Choir Time

I finally finished painting my choir this past week and I'm happy with the results. They won't woo anyone from a up close look but they're table top quality. It seems I have a habit of taking a long time when painting models and these were no exceptions. Originally, I had planned on painting these guys last May or June and now they're finally done.

In the future, I'm going to try the snowball approach to painting and see if that works better. Its where I'll paint one model at a time instead of a whole unit. Maybe I can squeeze in two but I hope to keep focused because if I don't, I'll have a collection of half painted models.

Next up on the painting block are my warcasters. Its sad to say that I only have one warcaster painted after playing this game for over a year and a half. And to top it off, he was just finished this past week as well......

Envy Time

Or should I say, the Cygnar list I always wanted to play. I want to thank the Podthralls for coming up with this idea and apologize for blatantly ripping it off. Since my main opponent, CptCalvinus, is a Cygnar player and four other people at my LGS play them as well, I thought I'd do my first envy post with Cygnar.

Basically, this is a Cygnar list that I would want to play some day. Being a Menoth player, you would think I woud have quite a disliking for Stryker but that isn't so. I really like his fluff in the storyline and his rules as a warcaster. Without further adieu....

Stryker 748/750 VPs: 25
*Squire
*Lancer
*Centurion
*Ol Rowdy
Journeyman
*Defender
GMCA
Arlan Strangeways
Stormsmith
Long Gunners full unit with UA

The basic strategy is having the two heavies up front with the Lancer and Stryker following, casting earthquake and other fun stuff. The Defender would be on one side of the heavies and the Long Gunners on the other. Have Stryker cast snipe on the Long Gunners for 7 first turn and then have the GMCA and Stormsmith go solo hunting. Strangeways will provide support to the heavies and might give the Defender that rare ability to make magic attacks with his gun. Really, I have no idea how this list would fair in competitive play but I picked models I really liked and that's all that matters.

One thing I noticed is the point cost and how much more Cygnar units cost than Menoth's. With Menoth, I can effectively put 2 Heavies and a light and then 2-3 more units fairly easily, rounded out with some solos. I couldn't bring myself to include the Black 13th, they're a bit too dirty when it comes to game play. I'll have to play this list one day when we CptCalvinus and I, decide to switch armies.

Thoughts on MK II

It has come about that Warmachine and Hordes is getting a revamped edition of their rules called MK II. First off, I haven't played the game long enough to see the power creep that a lot of the folks on the big forums are talking about over the years. Second, the local scene where I play is a jack friendly player base. There's some folks that like to tweak their list for sure but its not super competitive.

With that said, I like the ideas of warjacks only getting wrecked and not disabled. I would also like to see a minimum of 1" reach on all heavies and I don't know what I would do with the lights, as far as reach is concerned. There's some warjacks out there that should definitely have reach, at least 1' if not the full 2". Then there is some warcasters and infantry that have reach and it makes you scratch your head as to why they have it.

I'm also wondering what will happen to my favorite models/units. With the general buff going towards jacks, I imagine the choir is going to get a little nerf of some sorts. The Guardian is my favorite warjack and I hope he doesn't lose all his cool abilities, especially critical pitch. I could go on and on about the various Menoth models but I'll keep it to a minimum.

I'm excited about the change and remain optimistic about it. Its a lot of work and I hope that Privateer and the community can make a good step forward in the game. Here's hoping for a good MK II.

Jacks and Beasts Never Rest

My arch nemisis CptCalvinus and I, sat down on Tuesday night to play a little Jacks and Beasts Never Rest. Its a format taken from this year's Templecon and I must say, this format rocks. If you don't know what it is, its a 750 point game with two warcasters/warlocks and up to 750 points of Jacks/Beasts. Mercs are allowed as long as they can work for your faction. You can use one epic and win conditions are the same as Mangled Metal. Plus, you can have one warcaster not take any warjacks at all and play a super solo. This is rather risky because if the other one dies, its game over due to the warjacks being inert.

We did use a few proxies in this game if anyone is wondering about it. The Hunters were a Renegade and Talon while the Thunderhead was a Mangler. Thorn was a Repenter and my Avatar was a Crusader...

My mercenaries collection is relatively small, with only 3 jacks, 2 solos, and 2 warcasters. Broadsides is my caster of choice because he brings a different play style than my Menoth casters. I decided to pair him with Kreoss for a one two punch of knockdown fun!

Kreoss

*Revenger
*Devout
**Avatar

Bart
*Mariner
*Mule
*Buccaneer

Vs.

Nemo
*Hunter
*Centurion
*Lancer

Haley
*Thorn
*Thunderhead
*Hunter

I'll try to keep this battle report shorter but can't promise anything. I won the starting roll and opted to go first. I set up Kreoss on the left with the Avatar and Revenger up front and the Devout to his right. Bart was set up on the right with the Buccaneer in the middle and the Mule and Mariner up front.

He deploys Haley on my left and Nemo on my right. The two Hunters are on both flanks and he forgot about their double control radius so they don't get deployed the full 22", he's a bit rusty after not playing for a while.


Starting off, I put retribution on the Avatar and protection of Menoth on the Revenger. All the jacks used a focus to run up save for the Devout. Looking back, I should've put ward on the Avatar to save him from being scrambled. Bart put Hotshot on the Mule and all the jacks ran up.

His turn now, he puts accelerate on the Centurion for 3 focus and ran the Centurion up. Both Hunters advanced the Nemo's took a shot at my Buccaneer doing a good bit of damage and almost taking out the right arm. The Avatar was scrambled and was shot at by the other hunter doing minimal damage and I forgot what the Thunderhead did. I think he just moved up.



Bart upkeeps Hotshot, gives one focus to the Mule and one to the Buccaneer. The Buccaneer tangles up the Centurion and the Mule manages to critically devestate the Centurion and Lancer. Bart moves up and casts Broadsides and the Centurion gets critically devestated again! The Mariner moved up and was out of range of the one Hunter... Doh. Meanwhile, Kreoss doesn't upkeep retribution but does upkeep protection of menoth. The Avatar activates and runs into a house. Kreoss cast immolation on the Hunter and misses the critical and does ok damage to it.

Haley gives three focus to the Thunderhead, two to the Hunter and one to Thorn. The Thunderhead moves up and shoots at the Avatar doing some good damage and it barely keeps its right arm. The Hunter shoots some more at the Avatar and does a little more damage. At this point, he was getting really bad attack and damage rolls. The other Hunter moved up and took a shot at the Mule doing some damage to it. The Centurion activated and was in melee range thanks to the Mule and the Devout got a defensive strike on him. Doing really good damage!! He gave four focus to the Centurion and thanks to defensive strike, missed all attack rolls. I think it was wrecked after this.



This is where I messed up, Bart activated before Kreoss and I didn't get to take advantage of all the stuff that was going to be knocked down. The Mule moved up and missed a shot on Nemo, the Mariner moved up but wasn't in base to base with Bart and just sat there. Kreoss went and popped his feat. The Avatar charged Haley's Hunter and made it dissapear.

Both Nemo and Haley popped their feat and all my jacks took minimal damage from it. The Avatar shot a Kreoss and was able to sink in six damage points and Haley rolled snake eyes with scramble. The remaining hunter took a shot at Bart and did about five damage.



Bart moved up and popped his feat while the Mule moved up and was able to get in melee range with Haley and Nemo and missed hitting Haley. The Mariner moved up and whiffed on the Hunter and the Buccaneer missed his net shot on the one Lancer. Kreoss then casted lamentation and tried to beat up on Thorn a little but failed to do significant damage. The Avatar rolled for two focus and charged the Thunderhead. It did some damage but not what I was hoping for.

Haley gave three focus to the Thunderhead and moved to get out of feat range of Bart. The free strike disabled two arms but it still shot at the Avatar only to miss two times. Nemo camped his focus and waited for the beat down.



Bart gave three focus to the Mule and beat down Nemo. He ended up dying to a few couple of hits and then the Avatar charged Haley and made short work of her. In the end, the game was very fun but I don't think I would've done so well if his rolls were even a tad bit better. We did have a visitor come and heckle us during the match....



And the heckler!!!!




Some thoughts after the match. This was the first time we used timed turns and they were set to 12 minutes. Neither of us broke the time limit but we did come close at times. Order of activation seems like the most problematic for me but I am getting better at it. I tend to get engrossed in the battle and forget to plan during my opponent's turn.

The Guardian of Sul

My Guardian is finally finished after months of working on it, on and off. I originally entered this model in the November monthly painting challenge and didn't realize how much work would go into him. I'm pretty satisfied with the end result and it was my first chance at painting freehand symbols. A quick shout out to the Brush Thralls for their tutorial on painting symbols. I don't know what it would've looked like if I hadn't used it.

Reznik survives....

Its that time to post my battle report from Saturday and I must say it was a grueling match. I ended up dropping the Deliverers and added a Paladin and Bosun Grogspar for a little more punch. Here was my final list:

Reznik 741/750 VPs: 28
*Hierophant
*Devout
*Revenger
*Repenter
*Castigator
Gorman
Reclaimer
Rupert
Vassal
Bosun Grogspar
Paladin of the Order of the Wall
Full Choir
Flameguard Cleansers 6
Temple Flameguard full unit with UA

My opponents List

Stryker 739/750 VPs: 26
*Squire
*Lancer
*Lancer
Strangeways
Gorman
Stormsmith x3
Black 13th
Precursor Knights full unit with UA
Sword Knights 8 with UA
*Jack Marshaling a Iron Clad

I had changed my Deliverers out before we rolled for scenario and this helped out a lot because we ended up rolling "Mudslide" for the scenario. My opponent made up his list after we had rolled for scenario. I didn't mind because I wanted to see how well I played against a list specific for the scenario and how a run of the mill, fun list would do.

My opponent won the starting roll and opted to go first. He deployed his Sword Knights in the middle towards the right and the Precursor Knights in the middle to the left. The two Lancers were on both sides of the two units. His Ironclad was behind the one Lancer next to the Sword Knights. Stryker was behind both units with the Squire next to him.

Side note, I'm really going to have to come up with a nickname for the squire because I see him all the time now. Toaster might be a good one, considering I've managed to get him on fire the last couple games and that tends to destroy him/she/it....

The last of his army consisted of the Black 13th lining up on the far right with Gorman behind them. The remaining Stormsmiths lined up on the right and two on the left and Strangeways parked behind the Ironclad.

My army had the Castigator in the middle, Revenger to the right of him, Repenter to the left of the Castigator, and the Devout behind the Castigator, next to Reznik. I deployed the Flameguard to Reznik's right, Cleansers to his left, and Ruphert next to the Flameguard. Bosun was on the far right flank and the Paladin was behind the Cleansers.

The first turn pretty much everyone walked up or ran depending if they were going into shield wall. I do believe the Sword Knight guy tried to drive the Ironclad and failed his command check and had to hang back by the Jack. Some arcane shield was casted on the Precursor Knights (we both forgot they can't be targeted by spells).

My turn saw me running up all my jacks save for the Devout and Reznik casting Zealot's Rage on the Castigator. All of my infantry ran up as well and Ruphert sang Heroic Call for the fun of it. I was trying to get the Castigator to attack the Precursor Knights because I knew the Sword Knights would wreck him quick. What I didn't realize was the Storm Knights didn't have CMA or reach and could've used combustion on them.

His turn he moved up everyone and ran the Stormsmith on my far left up almost across the mudslide. He then cast earthquake on the flameguard and that triggered witch hound so the Castigator and Repenter moved forward. The rest of his army moved forward and was a brick wall right in front of the mudslide.

My turn saw me advance my guys up and the Repenter took a shot at the Precursor Knights but came up short. The Castigator ran forward again and the Revenger ran up as well. I tried to Brand the Precursor Knights and that's when we remembered they can't be targeted by spells. The Flameguard advanced ( should've ran ) with March from Ruphert and used Iron Zeal. They were at the begining of the Mudslide about to take on the Ironclad and the Black 13th were within firing range. Bosun moved up trying to get in melee range of the Black 13th to tie them up for a round. I totally forgot about the Stormsmith triangle ability and didn't bother with the one Stormsmith on my left flank. I thought he was going for my wrack.

It was his turn now and he showed me just what that triangle ability does. He managed to wipe out all of my Cleansers, which were going to be handgrenades, and killed my Paladin as well. I wasn't expecting this and it was really well played. He almost won the scenario with the one Stormsmith on my side of the board but my Castigator was barely on his side. His Black 13th shot and killed Bosun and he survived with one tough roll and then died to the other. Ryan managed to get off Mage Storm and it wiped out 4 of my Flameguard. Stryker moves up behind the Precursor Knights and Sword Knights, chills on 6 focus and pops his feat.

I was in desperate need of trying to get someone across the board to stop the win condition. I decided to not upkeep zealot's rage and Reznik gave two focus to the Castigator and kept the rest for himself. The Choir sang infuse and the Castigator went up threw the one Lancer over the Precursor knights onto the Squire. With Stryker's feat up, the throw didn't do much damage at all. The Repenter moved up and sprayed some Precursor Knights and was able to get the Lancer and Squire in it as well. He did two damage to the Squire and one to the Lancer. The Repentor sprayed at the Lancer and caught it and the Squire on fire but didn't do any damage. Reznik casted Zealot's on himsel, then Hate Monger, and managed to charge a Precursor Knight and kill it. I then popped my feat so the Lancers wouldn't do anything and this wasn't such a good move because my turn was basically over.

I was sitting with zero focus and Stryker behind some barbed wire. Thankfully, Reznik was engaged still in melee range with reach and helped out on his defense against ranged attacks. The fire managed to destroy the Squire but went out on the Lancer. He then swarmed Reznik with his Precursor Knights, popping their min feat and beat him up pretty good, getting him down to 7 wounds. He forgot about the push back ability and probably would've won the game due to it. The Sword Knights demolished the Revenger and the Black 13th moved in toward Reznik on his side of the board. Stryker chilled out and kept his 6 focus.

Reznik activated and kept all 6 focus and then disengaged with the Knights and went over towards Stryker. Stryker was less than 3 inches away but not in melee range and Reznik was in rough terrain, so no Zealot's rage. The free strikes did nothing with him camping focus and he walked over towards Stryker hanging back behind terrain that gave him some more defense. I cast Hate Monger, rolled a 1 for initial attacks, needed a 11 to hit, boosted hit and damage, hit and then did 6 damage. I used my last focus for a desperation attempt to kill and missed the melee roll.

Reznik survived due to a Devout taking out a Sword Knight with defensive strike and Stryker rolled really poorly on his damage hits against Reznik. Now Stryker was sitting on no focus in Melee range with Reznik. I casted Hate Monger and rolled another 1 for initial attacks but did 14 damage on the first hit. After that, I bought another attack, boosted, and then Stryker was wracked.

In the end, it was a great game and very fun. In the future, the battle reports won't be so long and I hope to add some pictures.

Reznik at 750

I have another CTA match tomorrow and I'm certain its going to be 750 points. The problem is, a lot of my Menoth are warjacks and I don't have a lot of the standard infantry, like zealots and Idrians. If only the people on the main boards knew this, they would cry heresy, so don't tell them.

I'm planning on taking Reznik and his cast of characters.

Reznik 742/750 VPs: 28
*Hierophant
*Devout
*Revenger
*Repenter
*Castigator
Gorman
Reclaimer
Rupert
Vassal
Full Choir
Deliverers
Flameguard Cleansers 6
Temple Flameguard full unit with UA

This list is going to take up a lot of time and I probably won't be able to do all my activations in one turn. One thing I've noticed is by proxying models you get a feel for them but you can't use them in tournament play if you don't have them. I guess its time to buy those Idrians with UA or Zealots with Monolith Bearer.

I plan on taking my camera tomorrow for some cool pictures and hopefully a battle report on Sunday. Here's wishing myself good luck...

First CTA Match

Last Tuesday night, I had the chance to play in my first ever CTA match at my FLGS, which really isn't local, but I digress. I was playing Menoth and had my first game of the league against Cygnar. I originally wanted to play someone other than Cygnar because that's who I play on a weekly basis and was tired of getting thrashed.

My List:

Amon 490/500, VPs: 19
*Revenger
*Devout
*Castigator
*Crusader
Full Choir
Vassal
Gorman
Wrack

*NOTE* I only took one wrack because that's all I have assembled and no proxy's allowed in CTA.

My opponent was kind enough to take Darius, a warcaster I hadn't played against, and the match was 500 points. Since he was taking Darius, I thought I would bring my favorite monk, Amon. This is my first CTA league I've ever played in and didn't realize you had to roll for scenario (from what I read, its something new they implemented). I rather like this idea because it makes you bring a pretty balanced list. Unfortunately for my opponent, we rolled Mudslide for the scenario.

His List:

Darius 488/500 VPs: 17
*Halfjacks
*Centurion
*Hammersmith
*Ironclad
Journeyman
Aiyanna & Holt

The first turn saw me running my jacks up and then the choir sang "no shooty". Gorman threw some smoke and the Vassal put enliven on my Castigator. He then casted full throttle with Darius and ran up his jacks. The journeyman put arcane shield on Darius and Aiyanna and Holt moved up on my right flank.

The second turn saw me sandblast his Guardian with a critical, knocking him back a whopping 5 inches and then doing no damage on his Ironclad. The Vassal then put enliven on the Revenger and the choir sang "no shooty" again.

He proceeded to run up his Jacks again and then shot at my Revenger with Holt, which I forgot about "no shooty" but did remember enliven. This kept my jack safe and then his turn was over. He was in the edge of the mudslide in the middle of the board and I was right off of it.

I don't think he realized how mobile Amon can get his jacks and left Darius wide open for the charge across the rough terrain. I proceeded to set up the turn perfectly with Amon going into meditative stance and pulling a focus from a wrack. He used all eight focus and Darius was about to get thrashed. That is, until I forgot to use my feat and totally blew my turn.

My Crusader then tried to wreck a Hammersmith and started up the synergy spell. He did minimal damage and then he's turn was over. My Castigator still had enough speed to reach Darius and with Infuse and Synergy going, he was hitting on a +4 attack and damage rolls. I only needed fives to hit the marshmellow man and he took a good beating as his armor was up to 23 from arcane shield.

*Side Note* Amon's Synergy spell is +1 to attack and damage rolls per MODEL, not attacks.

My turn then ended and it was Darius' turn to throw down. At this point I forgot what really happened but I do know my opponent chewed up a lot of his clock time with activations and such. I also didn't realize Darius had dismantle and the poor Castigator was a wreck marker with Darius camping on two focus and then his turn was over.

With the Castigator being wrecked, it opened up a charge lane for Amon and the Devout. Amon upkept Synergy and then charged to only do minimal damage. I remembered to use my feat and then the Devout charged and killed Darius.

This match up totally favored Amon with the scenario being Mudslide and his ability to negate rough terrain. I would like to play against Darius in a good ole fashion Caster kill scenario and see what the fuss is all about.

Til next time...

Going Live!

I originally started a painting journal on my computer at home and it has now transfered over to this blog. The original intent of my journal was to keep me focused on what models to put together and paint. I'm hoping to share some pictures of my painted models, terrain making skills or lack there of, and some battle reports.

I'm currently playing the Proctectorate of Menoth and have roughly 1300 points. My second army is a small amount of Mercs, Talion Charter. I'm hoping to get in a good amount of games in the Call to Arms league being played right now, with Menoth being my faction of choice for this season.