7th Edition rumours????

For a while there has been rumours about the potential for a 7th Edition of 40k, I've had it confirmed today that indeed GW are stopping the purchase of the 'rule book' however the Dark Vengeance is still available- apparently there will be further news in coming in White Dwarf in the coming weeks, as well as the website.. May apparently could be an interesting month...

Necron Canoptek Scarab Swarm

Hello kind readers, a simple paint job multiplied by 95 can give a good looking result... here is my latest offering for the ever growing Necron Army. A great swarm of Canoptek Scarabs! 16 bases of them, all that lovely armour and tank eating goodness.

I didn't like the fact that a swarm of Canoptek Scarabs is often referred to as a 'swarm' yet the bases are all too often barren with 3 or 4 Scarabs at the most... well, I have 6 per base and I think the result is a much better look.

I opted to paint only a few Scarabs per base in the blue accent colour of my Army and overall it saved a lot of time and effort and the result IMHO is better than if I'd painted every one blue. I love the overal effect of the simple scheme with the glowing gauss energy eye in the contrasting red.

These will be truly frightening to come up against if I had some tanks like a Sicaran or Landraider Achilles for instance, but so far their only outing was against 2 Imperial Knights and because of their size, the 'Invincible Behemoth' special rule means they were immune to Entropic Strike :( ###edit### Scarabs got good again, just Glances now... Work on Imperial Knights once again! ###

Never fear (they are Fearless) they will have their day... unless I have painted enough Fast Attack slot Wraiths and they they might not get a look in!

Weemen is getting a whole lot bigger... the final post..

For the last few weeks I've been running posts on 'Weemen getting larger' here is the final post.

As you may have guessed the model in question is a 3 foot 2, Imperator - purchased from a well known auction site- The Imperator is one of a kind, made by the guys at bluewarpstudios As you can see he is pretty big! however it fits my view of a warlord as a kid when I started the hobby- it also feels the right size having played Space Marine on the Xbox, where the captain jumps onto the warlord to fire the volcano cannon.

 I'll post more pictures in the coming weeks- but here is a couple of pictures to wet your appetite!

 This Shadowsword looks epic in proportions..

 Marneus and Fateweaver by his base

 Marneus and Fateweaver admiring the view from the Imperator's Carapace

'Dominus Bellum' of the Legio Astorum

Battle Report - Ultramarines and Imperial Knight Vs Necrons - 2000pts

Siph and Lord Halfpenny got together for the first battle between us on Siph's new Games Table and to test out the Necrons that Siph had been building and painting over the last month. The Battle was the Scouring, 6 random objectives (2x 2pt, 2x 3pt, 1x 1pt and 1x 4pt) with Vanguard Strike diagonal deployment. The forces were Necrons Vs Ultramarines and an Imperial Knight.

Necron Force
Imotekh Stormlord
2x 5 Warriors w/ 1x Night Scythe
1x 10 Warriors with Cryptek
2x 5 Immortals (Gauss/Tesla)
5x Canoptek Scarabs
Doom Scythe
Monolith
Canoptek Spyder
C'Tan Shard
3x Acanthrites (lovely FW Model IA12 rules)

Marine Force
Imperial Knight Paladin
Tyberos the Red Wake (makes LC Termie's Scoring) from IA book
2x 5 Assault Termies (LC and TH/SS)
1x 5 Tac Marine w/ Flakk Missile
10x Sternguard w/ Combi Melta/Grav in DropPod
Hunter
Mortis Contemptor w/ Kheres Assault Cannons and Missile
Whirlwind
Whirlwind Sorpious
HB Attack Bike

The Necrons deployed up to the line with Acanthrites on flank (jump troops). Imotekh and Tesla Immortals in rear corner on 4pt Objective (lucky for me-Siph) and Gauss Immortals on stone tower ruins. Warriors in Mechanicum ruins with 2pt Objective. Monolith opposite Knight on other flank. Doom and Night Scythe in reserve. The Warlord trait was rolled from Fall of Orpheus IA12 and was an additional VP if Warlord survives.

Marines set up as above, Knight in forefront opposite the Monolith, with Termies and Tyberos. Whirlwinds and Hunter in rear with Tac Marines in Shrine of Aquila on 1pt objective (unlucky for me! - LH). Sternguard DP in reserve for first turn DP Assault. Lord Halfpenny failed to seize the initiative. Marine Warlord Trait gives Furious Charge in enemy deployment zone.

The remaining objectives were next to the red Power Generators (3pt) in Marine deployment zone (soon to be claimed by LC Termies), in centre by Wrecked Landraider (3pt) and in far top right ruins (2pt). The marines started with the disadvantage of having the 1pt objective and only 2 troop choices (Tac Marines and LC Termies) giving a big challenge for Lord Halfpenny - all out destruction of the Necrons was the order of the day. Remembering that this was for testing out Necrons, otherwise a more wise 3 or 4 troop choices would be more advisable.

Necron Turn 1 (above)

The Necron forces advancing to get into Gauss range, Acanthrites with their sights on the Power Generators and Termies, Monolith on the Knight and Imotekh bracing for the inevitable arrival of the Sternguard DP on his 4pt Objective! Shooting starts with Imotekh's Lightning Storm but fails to do any damage, striking the Contemptor once but failing to glance. The large Warrior Sqd open fire on the Knight trying to get a lucky glance and succeeding and the Cryptek with Eldrich Lance fails. The Spyder opens up on LC Termies with Particle Beamer hitting two but the armour saves them. The C'tan failed to hit the Knight and the Monolith Particle Whips the LC Termies killing one and destroying the Whirlwind too achieving First Blood! The Destroyers Gauss Cannon the Knight also getting one glance leaving the Knight on 4HPs. 

Ultramarines Turn 1

The Sternguard arrive at the 4pt Objective, Combi-Melta and Grav the Immortals and Imotekh but only taking down 2 Immortals permanently. The Imperial Knight charges forward hitting the C'Tan with Heavy Stubber fire but failing to wound. The Scorpious Whirlwind opens fire on 10x man Warrior squad taking out 2 and a Cryptek, Mortis Contemptor opens fire striking the Spyder 12 times ripping the construct apart! The Knight reaches the Monolith and C'Tan Shard, destroying the Monolith with it's D-Wpn but stomp attack on C'Tan is saved.

Necron Turn 2

Imotekh opens fire with the Lightning Storm again claiming one LC Termie, one Sternguard and failing to kill a Tac Marine. The Doom Scythe and Night Scythe open fire on their main threat of the Hunter, ripping it apart with Tesla Destructors. The Tesla Immortals and Imotekh fire on the Sternguard killing 3 and the Scarabs swarm over the Sternguard to prevent them firing next turn but failed to kill any of the Veterans. The Acanthrites surged over the 3pt Objective claimed by the LC Termies felling two with Heat Rays and ripping the remaining marine with Voidblades, reducing the marines troop choices to just the Tac Marines in the Shrine ruins. The C'Tan and Knight continue to battle stripping 2 HPs and the C'Tan 1 wound (although subsequently - we now re-read the rules and C'Tan don't get their 4++ from D-wpns so would have been reduced to 1 wound). The Warriors and Destroyers all open fire on Contemptor and achieve 2 glances reducing him to 1HP.

Ultramarine Turn 2

In response, the Contemptor opens up on the Doom Scythe, ripping it apart with Skyfire. The TH/SS Termies and Tyberos advance in the centre. The HB Atack bike and Scorpious Whirlwind open fire on the advancing Acanthrites taking a wound. The Flakk marine missed the Night Scythe. The DP misses the Immortals and the Sternguard wipe out the Scarabs. The C'Tan shard continues to battle and takes another wound (should have died).

Necron Turn 3
Imotekh has no more Lightning Storms, the Acanthrites take out the HB Attack Bike, The Night Scythe and Destoyers strip the Scorpious to atoms destroying it. The two Warrior squads in the centre glance the Contemptor to death. The large Warrior Squad advance on the Landraider objective but fire at the Sternguard along with Imotekh and Immortals killing two veterans reducing them to 4 Sternguard. In CC the Sternguard face off with the Imotekh and Immortals but the combat is tied. The C'Tan defeats the Knight but is killed at the same time (although Knight should have still been threatening!)

Ultramarines Turn 3
The Sternguard continue the fight with Imotekh but remain locked in combat. The Flakk Marine misses again. TH/SS Termies move to intercept the Destroyers threatening the remaining Tac Sqd and Capt Tyberos advances towards the Wrecked Landraider Warrior Sqd.

Necron Turn 4
The Gauss Immortals charge into the Sternguard to aid the Necron Warlord and secure the 4pt Objective, striking two marines down. The Warrior sqd seeing Tyberos advancing score 13 Gauss shots and the Night Scythe 7 Tesla hits but fail to kill the Captain, wounding him twice leaving him on 1 wound. The Acanthrites charge the Termies killing one TH/SS but are wiped out in return, leaving 4 TH/SS marines. The Destroyers and Warrior sqd from the Night Scythe whittle down the Tac Marines to 2 and make them flee the objective.

Ultramarine Turn 4
The Tac Marines auto rally and fire at the Warriors, missing again! Capt Tyberos enraged charges the Necrons at the wrecked landraider, sure to rip them apart but tragically is struck by overwatch fire and is slain, giving the Necrons Slay the Warlord. The TH/SS Termies steam into the Necron Warriors. The Sternguard are finally bought down by the Immortals and Imotekh.

Necron Turn 5
The Immortals and Imotekh and Night Scythe destroy the Drop Pod, in CC the Destroyers charge the Termies and take down 1 TH/SS.

Ultramarine Turn 5
The Tac Marine with missile launcher strikes the Night Scythe once but fails to glance. One more TH/SS Termies goes down under the weight of Destroyers and Warriors.

In Turn Six, the Destroyers and TH/SS Termie fail to do any damage. The Marines run to regain the 1pt Objective. We rolled for another turn, but alas, the Termie will live on.

End game - the Imotekh survives and gains an additional 1VP. Necrons have 14VPs - First Blood, Slay Warlord, Warlord Survived and 11 Objective VPs. The Marines gain moral victory as not tabled and 1 VP.

Siph Comments

So, what a victory for the Necrons, but as the rules regarding Invulnerable saves and D-Wpns were not known properly, it would be unfair to say the result was valid, although it did seem quite one sided regarding claiming objectives with only two marine options and 6 Necron ones. And Knights easily glance to death... in future another Flyer and some Annihilation Barges with twin-linked Tesla Destructors (St 7) and Gauss fire (glance on 6) will combat the dominance of Imperial Knights. Nothing in the arsenal can stand up in CC with a D-Wpn! I should also remember that every Warrior Squad could have a Cryptek with some anti tank weapons with only 25pts a piece. Options for the future indeed.  Imotekh is expensive but normally proves his worth with Lightning Storm attacks, but not this game and I forgot the Staff of the Destroyer with its short range AP1 weapon - normally shot and fails to reach its target but this time at point blank range I forgot he had it. I was right to attack the threat to my flyers when they came on, getting rid of the Contemptor and Hunter ensured their staying power. And I must say, being struck down by Overwatch whilst charging was no way for a glorious hero of the Imperium to die, but funny all the same!! So the Weeman Trophy can stay at Lord Halfpenny's until I return from sea again for a re-match with new Necron goodies I've constructed and I'll post whilst I am away.

Lord Halfpenny Closing Comments

An interesting battle that's for sure. My list for this battle had been slightly tailored to what Siph wanted to face his necron force, thus I included several tanks- which I probabily wouldn't have if this wasn't designed to test Siph's new Necron force.

I was really surprised on the staying power of the Sternguards - again hanging in until T4 was pretty good going. The Knight did ok in smashing the Monolith, in the first turn- whether the Knight should of killed the C'tan again in combat wouldn't really of mattered as I'm pretty sure Siph would have focused all the next round of shooting to glance him to death. I can definitely see the benefit of running 2 knights as a pair- in support of each other- this would then allow the rest of the force to advance whilst the knights take all the punishment from the oppositions shooting. Tyberos was unfortunate to die the way he did - overwatch fire is a pain- If he'd have gotten into combat I'm pretty sure he would have made short work of the Necron warriors. 

I did take a few bits from the battle- and hopefully I can exploit these in future battles..

GW Web Exclusive Space Marine Captains - Pics

Hi, just thought I'd share some pics as the second Web Exclusive GW Space Marine Captain has arrived. Welcome if you are just over visiting from Faeit212! If you are a power armour fan, please feel free to have a look at my Relictors :) where these Captains will end up.

The first one is only available until the 4th May when you spend over £60. I like the scabbard, all Khorne-like, but not too sure of the skull cloak, but nice all the same - and not fine(fail)cast, so mega-happy about that too. The GW plastics are looking great these days.

The second Captain, Web Exclusive 2 of 2, is £18 when you've entered the promotional code of the first Captain - This is the Plasma Pistol Captain, no Iron Halo but could easily swap out the cloak part for a normal rear torso and use as a Sternguard. The Powerfists can be used on any mini too for those worried about the cost of Fists on characters.

Enjoy.

Imperial Knight WIP - Magnetizing for Simple Weapon Swap between Errant / Paladin

The new Imperial Knight kit is amazing, I love it - but to choose a Knight Paladin or a Knight Errant would depend on the battle and the army you face, so with a simple application of magnets and a little trimming, you can have both options from one kit. Not that it'll mean I don't buy another two or three ;)

As you can see a few magnets in the tanks, ammo hopper, main body and both gun barrels attached with some sprue off cuts can be easily done. If you drill through a piece and insert a magnet, strengthen the magnet with some more off-cut sprue to support the glued surfaces.

Using a magnet on the gun block and the Battlecannon breech and ammo hopper I can construct the battlecannon assembly - the only sacrifice is the shell ejection port is no longer open, now filled with some internal gubbins with the hose and I removed the other power cable from the bottom of the hopper as these two cross over eachother.

The Thermal Cannon is assembled as planned but the hose assembly attached to the tanks is not glued to the main block, and is affixed to the tanks instead and removed when it is.

On the inner side next to the legs, the front shield was trimmed slightly (needs tidy up work) and the Heavy Stubber assembly used with the Battle Cannon is now just some other gubbins and not noticeable.

Whilst I was at it, Lord Halfpenny showed me a neat trick he'd done with his, so I copied - I didn't glue the waist but using another sprue off-cut means the waist is attached but still rotates allowing re-posing of the model once constructed. Genius.

Weemen is getting a 'Wee' bit bigger... part 2...

Here is the second part to 'Weemen' getting bigger...stood with a Masterpiece Optimus Prime and an Armorcast Reaver...

 can you tell what it is yet?

Battle Report - Grey Knights and Imperial Knights vs Necrons and Relictors - 1850pts

Since Siph had painted up some Necrons and Lord Halfpenny had painted up some Grey Knights, it was an ideal opportunity to get some 40K with our new miniatures and test out the rules.  They 'grey' Imperial Knights were not painted, but we decided to relax the house rule of only using painted miniatures on this occasion so Siph (to his eternal regret) could see how they perform on the battlefield...

The Mission was Emperors Will, 2 base objectives, secondary objectives were First Blood, Linebreaker and Slay the Warlord. Lord Halfpenny's Warlord was Draigo, Siph's was Imotekh the Stormlord. We decided to have an up close and personal on the Battleboard. Necrons won first turn and initiative was not seized.

Siph's List

Imotekh
Destroyer Lord w/ Warscythe
Warriors w/ Night Scythe x2
Immortals w/ Tesla and Cryptek
Immortals w/ Gauss
C'Tan Shard w/ Pyroshards and Entropic
Canoptek Spyder
Canoptek Scarabs x5 and x4
Relictor Allied Libby w/ Kineshield
5x Tac Squad w/ Grav and Combi Grav
Mortis Contemptor w/ Kheres and Cyclone
Pred Annihilator

Lord Halfpenny's List

Draigo
Paladin Squad
Corteaz w/ Acolyte Warriors x5
Aegis Wall w/ Quad Gun
Dreadknight w/ Heavy Psycannon
Imperial Knight Errant
Imperial Knight Palaldin
Vindicare Assassin

As you can see from the match up, these were not ideal matches. Siph only had two answers to the Knights, the Pred and Mortis with Krak... or some luck with CC C'Tan, Destroyer Lord and Spyder. But much fun was had trying.

Turn 1
Gauss Immortals advance towards the Knights and bring down the Assassin getting First Blood
Nightfighting in effect and Imotekh Lightning Storm struck the Knight Paladin removing 2of6 HPs
Knight Paladin in return Battlecannon's the Immortals but misses and catches Imotekh in a blast causing a wound.
Knight Errant Thermal Cannon'd the Immortals felling 4 but 2 reanimate. In CC destroys 5 Scarab Bases.

Turn 2
Pred and Mortis Contemptor open fire on lead Knight Errant but the Ion Shield and Armour save it.
C'tan Shard CC Knight Errant stripping 2of6 HPs but is stomped on and carved up in return, failing 8 of 10 wounds.
Canoptek Spyder in CC with Knight Paladin strips 2of4 HPs but is tied in combat.
2 Night Scythe's enter play, Tesla the Paladins killing one and the other intercepted by the Quad Gun resulting in it's weapon being destroyed!
Gauss Immortals strip 2of4 HP's off Knight Errant
The Knights continue the charge, Thermal Cannon melting the Contemptor and Predator... looking grim for Necrons, and charging Immortals killing the squad outright squishing them underfoot.
The Knight Errant in CC with Canoptek Spyder squished him like the mechanical bug he was.

Turn 3
Imotekh Lightning Storm was ineffective.
Immortals with Tesla and Cryptek fire on Draigo and Paladins killing one Paladin and wounding Draigo.
Destroyer Lord in CC with Knight Errant tied.
Knight Paladin w/ Battle Cannon kills 2 Warriors
Quad Gun velocity locked the damaged Night Scythe
Draigo and Paladins open fire on Immortals with Storm Bolters and Psychic Powers killing one but failing the charge distance.
Knight Paladin in CC squishes the remaining Necron Warriors.
Necron Destroyer Lord glances the Night Errant 1of2 remaining HPs but just can't finish the job remaining locked in combat but is squished in the Knights turn 3.

Turn 4
Immortals Tesla Draigo Squad and wound 1 Paladin
Imotekhs's Staff of the Destroyer (AP1) fails to reach the Paladins and with it condemns himself to the counter charge!
Both Night Scythes zoom off table to return (hopefully).
Scarabs attempt t slow down Draigo but are dashed aside.
Knight Errant Thermal Cannon'd the remaining Relictor Sqd at his feet but in the confusion scatters and strikes his own leg - stripping his remaining HP and staggered 7in and died in a Titanic Explosion! wiping out 3 marines.
Remaining Knight Paladin heavy stubbered the immortals killing one and Battlecannon'd the remaining Relictors leaving only Imotekh and a couple of Immortals to face Draigo and the Paladins in the centre...

Draigo wiped out the Imotekh and Immortals in CC, challenging the Stormlord in personal combat but in true Siph fashion, Imotekh failed two +2 saves rolling two ones tabling the Necrons in Turn 4.

Lord Halfpenny

Wow- what a battle- it was great to try my newly finished Grey Knights (and use the 'grey plastic' Knights) - and they performed well against the Necron forces. The unit(s) of the game has to be the Imperial Knights - they simply steam-rolled through Siph's army. I was surprised how amazing they are in close combat even without using the Reaper Chainsaw - stomps were incredible - and I can't wait to see how efficient stomps could be verses hordes etc..
The moment of the game has to be when the Errant managed to kill himself with the thermal cannon blast!!

Siph

Although the match up may not of been optimised for taking down Knights, I was going to have fun trying with the limited Necrons I had painted up. I didn't mind, I wanted to see the Knights in action - but it could of been very different if the first turn Lightning Storm caused a '6' on the damage chart and exploded the Knight whilst standing next to the other one - a titanic explosion would of taken both out ;) But alas, the knights indeed rolled over my forces - but watch out for massed gauss firepower - If I had more Warriors they could of bought them down too - the Immortals gauss fire stripped two HP's in one turn - it was a shame they were stomped for their actions :)