Adepticon 2014 - Post Mortem review

FOR GAMERS - BY GAMERS!

Yet another Adepticon has come and gone.   Truly one of the biggest events in the 40K hobby.   Believe this was my 7th year now of attending.   Here are my general thoughts on the event.

Organization:

Adepticon sets the example for Tournaments as far as I'm concerned for this facet.  They have a ton of people, vendors, events, etc.  As a attendee, this seems to go off without a hitch every year.   True there are a few nit's (example - this years glasses came back bad from vendor) but they always make up for it.  

This year they had the vendors back in the 40K main hall.  I thought that a great touch - as last year it was in a separate wing of the hotel and harder to get to.   Forgeworld and Black Library in the main lobby was interesting.  It seemed like the Forgeworld line was pretty short this year compared to earlier years.

Swag Bag was pretty nice as well.   A good deal of stuff included.

Vendors:

Nice assortment of vendors.   From my favorites (Dice Head and SpikeyBitz - both run by friends) to Cool Mini and Secret Weapon (other favorites) to Battlefoam (awesome product and great deals at Adepticon) to misc vendors I don't know.   Lot's of interesting things.  Seemed a bit smaller this year - but still good.

Black Library and Forgeworld are way cool to have there.  Seemed like less crowds.   Enjoyed getting Graham McNeil to autograph his new Horus Heresy book for me. 

Game Play:

I only play 40K at Adepticon.  I was a bit apprehensive this year as 40K is a bit broken now compared to past years - but was pleasantly surprised.  I had competitive lists and actually am starting to think that the current parity in army lists is making things a bit more balanced.   That being said, every year it seems like there is one army that is "over-represented".  This year - hands down - was Eldar.   In the team tournament - every game we played had Eldar in it.  Literally a bazillion Eldar and Tau-Dar lists in the team.  Champions was  a little less prevalent - but still a lot of Eldar armies.   Chaos Demons in Champs was also very common and believe won it all.

I have to say I really enjoyed all my games.   In the Championship - I had a tough fought game that I managed to win, got tabled by a child-genius running a triple Heldrake list that raped me, then played a seven demon prince chaos demon list that I won in perhaps my finest 40K hour in 5 years or more, to a tough matchup against another bike list - that beat me in the war of attrition.  The entire spectrum of gaming in one tournament for me.   But most of all.....I HAD A BLAST!  In all honesty - 40K had gotten a little stale - but this has done a lot to re-energize my love of the game.

Team was the same.   I really go for the team tourney.  Missed my battle brother Gimli - but our buddy Swanson was a great team mate.  Again I really appreciated him joining us.   I was on a roll in team tourney and was on winning side of all 5 games.   Appreciated our team captain letting Sabote and I team for three games.   We simply play doubles games very well together and have great synergy in team games.   But again - Four of our games were absolute blasts to play - 1 was a little tense at times - but nothing over the top.   I had a blast again! 

Tournaments:

Overall again a great job by the Adepticon team and staff.  Well organized, well run, great timing.  Only thing I noticed was it seemed like prize support was a little down this year.  I personally don't really care about that - but some do and the winner swag seemed less than previous years.  Games Workshop is really screwing up not supporting tournaments and the tourney scene.  Especially Adepticon - which is unlike anything else in the hobby world wide.   I truly don't understand their marketing direction and why they wouldn't throw prize support to this.  Oh well - the gang that puts on Adepticon is great.   One note - there was some noise because a staff member won the raffle (actually two years in a row).  Ok - it is Chicago and everyone knows about politics and Chicago - but don't think a bunch of gamer enthusiasts would go so far as to throw a tournament for this.  They are volunteers - so think it cool that "Ogre" won - although would have been cooler had "AL" won.

Summary:

If you love the hobby and haven't been to Adepticon - you need to go.   It's amazing what they do and how much there is to do.   Keep it coming!

Adepticon 2014

Another Adepticon has come and gone. Great time again this year! This was the 7th time I've made the trip there.

Thursday, Sabote and I played in the Championships. For me, primarily a warm up for the team tourney.

I was running basically my BFSR army with more Grav Guns - Khan/Chapter master, bunch of bikes, Coteaz, Strike Squad, Storm Raven.

Round 1: Iyanden Army: WKnight, Farseerer, several Serpents, bunch of WGuard, guardian squad, 2 small jetbike squads, WarWalkers, and a Crimson Hunter. Managed a full point win.

Round 2: Against a nigh unbeatable army for me to face - Triple Heldrake, tri-demon prince (allied Demons), Fateweaver, cultists/Plaguebearers. I danced around but ultimately lost everything.

Round 3: Similar army with seven demon princes and a GUO and a few little troops. In one of my finest tournament games I killed all but 1 prince for a full point win.

Round 4: Similar army to mine but with SW allies and a Bear Lord and Runepriest on their bike squad. Basically the SuperFriends list online. Back and forth game, but he won the war of attrition. Salvaged a few points at end, but lost.

2 and 2 for the tournament, 53rd overall out of 226 - top 25% - Happy Al.

Friday was a hang out day with everyone. Fun time - bought some stuff.

Saturday/Sunday was team tournament. Sperky couldn't make it this year, but Greg Swanson jumped in to help us out. Sabote and I ran Whitescar bike lists + I had Khan and he had Captain - Command Squads and a LOT of bikes. Matt ran Deathwing and Greg Ravenwing. 

 

Round 1 was against Tau/Marine combination - Major wins on both tables. Sabote/Al and Greg/Matt. Brian and I bravely hid under THEIR Landing Pad for cover and sniped them for a tabling. Believe that Matt/Greg had a draw or loss?

Round 2 was against Eldar/Eldar - Al/Greg and Matt/Brian. Tight games against a beautiful army. Greg and I won max by tabling them on last turn - but we were hurting badly. Think Matt/Brian got near max.

Round Three had Matt/Al and Brian/Greg. Matt and I faced Eldar/Marines - Brian/Greg hit dual Tau and a ton of Riptides. Matt and I dance with them and pull a minor victory. Greg/Brian hit a buzz saw for a loss.

Day one ends with us doing reasonably well. 

Day two - Round Four:  Brian/Al and Greg/Matt in captains choice. We face Tau/Eldar combo. They win roll to go first. Sabote sacrifices a chicken to seize. We annihilate them. One of the guys actually says "Game Over Man....Game Over" before we even move a bike. Think Matt/Greg pull a draw.

Round Five: To end the tourney - Brian/Al and Matt/Greg are again the combo. Tough matchup for us with Eldar/DE Beaststar. Matt/Greg pull double Eldar. They go first - it's going to be rough. Brian has great idea to run up edge and refuse flank them. We are able to alpha strike the beasts and break them off the board - but they bleed us good for a turn before we can hit them. Hard, back and forth game - but at the end we get 18 points to 10 for them. Victory. Matt/Greg pull minor win I believe.

And after 4 fun filled days - it was over. BnB managed a respectable 21st place out of 120 teams. Good marks for us as a team. I was undefeated in team games for first time.

Sabote and I are now 21-0 in team games. I could never ask for a better battle brother no matter if our run continues or not!

Team Tourney is the jewel of this tournament. A total blast to play in and something that we've done very well in over the years.

2008 - 52nd place
2009 - 43rd place
2010 - 6th place
2011 - 6th place
2012 - 10th place
2013 - 26th place (won the headhunter award this year)
2014 - 21st place

Usually 120 teams in total - so always in top half and we were bridesmaids a couple years.

Thanks to my battle brothers for another great year!

Why is the time machine stuck in reverse

Before   and   After

Imagine a ruleset that allows you to do almost anything.  Now imagine having to stuff hundreds of people into a version of it they will all like...

Draxtar Games Tournament 1/25 Game #3

All right after beating the Ghost army it is on to table 2 versus Cal Radelscu and his hybrid Daemons.  Cal sort of has a mix of armies.  His list looks like this:
Keeper if Secrets Level 1 Psyker and 1 Greater Reward
Herald of Tzeentch Disc, Level 2 Psyker, Exalted Reward
Herald of Tzeentch Disc, Level 2 Psyker, Locus of Str 6
10 Plaguebearers
10 Plaguebearers
9 Screamers of Tzeentch
Daemon Prince of Slaanesh Level 2 Psyker, 2 Greater Rewards, Armor, Flight
Daemon Prince of Slaanesh Level 2 Psyker, 2 Greater Rewards, Armor, Flight
Sorcerer on Bike, Mark of Nurgle, Level 1?  some other stuff
10 Cultists
5 Spawn of Nurgle

Cal even admitted he wasn't running an optimized list.  He wanted to try out a few things.  The mission was going to be pretty tough for him.  The primary was five objectives that couldn't be held until turn 3.  At that point any time you finish your turn and your opponent has more objectives then you the game ends and you lose primary.  Secondary was kill points.  Also were the usual three bonus points and deployment is hammer and anvil.  Night fight will be in effect for the first turn, which will be key for Cal.
He wins the roll and decides to go first. The objective are pretty much spread out in an x, two in each deployment zone and one in roughly the middle.  He deploys the screamer star lite and the Spawn tide in the middle.  Supported by the Princes.  He puts one bearer squad in ruins on his left objective.  The cultists goes in the right side in area terrain.  I place my Vindicator in the middle with the command squad and characters to the side.  I place the three attack bikes scattered behind them. Coteaz and the henchmen go in the Raven and all the other bikes outflank.  I scout everything forward I try to seize but fail.

His turn 1 he moves everything forward to get a second turn assault.  He casts forewarning in the screamers but fails the grimoire giving them a 5+ invulnerable.  He turbos a little bit forward to give them a 4+ cover save plus any night fight bonus.
My turn 1 I move forward to get into double tap range for most of my plasma and at least with in 12" to avoid giving him and more cover bonus.  Like a dummy I forget my vindicator has a searchlight and never use it.  I rad grenade the screamers and let the plasma rip.  I also shoot the vindy and the attack bikes at them I kill 5.  He did well on his cover saves.

His turn 2 I wait for the reprisal.  His other set of plague bearers deep strike in on to one of the objectives in my back field on my right.  He sends his spawn forward and sets up a charge with the command squad.  The screamers get ready to destroy the vindicator.  The princes go attack bike hunting.  The keeper babysits the cultists and plaguebearers.  The spawn charge the command squad I kill one thru overwatch.  I challenge with Sammael and do nothing to his sorcerer and he' does nothing to me.  The libby takes down two more spawn rolling great and him not so great.  With that I hit and run towards his board edge and the troops.  The screamers crush my vindicator taking a casualty in the explosion.  The daemon princes shoot to no effect at the attack bikes, and both fail long charges.
My turn 2.  Coteaz and the flamers show up. The flamer bikes come in on my right by the newly arrived palguebearers.  The storm raven flies to the middle of the board to target the keeper.  The command bikes go talk to the cultists.  the attack bikes all gather to talk to the newly arrived plague bearers with the flamers.  I flame and shoot the attack bikes at the plaguebearers killing most of them and then assaulting them killing all but one I think.  The flamers are in the corner as they failed their charge.  The command squad massacres the cultists and heads towards the Keeper and remaining plaguebearers.  The Raven puts three wounds on the Keeper.

His turn 3 he sends the screamers and the spawn towards my deployment zone to try and corral the bikes that are going to be running amok back there.  He also sends one prince into the combat with the lone plague bearer.  He starts the other prince back toward his deployment zone but only gets close to the center objective and raven.  The keeper charges into the command squad shooting them first with lash.  I challenge with Sammael and promptly go down like a five dollar whore.  I pass my morale and hit and run towards the plaguebearers.  One attack bike gets killed by the prince.  The others hit and run out of there.  The screamers are sort of stuck in no man's land as he needs to see where my other bikes will be coming in.
My turn 3 both bike squads come in one on each side.  The plasma come in on the left side and the melt on the right.  I bring them both on in his deployment zone.  The plasma set up to double tap the Keeper, while the melta are waiting for the banner to get in range to deal with the plague bearers.  The command squad moves up to get in range of the melta bikes and plaguebearers.  The raven hovers and drops off Coteaz and the boys who had cast prescience and flame shield (yes a pyromancy power I just wanted to try one) on themselves and light up the other prince.  The other bikes race to get on objectives with one attack bike and the flamer squad on one and one attack bike on the other.  In the shooting phase I pick up 24 dice and go to town on the plaguebearers.  Cal goes to ground but doesn't roll very well.  Then the command squad double taps and kills all but three or so.  The command squad charges in and finishes the job consolidation enough to make a box around the objective to not allow contesting,  The raven and Coteaz knock the prince down to one wound, by them the attack bikes and the flamer bikes put a couple of wounds on the other prince.  The plasma bikes knock the Keeper down to one wound.  I now hold four objectives.

His turn 4.  Cal is in trouble he can't hold any objectives and now needs to contest four.  A lot of his forces are out of position and chasing mine.  The spawn go to kill the lone attack bike in my left corner.  The prince in my deployment zone goes to kill the flamer bikes.  The other  one wound prince goes to deal with Coteaz and the henchmen.  The Keeper and the Screamers go to the bottom right to try and contest the melta bike's objectives.  The spawn and sorcerer catch and lock the lone attack bike in combat.  The other prince eats the flamer squad taking a wound in the process.  The Keeper charges the command squad who promptly shoot him dead on the way in.  Now there is no way to contest the bottom objective and this will be the last half of turn.  The other prince eats a bunch of overwatch and dies on the way in as well.

 I win primary, and beat him in kill points.  We both have warlord and line breaker and he has first blood.  Even had it went on I think Cal would have a tough row to hoe. I think I finish off the other prince with the Raven and the sorcerer on the bike and the spawn are too far up in my deployment zone to do anything but kill my attack bikes.  I have two full bike squads and the command squad and potshots from Coteaz to kill the screamers next turn.  It was a great game.  Cal was a blast to play against I think that the mission just went against him.  He was banking on speed and I am just as fast.  Also with me outflanking everything he had a hard time containing me.  All in all a fun tournament and surprising showing by the Ravenwing.  The command squad with the libby was just nails especially with the power field generator.  I really don't think I need the vindicator or the banner.  I think I actually used the banner twice all tourney.  The command squad tends to be running around like crazy I hate keeping my bikes all bunched up.  The raven and Coteaz were very effective.  I think in the future I will drop the banner, vindicator and one man from each of the six man squads and add six Black Knights with one grenade launcher.  I look forward to next month.