Couple of League Games

Last night I fit in a couple more League games

Game 1: Kris Z. and his Marines (Librarian, Combat Squad Tactical Squad with a Rhino, 2x Landspeeders).

Capture and Control, Dawn of War.  I steal the initiative and from there the game is almost solely in my favor.  The dice were hot and Kris didn’t make any mistakes, it was just a lot of good rolls on my side and not so hot rolls on mine.  The Destroyer lord wiped a unit of marines by himself and that took a unit of his objective.  Ended Turn 5.

What I learned: Immortals can put out quite a torrent of fire.  Also they do not fear the Heavy Flamer as much as Warriors do.

Game 2: Clint and his Plague Marines (Chaos Lord, 2x 5 man squads (1 with 2x Plasma, 1 with 2x Melta) each unit in Rhinos.

Capture and Control, Pitched Battle.  Yet again I steal the initiative (I swear I’m not cheating).  I manage to shake his first rhino which kept him from blasting my Scarabs.  They got into the first PM squad and eventually with some assistance from the Spyder they wiped that unit.  The second PM squad tank shocked the Immortals, but on my turn I   managed to charge and wreck his Rhino.  I think we did the Emergency Disembarkation wrong, but it wasn’t a big deal.  Eventually it got down to his Lord and Plague Champion.  His Lord killed my Destroyer Lord, but I rolled a 4 for my RP and he popped pack up.  On his turn I killed his Lord back and won the game.

What I learned: Scarabs and Spyders in the same combat can be solid.  Forcing my opponent to choose between killing the squishy stuff, or gamble on wounding a MC makes for some tough decisions.  Destroyer Lord is a solid choice.  The lack of an Invulnerable save is a tad worrisome, but the Toughness 6 makes up for it in some situations.  Powerfists and Dreadnoughts are going to be an issue, but if I can survive the Dreadnought’s attacks then I should be okay as he’s hitting back with re-rolling Warscythe attacks.

A good night of games.  I felt bad laying the smack down on the guys, but I’ve got a losing record against Kris and Chaos Marines is a good matchup for me.  I think Clint did nothing wrong in our game tactically speaking, but at higher points it is going to be a good matchup.

League Week 3 and Random Thoughts

Just a brief rundown on my Week 3 Games:

Game 1: Played Robbie M. and his Blood Angels.  He put all of his units in Reserve to Deep Strike later.  Vanguard Vets came in Turn 3.  One unit assaulted my big unit of Warriors.  They ended up being stuck in with them till Turn 4-5 when I finished them off.  I made like 12 out off 13 Reanimation rolls over this period and Robbie was like “are you serious”.  The unit of Scarabs eventually finished off the other unit.  Last turn he charged in his unit of Assault marines, but failed to kill my Warriors.  Since he charged me he contested the objective and tied it.

What I Learned: Necron warriors in units of 12+ can tie/beat units of 5 marines (most flavors at least).  The WS/T 4 really does matter.  The Leadership 10 can really make the difference since most of the time I’m losing by 2-3.  Also I need to keep objectives in mind. If I hadn’t sent my Spyder to contest his objective (which he didn’t go for) then I could have tied up or destroyed another unit of his.

Game 2: Versus Kevin S. and his Nids.  After playing Orks I know that Nids will be an issue for me.  This game supported said theory.  The Termagaunts shooting really thinned my Warriors and they eventually broke.  The Spyder and Scarabs were great that game.  The Scarabs tied up his HQ and Hive Guard for like 4 turns and the Spyder was fantastic against Gaunts as the T6 really kept him from doing any damage.  I ended up getting tabled Turn 6.

What I learned: Mass Str 4 shooting will hurt Warriors.  The Termagaunts were throwing out so much shooting that I was losing enough guys to not be able return enough fire.  If I know that I will be facing Nids I will probably drop something to beef them up.

Random Thoughts:

So how am I going to make the leap to 1000 points and beyond?  I definitely think a Ghost Ark is going to be added.  The extra shooting and ability to refill Warrior units will benefit my army greatly.  The Armor 13 Vehicle will be a nice addition, but as I may only have one other vehicle at the lower points I’m worried they will be easy targets to Long Fangs, Melta, etc…  The Living Metal rule will offset some of that, but it will change my army dynamic.

I am also going to be adding another Spyder (most likely with a Fabricator Array and Gloom Prism).  Our local meta does feature some Psychic shooting so I think the Prism will get some mileage.  The Spyders have shown me that they can take some punishment.  Missiles are their bane, but oh well that is to be expected.  The T6 has been great as in certain situations I have been throwing them in to tie up units.  I think when I’m in a pickle they can be used to tie up a Warrior Unit so that I can runaway with them.

Immortals are going to be a must in games over 750.  The Tesla Carbines are really going to help against horde armies.  The 3+ Armor Save offsets their smaller unit size.  The plan is to run 8-10 with a Res. Orb Royal Court Lord.  I’m still not sure about whether to give him a Staff of Light or a Warscythe.  I’m going to run them pretty soon so I should have some more insight into them by mid-March.

That’s it for now.  Next post I should cover my week 4 games and a Wargear breakdown.

Necron List Change and an Extra Game

So our League is doing something really interesting.  While the 500 point games are in effect we are supposed to play at least 2 games a week.  Any additional games are considered “Extra Games” and if you play one then you get a ticket into the drawing after the first series of games.  This is great because it encourages more games (which is always a good thing).

Game 3 I played my old nemesis Dartorn and his Chaos Space Marines (Slaanesh themed).  I changed my list up to the following:

Overlord – Staff of Light, Phaeron upgrade, Res Orb

Royal Court: Cryptek – Chronometron, Aeon Stave

13 Warriors

5 Scarabs

Cryptek Spyder – TL Particle Beamer

Dawn of War, Annihilation – He outflanked his Chosen (came on Turn 2).  He disembarks the Chosen and Melta blasts my Spyder off the board.  I move the Warriors and whittle his Chosen down to 3 models.  I multi-charge the Scarabs.  They damage the Rhino (knocks 5 points off his armor) and kill one Chosen. The next turn I wipe both of them.  I also Immobilize his other Rhino with my Warriors.  On his Turn he attempts to charge me in cover, but is an inch short.  On my turn I continue to shoot then charge with Scarabs (killing one then the Scarabs get wiped). At the end of 5 he rolls and the game is over (I win 3-2).  As always a great game versus Dartorn.

What I learned: Chronometron is pretty sick. It is a piece of Wargear that is pretty versatile as it has the potential to affect so many different rolls (Morales, Shooting, Reanimation, Damage, etc…).  I am definitely keeping that in my list.  Scarabs continue to prove their worth in every game and so far they are a tough target for the opponent.  In bigger games I am definitely running a minimum of 2 units of 5.  The Entropic Strike is of course huge, but if they are in cover than it can make my opponent make some tough decisions.

About the Necrons:  Every game has taught me something new about them, but my overall view of them is changing.  I thought the Wargear is the most complex aspect in the book, but the way the army plays is really unique.  One has to be considerate of ranges (be it shooting or charges) and you be willing to take chances with them.  Like with any gamble it may not pay off, but if the dice rolls in your favor then you can surprise people.  Reanimation Protocols will (as it has always been) the most discouraging factor to your opponent.  I love the fact that entire shooting phases can be negated by a hot series of dice.

With the Phaeron upgrade big units of Warriors or Immortals can be played with a lot of flexibility.  Being able to move 6″, Rapid Fire, then assault can be very deadly.  This goes back to chancing the outcomes of said combats, but the potential is there.

For now I’m keeping the list as is until I can finish a couple of units, but I look forward to trying Immortals with Tesla Carbines and a Destroyer Lord.

 

Joplin40k League

Alrighty then so this last Wednesday we saw the kick off to the 2012 Joplin Area 40k League at Changing Hands Book Shoppe 500 pt games to start, 6 weeks to play (2 games each week), with prizes for 1st, 2nd, and a random drawing.  After the 6 weeks are up we take 2 weeks off then start the 2nd chunk at 1000 points.

I’m playing the Necrons and for the first 2 games I played the following list:

6 Canoptek Scarabs

1 Canoptek Spyder

1 Overlord – Staff of Light, Phaeron Upgrade, Res Orb

15 Warriors

Total Roster Cost: 500

Game 1 I played against Travis S. and his IG (Command Squad in Chimera), Vet Squad in chimera, and Medusa.  There are some Comp modifiers in the League (i.e. 1 HQ, 0-1 Elite, 1 Min Troops, 0-1 FA, 0-1 HS and some other stuff).  I advanced and was doing ok as I managed to shake the Medusa and charge his Command Chimera with the Scarabs.  He dropped a bunch of shooting on the Warriors and I box-carred my Morale check.  Because of all of the wounds to the unit I was under half-strength.  They ended up running off the table and I was tabled Turn 5.

What did I learn: Scarabs like IG-like models.  They killed the Chimera then tied up the Command Squad for multiple rounds of combat.  Big units of Necron Warriors benefit from a Cryptek (be it with a Chromotron or some other upgrade).

Game 2 was against Jason D. and his Space Wolves (Dawn of War, Annihilation).  I deployed Warriors and Overlord on the Center line which kept his Grey Hunters near his edge.  This helped because I was able to fall back and still shoot, but I failed my first Moral check (again), but I didn’t run off the board this turn.  I basically spent the game shooting at Max range and used the Scarabs to take out his Rhino.  Turn 5 I moved my Warriors up and shot everything at them (leaving his Squad Leader and his Rune Priest).  I assaulted with the Scarabs and wiped the unit.  The Scarabs Consolidated out of sight of his Long Fangs and ended up with the win (3-1).  Good game and I enjoyed talking to Jason about other armies, podcasts, and army transport bags.

What did I Learn: Scarabs are money against small units (5 or less models).  Chronometron is definately getting added.

Overall the League kick off night went well.  I believe 10 games were played and a few showed up to talk or watch.

A New Start

Greetings all,

Sorry for the delay.  Typical excuses, life, family, Warhammer, etc…

Ok so a few changes to Choppas and Chains.  Orks are still a go.  I’ve got 1500 points completed and for now they are done.  I will be working on some projects for them in the future, but other more nefarious doings are in the works.  Dark Eldar are going nowhere, so   nowhere that I’m trading them to a friend.

My new love are the Necrons and will be the emphasis of my posting/hobbying.  My wife hooked me up with a couple of box sets at Christmas and between some trades and purchases I now have over 2000 points of them.  I have about 600 points painted up as of today and I have many more models in the works.

Please be patient as I continue to paint, upload, and overclock my noggin.

barlio

 

Quick Update

Hey guys just wanted to let you know that I will be taking a break till life gets back to a sense of normality.  Unfortunately my hometown of Joplin, MO was struck by a devastating EF 5 Tornado.  Thankfully our home was spared with a minimum amount of damage, but we are currently without Gas and Electric.  We are living at my parents till the utilities are returned to service. 

You continued thoughts and prayers are appreciated and I look forward to the time in the near future when little plastic Orks and Space Elves are a prime concern in my life once again.

Brad

League Month 2 – Game 4

My List:

HQ: Gribbens da Big Mek – Kustom Force Field, Eavy Armor, Cybork Body

Troops: Two 30 Boy Mobz (1 with Sluggas and 1 with Shootas, each with a Power Klaw, Boss Pole, Eavy Armor Nob), 11 Gretchin and a Runtherd

Fast Attack: 2 individual Deffkoptas with TL Rokkit Launchas and Buzzsaws                                                    

Opponent/List: Kris and his Mechanized Ultrasmurfs                                                               

HQ: Librarian with the Avenger and Null Zone. 

Troops: Two 5 man squads (1 Sgt with BP/CCW and 1 Sgt with Combi-flamer) each in Las/Plasma Razorbacks. 

Heavy Support: Vindicator and 2 Dakka Preds (Heavy Bolter Sponsons and Autocannon Turrets).

Mission/Deployment: Take and Hold / Dawn of War (I elected to let Kris deploy and go first)

 

Game Breakdown:  He started the first turn with a Las/Plas Razorback, Tact squad, and the Libby on the board.  I started with both Boyz mobs and Gribbens da Mek on the board (Deffkoptas are going to outflank). 

Turn 1 A: Kris moves on the rest of his army.  Searchlight on the Razorback lights up the Slugga boyz mobs and everything else shoots the Slugga boyz dropping them down to 18 models or so. 

Turn 1 B: I run with everything and the Gretchin sneak behind a building. 

Turn 2 A:  Kris maneuvers some and shoots up the Slugga boyz.  I got really lucky because the Vindicator’s Demolisher cannon round scattered. 

Turn2 B: Neither of the Koptas shows up.  I tried to move the Slugga Boyz up into the crater so that I can get a multi-assault.  Now I started probably 8 inches away from his Las/Plas rhino and squad so I figured I’m da man and I’ve got him where I want him.  I roll for difficult terrain and get two 2s (facepalm).  I then declare a Waaagh and roll a 1 (double facepalm).  I’m still about 5 inches out so I got a chance.  I roll for Difficult terrain and get a 2 and 3 (triple facepalm?).  We have a good laugh and move on.  The Shoota boyz make me proud getting around 8 Glancing hits on the Vindicator and stripping all weapons from it and destroying it. 

Turn 3 A:  Kris continues to punish my Slugga boyz by shooting them with his Libby and Tactical squad getting them down to 5 boyz and the Nob.  His attacks kill the boyz and the Nob kills a marine.  I flee, but manage to outrun him.  The Nob spends the rest of the game running.  He shoots my Shoota boyz, but only kills a couple. 

Turn 3 B: One Deffkopta comes in on the right-flank.  Charges the Predator and explodes it.  The Shoota boyz move and shoot at the Razorback, but don’t scratch it.

Turn 4 A: Kris moves one Razorback towards an objective and shoots at the Shoota boyz along with the other Predator, but only kills a couple of boyz (18 left I think).  The other Razorback hits and kills a Deffkopta with a Hunter-Killer missile.

Turn 4 B:  My other Deffkopta comes on and whiffs against the other Predator.  I shoot up the Tactical Squad and kill the remaining marines.  The Libby passes his Morale test. 

Turn 5 A: Libby uses the Avenger on the Shoota boyz and kills 5 I think.  He charges into hth, kills a couple boyz, but then is hacked to tiny pieces by a metric butt-ton of Choppas.  The Libby’s former Razorback Tank Shocks the Gretchin, knocking the Gretchin off of their objective (they passed their Morale test, but because of the distance of his Tank Shock I had to move my Gretchin).  The remaining Razorback with the remaining Tactical squad move towards the only untouched objective and kills my remaining Deffkopta.

Turn 5 B:  I stretch my Shootas boy Squad to claim two objectives.  I forget to shoot the rear of the Razorback which if I would have happened to Penetrate I had a chance to destroy it (which Zach made a point to mention after we started Turn 6).  At this point I’ve got the win (2-1 Objectives) if the game ends so it comes down to Random Game Length.  We rolled to see if the game ended and it did not so on to Turn 6!

Turn 6 & Turn 7:  Ok so little dice throwing these turns, but basically it comes down to when the game ends.  His Predator moves up to one Objective contesting it on Turn 6 (now 1-1 on Objectives).  I can’t assault his Pred because it will pull the rest of my squad from the other objective.  If it ended Turn 6 it was a draw, but I rolled high enough so it went on to 7. Nothing really happened on Turn 7 so it ended in a draw (I didn’t have the ranged shooting to knock anything out).  Turn 4 and 5 were great because Kris made it a game.

Overall a fantastic game and several good/bad dice moments.  I think I played aggressive enough and with my lack of ranged shooting I really have to get into the thick of it first.  Kris played the Objectives really well.  He kept his eyes on the mission even though he suffered some losses in the mid-game.  I’ll look forward to our re-match. 

Month 2 Final Results: 1-1-2, 16 out of 20 possible League Points (34/40 Total League Points)

 League Month 3 – Starts the 1^st of June.  I’ve already completed my painting goal for the next month.  I will be adding a unit of 15 Stormboyz (PK, Boss pole, and Eavy Armor Nob) and some more Gretchin (19ish total I think).  I’ve got some commission painting to complete then I’m going to work on my Nobs and Warboss.  I’ve got a tournament in late June so I want to have them ready for that.