Thursday, December 29, 2011

A Little Time Off

Dear Readers,

It's time for a little holiday to enjoy the Summer(*) until the New Year.
Hope you have a good holiday season and look forward to more interactions with you all in 2012.

Cheers,
Jabberjabber

(*) Yes, it is Summer in the Southern Hemisphere.

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Grey Knight Terminator

They're sorcerers.  That's my excuse.  No really.  Okay, I really am toying with the idea of a Ghost Knight army... more on that on a different day.

This "sorcerer" is a standard Grey Knight terminator with little significant conversion work applied.  The curved/tilted shield on the left shoulder pad was a bit fiddlesome to get in to place, but I think I got it in place right in the end.  Just got to drill out the holes for the ammo to come out of now and decide how I'm going to base this guy (maybe on some of these Scribor bases).

Monday, December 26, 2011

Merry Christmas

A slightly belated Merry Christmas to you all! (unless you're near the American side of the Date Line...! -- here Down Under, we're running out of daylight on Boxing Day already).

Friday, December 23, 2011

Necron Kill Team

Thinking about necron killteams / killzone squads is no longer a straight forward task thanks to the shiny new codex that is packed full of cool ideas and upgrades.  I've been toying with a couple of ideas and themes, but here's one that I like, based on models that I have (or might be likely to purchase) rather than uber-competitiveness.

7 necron warriors (91 points)
2 canoptek scarab bases (30 points)
2 deathmarks (38 points)
1 lychguard (40 points)

total = 199.

The main weakness is a reliance on gauss weaponry to inflict damage on armoured targets or troop transports.  I just hope that they're going to be uncommon!  The scarabs are there for the beast rule and entropic strike, whilst the death marks deal with any target that looks likely to do significant damage (terminators and the like).  The lychguard is the all-rounder in this team and also the fire magnet, running during the shooting phase and wanting to get in to combat quickly.  

I'd quite like to see how this list would fare against some daemons killteams (especially a Tzeentch killteam, but also a Slaanesh themed killteam might be a good testing ground).  But that's a tale for a different time.

Thursday, December 22, 2011

Of An Old Plastic Space Marine

To remind myself about how far both miniatures and my painting style has come, today's post is about a (VERY) old plastic space marine miniature.

This chap is from the old Rogue Trader classic plastic sprue (RTB01).  The sculpting on the miniature is nowhere near modern standards, but analogues to these parts are now sold by Forge World.  This particular miniature is assembled with a flamer and a sergeant's head -- six parts in total would you believe!  (Although there were options to add on ammo clips, etc., this marine doesn't possess such ornamentation...). The old RTB01 boxed set is something of a collectors item these days, but I have long since assembled, painted, and sold away the majority of such miniatures I once had.  


For the paint scheme, as you can probably see, this guy is an Ultramarine.  I don't quite know what possessed me to paint up a bunch of Ultramarines back in the day -- Grey Knights would have made more sense (they use sorcery after-all, right?), but they fought regularly with my friend's orks over rugs and book-pile hills.  There's not much to be said about the painting: it is a blue undercoat, followed by old-school blue ink (check out the "shine" from the inked parts -- the old ink really did glisten in the right light, I still have a few pots, but only tend to use the green ink on plaguebearers for deliberate effect) and some blue drybrushing for the main part.  

Whilst I'm a little nostalgic about the old marine, the present day space marines are superior in sculpt, and much nicer to paint!

Sunday, December 18, 2011

Dark Eldar: A Cause for Re-Thinking Marks of Chaos on Raptors?


For a squad of chaos raptors, an icon of Khorne seems optimal from a previous analysis (see: parts I and II).

However, in recent times, the advent of dark eldar has got me re-thinking this conclusion.  Lots more players are taking dark eldar (and there's still the die-hard eldar fans ... much like I'm a die-hard chaos marine and daemons player - kindred spirits). So, should I reconsider the Icon of Khorne?

I'll resurrect the three options that I was toying with originally: the raptor champion armed with a power fist, twin lightning claws, or simple baseline raptors.  I'll put them up against ten dark eldar cabalite warriors instead of the usual space marines).

Let's look at each Icons in turn, and assuming that the raptors get the charge in.

Khorne.
With a Khorne Icon, the raptors gain an extra attack each, but they strike second.

Khorne Case 1: Baseline Raptors.
The kabalite warriors need 4+ to hit and 5+ to wound from 9 attacks.  This results in 1.5 wounds, of which, 0.5 stick.  The sybarite has a power weapon with 2 attacks.  S/He also hits on 4+ and wounds (without a save) on 5+.  That results in 0.33 more wounds, making 0.83 total.
The raptors hit on 4+ and wound on 3+ from 41 "normal" attacks (total) if everyone was still alive.  Let's assume one is dead from the dark eldar.  That means there are (only!) 37 attacks.  That gives 8.22 wounds.  (i.e. dW = 7.39).

Khorne Case 2: Power Fist.
Again, 0.83 wounds incoming from the first-striking dark eldar kabalite warriors.  Assuming that one of the regular raptors perished, they get 8x4 attacks on the charge that results in a total of 7.11 wounds. The aspiring raptor champion gets 4 attacks (2 base, 1 charging, 1 from the icon), of which 2 hit and 1.67 kill.  This gives 8.78 wounds (and dW = 7.95).

Khorne Case 3: Lightning Claws.
As above, but the champion has 5 attacks and 2.5 hit. They wound on 3+ with a re-roll for failed wounding rolls. This gives 2.22 more wounds for a total of 9.33 (and dW = 8.5).

Slaanesh.
For a Slaaneshi Icon, the chaos raptors strike simultaneously with the dark eldar.

Slaanesh Case 1: Baseline Raptors.
The raptors are still taking 0.83 wounds, but now strike back without losing anyone.  On the charge, they get (9x3)+4 = 31 attacks.  That gives 6.89 wounds (and dW = 6.06).

Slaanesh Case 2: Power Fist.
Assuming the aspiring champion survives, the raptors get 9x3 regular attacks, plus 3 power fist attacks.  The regular attacks cause 6 wounds; the power fist yields 1.25 wounds.  That's 7.25 wounds in total (dW = 6.42).

Slaanesh Case 3: Lightning Claws.
Again, we'll assume the champion survives.  The regular attacks again cause 6 wounds. The lightning claws have 4 attacks, of which 2 hit and 1.78 kill.  That gives 7.78 wounds (and dW = 6.95).

Conclusion.
The Icon of Khone is still superior.  The extra attack still outweighs the increased initiative.  Good job since I've already modelled the Icon of Khorne and don't particularly want to change!

Friday, December 16, 2011

Scribor: Review of Ruins Bases

Scribor monstrous miniatures sells a range of resin cast miniatures for both fantasy and sci-fi (most being of 28mm scale, but some larger ones too).  Many of the pieces have obvious resonances with warhammer and warhammer 40,000 and can complement bits from either range.  I intend to make a few conversions from their pieces in the coming weeks, but that's a tale for later.

Recently, I purchased a number of bits from them, including a few scenic bases in the style of "ruins".  These are a pair of 40mm circular bases suitable for use with 40k.  The level of detail in the pieces is clear from the image below.
In terms of quality, the resin casts are superior to games workshop's finecast; no two ways about that.  However, they're not quite at the same level as Quantum Gothic ... but they are very very close!  Let me emphasize that the quality of Scibor is great -- its just that I feel Quantum Gothic is fantastic.  

The two bases above have some very fine detail, ranging from the small writing on the (broken) paving slabs, to the creeping vines that come out of the ground.  Such detail is certainly worth paying the price for, and I think, is superior to Back-2-Basix (another company that I thoroughly recommend).

So overall, I'm very impressed with the quality and level of detail.  I would certainly go back to them. And for those of you who are thinking that purchasing from Poland might be an issue -- I got my bits to Australia in a very short amount of time and the customer service from Scribor was excellent.

Wednesday, December 14, 2011

Winner: December Army List Challenge

The unopposed winner of the December 2011 Army List Challenge is Fester!
Congratulations!  The Army List Challenge will return in the New Year.

In the mean time, if you have suggesting for future challenges, then let me know at warpstoneflux at gmail dot com.

Monday, December 12, 2011

Rules Homebrew: Psychokinetic Sphere

Psychic Power: Psychokinetic Sphere

The psyker calls forth an expanding sphere of supersonic wind that knocks back all nearby models (friend or foe).

Use at any stage of a close combat that the psyker is involved in.

On a successful psychic test, all models within 2" of the psyker's base (including those in base-to-base contact with the psyker, friend or foe) are flung back 2" in a radial direction from the psyker.  If a model cannot be moved away in such a fashion, they are otherwise moved 2" away from the psyker (e.g. along a wall).  If a model is in a dead-end and cannot be move (e.g. a cul-de-sac style situation), then the model is simply not moved.

As a result of successfully using this power, the psyker is no longer engaged in the combat.  If the user is an independant character and was part of a unit on activation, the psyker will no longer be considered part of that unit after using this ability.


Friday, December 9, 2011

Shadow Sword: Part XII. Rear Face

The traitor Shadow Sword approaches completion now.  This is a shot of the rear of the beast to detail what I've done with the pipework, the barrells, the highlighting, and the sense of semi-rustiness on the treads that I've achieved.

There's a some more fine detail to go, but otherwise, this epic paint job is nearly there now.

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Reminder: December Army List Challenge

What army list do you most fear?  Why?

Entries are still open for the December Army List Challenge - the last one of the year! 
(since there are no entries at the moment, there are good chances you could even win by default!)

Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Fish Tank Scenery: Gel Plant

In a game of alien landscapes and blasted cityscapes, there's something about good looking scenery that makes a critical difference to the vibe of a gameboard.  This particular piece is a "gel" style plant (basically made of soft silicone, it seems) purchased in the fishtank section of a pet store.  The arms of the plant wobble like a jelly, which makes for added realism when the board gets a small knock, or you charge your pack of bloodcrushers through it!  (For reference, the cost was approx. 15 AUD).

Sunday, December 4, 2011

Finecast Changeling - Painted

Despite all the dramas, the finecast changeling has painted up nicely in the end.

The undercoat for the miniature was done with dheneb stone.  This was followed by multiple washes of various mud browns to darken the tone in the recesses and raised with bleached bone highlights around the edges of the billowing robe.  I attended to the arms next with a basecoat of ultramarine blue.  They were inked (old-school ink) in blue, then highlighted with a combination of ultramarine blue and electric blue. 

With those two main areas painted, I moved on to the finer details, including the flames (basecoated white, twice; followed by successive layers of yellow, orange, red and dark red in sequence), the staff (basecoated in bleached bone, several washes of devlan mud, highlighted in a mix of skull white plus bleached bone, followed by some triple-zero paint brush work to squiggle some letters on to the paper), and other ornaments (golden Tzeentch symbol, armbands, the rod of the staff).

Overall, I'm happy how this has turned out.  But I will avoid purchasing finecast if I can help it, despite GW staff being very helpful in their exhange policy.

Thursday, December 1, 2011

December 2011 Army List Challenge

This is the final Army List Challenge of the year!  And this time, its personal!

The basic question and theme is this: what army list do you most fear facing?  Why? 

Perhaps it is a list designed to take down your own, most regularly used list?  Perhaps they're simply too quick?  Perhaps there's just too many grots for you to shoot at?  Perhaps your favourite army has a general, irrational fear of soulless silver robots? 

Here's the rules.
(1) Design an army list that you most fear to take on.  There is no points value, but we'll assume its the equivalent to whatever your regular army list totals.  Explain why you fear that list (perhaps by posting your own favourite army list that is going up against it) and detailing what's up.
(2) Post your army list(s) as a comment to this posting.
(3) Entries close at 01:00 GMT on December 14th.
(4) On that same day, I'll open a poll for Warpstone Flux readers to judge which army list they consider to be the "most effective army list that also best articulates the theme" (whatever readers interpret that to mean) out of all entrants.
(5) The winner will be tallied and announced on December 21st (and entered in to the hall of fame!).
(6) One entry per person please.

Good luck!
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