We have all done it, snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Losing a game of 40k is much easier than it would appear, basic mistakes can ultimately ensure your armies demise before it even has a chance. Without further delay, our list of things that will assuredly lose you a game. Oh, and some neat Etsy items I found online (powerfist here). In no particular order.
Purity Seals on Etsy
1. Forgetting the objectives (Purity Seals)
I can’t tell you how many times I have lost a game because I forgot to get the relic. The damn relic. It’s one objective, it sits there in the middle, and it’s basically a race to see who gets it first. From there I either have it, or I don’t. If I have it then I spend the rest of the game trying to hold and protect it like it’s the precious or I forget the thing exists and just try to kill everything I can. The ladder almost always ending in defeat.
So, yes there is the basic example of not forgetting the objectives- but it goes deeper than that. Don’t forget about the three side objectives. Always try to get First Blood, that one point is so very easy to get, yet so very important because it’s a point only one person can get. That makes it almost a two point swing and can make the difference in a lot of games.
Sisters of Battle Armor
2. Bad listing or allowing bad listing habits (Battle Armor)
There are list-manics out there, people who stay up for hours and hours debating and scheming (on DakkaDakka particularly) on list building. I am not one of those people. Three reasons. One I don’t have the energy to put in some of the hard math those people are doing. Two, I think it’s important to remember that it’s a game and you should play with the models / fluff you like. Three, and most importantly, people often forget local meta when creating lists. Recognizing what the meta is like in your area is so very important for list building. Out where I am, I just don’t see that many Grey Knights / Terminator / elite heavy armies, I just don’t. I couldn’t tell you why but that’s just the way people play the game out here. So why spend all those points in elite killers when I actually see a lot more troop based armies? I don’t.
So yes, list building is important. Yet there is something else that all fresh-players face, a hidden enemy that veteran players (usually unknowingly) take advantage of. That enemy is list-tailoring. Don’t roll your eyes, list-tailoring makes all the difference in the world. Personally I think GW needs to create a list approving method like the geniuses over at INFINITY have, but until they do just make sure you and your opponent are keeping everything above board and honest.
Ultramarine Tattoo for Warhammer 40k
3. Not knowing the rules (tattoo)
This one, you would think, should be a no-brainer. Know the rules, know your rules, but also importantly- know the opponents rules. Now you don’t have to go out and buy or read all the army books in existence, but having a general gist of how every army works is important. I recommend reading the stratagems on 1d4 chan. If all else fails, just ask about your opponents army before the game starts- ask if there are any important special rules you should be aware of. Most people will actually be excited by the opportunity to talk about their own boy’os.
Imperial Eagle Aquila Space Marine for Warhammer 40k
4. Too Drunk To Play Not focusing on tactics and army strengths (Imperial Eagle)
Classic example- the Dark Eldar release is upon us and my brother buys the battleforce. After years and years and years of playing Orcs he wanted something knew and once he saw the refreshed aesthetic of the new DE he was in. A month after bringing the kit home- they were listed on Ebay. He still loved the aesthetic, loved painting them (he is a damn good painter too) but the play style was all wrong for him. For weeks he tried to play his new shiny toys like his Orcs. Time and again it failed, the problem was he wasn’t committed of focused enough to play the Dark Eldar in a completely different way. Know your army’s strengths.
Okay guys, there you have it. Now if you excuse me, a few more Etsy items. 1 2 3 4 5 6
