Sometimes You Have to Shake Things Up

What is Bjorn's Shameful Secret?

Earlier this year I started work on a Space Wolves Counts-As army I called the Brotherhood.  I was really excited about this army... not least because I already owned all the models I would need for it.

The idea was to update older models with newer parts, taking the model of the 13th Company which I love so much.

Back in the day, the 13th Company were a huge tournament winner for me.  The only army I had trouble defeating was The Hoff's Iron Warriors 3rd Edition force - you remember those, back when they had four heavy weapons slots and gun line armies ruled the field?

That's not really the point, though.  The 13th are characterized by a combination of Imperial and Chaotic armor, a mixed approach I love the look of.  The Brotherhood are an extreme version of that model.

Yes, I'm turning my back on the Bugs! for the moment - don't shoot me in the face!

Yea, that means I'm putting the Bugs! on the shelf, a choice which earned wild hoots of laughter from the Old Guard on Friday.  They weren't surprised, I suppose.  The signs were there.

I have to ask though, why me?  Why am I expected to stick it out?  It's fair to say I'm loyal to my army choices far longer than most at the local level.  Counting backward, it was Daemons, Eldar, Orks, and 13th Company - and those four armies represent a major leap backwards in time.  The Eye of Terror Codex came out in 2003, remember.

I suspect it's because they see it as me throwing in the towel, like it was so arrogant to think I could make  the Bugs! a successful tournament army using the choices which inspired me.

For those who don't know, the entire reason I started collecting the Bugs! was the old Screamer Killer model, the original plastic Tyranid Warriors, and the plastic Hybrids.  That's the secret; I wanted an army built around those choices, and that proved rather limiting in the current meta.

The fact is, Carnifexes eat a bunch of points, and frankly there are better choices for the role they play.  Take that and combine it with the other major deficits in the book and it's easy to see how I talked myself into a corner.

I posted this picture a few days back.  I stared at this for over a week... and just didn't feel like messing with it.  

That's unusual; normally I do something hobby-related every day.  It's my major form of stress relief.

Since I wasn't working on anything, I also wasn't that inspired to blog.  I've posted over 500 times on Strictly Average alone - inspiration isn't a problem I normally have.

Bottom line: stubbornness isn't a reason to pout in apathy.

I'm not giving up on the Bugs! - I'm just setting them aside before I burn out completely.

The Brotherhood touches on a number of fun-buttons for me.  I can use the older models and parts I love combined with the obvious advantages of newer plastics.  I've enjoyed each model I've put together, since embracing the concept of Space Wolves' individuality.  The odd and sometimes off-putting profiles appeal to me.

 I enjoy modeling them; I enjoy painting them...

...and, because they're Space Wolves, I have no doubt I'll enjoy playing them!

I played The Ruiner of Fun Evil Homer's Dark Eldar army on Friday.  He plays a brutal, optimized list, which is the thing which characterizes his play.  I played my 13th Company - since the Brotherhood aren't ready to hit the table - and lost.

It was fun.  I had fun!  Not a bad deal, right?