Rise of Legends; Ryan G; Part 3

Howdy all,
      It's the end of the month, so that means it's time for a Rise of Legends update. To start, I ended up changing my regiment. It seems that most people are going with a 6-10 troops, so I wanted to try a more elite type list. I took an all cavalry list that I feel is still balanced. Here it is:

Dragon Prince
      - Champ upgrade
      - Enchated Shield
      - Luckstone
      - Potion of Foolhardiness

Silver Helm
      - Dashing Cloak of Heroic Renown

Silver Helm
      - Steel Lined Cloak

Ellyrian Reaver
      - Bow
      - Last Chance

As you can see it is very few models, but I am relying on armor saves to keep them around.

       Next, I got a little bit of hobbying done and mostly completed 3 out of 4 model bases.

      I used random wood chips that I "borrowed" from work to give them a rocky or mountainous look. I am very please with how they came out, and once I get the models on them, I am also going to try flocking snow on them as well.
      Finally, I finished up one of the Silver Helm horses. I have come to the conclusion that I am going to be hard pressed to get all four of these models done even though I have until November. Just not enough hours in the day for me at this point. That being said, I copped out and have not done any conversions so far, and I am not sure I am going to. I am hopeing that he basing and painting will be good enough to make up for that.

There you go. Progress is being made, but it is certainly slow progress. See ya next month.

Cheers,
Ryan G

Ryan G; Rise of Legends Part 2

Hello again,

      Sad to say I do not have much to report this month on the modeling front. I have severely underestimated home much of your free time a 1 month old takes up. Anyway, I am getting more and more hobby time with each passing week. I have, however, gotten the models out of the box and now have them on my hobby desk so that I can see them everytime I walk by and can feel guilty for just keep on walking.

      I have not changed my list at all, but that is not to say that I won't. August should be a much better month for me, and I promise to get some progress done on some modeling, if not some painting as well. Sorry for the short post, but I'll make up for it by the time we are done.

Cheers,
Ryan G

The Thursday Theme - 2400 Point High Elf Phoenix List

While I don't usually play games at this size, I figured I would take a crack at a 2400 point list, just on the off chance that I stay interested in High Elves. The theme of this list is to build a temple of Asuryan with the appropriate models defending it.

Lord
Anointed of Asuryan w/ Flamespyre Phoenix and Charmed Shield (440 pts)

Hero
Caradryan w/ Ashtari (420 pts)
Mage w/ Lvl 2 (Lore of High Magic) and Dispel Scroll and 6+ ward save (160 pts)

Core
Silver Helms (10) w/ shields, musician and standard (250 pts)
Silver Helms (5) w/ shields, musician and standard (135 pts)
Silver Helms (5) w/ shields, musician and standard (135 pts)
Ellyrian Reavers (5) (90 pts)

Special
Phoenix Guard (19) w/ musician and standard (Banner of Swiftness) (320)

Rare
Flamespyre Phoenix (225 pts)
Flamespyre Phoenix (225 pts)

Total Points: 2400

This is another fast moving army, except this time it is built around maxing out the number of phoenixes in the list. I think most folks prefer the Frostheart version, but I think the Wake of Fire and Phoenix Reborn rules allow for more options and possibilities on the battlefield.

Episode 18 - One Year Later

One year ago, a short guy named John thought it would be fun to record his thoughts on the Games Workhop hobby and share them with the universe. He convinced two talented gentlemen to join him in his quest and thus the Unstable Dice podcast was born. Jump ahead to May 31st, 2013 where they are now celebrating their first year as a podcast.

In this episode, the Warriors Three begin the show by talking about the return of the Waaaghcast and the latest rumors about 9th edition WFB. Next, the guys update the listeners on their hobby progress in that segment of the show called Marshaling the Host. As part of this MoT, Chuck discusses the Midwest Rampage, John talks about terrain in tournaments and Andrew plays Yatzhee.

With the updates out of the way, the guys spend a little time talking about sealing models. They discuss the types of sealer available and some of the tricks to using them correctly. Next, the winning topic for the episode is revealed and discussed. Finally, Andrew and John talk about a couple of upcoming tournaments and review an army list submitted by one of our listeners.


Download: Direct Download | iTunes


Timeline
00:00:17 Introductions, Waaaghcast Returns, and 9th edition WFB
00:19:17 Marshaling the Host (Chuck's Review of the Midwest Rampage)
00:58:37 Hobby Corner (Sealers)
01:09:38 Tournament Etiquette (Congratulations to Ian Loxom)
01:49:55 Tournament Round-up and Listener Emails

Emails
Army Lists, Feedback, Topic Ideas - Andrew@unstabledice.com
Upcoming Tournaments - Chuck@unstabledice.com
John - equinox@unstabledice.com

Show Links
Chuck's Blog
Midwest Rampage Results
Invasion Kenosha

The Thursday Theme - 1000 Point Shadow Warrior List

This week’s list is my attempt at creating a surprise deployment list that works better than the one I used at this year’s Adepticon 1000 point tournament. When I say surprise deployment, I am referring to an army that does not deploy anything during the normal deployment phase.

Lord 
Alith Anar (250 pts)

Heroes
Mage w/ Lvl 2 (Lore of High Magic) and Moranion’s Wayshard (170 pts)

Core
Archers (23) w/ musician and standard (250 pts)

Special
Shadow Warriors (11) (154 pts)
Shadow Warriors (10) w/ Shadow-walker and Reaver Bow (175 pts)

Total Points: 999

One of the major issues I had with my surprise list this year was that most of the ambushing or scouting units in the Dogs of War list are CC units. Since I was getting the +1 to my roll, my units were typically stuck for a turn doing nothing if I was too close to my opponents. I believe this list will correct that problem as I can sit back and shot at 30” with BS 5 or better with Alith and the Shadow Warriors.

As for the archers and mage, the challenge with them initially is that they are not providing any support on the first turn. If my rolls for ambush are poor, it also means that it could be an additional two or three turns that they do not arrive on the board. However, I do think that when they do arrive that they will have an impact as I will be able to place them on any board edge and shoot on arrival.

If Adepticon decides to not allow lord choices in next year’s 1000 point tournaments, I would replace Alith Anar with a third unit of Shadow Warriors and bump up the size of each of those units. I also think that I would upgrade one of the two units with a shadow-walker and give him a magically weapon as a back-up to ethereal units.

The Thursday Theme - High Elves Shooting List

This week’s list is another 1200 point list that is intended to be paired with a wood elf list of the same general theme. In this case, the theme of the list is shooting attacks, with all units carrying bows, longbows, or Bows of Avelorn. (Note: If I could have given the mage a bow, I would have just for the sake of completeness.)

Heroes 
Mage w/ level 2 (Lore of High Magic) and a dispel scroll, ironcursed icon, and 6+ ward (165 pts) 
Noble w/ BSB (Banner of Eternal Flame), longbow, and dragon armour (120 pts) 

Core 
Archers (28) w/ musician and standard (300 pts) 

Special 
Shadow Warriors (10) w/ Shadow-walker armed w/ a Reaver Bow (175 pts) 
Shadow Warriors (10) (140 pts) 

Rare 
Sisters of Avelorn (10) w/ High Sister (150 pts) 
Sisters of Avelorn (10) w/ High Sister (150 pts) 

Total Points: 1200

The end result of this list is that I begin with 72 shots at 24” or greater. Twenty of those shots are magical, flaming and strength 4. 29 of the shots are 30” and flaming thanks to the BSB that will be placed in the unit.

When it comes to magic, I am hoping to get Hand of Glory on the mage as it will allow the archers to fire at BS 5+. I debated over whether I should take the Lore of High Magic or the Lore of Fire to improve the damage output of the archer unit. I might consider an alternate build that drops the noble and adds a second mage w/ the Lore of Fire.

Episode 17 - High Elf Review

In this episode, the Warriors Three discuss the demise of Specialist Games.  After mourning the lose of Battlefleet Gothic, the crew discusses their latest hobby activities and preparations for the Midwest Rampage.  Next, the guys have a tangent filled discussion about how to write an army list.  Finally, the guys review the High Elf army book.
  
Episode Timeline
00:00:17 The Death of Specialist Games
00:24:45 Marshaling the Host
00:42:57 Hobby Corner (Writing an Army List)
01:08:58 High Elf Review
02:15:00 End of Show

Download: iTunes | Direct Download 

Show Emails
Andrew: andrew@unstabledice.com
Chuck: chuck@unstabledice.com
John: equinox@unstabledice.com

Show Links

Chuck's Plog
A Gathering of Might XI

Invasion Kenosha

IWFB

Rockhead’s Comics & Games

Big Mek’s Garage
Wiscodice

Model Rectifier Corp


Sponsors

Rare Choice Games: Facebook | Youtube

The Thursday Theme - High Elves Cavalry Army

In preparation for next year's Adepticon WFB Team Tournament, I have been playing with some different High Elf lists that can be paired with Wood Elves. The idea with this list was to pair the cavalry units from each book to create a fast moving army that has a solid punch.  The assumption with this list is that my teammate would also bring the cavalry units from Wood Elf book and not any blocks of units.

Heroes
Noble w/ Elven Steed, Ithilmar Barding, Dragon armour, Ogre Blade and Enchanted Shield (140 pts) 
Mage w/ Level 2 Wizard (Lore of High Magic), Elven Steed, and Golden Crown of Atrazar (150 pts) 

Core 
Silver Helms (10) w/ shields, musician and standard (250 pts) 
Ellyrian Reavers (5) w/ musician (90 pts) 

Special 
Dragon Princes of Caledor (5) w/ Drakemaster (w/ Sword of Might), musician, and standard (Banner of the World Dragon) (245 pts) 
Dragon Princes of Caledor (5) w/ Drakemaster (w/ Star Lance), musician, and standard (205 pts) 
Dragon Princes of Caledor (5) w/ Drakemaster (w/ Fencing Blades), musician, and standard (Banner of Eternal Flame (220 pts) 

Total Cost: 1200

While I like the models and theme of this list, I am not sure I have the optimal choices on the noble, mage, and dragon princes. I get the impression that I should take a little from the noble and give it to the mage in the form of a ward save. An alternative build to accomplish that goal would be to drop the ogre blade, give the noble a great weapon and exchange the crown for a 4+ ward save talisman.

When it comes to deployment, I would deploy the 3 units of dragon princes close to each other with the silver helms and reavers flanking the weak and strong sides of the block. I would place the noble in the dragon prince unit which appears to have the best match-up directly across from him. The mage would go into one of the two dragon prince units that do not contain the World Dragon banner.