The Return, Again...!

Hey there, long time no see....No,I wasn't avoiding you I promise.....No, its just that li- life gets in the way sometimes...No I prom- I said it was'n- Would you stop interrupting?! Thank you.

So, I originally had a post written about 2 months ago on New Years resolutions in life and gaming, blah. My computer burnt up and I've been without it for the past 2 months without anywhere to rant, rage and sometimes stumble across something genuinely awesome (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4B36Lr0Unp4&feature=relmfu).
But hey, I'm backs, and in the past few months I had a lil fun (DE Gaming Wise), watched Caledonian and an unsporting/lame attempt at using DE speed and size of vehicles to TRY to block an opponent from coming on the board while he reserved. And more recently played in the Jolly Toys Outing.

We have another tournament on the horizon, as usual.
Brighton Warlords!
 In April I believe, so I'm starting to play with lists to see what I want to take, its an 1850 standard missions tourney. I have 2 options of my regualar tournament lists made to fit 1850 and debating a third type to try a new unit and wargear Beastmasters/Webway.

My first list idea is a standard Baron list except with 3 Voidravens with SF missiles over Ravagers, the second is a Duke list with two 9 man Reaver squads and 4 wych troops to take advantage of 2 drug choices. I'll post them below in a sec. But I'm gonna share my idea with you of how I plan on doing my Beastmasters. 5x BMs, 10x Khymarae and 6 Flocks. So, a completely full up unit coming to a whopping 45 Wounds, 36 S3 Rending attacks, 40 S4 Attacks, and 10 S3 Attacks. The Khymarae and Flocks hit at separate iniatives making it difficult to dump rend wounds on certain models. The upsides of this unit are the usual dark eldar advantages, Speed, Weight of Attacks, High Ini, and tricks. Like 10 4++ saves to dump powerweapon and high Str wounds onto, and Flocks with 5 wounds each to soak up smaller attacks and still pump out loads of attacks. The weight of attacks and S4 also gives a chance at taking down vehicles either through extra d3 on rending of glancing them down with S4. But how do I afford it and how do I fit it into my list?

First part I have solved, GW just put out some pretty Fenrisian Wolves for 15 quid for 5, wayyy cheaper then 8 quid for 1 Khymarae, thanks GW. And for the flocks, they are nice and flat without many recesses so it should be cake to buy 1 flock and mold the rest. Then just take some Hellion models to stand in as beastmasters. Yay! Cheap and Easy. Just have to figure out how to paint cuddly wolves into hellspawns. Maybe black with purple tips/highlights like they are shifting in and out of reality, or a smokey grey. Iunno, it'll be cool though. And now how to get them in a list. Here are my first two list ideas that I can field with minimal purchases. Can't really fit the BMs into the list as there is already a massive tarpit/blob in the list and losing that would compromise the use of other units. Already tried running both. Its not pretty, it was also against an obscene Draigo list.

Though I could drop the Voids down to Ravagers and 1 unit would fit almost exactly. Lose S9 Lances with great cover denial, more survivability, and 12 S7 LB missiles in exchange for a second large CC unit with tarpit and AT capability. My VRs are designed to either drop High AV or unload its missiles into units like scarabs, Fangs, BMs, Veillimortals, Guard squads, hellions etc... How would the BMs fair against those. Scarabs, could go either way, depending on dice. Fangs, may never make it to them, Veillimortals, great, rendnomnomnom. Guard, amazing, would eat them alive. Hellions, ehhhh, could be tight. Would need to get the charge to avoid FC. But the deciding factor is high AV, with Stormbricks and landboxes starting to pop up I want to glance on 3s, yes its 2 shots and I'm only a tad more survivable. Its a 50% chance to Pen instead of to glance/pen. And when said vehicles are open I can finish them with missiles on drop a Void Mine on a cluster of termis next turn. oOoo, I wanna void mine Paladins. Distracted. List 2! I could easily swap the BMs in for the 2 Reaver squads. 2 massive BM squads with points to spare...Hrmmm. That gives me about 100 points left to beef up the trueborn or trick out my Wyches, I think that's what I would do. Give the Wych Squads Hydras and Trophies on the Venoms. But again Positives to Negatives. Reavers give awesome fly-by murders with huge manueverability, access to Dukes drugs, and the only melta in the codex with a 9" range for 2d6 pen. So they can jump in, blow up said Landtard or Stormfuck and hop out of charge range, then cut them into itty bitty pieces the next turn in a flyby. Also that list has 4 squads of wyches with a good chance at great combat drug rolls that can tarpit it the fuck up. Just not seeing how they can fit in. Lets try something new that I've wanted to get to work for a while. Webway lists. BMs are perfect for it too. Up to a 24" threat range coming out of the portal, and you drop 1 portal in mid first turn and another boosted up a flank to drop T2 and control the board. Again with most list I think this needs a perfect list, loads of finesse and practice. Lets build after these 2 lists.

List 1
Baron-105
Haemonculus w/SS-60
20x Hellions w/Arch,Agon
4x Trueborn w/4x Blasters in Venom w/SC-173
4x Trueborn w/4x Blasters in Venom w/SC-173
3x Wracks in Venom w/SC-95
5x Wyches w/HWG,Hek,Agon in Venom with SC-155
5x Wyches w/HWG,Hek,Agon in Venom with SC-155
Voidraven w/4xSF, FF-195
Voidraven w/4xSF, FF-195
Voidraven w/4xSF, FF-195

List 2
Duke-150
4x Trueborn w/2x SC, 2xShC in Venom-143
5x Wyches w/HWG,Hek,Agon in Venom with SC-155
5x Wyches w/HWG,Hek,Agon in Venom with SC-155
5x Wyches w/HWG,Hek,Agon in Venom with SC-155
5x Wyches w/HWG,Hek,Agon in Venom with SC-155
6x Reavers w/HLx2 CCx2-196
6x Reavers w/HLx2 CCx2-196
6x Reavers w/HLx2 CCx2-196
Ravager w/FF-115
Ravager w/FF-115
Ravager w/FF-115


K, Lets try some weird shit.

Archon w/WW,Agon,SF-145
4x Trueborn w/Blasters in Venom w/EC-173
Archon w/WW,Agon,SF-145
4x Trueborn w/Blasters in Venom w/EC-173
5x Warriors w/Blaster in Venom w/EC-125
5x Warriors w/Blaster in Venom w/EC-125
5x Warriors w/Blaster in Venom w/EC-125
5x Warriors w/Blaster in Venom w/EC-125
5x BM w/10x Khy,6x Flocks-258
Talos w/CFs,TL HWL-115
Talos w/CFs,TL HWL-115
Cronos w/Probe/Vortex- 110

This is 1734. We can optimize to try to squeeze in another unit on try something new. Beef up the Archons. And use them like a Necron lord. Run in do its job then cause hell with massive CC power. Lets do it

Archon w/WW,Huskblade,SF,ST,Drugs-180
4x Trueborn w/Blasters in Venom w/EC-173
Archon w/WW,Huskblade,SF,ST,Drugs-180
4x Trueborn w/Blasters in Venom w/EC-173
5x Warriors w/Blaster in Venom w/EC,GT-130
5x Warriors w/Blaster in Venom w/EC,GT-130
5x Warriors w/Blaster in Venom w/EC,GT-130
5x Warriors w/Blaster in Venom w/EC-125
5x BM w/10x Khy,6x Flocks-258
Talos w/CFs,ECC, TL HWL-130
Talos w/CFs,ECC, TL HWL-130
Cronos w/Probe/Vortex- 110
1849

An odd list for sure but does it have what it takes. Strengths. Its major one being the ability to control the board. 3x MCS, a massive tarpit, and if we want to a squad or two of reserved warriors coming out of portals. In pitched games (usually) 1 WW would get dropped the the center as far forward and near objectives and the enemies army. Trueborn may disembark for shots and Archon can break off for first turn charges or stay in position to jump back it. Turn 2 you depending on what came in or where your enemy repositioned you can either reposition to drop the portal again, or drop the portal in enemy lines and turn your Archon loose. Spearhead I would probably push in and drop both WWs turn 1, I tend to commit almost everything in Spearhead and play extremely aggressive to pin the army in his corner for the game, getting my portals out and close early can achieve that. Dawn....fuck. It seems like most of the tourneys I play in go Draw of War for Dawn missions. 1 Objective each and Dawn deployment rules. This is tough. I think the best way to pull this off is place your Archon as far forward as possible, out of LOS to deploy his WW, then TB the other unit first turn to drop his Turn 2. Make sureeee he cannot be seen. You DO NOT want to get punked turn 1 even with NF on. You'll look dumb. Once you get your WWs set its up to dice and you to get your units in. Corner the opposing army, Get your cronos in the grime to start handing out pain tokens out and killing mahreens. I think the MCs are so overlooked. 24" Threat with S3AP3 Large Blast. And a S4 Ap3 Flamer, Each giving out seperate pain tokens to whoever.Then the Talos with easy potential for 8 Attacks on the charge at WS5/S7. Eight! Ate! 8 Attacks from an MC! Get them FNP early and let em stomp through things with no regard. GKs you say. Lock them up with your massive tarpit, your 2 super killy archons or just punk them with the Cronos or your 6 Venoms.

Another slightly cheaper option is a couple Haemonculus with WWs and a dirty trick or two. Maybe toss them in raiders w/LD dropping grenades and shock prows. Barrel them in the jump out and Orb of Despair them, maybe use Crucible if you know your tourney will be GK heavy. And hopefully watch Draigo lose his mind! Or maybe a good old Shattershard and watch as Mephy turns to shards of glass.
Lets see!

Haemon w/WW,SS-110
4x Trueborn w/Blasters in Venom w/EC-173
Haemon Anc w/WW,Orb-150
4x Trueborn w/Blasters in Venom w/EC-173
3x Wracks in Venom w/EC-95
5x Wracks, Liq in Venoms w/EC,GT-130
5x Wracks, Liq in Venoms w/EC,GT-130
5x Warriors w/Blaster in Venom w/EC,GT-130
5x Warriors w/Blaster in Venom w/EC,GT-130
5x BM w/10x Khy,6x Flocks-258
Talos w/CFs,ECC, TL HWL-130
Talos w/CFs,ECC, TL HWL-130
Cronos w/Probe/Vortex-110

More troops, some tricks, Less CC. I think I like the Archon list better though.

Try something like this with your army, find a unit, ability, HQ or something that you enjoy and work it into a list. And play it, Don't just download whatever internet list you can find and play 50 tourneys a year to get ranked. Do something different, then beat the hell out of a netlist. Don't be surprised if they copy you though.

Let me know what you think on my original 2 lists and the WW/BM lists!

Keep It Dark,
Kabalite