Monday, April 27, 2009

First game of 5th ed

Played my first game at Game Kastle (a store you should go to ;-) ) this Sunday. Played a nice guy who was very patient in explaining stuff to me as the game progressed.

Anyway, I played my Deathskull Orks against Marines. Mission was Seize Ground w/Dawn of War deployment. Got wiped out to a man, but had a good time. My after game thoughts:
  • Just because you can deploy 24" forward doesn't mean you should. My opponent choose to deploy nothing and then he could move his entire army onto the table. 3 rapid firing tac squads, 2 land speeds, a vindicator, and 2 predators later and my poor shoota boyz mob and warphead went back into the case.
  • Outflanking with the deffkoptas was fun. Previously they were warbikers (they're converted to be riding Dark Eldar jetbikes), and this was the longest they were on the board in any game I can remember.
  • It's been like 4 years since I played where Marines don't have their performance degraded if you damage the transport. Was hard to get my mind around. Is kind of fun to see mech marines though.
  • Even when you're down to a squad of 'Ard boyz, you can inflict some damage. Killed a dread and was whittling down two other squads. Given a little support, it might've made it close.
  • Flash Gitz are sorely underestimated. While I rolled over a 4 on all three shots for the AP of my guns, they managed to beat an assault marine squad with a PF sgt and a librarian in melee combat, despite having no power claws. Essentially they're Nobz with 'Eavy armor (so 4+ save and 3 attacks base). The pain boy gave then FNP and I bought the cybork body. Pricey, but well worth it I think.

Anyway, looking forward to another game with them. Need to convert some more guys and fix some guys damaged in the move. Also need to tear off all those sluggas off my PK nobz. I wish there was still the option for more dakka guns. Ah well.

Sunday, April 26, 2009

Starting...a new Imperial Guard army

I'm always terrible about how to start these sort of things, so I'll just dive in:

After having the same Imperial Guard army for roughly ten years, I've decided to build a new IG army. The plan is to paint it up during my "Painting Season" (Sept-Jan), play it at Kublacon 2010, and then sell it off.

My current IG army is a steam punk, Space 1889 type army. Which meant that things like Storm Troopers, Valkyries, and mechanized infantry just never fit in. So this is a chance to play with a bunch of stuff that I've looked at forlornly the past decade or so. Right, onto the fluff:

The Martian SRO (Search and Rescue Operations) are a special form of Skitarii commanded by Explorator Tech-Priests. Operating on detached duty, they investigate rumors of STC fragments and other valuable arecheotech. A rapid reaciton force, they secure the site and airlift any valuable technology. They have also been known to drop into hot zones on the front to recover valuable technology lost in combat. Rumor has it these rescue missions are just cover for the SRO to capture xenotech...

(cause, you know, it's 40K. Everything has to have a sinister underside. It's in the rulebook.)

Right the 2000 pt master list, using the new Imperial Guard codex:

Company Commander: power sword, plasma pistol, carapace armor
4 veterans: carapace armor, 3 plasma guns, voxcaster
Chimera w/extra armor

Tech Priest w/1 Servitor

10 Storm troopers: 2 plasma guns, sgt w/power weapon

10 Storm troopers: 2 plasma guns, sgt w/power weapon

Veteran Squad: carapace armor, 3 plasma guns, missile launcher, voxcaster, sgt w/power fist.
Chimera w/extra armor

Veteran Squad: carapace armor, 3 plasma guns, missile launcher, voxcaster, sgt w/power fist.
Chimera w/extra armor

Veteran Squad: carapace armor, 2 meltaguns, heavy flamer, voxcaster, sgt w/power fist.
Chimera w/extra armor

Veteran Squad: carapace armor, 2 meltaguns, heavy flamer, voxcaster, sgt w/power fist.Chimera w/extra armor

2 Sentinels w/Lascannon

Vendetta Gunship

Vendetta Gunship



Edit: oh yeah, I'm going to pull a Cato the Elder (Wikipedia it, ya ignorant wretches) in order to hopefully get proper ads on my blog for two game stores I love:

If you live in Northern California (Bay Area) you should go to Game Kastle in Santa Clara. Best. Game store. Ever.

If you live anywhere else, shop from FRP Games. Best. Online. Retailer. Ever.