Feast of Blades '13

Friday, September 13, 2013

Vanilla Skies 2.0: New SM Codex Flyer Army


Ok so since the Skies Booklet release I have always wanted to run a Vanilla Skies list made up of 3 storm ravens and 3 storm talons. I feel this book makes this list more viable. Is it my tournament army out of the gun? No but I feel it eould be competitive. So here is my version of the list....

Vanilla Skies 2000
HQ – Iron Hands
1.       Master of the Forge, auspex – 95
Troops
1.       X10 Tacticals, MM, GG – 165
2.       X5 Tacticals, Meltagun  - 80
3.       X5 Tacticals, meltagun – 80
4.       X5 Scouts, cloaks, x5 sniper rifles -70
5.       X5 Scouts, cloaks, x5 sniper rifles -70
6.       X5 Scouts, cloaks, x5 sniper rifles -70
Fast Attack
1.       Storm Talon, SH -125
2.       Storm Talon, SH -125
3.       Storm Talon, SH -125
Elite
1.       Sternguard x10, x2 Meltaguns, x4 Combi Meltas – 325
-Drop Pod
Heavy Support
1.       Storm Raven, MM -200
2.       Storm Raven, MM -200
3.       Storm Raven, MM -200
Fortification

1.       ADL, Comms relay


So first of all we go with Iron Hands for obvious reasons. It will not die on Storm Ravens/Talons is crucial if we want to run this type of list. Also the MOTF heals hull points as well as damage on a 3+ in Iron Hands with the Servo. I would want more techmarines but points dont allow it. Keeping the flyers alive is very important to this list. ADL to help get everything on turn 2 and scouts to be our units that have to start on the table and hid eon objectives. 

This list is simple. Turn one the Sternguard pod come in and combat squad out and target any enemy interceptor units, then skyfire, then scoring as well as try to get FB. They are sacraficial in the run of the game but are crucial to the success of the list as getting rid of AA needs to happen for this list to function. This unit works well since it will always come in turn one before the airplanes. I would want to fit in more but points restrict it. Also I normally would say in the new book Legion do this job better but this needs to happen turn 1, hence the podguard. Turn 2 hopefully sees all, if not most, of the interceptor stuff dead so the Storm Ravens/talons target the enemy in the same order. Then the Ravens fly around the table and drop units off turn 5 on objectives.

Its a simple list concept and if I had 3 Ravens I would run it. It does have some serious counters and would have issues with a decked out AA Tau list especially yet I could see a list like this working at least in my local meta. I wouldnt be surprised if lists like this become more popular. It isnt the best the book has to offer but I would still feel competitive running this style of list....more on this later...

Sunday, September 8, 2013

Digesting the new Space Marines from a competitive POV: First Glances


If you were to ask me a year ago what was wrong with the Vanilla Marines codex I would have told you three things. 1. Everything in it you can do better in another codex 2. Everything is cheaper the newer Marine Codex you use. 3. The Actual army lacks flavor overall. Now I would say overall I like it. The costs have been updated to match, or even go lower, than the other marine codices and Chapter tactics adds the flavor or specialization needed to give this army character. Today Army wide USR's are what gives an army flavor and use. Chapter tactics do this for us....but CT's have a little problem that needs an FAQ IMHO.

So is it me or are CT written a little poorly? Besides the questionable fact that it looks like you cant ally with a detachment of the same Tactics it seems only Ultradudes have to pick one trait as a one off lasts a turn. IF you read through the way they wrote the inter-codex ally rules they say you can ally with a army with another CT set. It also says that if you do have an army of two chapters with the same CT's they need to be in the same detachment . Its this wording that is poor and needs to be fixed but the way I read it you cant inter-ally unless its with another CT set.

So it seems they made Chapter Master's useful. Take Artificer armor, powerfist, bike, and the shield eternal and you have a 4 wound T5 2+/3++ EW model on a bike....That would be fun to explain to opponents (Yes its 245 points) Stick him in with my CS on bikes (needs libie too) and you have FNOP. Id love to roll IWND power on biomancy and explain this guy to my opponent. I plan I trying this out.

Wierdly enough it looks like they made legion of the Damned better at what sternguard use to do than Sternguard. For 145 points you get a 3++ relentless ignores cover unit with a melta gun and multi melta. Not bad. Sternguard need a pod and cost more because of it and dont have invulnerable saves. Still are they worth it? I use to run a unit of these guys for fun at tournaments quite a few years back, mostly because they made this local Tau guy crap his pants for some reason but I did win a tournament with them before.

135 point 5 man scoring bike squads (from my beat stick CM) with 2 gravy guns? Yes please. Cheap scoring bikes is huge. Especially if you combine with WS chapter tactics giving them 4/3+ jinks, hit and run, and ignore DT. +1 S to HOW is ok as well....+1 to jink really just makes Dark Angel Spooky speeder owners just cry.

Stalker doesnt look bad and its cheap. Can double its output, yes at lower BS, still its nice. AV 12/12/10 is huge when combined with cheap anti air. I was worried they would only be 11/11/10 like a rhino.

Devs cant get special weapons, nor can Command Squads? lame

Now for our micro sized Black Templar set.....sorry BT players, I was hoping for a real codex for them myself...

Well at least you dint have to take the Emp. Champ. anymore...

Anyone notice crusader squads can get a heavy weapon and a special weapon in a 5 man squad? Masters of MSU I see but mobs of 20+ models including marines with a scout shield is pretty cool. Also BT are nasty in challanges if properly done.

If you take Grimaldus you can take Cenobyte Servitors for a 6++ bubble, which is better than nothing

Still looks like a way better book. Seems like it needs a faq on a few things especially those chapter tactics. I like it...look back for some list ideas and some more digestion.....more on this later

Friday, August 30, 2013

NOVA Invitational Round 2 Results!

Current Standings


  • 1 W Alan Bajramovic Illinois Tau Empire Eldar 30 0
  • 2 W Adam Tricola Colorado Delusions of Grandeur Grey Knights Tau Empire 37 0
  • 3 W Ben Mohlie Virginia Necrons Orks 23 0
  • 4 W Eric Hoerger Virginia Beltway Gamers Eldar 23 0
  • 5 W Brad Townsend Minnesota Frozen North Blood Angels Imperial Guard 23 0
  • 6 W Nick Rose Texas Wrecking Club Eldar 20 0
  • 7 W Andrew Gonyo Virginia Beltway Gamers Tau Empire 20 0
  • 8 W Jeremy Veysseire Oregon Pacific Northwest Chaos Daemons Chaos Space Marines 27 0
  • 9 W Brett Perkins Missouri FRAG Eldar Tau Empire 37 0
  • 10 W Nick Nanavati New Jersey Roll To Wound Chaos Daemons Chaos Space Marines 40 0
  • 11 W Aaron Aleong Indiana Hive Fleet Indy Eldar Tau Empire 37 0
  • 12 W Alex Harrison England Tau Empire Tau Empire 17 0
  • 13 W Daniel Bunker Connecticut TBS Chaos Daemons 30 0
  • 14 W Tony Kopach Virginia Imperial Guard Space Wolves 23 0
  • 15 W Vaden Ball Virginia Iron Fist League Tau Empire Tau Empire 13 0
  • 16 W Jesse Newton Pennsylvania Gamers Against Humanity Tau Empire Tau Empire 29 0
  • ~ L Mark Aksel Virginia Iron Fist League Eldar Tau Empire 13 0
  • 17 L Werner Born New Jersey Roll To Wound Necrons Tau Empire 7 0
  • 18 L Kurt Clauss Virginia QC Eldar Tau Empire 24 0
  • 19 L Matt DeFranza Pennsylvania gamers against Humanity Eldar Dark Eldar 20 0
  • 20 L Robert Fortin Pennsylvania Gamers Against Humanity Necrons Tau Empire 3 0
  • 21 L Alex Bessinger Michigan Chaos Daemons 20 0
  • 22 L Matt Schuchman Virginia Eldar Tau Empire 15 0
  • 23 L Ragnar Arnesson New Hampshire Cold Steel Mercenaries Chaos Space Marines Necrons 0 0
  • 25 L Jens Gertsen Dark Angels 7 0
  • 26 L Bob Roda Connecticut Battle For Salvation Chaos Daemons 0 0
  • 27 L Alexander Fennell Connecticut CSM Eldar Tau Empire 7 0
  • 28 L James Watkins Virginia Chaos Space Marines Chaos Daemons 3 0
  • 29 L Brad Nichols Roll to Wound Tau Empire Space Marines 20 0
  • 30 L Robert Tilly Virginia QC Chaos Daemons Chaos Space Marines 13 0
  • 31 L Neil Gilstrap South Carolina 11th Company Chaos Daemons 7 0
  • 32 L Allan Hernandez Eldar Tau Empire 0 0



Round 2 Results
  1. Mark Aksel (Eldar) defeats Jens Gertsen (DA) 13-7
  2. Matt Schuchman (Eldar) defeats Neil Geilstrap (daemons) 13-7
  3. Aaron Aleong (Eldar) defeats Nick Rose (Eldar) 20-0
  4. Brad Nichols (Tau) defeats Robert Fortin (Necrons) 20-0
  5. Jessie Newton (Tau) defeats Ben Mohlie (Necrons) 17-3 
  6. Nick Nanavati (daemons) defeats Vaden Ball (Tau) 20-0
  7. Daniel Bunker (daemons) defeats Jeremy Veysseire 13-7
  8. Brett Perkins (ELdar/Tau) defeats Eric Hoerger (Eldar) 17-3
  9. Alex Bessinger (daemons) defeats James Watkins (GK) 17-3
  10. Adam Tricola (GK) defeats Brad Townshend (BA) 17-3 
  11. Matt Defranza (Eldar) defeats Alan Hernandez (Eldar) 17-3
  12. Kurt Clauss (Eldar) defeats Ragnar Arnessonn (CSM) 17-3
  13. Alan Bajramovic (Tau) defeats Tony Kopach (IG) 10-10 (tiebreakers)
  14. Robert Tilly (daemons) defeats Alex Fennel (Eldar/Tau) 13-7
  15. Alex Harisson (Tau) defeats Andrew Gonyo (Tau) ?-?
  16. Werner Born (Necrons) defeats Bob Roda (daemons) ?-?




NOVA Invitational Round 1 Results!
Round One is over and guess what 16/32 armies are tau or eldar or a combo of both...surprising?

Round one standings with armies and BP's scored, interesting mix as 9 of 16  winning armies are tau or eldar (surprising?) but 7/16 losers are tau/eldar so there is some parody..... here are the results




  1. Brett Perkins (Eldar/tau) defeats Alex Fennel (Eldar/tau)  20-0
  2. Jeremy Veysseire (daemons) defeats Ragnar Arnesson (CSM) 20-0
  3. Nick Rose (Eldar) defeats Mark Aksel (Eldar) 20-0
  4. Eric Hoeger (Eldar) defeats Bob Roda (daemons) 20-0
  5. Tony Kopach (IG) defeats Werner Born (Necrons) 13-7
  6. Adam Tricolla (CSM) Defeats James Watkins (GK) 20-0
  7. Jesse Newton (Tau) defeats Matt Schuchman (Eldar) 12-8
  8. Dan Bunker (daemons) defeats Alex Bessinger (daemons) 17-3
  9. Vaden Ball (Tau) defeats Kurt Klaus (Eldar) 13-7
  10. Ben Mohlie (Necrons) defeats Neil Geilstrap (daemons) 20-0
  11. Andrew Gonyo (Tau defeats Jens Gertsen (DA) 20-0
  12. Alan Bajramovic (tau) defeats Robert Tilly (daemons) 20-0
  13. Nick Nanavati (Daemons) defeats Brad Nichols (tau) 20-0
  14. Aaron Aleong (eldar) defeats Robert Fortin (Necrons) 17-3
  15. Alex Harrison (Tau defeats Matt DeFranza (Eldar) 17-3
  16. Brad Townshend (BA) defeats Alan Hernandez (Eldar) 20-0


Thursday, August 29, 2013

NOVA Invitational Round 1 Results!

Round One is over and guess what 16/32 armies are tau or eldar or a combo of both...surprising?

Round one standings with armies and BP's scored, interesting mix as 9 of 16  winning armies are tau or eldar (surprising?) but 7/16 losers are tau/eldar so there is some parody..... here are the results



  1. Brett Perkins (Eldar/tau) defeats Alex Fennel (Eldar/tau)  20-0
  2. Jeremy Veysseire (daemons) defeats Ragnar Arnesson (CSM) 20-0
  3. Nick Rose (Eldar) defeats Mark Aksel (Eldar) 20-0
  4. Eric Hoeger (Eldar) defeats Bob Roda (daemons) 20-0
  5. Tony Kopach (IG) defeats Werner Born (Necrons) 13-7
  6. Adam Tricolla (CSM) Defeats James Watkins (GK) 20-0
  7. Jesse Newton (Tau) defeats Matt Schuchman (Eldar) 12-8
  8. Dan Bunker (daemons) defeats Alex Bessinger (daemons) 17-3
  9. Vaden Ball (Tau) defeats Kurt Klaus (Eldar) 13-7
  10. Ben Mohlie (Necrons) defeats Neil Geilstrap (daemons) 20-0
  11. Andrew Gonyo (Tau defeats Jens Gertsen (DA) 20-0
  12. Alan Bajramovic (tau) defeats Robert Tilly (daemons) 20-0
  13. Nick Nanavati Daemons defeats Brad Nichols (tau) 20-0
  14. Aaron Aleong (eldar) defeats Robert Fortin (Necrons) 17-3
  15. Alex Harrison (Tau defeats Michael DeFranza 17-3
  16. Brad Townshend (BA) defeats Alan Hernandez (Eldar) 20-0




Nova Open Live Top Table stream today!

So the 11th Company will be live streaming the top table for the invitational and Open all weekend in Ustream. Here is the link.

When I'm not at Tacticon I will be jumping in and out of the stream chat

Monday, August 12, 2013

New Space Marine Codex Rules! and thoughts on them


Hey all Kevin for two posts in one night! Wow that's not my average lately haha....

Anyway to take some time off from Eldar, like my 11th Company blog post here on Wave Serpents tonight, here is the latest batch of my real Main Army. followed up with my thoughts below on competitive tactical implement....

if they are real.....hopefully they are....

-From BigRed of Bols-dom in the Lounge
UNIT CHANGES
-Chaplains are HQ , W:2, A:2 and grant Zealot.
-Master of the Forge gains It Will Not Die
-Scouts drop 2 points, can take LS Storm as a dedicated transport.
-Tacticals drop 2 points.
-Devastators drop 2 points.
-Sternguard drop 3 points.
-Vanguard drop 1 point, jumppack option drops 7 points.
-Honour guard are cheaper.
-SM Bikes drop 4 points.
-Hunter/Stalker re both armed with s:7 weapons (Stalker heavy4, Hunter heavy1). The Hunter's weapon is AP:2 Armorbane. 
-Command Squads may take bikes, and a bike-equipped Commander makes a SM Biker unit troops.
-Crusader Squads may take 2 power weapons per squad. Costed and equipped as Tacticals as standard. May swap out for BP/CCW for free. Max size 10 Initiates and 10 Neophytes.
-Centurions WS4 BS4 S5 T5 W2 I4 Ld8/9 Sv2, Squad size 3-6, each costed as a Predator.


CHAPTER ABILITIES
- Raven Guard have Stealth, may use jump packs in movement AND assault phase.
- Imperial Fists reroll '1s' to hit with standard bolters (Bolter Drill). Devatators/Centurions have Tank Hunters and +1 on the building damage table.
- Salamanders reroll failed to-wounds with flame weapons, and failed armor penetration rolls versus vehicles. Characters gain a free master crafted weapon. Vulkan is the only way to grant twin-linked meltas.
- Black Templars have Chapter Tactics options instead of Vows. The Emperor's Champion is an HQ choice for them only and chooses from either (reroll failed to-hits plus rending in challenges), or (gain Adamantium Will plus Crusader). No Librarians allowed.
- Ultramarines choose from one of the following donctrines: 
a) Tactical - Re-roll ones, unless they're Tactical marines and they re-roll all shooting failed to hits.
b) Assault - Re-roll charge distance, unless they're Assault squads, Bikes, Attack bikes who gain Fleet.
c) Devstator - Re-roll on snap shots and overwatch, unless they're Devastators who gain Relentless (except when disembarking).
- White Scars bike equipped Captain makes 1 bike squad troops
- Successor Chapter use the Chapter Tactics of their Founding Chapter. Many Successor Chapters are listed by name.

NEW ITEMS
6 new Chapter Relics 
Grav Weapons have Concussive

CHARACTERS
-Marneus Calgar may take 3 Warlord Traits and is pricier.
-Korsarro Khan grants Scout to mounted troops and bikes. He inflicts D3 Hammer of Wrath hits.
-Kayvan Shrike may Infiltrate with Jumppack units. 
-Emperor's Champion equipped with AP:2 sword, armor is 2+/4+i
-High-Marshal Helbrecht grants Hatred and Fleet to Black Templars in the Assault phase once per game.
-Lysander returns with Eternal Warrior, Units in 12" re-roll on morale and pinning test.
-Grimaldus Grants Zealot to his unit.
-Several Named Characters retain USRs that affect their entire army.

Ok so first of all we need to look at the major tactical improvement of the army which is the army wide usr implementation we expected expanded upon. The big winners look like Imperial Fists and Ultrasmurfs. The real question is that do we get to choose per game which set we use for Ultramarines or does it need to be lists. Between chapters obviously will be chosen per game. Interesting that GW would tie off shoot chapters to certain tactics.....I guess it was good I decided to do Storm Wardens which will probably be left alone since they are suppose to be of unknown founding. Still rerolling almost all htis or rerolling ones and tank hunters? Well I did originally run Imperial Fists so I am partial to the general army wide improvement to bolters and devestators. Yet it will boil down to a list combination.

Centurions look a little better being T5, still butt ugly but will be as good as their Obliterator cousins.


Shrike looks worse, Calgar was fairly obvious, Lysander got a bit better as a standard beat stick...Khan got better....looks like mostly everyone else stands the same...


I expect Black Templar to have their own sub army list almost like the two pages of rules we get as a supplement  only wondering why they didn't get a supplement and why Design studio was hinting at their own codex the past year?


Anyone notice that the white scars captain rule and the sm captain bike rule look backwards? hmmmm...... Points drop looks good across the board. 110 point 5 man sternguard squads is an improvement and same for Tacticals.


Interesting rules if they pan out as real.......Anyone for some salt?

Sunday, July 14, 2013

Finding the Competitive Edge: Eldar in Tournament List Builds


So a month and a half later (Which is apparently 7-10 business days) I got my laptop back, unfortunately its still crashing every 20 minutes and they didn't even fix it.  So while I have it I think I would like to chime in on Eldar in a competitive sense as I prepare for Feast.

So three games in, 2 of which I am experimenting with an allied choice I will most likely be using at Feast, and no, it is not Guard, I am liking the codex as a whole and I have tabled my opponent all three games which normally does not happen for myself...at least three times in a row. It is much better than I, or most of the web, originally thought.

The obvious things make this codex strong, yet using an unconventional approach in the sense of older Eldar which heavily relied on Psychic powers. Yes they are useful but I do not see an over reaching need for them at this point, they are just nice and useful. I still would take a MOTLG Jetseer as my standard HQ choice although I still like the biker Solitaire combo as well but thats expensive for a super melta bike with one glaring weakness if he runs into something that ignores cover...aka other eldar. Now I do still go for guide/prescience and going for doom or fortune on top of it. Although since I would plan on using wave serpents with Scatter Lasers or Bright lances for their laser lock rule twin linking the shield and probable cannon. So re-rolls are not needed really if these guys are spammed out.

So the obvious troop choice is 5 Dire Avengers or 10 Guardians/platform in a Serpent with scatter laser (Or bright lance if you need it) with the shuriken cannon upgrade and holo-fields. There is something about a possible average of 10 1/2 shots most likely all twin linked and S6/7 with all the other weapon perks that seems hard to ignore. Also with the large capacity and 4+ cover/possible serpent shield downgrade when needed to stay alive longer instead of shooting....oh and 12/12/10 is awesome...

These are all obvious things that I need not to point out. The reason I like these, as well as a couple obligatory jet bike squads, is that we have a solid scoring option that can stay out of range, pick things off, skirt corners, and then jump on any objective late game. Necrons win since Night Scythes can skirt around picking things off mostly unscathed and jump on objectives late. Players tend to make a huge deal on how it is to kill a flyer and how they win games when it is really the puny unit inside that wins games with its ability to jump on objectives late.....we have this key piece to the puzzle that has proven to win games. You can weight advantages and disadvantages of both sides as well as cost appropriate to mission and environment...and personal flavor.

We also should note another key list ability. Which is the ability to deal with high toughness and high armor opponents. We have this in monofilament and bladestorm abilities. With these abilities so common Ive been finding out we really have no need for starcannons or already base AP2 weapons. All we need is weight of dice rolls in our favor which helps. It also helps us deal with multiple army types with some ability (Although not extremely efficient ability without re-rolls)

I guess since I already mentioned monofilament I should rave about how damn useful Warp spyders, and Weaver platforms are. The speed of spyders and the efficiency of their weapons are invaluable and the ability to take 8 without an exarch at just over 150 points makes them cost efficient to raid objectives and contest them late, as well as deal with other enemy units that are an issue to deal with.

Now I should also note the Wraithknight and why I like them and have ordered two of them. I am use to running two lords and have in every game so far, they are still good and useful. Putting two into one and giving it a jump pack and more efficient lance weapons is only a plus. Yes it has some serious hard counters but it will be more useful in the future imho, yet I need to test them to be certain.

So we have the scoring tools, speed, and survive-ability with decent fire power output and some duel ability to deal with small infantry and heavy ones just alike. This makes this very viable tournament ally or primary detachment at least. I have plans to take an ally to the Eldar I have mentioned and bring them to Feast and I am liking what I am seeing in effect to plugging the holes Eldar as a primary leave, but that's another post.....happy gaming...more on this later.