Thursday, January 28, 2010

Thinking - always a mistake

Hi,

Been a tad busy of late, so not much to show. I've got a 1275 Flames of War tourney this weekend at the FLGS, but find my mind wandering to Gencon.

Yep, it's a go. I am off to gamer wonderland this coming August. It'll be my first time, but I've been meaning to go for yonks. I'm definitely planning on playing in Hardcore, and would like to try and get in some FoW games as well.

It's the hardcore lists that have me thinking. There has been much ado on the PP boards of late about "the new meta", i.e., the supposed tendency in Mk. II towards shooting. Given that the local community is only just starting to get into WM / Hordes, it's not like I'm seeing much of this new meta in my games, so list design for Gencon remains something of an intellectual exercise.

I figure I have two main options - the French and the German. In other words, I can either accept the conventional wisdom (that shooting is where it's at), and perfect that strategy, or I can assume that everyone else will be attempting to do so, and instead work on something designed to circumvent or foil that meta.

Couple this with the usual parameters for Hardcore list design (the need to create assasination opportunities, the need to prevent assasination vulnerability, and the factor of time pressure), and I have some thinking to do.

TMtW

Monday, January 18, 2010

Cryx, cryx, cryx

Hi,

Sooo. some new Cryx to post, first of the "50 points to Gencon" project. Behold, Mechanithralls!

IMG_0176

Momma say knock you out!

IMG_0179

This season, collars are worn high:

IMG_0180

IMG_0178

In addition, I finally got around to finishing a necrotech:

IMG_0184

And this one was an absolute nightmare to paint ;):

IMG_0181

Had a little trouble with focus on this, but it's a nice touch on the model:

IMG_0183

Finally, a couple of happy families shots of what's painted in my resurgent Cryx army.

IMG_0185

IMG_0187

Getting back into Cryx has me excited, I have to admit. Looking forward to getting in some more games soon.

TMtW

Thursday, January 14, 2010

The "To do" pile . . .

Hi,

Well, here's the pile of things to be painted by Gen Con:

IMG_0172

That's a 50 point Mortenebra list. Interestingly, it doesn't seem to have made a dent in my pile 'o lead, which leads me to think my soul is safe from the keeper for now. In the process of digging up all this stuff, I discovered I have the makings of decent little Trollbloods force as well - though I could probably use a Mauler . . .

Wednesday, January 13, 2010

Paintathon 2010

Hi,

So, with the LGS gearing up for the new Mark II edition of Warmachine, I've been visiting the Privateer Press forums of late. There's a paintathon being proposed on the painting forums - a 50 point list, to be completed by the end of 2010. I'm in, though I think I'll be aiming for something a little sooner - I'd like to go to Gencon this year, if I can swing it, and that means having the 50 point list finished by August.

The list I'm planning is as follows:

Mortenebra and Derlyss (-4 points)
Deathjack (12 / 8 points)
Seether (9 / 17 points)
Nightwretch (4 / 21 points)
2 Stalkers (8 / 29 points)
Full McThralls, plus a Brute Thrall UA (6 / 35 points)
Necrosurgeon and Stitch Thralls (2 / 37 points)
Full Satyxis, plus Sea Witch UA (10 / 47 points)
2 Machine Wraiths (2 / 49 points)
Necrotech and scrapthrall (1 / 50 points)

There's not a lot of subtlety to this list - it's mainly about jamming waaaaaay too many threats down an opponent's face for them to handle at once. It has some stuff in it just for fun (notably, the 'wraiths), a number of things I've not used before, but have a new lease on life in Mk II (Morty, Seether, Satyxis, Necrosurgeon), and some golden oldies I just love (DJ, McThralls, Stalkers). It's also missing some stand-by abilities I tend to rely on when playing Cryx, notably an abundance of corrosion, and the much lamented leap ability on the stalkers (how're those flame guard doing Ken? ;). It also allows for some easy customisation - the stalkers can be swapped for arc nodes relatively easily, the solos are easy to switch out, and both the heavies and infantry have broad utility,meaning it's a decent basis for army expansion with another warcaster.

I'm pretty psyked about this project. I have all the models I need, and will be sorting and unpacking tonight. Pics of the "to be painted and assembled" pile will follow shortly.

I'm thinking to do these in a variation of the Cryx scheme I've done so far (see this post for an example). I'm finding it a bit bland / tedious however, so I've been toying with the idea of throwing in some nice rich reds on the cloth, etc - going for a deep crimson look. I'll putter around the web digging up inspiration, and hopefully post a test model soonish.

TMtW

Thursday, January 7, 2010

Back in Fine Style . . . .

Hi,

After a busy holiday season spent with family, I managed to get out to the geek shop on the weekend, and get in a game of FoW. 1500 points, my painted list (T-34s, Shermans, KV-85s with tankos, 120mm morters) against panzergrenadiers. Scenario was hold the line, so I was attacking a prepared definsive position, and the defender had half his force in reserve - a factor that contributed to my win.


First two pictures show my forces approaching objectives on the left:
IMG_0157

and right . . .
IMG_0158

of the table. The objectives are the green/white rock formations. On the left, my T-34s pushed forward trhough rough terrain towards dug-in infantry and AT guns, while on the right, my KV-85s snuck around the edge of the table. We don't have enough trees yet, so light green cutouts are serving as forest, and dark green was swamp.

In the centre, I had my morters covering the open sections of the table, and my Shermans in reserve.

IMG_0155

IMG_0154

As the game progressed, I kept pressure on the left, bringing the Shermans to bear as well, and gradually grinding down his infantry and AT resources. At the same time, my KVs moved closer to the objective on my right.

IMG_0162

IMG_0160

The left was a feint. My opponent had deployed with his forces guarding the left objective, on the assumption that he could bring his reserves on to cover the right in time to block my advance - except they didn't get their until the turn I reached the objective. As attacker, you win the scenario when you start your turn with one of your units within 4" of the objective, with no opposing units within 4". The game came down to whether my opponent could rush his tanks up to the objective in time. Despite special rules that give him additional movement, he couldn't make it in time, I I won.

IMG_0163

The game was instructive. I'm still getting the hang of playing soviets. They get plenty of boots on the table, but their tactical abilities are severely restricted - harder to move and shoot than for other factions, for eg. I'm still figuring out how to shift dug-in infantry with armour - close assault seems to be key, but getting enough treads into the fight to count is trickier than it looks. In the meantime, it's an enjoyable Sunday afternoon.

On an unrelated note, with the release of Mk II, the LGS is now briging in Warmachine, so I'm dusting off my Cryx, and looking to drum up some interest. With a little luck, I'll be able to get in a proper game soon.

IMG_0156