Road to Feast of Blades List Concepts: #1: "Vanilla Skies" Codex: Space Marine's Flyer List

Hey all, Kevin here to return to my blogging origins of posting concept lists and going into why and why not running them. In this case its about what I will bring or not bring to Feast.....And yes I know that's a little far out (About 5 months) yet its never too early to plan ahead...especially since I will be stranded from playing 40k for most of the next three months until September....

So since I am planning on going to Feast (Anyone know when it usually sells out I need to wait a bit before I can buy a ticket?) I have to look at all of my options and they are Dark Angels using my Deva-Raider List, I can wait and see the new Eldar and run them as I originally planned, or I can go to my constant companion of using the Vanilla Marines Codex...although we will not know if the rumors are true that we will get a new Vanilla Marines codex sometime in August or September...or even if they would be legal at Feast lets look at a concept list I have been working on that will still probably work in a new book anyway....Vanilla Skies!

So here is the list....


2000 Pts - Codex: Space Marines Roster

Total Roster Cost: 2000

HQ: Chapter Master Pedro Kantor (1#, 175 pts)
   1 Chapter Master Pedro Kantor, 175 pts

Troops: Tactical Squad (5#, 90 pts)
   4 Tactical Squad, 67 pts = 4 * 16 (base cost 16) + Sergeant 26
      1 Sergeant, 23 pts

Troops: Tactical Squad (5#, 90 pts)
   4 Tactical Squad, 67 pts = 4 * 16 (base cost 16) + Sergeant 26
      1 Sergeant, 23 pts

Troops: Scout Squad (5#, 85 pts)
   4 Scout Squad, 75 pts = 4 * 13 (base cost 13) + Missile Launcher 10 + Sergeant 23
      1 Sergeant, 10 pts

Troops: Scout Squad (5#, 85 pts)
   4 Scout Squad, 75 pts = 4 * 13 (base cost 13) + Missile Launcher 10 + Sergeant 23
      1 Sergeant, 10 pts

Heavy Support: Stormraven Gunship (1#, 230 pts)
   1 Stormraven Gunship, 230 pts = (base cost 200) + Hurricane Bolters (each side) 30

Heavy Support: Stormraven Gunship (1#, 230 pts)
   1 Stormraven Gunship, 230 pts = (base cost 200) + Hurricane Bolters (each side) 30

Fast Attack: Stormtalon Gunship (1#, 140 pts)
   1 Stormtalon Gunship, 140 pts = (base cost 110 + Twin-Linked Lascannon 30)

Fast Attack: Stormtalon Gunship (1#, 125 pts)
   1 Stormtalon Gunship, 125 pts = (base cost 110) + Skyhammer Missile Launcher 15

Fast Attack: Stormtalon Gunship (1#, 125 pts)
   1 Stormtalon Gunship, 125 pts = (base cost 110) + Skyhammer Missile Launcher 15

Elite: Sternguard Veteran Squad (11#, 315 pts)
   9 Sternguard Veteran Squad, 250 pts = 9 * 25 (base cost 25) + Combi-Flamer x2 10 + Combi-Meltagun x1 5 + Meltagun x2 10
      1 Sergeant, 30 pts = (base cost 25) + Combi-Meltagun x1 5
      1 Drop Pod, 35 pts

Elite: Sternguard Veteran Squad (6#, 175 pts)
   4 Sternguard Veteran Squad, 110 pts = 4 * 25 (base cost 25) + Meltagun x2 10
      1 Sergeant, 30 pts = (base cost 25) + Combi-Meltagun x1 5
      1 Drop Pod, 35 pts

Heavy Support: Thunderfire Cannon (2#, 135 pts)
   1 Thunderfire Cannon, 100 pts
      1 Techmarine Gunner, 0 pts
      1 Drop Pod, 35 pts


So I have jumped around a few versions of this list but have settled on this, and there are a few odd things in it but lend to what I would want in a Flyer list.....

First off it is not all flyer you may notice, original versions did use three Storm Ravens and three Storm Talons yet this one drops a Raven....so why? Well soon enough after I first thought to do something like this I realized the prevalence of skyfire in newer codices especially int he new Tau Codex. Even a Soulgrinder is a decent skyfire platform that's hard to shift at a distance. I needed a tool to be a preemptive strike to come in prior to the Flyer wave to take out any skyfire threats immediately without being delayed. I have this in the Sternguard. They will come in with their two pods and split into three units, with combat squads equally divided with multiple melta weapons... since most armies only have 1-3 skyfire units taken in an army on average imho, to drop in and strike in order any Interceptors, skyfire platforms, or anything that has a decent shot of taking down a flyer. If none of these are there then they can take out any enemy unit that will be a pain for my Flyers to take out or even troop choice snipe. If all of these things aren't needed I took Pedro, just because the more scoring the merrier and I have a converted model, to make them scoring so any survivors can just hide on an objective. Or they can just drop on an objective. Now you can say that Khan giving outflank could be more valuable but I like this approach better.

Next we have the scout units and thunderfire cannon. They are my start on table units, meant to hide and camp objectives when needed or even infiltrate on to one. The thunderfire is there to take the extra pod so my  Sternguard all come in at once turn one, or even I can drop an empty pd from it if needed. It then camps during Big Gunz games or harasses troop choices camping objectives.

Finally we have the 5 flyers, Two small Tactical squads to hide in the Ravens then jump out on to objectives at end game. I took a bunch of anti infantry weapons on the flyers in order to help take down the infantry heavy meta as well, and of course tons of TL Assault cannons and a couple multi meltas.

So the Game plan is simple and effective.  Hide scouts and thunderfire cannon on objectives. Turn one Sternguard drop in and Eliminate the enemy skyfire threats and possibly, if they survive, camp on an objective. Then the flyers come in and take out  as many enemies near objectives as possible, with thunderfire support, then late game hop down on needed objectives with Tact. Squads....simple yet an effective plan and it has things to preemptively take out skyfire. I like this list quite a bit and am working towards having it.

Now I know Feast is awhile back and at this rate a few more codices might change things before then yet I still like this list and I believe it will work...and I can only use it if I only play the Open and not the Invitational although making a qualifier will probably not be possible for me....

So this will probably be a long term article series seeing articles after Eldar and possibly even the new Marines books drop...As well as when I decide on what to take when we get closer.....until then more on this later.....

So what are your thoughts? Anyone else going to Feast? I am moving to Denver, near the Aurora border near East Colfax (Yes I know sketchy area). Are there any game clubs/stores near there I should know about that are cool? I am looking for a new 40k buddy to play on a consistent basis too so just contact me here closer to the fall and lets see what we can do, I am looking forward to it......and yes I know Feast allows Forgeworld and I want to take Flyers

Blogger Legal Wars Episode II: The Foam Strikes Back!

(The Internets current opinion on this topic ^ not mine)

OK all, so the summer is around the corner and since I will be stuck up in the boonies in Northern Maine without a gaming outlet I will probably write on the blog a little more often. Hopefully more on the tactical 40k side of things soon to follow

Now Since the last time I tried to get into the Legal conflict regarding our little hobby I made a few errors) I will try and only use the facts as represented and share my opinion on them. You can take what you want from both. There are two major blogger wars going on right now...to the point where it kind of is a little amusing to watch this....Now this is the older of the two so its nothing new. I would just like to see some healing in the community.

UPDATE: Interestingly enough I found out after writing this that Romeo went on to get interviewed by Pat from the 11th Company that day. Since we didn't record last week and put in a buffer episode I think it should show up in next weeks episode if not the following but Pat can clarify this himself :)

UPDATE 2: Pat was nice enough to throw up the link to his Romeo interview on the topic, I haven't listened to it yet but I will not change this article yet I may add updates at the end...here is the link


I will try and be Switzerland in this Foam War folks....Ok so the older of the two current wars going on is the newest Case of Romeo ,and his company, Battlefoam vs. Tastytaste of the blood of Kittens Network. Waging two decently controversial community figures against each other Basically the background of this case is that Tasty, if you don't know of him for some reason, is kind of the Bill O'Rielly of the 40k Blogosphere. He says some fairly controversial things from time to time in a firebrand/edgy sort of way. It has earned him some fans and enemy's over the years. Recently he wrote a article slamming The owner of Battlefoam, Romeo, over some alleged grievances that have been building up in the community against him with apparently evidence to prove this. Romeo did not take this lightly and quickly had his lawyers send a Cease and Desist to Tasty basically asking him to retract the article, apologize  and pay his lawyers an amount around two grand in US dollars alleging that all of the statements were false and lies.

Now Tasty quickly responded by getting some pretty strong Pro Bono Attorneys and suing Romeo in order to counter any payment to Romeo or further legal action. So hence the Foam Wars have arisen again.  

In reality these allegations Tasty made have been stirring in the community for awhile now and were decently well known before this even came up on BOK. So its nothing new what Tasty said. Romeo does have a fairly controversial past with the lawsuits during the infamous "Foam Wars" as well as some actions some community members have laid against him.

This is kind of sad really since Romeo does have a great product. Heck I have a Battlefoam Pack GO Bag in my room. Other than an issue with the foam tearing and being deformed from the bag itself(explanation coming in my 500 days later review coming soon!), which the foam has a warranty anyway apparently, it is still a premium product.....Heck my cat uses the bag as a scratching post and there are no scratch marks on the bag at all, and she sits on it too...still in it is in great shape if it can stay well after all of that(It is impressive my cat has sharp claws)....

Now in many regards the community did a couple stupid things in response to all of this drama, like putting "Romeo is a D*****" stickers all over the Adepticon hotel. For one that is kind of childish and hotels like that need a good rapport with the TO and if the TO's guests are vandalizing the hotel it really doesn't help the TO. Plus its a pain to remove the glue and crap from the stickers and the hotel needs to do that quickly which is just a pain to the Hotel's cleaning/maintenance staff.....Really people we know it seems funny but it is a little childish...

From Romeo's side he has the impression that BOK's article will hurt his business  but really not too many people take Tasty all that seriously, he is more amusing than anything. I like to read his blog from time to time but I do not always agree with him. In my opinion, which really holds no weight in this, Romeo should play the part like any CEO of a company should do, Regardless of vendetta's or personal emotions the community has a bad impression from him from all these lawsuits and personal forum attacks that have happened. It makes the brand look bad. I would even be surprised that if Romeo came out and said "Hey I know we have had some bad blood with people in the past, but we are dedicated to our product and the community and want to be a positive image and promote the hobby"following this with an apology if he did anything to anyone in the past that he would see a surge in people buying his product. This and quit making lawsuits when they always get thrown out to my knowledge anyway and alienating the community  Doing this and other kind acts will always attract business and improve bottom lines. Tasty will always be Tasty but good acts will replace any supposed bad acts and the community would back it up eventually after healing. With nothing to sling mud against what bad things could be said about anyone anymore? Yet until these things happen even I start to feel alienated towards the product when I could always move over to other lines that go out of their way to support the community....its a shame really :/

I know, I am going all "kum by-yah", or however its spelled. But we are too small of a community to deal with the negativity. With GW's Hostile actions to indie retailers and constant lawsuits and bad blood being slung all around the internet we could all do with some good will....

Anyway I will stop being preachy. I hope this gets resolved and everyone comes out all the better. Till then the Blogger Wars continue!

So I would like to see some community input on how everyone hopes this gets resolved. Please no accusations or derogatory comments. Everything written above is based off of community knowledge or just opinions. Until this case is resolved in court any allegations made by either party are not true until decided by the court of law....so please comment on what you hope is the outcome of these blogger wars below.but keep it civil.

UPDATE 3: Comments and Opinion Post Interview

Well that was an interesting interview getting Romeo's perspective on this case. The first thing that popped out on me was the obvious. Romeo states in the interview that it is just a simple C and D ad was just asking Tasty to stop. Yet to comply with the C and D it would cost Tasty a couple thousand dollars.....which isn't really all that simple at least from my point of view yet that is just an opinion. It also gives a little insight into why a company would send out one of these letters which is fairly interesting. Still the fact remains simple that Romeo is just trying to defend his company from hostile blog posts which would cause anyone to send out a letter like this. The current RF vs. Dakka case also has some decent insight into C &D's as well. Now to put this into context I did actually get a chance to read Tasty's article when it first came out before it got blocked and it was venom filled. It also uses what seems to be a biased form of the stories that make up the case itself. It seems to me that it is similar to the phone call game....the original story is Guy walks down the street, by the time it reaches the tenth ear that guy also got attacked by a hawk and spray painted graffiti on someones house..if you get my point....there is probably  lot of exaggeration yet in any story there is probably a note of truth in the background. It doesn't mean you should take the final form as an ultimate truth. Romeo also seems to have some of the apparent story tellers retracting what they said and on his side of the case which is interesting

What we can take from the interview is exactly what Romeo says, which is basically he just makes the bags and foam, if you hate him for it you can but do not attack his business. It is not exactly humbling but it is business and I cannot say myself I do not agree with Romeo on that front as well as I cannot question his integrity there. Hopefully everyone learns a little about what is and what isn't OK to say on the inter-webs. It is now all of our job to choose who and what we agree with....

OK so I hope this is the last legal battle I comment and give my opinion on for awhile. I want this to be a more Game based Editorial blog and not a controversial continuum ....more on this maybe later....


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Comparing Dreadnoughts and Wraithlords

A little Valentines Day love haha

Hey all, so my competitive kick with the Vanilla Marine duel Raider list has met its end...sort of....with Templecon (I'll post my final run down on that coverage later). So now I am starting my ironic kick with the same concept list in the even better Dark Angel 4++ Salvo 24 bolter shot duel land raiders...Yet still I am picking up Eldar and am more excited to run some new xeno's army while I wait it out for another GT to be up on the block for me (Probably Connecticon and then Feast of Blades).

So in the meantime I am exploring my options for Eldar as my main force. So as I examine the parts of the Codex I would like to see myself make work I look at the venerable foe I run into a lot, The Warithlord.

Now every single time I have run into a Wraithlord I never use to have a problem with it. A handful of missiles and lascannon shots use to delete them turn one for me easily. Yet that was 5th and this is 6th which has a stronger emphasis on boots on the ground with S4 weapons. So with myself picking up a pair of these weird zombie robot/constructs from War of the Worlds I need to compare them to the other zombie robots I loved to run which is the dreadnought. So lets run through the basic facts and see who has an edge.....

The first main difference is the fact that the wraithlord is a MC while the dread a walker. yet with hull points they both have effectively 3 wounds a piece for the most part. Especially when we compare the fact that the toughness of a WL is 8 making a missile launcher wounding a wraithlord on a 4 and taking a hull point off a dread on a four. The Advantage of the WL in this case is the 5 and 6 could damage or explode the dread while the wraithlord will always be at full capacity. Without an ability to take off weapons a wraithlord is superior in all of these aspects. Also a waithlord has an armor save (3+) while a dread only could pop smoke once for a cover save. The WL can keep his 'tippy toes' in area terrain for a beneficial cover save while a dread needs to be obscured. Another edge to the Lord.

A dread is needs to take a DCCW to be S10 and can lose that weapon easily while the Lord itself always has S10 in close combat. The dread can also be immobilized bringing it down to rear armor for combat something a Lord will never worry about. Another Edge for the Lord.

A lord comes with options to take either 2 flamers or two shuriken catapults while the dread starts with a storm bolter that can be upgraded with 5 points to a Heavy flamer. The Lord needs to pay for another weapon but can take two or make the one  twin linked. All costs comparable the Lord has better weapon options and can take more for just as cheap of a cost of a Dread. So another edge to the lord.

Realistically they both move the same but a Lord might be slowed by wraith sight (making a SS babysitter a needed annoyance. Also a dread can take a drop pod for rapid deployment. This is the one obvious edge a Dread has over a Lord.


All in all the Lord seems slightly better than a dread. But they both need to be adaptable and useful in the list concept in the first place or they will not be worth it. I am experimenting with taking the Super LRC from Dark Angels and sticking my Lords near it to benefit form the 4++ bubble. Pair this with fortune and the S6 spam nastiness a Lord can dish out shooting wise at range and it can be a lethal combo making it worth the cost in the list.

In the long run the Lord is a fairly inexpensive MC (Can be very expensive although without temperance) and worth it over a dreadnought. Yet it comes down to the use in the list....more on this later....

IT"S TEMPLECON '13 TIME!

Hey all, last year I wasn't around but Im back for one last (Possible) year of TempleCon before I move out west, and I am excited about what is becoming the Premier and largest 40k Event left in New England as well as Steampunk Convention and the Mecca of WarmaHordes Players.

For those wondering. Friday at high noon is the Battle Against Hunger Doubles Event! In the infamous charity tournament that has gotten many copy cats taking the format up across the country. Being lead by Clubmates Terra and Frank, as well as the true Wheel chair General Dean. I, should*, be playing in this event trying out that cheesy Salvo Land Raider concept with Necron allies with my faithful  40k compatriot Marcus.

Next on Saturday comes the Main event, The Onslought GT run by Keith and his Dark Star gang. Should be fun. I personally have Ordo Bob and his Evil Cheesy Daemons list as favorites for best overall for this event. After this at Night is the Reincarnation of my Meat Grinder Mega battle being held out on what is probably the most elaborate terrain set up in the region. Come check it out and hey at midnight its my birthday haha. If you are attending come its free and you can join or leave anytime!

All in all it will be a fun event. If you are around come look for my ugly mug and say hi or better yet lets go get a beer and play some games!

More breakdowns and GT updates to come! As well as a probable recording at the Con for Seg-OB on the 11th Company.

Its never too late as you should be able to get a ticket at the door to hang out with some Steampunk babes and roll some dice. My event has almost every slot still open haha (infinite slots)

Puppets War Storm Talon Awesome Alternative

So I normally do not post much hobby stuff but I really love the alternative model stuff since GW continues to try and make me jealous by releasing shiny new toys I can never afford

Fortunately many companies release even cooler versions of the shiny toys GW puts out. Im all about Hitech Miniatures and their awesome Obliterator alternatives. Yet here's Puppets War coming out with another great model they call the "Dragonfly"

http://puppetswar.com/product.php?id_product=187

Now tell me what that looks like to you? Its a really simple alteration but the difference in the wings makes it just that much better. Only a few bucks cheaper but it has a better aesthetic, I might just have to get Guppy and the Petite Avenger a third, more shiny, brother one of these...

Check it out its really cool

Templecon's The 40k Meat Grinder Mega Battle Official Rules

The 40k Meat Grinder Mega Battle Official Rules

“The Last Stand at Dragon’s Reach”

“The worst case scenario for the Imperium’s unstable hold on the galaxy has happened. The entirety of the Universe has decreed that the human blight on the galaxy must be extinguished and have joined forces to rid existence of humanity. They have started this crusade against the Imperium at Dragon’s Reach, Fortress Monastery and World of the Dragon Slayer’s Space Marine Chapter. All Imperial Forces in the Segmentum have been summoned to this Fortress World in a last ditch effort to stop the combined menace of the Alien, Mutant, and Heretic. Will The Imperium stand or fall? You Decide”


Note: These are all subject to change and updates may happen to this post at anytime prior to the event. Final rules packets will be available at the event.

Basic Format: This will bea standard game of 40k, with some exceptions, using the Main Rulebook and all GW FAQ’s. Teams shall be divided into Forces of the Imperium versus the rest of the galaxy. We shall at best try to keep the sides even to this degree dividing the armies into these teams using only legal GW codices as well as armies from Imperial Armour and other Forge World books (No home brew codices are permitted). The Main difference between this and a normal game of 40k is that when a unit is destroyed it can respawn later in the game in designated zones.This also means you can join the game late and spawn in one of these legal zones or pull your entire army off and leave early if you wish. Hence the “meatgrinder”. See the “Meat grinder” official rules below for more details.

Basic Objectives: The goal for the Imperial side is to defend Dragons Reach until the end of the game while it is the job the Rest of the Galaxy (ROTG) to take the Dragons Reach.

Strategic Postions/Objectives: Each Team will have 5 Strategic Positions they control at the start of the game.These will also have special rules/abilities attached to them as well as be respawn zones across the battlefield and are important to victory. They shall act as objectives (although quite large ones) and whichever team controls the most at the end of the game wins. ALL UNITS are to be considered scoring units for purposes of controlling or contesting a Strategic Location. A team will benefit from a strategic Location as long as they have one unit within 3” of a strategic objectives key location, which will be marked by a noticeable objective marker, and will count as having control over it until no units are within 3” of the Strategic Location. If it is being contested by an enemy unit then the Original Team controlling the objective still benefit from the special ability given to them by controlling the location although UNITS-CANNOT RESPAWN on the strategic location until it is no longer being contested. Each Strategic Location shall be worth a specific amount of Victory Points.Whomever at the end of the game controls more Victory Points wins the game and decides the fate of Humanity!

Turns: Each Team will have 10 minutes for movement, 10 minutes for shooting, and 15 minutes for assault phases. Note that it is good to be quick as these are strict time limits that must be kept. There will also be a small 5 minute window for redeployment at the top ad bottom of every turn for units to respawn and new armies to appear/disappear. If the army is not fully deployed the unit will be counted as being in ongoing reserves. Note that all reserves are to be considered ongoing reserves and do not need to be rolled for. At the start of the game each team will bid on how long they have to deploy. Team that bids the lowest will get to deploy first and gets +1 to the roll off for who goes first (Note that this is different than normal rules)

“MEATGRINDER” Special Rules

Re-spawning: Since this is the Meat grinder every unit gains these special rules and each unit may benefit from this differently. See below….Note that any unit or army deploying in this way may deploy from your teams table edge as normal or within 8” of an uncontested Strategic Location controlled by your team. Note that you cannot deploy with in 6” of an enemy unit as well….Note that units that have the deep strike special rule may deep strike as normal.

Infantry : If an infantry unit is completely destroyed or is running away at below 25% of original size it is eligible for a Meatgrinder deployment and may be placed into ongoing reserves and placed at the start of your next turn in a legal deployment zone. Note that unless a unit has specific meat grinder rules listed below it will use these rules for the meat grinder

Monstrous Creatures: If a MC is completely killed or has run off the table it is eligible to go back into ongoing reserves a turn after it was removed. (EXAMPLE: Your Daemon Prince dies Turn 1, Gets placed back in ongoing reserves after turn 2 and can respawn at your turn 3)

Vehicles:If a vehicle is immobilized or has suffered half or more of its hull points in the game or is completely destroyed or blown up it can be removed from play and can be placed in ongoing reserves a turn after it had been removed. (EXAMPLE: Your Land Raider gets immobilized Turn 1, You can remove it at the end of your turn and it would get placed back in ongoing reserves after turn 2 and can respawn at your turn 3)

Flyers: Follow the same rules for vehicles except they must wait two full turns before being placed in ongoing reserves.Also note that flyers can only be respawned from your teams table edge and count as coming out of reserve at the start of your turn one (instead of being in reserves) (EXAMPLE: Flyer gets shot down turn 1, it waits two full turns and is eligible for respawn at the start of your turn 4)

Super Heavies/titans: Unfortunately there are not too many of these beasties around and cannot respawn…. Sorry Mars.

Everything else: Just follow the meatgrinder rules listed for infantry.

Strategic PositionSpecial Rules and Descriptions

Imperial Starting Strategic Positions

1. Dragons Reach (10 VP’s): All units with the team that controls this Location gain the stubborn special rule while within 24” of it and gain the fearless and gain Feel No Pain special rules while within 12” ofit.

2. The North Wall (5 VP’s): All units of the controlling team within 12” of the wall gain the Adamantium will Special rule, units on the wall have the stubborn special rule.

3. The Landing Pad (3 VP’s): Units deploying by deep strike ontop of the pad will never scatterand the team that controls the pad is allowed an orbital bombardment per turn as detailed by the Space Marinescodex. This counts as a skyshield landing pad as well for all purposes

4. The Forward Command Post (3 VP’s) (Specific Fortress of redemption): Units on top of or inside of the Fortress gain the skyfire special rule. Note that if the Fortress is destroyed it is still considered a Strategic Location but units can no longer benefit from skyfire from it. Note it still works as a normal Fortress of Redemption

5. The Forward Munitions Dump (3 VP’s): Units from the team controlling this location within 12” of it weapons count as twin linked.

ROTG Starting Strategic Positions

1. The Sacrificial hill(10 vP’s): Any unit on top of r are with in 6” of this location gain the fearless and Feel No Pain special rules.As well as benefit from a 6+ invulnerable save

2. The Forward Observation Post(Bastion)(5 VP’s): Units on top of or inside of the Bastion or within 6” of it gain the skyfire special rule. Note that if the bastion is destroyed it is still considered a Strategic Location but units can no longer benefit from skyfire from it. Note it still works as a normal Bastion.

3. The Alter (3 VP’s): Units deploying by deep strike on top of the alter will never scatter and the team that controls the pad is allowed an orbital bombardment per turn as detailed by the Space Marines codex. This counts as a sky shield landing pad as well for all purposes

4. The Keep of Vengeance (3 VP’s): Any unit from the controlling team on top of this tower, inside of it, or are within 12” of it are allowed re-rolls to wound for all purposes.

5. The Black Forrest (3 VP’s): Units from the controlling team that are with in 6” of the Forrest gain the fearless and fear special rules.

Deployment and other Restrictions

Deployment zones for the start will be marked out prior to the game. scouts/infiltrating will only happen prior to turn 1. Units with outflank may outflank.

Force Organization and Roster rules

Up to 2500 Points Max, 1 HQ 1 Troop Mandatory, Max 1 Special Character. Max 1 Super Heavy.  Allies are allowed but you must follow the ally rules and force org. as restricted by the Main Rule book and you cannot use an ally that would not be from your own team, aka Imperium can only take Imperial allies and ROTG can only take non-Imperium allies. Forgeworld is allowed as well as forgeworld army lists.

Sorry but NO FORTIFICATIONS, we have enough of them on the table already

For the purposes of this event there will be NO Warlord Traits, as there would be too many warlords on the table!

Roll for psychic powers normally, roll when your army deploys the first time and you keep these powers even if you respawn.

How Overwatch Works: The reasoning behind my interpretation

What everyone I talk to online thinks of my rules arguements haha ;)

OK everyone, its been awhile since I posted anything controversial yet since it seems to come up every single time I go to play 40k and I seem to be getting a lot of flak over it I would like to talk about overwatch and why a lot of players are doing it right/wrong.... So first of all a caveat

There are many different groups and sub-groups of 40k players and in every region of the world/country there are different interpretations of the rules. I notice it every time I travel between my PA play group and my RI play group. It happens when you have a rulebook with tons of rules and it is not a big deal.By writing this I am not saying this is the only and right way to play 40k. EVERY single player I have ever personally shown this rule to and made my case why it works as I am about to state has always agreed with me after being shown the evidence including TO's of GT's including the rules judges at the Battle for Salvation. I am not an expert games writer nor do I have a telepathic connection with Mat Ward. It is just how the rule reads to me, and this rule is Overwatch.

My argument with this rule is simple,

As long as you were not still engaged in close combat from the previous turn and have not already fired overwatch you can still fire overwatch if a 2nd or more unit charges into them in the same charge sub-phase as a unit  they did not fire overwatch into has also charged into your unit.

Yet before we get to Overwatch we need to read the rules for the assault phase since they are changed. There are now Two sub-phases in the Assault Phase. The Charge sub-phase and the Fight Sub-phase. This is very important to my reading of this rule. These are to be considered to operate as two different phases inside of the assault phase of the turn. At the beginning of the assault phase you start the charge subphase which is very simple You declare charges, resolve overwatch, charge in models and repeat for every unit. At this point the Charge sub-phase ends. This is important as you then move on to the fight sub-phase.

OK so now on to the overwatch rule and this is basically the rule. You get to shoot when charged in the assault phase. Makes sense and it is based off an older rule from editions way in the past. This is how the rule works. Player A Declares Charge; Player B decides whether or not to overwatch; Resolve Overwatch; Player A rolls for charge range and moves in Chargers; end charge sub phase, begin Slappy Fight sub-phase...There is basically only one instance where you would not be allowed to Overwatch, and this is when the unit is locked in close combat or is engaged in close combat. So what is an engaged model?

An engaged model is a model in close combat....simple right? Well apparently not as when a model becomes engaged is only ever defined in the Fight Sub-phase. This is on page 23 of the BRB

A unit with on or more models that in base contact with an enemies...simple right and you should not be able to overwatch if another unit charges in if you did not overwatch already right?  Except there is a time issue here.

You are not expressly locked in combat until the Fight Sub-phase, All charges are done in the charge sub-phase. As it does clearly state that You Declare charges, resolve overwatch, roll charge range, move in models and repeat. Then you end the charge sub phase and go on to the fight sub phase. So there is a clear split in time between when you are locked in close combat and when overwatch is revolved.

Also a you do not decide who can fight until after each initiative phase in the first place. As there is a chronological order to this game. You cannot decide to go to the assault phase before your shooting phase. This game is clearly restriced in a time flow format that happens in phases.

This means that as long as you did not overwatch into the first unit charging in you can still overwatch into the second one as long as you were not engaged at the start of the fight sub phase aka a carry over assault.

Now I am not saying I'm right, your wrong, and if you do not play like this I will stick my tongue out at you and pop a fit. It is just how I read the rule and I have had people agree with me locally on this. It is a local interpretation of the rule and that's it. I always make sure if it is not someone I have played before if it will come in to play how they play this rule. If they do not agree with me I show them this interpretation and show them it in the main rule book. If they still do not think I am right I am cool with it and will play how they are use to playing it. Players usually tend to agree with me when I do show them it in the rule book and it has never been a big deal, heck half of the time it never comes into play.

I still do not consider myself an expert and I am not trying to step on any toes or be a rules lawyer, I like to play the rules right and like to be corrected but this is something I just seem to think makes sense the way I read it. I still think it needs an FAQ. Anyway I still take this game very laid back and am always trying to learn how to play it better and more correctly. So thanks for reading this whole thing and I hope it stirs up some good conversation on other rules being interpreted differently.. Still go into the rulebook and look at the rules through this interpretation and think it through....more on this later