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I think I played 15 games of Warhammer 40k from Thursday night on, so details are a little blurry (from that itself and all the beer).
Here at Spikey Bits we were onsite vending, as well as TheWarStore, Battlefoam, and Black Library respectively. If you didn't make it this year cause of mother nature and such, be sure to check it out in 2012 for sure as the vendor floor was the hot place to be between rounds!
Here at Spikey Bits we were onsite vending, as well as TheWarStore, Battlefoam, and Black Library respectively. If you didn't make it this year cause of mother nature and such, be sure to check it out in 2012 for sure as the vendor floor was the hot place to be between rounds!
Okay back to the event. If you are unfamiliar with the play at the Nova Open, checkout the primer missions. It's basically a win/lose format, with 3 ways to potentially win (similar to how Adepticon was earlier this year). Personally I'm am still on the fence about this format, but I will say one thing for sure, it seems to make games come right down to the wire.
I do really like the fact to control a table quarter you need to have more Victory Points in the quadrant then your opponent, and Scoring Units count for full victory points even if they are below half strength.
What I didn't like adding up victory points after each game as part of the scoring. That's a ton of post game work, and each time it seemed like I had to remind my opponents exactly how victory points were scored, stealing precious minutes of my beer time. Selfish I know, lol.
For the invitational I ran Master Shake's Orkquisition, but it really wasn't good at this format that seems to favor armies with Multiple Scoring Units.
I'm sure me and him will be tweeking the list later on. It hits like a ton of bricks but just lacks the rear end for multiple objective missions.
At the Nova Open GT itself I ran my Iron Angels (more on that later). I went 6-2 overall, and withdrew at the championship game for my bracket to get packed up and head back.
I really like the list I ran, it just need a better choice at the Heavy Slot.
I really like the list I ran, it just need a better choice at the Heavy Slot.
Overall a great event on both the vendor, and gaming front. If you live on the East Coast it's definitely worth checking out! -MBG
Obligatory shameless plug time- We're having a huge bits sale over at the Spikey Bits Online Store. All bits items are 20% OFF (yep 20% OFF). Just type the code Bits20OFF in the promotion code field when you check out and BAM! bits on the cheap!
Taking a cue from Tosh.O, you can also follow along with my hobby shenanigans by Joining Me, liking our Facebook, or catching my tweets live from major events!
Taking a cue from Tosh.O, you can also follow along with my hobby shenanigans by Joining Me, liking our Facebook, or catching my tweets live from major events!
Today I'll be playing in the Nova Open Invitational, and I'm thinking about playing Master Shakes' Orkquisition Grey Knights. I've been featuring a few of his conversions on here over the past few weeks, so I hope you're hungry for more!
I qualified for the Invitational back in June at the Grim Open with my Iron Angels, but now the points are lower, and the stakes are higher. So I'm thinking about trying out the Orkquisition at 1750 points.
Orkquisition "Counts as" Grey Knights
1750
Cotaez
Librarian
Deff Kult Assassins x10 Razorback Asst Cannon, Psybolts
Deff Kult Assassins x10 Razorback Asst Cannon, Psybolts
Techmairne Rad Grenades, Psykotropes
Techmairne Rad Grenades, Psykotropes
Land Raider Crusader, Psybolts
Land Raider Crusader, Psybolts
Henchmen, Razorback Asst Cannon, Psybolts
Henchmen, Razorback Asst Cannon, Psybolts
The vehicles are all "looted" and even the Independant Characters are "Orky".
If you play this list you'll want to put the assassins in the Land Raiders and wait till the last possible second to attack. When you do assault the combination of Psycotrope, Rad Grenades, and Hammerhands has the potential to wreck most squads, even pesky "death star" squads.
For example I caused 21 Power weapon saves on Jawaballs' 10 man assault squad (the one on the right flank) at I6 during our Death Match game Thursday Night at the Nova Open. They were I1 from the Psycotrope Grenades, but perhaps more importantly, Toughness 3 from the Radiation Grenades (he hooded my Hammer Hands attempt with Mephiston).
On the right his Termies and Mephiston crumbled under the assault of 10 Death Cults, a Techmarine, and Cotaez at just at I6 alone. The Techmarine got a 3 with his grenade roll, allowing whole squad to re-roll their hits in hand to hand. Pretty brutal.
The trick to this list is to remember to smoke you Raiders over shooting with them, and maintaining a 6" bubble with the Librarian for the benefits of shrouding. Also remember that shrouding does extend from the hull of the Land Raider, so you can almost always extend that to all your vehicles if you keep them together in a spearhead-esque formation.
That's it for now, the Nova Open Invitational starts at 7 AM tomorrow (Friday) so I need some sleep.
-MORE FROM THE NOVA OPEN TOMORROW!!! -MBG
Obligatory shameless plug time- We're having a huge bits sale over at the Spikey Bits Online Store. All bits items are 20% OFF (yep 20% OFF). Just type the code Bits20OFF in the promotion code field when you check out and BAM! bits on the cheap!
Taking a cue from Tosh.O, you can also follow along with my hobby shenanigans by Joining Me, liking our Facebook, or catching my tweets live from major events!
Taking a cue from Tosh.O, you can also follow along with my hobby shenanigans by Joining Me, liking our Facebook, or catching my tweets live from major events!
I have no clue why it took so long to record them in a glorious fashion, but hey sometimes things are just worth the wait I suppose.
This guy is part of a sweet "counts as" Grey Knight Orkquisition army that my buddy Master Shake is converting and painting up.
Master Shake chose to paint up da DeffKnight in a triad of Red's, (shaded like my blue Orks) over a basecoat of washed metal. I recommended Mechrite, Scab Red, and then Blood Red for the very highlights.
Although I am not 100% sure what he used for the red, it looks great, and not overdone at all. Then he added Orky warpaint (using my warpaint article), and BAM color was given unto the DeffKnight.
Checkout the in game shot of him creeping up on a Land Raider (with the rest of the Orkquisition in tow), and his extreme close ups below as well.
More to come on the Orkquisition- MBG
Obligatory shameless plug time- We're having a huge bits sale over at the Spikey Bits Online Store. All bits items are 20% OFF (yep 20% OFF). Just type the code Bits20OFF in the promotion code field when you check out and BAM! bits on the cheap!
Taking a cue from Tosh.O, you can also follow along with my hobby shenanigans by Joining Me, liking our Facebook, or catching my tweets live from major events!
This year there will be a ton of top players on hand to compete in a variety of events, including Death Matches Thurday night, the Invitational on Friday, and the GT on Saturday and Sunday.
Lots to do and see in D.C. this weekend for the Tabletop gamer!
If you click on the Armies on Parade label you'll be able to scroll through some great looking armies, all at once.
It's like you were at a major event yourself, all from the comfort of your home or smart phone!
It's like you were at a major event yourself, all from the comfort of your home or smart phone!
Today we have a great Emperor's Children Army by Steven Hailey from "The Seige" 2010, with working "sonic blasting" speakers! - Enjoy MBG
Obligatory shameless plug time- We're having a huge bits sale over at the Spikey Bits Online Store. All bits items are 20% OFF (yep 20% OFF). Just type the code Bits20OFF in the promotion code field when you check out and BAM! bits on the cheap!
Taking a cue from Tosh.O, you can also follow along with my hobby shenanigans by Joining Me, liking our Facebook, or catching my tweets live from major events!
Obligatory shameless plug time- We're having a huge bits sale over at the Spikey Bits Online Store. All bits items are 20% OFF (yep 20% OFF). Just type the code Bits20OFF in the promotion code field when you check out and BAM! bits on the cheap!
Taking a cue from Tosh.O, you can also follow along with my hobby shenanigans by Joining Me, liking our Facebook, or catching my tweets live from major events!
Eventually if you click on the Armies on Parade label you will be able to scroll through some great looking armies all at once. It's like you were at a major event, all from the comfort of your home or smart phone.
Today's pic is of a converted Sons of Horus Army from Adepticon 2011. Enjoy MBG
Obligatory shameless plug time- We're having a huge bits sale over at the Spikey Bits Online Store. All bits items are 20% OFF (yep 20% OFF). Just type the code Bits20OFF in the promotion code field when you check out and BAM! bits on the cheap!
Taking a cue from Tosh.O, you can also follow along with my hobby shenanigans by Joining Me, liking our Facebook, or catching my tweets live from major events!
The Orkuisition is back! "Counts as" is the new black, and this army is hot with it's conversions innovative theme.Mastershake has been a ball of fire lately converting and painting up his Deff Kult army like a mad man to get ready for the Nova Open.
Recently he finished up his DeffKnight conversion, and now all that is left is the paint. Lets take a look!
Shake used the standard Deadknight kit, but augmented it with all sorts of Orky bits here and there.
I think the trick with converting one kit to another is to use just the right amount of bits to make it seem like it belongs in the new army. This of course is super difficult when you use a kit from say a loyalist faction and convert it over to a Xenos or chaos one.
That being said I think Mastershake pulled it off very well, the conversion comes together almost seamlessly with just the right amount of both kits' bits.
I especially like the Ork Kannon exhaust on the back, and the super oversized magnetized force sword. The part I think really puts it over the top is the grot with goggles as the pilot.
What's your favorite part? -MBG
Obligatory shameless plug time- We're having a huge bits sale over at the Spikey Bits Online Store. All bits items are 20% OFF (yep 20% OFF). Just type the code Bits20OFF in the promotion code field when you check out and BAM! bits on the cheap!
Taking a cue from Tosh.O, you can also follow along with my hobby shenanigans by Joining Me, liking our Facebook, or catching my tweets live from major events!
It's pretty much all scratch built with a ton a green stuff.
The premise for the scene is the Tzeentchy Daemon Prince shredded open an Ork Trukk, and after growing bored toying with the Nob, has banished him to kicking and screaming to the warp.
Big story on a small base, and I think he really pulled it off well!
Where is the rest of the Nob you ask? Guess we'll all see soon enough!
I don't know about you, but I can't wait to see the model that goes on this base! -MBG
This was the article I was going to write about my awesome games and how I qualified for 'ard Boyz ( notice how I said "was").
Well Master Shake is really putting his all into this Converted Grey Knight Army, and I hope you are enjoying watching it develop as much as I am.
Welcome to the new segment here on Spikey Bits called Armies on Parade.
Eventually if you click on the Armies on Parade label you will be able to scroll through some great looking armies all at once. It's like you were at a major event, all from the comfort of your home or smart phone.
Today's pic is of a nice chaotic Iron Warriors army from Adepticon 2011. Enjoy MBG
40k Meta: Grey Knights MINUS the Librarian? Psychic Shakedown!
Wednesday, August 10, 2011
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Sure, sure, the benefits are obvious; extra cover saves with Shrouding, extra Hammerhands, Armor Penetration from Might of Titans, and fun with Sanctuary, etc. just to name a few.
At 'Ard Boyz you'll see the most random lists in addition to a wide spectrum of player skill levels. It can almost be compared to playing competitive poker in Vegas, and then going to a house game where someone has the worst hand ever, and wins a huge pot. You just never really know what you will see, there could be three games of rocks for your scissors. It's both frustrating and rewarding at the same time, deeeelish!
Anywhoo, what I really wanted to do here was talk about one of the Grey Knight builds I've been playtesting, and how it works and why. So lets get to it.
Draigo's Punch! ~2500 Points
- Draigo
- Librarian- Might, Sanctuary, Warp Rift, Shrouding, Stave
- Paladins x4- Halberd, Hammer, Sword, Apothecary- Stave
- Paladins x4- Halberd, Hammer, Sword, Apothecary- Stave
- Strike Squad x5- Psycannon, Hammer Razorback TL Assault Cannon- Psybolts
- Strike Squad x5- Psycannon, Hammer Razorback TL Assault Cannon- Psybolts
- Dreadknight- Jump Pack, Sword
- Dreadnought- TL Autocannon x2, Psybolts
- Dreadnought- TL Autocannon x2, Psybolts
- Stormraven- Extra Armor, TL Las, TL Multi-Melta
- Stormraven- Extra Armor, TL Las, TL Multi-Melta
Best part is, that if it isn't a scoring game, you can give them, a strike squad, or even pallies the ability to outflank. It's also good for things like getting the traitor into your enemies deployment zone on Mission One (note that works because it's a blanket affect on the unit after you add the traitor to it- much like how Snikrot can do it to Kommandos with an Independent Character attached).
The key to this one/two punch tactic is to keep the Stormravens near area terrain so IF they do get destroyed you can bail out into 4+ cover. Don't forget to take the first incoming Instant Kill shot on Draigo- he has the only Storm Shield in the Grey Knight arsenal after all.
Of course all that is well and fine, if you go first. If you don't, well now you need to look what you are facing. If it's a static gunline I would consider keeping one or more Stormravens in reserve. You really just need one to come on, and really the more turns it stays off the better, as less shots are being fired at it. I would set up the other units and slowly either advance to the objectives, or the enemy line. Mix in a couple of out-flanking units to keep the enemy on their toes, so when the Stormravens do come screaming on there is maximum disruption to their lines.
It takes some practice but once you remember to watch for area terrain, learn what to keep on and off the table and when, and how to maximize Draigo's Chapter Tactics-esqe roll you will really enjoy playing this list.
There are a few more advanced tactics for this build but that's for another time. For now enjoy the list, and let me know what you think of Draigo's one two punch. -MBG
Obligatory shameless plug time: Not only do I have lots to say about the Grey Knights, I also sell their Bits as well (for 20% OFF even)! Check it out here on Spikey Bits' Online Store!
Originally I wanted them to be all sweet Pre-Heresy style, but eventually I just settled on a Pre-Heresy look for them.
If you have any questions about how I painted a particular fig please email me and I will be glad to help you as best I can.
Just mouse-over any image and use the right and left buttons to scroll though the gallery.
Enjoy- MBG
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