Monday 4 September 2017

'nids part 222 - Genestealer Hybrid Acolytes - Moar shots

As is my norm now I simultaneously take pictures on my phone alongside the digital camera. The camera is supposed to be the truer representation of the colours, but as I still struggle to get btter pictures out of my set up and the camera quite often it's my phone that's producing the better images. I say better, I mean I like them more, thanks to the various filters and extreme saturation.


I really do love the kilted guys.







And on the white background too. Most of these are just adjusted to make the background as white as possible so there's actually less contrast in the model.









There you have it, just the MOAR pictures of the Neophytes and then you can rest easy about being subjected to all these images :)

Friday 1 September 2017

1000pts battle report - Tyranids v Khorne Daemonkids

For a variety of reasons [life, hobby, a burgeoning passion for Bolt Action] I haven't managed to arrange many games with PeteB this year but we finally changed that with our first game of 8th edition together. I always hoped his understanding of Age of Sigmar would help us through the teething stages of 8th and so this was more like the early games of other editions where we found our feet and 'learned the game'.

The low down:
  • Kill points
  • Dawn of War deployment on 4'x4'
  • We bizarrely reverted to 7th setup - Pete deplyed first and then we rolled 50:50 to see who went first - I won the roll.
Pete's deployment was a symmetrical line of Fleshhounds, backed up by Chaos Spawn on either flank, with two units of Bloodletters with Heralds in the centre and a a Daemon Prince of Tzeentch masquerading as a Khorne DP in the middle.
I went with 18 Genestealers, Broodlord and Carnifex on my right flank, Carnifex and Tervigon on my left with my 30 Termagants [7 Devgaunts, 23 Fleshborers] holding the centre in cover. Everything Advanced forward but I suddenly realised the Genestealers were now ripe for Pete's turn and being gnawed on by the Fleshounds. The only thing to do was attempt the charge - it was 11", so needed 10, rolled a 6 and a 1, used a Command Point to re-roll the 1 and got 5.


They made it and promptly sliced through the dogs but I immediately learned that such a move puts you out of the buff range of the Broodlord - no +1 to hit, no immunity to morale...


In retaliation the Bloodletters, Herald and Spawn attacked back but thanks to my invul saves and Catalyst he could only take down 10 Stealers, still leaving me with 'Flurry of Claws' [4 attacks instead of 3]. I was able to wound his Herald and Spawn and kill a few Bloodletters in return.


Meanwhile my Carnifex was surrounded and taken from 6 down to 2 wounds and the Tervigon was taken to 8. Pink Horrors also appeared out of the aether.


My turn and the Broodlord and Carnifex reached the melee, scything and rending through the Bloodletters while the Broodlord buffed the Genestealers. I had to choose which unit to fight first after the charges - Stealers and get 4 attacks on all three units in the melee, or sacrifice the potential extra attack if the Spawn and surviving Bloodletter killed just 1 and fight with the 2 wound Carnifex facing the Fleshounds on the left flank who would likely die before getting to attack if the Stealers went first. The extra attacks and ability to kill three units meant I went with the Stealers, wiping out all but the Spawn


The Spawn still lived but he was severely wounded and left holding the flank alone and now surrounded by 10 Genestealers. The Carnifex somehow survived anyway, taking a Hound with him. The Tervigon was also able to kill the last of the Bloodletter, thanks to a particularly visions Smite that killed 4 [or 5], to leave just 2 to kill in combat. However, the Daemon Prince now wanted in on the action.


Horrors charged the Termagants, suffering a few deaths to their living ammunition overwatch. 8 termagants died in the combat but with the Tervigon still on 8 wounds they would be reborn. The Spawn also ambled forwards but wasn't able to make the 6" charge. Carnifex and Hounds remained in combat with just 5 Hounds left now.


The Daemon Prince was only able to wound the Carnifex twice. I threw the Broodlord at him - taking off a fair few wounds but that was a mistake as the Prince attacked back causing 8 wounds on the Broodlord - killing it and removing his buff Aura and Synapse. This left the Genestealers to kill the Spawn the hard way and consolidate towards the ongoing combat. All this watched by some Ripper who turned up to gloat on the board edge.


The five hounds continued to harry the Carnifex, forcing me to make at least three out of four 4+ saves.


Which I failed


The Carnifex was gone, answering the question 'who let the dogs out?' - it was the Carnifex. Unfortunately the Horrors also failed their Morale and the remnants of the units disappeared back into the warp releasing the Termagants who were back up to a full brood of 30. They threw all their shooting at the Spawn felling it.


The Stealers surrounded the Damon Prince [who'd spent the last turn doing another 2 wounds to the Carnifex]. Reduced down to 9 stealers and therefore 'only' making 3 attacks each it still could survive the 27 attacks and was slain.


This left four remaining Fleshounds facing the Tervigon, which is where we called it.


Obviously the game went really well for me and it was a perfect example of how the aura effects of having buff characters in proximity to their 'buffees' [the Daemon slayers] works well. Pete made some conscious decisions to make stuff happen, setting some of his units against the Genestealers when he knew they stood no chance so this definitely felt like a 'training' session. I still feel bad about taking out the Fleshounds first turn, I think that reroll alone for the charge won the game as the other Hounds lasted much longer against the Carnifex and ultimately killed him. However, Pete did point out the Stealers went through more than half his army so getting the right target for them is key and ensuring the Broodlord stays alive to keep them hitting on 2s is vital.

I feel slightly more positive because I know have a better understanding tactically, which was one of the issues at the NWO. It doesn't completely overshadow the fact I practically tabled Pete to do it, granted it was a kill points game, which means your priorities are simple but even so I want a close game where we both feel we had chances and fought hard. The other consideration is that this was against a combat orientated list, I wonder just how it would have fared against something shooting it across the table? Although Pete did claim his Daemons had been awesome against Tau so perhaps there's little to fear. Anyway, a lot to think about and certainly more to explore using this type of list.

If you're interested in any more of my Battle Reports, point your cogitators here: www.40kaddict.uk/p/battle-reports.html

Wednesday 30 August 2017

'nids part 221 - Genestealer Hybrid Neophytes - TO DONE!

It was with some relief I did in fact finish these guys ahead of the new season. It doesn't really matter either way but having set out to do them to a deadline I do feel good about achieving it. It doe smake me think I should have some sort of cut off point for inclusion though as running so tight to the deadline is a little stressful to say the least.


The pictures are a bit hit and miss in places but there are obviously MOAR shots to come that might help pick out some more details.


I'm beginning to think these are far less 'ragtag' than I intended, although they are grouped into the half orange and half red so I guess they should match up a bit.


I certainly think the diversity among the Hybrids works which is a relief. Some elements I'm not as happy with but the diversity I think is really interesting and allows scope to do a whole unit of 'Turqs' fo instance. I was looking at getting one of the Imperial Guard starter sets which I'd have as Turqs to further link up with the Rogue Trooper-esque element.


Red Squad


I love the guys with the goggles.



All of them together. Now I didn't get round to doing the completed Free Radical Collective just yet, perhaps that will come with the Armies on Parade board. It has made me automatically think about the second Deathwatch Overkill box I won in the raffle at Double Trouble. I can't imagine I'm going to throw all those Hybrids onto my freshly minted 2017/18 To Do List, but certainly the Aberrants and Familiars might creep into the mix before the end of the year.


White background shots because apparently having shared some of the Ferron Proxima 'context' shots I've recieved some criticism about how bright the red is and difficult to see. Certainly an issue I can appreciate but Ferron Proxima is my thing and I'm not about to give it upjust yet,




You can see here how I purposely held back on some of the highlights on the lower legs. It still feels like I was cheating but I think if I'd used the same highlights as the trousers and jackets it would have been too much.




Top down view so you can look at the patination on their heads.



I love the grenade launcher guys.


OSL on the mining lasers potentially suspect and I could have perhpas picked out some finer details on the weapon but i just wanted them done at this stage.


The replacement drill heads could have been a little better as well as the back pack but again time constrainst and patience with the project meant this was as good as it got.


The Orange gang.



I love how these remind me of the Star Wars X-wing pilots uniforms. I am considering the next set potentially wearing black environment suits but I don't know whether I should just stick with the white.








And there you have it, the last of my Big Pruple Stamps of Approval for my  2016/17 Hobby Season. Now I wonder how long it's going to take me to complete something for 2017/18...?