Tonight was Manticore night. I planned to spend the evening finishing a heavy myrmidon for the Journeyman League tomorrow night. It was already base-coated and the weapons blended and washed. "How hard could it be?"
Fun Retribution Fact: A manticore heavy myrmidon figure sports sixty-seven metallic gems. If you ever want to become good at gems, forget Eldar: paint a manticore.
Tuesday, November 8, 2011
Friday, November 4, 2011
Journeyman, Week 3
Tonight began the third "week" of the Journeyman League, so lists bumped to twenty-five points. Mike K. and I played a nail-biter rematch of Kommander Sorscha versus Kaelyssa. Mike's list was:
Kommander Sorscha
* Juggernaut
* Destroyer
Great Bears of Gallowswood
Assault Kommandos (min+flamethrowers x2)
Widowmaker Marksman
Versus my:
Kaelyssa, Night's Whisper
* Manticore
* Chimera
* Griffon
Mage Hunter Assassin
Mage Hunter Strike Force (min+UA)
Mage Hunter Strike Force (min+UA)
We played Kill Box again, but on a regulation 4x4 table.
The Plan
Retribution's strategy was to use Kaelyssa's Backlash spell against the Khador 'jacks and then use my fourteen mage hunters, Manticore, and Kaelyssa to dink Sorscha to death, one hit at a time. It almost worked.
Early Game
The destroyer came forward, received Backlash through the chimera's arc node, took a hail of fire from two units of mage hunters, and fell back on turn two. They had taken Sorscha down about a third. This seemed to rattle the Khadorans, as they all rolled left and the destroyer fell back to get out of range. The Great Bears stayed well out of range, and the kommandos formed up in shield wall centrally within some hills. Juggernaut came forward to press the attack and cover the destroyer's retreat.
Mid Game
More Backlash, more shooting from the mage hunters, the manticore, and even Kaelyssa. The kommandos moved forward for some countering fire through the chimera and griffon into mage hunters. By now I'd lost about six. My assassin decapitated Volkov (grants Pathfinder on charge) to prevent the Bears coming across a linear obstacle, midfield. Backlash damage against the 'jacks had left Sorscha with a dramatic single box remaining. Uh oh.
Late Game
Sorscha outflanked on my left, passing the assassin, dashing through a mage hunter's threat range, and Windrushing/charging entirely behind my line and across the board to Kaelyssa, on my extreme right. An intricate dance of Khadoran power ensued, as Mike and Doug (our Press Ganger) meticulously carved a charge lane for Sorscha from my left flank. Tricks flew. Great Bears were engaged by my griffon, but used his reach range to back off and pivot so they could swing at the assassin but still backswing at the griffon. Assault kommandos fired flame templates through their own (immune) friends. It was a beautiful display of game rules mastery. By the end they had killed an assassin, formed a lane passing behind all three of my warjacks, and killed two of the three mage hunters who would have threatened free strikes. Deep breath.
Then it was Sorscha's turn. Seeing a full-focus warcaster charge twenty inches across the table never fails to impress. Naturally, the mage hunter missed his free strike (MAT 6+2 versus DEF 16, I believe). Had he hit, she would have died. Kaelyssa, at full health but with no power field stood to take it on the chin. Unfortunately, the dice were not with Mike, either, and he only scored a few points of damage. With one-health Sorscha three inches from a full-health manticore and a warcaster, Khador conceded.
Backlash... it almost worked.
 |
| Kommander Sorscha's Battlebox |
* Juggernaut
* Destroyer
Great Bears of Gallowswood
Assault Kommandos (min+flamethrowers x2)
Widowmaker Marksman
Versus my:
Kaelyssa, Night's Whisper
* Manticore
* Chimera
* Griffon
Mage Hunter Assassin
Mage Hunter Strike Force (min+UA)
Mage Hunter Strike Force (min+UA)
We played Kill Box again, but on a regulation 4x4 table.
The Plan
Retribution's strategy was to use Kaelyssa's Backlash spell against the Khador 'jacks and then use my fourteen mage hunters, Manticore, and Kaelyssa to dink Sorscha to death, one hit at a time. It almost worked.
Early Game
The destroyer came forward, received Backlash through the chimera's arc node, took a hail of fire from two units of mage hunters, and fell back on turn two. They had taken Sorscha down about a third. This seemed to rattle the Khadorans, as they all rolled left and the destroyer fell back to get out of range. The Great Bears stayed well out of range, and the kommandos formed up in shield wall centrally within some hills. Juggernaut came forward to press the attack and cover the destroyer's retreat.
Mid Game
More Backlash, more shooting from the mage hunters, the manticore, and even Kaelyssa. The kommandos moved forward for some countering fire through the chimera and griffon into mage hunters. By now I'd lost about six. My assassin decapitated Volkov (grants Pathfinder on charge) to prevent the Bears coming across a linear obstacle, midfield. Backlash damage against the 'jacks had left Sorscha with a dramatic single box remaining. Uh oh.
Late Game
Sorscha outflanked on my left, passing the assassin, dashing through a mage hunter's threat range, and Windrushing/charging entirely behind my line and across the board to Kaelyssa, on my extreme right. An intricate dance of Khadoran power ensued, as Mike and Doug (our Press Ganger) meticulously carved a charge lane for Sorscha from my left flank. Tricks flew. Great Bears were engaged by my griffon, but used his reach range to back off and pivot so they could swing at the assassin but still backswing at the griffon. Assault kommandos fired flame templates through their own (immune) friends. It was a beautiful display of game rules mastery. By the end they had killed an assassin, formed a lane passing behind all three of my warjacks, and killed two of the three mage hunters who would have threatened free strikes. Deep breath.
Then it was Sorscha's turn. Seeing a full-focus warcaster charge twenty inches across the table never fails to impress. Naturally, the mage hunter missed his free strike (MAT 6+2 versus DEF 16, I believe). Had he hit, she would have died. Kaelyssa, at full health but with no power field stood to take it on the chin. Unfortunately, the dice were not with Mike, either, and he only scored a few points of damage. With one-health Sorscha three inches from a full-health manticore and a warcaster, Khador conceded.
Backlash... it almost worked.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Paintmachine
Mmm, new brushes. Niiice brushes. Every painting tutorial I've watched speaks highly of the natural-hair Kolinsky brushes. Art Supply Warehouse conveniently carries these at a reasonable price. These should help control the thinned paints and allow me to start on the gems and eyes.
Nearly the entire army is primed. Here are the solos and halberdiers drying between coats. I found that putting six to ten guys on one paint stick allowed me to go pretty quickly and waste very little primer.
 |
| Only the Finest Sable |
Nearly the entire army is primed. Here are the solos and halberdiers drying between coats. I found that putting six to ten guys on one paint stick allowed me to go pretty quickly and waste very little primer.
 |
| Priming the troops |
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Warcaster/Warlock Names
In preparation for the upcoming Domination book and the arrival of "double-epic" warlocks, I've converted the site to the official naming scheme. Warcasters and warlocks are referenced by their full name where appropriate. Tags use the indexed suffix form like "Ravyn2" – hey, a guy can hope!
Into Every Life a Little Paint Must Fall
Out club has recently taken up a Journeyman League, which is a slow-growth Battle-box based painting and playing hybrid league. It's a peer pressure perfect opportunity for beginners to get into the hobby and for pewter-pushing generals to get some paint on the board.
Years and years ago I used to paint – mostly 1:72 scale aircraft models, but also model rockets and some BattleTech miniatures. Over three years in this hobby and I haven't once put brush to mini. My excuses seemed reasonable: small children in the house don't mix with mineral spirits and paint thinner and I'd prefer to spend unallocated with the kids. But, social competition is compelling, so I did some research. And – Great googly moogly! The paints are acrylic now! No more bowls of liquid petroleum. And, frankly, I'm tired of being that guy.
Years and years ago I used to paint – mostly 1:72 scale aircraft models, but also model rockets and some BattleTech miniatures. Over three years in this hobby and I haven't once put brush to mini. My excuses seemed reasonable: small children in the house don't mix with mineral spirits and paint thinner and I'd prefer to spend unallocated with the kids. But, social competition is compelling, so I did some research. And – Great googly moogly! The paints are acrylic now! No more bowls of liquid petroleum. And, frankly, I'm tired of being that guy.
Saturday, September 10, 2011
Steamroller, Round 1
First mission was Destruction, where each army must destroy two 50mm twenty damage bases. Lost a quick game to Steve's Thagrosh the Messiah list, which stormed the objectives faster than I could handle.
Thagrosh the Messiah
- Scythean
- Carnivean
- Raek
Spawning Vessel (full)
Blighted Nyss Legionnaires (full)
Thagrosh the Messiah
- Scythean
- Carnivean
- Raek
Spawning Vessel (full)
Blighted Nyss Legionnaires (full)
Tournament Preparation
9:45. The crew has been chugging away this morning. We have seven tables ready to go.
Trophies are here, too.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)