Wednesday 24 September 2014

Rough Rider update

Ok so I have finished the remaining two of five... 





All undercoated now and will be started tomorrow (maybe...)

Friday 19 September 2014

Rough Riders ahoy... err... charge!

Given that I have decided to follow popular opinion (i.e. Ryan) and focus on the Astra Militarum for Lords of War, I have dug out my old Rough Riders that I had been working on.





So yeah, I started work on these about 5 years ago, and then after building 3 got distracted (selling and moving house, child #2... excuses excuses). 

I only need to build another two and I am sorted (after they are painted that is).

They are made from Space Marine Scout bikers, Cadian parts, Rough Rider hunting lances, and Forgeworld Cadian upgrade parts (heads, backpacks).

I was lucky enough to have a store of the old hunting lances, and got some good ideas from one of my local Guard Appreciation Korps (GAK) members, Kevin O’Leary, for having them mounted on bikes.

I've got enough parts to do a full squad of 10. But let's focus on the required 5, shall we?

Thursday 11 September 2014

All of a sudden... some upcoming tournaments!

I have registered and paid for two local one-day tournaments coming in November, in Wellington – Lords of War (750pts 40k), and Vermintide (1200pts WHFB)

Vermintide details can be found here for you locals who are looking for a one dayer!

Also have paid for my share of the team entry for the NZ Team Championships early 2015, yay! Go team! Super excited already.
 
I’ll deal with the Vermintide WHFB army list and my thoughts about possible NZTC lists in a separate post or posts (as there is only one army for me to take – Lizardmen – so I will just be discussing army composition).
 
But 40k is a teensy bit more complicated as far as what to take goes.
 
I have five armies to choose from (six, if I think about my Word Bearers... but I’m trying not to... Cultists and a Defiler sound like fun) – I have come up with some draft lists listed in order of work required to complete them (also with pros and cons for each). 

Note there is no Inquisition appearing as you are required to take a Combined Arms detachment and there are no allies, fortifications, or flyers allowed (amongst other things). Games will be played on a 4'x4' table.
 
Astra Militarum

Lord Commissar (70pts) – Carapace Armour, Warlord
 
For 750pts I *think* the Lord Commissar is a better choice than the HQ Command squad. You are not tempted to upgrade too much although thoughts of a BS4 lascannon firing out of a Chimera is one I remember fondly.
 
Ministorum Priest (25pts) – Autogun
Goes in whichever squad I want to sit on an objective and NOT MOVE.

Veterans (120pts)
 Forward Sentries
1x Veteran Sergeant  
4x Veteran – Lasgun
3x Veteran – Meltagun
1x Veteran Lascannon Team – Lascannon, Lasgun
 
Infantry Platoon
Platoon Command Squad (130pts)
3x Guardsman – Flamer, Krak Grenades
1x Guardsman – Heavy Flamer, Krak Grenades
1x Platoon Commander – Melta Bombs, Krak Grenades
1x Chimera – Multilaser, hull Heavy Flamer
 
Infantry Squad #1 (100pts)
1x Sergeant – Power Axe  
6x Guardsman – Lasgun
1x Guardsman – Plasma Gun
1x Lascannon Team – Lascannon, Lasgun
 
Infantry Squad #2 (85pts)
1x Sergeant  
6x Guardsman – Lasgun
1x Guardsman – Plasma Gun
1x Lascannon Team – Lascannon, Lasgun

Heavy Weapons Squad #1 (75pts)
3x Autocannon, Lasgun
 
Heavy Weapons Squad #2 (75pts)
3x Autocannon, Lasgun
 
Rough Riders (70pts)
1x Rough Rider Sergeant – Melta Bombs  
3x Rough Rider
1x Rough Rider – Meltagun
 
Pros:  Orders, lots of *properly* scoring units, flexibility to blob if need be, plenty of (albeit BS3) shooting, a small counter attack unit, some mobility.
Cons: Potentially slow to play unless I get lots of practice in! No Leman Russes... in this iteration at least.
Models required to build/paint: 3x Rough Riders
 
Adepta Sororitas

Canoness (125pts) – Inferno Pistol, Power Sword, Rosarius, The Litanies of Faith, Warlord
 
Battle Sister Squad #1 (155pts)
1x Sister Superior – Combi-Flamer
2x Battle Sisters – Bolter
1x Battle Sister – Meltagun
1x Battle Sister – Heavy Flamer
1x Immolator – Dozer Blade, Twin-Linked Multi-Melta
 
Battle Sister Squad #2 (145pts)
1x Sister Superior – Bolter
2x Battle Sisters – Bolter
1x Battle Sister – Meltagun
1x Battle Sister – Heavy Flamer
1x Immolator – Dozer Blade, Twin-Linked Multi-Melta
 
Dominion Squad (190pts)
1x Dominion Superior – Combi-Melta
4x Dominions – Meltagun  
1x Immolator (75pts) Dozer Blade, Laud Hailer, Twin-Linked Heavy Flamer
 
1x Exorcist (135pts) – Dozer Blade, Storm Bolter (5pts)
 
Pros: BS4 Guardsmen in Power Armour. One of my favourite armies of all time.
Cons: A bit light on model count. No counter-strike unit (Dominions not excepted)
Models required to build/paint: 3x Immolators, 5x Dominions
 
Militarum Tempestus

Tempestus Command Squad (135pts)
1x Tempestor Prime – Power Sword, Warlord
1x Tempestus Scion – Grenade Launcher
3x Tempestus Scion – Hot-shot Volley Gun
 
Tempestus Scions #1 (105pts)
1x Tempestor – Power Sword
2x Tempestus Scion
2x Tempestus Scion – Meltagun
 
Tempestus Scions #2 (204pts)
1x Tempestor
2x Tempestus Scion
2x Tempestus Scion – Plasma Gun
1x Taurox Prime – Pintle-mounted Heavy Stubber, Recovery Gear), Relic Plating, Searchlight, Twin-linked Autocannon, Twin-linked Taurox Gatling Cannon
 
Tempestus Scions #3 (214pts)
1x Tempestor
2x Tempestus Scion
2x Tempestus Scion – Plasma Gun
1x Taurox Prime – Pintle-mounted Heavy Stubber, Recovery Gear), Relic Plating, Searchlight, Twin-linked Autocannon, Taurox Missile Launcher
 
Tempestus Scions #4 (90pts)
1x Tempestor
2x Tempestus Scion
2x Tempestus Scion – Meltagun
 
This is using the metal Kasrkin models I have, which will supplement and fit in (look-wise) with my normal Astra Militarum army.
 
Pros: Well it will allow me to get through several models/squads that need converting and painting on the list of ‘things to do’. Plenty of tactical flexibility especially with the Deep Strike options. Enough-ish AP1/2 to deal with pesky Terminators/Meganobs. Orders. Reasonable amount of options for last minute objective grabs.
Cons: Umm... my Taurox are destined for my Inquisition though so would be painted differently and look a bit odd (IMO). No Chimera’s as a transport option is annoying.
Models required to build/paint: All of them

Grey Knights

Librarian (155pts) – Cuirass of Sacrifice, Psyker [ML 3], Storm bolter, Warlord
 
Strike Squad (173pts)
1x Justicar – Master-crafted Nemesis Daemon hammer
4x Grey Knight – Nemesis force halberd
1x Grey Knight – Psycannon
 
Terminator Squad (201pts)
1x Terminator Justicar – Nemesis force halberd
2x Terminator – Nemesis force halberd
1x Terminator – Nemesis Daemon hammer
1x Terminator ­­– Nemesis force sword, Psycannon
 
Nemesis Dreadknight (220pts) – Gatling Psilencer, Heavy Incinerator, Nemesis Greatsword and power fist, Personal teleporter
 
Pros: Terminators as troops... Librarian is awesome... Dreadknight more so.... painting more models in the list of ‘stuff to do’. Everyone has Deep Strike.
Cons: Thin on the ground, need to get hold of a Dreadknight (and then convert it to not look so... yeah) and a Terminator Librarian. So cost. Only the Terminators are mostly complete.
Models required to build/paint: 9 or so
 
The last option is also the most expensive and would start a few lengths behind...
 
Space Wolves

Wolf Guard Battle Leader (140pts) – Thunderwolf , Fangsword of the Ice Wolf, Storm Shield, Warlord
 
Grey Hunters #1 (139pts)
1x Wolf Guard Terminator Pack Leader – Combi Plasma, Power Sword, Terminator Armour (duh)
5x Grey Hunters – 5x Chainsword, Plasma Gun
 
Grey Hunters #2 (225pts)
1x Wolf Guard Pack Leader –Combi Melta, Melta Bombs, Power Fist
6x Grey Hunters – 6x Chainsword, Flamer, Power Fist
1x Drop Pod
 
Thunderwolf Cavalry (165pts)
1x Thunderwolf Cavalry Pack Leader – Bolt Pistol, Storm Shield
2x Thunderwolf Cavalry –Bolt Pistol, Storm Shield
 
Pros: Get rolling painting some Space Wolves! Have already assembled most of the Grey Hunters for a Kill Team project, so not completely starting from scratch.
Cons: Thin on the ground (BUT HAS THUNDERWOLVES). Need to buy all the bits and pieces to build the Thunderwolf Cavalry, this army has had zero paint anywhere near it either. Also need to learn how to use the new airbrush compressor (this is also a Pro)
Models to paint: All of them...
 
So at the moment I am leaning heavily towards the Astra Militarum or the Tempestus Scions lists. Pretty much because they won’t put me under a crapton of pressure, imaginary or otherwise, to complete (he said, hopefully).

I haven't played a lot of games at <1000pts so any considerations or thoughts from others would be appreciated.

Monday 8 September 2014

Where can I fit a carnosaur in a Lizardmen list?

Sorry about the lack of activity over the last two weeks - real life intruded with a family member passing away.

So, obviously, there has been a lack of painting. So this post will be (hopefully) a discussion point where my spawn-kin, lizard buddies, or just generally those with more experience than me at The Warhammers of Fantasy can provide some insight.

Rather than take the potentially humourous and slightly painful path that the title of this post might imply or suggest, I am asking this question because I have, in the list schedule thing of stuff to paint, one of the new Carnosaur models. It's a nice model, and I would like to use it. And not just at the next 4000pt tournament.

My problem is that at what points value is it a good choice. Maybe not even a good choice, but a viable option?

The best list I can come up with (caveat: quickly and without much thought or analysis) at 2000pts is:

Lords
Old Blood on Carnosaur (why an Old Blood? Well, the extra wound, better magic allowance, WS, and AS is tempting at first pass...)
- Halberd, Light armour, Charmed Shield, Talisman of Protection, Other Trickster's Shard
- Loping Stride (carnosaur)

So I could save 60pts if I dropped to a Scar Vet, but I'd need to drop the Other Trickster's Shard too.

Heroes
Tetto'eko (I don't like using special characters as a general rule, but...  but... there goes my argument)
Skink Priest - Dispel Scroll, Heavens
Scar Vet - BSB, Cold One, GW, Armour of Destiny (really wanted the Standard of Discipline here, but with no other Scar Vet heroes to take a challenge in the face once the champion has gone...)

Core
12 Skink Cohort, 1 Krox, Standard, Muso
12 Skink Cohort, 1 Krox, Standard, Muso
12 Skink Cohort, Muso
10 Skirmishers, Javelin and Shield
10 Skirmishers, Javelin and Shield
10 Skirmishers, Javelin and Shield

Special
3 Terradons, Fireleech Bolas
5 Chameleon Skinks
5 Chameleon Skinks
6 Cold One Riders, Full Command, Spears

Rare
1 Salamander

1998pts

My thoughts, such as they may be, are:
Tetto, from experience, provides some mean magic offence. 
The scroll caddy... err.. second Priest provides another round of Iceshard Blizzard. This is important since my combat offence is woefully below average.
I really enjoyed using the Cold One cav at the NZTC earlier this year, I'd like to keep using them as an alternative to having to paint my Temple Guard sooner rather than later. I think also they are a bit more flexible (movement etc.)
I miss the second unit of Terradons

How would you feel about facing this list? Terrified? Amused? Suggest that I stop this nonsense and go back to fitting a Slann in?