A Large Model This Way Comes

Quick update! A shot of this gargantuan beast before I make it look like it has had a few atmospheric entries. ;)

Midweek Update - On the Table

Currently three models on the workbench - two Black Templar commissions (Helbrecht and Caestus Assault Ram) and the spoils from the tournament last week. Just finished the red basecoat on the Contemptor tonight, and will be highlighting and weathering it as I take breaks from the Templars. 

Stay tuned for updates!

Female Commissar Commission and Tournament Update

This one has been finished for a while; this model is the "Kapitan Ivanka Kurganova (28mm)" from Raging Heroes, and fits well within an Imperial Guard army looking for something a little different than grumpy ol' manly commissars.

Must say, it was fun painting a non-GW model for once. ;)  

A local invitational tournament was held at the LGS, where I pitted my Blood Angels with an Ultramarines player against five other teams.  Three matches were played, and an abridged battle report follows:

Our list: (Limited Shared Force Org.)
HQ
Mephiston
Kor'sarro Khan (Counts as ;) )

Elites
Ironclad Dreadnought, Drop Pod
Dreadnought - TL Lascannon

Troops
Scout Squad x5 - Telion/Sniper Rifles/Missile Launcher
Scout Squad x10 - Combat Blades, Power Fist
Death Company x11 - Power Fist

Fast Attack
Baal Predator - Heavy Bolters, TL Assault Cannon
Baal Predator - Heavy Bolters, TL Assault Cannon

Heavy Support
Vindicator
Vindicator
Storm Raven - Extra Armor

Match 1 (Vs Two Space Wolves), Primary: Capture the most Objectives
We turtled up in one corner, had them come to us; we wiped out their Thunderwolf Calvary unit without it getting a single charge/swing on us.  We ended up tying because both teams denied each other the primary, secondary, and tertiary goals.

Match 2 (Vs Tau, Tyranids), Primary: Kill the most expensive HQ
Mephiston stayed in Reserve as long as possible. (Teehee).  Storm Raven and Baals pushed up to assault their flank (made up of Genestealers and Sniper Drone Squads), while Genestealers and Raveners attempted to push into our front lines.  Vindicators and Baals made short work of gribbly nids.  Death Co. valiantly pushed into the flank, but were cut down to two troopers by withering fire from drones and crisis suits.  These two marines continued to wreak havoc when supported by outflanking Ultramarine scouts and Khan.  The enemy was slaughtered down to a single Hammerhead.

Match 3 (Vs Tau, Chaos Daemons), Primary: Send one of your units off of the opponent's deployment edge.
This mission played out in our favor, with the deployment zone being nearly half the board, and the mission goals.  The Storm Raven nuked a Broadside squad who was in the open with an alpha strike of Bloodstrike missiles.  Devilfish and Fire Warriors were cut down with assault cannons and meltaguns.  Daemons appeared piecemeal, and were cut down by the Baals and the Ironclad.  Both sides were able to achieve the Primary goal, but the enemy team was tabled by essentially the top of turn 3.  The game continued to turn 5 because the last daemon unit rolled poorly on its reserve rolls.  Oof.

Results:
* My teammate and I pulled out with First Place, and won a pair of Contemptor Dreadnoughts and choice of arms.
* The Space Wolves team placed second.
* The Tau / Daemons placed third.
* I somehow pulled out First Place in painting score, and won a full set of Forge World weathering powders.  Kick ass!

Overall, that was the most fun I've had in a tournament setting.  I look forward to doing it again.

List Permanence - Blood Angels Edition

During my wargaming exploits, I have had a hard time nailing down an army list that I like and have an even harder time sticking with a single list for more than a few games.  I have the tendency to show up at a game store and have forgotten my list or specific models are at home on the painting desk, or I'm just feeling frisky so I feel the need to throw my previous list out the window and come up with a new one on the fly with minimal thought involved.

Today, I've started the idea of working on ONE list at a certain points value, playing it for no less than 10 games, take notes while playing, and then edit it with optimizations.  So here goes; the following is a 2500 point Blood Angel list with combinations of what I've enjoyed running in the past, culminating in a hybrid 'Jumper/Mechanized' attack force, with enough melta and firepower ruin someone's day when their tanks and infantry have been reduced to molten slag.

Bake Assault Marines at 400 deg F for 35 minutes, or until Black and Ragey on the inside.

Hybrid Blood Angels - 2500 Pts

HQ:
Mephiston, Lord of Death - 250 Pts
Librarian, Shield of Sanguinius, Unleash Rage - 100 Pts
Honour Guard, Meltaguns x4, Jump Packs - 205 Pts

Elite:
Sanguinary Priest- 50 pts
Sanguinary Priest, Jump Pack -75 pts

Troops:
Assault Squad x10, Meltagun x2, Thunder Hammer, Land Raider Redeemer w/ Multimelta, Extra Armour - 465 Pts
Assault Squad x5, Meltagun, Infernus Pistol, LC/TLPG Razorback - 165 Pts
Assault Squad x5, Meltagun, Infernus Pistol, LC/TLPG Razorback - 165 Pts
Assault Squad x10, Jump Packs, Meltagun x2, Powerfist - 235 Pts
Assault Squad x10, Jump Packs, Meltagun x2, Powerfist - 235 Pts

Fast Attack:
Baal Predator, Heavy Bolters - 145 pts
Baal Predator, Heavy Bolters - 145 pts  

Heavy Support:
Devastator Squad x5, Missile Launcher x4 - 130 pts
Devastator Squad x5, Missile Launcher x4 - 130 pts


Models: (65; 34 foot, 26 jumpers, 5 tanks)
Kill Points: 16

The idea is that I will have a mobile armoured force to spearhead up the middle with a Librarian riding with the full assault squad and priest, giving the tanks their lovely 5+ cover bubble, and when the squad deploys he can give them Preferred Enemy.  (Previously was going to use a chaplain here, who is more resilient, but that would leave my tanks totally exposed to enemy fire without the shield.  This will probably be one of the tweaks I look at after playtesting.)

The Dakka Preds will be there for anti-horde support, and generally put out enough hurt to scare light vehicles and MCs.  The Devastators are also there for anti-horde, and anti-vehicle.  Mephiston is self-explanatory.  The Jumpers will either advance with the armoured force or deep-strike for mayhem, depending on the mission.  The razorbacks will support the advance of the Redeemer and claim objectives if they survive near the end-game.

Thoughts?

Business Cards / On The Table

Today I designed and placed the order for my first set of business cards for Twin Linked Paints -- thus, in my mind, bringing myself one step closer to getting more commissions. 

Here is the card, with my phone number removed for security reasons. ;)

On the table, I have a handful of my Blood Angels Death Company and a Chaplain to finish for an upcoming local tournament, and after that I will start on a Caestus Assault Ram and Black Templars Helbrecht for a local commission.  Looking forward to getting started on the Ram, being such a large, detailed model.  Lots of opportunity to practice scorching and weathering.

Rebirth and Redesign

After 6-7 months of no updates, I've decided to restart my blog and include my painting commission exploits as well as update more often with army lists, my own personal army progress, and battle reports.

So, here is peek at my upcoming commission service logo:

Unfortunately, the next three months are going to be very busy (my day job), but stay tuned!  I will have many updates on the way.