Non-Metalic Gold WIP

The last three Exodite Dragon Riders are finally getting paint. I finished the first one (pictured on right) way back in December 2010! Excited to see that this herd monsters is finally going to get some wranglers.

Corsair Prince: Prancing

This is the first Eldar HQ I've painted for my Corsair army. Rules wise the Corsair Prince is mostly just a character that offers buffs to the unit he joins and his army.

Eldar Corsair Venom

Eldar Corsairs w/ Jet Packs

Painted Corsairs!

Scourge/Swooping Hawk/Corsair Blade Sworn w/ Jet Pack

the more kit bashing/ambiguous my models are the more I can use them in different armies :)

Corsair Jet Pack

Finished my first Corsair Raider; still trying to figure out what Eldar Rune to put on the sail

Pilot

Gunner with Bright Lance

Corsair with Splinter Cannon/Shrunken Cannon... more ambiguity  

Eldar Corsair Raider

This model took forever to complete. Sadly it is not 100% but once I get the crew painted up I'll finish up the last few details including some Eldar symbols on the sail and prow. The sail is also the same color as the Warrior's helmet and prow tip but it was in a shadow for the picture and didn't come out.

Deathwatch Librarian

I am kinda in-between projects right now. Without any big tournament nearing to give me motivation to paint just one army I am sure I will be painting a few new models for each of my existing armies to compensate/complement the new changes that 6th edition will bring.

Here is my Deathwatch Librarian I finished tonight to be added to my Mantis Warriors army or allied to my Imperial Guard... I used to be able to field this guy back in 4th edition but here he is finally with paint!

...and I got a little work done on this Corsair Raider

Wargames Con 2012

Wargames Con 2012 is in the books! and boy do I feel like shit but smiling :)

Wargames Con 2012 Mantis Warriors Army

Hey guys, Wargames Con is just one week away OMG! Here is the list I plan on taking to the two day, seven game, 2000pt GT next weekend. I have no illusions of going all the way, I just hope I get 7 good games against 7 opponents I've never played before!

HQ

Kahn

Cassius

ELITES

Assault Terminators*5; th/sh*3, lc*2

Land Raider Redeemer; ex armor, multi-melta

Sterngaurd*5; combi-plasma*2, plasma gun

Razorback; twin-plasma gun, lascannon, dozer blade

TROOPS

Tactical Squad; power fist, combi-melta, melta gun, multi-melta

Rhino

Tactical Squad; power fist, combi-melta, melta gun, multi-melta

Rhino

Scouts*10; Telion, heavy bolter

Scouts*5; combi-melta, melta bomb

FAST ATTACK

Land Speeder Storm; multi-melta

Stormtalon Gunship; twin-assault cannon, twin-heavy bolter

Attack Bike; multii-melta

So this list isn't anything too crazy, just my typical Kahn army (three Special Characters lol) with lots of units designed to Outflank and hit hard with shooting and decent combat. The Mission Format for all 7 games will be three equally weighted objectives: two from the book and one random one (table quarters, kill HQ exc.). I'm mostly looking forward to using the Stormtalon and Telion; my most recent editions to the army.

~the best part is that I only have one mode model left to paint!

Scout Sergeant Telion

Scout Sergeant Telion ready for Wargames Con next week! Sorry about the pics, I'll try and get better ones soon.

Stormtalon Gunship Complete!

Likely the first ever Mantis Warrior's Stormtalon is complete! Wargames Con is less than two weeks away, but I finished the Stormtalon in plenty of time. Not much left to paint before the tournament, just lots of practice games with my Kahn list.

In Defense of the Stormtalon

Okay I am pretty annoyed with all the Stormtalon hating on the interwebs, especially on BoLS. All the reviews I've read have been based on theory, not on games played or witnessed. I've now played 4 games with the new unit (one SM, one Blood Angel, and two Dark Eldar) so my review is at least based on practical application. All 4 games the Stormtalon been armed as is (twin-assault cannon & twin-heavy bolter - 130pts) and has outflanked while escorting my Landspeeder Storm.

The complaint that most people have about the ST is that it is not worth the points (130pts basic) because it is essentially a big, more expensive Landspeeder Tornado (90pts). Lets compare...

Although the ST and the Tornado are armed similarly; the ST makes much better use of them. On the ST both the HB and Assault Cannon are twin-linked which essentially gives it the fire power of TWO Razorbacks. However the biggest advantage the Stormtalon has is the 'Aerial Assault' rule which allows it to move 12" and fire BOTH weapons! When have you ever seen a Landspeeder fire both gun? This makes a huge difference, especially when you consider how short ranged the Assault Cannon is (the better of the two guns).

The other bonus the ST has over the Tornado is the 'Escort' Special Rule. which essentially allows it to show up at the same time as another unit arriving from reserve. I believe this Special Rule only makes a difference if you use the ST to escort an Outflanking which is something a Tornado cannot do.

Consider the worst part about Outflanking in a SM army; not getting any bonus to reserve rolls (possibly arriving piecemeal) and not being able re-roll what side you come in on (possibility of being unsupported or without enough strength to do anything). By Escorting a Landspeeder Storm you eliminate both of these issues. Both units arrive at the same time and on the same table edge! Individually neither is particularly menacing, but combined there is strength.

So there you have it: my reasons why the Stormtalon is not as terrible as so many people on the interwebs say it is. Granted I am not trying to say it is super amazing and belongs in every army, but what in the SM codex IS super amazing for only 130pts? The ST is certainly a unit that requires some tactical thinking and maneuvering but at the same time is a lot of fun to use and can be very rewarding to use.

Tonight I used the ST in my all Outflanking Kahn army which has lots of very short range firepower. The ST was the only unit in the army that could be considered to have "long range" firepower while still being able to move over 6". Has anyone else actuarially used or seen a ST used since it came out last week? What are people's general reaction? Sucks, okay or useful?

Stormtalon Gunship WIP

 Just some WIP shots of the Stormtalon. I am really liking this model...

Alamo 40K Tournament 2012: Tournament Report DAY TWO

Welcome back to the conclusion of the two day Alamo 40K IGT in San Antonio, TX. Everyone had a great time, least of all me so once again I'd like to thank all the tournament organizers and all my opponents!

Alamo 40K Tournament 2012: Random Pics from the Hall

So the Alamo 40k tournament in San Antonio, TX is in the book. It was a fantastic time as always but this year was possibly the most fun yet. A huge thanks to all the tournament organizers, the location manager, and to MarkT who I asked to car pool with about 4 hours before we left! Also a big thumbs up to having a bar in the tournament with cheap beer and a big thumbs down to Minus6 for "Icing" me (if you don't know what that is, look it up on YouTube lol).

Tomorrow I will take the time to do my Game Report which had an interesting outcome to say the least... for now here are all the random pics I got from the weekend that weren't specifically from my games. Enjoy...

On the Painting Table: Nurgle

With just over a week left till Alamo I only have six Infantry and two Rhinos left to paint...

Plague Marine Update

Was a slow rainy Texas afternoon so I managed to paint up another handful for models... just ten days and 6 models way till Alamo!

Nurgle Army Update

 Getting close to the Alamo; just 10 days out and I've got about that many models left to paint. 

Raptors are done.

 

Possessed are done.

I really like the way this model came out.

Remember the Alamo

The 2000pt GT in San Antonio is quickly approaching and this is the current state of my Chaos Nurgle Army. With only 17 days left I currently have 12 models and that one Rhino left to paint. 

The Alamo tournament is certainly one of the most fun events you can hope to attend and I highly recommend it. This year most of the Austin crew are bringing fun lists over power armies to reflect the laid back nature of the tournament held in a BEER HALL!

JWolf is fielding a Deathstrike Missile, BigRed is taking his "undefeated" Tau (lol), and Goatboy is taking GreyKnights (I guess he didn't get the memo).

...My List...

HQ

Chaos Lord; mark of nurgle, wings, daemon weapon, melta bomb

Chaos Lord; mark of nurgle, wings, daemon weapon, melta bomb

Summoned Greater Daemon

TROOPS

Plague Marines*7; champion, pf, melta*2, icon

Rhino

Plague Marines*7; champion, pf, melta*2, icon

Rhino

Plague Marines*7; champion, combi-melta, plasma gun*2, icon

Rhino; dozer blade

Summoned Lesser Daemons*7

ELITES
Possessed*10; champion, icon of nurgle
Rhino; ex armor, dozer blade

HEAVY SUPPORT
Obliterators*2
Obliterators*2

~comments are always appreciated. As long as I improve my overall score from the last two years I'll be happy. 

Nurgle Lord WIP w/ paint

Nurgle Lord

~This guy is just about done. I have a little more work on his base and some touch ups. I am not sold on his helmet. Comments on how to improve it would be helpful.