Dark Angels Analysis - Ravenwing Attack Squadron

Having got about 8 hours sleep over the last 2 nights and with a full day of lectures coming up tomorrow I feel awful. But there's blogging to be done as we come to the penultimate Fast Attack choice. I would write about things that I've been up to, but I haven't done anything.

Anyway. Ravenwing Attack Squadron.

Dark Angels Analysis - Land Speeder Squadron

Quite a bit has been going on over the last few days, some of it's for another time but I played a game yesterday against a Space Marine army, 3 Dreads, 2 Devastator squads, Aegis, all that jazz. And in dreaded kill points, which my army can't handle very well.

I was trying out a few combinations, I dropped a Rune Priest and the Lascannon Long Fang pack in favour of beefing up the Grey Hunters and giving them Rhinos to hide behind. That worked quite well, I was getting in close but then I'd be in range of the Plasma guns, they'd pop the Rhinos and the Grey Hunters would get murdered by torrent.

The Thunderwolves had a good game, eating 2 squads and gaining Linebreaker. But what it came down to was in the last turn I forced my opponent to take 3 leadership checks. 2 at LD8 and 1 at LD9. If he didn't fail any he would win the game, if he failed one it would be a draw and if he failed 2 I would have won. He did the former, and won 9-8. But anyway, it was a fantastic game and I learnt a lot, I'll be trying out Drop Pods next.

But anyway, Dark Angels Fast Attack. Land Speeder Squadron.

Dark Angels Analysis - Ravenwing Darkshroud

Again, sorry that I missed yesterday's post. I was going to do it in the evening but ended up going out.

I haven't done anything hobby related in that time. I'm preparing to go down to the Oxford Gaming Club tonight and my home club, Steel City Wargaming in Sheffield has some exciting things going on. It is opening a new club night in Rotherham soon and it's in the process of selecting a team, so I'm naturally sticking my nose in, as I feel that I have a fair shot at the top team (I'm getting cocky).

But enough of that, we have another shiny new model to get through. The Ravenwing Darkshroud.

Dark Angels Analysis - Assault Marines

Sorry I missed a post yesterday, I moved back to University today and things have been a little hectic, but that doesn't mean that I'll slack off today, continuing with the Fast Attack section.

What I've been up to and off-topic musings first though. I've picked up a Cryptek for my Necron army, which is 1 of the 5 600pt armies that I've brought with me for doubles events. And that's pretty much it.

I am looking at one of the common cross codex choices in the book today, but they're different to what I have in my Space Wolves book and so I'm going to look at them with a degree of depth. The Assault Marines.

Dark Angels Analysis - Dark Talon

Not much to say as a quick introduction today. We continue on with the Fast Attack section for Dark Angels, I went into the city centre and came out with some bases to convert my Harlequins with and a pot of paint. I also tried out Zagstruk, who came down behind Pedro Kantor and his crew, only needing a 4” charged, rolled a 3, re-rolling for Waaagh!, got another 3. I think I'd better give him another chance. 

I've also got a ranking in the UK now, but because the tournament that submitted events was Perils of the Warp 2, where I didn't do particularly well, I'm only ranked 257^th. Hopefully I'll do a little better at Battlefield Birmingham (although that's a big ask considering the calibre of players that attend), but even if I don't it's still more points on the board, plus I'll get a bonus for each member of the top 16 there, and there are quite a few attending.

Anyway, the second flyer in the Dark Angels Codex, the Dark Talon.

Dark Angels Analysis - Nephilim Jetfighter

Now edited to include Unrelenting Hunter.

Today the analysis rolls on to the Fast Attack section. Simply because there are some shiny new flyers in there and I'd like to see what they do. I also expected something a little more glossy for this blog's 100th post when this blog began, but none of you want to read guff about blogging so on with the usual schedule.

Since I last updated what I was doing, I've broken out the Eldar. With the Space Wolves all but finished I'm trying to update the rest of my armies for 6^th edition. Eldar were probably the easiest for this, and although I have no idea how it is going to work I think that my 1,500pt Eldar list from 5^th edition is still valid (because it was also awful under 5^th). Therefore, I have broken out the Swooping Hawks (see) to give them a new paint job, and I'm currently busy magnetising Scatter Lasers to a Wave Serpent.

But anyway, the Nephilim Jetfighter.

Dark Angels Analysis - Deathwing Knights

With the tournament excitement over for this month, it's time to get back to regular scheduling. Today continuing with the Dark Angels Elites section. This will be the last post for the Elites section for a while, as I'm planning on including the Dreadnought in the Predator, etc, post later on.

Which means that the unit for today are the Deathwing Knights.

Throne of Skulls Stats

 Just a quick breakdown of the statistics from this weekend's Throne of Skulls today. No paragraphs of writing and nothing too chunky today, just pure statistics.

Throne of Skulls - Tournament Report

EDIT: I've justed inserted day 2 of Throne of Skulls into this post.

I wasn't planning on doing a post today, but as I didn't stay for the Pub Quiz due to the weather I might as well. Today I did manage to get down to Nottingham for Throne of Skulls (40k), and actually on time, and managed to get through all 3 games, also within the time.

The same happened the day after actually, and as I write this on Monday morning the snow has finally arrived. Had it arrived over the weekend I would have been unlikely to attend. 

Just for those that may be reading this further down the line this is from day 1 of the January 2013 Warhammer 40k Throne of Skulls.

Additionally, if you'd like another Throne of Skulls report from another gamer, be sure to check out Ramblings of a Wargamer, a link to which can be found on the left of this page under Underlings Blog List. Paul over there writes a really good blog and I'd thoroughly recommend it if you're looking for more Throne of Skulls action.

So, game 1.

Dark Angels Analysis - Deathwing Terminators

I hate snow. I really hate snow. It is thanks to snow, that I have not been able to get to my gaming club today, so I will go to Throne of Skulls on the back of 3 losses and a draw. It is also because of snow, that I am unlikely to actually arrive to Throne of Skulls tomorrow. I then go onto Facebook, to inform everyone of these reasons for me hating snow, to discover everyone goading me by asking for more snow.

You do not want it to snow anymore, you have enough snow to content yourself with, asking for any more snow is selfish. Think of your increased heating bills, and think of all the businesses that will lose custom because you want more snow.

I am a student, I have a very limited hobby budget compared to my usual unprotected wallet. And I have spent £60 on attending an event that I am unlikely to be able to attend because people want more snow. I am appalled. Ok it's not the snow lovers fault, but I'm disappointed with the weather and I'm feeling in the mood for a rant. So there you have it.

Anyway, Deathwing.

FAQ Rundown

I was going to do a post on Deathwing Terminators today, but then GW messed with me by releasing FAQs which made my post on Company Veterans void. I'll fix that as soon as possible. So today, instead I will be doing a run down of the biggest changes that this new batch of FAQs bring.

But quickly onto what I've done before we get underway. I've finished painting my Thunderwolf Cavalry, but as I'm participating in a video battle report on Friday I can't be bothered to take photos of them, you can see them on that. I'll probably post photos afterwards, I might even do it tomorrow if I'm in the mood (still a little 40k fatigued). I'm also half way through Ragnar, who I'm not enjoying painting. He's an old model and I can sympathise with that but because of this he's flat and there's not much detail. I've also started painting the Drop Pod.

Anyway. Onwards!

Dark Angels Analysis - Company Veterans

UPDATED:

Another day another blog post, today moving on to the Elites choices in the Dark Angels Codex. I've managed to get a little done in the last day. The Flesh Hounds are now assembled after having them about a year, although 1 is still missing a head. I've also painted one of my Thunderwolf Cavalry, and am half way through the final one. Pictures will be up once they're done.

So that's me updated, now onto the Company Veterans.

Dark Angels Analysis - Scouts

I've managed to get over my 40k fatigue a little today, although all I have to show for it is a repaired Drop Pod. I'm still considering what I'll take to Throne of Skulls, I may bring the Orks back out of retirement and throw my 5^th edition list straight into it, alternatively I may dust off my Rainbow Footdar and see how they fair, although the latter would require a huge amount of painting. I'll try to get that done this week though so that come Friday I will at least have a choice.

None of that matters though, up for analysis today are the Scouts.

Dark Angels Analysis - Tactical Marines

I write this on Saturday evening after Perils of the Warp 2, and I am ridiculously 40k fatigued right now (by my standards). But no matter, on with the blogging.

Today sees the start of my second series of Codex analysies. This time around being the Dark Angels. As an unfamiliar Codex in 5^th/4^th edition, they are possibly even more unfamiliar right now with the new Codex, as not many people played them before and I doubt that this Codex will have sold as many as the Chaos one so it's probably useful to understand what's going on.

Starting again with the backbone of the army. The Troops.

Perils of the Warp 2 - Tournament Report

Today I attended the Perils of the Warp 2 tournament at the Outpost in Sheffield. This was a 1 day, 20 player event which allowed Forge World, and was at 1,500pts. This was also the first tournament that I had ever attended that submitted to rankings, so as well as being a slightly different meta to what I'm used to, with my list being developed in Oxford, it was also kicking it up a notch.

Just a quick plug before this gets started. The Outpost is an independent store in Sheffield. It's open late and sells a variety of products for a variety of systems like Warpath, Dreadball, Warmahordes, Dystopian Wars, 40k and Fantasy, etc. I'm not selling out, I just really enjoyed today's event and feel like I should give the store a mention. If you just Google 'The Outpost Sheffield' it should be the first option. They're also running another 40k tournament on the 23^rd February. Unfortunately I can't attend as I'm at Battlefield Birmingham but I'd recommend it if you're in the area and have the day free. There are only 6 places left though so you'll probably want to hurry.

Throne of Skulls Prep 2

I've had various ideas for posts that I'd like to get in before Saturday, when another new Codex hits and I start to break down another load of units, but before I do I feel as though I should at least get in 1 piece of tournament preparation. I know that Throne of Skulls isn't the most competitive tournament in the UK, but for me it's a good marker to see how much I've improved, and where I should be.

For example; so long as I don't get my ass royally kicked (like last time, where I had only played a handful of games with my Wolves after picking up the army a few weeks before), I will be comfortable in extending into the independant tournaments, where no doubt, I will get my ass kicked again, and learn a lot more.

I've got several advantages 6 months after my first attendance though. The first of these is that I will actually get some sleep. With 12 days to go, I have 3 Wolf Guard Terminators, a Primaris Psyker and a Mortar team left to paint, so I shouldn't be up most of the night painting.

The second advantage is obviously that I've been playing my Wolves for a while, and although I haven't been able to play the 2 games a week that I was in Oxford (I've played 1 game in almost 4 weeks), I have plenty of time to catch that up, as I have a load of games lined up in the next 2 weeks.

As well as a game against my club's strongest tournament player on Friday, I also have a 3 game tournament on the Saturday against some strong opponents, and then a video battle report in which I am participating (and trying not to embarrase myself) the following Friday, to advertise the club.

Lists were due in for this tournament over the weekend, and this is what I'm running. I don't mind plastering my list all over the internet because if you're tailoring for it then I'm vastly overated.