Dec 4th Tourney at Showcase Comics, Media PA PART 3

The final part of my tourney report:

Round 3
Mission: Kill Everything (Annihilation with Victory points in lieu of kill points, bonus for having HQ alive at end, bonus for HQ being in enemy deployment zone at end)
Opponent: Kevin, playing Blood Angels

Kevins Blood Angel List:
Commander Dante
Mephiston, Lord of Death
5 x Thunder hammer/Storm Shield Terminators
1x Sanquinary Priest
Land Raider Redeemer w/ Multi Melta, Extra Armour
10x Tactical Marines, Melta Gun, Lascannon, Power Weapon
10x Tactical Marines, Metla Gun, Lascannon, Power Weapon
10x Assault Marines w/ Jump Packs, 2x Melta Guns, Power Weapon
Predator with lascannons


Summary: I didnt actually read Kevins list up front, I let him tell me what he had, and I was a bit nervous.  You hear all the time how Mephiston will kill your family and friends and even your dog and sometimes even your friends dog!  Also, I am never a fan of those Furious Charge, 3+ invul, TH, Feel no pain termies.

I took first turn and castled up on the right corner with my dreads on my flanks and my thunderfire on a tall piece of terrain giving it total control of the board.  I kept my termies in reserve. He deployed his 2 tactical squads on each side of his deployment zone in cover and had his Redeemer and Pred on the left (his right) in the back hanging out with Mephiston.  Dante and the jump marines were in reserve.

I moved the bikes flat out to the land raider, positioned my castle and shot half of one of his tacticals to death.  Mephiston failed to cast his flight spell, helping me for one turn. The redeemer moved forward 12, flamed a biker causing one wound, and his termies got out and multi assaulted 2 of the bikes and killed them. He stunned a predator in the shooting phase. 

Turn 2 I popped the redeemer with the attack bike, then focused fire on the terminators. Tried to slow them down with the thunderfire special ammo, but they wound up rolling a 6 for movement anyways.  Mephiston killed the biker to protect his las pred on his turn.  He wrecked a razorback with a lascannon shot.

Turn 3 my termies came in behind his full left tactical.  I cast The Avenger on his perfectly lined up tactical in cover and killed 6 marines (gotta love the AP3 flamer). I shot everything into the terminators bringing down 2, they then charged one of my dakka dreads wrecking it. Dante and his marines jumped to my right flank popping a razorback with all their melta. Mephiston, doubled back using his flying power and charged my termie squad, fighting my librarian causing 3 wounds, which I saved on a 3+ !!!.  Now apparently, the Lord of Death, does not have an invul save? My 10 thunderhammer attacks mashed him into space vampire mush as they struck back. 

Turn 4 My librarian left the termie squad, finished off the remainder of his tac squad in cover with another Psychic AP3 Flamer shot.  My Termies headed over to the predator which had not moved and scored like 10 penetrating hits and blew it up. I fired some melta and krack and autocannons from my right dread and rhino at the assault squad.  I finished off his right side tac with my predator. Then fired everything left into the terminators -  4 small templates from thunderfire, 1 krack missle, 1 melta gun, 3 lascannons, 1 autocannon, 10 rapid fire bolters, and a storm bolter. Killing the sanquinary priest right away (bye bye FNP) and taking them down!  The right side dakka dread then charged the assault marines on my right side, killing 2, winning the combat.  They failed leadership and died.

TABLED!

I earned max points (20) for the VP's, plus 1 for killing all enemy HQ's, plus 1 for having my HQ in his deployment zone in the end for a total of 22 points. I would of wont best round 3 battle points, but I tied with Dameon and he beat me on painting score -  I wasnt fully painted and lets face it... Dameons Thousand Sons look bad ass!  Here is a link:
http://www.games-workshop.com/gws/content/article.jsp?categoryId=300005&pIndex=2&aId=11600017&start=3

Kevin had a couple bad rolls, but overall I just dont think his list was good for this type of mission.  Each unit was over 250 points and so I only had to kill like 5 things to win.  He also had the 2 tactical squads try to out shoot me, which just wasnt going to happen - I am gunline, you are blood angels, nuff said.

FINAL THOUGHTS

I really enjoyed my first tourney.  Overall, the players were fun.  There was plenty of net list cheeze, some pretty Army Painter Quick Shaded Armies, and of course every special character imaginable from Strahken, to Urien, Mephiston, and even an Ultra Marines version of Vulkan- Imagine that! Showcase Comics has an amazing set up with plenty of tables, great terrain, a bathroom, and a chick fil a across the hall!  Mike runs a great outfit (though I thought he was going to cook).

Coming in 2nd best general was a big surprise. I believe that puts me in at 4th place, they should be posting the total points sometime soon at :
http://www.biggunz-ne.com/

Not too bad for a first timer.  I know I need to go back and finish up my models and refine the ones I had painted already. I also think a display board is important for paint score. I  felt a bit out of place in carrying my army in an upside down warhammer fantasy skull pass box top.

With my baby due early Jan, I think this will be it for me for a while, though I will be trying to play casually at Dream Wizards in rockville as much as possible.

-My 2 Cents

Dec. 4th Tourney at Showcase Comics, Media PA PART 2

Part 2 of my tourney report.  
1850 points played on December 4th, 2010, see my previous post for my list.

Round 1
 
Mission: Modified Seize Ground (terrain was either on fire/dangerous or smoking/+1 cover, points for both objectives and KP, bonus for having HQ left, Bonus for having HQ in enemy deployment zone)
Opponent: Walter, playing Dark Eldar
Walters DE List:
Adrubeal Vect
Haemonculous w/ liquifier
Haemonculous w/ liquifier
9 Wyches w/ haywire grenades, razorflails 1 hekatrix, agonizer in a Raider w/ flicker field and night shields
10 warriors, SC, Blaster, Sybarite, agonizer in a raider w/ flicker field and night sheilds
10 warriors, SC, Blaster, Sybarite, agonizer in a raider w/ flicker field and night sheilds
10 warriors w/ Dark Lance, sybarite
10 warriors w/ Dark Lance, sybarite
3 Incubi w/ Klaivex in a Venom w/ flicker field, night shields
1 Void Raven, night shield, flicker field, 4 x necro missles 2x dark lances
1 Ravager w/ nightshield, flicker field, disintegrators
1 Ravager w/ nightshield, flicker field, dark lances

Summary: Walter was just getting into the serious scene, so this was also his first tourney.  I was not sure what to expect from Dark Eldar.  We had 5 objectives pretty much evenly spaced out.  I deployed castled up on a smoking ruin with an objective in it.  The 2 adjacent objectives were easy to grab as I began to be comfortable spreading out a bit with my rhinos.  By turn 5, I had 3 objectives.  I had also contested his only objective with my terminators, he contested the last objective which I had on my home with his wytches. I think one more turn and I might of had them all! The DE were indeed fast and their lances were pretty scary just in that there were alot of them.  I think the suppressive fire was the key to keeping them at bay.  However, even with all I had, a venom and a raider still made it to me and of course they were the HQ death squad one and the Wytch/Homoculous one!
Some key moments were:
-I reinforced the smoking ruin my tac squad and thunderfire were in giving it a 2+ cover save!  His wytches made it into there and I was not able to get them out. Man was I missing my heavy flamers then! This is the objective they managed to contest.
-His scary command squad had a chance to take a tac squad but decided to fight one of my dreads first, this made him tie this squad up for 2 turns before they lost combat and fell back, only to be shot to death. A major mistake on his part, and probably saved me a squad or 2.

Walter was a really cool dude going for his doctorate in Philly.  He had a great attitude and was really appreciative of the game.

WIN: 18 Points including having my HQ alive and in enemy deployment zone
Opponent score: 2 Points including having one HQ alive and in my deployment zone (with his wytches)

Round 2

Mission: Football (infantry pick up objective/football, whoever holds it at the end wins the points. Bonus for killing all enemy troops, bonus for killing all enemy HQ's)
Opponent: Brian, playing Deamons of Chaos

Brians Deamon List:
Fateweaver
2x Deamon princes of nurgle with some shooting attack and flying
Blood Thrister
5x Bloodcrushers (that apparently count as infantry!)
10+Bloodletters
2x squads of 5 Plague Bearers

Summary:  Brian is an experienced player from the Inner Circle Gaming Club so I was a bit worried on top of the fact that Deamons of Chaos have always given me a really hard time.  Power weapons everywhere, multi wound MC's that fly and have eternal warrior, spells that arent psychic powers, deep striking up in my face... No good at all!

So the big advantage that I felt I had on this mission was that only infantry could hold the football and I had a lot of infantry. I took first turn even though I had no targets and rushed my rhinos up and started walling off a channel with my other vehicles give my Termies a safe corridor to run back with the football.  By going first it gave me 2 movement phases before I had to worry about  being assaulted.  This worked great and I was able to hold the nasties off for quite a while.  I feed the bloodcrushers and princes a rhino, then the squad, then another rhino, and another squad, etc... each turn denying them my termies.  Until turn 4. Then fateweaver reached them.  I was suprised that he used fateweaver for assault but I think it was just to tie my guys up.  He killed my librarian in CC right off the break, eliminating Null Zone from my arsenal.  I blocked the bloodcrushers with my tanks and a large piece of impassable terrain, keeping them stuck at the mid point of the table.  As turn 5 approached, I knew he was going to break my line, so I charged the bloodcrushers with my autocannon dread, which kept them tarpitted for the rest of the game.  Sadly though, a nurgle prince finally made it past my road blocks and into my termies.  After 2 rounds with fateweaver and the prince, the 5th TH/SS termie finally fell and dropped the football on turn 6.  Had the game ended turn 5, I would of had the football and won!  He got 4 points for killing my HQ, I had 0 since I didnt kill all of his HQ's and didnt have the ball :(


All in all, I think I did amazingly well on this match, I dont know how I could of done anything different and had I not failed that final 3+ invul save or had the game ended after turn 5, it would of been a win.  Brian was a fun player who was not too intense and we kept some fun in the game.  He also had some awesome forgeworld greater nurgle deamon models which were really cool to see on the table.

LOSS: 0 points
Opponent Score: 4 points for killing all of my HQ choices (I had only 1)

Stay tuned for the final part of my report......

Dec 4th Tourney at Showcase Comics, Media PA PART 1

First part of my summary of the 1850 Tourney at Showcase comics at the Granite Run Mall in Media, PA.  Went with Dameon and his Thousand Sons and had a great time.

This was my first Tourney and I decided to field my Gunline Vanilla Marines.  This was also the first time I have ever played 1850 points, which to me is a strange number.  Anyways, it was a great time and I did much better than I thought I would.  I took 2nd place best General and I think somewhere around 4th place overall, waiting for total points to be posted.


                                                            1850 Crimson Fists (Vanilla)

Terminator Librarian with Storm Shield - Null Zone, Avenger
10 man Tactical w/ Melta Gun, Missile Launcher in Rhino w/ Dozer Blade
10 man Tactical w/ Melta Gun, Missile Launcher in Rhino w/ Dozer Blade
5 man Tactical w/ Combi Melta in Razorback w/ Lascannon/twin linked plasma gun
5 man Tactical in Razorback w/ lascannon/twin linked plasma gun
5 Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield Terminators
1 Dreadnought w/ 2 twin linked autocannons
1 Dreadnought w/ 2 twin linked autocannons
1 Attack bike w/ Multi Melta
1 Attack bike w/ Multi Melta
1 Attack bike w/ Multi Melta
Thunderfire Cannon w/ Techmarine in Servo Harness
1 Predator w/ Autocannon turret and lascannon sponsons
1 Predator w/ Autocannon turret and lascannon sponsons
1850 points

Overall this list did great.  I didnt need the dozer blades and would of preferred to use the 10 points for another combi weapon on the Razorback tactical squad, but oh well, you never know till after the fact.  I put out a great amount of volume of fire and the thunderfire did great as well.  Additionally, the small termie squad really put the hurt down in all 3 games, usually they just die, but not this day.  I was def. missing the usual heavy flamers from the dreads and speeders I have become accustomed to, leaving me a bit underpowered against hordes, which luckily I didnt play this time.

Will post battle summaries soon.

Going fully Mech

Played a few games yesterday with a new fully Mech list and had alot of fun:

Librarian (Null Zone, Avenger)

Tac x10, Flamer, ML, Rhino, Dozer Blade
Tac x10, Flamer, ML, Rhino, Dozer Blade
Tac x5, Laz/Plaz Razorback
Tac x5, Laz/Plaz Razorback
Sterguard x7, Combi Melta x2, Rhino, Dozer Blade
Dread w/ 2x TL AC
Dread w/ 2x TL AC
Landspeeder w/ MM/HF
Landspeeder w/ MM/HF
Landspeeder w/ MM/HF
Pred w/ LC Sponsons
Pred w/ LC Sponsons
Devastators x5 w/ 4 Missile Launcher, Laz/Plaz Razorback


This is a big change from my usual biker/mech hybrid list, however I wanted to give it a try.  It worked fantastic.  A TON of suppressive fire kept my enemies in check and I was able to keep what felt like control on the table.  Sure it wasnt as fast as my other list, but it worked, and that speaks for itself.

Thinking of dropping out the Dev squad and putting in a Thunderfire cannon to help slow the enemy from advancing to my line.  I might also switch the speeders to MM attack bikes.  I could also fill out the sternguard to 10 with the remaining points and give 4 ML's which is 5 points cheaper then the previous Dev squad I had in.

Anyways, going to try an 1850 take on this soon and see how it goes.  Will be without the Devs' and the speeders will be attack bikes.  Should be fun!

These elections had me thinking....

About how awesome this poster was back in 08!

Thats right... Cuz sometimes you gotta roll a hard six!

Fluffy Crimson Fists List

Playing with my SW had me thinking of my Crimson Fists.  Thought I would try a fluffy list:

Pedro Cantor

Master of the Forge

Tactical x5 in Laz/Plaz Razorback

Tactical x5 in Laz/Plaz Razorback

Tactical x5 in Laz/Plaz Razorback

Sternguard x5 w/ 2 Missile Lauchers in Rhino

Sternguard x5 w/ 2 Missile Lauchers in Rhino

Sternguard x10 w/ 6 Combi meltas in Drop Pod (for combat squading, 3rd pod to drop)
Pedro here

Ironclad w/ Melta Gun/Heavy Flamer in Drop Pod

Ironclad w/ Melta Gun/Heavy Flamer in Drop Pod

Landspeeders x3 w/ Multi Melta and Heavy Flamer

1995 PTS

The Sternguard in Rhinos sit back on home objectives and fire their missiles out of the firing points. I know it is controversial to give up the special ammo, but I think it works if used right. The dreads drop turn 1 to put the pressure on immediate threats. The big drop pod drops where needed later.

As always looking for some feedback.

Props to Bald and Screaming for finding this pic!

Home Brew Logan Grimnar

So in continuing to build my SW list "Fists of Russ", I am in need of a Logan Grimnar to make my WG scoring and just be generally badass!  The problem is, I just dont like the actual Logan model. (no offense to "The Brotha", I know you love it!)

Anyways, here is the homebrew version I am working on.  So far I think it looks pretty "High King-esque"

He is just WG Terminator bitz, the Wolf banner from the reg. SW box (which happens to have his icon on it) and I made the axe from 2 of the big frost axes that come in the WG sprue.  I used the SW head but cut off the 2 extra braids to get his haircut closer to the Logan model by GW.  He still needs to be trimmed up a bit and greenstuffed.

I am planning on putting him on the Chaos Lord/Sorc. base so he has more presence.

Would love some feedback on what else to do or your thoughts

Roger Waters Concert was amazing!

Last nights concert at the Verzion Center was just fantastic.  They played the entire The Wall album.  Building the wall the entire concert and then knocking it down at the end. The wall was used not only for super HD animations and effects, but also to separate the audience from the band as the Wall was formed.  As usual, his band was great including Snowwy White's amazing guitar skills.  The designs were amazing especially when they began to fly the flags with hammers.  The lights, the sound, the stage, everything was great.

I had seen Roger Waters at Nissan Pavilion in 2007 for his Dark Side tour, which was probably a little bit more amazing, however, I attribute that to my mindset at that time.  It was also far more psycidellic, however, the Wall just isnt that kind of album.

If you are a fan of Pink Floyd make sure you see Roger Waters while he is still touring.  I am so happy knowing that I had the chance to him at least twice in my life, totally worth it.

Space Wolves Revision

I am thinking of adding a stronger fire base to my current list after hearing some opinions from other players.  One of the things I had done with my Crimson Fists list was to strip out some of the upgrades on my squads that are just holding objectives and add those points to things that are going to be adding more punch.

In this case, if I cut down my 10 man Grey Hunter squads in Rhinos to 5+WG and downgrade the WG's Powerfist to a Power Weapon, I gain enough points to field much more shooty.  I will also add Logan to make the WG scoring. This will give me more scoring units with punch as well.

New list:
Fists Of Russ 2000PTS

Logan Grimnar, The Great Wolf

5 Grey Hunters, 1 Melta Gun,
1Wolf Guard, Power Weapon, Combi Melta
Razorback w/ TL HB

5 Grey Hunters, 1 Melta Gun,
1Wolf Guard, Power Weapon, Combi Melta
Razorback w/ TL HB

5 Grey Hunters, 1 Melta Gun,
1Wolf Guard, Power Weapon, Combi Melta
Razorback w/ TL HB

Wolf Guard x5 (Logan Here), 3x Combi Melta,
Wolf Guardx1, Terminator Armour, Chain Fist, Heavy Flamer
Drop Pod (w/ SB)

Wolf Guard x5 , 3x Combi Melta,
Wolf Guardx1, Terminator Armour, Chain Fist, Heavy Flamer
Wolf Guardx1, Terminator Armour, Wolf Claw, Storm Sheild
Drop Pod (w/ SB)

Wolf Guard x5 , 3x Combi Melta,
Wolf Guardx1, Terminator Armour, Chain Fist, Heavy Flamer
Wolf Guardx1, Terminator Armour, Wolf Claw, Storm Sheild
Drop Pod (w/ SB)

Long Fangs x5, 4x Missile Launchers
Laz/Plaz Razorback

Long Fangs x5, 4x Missile Launchers
Laz/Plaz Razorback

Long Fangs x5, 4x Missile Launchers
Laz/Plaz Razorback

Guillotine is awesome!

Tired of waiting for a pick up game of WFB? Sick of fighting Blood Angels? Cant take the smell of those Magic players across the room?  Need a game you can get less hardcore gamer friends or family into? Then you need to check out Guillotine published by Wizards of the Coast.
Guillotine is an easy card game for 2+ players, no real gaming experience is required.  I play this game with anyone, and everyone gets it after one try.

The game involves collecting the heads of nobles that are represented by "Noble Cards" each worth a different number of points.  The nobles are set out in a line of 12 and players manipulate the line using action cards to collect the most valuable cards for themselves and/or keep other players from getting more points.  The player with the most points at the end of 3 days (turns) wins.  The average game is 15-20 minutes once people understand how to play.  There is a great greifer element to the game without people getting too upset. I havent met anyone who didnt enjoy joining in a game of this.

Guillotine is particularly fun with some drinks and best of all... its cheap!  Less than $15.

Here is the Wikipedia Link if you want to learn a bit more about the game.  However, I suggest you just pick it up and give it a try.

-Mike

Space Wolves Update

So just a few games in with new list:

First one against Blood Angels.  This resulted in a slim loss, but  loss none the less.  Lost due a lone solo left in what was his death company squad contesting one of my objectives.  A classic example of how a solid win can quickly change to a tie, and then at the last second ... become a loss.  Especially when you roll snake eyes to wound with your power fists!

Second battle against Vanilla Marines.  This was a fun game against a player I had never faced before.  This was a clear victory.  I was able to keep command of the board and both objectives.  I was not too impressed with my Rune Priest, but thats okay, like all psykers they are hit are miss.

Thoughts... Going to keep going with the current list. The squads of 10 seem to be a bit of overkill in the Rhinos but I have yet to face anything but marines, so that may prove a premature assumption.  The melta was invaluable for killing dreads and melting power armor as well as the heavy flamers for clearing out scouts in cover.  I need to get used to using the devestator/long fangs again as they require a good firing lane to really maximize output.

Thinking of doing some min/maxing to squeeze something else in.  Would really like some wolf scouts but I dont know if thats possible.

In the meantime going to start some conversions to fill out my squads.

Will keep some updates coming.

The great Space Wolf Debate

So after playing Crimson Fists for 2 years now, I am going to start a 2nd army.  But instead of switching completely, I am going to convert my current army to a Space Wolf 2nd founding "The Fists Of Russ".  This will allow me to keep my Crimson Fist iconography and switch as I still like a lot from the Vanilla Codex such as bikes and thunderfire cannons.

Currently the list I am thinking of fielding is:

2000 Points
"The Fists Of Russ"

HQ:           Rune Priest Terminator w/
                 Chooser of the Slain, Saga of the Beastslayer, and Combi Plasma
Note: He will sit with Long Fangs

Troops 1 : 9 Grey Hunters in Rhino, 1 Melta Gun, Wolf Standard, and 1 Mark of the Wulfen.
                Led by 1 Wolf Guard with Power Fist and Combi Melta
Troops 2 : 9 Grey Hunters in Rhino, 1 Melta Gun, Wolf Standard, and 1 Mark of the Wulfen.
                Led by 1 Wolf Guard with Power Fist and Combi Melta
Troops 3 : 9 Grey Hunters in Rhino, 1 Melta Gun, Wolf Standard, and 1 Mark of the Wulfen.
                Led by 1 Wolf Guard with Power Fist and Combi Melta 
Troops 4: 10 Grey Hunters in Drop Pod, 2 Melta Guns, Wolf Standard, and 1 Mark of the
                Wulfen.
                Led by 1 Wolf Guard with Power Fist and Combi Melta
Elite 1: 6 Wolf Guard in Drop Pod, 6 Combi Melta
                1 Wolf Guard Terminator with Power Fist and Heavy Flamer
Elite 2: 6 Wolf Guard in Drop Pod, 6 Combi Melta
                1 Wolf Guard Terminator with Power Fist and Heavy Flamer
Note: All Wolf Guard squad leaders were broken off from these 2 groups
Heavy 1: 6 Long Fangs, 5 Missile Launchers
               Led by 1 Wolf Guard Terminator with Power Fist and Cyclone Missile Launcher
Heavy 2: 6 Long Fangs, 5 Missile Launchers
               Led by 1 Wolf Guard Terminator with Power Fist and Cyclone Missile Launcher

I could convert my army by adding only a box of Space Wolves and a box of Terminator Wolf Guard, plus trading a few bits. Thinking the wolf heads for Wulfen.  Actual space wolves for Wolf Guard and normal marines for reg. grey hunters.

It seems that the SW Codex just offers more customization like the 4th edition Space Marine book. Plus I love my devastators. Oh sorry... I mean Long Fangs.

The list is a bit spammy, but most of my lists are for redundancy.  Should have plenty of troops for objective games and my 2 pods with WG should put some early pressure on.  I worry they may left to die but I will use them similar to the Sternguard scalpel.

Hoping to a couple games out this week and see how it goes.