I've mentioned that before, right?
Point being, of all the local characters - most of whom are pretty top flight competition when they want to roll out their best army - I play ol' Homer the most.
I've given it some thought in the past and I believe it's because we have a pretty similar skill set, so all our games tend to be close affairs.
More than that though, he's always - always - pushing the envelope of competitive play. He sits down to win. He's a thinker, in the game and out.
Sometimes I think these obsessive traits bite him in the *SELF-EDIT* some. Whereas most of us can let something go, I'm not sure he really can. He's never satisfied.
I doubt he ever will be.
So how do these traits impact his hobby? In numerous ways, methinks, but I'm only really here to talk about the one...
...the IT army.
As long as I've known him, Evil Homer has been on a search for the IT army. IT's the one that can challenge anyone in any scenario in any year in any event at any points level. More importantly though, the IT army will challenge him. He wants something he can think over an obsess over, something that will continue to give up its secrets long after other 'Dexes have spread their slutty pages and yielded forth the (say it loud, say it proud): OPTIMIZED ARMY.
He spent I don't know how much money on an Mech Guard army. (Our Daemons Vs Mech Guard games are a big part of why I do so well with Daemons in big Indies.) So he has the army he's spent I don't know how many dollars on, then he spends I don't know how many hours reading about it, then he spent I don't know how many hours cleaning it, then he spent I don't know how many hours putting it together, then he spent I don't know how many hours learning to win with it, then he spent I don't know how many hours painting it...
SCREECHING HALT!
Scratch that last - he didn't paint it, 'cause his mind started *SELF-EDIT* with him and he had to get rid of it. Mech Guard meets Bartertown - check. Mech Guard finds a new home - check. Lather, rinse, repeat.
He's on the search for the IT army, and he decided the Mech Guard weren't it. If this is beginning to sound impossible, you have a small idea of how much this dude can drive me nuts.
Obviously because I think he's on a search for the impossible.
If you play this game long enough, you realize there are phases. Currently I'm at the peak of my abilities playing 40K and using Daemons...
...meaning I feel I can play and beat anyone playing any army. (Yea, you too.) No, I'm not saying I'm the best - that's all nonsense. I'm saying I can play with the best and win games. Not every time, 'cause if you play the right people you'll sometimes lose. (Bah! Move on!) Point is, I'm at the top of my game...
...but I can already feel that slipping away. I've been playing Warmachine, not 40K, and with all the sharks in the tournament circuit there is no little-bit-okay.
So yea, I imagine my game is suffering right now... and me with tickets to this year's Nova and Wargames Con!
It doesn't bother me too much. It CAN'T bother me too much... because I've been playing wargames for over 20 years - my adult life, then some. I've gone through this in the past: 13th Company, Orks, Eldar... all of these are armies I played at a competitive level (meaning multiple tournament wins per army) sometime in the past. With the 13th Company, I lost the Codex; with Orks the new book saw my army lose steam; and with Eldar... time just took it's toll on my army.
It happens.
In fact, it's happened to all the locals at one time or another: the Master Manipulator (every store needs one) has a beautiful Eldar army that no longer works; Gauthic played Ulthwe Strikeforce - and he lost a 'dex, too; Farseer Tim played Iyanden Eldar and financed numerous armies with them; Little Barrera and the Mighty Mighty Carlos have several variations of Marine armies they've used successfully in the past.
Ghosts of victories past. Play long enough... it happens.
So Evil Homer is chasing a dream. The IT army.
No, I don't think he'll catch it... but he's got an interesting idea on how to find it...
In fact, the idea has sparked my imagination: he's considering a 16 book Royal Rumble to determine a winner. My question is this: just how crazy is it?
(To Be Continued)
7 comments:
I don't know how practical the 16 book royal rumble is, but it sure sounds like fun.
This is one of the major reasons I don't do tournaments. I don't care how good the army is. If its not thematic and interesting, I just can't play it. This means I lose probably more than is normal.
It has been done....Origins game fair in 2010 and will be repeated this year. Basically everything is provided (500pt armies and codex), and you play speed rounds. Each round is a new codex for you and your opponent until everyone has played all the armies.
www,40korirgins.com
www.originsgamefair.com
Cool - never heard of that, thanks for the info!
Brent
The 'IT' army huh?
My 'IT' army has both modeling and playing options.
My 'IT' army has to keep me engaged intellectually.
My 'IT' army must be playable at all common points values, and must be able to handle the most common tournament builds out there without having to gimp the list against fringe list elements.
My 'IT' army should have decent fluff associated with it but this requirement is purely secondary. It should serve to drive modeling.
My 'IT' army should be as edition proof as one can make a GW army. One would think this would include Chaos Space Marines but the current codex should quickly disprove that notion.
In short, my 'IT' army is probably a marine army of some sort. And I don't particularly want to play marines....
An issue no?
I'd have to say you have a problem, Evil Homer.
Seems to me the IG codex offers a lot of choices, both modeling and list-wise, and if that didn't do it for you...
Hmmm...tough choices, then...
I would recommend the Puppies, as their point costs and perks should be useful for a while, plus they points-scale well and offer a host of cool modeling opportunities....if one likes....wolves, I guess.
Why not build a custom chapter that allows you to use all the various marine books, since it's a fair bet that one or another will always be 'competitive,'and would allow you to model up some crazy marines?
(that's what I'll be doing in April, after the GK models drop- build a Death Metal influenced Marine Chapter with a wacky name like 'Knights of the Bloodwolf Angels' and codex-hopping like a real jerk. That name is Trademarked SinSynn 2010, btw)
Maybe wait for Tau, Eldar, or Necrons?
As I'm already an owner of 2 Xenos armies (names need not be mentioned), I can't say I'd recommend going that route.
I really feel like GW has been letting the Xenos down for a long time. Yeah, the DE codex is cool- will it win Tournaments? I don't think so- Mech IG rape them, and even my Nids aren't scared of their poison since the whole army is made of paper...
Regardless, I respect your quest, Evil Homer. And I understand.
I'm breaking down and building Beakies, but I'll do it my own crazy stupid way.
I'm curious to see what you end up going with.
Good luck- when you hit, it'll be a hell of a project, huh?
While my playing ability leave much to be desired, I too have faced that exact same question. The result? My Son's of Malice. They have the fluff, modelling abiguety, and of course, all the MEQ codicies to choose from. Magnets my friend... They're the secret.
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