Chaos; Daemons and Plaugebearers

Just a few quick pictures of some recent models, done maybe two months ago.  Most of them didn't come out properly due to the camera settings and the varnish on the models, which the owner prefers for gameplay.

I've been listening to Horus Heresy mp3's while working in my game room, and I couldn't recommend it more.  I prefer the unabridged but have no qualms with either.

This Helldrake is a first for me... can you guess it's secret?

Not trying to be cryptic here, but this is a pretty interesting milestone for me.  Anyway, this model isn't 'done' per se, because I have some detailing work yet to do.  But as it is currently, it meets the three color minimum guidelines used by most events where painting counts - and I think it looks pretty cool already.

How many of you can guess what happened here?

(No sarcastic as hell, "You put glue and paint in a bag and shook it," answers, Master Manipulator!)  

Okay, maybe this game isn't fun - I'm just curious if it's obvious or not.  More later.

Battle Report, Chaos vs Salamanders

It's been awhile since I've done a 40K Battle Report, largely because it's been some time since there have been two painted armies on the board at the FLGS!  Things in my area of the woods have been in flux, and it's more likely I'll bring you Infinity reports than 40K ones in the near future.

Still, last Saturday I got to duke it out with a new local, Spencer.  (Haven't gotten around to naming him yet - it'll happen.)  Anyway, I won't waste too much page-space on words; instead it's big pictures, little captions time.

I'm playing a basic CSM list, which I discussed a few posts back.  Spencer has a nifty Vulcan list, naturally chock full of Melta and Flamer weapons.

Daemons... just too lazy to try...

Okay, I've got the new Daemons Codex... now what to do with it?

I've got a game at the FLGS in about an hour, so it seems like a good time to try out the new book.  That said, while I've got a gazillion models, about half a gazillion aren't put together.  I don't want to take on that chore until I have an idea what direction I want to take the list.

To that end, I'm going to put together my old, tournament winning list and see if it's worth a crap now.

Scratch that.  Turns out, the Horrors are in the dip.  I had this vague, partially formed idea that I'd use the smaller, metal Horrors as Blue Horrors to fill out units.  So in the dip they went!

Here's a better idea - I'm going to put together a Chaos Space Marine army with Daemon allies.  I'll be able to try out some new goodies without stretching it too much.  We've not been playing much 40K around these parts, so I'm rusty.

Scratch that.  Except the part about being rusty.  Turns out, without Army Builder to help me kick around lists, I'm forced to resort to...

...creating a spreadsheet to do the work for me.  Can't kick around with a pen and a blank piece of paper anymore.

So I just built a Chaos Space Marine Roster.  Talk about lazy.

* * * 

2000 Pts - Chaos Space Marines Roster - (NICE AND BASIC!)

1 Chaos Lord in Terminator Armour, 142 pts ((C:CSM, pp. 31 & 93); Infantry (Character); Terminator Armour; Mark of Khorne; Power Sword; Power Fist; Bulky; Champion of Chaos; Counter-attack; Fearless; Hatred (Space Marines); Independent Character; Rage; Veterans of the Long War; Warlord)
5 Khorne Berzerkers, 200 pts ((C:CSM, pp. 44 & 98); Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Icon of Wrath; Bolt Pistol x3; Close Combat Weapon x5; Plasma Pistol x2; Counter-attack; Fearless; Furious Charge; Furious Charge; Hatred (Space Marines); Mark of Khorne; Rage; Veterans of the Long War)
   1 Berzerker Champion ((C:CSM, pp. 44 & 98); Infantry (Character); Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol; Power Fist x1; Champion of Chaos; Counter-attack; Fearless; Furious Charge; Hatred (Space Marines); Mark of Khorne; Rage; Veterans of the Long War)
1 Chaos Land Raider, 245 pts ((C:CSM, pp. 55 & 103); Vehicle (Transport); 10 model capacity; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Daemonic Possession; Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter; Twin-linked Lascannons (each side); Assault Vehicle)

9 Thousand Sons, 265 pts ((C:CSM, pp. 43 & 98); Infantry; Aura of Dark Glory; Inferno Bolts; Power Armour; Boltgun w/ Inferno Bolts x9; Fearless; Hatred (Space Marines); Mark of Tzeentch; Slow and Purposeful; Veterans of the Long War)
   1 Aspiring Sorcerer ((C:CSM, pp. 43 & 98); Infantry (Character); Aura of Dark Glory; Inferno Bolts; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol w/ Inferno Bolts; Force Sword; Champion of Chaos; Fearless; Hatred (Space Marines); Mark of Tzeentch; Psyker (Mastery Level 1); Slow and Purposeful; Veterans of the Long War; Biomancy; Pyromancy; Telepathy; Tzeentch)

9 Chaos Space Marines, 230 pts ((C:CSM, pp. 37 & 95); Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol x9; Boltgun x7; Meltagun; Heavy Bolter; Hatred (Space Marines); Veterans of the Long War)
   1 Aspiring Champion ((C:CSM, pp. 37 & 95); Infantry (Character); Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol; Boltgun; Power Fist x1; Champion of Chaos; Hatred (Space Marines); Veterans of the Long War)
   1 Chaos Rhino ((C:CSM, pp. 54 & 99); Vehicle (Transport); 10 model capacity; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Combi-Boltgun; Repair)

9 Chaos Space Marines, 230 pts ((C:CSM, pp. 37 & 95); Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol x9; Boltgun x7; Meltagun; Heavy Bolter; Hatred (Space Marines); Veterans of the Long War)
   1 Aspiring Champion ((C:CSM, pp. 37 & 95); Infantry (Character); Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol; Boltgun; Power Fist x1; Champion of Chaos; Hatred (Space Marines); Veterans of the Long War)
   1 Chaos Rhino ((C:CSM, pp. 54 & 99); Vehicle (Transport); 10 model capacity; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Combi-Boltgun; Repair)

9 Chaos Space Marines, 245 pts ((C:CSM, pp. 37 & 95); Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol x9; Boltgun x7; Plasma gun; Lascannon; Hatred (Space Marines); Veterans of the Long War)
   1 Aspiring Champion ((C:CSM, pp. 37 & 95); Infantry (Character); Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol; Boltgun; Power Fist x1; Champion of Chaos; Hatred (Space Marines); Veterans of the Long War)
   1 Chaos Rhino ((C:CSM, pp. 54 & 99); Vehicle (Transport); 10 model capacity; Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Combi-Boltgun; Repair)

9 Chaos Space Marines, 210 pts ((C:CSM, pp. 37 & 95); Infantry; Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol x9; Boltgun x7; Plasma gun; Lascannon; Hatred (Space Marines); Veterans of the Long War)
   1 Aspiring Champion ((C:CSM, pp. 37 & 95); Infantry (Character); Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Power Armour; Bolt Pistol; Boltgun; Power Fist x1; Champion of Chaos; Hatred (Space Marines); Veterans of the Long War)
1 Aegis Defence Lines, 100 pts (Battlefield Debris (Defence Lines))
   1 Gun Emplacement (Quad-gun)

1 Chaos Vindicator, 130 pts ((C:CSM, pp. 55 & 103); Vehicle (Tank); Searchlight; Smoke Launchers; Extra Armour; Demolisher Cannon)

Chaos Daemon Prince of Nurgle: Quickie Post

I finished the Nurgle Daemon Prince for Tim That Can's commission.  This bad boy is a whopping WS  9... take that, Marines!  I'll admit, I fought the impulse to snap this dude's sword off and replace it with a Black Mace.

Somebody Else's Daemons, Again

Back into the painting schedule, and currently working on multiple elements of the Little Tim That Could's Daemons army.

Maybe he should be 'That Can' - his constant practice is paying off in wins.

We played on Saturday, with me breaking out my old CSM army to see how well it stands up in 5th.

Painting Tanks: Airbrushing and Weathering

I have a lot of thoughts on 6th but feel no great urgency to write them.  I'm having too much fun painting and playing right now, thus the hiatus from regular blogging on Strictly Average.  Generally, I try to stick to at least three posts a week - so here's to getting off my dead booty and writing some.

Anyway, I've mentioned a time or three that currently I'm learning to use an airbrush.  Lots of little tricks to work out, but it's starting to feel natural.  I painted three tanks yesterday, using them to try out weathering models.

The hatches are an effort in masking techniques...

...like so.

I did some 'easy rust' effects, again as practice and to see how the effect would work.  I shouldn't have included the tank tracks, and next time won't.

I'm not terribly happy with the weathering on the model closest to this shot; the two patches of silver on top are a bit too regular.  Live and learn.

I could certainly do more - especially detailing and highlights - but these aren't actually my models...

Adepticon Championships, Game 4

So, here we are, Game 4 - my worry at this point was making sure I didn't choke.  Seriously.  Because otherwise it would have been a long ride home!

My opponent in this game had a beautiful Kharn-lead Berzerkers army.  It was the most optimized version of this army, in my opinion, and given my the dude was an experienced tournament player I figured he knew how to use it!

Still, I'll admit I was satisfied with the draw, because this is the type of army mine is designed to play, a straight-forward Meq powerhouse.

We're playing for Objectives, Kill Points, and... something else.  He deploys in a tight formation, protecting his Defilers from shooting.

Eldar Vs Chaos Space Marines, 2500pts

This one is pretty picture intensive; let's get started.

The board.

Team Tournament Round III: Finally!

So, here we are... finally!  I'm not sure why it took me so long to get around to writing this game up.  Part of it was time, because these reports take longer to do than any other article type... and maybe part of it was due to Not Brent's Coup of 2011.

Don't say his name three times in front of a mirror.  (Try it!)  Maybe I shouldn't have even put that out there... you won't actually summon Bloody Mary (...Mary, Mary quite contrary, how does your garden grow?) but instead will summon Not Brent, who will serve you a Bloody Mary with way too much tabasco.

Moving on, (...probably a good idea) I'm playing Cory-who-is-not-Cody, aka OverCaffeinated, and his buddy who shall not be named...

Team Tournament: Game Two

In game two Whit and I played... the Mighty Mighty Carlos and the Professor.

Yup.  We drove two hours to play dudes we play all the time.  It was basically Game 4 of the practice series.  It sucked, frankly.

What sucked worse is it was a random draw!  The TO wasn't doing a Swiss but was randomizing the games between rounds.  There's a reason that system isn't used... *foreshadowing*

The game was Kill Points and Objectives.  We got the half we wanted and our deployment couldn't have worked out better.  We divided our army: here's the left flank.

Team Tournament: Game One (How Did Whit and I Do?)

Last week Everyone's Brother From Another Mother Big Whit and I teamed up to take on all comers at the Comic Asylum Team Tournament.  It was a three-round event with 750 points per player.

Let's take a look at Game One.

Right Flank.

Video Battle Report: The One That Got Away From Me

What can I say?  This is the video that took on a life of its own - I didn't even bother to edit it, that's how unworkable it is!

It's funny though, and the game is good.  Just don't watch if you prefer your words rated PG; while the adult language isn't used that much, you've been warned.

Oh, and Da Warboss?  Sorry in advance - I'm not sure why the Professor decided to poke fun at you.  Over and over and over...

Video Battle Report: Chaos Vs Imperium Team Game

The only 40K I've been playing in the last month has been in preparation for a team tournament at the Comic Asylum.  Here's Game III, where Big Whit and I test our new ideas against the Mighty Mighty Carlos and the Professor.

I actually have reservations about showing this video with the tournament only a week or so away; I know at least a few dudes who'll compete read this blog... but I'm a slave to the Blogosphere.  What can I say?

So it's Daemons and Chaos Space Marines Vs Blood Angels and Flesh Tearers... and be warned, there's *SELF-EDIT* involved.

Themed Armies: Plasma Gun

I recently decided to write an occasional series here called Themed Armies.  Basically, I'll take a theme and compare and contrast it across two armies.  I want the theme to be basic enough that most armies could create a list, though obviously some armies will do it better than others.

The theme is Plasma Guns.  The armies are Chaos Space Marines and Imperial Guard.

Killzone Blitz: Friday

As a general rule, I hate posting over something on the blog... but considering I stole it from the Master Manipulator (every store needs one)'s site, why not pop over there and tell him what you think?

And it wouldn't hurt you to hit the Follow button while you're at it.  Heck, hit mine!

Still, it occurred to me that I've been posting these pictures without context.  Obviously I'm building a Counts-As Space Wolves army called the Brotherhood, but more to the point... why these?  Are they test models?  Yes, but they're also models for my Killzone force.

This weekend is the Killzone Blitz, and I'm trying to do my part to help out Big Jim over at Galaxy in Flames.  I was trying to paint up a Killzone force in time for this weekend's content, but at the rate I'm going I won't finish.

Hello, Ego? How About a Slapping?

Ego is thinking you can make Footdar work against your nemesis.

Have I mentioned I'm attending Da Boyz GT in Rochester, New York in November?

I'm making the trip with Thomas and Nick, Goatboy and Darkwynn respectively - they talked me into it!

I'll finally get a chance to meet the man with the plan, good ol' Chumby himself.  He's attended the event's primer and made something of a splash... how, you say?  By playing his game.

Day Boyz is a heavily comp'd event.  How's that for a kick in the pants!  So Chumby caused a splash by playing a hard army in a fluff fight.  Who should change?

Should anyone?

Look, I'll be honest here - the Battle for Salvation is much more my speed and there's a big part of me that regrets we're not attending that one.  Still...

...and this is a big still...

...Da Boyz is an established event with a great reputation.  I'm sure I'll have a good time.  I just have to decide how I want to play.

WarGames Con Test Game

In the midst of a sea of enthusiasm for Warhammer, my boy Big Whit asked me last week if I wanted a game of 40K.  I accepted, since BoLSCon WarGames Con is right around the corner.  It's also useful for me to keep the rules straight, since I'm famous for mixing rules if we're playing one too many different games.

I blame it on too many drugs in the 60's.

No, I wasn't born in the 60's.  Nor do illegal drugs pass these lips.  What?  No, I don't shoot up!  Suspicious much?  Let's move on.

CliffNotes:  There is a game of 40K and a bunch of pictures.

This is a straight game.  He brought the army he's most comfortable with, his Chaos Space Marines, and we rolled for the scenario, which turned out to be Seize Ground Dawn of War.

The ETC... and Only ONE Firepoint??

Here's a quick post today, which I'll probably post over later.

CliffNotes: the ETC CSM armies all look alike.  I ask the question why? then don't bother to answer it fully.

I've been doing for-fun research on the European Team Championships (there are lots of internet resources if you're at all interested... HERE is a fun one to search through) and I've had a few thoughts on the way they build their lists.  Before we do that, let's do this...

On the eve of the 2010 40k ETC, the mighty Team America will gorge heavily on a War-meal of USDA approved Mad-Cow-free Beef, Freedom Fries, and Kentucky Bourbon. We will snuggle up underneath Ol' Glory bedsheets and go to sleep, content in the knowledge that like our forefathers before us we are in the business of winning war(hammer) and business is good.

A Love/Hate Affair with the CSM 'dex

My all-time favorite armies are 13th Company (now defunct), Eldar (if I could only play one army...), and Daemons (my new baby), but I said that to say this:

I think more about the crappy Chaos Space Marines book than any other army, by far.  I don't know what it is about it, truly, but I find myself kicking around army ideas in my head all the time.

Maybe I'm trying to find the secret; I don't know.  I recently posted my Tzeentch list idea, so here's my latest thought excercise - how do I make Noise Marine pillboxes work?  This is what I've got; let me know what you think.

(2) Daemon Prince, Mark of Tzeentch, Wings, Bolt, Warptime = 200
(5) Noise Marines, Blastmaster, Rhino w Havoc Launcher = 190
(3) Dreadnoughts, CCA w HvyFlamer = 120
(3) Defiler, CCAx2 = 150
(1) Greater Daemon = 100
(1) CSM Squad, Sacrificial Champ, Meltax2, Rhino w Extra Armor = 240 

Obviously it's a Walker/Monstrous Creature/Pillbox list - and I say that like it means something!  Standard caveat - I'll never build this thing.

Go!