‘nids part 273 – Tyranid Warrior and Warrior to Hive Guard Conversion – basecoats

Built and based for a while now it felt about time to add some paint to my Warrior to Hive Guard conversions. Even if it was just a basecoat it’s one step further, one less thing to do.

It’s a tedius job, something I used to make so much easier by undercoating them bonewhite and filling in the reds. Now I seem to start with the red – the least representative colour on the model and try to be neat with everything else, not to mention I cover up most of the red primer anyway!

As you can see the bonewhite basecoat is pretty ropey but I’m fine with that, it;s getting two coats of wash so doesn’t need #2thincoats In fact any paint showing through the base just adds more texture ultimately.

The Tyranid Warrior was up next. No doubt I’ll try and treat these as a unit for painting purposes. I’ve actually fished out my existing Warriors and Hive Guard and will look at any potential fixes. 

Certainly some base edges have become a little chipped but I’m also painfully aware that they’re still afflicted with Citadel Purity Seal frosting. Maybe not now but I will definitely one day re-paint the red fleshy bits that are are damaged and I know I can do the chitin much better now so I’ll probably repaint that.

The bone colour only needs additional highlights but there’s no urgency just now. I’ve lined up the five Devgaunts to ‘bone up on’ next and then the Rippers. All of these are just inbetween things – tasks that need doing but in themselves are tedious so if I fit them in among other projects when I finally focus my attention it’ll just be the fun bits that actually feels like painting, not necessarily like putting paint on, if you follow. Otherwise I’ll be tackling my Blood Bowl Ogre next…

‘nids part 267 – Tyranid Warrior and bits Big Build TO DONE!

After the sleep post I’m thinking my mojo is on the wain at the moment. I honestly cannot entertain that Dark Shroud and the Assassin isn’t much more appealing. What’s frustrating is I ‘want’ to do so much, I just can’t bring myself to do it and I think fatigue plays a hand in that. However, I have felt the urge to build, even if the end result feels less productive despite the cool new model to drool over.

So, after convertingthe  2 Warriors to Hive Guard I went back to my ‘docked’ Warrior and re-attached its tail and thought I’d base him on one of the bases I’d prepared but didn’t fit the Hive Guard. I’ll probably paint it alongside the gun-beasts for convenience. I fixed his tail with some greenstuff too.

And I had a couple of Termagants and Hormagaunts knocking around that I just made into Devgaunts and based. I’ve 20 Devgaunts already, so this just adds to them, though I could do with another 5 so I cam make a full brood. I’ll get these and the Warrior primed so I can paint them ‘someday’.

Whilst I was at it I based the Redemptor. It was all a little flat so I added a Genestealer infiltration node too. I’m much happier with it but less so at the missing right shoulder guard! That’s the thing about building stuff – bits always disappear. I’m sure I’ll find it eventually but it’s things like that that just scupper further progress, the loss of the relic lanyards being another example. With some spare greenstuff from the Warrior’s tail I added some chunky ribbing to hide the out-of-socket torso ball joint [you’ll see it eventually]. With the remaining greenstuff I did some more press molds of Rippers. I think I’ll build the 3 Ripper bases next.

 Big Build – TO DONE!

I builds it, I gets the badge!

‘nids part 266 – Tyranid Warrior to Hive Guard conversion TO DONE!

I confess I’m back in avoidance mode at the moment, but I’m also going with the flow. The urge to build came over me and manifested as finally making 2 more Tyranid Warriors into Hive Guard so I can finally field a brood of 6. I originally did this conversion way back when and I’ve had enough parts to do these 2 for ages, although not all the same bits as last time. For these I’m using the blind Genestealer heads and I’ve some Tyrant Guard bits to create the armoured chest instead of the previous Termagant armour plates. I’d been delaying the kitbash because I was convinced one of the warriors was too good to be converted and I was sure I had a more damaged donor Warrior torso and legs somewhere. When I came to ‘dock’ the tails they were a little too short and predictably having docked them I immediately discovered the damaged torso was in exactly the same 3″x2″ bits box. Anyway, the damaged one on the left was duly docked and I’ll be trying to reattach the tail of the un-shown decent Warrior.

Poses and basing was next, I’d already created the Impaler Cannons [you can just see a completed one in the top right], and went about gluing the legs on, with the chest plate and head. I also added some thick texture paint inside the crest so it’ll look fleshy.

I had to leave this overnight for the poly-cement to set properly but even at this stage it was clear the two bases I’d prepped with slate might not work too well with how the legs were positioned.

So I glued some slate to two more bases and found a much better fit. With polycement now dry I could drill and pin a foot to the base to ensure the superglue join was strong enough. I then added the Warrior rending claws and and gun – heaven knows how I’m going to prime and paint this now! 😲

I think I kept the guns separate last time but this was such a hatchet job I wanted it all solid. To that end I even glued elements together, so where I could get a gun arm resting on a claw arm I dropped some liquid poly between the too for added stability.

As I left it to dry overnight I hadn’t quite realised how the guns were pointing downwards so much, nevermind. I’m still pretty chuffed with the result, I don’t suppose it’s as much of a necessity now what with the plastic kit, but they’re still comparatively expensive for 3 models and only available through the GW website so having a kitbashed alternative is still worth the effort.

So many elements of the kitbash are unused bits [although those Stranglethorn Cannons tend to be prime fodder for use in Biovore kitbashes – now that is a guaranteed improvement. I’d still like to see them next to the new kit for a size comparison, as these are on slate they’re a fair bit taller than my other 4 giving a lot more bulk to them so less ‘modelling for advantage’ not that I’ve ever been challenged regarding this kitbash.

Anyway, built and ticked off my list and I’ll prime it so it’s ready to be based and then have it on hiatus till I feel compelled to complete them, which shouldn’t take too long. Big Build – TO DONE!

I builds it, I gets the badge!

Warhammer World GT3 – Game 0 Tyranids v Nurgle Space Marines

Game 0 of GT3 as we went early we arrived at Warhammer World at lunch time, ate and then had tables booked for two, half-two. I’d played Otty and Ben in the run up so it was only right I rocked up against Liam’s Nurgle Chaos Space Marines and Deamons

The low down:

• XXX [Chapter Approved mission]
• Dawn of War – Table ends pointy deployment
• I chose deployment zone, but I deployed last unit [giving Liam +1 to win first turn]

Bizarrely I had almost zero recollection of this battle by the end of the weekend. In fact I had such a bad memory I had to ask Liam if he could write some notes for the battle report after looking at the pictures. Of course I was so pleased he took up the offer I’m just going to share what he wrote in his words because I find it that much more entertaining 🙂 So this is the game from Liam’s perspective and as far as I’m concerned the best battle report I’ve never written:

TURN 1

I went first moved all the pox walkers up onto the objective (middle board) and the same for the Landraider and the Daemon prince (my right of the board), moved up Mortarian on the left.

Las-cannon took 6 wounds off the spawning beastie…..

4 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (Total=4)

Deep striked Deathshroud terminators in your deployment area.

-1 to hit on Deathshroud terminators and warp speed did not work.

Warlord deep striked to shoot Mortarian caused 1 wound

You moved one of the flying things to assault the Deathshroud.

Shot one and killed another in CC.

I caused loads of wounds back 4 I think

Large wormy thing deep striked behind my lines and with the genestealers assaulted the Landraider.

The Landraider was left with 1 wound but in overwatch it caused 6 wounds.

In the assault phase caused another to the wormy thing.

Other large wormy thing deep striked in the centre of the board the termy things shot 1 million times and caused 12 wounds on the pox walkers.

Giant genestealer took objective on your left.

2 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (Total = 2)

TURN 2

Morty assaulted your flying thing with the Deathshroud and insta killed him twice over.

CP caused the dead walk again and the 20 cultists shot and killed 6 termi things which ended up as pox walkers, then the pox walkers assaulted the termie things and caused 6 wounds and lost 4 in return so 2 up on the deal. First blood.

Landraider left combat and the Daemon prince assaulted your giant genestealer and was promptly despatched by him Booooo but until your turn.

3 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (Total=7)

Other wormy thing and warlord assaulted Morty killed the Deathshrouds in the shooting phase and did a healthy amount of wounds down to 9 I think in CC, but he killed wormy thing in response.

Genestealers charged towards pox walkers caused loads of wounds but 16 I think but Typhus joined in and killed 10 with the help of the pox walkers extra pox walkers appeared.

Wormie thing assaulted Landraider again but died to overwatch I rolled another 6 to hit 6 to would and 6 to damage lucky lucky…

giant genestealer killed Daemon prince in CC

Termie and pox fight, loads died but all were replaced by both sides this was not going to end any time soon.

2 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (Total = 4)

TURN 3 

Yours and mine it was very rushed and blurry

Deep striked Beast of Nurgle and assaulted the giant genestealer killed him and got the objective.

Landraider shot the spawnie beast down to 2 wounds.

Morty killed the warlord.

Typhus and the pox killed all the genestealers through “plague wind” and pistol shooting and assault. Finished off in your turn. The second unit of termie things attacked the pox walkers in the middle this was going to go on forever I was upto 25 pox by now.

4 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (Total=11) + warlord, first blood and behind enemy lines

1 OBJECTIVE MARKERS HELD (total=5)

So there you go, I think Liam was particularly incensed by some particularly fortuitous dice rolling on my part. He also managed to ‘troll me’ good style when he insisted on using my dead Termagants as recently raised Poxwalkers and I was artfully riled as I was expecting to re-spawn them with my Tervigon and I’d only brought enough gaunts to cover my own needs, certainly not donate them for his use! I also got a bit shouty with him, to my shame, as I was trying to play as a ‘tournament simulation’ and be pacey and quick to better match the conditions we would face over the weekend. Often we ended up perussing our rule books for clarification, which resulted in our game lasting aorund four hours – so much for tournament simulation! Regardless, we had a laugh and as usual there were plenty of good and even epic moments, I just can’t understand why I can’t recall them!

Warhammer World GT3 – Game 5 Tyranids v Chaos Space Marines

Last game of GT3, game 5 and I’m facing Daniel Brennan and his Alpha Legion Chaos Space Marines. It’s been over a week since this game and I was pretty fatigued and out of it throughout, there were points were Daniel was actually reminding me of things I needed to do – practically playing my turn for me at one stage. I was extremely grateful though and we still had a laugh. Two days is a long tournament for me I just don’t have the stamina and it’s always the same at Warhammer World nerves and excitement really take their toll!

The low down:

• Scorched Earth [Chapter Approved mission]
• Vanguard Strike – Diagonal deployment
• I chose deployment zone, but I deployed last unit [giving Dan +1 to win first turn], 
• Dan went first

I deployed with intent to steal as many objectives as I could, once again with the Warlord Flyrant on the board [when will I learn?]

Daniel had a Spartan that I wasn’t looking forward to facing, along with the plethora of Noise Marines inside it!

The Tyranid Warrios manned the Skyshield. I actually dropped one of the Capillary Toweres before game 2, breaking off a chunk of DAS clay that will need to be repaired 😦

Cultitsts and a Daemon Princefilled out Daniel’s DZ.

And then moved to secure this objective.

Noise Marines disembarked from the Spartan, looking every which way to confuse me just as Alpha Legion are want to do.

Terminators arrived as a speed bump, backed up by two units of Obliterators in the trees and on top of the objective.

The Obliterators fired at my Tervigon.

Managing to take off 5 wounds even with a +1 cover save [you don’t see that too often – a monster in cover and obscured!]

The rest of the shooting took out the Flyrant, again! First Blood and Slay the Warlord, see what I mean about lessons learned. Daniel’s dice were on fire. He racked up 3VPs for objectives too.

My turn and the Trygon and Devgaunts arrived on the far edge of the board.

The other Trygon arrived with the Genestealers and together with the Broodlord they all made the charge into the Terminators.

Which could not stand against such overwhelming ferocity and I consolidated towards the objective, claiming it. The Tervigon and Termagants secured another, althogether I captured 4VPs worth of objectives this turn.

The Broodlord might have consolidated into the Cultists

And was subsequently killed, whether by the crazed individuals or the Daemon Prince I don’t recall.

The remaining Cultists and Noise Marines took aim at the Genestealers.

Wiping them out. The Trygon appeared unscathed but was now revealed in it’s entirety to the waiting Obliterators.

Who blasted it to smithereens!

The Daemon Prince secured another objective bringing Daniel another 4VPs this turn.

I moved the Trygon and Gaunts forward, heading for the centre objective.

The second Flyrant swooped on between the Obliterators and the Daemon Prince.

Shooting by the Flyrant brought the Prince down to just one wound, allowing me to send the Hive Guard forward to assault and secure the objective.

But it was not meant to be, the Hive Guard couldn’t get just one wound on the Prince and he killed them all without blinking an eye!

The Trygon made the charge

as did the Termagants

Surrounding the objective bringing me 3VPs and drawing on primaries.

Turn 3, the Flyrant was whittled down to 5 wounds…

…and then none.

The Noise Marines blasted the Devagaunts apart –

wiping them all out and putting two wounds on the Trygon. Daniel held another 3VPs worth of objectives this turn. The Trygon then freedom to then move off the objective and head toward the Daemon Prince, killing him and securing that objective, but what about the centre objective.

Y conga…! It took me a re-roll of the first Advance move and Metabolic Overdrive, killing 8 Termagants in the process and a second advance of 10″ or more and the Termagants managed to span three objectives so the Trygon could hunt the Daemon Prince.

He got into combat –

smashed him to pieces to secure the objective but Alpha Legion Warlord rules meant I didn’t get Slay the Warlord as another character in Daniels army was in fact suddenly revealed as the Warlord all along! I scored 4VPs this turn to be ahead by one on primaries but Deniel had two secondaries.

Obliterators and cultists moved around toward the objectives and to get target lock on the Trygon.

Noise Marine moved to challenge for the centre objective.

Which proved no challenge whatsoever for their Sonic Blasters – wiping the entire brood of Devgaunts out 

The Trygon was blown apart by the Obliterators, Daniel would score a further 3 VPs for turn four while I only scored 2 [even on primaries again].

Turn 5 and I was very much spent by this stage, my army was in tatters and Daniel had control of most of the board.

This would lead to 4VPs while I could only score the same 2VPs again but I did get the Rippers behind the wrecked Baneblade for Linebreaker, which Daniel kindly left alone.

Final score was 20 to 16 and I’d managed to kill 450pts worth of Alpha Legion

Absolutely great game and another genuinely nice player to close out the weekend. I may have only had one win out of five but all my games were really good ones. I was utterly exhausted though and nervous energy had completely drained me. I’ll definitely have to look at a more easy to run army next time. I quite fancy running my Knights actually. I’ll need another one, or perhaps the new Armigers might make the detachment up. Regardless just something less fussy to both play and move around, hopefully the new Armiger kit and rumours will throw up some new options for me to explore.

Anyway I think I might have a post tournament wrap up, although I might just have covered the crux of my experience in the previous paragraph. A great weekend nontheless!

Warhammer World GT3 – Game 4 Tyranids v Aeldari [Eldar]

Game 4 of GT3 and I am a hot mess. I’m regretting the beer, yesterday’s lunch of curry [fab as it was] and sheesh kebab [which was far spicier than I would have liked]. Steve Parker is facing me with a host of Wraith Guard [mainly hiding in the webway] and a Wraith Knight. In all honesty I was not with it for this game. I couldn’t remember where I’d put my digital camera after game 1. I’d been using my phone since and so I was totally preoccupied with where it could be. The events team came over to give me the bad news that it hadn’t been handed in while adding the good news the ‘nids had been nominated again for best army. So as Steve went first and started to remove my models with ease I couldn’t see them die quick enough, anyway the game…

The low down:

• Ascension [Chapter Approved mission]
• Hammer and Anvil – Table ends deployment
• I chose deployment zone, but I deployed last unit [giving Steve +1 to win first turn], 
• Steve went first

Thanks to the peculiarities of this mission all span the middle of the board, which effectively makes my Skyshield redundant in it’s role of objective camper. With a lot of both our armies off board I once again chose Tenacious Survivor for my Warlord Flyrant instead of Alien Cunning to remove him from the board.

With so many Ranger scouts littering the battlefield finding space to bring stuff on was also going to be a challenge, so it seemed like a good idea to start with the Flyrant on the board. Wraithguard took and objective. Two more units of Wraithguard would secure the other objective out of shot in front of the ruin the Rangers are in.

Crimson Hunters zoomed into my Deployment Zone and wiped out the Hive Guard who were hiding in the shadow of the ruins. First Blood, swiftly followed by the second blood of the Tyranid Warriors.

The Wraith Knight shot the Warlord Flyrant to smithereens [Slay the Warlord]. With hindsight it was probably a good thing I was preoccupied with lost camera as I’d have been pretty demotivated at this point if I’d been hoping to attempt some kind of challenge in the game.

Tervigon surged forward with the Termagants, weight of numbers and objective secured, snatching the objective out from under the Wraithguard. Half their Brood had been killed though.

Trygon and Stealers appeared in the Aeldari backfield, I don’t think I mad the charge, even with the Behemoth re-roll. The fates were against me it would seem.

Trygon and Devgaunts arrive on the other side, where the Broodlord had sprinted up. I secured the second objective while my second Flyrant managed to charge the Wraithguard but with an Autarch [or Farseer] holding the objective he was going to survive long enough to score 2VPs on that objective nect turn.

The Wraith Knight shot/assaulted the Trygon.

Tervigon was was killed and the Termagants suffered many casualties…

With just two left alive to secure that objective for the Aeldari.

The Wraith Knight charged the Genestealers, ultimately with just 2 left.

The last Flyrant was down to 4 wounds in combat

Wraith Guard scored the objective.

Autarch retained the centre objective for the second turn giving Steve another combined 3VPs.

Even at this stage I had some innate tactical awarness. I fell back with the Flyrant, movign to the other side of the objective to take out the Autarch with the Broodlord ensuring he died, unfortunately that must not have been in my turn as I’m only down as 1VP, which would have been the objective in the Ruins. Still, Slay the Warlord and as the Broodlord made the killing blow I used my last CP to use Feeder Tendrills and managed to regain 3CPs [although I later discovered some believe Broodlords cannot use Feeder Tendrils because it states Genestealer can do it, he has the Keyword GENESTEALER though so I’m unsure on the difference?]

Steve subsequently surrounded the Trygon and Devgaunts and brought the Wraith Knight to bear on the Flyrant and Broodlord. The Flyrant was shot.

The Gaunts were engaged.

The Wraith Knight assaulted the Broodlord and I had to make five 5+ invuls to evade his assault.

But that one 4 took the Broodlord out. This left the Farseers holding the objective with the Wraith Guard holding the other one.

Wraith Knight moved to the ruins. My Trygon extracted itself from the ruin and then moved to charge the Wraith Guard. I may well have discovered my lost camera at this point which caused blessed relief but the game was lost in all but name.

I mustn’t have done much damage. I socred another VP for this objective.

The Guard fell back and killed yet more of the Devgaunts.

Wraith Knight mopped up the Devgaunts the everything shot at the Trygon who must have lashed out in death throes.

As only 1 Wraith Guard remains. With some Rippers still on the board, trying to sneak Linebreaker Steve had plenty of time to score another 8VPs over turns four and five while he wiped out the Skyshield to ultimately table me.

Steve was an absolute top bloke throughout. Out of all my games this army completely outclassed me. Sure the Orks had done as good job but that was numbers and poor tactics on my parts and good tactics on there’s. This was an army that was just in a different league. In fact my kill points were just the Autarch on 77pts, which I felt truly embarrased byt after yesterdays ribbing on the 82, but thankfully Liam had a worse game in the 40s so he really sucks compared to me!

I really appreciated Steve’s patience and thanfully we finished with 20-30 minutes sparer for me to start shifting my stuff into the cabinet and then game five.

Warhammer World GT3 – Game 3 Tyranids v Slaanesh daemons

Game 3 of GT3 and I’m facing Dan Moody and his awesome ‘Pleasure of Slaanesh’ Chaos Deamons.

The low down:

• Not sure which mission [Chapter Approved mission]
• Spearhead Assault – Table ends pointy deployment
• Not sure who chose, think it was Dan, 
• I went first, again unsure on whehter I won it or stole it, sorry

He had so many Seekers, which I had heard were good and fast: 14″ move , plus D6+1″ advance, plus 2D6+1″ charge. They were going to be in my face and yet I still pushed forward in my first turn with my reserve deep strike. Objectives were scoring each turn and I had to hold as many as I could because I could see Dan had a much more difficult army to overcome.

Thanks to all the shooting I managed to wipe out one unit of Seekers for First Blood. Dan later confessed he thought the game was over at this point! Meanwhile my Trygon failed to reach one of the Chariots but the Genestealers made it and thanks to Metabolic Overdrive on the Broodlord were in range of his aura to rend the chariot unto mince meat. Somewhow I’d managed to secure four objectives that turn with the Stealers holding one in the ruin, the Flyrant holding another.

The other side of the board had my Termagants holding the third while one the second Flyrant faced the opposition.

My Tervigon supported the gaunts on their objective and the Skyshiled held the fourth.

Seekers swarmed my Devgaunts and it looks like they all got dead.

Chariots and Daemonettes surrounded the Genestealers,

ready to pounce.

With the Devgaunts dead, the Trygon on 11 wounds and the Flyrant on 8 the two Daemon Princes swooped over with the Keeper of Secrets. They had auras making it difficult to hot so the Broodlord failed to lay a claw on the Keeper.

While she slaughtered him with impunity, his invul save worth nought against her vicious attacks.

Genestealers were all but removed from the board, just one surviving but no doubt died in the morale phase.

Everything else consolidated in among the Tyrgon and Flyrant. Dan scored 3VPs in his first turn.

My turn 2 and I still had complete control on this objective.

My second Flyrant swooped into Dan’s backfield to secure this objective, but there were Daemonettes to kill to capture it. I may have needed Metabolic Overdrive to make the distance. Rippers snatched the objective in the wood.

My Warlord Flyrant ‘fell back’ to the ruins in the centre, hoping to challenge the Daemonettes holding the objective with the Trygon. He may well have destroyed one of the Chariots in the shooting phase though. Meanwhile the other Trygon failed to do very much because Slaanesh strike first!

All the Seekers, Daemon Princes and Keeperbrought it down but it might have lashed out and wounded some of them as it died.

Daemonettes swarmed the Trygon but I couldn’t kill enough.

The second Flyrant failed wipe out the Daemonettes but somehow I still scored 3 VPs in turn 2.

The Seekers now released, they swept across the board towards my Termagants and Tervigon.

I think that 6 is another Death Throes roll for the Trygon.

It was only on 2 wounds and the Keeper of Secrets goes from 5 wounds.

Down to 2. Not sure of that Chariot got wiped out in the process but my Flyrant did, sadly not setting another Death Throes off.

The centre was completely lost and Dan had slay the Warlord. The second Daemon Prince headed for my Flyrant.

I don’t think he survived the combat as I got Slay the Warlord and he may well have been it, but the Flyrant was down to 4 wounds and the Daemonettes secured the objective [plus the one in the ruin] for 2 VPs this turn.

When we went into turn 3 I still had the objective in the woods and the Tervigon held the other giving me 2 VPs. The second Prince swooped over and killed the Rippers.

Seekers wiped out everything on the far side of the board which gave Dan 5VPs this turn which put him into the lead with 9VPs to 10VPs [not including secondaries].

Our last turn and I was able secure just one objective with the Skyshield, remember that? The Flyrant still could not kill the last remaining Daemonettes but he did secure Linebreaker. Dan also followed suit but scored another 5VPs for objectives which brought game 3 and day 1 to a close.

I scored 10VPs for objectives, plus the 3 secondaries, for 13 VPs. Dan scored 15VPs for objectives and 2 secondaries, for 17VPs. I beleive we also had to add kill points, I scored 8, while Dan scored 11 giving a final score of 21 to 28 to Dan. I actually killed 1,193pts worth of figures this game!

This was such a good game, I was rightly afraid of the Seekers but Daemonettes with so many attacks at -4AP! The inability to strike first also meant I was losing models in combat before they should have done some damage at least. I may well have been beaten [again] but I had a brilliant game and Dan was such good fun. Bring on day 2!

Warhammer World GT3 – Game 2 Tyranids v Orks

Game 2 of GT3 and Morgan Cole and I have been asked to play live on Warhammer TV! I obviously had to concentrate a lot on the game so pictures were taken only sparingly and I’m a bit shaky on what happened but I’ll be going back over the Twitch feed to try and recollect but I’m only part way through so far. Either way if you have a Twitch subscription you can watch the game here: https://www.twitch.tv/videos/229954502

The low down:

• Roving Patrol [Chapter Approved mission]
• Dawn of War
• Morgan chose deployment zone, 
• I either won first turn, or seized – I went first that’s for sure.

Aside from the honour of being on Warhammer TV and the achievement of my dream I was almost totally unprepared for the enormity of the game. I had tried to split my army into three on the drive down to Nottingham so I had a start but I just could make neither head nor tail of the mission. I was allowed to deploy the Skyshield regardless [no one could reconcile how Fortifications fit into the deployment so they just made a decision there and then] and luckily I rolled to start with my first third – which I think was

• Warriors
• Hive Guard
• Tervigon
• Termagants

I deployed the Hive Guard in the ruins to shoot at anything heading towards the centre objective. The Skyshield sat on the other objective. I was lucky that both Trygon’s arrived as reserves, with their tunnel buddies. On top of that my Warlord Flyrant.

Tervigon and Termagants swarmed to secure the centre objective and then in the midst of everything I totally messed up shooting the mob of boys with my Devgaunts. 

When I came to the Genestealers and their charge I suddenly realised Morgan had deftly removed all the nearest model and a 9″ charge was now 11″ at least! I failed charges by all on both flanks.

I was feeling totally out of my depth and then Morgan brought on his reserves, a second truck and mobs of boyz.

The Boyz swarmed the Genestealers and at least I had the sense to kick off with Caustic Blood, knowing just how many hits these guys have. 

And they stayed true to form and managed to butcher the lot of them and the Trygon too!

Morgan then unleashed a second stroke of tactical genius. Alongside his second mob of Boyz he brought on a Painboy [or Weirdboy, not sure] behind storage tank No.31. He was out of sight of the Devgaunts and so charged. In 8th you can charge without Line of Sight and ironically you cannot overwatch without it! Which I think is the opposite to 7th. So he made the 7″ charge on the Devgaunts – tying up all 25 Termagants and was safely able to bundle the remaining Mob of Boyz in without fear of overwatch! 

A genius move I couldn’t help but admire, even after all the Termagants were butchered. The Termagants in the centre also took a pummeling, losing 11 of their number but I replenished 10 of them in my turn thanks to the Tervigon.

I think the Warlord Flyrant was down to around four wounds so I retreated to use his Devourer shots on the big Mob. Meanwhile the Trygon charged one of the Trukks.

Which looks like it got smashed only to leave the Trygon surrounded by disembarked grumpy Orks, angry at the loss of their boat.

Moar Mek Guns arrived with the last of Morgan’s army and the mob on the right flank decided to solve the issue in the centre of the board.

Morgan then cast Da Jump – Perilling in the process as his Weirdboy dumped 20 Orks in my deployment zone.

Boyz start butchering Termagants, I think I employed Caustic Blood again, I’d brought my Rippers on too to throw in and add to the numbers holding the objective.

Da Jump Boyz manage to make a phenomenal charge against the Hive Guard. Unsurprisingly they are cleaved up like kebab skewers

In response I bring the last Flyrant in and the Broodlord to whittle down their numbers. My dice rolling is appaling at this stage though. I can’t get anything to do what I want, even Morgan begins to feel for my lack of success. It’s reasonable that there are specific Warhammer TV dice – it helps them show up on TV and it means we’re both using supplied dice, not our own [which is fair] but they are really big dice, something I was not prepared for and with relatively small hand not equipped for either, ha, ha! Ceri said the same thing afterwards.

The Flyrant gets killed by the Tank Bustas and then a series of shots at the Warriors on the Skyshield manages to completely bypass the invulnerrable save and all three die! The battle rages on in the middle of the board with the Termagants being crushed between the Boyz they were in combat with and the Orks that had killed the Hive Guard and cleverly removed sufficient models from the attack of the Broodlord and Flyrant to be out of combat.

With the Termagants gone there was nothing I could do and we called the game. It was afterwards I found out I’d only scored 82pts worth of damage, and we’d only completed two turns. However, I realised my dream and despite the result on paper it was an amazing game, Morgan’s tactics in particular raised the bar, hopefully something I will look into how I can apply also – charging from out of LoS for instance.

Anyway, a fab game and Nick and Ceri were super-appreciative of our efforts, so I can’t ask for more. On to game 3!

Warhammer World GT3 – Game 1 Tyranids v Orks

First game of GT3 and I’m facing the spectacularly bearded Ben Briscoe and his filthy looking Orks made up of excellent Battle Wagon – Taurox Conversions and some of the artillery guns kitbashed from spare [looted!] Tau weaponry. As mentioned my recollection of the battles are really sketchy so I will do my best

The low down:

• Re-supply Drop [Chapter Approved mission]
• Hammer and Anvil – Table Ends deployment
• I chose deployment zone, but I deployed last unit [giving Ben +1 to win first turn], 
• Ben won first turn, I failed to seize

Skyshield and most of my none reserve deplyment on the board. I did not use Alien Cunning to remove the Warlord Flyrant, instead opting for Tenacious Survivor as my Warlord Trait.

Orks tried to shoot me down but couldn’t manage to get First Blood.

Ork War Boss channeling the WAAARRGH! – handy LED lights powered by a battery in the base.

The other ‘raving’ Weird Boy with his glow sticks.

My turn and I used Metabolic Overdrive on the Tervigon to sprint up the board, followed by Termagants to hold the objective. Flyrant swooped on top of the foundry towers.

My Trygon arrived with the Devgaunts and my plan actually worked in that the Tervigon was now in range to buff them [re-roll 1’s to hit]. The other Trygon and Genestealers arrived at the back of the board and the second Flyrant was inbetween them.

My Trygon made the charge on one of the Trukks

 

The Trygon struck…

… and ended the Trukk for first blood. I don’t think the Tankbusters inside took any wounds and disembarked to the top of the towers.

I swooped the Flyrant down to take out the Battlewagon

The Flyrants ill-conceived charge on the Battle Wagon resulted in taking 5 wounds for not much damage inflicted.

Genestealers made the charge on the Grots with the Mek-guns [?]. I wiped out a unit of grots so one gun was decommissioned, sort of. Second Trygon made the charge on another Trukk. Smashed the trukk killing a couple of Tankbuster inside this time.

I don’t know the name of the Ork biker Warlord but he led the counter offensive on the Trygon with a mob of Boyz backing him up.

Weirdboy powers up the Orks with plus one attacks.

20 Orks get in doing 100 attacks! The Trygon could not stand against so many Choppas!

With only 5 wounds left the second Trygon also fell to the Biker Warlord.

One of the Mobs charged the Genestealers

And managed to chop 16 of the 17 Genestealers into little pieces. Probably would have been handy to choose the Caustic Blood stratagem in this instance…

My remaining Stealer killed two in return but would die from battle shock.

Boyz tried to chop up the Flyrant.

Which I think they must have succeeded as I don;t see him elsewhere.

As time was running out we had got to turn three and Ben rolled to remove the two redundant Alpha Objectives, choosing one nearest his grots, one behind the Aquila strongpoint and one by my Felshborer Termagants. The Fleshborer Gaunt objective was the Alpha supply drop. With the mob of Orks having a party after killing the Trygon, they were unaware of the Tervigon and Gaunts about to spoil the fun.

They bundled the lot of them.

And killed all but the War Boss.

Fleshborer Gaunts finished off most of the Boyz who’d killed my Warlord in the shooting phase.

Then killed the remainder, while holding the Alpha objective.

Weird Boy had headed for an objective but my Rippers had already cheekily been there before it was revealed it was not an Alpha. Battle Wagon headed for Line Breaker.

My Flyrant had secured the other Beta objective. But a squad of Kommandos came on in a last ditch attempt to steal it out from under the Hive. They would make the charge but Overwatch and my Monstrous Rending Claws would see them finished.

I’d somehow secured a victory holding both Alpha and Beta objectives. The fact I had been on all but one of them before the Alpha and Beta were revealed gave me the advantage in holding on to them. Ben was a great sport, patiently waiting while I confirmed the scoring nature of the Skyshield ahead of the tournament. I managed to to do only 609pts of damage though and lost a significant amount in return.

I think the Flyrant assaulting the Battle Wagon was a mistake but it stopped the momentum of the Orks at least. I’d imagine a completely different result if they’d driven unopposed around the board dropping the big mobs off on the objectives I was so tenuously holding. Hive Guard were shockingly poor though.

Anyway, on to game 2

1850pt battle report – nids vs nu-new Craftworld Eldar cash grab not wave serpent spam anymore, no! just some other cheese :P

PeteB and I got a Blog Wars rehersal in the other week, its taken a while to get round to writing it up so I’ll be hazy in places. i think I was just trying to forget the result *SPOILERS* but as you’ll see if it’s Purge the Alien it was never going to end well for me!

Psychic Powers Winged Tyrant W Tervigon Plain Tr Dominion Dominion Onslaught Paroxysm Catalyst

The low down:

• Purge the alien but based on the Blog Wars 9 rules – Unit Points for killed units, half points for half killed units which then translates to VPs – Hammer and Anvil
• Warlord Trait – Night Fighting in turn 1
• Night fighting first turn, lost deployment, went second and failed to steal the initiative. 

I lined up, trying to cover the Skyshield so nothing could land on it, I really should work on my Skyshield positioning a bit more I need to make it so folk can’t actually assault anything unless they can get under it [when I say ‘folk’ I mean anything big and nasty]

We were a bit hazy about Pete’s new Eldar terrain, we went with it behaving a bit like the Fortress of Redemption – a 3 part building with AV14 all round, no that it was going to protect the Genestealers, but where else was I going to put them?

Deathleaper hid behind a tree because I had nowhere else to put him.

Pete’s Wraithknight headed for the Genestealers while the Fire Dragons disembarked from the Wave Serpent and tried to do some damage to the building but it shrugged it off.

The Wraithkight smashed into the Wraithbone building –

And levelled it taking all 5 Stealers out int he process. BW has a First Strike rule – you get a VP if you kill a unit outright in your first turn. This replaces First Blood so both players can get it but as it’s only first turn there’s a slight difference. Anyway, I swooped my Flyrant forward and took my chances killing the Fire Dragons. I whittled them down to three and a wounded Exarch but couldn’t get the First Strike – damn Devourer’s AP-!

The Stealers moved into different sections to get away from the Wraithknight or at least draw it near something I could have a chance at overwhelming it with numbers – a mix of tarpit and anything that might scratch it.

Everything else moved forwards and tried to conga and keep shrouded by the Venomthrope.

Turn 2 and the Striking Scorpions arrived with Karrandras – eek!

Weight of fire from the Dire Avengers who just decamped from their Wave Serpent out of picture left, manages to put a wound on Deathleaper, despite the Snap Shots. While the Hemlock Fighter arrives

and removes my Carnifex without blinking, I’m wishing I had two Venomthropes now!

My turn and Genestealers Assault the Dire Avengers which may have been whittled down by the Flyrant. Deathleaper managers to challenge an Autarch, gets 6 attacks, hits twice on 3s and there’s my wounds on 2+ dice – snake eyes! Thankfully the Autarch is equally rubbish and does nothing to the galxies most feared ambush assassin killer… as I won the combat the Eldar fail their morale and run off I fail to beat their initiative, yes with Genestealers too!

I think the Wraithknight managed to wound the Tervigon with it’s Hammer of Wrath and takes another wound, my Smash fails to hit in return but the Stealer managed to make a wound [or two] and then the Wraithknight Stomps all over them leaving just one and takes out the Hive Guard while it was at it!

Not sure who the Flyrant is targeting here but I think I cast Catalyst and perilled in the process but stayed in the air. The Dire Avengers rallied, obviously, so thos Genestealers were dead even with FnP

With the Striking Scoprions threatening my back field I sent the Termagants and Warriors. mandiblasters were once again successful with my shooting being less than stellar before the assault. Most of the Termagants suffered but the Warriors fared a little better killing a few Scorpions.

The Hemlock lined it’s sights up on the Venomthrope, although by this stage his Shrouding was benefitting very few.

45pts is 45pts though and theWarp Spiders had cleared the landing pad of Biovores so who else could it target?

I think Deathleaper may have been killed at some point, it looks like he killed the Autarch but was then out in the open and all the shooting from the Dire Avengers wa stoo much for his Chameleonic Skin. This was probably the least effective performance I’d eve had of him, which bodes well. I’m not sure at what point the Mawloc turned up but he missed his target so was no use in the remianing time he was on the board.

The Scorpions sliced through the Warriors but there was only a lone Scorpion and Karrandras left but I think they prevailed in the end. Meanwhile the Tervigon got smooshed by the Wraithknight, it had managed to Smash a wound onto it and the remaining stealer also managed to wound it, I think I’d managed 4 but it had also saved a couple thanks to FnP.

 

Ultimately this was a bit of a white wash. Once again I was reminded of just how little guaranteed killing ability nids have. Flyrants are universally fêted as our ‘best’ unit but those Devourers, however strong, just do not kill thanks to AP-. And it can’t score while swooping so although it’s a lot harder to kill it costs a lot of points and it doesn’t impact things as much as it should. The Mawloc was useless which reminded me that without a Comms relay relying on Reserve rolls is guaranteed to make you go grey, or lose your hair! 

So the Mawloc is out and although the Warriors didn’t do too bad I’ve binned them and the Biovores too. Deathleaper was awful but I’ve painted him now and I may well try and find a way to make him work this time… The great thing is this rehersal has allowed me to excise some of the elements I don’t rate but were in my list regardless and now I’ve added in some new and different things. I’ll get one more game in against Ben before BW9 but I definitely need ot make more use of my Skyshield, particularly in this mission. I need to remember I can’t kill so I must survive, lure things to me and position things better on the Skyshield so I can’t be assaulted.