Faeit 212

Pics of the Week

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNsVgjuWW3mErNiZgUkbEPLA9CIR0JAta_qHcu4kMYsmJLYX728c_OIEFEGKXYSs8qOhRsS_g_Y6bTf-m43kls-lPEj7mNEBwWF0Od2u2uqSxMlAYG_wYtU2bDJMPJ3RX-0ftdKCOvB86/s1600/m1521042a_2010-12-02_01_749xXXX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLNsVgjuWW3mErNiZgUkbEPLA9CIR0JAta_qHcu4kMYsmJLYX728c_OIEFEGKXYSs8qOhRsS_g_Y6bTf-m43kls-lPEj7mNEBwWF0Od2u2uqSxMlAYG_wYtU2bDJMPJ3RX-0ftdKCOvB86/s400/m1521042a_2010-12-02_01_749xXXX.jpg" width="400"></a></div> 
I am always looking at pics and when I see a bunch, I generally throw them into a folder or two until I find a use for them. I really enjoy looking at other peoples work when it comes to their models. I know where my skills are lacking, and seeing some of these pieces really can inspire. These are some models and pics mostly from GW that I have collected of late.

Pics of the Week

I am always looking at pics and when I see a bunch, I generally throw them into a folder or two until I find a use for them. I really enjoy...

12/07/2010

Tactics of Commorragh - Unique Opportunities (Prelude)

<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsrKl8CjhZYkNojM2zdr4zS4hJbqSCIaMLmM7LbtzaWUO0tAd7fC0tpJUL4tAyLED3xxt4tyekar1r4bxDBgly1BDFCdrGA7MweYZeui9dXImHPsfm7VrpRZ3Y3dCyW1t8n6y6HFel7WW/s1600/m1350436a_P3Mb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibsrKl8CjhZYkNojM2zdr4zS4hJbqSCIaMLmM7LbtzaWUO0tAd7fC0tpJUL4tAyLED3xxt4tyekar1r4bxDBgly1BDFCdrGA7MweYZeui9dXImHPsfm7VrpRZ3Y3dCyW1t8n6y6HFel7WW/s320/m1350436a_P3Mb1.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>We have a very unique Dark Eldar army with our new codex. This series is about the unique opportunities it brings us and is where I should of Started. Part 1 was posted yesterday, and this post (the prelude) deals mostly with army wide powers. Part 2 will come tomorrow. 
 
I will start off with the Power of Pain and move right on through to poisoned weapons and Dark Lance Technology. After this, part 2 will be moving on to tactics and unit combinations that are harder to dig up, some of those hidden gems. 
 
Power through Pain: 
What this does is give us the first army that truly gets stronger as the game goes on, even as you lose units. Those that remain have the opportunity to gain in durability and strength. What this can do on the tabletop is to very quickly turn the tide of the battle. Dark Eldar are still a paper thin army, however a couple pain tokens on a few units, you suddenly can feel unstoppable to your opponent. Twice already I have had friends call me up with "I couldn't get through the feel no pain". Add in cover saves, reavers going flat out, incubi warsuits, and units with T5 or pain engines with T7 3+ saves, and opponents are quickly facing their worst fears. If you don't have the codex, the first pain token gives you Feel No Pain, second gives you Furious Charge, and the third makes you fearless. You gain pain tokens simply by wiping out an enemy non-vehicle unit through shooting or close combat. 
 
What this means is that against armies with smaller units you can literally power up faster. You will need to decide who gets the killing attack when it comes to shooting, so plan out your shooting order like the obsessive Archon your are. Because of this Power through Pain, you will want to eliminate units to the man. Don't leave anyone alive. 
 
Another cool thing is that pain tokens are generated immediately. This means that units with multiple initaitives can generate a pain token during a close combat round. For example, your archon is running around joined up with your incubi, and they assault two units in a single multi-unit assault. The first unit only has two marines, that your archon quickly kills on initaitive 7. Your incubi then take down most of the other marines leaving 1 or 2 of a 10 man squad. When the marines attack back, your unit now has the Feel No Pain special rule, because they have generated a pain token on a previous initiative. Hows that for underhanded and nasty. You don't think this happens that often? I've accomplished this in the last two out of three games. 
 
Sharing the Pain 
This one is pretty simple. When an independent character joins a unit, they share the pain tokens. When they separate, you divide up the pain tokens equally, with any left overs going where you decide for them to go. This simply means that when an Archon that decides to start the game joined with a group of Wracks standing on the ground leaves, he can take that pain token with him. He can join a unit of Incubi mounted up in that raider, and zoom across the field. Both the incubi and archon would now carry that pain token and get Feel No Pain. 
 
The Same thing applies if you are running Haemonculi. He starts off joined to that unit of Reavers. he leaves during the movement phase leaving the pain token to the jetbikes, and the reavers then turbo boost across the field in order to get their 3+ cover save. Along the way of going 36" they go over that group of long fangs and deliver 2d6 S6 hits and 4d3 S3 hits. Not only are you getting your 3+ cover save, but you now also have Feel No Pain to help protect you from weapons that remove cover saves. There are all sorts of ways to play this, including doubling up on the pain tokens. This tactic is very very flexible. 
 
Poisoned Weapons 
We get 36" heavy 6 poisoned shooting weapons? So what, they take a 4+ to wound. Lol. These things are nothing short of phenomenal. Venoms running around taking 12 shots, moving 12" shooting 36". Wow. Scourges, Trueborn, Warriors, Hellions and others take serious advantage of this. 36". Most of the time we are fighting vs marines, and amazingly enough they like to get in cover. No matter with our splinter cannons, we see one of them, even a shoulder pad, we shoot. Pelt them down with lots of wounds and let that 5 man unit fail their saves. The same goes for monstrous creatures and another other units trying to get across the board. Long range with lots of shots, our poisoned weapons don't really care if your hiding from them. They are only AP5, so pelting marines with 40+ poisoned shots is going to hurt and they can stay in cover the rest of their short lives (very short). 
 
Last game I played I had two units of 20 warriors in the backfield with 2 splinter cannons each and 2 venoms running around. It was literally 48 splinter cannon poisoned weapon shots a round the entire game (til the last round I think when I lost both venoms). You can generate a lot more than 48 shots. In fact a single unit of scourges can put out 42 poisoned shots a round standing still or 36 while moving.  A unit of 20 Hellions? Yea, you can do that math. 
 
Dark Light Technology 
If you thought dark lance spam was gone, your fooling yourself. Dark Eldar are now able to field almost rediculas amounts of Blasters, Blast Pistols, Dark Lances, Heat Lances and the awe inspiring Void Lance. All of which are lance technology. I think the most popular unit in the Dark Eldar codex are trueborn. Able to carry up to 4 blasters and two heavy weapons (dark lance or splinter cannons). The new dark eldar can carry more dark light weaponry than the old. 
 
I generally drive my trueborn right up into the center of the board (or sides if there is terrain up there), and dump them off into any area terrain. The Haemonculi with them will generate that Feel No Pain token you need, and the groups 4 blasters will take care of anything else. 4+ cover save, 4+ Feel No Pain, and your are delivering 4 blasters into the heart of the enemy. Fielding two of these units, with some close combat support nearby (incubi, talos, etc) and nothing is getting to your trueborn. You can also sit your trueborn back simply taking two dark lances with them. 
 
Scourges get some of the cheapest Dark Lances in your army. Paying 15pts each for up to 4 in a 10 man unit. While Ravagers carry along 3 for an amazing 105pts. (screen these with raiders in the opening round and as much as you can during the game). 
 
I have in several of my play lists, taken huge advantage of loading up with 20+ Dark Light weapons, and then taken tons of splinter cannons and other poisoned shooting weapons. This combined combo in your list does amazing things on the battlefield, and really pisses off your opponents. As an excercize, simply load up as many Dark Light Weapons as you can, and try and match it with your Splinter Cannons and Carbines. It gets ugly. 
 
While all these are unique tactics to the Dark Eldar, these are also much more readily found and used. Next I will get back to the more obscure ones I have discovered through play.

Tactics of Commorragh - Unique Opportunities (Prelude)

We have a very unique Dark Eldar army with our new codex. This series is about the unique opportunities it brings us and is where I should o...

12/07/2010

Orcs and Goblins Incoming

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHU5n8R4PCnE6FWB5FN1CiliYPqwGzzPxQ1lfyAw6YQAtgAnut0k4k4LQIK821T3NIevzQK070u-9hR3M_3Png9MBmJ3prQSfe93l8CqXUEwAhx0NyLg8OQjBdmjfaSLYF9T1AlwJq_Dmw/s1600/m1521111a_Orcs_600x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHU5n8R4PCnE6FWB5FN1CiliYPqwGzzPxQ1lfyAw6YQAtgAnut0k4k4LQIK821T3NIevzQK070u-9hR3M_3Png9MBmJ3prQSfe93l8CqXUEwAhx0NyLg8OQjBdmjfaSLYF9T1AlwJq_Dmw/s320/m1521111a_Orcs_600x400.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> 
While not a 40k release, I thought I would post it anyways. For all the Ork Players out there, there are lots of models that can cross over into 40k. 
 
Here is the latest from GW. 
 
For years uncounted, before even the Empire existed, and Men were little more than barbarous and primitive cave-dwellers, the Orcs & Goblins have haunted the mountains and deep forests of the world. Extremely aggressive and savage creatures, Orc & Goblin tribes rarely suffer a peaceful moment in their unending lust for battle and inexplicable urge to pillage and despoil. 
 
 
March 2011 will see the release of Warhammer: Orcs & Goblins, an essential guide to fielding a greenskin host on the tabletop, and a veritable font of knowledge detailing the complete rules, background, artwork and enormous range of miniatures available to a budding Warboss. 
 
 
To support this exciting release, we will also be unveiling a genuine feast of new miniatures that would sate even the most ravenous Troll. All will be revealed in time.

Orcs and Goblins Incoming

While not a 40k release, I thought I would post it anyways. For all the Ork Players out there, there are lots of models that can cross over...

12/06/2010

Tactics of Commorragh - Unique Opportunities pt1

<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhswlL5LOM6xoWpfCRMstpw_QQiqcN7UmtAZTXtRDH6JhrnC_iYnpKR-quvbgJ7_c_ue7OvTzuga8CX5RzB0MK9ndL-kUQMfGcfi1xgYbel4xOAAr3jkyUWkVape6eqmIT59zKW_imz7HE/s1600/m1350437a_P4Mb1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhswlL5LOM6xoWpfCRMstpw_QQiqcN7UmtAZTXtRDH6JhrnC_iYnpKR-quvbgJ7_c_ue7OvTzuga8CX5RzB0MK9ndL-kUQMfGcfi1xgYbel4xOAAr3jkyUWkVape6eqmIT59zKW_imz7HE/s320/m1350437a_P4Mb1.jpg" width="277" /></a></div>Our new Dark Eldar Codex is an amazing codex. I have been reviewing the Dark Eldar units here on this blog, as well converting models, building lists, and play testing. The codex gives us some very unique things not yet seen in any other codex. While some of them are obvious, others need to be dug out and decrypted. 
 
 I am going to pass on how to get pain tokens, because I am assuming everyone has read how to share the pain. If not someone please ask in the comments, and I can do a separate post. I am also going to pass up the strengths of poison weaponry and lance technologies. These are great, but we already know them. I had to break the post down section by section, so here is the first part. 
 
Customization of Force. 
The variability of the Dark Eldar forces is incredible, even for a 5th edition codex. Raiders for instance have 10 possible upgrades that very much change how your transport will be functioning on the table. That's 10 possible upgrades, without talking about the possible weapon swap or taking the Duke who effects all your raiders. Not to mention that you not only have Raiders for transport options, but you have the All-Star Venom. Although it only gets 5 possible upgrades, the combination of both of these transports creates a myriad of options on how to play your dark eldar, and we are only talking about transports thus far. There are so many good valid options for this codex, that I cannot get enough games in, just to try out different combinations and units. Lets get into a few specifics that I've come across. 
 
The Power of Going First 
The power of going first. Dark Eldar truly have a unique ability that you can choose to take advantage of, going first. Quite a few armies have the ability to manipulate reserves, Dark Eldar being the first that can truly grab ahold of taking that first turn. (yes I know the inquisition can get a +1 to deployment). Asdrubael Vect allows you to seize initiative on a 4+, while the Baron Sathonyx gives you a +1 to the die roll to take that first turn. We obviously can't leave out Lady Malys, who allows you to redeploy d3 units, even putting them into reserve (can we say fun with webway portals?). 
 
The first thing I discovered playing with Vect, was that my opponent wished he had just given me first turn. Deployment is that important, and it was harsh for me to be able to set up second and take serious advantage of his set up by seizing on him. With Vect you are putting a serious crimp in how your opponent has to deal with your army. At this point, they probably should be reserving or just taking going second if they win the die toss, with a small chance to seize. 
 
To take advantage of having Vect in your army, Lady Malys is a godsend. 50% of the time you get to go first, and 50% of the time you are going second, you will seize the initiative. Put in Lady Malys, and now you can really take advantage of both going first and redeploying some units, or deploying second and seizing. This combo really makes people sweat before the game even starts, and I love it. 
 
Now you get to redeploy those assault troops that can make it across the board. Wyches, Incubi etc can now get those last few inches and redeploy directly across the table from their targets. Remember it's rotate 3", move 12", deploy 3", run d6" and assault 6". 
 
As for the Baron,  his +1 to the deployment roll was one of the first I tried with Vect. It was nice, but not only was it not as effective, it didn't cause as much anguish to my opponent as the Lady Malys and Asdrubael Vect combo during pregame. 
 
As I said, I am breaking this article up. The next set will come later today or first thing in the morning.

Tactics of Commorragh - Unique Opportunities pt1

Our new Dark Eldar Codex is an amazing codex. I have been reviewing the Dark Eldar units here on this blog, as well converting models, build...

12/06/2010

Denizens of Commorragh (Reavers)

<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX1vfYcA8svzpaRkAXTkCHgAH48yZ2q46W5dK7GCWRP82FNAQ6nPH11ohVHdoFQ2BtuoGE7snJax6poySUFsRvYM8qb80B8iZEDQ1nXpkwv1BUQ5B1isZH6eifoRoHDsTl6aQ2sTv_cZ8/s1600/reaverb.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkX1vfYcA8svzpaRkAXTkCHgAH48yZ2q46W5dK7GCWRP82FNAQ6nPH11ohVHdoFQ2BtuoGE7snJax6poySUFsRvYM8qb80B8iZEDQ1nXpkwv1BUQ5B1isZH6eifoRoHDsTl6aQ2sTv_cZ8/s320/reaverb.jpg" width="221" /></a></div>I hadn't touched reavers for this long, because somewhere in the back of mind I had already done my review of them. It was when I went back to look them up and see what I posted that I discovered their absence in this series. Reavers are a very iconic unit of the dark eldar. With the new codex they are even more so. Later today I will be finishing up a post on dark eldar tactics that I have been working on it for awhile, and since they will be in that, it's a good time to discuss the Reaver Jetbike. 
 
Reavers WS4 BS4 S3 T3(4) W1 I6 A1 Ld8 Sv5+. The come with the special rules; night vision, power from pain, and skilled riders. Unit size is a nice 3-10 and they come with the following wargear; wychsuit, splinter pistol, close combat weapon, combat drugs, reaver jetbike, and bladevanes. 
 
The Reaver Jetbike comes with an inbuilt splinter rifle, and allows turbo boosting up to 36". Remember that they must end up at least 18" away from where they started in order to turbo boost, you get a 3+ cover save, cannot go to ground, and cannot be pinned. They are jetbikes and as such are able to move 6" in the assault phase assuming you didn't turbo boost. You are also relentless, so move 12" rapid fire 12". 
 
Reavers come with bladevanes. Bladevanes are used with turbo boosters. Mark the starting location and ending location of the move and trace an imaginary line between the two. Choose one non-vehicle, unengaged unit under that line and inflict D3 S4 AP- hits per Reaver. Resolve these hits immediately, and cover saves can be take as normal. 
 
One model per three reavers may take either Grav-Talons, or Cluster Caltrops. Cluster Caltrops inflict D6 S6 AP- hits, and Grav-Talons inflict D3 S4 AP- hits that cause pinning. 
 
In addition for every 3 models in the squad, one reaver can replace it's splinter rifle with a heat lance or a blaster. 
 
You can also upgrade one model to an Arena Champion, who has +1A and +1 Ld. The Arena Champion can replace his close combat weapon with a venom blade, power weapon, or agonizer. I don't prefer my reavers in close combat, so if you upgrade your close combat weapon, it should be for defensive purposes. Better yet, your mobile, stay out of close combat unless your playing clean up. 
 
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIohU1l57katofMDR846c-qTfmk6t2eUdaTzIp-U_9SfpMcH5XBkZQy7qOkLBkmWNGslCgLdUFcvH2mWfs5q9EPjXRmzhrj3_NCJz8vBhy7ooDGE4oh3TRfW9Jug7w9KebqtAr-1_PC1g/s1600/P9262461.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAIohU1l57katofMDR846c-qTfmk6t2eUdaTzIp-U_9SfpMcH5XBkZQy7qOkLBkmWNGslCgLdUFcvH2mWfs5q9EPjXRmzhrj3_NCJz8vBhy7ooDGE4oh3TRfW9Jug7w9KebqtAr-1_PC1g/s320/P9262461.jpg" width="320" /></a></div> 
As you can see, Reavers almost always should be fielded in multiples of 3 to maximize their effectiveness on the field. While the blaster in my opinion is a better all around weapon, I like the heat lances on reavers. Mostly because I have plenty of blasters and dark lances elsewhere in my lists. So the weapon choice here, is mostly preference. Remember that it takes 2 penetrating hits for an AP1 weapon to blow up a vehicle, and 3 penetrating hits for everything else (averages). 
 
One of the things I like about Reavers is their effectiveness against armor and infantry. Their very flexible on the field with their assault phase 6" movement, and being able to deliver such a large number of hits to the enemy. I like that you are not rolling to hit, just the number of attacks and then to wound. Logic would also have it, that unless in area terrain, cover saves are going to be hard to get. Simply hiding behind something will not be enough. 
 
Fielding Reavers in a group of 3 seem like suicide units (although I kind of like 3 units of 3), while 6 seems like a nice round number to run reavers at for most instances. One of the strong points of reavers is their point costs. They start at 22pts each, making them extremely cheap for what they can bring to the field. That's 66 points without upgrades for a squad of 3 and it's very easy to get the entire unit upgraded for less than 100 pts, while my upgraded units of 6 are less than 200. 
 
Starting a haemonculi in your Reaver squad gives them that protection from flamers as they race around the tabletop with their 3+ cover save. Reavers are a threat that your opponent will need to eliminate, so making this as hard for them as possible is extremely gratifying. Your reavers should almost never be without a cover save. Make sure that you strike near cover, so that your assault phase move takes you back into area terrain. Otherwise you should be turbo boosting. 
 
With the possibility of Feel No Pain at the start of the game, along with 3+ cover saves while turbo boosting, and the skilled rider special rule (moving 6" back into area terrain after shooting). Reavers are very durable and mobile units, able to cause massive numbers of wounds to infantry during the movement phase and deliver great firepower to the tabletop for a very reasonable cost. 
 
Tonight I plan on posting a Dark Eldar Tactics session of some of the crazy things I have found with my Dark Eldar. Reavers are included in this, so check back if you want to read up on a few of the nasty tricks of the Dark Eldar.

Denizens of Commorragh (Reavers)

I hadn't touched reavers for this long, because somewhere in the back of mind I had already done my review of them. It was when I went b...

12/05/2010

Ultramarines Ships Next Week Confirmed

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuQ328YGUnV5NfMDW8yA8MDQPMAtafye_94vlPx31FE8kgddCmTGptMcLh7mf0kKKKD9jAJzNUG3fetAsA_ybMunDplDcPXLB51qPZoRHle22qLBnb5fRoWY9YZmUgfnzDS4fX_ovAY1E/s1600/m1440021a_2010-10-11_04_873x627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNuQ328YGUnV5NfMDW8yA8MDQPMAtafye_94vlPx31FE8kgddCmTGptMcLh7mf0kKKKD9jAJzNUG3fetAsA_ybMunDplDcPXLB51qPZoRHle22qLBnb5fRoWY9YZmUgfnzDS4fX_ovAY1E/s320/m1440021a_2010-10-11_04_873x627.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Here is the latest for the Ultramarines Movie from Codex Pictures. Looks like problem solved, and shipping is about to start. I look forward to finally being able to see this movie, and even with the one week delay, it's not that big of a deal for me. What's one week? Now of course delay my codex that long and I might have a conniption. 
 
We can now confirm that shipping of the Ultramarines DVD Collector’s Set will begin next week. 
 
Orders will be prioritised according to the date that they were received. All orders placed should be shipped by the end of that week. 
 
You will receive a confirmation email once your order has been dispatched and you can expect delivery within 2 -4 days of that dispatch date, subject to local weather conditions. 
 
Once again, please accept our sincere apologies for this delay. We do hope that you will soon be able to enjoy your Ultramarines movie. 
 
Codex Pictures

Ultramarines Ships Next Week Confirmed

Here is the latest for the Ultramarines Movie from Codex Pictures. Looks like problem solved, and shipping is about to start. I look forward...

12/04/2010

The Grey Knights Finale Leak (thanks to BoK)

<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtun9awKzV3_XNc1sT9fQhnLhIY4eVgcK_mMvDoNChWG_TTv_17OdkfGqwO9r6TZSQoEiAj8NuWGX1avFqoN__FqCW845qalYDKWjh1k6ODfMZh6a6kpgtM7i-a6MeguGSrYA08-vKg1o/s1600/images.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrtun9awKzV3_XNc1sT9fQhnLhIY4eVgcK_mMvDoNChWG_TTv_17OdkfGqwO9r6TZSQoEiAj8NuWGX1avFqoN__FqCW845qalYDKWjh1k6ODfMZh6a6kpgtM7i-a6MeguGSrYA08-vKg1o/s1600/images.jpg" /></a>As promised, we were delivered one final leak on friday (today) to put the icing on top of the cake. The Grey Knights really are turning into a very tough and epic sounding army. Rumor has it, that you can field an army with as little as 20 marines and still be playing competively. </div> 
For those of you that didnt read or catch the previous rumors, here is the link <a href="http://natfka.blogspot.com/2010/12/grey-knight-rumors-compilation-thanks.html">(Grey Knight Rumors)</a> 
 
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I am not going to get into the specifics of what these rumors could give us, as for me it is far too early to start thinking of what I want out of this army. Remember to take every rumor with a serious grain of salt. </div> 
Here is the finale 
 
Grey Knights will be see the return of the 2 wound terminator. These new elite terminators will have 2 wounds and FNP and access to all the upgrades and options of all GKT in the codex. To make things more interesting one special character can make these terminators troop choices. What remains to be seen is if they will get Eternal Warrior…

The Grey Knights Finale Leak (thanks to BoK)

As promised, we were delivered one final leak on friday (today) to put the icing on top of the cake. The Grey Knights really are turning int...

12/03/2010

Denizens of Commorragh (Grotesques)

<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hk4eZpHa38dktXA0Xn8Uav_whmdqJMgZiwY4wcJQaArYgMR9CRGsJVkUvehT2kUHg-IEL4J304WdzyjWp-Q7CubLn7OfVwddLt8Wa21PM3zZDGQn-drxcDCWQssVbLVgQWKEVQULPXu_/s1600/Starfish.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-hk4eZpHa38dktXA0Xn8Uav_whmdqJMgZiwY4wcJQaArYgMR9CRGsJVkUvehT2kUHg-IEL4J304WdzyjWp-Q7CubLn7OfVwddLt8Wa21PM3zZDGQn-drxcDCWQssVbLVgQWKEVQULPXu_/s320/Starfish.jpg" width="241" /></a></div>I have seen very little on the use of Grotesques around the blogosphere, and I believe in general people are generally not talking about them because they are not very shiny. In fact, I've been staring at this unit in my codex for quite awhile now. After so long, there is only one thing you can learn from staring, you need to get them on the table. Lets look at what they are. 
 
First off, we have no model yet. So pics are rather pointless. From the pic we have in the codex though, I am excited about what this model will look like. (i've seen quite a few conversions so far, and haven't found even one that I like) 
 
A Grotesque stats out at the following WS4 BS1 S5 T5 W3 I4 A3 Ld3 Sv6+. The leader of this pack gets one more Attack and one more leadership, both at 4. They come with night vision, power from pain, altered physique, berserk rampage, and bulky and start with Gnarlskin and a close combat weapon. You can take them in groups of 3-10, and one grotesque can exchange his close combat weapon for a liquifier gun. 
 
Taking an Aberration (unit leader), you can also take a venom blade, mindphase gauntlet, scissorhand, or flesh gauntlet. If you do take one of these special close combat weapons, your aberration will be the only grotesque to benefit from having an additional close combat weapon so don't forget your +1 attack for having it. If you take scissor hands for instance, your aberration will get 7 attacks on the charge, always wounding on a 3+ with a re-roll for any toughness's 5 or less. If you can find your second pain token, you are getting all this on I5, and one extra strength, so you can even re-roll your to wound rolls against most monstrous creatures. 
 
Grotesques can also take a Raider as a dedicated transport. Remember they are bulky, so only 5 will fit. If you want an independent character with them, and you will, only 4 will fit. 
 
Berserk Rampage. If your unit of grotesque does not include an independent character at the beginning of the movement phase, roll a die. If you roll a 1, the grotesque go on a murderous rampage, inflicting 2d6 S5 AP- hits on all units within 2d6 friend or foe, before being removed from play. Vehicles count as being hit on side armor.  
 
Now getting them to berserk rampage when wanted is a bit tricky, but I can see how much damage they would do to a de-meched army. Thus far, I haven't been able to get them to do this, and haven't seen anyone else try it. However, flying them in on a fast moving raider 24" + 2d6 and letting them go into your opponents backfield, isn't such a bad idea. Or deepstriking them in on their raider. Laws of averages say you should be able to get them to do this once a  game. However, beserk rampage is not a tactic to rely on, so is probably not the best tactic to put into your arsenal. 
 
Altered physique. The most obvious power of the Grotesque is it's strength and toughness. It is beast (not the unit type). It comes with 3 wounds a toughness 5, and starts the game with Feel No Pain. The one thing to watch for is Vindicators. That could easily ruin your day. However, Grotestques are not really that expensive. 3 wounds for 35pts. 
 
So how do we use these monstrosities? 
 
Giving them a liquifier gun is almost a necessity. If you have small groups of them, 3, then get yourself the extra AP d6 flamer. If your Haemonculi travelling with them also has one, that gives you 2 template weapons to scorch your opponent with before you charge into the fray. This also gives you 2 pain tokens for the unit 
 
One important possibility is Urien Rakarth. If you take him in your army, your Grotesque's can be upgraded to S6. Attach him to the Grotesques and you immediately start the game with 2 pain tokens and become S7 on the charge. 
 
I prefer grotesques in small units of 3 with a liquifier and aberration upgrade in a Raider with a Haemonculi. Another option would be 10 Grotesques with an aberration coming out of a webway portal. Nothing quite says ouch like that. On the charge with Urien Rakarth, 10 grotesques can deliver an astounding number of attacks on the charge, that's 43 S7 attacks at I5 WS4, and then Urien's 5 attacks at S6 I6. This is of courese a 400+pt unit. A little spendy and not counting Urien. 
 
While I like the idea of Grotesques, really their biggest issue isn't their strengths, it's what they compete with in your valuable elite slots. Kabalite Trueborn are an extremely good elite choice and wych enthusiast will enjoy Bloodbrides. That will leave grotesques as pretty rare on the table top.

Denizens of Commorragh (Grotesques)

I have seen very little on the use of Grotesques around the blogosphere, and I believe in general people are generally not talking about the...

12/03/2010

Target Saturation and MSU

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExPDng5MZv71u-DTCK7QLT_bNP7Ui5oupTi3awD_mUSy3EYW-v9jRKd_1eBHbJIg_XumP8Stl5jBNNYGt8owDvxswsiOvwPDeDvJbTYBT6OnV9rqP22Ybt6J9ZhJ4nm7HJQoaATYXivlD/s1600/m1521047a_2010-12-02_03_5_749xXXX.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjExPDng5MZv71u-DTCK7QLT_bNP7Ui5oupTi3awD_mUSy3EYW-v9jRKd_1eBHbJIg_XumP8Stl5jBNNYGt8owDvxswsiOvwPDeDvJbTYBT6OnV9rqP22Ybt6J9ZhJ4nm7HJQoaATYXivlD/s400/m1521047a_2010-12-02_03_5_749xXXX.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> 
</div>There are a lot of people that live by the MSU strategy. MSU stands for Multiple Small Units. It is an excellent overall strategy as it gives you lots of units which tends to bring in more firepower, more flexibility on the tabletop, table coverage, and more specialty units. Even in Kill Point games a skilled player is rarely hampered by having so many units on the board. 
 
For Space Marines and their various chapters this strategy works very well. Marines with combat tactics are even designed to take full advantage of it. Even so, there are reasons that many players have a hard time with it. Some of the disadvantages come with having smaller and more vulnerable units. Literally they vanish much faster off the table with less numbers. I keep seeing this over and over with people playing the new Dark Eldar codex. Small units of trueborn, wyches, etc getting hit by rapid fire bolters and getting slaughtered. 
 
One of the primary reasons people are losing these small units is target saturation. There is the false belief that just because I throw a lot of small units out there that I will overwhelm the enemy and they wont be able to shoot at everything. While this works with newer players, an experienced player's units generally have a very distinct job on the battlefield. 
 
An experienced player is often coming to the table with a force ready to take on infantry, Light armor, heavy armor etc. Each unit has a target type that they normally kill extremely well. For example, Chimeras with a Lascannon firing out of the hatch. The chimera is exceptional at killing light infantry, while the lascannon excels at bringing down vehicles. If you bring a mixed force coming at a list with many chimeras and lascannons, you can expect the chimeras to really mow down your troops and the lascannons to bring down your vehicles. Dark Eldar with very few raiders, and small infantry units in the void of a game table, get mowed down pretty easily. I've seen this a lot. 
 
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmStqRocbmw1xrwkba9NnLGkbxcrLBW_WcGifSbXtTWSIvMu1sg-sOW96b82f0IbFfoIBLKsRLLcFubey9udnaqgSDxzC8ZpmqMs7_rL8dIzvSOdvgMA1fp3XDTtK4pqDf3Mi9ipGQ8dA7/s1600/m1520862a_2010-11-29_07_873x627.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmStqRocbmw1xrwkba9NnLGkbxcrLBW_WcGifSbXtTWSIvMu1sg-sOW96b82f0IbFfoIBLKsRLLcFubey9udnaqgSDxzC8ZpmqMs7_rL8dIzvSOdvgMA1fp3XDTtK4pqDf3Mi9ipGQ8dA7/s320/m1520862a_2010-11-29_07_873x627.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"> 
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Target saturation is not just simply having a lot of units on the board. It's about overloading the number of targets that fit into a category so that there are simply too many targets for your enemy to take out. Example, Blood Angels overloading their list with heavy armour. If there are more targets than your opponents lascannons can deal with, you will overwhelm him. It is one of the reasons chimera chassis armies do well, they overload the opponent with medium armor. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> 
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Ranges can do this type of target saturation as well. If your opponent only has a couple weapons that can deal with you at range and you out range him with most of your army, it will be a slow slaughter.</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> 
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> 
</div>MSU (multiple small units) are not king. Instead it's the understanding of how to build a MSU list to take advantage of your larger numbers of small units. The goal is not to make your opponent's more efficient at killing you. I have had people come at me this way, where every unit I had was able to devastate and rip apart my opponent. Where I had more than enough units to handle him piece by piece. My heavy weapons blew his tanks, my flamers killed his scouts, and my plasmas were decimating his terminators. My opponent list and play simply made my army extremely efficient at killing him.

Target Saturation and MSU

There are a lot of people that live by the MSU strategy. MSU stands for Multiple Small Units. It is an excellent overall strategy as it giv...

12/03/2010

Ultramarines Movie Update

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNff8elH1sWg4FFH0ArNvDvuHexjwmbb0PM7cQ3Yi7AJm6lBP9lgsCJv5siEUi-4cb4anB6YmxVFETbdisHRoM2siHQuUX74MSuvsCRF94c9ho25SYmqd8PvLU68o5nb7pqEzmtoDbJIP/s1600/ultramarines-movie-010.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="194" ox="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzNff8elH1sWg4FFH0ArNvDvuHexjwmbb0PM7cQ3Yi7AJm6lBP9lgsCJv5siEUi-4cb4anB6YmxVFETbdisHRoM2siHQuUX74MSuvsCRF94c9ho25SYmqd8PvLU68o5nb7pqEzmtoDbJIP/s320/ultramarines-movie-010.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> 
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Here is the latest information sent to people waiting for the Ultramarines movies.</div> 
 
Update: 
 
As we advised yesterday, due to a production issue outside our control, we were not able to start shipping the complete Ultramarines DVD collector’s set on November 29th 2010 as planned. 
 
We have teams in the UK, US and Europe working around the clock to resolve the issue. 
 
At this time, we are hoping that orders can start to ship next week. In the meantime, we will keep you informed as soon as we receive more information. 
 
Once again, please accept our sincere apologies for this delay to you receiving your Ultramarines DVD. 
 
Sincerely, 
Codex Pictures 
 
 
Second Email; 
 
We regret to tell you that we are not yet in a position to confirm a dispatch date for Ultramarines, although we still anticipate shipping to commence next week. Both the Codex team and our suppliers are continuing to work flat out to make this happen. 
 
Some of you waiting for your order have asked us what the problem is. We would like to reassure you the issue is not with the movie itself, but with one of the other components of the collector’s set. 
 
Once more, please accept our sincere apologies for the delay. We will posting further updates on www.ultramarinesthemovie.com and emailing all existing customers as soon as we have more news. 
 
Codex Pictures

Ultramarines Movie Update

Here is the latest information sent to people waiting for the Ultramarines movies. Update: As we advised yesterday, due to a production...

12/02/2010

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