Eldar Corsairs List for Celesticon (or, how to fail at tournaments without really trying)

This Monday I will be headed to Celesticon in Fremont for the Deamon Skull 40K Tournament, where I am expecting to be thoroughly roflstomped into submission. Beatings aside, I am really looking forward to this event. It will be my first big tournament in what feels like forever, and my army is only one unit away from being done. I'll post the sexy pictures later, but for now I would love some feedback on the lists I have been mulling over.

From Traveling the Immaterium

The Story

Loki Starborn (Illic Nightspear rules) and his Corsairs are known for their skill in covert operations. When they aren't killing dignitaries and wrecking havoc on Imperial shipping lines, they can be found on the deathworld of Tirnan in the Segmentum Obscurus. Trapped in an eternal storm, known as "The Tempest", the conditions are excellent for special operations training. If you can hit something from two clicks away in driving rain, you can hit anything. Their base, hidden in one of the planet's massive pine forests, is known throughout Rogue Trader circles as the best sniper academy in the sector. It is even whispered by some that Loki has a training contract with the Vindicare Clade. Lies and rumors, according to the Inquisitors.

Loki and his warband will often work with the craftworlds on various missions (for a price, of course). Farseers have saved the lives of countless would-be guardians thanks to the deadly skill of these corsairs. This instance is no different. They will fight, and kill anything that stands in the way of them and their prize.

The List

Both have a very special forces feel to them (only 31 and 27 models in each list). I am going to be depending a lot on cover and target priority. I already know that some lists are gonna rock the crap out of my scissors. But, I feel like if I play well I can at least keep games close and pull out a win or two. I have used Loki and the Pathfinders (great band name, by the way) with some success. The key will be good deployment and some lucky dice.

List One

Loki Starborn (Illic Nightspear)

Farseer

Pathfinders x6

Pathfinders x6

Wraithguard x5

Crimson Hunter

- Exarch

Warp Spiders x5

- Exarch (Power Blades/Dual Death Spinner)

Dark Reapers x5

- Starshot Missiles

Wraithknight

- Suncannon/Shimmershield, Scatter Laser

Total 1500 pts (31 models)

List Two

Loki Starborn (Illic Nightspear)

Farseer

Pathfinders x6

Pathfinders x6

Wraithguard x5

Crimson Hunter

Dark Reapers x5

- Starshot Missiles

Wraithlord

- EML

Wraithknight

- Suncannon/Shimmershield, Scatter Laser

Total 1500 pts (27 models)

Let me know which one you like more. 

Until next time!

Inquisitor Josep Arador and the Fell Hounds (the beginnings of my Ordo Chronos army)

I love old citadel models. Something about them has always caught my eye. Especially with the prevalence of digital modeling, the hand-sculpted details and character really stands out in the modern 40k scene. Normally, when I am planning out a new army, I will start with one model. Something that represents the narrative I have created, and a show piece that will make my force unique. Enter the Ordo Chronos:

Inquisitor Verhoeven (from sho3box.worpress.com)

I came across this guy searching Ordo Chronos on Google. He is beautifully painted by the author of sho3box, a great blog with some incredible minis. After I saw this mini, I realized that he would make a perfect Ordo Chronos Inquisitor. Dated enough to look ancient next to newer models, but still tough and exotic. A temporal badass. After a couple searches on eBay, I came across this:

The future Inquisitor Josep Arador

Gorgeous, right! A nice bid and he was mine for about $10 after shipping. I am really excited about this guy, and looking forward to building on the Ordo Chronos theme. Here is a little teaser of things to come:

Inquisitor Joseph Arador is a mysterious figure. Born on Tirnan, a world trapped in a perpetual storm know as "The Tempest", he was discovered by Imperial Black Ships at the age of ten. He quickly gained the attention of the Ordo Chronos, and began training with the Guardians of History at the age of fifteen. A brash man, he was known for being the loudest of the otherwise shadowy Ordo. While he served the Emperor with all his ability, it was whispered that the darkness of what he had seen was beginning to taint the Inquisitor. When the Ordo Chronos dissapeared, he fell into the shadows and returned to his homeworld. After some time he resurfaced with the Fell Hounds, his personal Space Marine warband. Their purpose and actions remain a mystery.

Until next time!

In Your Inquisitor's House, Breaking Stuff

Yesterday was the monthly Kill Team meet-up for Endgame's Inquisition War campaign. As always, the setting was awesome:

The ruins and structures represent the Defender's personal estate and the valuables therein. The Attacker is trying to get inside and do as much damage to the enemy Retinue as possible, and steal as much loot and intel as possible.

Get to the hedges!!!

Inquisitor Ziggy and his Eldar from Mars were tasked with breaking into two Puritan Inquisitor's estates. The goal was to hold objectives (each worth 3 VP) and take down the enemy Retinue. The whole game was played under Nightfight rules, and each area of the estate was booby trapped (pass an initiative test or get blown up by frag grenades). Another great example of how simple rule changes can add so much to the narrative of your games.

The first game was against Inquisitor Preod Levat, Wayward renegade of the Ordo Malleus, Slave to Tzeentch, and eternally marked by warpfire (aka Steve) and his warband. The sneaky Eldar snuck up behind two unsuspecting acolytes, only to miss all of their shots and do absolutely nothing. Steve's scatter die was on fire, and his plasma cannon servitor made good use of it against Ziggy's hapless, probably drunk retinue. It ended with Hoof locked in combat with the Inquisitor, and Ziggy hiding behind his Chimera. Steve took this one 9-4. 

In the second game, against Puritan Inquisitor Thalomin Montus (aka Kevin), Inquisitor Schmidt couldn't hide behind his Chimera because it was melta'd into a crater on turn one. Once again, Hoof charged into the middle of the Inquisitor's house and wrecked the place. On the last turn, he knocked Inquisitor Montus back and chased down a poor acolyte to grab a booby trapped objective. He survived, bleating at the moon. Kevin won the game 10-7.

Big thanks to Steve and Kevin, Mike for running the show, and Endgame in Oakland for being such an incredible LGS. I'll post a story for one of these games when I get a chance. Enjoy the pictures below.

Until next time!

Game One

Lost, 4-9

Sneaky Eldar. The surprise is that they are terrible shots

Epic!!!

Game Two

Lost, 7-10

Pre-melta Chimera

Post-melta Chimera

"Baaaaaaahhhhhhhh!"

Ziggy and the Eldar from Mars

Currently, I am playing in the Inquisition War campaign at Endgame in Oakland. In order to sign up, it was required that players write some background fluff for their Inquisitor and his retinue. Enter Radical Ordos Xenos Inquisitor Zigfried "Ziggy" Schmidt and his motley crew.

(L-R) Loki, Xavi, Inquisitor Schmidt, Jordi, Hoof, and Charlie

The campaign is based on on two meetings per month. One is a weeknight Kill Team event, and the other is a Saturday 1500-2000pt themed game. This week is the Kill Team event, so I thought I would let you all get to know Ziggy, Hoof, and the Starborn brothers. Below is the 250pt Kill Team list, and the background story I wrote for them on 40k Fight Club. Hope you enjoy reading it as much as they enjoy getting slashed to bits by Grey Knights!

The List

Ziggy Schmidt, Radical Ordos Xenos Inquisitor (98)

-  Pysker w/ Combi-Melta, Power Sword, Rad Grenades, Power Armor 

Loki Starborn (41)

- Ministorium Priest w/ PW & Shotgun 

Jordi Starborn (18)

- Acolyte w/ Carapace Armor, Flamer 

Xavi Starborn (13)

- Acolyte w/ Carapace Armor, Hotshot Lasgun 

Hoof (15)

- Crusader 

Charlie (10)

- Daemonhost 

Chimera (55)

- Multi-laser, Heavy Bolter, Smoke Grenades

The Story

::INCOMING MISSILE, T-MINUS 60 SECONDS TO IMPACT:: 

"Space flight is the f****** worst!", Ziggy screeched. He was beginning to feel very claustrophobic. "Why are these belts so TIGHT!". The Inquistitor was in a bad mood. Most people would be in a bad mood if their ship was being piloted by Loki Starborn,the Corsair "King" of the Crucis Sector. Being shot at by Imperial Crusiers wouldn't help, either. 

::INCOMING MISSILE, T-MINUS 30 SECONDS TO IMPACT:: 

The ship jolted quickly to what felt like the left. "Grace under pressure, Ziggy", the corsair yelled, "B**** like that again and I'll be tempted to turn into this thing". 

Ziggy shut his eyes and pinched the bridge of his nose. Loki was good at many things, and great at a few. He was great at pissing off Inquisitor Zigfried Schmidt. 

The other Starborn brothers, Jordi and Xavi, were busy punching away at the controls of the ship, shouting at each other over the whirls and hums of the ancient escort. They had done this together thousands of times, but normally they were running exotic drugs or bandit kings. The Ordos Xenos Inquisitor made them nervous. Most people wouldn't have noticed their nervous twitches, or the sing-songy way they spoke to him. But, most people haven't studied aliens since they were ten. 

Ziggy's head slammed against the headrest as the ship pushed upwards. A loud boom, followed by a bunch of rattles, hums, and whines, then stillness. 

::IMPACT AVERTED, IMPACT AVERTED:: 

Suddenly, a gigantic beastman burst through the door to the bridge. He had vomit all over his chest. "You pointy-eared s***!", he bellowed. "If you do that again I'll rip your face off!". The Starborn brothers looked at each other with coy smiles, then started laughing. The beastman lowered his horns, but was quickly stopped by the Inquisitor. "Easy, Hoof. That pointy-eared s***. just saved your mutton!". More laughter. Hoof examined them all with evil yellow eyes. 

"Fine," he mumbled, "Just try not to rock the boat when I'm hungover". 

"I'll do what I can, goat boy." Loki smirked. 

"Bite me, elf". 

The claxons blared, red lights flashing. Ziggy turned to Loki, "Just get us out of here!" 

::INCOMING MISSILE, T-MINUS 60 SECONDS TO IMPACT:: 

Inquisitor Schmidt and Hoof grabbed seats and buckled themselves in. The beastman turned and said, "I'm going to rip his arms off". "When we land, you can rip his arms off when we land", Ziggy interjected weakly. He pinched the bridge of his nose and took a deep breath. "This is the last thing I...". As he spoke, the ship banked quickly. It felt like down, and to the left. Before he could orient himself, Hoof turned his head and threw up on the Inquisitior's lap. The beast smiled sheepishly. "... need". The Starborn's laughed. 

::INCOMING MISSILE, T-MINUS 30 SECONDS TO IMPACT::

Ordo Chronos Psychic Powers (Homebrew Rules FTW!)

I was listening to Masters of the Forge, my favorite new 40k podcast, the other day and they were talking about the Enslavers. Being a huge fan of anything Warhammer OOP, it was fun to hear about these flying alien brains and their mind control themed rules. In another episode, they mentioned how cool it would be to have some Ordo Chronos-themed psychic powers. So, I started doing some research on these mysterious inquisitors.

In the grimdark future, there is only funk!

Over on Faeit I found this article written by the Dark Heresy author, Andy Hoare. He describes them as follows:

To return to the discussions I was reading about the Ordo Chronos, some people did seem to view them as one-dimensional, 40k Time Lords. That's not the case at all, as after all, existing to combat the effects of the time distortion doesn't mean they bring it about. However, as Inquisitors they would be just as subject to factionalism as their peers. Perhaps Puritan Ordo Chronos Inquisitors ('Time Hunters'?) ruthlessly hunt down anyone who has fallen prey of a mistimed warp jump, just in case anything happens to alter the Imperium's fate. Equally, perhaps Radical Time Hunters seek to utilise heretical technologies, and consider changing the course of history a valid way of keeping the Imperium alive? Just imagine the wars that these two factions could be fighting without the rest of the Imperium ever even knowing about it!

How cool is that, huh?! The possibilities for an army are pretty much infinite here. A Chronos Inquisitor partners with Eldar Outcast to aid them in their battle against Slaneeshi daemons; a battle that was originally lost that led to the invasion of multiple argo-worlds and the death of the Imperial Fist's Captain Julian Dominan.  The same Captain Dominan who could have prevented the Tyranid invasion of Luna, which led to the invasion of Terra and the great infestation! Endless possibilities, indeed! And a lot of interesting campaign/themed gaming to be had. 

Temporal Badass

So, take a game mechanic (controlling your opponents minis) and a cool theme (Time Lords, duh!) and you get my hopefully not-too-broken Ordo Chronos Psychic Powers. These rules were designed to give a lot of additional movement, as well as represent the control someone who resides in the past, present, and future can exert on the battlefield. Feel free to play-test and refine these for yourself. All types of feedback are appreciated.

Tacitcs: for the Inquistor, I would use whichever Ordos you see fit. These guys have access to all time and space, just equip them based on your own fluff.

Ordo Chronos Psychic Powers

Primaris Power

Foresight (Blessing) WC 1

The psyker shares his knowledge of what has passed and what is to come. 

• Single friendly unit within 18" add +1 to their WS, BS, and I for one turn

1. Phaseshift (Blessing) WC 1

Vision blurs as the pysker advances the target through spacetime to a new strategic position on the battlefield.

Target friendly unit within 18" can make an additional move of D6 in the psychic phase, with the fleet special rule.

2. Slowed Response (Malediction) WC 1

Fingers pull at triggers to no avail. Feet as heavy as lead. Time stands still in the melee.

• Target enemy unit within 18" can only move or shoot in the next turn. They may not do both.

3. Temporal Waining (Witchfire) WC 1

With their life force draining out of them, skin wrinkles and memories flash before the victim's eyes.

•  Target enemy unit within 18" suffers D6 S3 AP3 hits. This attack has the Fleshbane special rule.

4. Temporal Wandering (Malediction) WC 2

We all move in every direction in mirrored dimensions. The psyker alters reality to weaken his enemies position.

• Target enemy unit within 18" moves D6 inches, ignoring terrain, in a random direction (determined by a scatter die).

5. Through the Rift (Blessing) WC 2

The psyker rips a whole in spacetime catch his enemies unawares.

• Target friendly unit within 12" may immediately deepstrike to any location on the board. Normal rules apply.

6. Temporal Paradox (Malediction) WC 3

Time slows, speeds, and stands still and the command of the psyker. In this moment, he is the lord of time.

• All enemy units within 18" must take a leadership test. If the test is failed, they are pinned and take D3 S6 AP3 hits. These hits have the instant death special rule.

Until next time!

Forge the Mechanic (or, the birth of the pathfinder-star)

I have been playing 40k for almost 15 years now, and this is the first time I have really fallen for the fluff behind my army. Illic Nightspear is the Ranger Phoenix Lord we were all waiting for that nobody wants. He is one of the best shots in the entire galaxy, but he only kills his prey half of the time. But, that shouldn't take away from his sci-fi Legolas bad-assness.

 Warhammer, the universe, is an expansive place where almost anything is possible. Warhammer, the game, is full of deathstars, buffs, and power combos. It is kind of funny to think about how weird the storyline would be if it was dictated by the mechanics.

Sad Tau Crisis Suit Salesman #1: "How am I going to pay my rent this month? I haven't sold a stealth suit in years!" 

Sad Tau Crisis Suit Salesman #2: "Your tellin' me! Do you have any idea how expensive a good Fire Warrior college is? My kids gonna kill me if they end up at some Earth Caste school" 

         ::flipping through Crisis Suit Monthly Magazine:: 

Salesman #1: "Hold on, Frank! Do you see this?"

Salesman #2: "Holy Ethereal, it's huge! What's it called?" 

Salesman #1: "A Riptide. What the hell is a Riptide?" 

Salesman #2: "What does it matter! Everyone is going to want one of these!

The beautiful thing about 40k is that you really can "forge the narrative". But, can you "forge the mechanic"? I doubt it, but why not try anyway!

Here is my Illic Nightspear pathfinder-star that I will be using in my upcoming games. Sneaky Eldar Outcasts hiding out and shooting Space Marines through their vox grills, awesome. Having to roll a +4 to wound with a 140pt model, not awesome. Screw the dice! Get scared, bike-star. Tremble with fear, screamer-star. Just... just stop, seer-star. Here's the core of my army.

Illic Nightspear's Pathfinder-star

"This sniper rifle was a bad choice!"

Illic Nightspear
Pathfinders x5

Farseer (w/ Uldanorethi Long Rifle)
Pathfinders x5

Total 515pts

Tactics: Sit in terrain and roll sixes.

Until next time!