Wednesday 22 August 2012

Dystopian Legions!



The interwebs and Spartan Forums have been speculating over this one for some time, but now that it's been formally announced and we have some pics...... Wow, great job Spartan!

Head over to The Spartan Games website for more information and pics and head over to Table Top Fix to view the models displayed on the Spartan stand at this year's Gen Con...

Nuff said ;)



Or is it? While we're talking Spartan Games, why not also head over to Studio Sparta, their new mail order service that stocks a range of Spartan Design Team creations that aren't necessarily limited to the constraints of Spartan's core game systems. They have been busy...


Sunday 19 August 2012

WH40k - Mortifactors - Librarian WIP



It’s time to fry xenos brain with but a mere thought, as we introduce the warlock of woe that is the Mortifactors Librarian!

Smell The Glove...

This guy’s been equipped with a Jump Pack and will accompany a 10 man Assault Squad to act as a strong mobile reserve. His ability to protect the unit with psychic defence and equally deal out some potent offensive combos should prove invaluable in tipping the combat in the lad’s favour… Just need to make sure they pick fights they can win ;)




The Jump Pack has been given the addition of the Horned Skull icon, symbolising the potent power and knowledge a Librarian possesses. The addition of ‘honour wings’ on either side of the Jump Pack also help to highlight the character's seniority within the chapter.

Skulls on a chain are so this season...

The Mortifactors are known to meditate before battle, achieving a death-like trance in an attempt to commune with their Primarch and their ancestors. After a battle they will often drink the blood and eat the flesh of their enemies, severing their heads and flensing their skulls to retain them as honour trophies (nice!). To this end, this chap has been given a collection of such skulls, shrunken and embued with powerful wards…

To help give the model some further character on the table top, I converted up some familiars to keep him company…

Who's a pretty boy then...

This is a cyber-vulture, taken from Tomb Kings Screaming Skull Catapult. You can’t quite make it out but I modelled him a bionic eye - Hopefully the eventual paint job will make it more visible…

'Golf Sale - 200yds On The Left...'

The other familiar was made from a now out of production ‘bat rider’ model from the old Vampire Counts miniatures range. He’s a cheeky little chap and he looks quite at home on his rock with his skully face and his litanies of death…

Well, the Mortifactors now have their very own Mystic Meg to bolster out the ranks and ensure they don’t get caught short when it comes to dishing out the psychic hurt.

Next time we’ll take a look at two more Jump Pack wearing bringers of pain, in the form of the Company Chaplain and the Chapter Champion…

;)





WH40k - Mortifactors - Heavy Weapons Squad


Searing lances of laser death. Screaming trails of missile devastation. It can only mean one thing. It’s time to meet the Mortifactors Heavy Weapons Squad...

'Look lads, it's a sidebar! Take that mutha down!!!'

The last word in hunting rifles...
Clean me...

Until next time ;)

Friday 17 August 2012

3-Way Kill Team Battle Report!


Everyone loves a good scarp and boy, this is a good scrap. Buckle up people we’re dropping into a WAR ZONE!!!


BACKGROUND...

Berossus’ cold metallic eyes focused in on a collection of blasted ruins in the lay of the shimmering horizon.

After several hours scouring the desert basin he knew instinctively that he’d found his quarry. It called to his worm ridden heart like a siren song drifting across the dunes. As if re-affirming Berossus’ lock on the scent trail, Torador's scanner display released a low discordant chime, indicating the presence of an energy spike at the ruins’ centre.

“We have it Commander” hissed Torador. His nostrils rising to a pointed sneer as the sun glistened off his razor edged teeth.

Berossus turned to face his Execution Squad. “We have little time. Alien forces seek to take what is ours and we must not allow it.” “Varnak, move the squad through the pass. Atreus, move up onto the ridge and cover the advance.”

Atreus’ servo gears strained as the hulking Dreadnought turned direction. The hum of it’s capacitor banks increasing to a low whine as it’s Plasma Cannon powered up in readiness for the kill.

Berossus raised his slaughter stained chainsword skyward in salute of unseen ruinous gods.

“Iron Within!” he bellowed. “Iron Without!” roared the Execution Squad.

THE FORCES...



Iron Warriors – Commander: Dan (HBID!)
6 x Chaos Marines – Bolter, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword
1 x Chaos Dreadnought – Plasma Cannon, Power Claw




Orks – Commander: Pete (Inquisitor James)
10 x Ork Boyz – Big Shoota, Nob with Big Choppa
1 x Dakkajet – 3 x T/L Big Shootas





Tau – Commander: Olly (The Bearded Arts)
1 x Crisis Suit – Fusion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Shield Drone
6 x Fire Warriors – Pulse Rifle, Marker Light
6 x Gun Drones – T/L Pulse Carbines




DEPLOYMENT…
Orks win the roll-off and deploy in the SE corner – The Ork Boyz are 9” from the board centre, with the Dakkajet at the back of the board. The Forces of Chaos arrive next in the NE sector, with the Iron Warriors facing off against the Ork Boyz in the centre and the Chaos Dreadnought guarding their right flank. Finally, the Tau setup in the NW quadrant with the Fire Warriors taking a commanding position on the hilltop, a squad of Gun Drones out towards the centre of the board and the Crisis Battlesuit and Shield Drone taking cover in the ruins…


TURN 1
The Iron Warriors win the roll-off and immediately open up with their Boltguns on the mob of Ork Boyz in the centre, killing 3 in the process. The Chaos Dreadnought turns it’s attentions to the Tau on it’s right flank and takes down a Gun Drone and incinerates a Fire Warrior with it’s Plasma Cannon…


Despite their losses, the Orks Boyz hold their ground and open up with their Big Shoota on the Tau Fire Warriors positioned on the hill. The sheer volume of fire sends the Tau scrambling for cover, but once the dust settles it’s clear that they remain unscathed. Exacting revenge, for the earlier deaths of the Ork Boyz, the Dakkajet screams onto the board and releases a torrent of Supa Shoota fire into the Iron Warriors. One of the Iron Warriors is torn apart in a hail of fire, whilst the rest of the squad are hit with 5 wounds… All of which are saved.


Taking the opportunity to out-flank the Ork Boyz, the Tau Gun Drones move round the ruins in the centre and open up with their Pulse Carbines, cutting down the Ork with the Big Shoota and causing the Nob to take a wound. Seizing the initiative, the Fire Warriors also open up on the mob and cause yet another casualty. They also target the Iron Warrios causing a wound, although the CSM’s power armour proves too strong this time. Meanwhile, sensing the imminent threat on the left flank, The Tau Crisis Suit orders the Fire Warrior team leader to marker light the Chaos Dreadnought. This fails to land and the Crisis Suit’s subsequent blast from it’s Plasma Rifle also fails to hit the target. 


TURN 2
The Iron Warriors again open fire on the Ork Boyz holed up in the ruins, blasting 3 apart in a hail of Bolter fire. They also target the Dakkajet destroying one of it’s Supa Shootas in the process. Sensing the kill, the Chaos Dreadnought turns and also opens up on the Dakkajet with it’s Plasma Cannon, immobilising it and scoring a further Crew Shaken result. The jet plummets to the ground gouging a huge furrow as it eventually slides to a halt just in front of the Iron Warriors! The Ork pilot has a huge grin on his face…


In a desperate attempt to outdo the Ork pilot in the ‘We’re not goin down wiv out a fight!’ stakes, the remaining 2 Ork Boyz  rally and charge towards the Tau lines. Bellowing and screaming, they open up with everything they have got and in typical Orky fashion, completely miss…


Meanwhile, with the Chaos Dreadnought pre-occupied with taking down the Ork Dakkajet, the Tau take a further opportunity to target it with the markerlight. This time it finds it’s target, lighting up the Dreadnought and enabling the Tau Crisis suit to score multiple hits with its Plasma Rifle and Fusion Gun. The Chaos Dreadnought is knocked sideways by the barrage of super heated death and explodes in a huge ball of white plasma! Not to be outdone, the Tau Gun Drones target the two remaining Ork Boyz and shred them under intense fire from their Pulse Carbines. The Ork threat is effectively over…


TURN 3
Enraged by the loss of their Dreadnought, the Iron Warriors pour all available fire into the Tau lines, scoring multiple hits on the Crisis Suit, only for it to take advantage of the ruins it is sheltering in and saving all wounds. 


As the last surviving Ork on the battlefield, the Dakkajet pilot finally comes to his senses, fails his leadership test, and hot foots it into the desert, never to be seen again…


The Tau Gun Drones swoop round to get a better lock on the 5 remaining Iron Warriors, whilst the Crisis Suit and Tau Fire Warriors on the hill pour in a fusillade of fire, killing 2 of the Iron Warriors...


TURN 4
The 3 remaining Iron Warriors pass their leadership test and charge the Crisis suit, firing their Bolt Pistols as they close the distance. With a crash of chainsword on armour plate, the Iron Warriors reap bloody revenge on the Crisis Suit by destroying it in the first round of combat…


Desperate to stop the crazed charge of the Iron Warriors from reaching deeper into their lines, the remaining Tau Fire Warriors and Gun Drones again open up with everything they’ve got on the Chaos Marines. 2 of the Iron Warriors are torn apart mid charge…


TURN 5
The sole remaining Iron Warrior let’s out a defiant roar and passes his leadership test, despite the -1 modifier due to having to take a second break test. He again charges the Tau lines and locks one of the Tau Fire Warriors in close combat. However, neither combatant is able to land the killing blow…


TURN 6
Despite a further -2 modifier, the enraged Iron Warrior again stands his ground and passes his leadership test. He continues to duel with the Tau Fire Warrior but again, fails to cut him down. Sensing a better opportunity to take out the Iron Warrior from range, the remaining Fire Warriors and Gun Drones disengage towards the cover of the ruins...


TURN 7
Despite a -3 modifier, the Iron Warrior continues to be blessed by the Dark Gods and remains locked in the fight with the Fire Warrior. Eventually, side stepping an arcing blow from the Tau, the Iron Warrior pivots to his right, levels his chainsword and removes the Fire Warriors head in one clean blow.


TURN 8
With a 2D6 roll of 5, the Iron Warrior defies a further -4 leadership modifier and blasts a Drone out of the sky with his Boltgun. With the Iron Warrior seemingly impervious to everything they have to throw at him, the Tau finally lose stomach for the fight, fail their leadership test, and opt to make a tactical withdrawal from the battlefield.


With victory finally his, the sole remaining Iron Warrior raises his blood soaked chainsword to the sky and lets out a triumphant roar - ‘Iron Within, Iron Without!’


THE WRAP UP…

Score: Dan 1 – Olly 0 – Pete 0.

Dan - That was one cool game. It had everything from crashing Dakkajets to exploding Dreadnoughts and of course, those incredible leadership roles of Berossus, the triumphant Iron Warriors Commander - truly he is favoured by the Dark Gods…Would I have done anything different, given another opportunity? Hell no! It was complete and utter carnage and I loved every minute of it! Something tells me this won’t be the last time the Orks, Tau and Iron Warriors clash on the battlefield and I’ll be sure to let you know how that next blood soaked, battle royale goes down…

Pete - Jees, I can’t believe those Leadership rolls, I’ve never seen anything like it!  I figured I’d play the game in the spirit of the Orks and go all-out, but in hindsight, I should have been way more cautious. Orks aren’t the hardiest of creatures in the 41st millennium and I totally paid the price. Their strength is definitely in numbers and I should have preserved the few I had. I’d originally considered taking Kommandos, but I figured I’d have even fewer to play with (plus they’re finecast), so that option’s out for the time being. Next time will be different. Next time...


Olly - I think hindsight is a good thing with Kill Team, also reading the 40k Rules helps. I wrote my list with a couple of unfortunately false assumptions or at least miss conceptions. As a 40k novice I didn't fully appreciate that my Crisis Suit being infantry could only fire 1 weapon system a turn. Also that the gun drones pinning weapons wouldn't work so well against single characters (as the units are split to individuals per the Kill Team Special Rules). Having said that, it was pretty funny, blood heavy and fairly fast paced. My Team were able to take advantage of there greater numbers and avoid having to take leadership tests. They also performed rather well against the Orks (although Chaos blew up the jet). Points for me to learn from and take forward - If my fire warriors are being charged just keep moving them and don't leave your battle suit too close to the enemy, they'll just chainsword it. Also blow up Dan’s Dreadnought, it's horribly effective. I think a slightly re-written list is the way forward for next time. I need something with slightly more punch and possibly switching from a numbers game to something that can actually kill stuff…


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