Da Boyz Winning List, Footdar!

I was going over some Google Analytics reports and noticed that in the month of November I got a huge influx of traffic looking for the words 'Footdar' 'Da Boyz GT' and 'winning Footdar.'

Obviously there is some interest in seeing Greg Sparks winning army, so here's a pic.

The battle report is already done, scheduled for my regular article slot of midnight Tuesday, on Bell of Lost Souls.

I've uploaded the pics I took from the event; here's the album link.

Da Boyz 2010

Da Boyz, Game V

So, here we are, final game of the weekend!  Feel free to scroll through and check out the others, all except the loss in Round III - which I'll get to in due course.

As you'll see, I was paired with fellow Bell of Lost Souls writer Rob Baer, otherwise known as Man Boy Genius.  I reintroduced myself, whereupon he got a quizzical look on his face.  "I've met you before, man."  "Yup," I said, "except at Wargames Con you were feeling no pain!  I wasn't sure you'd remember."

A semi-legendary story!  Here's a dude that placed at an event even though he missed the early part of day two due to... well, you get the idea!  His army is well-known, but I assure you it's even better in person.

I won't spend too much time on this game, since it was fairly straightforward.  We have an objective each, and the first HQ to die will drop an objective.  My plan was to hold mine and sack a Herald, then hold that.  It would be enough to win the Primary.  The Secondary was Kill Points... and I wasn't confident I'd do well there.  It depended on his Hydra Battery.

Da Boyz GT, Game IV (And a Bit of Controversy)

"What?" I hear you say.  "Where is Game III?  Did I miss something?"

Nope.  It's just Game III was my devastating loss to the ultimate event winner, Greg Sparks.  That game is so loaded with lessons it's worth giving it its proper due.

Anyway, my game was against a Space Wolves player, a fine fellow whose name I can't remember.  I thought it was printed on his army list, but no dice.  I just checked.  A few things happened in this game which soured an otherwise hard-fought affair... we'll get to them in due course.  I didn't say this at the time, but I actually greatly admired his bearing and continued cheerfulness, even though I know he wasn't happy after the game.

Game II: Brother Captain James

Okay, here's the Battle Report for Game II of the Da Boyz GT in Rochester, New York.

As an aside, I got an email from Kris, the Blood Angels player from Game I.  I'm going to reply more specifically in a blog post, probably tomorrow, but I wanted to mention one thing.  I referred twice to his inexperience but I wasn't more specific than that.  I alluded to it, but here it is straight out: I meant his inexperience playing in GT's.  The dude knew how to rock his army, but nobody I know does as well as they want in their first major Indy.  It's a different scene.

I got both my preferred drop and my preferred turn choice.  Here's BCJ's setup, and on Turn 1 he shoots across the board, spreading out his army to make the drops difficult for me.  The Mission is Lost Artifact, so we had to locate the objective before fighting over it.

Here I am playing Brother Captain James from the Battle for Salvation.  I wanted to ask him Jawaballs-specific questions, but there wasn't much time...

Da Boyz GT, Game 1

So, it's time to get to Da Boyz content... more specifically, the content most of you are interested in: the Battle Reports.

Lucky for you, I ALWAYS take my camera!

I went 2nd, but I didn't get my preferred drop, which was definitely the stronger of the two.  My plan changed at that point from 'attack' to 'hold him off.'  What was most important was the Horror unit with the Icon - I HAD to have that Icon, since the mission required your units to move to the opponent's deployment zone for the win.  Kris' zone is the left edge of the table, so you'll see later in the game my units shift left. 

Game 1 was against a new tournament player... my notes aren't here but unless I'm mistaken his name is Kris.  Obviously he's playing Blood Angels.  He's got a Furioso in a Pod, a Tac in Pod, two Tacs in Rhinos, a Predator, and a Land Raider Crusader with a Terminator Squad including a Reclusiarch and a Sanguinary Priest.  It's a fairly balanced rock to the head, but I like it a lot better than most Blood Angels armies out there.  He played it well but I think his inexperience played against him.

Da Boyz GT, Army Pics Part II

Here are more pictures from Da Boyz - as always, click to enlarge. Enjoy.

Da Boyz, Video and Final Results

Some Da Boyz material...

Da Boyz... Random Army Pics

I'm actually sitting in class, waiting for my neurobiology teacher to show up and drop some knowledge on me, but I thought I would take a few minutes to update the old blog.

For the astute - heck, for the dense - it's obvious I wasn't able to update the way I wanted over the weekend.  Reason?  No internet.  El sucko, I tell you!  So I'm a bit behind, but have no fear 'cause I've got a lot to say and I'm ready to say it!

Just not right now.

Da Boyz GT Update

Okay, this is a quick one.  I'm sitting in the first floor of the hotel, banging away on some ancient keyboard attached to a steam-powered computer... this is what they call the professional office.

They advertised it.  Lame.  Also, the internet is either slow or nonexistent - either way, it made bringing my laptop so I could write and post updates from the event pointless.

So you'll just have to wait!  I'll get to writing... and there is a lot to talk about.

Since you're curious, I'll go ahead and tell you I won all but one of my games, and the loss I took was to the eventual tournament winner.

Who played Footdar.  It was a clinic, and probably the worst beating I've taken in 5 years.

You'll hear all about it you will.

Brent

PS: I didn't get to meet Chumby.  I'm bitterly disappointed.

Video: Daemons Vs Space Wolves

Well, I'm leaving for Da Boyz tomorrow (Friday), so wish me luck. I'm taking the laptop and camera, so tune in for updates. Until then, here's the last test game...

Da Boyz Daemons!

Da Boyz!  Daemons!  I'm already getting excited.  Here they are.  Not like you don't already know.

Da Boyz Daemons!

Finalized Da Boyz List

I had two practice games this week, both of which will eventually become video battle reports - if I can get iMovie to cooperate.

(I'm having issues with importing movies from iPhoto, if anyone out there knows what to do. For some reason, it's not showing up in the event library.  The files are an .mpg - that's supported by iMovie, yes?)

Anyway, after much testing of alternate lists and concepts, I went with something very close to my normal army.

From the test game with Evil Homer - those tanks in the middle are the only proxy - they're actually Demolishers.

2 Units: Herald of Tzeentch on a Chariot with Gaze, Bolt, Breath, and Master, 130.
3 Units: Fiends with Champ, 190.
1 Unit: Plaguebearers, 10-strong with Icon, 175.
1 Unit: Plaguebearers, 5-strong, 75.
1 Unit: Pink Horrors, 10-strong with Icon and Changeling, 200.
2 Units: Pink Horrors, 5-strong with Bolt, 95.
2 Units: Daemon Prince of Tzeentch with Gaze, Bolt, and Breath, 190.

I'm actually fairly happy with it.  It's strong, though not the strongest list I could make.  There's a nod to comp.

My normal, optimized list is 4 Heralds, 3 Fiends, 3 DP's, and 4 Bearers - or thereabouts.  This version of the army drops 2 Heralds and a DP, plus mixes up the troops a bit by, you know, actually having them.  There's 35 troop models in this list, which is 15 more than most builds I use.

Plaugebearers are normally all you need, and their job is to hold objectives.  Period.  Because they are Fearless with Feel No Pain, dropping them in terrain and going to ground makes a 5-man unit very hard to shift.

Moving on, I had fun with the idea of dropping a Herald of Khorne on a Jugger with a unit of Bloodletters.  It didn't make the cut because it's unnecessary - I can already kill infantry.

The other obvious cut was Soul Grinders.  I've been on record for awhile saying DP's are better, and the testing didn't make me change my mind.  That said, Grinders are fun and used properly seem to be effective

Still, they don't store worth a *SELF-EDIT* and carry-ons are expensive.  All my toys will fit in one box.

Surprisingly, Icons are in.  I still maintain they're unnecessary, but since I'm dropping a significant portion of my shooting in an army already short on effective firepower, I felt I needed a security blanket.

I could go on (and on and on and on) but at this point I'm just putting off getting back to work on the video.

Grayscale for Dummies, Part II

It's Sunday!  Off Topical II, The Second Date, is online and I can put my Neurobiology and Pharmacology paper off until tomorrow, so today is mine, mine, mine!

So, I've added the contrast to my Chaos Knight of Nurgle, as suggested by you, my chickies.  Basically, I repainted the chain mail sections in bright silver.  I also further highlighted the shield, sections of armor, and the horns.  I redid the sword almost completely.  The grayscale is K.Blas' suggestion for viewing contrast.

Grayscale, for contrast.

A Discussion of Comp and Factors for Winning

Really, honestly, actually on the Dallas Aquarium.

Let's say this right out: this is a long-running issue and the lines are drawn.  I doubt this post will change anyone's mind, but it's a topic that's interesting since I'm attending Da Boyz GT later this year.

Hey!  Go check out these articles if you haven't already: Mass Murderers as Nicknames and Defining the Assumptions in Wargaming.  Also, make sure you vote in last week's Friday Night Internet Fight; I'd hate to lose this one!

That's right: me, Goatboy, and Darkwynn are hopping a plane to Rochester, New York in November to participate... along the way we'll meet new friends and old...

...cue butt-grabbing and much hugging...

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.