Behind Monday's Top Ten

You have all seen it by now, for about the past two months (ok, a little short, but getting there!) Ive been doing a weekly post where I find the ten posts from within and beyond the FtW group, and link them for anyone who happens to read me and not them. Seeing as Im currently following over 130 blogs on that silly google reader thing, means there is PLENTY of choice.

So, what exactly do I do? The smart answer would be that I flag stuff throughout the week, and on Monday during the day I choose from them. But that is smart. I, however, get to work at 10pm, do the normal stuff to make sure everything is working fine, then scroll the reader back to my previous Top Ten, and start looking at posts from there up. Sometimes during the week Ill get smart and "star" something... but I usually dont do it. Ill go through, and open up things that look interesting, until I get to around Saturday's posts, then Im starting to run behind and just start looking for titles that catch my eye...

So, what do I look for? That all depends. As Ive stated before, its just what I find interesting. Maybe tactics, maybe nifty paint schemes. I do have a preference for Space Marines (Im sure no one saw that one coming!), but camo schemes will usually make the cut or get in the final 12. What doesnt make the cut? Rumors. Dont get me wrong, I love me some rumors, but there are MANY other sites that do it better (BoLS anyone?), and EVERYONE checks that, right? Opinion pieces are hit or miss. GW bashing usually gets left off. Ive bashed them plenty in the past, and occasionally they even deserved it. But, the best way to get new people playing isnt to say GW sucks and overcharges and cant do anything right. So, it doesnt make the list. Opinion on what makes a better game/player/army, is much more likely.

Once I get through the week worth of posts, Ive got about 20-25 webpages open. Now comes the hard part: cutting it to the final ten. Ill go through the list 3-4 times, and usually 6-8 will quickly become apparent as not making the grade, and get closed. From there, Ill either go for a theme, or cut things that are very similar to other entries, it depends from week to week.

Finally Ill be down to 10 entries... This is where it gets fun. Ill usually try to come up with a quick sentence describing the entry, and I always make sure to include the linked poster's name. That one is required to me. I dont want anyone to get the idea that Im linking them to something of my own work. People work hard on their models and posts, and deserve credit, both on their own blog and from us.

So, why am I posting this? Couple reasons. First, I cant believe Im the only one doing this. There has to be thousands of Warhammer and 40k related blogs, and no one person reads them all... at least I hope not, that person would never have time for painting! But I think others could do this just as easily, and get more people exposed to the general public, which means more stuff for me to read at work!

Think about it, What I find interesting isnt exactly the same as what you do, what would you post if it were you doing this? Who would get a bunch of hits in a single day that they wouldnt have if you did this?

Secondly, Im being dragged up to the Frozen North over the Easter weekend to visit the in-laws. They do have internet connection, so I might be able to bash it out, but Im probably going to be driving home Monday night. Im half considering seeing if anyone is interested in trying their hand at it, just to get a different view in... Maybe, we will see.

Oh, and this coming Monday is #8. I was half considering a Khornate theme... if anyone were trying to decide what to paint... ;)

Master Apothecary

Finally getting off my butt and writing this up... what do you think? He is there to enhance a squad, not be "uber" on his own. Points might be a bit high for what you get, but Id rather he be overpriced then under.

HQ CHOICE-
SPACE MARINE MASTER APOTHECARY.....100 pts
WS4 BS4 S4 T4 W2 I4 A2 Ld10 Sv3+

Unit type:
Infantry

Wargear:
Power Armor
Boltgun or Bolt Pistol
Frag and Krak Grenades
Narthicium
Chainsword

Special Rules:
And They Shall Know No Fear.
Combat Tactics
Independent Character

Options:
Replace Boltgun with:
-Plasma Pistol...+15 pts
-Stormbolter...+3 pts
Replace Chainsword with:
-Power Weapon...+15 pts
May have one of the following:
-Jump Pack...+25 pts
-Space Marine Bike...+35 pts

Where I am at...

So, Ive talked about the armies Ive collected over the years, I guess its finally time to list out what I actually have right now. Again, its only an army if its over 500 points... But I will put an approximate point value where I can.


40k- Space Marines, Im not going to list them all out, there are plenty of other posts on this blog that do that already. ;)
Chaos Marines
-Black Legion, 4-5k
-The Purge, 2250
Orks, 1500 plus two sets of Black Reach models awaiting daylight.
Imperial Guard, 1500, about 100 more models on sprues under my desk.
Eldar, 500


Fantasy-
Dark Elves, 750ish
Dwarfs, 3000
Chaos Mortals, 1000
High Elves, 500
Ogres, 1000
Skaven, 2000
Tomb Kings, 2000

...I keep moaning how I need to do a Fantasy army, dont I? Maybe I should dust off those Dwarfs...

This list might be getting pruned down, Im looking at trading off the Orks and Skaven.

Monday Top 10 #7

Once more, once more...

1. John's wicked "old school" Nurgle Rhino.
2. Simon paints his first 40k vehicle, looks tons better then mine did...
3. Im noticing a trend here, as Jawaballs talks about vehicle facing.
4. I have crappy dice rolls, so rerolls are essential for me, Adam talks more about rerolls.
5. We know I love me some camo, and Darkwing delivers.
6. Grendel has a great WIP Nurgle Daemon Prince, cant wait to see it painted!
7. Darksol examines the Sternguard Vets, and I learned something there!
8. Sidestreaker's Ultramarine assault squad...
9. ...and Blood Angel assault troops from Lone Pilgrim.
10. Last but not least, a cool looking piece of terrain that is actually useful for more then just cover, from Klaus.

Making History

A few years back, GW did the Eye of Terror campaign. What was most interesting to me wasnt the Imperial vs Chaos combat, but the Green Kroosade. The Green Kroosade was a bunch of greenskin players who decided that a certain part of the map was going to be green, and Gork help anyone who stood against them. Even now, long after the event ended, its still talked about, in the fluff and elsewhere.

Things in the Imperium can change. That has been seen, especially recently. The Emperor is dying, or dead. The Imperium is in its waining years. But GW wont roll the clock. I dont blame them one bit, they have years and years of background, and a formula that works. What happens if they change it, and everyone gets pissed and quits? So, they do the small changes that shows time marching on, but not changing the greater picture.

But, what about events like Armageddon, or the Eye of Terror? Hell, even Vraks could probably be counted. Events that give focus to games, make players think they are helping shape the Imperium, or tear it down.

I have an idea. Im sure everyone saw that coming. An event for those interested in pushing the borders of the Imperium, or pushing against the Imperiums borders. If enough interest was generated, and enough people participated, we might be able to get the history of 40k moving in an interesting direction. So, whats the background? Ten thousand years ago, the immortal Emperor of Mankind fought the Great Crusade to unite all man under his rule. He did so with the twenty Space Marine Legions, and (later) the Imperial Army.

"Thanks for the history lesson, now get to the point!"

What if someone called for a second Great Crusade? They are better prepared for it then they were ages past, they are starting from a million planets, instead of just one. They have the technology, the faith, and the leaders. If someone said "We are starting at Terra and going clockwise through the galaxy, and not stopping til we get back here!" they would clear plenty of breathing room for a few thousand years, cutting off several potential threats. Would they get all the outside threats killed off? No. Would it seriously change the face of the Imperium? Probably not. Would it be fun? Most likely. Maybe even cool enough to go down in 40k history...

Would this be something worth trying to get people involved in?

Where I have been...

Im thinking tonight is a post about armies gone by... Ive had many, many armies over the years, not many have come to good ends, but they have all contributed to the way I play my games. I think the easiest way is just going to be by system... I tried to list them by time frame and it just didnt work for me. So, Ill list army and the number of times Ive collected that army over the years. For it to count as an army, Im thinking at least 500 points assembled...

Fantasy -
Dwarfs, 2
Skaven, 2
Chaos.. lots?
-Mortals, 3-4
-Beasts, 2
-Messy 4th ed combined list, 2
Bretonians, 1
Empire, 2
Vampire Counts, 2
Tomb Kings, 1
High Elves, 1
Dark Elves, 1
Greenskins, 1-2
Lizardmen, 1
Ogre Kingdoms, 1

40k-
Chaos... lots!
-Black Legion, 2
-Night Lords, 1
-Iron Warriors, 1
-The Purge, 1
-Death Guard, 2
-Word Bearers, 1
Imperial Space Marines...lots!
-Blood Angels, 2
-Black Templars, 2
-Dark Angels, 1
-Space Wolves, 3
-Ultramarines, 1
-Imperial Fists, 1
-Assorted Home Grown, 5+
Eldar, 2
Dark Eldar, 1
Orks, 4
Necrons, 1
Tau, 2
Inquisition, 2
Imperial Guard, 3-4
Tyranids, 3

Epic 40k
Chaos, 1
Squats, 1

Necromunda-
Orlocks, 1
Goliaths, 1
Escher, 1

Mordheim-
Middenheimers, 1
Skaven, 1
Dwarfs, 1
Undead, 1

BFG-
Chaos, 1

GorkaMorka
Morkers, 1

Warmaster-
Chaos, 1

Lots of them, huh? I think thats over 15 years worth of work. Most of my models from before I joined the Air Force ended up in my Mom's garage, and eventually lost as she moved. To make matters worse, most of the models I picked up between joining and getting back from Korea were "lost" by my now ex-wife... Though I still have all the rulebooks and White Dwarf magizines from over the years, 185 of them as of right now.