Around the Net: 40K Prospero Burning Formations

Courtesy of Games Workshop -> LINK

Episode 52 - Dragon-Fall 40K Championships Preview

This short episode is a full preview of everything that is happening on Oct 3 & 4 at Dragon Fall.  

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Episode Timeline
00:00:15 - Dragon Fall Preview

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Show Links

Dragon-Fall
Player2Cast

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Episode 48 - Michigan GT Preview

In this episode, John is joined by Jeff from the Michigan GT to preview this year's event.  Jeff talks about the new additions to the weekend and what the rules will be for the 40K GT.

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Episode Timeline
00:00:15 - Sponsors
00:01:45 - Friday Events at The Michigan GT
00:16:45 - 40K GT Rules
00:37:00 - WFB, Bolt Action, and Firestorm Armada Events

The Show Email - unstabledice@gmail.com

Show Links

Michigan GT

Sponsors

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A Gathering of Might: Website | Facebook
Scatter Shot Painting: Facebook

Episode 49 - Craftworld Eldar Wraithhost

In this episode, the crew breakdown the new Craftworld Eldar Wraith Host.  We discuss each of the units in the formation, how destroyer weapons work, and how we would use the formation. 

 

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Episode Timeline
00:00:15 - Sponsors
00:02:15 - Rumors and New Releases
00:25:00 - Marshaling the Host
00:38:30 - Craftworld Eldar Wraithhost


The Show Email - unstabledice@gmail.com

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Player2Cast

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Hump Day Heroes: 40K Kill Team League

This battle report was from my first game for the 40k Kill Team league that I am running at the Wandering Dragon.  My opponent for the game was Doug and his very cool space marine team.  The mission for the game was Forward Push from the Kill Team supplement.  For this mission, I had modified the objective rules so that each player placed one and the third was at the center of the board.

As you can see from the pictures, we set-up the board using a large number of LOS blocking terrain pieces.  I am a firm believer that Kill Teams is best when there is a lot of terrain on the board as it encourages movement and prevents static gunlines.  When it came to deployment, I won the roll, so deployed my forces across the board with a few models held back to infiltrate.

Genestealer Brood

10 Genestealers – 140 points

1 Broodlord – 60 points

Doug’s Space Marines

10 Tactical Squad w/ Heavy Bolter & Flamer

1 Attack Bike w/ multi-melta

I was not expecting Doug to seize, so when he did, I knew I was in trouble.  His attack bike and heavy bolter made quick work of my broodlord and one of his companion stealers.  In response, I tried to assault the bike with the remaining stealers nearby, but failed to wound it and in return got a stealer killed for the attempt.

In the second round, I moved the other larger group of stealers towards the center objective.  My hope was I could break off one or two models from the pack to deal with marines as needed.  Doug had range with his outflanking marines, so bolter fire quickly diminished the pack down to a couple of models. 

In the late turns, I tried to hide what I had remaining near two of the objectives, but the marines closed ranks.  In short order the last of my brood was killed at range with the exception of one stealer who got past a marine with a flamer before being brought down by a shot to the head. 

Overall it was a fun game that taught me a couple of good lessons about how to deploy my team going forward.  I should have kept all of them close together and just chained my assaults.  By spreading out, Doug was able to easily pick-off individual models before they could make it to assault.  I do debate whether or not I should include some type of shooting element to the list, but figure that would break from the narrative I am forging.

Hump Day Heroics - Battlefleet Gothic

My friend recently finished converting up some Dark Eldar ships for BFG, so we just had to play a game (I'll never complain about that!). Here's what we used:

Ultramarines

Battle Barge - Master of the Fleet

Strike Cruiser - extra shield

Strike Cruiser - extra shield

Strike Cruiser - extra shield

Strike Cruiser - extra shield

6 Gladius Frigates

2 Sword Frigates

Dark Eldar

2 Torture Cruisers - launch bays

15 Corsair Escorts - 5 w/ torpedoes, 5 w/ Impalers, 5 w/ lances

Deployment

Noticing an irregularity in the sensor returns, the canny Space Marine commander ordered Thunderhawks into the void as a picket line. 

The Dark Eldar closed quickly, eager to capture some prime space marine subjects for the haemonculus. Many of the Gladius frigates were left without crew as Impaler modules poured Dark Eldar warriors within. On the left flank, the Sword frigates bravely move to intercept the Corsairs, but despite bracing for impact they broke apart under the furious shadow lance fire. Having shown their true colors, the Thunderhawks engaged, and managed to find and destroy two Corsairs.

While they'd been dealt a hefty blow losing many of their fleet escorts, the bulk of the Space Marine fleet was untouched and angry. Turning into their enemy, they unleashed hell. Bombardment cannon and weapons batteries let fly, taking a terrible toll on the Dark Eldar fleet. Thunderhawks rearmed and soared once more into the fight.

Seeing their plans turn to ash, the spiteful Dark Eldar attempted to circle the fleet and take the commander as a slave. However, the durable shields and massed turret fire kept the Space Marines safe.

Arresting their momentum with retro thrusters, the Strike Cruisers kept hugged the stern quarters on the Torture cruisers, blasting one to pieces in a vengeful bombardment and damaging the other. With the Dark Eldar right where they wanted them, the port and starboard batteries thundered death into escorts and the remaining cruiser, destroying and crippling each.

The remaining Dark Eldar disengaged, tails between their legs.

Episode 45 - Khorne Daemonkin

The End Times may have come to a conclusion, but the rage of Khorne continues to spread across the mutliverse.  In this episode, Andrew and John share their first impressions of the new Khorne Daemonkin codex.  We discuss the new formations, the Blood Tithe and a few army ideas John has using the codex.  Before we get into the main topic, the guys talk about the End Times tournament at Adepticon, Andrew talks about his game with Andy Chambers, John plays with his nids, and we talk about our sponsors.  This episode also contains a bonus segment with John Ontto at Adepticon.

 

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Episode Timeline
00:00:15 - Sponsors
00:05:30 - End Times @ Adepticon 2015
00:32:00 - Marshaling the Host
01:03:30 - Khorne Daemonkin
01:39:30 - Plugs (Waste Wars XV, 40K Kill Teams)
01:43:00 - Bonus Content (John Ontto at Adepticon 2015)

The Show Email - unstabledice@gmail.com

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Miniature Monday - 04/06/2015

I call him Mr. Pud. This is an Ultraforge plague demon kit, stuck to a 60mm round with some metal Nurglings in attendance. Love how the icky gooey parts meshed with the rusting bits and dry, diseased skin.

Hump Day Heroics - Battlefleet Gothic

So, I finally got my friends to start bringing their BFG again, and even convinced another to start this week, woot!

Last week we threw a game together, 2v1. Since they had smaller fleets it was them who allied up against my Chaos fleet. I got to bust out my swank swag that I won from last year: the space board! Without further adieu...

IN/Eldar
Mars Battlecruiser - Admiral
Tyrant Cruiser
Lunar Cruiser
Dauntless Light Cruiser
Dauntless Light Cruiser - torpedoes

Void Stalker Battleship - Prince
2 Hellebore Frigates
4 Hemlock Destroyers
6 Nightshade Destroyers

Chaos
Hades Heavy Cruiser - Warmaster
Hades Heavy Cruiser
Dauntless Cruiser - Chaos Lord
Dauntless Cruiser
Carnage Cruiser - Chaos Lord
Carnage Cruiser
Slaughter Cruiser - Chaos Lord
Slaughter Cruiser
Slaughter Cruiser
Slaughter Cruiser

We played the fleet engagement scenario, wedge vs wedge. My wedge was more wedgy!

First couple turns resulted in sporadic damage; the most amusing was a Nightshade going splat in the gas cloud. Also notable was the Slaughters rocketing up 46cm to get right in their face turn 1.

They then promptly braced for impact.

The Carnage squadron and Hades squadron stayed locked on for the first few turns, forcing brace checks left and right and suppressing the right flank until I was able to close the distance. Even the Eldar stayed away.

You'll notice on the lower right that there's a maelstrom of sorts; we treated that as a warp rift, and I totally forgot about it, resulting in one of the Devastations being lost in the warp.

As the fleets really started to mingle, a couple teleport attacks and a boarding action happened, and I also butt-rammed the Mars with a Slaughter! Unfortunately, it caused only one damage to him and two to me...d'oh!


Near the end, I boxed in the Void Stalker with nearly the entire remaining fleet. With nowhere to run, he tried to run the blockade, but with a successful burn retros check, the Carnages checked their long sweep around the asteroids and came about directly in front of it. Despite all the penalties, I still had 11 dice to throw his way, and he critically failed to BFI. The resulting broadside tore away all the defenses and maneuverability, leaving it dangerously vulnerable for the other ships to engage at range with no undue penalties, who subsequently pummeled the battleship to space dust.

Victory went to Chaos! And quite convincingly so, after the drubbing my other ships took. Gotta love being set on fire...

Miniature Monday - 03/30/2015

For #minaturemonday, here are my paintups of the special edition Blood Angel and Crimson Fist. It was a lot of fun referencing my old book covers to get the highlights and black flame details just right

Miniature Monday - 03/23/2015

Decided to change things up and work on a Tyranid model.  Longtime readers of my blog will recall that my original Tyranid army was purple and brown.  I was never fond of the color scheme, but it worked at the time.  This color scheme is closer to what I am wanting in a Nid army.  The biggest challenge with this model was deciding on a conversion that worked but wasn't #ODT.  I also knew it would be a risk to use the same color scheme for the talons and base, but it seems to work for me.

Miniature Monday - 03/16/2015

I'm feeling kinda Nurgley today, so here are Monday's miniature(s):

They work great as a Kill Team, with one Plasma Gunner taking Ignores Cover, another taking Preferred Enemy, and a Bolter buddy taking Poisoned (4+) for his gun.

Miniature Monday - 03/09/2015

The next CSM for the squad. Since this marine is wearing a helmet, I felt the need to add the green element via the clawed hand.  It was a bit of a lazy conversion, but one I figured fit with the overall look of the unit.

Miniature Monday - 03/02/2015

One of the first models I completed this year was a Chaos Space Marine.  The model took me about two weeks to complete, but that was mostly because I kept switching projects and working on certain elements in groups (i.e. resin bases).

40K Release Rumors

It would appear that the reliable rumormongers are talking about what the release schedule for 2015 will look like for 40K.  Below is a summary of what is rumored to be coming out.  These rumors are based on comments made by Hastings75 and Harry from Warseer. 

-In No Particular Order of Release-

• Adeptus Mechanicus Codex & models (full release)
• Genestealer Cult Codex & models (Harelquin sized release)
  
• Deathwatch Codex & models (Harelquin sized release)
• Horus Heresy Standalone box game, on sale for a few months, then models become part of 30k range Mark 4 + Cataphract armors featured. (Harry believes the rumor of Mark 9 power armour is actually the new 30K range*)
• Assassins Standalone box game, on sale for a few months, then models become part of the 40k range.
• Greater Daemons all complete (2 in 2015, 2 in 2016, BT already confirmed, LoC believed to be 2nd release*)
• Dark Angels later in the year
• Tzeentch later in the year

*Comments added by John

The Unstable Dice Present: 40K Kill Team League @ The Wandering Dragon

The Wandering Dragon will be hosting a 40K Kill Team league that the show will be running in April and May.  There will be an entry fee (~$15.00) which will cover the gaming room for the campaign.

Army Point Size: 200

Kill Team Rules
You can purchase the GW Kill Team rules from Black Library or via iTunes. I will post up the full ruleset as we get closer, but for now, here are the basic requirements for a Kill Team:

Kill Team Detachment
0-2 Troops
0-1 Elites
0-1 Fast Attack

The following additional restrictions are also in place for Kill Teams:
1. A Kill Team must include at least four non-vehicle models. One of these models must be your Leader and three must be Specialists (see below).
2. A Kill Team cannot include any models with more than 3 wounds or Hull Points on their profile.
3. A Kill Team cannot include any vehicles with a combined Armour Value (established by adding the vehicle's Front, Side and Rear armour) of more than 33.
4. A Kill Team cannot include Flyers.
5. A Kill Team cannot include any models with a 2+ Armour Save

Designer Notes: Even though units are selected as squads in a Kill Team as normal, every model acts independently during the game itself. Effectively, each model acts as a single unit in its own right, as explained in further detail later (see Every Man for Himself).

Schedule
The league will be 6 weeks in length with three formal meetings on the following dates and times:
04/15 - 7 pm to 10 pm
04/29 - 7 pm to 10 pm
05/13 - 7 pm to 10 pm

Players should expect to play three games each league night, with each game lasting ~1 hour.

League Format
We will have enough space for 8 players (four 4'x4 tables) on league nights. Players will be randomly (mostly) divided into two divisions at the start of the league. During week one (04/15), players will be paired against other players in their division. During week two (04/29), players will be paired against players from the other division. During the third week (05/13), players will be ranked based on standings and a single elimination tournament will be played. As players are eliminated from the tournament that night, they will still continue to play games for the purpose of earning league points.

Painting Requirements

All kill teams must be fully assembled and WYSIWYG.  Each game played with a fully painted army is worth 1 additional league point.

Awards
At the end of the league, there will be two awards given out:
League Champion (Player with the most league points at the end of week three)
Tournament Champion (Player to finish on top at the end of the week three tournament)

The Podcast Junkie - Week of 01/05/2015

The 11^th Company 40K Podcast – Episode 215

The episode opens with a review of some of the recent dataslates that were released in White Dwarf.  I felt like the reduced cast for this episode really helped with the review as it seemed more focused.  The first segment also contained some discussion about what they are expecting with the next Necron codex.  On a personal level, I really enjoyed the part about pariahs.  I still have fond memories of using them in 3^rd edition to scare an opponent’s army off the board at Adepticon.

The next segment was an interview with Steve, owner of the Miniature Market.  At first, I felt the interview was insightful on how the relationship between retailer and GW works.  That said, as it progressed, the interview became a series of complaints about the company.  I get that GW is notorious for their business practices, but this interview came off as bitter and unenjoyable. 

When it came to the listener email segment, the discussion about reviewing bad units stood out the most to me.  I don’t know if I share the show’s opinion that a review cannot be honest and still maintain an air of positivity.  It seems to me that a good review can point out potential uses while still presenting a case for why there are better options.