Grukk Face-Ripper

So, figured Id keep this ball rolling with some of those pics I promised last week. Gonna start off with a look at my new Ork Horde, lead by none other than Grukk Face-Ripper himself. Such a fun model. 

I decided since there will likely be a lot of models in this army, to just go with the basecoat/quickshade method, so not a great paintjob, but gets the job done. 

More Random Fun

Ive got a few things I want to chew on with this post, so it may ramble a bit in places... like usual.

Tactical Analysis.
I was handed my second defeat with my Red Scorpions this weekend, and this time I cant blame the Orks or the terrain (at least not so much). Their record is now 3/2/1. So, why did I lose this time? Mikie getting better? Tactical mistakes? Bad dice? Bad list?

I think I can rule out the list, its served me well so far. For those that dont know, it looks something like this:

Chaplain with Jump Pack
Tactical Squad with Missile Launcher, Plasmagun, VSgt with Power Sword
Tactical Squad with Heavy Bolter, Flamer, VSgt with Power Fist, Stormbolter
Assault Squad (10) with 2 plasma pistols, VSgt with Power Fist, Plasma Pistol
Devastator Squad (6) with 2 Plasma Cannon, 2 Missile Launchers.

Dice certainly had an effect, mainly the one for reserves. That was roughly 30% of my force that didnt show up until it was too late to do anything. I think the main thing that lost it, was that I put the unit in reserve. I think that from now on, if I reserve the assault squad, Ill combat squad it, so I have a better chance of getting something, though I might just say forget it and have them deploy as usual.

Lizardmen.
I picked up the Lizardmen army book yesterday. Ive poked through it some, but not too much. Im planning on doing that tonight here at work. I used to hate them with a passion, mainly because of that horrific blue color scheme (Im from Arizona, our lizards are most definitely not blue). However, I picked up a Saurus commander a few years back, and painted him green with a bone colored underside, and Ive been half tempted to paint more that way as well... But I loathe the "Scooby Doo" Cold Ones... I havnt decided if they were as bad as the "reptilian cattle" cold ones that the Dark Elves had, but I didnt like either of them. Now the Dark Elves have sweet new Cold Ones, and the lizards are stuck with their crappy one. I also wasnt fond of the "Toad on a skipping stone" but that has grown on me, it doesnt look as bad as it used to. I might consider a foot saurus army for fantasy, if Keith and Mikie and I ever get around to it.

Warmachine/Hordes.
Ive got a decent chunk of Cryxian models for Warmachine, and a Cygnar starter set. Whats unusual for these forces of mine is that they are all painted or nearly all. Ive got a unit of the cyber-centaur things that need to be finished and thats it. Considering all the other painting projects Ive slacked off on, thats pretty amazing. I also like the rules and background for that game, so maybe Ill get Mikie or Keith to try it out.... or I could cart them over when Disorderly's Tyrant does his next get together thing.

Orks.
They have gotten the love from GW lately, havnt they? I have an opinion (who doesnt?) that everyone who is addicted to the game should have either an Ork army, an IG army, or maybe a Tyranid army, in addition to what ever they play (assuming its not normally one of those three). Why? In the background, the IG and Greenskins are the armies most likely to be faced by dint of quantity. If your forces are (by fluff) more towards the galactic east, then Tyranids are also likely to be faced. Id also add the Lost and the Damned to that list, if there was a current army list for them. If everyone ran something like one of those three every so often, we wouldnt see so many of these silly Space Marine vs Space Marine battle #43128. Anyways, playing my greenskins this weekend reminded me how fun they can be. Definite end game army, they get battered on the way over, and make me think they cant pull it off, then they get into melee, and remind me they not only can they win, they probably will.

Ok, time to go start drawing up my list for tomorrow's Monday Top Ten.

Weekend Gaming

Was a good weekend for my gaming table, lots of imaginary blood spilt all over it.

First game was my standard Red Scorpions list against Mikie's Tau. I think his list was a commander, a unit or two of Fire Warriors, those damnable Kroot, Pathfinders, and some sniper drones. I might be forgetting something. It was a Dawn of War Annihilation mission, and my Devastators and Assault squad were forced to come on late. I decided I wanted to give Deep Strike a shot, so I kept my Chaplain in reserve as well. That was a huge mistake. Game ended at 3KPs for me to 4KPs for him.

Lessons!
1. Deepstriking your assault squad with chaplain will guarantee they dont show up until turn 5. Of a 5 turn game.
2. Sometimes, its better to leave that Tac Squad in cover, and enjoy the long range firefight.
3. Crisis Suit Commanders do not like Krak Missiles.
4. Once again, I needed to be reminded that I shouldnt "Combat Squad" for an Annihilation game.

Second game was also against the Tau, but Mikie changed up the list a bit since I decided to dust off my Orks. I dont remember what exactly he changed, other then taking a second commander with bodyguard (and adding a bodyguard to the original commander) and dropping the Pathfinders and Sniper Drones.

My list was fairly simple (much like the Orks): Warboss, 2 units of 16 slugga boyz, 1 unit of 19 slugga boyz, 1 unit of 20 shoota boyz, 1 unit of 15 'ard boyz, 1 unit of 5 Lootas, a unit of 5 Burnas, and a Looted Wagon (leman russ variety). 98 models in a 1k game. Brutal.

Game went pretty much as expected, I got blasted to bits on the way over, but once I got there, it got messy. He had deployed his objective inside the keep thing on the table, and while it funneled the boyz that made it there, it didnt help him as much as it should have. Blast markers would have been great of him there. In the end he tried to run his Kroot onto my objective, but my Lootas "convinced" them that was a bad idea, and I won.

Lessons:
1. An Ork Warboss with a Big Choppa is insane. Instant Death'ing two Crisis Suit Bodyguards in a single charge insane.
2. The Warboss should NOT join the 'Ard Boyz as they walk up front soaking fire.
3. Shoota boyz shouldnt laugh so hard when charged by Kroot, they lost and died.
4. Rum does make a game of 40k more amusing, but that subway sandwich gave me heartburn that ruined it.

I might play my Orks more often, and hopefully paint them too. I keep getting "Latex Lads" jokes (I accidentally primed some of them with a can of gloss black paint).