Convention Mania

This Twilight Fan is the Avatar of "Convention Mania."

I just realized that I really will be at three cons this year.

Adepticon, Gencon Indy, and the Nova Open, which went from tourney to con in a year's time.

In addition, the Inner Circle's Sausage Fest -complete with actual sausage, and not just the implied kind- is coming up soon, in just 20 days, in-fact. I've got a few other trips planned as well, mostly camping trips. This May-June, I'll be camping three weekends straight, with the last weekend being a hike on the Appalachian trail.

All that, and I've got 15 credits, and I have to find a (better) part time job. There's a ton of work to do, but I can't wait to start.

25th Anniversary Battletech Boxed set

Part of me can't help but feel nostalgic.

The printing proofs for the new Battletech intro set are in the hands of the publishers, and are (possibly) soon to be approved. They mentioned being in the company's warehouse in February.

For those who have forgotten what a Thor and a Loki look like, take a gander at these preview pics from October 2009. I love 'em. Hopefully, they go the plastic route with all the Omnimechs. It's far more profitable that way, in my humble opinion.

Bat Rep - New Deathwing vs. Nurgle Daemons

A friend of mine is attempting to enter the tournament scene, and -fortuitously for him- he runs a Deathwing army. I figured that the Adepticon Primer 40k Championship Primer Mission 1 would be a good start for him, and I was itching to try the new format myself.

In 1750, he was running:
1750 Pts - Dark Angels Roster

Total Roster Cost: 1715

HQ: Belial, Master of the Deathwing (1#, 130 pts)
1 Belial, Master of the Deathwing, 130 pts

HQ: Interrogator-Chaplain (1#, 145 pts)
1 Interrogator-Chaplain, 0 pts
1 ...in Terminator Armour, 145 pts

Troops: Upgraded Deathwing Terminator Squad (5#, 265 pts)
4 Upgraded Deathwing Terminator Squad, 222 pts = 4 * 43 (base cost 43) + Cyclone Missile Launcher 20 + Apothecary 30
1 Sergeant, 43 pts

5 * Troops: Deathwing Terminator Squad (5#, 235 pts)
4 Deathwing Terminator Squad, 192 pts = 4 * 43 (base cost 43) + Cyclone Missile Launcher 20
1 Sergeant, 43 pts

I had my Daemons with me, and decided to see how it would all work out.

Total Roster Cost: 1749

HQ: Epidemius (1#, 110 pts)
1 Epidemius, 110 pts

HQ: Great Unclean One (1#, 160 pts)
1 Great Unclean One, 160 pts

Troops: Plaguebearers of Nurgle (20#, 325 pts)
20 Plaguebearers of Nurgle, 325 pts = 20 * 15 (base cost 15) + DG: Chaos Icon x1 25

Troops: Plaguebearers of Nurgle (8#, 145 pts)
8 Plaguebearers of Nurgle, 145 pts = 8 * 15 (base cost 15) + DG: Chaos Icon x1 25

Troops: Nurglings (7#, 91 pts)
7 Nurglings, 91 pts = 7 * 13

Troops: Nurglings (7#, 91 pts)
7 Nurglings, 91 pts = 7 * 13

Troops: Nurglings (7#, 91 pts)
7 Nurglings, 91 pts = 7 * 13

Troops: Nurglings (7#, 91 pts)
7 Nurglings, 91 pts = 7 * 13

Heavy Support: Daemon Prince of Chaos (1#, 235 pts)
1 Daemon Prince of Chaos, 235 pts = (base cost 80) + DG: Daemonic Flight 60 + DG: Iron Hide 30 + MC: Mark of Nurgle 30 + DGN: Cloud of Flies 5 + DGN: Noxious Touch 10 + rDG: Daemonic Gaze 20

Heavy Support: Daemon Prince of Chaos (1#, 235 pts)
1 Daemon Prince of Chaos, 235 pts = (base cost 80) + DG: Daemonic Flight 60 + DG: Iron Hide 30 + MC: Mark of Nurgle 30 + DGN: Cloud of Flies 5 + DGN: Noxious Touch 10 + rDG: Daemonic Gaze 20

Heavy Support: Daemon Prince of Chaos (1#, 175 pts)
1 Daemon Prince of Chaos, 175 pts = (base cost 80) + DG: Iron Hide 30 + MC: Mark of Nurgle 30 + DGN: Cloud of Flies 5 + DGN: Noxious Touch 10 + rDG: Daemonic Gaze 20

The mission set up was a pitched battle (which since we were both deep-striking, we ignored) that contained three separate sub-missions.

1. Annihilation, ie, Kill Points.
2. Killing the costliest unit.
3. Three objective markers- one in the center, and two placed in each deployment zone, by your opponent.

We rolled off, and he gave me first turn, which would allow him to take the last objective run. We also set up a 2 hour time limit, to give him a better feel for the time limits tournament games require.

I get first turn, and he's held everything in reserve to DS. I roll, and I get my favored wave: Epidemius with his small body guard, the two flying princes, and two squads of nurglings. E and his boys drop on "my side" near my objective, and the two nurgling squads drop near there, and the princes drop near the table center, behind the central building. Having nothing to shoot, and nothing to do, the various parties run and spread out.

His largest point squad drops near his objective (a mishap occurred and I placed them there in a crater, hoping for some dangerous terrain rolls, but got nothing), and Deathwing squad materialized near mine. He looked like he'd scatter off the board, but he was able to place all of them quite easily, with a good quarter inch to spare on the backside. Another squad dropped right of center after their scatter, placing them within easy reach of one of my daemon princes next turn. Sadly, the Deathwing's combined fire and my poor rolls stripped the Daemon Prince of all but one wound, and sent a few plaguebearers back to the warp.

When my turn came around, all my nurglings came in, but the Great Unclean One and the walking prince failed to show. My wounded prince flew toward the closest squad, ready to put the hurt on the 5++ save Death Wing. He took one down with his Daemonic Gaze, and looked like he was going to tear them a new one in CC, but Brad made all his saves, and the Daemon Prince was soon powerfisted into a greasy stain. This trend would continue all night. The Deathwing squad down south was tied up over a series of 6 rounds of combat with 14 bases of nurglings, and ended up losing only three models to the snotty buggers.

The center objective was contested by nurglings and the twenty man plague bearers, and that had a DSing deathwing tossed into that. Slowly, over time, they too were whittled down, but a last man stood to contest it, and also to deny me a kill point. When time was called on the end of the fourth turn, I had yet to kill an entire unit, and I had just finished killing 11 models (a key point of the game). Had we continued at that point, all my models would wound on 2+ poisoned attacks, allowing my nurglings to have a much greater effect on the outcome. Alas, it was not to be, and Brad beat me on two missions to none.

1850 Tournament List - The Valhallan 42nd

1850 Pts - 5th Edition Roster - 42nd Valhallan Imperial Guard - Matt Stanley

Total Roster Cost: 1850

HQ: Company Command Squad (6#, 150 pts)
4 Company Command Squad, 69 pts = 4 * 6 (base cost 6) + Plasmagun x3 45
1 Company Commander, 26 pts
1 Chimera, 55 pts

Elite: Ratling Squad (6#, 60 pts)
6 Ratling Squad, 60 pts = 6 * 10

Elite: Psyker Battle Squad (10#, 155 pts)
8 Psyker Battle Squad, 80 pts = 8 * 10
1 Overseer, 20 pts
1 Chimera, 55 pts

Troops: Infantry Platoon (37#, 375 pts)
1 Infantry Platoon, 0 pts
4 Platoon Command Squad, 44 pts = 4 * 6 (base cost 6) + Flamer x4 20
1 Platoon Commander, 6 pts
1 Chimera, 55 pts

7 Infantry Squad, 50 pts = 7 * 5 (base cost 5) + Plasmagun x1 15
1 Heavy Weapons Team, 20 pts = (base cost 10 + Autocannon 10)
1 Commissar, 45 pts = (base cost 35 + Power Weapon 10)
1 Sergeant, 5 pts

7 Infantry Squad, 50 pts = 7 * 5 (base cost 5) + Plasmagun x1 15
1 Heavy Weapons Team, 20 pts = (base cost 10 + Autocannon 10)
1 Sergeant, 5 pts

7 Infantry Squad, 50 pts = 7 * 5 (base cost 5) + Plasmagun x1 15
1 Heavy Weapons Team, 20 pts = (base cost 10 + Autocannon 10)
1 Sergeant, 5 pts

Troops: Veteran Squad (11#, 155 pts)
9 Veteran Squad, 93 pts = 9 * 7 (base cost 7) + Meltagun x3 30
1 Veteran Sergeant, 7 pts
1 Chimera, 55 pts

Troops: Veteran Squad (10#, 115 pts)
9 Veteran Squad, 108 pts = 9 * 7 (base cost 7) + Plasmagun x3 45
1 Veteran Sergeant, 7 pts

Fast Attack: Vendetta Gunship Squadron (1#, 130 pts)
1 Vendetta Gunship Squadron, 0 pts
1 Vendetta, 130 pts

Fast Attack: Hellhound Squadron (1#, 120 pts)
1 Hellhound Squadron, 0 pts
1 Devil Dog, 120 pts

Heavy Support: Manticore Rocket Launcher (1#, 160 pts)
1 Manticore Rocket Launcher, 160 pts

Heavy Support: Ordnance Battery (2#, 280 pts)
1 Ordnance Battery, 0 pts
1 Medusa, 140 pts = (base cost 135) + Medusa w/Bastion-breacher Shells 5
1 Medusa, 140 pts = (base cost 135) + Medusa w/Bastion-breacher Shells 5

Heavy Support: Hydra Flak Tank Battery (2#, 150 pts)
1 Hydra Flak Tank Battery, 0 pts
1 Hydra Flak Tank, 75 pts
1 Hydra Flak Tank, 75 pts

There's just a ton of hurt going down-field, and the Ratlings help to keep unwanted scouters from reaching me too soon. I can blob my squads to provide L9 anti-transport fire, and plasma punishes anyone who gets close. I have no psy defense, though, and drop armies cause massive problems, so I might not bring this out this tournament season.

I do love them, though.

New Bases For Fantasy

In this post, I mentioned the 40k bases I sell, but since I was getting into fantasy, I wanted to have bases for that as well.

I have those for sale as well, in 40mm, 25mm, and 20mm scale, in a Broken Temple Style as you can see below.

,

I'm selling 20mm bases at 10 for $4.00, 25mm at 8 for $4.00, and 40mm at 4 for $4.00. As always, shipping is a flat $4.95, no matter what size order you make, and you get a 10% discount for all orders over $100 prior to shipping.

Wargames Factory has a melt down

You know those neat alternate models that could be used for IG, put out by Wargames Factory?

Well, it looks like they're in rough seas.

A press release from Wargames Factory Sales Director Lonnie Mullins -formerly of GW Trade Sales- detailed that CEO Tony Reidy is no longer with the company in an official capacity, and that with Tony's departure, the supply issues would be resolved post haste.

Reidy, not to be outdone, posted an open letter that all that was bollocks, and Lonnie Mullins was someone who would "[throw] me under the bus" and who "has no honor whatsoever." It seems at some point, Reidy sold the majority of his company to his supplier, and this is a cause of great regret for Reidy, as he has no say.

More information can be found on this Dakka thread, including a link to a further staffer's letter regarding the situation. The long and the short of it, though? If you got those great coat troopers, count your blessings, as we're not likely to see them ever again.

Resin Bases for Sale

Hello, Everyone! I'm casting resin bases up as a hobby/small business for myself to make income while I'm in school, to help pay for the various Cons I hopw to visit. I cast bases that look good, are flat enough to fit a variety of different figures, and blend in well with other bases from other companies to better suit the average figure. I don't make the fanciest bases, I make good bases in bulk at the best prices.


ARMY BASES AT ARMY PRICES™
To order them, email me at V42Resin@gmail.com, or leave a comment on this post.

Corrupted Tech

25mm

40mm

60mm

Heavy Weapon Bases

60mm Heavy Weapon 1

60mm Heavy Weapon 2

Modern Urban

25mm

40mm

Rocky Ground

25mm

40mm

Not Pictured

Flight Base

Bike Base - Rocky Ground

Here are a few of my figures on my bases, as an example

Let me know which style you'd like, either Corrupted Tech, Modern Urban, or Rocky Ground.

All bases are cast in white resin, and are sold unpainted.

Base Size/Cost*

25mm: 10 for $4.00

40mm: 5 for $4.00

60mm or Flight Base: 1 each $4.00

Bike Base: 4 per $4.00

Orders over $100 prior to shipping get a 10% Discount

*Price does not include shipping. Shipping is $4.95 via USPS Priority Mail within the continental US, international priority rates may vary.

I accept paypal.

Grey Knights are confirmed.

See the Incoming! article here.

As the Emperor prepared for his final confrontation with the traitor Horus, he granted one final gift to Mankind, a safeguard and protection against the horrors of the Warp - the Grey Knights. A brotherhood of warriors as elite as they are secretive, the Grey Knights are a shining line of silvered steel that stands between humanity and the Daemons of Chaos.

Trained as the mightiest paragons of mental fortitude and martial discipline in the Imperium, the Grey Knights maintain a vigilant watch for daemonic incursion, responding wrathfully against the scions of the Dark Gods, and those who dally with them.

Clad in baroque Terminator armour and wielding powerful weapons such as storm bolters and Nemesis force weapons, the Grey Knights tear through the enemy, unleashing an onslaught of psychic powers and sorcery to sunder the foe.

The Grey Knights are an unstoppable force, the manifestation of the Emperor's will, valiant warriors who willingly sacrifice their own humanity so that Mankind itself can endure.

This April Games Workshop releases Codex: Grey Knights, alongside a comprehensive range of fantastically detailed Citadel miniatures. Although details are being kept firmly under wraps for now, you can expect an exciting selection of plastic kits to enable you to build your own Grey Knights army.

Over the coming weeks we'll be releasing more details both here on the Games Workshop website and also in the pages of White Dwarf - to ensure you're the first to get the news, make sure you subscribe to the Games Workshop newsletter and keep an eye on the What's New Today blog.

In typical GW style, it tells little and shows nothing. Can we get a damn teaser pic at least? Take a page from Forge World and at least make a puzzle piece picture that we can composite together.

Battle Report- Wolves vs. Flesh Tearers

I had the pleasure of heading over to Games and Stuff to complete a trade with Damien. We got to talking, and he introduced me to a friend of his waiting for a game. I had brought my 1850 Flesh Tearer list with me, plus some extras, so I was happy to oblige his request to go to 2000.


What I brought:


Librarian with Shield/Unleash Rage, traveling with 5 TH/SS Terminators and a Sang Priest with Infernus Pistol in a MM/LC Storm Raven. Oh, and a Furioso Dread with HF, Magna Grapple, and Blood Talons riding in the back.


Shield/Blood Lance Librarian in a drop pod with a 5 man Infernus/MG Assault Squad, with an Infernus packing Priest


2 x Assault Squads, 10 men, Double Melta, Sgt with a Power Fist in a Rhino


Baal Predator- LC Assault Cannon, HB


2 Vindicators, both with siege shields


What Dave brought:


2 Wolf Characters, one with Saga of the Bear and Thunderhammer, one with Saga of the "I get to roll extra attacks for killing people last turn" with a wolf claw/SS, both of those on Thunderwolves, and a Wolf Ironpriest on a Thunderwolf, kitted out with a thunderhammer, and such. All three of these had wolves accompanying them, and were formed in once mega unit.


A Runepriest with Living lightning and something else that he never used.


3x 8 man Grey hunters in Rhinos, with attached wolf guard goodness


1 five man Grey hunter squad in a las/plas razorback

2 long fang packs with missile launchers.

Mission: Seize Ground (3 objectives)/Dawn of War


Dave and I rolled for it, and he won first turn. He set up his Rune Priest with a Grey Hunter Squad and Rhino near the right objective. I started with nothing on the board. I opted not to seize because I wanted him to waste a turn of potential shooting, and since it was an objective game, I wanted that possible last chance to grab or contest an objective. I had intentionally placed objectives mid field to draw him to the board center, and closer to assaults.


He moved his deployed Rune Priest and attached squad forward into the ruins near the right most objective. His other transports entered near the center, book-ending the T-Wolves, and created a space just big enough for my pod to fit. He popped smoke, and waited for my response.


My pod struck the earth in the dead center of his formation. From the superheated hull of the pod, there spilled forth a Sanguinary priest, who went right, a librarian who went left, and the squad in the center. Three units, one pod, and one mission: to take out as many transports as possible on the first turn. The Storm Raven screamed up the center to support, and the Baal and Vindicators moved 12 inches onto the board, a foot behind the Raven. The Rhinos both aimed at the Rune Priest's Rhino, on a mission to pry it from the objective, and break that Rune Staff as soon as possible. And will fast forward to the result: nothing. Not a single thing broke, died, or was otherwise inconvenienced. The Blood Lance went off, but did nothing. The Melta and Infernus Pistol from the squad both hit, but the smoke saved the Rhino. The Sanguinary Priest's pistol missed. The Raven's Machine Spirit-guided Multi-Melta hit, penned, and was smoked into nothing-ness. Everything else was out of range, or unable to fire.


His wolves moved up to pummel the 5 man squad to a fine paste, and the Sanguinary Priest from the pod was gunned down. Dave's razorback penned the Raven, luckily just stripping the Multi-melta. Things were not looking all that great, but I've faced worse, and I have learned not to give up in the face of crappy luck. The Librarian and the Terminators disembarked, and the Raven moved in behind them, turn it's lascannon and missiles to the two transports in front of it. The Vindicators and Baal advanced, hoping to gut the Thunderwolves. To hedge my bets, the Assault squads in the Rhino stayed in their transports, but moved up to melta the Rune Priest's Rhino. I started off the shooting phase buy having my librarian's power getting shut down by the Rune Staff, and the Raven's missiles hitting with only 3 of the 4 missiles I fired, and the lascannon and the accurate missile only scratching the paint of the transports they targeted. The regular assault squads did manage to immobilize the Rune Priest's ride, and the combined firepower of the vindicators killed a wolf or two as they scattered to the five winds.


The rest of the battle was a desperate scramble to keep my units on the other two objectives, kill as many of his troops as I could, while claiming the Rune Priest's objective for my own. At the end of turn five, the far left objective was unclaimable, as I had killed all the troops on that side with my Furioso dread, save one lone wolf guard, who died in a vehicle explosion caused by one of Dave's characters. As it was, if it had ended at turn five, the game would have been mine. I contested the center objective with a lone Sgt, and the remaining full assault squad had claimed the right most objective. Sadly, the 6th was rolled for, and I was pulled off the objective by the remaining Thunderwolf, and my long sgt was beaten like a rented mule.


So close, and yet so far...

The Furioso - despite missing with all four attacks on his first round of combat- performed exceptionally well. He killed the wolf lord with thunderhammer, killed Dave's Razorback squad of Grey Hunters, and nearly wiped an entire Grey Hunter pack by himself. My deployment severely hampered his Long Fang's utility. The pod tactic was risky, and didn't pan out, sadly. I may not repeat it.  Dave was an excellent player, and really got me thinking about objectives, which is what I need to focus on. We shook hands at the end, and had a great time.

My thoughts on the pair of Storm Ravens

Keeping it short and sweet:

I'm a fan of the idea that if something is nice, take it twice.

But in 1850 points, that's a really questionable idea.

And by questionable, I mean, "I hope they don't have Hydras."