BNB Fall League - Mantis Legion

Mantis Legion

My local gaming club has recently started a fall league for 40K, just in line with the release of the Black Reach set and upcoming new Space Marine 'dex. I have decided to use this as a motivator/opportunity to start a new army. I have always liked the color scheme and back ground around the Mantis Legion, so I have chosen them as my newest project.

For those unfamiliar with the fluff, the Mantis Legion was misled into joining up with Huron Blackheart when the Astral Claws went rogue. After several battles against the Emperium, the Legion realized the errors of it's ways, repented, and turned on Huron. They were absolved of their Sins, but forced to carry out a 100 year crusade to show penance. At the end, you have a group that is battle tested and intent on showing their loyalty to the Emperor.

Our league starts with a 1000 point force - perfect to begin a new army. After three league games, I've managed a win against Ork's and Marines + a draw with another Marine army. Not too bad of a beginning. After being intense in the tournament circuit the past couple of years, it's nice to step back and make a fluffy, fun army - which I'm trying to do with these guys. Currently still using the older Marine Codex - but will probably switch to the new one in October.

Here's my initial list:

HQ: Captain (1#, 163 Pts)
1 Captain @ 163 Pts
Frag Grenades; Krak Grenades; Lightning Claw (x1); Plasma Pistol (x1)
1 Artificer Armor @ [20] Pts
1 Iron Halo @ [25] Pts
1 Terminator Honors @ [15] Pts

Elite: Venerable Dreadnought (1#, 140 Pts)
1 Venerable Dreadnought @ 140 Pts
Dreadnought CCW; Storm Bolter; Assault Cannon; Tank Hunters; Venerable; Extra Armor

Troops: Tactical Squad (5#, 106 Pts)
4 Tactical Squad @ 106 Pts
Bolter (x2); Flamer (x1); Missile Launcher (x1)
1 Sergeant @ [30] Pts
Bolt Pistol (x1); Close Combat Weapon (x1); Terminator Honors

Troops: Tactical Squad (5#, 126 Pts)
4 Tactical Squad @ 126 Pts
Bolter (x2); Plasmagun (x1); Lascannon (x1)
1 Sergeant @ [41] Pts
Frag Grenades; Bolt Pistol (x1); Power Weapon (x1); Terminator Honors

Troops: Tactical Squad (6#, 145 Pts)
5 Tactical Squad @ 145 Pts
Bolter (x3); Plasmagun (x1); Lascannon (x1)
1 Sergeant @ [45] Pts
Bolt Pistol (x1); Power Fist (x1); Terminator Honors

Heavy Support: Devastator Squad (5#, 185 Pts)
4 Devastator Squad @ 185 Pts
Lascannon (x2); Missile Launcher (x2)
1 Sergeant @ [15] Pts
Bolter

Heavy Support: Devastator Squad (5#, 135 Pts)
4 Devastator Squad @ 135 Pts
Heavy Bolter (x4)
1 Sergeant @ [15] Pts
Bolter

Total Roster Cost: 1000

The 2008 Tournament Scene

Well, a long time since an update here. The first GW GT has come and gone. A huge shout out to my 40K Wrecking Crew buddy Marc Parker for taking the overall at Las Vegas. Marc is pretty amazing - he's won 6 overalls now - with a few Best Generals and Best Sportsman's rolled in to boot. Well done Marc - and hopes that you take the Circuit overall this year.

It's not looking good for me this year to be able to attend either Chicago or Baltimore. Chicago happens the weekend of my anniversary - and my wife will neuter me if I go. Being fond of my twins - I think I'll pass. Baltimore is just happening at a bad time this year - with high gas prices, Christmas just around the corner, job uncertainty - looks like I'm going to pass this year. I'm pretty well bummed out about Baltimore as it's been the GT I've done the best at historically. Still the biggest and best of the bunch as far as I'm concerned.

It's been a good year for the GW tourney scene though. Adepticon and the Waagh are great fun. I wish that GW would spread out the timing of their GT's a bit - tough when they are all like a month apart.

Big Waagh Final Review

Overall - a great tourney. Good bunch of folks running it. I had no feeling of any kind of bias or anything. They did a great job of not matching people from the same club against each other, fair and accurate rules judging, great availability of judges. All in all - very good. My local club (Blade and Bolter) took thirteen to this. All but one of us got a "door prize" from the guys running this. (New Wartruk for me that I traded for a box of Orc tank hunters! Woot!).

As you would expect with a new tourney in a new venue - a few hiccups with power availability etc at the start - but no big deal.

GW (with the exception of Dave Taylor - who seems like a good guy and was on-site) was totally absent. No retail presence, no representation. Was really sad. Memphis has a battle bunker and the US factory is located there. They should have showed up like in Chi town for adepticon, with forgeworld and retail. REALLY didn't understand this.

Location was fine - typical big room with concrete floor. Beer's allowed and even encouraged - George Flowers (the tourney organizer) was a great guy and was always quick to provide beer to those in need. Think he posts as Warboss on most forums.

Venue had a few restaurants - ie. cheap food - within walking distance. The Marriott I stayed at had a walkway to the convention center. Trolley gave a ride towards downtown for $1 and a couple blocks walk had you at a tourist type area - Hooters (although the absolute worst one I've ever been at), Friday's, Jillians, etc.

Missions were pretty cool. Four objectives per mission - 20 total points. VERY difficult to get them all. Most missions combined all aspects of an army -mobility to capture and exit board with an objective, Offense/Defense with Victory point based objectives, holding terrain objectives which required lots of units, kill character/make character survive missions (tactical). I really liked them a lot. Four of the 5 had special Loot counters (a bottle of beer, a stein of beer, jug of shine, box of chocolates) that were well done.

With some fine tuning and better vendor support - this could become another Adepticon level event in a couple of years. I'm biased to want it to succeed since it's so close to home for me - but for all of us in the South - it's a good thing.

Memphis in July is D@MNED HOT though.....

Chaos Dem's Dex

Well, with the Waagh having been coming - I stepped away from the Demon's dex, but had a request for ideas on it. This is the 4th Edition list I have been running. Result wise - kind of hit or miss. Smart opponents will spread out their army if you don't get to go first and cover the majority of the board. Result: Most games you lose 1-5 units on the deep strike in. That will be a little better in 5th - but still a problem.

Tactic wise - it's a pretty effective army once you close with the enemy. The GUO is a beast - probably the most effective of the demons so far. The nurgle princes are dead hard also - and with the wings - most effective. The Slaanesh demonette's are so so - usually shot up bad.

I've been hit or miss with the Bloodcrushers - had a couple of games where they did very well - but otherwise they've been shot up pretty bad. Stat wise - the fiends seem better - but in the games I've played them didn't get into things soon enough to make an impact.


2000 Pts - Chaos Daemons Roster - 2000 pts Chaos list

HQ: Bloodthirster (1#, 250 Pts)
1 Bloodthirster @ 250 Pts
Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; DG: Daemonic Flight; DG: Iron Hide; S: Furious Charge; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

HQ: Great Unclean One (1#, 190 Pts)
1 Great Unclean One @ 190 Pts
Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; DGN: Noxious Touch; rDG: Breath of Chaos; S: Feel No Pain; S: Slow & Purposeful; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

Elite: Fiends of Slaanesh (2#, 70 Pts)
2 Fiends of Slaanesh @ 70 Pts
Unit Type: Beasts; DGS: Rending Claws; DGS: Soporific Musk; sW: Rending; DG: Unholy Might (x1); S: Hit & Run; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

Elite: Fiends of Slaanesh (2#, 70 Pts)
2 Fiends of Slaanesh @ 70 Pts
Unit Type: Beasts; DGS: Rending Claws; DGS: Soporific Musk; sW: Rending; DG: Unholy Might (x1); S: Hit & Run; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

Troops: Bloodletters of Khorne (10#, 170 Pts)
10 Bloodletters of Khorne @ 170 Pts
Unit Type: Infantry; DGK: Hellblade; sW: Rending; sW: Power Weapon; DGK: Fury of Khorne (x1); S: Furious Charge; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

Troops: Daemonettes of Slaanesh (10#, 140 Pts)
10 Daemonettes of Slaanesh @ 140 Pts
Unit Type: Infantry; DGS: Aura of Acquiscence; DGS: Rending Claws; sW: Rending; S: Fleet; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

Troops: Daemonettes of Slaanesh (10#, 140 Pts)
10 Daemonettes of Slaanesh @ 140 Pts
Unit Type: Infantry; DGS: Aura of Acquiscence; DGS: Rending Claws; sW: Rending; S: Fleet; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

Troops: Daemonettes of Slaanesh (10#, 140 Pts)
10 Daemonettes of Slaanesh @ 140 Pts
Unit Type: Infantry; DGS: Aura of Acquiscence; DGS: Rending Claws; sW: Rending; S: Fleet; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

Fast Attack: Seekers of Slaanesh (5#, 85 Pts)
5 Seekers of Slaanesh @ 85 Pts
Unit Type: Cavalry; DGS: Aura of Acquiscence; DGS: Rending Claws; sW: Rending; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

Fast Attack: Seekers of Slaanesh (5#, 85 Pts)
5 Seekers of Slaanesh @ 85 Pts
Unit Type: Cavalry; DGS: Aura of Acquiscence; DGS: Rending Claws; sW: Rending; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

Heavy Support: Daemon Prince of Chaos (1#, 250 Pts)
1 Daemon Prince of Chaos @ 250 Pts
Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; DG: Daemonic Flight; DG: Iron Hide; DG: Unholy Might; MC: Mark of Nurgle; rDG: Boon of Mutation; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors
1 Chaos Spawn @ [0] Pts
Unit Type: Beasts; S: Fearless; S: Fleet; S: Slow & Purposeful; S: Mindless; S: Random Attacks

Heavy Support: Daemon Prince of Chaos (1#, 180 Pts)
1 Daemon Prince of Chaos @ 180 Pts
Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; DG: Iron Hide; DG: Unholy Might; MC: Mark of Nurgle; rDG: Daemonic Gaze; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

Heavy Support: Daemon Prince of Chaos (1#, 230 Pts)
1 Daemon Prince of Chaos @ 230 Pts
Unit Type: Monstrous Creature; DG: Daemonic Flight; DG: Iron Hide; DG: Unholy Might; MC: Mark of Slaanesh; rDGS: Pavane of Slaanesh; S: Daemon; S: Fearless; S: Invulnerable!; S: Eternal Warriors

Total Roster Cost: 2000

Big Waagh Results

Here's my rundown of my 5 GT games. I ran my Tri-Falcon/Harly/Eldrad/Avatar list - the last hurrah for the flying circus.

Game One - played against Kevin? Greene from Louisiana. He had a SWEET Khorne based Chaos army based on the Wizard of Oz. One of the coolest armies I've seen. Mission was Smokey and the Bandit. Objectives - get the beer off the board, kill the enemy Bandit, Get "Big Enos" below half strength, Victory points. We had a good game - I was able to kill the bandit, Kill Big Enos, and win VP - but the Beer wound up in my deployment zone at the end and I was unable to get if across the board (only able to move max of 18" with the beer). 14 VP's for me.

Game Two - against a kid named Kendall with spikey red hair running Orks. 10 nobz on warbikes with warboss and painboy - around 700 pts in one unit. Snikrot, Vulture guys, a big mob, a battlewagon, a small mob in a truk. Mission was Dukes of Hazard - table quarters, Get the Moonshine, Protect Uncle Jessie's Still (most VP;s in enemy's deployment at end), Hold My Beer and Watch this (most Dangerous Terrain tests). All terrain was difficult and dangerous on the board. I killed Snikrot and the Vulchers + the big squad - but couldn't get enough to get the other items. Game only went through 3 turns. 0 points for me. Don't mind the zero - it happens - but felt like it was less being outplayed and more just being bogged down and slow played.

Game Three - against a good old boy from Mississippi named Greg who was running Black Templars. Good fun game. Mission was Forrest Gump - Get the box of chocolates off the board, Get Lt. Dan (your highest pt HQ) killed in battle, Most VP's in opponent Deployment, and secure the most pieces of terrain. Basically a rough matchup for Greg - shot the be-jesus out of him. Got all the objectives except for failing miserable to get Eldrad killed - had him in HTH with powerfists, chaplains, etc - not a wound to be taken. 15 VP's for me.

Second Day

Game four - played against Boomer Wilson - nice guy from Memphis. He was running Blood Angels - a tough matchup for my list. Mission was clerks - Objectives: VP's, Move your "Dante" (nominated HQ unit) into enemy's Store (building in their deployment zone), Kill enemy's Dante, Move a beer counter into your store. Pretty rough game for my opponent. Avatar/Eldrad/Harly's annihilate death co and Lemartes. Sweep into other troops. Basically tabled the guy. He did keep me from getting the beer into my store. 15 VPS for me. Opponent took it reasonably well....one of those games you almost feel sorry for the other guy on.

Game Five - Against Brian Higgins - from Alabama. He's running what at first glance looked like a weak Eldar list. First glances can be deceiving. Mission is "Apocalypse Now" Objectives: Kill enemy's COl. Kurtz (highest VP HQ), Take and hold the enemy Charlie point (building in their deploy), Victory points, and either have the unit that kills enemy Kursz survive - or kill the unit that kills your Kurtz. Deployment zone was the middle of the table - no min distance or anything. Pretty wild mission. I basically got overly aggressive and outplayed. First time in history I got all three Falcons dropped. Lost two squads of Harly's due to not being able to get out after Pen hits on immobile falcs. Poor guy must have thought he was playing a newbie. sigh...sometimes I really suck. I did kill his Kurtz. Brian was a great guy and a good opponent - basically gave me the sympathy kill on his Kurtz - which was a classy act. I took 6 vps...reading the scenario now I should have had 10 as my model who killed his Kurtz survived. oh well....my bad. Would like to play him again and give him a better game. Probably my favorite opponent of the tourney - although most everyone was top shelf.

So...the chronicle of a mediocre tournament performance. Overall rank was 29th out of 82 total. Need to work on my painting a little - I scored about average there. Battle points being the big area of improvement. Had a 49 out of 50 on sportsmanship...wonder who dropped me the one point and why....but it happens.

Overall a great tournament! High potential in upcoming years to be one of the best Indy tourneys around.

Two Game Fight Fest at the Game Keep

Had a big night of gaming last night. First game against my nephew Matt and his Marines. I was playing my GT army - Eldar Harlequin and tri-Falcon. Matt has really improved his game. We played one of the missions from Adepticon - basically a table quarters, hold the center, and VP's. No infiltrators and escalation. Great back and forth game that ended in a draw. High points: For Matt - getting his drop pod Dreads in on turn 2 and landing right amongst my Harlequins. Flames and Assault cannons are rough for the clowns. For Me - tank shocking three squads with a Falcon, breaking 2 who ran off the table and killing a Lascannon on Death or Glory on the third.

Second game was a team up with my Doubles team mate at the upcoming Big WAAGH - Gimli (pictured here). We are running Iron Hands and Dark Angels - shooty Marine hell army. Our opponents were Trav and Dung - two of our good buddies and fellow BNB members. Mission was a Gamma Level Recon. They had a nasty combo of Space Marines / Chaos Marines. Interesting tactic of running a Marine Librarian on a bike with Fear the Darkness up - along with an empty Rhino. Hoping to break units then "escort" them off the board. The Chaos side has two Slaanesh sorcerers with Lash that also hope to lash the enemy toward the board edge then Fear them off. Worked pretty well, taking one of my Dark Angel Combat Squads off the board. Board setup was really bad (thanks Dung) with basically a wall of terrain between the two armies and two small corridors to go through. We divided our forces to plug the holes. They used the mobility of their rhino's to sweep to the left side and try to overwhelm us. Thanks to some heroics of Gimli's Dread and my Marine Commander and Combat squads - we held them off. Big Slug fest resulting in a Draw.

Two Draws in one night - like kissing your sister. However good tune up games for the Waagh. Will be interesting to go from Marines in a Doubles Tourney on Friday to Eldar in a GT on Sat/Sunday! Looking forward to it!

The Face of FEAR!

<- This is the face of fear! The man AFRAID to face me on the table top. Who begged a game from me, yet failed to show up.

I have a little poem for you Jon!

"The Thursday train will bring Al Gleason.

If I'm a man I must be brave,

And I must face that deadly killer,

Or lie a coward, a craven coward,

Or lie a coward in my grave."

Told you I was gonna give you grief for dodging me last night!

I'm enjoying the new Dex quite a bit. Have played 3 games with it now - 2 wins - 1 loss. The loss coming due to a bad scatter roll at the end for a unit coming in. It's an interesting army - different strategy (that I don't claim to have mastered yet) with the first turn deep strike. You get shot up (a lot) and I see that getting much worse in 5th edition. But if you get close enough - whatever survives turn 1 - is on the enemy on turn 2. So far my games have been against Marines - think I'll try my luck against a horde army this week - against my pal Jon and his Orks. Will be an interesting matchup.

The Big WAAGH!

Well - looks like I'm on for the Big Waagh this July. Will be fun to play in a Tourney Circuit event that's right in my back yard. Right now we have 4 of my mates from the Blade and Bolter Boyz (my local club in Nashville) that are attending. At least two of my Brethern from the 40K Wrecking Crew are also attending. The beers will flow and the dice will roll!

For now I think I'm going to be playing in the following events:

1) Doubles Tournament. Gimli and I will team up and run the Marine Horde.

2) 40K GT - The last Hurrah for 4th edition will see (most likely) the final flight of my Eldar Flying Circus.

3) The Bloodbowl Tournament. Haven't played BB in years - but it's a fun, fun game. Will dust off my Norse team - get my arse kicked and drink heavily and have fun.