Wednesday, April 28, 2010
Just to keep it fresh....a couple of pictures
I saw an interesting debate on a forum discussing true line of sight vs. category heights. One of the major changes of 5th was true LOS and it was received rather poorly overall judging from various forums. I actually enjoy true LOS as it encourages you to get eye level and helps you 'sink' into the game a bit. So on that theme, I had a few pics I hadn't uploaded yet of my Celestial Lions chapter/board;
Friday, April 2, 2010
AgeOfEgos Adepticon Wrap up
Well, I'm back home and my sleep schedule has finally returned to normal. Adepticon was a blast (again) and I had some great games. I'm particularly proud to say my Wood Elves won best Appearance in Warhammer Fantasy Warbands;
On the 40k side, my army scored 3rdish (I say 3rd as another player scored a 43 as well) in appearance and 2nd in Players Choice (Yellow Side, as there were two sides this year in the 40k competition). Vince from Black Library also snapped some photos of it and put it up on the Black Library site, so that was pretty cool. Mike's (AshAxe) bike conversions he did for me got many a compliment, as well as the LED fire/display board so I was quite pleased with how it turned out. Many thanks to Mike for the bikes! Mike did very well in the Blue too, especially considering the competition...but I'll let him talk about his army.
As far as actual playing goes, I won my first 40k game against a SW player who was one of the coolest guys I've ever played at a tournament. Went by the name Charlie....laid back, witty and had a great looking army. I only won by a KP and really could have went either way. Khan and group performed well in this game.
Second game I got owned by another Scars player. The guy knew his game and man handled me with all bikes. I made some incredibly stupid decisions and kind of rushed to setup without thinking much (Like taking 1st turn in DOW...eh yeah?). This takes nothing away from his win though, as he played perfect with no mistakes to capitalize on. Great guy to play against too with a great sense of humor....but a loss nonetheless.
Third game I played a Necron army fielded by a great player who knew the Scars player who had just curb stomped me (This didn't sound very good!). However, fate smiled on me and my first las cannon shot against the toughest tank in the game....immobilization! This left no room for Deceiver to hide so was great luck. He also had a Destroyer group fail two Ld. 10 tests to run off the board, so really I should have lost this game. Still, I got some very lucky rolls and managed to grab the primary. As a funny sidenote, at one point in the game he agreed to not run Deceiver out of combat if I charged with my Emperor (Lysander) and Custodes (TH Terms). Last game out of Adepticion, why the hell not? So I charge him and he gets ready to make his saves after ripping a few terms....and this golden dice appears. I kid you not, we move a piece of paper and there is a pure golden dice on the board. Doesn't match my dice, doesn't match his...it just appeared as though Zeus was granting Jason his golden shield. So he has to roll it...and makes every farking save. Hah, good times. Game ended with Emperor failing his stubborn and running back to the Golden Throne...because of the Golden dice. If you read this Necron guy, thanks for the great game/memory.
All in all? I had a blast and will be going back next year. Hopefully Mike will share his experiences!
On the 40k side, my army scored 3rdish (I say 3rd as another player scored a 43 as well) in appearance and 2nd in Players Choice (Yellow Side, as there were two sides this year in the 40k competition). Vince from Black Library also snapped some photos of it and put it up on the Black Library site, so that was pretty cool. Mike's (AshAxe) bike conversions he did for me got many a compliment, as well as the LED fire/display board so I was quite pleased with how it turned out. Many thanks to Mike for the bikes! Mike did very well in the Blue too, especially considering the competition...but I'll let him talk about his army.
As far as actual playing goes, I won my first 40k game against a SW player who was one of the coolest guys I've ever played at a tournament. Went by the name Charlie....laid back, witty and had a great looking army. I only won by a KP and really could have went either way. Khan and group performed well in this game.
Second game I got owned by another Scars player. The guy knew his game and man handled me with all bikes. I made some incredibly stupid decisions and kind of rushed to setup without thinking much (Like taking 1st turn in DOW...eh yeah?). This takes nothing away from his win though, as he played perfect with no mistakes to capitalize on. Great guy to play against too with a great sense of humor....but a loss nonetheless.
Third game I played a Necron army fielded by a great player who knew the Scars player who had just curb stomped me (This didn't sound very good!). However, fate smiled on me and my first las cannon shot against the toughest tank in the game....immobilization! This left no room for Deceiver to hide so was great luck. He also had a Destroyer group fail two Ld. 10 tests to run off the board, so really I should have lost this game. Still, I got some very lucky rolls and managed to grab the primary. As a funny sidenote, at one point in the game he agreed to not run Deceiver out of combat if I charged with my Emperor (Lysander) and Custodes (TH Terms). Last game out of Adepticion, why the hell not? So I charge him and he gets ready to make his saves after ripping a few terms....and this golden dice appears. I kid you not, we move a piece of paper and there is a pure golden dice on the board. Doesn't match my dice, doesn't match his...it just appeared as though Zeus was granting Jason his golden shield. So he has to roll it...and makes every farking save. Hah, good times. Game ended with Emperor failing his stubborn and running back to the Golden Throne...because of the Golden dice. If you read this Necron guy, thanks for the great game/memory.
All in all? I had a blast and will be going back next year. Hopefully Mike will share his experiences!
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
My Adepticon Army/Display
Well, here is the reason I haven't posted anything for a bit. Mike and I are heading in less than 24 hours...so here goes;
The camera doesn't capture it but all of the fire effects are flickering LEDs, so they look like real fire. I also have a soundtrack that plays in the background (DOW Marine music). The fire burning behind the stained glass in the building...is actually individual wreck markers I can remove when my vehicles blow up (Turned off, they simulate me popping smoke, turned on...well the rhino is dead!);
The display itself is a picture frame with MDF mounted via velcro. So after Adepticon I can pop this display out and put it on my cityfight board...then next year make another display and 'pop' that new one in. I might post an article on that for those whom want to make their own displays. Anyways, looking forward to Adepticon this year...I'll be adding my nick (AgeOfEgos) to my badge...so be sure to say hi!
The camera doesn't capture it but all of the fire effects are flickering LEDs, so they look like real fire. I also have a soundtrack that plays in the background (DOW Marine music). The fire burning behind the stained glass in the building...is actually individual wreck markers I can remove when my vehicles blow up (Turned off, they simulate me popping smoke, turned on...well the rhino is dead!);
The display itself is a picture frame with MDF mounted via velcro. So after Adepticon I can pop this display out and put it on my cityfight board...then next year make another display and 'pop' that new one in. I might post an article on that for those whom want to make their own displays. Anyways, looking forward to Adepticon this year...I'll be adding my nick (AgeOfEgos) to my badge...so be sure to say hi!
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
Ready for Adepticon..(?)
Just a few short days left before Adepticon and I like many others I'm sure, are scrambling to finish up armies and displays and very unlike Age, who has been ready for at least a couple of weeks now. The finish is in sight though and I will hopefully have everything done.
About my army...I went back to the earlier pledge and am leaving the lash at home and am going with a Nurgle/deathguard theme with one exception. Once we get back, we will be sure to show off some pics and give a full rundown of the weekend.
Until then, may the dice gods smile upon you.
Ash
About my army...I went back to the earlier pledge and am leaving the lash at home and am going with a Nurgle/deathguard theme with one exception. Once we get back, we will be sure to show off some pics and give a full rundown of the weekend.
Until then, may the dice gods smile upon you.
Ash
Sunday, February 7, 2010
Adepticon 2010 Revised CSM List
1850 Pts - Chaos Marines Roster - Adepticon List 2010
HQ: Abaddon the Despoiler @ 275 pts
5 Plague Marines @ 135 pts
2 meltaguns
Chaos Land Raider with Daemonic Possession @ 240 pts
HQ: Chaos Sorcerer with MoS and Lash of Submission @ 125 pts
7 Plague Marines @ 269 pts
1 Meltagun
1 Plague Champion with Power Fist
1 Rhino
7 Plague Marines @ 269 pts
1 Meltagun
1 Plague Champion with Power Fist
1 Rhino
5 Plague Marines @ 160 pts
1 Meltagun
1 Rhino
2 Obliterators @ 150 pts
3 Obliterators @ 225 pts
Total Roster Cost: 1848 pts
First,I am going to have to eat a bit of crow. I tried to make a list without the Lash but my latest draft includes one. Here are a few things I learned so far:
1. Berzerkers as Abaddon's escort really didn't add that much to his effectiveness and they died pretty easily. Plague Marines did not die as easily and with 2 meltaguns were able to pop armor or force a couple of Invulnerable saves on tough units prior to assault.
2. Daemon Princes need terrain. At Adepticon terrain is, let's face it, sparse. During play-testing my DP fell time and again to mass/rapid fire shots. So I switched to a Sorcerer and hid him in a unit of Plague Marines. Success! The trick here was to keep him cheap and effective, hence Lash. It is truly game changing as it dictates movement directly and indirectly.
3. Thousands Sons. Expensive and die just as easily as a 15 pt Chaos Marine to rapid fire. Cover saves are abundant which really reduce their effectiveness. They are good at tying up CC heavy hitters, but they can't kill them. If there was a way to get a hidden powerfist in there....
4. Vindicators. I scatter way too much! My vindicator would usually scatter twice then be taken out.
5. Defilers. I play-tested these to death and just could not get reliable results out of them. Whether I tried to "run" them or shoot with them (scatter problem again); field one or a couple; reserve them, it didn't matter, they just died. Armor 12 just doesn't cut it with a model that big.
6. Chosen (5 man meltagun squad w/ rhino). Actually, this is a decent unit and performs well as long as you don't out flank unless you really have too. The only reason they were cut is that they are not scoring.
7. Scoring units win games. No duh, right. I found in my early lists that I couldn't handle missions with multiple objectives. I could contest, but not win. Plague marines are one of the best objective squatters out there.
This list evolved with Adepticon terrain in mind and sadly, some of my favorite models/units didn't make the cut. I know that there are those who would say this is power gaming or what have you, but this is a highly competitive tournament and I don't want to get my teeth kicked in every game. If I was a true power gamer I would play IG and the 14 lascannons of death list (It's brutal and I still have nightmares about that game) !)
The main thing I learned through out play-testing is that the game is so much more challenging with good, thought out terrain pieces/placement. It also gives those less optimal units a chance to shine which opens up a codex and adds variety making lists less cookie cutter. That is the way I prefer to play.
To borrow a word from Will Ferrel, Strategery, that's what this game is about; not a turkey shoot. Ok people, get some more terrain on those tables!
Ash
HQ: Abaddon the Despoiler @ 275 pts
5 Plague Marines @ 135 pts
2 meltaguns
Chaos Land Raider with Daemonic Possession @ 240 pts
HQ: Chaos Sorcerer with MoS and Lash of Submission @ 125 pts
7 Plague Marines @ 269 pts
1 Meltagun
1 Plague Champion with Power Fist
1 Rhino
7 Plague Marines @ 269 pts
1 Meltagun
1 Plague Champion with Power Fist
1 Rhino
5 Plague Marines @ 160 pts
1 Meltagun
1 Rhino
2 Obliterators @ 150 pts
3 Obliterators @ 225 pts
Total Roster Cost: 1848 pts
First,I am going to have to eat a bit of crow. I tried to make a list without the Lash but my latest draft includes one. Here are a few things I learned so far:
1. Berzerkers as Abaddon's escort really didn't add that much to his effectiveness and they died pretty easily. Plague Marines did not die as easily and with 2 meltaguns were able to pop armor or force a couple of Invulnerable saves on tough units prior to assault.
2. Daemon Princes need terrain. At Adepticon terrain is, let's face it, sparse. During play-testing my DP fell time and again to mass/rapid fire shots. So I switched to a Sorcerer and hid him in a unit of Plague Marines. Success! The trick here was to keep him cheap and effective, hence Lash. It is truly game changing as it dictates movement directly and indirectly.
3. Thousands Sons. Expensive and die just as easily as a 15 pt Chaos Marine to rapid fire. Cover saves are abundant which really reduce their effectiveness. They are good at tying up CC heavy hitters, but they can't kill them. If there was a way to get a hidden powerfist in there....
4. Vindicators. I scatter way too much! My vindicator would usually scatter twice then be taken out.
5. Defilers. I play-tested these to death and just could not get reliable results out of them. Whether I tried to "run" them or shoot with them (scatter problem again); field one or a couple; reserve them, it didn't matter, they just died. Armor 12 just doesn't cut it with a model that big.
6. Chosen (5 man meltagun squad w/ rhino). Actually, this is a decent unit and performs well as long as you don't out flank unless you really have too. The only reason they were cut is that they are not scoring.
7. Scoring units win games. No duh, right. I found in my early lists that I couldn't handle missions with multiple objectives. I could contest, but not win. Plague marines are one of the best objective squatters out there.
This list evolved with Adepticon terrain in mind and sadly, some of my favorite models/units didn't make the cut. I know that there are those who would say this is power gaming or what have you, but this is a highly competitive tournament and I don't want to get my teeth kicked in every game. If I was a true power gamer I would play IG and the 14 lascannons of death list (It's brutal and I still have nightmares about that game) !)
The main thing I learned through out play-testing is that the game is so much more challenging with good, thought out terrain pieces/placement. It also gives those less optimal units a chance to shine which opens up a codex and adds variety making lists less cookie cutter. That is the way I prefer to play.
To borrow a word from Will Ferrel, Strategery, that's what this game is about; not a turkey shoot. Ok people, get some more terrain on those tables!
Ash
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