Blog Wars 7 Armies

I came joint second in for best painted army at Blog Wars 7, with only one vote in it. I was a little disappointed but soon reminded myself that it's just like gaming and ego really has no place here. I like to show off what I've done but ironically find receiving praise in person quite difficult. Ultimately the lesson learned from the day is for the future to take my army and display it whistles and bells purely as a '40kaddict - live' scenario. An opportunity to take the blog on the road. There are indeed plenty of armies better painted than mine, but mine looks good as a whole and has had it's share of success both in painting competitions and interest so the most important thing is to let people see it in the flesh to decide. Then I can add some of my 40addict 'business cards' which will send folk to the blog [I have had 2 new followers since the weekend, it was 3 but then one mysteriously decided to unfollow :( ]

Anyway here are the armies that were on display for the best painted army competition at Blog Wars 7and a couple of other pictures thrown in for good measure. First up, in my last game I did look over and see these two Tau gunlines facing each other, which I thought was amusing. 

This ImperialAstra Militarum Guard army was really nicely done, with it's owner having a secret recipe to paint the tanks in a few hours each!

Some nice Chaos Daemons.

Lots of Blood Angel Assault troops.

Space Wolves.

Crazy Adeptus Custodes, possibly as Grey Knights.

Graham Sanders Astra Imperial Militarum Guard - Squats, with Eldar Allies.

Moare Daemons, this guy was awesome.

The whole unit.

That's conversions for you!

A fantasatic Iron Hands army.

Iron Hands Dreadnought,

These were rally good.

I voted for this as the best Character, the pictures not very good as you can see but better ones are available on the Blog Wars 7 best army review page. It eventually won the best Character category, I think I came joint 4th.

Awesome cinemtatic FX on the missile.

Moar Daemons!

Dark Angels

Dark Eldar

Very nice and clean, too clean, what are they up to? ;)

A crazy Dark Eldar force made up of pirates

With sails and cannons, it was a lot of fun.

I think this bar may have been a Bastion, I'm not sure, it was totally mad.

Another tricked out Grav Galleon.

RTB1 Space marines, and Old Skool Rhino complete this Blood Angels army.

I believe that's a Scibor Miniature used to represent Mephiston.

Crazy Stom Raven Conversion too.

Yet MOAR DAEMONS!

I think this was an Ad-Mech force presumably using Imperial Astra Guard Militarum rules.

Love these armoured vehicles, might make nice Genestealer Cult transports?

Nice little touch there.

This guy was cool too.

Excellent Tau.

Really nice and clean.

Fantastic Iron Warriors army, which I voted for and took the overall prize by one vote, with me in joint second with the Guard Tank Army from my second picture. I voted for this myself, so Chris Benstead has me to thank for not being stuck in joint second with me, ha, ha!

Plenty of unique Forgeworld models.

These I think or Forgeworld, bu there were some other 3rd party models for the Obliterators, I think.

Fantastic.

The Flyers for Heldrakes, and some cool explosion markers, I think are the ones Lemon Painting makes and sells.

Flufftastic - Hive Fleet Gorgon - Ferron Splinter Fleet - The Four Horsemen of the Ferron Apocalypse

It was late on in the incursion of Ferron Proxima that Hive Fleet Gorgon introduced a new bio-menace.The tactics so far had usually followed a path of bio-engineering a new bioform that would threaten Ferron's defences and that way the Hive Mind could ascertain whether it was worth committing further resources to that bioform. However in this instance three new bioforms were created and deployed under the watchful gaze of the tried and tested Zoanthope genus.

Having the enhanced brain capacity of the Zoanthrope alongside these three new test subjects would allow the Hive to monitor their progress, strengths and weaknesses in real time and at an accelarated pace compared to it's previous prototyping tests. As these four abominations were often seen within close proximity to each other the valiant defenders of Ferron proxima took to calling them the 'Four Horsemen of the Ferron Apocalypse' in referrence to the ancient Terran fables. At first this naming practice was overlooked. up until the the very words 'Four Horsemen' began to bring about the unmanning of the most staunch auxillia in the PDF. Once this fear started to spread members of th Astra Militarum Commissariat were deployed to submit fatal alternatives to the grip of fear. In truth though the names were continued to be spoken, just in more hushed tones, while the light of terror in their eyes shone on regardless.

The Hive Mind's conduit was nicknamed Famine, in part because it was initially thought to be a reincarnation of the 'Doom of Ferron Proxima'. However, this was a case of mistaken identity and although it did not have the life sucking powers of that nightmare creature it did posses many other skills of the emperian. Although it was not initially considered the most threatening of it's twisted bretheren it's Psychic abilities received an unexpected boost when the 7 planets within the Ferron system aligned causing an unexpected change the manifestation of all Psychic powers within the system. Sanctioned Psykers of the Imperium have begun referring to this change as the 'Phase'. It's too early to tell what impact it will have on Hive Fleet's control of it's witch powers but so far there have been great improvements alongside drastic failures.

Despite it's fragile outer structure Famine controls all four of the Horsemen as an extention of the Hive Mind, it's recommended by the Bio-magi studying this new danger that despite it's lower threat level than it's brothers it should be considered target priority Alpha, to sever the connection between the other Horsemen and the Hive Mind.

If appearance alone be the judge of danger then this creature from the Carnifex family would otherwise be considered target priority Alpha. The creature itself is a Behemoth, a nigh unstoppable bio-tank armed with some of the most potent Brainleech Devourers the Xenos can engineer.

Although not as manouverable as the winged Hive Tyrant that also can be found armed with such weaponry this creature, dubbed 'War' due to it uncompromising battlefield role, advances under the protection of it's siblings. It uses the mental fortitude of Famine whilst being protected under the cloud of Pestilence...

...this foul, loathsome creature is still much a mystery to the bio-magi. It seems to contain and exhude some of the most virulent toxins and poisons ever encountered on Ferron Proxima. Gaining samples have proved extremely fatal. The creature is shrouded by a toxic mist that obscures most of it's biological functions and also manages to cover the advance of it's siblings and other creature from the Xeno's threat.

 

Due it's Toxic nature the nickname Pestilence was adopted. Despite its slender size and less fearsome appearance it is often this creature that will terrify more than the rest of the Horsemen. For what can a man do, even one blessed by the Emperor [insomuch as that man was conscripted into the PDF and there by default MUST be blessed] when behind those writhing tentacles and slime dripping maw once could die instantly just by being close to this abomination.

Yet for all Pestilence's fatal characteristics it is this Lictor that has earned the moniker - 'Death'. For it is death incarnate, an untimely end no one can foresee. Often striking from the shadows, having patiently stalked it's prey. With an adaptive camouflage that can help it blend into it's surroundings usually the first sign of it's presence is the mantis like talons that have suddenly appeared protruding from a Guardman's chest.

Identification of this member of the four horsemen has been the hardest  as it's given role of the fourrequires it to range further ahead than it's bretheren, even beyond the control of Famine and given this level of autonomy quite often the connection between the four has not been made. rest assured though that if you see one of these creatures the rest will surely follow but whether you see all four at once depends on if you survive the meeting or whether they choose to reveal themselves.

Further pict footage confirms their symbiotic relaitionship.

Be wary brave men and women of Ferron Proxima, these creatures are a very real threat. Should you identify any of them report the sighting to the nearest available defence cohort, where they will then detain you and send you on for thought cleansing by the Inquisition. To help the citizenry recognise these foul denizens of the alien filth, Magos Biologis Alder Garrick has prepared a set of handy cards, keep them on your person at all times.