Ghoul Stars Campaign Day Photos

This has been a crazy week at work for me (managing company moves has got to be right up there with fighting daemons for a living) so this will be a bit of a photo dump. The first day of the Ghoul Stars campaign was a couple weekends ago, and it was awesome. The mezzanine at Endgame was packed, and the two games I had were both really fun. I promise I will actually write up a narrative battle report, but for now here are some pictures from the day. Big thanks to Mike and Adan for running an awesome event.

On an unrelated note, make sure to check out Gav Thorpe's latest blog post on world building. Some very cool tips for when you write your next narrative campaign or battle reports. Head over to Corsair Radio's Facebook Page for the link. And, while you there, like our page so you can see more cool links and pictures from the wild and weird world of 40k!

Until next time!

Raven Guard are extra camouflaged in black and white photos.

Hide, hide, hide!!!

Hipster Space Wolves with Meltaguns

Emperor's Children MC

He came THIS close to dying

Multi-Melta Dreadnought would be a great metal band name

Space Marines, Assemble!!!

The Raven Guard Hit Warzone Giza!!

Tomorrow is the first day of Endgame's Ghoul Stars campaign, and I am SO EXCITED!!! Being a Gamer Dad means most of my hobby time is spent either painting or writing, so getting to play two narrative games in the same day is something I really look forward to. As you all know, I've been working on my Raven Guard 30k/40k list for some time now, and I'll be able to put about 1300 points of painted Sons of Corax on the table tomorrow. I am just finishing up a Stormraven (pics later, I promise), and all that is left is a squad of Terminators and a Chaplain. This is pretty close to the list I'll be taking to the BAO this July. I think for that I am going to add some Centurion Devestators (if I can get my grubby hands on them). Anyway, tomorrow we'll be fighting over Warzone Giza. Here's my list:

Ghoul Stars Strike Force

Led by Kanir Krios, The White Raven

 

Krios, The White Raven 180  

- Chapter Master (130)

- Relic Blade (25)

- Artificer Armor (20)

- Melta Bombs (5)

Chaplain 100

- Digital Weapons

Tactical Marines x9 161

- Vet Srgt w/ Power Fist

- Melta Gun

Tactical Marines x10 215

- Vet Srgt w/ Power Fist

- Melta Gun, Missile Launcher

- Rhino w/ Dozer Blade

Venerable Dread 150

- TL Lascannon

Venerable Dread 175

- Drop Pod w/ Deathstorm Missile Launcher

Terminators 220

- Assault Cannon

Devestator Squad x5 140

- Srgt w/ Combi-Melta

- Missile Launcher x4

Stormraven Gunship 236

- TL Multi-Melta

- TL Assault Cannon

- Side-Sponson Hurricane Bolters

- Searchlight

- Extra Armor

Total 1577 (Not including 20pts for some campaign benefits Krios has)

I really like this list. Krios has the Master of Ambush warlord trait, so I have a lot of flexibility in how I deploy this force. I'll be using the Raptors Chapter Tactics from Forge World, so I am really looking to shoot first and ask questions later. The more I think about it, the more I like the idea of running Krios, the Chaplain, and the nine man unit of Tactical Marines in the Stormraven. They can help grab objectives late game, and should be able to dish out some decent damage in close combat. As always, expect a battle report sometime next week. If you want to follow the action live (because who wouldn't) make sure to like Corsair Radio on Facebook, as I'll be posting pictures from the event.

Hope you all have a great weekend full of friends and 6s. Until next time!

 

The White Raven's Strike Force (The Ghoul Stars Campaign Order of Battle)

 Finally! Making this Order of Battle for Endgame's Ghoul Stars Campaign has been a real labor of love. Essentially, I have been picking and choosing what units I want to use over the rest of the entire year. So, like all things 40k, I tried to get into character. What units would a Raven Guard commander choose? What tools would I bring on a campaign so I could handle any foe? This exercise really made me appreciate how excellent the Space Marine codex is. If you look hard enough, you can find a unit or vehicle to counter just about anything in the game. I would really suggest trying something like this when you have the time. Even if it is just for a friendly mini-campaign, it will really put you in the mood for some narrative gaming.

The order of battle and profile for Commander Krios (some background info here) are below. I've also added in some Sisters of Battle for allies (more on that later). I can't change the list now, but I'd love some help planning my strategy for the first gaming day on May 30th. As they say, behind every great commander are even better commanders telling him what to do! I hope everyone has a great weekend full of games and libations. And, be on the look-out for some big news for Corsair Radio next week!

Until next time!

Ghoul Stars Strike Force

Order of Battle (3995 points)

Shadow Commander Kanir Krios (200 pts)

Chapter Master (130)

• Relic Blade (25)
• Artificer Armor (20)
• Melta Bombs (5)
• Starting Advance (20)

Warlord Trait: Master of Ambush (Strategic Traits)

Starting Advance: Quick Reaction (Melee)

 Codex: Space Marines (Raptors Chapter Tactics): 3420 pts

Codex: Adepta Sororitas: 575 pts

Total Roster Cost: 3,995

Raven Guard (3420 pts)

HQ 255

Chaplain (190)

• Command Squad

Librarian (65)

Elite 920

Venerable Dreadnought (160)

• Drop Pod

Venerable Dreadnought (160)

• Drop Pod

Terminator Squad (200)

Terminator Squad (200)

Terminator Squad (200)

Troops 985

Tactical Squad x9 (175)

• Sergeant
• Drop Pod

Tactical Squad x9 (175)

• Sergeant
• Drop Pod

Tactical Squad x9 (175)

• Sergeant
• Drop Pod

Tactical Squad x9 (175)

• Sergeant
• Rhino

Tactical Squad x9 (175)

• Sergeant
• Rhino

Scout Squad x4 (55)

• Sergeant

Scout Squad x4 (55)

• Sergeant

Fast Attack 320

Assault Squad x9 (170)

• Sergeant

Landspeeder Squadron x3 (150)

Heavy Support 940

Devastator Squad x9 (175)

• Sergeant
• Rhino

Devastator Squad x9 (140)

• Sergeant
• Rhino

Devastator Centurions x2 (190)

• Sergeant

Stormraven (200)

Stormraven (200)

Order of the Endless Night (575 pts)

HQ 130

Canoness (65)

Canoness (65)

Troops 320

Battle Sisters x9 (160)

• Sister Superior
• Rhino

Battle Sisters x9 (160)

• Sister Superior
• Rhino

Heavy Support 125

Exorcist (125)

Veterans for the Long War: Building an Army for the Ghoul Stars campaign

The Ghoul Stars has long been a wild and untamed area of space on the northern edge of the Ultima
Segmentum. In M34, this formerly human region was lost to a "star spawned plague and nightmare engines that swept across entire sectors." A powerful force of eleven Space Marine Chapters was sent to deal with the menace of the Cythor Fiends, but only the Novamarines ever returned...

With the native inhabitants of the Ghoul Stars in turmoil, and the Necrons not yet fully consolidated, the High Lords of Terra mandated that a reconquest be launched once again. Given their long involvement with the region, the Black Templars, under the leadership of High Marshal Helbrecht, were chosen to lead the Crusade.
 
The call was answered from all across the Imperium. Huge expeditionary forces began to assemble along the Ultima Segmentum border. The systems along the Ghoul Stars frontier began to pulse with Space Marine Chapters, Imperial Guard Regiments, Knight Households and Rogue Trader fleets.
 
This time their goal is nothing less than the complete cleansing of the Ghoul Stars!

Starting next month, Endgame and the 40k Fight Club will be running a new campaign based out of the Ghoul Stars. As most of my regulars know, I love the events at Endgame. Mike and Adan put a lot of effort into the background and scenarios of their campaigns, and it shows. Based on everything I've seen and read so far for the Ghoul Stars, this should be the best one yet. The only thing I've been hung up on is what type of forces I want to muster. Enter the Order of Battle.

Before the campaign begins, we need to send the organizers an Order of Battle (OoB). This represents the host of forces available to your warlord during their expedition into the Ghoul Stars. Here are the rules for building your OoB from the campaign packet.

You have 4,000 points to build your Order of Battle. If you are using Allies, no more than 1,000 points of your OoB may be Allies. Buy the basic units (including dedicated transports) with NO wargear or upgrades AT ALL. For example, a 10 man Space Marine Tactical Squad and Rhino, with no special/heavy weapons, no Veteran Sergeant, etc, is 175 points.

I have decided to join the Imperium faction for this go, so I'll be bringing my Raven Guard kicking and screaming 10,000 years into the future ("Where's my damn Sicarian!"). I am still in the process of finalizing my Order of Battle, and trying to decide if I should add in some allies (maybe some Death Spectres?). I'm gonna be working on it it pretty heavily this weekend, and I would love some input on what a proper Raven Guard Strike Force should include. I'll have an OoB to share sometime next week.

If you live in the Bay Area, make sure to check this campaign out. You can find more information about it here if you are interested.

Until next time!

Robots vs. Birds!!! Raven Guard [30k] v. Necrons [40k]

30k, I can't quit you! This Tuesday I was able to get in a game against Alex from Modeling for Advantage, the official blog of the Left Coast Corsairs. Alex reached out to me a couple weeks back after I posted about my first 30k/40k matchup. We met up at my beloved Endgame, where the Corsairs practice, and threw down at 1000 pts on a 4' x 4' board.

Endgame has some incredible terrain, so we were able to set up a a really cool Bridge Too Far game. In this scenario the main bridge in the middle of the map was worth 3 VP, the two smaller bridges on the side got you 1 VP, and the standard secondary objectives were each worth 1 VP (Slay the Warlord [random thought: wouldn't that be an awesome band name?], First Blood, and Line Breaker). Here's the battlefield.

Alex's Necrons rose on up following a Destroyer Lord with three units of Destroyers, a Cryptek with some Warriors, Immortals, and fifteen Flayed Ones. The Raven Guard made planetfall with a Praetor (Ravens Talons FTW), a Vigilator, two squads of nine Vets from Planet Melta (combi-melta and melta gun) with one in a Rhino, a lascannon Dread, and a Deathstorm Drop Pod. Alex was on the left, I was on the right and went first. Spread it on!!!

The game was really, really fun. The 4' x 4' board, coupled with the focus on the bridges, really made this one a blood bath. My vet squads took both bridges first, only to be met with heavy resistance from the Necrons. My Praetor ended up eating through the squad of Warriors, but eventually met his demise in an epic challenge against the Destroyer Lord and a gang of Flayed Ones. At one point my fearless leader tanked through twelve wounds, making every single 2+ save. At the top of turn five my Dread was able to kill two Destroyers and take the central bridge. With five Veterans and a Vigilator holding one of the secondary bridges, things were looking up. Then they Flayed Ones charged.

Just when you thought Wraiths were good, here come the Flayed Ones. These maniacal robots had sixty five shred and preferred enemy attacks on the charge. Insane. The first thirty did seventeen wounds, and that was all she wrote. The game ended with Alex holding both secondary objectives and three VP for Slay the Warlord, First Blood, and an additional VP per the Pride of the Legion Right of War. My Dreadnought stood proudly on the central bridge, a river of blood and oil running underneath him, but it was all for naught. Alex took this one 5-3.

Games like this are why I love Warhammer (30k and 40k). A close, down to the wire match against a really fun opponent (make sure to check out Alex's blog here).When the game ended, I think we informally decided that we would start a Great Crusades campaign. Exciting! I really love building this Raven Guard army. Forge World has so deftly captured the nature of the XIXth legion, and I look forward to continuing to master their playstyle in the games to come. I'm also looking forward to adding some reinforcements soon. Can you say Darkwing Storm Eagle anyone? In the meantime, more pictures!

Until next time!

There Can Be Only One, And It Wasn't Me (Endgame Highlander Tournament)

Last Saturday I played in my first highlander event at Endgame in Oakland. I love this format. It still allows for competitive gameplay, but really tones down the spam and meta gamer lists you'd normally find at a tournament these day. But, that doesn't mean there isn't a challenge in creating a fluffy list when you can't repeat units. Point value based games inherently make list building hard, so any additional restrictions do add to the challenge. That said, any good game should be a challenge. Lucky for me, I had two strong opponents and two challenging games.

I brought the Yell Hounds (my Blood Angels custom chapter). It looked something like this:

HQ

Astorath (Warlord), Librarian, Captain

Troops

Tactical Squad in a Razorback, Scouts with shotguns

Elites

Death Company (jump packs), DC Dread, Terminators (w/ heavy flamer)

FA

Deathwind Drop Pod

HS

Stormraven

The first was against Eran and his tricky, quick Eldar. Holy shit, Eldar are good! Eran played them really well in an awful, terrible 2-23 beatdown (jetbikes, man, jetbikes). My second game was against Stephen and Typhus. The Traveller is tough. He ended up killing Astorath and my Librarian in two consecutive turns of close combat. This one was a bit closer (4-9) but Papa Nurgle won the day.

My biggest disadvantage was a lack of speed and manueverability. Objectives in the maelstrom missions are the way to win, and static forces will always lose out to more mobile forces. Hey look, I learned something! Better luck, and some land speeders, next time I guess.

Big thanks to Mike and Adan for running the show, and to Endgame for being Endgame. Until next time!

Game One

Game Two

Nurgle's Rot and my new Yell Hounds Librarian

Well, that sucked. I came down with some stupid cold, and ended up having to cancel the Steiermark game last weekend. That, coupled with being busy at work meant I didn't get my normal hobby time this week. But, do not fret Corsairians! Check out Brother Amergin, Yell Hounds Librarian.

This was a really fun project. I basically rummaged through my bits bag and ended up finding all the makings for this guy. I was debating going for the standard blue, but since the Yell Hounds aren't necessarily codex compliant I felt like a non-standard color would look nice. Since the majority of the  army is grey, red really makes him stand out. And, it was a great opportunity to play around with a color I haven't used that often. Overall, I am really happy with the results.

Next weekend, Endgame is hosting a Highlander event. I've never played in one of these before, and I am really looking forward to seeing the types of list people bring. I have some painting to do before (five assault terminators, a razorback, a drop pod, and my custom Captain Tycho), but I feel like I always work best on a deadline. I am really excited about Tycho (he's in the picture below). Tycho is a really awesome character, and I am looking forward to putting him on the table.

Until next time!

Holiday Gift Ideas for Warhammer 40k Gamers

Ho, Ho, Ho!!!

Buying gifts for the Warhammer 40k gamer in your life can be tough. Unless you are trolling message boards and blogs it can be hard to keep up with the new hotness. So, in order to get on Robot Santa's nice list I have decided to offer up  recommendations for some of my favorite gift ideas. These area pretty good catch-alls, and things that I believe any gamer would be happy to receive over the holidays. If you have any suggestions, share them in the comments so others can see.

Gift Cards

Games Workshop Gift Voucher

These are by far the easiest, and often best, options for presents. Every Warhammer player has a wish list of things they want to add to their arsenal. Due to some recent changes in stocking, the Games Workshop website is often one of the better places to find specific miniatures and books. For that reason, I'd suggest GW Virtual Gift Vouchers. They are a bit more pricey than some of the other retailers, but they will always have what your gamer is looking for. I would suggest a base value of $50 to give your gamers some flexibility

eBay is also an awesome resource for wargamers. From new kits, to bits and out of production models, eBay Gift Cards offer an incredible value. There are a bevy of small retailers that sell everything from model kits to individual bits. Two of my favorites are Black Dagger Games and Lazarus Games. Due to the savings you can get from eBay I would suggest at least $30 on the gift card.

Hobby Supplies

Vallejo Paints

These are all things that will make the hobby easier for your lucky wargamer. Paints are essential to any avid Warhammer player, and the nicer the paints the better the result. Citadel paints are great, and the Citadel Hobby Starter Set is a great beginning or addition to anyones collection. Secret Weapon Miniatures also offers some really cool weathering pigments and inks that making creating that grimdark look a lot easier. And finally, Vallejo Paints are by far my favorite. Any of these Vallejo Paint Sets would make an excellent present or stocking stuffer for your favorite Space Marine.

Bases

Micro Art Studios

Bases add a nice final touch to any miniature, but are often the last thing on gamer's minds. Any of these sets of Micro Art Studio bases would make an excellent gift. 40k uses two main sizes of bases, 25mm and 40mm. 25mm is the most common, but either of those sizes will work out well. These bases would also be a really fun stocking stuffer if you are picking up a model kit or two.

Gaming Aids

Litko 1" Linear Guage

Remembering the rules is hard enough, so why not make it easier with some of these awesome gaming aids. I never leave home without my Litko 1” Linear Gauge. Standard movement in 40k is 6", so this template has dramatically cut down on measuring tape injuries. Tokens, like these ones from Dapper Devil, also make tracking certain mechanics like wounds on characters and hit points on vehicles a breeze. I would also suggest picking up a set of tactical objective markers from Battle Markers.

Sabol Army Transport Case

But, the best gaming aid anyone can receive is a miniatures carrying case. A couple years ago my wife got me a Sabol Platoon Carrying Case. It costs $40, and I use it every time I play. Plenty of storage space, and a nice mesh pocket for holding codices and iPads. A miniatures player can never have enough carrying cases, and the more cases they have the less clutter you'll have around your house!

And, last but not least...

Your Local Gaming Store!

Endgame Oakland

Every gamer has a favorite local gaming store. Their home away from home. If you are really stumped on what to get them, just ask the staff for help. Most likely they will know your gamer and have an idea of what is on their wish list. Best of all, you are supporting local business and the local gaming community. Not sure what your closest store is? Check out the Dakka Dakka Store Finder or ask around. If they don't have what your looking for, just ask and they can special order it for you.

Hope this list helped. Anything I can do to make a fellow gamer happy. Still have questions? Comment below and I'll see how I can help.

Until next time!