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