Reality Aploding

Over the last year this hobby has exploded with activity from the Design Studio. We have updates on codices, new supplements and expansions, and now the formations and dataslates. And don't forget flyers and changes to the force organisation chart with allies. This increased activity has set our very tiny corner of the interwebz into a frenzy.

John Steining's stunning collection is now Tournament legal

The views of tournament organisers and vocal competitive players are great at driving the opinions of our community. As are Store Owners. Regardless of how good or bad something is, they can help set the intwerbz into a frenzy of nerd raging idiotz or something a little less crazy. Because, even though they may deny it, people do like to drink somebody else's kool aid.

Sigur's Lord of Skulls, coming to a tabletop near you

But how does that relate to Games Workshop's latest releases? After all there have been dozens of releases that haven't set the interwebz on fire like this in the past. Do you remember the gnashing of teeth True Line of Sight and Wound Allocation in 5th Ed result in? Now they doesn't seem so bad. My not so humble opinion is that the online rumours planted seeds of fear and it just grew out of control from there. Tournament organizers helped add flames to the fire in a way I've never seen since becoming apart of the online community. There was an innocent knee-jerk reaction to the sudden changes Games Workshop introduced.

According to the interwebz, TEN's R'Varna is just one of the growing problems plaguing tournaments

Fortunately the knee-jerk reactions are slowly being brought under control with some discussions taking place. There are some suggesting we keep on going the way we always have by ignoring the supplements, expansion and the dataslates. After all how many tournaments can you say that use the mysterious terrain, battlefield debris or mysterious objectives found in the rule book? So the precedence is there for tournament organisers to just pick what is and isn't used. There are even those who suggest we ignore the ally table all together.

Cagn's army is proof that Eldar Jetbikes don't have to be ridden by Seers & Warlocks

Possibly the most promising discussion is the one suggesting that careful mission design can have the desired results without introducing restrictions and bans. This approach interests me the most as it doesn't directly stop players from using their own toys while at the same time potentially addressing the over abundance of Taudar, Screamstar, Draigowing, Leafblower or whatever may be the next 'must play' netlist. These changes will shake up what it takes to win games of 40K.

Garfy's stunning collection is now also Tournament legal

Regardless of the approach to our perceived problems, the answers aren't going to come from Games Workshop. If we think they will then we're deluding ourselves. They care about this hobby just as much as we do. However, their actions suggest that this hobby is not meant to be played in a serious competitive way.

Reality aplodes

I think that the equation is switched. Codexes become popular, then they become powerful. Not the other way around. With more minds blogging, posting, and playing games, the lists that win come out more. So If more players like Wolves, Guard, and BAngels, they will have a higher publicity. Then, people copy the lists.

- Dobie Gillis from this discussion on YTTH

The above quote hasn't been included because I agree with it... I actually disagree. Mainly because of the terms used and interwebz quality of writing. But, it hits on something that I do agree with. The three most powerful codices may not be as unbalanced as perceived by the majority. In reality their consistent placing in tournaments may also reflect the skills of the participants AND the consistent attendance of certain lists.

Edit - An interesting forum discussion that also discusses Codex Creep...

Adepticon 2010 and Blog...

While wasting time exploring the blog-o-sphere I stumbled across some pictures from this years Adepticon over on Cursed Treasures. Below are some of the pictures (with original commentary) that jumped out at me...

Each year Sabol Designs brings a cool looking team event display board, this year was no exception. In fact it was the 2010 winner for Best Display. This thing was huge and looked awesome! One thing I have always wanted to do was to incorporate working lights into some of my terrain, but someone (DrunkenSamurai!) thinks that's too geeky! Well after seeing this he may change his tune.

Man does it look AWESOME...

Here was another cool display board that could be used for a regular table. Each year the displays keep getting bigger and better and I look forward to seeing what will turn up next.

Also Adepticon has a painting competition called the Rogue Demon each year. I have read that some folks would like to see this event broken down into two different events, one for anyone to enter and one for previous winners to enter. Regardless I love looking at the entries.

Here is my friend and fellow blogger Dave Taylors entry which he featured on his blog a few months ago. More pictures of these Creepy Little Guys can be found here, here and here. There is also a picture somewhere on BoLS from WAR Games Con...

And this Land Raider was way cool, I love the whole effect on this model. Some really nice painting on this.

Also from Cursed Treasures is this stunning banner.

While exploring the blog-o-sphere I also came across this post by the guys over on Dark Future Games which leads to the new Adepticon Development Blog. Looks like the hard work of Mike, from Whiskey & 40k, has had another positive effect on the tournament scene with a movement towards transparency.

Disclaimer - All images taken from Cursed Treasures and will be removed if requested.

New Guard versus Old Guard

More dragging up old interwebz content because I'm bored read: procrastinating from doing University readings...

We get a lot of so-called 4th Edition army lists sent to us here at YTTH - which sometimes get chewed through by Stelek et al. Lots of fun!

People on Dakka, Warseer, BoLS Lounge, and other places keep advocating them. Why? Because they keep winning.

W. T. F.

How can Orks, Tyranids, Daemons, and armies-designed-with-no-answer-to-mech beat the Vulkans, mech-Eldar, Tau, and other armies. The same way that I only placed 5th in battle points at 2008 Vegas GT, instead of 1st or 2nd... experience (or the lack thereof). I had only completed my Immolator Spam list 1 week before the GT and only had a few games with it under my belt.

We're not spending enough time playing our armies. We're playing people who have had the same army for years - or a close approximation thereto.

An optimized army list will only get you so far. The actual application of tactics and knowing your army is more important by far. Amen brother. Hallelujah!!

So get out there and play, dangit!

- StJohn70 in 4th Ed Army > 5th Ed Army?

A very straight forward idea. Something that Stelek has been advocating recently. And something that Blackmoor failed to do in preparation for WAR Games Con even with his 20 dollar challenge. This isn't only Andrew and John's view...

Good post and good points.  I have 4 fully painted armies, which enough variation in those 4 that I can play another 4 out of that.  Plus I usually build a new army every few months to eliminate list burn out etc.  

But yes, someone who knows their list inside and out will always do better then the "it" thing for the month. 

- Thomas a.k.a Goatboy in the discussion

 and ...

This is exactly why Clint performs so well with battleforce type lists. He plays the list to death, for years straight, so he knows exactly what he will do in any situation, because he has already been there several times ... Some people have tons of experience so they know what to do, some people are more talented tacticians so they know what to do. When the two are presented with a scenario different from any they've seen before, who comes out on top?

- Jimmy a.k.a Froggage in the discussion

 Even Ron, the founder of From the Warp, understands this.

WAR Games Con Ruined Chapel

While reading the latest FNIF I came across a post by Brent which had his Picasa album from WAR Game Con. While trying to find a picture of Melissa I found these...

WAR Games Con 40k Quiz Answers

Below are the answers to the quiz...

1. Three 
2. Outside twelve inches 
3. Four 
4. Seven 
5. One 
6. Four inches 
7. Two inches 
8. Two or twelve 
9. Enemies within six inches, squad under half size, out of coherancy 
10. One hundred thirty 
11. Castellan/Incindiary - S4 AP5 & Vengeance S5 AP4
12. Four, five if he countercharges 
13. Seven 
14. Six
15. Rolls psychic tests on 3d6, perils if sum is twelve or over 
16. Sixty six 
17. Ghaz, Wazdakka, Mad Doc, Old Zogwort 

- Bigred over on Bell of Lost Souls 

WAR Games Con 40k Quiz

Below is the WAR Games Con 40k Quiz which was posted up on the weekend or Friday for all those on the Western Hemisphere...

OK, this is a closed book test, and you have 15 minutes, so if you cheat, you will only have your own guilt and shame to deal with :) Good luck folks:

1. How many models must a 12-man unit of Chaos Space Marines lose in one shooting phase in order to be required to take a morale test?
2. How close can a unit Scout towards an enemy unit?
3. Frag Grenades have what strength against vehicles?
4. A Leman Russ Battle Tank moves forward just over 8" to strike an Ork Battlewagon in the side.  What is the strength of the Russ' ram against the Battlewagon?
5. An immobilized Space Marine Dreadnought, armed with the stock layout, has how many attacks in close combat?
6. What is the coherancy distance for a War Walker squadron?
7. What is the coherancy distance for an Attack Bike squadron?
8. What dice rolls normally result in Perils of the Warp?
9. Give three conditions that normally prevent regrouping?
10. The minimum cost of an Imperial Guard Infantry Platoon is how many points?
11. What are the name, strength, and AP of the missiles fired by a Whirlwind?
12. A Wolf Lord armed with a Thunderhammer and Stormshield with the Saga of the Warrior Born destroys a Guardian squad, ending the enemy assault phase with 12 attacks.  In his next turn, he charges a squad of Warwalkers, inflicting 4 penetrating hits, 3 glancing hits, and 2 undamaging hits.  How many attacks does the Wolf Lord get in the next round of close combat?
13. Without using psychic powers or near any friendly model, what is Mephiston's initiative on the charge?
14. A Wyche Archite with a Combat Drug Dispenser, Agonizer, and Splinter Pistol gets at most how many attacks on the charge?
15. What is the effect of Eldar Runes of Warding on a psyker 25" away from the Farseer with the Runes?
16. What is the cost of a Grey Knight Justicar with Meltabombs, Frag Grenades, Sacred Insense, a Nemesis Force Weapon, and Storm Shield?
17. List the name of each Ork HQ Special Character in order of point cost (highest to lowest)

Have at it and remember that 2 out of 200 attendees got a perfect 17! Feel free to drop your score and comments for us all to enjoy!

 - Bigred over on Bell of Lost Souls

 Answers will go up in an hour or so...

WAR Games Con Ruined Chapel

WAR Games Con has just passed. A select few had the opportunity to attend what sounds like a fantastic event. The rest of us have had to enjoy what little we could from the posts by others. One such individual was Herr Fernseher from Four and Twenty Doves who took it upon himself to record the achievements of Brent from Strictly Average. Of all the terrain pieces I have seen it is possibly the Ruined Chapel captured by Herr Fernseher that I like the most...

In the grim dark future there is only war and ruined buildings

Disclaimer - Image taken without permission and will be removed if requested. I do not know who created this fine piece of scenery.

'Ard Boyz 2010 Results

Below is Danny Internets thoughts on this years 'Ard Boyz...

The 2010 Warhammer 40,000  ‘Ard Boyz Finals were held this past Saturday, July 17th, at three locations distributed throughout the US to accomodate players from around the country. The West coast saw players duke it out in the LA Bunker. In the Midwest, qualifying finalists did battle at the Chicago Battle Bunker, as in previous years. And in the East, asses were kicked and names were taken at Showcase Comics in Media, PA. The top three players from 362 different stores hosting the Preliminaries qualified to compete for huge prizes at the 42 Semi-Finals tournament locations. These 1086 players were pared down to a mere 126 invited to attend the above mentioned Finals. Of these 126, 3 were crowned champion this past weekend.

Turnout nation-wide looks better than the last couple of years thanks to the decision to host the event at multiple locations, however, individually, two of the events struggled to bring in players. I chose not to attend for a variety of personal reasons, not the least of which was pressure from my wife regarding planning our upcoming (belated) wedding reception. Being burnt out on not just 2500 points but 40k in general, I didn’t even fight it. However, I imagine that the decision not to award prizes at the Finals (especially odd considering the unbelievably awesome prizes given at the Semi-Finals) turned away many, even those who could have made a day trip out of the event. All in all there was a 66% turnout rate with 83 of 126 finalists attending one of the three events.

I’ve scoured the various 40k communities online to gather up this information, but many gaps remain. I will be updating this information as it comes to my attention. Please feel free to email me or comment if you’ve got something to add.

On to the results: click here

- Danny Internets from Bald & Screaming

On other news I got special mention by Brent over on Strictly Average...

Messanger of Death (he means to spell it that way) showed up with proof of Dethtron's crime.  If it isn't a felony, it should be!  Of course, MoD was extorting me for the information, but given I wanted proof of a crime I was willing to overlook it. False!!! Not Brent made him think I did. There's a lesson there, by the by.

- Brent