Age of Darkness (Book Update)

Almost finished reading this book, on the last chapter which fills me with some sadness. This by far is perhaps one of the be short story collections Black Library has done. Below is my ratings out of 5 chaos stars and some thoughts. Again, I don't like to spoil a book, I want people to read it!

Here is the writers and stories in the book:

• Rules of Engagement (Graham McNeill). Ultramarines Story, about the birth of the Codex Astrates.  4/5
• Liar's Due (James Swallow) Alpha Legion, nuff said! 5/5
• Forgotten Sons (Nick Kyme) Salamander/Ultramarine 5/5. Marines on a diplomatic mission.
• The Last Remembrancer (John French) 4/5 about Dorn and a gift from Horus.
• Rebirth (Christ Wraight) 5/5 Great 1000 Sons story, adds to the details of Prospero Burns
• The Face of Treachery (Gav Thorpe) 5/5 Gav's story in the prior book review wasn't great. he made up for it on this one. Great wrap up to the Drop Site Massacre storyline.
• Little Horus (Dan Abnett) 3/5 While good, not the best Dan has put on the table, gives some insight into Little Horus. Well written but the content was meh.
• The Iron Within (Rob Sanders) 5/5 Love it! Iron Warriors Loyal vs Iron Warriors (Traitor) damm, this was a great book. I like how they are showing now more of not everyone went one side or the other.,
• Savage Weapons (Aaron Dembski-Bowden) Brother vs Brother. Dark Angels vs Night Lords.

Victories of the Space Marines (Update)

Finished this book a few days ago and have to say, that I enjoy the short story books as much the main full length novels. Below is my ratings on the books. I am one not to spill spoilers that others may do...

My ratings will be in #/# format. First is my rating, the second is out of.

Featured Stories of the Book:

• Runes (Space Wolves) 4/5. This was a good opening story, had a nice twist.
• The Rewards of Tolerance (Renegades) 3/5. Perhaps the worst of the lot, hope this expands more in a full length book or other future short stories.
• Black Dawn (Warbringers) 4/5. A crisp story if you will, very cut and dry about the chapter, had a nice twist at the end of the story.
• The Long Games at Carcharias (Crimson Counsuls) 5/5. I think this is going to get either more shorts or a full length book soon. This was a jewel in the book.
• Heart of Rage (Blood Angels) 4/5. Has a vibe similar to another story I read (don't want to say to avoid spoilers), yet was a good read.
• But Dust in the Wind (Imperial Fists) 4/5. A decent story.
• Exhumed (Deathwatch) 3/5. I expected more from this story. It was a bit predictable in many ways.
• Primary Instinct (Silver Skulls) 4/5. Once you get past the Predator feel of the book, the story is rather enjoyable and is nice to see other chapters get the light.
• Sacrifice (Grey Knights) 3/5. Average again, the style was interesting but I feel they could have carried this on better and could have been a better tool for the story. You will see it when you read the book yourself.

Writers featured: Chris Wraight, Gav Thorpe, CL Werner, Rob Sanders, James Swallow, Jonathan Green, Steve Parker, Sarah Cawkwell and Ben Counter

Just started this book today, just a few pages in so far. Leading with Graham McnNeill was a great choice and looking forward to the rest of the stories.

Here is the writers and stories in the book:

• Rules of Engagement (Graham McNeill)
• Liar's Due (James Swallow)
• Forgotten Sons (Nick Kyme)
• The Last Remembrancer (John French)
• Rebirth (Christ Wraight)
• The Face of Treachery (Gav Thorpe)
• Little Horus (Dan Abnett)
• The Iron Within (Rob Sanders)
• Savage Weapons (Aaron Dembski-Bowden)

Again, wow! Graham (that wrote A 1000 Sons), James Swallow (Flight of Eisenstein), Nick Kyme (The Salamander Trilogy writer), Dan Abnett (Gaunt books) among the others just puts a major big name line up from their main writers. I am looking forward to some great stories!!!!

A Cry for Help?

A friend of mine had this rant on his blog….

  http://coliseumofcomics.com/?page_id=1066

 

Bell of Lot Souls has this to say about the state of Fantasy….

http://www.belloflostsouls.net/2011/05/editorial-warhammer-fantasy-8th-not.html

 

Is there a problem developing?

 

I have to agree, there may be. Since 7^th and 8^th in Fantasy, I have seen a decline in new players and many older players not playing as much as before. This would include me into the mix (mine has been more money based than anything), yet everything I read and hear makes me reconsider investing into something that will yield little enjoyment for my time. Most of the complaints stems to magic being too powerful and GW pimping Monstrous Creatures from my readings online and from players I talk to at the LGS.

 

Even in 40k, you don’t see players wanting to use older codex rules because they can’t keep pace with the newer ones. So, they avoid tournaments and show up for a friendly game every now and then. Instead they wait for their new codex to revive their glory days and encourage them back into playing mainstream.

 

Not to mention, they are killing the fluff many of us old farts loved about the hobby at first. A rich universe full of a cool back story to go with the game was the huge draw. Now as Mike said, the fluff drives their product line and catering to players developing more powerful units to include in the game more than making a balanced list that made sense to that army.

 

I loved it back when many armies had their own unique rules that were quickly squashed in favor of bringing on board the 10 year olds with short attention spans and ADD in favor of taking a loss to intelligence and common sense to make the all mighty profit margin.

 

It is my hope that GW does not let this turn into a monster and kill them in the end. They developed a great hobby and game in all the years they have been around. I think they need to step back into their grassroots more than trying to be a company. Money will come if you make a good product, not trying to make a good profit margin.

 

Just look at Magic, at one point Wizards of the Coast was just putting out crap, hardly any cards was worthwhile and when you bought a box or two of cards, you got maybe a handful of useful ones if at all. They have hit sales slumps and lost players to this poor choice in product development. Instead now, they are doing editions and other things to keep their product line propped up and hope it does not burn out their players. It did me, I sold my magic cards for store credit to get into 40k. WOTC pushed me out and I went to GW, same could happen to GW.

Flying the (UN)Friendly Skies!

An interesting discussion came up at my LGS about templates and flyer class skimmers (those that use the flying large base) like Vendettas/Valkyries, Storm Raven and Void Raven Fighter/Bombers. Namely how people claim hits under the template as a wing for example and claims the infantry below it.

 

Here is an example of what I am saying, the hole of the template (yes not an actual template but the same size for reference. See how it covers the wing and also counts hitting the 4 models under it.

 

Here is my opinion:

 

 

Now, back when 5^th was written, something tells me that the high stem flyers was not even a concept or consideration when the rules was written. Still, this creates a huge loophole for players that use any type of template weapon on the vehicle and then still manage to score a hit on a squad under it. This isn’t like a Rhino with a Marine Squad deploying out of one or more of the exit points and when the vehicle gets hit the squad may be hit also depending on how the template hits. Squads can be under the flyer in this case (such as the wings, part of the hull and tail) which is away from the center of the base.

 

My question is how can something hitting something UP THERE hit something DOWN THERE?

 

When you look at building rules, squads on different levels are treated as separate possible targets (see page #84-85). Now these new flyers are higher than your standard speeder (that uses the same rules) and allows for you to place models under them (and around the base). In our discussion, this is how you should resolve shooting templates in this instance. You aim for the squad on ground or the vehicle in the air. You should not garner benefits to both.

 

Many flyers are already large enough making it easier to target and hit as is. Now players are getting smacked with another downside by using the Rules as Written (RAW for short) that allows an even greater bonus of hitting models on a good scatter or a true hit when it comes to a template. The old rules was written with everything on the same level (jump packs, skimmers and infantry, etc) with introducing some standard building behavior to shooting that was spun off of Cityfight. In theory there was no way for something to get under a skimmer anyway, most often if it was, it was decorative and not part of the actual vehicle.

 

There is some of you out there that says, “oh but the fire, shrapnel and shockwaves is what hits them”. Then the same physics should apply to the building rules, you hit model 2 on the 1^st floor, while the models above and below are not? To me they are closer in proximity than something way up in the air. Matter of fact it should shield them from it or give them a cover save (which most people won’t argue). It’s a game, there should be standard rules to keep things consistent.

 

I hope GW tackles this in the next edition.

Book Reviews: Blood Reaver and Victories of the Space Marines

Just finished Blood Reaver this week and all I can say is amazing! At first I thought that Storm of Iron was king of Chaos books (and still is) but tells the story from the good and bad guys point of view. Blood Gorgons that I just read about a month back gave amazing insight into the evil side of Space Marines and their interesting point of view. Blood Reaver picks up from the prior Night Lords book and short story from one of the other short story books and delivers an interesting read. I always held the Night Lords on the bottom tier of interesting legions but after reading this I want to build a squad of Night Lords now just to add to my Chaos army it was that inspiring.

What makes this book so great is the characters that have developed from the book prior. From the Exalted, to Talos, to Uzas the bezerker. Each character has great moments of development and the book ends with some suprising twists as they join up with Huron and the Red Cosairs to raid a chapter world for genestock in exchange for Huron's help fixing their ship. The book closes out leaving an uncertain future and the way for another book that I am looking forward to reading. The book brings for new ships, Huron and many new characters as well as old favorites.

I would give it 4 out of 5 Chaos Stars, read this brother or be a heretic!

Just picked this book up and just finished the first short story. It was interesting and I will have to keep quiet to not offer any spoilers, but it left me with a good opening for the rest of the book.

Featured Stories of the Book:

• Runes (Space Wolves)
• The Rewards of Tolerance (Renegades)
• Black Dawn (Warbringers)
• The Long Games at Carcharias (Crimson Counsuls)
• Heart of Rage (Blood Angels)
• But Dust in the Wind (Imperial Fists)
• Exhumed (Deathwatch)
• Primary Instinct (Silver Skulls)
• Sacrifice (Grey Knights)

Writers featured: Chris Wraight, Gav Thorpe, CL Werner, Rob Sanders, James Swallow, Jonathan Green, Steve Parker, Sarah Cawkwell and Ben Counter

What intrests me in this is how they blended some of the common chapters and typical chapters they write about and then sprinkle some of the off color ones like Crimson Counsuls and Warbringers to the table.

My appologies

This pretty much sums of my past week. I got called into the director's office and told due to the budget cuts in the state, my job is going away. I am being shoved into a craptastic job with a 5% pay cut and this is already with my 3% that I have to put into my retirement now. 

Many people may thing that state workers are just overpaid and we sit around and sip coffee all day. They are wrong. There is some fat in the system I won't deny, but I am watching good people getting told they have to find another job in the state, leave or take a crap ass job with a pay cut. One of the few good thing was the retirement and medical the state offered helped offset how crappy about 98% of the jobs are paid compared to the private sector.  I rage for them as I see good people getting screwed by Gov. Scott. I keep hoping he will step down or get hauled off in handcuffs, this guy is just evil and hell bent on destroying everything. It's going to get bad within the State soon and it's not going to be pretty, then again, the blame will just hammer down on those that are left. Painted as the bad guys....just have to say, we are tax payers also, come to think of it, we don't pay state tax, we do pay other taxes but a freeking lot less than most.

So, over the past 6 years, my one job promotion with about a 10% is going to a 2% net gain in 6 years. This really has put me in a bad mood and I am trying to fight back. I am applying for other jobs, there is some prospects that I am checking into and I hope they yeild something, otherwise I am going back to the school to get some certs....I should have done this earlier but that is my mistake. Live and learn, I can't change the past, I can only work in the now and make the future.

Depression is a bad mental state to be in and I have been dealing with it for the past few months. I have long ago learned how to deal with it, to fight it and to make things better. I give thanks to my friends, family and wife for supporting me in these hard times.

My goal is now to continue back with the zeal of making this a good blog again. I have a tournament in 2 weeks that I am getting ready for. I have a team tournament next month and I hope perhaps another one between.

Thanks again for everyone that has given me their ear, their time and support.

4/23 Battle Report at Skull N Bones

Been a long time since I posted, here is an old battle report I forgot to post up with all the crazy stuff going on with my life. More on that later...

Game 1 vs. Patrick (Grey Knights)

   My list: 4 Rune Priests one with Chooser, 5  Grey Hunter squads with
   Rhinos, meltas, some wolf banners (not all had them due to points) and
   power weapons, Wolf Guard including one cyclone launcher that was with
   the Terminators, 3 Long Fang squads, 1 speeder with melta/heavy flamer
   the other had a missile launcher/melta gun. 2 Scout squads with power
   weapon and melta gun.

   His list: Driago, Librarian in Terminator Armor (Might of Titan,
   Hammerhand and Shrounding), Dreadnought with TL AC with psybolt ammo, 2
   Paladin Squads one with an Apothecary (mixed complex units), Storm Raven
   (multi melta and assault cannon), Full Purifier Squad with rhino, maxed
   out psycannons and halberds, Full Interceptor Squad and a Dreadknight
   with the Incinerator with the Teleported option along with a Vindicare.

   Mission had two objectives on the table, I placed mine in his, and he
   did the same. We had the 18” from each edge (long and short) at an angle
   for deployment. He won the roll and picked his side.

   I only ended up with one clump of trees in my area. I setup most my Long
   Fangs there. Big mistake, I should have backed them against the edge
   instead. My Rhinos clustered near my objective and my hope was to defend
   mine and keep him off his. His few scoring units inspired me to go this
   route. His HQ marched my way and the Raven had the only other troop
   inside it (Paladins) with the Libby.

   He rolled a 3 for the Chapter Master perk and picked Scout. Ouch! I had
   a Dreadnight, Rhino and Interceptor squad scout within 12”! First turn,
   Dreadknight was in my Long Fangs face. The Interceptors shot up another
   squad, 2 lived. My next turn pulled them back into unit coherency and
   assaulted with one of the Grey Hunters and Rune Priest. I thumped most
   of the squad and forgot I blew the Wolf Banner and missed some rerolls.
   I could have perhaps killed that last Interceptor more than likely. I
   won combat, he fled, and then rallied next turn, he ran and jumped
   inside the Raven.

   At this point the game was looking bad. My dice was both on fire at
   points and just sucking or just average. When it came to stopping all
   his psychic powers only Shrouding, 1 Hammerhand and 1 Psychic Pilot test
   (so he could shoot) passed. 4+ was with me here. I could not inflict
   enough wounds to make him roll 1’s for Terminators and 1-2 for normal’s,
   plus he was passing 4+ and 5+ inv saves like crazy.

   Amazing enough, I lost only one Long Fang to close combat, two units was
   still alive on the table but beaten up badly. When we tallied everything
   up at the end, He had all three Primary, Secondary and Tertiary.

   Comedy of the game was the Scouts popping out near the Dreadknight
   inflict some wounds with shooting, assault, lost the assault, fled. Next
   turn second scouts arrive, tried the same task again. Finally we killed
   the blasted thing but took long enough. Too long if you ask me.

   Second Games vs. Nik (Chaos 1000 Sons)

   I had 4 Rune Priests, 4 Grey Hunter Squads with melta guns and power
   weapons in Rhinos, 3 Long Fangs with some Wolf Guard buffing out the
   list with 1 Scout Squad with a melta gun and power weapon.

   He had 3 units of 2 Oblits, 4 rhinos with 1000 Sons with 2 Demon
   Princes. He had assorted powers including the one to turn you into
   spawn, the 4+ ignore cover and armor saves among others. Both Princes
   had wings and multiple powers.

   Name of this mission was “Glory Hole” (I didn’t write this! I just
   played it!) 2 objectives on each side was placed, these was basically
   teleport spots that you could go to one of the other 3 objectives. You
   embarked one turn, the next turn you disembarked like a Transport. If
   you cannot get out, your in trouble and roll on a special mishap chart.

   Deployment was pitched battle, he won the dice toss and deployed. I
   setup my missions in a variety of spots and hid my Rhinos.

   Game was a classic 1000 Sons vs. Wolves match, but nothing overly
   excited. Both of us played defensive and did little on offensive part
   until the end. I managed to pull a win out of this game taking all three
   spots.

   One bad blunder was when I made crappy terrain tests and a run check to
   try to cover one hole up. His Demon Prince popped in and just hosed a
   Long Fang and Grey Hunter squad with that 4+ template of doom. I did
   manage to pop him the next turn but he well earned his points.

   It was during this game I started to feel sick and suspect I was
   overheated and too much sugar from lunch (chicken sandwich with
   Polynesian sauce), fries and large lemonade with 2 Oatmeal filled Debbie
   Snacks and a Mountain Dew was just too much for me. I feel like there
   were some gaps in memory for this game and my last one as I was coming
   off the sugar high.

   Game 3 vs. Craig (Chaos Khorne Theme)

   2 Rune Priests, 2 Units of Long Fangs, 2 Grey Hunter squads with power
   weapons and melta guns with scout squad of 5 with a melta gun and power
   weapon. Wolf guard peppered in to support with combi meltas and power
   fists.

   Zerkers in Rhino, Zerkers in Land Raider with Kharn and Dreadnought with
   two close combat arms.

   He won the dice off, picked his side. I setup my stuff hoping to stop
   the Dread and Rhino early on and just focus on the Land Raider. Well,
   the dice was not with me….I was able to disable the dreadnought from
   moving, the Rhino kept getting stunned and blowing weapons off and
   finally going immobile. Missed with one of two melta shots from scouts
   and the other failed to do anything but stun!!!!

   Once they got stuck into the fight, I was able to inflict some damage
   but in the end I just could not hold out against the large # of attacks
   and a tough brick of a Land Raider at 1000pts. My heavy weapons were
   missile launchers and melta guns. Sadly the Melta guns lacked the
   ability to get near the Land Raider due to the Zerkers on me.

   Craig ended up sweeping all three spots for a win again….

   Lessons learned:

   Avoid too much sugar and heat….ugh I was like a zombie until I got home
   in AC with food and ice cold water.

   Grey Knights: Watch lists that have fast moving units like Teleporters
   on Dreadknights and Interceptor Squads. I had crap in my face too
   quickly and negated my Long Fangs from being useful. If I had toed the
   line, I would have survived and would have inflicted serious damage in
   the end and he would have had to work harder to get to me.

   Game 2: Deployment, have to watch this next time, I tripped up myself
   and caused some delay getting to where I needed to really be to be
   effective.

   Game 3: Possible revamp to this list, add Rhinos in and sack something.
   Maybe Scouts and toss a Wolf Guard into the Long Fangs. Lack of mobility
   and armor hurt me and let him control the game. I thought Foot Slogging
   would be fine for 1k but I was wrong, dread wrong to the point of being
   tabled. Mobility is good.


Picutres....

GAME 1

Meet Patrick (the other one)

The deployment and scout move in motion.

It's a bird! It's a Plane! It's a Stormraven of whoopass!

The pain of the game!

First vehicle casualty of the game...

Another one having issues...

Hold the line!

Where the hell did this come from!

Stick to cover boys!

For RUSS!

My eyes hurt when I look at this combat now!

GAME 2

Meet Nik the Chaos Guru of Tzeench!

Demon Prince Hunts the Scouts

Rhinos slip behind one of the canyons for cover.

GAME 3

Deployment

 Here they come! Dreadnought and Rhino takes a beating!

Kharn!!!! KHARN! <doing his Captain Kirk>

Craig Evil Minon of Chaos

Scouts in rereat and a Land Raider full of Zerks loaded with whoopass!

The end is nigh!

A cool gift from the Easter Bunny! Actually Thanks to Clark. We drew easter eggs with some prizes in between empty ones. I won this which was great...