Archive for April, 2008

Hellstrike Missiles Needed

Wednesday April 16 2008 Lousy Shrimp Tacos

40K Radio Coverage

Overheard in a Battle Barge Bathroom…

SM1: Gruuuuunge! Emperor’s Balls! Why couldn’t they have given me a genetically enhanced colon?

SM2: What, you didn’t get one?

(Well, Renn and I thought it was pretty funny…)

Rumors of Wars

News from http://www.warseer.com/

[Note: this is a rumor roundup from various other sources. I am still working my way through an inbox, so bear with me if you’re waiting for a response. I should be caught up by tomorrow.]

Hi guys

I’m new to the site but I thought what better way to start by announcing the new SW codex is on its way for sure!

I know I’m new here but I’ve been posting on the Ex-Libris board (Blood Angels) for years and also on a few other sites too.

I work for GW (I know, I know but this is seriously genuine), we’ve had our plans for the rest of the year given to us and it go’s a little like this…
May- WFB and 40K Deamon release
June- LotR release (Mordor) and Hordes of Chaos White Dwarf update
July- 40K 5th edition release
August- WFB Hordes of Chaos army book release
September- 40k Marines release
October- 40k replacement for ‘Battle for Macragge’ release (Marines v Orks)
November- WFB Dark Elves release
December- 40k SPACE WOLVES codex release!!! This is a FULL codex release not a Blood Angels style White Dwarf update. However, no details have been revealed on it’s contents or on the models- so anything you hear/see in that department is just rumour at the moment.

That said, things are subject to change; as was the case for the ‘Planet Strike’ release, which has been pushed back to next year to allow the team time to sort out the new plastic Thunderhawk (yes, that’s correct; a new plastic Thunderhawk!!). Also the Guard were supposed to be done in the last quarter of this year but they will now be early 2009 instead.

Fingers crossed that the above releases stay true and the Wolves get a shiny new Codex by Christmas 2008!!

However, just because there’s a new release doesn’t mean it will all be good news… I just hope the Wolves don’t get “Blood Angel’d” and lose their character to turn into a standard chapter, as my beloved BA did.

New on the Chaos Daemons,taken from the Fog of War forum(that was taken from the Daemons forum???!!!)

Ok gang, I’ll try to put down as much as I can remember.

Army Special rules:

army set up: You split your army into halves as close to equal as possible. At this point you must declare if characters are joining units in deepstrike or deepstrike as a lone unit.

You then choose which part of your army to come in first. This half will arrive via the deep strike rules, while the rest remain in reserves. You then pray to the Chaos Gods, represented by rolling a D6. On a 3+, the Gods agree, and the part you choose arrives on the first turn. on a 1 or 2, the Gods decide you are wrong and you must have the other half arrive.

All saves are treated as invulnerable, unless the demons have an armor save above and beyond whats listed in their entry. (IE, Iron Hide=3+ armor save)

All Demons are considered Eternal Warriors, and are immune to the Instant Death rule.

All Demons are Fearless

Heralds marked by one God cannot join units with the mark of another God.

HQ choices: 15 choices! A named greater demon for each God, and a named Herald. Heralds are a 2 for one HQ choice. This means you could have up to 4 Heralds.

Skulltaker, AKA U’zuhl. This guy will become the most hated model in 40k. All hits count as rending, but on a 4+. Any attacks that rend cause Instant Death. He can also be mounted on a chariot or Juggernaught, improving his strength and toughness.

Also, He is WS 7 (IIRC) and 4 attacks with Furious Charge.

Bloodthirster: WS 10, Strength 7 with Furious Charge.

Keeper of Secrets: Fleet! Initiative 10, Hit and Run.

Great Unclean Ones: T 6, 6 Wounds, Slow and Purposeful, Feel No Pain.

Lord of Change: Can’t remember a lot; very tricksy I remember.

Ku’gath the Plague Father: Has a range 24 inch, large blast poisoned ORDINANCE weapon, with AP 2

Skarbrand: Got so pissed he took a swing at Khorne himself. Khorne threw him for 4 days and a night after a vicious pummeling, and left his wings in tatters. Any unit, friend or foe, within 24 inches of him must re-roll any failed to hit rolls.

Epidemius makes Nurgle units better as the death-toll rises. 0-4, no effect. 5-7, poison works on 3+ instead of 4+. 8-14 can’t remember. 15-20, Feel No Pain is increased to 3+.

The Masque of Slaanesh: Has an ability called the Pavane of Slaanesh. IIRC, its a Lash of Submission ability that is more tightly worded. But she/he/it can use it 3 times at 3 different units.

Bluescribes: Don’t remember. Sorry gang.

Elites
Bloodcrushers: Obscene. Your opponent will be picking up units left and right if they get hit with these guys.

Beasts of Nurgle: Feel no pain, Slow and Purposeful, ignorantly tough and really hard to kill.

Flamers of Tzeentch: Didn’t study them too closely.

Troops
General note: most units can have full command group. Icons can have units summoned to them, and not scatter as long as they are no more than 6 inches from them.

Instruments of Chaos: Can be bought for a character and most units. If combat is drawn, then you count as having won combat by 1 wound.

Bloodletters: WS 5, S 4, T 4, I 4, W 1, with Hellblades (Power Weapons) and furious charge. Has option to buy a command group.

Demonettes: can’t remember a whole lot. Command group, each model has 3 attacks each, with rending, fleet.

Plaguebearers: T5, Feel No Pain, Slow and Purposeful. Poisoned attacks. Not great, but they aren’t going ANYWHERE for a really long time.

Horrors: 18 inch, S 4, AP 4, Assault 3 shooting attacks, with I think the option to buy a Bolt of Change (S 8, AP 1 Assault 1).

Fast Attack
Seekers of Slaanesh: Cavalry models, 3 rending attacks each.

Flesh hounds: Move as beasts, very killy. Karanak is a brute in combat.

Screamers: Move as jetbikes. Garbage in combat with anything other than tanks. Why? Because they count as having Melta Bombs.

Heavy Support

Soul Grinder. Front and side armor 13, rear 11. Ignores shaken and stunned results. It is Fleet. It has 4 attacks at WS 3 and BS 3. Weighs in at 135. Has Harvester guns and a Mawcannon. You can upgrade the Mawcannon to fire a stronger shot, or an ordinance blast. You can buy both upgrades, and use any of the three profiles.

Demon Prince: same as in the Chaos Marine codex, but 80 points and no power Armor. They may have wings, and depending what marks of chaos you give it, access to different demonic gifts. Most flexible entry in the list.

Hope that helps. I’ll go back and edit the more I read and retain.

———————————————————————————————————–

Ok, looked a little harder at the book, and Furies are Fast Attack choices.

All the Tzeentch stuff is dakka as all Hell. Flamers are insanity; Jump infantry with Breath of Chaos and Warp Fire. You can buy one a S 8 Ap1 Bolt of Change. They are elites.

Units like Tau and anything good in combat with a low save is going to absolutly hate Warp Fire. Harlequins, Banshees, Death Cult Assassins: I’m looking at you.

Something else I noticed: If you have a unit that can take a special character upgrade, take it. For example, the changeling is a 5pt addition. His glamour of Tzeentch is a pretty impressive ability.

Basically, you target and enemy unit. That unit takes a leadership check (vehicles counting as LD 10). If the unit fails, then they shoot at the closest friendly unit. If they pass, they stand around confused, unable to fire.

We Are Legion, a Tzeentch ability is amazing. The Herald can shoot two weapons, not the same one twice, at two different units, even if it is in a unit. The unit may fire independently, and the Herald’s fire doesn’t affect who they can assault after firing.

Karanak grants Move Through Cover, and is impressively deadly unit upgrade for Flesh Hounds.

Seekers of Slaanesh are very impressive; incredibly fast and lethal with the sheer amount of rending attacks that the can throw out, but delicate at the same time. If you intend to charge someone, make sure they’re nice and softened before you them in.

There´s also some pics from the new Warmachine figs from Privateer,taked from their site…

-Warrior, sorcerer, and zealous follower of the Dragonfather, Darragh Wrathe ruthlessly commands Cryxian troops in the subjugation of the mainland. The howling of his countless victims follows the passage of Wrathe’s hell-wrought iron steed as this necro-mechanikal horror rides to battle. He savors slaying the living whether by the razor edge of his scythe or a sudden eruption of spectral fire.

Darragh Wrathe comes in a box (PIP 34058). A player may field one Darragh Wrathe in his Cryx army.

Darragh Wrathe is featured in WARMACHINE: Legends, the next expansion to WARMACHINE, which releases this summer. Get a preview of Darragh Wrathe in No Quarter #18 this May. Darragh Wrathe arrives this June.

-The Horgenhold Forge Guard enter battle in superlative Rhulic armor, form an impervious line, and deliver blows capable of toppling warjacks with their massive, piston-driven hammers. Though the dwarves remain officially neutral in the southern wars of men, the Forge Guard hire out as mercenaries and bring the power of raw, blunt destruction to the battlefield.

Horgenhold Forge Guard comes in a box (PIP 41067). A player may add up to two blisters (PIP 41068) for a total of ten models and field two units of Horgenhold Forge Guard for each warcaster in his army. Horgenhold Forge Guard will not work for Cryx or Khador.

The Horgenhold Forge Guard is featured in WARMACHINE: Legends, the next expansion to WARMACHINE, which releases this summer. Get a preview of the Horgenhold Forge Guard in No Quarter #18 this May. The Horgenhold Forge Guard arrives this July.

(there was no text to Orin-Midwinter)

Adepticon Notes

www.adepticon.org

For those just joining the program, Adepticon is a major Warhammer 40K and Fantasy convention in Chicago every Spring.

Saturday I set up our modest booth, just around 100 figures. So, that was about a tenth as much as last year. A lot less hassle and it left me free to move around and admire other people’s work and get to know both clients and fellow professionals.

I met Steve from Armorcast, he’s the new owner and he told me all about the illustrious history of that company. They make a great product. Way back when, they had the license to make the oversize GW models. That was before Forge World was created.

Speaking of Forge World, I now have a complete set of Imperial Armor books and I must say that’s the crown jewel of my library. Very nice. Oh, and I finally picked up a copy of the Apocalypse book by FW. That’s a really good use of money.

The highlight of the convention for me was the two interviews I did with 40K radio. Those two guys (Spencer and Phil) are really, really cool. They are genuine and easy-going. I’m now a 40K radio believer!

However, I did feel a bit sheepish about some of the off-the-cuff remarks during the interviews. I got to thinking about that afterwards. If you know me, you know that I ramble and say inappropriate things. I’ve been working on curbing that. But anyway, my thought currently is “Hey, that’s how I am so like it or leave it.” But at the same time I have toned it down a bit. I really to hope I don’t offend anyone.

If you want to hear the interviews, look for the April 12, 2008 entries on http://www.40kradio.com/

What else? We provided a huge display board and a 4,000 point army for the tournament organizers, Greg Sparks and the “Glance in the Pants” team.

I also had a client come up and point out that we forgot his order (an Eldar Avatar) for the convention. I was absolutely mortified. So, I think I need to change my policy to “no rush orders”. I really try to make it happen for everyone, but it almost never ends well. There’s too much that can go wrong with something as delicate as creating an army. Hmmm… Or I could streamline the process and make it happen without a flaw.

The main thing I have going for me in life is Blind Persistence.

I also spent some time with Matt Sabol (the army transport guy). He puts out a great product. He’s been trying to discontinue the top-loading Battalion transport in favor of the multiple column Division type transport. I think the latter is a LOT better.

Ayup, I met a lot of great people. I am very excited. I’m really glad we went. I wish I would have spent more time over with Gale Force Nine.

Tamie and I went to downtown Chicago for some steak. That was quite an adventure. Downtown Chicago is really cool. I was impressed with how clean it was; gusting and raining. But what’s with all the honking? We were looking around each time someone sounded the horn. Now I know what a deer feels like when it wanders into a city. It was like a different plane of reality, crowded with well-heeled Chicago-ites out on the town on a Saturday night; the streets like multi-colored tunnels.

From the plane, downtown Chicago was like a brooding cluster of dark towers on the edge of a sullen sea, but once you’re down there it’s like a black-marble and neon palace. We got back late and just hung out in the hotel room. It was a good night’s sleep.

Sunday morning, I just wandered around a little bit, said our goodbyes and headed out to the airport. We are now at an airport restaurant just hanging out for three hours.

Saturday April 12 2008 Adepticon Main Course

I’m not going to write a lot because I took about a half hour of video clips. Here’s the first one:

I’m going out on the town with the missus, so I’ll let you know how that went. I’ve had a blast at Adepticon. We kept it a LOT more low key this year and that actually helped me meet people and see the sights better.

I have let my Inbox get pretty huge. I apologize for the delay. Bear with me and I’ll get back to you.

Thursday April 10 2008 Adepticon Eve

Picture: a converted daemonic horror from 2003 when I was still taking pics on my back porch. This army used the Daemonic Legion list from “Storm of Chaos”. See the others here. Theres a lot of crazy stuff on the BTP website if you look at it. I think it would take like two months to look at it all.

Here’s the deal, I was insanely busy today running up to Adepticon and so I must apologize for being unresponsive. I will keep you posted as Adepticon unfolds. I plan on shooting a lot of video.

I will be arriving at Adepticon (if anyone cares) between 3pm and 5pm.

Check out this Eldar Attack Ship that we scratch built. This is my first foray into “Terrain as Model” and I think it turned out well.

Renn will be in charge of the studio while I am gone. All the projects are checked out to the painters so everything is underway.

I am currently booking projects for May.

Come Crawling Back to your True Master

Wednesday April 9 2008 Yawn

Picture: an ooooold Ral Partha Balrog type thing. This was a really special project, about twenty pounds of old lead figures. See the other fifty! I mean it, do it now.

Oh, man it’s pedal to the metal down at the studio. I’m not kidding around.

I’m working on a super-secret project for Adepticon. You can expect some reports from the front over the weekend. My wife and I are leaving bright and early on Friday morning.

Tomorrow I’ll be packing up for Adepticon. I’m not bringing as much stuff as last year, that was too much.

Yawn. It was a really slow news day.

So, would you like to know all the boring details? OK, here they come. Because of my rather oddball schedule (I’m usually up until about midnight taking care of business and webwork BUT I get to take enormous breaks during the day for family) the whole family doesn’t really get up in the morning. So, Kenna is chronically late to school which is bad, but really the Gatelys march to their own drummer; we don’t have any alarm clocks set in the house.

Anyway, it was just Kenna and I getting ready for school and work this morning. I love my “new” car. It has heat and a radio which is awesome. I can’t believe I endured that tin can for a year and a half. But no complaints, we have it all right here in the USA.

I went by the Post Office because I think I left some papers there, but they hadn’t found them. When I got in there were two people there all ready to work on Assembly. I’ve brought on a guy for the week to pick up the slack. He’s a Warhammer Fantasy buff and knows his stuff.

About noon I headed to the gas station store and picked up a cheap pepperoni pizza which I washed down with some Fresca. The going joke is, “We’ve got yak piss and fresca… ewwww! I’ll take the yak piss.” But I like Fresca. Freezing cold with a ton of ice. Oh, and a roll of Neccos. Those things are like a sugar grenade in your system. I could easily eat four rolls in a single sitting, which is why I swore all the gals down at Combos to never sell me more than one roll.

I spent some time in the terrain room.

Then I got a call from the school from my kids asking to get picked up. I was a late and they had already started walking home. They were ticked… and cold. Poor guys. I had to explain that I can’t always pack it up to come give them a ride; I had an artist in for a pickup (Winter Elves 02 DB). We headed out to run some errands, stopping by McDonalds for some happy meals.

Anyway, I should have gone back to the studio to pull a late shift, but I just went home. There was a talk from Conference about spending more time with family and that really struck a chord with me (by M. Russel Ballard). So, I pretty much dropped everything and hung out with the family all afternoon.

The following projects are under the brush now and should be done in 6-12 days depending on project size.

Some will be done sooner. There are a few projects slated for immediate completion.

Winter Elves 02 DB +display (the first part is done!)
Trollbloods 02 CS
Legion 02 DM
Empire 03 AS
High Elves 04 DL rush
Firebloods 01 TC
Wargods 01 TP
Tau 03 MN
Emperors Children 05 EB
Cygnar 01 LS
Black Templars 01 AS
Cadwallon 03 JE
Vampire Counts 01 PH
Giants 01 RS
Empire Wizard DG rush
Chaos 01 EH adepticon
Dwarfs 01 TD
KODT 01 AK

The following projects are in Assembly
Vampire Counts 01 AS
Biel Tan 02 AS
Emperors Children 05 EB
Terrain AL
Marauder Destroyer 01 GF
High Elves 04 DL rush
Tau 02 NH
Various Figures 05 GM

As usual, if you don’t see your project and you’re wondering what’s going on , just drop me a line. I’m always available for you.

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