The State of Competitive Gaming in Australia- Guest Article

Opinion

By James M.

Since the release of WHFB 8^th Edition in Australia almost 12 months ago, competitive war gaming in Australia has undergone drastic change. One year ago, no-one would have predicted a such a change would occur in such a short time. From premiere tournaments selling out in a matter of hours to struggling to obtain 20% of last years numbers, it has been a depressing and demotivating time for many gamers and consequently hobbyists Down Under, but hope is on the horizon and is sailing in aboard S.S Privateer Press.

But let me give you a brief background about myself. My name is James M. and I'm a 4^th year Honours Music and Commerce Student at the Australian National University. Having dabbled in Warhammer Fantasy as a young teenager (Empire and High Elves) I gave the game up for most of school. It was only when grabbing for cash as a university student and pulling my old high elves out that my love for the hobby was rekindled. I went to sell them at a local gaming night, but instead found myself pouring through the Wood Elf and Lizardmen book for hours and eventually spending 2009 and the first half of 2010 painting up my Lizardmen and hitting the tournament scene, making the chance to Dark Elves and Daemons for the latter half and Attending the Australian Masters in late 2010.

However, lets backtrack for a moment. In July 2010, I attended “Convic” In Melbourne. A 100 Player tournament not only did it prove to be a fantastic bonding weekend for all the local players, but was by far my most successful weekend of gaming in the tournament year. At heart, I'm a competitive gamer, so you can imagine the glee I felt inside as on table 3, the last roll of the game versus an intimidating Australian ETC player came up a 6 to pop the final wound off the Greater Deamon of Khorne and secure me a 15-5 win and an overall 3^rd/100 placing. Little did I know with such great success and a weekend full of epic stories, only a severe contrast was to come.

Being the final 7^th edition tournament, 8^th edition hit full swing and the first premiere tournament of 8^th edition in August of 2010 hit, “The Pilgrimage” In Sydney’s West Attracted a solid 80 people. Once again, the games were fierce, dice were rolled and there was much war gaming chatter... but something was missing... “Mother of all Battles” and “Orktoberfest” came round and we saw a 50% drop in numbers.. what was happening to a previously unstoppable force?!

“I Love Warhammer” I thought... this can't be happening.. my friends, the game I love, all slowly disintegrating right before me. I thought for days, weeks and months until I realised... 8^th edition was a shot duck for competitive gamers. When 8^th edition first came out, I was buzzing with excitement! “They've done it! They've fixed the game, balanced the books, its amazing!” but after playing a few games, and by a few I mean almost a hundred, the buzz was still missing. The spells aren't that bad, the strategy still exists.. so what is it?

The game is unrewarding.

I found myself apologising to players after games... “I'm sorry about that dice roll”. You shouldn't have to say that after one in ten games, let alone one in three. The Australian Masters tipped it for me, after playing an almost perfect game three times, one crazy dice roll tipped the game on its head.

And that’s fine for casual gaming! But for competitive gaming, its a big nono. Games Workshop has always said they have never intended for their games to be so competitive... but there is no reason they cannot be casual AND competitive I felt let down by a company I had supported and loved for so long.

Consequently, Australia has seen an exodus of people switching. Of the previous top 25, approximately 20 of them have made the switch to Privateer Press's Warmachine/Hordes. Whilst a bit late for the bandwagon, I jumped onboard with Trollbloods in December 2010 and have never looked back since. The Background is fantastic, the fluff is phenomenal and the gameplay is one of, if not the most competitive games I’ve ever played on the tabletop! Luck has very little to do with execution of tactics and you actually feel great after coming off a 'brink of destruction' win or loss! The rush of timed turns and such fluid gameplay mechanics is an exhilaration I’d never felt before when my Daemons munched through the side of an unaware opponent.

With the recent price increases and restrictions on independent stockists selling and distributing to Australasia coupled with the moronic lack of awareness of exchange rates, I have not looked back to Games Workshop since jumping ship and these recent announcements confirms my beliefs even more so.

So where does this leave us? Don't get me wrong, I wish the Warhammer Fantasy 8^th edition community in Australia nothing but success, but the glory days are over. No-longer will tournaments sell out in record time and go from strength to strength attracting numbers in the hundreds. For competitive play, you cannot look past Warmachine and Hordes and I hope we grow to attract the scene we once had!

See you in the Iron Kingdoms and For Kith and Kriel!

James M. a.k.a. Crono

Australian Correspondent

Orcs on the Block

Orc army on the block. Whole bulk rate is $750 for the next 20 hours (until Friday evening). Otherwise you can pick up the various lots individually as you please.

Bitcoin?

What is this? A letter from a reader.

Hey Shawn,

Just read about bitcoin. At first I thought you would just like it as food for thought, but then it occurred to me that businesses are starting to accept bitcoins as payment, and you might be in to that, so I decided to send some links your way.

article about it:

http://launch.is/blog/l019-bitcoin-p2p-currency-the-most-dangerous-project-weve-ev.html

youtube video of presentation on it:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4cxFeSIYNq8&feature=related

actual stores that offer goods and services for bitcoin:

https://en.bitcoin.it/wiki/Trade

Firewood

Saturday night I headed out with my lovely wife on a date. We had some Italian food then saw Thor. That's the second time for me.

Sunday was the typical. I slept in, watched like three episodes of Shark Tank with my wife. We are fascinated with that program. It speaks to me. I also can't stand people who won't give a straight answer, and no powers of self-examination.

Makes me wonder if I'm that way, but don't realize it. I guess that's why I have my darling wife-- to help me see the situation as it really is.

If I could have a power it would be the ability to evaluate things properly-- to see the real value of things, people, talents and resources.

Seven years ago I looked out over the valley and made the mistake of asking God for wealth. Well, not money per se but a slice of the resources. I wanted to able a steward; an administrator. And guess what? That's when my lessons began. The best way to learn how to manage resources is to be poor, to struggle. I wasn't ready seven years ago. I couldn't receive something good because I wouldn't have handled it very well. I still don't think I'm there, or if I even want to be there. On the one hand I realized that material resources represent risk and stress. If you don't own anything then no one can take it away. But that's a terrible way to think. More resources means that I can do more things. I can be more useful to the community.

The best thing I can do for someone is to develop them as a professional, and to some extent as a person so they are ready to receive something good. I don't know how to describe it well. There is a preparation period that has to happen in order to handle a blessing.

7	Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:
8	for every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.
9	Or what man is there of you, whom if his son ask bread, will he give him a stone?
10	Or if he ask a fish, will he give him a serpent?
11	If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father which is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?
12	Therefore all things whatsoever ye would that men should do to you, do ye even so to them: for this is the law and the prophets.

I don't give my kids ice cream for breakfast. It's bad for them. Likewise, I often wonder if what I ask from God is really in my best interest. I wish I could understand better what to ask for.

The Mormons have a saying: Sacrifice brings forth the blessings of heaven. While that may be true, it's my experience that (in addition to that) "Asking brings forth the blessings of heaven." But be careful what you ask for! Don't think I'm knocking the idea of personal sacrifice. After all, I gave up video games for my business, for example. Not a very good example, maybe, but it was something.

Training is a gift. Preparation is a gift. Lessons from God are a gift. These three things come usually in the form of hardship. Often in the form of other humans.

Back to sacrifice. Throughout history people have gone absolutely nuts about sacrifice. The Aztecs for example. I guess the end of that road is to start sacrificing children, which is an unthinkable horrific-ness. Or jump bodily into a cenote. The idea that you have to give something up to get something can end very badly. That's what is so great about Jesus Christ-- a last and final sacrifice. Like God saying "will you people quit it already!" Now there's a new deal (the new testament, new covenant): ask and ye shall receive. But there's a caveat on that. A sports car won't drop out of the sky. Only something that is truly good for you. No ice cream for breakfast.

The sacrifice required now is a "broken heart and a contrite spirit". To me, this means to get to a point where I realize that I have nothing. No bartering with God. No deals. Only ready to receive something great, something fantastic beyond reckoning. Like giving a child some M&Ms "No, put out both hands. No, wider!" And just say thank you.

In the next life the walls come down and unlimited possibilities open up. Some souls, with self-assigned guilt, will create awful places like hell-worlds and then start to work themselves over in horrific fashion. This will be in reaction to self-revelation. Others will create communities based on their mutual desires, paradises to be enjoyed from the heart as they grow closer and closer to the galactic core. That's the tragic danger of letting people get what they want, what they really want. The whole galaxy, and layers upon layers in that galaxy will all be ours, unlimited space and unlimited potential. That's a risky brew.

This is why lessons of how to manage resources coupled with lessons on how to treat other people are so important. To learn sympathy. That's been my great lesson of earth life: that I truly am helpless before my earthly/personal faults. I'm not so high and mighty any more. I see my fellow humans more sympathetically. There are still some few people that I don't want to be around, so I'm not sure what to think of that. But for the most part I'm more curious than condescending these days. I think God is amused and pleased by his children. Maybe I'm reading that off my own children. I smile at their mistakes and try and help them learn to do better; to carry themselves with competence and confidence.

Watching the movie Thor I thought, is Asgard real? (Now I'm out there, right?) I mean it is really on a computer server somewhere. It's a real sequence of computer code. But I experienced it. I saw it on a screen. Somebody made it up. That was something at least-- to see it. What if it were possible to actually insert a consciousness into programmed world that was entirely realistic. Yes, I saw The Matrix. What if the whole universe is like that? What if the soul is just a projectable organism that goes into a world that God "creates" through means of (what appears to be) a physical body?

Well, that was quite a ramble. Just some thoughts. I'm not saying I have some special insight. Maybe I'm actually a little slow on the uptake!

Ingrate
An ingrate is someone who has something good or gets something good but does not appreciate it. Doesn't realize it. Doesn't say thank you. Maybe even complains. I'm working on being less of an ingrate.

Is worrying a form of faithlessness? By wringing my hands all the time am I being ungrateful? Unable to enjoy good things because I'm always worried about this or that.

Right now I couldn't be happier. I love my kids. I can't get enough of my wife. My house is cold, my shower is hot. I'm eating fresh-grilled burgers in the Utah spring.

Often when I've asked God for something I get a struggle. I get blessed twice. Once with the adventure of achieving whatever it is, and another time with the actual thing.

If you chop your own firewood it will warm you twice.

PS- when I write these sorts of blog posts I'm always a bit embarrassed. I don't think they are written well and I think I may come off as moralizing. That's certainly not my intent. I just barf out whatever is on my mind. I realize I can't be right all the time.

Drumming my fingers

Just waiting by my email Inbox. Ready to set up new projects now for completion in June.

OK, now it's later. Renn is here and we're making army lists, getting ready for the match.

Dead Sexy: Voidraven

Venom is out, too. I know what I'm getting next. June.

Time to make "The Shiv", a venom-heavy Dark Eldar army.

Blue Table Painting is not affiliated with Games Workshop. We make no claim to own this photo.

Sculptor Imminent

Our Sculptor (Mike E.) is coming on Monday, May 23. He'll be ready for projects out of the gate. Specialty parts and even whole models.

Ice Cold Fury

While campaigning for Mike Lee (now Senator) I met a few of his staff. Apparently one of them remembered me when I sent in an email. I have to say that was really super. Here's the letter that I wrote.


I've wanted for a while to write a letter, and just never seemed like it was "official" enough. So here goes.

I want something as a citizen: for the Federal Government to be shrunk down to about 2% of GDP. To fill only the most basic and strictest interpretation of its enumerated powers.

I want the income and corporate taxes to be abolished completely. Reduced to 0%. The Federal Gov't should be run on "other" taxes only which should come to about $200B per year (current dollars). Or less!

I am a small business owner. My employees are bleeding to death from taxation. Employer side taxes keep wages down and prices up.

The tax accountants I have to hire (on account of the code being 72,000 pages long) at $75 an hour cuts into what would otherwise go into the pockets of the workers.

I have to spend about forty hours a year keeping records so that I can prove my innocence just in case a low-level IRS bureaucrat decides to drop by. It is a false economy. By the time a business like mine is audited a man like me will have spent 1,200 hours just filing paperwork. By the time I die this system will have sucked out one full year of my life in just record-keeping. I am being deprived... of... my... life!

This is a form of involuntary servitude. I protest under the 13th amendment! I am coerced under threat of having my property and liberty taken from me by men with guns; threat of physical force. I have already lost part of my life. Who is going to pay me for the 160 man-hours I've spent under regulatory burden?

And not to mention the insult. I am frankly insulted that the Federal Gov't thinks that my finances are their business. I don't care if it's a dollar in taxes. My papers and personal effects are my business, no one else's. There are no less than four tax accountants that rummage through my numbers and accounts in order to keep me safe.

At the airport I am scanned down to my skin. On a recent trip the lock on my luggage was broken off (destruction of property) and my belongings rifled through and some things broken. Where are my fourth amendment rights?

This whole wretched condition must change. It can't change soon enough. Any steps in the right direction are appreciated. I am ready to fight through every peaceful means to see it changed. I am rounding up good men of like mind to support solid, constitutionalist candidates these coming years.

In short, I am flying my flag for my constitutional rights. That's all I want. I want to be free. No man should have to serve another man without his consent.

It may be that I am only a slim minority of people who wants this. I guess we'll find out. But in the meantime I have to do what I can to move the country in that direction.

Shawn

As a supplemental note, here is a quote for one of my favorite books, "Leave Us Alone" by Grover Norquist:

"If the business community increated its political activism to the point where it simply invested in politics rasionally-- as it invests in normal business activity [for example: investing in a security system to prevent theft]-- it would dwarf all other political spending and sweep all political opponents before it"

New Dark Eldar

GW put up four new Dark Eldar releases today. All of them brilliant.

I got the new DE sheet up. Ready to go.

All costs are for finished product, everything provided/assembled/painted

Box of 5x Scourges $94
Talos $104
Cronos $104
Venom $85

I love Paulson Games

They make some good stuff.

Argument against Gold

A reader sent in this link. As you all know I am a proponent of commodity-backed currency and competing currency. However, I sure do like to hear counter-arguments and here it is. Would anyone like to email me a link to a counter-counter-argument?

All that Glitters...

High Elves List

Here is the list that Josh used in our game.

2500 Pts - High Elves Roster

Lothern Sea Guard (20#, 285 pts)
19 Lothern Sea Guard, 285 pts (Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Hand Weapon; Bow; Spear; Light Armour; Shield)
1 Sea Master (Hand Weapon; Bow; Spear; Light Armour; Shield)

Lothern Sea Guard (24#, 342 pts)
23 Lothern Sea Guard, 342 pts (Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Hand Weapon; Bow; Spear; Light Armour; Shield)
1 Sea Master (Hand Weapon; Bow; Spear; Light Armour; Shield)
1 Scarecrow Banner

Archmage (1#, 300 pts)
1 Archmage, 300 pts (General; Level 4 Upgrade; Hand Weapon)
1 Sigil of Asuryan

Caradryan (1#, 175 pts)
1 Caradryan, Captain of the Phoenix Guard, 175 pts (Heavy Armour; Causes Fear; Magic Resistance (3))
1 The Phoenix Blade

Mage (1#, 150 pts)
1 Mage, 150 pts (Level 2 Upgrade; Hand Weapon)
1 Jewel of the Dusk

Noble (1#, 143 pts)
1 Noble (Battle Standard Bearer), 143 pts (Always Strikes Last; Hand Weapon; Great Weapon; Battle Standard Bearer)
1 Armour of Caledor

Phoenix Guard (13#, 245 pts)
12 Phoenix Guard, 245 pts (Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Hand Weapon; Halberd; Heavy Armour; Causes Fear)
1 Keeper of the Flame (Hand Weapon; Halberd; Heavy Armour)
1 War Banner

Lion Chariot of Chrace (5#, 140 pts)
1 Lion Chariot of Chrace, 140 pts (Swift Stride; Chariot)
2 Crew (Always Strikes Last; Hand Weapon; Great Weapon)
2 War Lions (Causes Fear)

Lion Chariot of Chrace (5#, 140 pts)
1 Lion Chariot of Chrace, 140 pts (Swift Stride; Chariot)
2 Crew (Always Strikes Last; Hand Weapon; Great Weapon)
2 War Lions (Causes Fear)

Sword Masters of Hoeth (24#, 440 pts)
23 Sword Masters of Hoeth, 440 pts (Always Strikes Last; Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Hand Weapon; Great Weapon; Heavy Armour)
1 Bladelord (Always Strikes Last; Hand Weapon; Great Weapon; Heavy Armour)
1 Banner of Sorcery

Noble (1#, 138 pts)
1 Noble, 138 pts (Always Strikes Last; Hand Weapon; Great Weapon)
1 Armour of Silvered Steel

Validation Report:
Edition: 8th Edition; Game Type: Normal Game; Army Subtype: High Elf Army
Roster satisfies all enforced validation rules

Composition Report:
Points of Lords: 300 (0 - 625)
Points of Heroes: 606 (0 - 625)
Points of Core: 627 (625 - Unlimited)
Points of Special: 965 (0 - 1250)
Points of Rare: 0 (0 - 625)

Total Roster Cost: 2498

Created with Army Builder® - Try it for free at http://www.wolflair.com

Empire Core Troop Tactica

Probably not too many people interested in this, but I picked up this article from a forum called Warhammer Empire

Hi Everybody;

So I wanted to find some empire tactica and I came across this site. Pretty cool forum (thanks to whomever started/runs it). I started to read some of the posts and there seems to be this animosity toward Halberdiers. Noticing the last post about this topic was right around when 8th edition came out, its quite possible Halberdiers have been fixed with the new rules. If so, I apologize, please disregard my comments and direct me to the latest thread link.

I'm a budding math-hammer kinda guy. You can bet most game designers are as well especially those who work for GW. So I crunched some numbers and here is what I found. I took an average unit of 20 State Troopers and see how they did statistically.

For all of the examples below, lets assume we are fighting another Empire unit, or an Empire equivalent. I didn't take into account Initiative because no matter where you fall on in striking order, you're going to have at least one or two rounds of fighting at your maximum attacks (unless you get charged by some death star and they wipe you out before you get a chance to strike back, in that case it won't matter anyways)

Enemy Stats:
WS T Sv
3 3 5+

Now since this is an example of killyness, I wont worry about our unit of Empire State Troopers being hit back, we all know how that can go. So we're going to look at each one; Spearmen, Swordsmen, and Halberdiers.

Also, the unit size it 20 models, 5x4

Spearmen

On the Charge
# of Attacks:11
To Hit:4's
To Wound:4's
Armor Sv:5+ (S3 doesn't modify the Sv)
Average Unsaved Wounds: 1.83

Was Charged/Continued Combat
# of Attacks:16
To Hit:4's
To Wound:4's
Armor Sv:5+ (S3 doesn't modify the Sv)
Average Unsaved Wounds: 2.67

As you can tell here, Spearmen perform better as a defensive unit (which is common knowledge)


Swordsmen

On the Charge/Was Charged
# of Attacks:11
To Hit:3's
To Wound:4's
Armor Sv:5+ (S3 doesn't modify the Sv)
Average Unsaved Wounds: 2.44

Now Swordsmen have a shield which gives them a little more survivability, but if it ever had to face something with a WS of 4 - 8, you're going to hit on a 4 (like their spear & halberdier brothers) which negates having a better WS. Now since most of the stuff out there has a WS of 4, all you're Troopers are more then likely going to be hitting on 4's anyways. So the +1 to WS that the Swordsmen is nice, but only when facing units with WS 3 and below. So to give you an idea of if our Swordsman unit faced something with a WS of 4-8, but changing nothing else (ie T and Sv) here's what it would look like.

But what about the +1 to I?
Generally speaking, it is better to go first (or at the same time)


On the Charge/Was Charged
# of Attacks:11
To Hit:4's
To Wound:4's
Armor Sv:5+ (S3 doesn't modify the Sv)
Average Unsaved Wounds: 1.83

(So they perform just as well as charging Spearmen)


Halberdiers

On the Charge/Was Charged
# of Attacks:11
To Hit:4's
To Wound:3's (because of the +1 S from the Halberdier)
Armor Sv:6+ (S4 modifies the Sv by -1)
Average Unsaved Wounds: 3.06

So its pretty obvious that Halberdiers are hardest hitting core unit. Even if we put a unit of Halberdiers up against a unit with a higher WS, they'd still preform the same. There is a lot to be said about +1 S over +1 I & +1 WS +1 SV. Pound for pound, a unit of Halberdiers will kill a unit much faster then a unit of Spearmen or Swordsmen.


Survivability
I've read the arguments about Halberdiers, the best one I can find is giving the Halberdiers the option of upgrading to Heavy Armor. This would be a very nice upgrade as it would increase the survivability of our Halberdiers. But if you gave them Heavy Armor, then they would be more of an elite infantry than a core unit.

When looking at the correlation between Spearmen, Swordsmen, and Halberdiers, they each play a different role;
Spearmen = Defensive
Halberdiers = Offensive
Swordsmen = Little bit of both

Each unit roughly costs the same (5-6 ppm), this is because they're core units. When looking at this through in a game designers eyes, there is only so many roles you can make a core unit fulfill. You can tell they tried to give us options with the three units above. So the reality of the fact is, it all comes down to how you play (and the Empire Army can be played a lot of ways)

So if you're looking for survivability, then a Spearmen or Swordsmen are probably a better choice. If you want raw killy, go with Halberdiers.


Conclusion
Depending on how you play the Empire Army will really tell you what core choices are better. If you play defensively then Halberdiers may not be the choice for you. If you play aggressively then Spearmen probably arnt going to do it for you. Its funny because you can even play aggressively with a defensive army and vice-versa. There are multiple ways of killing the enemy with the Empire. This is quite possibly their greatest strength and their greatest weakness. There really is no single way to play them (unlike WoC or HE).

So I'm fairly certain that Halberdiers are pretty good where they're at. They fulfill a role within the bounds of a unit type. It is quite easy to do poorly with them when not used appropriately. So to call them the weaker of the core units is a mistaken philosophy when you look at the bigger picture.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

~Valegorn

Tomb Kings Spreadsheet

Got the Tomb Kings spreadsheet up. I spent the weekend reading the army book. This is one of the most exciting armies out there. So much was added, I'd say it has about double the possibilities now. At least that.

Download the Tomb Kings Spreadsheet

We have a 2000+ pt Tomb Kings army for sale ($1350). I have yet to take pics or document it as I plan on just expanding it unless someone picks it up. Pics

Perfect Heist

What is the best way to steal from someone? Take something they never knew they had? Make it seem voluntary?

Save the dollar?

I want to save this video for later.

Quite simply, my politics are that I don't want someone else controlling my money, controlling my life, controlling my time. I want to reduce the government to about a tenth of the size. I think Moore has it wrong, just like Naomi Klein; "we need an all-powerful government that will just run things right." I say, "Let there not be such power at all."

I have a LOT more to say about this, but it's Monday and the dishware is flying.

Comments?

I have now enabled comments on this blog. This is a test run.

Wargamer's Slump- Guest Opinion Article

I have been playing 40k and Warhammer Fantasy my entire gaming career (a whopping three years!) It is the bare bones systems that everybody knows and loves. Good ol’ Space Marines and Bolters, Wizards and Monsters. But, after the release of 8^th edition, I was very much disappointed in how the game was heading. There were some changes I was not to happy with and simply ruined the game for me. Some match-ups were just too easy, others were way to hard. Now, I am glad that other people still enjoy fantasy. I, myself, am not even bragging to be an excellent player. I can count the number of tournaments I’ve been too with the fingers on one hand. But after playing my fair share of 8^th edition (almost 40 or so games) I’ve had enough.

I took almost four months off of the hobby in general. I just couldn’t get motivated for anything. Partly because I was either getting pants’d by the Purple Sun or I was spanking Wood Elves without even thinking about it and partly because Games Workshop in their infinite wisdom did not release a single 8^th ed book within the first nine months of the core games release. Again, I didn’t buy the Orc and Gobbo book nor the Tomb Kings book, because I was just done with being treated like a peasant to the monopolistic king of wargaming. I started an exploration of another game.

I picked up another army for 40k (Tau) to maybe quench my thirst, but it still didn’t seem to satisfy me. I also picked up the old Blood Bowl board game and even spent a good chuck of paycheck on Shadow Forge’s Female GridIron models (Awesome Figs!). Painting up the figs was fun and quick, the game was smart; the keys to success were subtle. Blood Bowl is by far the most fun I had in a “wargame” since my ventures in 7^th ed Fantasy. But, the problem was that there was a community I could not really engage with in my immediate community. Most of the players are really good or hard to find, so it’s definitely a struggle for a new person to waltz into the game. Yes, this could be said for any system, but let’s face it, anyone can walk into the Games-Workshop between Victoria’s Secret and Wetzles Pretzles at any experience level and get in a game of 40k/Fantasy. Other systems lack that luxury.

Recently at Adepticon, those that registered early got a swag bag. In mine was a free battle group of Cryx for Warmachine. Sadly, my friend got the same box. DARN PRIVATEER PRESS! WHAT NERVE GIVING US FREE MODELS! It was only recently that I decided to give it a look. It seemed like everything I was looking for in a game. The cards were kind of a turn off, having all the tiny text and stupid symbols, but once I got a copy of the full rules, it seemed a lot less daunting and even less Yu-Gi-Oh-ish.

Reading through this rule book has really changed my outlook at my hobby. Before, I was a Games-Workshop acolyte. Now, I’m pretty jaded at what the Wonka Factory of toy soldiers has done to its community. Privateer press has a beautiful looking book, rules that make sense (and rules that are straight to the point without mounds of flavor text before you get to the rule), and a very unique looking game. Fantasy and even some 40k: it’s pretty bland. It reminds me of any sci-fi or fantasy setting. Now, with the look of Warmahordes, it’s actually pretty stunning of how different it is. I have never even rolled a die for the game yet, but I can’t wait to get my Legion of Everblight Battlegroup painted and on the table. I can’t wait to get my first issue of No Quarter or go looking around town for new game stores that have regular Warmachine nights. I can’t wait to go to tournaments and campaign days for this system. That’s the most important part about whatever game you play: the excitement you have for it.

I’m not saying that Fantasy is horrible or 40k is boring. I don’t even know if I will like Hordes. All I’m saying is that players should play whatever they want to play for whatever reasons. Models, game play, fluff, whatever. But, if you are not happy with your current system, it’s not worth the time and money to stick with it. There are so many options out there. Whatever you want to do can be done, so go grab some models and get gaming.
.
Robert B.

Freeform

Friday
I took of from work early, picked up my eldest son and headed to the mall to watch Thor. I'm easy to please, let's remember that. I loved it. I want to see it again in the theater. The scenes of the realm of the gods with the galactic core burning in the sky really strikes a cord with me. Great effects that really captured the awesomeness of Asgard. Thor starts the films as a like-able but cocky hero who is full of himself. His transformation is believable. The costumes are absolutely stunning. Super-cool.

We split a hot dog, root beer. And my usual of Junior Mints and Whoppers.

The movie Thor also has parallels with mormon cosmology-- coming to a mortal world, two brothers with differing views of the kingdom, being cast out. Anyway, food for thought for me at least.

Saturday
Got the boys on dandelion duty now. I'm going to rip those suckers out every day. They are pestilent weeds that drive out the desirable plants. I see whole lawns that have been completely taken over by them. It takes constant vigilance to be sure they don't grow out of control. Their nature: take over unless checked.

In an unrelated note, the federal government is eating up 25% of the net productivity of the entire nation. The number keeps getting bigger folks. I'm always interested to know: how big would the number need to be before you would do something about it? Because there is a critical point where there is no easy way to roll it back.

Saturday morning was ward cleanup. Spring Cleaning. About twenty guys from the neighborhood put on a breakfast at a local pavilion. All private property. The voluntary action of free men unforced. We take care of each other in a substantive way. People are not left out. This is an important part of the human experience. It's easy to get insulated. I think that hardships bring people together. Necessity bring people together.

The big news on Saturday was the Batrep of Batreps between me and Josh. He brought his High Elves. I played Empire (now my new favorite army). We got in the new Tomb Kings book as well as two copies of each of the three new boxed set releases. I am in love with the new Tomb Kings. I got in a 2000+ pt army on trade and I'm going to flesh that out into a full 5000 pointer for use at Valhalla. However, I am also willing to sell them at $1350 for the base army.

Also, I mis-ordered Dwarfs. I got nine extra boxes of Warriors and nine extra boxes of Thunderers. If anyone wants to pick some up I am selling them at 40% off plus actual shipping cost. I would love to find someone to take the lot (in which case I would go 45% off) but I'm also willing to split them.

I am still waiting on our order of Infinity. Looking forward to playing that. I'm also looking at my Retribution War Machine army, need to give them a run.

My wife was out last night so I spent the afternoon with my lovely children. Oh, how I love them. They have taken over the downstairs. We call it "club Gately". They watch movies, play games, and make blanket forts. We went out to Wal Mart for groceries. It was super crowded; shopping cart gridlock. Yes, I just tried to use a semi-colon just there. It's my new favorite punctuation. At least I'm out there and trying.

In case I didn't mention it, Spring in Utah is gorgeous. The mountains are white and green, standing majestic in the background. Flowers and flowering trees. You get the picture.

Empire Army List

Here's the army list I used against Josh.

Unlimited Pts - Empire Roster - Empire 2500 pts vs High Elves

State Troops (72#, 437 pts)
51 Swordsmen, 437 pts (Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield)
1 Duellist (Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield)
20 [Det] Spearmen (Hand Weapon; Spear; Light Armour)

State Troops (10#, 80 pts)
10 Handgunners, 80 pts (Hand Weapon; Handgun)

State Troops (10#, 80 pts)
10 Handgunners, 80 pts (Hand Weapon; Handgun)

State Troops (10#, 80 pts)
10 Handgunners, 80 pts (Hand Weapon; Handgun)

Greatswords (30#, 290 pts)
19 Greatswords, 290 pts (Always Strikes Last; Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Hand Weapon; Great Weapon; Full Plate Armor; Stubborn)
1 Count's Champion (Always Strikes Last; Hand Weapon; Great Weapon; Full Plate Armor)
10 [Det] Swordsmen (Hand Weapon; Light Armour; Shield)

State Troops (10#, 50 pts)
10 Halberdiers, 50 pts (Hand Weapon; Halberd; Light Armour)

Knightly Orders (10#, 350 pts)
9 Knightly Orders, 350 pts (Musician Mus; Standard Bearer Std; Knights of the Inner Circle; Barding; Hand Weapon; Lance & Shield x9; Full Plate Armor)
1 Preceptor (Knights of the Inner Circle; Hand Weapon; Lance; Full Plate Armor; Shield)
1 Wailing Banner
10 Warhorse

Squad (2#, 300 pts)
1 Steam Tank, 300 pts (Steam Tank Main Cannon; Steam Tank Charge Rules; SteamTank Steam Gun; Causes Terror; Large Target; Unbreakable)
1 Engineer Commander (Repeater Pistol)

War Engines (4#, 75 pts)
1 Mortar, 75 pts
3 Crew (Hand Weapon)

War Engines (4#, 100 pts)
1 Great Cannon, 100 pts (Cannon)
3 Crew (Hand Weapon)

War Engines (4#, 110 pts)
1 Helblaster Volley Gun, 110 pts
3 Crew (Hand Weapon)

Captain of the Empire (1#, 116 pts)
1 ~[(^One or more selected options present a potential usage conflict]×~[(#]Captain of the Empire (Battle Standard Bearer), 116 pts (Hand Weapon; Heavy Armour; Shield; Battle Standard Bearer)
1 The White Cloak

General of the Empire (1#, 158 pts)
1 ~[(^One or more selected options present a potential usage conflict]×~[(#]General of the Empire, 158 pts (Always Strikes Last; General; Hand Weapon; Great Weapon; Full Plate Armor)
1 Enchanted Shield
1 Talisman of Preservation

Wizard Lord (1#, 275 pts)
1 Wizard Lord, 275 pts (Level 4 Upgrade; Hand Weapon)
1 Staff of Sorcery
1 Talisman of Endurance
1 Lifebloom
1 0. Earth Blood
1 1. Awakening of the Wood
1 2. Flesh to Stone
1 3. Throne of Vines
1 4. Shield of Thorns
1 5. Regrowth
1 6. The Dweller's Below

Validation Report:
Edition: 8th Edition; Army Subtype: Empire Army; Game Type: Normal Game; Special Rules: Forbid Regiments of Renown
Roster satisfies all enforced validation rules

Composition Report:
Points of Lords: 433 (0 - 0)
Points of Heroes: 116 (0 - 0)
Points of Core: 727 (0 - Unlimited)
Points of Special: 815 (0 - 0)
Points of Rare: 410 (0 - 0)

Total Roster Cost: 2501

Created with Army Builder® - Try it for free at http://www.wolflair.com

Necrons Rumors

Huge post with a load of juicy Necron rumors.

In other news, I am doing a Warhammer Fantasy batrep against Josh tomorrow.

Miniatures System

Hi, I just want to say I love your youtube videos, I especially love your musings and fantasy battle reports.

So I just watched your open mic about what you would like to include in a new minatures game, and I would love to share with you my ramblings. These are more about the style of model kits and not particularly about game theme or rules.

I was thinking about model kits and your recent magnetised Tau project. I was thinking what If you buy a box which containts figures and armor/weapon parts that are all magnetised. So you have a glueless kit that makes up many combination of figures, each time you play you can change your models setup. The box would come with a lot of accessories to allow you to really customize your minatures. You could buy duplicate starter kits to obtain more parts and figures. From a sales point of view, you could launch a game like this with very few kits to start with and a single rule book and customers could buy as many kits as they needed figures and parts. Also if the scale is the same as fantasy/40k there is no reason people can't buy your kits for their own conversions. Each time a new kit is launched you can upgrade your current figures so your not replacing figures all the time.

The downside of this could be cost, but I personally would pay a slightly higher amount for figures if I wasnt limited to their use or needed 100+ of them.

Weapons could be customisable to support the magnetised peices, so you actually build your characters weapon, I'd compare this to dwarf runic weapons but with more of an engineering perspective so your not just adding +1 to a stat your changing the way the weapon works.

To summarise, you have a skirmish game which is easy to put together and customise, the rules should allow complex character builds and remove the need for filler troops. You can turn up to the place you play your games and build your force there while your mates do the same, transport is easy because you can carry parts.

So hopefully this hasn't taken too much of your time, you guys do some amasing work.

oh and if you guys ever had the time, it would be great to see a dwarven fantasy battle report. I'm just getting into them and I'm not sure yet what really works and what doesn't.

Thanks

Ron Paul 2012 out of the gate

Vote for Ron Paul here!

Herman Cain was the President of the Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas. That makes him part of the problem in my estimation. He understood our current monetary system (ei fiat money) and was OK with that. He should be rather hiding his head under a rock.

Iron Shark

http://kromlech.eu/

Water Park

I had a dream last night.

A man fell asleep and he entered into another world. He forgot everything from his previous life.

A woman was in a water park in summer, near the gate, waiting. The sounds of children and laughter and splashing fill the air. The man appears, oblivious and happy at the gate. He see her, his wife, and runs into her arms.

As they embrace he tells her that he had a dream the he was without her, a terrible dream (this is his waking life). She knows that he will be there for only a few short moments. She replies, "I wish it were real, too". Then he backs up a few inches and looks at her face quizzically. She has a pained look.

He dissolves away out of her arms. He has woken up.

There is music playing. I couldn't place the song until this morning-- Glitter in the Air.

WIP shots

Here's a few progress shots of the new studio. It's had a lot done to it. If you look right past the trash can you can see a white rectangle on the lower part of the wall. That's where the entrance used to be. This building is turning out gorgeous. All this is being funded with a lot of goodwill and hard work by the way. If you love this company and want to see the amazing things we have next it's time to order an army (or a unit, or anything!).

We should be done by the end of May. I plan on shooting a lot of video and releasing a lot of video I've been taking the whole time. What you're seeing here is an enclosed front area, less than a tenth of the total space.


I got in a Tomb Kings army in trade. I plan on expanding it with new stuff I have on order and also a giant bin of raw tomb kings materials we've got in back. This for use at Valhalla June 2-5.

Picturesque

It is the most beautiful time of year in Utah right now. White snow on the mountains, green leaves on the trees, and every other color flowers and blossoms. And something in the air, like rain-filtered mountain wind. Spirits are high.

As you may have sensed (dear reader) from previous posts, the weight of the new building and Valhalla have been pretty heavy, but now I feel like I have come to the summit of a hill and I can see all the way to the end now. I am more optimistic than ever and both projects seem doable. I stretched and now it would seem that both goals will happen this year. Lovely.

PS- still tickets left for June 2-5 Valhalla. You just need to get here!

I set my older son age 9 to weed the dandelions out of the front yard and his genius idea was to dig them out with a shovel. He proceeded to gouge out huge clods of earth with a shovel each the size of a softball. My lawn looks even worse than before (if that is even possible) like an angry golfer had played through with twenty strokes.

So, I go inside to vent to my wife about my son who's too smart for that saying "I think he's doing a terrible job just to get out of it". To which she responded, "hmmm I wonder where he learned that?!" D'oh!

Kids really are paying attention.

On Saturday I got a hankering for a burger and I ended up pounding an Angusburger from McDs along with a large fry and chocolate shake. I think all that sugary, greasy, genetically modified clod of fast food made me sick. Not sick to my stomach just nauseous overall, and combined with a stress headache from fourteen hours a day of staring at the computer screen made me pass out on Saturday night and feel like I was just recovered on Sunday morning. I pounded fruit and veggies and water to finally feel better.

Ah, blessed Sunday. If it weren't for Sunday I would work myself to death no doubt. I worked on my cards-only super-simple RPG and hung out with the family. Oh how I love them all. My beloved wife is just a flower of a woman, so easy to get along with. Getting ready for church was a breeze without so much as an ounce of frustration. We're getting really good at it.

As for this blog, I hope to get more gaming stuff up soon and keep it that way. I realize it's become a bit thinner than usual. I am working on shoring up staff at the studio to make things run a lot smoother. No complaints though we are growing.

Every Word is True

When the government comes to a business with a new law saying pay X% in taxes this has several effects:

1) some of the money collected has to go to managing the money collected.
2) some of the money collected has to go to enforcement (auditors, sheriffs and guns).
3) there is a regulatory burden in the form of record-keeping for the auditors should they decide to show up. This means that the business has to hire someone to keep the records
4) In the case of complex laws and record-keeping a further expense is incurred in the form of hiring professionals (tax accountants) to help understand and implement the laws.
5) these new costs then have to fit somewhere in the budget of the business.

For item 5) there are several possibilities of how this will happen:

a) the business can take a hit on their profit margin.
b) the business can increase the price of goods/services to account for the new expense.
c) the business can lower wages.
d) the business can NOT raise wages.
e) the business can cut somewhere else.

I would suggest to you, dear reader, that there is no such thing as a free lunch. That government-mandated benefits are shuffled invisibly into the cost of goods and services.

If that's the case, then who benefits? Who really benefits?

Also check out enconostories

In an almost unrelated note, I was watching a documentary on the removal of IEDs in Iraq. I asked myself, would the IEDs be there at all if we were gone? But then I saw something that made it all clear: in one scene the soldiers were unloading giant crates of Gatorade. That's who is winning the war.

_______________________
OK, it's later in the day and I stumbled on this. I am very hopeful that people will wake up, get Ron Paul on the Republican ticket so we can get back on track after a hundred years of central planning and bank fraud. In either case it will be wise to live close to the ground.

I'm not saying I agree with this guy entirely. I am much, much more optimistic about the future.



And now a little deeper. I don't normally get this far out, but take a look at these two entirely disparate world views on the same phenomenon. I am not saying that I agree. I am only putting it out there for consideration.

To whit: Naomi seems to be baffled by Obama's seemingly contradictory actions. Her worldview cannot puzzle it out, but in Alex's it makes sense. As a side note, I actually took time to read Naomi's fairly dense book "Shock Doctrine".

A Naomi Klein


B Alex Jones

Sculptor Coming

I'm hiring on an assembler/sculptor in June. Here is a pic of some of his prototypes.

Warriors of Chaos for Sale SOLD!

These available for sale or to be commissioned for painting.

$410

1 x Wulfrik the wanderer

1 x Sorcerer of chaos

15 x marauder horsemen

1 x chaos lord on Daemonic mount

15 x chaos knights

10 x chaos warhounds

10 x chaos knights

20 x chaos warhounds

1 x chaos lord on juggernaut

10 x chaos chosen

1 x Sorcerer of chaos

1 x nurgle Sorcerer of chaos

36 x Chaos Warriors

84 x Chaos Marauders (2 have no base)

Bring your Kid to Valhalla Day

We are now allowing up to one minor age 15-17 per accompanying adult.

Ron Paul 2012

Exploratory committee?



I am beside myself with giddy happiness. More to come on that.

In a related note, on the way back from Adepticon the Federal Government (TSA) violated my fourth amendment rights. They destroyed my property (a lock on one of my checked cases) and went through my things without probable cause or a warrant. Several expensive models were broken and parts were missing.

My civil and human rights were violated by the Federal Government, in my view. One of my elected representatives recently approved of this by voting to keep the Patriot Act going. So, watch out at the polls, sir. I will spare no legitimate, moral, legal effort in removing you.

Realspace Raid- Imperial Outpost

Here's the list I'm taking against Mike today:

More pics

Unlimited Pts - Dark Eldar Roster

Troops: Wyches (11#, 240 pts)
9 Wyches, 240 pts ((C:DE, pg. 89); Unit Type: Infantry; Fleet; Night Vision; Power from Pain; Dodge (4+); Splinter Pistol & CCW; Combat Drugs; Plasma Grenades; Wychsuit; Razorflails x1; Shardnet & Impaler x1; Haywire Grenades)
1 Hekatrix (Splinter Pistol; Haywire Grenades; Plasma Grenades; Phantasm Grenade Launcher; Power Weapon)
1 Raider ((C:DE, pg. 91); Unit Type: Vehicle (Skimmer, Fast, Open-topped); Transport Capacity: 10 models; Night Vision; Dark Lance x1; Flickerfield)

Troops: Wyches (11#, 240 pts)
9 Wyches, 240 pts ((C:DE, pg. 89); Unit Type: Infantry; Fleet; Night Vision; Power from Pain; Dodge (4+); Splinter Pistol & CCW; Combat Drugs; Plasma Grenades; Wychsuit; Razorflails x1; Shardnet & Impaler x1; Haywire Grenades)
1 Hekatrix (Splinter Pistol; Haywire Grenades; Plasma Grenades; Phantasm Grenade Launcher; Power Weapon)
1 Raider ((C:DE, pg. 91); Unit Type: Vehicle (Skimmer, Fast, Open-topped); Transport Capacity: 10 models; Night Vision; Dark Lance x1; Flickerfield)

Elite: Incubi (6#, 225 pts)
4 Incubi, 225 pts ((C:DE, pg. 86); Unit Type: Infantry; Fleet; Night Vision; Power from Pain; Incubus Warsuit; Klaive)
1 Klaivex (Klaive; Onslaught)
1 Raider ((C:DE, pg. 91); Unit Type: Vehicle (Skimmer, Fast, Open-topped); Transport Capacity: 10 models; Night Vision; Dark Lance x1; Torment Grenade Launchers; Night Shields; Flickerfield)

Elite: Incubi (6#, 225 pts)
4 Incubi, 225 pts ((C:DE, pg. 86); Unit Type: Infantry; Fleet; Night Vision; Power from Pain; Incubus Warsuit; Klaive)
1 Klaivex (Klaive; Onslaught)
1 Raider ((C:DE, pg. 91); Unit Type: Vehicle (Skimmer, Fast, Open-topped); Transport Capacity: 10 models; Night Vision; Dark Lance x1; Torment Grenade Launchers; Night Shields; Flickerfield)

Fast Attack: Reavers (6#, 162 pts)
6 Reavers, 162 pts ((C:DE, pg. 91); Unit Type: Jetbikes; Night Vision; Power from Pain; Skilled Rider; Wychsuit; Close Combat Weapon; Splinter Pistol; Combat Drugs; Reaver Jetbike; Bladevanes x6; Splinter Rifle x4; Blaster x2)

Fast Attack: Reavers (6#, 162 pts)
6 Reavers, 162 pts ((C:DE, pg. 91); Unit Type: Jetbikes; Night Vision; Power from Pain; Skilled Rider; Wychsuit; Close Combat Weapon; Splinter Pistol; Combat Drugs; Reaver Jetbike; Bladevanes x6; Splinter Rifle x4; Blaster x2)

Heavy Support: Voidraven Bomber (1#, 205 pts)
1 Voidraven Bomber, 205 pts ((C:DE, pg. 93); Unit Type: Vehicle (Skimmer, Fast); Night Vision; Deep Strike; Aerial Assault; Supersonic; Void Lance x2; Void Mine; Shatterfield Missile x4; Night Shields; Flickerfield)

Heavy Support: Voidraven Bomber (1#, 205 pts)
1 Voidraven Bomber, 205 pts ((C:DE, pg. 93); Unit Type: Vehicle (Skimmer, Fast); Night Vision; Deep Strike; Aerial Assault; Supersonic; Void Lance x2; Void Mine; Shatterfield Missile x4; Night Shields; Flickerfield)

Troops: Kabalite Warriors (10#, 115 pts)
10 Kabalite Warriors, 115 pts ((C:DE, pg. 89); Unit Type: Infantry; Fleet; Night Vision; Power from Pain; Splinter Rifle x8; Kabalite Armour; Blaster x1; Splinter Cannon x1)

Troops: Kabalite Warriors (10#, 115 pts)
10 Kabalite Warriors, 115 pts ((C:DE, pg. 89); Unit Type: Infantry; Fleet; Night Vision; Power from Pain; Splinter Rifle x8; Kabalite Armour; Blaster x1; Splinter Cannon x1)

HQ: Archon (1#, 105 pts)
1 Archon, 105 pts ((C:DE, pg. 84); Unit Type: Infantry; Fleet; Night Vision; Power from Pain; Independent Character; Kabalite Armour; Plasma Grenades; Power Weapon; Haywire Grenades; Phantasm Grenade Launcher)

Validation Report:
1. Dark Eldar Army: Kabal; c-1. File Version: 1.20 For Bug Reports/www.ab40k.org; b-1. Roster Options: Special Characters; a-1. Scenario: Normal Mission
Roster satisfies all enforced validation rules

Composition Report:
HQ: 1 (1 - 2)
Elite: 2 (0 - 3)
Troops: 4 (2 - 6)
Fast: 2 (0 - 3)
Heavy: 2 (0 - 3)

Total Roster Cost: 1999

Created with Army Builder® - Try it for free at http://www.wolflair.com

IGVDE

Currently playing Mike D. a 2000 pt game of 40K for a Batrep.

Happy Easter

It's my favorite time of the year. Spring in Utah. It's raining, the trees are in bloom, there are tulips everywhere.

Happy Easter everyone. I'd like to say that I was deep in thought about the meaning of the resurrection of Christ, but I really just forgot all about it. Sigh.

I got up around 5am, put on some TV to get me back to sleep then slept in until about 8am. I had some Life cereal with bananas. Cut down the middle then in slices. Then Willow got up and we watched Blues Clues while I worked on my home-brew RPG.

Speaking of which, I'm working on an RPG played with cards. Something simple enough that it will play combats super fast, abstracted a bit. And simple enough that my kids can play it. I've got some preliminary cards done up. It's just for fun, I don't plan on doing anything with it. Here's an excerpt below.

I went out to hack at the dandelions in the front yard. They are back with a vengeance. I just despise those weeds. I have a two-prong hoe that I hack them with. It doesn't get at the root, but it feels good and prevents them from seeding. I also swept up the gutter in front of our house. I really need to fix up a lot of things around the house, but that's being put off for other projects probably until next year.

Then off to church. I must say that many years of forming the habit make it go smoothly, and that's saying something with four kids. The three older kids can get themselves ready now, with the odd mis-buttoning of a shirt. Plus the five-year-old can't tie his shoes yet. I got in a bit of a dispute with my wife this morning. I'm arguing for dress loafers no laces, and she thinks they should learn to tie their shoes. I put on a flowery tie. Yup, super-smooth. I sucked down some ramen noodles (to which I added some frozen mixed veggies) and we were out the door.

Once home I proceeded to vegetate in my pajamas, moving my computer to the dining room in order to watch sci-fi and work on my RPG thing. I chewed out the kids for their various bickering and interruptions. A neighbor made them some pajamas of pale green and yellow with frilly frills for the girls. They looked like a bunch of spritely sproutlings going off to bed.

How do I feel? My mind is at ease generally. I have so much to write down, so much to say, so many thoughts: the mercy of God, Gatelynomics, and working up practical solutions for the new building. I am super happy. My family is a delight. I like being at home with them. My wife looked like a hindu goddess in purple and gold with a lavender-colored flower in her hair, her eyes shining like two deep spheres of arctic ice.

Action: Attack

1. Choose an attack action card from your hand and without showing it, place it face down on the table along with up to two Effort tokens. This represents how much exertion you are putting into the attack. Once your hand leaves the card the attack is set, there is no taking it back. You are now the Attacker.

2. Declare the target of the attack. Some attacks may allow or require multiple targets. At this time check to see if the target is within range of the attack. If not, the attacker may redirect the attack.

3. The target of the attack now becomes the Defender against that attack.

4. The Defender may now play a reaction card to counter the attack. This is first priority, on top of the back and forth of further responses. The Defender may play the card in tandem with up to two Effort tokens. Note: this reaction does not have to be one of the common defenses listed here, it may be any reaction.

a. An Evade is an attempt to completely get out of the way of the attack without moving hardly at all.

b. A Block turns aside an attack with another weapon or a shield.

c. A Dodge is an attempt to get out of the way of an attack by physically moving out of the weapon’s reach.

5. Responses. The side that the Defender is on may now play a response. Then back and forth, and resolve as under Take an Action.

6. The Attacker now reveals his attack and adds up his Accuracy.

a. The base Accuracy of the weapon he is using.

b. The Accuracy of the attack card.

7. If the Accuracy is equal to or higher than the Defense, then the attack is successful. If not then the attack misses.

8. If the attack is successful the Defender takes damage.

a. The base damage of the weapon he is using.

b. The number of Effort tokens put into the attack at +1 per token.

c. Critical Hit. +3 Damage if the Accuracy exceeded the Defense by three or more.

9. Subtract the Defender’s armor from the Damage. This is how much Health the Defender loses. Set that amount of tokens aside.

Ultimate D&D edition

For those considering Ultimate D&D in October, would it make a difference to you if we did 3.5 or 4.0? Email me! bluetablepainting@gmail.com

Dream Ticket: Paul/Lee 2012

Also, check out this vid at 1:43

This was when he was just getting started, something like eight months before the election. I'm approximating here. But I called it "future Senator".

Fallen Knights

Army concept: evil Grey Knights. Sort of the chaos version of them. Dark and splendorous.

Use GK list with new GK models but painted black, gold and red. Maybe carve or scratch out their lettering and give them demonic back banners instead of Pauldrons.

Or maybe just make (finally) an all Dark Paladin army using chaos terminators.

Subsidiary models, like the Weaponsmith would be dark versions, mutants and hideous aliens. Or cowled figures, machinists.

Oooh, or pre-heresy thousand sons variant integrating soon-to be released tomb kings pieces. Warsphix as Dreadknight. Tall and stately guardians of ivory pyramids as Terminators.

Maybe this bad girl as a storm raven.