Totengräber's Workpläce

This was my first trip to Adepticon and man, was it a blast! I went with a group of about 7 people in two hotel rooms. This, I think, was one of the best parts of the trip. Getting to hang out with these guys outside the game store was awesome. I look forward to doing it again next year.

We arrived Thursday night and picked up our pre-registered badges. those who were among the first 1,000 received a random Warmachine plastic battle box in their swag bag. I think the best thing I got in mine was the painting magazines, which it seemed everyone got.

Friday we walked around the convention area to check out all the craziness. The 40K hall was packed and I saw a number of pretty awesome army displays. I went to check out the Forgeworld booth and discovered a line nearly out of the door. Later, we went to the Warhammer Fantasy area. They also had a number of display boards that clearly took a lot of work and talent to create. eventually, Dominic and I checked in at the Privateer Press area for the Eternal War (Iron Arena?) event. We played one game against each other wherein the Circle emerged victorious. Dominic then played against a Cygnar player from Texas (I believe) where he eventually lost. The original plan was to return from dinner and play more games, but we ended up just hanging out watching MenothJohn (from Lost Hemisphere Radio) go up against a Farrow army. Sometime during that day we also went to the Games Workshop Battle Bunker. Honestly, I was not that impressed. There were tons of tables they use for their events, but the store area was just like any other LGS that carries their products.

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I play Warmachine/Hordes pretty regularly these days, so I figure I should probably post some of the results of those games.

Let’s see…I played Brian a few weeks ago where he played pKreoss versus my eKaya at 35 points. It was a good game, except I think I cheated him toward the end. I had used Kaya’s feat to get up close to Kreoss with most of my army. Kreoss popped his feat, knocking all my dudes down. Kreoss and others attempted to kill Kaya, but she kept transferring damage to a Stalker until he died. Where it turns out I cheated was reaving the fury from the Stalker, giving Kaya more fury to allow more transfers of damage.

I played Mike using Kromac since I wanted to try to even the odds since I don’t know Kromac all that well. He ran pVlad along with Widowmakers, a Manhunter, Kodiak, Berserker, a Destroyer and a War Dog. Mike’s dice were against him the whole game. Tharn Ravagers held up A Kodiak most of the game and the rest of my army had Vlad on the run fairly early. I ended up winning, but I still feel the biggest contributor to his loss was his dice.

This past Tuesday I played a team game with my Adepticon teammate, Matt (Retribution), versus Dominic (Protectorate) and Greg (Khador) in a Killbox scenario. We played where the team as a whole had 15 minutes to complete their turns and played their turns individually. The problem each team had was that the first player on each team usually took up more than half the time, leaving the second player a much shorter turn. The only player to lose their caster was Matt since he used Rayvn(?) to wipe out the Great Bears who were on the Retribution’s front lines. Kaya only had 4 hit points left when we broke up the game as a few of us had to take off. I have a feeling that since Feora nor Irusk had taken no damage at this point, Kaya was next to kick the bucket and give them the victory.

I am really enjoying playing Hordes with my fully painted eKaya army as it relieves the tension of feeling like I need to put more work into building up the models and get painting done. I’ll probably assemble and paint my Argus and War Wolf at the very least since they were birthday gifts from my awesome wife.

Check out the Gallery, new pictures are posted under Warhammer Fantasy (High Elf BSB and Treewoman) and Warmachine/Hordes (Circle Orboros Epic Kaya army).

Cory and I were waiting around for everyone else to show up last night, so we decided to play a 35 point game. I aplogize to Cory and Kevin for playing so slow since they had a game planned ahead of time. I didn’t think Kevin would be there as early as he was and I didn’t think the game would go on so long. Perhaps I should start trying to stick to the 7 – 10 minute turns in Hardcore or something.

Anyway…this game was my second for the Blasted Heath league. I won a 4 player King of the Hill game the previous week against Joel, Cory and Jim.
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Hordes Blackclad Wayfarer - Front

The other day while in my FLGS, I picked up the newest issue of No Quarter with the intent of checkng out the stats of one of the new Minion Warlock Rorsh and Brine. In the course of flipping through the pages, I noticed they had pictures from the Gen Con 2008 Privateer Press Grand Master Painting Competition. On the bottom right corner of the Warrior models Honorable Mentions is my Blackclad Wayfarer! I just about had a fit of joy over this. I immediately bought the magazine, which I wasn’t originally planning on doing so I could show my wife and friends.

It’s the first time I’ve had the joy of seeing my name in print on a national level. It’s a pretty awesome feeling, too!! It definitely makes me want to continue to participate in painting competitions like this in the future. I think next year I’ll submit an entry for Warlock/Beast using Rorsh and Brine.

Back when this season of the Warmachine league began, Phil asked the group if he could borrow someone’s army since he wanted to do something other than Menoth for a change. I offered up my Cryx since I play a lot less anymore. Last night, I had to play against my own army with my Skorne.

His List:

• Warwitch Deneghra
• Seether
• Deathripper (x3)
• Pistol Wraith (x2)
• Mechanithralls (x7) + Brute Thrall
• Bile Thralls (x6)
• Skarlock

495 points

My List:

• Supreme Aptimus Zaal
• Ancestral Guardian (x2)
• Titan Gladiator
• Cyclops Savage (x2)
• Paingiver Beast Handlers (x6)
• Praetorian Swordsmen (x10)

497 points

Now, to defend myself a little bit here, I haven’t played any Warmachine or Hordes in quite a while plus I’ve never used Zaal at all.

I really liked the potential Zaal had for working with infantry and, had I assembled my second unit of Praetorians, I would have used them instead of maybe the Gladiator or something. I also picked up the Agonizer to use in this game, but after reading his abilities and seeing they all have to do with enemy warbeasts (of which Phil had none), he allowed me to proxy a Drake as my second Ancestral Guardian (which is still in a blister at home).

The game was really good. I never really felt like it was too one-sided, which is what I expected going into this. Phil pretty much neutralized one of my Ancestral Guardians through the use of the Pistol Wraith’s chain attack. As was pointed out later that night, I should have just killed the Ancestral Guardian off myself to activate the Kovass. Never having played against the Pistol Wraiths myself, but having used them many times, I had no idea how to kill them. Now, though, I do have some ideas. Phil’s Seether seemed to do pretty well until the Titan charged it, disabled it, and then chucked it. The Mechanithralls held him down afterwards, though. I had thought it would be a good idea to cast Hollow on the Praetorians in order to keep them alive and to keep them from fleeing, but as Phil pointed out, the Ancestral Guardians then get no soul tokens. Good point. I learned a lot from that game both in better ways to use my Skorne and to see someone who knows the game well play the Cryx. In either case, I think my next game will go much better.

After all this I am now jonesing to paint my Skorne instead of my Bretonnians, especially since the yellow I’m wanting to use on the Brets is pissing me off.

I’m hoping to get at least two games in tonight. Not sure if I’ll end up playing Hordes or Warmachine, so I’ve made quick lists for both.

Warmachine: Basic Deneghra Assassin List:

• Warwitch Deneghra
• Deathripper x3
• Skarlock
• Pistol Wraith
• Bile Thralls x8
• Mechanithralls x9

349 points, 14 VPs

Hordes: Basic Morghoul List:

• Master Tormentor Morghoul
• Basilisk Drake
• Basilisk Krea
• Ancestral Guardian
• Paingiver Beast Handlers x5
• Praetorian Swordsmen x10

345 points, 14 VPs

I’m not real sure how I feel about the Hordes list; I just didn’t want to use the Starter box plus extras, I wanted it to be something different. The Warmachine list I’ve played something very similar many times. It’s fun for me and my opponent because I go for the Warcaster kill, but I’m not all that much of a tactical thinker, so my opponent has a chance to counter it.

Oh well. we’ll see how it goes.