Inquisitorial Mandate: Information on the Heretic known as Jonathan

Citizen! You have been identified as a person of interest in relation to the Heretic known as Jonathan!

This Heretic was identified upon entry to an EE (Empyric Elite) communications outlet on Glorious Terra! carrying 'fake' pict feeds from the world of Yrlan's Rest, in relation to a Heretic Insurgency. We of His Holy Ordos have removed said images, under the guise of routine maintenance, lest your soul be corrupted by such lies, and capturing the heretic in the process!

You may put your mind at rest knowing that no battle took place.  The world is not in danger. We are here to protect you.

Please report to the nearest Arbites precinct to await Inquisitorial commendation at resisting the presence of such a heretic in our midst. Any further information you may give will help root out further ner'do wells. There will be munitorum approved cake.

The Emperor Protects

Ordo Hereticus Inquisitor
Luther D'Angelus

Narrative Battle Report: Slaughter at Yrlan's Rest Part 3 - The Lists

Hello again everyone!

Now that I've got that story rambling out of the way it's onto the precursor to the main event: Khorne Daemonkin with Renegade Knight Allies Vs The Grey Knights. This was an 1850pt Battle.

So without further ado,  let's look at the lists!

Khorne Daemonkin:
 +++ Garak Gorebiters hoard +++

++ Combined Arms Detachment (Chaos Khorne Daemonkin v2000) (976pts) ++
Rules: Ideal Mission Commander, Objective Secured (Troops)

+ HQ (160pts) +

········Chaos Lord, Axe of Khorne, Collar of Khorne, Plasma Pistol, Power Armour, Sigil of Corruption

+ Elites (140pts) +

········Blood crushers,  3x Bloodcrushers, Upgrade one Bloodcrusher to Bloodhunter

+ Troops (281pts) +

········Berserker s,   7x Bezerkers
············Bezerker Champion,  Bolt Pistol, Chainaxe

········Chaos Cultists 7x Cultists
············Cultist Champion,  Autopistol

········Chaos Cultists,  7x Cultists
············Cultist Champion, Autopistol

+ Fast Attack (170pts) +

········Heldrake,  Baleflamer

+ Heavy Support (225pts) +

········Helbrute [Multi-Melta, Powerfist]

········Skull Cannon

Created with BattleScribe (http://www.battlescribe.net)

+++ New Roster (Warhammer 40,000 7th Edition v2006) (820pts) +++

++ Allied Detachment (Chaos Renegade Knights v2000) (820pts) ++

+ Lord of War (820pts) +

········Renegade Knight (Litany of Destruction)
················Ion Shield
················Heavy Stubber
················Ironstorm Missle Pod
················Reaper Chainsword
················Thunderstrike Gauntlet

········Renegade Knight (Rote of Damnation)
················Ion Shield
················Avenger Gatling Cannon
················Heavy Flamer
················Heavy Stubber
················Thermal Cannon
················Twin Icarus Autocannon

Created with BattleScribe (http://www.battlescribe.net)

+++ GK (1849pts) +++

++ Combined Arms Detachment (Grey Knights: Codex (2014) v2000) (1849pts) ++

+ HQ (315pts) +

········Librarian, Domina Liber Daemonica, Nemesis force halberd, Psyker [ML 3], Storm bolter

········Librarian, Bone Shard of Solor, Nemesis force halberd, Psyker [ML 3], Storm bolter

+ Troops (609pts) +

········Terminator Squad (203pts)
············3x Terminator, 3x Nemesis force halberd
············Terminator, psycannon, Nemesis force halberd,  Psycannon
············Terminator Justiciar, Nemesis Daemon hammer

········Terminator Squad (203pts)
············3x Terminator, 3x Nemesis force halberd
············Terminator,  psycannon, Nemesis force halberd, Psycannon
············Terminator Justiciar, Nemesis Daemon hammer

········Terminator Squad (203pts)
············3x Terminator,  3x Nemesis force halberd
············Terminator, psycannon, Nemesis force halberd, Psycannon
············Terminator Justiciar,  Nemesis Daemon hammer

+ Fast Attack (230pts) +

········Stormraven Gunship, Hurricane bolter s,  Twin-linked assault cannon, Twin-linked multi-melta

+ Heavy Support (450pts) +

········Nemesis Dread Knight,  Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon,  Nemesis greatsword and power fist, Personal teleporter

········Nemesis Dread Knight,  Heavy Incinerator, Heavy Psycannon, Nemesis greatsword and power fist,  Personal teleporter

+ Lord of War (245pts) +

········Kaldor Draigo (245pts)

Created with BattleScribe (http://www.battlescribe.net)

So chaos might be considered to be at a disadvantage in relation to points but with two renegade knights this should be quite the dust up! Can Draigo and the grey knights stop Garak Gorebiter from summoning his patron Bloodthirster, and sacrifice another world to Khorne?

Find out in part 4!

Jonathan

Narrative Battle Report: Slaughter at Yrlan's Rest Part 2

Hi Everyone,
Following on from yesterday's entry we have part 2.  Hope you enjoy.

*  *  *

Everything flashed into the brightest shade of blue-white. Control panels screamed warning claxons moments before their screens exploded into flames.  Chapter serfs ran in semi-panicked directions before their mental conditioning kicked in,  as one moving to bring the inferno now raging in the Astropathic Choirs' Coliseum.

Screaming echoed from the lofty heights above. Most of the overhanging astropath thrones were occupied,  their incumbents unaware of the fire spreading slowly from one to the next.  They were slowly burning one by one.

Codicier Suor'kah'peth entered the coliseum from under the choir masters pulpit in the middle of room. Runic wards glowed from every surface as the warp tried to force its way into the material realm through the minds of the astropaths. Suor'kah'peth watched impassively as the Chapter serfs one by one gave the Emperor's Mercy to each of the astropaths who's Runic Wards had begun to burn a firey red.  Hitting a Vox comm on the wall the Codicier gave the word to the bridge that an emergency exit from the warp was required.

Time stopped. It always felt like this for Suor'kah'peth. Reentry always felt differently to each of his brothers, not painful or discomforting,  but for the Codicier a moment of peace before the enevitable storm soon to follow.

With a burst of sickly light,  the Titans Rage exited the Immaterium. The Battle Barge dragged contrails of pure emotion behind in its wake. It had arrived in the Yrlan's System...

*  *  *

Suor'kah'peth strode with purpose into the Strategium having ensured that all those astropaths almost tainted by the warp had been dispatched. The Codicier wiped his gloves on a folded tabard from his belt,  a few extra astropaths having been given the Emperors Mercy just in case by his own hands. Less than 70% of the choir remained.  Suor'kah'peth walked towards his brother Company Champion Benefalan.  "Brother,  it is done.  The pacification is complete. Do we know what happened to the wards?"
"I do not know brother", the flickering light from 10,000 candles refracted across his shining silver armour. . His bulk was massive in Tactical Dreadnought Armour,  the runes of warding engraved on every surface had been only just painstaking repaired since his last battle.

The gods of war stared deeply into the turning light of the Strategium hololith as it spun focused on the primary world of seven planet system. "There are no in system contacts Codicier" Benefalan rumbled,  "No system picket ships no, no PDF communiques,  no astropathic songs either. This system seem dead".

Suddenly the doors to the Strategium burst open, a chill wind following inside that even made the Transhuman warriors shiver,  "Its not quite dead yet my brothers, we have work to do" came a calm yet deep voice.  Codicier Suor'kah'peth spun around force staff at the ready, his strike did not fall.

"Supreme Grand Master Draigo...!"

*  *  *

Narrative Battle Report: Slaughter at Yrlan's Rest Part 1

Hi everyone,

So I thought I'd try and start some narrative battle reports for the blog. . This will follow in 3 parts,  an intro for each army and the battle report itself. . Hope you enjoy.

*  *  *

Smoke and dust drifted lazily on the wind, aimlessly floating through the winding alleyways of the Manufactorum District. The morning suns were breaking upon the horizon,  rays of light splitting iridescently through the the tumbling particles in the air.

It could almost be serene. But it was not quiet.  Muffled moans and screams could almost be heard floating in the background,  as the unmanned machines continued to clank and churn from the shells of broken buildings.

Pain throbbed in the air. Garak Gorebiter lifted the commissar off his feet,  eye to eye with the Khorne Lord.  Hot putrid breath steamed out from the base of the Lords helmet.  The last thing the commissar saw was the helmet split vertically into a horrendous maw as it clamped onto this head. With one swift yank, Garak ripped the commissar's skull out of his skin, the white bone glistening as it cracked. Garak strode imperiously to the nearby shrine,  lifting his latest victim overhead to pour the hot viscera over the shattered emblem of the false imperium.

Reality buckled.  Sickening light poured from the floor tearing up the side of the shrine.  First to appear was the great cavalry of the Blood God, roaring past Garak. They did not stop. Splitting wider and wider a Mighty Skull Cannon of Khorne raced into the material realm,  but it was not the last to follow.  Tearing as high as the Manufactorums rising all around a God of War tore itself from the warp. Khorne had indeed blessed Garak as first pulling itself from the tear in reality came Rote of Damnation, and finally Litany of Destruction!  With a mighty blare of their War Horns the Renegade Knights strode to war upon the surface of Yrlan's Rest...

*  *  *

Part 2 arrives tomorrow,  who will the Daemonkin face...?

The New Year Plan... Or lack thereof...

Hi again everyone,

I find myself on a cold Halloween night, brush twiddling between my fingers (not actually painting anything...),  thinking about what the new year will bring for me and my hobby (not that this will be up on Halloween... my scheduling skills still need some work).  I've begun to take stock of this year,  what I have done and think, could it have been better? Did I manage to achieve everything I set out to do?

No. Hobbyists' never seem to reach the lofty heights of truly believing they have completed or achieved everything they wanted to. (I blame Games Workshop and all those damn fine models...). But in my case as in many other boring real life seems to get in the way. So it's time to prepare myself to trim the fat set serious goals for the year ahead. . To this end I've come up with a plan...

OK maybe not so cunning... 

1. Set the target

I am provisionally down to attend a tournament in February next year being run by the brilliant Dave Weston over at Confessions of a 40k Addict (www.40kaddict.uk) (go check it out).

Dave first came to my attention when I started to attend the Blog Wars 40k tournaments run by Alex over at fromthefang.blogspot.co.uk (also definitely worth a read if you haven't stopped by). And with no word on whether Alex currently will be running an event until likely mid year,  I've set my sights on Dave's event.

I love running different armies at each event I go to,  and though not the most fiscally sound decision,  I will likely need a new army to play for the event.

2. The Faction

Currently at previous events I have run Necrons,  Dark Angels and Chaos Space Marines. I had intended to run Khorne Daemonkin at the most recent Double Trouble Event run by Alex at from the fang,  but unfortunately real life scuppered that.

Though I didn't run my KDK at double trouble I'm ready for a new painting challenge,  now I just need to decide what to do (which is harder than it seems with Thousand Sons almost all but confirmed and Sisters of Battle taunting us from afar...

So depending on what gets released between now and Christmas will determine what faction I will have a crack at.

3. Additional Tools 

I have been flirting with the idea of getting an airbrush to try out.  I am enamoured by the effects one of my regular 40k buddies,  John Causton can achieve with an airbrush. His craftworld eldar,  which he recently took to No Retreat in Gibraltar (run by SN Battle Reports),  taking away several painting wins for single miniature and single vehicle, are at the level only some of us can dream to be at. . They look gorgeous to play against,  and are deadly to boot across the table.

I am in no illusion that I will be able to reach these sort of lofty levels,  but if it helps batch painting units it will go a long way to getting myself ready for February.

4. Other things to do 
So with all of the above in mind I think it would be great to try some of the below as well,  and might make for some interesting reading for everyone here:

- My Airbrush Journey; Day by Day entries on my experiences with Airbrush painting,  and possibly some tips from other airbrush users.

- Faction Progression Log; Once I've a faction,  small updates on how they are progressing and what I will be actioning next.

- Battle Reports; Dependant on availability I might get some test battle reports completed in the new year before the tournament,  however depending on how long my army takes this might get pushed back to later in 2017.

- Thoughts on whether to run my own event...; This is a big one,  and I've not put a lot of thought into it yet,  but seeing Dave Weston running a birthday tournament makes me think about doing one as well,  especially as I turn 30 this year and it would be great to see if I could do something mad like this too. Maybe I'm mad,  maybe not,  will have to see how the cards fall on this one.  I have a good relationship with the owner of the local independent retailer so maybe I could sort something there...

5. The Hardest part of all

Paint one unit at a time!  Don't get distracted by all the shinies! 

So what does everyone think? Any ideas on my next faction to build and paint? Anything else you would like to see on the blog?
Let me know in the comments.

Until next time
Jonathan

Bloodreavers: Khorne Cultists in 40k

Greetings Gentle folk!

Today I'm going to be talking about my experiences with using Bloodreavers from Age of Sigmar as stand-in models for Chaos Cultists in Warhammer 40k, specifically when I am playing Khorne Daemonkin.

Looking back upon the release of the first cultists for Chaos that came with the 6th Edition Starter Set, the world was awed by the new sculpts, I myself was one of them, the sculpts for all the Chaos models in the set were amazing.

And yet, upon the release of the Age of Sigmar starter set with the new Bloodreavers, the 40k Cultists started to look a little bit weedy, especially for the scions of Khorne.  Now don't get me wrong, I still think the 40k cultists are great models, and should be used in my opinion for Nurgle (unless they make fat pustulent cult models), Tzeentch and Slaanesh.  However for Khorne the presence they hold just isn't quite the same.  Khorne models should be egregiously muscle-bound, including the trusty cultists.

So I have turned to the Bloodreavers as my go to cultists models for when I am playing my Khorne Daemonkin.  Now as you can see in the images below I haven't converted any of the base models to have autoguns, but this seems very easy to accomplish.  A quick search on Google should help you out if you want to get your hobby knife out.

Isn't his tan just awesome 😝

So what do I do about the shooting phase then, when all my mini dudez are toting knives and axes? I'll tell you... NOTHING!!!
Khorne is most pleased when blood is shed in the joy of close combat when you can see the light fade from your enemies eyes, their head arcing through the air as you claim another skull for the Skull throne!!!!

Hmmm... Might have gone off on one there....

Anyways getting back to the cultists, aesthetically they will slot straight into your Daemonkin army, will similar sizing and themes.  Now I hear you say, "but, but, they aren't on the correct basing size!!!" and yes you're right, when compared to their 40k counterparts.  However from the games I have played so far, the base size has played little to no difference in their survivability or ability to attack a unit.  Blast templates have covered a comparable amount of units, for if each model is 2in apart they will still get hit by both small and large blast templates.  If anything being on the larger base sizes have made it easier to hit my dudez more accurately compared to the smaller!

Another benefit of using the Bloodreavers are that they are currently sold as a larger unit compared to buying cultists on their own piecemeal (Yes I know eBay may be cheaper but not everyone is comfortable or capable of buying models in this way). Therefore you can increase the quantity of cultists you can get a hold, of for less cost overall.  And you really need cultists for Daemonkin, their survivability, and damage output should always be a bonus to the free walking blood tithe point that they are, so keep 'em cheap and small to maximise on the potential for more blood tithe.

Plus there is nothing quite so hilarious as sacrificing a Cultist champion to bring a Bloodthirster onto the field, and if you're very lucky, multiple bloodthirsters over the course of a game!

The plucky lil stabby dudez have served me well so far, and I will continue to use them cackling maniacally as they die for my benefit!


Shameless plug image for bloodhound and Daemonkin project.... 

What ideas have you got for substitute models? Have any AoS models crossed over to 40k or vice versa for you? If you have any how are they working out?  Bonus points for quick and easy conversions! Let us know in the comments.

Until next time
Jonathan

Whispers from the Warp -Sisters of Battle

Hello Again ladies and gents,

Just a quick one today as I came across a possible (might be already mentioned) rumour. WARNING TAKE WITH SALT! Link included below.

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/319188-the-future-of-sisters/page-15

Please remember this is not specifically a rumour blog, only added as it seemed interesting to find post reading the Adepta Sororitas codex.

Credit to original source Jacinda on The Bolter and Chainsword.

Until next time
Jonathan

Thoughts on Leadership in 40k

Hi Everyone!

It's been a bit of a while since I posted, with many things in work life and home life getting in the way of hobbying the blog took a bit of a step back.  But I have returned today so that we can speak about the lowly step child stat of 40k:  The Leadership Value.

Now I will try and avoid as much as possible the ground trod in relation to ATSKNF; I think we are all aware that as a rule it needs an overhaul of some sort, due to its mitigation of so many USRs.  However it came to me as a thought, what is the point of leadership these days? Has the potential of this stat been lost?
Leadership feels less about leading and more about how to save your skin and running away...

So why have leadership in the first place? In the Grim Darkness of the Far Future only crazy ass lunatics can get anything done? Right?

Wrong.  The 41st Millennium is full of stories of the little guys plucking up the courage to get what needs to be done, done. But there are also plenty of examples of big characters making mistakes and making bad leadership choices.  This is the underlying principle of leadership.  Everyone has different psychological reactions under pressure (except for Khorne Berserkers... dem biatches be cray cray).  And so we have our leadership value.

Pinning Checks, Moral Checks, ad nauseum all should still be impacted by the leadership value.  How these are used is fine in my opinion at the moment with the exception of the quantity of morale boosting abilities.  The use of morale debuffs currently within the game has been neutered.

But what if Leadership had another use? A very important use especially in these days of formations and faction specific detachments?  Leadership rolls now feel merely a way to keep your units where you want them at that time.  Which is realistic except for those situations for example where a courageous guardsman stands up and bayonets a daemon prince all because he had the courage. Leadership should do cool things to help units.  Also I say to you, how would our games be impacted if the extra abilities of the formations was linked to the leadership value?

Now I can hear some rattling of sabres in the background but hear with me.  Leadership would have a significant impact say if I was using the hammer of caliban formation.  I want to use monster hunters usr on a unit of carnifexes, but my techmarine must roll to see if the order goes through.  I fail, I lose the ability.  Maybe those carnifexes survive a little bit longer? Maybe they get into close combat and rip me to shreds...

Obviously some inherent abilities wouldn't need this check.  I can’t imagine a Chaos Lord shouting at his raptors to "Get Scarey!!!" to cause fear for example.  They just are. Now I know this treads on some of the gameplay mechanics of guard at present, however all armies issue orders.  Some leaders are better than others getting stuff done.  Sometimes no matter how good you are as a leader your men just won't do what you want, or do it badly....

What do you think?  Does this fall down when in use? Does the idea of more dice rolls fill you with terror? (Take a Moral Check 😝)

Let me know in the comments
Until next time
Jonathan

Imperial Knights Renegade: Rote of Damnation - A WIP

Hi Everyone!

Quick one today as I will be getting ready to disappear off on my holidays soon! There will be a bit of a post drought while I'm away but, hopefully I should be able to get some further articles scripted up in my downtime while I'm away.  I definitely want to have a think about all the rumours coming through about Primarchs returning to the 41st Millennium, what might this mean for the setting and what it means from a gaming standpoint.

Anyways, I've had a few hours to crack on with the second Renegade Knight that came with the Imperial Knights Renegade box set and you can see below where I have managed to get to so far.

As I mentioned in the previous Renegade article with Litany of Destruction this is his new buddy Rote of Damnation!  As you can see Rote has been very easily converted to include spikes from his pauldrons.  This was unashamedly stolen from a conversion article online (think it may have been Bolter and Chainsword, but I forget right now).  If you want to try the same just clip some of the minarets off from the sanctum imperialis set and glue to the pauldrons, when I completed this they sat very flush without any extra unnecessary cutting, but just be aware to check before sticking them in place.

I have been trying to keep the use of colours similar to keep them thematically tied, but with a slightly different twist, with Rote being a Renegade Mechanicus Knight.  I'm not too sure yet about the use of orange as an extra spot colour as I have used with Litany, so let me know what you think in the comments.

And finally both Litany of Destruction and Rote of Damnation side by side ready to take the pain to the filthy loyalists! I'll update once they are both finally, finally finished 😝.

Until next time
Jonathan

Tzeentch: Why all the Surfin' Bird?

Good Morning Everyone,

Today we will be looking at the Great Deceiver Himself, Tzeentch.
(Note I do this article of my free will... A finger is not pointed at my head ready to cast Doombolt...)

So to start things off, if you are confused on what Surfin' Bird is please follow the link below... Play it on repeat I bet you'll love it 😀. (let me know if the link doesn't work...)

https://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.youtube.co.uk/watch%3Fv%3D2WNrx2jq184&ved=0ahUKEwiG3J-q99nOAhWqBcAKHcQwCcgQyCkIHTAA&usg=AFQjCNFVivTYdcl43iESYNNTuXncX_-pKg&sig2=TDStBOobfQQf-7i4NLTGXQ

But anyways, moving swiftly on...  I find myself sat thinking about Tzeentch and his place within the Chaos Pantheon, and the question of why all the bird motifs when it comes to the imagery of the Greater Daemons and their ilk.

As a species, humanity's second greatest love is our curiosity and our drive to learn more things.  Yet knowledge is a double edge sword... How will you use what you know? Will it detrimentally affect other or aid them? Will what we learn be our downfall.  Our quest for knowledge has done both great and terrible things.

And so we get to the dichotomy that is Tzeentch, the giver of truths and lies, sometimes all in one statement.  For at the end of the day what truly is truth?  For perspective can change many things.  Change is progress, and  progress can be regression all in the same moment depending on the outcome. I think Games Workshop have touched on this briefly but I want to see more of the knowledge as a danger aspect, and less of the scheming. Knowing something shouldn't necessarily be enough to damn you, what you do with the knowledge should.

Tzeentch should be all about the wierd and the wonderful, abstract images and designs, and yet we get, fish, little angry and happy blobs with arms, and all the birds...  Why all the birds?  Shouldnt the greater daemons of Tzeentch be each and every one different in scale, concept and design?

Its easy to see the bird motifs have been inspired by the Egyptians and the depictions of birds of prey and their connotations of knowledge in many cultures, however where is the other animal designs for the greater daemons?  Where's my Hippo or Squirrel Greater Daemons of Tzeentch...  (Hmmm... Maybe that last one is going a wee bit mental...).

Now I'm going to segue a bit here, but I will make sense (hopefully).  If any of you have ever watched Neon Genesis Evangelion, you will be aware of the angels from both the film and television series.  The angels were in the simplest terms during the series, creatures that evolved different forms to attempt to kill humanity.  Each concept was different and unique.

So why can't Tzeentch even just have greater daemons that are uniquely different? Why not a Greater Daemon that's a Giant Prismatic horror, a great juxtaposition to Tzeentchs' Labyrinth? I understand the concept of design cues and formats, but maybe something a little different here and there?

Oh and when the rumoured new Daemon Primarch Magnus, and new Rubricae hit, I so want to be over all of that 😸 (Must impeach the Wife...).

Well anyways I might be talking mental again, but let me know what you think in the comments, what are your ideas on Tzeentchs place and his daemon tralls?

Until next time
Jonathan

The Emperor Smiles Upon Him... Damn...

Hi Everyone, just a quick one this morning,

Just thought I would share some images from one of my oldest friends, who, in my opinion is a Jammy (Insert expletive here)...

An acquaintance of his recently offered to hand off his 40k collection for free! Jealousy is running rampant for me at the moment, and I suspect most of this will be bartered off to friends and eBay...

Look at all the stuff he got below! Sometimes it's just about being in the right place at the right time...

I can't remember how many more images there was, this isn't all of them, I just couldn't bring myself to add anymore haha 😭.  Anyways let us know if the comments if any of you have had the emperor smile upon you with a shower of free hobby goodness.  (If you have I hate you all 😝)

Until next time 

Jonathan 

Age of Sigmar: Evolution of a Setting and the hope of Global Campaigns

Hi Everyone,

Hope you are all doing well today? Today we hop into the world of Global Campaigns, and my experiences (or lack thereof) of them.

Games workshop has brought an end to the Age of Sigmar Season of War Campaign.

Games workshop once a long time ago was quite happy to run this format of play,

with a focus on our battles affecting the overall story and setting of the hobby

games that we play.  I remember the feeling of being distraught that the last campaign that was

run for 40k way back in 4th Edition (The Fall of Medusa V), I couldn't take part in.

Now this was less to do with the fact that I hadn't been in the hobby for long enough to

construct a viable army; it was however impacted by the fact of where I used to live...

(Starts to play the Flash back harp tune...)

Now I haven't had a chance to fully script up an about me page yet (this will follow soon for

those that would like to know...), but as a youngling I grew up in Northern Ireland, and without

many friends, access to the internet, or a hobby store; let alone a Games Workshop was nearby.

The only stockist for Games Workshop models was the local department store, and you had to order

items direct from the in store catalogue (who remembers the good ole GW catalogue?).  So as a

young fresh faced tyrant (Chaos all the way ba-bay!!!)  I came across the Fall of Medusa V in

White Dwarf.  It blew my world away...  Here was a chance to have my games truly matter in the

way that they should have in my mind.  No more games where it was just me versus my dad or brother

who begrudgingly helped keep my hobby alive in those dark times.  The thing was...  The closest

place to play in the campaign was in Belfast, which was too far away for me to play.  I had seen

the sweet tasting fruit of true storyline impactful play...  And I couldn’t take part.  Years went

by with hope I scanned the pages of white dwarf waiting for the next global campaign to begin. 

It was too good a thing to repeat I kept telling myself.  But a lie to oneself is still a lie...

Now I remember that with Warhammer Fantasy (I hadn’t started any fantasy armies yet) had the Storm

of Magic campaign, and however not taking part, my hope had been kindled anew.  40k was bound to

get a campaign soon...  And the waiting began anew...  And it didn't happen once more. 

Time past, and my hobby enthusiasm for 40k had dwindled, I needed a new challenge, and so I began

to get a Warhammer Fantasy army (Dark Elves for the win!!!) which was coincidentally chosen by my

now fiancée.  The End times began and all was good, it wasn’t a global campaign but it was fun.

And with a bang the Fantasy world ended but hope bloomed anew for the fantasy range of models.

Many gnashing of teeth was had over the Age of Sigmar, but as always a lover of the models I was

drawn in.

And finally my faith had paid off!!! Age of Sigmar kicked off the latest Global Campaign and my

Khorne Bloodbound were ready to take the fight to the scions of order, destruction and death!

My tyrannical megalomania would have a global backdrop.  My battles would have a meaning.

And yet,  I was only able to get in one game during the whole campaign.  Illness had decided that

this time I could not represent for my side as much as I could.  All I could do was paint my models

and hope that I could help chaos take at least one of the cities to be claimed.

But I am not delusional,  I think everyone expected Order to carry the day.  Maybe not as much as they

did, but I'm sure everyone expected a big turnout for the Good Guys especially after the last world

was destroyed by Chaos (it was a good day 🙌 ).

And so with barely a foot in the water of Global Campaign play I think to myself, was it all worth it?

Would I take part in another Global Campaign?  The answer is a definite yes!

Not matter how you feel about Games Workshop or the Age of Sigmar, I think we can all agree that

Narrative campaigns that affect our hobby worlds are a good thing.  Having a chance to affect things

can bring real meaning to a hobby, knowing that your battles aren't just random happenings in a vacuum.

I definitely want Games Workshop to continue with the Global Campaigns for Age of Sigmar, and definitely

want them to bring it over to 40k as well.  There is a new found drive on my part to finish more

armies for Age of Sigmar and 40k, hoping for more of this format of play.  I can’t wait to see what the story

implications of the campaign have on the setting, and it will be a massively missed opportunity if it isn’t taken

to its final conclusion.

Let's just hope that the wait isn’t as long as last time.

Let me know in the comments whether you took part in the Season of War, who did you play and why?

What do you think of the results and would you play again, for Age of Sigmar and 40K.

Until next time

Jonathan 

Everyman and His Beard: A Return of Monthly White Dwarf

Morning Everyone,

Hope you're all doing well today?
As I am sure you are all aware, the return of Monthly White Dwarf is due to hit the shelves of Games Workshop, or your local tender, be it FLGS, hobby store, or even from the bowels of the interwebz and GWs online webstore.  I think we can all agree that excitement is running high on this one. From the veterans of yonder year who still have shelves bowing under the weight of older editions back in the day, to our new bloods who never had a chance to hold the original beast in their hands.

Yes I picked the sisters for the retro cover... Bring back Sisters of Battle... With new models dammit!!!!


What does it mean for us as hobbyists? Will it even truly change any of our hobby attitudes or habits?  No one can know until we get a few months in our hands and see what the team have for us in store.

Personally, I think it's a good move on Games Workshops part.  The weekly magazine, though not always having amazing content, occasionally, a gem would shine through here and there, but I personally never purchased it religiously. Not like when it was a monthly back in the day.

But will it definitely be the same as it once was?  We all know battle reports are coming back; and not that they were masterful insights into playing, they were definitely a good read.  Especially when we got a bit of narrative to go with the games. For me, I want to see more hobby content, more advice on painting, spotlights on private as well as GW sponsored events, store spotlights on who the regulars are, who they play and what systems would be great, help on building your own personal narratives; and one definite thing... More even page counts for each game.  Not everyone plays 40k and AoS... On that point, more expansions on the new box set games like deathwatch overkill, Imperial Knights Renegade, kill team, and hopefully we won't still be waiting for it too much longer: Blood Bowl!!!! WOOOO!!!! BLOOD BOWL!!!! (I'm not biased really....).

What are you hoping for? Have I missed anything? Are you completely meh about the whole situation, let me know in the comments.

Until next time
Jonathan

Slaanesh and Cthulhu's new Groove

Hi Gals and Guys,

Today I'm going to talk at all of you in regards to that big ole elephant in the room for games workshop that is Slaanesh; and where the Prince/Princess of Pleasure in my mind should be evolving into.

If you have been in the hobby for any amount of time, you'll be aware that of all the Gods of Chaos, Slaanesh has been, in the eyes of the Internet, the true redheaded step child of the Chaos Pantheon (Yes Tzeentch I see you in the corner ready to throw a doombolt at me, but hold off, we'll get to you in a future post) (Good 👍?) (Ok).

So getting back to the matter in hand, (please no snickering... G'ah Children...) Slaanesh sits in a position that many feel isn't conductive to the relatively "family-friendly" universe of both Warhammer 40k, Age of Sigmar, and before it finished Warhammer Fantasy.  This mentality seems to have been cemented in the disappearance of Slaanesh from the Age of Sigmar storyline post the End Times of Warhammer Fantasy.

For those that may or may not be fully aware, Slaanesh is the Dark Prince/Princess of Pleasure.  An Androgynous being obsessed with self gratification in all its forms to the detriment of all.  The easiest of which to create and show when we consider our hobby are the sexual aspects which can be accentuated on our models.  However, why focus on this solely alone? This facet only makes Slaanesh one dimensional, and I feel this wasn't the initial intention of the character.

So bear with me here for a couple of minutes;  Slaanesh is a Dark mirror to all our wants. A twisting of that which could be good, and wholesome, to that which is a dark parody.  But why a dark parody at all?  I'll tell you, it's the fear of not getting what we think we want.  Fear of being alone, fear of feeling nothing but a deep hunger that can never be truly satisfied.  The fear that when we are all alone in the dark, we have nothing to comfort us, and it will drive us mad.  At the end of the day we are all crying children, screaming at an uncaring universe.  Slaanesh is deep down just a scared child, wanting attention so it isn't left alone with the darkness all around it.

Which is where Cthulhu comes in...

If you have ever read anything of HP Lovecrafts novels (and I suggest you do), you enter into a world where everything is twisted, the world and it's horrors don't care about your pitiful existence, and terror follows on from the madness that follows from the darkness and horror of being alone with the things that go bump in the night.  See any similarities? I do...

Would it be so hard to imagine, Slaanesh moving towards a deeper horror trope, over where he/she currently is positioned?  In Age of Sigmar, Slaanesh feel asleep and now has been kidnapped nowhere to be found, the followers searching in vain to awaken their God... Maybe another little nod to the great squid himself? Maybe Games Workshop have had the same idea as me? Maybe I am just going mad myself?

Let me know what you think in the comments below.  If you have any theories I'd love to hear them too.

Until next time
Jonathan