Next on the painting table...

It's been a bit quiet here in my house for the last couple of weeks in terms of hobby progress. After knocking out Leman Russ over two weeks of evenings I was a bit hobbied out. But, gotta get back on the hobby horse at some point!

So, I thought I'd share what I am painting next: Plasma Gun Tactical Support Squad, 5-man rotor cannon squad and a couple of repair jobs.

A week in the world of hobbying

The only thing I have been working on this week is Leman Russ... but he's done! And I think I've done him some sort of justice. I'll take some proper photos over the weekend and post them up.

So, most of my hobby time this week has been reading "Eye of Terra", which is a fantastic read. for those that don't know, it's a collection of short stories, which is the best kind of reading for me these days. I can read a story at a time, rather than start a novel to then not read it for two weeks and forget where I'm at. I've read some of the stories in there before, but it was good to read Aurelian again, and Master of the First is one of my favourites in there. If you're a fan of 30k, go get it.


The rest of my hobby time has involved updating my gallery and surfing the net for interesting hobby-related articles, and man, have Games Workshop upped their game, releasing the Warhammer Community blog. I like it. I like it a lot. a one stop shop for all of their official (and rumoured) hobby news.

On there are links to the other websites that Games Workshop have been creating recently, such as the Regimental Standard. If you've not read that, go check it out, it's quite funny. I think I read on Twitter or Reddit someone say that it if it wasn't for the community, 40k would just be any other game. And I absolutely agree with that statement. We might be living in a golden time of community outreach from Games Workshop HQ but the community, and the richness of the hobby universe it has sprung from, has always been there in some form or another, which is what has kept me in the hobby I guess.

the only thing left for me to do this week is prepare for the game I'm playing at Warhammer World on Sunday. Need to just finalise that super awesome army list that is sure to see me defeated at least once on the say...



fourdadsoftheapocalypse.blogspot.co.uk – A blog about Warhammer 40k and the Horus Heresy by four Dads

Why do I love 40k?

If you follow us on Twitter (@4dadsapocalypse) then you would know that I play quite a lot of different games as well as 40k. This is because I have, over the last couple of years, become friends with 2 or 3 guys that are into board and card games. I am converting them to 40k slowly but I have had the pleasure of playing quite a few different types of games because of them. A few examples are:

Ticket to ride

Pandemic

Magic the gathering

Forbidden Island

Forbidden Desert

Warhammer Quest

Runebound

Battle Lore

Space Hulk

Killer Bunnies

Gubs

Carcassonne

Settlers of Catan

Most of these other games I have really enjoyed and I have found that it's great to play different games as it's a break from 40k and I find it really interesting to play games with different rules mechanics.

So then why do I always come back to 40k and love it even more than any other game I have ever played?

I think to answer this question I have to run through (some of) the negatives of 40k first because despite these issues I just love the game.

Negatives

- Cost - this game is expensive!

- Time - It eats your life away painting, gaming etc. (Check out my post on how I fit 40k into my life here)

- Relaxed rule set

- Unclear, ill-defined rules

- Lots of rules

- A million different rule books

- Space - requires a hobby area and quite large playing table

- Need terrain as well as models to play with

- Hobby tools - brushes, glue, paints, airbrushes etc.

- Solitary hobby - Generally you paint and model on your own

- Skill level - A certain skill level is required to build and paint models

- Space - Apparently my wife says that all my stuff (terrain, models etc.) takes up too much room.

I'm sure that there are more negatives to this game but I think I'll stop there because even looking at this list I do wonder why the hell I still carry on playing!

Following the negatives then, why am I so in love with this game as opposed to any other that has nowhere near the number of negatives I have listed here? 

In no particular order here are a few of my reasons:

1. Backstory

Background, fluff, history, call it what you will but the back story to this universe is just breathtaking! Hundreds of books, rule books, characters and a timeline have been developed over the last 25 years to provide a rich history not seen in any other game. I believe that this is the single reason that Games Workshop has been such a success over such a long time with gamers like me. The story behind the game is so interesting and eventful that you can be involved in the game without even playing it at all! I think that reading about the game probably accounts for about 90% of my reading time which is incredible for being just a tabletop war game.

2. Models

Another reason why the company has lasted so long. Games Workshop and especially Forgeworld make the most beautiful miniatures in the world at the moment. The detail and character of the models is amazing and the kits now provide endless opportunities to customise them to be completely unique to your own army. Even if you don't like certain sculpts (Wulfen) you are able to make your own from bits of other kits. Yes I know that there are some issues such as fine cast and miscasts but mistakes will always be made and thankfully they are few and far between.

3. Hobby

In this game I find I spend far more time building, converting and painting models to use than actually using them to play games with! When I think about it that seems completely crazy for a game but this aspect fills my creative drive. I'm no good at drawing, not interesting in painting and definitely not into carpentry but give me an inch high model or some terrain and suddenly my hobby brain kicks in and I can spend hours on a single miniature. I also find that this is a great way to switch off from the pressures of life and relax which benefits my mental health too.

4. Specialist spin off games and different ways to play

I love some of the other games I have played, however play a few times and they do get boring. Games Workshop have done a great job at opening the universe up to produce different games to play to keep us all interested (and take our money of course!). Such games include Deathwatch overkill, Assassinorum: Execution Force, Battle at Calth, Space Hulk, Kill team, Battle Missions, Epic, Necromunda, Cities of Death, Apocalypse, Inquisitor, Battlefleet Gothic, Planetstrike, Spearhead, Death From The Skies etc. With all of the different ways to play I have never been bored playing 40k as there is always a new way to play.

5. Rules

The rules are so complicated there are far too many and they're not even written very well. However I personally enjoy the current rule set and think it works really well as part of a 3D tabletop game. Having played other rule sets I think that the mechanics of 40k work for me and provide a really cinematic way to play the game - It really does feel like I am on the battlefield controlling the army and I can feel the stress levels rising when it comes down to the crunch.

Yes I think some rules should be ditched (challenges I'm staring at you) but there are rules in every game that don't quite work and you can always agree house rules with your friends. Yes I ALWAYS forget a bunch of rules during a game and remember them afterwards but so do my friends and no-one minds a genuine mistake as we always have fun during the games anyway. Despite these issues this rule set works for me personally and no other game has quite beaten 40k in this area.....yet!

6. Dice

As a person I am a doer and a kinaesthetic learner and so the one thing that does it for me in a game is dice - lots of them. Somehow for me the tactile nature of picking up a handful of dice and hearing the clatter of them on the table massively enhances the game that I play. Couple this up with the movement of all of the miniatures on the table and another box is ticked in what I want from a game.

As you know I enjoy playing card and board games and I quite enjoy throwing runes in Runebound. However, it just isn't the same experience as picking up 29 dice for my punisher tank and figuring out whether it was a good roll or not, then rolling them again only to curse the Astra Militarum for being so rubbish at shooting.

Physically rolling dice and adding up results adds something to the whole experience that works for me when playing a game.

7. Narrative

The combination of the history of the Warhammer universe and the many different ways to play the game means that 40k has an infinite number of options to encourage narrative gaming, that is gaming with a story. From making up your own army or chapter to playing a campaign or mission you just made up, your imagination can go wild which provides brilliant opportunities to be creative either on your own or with friends.

When playing other games it is common to only have one scenario or you may get 2 or three missions in a box set like Runebound or Battle Lore. Literally with 40k you could never play the same game twice. For me this eliminates boredom and creates a huge amount of fun when other games begin to get tired.

So there are my reasons, I sound like a complete 40k fanboy I know but at a personal level these factors are important for me in my gaming experience and 40k generally satisfies them. I also know that this will not be the perfect game for everyone so would love to hear why you either play or don't play the game.

Please feel free to comment below.

All the best,

James

fourdadsoftheapocalypse.blogspot.co.uk – A blog about Warhammer 40k and the Horus Heresy by four Dads

Will It Never End? - Hobby Challenge - Rich update 5

I have to say its been an absolute pleasure to do this conversion and paint job, the model is lovely and had that dynamic pose that allowed me to swap out the blade for a banner pole and I had an old renegade militia standard bearer flag that was just perfect to be blowing in the breeze atop the pole.

Story behind the scene...
The story behind this scene is called 'Rally Point'. I am thinking ahead to the Siege of Terra; this guy is storming to the top of a staircase above the beleaguered loyalist forces to have them rally to him and re-organise their defences.

Communications are down so he is yelling and waving the Company Banner to get his marines attention. The spent shell casings littering the stairs are testimony to the fight he has endured to make it to a point at which he will be seen.

I am going to extend the scene a little in September with the addition of a dead marine behind him on the stairs. He will be wearing White Scar armour but will have large sections weathered away to reveal Alpha Legion paint job beneath. The White Scars had been infiltrated and this guy has realised it and has found a way to work around their signal jamming....ok I know I have an overactive imagination but heh...it keeps me out of trouble!

How I painted the model:
To find out how I did the conversion check out my earlier post here...
I used my usual recipe for Imperial Fists on this guy, but here it is again for anyone who is reading for the first time...

Vallejo Primer Grey all over

Yellows:
Phalanx Yellow (FW airbrush paint)
Vallejo Game Air Hull Red
Windsor Newton Burnt Umber Oil Wash (for all the edges and creases)
I used a little Fresh Mud FW Weathering powder in a few of the darker areas to give it some more shadow too.

Gold:
Balthazar Gold
Sycorax bronze
Windsor Newton Burnt Umber oil wash
Dry brush of leadbelcher

Face:
Calthan Brown
Tallarn Flesh
Organ Flesh Ink Wash
Watered down tallarn again in layers
Taller Flesh (with a little Scar White for highlights)

Banner:
Sandri Dust & Scar White thinned with water and three coats
Washed with Agrax Earthshade Ink Wash, this was pushed around the flag with Lahriman medium to make sure it only sat in the creases
Once all dry I used a little Fresh Mud FW weathering powder here and there

The model got a full varnish of Vallejo Satin varnish before the oil wash went on, then again before the decals went on and a final one to seal everything in!

Using Phalanx Yellow Airbrush Paint:
This was the first time I used the Phalanx Yellow, I had head some describe it as too 'lemony' and I can see what they mean once the whole model is covered in it. However, I really like the result once you have broken the yellow up with darker colours and given it a bit of a weathering. Its also a lovely consistency for airbrushing - fine work FW!

Hobby Challenge Progress:
I had five character models and three Quad Mortars (plus crews) to paint for my challenge and all that remains is the Quad Mortars. These are well underway although with just two more days left before I go on leave its looking unlikely I will get through it all in August. I'll give it a go but I am already happy with the boost that the challenge has given to my painting. I would never have done so much otherwise.

Happy hobby time!

The Primarchs are returning to 40K

So, the Primarches are returning to 40k for the End Times? That’s what the rumours are saying.

Personally I think that’s great. These mythical creatures which obviously pull the crowds and take Space Marines from good to frigging awesome… I don’t know why GW haven’t released them before now? Surely the best stories are going to come when the End Times come?

But wait, they can’t all return can they? Let’s take a look and who might be making an appearance, starting with the obvious non-combatants:

Sanguinius – he’s dead, right? That means the most beautiful of the Primarchs can’t come and play in 40k. There’s no way that most iconic of scenes can be retconned so that he Lord of Angles can live to fight another day. Unless he comes back as an angry daemon of khorne, his death and subsequent mass outpouring of grief serving to transcend him to Daemonhood, just as Lorgar originally intended…

Ferrus – he’s dead, right… wait there, I already said that. I was just reading War Without End and in there is the short story ‘Imperfect’ about Fulgrim forcing Fabius to continuously make clones of Ferrus so that Fulgrim could ask him for forgiveness. Maybe one of these clones is ‘Imperfect’ after all?

Horus – he’s dead, right? As with Sanguinius, the Warmaster met his end on the Vengeful Spirit. BUT, as above, in the story ‘Imperfect’ we see Fabius with a clone of what could be seen to be Horus. Maybe the Warmaster comes back?

Russ, Dorn, The Kharn and Corax are all on sabbatical, maybe their visas run out and they are forced to return to the Imperium?

Vulcan and Guilliman are in stasis, but we know Vulcan is a ‘perpetual’ and Guilliman is healing, so obviously as news of their brothers’ return from their sabbatical these guys wake up so as not to miss the welcome home party… 

Alpharius and Omegon – one of them is dead, or is he? Or is there actually 3 of them? Who knows, but we’re sure to find out. While we’re at it we might find out if they are loyal or not. Does this also mean that the Cabal will show themselves?

Magnus has gone mental but he was never actually a traitor… Whose side will he be on?

Same as Perturabo and Mortarian. They just didn’t want to be part of the Imperium but seeing the alternative maybe they switch sides again?

Fulgrim is well and truly turned so he’ll definitely be on the dark side. But we haven’t seen him for a while, so who knows if he’ll even show? Too busy looking in the mirror and listening to 80’s death metal for a night out…

Lorgar is alive I think? 

Cruze isn’t…

The Lion wakes up from the Rock, forgives Luther and the two ride forth at the head of a vast legion of Dark Angels.



Other questions that I want to ask are:

What happens to the Chapters? If Guilliman wakes up does he just reform the Ultramarines and take control of the 6000 successor chapters? 

Is there actually any scope for legions that we thought were traitor to actually be loyal, and visa versa? Such as the Alpha Legion and the Dark Angels?

Do the Primarchs strike down the religious order surrounding the Emperor? Or do they use it as a weapon?

Do the Primarchs automatically take control of the Imperium? Being the rightful heirs?

Exciting times ahead, what are your thoughts and feelings on the matter?

Dave

Will it Never End!? - Hobby Challenge Update

Dad Dave here with a bit of an update on my hobby challenge.

My original goals included completing one of my heavy weapons squads. After my initial fury of completing several of my challenge goals for the Forge World open day painting comp, I must admit that it's been slow going with these guys. A combination of a busy period at work, much summer time DIY doings and Logan's 'Terrible Twos' well and truly kicking have left me little hobby time the last couple of weeks.

But it's getting there so I thought I'd share some pictures with you guys, more to motivate me than anything else!

 

I much prefer the 'new' missile launchers to the 30k ones, so have I have 5 of each in my squad.

 

You'll notice that I've taken the opportunity to re-base some of my HQ minis too. This is my sole surviving Rune Priest, Henry.

 

My 30k Space Wolves heavy weapons dudes are the equivalent of 40k Long Fangs, so I have been sure to make sure they have some white on some part of their armour. White helmets always look good.

 

And the 'Bearer of the Torch', an alternative standard bearer. I had this idea for a while before I found the pieces to do it. The torch is from the GW scary tree scenery set (that's not it's real name I know, but I'm sure you can find it)

 

Comments welcome!

 

Dave

Will it Never End?! - Hobby Challenge Update

So we started our latest hobby challenge this month and with the Forge World Open Day painting comp approaching I was spurred on to complete some of it in mega quick time! I took some photos of my entries, the banner bearer and rhino were two of my hobby challenge items (although I didn't enter the tank in the end as I didn't think it was good enough).

I'm really pleased with how these have turned out, some of my best work to date. Having a challenge with some friends and a painting competition on the horizon really push you to develop your skills.

With the rhino I wanted to try my hand at stencilling again, and having large flat areas on a tank really allow you to give this a shot. I printed out a Grey Hunter icon from the internet an cut it out with a scalpel. I then stuck it to the tank with masking tape and used a sponge to dap thinned red paint over the area.

 

There were a few issues with the stencil but some battle damage soon hid these :-)

This is Hvarl Red-Blade, my wolf lord. I took his name from the Wolf King novella (he doesn't actually seem to appear in the novel, despite being named). I figured they are unlikely to release a miniature for him so I had a named character, yet had free reign to depict him as I wished.

 

You may notice that despite being named 'Red-Blade' he has a hammer. I liked that hammer (A mash up of the limited edition boarding marine head and the shaft from a thunderwolf cavalry hammer/axe), so strapped a sword to his back. This is a Wolf Lord that picks the best weapon for the task at hand (smashing Thousand Sons witches in this instance).

 

I really pushed a lot of boundaries and tried a few new things out with this guy. The weathering powder, transfers, gem paints, open source lighting, blood... the only thing I still can't do is eyes.

 

Here's one of my dreadnoughts. He was the first 30k miniature I painted, based on an image from Collected Visions. Buy he needed an update, so I have swapped his base, added some more decals, weathering powder and highlights. I still love him. That image from Collected Visions is one of my favourites.

 

Lastly is my banner bearer. This is the first time I have ever applied a banner-specific transfer to a banner (from the new Space Wolves transfer sheet), and man I think it went pretty well.

I like having dead XVth legion marines at the feet of my  Space Wolves as red is my spot colour, so it ties in well.

 

Let me know what you think

 

Dave

The Twitter Primarch Deathmatch - Qualifying round draw - Death Match 1 - Dorn v Perturabo

"The 18 Primarchs have entered the Twitter Deathmatch arena and taken their seats to find out which 4 Primarchs will be fighting it out in the initial qualifying round......"

"The music has faded out and the big plastic pot full of colourful balls is in the spotlight...."

"Strolling into the studio now to draw the Primarchs this evening is our special guest the one, the only - Fateweaver!"

 

"Who can tell whether this is indeed a random draw or whether the mighty bird is concocting the pairings for a big win with the bookies...."

"Anyway back to the proceedings as a feathered hands dips its claws into the pot...."

Qualifying round:

Deathmatch 1 : Rogal Dorn vs Perturabo

Deathmatch 2 : Corvus Corax vs Lion El'Johnson

Deathmatch 1

"So our First big matchup sees our first loyalist v traitor matchup. The Imperial Fists represented by Rogal Dorn take on Perturabo from the Iron Warriors. Interesting matchup this one and could be the most boring battle as both might just sit behind a big wall throwing stones at each other. As we know this rivalry goes back a long way to a point when both were young and trying to build the tallest Lego tower. Perturabo sneezed, Rogal's wall came tumbling down and well we all know what happened next, they have been rivals for millennia."

"Well its time to find out who goes into the First round proper, Twitter followers lets see who comes out on top."





Dorn







v







Perturabo - 1 Week

Lets Go!!!!

Forgeworld Friday - Solar Auxilia Surgeon

After a debate on Twitter I have recently been looking into the Solar Auxilia to tempt me into my first 30k army. I love the Astra Militarum and the Solar Auxilia models are absolutely amazing, in fact the only thing holding me back is the price that such an army would cost to put together.

Anyway, today's email from Forgeworld has cranked up the tension between my heart and my wallet with the release of the Solar Auxilia Surgeon - Primus Aevos Jovan & Medicae Orderlies. They look amaaaaaazing!!!

To boot the character has a cool backstory:

Aevos Jovan began his career as a physician to the wealthy and powerful of the prosperous Imperial hive world of Agathon in the days before the Horus Heresy. A healer and surgeon of consummate skill, he was regarded as a genius among his peers and a wonder-worker by the hive’s nobility. Rumours began to circulate, however, that he was putting the vast wealth he earned from his practice into pursuing private research into medical techniques not only considered scandalously unorthodox, but which also reached into territories forbidden by the law of Imperial Compliance. Eventually arrested and tried for criminal malfeasance and the infliction of unnecessary operations in order to support his secret agenda, he was awaiting execution at the time of Ireton MaSade’s military coup, and subsequently offered amnesty by the Lord Marshal in payment for service in the ranks of his Solar Auxilia forces. Watched closely by medicae staff who were as in awe of his abilities as they were suspicious of his motives in equal turns, Jovan exchanged the chambers of the wealthy for the blood and carnage of the battlefield as a new theatre for his unmatched skill in repairing rent flesh and ravaged organs.

And some ok rules such as auto passing 1 feel no pain roll each turn and a feel no pain pass on a 4+ for any unit he is attached to.

I have to say that Forgeworld are doing a fantastic job with the Solar Auxilia, they really do feel like a historic Astra Militarum army and some of the models are jaw dropping. I guess the poster that came with the email is calling me damn them....

Battle Report

Don't let the title fool you, I'm not great at writing battle reports. Mainly because I forget what has happened almost as soon as the game is over! (probably why I never win, I forget why I lost).

In any case, Dad Rich and I had a game at the weekend, and as he has been in internet blackout for a month it is down to me to tell you all about it. For me, this was the first test run of the army I am going to take to the Horus Heresy Throne of Skulls in July. For Rich, this was about me trying to persuade him he wants to come along too! :-)

Ok, on with the show. What follows is a bunch of pictures from the game in roughly chronological order, with some text to try and explain the awesome bits about what is going on. I won't bore you with the boring bits.

Set Up
We both play 30k these days, and as Book 6 has recently come along we thought we'd give it a go. Rich selected the 'Hunter - Hunted' mission, we played 3000pts a piece and the set up was the diagonal deployment zone set up. Rich had his Imperial Fists (IF), I had my Vlka Fenryka (W)

 
There was nothing super special about this mission other than that each player had to select 50% of their units to hold in reserve at the beginning, and a bunch of special victory point bonuses, but we'll worry about those at the end.

We both forgot to pick Warlord Traits (although Rich had Sigismund so his traits are pre-defined). We rolled to see who went first. I won but made Rich set up first. I later tried to seize the initiative but failed.




Rich and I both have the limited edition Breacher Sergeant, but they both look very different these days!


Turn 1
We set up 50% of our units, both placing our heavy weapons squads at the back and tanks to the fore.
Rich sent his Spartan down the middle and I set up anticipating a flanking manoeuvre .

My Long Fangs took out the IF scicarian. The IF lascannon armed heavy weapons squad took out a Rhino-mounted tactical support squad, which was the highlight of their game... Pretty much everyone else was in cover or out of range due to the cross-ways deployment.


Turn 2
The IF Spartan-mounted thunderhammer-wielding terminators dismounted and took out the Wolves’ Spartan, which was attempting a flanking manoeuvre up the right hand side. This saved the Wolves’ breacher squad from a close encounter with a thunderhammer but hey stormed in to combat with Sigismund and his squad in the next turn.

The Space Wolves jetbikes arrived in style, zoomed across the board, failed to shoot anything, lost two men then Hammer of Wrath-ed their way in to close combat. Whereupon they failed to hit and failed to save their wounds… points well spent then!



Turn 3
The last of the reserves made an entrance on both sides. The Space Wolves' Master of Signal brought down his orbital bombardment, and killed precisely nothing!

The IF terminator squad round the bend and take on the remaining Wolves Breacher Squad. Both these squads contain their respective army's Warlord. Sigismund and the Wolves’ Praetor, Hrodger Ironblade, challenge each other to a duel. Both hold their own, neither losing a wound, but as the Wolves’ unit as a whole lost combat he was killed in the ensuing sweeping advance.



Turns 4 – 6 – Increasing levels of combat as the sides ground each other down. The IF Templar Brethren was hacked away by a 20 man Blood Claw squad, whilst the IF terminators continued to pound everything in their path with their Thunderhammers and Power Fists.
I brought everything I could to crush Sigismund, even two Contemptors joining the fray at one point, but he and his squad weathered everything I could throw at them.



A nice picture of the Scicarian which unfortunately died to 9 krak missiles in the first turn. I'm not that great a tactician but always taking missiles launchers has never failed to pay off. The choice of krak or frag missiles means they can stop men or vehicles, and it's a cheap upgrade. Both my squads died in the game but not before they earned their points back. Meanwhile, Rich's mega expensive las-cannon squad killed a rhino and a couple of men, killing absolutely nothing in a couple of the turns.



A 20 man tactical squad armed with close combat weapons decide they'll have a crack at Sigismund, hoping they can succeed where everyone else has so far failed... they died to a man over the last 3 turns...




The combination of Sigismund's leadership value and an apothecary in the squad mean that this terminator became the un-killable blades in a 6-turn meat grinder. If I face them again I will just run rather than pouring 3 or 4 squads in just for the slim chance of beheading a legendary character. 



Although I lost, it's not to say I had all the bad luck of the game. Rich’s spectacular dice roll of 6 1’s in one round, where he only required 2’s to hit, has now made it in to his Saga forever more…



The Imperial Fists won the day, but mainly due to several squads cowering at the back of the board and failing to get their hands dirty… (That might just be my interpretation…). We didn’t count up victory points but at the end, the wolves had one remaining full unit on the board and the IF’s had only lost one full unit, so it seemed pretty clear in our minds.

The game was fun, Rich's board and scenery were great backdrops to the battle and I was amply supplied with tea throughout. So, all in all it was a good day even if I did lose.

What would I change about my army before the tournament? I'm not sure yet. I have tried to have a pretty balanced force; two heavy support, 2 fast attack and 4 troop choices to try and cover all bases. The Jetbikes really didn't get their points back, despite looking cool. Neither did the Spartan, but I didn't take the 'flare shield' upgrade like Rich did (meaning his survived where mine didn't). Everything else worked pretty well. The Master of Signal is my favourite, bestowing a +1 BS to any squad within 6" and granting an orbital bombardment once per game.

Hope you enjoy the photos.

Dave

HH Book VI Retribution - Review of 'Conclave of the Lost' Mission

Hi there, last week Dad James and I enjoyed trying out one of the missions from Book VI. Conclave of the Lost, is based on an Ultramarine v Alpha Legion encounter and sees the loyalist Ultramarine Commander being duped into meeting his counterpart alone at an alien ruin in the midst of a barren wasteland, what could go wrong, eh?!

Mission set-up
Well quite a lot as you might imagine - the mission sees the loyalist side (my VIIth Legion Imperial Fists on this occasion) delivering their commander and any other HQ on the loyalist side to the centre of the gaming board.....alone!

The board itself should match the description of the battlefield in the short story; in the centre is a large plateau with an alien ruin in the middle. Around it should be very little terrain and certainly nothing LOS blocking.

The loyalists deploy their HQs (I had a Primus Medicae and Praetor) within 6" of the centre point and everything else (other than 3 troops) goes into reserve. The traitors (James' Flesh Tearers re-imagined as a break-away element from the Blood Angels) are all put into reserve. My Imperial Fist troops (two squads of Breachers) deploy 18" away from the board centre. We each have a deployment zone in opposite table corners.

Victory Conditions
If James kills my HQs by T3 he gets 5points, if they survive I get 5 points. Normal VPs after that.

The Armies
Flesh Tearers - 3 squads jump assault marines, 1 squad jump death company, 2 tac squads in drop pods, 1 dreadnought in drop pod, chaplain, storm eagle, Land Raider Redeemer w 5 THSS Termies and baal predator. Its a fast army, damn fast!
Imperial Fists VIIth - Praetor, Primus Medicae, 2 squads Breachers, 1 Leviathan, Spartan w 5 THSS Termies, 7 Heavy Support Lacsannons, Sicarian and kheres mortis contemptor.

Turns Highlights
The Flesh Tearers always go first and James drops two drop pods (both hits) between my HQs and my troops shouting "you shall not pass" in their best Gandalf voices! He takes a wound off the Primus and I kill a few with shooting in my turn.

James and I get most of our reserves on in this turn with the exception of my Spartan with Termies and the Flesh Tearers ....

My HQs are totally cut off and by end T2 he has killed the Primus and taken Praetor down to last wound. The Praetor is locked into combat by the Know No Fear special rule. My Breachers fail their charge and cannot reach him to support.

My reserves pour all their fire into his Land Raider and do nothing! I was desperate at this point and it looks like he could table me by T3!

Being uber-sportsman-like James continually accepts challenges in CC and also somehow both his Chaplain and my Praetor fail to kill each other. The challenge rule seemingly keeping his other warriors from fighting my Praetor (I think we were playing this rule wrong as it seems so unfair).

Long story short, the VIIth Legion clean house as James gets stuck on my HQ in the middle of the table, a few lucky rolls later (for me) and the Tearers are on the run! Victory for the loyalists!

Mission review
Well I have to say it was huge fun and very stressful at the same time. I think that unless you have a fast army like James's that you have no chance as the traitor player - the HQs would be too hard to reach and you must have some way of deep-striking or drop-podding in to get them.

I also think the 5points is too big. Once you have that it is hard for the other to come back, in total its a 10 point swing and I think that 3 would make it fairer.

I got 'lucky' in that I think we played the challenge rule wrong and James just couldn't kill the HQ. Against a better traitor HQ unit I could have been tabled at the beginning of turn 3. This mission feels  like it has massive potential for big wins.

In summary, it was what great narrative style gaming should be about and the mission was full of character. We both loved the open table with no LOS blocking terrain too. The verdict 7/10 - give it a go (but read the mission and tailor your armies accordingly).

Happy gaming!