos Rhino and looking for seven brethren to die for him. I really do need to sort out Khorne, or rather the World Eaters. There does seem to be one or more models in every box of W40K I have – who knows how many I actually own, who knows…
The second edition Chaos Champion with powerclaw was and still is my favourite miniature. Accompanied by nine brothers, five of which are second edition Chaos Space Marines I have another squad for the Black Legion which is just as well as I thinned their numbers quite recently to make The Purge. They have the ubiquitous Chaos Rhino to more them around the battlefield, and I think I will take the Havoc Launcher from the Chaos Predator and upgrade the Chaos Rhino.
The last two items I garnered are a Chaos Sorcerer, bought because it was converted with a plastic powerfist that will now go into the bits box and a Chaos Rhino. The Thousand Sons are always lacking resources in my collection, I think I have enough for three squads and that’s about it. The Sorcerer can become a squad leader as I downsize the squads from nine to a more manageable six. The Chaos Rhino will give them some much needed speed as one of my fellow gamers has squads of nine jumping out of a Chaos Rhino and rapid firing them. He always scores above average on his kills, but an average of five 3+ save models die in one volley, more if the Sorcerer has Winds of Chaos. The problem he has is that the squads never support one another; they kill a squad and then die in close combat. They could do with a ghostly fallback or teleport from close combat.
Emperors Children
An undercoated Chaos Spawn has already been added to my Flawless Host as a sign to all of the consequences of weakness. I will need to add purples and pinks to blend in with the colour scheme and then watch all my opponents ignore them on the battlefield.
Four Chaos Bikes have been put to one side for the Emperors Children, as I want a small biker bodyguard for Doomrider. Space Marine Command Retinues are five models strong and this seems a goodly number with Doomrider making six. I do not expect to see them often on the table, but they will be in my next Apocalypse game, which should be a straight-up fight of Emperors Children versus World Eaters.
Two more Sonic Blasters and a Blast Master have been added to eleven more recruits to Slaanesh. One of these is now on his way to becoming a Flawless Host Chaos Lord as the numbers of regular troops owned now allow me to build all four armies that I had planned, the two mirror armies from White Dwarf – one of which I have already talked about, a Flawless Host and my own Emperors Children warband. They should total five or six thousand points when they are all built and painted.
I have nearly finished a squad of six Chaos Terminators in Emperors Children colours. I have held off adding a Banner of Slaanesh due to numbers of powerfists and chainfists in the squad. They are intended to destroy Dreadnoughts in close combat and with their three combi-plasma guns heavy infantry (yes you loyalist Terminator scum).
I have finally managed to pick up one of the two Chaos Predators needed for my mirror Emperors Children army. Along with a Chaos Rhino for the Subjugators I should soon have all the pieces needed to get the two mirror armies built, if not painted.
Chaos Space Marines (Misc)
I have won a classic second edition World Eater armed with powerfist and chainsword; he will be accompanying a Chaos Rhino and looking for seven brethren to die for him. I really do need to sort out Khorne, or rather the World Eaters. There does seem to be one or more models in every box of W40K I have – who knows how many I actually own, who knows…
The second edition Chaos Champion with powerclaw was and still is my favourite miniature. Accompanied by nine brothers, five of which are second edition Chaos Space Marines I have another squad for the Black Legion which is just as well as I thinned their numbers quite recently to make The Purge. They have the ubiquitous Chaos Rhino to more them around the battlefield, and I think I will take the Havoc Launcher from the Chaos Predator and upgrade the Chaos Rhino.
The last two items I garnered are a Chaos Sorcerer, bought because it was converted with a plastic powerfist that will now go into the bits box and a Chaos Rhino. The Thousand Sons are always lacking resources in my collection, I think I have enough for three squads and that’s about it. The Sorcerer can become a squad leader as I downsize the squads from nine to a more manageable six. The Chaos Rhino will give them some much needed speed as one of my fellow gamers has squads of nine jumping out of a Chaos Rhino and rapid firing them. He always scores above average on his kills, but an average of five 3+ save models die in one volley, more if the Sorcerer has Winds of Chaos. The problem he has is that the squads never support one another; they kill a squad and then die in close combat. They could do with a ghostly fallback or teleport from close combat.
Ebay Purchases: Part 1
Well my Ebay purchases have well and truly coming to an end until November when I will be returning to Games Workshop for Codex: Dark Eldar and Forge Worlds Badab Wars books. I thought it would be retrospective to look at what happened during the past couple of months and see what I have managed to get in my sticky paws and what I plan to do with them. Who knows, perhaps I may have even repainted all the items by the time I make my next purchase, good luck holding your breath for that one…?
Given the quantity of stuff acquired I will split this into the Forces of Order and Disorder, it will help focus on what I have been wasting my money on:
Grey Knights
With Grey Knights coming out next year I have made a quick purchase or more likely hoover of various bids on EBay. Twenty-one basic Grey Knights with a couple of Incinerators and a Psycannon make up my bulk purchase and now give me four ten-men squads adding to my purchases last year. I think there are enough Imperial Storm Troopers to ensure I have all six Troop slots covered in a larger battle now. I will have to pick up a blister or two of spare arms from the GW website to make sure all the Grey Knights have two arms.
Next up are a pair of Space Marine Dreadnoughts, each with Assault Cannons. I have a spare twin-link Lascannon that I will upgrade one with and the other will have a converted twin-link Autocannon as they provide all the heavy firepower for my Grey Knights.
Added to the Grey Knight experience are three Terminators including two with Incinerators, I will have to see how many Terminators I already have and make sure I have no more than two squads worth in total. Currently I can do five man squads and I am hoping the new Codex keeps the same number.
With the new codex out next year I hope to paint-up what I currently have in readiness for the occasion. Perhaps even having a small battle or two with them and their third edition rules to see how they play. I have fought against them many a time with Lost and the Damned (back in third edition days), securing a win rate of around nine out of ten against them. My opponent suffered from their lack of numbers and minimal Incinerators being criminal against numerous squads of Mutants. They did have success against Chaos Daemons a couple of weeks ago, but the scenario they fought in would have seen an army of Gretchin kick Chaos Daemons butt.
Sisters of Battle
Another army that I acquired last year that has barely seen the light of day, the last time they fought I managed to immobilise four out of their five vehicles in difficult terrain. I have now added another Immolator with Heavy Flamers to the list along with two Sisters armed with flamers. For such an unloved army I do not understand why the figures go for so much on EBay and with no mention of an Armybook next year it will be at least 2012 before we see plastic Sisters. Most of this army is in three colours, black, grey-shading and boltgun metal. I think it is time I got around to painting the ladies robes red and unleashed the gold.
Black Templars
Soon to be the oldest Space Marine Codex out there and they have to roll for target priority just like in Third edition. Saying that I now have all the figures needed to build a 1k list less the Landraider Crusader. Additions so far include five regular Marines with boltguns along with six adepts armed with close combat weapons. I have a Rhino in need of Black Templar doors and half a dozen jump pack Templars. My main fast attack choice is going to be the two Attack Bikes hopefully armed with multi-meltas, I need to acquire a second multi-melta. I should have at least 1.5k of Templars; they just lack a Landraider or two before they can hit the 2k limit.
Angels of Vengeance
Just two purchases to keep them ticking over, a first edition Chaplain that I have since given a new storm bolter arm and a classic Dark Angel Captain armed with a large sword that I am sure will become a relic blade when I come to re-arm him.
Space Marines (Misc)
I have just acquired somehow, a third Dreadnought yesterday with my last ever bid, for a while at least. This bad boy armed with Missile Launcher and Assault Cannon will be the first of my Iron Hand Space Marines, I plan to sit down and make a list containing six Dreadnoughts in 2k points, two firepower Dreadnoughts a Veteran and hopefully three Ironclad. If I think big I can always fallback into reality later with a bump.
I do not own the new Blood Angels Codex but that did not stop me acquiring ten naked Death Company Marines, well nine and a Chaplain. They are armless and backpack-less, but they will go into the quiet corner where I am storing a mint second edition boxed set of Death Company. Back in third edition I had a small Flesh Tearers army that I am now contemplating rebuilding, when I gain the new Codex I will see what the other successor chapters look like.
Ten Tactical Space Marines have been repainted in Salamander colours, or my version of them. I think the Codex colour is too bright for them and can remember back in the day when they were black, so mine are a dark green, but not Dark Angel Green.
Six Space Marine Bikes will be added to the Crimson Fist Chapter to match the Ork Warbikers they often face. They still suffer from one attack each however I am hoping to rely on speed and T5 for them to survive the rigours of the battlefield.
Misc
Just two small purchases 4 Warp Spiders, you can never have too many Warp Spiders with their Strength 6 shots at rear armour and 3+ save. I also picked up half a dozen Cadians armed with lasguns. I am hoping to punch through the 100 figure barrier with them so I can safely put together a 3k for them with lots of vehicles.
Given the quantity of stuff acquired I will split this into the Forces of Order and Disorder, it will help focus on what I have been wasting my money on:
Grey Knights
With Grey Knights coming out next year I have made a quick purchase or more likely hoover of various bids on EBay. Twenty-one basic Grey Knights with a couple of Incinerators and a Psycannon make up my bulk purchase and now give me four ten-men squads adding to my purchases last year. I think there are enough Imperial Storm Troopers to ensure I have all six Troop slots covered in a larger battle now. I will have to pick up a blister or two of spare arms from the GW website to make sure all the Grey Knights have two arms.
Next up are a pair of Space Marine Dreadnoughts, each with Assault Cannons. I have a spare twin-link Lascannon that I will upgrade one with and the other will have a converted twin-link Autocannon as they provide all the heavy firepower for my Grey Knights.
Added to the Grey Knight experience are three Terminators including two with Incinerators, I will have to see how many Terminators I already have and make sure I have no more than two squads worth in total. Currently I can do five man squads and I am hoping the new Codex keeps the same number.
With the new codex out next year I hope to paint-up what I currently have in readiness for the occasion. Perhaps even having a small battle or two with them and their third edition rules to see how they play. I have fought against them many a time with Lost and the Damned (back in third edition days), securing a win rate of around nine out of ten against them. My opponent suffered from their lack of numbers and minimal Incinerators being criminal against numerous squads of Mutants. They did have success against Chaos Daemons a couple of weeks ago, but the scenario they fought in would have seen an army of Gretchin kick Chaos Daemons butt.
Sisters of Battle
Another army that I acquired last year that has barely seen the light of day, the last time they fought I managed to immobilise four out of their five vehicles in difficult terrain. I have now added another Immolator with Heavy Flamers to the list along with two Sisters armed with flamers. For such an unloved army I do not understand why the figures go for so much on EBay and with no mention of an Armybook next year it will be at least 2012 before we see plastic Sisters. Most of this army is in three colours, black, grey-shading and boltgun metal. I think it is time I got around to painting the ladies robes red and unleashed the gold.
Black Templars
Soon to be the oldest Space Marine Codex out there and they have to roll for target priority just like in Third edition. Saying that I now have all the figures needed to build a 1k list less the Landraider Crusader. Additions so far include five regular Marines with boltguns along with six adepts armed with close combat weapons. I have a Rhino in need of Black Templar doors and half a dozen jump pack Templars. My main fast attack choice is going to be the two Attack Bikes hopefully armed with multi-meltas, I need to acquire a second multi-melta. I should have at least 1.5k of Templars; they just lack a Landraider or two before they can hit the 2k limit.
Angels of Vengeance
Just two purchases to keep them ticking over, a first edition Chaplain that I have since given a new storm bolter arm and a classic Dark Angel Captain armed with a large sword that I am sure will become a relic blade when I come to re-arm him.
Space Marines (Misc)
I have just acquired somehow, a third Dreadnought yesterday with my last ever bid, for a while at least. This bad boy armed with Missile Launcher and Assault Cannon will be the first of my Iron Hand Space Marines, I plan to sit down and make a list containing six Dreadnoughts in 2k points, two firepower Dreadnoughts a Veteran and hopefully three Ironclad. If I think big I can always fallback into reality later with a bump.
I do not own the new Blood Angels Codex but that did not stop me acquiring ten naked Death Company Marines, well nine and a Chaplain. They are armless and backpack-less, but they will go into the quiet corner where I am storing a mint second edition boxed set of Death Company. Back in third edition I had a small Flesh Tearers army that I am now contemplating rebuilding, when I gain the new Codex I will see what the other successor chapters look like.
Ten Tactical Space Marines have been repainted in Salamander colours, or my version of them. I think the Codex colour is too bright for them and can remember back in the day when they were black, so mine are a dark green, but not Dark Angel Green.
Six Space Marine Bikes will be added to the Crimson Fist Chapter to match the Ork Warbikers they often face. They still suffer from one attack each however I am hoping to rely on speed and T5 for them to survive the rigours of the battlefield.
Misc
Just two small purchases 4 Warp Spiders, you can never have too many Warp Spiders with their Strength 6 shots at rear armour and 3+ save. I also picked up half a dozen Cadians armed with lasguns. I am hoping to punch through the 100 figure barrier with them so I can safely put together a 3k for them with lots of vehicles.
Monday, 20 September 2010
Operation 500: Week 1
So what I should be writing today is a list of all the models I have been busy painting this week and have now completed. However for one reason or another (a child under one and the internet) I have slacked during the first week of my painting challenge. 400 points should have been completed at a minimum, 800 points is the aim. I am on holiday for a week next week so ideally I will be making up the 400 or 800 points I miss that week this week and last, worst case I am 1200 points under on my painting schedule, best case scenario only 600 points.
So the gloves are coming off this week and I will get miniatures painted to try and claw back some of the lost ground, I may even try to sneak some paints and miniatures into my bags for next week. I have started painting the Salamanders and sorted out a number of figures to start putting together a Crimson Fist force. I have been digging out various Black Reach Space Marines so they will have a Captain, two Tactical squads and a Dreadnought. I do have additional Terminators somewhere however I want to add a third ten man squad to the Angels of Vengeance.
Having checked my bank account last night I will be making no new purchases from Games Workshop or EBay until November, six long weeks – how will I survive? In regards to loyalist Space Marines I have enough bikers for two full squads and several Land Speeders that I will have to start painting white over the black undercoat to get the White Scars up and running. I envisage a full force consisting of Scouts, Bikes for Troops, deep striking Terminators and Land Speeders for anti-tank support. The Scouts are going to be divided between White Scars and Angels of Vengeance so I will have to have a rummage and see how many I can produce. The metal Scouts will end up being Black Templar Adepts.
For the Forces of Chaos I am continuing work on all things Slaaneshi, which are two successor forces and two Emperors Children armies. The Alpha Legion will need to be sorted and work continues on the numerous Chaos Rhinos I have built and part painted a couple of years ago. I also want to finish The Purge either 1k, 1.5k or 2k depending on what I have already gotten built; I think it is closer to the 2k.
I will have to see what I have picked up during the past two weeks and ensure that I get that painted as quick as possible, the last thing I need is more unpainted items gathering dust hidden somewhere in the house. Hopefully everything will arrive before Friday when I am off to cloudy, grey, wet Wales.
So the gloves are coming off this week and I will get miniatures painted to try and claw back some of the lost ground, I may even try to sneak some paints and miniatures into my bags for next week. I have started painting the Salamanders and sorted out a number of figures to start putting together a Crimson Fist force. I have been digging out various Black Reach Space Marines so they will have a Captain, two Tactical squads and a Dreadnought. I do have additional Terminators somewhere however I want to add a third ten man squad to the Angels of Vengeance.
Having checked my bank account last night I will be making no new purchases from Games Workshop or EBay until November, six long weeks – how will I survive? In regards to loyalist Space Marines I have enough bikers for two full squads and several Land Speeders that I will have to start painting white over the black undercoat to get the White Scars up and running. I envisage a full force consisting of Scouts, Bikes for Troops, deep striking Terminators and Land Speeders for anti-tank support. The Scouts are going to be divided between White Scars and Angels of Vengeance so I will have to have a rummage and see how many I can produce. The metal Scouts will end up being Black Templar Adepts.
For the Forces of Chaos I am continuing work on all things Slaaneshi, which are two successor forces and two Emperors Children armies. The Alpha Legion will need to be sorted and work continues on the numerous Chaos Rhinos I have built and part painted a couple of years ago. I also want to finish The Purge either 1k, 1.5k or 2k depending on what I have already gotten built; I think it is closer to the 2k.
I will have to see what I have picked up during the past two weeks and ensure that I get that painted as quick as possible, the last thing I need is more unpainted items gathering dust hidden somewhere in the house. Hopefully everything will arrive before Friday when I am off to cloudy, grey, wet Wales.
Friday, 17 September 2010
The Green Hurts My Eyes
Well I finally started the first figures of Operation 500, a squad of Salamander Space Marines. I was using a standard boring configuration of flamer and missile launcher because that is what they are armed with. I dig out my guides to painting Salamanders and boy are they bright. Painted Snot Green with minimal shading/ highlighting – which is good. The figures looked too bright for me so I researched my Index Astartes article and they are pictured in a pre-heresy green colour of something less painful on the eyes. I still own a bottle of Salamander Black with a faint residue remaining, their original colour back in first edition. So in the end I have chosen what I would describe as Battle Green or Jungle Green from the early 1990’s when I was painting my Epic Imperial Guard army. It was bought as part of a boxed set of colours and the homemade label has come off…
So I plan to continue the minimal shading on the models and avoid inking the green as my usual brown/ chestnut wash will just make it look dirty. Now having ten figures to complete I should look towards making a quick 1k list to see what else I require. Both the Index Astartes article and the armylist in the Armageddon supplement limit Salamanders Fast options to one of each, it is also noted in the Index Astartes that they do not have many Scouts but the Company is larger than a traditional 1000 Space Marines.
Space Marine Captain (Combi-melta, Relic Blade)
140 points
I wanted cheap and effective, whilst giving the appearance of affluence and wealth. Hoping the combi-melta claws back the points because three attacks hitting on 3’s and killing on 2’s are going to take an awful long time to get a return. He will hopefully be rising with a combat squad in the Rhino, at least until he has a Command Squad in the next thousand points.
5 Assault Terminators (Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield)
200 points
I was originally going to take regular Terminators with a Heavy Flamer however the list does not have anything resembling a fighting force so I changed my mind. Past experience with the 2+/3++ guys has all been bad, I never seem to be able to effectively get them to where they are needed. With a more shooting list I will deepstrike and put my faith in the Emperor, and buy some new dice.
10 Tactical Space Marines (Plasma Pistol, Power Weapon)
200 points
I bought a standard squad hence I have taken one in the list. Only changes will be to the Veteran Sergeant who will be upgrading his chainsword and bolt pistol. These are simple conversions for a simple converter.
10 Tactical Space Marines (Lascannon, Powerfist, Rhino)
240 points
With the only transport vehicle in the army I thought it wise to upgrade the squads’ heavy weapon as there is now a glut of Ironclad Dreadnoughts hitting the table at the moment. With the combat squad leading the Captain I thought it prudent to add a fist to the list in case I find myself fighting something with armour greater than 12.
Whirlwind
85 points
It is cheap and will hide at the back of the table. Whilst I do not expect it to be very effective against my 3+ save compatriots it always holds a fear factor that the player will be forced to make several saves and fail them all. I have seen how effective three of these can be even against 3+ save armies.
Predator (Sponson Lascannons, Extra Armour)
135 points
I need something that is anti-tank hence the Sponson lascannons. As long as it survives long enough to take out anything big and nasty it can blow up. If I am facing nothing big and nasty then they will focus on 2+ save units, hopefully providing a distraction from other units that I will have to rely on, yes you Terminators…
Looking to the future I see a Land Raider for my last Heavy, a third Tactical unit with lots of melta, Command Squad and transport, with my last choices hopefully being Sternguard and Vanguard veterans as my only Fast choice.
So I plan to continue the minimal shading on the models and avoid inking the green as my usual brown/ chestnut wash will just make it look dirty. Now having ten figures to complete I should look towards making a quick 1k list to see what else I require. Both the Index Astartes article and the armylist in the Armageddon supplement limit Salamanders Fast options to one of each, it is also noted in the Index Astartes that they do not have many Scouts but the Company is larger than a traditional 1000 Space Marines.
Space Marine Captain (Combi-melta, Relic Blade)
140 points
I wanted cheap and effective, whilst giving the appearance of affluence and wealth. Hoping the combi-melta claws back the points because three attacks hitting on 3’s and killing on 2’s are going to take an awful long time to get a return. He will hopefully be rising with a combat squad in the Rhino, at least until he has a Command Squad in the next thousand points.
5 Assault Terminators (Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield)
200 points
I was originally going to take regular Terminators with a Heavy Flamer however the list does not have anything resembling a fighting force so I changed my mind. Past experience with the 2+/3++ guys has all been bad, I never seem to be able to effectively get them to where they are needed. With a more shooting list I will deepstrike and put my faith in the Emperor, and buy some new dice.
10 Tactical Space Marines (Plasma Pistol, Power Weapon)
200 points
I bought a standard squad hence I have taken one in the list. Only changes will be to the Veteran Sergeant who will be upgrading his chainsword and bolt pistol. These are simple conversions for a simple converter.
10 Tactical Space Marines (Lascannon, Powerfist, Rhino)
240 points
With the only transport vehicle in the army I thought it wise to upgrade the squads’ heavy weapon as there is now a glut of Ironclad Dreadnoughts hitting the table at the moment. With the combat squad leading the Captain I thought it prudent to add a fist to the list in case I find myself fighting something with armour greater than 12.
Whirlwind
85 points
It is cheap and will hide at the back of the table. Whilst I do not expect it to be very effective against my 3+ save compatriots it always holds a fear factor that the player will be forced to make several saves and fail them all. I have seen how effective three of these can be even against 3+ save armies.
Predator (Sponson Lascannons, Extra Armour)
135 points
I need something that is anti-tank hence the Sponson lascannons. As long as it survives long enough to take out anything big and nasty it can blow up. If I am facing nothing big and nasty then they will focus on 2+ save units, hopefully providing a distraction from other units that I will have to rely on, yes you Terminators…
Looking to the future I see a Land Raider for my last Heavy, a third Tactical unit with lots of melta, Command Squad and transport, with my last choices hopefully being Sternguard and Vanguard veterans as my only Fast choice.
Thursday, 16 September 2010
When is a Rhino not a Rhino?
So I have a dilemma, Rhino, or more precisely Rhinos. With my masses of unpainted Chaos troops I have plenty of them waiting and willing for a lick of paint and swell the armies of Abbadon and his cohorts. For Chaos I am fond of using many of my 1.0 Rhinos, with the newer Rhinos being used mostly by my Sisters of Battle with a few stragglers for my Angels of Vengeance, the only other loyalists I currently play.
The problem is that in 5th edition Rhinos are good, they are cheap in points, provide speed, mobile cover and are normally impervious to my opponents dice rolling. I am lucky that there seems to be a lack of interest in melta guns…
All this sounds good, but I am now about to embark on building several Space Marine armies, I know several. Each of these armies is crying out for Rhinos or Razorbacks and I cannot bring myself to use the 1.0 version with them. So I need to buck up, have a stiff drink and work out how many Rhinos I need to buy. Normally I am looking at three transport vehicles in a thousand points and an extra two in the next thousand points. In this total will also be Dreadnoughts, Land Raiders and Predators, more vehicles to purchase. So if I work on a very conservative total of 10k of additional Space Marines over the next ten months, I will require twenty five Rhinos or Razorbacks, or even Drop Pods, realistically probably more. Add in say an extra ten Land raiders or Predators and I am looking at £750.00 of vehicles to realise my goal.
I have played and do play against players who refuse to bow down to the mighty Rhino; they both win and lose games just the same as me. I think it is time I rethought my goal of everything in a transport vehicle and instead returned to foot cavalry; it was good enough for Napoleon…
I am going to have to revisit and rethink how I build armies, with one eye on the Chancellor of the Exchequer as well as the point cost of the force. I am looking to increase my 1k list of Flawless Host to 2k, I managed to scrape around a little of this and that to make up the numbers, the army lacked heavy firepower that two units of two Obliterators will now provide, and having spent the last points I realised that I will need five Chaos Rhinos for the list, five Chaos Rhinos that have not been sprayed black at some point in their past. I have no Chaos Rhinos that fulfil this criteria so will have to pick up five of them to fill out that list. So it is back to the drawing board, or more accurately the points counting spreadsheet.
I am making a vow that every list has at least one squad that relies on feet to move, they can always take the home objective or borrow another squads transport if needed. This should hopefully reduce transport in 1k lists to two vehicles and if I can take one off the second thousand point list I will cut my costs by 40%.
Hmmm, just thinking about how many more models I can now afford…. Oh and the answer to the riddle is, when it is a twenty pound note!
The problem is that in 5th edition Rhinos are good, they are cheap in points, provide speed, mobile cover and are normally impervious to my opponents dice rolling. I am lucky that there seems to be a lack of interest in melta guns…
All this sounds good, but I am now about to embark on building several Space Marine armies, I know several. Each of these armies is crying out for Rhinos or Razorbacks and I cannot bring myself to use the 1.0 version with them. So I need to buck up, have a stiff drink and work out how many Rhinos I need to buy. Normally I am looking at three transport vehicles in a thousand points and an extra two in the next thousand points. In this total will also be Dreadnoughts, Land Raiders and Predators, more vehicles to purchase. So if I work on a very conservative total of 10k of additional Space Marines over the next ten months, I will require twenty five Rhinos or Razorbacks, or even Drop Pods, realistically probably more. Add in say an extra ten Land raiders or Predators and I am looking at £750.00 of vehicles to realise my goal.
I have played and do play against players who refuse to bow down to the mighty Rhino; they both win and lose games just the same as me. I think it is time I rethought my goal of everything in a transport vehicle and instead returned to foot cavalry; it was good enough for Napoleon…
I am going to have to revisit and rethink how I build armies, with one eye on the Chancellor of the Exchequer as well as the point cost of the force. I am looking to increase my 1k list of Flawless Host to 2k, I managed to scrape around a little of this and that to make up the numbers, the army lacked heavy firepower that two units of two Obliterators will now provide, and having spent the last points I realised that I will need five Chaos Rhinos for the list, five Chaos Rhinos that have not been sprayed black at some point in their past. I have no Chaos Rhinos that fulfil this criteria so will have to pick up five of them to fill out that list. So it is back to the drawing board, or more accurately the points counting spreadsheet.
I am making a vow that every list has at least one squad that relies on feet to move, they can always take the home objective or borrow another squads transport if needed. This should hopefully reduce transport in 1k lists to two vehicles and if I can take one off the second thousand point list I will cut my costs by 40%.
Hmmm, just thinking about how many more models I can now afford…. Oh and the answer to the riddle is, when it is a twenty pound note!
Wednesday, 15 September 2010
Sternhammer’s Wulfen Guard
I am hoping to start cracking on this Apocalypse formation this month, grabbing several old Space Wolves and giving them new heads and hands to go with their Space Wolf Grey armour, rather than the new-fangled Space Wolf blue they wear. I can remember them when they were last in action, the Wulfen not Space Wolves. It was a year before the release of Apocalypse and I was engaged in a gigantic two-day 40k a side battle. The Space Wolves were being massacred nearby defending or assaulting castle walls, I am not sure which they were dying so quickly. The Wulfen moved through a nearby forest and took on what I presumed to be the cream of the Chaos army, World Eaters. This was back in the day when Skull Champions were armed with Axe of Khorne allowing them to attack again for every 6 rolled to hit, and with Daemonic Mutation (+1 attack), Daemonic Strength (+1 strength, so killing on a 2+ on the charge), Spiky bits (for a to-hit reroll), they were around 100 points of pure nastiness. Well the Berserkers were allied to a Bloodthirster and the Wulfen had wolves in support, in three turns they hit stopped and pushed back the Berserkers even after we summoned extra Bloodletters to try to save the situation. The battle was never completed and my friends Wulfen have never been seen since.
With the rules for 13th Company being invalid, well technically anyways, this will give me a chance to play Wulfen and the balance of the Grey Wolves will use the regular Space Wolf Codex rules. Sternhammer’s Wulfen Guard costs 50 points and two 10 man Packs are 240 points each. After taking a Space Wolf Priest the formation should be around 700 points, giving me an initial 600 points to add a pack of Grey Hunters or two. I will leave the 13th Company at about 1300 points until I get around to building the remainder of the Space Wolves and seeing how they match up. I fancy the Egil’s Company of Space Wolves, lots of noise! If they are being outfitted with plenty of vehicles then I will ensure a foot based 13th Company, along with a squad of Swift Claw Bikers and Wolves for speed.
So with Wulfen being around £30.00 for ten the question is how am I going to build them? When the Space Wolf Codex was announced last year I picked up several of the older models in preparation for the Codex, but I just never got around to building them. I have already picked up several of the newer models looking to either convert them into Black Legion, or just use the accessories to pimp the Black Legion up with.
Wulfen need gnarly faces, unkempt hair and claws to make them distinct from regular Space Wolves, who themselves have gnarly faces, unkempt hair but cut their nails. Having several unused genestealers I will be using their claws to make the new Wulfen, and hopefully keep the remainder of the genestealer intact so that I can convert new talons on them. Faces will be the hairiest heads I can find with extra green stuff hair. I am sure they will look passable for what they represent, I am fairly sure…
With the rules for 13th Company being invalid, well technically anyways, this will give me a chance to play Wulfen and the balance of the Grey Wolves will use the regular Space Wolf Codex rules. Sternhammer’s Wulfen Guard costs 50 points and two 10 man Packs are 240 points each. After taking a Space Wolf Priest the formation should be around 700 points, giving me an initial 600 points to add a pack of Grey Hunters or two. I will leave the 13th Company at about 1300 points until I get around to building the remainder of the Space Wolves and seeing how they match up. I fancy the Egil’s Company of Space Wolves, lots of noise! If they are being outfitted with plenty of vehicles then I will ensure a foot based 13th Company, along with a squad of Swift Claw Bikers and Wolves for speed.
So with Wulfen being around £30.00 for ten the question is how am I going to build them? When the Space Wolf Codex was announced last year I picked up several of the older models in preparation for the Codex, but I just never got around to building them. I have already picked up several of the newer models looking to either convert them into Black Legion, or just use the accessories to pimp the Black Legion up with.
Wulfen need gnarly faces, unkempt hair and claws to make them distinct from regular Space Wolves, who themselves have gnarly faces, unkempt hair but cut their nails. Having several unused genestealers I will be using their claws to make the new Wulfen, and hopefully keep the remainder of the genestealer intact so that I can convert new talons on them. Faces will be the hairiest heads I can find with extra green stuff hair. I am sure they will look passable for what they represent, I am fairly sure…
Monday, 13 September 2010
Operation 500
So what is Operation 500? Well as stated last week I am hoping to paint more figures than can be humanly possible, but due to circumstances I have a greater number of figures for the Forces of Disorder than the Forces of Order. So I will be spending hopefully twenty pounds and buying 500 points from the internet, well we can call it EBay.
I was hoping to gather the various forces that make up a Space Marine Battlebox; however I think I am being extra hopeful to gather them for the princely sum of twenty pounds. I had to jump on the website to see what it is in the contents of the box as it has been a few years since I bought one, the previous century I think – I got the set with three bikers in, Terminators and Tacticals.
Space Marine Battlebox: Ten man Tactical with popular flamer missile launcher combo; five Scouts armed with close combat or bolter/shotguns; a five man Assault and a Rhino. Breaking down the points according to the website we have a standard Tactical squad at 170 points, the Veteran Sergeant has taken no upgrades. Scout squad is 85 points as they have been upgraded with a Heavy Bolter; again the Veteran Sergeant has taken no upgrades. Again the Assault Squad Veteran Sergeant has taken no upgrades; although in the picture it is modelled with a combat shield so only 120 points. A combat squad of five guys is a bare bones 90 points along with the naked Rhino at only 35 points. Coolly added together we get a nice round 500 points for a snip of fifty-five pounds.
However I have few snips and spending the amount on upgrade Space Marines will mean my budget to complete the other armies I am working is severely cropped. If I can limit myself to just twenty pounds it will give me funds to complete other projects and any spare monies can be saved and funnelled into Operation 500 later in the year.
I know you are thinking that there is no way that I can pick up ten regular Marines, five Scouts, five jump-pack Marines and a Rhino for the money I am talking about and I somewhat agree. It will be a struggle as I know that I can comfortably pick this slot up for twenty-five pounds. Luckily I will be concentrating on the 500 points rather that the actual guys, so for example a Predator tank that will cost around half the budget can be matched up with a squad of Terminators and a character model, giving me a chance to manage 500.
I am thinking about ensuring that at least half the army is in transports of one sort or another, unfortunately the price of transport is expensive (in pounds) compared to the relatively low points cost of the model. I will just have to be careful and build around what I can purchase and check out the templates for Drop Pods, I am sure I saved them somewhere before GW took them offline.
I was hoping to gather the various forces that make up a Space Marine Battlebox; however I think I am being extra hopeful to gather them for the princely sum of twenty pounds. I had to jump on the website to see what it is in the contents of the box as it has been a few years since I bought one, the previous century I think – I got the set with three bikers in, Terminators and Tacticals.
Space Marine Battlebox: Ten man Tactical with popular flamer missile launcher combo; five Scouts armed with close combat or bolter/shotguns; a five man Assault and a Rhino. Breaking down the points according to the website we have a standard Tactical squad at 170 points, the Veteran Sergeant has taken no upgrades. Scout squad is 85 points as they have been upgraded with a Heavy Bolter; again the Veteran Sergeant has taken no upgrades. Again the Assault Squad Veteran Sergeant has taken no upgrades; although in the picture it is modelled with a combat shield so only 120 points. A combat squad of five guys is a bare bones 90 points along with the naked Rhino at only 35 points. Coolly added together we get a nice round 500 points for a snip of fifty-five pounds.
However I have few snips and spending the amount on upgrade Space Marines will mean my budget to complete the other armies I am working is severely cropped. If I can limit myself to just twenty pounds it will give me funds to complete other projects and any spare monies can be saved and funnelled into Operation 500 later in the year.
I know you are thinking that there is no way that I can pick up ten regular Marines, five Scouts, five jump-pack Marines and a Rhino for the money I am talking about and I somewhat agree. It will be a struggle as I know that I can comfortably pick this slot up for twenty-five pounds. Luckily I will be concentrating on the 500 points rather that the actual guys, so for example a Predator tank that will cost around half the budget can be matched up with a squad of Terminators and a character model, giving me a chance to manage 500.
I am thinking about ensuring that at least half the army is in transports of one sort or another, unfortunately the price of transport is expensive (in pounds) compared to the relatively low points cost of the model. I will just have to be careful and build around what I can purchase and check out the templates for Drop Pods, I am sure I saved them somewhere before GW took them offline.
Friday, 10 September 2010
Fear of the Dark
Or rather more accurately Fear of the Dark Eldar. Rumours of their demise have been around for years, as is talk of their revival this coming November. I can remember the good old days of Third Edition, Space Marines gunning down Dark Eldar on the demonstration tables in Games Workshop like turkeys at Thanksgiving. Of course over the next couple of years as the Dark Eldar slowly, slowly had their range released the tide turned slightly and victories against the T4 3+ save armies became more frequent. By which time everybody had forgotten that they had a bagful of Dark Eldar and played other sensible armies like their Eldar cousins.
Come November 2010 we are going to see the arrival of five or even six box sets for the Dark Eldar. Everything is ultimately being remade in the range, a cause for celebration or concern that what we already have will stick out alike a sore thumb?
So what can we expect? The five kits are supposed to be Warriors, Wyches, Hellions, Raiders and Ravagers. The rumoured possible sixth kit Jetbikes. The two metal boxes will be Mandrakes and Incubi, with the blisters filling out HQ options. If these are the first wave of kits it will be like building your Space Marine army with Tactical Marines, Scouts, Assault Marines, Rhino and Predator only. Not very exciting and it is not going to sell well by any stretch of the imagination.
What about the Codex, well we can suppose a few changes and there has been talk about a few of the old units moving about in the codex but no mention of any new units. Previously we had a total of three HQ units, three Elite, two Troops, two Fast and three Heavy, only the Necron armylist contained fewer options. Based on best guestimates from previous codices and what is rumoured on the internet:
HQ: Well we will be losing a HQ option, the Dracon. Two-wound commanders have been exorcised in fifth edition, but we gain an Archite a three wound Wych Lord. There has been no mention on what is happening to Haemonculi, perhaps they will be remaining as a multiple choice HQ, or being added as an optional squad leader?
Elite: Grotesques and Mandrakes staying, Mandrakes gaining Scout or Space Wolf Scout ability to come on the rear table edge. It is presumed that Harlequins will be added to the list as they have dealings with both the good and evil Eldar. There was in the past rumours of Incubi being an Elite option, and even at their extortionate cost in points they would prove popular in plastic, not the rumoured metal.
Troops: Again we will be losing a Troop, no more Raider squads. Instead Raider will be what they always should have been, a transport upgrade for the squad. Here’s hoping that if the squad is larger than ten models they can still purchase the transport. Thumbs up, we can expect options to take pistol and spiky close combat weapon instead of splinter rifle. An option they should have always had and an inducement to buy the new miniatures and not rely on the old figures. Thumbs down, I am expecting the box set to come in ten with Sybarite heavy weapon and special weapon. Gone will be the days of taking ten with two special and heavy weapons. Perhaps if we take eleven or more warriors and invalidate the squad from a transport option they will be able to take extras?
Wyches should be making the move from Elite to Troop. Here’s hoping the points value is fixed, around ten points for a tooled-up Wych sounds about right for 6+ save, strength 3 models. Sure they are better in close combat due to their 4+ invulnerable save, however discounting charge bonuses a Tactical Space Marine has a higher kill percentage fighting against a Wych one on one.
A possible third Troop could be Jetbikes as they moved over in the Eldar Codex. They could be an option like Space Marines, with a commander on a Jetbike allowing you to take scoring Jetbikes. These will have to come down in cost and offer something more than a rapid fire strength 3, or now poisoned 4+ weapon.
Fast: Hellions are going to be in plastic, they either need rending or attacks as a power weapon on turn of charge, along with Hit and Run. Currently they are unable to fight in close combat and their 5+ invulnerable/ jink save is a joke. If Jetbikes remain a fast then there will be two options available to them, perhaps Scourges will move to fast, being able to take special weapons along with splinter cannons. They really do need to lose the dark lance option, or change the stats to the same as a bright lance and make it Assault 1.
Heavy: A new Raider means a new Ravager. The heaviest of all the tanks I think it will sell based on what they change the stats of the Disintegrator rather than being able to take three Dark Lances. Scourges could remain a Heavy, because jump pack troops really are a heavy and not a fast. Or maybe they will differentiate between Scourges armed with heavy or special weapons? We know that Talos is getting a redesign, and will be out in one of the later waves so that gets a thumbs up. Please, please give it toughness eight, or an extra wound?
So as you can tell there isn’t much known to comment on, but by my reckoning we will have three HQ, three Elite (maybe four), two Troop (maybe three), one or two Fast and two Heavy (maybe three). With twelve choices, none of them new; not all of them being released in the first wave; surely this is not what GW is promoting as the next big thing..?
Come November 2010 we are going to see the arrival of five or even six box sets for the Dark Eldar. Everything is ultimately being remade in the range, a cause for celebration or concern that what we already have will stick out alike a sore thumb?
So what can we expect? The five kits are supposed to be Warriors, Wyches, Hellions, Raiders and Ravagers. The rumoured possible sixth kit Jetbikes. The two metal boxes will be Mandrakes and Incubi, with the blisters filling out HQ options. If these are the first wave of kits it will be like building your Space Marine army with Tactical Marines, Scouts, Assault Marines, Rhino and Predator only. Not very exciting and it is not going to sell well by any stretch of the imagination.
What about the Codex, well we can suppose a few changes and there has been talk about a few of the old units moving about in the codex but no mention of any new units. Previously we had a total of three HQ units, three Elite, two Troops, two Fast and three Heavy, only the Necron armylist contained fewer options. Based on best guestimates from previous codices and what is rumoured on the internet:
HQ: Well we will be losing a HQ option, the Dracon. Two-wound commanders have been exorcised in fifth edition, but we gain an Archite a three wound Wych Lord. There has been no mention on what is happening to Haemonculi, perhaps they will be remaining as a multiple choice HQ, or being added as an optional squad leader?
Elite: Grotesques and Mandrakes staying, Mandrakes gaining Scout or Space Wolf Scout ability to come on the rear table edge. It is presumed that Harlequins will be added to the list as they have dealings with both the good and evil Eldar. There was in the past rumours of Incubi being an Elite option, and even at their extortionate cost in points they would prove popular in plastic, not the rumoured metal.
Troops: Again we will be losing a Troop, no more Raider squads. Instead Raider will be what they always should have been, a transport upgrade for the squad. Here’s hoping that if the squad is larger than ten models they can still purchase the transport. Thumbs up, we can expect options to take pistol and spiky close combat weapon instead of splinter rifle. An option they should have always had and an inducement to buy the new miniatures and not rely on the old figures. Thumbs down, I am expecting the box set to come in ten with Sybarite heavy weapon and special weapon. Gone will be the days of taking ten with two special and heavy weapons. Perhaps if we take eleven or more warriors and invalidate the squad from a transport option they will be able to take extras?
Wyches should be making the move from Elite to Troop. Here’s hoping the points value is fixed, around ten points for a tooled-up Wych sounds about right for 6+ save, strength 3 models. Sure they are better in close combat due to their 4+ invulnerable save, however discounting charge bonuses a Tactical Space Marine has a higher kill percentage fighting against a Wych one on one.
A possible third Troop could be Jetbikes as they moved over in the Eldar Codex. They could be an option like Space Marines, with a commander on a Jetbike allowing you to take scoring Jetbikes. These will have to come down in cost and offer something more than a rapid fire strength 3, or now poisoned 4+ weapon.
Fast: Hellions are going to be in plastic, they either need rending or attacks as a power weapon on turn of charge, along with Hit and Run. Currently they are unable to fight in close combat and their 5+ invulnerable/ jink save is a joke. If Jetbikes remain a fast then there will be two options available to them, perhaps Scourges will move to fast, being able to take special weapons along with splinter cannons. They really do need to lose the dark lance option, or change the stats to the same as a bright lance and make it Assault 1.
Heavy: A new Raider means a new Ravager. The heaviest of all the tanks I think it will sell based on what they change the stats of the Disintegrator rather than being able to take three Dark Lances. Scourges could remain a Heavy, because jump pack troops really are a heavy and not a fast. Or maybe they will differentiate between Scourges armed with heavy or special weapons? We know that Talos is getting a redesign, and will be out in one of the later waves so that gets a thumbs up. Please, please give it toughness eight, or an extra wound?
So as you can tell there isn’t much known to comment on, but by my reckoning we will have three HQ, three Elite (maybe four), two Troop (maybe three), one or two Fast and two Heavy (maybe three). With twelve choices, none of them new; not all of them being released in the first wave; surely this is not what GW is promoting as the next big thing..?
Thursday, 9 September 2010
State of the Union Address: Part 2
My last post I boasted that I want to play a 40K of W40K for my fortieth birthday, aiming to game in a mere fifty weeks time, oh and both armies to be fully painted. With a minimum of 20,000 points of Chaos (Forces of Evil FOE) to be completed by me, along with additional painted units of the Imperium (Forces of Good FOG) and terrain, I am going to be a busy bunny for the next year. This blog can record how far along I am getting with the various armies, with perhaps even a couple of photos which would really help to break up all this text.
So I am best looking at what my gaming buddies can bring to the table and try to complement what they are taking. We normally only get a couple of games a month and some armies have fallen by the wayside over the years so these are best guestimates of what they have points wise in descending order: Imperial Guard 7k, Ultramarines 6k, Space Wolves 3k, Black Templars 3k, Sisters of Battle 2k, Dark Angels 1.5k, Blood Angels 1.5k, Grey Knights 1k along with generic Space Marines 5k. My numbers do not add up, I am only totalling 30k and whilst I can add another 10k with FOG figures the Imperial Guard would need considerable work to finish them, although I am sure they would enjoy the ten Leman Russes I have. Previously they fought using 40k points; I will have to see why there is a shortfall.
So how is FOE getting on again? Points wise in descending order: World Eaters 9k, Night Lords 5k, Emperors Children 4k, Chaos Daemons 3k, Death Guard 3k, Thousand Sons 3k, Thousand Sons 3k and Word Bearers 2k. If I added Imperial Guard to the above numbers I would have another 8k to add to FOE to hit their target.
So what do I have and what state is it in? Much of what I have was purchased and played in earlier editions so I do not know how the points stack up with more recent codices, or they have been cannibalised to make or upgrade different units:
Alpha Legion 4k Painted in base colours
Black Legion 4k Sprayed black
Death Guard 4k Painted in base colour black, needs repainting
Emperors Children 5k Being built or sprayed black
Iron Warriors 4k Awaiting unit markings
Night Lords 2k Unbuilt
Thousand Sons 1.5k Undercoated blue
Word Bearers 2k Painted in base colours
World Eaters 3k Various: from sprue to awaiting unit markings
Chaos Daemons 4k Various: from undercoat to shading
Imperial Guard 4k Various: from undercoat to shading
Angels of Vengeance 2k Various: from undercoat to shading
Sisters of Battle 2k Sprayed black
Space Marines 2k Biker army built but unpainted
I am sure that once I start sorting boxes of figures out other units will come to light and I will be able to more accurately assess how many points I have, am able to paint before the deadline. For example I started picking up Grey Knights earlier this year along with some Inquisitorial Storm Troopers. By the time the battle will starts next year they will have a new Codex and who knows what else.
So I am best looking at what my gaming buddies can bring to the table and try to complement what they are taking. We normally only get a couple of games a month and some armies have fallen by the wayside over the years so these are best guestimates of what they have points wise in descending order: Imperial Guard 7k, Ultramarines 6k, Space Wolves 3k, Black Templars 3k, Sisters of Battle 2k, Dark Angels 1.5k, Blood Angels 1.5k, Grey Knights 1k along with generic Space Marines 5k. My numbers do not add up, I am only totalling 30k and whilst I can add another 10k with FOG figures the Imperial Guard would need considerable work to finish them, although I am sure they would enjoy the ten Leman Russes I have. Previously they fought using 40k points; I will have to see why there is a shortfall.
So how is FOE getting on again? Points wise in descending order: World Eaters 9k, Night Lords 5k, Emperors Children 4k, Chaos Daemons 3k, Death Guard 3k, Thousand Sons 3k, Thousand Sons 3k and Word Bearers 2k. If I added Imperial Guard to the above numbers I would have another 8k to add to FOE to hit their target.
So what do I have and what state is it in? Much of what I have was purchased and played in earlier editions so I do not know how the points stack up with more recent codices, or they have been cannibalised to make or upgrade different units:
Alpha Legion 4k Painted in base colours
Black Legion 4k Sprayed black
Death Guard 4k Painted in base colour black, needs repainting
Emperors Children 5k Being built or sprayed black
Iron Warriors 4k Awaiting unit markings
Night Lords 2k Unbuilt
Thousand Sons 1.5k Undercoated blue
Word Bearers 2k Painted in base colours
World Eaters 3k Various: from sprue to awaiting unit markings
Chaos Daemons 4k Various: from undercoat to shading
Imperial Guard 4k Various: from undercoat to shading
Angels of Vengeance 2k Various: from undercoat to shading
Sisters of Battle 2k Sprayed black
Space Marines 2k Biker army built but unpainted
I am sure that once I start sorting boxes of figures out other units will come to light and I will be able to more accurately assess how many points I have, am able to paint before the deadline. For example I started picking up Grey Knights earlier this year along with some Inquisitorial Storm Troopers. By the time the battle will starts next year they will have a new Codex and who knows what else.
Wednesday, 8 September 2010
State of the Union Address
Hitting the age of forty next year has me pondering what I should do for my birthday celebrations, the past two years have been quiet due the impending and now arrival of my firstborn, and I feel that next year I can stretch my wings and do something special for the occasion. This is on my mind as I will be out this weekend sampling the delights of forty pubs celebrating one of my fellow gamer’s birthdays.
Forty years old, Warhammer 40k, forty years old, Warhammer 40k – you know it has a ring to it. Casting my mind back to a year before the release of Apocalypse I gamed a two day battle that reached turn four that had 40,000 points on each side. It was the best game I ever played as the sheer amount of figures and vehicles on display was breathtaking. It could also be said that the sheer amount of unpainted figures and vehicles on display was also breathtaking. Since then four years have gone by, whilst not much more has been painted, at least on my part, more figures and vehicles have been gathered. We have seen new rules, or at least suggestions, to fast play large games and over the years I have played an Apocalypse game or three.
Aiming for bank holiday weekend in August 2011 could I gather a full quarter or perhaps even more of a four player 40,000 points a side battle? I think that is a big ask, but wanting to game only with painted models I would need to crack the whip with my gaming buddies as well, making sure they sleep with a paintbrush as well. Fortunately two of the players are big painters and do not like to have more models than they can paint, one of them probably already has 20,000 points plus painted and ready to battle the other a more modest 10,000 points. Our final gamer perhaps has 500 points painted and I do not know if I have enough dynamite to get him into action.
So ideally I would gather together another couple of gamers, four will be ideal, perhaps two realistic? Secondly I need to paint, paint like the wind. I have no figures that are completed, but many in a state of near finish. Many more just undercoated, and probably an equal number unpainted. Looking in my calendar I have fifty weeks to achieve this goal, fifty short weeks. That does break down to a manageable 400 points a week or two squads in Chaos Rhinos or five Chaos Terminators in a Chaos Landraider. It sounds simpler when broken down into individual models. On top of painting the 20k of Chaos models I will also need to ensure that there is enough terrain to battle over, painted of course and that the Forces of Good (FOG)have enough painted figures and vehicles to match this evil horde, or Forces of Evil (FOE).
Next posting I will be breaking down what I can expect to bring to the battle, and what potentially my gaming buds could be taking.
Forty years old, Warhammer 40k, forty years old, Warhammer 40k – you know it has a ring to it. Casting my mind back to a year before the release of Apocalypse I gamed a two day battle that reached turn four that had 40,000 points on each side. It was the best game I ever played as the sheer amount of figures and vehicles on display was breathtaking. It could also be said that the sheer amount of unpainted figures and vehicles on display was also breathtaking. Since then four years have gone by, whilst not much more has been painted, at least on my part, more figures and vehicles have been gathered. We have seen new rules, or at least suggestions, to fast play large games and over the years I have played an Apocalypse game or three.
Aiming for bank holiday weekend in August 2011 could I gather a full quarter or perhaps even more of a four player 40,000 points a side battle? I think that is a big ask, but wanting to game only with painted models I would need to crack the whip with my gaming buddies as well, making sure they sleep with a paintbrush as well. Fortunately two of the players are big painters and do not like to have more models than they can paint, one of them probably already has 20,000 points plus painted and ready to battle the other a more modest 10,000 points. Our final gamer perhaps has 500 points painted and I do not know if I have enough dynamite to get him into action.
So ideally I would gather together another couple of gamers, four will be ideal, perhaps two realistic? Secondly I need to paint, paint like the wind. I have no figures that are completed, but many in a state of near finish. Many more just undercoated, and probably an equal number unpainted. Looking in my calendar I have fifty weeks to achieve this goal, fifty short weeks. That does break down to a manageable 400 points a week or two squads in Chaos Rhinos or five Chaos Terminators in a Chaos Landraider. It sounds simpler when broken down into individual models. On top of painting the 20k of Chaos models I will also need to ensure that there is enough terrain to battle over, painted of course and that the Forces of Good (FOG)have enough painted figures and vehicles to match this evil horde, or Forces of Evil (FOE).
Next posting I will be breaking down what I can expect to bring to the battle, and what potentially my gaming buds could be taking.
Tuesday, 7 September 2010
Chaos Terminators
Well the Chaos Terminators arrived quickly, all six of them. They are as you can see second edition and need a lot of work on them to make them, presentable. The Chaos Lord’s sword snapped as the packaging was very so-so, but it is nothing superglue cannot fix.
Having ploughed through my list it seems that I have fifty-five points to spend on upgrades for the Chaos Terminators, although this includes the price of a Banner of Slaanesh. The fires themselves provide me with two chainfists, a powerfist and two combi-flamers. I would not normally consider the combi-flamers, and will try to see if I can convert them to combi-plasma guns with some of the bits I have floating around. With the points left I can either take two chainfists or three powerfists, if I had Lightening Claws available I would consider them but I do not have anything suitable to substitute for them. Given I am taking the Banner of Slaanesh the pair of Chainfists wins as I want something that can punch through Dreadnought or even Landraider armour.
Now should I be thinking a pair of combi-meltas and not combi-plasmas..?
Part 2
Having now got to grips with the Chaos Terminators I have taken off all the arms, trophy racks and rebased them on the correct bases I can now revise what I have and what I am going to do with them. I have a third combi-flamer and am now more inclined to keep the powerfist as well. Instead of spending (or wasting) the 15 points on a Banner of Slaanesh I am instead going to use those points to keep the Powerfist and extra combi-weapon which I think will instead be combi-plasma. Rapid firing six shots should give me three kills; I would need eighteen hits with the three combi-flamers to make the same kill ratio against T4 3+ save.
Having ploughed through my list it seems that I have fifty-five points to spend on upgrades for the Chaos Terminators, although this includes the price of a Banner of Slaanesh. The fires themselves provide me with two chainfists, a powerfist and two combi-flamers. I would not normally consider the combi-flamers, and will try to see if I can convert them to combi-plasma guns with some of the bits I have floating around. With the points left I can either take two chainfists or three powerfists, if I had Lightening Claws available I would consider them but I do not have anything suitable to substitute for them. Given I am taking the Banner of Slaanesh the pair of Chainfists wins as I want something that can punch through Dreadnought or even Landraider armour.
Now should I be thinking a pair of combi-meltas and not combi-plasmas..?
Part 2
Having now got to grips with the Chaos Terminators I have taken off all the arms, trophy racks and rebased them on the correct bases I can now revise what I have and what I am going to do with them. I have a third combi-flamer and am now more inclined to keep the powerfist as well. Instead of spending (or wasting) the 15 points on a Banner of Slaanesh I am instead going to use those points to keep the Powerfist and extra combi-weapon which I think will instead be combi-plasma. Rapid firing six shots should give me three kills; I would need eighteen hits with the three combi-flamers to make the same kill ratio against T4 3+ save.
Monday, 6 September 2010
Second Chance
I had the opportunity to pick up eight Chaos Space Marines on a second chance buy, seems unusual to me that they would come up for a second chance given their unique nature. It is almost as if the seller manipulated the price to my maximum and then sold them to me at that price, still he will have been stung for two sets of selling fees on EBay…
So what about the eight figures, well as you can see below they are definitely a mixed bag for the eight pounds-ish I paid. I buy plastic figures at a maximum of fifty pence each and I valued the two Noise Marine special weapons at two pounds each.
I will be adding a plasma pistol, power weapon and Noise Marine backpack to the metal Chaos Lord and painting it in Flawless Host colours. Although I have previously stated that I would not be adding to the Flawless Host we all know that was just pillow talk. Having a second HQ will give me options, in this case:
Chaos Lord (Mark of Slaanesh, Plasma Pistol, Power Weapon)
130 points
By not taking a Personal Icon there will be fourteen points left, enough to upgrade the Lesser Daemons to six and cancel the one point overspend.
The other seven figures will be absorbed into my as yet unbuilt Emperors Children army, which I do not yet have a proper list for. There are now a total of fifty-eight figures lying around waiting for some love, some Emperors Children love so I should really get a move on and come up with a list that I am happy with.
Thursday, 2 September 2010
A List for Skalathrax?
So pouring over my list of wants in the last post I have completed what will hopefully be my 1.5k list to do battle next week on Skalathrax, I just need the Chaos Terminators to turn up in the post and to get busy building and painting the figures. I am sure as I get closer to the day I will make changes based on what I have, but then again we always used to read that excuse for the player losing the Battle of the Month in White Dwarf…
Chaos Lord (Mark of Slaanesh, Terminator Armour)
125 points
I had wanted to take six Terminators as an Elite squad and a Sorcerer as a HQ but the need to spread the points thinly means that a cheap HQ is necessary and I can save the 30 points from the Elite choice.
5 Chaos Terminators (Banner of Slaanesh)
165 points
I will have points left over after completing this list and they will be spent on Chaos Terminator upgrades. From the pics of the Terminators they seem to have a number of combi-flamers which I will be converting into combi-meltas or combi-plasmas, I may even splash the points for a Reaper Autocannon. A powerfist or two to deal with Dreadnoughts is a must for the squad.
Chaos Dreadnought (Twin-link Lascannon)
125 points
Chaos Dreadnought (Twin-link Autocannon)
125 points
These will be my premium anti Chaos Rhino units, with options to thin the Chaos Dreadnoughts if I feel they are getting too close. I will be relying on true line of sight and hopefully a 4+ cover save to keep these alive as long as possible. If taking a shot means certain death for one of these then they will duck back and wait until next turn.
6 Noise Marines (Aspiring Champion, Doom Siren)
150 points
6 Noise Marines (Aspiring Champion, Doom Siren)
150 points
Again keeping this simple there job is to flame the enemy and charge the remnants of the squad. I know there is a lack of power weapon on the Aspiring Champion, and special weapon in the squad but I am short of points and want to keep ten units plus the HQ in the army. The Power Weapon is only worth fractions of a kill needing a 4 and a 4 to kill so I will pray to the dice gods.
6 Chaos Space Marines (Melta Gun or Plasma Gun or Plasma Pistol)
100 or 105 points
6 Chaos Space Marines (Melta Gun or Plasma Gun or Plasma Pistol)
100 or 105 points
Depending on what I feel like building, or more accurately can find in my bits box these two squads will be built with what I can lay my hands on. The only reason I have not decided on a flamer is that I want the weapon to have a little punch if I need to crack open a Chaos Rhino or Dreadnought.
6 Havocs (3 Plasma Guns)
135 points
My heavy hitters that will have to be in the right place at the right time to face Chaos Bikers or Terminators. I managed to fell a Chaos Lord with the same unit last week so I am hopeful that I will not be rolling many 1’s. I can also use the 24” range to ping Chaos Rhinos; I will wait until rapid fire range to chance Chaos Dreadnoughts.
6 Havocs (2 Missile Launchers, 2 Melta Guns)
150 points
6 Havocs (2 Missile Launchers, 2 Melta Guns)
150 points
I am expecting big things from this most strange unit. Two long range and two short range weapons is a combination I have not seen in a list anywhere and probably with good reason. With Night Fight taking place on turns five and six the melta guns will allow me to advance and give close support where needed, the missile launchers shooting anything they can see for the first four turns. If somehow the building they are hiding in gets assaulted I should be able to fire both launchers and melta guns at the squad first to thin their numbers.
I should have around 25 points left to be spent on Chaos Terminator upgrades; if I run short then I will lose a melta gun from the Havoc Squads. Fingers crossed…
Chaos Lord (Mark of Slaanesh, Terminator Armour)
125 points
I had wanted to take six Terminators as an Elite squad and a Sorcerer as a HQ but the need to spread the points thinly means that a cheap HQ is necessary and I can save the 30 points from the Elite choice.
5 Chaos Terminators (Banner of Slaanesh)
165 points
I will have points left over after completing this list and they will be spent on Chaos Terminator upgrades. From the pics of the Terminators they seem to have a number of combi-flamers which I will be converting into combi-meltas or combi-plasmas, I may even splash the points for a Reaper Autocannon. A powerfist or two to deal with Dreadnoughts is a must for the squad.
Chaos Dreadnought (Twin-link Lascannon)
125 points
Chaos Dreadnought (Twin-link Autocannon)
125 points
These will be my premium anti Chaos Rhino units, with options to thin the Chaos Dreadnoughts if I feel they are getting too close. I will be relying on true line of sight and hopefully a 4+ cover save to keep these alive as long as possible. If taking a shot means certain death for one of these then they will duck back and wait until next turn.
6 Noise Marines (Aspiring Champion, Doom Siren)
150 points
6 Noise Marines (Aspiring Champion, Doom Siren)
150 points
Again keeping this simple there job is to flame the enemy and charge the remnants of the squad. I know there is a lack of power weapon on the Aspiring Champion, and special weapon in the squad but I am short of points and want to keep ten units plus the HQ in the army. The Power Weapon is only worth fractions of a kill needing a 4 and a 4 to kill so I will pray to the dice gods.
6 Chaos Space Marines (Melta Gun or Plasma Gun or Plasma Pistol)
100 or 105 points
6 Chaos Space Marines (Melta Gun or Plasma Gun or Plasma Pistol)
100 or 105 points
Depending on what I feel like building, or more accurately can find in my bits box these two squads will be built with what I can lay my hands on. The only reason I have not decided on a flamer is that I want the weapon to have a little punch if I need to crack open a Chaos Rhino or Dreadnought.
6 Havocs (3 Plasma Guns)
135 points
My heavy hitters that will have to be in the right place at the right time to face Chaos Bikers or Terminators. I managed to fell a Chaos Lord with the same unit last week so I am hopeful that I will not be rolling many 1’s. I can also use the 24” range to ping Chaos Rhinos; I will wait until rapid fire range to chance Chaos Dreadnoughts.
6 Havocs (2 Missile Launchers, 2 Melta Guns)
150 points
6 Havocs (2 Missile Launchers, 2 Melta Guns)
150 points
I am expecting big things from this most strange unit. Two long range and two short range weapons is a combination I have not seen in a list anywhere and probably with good reason. With Night Fight taking place on turns five and six the melta guns will allow me to advance and give close support where needed, the missile launchers shooting anything they can see for the first four turns. If somehow the building they are hiding in gets assaulted I should be able to fire both launchers and melta guns at the squad first to thin their numbers.
I should have around 25 points left to be spent on Chaos Terminator upgrades; if I run short then I will lose a melta gun from the Havoc Squads. Fingers crossed…
Wednesday, 1 September 2010
Live and Let Die
Pondering how I can make my earlier victory with The Purge against World Eaters work for my Emperors Children and the upcoming battles of Skalathrax. I cannot understand how I won that battle and yet lost the original game. I am certain that despite better dice rolls in the second game, the World Eater player had a better strategy for the first battle. The two armies despite the differences in points both looked similar, just fewer units. As I was using my own list this time around I had more units in my list and at times was able to sacrifice one squad to save another or double team an opposing squad. Suddenly a light bulb grows dim above my head…
Previously I faced six squads of Berserkers in Chaos Rhinos led by Kharn. There were two large bike squads with Icon (of Khorne) and Aspirings, three Chaos Dreadnoughts a small squad of Chaos Terminators and a Chaos Lord with all the trimmings. By my reckoning that makes thirteen squads in 3k points, my 1.5k list with The Purge had eleven units, although one of these was a 40 point Chaos Spawn. So ten units in 1.5k points means that I should be able to double-up on fighting squads, or sacrifice a few to save the many.
Taking smaller units means that I will have to split my forces into those that crack open the transport vehicles and those that deal with the contents. I am thinking three squads to crack open the armour and two squads of heavy infantry killers (plasma gunners). I will avoid a Greater Daemon this time around due to wanting to slow the enemy down and not engage in close combat until as late as possible in the battle, fourth turn if I can manage it.
Off the top of my head I will be looking at:
Close Combat
Chaos Lord in Terminator armour
5 Chaos Terminators
6 Noise Marines (Aspiring with Doom Siren)
6 Noise Marines (Aspiring with Doom Siren)
6 Chaos Space Marines (with plasma pistol or melta gun)
6 Chaos Space Marines (with plasma pistol or melta gun)
Firepower
Chaos Dreadnought (Lascannon)
Chaos Dreadnought (Autocannon)
6 Havocs (3 Missile Launchers)
6 Havocs (3 Plasma Guns)
2 Obliterators
I will also hope to add a pair of Chaos Rhinos to the list as mobile cover, or to redeploy the squads as needed. I will not be taking the customary Aspiring in each squad as the 30 point premium for Aspiring with power weapon is only marginally worth it; I need more warm bodies on the table.
Previously I faced six squads of Berserkers in Chaos Rhinos led by Kharn. There were two large bike squads with Icon (of Khorne) and Aspirings, three Chaos Dreadnoughts a small squad of Chaos Terminators and a Chaos Lord with all the trimmings. By my reckoning that makes thirteen squads in 3k points, my 1.5k list with The Purge had eleven units, although one of these was a 40 point Chaos Spawn. So ten units in 1.5k points means that I should be able to double-up on fighting squads, or sacrifice a few to save the many.
Taking smaller units means that I will have to split my forces into those that crack open the transport vehicles and those that deal with the contents. I am thinking three squads to crack open the armour and two squads of heavy infantry killers (plasma gunners). I will avoid a Greater Daemon this time around due to wanting to slow the enemy down and not engage in close combat until as late as possible in the battle, fourth turn if I can manage it.
Off the top of my head I will be looking at:
Close Combat
Chaos Lord in Terminator armour
5 Chaos Terminators
6 Noise Marines (Aspiring with Doom Siren)
6 Noise Marines (Aspiring with Doom Siren)
6 Chaos Space Marines (with plasma pistol or melta gun)
6 Chaos Space Marines (with plasma pistol or melta gun)
Firepower
Chaos Dreadnought (Lascannon)
Chaos Dreadnought (Autocannon)
6 Havocs (3 Missile Launchers)
6 Havocs (3 Plasma Guns)
2 Obliterators
I will also hope to add a pair of Chaos Rhinos to the list as mobile cover, or to redeploy the squads as needed. I will not be taking the customary Aspiring in each squad as the 30 point premium for Aspiring with power weapon is only marginally worth it; I need more warm bodies on the table.
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