Killswitch - Thoughts On Next Tournament Army?

So I’m considering a new army, but where to begin? I have done fairly well with my SW+IG, taking home 2^nd place at the Northern Warlords GT and going undefeated at the recent Warp Quake (1 loss as we woke up late on the Sunday and missed game 1 due to a heavy night out..was worth it!).

I am now looking for a codex which gives me plenty of options to play, model and do well with but I am stuck. Rather than jump the bandwagon like my fellow authors (Nids are the new thing it seems) and avoiding using the ridiculously overpowered Daemons, I want something which not only does well but will visually look cool. I am stuck with these two options:

Eldar & Chaos.

Ive spoken to many people about the Seer Council rising up the ranks in 6^th ed, but never got round to building the army because I was worried the FAQ’s may nerf some of my ideas (baron gaining Fortune) or a new codex coming soon (rumours suggest not till around 2015).

The list I am thinking of, or there about, is:

Farseer: 165pts

Fortune, Doom, Spirit Stones, Runes of Witnessing & Jetbike.

Eldrad: 210pts

The Baron: 105pts

9 Warlocks: 465pts

4 Destructors, Enhance & Embolden.

5 Rangers: 120pts

3 Jetbikes: 76pts

Shurican Cannon.

3 Jetbikes: 76pts

Shurican Cannon.

3 Jetbikes: 66pts

5 Dark Eldar Warriors: 40pts

3 War Walkers: 180pts

6 Scatter Lasters.

3 War Walkers: 180pts

6 Scatter Lasters.

3 War Walkers: 150pts

3 Scatter Lasters & 3 Shurican Cannons.

Aegis Defence Line: 50pts

So basically this list relies completely on the deathstar which is very hard for most armies to deal with. Not something I like doing but seems like it works well. My buddy Gaz Jones has been using a similar setup and has been thus far successful, so perhaps its worth giving it a whirl.

Now onto Chaos. Personally I have soo many list ideas its unreal, from Nurgle + Epidemius to Noise Marine Spam. In the end ive gone for a fairly balanced approach:

Chaos Lord: 180pts
Mark Of Nurgle, Chaos Mutation, Bike, Black Mace & Sigil Of Coruption.

The Masque: 100pts

9 Flamers: 207pts

5 Plague Bearers: 75pts

24 Cultists: 106pts
24 Cultists: 106pts

10 Chaos Space Marines: 160pts

2 Plasma Guns.

Helldrake: 170pts
Helldrake: 170pts

5 Chaos Spawn: 180pts

Mark Of Nurgle.

5 Havocs: 115pts
4 Autocannons.
5 Havocs: 115pts
4 Autocannons.
5 Havocs: 115pts
4 Autocannons.

Aegis Defence Line: 50pts

Some solid shooting, fair amount of templates, The Masque to help move those models into template range & the lord pushes up alongside the Spawn.

So what do people think? Have you lot thought on what’s next for your tournament army? If you want feedback from someone who has had real hand experience from the UK’s meta, feel free to email me on alexflyf@hotmail.co.uk

Killswitch

New life in the old project yet: Tyranids

Time to reinvigorate the Nids.
I'm staring at these guys now on my living room floor.. 1 Tyrants, 1 Harpy conversion, 1 Trygon, 3 Carnifexes, 18 Warriors, Zoanthrope (Doom conversion), 25 Termagants, 10 Gargoyles, 31 Hormagaunts (random number hey!..these guys are all getting turned into Termagants with green stuff casting fleshborers), 3 Broodlords, 8 Genestealers, Lictor (Deathleaper) ...

New additions - 2 Tervigons.
On order - a second pair of balrog wings for the Tyrant to become a Flyrant..
And thanks to The Voice.. another flyrant with twin devourers..

I've just bought 4 old school Tyranid Warriors, 1 with a Devourer which I am going to cast and use as Hive Guard. Fuck paying full price for a boring ass model.. I am going "Old School" for these guys.. I love the old look.. I remember being a kid and being jealous of a childhood friends Nids - they were very cool.. the old plastic Warriors with boneswords - when I saw them, they were the coolest thing I'd ever seen!

Tyranids have been a long project for me. I've never really given them real drive or momentum to finish the project though. You can see some old posts here and a really old Warseer project log that I started when I last really pushed the Nids...wow it'll be 3 years in Jan since I last really built or painted a Nid! Crazy! 

I'll be honest. The change to Nids through Sixth has gotten a lot of people excited and I am one of them.. the benefit of a huge 'back catalogue' of armies is the costs of updating and relaunching a project is very minimal.. I have just bought a set of Balrog wings, 2 Terv's, 1 new Flyrant (courtesy of The Voice) and 4 OOPWarriors for £20.. so that's about £100 all told.. Not bad.. and mainly due to the cost of Tervigons..

I did think about just converting the Carnifexes, but the new model is nice and HUGE, so it hit my weakspot for massive models.. bought!

Today, I am going to spray paint the base coat on the new models, then airbrush a base coat onto all the models that haven't got it already.. the rest of the day will be dedicated to painting chitin in base colour and maybe even washing it.. I've got a test game lined up in Wednesday vs Dimitris' Plague Marine & Epidemius army that he is taking to Blog Wars 4.. I am going to this btw, so is The Voice and Bringer of Death Steve...if you haven't already - get your ticket!! 

Maulerfiend & more toys on EBAY!

Hey guys and girls, just a quick post from me to say I have a couple of bits on fleabay at the minute, including a fully customisable Maulerfiend/Forgefiend that's basically brand new, just lovingly put together by me and you can use every weapon option that both kits have!

I bought it as part of a project that I am now abandoning and pushing forward with "regular" Nids soon as I already have over 1500 points worth of them! Time to finish what I started!

Anyway, if you want to check it out, it's a bargain at £27.50 with just £3.50 for delivery/charges. This get you the kit, built and trimmed and with all weapons for £9 cheaper than the store price plus petrol, parking n bollocks..

It's cheaper than Wayland or anything like that too and what best? I'll post it the VERY SAME DAY and 1st CLASS if you buy it in the next 5 days as I am on half term and not teaching this week!

I also have some A-17 Bombers for Dystopian Wars, Federated States of America and 2 x 6 Frigates for FSA too..

Check it all out here: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Chaos-Space-Marine-Maulerfiend-Forgefiend-assembled-with-ALL-options-/121007314023?pt=UK_Toys_Wargames_RL&hash=item1c2c991467

Happy ebaying people! Get it done! You know you want to!

The Voice Speaks - Blood Angels 1850. Return of the Mech

Howdie peoples.  Its been a slow week hobby wise, i'm not getting much gaming in at the momement what with trying to finish building an empire army, running round after the pregnant one and painting my wolfs. So the internet has been my only real source of hobby love (i am not loving the commissions...its not fun when its a job :/)

Anyway, I was reading this:

http://natfka.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/the-s...6th-part-2.html

He makes some very good points about mech in 6th ed.

I read it and I am of the thinking that yes, hes correct. Mech msu may not be as GOOD as it was, but its by far from BAD. Hull points as a concept has really just brought all styles of army in to roughly the same ball park competitively wise (apart from maybe flyer spam but I digress). So yes - your seeing more infantry based army's, no - mech isn't the no brainier it used to be and yes I think it can still work. And I think Blood Angels can do it (I love my Bangles and I've been itching to get back to them somehow)

Why?

• A lot of people are assuming that they will only be playing a handful of vehicles now, so their anti tank will not be as prevalent in their lists as before. Allowing you to swamp the big threats with your msu giving you a easier time as the game progresses.
• Shaken and stuns do not happen as much now, and when they do you can still snap fire. Damage output from your mech actualygets BETTER than in 5th
• Assaults squads give you cheap as chips razorbacks. Allowing yet more mech
• Fast vehicles are still very useful gun boats. Combat is death to mech now, so anything to keep stuff further away is good.
• You have a hq that can give you a 5+ save to everything in range. No longer is 5+ "not that good" its kinda the norm now, you don't feel robbed of a save as you scoot round the flanks dakkaing everything.
• They have access to Baals, the hidden heavy support choice.
• Twin linked weapons on a lot of your vehicles makes flyers not look as smug zipping around, and that snap fire isn't that big a deal when stunned.
• More infantry = more things to tank shock!!
• Fast vehicles can get under the "flyer radar" easier. Turn 2 I could be on the enemy's deployment line making it very difficult  for them to start drawing a bead on me.

So how does this all translate in to a list. Well here's my current thinking at 1850:

Libby - Shield (for the save bubble), not sure on the second power.

5 assault marines, plasma gun in razorback with twin linked assault cannons

5 assault marines, plasma gun in razorback with twin linked assault cannons

5 assault marines, plasma gun in razorback with twin linked assault cannons

5 assault marines, plasma gun in razorback with twin linked assault cannons

5 assault marines, plasma gun in razorback with twin linked assault cannons

5 assault marines, plasma gun in razorback with heavy flamer

Baal, assault cannon, heavy bolters

Baal, assault cannon, heavy bolters

Predator, autocannon, heavy bolters

Predator, autocannon, heavy bolters

Vindicator

Bastion - Quad Gun

Basic premise?

Assault cannon and dakka stuff. The flazorback gets in the way for cover saves maybe or hangs about for those problem units in cover. The squad from inside mans the bastion. 5 razor units run round with shield on them shooting stuff lots. If I need to I debunk and let rip plasma too.

The av 13 chassis pour massed firepower in to any an all infantry with the vindicator trundling around putting the fear of god into anything with a good save or more than one wound.

Simples huh?

I need to play this just to see if it can compete. Though I'm still thinking of what to use as the second power. In the old days it would have been lance. But I'm really tempted with fear of the darkness or shackle soul - for those pinch moments when you really need stuff not to be running on to objectives (or run away). Fear is stronger, but I worry ill be too tempted to use it and get out of the tanks when really my warlord should stay in. Shackle soul would be for turn 5,6,7 last gasps and so wont put me in dangerous positions due to over eagerness. (in case your wondering - shackle soul is 12 inch range and unit needs to pass a ld test to move, then one to run, then one to charge)

I don't think any of the main rule books power trees benefit this list. So I'm sticking with the codex powers. Though id be interested if people had any thoughts on that.

So comments? I'm kinda liking it :)

G

New Project! Dark Mechanicus Daemon Nids!

I was inspired the other week at the Southern GT by Rich Fielder's incredible Necron/Dark Mechanicus project. Truly inspirational work..

I've thrown up some pictures here.. but you can see more of Rich's work at the new blog site for him and his boys - DeathorGloryblog@blogspot.com or at his old site www.thedarkmechanic.blogspot.com
Check them out, they are tough tournament chaps, but also good lads. A heady combination indeed!

Anyway, I've been thinking about how I can get loads of the new Forgefiends into an army and run a Dark Mechanicus army inspired by Rich.. I thought Nids would be the best, but I would also need a huge number of random little gribblies.. then I thought about Demons..

Lightbulb moment on that bad boy... don't need a lot of troops for that and can go flying circus too..

I really want to build a Chaos Marine force too.. but don't want to buy Helldrakes - bloody expensive.. next light bulb moment - scratch build a Hellblade /Talon thing - the FW flier! Dead simple shape and with time and effort, I am pretty sure I could builld a couple over the half term holidays for £30 or so.. a hell of a lot cheaper than buying 2 for £90! Plus it would give me a chance to actually do something hobby esque and cool!

I am really forward to trying out some crazy ideas and seeing where I get to.. But of course, the HellTalon/Blade thing doesn't really fit into demons..

Fancy doing Nids..really badly, but then I am not sure what I would do for Termagants? Hordes of Necron warriors might work, but they would need a lot of robes etc.. maybe I can do something with upper bodies of Necrons and green stuff a huge volume of cloaks! Tough, coz that sounds like a lot of work..

I have some cool ideas - that I've shamelessly stolen been inspired into action by Rich Fielder, for Flamers of Tzeentch/Hive Guard etc.. dead cheap and I am sure they will look amazing! I am planning on maybe running large units of these things as they are sooo good in 6th, horrible offensively and with the big bird looking after them, kinda resilient too, 2 wounds makes a huge difference..

I am just adding this sentence as I finish work and prepare to bugger off to Paris for work for a few days, but I was looking Blight Drones at FW and thought about using much smaller versions as a legion of Gargoyles for Tyranids! Essentially little bodies of nid sections, bloated a la Nugle into just a gun, with a pair of VTOL-esque props either side to lift them.. 30 mini blight drones! Cool! They may also work of course as Screamers of Tzeentch..





The real question with Demons is just the troops? what to run them as? How to build Chaos Demon troops in this techno-organic, Dark Mechanicus mess... Back to the imagery I think.. see if the internet has any ideas for me! I guess I could get back to green stuffing Necron Scarabs and build out huge (relatively), towering (um...relatively) stacks of Scarabs to represent Plague Bearers..kinda apt actually.. OK, so that is that one done actually! Sweet..

OOOh, Ooooh! I can use these as Termagants.. YES! FUCK YES! I now have an idea for running hordes of Termagants from the bellies of the giant tervigons..

Gonna have the bugs teleport in via a Necron wormhole set in their tummies! oooh... this is all gonna be soooooo cool!

Horrors? Shooty little critters... what about the mouth from the Ectoplasma Cannon as a head and then just have some weird cloaky things like the Veil of Darkness/Crypt thing from Vampire Counts conversion everyone does? Green stuff the cloaks etc?

God, I have got so much work to do! lol... It's amazing to be passionate about trying to build something new for 40k for a change...that does NOT include a single marine body!

It has been a long time for me since I built a new army.. even Necrons a year ago (or just shy, whenever the latest book came out) were not even a new army for me, just a case of buying the new kits that really worked *cough* Barges *cough* and getting stuck in on the cheap.. even a few fliers don't really represent getting a whole new army.. This is gonna be a fun project! And probably my most challenging one to date!

Can I get it done for Blog Wars 4 in December? No chance.. will I try? Hell yes.

New Chaos Fiend Kit... Amazing WIP shots

Been putting the new Mauler/Forge Fiend kit together today, as well as finishing the painting on my Kirai/Von Schill Malifaux crew.

The new Chaos kits go together really well. Great design and style. I didn't like the fact that the Mauler's were so hunched over, so short essentially. I like a towering behemoth rather than a squat bitch. So I put the kit together in a more upright position/stance.

I really think it looks quite good this tall. I know that this is not how this particular model is meant to be, but if any of you remember the old Khorne Lord of Battle demon engine, I liked the idea of having a towering slaughterer.. What I really liked about the old Epic model was the mix of a massive cannon and the massive axe! Unfortunately, the new rules don't support this kind of mix.. but it did get me thinking about a Khornate Paladin army..

If I ran the Fiend with a claw from the mauler and an ectoplasma cannon, then we could call it a sword and heavy incinerator.. then we could run some crazy ass Khornate Termies and Zhufor as Draigo.. Plus, if it is true that Forgeworld are going to release Death Shroud Termies ... I think I just pee'd a little...Anyway..

The kit is nice to put together and is easy to keep interchangeable and looks wicked, I can recommend getting one..if not 3! I know I am going to grab another couple next month and a couple of Helldrakes... I am genuinely looking into running some sort of Chaos army...especially with Zombies everywhere...

I am really digging these kits.. Now just need to figure out how the hell the army works!

I am also very much all over the Typhus zombie horde, plus with extra toys to distract people, slow them down in their attempt to kill the zombie horde! Having put this giant rhino/dino together.. I really want 3 to be honest! So it looks like it'll be the Maulerfiend that gets run, or perhaps 2 Maulers and Forgefiend with Ectoplasma...like The Voice was talking about yesterday.. Chaos 'Dread' bash: 
Could save points and not use Typhus..just use a Techmarine dude for half the points.. 

Warpsmith - 110 

Hellbrute, MM, Fist - 100 

Hellbrute, MM, Fist - 100

30 Cultists

30 Cultists

Aegis Defence Line - Quad Gun

9 Marines, meltagun 

9 Marines, meltagun

Dragon - Baleflamer 

Dragon - Baleflamer

Dragon - Baleflamer 

Maulerfiend 

Maulerfiend 

Maulerfiend

1850 

Could be fun... and by fun I mean...mean