Studio Tau Army Composition
These are the units that I’m likely to include in the Studio Tau Army. Can you give me advice, please, on unit composition and gear? I really don’t know what I’m doing. The options for Tau are bewildering.
Please comment.
I am actually going to build this army! I have plenty of models to increase the size of any of these units. At the bottom you will find a rough inventory. I should note, though, that I want the army to be in the 2000-2500 point range.
As a side note: all the other models will be up for a special one-shot deal. The “Brother Army” deal will offer the remainder of the models at 40% off for anyone that wants to commission them. Still working out the kinks on that one.
Tau Empire Roster – Studio Tau Army
HQ: Commander Shas’o (7#, 351 Pts)
1 Commander Shas’o @ 351 Pts
Stimulant Injector; Crisis Bodyguard; Crisis Bodyguard; Missile Pod; Plasma Rifle; Multi-Tracker
1 Crisis Bodyguard @ [122] Pts
Failsafe Detonator; Hard-wired Drone Controller; Missile Pod; Shield Drone; Shield Drone; Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
1 Shield Drone @ [15] Pts
Shield Generator
1 Shield Drone @ [15] Pts
Shield Generator
1 Crisis Bodyguard @ [107] Pts
Fusion Blaster; Hard-wired Drone Controller; Shield Drone; Shield Drone; Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
1 Shield Drone @ [15] Pts
Shield Generator
1 Shield Drone @ [15] Pts
Shield Generator
Elite: Crisis Battlesuit (4#, 141 Pts)
1 Crisis Battlesuit @ 141 Pts
Team Leader; Crisis Battlesuit; Hard-wired Drone Controller; Shield Drone; Shield Drone; Twin Linked Missile Pod; Targeting Array
1 Crisis Battlesuit @ [53] Pts
Twin Linked Missile Pod; Targeting Array
1 Shield Drone @ [15] Pts
Shield Generator
1 Shield Drone @ [15] Pts
Shield Generator
Elite: Stealthsuits (8#, 212 Pts)
5 Stealthsuits @ 212 Pts
Add Team Leader; Burst Cannon (x5)
1 Team Leader @ [62] Pts
Bonding Knife; Fusion Blaster; Hard-wired Drone Controller; Gun Drone; Gun Drone
1 Gun Drone @ [10] Pts
Twin Linked Pulse Carbines
1 Gun Drone @ [10] Pts
Twin Linked Pulse Carbines
Troops: Fire Warrior (15#, 245 Pts)
11 Fire Warrior @ 245 Pts
Add Shas’ui; Pulse Carbine (x11)
1 Devilfish @ [95] Pts
Burst Cannon; Gun Drones; Decoy Launchers; Landing Gear; Multi-Tracker
2 Gun Drones @ [0] Pts
Twin Linked Pulse Carbines
1 Shas’ui @ [40] Pts
Markerlight; Bonding Knife; Hard-wired Target Lock
Troops: Fire Warrior (15#, 245 Pts)
11 Fire Warrior @ 245 Pts
Add Shas’ui; Pulse Carbine (x11)
1 Devilfish @ [95] Pts
Burst Cannon; Gun Drones; Decoy Launchers; Landing Gear; Multi-Tracker
2 Gun Drones @ [0] Pts
Twin Linked Pulse Carbines
1 Shas’ui @ [40] Pts
Markerlight; Bonding Knife; Hard-wired Target Lock
Troops: Kroot Carnivore Squad (14#, 96 Pts)
12 Kroot Carnivore Squad @ 96 Pts
Add Kroot Hounds; Kroot Rifle (x12)
2 Kroot Hounds @ [12] Pts
Troops: Remote Sensor Tower Team (1#, 40 Pts)
1 Remote Sensor Tower Team @ 40 Pts
Markerlight (x1); Target Lock (x1)
Fast Attack: Gun Drone Squadron (4#, 48 Pts)
4 Gun Drone Squadron @ 48 Pts
Twin Linked Pulse Carbines (x4)
Fast Attack: Pirhana TX-42 (IA) (2#, 220 Pts)
2 Pirhana TX-42 (IA) @ 220 Pts
Twin Linked Rail Rifle (x2); Decoy Launchers (x2); Disruption Pod (x2); Seeker Missle (x2); Targeting Array
Fast Attack: Pathfinder (9#, 246 Pts)
8 Pathfinder @ 246 Pts
Markerlight (x5); Pulse Carbine (x5); Rail Rifle and Target Lock (x3)
1 Devilfish @ [120] Pts
Burst Cannon; Smart Missile System; Decoy Launchers; Disruption Pod; Landing Gear; Marker Beacon; Sensor Spines
Heavy Support: Broadside Battlesuit (2#, 180 Pts)
1 Broadside Battlesuit @ 180 Pts
Twin linked Railgun; Broadside Battlesuit; Twin Linked Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
1 Broadside Battlesuit @ [90] Pts
Twin linked Railgun; Twin Linked Plasma Rifle; Targeting Array
Heavy Support: Hammerhead Gunship (1#, 165 Pts)
1 Hammerhead Gunship @ 165 Pts
Railgun; Smart Missile System; Disruption Pod; Landing Gear; Targeting Array
Heavy Support: Sky Ray Missile Defence Gunship (1#, 155 Pts)
1 Sky Ray Missile Defence Gunship @ 155 Pts
Turret Mounted Seeker Missles; Two Networked Markerlights; Smart Missile System; Target Lock; Disruption Pod; Landing Gear; Targeting Array
Total Roster Cost: 2344
Created with Army Builder
Copyright (c) 1997-2005 Lone Wolf Development, Inc. All rights reserved.
Studio Tau Army Inventory
Fire Warriors 72
Path Finders 16
Stealth Suits 12
Gun Drones 24
Shield Drones 10
Broadsides 2
Hammerheads 3
Skyrays 1
Battlesuits 14
Still Needed
Piranhas 2
Kroot 16
Kroot Hounds 2
Forge World
Barracuda 1
Sensor Tower 1
Concepticon
I just got the good news this morning. My wife is pregnant with our fourth child. I’m pretty stoked. We’ve been working at this for about a year.
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The official story is that the child was conceived at Adepticon. Now that’s good gamer mojo!
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Other Gately baby trivia
- We have three children ages three, six and eight.
- Each child was born in a different state: Oregon, California and Utah.
- All of them were born “mind over matter” style with no medical intervention. Tamie is like some kind of goddess with that.
- I want to have five kids, Tamie wants three, so we compromised on four. If the business goes well, we might adopt!
- When we got married I didn’t want to have any kids at all. At the time I characterized babies as “the scourge of the earth”.
- When I got the news that my wife was pregnant with my first child, my thought was “well, there goes my freedom”.
- My heart changed the day my eldest, a daughter, was born. You can actually see it on the tape. I keep repeating “she’s so beautiful…”
- I became an expert at managing children as a fourth-grade teacher.
- Tamie is a stay at home mom and loves every minute of it!
PS- If you feel inclined to send a “congratulations” you can do so right here on the blog. But don’t feel obligated, I’m OK with that. I’m not good at that sort of thing either. Also, there is a remote chance this could be a false alarm; but I was so excited I couldn’t hold it in!!!
Sunday April 20 2008 Brain Soup
Saturday was Paint Fest. We had six artists in and we all crammed into the main office, hunched around little painting areas. We chatted and shared ideas and techniques. I managed to get my prototypes done for the studio Tau army. I’m overall satisfied with the dark green and ivory thing; but I just might try one other thing. In the FW Apocalypse book there’s a Tiger Shark with these horizontal water-type camo stripes and I might try something like that.
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I really didn’t get that much done, though, the plan is to get it all done in short order. And in other Tau news, the army will have maximum one of each type of unit. Normally, I try these one-trick-pony themed armies adn I’m going to break with that this time.
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I would suggest that any army where you take one of each type of unit will be fairly competitive. This is a game design issue. The only thing you have to think about is how the units work together.
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Wait, maybe that’s not right. Because we see a LOT of armies coming through and there are definite patterns. For example: I have not seen more than one in ten Tau armies with Stingwings. So, they must suck, right?
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Mike was working on his Blood Angels, so I think that will be the next matchup for a batrep. Renn brought in his Death Korps army which has an impressing amount of Forge World resin in it. Wouldn’t it be nice to be single and have no expenses! Oh wait, I remember that and it *was* great… except for the crushing loneliness. Ty was working on some Tyranids. I challenged him to a game, too: My High Elves v his Dwarfs. Yerm, that’s a classic matchup.
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And for those of you wondering: it was food poisoning. Brutal. I think it was the shrimp tacos. I wouldn’t wish that on anyone.
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Warning: No MORE game-related material in this post. I’m serious. I’ve got a massive brain stew cooking. Here are my various thoughts.
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Temples
As I watch the “Texas Polygamist” thing unfold on the news, I feel inspired to say that those people really don’t have anything to do with current-day Mormons (the regular LDS church). I am a Mormon and married to a descendant of the Mormon pioneers. However, I am a convert to the church and consciously chose it at age 15. And I would choose it again.
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Anyway, I am very familiar with Mormon temples, and indeed I was a worker at a temple for over a year and got to have virtually free access to any part of it. I can say that I didn’t ever once run into anything strange or immodest. Quite the opposite, everything about the temple is clean, modest, and uplifting. It is a quiet place, as close to heaven on earth as anything.
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Before I got married in the Salt Lake Temple, I was asked by one of my friends if it was true that Mormons got married naked. Turns out not. That’s just one of a huge number of absolutely stupid things circulating around out there. Oh, here’s another one I was asked: do they grab your privates during the ceremony and say “these are only for procreation.” Good heavens! No! Again, I want to re-iterate that I have never once come across anything immodest or indecent in the temple at all. The opposite is true.
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If you want indecent and immodest, you can find that on FOX!
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When I was investigating the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints as a teenager I started looking for sources of information and so I headed down to the public library. What impressed me is that I found something like eighteen books speaking out against the “Mormons”. Why would 80% of the literature decry this particular one? It was completely disproportionate.
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Additionally, what I read from these books that supposedly “exposed” the religion was completely at odds with the extremely positive experience I was having in person. I have since decided there are two “Mormonisms”; the one you actually experience living as one, and the one you read about in books (that supposedly enlighten you but are really just chock full of misinformation, half-truths, and exaggerations).
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The human soul is a receptor for light and truth. If it accepts correct principles and lives them, it becomes more receptive. The soul can sense light and darkness just as the human eye does. Have you ever wandered into a “dark” place? Where it just didn’t feel right? And the opposite, a “light” place?
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Hell
Oh, yes, I’m going to take this one on.
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The stereotype of Hell is the old lake of fire and brimstone, which comes from the very end of the Bible, but if read carefully it is presented as a simile– it is *as* a lake of fire. I mean, it doesn’t make any sense. What loving father would put his child in a cauldron of lava? It’s like the ultimate cosmic child abuse. To my mind, the concept of hell has been used over the ages indeed for a diabolical purpose: to gain power over other humans as a tool of coercion.
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In the Mormon view of the universe (which I contend matches up with the real universe) the human soul is the offspring of Diety, in the same fashion as one’s own child. And what do I wish for my own children? That they grow up into their full potential.
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The universe is a huge place, full of beauty. I came across this scripture recently that deeply impressed me:
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32 And they who remain shall also be quickened; nevertheless, they shall return again to their own place, to enjoy that which they are willing to receive, because they were not willing to enjoy that which they might have received.
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33 For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.
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34 And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same.
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33 For what doth it profit a man if a gift is bestowed upon him, and he receive not the gift? Behold, he rejoices not in that which is given unto him, neither rejoices in him who is the giver of the gift.
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34 And again, verily I say unto you, that which is governed by law is also preserved by law and perfected and sanctified by the same.
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And again in the famous John 3:16-20. A careful reading shows that there is condemnation, but it isn’t imposed on a human by God.
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Here’s my short version: You get what you want. What you really want.
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That’s true in this life, and it’s true in the afterlife. There’s no lake of fire. Except in ones own mind. And that might just be worse than a real one.
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Clear as the moon, and fair as the sun,
and terrible as an army with banners.
The Book of Mormon has a middle part called “the war chapters“. At first, I always skipped past them, but now I see how relevant they are. They show the true place of a Warrior in a society. I think Captain Moroni is my new hero. I’ve noticed how often he acts counter-intuitively. It’s a good read.
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As usual, it’s not my intention to come across as preachy. In fact, I don’t think I’m a very good person– I’m just picking away at my imperfections through the years. Again, I am NOT making any claim to any personal goodness or righteousness. This is what’s really on my mind, and after all that’s what you come to a blog for, right?
Proceeding Apace
Picture: a Longrider Trollblood. This project had an unusual color scheme that turned out well. I wish it were mine! See the Firebloods here.
Hey all!
I just wanted to do a quick note saying that everything is proceeding apace.
I have a digital camera full of the pics from five projects, I just need to get those up on the site: client initials JE, PH, RS, and DM.
A few waiting for pics: Empire 01 AS, Orcs 01 CF (still waiting on movement trays– the GF9 bases are microscopically larger than a standard base and so we have to re-do them all from scratch).
And a few other projects are coming in. Some things are delayed due to creation of movement trays, but just a few days.
Tonight I was laid out sick. Horizontal and unconscious for eight hours. Brutal. I hope I am up and running tomorrow because it’s Paint Fest!
Joseph came by today, some of you may remember him. He’s writing a book and his family is out of state.
Hellstrike Missiles Needed
Agh! I’m missing four Forge World Hellstrike Missiles for a project! Does anyone have any on hand? Or know where I can get some? Or live near a place where you can buy them? I will pay or trade well for them.
If you are able/willing to help please contact me at bluetablepainting@gmail.com
Wednesday April 16 2008 Lousy Shrimp Tacos
Picture: art by Pedro Navarro from the Buglands website. It’s a great site with a lot of tutorials and other inspirational stuff. Just amazing.
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I was running errands this morning with my three year old son. While at the bank he was doubled over, whining. I took him to the bathroom to see if he needed to throw up, but he seemed OK. He waited until we were in the car. I don’t think I’ll be able to eat cottage cheese ever again.
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That was the high point of MY day.
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But seriously, it was another day in paradise: artists coming and going. We’re working on like five Vampire Counts armies right now. They are a delight to paint and everyone loves the new sculpts. They are truly inspired.
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There is a trend, though, with new sets to complicate the sculpts. Basic skeletons now have all sorts of bits and bobs; chainmail shreds, wrapping trails, rotted spots etc.
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Right now I’m in the mood to get another army going: Tau or Eldar.
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I was looking at the Forge World Apocalypse book and reading the entry of the Tau Manta. You know, everyone gripes about how cool it is but I’ve yet to see a single person actually do one. I’ve getting pretty antsy about it.
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I am really, really thinking over a color scheme for Tau. It’s agony. I am thinking of doing green or dark green with a contrasting color of white or ivory or khaki. Hermmmm… Comments welcome. I definitely want to do weathering and battle damage.
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Also, my Ghost Warriors Eldar army is being sold on eBay now, by a really good client.
Overheard in a Battle Barge Bathroom…
SM1: Gruuuuunge! Emperor’s Balls! Why couldn’t they have given me a genetically enhanced colon?
SM2: What, you didn’t get one?
(Well, Renn and I thought it was pretty funny…)
Rumors of Wars
News from http://www.warseer.com/
[Note: this is a rumor roundup from various other sources. I am still working my way through an inbox, so bear with me if you’re waiting for a response. I should be caught up by tomorrow.]
Hi guys
I’m new to the site but I thought what better way to start by announcing the new SW codex is on its way for sure!
I know I’m new here but I’ve been posting on the Ex-Libris board (Blood Angels) for years and also on a few other sites too.
I work for GW (I know, I know but this is seriously genuine), we’ve had our plans for the rest of the year given to us and it go’s a little like this…
May- WFB and 40K Deamon release
June- LotR release (Mordor) and Hordes of Chaos White Dwarf update
July- 40K 5th edition release
August- WFB Hordes of Chaos army book release
September- 40k Marines release
October- 40k replacement for ‘Battle for Macragge’ release (Marines v Orks)
November- WFB Dark Elves release
December- 40k SPACE WOLVES codex release!!! This is a FULL codex release not a Blood Angels style White Dwarf update. However, no details have been revealed on it’s contents or on the models- so anything you hear/see in that department is just rumour at the moment.
That said, things are subject to change; as was the case for the ‘Planet Strike’ release, which has been pushed back to next year to allow the team time to sort out the new plastic Thunderhawk (yes, that’s correct; a new plastic Thunderhawk!!). Also the Guard were supposed to be done in the last quarter of this year but they will now be early 2009 instead.
Fingers crossed that the above releases stay true and the Wolves get a shiny new Codex by Christmas 2008!!
However, just because there’s a new release doesn’t mean it will all be good news… I just hope the Wolves don’t get “Blood Angel’d” and lose their character to turn into a standard chapter, as my beloved BA did.
New on the Chaos Daemons,taken from the Fog of War forum(that was taken from the Daemons forum???!!!)
Ok gang, I’ll try to put down as much as I can remember.
Army Special rules:
army set up: You split your army into halves as close to equal as possible. At this point you must declare if characters are joining units in deepstrike or deepstrike as a lone unit.
You then choose which part of your army to come in first. This half will arrive via the deep strike rules, while the rest remain in reserves. You then pray to the Chaos Gods, represented by rolling a D6. On a 3+, the Gods agree, and the part you choose arrives on the first turn. on a 1 or 2, the Gods decide you are wrong and you must have the other half arrive.
All saves are treated as invulnerable, unless the demons have an armor save above and beyond whats listed in their entry. (IE, Iron Hide=3+ armor save)
All Demons are considered Eternal Warriors, and are immune to the Instant Death rule.
All Demons are Fearless
Heralds marked by one God cannot join units with the mark of another God.
HQ choices: 15 choices! A named greater demon for each God, and a named Herald. Heralds are a 2 for one HQ choice. This means you could have up to 4 Heralds.
Skulltaker, AKA U’zuhl. This guy will become the most hated model in 40k. All hits count as rending, but on a 4+. Any attacks that rend cause Instant Death. He can also be mounted on a chariot or Juggernaught, improving his strength and toughness.
Also, He is WS 7 (IIRC) and 4 attacks with Furious Charge.
Bloodthirster: WS 10, Strength 7 with Furious Charge.
Keeper of Secrets: Fleet! Initiative 10, Hit and Run.
Great Unclean Ones: T 6, 6 Wounds, Slow and Purposeful, Feel No Pain.
Lord of Change: Can’t remember a lot; very tricksy I remember.
Ku’gath the Plague Father: Has a range 24 inch, large blast poisoned ORDINANCE weapon, with AP 2
Skarbrand: Got so pissed he took a swing at Khorne himself. Khorne threw him for 4 days and a night after a vicious pummeling, and left his wings in tatters. Any unit, friend or foe, within 24 inches of him must re-roll any failed to hit rolls.
Epidemius makes Nurgle units better as the death-toll rises. 0-4, no effect. 5-7, poison works on 3+ instead of 4+. 8-14 can’t remember. 15-20, Feel No Pain is increased to 3+.
The Masque of Slaanesh: Has an ability called the Pavane of Slaanesh. IIRC, its a Lash of Submission ability that is more tightly worded. But she/he/it can use it 3 times at 3 different units.
Bluescribes: Don’t remember. Sorry gang.
Elites
Bloodcrushers: Obscene. Your opponent will be picking up units left and right if they get hit with these guys.
Beasts of Nurgle: Feel no pain, Slow and Purposeful, ignorantly tough and really hard to kill.
Flamers of Tzeentch: Didn’t study them too closely.
Troops
General note: most units can have full command group. Icons can have units summoned to them, and not scatter as long as they are no more than 6 inches from them.
Instruments of Chaos: Can be bought for a character and most units. If combat is drawn, then you count as having won combat by 1 wound.
Bloodletters: WS 5, S 4, T 4, I 4, W 1, with Hellblades (Power Weapons) and furious charge. Has option to buy a command group.
Demonettes: can’t remember a whole lot. Command group, each model has 3 attacks each, with rending, fleet.
Plaguebearers: T5, Feel No Pain, Slow and Purposeful. Poisoned attacks. Not great, but they aren’t going ANYWHERE for a really long time.
Horrors: 18 inch, S 4, AP 4, Assault 3 shooting attacks, with I think the option to buy a Bolt of Change (S 8, AP 1 Assault 1).
Fast Attack
Seekers of Slaanesh: Cavalry models, 3 rending attacks each.
Flesh hounds: Move as beasts, very killy. Karanak is a brute in combat.
Screamers: Move as jetbikes. Garbage in combat with anything other than tanks. Why? Because they count as having Melta Bombs.
Heavy Support
Soul Grinder. Front and side armor 13, rear 11. Ignores shaken and stunned results. It is Fleet. It has 4 attacks at WS 3 and BS 3. Weighs in at 135. Has Harvester guns and a Mawcannon. You can upgrade the Mawcannon to fire a stronger shot, or an ordinance blast. You can buy both upgrades, and use any of the three profiles.
Demon Prince: same as in the Chaos Marine codex, but 80 points and no power Armor. They may have wings, and depending what marks of chaos you give it, access to different demonic gifts. Most flexible entry in the list.
Hope that helps. I’ll go back and edit the more I read and retain.
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Ok, looked a little harder at the book, and Furies are Fast Attack choices.
All the Tzeentch stuff is dakka as all Hell. Flamers are insanity; Jump infantry with Breath of Chaos and Warp Fire. You can buy one a S 8 Ap1 Bolt of Change. They are elites.
Units like Tau and anything good in combat with a low save is going to absolutly hate Warp Fire. Harlequins, Banshees, Death Cult Assassins: I’m looking at you.
Something else I noticed: If you have a unit that can take a special character upgrade, take it. For example, the changeling is a 5pt addition. His glamour of Tzeentch is a pretty impressive ability.
Basically, you target and enemy unit. That unit takes a leadership check (vehicles counting as LD 10). If the unit fails, then they shoot at the closest friendly unit. If they pass, they stand around confused, unable to fire.
We Are Legion, a Tzeentch ability is amazing. The Herald can shoot two weapons, not the same one twice, at two different units, even if it is in a unit. The unit may fire independently, and the Herald’s fire doesn’t affect who they can assault after firing.
Karanak grants Move Through Cover, and is impressively deadly unit upgrade for Flesh Hounds.
Seekers of Slaanesh are very impressive; incredibly fast and lethal with the sheer amount of rending attacks that the can throw out, but delicate at the same time. If you intend to charge someone, make sure they’re nice and softened before you them in.
There´s also some pics from the new Warmachine figs from Privateer,taked from their site…
-Warrior, sorcerer, and zealous follower of the Dragonfather, Darragh Wrathe ruthlessly commands Cryxian troops in the subjugation of the mainland. The howling of his countless victims follows the passage of Wrathe’s hell-wrought iron steed as this necro-mechanikal horror rides to battle. He savors slaying the living whether by the razor edge of his scythe or a sudden eruption of spectral fire.
Darragh Wrathe comes in a box (PIP 34058). A player may field one Darragh Wrathe in his Cryx army.
Darragh Wrathe is featured in WARMACHINE: Legends, the next expansion to WARMACHINE, which releases this summer. Get a preview of Darragh Wrathe in No Quarter #18 this May. Darragh Wrathe arrives this June.
-The Horgenhold Forge Guard enter battle in superlative Rhulic armor, form an impervious line, and deliver blows capable of toppling warjacks with their massive, piston-driven hammers. Though the dwarves remain officially neutral in the southern wars of men, the Forge Guard hire out as mercenaries and bring the power of raw, blunt destruction to the battlefield.
Horgenhold Forge Guard comes in a box (PIP 41067). A player may add up to two blisters (PIP 41068) for a total of ten models and field two units of Horgenhold Forge Guard for each warcaster in his army. Horgenhold Forge Guard will not work for Cryx or Khador.
The Horgenhold Forge Guard is featured in WARMACHINE: Legends, the next expansion to WARMACHINE, which releases this summer. Get a preview of the Horgenhold Forge Guard in No Quarter #18 this May. The Horgenhold Forge Guard arrives this July.
(there was no text to Orin-Midwinter)
Adepticon Notes
www.adepticon.org
For those just joining the program, Adepticon is a major Warhammer 40K and Fantasy convention in Chicago every Spring.
Saturday I set up our modest booth, just around 100 figures. So, that was about a tenth as much as last year. A lot less hassle and it left me free to move around and admire other people’s work and get to know both clients and fellow professionals.
I met Steve from Armorcast, he’s the new owner and he told me all about the illustrious history of that company. They make a great product. Way back when, they had the license to make the oversize GW models. That was before Forge World was created.
Speaking of Forge World, I now have a complete set of Imperial Armor books and I must say that’s the crown jewel of my library. Very nice. Oh, and I finally picked up a copy of the Apocalypse book by FW. That’s a really good use of money.
The highlight of the convention for me was the two interviews I did with 40K radio. Those two guys (Spencer and Phil) are really, really cool. They are genuine and easy-going. I’m now a 40K radio believer!
However, I did feel a bit sheepish about some of the off-the-cuff remarks during the interviews. I got to thinking about that afterwards. If you know me, you know that I ramble and say inappropriate things. I’ve been working on curbing that. But anyway, my thought currently is “Hey, that’s how I am so like it or leave it.” But at the same time I have toned it down a bit. I really to hope I don’t offend anyone.
If you want to hear the interviews, look for the April 12, 2008 entries on http://www.40kradio.com/
What else? We provided a huge display board and a 4,000 point army for the tournament organizers, Greg Sparks and the “Glance in the Pants” team.
I also had a client come up and point out that we forgot his order (an Eldar Avatar) for the convention. I was absolutely mortified. So, I think I need to change my policy to “no rush orders”. I really try to make it happen for everyone, but it almost never ends well. There’s too much that can go wrong with something as delicate as creating an army. Hmmm… Or I could streamline the process and make it happen without a flaw.
The main thing I have going for me in life is Blind Persistence.
I also spent some time with Matt Sabol (the army transport guy). He puts out a great product. He’s been trying to discontinue the top-loading Battalion transport in favor of the multiple column Division type transport. I think the latter is a LOT better.
Ayup, I met a lot of great people. I am very excited. I’m really glad we went. I wish I would have spent more time over with Gale Force Nine.
Tamie and I went to downtown Chicago for some steak. That was quite an adventure. Downtown Chicago is really cool. I was impressed with how clean it was; gusting and raining. But what’s with all the honking? We were looking around each time someone sounded the horn. Now I know what a deer feels like when it wanders into a city. It was like a different plane of reality, crowded with well-heeled Chicago-ites out on the town on a Saturday night; the streets like multi-colored tunnels.
From the plane, downtown Chicago was like a brooding cluster of dark towers on the edge of a sullen sea, but once you’re down there it’s like a black-marble and neon palace. We got back late and just hung out in the hotel room. It was a good night’s sleep.
Sunday morning, I just wandered around a little bit, said our goodbyes and headed out to the airport. We are now at an airport restaurant just hanging out for three hours.