State of the game thoughts and a format idea

Hello,

I have been off blogging of late as my new job/marriage/life have been all consuming. However I have been continueing to play lots of 40k. I have tons of thoughts on the current state of the game and honestly they are a jumbled mess in my head. With OP wraithknights, hordes of scatter bikes, super heavies/gargantuan creatures running amok...I for one miss the company level game I used to play.

With that in mind I have been noodling on some ways around it. A friend of mine and I were talking and we are planning to start playing smaller games. We plan to begin with 1000pts and if that is not quite enough work up to 1250 or maybe even 1500 someday. I have also put together a basic outline of how I would like to play 40k going forward. I am not forcing this on anyone or requiring people to play it. I also am not sitting here saying it is unbreakable and doesn't have its own set of issues. What I am saying is that this is how I want to play right now and this list of rules brings the game to place where I have found I tend to enjoy myself more.

If you like it and want to try it...go for it.

If you don't feel free to offer thoughts below. (note unnecessarily negative comments will be removed)

Warm Regards,

-Tsarith

Tsarith’s 40k Format

1.       This format is intended to be used with NOVA missions and the NOVA FAQ (it will require modification to use with other mission formats)

2.       A round in this format will comprise two games. Each game played with one of the two lists each player brings. Each list must conform to the following rules.

a.       1000pts

b.      No unit can cost more than 250pts on the list (note this does not stop multiple units/IC’s from joining to become worth more than this throughout the course of the game. This is simply a limit imposed on your actual army list.

c.       Your army list may contain up to 2 sources (these can be in any combination)

d.      your primary detachment must remain the same between lists

                                                               i.      This means that if one list has an Eldar CAD as the primary detachment then the other list must as well.

                                                             ii.      This does not stop you from taking a harlequin formation as a second detachment in the first army though and a dark elder allied detachment in the second list or no second detachment in the second list if that is your desire.

3.       How do you begin the battle:

a.       Both players exchange both army lists with their opponent before the game.

                                                               i.      After reviewing lists you secretly mark down which of your lists you will play.

b.      Proceed with the normal pre-game check list per the event ruleset

4.       After completeing your first game:

a.       Record battle points from the first game

b.      The winner of the game is whoever scored more battle points

5.       Each player then takes the other army list and begins again with the following two caveats

a.       Whoever lost the first game chooses deployment zones (no randoming vanguard)

b.      Whoever lost the first game may choose if they wish to deploy first/go first.

6.       The winner of the round is whoever scores more battle/mission points between the two games. 

November Huzzah RTT SATURDAY!!! November 22nd, 2014 (NOTE IT IS ON SATURDAY)

November Huzzah RTT SATURDAY 22nd, 2014

Hey all I just wanted to get a post out there. This month's RTT will be on SATURDAY November 22. Hopefully this change of day will make it so more people will be able to attend.

Also we're going to change the format up a bit! This event will be HIGHLANDER! The points will still be 1850. The rules for highlander can be located here and a unit clarification list can be found here. The clarification list will tell you what unit counts for what. An example would be that Eldrad counts as a farseer and a Blood Angel Tactical squad is a Space Marine Tactical squad. If you have any question about the format or a unit count as please feel free to ask!

Please arrive between 10am and 10:30. Round 1 will start around 10:45am. No need to sign up though it is preferred. You can call the store at 703-466-0460 or visit their website www.huzzahhobbies.com for location / number. $15 gets you in and we feed you lunch! We have room for about 30 people, so come one come all!

Can't wait to see you there!

Huzzah Hobbies 40k 1850 RTT 10/19

Huzzah Hobbies 40k 1850 points RTT 10/19

This month's Huzzah Hobbies 40k RTT is this weekend!

Please arrive between 10am and 10:30. Round 1 will start around 10:45am. No need to sign up though it is preferred. You can call the store at 703-466-0460 or visit their website www.huzzahhobbies.com for location / number. $15 gets you in and we feed you lunch! We have room for about 30 people, so come one come all!

The next big event is going to be 11th Company, so we're going to go with their setup and that is NOVA Open Format. Mission Packet is located:
http://www.novaopen.com/wp-content/uploads/Final-GT-and-Invitational-Packet.pdf

FAQ:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/13mcnnnPW_nDoAKsWMDOQVnUi3hIizsVrNzppGggzEVs/pub
Please feel free to ask if you have any questions.

Can't wait to see you there!

Huzzah hobbies RTT 9/28

Huzzah Hobbies 40k RTT 9/28

Hey all I just wanted to get a post up and get the word out about this month's Huzzah Hobbies' RTT. So normally its held on the 3rd Sunday of the month, but due to a scheduling conflict it has been pushed back to the 4th Sunday 9/28.

Please arrive between 10am and 10:45. Round 1 will start at 11am. No need to sign up though it is preferred. You can call the store at  703-466-0460 or visit their website www.huzzahhobbies.comfor location / number. We have room for about 30 people, so come one come all!

Since Battle for Salvation is right around the corner we're going to use their format:

Format: NOVA Open: Faqs, List Composition, Win/loss
Missions: 2014 Bay Area Open Mission Pack
Points: 1850

Army Construction:
- You may not select more than 2 total Detachments, and must contain a Primary detachment
- You may not select more than 1 Combined Arms Detachment
- If you do select a Combined Arms Detachment, is must be your Primary detachment
- All Formations, Codices, and Dataslates published by 10/1/2014 are considered legal
- Forgeworld rules will not be legal for 2014
- You may select 0-1 Fortifications from the following: (at this time, no further upgrades to fortifications such as though in Stronghold may be taken)
Aegis Defense Line
Imperial Bastion
Skyshield Landing Platform
Firestorm Redoubt
Vengeance Weapons Battery
- Conjured units are not considered part of an explicit Detachment. As a result, benefits from your Warlord such as Conqueror of Cities and benefits granted by being a part of a given detachment do not apply to Conjured Units. Furthermore, as a RAW clarification, Conjured Models interact with other models as per the Allies Matrix, regardless of the Faction that summoned them.
- Super Heavy/Gargantuan/Escalation Lords of War are not allowed at this time (meaning you can still take Ghaz/Logan and an Imperial Knight, just not a Baneblade). (Subject to change if we get enough people who want these, and if we do change, will likely be using the modified list as per what BAO did)
- An Allied Detachment may be composed of models from the some Faction as your Primary Detachment.

If you have any questions please feel free and ask!

NOVA Open 2014 is behind us now...

Hello,

So I want to start by saying that I absolutely love the NOVA Open. I think the format is pretty spot on, I believe firmly that the FAQ they provide is solid (with a few minor oddities), the terrain is great, the location is nice, and overall it is just a really really great event that I think everyone should attend. Actually other than the 11th Company GT it is by far my favorite event.

Just like most other major GT's the nova has some odd quirks but Mike Brandt and his staff have gone to great lengths to create a fair and fun environment for everyone. If you don't like your games to be so competitive then play in the Narrative! It is a fun campaign event which has a story line that moves forward every year. Each game played actually has an impact on how the story progresses. This event is a fun unique experience and is a must try for anyone planning to attend the NOVA. If you are a truly competitive soul then I can personally recommend the Invitational (you will have to earn a spot though! Check out the nova open website to find out where/when you can earn one) which I have had the honor to participate in two years in a row now. They also have a fast growing Trio's event which hopefully will continue to be available next year as it is a very casual environment that still contains very competitive games.

Lastly of course we have the namesake event, the NOVA Open GT which is a 256 player open brawl. It is made up of 8 games which are used to determine the best of the best on the east coast. The first 4 games are played to determine brackets. Then after each player has been placed in an appropriate bracket using their scores from the first 4 games the event is basically broken up into mini bracket tournaments. Each bracket has a champion determined by win/loss. This system helps to ensure that for at least half of your games you are ideally playing against players of similar skill and army power.

I have to say that I was nervous going into the event this year. With 7th edition having just been dropped on us poor 40k players and the rise of the Imperial Knights...well I will suffice to say I had no idea what to expect as far army composition. I went in expecting to see many Imperial Knights and honestly I saw far less than anticipated. I actually saw significantly more necrons than I expected. I know that Eldar were all over the top bracket but when walking around I felt I saw a fair mix of most armies you would expect to see.

What the NOVA really has going for it is a two part recipe for a great event. Proper terrain and great missions. I heard tons of people complaining about the complicated missions, but I also saw armies that people claim are dead (flying daemon prince based armies and chaos space marines to name a few) winning games because the generals had read/studied the missions beforehand. I agree with the masses, the missions are complex. But this game is complex and with a game like this...we need a more robust mission. The missions that were used allowed for multiple win paths with nearly any army. They are far from perfect, but I think they are going a long way to making this game better. I would challenge anyone who claims the missions are needlessly complex to go play each mission 5-6 times before complaining. Most of the missions are not as hard as you think...they are just different from how Warhammer has traditionally been played.

The other aspect of importance is the terrain. Open tables are a huge problem in 40k. I have been to loads of small and large events where the terrain has just been lacking. I understand how much of an investment terrain can be (both time and money) but it makes a huge difference. If your table lacks terrain the game becomes very one dimensional. A lightly terrain'd table makes for a perfect place for a all shooting gun line army to set up shop. It also makes a great place to use Imperial Knights whose biggest drawback is that they like any other walker are slowed by terrain. But at the NOVA they had very large terrain pieces that often forced a player using Knights to walk through the terrain. It forced players to make choices, take the long way around...or charge through the terrain and risk getting stuck for a few (most likely game changing) turns.

So overall, this years NOVA (my third one!) was another great event. I will definitely be going again next year and I hope to see everyone who reads this there too. Also on the near horizon is the Battle for Salvation GT in New York and the 11th Company GT in South Carolina. I highly recommend both of these events!

-Farseer Tsarith

Another cool update, Team PoweredPlay!

Hey Everyone,


I just wanted to post up that I have been selected to join Team PoweredPlay!
http://poweredplay.net/meet-team-poweredplay/



I am looking forward to all my fellow team members and I am very excited to start lighting up my army with some of their awesome and easy to use lighting kits! Go check them out here: http://poweredplay.net/

Best of luck to my teammates who will be competing this weekend at the Bay Area Open GT!

-Farseer Tsarith

Random thoughts and some army pictures..new warlocks!

Hello,

So I figured I have not posted any newer pictures of my models...So here they are! I have been working on and off to update my warlocks to be..more consistent. The ones I had were a mosh pit of bits that I managed to toss together in my very very poor college days. So a few months ago I ordered the dire avenger swords and shining spear bits to properly build my warlocks. I have just about finished them up, they need to be highlighted and I think I might replace the bikes as well (the ones they are current mounted on are from my salvage bucket) but for the next few events these will do much better than the old poorly converted ones I have been using for the last year or so.

They are all consistent now! (some of the old ones had space marine power swords...)

Just a close up of my Baron Sathonyx model (the free hand was all done by a close friend)

This dude just got some extra highlighting done and I finished magnetizing his arms!

This was the list I was playing last weekend at the Huzzah Hobbies RTT.

In other news I was noodling on Imperial Knights and I am quite convinced that they will probably be out in force at the NOVA Open this year. I heard from my friends who went to the ATC that they were ALL OVER THE PLACE down there. And with the new formation (its in the Red Waaagh campaign book) I expect them to do very very well. The gist of that formation is that it is composed of 3 Imperial Knights and as long as they are within 3 inches of another one of those knights they can re-roll their invulnerable save and a few other things. Even without that formation though they are quite good. I was play testing some beastpack lists the other day (after my success at Adepticon I thought it was worth seeing how they do in 7th edition) but sadly those Imperial Knights can just trollololol all over the little doggies. I think beastpacks can still be made to work in 7th but at the moment I am leaning away from playing them. 

I had another list thought after some discussion with some friends at the RTT and I am noodling on the idea of just saying screw everything and just allying with myself (the NOVA Open is allowing you to ally with your own codex rather than use multiple CAD's) and playing Baharroth instead of using the Baron. The reason I do like this idea is that Baharroth will make a better tank for wounds most of the time and he is an Eternal warrior and still has hit and run.

My main concerns with that list is that it looks roughly like this:

Eldar CAD:

Farseer on bike

Farseer on bike

8 warlocks on bikes

4x3 wind rider squads

3x wraith knights

Allied Eldar:

Baharroth

1x3 wind rider squad

This list has 1 less objective secured unit but the one I dropped is the walking warrior squad which was sort of a liability in most cases anyway. I will need to noodle on this more but I do like the idea of using this instead of the Baron. Actually the cool thing is that all the points to get Baharroth come from dropping the dark eldar detachment and the shard of anaris which is no longer needed as Baharroth is fearless. I could still take some swooping hawks instead of the third wraithknight but I really like the idea of just having a bunch of big smashy toughness 8 monsters running around. In any case I still have a little over a month to noodle on this!

-Farseer Tsarith