Obnoxious List Building and the "Meta" Situation

'Sup guys - been real busy of late...being a teacher is SUCH a hard life...take the last fortnight for example. I've been forced to spend 3 days in Disneyland, Paris so the kids can study the relevance of the Disney business model, primarily focussed on its marketing activities and strategic decision making tools.... or perhaps... answering the critical question - "Just how many times can Mr H ride Space Mountain in an hour? Discuss".
I've then had to suffer for a week of Half Term Hols... marking a few papers here and there whilst generally painting the shit out of my toy soldiers.
I love my job. Genuinely.

But that is not what you are here to read, except to scowl at this gleeful mother fucker. Just enjoy the fact that you probs earn more....after all, I am on holiday for a 1/4 of the year and my well above national average pay reflects that... Plus the Paris half week, plus the Munich half week, plus the week Ski Trip in Italy...all in term time... oh and one year I went to Ghana, Africa in term time too... all of which I never pay for...in any way. Thanks tax payer.
I fucking love my job.

Ah, I'm an obnoxious prick aren't I?
And that brings me around to the point of the article (nicely done right? lol)....
Obnoxious lists.

I love them too... OED says 'obnoxious' is simply 'extremely unpleasant'...in 40k terms, I view this as lists that we all expect to play at some point in a tournament and don't really look forward to it all that much.

In current 40k, what are these lists?
A few months ago it was pure Tau, then a couple of Deathstars came home to roost from the ETC in summer, then it became Eldar Serpent Spam,  then TauDar, then a greater proliferation of Deathstars and a resurgence of "Alpha Strike"-esque armies; not as powerful or crippling as the true alpha strike armies of the Imperial Guard under old school Vendetta/Vet bastards, but strong first strike capable armies.

So where are we now as a community? What are the obnoxious lists that we all expect to face off against?

Awesome 40k Global Community Video

Starring me!!
It's gotta be good right?!

This was a 7-8 minute video Interview with the 40K Global Podcast/blog team after my first round match up with BJ Mason at the recent Death or Glory tournament.

I beat BJ first game, but only through First Blood! Damn close game...

Here, I talk through my 1850 list that I used at this event and perhaps more importantly, how I use it.

Check it out HERE at the 40K Global website.

You also get a few shots of my painted Tau army on the tabletop and a few cheeky scenes of mid-game action captured by the impressive camera work and editing of John ...er...shit... Stuart? I think.. I'm sure you can get more detail off of the 40k guys if you want John down at your event and covering the action.

It's weird as fuck seeing yourself on a video..let alone hearing yourself! I hate the sound of my voice on camera... very much NOT what I hear in my head when I speak!

It was a cool touch to have a chat on video and I think I'd like to see more of this in the 40K community - its relatively straight forward to do with the right equipment and it can be a really fun way to spend 10 minutes debriefing after a hard fought tournament game.

Check out the rest of the videos at the 40K global YouTube channel HERE... including Franco eating 5 Big Macs... an impressively disgusting feat!

Laters.

Death or Glory 2 Tournament: Ashtead - 1850pts - 8/9th March

 

 

Morning guys,

 

Death or Glory have released the details for their second tournament.

 

The first was a real success and had a superb turnout of 40 players.

 

This time the guys have DOUBLED the entry and it is going to be EPIC!

 

At 82 players, this will be one of the biggest events in the tournament calendar and you'd be a fool to miss out...

 

See details below from Mike Marlow - one of 4 top boys who run the blog/podcast:

 

 

 

"...Welcome to the second Death or Glory Tournament! This time we've increased the tournament places to 82 and we've got a painting competition running alongside the main tournament.

It is based very close to the previous venue in ashtead just off junction 9 of the M25. It'll once again be a 5 game event run by the Death or Glory Blog/podcast team.

Same deal as last time, email your entry to Deathorgloryblog@outlook.com and you have 2 weeks to pay. Please only pay after email confirmation that a place is available

Check out the rulespack below.

http://www.scribd.com/doc/171945375/DOG2-Rulespack-8-9th-March

..."

 

I think this one will sell out sharpish so get your place now!!

 

Later peeps...I'm off to "teach" (otherwise known as 'figure out what the fuck I'm taking to Battelfield Birmngham this weekend'!!!!!!)

Goatboy is a HERO!

Don't know if I've mentioned that before?

Absolute legend.

Goatboy ROCKS! Yeah!

Haha.

I've been searching for decent tracking/stat cards for my FMC Demon army.. guess who was kind enough to send a copy if his?

Yup.

The Goat was.

So cool -  ol' Tommy Reidy smashed it for me! Check him out HERE if you don't know who I mean...

OK... is that enough gushing? I think so. Evidencing further that he is a top boy and a pillar of the global community Goatboy emailed over (on request) his 40k Demon stat cards. The file I then printed, trimmed out and promptly laminated.

They look absolutely boss. Perfect for what I need and more professional looking than the ones I designed, which frankly, did the job but didn't look that good...

These are cracking - simply keep the cards on your edge of the board, at the start of each game, rather than scribble it down on a piece of paper - just tick a box. Each roll just tick away until you have it all.. super sweet! Saves time, looks cool and is a very helpful tool for both you and your opponent.

Then just wipe clean and do the same again next game. You can track wounds too, even accounting for the extra wound given from greater gifts.

I've even seen ones for Farseers etc and Nids - basically, if yours is a psychic army - doesn't even have to be full on Psychic Choir.. you want these in your life...

Organising a tounament - HELP!

I've been having thoughts recently.
This is new, I know.
Thoughts..
From Ven?
Nah.
Yeah, it's true man.

I feel really good regarding what I give back to the hobby.

I get a lot from it - I get a competitive outlet, entertainment.. the social aspect.. it's better than drugs and whores.. you know..

I give back... well, this blog and the gaming club that I run in Cambridge with a couple of the other guys.
And that's great - I feel we have rescued and revitalised a community that had been split and seperated by circumstance.
Now I want more.

I want to run a tournament.

We have wanted to run a Sons' tournament for a long time.. sonce the idea of 'Blog Wars' since sprung to life in comments on this blog, we have been toying with the idea of a tournament.

What I want to know is this:

1) Has anyone got an easy access Excel spreadsheet for tracking points set up that I could have a look at? email to exploder1889 at hotmail dot com - Ta!

2)What are the typical pitfalls? Its a Scout Hut venue.. whats the deal? What are the issues here?

3) Any general advice?

4) Anyone fancy coming!? lol.... I'm going to try and give all the loca club guys first refusal on ticket sales and then open it up.. Thinking bout 13/14th July.. seems decent.. we are only looking at doing a 30 person event..

5) Is 30 the right size for a first tournament?

6) I'm thinking 5 games cause it's a pain in the arse playing six and travelling.. now, most of the guys will be relatively local for this.. but if we finish in the afternoon at a reasonable hour, then we can cast a wider net.

7) Facilities - Kitchen, Scout Hut, Tables, Terrain, Parking, Food, Travelodge...pub round corner.. all check.. what am I missing?

8) Marketing - locally Facebook for the gaming club, get the podcast boys to throw out some coverage, get the other club in Cambridge to throw it up on FaceyB too.. adverts and links on the blog.. get the blogging community to step up and help advertise.. Warseer and the Warhammer Forum...

9) I'd like to develop this into something that happens every 3 months and builds itself into a name and a decent event on the tournament calendar.
Um.. this isn't a question Ven?
Nor was that.. where the fuck did that snowmobiling come from.........?


Feed Ven with ideas please guys and gir.. lads.
Supply me with ideas!
Tell me its easy..!
Tell me you love me... err..

*NEW UK TOURNAMENT* - Death or Glory 1850 September 7/8th

Bit of community love here guys.

Now, regular readers know we love a cheeky tournament or two here at Sons'...

The Death or Glory blog boys (Rich Fielder, Mike Marlow etc etc) have been prolific gamers on the tournament scene, they have a decent podcast they throw out and now....

A tournament.
Excellent work lads.

The tournament is 1850, 5 games over 2 days...based down in Surrey on September 7/8th 2013.
£15 entry for the tournament. 

You can find the rules pack to download HERE
And the blog HERE.

It's a few months away yet, so an excellent opportunity to get into a first tournament, or for tourney regulars...to run it past the wife!

I'll have just come back from the ETC in Serbia...but I reckon I'll be ready for some action by September!
Whether the wifey is though is another matter!
Whatever happens, I'll be looking to attend and maybe drag some of the other Sons' down from either the blog and/or the club...

Email in: 2k Necron lists

Sup everyone. Got an email in the other day from Eric K.

"...Venerable Brother,


First, love the blog and your battle reports. I am sure you get this a lot but I am seeking advice on a necrons list. Its at the point where I consider it fine tuning. Its a 2000 pt list meant to be an all comers competitive list. I am torn between two lists right now:

List One:
-2x Overlord w/warscythe, MSS, and Barge
-2x Royal Court w/veil-tek, abyssal-tek, and Storm-tek
-(5)Deathmarks w/Night Scythe
-2x (8)Immortals w/gauss
-2x (6)Warriors w/Night Scythe
-(5)Wraith w/3 coils
-(4)Wraith w/3 coils
-2x Annihilation Barge
List Two:
-Overlord w/warscythe, MSS, and Barge
-Overlord w/warscythe, and Barge
-2x Royal Court w/veil-tek, and abyssal-tek
-(5)Deathmarks w/Night Scythe
-2x (8)Immortals w/gauss
-2x (5)Warriors w/Night Scythe
-(5)Wraith w/3 coils
-(4)Wraith w/3 coils
-3x Annihilation Barge

I want to lean towards List Two but I feel uncomfortable dropping MSS on the Overlord.
Any thoughts?..."

First of, thanks for thinking of me Eric - I am more than happy to address your tweaks. I think it is important that we consider that for a second:

If these are "fine tuning" tweaks then I won't suggest any whole sale change, simply throw out some suggestions with some reasons behind it.. up to you if you take those on board or not.
OK.. so let's see if I get how you operate the lists. It's all pretty standard stuff with a few exceptions...

Malifaux Tournament, Sunday 25th November at Sons of War Cambridge

Afternoon all,
On Sunday 25th November there is a 3 game, fixed crew 25ss Malifaux tournament taking place at the gaming club that I run alongside Bringer of Death and Tiny Furry Spider (I think that is Tim's name on most forum's lol)..

Link to Wyrd Forum page and all the tournament details HERE.

It is being run by McDoogle/Mark (his handle on the Wyrd Forum), he is just using the club as a venue.

Prize support is excellent, Henchmen Ratty/Alex should be about and has spoken about potential very cool prizes.

There are 30 spots in total, with only 6 currently being signed up. There are about 5/6 local players to the club up for this, but it is open to anyone. So he has about 15-18 spots still available.
Tickets are cheap, covering a discounted facility hiring fee and the rest going to prize support.

The club makes nothing from this and we are just offering our facility and buying power/relationship with the owners.

If you are interested, jump on the Wyrd Forum link above and HERE (for the lazy ones!) and get involved!
Once more back into the Breach dear friends!

Blog Wars 4 1850 Tournament 1st Decemeber - TICKETS AVAILABLE

Hey guys,

Thought I'd throw out a quick community post in support of Blog Wars 4 - an 1850, 3 game tournament being held at the Eye of the Storm/Maelstrom on 1st December - just 3 weeks away!
This is the second Blog Wars tournament this year, the last being in July and being immense fun!

There is always a small but good crowd of guys, with quite a lot having been to all the previous Blog Wars.

It originally started as a great way to meet the other UK bloggers and is the baby of Alex from "From the Fang" - who has really stepped up and ran this great event for a couple of years now.

It still is that same event, fun - spirited, community based and well organised.

For those that are unaware, the event has just one stipulation - that your army contains a Special Character from your main FOC (allied ones don't count but can still come out to play).

There are 23 confirmed attendees this time round, with space for more.
Fantastic prize support as ever and there are a wide range of players, from tournament regulars like The Voice, Bringer of Death Steve and myself (not exclusively...Franco Marrufo is hitting is up for the first time I believe from the sign up sheet..sir, your reputation precedes you :) plus not forgetting Matty Greenwood, the erstwhile doubles companion of Alex and tournament regular himself.. think he is still out for revenge from Jolly Toys in January!) as well as some gorgously painted and themed forces.. we've had the Rebel Alliance, evil Empire armies, great looking Nids from Sixth Degree over at WeeMen blogs, the Relictors from those boys are pretty damn nice too! ..

So overall, if you run a blog in the UK, or simply want to come and play some games of 40k for the day, enjoy a great venue and good company.. get signed up over at From the Fang.

Tickets are £15 and are AVAILABLE NOW! 
What are you waiting for? Seize the day bitches! 
P.S - Should probably mention that I have won it the last 3 times in a row.. step right up and take on the big dog!! Can YOU stop me??

Plug: Midsouth Gaming!

I'd like to just take a minute of your time to recommend a new multiple-system wargaming site over the pond in the midsouth of good ol' USA..

Visit it at www.midsouthgaming.com

The site comes to me through Paul Johnson, who has been a follower and commentor with us here for some time, we've bounced back and forth plenty of email communications regarding Necron tactics and list ideas, all of which have been well-founded and intelligent (well, from his side..maybe not from mine lol)

It's a new site and they are seeking some exposure..we're not the biggest site, but we can hopefully help the guy out.. if you check out the site and like it/ run your own blog, let's help the guys out and drive some traffic their way.

There are multiple authors, each of whom seem to specialise in different systems.
The systems the boys run are: 40K, WarmaHordes, Flames of War amongst others.
They throw up BatReps, Tactica, TV and general articles..
I encourage you guys to show some community support and at least take a minute to check them out.

There are no refunds from me if you check it out and don't like it! 1 minute...take a risk! 

Cambridge Club Doubles Tournament

Check it out!!

So this is clearly only for guys in the local area.. sorry! But we need to get the club back on form!

We have our first tournament planned!

It is a 2 week, 4 game tournament with 2 games per evening on consecutive Wednesdays!
The details are on the attached flier and it is a DOUBLES TOURNAMENT!
It is £5 to enter per person (but that includes both weeks club entry and prize fund)

So, grab a partner, throw together a 1500 point army and get on down to the club! Set up is from 6-6.30pm, then Round One is 2 hours, Round 2 is 2 hours. We have parking at the club and for free down Flamsteed Road.

If you need a partner, throw a post up on the club forum found at www.sonsofwar.org.uk and we'll find you someone to play with.

If Warhammer 40K is not your thing, we are also going to be running an Escalation Warhammer Fantasy League starting from 7th March - start at 500 points and add 500 points every month in manageable chunks...avoid having unpainted models backed up on your desk!! Great way to get some Fantasy in!! If you are an experienced player, come on down with a new army and build up over the months to the staggering sizes of Fantasy!

The perfect opportunity to learn to play and get those Christmas models on the tabletop finally!!

Love to mangle your opponent on the sportsfield? Love Warhammer? Want to do them both at once? BLOODBOWL RETURNS!! Starting 29th February we are running some starter games to get us back up to speed with the aim of running a BloodBowl Premier League starting 21st March

Don't forget we still run Warmachine, Malifaux and regular pick up play for 40k.

See you at the club!!

Cambridge Wargaming Club - 5 months on

It's been 5 months since our opening night, Wednesday at the scout hut in Flamsteed Rd, Cambridge.

It has been a challenging period.

We have really struggled to be honest.

The first 2 months were fantastic! We require just 12 people per evening to meet our costs (ranging from facility to terrain upkeep to tables to insurance) and there are 4 of us that run the club! So 8 more and we are sorted..

For a while we had between 18-22 coming each week and were flying.

But then Christmas hit... and over December and January we have just been really hit hard.

We have had podcast shout outs (thanks to the Overlords podcast), a website, forums, advertising in local geek stores, I've thrown shit up on the blog, facebook..

Now, for the 3rd month of 5 we are short on meeting our costs financially.. I have no desire to go back to just gaming with a couple of dudes in the garage and only getting in games vs new people at tournaments.. whilst I accept that that is the way of it for many people, we did have a real community based around Cambridge and I am not sure where it has gone!

Thank you guys! 150 Followers

Just wanted to say a massive thank you to everyone that "follows" us here at Sons of Sanguinius.

We really appreciate your...um what, dedication? Loyalty? Faithfulness readership?
Not sure how to describe it really!

Whatever!
Thanks, your show of appreciation really motivates us to keep toy soldiering on...

Part of our 'success' comes from our authors - thank you all, we present a different aspect on the subject of 40k and toy soldiering and each of those faces appeals to different people..

Another part of why I think you guys read us is because we don't post "filler" material..all quality, all the time..even if that means 3 -4 days between posts.

Hmm...this is technically a filler post I guess, but it is a real thank you to the Community for helping us put the Sons together..your demonstration of support provides motivation for us to keep going..mind you, we'd still pour forth our shit onto the internet if no one read us! lol.

Cheers one and all!

Cambridge Gaming Club: Reminder!! Plea!!

Sup guys,
All the Sons are working on their Caldeonian Uprising tournament write ups.. Killswitch still on his Masters one!
Lists are prepped for Jolly Toys Outing in February - a 2K NOVA style event..

BUT, in the meantime, several of the Sons - Venerable, Kabalite and Bringer of Death can be found on a Wednesday evening from 6pm to 10.30pm at the 28th Cambridge Scout Hut on Flamsteed Road..

If you click on the SoW (or War Pig) icon to the right of the blog you will be redirected to the website (http://www.sonsofwar.org.uk/) where you can get yourself set up on our Forum and get directions etc.

The cost is £3 per night for non members or £2.50 per night for members.. less than a PINT OF BEER in Cambridge for an evenings entertainment... we also have cold drinks and snacks available to keep you going..War is not for the empty stomached!

We have been going since October and are not going anywhere.. BUT, we rely on the community coming down to check us out.. and getting stuck in.. Christmas is a wonderful time.. I chuffin' love it.. but it is not a good time to run a wargaming club! Everyone has work parties and holidays etc.. but that shit is done! Get back to the club and get your new bits and pieces of plastic crack out onto the tabletop!

We offer 40k, Warhammer, Malifaux, Infinity, Blood Bowl, Warmahordes and any specialist games you wish to play..including Dreadfleet!



If you are a UK blogger as well, could you do me a favour and possibly repost this shout out on your blog? We need all the publicity and awareness we can get!!

Apostate Anonymous

Late last year I got an email from a lad named Greg wanting to get stuck into the tournament scene and how to crack into it..
I sent him via the warhammer forum at Warhammer.org.uk  and he was all set..

Greg recently got in touch to say he has gotten himself and a buddy into a few tourneys this year and has set up his own blog..

http://apostatesanonymous.blogspot.com/

Check it out - the guys have just set up recently - let's see how many followers we can get them- from zero to hero in a day lol!

Looks like there is some Dark Eldar love and some Grey Knight love going on over there...good little article on handy transport tips for Dark Eldar...no,no, not unit analysis - actual transport tips, good stuff..

Peace.

First club night......Success or Fail?

Last night was the first club night for Sons of War: Cambridge and it went very, very well.

With our start up costs (ranging from public liability insurance, raw materials and tools for tables and terrain to web hosting etc) and the weekly costs of hiring our facility we need to have 13.5 people per week to break even across our total costs.

We did it.

We had 13 people last night.

Great for a first night! We had Warhammer 40k, Malifaux and Warmachine being played..Puppet Wars too!

In addition, we had 5 guys paying up for Annual Membership, netting us some real funds to go in the Club bank account. 

There were also 2 dudes who have said they'll "Member up" next week.

All in all, a great night.....BUT....

Building Club Terrain: Cambridge Sons of War

A selection of new, WIP terrain pieces expanding the club collection

Just over 1 week to go til the launch of our very own gaming club in Cambridge. As a reminder, it's opening night is the 26th October at the 28th Scout Hut, Flamsteed Rd, Cambridge CB1 3QU, doors open 6pm.
Check the post HERE for more details.. as well as the page on the top bar of the blog...

Anyway, one of the most important factors for me when launching this club is to make sure that the gaming experience is absolutely spot on.

We have the largest number of gaming tables up and running compared to anywhere currently active in Cambridge!!

Before the doors open we have 9 gaming tables.
This will only ever get bigger.
We WILL build more tables.
The aim by the end of the first year is to double that number and have 18 gaming tables ready to roll.

Yes, large foam cocks are funny..

The venue is ready for us, we just need the people. So this part of the experience is ready..

Build it and they will come.

A critical part of the gaming experience is the terrain.
Too little and the games cannot be played correctly.
Too shitty and no one enjoys it...egg boxes are NOT terrain. Yes, I went to a independent club that had shoddily painted egg boxes as terrain.

Surprisingly, there were only 6 people there and I never went back. I'm not slating that club, merely stating it was not for me.

So one of our main missions is to create good quality, durable terrain in large quantities.
So far, we have increased our terrain collection to include 2 boards worth of pink foam hills and rocky outcrops, built a half dozen more 40k plastic ruins and began experimenting with foamboard...

Lets have a look:

Blog Wars 2 - Time to defend the crown!

Hey all,
Quick community shout out to From the Fang, who is once again running the excellent Blog Wars 1750 40K Tournament.

You may remember that yours truly won the last one (whoot! with a PINK Dark Eldar army no lesss!)

This is the second Blog Wars tournament this year, again being held at the excellent Maelstrom Games in Mansfield. It is a fantastic facility if you've not played there before, great tables and terrain, bar, food etc...

There are 40 tickets to start with, Alex has said he will increase if it sells out compelely...HELP IT SELL OUT! The more the merrier lol!

The event is held on the 3rd December and is a ONE DAY EVENT... no hang overs to blame for crap Day 2 performance..

So, with my title to defend and feeling in a 'weakened competitive state' - entirely of my own making as I have not been playing any 40k for a while.. hmm..since end of July in fact....just what will I be taking?

Well, you MUST have a special character in your army...

Options are:
- Dark Eldar to defend their crown
- Coteaz cheese?
- Crowe cheese?
- Eldar???? for a real lol-gasm? see if I can win the tourney with them?
- SW, maybe try out Bran Redmaw?
- BA: Mephiston? Dante-wing? Mech with Corbulo thrown in? Maybe the ImmoBAlizer with Corbs chucked in?
-BT with just an Emperor's Chimp, army full of S9 missiles?
-Deathwing? Maybe in Bully's memory? (Bull left the blog a short while back... :( )

Calling all Cambridge wargamers.. Website online

Guys - we are two weeks out til our opening night on the 26th October, 6 pm at the 28th Scout Hut, Flamsteed Road, Cambridge, CB1 3QU..

We have just launched our website for the club...the Sons are coming!!

Sonsofwar.org.uk

Check it out and you can currently get all the details of where we are and what we are about, as well as costs etc..

We will be adding a forum for chatting about your favourite games sytems as well as, importantly, arranging games and finding out who's up for playing your systems..

Coming up tomorrow... a guide to creating club terrain....giving all you guys an insight into what the club terrain will look like to start with...all the standard 40k terrain (ruins, buildings) as well as hills, rocks and hyper-dense Infinity and themed Malifaux boards.. of course Warmahordes guys will be well covered through the above as well..

So, if you are a secret stalker from around the Cambridge, Suffolk or North Herts region, let us know..email me at exploder1889AThotmailDOTcom and let me know...

If you game at Inner Sanctum, Cambridge on a Thursday night you will see our advertising posters and can pick up leaflets, from next week we hope to have posters and leaflets in a number of hobby retailers and of course Games Workshop as part of the GCN...

Sons of War…Cambridge Gaming Club:

Sons of War...SoW's...get it? Ok, it's a WIP

“…Help me, help you…Help me, help you”

The promotion begins..

We’ve taken the plunge.
We kick off in just over 2 weeks.
Wednesday, 26th October 2011, 6.0pm til 10.30pm.

Alongside long term gaming buddy Bringer of Death (aka Steve) we have taken it upon ourselves to re-forge the geek community in Cambridge.
This was torn asunder by the closure of the GW Battle Bunker and the subsequent refusal to reopen…since then basement and garage tabletops have seen more action than Paris Hilton…

Of course, there is the Inner Sanctum store in Cambridge, which offers a wide variety of non-GW games on a Thursday night, from Magic to WarmaHordes to Malifaux to whatever..
BUT:
- It is only one night per week
- There is no GW games

So we need a place to game weekly, where you can:
- Get a game of whatever you like including 40k, Fantasy through to Puppet Wars or Warmachine
- GET A GAME! And not stand around waiting for a table…

We’ve secured a location, a great Cambridge location, just off the Hills Road brigde/Rustat Road to play.

The Sons of War: Cambridge has successfully been delivered… born into the flames of war (no pun intended, although if you are in the area and looking for a game…)