Yo!
Woodies update: I've been busy painting away and making movement trays. In terms of "new purchases" I have only just today bought 5 Sisters of the Thorn and I have 6 more of the old school Wildriders on the way.
Anywho - my finished Glade Riders:
Looking very cool and stuff. 2x5 with Hagbane arrows seems like a good idea to me (I've got my first game on Saturday vs WoC so I'll guess I'll find out...)
Deepwood Scouts:
3x6 Scouts...a very thin 288pts when equipped with Trueflight arrows, I'm no fan of the "new" Glade Guard, especially when I have the option of deploying my shooting exactly where I need it. Scouts and Waywatchers FTW. I've now got my 20 Waywatchers ready to go...I just need to get some skirmish trays for them. I'm not convinced 2x10 Waywatchers is the best option given the price...but I can see the argument for 2x7 or 8 to keep the price down and still keep the effectiveness.
Mages:
A new paint job for the top mage, and FINALLY got around to finishing the conversion for the other mage that I bought when Storm of Magic first came out! I'm thinking 3 Mages (1 lvl4 Heavens, 2 lvl1 beasts) gives the army the tactical flexibility to do what it needs to do (and isn't relying on 6 dicing withering so the 50+ Glade Guard can kill something). Of course my mantra is to always only use what I have, so I'll be bringing the Sisters of the Thorn into action once they are painted. Not convinced that the poorman's brolock character bus is the best idea, but I see the appeal of them.
So That's that. I'll battle report up the game and hopefully I wont get smashed by t5 chariots...
The Brush of Doom is my attempt to show case my armies and painting progress + try get into the habit of actually making battle reports.
Thursday, 29 May 2014
Sunday, 25 May 2014
Horned Rat 2014 Battle reports
Yo
Weekend just been was my first ETC event...well ETC comp (including table set up) as a singles event.
I decided to rock the Empire:
Grand Templar Master: Runefang, Charmed Shield, Dragonbane Gem, Potion of Speed
Lvl4 life: steed, Crown of Command, mr(3)
BSB: steed, 1+ armour, lance, White Cloak
Captain of the Empire: 1+ armour, lance, Other Trickster's Shard
Lvl1 fire: steed, scroll
13 Inner Circle Knights: Full Command, banner of Discipline
5 Knights: Musician
5 Knights: Musician
Cannon
Cannon
4 Demigryph Knights: Musician
Steam Tank
Hurricanum
Very exciting list. Knight Bus, Demis and Stank hold most of the points. I got the usual Pete Prediction of Death and set about disappointing him.
Game 1 vs Mike King's Beastmen.
Very exciting first game due to the list.
choppy lord on foot with armour and the brass cleaver
Choppy Doombull
Choppy BSB
2 lvl2's - beasts and shadow
3x5 ungor bow thingies
5 million Gors with Totem of Rust
2 Pumbas
2 chariots
5 super rallying harpies
8 minotaurs: FC
Gorgon (yes, you read that right)
we deployed and stuff - and then Mike tells me that in ETC if a unit has ambush it has BRB Ambush = the 5 million Gors were coming up behind me...sigh
Anywho I moved forward and stuff...killed a couple of minos with dwellers, cannoned stuff
I then got lucky with t2 Dwellers picking off the Choppy Doombull lord character and the unit champ. This then drew them into the Demis who beat them up over 2 rounds of combat. Meanwhile...
and Amber spear picks off my Hurricanum. I turn the lance around and get charged...
Grandmaster and the Beastman General get stuck in an epic challenge which I win. Knights did not need to make use of their stubborn even though I had no static res and the gors were wildformed. In my turn it is rather obvious what happens and the Gors are taken off.
The Gorgon meanwhile spent his time beating up a unit of knights t6 I pinned down on the bus and Runefanged it to the face.
Result: 20-0 to start the event. Dwellers and Runefang FTW.
Game 2 vs' Tim Joss's Dark Elves
2 1/2 hours of stuff running around me (and forgetting to take pics). Only time my Stank died...3 RBT's doing 3 wounds each in a single round would do that! I eventually pinned down the 25 xbow guys and runefanged them to bits (the other stuff helped too). Also picked up the RBT's and got super unlucky to not get the shades (needed a 7 to run them down from a flee...rolled a 6 with swift-striding knights sigh).
Result 9-11 loss...the difference in not catching the shades
Game 3 vs Ryan Lister's WoC
Another interesting list that was going to cause me problems...
lvl4 tzeentch on disc with the defensive stuff
unkillable BSB on dmount
Babysitter exhalted on dmount
block of slaanesh warriors
2 slaanesh chariots
3 units of vanguarding doggies
8 Trollololololololols
4 skullcrushers hellcannon
I sat back, killed the babysitter with cannons and braced myself for impact...
And the lance formation meant I was stopped from helping. I was in the flank, but could not wheel past the cannon off to its right. Meant I had to swift reform into a "normal" bus and wear another round of vomit on the stank. That awkward turn of waiting was the turn the Skullcrushers (1 had been cannoned off) charged my Demis (who had the hurricanum nearby). I take 1 wound from the riders and give 5 wounds in return and shrug of the mounts. They break and I fail to run down. repeat this THREE MORE TIMES before I eventually catch them.
So I finally get my supporting flank charge on the trolls, casually dweller off the general (like a boss) and smash up the now ldship 2 trolls and run them down. Big game swing there as my bus re-lances and goes after the hellcannon. I would say I Runefanged it off...except the grandmaster was too busy runfanging the crew leaving the heavy work to the captains and other knights. Hurricanum also saw combat charging and killing some doggies!
Result: 18-2 win. End of day 1 I'm on a comfortable 47pts
Game 4 vs Hugh Dixon's Dwarfs
First game vs the new Dwarf book and the list is as exciting as I expected it to be.
2 runesmiths with spelleaters
BSB wiht the 4+ward, all dwarf things within 12 get 5+ ward vs shooting and magic missiles
Horde of Warriors with GW
20 Quarellers with GW
big block of hammers with the "give stubborn to units within 12" banner
2 gyros
2 cannons - runed up
Organgun - runed up
5 rangers
we deploy and I opt to deploy the knights normally because I knew I needed to maximise attacks to break through the stubborn.
I move up using the building to shield my approach. The "cannon-off" was a fluff fest. My cannons died to gyros, but I took out a dwarf cannon in the process! My target was the crossbows (stank - distracted running over a gyro and misfiring for a bit) and the warriors (bus and demis).
Rule 1 of fighting dwarfs: dont let the artillery kill too much (used terrain to mask approach)
Rule 2 of fighting dwarfs: don't do it on their terms...
So I set up the bus to take the charge that would draw them away from the stubborn banner.Warriors charge, I win the combat, Demis flank in and I wreak face - enough to get them out of the stubborn banner range. They break and run...11 inches and pop through the Hammerers sigh. 0vps for me (cost me the OTS captain). Meanwhile I get the Stank into the crossbows (well, I miss by 1 inch and they charge me). In flank the Demis who kill them all... BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!
Result: 10-10 thanks to super fleeing warriors.
Game 5 vs Pete Dunn's Skaven
Same table as the last 2 games...This game was very much mine to pick off the sneaky 11-9/12-8 and some really annoying bad luck cost me the win.
1) I was sloppy with the BSB placement at deployment because nothing could see my stuff...except the indirect firing rat-a-pult that kills 2 knights and the unit flees of the board...
2) IF dwellers on bell and Strength test passed (grrr)
3) 3rd cannon hit and the seer finally dies and bell takes 2 wounds
4) sticking my nose out to the dweller (or not) the seer gave the magic missile battery/doomrocket a chance on the bus. hopeless armoursaves and wardsaves later I need to re-grow 1 knight to get my unit above 25%. 3 magic phases of 5 dicing re-growth and I couldnt do it :( Oddly with ETC comp I was wanting fewer dice...instead Pete got 6+ dispel dice for the last 3 turns grrr.
Though the warplightning cannon did explode (allowing me to stick my nose out...) and I picked off the Hellpit with fireballs and cannons (yay!).
The Skaven "advance" t6
My (successful) "anti gutter runner" tactic
Result: 10-10
Overall
Overall I ended up on 67 battle points and got a 30 for my paint score (need to flock my movement trays and drybrush the black metal with something to give it some shape and get better at convincing TO's that my carry tray is actually a display board).
This of course gave me 4th place...0.03 overall points short of Tim in 3rd. Sigh. As usual looking over the games there were easy places for the extra points:
1) catching the shades
2) catching the dwarf warriors
3) not sticking my nose out and placing my BSB to cover everything.
As usual a well run fun event. ETC isn't that bad...though always playing battleline does get a little repetitive and some of the rule changes are annoying but not fun destroying.
Oh well...first solo event of 2014 so I'm happy with 4th. Next event is Panzershriek where I get to have some more ETC games. Hopefully I'll have my Woodies all ready for that :D
Weekend just been was my first ETC event...well ETC comp (including table set up) as a singles event.
I decided to rock the Empire:
Grand Templar Master: Runefang, Charmed Shield, Dragonbane Gem, Potion of Speed
Lvl4 life: steed, Crown of Command, mr(3)
BSB: steed, 1+ armour, lance, White Cloak
Captain of the Empire: 1+ armour, lance, Other Trickster's Shard
Lvl1 fire: steed, scroll
13 Inner Circle Knights: Full Command, banner of Discipline
5 Knights: Musician
5 Knights: Musician
Cannon
Cannon
4 Demigryph Knights: Musician
Steam Tank
Hurricanum
Very exciting list. Knight Bus, Demis and Stank hold most of the points. I got the usual Pete Prediction of Death and set about disappointing him.
Game 1 vs Mike King's Beastmen.
Very exciting first game due to the list.
choppy lord on foot with armour and the brass cleaver
Choppy Doombull
Choppy BSB
2 lvl2's - beasts and shadow
3x5 ungor bow thingies
5 million Gors with Totem of Rust
2 Pumbas
2 chariots
5 super rallying harpies
8 minotaurs: FC
Gorgon (yes, you read that right)
we deployed and stuff - and then Mike tells me that in ETC if a unit has ambush it has BRB Ambush = the 5 million Gors were coming up behind me...sigh
Anywho I moved forward and stuff...killed a couple of minos with dwellers, cannoned stuff
I then got lucky with t2 Dwellers picking off the Choppy Doombull lord character and the unit champ. This then drew them into the Demis who beat them up over 2 rounds of combat. Meanwhile...
and Amber spear picks off my Hurricanum. I turn the lance around and get charged...
Grandmaster and the Beastman General get stuck in an epic challenge which I win. Knights did not need to make use of their stubborn even though I had no static res and the gors were wildformed. In my turn it is rather obvious what happens and the Gors are taken off.
The Gorgon meanwhile spent his time beating up a unit of knights t6 I pinned down on the bus and Runefanged it to the face.
Result: 20-0 to start the event. Dwellers and Runefang FTW.
Game 2 vs' Tim Joss's Dark Elves
2 1/2 hours of stuff running around me (and forgetting to take pics). Only time my Stank died...3 RBT's doing 3 wounds each in a single round would do that! I eventually pinned down the 25 xbow guys and runefanged them to bits (the other stuff helped too). Also picked up the RBT's and got super unlucky to not get the shades (needed a 7 to run them down from a flee...rolled a 6 with swift-striding knights sigh).
Result 9-11 loss...the difference in not catching the shades
Game 3 vs Ryan Lister's WoC
Another interesting list that was going to cause me problems...
lvl4 tzeentch on disc with the defensive stuff
unkillable BSB on dmount
Babysitter exhalted on dmount
block of slaanesh warriors
2 slaanesh chariots
3 units of vanguarding doggies
8 Trollololololololols
4 skullcrushers hellcannon
I sat back, killed the babysitter with cannons and braced myself for impact...
And the lance formation meant I was stopped from helping. I was in the flank, but could not wheel past the cannon off to its right. Meant I had to swift reform into a "normal" bus and wear another round of vomit on the stank. That awkward turn of waiting was the turn the Skullcrushers (1 had been cannoned off) charged my Demis (who had the hurricanum nearby). I take 1 wound from the riders and give 5 wounds in return and shrug of the mounts. They break and I fail to run down. repeat this THREE MORE TIMES before I eventually catch them.
So I finally get my supporting flank charge on the trolls, casually dweller off the general (like a boss) and smash up the now ldship 2 trolls and run them down. Big game swing there as my bus re-lances and goes after the hellcannon. I would say I Runefanged it off...except the grandmaster was too busy runfanging the crew leaving the heavy work to the captains and other knights. Hurricanum also saw combat charging and killing some doggies!
Result: 18-2 win. End of day 1 I'm on a comfortable 47pts
Game 4 vs Hugh Dixon's Dwarfs
First game vs the new Dwarf book and the list is as exciting as I expected it to be.
2 runesmiths with spelleaters
BSB wiht the 4+ward, all dwarf things within 12 get 5+ ward vs shooting and magic missiles
Horde of Warriors with GW
20 Quarellers with GW
big block of hammers with the "give stubborn to units within 12" banner
2 gyros
2 cannons - runed up
Organgun - runed up
5 rangers
we deploy and I opt to deploy the knights normally because I knew I needed to maximise attacks to break through the stubborn.
I move up using the building to shield my approach. The "cannon-off" was a fluff fest. My cannons died to gyros, but I took out a dwarf cannon in the process! My target was the crossbows (stank - distracted running over a gyro and misfiring for a bit) and the warriors (bus and demis).
Rule 1 of fighting dwarfs: dont let the artillery kill too much (used terrain to mask approach)
Rule 2 of fighting dwarfs: don't do it on their terms...
So I set up the bus to take the charge that would draw them away from the stubborn banner.Warriors charge, I win the combat, Demis flank in and I wreak face - enough to get them out of the stubborn banner range. They break and run...11 inches and pop through the Hammerers sigh. 0vps for me (cost me the OTS captain). Meanwhile I get the Stank into the crossbows (well, I miss by 1 inch and they charge me). In flank the Demis who kill them all... BLOOD FOR THE BLOOD GOD!!!
Result: 10-10 thanks to super fleeing warriors.
Game 5 vs Pete Dunn's Skaven
Same table as the last 2 games...This game was very much mine to pick off the sneaky 11-9/12-8 and some really annoying bad luck cost me the win.
1) I was sloppy with the BSB placement at deployment because nothing could see my stuff...except the indirect firing rat-a-pult that kills 2 knights and the unit flees of the board...
2) IF dwellers on bell and Strength test passed (grrr)
3) 3rd cannon hit and the seer finally dies and bell takes 2 wounds
4) sticking my nose out to the dweller (or not) the seer gave the magic missile battery/doomrocket a chance on the bus. hopeless armoursaves and wardsaves later I need to re-grow 1 knight to get my unit above 25%. 3 magic phases of 5 dicing re-growth and I couldnt do it :( Oddly with ETC comp I was wanting fewer dice...instead Pete got 6+ dispel dice for the last 3 turns grrr.
Though the warplightning cannon did explode (allowing me to stick my nose out...) and I picked off the Hellpit with fireballs and cannons (yay!).
The Skaven "advance" t6
My (successful) "anti gutter runner" tactic
Result: 10-10
Overall
Overall I ended up on 67 battle points and got a 30 for my paint score (need to flock my movement trays and drybrush the black metal with something to give it some shape and get better at convincing TO's that my carry tray is actually a display board).
This of course gave me 4th place...0.03 overall points short of Tim in 3rd. Sigh. As usual looking over the games there were easy places for the extra points:
1) catching the shades
2) catching the dwarf warriors
3) not sticking my nose out and placing my BSB to cover everything.
As usual a well run fun event. ETC isn't that bad...though always playing battleline does get a little repetitive and some of the rule changes are annoying but not fun destroying.
Oh well...first solo event of 2014 so I'm happy with 4th. Next event is Panzershriek where I get to have some more ETC games. Hopefully I'll have my Woodies all ready for that :D
Wednesday, 7 May 2014
Unpacking the Woodies - stocktake and review
Hey hey hey,
So back from an Awesome Joel-con where I came 5th despite only losing 1 game (random lore meant I rolled shadow vs High Elves...) - heck I even beat my own army using Lizards (first time ever) and beat Nick Hoen (meaning next year's NZTC team name will be "The team with the guy who beat Nick Hoen by 186vps"). Event was ranked purely on the amount of VP's you claimed each game. VERY COOL way of doing it - especially for small events. Really changes the dynamic of the game as you have to keep pushing for points.
Best Moment: rolling Death game 1 vs Gregs Ogres. T2 Purple Sun his bus...BSB + 6 guts die. Panic test failed = remaining 2 and lvl4flee back through the vortex and all die! Chikka boom!
My list for the Joel-Con
Lvl4 (random lore)
Archlector: HA, GW, 4+ ward, skavenslayer helm
BSB: 2+ armoursave, warriorbane
2x engineer
Captasus with sword of might and dragonhelm
34 Halberds: FC - 6 archer detach
2x5 knights: M
4 Demis: M, SB
Stank
Helblaster
Helblaster
2000ish points
My first army started in the deep dark days of 2006. I have periodically used them throughout 8th - at least once every 3 months. I took them to an event, lent them out for 2 events (wrote the lists) and almost took them to the Warhammer Achievements event that was cancelled due to numbers (sadly).
What this means is that my Woodie army has been kept "up to date" and some of the painting has been refreshed...and some of it hasn't!
So my review of the Woodie book is by way of a Stock Take of my army:
Mounted Mage and BSB
By some chance of luck back in 7th I used to run 2 lvl2's on steeds and would deepwood sphere "bomb" people for fun. Now they have been dug out and will make a very nice mounted lvl4 mage and BSB - which seem to be the "obvious" way to run them given the bunker options.
Painting: needs re-basing and slight modification to new paint scheme
Waywatchers and Waystalkers
Can't see myself ever fielding less than 2x10 TBH. Digging these guys out I have 10 painted to current standards and can field another 12 (including a rank filler). The best thing about the last armybook update was the wealth of character models they released. New Armybook = look at all the Waystalkers! (rules query - if scouted they HAVE to be deployed by themselves due to the order (unless meeting engagement or dawn attack)???
Painting: 10 done, 10 to be updated, Waystalkers to be updated.
Glade Riders
The awkward stepchild of the old book. I used them when I first started playing (due to them coming in the battalion box set) and by some stroke of luck the Achievements event meant that fielding 2x5 fo these guys with full command was a really good option - meaning I have 10 ready to go! I dont love ambush, but in the context of the army I think 2x5 with poison is a solid investment.
Painting: removing the obvious command means only 2 need to be updated.
Eagle Dude and warhawks
Win the award for "survived storage the worst". Not touched since 7th. I used to run 4, but ripped the rider off one to make an eagle rider for a list I wrote for Vermintide 2012. Both options I think are "better" than the old book - warhawks especially...however the lack of dropping "something"/fly over attack really annoys me. KB on the charge is cool...but not 135pts thrown away on a chance cool.
Painting: warhawks to be updated if I ever field them.
Drycha and Orion
Yeah they are cool I guess. I really like Orion's new rules...not his cost! Dumbest thing about them is that I have the Ariel model around here and she failed to get new rules...sexism if you ask me.
Painting: Drycha to be updated, Orion needs his crown glued back on and Ariel will continue to be a shelf ornament fairy.
DRAGON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE DRAGONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously I do. Forest dragon is STILL officially on 50mmx50mm = awesome = I'll be buying the Black Dragon (mounting on 50x50mm) so I can run DOUBLE DRAGON! OMG that alone made the armybook delay worth the wait.
Painting: Sisters need to be assembled and painted...black dragon needs to be purchased and painted ASAP. Current dragon needs re-basing.
Eternal Guard
HA MY LONG TERM INVESTMENT IN 40 OF THESE GUYS PAID OFF...kinda. I absolutely love the new models...but not as much as the old metal ones. I think they are the best core choice in the new book because they offer that something that nothing else does - an anvil + they are the only unit that really takes advantage of the Forest Stalker rule. Avoidance armies only work if there is something for the opponent to focus on. It used to be the Treemen (HA!). Ws5, ASF i5 ldship 9 stubborn anvil that strikes in extra rank, re-rolling 1's to wound (poison due to venom thicket) with 5+ as for 12ppm on a core choice = amazing. 30 with full command are looking like a staple for me.
Painting: haven't really seen the table since 7th = need re-basing and the cloaks changed to new scheme + glue standard bearer back together!
Wardancers/Shadowdancer
New breath of life for these guys. s3 sucks, but remove rank bonus and ASF KB is awesome! Really "synergise" with the Eternal Guard anvil in the venom thicket "tactic"...Shadowdancer or separate unit? I prefer the unit due to cost, but I think the Shadowdancer in the Eternal Guard/Rangers could catch some people out.
Painting: Got lots of use in 8th. Only 4 models to update
Wildriders
The best hammer in the new book. 3x5 with banners seems like a given. Frenzy is meh...but keep near the BSB blaa blaa blaa.
Painting: I've got 2 unassembled horses + the headless one in gladerider pics + the 2 wildrider horse heads without bodies + some Orion hounds as rank filler I think I've easily got 3x5 with banners! CHIKKA BOOM!
GladeGuard
(no pic cos I got millions and couldnt be bothered setting them up)
I personally think these guys lost the 2nd most in the book. The arrows are cool, but s3 with move and shoot penalties = either trueflight or your mobile avoidance gunline just became a static very expensive gunline. 600pts gets you 30-38 archers with the new arrows in 3 units with musos and the odd banner. That is not much...s3 will be their downfall. Personally I would just rely on the Scouts, Waywatchers, HODA, and Glade Riders to do the shooting.
Painting: Skirmish movement trays need to be made up
Other Characters and stuff
Branchwraiths got a huge boost. Cheaper and gained lvl1 life built in. 1 of these guys in Rangers or Eternal guard and you can buff them up nice...if you want to. Obviously that also means chucking in a GW welding guy and the BSB, and a lvl4 and a shadowdancer for luck = DEATHSTAR!!!!! ok - not an "every game" idea, but I am keen to try branchwraith + Eternal Guard.
The tokens are from the Warhammer Achievements event which required bringing some for a mission. Now they will be very convenient High/Dark magic tokens.
Painting: finish basing the tokens.
Forest Spirits
Yup...straight into storage.
STUFF I DONT OWN...yet
Sisters of Twilight: the Brolock apology. I will be looking to get 2 boxes of these ladies so I can use them as either my caster for DOUBLE DRAGON lists, or character bunkers for "normal lists". This unit will need to have glitter on it somewhere.
Eagles: Ok - I have eagles...but I want to get the Hobbit Eagles. Nothing has changed. 1 or 2 of these guys = awesome.
Rangers: Not going to bother. In the book purely because they needed a double kit for the Eternal Guard.
Conclusion: This book is the "Apology" book.
Yay new book! I'm aiming for Panzershrek for these guys (if I can get and paint up some Sisters in time)...but my real goal is to get a Double Dragon list rocking for an event just because.
Personally I would have preferred old forest Spirits and old Glade Guard with every other new change...but alas Matt Ward needed to apologise for the High Elves and Dark Elves. Still a good book...I just dont see it changing the meta other than people taking magic missiles with their Empire armies...oh wait banishment council...
So back from an Awesome Joel-con where I came 5th despite only losing 1 game (random lore meant I rolled shadow vs High Elves...) - heck I even beat my own army using Lizards (first time ever) and beat Nick Hoen (meaning next year's NZTC team name will be "The team with the guy who beat Nick Hoen by 186vps"). Event was ranked purely on the amount of VP's you claimed each game. VERY COOL way of doing it - especially for small events. Really changes the dynamic of the game as you have to keep pushing for points.
Best Moment: rolling Death game 1 vs Gregs Ogres. T2 Purple Sun his bus...BSB + 6 guts die. Panic test failed = remaining 2 and lvl4flee back through the vortex and all die! Chikka boom!
My list for the Joel-Con
Lvl4 (random lore)
Archlector: HA, GW, 4+ ward, skavenslayer helm
BSB: 2+ armoursave, warriorbane
2x engineer
Captasus with sword of might and dragonhelm
34 Halberds: FC - 6 archer detach
2x5 knights: M
4 Demis: M, SB
Stank
Helblaster
Helblaster
2000ish points
Anywho: Wood Elves
My first army started in the deep dark days of 2006. I have periodically used them throughout 8th - at least once every 3 months. I took them to an event, lent them out for 2 events (wrote the lists) and almost took them to the Warhammer Achievements event that was cancelled due to numbers (sadly).
What this means is that my Woodie army has been kept "up to date" and some of the painting has been refreshed...and some of it hasn't!
So my review of the Woodie book is by way of a Stock Take of my army:
Mounted Mage and BSB
By some chance of luck back in 7th I used to run 2 lvl2's on steeds and would deepwood sphere "bomb" people for fun. Now they have been dug out and will make a very nice mounted lvl4 mage and BSB - which seem to be the "obvious" way to run them given the bunker options.
Painting: needs re-basing and slight modification to new paint scheme
Waywatchers and Waystalkers
Can't see myself ever fielding less than 2x10 TBH. Digging these guys out I have 10 painted to current standards and can field another 12 (including a rank filler). The best thing about the last armybook update was the wealth of character models they released. New Armybook = look at all the Waystalkers! (rules query - if scouted they HAVE to be deployed by themselves due to the order (unless meeting engagement or dawn attack)???
Painting: 10 done, 10 to be updated, Waystalkers to be updated.
Glade Riders
The awkward stepchild of the old book. I used them when I first started playing (due to them coming in the battalion box set) and by some stroke of luck the Achievements event meant that fielding 2x5 fo these guys with full command was a really good option - meaning I have 10 ready to go! I dont love ambush, but in the context of the army I think 2x5 with poison is a solid investment.
Painting: removing the obvious command means only 2 need to be updated.
Eagle Dude and warhawks
Win the award for "survived storage the worst". Not touched since 7th. I used to run 4, but ripped the rider off one to make an eagle rider for a list I wrote for Vermintide 2012. Both options I think are "better" than the old book - warhawks especially...however the lack of dropping "something"/fly over attack really annoys me. KB on the charge is cool...but not 135pts thrown away on a chance cool.
Painting: warhawks to be updated if I ever field them.
Drycha and Orion
Yeah they are cool I guess. I really like Orion's new rules...not his cost! Dumbest thing about them is that I have the Ariel model around here and she failed to get new rules...sexism if you ask me.
Painting: Drycha to be updated, Orion needs his crown glued back on and Ariel will continue to be a shelf ornament fairy.
DRAGON!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I LOVE DRAGONS!!!!!!!!!!!!! Seriously I do. Forest dragon is STILL officially on 50mmx50mm = awesome = I'll be buying the Black Dragon (mounting on 50x50mm) so I can run DOUBLE DRAGON! OMG that alone made the armybook delay worth the wait.
Painting: Sisters need to be assembled and painted...black dragon needs to be purchased and painted ASAP. Current dragon needs re-basing.
Eternal Guard
HA MY LONG TERM INVESTMENT IN 40 OF THESE GUYS PAID OFF...kinda. I absolutely love the new models...but not as much as the old metal ones. I think they are the best core choice in the new book because they offer that something that nothing else does - an anvil + they are the only unit that really takes advantage of the Forest Stalker rule. Avoidance armies only work if there is something for the opponent to focus on. It used to be the Treemen (HA!). Ws5, ASF i5 ldship 9 stubborn anvil that strikes in extra rank, re-rolling 1's to wound (poison due to venom thicket) with 5+ as for 12ppm on a core choice = amazing. 30 with full command are looking like a staple for me.
Painting: haven't really seen the table since 7th = need re-basing and the cloaks changed to new scheme + glue standard bearer back together!
Wardancers/Shadowdancer
New breath of life for these guys. s3 sucks, but remove rank bonus and ASF KB is awesome! Really "synergise" with the Eternal Guard anvil in the venom thicket "tactic"...Shadowdancer or separate unit? I prefer the unit due to cost, but I think the Shadowdancer in the Eternal Guard/Rangers could catch some people out.
Painting: Got lots of use in 8th. Only 4 models to update
Wildriders
The best hammer in the new book. 3x5 with banners seems like a given. Frenzy is meh...but keep near the BSB blaa blaa blaa.
Painting: I've got 2 unassembled horses + the headless one in gladerider pics + the 2 wildrider horse heads without bodies + some Orion hounds as rank filler I think I've easily got 3x5 with banners! CHIKKA BOOM!
GladeGuard
(no pic cos I got millions and couldnt be bothered setting them up)
I personally think these guys lost the 2nd most in the book. The arrows are cool, but s3 with move and shoot penalties = either trueflight or your mobile avoidance gunline just became a static very expensive gunline. 600pts gets you 30-38 archers with the new arrows in 3 units with musos and the odd banner. That is not much...s3 will be their downfall. Personally I would just rely on the Scouts, Waywatchers, HODA, and Glade Riders to do the shooting.
Painting: Skirmish movement trays need to be made up
Other Characters and stuff
Branchwraiths got a huge boost. Cheaper and gained lvl1 life built in. 1 of these guys in Rangers or Eternal guard and you can buff them up nice...if you want to. Obviously that also means chucking in a GW welding guy and the BSB, and a lvl4 and a shadowdancer for luck = DEATHSTAR!!!!! ok - not an "every game" idea, but I am keen to try branchwraith + Eternal Guard.
The tokens are from the Warhammer Achievements event which required bringing some for a mission. Now they will be very convenient High/Dark magic tokens.
Painting: finish basing the tokens.
Forest Spirits
Yup...straight into storage.
STUFF I DONT OWN...yet
Sisters of Twilight: the Brolock apology. I will be looking to get 2 boxes of these ladies so I can use them as either my caster for DOUBLE DRAGON lists, or character bunkers for "normal lists". This unit will need to have glitter on it somewhere.
Eagles: Ok - I have eagles...but I want to get the Hobbit Eagles. Nothing has changed. 1 or 2 of these guys = awesome.
Rangers: Not going to bother. In the book purely because they needed a double kit for the Eternal Guard.
Conclusion: This book is the "Apology" book.
Yay new book! I'm aiming for Panzershrek for these guys (if I can get and paint up some Sisters in time)...but my real goal is to get a Double Dragon list rocking for an event just because.
Personally I would have preferred old forest Spirits and old Glade Guard with every other new change...but alas Matt Ward needed to apologise for the High Elves and Dark Elves. Still a good book...I just dont see it changing the meta other than people taking magic missiles with their Empire armies...oh wait banishment council...
Tuesday, 15 April 2014
Joel-Con 2014!!! My first ever international tournament.
Hi all,
So ANZAC weekend I'll be in Australia catching up with the Shirts Off crew, meaning a huge excuse for the first ever Joel-con! (I wanted it to be named "Joel-Fest").
4 games, 2000pts where the comp is "a chance to try out the UK masters lists...but don't be a d*ck" (Aussie vernacular for "try to self comp, but aim for the tough end")
Since I have to get my army through customs I'm naturally taking the men of the Empire and based my list on the Empire list that pulled out of the UK masters at the last minute.
Arch Lector "Otto": ha, gw, 4+ ward, helm of the skavenslayer
Lvl4 light
Lvl1 light
Lvl1 light
Bsb: fullplate, enchanted shield, warriorbane
Captain of the empire: Pegasus, fullplate, shield, lance, dragon helm
33 halberds: fc
7 archer detach
5 knights: m
5 knights: m
4 demigryph knights: m, sb
Steam tank
Steam tank
1999pts
So the obvious list is to double banishment up and go pure mounted... But I compromised there for some extra movement and some foot troopers + no arcane magic items to shut down magic phases???dark elves don't like net of amynok right?
Now I'm expecting to spend all 4 games being ran around by yawn-fest dark elves, shot apart by high elves, and rail roaded...however I think my list is offensive enough (and in no way a gun line given the shooting limitations of stanks) to hopefully go up the guts of someone willing to put a block of something down for me to aim at!
In case the list is a bit beyond the pale given the panel comp fetish Aussies seem to have I'll also bring over a helblaster, engineer and a cannon to swap out 1 Mage and a stank. This would put the lvl 4 on heavens and the lvl1 on lore of fire (maybe). Spare 10pts could become something...maybe a banner on the Demi's...
Any who that's it for now. Good Friday will see an awesome 40k event so expect pics and reports!
So ANZAC weekend I'll be in Australia catching up with the Shirts Off crew, meaning a huge excuse for the first ever Joel-con! (I wanted it to be named "Joel-Fest").
4 games, 2000pts where the comp is "a chance to try out the UK masters lists...but don't be a d*ck" (Aussie vernacular for "try to self comp, but aim for the tough end")
Since I have to get my army through customs I'm naturally taking the men of the Empire and based my list on the Empire list that pulled out of the UK masters at the last minute.
Arch Lector "Otto": ha, gw, 4+ ward, helm of the skavenslayer
Lvl4 light
Lvl1 light
Lvl1 light
Bsb: fullplate, enchanted shield, warriorbane
Captain of the empire: Pegasus, fullplate, shield, lance, dragon helm
33 halberds: fc
7 archer detach
5 knights: m
5 knights: m
4 demigryph knights: m, sb
Steam tank
Steam tank
1999pts
So the obvious list is to double banishment up and go pure mounted... But I compromised there for some extra movement and some foot troopers + no arcane magic items to shut down magic phases???dark elves don't like net of amynok right?
Now I'm expecting to spend all 4 games being ran around by yawn-fest dark elves, shot apart by high elves, and rail roaded...however I think my list is offensive enough (and in no way a gun line given the shooting limitations of stanks) to hopefully go up the guts of someone willing to put a block of something down for me to aim at!
In case the list is a bit beyond the pale given the panel comp fetish Aussies seem to have I'll also bring over a helblaster, engineer and a cannon to swap out 1 Mage and a stank. This would put the lvl 4 on heavens and the lvl1 on lore of fire (maybe). Spare 10pts could become something...maybe a banner on the Demi's...
Any who that's it for now. Good Friday will see an awesome 40k event so expect pics and reports!
Tuesday, 8 April 2014
The model that got me into high elves FINALLY painted!
Hey,
Still on the iPad sigh. So after all these years and models painted I have FINALLY got around to painting up the model that got me into the high elves. I believe he is the old metal silverhelm unit champ, but in books he's a very Alexander-esque Calvary prince. It was the look of this model that gave me the inspiration to paint my elves up like I have.
Anywho here he is: in the future he can be found on the battlefield leading a glorious charge with his Giant's Blade held high ready to destroy anything that gets in his way!
Still on the iPad sigh. So after all these years and models painted I have FINALLY got around to painting up the model that got me into the high elves. I believe he is the old metal silverhelm unit champ, but in books he's a very Alexander-esque Calvary prince. It was the look of this model that gave me the inspiration to paint my elves up like I have.
Anywho here he is: in the future he can be found on the battlefield leading a glorious charge with his Giant's Blade held high ready to destroy anything that gets in his way!
Sunday, 6 April 2014
Shadow Warriors completed
Hey,
So computer died tonight (yay...) so my first official blog post from my iPad, so apologies if it is weirdly formatted or something.
I present my Shadow Warriors:
I present my shadow warriors:
So computer died tonight (yay...) so my first official blog post from my iPad, so apologies if it is weirdly formatted or something.
I present my Shadow Warriors:
I present my shadow warriors:
Saturday, 29 March 2014
Class of Phil Wu 2014 battle reports
Day of Gaming with Ryan getting in some Swedish practice for him in the run up to Runefang. Sadly I wont be attending, so it was an exercise in writing Swedish lists in record time.
Very exciting Swedish Compy looking list I whipped up around midnight.
Game 1: Empire Swedish Comp Score 12.something
My list:
Grand Master (general): Runefang, Charmed Shield
Arch Lector: War Alter, 4+ ward, HA, GW, shield
BSB: barded steed, , Fullplate, GW, Dhelm, Dawnstone, OTS
lvl2 Light
lvl2 Light: scroll of shielding
Engineer
Witch Hunter: Brace of Pistols
5 Knights
5 Knights
8 Inner Circle Knights: FC
34 Halberds: FC
7 archers detachment
4 Demigryphs
Steam Tank
Helblaster
Very exciting Swedish Compy looking list I whipped up around midnight.
Ryan's list: was pretty cool. choppy characters, block of warriors, chariots, some chaff, hellcannnon, skullcrushers, token magic etc etc. Swedish Comp really makes WoC players think outside the square...Empire players just have to rely on fewer warmachines.
We rolled up a mission (Meeting Engagement) and I deployed first.
I was lucky and only my engineer slept in (in pic next to helblaster)..Ryan had his BSB, and the Warriors sleep in.
I went first and did that traditional Empire thing...clogged up my own battleline and moved the combat stuff slightly backwards to see what Ryan would do. HOWEVER I did do something risky! my Witch Hunter and his posse marched up...
Went to Pwn the Chaos Lord on a Disk (played in the film by a Daemon Prince) with some sweet Killing blow goodness. Shots were fired...I rolled to wound...
...Almost! Oh well, that would have been a very nervous ward save to start the game. In other news my Stank rolled a 1 to wound a Skull Crusher, and s5 banishment on the Chaos Lord rolled 12 hits and did a single wound (I THINK that is about right vs t5, 1+ as, 3+ ward...)...either way a nice middle finger salute to the Chaos Lord of Darkness pretending to be a Daemon Prince.
So in return my Archers tools some doggies to the flank so Mr. Witch Hunter got his combat on, lost on SCres and reformed to face. In other news some Hellstriders failed an easy charge on some knights...and so did a chariot SKILLZ. Mr "Lost a wound already" Chaos Lord landed right in front of my Demis as the bait while the rest of his army rolled up to rush my flank without the Helblaster and Stank.
So of course I charged Mr Chaos Lord and threw up a couple of buffs.
and promptly put him on 1 wound. In the fluff-fest in the middle of the table...
yeah - super annoying as the daemonic mount lvl2 and 2nd unit of doggies were in position to combo charge in support.
In other news my knights didn't fail their charge on the Hellstriders (HA!)...instead I passed all my armour saves and failed all my rolls to hit to win by a charge!
They fled 12 and I chased 10, which I thought was good effort.
I really should mention it for completeness sake. My ICK bus failed a charged on a disk Exhalted (needed a 10) by 1 inch and shuffled forward a little bit AND the stank misfired and did nothing :)
Fluff-fest gets interesting with the addition of doggies and lvl2 = Witch Hunter steps up to challenge! Queue lots of missed rolls to hit and stuff (I think over the rounds of combat I got a single wound through).
However that wasn't the main attraction any more...over on my left flank I had entered the Danger Zone.
The mighty WoC army in all its Glory was raining down the pain on my Humble Demis (with ws10, i10, and -1 to be bit) and Inner Circle Knight "Bus". Dice were rolled and stuff and the end result...
Yeah - whose the greatest combat army now huh? Mr scary Chaos Lord of death...DEAD, and the Skull Crushers are running. Disc Exhalted was lucky with BSB enabled successful passing of ldship 5 break test (oh yeah - s4 with hatred pwns...especially when the Grand Master hits only once with the Runefang)
So what's a boy to do? Well I did some sneaky mathematics stuff and got my Waralter all up in their faces and got the 6 inch prayer radius to benefit both the Demis and the ICKs. Lots of dice later, IFing and losing Banishment and stuff I got phas off and gave my combat units a 5+ ward (and then realised my OTS BSB was right next to my Grand Master who was winding up to gank the Exhalted in a challenge - who needs a normal ward anyway?) So Combat happend and...
Mr BSB broke from combat (having provided the re-roll allow the 9 remaining warriors to stick around) and the Grand Master Runefanged the Exhalted TO THE FACE. That was a little tense...3 hits and 3 failed wards.
In other news my Stank failed the supporting 12 inch charge to get my archers and Witch Hunter out of trouble. Naturally that was the turn they all died :(
In the next round Demis vs Warriors went my way with a nice run down. Ryan moved his 2 chariots up to get my Helblaster working on the assumption that 5 knights will lose vs his chariot. Well...in my turn he was proven almost right! my Helbaster shot for the first time in the game and blew apart 1 of the chariots and the knights charged, passed all their armour saves like a boss, promptly fluffed all their attacks and won with the charge SCres for the run down!
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| Knights - winning with the charge only since forever! |
So with a Hellcannon, lvl2 and 1 unit of doggies left Ryan tied to hide (failed all march tests) and the Hellcannon exploded :)
1 banishment (only casting from the waralter all game), and helblaster later the battlefield was property of the EMPIRE!!!!
Result: Big win to the Empire (or more correctly their armourers...I was rolling those saves like a boss!)
GAME 2: High Elves Swedish Comp Score 8.something (or 11 if seaguard "bows" dont count towards the cap...)
Off for lunch and beer and then back into round 2. For this game I took a very, very, similar list to Ben Mitchell's US Masters list...did the USA masters comp pack exclude seaguard from the shot cap because that was the difference between a score of 11 (as advertised on Raffazza) and 8.something????
Anywho the list:
lvl4 shadow: 4+ ward (general)
BSB: Armour of Destiny, GW
Noble on Eagle: Dragon Armour, Enchanted Shield, Starlance
28 SeaGuard; FC (super broken in Swedish...gave me -41)
6 Reavers: M, Champ
6 Reavers: M, Champ
21 Phoenix Guard: FC - Razor Standard
6 Dragon Princes: FC - Banner of World Dragon (fluffy!)
Lion Chariot
Lion Chariot
5 Sisters of Avelorn (their first game awwww)
RBT
RBT
RBT
Eagle
And when rolling for spells I rolled Mindrazor 3 times! This game was shaping up to be Class of Phil Wu 2014 MMMMMMMMMIIIIIIINNNNDRAAAAAAAAAZZZZZZZZORRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (still havn't forgotten Phil...still haven't forgotten...)
Anywho we rolled up Dawn Attack and I (once again) got the pleasure of deploying first (rather boringly). Ryan (with same list) was stuck with the infamous "split forces".
Sorry as this is Wellington where in the Hills you lose the sun at like 9am these pics are a little dark.
I got the first turn (naturally) and shuffled forward a bit and stuff. I chucked a -3 Movement miasma on the Hellstriders to limit their charge options and shot them down to 2. -2 Toughness on a chariot and it was down to 1 wound. In return Ryan shuffled forward, except for his Hellstriders who made the crazy charge ( needed an 11) despite my best efforts and took out a bolt thrower.
And his Exhalted thought he would try his luck vs my Seaguard
And the Hellcannon (for the 2nd time in a row) splatted the Eagle noble t1...sigh. Nice authoritative first turn for the WoC.
In my turn the phoenix guard and it's lion chariot shuffle forward. Doggies and a chariot flee my charges. Shooting does 1 wound to Mr Chaos Lord and my Mage skillfully IF's MINDRAZOR and Exhalted on disc is no more! 2 Phoenix Guard die for that.
SO what's a WoC to do? well Hellcannon goes crazy and almost charges the Dragon Princes who are now in not the best situation...
And Ryan pulls off the beardiest of beardiest rally rolls EVER.
Rallies the chariot first (BIG smile on my face...) and then the doggies rally (grrrr). Mr Chaos Lord charges reavers (flee) and redirects into my bolt thrower that found itself on the front lines of a very, very, very stacked flank!
In my turn I throw caution to the wind and charge my Phoenix Guard and a lionchariot into the Skullcrushers. Dragon Princes (reluctantly) charge the Hellcannon and manage 2 wounds(!) before the fluff-fest set in.
Anywho - I pick up my dice and IF...MINDRAZOR!!!!! for the 2nd turn in a row. 2 wounds on the Skullcrushers, 1 wound on the chariot and 3 dead Phoenix Guard and the following happens...
![]() |
| 1 whole skullcrusher removed with impact hits |
![]() |
| and 1 whole unit removed with mindrazor |
Oh -and on top of that the eagle blocked off the warriors so they couldn't kill the sisters who finished off the chariot like the pros they are.
Reasonably hard to see in the next pic, but Mr Chaos Lord charges the Eagle and the Warriors reform to take the Phoenix Guard to the face. The lvl2 fire mage on Daemonic Mount is rocking in the font row...the sisters look on from the safety of their tower.
And Mr Chaos Lord fails to Kill the Eagle who holds! and Mr lvl2 decides to Cascade, kill 8 warriors and fall down a hole flame caging the Phoenix Guard...life is cruel. Mr BSB also charges into the Seaguard who were closing in on the action to lend their support (still yet to shoot their -41 comp hit bows for anything other than very ineffective stand and shoots). Champ dies and the BSB gets +1 Ballistic skill!
Meanwhile the rallied chariots and doggies moved back into the action.
In my Turn I play it cool. Reavers charge and kill the doggies sure, why not. Phoenix Guard charge the warriors (meh - 5 die to flame cage) and then I play the magic phase (crazy 11 dice) cool...
![]() |
| Say Hello to t1, s3 Warriors... |
and If'ed MINDRAZOR for the 3rd time (a few more things die)..I'm such a pro at warhammer...
![]() |
| Ryan's head drop and loud sigh was priceless |
And something odd happened...the BSB DIDN'T DIE???????????? He WON THE COMBAT...and I held phew...stupid no re-rolls to hit due to high I and 3+ ward. Still 1 wound down...2 more to go. The WoC however felt the sharp end of my (rather diminished) Phoenix Guard's sticks and were run down...oh and the mighty Mr Chaos Lord finally killed the eagle :)
However all was not good in the hood. Mr Chariot charges into support the Hellcannon and kills 2 knights (I hold) and Mr Chaos Lord charges into the flank of the Phoenix Guard...
and the Champ dies as I play for time...doesn't help that I also fail my reform to face roll...oh Mr BSB finally dies to MINDRAZOR'ed seaguard...2nd round of combat's the charm.
In my turn the chariot kills the Dragon Prince unit champ (not before taking a wound) and finds itself un-engaged and free to move in its turn. Vs Mr Chaos Lord things go very, very, very, very, very, very, very wrong. I get MINDRAZOR off...but character dies and I fail my steadfast test and I'm run down...Mr Chaos Lord nets himself 1029pts including all the bonuses :(
BIG swing in the game right there!
![]() |
| 1029pts for the Blood God...yet still not granted Daemon Princeness despite appearances |
MR Chaos Lord then goes into the flank of the Reavers (who were picking on the last unit of doggies) and takes their points over 2 rounds of combat. The doggies run off the board thanks to Sister induced panic test :D However I finally get the set up I was waitiing for...Lion Chariot on Slaanesh Chariot!!!
We draw the first round of combat (both super fluff) but in the final round of combat of the game my Whitelions and their Lions rip the chariot a new one! 120pts well spent!
Result: 13-7 to the High Elves! MVP goes to my lvl4 and Mr Chaos Lord.
It was great to see the Lion Chariots (played in the film by Tiranoc chariots) in action and not sucking. Noice little support charges, and taking out a chariot at the end = awesome!
So that's my Swedish experience for the year out of the way....2 wins with 2 very different lists. Phil Wu would be proud of my 4 MINDRAZORS in a row - 3 of the IF. BOOM!
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