Spoiler Alert

I will post a more detailed recap in a few days, when I return from vegas.

-Mike

The Defenders of Miler Voles

I have decided on a name for my imperial guard regiment, "The Defenders of Miler Voles".
Miler Voles is a fictional planet, and to my knowledge not mentioned in GW fluff.

My paint scheme comes from the cover of "Codex: Battlezones, Cityfight" which was the precursor to "Cities of Death". It is this book that made me want to originally play Imperial Guard. The thought of massed Infantry overwhelming opponents really appealed to me as a player. Sadly, an all Infantry Imperial Guard army is not very competitive under the current codex, so I opted for a more mechanized list.

1500 -The Defenders of Miler Voles

Command Squad w/3 Plasma Guns
Chimera w/Hull Heavy Flamer
10 Veterans w/3 Meltaguns
Chimera w/Hull Heavy Flamer
Platoon Command w/3 Flamers
Chimera w/Hull Heavy Flamer
Infantry Squad w/Autocannon, Flamer
Chimera
Infantry Squad w/Autocannon, Flamer
Chimera
Special Weapons Squad w/3 Meltaguns
20 Conscripts
Valkyire w/Multiple Rocket Pods
Vendetta
Vendetta
Manticore
Manticore

Tomorrow, these brave soldiers will be going to Las Vegas, Nevada to compete in the "Throne of Skulls" tournament that will take place this weekend. I will try to blog as much as I can during my stay.

-Mike

FrAG Summer League 2011: Update 6/14/11

So, I have gotten in the first two games of the summer league. I did not do battle reports due to time constraints.

First game I played Chris' Deathwing in a Capture and Control. I thought I played this game well, but my list just is not able to do enough damage to 28 wounds worth of 2+/3++ . To top it off, Chris rolled very well and rolled over me. The game ended at the bottom of turn 5. I had one model who was not falling back and an 8-man squad that was falling back near my objective.

Second game I played PJ's Space Wolves in a three objective Seize ground. I baited him into setting up his entire army on the side of the table with one objective. PJ fell for the trap, committing his entire army (Including both wolf scouts to that side of the table. My terminators arrived between where PJ was and where he needed to be. (one squad, sadly, had a mishap and landed in one corner of the table) Once I killed all 40 of his scoring models, he conceded.

So, 1-1-0 so far in the league (which is better than I'd have hoped)

"For the Emperor!" - Alpha Legion Battle Cry.

-Mike

FrAG Summer League, 2011

My gaming club, The Frederick Area Gamers (FrAGs) is doing a summer 40k escalation league. There are 6 participants in the league and games will be played at 1500, 1850, and 2250 point levels. Below are the lists and player for the 1500 point leg of the league. I will post the lists and provide comments in red.

Mike Somerville (Me) (Chaos Space Marines)

Chaos Lord w/Terminator Upgrade, Combi-Melta, Daemon Weapon
10 Chaos Space Marines w/2 Meltaguns
Rhino w/Pintle Twin-linked Bolter
10 Chaos Space Marines w/Meltagun, Flamer, Aspiring Champion, Powerfist
Rhino w/Pintle Twin-linked Bolter
10 Chaos Space Marines w/Autocannon, Plasma Gun
5 Chaos Terminators w/Twin Lightning Claws, 2 Combi-Meltas, Heavy Flamer, Powerfist, Chainfist
5 Chaos Terminators w/Twin Lightning Claws, 2 Combi-Meltas, Heavy Flamer, Powerfist, Chainfist
5 Chaos Terminators w/2 Combi-Flamers, 2 Combi-Plasmas, Heavy Flamer, Chainfist
Chaos Predator w/Lascannon Sponsons
(10 KP, 3 Scoring Units)
I know this list is not very good, I built it as kind of a fluff Alpha Legion list. The idea was to "fight like the hydra" and have a combination of deep strikers, mobility, and long range firepower. The league will give me incentive to get all the plastic off of the sprues.

Leigh Brady (Space Wolves)
Logan Grimnar
9 Wolf Guard w/3 Combi-Plasmas, 2 Combi-Meltas, 1 Wolf Claw, 1 Terminator Armor w/Storm Bolter and Powerfist
Drop Pod
9 Wolf Guard w/3 Combi-Plasmas, 2 Combi-Meltas, 1 Wolf Claw, 1 Terminator Armor w/Storm Bolter and Powerfist
Drop Pod
9 Wolf Guard w/2 Combi-Plasmas, 3 Combi-Meltas, 1 Wolf Claw, 1 Terminator Armor w/Storm Bolter and Powerfist
Drop Pod
9 Wolf Guard w/2 Combi-Plasmas, 2 Combi-Meltas, 1 Wolf Claw, 1 Terminator Armor w/Storm Bolter and Powerfist
Drop Pod
6 Long Fangs w/5 Multi-Meltas
Drop Pod
(11 KP, 4 Scoring Units)
Kind of an odd drop list. Special Characters tend to do well in smaller games, as opponents generally have less units to combat them. Leigh will do well in Objective games and against opponents who do not know how to reserve. The Terminator Armor to soak up Krak Missile hits is a nice touch.

Aaron Blough (Blood Angels)
Mephiston
9 Assault Marines w/Meltagun, Infernus Pistol, Powerfist, Meltabombs
Rhino
9 Assault Marines w/Meltagun, Infernus Pistol, Powerfist, Meltabombs
Rhino
10 Tactical Marines w/Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Combi-Melta
Rhino
Furioso Librarian Dreadnought w/Wings of Sanguinius, Blood Lance
Furioso Librarian Dreadnought w/Wings of Sanguinius, Blood Lance
2 Saguinary Priests w/2 Combi-Meltas, 2 Lightning Claws
(11-12KP, 3-4 Scoring Units)
A deceptive assault list. This will cause people trouble who did not plan on how to handle Mephiston, 2 Dreadnoughts, and 30 FNP Marines showing up on their doorstep.

Pete Daze (Imperial Guard)
Company Command Squad w/Meltagun, 2 Plasma Guns, Officer of the Fleet
Chimera w/Multi-Laser, Heavy Flamer
10 Veterans w/3 Meltaguns
Chimera w/Multi-Laser, Heavy Flamer
10 Veterans w/3 Meltaguns
Chimera w/Multi-Laser, Heavy Flamer
10 Veterans w/3 Meltaguns
Chimera w/Multi-Laser, Heavy Flamer
10 Veterans w/3 Meltaguns
Vendetta
Vendetta
Leman Russ Main Battle Tank w/Heavy Bolter Sponsons
Leman Russ Main Battle Tank w/Heavy Bolter Sponsons
Manticore
(14KP, 4 Scoring Units)
Guard are very good at lower point levels, this list showcases that. 13 Meltaguns? Booya.

Chris Sult (Dark Angels)
Belial w/Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield
5 Deathwing Terminators w/5 Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield, Cyclone Missile Launcher, Apothecary
5 Deathwing Terminators w/5 Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield, Cyclone Missile Launcher
5 Deathwing Terminators w/5 Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield, Cyclone Missile Launcher
5 Deathwing Terminators w/5 Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield, Cyclone Missile Launcher
5 Deathwing Terminators w/3 Chainfists, Cyclone Missile Launcher
Land Speeder w/Multi-Melta, Typhoon Missile Launcher
Land Speeder w/Multi-Melta, Typhoon Missile Launcher
(8 KP, 5 Scoring Units)
Cheap (relatively) and effective. People are going to have trouble against this. 5 Scoring units using a 4+1 build will be super effective.

PJ Brady (Space Wolves)
Wolf Lord w/Storm Shield, Wolf Claw, Thunderwolf Mount
10 Grey Hunters w/2 Meltaguns, Powerfist
Rhino
10 Grey Hunters w/2 Meltaguns, Powerfist
Rhino
10 Grey Hunters w/2 Meltaguns, Powerfist
Rhino
10 Grey Hunters w/2 Meltaguns, Powerfist
Rhino
5 Wolf Scouts w/Meltagun, Meltabomb
5 Wolf Scouts w/Meltagun, Meltabomb
Vindicator w/Extra Armor
Vindicator w/Extra Armor
(13KP, 4 Scoring Units)
Vindicators? Why not Long Fangs or Predators? You aren't playing BA or BT, throw those away. A Wolf Lord without a saga? At least it has 40 Grey Hunters and the always annoying Wolf Scouts. Not a huge fan of the list, but it is still better than mine.

2 Space Wolves
1 Blood Angel
1 Dark Angel
1 Imperial Guard
1 Chaos Space Marine

Here is the Schedule for the 5 rounds of the 1500 leg.

1) Round 1: Seize Ground, Pitched Battle
a. Pete v. Leigh
b. PJ v. Mike
c. Aaron v. Chris
2) Round 2: Capture and Control, Spearhead
a. Pete v. PJ
b. Leigh v. Aaron
c. Mike v. Chris
3) Round 3: Annihilation, Pitched Battle
a. Pete v. Mike
b. Leigh v. Chris
c. PJ v. Aaron
4) Round 4: Capture and Control, Dawn of War
a. Pete v. Aaron
b. Leigh v. Mike
c. PJ v. Chris
5) Round 5: Annihilation, Dawn of War
a. Pete v. Chris
b. Leigh v. PJ
c. Mike v. Aaron

I will keep you guys updated.

-Mike

Thoughts on the Blood Angels Stormraven

Fuck yeah!!

Recently I was gifted with two Stormravens as part of a prize package. I plan to incorporate them into my Blood Angels forces. I have a few questions. How do I use them? What options should I give them?

Let us first brainstorm how they can be used. To me, it feels that if I put ANY unit inside of one, the Stormravens become an instant target. The lure of killing a 200+ point model and making a (probable) 200+ point unit walk is too good a choice to pass up for any opponent. I cannot, in good conscience, use them as transport vehicles, especially not for expensive, ass-kicking units.
My other option, and one that appeals to me, is to use them as their full name suggests, as a Stormraven Gunship.

So, what are the best options for a gunship?
Let's start by listing what it is already equipped with.
Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter (36" S5 AP4 Heavy 3)
Twin-Linked Assault Cannon (24" S6 AP4 Heavy 4, Rending)
Four Bloodstrike Missiles (72" S8 AP1 Heavy 1, One-shot)
It has power of the Machine Spirit

And now the options.

• Replace Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter with Twin-Linked Multi-Melta (free) or Typhoon Missile Launcher (moderate cost)
• Replace Twin-Linked Assault Cannon with Twin-Linked Plasma Cannon (free) or Twin-Linked Lascannon (free)
• Take Side sponsons with Hurricane Bolters (moderate cost)
  

So, it looks like we have two armament options.

1. Typhoon Missile Launcher, Twin-Linked Lascannon (225 points)
2. Twin-Linked Assault Cannon, Twin-Linked Multi-Melta, and Hurricane Bolters (230)

The first option is used as a standoff anti-tank platform. It can put out 2 S8 AP3 and 1 TL S9 AP2 shots a turn at different targets when moving 12 or less. If it moves less than 12, it can also add Bloodstrike missiles.

The second option is used as a close range platform that can engage Vehicles, Monstrous Creatures, or Infantry. It can put out 6-12 TL S4 AP5, 4 TL S6 AP4 rending, and a TL S8 AP1 melta shot a turn at two targets when moving 12 or less. If it moves less than 12, it can also add Bloodstrike missiles.

Which of these I decide upon will be based on the lists that I include them in. I will crack the boxes open sometime to see if full magnetization is possible.

-Mike

The Infantry: Painted

I have finished all of the Infantry for my 1500 point Imperial Guard army.
Pictured: 20 Conscripts, Company Command with 3 Plasma Guns, 10 Veterans with 3 Meltaguns, a Platoon Command with 3 flamers, two Infantry squads with Autocannon and Flamer, and a Special Weapons Squad with 3 Meltaguns.





All I have left are 5 Chimeras, 2 Manticores, and 2 Vendettas. Updates of my progress will follow.


-Mike

The Valkyrie: Painted

Today, I finished painting the Imperial Guard Valkyrie. I still need to apply transfers to it, but am putting that off until I finish the Vendettas.




I will continue painting most if not all of the weekend. I will hopefully post more pictures of what I accomplish.

-Mike