Battle Report: Blood Angels vs Blood Angels

Got a game of 40k in this morning against Hand0. We had a great game, and he came out on top. Enjoy the video.

I will add a bit of analysis later.

WIP: Chaplain with Power Fist II, Object Source Lighting

 After posting some pictures of my progress earlier today. Timothy commented that I had come out pretty weak on the power fist. He directed me over to a place where you know you are going to get great advice every time: From the Warp.

So, I read through Ron's tutorial on Object Source Lighting with specific reference to power fists. Another great resource provided by Ron. You can access the tutorial here.

So, I touched up the details that were left, finished the base, and set out on my first attempt at object source lighting effects.

I am trying to create the effect that the fingers of the power fist are glowing with power. The surrounding light from the fingers is falling on the armor plates around the power fist.

My assessment: Not too bad for my first time out. The effect is growing on me. Now that I have broken the ice with it, I am sure that I will start to use it more and more often.

Thanks again to Ron for another great tutorial, and thanks to Timothy for giving some constructive criticism and a solution.

As I look at this final picture, I am thinking that I should paint some free hand on the back of that power fist . . . hmmm.

As always, your comments are welcome.

WIP: Chaplain with Power Fist

 Here are a few updated photos of my Chaplain with Power Fist. It seems like it takes me forever to finish anything these days. I suppose I have been so very busy in the real world that I have precious little time for the miniature world. Nevertheless, this Chaplain is nearing completion.

I used the black and red party-colored pattern of the Angels Sanguine on his Crozius Arcanum. This, along with the base, will tie him in with the rest of the Army for a unified force look. I tried the black and red crozius on my Chaplain in Terminator Armor, and I really liked it. So, I decided to continue the pattern with this Chaplain.


Of course, he is magnetized to accept either a backpack or a jump pack. I need to finish up his base, and touch a detail or two. Nevertheless, I fully expect him to be ready to join the force very soon.

Let me know what you think. Your comments are welcome, and thank you for reading.

Should I Wait on my Luna Wolves?

The model to the left represents the first (test) model for a very slowly progressing Luna Wolves project that I started. I realize that the thunder hammer and storm Shield are anachronistic. Nevertheless, I was trying to get started into this pre-heresy project. So, I was testing the conversion and testing the painting.

In the mean time, Forge World releases their intent to publish heresy books with specifics for the Legions. I start to question whether I should wait for the release of these books and models. I understand that the books will focus on the Sons of Horus, but the only difference between Luna Wolves and the Sons of Horus is the change in name at a particular point in imperial history, right?

Then Karitas over at Excommunicate Traitoris attends Games Day UK 2012. In his blog coverage of the event, he posts this picture of of the Sons of Horus Terminators. I am questioning whether I should put the Luna Wolves on hold. Should I wait? or Should I press on? Should I convert my (unfinished) Luna Wolf terminator into another chapter or legion? Forge World's Legion terminators in the picture look great, and I am afraid that I will always regret having not used them. What are your thoughts on the matter?

Battle Report: Blood Angels vs Orks 1500

I decided to run a very different list than normal. I am still trying to feel out the proper balance between shooting and assault in 6th edition. So, I built a shooting BA's army.

A couple of things that stuck out in analysis right off the bat:
1. I wasted 150 points in my Army List. I paid 250 for Mephiston to stand in one place and cast Prescience each turn. I could have instead paid 100 points for a stock Librarian to stand in one place and cast Prescience each turn.

2. The Plasma Cannon Devastators felt very expensive to me. It was painful for me to field them in the beginning. Add to this the fact that they failed morale and ran off the table after doing nothing, and I have a real bad taste in my mouth.

I don't like to stand in one place and shoot at the enemy. I far prefer closing with them into melee. However, shooting does seem to be king in 6th edition. I do not think that it is to the exclusion of melee. Nevertheless, each army needs to find the proper balance between the two, specific to race and ability, in order to be strong.


I need to conduct more research!! More games of 40k are in order!!

I would like to conclude by saying that the most important part is that fun was had by all involved. It is always a pleasure to play a game against Dark Saint.

WIP: Luna Wolves Terminator and Chaplain with Power Fist

 I have been quiet for a while as things have been getting busier and busier at work. We are having some turnover, and I am carrying several extra responsibilities until the 'new' folks get on their feet. Nevertheless, I have made a bit of progress that I wanted to share.

First, I have applied some paint to my first Luna Wolf. This is the Pre-Heresy Terminator Test which I made. I decided to do the Luna Wolves Legion, and this guy is the first one. He is a paint scheme test. Of course, I am not yet finished. Nevertheless, any thoughts or ideas in the way of constructive criticism are welcome.

Second, I learned from a friend that Chaplains in the Blood Angels Codex may trade their bolt pistol for a power fist. I am not sure if the other codexes can do this, though I suspect they might. I had never noticed that in the codex. I thought it was a great idea, and I had a primed Chaplain sitting on my paint desk. So, I cut off his pistol arm below the shoulder pad and above the elbow. I took one of the arms from the AoBR Terminators, which I had swapped out for Lighting Claw arms. I cut the power fist arm to fit. As I was joining plastic to metal in a weak spot, I decided to pin it.

I thought the pose turned out to be pretty dynamic. On the gaming side, this gives him the choice of attacking at initiative with +2 to Strength and AP4 with the Crozius or attacking at initiative 1 with Strength x2 and AP2.

I like the idea of the option for him. Oh, did I mention that I really like the look of the model.

FAQ/Errata Released: Initial Thoughts

The biggest gripes that I have been hearing from Blood Angels players revolved around Dante's Axe and the Sanguinary Guard's Glaive Encarmine. Well, GW cleared those up. No questions anymore.

I honestly couldn't imagine these weapons being any way different than the way that GW has ruled them. I listened to all the arguments to the contrary (prior to this FAQ), and it all seemed like people trying to argue for what they wanted beyond all reason.

Guess what? Dante's Axe is indeed an Axe.

The SG Glaives are wysiwyg. If you see a sword, it is a sword. If you see an axe, it is an axe.

Both of these are novel concepts, right?

In my opinion, the shocker was Astorath's Axe. It seemed to fall into the special and unique power weapon category. The FAQ now lists a profile for the weapon. He gained ap2, but he also gained the unwieldy special rule.

If my memory serves, that means Tycho is the only HQ we have who penetrates 2+ armor while attacking at initiative.

Oh, that reminds me of something. I had recently read some arguments on forums, which I can only call nonsensical. They were trying to convince others that Tycho's Dead Mans Hand was a special power weapon and therefore ap3. It is quite obvious that such an argument defies the rules of logic and common sense, as the special rules for the weapon state that it "ignores all armor saves." Furthermore, it is not a power weapon at all.

Nevertheless, GW ruled on it in the FAQ for the rulebook. Dead Mans Hand does actually ignore all armor saves while striking at initiative just as the rules in the codex state.

Another novel concept, I know.

Well, I have congratulate and thank GW for putting out a FAQs and Errata in a timely fashion. Furthermore, it appears that they have listened to the community. All of the issues where we had questions received answers.

!!Still no Flakk Missiles!!

Death Company WIP: Bolters Incoming

I do have a certain love for the Death Company. As the 6th edition Rage rules are golden, I have felt free to indulge myself a bit.

These five Death Company Marines with Holy Bolters are my most recent project. I am working on their bases now. They are magnetized to take either the jump pack or the backpack. I look forward to adding their Relentless, Rapid Fire skills to my DC.

Do you have any experience with Boltgun toting Death Company?

Battlefoam P.A.C.K. 1520 XL Product Review

The video contains a review of my Battlefoam army transport and storage system.

I could not be more pleased with it, and I would recommend Battlefoam to anyone who is looking to transport or store an army safely.

Lemartes in 6th Edition II

I have been extremely excited to allow my love affair with the Death Company to continue unhindered by compulsory movement. You will recall that I have been experimenting with Lemartes.

In this past week's game at the club, I continued the table-top experiment with Lemartes. I was playing against an assault dedicated Black Templar army.

I learned a couple of things:

First, my opponent's army was so dedicated to assault, that he had very short-ranged shooting. This fact in conjunction with the DC jump packs meant that I couldn't get a wound on Lemartes before the DC charged into combat. If I had hung around waiting for the wound, then I would have given the charge to the crusader squads. I did manage to get a wound on Lemartes in the first round of combat. However, it was after Lemartes' initiative step. So, his Fury Unbound rule didn't take effect until the second round of combat. It is a little less impressive on the second round. This also meant that I was having to pass wounds off on a 4+ Look Out Sir, which is slightly more dangerous than the 2+ for Independent Characters.

Second, having an AP4 Crozius is a bit detrimental against MEQ. The inability to penetrate power armor means relying exclusively on failed armor saves. This would not have been as much of an issue if I had the 8 str 8 attacks on the charge. You will recall that I was unable to get the wound on Lemartes before the charge.

So, the jury is still out on Lemartes. Is he worth his points? Should I continue to use him? What do you think? At the least, some more play-testing is in order.