Raven Guard

It’s been a while!

It’s not that I’ve stopped playing 40k. I’ve been playing a reasonable amount. It’s just that real life has been horribly busy – children, work blah blah blah. The usual stuff. I’ve spent free time playing and painting rather than blogging.

So since I last posted I’ve built and painted a Skyhammer Annihilation force, built and painted a Grey Knight Purifier spam army with Skitari allies, renovated some old models and turned them into an 1,850pt Gladius strike force, and built and (almost) painted a Raven Guard army, using the new detachments in the Kayuon book. I’ve also been to two single day tournaments and 2 two day tournaments. So lots to catch up on! However, I’m not planning a mega post trying to summarise it all. It was a long time ago and it would take too long to do it now. Suffice to say I’m actually really enjoying 40k again. Seventh, with all the new formations and detachments creates huge possibilities for innovative lists. Sure idiots will still bring hobby killer mega combinations, death stars, and other nonsense, but that was always the case, and it’s so much better than in 6^th.

Las Vegas Open

A friend and I are going to the Las Vegas Open in 2016. My brother (who works in New Hampshire) will also be joining us.

It’s a long way for a couple of Scottish boys, but next year is my 50^th birthday, so I though something epic was in order.

We fly out on the 1^st of February, and back on the 9^th. The convention/tournament is 5^th 6^th 7^th, so a little time for some sight seeing (I don’t gamble so have no interest in casinos). Excitement is already mounting, and it’s 6 months away….I’ll be a wreck by Christmas.

We don’t yet have details of the event, but last year the Championship was a 6 round tournament, with the top 18 going on to play 3 more games on the Sunday. There was a “friendly” and lots more (hobby tutorials, 30k, Highlander tournament, vendor halls etc etc). The plan is to enter the main 40k tournament, my brother (who doesn’t play regularly) may go for the friendly.

I’ve had a look over the rules pack, and the FAQ. It’s quite different from what we’re used to over her. First up it’s a “win/loss” format. Most largish tournaments in the UK are battle points. Next, it’s a forge world free for all – most things are allowed (there’s a modest ban list). There are also a few rules changes that I’ll need to think about (don’t think any will effect me). Finally, there is a new (to me) mission packet, with primary secondary and tertiary missions that I’ll need to think about too.

All very exciting. But most exciting of all ….. what army am I going to take?

I’ve put my Tau on the shelf for a while. Been playing them pretty consistently for a few months and I wanted to try something a little different. With the new Marine dex coming out I’ve been messing around with the Skyhammer formation, and I’ve even been thinking about a Grey Knights list. However, with the new Tau dex rumoured to be out in October I have a lot of choices!

I have a few tournaments lined up before the LVO (if I can swing it with Mrs Geek!). Ideally I would like to go to a one day on the 16^th of August, a 2 day on the 22^nd and 23^rd August, a 2 day in October, another 2 day in November and finally Cally in January before the LVO in February. Divorce is an option!

So expect a some posts over the next few months agonising over lists, reporting on tournaments and generally wittering on as the excitement mounts.

EYIG

Dark Millennium 2

On 13^th and 14^th June 2015 I’m helping a friend run Dark Millenium 2. DM2 is a 2 day, 5 game 40k Tournament in Stirling, Scotland. And I want as many of you to come as possible! This is the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/events/653068418132720/?fref=ts.

Why should you come? Well, it’s going to be a blast! But why else?

The Year Ahead

I was supposed to be attending Clan Wars this weekend. Clan Wars was the final team qualifier for the Scottish ETC team. Sadly however it was cancelled due to lack of numbers. It’s disappointing. It’s the 3^rd Clan Wars/Scottish Team event that has been cancelled due to lack of numbers in the last few months. I’m not sure why this is. There are a few tournaments in Scotland that sell out every year, and Caledonian Uprising, another Team Scotland Event, but crucially held in the North West of England, had over 170 players. 

Clan Wars List

Ok, so my next tournament is Clan Wars, an 1850pt, "no holds barred" ETC qualifier, and (as usual) I'm agonising over list choice. 

It's no forge world, so I need to drop the tetras from my Cally list. The obvious replacements are some marker drones in a death rain squad, however, I've been thinking about that.....!

How many marker lights are enough?

Here's the list I'm toying with.

Caledonian Uprising - After Action Report

Just back from Cally. What a weekend! Never been to such a big tournament. One hundred and eighty people registered. I think something like 175 people played in the end. Haven’t’ drunk so much beer in a very long time, laughed so much, or played so many challenging games of 40k. 

For those of you who haven’t seen it, this is the Facebook sight with all the information (https://www.facebook.com/events/542549995871068/646210672171666/?notif_t=plan_mall_activity)

I can not recommend this event enough. Incredibly well organised, and professionally run. It’s probably the closets thing we have to the big GTs in the US (Adeptacon, Nova etc), although without all the side events.