Onwards!!

I might have mentioned lately that I found myself with too many Chimeras. Well, I made a promise, and here they are.



So far, i've just mofied the turret ring and done up some Old Crow Crossfire turrets that I ordered with bits from my box. The turrets resin quality is amazing, with a realistic shape that I really wanted. I was even tempted to replace the Leman Russ turret, but maybe another time.
Shifting the justification of the turret was a little difficult, but mainly because the necessery pin vice was broken, so a bit of manual drilling was required, with a blunt bit. Could only do enough for one before my fingers gave way. Oh well. I need a hobby drill it seems.

The plan now is to finish the turrets, fixing some antenna, cutting out a scratch built gun shield for the 2nd one. Then Im on to modifying the top back and sides so it looks a little more armoured then AV10. Thinking plasticard spaced armour, Zimmerit, more plates, ablative. We shall see. In the meanwhile, I got myself another battle force. I still dont like the Cadien or the Catachan heads, but I may of got an idea...

:D:D:D

Doubles Tournament! OUTLAND 2010.

At Outland, last week, was a little doubles tournament I was fortunate to enter. Myself and my usual nemesis Rory decided to put our differences (usually the average statline) aside and team up for the betterment of the Imperium. 500pts each, special rules which for some delightful reason allowed for ordenance. Well, I was never a stipler for the rules!



Taking a healthy platoon of infantry, tons of flamers, a special squad sporting a demolition charge and a basalisk, I was set. Rory, supplamented this with Tactical squad, an Assualt squad and Smily himself!



First game saw us playing Dawn of War conditions with around 6 objectives. Our opponents were two very rulesy blokes with Space Marines and Khorne Chaos Marines. Suprisingly it was the bad luck that got us, the bad cover movement, the loss of the basalisk in the second turn, all further compounded by two very profesional tournament players (if not they should have been.). Bitter? Yeah, but we lost, so I get to be. :D

The second game saw us up against another odd match up. Tyranids and Space Marines. Very nicely painted, the two brothers were great fun to play against, especially as me and Rory were ready for them. Having been blooded in the last game, we used every tactic we could muster. Playing a simple Conquer and Control with a Pitched Battle, it was our objective and theirs. Between the Basalisk (Which never seemed to miss from this point onwards), and the suprisingly effective demo charge, the space marine thrust along the right flank was obliterated.


Though while one surviving assualt marine managed to destroy nearly twenty guardsmen by himself, he was finally brought low by flanking drill fire from the surviving two squads. Meanwhile, Rory supported the centre, and had his assualt nutters charge straight onto the left and contest their objective making it a neat light victory.

Finally, for the last match, we had the best match of all. Orks and Tyranids. Now to be fair, my force was designed to take down horde armies, as displayed in some of the picture. Between this fact and the fact that the Tyranid player had limited choices in his army (he had been asked to even the numbers last minute) it was a one sided battle. Being an Annihilation objective too, saw us rake up the points with clinical fire and flame templates.


Though, at the start, Rorys precious Assualt team of doom were reaped by the infiltrating Genestealers, on the right, the Imperial Guard scored up an impressive tally with flamers, las gun volleys and ordenance.




Although the Orks made it to one of the squads, with obvious results, the next turn saw massed rapid firing reduce them to paste. Go Guardsmen!





Overall, the day was highly enjoyable, and for many it was their first real tournament. Our first opponents walked away with first prize, though me and Rory somehoe managed to scrape away in second place and Best Painted! All in all a good day!

Ork Flash Gits, lovingly converted by Fredderik Torp of Outland Kirkegate and new bane of my life. 5+ cover saves from their leading Mek Boy, plus the 4+ Feel no pain save. We Hatz Em!

Electrition + Rhino = Rhino in Use lighting effects!

Some really enthusiastic gamers with their first armies. Unbelievable what a bit of mature patience can do. Wish I was mature. Or patient!

A plan!! Never give up! Never surrender!!

Any of you who read my last post may or may not have seen a somewhat sobre and bitter tone. If you did, good, there was one it seems. Like many a sore loser I felt somewhat obliterated. For the record, as usual, I blame Rory. Though I blame him for everything that goes wrong in my life.

Still! The point here is that eventually I got over it and began pouring through the codex with a mathmathical mind. Two key changes I decided to try.

1. Swapping Infantry Platoons for Veterens in Carapace armour mounted in Chimeras.
2. Take more Leman Russessess!!!!
   

Why? because these bad boys can hide behind Armour 12, have a 4+ armour save (which is better than nothing which is what 5+ will get you against bolt guns), and can pack a Lascannon and 3 Plasma guns, not including a potential plasma pistol. All at Ballistic Skill 4. Admittidly their few in number and just as squishy. Plus their hideously expensive. However, with Rorys kill count in the last game, numbers just isnt cutting it. Also, the maths in surviving a Bolt gun volley is much better.
Meh, I never used orders much anyway.
More tanks! One can never have enough boom! Especially with the new potential for 9 Russes in an army. What was I thinking!!?! Now I already have a Demolisher, so I'll try 2 more normal Russes. Im thinking of converting those excess Chimeras in to Russes much in the same way those pesky marines turn Rhinos into Predators. Anything you can do....



Finally found a fantastic turret replacement from Old Crow miniatures. The Crossfire Turret is amazing value for 4 English pounds, and Jez, the store owner I believe is very helpful.



I was intending to negotiate a Sabre Turret, but they are well too big, if no realistic. Think Abrams Battle Tank and you'd be very close. One to conisder later I believe.

For the extra armour, thinking side skirts made of plasticard I have, sandbags and zimmerit on the front and something fancy for the back replacement. Unfortunally these Chimeras have already been built and painted so my options are slim. Still, cheaper than picking up two Leman Russes. 380 Krones each!? Thats around 40 pounds to those back in the home country.


So the test army is looking like this.

• Lord Commisar with Plasma pistol.
• Veteren Squad with 3 Plasma Guns, Lascannon.
• Chimera. X3
• Leman Russ with Lascannon on the hull. X2
• Leman Russ Demolisher X1
• Valkyrie X1
• Rough Riders X8

=1510pts

Ill sort out a count as game and see how effective it is. I do want to find out before I buy it all!
Need more plasma!!

Post Battle Thoughts

They say an artist shouldnt blame his tools. Well theyve obviously never tried to copy a picaso with a piece of brick and paint.

The loss was huge. But, like nearly every game, the loser walks away with more to think about. What did I learn from this game? Especially a day on, after the vengeful rage has subsided.
Well, I can sum up the cause for the disaster in three simple sections.

Cause 1: The Player
Unfortunatly, working for 48 hours before the game and having only 4 hours sleep did take its toll. Mistakes were made. Namely the forgetting of the Storm Troopers, whome I was forced to deploy as Deep Strikers. I would have preffered them setting up as either scouts or outflanking, better being able to stall and surprise. I cannot complain with what they managed to accomplished, but by golly they could have done so much more!
Also, for some reason, I moved my men forward in the first turn, over eager to claim the objective and running straight into the fearful Space Marine Counter attack. The maths is clear, whoever gets to rapid fire first, usually hits hardest. What I did in that first turn was outright simplistic stupidity that can and did result in a horrible mess. Think two predators destructors firing all, two tactical squads (one rapid firing) and a razorback all pounding into my units.

Cause 2: The Army
While the Space Marines can utilise any weapon to better kill their foe, the Imperial Guard are running up hill. Not many weapons could be described as Space Marine killers (ie removing that infamous 3+ save). This means it comes down to fire efficiancy. Either lots of it, or lots of plasma and ordenance. I had neither.
In many ways, my army was better suited to killing Orks or Eldar. ALso, what kind of IG army lacks a proper Leman Russ or three?
The continuing choice of Basalisks has to stop also. The mobile artillary, now costing 125 pts is a waste at such range. Unable torely on armour, scenery or cheapness, its better suiting to huge boards where its indirect fire (now a compusary addition) is better suited.
Indeed, removing those two walking basalisks and replacing them with one maybe two Leman RUsses changes the aspect of battle instantly. Armour 14 is not something to ignore. (Unless its Necrons...)

Cause 3: The Other
Unfortunatly the board size was smaller than normal, pushing the deployment to a meagre 7". this didnt cause to much of an issue until the lack of room to retreat came into the fold.

Man of the match? Storm Trooper Squad, for executing the enemy general. Again. :D



So.

What next? So far I have been musing on these possible fixes:

1. Leman Russes! If he's going to be extra fluffy and use lots of Tactical Squads with rhinos, I should return the favour with at least two more Lemans.
2. Imperial Veterans in Chimera Vs Imperial Guard Infantry platoons...
3. More Rough riders! 30! Theyre only 10pts each!
4. Ditch the Basalisks. Maybe ditch a squad of storm troop.
   
5. Deep strike the Valkyrie next time for instant suprise.
6. More plasma guns!
   

Noooo! Why am I not learning!!!

Once again, my poor guys were slaughtered to a man. That man being the me.

For the battle report, well written as it is, have a look at Rorys disgusting blog here.

I couldnt do it. Too painful. He however was smiling with every word.

Problems? Well its always a fearful path when you lose a game, its very easy to think "If I had a chuck norris I could have won, maybe I should buy a chuck norris." Dangerous thinking. Especially when usually you lost because of bad luck/poor decisions.

Except now Im sure.

The average Imperial Guardsmen is very very human. He has a weapon which in all fairness is an insult. Though to be fair its more expensive then he is. Most Imperial Guard experts claim that the Imperial Guard use numbers to win the game. Think Operation Meat Shield.

Tried it. Dieded.

The average Space Marine is God in Warhammer 40,000. Conspiracy theorists and angry ex GW gamers (especially including the fundamentalist warmachine movement) claim that the company GW makes Space Marines super because sell the most. Maybe their right. But I wanted to look at the maths.

So.

Space Marine fires at a guardsmen.

• BS of 4 means he must roll a 3+ to hit. So 2/3 odds.
• S of a Boltgun is 4 against the IG's T of 3, means again 3+, 2/3 odds.
• AP of a Boltgun is 5. Armour save of an IG is 5. Result is that the armour is negated.

Therefore. When a whole Tactical squad fires at a squad of guard:

• 10 shots. 7 hit (rounding up). 3 Wound and kill.

This is under ideal conditions, ie, not in short rage, not including the cheaper special funky weapons of death like flamers and H.Bolters.

Now a IG fires.

• BS of 3 means 4+ 50/50
• S of a lasgun is 3, against the Space Marine T of 4 = 5+ . = 1/3
• AP of a lasgun is -, ie, nuthin. Which means they will get their wopping save of 3+. Which means 2/3 of all succesful wounds get stopped.

That of coarse means on average a guard squad will do:

• 10 shots. 5 hit. 2 wound. Most of the time all wounds being saved. = 0 wounds. Ah crap.

But what about special weapons? The ultimate levellers? Well for some reason, the Tactical squad can buy certain weapons for cheaper then the IG, most strangely the Plasma gun. Which admittidly is a bit wasted on guardsmen! But dangerous to the now completly nerfed Chaos Marine players. That though is not my problem. :D

Now out of the special weapons and Heavy Weapons, the SPace Marines can use about the same in their Tactical squads as the IG use in their infantry squads. Flamers, Heavy Bolters and such are really good at killing many things. However, although lascannons and meltaguns can kill space marines really good (if they hit!), plasma guns are the only viable counter to the space marines wopping 3+ save.

It seems to me that there is a large distance between the world of 4+ armour saves and 3+. Nearly all the weapons in warhammer 40,000 short of ordenance and planetary explosions do not take away that pesky of saves. Now, although weapons such as the Auto Cannon and Heavy bolter can wound them easily, that save will still stop those heavy caliber rounds 2/3rds of the time, after miraculously hitting and wounding. Not looking good is it?

But dont you get more Imperial Guardsmen then Space Marines? ANd what about Orders!?

Well, true, the Infantry Guardsmen only costs a meagre 5pts, while a Tactical marine costs a rather large 18pts.

So, lets take an average Tactical squad of 10 marines, with heavy bolter (which is free) and a flamer. That comes to around 200pts (rounding it up neatly).

For that value, we can take nearly a whole platoon of guardsmen, but we will leave some space for special weapons, which strangle again, cost more than the men carrying them:

• Command section 30pts
• Squad 50
• Squad 50

=130pts, 70 for 4 plasma guns and a melta gun.

Okay.

Space marines fire at one squad at a time. Which is helpful. Opening up, they instantly kill 4 guardsmen. + 2 with Heavy Bolter.

Up close, this would be a massacre, as they rapid fire bolters and torch the whole squad.

Eg.

Flamer fires first, to better hit as many as possible. Presuming it coats five, average killing 2 or 3 outright.

8 Bolters rapid firing = 16 shots. 10 hit. 6 Wound and kill instantly.

Heavy Bolter, we presume ran so cannot fire.

Result = One Guardsmen left. Probably running for his life!

Imperial Guard Platoon get to fire first at long range:

30 Lasgun shots from entire platoon. 15 hit average. 5 wounding. 2 or 3 saving, killing around 2.

4 Plasma guns open up. 2 hit. Lets be generous and say that both wound, no saves.

Result is 4/5 dead.

Imagine short range firing!

So why doesnt this work in practice!?

1. Scenery blocking massed firepower.
2. Close Combat. (The bane of all guardsmen)
3. Space Marines have a penchant for Rhino drop offs.
4. Other units, Predator Destructors.

Excuses aside, most of the time its all about who fires first. Usually a Space Marine Tactical squad will destroy an entire unit of guard in one volley. While this doesnt exactly get him many points, the return fire is alreay stymied. Also, on a board not big enough to support all those teeming hundreds of men, scenery can be a real bitch.

Lesson here?

• Dont spread out your guard. Concentrate the fire volleys into one squad at a time (that being the most deadly or best fit).
• Avoid CQC as much as possible.
• Use as many plasma guns as possible.
• Do not rush forward into their guns, let them come to you and catch them in a short ranged volley.
• If in doubt, use a Russ.

2000pts at dawn. 7 days until REVENGE!!!

Thats right. Weve finally assigned a period of time when I can finally settle the score with my erstwhile opponent Rory, who we can believe is still cackling at midnight while stroking an evil moustache while reading the space marine statline over and over again.

"15pts and a line of 4s? Muhahaha"

Bastard. God I hate space marines.

2000pts. All painted, though unfortunatly not on Rorys new board. While hes been labouring on the 8' by 4' city fight set up, we will decorate the good old reliable card and clothe scene with guardsmen blood.

But oh no. Riks been busy.


Finally, after nearly a year of waiting, I finally got of my arse and began painting what is the nicest, most gorgeous kit ever produced.
Im basing the camo paint off a picture I found of a Russian fighter bomber during WW2. Primarily the fraying of the white paint is supposidly caused by wear and tear. Apparently, most of the time Winter Camoflage was simply white washed in a hurry. Not always the immaculate Branch pattern camoflage of the Waffen SS no no! Still, after a few hundred coats of white I gave up and began slavering on a drizzle of Badab black to simulate grim and such, dragged latterally (sp?). I think it worked out ok, but it still needs touching up. By no means finished, but it will be ready for next Saturdays Rematch!



In other news, Ive been digging out some "new project" stuff that never really took off. Having little or no money does wonders for finishing off stuff, avoiding the lure of the new and the shiny.


??? Some Ork Kannons, making a better use and IG missile Launchers. Why? Because the city fight Imperial Guard Im working on arnt tekno savvy enough to have lascannons, as theyre based off (or will be) a russian/german pioneers brigade. In other words, as much explosives as possible. Leman Russ alternatives, artillary, demolition charges, flamers, and tons of mismatched troops.



Lastly, Ive got these buggers to finish. Good news on the horizon as the next plastic set by Warlord, the Plastic British Infantry, will give my Landsers someone to worry about. CHeap, traditional, and hopefully popular once I get a small skirmish set up. Cant wait to try the rules out.


More soon!

So many little things!!!

Been busy. No official date for OUR next battle. At the moment Rory is working on something top secret. Though I think its his city fight board. Will get pics as soon as I can. Though, Im worried. My IG army isnt exactly designed for urban street to street fighting... I have a plan...

MOUSE GUARD!! If you havnt heard of this fantastic phenomenon by the artist and writer David Petersen, check it out. Think Brian Jacques Redwall given a beautiful finish, less detail, more character and violence paired side by side with adult themes (no, not sex). Brilliant. The drawing above is mine, my poor ass attempt to copy his work because he also has an RPG game set in the same world and the three above are the players characters in my last campaign that I ran. Note that the one in the middle, Cole, is now a dead mouse, as that player Geir has taken over the campaign for its second chapter allowing me to play!! Yippee! Pirate mouse!



Valkyrie!!!

My big decision had been whether to go for the much lauded Vendette modification, but their was something holy about its primary function as a transport (think vietnam huey choppers), oh, and the missles the normal one gets are Space Marine killers. Fire and forget baby! Also, gotta love those brass aquilas.
Thinking of copying a "bit" of a camo pattern used on the old Sherman Fireflies to mask their extended barrels to the enemy until it was too late. Think the typical greens of the IG with an "icing" coat over the top, effectivly masking its shape with natural lines. Add a snarling mouth and we "should" have a good looking winter war Valk. Just paint it white? Did that recently with my second unit of Storm Troopers and there is a reason there isnt a pic here.

Needless to say I now HATE the colour white. I need something else to paint. Thankfully...




Germans!! Finally my dream of having my own Omaha will come to pass! These new plastic 28mm figures from Warlord Miniatures have been a long time coming. Im planning on using the largely unknown rules set "Rules of Engagement" for it. If you remember Warhammer 40,000 way back in the 3rd (or was it 2nd?) edition with the Imperial Guard, well its very similar. However, there are new rules for supression, morale states etc, allowing for very "Band of Brothers" combat experiences. Tanks? Sure, though if you through in a Konigstiger, expect your opponent to just leave. Havnt tried it yet, but for platoon level combat, high level of historical accuracy with no penalty to the fun (note this Osprey!), it makes a very good alternative to the Flames of War series, which seems to be more expensive than GW stuff these days! (Except for certain 3rd party websites...)

Anyway, the painting continues to keep me on the edge of sanity. Got a MOrdheim game this Sunday, gotta knock up a Skaven Warband in three days. Sheesh, thank god I didnt have to pay for them...