It’s the End of GW as We Know it (and I Feel Fine)

Let’s face it.  If you are reading this article you are somehow, someway invested in the table top war gaming hobby.  I would also feel confident betting the vast majority of the people reading this article play table top war games developed and manufactured by the lumbering gaming behemoth Games Workshop.  I myself have been playing Warhammer 40k, and to a lesser extent, Warhammer Fantasy, since around 1997.  Describing to non-players the first time I was introduced to the (then) amazing White Dwarf Magazine on a Boy Scout camping trip at the age of 13 is a lesson in futility.  My years of lining up little green army men against each other and playing out mighty battles on my bedroom floor had kindled my love of wargaming long before finding the magazine, but for the first time I saw a way to interact with others and I fell in love with a hobby that I didn’t even know existed.  Fast forward 16 years, several editions, and an ungodly amount of disposable income later, I find myself just  as much in love and enamored with the Warhammer games and universe as I was when I was 13 years old.  So why do I secretly hope Games Workshop goes out of business?

I’m going to be honest here.  I love Games Workshop.  I love buying all of the new models and playing with them in tournaments, however,  I also want them to fail utterly and miserably.  I would like nothing more than to see them go out of business.  I want Jervis Johnson to lose his house.  I want Matt Ward to pawn his sweet black leather vests.  I want Bugman’s Bar to burn to the fucking ground!  That might be a little harsh, but hey, I’m being honest.  I know that I am not alone in feeling this way.  There is not a day that goes by that I don’t read online blogs and see comments along the same lines (ok, maybe not so harsh).  Go ahead, try it.  Next time Bell of Lost Souls of Frontline Gaming runs an article describing a price increase or an expose regarding the closing of a GW store or some such thing, the doom and gloomers come out of the woodwork.  You will find comments such as “I’m going to laugh when GW goes to out of business” or “They’re finally going to go under since they don’t realize they have competition”, and so on and so forth.   I smile inwardly when I read these comments.  I think to myself, “that will show them”, though what THAT is I have no idea.  So why do we do this?  Why do we secretly want the company that develops and produces the games we love to play to go out of business?

The best analogy that I can think of to explain my bizarre behavior is the ‘smugness factor’.   Think about it.  This can be the neighbor that always has the newest car or gadget, the sports team that wins every national tournament, or the sibling that garners the most attention and adulation from your parents.  You like them on a certain level; your neighbor is nice enough and he even invites you over to his weekly BBQ (where he shows off his new TV or game system).  The sports team plays well, and the quarterback is so handsome (I’m talking about The Patriots).  Your brother is your blood relative, so he can’t be all bad?  The fact is, when your neighbor’s house gets egged or the Patriots lose in the playoffs, you smile a little.  When your brother calls you at 3am to bail him out of jail, you’re thinking ‘JACKPOT’!  You want to see these smug bastards taken down a peg. 

This is what GW has done to its customers.  Year after year of unexplainable price changes due to the fact that they KNOW people will keep paying to play the hobby they love.  Not releasing models that are IN THE CODEX, then taking companies to court that had the audacity to manufacture said items because they saw the demand.  Matt Ward’s vest!  The list goes on and on and whole articles have been written on the topic.    The fact of the matter is that we, as a gaming community, have done this to ourselves.  We SECRETLY dislike games workshop.  We continue to let them run roughshod all over us.  I feel nostalgic for the day that Games Workshop was truly into the hobby aspect of the games.  Remember rough riders?  Remember their partnerships with local game stores that ADVERTISE THEIR GAME SYSTEM FOR FREE?  I do, and I miss those days.  I don’t know how to fix it.  I do know that I will continue to buy and play with their models, grumbling and writing bumbling blog posts.  I’ll be the last one to buy a $125 Land Raider and turn the light off when I leave.  

No DIY? No, STFU! Or, why you should create your own Space Marine Chapter.

Hello all,

Jason, aka Clown Baby, aka Raw Dogger here and today I wanted to talk about the merits of creating your own Space Marine Chapter for the tabletop war game, Warhammer 40,000.  I call it 40k.  It’s an abbreviated name, and I think it will really take off around the internet.  I am afraid to admit to you all that I was an abused man.  I had a lover, who beat me up constantly, and no matter what he did to me I continued to crawl back to him.  He berated me and treated me like a child, insulted me in front of my friends, and (this pains me to say) was a violent and selfish lover.  His name is Games Workshop.  He used to be really sweet.  When we first met he would sell me a Land Raider for $40.  Then he started to drink, and before I knew it I was using my 29% Citbank credit card in order to come up with the $75 it took to get a new one.  My family and friends would constantly lecture me.  They would ask how I could pay $75 for the same product that used to cost $40 less than a decade ago, and I would tell them that they don’t know Games Workshop like I did.  He really loved me.  They were just jealous of our relationship.  Well, one day after Games Workshop had been drinking more than usual, he tried to charge me $82.50 for a Storm Raven that used to cost $60 less than 2 years ago.  That was enough.  I packed my bags that night and left.  It’s been a tough journey of healing and self discovery, but I finally think that I am strong enough to talk about how I escaped the money grabbing drunk that is Games Workshop.  I still love him, but I’m no longer IN love with him.

                I found that after some time away, I still wanted to play 40k (see how easy that is compared to writing Warhammer 40,000?).  However, I did not want to return to the abusive pattern of behavior that I had grown accustomed to.  I noticed that I had a large collection of Space Marines (who doesn't) and began to feel bad about the time and money I had spent collecting and assembling the models, never having really played with them due to the shiny new products constantly being released by GW (this is an abbreviation of Games Workshop.  I think this abbreviation will also take off eventually).  I began to think of all the codices I could play with these models.  The only difference, really, with the different Space Marine chapters is the color of the armor and the special characters.  I began to play around with different color schemes until I came up with a teal and white pattern that I didn’t hate terribly.  After that I came up with a name, the Mind Rangers (I stole this name from Big Nasty B from Life after the Cover Save, a 40k podcast I suggest you check out)which would feature librarians in all lists.  I then purchased the various Space Marine codices that I did not already own, as well as a couple unique chapter specific characters and got to work painting.  From then on, the only things that I needed to purchase were the new codices (I bought all of these anyways) and the odd special character here and there.  However, much like rollerblading, the use of custom chapters seems to raise a lot of eyebrows.  My word of advice is that if you create a cool chapter with a unique color scheme and keep the special characters and legion specific vehicles (Dark Angel DJ Speeder) within your unique paint scheme, people will be a lot more receptive to your skin flint ways. Enjoy your cheap army and if people still give you shit, F them.  F them in their A.  Like Old Jack always says, “What the hell.”

       

It's Like, Literature, Dummy! Wrath of Iron

Wow two posts in two days? I'm on a roll!  (I actually had two of these sitting around that I featured on my roomate Reecius' website www.frontlinegaming.org)

Wrath of Iron by Chris Wraight

‘Wrath of Iron’ by Chris Wraight is the second book in the Space Marine Battles Novel series that I have read, the first being ‘Hellsreach’ by Aaron Dempski-Bowden.   ADB being my favorite Black Library author, Mr. Wraight had some big shoes to fill.  Luckily for me, ‘Wrath of Iron’ has not only been one of the most enjoyable reads I have had in quite some time but a detailed look into the psyche of one of the least written about Space Marine chapters, the Iron Hands.  Full of pulse quickening action and well written, thought out dialogue Wrath of Iron fulfilled everything and more that I expect from a story that focuses on 8 foot tall robotic demi-gods.  I have read more Black Library books than I would like to admit, and one of my biggest peeves with their portrayal of Space Marines has always been the act of trying to humanize them.  Names will not be named but I recently read a certain omni-bus regarding a very famous chapter of Space Marines where the characters sat around and used language you would expect from a high school locker room.   I’m sorry but genetically modified super humans with little to no concept of human emotion or feelings should not be using contractions and slang.  Leave that kind of language for Guard novels.  Well, enough about my personal likes and dislikes in 40k prose.  On to the summary! (NO SPOILERS)

When the time comes, I will strip my hands of their unnatural silver.  I will instruct my Legion to recant their distrust of the flesh.  I will turn them away from the gifts of the machine and bid them relearn the mysteries of flesh, bone and blood. – The Neimerel Scrolls Attributed to the Primarch Ferrus Manus.

In ‘Wrath of Iron’, rebellion has erupted throughout the poisoned hive planet Shardenus Prime.  The Iron Hand’s Clan Raukaan has been tasked with finding the cause of the rebellion and crushing it.  Clan Commander Rauth leads the Clan with ruthless and machine-like efficiency, something that the mortal commander of the Imperial Guard taskforce Lord General Raji Nethata finds impossible to comprehend.  Rauth is supported by Chief Librarian Telach and Iron Father Khatir, who know the salvation of the planet will need both the strength of the Iron Warriors’ spirit, as well as ethereal power of the warp.  When the truth of the uprising is unearthed, Rauth must use all of the tools at his disposal to utterly destroy it, even if those tools happen to be thousands of Imperial Guardsmen or even the mighty titans of the Adeptus Mechanicus!

Chris Wraight does a fantastic job of showing the tense relationship that the Imperial Guard shares with the Space Marines.  I especially like the internal torment that Lord General Nethata goes through as he attempts to work with a force that is not only autonomous but will requisition entire armies to fulfill a mission that is only known to them.  The fragility of humanity is shown in stark contrast to the massively powerful and neigh immortal Space Marines.  This has been done numerous times, but Wraight makes it a point to show the raw emotions felt by average humans when confronted by the Space Marines, which more often than not terrify them as much as the enemy.  The Iron Hands inner workings are examined in great detail throughout the novel, which was a big selling point for me.  All I knew about this secretive chapter was that their Primarch Ferrus Manus was killed by his brother Fulgrim and that they worked closely with the Adeptus Mechanicus.  Their relationship with the Adeptus Mechanicus is also explored in detail and there are some really interesting revelations made on this front.  Wraight goes into exacting detail when describing the philosophy of the Iron Hands and why they feel the way they do about living flesh.  The battle tactics and fighting style of the Clans are also detailed throughout the novel.  One of my favorite characters is the Iron Father, Khatir, who more or less functions as the Clan’s Chaplain and is given, in my opinion, some of the best dialogue in the novel.  Though he is a minor character, his speech to the terrified and exhausted guardsmen towards the end of the novel definitely has stuck with me.  Chris Wraight is truly a master of dialogue and be it Space Marines, Titan Princeps, or Imperial assassins every word spoken (written) holds true weight and their tones are true to their characters.

So why should you go out and pay $12.99 for this novel? If you like detailed Imperial Guard tactics, crisp and insightful dialogue, background into an extremely interesting Space Marine Chapter and gratuitous blood and violence (without being ONLY about that) than this is the novel for you.  If you want Space Marines speaking like teenagers and lasguns punching through tactical dreadnaught armor, go pick up something else. 

It’s Like, Literature, DUMMY!

Angel Exterminatus by Graham McNeill

‘Guilt upon the soul, like rust upon iron, both defiles and consumes it, gnawing and creeping into it, until at last it eats out the very heart and substance of the metal.  But if all the world hates you, and believes you wicked, while your own conscience absolves you from guilt, you will never be without friends.’ – Perturabo, Primarch of the IV Legion.

I would like to start this review saying that I like Graham McNeill’s writing. Like, a lot.  Well, at least where the Horus Heresy series is concerned.  He has written some of my favorite selections from the series, such as Fulgrim and A Thousand Sons, so when I heard that he was writing the newest Heresy novel Angel Exterminatus I almost creamed my pants in anticipation.  Then I heard he was focusing on the little known Iron Warriors Legion as well as revisiting the Emperors Children (in all their depravity) and I DID cream my pants.  Bodily fluids and ruined underpants aside, let’s get to the meat of this article, the review!

While the focus of Angel Exterminatus is Perturabo and the warriors of the 4^th legion, the novel actually follows three different stories which revolve around the same plot.  The Iron Warriors are reeling from the events in the Shadows of Treachery heresy novella in which they are handed a crushing defeat by their sworn enemies, The Imperial Fists.   The primarch Perturabo’s mood is as unpredictable as it is violent.  Driven to Horus’ side of the rebellion due to bitterness and jealousy, the Iron Warriors are struggling to find their place in the civil war that has engulfed the galaxy, as well as the role they played in the slaughter of their brother legions at the Isstvan drop site massacre.  Enter the 3^rd Legion, the Emperors Children.    Of all the rebellious legions, the Emperors Children along with their primarch Fulgrim have changed the most since the massacre.  A disturbing parody of their once beautiful and perfect appearance, the Emperors Children have devolved into the depraved and debauched warriors we are all familiar with today.  Even Perturabo and his   Iron Warriors are puzzled and horrified by the changes that have taken place within the 3^rd legion.  Fulgrim asks Perturabo to join his legion and undertake a quest to the heart of the Eye of Terror in order to find and utilize and ancient Eldar weapon that will sweep the armies of the loyalists from the face of the galaxy.  Perturabo, ever the general and tactician, is intrigued by the weapon and agrees to join Fulgrim and the Emperors Children.  All the while this is happening, a small ship crewed by survivors of the Isstvan V massacre are shadowing the traitor legions, plotting revenge for the loss of their legions.  We see the perspectives of warriors from the Iron Hands, whose primarch Ferrus Manus was killed by Fulgrim, as well as warriors from the Raven Guard and the Salamanders, the latter of which we have heard literally nothing about since the start of the Heresy series.  As the traitors delve deeper into the Eye of Terror, their distrust for each other grows and all out conflict between the Iron Warriors and Emperors Children seems to be inevitable.   Can Perturabo and Fulgrim work together to find the ancient wonder weapon, or will their past conflicts and growing disgust for each other be their undoing?

            McNeill really hits the nail on the head with novel.  On one hand we have an in depth look at the Iron Warriors and for the first time really see into the psyche and background of the legion.  They stop being ‘Space Marines that are good at sieges’ and become a complex and even sympathetic group of warriors who feel abandoned and unappreciated by the more well known Ultramarines and Imperial Fists.  A lot of new characters and units are introduced and we see finally get a personal look at Perturabo, a very superhuman being with very human characteristics.  Of all the traitor legions, possibly baring the Thousand Sons, I most closely understand the reasoning behind Perturabo and the 4^th legion’s decision to rebel against the Emperor of Mankind.  A cast of familiar characters from the Emperors Children also reappear, such as Lucius the (almost) Eternal (we really get a lot of background on this guy, as well as hints to how he ends up the way he does) and Fabius Bile (who somehow gets MORE depraved).  One of the best parts of this novel is the introduction of characters from the 10^th legion, the Iron Hands, and the Salamanders, who have gotten NO love throughout the series.  Hopefully this means that there are Salamanders novels being published in the near future, since all of the other legions present on Isstvan V have been covered (the Iron Hands have several short novels throughout the Heresy series) and it is about time Vulcan and his coal skinned Salamanders get some love.

  Overall, Angel Exterminatus is a great read, and a must have from Heresy Fans though there is a lot of storyline that is driven by events in previous novels.  A lot of new info about the legions present in the novel is revealed, as well as information regarding the two lost legions (you have to look REALLY carefully for this). I give Angel Exterminatus 5 creamed underwears out of 5 creamed underwears!

Kubla Con, also, I'm NOT dead?!?



(Me and Carl from The Independant Characters Podcast)

KublaCon! The premiere geeky orgasm in the San Francisco bay area (where I now reside) was this past weekend, and though I didn’t partake in some of the more eccentric portions of the convention I did take part in the RTT 40k Grand Tournament. Before I get into that I want to talk a little about the actual convention, which is a 4 day con held at the Hyatt Regency hotel in Burlingame, California and is known for the MASSIVE amount of role-playing and board gaming that can be done. As I have actually had sex with a woman, like three times, I naturally do not gravitate towards the role-playing, and as for the board games I don’t fancy playing Dragon Quest with random neck beards from the darkest basements in California. That being said everyone seemed to be having a great time and as I am a huge nerd myself, I couldn’t turn my nose to high up while walking past them to the war-gaming tent. That’s right, I said tent. Because that’s where they put us, the most normal looking and non-stinky gamers in the whole convention, in a TENT out back by the staff parking lot. Harumfffff….  Anyways, here are some pics of the convention at large.

Aaaanyways I went into the tent with a bit of trepidation seeing as how this was my first major tournament and I was alone. Gaming groups can be notoriously tight and this being a major RTT tournament with tickets to the big show in Vegas, people were not going to be in the mood to socialize. I couldn’t have been more wrong. Every person I met had a smile on their face and I made a ton of new friends and saw a lot of well painted and themed armies. I really don’t want to go into too much detail about the games I played (read I went 1-2) at this time so I’m simply going to post pictures of my army and then some of the armies I faced throughout the tournament. First up are my Blood Angels, a list I thought was pretty hard but turned out to be woefully inadequate in a tough as nails tournament.

My Blood Angels (Doesn't the Baal look familiar, Christian?)



And lastly, the power of my luck.  I only needed to not immobalize one razorback in order to have a chance at winning the game.  I roll two dice and then.....

10 Warhammer Fantasy Rules People 'Love' to Forget



Hello everyone, Jason (aka Clown Baby on the forums) here with a filler post while I wait to get my new camera up and running.  Everyone forgets rules, and if you are like me, this happens very frequently and at the most inopportune time.  Most of my games usually sound something like this,

Jason : ALRIGHT, I'M GOING TO SHOOT YOUR GOBLINS WITH MY CANNON

14 Year Old:  YOU CAN'T DO THAT.

Jason: WHY NOT?!?

14 Year Old: IT'S THE MAGIC PHASE

Jason: WELL I USUALLY PLAY VAMPIRE COUNTS SO I'M NOT USED TO THIS.

14 Year Old: THAT DOESN'T MAKE SENSE.

Jason:  ISN'T THAT YOUR MOM WAITING FOR YOU?

Ok, that went on for longer than intended, but anyways here is my list of 'easily' forgettable rules that I constantly see people glazing over.  If you have any more hidden gems feel free to leave a comment adding them to the list (which I will promptly delete and then edit into my original post).

1. If a unit is below 25% of its starting strength and is attempting to rally, the must roll double 1s in order to do so.

2.  Musicians give their unit a +1 to their unit's leadership test when attempting to rally.

3.  Champions must take a 'Look Out Sir!' roll.

4.  A unit that wipes out an enemy unit on the turn it charges may CHOOSE to overrun.  If it does not it makes a reform as normal.

5.  Scouts must set up MORE than 12 inches away from an enemy unit.  (This also goes for 40k players when they are infiltrating a unit).

6.  A champion does not count towards a unit's 5 rank and file models in regards to the 'Look Out Sir' special rule.

7.  Even though a unit's command group must be in the front rank at all times, a special character may replace one of those models in order to 'Make Way' during combat. (This is mostly for units such as chariots or Monstrous Infantry where they are in ranks of 3).

8.  A cannon cannot shoot at an enemy if there is ANY CHANCE it may hit a friendly unit in combat.

9.  Flaming shooting attacks re-roll to hit when attacking units in buildings.

10.  If a Frenzied unit fails their Frenzy test and is garrisoned inside a building, it MAY NOT charge out of the building and instead must move normally and get as close as possible to the enemy as possible. 

Incoming! Blood Angels



Hello friends, just wanted to pop in and say that I've finally gotten settled into my new home (well, it's technically my old home).  That's right, the Kimchi Warrior has moved back to sunny California and is currently living at home with his parents (ladies, take a number!).  On the plus side I get to see all of my old friends and have even found a nice little game store with a small but growing Warhammer/40k community.  But wait, there's more!  To top off this little sundae it just so happens that the store (Gameology, in Montclair, California...for those interested http://www.gameologyshop.com/) is beginning an escalation 40k league with a respectable 10-12 players that spans 5 months.  The games begin at 500 points then move to 750 points, 1k, 1.5k, 2k, and then culminates with a 2k tournament in June.  When I heard this I thought "Look at that bird",  remembered that I have ADD, then thought "Excellent, I'm just beginning a Blood Angels army! What better way to get the feel of a new army than by an escalation league!"  So faster than you can say 'donkey boner' I signed up for the league and eagerly started painting my initial 500 points.  What follows is my 500 point 'January' army that I'll be using in my two games this month.

HQ

Librarian w/Shield of Sanguinius and Smite and Infernus Pistol (this guy is cheap at 100 points with a power/force weapon and gives a 5+ cover save to anyone within 6 inches as well as an Assault 4/St.4/AP 2 shooting attack.  He also gives the psychic hood.  Not a bad little hq choice and dirt cheap for what he does.)

ELITES

Sanguinary Priest (at 50 points and the ability to give any unit within 6 inches Feel No Pain and Furious Charge, this guy is an auto-include in any list.  Just watch out because he dies easily in close combat and as an independent character can be picked out in CC)

TROOPS

2x Assault Squad w/ Power Weapon and Melta Gun (these guys are a small unit, only running 4 marines and a Sergeant but they pack a punch in CC.  With the Feel No Pain and Furious Charge bubble they are hitting anything they charge with 15 strength 5 initiative 5 attacks, 4 of which are by power weapon.  With the melta gun they are also able to deal with tanks, though with one shot this shouldn't be relied upon.)

Razorback w/Hvy Bltr and Razorback w/Twin Linked LasCannon (when taken as dedicated transports for Assault Squads on foot they are a super 35 points cheaper.  At such a low point game you can't go too nuts with these guys or you are going to find yourself short in other areas..something you can't afford to do.  With one Razor dedicated to anti-tank and another anti-personnel you have yourself fairly well covered.)

So that's it for now.  I'll post some pics soon of my painted models and also give you the update of my January games.  Until then, Keep Watching The Skies!!!11!

Dwarfs (not to be confused with Dwarves)



Holla amigos, as promised I am posting about my newest Warhammer Fantasy army, the mighty Dwarfs! The main reasons I decided to start a second army are many and varied but basically boil down to two things; variety and competive ability. While I do love my Vampire Counts army it is hard not to see the blatent nerfing they took in the 8th edition. I understand the reasons GW needed to take them down a peg but honestly, I was never a power gamer and when GW took away the only things that really made them viable (fear / terror, reliable magic phases, etc) it really just stopped being fun. Combine this with the fact that the Vampire Counts army basically relies on super point sinking characters and I had had enough. I decided to start a dwarf army mainly because it was the first army I remember thinking was cool (way back in 1995) and they are the polar opposite of a Vampire Counts army. I am posting my initial 2000 point army list with a very brief reason behind taking the unit so that any dwarf players who happen to catch this blog whilst googling "sex games with kimchi" can critique it. So without further adeu, my first 2k Dwarf list.

Dward Lord on Shield Bearers(+2 Armour save and +2 str. 4 attacks) w / great weapon (gives str.6) Rune of Stone (+1 Arm. Save) Rune of Resistance (reroll arm. Saves) Rune of Preservation (Immune to Killing Blow and Poison) Master Rune of Spite (4 + Ward Save)

So here we have a Lord with a considerable WS of 7, 4 attacks with Strength 6 and Toughness 5. He strikes last due to the great weapon but is very surviveable with 3 wounds and his 1 + armour save with rerolls, immunity to killing blow and poison attacks and 4 + ward save.

Thane BSB, Master Rune of Gromril (1 + arm. Save, Rune of Preservation (Immunity to Killing Blow and Poison) Rune of Cleaving (+1 str.)

My trusty battle standard bearer which lets me reroll pretty much any leadership checks. He is also kitted out for defense but does pack a punch with 3 strength 5 attacks.

Runesmith shield, Rune of Stone (+1 arm. save) Master Rune of Balance (Opponent must remove one power die from their pool and add it to your dispel pool)

This dude gives my army +2 dispel dice per turn and is fairly surviveable with a 2 + armour save and 6 + parry.

28x Warriors Full Command and Great Weapons

28x Warriors Full Command and Great Weapons

These will be my anvil units, and as far as dwarves go are fairly solid. They are strength 5 (gw) toughness 4 and have a 5 + armour save. Though their surviveability is iffy, the large numbers should help in terms of combat resolution . These are also were the characters go, so they can be very killy once in combat.

16x Thunderers shields

An all around scary unit. Dwarf handgunners have a +1 to hit which basically negates the -1 to hit penalty for shooting at long range. The handgun itself is strength 4 and armour piercing so anything wounded by one will be taking their armour saves at -2. With their shields they will have a 5 + armour save which is kind of nice.

16x Quarrellers / Rangers - Great Weapons

These are the guys that will be setting up 12 "from the enemy (thanks to Scout) and harrassing the shit out of them. With their great weapons they are a fairly capable combat unit that can take out enemy bunkers, archer units or war machines . They will have a hard time against things like the Hellcannon but will at least annoy and distract it for a few turns.

Cannon - Engineer (reroll on the misfire chart, use his BS) Rune of Burning (Fire Attacks)

The mighty cannon. Nice to have something that provides d6 strength 10 flaming (what, a hellpit abomination .. smack!) Hits when needed. Great for sniping those monsters or characters.

Grudge Thrower - Engineer (see above) Rune of Penetrating (adds 1 strength, so str. 10 middle and str. 4 outer circle) Rune of Accuracy (can reroll the scatter die)

The good ol 'strone thrower. These hits are magical and with pre-measuring stone thowers are now quite deadly. Though strength 4 isnt that great, the strength 10 center is enough to take out anything with a really high toughness, such as war machines . Tune of accuracy makes it hit around 50% of the time .. nice.

Organ Gun

This baby can potentially spit out 12 strength 5 shots that are -3 to your armour save. Great for taking out heavy cavalry and mostrous infantry. You also have the ability to reroll the artillary dice (though you must take the second result.)

So thats it. I'm excited to start playing with it (not so excited for the mass painting) and should be ready to go by mid-October. Here is a pic of the first, almost completed unit of Thunderers.



Until next time,

Jason

Busy Busy Busy

Sorry for the lack of updates over the, oh, last month or so as I've been rather busy since July.  First and foremost I have been enrolled in a TESOL course that has basically taken all of the free time I have when I'm not teacher little Korean kids the correct spelling of 'horse'.  Other than that I have been busy on the gaming front in that I've started a new Fantasy army -Dwarfs- and have been busy converting my beloved Black Templars into Blood Angels (for cries of 'power gamer!' please take a number and join the line to the left.)  On side note I've grown a beard in honor of both of these new armies...think about it..you'll get the joke eventually.  I promise promise promise that I will post pics of some of the new models as well as tentative army lists later this week.  With that I will leave you with the best dwarf video ever made.  Fare Thee Well.

Jason

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nwyj8hvUXsM