Merry Christmas, One and All

I hope that everybody who reads this, irregardless of who you are or where you live, is having a merry Christmas this year and that the next year finds you in a better place, filled with hope, joy, happiness, and companionship...and firepower. Everybody can always use more firepower.

Really GW...

I get that GW is trying to save the dying ship that is White Dwarf magazine. Maybe they're even listening to their customers by putting rules in White Dwarf that will benefit those who buy it. At the same time, would it have been so hard for them to have put at least at many formations in their month long advent calendar as they did in a single issue of White Dwarf? BA received something like four or five in the recent issue, all of them potentially usable, and the advent calendar has had two...both junk.

I honestly don't get it.

Review: Last Step Backwards

Well, despite my initial ire I caved and purchased Last Step Backwards by Justin D. Hill. My disappointment wasn't with this work on the Black Library advent calendar but that it was paired with a weak mission supplement on the digital editions side. I'll be discussing that on my blog today and hopefully have a few nicer things to say about GW by the end.

Warning to all: Here there be spoilers!

THIS WAY! NO, NOT THAT WAY!

30K: Questoris Knight List

I am considering picking up a copy of Horus Heresy 4: Conquest from Forgeworld. In addition to some great lore and a genuinely pretty book, it contains the Questoris Knight House list for the 30k setting. If anything, its actually weaker than knights in 40k (no adamantine lance or auto seneschals for example) but does contain their flavor and has some neat special abilities.

Being a listhammer guy, I made a list.

Damn these things are cool. Like 20% cooler even.

It was...a mission?

Well, the much anticipated (by myself at least) IG component for this year's advent calendar was a mission based on a short story about Creed. Lame.

Great Pose, Poor Content

Tomorrow

GW Digital Editions will finally get to the one spot on their advent calendar I care about, the IG spot. So far it has all been missions, painting guides, and repackaging of old products. The rumors say that this will be some Creed related material. If so, GW has wasted a golden opportunity to help build up various factions and inspire players to buy new things. Bad business GW, bad business.

Infantry ADVANCE!!!!

Hi, been a while. Have not had the time I used to for gaming. Less than a game a month and somewhat disappointing ones at that. Got in a brief two recently and drew one, lost the other. Caused me a bit of hesitance on my Knights (who have gotten a bit of paint recently but are far from finished) since I struggled because Knights, A) cannot pick up relics and B) have no real way to hurt FMCs since they have nothing to snap shot.

This brings me back to my IG. I'm not fielding Hydras, because screw Hyrdas, but lascannons and what not can at least be snap shot in sufficient numbers to matter. Of course, I'm back to infantry guard and decided to dump a lot of my Knight savings into simply acquiring the bodies to make the army below. Lots and lots of bodies.

Cadia, not Irania, but you get the point

Like Clouds Parting

I managed to get in two games of WHFB today and...MY GOD! This really is such a better game than 40k. I love 40k, always will, but WHFB just makes me think in much more detailed ways, having plans and strategies that must come to fruition if I want to win. 40k, on the other hand, is more turn to turn. I hope that this means that WHFB will be getting a new shot in the arm around here and look forward to many more games in the future.

For Sigmar! For the Empire!

Shown: Manliness

Little Ado About Nothing

I don't have much to add this week but I wanted to post something so that people know I'm not dead...
...I'm not dead.

In other news, new FAQs came out today and only two things matter to me.

RTT Summary...Kinda

I'm not going to do full reports from the tournament I went to because I had to leave early (injured wife.) There were a few highlights though that I thought would be a kick to share.

House Pelletier Walks

I'm going to a 1250/1250 team tournament this Saturday and...well...I'm just going to leave this here.

Warhammer Fantasy Tournament

I went to a WHFB tournament today and it was for 600 points but that was great because it meant that the games went fast.

My List:
Warrior Priest - Heavy Armor, Shield, Barded Warhorse, Potion of Foolhardiness, and Dragonhelm
Inner Circle Knights x9 - Full Command and Gleaming Pennant
Pistolier x5 - Champion (Repeater Pistol) and Musician
Luminark of Hysh

I took no photos...sorry.

WIP: Adamantine Lance

I figured that its been too long since I updated this blog and the last one isn't much. Bad news, this one isn't either. Good news, in one way it is bigger.

They call him THE CLAW!

They Call Me Master of Assassins

Getting the Band Back Together

The Steel Host

I'm still awaiting my Knights because the mail is slow these days...but I did pick up Sanctus Reach: The Red WAAAAAAAAGH! (had to be done.) I can't help but feel that between meh fluff and the Adamantine Lance that a hidden jewel has gone unnoticed within this tome: The Steel Host.

Its just an iconic thing

I've got knights: Knight List @ 1850

So, after much begging and pleading, my wife finally let me spend the money to acquire another two knights to that I can field a primary Imperial Knight Detachment. I love my wife. Of course, this means I need a sweet list for the Knights and I decided that allied IG and their accompanying treads are the best fit.

Tournament Report: 3 Games of Stompy, Blasty, Fun!

Finally, the reports I've promised.

FLGS RTT - Part One

I went to the FLGS and participated in a RTT this weekend (could have just made that the title I guess :p )

I'll be typing up the reports for the three games but first I'm going to give the format and my list then allow the few readers I have to make predictions as to my outcome.

Battle Reports: Space Wolves vs. IG/MT

NOTE: I've done two posts fairly back to back for those that want to read my Studying Warfare post from yesterday please go back to the main page.

I played two games versus my brother in law yesterday and we both were trying out new things and seeing how they went in our respective first games in 7th Edition. We both used the same lists in both games.

Studying Warfare: 'Fleet in Being'

I'm sorry that I've been silent lately. Between school ending for the year (for those that don't know I'm a teacher by day) and a bit of a malaise on 7th edition, I've kinda been meh on gaming lately. To that end, I finally got in a game today (with brief battle reports to come) and it got me thinking about a concept in military strategy called the Fleet in Being.

The Angels of Death...

With 7th Edition about to land I find myself thinking about starting a second 40k army. I have my Imperial Guard (they're not Astra Militarum and they're not going anywhere) but I find myself missing something in 40k that I enjoyed with the only other two armies I really liked: Grey Knights and Blood Angels.

Those things were:

• Mobility
• Toughness

You be the one to tell him he isn't tough!

Escalation: How To Do It

There is a follow up tournament coming up on the 10th that I want to go to. The only problem is that it is allowing Escalation and I want to win. Did I mention that there will likely be at least two Revenant Titans?

Yeah

Me Paint!

I've been jabbed at more than once for my lack of willingness to paint my miniatures. It isn't that I can't paint (though I'm certainly no expert or even that good) its that I don't value painted armies like some guys do. Playing against a painted army isn't some earth changing positive experience for me and painting take more of my own valuable time than I'd like...so normally I don't. However, if I want to go to a GT I'll have to change that.

Biding My Time: Tournament Pics

I've been very busy with school, work, and five different diseases amongst my two children (fun, fun.) I haven't finished writing up even the first battle report but I will soon(ish.) Until then, here are some pics of some of the armies at the tournament.

Biting Off More Than I Can Chew: Maybe Hitting A GT

I've always wanted to go to a GT but life and the painting requirement have always kept me from going...sadly. Well, this new codex has given me some ideas for armored lists (because I play any other?) and I've decided to start painting a list at 2000 points. If I can get it painted by this August then I'll attempt to take it to the Pleasentville GT to test my mettle against other people with the time and will to paint an army.

Yep, I'm taking this seriously. :)

The First Crack: A 1750 Army List

After a day or two I've had a chance to start some army theory and work up a 1750 list that I'll probably play around with until I get a better feel for this codex. The over all changes to the book weren't much but they have a huge impact on the kind of lists you can make all the same. Anti-air is much harder, especially for mechanized armies, and the Tank Commander has to deal with the huge weakness of being in a squadron. What really surprised me was that my final list featured one of my favorite IG units!

These Guys

Astra Militarum Vs. Militarum Tempestus...

I got my Astra Militarum codex today. Neat book. Nice army. Nothing really new but I'll post on this later.

Still hyped on Militarum Tempestus, the first thing I checked (after Tank Commanders) was how Stormtroopers compare book to book. The short answer is that there aren't any differences rules wise except two things.

...but maybe three or four.

Codex: Militarum Tempestus Thoughts

I wanted to do some kinda review of Codex: Militarum Tempestus but everybody already either has their book or has read a review as good as anything I could put out. With that in mind, I'll just put out some thoughts I have on the new book and its units.

Hardcore

Linked Post: Bye, Bye Marbo

No time for a more detailed and interesting post. Go here, read this. Is funny.

Working on Battle Reports and stuff. Good week to you all and to hell with Wraithknights.

Final List Idea: Armored Inquisition

The tournament is on Saturday and, I'll be honest, I want to win.

To that end I tweeked my lists around a bit and this is the current list I'll be taking: Armored Company and Inquisition.

Heck Yeah!

Something New: Air Cavalry at 2k

I like list making and theory hammer. I'm guilty as charged but the idea of seeing what a list can do is simply fun to me and I like devising new things and seeing the results. With Militarum Tempestus out, I figured that I'd take a moment and make a list using their Air Insertion formation and see how it connects to a 2k IG list. Who knows, maybe it'll replace my beloved armor heavy lists.

Air Cavalry - I totally get the cool factor

Grrr, Grrr

I wanted to be posting something about Militarum Tempestus by now but despite pre-ordering the codex early it still hasn't showed up yet. According to Fedex tracking, I'll get it on Friday. Fedex and GW can rot in a pit. I already know most of the rules from the internet but I want my shiny new book that I went out of my way to actually pre-order! Grrr!

My Thoughts on GW Right Now

Prediction: Stormtroopers Aren't In Astra Militarum

Just like it says on the tin. I'm making a prediction before my Tempestus Militarum shows up and claiming that Scions and their ilk will not actually be in Astra Militarum but the rules for inserting them (as elite platoons) will be in the Tempestus Codex. I'll know in a few days if I'm right.

Totally Justifies Buying Tempestus

Current Rumors: Vendetta vs. Hydra

I looked at the current rumors today at Natfka's Place and saw that the Vendetta (justifiably) will probably be going up to 170 points. While I'm nominally fine with the increase, the increase to the Valkyrie (see some rumors at Imperial Patrol) going up about 20-30 points seems harsh on top. Air Cavalry is surely getting hit with the stick I was afraid of. Good thing I don't play Air Cavalry :)

How Its Done

Future Tactics: The Wyvern

With Astra Militarum about to come out I figured I'd get in my time machine and start talking about a few of the up and coming units (insofar as we know what is actually coming.) Perhaps the best known new unit is the Hydras ugly cousin, the Wyvern.

Every Stick on the Way Down

Anticipation

Part of me wants to blog but at the moment I don't really know what I want to blog about because of the TWO new codices coming out. Anything I do, except Battle Reports (which require me to actually play a game :(  ), would be quickly be made moot once these great tomes emerge. I'm hoping that Tempestus hits my mailbox soon so that I can read through it and give some reactions.

I'm am developing another article similar to the Nine Principles of Warfare one based on comparing On War by Clauswitz to the Tactica Imperialis (I swear they're the same document) but I want to give that more shine than my typical article, which is a bit more haphazard.

Anybody have some suggestions about things to post about? This you want to see once I get my hands on Tempestus?

Equivalence: Death Korps of Kreig vs. Germany in WWI

I've never been a big fan of the Death Korps of Kreig. They've always seem to me to be a great big money grab by Forgeworld and more power to them for it but I like my wallet how it is (only 1/2 empty.) It also didn't help that I've never really gotten the whole image of the Death Korps. The mindless obedience and numbered soldiers marching in ranks for suicidal attacks. Very 40k but also a great way to get killed. I prefer my guardsmen to have a bit more tactical know how.

Then I started learning a bit more about WWI.

NOTE: Not 40k, Strangely

Alternative List 1750: No Tanks!

Kinda going back to the idea I've had before of using artillery and infantry for a list, I thought that this might be a fun list to play at the upcoming tournament. What does the internet think?

Incoming!

Upcoming Tournament! 1750!

Well, the tournament I tried to organize isn't going to happen. Too many difficulties getting the players that wanted to do it a certain way to actually do it that way. I eventually quit. Not worth the stress.

That being said, I'm going to play in my FLGS's next tournament on the 12th of April and this is the list I'm thinking about bringing.

Ye thou I go through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil for I have the Demolisher Cannon and they do not.!

Mage 20th Anniversary Edition Kickstarter

I don't normally get to talk about RPGs because I don't have the time (or players) to play them but I stumble across this and couldn't resist handing over a portion of my tax refund (good timing Onyx Path.)

Deluxe Mage: the Ascension 20th Anniversary Edition

If you know what this is, I both commend you and call you a great big nerd.

OOOHH! Shiny!

A short post today but I wanted to talk about the new minis popping up around the web for the upcoming IG release.

Gads! The Horror!

Studying Warfare: The Nine Principals of Warfare

Now from time to time I hear people talk about playing Warhammer 40k and act they're somehow Napoleon leading is grand army. Often I just snork, nod my head, and move one with life. I mean, its a game, right? Right?

That being said, the study of warfare has always fascinated me and that's why I've gone back to college to get me a Master's in Military History. There is a lot of lessons to learn when so much is on the line and some study of warfare can translate over to games like Warhammer. To that end, I've decided to do a series (I don't know how many) where I attempt to apply lessons of warfare to games like Warhammer. So come on in, the waters fine.

How I Try to See Myself

Cover Saves

I know that cover saves are a complex mechanic and that GW has tried several ways to balance this necessary feature of the game. Sadly, they usually fall short. Whatever you opinion though, knowing how to use cover saves to your advantage is a good thing.

The Truth About Cover Saves in 40k

These interpretations of the rules will also be the rules used in the upcoming tournament. While many may or may not like 3++ I think that this post particularly is well written and well thought out. Hope you all enjoy.

So, I'm Running A Tournament

I'm stepping up and running a tournament. I'm coming up with rules () and going to be a player/judge. It's something I've always wanted to do and this'll be the first step. If all goes well, maybe I'll try to organize something annual or semi-annual. At the moment, it is just 6 guys but that makes it perfect to try something out.

Busy Schedule and Apologies

For those that actually read this, I'm sorry I haven't updated it in a while. I've got a ton of life circumstances bogging me down:

• Started a Master's program in Military History
• Son got sick
• Son got me sick
• Got appointed facilitator of my school's Data Team

...and other stuff.

While I didn't get to go to the January tournament, I do have a Battle Report and an article 1/2 way typed but haven't found the time to finish them. I'll try to get it done by next week.