tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88602053676844841952024-03-14T08:53:16.847-06:00Deathbridge Warhammer and Miniatures GamingThe recipe for the best Miniatures Wargaming you've ever tasted. A healthy dose of Warhammer 40k and Fantasy with a pinch of Warmachine and Hordes, a taste of Flames of War and the slightest hint of Malifaux for one big cake of awesome.Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.comBlogger52125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-37053924767980558362011-02-01T23:08:00.001-07:002011-02-01T23:08:42.185-07:00Bell of Lost Souls editorial FAILBell of Lost Souls. You know the place. You've probably been on one side or another of one of their myraid of arguments. The site, as far as I can tell, is a group of players from Texas and their views and thoughts on the world of Warhammer. It's certainly THEIR view and I won't fault them for it. However as late there has been a great debate being waged. The schism between "counts as" and "proxy".<br />
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An argument, which one of the head writers defended in his own editorial (linked below) AND FAILED MISERABLY AT.<br />
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Specifically, this has been centered around one of their authors, "Goatboy". While not a fan of his play style or his painting (both are highly overrated IMO), he certainly garners my attention with articles. Why? Because I like the argue? *shrugs* He has this trend to bandwagon, enjoying the flavor of the month but usually with the same models. He has a "goat" army: marines with beast men heads, that he uses for chaos marines, Blood Angels and Space Wolves. Not my cup of tea and one of the reasons for this article. The other reason is his new "Word Bearer" army... using Space Wolf rules. Yes. You read that right. An army of fanatical religious nut jobs using the Space Wolf codex. Not the Chaos Marine codex.<br />
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Take a look for yourself:<br />
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<a href="http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2011/01/goatboys-army-list-continuing-with.html">http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2011/01/goatboys-army-list-continuing-with.html</a><br />
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Bell of Lost Souls has jumped right behind their hombre in his defence and in so, here is the <i style="font-weight: bold;">FAILURE </i>of this entire thing. That being the worst argument ever presented to man.<br />
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I shall present the bulk of it here. My responses are intermingled within, in bold and italics:<i style="font-weight: bold;"> Like this. </i>The original article (<a href="http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2011/02/editorial-is-it-proxy-or-is-it-counts.html">http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2011/02/editorial-is-it-proxy-or-is-it-counts.html</a>) contained pictures, but I am not going to.<br />
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<blockquote>
Using an Ultramarine as a Chaos Space Marine, or an Ork, or an Eldar Guardian isn’t appropriate. An Ultramarine as a Chaos Space Marine is a proxy…</blockquote>
<b><i>OK, this makes sense so far. A non chaos marine model using chaos rules is a proxy. Makes sense and I agree. </i></b><br />
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…but a Goat Angel is ‘Counts-As.’</blockquote>
<b><i>Uh...</i></b> <br />
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See the difference? <b><i>No... no I don't.</i></b> Space Goats may use parts from both Loyalist and Chaos Space Marines, but they are neither and thus can be used in a variety of ways. Using straight Chaos Space Marines to rep out a new Codex chapter is all well and good at home, but is it appropriate at a tournament where you may be playing a stranger? </blockquote>
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I don’t think so. At the very least, I’m sure we can agree it is a gray area.</blockquote>
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So why isn’t it okay to use Chaos Space Marines as Loyalist Space Marines? After all, the Goats are pretty chaotic looking; what’s the difference?</blockquote>
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Sort it out like this: does a model have a stat line in the Warhammer 40K universe already?<b><i> In this case of Goatboys Word Bearers... yes, yes they do. They are called Chaos Marines</i></b>. If it does, and you use it for something else, that’s a proxy.<b><i> Ah, so his Word Bearers ARE proxies.</i></b> Goat Marines exist nowhere except Goatboy’s probably warped mind, yet Khorne Berserkers have a color scheme and set of abilities everyone is already familiar with. Using Berserkers as Vanguard isn’t cool. <b><i>No, it isn't. Wait, what does this have to do with Goat Boy's proxying?</i></b></blockquote>
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But using Chaos Space Marines painted in your own design as Knights of Blood is perfectly cool. We’re all familiar enough with the game to be flexible on a technical proxy like that. It’s a game, after all.</blockquote>
So, in the end what you are saying is an Ultramarine can't be a Chaos marine because it is a regular space marine model. However, a chaos marine model, or one HEAVILY influenced by them, can be any space marine chapter it wants to? It has a Goat Head, Chaos parts, Chaos SYMBOLS but it isn't chaos? It's a Counts As, not a proxy?<br />
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If it has an established set of rules current in the system, it's a proxy. Goat Boys Word Bearers, however, are a Counts As because there are no Goat Marines? Because... there are no Word Bearers anywhere? At all... except in the chaos book? Really, your argument rings false within itself as there is no Ultramarines codex so really, it can be whatever it wants to be.<br />
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Let's do the math here:<br />
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Marine style model + Goats Head + Chaos Bitz + Chaos symbols = counts as?<br />
A blue marine using other rules = proxy?<br />
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Here is the FACT. You are simply defending him not because he is right, but because he's the most prolific and arguably most netfamous writer on your site. He's using models he thinks look cool, which IS cool and fine and dandy, but using rules he thinks are BEST! Not best suited, but best in a competitive sense. A simple admittance would be amazing.<br />
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Don't go out on some front defending his honour when your view point ARGUES AGAINST ITSELF. He is proxying army after army and using the best rules he can find. It's that simple. Why not just admit it?<br />
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<br />Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-61846238701341432812011-01-30T13:10:00.001-07:002011-01-30T14:48:45.017-07:00Team Deathbridge takes on Mythacon!<br />
This post and, frankly any update to this site, has been long in waiting. The club en masse recently took to Mythacon competing mainly in the 40k event though a couple fellas did try out Fantasy. It was a three day event with all kinds of RPG's, MonPoc, Infinity, Warmahordes, Dystopian Wars, every weird small GW game there is and of course 40k and fantasy, the two dominate games there. It was a really neat concept and put together VERY well. They had a professional chef on hand making the usual burgers and hot dogs, but awesome suppers like Butter Chicken and what not.<br />
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There were a ton of tables in the venue with just awesome terrain for the GW games. They used Zuzzy gaming mats on all tables with matching terrain so it looked awesome.<br />
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It was, supposedly, a heavy comp tourney with lots of soft scoring. The comp system, I am sorry to say, was not my jar of pickles. I understand where some of it was going and why, but still mystified by a few choices. There were full out Leafblowers, tons of guard/Wolf lists. Lots of Blood Angels. A lot of hard, hard lists. Of non marines/guard there was an orc army, Tau (teaming with all Tzeentch Chaos marines), 3 Dark Eldar armies that teamed with either guard or blood angels and our club even brought necrons (teaming with chaos marines). About 50-60 players and 8 weren't guard or MEQ. By the break between games 2 and 3 I had plenty of people come up and hope they were playing our team simply being bored of playing the same armies over and over. <br />
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Still, everything there was painted which was nice. Some better then others. The Tau/Tzeentch army was cool. A Space Wolf player had a brilliant Scottish themed army. Our club has some nice armies including an Ultramarine/Vulkan Sally combo.<br />
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The tourney was three games doubles, 1200 per partner. We had a good 2.5 hours for games, so they finished on time usually.<br />
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First, our lists:<br />
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Bloodthirster w/ Instrument, Blessing, Might<br />
4 Crushers: All kitted out<br />
8 Bloodletters<br />
9 Horrors<br />
7 Seekers<br />
2 Soul Grinders with Phlegm<br />
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And my partners:<br />
Masque<br />
Herald of Tzeentch on a chariot w/ Bolt, Gaze, MoS, WaL<br />
3 Flamers<br />
2x7 plaguebearers<br />
10 daemonettes with a banner, Trans Gaze<br />
Tzeentch Prince w/ Bolt, Gaze, Flight, Might, Hide<br />
Slaanesh Prince w/ Flight, Instrument, Might, Hide, Musk, Aura, TransGaze<br />
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GAME ONE<br />
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Guard/Wolves<br />
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3 Grey Hunter units in Drop Pods: Melta, Fist, Mark of Wulfen<br />
Wolf Guard in Drop Pod with all kinds of stuff and a Rune Priest with Wolf Tail Talisman and Jaws<br />
5 Scouts with Melta Bombs and a melta gun<br />
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Company Command with plasma in a Valk<br />
Psyker Battle Squad in chimera<br />
2 units of melta/lascannon vets in Chimeras<br />
All Plasma Executioner<br />
Plasma/Lascan Demolisher<br />
(The guard was played by fellow Warseer Sir_Lunchalot!)<br />
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The game was 4 Objectives with Dawn of War. There were some other weird extra points that I can't remember off the top of my head and didn't matter. No one deploys anything at all. Their first turn they rumble on everything they can and 2 drop pods land directly on an objective. We get the waves we wanted (2 grinders, Crushers, Thirster for me and Masque/Lazer Prince/Flamers/Netts for him). Without going into too crazy detail, the game ends up being a disaster and we lose 16-2. Chariot doesn't come on at all, dying when it autolanded on turn 5... and then mishapped. Horrors mishapped as well. Soul Grinders were doing giant damage, as they did all game. In a local marine heavy meta they are super scary. Thirster, as usual, was destroying and taking a bucketload of firepower.<br />
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The big thing was their strategy. A giant line of tanks to open up was blocked because the drop pods cut the table in half. Fighting through 30 space wolves is not an envious task. The guard didn't leave transports at all minus the CCS who just were a speedbump for the Crushers. Masque did almost nothing, only pulling the Wolf Guard out of cover once to get assaulted and make them fall back... which they proceeded to do all game. We did manage to get one objective and were about to clear another. I, however, am too nice. They had ONE remaining guy on the objective who took a bunch of shooting in cover. I told him he should go to ground, so he did. If he never, he woulda died. LOL... worst competitor ever right here. A great moment was the valkyrie moving full out to contest an objective only to be jumped by the remaining daemonettes who got the super rend of 6-6-6 and made it crash!<br />
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All in all not a bad game but a pretty bad defeat.<br />
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GAME TWO<br />
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OMG! It's not marines, it's orks!... and marines. Sigh<br />
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Orks:<br />
Warboss and Nobs in trukk. Nobs had the usual wound allocation shenanigans and a doc<br />
15 Lootas<br />
KANNONS... yes, they had grot artillery<br />
Looted Wagon with a battlecannon<br />
Huge unit of Kommandoes with Snikrot, who proved to be invincible in this tourney<br />
20 (at least) shootas<br />
(At this point I am going more off memory)<br />
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His partner was Nilla Marines<br />
Chapter Master with Stormshield/Thunderhammer<br />
10 Assault termies<br />
Dreadnaught<br />
Tactical Squad<br />
Sniper Scout Squad<br />
Devvie squad<br />
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I have to admit this game as a bit tough to play. The guys didn't know 40k that well and had to be coached through some rules, meaning we were often giving them strategy that worked against us. We also noticed they never at all did wound allocation, but weren't about to start an argument so let it be. They are new and seem like nice enough guys so let's keep them in the hobby, lol.<br />
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The game was pitched battle deployment, capturing table quarters as main objective. Secondaries were capturing the middle, terrain pieces and killing all their troops. We won this one 9-8 and if we were more hardcore (and they didn't roll 2 insane courages to keep them on the table) we could have wiped them out I am sure.<br />
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Deployment was much better this time for us, again getting our preferred first wave (I went for the same as game 1, partner put down the chariot, Masque, tzeentch prince and 'netts) They started everything on the table as well, including his termies who apparently mishapped in the first game and died. Even the kommandoes started on the table. Masque was amazing in this game, putting everything right where we wanted all the time and effectively making the lootas a non factor. She moved them out of cover where a Grinder (again, magnificent) killed half of them. Then later moved then out of LOS of anything. She was pretty brilliant here. Having the chariot on the table was also huge. This thing is a beast. Takes lots of attention, busts open vehicles, kills marines. Great! The Tzeentch Prince mishapped and got put into a back corner. However, with wings he got back into it right away, flying 12, shooting and still being a factor. <br />
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Back to Masque. I think one underrated thing is her combat ability. A great invul save and hit and run really allows her to get into a small combat to hold something for killer units and then hop away to do her job elsewhere. She pulled the Devvie Squad out of cover, a soul grinder destroying it in one shot. She was so invaluable in this tourney.<br />
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Our plaguebearers dropped in the back to take table quarters and did nothing else during the entire game. Well worth their points! LOL. The Bloodthirster landed on their one flank, effectively destroying everything over there. Artillery, most of the kommandoes (who only lived because of a double 1! against BOTH the thirster and prince), etc. He is such an attention whore. If you ask me, his biggest strength is how an army effectively repositions to face him and mistakeningly ignores other stuff. His Chapter Master charged him and got bug squished in one shot. I love him so.<br />
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Not a bad game at all, minus us practically using this as a teaching game. I think having fun and sportsmanship is much more important in the game then cutthroat winning (unlike the other douchenozzles in the event). It showed in our opponents. They came in a bit grumpy having been tabled the game before (probably because their opponents didn't help them as much) and by the end were having a good time.<br />
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Note: Sorry for the lack of army shots. Couldn't seem to find any.<br />
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GAME THREE<br />
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The best game of the entire tourney! If I wasn't gonna win best painted it was one of the guys we played in this game. Plus neither team was in contention so we went out SOLEY to have fun and it happened! It was a very weird game. Spearhead deployment and VICTORY POINTS (say whaaaaaaat?!) with secondaries of KILL POINTS (WTF?!), 2 objectives and killing HQ's. Though the result didn't matter we called the VP a draw and went off secondaries. We killed all their HQ's, had more KP's and had an objective so won 14-10. I would play these guys again in a second<br />
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The Space Wolves half was a BEAUTIFUL converted army. It was this really rich brown with a jagged hardline camo pattern on the vehicles. Most of the marines were converted as well, guys drawing swords, repositioning, using arms from other kits. They had tartan pattern cloth on them: tabards and sub kilts and the like. Just awesome to look at. <br />
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His army was:<br />
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Rune Priest with Tempest, a Wolf Tail Talisman. You never saw a single rune priest in the tourney without it. <br />
A big unit of Blood Claws<br />
Long Fangs<br />
Dreadnaught<br />
Land Speeder<br />
Whirlwind<br />
Grey Hunter squad<br />
(I was exhausted by the end of the day so I hope I am right on this)<br />
and of course... scouts!<br />
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His partner was playing nurgle themed marines<br />
Lord with Jump Pack and claws in a big unit of raptors<br />
Chaos Marines with melta in a rhino<br />
Plague marines with melta in a rhino<br />
Defiler<br />
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With us vowing to have fun, we went for crazy deepstriking. We landed the daemonettes, a Soul Grinder and Tzeentch Prince right behind their lines and on target. We landed the flamers RIGHT BESIDE the long fangs (and wiped them out in one fell swoop). Almost everything landed, nothing crashed and died. It was amazing. Every fight in the game was desperate and dramatic as well. The Whirlwind was right up front and would ruin our day. The chariot and tzeentch prince immediately took is out! Scouts taking on plaguebearers, the tzeentch prince taking on ALL the Blood Claws and Rune Priest, killing the rune priest and lasting for a long time, even after the initial FOURTY SOME attacks they poured out. His defiler charged into the flamers. They held with 1 left and then Masque charged in and survived and held the defiler long enough for the Slaanesh prince to come in and SMASH it! <br />
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The Bloodthirster went on a RAMPAGE. He killed the Chaos Lord, all the raptors, the chaos marines and their rhino all in combat. It was ridiculous. The Nettes charged the immobilized land speeder (who was proving to be so, so dangerous, using missiles to just wipe out squads) and got 9 pens, blew it up and lost 7 of their own! There was pretty much NOTHING boring in this game. At one point one of our opponents called his friend and told him to come watch the game because it was so good. This team ended up winning best sportsmanship and it was well deserved.<br />
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Our team mates from our club did pretty darn well. Even the new kids went 2-1 and even tabled someone despite barely knowing the game yet. Two of our played won the entire tourney with a completely off the wall guard list with no chimeras or tanks and a deathstrike missile, using almost soley platoons. His space wolf partner had all the usual gibbins: Long Fangs, Grey Hunters, TWC. Notoriously grumpy, he even kept his composure in the last game against a team that cheated at every moment they could, even on their army lists.<br />
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We won best painted, which was pretty awesome. Sportsmanship last tourney with daemons and now painting. Go soft scores!<br />
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All and all, a good time. However, my list is going to be harder next time. I am a huge fan of comp. Only Hard Boyz really shouldn't have a comp system. Hell, if you don't have a comp system, don't have any soft scores. Everyone is just gonna bring their best possible list anyhow.<br />
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And now, for a "Report Card" on the armies<br />
Bloodthirster: I've already said how invaluable this guy was<br />
Crushers: Took a ton of firepower and hit hard. However, 4 is far too few at 2400 (or, more correctly double 1200).<br />
Bloodletters: They're obviously dangerous so people went after them. However, they were key game turners at times, wiping scouts off an objective in the last game<br />
Horrors: Shockingly resilient. They killed the sniper squad in game 2 with a shooting/charge and then held up the termies for a good 2 or 3 turns. That 4++ is huge.<br />
Seekers: Game 1 they landed bad and got shot. Game 2 they got charged and took a unit down with them. Game 3 they were about to MASS charge wolves and the game ended. So... did nothing. Too bad, they woulda hit hard. But then again, people kept away from them when I told them what they do. Sometimes you make points back on pure intimidation<br />
Soul Grinders: If not the Thirster, these guys were the MVP's. They did MASSIVE damage effectively destroying the shootas in game 2, taking charges and wiping out marines, etc. So tough and underrated even in a melta environment.<br />
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Masque: Started off slow and then won us game 2 on her own. Also super resilient. <br />
Herald: I will admit, I was skeptical, but this guy being on the table changes everything. It's crazy how much attention he gets and damage he does. Plus he was always where he needed to be and could get out of the way of danger. except when the warboss and nobz charged him. He sucks in combat.<br />
Flamers: Super bomb. Land, kill something, die.<br />
Plaguebearers: NEVER DIED! The units weren't killed at all and in every game held objectives.<br />
Daemonettes: Shockingly good as well. So much for Slaanesh sucking. The banner helped get the plaguebearers onto objectives and they did a good amount of damage themselves. That rending is huge.<br />
Tzeentch Prince: So much more then a Bolt platform. He could tear apart vehicles and hold big units.<br />
Slaanesh Daemon Prince: Wasn't game turning. Just solid. Took lots of fire. Killed what he needed to. Nothing spectacular but not the failure I thought he might be.<br />
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Things to change in the same scenario: Gotta get Changeling in there. I never realized how good he was before I sent in the army lists. More Crushers perhaps instead of the Slaanesh prince. Fiends. I definitely was NOT unhappy with how we did 2-1 and best painted. Works for me!<br />
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<br /></div>Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-80634921537534112132010-12-03T20:56:00.003-07:002010-12-03T21:13:48.203-07:00Tourney Primer<span style="color:#000099;"><span style="color:#33ccff;">Here's a cut/paste from something i wrote on our club forum for those of us who are going to a tournament soon. I felt that they needed to know what to expect and what i expect from fresher members so our club isnt given a bad name hehe.<br /><br />Share your thoughts and experiences on tourney play below. Also note this is all about soft score tournies, so comp and sports and paint all part and parcel of the experience. If you want Ard'Boyz than meet me for some Black Ops over XBL hehe.<br /></span><br /></span><br />This is gonna be a primer for everyone who is goin to the tourney in January. We have a lot of players goin up from all skill levels of playing and painting and many of you don’t have experience in a tourney scene like this one. So I’d thought id put some things out there for people to consider and take seriously just to ensure you get what you want out of this trip.<br />Now there’s two reasons people go to these events so I will cover abit of those and than cover some universal things that everyone should know going into this. This is by no means official as its just some thoughts I’ve accumulated from going to regularly run events for over 5 years now.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">To Win:</span></strong> this sounds weird at first cause ya know, everyone wants to win. Everyone goes in thinkin their coming home with an award and tales of glory but the fact of the matter is that your lookin at only about half the field if not less at big events are actually capable of serious play.<br />-These are the types of folks who prolly have played for a long period of time, grasp the rules as a whole, have concepts of what works and what doesn’t and just are generally better players than the majority of us. Now the winners don’t necessarily have to be bad people, with hard ass lists that have no fun, although there will be these players there. But this will be your top 10’s, upper tier top percent players and hopefully nice enough guys.<br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">To Have Fun:</span></strong> this is what generally brings most people out to these events, have fun, meet new players, have a good time etc. This is your general body of 40k player, the person that still puts some time into painting so their models look nice, play once and awhile within a group and generally loves the game as a whole. Most of the time these players will have ‘softer’ lists and not play as hard.<br />-Usually these games will feel naturaly to you guys as it will be the closest you get to our normal type of gaming. The other nice thing is if they use a classic Swedish rules system than the winers play winners and the losers playing losers than most of the field of ‘winners’ will be busy with themselves after the first round leaving everyone else to have a good time.<br /><br />So your gonna deffinatly have a few types of players up there, but there are a lot of things people need to think about and abide by for going into these events. These ensure that both you and your opponents get the most out of their games and feel like they got their monies worth.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Rules:</span></strong> this seems arbituary but this is the most important thing. You need to know the rules of the game, im not talkin rules lawyering but a general grasp on the rules as a whole. This goes double as you need to know your rules and the general rules of the game. Now no matter how much you know or think you know you’ll still find yourself in certain situations where there will be a dispute and the more you know the easier it will be to resolve them.<br /><br /><span style="color:#cc0000;"><strong>Mini-Presentation</strong>:</span> this is usually the biggest change for folks as it’s not as important on the club/friends house level. Most real tournies require fully painted, based and WSYWIG armies. This means you need to have at least 3 colors on the model, the round bases under them painted and flocked and most importantly WSYWIG. (what you see is what you get)<br />-bPainting is self explanatory, basing a model can be a bit trickier but a quick Google search will get you all sorts of ideas on what you want. Finally if your models are armed with certain weapons or options than it is critical that they are represented on the model. This saves time and confusion among players and usually if models are not WSYWIG than they will not be allowed to be used or some penalty on the player points wise.<br /><br /><strong><span style="color:#cc0000;">Conduct:</span></strong> this is as important as rules knowledge, if not more so as it not only reflects on you but on our club as a whole. I’m gonna break this down even further into the most important points, at least in my opinion.<br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><em>-Outlook</em>-</span> this covers how you deal with the ups and downs of the game and how you interact with your opponent. So yes you can be excited when things go your way, but not so much that it’s over the top or viewed in any way negative by your opponent. On the flip side it also means how you deal with downs of the game. Your dice not going well, plans falling through you can’t be sighing or making excuses or getting mad. Not only will this reflect on you and how your opponent scores your conduct but the mind gets clouded and you will not be able to come back from the grasp of defeat. Plus severe bad behavior will get people kicked out of the event and that makes us all look bad.<br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><em>-Outgoing</em>-</span> talk to your opponent before and after the game. Try and get to know them, what they play, what else they like, who they are etc etc. Abit of small talk will make the game go by so much better and make any disagreements easier to manage. Not saying be annoying or over-bearing but just nice to one another. Basically how you would like to be treated in return.<br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><em>-Resolution</em>–</span> now your going to forget to do things, everyone does it at some point. Usually this happens at the worst times and seems to mean the way the game will swing. (at least at the time) Now the trick is to choose what you let go and what you stand firm on. I find the eye for an eye works well, if your opponent gives a little, you do the same and vice/versa. Your overall relationship with your opponent helps a lot with this. If you two have a good report than he will understand when you don’t let him make that move off-phase because it will affect your game negatively.<br /><span style="color:#33cc00;"><em>-Stoic</em>–</span> does anyone like being bullied? Of course you don’t, no one does. So you can’t play that way either. This means no pressuring for faster play, forcing your opponent to forget things by moving them through their phases etc etc. No telling them what to do, what models they can take off from wounds no ‘telling’ in general. By all means suggest or help along but never force or pressure them. Also you cannot touch their models unless you ask first or they ask you. This is a big no-no that if brought up by an opponent to an organizer will get you booted prolly automatically. Again making all of us look bad.<br /><br />I think that pretty much covers the big stuff for you guys to know and think about. Tournaments like these are very serious business and should be treated as such. Because it’s in that seriousness that everyone will have fun and feel like their not waisting their time and money.Courthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12731818724880325181noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-70994503663556430442010-09-10T15:35:00.000-06:002010-09-10T15:35:50.317-06:00Can GW games even be unbalanced?!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let the arguments ensue!<br />
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This isn't going to be an essay but rather the start of an open ended conversation (argument). Games Workshop likes to claim they aren't competitive, were never meant to be competitive or played in such an atmosphere. However, their game has a clear winner/loser. They actively promote tournaments INCLUDING 'ARD BOYZ!<br />
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Jervis Johnson says no comp is needed for tournaments. That people should be able to bring what they want and the (fantasy at least) system is balanced enough to be able to do so.<br />
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GW games developed from roleplaying games originally, though that was 20 some years ago. Should we really be holding them to that still? Has it evolved from a roleplaying game to a wargame?<br />
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My opinion? If GW wasn't supposed to be competitive there would be some sort of reward system like most RPG's have. They also wouldn't promote tournaments of their own doing or ones they host in their stores, like the infamous 'Ard Boyz. Perhaps at one time it wasn't meant to be, but that time seems to have long passed. That's just my opinion, one's that has changed of late. HOWEVER, because a game is competitively based, it doesn't have to be a shit show either. Players need to be adult enough to have a good, friendly game when there are no stakes on the line. You're in a tournament for big prizes? Then yes, bring your big guns. You're in the FLGS then play like an adult, bring a fun list that both you and your opponent can enjoy playing with and against.<br />
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HOWEVER... if you think GW is NOT a competitive game and is not intended to be, can the game even be broken? How can a unit or character be broken when the win/loss don't matter at all? Isn't that just the way it goes sometimes? Balance gets thrown out for story. Maybe (insert unit/character) is supposed to kick everyone's asses and GW doesn't care. If it's a game based on fun and mutual respect, then OTT/OP stuff isn't actually OP. There isn't power levels in something not competitive if you ask me. If it's NOT a competitive game, then shouldn't it be more like D&D with players working together to fight the enemy and a DM to control it all?<br />
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So, lots of questions and discussion.<br />
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Is GW meant to be competitive? Why or why not? What are they doing/not doing to prove your point?<br />
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If they are NOT competitive, then can the game be truly overpowered and/or unbalanced?<br />
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Should there or shouldn't there be comp scores in tournaments?<br /><br />Should there be tournaments at all? If not, why? If so, why?<br />
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These are just some thoughts going through my head as I work my nine to fiver based on a conversation I had this morning and with others of late. Let's hear what you think.. and be adults!Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-90027449150792312402010-09-09T22:18:00.001-06:002010-09-09T22:20:16.784-06:00The Battle for Deathbridge begins!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The Battle for Deathbridge begins... soon. The local club is starting a mighty fantasy escalation/land grab league. The insidious Forces of Destruction are invading the Island of Deathbridge, the meager armies of the Forces of Order rushing to the defense! Twelve armies all vying to be the last one standing!<br />
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The campaign set up is fairly neat. We will escalate from 1500pts to 2000 to 2500 over the course of 9-12 weeks. The campaign will be set upon a Mighty Empires tiled island with the FoD trying to take over as much of the map as they can. The campaign begins with a large scale 3 vs 3 game. The Forces of Order will be set upon the table in defensive positions holding two towers and a defensible other position. Each of these will be situated on one table quarter. Destruction are the attackers, deploying along one table edge, Order wherever else they are needed on the rest of the playing area.<br />
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The game itself is a mismatch in points. Destruction is supposed to win. How quickly they can win determines their placement and number of tiles for the commencement of the league. Destruction will total 6000pts with Order a mere 3000. Side games will/may be played at much smaller totals, 750 vs 500. The surviving models from those games can then immediately join the bigger game as reinforcements. It should be a blast for all involved and quite a large affair so early into a new system. It's definitely a good test on the large scale multiplayer rules.<br />
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Destruction will be the attacker throughout the campaign and needs to win 51% of the tiles to win the campaign... or rather, have 1 more then Order. Order just has to fend them off! There will be special, secret tiles with their own scenarios. There is the possibility of 2 on 1 games or multiplayer games. It's all up to the generals. They decide whom fights whom! They decide the fate of Deathbridge!<br />
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The sides, for those curious are:<br />
Forces of Order: Wood Elves, Dwarves, Ogre Kingdoms, High Elves, Bretonnians, Lizardmen<br />
Forces of Destruction: Warriors of Chaos, Throgg Monster Horde version of WoC, Beastmen, Ogre Kingdoms, Night Goblins and Skaven<br />
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Who will win? Who will survive? Keep track of the blog and see! We will try and give weekly updates as we progress.<br />
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And of course, as always, let's hear your thoughts. Are you doing a campaign? Wish you were? Going to?<br />
<br />Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-40469427093135276452010-09-07T21:56:00.000-06:002010-09-07T22:00:20.685-06:00Island of Blood and new Fantasy releases<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NhWsyb0xUO2rWFMbi_NI3zUoAbBC0DeNC5oLZw7YFgHQ9-oKOzKd1zQc7DQk5BIHoK_KJUIeEqoLGn_52lObvFYO4c9gpmweuS9PjewLccYB4LKZLlHabPAW19UsEEArflcDeApYE4Ty/s1600/island_of_blood_contents.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2NhWsyb0xUO2rWFMbi_NI3zUoAbBC0DeNC5oLZw7YFgHQ9-oKOzKd1zQc7DQk5BIHoK_KJUIeEqoLGn_52lObvFYO4c9gpmweuS9PjewLccYB4LKZLlHabPAW19UsEEArflcDeApYE4Ty/s320/island_of_blood_contents.JPG" /></a></div><br />
Normally I'd save this kind of post for Wallshammer, but I'm pretty darned excited about this, as a High Elf player and all.<br />
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For those of you who don't know (which I'm hoping isn't many of you), Island of Blood released on the weekend, with the best snap-together starter minis GW has done yet. But they weren't finished! Monday they released pictures of the new plastic High Elf elf kits and the new metal character blisters. On top of that, there is another wave of Skaven coming soon (signs point to January) to flesh them out even more.<br />
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Pictures after the break:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM6_4_TCcCZAQID3m_obmTu-O66r5pFj9Hq12z8JjnziwtoJTq9zwoqaC0Si80Z4tF5ZubZiwuk1WwYdGO6KPFgUXq2q8FROcaxwqsybotirYlAyHyLEkVYx_4EYC_bGNjt7UZn4duaLj/s1600/HighElves2ndWave_promo2DP.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpM6_4_TCcCZAQID3m_obmTu-O66r5pFj9Hq12z8JjnziwtoJTq9zwoqaC0Si80Z4tF5ZubZiwuk1WwYdGO6KPFgUXq2q8FROcaxwqsybotirYlAyHyLEkVYx_4EYC_bGNjt7UZn4duaLj/s320/HighElves2ndWave_promo2DP.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Plastic Dragon Princes</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAwwdeGw_waJwd6ybhrxBlFGb6QwNTkzGckQ9aFrfHbS1jOsoBkzBNbwX0e5MhtljsM6BNuyW-iI8s80rE81z-BhrwMzx887P98Dn7rZ211WuIe_vyMBYRrze_U_DF1vZZR95lSdG6GxN/s1600/HighElves2ndWave_promo1PG.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyAwwdeGw_waJwd6ybhrxBlFGb6QwNTkzGckQ9aFrfHbS1jOsoBkzBNbwX0e5MhtljsM6BNuyW-iI8s80rE81z-BhrwMzx887P98Dn7rZ211WuIe_vyMBYRrze_U_DF1vZZR95lSdG6GxN/s320/HighElves2ndWave_promo1PG.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Plastic Phoenix Guard</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BSvhx4Fu4Dtr1hRbMU0MJ7czHRuJjmGRNIB7ReDbd8Xo5fdJftlBPisvMPEW49FVmf735a1IQ75vU40HACV5rFMY8ThosTWK4MdaJB6w0VZzK9H0PDOQ_R8gi2WnqiGtzvO9-kvEvgPp/s1600/HighElves2ndWave_promo3WL.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2BSvhx4Fu4Dtr1hRbMU0MJ7czHRuJjmGRNIB7ReDbd8Xo5fdJftlBPisvMPEW49FVmf735a1IQ75vU40HACV5rFMY8ThosTWK4MdaJB6w0VZzK9H0PDOQ_R8gi2WnqiGtzvO9-kvEvgPp/s320/HighElves2ndWave_promo3WL.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Plastic White Lions</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVC4ltuymMa3CjYE7wUaxGjTTLrwTj6pjVDVjqworMszntF4Yzth6s1RN36X4ZUkHqn2ARvNca6iYU6wN2eZCYgD7J2mNiHHvjY7tOej_BpO_8OQxuogXVdXBdSPh6cyAoSN0rytSIwYN/s1600/PrinceonFoot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuVC4ltuymMa3CjYE7wUaxGjTTLrwTj6pjVDVjqworMszntF4Yzth6s1RN36X4ZUkHqn2ARvNca6iYU6wN2eZCYgD7J2mNiHHvjY7tOej_BpO_8OQxuogXVdXBdSPh6cyAoSN0rytSIwYN/s320/PrinceonFoot.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Metal Prince</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm59wJwKS3tL6m0xfWjnQrXj3GR1SaWcHA6Q_T5bZDY9C8GiM5yAHjOcEVOhPxZUYDZEGJjCQpdkVcEIsJ6EDkKawHWoo837_eU3KRSpnYOsd_8VGTng5ILf0ou2XK3OsS5KcbBiYjeeT4/s1600/m1360093a_2010-09-06_2_873x627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm59wJwKS3tL6m0xfWjnQrXj3GR1SaWcHA6Q_T5bZDY9C8GiM5yAHjOcEVOhPxZUYDZEGJjCQpdkVcEIsJ6EDkKawHWoo837_eU3KRSpnYOsd_8VGTng5ILf0ou2XK3OsS5KcbBiYjeeT4/s320/m1360093a_2010-09-06_2_873x627.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">New Metal Warlord</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The new metal lords are character from the Island of Blood "setting". The Prince on foot is the same Prince riding the Griffin from the Island of Blood set and the new Skaven Warlord is a new character from the same battle.<br />
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Also, come January (or whenever), the Skaven are rumored to be getting Weapon Teams (in plastic!), a Hellpit Abomination (in plastic), several characters and bitz for making sling-toting slaves.<br />
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So Deathbridgers, what do you think? I've included a poll to get a sense of where the interest is, and I'd love to see some discussion about these new minis. Wallshammer and I have been discussing which army will be the "breakout star" of 8th edition. Walls has stated that High Elves will be the new Space Marines. I personally think that High Elves will start strong, but their elite, all-or-nothing style will turn off a lot of gamers who will then see that Skaven are one of the strongest armies out there. What do you think?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-29986886384040223152010-09-03T20:05:00.001-06:002010-09-03T20:06:33.684-06:00500pts... try it, it won't kill you... probably.<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Let's take a quick look at our normal point levels. Locally we play 1500 and in the wide world of internet gaming, that's small! I think it's the PERFECT size game. Lots of models but not an overspam of them and quick to play. However... what if we played even smaller games?!<br />
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But here's a task for all of you (STOLEN DIRECTLY FROM FRITZ~!)... come up with 500pt lists and play them. See what happens when you can't field your super character and his accompanying super unit. See how your army plays without 6 artillery pieces, 4 chimeras and 15 meltas. Without thunderwolf spam. Can't field 14 vendettas?! OH NOES! (exaggeration intended)<br />
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Yes, I know, you can't field your autowin army. But try it. See what happens! Hell, post your 500pt lists in response to this and get some discussion going. It's not a BAD thing to play small games. You need to think just as much. You can play more games in a night. You carry bag is smaller! It's really easy to field a 500pt fully painted army! Come on... do it!Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-78518802233271748822010-09-02T12:00:00.000-06:002010-09-07T22:02:09.058-06:00I WANNA QUIT!!!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I am sure a lot of us have been there. You are on that really bad losing streak. You can't seem to win, let alone the fact you are getting butt punted every time you put a shiny man on the table. Yes, this happened to me. Yes... oh yes. The source of my frustration? The above. The fact that I put a TON of work into an in progress army that got beat so horribly I wanted to hide my head in shame. Thankfully I had a REALLY good, friendly opponent. Against almost anyone else I would have quit. <br />
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So the question of this very short discussion piece is: What do you do to/How do you come back from your negative times (on the table) in the hobby?Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-78352249525908106702010-09-01T17:15:00.000-06:002010-09-07T22:02:45.186-06:00Think of the Children (or the N00bs)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOd_JoJEElUl2rb1D5POY4iX24PdJbfZbYRet_23Q8sGD5a5_bkKMmi9m3yvQauGG5JmhElCOKA8RxYmUot2kkbNmOKzUxvUikZFLvqNaSgi12Q_oBCYF0QM1eBPvO2hgMB1rCUmwcHczg/s1600/noob1nw8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOd_JoJEElUl2rb1D5POY4iX24PdJbfZbYRet_23Q8sGD5a5_bkKMmi9m3yvQauGG5JmhElCOKA8RxYmUot2kkbNmOKzUxvUikZFLvqNaSgi12Q_oBCYF0QM1eBPvO2hgMB1rCUmwcHczg/s320/noob1nw8.jpg" /></a></div><br />
A problem is popping up in Fantasy, now that we are 2 months in to the new edition. That being the enthusiasm that was drawing new players to the hobby is driving those new players away. Let me explain: New players, for those of you who might not know, usually don't know how to play the game. If they did, they wouldn't be new players. The vets of this game, on the other hand, are getting a little carried away with the new 'relaxing' of army composition. And creating some decidedly terrible lists, just because they can. I don't mean terrible in the 'why would you show up with that?' sense, I mean terrible in the 'Mwa ha ha ha! I can take 3 grudge throwers, 3 cannons, 6 bolt throwers, 2 organ guns and have great weapons on all my units!'.<br />
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Now, before you neck feathers get all poofy, let me clarify something. There is nothing wrong with playing something like the above... as long as the other guy knows what's going on. But springing something like that against a guy playing his first or second game? Seriously? What's wrong with you?<br />
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8th edition Fantasy has the most new-player-friendly rules of all of Games Workshop's products to date. HOWEVER, that does not automatically mean there will be a bunch of new players. A lot of them are getting turned off the hobby entirely by shenanigans just like the above (and if you are saying to yourself right now, 'Well I don't field that many artillery pieces' while painting your third Hydra, take a step back and give your head a shake. I used Dwarves as an example. EVERY army can be built to be ridiculous.)<br />
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Put yourself in the new player's shoes for a second. You have no idea what to buy, or how the game plays. So you buy stuff purely on the cool factor. This guy barely knows how to field these units, let alone how to stop a Bloodthirster with them. He sits down for his first game at a club... and across the table, the Skaven player smiles as he drops 2 Hellpit Abominations, and a Screaming Bell in a unit of 100 plague monks. This is over before it began. So the vet player (the Skaven guy) gets a cheap easy win. Yay, good for him. He's also just turned someone new to the game completely off the hobby.<br />
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And this is why our community doesn't grow. I'll admit, I almost never play out in public anymore, for this exact reason. I built my own games room, in my own house, where games are by appointment only. Just so I can weed out all the douchebaggery of winning at all costs. I'm sure any of you who have read my Warhammer articles know that I don't play to win. I play to have a good time and to tell a story. Guess I've just played D&D too long, but I find no joy in destroying my opponent, nor in him destroying me. But my point is, I'm a veteran of over ten years in these games, and I don't want to play in public anymore... how do you think a new player feels after being railroaded by a gooby Daemon list?<br />
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Now I've had this conversation with Wallshammer several times. I strongly believe that every club should have a 'pro' whose sole duty is to shield the new players from the mouth-breathers. You know the guys I'm talking about. The one the wrecks everyone else's good time because he just HAS TO win. The sad thing is, instead of getting shunned by the club for being a drain on good times, most club members will stoop to his level, usually 'to teach him a lesson' or to 'fight fire with fire'. This inevitably leads to an arms race within the club that has 2 very negative factors: First, it makes the place even less new-player friendly, and second, it turns off a lot of the casual vets who just want a place to put down the minis they spent a lot of time painting and converting, so they can have a fun time with like-minded individuals. But this isn't anything new coming from me.<br />
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Getting back to the idea of a 'pro' at the club... the theory is sound. However, this requires someone who is willing to be there ALL THE TIME, which pretty much no one can do. Also, the problem then also becomes, 'What if more than 2 new players show up?' Well here's the thing: no one would be able to do this full-time. Not without getting paid. You are essentially asking them to do an impossible job at the same time as giving up all sense of regular gaming. Is this fair to them? On a volunteer basis, absolutely not.<br />
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And some of you might say that this is exactly what the Games Workshop red shirts are for. But I can tell you flat out that the red shirts are worse for this hobby than the goobs. I know several ex-GW employees. And in addition to being some of the WORST power-gamers I've ever had the displeasure of gaming with, they are only introducing new players to the game to the point of sale. Once the cash has been handed over, they could care less. New players become part of the unwashed masses like the rest of us. Of course there are going to be exceptions, but by and large, a GW staffer cares no more for this hobby than that guy who wants to crush his enemies, have them driven before him and hear the lamentations of their women. Sadly, a lot of the time, they are the same guy.<br />
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So how do we solve this problem? GW staffers aren't the solution, and no one is going to volunteer to sit at the club everyday and cater to only new players. So is it hopeless? Of course not.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ2UcCc-UXDA3usjS-OifQlql8zlyFUz7A3lhp0o0y0WWUCPpvtXzBm1ziqTvmP880IDJ9MuTmDQu5tr2kpa-Avqpn6sm4DTbpPSRJHkLorSDsg0QCv87wdIUbJ6mAdE1XNoCCdOFem7v/s1600/im_a_noob-emptees.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizZ2UcCc-UXDA3usjS-OifQlql8zlyFUz7A3lhp0o0y0WWUCPpvtXzBm1ziqTvmP880IDJ9MuTmDQu5tr2kpa-Avqpn6sm4DTbpPSRJHkLorSDsg0QCv87wdIUbJ6mAdE1XNoCCdOFem7v/s320/im_a_noob-emptees.jpg" /></a></div>The simple solution in all this is that we ALL must become 'pros'. We ALL must be ambassadors of the hobby if we want the community to grow. If winning is more important to you than anything, the best thing you could ever do for the community is to stay away from the new guys (of course, most of the vets probably won't play you either, so new players might be the only 'suckers' you can get a game in with, in which case, maybe, and I'm just throwing this out here, maybe there is something wrong with how you approach the game.). Let them get their feet wet before you throw them overboard. And if you are a hobbyist, find these new players, warm them of the mouth-breathers, and keep them safe. If we don't protect the new players, the club will just keep getting smaller and smaller until there is no one left. Think about it: Isn't that worth a little bit of effort and kindness?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-20195082635234633052010-08-09T11:29:00.003-06:002010-09-07T22:06:10.820-06:00Why certain blogs are really starting to suck...<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Another well read wargaming blog recently posted an article bemoaning True Line of Sight. It really ticked me off, to be honest and made me think that this would be a good follow up post to my last one.</span></span><br />
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</span></span><a href="http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2010/08/editorial-how-true-line-of-sight-is.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2010/08/editorial-how-true-line-of-sight-is.html</span></span></a></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">That's the article. Let's hear your thoughts on it. Mine were posted under a different name but, so you don't have to sift through all the garbage responses went:</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a name='more'></a><br />
</span></span></div><div><blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Does anyone talk to their opponent before they start a game anymore? Or is the table all set up, everything deployed blindly and then... BLINDFOLDS OFF! LET'S PLAY!</span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span><br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The biggest problem plaguing wargaming is NOT LoS, it is the incessant need to win. This is a cooperative game where you should be playing WITH your opponent, not AGAINST him. Are you there to enjoy a couple hours in your chosen hobby? Are you there to have fun playing with miniatures you likely (well, unless you are one of the players on some of the recent battle reports) put alot of work into?</span></span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span><br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Then why are you wasting your time arguing about trivial things like LoS? Why weren't these issues quickly worked out before the game? Why, instead of endless bitching, arguing and time wasting, did you not simply roll off to see if it counted or not? This goes for friendly games with pals, pick up games with strangers or tournament games. Does ANYONE really follow the number one rule in the game anymore?</span></span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"></span></span></span><br />
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<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Line of Sight is seriously the easiest thing ever. Can you see it? Yes or no? Undecided? Ask your oponent. He can't decide? You can't come to a group conclusion? Roll off. Um. How is that difficult again?</span></span></span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><br />
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</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Do we just live in a way different gaming world then the internet? </span></span></span></div>Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-52999570884884316172010-07-21T10:07:00.000-06:002010-09-07T22:02:09.060-06:00What this game is really about.People tend to lose track of what this game is actually about. They worry about number crunching, W/L, min/max, which unit is under/overcosted. We just aren't seeing the real game anymore. Perhaps it's about time we did. <br />
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I will keep it quick, but check out these two particular subjects. The first, a blog from a former playtester for GW and then a video from Jervis Johnson. Especially listen to him. It's basically his game after all. Odds are he has a better idea of what the game is then we do.<br />
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<a href="http://bloodofkittens.com/2010/07/21/meat-for-meta-the-truth-behind-gw-playtesting/">http://bloodofkittens.com/2010/07/21/meat-for-meta-the-truth-behind-gw-playtesting/</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce4_rSyTpck&feature=player_embedded">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ce4_rSyTpck&feature=player_embedded</a>Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com23tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-54622965919368382312010-07-09T11:20:00.001-06:002010-09-07T22:02:45.187-06:008th Edition FAQs are up and running<a href="http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?pIndex=1&aId=3000006&start=2">http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?pIndex=1&aId=3000006&start=2</a><br />
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DISCUSS!Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-33114813590627916832010-07-08T19:47:00.000-06:002010-09-07T22:02:45.188-06:00T-Minus... uh... not very long now!Wow, we have the absolute worst titles around here, don't we?<br />
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8th Edition is nary a day away now. Plenty of us have been playing the new rules, adapting and changing our army lists. Mass speculation abounds about what does and doesn't work. Hordes were talked about amighty on forums, yet I personally am finding them to not be as dangerous and crazy as thought originally. Shooting is good, but not gamebreaking. The new magic phase is astonishingly great.<br />
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What are you seeing and experiencing thus far in your 8th edition adventures? Let's hear your thoughts, your trials and your tribulations in this brand new game!Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-10758261582381804342010-07-02T17:57:00.000-06:002010-09-07T22:02:09.061-06:00Am I Evil? YES I AM!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xZorRsXDQ8fwjLoq118qBnQuQJKihAPH8y3rLoEWw1wuclTuIBRe1IHdnfwsbRkg2Qt_KbdqVn-N19wXgFVVJVe7TcPoN_ZcwjFqLhfnYZF_uWeUc1z1pY39Nlzgu5bUucLzCc5dOAvR/s1600/GoodVsEvil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2xZorRsXDQ8fwjLoq118qBnQuQJKihAPH8y3rLoEWw1wuclTuIBRe1IHdnfwsbRkg2Qt_KbdqVn-N19wXgFVVJVe7TcPoN_ZcwjFqLhfnYZF_uWeUc1z1pY39Nlzgu5bUucLzCc5dOAvR/s320/GoodVsEvil.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Maybe not the most appropriate title for this article, but I was just listening to Metallica, so it was stuck in my head.<br />
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How do you choose your army? Let's assume for a moment that all models in the game are built equal and the game is perfectly balanced. I'll give you twenty minutes or so to stop laughing, then we can continue. <br />
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With 8th edition dropping next weekend, I have been having a lot of conversations about army choice. People looking to get back into the game. Guys in the game looking to start a second army, or not liking that their uber-build from 7th ed won't auto-win them games anymore (and it not dawning on them that this is precisely why the edition is changing). So it got me to thinking: from a purely background perspective, where do I stand for army selection? Where do I start making the choices that help me select an army? For me, I know the first decision is good versus evil.<br />
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<a name='more'></a>8th ed Fantasy is actually really good at drawing lines in the sand between good and evil (and neutral, in the case of 2 armies).<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvNkfkRVEUijtFWWD4BcvbHPHId8Ai3PZhgEIEF5sQKv2Fw5YGhYXS1hg2McMztyfXoDhk9UBcbDOAGCpTSD6ympWtDycquz4gUhYLgldpBvgelHRb5B7x2oUrq8WT7s0m3u9YJsexdS2/s1600/Good_versus_Evil_by_curua.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIvNkfkRVEUijtFWWD4BcvbHPHId8Ai3PZhgEIEF5sQKv2Fw5YGhYXS1hg2McMztyfXoDhk9UBcbDOAGCpTSD6ympWtDycquz4gUhYLgldpBvgelHRb5B7x2oUrq8WT7s0m3u9YJsexdS2/s320/Good_versus_Evil_by_curua.jpg" /></a></div><br />
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Now I realize that this is probably one of the most subjective things you can discuss. Everything in your life experience ultimately fuels this choice. For example, I've been a Dungeon Master for 20 years now, so I'm very comfortable playing Orcs and Goblins. Because I've been playing them, as a DM, for a very long time. However, I know that my preference is to play the hero, the good guy, since it's a role I very rarely get to indulge in.<br />
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Also, your local meta-game may or may not influence your army selection. I face pretty much nothing but Vampires and Daemons out here, so I'm even more inclined to go the route of the good guy, because it tells a better story for me. Evil versus evil isn't nearly as dramatic.<br />
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And of course beyond good and evil, there is the actual background of the army. Games Workshop nailed it out of the park when they took Orcs from being Tolkien-esque monsters to being drunken soccer-hooligans. It makes them unique. It makes them fun! It's a deviation from the 'standard fantasy' Though I do think they have dropped the ball in other areas. I can understand them wanting to make every army a 'grey area' so that there is always a reason to fight any other army out there. But it would be more dramatic if there were clearly defined 'good guys' and bad guys. Bretonnia started out that way, then in 6th, the background changed to show that they treat their peasants like slaves. It sullies there good reputation, for no point other than to show how dark the setting was in 6th and 7th.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTG8RKLUvGlM4nm13XQVUFYGoPLA0939Y0CKPWX19ogtevp520JxVkP4QNMKr3ofJwsFr5BqKBrbqy-MXJm_08LJ2b9qzED9cAkNIAFpu3rrT6R50aRBn8Tr0f2lhNlKphs4XE-xT_-GS/s1600/good-vs-evil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfTG8RKLUvGlM4nm13XQVUFYGoPLA0939Y0CKPWX19ogtevp520JxVkP4QNMKr3ofJwsFr5BqKBrbqy-MXJm_08LJ2b9qzED9cAkNIAFpu3rrT6R50aRBn8Tr0f2lhNlKphs4XE-xT_-GS/s320/good-vs-evil.jpg" /></a></div>It sounds though, like they are moving back to the dynamic. The epic struggle of good versus evil. that really appeals to me. The one thing I don't like about 40k is the dark versus dark mentality. A story isn't a good story unless you have a hero AND a villain. Villain versus slightly-less-villain gets old quick.<br />
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So take a look around your gaming scene? Are you dominated by Daemons and the undead, like I am? Or perhaps the opposite, and the realms of Elves, Dwarves and Men conquer all. In either case, if you are planning a new army for Fantasy, take that into consideration. Maybe go against the grain, if for no other reason than to create a better story on the table. It also helps to spice things up. You know what's not a fun time? Playing back to back games on the same day, against different opponents, who are using the same army. 5 guys showing up to a club all with High Elves (it's going to happen when the new starter set comes out).<br />
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Break the mould. Wouldn't you like to be known by your signature army? "Yeah, that Jim, he's our Skaven guy" is a little more exciting than 'Hey there's Jim. Him, Steve, Fred, Bob and Marmaduke all play High Elves." Just food for thought.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-42795570124096931682010-06-25T13:14:00.000-06:002010-09-07T22:03:04.726-06:00The Secret to Modelling and Painting 2 - The Opinioning<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4sFqDpi7iGq4pHcuj9L3XGWT4sN4ilfVN5hMNbYvCe_2Gr96U7Gw08-DivSsVF8sDllw3EW-Wk-cgPNqzaXFlbwVDoHi-48KlmRFebzGQTX8-ahoAY__j691jpcwYcXnJl3uXzDqOQZi/s1600/puppy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW4sFqDpi7iGq4pHcuj9L3XGWT4sN4ilfVN5hMNbYvCe_2Gr96U7Gw08-DivSsVF8sDllw3EW-Wk-cgPNqzaXFlbwVDoHi-48KlmRFebzGQTX8-ahoAY__j691jpcwYcXnJl3uXzDqOQZi/s320/puppy.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I know... WORST... TITLE... EVER...<br />
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But let's get past that to the meat of the article. Part 2 of this article is much more opinion-based than the first part. Granted, a lot of what was said in part one is opinion, but for the most part, they are pretty obvious, and a little hard to argue with (yes having a ton of models actually does make you less likely to paint them). Part two, on the other hand, will deal more with the painting of models, and will be very skewed to my personal opinion of painting. Will it be as informative? Maybe. Will it spark conversation? I really hope so. So let's get down to it: (Also, I couldn't find relative ranting pictures, so enjoy these pictures of puppies!)<br />
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<b>1) Base colors aren't enough anymore</b>. Look at the tools available to us now, as opposed to ten years ago. Cheap, easily available (if sometimes poor quality) airbrushes. Matte medium for creating washes out of damn near anything (don't want to fork out the dough for matte medium? Try Future Floor Wax with a little bit of water!). High quality brushes at affordable prices. The list goes on. If you are just slapping down a base coat, and calling it good enough, then you are one of two things: Lazy, or only in the hobby to win the game. "I don't know how to paint" isn't a legitimate excuse anymore. There are books, DVDs and about a billion YouTube videos to show you how to do almost anything. Not to mention a bunch of long-winded, opinionated jerks who post on the internet (that was self-referential, in case you missed it).<br />
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I don't want to get off on a rant here, but painting miniatures is more a technical skill than some born-with, innate talent. You know how you develop technical skill? PRACTICE! And practice doesn't mean taking a tank brush to some space marines and calling it a day. You develop a steady hand. You learn to control color and paint viscosity. I know color-blind painters, blind in one eye painters, and have even read about a painter with no hands! Now I get that not everyone enjoys painting, and that's fine, but if painting is not your thing, find someone whose thing it is and get them to pant your stuff for you. This is a hobby. 9/10ths of the hobby is the collecting, preparing and painting of the models. If you are spending more time in your week playing than any other aspect of the hobby... seriously, think about if this is the right hobby for you. If you just like winning games, there's nothing wrong with that (as long as you're around like-minded individuals... nothing wrecks a good time more than a WAAC gamer at a casual event). Wizkids are still putting out (*cough*) quality pre-painted minis. Rackham has joined the pre-paint bandwagon. Wizards of the coast has a great D&D mini game line. Then of course there are the countless card games, board games and video games.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30BqC43Idt4TSWAO7IozVzp9RkEy2KP1gjIUPfSsXA_wRZXDWkeUUxl64L9W1tES58ZB5Fymc9MpovL3VmYvhRisrGOfNpzryyvETdVY6NEErXrBL4HMUzZB5l3nQWqYRHt_dMczKfyb_/s1600/cute-puppy-pictures-white-teddy-bear.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg30BqC43Idt4TSWAO7IozVzp9RkEy2KP1gjIUPfSsXA_wRZXDWkeUUxl64L9W1tES58ZB5Fymc9MpovL3VmYvhRisrGOfNpzryyvETdVY6NEErXrBL4HMUzZB5l3nQWqYRHt_dMczKfyb_/s320/cute-puppy-pictures-white-teddy-bear.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Don't get me wrong, I'm not trying to crap all over people who like to win. There is nothing wrong with wanting to win (except for winning at the expense of everyone else's fun, but that goes for anything, and just makes you an ass), but if you only care about winning in a hobby that's rules were only invented to help sell minis, you've probably got the wrong game.<br />
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Bottom line: Help is abundant, practice makes perfect, and it's easier than you think.<br />
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<b>2) A grimdark setting is not an excuse for a muddy-looking model</b>. Yes, the world of 40k is a bleak, hopeless dystopian future. Yes you're average tank shouldn't look like it rolled off the showroom floor (though I'd argue that with the Eldar). But too many times, you see models that are base-coated, then washed in Devlan Mud and called finished 'because it looks more gritty and dirty that way'. No. It doesn't. It looks unfinished and sloppy. There is only one way of doing weathering on vehicles and models. And it's time-consuming. Anything else is just being lazy.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO50j6MoQUM58VGunMaK8ZrJXXwxGvANvB-ttI16LC3uT76zq0ZnBXvE51s9D_AnIcSMk6E03McBSw4-rT-oRfXxw1YMrosnoQIAIKv0IfTcGULKohw-jjhgAtOgJAHFRYVMUrvs1hJfHE/s1600/puppies-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhO50j6MoQUM58VGunMaK8ZrJXXwxGvANvB-ttI16LC3uT76zq0ZnBXvE51s9D_AnIcSMk6E03McBSw4-rT-oRfXxw1YMrosnoQIAIKv0IfTcGULKohw-jjhgAtOgJAHFRYVMUrvs1hJfHE/s320/puppies-2.jpg" /></a></div><br />
I'm all for giving something a wash to add depth to the model. I'm a big fan of Devaln Mud. But the process does not, and should never, stop there. Trust me, I get that some models are just more fun to paint than others. And I understand the pain of knowing once you finish this model, there are still 200 more needing your attention. I also get the desire to all least have everything better than primed.<br />
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But here's the thing: Just because you have 200 models to paint doesn't necessarily mean that you should paint the model in the front nicely, and the rest like crap. Again, I'm coming from a hobbyist's perspective. I game, if I'm lucky once every 2 weeks. I spend the rest of the time painting. The hobby part of this game means a great deal to me. And it's been my experience, playing hundreds of different people, that the better your army is painted, the more fun you are to play with. I have never played a douchebag with a nicely painted army. Coincidentally, all of my worst games were against people who didn't even have their models fully-assembled. As a hobbyist, I can tell how the game is going to go by the amount of effort put into the models. It's obvious.<br />
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How many of you Deathbridgers would agree that Wallshammer is great to play against? I'm guessing all of you. You know why? HE LOVES THIS HOBBY! He lavishes his models with attention. He converts, he paints many layers, and picks out the details. He tricks-out his bases. You see his army on the table and you know he's not just playing to win. He's playing to have a good time AND to make sure you have a good time too.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrKzLvkipIG5Usgid-T_pQcrkHD-v42Tyx256YLO8XfU4CdbecYnh9WRr4jay2s2dFwD-ezpljOtA4sLDEb-xncn8hVx0wcgz-fuvYQBxiv9DMuYcph3OUNpDRAUMeXpUoSNSjOS4dgaH/s1600/puppies-brown-white-on-blanket.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJrKzLvkipIG5Usgid-T_pQcrkHD-v42Tyx256YLO8XfU4CdbecYnh9WRr4jay2s2dFwD-ezpljOtA4sLDEb-xncn8hVx0wcgz-fuvYQBxiv9DMuYcph3OUNpDRAUMeXpUoSNSjOS4dgaH/s320/puppies-brown-white-on-blanket.jpg" /></a></div><br />
And that's the key to this whole little rant: Your effort in the hobby-side of the game shows what kind of player you are. A poorly-painted army is a STRONG indicator of a player not interested in the other guy in the game. Warhammer Fantasy used to be called 'the Gentlemen's Game'. Because almost all Fantasy players were hobbyists, and the showed courtesy and respect to their fellow gamers by taking the time and effort to deliver a polished army and good gaming experience (and thank-you Mat Ward for ruining that).<br />
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Getting back on point, we are talking about miniature models here. If it's all dark and muddy, it's essentially a blob on the table. Your opponent may or may not have any idea what it actually is from 4 feet away. However, if you paint cleanly, you use some bright colors, and you use a palette that is more than just 'brown, brown and more brown' you are helping your opponent. You are helping them understand what they are facing, you are helping them ease game play, by not wither having to explain what each model is, or worse, handing them a big surprise when it's too late.<br />
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<b>3) Realism in painting miniature models is absurd.</b> Seriously. We are talking about 8 foot tall mutant humans surrounded by essentially a walking tank, with a gun that fires rockets. At that point, make them colorful. It's not like they are going to be able to hide behind a bush anyways, what with their chainswords roaring and walking sarcophagus lumbering behind them.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22a6sHXuiD_MedCmrG0CEL4kUBW94mTeygBbmksIEfCWvrvA-gc-ilduXwQKLm_Dcg0Hcat9bpmDyHkoYbPDAlNHtPJgi-VSSVGbRPfdMP8WydiD1D37ZugScFiZ8VGFN_YlRoYaUIP10/s1600/puppies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg22a6sHXuiD_MedCmrG0CEL4kUBW94mTeygBbmksIEfCWvrvA-gc-ilduXwQKLm_Dcg0Hcat9bpmDyHkoYbPDAlNHtPJgi-VSSVGbRPfdMP8WydiD1D37ZugScFiZ8VGFN_YlRoYaUIP10/s320/puppies.jpg" /></a></div><br />
Essentially this is a variation of point number 2. But it's a little more metagame. Remember, we are playing a game of little toy soldiers. Why not make them look nice? Go look at coolminiornot.com. Go look at the weathered models there. All the good-looking models started with a bright color made dark by chipping paint and weathering boots. The base coat and a devlan mud wash minis won't even show up on there. <br />
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Space Marines should be bright, their armor is their heraldry. Eldar should be practically glowing. Does this mean that there is no place for camouflage in 40k? Of course not. But what most people don't realize, camo is actually really hard to paint well. It takes a lot of time. Mudding the bottom of a transport, or the boots of a soldier takes time. And only works if you paint the model 'facotry-fresh' first. And THEN wear it down.<br />
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Remember, this is science fantasy, not science fiction. In 'real-life' yes, a soldier probably would be brown on brown. On the table, it looks terrible. It's what I dislike most about LotR. They paint everything 'naturalistic' to emulate the movies, but it makes for boring models and takes away from the gaming experience. I personally LOVE brightly colored models. Never in my life have I thought 'that doesn't look very realistic' (I'd punch myself in the face if I ever used 'realistic to try to describe the painting on a Carnifex). I have gone 'Holy Crap! I love how that's painted!' and 'Did that guy even paint that model, or just throw it in the dirt?'.<br />
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<b>4) No one is asking you to win a Golden Daemon.</b> They are just asking you to try. Put a little effort in past 'Git'er dun!' I once read a great article on a guy building an Orc and Goblin army. He base-coated everything, to get his army table-ready. Then every week he showed up to game, one of his units was shaded and highlighted until his whole army looked really polished.<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmPH75CSzDgfVHyxpuuk0f_9_Hv602EAwDu03X4RS9S8hyphenhyphenRdWiN_shCxtbz2m3-WZ1kF54JomZ2kNjd0XXxTo45sQxVNYq9jnj5-TqhuXO8m1V8ezohpHh-BNOafuR3RMbZ-00PGilcaQ/s1600/puppy.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGmPH75CSzDgfVHyxpuuk0f_9_Hv602EAwDu03X4RS9S8hyphenhyphenRdWiN_shCxtbz2m3-WZ1kF54JomZ2kNjd0XXxTo45sQxVNYq9jnj5-TqhuXO8m1V8ezohpHh-BNOafuR3RMbZ-00PGilcaQ/s320/puppy.png" /></a></div><br />
This is a fantastic way to get started! Plus, if you show your gaming club that you are making genuine progress on your models every week, it tells them that you take the fun and enjoyment of other club members seriously. I can't stress that enough. Well-painted models show courtesy to your opponent. Showing all the upgrades on a unit shows courtesy to your opponent. Showing up on time, having all your gaming materials... it's all about courtesy. Make 40k a Gentlemen's Game. Strive to make sure your opponent has as much fun as you do. And nothing says you are concerned about the guy on the other side of the table as making your army look the best it can.<br />
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No one is expecting you to win awards for your painting. But it's really obvious when you're trying and when you're not.<br />
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Anyhow, that's my incredibly long-winded rant about the real secret of painting and modeling. I'm sure there will be people who don't agree. Which is why I prefaced this part with a strong opinion warning. But at the very least it's food for thought.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-10854773526772582702010-06-21T23:06:00.000-06:002010-09-07T22:03:04.727-06:00The Secret to Modelling and Painting<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLphDGUBy1AAzOLXZ5zGBK453kGs5Hoahw7x4UGrVzTeNITAQxG8Ga15TSiv2CXnpZB0OSFmlusb1Pe6VZjds_Ru9SPhx5EgFGdmpV5IPZUHyj4UkhFmqLUbfOw8CPKX1YGbZ6FmRxz0X/s1600/prepare-your-workspace.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfLphDGUBy1AAzOLXZ5zGBK453kGs5Hoahw7x4UGrVzTeNITAQxG8Ga15TSiv2CXnpZB0OSFmlusb1Pe6VZjds_Ru9SPhx5EgFGdmpV5IPZUHyj4UkhFmqLUbfOw8CPKX1YGbZ6FmRxz0X/s320/prepare-your-workspace.jpg" /></a></div><br />
As I returned from the rain-soaked Prairies of Alberta, I found myself once again in comfortable surroundings, ready to sit down and paint up a storm. I put out the models I wanted to paint, sat them in front of me, and stopped dead in my tracks.<br />
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Has this ever happened to you? Have you ever found yourself keen and ready to paint, only to fall flat when it actually comes time to dip your brush?<br />
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It got me to thinking: What's stopping me? So, as is my nature, I thought and thought about it. My process came up with the following questions:<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Am I losing interest/not interested in painting this army? If so, why? Did I need to start something fresh, since I've been ponderously working on the same army for quite a while now? Is my interest in this army waning because I'd rather be playing a whole different game? Is the sheer number of models I have intimidating me to finish?<br />
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So as I thought about these things, I came up with some guidelines for myself that I think will keep me on track, and prevent me from getting stopped in my tracks.<br />
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<b>1. Never buy ahead</b>. It's actually a really, really good idea to plan your army in advance. It helps with theme, color choice and maximizes purchasing power; as opposed to impulse buying and then leaving several units on the shelf while you game. If you are starting a new army, don't go out and buy 3000 points (in the case of Warhammer Fantasy or 40k) right away. Get an HQ (or hero) and 2 Troops (or Core) at most. Paint those, and then expand from there. A lot of burn out will occur from the subconscious knowledge that getting these 10 models done is great, but there is 200 more in your closet waiting to be painted. Don't get overwhelmed.<br />
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And if you are already past that point, there is a solution. Pack things up. And I don't mean in your case or on your shelf. I mean stuff them in a cardboard box, tape the box up and put it somewhere you don't normally store your models. Not to opened until the project you are working on is finished. It seems like a lot of effort, and more than a little strange, but it will ease your mind psychologically knowing that they are literally 'out of sight, out of mind'.<br />
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The third, and most drastic option, is to sell off some of your stuff. This one seems to work the best for me, as it helps me decide what I want to keep, which assists in choosing my next painting project, simply by figuring out the priorities (modeling and painting-wise in an army). This is usually a permanent solution though, so be careful. Seller remorse is almost worse than having too many things to do.<br />
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<b>2. Preparation is everything</b>. I'm sure you've heard most of this before. Clean your mould lines. Make sure the feeds from the sprue are cleaned off. Make sure you model everything the model is going to use (grenades, weapons, etc...) This does two things: First, a clean model is nicer to paint. I find it frustrating to be painting and then have to paint over a mould line. It sort of wrecks the model for me. Also, cleaning the model gets you familiar with the model. You'll see details you might have otherwise missed if you just dove straight in. And as for modeling all the options on your model, that's just a courtesy thing. It makes the game easier to play for you're opponent because they know what they are getting into. One of the most frustrating things I find when I'm playing is when a model is under (or mis)-represented.<br />
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<b>3. Base before painting</b>. Nothing is more frustrating than spending hours painting a model, then having to go back and base it. And even worse when you go to base it and the glue sticks to the model rather than the base. It's also been my experience that pre-basing, before priming, helps the basing material stick better. This cuts down on the time needed to finish the model. If you've never tried it before, I strongly recommend it.<br />
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<b>4. Pre-plan your color scheme.</b> And practice it! Knowing exactly how you are going to tackle every color in your army helps the painting go faster. And it's much less daunting to come at a fresh model with a color scheme in hand (or mind). I find the best thing to do is to write everything down. Then, if you take a long break from painting, or you add more units to a finished army, you can maintain consistency.<br />
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<b>5. Only work on a few models at a time</b>. This is one where a lot of people will probably disagree with me, but I find chain painting entire squads to be painful. It stops being an exercise in painting, which is fairly artistic, to be mass production, which is more the realm of being a robot. I NEVER work on more than 5 models at a time. Anything on a 40mm base or larger, only one at a time. Yes, it's slower, but, you'll find the quality goes up. And the unit will look better overall for doing it. Plus, setting a goal of painting 3 models in a night is much more achievable than painting 30 models by the end of the week. My Eldar, for example, I painted everything in threes. It took a long time, but I think it was worth the extra time. Plus it got me through the entire series of Robotech.<br />
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<b>6. Have an end goal.</b> This can be anything. An upcoming tournament. A big Apocalypse game. Playing far from home. Or it can be more set, like 2000 points, or one of every unit. Deadlines are a great motivators, but they are also the biggest cause of burn-out, because it's in human nature to 'cram' at the last minute.<br />
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<b>7. Have something special planned for your army</b>. This usually ties best into theme. Taking my Eldar as an example, I used the Forgeworld Avatar as my centerpiece for the army. I saw the new sculpts for the Aspect Warriors, and saw that Forgeworld Avatar, and immediately I had a theme; Biel-Tan Eldar. So I sold off my old Eldar army and started fresh. You should ALWAYS have a showcase piece in your army. Something that ties everything together. Something that makes the guy on the other side of the table drop his jaw. Now this doesn't always have to be a model in the army. It could be a stunning display board. It could be a hand-crafted, leather-bound army list. But it should be something that lets your opponent know that you think there is more to this game than winning.<br />
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So the next time you sit down to paint, and find yourself stuck, try some of these ideas. The goal is to make painting enjoyable, since the bulk of the time in the hobby is spent painting (or at least it should be). If you feel like painting is a chore, guess what?; it is. If you find the joy in painting, it is a very, very rewarding part of the hobby.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-80187269652031456682010-06-18T00:49:00.000-06:002010-09-07T22:05:10.622-06:00An alternate take on the HeresyThe folks over at Bolter and Chainsword have developed quite the alternate timeline for 40k. It's a different look at the history of the game, using the old "What if..." adage. It's a FANTASTIC read for any fan of Space Marines. It's a simple premise. "What if Horus did not turn to Chaos... so Chaos turned to Rogal Dorn?" Just simply awesome they way they retell the Heresy. I couldn't quit reading it.<br />
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<a href="http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/heresy/thedornianheresy.pdf">http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/heresy/thedornianheresy.pdf</a>Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-32633069193432511062010-06-15T11:00:00.003-06:002010-09-07T22:04:14.913-06:00OMGTITANSKTHANXBYEWell i for one have been WoW clean for about a year and a half now......and than this happens. WAR was pretty fun for abit but lost out on the simple fact the game was trying to hard to do too many things.<br />
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It's also in my opinion that space MMOs can't work but who knows, i'll still be there launch day!<br />
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Video after the break!<br />
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<object height="385" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/hHu4Na0lsd0&hl=en_US&fs=1&"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/hHu4Na0lsd0&hl=en_US&fs=1&" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="640" height="385"></embed></object>Courthttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12731818724880325181noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-27440281597796310302010-06-14T17:03:00.001-06:002010-09-07T22:05:10.622-06:00Apocalypse and things I've learned!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWusfgsmZqwj_Hk9eK805RC6bXnvIG8TbEj0b0aViRh9G9mBsQKkqA7GNu2un37yV-QRUTYsd-mUrq43G8ep4SyHqR_5KTYFC1s7Zh0gOhqvRc2WEv9f-_AcXfrQ-8EENlc6RHmHW0w/s1600/apocalypse-23124217.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieWusfgsmZqwj_Hk9eK805RC6bXnvIG8TbEj0b0aViRh9G9mBsQKkqA7GNu2un37yV-QRUTYsd-mUrq43G8ep4SyHqR_5KTYFC1s7Zh0gOhqvRc2WEv9f-_AcXfrQ-8EENlc6RHmHW0w/s320/apocalypse-23124217.jpg" /></a></div><br />
The local, 40k Escalation league end Apocalypse game, all eight hours and 40k+ points of it has come and gone. It was a long but VERY fun day playing with a good group of guys and friends. Club mates even came to watch. However, since then (and with discussion with others) I've come to realize some things that would improve my next big game experience. Let's discuss a few of these.<br />
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<b>1. COME PREPARED!</b><br />
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When you come to a game, prepared for months, you should be 100% completely prepared. Your models should be assembled and painted. Your lists should be planned and finished well ahead of time. If you are given the choice of stratagems, then pick them ahead of time. Every single game book is available online in PDF form for free through torrents so there is really no excuse. Of course, you bring your dice, models, templates, books and pens, army books, rule book, army lists, etc. Arrange that you have apocalypse templates available through one of the players possessing them. Mark your stuff too! Simple initials on your templates and dice cubes, for instance!<br />
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<b>2. FULL DISCLOSURE!</b><br />
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Other then bids, you don't need to hide ANYTHING in the game. Your army lists should be public. Special characters should be public. Datasheets and formations should be public. Even stratagems. Why? It avoids arguments. For example, and this isn't a slag on ANYONE, but one team in our big apocalypse game had 2 players with the same stratagem. There is mention in the Apocalypse rule book that no two players on the same side take the same strategem or formation. Both having it actually hurt the game somewhat (this for another discussion) and having made it public we could have changed things and made the game much more spectacular. If you're hiding things, you're either cheating or ONLY playing to win. Use Army Builder! It's cheap, way cheaper then any models or kit in the hobby and frankly, the best thing to happen to mini's gaming. <br />
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<b>3. PRE GAME DISCUSSION!</b><br />
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Going into this game, the players should be prepared. There should be a discussion ahead of time in which the general lay out of the game is discussed, what is and isn't allowed, etc. This will take away a LOT of problems during the game and allow for more play time.<br />
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<b>4. SIZE LIMITS!</b><br />
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Unlimited size armies just do NOT work. You can try and discuss what you can/can't take, but with unlimited points, the game is practically unplayable. Take our game (again) for instance. There were armies where every vehicle had all options, benefits, extra armor and hunter killer missiles. Every model had every single upgrade possible. Every unit has every addition and is full sized It basically becomes, pardon the expression, a dick wagging ceremony. Who can bring the stupidest, biggest, baddest units and models. It also make people bring stuff that does NOT belong in their army. They play a certain army, yet bring a SINGLE model from another army ONLY for their powers. They don't bring a force from that, just the single model. Because "they have it". Bull. It's for the benefit of the army, pure and simple. Limiting the points disallows this and makes players only bring their actual armies. We aren't saying 3000pts only. 4k, 5k... as long as there is a strict limit to stop the overbearing chaos that is unlimited points. Going with this, play ONLY what you can reasonably play. If it's going to take an hour JUST FOR YOU to finish a shooting phase while your team mates sit around with their hands on their laps, maybe you have too big an army. HOWEVER, if you _are_ going to play unlimited points, the group needs to discuss what they can/can't upgrade. Can/cannot add. Again, full disclosure (2) and pre-game discussion (3). <br />
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<b>5. NO MODEL? NOT IN THE GAME!</b><br />
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You can buy orbital bombardements (for now) from the Witch and Daemon hunters books. Do an unlimited point game and you can basically buy as many as you want. There are other instances like this in the game. Just... don't. If there is no model to represent it, it should not be on the table. It's cheating min/max free points.<br />
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<b>6. NO FREE STRATAGEMS!</b><br />
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Formations allow some armies to gain stratagems. There is no reason I can see to give away a free stratagem to a player just for showing up. The counter argument is it adds flavor to the game. My take is that there are only a few stratagems that are ever taken. These are usually game breakingly powerful, hence being taken. I would say if you don't get them from formations, you don't get them.<br />
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<b>7. THEMED ARMIES!</b><br />
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In playing a FULLY PAINTED 40,000 POINT GAME, we proved that we all have very big armies locally. There was no reason you shouldn't play a themed army. If you are going to play Apocalypse, don't just take every random model you have (or only your favorites) to make up your point total. Have theme. For instance, Green Feevah brought ONLY Biel-Tan Eldar. Players bring ONLY Ultramarines and Imperial guard painted to represent the Macragge PDF. Nid armies are usually painted in a similar scheme. Have some story to your army, not made up powergaming. The game is so, so, sooooooooooooooo much more interesting like this. There is an inherent, instant flavor to the battle that invests more interest, emotion and fun.<br />
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<b>8. KNOW YOUR RULES!</b><br />
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Everyone is probably guilty of this. Know the rules for apocalypse. Know the rules for your army. Use Army Builder! Don't look for your codex for every stat every fight when you can simply print out an army builder sheet. You are playing Apocalypse, know it's special rules. This goes for Planetstrike, Cities of Death, whatever. Heck, this weekend proved I need to read more myself!<br />
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<b>9. SCENARIOS AND PRE-PLANNED GAMES!</b><br />
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While part of the game is to team pick objectives and random deployment zones, why not choose all this? Why not have a more thematic feel to the game by discussing the storyline, picking storyline objectives and picking a deployment that makes sense with this. Again, it's then not a random game. You're playing something that has a background, has texture and has something to invest in. Trust me, this will be so much more fun. You need to defend the chapel as part of the game, you'll defend it as much as you can! Putting some marker down in your deployment zone just because you can? Meh. You'll get it later.<br />
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<b>10. TEAM MATES MATTER!</b><br />
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Again, not to hark on this, but Army Builder is SO AWESOME! You have every stat and weapon for every model in your army on a sheet of printed out paper. Your team mates can reference these! Not everyone will take the same length in each phase. If you're playing a huge army, delegate! Ask your team mates to move, shoot, assault with certain models if you aren't finished and they are. They look on Army Builder... bam, done. This speeds up the game, allowing for more turns, allowing for more moments.<br />
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<b>11. PLAY LIKE YOU GOT A PAIR... BUT DON'T PLAY TO WIN!</b><br />
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People are going to disagree with me on this, but Apocalypse is meant more to be a fun exercise of social interaction, then a game you are going out 100% to win. What happens, and what happened in our club's game, is everyone worried about winning and played WAY too conservatively, leaving stuff behind so they could do a last second dash for the objectives. We deployed some eight feet apart, basically limiting the first turn to 10 minutes of moving and that's it. A Bloodthirster literally flew and ran THE ENTIRE GAME and didn't get to the enemies lines. Tanks with 72" range couldn't shoot for two turns. That's just ridiculous. As Privateer Press says you gotta play like you've gotta pair. Line up and FIGHT. You have lots of models, let some die. Believe you this... it's as much fun to watch my stuff blow up in spectacular fashion as it is for me to see yours do the same. It's NOT a defensive game. It doesn't work when it is.<br />
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<b>12. PLAY FOR THE MOMENT!</b><br />
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My FAVORITE part of the entire game was when a Straken led squad jumped into a Belial led squad. Big names fighting big names. Big tanks shooting big tanks. A mass swirling battle over an objective! A single monster taking on an entire gun battery and surviving! THIS is what the game is about. Play for those. Play like you've got a pair!<br />
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<i>I'd like to hear what other people think about Apocalypse and their views of the game, their experiences and what makes a good game to them.</i><br />
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And to the new readers and the BoLS staff... welcome!Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-16336824987396647282010-06-11T12:41:00.001-06:002010-09-07T22:05:10.623-06:00It's... go time!It's that time of the year. The annual escalation league is over. Armies are assembled and painted. Players are well trained, on point... and exhausted. So much playing over these past few months and it all comes to a head on Sunday with the League Ending Apocalypse game!<br />
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This game is going to be a doozy. Seven players have signed up with a possible ten by game time. Ten players all playing, as it stands, 4000pts and higher. The crazy part? It's all painted. Every single model that will be in the table. All 40000 points (or more) ALL PAINTED. And, really, it's a national affair. Not only do we have local people playing but non leaguers are coming from out of town. Some driving two hours. Others taking the day long trek (literally) from another province! The event of the year!<br />
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We need a 20x8 table for this game. We need every piece of terrain we can fandangle. There will be forests destroyed by our army sheets. Copious amounts of caffeine shall be consumed. All this in the name of one silly little game that we all complain and whine about daily. A game that costs more pound for pound then crack. A game that's caused more then one argument with our significant other. "Sorry, honey, can't come to bed, gotta paint the headbands on my guys!"<br />
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Green Feevah brings his Biel Tan force, one of the best looking armies I know. Doompickle lands with his Deathwing and Ravenguard, 40 terminators littering the field! My Catachan horde Space Wolves! More Imperial Guard. Tau? Chaos Marines? Fire Hawks! Yes, the marines that eventually became the Legion of the Damned somehow return from the warp for one game. It's gonna be a heck of a time that those not coming are going to regret missing!<br />
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And we'll even have pictures and battle reports after! After we eat smores that is.Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-18790438075213341382010-06-08T14:53:00.000-06:002010-09-07T22:04:35.479-06:00Are you Prepared?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRSp2qmabHgFBiD81mKiLlUVYSLcRVQHrC8Ybngz49lUiUcnUrG0HCMhyphenhyphenRkQo90jlQSSPcQ8m57pycGdFlpHmcr9_dVgZ97gKRRhM5r0nmObYh4cX6KgOwe9YFMASDTtbPZ0ilfRHUzMH/s1600/WorkMate-16ft-Tape-Measure_2793_r.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqRSp2qmabHgFBiD81mKiLlUVYSLcRVQHrC8Ybngz49lUiUcnUrG0HCMhyphenhyphenRkQo90jlQSSPcQ8m57pycGdFlpHmcr9_dVgZ97gKRRhM5r0nmObYh4cX6KgOwe9YFMASDTtbPZ0ilfRHUzMH/s320/WorkMate-16ft-Tape-Measure_2793_r.jpg" /></a></div>So as I'm packing up for my big trip out East, and gathering all my Eldar for what I'm sure will be the battle to end all battles at Wallshammer's place this weekend, I got to thinking: Do I have everything?<br />
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What I mean by that is: My Dice, my tape measure, my templates, my tokens and counters, my objective markers, my rulebook, my codex, my Apocalypse book, and obviously my miniatures. Well lucky for me, I not only have all of that, but I have it all in one place: In my miniatures bag. Not only that, but there is a copy of Cities of Death, Planetstrike, Apocalyspe Reload, my Apocalypse templates, my vortex grenade template and now, the full rules for Spearhead (print-offs for the formations and the White Dwarf with the rules). I'm also sporting my full army list and the FAQs for the Eldar and the main rules.<br />
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Now don't get me wrong; this is a lot of stuff. My bag is more rulebooks than minis almost. But I know that I am prepared for any game, any time, anywhere.<br />
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One of my pet peeves is gamers who don't have the proper tools to game. The worst offenders I find are the people (out here anyways) that play at Games Workshop. No rulebooks, no army list, I'm thankful they have dice and a tape measure. The worst of it was back in 3rd edition, going their and playing some kid who didn't have any of his rulebooks, nor a printed list, and somehow, strangely, his Daemon Princes seemed to have every upgrade possible. Easily 300 points worth. My most regular opponent does this too. He games at my house, and since I am always prepared with my tools, he doesn't bring his and just uses mine. That irks me.<br />
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To me, it's common courtesy to be prepared. I feel that having everything I need to game ready to go, I am telling my opponent that I want him to have a good game. That I don't want to bring the game to halt by arguing over a rule that I can't show him. That I don't need to borrow dice, or counters or whatever because I'm ready to go.<br />
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Now of course the counter-argument to this is indeed that it is getting to be a lot of kit. Many books, a big pile of dice, all the counters, etc... This game has got to be one of the hardest to transport games out there. I have transporting my Eldar down to a science; my Orks though... not so much. No mortal case can contain the might of my Orks! <br />
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And though my Orks may arrive to the battle in carboard boxes and empty lunch trays, I still always make sure the things I need to make the game run smoothly are there. Maybe it's from 20 years of being a Dungeon Master, but one of my biggest concerns is that everyone at the table is having a good time. And to me, that means being prepared. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMKRJMHGIjKkLGkcFJZew3sPJ7Zn4CJS6yHxKWL2Tjo_VRr7NiuFQdGC0lgvAp-kWTitWr1-TY68BW6fBEvtKoGhpcez1zmrYYAoY06SZbdikuTjZAvpAyQH5oKBnpjx4M1b2jq3iDV5g/s1600/dice-illusion.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVMKRJMHGIjKkLGkcFJZew3sPJ7Zn4CJS6yHxKWL2Tjo_VRr7NiuFQdGC0lgvAp-kWTitWr1-TY68BW6fBEvtKoGhpcez1zmrYYAoY06SZbdikuTjZAvpAyQH5oKBnpjx4M1b2jq3iDV5g/s320/dice-illusion.jpg" /></a></div>What do you guys think? Are you prepared?Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-29075357002443420682010-06-02T03:12:00.005-06:002010-06-03T16:36:44.852-06:00Ork Non-Tactica<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSoIrTYtmWJ-XW5TOeALoUJCSsPFcXN3E43c3_yBIZipYo-6t1VzR_PCKkY7MtftVQ52jD6LpHsjg3BbOHmsP9TsVl8tyVLYy0IHVt2exDTlT1PK2B3Xmt_EmUuhUbBP0LLV9ZN0g67xL/s1600/ork40k.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478282218043264114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnSoIrTYtmWJ-XW5TOeALoUJCSsPFcXN3E43c3_yBIZipYo-6t1VzR_PCKkY7MtftVQ52jD6LpHsjg3BbOHmsP9TsVl8tyVLYy0IHVt2exDTlT1PK2B3Xmt_EmUuhUbBP0LLV9ZN0g67xL/s320/ork40k.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 320px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 310px;" /></a><br />
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First, let me explain. I have been a long-time Eldar player. Since 3rd edition. But the Eldar are and likely always will be a very unforgiving army. You feel every model lost. You play on the razor's edge of defeat, knowing if you don't play a near-perfect game your chances are slim. It gets to be a little tiring after a while. So, WAAAAAAY back in 3rd, I decided I wanted a more relaxed army. Something I didn't have to meticulously plan out (both in army list and in battlefield approach). So I chose, as my second main army, Orks, the kings of wacky, random, out-of-control mayhem.<br />
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That said, my Orks were shelved for all of 4th edition. So were my Eldar for a longtime. Their old, old codices just couldn't keep up, so I played mostly Marines back then (and they were dark days indeed). But towards the end of 4th edition, my interest in both the Eldar and the Orks were renewed. And with the interest, eventually came new codices!<br />
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The Eldar books I have spoken about before, but I could go on for days about the subtlety of fielding them. But that's not why I'm here. I'm here to talk about Orks. And how they are the masters of not planning.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouIBpxCiXWK4I6jhY70Ny_8WNAdpCIzXfraBu0PonaqNjpyj_Q5nsuSkpkvF9I6BE7L-2ykbukbJ0CcDq1zrJ8xqwZK0KiGW7JgYLw4uS0KcN2a_sX1jv1u2oO2e71APuJ_Mv_7Lx3nMZ/s1600/ork.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478282455803237618" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgouIBpxCiXWK4I6jhY70Ny_8WNAdpCIzXfraBu0PonaqNjpyj_Q5nsuSkpkvF9I6BE7L-2ykbukbJ0CcDq1zrJ8xqwZK0KiGW7JgYLw4uS0KcN2a_sX1jv1u2oO2e71APuJ_Mv_7Lx3nMZ/s320/ork.gif" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 306px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 293px;" /></a><br />
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With the advent of the new Ork codex, suddenly the army went from being very limited (because most units were underpowered and overpriced) to truly being a top-tier army. Almost everything in the book was a useful unit. The new models rank amongst the best GW has ever made. And that's when I found the true jewel of the codex. The secret that keeps me coming back for more.<br />
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You see, with the Eldar, my lists, be they fluffy or competitive, are meticulous. If it's a fluffy list, I follow the background to the letter, making sure there isn't a single model that doesn't fit the theme. My competitive list (back when I made such things) had the same meticulous planning involved. I know, when I field my Eldar, what every unit is doing for the first three turns of the game before I deploy them. My back-up plans have back-up plans. Not so with my Orks.<br />
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My last three games with my Orks have been the direct opposite. I have a core of models that I have recently re-painted that serves as the base of the army, but then I am literally still figuring out my points as I set-up. I take whatever strikes my fancy that day. I have no plan going into the fight, other than 'ORK SMASH!"... and I love it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjjUfURQiqXvig2qla2szJ0hSduoC3mclLWYFZxRahfW-VH4DtJ3MT7eG33X0SYwkDOR9FEuGU3G2-dq_uzZqlvgM_B7DFQrs9jjRVDzZvs1aKKcYuWAOPMNaDSXROjcbOQWuMZXpsKIp/s1600/Orks.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5478282674717064018" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidjjUfURQiqXvig2qla2szJ0hSduoC3mclLWYFZxRahfW-VH4DtJ3MT7eG33X0SYwkDOR9FEuGU3G2-dq_uzZqlvgM_B7DFQrs9jjRVDzZvs1aKKcYuWAOPMNaDSXROjcbOQWuMZXpsKIp/s320/Orks.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 256px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 320px;" /></a><br />
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Again, to contrast against my Eldar, it s an army that is planned to the finest detail. I planned the army for 4000 points. Every model I own fits in the list. I tweak and adjust slightly, as I learn more and more of the nuances of the army, but overall, I have only bought exactly what I'll be using.<br />
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The Orks though are as different as can be. I'm truly dictated by 'I want to paint that' or 'that model is amazing!' I have quite a few points (5000 BEFORE my 4 super-heavies) and it's all just random units. There is no cohesion. I did not pick a Klan (I started as Speed Freeks, then moved to Evil Sunz, now I'm on to Goffs, since I'm taking a much more mixed approach to the list). My Eldar list has 4 troops choices that show up in every game. My Orks have 12 and counting. The only FOC slots that go over the 3 for a standard game are my Heavies, and that's just for Apocalypse. My Orks have more than I can field in EVERY slot.<br />
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Now I'm not saying you can just go out, buy a bunch of models, throw anything on the table and expect to win all the time. That's just not going to happen with this army. It's too random, too unpredictable. If you want to be able to field anything and still have a greater than average chance of success, Guard or Marines are far better choices. However, if you play just for the Hell of it, and don't mind your army occasionally defeating itself, then Orks are the army for you!<br />
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I called this a Non-Tactica, because I feel I can't really discuss the tactics of Orks. That would involve me having a plan. What I can tell you is that the army is a blast to play, and throwing stuff out there just for the Hell of it is a great break from being structured. There is the obvious, Lootas are good at killing tough stuff like Daemon Princes, or the Deff Rollas are the best anti-tank the army has. But really, it's all circumstantial. The Eldar plan. It's in their background, and it's how they play. The Orks live in the moment, just spoiling for a good fight. And that's exactly how they play best.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-60860472272642235452010-05-28T22:40:00.003-06:002010-06-03T16:39:22.312-06:00Kill Teams, the saviour of random models everywhere!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1J8G8cuQ3OwzbpW8E61tpI3FwJodtvmgc5QhIPKkj7uj7kM1tNwVGe_ig5UN1ZTjFyBRGAIrjXwacNejVBy5m-djdAgYHSuznhD_QFwOSQM6GLGzGSMpwY5aXXDu9kcjhkBxJW-4S5Ae/s1600/art01gn7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-1J8G8cuQ3OwzbpW8E61tpI3FwJodtvmgc5QhIPKkj7uj7kM1tNwVGe_ig5UN1ZTjFyBRGAIrjXwacNejVBy5m-djdAgYHSuznhD_QFwOSQM6GLGzGSMpwY5aXXDu9kcjhkBxJW-4S5Ae/s320/art01gn7.jpg" /></a></div>We are all guilty of it.<br />
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Hordes of random models in boxes and troughs and buckets. Sitting on shelves and window sills. Models that inspired you to start an army... that you never actually started. A unit you got in some random trade or that came with some random sale. Perhaps the last remnants of a long ago army you played.<br />
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Every one of us have these and now, finally, we have a solution to our random model woes: Kill Team!<br />
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Battle Missions is a very good book. Tons of neat, unique missions. Different ways to play the game but I am not sure there are any more fun then Kill Teams. For those of you who don't know what it is, Kill Teams is a skirmish based game like 40k but perhaps more akin to Warmachine. Your unit models move individually, shoot individually... they are each their own mini unit. You have 20 orks... you move each one seperate. It's a two hundred point limit game, very small, with very strict restrictions on choosing. 0-1 elite, 0-1 fast attack and 0-2 troops. You play the game on a small (3x3 to 4x4) table that should rightfully be near covered in terrain. Any less then 75% and you aren't doing it right. It's very quick to play, full of energy. I played five games of it easily in one night, with five different lists!<br />
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Look through your closets and bins, you never know what you might come across that you forgot you had! heck, it might renew your enthusiasm for an army that was crap before. Proof? Play 2 wraiths and the rest in Flayed Ones. Suddenly a useless unit on a useless army is the craziest thing ever! (*grumble*)<br />
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So, Deathbridgers and readers alike what are your thoughts on Kill Teams? What lists have you been playing and enjoying? Let's hear 'em!Wallshammerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14543135205443601567noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8860205367684484195.post-67006847786629064442010-05-28T14:29:00.004-06:002010-06-03T16:37:55.890-06:00How do you pick your Army Colors?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75Ogj7xHY9cBY1XxKdwFeLC9qpWmdY1sHomiNQw9CzHzePq4aAWKp3RVgcA79jmAz9sTFpN8x0njryKAgrQazBywroACY1wGrhvlil_OhLoDDenR3i8oukYOeKIy-lg98CSMd6NNkAJOs/s1600/voc-free-paint-tip-lg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg75Ogj7xHY9cBY1XxKdwFeLC9qpWmdY1sHomiNQw9CzHzePq4aAWKp3RVgcA79jmAz9sTFpN8x0njryKAgrQazBywroACY1wGrhvlil_OhLoDDenR3i8oukYOeKIy-lg98CSMd6NNkAJOs/s320/voc-free-paint-tip-lg.jpg" /></a></div>Here's a question I pose to all the Deathbridgers out there: When you start a new army, what makes you pick the colors you eventually paint? Is it a personal preference (I like green), is it that some colors are easier to paint? Are you following the fluff of a certain aspect of that army (like a Chapter or Craftworld)? Or is it something all together different?<br />
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Personal preference is obviously important. Myself, I won't paint an army who's color I don't like. Black Templars have some great models, and their upgrade sprues for regular marines are still among the best out there. But an entire army of black? No thank-you. I like color. It's most of what drives me to paint in the first place.<br />
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That said, black is clearly easier to paint than say, yellow. If you wanted to get an entire army done fast, Black is the way to go. Or Boltgun Metal. A single, easy to apply color. I'm sure most of you have worked with Blood Red or Bad Moon Yellow before, and ten coats later that messy wash is still showing through. You never have that problem with black.<br />
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Or is it a choice of fluff? You just like Dark Angels more than Ultramarines so you're painting your marines green. Again, personally, I went with Biel-Tan Eldar because I like green, and the fluff of the Craftworld, that of having the most aspect warriors, meant I got to paint a lot of different, bright colors. I would not have done then as Iyanden, since their fluff says they are mostly Wraithguards and Wraithlords, even though I think Yellow is by far the most striking color an army can be on a table.<br />
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Likewise with my Orks. I chose Goffs, a black scheme with checkers. But I didn't choose them because black is easier to paint. I chose it because it was how I saw the Orks. Wearing black. Being the bad-ass bad-guys. And bein' proppa stompy! I had actually started my Orks as Evil Sunz, mostly because I though the idea of an army that dies in droves wearing red shirts was funny. At the time, the trukk model was the worst model in 40k (and I'm sure most of you have seen the old model and would agree). The more I played Orks though, the less the idea worked for me. So I've been stripping and repainting my Orks to fit in with my 'darker' view of Orks. Don't get me wrong, I own a lot of trukks and could easily field a proppa Evil Sunz list, but I'm enjoying feet on the ground and a more mixed approach to how I play.<br />
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So what about you guys? Where does your army color selection come from? Are you fluff-mongers, like me, do you choose based on ease, or a favorite color, or a combination of several things?<br />
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Discuss.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com4