Monday, June 27, 2011

The Future of My 40k Hobby

*opens the door slowly with a creak noise, finding all the lights off* Hello? Any one home? *flips on the lights to find all his old 40k models and blog posts right where he left them*

It's been a long time since I've been posting, aruging on forums, and playing the 40k table top game. I did as my last post indicated, run a Dark Heresy RPG campaign with my friends, which went off pretty well. They encountered Necrons (they had to cave in some ruins in time or they would die to flayer fire) and heretical cultists that were kidnapping people to turn into super soldiers of their own. Good times had by all and in the mean time we're playing other RPGs, but I plan on either returning to DH or going balls to the wall and play Death Watch. In addition to this, I'm excited for the general IP with the upcoming PSN title "Kill Team" which a friend and I plan on buying and co-oping, as well as getting Space Marine for PC. The more I see video of SM (from this past month's E3 conference) I'm more excited for it and believe Relic can pull it off.

I also got my RP group to try out some wargamming on Sunday. We did 2 v 2 with Kill Team rules, so 400 v 400 points. I had 9 ASM and my friend that had never played this before had 5 Stern Guard and 5 scout snipers vs 2 Tau suits and some rail-rifle troops and a team of Eldar Banshees and Dire Avengers. Honestly, I've never fought Eldar before, even in my local tournament they never made an appearance, and they were pretty scary. I know the Banshees are built as anti-marine units, but general their speed and initiative was devastating. I basically sacrificed myself to kill off all the ranged characters so the Banshees would have to run across the board and take a hail of AP 4 weapons that pierce their armor. In the end we got the other team down below 50% first so they had to take like 4 leadership tests and passed em all, and then we killed all their units down to just a suit and we failed our 2nd leadership test or something. Kinda crappy result with our upper hand and all, but oh well, everyone had fun and hopefully we can do it again sometime.

I of course have only been back into 40k for a day now and I see the 6th Edition rumors flying about and I'm already feeling like hanging it up since I hate change. Plus all the hate for GW from basically everyone online for the way they handle customers and such. Eh, I dunno, all that is on the back burner and I'll just stick to the video games and RPG and painting.

Monday, November 22, 2010

A Different Kind of 40k

Let me start off by saying that in my last post I was alluding to a Batrep coming with my Necrons, but that game got put on pause and then I needed the table for something else so the game got taken down. I'd probably forecast that I would have won, based on having 2 of the 3 objectives on turn 3 and already taking out a fair amount of Tau suits by then as well, but we shall never know. However, on to other things 40k!

Games Workshop ©
I was a bit of a late bloomer when it comes to my nerdiness, only starting 40k a couple years ago and always being against table-top RPGs like D&D, etc. But as I've embraced it with 40k TT, I've started playing some RPGs as well with a local group, most recently playing Gamma World. I'm still anti-fantasy setting, opting for more sci-fi based worlds, which has led me to think about GMing a game within the 40k realm like Rogue Trader or Dark Heresy. I most definitely want to try out Deathwatch as well, but I figure we could learn the system and rules in a game about "better-than-average" humans within the Imperium first and then later take on being super-humans. The rule sets are the same, and to put it in perspective a Rank 1 Inquisition Acolyte from Dark Heresy has about 4,000 XP and on the same scale a Rank 1 Space Marine has 13,000 XP.

Anyway, it seems my time will be mostly spent learning the rules, creating test characters, and constructing a story with villains, twists, and rewards. It's quite rewarding coming up with story elements and pit falls for the player, just like making up a new army list and feeling like you have an "ace in the hole" super-unit that will tear thru the enemy ranks. I'll be pulling on my knowledge of reading the codexes, novels, and Lexicanum to piece things together. I actually got into 40k based on the lore more than anything, so I hope that will shine through. Hopefully it all goes well and if so I might share some glimpses of my works on my blog here.

» So, does anyone out there play the 40k RPG systems? Tips, tricks, pit-falls? I know there's a few bloggers out there that love to open their Batreps with story line dialogue and setting the mood and I bet they'd be at home in a Deathwatch campaign.

Monday, October 25, 2010

Bolt Pistol Prop from Comic Con

Admittedly I'm behind the times in the 40k blogosphere and current events, so excuse me if this has already made it's rounds. Here's the link to a replica Bolt Pistol used for the 40k display at Comic Con: Volpin Props. Make sure to check out his post history for more props!

This guy has the job I always wanted to do... if I were talented, lol. It's like "aw man, that movie was awesome" or "that video game rocks" and you want to bring it to life and this guy just reaches into the screen and pulls out the props. Do want!

Also, I shall be back later this week with a new battle report with *gasp* my Necron!

Tuesday, August 31, 2010

No, I'm not dead.

Hey, it's been awhile since my last post and just wanted to drop by. My interests change in spurts over time, so sometimes I'm dedicated to 40k, sometimes video gaming, sometimes movies/TV, hiking/disc golf, so I come and go into my hobbies, but never let any of them go entirely. Right now I'm playing lots of Bad Company 2 multiplayer and Fallout 3 single player. But I'll be back into 40k eventually of course. I did take my league winnings and primed them all with my Ruddy Brown spray and cut them from their sprues, ready to be built. Still no one really to play regularly tho a handful of people have expressed interested in one off games. I'd also need to maybe hit up the local shop again for some pick up games to get me going again. But that'll be after I get tired of video gaming.

Monday, August 2, 2010

Do You Deepstrike?

(Deepstrike marker from Dawn of War)

This was a question brought up by Sgt. Brisbane of Sons of Thunder and I thought I'd lend some of my insight. This stems from the fact that after building some BA lists around Mech because that's all the rage in 5th Edition and fighting enemies like melta heavy Plagues and basically any Tau formation I kept finding vehicles to NOT be that useful. Heresy, I know. Transports are about the best you can do since they are cheap and have one purpose: to move. Tanks however, even with the Fast rule just have not been stellar. Even with high armor(and even on a glance), 5 out of 6 results of the dice keeps you from shooting, which is their one purpose. So this made me look at an all Jump Pack list, which the Blood Angles can pull off nicely. Just about anything can add a JP at a cost, except certain named HQs or support units. Hell, even our Dreads get Wings, but they are ruled out of a JP list as well. But the point here is that you will be laden down with troops, around 40-50 in an average game, and the enemy will be kitted out with lots of 1-shot weapons. Sure their meltas will tear thru a marine, but that's a single 16-18pt model, vs a single hit penetrating and wrecking a 175pt Dread that never got into assault and made it's points back. Basically everyone is building mech lists with anti-mech capability. I say exploit it and bring all troops and make their load out more ineffective. In my lists, I also build in redundancy, ususally making a mirrored list, so that if any one unit is destroyed by an unlucky turn of dice, I have another one, and this is reflected in HQ down to Heavy Support.

My first mistake when taking the first steps on learning to fly was dropping in usually to fire off my two meltas in each full 10-man squad at something in hopes for a mini-alpha-strike. This lead my units dropping individually all over the board with no common objective. This lead to getting charged or shot down to 6 guys before I ever got to assault, ruining my efficiency. This also leads to units falling outside either Libby cover saves or Priest FNP bubbles. This took a number of games to start getting better at it but I am by no means a master of the descent. To get it out of the way, let me say the biggest caveat (that people always ignore) is that you have to be a smart player first for this to work. Regardless of stats and die rolls, always have a plan, stick to it, and avoid pit falls. For example, I can't just say "Always DS behind their lines" or "always deploy on your side of the board". Know your enemy and their capabilities and figure what is best. If they are charging forward to take objectives on your side of the board, your DZ might be cluttered when it's your time to DS, so land in their zone instead. Or if they are a gun line and want to play it slow, use the cover on your side as shot blockers. Be adaptive is what I'm saying. If you think it best, start everything on the board; it just matters on the objective of the game and your enemy's capabilities.

As I wrote on Brisbane's blog, what I use DS for now is a more unorthodox deployment, rather than surgical strikes. This is partly because I don't use Vanguards in my list for support outside my core ASM, but rather Devastators, and this is only in the above 1500pt range of games. Again, ASM are not surgical striking elites. They are front line troops that have better than average mobility, that is all, so don't try getting fancy with them. One type of deployment is a sort of mid-game/mid-board castling. I will DS in a unit with my Libby first as he will be my anchor, landing troops all around him so everyone gets cover if the enemy has lots of AP3 weapons. If not, then I might start with the Priest group, as he will be even more beneficial as anchor. If I can, they will be behind area terrain or even behind stuff that blocks LOS as a sort of staging area. Building on my "unorthodox deployment" is that DS'ing everything forces your enemy to move without knowing what you're doing. He can sit still for at most 2 turns, but that could be a waste in an Obj game or he could fan out but leave something unguarded and rear armor exposed, but that is up to him to get right or wrong and you play off that. In my League game, my IG opponent moved his tanks up, leaving me space to drop 3x Honor Guard unit into his rear armor, letting me pop it. These HG got blasted next turn, but then more ASM dropped in behind that tank, and eliminated it, take out most of his heavy punch, leaving the guardsmen to get ground to dust.

Which brings me to the next point that people underestimate the range of JP troops, even the general leading them. Remember this to help keep you from trying to DS in so close to the enemy. Drop in somewhere in a sweet spot that will draw the enemy into moving forward, trying to get a clean shot on your boys, but still gives cover and not close enough for them to assault you. Then on your turn, their jaw will drop as you measure out 12", fire everything, and then measure another 6". If they retreat instead, just jump forward using terrain to block shots or give saves. Don't just run after them into the open, so use what you can, even if it's just a little 5-man ASM unit to give cover to the more important 10-man unit.

»Sorry for the long rant, but there you go. The answer? Yes, I deepstrike. How about you? Think I have valid points? Think I'm a heretic for being anti-mech? Let me know why you think mech is the way to go.

Thursday, July 29, 2010

League Winnings!

So I took some time to think about what I wanted to pick up with my FLGS winnings (provided by Games Workshop) and settled on something finally. I thought about more Dark Angels for Honor Guard or grab Devastators for my support choices. Also thought about some Vanguard, but found they were metal with certain load outs modeled and that's just not how I roll, haha. I even toyed with the idea of a Fantasy Army, but realized that I have friends with 40k armies that don't even play me much, let alone the fact that none of them have a Fantasy army, so I'd have to rely on the FLGS for any play whatsoever. So, it came down to one thing, I need more boots on the ground, so I went with another set of Death Company, which will be broken down basically to hand out icons and weapons to stuff like the HG and my Sgts. They were nice enough to just call it even on my choices because the winning were for $45, but the total for my stuff is $50. I guess basically whatever the person chooses in winnings, GW will ship an equal replacement to the store to make up for the items, so I didn't have to pay the difference! Anyway, the box is just near perfect, except I don't like all the body molds that much. But it has jump packs, power packs, melee weapons, bolters, and 20 should pads! Just the stuff I need to turn my vanilla and DA marines into BA marines. I also picked up the new Lemartes blister as the old Lemartes one is so god awful in comparison. He'll stand in for my Reclusiarch in my lists for now or actually get used if I ever play a fun game of an all DC, non-scoring army list. :-)

(League loot!)

Friday, July 16, 2010

Battle Report - 2000pt BA vs Tyranid - League Play 4

Well, tonight wrapped up the local escalation league game in a 2000pt pitched battle where Victory Points were king. Normal VP rules, plus objectives, table quarters, and ICs were all additional VPs. The difference between VPs per side would determine the scale of the win. I had to play the Nid guy as we were both in the running for first place, so we set up quick and got to it. My list was:
  • 2x 10-man ASM (PF; 2x MG)
  • 1x 10-man ASM (PW; 1x Fm)
  • 2x 5-man Honor Guard (Blood Champ; 3x MG)
  • 2x 10-man Devastators (4x ML)
  • 2x Priest (JP)
  • 1x Libby (JP; Shield, S10)
  • 1x Reclusiarch (JP)
My opponent's army was 5 Tervigons (2 of which were HQs) and 3 Tyrannofexes and a whole table of termagants, so basically it was a Nid gunline. Here's some pics!
It was short and sweet really as he didn't want to get torn up and give up easy points, and I didn't want to be meat for the grinder (the grinder being tons of MCs). I had my Devastators lined up the whole time and aimed for the Tervigons most of the time, taking out 2 and then getting a 'fex down. My strat was really to play the game of extras and aimed to take table quarters and objectives mostly instead of committing to slugging it out. I used my HGs and ICs as a screen, eating up 'gants and tying up MCs in CC. The game ended up in a Minor victory for me, as he got a good number of points for taking 2 squads to half, and holding 2 objectives. I held 3 objectives and 1 table quarter (all the others were contested), and killed the MCs and some 'gants, but they were such little point value it didn't help get me that far ahead.

After the points were tallied, it looks like I was the clear winner for the League! Other games were still going, but it was to determine 2nd/3rd at that point as I had some 60-some points and I know the Nid player had about 49. I had a draw, a minor victory, and 2 massacres, plus some bonus points for bringing in my own terrain and extra game objectives. My reward? GW provided 45 bucks of in-game credit (for any GW product)! Not bad for a free league and it forcing me to go to my LGS, which I never did before this. All the guys were good players and sports, no discrepancies or rules lawyering went down. I might stop by again for little pick up games in the future. And I think there is a Apoc game next week where each player can bring up to 2000pts and it will be team game.

Anyway, thanks for following me thru my first league play and I will probably get back to painting and other hobby work for awhile so my men look better for the next tourny.

»Now... what to do with that 45 bucks? More marines for my BA? Get a box set and drum up some readership with a free give-a-way like all the other blogs? Start a fantasy army? Lemme know what you think.