Warhammer needs a crash cart

    I find myself writing this in a self question; What is the intrinsic value of a game, or an army for that matter? I guess the answer is how much enjoyment you get from playing it. Well going by that definition, then the intrinsic value of my Warhammer Guard army would be lower then anything, hell, most of our "armies" sit in disuse in cases not being deployed or used except in one off situations.

    I have a very large and formidable Tau army. It is a decent army considering the codex is behind the times and that they haven't received any new models in a long while. Even that army though has fallen by the wayside in recent months as I have begun playing Warmachine.

    I think the first problem lies in the games themselves. I look at what I need to tote around to play a pick up game of Warhammer 40k and what I need to tote around for Warmachine and the differences are staggering.

For 40k I need to keep available the following:
70 Fire Warriors
6 Devilfish
2 Hammerhead Chassis with 1 Skyray, 1 Ion Cannon, and 2 Railgun Turrets
1 Piranha
16 Crisis Suits
2 Crisis Suit Commanders
1 Farsight
3 Sniper Drone Team Leaders
9 Sniper Drones
20 Kroot
6 Kroot Hounds
8 Vespids
3 Broadside Suits
8 Pathfinders
14 Gun Drones
14 Shield Drones
1 Ethereal
5 Objective Markers
Templates
Tape Measure
Rulebook
That is 189 Models carried in 4 multi-layer Pistol Cases

For Warmachine I need the following
Karchev
Sorscha
2 Juggernauts
1 Destroyer
1 Devastator
Beast 09
4 Widowmakers
1 Widowmaker Marksman
6 Mechanics
8 Man O War Bombardiers
8 Man O War Shock Troops
1 Manhunter
Templates
Tape Measure
Rulebook
that is 35 Models carried in a small 12x15 plastic case

    So for Warhammer 40K my "pick up game" equipment includes my entire collection, and to transport them it takes up the trunk of a small car. My Warmachine pick up game stuff on the other hand only takes up the area that I need for a tiny case which is smaller then my laptop bag.

    I know there are those people who will say that I should take only what I need, but the problem is that I might need a crisis suit army to fight army X and a fire warrior army to fight army Y, then a mix of the two to fight army Z. Honestly one of the reasons I got away from playing casual 40K outside my home was because of the simple fact that I did not, and still do not, enjoy toting around 4 pistol cases wherever I go. Instead I can condense what I need to 2 or 3 for a tournament. While I loose a great deal of flexibility at a 40K tourney I gain easier transport.

    I think the format for competitive 40k though is different and irritating. I played competitive 40k for a couple of years. I found it to leave a sour taste in my mouth, more on that later though. Direct comparisons though of competitive 40k and Warmachine though lead me to lean towards Warmachine as being the game built for competitive play with its very strict and deliberate scenario rules as opposed to 40k where the players can and will, interpret or manipulate the game and rules to their needs to win. I can draw 2 direct examples of this, well no, 3.

1-Objective placement
    In Warhammer 40K the objectives at most lower level tournaments (and casual play) are placed by the players unless the TO has scenarios which state otherwise. This creates and issue for alot of players in that if I know my army plays well at range but sucks when you are in close, I can place my objective in a position that is advantageous to me and will allow me to defend it better while my opponent which plays an assault army can place theirs in a position that they don't have to defend because they will likely end up with assets in that are anyway on their way to get me.

    In Warmachine that scenarios all clearly define where the objectives are on the table. They do not deviate from that position and any scenario you may play at any store or tournament is regulated by these guidelines so that no matter where you play, you will play scenarios from the same selection of scenarios all of which have very rigid guidelines on objective placement and control.

2-Objective Control
    This one is pretty clear cut, but also isn't. Since it is shorter I will go Warmachine first. Warmachine the objectives can only be controlled by whatever the guidelines in SR2012 (Steamroller 2012) are and they have a defined control area.

    Now on to Warhammer 40k. Yeah....... 3 Inches, has to be a troops choice. Simple enough. It is those 3 Inches though which make the problem even more difficult.

the Warhammer 40K rulebook states:

"At the end of a game you control an objective if there is at least one of your scoring units, and no enemy unit (any unit, whether scoring or not), within 3" of it. As different objectives vary in shape and size, it is important to agree at the beginning of the game exactly where this distance will be measured from"

So, what is covered under Page 91 is:
Scoring unit within 3" of the objective
No enemy units within 3" of the objective
Players need to agree on where the objective is measured from
And, both Seize Ground and Capture and Control say I cant put the objective in impassible terrain.

What isn't covered:
Where on the model do you measure from?
I would assume the base. Why?

"A Model is considered to occupy the area of its base, so when measuring distance between two models , use the closest point on their bases as your reference points."

There are those who would argue otherwise though.

I have been at tournaments where people have argued the volume of a model counts towards being within 3 inches of an objective where the objective was on a different floor of a building.

Since Games Workshop provides no rule stating the volume of the model counts for ranges I cant and wont accept that.

This one subject could go on forever, so I will truncate it right here.

I all honesty, the first 2 wore me out so much, well speaking about the second, that I have completely forgotten what the third was. I am sure this headache I have from writing more then anyone ever should have to about the intricacies of an objective and measuring to it isn't helping.

For those who may be curious though I have always been in the camp of the objective is 3" from a point on the board in an infinite column. this negating the while spherical objective marker nonsense you get into with when it is on a floor in a building.

Essentially what I am getting at here is what is the value to me as a gamer though of Warhammer 40k when I have options out there like Warmachine, Hordes, Malifaux, BattleTech, Heavy Gear Blitz, Dystopian Wars, Mercs, and god knows games that look good which are still in development or that I have overlooked. While each game may have its ups and downs, they are all good in their own right and quite often they don't require the sheer volume of space as Warhammer 40k.

I will not argue the investment monetarily in a game, as each game might have different price points and quite frankly, I know they have different price points. I know that the games which I play might be considered pricey by someone who likes to play a different game. I could argue investment, but in all honesty, it would probably make me feel bad about all the money I have spent on my hobbies over the past decade alone.

I guess what it all boils down to is this:

Games Workshop, I like the models for 40K, I also used to love the game. Over the past 2 years though I have met some great people in tournament and casual play. I have also met many more though who turned my stomach by using the term "competitive play" to justify being a complete ass hat. Please, do me, and those who also might be disillusioned about this game a couple big favors and do two things. First, admit that this is not a tournament style competitive game due to how you handle releases and rules and second, bring the game down to a manageable level where I can carry around stuff for a pickup game without needing a baggage train.

Karchev Tier 4 for a 50pt Hardcore

So, thinking of running Karchev Tier 4 at the tournament next month if I can swing the money to get everything..... job and al being an issue.... thinking for my list though one of the following 2 lists. There is only slight variation between them:

List 1:
Karchev Final (50pts)
50pt Khador - Karchev Tier 4 Roster (Standard Game)

Selections:
* Warcaster
    * Karchev the Terrible
        * Warjacks
            Destroyer
            Devastator
            Juggernaut
            Juggernaut

* Units
    * Battle Mechaniks (Ldr and 5 Grunts)
    * Battle Mechaniks (Ldr and 3 Grunts)
    * Greylord Ternion (Ldr and 2 Grunts)
    * Man-O-War Shocktroops (Leader and 4 Grunts)
    * Man-O-War Shocktroops (Leader and 4 Grunts)

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

List 2:
Karchev Final (50pts)
50pt Khador - Karchev Tier 4 Roster (Standard Game)

Selections:
* Warcaster
    * Karchev the Terrible
        * Warjacks
            Destroyer
            Devastator
            Juggernaut
            Juggernaut

* Units
    * Battle Mechaniks (Ldr and 5 Grunts)
    * Greylord Ternion (Ldr and 2 Grunts)
    * Man-O-War Shocktroops (Leader and 4 Grunts)
    * Man-O-War Bombardiers (Ldr and 4 Grunts)

I wont post the tier rules so as to not step on any toes at PP. I will say this though. The Ternion is only there from necesitty. Otherwise I woudl have found a better use for thier 4 points, like a Man-o-War Drachun. I will say though, where I find myself hung up is wether to take Bombardiers to eat up a 2 point gap I have or to take a second min Mechanic squad.

Let me know what you think.

GW v PP Price Comparisons

So, I saw an artile on BOLS about Warhammer 40k on the cheap. So, I naturally decided that I should compare my 2 hobbies and see what kind of price differences we are talking about. First I made a Tau list that I could like playing and then 2 Warmachine lists I woudl like playing, both at their standard tournament force sizes, 1500 and 35 respectively, and got current costs, plus taxes, and compared them. The Warhammer 40k list came out to 432.84. not bad for a Tau list at 1500, Warmachine came out to 307.57.

Now breaking it down, just to the starterboxes if you want, the Tau one can support 689 points by itself, i omitted the stealthsuits from the 1500 as i have never found a use for them. The Khador battlebox supports 11 points by itself. Everything in the Khador box though has a use, and at 49.99 vs the Tau box at 110.00 it seems a better deal. I included copies of the rosters below in case anyone wanted to compare for themselves.

Tau 1500 point list

-------------------------

1500 Pts - Tau Empire Roster - Sample Roster

HQ: Commander Shas'el
-1 Commander Shas'el - Bonding Knife; Hard-wired Drone Controller; Plasma Rifle; Twin Linked Missile Pod
--1 Crisis Bodyguard - Hard-wired Drone Controller; Missile Pod; Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
---2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator
--1 Crisis Bodyguard - Hard-wired Drone Controller; Missile Pod; Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
---2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator
--2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator

HQ: Commander Shas'el
-1 Commander Shas'el - Bonding Knife; Hard-wired Drone Controller; Plasma Rifle; Twin Linked Missile Pod
--1 Crisis Bodyguard - Hard-wired Drone Controller; Missile Pod; Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
---2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator
--1 Crisis Bodyguard - Hard-wired Drone Controller; Missile Pod; Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
---2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator
--2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator


Troops: Fire Warrior
-6 Fire Warrior, 155 pts - Pulse Rifle x6
--1 Devilfish  - Burst Cannon; Landing Gear; Disruption Pod; Flechette Discharger
---2 Gun Drones - Twin Linked Pulse Carbines

Troops: Fire Warrior
-6 Fire Warrior, 155 pts - Pulse Rifle x6
--1 Devilfish  - Burst Cannon; Landing Gear; Disruption Pod; Flechette Discharger
---2 Gun Drones - Twin Linked Pulse Carbines

Troops: Kroot Carnivore Squad
-12 Kroot Carnivore Squad, - Kroot Rifle x12

Heavy Support: Broadside Battlesuit
-1 Broadside Battlesuit - Twin Linked Railgun; Smart Missile System; Drone Controller; Team Leader
--2 Broadside Battlesuit - Acute Senses; Twin Linked Railgun; Unit Type: Infantry; Smart Missile System; Target Lock
--2 Shield Drone - Shield Generator

Heavy Support: Hammerhead Gunship
-1 Hammerhead Gunship - Railgun; Landing Gear; Targeting Array; Two Burst Cannons; Disruption Pod; Flechette Discharger; Multi-Tracker

Model List

3 Broadside Battlesuit 3@ 35.00ea (105.00)

2 Tau Crisis Battlesuit Commander - 2@ 30.00 ea (60.00)

4 Crisis Bodyguard - 1 Box Set, 3@ 24.75ea (74.25)

2 Devilfish and gun drones - 1 Box Set, 1@ 35.00

12 Fire Warrior - Box Set

1 Hammerhead Gunship - 1@ 49.50

12 Kroot Carnivores - Box Set

14 Shield Drone - 12 convert from Gun Drones with Suits, 2@ 2.99ea (5.98) (Warstore ebay store gun drones to convert)

Tau Empire Battlebox box set - 110.00

Tau Codex - 24.75

WH40k Rulebook - 57.75

Total: 412.23
VA Sales Tax (5%): 20.61
Subtotal: 432.84

Khador 35 pt list:

List 1 (35pts)
35pt Khador Roster (Standard Game)

Selections:

* Warcaster
* Kommander Sorscha
    * Warjacks
    Beast 09
    Destroyer

* Unit (19pts)
* Doom Reavers (Ldr and 5 Grunts)
* Man-O-War Shocktroops (Leader and 4 Grunts) 
* Widowmakers (Ldr and 3 Grunts)

* Solo
* War Dog 

List 2 (35pts)
35pt Khador Roster (Standard Game)

Selections:
* Warcaster (22pts)
* Karchev the Terrible
    * Warjacks
        Beast 09
    Destroyer
    Juggernaut

* Unit
* Man-O-War Shocktroops (Leader and 4 Grunts)
* Widowmakers (Ldr and 3 Grunts)

Model List
Kommander Sorscha - Battlebox Box Set
Karchev the Terrible - 49.99
Beast 09 - 54.99
Destroyer - Battlebox Box Set
Juggernaut - Battlebox Box Set
Man-O-War Shocktroops - 44.99
Widowmakers - 19.99
Doom Reavers - 32.99
War Dog - 9.99

Warmachine Rulebook (Softcover) - 29.99

Khador Battlebox - 49.99

total: 292.92
VA Sales tax (5%): 14.65
subtotal: 307.57

125.27 difference

Warhammer Learning Tournament

This past weekend I played in a Warhammer 40k tournament which pitched veteran players against new players to help them learn. I have to say that I had a mixed experience with it. The first game I played was against a blood angels player. I cant remember the specifics of what he was running but I was running a Farsight list which was very suit heavy and had very little troops (2 6 man teams with fish). We ended up drawing as I didnt play very agressively, the points limit was 1500 and 2 hours per round. We just made it past th first turn. My turns werent too long, his turns though dragged through. The second game I had to play the judge as we had an odd number. We have a rivalry between his Necrons and my Tau. The third game was against a Deathwing Termie list which ended up with no land raiders by the 2nd turn and almost no one left alive 3 turns later.



Overall a good day, felt kinda guilty though about almost tabling my opponent.

Models, Models, Where does it end

Ok, so I know that Games Workshop is the "Evil Empire bent on controlling us and subverting our will so they can sell us a stick and call it a model". Quite frankly though some of their more recent offerings have been very well done and, setting personal opinions about Finecast aside, downright beautiful. I know that it is probably borderline sacrilege, certain models such as the Rhino and the basic Land Raider I am never going to find beautiful at all. The basic box just doesn't appeal to me. Some of the other older stuff such as Eldar Wave Serpents and the common Devilfish/Hammerhead/Skyray chassis is just as alluring as a woman in black stockings and heels....

I'm getting off track though.

In the past year there have been some beautiful vehicles released and some which I wouldn't touch with a nine foot pole. I think the creme of the crop though has been the new necron toys. I know we are still waiting on the Doom/Night Scythe model, but lets face it, the new Necron vehicles have this whole Egyptian techno evil feel to them that no metal box, flying or otherwise, can ever come close to matching. The only thing I think that scares me about them is their implied fragility from not having an outer skin and being so skeletal in their construction.

I have seen a couple in person and I will say it is awkwardly disappointing when you do see them. The model seems to carry off a sense of being larger then it is in photographs. I still have to say it is impressive to see. Unfortunately I probably wont be playing with one soon though as the rigors of real life intervene on my escapism. Oh well. I still have my Tau to hold me over until things fall back into place.

Some Warmachine under the belt

So, I had an opportunity to play Warmachine last night with my Khador army. I was playing agianst trollbloods... wow, talk about hard to kill. Anyway. I learned 2 things. The first is that I need more infantry then jacks. Yes the Jacks are cool and I still plan on getting Karchev as my second caster.... mmmmmm jacksuit.......aggghhhh. I played with this list last night:

35pt Khador Roster (Standard Game)
* Warcaster (22pts)
    * Kommander Sorscha (22pts)
        * Warjacks (27pts)
                Beast 09 (11pts)
        Destroyer (9pts)
        Juggernaut (7pts)

* Unit (13pts)
    * Man-O-War Shocktroops (Leader and 4 Grunts) (9pts)
    * Widowmakers (Ldr and 3 Grunts) (4pts)

The reason I went with this list is that I already own the Man-O-War units and the Jacks and Sorscha. I borrowed the widowmakers from another player at the store. Both games ended in a caster kill. Unfortunately it was my caster that took the hit. The second game was alot closer though and really came down to poor Focus management on my part as Sorscha nearly killed the enemy caster in hth.

I feel encouraged though as this list did decently well but felt too jack heavy and was similar to the list I want to run of:

35pt Khador Roster (Standard Game)
* Warcaster (13pts)
    * Kommander Sorscha (13pts)
        * Warjacks (18pts)
                Beast 09 (11pts)
        Juggernaut (7pts)

* Unit (19pts)
    * Man-O-War Demolition Corps (Ldr and 2 Grunts) (6pts)
    * Man-O-War Shocktroops (Leader and 4 Grunts) (9pts)
    * Widowmakers (Ldr and 3 Grunts) (4pts)

* Solo (3pts)
    * War Dog (1pts)
    * Widowmaker Marksman (2pts)

In the list I ran last night the Shocktroops didnt do too much with the Shield Cannons but were able to hold thier own against the enemy and I think the addition of another Man-O-War unit would benefit the army greatly. I also think the War dog would make a great unit to go along with Sorscha, as it does for every Khador caster.

I hope I can get this army together before the new League begins this Feb and see how they do. I might end up doing some proxying to get a feel for it though before I ever buy the units to make sure they work together how I would like them to.

My new Distraction

So, I have a new distraction from my distractions. I have picked up the 2 Player battle box and also picked up Beast 09 for the Khador faction. My friend is interested in Menoth so I let him have them and I am building up my Khador force. I am hoping that before the next shattered grounds leage begins I will have at least a 35 point army (already at 31 points). I will try to include some pics of my Khador Army. I am going for a Red Army Feel without as many reds as I have seen in most Khador armies. The majority of the models are an olive green with Sorscha and Beast so far getting the Lions Share of any reds.

I am thinking for a 35 point army I would like to run one of the 2 following types of lists:

35pt Khador Roster (Standard Game)
* Warcaster (22pts)
    * Kommander Sorscha (22pts)
        * Warjacks (27pts)
                Beast 09 (11pts)
        Devastator (9pts)
        Juggernaut (7pts)
* Unit (12pts)

    * Man-O-War Demolition Corps (Ldr and 2 Grunts) (6pts)

    * Man-O-War Shocktroops (Leader and 2 Grunts) (6pts)

* Solo (1pts)

    * War Dog (1pts)


or:

35pt Khador Roster (Standard Game)
* Warcaster (13pts)
    * Kommander Sorscha (13pts)
        * Warjacks (18pts)
                Beast 09 (11pts)
        Juggernaut (7pts)

* Unit (19pts)

    * Man-O-War Demolition Corps (Ldr and 2 Grunts) (6pts)

    * Man-O-War Shocktroops (Leader and 4 Grunts) (9pts)
     
    * Widowmakers (Ldr and 3 Grunts) (4pts)

* Solo (3pts)

    * War Dog (1pts)

    * Widowmaker Marksman (2pts)

The top list is more favorable to my wallet as I can have it with the purchase of a Demolition Corps Sqd and War Dog, the bottom one requires a little bit more money and places all of my firepower in the hands of the guys on the ground leaving my jacks to kill jacks.

Khador Army

A Little bit better

Beast 09 EXTREME CLOSEUP!!!!!!

Beast 09 Front

Beast 09 Three Quarter view

Destroyer - correct axe came in the mail, have to put it on

Juggernaut

Sorscha-P