Sneak peek at Defiler 'Rampage'

While I was away I finally started slinging paint on my Defiler conversion, I've named him Rampage because of the nifty Daemon head/mask on the top. He is about halfway done, and I should have him completed very soon.

I decided to paint the head a flesh tone just because I've never seen it done before, and boy am I happy that I did. The face at the end of the battlecannon will be gold as I feel that the red will detract from the shield face.

I also built 20 more Chaos Space marines, a second Defiler, 3 Rhinos and a second Landraider for the Reapers too.

-Jim

Now back to our regularly Scheduled Program

I just got back from my wonderfully relaxing and productive vacation! Boy it sure is nice to leave real life behind and just relax.

I got a few things painted and a ton of models built while I was away. Pics to follow soon.

Here are a few things I decided to do while I was gone.

I will be doing one ‘Rules from the Man-cave’ post a month. Some will be the house rules that we use and others will be a rules proposal put forth for discussion. This month’s topic will be the reintroduction of Overwatch in 5th edition, because it was brought up in the last post by more than one of you.

My buddy has put his Necrons on hold until after the New Year, due to financial issues. So this frees me up for my projects. I really need to get the Soul Reapers finished beyond their pathetic 3 color tabletop state and I need to start working on my Space Wolves revamp project again. Now obviously the latter goes on the Space Wolves blog.

Every Monday I will be naming the unit of the week, that I intend on painting, I will post a starting pic followed up by a progress shot on Thursdays and finally the finished pics on Saturday or Sunday.

The Soul Reapers Mini-dex is complete as far as the Special Rules are concerned. Everyone in my group has decided that the rules are fair and balanced. I have decided much to the chagrin of my Imp Fist wielding mate that I am dropping the Ancient Enemies rule completely. He doesn’t really care that much but liked it from a Background/Fluff perspective.

So these are the final army wide special rules for the Soul Reapers:

Fear is for the weak: Soul Reapers have been in service the Chaos for ten millennia and know that the Dark Gods watch over them.

Soul Reapers never have their leadership reduced by more than –2 Ld as the result of losing an assault. If the Unit loses the assault by more than -2, then immediately take any remaining modifiers as armor saves. They may also attempt to regroup even if the squad has been reduced less than half strength through casualties.

Undivided We Stand: The Soul reapers detest the though of becoming single-minded minions of any particular Chaos God. Because of this the Soul Reapers make very limited use of the Cults of Chaos. A Soul Reapers army my only contain one unit of Berzerkers, Rubric Marines, Noise Marines, or Plague Marines for every HQ model in the army. Cult marines never count as the compulsory troops selections.


Icons of Chaos: The Soul Reapers make no use of icons dedicated to the Chaos Gods. They may only take the Icon of Chaos Glory as listed in the Codex Chaos Space Marine.


So work still continues on the Special Characters, although Titus is solid and probably set.

Reporting from the road

After a visit to the magical land of Tornadoes, tonight I retire to the Log Bunker hidden in the wilds of Northern Cali.

Just imagine this, four guys, four armies, a dozen cases of beer, and a case of whiskey in the woods for four days; this is sure to be a kick ass time!

We are finally moving into the stage of Playtesting the Soul Reapers that I actually get to field my own army, Woohoo! Warlord Krüg and his Reaver bodyguard will be finally hitting the tabletop too!

I should resume regular posting on Saturday night or Sunday. So expect some tall tales from the Log Bunker!

-Big Jim

I'm outta here!

I am heading out on Vacation and probably won't be doing any updates for the next week.

I will be packing up a bunch of minis and my paints. So expect plenty of Eyecandy shortly after my return.

Thanks for your patients!

Big Jim

Tales from the Soapbox episode II NETS edition

Ok guys, it’s time for another NETS (Not Enough Terrain Syndrome) post. The Wild West Shootout happened almost 2 weeks ago in Arizona sponsored by Battlefoam. I’d like to give props to Blackmoor for winning the event with footsloggin’ shooty Eldar (OMG!!!), and to the rest of the participants for enduring through a severe outbreak of NETS, plus surviving the worst mission in the history of 40k during which all terrain was removed from the table. Yes, you read that right round 4 of the event was played out on terrain-less tables; what the Hell?

Blackmoors battle reports and pics that speak volumes about the tables.
Wild West Shootout game #1
Wild West Shootout game #2
Wild West Shootout game #3
Wild West Shootout game #4
Wild West Shootout game #5

People paid money to participate in and travel to this event and they get this crap dropped on them. It’s just shameful, that the organizers thought that this was acceptable. The community at large really need to put tournament organizers to task, and stop laying down to be walked upon just to have someone run an event.

I’m not saying that I don’t appreciate all the effort that goes into running an event, because I have first hand knowledge from running my own. I’m saying that is someone is running an event, either do it right or don’t do it at all; especially if you are running an event that is geared for people to travel to it.

I know that sounds harsh and it’s meant to, but 40k has enough problems rules wise in a tournament environment that they should not be compounded by other factors. Never male a paying participant feel cheated by an issue the can be solved through proper planning.

As I said before, I know it’s not cheap to buy and time consuming to build terrain, but being silent about the issue is not going to make the problem better.

Organizers need to man up and ask for help if they need it. If you are light on terrain ask for people to bring some and offer prizes for best table or terrain piece.

It is time for the gamers to make a stand and speak up. Demand better terrain on your tables and make sure that it’s placed well, so every piece of terrain is not on the edges.

You can blame TastyTaste at Blood of Kittens for the proceeding post. He brings up this event in his post about when TO's should release the missions for an event.

Gaming Podcasts

I’m sure everyone out there has at least listened to one of them. I find listening to them in the background during my painting sessions to be quite entertaining.

Here is a list of the shows I listen to.

D6 Generation
Worlds End Radio
Dice Like Thunder
40k Radio
Imperial Voxcast

So far my favorite has to be Dice Like Thunder, the show has been split into two different shows, since Mack’s recent repatriation to California. They release a show every Saturday alternating between the Chicago Crew and the Cali40kation Crew each with a distinctive style of its own.

Out of all of the Podcasts that cover 40k I think the DLT guys have the firmest grasp on how the game works. The great coverage of all aspects of the 40k hobby from RAW to house rules, to painting they cover it with a passion that is unmatched so far in my opinion.

The show does have some raunchy adult humor and language, so keep that in mind.

I quite enjoy the raunchy humor while listening to the show, it’s almost like hanging out with your buddies on game night, and this really sells the show for me.

I’d also like to bring attention to the guys over at the Imperial Voxcast. It’s a rather new show, but it seems that they are finding their groove. This show like DLT does contain adult humor and language.

So head on over and check them out, if you haven’t already and tell them that I sent you.

Tales from the Soapbox episode I

Why can’t some people just play 40k? I am sick and tired of the my list is better than your list because I got it off the internet, and the by they way that unit you are using is crap conversations at the local shops. Hell, I’m so sick of it I have almost completely stopped visiting forums.

So I was at the LGS today and overheard another conversation about this list is better than that list, don’t use that unit because it is crap because they read it somewhere on an Internet forum. This was happening as a couple of guys were setting up to play, the twenty something guy was slamming the thirty something guys list. The young guy was using a tough as nails Internet IG list with all the bells and whistles, painted in that drybrush everything style, while the older guy was using a Chaos marine list that was painted nicely and contained Bikes, Lesser Daemons and Possessed marines.

On turn one the younger guy’s friend shows up and he announces loudly that they would still be able to get a game in because he would have the CSM list tabled by turn three. The older guy just grinned, knowing full well that he knew how to use his army.

The really funny thing is that the younger guy got hit tail handed to him in a bad way. He then ranted about how if only his dice had rolled well he would have won. Sure he had some bad luck, but the simple fact is that the other guy just out played him. I really wish that he had congratulated the guy for the victory. Oh and incase you were wondering the game lasted 6 full turns.

Now don’t get me wrong I have trolled the forum scene looking at lists and tacticas, but I would never tell someone there list was crap, let alone do it before any dice had been rolled. Heck I even post lists here on my blog, looking for feedback, but at least I normally state right off the bat that I’m not looking for a power list.

I play for recreation and don’t feel the need to consult the stars or mathhammer the crap outta my lists to see if they are efficient; that’s just too much work and I get paid to do that all week. I want to be casual and relax during a game; after all we are not really deciding the fate of the galaxy, right?

Galaxy in Flames update and Necron Progress report

So here is the first Necron update. I’ve built 10 Destroyers, 8 Flayed Ones, a Tomb Spyder and the first completed Warrior conversion. Above is a comparison shot for scale purposes between a Flayed One, a standard cron painted by my stepson, and the Conversion. I must say, I really like the conversion.

In total I will be converting, 40 Warriors and 16 Immortals out of the standard minis. I have 32 Necron destroyer lord torsos and Immortal Blaster arms from my time at GW, I miss being able to order bits on the cheap. I’ll be adding those parts to converted beefed up legs for the Immortals.

For the paint scheme I’ve decided to try a rust crusted metal vibe, with the rust worn off in many places showing the bare metal beneath. This pic is kinds what I am going for with a little less orange rust and more metal showing.



I decided to change the layout of the Blog as you may have noticed. I like it, but am curious to hear what you guys think.

Tomorrow I'm going to do a review of the DLT Forge Star Necron List.

Necron Players, check out DLT's Forge Star Campaign's Necron list

So my buddy and I have been wracking our brains for an effective list for the Necron army. As you may know the Necrons took a really big hit with the release of 5th edition 40k. It’s not that he wants to go win tournaments with Necrons, but he does want to have a competitive chance of winning most games.

In passing this afternoon he mentioned making an update like I am doing for the Soul Reapers. Then a like a bolt of lightning I remembered that the Guys at Dice Like Thunder my favorite podcast had made an updated Necron list in their latest campaign setting, The Forge Star.

It’s a really groovy list, it removes the Ctan but you gain three new Necron Lord choices! It also has a lot of nifty tweaks to a little more than half of the armies entries. So if you have a Necron army and want to have a lot of fun with your friends check it out!

The Ancient have awakened

It looks like GIF is going to be seized by the Star Gods, while I build and paint a commission Necron army for one of my long time friends. Last year I had pointed out a thread on Warseer by Pazshadow and told him that if I ever did a Necron army that I would do similar conversions.


Damn those Necrons standing upright look fantastic!

Almost a year later, he has decided to get back into 40K and wants to have this awesome looking army for himself; some people are so selfish! :-)

I am picking up the miniatures from him tonight so expect updates soon.

Now this commission does not mean that work on the Soul Reapers codex stops completely, but I will focus on playtesting rather than finishing the minis from their three-color status for now.

Soul Reapers Special rules Mk III

After another dozen games or so, I have settled on the rules that will be moving forward into greater playtesting. Stubborn has been dropped and Fear is for the Weak has been re-written, and added Ancient Enemies.

I have also clarified the Butchers Blade rules in the entry for Titus.

Soul Reapers Special Rules

The models in a Soul Reaper army use a number of special rules that are common to more than one unit, as specified in the entries that follow. Given here are either the details of those rules or where to find them.

Fear is for the weak: Soul Reapers have been in service the Chaos for ten millennia and know that the Dark Gods watch over them.

Soul Reapers never have their leadership reduced by more than –2 Ld as the result of losing an assault. If the Unit loses the assault by more than -2, then immediately take any remaining modifiers as armor saves. They may also attempt to regroup even if the squad has been reduced less than half strength through casualties.


Ancient Enemies: The Soul Reapers have been fighting their loyalist brothers for ten thousand years; they have become accustomed to their combat doctrines.

Soul Reapers are subject to the ‘Ancient Enemies’ rule; models with this rule may re-roll any ones on the hit dice in the assault phase, when fighting any Space Marines loyal to the Emperor. (This rule applies when facing armies built from Codex Space Marines, Codex Dark Angels, Codex Black Templars, Codex Blood Angles and Codex Space Wolves)


Undivided We Stand: The Soul reapers detest the though of becoming single-minded minions of any particular Chaos God. Because of this the Soul Reapers make very limited use of the Cults of Chaos. A Soul Reapers army my only contain one unit of Berzerkers, Rubric Marines, Noise Marines, or Plague Marines for every HQ model in the army. Cult marines never count as the compulsory troops selections.


Icons of Chaos: The Soul Reapers make no use of icons dedicated to the Chaos Gods. They may only take the Icon of Chaos Glory as listed in the Codex Chaos Space Marine.


Listed below are the Units from Codex Chaos Space Marines with the changes to their entry. Any unit not listed below is used as they are listed in the Codex Chaos Space Marines.



HQ

All the Special Characters and the Daemon Prince entry in the Chaos Space Marine Codex are not available to a Soul Reapers army.

Chaos Lord: Gains Ancient Enemies

Chaos Sorcerer: Gains Fear is for the Weak and Ancient Enemies

Elite

Chaos Chosen Space Marines: Gain Fear is for the Weak and Ancient Enemies, they are otherwise unchanged.

Chaos Terminators: Gain Fear is for the Weak and Ancient Enemies, they are otherwise unchanged.

Possessed Chaos Space Marines: Roll for their Daemonkin abilities at the beginning of the game before deployment.

Troops

Chaos Space Marines: Gain Fear is for the Weak and Ancient Enemies, they are otherwise unchanged.

Fast Attack

Chaos Raptors: Gain Fear is for the Weak and Ancient Enemies, they are otherwise unchanged.

Chaos Bikes: Gain Fear is for the Weak and Ancient Enemies, and the point value drops from 35 to 28 points per model.

Chaos Spawn: Gain the Feel no Pain special rule for no additional cost.

Heavy Support

Chaos Havocs: Gain Fear is for the Weak and Ancient Enemies, they are otherwise unchanged.


Soul Reaper Special Characters

Titus the Butcher

The Daemon Prince Titus the Butcher started out as the second in command of the World Eaters seventeenth Grand Company. He was and is still the armored fist of Lord Krüg, when there is something impossible to do Titus is unleashed to resolve the problem.

Titus earned the title the Butcher and ascended to Princedom on the planet Lambosia on the far Eastern Fringe. It was during a campaign to reclaim one of the Salmora artifacts, that Titus was tasked with holding the Star Phantom Space Marines back while the Sorcerer Xusia preformed the rituals to locate the artifact. Titus lead an elite unit of Reavers from Lord Krügs handpicked Terminator bodyguard into a mountain pass to bock the path of the Star Phantoms. During the fight the Reavers were whipped out and Titus was left surrounded by the lackeys of the Emperor. He had already been mortally wounded, but refused to succumb to his wounds and fail Lord Krüg. Titus grabbed a second power sword from one of his fallen comrades and proceeded to charge headlong into the remaining Star Phantoms. When the dust settled the Star Phantoms were either dead or routing from the field, Titus collapsed knowing that his task was complete.

As he lay there dying he heard the whispers of the Dark Gods. They were pleased with his dedication and the carnage he had done to his foes. They offered him untold power and a chance to fight again exacting his revenge on the Imperium for the greater glory of Chaos. He accepted the offer and rose up as a mighty Daemon Prince of Chaos.


Titus the Butcher
Daemon Prince: 200 points



War Gear:
Personal Icon
The Butchers Blade

Special Rules:
Fearless
Eternal Warrior
5+ invulnerable save
Feel no Pain
Fleet

The Butchers Blade: is a massive Chaos runesword carried by the Daemon Prince Titus. His brutality is know and feared throughout the Eastern Fringe. Titus can usually be found standing atop a pile of corpses in the middle of the enemy lines. He is very good at cutting large groups of his foes down with one mighty swing of the Butchers Blade.

To represent this in the game Titus may give up his normal attacks to make single strength 5 attack against all enemy non-vehicle models in base contact. This is an all or nothing attack with a single die roll to hit; if there are multiple WS’s involved the roll to hit is against the highest WS. If successful roll to wound; with the wounds allocated among those models in base contact with Titus.