Invitational Part 2

Just some remaining photos...

Game 2 vs Orks.  A great time, but everything hinged on a game with a win-lose condition - who will own the meteor that arrives Turn 3?

Turn1 - Orks going second...I'd clustered around the Captain to send long-range shots to take down a few greenskins.  The orks zoom forward...

This Ork biker unit was marked - my secondary was to shoot or assault it three times by my snipers...but the last biker died in assault with a different unit...so I could not get the secondary...

Turn 2...My reserves are in the ork deployment zone clearing it...the orks are assaulting into mine...no meteor yet...

I'm castled up there and ready for the ork response...

Turn 3 - orks are on the meteor...and the game is ending...

Tallying up.  The Kustom Warboss on the bike was alot of trouble for the Ultramarines...

Game 3 vs GeneStealer Cultists

It was like a prison jailbreak out there...zombies in orange...cultists in orange...

Wheeeee!  I'm riding the purple sage! 

Good shot of the firing line...

Terminators taking the center....only to have the cult reserves pop them with meltacharges...

Leading to this epic charge...the Patriarch vs the Chaplain and Librarian and Lieutenant! Again, a shortened game, but I liked how the list has played.  I think with more practice and such - and clock speed - I can pull off some great wins! I have an ITC tournament on April 20...wish me luck!  

Errors and Such:

1.  I may not have remembered the Ultramarines Chapter tactic at all times (+1L, ability to fall back and shoot at -1BS).
2. I may not have remembered or applied the Captain's Storm of Fire Warlord trait every time.
3. I may not have applied the penalty to heavy weapons (-1 to hit) shooting to the landspeeders when they moved every time. 
4. Next time an opponent tries to leak around the rules, hold my ground...frankly I feel I have games where this happens and I'm the only one in the room calling the questions up...but it needs to be done.  
5. Practice with a clock...
6. More painting of details on the Lieutenant.

I'm modifying this list to 2000 points for the 20th...had to lose a Terminator...but I brought in two dreadnoughts! More stuff I've not used in forever...but it gives me stuff that can shoot, and still get krumpy in the assault!

Thoughts?

MING 

3 in a Day - the Rockport Invitational

Well, I'd hoped for better, but let's face it, I have not played a game since probably October.

This post will be all about the photos, but to recap:

I attended the Rockport Invitational in Maine, April 6. It is a 1750 point event, Imperium vs others, nine teams on a side.  It is really cool, with a narrative lead-up, team captains making the game pairings, and tons of food and drinks.  I brought a 6-pack of G-String, and 1750 points in Ultramarines (which started this Blog, but I had not played them in 2 years)...we played at the organizers house - who just happens to have 9 gaming tables in his game room...

As pre-cast on my prior posts, I was using a list including my old models plus one new Primaris Vanguard Lieutenant in phobos armor from the new boxed set. Here are some photos of some of the armies playing that day:

My Ultramarines for the day - yes, one extra HF/MM landspeeder - I'd unpacked it and forgot he'd been swapped for the Lieutenant...

Um, glad I did not get assigned to this opponent.  The bugs are awesome. 

Yes, like this...he used a gloss clearcoat for the wet parts, not really visible here but awesome in person...I hate bugs....

Ma-Hreens...

Meet my game 2 Opponent....

Here is something you done see every day.  The MVP of the Imperium Side and highest scoring player of the day...Sisters of Battle...WOW.  

Meet my game 3 opponent...people who like bugs....and worship them like star gods....

Eldar...

These are the Ma-Hreens the bugs were looking to emulate...

A nice gunship...

Frankly, best painted army of the day...so Spring Like....

More blue Guys. Second Company Scum...hey...Calgar is in the background...who leads from the front anymore?

Chaos Scum?

  Yep...

My games were all awesome, and all were close.

Game 1 was vs Demon Soup

I earned 3 points for the team, but lost 5 points to the bad guys. 

Game 1 Deployment.  Corners.  Points were to be scored for being in the three zones of the table.  It was a Death World Jungle though, and every piece of terrain caused mortal wounds to any infantry in them at the end of each turn or so - so we both avoided the terrain...like the plague...not to mention the Nurgle army was right next to us...

This was a contentious point of the game.  Demon Turn 1.  Dropping in two demon princes and a bloodletter bomb from reserves.  I told my opponent he could not do it, but he did it anyway.  Nobody in earshot would answer the question that demons could not come in from reserves outside their deployment zone on Turn 1.  My opponent came up to me and apologized during Game 3 to tell me I was right all along.  I'd lost the game by 1 point....which cost my team 5 points...

Yes, charged as well.  I stopped taking pictures of this game.  I did eliminate the Bloodletters, some of the demons.  The Khorne Bloodthirster caused me the greatest issues though.  Would have made a big difference to be able to shoot it up turn 1 rather than be locked in combat with models that should not have been there....

My blog does not want to let me load more pix after this point for some reason....

Game 2- Orks

The game was a blast.  The mission had us fighting it out while waiting for a meteor (the only win condition) to arrive.  We slugged it out, but only gt through Turn 3.  The meteor arrived in the lab of the Orks (going second) and they won the 5 points.  If the game had continued - the objective was swarmed with Orks and it might have been near impossible for me to win the day. It was a very fun game with us both slugging it out.. The Orks zoomed forward using Da Jump and Bikes to attack my deployment line, and my reserves teleported to the Ork Rear, decimating what was there.  We basically swapped deployment zones in 3 turns.  

Game 3 - Genestealer Cult

This was another great and well balanced game.  besides each other, we were fighting Geller-Poxed zombies.  We both worked to eliminate all of the zombies, and then went to work on each other.  This game also times out at Turn 3, but we both agreed if the game had continued, the Ultramarines would have won. Of course I'd walked into the GSC trap where his Psycher took over one of my flyers - twice!  Nothing is less fun than being shot up by friendly fire...however - I'd made my saves!  I'd also lost my terminator Squad to a GSC unit arriving from reserves turn 2, advancing within a few inches, and then throwing their melta charges...On turn three, he'd charged my three leaders at the board center with a mob and his Patriarch, but I'd made all my saves!  EPIC! 

All for NOW

MING

Blue List Rev 1

Well, I'm getting closer on a final list for the invitational.  It is a difficult development process, but I'm working with what I have, and its probably the last of my Ultramarines lists posted without a Primaris or Primarch inclusion.  Last ride of the old guys!

1750 Points - Last Ride of the Demon Banes, 125 PL, 10 CP

Battalion Detachment +5CP (Imperium - Space Marines) [54 PL, 839pts] 
Chaplain in Terminator Armor [7 PL, 92pts]: Storm bolter [2pts]
Librarian in Terminator Armor [9 PL, 120pts]: 1) Veil of Time, 6) Null Zone, Force stave [8pts], Storm shield [10pts]

Scout Squad [6 PL, 88pts]: 5x Camo cloak [15pts] . Scout Sergeant [13pts]: Bolt pistol, Sniper rifle [2pts] . Scout w/Heavy Weapon [21pts]: Heavy bolter [10pts] . 3x Scout w/Sniper Rifle [39pts]: 3x Sniper rifle [6pts]
Tactical Squad [9 PL, 84pts]: 4x Space Marine [52pts]. Space Marine Sergeant [13pts]: Boltgun, Chainsword . Space Marine w/Special Weapon [19pts]: Flamer [6pts]
Tactical Squad [5 PL, 71pts]: 3x Space Marine [39pts]. Space Marine Sergeant [13pts]: Boltgun, Chainsword . Space Marine w/Special Weapon [19pts]: Flamer [6pts]

Stormtalon Gunship [9 PL, 192pts]: Twin assault cannon [44pts], Typhoon missile launcher [38pts]
Stormtalon Gunship [9 PL, 192pts]: Twin assault cannon [44pts], Typhoon missile launcher [38pts]

Vanguard Detachment +1CP (Imperium - Space Marines) [42 PL, 462pts] 
Sergeant Telion [4 PL, 65pts]

Sternguard Veteran Squad [7 PL, 80pts]: Space Marine Veteran [16pts]: Special issue boltgun [2pts] . Space Marine Veteran [16pts]: Special issue boltgun [2pts] . Space Marine Veteran [16pts]: Special issue boltgun [2pts] . Space Marine Veteran [16pts]: Special issue boltgun [2pts] . Veteran Sergeant [16pts] . . Special Issue Boltgun/Bolt Pistol [2pts]: Special issue boltgun [2pts]

Sternguard Veteran Squad [7 PL, 80pts]: Space Marine Veteran [16pts]: Special issue boltgun [2pts] . Space Marine Veteran [16pts]: Special issue boltgun [2pts] . Space Marine Veteran [16pts]: Special issue boltgun [2pts] . Space Marine Veteran [16pts]: Special issue boltgun [2pts] . Veteran Sergeant [16pts] . . Special Issue Boltgun/Bolt Pistol [2pts]: Special issue boltgun [2pts]

Terminator Squad [24 PL, 237pts]: Teleport Homer . Terminator Sergeant [29pts]: Power sword [4pts], Storm bolter [2pts] . Terminator w/Heavy Weapon [72pts]: Power fist [9pts] . . Cyclone Missile Launcher and Storm Bolter [40pts]: Cyclone missile launcher [38pts], Storm bolter [2pts] . 4x Terminator w/PF [136pts]: 4x Power fist [36pts], 4x Storm bolter [8pts]

Outrider Detachment +1CP (Imperium - Space Marines) [29 PL, 449pts] 
Captain [5 PL, 81pts]: Master-crafted boltgun [3pts], Power sword [4pts], Storm of Fire, The Burning Blade, Warlord

Land Speeders [6 PL, 98pts]: Heavy bolter [10pts], Typhoon missile launcher [38pts]

Land Speeders [6 PL, 98pts]: Heavy bolter [10pts], Typhoon missile launcher [38pts]

Land Speeders [12 PL, 86pts x2]: Land Speeder [6 PL, 86pts]: Heavy flamer [14pts], Multi-melta [22pts]. Land Speeder [6 PL, 86pts]: Heavy flamer [14pts], Multi-melta [22pts]

Strategica:
Well, it is a shooty list with a twist.  Here are some of my thoughts. Some of this came from listening to Reecius at Frontline Gaming, with the caveat that I'm using what I have! Overall, the event is a narrative event with its own pairings, missions, objectives, character development, and such. 

1. Being a shooty list, I'm looking to capitalize on the new bolter rapid fire beta rules where possible - coupled with the Captain's Storm of Fire Warlord trait and his Rites of Battle rules.  I'm looking for this to be very useful for any sternguard, tactical, or terminator unit that touches his 6" bubble.  There are some event specific rules that may help with this further. The sternguard can benefit from their strat card, and if I want to go all-in, I can use a card to bump the captain up to be a chapter master equivalent, giving rerolls on all misses instead of just 1's. The Captain has the burning blade relic at the moment, but that might be easily replaced with something like the Primarch's Wrath relic - a rapid fire 2, S5, -1AP, D2 bolter...Hmmm...he'd never miss. 
2. The Tellion-led sniper team has 4 sniper rifles and a HB - all are a source of mortal wounds and ability to pop lesser characters.  The HB would use the strategem for causing more mortal wounds to targets at range.  Tellion gives them +1 to hit, making them a bit better.  These guys will get deployed in cover, cloaked, on high, for best use. The narrative leading to this invitational event includes a story line with Tellion, so its very fluffy! 
3. The TLAC/TML Flyers and HB/TML Landspeeders are there for mobility and weight of fire on important higher T targets like light vehicles or hordes. The HF/MM Landspeeders are there because I have the OLD original LEAD models...and their role is to screen my deployment zone flank - to support defense against breakthroughs. Some of the missions favor mobility as well, so these 6 models provide some support for getting the missions complete.
4. The Terminators - a big change between the original list and this one is a swap to shooting instead of assault.  I decided that the beta bolter rules - which really support stormbolter-toting terminators - can be really good.  Accompanied by the Terminator Chaplain and the Terminator Librarian, it becomes a solid group of 8 models, which can be used if needed to shoot and then assault.  Plus they get the beacon, which can be used to move them someplace else if they get into trouble (like back to the Captain).  The Librarian rocks with Null Zone and Veil of Time and Smite, supporting that tactic, and the Chaplain supports them further to get rerolls in assault and provides his leadership. I can hold these 8 models in reserve for a turn 2 or turn 3 drop, which may be just what I need to pull out a win.  

Overall, it is a pretty good showing for the collection at 1750.  Plus or minus a few tweaks, it might even get better.  I think the weakest links might actually be the Chaplain and the HF/MM landspeeders.  There are some opportunities there to swap in longer-ranged firepower, and maybe a different character model, but everything has trade-offs at this point.  If anything, the flyers and landspeeders equate to 44 T5/T6 wounds, which is hard to replicate with T4 marines.

Lastly, here they are...I have one marine to elevate (repaint) to Sternguard, two sergeants to get bolters (replacing pistols), a HB scout that needs to look like he has a cloak, and a Terminator Chaplain who could use a bigger base...and then I'm all set to go...

   

 

Blue for the Invitational

I'm going to an invitational, narrative, team event in two weeks. It is always pretty cool to go to this kind of event, and if maxed out, each team will have 9 players. its also a BBQ, and beers are table side.

Because of the pre-event narrative, I've decided to go with a list in line with the event's fictional themes and scenarios. It also has be building an Ultramarines List (breaking out the blue guys!  Third Company supported by the First and 10th!) for the first time in way over two years...here are the high points grouped by detachment, wargear may vary to match the collection and such.  Some of these models have not been used in a while, and some never saw battle!

1750 Points

Tellion (named character)
Librarian in Terminator Armor
5 Scouts (sniper rifles and cloaks)
6 Tactical Marines
6 Tactical Marines

Chaplain in Terminator Armor
6 Assault Terminators (3 with TH/SS, 3 w/ LClaws)
5 Sternguard
5 Sternguard

Captain
1 Landspeeder (HB/Typhoon)
1 Landspeeder (HB/Typhoon)
2 Landspeeders (HF/MM)
Stormtalon Gunship (AC/Typhoon)
Stormtalon Gunship (AC/Typhoon)

I'll probably also rearrange the components, but it is a good first cut.  Because its all from one source I get extra CPs per the event rules. 

Of course the Chaplain, Librarian, and Terminators are a turn-2 arriving reserve. 

Tellion deploys with the scouts, in cover, hopefully elevated, with the job of slaying characters. 

The Captain and Sternguard provide some sturdy boots to rapid fire enemies out of my own deployment zone, screened by the tactical squads, who also have a role of keeping nearby objectives.

The speeders and flyers will really do some work, hopefully, being fast and agile, to work around the terrain to mop up enemy units.  Two of the speeders are a bit short ranged, but are to pop out from behind terrain to put the hurt on things, kill zombies, whatever is needed. 

Interestingly the event includes selecting one un-named character before the day starts, and buffing him with traits out of the 2018 Chapter Approved, and also applying some campaign upgrades to some units as well.  Every time you lose a game, your character gets more buffs.

Team Captains are there to assign / match opponents to table missions.  Each table has different terrain, mission parameters, and objectives. The list above is designed to do better in some missions than others, which adds to the fun. Some tables have faction-specific mission cards tagged to a specific player. 

Based on the new rapid fire beta rules, I'm torn between the assault terminators, vs taking shooty ones instead.  I'll have to noodle that out. 

The Librarian and Chaplain are key here, as they both have the ability to buff up the terminators and help them the into the assault.

Right now the Captain is kept cheap.  He might end up as the warlord. He might get the best free relic too.  His best benefit at the moment is to buff the units around him.  If he's assaulted, it probably means everything else has gone badly.   

I'm uncertain as to who will be best as the character I get to buff. The Librarian is likely, as some buffs just plain make him more survivable.

I'm hoping to at least scrimmage this list vs a similar sized Blood Angels list in the next week.  Plus I'm going to pre-select meaningful stratagems, and make some reminder cards for buffs and auras.  Should be fun! 

I'll try to add more comments on this list as it evolves over the next 10 days...

Thoughts? Crazy? Scrap it? 

MING

Trending Blue and Black and Red Again

I've got my pre-order in for Shadowspear! Just waiting to pick it up.

In case you have not seen it - go watch what Tabletop Tactics has revealed in an infomercial for Shadowspear.  OMG.  Much fun on the horizon. I also had no idea these models are of the snap-fit variety! Easy quick construction, blue or black primer, and you are nearly there!

It is going to be epic. 

I also have my pre-order in for Vigilus Book 2. 

Ummmm....

Rumors has it that Vigilus Book 2 will include the new rules for Abaddon, some black legion stuff

And apparently.....KHORNE Daemons!

AND more specialist detachments!

It seems that as Abaddon wants to take over the planet - already infested with Genestealers and Orks, the war has attracted Khorne and he's sending his finest daemons to collect skulls by the pile!

Ummmm....

Skulltaker?

It overlaps with Khorne daemons being released in Age of Sigmar, with new models! The same daemons can be used in both games!

All I can say is...

Ummmm....

I thought I'd be fighting off Orks and Genestealers in droves for the rest of 2019. 

Apparently not. 

Games Workshop released short story #11 yesterday on the Vigilus campaign...about voices inside your head.

The voices are apparently saying...buy red...its going to be piles of fun, no bones about it.

They also whisper...watch what comes in the next book after Book II...

MING





 

Red or Blue or Black or...

I'm at a Crossroads, LOL.

No, not that one.

I'm trying to decide something important.

Should I:

1. Keep playing Blood Angels, and start squeezing in new units. Plus or minus Astra Militarum or a Knight.

2. Go back to Ultramarines (my roots) but modernize with the Primarch and Primaris, and other new stuff.

3. Say screw it all, stop fighting for the good guys and go rogue? I have a unfinished, never used Black Legion force that would need to be severely updated.

Option 1 is pretty easy, I have a few yet unpainted but built reinforcements for the red guys.  I'm just finding that they will seem to struggle with the lack of turn 1 drops and other issues like the nerf to command point regeneration. It will be interesting to add back in the "revised" proposed rules for bolt weapons. A 5-man terminator squad throwing out 20 storm bolter shots instead of 10? OK... 

Option 2 is attractive, with the new Vigilus-related box set coming out soon. I really need to go all in on Primaris though. I did get the new Calgar and Friends box, but in reality I should just spring for the Primarch and go blue to the core. A new Librarian Character with possibly new spells? Not going to win any painting awards through. 

Option 3 has always been gnawing at my skull.  Whispers in the dark.  Black Legion and and new Abaddon and more hearken.  Lots of re-painting, repairs, and new stuff.  Easy to paint though...and maybe with a few demons for luck...Vigilus Book 2 will probably have a lot of special stuff for the Black Legion...It might be a good time to start something fresh.

Overall, it has been a hard winter for me to get games in - seems every Wednesday has snowed or I have a meeting, or a cold.  Ditto on monthly event Saturdays. What, like 8 games or something silly so far for the gaming year? Inconceivable!

BUT, April is coming.  I need to make a decision now and start tooling up for an April event.  April...

Red or Blue or Black...

MING

 

Streaming Fail at the LVO

Just a small rant.

A tiny rant.

I thought the Warhammer 40K live stream from the LVO was a failure this year. 

I was hoping it would be better. 

Instead, two guys just talked about the game being shown and they talked about the chat that came in while they broadcast.

How had would it be to really be better broadcasters?

Watching 40K is not like watching e-sports, in that the game has turns and phases and larger scale strategy.  It takes time to develop. 

An e-sports match can be 5 minutes of action packed game time, sometimes just an animated fight between two characters. The screen often shows the score as it develops, and the action can be visceral.

Warhammer 40K is more like a football game or baseball game with no substitutions and injured players cannot be replaced. 

How can it be fixed?

In the edited taped versions of 40K, I think Tabletop Tactics and Veterans of the Long War are the gold standard of non-live games. Some of their theatrics, comedy, and insight and such lend well to a live game.

I'd say that the only real way to address the livestream broadcast issues are to add a third reporter - located ringside - with a camera of their own to hold, and one pointed at a nearby broadcast point.  They need to have their own version of the game scoring system up - and keep record of the status of each element and talk live to keep the "booth" up on exactly when player turns and turn phases change.  The "scoring sheet" could be kept at a location facing away from the players - so as not to provide a reminder or advantage to either, and the ringside reporter can, using a headset mike - can talk in a way that provides instant information to the booth and viewers, that would not disrupt the game. The booth pair themselves need to have more data at their fingertips - what are the actual placings of the opponents? Where are they from? How many wounds does a model have and its save?  They need to just say those things.  Is there a presumed real strategy being played, or is it just "target priority". Color commentary is key. 

It was awkward throughout the LVO livestream this year to know that Frankie and the other guy had no idea at times what was going on, no idea what spells or cards were played, etc.  Thus, unless you loved seeing monocolored dice rolled in a small box, it became boring.  Heck, you could not tell what was being targeted until it was picked up as a casualty.  All of that was due to the distance of the booth from the action on the field.

Overall, if the livecast of these games is to rise in viewership, it is critical that the broadcast gets better for the viewer. 

Back to the drawing board,

MING