More Tervigon pics

In the process of trying to take decent pictures of my Tervigon for the BOLS competition, I ended up with a lot of photos. These have all been color corrected in an attempt to match the real life colors of the beast.

The End.

Pictures galore! Tervigon, Mycetic Spores, Chaos vehicles, mutants, bio terrain

Hey folks, I finally got around to posting some pictures. The photography is challenging and eventually I’ll get my friend to take some higher quality shots.

Mutants led by a Word Bearer chaplain

Tervigon! I call this critter “Baby Mama.” My Tyranids are from a Hive Ship that splintered off from Hive Fleet Kraken. This Tervigon was made with a Carnifex kit and some extra talons, foam clay to form the abdomen, and grey stuff for the abdomen veins and carapace extension. The base was foamcore. It was a challenge to get the legs to pose right and stay in place while gluing, but I had better success cutting small slits in the foamcore for the legs to rest in while the beast dried.

Tervigon

Mycetic spores, unpainted… foam clay tentacles and toy rock plastic shell… the one in back is a megabloks egg.

Tyrannofex in progress, made from foam clay, wire, grey stuff and a carnifex head

Some unpainted terrain made from foam clay, expansive foam sealant, beer caps and random stuff

Partially painted terrain, mostly sefl-expanding foam, clear plastic shells and fake grapes

Tzeentch Rhino and Predator, almost finished

In progress Flawless Host Slaanesh Land Raider

Space Wolf FAQ thoughts and “The Elect” army update

Space Wolf FAQ

The Space Wolves FAQ is finally here, and it’s about bloody time.

This is an idiosyncratic document reflecting a personal vision and understanding of the rule. Using our hindsight goggles, many of the Space wolf faq answers could only be derived from a RAI perspective. Of course, this is a problem as it proves the point that GW rules are unclear as written. It also means that applying strict RAW and only RAW to a tabletop game doesn’t work.

Some subjectivity is necessarily involved in interpreting game rules. We must use common sense in addition to literal readings.

Overall I am very happy with the clarifications, they seem to be well justified for the most part. Now that the rules are more clear, I can actually play these guys without worrying about a rules argument being inevitable.

“The Elect” Background fluff:

The Elect are a warband of Thousand Sons spared the rubric of Ahriman due to being in the warp at the time of the ritual. They are still mutating and honor it as a true sign of Change. They have made pacts with many Tzeentchian daemons including some greater discs.  They believe themselves to be in secret communication with their Primarch Magnus, and act on his cryptic instructions, divined through rituals.

List revisions:

This is a Tzeencth army using the Space Wolf codex.

Since Jaws works the way I thought it would and Canis can take 2 hounds and still join units, I can field those units without worry of rules conflicts.To save points I stripped down one of my predators and got rid of a unit of fenrisian wolves. Since this particular list os only 1850, I am keeping it to 3 units of scoring grey hunters even though I have enough models to field more.

1850 Pts – Space Wolves Roster (The Elect of Magnus)

HQ:

Canis Wolfborn
with 2 Fenrisian Wolves

Rune Priest in Power Armour (Melta Bombs;)

Elites:

3x Wolf guard (leading Grey Hunters)
Troops:
8x Grey Hunters Pack (Wolf Standard; 1 Meltagun, 1 Mark of Wulfen)

led by Wolf Guard in Power Armour (Powerfist & combi-melta)
in Rhino
8x Grey Hunters Pack (1 Meltagun, 1 Mark of Wulfen)

led by Wolf Guard in Power Armour (Powerfist & combi-melta)
in Rhino

5x Grey Hunters Pack (1 Meltagun, 1 Mark of Wulfen)

led by Wolf Guard in Power Armour (Power Sword & melta-bombs)
in Razorback w/ twin-linked lascannon

15x Fenrisian Wolves

Fast Attack:

5 Thunderwolf Cavalry (Thunder hammer, 1x meltabombs )

1 Land Speeder (Heavy Flamer x1; Multi-Melta x1)

1 Land Speeder (Heavy Flamer x1; Multi-Melta x1)

Heavy Support:

1 Vindicator @ 120 pts ( Dozer Blade;)

1 Predator (Autocannon; Heavy Bolters (each side))

1 Predator (Hunter Killer Missile; Twin Linked Lascannon; Heavy Bolters (each side))

Total Roster Cost: 1849

Lots of art

Here’s some semi-random art and design I’ve done, from past and present.

Cityfight bases and progress on “The Elect” of Tzeentch

Bases!

Here’s a bunch of cityfight bases I made, for my Tzeenctch Wolves and my actual Space Wolves.  I  used corkboard, textured plasticard, aquarium gravel, sand, mesh, and bits from Pegasus terrain kits. I used tacky glue, white glue, and occasional superglue,and cut up the cork with a razor blade and plastic cutters.

 

 

 

Progress on “The Elect” of Tzeentch…

(They are a “counts as” Space Wolves force)

I have all the infantry painted up and ready for play, and some are finished to a pretty advanced state. The Chaos Spawn are now on painted disc of Tzeencth bases, for my Thunderwolf cavalry.  I am going to use mutants after all, representing blood claws. I am now going through and detailing models a few at a time. I still need to paint the wolves and about three vehicles.

I am working on more background material for the force, and I’ll publish something within a month.

Here’s my latest army list revision, I felt like I needed some cheap troops and more wolves.  Dropping a land speeder hurt but it was the onlky way to make room for more wounds in the army.

2000 Pts – “Space Wolves” Thousand Sons

Name	#	Grp	WS	BS	S	T	Wo	I	A	Ld	Save	Cost
HQ: Canis Wolfborn (1#, 185 pts)
Canis Wolfborn	1	HQ	5	2	5	5	3	5	5/6	8	3+	185
	Unit Type: Cavalry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Fangir; Power Armour; Wolf Tail Talisman; Wolftooth Necklace; Wolf Claw (x2); Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Independent Character; Lord of the Wolfkin; Rending; Wrath of the Savage; Saga of the Wolfkin
HQ: Rune Priest (1#, 110 pts)
Rune Priest	1	Grp: HQ										110
	…in Power Armour
Rune Priest in Power Armour	1		5	4	4	4	2	4	2/3	10	3+	[110]
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol (x1); Runic Weapon (x1); Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Independent Character; Psyker; Jaws of the World Wolf; Living Lightning; Saga of the Beastslayer
Elite: Wolf Guard Pack (4#, 147 pts)
Wolf Guard Pack	1	Grp: Elite										147
	Wolf Guard in Power Armour; Wolf Guard in Power Armour; Wolf Guard in Power Armour; Marked Wolf Guard in Power Armour
Wolf Guard in Power Armour	1		4	4	4/8	4	1	4/1	2	9	3+	[43]
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Combi-Meltagun (x1); Power Fist (x1); Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack
Wolf Guard in Power Armour	1		4	4	4/8	4	1	4/1	2	9	3+	[43]
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Combi-Meltagun (x1); Power Fist (x1); Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack
Wolf Guard in Power Armour	1		4	4	4	4	1	4	2/3	9	3+	[28]
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol; Power Weapon (x1); Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack
Marked Wolf Guard in Power Armour	1		4	4	4	4	1	4	D6+1	9	3+	[33]
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Mark of the Wulfen; Bolt Pistol; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack
Troops: Grey Hunters Pack (9#, 185 pts)
Grey Hunters Pack	7	Troops	4	4	4	4	1	4	1/2	8	3+	185
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Mark of the Wulfen; Wolf Standard; Bolt Pistol (x7); Bolter (x6); Close Combat Weapon (x7); Meltagun; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Rhino
Grey Hunter w/ Mark of the Wulfen	1		4	4	4	4	1	4	D6+1	8	3+	[15]
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol (x1); Bolter (x1); Close Combat Weapon (x1); Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Rending in CC only
Rhino	1	Grp: BS: 4 FA: 11 SA: 11 RA: 10										[35]
	Ten model capacity; Repair; Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Storm Bolter
Troops: Grey Hunters Pack (9#, 175 pts)
Grey Hunters Pack	7	Troops	4	4	4	4	1	4	1/2	8	3+	175
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Mark of the Wulfen; Bolt Pistol (x7); Bolter (x6); Close Combat Weapon (x7); Meltagun; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Rhino
Grey Hunter w/ Mark of the Wulfen	1		4	4	4	4	1	4	D6+1	8	3+	[15]
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol (x1); Bolter (x1); Close Combat Weapon (x1); Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Rending in CC only
Rhino	1	Grp: BS: 4 FA: 11 SA: 11 RA: 10										[35]
	Ten model capacity; Repair; Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Storm Bolter
Troops: Grey Hunters Pack (6#, 170 pts)
Grey Hunters Pack	4	Troops	4	4	4	4	1	4	1/2	8	3+	170
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Mark of the Wulfen; Bolt Pistol (x4); Bolter (x3); Close Combat Weapon (x4); Meltagun; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Razorback
Grey Hunter w/ Mark of the Wulfen	1		4	4	4	4	1	4	D6+1	8	3+	[15]
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol (x1); Bolter (x1); Close Combat Weapon (x1); Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Rending in CC only
Razorback	1	Grp: BS: 4 FA: 11 SA: 11 RA: 10										[75]
	Six model capacity; Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Twin Linked Lascannon
Troops: Blood Claws Pack (8#, 120 pts)
Blood Claws Pack	8	Troops	3	3	4	4	1	4	1/2	8	3+	120
	Unit Type: Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol (x7); Close Combat Weapon (x8); Flamer; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Berserk Charge; Counter-attack; Headstrong
Troops: Fenrisian Wolf Pack (15#, 120 pts)
Fenrisian Wolf Pack	15	Troops	4	-	4	4	1	5	2	7	6+	120
	Unit Type: Beasts; Vicious claws and fangs (x15); Counter-attack
Troops: Fenrisian Wolf Pack (9#, 72 pts)
Fenrisian Wolf Pack	9	Troops	4	-	4	4	1	5	2	7	6+	72
	Unit Type: Beasts; Vicious claws and fangs (x9); Counter-attack
Fast Attack: Thunderwolf Cavalry (5#, 280 pts)
Thunderwolf Cavalry	4	Fast	4	4	5	5	2	4	4/5	8	3+	280
	Unit Type: Cavalry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Thunderwolf Mount; Melta Bombs (x1); Bolt Pistol (x4); Close Combat Weapon (x4); Power Fist; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Rending in CC only; Wolfkin
Thunderwolf Cavalry w/ Power Fist	1		4	4	5/10	5	2	4/1	4	8	3+	[75]
	Unit Type: Cavalry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Thunderwolf Mount; Bolt Pistol (x1); Power Fist; Acute Senses; And They Shall Know No Fear; Counter-attack; Rending in CC only; Wolfkin
Fast Attack: Land Speeder Squadron (1#, 70 pts)
Land Speeder Squadron	1	Grp: Fast BS: 4 FA: 10 SA: 10 RA: 10										70
	Vehicle (Fast, Skimmer), Deep Strike; Heavy Flamer (x1); Multi-Melta (x1)
Heavy Support: Vindicator (1#, 115 pts)
Vindicator	1	Grp: Heavy BS: 4 FA: 13 SA: 11 RA: 10										115
	Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Demolisher Cannon; Storm Bolter
Heavy Support: Predator (1#, 85 pts)
Predator	1	Grp: Heavy BS: 4 FA: 13 SA: 11 RA: 10										85
	Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Autocannon; Heavy Bolter (each side)
Heavy Support: Predator (1#, 165 pts)
Predator	1	Grp: Heavy BS: 4 FA: 13 SA: 11 RA: 10										165
	Unit Type: Vehicle (Tank); Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Twin Linked Lascannon; Lascannon (each side)
Total Cost:												1999

Ork pics

Since my Tzeencth photos will be delayed, here’s some greenskins… a few orky highlights from my WAAAGH posting days:

Revisiting My Traitor Imperial Guard

Necromundan-23rd

Background

The Necromundan 23rd were pawns of the Word Bearers. After suffering great losses to the dangers found within the Eye of Terror they were in need of organized support and protection. The Word Bearers are always in need of cult followers and they eagerly swept in on the imperiled souls of the 23rd. Through mass hypnosis and brainwashing, they co-opted the teachings of The Brotherhood of the Yellow Eye, subtly replacing their doctrines with Word Bearers dogma. The 23rd were ordered from the eye into the Cadian warzone, sent to conduct raids and steal supplies from targets of opportunity. Occasionally a Word Bearers order would come through the comms channel. Some of the orders were entirely religious or nonsensical in nature, and these commands were either ignored or misinterpreted.

( At the TSHFT tournament… )

Auguries revealed this disturbing lack of faith. The mad divinations of the Word Bearers led them to commit a mass slaughter of their own foot soldiers, as a sacrifice to the Chaos Pantheon. This display of senseless violence showed the grunts who was really in charge, especially as the Word Bearers’ vehicle hulls were protected by some kind of  luck field, the dark blessing of the Ruinous Powers.

Company Commander and cult messiah Vezz Dragasta trembled in his human leather boots as he witnessed his tanks crippled and men slaughtered by crimson soaked, Daemon possessed fiends. The blood of the slain was indistuinguishable from the deep crimson of the Word Bearer’s cracked armor. Dragasta knew his doom was approaching, for  his sins of showing too much independence and not enough results (not to mention his habit of abandoning his men to die). The cowardly, self-preserving craven dog Lt. Dragasta was captured by his own mutants, and re-educated by Word Bearers Confessor Techmarines. The procedures used to renew his faith also removed some of his brain’s higher functions, and it is rumored that parts of Dragasta’s preserved brain were turned into a servo skull. After some further brain surgery and removal of his cybernetic dermal plating, he was demoted to Platoon Commander. For new leadership of the 23rd, a casting of the runes in a pile of burning victims would reveal a more pure vessel of Chaos undivided to lead the force.  When the orange and purple fire was extinguished with blood collected from the battle, and the ashes scattered by a summoned daemon, the runes revealed the sacred name of a Word Bearers champion, Krekk Donan’glish.

(During games, Krekk Donan’glish will be playing the part of Colonel Straken.)

Build Notes

My army, it is a-changin’.

I tried going with the times and using mech (lots of vehicles, and your troops in transports) and trying lists similar to those posted on YTTH. The list I ended up taking to the TSHFT tournament was somewhat optimized, but lost too much character. I realize I was practically playing a “net list” and losing originality. I decided to put some color back into my list and try some new combinations, in the process taking it to 2000 points.

Since I placed right in the middle at the last two tournaments I have been to, I am confident that my playing skill and list building are competent. I’m no longer going to field boring armies because someone on the internet said that some units were great and some suck. I believe that some units in 40k are overcosted/undercosted but I do not believe that we should only play optimized lists. YTTH has taught me some good lessons but there is more to list building than fielding the best. Generalship is usually more important to winning than army list. I will improve as a player by actually playing the game, no matter what force I bring.

I want an army more representative of the diversity found in chaos, and less spam… unit spam is boring. Even with dropping two spamvets in chimeras I still have 6 scoring units, 7 if I don’t combine squads. If one mounted vet squad joins the fun midfield and one sneaks on as a reserve, I think I will have enough troops to claim 2-3 objectives even after being shot up.  Freeing up two Chimeras lets my Company Command Squad actually do something, and also allows me to field protected rogue psykers to kill people with mind bullets and scare opponents with the “heebie jeebies.” Also, guard armies will be assaulted and I intend to have some real counter attackers this time… “Straken” and his cronies, plus drunken cavalry on mutated steeds. I don’t have the points in this build to add Nork or a Priest to my CCS but it should still whip a mule’s ass. It is already almost 300 points and a Chimera can only take so many shots, so a 400-500 point unit just won’t be worth the risk.

This new IG list tries to use only currently painted models, which limited me to four chimeras. The Manticore I will have to convert from my converted basilisk (which used a “green army man” tank for the tracks). I’ll build it using magnets so I can preserve either build. For everything else, I’ll just have to finish up some detailing on models that didn’t get as much attention as they should have.

I still want this list to win games, and I think it can. In fact, it will be more balanced than my last list with some genuine assault elements. If I was building this list completely “in character” I would include some Big Mutants (Ogyrns) but they are just so expensive per model that I have no room for their inefficiency.

If anyone knows of some ][ Witch Hunter or Daemonhunter allies that are both effective and a good proxy for Lost and the Damned units, please let me know. For example Arco-flagellants are cool but way too expensive in points, but a squad of Sisters as Word Bearers is tempting. I might drop the lascannon team and free up about 100 points, which could also be turned into objective flooding infantry grunts.

Tactics and formations

The platoon combined infantry squad will be a bubble wrap to protect my valuable ordnance vehicles and weapon teams, this segment of the army will be Cohort Despair. My Delaque ganger Commissar is getting a power sword to better fend off assaults. The squads will be getting mortars instead of pricey lascannons so I won't be so tempted to stand and shoot with them, and after all they are an anti-infantry unit. If need be the infantry squad can run forward for objectives late game, if the weapon teams are intact on the base objective.

Cohort Bloodrend I will have Champion Krekk (Straken) and squad mounted in a chimera, with the devil dog, and the banewolf racing nearby. The demolisher will support this group by racing forward to a good firing spot turn 1, (possibly going 12" and then popping smoke) and then unleashing. Yellow-bellied Platoon Commander Dragasta will hide in reserve most games, then make a mad dash for an objective if he doesn't run away first.

Cohort Illumination will be the veterans of the force, the traitor cavalry, two units of chimelta vets, and the rogue psykers.  Depending on the mission and the foe, they will either support Bloodrend in the main push or be held in reserve.  The reserve units can respond to threats such as vehicles or attack bikes in my deployment zone, or act as surviving mobile objective grabbers. The rogue psykers will most likely deploy with the rest of the army but they will be the "wildcard" unit.

The Necromundan 23rd  -  Traitor Imperial Guard  -  2000 Pts - 5th Edition

Name	#	Grp	WS	BS	S	T	Wo	I	A	Ld	Save	Cost
HQ: Company Command Squad (8#, 290 pts)
Company Command Squad	4	HQ	3	4	3	3	1	3	1	7	4+	290
	Infantry; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon (x4); Lasgun (x2); Carapace Armour; Medi-pack; Flamer (x2); Colonel 'Iron Hand' Straken; Bodyguard; Bodyguard; Chimera
Colonel 'Iron Hand' Straken	1		5	4	6	4	3	3	3/4	9	3+/5(i)	[95]
	Infantry (Unique); Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Refractor Field; Close Combat Weapon; Plasma Pistol; Shotgun; Cold Steel and Courage; Gung-ho; Man of Adamantium; Senior Officer
Bodyguard	1		4	4	3	3	1	3	2/3	7	4+	[15]
	Infantry; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon; Laspistol; Carapace Armour; Look out – Arghh!
Bodyguard	1		4	4	3	3	1	3	2/3	7	4+	[15]
	Infantry; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon; Laspistol; Carapace Armour; Look out – Arghh!
Chimera	1	Grp: BS: 3 FA: 12 SA: 10 RA: 10										[55]
	Vehicle (Tank); Amphibious; Mobile Command Vehicle; Transport Capacity: 12 models; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Turret Multi-Laser; Heavy Flamer
Troops: Veteran Squad (11#, 155 pts)
Veteran Squad	9	Troops	3	4	3	3	1	3	1	7	5+	155
	Infantry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Close Combat Weapon (x9); Lasgun (x6); Meltagun (x3); Chimera
Veteran Sergeant	1		3	4	3	3	1	3	2/3	8	5+	[7]
	Infantry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Laspistol; Close Combat Weapon
Chimera	1	Grp: BS: 3 FA: 12 SA: 10 RA: 10										[55]
	Vehicle (Tank); Amphibious; Mobile Command Vehicle; Transport Capacity: 12 models; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Turret Multi-Laser; Heavy Flamer
Troops: Veteran Squad (11#, 155 pts)
Veteran Squad	9	Troops	3	4	3	3	1	3	1	7	5+	155
	Infantry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Close Combat Weapon (x9); Lasgun (x6); Meltagun (x3); Chimera
Veteran Sergeant	1		3	4	3	3	1	3	2/3	8	5+	[7]
	Infantry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Laspistol; Close Combat Weapon
Chimera	1	Grp: BS: 3 FA: 12 SA: 10 RA: 10										[55]
	Vehicle (Tank); Amphibious; Mobile Command Vehicle; Transport Capacity: 12 models; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Turret Multi-Laser; Heavy Flamer
Troops: Infantry Platoon (32#, 375 pts)
Infantry Platoon	1	Grp: Troops										375
	Heavy Weapons Squad; Heavy Weapons Squad
Platoon Command Squad	4		3	3	3	3	1	3	1	7	5+	[40]
	Infantry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon (x4); Lasgun (x2); Grenade Launcher (x1); Flamer (x1)
Platoon Commander	1		4	4	3	3	1	3	2/3	8	5+	[6]
	Infantry; Junior Officer; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Laspistol; Close Combat Weapon; Junior Officer
Infantry Squad	7		3	3	3	3	1	3	1	7	5+	[100]
	Infantry; Combined Squad; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon (x7); Flak Armour; Lasgun (x7); Heavy Weapons Team; Commissar
Heavy Weapons Team	1		3	3	3	3	2	3	2	7	5+	[5]
	Infantry; Note C:IG, pg. 29 in regards to composition (e.g., two models for transport, but a single model for all other purposes); Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon (x1); Flak Armour; Lasgun (x1); Mortar (x1)
Commissar	1		4	4	3	3	1	3	2	9	5+	[45]
	Infantry; Summary Execution; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Power Weapon; Stubborn
Sergeant	1		3	3	3	3	1	3	2/3	8	5+	[5]
	Infantry; Combined Squad; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Laspistol; Close Combat Weapon
Infantry Squad	7		3	3	3	3	1	3	1	7	5+	[55]
	Infantry; Combined Squad; Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon (x7); Flak Armour; Lasgun (x7); Heavy Weapons Team
Heavy Weapons Team	1		3	3	3	3	2	3	2	7	5+	[5]
	Infantry; Note C:IG, pg. 29 in regards to composition (e.g., two models for transport, but a single model for all other purposes); Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon (x1); Flak Armour; Lasgun (x1); Mortar (x1)
Sergeant	1		3	3	3	3	1	3	2/3	8	5+	[5]
	Infantry; Combined Squad; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Laspistol; Close Combat Weapon
Heavy Weapons Squad	3		3	3	3	3	2	3	2	7	5+	[105]
	Infantry; Note C:IG, pg. 29 in regards to composition (e.g., two models for transport, but a single model for all other purposes); Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon (x3); Flak Armour; Lasgun (x3); Lascannon (x3)
Heavy Weapons Squad	3		3	3	3	3	2	3	2	7	5+	[75]
	Infantry; Note C:IG, pg. 29 in regards to composition (e.g., two models for transport, but a single model for all other purposes); Frag Grenades; Close Combat Weapon (x3); Flak Armour; Lasgun (x3); Autocannon (x3)
Elite: Psyker Battle Squad (10#, 155 pts)
Psyker Battle Squad	8	Elite	2	3	2	3	1	3	1/2	9	5+	155
	Infantry; Psyker (Santioned Psykers Only); Psychic Choir; Ultimate Sanction; Flak Armour; Close Combat Weapon (x8); Laspistol (x8); Chimera; Soulstorm; Weaken Resolve
Overseer	1		3	3	3	3	1	3	2/3	9	5+	[20]
	Infantry; Psychic Choir; Ultimate Sanction; Flak Armour; Close Combat Weapon; Laspistol
Chimera	1	Grp: BS: 3 FA: 12 SA: 10 RA: 10										[55]
	Vehicle (Tank); Amphibious; Mobile Command Vehicle; Transport Capacity: 12 models; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Turret Multi-Laser; Heavy Flamer
Fast Attack: Hellhound Squadron (1#, 135 pts)
Hellhound Squadron	1	Grp: Fast										135
	Vehicle (Tank, Fast); Devil Dog
Devil Dog	1	Grp: BS: 3 FA: 12 SA: 12 RA: 10										[135]
	Vehicle (Tank, Fast); Melta Cannon; Multi-Melta
Fast Attack: Hellhound Squadron (1#, 145 pts)
Hellhound Squadron	1	Grp: Fast										145
	Vehicle (Tank, Fast); Bane Wolf
Bane Wolf	1	Grp: BS: 3 FA: 12 SA: 12 RA: 10										[145]
	Vehicle (Tank, Fast); Chem Cannon; Multi-Melta
Fast Attack: Rough Rider Squad (10#, 105 pts)
Rough Rider Squad	9	Fast	3	3	3	3	1	3	1	7	5+	105
	Cavalry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Hunting Lance (x9); Laspistol (x9)
Rough Rider Sergeant	1		3	3	3	3	1	3	2	8	5+	[15]
	Cavalry; Flak Armour; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Hunting Lance; Laspistol (x1)
Heavy Support: Leman Russ Squadron (1#, 185 pts)
Leman Russ Squadron	1	Grp: Heavy										185
	Leman Russ Demolisher
Leman Russ Demolisher	1	Grp: BS: 3 FA: 14 SA: 13 RA: 11										[185]
	Vehicle (Tank); Lumbering Behemoth; Demolisher Siege Cannon; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Heavy Flamer; Heavy Bolter Sponsons (x2)
Heavy Support: Ordnance Battery (1#, 140 pts)
Ordnance Battery	1	Grp: Heavy										140
	Medusa
Medusa	1	Grp: BS: 3 FA: 12 SA: 10 RA: 10										[140]
	Vehicle (Tank, open-topped); Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Medusa w/Bastion-breacher Shells; Heavy Flamer
Heavy Support: Manticore Rocket Launcher (1#, 160 pts)
Manticore Rocket Launcher	1	Grp: Heavy BS: 3 FA: 12 SA: 10 RA: 10										160
	Vehicle (Tank); Limited Ammunition; Storm Eagle Rockets; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Heavy Flamer
Total Cost:												2000

Tzeentch Wolves progress

Flipping through Codex: Chaos Space Marines I took a closer look at the color scheme for The Scourged.  To my dismay I noticed that their heads, shoulderpads, gauntlets and feet were black with red highlights.  While I like the idea that they hear all lies spoken by man and are driven insane, I’m simply not going to go with that scheme.

I will play my force as Thousand Sons who escaped the rubric of Ahriman while traveling through the warp.  They honor mutation as the ultimate form of physical change, and have vowed to hunt down Ahriman for his crime against the legion. I really can’t see a “fluff” based objection that holds up, since the warp allows for time travel and such it makes sense that some warbands were not affected by the ritual that turned them into automatons.  Besides, Tzeencth is the master of intrigue and I like the idea that his followers plot against one another.

I still need a name for this merry band and for the characters.

I’ve been pretty focused on cranking out models for this force.  The chaos marines (grey hunters) are almost all at least basecoated, and many are approaching a finished state. The possessed (wulfen) are looking mighty tasty. I have a rhino and predator done to a high standard, and another rhino and vindicator ready for highlights and details. Right now I am going to get started on the hulls for the second predator and the razorback.

The Thunderwolf cavalry will be chaos spawn riding on ground based tentacle filled disks I have made out of airdry foam clay. I have one landspeeder tentacle beast almost done, although he needs a rider.

The chaos hounds (fenris wolves) are all assembled with detailed bases, although I still have some more clay work to do.

For Canis I am thinking of using my chaos lord model with jump pack and twin lightning claws, chained to something grotesque. I could use my wingless tzeentch daemon prince but he is not a GW model and Conquest NW might be picky about that.

I decided I needed 4 troops after all, and since I am out of rhinos I am going with Zach’s suggestion to use a drop pod. This will allow me another tactical choice and I can always put it down empty if I have to. I am thinking about scrapping the chooser of the slain and Canis’s wolf to upgrade it with a deathwind launcher, I will need it against hordes. For the model, I have some toy “dragon eggs” that are the perfect size and shape, I will be adding many tentacles and some machine parts to make it into a creepy hybrid. One egg looks biological and will be used for this army, the other one actually has battered metal plates bolted on it in places and looks like a perfect basis for an Ork walker or drop kan.

Here’s the latest list, as always it keeps changing. Tzeentch would be proud…

HQ
195    Canis Wolfborn + 1 wolf
110    Rune priest; Living Lightning; Jaws of the World Wolf, Chooser of the slain

ELITE
140    4x Wolf guard; 1 powerfist; 3 power weapons; 3 combi meltas; 1 storm bolter (for grey hunters)

TROOPS
185     8x Grey hunters; mark of wulfen; wolf standard; 1 melta; rhino
175     8x Grey hunters; mark of wulfen;1 melta; rhino
175     8x Grey hunters; mark of wulfen;1 melta; drop pod
165     5x  Grey hunters, mark of wulfen; flamer; razorback w/ TL Lascannons
120    15x Fenrisian wolves

FAST
70    Land speeder mm/hf
70    Land speeder mm/hf
230    4x Thunderwolf cavalry;  powerfist; melta bombs

HEAVY
115    Vindicator
85    Predator; autocannon / heavy bolter sponsons
165    Predator; twin-linked lascannon / lascannon sponsons

2000

Lastly, here are some concept art pictures from Warhammer online that I just fell in love with…

Dueling Manifestos

This is in response to an interesting post, found at: http://www.baldandscreaming.com/commentary/my-manifesto-part-i/

By the way Danny Internets has framed the debate, he demonstrated through logic that fun vs. “competitive” is not a real dispute since competitive players also play for fun. Unfortunately for us all this does not neatly wrap up the issue.

Let’s put aside the cheating, aggressive asshats that partially populate any competitive arena.  We can call them WAAC players, or tool factories, or douchenozzles, whatever. They do not represent a faction or philosophy; they represent their own insecurities and moral failings. Bad sportsmanship is not really the issue here.

It is clear that competitive players are out there. They build lists to win, they play to win, and they attempt to exploit any weakness in the opponent’s strategy and deployment. They will not try to win at all costs… because they won’t cheat, bully their opponent, stall the clock, etc. This is a war game, and there are rules established to hopefully ensure a fair and balanced experience. There is nothing intrinsically wrong with this style of play. It is a matter of taste.

The so-called “fun players” should not be called “fun players” because everyone in the hobby is looking to have fun in their own way. We don’t really need to label everyone, we can call them hobby players or whatever but in reality everyone is on a continuum. Someone could conceivably win both best painted and best general because playing and collecting are separate realms. In any case, some players want to incorporate a story or theme within what they play. This will limit their selections, and therefore limit the potential effectiveness of their army list.  This could be as low-key as taking a couple useless pieces of wargear because it fits the fluff, or your whole army could be made up of sub par units because it matches models you like or a story you want to tell.

For example, I refuse to take Vendettas in my traitor guard because I feel it doesn’t match the theme of the army, even though Vendettas are perhaps the best unit in the Imperial Guard Codex.  However, since I still want to win games I made the decision to mech up and leave the infantry hordes and cavalry at home.  This was a personal compromise, and each player has their own balance between effectiveness, models, and theme. Players with different priorities should not be mocked for bringing a sub optimal unit and still trying their best to win, not everyone in the hobby should be expected to bring only the best cutthroat killer units.

One could argue that any army could have a story that justifies their composition, but this is working backwards. You can come up with a rationale for why four land raiders with assault terminators showed up to fight some Orks, but this is not the same as honestly trying to balance story and effectiveness. In rare cases there are units that are so broken I would consider them an exploit (such as 4th edition holofield falcons) but fortunately the worst cheese is slowly being written out of the game. If you want to play with broken combos play Magic the Gathering or online games.

Composition scores are counterproductive since they are almost purely subjective, and weak lists should not be rewarded.  Roll up awards for representative or themed lists into the appearance awards, or just leave them out of scoring altogether.

Someone with a killer but soulless list shouldn’t brag about how awesome they are, since there is more to the hobby then winning games.  If you see a player with three units of converted Ogryns it is an interesting change of pace, and I don’t want to see 40k devolve into a handful of cookie cutter lists. Conversely, those with a real theme or better painting should not bash the purely competitive players. It’s obvious the player with lots of land raiders or vendettas wants to win, but so what, so does every other player at the tournament. Ideally we can all learn from each other, this is supposed to be a hobby community and not a pissing contest.

Cheers,

Your friendly neighborhood Chaosgerbil

Gav responds!

What a guy! Author and former codex designer Gav Thorpe rolled his hamster ball into my lair to deposit some fresh comments.  My respect for the guy grows, you don’t see many people from Games Workshop address the community directly or own up to mistakes in public.

I’ll preserve the original post, seen here:  http://chaosgerbil.wordpress.com/2009/09/16/open-letter-to-gav-thorpe/

Gav’s home turf can be found here, at: http://mechanicalhamster.wordpress.com/