Sunday October 19 2008 Beautiful World
Hello all. I really have been slacking in my duties of maintaining the blog. I suppose I’ve been putting my efforts into the Morning Show.
This morning I took a walk around the neighborhood and put the macro on the camera to take pics of what I thought was beautiful. A little Photoshop and they turned out all right. I tried to get some shots of the multitudinous bees on various flowers but they absolutely would not cooperate.
The lens doesn’t seem to capture what I see. I look at a tree turning yellow, wind shaking the leaves and I see a cloud of boiling amber, like something from another world. Not all the time, but there are moments…
Step by step, things are getting better, inside and out. Song of the Day.
For breakfast I had two English muffins with peanut butter and apricot jam, a quarter pound of bacon and a giant glass of frosty OJ. I settled down with the Chaos Daemons 40K codex and an episode of Stargate Atlantis and enjoyed an hour of peace with everyone else asleep.
At 10am the EQ presidency came over and we went over upcoming events, people in need, visits to make and so forth.
Then it was off to church. I recall many years ago it was an almighty chore just to get the single toddler ready. Tamara and I spent like two hours going over it. Now, with three kids, it seems so natural and easy. Well, not easy. It seems to get a little smoother every time. It helps that the two older kids can take care of themselves for the most part. Jonah tries to comb his own hair and the result is often quite comical.
I found everything to be quite uplifting and enlightening. Griffin is getting sick of nursery. I think he’s getting a little old for it. Well, soon enough he’ll be in Sunbeams. I’m grateful for church. I’m good friends with many people in the neighborhood that I wouldn’t otherwise even know the first thing about.
As for the afternoon, all I can say is Blessed Day of Rest! I waited on Tamie, getting her whatever she wanted, and playing with the kids to keep them our of her hair. I also took a walk with the kids in the cool of the evening.
Tamie and I are watching an episode of CSI.
Some old, same old.
As usual, I would like to give an uplifting word to you, o reader (and you sure deserve it if you go this far!). Keep your chin up. The best is yet to come.
A Thought
Religion and politics should be discussed more. But I’ve decided not to bring up either today. Except to express this one thought: I am sometimes asked if I’m religious. I think that everyone believes in something, and perhaps just doesn’t realize it, or doesn’t categorize it as such.
A) The universe is a vast, cold, indifferent place where man has no more significance than an insect.
B) The universe is a wondrous and complex place, created by the Almighty and the soul of man has vast and significant place within it.
C) I don’t know and I’m not doing much to find out.
All of these are statements of belief by my reckoning. Or at least perhaps a foundation for action.
Back to my walk around the neighborhood. Think of three cities, each where 100% of the inhabitants believe one of those three things. How do you think each city will look? How will the inhabitants behave? How will they govern themselves?
Well, I won’t go any further than that.
As usual I am voraciously downing several books. While I was at the Halloween party at Josephus’s house, I borrowed a few books. The First 2000 years, and An Enemy Hath Done This. Subject? You guessed it; religion and politics. As well as of course the various army books that I’m brushing up on.
I’m interested in hearing the discoveries of other politiconauts such as myself. I like it when people send me links so I can see different points of view.
Chaos Mortals are Coming!
Though the army book isn’t called Chaos Mortals (as I previously supposed), I’m going to let that slide. I’ve always been a fan of the Chaos Mortals range; as I expounded on in a previous post.
Shawn’s Comments on the rumored list
First off, I’d like to refer the reader to my general comments below, about Lizardmen. The same thing is happening in this list.
I am glad to see the streamlining of the Marks. And also the magic items. Before, there were a ton of options, but no options. For example: if you took a Slaanesh-marked character there were like three options open to him because of the Mark.
Unlike many other armies, the Spearhead is actually a good start. Two of the spearheads would make a nice army. The only problem is that they are chock full of special characters. Maybe a spearhead and one each of the new plastics. Of course, that might not actually be less expensive.
I guess the new Chaos Warriors are actually metal. I thought it was a plastic kit. Well, that’s all right, because the plastic chaos warriors kit currently in production is very nice. With an upgrade sprue they will be really keen, I’m sure. It’s not like there’s not enough Chaos bitz floating around. In fact, mixing in the new stuff from 40K chaos is likely to give all the variation ever needed.
Getting rid of Mark of Chaos Undivided and making the re-roll of Panic checks is monumental and greatly appealing. I think this is probably why the Hounds weren’t made so they wouldn’t cause Panic in other units (like in other lists, re Harpies in the Dark Elves list).
Here is the Rumor Roundup on the matter
The book is due November 1st 2008. It will focus on the mortal followers of the chaos gods, with more unit choices than currently, and next to no daemons. It will include Dragon Ogres, Shaggoths, Giants, Ogres and Trolls.
The name of the book is Warriors of Chaos, around 128 pages and writteen by Phil Kelly
New models in the first wave
- Plastic Chaos Knights (5)
- Plastic Marauder Horsemen (5)
- Plastic Warhounds (10)
- Metal Chosen Warriors with great weapons (assume two different boxes of 5, one with command)
- Metal Chaos Lord of Khorne on Jugger
- Metal Chaos Lord of Khorne on foot
- Metal Chaos Lord on Chaos Steed
- Metal Chaos Sorcerer of Nurgle
- Wulfric the Wanderer
- Sigvald the Magnificent
Coming up in febuary:
- Plastic Daemon Prince(!)
Spearhead box contains 36 minis and the army book:
-5 Knights
-5 Marauder Horsemen
-10 Warhounds
-10 Chosen
-6 metal characters (Khorne Lord on foot & Jugger, generic Lord on steed, Nurgle Sorcerer, Sigvald the Magnificent and Wulfric the Wanderer)
Battalion box is rumoured to contain:
-12 Warriors
-20 Marauders
-5 Chaos Knights
-10 Warhounds
There is supposedly a second wave due in the not too distant future, with models for the Forsaken, War Altar, a new plastic Chariots and possibly even more things.
How does this list combine with the recent Daemons of Chaos list and the Beast of Chaos list (due for an update in 2009)?
The new books are all stand-alone, so there will suppsedly be no option to use the other books. However, certain units and characters from the Beast and Daemon books are appearing in this one as well (ex: Daemon Princes, Chaos Trolls, Dragon Ogres…). Note that although some units from the Beast book has been appearing here, that does not mean that they won’t show up in the Beast book. If you want to, compare how the Warhounds were in both the Hordes and Beasts books.
Army special rule
All units in the army can re-roll failed PANIC tests. This applies to all units and is a replacement of the old Mark of Chaos Undivided.
Marks of Chaos
- generally Marks appear to be getting cheaper and the effect is the same on pretty much anything. So a Daemon Prince gets the exact same benefit from the Mark of Khorne as a unit of Marauders. The exceptions are when the rules don’t actually work for that model, or would give it a benefit it already had (obviously the standard Mark of Slaanesh would be pointless on a Spawn since it is already Unbreakable).
Mark of Khorne
- Frenzy (though not for Giants or Spawn)
Mark of Nurgle
- attacking models get a penalty of -1 WS and BS
Mark of Slaanesh
- (almost) Immune to Psychology
- Giants and Spawn gain the Always Strike First rule
Mark of Tzeentch
- 6+ Ward save (or +1 to your Ward save if you have one already)
- Wizards also gain a +1 bonus to cast spells
Magic items
Magic items are no longer mark-dependant, so you could give a Lord of Slaanesh the Axe of Khorne and a Collar of Khorne, if you wanted to. There is a pretty balanced selection of items, with more weapons (naturally).
Chaos Gifts
These are in ADDITION to the points a character can spend on magic items, very much like Vampire Powers work. Daemon Princes can get 100 pts of gifts, other Lords 50 pts and Heroes 25 pts.
Effects are similar to what you often find with Arcane or Enchanted Items. Nothing gives outright stats boost. As with magic items, what Mark a character has has NO effect on which items he can buy.
Eye of the Gods
There is apparently a table of chaos rewards that characters and units can get to roll on before or during the game. For example Chosen units supposedly start with a roll on this table, while characters supposedly get to roll on it after killing enemies in challenges and if they kill a Large Target. If you include a Warshrine then champions too can benefit from this.
2: Gain Stupidity (no extra effect if you have it already)
3: +1 Toughness
4: +1 Strength
5: +1 Attack
6: +1 Armour (max. 0+)
7: Nothing
8: Magic Resistance (3)
9: +1 Leadership
10: Cause fear (re-roll if already causing Fear)
11: Cause terror (re-roll if already causing Terror)
12: Stubborn and 4+ Ward save
Duplicate boosts are re-rolled. Effects last for the rest of the battle (sort of, see Warshrine).
Chaos Magic
There will be separate lores for the mortal followers of Chaos, they will NOT use the Daemon lores from the Daemon book.
Lore of Slaanesh
#1: Weak magic missile that also hampers movement
#2: Enemy units within 18″ must take Panic tests
#3: Frenzy-spell (very similar to before)
#4: Titilating delusions (very similar to before)
#5: Make frendly unit cause Fear or Terror
#6: Entire enemy unit must pass Toughness tests or take wounds with no armour save
Lore of Tzeentch
#1: Magic missile. Better and easier than the old Red fire
#2: Enemy unit takes LD test, loses wounds equal to what they lost the test by
#3: Enemy army cannot benefit from the LD of their characters. Enemy wizards miscast on any double. Remains in play.
#4: Enemy unit attacks itself
#5: Upgrade any friendly model to an Exalted Hero. Remains in play.
#6 Infernal Gateway, cast on 15+. Does 2D6 hits at 2D6 Strength. On an 11 or 12 for Strength the unit is removed
Lore of Nurgle
#1: Sniper spell. Chosen enemy model loses a wound
#2: Friendly unit gains Regeneration
#3: Stone-thrower like attack. Casuses S1 hits with no armour save.
#4 Cloying Quagmire: All models in unit must take an Initiative test. Those who fail must then take an armour save. If they pass the armour save after failing the In-test, they die.
#5: Curse of the Leper. While in play reduces enemy S and T by 1 per turn. If reduced to 0 in either, they die. Remains in play.
#6: Rot, Glorious Rot! Every enemy unit within 18″ takes D6 Strength D6 attacks with no armour save
Lords
Chaos Lord
- some new metal models (a generic one on steed and a couple of Khornate ones)
- heaps of options
Sorcerer Lord
Daemon Prince
- doesn’t have the Daemonic instability rule and is instead Stubborn
- is not Immune to Psychology and does not have magical attacks
- can Fly and causes Terror as standard
- Marks actually DO something, unlike in the Daemons book
Heroes
Exalted Hero
- Toughness 4
- 20 pts more expensive than in the old book (for no real boost)
Sorcerer
- new metal model for a Sorcerer of Nurgle
Character mounts
Any character can ride any mount (though the god-specific ones require the appropriate mark and the same applies to chariots), apart from Manticores and Dragons, which are limited to Chaos Lords and Sorcerer Lords.
- Chaos steed
- Daemonic Steed
- Juggernaut of Khorne
- Steed of Slaanesh
- Disk of Tzeentch
- Palanquin of Nurgle
- Chaos Chariot
- Manticore (this was previously presented as a joke, but apparently it is true)
- Chaos Dragon – takes up extra Hero choice
Core units
- there was supposedly a rumoured cultist unit, but that appears to have been incorrect, or possibly mistaken for something else
Chaos Warriors
- the boxed set stays the same for the moment, but there is a new direct order upgrade frame
- all units get Chaos armour, not just Chosen
- normal Warriors get 2 Attacks (but are still “only” WS5)
- 1 point more than in the old book (for a much better stat line and with cheaper equipment)
- all units can get a magic standard
Marauders
- presumably the boxed set stays the same for the moment
- base cost 1 pt cheaper
- all the same options as before (and great weapons are cheaper)
- cheaper command options
- can get Marks of Chaos
Marauder Horsemen
- new plastic set of 5 models
- can get Marks of Chaos
- can re-roll pursuit rolls if they wish
- same options as before, but generally cheaper
Warhounds
- new plastic boxed set of 10 models
- only unit that does not count towards the minimum number of Core units in the army
- can buy a 6+ scaly skin and/or poisoned attacks
- were rumoured to not cause Panic in other units, but this turned out not to be the case
Special units
Chosen Warriors
- now a separate entry
- Weapon Skill 6, otherwise similar to Warriors
- start the game with a roll on the Eye of the Gods table (re-rolling Stupidity and No Effect, so they always get something good!)
- new set of metal models with great weapons
- can be given Marks of Chaos
Chaos Knights
- new plastic boxed set of 5 models
- 40 pts each, with stats equivalent to old Chosen Knights (i.e. 2 attacks, and chaos armour), though base S is now 4
- units start with magical weapons that also give them +1 Strength (i.e. 5 total) and may swap these for (non-magical) lances
- cause Fear
- there is no longer any Chosen knights, though normal knights get nastier since they (like the new Warriiors) have the profile of 6th edition Chosen
- can be given Marks of Chaos
Chaos Chariot
- new plastic boxed set at some point
- can be given Marks of Chaos
Forsaken Warriors
- apparently a unit of Chaos Warriors that are on their way to getting a bit too many mutations for their own good
- Movement 6, but Weapon skill 4
- D3+1 attacks
- Frenzied (bonus attack included in the D3+1)
- hand weapon and heavy armour ONLY
- Otherwise quite similar to Warriors, and only slightly more expensive.
- They are human-sized guys and come on standard 25 mm square bases. They don’t skirmish.
- can’t be given Marks of Chaos and have no command upgrades (actually no options at all)
Chaos Ogres
- start with heavy armour and can upgrade to Chaos armour
- can’t get shields, but otherwise the same options as before
- can be given Marks of Chaos
Chaos Trolls
- base cost 10 points cheaper, but back to 3 attacks
- If they regenerate 2 or more wounds in the same phase they get a roll on the Eye of the Gods table
- can’t be given Marks of Chaos
- troll vomit is now magical(!)
Dragon Ogres
- can have a champion
- base cost is a bit less and includes light armour, but weapon upgrades are more expensive
- can’t be given Marks of Chaos
Rare units
Chaos Giant
- can be given Marks of Chaos (Mark of Khorne gives +1 S, while the Mark of Slaanesh gives Always Strikes First, the other two work as normal)
- 20 pts more expensive
- has a new special attack against big stuff (1/3rd chance) where it does D3 wounds with no armour save and the giant regains that many wounds (up to its starting number of 6 wounds). This replaces the Eadbutt attack.
Hellcannon
- considerably simplified rules
- only take up 1 Rare choice
- can’t be Marked
- can’t get Gifts
- now counts as a Monster & Handlers unit that has a ranged attack rather than a war machine (so if the crew dies, the machine has to make a monster reaction test on its own Ld of 4, for example)
- fires like a stone thrower (which may or may not mean it can move and fire, though at only 3″ per turn that might not matter all that much)
- must pass a LD test each turn or move 3D6″ towards the nearest enemy unit (presumably this works pretty much like a spawn) INSTEAD OF firing. It can use the Ld of the crew (9) instead of its own (4) if they are still alive
- can’t spew ichor anymore
Spawn
- still 1-2 per Rare
- Mark of Khorne gives +1 S as before, while the Mark of Slaanesh gives Always Strikes First
Shaggoth
- noticeably cheaper than before and with a higher Strength
- weapon options are more expensive
- only take up a single Rare choice, not Rare + Special or Rare + Lord as previously
- can’t be Marked
Chaos Warshrine
- Quite similar to the VC Corpse Cart in that it is on a chariot base, but moves and fights like a monster. May not be joined by characters.
- In the shooting phase, can give any unit within 12″ a roll on the Eye of the Gods table. BUT you can only have one active blessing with it at any one time, so if you want to bless another unit you cancel out the previous one.
- lets champions gain rolls on the Eye of the Gods table if they kill enemies in challenges (normally only characters can do this)
Special characters
Archaon
- 685 pts
- reasonably similar to what he was
- Mount of the Apocalypse lets him ignore difficult terrain
- there is only 1 version and he is still on his mount. As the Storm of Chaos is being glossed over by GW as more than a little bit silly, there will presumably be no mention of his failure in it.
Galrauch (Chaos Dragon of Tzeentch)
- lower LD, so higher chance of not doing anything
- can’t do anything on a failed test and makes half his attacks against himself (the other half against the enemy, if in combat)
Valkia the Bloody (Daemon Princess of Khorne)
- uses the head of a Slaaneshi Daemon Prince as a shield (reduces enemy attacks by 1)
- magic spear gives her S7 and killing blow on the charge
- NOT frenzied, but still has 6 attacks at WS9
- somewhat weaker than a true daemon prince, with one less wound, no ward save and only causing Fear
- works as a BSB for friendly units
- lets all units re-roll results on the Eye of the Gods table, if they wish
Kolek Suneater (Shaggoth Lord)
- second-oldest Shaggoth
- Strength 8 with 6 attacks and a weapon that does D3 wounds
- several 8s for stats
- 2+ armour save
- can call down a special lightning attack in the shooting phase, doing D6 S6 hits to an enemy unit
- attracts lightning spells cast within 12″ of him
Sigvald (Slaaneshi Chaos Lord)
- has a mirror shield and can suffer from Stupidity due to looking at himself in it
- Leadership 10 and Stubborn
- he and his unit ignores terrain penalties
- only T4, but his armour gives him Regeneration and a 1+ save
- his sword gives him +2 A and always strikes first
Wulfrik the Wanderer (Undivided Exalted Hero)
- captain of a magical ship called the Seafang which he said around in. It basically allows him and a unit of Marauders to enter the battle from any table edge, similar to how Dwarf Miners work. Has no other magical equipment.
- can decide who accepts the challenges he issues (from those able to)
- gains +2 S versus one model nominated at the start of the game
Throk, The Troll King (Troll Hero)
- WS5 S6 T5 W4 A5
- 175 pts
- makes Chaos Trolls a Core unit, even if he’s not the army General
- all monstrous units (Ogres, Trolls, Dragon Ogres, Warhounds, Monsters) can use his Ld (of 8), even if he is not the general AND they can also re-roll break tests
- his vomit attack (called Copious Vomit) does D6 hits at S6 and can also be used as a one-shot S5 breath weapon that also ignores armour saves
Scyla (Khornate Spawn)
- an old special characer from 5th edition
- re-release of existing model
- upgrade for a Spawn, but treated as a character
- faster than a normal spawn, higher WS, S, W and A
Vilitch the Curseling (Tzeentch Sorcerer Lord)
- when his opponent fails in an attempt to cast or dispel a spell, Vilitch gets the dice used and may use them during that magic phase (a failed attempt to cast gives him dispel dice, and vice versa)
- knows all the Tzeentch spells
Festus the Leechlord (Nurgle Sorcerer)
- a level 2 sorcerer that always knows Curse of the Leper as one of his two spells
- gives his unit a 5+ regeneration save and poisoned attacks
- makes his unit only pursue d6″, but if they catch their enemies they gain double VPs
Stuff NOT in the new book
-cultists
-mammoth
-any sort of skirmishing unit
-any sort of flying unit
-any kind of generic daemon unit
-any sort of item that allows you to take units from the daemon and/or beast books
Lizardmen are Coming!
Hey all. The Lizardmen have long been one of my favorite armies. Who can resist ancient, aztec-like reptilians who ride dinosaurs!? The modelling possibilities are huge. I’ve owned and played a few Lizardmen armies. I have a lot of fun with them because they:
A) have a lot of modelling and converting opportunities.
B) have cool dinosaurs and spell-casting frogs (on levitating thrones!).
C) they have good Leadership scores and special rules which make them reliable. This is a big deal in WHF.
Now I know it’s not for everybody, but here’s a color scheme that I really like for Lizardmen:
Here’s a Lizardmen army that I started a few months ago, but decided to shelve until the new release in early 2009:
Here’s a sneak peek at the new Kroxigor. This was originally thought to be a plastic kit, but evidently will be pewter. Which is all right, since you only need three or four in a given army. They are heavy-hitting support troops.
My comments and insights (who cares?) into the New Lizardmen
I’ve noticed a trend to open up army book selections. Meaning that Elites are turning into Troops, and Specials into Core. I think this is a very positive thing as it increases the options in making a themed army.
I’ve noticed a trend to open up army book selections. Meaning that Elites are turning into Troops, and Specials into Core. I think this is a very positive thing as it increases the options in making a themed army.
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It’s a dumb idea to make Core/Troops units obligatory. If they were simply GOOD then people would take them as a matter of course. And maybe not just good but have a proper role in the army. In Warhammer Fantasy this is more pronounced and achieved to greater effect. You really do need giant blocks of infantry and the massed ranks really do count for something. In 40K this is less so.
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For example: you don’t get any bonus for outnumbering in close combat in 40K. The press of the masses doesn’t count for that much. Actually, I take that back. The countercharge effect in 40K allows for almost all participants in a combat to strike, which is a rule that I’ve longed for. This effectively accounts for the “press of ranks” in the form of actual casualties, which are the only thing that counts!
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Another trend in Warhammer Fantasy has been to reduce the cost of the core troop. We saw this with Dark Elves (I think it was from 9 points to 6 points, which is an astounding drop). This makes that unit much more appealing. However, since this is accompanied by a shift of attractive troops to Core/Troops (as in the Chaos Space Marine codex with the movement of the marked infantry- eg Khorne Berserkers) it usually means that the grunts are sidelined again due to the proximity of the sexier choices.
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They made Baloney cheaper, but moved the Prime Rib to the same cooler.
It’s not a complaint, mind you, I think it’s a very positive move and makes the game more appealing.
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With Lizardmen it’s the same thing: Saurus Warriors are cheaper (and thankfully not being re-done!), and Temple Guard moved to Core. My prediction is that the Temple Guard will also be sexied up.
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I do hope that the Spawnings will no longer make a unit Special. This is one of those things where it is meant to balance out a power, but it really just sidelines it. I call it the “fly in the soup” effect. Soup is too delicious, let’s put a fly in it.
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The Spawnings allowed for a lot of specialization and theming. I really liked them.
The Stegadon plastic kit: I predict this will be like the Carnifex kit. It will be awesome– bulkier and more detailed. Now that Stegadons can be taken all over the list (Heroes, Special, and Rare) it will be in high demand. The more dinosaurs the better in my book. I also predict this will result in a lot of “counts as” models AND the use of plastic dinos from toy stores. Just you wait and see.
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In short, I think this list will be very satisfying to play.
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Here’s the rumor roundup for Lizardmen
from http://www.warseer.com/
The book is supposedly out in febuary 9th 2009. It is not known who is writing it.
New models:
- plastic Temple Guard, 10 per box, £12 / $25
- plastic Stegadon, 1 per box with options for all three variants, $40
- metal Kroxigor, 1 model per blister, $20
- metal Terradons, 1 model per blister, $17
- Barbed Razordon Hunting Party $25
- Scar Veteran wity army standard $15
- Tiktaq’To, Master of Skies $17
- Chakax, Eternity Warden $15
Blessed Spawnings
These seem to take on a bigger role in the list. It is not know how they will work, if taking them makes a unit more scarce or if it will be like Marks of Chaos in that it’s just an upgrade and doesn’t change if a unit is Core, Special or Rare.
Spawning of Huanchi: +1 WS and move through cover with no penalty
Spawning of Sotek:
Spawning of Chotec:
Spawning of Quetzl:
Spawning of Tlazcotl:
Spawning of Tepok:
Spawning of Tzunki:
Army-wide special rule – Cold-blooded
Rumoured to change significantly, though this is still unconfirmed. Supposedly they roll the same number of dice as everyone else for Ld tests (i.e. 2), but any double counts as Insane Courage and will be an auto-pass regardless of any other factors (modifiers, outnumbered by Fear, etc.).
Lore of the Old Ones
- Slanns only
- spells all of the high cost / high effect type
Magic items
Charm of the Jaguar Warrior is dropped
Lords
Slann
- speculated to get a spell lore of their own
Saurus Oldblood
- may be mounted on a Stegadon
Heroes
Saurus Scar-Veteran
- may be mounted on a Stegadon
Skink Chief
- may be mounted on a Stegadon
Skink Priest
- may be mounted on an Engine of the Gods
Character mounts
Engine of the Gods (Skink Priest only)
- if it is anything like it was in the Lustria book it is a weaker Stegadon with a war machine-like weapon on top
- takes up an additional Hero choice
Stegadon
- any(?) character may ride a Stegadon
- takes up an additional Hero choice
Core
There is much speculation on whether there will be additional core units (ranked skinks or skink fast cavalry), though nothing confirmed
Saurus Warriors
- 1 or 2 pts cheaper
- scaly skin save is rumoured to be going back to 5+, like it was in 5th edition
Skink Skirmishers
- can get Spawnings
Temple Guard
- cheaper
- can get Spawnings
Jungle Swarms
Special
Saurus Cavalry
- 4 pts cheaper
- can get Spawnings
Kroxigor
- new set of metal models (was rumoured to be plastic, but that appears to have been wrong)
- get light armour in addition to their scaly skin
- can get Spawnings
Stegadon
- new plastic model
- moved from Rare to Special
Terradons
- new (metal) models
Cameleon Skinks
Salamander Hunting Packs
- moved from Rare to Special
- now use the breath weapon template instead of the artillery dice
- stats of the attack not known
- not known whether you can still form units of more than one pack (having a monsters and handlers unit with multiple monsters is a bit tricky ruleswise) or if you might, say, get 1-2 independant packs per Special unit
Rare
Ancient Stegadon
- somewhat altered stats compared to the regular Steggy
- has a different weapon than the bolt thrower the normal Steggy has
Barbed Razordon Hunting Party
- a new kind of dinosaur unit, also herded by skinks
- fires spikes that has a number of shots equal to the roll on an artillery dice, that roll to his using BS 4, not known if it ingores any of the normal to-hit modifiers
- when standing and shooting it gets two artillery dice worth of shots
Special characters
Lord Kroak (Slann)
Kroq-Gar (Saurus Lord)
Nakai the Wanderer (Kroxigor Hero(?))
Tenehauin (Skink Lord/Hero)
Tiktaq’To, Master of Skies (some kind of Skink on Terradon?)
Chakax, Eternity Warden (some kind of Saurus Temple Guard character?)
2 more unknown characters.
Rumoured rules
Often talked about are:
- Spawnings becoming more widespread and available to more units (like in the Sacred Spawning variant lists)
- Ranked Skink units (like in the Lustria book) and possibly with Kroxigors added (like in 5th edition)
- Skink Horned One Riders (like in the Lustria book)
- a separate Lore for Slann
- more mount options for Skink characters (like in 5th edition)
Warhammer Fantasy Coming Up
Picture: one of my personal armies, which I created right around 2002. I took this to a tournament in Sacramento (?), California. This is the only Warhammer Fantasy army I had any success with.
Tomb Kings are a very forgiving army, and easy to paint, but also with good opportunity for detail (eg the shields). I recommend them for a beginning Warhammer Fantasy player.
The game itself is considerably more complicated and hard to master than 40k, probably triple the amount of complexity. This isn’t undue.
As you probably know, I’ve started a little insurrection at the studio, getting people on board for some Warhammer Fantasy. We’re starting at 1500 pts. I’m working on my Dark Elves, which I code-named Ice Elves. No real reason for that.
Today, I got in some more Black Guard, which are going to be my one and only massive block of infantry. They are stubborn and so will make a good anvil for the hammer.
This doesn’t mean there still won’t be plenty of action for 40K. I’m keen on getting up some Batreps that don’t have me in them.
GW Release Schedule
Guess I won’t be fleshing out my Lizardmen army! This is all lifted from www.belloflostsouls.blogspot.com
JANUARY:
2nd wave Orks
Plastic Gretchin, Stormboys, Nobz, plastic Battlewagon.
FEBRUARY:
Lizardmen
Plastic Stegadon to be availiable as a rare, special and mount option. Up to nine said to fieldable in one list. New kroxigors.
MARCH:
Apocalypse
Stompa and one or more Baneblade variants (Stormlord and/or Shadowsword, possibly others).
APRIL-MAY:
Imperial Guard
Plastic Stormtroopers, Valkyrie, Russ variants, more.
2nd Wave Daemons
Plastic Daemon Prince, new Seekers, rest of the named Daemons, possibly generic daemons and a Battleforce
Q3-Q4:
Necrons
All the stuff reported here.
Dark Eldar
New range by Jes Goodwin, Codex by Phil Kelley. End of the year, possibly bumped even later to make sure the army is done correctly.
Rumors brought to the community by Warseer’s Brimstone and MoonlightSonata
Hi all, there is some Necron Scuttlebutt floating about out there.
Early word is that Necrons may be slated for the Q2-09 40k release slot. There is another codex scheduled ahead of them but there is conflicting data on what it is (currently bouncing around between IG, Space Wolves, Dark Eldar). The info reported so far is:
Removal of the C’tan from the Codex as fieldable units (they are still in the fluff).
The C’tan are to be moved over to Apocalypse where they will make an appearance as much more powerful single figures (possibly with attendant new oversized Forgeworld minis).
The big new HQ replacement for them will be entirely new tiered-level Necron Lords. Read the Apocalypse Necron background page for insight into what may be coming, but there is talk of Bronze, Silver, Gold, possibly even Platinum Lords.
Lords are said to have multiple special abilities and options, and certtain levels of Lords may re-arrange the Force Org chart for certain units, making different army builds possible. An example of an option was an advanced necrodermis, allowing the Lord to mimic his C,tan masters (and conveniently allow for the use of the existing C’Tan minis).
There will be Necron Lord named characters.
The rest of the army is described as getting a small number of new units, and having several existing units rearranged by Force Org category.
In general, the Necron army is desribed as being somewhat “buffed”.
Ratonnians
A friend of the studio is selling this Ratonnian army. It plays using the Bretonnian list, but is of course rat-themed.
PS- About Wargaming
If you want some wargaming stuff, check our youtube channel.
Giant Pool of Money
Here’s something about world economics that might be worth listening to.
I haven’t listened to the whole thing yet myself, but it’s part of my quest to get as much knowledge as possible.
Lifeblood
I read this on Yahoo News this morning:
As the bailout bill rushed through Congress, Paulson stressed that the major aim was to buy bad assets, primarily mortgage-backed securities, from financial institutions. The hope was that taking those bad loans off the books would encourage banks to return to more normal lending operations and unclog credit flows — the economy’s lifeblood.
Really? Borrowing money is the lifeblood of an economy?
Think about your personal finances. Is being able to borrow money the “lifeblood” of your economic well-being? If that answer is “no” then what is it?
What should you, yes you, the everyday common man do? Do research, get educated on financial stuff and then start voting for people who understand principles of sound money. Also, you must educate your fellow-man and your own children. This can be as easy as what I’m doing: posting it on my blog and forwarding information to other people.
Here’s a good start
It is my belief that the leaders of the nation are not telling the truth.
What else can you do? Get out of debt and stay out of debt. Opt out of the system. Live within your means. And I mean really. Instead of getting a car loan, buy a car with cash. You can find service-able ones for as low as $500. Drive that hunk of junk until you can afford a better one. Cash on the barrelhead.
My current goal, on which I am focused like a laser beam, is to get rid of debt. I would sell all painted models that the studio owns at $0.38 cents on the dollar if I found a buyer. If you are interested, let me know.
- By the sweat of thy brow shalt thou eat thy bread.
- Thou shalt not be idle; for he that is idle shall not eat the bread nor wear the garments of the laborer.
Sunday October 12 2008 House of Cards
Hello all!
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My heart is full. I only wish that I could convey my deep sense of optimism to all who read this.
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The air is cold and dry. Last night a few flakes of snow drifted down from a crisp grey sky, but that was all of the snowfall we were supposed to get. Here and there the trees are turning pale yellow or dusky red. I like sweater weather.
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I got up this morning, waking naturally after a good night’s sleep. Tamie bought a huge bushel of pears that are just now coming to perfect ripeness. I had one of those with some oatmeal (and raisins) this morning. And some orange juice. I watched a few episodes of Stargate Atlantis, and played with the kids, some frisbee in the yard.
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Then it was off to church, which went very well; a missionary farewell of sorts. Here are a few quotes that I found interesting:
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The Lord cannot always be known by the thunder of this voice, by the display of His glory or by the manifestations of His power; and those that are the most anxious to see these things are the least prepared to meet them, and were the Lord to maifest His power as He did to the children of Israel, such characters woud be the first to say , ‘Let not the Lord speak any more, lest we His people die.’ (Exodus 20:19)
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… most generally when angels have come, or God has revealed Himself, it has been to individuals in private, in their chamber; in the wilderness or fields, and that generally without noise or tumult.
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I believe that if God revealed himself fully to an individual, that it can compromise their freedom of choice. How many people really and truly are ready to take on themselves the burden that would entail? Imagine the change in lifestyle it would require, the enormous responsibility. I think it would be a cursing of sorts.
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Rather, how much better to do it gradually, step by step. A little bit of light first, then when that has been honored and acted on, a little bit more light. Knowledge of the eternal world bears tremendous responsibility. I suggest further, that if the heavens were open for even five minutes that it would make this life an unbearable wretch, and that the person who saw it would from that moment long for death. This of course frustrates the grand design of Mortality, which is to be tried, tested, and to discover the true nature of one’s own soul. It’s a closed book test.
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Going back to that idea of step by step, it occured to me that while a full knowledge of everything might not be all that it’s cracked up to be, some “light” is good. I can know enough to get me through the current challenges.
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As usual, these are just musings. I don’t mean to be preachy, but just to crack open the door of my mind for you to see what’s in there. I have faults like anyone. Don’t be surprised when you learn something bad about me.
Here’s my take on the “economic crisis” so called: I think that it is engineered. I believe that ultimately it will have a positive effect– like a fever. The root of it all is the idea of interest-bearing transactions. IE getting something for nothing.
I had a “credit crisis” in my business. The solution is to live within my means, pay for things as I go. Quite simple, really. I haven’t always lived it, no, but I see more and more the wisdom of it. Live within my means, stay out of debt.
The fact is that there are people who actually produce goods and services, then there are people who have figured out how to take those things without actually doing work.
Eventually, the producers figure out how to protect the fruits of their labors from the looters and moochers.
The best that the common man can do is to stay out of debt, pay down debts, and elect people at all levels of government who respect the property, life (ie income), and liberty. This requires a little bit of study and attention.
I could go on and on. I’m not a happy camper with the government right now. I am seeing more clearly what the real relationship is now.
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Having said all that, there is an Almighty God who holds the world like a marble in His omnipotent hand. The bounds of the adversary are set. We’re to have trials, that is to be sure, to know the good from the bad, and to learn wisdom for ourselves. This is true. But there is another side, to trust in God and live by faith. And I don’t mean wuss faith, but the real stuff. Faith combined with action.