Tables and Scenery and possibly a Campaign!

Ive been planning on building a gaming table for a few years now, but lack of a steady opponent, finances, and plain laziness have all conspired to keep me from actually doing it.

So, with my recent decision to finally get playing more often this year, I talked with Mikie about possibly start a campaign, just a few games every other week or so, and I realized that Id probably flake out on games held elsewhere, as usual... obvious answer is to have the games come to me! In order to not look like a total asshole here, I will point out that Mikie drives about an hour from where he lives to where we are, and he has that spiffy hybrid. So, it really doesnt matter for him if he is going to be playing at the mall, at the Glen Burnie Bunker, or at my apartment.

Now I need a table for sure! One of the times I was at Costco recently I noticed a 6x4 folding card table. Thats a good start, but a card table isnt the ideal surface for a game of 40k, is it? Im thinking that get the table, then pay a visit to Lowes and get a sheet of plywood, either 6x4, or two 3x4, and set it/them on the card table. Should be good enough unless we are attacked by the dog... Im still trying to decide if I want to properly base it, or just pick up some fabric from the cloth store and lay it over everything. Advantages to doing that are its quicker, I can get multiple sheets to show different types of terrain, and its ultimately disposable (for when I finally move away from MD).

I will also have to build some terrain, but this wont be so much of a pain, as raw materials are plentiful and easily accesable... and I can tell Mikie that he has to make some of his own!

No real ideas on the campaign yet, but he plays Tau, Necrons, and Tyranids. Maybe the Zeist campaign? ;)

It pays to read all the options...

So, I was playing with ArmyBuilder earlier today, putting in the entire Crusade.... and discovered that there are two models in my Imperial Fists that are not legal after all. Two of my Veteran Sergeants had lightning claws, and needed to be relocated. Unfortunately, the only place they could go was a command squad, since one was carrying a bolter, and the other had a stormbolter. Ive relocated a few veterans to take over as command until I decide what to do.

And, the thing I wanted to know, and am sharing... the total point value for that list (with the LC Sgts moved) is 9177 points. That is NOT including the unpainted Black Reach marines. So, Im within spitting distance of the mythical 10k points....

ALSO!! I took pictures of the whole group.... and then realized that when my wife took her computer with her to visit her parents, she probably took the camera cord with her. So, Ill add the pictures after she gets back this weekend.

The Current Crusade Roster

So, killing time at work has gotten me this, a full list of what I currently possess as far as the space marines Im adding to my Crusade. Unless otherwise noted, all squads are 10 models strong.

Imperial Fists
Captain w/ Terminator Armor, Power Weapon, Combi-plasma
Captain w/ Power Weapon, Storm Shield
Captain w/ Power Weapon, Bolt Pistol
Command Squad w/ Company Champion, Apothecary, Banner Bearer, 3 Power Swords, 1 Power Fist
Razorback w/ Twin Heavy Bolters
Chaplain w/ Terminator Armor, Storm Bolter, Crozius
Chaplain w/ Crozius, Bolt Pistol
Librarian w/ Bolt Pistol, Force Weapon
Tactical Squad w/ Plasma Cannon, Plasmagun, Power Fist, Plasma Pistol
Tactical Squad w/ Heavy Bolter, Plasmagun, Power Fist
Tactical Squad w/ Flamer, Plasma Cannon, Lightning Claw
Tactical Squad w/ Lascannon, Meltagun, Lightning Claw, Storm Bolter
Tactical Squad w/ Meltagun, Heavy Bolter, Power Sword, Combi-Melta
Tactical Squad w/ Lascannon, Plasmagun, Power Weapon
Assault Squad w/ 2 Plasma Pistols, Thunder Hammer
Devastator Squad (5) w/ 4 Missile Launchers
Terminator Squad w/ Cyclone Launcher, 1 Chainfist
Dreadnaught w/ Assault Cannon
Dreadnaught w/ Twin linked Autocannon
Predator w/ Autocannon, Heavy Bolters,
Techmarine w/ Servo-harness, Storm Bolter, Power Weapon
Servitors (4) w/ 2 Heavy Bolters
Vanguard Veterans (8) w/ Bolt Pistols, Chainswords, 1 pair Lightning Claws, 2 Power Weapons

Red Scorpions
Captain w/ Power Weapon, Plasma Pistol
Chaplain w/ Jump Pack, Crozius, Bolt Pistol
Tactical Squad w/ Missile Launcher, Plasmagun, Power Weapon
Tactical Squad w/ Heavy Bolter, Flamer, Power Fist, Storm Bolter
Devastator Squad (6) w/ 2 Missile Launchers, 2 Plasma Cannons

Ultramarines
Captain w/ Lightning Claw, Storm Bolter
Tactical Squad w/ Missile Launcher, Meltagun, Power Fist, Plasma Pistol

Black Templars
Terminator Squad (5) w/ Assault Cannon, 1 Chainfist

Dark Angels
Master w/ Combi-plasma
Tactical Squad (5) w/ Meltagun, Power Fist
Tactical Squad (5) w/ Plasmagun, Power Sword
Deathwing Terminator Squad w/ Assault Cannon, 2 Lightning Claws, 1 Thunder Hammer + Storm Shield

Silver Skulls
Captain w/ Power Sword, Storm Bolter
Tactical Squad w/ Missile Launcher, Flamer
Scout Squad w/ 5 Sniper Rifles, 3 Bolters, 1 Heavy Bolter, 1 Combi-plasma, Camo Cloaks

Angels of Purity
Captain w/ Power Weapon
Command Squad w/ Company Champion, Apothecary, Banner Bearer, 1 Power Fist, 1 Power Weapon, 1 Flamer
Razorback w/ Twin Lascannons
Librarian w/ Force Weapon, Bolt Pistol
Tactical Squad w/ Meltagun, Plasma Cannon, Power Fist
Tactical Squad w/ Heavy Bolter, Plasmagun, Stormbolter
Tactical Squad w/ Missile Launcher, Plasmagun, Power Fist
Tactical Squad w/ Flamer, Heavy Bolter, Power Fist
Terminator Squad (5) w/ Assault Cannon, 1 Chainfist
Land Raider Crusader w/ Storm Bolter
Scout Squad w/ Bolt Pistols, Combat Knives, Heavy Bolter, Power Fist
Predator w/ Twin Lascannons, Heavy Bolters, Storm Bolter
Land Speeder w/ Assault Cannon, Heavy Bolter

Gatecrashers
Captain w/ Power Weapon, Bionics
Command Squad w/ Terminator Honors, Apothecary, Banner Bearer, Company Champion, 1 Meltagun, 1 Thunder Hammer
Crusader Squad w/ Meltagun, Power Fist
Crusader Squad (9) w/ Meltagun
Crusader Squad (9) w/ Meltagun

Undecided...
Captain w/ Power Sword, Bolter
Tactical Squad w/ Flamer, Missile Launcher
Tactical Squad w/ Flamer, Missile Launcher
Terminator Squad w/ Heavy Flamer
Dreadnaught w/ Multimelta

These Undecided are the models I got from the Black Reach box set, or in trade. About half of them are assembled, and Im currently thinking about adding the tactical squads to the Silver Skulls, since they also have the BfM models from 4th edition.

Im not sure how many points this is, and am half afraid to add it all up, but for FO slots, it works out to 15 HQ, 23 Troops, 8 Elites, 3 Fast Attack, and 4 Heavy Support. See what I mean about troops and HQ being fine, but needing the other stuff?

I think my first goal is to finish painting most of this stuff. 95% is base colors at the very least, about 50% is completely painted. The Fists have the most models unfinished, since yellow gets annoying to paint fast. As far as adding models, I think I want to make sure each chapter has an HQ, 2 troops, 1 elite, 1 FA, and 1 HS. That should ease my troubles with those slots.

Once I get those two things done, Ill look into adding units to different chapters as I feel like it, and maybe even adding another chapter to the mix: I want a captain and crew on bikes... and not the White Scars.

Oh, and yes, the Red Scorpion Battle Company project is still on!

Inspiration strikes when least expected

My Red Scorpions are not my first Space Marine army, nor my second or third... Not even in the single digits even.

I was bored of looking at models that were finished, but didnt want to deal with the Dark Elves, and none of my other Fantasy armies were more inciting, so I made more room on the shelf, and set up my Imperial Fists, and then the Blue/White marines that I cant decide between making my own chapter (Angels of Purity) or just calling the Marines Errant. Once they were up, I pulled out the other marine models I had laying around and set them up as well... Dark Angels, Ultramarines, Black Templars, Silver Skulls, even the severly battle damaged Gatecrashers. In the end, not far from 300 models set up. The sizes of my different forces varies dramaticly, from nearly a full battle company of Imperial Fists, to a single terminator squad of the Black Templars. As I was looking at the shelf starting to groan under so many models, it hit.

I should build a Crusade Force!

I know I was already planning on something along those lines, but when I wrote that, I didnt think to use what I have, I was more interested in justifying buying new models (and what good gamer doesnt do that often?).

So, the first question was "Is everything legal?". Yes... Maybe. The one group that was questionable is the Gatecrashers. That collection is a captain, command squad, and three squads of bolt pistol-chainsword psychos, each with a single meltagun. Legal with the old book, with traits... not so much now, unless I take them as foot assault squads and relocate the meltaguns. But that means I need to buy tac squads, and transports. My other option for them is to move them over to using the Black Templars book. Seeing as I also have Dark Angels in my Crusade, thats not too much of a big deal... Hell, Ive got a squad of BTs too! I can go Crusade with two different books!

The second question was "Should I base this off of existing fluff, or make something up?' I was starting to lay out the basics of making something up, when I pulled out the Black Reach space marines, and was considering tossing them in with the single squad of Ultramarines, but since Ive already got a captain, I didnt have much to do with the BR one... THATS the moment inspiration stuck its tongue in my ear. Im looking at two space marine captains, and I think "Wasnt there a big-ass crusade in the new Space Marine codex? Something with the Ultramarines involved?"

Yes, yes there is. The Zeist campaign was spearheaded by Captain Sicarius, involved around 30 chapters. Know how many are specificly named? Nine. Oh, and I already have models for one of those... So, I have about twenty possibilities to play with, and six forces willing to join in.

So, I can add Sicarius (not a bad looking model) as my over all commander, and cherry pick different chapters to paint units for. One part thats a mix of blessing and curse is that I tried to make each of these a viable force individually, so I have an over abundance of tactical squads (between 16-19, depending on what I decide on the Gatecrashers), and a pair of Scout squads, so I have plenty of troop choices for three or four Force Org charts, but specialists tend to be a bit thinner on the ground. Ill probably have to make up for that over time. (See! Justifying buying new models!)