An suddenly was he waylaid. With figures.

So while it continues to snow outside and our flat is currently occupied by my girlfriends costume projects, I am left to reflect on the current situation.

Recently I did a massive repair and upgrade job on my Mech infantry, taking them from mechanised infantry platoons to plasma and melta heavy veteren squads. I even went as far as to convert two extra Chimera into Chimadons, counting as Leman Russ.

Working up the points tally, I realised to my delight, that if I included the lamented Baneblade, I could hit 4000pts for the force with only an Eviserator wielding priest! This priest, like the rest of the army, would have to be slightly Mechanicus themed however.

After that?

Well, here comes the issues. This is what my paint/assembly line looks like:

Repairing the 50 man sapper platoon for my next guard list, the infantry company. Because the parts are now inordinately expensive, making more would be commiting economic suicide. So a platoon is all I will get out of this heavily converted "poor mans" Kreig. Retouch a few figures, assemble and paint the converted "missle launcher" cannons and add squad and platoon markings.
Sorted.

Next?

Well whilst on holiday, I managed to acquire a horde of sister of battle. Unsatisfied with the norm, I wanted to make them a bit more of a painting project. Thinking steampunk at the moment, all browns and bronzes hinted by maybe green. Very unusual. Currently Im gathering possible conversion bits while planning the first 500pts.
Easy does it. I have after all nearly 2000pts here, maybe more, including over a hundred troops.

Sheesh.

Other plans?

• How about 3 leman russ battle tanks (one already assembled)
• King Tiger conversion (half built)
• 30 Rough rider conversions to start,
• Cheap Whippet 1/35 into Malcador varients project,

Whippet/Malcador project idea
Check it out!

• British troops for the amazing Rules of Engagement system for the cabinet at Outlant,
• A necromunda gang,
• An Assasins creed Mordheim warband,
• The first of many rifle platoons using the Westwind british rebreather head and stuff,
• A battlefleet gothic set (two fleets)

Needless to say this is what I can remember. But starting next week the great crusade will begin.

Pics soon.

4000pts Apocolypse Army

Army List 3000pts

HQ: -
Command HQ: 50pts Colonel Straken + 95pts Carapce Armour +20pts Medic + 30pts Meltagun + 10pts Missile Launcher + 15pts Master of the Ordenance + 30pts = 250pts

Chimera: 55pts

Elites: -
Storm Troopers: 85pts Reinforced by 5pts = + 80 Plasmagun + 15pts Meltagun + 10pts Plasma Pistol + 10 = 200pts

Storm Troopers: 85pts Reinforced by 5pts = + 80 Plasmagun + 15pts Meltagun + 10pts = 190pts

Ratlings: 30pts Reinforce by 7 = +70pts = 100pts

Techpriest: 45 Melta Bombs + 5pts = 50pts

Techpriest: 45 Melta Bombs + 5pts = 50pts

Ministorum Priest: 35 Eviseratgor + 15pts = 50pts


Troops: -
Veteren Squad (Red Low): 70pts Carapace + 30 x3 Plasma = + 45pts Lascannon + 20pts = 165pts

Veteren Squad (Red Mid): 70pts Carapace + 30 x2 Plasma = + 30pts x1 Melta + 10pts Lascannon + 20pts =160pts

Veteren Squad (Red High): 70pts Carapace + 30 x2 Plasma = + 30pts x1 Melta + 10pts Lascannon + 20pts = 160pts

Veteren Squad (Blue Low): 70pts Carapace + 30 x3 Plasma = + 45pts Missle Launcher + 15pts = 160pts

Veteren Squad (Blue Mid): 70pts Carapace + 30 x2 Plasma = + 30pts x1 Melta + 10pts Lascannon + 20pts = 160pts

Veteren Squad (Blue High): 70pts Carapace + 30 x3 Plasma = + 45pts Missle Launcher + 15pts = 160pts

Chimera x6 = 330pts Dozer Blade + 10pts Heavy Stubber + 10pts = 350pts

Veteren Squad (Drop Troop): 70pts Carapace + 30 x3 Meltagun = + 30pts Power Weapon + 10pts = 140pts


Fast Attack: -
Valkyrie: 100pts Lascannon + 15pts = 115pts

Rough Riders: 55pts Reinforce by 5 = + 50pts Power Weapon + 10pts Melta Bomb + 5pts = 120pts

Armoured Sentinel Squadron x3: 165pts x3 Lascannons + 45pts = 210pts

Hellhound: 130pts


Heavy Support: -
Leman Russ Demolisher: 165pts Heavy Bolter Sponsons +20pts Dozer Blade + 10pts = 195pts

Leman Russ (Chimadon): 150pts Lascannon + 15pts = 165pts

Leman Russ (Chimadon): 150pts Lascannon +15pts = 165pts

Apocolypse Supprt:
Bane Blade «Thor»: 500pts

Total: 4000pts

Say hi to the brothers Chim.

What Price Victory - An Apocolpyse Campaign, that hurts. March 26th/27th

Okay peeps. This is it. This is the game plan.

Brief:

What Price Victory will be set across a whole weekend and will contain two new concepts that will eliminate the issues of the previous game. Firstly only part of the board will be used in the first day as players aim to seize a jumping point into their ultimate objective. Also, players must be wary, as if their armies units are annihilated, they will be removed from their army list. Only by claiming those objectives and petitioning their supreme commander can they get resources to replace troops and tanks etc.

Players will be assembled into equal teams and amongst themselves, they will assign an overall Supreme Commander. Before the game actually starts, the teams will get familiar with the over-sized board and negotiating with the commander, will set their own objectives to seize by the end of day one.

If these objectives are taken, the side not only gets resources to replace destroyed units, but also a greater deployment zone for the next day. Objectives set to far will not be reached, threatening the whole operation. Too close and your forces will not have enough time to fulfill their main objective.

Timetable.

Day One

• 10.30 - Gathering and team setting.
• 11.00 -
  
• 12.00 - Game start.
• 5.00 - Game End.
  

Day Two.

• 11.30 - Gathering.
• 12.00 - Game Start.
• 5.00 - Game End.

What you will need to play.

• A fully written Army list (preferably two copies, printed from the PC): 1500pts/3000pts chosen without force organization chart but all from same Codex, 0-1 Superheavy/Supermonsterous creature. Apoc formations allowed.
• A fully painted army (based and with at least 3 colours). Photos will be taken!
• Superglue/Plastic Glue.
• Rations/Foodstuffs (read: food and drink).

Things to think about when selecting your army.

• Take a look at the notable special rules used in this weekend game! They may make the difference!
• If your army has a special field, e.g. deep striking or mechanized Infantry, you will be more involved in the overall battle plan!
• Time! Hordes are great fun and look amazing, but think about the time it takes to move all 150 guardsmen each turn. Ask yourself, do I need a spade?
• Stratagem Cards will be used.
  

Notable Special Rules and conditions:

Hell's Highway.

Running across the board is a road, designed to support all manner of heavy vehicles. As described in the Apocalypse rules, this road confers an additional 6" for any non skimmer vehicles and bikes and traveling on it. This does not affect the rules for shooting.

Objectives.

Although each side will be given an overall objective for the game, each Supreme Commander must place 3 sub objectives on the first day. These objectives may be placed anywhere on the board except for the following:

• Objectives may not be placed within 24" of the deployment edges.
  
• These objectives may not be within 24" of another objective, friend or foe.

These objectives may only be claimed by Infantry/Bike units with over 50" of its original fighting strength (at the beginning of that battle) within 6". If contested these objectives are lost to both sides, meaning that a serious attempt must be made to clear the area.

On Day 2, these objectives allow :

• Units may deploy within 24” of any held objective in addition to their original deployment zone. However, this may not place units within 24” of an enemy unit (18” if the unit has the Infiltrator special rule).
• They also gift the Supreme Commander with points to resupply Commanders with replacements for lost units (see below).

So, hopefully, the first day shall see vital objectives taken, and give the attacking side the time and room to assault the main objective!

Casualties of War.

During the first days battle, any unit completely annihilated is removed from that players army list. Unless replaced buy supplies given by the Supreme Commander, this unit cannot be used in the next days battle!

• Infantry units completely destroyed are removed.
  
• Units reduced below half strength, start the next game at half strength. The player may choose which models are used, representing the redistribution of equipment and field promotions.
• Vehicles wrecked or destroyed are removed from the army list. Damaged vehicles are repaired.
• Creatures with multiple wounds have all their wounds returned unless they have been slain.
• Units held in reserve and not used may be used without issue on Day 2. They've just arrived late!
  

Resources and supplies.

Each captured objective at the end of the first day will give the Supreme Commander 300pts each to give to his Commanders.

These points can be used to "buy back" lost units and replenished "Mauled" units back to full strength by paying for half the total unit cost.

However, these points can only buy back these units and cannot be used to buy new units or likewise go over the original points total of the army list.

If miraculously, you have points to spare, you may use these points to buy an extra Stratagem Card for 300pts each.

NB: All unforeseen problems and issues will be settled by one of the Arbiters on site. They're word is final. Unless they disagree with each other. In which case, a dance off will ensue.

Finding the good APOCOLYPSE GAME!!!

Recently, down at the local gaming club and store Outland, we decided to have us a rather large game. Inspired by WW1 tactics, the game was a slant on the normal Apocolypse rules. The idea was that the attacking side had to move down a long edged board, through trench defenses and the enemy, but also take an hold a chain of objectives. The attackers were aided in being the only side able to deep strike, and encouraged to take a "Market Garden" approach.

Over all the game was loose, fun and for the most part, highlighted what makes APocolypse a great varient on a great game.

However, the first game (can we call this a prototype?), also highlighted problems.

Christars Law
The first was the points allowance. In an effort to assemble reasonable sides, one man Christian, was left with his entire Tyranid horse of next to 8000points, to play on his own. Exciting, but ultimately far to hard for one man. Especially when the other side contained more players each demanding his time.

Einsteins Law
The second was time and space. It was so silly to forget that in a 6 turn Apoc game, infantry will only ever get around 6" X 6 turns = 36", assuming there is nothing in the way.

As you can see. That was never going to happen. Between this, the Christars issue and the torrent of deepstrikers, the game got about two maybe three turns.

Unacceptable.

So what can we learn from this? What can we do? Well, inspired to continue pursuing the good game, I've decided to play a series of Apoc games, exploring exactly that. What can we do against this age old problem? What planning is required to make an exciting game that:

Allows all players an equal chance,
Allows for heroic actions and tense situations,
Allows for tactical decisions that go beyond simply lucky dice,
And that really captures massive battles?

Firstly, right after the battle, the organisers got together with the players that had the biggest sides to confer. We came up with the following issues and possible solutions:

Christars Law:
Any players that wish to be involved may have no more than 3000pts including up to one super heavy or legendary unit. Or 1500pts and the same.

Einsteins Law:
Consideration must be made to the mobility of units in the game's time span. Things such as tunnels, roads and available deep striking must be though on.


For the next game?
The next game, is planned to be inspired by Operation Market garden. Now I've been hesitant about this for a while, because I didnt want a repeat of the last games faults and if I'm honest, Operation Market Garden actually failed due to similar mistakes in the real world!
Then, one evening, I was playing a rather good computer game call Company of Heroes...

Captured Objectives as future deployment "zones", loose objectives based on "Intel" and a whole weekends worth of Apocolypse.
More soon.

And how am I preparing for the next game?
Well... among other things...



Hehehhe