tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-59649458663865385772024-03-05T14:34:49.507-05:00Mid-Life Gaming CrisisGhostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.comBlogger99125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-78430111540369646732015-12-21T23:58:00.001-05:002015-12-21T23:58:34.099-05:00Aimless Meanderings<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Hi all. I'm rather flattered that despite my lack of activity it appears there are still people finding this blog, more than I would expect after so long a hiatus. Welcome one and all. I have no real new answers here, just the aimless meanderings of a wanderer through several games and game systems that really just orbit around my hobby center - 40k. <br />
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This evening, as I have for the past few evenings, as I look around the once vibrant blog-o-sphere, I see what is a sad pattern. Most of the painting-centric blogs have remained pretty active and are showcasing the same amazing talent and conversions as ever - with the new models constantly coming out, there's plenty of good fodder to creatively graze on. The authors who play for fun and paint or convert are still fairly active. A few in both categories have tailed off, and been replaced by others. <br />
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However, the tournament-minded or competitive blogs are increasingly rare. Bloggers that had a nexus of competitiveness to their hobby - either as the entirety or just a smidgen, just aren't there. I'm looking for something that has been largely missing since 5th edition. Maybe I'm looking in the wrong places by not hanging out on Dakka or Warseer or similar. I miss the days of a vibrant, competitive community. I miss the batreps, the list-building. Don't get me wrong, it wasn't perfect, but who would have thought that in many ways it was a 'golden age' where each of the segments of the hobby (competitors, fluff-bunnies, painters, and the hybrids) had things going on. Almost every day there was a buzz - a conversation worth reading and comments worth making. I miss it.<br />
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Outside of my usual maudlin however, hobby life hasn't been entirely unbusy. I scratch-built a storage box that fits in one of my NOVA Open KR Cases nicely. I'll be putting a post together on that soon. Aside from that, I actually started painting my Reaper Bones figures - mostly to put together a Frostgrave warband or two to play with the offspring. He also painted his first figure (most of it) and did a bang-up job. Looking forward to playing Frostgrave soon - it's a stripped down version of Mordheim/Necromunda. Despite a friend being frustrated about "paying for a shiny book with poor playtesting and editing so all the rules are basically fixed in an online faq" - it's neat and simple. Love the fact that people have really embraced it's lack of specificity to bring their creativity in. I've seen Reaper Mousling warbands, GW-figures, and everything in between. <br />
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One big discovery for painting Reaper Bones figures: as they are vinyl-based figures, regular primer just flat out doesn't work - it just doesn't really dry and leaves the figure tacky or sticky. It needs to be acrylic. However, even acrylic Gesso didn't work very well (maybe it was cheap Gesso - but is there really another kind?) The one primer that's worked extremely well is GW's new acrylic primers, both white and black have worked flawlessly. Other than that - a light wash with dishsoap to start, dip in boiling hot water to reshape any bent parts, and then hit it with the primer. At any rate, here's the recently painted figures:<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrkmudqbfgvuFqf4gTI80VSG4xAoVUdsk-XJnXSRzxqUPkuPicaAB1h7hPDyF5HlreGZUtu0wjLE_kSskTynlhPT7vZI-8yjbFBKpY7AcwTaY0RiOWlRdbPCLZFm8tZWp9olf-pMI_3IV/s1600/IMAG4968_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcrkmudqbfgvuFqf4gTI80VSG4xAoVUdsk-XJnXSRzxqUPkuPicaAB1h7hPDyF5HlreGZUtu0wjLE_kSskTynlhPT7vZI-8yjbFBKpY7AcwTaY0RiOWlRdbPCLZFm8tZWp9olf-pMI_3IV/s320/IMAG4968_1.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Offspring's Galadon - he did everything but the letters</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Azen Contar's elemental familiar</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Darkrasp, Evil Priest by Tim Prow</td></tr>
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With any luck, I'll have some more time for hobby in the new year. My list of hobby things to do just keeps growing and I need to start knocking it down. Keeps me healthy mentally too (well.. as relative as that may be). Thanks for stopping in and reading. More tyranids in 2016!Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-14458666333936519562015-05-22T21:39:00.001-04:002015-05-22T21:39:10.874-04:00Love and Tyranids<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Love is an action - it's a verb - it's what you do. Not some fickle feeling that flickers in a thousand shades and is replaced each and every moment with a new one. It's not the nervousness, the infatuation, the giddiness, or the goose bumps, or even the total oneness of complete non-judgmental acceptance. What in the world does this have to do with 40k? Or Tyranids?<br />
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Well, <a href="http://whiskey40k.blogspot.com/2015/05/terrain-day-saturday-523-come-have-some.html">last Friday a friend of mine got married</a>. Not just anyone, but someone whose love for 40k and all it's supposed to represent changed the community narrative surrounding the game, and brought together warring gamer factions that had previously never really had a common ground. The <a href="http://www.novaopen.com/">NOVA Open</a> brought together the 'hardcore gamer' and the 'hardcore painter'. An outsider would say this was more through force of will than anything else, but I know better. It was done out of love. Love of friendship, camaraderie, and the spirit of the game. It hasn't been easy, and at times it hasn't even been that fun. Hard choices, hard words, hard decisions, sacrifice and stubbornness have all had their time. But the purpose of bringing people together where they can enjoy each others' company, enjoy the game, and drink deeply of the rich creative culture of this amazing hobby has remained the rock-solid foundation. Altogether - every action, every argument, every sacrifice of time - has been about love. From a backyard barbecue to the Crystal City Hyatt, love has achieved a pretty amazing thing - and the best part is it's really just getting started. I have to say, I'm pretty intrigued to see where this marriage goes. I've seen firsthand what happens when Mike loves something. So for Mike and Britney - congratulations. Getting this far is an achievement, but it's really just getting started. <br />
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Tyranids is a bit harder to wrap (or is it warp?) in the love angle. Not sure what it is about slavering gribblies and razor sharp claws by the dozens and hundreds. Maybe it's a subtle form of mind control and I'm secretly beaconing out to the hive fleet. Whatever it is, I'll be bringing my nids to NOVA again. Trying to understand how the hell to build a list given the drunken Jenga game that GW has constructed is less than fun. After a few days with Battlescribe I ponied up for the Pro version (worthwhile cause right there). I'm not bringing a lictorshame or flyrant-filled list - I just don't have the models or time to start over. I have some plans to be mobile, flexible, and unfortunately squishy. I may even try out pyrovores, just because no one will expect them. But it'll be fun. Cuz I love my 'nids. And the game. And I'm thirsty for that rich, creative culture.Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-35013388994323434342015-02-01T18:26:00.001-05:002015-02-01T18:26:35.807-05:00Goal Set: NOVA Open 2015 <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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After a long hiatus of accomplishing nothing except adding to my unpainted plastic and metal collection it was time to move forward. Still busy as ever working to <a href="https://www.retrouvaille.org/">help troubled marriages</a>, and that's still the priority, but I do need some me time too for sanity. Over this past year my me time consisted entirely of wasting time watching nothing worthwhile on TV and pining over my unpainted stash. I barely even read anything worthwhile. All in all, for the most part a wasted hobby year. My bright spot was getting away for a single day on a NOVA Open terrain build. Looking forward to more this year.<br />
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So - big step forward is of course, signing up for the <a href="https://novaopenstore.com/novacart">NOVA Open 2015</a>. I had a great time in 2013's narrative playing my nids as the Virtue. Naturally, I went for the big kahuna: the Narrative Warlord track for the Virtue. This is somewhere between a narrative campaign and an ETC-style team-based matchup with 10 games over four days. Now to figure out <a href="http://www.novaopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2015-Narrative-Draft-Primer.pdf">what to bring</a> and get painting!Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-62839417147671458172014-01-31T00:52:00.000-05:002014-01-31T00:52:19.702-05:00The Compass, The Clock, and A Terrible Codex<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">How GW Sees Tyranid Players</td></tr>
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No reason to sugar coat it: I pretty much can't stand the new Tyranid codex. Let's just forget all the wasted potential that it could have been, lest I get really bitter. The rules aren't worth the paper they're printed on and there's better fluff in the fanfic section of every 40k blog out there. It's also pretty clear dataslates aren't going to help. I've reserved judgment for as long as I can, but it's time to tell it like it is. Despite a pretty major event in my life that will occupy the lion's share of my spare time for the next couple years, I've managed to squeeze roughly 20 hours on <a href="http://www.battlescribe.net/">Battlescribe</a> on my mobile phone and tablet trying to build a list - any list - that would meet any of the following criteria: able to take and hold objectives, able to take and hold table quarters, able to win battle points, able to win KP, able to have a shot at the <a href="http://whiskey40k.blogspot.com/2013/12/asymmetrical-mission-design-for-better.html">asymmetrical missions</a> being <a href="http://missioncatalog.com/">bandied about</a>, and the big one: <b> <u>is it fun to play</u>?</b> Add in another 10 hours of practice deployments and 1-2 turn tests -<i> I can't come up with a list that I either enjoy or would consider competitive</i>. The codex is absolutely hamstrung by the fact that synapse has no synergy within the codex - literally nothing with synapse works well with anything that needs it. I even tried several no-synapse lists which were even more painful. Double FOC helps a little, but that's generally not an option anywhere I would play. Killzone at least isn't an entirely lost cause...</div>
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I won't go through <a href="http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2014/01/codex-tyranids-review-part-i.html">line by line</a> <a href="http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2014/01/codex-tyranid-review-part-ii.html">and unit</a> <a href="http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2014/01/here-we-go-troops-section-i-was-hoping.html">by unit</a> - that's <a href="http://theback40k.blogspot.com/2014/01/ragnorok-cometh-rise-of-swarm.html">been</a> <a href="http://whiskey40k.blogspot.com/2014/01/tyranids-early-reaction-from-long-time.html">done</a> in <a href="http://unobtainiumrivets.blog.co.uk/2014/01/23/tactical-thursday-considering-the-harpy-and-hive-crone-17622372/">several</a> <a href="http://unobtainiumrivets.blog.co.uk/2014/01/30/tactical-thursday-considering-the-exocrine-and-haruspex-17664721/">places</a> <a href="http://theback40k.blogspot.com/2014/01/of-warriors-and-deathspitters.html">and in</a> great <a href="http://ftgtgaming.blogspot.com/2014/01/tyranid-codex-review-instinctive.html">detail</a>. Big kudos and thanks to each and every author linked here - I truly appreciate the thought and effort put into all of these. The unit assessments are for once, remarkably consistent in their assessments of each unit - although the overall mood ranges between very <a href="http://greenblowfly.blogspot.com/2014/01/an-anonymous-explanation-in-regards-to.html">negative</a> and lukewarm. There are a few <a href="http://www.fritz40k.com/2014/01/the-winning-tyranid-list.html">out there</a> that for reasons unbeknownst to the rest of us think the codex has some potential. That's not to say victories are impossible - we play a game where dice and skill are involved: <a href="http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2014/01/this-is-my-math-hammered-out-new-bug.html">it'll happen</a>. <a href="http://www.frontlinegaming.org/2014/01/23/can-tyranids-compete/">Reecius' challenge to win against him with Tyranids</a> is illuminating proof of the lack of playtesting and forethought that went into the codex. Hyvemynd gave a great overall summary <a href="http://synaps3.blogspot.com/2014/01/hyv3mynd-vs-new-tyranid-codex.html">here</a>. That article pretty much sums up my feelings and judgments exactly. </div>
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Enough with the dead horse beating - which despite the insistence of the dead horse to lie so still, inviting yet another entirely justified swift kick - it's time to let it go. Which brings me to the next topic. I doubt I'll be blogging much on Tyranids over the next couple years, and I'll miss it. GW's poor business decisions are coinciding with a point in life where both money and time are better spent elsewhere, and frankly it makes the decision to do so all that much easier. Definitely not quitting - I'll still keep voraciously reading about and playing/painting my blue and orange hivefleet, but other things are going to take hobby and time precedence. </div>
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The big change is this - for the next couple years, the first lady and I have been discerned (a little more involved than 'elected') as coordinators of the local community for an international marriage ministry that <a href="https://www.retrouvaille.org/">focuses on helping troubled and hurting marriages</a>. It's a non-profit organization, and coordinator is roughly equivalent to CEO, but we're no different than anyone else that volunteers. We'll just have extra responsibilities for a while. I've <a href="http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2011/02/finding-balance.html">blogged about</a> the program before a <a href="http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-no-updates-oh-very-well-move-along.html">couple times</a>. I wouldn't be here without it, wouldn't have my wife, family, kids or anything that matters. As a gamer and geek dad - being able to play and be creative with my kids and family is pretty much everything I ever wanted out of life. The opportunity to give someone back the gift of everything that matters in life is something I'm very passionate about - and so in the battle of the compass and the clock, both compass and clock will be oriented in this direction for a while. If by chance you are reading this, and misery or loneliness or thoughts of separation or divorce are part of your married life and you want to know more, drop me a line at the address in the 'Medical File' section on the right. Happy to help.</div>
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Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-25191401877580271302014-01-06T01:04:00.000-05:002014-01-06T20:45:22.939-05:00Khurasan Miniatures 28mm Caiman Unboxing<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73HE8-sXxhGtqGpVig1OuSvaBu8HsG-eJSHug3U-gauLRXzhHMhcCngiQVLWQ_QtzQD0xiZ2IgN6LsI3UU0vdKC_P7N8uPJ5BrSmw1WZJWyeibiwNx8dcq6697CrcSHeDmIqU3cIL6b8M/s1600/IMAG2129_1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg73HE8-sXxhGtqGpVig1OuSvaBu8HsG-eJSHug3U-gauLRXzhHMhcCngiQVLWQ_QtzQD0xiZ2IgN6LsI3UU0vdKC_P7N8uPJ5BrSmw1WZJWyeibiwNx8dcq6697CrcSHeDmIqU3cIL6b8M/s1600/IMAG2129_1" height="180" width="320" /></a></div>
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I've wanted the APC from Aliens as a miniature for oh... since I first saw it when the movie came out. Although <a href="http://khurasanminiatures.tripod.com/">Khurasan's</a> 28mm Caiman (also available in 15mm) is necessarily not a replica, it makes a fine replacement and more than stands on its own. I'd first seen the Caiman when they were released back in 2012, but they are nearly always sold out. They became available again just about Black Friday time this year and I ordered two, for my long-brewing Inquisition/Sisters/Arbites/Grey Knights collection. Here's a close look at my unboxing. Excellent sculpt, well-cast with only a few, normal issues commonly found with bigger resin casts.<br />
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Well wrapped and packaged.</div>
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Some minor issues with the vent here, not sure if I can fix with greenstuff or will just make it weathering/battle damage.<br />
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Second APC also had an issue on the vent but looks fixable.<br />
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Very minor bubbles.<br />
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Bubble fixed in pre-ship QC, back bumper a bit off true.<br />
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Minor issue on flat layer of little turret, but I don't much care for these little ones and will be looking for an alternative.<br />
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Assembled, everything but the little turrets fit snugly. The exit hatch rails were flawless.<br />
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Small quirk here, fixable.<br />
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Hard to see in other photos, but there are two raised hull areas just in front of the turret that break up the outline nicely and add a neat detail to highlight.<br />
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Overall I'm extremely pleased with these. Now how to make these either Arbites or Inquisition rides... </div>
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Apologies for the terrible lighting.. but here's some 'typical' 40k figures for scale reference, as requested.<br />
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<br />Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-46038105563804895112014-01-03T15:08:00.000-05:002014-01-03T15:08:51.307-05:00Tyranid Codex Pre-Release Rant<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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As ever it's been a busy month with far fewer posts than intended - but real life > hobbies. Most of the time. At any rate - I've been watching the spin-up of the rumor threads and leaks for the new Tyranid codex and models and as more info becomes available, also watching my hopes dwindle into a termagant toenail-sized sliver. <br />
With the information available to date, GW appears to pull off a rather petty dick move - removing the mycetic spore as a model altogether. With at least 4 different alternate model variants for sale from other companies, they just decided to remove that model altogether. Interesting choice to just willfully concede an opportunity for profit - tyranid players have come up with hundreds if not thousands of scratch-built variants of spore pods, and instead of capitalizing on it (literally) GW decides to give the other companies and the players the finger. How many scratch-built and alternate mycetic spore models will simply become 'tyranid terrain'? Stay classy, GW, stay classy. At least that removes a source of easy KPs in a codex that already has KP issues - but that only matters if you care about winning a game based on KPs.<br />
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In another dick move,<a href="http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?33545-Tyranids-Rumor-Roundup&p=380886&viewfull=1#post380886"> Cruddace retcons Tyranid DNA</a> in the WD interview. Seriously? How the hell do you remove DNA from the iconic genestealer? Looks like Genestealer cult armies are out unless they come up with some other fluff to cover that eventuality - but I'm not holding my breath. The Praedis Zeta rules gave me some hope initially, but how is it possible the authority on tyranids doesn't "get" tyranids? It's not like there aren't in-print <a href="http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/The_Alien_Beast_Within_(Short_Story)#The_Alien_Beast_Within">Black Library references</a> to check. This probably more than anything tells me the new codex and dataslates etc... have a high shyte potential. <br />
Which brings me to my next topic. Cost. Let's see.. $50 for the Codex in hardback, and/or e-Codex. Or $100 for the collector's edition, plus another $45 (if they follow the Iyanden model) for each/any Hive Fleet specific supplemental codexes, plus maybe $15 for the Vanguard dataslate, $6 for the Psychic Cards, $70 per harpy/crone (most will probably want 2, so $140), then another $73 for the exocrine/haruspex (again - 2 needed for $146) - by comparison the $50 warriors look cheap, but at least we'll have a Prime model. Another $70 for Hive Guard - and we'll probably need 2 of those too for another $140. So let's add this up to see what the starting cost will be for people who already have a good-sized tyranid force: between $550 and $650 depending on which codex you get. The Swarm boxed set is actually a good deal for new Tyranid players - too bad it doesn't come with any of the new models whatsoever. Just models most tyranid players already have truckloads of. Sure you want to play a swarm army?<br />
So what's next on the rant list.. ah yes "every model useful". Haven't heard much about the ol' pyrovore yet have we? 45 points for the venomthrope? Bet it still has BS4. I got into tyranids for the ravener, trygon, and venomthrope models - and I've never been able to find points/cause to field a venomthrope. I don't own a pyrovore and apparently won't need to. Tyrannofex still costs over 200 points for two BS3 shots at AP4. Oh sure they're S10 but that's a lot of meh for 10 shots in a 5-turn game, with an average of 5 hits. I can do better with one exocrine in one round, maybe 2. Ridiculous. Most of the other point changes are decent, oh except the nerf of MC devs with brainleech worms coming down to S5. So much for being a threat to vehicles or flyers. I'm still shuddering at the idea of 'mandated psychic powers' for some models - nothing like limited options. Which reminds me - what's the point of the Haruspex? Another low Init MC that can blow through crappy infantry - just like every other tyranid model? It certainly won't bring players to tyranids for the way it looks - it's just a mutalith/slaughterbrute with a different paint job. A quick experiment:<br />
<i>Google for "love the trygon" - 1300+ results</i><br />
<i> Google for "love the slaughterbute" or "love the mutalith" - 0 and 2 results respectively</i><br />
Well - that's a lot of rant - I can go on I'm sure - but since this is all speculation until we get our grubby 'beaters on the new codex, it's really just getting the negativity and nerd rage off my chest in the hopes the codex will be fun, despite the grim outlook. A new codex should = a better codex, and in some ways I'm sure it will be. But the idea that it will meet any long-time Tyranid player's hopes or expectations given either the fluff as we know it, or our tabletop experience are pretty much shot. <br />
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Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-56257528689972183712013-11-16T23:32:00.001-05:002013-11-16T23:32:16.179-05:00NOVA Open 2013 - Narrative Batrep 2<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
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A more cinematic way to end the tournament would be hard to find - the raging Hive Tyrant screaming its challenge at the Lamenters' Librarian dreadnought, rising on the Wings of Sanguinius for a duel to the death on the roof of the Capitol. The NOVA Open 2013 Narrative was a fantastic event - exactly the sort of games I most enjoy. With no next round looming, it was far easier to relax and get to know the other player a bit better, to banter back and forth, and create storylines within the battle as we went. I'm very much looking forward to next year. But the above is just a taster for the final batrep. <a href="http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2013/09/nova-open-2013-panic-painting-and.html">Here</a>'s the batrep for my first battle. This is the batrep for battle #2.<br />
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For simplicity, here's my list: </div>
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Hive Tyrant: Wings, Hive Commander, TL Devs. Biomancy 2:<br />
Parasite of Mortrex: Warlord, with chosen ability: Coordinated Assault (+1" assault range to all friendly w/in 12")<br />
Deathleaper<br />
Doom in a SPod<br />
Tervigon: AG, TS, ScyTals. Biomancy 3: <br />
Tervigon: AG, TS, ScyTals. Biomancy 3: <br />
Tervigon: AG, TS, ScyTals. Biomancy 2: <br />
Termagant x10 (x3)<br />
Ravener x9, Rending<br />
Gargoyles x27, TS </blockquote>
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My second battle was vs. a gentleman named Harley who had come down with a small contingent from New York , playing IG/CSM (the 42nd Infantry Division). Overall a very entertaining game - the surprise mission was definitely a shocker. List after the jump:<br />
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IG:<br />
CCS with Regimental Standard<br />
Infantry Platoon<br />
- Infantry Squad, Lascannon, SGT<br />
- Infantry Squad, Autocannon, SGT<br />
- Command Squad, 4 flamers, Platoon Cdr<br />
Veteran Squad, 6 lasguns, 3 meltaguns, SGT<br />
- Chimera, HB, ML<br />
Veteran Squad, 6 lasguns, 3 plasma guns, SGT<br />
- Chimera, HB, ML<br />
Vendetta (x2)<br />
Leman Russ Demolisher, HB<br />
Aegis Line w/quad gun<br />
CSM:<br />
Daemon Prince w/combat familiar, Lvl 2 mastery, Power Armor, Slaanesh, Wings, and The Black Mace*<br />
Noise Marines - Champion w/pistol, CCW; 3x bolter marines, 1x Blastmaster, 1x Sonic Blaster<br />
CSM squad - Aspiring Champ, Pistol, Bolter, Power weapon; 6x Nurgle marines, meltagun, votlf<br />
- Chaos Rhino<br />
Heldrake, w/baleflamer</blockquote>
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I judged his list to be more flexible than most - it had a lot of tools available. Worse, with the increasing codex expense, it is very hard to keep up with the codexes without spending a ton of money - which I hadn't. As a result, I was literally going in blind vs. the Chaos Codex. And he had a Heldrake - <a href="http://11thcompany.blogspot.com/2013/02/heldrake-does-as-heldrake-pleases.html">which according to the interwebz is auto-win</a>. So, I knew the Heldrake was bad news, but that's about it. <br />
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The scenario was "No Timeframe in Which to Exsanguinate" with two missions: Mission 1: each player places two objectives, 2 points awarded if you controlled your objectives, and 1 point for scoring or contesting an opponent's objective. Mission 2 was relic, but if the unit carrying didn't shoot the prior round, enemy units had to pass a LD test to fire on it. Dawn of War deployment. I won't cover the Fame/Infamy conditions here for brevity as I didn't try for either condition. I lost the roll and ended up going first. We both placed our objectives in cover, one on each side in our deployment zones, so no surprises there. His Aegis and quad gun were centered between two pieces of terrain on his side. My psychic powers were decent:</div>
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Hive Tyrant: Enfeeble, Iron Arm<br />
Tervigon (Hex-conversion w/6 legs): Life Leech, Endurance, Warp Speed<br />
Tervigon (Hoofer-conversion w/fex hooves): Enfeeble, Iron Arm, Warp Speed<br />
Tervigon (Big Nelly-actual Tgon) : Haemo, Endurance</blockquote>
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With psychic powers making such a big difference, I can't just play my tervigons interchangeably, and it often dictates how I'll play my Tyrant as well. With Iron Arm on the Tyrant I could keep him on the board turn 1 relatively easily to support the main (and very typical) plan: flood the middle and pin him on the far side of the relic with raveners and gargoyles until my tervigon/termagants could get to it and bring it back, while camping on my objectives. Doom and Deathleaper would do what they do in his backfield and hopefully between the ravs, gargoyles, tyrant, doom and deathleaper I could contest at least one of his. I also put one tervigon/gant pair off to the flank to advance on his left objective behind LOS, or simply to dash back into my objective once the rest of the force moved forward. It was also bait as one more thing to shoot at if he seized while being 6" out of range if he did seize and managed to drop Nelly. Here's my deployment:</div>
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Hex on the left flank would buff and had warp speed if it got into combat, Nelly on the left center was my objective holder and buffer, while Hoofer on the right would go for the relic with Iron Arm but also had enfeeble if a good opportunity presented itself, or warp speed if he managed to get into combat. <br />
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Turn 1 - he didn't seize; I moved forward, spawned w/no doubles on all 3 tervigons, but the only meaningful fire my list had was from my Tyrant, which zoomed down the right flank behind the hill and put two glances on the CSM rhino. I moved up with Nelly for the relic rather than Hoofer with two vehicles and a DP aimed at my back objective. Below is the start of his movement phase on the bottom of Turn 1, threading the terrain and moving forward cautiously. His CSM and one Chim/vet squad are on the right, CCS and platoon in the center, and another Chim/vet squad and Russ on the left.</div>
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As in the first battle, Virtue had one unit it could give +1T and 5++, at the cost of the models exploding d6" for S=T damage when they died. I again put this on my raveners, who, along with Endurance from Nelly, managed to soak almost his entire army's fire taking only a few wounds, and losing one or two on their way across the center. (Tactical note: that 5++ was far more effective than I would have thought, making me give venomthropes a second look since NOVA). In contrast however, the gargoyles got hit by a slaanesh spell from the DP that waxed 13 in one shot, and his Russ managed to pop a few more.<br />
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Unfortunately, I didn't take any more pictures in this battle as Harley had to play the next day and I didn't want to slow things down further. I may have some of the details a little off, but here's the gist of how I recall it playing. <br />
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In turn 2, Doom came down on the far left and ate the noise marine squad in the ruins on his objective over the next two rounds, and damaged the Russ. In turn 3 killed the command squad in the left center, and managed to blow up the Russ. In turn 2, the tyrant continued down the right flank, and managed to wreck the chimera, spilling out the vet squad into the terrain near his objective, and managed to go left along his backfield in range in turn 3 to finish off the rhino, dumping the CSM squad into the gap between the ruins and the hill. In turns 2 and 3, the remaining Raveners made it to (and through) his infantry platoon; Deathleaper came in on turn 2 on the right side behind his newly debarked squads. Between the two, they killed the 3 infantry squads in the center, and then rolled up the veteran squad from the right flank chimera - though to be fair they were helped a lot by some unlucky rolls when Harley activated his Humanity special power for the IG platoon - gaining fearless, S6, AP2, and 2+ poisonous attacks, but at the cost of rolling the following for each model: 1-2 take a wound (w/armor save), 4-6 safe. He lost 2-5 models each time he rolled (at least 3 times). In turn 2, I enfeebled the DP with Hoofer and charged the remaining 10+ gargoyles and PoM into the Black Mace wielding DP, causing a couple wounds firing on the way in - but they were wiped out in one round of combat for their trouble (Wisdom Objective Achieved: Black Mace bad!). So once again my Warlord got punked by me being stupid. Fortunately for me, the DP failed his charge on gants in the center in the bottom of 2. I kept Enfeeble on him in Turn 3 and gunned him down with termagants.<br />
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Ultimately I spawned 6 gant squads (10, 5, 11, 8, 5, 8), pooping out with Nelly and Hex, but made it to the relic easily in turn 2 - triggering the Humanity secret mission: the relic was concealing a very powerful drone (the T1000, S6 T6 W3 and I forget how many attacks, but enough) but I fortunately had two gant squads and was able to tar pit the drone with one and get away with the relic with the other, then keep the tar pit going by charging in additional gant squads to keep his drone from moving. In the bottom of 3 his Heldrake came in and killed a few gants, but over flew a squad of them... who promptly shot it down from behind in the top of 4 - though flyrant helped a little by glancing it a couple times first ;) At the top of 4 the one remaining ravener and Deathleaper - both with one wound remaining, dogpiled into the few remaining models from his CSM squad on the right (having lost some in the exploding rhino and to termagant fire) and freakishly managed to bring it down to 2 models and survive through the end of 4. The immobilized chimera with vet squad was facing assault from a gant brood and two tervigons when we called it - Harley was in the GT early in the morning; I held the relic, two objectives, and contested one of his with Doom - achieving both mission conditions. Harley was a class opponent and I hope to see him next year. <br />
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So for me, just about everything went about as well as it could have, and my gambles paid off. Everything did about what it should or I hoped it would, except for the dunce cap award of charging something with a Black Mace... sooner or later the dice would come back to haunt me though, I was sure of it.<br />
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Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-50096295534744479762013-10-24T01:21:00.003-04:002013-10-24T01:21:50.256-04:00Searching for an Inspiring Post & BfS Reflections<br />
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Hi all - looking for a little help here. The evening before I loaded up the car and headed to <a href="http://www.battleforsalvation.com/">Battle for Salvation</a> I was doing a fast pass through the 40k blogosphere and ran across one of those rare gems of an article that makes poring over endless blogs and forums worthwhile - true inspiration. Something that hit me to the core and really helped reset my compass firmly in a direction I am absolutely intent on pursuing, a sentiment that attending BfS helped to cement. Unfortunately - I didn't bookmark or save it, being in a hurry to finish packing and get some sort of list together for BfS. Googling for "hobby, waac, 40k, blog, tournament" really isn't working... so I'm hoping someone else who reads this may have read it and can point me in the right direction. Here's the gist of the post:<br />
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<i>It opened describing a friend who avoided tournaments because he was afraid of the WAACs and pressure, of showing up without a well-painted army or display board, and in general not knowing either his list or the game rules. The author was going to a tournament (MichiganGT I think?) and the friend decided he'd just rather just hang out and watch instead of playing. Game day changed the friend's mindset though - once he saw what the atmosphere was actually like, realizing he should have played. This in turn led to a series of goals for the aspiring tournament player to be able to hobby up and play with swagger at that tournament next year. To dedicate the next year to one army - paint it to a high standard, complete with a good display board; to come up with a solid list and play that list as often as possible with only minor tweaks made from experience, not experimentation. To be in all ways ready, prepared, and confident. Hobby boxes checked, rules knowledge boxes checked, army list playtesting and tuning boxes checked. A most worthy roadmap.</i><br />
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So if you may have read that article or one you think might be it - I'd very much appreciate a link or pointer to the blog/author. I owe him at least a kind comment for kickstarting my hobby and 40k drive again. Motivation is where you find it.<br />
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That article wasn't the only thing though - there's also the matter of a little tournament called Battle for Salvation. At the last minute, after rains had basically wrecked family plans for soccer and other things, I secured the kitchen pass and was the last person to sign up online. In a frenzy that Thursday evening I scrabbled my things together, shoved models I could make at least a respectable list out of into carrying cases, printed out 6 power/spawn tracker sheets. Friday ticked by like slowly pulling a scab. Workday dues finally paid, I sped home, packed, loaded the car and left for the promised land of West Nyack. Huge thanks to the gents who at the last minute graciously allowed me to share their room and bring an air mattress to crash on. <br />
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A little background: Ed and the Battle for Salvation crew have been there for the <a href="http://www.novaopen.com/">NOVA Open</a> since the beginning. I think 2013 was the first year they didn't need to bring terrain and tables down to help make NOVA a reality. To quote Ron White: "<a href="http://www.quotesworthrepeating.com/quote-by/r/ron-white/40-joke-by-ron-white/">We've met</a>". A better bunch of folks are hard to find. I've wanted to attend BfS for a long time - and had managed to build up some guilt for not doing so. Being able to attend and support BfS was immensely satisfying - karmic payback perhaps, especially knowing what goes into setting up and running a tournament, and knowing the secret to happiness as a TO/volunteer is the satisfaction of knowing other people had a good time - knowing your efforts weren't wasted. I had a great time, and it was awesome to see folks having a really good time - that BfS was truly the success Ed and the crew deserved for their efforts.<br />
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I went 2-4 on the weekend - not as good as I'd hoped, but better than I expected given the almost total lack of preparation. Definitely building up my list and rule familiarity and knowledge - and actually finishing 3 of 6 games due to time (shock). There were some absolutely stunning armies there - more motivation. I'll post up my list and batreps soon - ideally before the new codex drops! I'm building up a pretty big stack of battle reports from NOVA and BfS to put together. Life has as ever been <a href="https://soundcloud.com/blind-tiger-kicks-ass/lunatic-fringe-cover">crazy busy</a>, but doing my best to refocus on the hobby I love. Thanks for reading!<br />
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For the TL;DR crowd - I read a great article I would very much like to find again but need help doing so (details above) and had a great time at Battle for Salvation. Put it on your list to attend next year - you wont' be sorry.<br />
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<br />Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-63280240248780263802013-09-05T01:37:00.000-04:002013-09-05T01:37:03.156-04:00List of Lists II: ETC 2013 Tyranid Lists<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92U50IqpJtHI0R7ZjYaUlIu0QxjQ3q_nuzD754SQU6TQEbFy8ue4-p7tQycCsAbNZGqCyT1UEqbFuYHUxDlVWnGmVI1nkAbrFVO57YuVE4V63J1ieJrVCJBVFHxMpcSrgLBTftRSAg9NK/s1600/finalcountdown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj92U50IqpJtHI0R7ZjYaUlIu0QxjQ3q_nuzD754SQU6TQEbFy8ue4-p7tQycCsAbNZGqCyT1UEqbFuYHUxDlVWnGmVI1nkAbrFVO57YuVE4V63J1ieJrVCJBVFHxMpcSrgLBTftRSAg9NK/s1600/finalcountdown.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It was too perfect not to use</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
While looking into building a list for NOVA this year I got a little caught up in the ETC 2013 games and did a good bit of list research, which, with only a couple months left before the rumored new Tyranid release, I thought it would be worthwhile to share. Follows a compilation of the Tyranid lists from this year's ETC 2013. The tournament format is fascinating in terms of how the teams are set up with a mix of lists to deal with the pairing process. Some are all comers lists with a good chance of winning vs. anything, some are essentially tar pit lists known as "defenders" - built to minimize the point giveaway for any bad matchups, and some are the opposite: "attacker" lists built to take advantage of bad matchups and score max points. The below lists can fall into any of these categories, but one and all are competitive when piloted right. 21 of 28 nations (teams) brought a Tyranid list, ranking 6th overall both in average points scored, and in popularity of primary detachment.<br />
<br />
I pulled these from the complete list of all armies found <a href="http://warhammer.org.uk/phpBB/viewtopic.php?p=1387244&sid=39aebd92576c18b94b274137b9263ebb#p1387244">here</a>, removed the points values and cleaned them up for simplicity, removing the Army Primary Detachment in all cases except Latvia's - which was worth keeping ;) I also added links to the player blogs if I could find them. There's also a breakdown of the Tyranid lists on a French forum <a href="http://forum-tyranide.forumactif.org/t3077-listes-tyranides-etc-2013-traduites">here</a>, with some commentary on the role of each list and how it plays if you're Google Translate-inclined, and a difficulty rating with a scale of: + easy, ++ average, and +++ or more as difficult to handle. I included the difficulty rating and role here.<br />
<br />
Lists after the break:<br />
<br />
<a name='more'></a><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Germany (1st place)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 4: Kayu "<a href="http://www.40kings.de/author/fenneq/">FenneQ</a>" Orellana</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 1 - Warlord : Swarmlord </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 2 : Hive Tyrant 2 TL Devourers with Brainleech Worms Old Adversary Paroxysm Life Leech </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 1.1 : Tyrant Guard </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 2.1 : Tyrant Guard </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 1 : 3 Hiveguards </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 2 : 3 Hiveguards </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 3 : The Doom of Malan´tai in Transport 1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1 : 10 Termagaunts Devourers in Transport 2</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2 : 10 Termagaunts </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3 : Tervigon Catalyst Dominion Toxin Sacs Scything Talons Cluster Spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 4 : Tervigon Catalyst Dominion Onslaught Toxin Sacs Cluster Spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS 1: Mawloc </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS 2: Biovore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport 1: Mycetic Spore, transporting Elite 1 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport 2: Mycetic Spore, transporting Troop 1 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL [1850pts]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Defender</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Poland (3rd Place)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 8: Jakub "Vladdi"Podruczny (captain)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1: Hive Tyrant, (warlord), 2xTwin Devourer with Brainleech Worms, Wings, Old </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Adversary,Leech Essence, Paroxism, Regeneration </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2: Hive Tyrant, 2xTwin Devourer with Brainleech Worms, Wings,Leech Essence, Paroxism, Hive </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Commander; Regeneration </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite1: The Doom of Malan'tai in transport 1; </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite2: 3 Hive Guard Brood </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite3: 3 Hive Guard Brood </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops1: Tervigon,Cluster Spines,Adrenal Glands,Toxin Sacs, Catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops2: Tervigon,Cluster Spines,Toxin Sacs; Catalyst; </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops3: 10 Termagant Brood </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops4: 10 Termagant Brood </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fast Attack1: Harpy, Cluster Spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fast Attack2: Harpy, Cluster Spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport1: Mycetic Spore, Cluster Spines</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Defender</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Finland (4th Place)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 1: Jouni "Jouni" Haavisto (C)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1 WARLORD : Hive Tyrant paroxysm leech essence 2 twin-linked devourers with brainleech </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">worms, Armoured Shell, Old Adversary </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2 : Swarm Lord </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1.1 : Tyrant Guard </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2.1 : Tyrant Guard </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite1 : 3 Hive Guard </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite2 : The Doom of Malan'tai IN TRANSPORT 1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop1 : 10 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop2 : 10 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop3 : Tervigon stinger salvo adrenaline glands toxin sacs catalyst</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop4 : Tervigon stinger salvo toxin sacs catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fast1 : 20 Gargoyles toxin sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heavy1 : Biovore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heavy2 : Trygon Trygon Prime Upgrade </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport1 : Mycetic Spore Elite2</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TOTAL : [1850]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Defender</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Ireland (5th Place)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Player 4 David McHugh</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 1: Hive Tyrant: Warlord, Wings, 2 Twin Linked Devourers with brainleach worms, Hive </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Commander, Psychic Scream, Paroxism - </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 2: Hive Tyrant: Wings, 2 Twin Linked Devourers with brainleach worms, Old Adversary, </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Psychic Scream, Paroxism - </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 1: 3 Zoanthropes - </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 2: 3 Zoanthropes: in transport 1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 3: Doom of Malan’tai: in transport 2</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1: Tervigon: Cluster Spines, Catalyst, Onslaught, Toxin Sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2: Tervigon: Cluster Spines, Catalyst, Onslaught, Toxin Sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3: Tervigon: Cluster Spines, Catalyst, Onslaught, Toxin Sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 4: 10 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 5: 10 Termagants</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 6: 10 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport 1: Mycetic Spore</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport 2: Mycetic Spore</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL: [1850]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Defender</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team England (6th Place)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 6: <a href="http://sanguinesons.blogspot.com/2013/08/tyranids-and-future-list-review-etc-2013.html">Andy Humphris (Venerable Brother)</a></b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 1: Tervigon, Cluster Spines, Dominion, Catalyst, Onslaught, Toxin Sacs, Adrenal </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Glands (Warlord)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 1: 2 Zoanthropes </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 2: 2 Zoanthropes </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 3: Doom of Malan’tai, Transport 1 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1: Tervigon, Cluster Spines, Dominion, Catalyst, Onslaught, Toxin Sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2: Tervigon, Cluster Spines, Dominion, Catalyst, Onslaught, Toxin Sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3: 10 Termagants</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 4: 10 Termagants</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FA1: 28 Gargoyles, Toxin Sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FA2: 28 Gargoyles, Toxin Sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FA3: 28 Gargoyles, Toxin Sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS1: 2 Biovores </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS2: 2 Biovores </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport 1: Mycetic Spore, Transports Elite 3 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL [1848pts]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Attacker</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Sweden (7th Place)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 7: (Joakim Engström)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1: Warlord - The Parasite of Mortrex</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite1; 3x Hive Guard </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1: Tervigon Cluster Spine Catalyst Adrenal Glands Toxic Sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2: Tervigon Cluster Spine Catalyst Adrenal Glands Toxic Sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3: Tervigon Cluster Spine Catalyst Adrenal Glands Toxic Sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 4: 10 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 5: 13x Termagants in transport 1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 6: 13x Termagants in transport 2</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FA1: 30x Gargoyles Adrenal Glands Toxic Sacs</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FA2: 30x Gargoyles Adrenal GlandsToxic Sacs</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS1: 1x Biovore</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS2: 1x Mawloc </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport 1: Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport 2: Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL[1850pts]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Attacker</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i style="font-size: small;"><b>Team Belarus (8th Place)</b></i><br />
<a href="http://hive-fleet-hyenna.blogspot.com/p/etc-2013-team-belarus.html"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i><b>Alexander "Erle" Ivanov (CAPTAIN)</b></i></span></a><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>HQ1: Hive Tyrant, 2 x TL Devourers ; Wings ; Leech Essence ; Paroxism {warlord}</i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>HQ2: Hive Tyrant, 2 x TL Devourers ; Wings ; Leech Essence ; Paroxism ; Old Adversary </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Elite1: 2 x Hive Guard </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Elite2: 2 x Hive Guard </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Troop 1: Tervigon, Stinger Salvo, Scything Talons, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Troop 2: Tervigon, Stinger Salvo, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Troop 3: 10 x Termagant Brood </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Troop 4: 10 x Termagant Brood </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>FA1: 9 x Ravener Brood, Rending Claws </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>FA1: 9 x Ravener Brood, Rending Claws </i></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Army Total: [1850 pts]</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Attacker</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Russia (9th)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Player7: Anton "Tinkivinki" Shubenkov</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1 Hive Tyrant, 2xTwin Devourer with Brainleech Worms, Wings, Old Adversary,Leech Essence, </span></i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Paroxysm</i></span><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2:Hive Tyrant, 2xTwin Devourer with Brainleech Worms, Wings,Leech Essence, Paroxism, Hive </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Commander, Warlord</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite1: The Doom of Malan'tai in transport 1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite2: 3 Hive Guard Brood </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops1: Tervigon,Cluster Spines,Adrenal Glands,Toxin Sacs, Catalyst;Scything Talon</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops2: Tervigon,Cluster Spines,Adrenal Glands,Toxin Sacs; Catalyst; </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops3: 15 Termagant Brood, Devourers in transport 2</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops4: 15 Termagant Brood, Devourers in transport 3</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops4: 14 Termagant Brood, Devourers in transport 4</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heavy Support 1: 1 Biovore Brood </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport1: Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport2: Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport3: Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport4: Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Total Roster Cost: 1850</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Attacker</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: +++++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Ukraine (11th)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Player7: Sergey "Lot D" Mkhitaryan</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 1: HIVE TYRANT ; Twin Devourer with Brainleech Worms; Wings ; Leech Essence; Paroxism, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">(warlord) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 2: HIVE TYRANT ; Twin Devourer with Brainleech Worms; Wings ; Leech Essence; Paroxism; Hive </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Commander</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 1: 9 YMGARL GENESTEALER BROOD</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 2: THE DOOM OF MALAN'TAI in Transport1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 3: 3 HIVE GUARD BROOD</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1: TERMAGANT BROOD 10 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2: TERMAGANT BROOD 10 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3: TERMAGANT BROOD 11 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 4: TERVIGON : Cluster Spines; Toxin Sacs; Adrenal Glands; Catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 5: TERVIGON : Cluster Spines; Toxin Sacs; Adrenal Glands; Catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 6: TERVIGON : Cluster Spines; Toxin Sacs; Adrenal Glands; Catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport1: MYCETIC SPORE transporting Elite 2</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fortifications: SKYSHIELD LANDING PAD </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TOTAL [1847 pts]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Attacker</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Serbia (12th)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 6: Marko Rajacic</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 1: Tyranid Prime, lash whip & bonesword, toxic sacs, scything talons </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 1: 2 x Venomthrope</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 2: Doom of Malantai, Cataclysm in Transport 1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1: Tervigon, Dominion, Catalyst, Toxin Sacs, adrenal gland, Cluster spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2: Tervigon, Dominion, Catalyst, Toxin Sacs, adrenal gland, Cluster spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3: Tervigon, Dominion, Catalyst, onslaught, scything talons, Toxin Sacs, Cluster </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 4: Termagant Brood, 10 Gants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 5: Termagant Brood, 10 Gants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 6: Termagant Brood, 10 Gants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heavy 1: 2xCarnifex, 4xtwin linked devourers with brainleech worms</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Heavy 2: 2xCarnifex, 4xtwin linked devourers with brainleech worms</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport1: Mycetic Spore carries Elite 2 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL [1850pts]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Defender</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team France (13th)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Player N°6: "EdlR" (Xavier A.)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1 (Warlord): Hive Tyrant, wings, 2 TL devourers with brainleech worms, Regeneration, Paroxysm, Leech Essence </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2: Hive Tyrant, wings, 2 TL devourers with brainleech worms, Regeneration, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Paroxysm, Leech Essence</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite1: The Doom of Malan'tai - in Transport 1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite2: 3 Hive guards</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite3: 3 Hive guards</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop1: 10 Termagant brood</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop2: Tervigon, Cluster spines, Regeneration, Toxin sacs, Adrenal Glands, Catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop3: 10 Termagant brood</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop4: Tervigon, Cluster spines, Regeneration, Toxin sacs, Adrenal Glands, Catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop5: 10 Termagant brood</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop6: Tervigon, Cluster spines, Toxin sacs, Catalyst</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport 1: Mycetic Spore</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fo1: Bastion</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL [1850pts]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: "Versatile"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: +++</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Italy (15th)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 2: Tiberiu "Masterchief" Stanciu</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1 – Warlord: Swarmlord </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1.2: Tyrant Guard Brood, 2*Tyrant Guard, 2*lash whips</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elites1: Ymgarl Genestealer Brood, 8*Ymgarl Genestealer </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elites2: Ymgarl Genestealer Brood, 8 Ymgarl Genestealer </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elites3: Doom of Malantai, on Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elites3.2: Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop1: Tervigon cluster spines, toxin sacs, adrenal glands, catalyst, onslaught </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop2: Tervigon cluster spines, toxin sacs, adrenal glands, catalyst, onslaught </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop3: Tervigon cluster spines, toxin sacs, adrenal glands, catalyst, onslaught </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop4: Termagaunt Brood, 10*Termagaunts </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop5: Termagaunt Brood, 10*Termagaunts </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop6: Termagaunt Brood, 14*Termagaunts</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FA1: Gargoyles Brood, 20*Gargoyles, Toxin Sacks</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Total [1848pts]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Defender</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Wales (16th)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 6: (Filippo 'Fun Times' Cipriani)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1 - WARLORD :Hive Tyrant, Wings, 2 x Twin Linked Devourers Life Leech, Paroxysm</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2 : Hive Tyrant, Wings, 2 x Twin Linked Devourers Life Leech, Paroxysm </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite1 : 3 Hive Guard </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite2 : 3 Hive Guard </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 3 : Doom of Malantai Transport1 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1 : 10 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2 : 10 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3 : 10 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 4 : Tervigon , Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst, Cluster Spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 5 : Tervigon , Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst, Cluster Spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 6 : Tervigon , Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst, Cluster Spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> FA1: Harpy Twin Stranglethorn Cannon, Cluster Spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport1: Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL [1850]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Defender</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Switzerland (17th)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 7: Matthieu "Altahyr" Porchet</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1- Warlord: Hive Tyrant 2 twin-linked devourers with brainleech worms, wings, paroxysm, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">leech Essence </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2: Hive Tyrant 2 twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms, wings, old adversary, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">paroxysm, leech Essence </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ELITE1: Hive Guard Brood, 3 Hive Guards </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ELITE2: The Doom of Malan’tai riding in TRANSPORT1 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TROOP1: Termagant Brood, 10 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TROOP2: Termagant Brood, 18 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TROOP3: Tervigon cluster spines, toxin sacs, catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TROOP4: Tervigon cluster spines, toxin sacs, catalyst, onslaught</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS1: Carnifex Brood, 2 Carnifex, 4 twin-linked devourer with brainleech worms </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS2: Biovore Brood, 1 Biovore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TRANSPORT1: Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FORTIFICATION: Imperial Bastion </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL=[1850 pts]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: "Versatile"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Scotland (19th)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 7: Peter "Flogger" Alsén</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 1: The Parasite of Mortrex - WARLORD</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ELITE 1: 3x Zoanthropes + Transport 1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 2; Doom of Malant'ai + Transport 2</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TROOPS 1: Tervigon Stinger Salvo, Catalyst Adrenal Glands Toxic Sacs</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TROOPS 2: Tervigon Stinger Salvo, Catalyst Adrenal Glands Toxic Sacs</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TROOPS 3: Tervigon Stinger Salvo, Catalyst Adrenal Glands Toxic Sacs</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TROOPS 4: 11 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TROOPS 5: 10 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TROOPS 6: 10 Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FAST 1: 25 Gargoyles Adrenal Glands, Toxic Sacs</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FAST 2: 25 Gargoyles Adrenal Glands, Toxic Sacs</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FAST 3: 25 Gargoyles Adrenal Glands, Toxic Sacs</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TRANSPORT 1: Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">TRANSPORT 2: Mycetic Spore </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">[TOTAL = 1850]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Attacker</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Latvia (20th)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 6: Alexey 'packer' Krivonogov</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY PRIMARY DETACHMENT DESCRIPTION : Tyranids</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY ALLIED DETACHMENT DESCRIPTION :</span><b> Squats, but we ate them.</b></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1(Warlord): The Swarmlord </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2:Hive Tyrant (2x Twin-linked devourers), Old Adversary, Wings, Leech Essence, Paroxysm) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ3:Tyrant guard (Lash whip)</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite1:Hive guard brood (3 models) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite2:Hive guard brood (3 models) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite3:The Doom of Malantai in Transport 1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops1:Termagant Brood (10 models) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops2:Termagant Brood (10 models) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops3:Tervigon (Adrenal glands, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst ) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troops4:Tervigon (Adrenal glands, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst ) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FA1:Gargoyle Brood (30 models, Toxin sacs) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS1:Biovore brood (2 models) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport 1: Mycetic spore transporting Elite3</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Total Army Cost: 1850</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: "Versatile"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: +++</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Norway (21st)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 5: Espen “Rolig” Roligheten</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1 :1 Hive Tyrant, Replace lash whip and bonesword for additional scything talons, replace </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">2 scything talons for twin.linked devourers with brainleech worms, wings, Hive commander, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Toxin sacs, Psychic powers, Leech Essence, Paroxysm, Warlord </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2 : 1 Hive Tyrant, Replace lash whip and bonesword for additional scything talons, replace </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">2 scything talons for twin.linked devourers with brainleech worms, wings, old adversary, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Toxin sacs, Psychic powers, Leech Essence, Paroxysm</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite1 : 1 The Doom Of Malan’tai Psychic powers, warp blast, warp lance, cataclysm, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">transport 1 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1 : 10 Termagant brood, The scuttling swarm </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2 : 10 Termagant brood, The scuttling swarm </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3 : 11 Termagant brood, The scuttling swarm </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 4 : 1 Tervigon, Replace stinger salvo for cluster spine, toxin sacs, Psychic powers, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">dominion, catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 5 : 1 Tervigon, Replace stinger salvo for cluster spine, toxin sacs, Psychic powers, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">dominion, catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 6 : 1 Tervigon, Replace stinger salvo for cluster spine, toxin sacs, Psychic powers, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">dominion, catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS1: 1 Trygon, toxin sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS2: 1 Trygon, toxin sacs </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport1 : 1 Mycetic spore, Elite 1 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL [1850pts]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: "Versatile"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Belgium (22nd)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 7: Alex “Bonkers” Bongers</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 1: Hive Tyrant, Wings, Old Adversary, 2x Twinlinked Brainleech Devourers, Paroxysm, Psychic Scream, WARLORD </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ 2: Hive Tyrant, Wings, Old Adversary, 2x Twinlinked Brainleech Devourers, Paroxysm, Psychic Scream </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 1: Hive Guard Brood, 2 additional Hive Guards </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 2: Hive Guard Brood, 1 additional Hive Guards</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 3: Doom of Malantai, Cataclysm in Transport 1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1: Tervigon, Dominion, Catalyst, Toxin Sacs, Cluster spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2: Tervigon, Dominion, Catalyst, Toxin Sacs, Cluster spines </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3: Termagant Brood, 10 Gants (10x5 = 50) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 4: Termagant Brood, 10 Gants (10x5 = 50) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FA1: Harpy, TL Venom Cannon, Stinger Salvo </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FA2: Harpy, TL Venom Cannon, Stinger Salvo </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FA3: Gargoyle Brood, 15 gargoyles (15x6 = 90) </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport1: Mycetic Spore carries Elite 3 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL [1850pts]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Defender</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Czech Republic (23rd)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 5: Eva "Sihaja" Pluskalová</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1 - Warlord: Hive Tyrant, wings, 2x twin linked devourer with brainleech worms, Leech essence, Paroxysm</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2 : Hive Tyrant 170pts, wings, 2x twin linked devourer with brainleech worms, </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Leech essence, Paroxysm</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite1: Doom of Malan'tai in Transport1 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1: 10x termagant brood </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2: 10x termagant brood </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3: 10x termagant brood </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 4: Tervigon, Catalyst, Dominion, Stinger salvo, claws and teeth </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 5: Tervigon, Scything talons, Catalyst, Dominion, Stinger salvo, claws and teeth</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 6: Tervigon, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst, Dominion, Stinger salvo</span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">, claws and teeth</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS1 : Mawloc </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS2 : Mawloc </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS3 : Mawloc </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport1: Mycetic spore transporting Doom of Malan'tai</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL [1850 pts]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: Defender</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: +</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Romania (24th)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 2: (Bogdan, Zazzel, Zanfir)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1 : Warlord 1 Hive Tyrant, TL Devourer w/Brainleech Worms, Wings, Paroxism, Leech Essence</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2 : 1 Hive Tyrant, TL Devourer w/Brainleech Worms, Wings, Paroxism, Leech Essence</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite1 : 1 The Doom of Malan'tai, in Transport 1 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite2 : 2 Hive Guard Brood, </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 3 : 3 Hive Guard Brood</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1 : 10 Termagant Brood</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2 : 10 Termagant Brood</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3 : 1 Tervigon, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst Troop 4 : 1 Tervigon, Adrenal </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Glands, Toxin Sacs, Catalyst</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">FA1: 16 Gargoyle Brood, Toxin Sacs</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS1: 2 Biovore Brood</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS2: 2 Biovore Brood</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS3: 2 Biovore Brood</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport1 : Mycetyc Spore</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Fortification Skyshield Landing Pad</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">PRIMARY TOTAL [ 1847 pts ]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: "Versatile"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i>
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Team Iceland (28th)</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><b>PLAYER 7: Örn Steinar, Tenderloin, Haraldsson</b></span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ1 - Warlord: Hive Tyrant, Wings, Twin-Linked Devourers, Hive Commander, Paroxysm, Leech </span></i><i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Essence </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HQ2: Hive Tyrant, Wings, 2x Twin-Linked Devourers, Paroxysm, Leech Essence </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 1: 2x Zoanthropes</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 2: The Doom of Malan’Tai, Transport 1 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Elite 3: 6x Ymgarl Genestealers</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 1 : Tervigon, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Onslaught, Catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 2 : Tervigon, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs, Onslaught, Catalyst </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 3 : 10x Termagants </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Troop 4 : 14x Termagants, Devourers</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS1: Carnifex, 2x Twin-Linked Devourers with Brainleech Worms, Transport 2</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">HS2: 2x Biovores </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport 1: Mycetic Spore, Elite 2 </span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Transport 2: Mycetic Spore, HS1 1</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">ARMY TOTAL [1848p]</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">French Analysis: "Versatile"</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">Difficulty: ++</span></i><br />
<i><span style="font-size: x-small;">-------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></i><br />
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<i><span style="font-size: x-small;"><br /></span></i></div>
Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-9369920494473757042013-09-03T17:46:00.001-04:002013-09-03T17:46:47.711-04:00NOVA Open 2013 - Panic, Painting, and Narrative batrep #1<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GpR0uBtyh4yhsx7VQu_MIXKMIZEYXt4ME3-BEH5dq6hCwKbGdbOVh_oe3Cj8LmLflLn-ZGM7hLcgjb-YeE-cF-EQwaB-wk0D7_GVpM5uDEr-zJaoT0of8aUSEnznSZza3PmyaNjE8OoS/s1600/IMAG0930.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1GpR0uBtyh4yhsx7VQu_MIXKMIZEYXt4ME3-BEH5dq6hCwKbGdbOVh_oe3Cj8LmLflLn-ZGM7hLcgjb-YeE-cF-EQwaB-wk0D7_GVpM5uDEr-zJaoT0of8aUSEnznSZza3PmyaNjE8OoS/s320/IMAG0930.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Undersea-Themed Scratch-built Counts-As Daemons Army</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Another NOVA Open in the can. Me - I'm hobbling around my house with blisters the size of quarters, muscles aching, mentally and physically wiped out - but with an awesome blissful euphoria. Three things that always make me feel good are giving back to others, gaming, and hobbying: so this is a psychic high to match the huge psychic income deposit that was made this weekend with all three. <br />
<br />
A quick note about the top pic: this was a quick snap of an undersea-themed Chaos Daemons army - utterly unique in a huge (220+ armies just at the GT) field of creative awesomeness. There always seems to be one that breaks all the conventional rules and stands out. There were dozens of <a href="http://www.joesavestheday.com/2013/09/nova-2013-photo-dump.html">fantastic armies</a> though - and more than a couple that I had to stop and gawk at almost every time I walked around (which was a <b>lot</b>). <br />
I figured I'd do this more like a journal - as I'm too mentally fragged for anything like normal organization - and because I'm still floored at how much painting I was able to do in a ridiculously short time and wanted to capture it. Normally I'm pretty slow. So I made my <a href="http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2013/08/nova-open-2013-ready-or-not-does-almost.html">last post</a> on Wednesday evening late just before leaving for the hotel, with several of my units in various states of belonging to Hive Fleet Snowbank, but a list I felt would be fun to play more than it would be competitive... <br />
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I finally decided to play in the Narrative this year very, very late - like ~a week and a half ago late, and was only able to finally confirm and sign up the previous Saturday. I got home from signing up at our final staff swag/prize bag stuffing event and did a model count, built and settled on my list, wrote up some accompanying fluff, and then started assembling the list on Sunday. That was when I realized I'd grossly underestimated how much painting I'd need to get done to not feel like a total d-bag with a half-unpainted army. With 96 hours to go, this is what I had remaining unpainted in my list: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
9 raveners - based and primed, 6 with the orange vents already done<br />
1 spore pod - unbased, orange shell complete, tentacles not added<br />
10 gargoyles - built but not based or primed<br />
1 dakka flyrant - still in the box on the sprue<br />
1 tervigon - unbased, primed with magnetized scything talons</blockquote>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85DSVOSQBgF1myZbu7Zs32bIgPfjAx7t7I8UUDqwb9e2FtUNHBha8frylfiiI9jVzkOH01vAqtMvqhYKcpNmc0_x88UcnqgpDp-CjgkjXBmJLGkSOq6ZGyANmBUrFunJmevw0fs0_ykWo/s1600/IMAG0919.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg85DSVOSQBgF1myZbu7Zs32bIgPfjAx7t7I8UUDqwb9e2FtUNHBha8frylfiiI9jVzkOH01vAqtMvqhYKcpNmc0_x88UcnqgpDp-CjgkjXBmJLGkSOq6ZGyANmBUrFunJmevw0fs0_ykWo/s320/IMAG0919.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Tuesday evening at home wondering what I'd gotten myself into </td></tr>
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Wednesday was a long work day and packing with no hobby time - finally getting in at 2:30am. I woke up at 7:30am Thursday morning and started the 12-hour marathon: 8pm was the start time for the Narrative in the evening.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczgKe0VX_9KNXnNfIcPpH9lLOLOBsBaiSI1dF0sN1zF3BaaYJ_tpGN9OQkLxm9XaMTg_3DeWUxpuW8RAZbqIcl-Hmc1qMSZSJP7n_2uCba2btjfWEL71K5fpD97DrrXmbdnL0GnFrHOxx/s1600/IMAG0920.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiczgKe0VX_9KNXnNfIcPpH9lLOLOBsBaiSI1dF0sN1zF3BaaYJ_tpGN9OQkLxm9XaMTg_3DeWUxpuW8RAZbqIcl-Hmc1qMSZSJP7n_2uCba2btjfWEL71K5fpD97DrrXmbdnL0GnFrHOxx/s320/IMAG0920.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Starting the gargoyles at the hotel, 8am Wednesday morning</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt4CxGARvZdOPwDPsqDtl7KG2ulBWoRGuNn49s1oa5JB2DJTpo5bqQLlZUYoFgBRlxhlGtgJflYw3Mm2ypWz6Xk30Pnk8AijmNJfU-v2VUpG2JWHbxwjfgo2sZjQKKhEA-TlwHSEnGzwR/s1600/IMAG0922.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkt4CxGARvZdOPwDPsqDtl7KG2ulBWoRGuNn49s1oa5JB2DJTpo5bqQLlZUYoFgBRlxhlGtgJflYw3Mm2ypWz6Xk30Pnk8AijmNJfU-v2VUpG2JWHbxwjfgo2sZjQKKhEA-TlwHSEnGzwR/s320/IMAG0922.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Laughing at me from the display board as I started operating on the gargoyles - 8am Wednesday morning</td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr2P0a0Y3JcytIK7toJ4W5yhS9n60GdxtYOGWYkNL1ERsyHjIuBXrFe-iamBoFBMbPQNa3byLmSs3SjOJMkVN0OXQeYvfmZlS8SCWkQAAUEmihimAELa_eoE11d62LuMZuKSOIkq-yxxg/s1600/IMAG0924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOr2P0a0Y3JcytIK7toJ4W5yhS9n60GdxtYOGWYkNL1ERsyHjIuBXrFe-iamBoFBMbPQNa3byLmSs3SjOJMkVN0OXQeYvfmZlS8SCWkQAAUEmihimAELa_eoE11d62LuMZuKSOIkq-yxxg/s320/IMAG0924.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4pm - blues mostly done</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYvUQPW3d1yg7JzCS9cTsCyXYrOr7BDXz7s3rZYtfU28yo29FCPY0o36rq7jOFIJXUeMhDfxJGq3HulRj2s9fp5rCKJ_9xClgARpBtgezUqJbgvbuVJxJvG6l7gcOUwrqLLG6SjsEAOTG/s1600/IMAG0927.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBYvUQPW3d1yg7JzCS9cTsCyXYrOr7BDXz7s3rZYtfU28yo29FCPY0o36rq7jOFIJXUeMhDfxJGq3HulRj2s9fp5rCKJ_9xClgARpBtgezUqJbgvbuVJxJvG6l7gcOUwrqLLG6SjsEAOTG/s320/IMAG0927.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4pm closer look</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcOlaSQHwfLPXuu9-kcapItaqboDnCXvEKIszNWLv3ka1d7iIiRCFn0Ef0o8ef-LRlzDY56yMLIkz8-Jta7IWIjldqs3paRV9oOH7GWHc7O9ndrgnk-eY_MIIHaqZ3j66oLPsNxAiT5If/s1600/IMAG0929.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUcOlaSQHwfLPXuu9-kcapItaqboDnCXvEKIszNWLv3ka1d7iIiRCFn0Ef0o8ef-LRlzDY56yMLIkz8-Jta7IWIjldqs3paRV9oOH7GWHc7O9ndrgnk-eY_MIIHaqZ3j66oLPsNxAiT5If/s320/IMAG0929.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">4pm closer look</td></tr>
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4pm. I was happy I'd completed the blues, but obviously I hadn't even cracked the tubes on my red/yellow acrylics. No blended orange vents or shell armor, and no deep red claws. I was mortified as at this point - the Invitational was due to start shortly and I was expecting to be on duty as one judge per table as we'd done every year previously. I headed down downstairs with my pride and self-esteem dragging somewhere behind me on the floor, resigned to my fate of having to put an unpainted army on the table - which was bad enough by itself, and ten times worse as a staffer of an event that prides itself on blending both hobby and competition. Surprisingly - our head judge, Mike of <a href="http://saintomerville.blogspot.com/">Saint Omerville's 40k Blog</a>, decided he would go solo this year and I didn't need to judge. I think I know how a parolee feels now, after he's had a day or two in the slam to contemplate just how much that isn't a place he really wants to be. Reprieved - I rushed back upstairs for 3 hours of frenzied blending and brushing. No wasting time with pictures..<br />
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And made it to the Narrative briefing with only the talons on my gargoyles, tervigon, and tyrant white - and one ravener that needed some blue fill-in. Some white remained (and still does) - but mixed in with the already painted models, my army was tabletop ready. I was shocked to still have people coming up and admiring it, but honestly couldn't be much prouder (or relieved) of achieving a tabletop ready army in time. I didn't get a picture that night, but here's a teaser shot from the next night's battle to give you an idea of how they ended up looking on the tabletop. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPv_LzwHh2YpwjjxcOhK1U3Vamn_foK27b-4n1XGzfJz7M70VetlN8-WELxk604HPz7sy83aXF8g_ORConQCh8Hg8XyxUclW7LzEiLgTJprwJr71Qd2CgcTCRJz_Wewn86Q-Rq-LirNT_K/s1600/IMAG0933.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPv_LzwHh2YpwjjxcOhK1U3Vamn_foK27b-4n1XGzfJz7M70VetlN8-WELxk604HPz7sy83aXF8g_ORConQCh8Hg8XyxUclW7LzEiLgTJprwJr71Qd2CgcTCRJz_Wewn86Q-Rq-LirNT_K/s320/IMAG0933.jpg" width="180" /></a></div>
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On to the narrative! As a xenos player, I was on the Virtue team, and my first opponent was John Stiening of <a href="http://40khobbyblog.blogspot.com/">40k Hobby Blog</a>, who presciently commented previously about possibly facing his Ultramarines... I briefly commented on my list in my last post, but here it is again for simplicity; I went with Biomancy in all my games (probably a mistake in game 4, but I'll talk about that there):<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Hive Tyrant: Wings, Hive Commander, TL Devs. Biomancy 2: Haemo and Warp Speed<br />
Parasite of Mortrex: Warlord, with chosen ability: Coordinated Assault (+1" assault range to all friendly w/in 12")<br />
Deathleaper<br />
Doom in a SPod<br />
Tervigon: AG, TS, ScyTals. Biomancy 3: Iron Arm, Life Leech, Endurance<br />
Tervigon: AG, TS, ScyTals. Biomancy 3: Life Leech, Endurance, Iron Arm<br />
Tervigon: AG, TS, ScyTals. Biomancy 2: Life Leech, Endurance<br />
Termagant x10 (x3)<br />
Ravener x9, Rending<br />
Gargoyles x27, TS </blockquote>
John's Ultramarines List:<br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Space Marine Cpt: Iron Halo, Bolt Pistol, Power Sword<br />
Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought: Plasma Blaster, Plasma Cannon, smoke<br />
Contemptor Pattern Dreadnought: Extra Armor, Plasma Blaster, Plasma Cannon, smoke<br />
Tactical Squad (11): Meltagun, Multimelta, Sergeant, Razorback w/TL plasma, Lascannon, searchlight, smoke<br />
Tactical Squad (11): Meltagun, Missile Launcher, Sergeant, Rhino w/dozerblade, HK missile, storm bolter, smoke, searchlight, repair<br />
Scouts (8): Sniper Rifles, Missile Launcher, Sergeant Telion<br />
Scout Bike Squad x5: Cluster mines, Grenade Launcher x2, Sergeant w/melta bombs<br />
Stormtalon (I think John didn't like that I called these his 'stormbudgies' /grin): TLAC, TLLC<br />
Stormtalon: TLAC, TyphoonML<br />
Thunderfire Cannon, w/Techmarine Gunner<br />
Devastator Squad (5): MLx2, Plasma cannonx2<br />
Predator: Autocannon, 2x lascannons, searchlight, smoke</blockquote>
Unfortunately I got no pictures of this - just mentally exhausted and both of us were playing our first game in literally months so lets just say we spent a lot of time in the rulebook. We were the last ones to finish, finally getting done around 2am. John was an absolute blast to play though - and we laughed and heckled each other about the game all weekend. <br />
<br />
The Narrative missions are a bit different than book missions, having two mission goals, special rules, and the ability to win fame or infamy. Mission 1 was destroy more units than you have destroyed: 4 points, First Blood, Linebreaker worth 1 each, and Slay for 2 points, and 1 point for each unit destroyed with a max of 8 points. The special rule was whichever player was losing on this mission had <i>preferred enemy (all)</i> from the moment they fell behind until they pulled back ahead. Mission 2 was to control more of the 4 objectives placed centrally in each quarter than the opponent. Special rule: each objective was both mysterious and had a non-targetable gun emplacement with the following profile: 24"/S6/AP2/Assault 1/twin-linked, ignores cover. As a Virtue player, I had 'drones' that boosted one of my units substantially, giving it +1T, 5+ invuln, and It Will Not Die: I kept this on my Raveners for all 4 battles. When a model dies however, it causes a d6" radius S=T explosion (so S5 in my case). On the Humanity side, John had one unit he could at any point give the ability to give until the start of his next turn: fearless, S6, AP2, and 2+ poisonous attacks, but at the cost of rolling for each model: 1-2 take a wound (w/armor save), 4-6 safe. Vanguard deployment, night-fighting in effect turn 1.<br />
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John won the roll to go first, I didn't seize. In the deep end of his deployment zone, his scouts and thunderfire were on my left on the far objective, accompanied left to right by his predator, devastators, razorback and one dread, bikes in the center, and rhino and tac squad and 2nd dread on my right. I put one tervigon and gant squad in the center headed to the left close objective, one terv/gant squad on my right/close objective, and the 3rd terv/gant poised to run for the right/far objective. Ravs in the middle, Gargoyles and Parasite on the right, tyrant, DL, and Doom in reserve. I'll try to give a play by play as there are no pics =\<br />
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Turn 1 - John's bikes charged forward onto the center monument (<a href="http://newroyalty.files.wordpress.com/2011/10/hirshhorn.jpg">Hirshhorn</a>), moved up with his left dread, and center tac squad from the razorback. Fire was light - taking out a couple termagants and a few gargoyles. On my turn, the Gargoyle/PoM blob went up the right side, followed by a terv/gant group. Back right terv spawned 12 and parked on the objective. Left terv spawned 8 and moved for the left close objective, covered by the Hirshhorn. Ravs moved up onto the Hirshhorn. My shooting consisted of a gant squad shooting at his bikers, and after losing a couple models and seeing the imminently closing raveners, his bikers retreated back to his deployment zone. <br />
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Turn 2 saw his left dread continued to move up, he dismounted his tactical squad from the rhino on the right, and moved his other tac squad with captain up the center toward the left far corner of the Hirshhorn. His stormtalons both come on, one on the left and one down the center. Shooting consisted of his entire list concentrating fire on the T5 in-cover raveners, who soaked fire from every side but only managed to lose 1 model - but leaving most down 1 or 2 wounds. Doom arrived and dropped right between his castled scouts and tac squad near the Hirshhorn, and along with the drop pod's tentacles - killed several tac marines and a couple scouts; then Cataclysm on the dread resulting in a glance. Deathleaper showed up and bounced flesh hooks off John's razorback. Tyrant arrives on the left, but is out of range. Raveners continued to advance in the center; I forgot to roll for It Will Not Die this round and would pay for it next round... Gargoyles/PoM + terv/gant cluster continued their advance, jumping into cover onto the far right objective (I made a rules error here, not rolling for dangerous terrain - but barring a freakishly large number of 1s, it wouldn't have changed the game substantially - the game finished with 7 gargoyles still alive - but I recognize my error and will (did) correct it in the future.) Gants continued left toward the left close objective, with the terv moving just enough to maintain synapse but stay out of LOS of the devastators/predator/razorback.<br />
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Turn 3: his left dread turned around to move in charge range of Doom. Everything else basically shuffled for better shots. Doom kills more tac squad (leaving 3) and more scounts (leaving 2). His shooting wipes out the gant squad advancing on the left/close objective, and whittles down the raveners to 2 models - the raveners' death explosions contributed heavily (like popcorn!). The gargoyles lost a couple as well. His stormtalons concentrate on the back objective-holding terv, bringing it down to 1 wound. He activates his Virtue tech ability of his right side tac squad, losing 2-3. The left dread charges Doom - who punches first with S10, but rolls a 1, and is promptly squished. Dread consolidates 6 back to center. His center tac squad and captain charges the spore pod, destroying it. Bottom of 3 has the close/right terv spawning 12, casting endurance on itself - ultimately gaining a wound back from It Will Not Die - and moving 7" from the gants holding the objective. Left spawns 9, sending them toward left/close objective. Gargoyles move into charge range with the virtue tech unit. Raveners move into close charge range of the bikes. Deathleaper positions to fire on the thunderfire. Far/right side terv takes right/far objective, backfills with gants. Gants in center move forward through Hirshhorn toward the center tac squad and gun it down, including his captain (warlord). Tyrant vector strikes the left dread, destroying it, then guns down the closest stormtalon. Gants kill a couple of the tac squad on the far right. DL shoots and wrecks the thunderfire. Gargoyles/PoM charge, killing all but 3 tac squad, taking a few losses in return. Raveners wipe out the bikes and consolidate towards the scout squad/terrain.<br />
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Turn 4: Razorback moves back toward the left terrain where his scouts are, shoots at raveners killing 1. Techmarine moves up to charge DL. His remaining stormtalon lines up on the back right terv, and kills it, but no gants were harmed as I'd moved him out of range. His devastators, predator, and razorback fire on the tyrant and left side gants, killing two gants but failing to hit the tyrant. In assault, his right dread charges into the gargoyle/PoM fight. PoM has initiative, punches him, rends to pen, and wrecks it. Gargoyles finish off the tac squad, consolidate toward the rhino. Techmarine charges in and gets munched by DL. DL consolidates toward the devastators, then moves closer, shooting and killing one. Left side gants make it to the left close objective. The remaining ravs move into assault range of the last scouts, make it in and wipe out the scouts, but I get reduced down to 1 model. Then I made a huge mistake - I split the PoM out to go after the now-exposed rear armor of the razorback. The gargoyles line up and shoot - and succeed in glancing the rhino to death, but in the assault phase, the PoM with 5 attacks @ 4+ with re-rollable 1s, and only needing 4s to glance - fails to even scratch the razorback. Tyrant brings down the second stormtalon.<br />
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Turn 5: His razorback turns and burns down my PoM. /facepalm. Devastators try and shoot at the gants reaching the left front objective and kill one or two. Scouts shoot at the remaining ravs and bring the brood down to 1. On my turn, the ravs and DL combine to wipe out the devastators, leaving only his predator and razorback alive. We call it here - I own 3 objectives and picked up Slay, Line Breaker, and destroyed more of his units, finishing with a max of 8 mission points, and winning both Mission 1 and Mission 2.<br />
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All in all - NOVA 2013 was a fantastic time. More soon!<br />
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<br />Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-21688474579175465122013-08-28T22:35:00.000-04:002013-08-28T22:35:17.218-04:00NOVA Open 2013 - Ready or Not... Does almost count?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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It's that time of year again - the NOVA Open is here once more, and I'm volunteering again. You get what you give, right? Believe it. I've learned to<a href="http://zenpencils.com/comic/128-bill-watterson-a-cartoonists-advice/"> be strong enough to do what makes me happy</a>. The payoff is the opportunity to see old friends and meet new ones, to see amazing paint and modeling skill on display, cruise the vendors, to give the awesome 11th Company guys a hard time - who will again be live streaming the top table this year:<br />
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The 11th Co live stream info ... spread the word:<br />information about our upcoming live streaming of the top table at Nova Open.<br />You can find the stream at: <a href="http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-11th-company">http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-11th-company</a><br />We will be starting on Thursday at around 5:30pm Eastern and will be broadcasting the top table for both the Invitational and the Nova Open.<br />Thanks for your time,<br />Pat, 11th Co</blockquote>
I'll mostly be judging again - which is always interesting, and I'll be playing in the <a href="http://www.novaopen.com/wp-content/uploads/Update-Narrative-3.pdf">Narrative</a> this year - it looked like an absolute blast last year and I don't want to miss out! Bringing Tyranids of course... I wanted something that would give me opportunities to play the villain role of the Virtue (the Narrative bad guys) in characterful ways. It started as a Gangnam-style list (i.e. many PSYkers), but rolling endlessly for powers and psychic tests in a fun narrative campaign didn't really sound like it was much fun for me or the opponent. So I made some tweaks and ended with a list heavily influenced by the excellent Erle, who posted a fantastic series of batreps of his ETC games of Hive Fleet Hyenna <a href="http://hive-fleet-hyenna.blogspot.com/2013/08/belarus-at-etc-2013-game-1-tyranids-vs.html">here</a> - highly recommended reading. It's fast, has 74 of models (4 MCs), strong troops, and plenty of disruption:<br />
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Hive Tyrant, Wings, Hive Commander, TL Devs, Parox/PsyScream (will trade for Bio in most games): that's him in the pic above... he should have his gang colors by tomorrow :D<br />Parasite of Mortrex: Warlord, with chosen ability: Coordinated Assault (+1" assault range to all friendly w/in 12")<br />Deathleaper: will probably regret taking him rather than Ymgarl, but I'm betting I can do some late game and covert mission shenanigans with him if I can keep him alive<br />Doom in a SPod: always a good time<br />Tervigon x2, AG, TS, ScyTals, Dom/Cat/Ons (will trade for 6e in most games)<br />Tervigon x1, AG, TS, ScyTals, Dom/Cat (will trade for 6e in most games)<br />Termagant x10 (x3)<br />Ravener x9, Rending<br />Gargoyles x27, TS </blockquote>
Lots of tools in the toolbox - should be fun to play. Likely to get tabled by a really competitive build, but I'm hoping it has the speed to catch people by surprise, and enough troops durability to force some hard choices. At any rate - keeping this short as I have to jet to the hotel and finish painting my last few models (yikes!) Hope to see you there!<br />
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<br />Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-14760480708597943702013-08-01T21:16:00.001-04:002013-08-02T18:20:54.024-04:00The Dead Body That Claims It Isn't: Tyranids in 6e<br />
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No really - I'm not dead <a href="http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0071853/quotes?item=qt0470614">yet</a>. Life intervened and the best laid plans were knocked a bit askew, everything from blogging to volunteer support for the <a href="http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/501166.page">NOVA Open</a>. Not my proudest, shiniest moments of late in terms of service to those who follow and read my maundering drivel. So without further ado, here goes with an on-mission post to the hive-interested. What is the state of the Tyranid meta a year after 6th drops and new hotness in the form of several new codexes are out? Answer after the jump...<br />
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<a name='more'></a>Frankly - and surprisingly - the bugs are back and meaner than ever. With faster codex updates and allies, 6th is almost kaleidoscopic in its top tiers, with just about every codex doing well somewhere. Paper, scissors, rock exists for almost every army, and finding a truly balanced all-comers list remains a constantly moving target that no one seems to have hit yet. Fortunately, with a balanced list and smart play, Tyranids can do well against every common list archetype that's out there - with the top finishes to prove it. It has the tools to be ultra-agressive, or slow and controlling - it depends on your style and list, and more importantly, how you read your opponent, their list, and the mission. I'll reprise a bit of Nikephoros' excellent <a href="http://nike40k.blogspot.com/2010/11/strategy-who-is-gun-line.html">Who is the gun line?</a> post here to illustrate: <br />
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<i><span style="color: #cccccc;">In Magic the Gathering theory, one of the fundamental articles is "<a href="http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/fundamentals/3692_Whos_The_Beatdown.html">Who Is The Beatdown</a>" by Mike Flores. Without getting too deep into Magic theory, the idea is that in any match up of two decks, one of them will have to take an aggressive role to win, the other a controlling role. Even in a match up of two highly aggressive decks, one of them will be more aggressive than the other. If the less aggressive one tries to play aggressively, chances are it will lose. If you are playing a mid-tempo deck, when you play against a fast beatdown deck, you have to play a controlling playstyle, because you can't beat the beatdown deck in a race. When the same mid-tempo deck plays against a true control deck, it has to switch to a more aggressive style since the longer the game goes the more likely the control deck will have the chance to assert control and win.</span></i></blockquote>
On any given Sunday, a well-played Tyranid list can out-aggressive just about any codex out there, and depending on what you bring, has many different ways to mitigate or control other aggressive lists. Blobs, gun-lines, and last-turn-seize lists are still tough - but there's tools in the box for each. Let's take a look at a few lists to get an idea of what's out there, generally following <a href="http://natfka.blogspot.com/2013/03/words-on-winning-with-tyranids-part-2.html">this form</a>:<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f;">1-2 Flyrants with dual Devourers<br />2-3 Tervigons<br />Doom in a sPod (Mycetic Spore)<br />1-2 units of Hive Guard<br />1-2 units of Biovores<br />Gargoyles to taste<br />Possibly Zoenthropes</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.3plusplus.net/2013/03/tournament-and-list-report-tyranids-at-the-guardian-cup/">(1750)</a><br />1 Swarmlord, 1 Tyrant Guard<br />1 Tyranid Prime, Lash Whip/Bonesword<br />1 Doom of Malan'tai, Mycetic Spore<br />5 Ymgarl Genestealers<br />5 Ymgarl Genestealers<br />2 Tervigons, Cluster, Catalyst, Toxin, Adrenal, Talons<br />1 Tervigon, Cluster, Catalyst, Toxin, Adrenal<br />17 Termagants, Devourers, Mycetic Spore<br />10 Termagants<br />10 Termagants<br />1 Aegis Line</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.thediceabide.com/2013/07/1750-beer-teor-shower-battle-report/">(1750)</a><br />The Swarmlord: 1 Tyrant Guard<br />Tyranid Prime: Pair of bone swords, rending claws, toxin sacs<br />3 Zoanthropes: in Mycetic Spore<br />3 Zoanthropes<br />The Doom of Malan’tai: in Mycetic Spore<br />10 Termagants<br />10 Termagants<br />10 Termagants<br />Tervigon: catalyst, cluster spines, adrenal glands, toxin sacs<br />Trygon: toxin sacs<br />Trygon: toxin sacs<br />Biovore</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/537491.page">(1850)</a></span> </blockquote>
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<span style="color: #999999;">Hive Tyrant w 2x TL Devourers w Brainleech worms and Wings<br />8x Ymarl Genestealers<br />Doom of Malantai in a Mycetic Spore<br />3x Hive Guard<br />3x10 Termagants<br />3x10 Tervigons with all Psyker abilities, Toxin Sacs, and Adrenal glands<br />15 Gargoyles with toxin sacs and adrenal glands<br />Trygon Prime</span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #999999;"><a href="http://the11thcompany.freeforums.org/nids-1850-t5148.html">(1850)</a></span></blockquote>
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<span style="color: #999999;">Flyrant Dual Devourers<br />Flyrant Dual Devourers<br />Tervigon+2 Powers, Adrenal, Poison<br />Tervigon+2 Powers, Adrenal, Poison<br />Tevigon, Catalyst, Onslaught<br />10 Termies<br />10 Termies<br />10 Termies<br />3 DakkaFexes</span></blockquote>
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That's a good smattering of lists, some more 'competitive' than others perhaps, but all worth a look. I still think it would be fun to base a list on this:<br />
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3x3 hive guard<br />
3x tervigons<br />
3x10 termies<br />
3x3 biovores</blockquote>
Good luck out there, and hope to see you at the <a href="http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs123/1108652353819/archive/1114351764161.html">NOVA Open</a>. I'll be volunteering there again this year, 4th year in a row!<br />
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<br />Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-48881232663022026612013-04-15T00:22:00.000-04:002013-04-15T00:27:13.532-04:00Teaser: Alternate Tyranid Bits Coming Soon<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZBB7ixhNV69CmAER6a2c5dgYVNUtcFGOboTdlyAHiyXhP_Or8axo4fyagqSIRHY5bNVnnNlaR4eGLNfYmg7QTwwRnqnJlFmPk5G30Dhj60EaeiZDe_3cQNsE2WTYMxGm5TpvLY4PGcTr/s1600/article-2000902-flypic.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYZBB7ixhNV69CmAER6a2c5dgYVNUtcFGOboTdlyAHiyXhP_Or8axo4fyagqSIRHY5bNVnnNlaR4eGLNfYmg7QTwwRnqnJlFmPk5G30Dhj60EaeiZDe_3cQNsE2WTYMxGm5TpvLY4PGcTr/s320/article-2000902-flypic.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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First - the good news. Quite by accident I came across a gentleman named Peter who is working on sculpting and molding 'alienoid' body parts, which can be used as alternate bits for Tyranids. Blame Google, and their <a href="http://googlereader.blogspot.com/2013/03/powering-down-google-reader.html">cruel, heartless cancellation</a> of Google Reader for this discovery. Out of frustration I've been spending more time with Google+ or Plus or whatever the hell you're supposed to call it (seriously.. a symbol?) and joined a 40k Community and a Tyranid community just to test things out. It isn't going to replace <a href="https://www.pulse.me/">Pulse</a> anytime soon as my newsreader of choice - but it does a much better job of presenting relevant content than Twitter from people I'm interested in. So enough about techstuffs - here's the part that matters: there simply <a href="http://trollforged.com/shelf_sci-fi_Aliens.html">aren't</a> <a href="http://trollforged.com/shelf_sci-fi_box-sets.html">enough</a> <a href="http://puppetswar.eu/category.php?id_category=48">alternate</a> Tyranid <a href="http://chapterhousestudios.com/index.php?route=product/category&path=81">bits or models</a> out there, so I was quite excited to see what Peter is sculpting, primarily some alternate Aliens/Giger-esque heads, another head style, and some positively wicked looking alternate "bone" swords. Here's the video - which would have led the article, but Blogger for some reason refuses to let me embed it (it's probably next on the chopping block!):<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMYWenOj-u4">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TMYWenOj-u4</a></span></div>
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I was able to snap out a couple pics in case the video doesn't cooperate:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKCF352O_30-kZ7NzCrXbQgQkCwB1aG399mQ-F_jQRSH0wN6C-H84dS-VTiUqqj1X9TZ_e6nteLGCz7Yu3us44pYOObvYv_ASfZpVzgRtHfxDwG-3dusIMLmpfodohIZKHxEij4lmDe_w/s1600/peter-alienoidhead.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhAKCF352O_30-kZ7NzCrXbQgQkCwB1aG399mQ-F_jQRSH0wN6C-H84dS-VTiUqqj1X9TZ_e6nteLGCz7Yu3us44pYOObvYv_ASfZpVzgRtHfxDwG-3dusIMLmpfodohIZKHxEij4lmDe_w/s320/peter-alienoidhead.jpg" width="177" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxfcM47k0-JPQA7iPQAkfCZVAuwDN8NkdjkQISqzM19GqAAFhr6rW3HNA6uvvldnhydr7VW_1I0XXSF4CxzP6mRvuMHmjQtqZjncQAyr_6DjTQjq2l8EiDJTRioFw4Xs9zgZ2T8mITJue/s1600/peter-boneswords.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvxfcM47k0-JPQA7iPQAkfCZVAuwDN8NkdjkQISqzM19GqAAFhr6rW3HNA6uvvldnhydr7VW_1I0XXSF4CxzP6mRvuMHmjQtqZjncQAyr_6DjTQjq2l8EiDJTRioFw4Xs9zgZ2T8mITJue/s320/peter-boneswords.jpg" width="182" /></a></div>
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The "bad" news - he's not ready to sell yet or even picked out prices, packages, etc... I'm sure positive feedback and demand might speed that along! Peter is considering doing additional heads that will fit other MCs, alternate whips and tails, and is working on some eggs and drop pods. Coolest part: he's looking for suggestions on other bits or themes, and can even do custom work. Here's a video of some of his concept art - the insect style wings are fantastic! <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsWnpq2XjEc">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KsWnpq2XjEc</a></div>
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My first suggestion: with everyone and their brother running dakka flyrants, we're in dire need of some alternate bits we can use for quad devourers. I'd love to see extra plating that could be used for 'armored shell' tyrants too, and it would be fantastic to have some decent alternate bits for <a href="http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2012/12/holiday-hobby-time-wip-tervigon.html">crushing claws</a>! </div>
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At any rate - hit him up on his video page, or comment here (for now) with feedback and suggestions. </div>
Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-74418320090047385322013-04-06T22:10:00.000-04:002013-04-06T22:10:14.005-04:00Airbrushin' iz 'ard! - Hobby update and Genestealer Cults on the Horizon?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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While at the NOVA Open last year I attended an airbrushing seminar given by Mister Justin of <a href="http://www.secretweaponminiatures.com/">Secret Weapon Miniatures</a>, and had lots of opportunities to hang out and chat with the fellow manning the <a href="http://www.grexusa.com/grexairbrush/">Grex Airbrushes</a> booth. Needless to say - I caught the airbrush bug, but didn't fully succumb until <a href="http://whiskey40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/the-14-project-hive-fleet-dendrobates.html">Mike Brandt painted up his Tyranids</a> for Battle of Salvation in something like 14 days... <strike>I</strike> Santa <strike>got</strike> brought me an airbrush for Christmas, a nice Badger Renegade Krome.</div>
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So far, however my experiments have been pretty awful. I've oversprayed, undersprayed, and everything in-between except gotten it right. Having a hell of a time figuring out what the 'break' is when it will start spraying. Lots of comments about "you'll eventually get a feel for it" but so far that hasn't happened. I just need to paint more I think. I've watched quite a few videos on YouTube, but very few are useful. Most have horrible resolution, or are done by those guys who are so talented they are utterly oblivious that a complete beginner has no hope of understanding or copying what they are doing. The best so far have actually been the ones by MisterJustin, and can be found here:</div>
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<a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/secretweaponvideos/videos?view=0&flow=grid">http://www.youtube.com/user/secretweaponvideos/videos?view=0&flow=grid</a></div>
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Over the past couple months I've managed to find some hobby time - I finally touched up most of my gribblies from the dings and nicks they've earned from tournament play and the packing case, started work on the six newest members of my psychic choir: </div>
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I wanted to try something different - "yet another WIP" - the Star Blazers Andromeda:</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQuXU6mamO8dhKTlTpR71Nx6L8rNznmIjXxC-Rr2axaQd4Nbm36yF93FR2nh09wyiP7Y__AcQ2kFYTgyyFu7iNPYwdXHzNs9mj0yZt9MQeI3pfZuLhc9n7O9fLLoRCqjU2kXGFNbAh4IU/s1600/Andromeda.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOQuXU6mamO8dhKTlTpR71Nx6L8rNznmIjXxC-Rr2axaQd4Nbm36yF93FR2nh09wyiP7Y__AcQ2kFYTgyyFu7iNPYwdXHzNs9mj0yZt9MQeI3pfZuLhc9n7O9fLLoRCqjU2kXGFNbAh4IU/s320/Andromeda.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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But the best news of all so far this year has been this - the <a href="http://www.games-workshop.com/MEDIA_CustomProductCatalog/m3050151a_Praedis_Zeta_rules_pack_V.1.pdf">Vidar's Fate: Praedis Zeta campaign at Warhammer World on June 22-23rd.</a></div>
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Add to this the rumors of Tyranids being the first book of 2014 - playtest rumors of cults being back in, and/or available in the rumored Allies book. I've always wanted to do a genestealer cult army - love the idea of the big limousines, the hordes of cultists. To me the genestealer cults are one of the most iconic forces in all of 40k, so I'm really hoping GW doesn't drop this ball. Now I just need to figure out what to use for limousines... here's the candidates so far:</div>
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The <a href="http://round2models.com/models/polar-lights/black-beauty-tin">Polar Lights 1/32 Black Beauty of Green Hornet</a> fame, or the newly re-released <a href="http://www.swannysmodels.com/Rommel.html">Rommel's Rod</a> by Monogram. I'm definitely leaning toward the Rommel's Rod... </div>
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And just for extra motivation: here's a fantastic Cthulhu-based 'stealer cult: <a href="http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?310707-WIP-Lovecraft-ian-Tyranids">http://www.warseer.com/forums/showthread.php?310707-WIP-Lovecraft-ian-Tyranids</a></div>
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Absolutely love the jalopy tervigons...</div>
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Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-54649316213547164622013-02-16T17:08:00.004-05:002013-02-16T17:08:57.046-05:00Huzzah Hobbies RTT 1850 Batrep#1, Nids vs Tau/IG & NOVA Open Missions<br />
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A couple members of the NOVA staff ran an RTT on Feb 2nd at <a href="http://www.huzzahhobbies.com/">Huzzah Hobbies</a> in Ashburn, VA - basically a live-fire test of the new NOVA Open missions. Huzzah is definitely a tabletop-focused store with a great selection, and did a wonderful job supporting the RTT - with plans to expand its playing space substantially in the coming months. Definitely worth checking out if you're in the area.<br />
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This year's NOVA Open missions are very different from last year's - you will definitely want to playtest these to tune your lists. The biggest change is the scoring approach, while the additions of the relic mission, mysterious objectives, and player-placed objectives definitely up the challenge level, and require an additional skill area to consider for player growth. The only real negative I thought was Hammer and Anvil deployment in a big tournament environment: with tables end-to-end it is a <b><i>massive</i> pain in the ass and big game delay</b> to run around to the opponent's side of the table to manage complex movement or assault - especially with the large units common to 6th. I'd originally planned to put all 3 batreps here, but that took too long so here's the first one:<br />
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<b>My list:</b> I had a couple things I wanted to test out, with some good results, and some not so good. I really wanted to put a Harpy on the table, give the post-FAQ 6" Doom deployment a test drive, and test my theory that three Tervigons are an absolute requirement for NOVA missions, and hopefully get a chance to flex some tervigon crushing claws. Here's the list:<br />
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<i>Flyrant - 2x devourers, Old Adversary, tox</i></div>
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<i>Parasite of Mortrex (warlord)</i></div>
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<i>Doom of Malantai, Mycetic Spore</i></div>
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<i>Tervigon - 3 powers, tox, adrenal, crushing claws</i></div>
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<i>Tervigon - 3 powers, tox, adrenal, crushing claws</i></div>
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<i>10x Termagant</i></div>
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<i>10x Termagant</i></div>
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<i>Harpy - TL heavy venom cannon</i></div>
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<i>25x Gargoyles</i></div>
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<i>3x Biovores</i></div>
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<i>Trygon Prime</i></div>
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This list was designed to have flexible reserve options for deployment, be able to handle large model count infantry, and have at least a couple ways to deal with AV14 and flyers, while not being overly vulnerable to template-heavy lists. While I was pretty happy overall, it simply didn't have enough troops for NOVA missions, and validated my three-Tervigon theory. Doubling out on first spawn in 2 of 3 games sucked - you've got to have three or the opponent just has to focus down your tervs and the few gants left after they die. The 6" deployment range for Doom is a very big deal - in all three battles I was able to put the spod down in a place where it either blocked LOS or was a threat in its own right, and still allowed Doom to be optimally placed to hit multiple squads. The flexibility of the TL hvc Harpy was definitely welcome and I felt outweighed the fragility - essentially a cheap flyrant.<br />
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Round 1 - vs. Phoenix's Tau/IG: The Relic, Vanguard deployment<br />
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<i>Tau:</i><br />
<i>Shas'el (plasma rifle, fusion blaster, multitracker, HW target lock)</i><br />
<i>3x Crisis Suit Team - team leader (TL missile pods, flamer, blacksun, drone controller), </i><i>2 shas'ui (TL missile pods, flamer), 2 gun drones </i><br />
<i>12x Fire Warriors</i><br />
<i>6x Fire Warriors, Devilfish (disruption pods, drones)</i><br />
<i>6x Fire Warriors, Devilfish (disruption pods, drones)</i><br />
<i>10x Kroot, 1 hound</i><br />
<i>2x Broadside Team - team leader (targeting array, drone controller) shield drone, shas'ui (targeting array)</i><br />
<i>IG: </i><br />
<i>Commissar Lord (power sword)</i><br />
<i>Platoon command squad</i><br />
<i>3x Infantry squad (plasma gun), sergeant (power axe, melta bomb)</i><br />
<i>Marbo (modeled as a Kroot... aka 'Krootbo')</i><br />
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Warlord powers were pointless; Flyrant had Iron Arm, Endurance; Terv1 had Iron Arm, Warp Speed, Haemorrhage; Terv2 had Enfeeble, Life Leech, and Haemo. Captain Obvious hint: power choices should dictate which Terv goes where..., not sure I had really given the power combos much thought in terms of deployments - something to consider doing test rollup/deployments for. <br />
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I went first, and deployed Terv2 on the left with a gant brood, the Trygon Prime and Biovores in the back of the ruins, Terv1 and gant brood on the right, and gargoyles/PoM in a wide screen along the center headed for the relic. Biovores killed a couple fire warriors and put a wound on his warlord. Both tervs doubled out after spawning only 8 gants each on turn 1. Bleh. Sent gants towards the left rear objective, waddled the trygon forward, moved the garg brood forward, with only about 2/3 in cover, but on the relic. Right gant squad hunkered down on the right rear objective, while the terv1 and new gants started heading for the far right objective. His fire took down one of my biovores, but that was about it.<br />
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Turn 2 saw Doom and the Harpy arrive. I brought in the Harpy in the center to cover for the relic group, while Doom didn't scatter, landing right in the middle of 2 units and easily placed in range of 3. Left models went left, right models continued across the table, center gargs mostly stayed in place, picking up the relic, and the Trygon moved up to support the center/left. Doom was able to take down a mix of about ~10 kroot, IG, and fire warriors with steal life, then put a wound on his warlord and killed another fire warrior with Cataclysm. Surprisingly, the spore pod managed to kill 2 more fire warriors,and the Harpy's HVC killed his warlord and a fire warrior, while the biovores killed a couple more fire warriors.<br />
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During his movement phase, he shuffled a bit and brought on one of his devilfish. Shooting was painful as expected - first killing a second biovore, then grounding the harpy with a single fire warrior hit, which he promptly instakilled with a broadside. So much for "he's swooping - he'll be fine!" He also managed to vaporize most of the gargoyles out of cover and a few in cover, but wasn't able to hurt Doom.</div>
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Turn 3 - I continued to push for the left rear and right far objectives, while the gargoyles brought the relic to the waiting center Tervigon (terv1). The right tervigon was T9 this round as he crossed the open, while the gants made it into the building and almost in range of the objective.</div>
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The Flyrant (I re-used the Harpy model as it had wings rather than the Swarmlord model I had brought to use as a proxy for the flyrant) came in on the left and went straight after his devilfish to try and prevent a troop dropoff on the left objective or the relic. Unable to charge this round, or do enough damage to wipe out the IG or crisis suits, I judged he at least had a chance at the devilfish - but he whiffed completely, even with rerolls. <span style="text-align: center;">Doom killed a couple more models, the lone biovore might've killed another, and the Trygon Prime's containment spines zapped a couple IG.</span></div>
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On his turn, he disembarked the fire warriors in the devilfish, moved his IG forward towards the left objective, gave Doom a very wide berth, and hopped two suit units and brought on his other devilfish toward the far right objective. During his fire phase, a fire warrior again managed to hit and my swooping flyrant crashed to the ground where the Tau mercilessly poured fire into it - and once the smoke cleared, only the mangled wreckage of my Flyrant remained. The center suits managed to get a plasma shot past Doom's shield, instakilling him. The IG FRFSRF'd the forward termagant squad, killing 8, and over on the right side, the devilfish and suits whittled down the termagant squad to two, but then he jumped the crisis suits closest to the objective to the other side of the devilfish...</div>
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Turn 4: this would be the last turn with time running out. I raced my second squad of termagants to the left objective, moving the Trygon Prime over to provide synapse and threaten assault into the IG. I backed my center Tervigon back toward my board edge to try and prevent being swarmed by devilfish and at least have cover from some of the crisis suits/broadsides. I leapfrogged my gargoyles and Parasite forward into assault range of the crisis suits he'd just moved next to his devilfish, and promptly assaulted in, killing most of the unit, and spawning 6 ripper stands - also netting Linebreaker. On the left, the Trygon, gants, and biovore poured fire into the IG, killing several.<br />
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On his turn - and this is where we made an error regarding the Relic mission: we played it as if it were an objective that he only needed to be within 3" of to contest possession. He brought in 'Krootbo within 3" of the Tervigon with the Relic, and victory conditions went to the secondary: objectives. <br />
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On the right, he tankshocked the rippers away from the front right objective and and managed to get fire warriors within 3" to contest it. Although the two termagants weathered the storm from the fire warriors, his crisis suits flamed them down easily, giving him that objective. He also deployed his drones as far forward as possible to try and shoot my gants off the back right objective - which failed.<br />
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To the left, he managed to get a crisis suit within 3" of the objective to contest it, leaving the score 3-2: I had Warlord and Linebreaker for 2, but I only held one objective to his two, giving him 2 points for majority objectives and Linebreaker (Krootbo) for a total of 3. It wasn't until after we'd reported in the win/loss and one of the other players asked how the game went did we figure out we'd played the Relic wrong. He would have had to kill the center Tervigon - which was definitely possible, but unlikely - rather than going for the objectives. That would have given me the win with 4 to his 3, but since we'd already reported it I didn't push the issue and we let the win/loss status stand.<br />
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Overall - this game was a blast. I got to experiment with Doom, whom I absolutely loved with the new 6" deployment rule, test out the Harpy a little bit - which turned out to be as durable as I'd feared - but still offered a lot more flexibility than I'd expected. I also re-proved to myself that I just can't depend on two tervigons to provide enough spawn power for NOVA missions. Besides the ridiculous error with the Relic, my biggest error was forgetting to run *anything* in turns 1 and 2. Ugh. Talk about rusty. Despite our Relic mishap, we both had a good time, and like most good games, this one came down to the last turn, and I think we both went to the next round with that sense of satisfaction you only get when you've played a good game.<br />
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<br />Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-67143468332959956282013-01-18T00:17:00.002-05:002013-01-18T00:17:51.427-05:00Games Workshop Design Studio<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/ObYWI7w6awU?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
Stumbled across this doing some research on GW's social media presence and sentiment and thought it worth highlighting. Despite the overuse of the term 'archaic' - this is an entertaining video to watch regarding GW's Design Studio methodologies. Not really a surprise the 'creatives' tend to run the company timelines given what we see on the release end. Although I think we're seeing more consistency from GW in the last 6-8 months, reflecting a bit more formality than is reflected here. Mad props of course for the call-out on crappy inclusion of the Harpy in the Tyranid codex as an example of rush-jobs and poor corporate processes. Give the gent some comments =)Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-57415367373988430722012-12-24T11:00:00.001-05:002012-12-24T11:00:19.209-05:00Holiday Hobby Time - WIP Tervigon - Crushing Claws Conversion<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-79meWWTXu7dR8Im8UpcWyRMN4O_INYdRPAyuaMnfaz-aJJ7uJXiGOpqZQkZszvdVdGOE8K93cGk80I18afXv8lyi4B5VzP-kRdEk7aJxtm4fHPKP8_O42ViuaQ2kRwJ4bPYV4m8MRDu/s1600/IMAG0101_1" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhV-79meWWTXu7dR8Im8UpcWyRMN4O_INYdRPAyuaMnfaz-aJJ7uJXiGOpqZQkZszvdVdGOE8K93cGk80I18afXv8lyi4B5VzP-kRdEk7aJxtm4fHPKP8_O42ViuaQ2kRwJ4bPYV4m8MRDu/s320/IMAG0101_1" width="320" /></a></div>
Just a quick post - as you've probably read if you follow this blog at all, I'm a big fan of the idea of putting crushing claws on Tervs in 6th; but man I don't like the dinky little derp crushing claw arms the model comes with. I have however been a big fan of the conversions I've seen using two of the big crab claws - much more menacing! So I thought I'd give it a go. I basically cut down the fleshborer hive arms about a half inch and used both the tervigon and carnifex claws. Lots of work left as I need to fix the magnet angle (hardest part for me - I've never really used magnets before). Here's a few pics of the process and progress after the jump:<br />
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Thanks for stopping by - have a fantastic holiday!!</div>
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<br />Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-15941374441190702792012-11-21T17:51:00.001-05:002012-11-21T17:51:19.416-05:00Tyranid Library: 6th Edition, part 1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think we're finally at the point where there's enough netwisdom out there for Tyranids in 6th to start compiling a new Tyranid Library article. This isn't all inclusive obviously - just a compilation of useful articles for the aspiring Tyranid general in 6th edition. If you've seen other articles that you've found useful or insightful somewhere that you think other 'nid players would benefit from, by all means drop me an email or a comment below. </div>
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Let's start with assault ranges - in case it isn't obvious, Tyranids are an assault army: so here's a handy table that gauges the probability of failing charges, and most importantly: how and when to re-roll. Kudos to Plague Marine over on A Plague Spreads - pity he hasn't been consumed by the hivemind yet ;)</div>
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<a href="http://aplaguespreads.blogspot.com/2012/07/probability-of-failing-charges.html">http://aplaguespreads.blogspot.com/2012/07/probability-of-failing-charges.html</a></div>
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Next up are the always excellent articles from Abusepuppy over on 3++ is the New Black. Quite simply one of the best competitively-focused Tyranid authors out there, with tons to learn in each article, especially if you are a newer player to Tyranids. He can assume a certain baseline level of knowledge though, so these are best read with the rulebook next to you if you are a newer player.</div>
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<a href="http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2012/07/bugs-on-brain-tyranid-psychic-powers-in.html">http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2012/07/bugs-on-brain-tyranid-psychic-powers-in.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2012/07/tyranids-in-6e-part-2-head-and-body.html">http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2012/07/tyranids-in-6e-part-2-head-and-body.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2012/08/tyranids-in-6e-part-3-best-of-best-of.html">http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2012/08/tyranids-in-6e-part-3-best-of-best-of.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2012/08/tyranids-in-6th-part-4-cut-to-quick.html">http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2012/08/tyranids-in-6th-part-4-cut-to-quick.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2012/07/tyranids-in-6th-part-1-something.html">http://kirbysblog-ic.blogspot.com/2012/07/tyranids-in-6th-part-1-something.html</a></div>
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Another Tyranid author to pay attention to is Fritz, from Fritz40k. Fritz is an innovator, and experiments more than most; crucially he doesn't take netwisdom on any unit for granted. The fact he's experimenting with Mawlocs here is just one great example; and IMO, a Tyranid 'rush' list built around mawlocs, ymgarl, and dual flyrants, maybe a doom is definitely a workable list in 6th - mawlocs still aren't great, but they're just the thing for those pesky clumped infantry and their aegis walls: </div>
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<a href="http://www.fritz40k.com/2012/10/winning-40k-6th-edition-tyranid-build.html">http://www.fritz40k.com/2012/10/winning-40k-6th-edition-tyranid-build.html</a></div>
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Mike Brandt, over on Whiskey & 40k, has a soft spot for Tyranids and has been beating up on the NOVA crowd with a psychic choir list that he ultimately took to a 5-1 finish at Battle for Salvation. It deserves mention here both as an example of a "prototypical" psychic choir list and some great play tips, but also because of the innovative <a href="http://www.novaopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/BFS-2012-Psychic-Power-and-Spawn-Tracker.pdf">Tyranid Psychic Power and Spawn Tracker</a>. This is a godsend, and an approach I will definitely be copying in every game/tournament going forward. I'm a pretty big fan of his list too, as I've liked the <a href="http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2010/11/stuck-on-swarmy.html">Swarmlord+Parasite of Mortrex</a> combo for a long time.</div>
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<a href="http://whiskey40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/bfs-quick-battle-recap.html">http://whiskey40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/bfs-quick-battle-recap.html</a></div>
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Gritts over on Anvil of War has a nifty article covering missions; terse and to the point, but a good read:</div>
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<a href="http://anvilofwar.blogspot.com/2012/08/tyranids-in-6th-part-3-of-7.html">http://anvilofwar.blogspot.com/2012/08/tyranids-in-6th-part-3-of-7.html</a></div>
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No library article seems complete without a shoutout to hyvemynd over on Synaps3, and the reason for inclusion here is this list reflects the 6th edition need for bigger units to survive overwatch, and protecting your warlord: <a href="http://synaps3.blogspot.com/2012/07/1850pts-food-for-thought-and-noming.html">http://synaps3.blogspot.com/2012/07/1850pts-food-for-thought-and-noming.html</a></div>
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As far as batreps go, jifel1 over on Knighthammer has been posting his latest list thoughts and batreps, piloting his nids to a very respectable finish at Beakycon. Definitely worth reading as he faces some rough lists, and does a good job of capturing his thoughts and approaches:</div>
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<a href="http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/beakycon-game-1-igcd.html">http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/beakycon-game-1-igcd.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/beakycon-game-2-scythewing.html">http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/beakycon-game-2-scythewing.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/beakycon-game-3-green-tide.html">http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/beakycon-game-3-green-tide.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/disclaimer-on-batreps-i-played-6-games.html">http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/disclaimer-on-batreps-i-played-6-games.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/beaky-con-game-5-igspace-wolves.html">http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/beaky-con-game-5-igspace-wolves.html</a></div>
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<a href="http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/beakycon-game-6-vs-necrons.html">http://knighthammer40k.blogspot.com/2012/10/beakycon-game-6-vs-necrons.html</a></div>
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Slowly getting back in the hobby groove... </div>
Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-71512279416808854912012-11-17T18:46:00.000-05:002012-11-17T18:46:35.154-05:00Anti-Procrastination: Building a Light Box<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"If you want to make an apple pie, you must first invent the universe" - Carl Sagan</i></div>
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The mindset behind that quote above seems to be a path I take far too often: I set up pre-conditions, invent needs, and find things that need to be done first before I can start something. Sadly I even do this with my hobby. I always want to have the right tool, the right brush, the right material before tackling a project. Take for instance my desire to post pics of my mighty blue and orange horde. My gribblies have needed multiple repairs after NOVA 20<u>11</u> (yeah you read that correctly), plus I need to add static grass/flock to their bases, get the inks and varnish out to add depth, and matte seal them to kill some of the shine. While my painted hordelings are definitely not what I'd claim on eBay as "pro-painted" (admittedly that's probably a low bar for some, but I like to think I have<i> some</i> sense of honor) - I've definitely considered the pictures I've taken so far to be pretty crappy, and would make my median paint job look far worse than it actually is. If I'm going to be judged, I'd prefer to be judged fairly - and the ability to take good photographs that duly represent the level of painting have been a pre-requisite. Until today.<br />
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I took inspiration from several different posts on how to build a light-box:<br />
http://rustandthecity.blogspot.com/2012/06/budget-miniature-photography-my-tools.html<br />
http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?13043-Making-a-Light-box-for-under-25-US<br />
http://corvusminiatures.blogspot.com/2010/04/finally-photo-studio-for-my-miniatures.html<br />
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Materials:<br />
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<li>1 12x12x8 box from the Post Office</li>
<li>Clear tape</li>
<li>Tinfoil</li>
<li>Wax Paper</li>
<li><a href="http://www.ilovetocreate.com/Aleenes-Original-Tacky-Glue-213">Aleene's Tacky Glue</a></li>
<li>Razor Knife</li>
<li>Scissors</li>
<li>White paper</li>
<li>Background printed from <a href="http://corvusminiatures.blogspot.com/2010/04/cloud-backdrops-for-your-miniature.html">Corvus Miniatures</a> </li>
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Here's a few pics of the process:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2VTI_1akTYV6DP9NUSzhWGXjvjCx6AAK45x32P3AE2ETQrlnVjUjkvLzPhLsBwUmkb6Drj_VRYNUFK-MBC184ONOFyqrfZaBlHxvfDU9jLpGCMMEmrv1aIMfpWENjxiPhEvIWaMLjChyphenhyphen/s1600/2012-11-17+14.46.23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx2VTI_1akTYV6DP9NUSzhWGXjvjCx6AAK45x32P3AE2ETQrlnVjUjkvLzPhLsBwUmkb6Drj_VRYNUFK-MBC184ONOFyqrfZaBlHxvfDU9jLpGCMMEmrv1aIMfpWENjxiPhEvIWaMLjChyphenhyphen/s320/2012-11-17+14.46.23.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEina-hkTGeamnrIz8DvLHVZsGBrTeEK9E5PgLKZ-1FQjeOXwaT6hPw8fK_OTUWk8H6RyJ76MfqqCKut1VFBQQNWy7-30z9uNp_YsA5eR4o7sTM_mwBIfUmLSD-YzlIVZBzXS_nuDNArKx3z/s1600/2012-11-17+14.45.55.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEina-hkTGeamnrIz8DvLHVZsGBrTeEK9E5PgLKZ-1FQjeOXwaT6hPw8fK_OTUWk8H6RyJ76MfqqCKut1VFBQQNWy7-30z9uNp_YsA5eR4o7sTM_mwBIfUmLSD-YzlIVZBzXS_nuDNArKx3z/s320/2012-11-17+14.45.55.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0fwh9CM2yDY4AswsOGIAI0aZEg0RsQ0aWByuED_PucalsV6mlklhJIE5Qeh8V9Cqs50X_35raIa8LfIhVLFN2YRatXvoBd1022Ly0_Sm-lxlR5eyBAaHue_-epffP0WrhkYdYjGYaL_B/s1600/2012-11-17+14.46.33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhd0fwh9CM2yDY4AswsOGIAI0aZEg0RsQ0aWByuED_PucalsV6mlklhJIE5Qeh8V9Cqs50X_35raIa8LfIhVLFN2YRatXvoBd1022Ly0_Sm-lxlR5eyBAaHue_-epffP0WrhkYdYjGYaL_B/s320/2012-11-17+14.46.33.jpg" width="240" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sPHEG9sKf7s/UKgTzwhS6TI/AAAAAAAABpA/8usI08Pp0IU/s1600/2012-11-17+14.46.06.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-sPHEG9sKf7s/UKgTzwhS6TI/AAAAAAAABpA/8usI08Pp0IU/s320/2012-11-17+14.46.06.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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I glued the pieces I cut out of the box onto the flaps to hold them in place and add strength/stability. The tinfoil is all glued shiny side down. Wax paper was cut to fit and glued down on the outside of the 'windows' so I can use multiple lamps - but with the tinfoil on the front/sides I can get away with one bright lamp if need be. Below is a pic taken of the setup used to take the pic up top of the post. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXftHxV85SQuxj5I4rgHFOVHViTbzqs18xHDkL2M4QGcY9MVOZwsO3p_T8qwgMjPwJ9-XWPf2Pk6KcPDm4A4y-bwQ6ViSC390kbus9w_YFsW6R16GQLac-nbTwzYfzJyGEfYwkVFYNZjl/s1600/2012-11-17+17.09.25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvXftHxV85SQuxj5I4rgHFOVHViTbzqs18xHDkL2M4QGcY9MVOZwsO3p_T8qwgMjPwJ9-XWPf2Pk6KcPDm4A4y-bwQ6ViSC390kbus9w_YFsW6R16GQLac-nbTwzYfzJyGEfYwkVFYNZjl/s320/2012-11-17+17.09.25.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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At any rate - took me about two hours to do, and I'm looking forward to taking pics of my painted guys now. One procrastination barrier - eliminated!</div>
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Now I just have to figure out what I'm going to do with my latest terrain find: a G scale trestle bridge...</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-U8Ssrndc4/UKghDJKku4I/AAAAAAAABqY/XSGmnOIgInk/s1600/2012-11-17+18.29.17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-S-U8Ssrndc4/UKghDJKku4I/AAAAAAAABqY/XSGmnOIgInk/s320/2012-11-17+18.29.17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6FFMRoAR-M/UKghEhAj0vI/AAAAAAAABqg/kuoCT_9ofNA/s1600/2012-11-17+18.30.57.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-O6FFMRoAR-M/UKghEhAj0vI/AAAAAAAABqg/kuoCT_9ofNA/s320/2012-11-17+18.30.57.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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Yup - that's an 18" ruler for scale.. it's about 46 inches long. Big enough to fit a Land Raider or Tervigon...</div>
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<br />Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-18844270737365960592012-10-20T12:59:00.000-04:002012-10-20T21:23:57.473-04:00Eisenhorn's Choice: Alternate Tyranid/Daemon/Cultist Models<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://i.imgur.com/jKCtM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="http://i.imgur.com/jKCtM.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Who else is tired of seeing this guy?</div>
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This is a bit awkward. Rather like Eisenhorn's conversion from staunch hardliner to heretical radical, I actively look for alternate models to use. I used to be a stickler for only using Games Workshop figures. However, a few factors have changed that opinion over the past couple years. The cost of models for one, my annoyance with similarity, GW's stance on tournaments, and the fact I can't really stand to be in GW stores because of the harassment from the staff - and if that's the only place I have to worry about non-GW models: It becomes a non-factor. Add in all the great after-market bits and alternate models out there.. it's a <a href="http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2012/06/it-was-quiet-too-quiet.html">brave, new world</a> for this heretic. One of the aspects I like most about this hobby is the creativity - and Chaos seems to really bring it out the best in people. I love seeing the crazy, shocking conversions and paint schemes that look - Just. So. Bad<u>ass</u>. But I have one tiny annoyance. I like a little variety in my army: shockingly ironic coming from a Tyranid player: we're rather stuck with a very limited range of models. While I do use both old and new Tyranid figures for some variety (Emperor knows we need some), I've definitely gone looking for alternate Tyranid models too, but the pickings are pretty slim on the Tyranid side, and here's a couple I've found. I also came across a few nifty Chaos and possible cultist models that I don't see often. Definitely inspired by OST's fantastic articles over on <a href="http://darkfuturegaming.blogspot.com/">Dark Future Games</a>; they really highlight the opportunities to blend GW models with the amazing bits available (he's done two great articles on alternate bits for Chaos marines <a href="http://darkfuturegaming.blogspot.com/2012/10/building-better-thousand-son-with-3rd.html">here</a> and <a href="http://darkfuturegaming.blogspot.com/2012/10/building-better-plague-marine-with-3rd.html">here</a>), and I'd been storing figure lists against the day I finally crack and start building my next army, so I thought I'd share.</div>
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Okay enough already: TL;DR! On to the models - interestingly I found most of these just surfing on one webstore, and I've never used the service so caveat emptor: however they do appear to have a very nice selection including OOP models and what look to be prices that equal or better prices I see on ebay for some of the models. So here they are:</div>
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First - the alternate Daemon Princes:</div>
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Heresy Miniatures' OOP <a href="http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/index.php/katalog/artikelinfo/5208-1-show-aazaroth_tyrant_of_the_9th_hell_oop.htm">Aazaroth</a></div>
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/hFIbq.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="http://i.imgur.com/hFIbq.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Willy Miniatures <a href="http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/index.php/katalog/artikelinfo/27452-1-show-beast_of_pestilence.html">Pestilence Beast</a></div>
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/AmXSg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="313" src="http://i.imgur.com/AmXSg.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Alternate lesser daemons:</div>
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Westwind Productions' <a href="http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/index.php/katalog/artikelinfo/14038-1-show-ravening.html">Ravening</a>:</div>
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Titan Forge's <a href="http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/index.php/katalog/artikelinfo/27930-1-show-plague_gits.html">Plague Gits</a><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/YUcjQ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="257" src="http://i.imgur.com/YUcjQ.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138;">Titan Forge's</span><span style="color: #222222;"> <a href="http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/index.php/katalog/artikelinfo/27931-1-show-demonic_skydevil.html">Demonic Skydevil</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/HzL41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="http://i.imgur.com/HzL41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Alternate Cultist models:<br />
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Tercio Creativo's <a href="http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/index.php/katalog/artikelinfo/29255-1-show-mercenaries_padre_calixto.html">Padre Calixto</a></span><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/sM0C9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/sM0C9.jpg" width="314" /></a></div>
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Westwind Productions' <a href="http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/index.php/katalog/artikelinfo/26912-1-show-the_brotherhood_8.html">Brotherhood</a>:<br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/BMZI5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="http://i.imgur.com/BMZI5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Maow Miniatures' <a href="http://www.shop.battlefield-berlin.de/index.php/katalog/artikelinfo/25749-1-show-sophie_bigoude_lim_400.html">Sophie Bigoud</a>:</span><br />
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<a href="http://i.imgur.com/qrzxZ.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i.imgur.com/qrzxZ.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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What's a grim dark future like without hot cultist chicks?</div>
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And finally, the alternate Tyranid models: the best truly usable alternate Tyranid model (for a zoanthrope obviously) is the Alien Brain from <a href="http://trollforged.com/shelf_sci-fi_box-sets.html">TrollForged Miniatures</a>. Great customer service, pretty fast delivery (~1.5 weeks) and best of all: you can get six of these for ~$40, or $46 if you specify which heads you want - I prefer the 'blade face' shown below:</div>
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Slag Dragon bits from Ramshackle Games (webstore closed till Nov 1) - still debating where I'm going to use the head, possibly for a Doom of Malantai, or a Harpy. I also like the wormhole base quite a lot; if only Subterranean Assault didn't suck ;)</div>
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Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-20177613096742466512012-09-05T13:07:00.000-04:002012-09-05T14:49:50.564-04:00Tyranids at NOVA 2012<div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLL7NPeEVTJZDX9LxolkraRRM8hlW0QKPgxe0ibyi3NdM_JiGzgLZRuaDlZqQ2uuUw0UD3JmJ27XmU8ulmvZP7I-PXHiRyKeg7m69PP3Lpe7NGm8DC7KParDRjaE_vQbUp6cVGKqy1v18/s1600/2012-09-02+15.35.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLL7NPeEVTJZDX9LxolkraRRM8hlW0QKPgxe0ibyi3NdM_JiGzgLZRuaDlZqQ2uuUw0UD3JmJ27XmU8ulmvZP7I-PXHiRyKeg7m69PP3Lpe7NGm8DC7KParDRjaE_vQbUp6cVGKqy1v18/s320/2012-09-02+15.35.07.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I had some pretty high hopes for Tyranids at NOVA this year, but it just wasn't to be - there were only three Tyranid players in the GT this year, and none in the Invitational. Despite an overall lack of experience (one had never been to a tournament, one had never even rolled to see if the game would continue on turn 5 before, etc...) in my opinion, their scores and placing in the end is pretty amazing. I think all three ended the day pleased with how well they did, and one was quite distressed at winning his last game Saturday night as he wasn't able to come back on Sunday. He actually tried to lose by racing across the table with everything, thinking his opponent would just shoot him down: instead he practically tabled his poor opponent. <br />
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So let's talk about the lists themselves for a moment. None approached 'psychic choir' level (22+ powers), with a max of 14 powers in any of the three, so that's one build that didn't even show up. If possible to do so without being condescending, I would characterize the lists as having indicators of a lack of tuning/playtesting, especially when seen through the lens of needs for 6th: small units of Hormagaunts, Raveners, and Ymgarl, trygons with adrenal (not tox); Doom is risky, and not an indicator of a lack of playtesting etc.., but I don't see the point of having him without a spore pod. In an overall sense not related to any of these lists, significant for their lack of presence were multiple squads of zoans, gargoyles, devilgants, devilfexes, Primes, or even Harpies (which are surprisingly durable under NOVA FAQ rules of flying MCs can only be hit on a 6, even when Grounded).</div>
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Here's the lists and their standings, and a couple (mostly horrible) photos:<br />
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<u><b>List #1 - Peter Thomas:</b></u><br />
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Competitive<br />
Ranking |Name |Bracket|Generalship|Appearance|Overall<br />
48 | Peter Thomas | 2 | 50.417 | 0.559 | 1.059</div>
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Tyrant, armored shell, regen, OA, LW/BS, HVC, Leech, Parox</div>
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Tyrant Guard, lash whip, x1</div>
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Zoanthrope x3</div>
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HGx3 x2</div>
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Tervigon, tox, adrenal, dom, cat x2</div>
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Warrior, scytal, deathspitter x3; Warrior, scytal venom cannon (4 total)</div>
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Termagant x12</div>
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Termagant x12</div>
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Hormagaunt, ag x14</div>
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Trygon x2<br />
The pic up top is from this army</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzLL7NPeEVTJZDX9LxolkraRRM8hlW0QKPgxe0ibyi3NdM_JiGzgLZRuaDlZqQ2uuUw0UD3JmJ27XmU8ulmvZP7I-PXHiRyKeg7m69PP3Lpe7NGm8DC7KParDRjaE_vQbUp6cVGKqy1v18/s1600/2012-09-02+15.35.07.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-br4TD7LV1sU/UEd8rEY6c2I/AAAAAAAABgs/PZggEmUAtyM/s1600/P1000623.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-br4TD7LV1sU/UEd8rEY6c2I/AAAAAAAABgs/PZggEmUAtyM/s200/P1000623.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
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<b><u>List # 2: Jonathan Tomczak:</u></b><br />
Competitive<br />
Ranking |Name |Bracket|Generalship|Appearance|Overall<br />
117 |Jonathan Tomczak| 7 | 50.487 | 0.000 | 0.500</div>
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Swarmlord</div>
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HGx3</div>
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HGx2</div>
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Doom</div>
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Tervigon, tox, adrenal, dom, catalyst x3</div>
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Termagant x13</div>
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Termagant x10 x2</div>
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Trygon, adrenal x3</div>
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<b><u>List #3: Nate Berman:</u></b><br />
Competitive<br />
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Ranking |Name |Bracket|Generalship|Appearance|Overall<br />
137 |Nathan Berman | 8 | 33.739 | 0.000 | 0.334</div>
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List #2: Nate Berman</div>
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Tyrant, wings, 2x TL dev, OA</div>
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Tyrant, wings, 2x TL dev</div>
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HG x3</div>
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Ymgarl x8</div>
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Doom, spod</div>
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Tervigon, tox, crushing claws, dom, cat, onslaught</div>
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Termagant x15</div>
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Termagant x13</div>
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Ravener, spinefist, x3</div>
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Trygon, tox x2</div>
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Aegis, quad gun</div>
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Conclusions from watching hundreds of games this past weekend:<br />
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<li>I'm firmly of the opinion that 3 Tervigons are almost a requirement in order to sustain the tarpits needed for the killy things to do their jobs - and still be able to hold or contest objectives and quarters.</li>
<li>More than ever, it comes down to generalship, not the list. While there are definitely bad matchups, this seemed to be an artifact of the inability of many lists to prioritize effectively vs. flyers. Success vs. many flyer-heavy lists often came down to ignoring the flyers.</li>
<li>With the above in mind, there are multiple list possibilities a skilled Tyranid player could be successful with. Psychic Choir and Nidzilla are both viable, and a Flying Circus may be.</li>
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Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-91476642248886243542012-09-03T19:22:00.000-04:002012-09-03T19:22:55.984-04:00Hobby: NOVA Open Terrain Quick Look<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbVi2_V_kdxbuFAhk2vt72A-lEMo_gKRv5lRM9d1fzVorr3ywPS0TIV1Ug4em6e1t0NfEllOJmXBhFdG-bO8grGx9qpCNvoMF3q7q6i8IGAcwg818w5E6VMeVCTRYuQ8Apmsof3M4tE0w/s1600/2012-08-30+23.49.04.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhkbVi2_V_kdxbuFAhk2vt72A-lEMo_gKRv5lRM9d1fzVorr3ywPS0TIV1Ug4em6e1t0NfEllOJmXBhFdG-bO8grGx9qpCNvoMF3q7q6i8IGAcwg818w5E6VMeVCTRYuQ8Apmsof3M4tE0w/s320/2012-08-30+23.49.04.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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I'd originally tried to post this on Friday evening as a bit of a celebration of the creativity and effort that went into building the terrain at NOVA this year: I know I was certainly inspired to see it - in fact nearly all of my purchases at the vendors this year were for bits I could use to build terrain much like these pieces. However, neither my <strike>smart</strike>stupidphone or Picasa cooperated, and Stelek has since posted many of these <a href="http://yesthetruthhurts.com/2012/09/project-reality-the-middle-terrain-piece-at-nova/">here</a> as well, but mostly to complain about how the terrain wasn't fair for both sides. I could go on for hours about that comment and the thought processes behind it, but it's a waste of my time. This post isn't about defending the terrain: it's for those of you who've always wanted to build your own terrain, feast your eyes, your brains, and your creativity. These shots are the terrain pieces that I found most interesting, well done, or creative, and most of all - inspiring. Massive kudos to the team, and the NOVA <a href="http://roguegeneralhunter.blogspot.com/">Minister of Terrain</a>. The last few shots are of battles over the monuments in the narrative - so very rewarding to see people having an absolutely great time, and knowing all that hard work paid off.<br />
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<embed flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2F111891176377153469739%2Falbumid%2F5782680185585111425%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCKO39t-U25Ky9AE%26hl%3Den_US" height="400" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="500"></embed></div>
Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-82384439888676053452012-08-31T22:53:00.000-04:002012-08-31T22:53:08.035-04:006e Thru the Lens of a NOVA Judge, Day 2Well, blogging from the smartphone is about as fun as smashing my thumbs with a hammer, repeatedly so this will be mercifully brief. The bottom line is we are seeing far less drama than at least I expected from the new rules. My gut feeling says the games seem to be playing a little quicker than 5th even with premeasuring and the changes to assault. Maybe a factor of matchups rather than the new rules though. We have a pretty wide range of skill and experience. I was really hoping to see more Tyranids, but there are I think only three, and two are young guys without much experience - one had never had to roll for the game to end or continue on turn 5. What we are seeing is a return of the xenos - with a vengeance. A quarter or more of the armies are Necrons. Roughly 10 Tau players, maybe more. At least that many demon players, and quite a few chaos. Orks and nob bikers are all over. So is Eldrad, but only a handful of Eldar players. Necrons may outnumber GK. Who is doing well? Hard to be sure with only a couple games in, and that wide range of skill and the high number of mirror matches, but the 5 or more flyer Necron/wraithwall lists seem to be a pretty tough matchup for some. Lash can do some rough thigs to the low model count lists, and there are quite a few of those.
At any rate, these are just first impressions. Not much useful detail, and probably off by a good margin once we get the actual numbers. In the meantime, this phone blogging business is for the birds. Anyone know a good blogger compatible app for Android?Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-42474262824824639522012-08-29T01:29:00.001-04:002012-08-29T01:30:03.937-04:00NOVA Plans and the Narrative Campaign Terrain Build<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I had an amazing, remember-it-for-a-lifetime experience playing my Nids last year, ending the weekend 4-4, and 64th overall. Not bad for my first 'big' GT. I'd looked forward to playing again this year but that ended up not being in the cards for a variety of reasons, but one really big reason sorta stands out. About 17x24 inches big, give or take.<br />
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After last year's NOVA Open the team decided it was going to put together a narrative campaign, and have it be themed in Washington D.C., including terrain based on the monuments and museums of the National Mall. As you can imagine, this sounded extremely cool at the time. What followed sometime thereafter was the sort of meeting wherein staff and volunteers were given the opportunity to pick the monument or museum they would build. Family obligations and all, I <i>missed</i> that meeting. I'd sent a note to Mike B. saying I'd build one if there was any left. Silly me... there was one left. I think the text of my email went something like, <i>"I said I'd help with terrain but dang, the <a href="http://www.nps.gov/thje/index.htm">Jefferson Memorial</a>? :D Assuming Mike hasn't confused me with someone else..."</i> typed with that tense feeling you get driving at night on a narrow, icy road. It has more pillars than an anime convention has tentacles! Stairs... a big curvy bit up top - yikes! You see, I hadn't ever really built serious terrain before. Making wireframe trees and hanging lichen off them or painting steel wool and crusting it with flock is about as far down the terrain road as I've ever gotten. <br />
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What about the NOVA <a href="http://whiskey40k.blogspot.com/2012/03/doing-radical-stuff-with-pink-foam-tips.html">terrain builds</a>, you say? Surely I could have gotten some help there - those amazing foam cutters, and that <a href="http://www.novaopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/IMG_0229_v1-1024x705.jpg">so-kickass-words-fail-me Native American museum</a>: those guys are foam-fume sniffing saints in my book. But work and family priorities won out this year, and to my very great shame I missed the terrain builds - every one. Family first -<a href="http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2011/05/what-no-updates-oh-very-well-move-along.html"> gotta keep the priorities straight</a>. I didn't blog nearly as much as I'd like to: there are a lot of articles floating around in my head that I just wasn't able to get to over the past few months, collating my list of references for the next Tyranid Library articles - but <u><i>no regrets</i></u>. I had an absolute blast building this, and bringing it over to the last staff meeting on Sunday I felt like a proud papa. This was about the journey more than the destination - but in the end the destination still counts. It's far from perfect - it's functional, and so far most people can tell what it is supposed to be (/grin). <br />
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It's been quite the solo adventure, stretching rusty math skills, learning rudimentary drafting skills I didn't know I had, and just winging it and going by eye when I just couldn't get the measurements to work out. I've become a regular at Michaels, Jo-Ann Fabrics, and A.C. Moore (by the way, if you're anywhere near the Annapolis/Bowie/Glen Burnie area - A.C. Moore knocks the socks off all the other chain stores), spent <i>hours</i> at the local hobby shop (trains, r/c planes, cars), and have walked every aisle in 6 different Home Depot and Lowe's stores. I've made some really cool finds for materials and bought plenty of new tools - things I've wanted to get for a long time but just couldn't justify the expense for (hooray - shiny new jigsaw!).<br />
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For the tl;dr crowd: I had a great time building the Jefferson Memorial for the NOVA Open <a href="http://www.novaopen.com/?page_id=910">Narrative Campaign</a>. I'll be a volunteer staffer again, looking forward to a great weekend meeting new people. Hope to see you there! Oh, and here are the pics... direct link is <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/111891176377153469739/NOVAPlansAndNarrativeCampaign?authuser=0&authkey=Gv1sRgCNjvsLDS3Yi1kQE&feat=directlink">here</a>.<br />
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Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5964945866386538577.post-32341819245317150092012-08-10T19:16:00.000-04:002012-08-10T19:16:07.367-04:00Subterranean Assault Revisited<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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GW still seems to be scared of Subterranean Assault so I thought I'd take a closer look under 6e.
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I was thinking on making this the next 'Tyranid Library' article, but after iterating through it, decided it more aptly fits (along with <a href="http://midlifegamingcrisis.blogspot.com/2012/08/flyrant-kites-valid-strategy-or-waste.html">Flyrant Kites</a>) under the "stupid Tyranid tricks" category. Someday I'll get around to tagging my posts..<br />
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<u>Bottom Line Up Front</u>: It still isn't anything to base an army around, at best it's a bottom of the tool bag tactic that's more of a low-value insurance policy. You know, the 15 cents per year on the life insurance policy to cover death by penguin. It's only available if you use reserves, and in turns 3+, you want the slight advantage of not having your still-hasn't-shown-up non-winged infantry unit walk on from the edge of the board. Call out the OPP! That's Over Powered Police, not what you're thinking, SinSynn.<br />
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Let's check the math, and take a quick look at what SA offers: After a Trygon emerges from deep strike, you place a base-sized marker - note this is a Trygon base so it's pretty big. Totally sounds cool, right?! Think again. <b>In subsequent turns</b>, Tyranid infantry units without wings can arrive from reserve from this tunnel. No shrikes! Place the entire unit so all models are within 6" of the marker and in unit coherency; unit cannot move or assault, but it can run or shoot normally. No more than one unit can emerge from each tunnel in the same turn. The FAQ also has some caveats: units that have been allocated as arriving from reserve using deep strike or outflanking may NOT instead choose to use the SA marker. <br />
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Thus beginneth the long chain of 'ifs':<br />
- If in the half of your force you're allowed to reserve, you reserve at least one Trygon, and at least one infantry unit...<br />
- if said non-winged infantry unit isn't allocated to arrive via deep strike or outflank<br />
- if the aforementioned Trygon makes its reserve roll to come on the board a turn before the infantry unit(s) on Turn 2 or 3.<br />
- if you somehow manage to fail reserve rolls for the infantry units on turns 2 and 3, (new in 6e!) they automatically come in on turn 4.<br />
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In other words: <i> best case:</i> on turn 3 at the earliest, you can bring on one infantry unit per turn from the place your Trygon emerged on turn 2. Then on Turn 4, you can bring out one more unit. Thanks 6e! <br />
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In a desperate attempt to be realistic, I can see it coming up for people using triple Trygon lists, facing some sort of gunline, DoA or maybe daemons where you really wanted to protect your infantry units till the end. Whether a small unit of warriors or a big horde unit coming out of reserve onto an objective on Turn 4 could be worth doing, especially with the fearless changes. The challenge is failing the reserve rolls starting on Turn 2. Could happen, I have the <a href="http://ordo-ineptus.proboards.com/index.cgi">Ordo Inepticus</a> dice to prove it from last year's NOVA. <br />
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So for the Hive Fleet Bandwagon folks who've bought your shiny new FMC flyrant and are wondering whether Subterranean Assault is part of the supr sekrit WAAC netlist of <strike>tnrayid</strike> <strike>turnarid</strike> <strike>toydirnads</strike> bugs taktiks, the answer is no, no it isn't. <br />
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For you hobby types, if you want a really nifty marker for that once-in-a-lifetime Subterranean Assault, or a great addition to a base or display board: I really like this one from Ramshackle Games: <a href="http://shop.ramshacklegames.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=23_39&products_id=379">http://shop.ramshacklegames.co.uk/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=23_39&products_id=379</a><br />
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<br />Ghostinhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14612442936351544336noreply@blogger.com1