Not sure what's more ominous, the approaching Deathwatch marines, or Neverness himself looming above them!
There's been VERY little hobby time here of late. Indeed, I didn't stop working around the yard/house, and on packing stuff up last night till I realized it was a quarter to 10pm! That's been about the norm here of late.
The closet of doom, normally so loaded with gaming paraphernalia that even my long arms can barely reach into its depths, is almost entirely boxed up. Found all sorts of junk in there i didn't know I even had...or wanted really.
Note his eyes, glazed with confusion....
That said, I did skip out on my real life responsibilities to play a game of 40k with both Mike and Neverness. Also of note, this was my GF's son Frankie's introduction to 40k! Which slowed things even further down than just 3 players who are always very rusty on the actual rules to the game.
Much like Screech was at that age, Frankie's inclination was to sit back and snipe. As such the pulse rifle equipped Fire Warriors in the tower were his favorite unit.
Neverness will have a battle report forthcoming, so watch his space for that!
Yes, I named him at 4:30am this morning, how'd ya guess?
Previously this marine was dutifully serving amongst the ranks of the Deathwatch. However when their new rules were released and he learned that Primaris marines wouldn't be getting any of the cool shit, he summarily took his ball and went home. He'll now serve as my Hellblaster sergeant by virtue of being the only non-easy build model in the squad.
In the Grim Darkness of Kill Team, Chaos Marines once again come across as pretty bland...
Okay so, I originally made these guys to be 30k Blackshields in pariah armor with pariah bolters (i.e.: kinda shitty power armor and bolters). However after going in a different direction with my 30k army, these guys suddenly found themselves unemployed. Instead I'm thinking of just using them as chaos marines in Kill Team, but as recent turncoats like the Relictors, or the Avenging Sons' 3rd company, but their color scheme/theme really isn't my concern.
What is my concern is their weaponry.
I like my forces to be as close to WYSIWYG as is possible (well, I do plan to run Tau 'Muppets' so there is often some ambiguity, but even their weapons are kinda obvious). So...do you think folks would be opposed to using these guys' weapons as the actual Necromunda Goliath stub cannons that they are, rather than the flavorless, generic bolters that virtually every fucking flavor of marine has?
Stub cannons have no KT stats, however they're easily convertible to KT as: 18" range, Assault:1, S:5, D:1 AP:0 with no special rules. Point cost would be zero like most basic weapons, as Strength 5 aside, they're really kinda meh.
God I love this mini!
Another question would be my leader's Goliath Renderizer. I figure a powerfist would be obvious as it does look rather unwieldy, though a power maul/axe would probably be a better fit. However only the Deathwatch has access to those weapons.
So, what do y'all think?
On a different note, My Beloved Wolfy has finally expressed interest in playing Kill Team. I was supposed to give her a demo game this past weekend, but real life being what it is, that didn't happen. So perhaps we'll give it another try one night this week instead. Curiously, she wants to play Chaos marines (but not the guys above) rather than her Fem Fa'Tau.
She's complained many a time of her dismay at my selling off of my old chaos marines which was the first army she used. However she's taken a keen interest in the new chaos marines in the shadowspear box (well, all except for the obliterator). So there's a good chance we'll get that set. The chaos will all be 'hers', I'll probably just keep a chunk of the primaris marines, and we'll sell off the remainder to recoup some of the expense...or rather that's the plan at least, I guess we'll see...
Take 2 (due to blogger deleting the 1st version of this).
A little ways back I bought some minis and bitz to make a Deathwatch Kill Team for Kill Team (fitting no?). When they arrived I tossed them aside as Dreadtober was in progress. However now that that's over its time I started putting these guys together.
Smurfs, why does it always have to be Smurfs...
As I was perusing ebay I came across this guy: The Ultramarine Vael Donatus. However at first glance my mind read the words Veal Donuts, lol! Come on GW, surely when that name was tossed around the room, somebody must've made that connection! Luckily there's no such thing as a veal donut right? Hmmm...to the google!
So anyways, I got Vael for almost the same price as a single generic space marine because-yeah, Ultramarines are that popular! I didn't want to field him in his stock configuration and swapped out his artificer-forged bolter (because everything Ultramarines is AWESOME!). Instead, sticking to his boy scout heritage, he's now armed with an astartes assault shotgun just like he did when he was a lowly scout (though admittedly the ammo of the DW shotgun is vastly superior).
Not to totally beat up on the Smurfs, Vael will at least serve as my Deatwatch kill teams' watch sergeant. He's highly respected by all of his team's members save one, the lone ANGRY MAHREEN, Floyd Uberson (I linked to that post purely for the hilarious-to-me Ferengi comment beneath Floyd's pic). Floyd will soon to be repainted/pauldroned into DW colors and insignia.
I wonder who threw that choppa?
An Ork? Or was it Floyd?
The enmity between these two began with Floyd's insistence on calling Vael (you guessed it) Veal Donuts, and will no doubt throw a wrench into every well conceived plan (which is cover for the fact that I never actually have one of those when playing...).
Ya know, I was starting to think they'd never see a game of Kill Team assuming people were afraid of losing to the Rainbow Warriors of all chapters. Turns out I was wrong and following dinner, myself, my Beloved Wolfy, Bob and Screech convened at the FLGS for a game.
I forget the scenario's name, but we each set up in a corner, and had to roll to see which of our team's members would be outflanking (the average was 3), and there were 3 center objectives. Here are some of the highlights and my pseudo-bat rep.
All 7 of these didn't set up on the table top. The front 4 were in my rhino, with the back 3 outflanking.
Unsurprisingly, the Fem Fa' Tau set up shop in a ruined tower...
The 1st of the outflankers! One of Screech's Scions arrives in my backfield...
...make that three!
Whilst Wolfy technically only had 1 outflanker, it was her Piranha, which promptly detached its 2 drones. For all of her shooting however, only Screech's team leader 'Mr. Clean' fell.
Bob's Deathwatch sniper, positioned in the closest thing to a bell tower as our terrain had. Impossible to reach with anything but ranged weapons, he would spend most of the game trading ineffectual fire with Wolfy's Crisis suit.
My scouts dispatched all 3 of Screech's outflankers without loss. Notably, the former fucking Aurora scout sniper killed the Scion gunning for him with a damned krak grenade! As usual, his sniper rifle would prove useless, all game long...
A Grenade launcher toting scion immobilized my Rhino and the marines within fanned out, with 2 moving into what would soon become a corpse strewn ruin...
Double outflanking attack! Seriously? Taking a Rainbow Warrior from behind with a flamer? Hell, that's part of the Initiate hazin-uhh...indoctrination rituals. Needless to say no marines were injured in this fiery attack.
Screech, approaching an objective marker enmass...
Speaking of, the Fem Fa' Tau, no longer content to just hang back and blast everything in sight, moved in force towards the closest objective on the other side of the table.
Despite heavy casualties (for Kill Team), the first round of Cadian removal operations from the ruins is complete! Screech however, was not amused.
Where the fuck did that guy come from?!? Shit! Now Bob held the 3rd objective. Note: The blue things in the background are Bob's dice in motion.
The 1st of Bob's Deathwatch outflankers arrives, this one with his heavy bolter-combi-lamer (no, not a typo). He stirred up a bloody hornet's nest by shooting the Fem Fa' Tau, who promptly schooled this fool in the ways of massed firepower!
My Rainbows try unsuccessfully to remove the Scions form the fortress in front of them. Apparently the looming (but weaponless) piranha was too much of a distraction...
'Destro' leads the Scions' 2nd wave into the ruins!
After a multi-faction firefight and close combat, it came down to these two. Much to my annoyance, rather than Green Arrow (my leader), the Scion would be the last one standing!
The last of Bob's outflankers arrives and summarily guns down my sniper. Considering my general dislike of scout snipers, I had mixed feelings about this event.
Whilst my rhino continued to blaze away to no effect, and one of my 2 surviving scouts lurked in the background, Bob's Deathwatch succumbed to their training turned their sights on the Tau.
Despite triangulating bolter fire are seemingly all directions, they couldn't remove all of the fire warriors from their objective before the game ended (although they came damned close!).
Well that was fun! At game's end, The Fem Fa' Tau's team leader was the only one standing, all 4 kill teams were 'broken' and everyone except me held an objective. However when all was totaled up, Wolfy got the win due to 1st blood. It could've been a tie in truth, but none of us could remember who inflicted the casualty that 'broke' my team (i.e.: took em below the 50% mark).
As for my Rainbow Warriors, given that this was their battlefield debut, in general I was happy with them. I only had 2 survivors-both scouts and the rhino with a single hull point left. I can't think of anything offhand I'd have done differently, other than to maybe not have my missile launcher armed marine outflank. That said, the weapon was master-crafted and did at least damage the piranha before Screech gunned him down.
Curiously, the 'ard coated eye lenses didn't catch any of the flash, instead rendering them into darker pits of blackness...
For the time being this guy will serve as my Rainbow Warriors Kill Team sergeant. I say for the time being as I have second, identically equipped deathwatch marine in the squad who is still just primed currently. The metallic green helmet arrow, marks him out as a survivor of the chapter's 4th company. No doubt not that's not the standard green of the Rainbow's former 4th company, but more of a decorative flourish. Perhaps in recognition of his initiation into the Deathwatch.
His bolter arm's Mk III armor has been scavenged from a deceased Red Corsair. The bolter which is an old and obsolete, though apparently still serviceable design was likely also of battlefield salvage. His other arm is bionic and the chainsword is in the Rainbow's standard livery for weaponry.
I tried using a different color for his helmet's eye lenses, but shaky hands prevented me from any success and after a bit of frustration I opted for just glossy black against his matte black armor. I figured 'what the hell, it works for Darth Vader, right?'
Don't hold your breath on my usually scheduled Thursday post. Real Life has reared its ugly head, and I'll be so busy after work these next few days that I predict absolutely zero hobby time till maybe Friday.
I was talking about custom space marine color schemes the other day with my buddy Sam. He had come up with a 'new' color scheme for his Kill Team marines, Purple and gold. Like the Hawk Lords I asked? and his shoulders just slumped. lol, no worries dude, finding an original color scheme in this game is nigh impossible. I mean hell, that's also the pre-heresy Emperor's Children colors...but whatever. So I just told him to go with what he liked and don't worry about it.
Not only is this an inconclusive list of Space Marine chapters (wait, where are the Smurfs?!), but its also an inconclusive list of the marines I've fielded over the years (which includes those missing Smurfs, the Storm Wardens...etc.).
Speaking of, I've also been searching for a chapter to use for my newly acquired 40k space marines for Kill Team ($20 for a NIB tac squad, why yes thank you!). However it seems like I'm just looking at the same old, same old, and/or rehashing something I've run before. In looking online for a bit of inspiration, I mis-read the name of the Angels Revenant and me being me I just ran with it, coming up with the following:
The Angels Irrelevant
In keeping with their chapter name, this enigmatic chapter of Adeptus Astartes is all but unknown. An official search into the Imperial Archives of Terra, instigated by the Ordo Hereticus revealed little to nothing. It would seem that the the adepts responsible simply couldn't be bothered to record anything for posterity. No chapter lineage, founding date, home world, fleet and/or unit strength, only the rare and scattered reports of an unknown Astartes chapter engaging in small unit surgical assaults (indeed, they were the same such reports which lead to this investigation in the first place). The knowledge that there is more known of the so-called Legion of the Damned than there is of the Angels Irrelevant alarms Ordo Hereticus to no end…
The only troop types thus far encountered have been Tactical and Scout marines, and never numbering more than a dozen or so individuals at any one time. Leading investigators to assume that their total Chapter strength to be less than one company.
The name 'Angels Irrelevant' is only known due to a single, garbled vox intercept of inter-squad communications, believed to be rallying their battle brothers to prevail upon the enemy.
Livery is black and dark grayish-blue armor with a dull silver Aquilas. Tactical Arrows are displayed on the helmet and presumably display the company color. Scouts wear black armor with dark grayish-blue fatigues, but neither tactical marines nor Scouts show any other insignia aside from their chest plate Aquilas.
Gee, that sounds familiar...
Curiously, a few tactical marines have been seen wearing Deathwatch heraldry. However inquiries into the matter sent to the Ordo Xenos have been ignored by the highest levels of the Ordo.
So will I use that? I'm so indecisive (like you couldn't already tell...), all I can say is: maybe. Then again I have a bunch of cool, custom decals that would work for the Black or Star Dragons so maybe I'll choose one of them instead.
Or, maybe something all together different...who the fuck knows at this point.
My fairly 'generic' horde of loyalist spess mahreenz has gone for a bit of a switch here recently. I've split my forces into two roughly even sized forces, one of the Storm Wardens, and one of the Dark Angels' reserve companies. Really I only wanted the Dark Angels as allies, but most are still only primed and as i prime both forces in the same color, the individual army proportions may vary some in the future.
The real reason for my DA contingent (aside from being green) is that I wanted some flakk missiles so I wouldn't have to haul fortifications around. That and due to the old (and by most everyone else's standardsfugly) 2nd ed minis, the total army cost was a mere $40 for the codex (yay, store credit!).
However as you all know, I'm a fluff bunny at heart and would prefer a more interesting back story for my guys than 'I just wanted flakk missiles'. Thus, I came up with the following:
Date: 714.M41: After being thrown 20,000 light years off course by the Hadex Anomaly, the Storm Wardens' Strike Cruiser Glendwyr's Lament and the embarked 4th Company has since been engaged in the cleansing of the 'Southern reaches' of the Appalachian sub-sector during which it has fought all manner of foul denizens and adversaries. The continuous fighting on multiple worlds has left the 4th Company in a woeful state, with heavy casualties, and their consumables and supplies running low. To make matters worse, the 4th's charismatic leader, Captain 'I killed Draigo' was recently laid low by the woefully infected blade of the infamous Chaos Lord Miasmos, leader of the Purge warband. While he will recover…eventually, the Captain will not be fit for battle for the foreseeable future. Command had fallen to the company's librarian whom was relegated to ship borne duties only as he also is recovering from extensive wounds suffered in combat.
With the 4th Company effectively leaderless, and pushed almost to the breaking point, the Lament sent forth an astropathic missive to Sacris, the Storm Warden's home world, in hopes of a recall to return and rebuild the company. Word returned to 'hold the line' till resupply and reinforcements were sent. The 4th however was little reassured as at least seven full companies of the Storm Wardens are currently involved in the Achilus Crusade. Still, they scaled back operations and continued to persecute the Imperium's enemies wherever and whenever they could under their current circumstances.
After approximately one Terran year, the small Rogue Trader Divinity rendezvoused with the Lament. Much needed supplies and stores were taken aboard to replenish the Strike Cruiser's stocks. However of the the promised reinforcements, only but one Marine had arrived. Captain Ozwald D'Kraken, recently returned from his exile with the Inquisition's Deathwatch.
My recently updated D'Kraken model. Its fitting that his colors now match the army he inspired.
During his exile, D'Kraken had been elevated from battle brother, to the rank of Captain by that secretive institution. His honors and the actions which earned him that rank, are entirely unknown to all aside from the Deathwatch and D'kraken himself. However, he has been silent about his past actions in service of the Deathwatch per Inquisitorial order.
Having left the Storm Wardens under suspicion after his brief service in both the 10th and 6th companies, D'Kraken wasn't expected to ever return to his home Chapter. Just why he did return is only known to the Inquisition and Chapter Master Maclir, However D'Kraken was issued with an Inquisitorial decree absolving him of any past suspicions due to his time of service. With the Crusade requiring the Maclir's full attention, D'Kraken's return was an unwanted inconvenience. However, the 4th's call for assistance came shortly thereafter, and the Chapter Master sent his unwanted charge off to lead the beleaguered 4th Battle Company.
Needless to say, the 4th Company wasn't too pleased with their new commander, his past reputation, or their current overall situation. Yet holding true to their respect of the chain of command and their loyalty to their Chapter Master, D'Kraken was given command of the 4th despite their misgivings. Many of the 4th's survivors fear D'Kraken was sent to them in hopes he would die before he returned home again. Readings of the Emperor's tarot by the company's librarian has raised the concern over whether or not the remaining members of the 4th company will be sacrificed in that endeavor.
Chapter Master Maclir's orders to D'Kraken were to press the attack on all fronts, yet on his arrival, he was to find the 4th down to a little less than 20% of operational combat strength. Used to small unit actions, D'Kraken was undeterred, however engaging in large scale warfare with so few marines was a challenge he was not prepared for, that however, is when additional help arrived from an unexpected ally...
The 4th's request for assistance had been intercepted by the Dark Angels, who's recent arrival and subsequent operations within the Appalachian sub-sector have increased substantially. Though to what purpose no one outside the chapter knows. Their sudden appearance as if from nowhere has garnered much attention of the regional Imperial institutions, and has left the Dark Angels with much unwanted scrutiny.
Sensing an opportunity Supreme Commander Azreal, dispatched a small contingent of the 6th and 9th reserve companies to bolster the Storm Warden's 4th company as a sort of 'good will' gesture. On arrival however, this 'small contingent' of Dark Angels soon realized that it out numbered the Storm Wardens considerably. The initial meeting with Captain D'Kraken was about as cold as are his relations with his own company, due to his extensive Inquisitorial service. D'Kraken, taking a pragmatic approach to the situation, allowed the Dark Angels to assume overall command. The logic being that due to their superior numbers and fresh troops, it only made sense to take the lead role in the Storm Warden's campaign. Henceforth, the depleted Storm Wardens would take on a supporting role.
The Storm Wardens are known for their stubborn pride and the 4th Company as a whole was outraged by the usurpation of their campaign by their new allies (logic be damned!). As a result, D'kraken has already earned the enmity of his new brethren. Grumblings among the remnants of the 4th that D'Kraken is unfit for command are starting to be heard and morale is being sorely tested because of it...
In their first battle with both the Dark Angels and D'Kraken in charge, they got pasted by Murl's dread forces of Nurgle. It would seem that these new commanders are nothing but a bunch of amateurs...lol.
D'Kraken leading a Tactical Squad to its doom. The Dark Angels meanwhile, seem to shun the camera's lens...
My Dark Heresy RPG group has been (somewhat) mulling the idea of trying out the Deathwatch RPG. Personally I'm more inclined towards Black Crusade as in DH, the 'good guy' characters that I tend to play would really fit better in Black Crusade. However I don't have that book (is it even out yet?) but I do have a PDF copy of Deathwatch. I haven't read too much of it however as i really don't like PDF books (rather I've more or less have just been skimming through the fluff & looking @ the pictures).
In the event that we do give it a try, the Storm Warden below will be used as my character (who has no stats whatsoever, yet already has a background, typical of me). Thus I present to you: Ozwald d'Kraken
The Stormwardens have a bit of a Scottish theme to them, so I gave him a claymore (which they can have in lieu of a combat blade) , and tried my hand at a tartan sash of sorts. It came out alright I think. he backpack reliquary holds the skulls of his former 10th co. sergeants.
Usually marines selected for service in the Deathwatch are grizzled veterans with decades if not centuries of combat experience. Not so with Ozwald, he's more of a hard luck case who's being sent to the Deathwatch with much trepidation...
+++++++++++++++DATE: 832945.M40
++++++++++++++++REF: SW/301259116
+++++++TRANSMITTED: Highcastle
+++++++++++++++++TO:Scintilla/Tricorn
++++++++++++SUBJECT: Warrior Tithe
+++++++++++LOCATION:Calixis Subsector
+++++SECURITY LEVEL:Vermillion
++++++++++++TOUGHT:The reward for suspicion is exile.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Inquisitor,
As chapter master I am honor bound to provide a tithe of volunteers to the Ordo Xenos at every opportunity. Many a Storm Warden has volunteered his service to the Deathwatch, and all have served with distinction. Indeed, transference to the Deathwatch holds great honor amongst our brethren. However it is with some trepidation that I send you our latest battle brother for service. His service is as brief as it has been exceptional (for a variety of reasons). However he is superstitiously considered ill omened, if not an outright harbinger of doom for his fellow squad mates.No squad in the 6th reserve will voluntarily accept his placement among their ranks. Rather than foment further dissention among the 6th , and/or any of our other reserve and battle companies chapter command has decided on exile as the best course of action. Unlike prior and current Storm Wardens fighting within the Deathwatch, brother d’Kraken (excluding his geneseed) is neither expected, nor permitted to return to us.
Lorgath Maclir
Storm Wardens Chapter Master
………………………………………………………………
Battle Brother Ozwald d’Kraken
Storm Wardens • 6th Reserve Company
Formerly 4th Tactical Squad (4th Squad has been permanently stricken from 6th Co. ranks)
Brief:
• Culled from Sacris trials 943.M40
• Initiate acceptance of implants: 100%
• Initiate acceptance of indoctrination: 100%
• Initiate accepted into 10th Company, 21st squad: 944.M40
• Initiate accepted into 6th Company 4th Squad: 945.M40
• Transfer to Deathwatch approved: 945.M40
• 10th Co. Deployments:
944.M40:
47 Kapella :Performance: Exemplary
41 Pry : Performance: Minimal*
Hulk Rise of Damnation (the purging thereof): Performance: Exemplary
945.M40:
Avitohol : Performance: Nominal**
Overall performance: Acceptable
• 6th Co. Deployments:
945.M40:
Mara : Performance: Minimal***
* 21st Squad virtually wiped out by explosive decompression instigated by renegade suicide teams. Initiate d’Kraken was sole survivor, immediately removed from combat zone. After action, initiate d’Kraken reassigned to 34th Squad, 10th Co.
**34th Squad reduced by half after xenos ‘lifta-droppa’ hurled Landspeeder Storm 34/2 into a cliff side at speed. 34thsurvivors (Landspeeder Storm 34/1) attempted extraction of bodies/wreckage. 34th survivors caught in ambush with heavy losses & subsequently removed from warzone. Initiate D’Kraken & initiate Zarros only survivors. After Action reassigned 17th Squad, 10th Co.
***6th Company ‘training’ deployment to crush prison uprisings. 1st deployment of newly initiated 4th squad, Vet. Sgt. d’Aro in command. 4th squad drop pod suffers guidance malfunction resulting in missed landing zone, instead puncturing Maran ice pack. All but one pod door are unable to deploy due to ice/water, brothers d’Kraken & Zarros exit, attempt to assist remainder of squad within. Within pod, squad member (ID unknown) accidentally releases a door, opening out into to water below. Pod immediately flooded, added weight causes it to shift suddenly, knocking d’Kraken onto ice sheet and Zarros into pod. Pod sinks immediately to depth estimated at 7000m. 9 Battle brothers lost to pressure implosions of armor. Brother d’Kraken left as sole survivor. D’Kraken crossed (est.) 500km of ice pack & tundra to rejoin 6th company. 4th squad are the only casualties sustained during deployment. After action, due to 4th squad losses sustained on 1st deployment, 4th squad stricken permanently from ranks of 6th co., 11th squad formed to replace. 6th co. squads unwilling to accept brother d’Kraken, though investigation(s) show no fault of d’kraken led to initiates/battle brother’s deaths. Chapter decision: d’Kraken to be removed from chapter via induction into Deathwatch.
I got into 40k when I was 19, and my state of personal finances has been all but destroyed ever since.
Basically I'm just your standard issue gaming geek.
