Mid-Life Gaming Crisis

Going through the blog-o-sphere, there is a good deal of buzz and discussions about varying army lists for the NOVA Open. Hoping I can make it to at least spectate a bit; interesting watching the varying discussions on different aspects of the metagame (null zone in particular). Here's a few:

• YTTH posting a BA list: http://www.yesthetruthhurts.com/2010/07/nova-con-seeking-balance.html
• 3++ save taking emails (Eldar) http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2010/07/email-in-eldar-list-critique-for-nova.html
• Adventuresofultrabob (Ultramarines) http://adventuresofultrabob.blogspot.com/2010/07/road-to-nova-2010-list-version-1.html
• I'd definitely expect to see army lists from or based on the just-completed 'Ard Boyz tourney; baldandscreaming has a pretty good compilation here: http://www.baldandscreaming.com/news/results-from-2010-ard-boyz-finals/#more-749

Looking at his numbers for the 83 players who participated in the 'Ard Boyz finals, here is a breakdown of the armies used:

• 14 Space Wolves (4 with Thunderwolf Cavalry) (1 Razorbacks/Long Fangs)
• 11 Imperial Guard
• 11 Tyranids
• 10 Orks (1 Ghaz + Battlewagons)
• 10 Blood Angels
• 9 Space Marines (2 Vulcan) (1 Khan) (1 Shrike)
• 7 Chaos Space Marines
• 4 Eldar
• 3 Chaos Daemons
• 1 Black Templar
• 1 Necrons
• 1 Sisters of Battle
• 1 Tau

If the percentages hold for the 96 slots at NOVA, 48 would be some sort of Space Marine (SM, BA, SW, Chaos) close to 40 IG, 'nids, and Orks, with low single digits for everything else.