Mr. Black's Dark Corner of Gaming

Throne of Angels VLog

2012-08-10T10:14:00.002-07:00

Throne of Angels has been making some Youtube videos, nothing much more than an avid fan talking about things he likes. I can respect that, and as a result, I think you should check him out as well:

Throne of Angels Youtube Page

Take care.

-Mr. Black

Out of the Box: Skarrd

2012-07-20T07:29:00.000-07:00

This time we're looking at playing your brand new Skarrd Starter set! Join us for the lowdown on the tactics for playing, and playing against, these fierce wasteland warriors!

Mr. Black here, once again Dear Readers, and this time let's look at the Skarrd Starter.

Contents
3x Buzzblades
3x Harpies
1x Golab
1x Grafter

290 Points

As with the other starters, the Skarrd box gives you a taste of how the faction plays as well as a look into the visual appeal of such a group- We have the twisted amalgamations of the Grafters at their finest here, as shown with the Harpies and the Grafter herself, and we display the raw melee punch that the Buzzblades and Golab bring to the table.

Remember, as you're reading this and playing, that Skarrd are a melee faction at heart, boasting the lowest number of Ranged Abilities currently in the game; they want to get into the thick of combat as fast and swiftly as they can and reign down terror and bloodshed upon the enemy.

With that in mind, let's take a look at the contents:

We start with the Grafter, the mad architect of Skarrd society. With just a cursory glance we see the Grafter's stats are decent, but nothing to write home about: marginal DF, AR, PS, all that- it looks average across the board, and it is, to be honest. But that is due to the fact that the Grafter isn't meant to be a front line fighter, not at all- she let's her creations do that.

Basically, as you look more into the Force Organization book, you will see many of the more "creative" Skarrd units require that a Grafter be present in your force: Harpies, Sister of Charity, Abominations, and Drillheads, just to name a few- all require a Grafter to be purchased in order to field.

So, if you want to look at it like that, then the Grafter is the key that unlocks the Skarrd toy-chest, and if you wish to view that as her sole role and nothing else then fine, I understand, but do note, you have just fallen into the pitfall so many others do of underestimating the simple Grafter, and you're going to pay for that mistake- in not only blood but in body parts as well.

What do I mean? Well, as I said, one of the best tools the Grafter has is a rather passive stat-line- especially when compared to the monsters she brings to the table. Most of the time you're opponent is going to focus on the horde of Drillheads burrowing towards them, or the hulking Abomination firing off missiles as it advances. These things are big, shiny, and scream "dangerous", while the tiny Grafter is just slinking along the sidelines, waiting for an opening.

Take a look at her one Attack Group: the Crushing Claw. 4x2 is nothing to ignore, and the fact that once she hits you she will keep on hitting you (due to the Crush ability) means that even the heaviest armored units stand to suffer a wound or two on her behalf, and remember, one to two wounds is by and large the average around here. So an unassuming opponent may very well just find the head of their precious Saint or Brood monstrosity being squeezed to death under the vice grip of the "harmless" Grafter!

Overall, the Grafter is a necessary component of most Skarrd lists to allow us to bring out the big guns, but don't neglect her or just throw her away during the game: Each and every unit is deadly, and the Grafter is no exception. Let your opponent forget about her, let them assume she is a push over, and when their back is turned rip out their spine with a well placed Power Claw!

Coming up next we have the Golab, who acts as the heavy hitter for the Skarrd starter. High AR, respectable DF (especially given its size!) and two prime weapons to choose from the Golab can be a real terror on the battlefield, especially when fielded in groups. Fortunately for your opponent you only bring one to bare in the starter, unfortunately, it's still a hulking powerhouse that will tear apart anything that stands in its way!

As mentioned before, the Golab's stats are very impressive- and that is a good way to sum up this guy: He is a big blob of muscle and hate. The downside? His PS score is low, and without a willful Individual around (Grafter!) he may just decide to up and run- and we don't want that.

Looking at his attacks we have two options, depending on the situation and the threat he needs to kill: A Heavy Sword and a Power Claw. Now, "Which to use and when?" is of course the question on everyone's mind, so let's get that out of the way:

When to Use Heavy Sword
He has a nice AS: 9 with the Sword, which partners well with its PW: 9. What this means is that the Sword is better to be used against those lightly armored harder-to-hit troops. Usually in the case of such threats they will have a low DF as well as a low AR, meaning that they rely on not getting hit to stay alive. Well the Golab brings a build in 45% to hit (9 out of 20) before even factoring in their DF. Combine that with the average AR on such units (let's say 14, which mean they're only saving 25% of the time- 5/20) and you stand a very good chance of hurting them- not even factoring in other bonuses such as Gang Up or Charging, which make you hit even more reliably and even harder!

When to Use Power Claw
Unlike the Sword, the Claw has a slightly lower chance to hit in exchange for Crush and a 7x2 PW hit. I know many will jump at my previous comment on the Sword, saying that Crush makes more reliable against low DF models, but let's remember: you have to hit them first! Sure, you can risk it with the Claw, but the Sword is more reliable, and the Golab doesn't exactly have AP to just sling around! Use the Claw against those high DF high AR targets: Hit them once and them let your Crush ability do the rest of the work, as even AR 20 will fail more saves than not against the might of a 7x2 PW hit!

Overall, the Golab is your brute strength on the table- send him after your high priority targets or the opponents that the rest of your force may have trouble with. Remember though, the Skarrd don't fight fair, and if you need to swarm something in Harpies before the Golab jump in for a Gang Up bonus, then by all means take advantage of that weakened opponent! You're playing Skarrd, remember that, such notions as a "fair fight" are laughable when all that matters is survival!

Ah the humble Buzzblade, the basic foot trooper of the Skarrd army. For a cheap 25 points you get another warm body on the table, and that is a fact that few other factions can claim. More so, you can purchase a Sister of Charity to really turn these guys into something formidable in the form of Charity's Zeal or Might, and if you really want to get nuts we have Dominique (with the Cult of Metamorphosis) who can take a squad of Zeals or Mights and further upgrade them into something altogether more... unique... But I think I said too much there...

Buzzblades, sans upgrades are of course nothing to be cast aside either- but you need to remember that strength in numbers is their biggest advantage- they are cheap, numerous, and unlimited in the amounts you can take. Feel free to just flood the table in a rampaging horde of bloodthirsty madmen (and women!)

Of course, the main thing with Buzzblades is that they can be upgraded- this is what's going to happen to them most of the time anyway. But we'll speak of that later, because right now we're focusing on the starter. So, given that, what is their role? Well in the starter they fill the role of grunt infantry, or a nice shield for your more important characters (the Golab and Grafter, namely). Basically you can treat these guys as mobile cover, ranged attack soakers, and a quick bonus when you need Gang-Up.

Like a lot of the Skarrd faction, you have cheap and plentiful units backed by powerful Individuals- nowhere else is that exemplified more than with the Buzzblades. It is worth noting, however, that for their points the Buzzblades are a remarkably good deal, boasting decent AR and AS, while backed up by the Cannibal] rule, which does go some way in assisting in their survivability. But in the end you get what you pay for, and while the Buzzblades are certainly great for their points they are not going to win you any games on their own. Use them as a vanguard for your powerful units, or as bodyguards for your more tactical (or fragile) figureheads. And of course, as with all your minions, don't be afraid to toss a few dozen into the meat-grinder if it means coming out a head in the end.

The Harpies get a mixed review by players: Some view them as useless fodder when you can take more Buzzblades, and some see them for what they actually are: tactical reinforcements and objective grab/denial.

I will admit, on first glance a lot of people do cast the Harpies aside, but I shake my head every time I see this because it usually means the person is playing them wrong. That may have sounded a bit blunt, but that's how it is: the Harpies have a complex role, maybe more than any other Skarrd unit, and it can be hard to see without experience!

Ok, so what makes Harpies good? Well looking at their stat-line we see... Oh wow, ok, let's not dwell on that too long. Average AP and MV, a decent DF, terrible AR and PS. But also only 30 points! ...Five points more than a Buzzblade, who has seemingly better stats and the ability to be upgraded to Zeal or Mights... Well, they have a high damage AG though! Oh... Wait, AS 5 PW: 3... Huh, that's not great...

And do you see what just happened? You were ready to toss them out and move right on to something else! Shame on you! But I don't blame, I see players do that all the time- they're not impressive on the surface so just move along. And that's a shame, because the Harpies fill a role unlike anything else in the whole of Dark Age!

Gliding Deploymentallows the Harpies to appear where they are needed and reliably when they are needed. Your backfield lose a big engagement and now you're being flanked? Harpies. Your opponent is about to get their Objective back to their Deployment Zone and win the game? Harpies. You need just a little more power to bring down your opponent's big and nasty Individual? Harpies!

Harpies act as a stopgap, a quick solution, or a clever distraction, when you need it. No, Harpies are not a unit that will usually survive till the end of the game, but they shouldn't be looked at as such- they are a seeker missile. Send them down to accomplish a goal (even if that goal is just waste opponent's activations dealing with them!) and then forget about them. Should they live and continue fighting then so be it, but don't expect it!

These are a suicide unit in the finest sense: cheap, mobile, and dangerous in numbers. Remember how we balked at that PW: 3? Well with Vault they can come from unexpected angles (over all, hell, over buildings! and deliver a PW: 5 hit, plus additional attacks! Take your group of three Harpies: the first Vaults in, two PW: 5 strikes, followed by four more PW: 3s, next one comes in, add some PW to the additional strikes (But remember: Vault does not get Gang Up bonuses!), rinse and repeat. By the time you're done your "meager" Harpies will be hitting at AS: 7 PW: 5 with an upwards of six attacks each!

Literally drown your opponent in Harpy swarms so the whole combat is a mess of claws and, well, more claws. Five Harpies cost a mere 150 points, and I guarantee you can kill any model worth those same points if they all activate first. Remember, they may not appear as much individually, but there is a reason why I call a "flock" of Harpies a "murder".

[b]Expanding Your Forces[/b]

290 points in the starter, how do we bring that to 500? Well first we have to decide if we want to delve into one of the Cults: Blood, Toxin, Metamorphosis, or if we want to remain generic. One thing I find is that the Skarrd have such a huge array of options that players can often get overloaded with "Too much cool stuff!!" syndrome and lose focus of their actual army. Now, don't get me wrong, picking what looks cool is certainly a way to go (and once more, I fully back that it matters more [B]how[/B] you play what you bring, rather than simply [B]what[/B] you bring to the table), but we want a force that can handle all comers without getting too bogged down. That being said, here are some example forces:

Cult of Blood
2x Blood Mistress (90)
1x Red (60)
3x Harpy (90)
3x Buzzblade (75)
--Blood Reign (50)
1x Grafter (50)
1x Golab (75)
[I]490/500[/I]

Adding to our initial list we have Red, two Blood Mistresses, and a Blood Reign. Now what we have here is the added benefit of making our Buzzblades bonafide [I]Cult of Blood[/I] members, thus giving them the lovely benefits of that Cult (meaning they will get stronger the more that dies around them!).

Next we have Red, assassin of the Blood Cult, who's unique ability allows him to pop out where ever he is needed and reign some havoc- and if he fails and just dies, well that's a strategic Blood Marker you've now placed on the table, and playing the Blood Cult you will very quickly gain an appreciation for the ability to make Blood Markers spontaneously appear on the board!

From here you can swap out some units for others or expand the force to 750, adding in the heavy hitters such as Father Mayhem or a Blood Abomination. My personal favorite is simply adding in more Buzzblades, as the Blood Cult benefits alone add up to make them extremely dangerous if left unchecked!

Cult of Toxin
2x Toxic Mistress (110)
3x Harpy (90)
5x Buzzblade (125)
--Kaustic (50)
1x Grafter (50)
1x Golab (75)

Here we've added two Spray/Stream attacking Toxic Mistresses, a few more Buzzblades, and a Kaustic to accompany them. The Kaustic gives the Buzzblades the benefits of the Cult of Toxin and a nice defense in the form of a Smoke Cloud (while simultaneously harming your opponents).

Combine that with the sheer effectiveness of the Mistresses and you have a potent force that hurts at both range and melee, all the while having extra support where it is needed in the form of the Harpys and wandering Golab.

Expanding from here we definitely want to see Father Curwin make an appearance, as he is one of the most versatile Cult members. Also consider Chitin or Leisa, as everyone loves a good Infiltrator or Assassin. Otherwise the addition of another Toxix Mistress is never a bad call, as, unfortunate as it may be, the price you pay for such devastating firepower is that it often can blow up in your face!

Generic Skarrd
3x Harpy (90)
3x Buzzblade (75)
1x Sister of Charity (60)
1x Grafter (50)
1x Golab (75)
1x Fetish Bearer (65)
1x Drillhead (85)
500/500

Here we have a good taste of what Skarrd have to offer. Adding a Drillhead means you're adding another major heavy hitter to join your Golab, and one that can be a real pain to deal with once it Burrows into the ground! In addition to that your Buzzblades have now been upgraded to either Charity's Might, for added hitting power, or Charity's Zeals, for a swifter attack force- [B]and[/B], to top all that off, you have a Fetish Bearer, who acts to bolster each and every unit in your army (ok, not every unit- the Grafter and Sister aren't affected!).

One of the major benefits here is you gain the use of a Sister of Charity, which in all honesty is one of my favorite units in the game for the sheer melee punch it brings- Too often have my opponents just shrugged at her, thinking she is just a passing buff to my Buzzblades... Far too late they find the full might of her 4 AP, 6x2 Sawblade coming down and cutting them to pieces!

She is a real threat, and expect your opponent to begin targeting here once they see just what kind of power she has! Of course, by the time they do this (hopefully), her precious toys will have made it up close enough to launch a devastating counterattack of their own!

Cult of Metamorphosis
3x Harpy (90)
3x Buzzblade (75)
2x Fallen Angel (80)
1x Grafter (50)
1x Golab (75)
1x Grafter's Apprentice (Charity's Training) (50)
1x Dominique (75)
495/500

In carrying with Johann's teaching the Cult excels in the grafting arts, and this here gives you a good taste of how it all runs down. The standard Buzzblades have been upgraded all the way to Dominique's Playthings, care of the Grafter's Apprentice and Dominique herself, and thus have become a real threat to the enemy, as well as one of the hardest and fasted units in your army.

Adding to them we have Dominique herself, who can Take Charge of the unit and lead them fully into battle, creating a threat your opponent must focus on if they wish to avoid annihilation, and since Dominique is just a named Sister of Charity, all the buffs and praises I gave to that unit also apply to her!

Finishing off our 500 points we have two Fallen Angels, who act as flankers and disruptors amongst the enemy force- with use of their Flesh Hooks they can move along side enemy units and snag targets, dragging them off and out of coherency (assuming they live, of course), meaning the unit wont have an option but to turn and face the new threat, or suffer the negative effects of doing so. Of course, that only happens if their target even survives their onslaught- they may just die and then the entire unit suffers from panic due to the Horrible Death rule.

Expanding from here we'll probably add Quietus, as Johann is just too expensive without removing a decent selection from our force- of course, don't let that stop you. If you want to ad him feel free, but we will have to trim the fat, so to speak, so fit his staggering point cost in there. Other alternatives would be an Abomination or a Juggernaut, which both can add some needed ranged capabilities to the army, and depending on playstyle.

Conclusion
The Skaard have lots of options as far as their arsenal is concerned, and boast many different army paths that you as a player can pursue. Of course, it will all depend on the type of army you wish to play, whether it be Generic, Blood, Metamorphosis, or Toxin, but in the end some universal truths emerge: the Skarrd are a faction of ruthless Individuals leading a mongrel horde of madmen and monsters- it doesn't matter how many nameless faces you have to throw into the fire, as long as your Individuals survive to continue their work.

That is the key to Skarrd, in so many words- Sacrificing what you must to achieve your goals. Skarrd have an abundance of cheap and disposable units- more so than most any other faction. Make use of their lives and, if you have to toss a few units to the wolves to achieve a full victory, then you should feel proud that you have the capability to do so. In the end the Skarrd embody raw physical violence, and it should be remembered that for all the guns and technology of the Forsaken, for all the enhanced biomorphs of the Brood, it matters little when a Buzzblade is cleaving your head open with a Crude Club. -Mr. Black

Samurai Ogres- Backstory

2012-06-09T10:27:00.002-07:00

Clan Kouta Takeshi (Big Warriors) has returned from the Far Easts of Nippon, and with it they have brought many new weapons and strange techniques! It is unknown what this wandering tribe's name was before it journeyed into the far reaches of the east, but upon returning it has been discovered their former leader had been replaced, supposedly beaten and devoured by a mysterious wandering ogre. It was said on that fateful day the blind wanderer "Zaito Ichy" entered the clan encampment, carrying with him a composure and silence unlike that of any of the others who had came to the east in search of treasure. He moved amongst them, seemingly seeking one specific purpose alone- challenging the current Tyrant Brangus Gutstomper in the Fighting Pit. The entire tribe gathered round for what they assumed to be a quick, but no less violent and enjoyable, curb-stomping, for they saw that the challenger had one key disadvantage that even an ogre could notice: he was blind.

They would not laugh for long though as it took the strange newcomer all of one blow to behead the former Tyrant, claiming his spot and dispatching any new contenders in similar fashion. It has since-forth been that the clan, now adopting the new name Zaito Itchy has bestowed upon them of "Kouta Takeshi" (much to the chagrin of some tribe members, who cannot pronounce it to save their lives) has marched forth into the deepest parts of Nippon, finding great wealth and new treasures to horde. Over time, it appears that more and more of the clan's warriors have adopted garb and weapons favored by their new home-land, and upon returning to the Ogre Kingdoms proper now stand out amongst their own kind, carrying with them a sense of regal presence betraying their crude, brutish nature.

For better or worse, Clan Kouta Takeshi is now on the warmarch; the clan now seeks new riches and flavors worthy of a clan that has, at it's not notable, felled one of the famous Nippon "Sky Lizards" and feasted on its flesh, noting that it "Taste's jus' like Rhinox!".

Zaito Ichy, the Flea-Infested
Not much is known about the blind-swordsogre known as Zaito Ichy, having mysteriously appeared one day and taken firm hold of the clan he has now named "Kouta Takeshi". It is known, however, that he himself hates the moniker he has come to be known by: The Flea-Infested. Truth be told, there isn't a flea on him, as Zaito Itchy prides himself on only wearing the best robes and equipment that his clan has access to. It was said that during his initial entrance he only spoke one sentence, and that was a challenge to the current Tyrant Brangus Gutstomper, remaining silent during the long tirade of sneers and mocking insults that the former Tyrant spat at him before their duel.

Once he had proven his superiority he merely spoke one more sentence: "My name is Zaito Ichy, I am your new Master."- A move he thought would show to his new tribe his uncanny intelligence and stoic ways... They promptly responded by asking him why he was so itchy, and from then on began calling him "Zaito the Itchy", obviously assuming that he was so itchy because, having traveled alone for so long, had obviously contracted a nest of fleas in the dress he was wearing. Fortunately for Zaito Ichy, he eventually got his new clan to stop calling him "Zaito the Itchy". Unfortunately for him, the title of "The Flea Infested" has stuck, not only within his own clan but through the others as well. Still he carries on though, deciding that names weren't so important after all. He leads Clan Kouta Takeshi with a ruthless efficiency, claiming great deeds in combat and martial prowess, leading them to even greater acts of glory and wealth. His most discerning trait, however, that of his blindness, is a frequent question amongst his clan, one, when asked, he merely smirks and asks any who think less of him for it to step forth into the Fighting Pit...

Onikaji, the Fire Demon
The Firebellies hold a unique place in Ogre Society, and even more unique are the small group of Nippon Firebellies that have seemingly cropped up in the wake of Clan Kouta Takeshi's return; Onikaji is one such Firebelly. Having joined up with Zaito Ichy's clan during their adventures in the Far East Onikaji is a bit of a legend amongst his clan. It is said that his appearance was heralded by a great fire in the sky, so bright that it awoke nearly the entire encampment the night it began- the next dawn Onikaji appeared, sitting quietly in the entire of the clan's Fighting Pit. At first the ogres kept their distance, not knowing what to make of the strange red being in front of them, but eventually one of the biggest Bulls stepped forth, demanding that the "thing" "git outta' our' Pit!", it was then the red beast rose to it's feet, beckoning the Bull forth to fight him, a low snicker emitting from its mouth- of course he accepted- and was almost instantaneously cut down as the red demon launched itself back, billowing out a huge cloud of fire that enveloped the bull, sending him (disgracefully) running out of the pit... Consequently he also died of his wounds.

Many more stepped up, but through a combination of fire-breathing, wild leaps, and artful dodges the newcomer felled them all, snickering and laughing insanely the entire time. It was only upon the arrival of the clan's leader, Zaito Ichy, that the beast's insane laughter ceased- it took one look upon the blind warrior and fell silent, walking submissively up to the massive Tyrant and bowing, stating its name was "Onikaji of the Fire Mouth", and that he now pledged alliance to the great swordsman.

So it has been since that the red-skinned demon has fought with the Ogre Clan, using his magics and talents to aid them in their fights. They consider him strange, however, not for his red-skin or yellow eyes, but in the fact he does not partake in their grand feasts, nor does he ask for spoils of war. It seems that for this insane and giggling beast the simple thrill of the fight is both pleasure and nurishment enough to sate its eerie existence.

A Taste of Things to Come..

2012-06-07T18:36:00.000-07:00

The Clan Begins Its March to War...

Heh heh heh

2012-05-04T21:31:00.002-07:00

Heh... Heh heh heh... It's coming...

eBay Time Kids! Skaven Hellpit Abomination.

2011-10-13T07:52:00.000-07:00

Ebay Link!

Decided to get going on the Christmas savings early this year. More to come in the next few days.

Mr. Black Interviews a Game Store Owner.

2011-09-22T00:01:00.000-07:00

Yes, someone willingly went into a dark room alone with Mr. Black.

Mr. Black here, dear readers, and this week I sat down with one David Finn and his wife Tanya Finn, an Irish couple who for the past four years have successfully operated their own game store and cafe': Gigabites Cafe, located in Marietta, Georgia; a rare feat in this day and age of recessions and failed businesses. They have done so well, in fact, that just this month the couple finalized the move-in to their new store location, effectively tripling the space available as well as expanding the business exponentially.

What is their key to success? What does it take to reach such a level of success in what many (including myself) consider a dying store-breed*? Well let's sit down for a chat and see if these questions get answered...

**Note: When I say "dying-breed" I mean specifically that in this day and age I believe game stores as a whole are on the decline, myself personally witnessing three being closed in my time. It's a sad fact, but one I believe to be true.

So then, let's begin.

Name: David Finn

Age: 27

He requested the low-light as to not expose his face... In reality I think it was just so he couldn't see me clearly from across the table.

Mr. Finn sits across from me, sipping his coffee as he keeps an eye on the front counter, another worker of his, James, maintaining the front is a busy hustle of making sandwiches and smoothies, elsewhere in the store, the usual Friday afternoon crowd is starting to come in, consisting of Warmachine players, 40K and Fantasy aficionados, and the assorted Magic: The Gathering players.

So, let's ease into this. What is your occupation?

"Gaming Expert and Fun Facilitator... I like the word facilitator, it makes me sound fancy. Oh! No, "Local Pikey", I like that.

I think that may be a derogatory term but... Well it's alright if you use it, right?

"Yes, it's OK if I use it... Well, not really, but I'm calling myself it, so it's alright."

Sure, sure.

Mr. Finn, for those who can't hear him over the internet, has a semi-thick Irish accent, the kind that you instantly recognize and call "Scottish" if you don't know any better but isn't so thick as to interfere with his normal speech. His personality is one of levity- obviously a people person, the kind you have to be to be in retail sales.

It is also worth noting David, an avid tournament attendee, has won more Sportsmanship awards than most anyone else I know combined. I don't know if that's due to him just being a "likable" guy or just speaks of the kind of people I usually associate with...

Let's just go right into the questions, as we have a lot to cover and not so much article to cover it with. You just recently expanded to a new size store, upgrade and everything, and are considered one of the highest profile gaming stores in Georgia. What do you have to say about that?

"Um...Er... I don't know...I guess we did it all for the people."

You don't really believe that do you.

"Yeah I do! I could have stayed in the smaller store, but people wouldn't have had as much fun. It was definitely for the customers and for the people, definitely not the business... Definitely."

Of course it was. What do you consider the pitfalls that some stores face, since so many just don't make it?

"They treat it like a hobby, not a business. Don't get too high on your own supply...too much..."

So how many armies do you have?

"... .... ...(Finger counting)...Five fantasy armies, sorry, six...Ogres.. Three 40K armies, there is an Imperial Guard army sitting around here somewhere... One Dystopian Wars, one Warmachine, one Hordes, one Infinity, one Malifaux, one Uncharted Seas, one Lord of the Rings (I laugh at that) and... Lots of magic? Hmm, what other games do we play here? Oh! Pulp City! Poor poor Pulp City...

Well, that's a lot... Most people would consider that an unhealthy amount. Your retort?

It's all for teaching. Business expenses... I can stop anytime I want... Oh! And one Brushfire army.

... ...Stop anytime you want, eh?

"It's true."

...Sure. Alright, favorite and worst game systems and why?

"Fantasy. It's superior. The rule-set is superior and it is not a dying game....No codex creep, every army is balance, aside from woodelves- heh heh heh... So, worst game system... (thinks)... I don't really dislike any system... I'd have to say that my least favorite right now is actually 40K...Just for the rules right now, I love the background*.

*He owns most every Imperial Armor book, three framed 40K paintings, and his birthday cake last year was a Dark Angel with "Never Forgive, Never Forget." across the top.

They usually refer to game store owning as "The Widow's Career"...or at least they would if game store owners were married. You, a rare example, seem relatively well adjusted, as well as married. What gives?

"I die a little inside every day...Someday I'm just going to turn to dust...Also, the secret is to hate everyone that comes to your store...(he laughs). Of course I don't mean that... Much...Copious amounts of coffee help, though."

Weirdest thing you've seen as a store owner?

(Thinks) "We did have a group of Furries come in once... That was kinda odd... Oh and there was this one group that came in dressed as princesses then just walked out one time...Oh! Oh! And we had a baby that was conceived in our bathroom once (laughs), long story behind that one, but that was the old store."

You do know this is going to be on the internet right?

"I'm sure there are Furries all over the internet."

Well, yes, you are indeed right about that, as a big part of my job is browsing Google Images for... Research purposes...

"Yeah, if you could not do that here..."

Moving on. What is or was the weirdest kind of gamer to you?

"The ones that always talk in character...Oh yeah, those are just the weirdest..."

Employee: What? there is nothing wrong with that.

"No, out of a game you shouldn't be talking like "Baron Von Shill". "

Employee: There is nothing wrong with that.

"Get back to making sandwiches (he says, laughing as he facepalms)."

Worst kind of customer?

"Oh! The creepy ones that follow me around and don't say anything (turns to patron sitting next to him, who has been silent the whole time). No, not you. You say stuff... Oh! Or the ones who stand in complete silence then just start talking about random stuff... Creeps me out... And gingers. (turns to patron- a redhead) That ones for you (winks)."

Noticed a lack of gingers around here, congrats. What is your biggest struggle?

"Customer loyalty. Something we work on every day is getting people to realize that only by supporting the store do we stay open. It's all well and nice to buy online but if you don't have anywhere to play then it's a bit pointless now isn't it? You're in a game store to hang out-(sees customer walking in parking lot) Oh damn, this ones weird too... Err, you're here to be social with your friends... It's like a night club for gamers."

I noticed the stripper pole, nice touch.

"That's an electrical fixture."

Oh... That's not as impressive then...

"... ..."

So, what have been your proudest and worst moments?

"My proudest was probably opening the new store. it's a sign that we've "made it". Worst moment was when I realized I owned a gaming store (laughs)...Ehh, there's a few, it's a struggle sometimes. Paying the wages is my own weekly worst moment sometimes... Oh! And I always feel pretty bad when I miss someone's order. That sucks."

Speaking of which, did my-

"Don't ask me about those Nezumi Chem Heads; they're out of stock."

Sure they are, sure... What are your hopes for the future?

"We need to become the biggest and bestest game store in Atlanta! And carry a full range of EVERY game!"

So, total control of the gaming content in the state?

"Of course!"

Aim high. I can respect that.

"Aiming low knocks your opponent down faster, however."

Hmm... True words...

Now we're turning over to ask Mr. Finn's wife, Tanya, a few questions.

Name: Tanya Finn

Age: (I got leered at when I asked)

She requested the blackout because she didn't want me having a picture of her. I have known her for nearly five years now and she still refuses to trust me in most any aspect- She is a smart girl.

Tanya, your opinions of being a game store owner wife/co-owner?

"Um... I love it, it's the best experience of my life."

I'm sensing a bit of sarcasm?

"Not at all! It's interesting, you get to meet a lot of new people, a whole new world I knew nothing about. It's fun, and the people that play are nice and I think it's a very good hobby to have."

Best and worst memory/experience?

"I guess opening the new store, the amount of people that came in would be the best. Worst? Nothing has been "bad", but weirdest? I guess the LARPing. Yeah, the first time people came in dressed up... But now that's not even that usual, not that I've seen them again. I guess everyday is new and unusual- something new happens every day."

What games do you play?

"Mind-games. (smiles) Just mind-games. But back when we had computers I joined in those."

What opinions of yours have changed since Year 1?

(Laughs and hangs head) "I'm much more open minded and more liberal towards... Well things I never knew existed... Like Furries."

You guys are really stuck on the Furry thing.

(Tanya to David): "You said that too?" (David) "Yep."

Right then. OK, to the two of you, any final comments or things you wish to say?

"I think... I love it and I love that people have a common place to hang out. And it creates lifelong friendships with people they otherwise wouldn't have. I think the gaming community is a great community that sticks by each other and some of the best friends that we've made since we moved to America.. And I encourage you to come to Gigabites and spend lots of money (smiles)!

"... ...I'm kidding about that last part... Don't put that in."

Oh I won't, don't worry... And you, David, any final comments you wish to say?

He sits there, just shaking his head with a smile at the comments his wife made. He sighs and reclines his head, trying to think of something perfect to end on.

The moment holds as he thinks, I am beginning to get bored waiting.

He notices me still typing, despite him having said nothing for nearly a full minute or so.

"Are you just typing everything I do?"

I continue typing as he moves across the table to see what I've taken down.

(Crosses arms) "Stop that."

Your answer?

"Just remember it's all a game- Just have fun with it!"

"No, it's not "just a game", it's a way of life, David. That's what we're building here at Gigabites!

"You know he wrote that."

Tanya gives me an annoyed look as David places his head in his palm, shaking his head.

And with that I concluded my interviews, having gathered a small insight into an often overlooked part of our hobby- the humble Gamestore Owner. All in all I do wish Gigabites success in the future and encourage anyone in the Marietta/Atlanta area, as well as anyone visiting Georgia, to stop by and partake in the large amount of gaming going on seven days a week, as well as a great menu of food, fresh-cooked to order.

How many other Gamestores can boast that they offer that? But perhaps, most importantly, is that if you stop by you can meet your Internet Hero himself- Me.

Until next time, dear readers.

Mr. Black Makes a Grey Knight List

2011-09-21T00:01:00.000-07:00

Let's take a look at making a Terminator Army.

Mr. Black here, dear readers, and I have quite literally just finished reading the Grey Knight codex in depth... As not to say I don't read every new codex that comes out, but usually I only read it in the extent to know it's tricks and, more importantly, read all the rules to make sure I don't get screwed over by someone either not knowing them or not playing them correctly- it's a good habit that I believe most players should do, aka, "Know the enemy".

That being said, the reason I had to pour over it this time was due in part to my brain telling me I wanted a Terminator Army, and if I don't abide by what it tells me to do the neighbors dog will start commanding me to... Well, do things... I... Don't really want to talk about it...

Let me give you some quick back story. It's... Sometime in the past. I just got my first 40K army, Tyranids, and soon I am looking for another one to go with it; in the end I choose Chaos Space Marines. Why? Because I liked the idea of terminators and vehicles, namely Dreadnoughts (they are still vehicles!). In hindsight, not the greatest choice in the world, and after all that the original Terminator/Dreadnought idea blossomed into my Emperor's Children army, thus beginning to shape my mindset into what it is today. Despite all this time I never did get around to making an army that focused on the 2+/5++ guys or Dreadnoughts. Hell, even my custom plastic Grey Knight army I did a few years back (since then been sold) was Land Raider based with PAGKs, think I used maybe one unit of Terminators with it.

So, given the shame of that, I am looking to make amends to that fact today. Now, I understand people have pushed Draigowing already, and there are a massive amount of Grey Knight articles out there, but, well, I'm Mr. Black. Besides, I'm not forcing you to continue reading, I can't, not until the Internet Spiders are ready...

Well, enough back-talk, let's get into the thick of things!

First thing I know is that I want a Librarian in the army, it doesn't hurt that he greatly benefits what my end result will be, but in the fact he takes me back to the olden days when Psychic Powers were something to be greatly feared. Don't get me wrong, the new powers in codices are great and all, but the ability to buy them individually and cover multiple bases is something I enjoy, plus I happen to have an old metal Terminator Librarian I've been wanting to use.

Librarian- Quicksilver, Might of Titan, Warp Rift, Sanctuary, Shrouding

Now the question for me is whether to give him a Warding Stave or not. He's an IC and thus any competent opponent will be sending Power Fists his way, I can mitigate this with positioning, but it's still a big risk to be taking on what is essentially a cornerstone of the army. For right now I'll give it to him and later, if we get low on points, I'll reconsider.

Librarian- Quicksilver, Might of Titan, Warp Rift, Sanctuary, Shrouding, Warding Stave

Next the question comes up: Do I want to spam Terminators or Paladins? Paladins means Draigo, and that's another 250+ pts I have to devote to HQs as well as cutting down on the actual number of models in the army as a whole. The trade-off to this is the Paladins would probably be more durable in the end, as when the Terminators lose a wound the unit itself loses efficiency, while the Paladins can take a single wound each and still truck along at maximum efficiency. Another benefit is lower models equals lower costs, and as this army is for fun* first and foremost I believe I'll go with Paladins.

*Fun first and foremost is true, but that doesn't mean I'm making a list for slouches without some competitive thoughts in mind. I just simply don't believe an all-Paladin army is going to win any major events anytime soon, nor is it nearly as efficient as the codex can be. As I've said before, the hallmark of a good codex is the ability to make various kinds of fun and unique, while still playable, lists. On second though: I can win with this army cause I'm imma l33t bad-ass; no one can match my skillz.

Ok, so we have Draigo in the list now, Hooha. Let's move on to the next question: Vehicles or not? This one is rather simple, actually, seeing as how we have a super-small list to choose from. In the end we'll need to decide if we're going to run multiple vehicles or none at all, as the merits of 1-2 Land Raiders just wont cut it in today's meta. The only real option that came to my mind was the Stormraven- two of these bad boys hauling Paladins across the field...Yeah, I could get behind that.

Sadly, however, reality says that after 500+ points in HQs, combined with the cost of the Paladins themselves, I will be drastically outnumbered (even by Grey Knight standards) if I pay the 450+ points on two transports. No, in the end I think it's better spent on more units. That being said, we'll be footslogging it it seems.

Now let's look at some Dreadnoughts! Well, to be more specific, Psyrifle Dreadnoughts. Despite all the hype the internet has given them (I usually hate internet hype-units) I have to say that they actually are probably one of, if not the best unit in the book, point-for-point. In this army they serve a very needed purpose: anti-tank. Yes, we'll have Psycannons, but hell, you can't beat four twin-linked S: 8 shots at that price, you just can't. More-so, with The Grand Strategy we can even make them scoring (though I see that rarely being used, just keeping options open). That being said, let's stick in three of those suckers.

Librarian- Quicksilver, Might of Titan, Warp Rift, Sanctuary, Shrouding, Warding Stave

Grandmaster Draigo

Dreadnought- Twin-Linked Autocannons, Psybolt Ammunition
Dreadnought- Twin-Linked Autocannons, Psybolt Ammunition
Dreadnought- Twin-Linked Autocannons, Psybolt Ammunition

890/2000 Pts Used.

Well, this leaves us right around 1100 points to spend on our Paladins... I don't feel like that's really going to be enough. Should we find out that it isn't we may have to drop a Dreadnought, however much I dislike that idea.

Alright, onto the meat of the army! Which basically boils down to How To Kit Out a Multi-Wound Squad. First look it seems Force Halberds are the obvious choice, +2I means less enemies to attack means less saves means less dead Paladins, makes sense to me... Except that we have a Librarian who can bestow the Quickening, and the extra attack granted by Falchions is rather temping... Alright, I'm going to cut to the chase and post a unit, otherwise we'll be here all day.

Paladin Squad Ramrod
-Psybolt Ammunition
Paladin A- Psycannon, Falchions
Paladin B- Psycannon, Daemonhammer
Paladin C- Falchions
Paladin D- Daemonhammer
Paladin 5- Master-Crafted Falchions

You will notice the lack of an Apothecary- Frankly I just don't believe he is worth the points, namely because we have wound-allocation to assist in keeping the unit alive, as well as most anything that someone is going to shoot at us will be AP: 2 or lower anyway. I know some love the guy and swear by him, but for points sake he's staying on Titan.

Now let's create a unit for Draigo himself. Here we will make use of the Halberds as we no longer have our Librarian to depend on. Likewise it does an interesting thing: creates multiple wound-tiers upon units. What do I mean by that? Well basically if you caused ten wounds at I:6 and where done you allow your opponent to pile things on in different ways than, say, four at I:6, five at I: 4 and one at I; 1. It doesn't matter as much with the Terminators, I will admit, but in the end it can force some Daemonhammer saves onto prime targets once the unit has been whittled down.

This "new unit" will simply be an attachment to the previous five-man Paladin unit. Why? Well we can always Combat Squad them and it saves us 20 pts. on Psybolt Ammunition.

Paladin Squad Draigoshield
Paladin 1- Psycannon, Falchions
Paladin 2- Psycannon, Halberd
Paladin C- Falchions
Paladin 4- Daemonhammer
Paladin 5- Halberd

Combined with Draigo the above unit allows (on the charge) six attacks at I: 6 , Draigo going at I: 5, Eight at I: 4, and finally three at I: 1... Odds are in between all that close to a unit will die. The overarching issue being that you won't be able to end combat on your opponent's turn (like you would prefer), but you're Grey Knights, you must weather the storm of bullets from your opponent!

1570/2000 with the above addition.

I like Squad Draigoshield's load-out, so for the third unit (no way we have points for another ten) I'm just going to copy it and add in Psybolt ammo, simple enough.

Paladin Squad Notaclone
-Psybolt Ammunition
Paladin 1- Psycannon, Falchions
Paladin 2- Psycannon, Halberd
Paladin C- Falchions
Paladin 4- Daemonhammer
Paladin 5- Halberd

1915/2000

Hmm... 85 pts. to spend. Now we hit the crunch-time part of the list. What do we add? What final modifications do we make? Well, looking over the codex, I feel that if I remove one Dreadnought (which, I will admit, I dislike the idea) I believe I can fit a unit of Terminators, which would give me more bodies on the field and a fourth over-all scoring unit (which is my minimal comfort-zone for 2000 games). Part of me hates them because they are Normies instead of Paladins... But for the better sake of the army my personal opinion must be put aside (that was weird to say); that being said, let's add in a five man unit with Psycannon and Psybolt and see what happens.

Terminator Squad Redshirt
-Psybolt Ammunition
Justicar- Halberd
Terminator- Halberd
Terminator- Psycannon, Falchions
Terminator- Falchions
Terminator- Daemonhammer

1915 - 135 (Dreadnought) + 255 = 2035.

Oh... Well that sucks. I know people may have their own opinions on this, as to what is the best method to bring the points back under control, but for me I see a clear piece of wargear that happens to cost 35 pts: The Librarian's Warding Stave. To me, it either comes down to removing that piece of wargear or Psybolt Ammunition from both Paladin Squad Notaclone as well as Terminator Squad Redshirt, and frankly giving up that amount of S:5 shots seems far worse to me than removing the 2++ from the Librarian... I will admit, it's a tough choice, and I'm sure many would be torn on what to do, but that's the route I'm taking.

After all, that's what play-testing is for, isn't it? Later, if we decide we don't like it then it can be changed around.

Given all that, the final list comes to the following:

Grandmaster Draigo
Librarian- Quicksilver, Might of Titan, Warp Rift, Sanctuary, Shrouding

Paladin Squad Ramrod
-Psybolt Ammunition
Paladin A- Psycannon, Falchions
Paladin B- Psycannon, Daemonhammer
Paladin C- Falchions
Paladin D- Daemonhammer
Paladin 5- Master-Crafted Falchions

--Paladin Squad Draigoshield
Paladin 1- Psycannon, Falchions
Paladin 2- Psycannon, Halberd
Paladin C- Falchions
Paladin 4- Daemonhammer
Paladin 5- Halberd

Paladin Squad Notaclone
-Psybolt Ammunition
Paladin 1- Psycannon, Falchions
Paladin 2- Psycannon, Halberd
Paladin C- Falchions
Paladin 4- Daemonhammer
Paladin 5- Halberd

Terminator Squad Redshirt
-Psybolt Ammunition
Justicar- Halberd
Terminator- Halberd
Terminator- Psycannon, Falchions
Terminator- Falchions
Terminator- Daemonhammer

Dreadnought- Twin-Linked Autocannons, Psybolt Ammunition (135 pts.)
Dreadnought- Twin-Linked Autocannons, Psybolt Ammunition (135 pts.)

2000/2000

There is the completed list! Will it win any tournaments? Well, I think there are too many bad match-ups in today;s meta to say that. Will it be fun to play? Absolutely. Most importantly, does it fulfill my initial desire mentioned in the opening? In that regards it does. I will feel powerful mowing down wave after wave of the opponent's army, feel invincible after each round of shooting, and sullen lows upon the death of each one of my Terminators.

... Wait... Rampant highs? Spiraling lows? Excessive emotions toppling both extreme tops and bottoms? Huh... So I couldn't escape the grasps of Slaanesh after all... Oh well. Let's party!

Mr. Black Talks Skaven

2011-09-20T10:20:00.001-07:00

Let's take a look at some Skaven Fun.

"You've been playing fantasy again, haven't you?"

"... ...I can quit anytime I want..."

"It's a dead game, you know that, I know it, everyone knows it."

"No, it isn't. It's fun, I had fun while playing it. There were explosions."

"The magic system is broken, it's not as tactical as it used to be. Just look at the internet, it hates Fantasy."

"The Internet hates everything except ponies."

"...Fine. Do what you want."

Ahem, Mr. Black here, dear readers, and as some of you may remember from last time I recently started playing Warhammer Fantasy again- and I can honestly say it's been some of the better times I've had recently, thanks in no small part to an army that is quickly becoming my favorite as far as style and substance goes: The Skaven.

Why do they appeal to me do? Well upon discovering Clan Skryre and their unique form of Technomancy, combined with the fact that, as a Skaven player, I am duty-bound *snicker* to not only think of my troops as fodder but encouraged to do so at every turn. I spoke about it some time ago in my "What's Your Playstyle?" article, so I won't get too much into it here, but long story short: Some generals reward their troops for success... I punish mine for failure... and sometimes success...

Grey Seer (Screaming Bell)

Chieftain (Battle Standard Bearer)
Warlock Engineer (Lv. 2 Sorcerer, Doomrocket, Warp-Energy Condenser)
Warlock Engineer (Brass Orb)
Warlock Engineer (Death Globe)
Plague Priest (Flail, Plague Furnace)

Clanrats x33 (Shields, Musician, Poison Wind Mortar Weapon Team)
Clanrats x30 (Shields, Musician, Standard, Warpfire Thrower Weapon Team)
Clanrats x30 (Shields, Musician, Standard, Warpfire Thrower Weapon Team)
Skavenslaves x45 (Equipment? Hahaha...)
Skavenslaves x45 (Equipment? Hahaha...)

Poison Wind Globadiers x7 (Bombadier w/ Death Globe, Poison Wind Mortar)
Plague Monks x35 (Unit Champion, Musician, Banner Bearer w/ Banner of Plague)

Warp-lightning Cannon
Warp-Lightning Cannon

2499.5/2500

*Those in the know will instantly peg me for the few non-Skryre entries there, but I assure you, there is justification (well...sorta...).

So, what do we have? Well we have a wealth of expendable templates to hurl around and lots and lots of shooting and magic- Such a fun time; Let's commence with the unit breakdown:

Grey Seer and Bell (Accompanied by the Chieftain and Lv. 2 Warlock Engineer, plus 33 Clanrats): This is the focal point of the army, containing both our General (The Grey Seer) plus the BSB. Frankly, when I set out to make this list I knew I wanted heavy magic, so a Grey Seer was a near auto-include. The Bell? Well it is a Skryre warmachine, but more so it creates a nice Unbreakable unit to anchor my forces around, not to mention giving the Grey Seer an impressive 18 inch Command Range should not be ignored.

The last benefit is something a lot of people also overlook: The Bell is a Unique Mount for the Grey Seer, meaning just by existing in the unit he causes them to be a Unique type as well, meaning no Stops, Thunderstops, etc, as well as making it so the opponent must kill both the Bell and the Seer in order to claim points for either. Has the Bell done something amazing each and every game? No, but it has always done something at least useful, and I fully believe it is worth the high price you pay.

One thing some may be concerned over is including the General and the BSB in said unit, the basic "eggs in one basket" approach- to that I will say this: Usually the Bell will be in the back of the mid-field, usually parked behind the Plague Furnace, and I have yet to have a unit plow through the Plague Furnace and be able to put up enough of a fight to harm the Bell- should that happen, I've probably lost anyway.

Speaking of the ~~Plague Furnace~~ Skryre War-Pendulum I have to say this is quickly becoming one of my favorite units. To start with it carries the same "Unique Mount" rules as the above-mentioned Bell, as well as the Unbreakable rule, now add in the fact that, while formidable on it's own, it is being escorted by a full Horde-Formation of Plague Monks (complete with Plague Banner) and you can see the ridiculous number of attacks the unit can spill out per turn. While the Bell acts as the anchor to the army this little unit is defiantly the hammer, moving in front of the Bell to keep it safe while at the same time presenting a major threat to most any other unit on the table.

Next up we have the cavalcade of Warlock Engineers, who, bar the Lv. 2 (to some extent) are there to go forth and die. Given that we're going Skryre it should be noted the Grey Seer will know three spells from the Lore of Ruin (Plus Dreaded Thirteenth, of course) while the Engineer knows Warp Lightning plus one more spell, ideally Crack's Call so he can get Skitterleaped to the backfield and go Warmachine hunting. The basic plan is roll the Grey Seers spells, sort them all out, then roll the Warlock's, odds are he will repeat one of the Grey Seer's choices and thus be able to take the aforementioned Crack's Call (the Grey Seer switching it out for the Dreaded Thirteenth should he roll it). I won't always go that route, it just depends on what I'm against.

The rest of the Warlocks are item holders, the Death Globe going with the Poison Wind Globadiers to provide an extra throw while the Brass Orb carrier will get Skitterleaped to a prime target (Steam Tank). Yes, the odds of all my items backfiring is pretty high, but hell, that's half the fun of Skaven, now isn't it?

The troops are the usual caveats, lots of Clanrats to whittle the opponent down, two decent sized units of Slaves to hold the enemy up (as well as fire wildly into... Trust me, I am not afraid to line up a Warpfire Thrower right in the center of the unit and "hope" I get a good distance on my roll). Not much to say about the Core really, it's Skaven- large numbers to hold the army up while your small number of actual damage-dealers do their thing.

Next up we have the Poison Wind Globadiers- a unit I know some don't care for... And... Well yeah, I can see why. Point for point I think they are a bit much, and if that Death Globe doesn't hit well I am a sad panda... But they really shine when you see a big scary monster sitting in the opponent's deployment, and they aren't bad at hunting Warmachines. Basically out of all the units in the army these guys come the closest to being "hit or miss". They do well when they want to and are always the first to blow themselves up when I need them most... Skaven to the very core.

Lastly we have the Warp-Lightning Cannons, which are probably the deadliest thing in the army, as well as the bane of many, many players. Arguably the strongest cannon in the game (and a steal for the price) the cannons really rely on the player knowing how to use them. Basically, unlike most other canons in the game, the Warp-Lightning creates a small blast where-ever the shot finally lands, and seeing as how the strength of the blast is equal to the second number on the Artillery-die, it means you're going to have anything from a S:2 to a S:10 hit, any of which ignore armor saves. The basic tactic is surprisingly easy- just place the initial spot you want the shot to land at twelve inches from the center of a unit, working out that the average distance on two artillery dice is twelve and, usually, you will land somewhere near the center of a unit, or at least close enough to do some serious harm.

And that really about covers it, dear readers. A fun army full of lots of BOOM! I've been testing it a while and really narrowed down the focus for it- initially running units of Jezzails (not worth it), Gutter Runners (nice but just not my style) and various formations of Skavenslaves; tried lots of options and different things out, but in the end I'm happy with the above list.

Oh, and on the topic of Skryre "Count-As" Warmachines...

The Skryre War-Pendulum! Ahahaha! Also be sure to keep an eye on the Dark Corner of Gaming blog for the "Skryre Techno-Fanatics" coming soon. In the meantime, here is a Hellpit Abomination, as every Skaven post must at least mention one in some degree:

Until next time, dear readers, Mr. Black signing out.

Angels Sanguine Updates

2011-07-04T09:47:00.000-07:00

Some pictures of the Sanguinary Guard and one Death Company. Felt like painting a mixture this weekend... Also finished a Sternguard Squad I don't believe I'll actually use... Shame...

The Duke is Dead.

2011-06-15T10:35:00.000-07:00

I... I can't really even function right now... He was one of the Saints to me... And he's Dead...

This... It's just awful. There aren't any words to fully catch it all...

I'm sorry... I'm just... This is an emotional time for me right now and... And I don't know if I'm going to be alright.

So... *sniff* I just... I just wanted to get the word out, so that everyone would know... This is a sad day for Mr. Black, dear readers.

The Duke is dead.

Those bastards killed him.

Deathjack Conversion/Fix-Up

2011-05-26T08:53:00.000-07:00

Basically I got a Deathjack in a recent trade, was a bit of a throw-in as the owner-before-the-last-owner had covered the thing in some heavy duty glue, ruining a huge amount of detail and maiming the torso/leg area with drilling and other such things. Initially I was going to use the guy for parts but I decided, in these times of economical hardship, to try and fix the poor lil' guy up.

Here are some pictures of the W.I.P.

The hand holding the "soul sucked Cygnar" will be repositioned once I finish making a Green Stuff soul to come out to a more "up close and personal" position, rather than off to the side.

Likewise to note, all the bare-metal pieces are ones I had to bit order due to the originals just being unusable. The back also needs a bit more chain, as does the waist, to cover up the glue and pin-vice markings. Those will come next...

Cryx: Gerlak Slaughterborn

2011-05-22T21:29:00.000-07:00

GERLAK SMASH!!!!

So trying to get some more Cryx painted up... Really paint more as a whole... That being said, here are some pics of my newest little model: The Blighted Troll leader himself, Gerlak Slaughterborn.

Cryx: Malice Conversion

2011-05-22T16:32:00.000-07:00

Simple little job today. Just a quick joint pin (spread the legs, heh heh heh) and a bit of repositioning. Not a fan of the static jack pose and the new Plastic Kits allow for some variety if you have the will to do it. Will paint him up... Well... Sometime, working more on the infantry before I tackle the jacks.

Imperius Dominus: Love/Hate Relationship- Spreading the Message

2011-05-18T21:02:00.000-07:00

Games Workshop: A Love/Hate Relationship

Have you ever known someone that you both loved and hated at the same time? Someone that at times would do everything right and made you love them even more, and at others seemed to go out of their way to get you to loathe them?

That's my relationship with Games Workshop. In the span of 2 days, GW seems to be doing everything it can to enrage and alienate their players.

Monday 5/16/11: "Finecast" A cheaper solution that will cost you more.

As discussed earlier it was confirmed on 5/16 that GW has ceased production of all metal miniatures and will be replacing these with a new resin material. Whether or not you will miss metal, it was pretty much assumed by all that this move would help keep prices down, as resin is a significantly cheaper and more economically stable material than metal. That's why so many eyes widened in confusion and anger as GW announced that these new "Finecast" models would cost more than their metal predecessors even though they were made out of a cheaper material. Perhaps the increase is only temporary to cover the cost of changes to existing molds, or new safety measures and training for employees working with a potentially hazardous new material. Or perhaps these prices are here to stay and GW is simply taking advantage of a customer base they perceive to be ignorant walking wallets with eyes. We don't know. Unfortunately, as always GW remains silent behind closed doors while their customers rage outside.

Tuesday 5/17/11: Price Increases and GW's Embargo.

As if wanting to strike while everyone was already pissed, the following day GW announced that, once again they were annually raising prices by an average of about 19%. Dark Eldar and Grey Knights, models that have been out for 6 months or less were even getting an increase. Again, no explanation as to why. Now GW has done this every year in recent memory so it wasn't a huge shock, but coupled with the Finecast increase and what I'm about to discuss, this run of the mill price hike becomes as much more complicated situation.

On the same day, rumors were confirmed that GW would be placing restrictions on all retailers in the northern hemisphere. Retailers based in the EU could not sell GW products outside of the EU and retailers in the northern hemisphere could no longer sell to customers in the southern hemisphere. What this basically means is that, as of May 31st, you will only be able to buy GW products directly from GW or a FLGS unless you are in a country with it's own retailer that offers discounts. If you live in the EU, not much will change. Gamers in North America should still be able to use great companies like The Warstore and Mini Wargaming and might even buy from their FLGS a bit more. (probably the overall goal of the change but again, who really knows?) For other gamers, namely those based in Australia and New Zealand, things looks very bleak.

GW will be forcing Aussies and Kiwis to pay their prices. Between poor exchange rates and exorbitant shipping costs, Australian and New Zealand gamers can expect to pay about double the cost for the same items with no options for discounts of any kind.

How can Games Workshop do this and still expect to retain their customers, let alone bring in new ones? True to form, GW remains tight lipped as ever. Complete lack of communication and a "head in the sand" approach to public relations remaining their strategy.

How far can they continue to push us (their customers) with price hikes and baffling business decisions before they push too far? How long can they offer no explanation as to why they do the things they do before we all move on to companies that actually communicate with their players?

The complete lack of communication is probably my biggest issue with Games Workshop. It just shows an utter lack of respect for their customers. A "deal with it and shut up" attitude to everything they do. If GW would do us the smallest courtesy of treating us like thinking, rational human beings rather than piggy banks, a lot of this outrage could be lessened or avoided. For example, earlier this year (and even now) Privateer Press was having severe troubles keeping up with the vastly increased demand for their products. Customers were getting angry that they were having so much trouble getting their hands on PP models. Rather than take the silent "shut up and deal" GW approach, Matt Wilson himself, the Creative Director of Privateer Press came onto the PP forums and explained the situation, apologized for it, and explained the steps the company was taking to make things better. This forum post, which maybe took 20min of his time to write, did wonders in stemming the tide of customer rage and made PP gamers feel valued and appreciated. Forum posters who earlier were complaining, later thanked Matt Wilson and expressed how much it meant to them that the company cared enough to address their concerns.

A simple e-mail GW. I'm not asking for much. Here, I'll help.

"Dear valued customer,

We apologize for (insert stupid business practice here). This change is necessary due to (blah blah give me something, anything just at least pretend that you give a crap about your customers!)

We hope you understand why we came to this decision and that you stick with us in the future. We have some truly exciting releases in the works and the remainder of 2011 and beyond will prove to be a great time to be a Games Workshop hobbysist.

Thank you for your understanding and continued, valued support.
(Corporate douche Tooly McToolserson)"

That small, simple act would do wonders for many people. They can't even extend that tiny courtesy.

I love/hate Games Workshop.

I love Games Workshop. No company produces better miniatures or has better universes for us to use them in. From their ever more impressive model kits to black library, no company offers the "complete hobby package" like GW does.

I hate Games Workshop. The way they interact with their customers is disgusting. Complaints and concerns are ignored, prices continue to soar and unscrupulous practices continue with no explanation. Their corporate motto should be "Bend over and keep quiet".

___________________________________________________

That pretty much sums it up, doesn't it? I can deal with a lot, and as someone who handles accounting with my business I can understand the bottom line, but there is a point when too much is too much... I would have no problem in the world in we merely had a bit of customer relations, but seeing as how we have none I can find my fault in the people who are even more upset than I am.

I can only once more think back to the above-mentioned actions of Privateer Press in dealing with hard issues with the consumer. They have and continue to handle things like true professionals with respect to their consumer, and I think GW could learn a thing or two from them.

What is going to become of all this? Probably nothing... But only time will tell for sure,dear readers.

Mr. Black's Gaming Thoughts- How To Cheat People

2011-05-16T07:23:00.001-07:00

What's the harm in it? I mean, as long as you don't get caught...

Mr. Black here, hot off the heels of Goatboy and his little Anti-Cheating post found Here. It struck a chord with me, since I am a fair and reasonable person and don't like seeing one side oppressed by another. Basically I felt that the article was very bias against cheating, to the point were it mentioned nothing positive about it at all, and that's just not a fair case, it's like having a prosecutor and executioner yet no defense and/or jury. That being said, here are some common cheating techniques and how to best go about them:

Loaded Dice
There are tons and tons of different websites marketing their very own loaded dice, but usually they will run anywhere from $3-5 a set and are typically casino style (aka large) dice, which are unsuited for wargaming due to size and the fact they stand out too well. No, for this method you'll need to get creative.

Now, I have seen many methods of making loaded dice, from Microwaving Them to boiling them in salt water, and I can personally attest that none of these methods work. No, if you want to load your dice you'll need to do it the ol' fashioned way, which is to say drill the suckers!

...Pretty simple actually, all you need is a drill and a metal press/gullible friend....

All you'll need to do is drill out the "1" pip on the selected dice and hammer in a small nail, cut off the tip of said nail then paint it back to resemble the "1" pip. Doing so will weight the one down, thus causing it to land down more often than not. Now just merely mix in those loaded dice with your normal ones and you're all set to go! **Never use all loaded dice... Rolling 12 sixes is mathematically impossible in one go and people will be on to you!**

Odds of Working: 80%
Odds of Getting Caught: 20%
Red Flag Question: "Hey, those dice look different..."
Red Flag Answer: "No they don't, mind your own damn business!"

Read the Above
This one no one ever sees coming, but it is a bit specific. Basically the trick here is to have an army all converted up, let's say for the sake of it you call them something stupid like, I don't know, Space Llamas or something, you have them so converted up that no one really knows what army they are, all they know is they are Marines. Next step is simple, bring multiple army lists using a variety of armies to the table and switch them out according to what list your opponent is playing. If you're of the really devious variety then you may even be able to pull the Ol' Switcheroo a few turns after the game begins, using the placement of the game board to your advantage.

Another version of the Ol' Switcheroo is the Bayou One-Two method of cheating, in which you replace, say, a Rhino with a Vindicator or Predator or vice-versa via the use of a distraction. This is best achieved with the help of an assistant making a commotion behind your opponent (my personal favorite method is via the use of the small Firework Pop-Rockets you can buy). Warning though, for this to work you absolutely have to play your part- the entire charade hinges on your ability to convince people they are wrong. For this to work the lie must become the truth for you. Pull that off and you're good to go.

Odds of Working:20-80%, depending on person
Odds of Getting Caught:20-80%, depending on person
Red Flag Question: "Since when were you playing Space Wolves?"
Red Flag Answer: "Shut up. I've always played Space Wolves!"

Garden Variety Hypnotism
Now unfortunately most will not be able to pull this one off, as one necessary thing is needed to make it work, and that one thing is big, creepy eyebrows. Yes, unfortunately they are the key to the whole thing working, don't know much about the science behind it, but I do know that using fake ones will provide no benefit, they have to be natural.

Your basic strategy here begins, as with all things, an education on how best to use your new-found gift. I recommend this: Hypnosis For Beginners. Read that and you will be well on your way to improving your tabletop game!

Now then, once you've completed the ever important first step we must transfer that newly discovered knowledge to wargames, and figure out how best to cheat the crap out of people with it. I've found that these simple tactics work best, as they don't arise suspicion from anyone and your opponent will be too enthralled to remember what happened, simply assuming you beat them with a combination of skill and tactical prowess:

1. Force them to drive their vehicles backwards instead of forwards.
2. Uh Oh! Bolter Jam! Roll Armor Saves!
3. Run laps through various Dangerous Terrain. Also... Make them think Open Ground is Dangerous Terrain.
4. If the opponent is proving less than agreeable with your mental domination, then you can break out the "Szzzsssszzszzssszz Maneuver", as outlined in Chapter IX: Crushing Your Enemies With Your Mind (for those who haven't gotten that far it basically talks about employing a Total Mind Erase, a side effect being they can't remember how to play the game and thus get thrown out for Stalling/Slow Play! This has the beneficial side effect of making you look like Good Samaritan, making other cheating attempts easier).
5. If you're especially good at your craft (aka have some truly impressive eyebrows) then you can simply enthrall the Tournament Judge and be declared winner without even having to bother playing! A good tactic if you have someplace to be!

Odds of Working: 95%

Odds of Getting Caught: 5%
Red Flag Question: "All Hail the Overlord..?"

Red Flag Answer: "All Hail the Overlord!!" *Intense Gaze*

The Red Paperclip Method
For those who don't know The Red Paperclip Method gets it's name from the story of a guy who started with one red paperclip and through a series of trades ended up with a house. This can end up similar to that, except replace Red Paperclip with Nothing and House with New Army. How does it work, you may ask? Let me explain...

Scenario: You've tried the Hypnosis, it isn't taking, you've tried the Switcheroo, they didn't fall for it, you may have even tried bribing (BAD TACTICS!!) and that didn't work. So what do you do? Well there is one method left, and the benefits extent even beyond the tabletop!

The Set-Up: We all know how hectic combat can get, models moving in for the charge, defender's reacting, Pile-Ins! Hell, it can get confusing, and as the true tactician knows, some of the best plans can be completed due to confusion by the enemy!

Doing the Deed: Again, simple but you may want to try it out a few times first on your own models/siblings/babies with candy. Basically when you're removing your casualties from combat "accidentally" (re: totally not accidentally) pick up a few of your opponent's models, slyly hiding them under your pile of dead ones or better yet in pants pocket, carrying cases, etc. Should your opponent mention them having models missing then quickly point out that you never saw them. If you're a real pro then you can even develop this into a full Two-Face Flip and accuse your opponent of cheating by trying to add/remove models from the tabletop. I will say I wouldn't recommend doing this more than once every few events, as it will breed suspicion if it happens too often.

The best part of the Red Paperclip Method is that during a good tourny day you can walk away with an entirely new unit! Granted, it may be composed of two Salamanders, one Longfang, three Chaos Marines, and a Dark Eldar Wych, but just keep at it and eventually you'll have an entirely new army of your very own! Bonus props if you manage to get the vehicles as well!

Odds of Working: 75%

Odds of Getting Caught: 25%
Red Flag Question: "Hey, I had eight guys in that squad..."

Red Flag Answer: "Dude, you can't just add guys to a squad on Turn 3. Judge!"

Magical Magnets
This one is short but sweet and probably requires more prep-time than the other methods, but is worth the payoff.

Basically for this one you'll want to whip yourself up some flat-disk shaped objective markers, these, made out of Rare Earth Magnets, work great. Paint them green or put your armies logo on them, whatever, just dress them up like normal objective markers. If your opponent brought some to use, insist on using yours, as they're flat, easy to read, and most importantly fixed.

The next step is where you're going to prove your dedication to the craft. Now what you'll need to do is affix the opposite polarity magnet onto the inside of a Rhino. Basically what your working at here is to create a bond strong enough where if the chosen vehicle moves over the objective then it will pull the Objective Magnet onto it's hull, but loose enough where a light tap (for good luck) of the vehicle on the table will release it. May have to work with placement and strength of your "pulley" magnet but with some SCIENCE I'm sure you can get it working.

I'd hope I wouldn't have to explain the benefits of being able to move objectives around the board as you wish, but for those who didn't get it... You can move the objectives around the board as you wish, perhaps even fooling your opponent into forgetting about it until the end of the game, then it's "Oh my! Look at that! You forgot about that objective my Tactical Squad was parking on! Teehee!!" Just remember if called into question stick to your guns- no one ever got any meaningful cheating done by admitting to it!

Odds of Working: 100% (Who believes you'd honestly go through this effort?)

Odds of Getting Caught: 0%
Red Flag Question: "But I placed that objective over here!"

Red Flag Answer: "And what? You think I rigged a Rhino up with a series of magnets to move the objective around? That's stupid. Massacre Victory for me!"

Well, I could go on and on about different ways to get the job done, dear readers, I mean we've only covered four basic methods and just going off memory I can think of at least ten more (The Reverse-Bribe, The Old Confidence Trick, Three Birds in a Bush, Rhino Shuffle, Vulken Hustle, just to name a few), but I'll save those for another day. After all, I don't want to give all my secrets away now do I?

~And that brings us to our discussion of the week dear readers, what are some of your popular methods of cheating? Have you even been caught? And most importantly: you didn't take all this seriously, now did you? -Mr. Black

Back From the Dead!!

2011-05-08T10:26:00.001-07:00

Not dead yet and back with a vengeance!

Alright kiddies, I will admit I've let this all slip to hell, and for that I apologize. I have brought the blog back with a bit of a revamp and removed it's restriction to simple painting and converting techniques.

Yep, from here on out I'm using this as a full gaming blog to discuss... Well, whatever the hell I feel like. Feels a bit better that was as I can vocalize my thought on both things old and new, and really since most of the site traffic will be coming from the Bell of Lost Souls crowd anyway, I felt I may as well carve a small niche out doing other things than just miniatures... Though of course that will still be the mainstay of the blog as a whole.

More to come very soon, and that is a Mr. Black guarantee!

Deadlands: Doomtown RPG, Session I

2011-05-06T09:13:00.000-07:00

Session One: Character Creation

Alright, as I promised the site is going to cover a broader section than just tabletop wargames, to carry through on that promise I'll be giving a weekly summery of our Deadlands: Doomtown RPG game here.

For those who don't know, Deadlands is basically an RPG setting taking place back in the "Gold Rush" days of the 1800s. I couldn't do it justice just giving it a brief summery so here is a wikipedia link: Deadlands

We're basing it off the Deadlands: Doomtown of Bust! setting, which in turn is based off the Doomtown Card Game, which I am a fanatical collector of.

To complicate things a bit further, we're actually using the FATE System for our game, not the one in the standard book. For those who don't know what any of that means, don't worry, it won't effect you. Basically it's just the game system we're using. I won't be bringing it up much for the summaries so don't sweat it.

Anyway... For Session I we worked on creating our characters, which, in order to link everyone together, will be members of The Agency, which is basically the Men in Black for the United States... Pretty much they're the ones in charge of dealing with any supernatural threats to the populous. The group has been assigned to the boomtown of Gomorra because of some strange goings-on that has raised interest.

And thus we have the characters:

Desmond Quinton
Desmond is the group "Mad Scientist" and as such is responsible for creating the technological...um... Weapons... the group has access to. Knowing the player, I expect some shenanigans to take place, as he has pretty much no comprehension of the word "overkill". Basically this guy will be acting as the "Q" to the rest of the groups' "James Bond".

Boom Boom O'Bannon
The demolitions expert of the group. The player made him with the idea of being a heavy explosives expert... Not quite sure what to expect here, aside from the answer to a lot of things being "let's just blow it up". Will have to keep an eye on this character from a GM standpoint as building blowing up can has serious ramifications and the group is supposed to keep their heads down. Who knows what will happen.

(Name Pending)

Here we have the group sniper... And also the carrier of the worst luck of most anyone in the group. Playing a veteran of The Agency the character had his nose, ears, and tongue cut off during capture and torture by the Confederates, escaping with the help of his partner... and then summarily shooting him for giving secrets away, escape be damned. To add further issue, when he asked for government assistance for the damage he was screwed over by the wife of his former partner, aka the lady also in charge of his claim... Who issued him a deaf seeing eye dog responsible for leading it's former master right into the way of a moving carriage. Basically here we have a person with a seething hatred for the South, silent to the point of mute, and deadly with a rifle.

Lux... I forget the last name...
The resident Huckster/Cardsharp of the group, though even he is not quite sure how his powers work, only that he can subtly manipulate odds and fate around him. Not the most powerful member, he will mainly be playing the role of cataloger for the experiences with the supernatural the group has and acting as a standing support character for the better fighters.

Gordo Sanchez
As constantly described buy the player as a "fat latino" gunslinger Gordo is the group's gunman, and he is a damn good one... He had better be, as The Agency isn't in the habit of hiring out-of-shape borderline-racist who still hold strong ties to their original country. Despite all that though Gordo is full on par for the cause and has a "shoot first, shoot later, then when everybody's dead try to ask some questions" method of fighting. He was brought here for his skill and ability to keep everyone else alive rather than his knowledge of the supernatural.

And that is the group we have going. First actual session is next Tuesday, hopefully things will go smoothly and the group will avoid blowing up most of the town on their first day.

Tournament Report: Gigabites 40K Team Tournament

2011-05-03T09:00:00.000-07:00

Eldar and Dark Eldar shenanigans.

So my Dirty Eldar buddy George and myself teamed up to take on the latest challengers at a 1000 pt-per-player Team Event this weekend. How did it go? Well, we won... Again... Eldar Walkers are a pain for people who don't know how to deal with them... But we'll get to that. First, the lists:

The format was a Split Force Org Chart, 1 HQ 1 Elite 1-3 Troop 1 Fast 1 Heavy per side, with the remaining 1 in each slot acting as a "floater" between the armies (example: I have 1 elite, partner has 2, I have 2 heavies, partner has 1).

Mr. Black's Kabal of the Slashed Eye

The Baron

Kalabite Trueborn (x7) (2x Splinter Cannon, 5x Shardcarbines, Raider w/ Flickerfield)

Wyches (x7, Hekatrix w/ Agonizer, Raider w/ Flickerfield)
Wyches (x7, Hekatrix w/ Agonizer, Raider w/ Flickerfield)
Hellions (x14, Helliarch w/ Agonizer)

Ravager

998/1000

George's Cinco-de-Kickass Eldar

Eldrad

Fire Dragon Squad (x5, Wave Serpent w/ Spirit Stones and TL Shuriken Cannon)
Fire Dragon Squad (x5, Wave Serpent w/ TL Shuriken Cannon)

Dire Avengers (x5)

War Walker Squad (x3, Scatter Lasers x2)
War Walker Squad (x3, Scatter Lasers x2)

1000/1000

First Round: Blood Angels+Black Templar

Memorable Moments:
-First Turn: Emperor's Champion unit failing moral test from casualties and running off the table... Ouch...
-Wyches engaging Black Templar "Tactical" Squad, combat ends in stalemate... Next round a Marshal and reinforcements arrive and charge Wyches, who promptly died under the weight of fire.
-Blood Angels heroically landing just where they needed to... in the exact middle of two squads of Wyches and a Raider.

Issue I think the Opponent's Had: Bad Luck did not help them here, at all, and losing that Emperor's Champion unit first turn was a bad blow. Otherwise I believe the lack of Vehicles on their end may have played a part in their downfall. With the Blood Angels it was understandable, but the Templars were a full foot-slogging force, and in the end War Walkers plus the general speed of our two armies would have caused them great pains.

Round 2: Flesh Tearers and Eldar

Memorable Moments:
-Flesh Tearers Rhino going Flat Out, rolling a 1 on Dangerous Terrain and everyone promptly coming down with a bad case of death.
-My "Oh Hell..." moment in realizing that the Eldar entire strategy was Tank Shocking my units with Flat Out moves and Star Engines.
-The general balls-out insanity of the Eldar player, who simply wanted to cause as much chaos as he could.

Issue I think the Opponent's Had: The scenario we were playing pitted Attacker against Defender, and our army functioned much better on the Defense. Once again we wont this roll (thanks Baron!) so we set up around our base to War Walker the hell out of anything coming close. Basically this was a game of hold back and shoot them as they came... Until the Eldar appeared in the dead center of our lines from Star Engines... Then it became a game of KILL THE ELDAR! Luckily we held back the Assault Marines, who I don't think actually ever saw combat... The main issues I see here was the scenario was against them, the bad rolls on Dangerous for the Flesh Tearers player hurt, and unfortunately the Eldar player didnt have much going for him aside from his Tank Shock strategy.

Here I think it was an issue of list building, but given that the two didn't know they would be entering till the night before, it's alight. I will speak more on this later.

Round 3: Orks and Dark Eldar

I was worried moving into this fight... Two Battlewagons, Kustom ForceField, Nobz... All backed up by four raiders with Kalabite Warriors and Haemonculi... Dawn of War, we went first, they deployed nothing. Not looking good. They moved on, got some shots off, their Voidraven shooting it's full loadout at my Hellions, forcing them to go to ground for a 2+ cover save. Luckily we made it through without many casualties... Then Lady Luck came up and kicked the orks square in the beanbag.

First thing first, gun down those Lootas. If there is one thing we've learned from all our Team Tournaments it's that WE HATE LOOTAS! Moving on!

Battlewagon opened up by Fire Dragons, Nobz hit and three killed by mass Dark Lance shots... We remember he needs to roll for pinning check. Fail. Bosspole. Fail. Ok... 25% casualties, roll. Fail. Bosspole... Fail... Runs eight inches back off the table edge.

At this point the enemies moral was destroyed, and their main offensive force crippled. Yes, he had twenty Ork Boys as well, but he went on to Tank Shock the Fire Dragons in an attempt to nail them and the Wave Serpent Behind them... DEATH OR GLORY! Boom! Battle Wagon gone with only two casualties from the Deathrolla!

And I could go on, but really, as I said it just goes downhill... Lady Luck was on our side this day, and she cursed the Orks and Dark Eldar we were playing against, pure and simple. Great guys, great players, but nothing went in their favor during our game.

And so the day ended, three games, three Massacres, max bonus points. I really cannot stress enough how much luck favored us today...

...You know, I used to listen to the Dos Equix man when he said "Never trust a woman who is only around when you are winning" but... Hell, I think she has a crush on me...

Mr. Black, out.

Morghoul's "Zoo of Pain" List Discussion

2011-04-29T05:59:00.000-07:00

Let's pack the car and take the kid's to the Zoo of Unrelenting Pain and Horror!

Mr. Black here, dear readers, and first I'd like to say this entire list is stolen from another source.

Well, "stolen" is a harsh word. I absolutely want to give credit for this list to it' creator, since they basically made the list I wanted to play when I picked up Skorne as a supplemental army to my Cryx. I found this list from a link from a link from a link taking me in loops around the Privateer Press forums, and since then am just unable to locate the original post, poster, or anything linking me to such. Given that, if this list looks familiar to anyone, and I'm sure it will, please point me in the right direction so that due credit can be given!

That being said, let's look at the actual list:

**We're going big this week with 50 points, as it displays the lists best efficiency level!

Morghoul's Zoo of Pain

Master Tormentor Morghoul

Basalisk Drake
Basalisk Krea
Cyclops Brute
Cyclops Savage
Cyclops Shaman
Razor Worm

Molik Karn
Rhinodon
Titan Gladitor

Paingiver Beast Handlers (Min)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Min)

50(+7) / 50(+7)

So if you haven't gathered you're running quite a few beasts. Now, the obvious question is simply can you manage that much fury?! Well that would be the purpose of both Morghoul and the Beast Handlers themselves, pulling fury off once the beast has done it's damage. Of course this won't handle everything on those crunch-turns, so playing the odds with Frenzy roles (or just plain not caring in some cases) are essential to make this list work. It's a blast to play and a great change for someone like me who's other army is massed infantry (CRYX!!), and painting it is great as you avoid the monotony of painting unit after unit after unit.

The basics down (easy, weren't they?), let's take a look at each unit and it's purpose in the army:

Morghoul- Being the ringleader of this whole show he goes nicely with the Paingivers, able to help in the Fury management along with them. Doesn't hurt that he also has the most Warbeast Points available.

Basalisk Drake- We have precious few ways of dealing with massed infantry with this list, aside from the basic Trample! and sneaky maneuvers, so a nice POW Spray template goes a long way in helping us assist with that. Can't really say much else here, that's his sole purpose existing in life! Use him as he should and he will quickly become a high priority target for your opponent, which means it's nice that you have...

Basalisk Krea- On her own, and even paired with the Drake she's kinda "meh", but hey, she's cheap and easy to use (Don't you dare make that joke!- Bigred). If she has any real purpose here it's her animus, which, when played correctly, can really add the extra "oomphf!" in keeping your important players alive, such as Morghoul himself or the Basalisk Drake she will be accompanying. Added onto this she isn't that bad in melee... Nothing special, but nothing bad either. Again, the important thing to remember is that everything in this force has it's own unique role, whether it's a killer, buffer, or meatshield!

Cyclops Brute- I love this model. I really do. But aesthetics aside, what purpose does he have? Well for one he hit's like a truck in melee (well.. for a light beast anyway...), and that's good as in it's own, but really it's his ability to keep Morghoul alive with his shield-blocking powers that makes him great to me. Not one of the guys you want to rush forth, keep him back to prepare for counter-charges or dealing with any bugger who gets too far down your flanks.

Cyclops Savage- Basic damage dealer, nothing special here, just a means of hurting your opponent.

Cyclops Shaman- No one ever sees this guy coming. Basically you have his Evil Eye, which helps in the fight against those Concealed/Incorporeal threats. More so, given the sheer amount of animi in the army he should have a field day casting anything you need him to, should the original beast need that Fury or just not be close enough.

Razor Worm- An off choice, I will admit, and also one that may not come into play in all your games. Basically on his own he's a harassment model: striking out and killing something then running away to repeat it next turn. His true value comes in those games were you're playing a heavy blast marker army. His animus, which basically makes you immune to such things, is a great asset and when it comes into play it will be a game changer. Just remember he's small, he's fragile, and he shouldn't be seeing direct combat.

Molik Karn- He's Molik Karn, type that name and "broken" into Google or the Privateer Press forum and you'll have all the information you need on him.

Titan Gladiator- Arguably the best Heavy Warjack in the game the Gladiator is a fantastic addition to any Skorne army not only for his sheer hitting power and durability but his amazing Rush animus, which I'm sure you'll be tossing around left and right to get those unexpected charges off.

Rhinodon- As I mentioned above with the Basalisk Drake, if this army has one glaring flaw it's a lack of ability in dealing with troops; the Rhinodon helps that. Basically this guy is your infantry killer, he's got Thresher, he's tough, and he tramples like nobody's business... Only flaw is he's just not up to par with a lot of other Heavy Warbeasts, so keep him to his role and don't try to turn him into a superbeast and bite off more than he can chew- he loves cheap, massed infantry, keep him at that.

And there you have it, dear readers, the Morghoul's Zoo list! I've been playing this list for some time and having a great time doing so. It's dynamic, it's unique, and you really have to think about each of your moves and options due to the fact that each creature in your roster serves it's own unique role and position upon the battlefield. Learn to utilize their strengths correctly and back each other up to cover their weaknesses and you'll have a truly terrifying force that can just crush your opponent!

~Any other all/mostly warbeast/warjack forces you can think of that works? Well all know Mortenebra loves her jacks, but let's think outside the box on this one. What can you come up with?

Skorne: Building Your Empire

2011-04-29T05:57:00.000-07:00

So you've decided you're into these types of things, eh?

Mr. Black here dear readers and today we're going to talk about starting your own Skorne Empire. Yes, I know, it can look daunting with so many hulking and nasty looking warbeasts and truly some of the most visually stunning troops in the game, but today I'm going to give you a brief rundown of some of my top choices for initial purchases; i.e. the stuff that will really help you get a feel for the faction and raise a truly terrifying force from the ground up!

The Battlebox
I know your initial thought is to run out and grab up the Skorne Battlebox and build from there. After all, why wouldn't it be? It's called a starter for a reason! I'll admit, for just learning the basics it's not a bad purchase, though I personally question the need for a second Cyclops Savage. But I am a fair man so let's check out just what you're getting and how much it would cost separately:

-Titan Gladiator ($34.99)
-Cyclops Savage x2 ($18.99) (x2)
-Master Tormentor Morghoul ($10.99)
Cost: $83.96
Starter Box Price: $49.99

Huh... That's... Quite a bit of saving actually... And while I still really never use that second Cyclops Savage (and sometimes, barely use the first) it's basically free. Actually, it's like it's free and comes wrapped in a $10 bill... Right then. Never mind anything I say about the Battlebox not being a good deal. It is. Buy it.

Starting From the Ground Up
Ok so we've picked up the Battlebox, now what? Let's take a look at just what we've laid our hands on:

Titan Gladiator
The Gladiator is arguably one of the best warbeasts in the entire game, and certainly the most popular (aside from a certain Cyclops Chieftain we'll get to). Why is that? Well he's tough as nails, has an above-average Def for his size, has two Open Fists for throwing shenanigans, can Slam for free, and also comes stock with ones of the best animus' available to us, Rush. Honestly Rush by itself makes him a great buy. Why do I say that? Well being Skorne we have precious few ways to get around the haphazard that lots terrain can create - one of our biggest problems is actually getting to the enemy to smash their face in, and that is where Rush comes in, giving us not only a small movement boost but Pathfinder to boot. It's a life-saving ability on an already impressive warbeast, play him a few times and you too will understand why he makes it into almost every Skorne list out there!

Cyclops Savage
I will say this right out of the gate: Have fun getting these s.o.b.'s together. Sometimes it can be easy, other times it will be a living nightmare and you'll be certain they sent you warped parts just to mess with your head. Other than assembly though, how is the Cyclops Savage? Well, sadly, "mediocre" is the first word that comes to my mind. It's not that he's bad, it's just there is little he brings to the table compared to other warbeasts in our roster. Yes, his boost-after-the-face animus is alright, but usually you'd be better off with other abilities, and yes, he hits alright for a light warbeast, but again there are others that hit pretty much the same, if not better, and bring more to the table. So in the end, is he worth fielding? Sure. Don't get me wrong, I don't think he's terrible, and many lists I have created feature him, just don't get any delusions that he is better than he is- a cheap damage dealer you shouldn't be afraid to sacrifice.

Master Tormentor Morghoul
If you love warbeasts you'll love Morghoul. Simply put he makes your already deadly warbeasts even deadlier, thus making him a great choice in lower point games where you're more likely to be playing Mangled Metal/Tooth and Claw. Of his abilities the one you will probably end of using most is Abuse, which is a simple little buff to a warbeast in exchange for a paltry amount of damage, second would be his nifty little ability to pluck a Fury from a beast- nothing outstanding, but lots of nice little buffs. Combine this with a Feat that basically shuts down your opponent's core battlegroup for a turn and you have the makings of a personal favorite as far as Skorne Warlocks go. Be warned, however, if you intent to be troop heavy there are much better choices than the Master Tormentor, who personally enjoys the company of Warbeasts much more than Troop choices.

Building Up
Alright then, so what do we add to this little group to bolster it further? Glad I asked! Let's take a look at some choice units:

Paingiver Beast Handlers
I cannot stress enough how good this unit is, and I firmly believe that most every Skorne army has no excuse to not include at least one unit of these guys. At two points for a unit of four you're getting the ability to A. Heal your warbeasts B. Give a warbeast +2 STR and a free Charge/Slam/Trample or C. remove any number of fury from a friendly warbeast. All that for two points, to put a cherry on top they also have Anatomical Precision, so just in case an enemy unit wanders too close they can move up and deal with them. I mean honestly what more can you ask from a two-point unit?! For even more effect combine the +2 STR with Morghoul's Abuse ability to truly create some scary damage rolls! I will reiterate what I said before just once more: you have no excuse not owning at least one unit of these models!

Basilisk Drake/Krea
This one can be seen as a matter of preference, but I honestly like the little lizard combo that Privateer Press gave us in these two. First let me mention that the Drake has one of the most powerful Spray Attacks in the game, and it's Magical to boot, thus allowing you to plaster those pesky Incorporeal models that may get in your way. Also worth noting it the Drake is a measly four points, well worth it for the attack alone, yet in addition he also has a useful animus, allowing a model in combat to kill whatever it's fighting then retreat to a safer distance, potentially preventing a counter-charge. Next we have the Krea who honestly looks terrible on paper. So why do I recommend her? Well while the Drake excels at range the enemy will usually try to rush him to avoid getting hit by his Gaze, and unfortunately the little Drake just can't hold his own against... well most anything... Enter the Krea, bringing to the fight +2 MAT and an extra die of damage to anything near the Drake, meaning her tiny P+S 12 is suddenly a bit more beefy with upwards of 4d6 backing it. Consider some of the damage boosting abilities the Skorne possess and you can see how this may cause a problem for the opponent!

Aptimus Marketh
For the Cryx players out there: He's a Skarlock Thrall. For everyone else out there: You probably know what a Skarlock Thrall is. If you really don't then the basic jist is this: He can cast one of your warlock's spells for free. Not viable in every list but you'd be hard pressed to find someone who can deny the utility benefit of having a three fury or lower spell being cast for free each turn. If you find yourself playing a warlock with lots of decent spells and are having trouble keeping all that lovely Fury to cast them then consider Marketh a try. He's a bargain at three points and can potentially increase your sphere of influence across the tabletop.

Nihilators
A nice high MAT unit, Fearless, has Tough, decent Strength and Reach, top all that off with Berserk... Oh, wait, top all that off with Berserk... Well it's a mixed blessing! Basically Berserk allows them to keep making attacks as long as they keep killing models, the drawback being is that it doesn't differentiate between friend or foe- you run out of enemies to kill? Guess your friend to the left looks good enough, and once he's dead your buddy to the right would make a fine next target, and so forth. In the end though this is something you can get around with careful unit placement, so just look out for that and you should be good to go. Otherwise the Nihilators are a personal favorite of mine as far as Skorne troopers go; they're nice and cheap and will seriously mess up anything they run into- just be warned, however, their defense is basically non-existent outside of a one-in-three Tough roll, so just focus on getting them to the enemy as quickly as possible before they get shot to death/trampled over/have a light rain kill them.

Molik Karn
74 Pages Using the Keywords "Molik Karn" and "Broken"

Molik Karn is good, we all know this, and if you don't most any quick search on any Hordes Forum will show this. Do I think he's broken? No, not especially. Is he very good? You bet your ass he is. Do I feel a lot of Skorne players use him as a crutch? Yes, unfortunately. For an army that has so many possibilities I feel too many players put him on the table and just focus around getting him to the enemies ranks, ignoring the rest of their army. Again, he is a fantastic choice, definitely one of the best in the entire game, but don't come to rely on him. Doing so only invites in failure.

Bronzeback Titan
The Bronzeback may not be the best recommendation for "newer" Skorne players, as he actually does require a bit of tactics to use. Basically when looking at him he's a ramped up Gladiator Titan with some extra abilities thrown in, but don't be fooled into thinking he functions the same as the aforementioned Gladiator, oh no, abilities like Counter Charge, Hyper Aggressive, and Train Wreck make the tactical possibilities the Bronzeback present almost limitless... Well, ok, most of that "limitless" comes from varying forms of "HULK SMASH!", but it will take some getting used to. Again, one of the best warbeasts in the entire game (Skorne just loves the best, doesn't it?), but this guy will take some thinking to use. As I said, there are better "beginner" choices out there for units/warbeasts, but eventually you will want to pick this guy up, if even just to yell "HULK SMASH!" just once.

~And there you have it, dear readers, just some of my insight into what I believe are great base-units to begin building your very own Skorne Empire off of... Well, those units and slaves... Lots and lots of slaves... What are some of your favorite units in the Skorne army?

CLASSIFIED: 21ST POSTING

2011-04-27T11:28:00.000-07:00

PURGED FROM IMPERIAL RECORDS

Rift is a Hell of a Drug

2011-03-15T07:09:00.001-07:00

So... Perhaps people have been wondering where I've been... Probably not... But basically the last three weeks have been absorbed by playing Rift.

If anyone else plays this, or is considering picking it up, hit me up on the Sunrest server, Defiant side, my character names are Hexeris and Daimortus.

Hooha.

Commission: Khorn Terminator Lord

2011-01-26T20:39:00.000-08:00

Just a small project completed today, a Khornate Terminator Lord. Had a friend take the pictures just to get something quick up, so pardon the quality.

Dark Eldar Beginnings: Wyches and Hellions

2011-01-25T10:50:00.000-08:00

Bad pictures taken at work, but some things are done none-the-less.