tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-80955292121483944392024-03-13T22:44:52.397-05:00Ultramarine BluesCrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comBlogger114125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-12271837007203853782017-04-28T10:36:00.002-05:002017-04-28T10:36:41.140-05:00I'll Bet You Forgot About Me<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...and I don't blame you, really. It's only been <i>several years</i> since I updated this thing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But hey, 8th Edition is about to drop, and if you remember way back to 2009 I had an army concept for Sisters called The Order of the Black Iris.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Well, here we go. </span><br />
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<a href="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MfHCyv30GxA/WQNhXQqnUTI/AAAAAAAAO1s/NYaWGYZ9tgENBUbzuUGJaIVN5SQ7CbBcACLcB/s1600/Black%2BIris%2B1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://4.bp.blogspot.com/-MfHCyv30GxA/WQNhXQqnUTI/AAAAAAAAO1s/NYaWGYZ9tgENBUbzuUGJaIVN5SQ7CbBcACLcB/s320/Black%2BIris%2B1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">...finally!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Let's see where this goes.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-45871817451552105562012-06-12T13:55:00.000-05:002012-06-12T13:55:05.611-05:00The Floodgates Open<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v3ef6I5CA1Y/T9eMu5fHkbI/AAAAAAAAAok/lZ8Nwwj5jY4/s1600/rumors.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-v3ef6I5CA1Y/T9eMu5fHkbI/AAAAAAAAAok/lZ8Nwwj5jY4/s200/rumors.png" width="200" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Wow, here we are just a few weeks away from Sixth Edition, and finally the rumor floodgates have opened and begun to spew forth information...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">There's a quite a few places where rumors are put up piecemeal, but <a href="http://www.imperiusdominatus.com/2012/06/news-40k-6th-massive-rumour-roundup.html" target="_blank">Imperius Dominatus</a> has a fantastic round-up that seems to cover quite a bit.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">You can tell that we're still in the "not definite" stages as there are a few rumors that contradict each other -- not a bad thing, there's going to be things like that when you have different sources of information. Oddly enough, looking through some of the rumors it would appear that <i>some </i>of the changes from the "orphan ruleset" from earlier this year were actually correct -- namely, the change in phase order from Move-Shoot-Assault to Move-Assault-Shoot. I can't decide if I like that change or not -- there's another rumor that said consolidation into assault was back in <i>a la </i>4th Edition. If so, assault-centric armies are going to be absolutely <i>brutal.</i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">Change is definitely in the wind, gang, and it looks like this summer is going to be a wild ride indeed as our favorite game changes dramatically.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">I, for one, and ready for these changes as it's become harder and harder to enjoy a game of 5th Edition these last couple of weeks. I'm ready for some new options, some new ways of playing, and for some new fun from the game I love.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i>What say you?</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><i> </i> </span><br />
<br />CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-30610907914999708742012-03-12T19:40:00.000-05:002012-03-12T19:40:08.535-05:00Adepticon 2012<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KQHNQ172I1I/T16WyCeORwI/AAAAAAAAAms/44Hy25r85uE/s1600/logocart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-KQHNQ172I1I/T16WyCeORwI/AAAAAAAAAms/44Hy25r85uE/s1600/logocart.jpg" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">All right!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Plane tickets purchased.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hotel accommodations secured, reservation confirmation number acquired.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm ready for Adepticon.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This is my first year going, and I'm pretty pumped!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'll be playing in the team tournament and attending a painting class...and wanting to meet some people and maybe play some pick-up games.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Who's going this year? </span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-1430091752738329412012-03-01T15:09:00.000-06:002012-03-01T15:09:17.928-06:00This just in...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uk4W06UFpno/T0_iXJF8EQI/AAAAAAAAAmk/fhnV4rC8tho/s1600/leafblower-icon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Uk4W06UFpno/T0_iXJF8EQI/AAAAAAAAAmk/fhnV4rC8tho/s200/leafblower-icon.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">...even having one of the best "netlists" ever built won't save you from bad decisions and dice that just won't go your way.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ladies and gentlemen, I present my helping of <a href="http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2012/03/40k-battle-report-leafblower-vs-tau.html">humble pie</a>. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">...which is entertaining in that I thought I was actually doing pretty go with the ol' Leafblower after coming in third in a local tournament a couple of weeks ago.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So I ask you: when was the last time you had a nice, steamin' slice of humble pie? Was it tasty? What did you learn? </span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-36665079687872865692012-01-20T05:31:00.001-06:002012-01-20T06:40:39.434-06:00Yay, I Have Something to Talk About!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fiyA0eUfPcE/TxlM4tLio9I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/nPwtt6q5HCM/s1600/blowing-dust-wallpaper-107.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-size: small;"><img border="0" height="150" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-fiyA0eUfPcE/TxlM4tLio9I/AAAAAAAAAmQ/nPwtt6q5HCM/s200/blowing-dust-wallpaper-107.jpg" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" width="200" /></span></a></div><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hey gang!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I often operate under the creed that I write when I have something to say.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Lately, in all the hubbub of the 6th Edition rumors and mysterious files appearing out of nowhere and people trying to figure out if they're real (my Magic 8-Ball keeps coming up with, "Signs Point to Yes", but what does it know?) and all the other goings-on, well, I haven't really felt like I had anything original to say. It's not that I haven't been doing...<i>things</i>...I've been doing book reviews for BoLS lately (the latest being the one for <i><a href="http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2012/01/review-hammer-anvil-by-james-swallow.html">Hammer & Anvil</a> </i>that went up a few days ago). But while that's writing, that's for BoLS and not really content for my personal blog (though BigRed would disagree).</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Anyway...what do I have to talk about? What interesting thing that is uniquely mine?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I now own a piece of 40K history.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You see, a while back, Darkwynn (a friend of mine) decided to sell the infamous <i>Leafblower</i> army, the one he won 'Ard Boyz 2009 with, the one that started an entire army genre.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">On a whim, I bought it.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've gotten a couple of games in with it, and even had a learning game against Darkwynn to get a handle on how to play this army. I can safely say it's not nearly as lethal in my hands as it was in his -- in fact, I've joked about re-naming it "Petal Pusher". It plays <i>very</i> differently than my beloved power-armored dudesmen. I have also proven that you can lose, and lose <i>badly</i>, with the army if you don't know what you're doing with it.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So I'm going to chronicle some of my misadventures in learning a new army, and prove that it's really not the list, it's the general that makes all the difference along the way.</span><br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Does that mean I'm abandoning my other armies? Tossing aside the GKs? Forgetting my Ultramarines (which this blog is named after)? Nope. But I've been craving something <i>different </i>lately, and this fits the bill perfectly.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Ever feel the need to really switch things up? What do you do when you feel the need to expand your horizons? Does the spectre of public humiliation of losing with what should be a <i>great </i>army ever hold you back?</span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-65238159855704509572011-09-13T00:01:00.000-05:002011-09-13T00:01:39.184-05:00A Change in the Weather<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U2-R3-w0jDw/Tm7ZZfmsb8I/AAAAAAAAAlk/5eYyW_5LRP0/s1600/map_wkpln_night1_3ussc_enus_600x405.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="135" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-U2-R3-w0jDw/Tm7ZZfmsb8I/AAAAAAAAAlk/5eYyW_5LRP0/s200/map_wkpln_night1_3ussc_enus_600x405.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, last time we talked (or so) I discussed moving away from a Draigowing/Paladin heavy army.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I've since been trying out pretty much a list every week or so trying to find one that I liked and that worked as well as I wanted. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The problem, you see, is that I <i>really </i>like Paladins, and so I've been pretty determined to keep them in the army. While it may not be the best decision I've made in terms of points efficiency and so on but I really like Paladins and so for the time being, they're in. :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So, working off the basis of a 5-man Paladin squad it was time to come up with something to go along with them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Considering the severe lack of long-range firepower is pretty much the entire GK 'dex, I decided to go ahead and add a couple of "psyflemen" dreads. Yeah, I know, they're the darlings of the Internet right now and having played a few games with them, I can understand why. No, they are auto-game-winners or anything but they definitely do fill a role that really nothing else in a "pure" GK list can do, and shoot across the board reliably.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I like units that are useful in all phases of the game -- this is why I like Paladins so much, they're good in every phase of the game. I tried a few games with GKSS but they were fairly useless in CC -- 1 attack pretty much gimps them to the point where you really don't want to get in melee with them, and that's a shame.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So...Purifiers.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>Crowe Purifiers.</i></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">You have <i>no idea</i> how badly I don't really want to run them, but point-for-point, there's really no substitute for Purifiers, and being able to take them as troops? Yes, please.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i> </i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Except...well, I can't quite seem to get the hang of using Crowe. Some of my fellow Austinites love him and use him to great effect but I just can't seem to find anything to do with his odd-duck ass. More often than not I was struggling to come up with a use for him, so...well, I'm thinking he's not going to work for me.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">So...I tried to cheat the system.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I created an abomination of a list with 2 Grand Masters and minimal 5-man strike squads, Paladins and 3 units of Purifiers...planning on using the Grand Strategy x2 to get scoring Purifiers without paying the "Crowe tax".</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In the end, though, after much discussion, I settled on something a bit more reasonable: 2xPurifiers with Rhinos and Psybolt, 2xGKSS, Paladins, 2xPsyfleman and one Grand Master. I figure I can still use Grand Strategy to make Purifiers (or Paladins, or a Dread) scoring if the game type calls for it, otherwise it's probably time to make some scouting Paladins and/or Purifiers...man I love Grand Strategy -- the counter-attack "power up" rocks as well (mmm, Paladins with counter-attack).</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The main strength of this list, though, is in the number of boots on the ground, and then number of storm bolters (32) and psycannons (14) it can bring to bear each turn. That's...a whole lot of shooting -- and it works. Well.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I'm concerned about the lack of a Librarian, though, even though I really haven't missed him the last few games I've played without him.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After a few games with the list (and if I make any tweaks) I'll post the list (though it is very simple, really) and let you know how it works out -- hopefully, somewhat near now I want it to. :)</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">How about you guys? Ever had a unit that you liked so much you just couldn't drop it from a list, even if "conventional wisdom" said it wasn't the "best"? Ever had to tear down an army and start over? How did it work out? </span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-57807283499774331392011-08-19T09:59:00.004-05:002011-08-19T10:19:05.371-05:00Draigowing Nuts & Bolts<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MMU0KySOE_s/Tk53o4jI_CI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/p4QpAb75J4Q/s1600/372px-KaldorDraigo01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-MMU0KySOE_s/Tk53o4jI_CI/AAAAAAAAAlQ/p4QpAb75J4Q/s200/372px-KaldorDraigo01.jpg" width="123" /></a></div><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Bryce commented on my last post:</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">"Hmm.... </span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Nice to hear more about a Draigowing, I'm working on 20 paladins, a librarian, a vindicare, and Draigo although he seems lost in the mail. </span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Any advice?" </span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">My reply:</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you're going to go down the Draigowing road and include a Vindicare, I would say find the points for a Techmarine. He has a couple of uses: 1. Bolster that ruin and park your Vindi in it for a tasty 2+ cover save. 2. Grenade caddy -- though if you use him for this (and you should), make sure you pony up the points to give him a warding stave, it's the only way to give him an invul save, even though it's only there in CC the warding stave gives him a shot at surviving power weapon/high strength attacks (and he WILL be singled out if you don't hide him, your opponents will HATE those grenades). I've run a Techmarine with a paladin squad and done some tests with running him with a DCA/Crusader squad and the grenades really help and the invul keeps him alive. If you do run him, though, keep in mind the Techmarine can NOT deep strike, so you can't use that as your delivery method for the unit he's attached to.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Other than that, keep in mind that Draigowing is the most elite of the elite armies, you have to REALLY know your stuff to squeeze every point of effectiveness/efficiency out of it to win games. Consider a Land Raider or Stormraven to get them into CC (which is where they really shine) but choose every assault carefully. Avoid TH/SS terminator units because you'll struggle against them, soften them up with a few rounds of psycannon/storm bolter lovin' before assault. Definitely kit each one out individually because you'll need the wound allocation shenanigans to keep them alive longer. Always take a Brotherhood Banner, the extra attacks REALLY help. Also, remember if your pallies don't cast hammerhand that turn (the libby and/or Draigo and/or Techmarine can do that for you) you can use the BB's auto-activate force weapons ability to shorten those rounds of combat versus pesky multi-wound enemies (ork nobs, I'm looking at you). </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If at all possible, use the Vindi to snipe out rune priests, Njal, librarians, etc. -- anything that hampers your ability to cast psychic powers. While they aren't required for GK to perform (strictly speaking) they definitely make things easier, and with Draigowing, you have to use every trick in the book to make it work. It goes without saying that if you play against Eldar and they have Runes of Warding...well, it's going to <i>suck</i>, and suck hard, and there's no getting around it. However, if you can mange to drop the Farseer with a lucky Vindi shot or chop him up into tasty elven chum in assault, you're in business. Unless you're playing footdar, though, most of the time the Farseer will be safely hidden away in a transport. If you can crack that open, yay, if you can't...well, continue the game minus psychic powers. Psychic powers are great buffs, but (as I mentioned), they aren't <i>necessary</i>.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Remember what I said about a delivery system? Here's the downside: you lose valuable rounds of shooting while embarked. And paladins with psybolts and 2 (or 4, if you're taking a full-size unit) psycannons is a punishing volume of fire. You need it. Maybe think about taking a full-size unit and combat squad them into two units, one with 4 pyscannons and a storm bolter as a firebase, the other all storm bolters. Attach a libby, Draigo and the Techmarine to this unit, embark in a LRC and head off to beat face while the other combat squads shoots, shoots, shoots to victory.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">One thing I feel I should warn you about, though. Draigowing is a very unforgiving army. You just don't have the bodies to absorb wounds that any mistakes you might make will cause. You need every model in the army doing everything it can every turn or you'll quickly find yourself in trouble.</span><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><br style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;" /><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">If you're looking for some other advice from other (probably much more capable players), I would suggest Black Blow Fly's <a href="http://greenblowfly.blogspot.com/">Terminus Est</a> blog (love that name, being a fan of Gene Wolff). He's been running Draigowing for a while and presents some solid ideas/advice. I got the idea of running combat-squadded paladins split along CC/shooting roles from him.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Finally, I can hear what some of you are thinking (OK, not really, as that would make me some kind of mutant), but I can <i>imagine </i>what some of you are thinking: "Joe, just last post you said you were giving up on Draigowing because you couldn't make it work. What gives with you passing out advice on how to use it?" That's a great question, thank you for asking. Yes, you're right, I decided that I couldn't make it work, specifically in a <i>competitive environment</i>. But I also said that I don't think it's an issue with the list itself, rather, my skill as a player -- all I'm doing here is relating my experiences with a Draigowing list, and hoping that Bryce (or anyone else) can build upon my experiences and hopefully do something great.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I love the concept of Draigowing -- Paladins are everything I think terminators should be (well, actually, they aren't, I think they should be at least T5, but that's a pipe dream). I do plan on re-visiting them after getting better at 40K in general. The list is too unforgiving for the number of mistakes I make in an average game. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Good luck, Bryce. I hope you can take Draigowing to the next level! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">What do you think, guys? Have you ever had a concept for an army list that you just loved, but couldn't quite make it work? Did you stick with it, or did you move on to something else? Ever re-visit a list concept? How did it go if you did?</span></span><br />
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CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-70687175716684821422011-08-17T21:47:00.000-05:002011-08-17T21:47:35.982-05:00Thinking About How I Play<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IG8fmZLlgOI/Tkx1nJd0J6I/AAAAAAAAAkw/2Yd4xPtlGOc/s1600/band_of_bros_demotivator_2_by_zombiekiller1357-d3ama8l.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-IG8fmZLlgOI/Tkx1nJd0J6I/AAAAAAAAAkw/2Yd4xPtlGOc/s200/band_of_bros_demotivator_2_by_zombiekiller1357-d3ama8l.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So, after the debacle that was 'aaaaard Boyzzz, I've been giving some serious thought to how I play.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I made some pretty serious mistakes that cost me games, or (at the very least) hamstrung my efforts at winning.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Here's a prime example: In game 1, I had a unit of paladins fail a leadership test and scamper (remember my rule about doing well with paladins, "Don't roll 1's"? Well, I rolled a couple of 1's at a very inopportune time, and followed it up with a 5 and 6 on the leadership test...don't you just love those special moments?). In and of itself, that's not so bad. I was only down a couple of guys, and still had 2 psycannons.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I forgot that you can shoot while falling back.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I even commented on it, and my opponent said nothing to correct me -- and that's not his fault, it's a tournament, and it's not my opponent's job to know the rules for me. No, I blame myself.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">But by losing that unit's shooting, a good part of my offensive capability was simply not present...but it should have been, and <i>would </i>have been </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">had I known the rules. </span></span><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Would that have turned my loss into a win? Maybe, maybe not. But the fact remains that I blew it because I didn't know the rules.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second huge mistake: I parked a Land Raider in a place that allowed my opponent to get into position to block enough of my exits that could have lost me the unit should it have gotten wrecked. As it was, I was thinking I would disembark and move to the rear (which was open) <i>all in one move</i>. Faulty thinking? Not remembering/realizing that disembarking and the following movement are two <i>separate </i>moves. As it turned out, I had to sacrifice a unit of terminators to "speed bump" a unit of Logan and his drinking buddies to try for another turn of getting Fortitude off so I could move the LR. Granted, I shouldn't have allowed myself to put the LR in such a situation in the first place, but I didn't think enough about what my opponent was going to do before I did it. So in reality, it's one mistake setting up and then compounding a second one.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Third mistake: I totally forgot to use The Grand Strategy until the start of game 3. My paladins should have had counter-attack, but didn't, because I didn't think about using the ability. Total FAIL! on my part. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What I'm getting at is that my mistakes impair my army's performance and ultimately cost me games -- and I keep making them.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So...I've been thinking about what to do about this.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">First thing, I need to play more games. The more I play, the more rules I will be familiar with and the less mistakes I will make that are rules-knowledge-related.</span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Second, I've actually been thinking of making myself a "cheat sheet" of things I need to remember while I'm playing until those things are drilled into my head and become second nature. </span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Third, I think I'm going to have to let go of the idea of pure Draigowing being a "great" army (at least for me). It just doesn't capitalize well enough on the inherent shooting strength of the GK army. I think I can get by with just one unit of them as a death star and fill out the rest of the army with either PAGKs or purifiers to dish out a lot more tasty firepower that isn't as susceptible to losing a guy or two and having it hurt the overall strength of the army so much. The sad truth is I'm not a good enough player to make Draigowing work yet. I'm not saying I won't re-visit the concept later, but it's time to move on and try some other things. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">What do you guys think? How do you train yourself out of making game-costing mistakes? Have you ever made a cheat-sheet? How about any advice on remembering everything you need to know while playing a game?</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I look forward to hearing your thoughts and suggestions.</span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-23733602094850243492011-08-13T15:35:00.003-05:002011-08-13T15:43:20.856-05:00'Aaaaard Boyzzz<div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOXk0d27ntk/TkbhfAyf1MI/AAAAAAAAAko/L2P_L0rwD2g/s1600/mistakesdemotivationalposter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="142" naa="true" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fOXk0d27ntk/TkbhfAyf1MI/AAAAAAAAAko/L2P_L0rwD2g/s200/mistakesdemotivationalposter.jpg" width="200" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">So, I'm signed up.</span></div><span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">I'm playing a dual Land Raider Draigowing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS", sans-serif;">We'll see how it goes. :)</span><br />
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</div>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-20921873183314390222011-07-22T16:27:00.002-05:002011-07-22T16:27:48.244-05:00Welcome Caldera!<span style="font-size: x-small;">My good friend Caldera has started a <a href="http://caldera40k.blogspot.com/">new blog</a> and is already dishing out some good content. Check him out and give him a follow!</span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-27724946698546528632011-07-10T13:54:00.001-05:002011-07-10T13:54:21.735-05:00WARGamesCON GT: Round 7, Table 1, Bottom of 3...<div><p>Whoa, foot Orks? Nob bikers? What's the world coming to?</p>
<br/><img src='http://lh5.ggpht.com/-TQ-STn2qPZg/Thn1XGWzxbI/AAAAAAAAAjY/sQtsATkHOrA/2011-07-10_13-50-53_17.png' /></div>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-21805167156244398822011-07-08T12:42:00.001-05:002011-07-08T12:42:59.778-05:00Wargasm!<div><p>WARgamescon in full effect, first team game down, won by 2 points...more to come later.</p>
</div>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-39274946933360888672011-06-05T15:05:00.001-05:002011-06-16T03:35:53.555-05:00PTM<div><p>I call it Post-Tournament Malaise. You know, that feeling you get after playing in a tournament -- win or lose, place or not, the next day is a little...blah...for me.</p>
<p>Maybe it's because I had to stay up late getting models in my list ready. Maybe it's the same as spending a whole day doing something you love, and the next day is just not quite as fun.</p>
<p>I love playing in our local tournaments. I learned a few new things that I will definitely be sharing. But mainly, I had a blast playing 40K all day.</p>
<p>Next up for me is a tournament in Killeen, Texas, and after that, WargamesCON.</p>
<p>Nuts. Looks like I have plenty of painting to do...</p>
</div>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-24033181736043646582011-05-31T19:10:00.023-05:002011-05-31T20:08:16.282-05:00Citadel Finecast: You Be The Judge<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rV4HKHt3jAo/TeWOqV-urbI/AAAAAAAAAh4/xOP8Ra5gU-k/s1600/2011-05-31_18-55-48_34.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 135px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-rV4HKHt3jAo/TeWOqV-urbI/AAAAAAAAAh4/xOP8Ra5gU-k/s200/2011-05-31_18-55-48_34.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5613049368693091762" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">With all the hubbub about Citadel Finecast, I thought I would present these photos for you to be the judge of "hot or not".<br /><br />I found myself in need of a new Terminator Librarian (as my metal one has gone missing). So, with the arrival of Finecast, I thought I'd get one and check it out. My FLGS was nice enough to hold a new Terminator Libby for me and I picked it up today.<br /><br />I took these pics with my phone's camera, which is pretty decent, but not fantastic or anything.</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">So, without further ado, here's the "unboxing" pics:</span></span><br /><br /><embed type="application/x-shockwave-flash" src="https://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf" flashvars="host=picasaweb.google.com&noautoplay=1&hl=en_US&feat=flashalbum&RGB=0x000000&feed=https%3A%2F%2Fpicasaweb.google.com%2Fdata%2Ffeed%2Fapi%2Fuser%2Fcrusherjoe%2Falbumid%2F5613045338275716881%3Falt%3Drss%26kind%3Dphoto%26authkey%3DGv1sRgCIH0upCrr4reOA%26hl%3Den_US" pluginspage="http://www.macromedia.com/go/getflashplayer" height="267" width="400"></embed><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />If you'd just like to see the Picasa album (and much higher-res pics), <a href="https://picasaweb.google.com/crusherjoe/FinecastBlogEntry?authkey=Gv1sRgCIH0upCrr4reOA&feat=directlink">here it is</a>.<br /><br />So...what do you guys think?<br /><br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-20814989654668331152011-05-23T14:05:00.003-05:002011-05-23T14:28:24.266-05:00Draigowing - Now with Extra Support!<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3U-Y9TJZ-GE/TdqyJNd3G6I/AAAAAAAAAd0/-LQij3QnJX8/s1600/Draigo-cropped.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 119px; height: 200px;" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-3U-Y9TJZ-GE/TdqyJNd3G6I/AAAAAAAAAd0/-LQij3QnJX8/s200/Draigo-cropped.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5609992157146848162" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">So I've been thinking about Draigowing with Paladins. Yes, Paladins cost a LOT, but I think they're worth it. The biggest issue with them is they need long-range support, and something to pop tanks from a distance (so they can get at the chewy stuff in the transports, mainly).<br /><br />Granted, in the modern Grey Knights codex that means "Psyflemen" dreads. I just <span style="font-style: italic;">happened </span>to get lucky and score a ForgeWorld dread body from a friend the other night, and I ordered the auto-cannon arms Sunday. Of course, if I make this list permanent, I'm going to be ordering another dread and auto-cannon arms, but that's OK. I figure if this list works out I can get more resin-y goodness to make the appropriate dread model (I could even use a -- <span style="font-style: italic;">gasp!</span> -- standard dread model instead of a ForgeWorld one and just order the right arms). The really good news about this list is the only other model I need to purchase is (another) Librarian in Terminator armor (as I can't seem to find my metal one). I've got one of the new FineCast ones pre-ordered at the FLGS so we'll see how that works out. I have realistic hopes that it'll at least look good, I don't know how I feel about the whole FineCast thing yet, but I figure I need the model anyway, might as well give it a shot. Right? Right.<br /><br />Anyway, this list:<br /><br />HQ: Lord Kaldor Draigo (1#, 275 pts)<br /><br />Troops: Paladin Squad (5#, 340 pts)<br /> 1 Paladin Nemesis Force Sword; Psycannon<br /> 1 Paladin Nemesis Force Halberd; Psycannon<br /> 1 Paladin Nemesis Daemonhammer; Storm Bolter<br /> 1 Paladin Brotherhood Banner; Storm Bolter<br /> 1 Paladin Nemesis Force Halberd; Storm Bolter<br /><br />HQ: Librarian (1#, 180 pts)<br /> Nemesis Force Sword; Storm Bolter<br /> Hammerhand; Might of Titan; Quicksilver; Sanctuary; The Shrouding; The Summoning; Warp Rift<br /><br />Elite: Techmarine (1#, 133 pts)<br /> Blind Grenades; Rad Grenades; Storm Bolter; Nemesis Warding Stave; Servo Harness<br /><br />Troops: Paladin Squad (10#, 655 pts)<br /> 2 Paladin Nemesis Force Sword; Psycannon<br /> 2 Paladin Nemesis Force Halberd; Psycannon<br /> 2 Paladin Nemesis Daemonhammer; Storm Bolter<br /> 1 Paladin Nemesis Brotherhood Banner; Storm Bolter<br /> 1 Paladin Nemesis Force Sword; Storm Bolter<br /> 2 Paladin Nemesis Force Halberd; Storm Bolter<br /><br />Elite: Vindicare Assassin (1#, 145 pts)<br /><br />Heavy Support: Psyfleman Dread (1#, 135 pts)<br /><br />Heavy Support: Psyfleman Dread (1#, 135 pts)<br /><br />...total of 1998 points. Yay.<br /><br />Here's the plan:<br /><br />Techmarine will bolster terrain, and the Vindicare will hide out there, with Stealth that'll give him a tasty 2+ cover save. I can live with that. The dreads will hang out near him. I have the big 10-dude Pallie squad as it's the only way I could give all my Pallies a BB, if I *need* to I can combat-squad them and have the Techmarine hop in with them, letting his Rad Grenade dispenser hopefully make up for the lack of +1 attacks they won't be getting from the BB (at least a little bit). Either way it gives me options and that's a good thing. I can DS Draigo and his squad (or another unit of Pallies, taking advantage of Draigo's Psychic Communion) if I really need to get across the board without hoofing it. Lastly -- and I'm pretty sure this'll work, but I don't have my codex here with me at work -- I can use The Summoning to yank the Vindicare out of harm's way should something assaulty get too close.<br /><br />What do you guys think?<br /><br /></span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-86398920659211606552011-05-09T15:24:00.020-05:002011-05-09T18:35:12.300-05:00Paladins: Totally Worth It<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VkCKYDZ9iJA/TchNo3ehrcI/AAAAAAAAAdg/eAxmzvfcWlY/s1600/2011-05-07_15-49-23_89.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-VkCKYDZ9iJA/TchNo3ehrcI/AAAAAAAAAdg/eAxmzvfcWlY/s200/2011-05-07_15-49-23_89.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604815100744674754" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Actually, to get an idea of how I say it, you have to imagine me with a big ol' grin giving two thumbs up and saying, "Paladins: <span style="font-style: italic;">Totally </span>worth it."<br /><br />(BTW: This pic is of my WIP Draigo-led unit of Paladins in my "Draigo's All-Stars" list that I used in </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">this past weekend's team tournament.)<br /><br />So, I played my Draigo's All-Stars list over the weekend in a tournament, partnered with <a href="http://crazyredpraetorian.blogspot.com/">CrazyRedPraetorian</a>'s IG. I have learned a few things about Paladins, and I thought I'd share:<br /><br />The volume of fire a squad of 7 with 2 psycannons puts out is amazing for such a (relatively) small unit. 8 psycannon shots a turn makes things <span style="font-style: italic;">die.</span><br /><br />Librarian + Paladins with Brotherhood Banner = Hammerhand + Might of Titan + Quicksilver = everything you charge in CC <span style="font-style: italic;">dies </span>like a squealing pig before it gets to swing back. Well, almost everything. That's why you have a Paladin with a Daemonhammer for mop-up.<br /><br />The Apothecary upgrade isn't <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>worth it. As I'm sure has been discussed, what kills Paladins dead isn't small arms fire, it's anti-tank weapons that you don't get FnP rolls on anyway. The few times I had a Paladin actually die it was to either AT weapons or a DH. The few times I got to make a FnP roll, it usually didn't help (I made exactly 1 out of 5). Yes, that was bad luck on my part, but the fact remains that FnP only has a 50% chance of working in the first place, and you don't get to use it <span style="font-style: italic;">that </span>often with Paladins. Therefore those 75 points are more than likely better spent elsewhere (on more Paladins, I think).<br /><br />Did I mention that anti-tank weapons make Paladins cry? They do.<br /><br />Wound Allocation Shenanigans (WAS) with Paladins make th</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">em very, very hard to kill.<br /><br />Mixing in a few NFSs with NFHs lets you spread those CC power weapon wounds around with a 16.67% better chance of making your invulnerable save. Since you have to do it that way for WAS anyway, make the most of it.<br /><br />I'm still undecided on the Brotherhood Banner. Yes, it does give all your Paladins an extra attack, but it does remove an NFx from the squad. I can't decide if it's worth it, or not. I'm going to have to play some more games with it and see. The BB's other ability -- auto-passing the NFx activation -- would have been perfect had I not already used Hammerhand that round of CC. That's my fault, and not some flaw in the BB, so I'll need to be more judicious in my use of Hammerhand in those times when it would be more useful to have force weapons insta-gank multi-wound mo</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">dels (I'm looking at you, Ork Nob units). Sure, S6 > S5, but not having to deal with someone else's WAS with multi-wound models would be >S6 since you can't get S8 without a DH. Did I mention you really need a DH? Yes, you do. Don't leave the battle-barge without at least one.<br /><br />The only unit that gave my Paladins issues was...another unit of Paladins, all set up for WAS and including a Warding Stave. Sometimes that 2++ <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>helps <span style="font-style: italic;">("Just die, damn you, just die!")</span>.<br /><br />Paladins can and will fail leadership tests when your dice have decided they're done for the day and want to go home.<br /><br />"Deep striking is for suckers," that's my motto. But if you <span style="font-style: italic;">really </span>need to do it with Paladins, well, they're pretty good at surviving the hailstorm of incoming fire they're going to get. Regardless, I got lucky on both my reserve rolls and DS rolls (hit once, scattered 3 the other). I still think DS is too iffy, though, especially when your Psychic Communion generator (Draigo) is Deep Striking, too. IMHO too many things can go wrong and therefore, I stand by my motto, even though sometimes you just gotta be a sucker. "No balls, no babies," as CRP would say.<br /><br />Don't roll ones. Just don't. Your Paladins don't like ones. However, the first one isn't usually a big deal. Unless, of course, you're making a save against a krak missile </span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">hit. It goes without saying that rolling a second one on the same Paladin is absolutely <span style="font-style: italic;">verboten.</span></span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Njal Stormcaller makes your Paladins sad. When you see him across the table, know in your silver-armored heart that He. Must. <span style="font-style: italic;">Die.</span></span></span> <span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">(And the sooner, the better.)<br /><br />Paladins assaulting Njal Stormcaller and his boys makes Njal cry hot wolfy tears. Psyk-out grenades are fun when you're the one using them.<br /><br /></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Other units of Paladins will make you sad, especially when they get the charge on you. Psyk-out grenades are no fun when used against you. </span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br />If you're going to use Grand Strategy to give Paladins an extra ability, counter-charge is good -- especially if you have a BB. Getting 4 attacks when charged (and more than likely going first) helps quite a bit. It will also make your opponent think twice about charging in -- which hopefully results in another round of tasty, tasty shooting from your Paladins before <span style="font-style: italic;">you </span>charge in and wreck shop. I'll have to experiment with the "gains Scouts" ability and see how that works out, but it's not like you're going to get close enough to get into CC on round one anyway...<br /></span><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Frag grenades on terminators, such a pleasant surprise <span>(well, for you, anyway...)</span>.</span></span> <span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><span style="font-style: italic;">"Don't hide from Paladins in difficult terrain, you'll just die covered in debris."</span><br /></span><span style="font-style: italic;font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" ><br /></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Lastly, expect to see things like this a lot when you play GK (and Palad</span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">ins as troops in particular):</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLu6bSSSqUU/TchYn1tonTI/AAAAAAAAAdo/2Yso8jNfxT0/s1600/2011-05-07_15-48-18_922.jpg"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 112px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-iLu6bSSSqUU/TchYn1tonTI/AAAAAAAAAdo/2Yso8jNfxT0/s200/2011-05-07_15-48-18_922.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5604827177719209266" border="0" /></a></span></span></span></span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">...in short:<span style="font-style: italic;"> Paladins: Always outnumbered, never outgunned.</span><br /><br /><br />Oh, how'd we do in the tournament? Made it to Table 2, and lost by 2 KP to a GK/SW team, which cost us placing. Remember what I said about another unit of Paladins? A-yep, that's what did it to me (well, I didn't lose the unit, but they lost CC due to number of wounds caused vs. taken, and then failed the morale check with effin' <span style="font-style: italic;">boxcars...</span>). A dreadnaught drop-podding into our IG-filled backfield didn't help. Every game was fun, though -- we definitely had a good time.<br /></span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-51136356125023691272011-04-22T00:45:00.004-05:002011-04-22T01:07:23.302-05:00Draigo's All-Stars<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s_6zzgjdc6Q/TbEapNHyGdI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/YqWxO1cSqh0/s1600/allstars.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-s_6zzgjdc6Q/TbEapNHyGdI/AAAAAAAAAdQ/YqWxO1cSqh0/s200/allstars.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5598285106997500370" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">I'm putting together a list for a 1500 points (each) team tournament next weekend, and I came up with this. I don't know if I'll run it, but <span style="font-style: italic;">damn</span>, it seems like a fun little exercise nevertheless...<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span> <table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" width="272"><col style="width: 108pt;" width="144"> <col style="width: 48pt;" span="2" width="64"> <tbody style="font-family:verdana;"><tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt; width: 108pt;" height="20" width="144"><span style="font-size:85%;">Lord Kaldor Draigo</span></td> <td style="width: 48pt;" align="right" width="64"><span style="font-size:85%;">275</span></td> <td style="width: 48pt;" align="right" width="64"><span style="font-size:85%;">275</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Librarian</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">150</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">175</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Quicksilver</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Might of Titan</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Sanctuary</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Shrouding</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">The Summoning</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Paladins x7</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">385</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">525</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Apothecary</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Psycannon x2</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Brotherhood Banner<br />DH, halberds x4, NFS on Apothecary<br /></span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Paladins x7</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">385</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;">525</span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Apothecary</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Psycannon x2</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> <tr style="height: 15pt;" height="20"> <td style="height: 15pt;" height="20"><span style="font-size:85%;">Brotherhood Banner</span></td> <td align="right"><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> <td><span style="font-size:85%;"><br /></span></td> </tr> </tbody></table><span style=";font-family:verdana;font-size:85%;" >DH, halberds x4, NFS<br />on Apothecary</span><span style="font-size:85%;"> </span><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">Total Cost: 1500 points on the nose.<br /><br />Basic plan? </span></span><ol style="font-family:verdana;"><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Use Draigo to give counter-charge to (hopefully) both pally units<br /></span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Libby with one pally squad, Draigo with the other</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Keep units close so they can both suck up that Shrouding magic</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Pick things I want to die</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Move towards those things, and shoot shoot shoot on the way</span></li><li><span style="font-size:85%;">Assault those things and watch them die quick painful deaths</span></li></ol><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">My teammate is going to run either IG or Wolves, either of which can pick up the slack caused by the holes that this list has (and yes, it has many).</span> <span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /><br />What do you guys think?</span></span><br /><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><br /></span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-88110072635269639332011-04-11T00:07:00.001-05:002011-04-11T00:07:01.846-05:00It's like...<div><p>...plastic Christmas.</p>
<p>The new Grey Knights terminator box, that is. </p>
<p>It is stuffed full of all sorts of little prizes, and dripping with exquisite little details!</p>
<p>And since when did GW actually include actual INSTRUCTIONS in their kits? Real live, readable, USEFUL instructions? You know, the kind that actually TELL you what all the parts are, what all the options are....heck, what all those little extra doodads are? It almost brings a tear to this old geek's eye. :)</p>
</div>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-24513786639908714852011-03-31T16:30:00.004-05:002011-03-31T16:32:17.175-05:00Oh wow...just....wow!<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;"><a href="http://bloodofkittens.com/network/wp-content/blogs.dir/31/files/group-documents/16/1301586042-1301573276322.gif">This</a> document that was uploaded to Blood of Kitten's "Rumors, Sweet Little Rumors" section REALLY makes me happy.<br /><br />Happier, even, than the entire GK codex.<br /><br />Because as cool at GK are, I love SoB even more.<br /><br />GW is finding new and exciting ways to siphon money out of my wallet this year...<br /><br /></span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-17278384224399991332011-03-09T12:53:00.005-06:002011-03-09T13:28:55.724-06:00A Bag of Happiness...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkS3iIB28iI/TXfMuva5ezI/AAAAAAAAAc0/V8sOE5_QNcw/s1600/Grey-Knights-codex-2011.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 146px; height: 200px;" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AkS3iIB28iI/TXfMuva5ezI/AAAAAAAAAc0/V8sOE5_QNcw/s200/Grey-Knights-codex-2011.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5582155366524353330" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">So, the GK black boxes are popping up, and as reported all over the place the rumor-mill can grind to a halt.<br /><br />Best source I've seen in <a href="http://lkhero.blogspot.com/2011/03/latest-gk-rumors.html">HERO's blog post</a>, go there and check it out.<br /><br />Also, the demand to see these must be very high, the GW website has been down for the last hour. :)<br /><br /><br /></span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-75555160375118640882011-02-16T22:37:00.002-06:002011-02-16T22:40:42.854-06:00Video Battle Report up on BoLS<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I played a game with <a href="http://crazyredpraetorian.blogspot.com/">CrazyRedPraetorian</a> and we made a video battle report from it. It's <a href="http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2011/02/40k-battle-report-ultramarines-vs-space.html">up on BoLS</a> if you'd like to see proof that I actually do play the game. :)<br /><br /></span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-4900314769778096422011-02-15T01:23:00.004-06:002011-02-15T01:57:22.191-06:00Latest GK Rumors Reaction: Definitely Aroused<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4YWTB6wtp-Y/TVox16yzDyI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/R_QWpynF13g/s1600/GK-marquee.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 200px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-4YWTB6wtp-Y/TVox16yzDyI/AAAAAAAAAcQ/R_QWpynF13g/s200/GK-marquee.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5573822291209555746" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">So, unless you've been under a rock lately you've seen some of the <a href="http://www.lounge.belloflostsouls.net/showthread.php?t=13243">latest</a> GK <a href="http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?showtopic=211572&st=625&p=2649799&#entry2649799">rumo</a></span></span><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;"><a href="http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?showtopic=211572&st=625&p=2649799&#entry2649799">rs</a>. Paladins, Purifiers and Strike Squads, oh my! Even the base PAGK is going to seriously rock...and I can't wait. Suck it, vampires and roll over, wolves, it looks like the new kids on the block are going to be fantastic.<br /><br />And I can't wait.<br /><br />Why? Because I actually own the old DH codex, and was going to start an army of them until I heard the new book was coming out and decided to wait. Man...I wish I'd gotten a head start back then, because I'm really looking forward to these guys.<br /><br />One of the things I'm looking forward to is using the Vindicare assassin to find those pesky rune priests with runic weapons and feeding him some long range snipery death so it's hammer...make that HAMMERHANDS time all around. It's going to be good to give some pups a little well-deserved comeuppance.<br /><br />The question I have is, will having storm bolters/NFW (no matter what the flavor, though I'm thinking NFHalbreds for that special +1I love) make up for not having Counter-Charge (like the wolves do)?<br /><br />Also: PALADINS. Now these guys are what Terminators <span style="font-style: italic;">should </span>be. WS5 2W with an apothecary for that oh-so-special FNP...plus the ability for <span style="font-style: italic;">each model </span>to take Nemesis Warding Staves for a 2++ Invulnerable Save...good grief I just had a nerdgasm. Granted, you'll be <span style="font-style: italic;">paying out the ass </span>for them, but hey, don't they just sound like <span style="font-style: italic;">fun</span>? Let me answer that for you: YES. :)<br /><br />We won't even get in to the DreadKnight. I can't decide if I love or hate the model from the blur-a-riffic pics we have of the model, but the stats make me all tingly. 4W MC? Yes, please!<br /><br />What's your favorite rumored GK tidbit? I have so many I don't think I can count them all. :)<br /><br /></span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-9548235218220004792011-01-05T16:47:00.002-06:002011-01-05T16:53:26.393-06:00Back in the Game!<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I heard you missed me, I'm back. :)<br /><br />After several months of being out of the game (literally) I'm back for the attack, baby.<br /><br />In fact, I played in my first tournament in over a year over this past weekend and didn't win, but made it to table 3...which is where things came off the rails a little bit.<br /><br />My friend <a href="http://crusadedude40k.blogspot.com">The Dude</a> put up a <a href="http://crusadedude40k.blogspot.com/2011/01/dragons-lair-40k-tournament-1111.html">post</a> about this game, and I thought I'd link to it as proof that I'm actually playing again (and to let you know how things went downhill for me pretty quick in this game).<br /><br />Anyway...it's good to be back.<br /><br />Coming up: The much ado'd, but never seen Star Phantoms pic. Really. I promise.<br /><br /><br /><br /></span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-80742367756340757432010-12-21T11:51:00.002-06:002010-12-21T11:51:55.857-06:00GK.<span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family: verdana;">I had a talk with a friend "in the know" about the upcoming Codex: GK.<br /><br />All I will say is...I'm aroused.<br /><br /></span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8095529212148394439.post-84396741564138473102010-11-02T09:37:00.004-05:002010-11-02T09:45:24.983-05:00An Older Pic...<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nEiMHWGrios/TNAi9aiWBrI/AAAAAAAAAbc/gzh7iHKKSNw/s1600/opposing-sides.jpg"><img style="float: left; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; cursor: pointer; width: 200px; height: 182px;" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_nEiMHWGrios/TNAi9aiWBrI/AAAAAAAAAbc/gzh7iHKKSNw/s200/opposing-sides.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5534962380529075890" border="0" /></a><br /><span style="font-size:85%;"><span style="font-family:verdana;">...of some stuff in progress. Well, the CSM isn't in progress, he's finished, and he is the "sample piece" from my Army of the Crowing project. The Inquisitor Lord is definitely in the very beginning stages, and will probably find a home with the Sisters. I'm doing something very different with the Inquisitor, he was primed gray and then "spray-lighted" white in an effort to learn and do shading better. We'll see how it works out, hopefully with more in-progress pics when I actually do more work and get things going hobby-wise again.<br /><br />The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated, but my absence has been imposed. I'll explain later (most of the Austin crew already knows about it). I'll be doing a LOT more gaming-related things in about a month...but I'm going to be looking through my older pics and maybe posting a few things between now and then. :)<br /></span></span>CrusherJoehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02299632516296404872noreply@blogger.com