Summer Skirmish 2014 (26 July)

On 26 July 2014, Tim King's Summer Skirmish is back! This is a 500-point tournament with each game lasting just 40 minutes.

The tournament will take place at Sanctuary Gaming Centre in Sutton-in-Ashfield (full address below):

St' Michaels & all angels church,

St' Michaels street,

Sutton in Ashfield

NG17 4GP

Tickets are £20 and include lunch on the Saturday.

There is quite a set of restrictions to selecting your army list. You can find more information by following the links below:

GENERAL INFORMATION:

http://warhammer.org.uk/phpBB/viewtopic.php?f=64&t=123601

RULES PACK:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/jw3o519991321ru/summer%20skirmish%202014%20RP.pdf

The event itself is great fun, and allows tou to pit your 500pt army against thirteen different opponents over the two days. There is always a gfreat vibe at the event, and I strongly recommend it to everyone who enjoys fun 40k!

40k Team Tournament

In November, the UK 40k team tournament is going ahead at Sanctuary Games in Sutton-in-Ashfield (near Mansfield, Notts). After throwing out a request for players to join a team, I'm delighted to say we had nearly a dozen requests! This of course means they'll be three teams coming from the blogosphere.

 

The first team will be led by Alex ‘From the Fang’ Brown, who runs the most excellent Blog Wars tournament twice annually. His team will consist of gamers from the northern stronghold of Sheffield and the surrounding areas.

 

The other two teams consist of gamers predominantly from the Nottingham area, most of whom are regulars at the First Company Veterans 40k club night at Warhammer World. After having analysed which armies each player can bring, I have rationalised the seven interested players into the following two teams:

 

‘Team Claws & Fists’

 

Graham (me!) – Astra Militarum / Tyranids / Eldar

Young Josh – Daemons

Andy ‘Fudal’ Lane – Space Marines / Tyranids

Darren ‘The Baron’ Grainger – Orks / ???

 

‘Team Blood Claw’

 

John ‘Blood Claw’ Holland – Space Marines / Astra Militarum

Daryl Dudey – Eldar / Daemons / Orks

Al Shrive – Tau / Daemons / Tyranids

??? (Tom?)

 

Just a few words about the rationale between the selection of players for the two teams. Firstly, I have tried to include at least one ‘top tournament’ level player in each team; that is, John Holland in Team Blood Claw, and Andy / Darren in Team Claws & Fists. Secondly, I tried to make sure that there was as little crossover as possible in terms of playable armies for each team – eg, both John and I use Astra Militarum as one of our ‘main’ armies, so it would be unwise for us to both be in a team together as we couldn’t both use our preferred army.

 

Anyway, that is the plan as it stands at the moment!

 

The next step is for each team to procure their team ticket. Tickets should be available from this weekend, via the Facebook group set up by Sanctuary Games. Tickets are £80 / £90 per team (ie £20-£23 per player). I will buy the ticket for Team Claws & Fists. John – are you able to coordinate with your team and arrange to get your team’s ticket?

 

Once we have tickets, the next step will be for each team to begin the process of deciding which armies to each take, list-building and match-up analysis (I’m looking forward to that part!).

 

John / Daryl / Al – I am quite happy to leave the organisation of your team completely to you! Basically please treat your team as completely your own thing. I hope that will be ok for you guys?  

Team Claws & Fangs for 40k Team Challenge

It looks like we have the core of a team potentially available for the 40k team event. I would like to ask people to double-check your availability for the dates (29-30 November). Please can you check to make sure you are free to get to Sutton-in-Ashfield (near Mansfield, Notts) for that weekend - and clear it with your missus too!

The interested folks so far are:

1. Graham
2. Andy
3. ALShrive
4. John Holland
5. Alex

The tournament pack states that each codex may only be used once. Therefore, please can you let me know (in the comments section below) what competitive army/armies you are able to potentially use in November, including of course which would be your preferred option!

Graham - Astra Militarum, Tyranids, Eldar

Andy - Space Marines, Tyranids

Alex - ???

ALShrive - ???

John Holland - Space Marines, Astra Militarum

Up For A Team Challenge?

In November, Sanctuary Games in Sutton-in-Ashfield are running an intriguing tournament - it's a 2-day team event called 'Allies of Convenience'. The reason I like it is that each team of four players can only select each codex once, meaning of course that we should see some interesting armies on the tables (rather than the usual glut of Tau, Eldar and Daemons on the upper tables).


The details are as follows:


Allies of Convenience - 40K Team Challenge


DATE: 30th/31st November
LOCATION: Sanctuary Gaming Centre - NG17 4GP
PRICE: £90 (£80 early bird) per team!
FORMAT: 5 games of 3 hours at 1,850pts, 4 player teams, each codex once per team


I  fancy trying this tournament out - so are there three equally interested gamers out there ready to join Team Claws & Fists?

Army List Submission for Blog Wars 7

June sees the return of the Blog Wars tournament, now held at North-West Gaming Centre in Stockport. The event will be ran using 6th edition rules rather than 7th (I'll be having a rant aboutt 7th edition at some point!).

However, without further ado, here is my list:

ASTRA MILITARUM + ELDAR ALLIES

Tank Commander [30] + Knight Commander Pask [40] = 70
• Leman Russ Punisher [140] + lascannon [10] + sponson multi-meltas [20] = 170
• Leman Russ Punisher [140] + lascannon [10] = 150
• Leman Russ Punisher [140] + lascannon [10] = 150

Ministorum Priest = 25

Primaris Psyker [50] + Mastery Level 2 [25] = 75

Primaris Psyker [50] + Mastery Level 2 [25] = 75

Platoon Command Squad [30] + 2× flamer [10] = 40
• Infantry Squad [50] + Heavy Weapons Team [0] with lascannon [20] = 70
• Infantry Squad [50] + Heavy Weapons Team [0] with lascannon [20] = 70
• Infantry Squad [50] + Heavy Weapons Team [0] with lascannon [20] = 70
• Infantry Squad [50] + Heavy Weapons Team [0] with lascannon [20] = 70

Veteran Squad + Grenadiers [15] + 3× flamer [15] = 90

1 Vendetta Gunship = 170

1 Vendetta Gunship = 170

1 Wyvern = 65

1 Wyvern = 65


Autarch [70] + Eldar jetbike [15] = 85

5 Windrider Guardians = 85

5 Windrider Guardians = 85

1,850 points

Caledonian Review

Last weekend myself and John Holland (aka Mc Tic Tac of the Blood Claw blog) headed over to the North-West Gaming Centre in Stockport for three days of wargaming. The main event of the weekend was the two-day Caledonian Uprising tournament, and as a bonus, organiser Tim King also ran a 1000pt warm-up event on the Friday night named 'Caledonian Open.

Since detail is not really my thing, here is a summary of my weekend's games!

 

1850pts of Cheese!

CALEDONIAN OPEN

The 'Open' was intended as a fun warm-up event for those attendees who travelled on the Friday. 18 brave folks entered the competition, with a real varied array of lists. I was taking a slimmed-down version of my Serpent-Spam army, as follows:

HQ1 : Farseer (100) + singing spear (5)+ Eldar jetbike (15) = [120]

ELITES 1 : 5 Fire Dragons = [110] + TRANSPORT 1

TROOPS 1 : 5 Dire Avengers = [65] + TRANSPORT 2
TROOPS 2 : 5 Dire Avengers = [65] + TRANSPORT 3
TROOPS 3 : 3 Windrider Guardians = [51]

HEAVY SUPPORT 1 : War Walkers (60) + bright lance (5) + scatter laser (5) = [70]

HEAVY SUPPORT 2 : War Walkers (60) + bright lance (5) + scatter laser (5) = [70]

TRANSPORT 1 : Wave Serpent (115) + Holo-fields (15) + twin-linked bright lance (5)  = [135]

TRANSPORT 2 : Wave Serpent (115) + Holo-fields (15) + twin-linked scatter laser (5)  = [135]
TRANSPORT 3 : Wave Serpent (115) + Holo-fields (15) + twin-linked scatter laser (5)  = [135]

GAME 1

 

My first game was against a top bloke called Tim who was using a 5th-edition style drop-pod Blood Angels list. I set up my forces on the board, and awaited the oncoming storm! All of Tim's forces were 'podding in, and so over the first couple of turns, all his units (Dreadnoughts & Assault Marines) were in my face and causing problems. However, the game was for 5 objectives, and so I played it smart; I reserved my Dire Avengers and Jetbikes, and tried to keep 'em safe until turn 5 when I ran/jumped them forward to claim objectives. In the end, we both held an objective and so the game ended in a draw.

 

Game 1 result - draw

 

GAME 2

 

My second game was against Jason and his all-Khorne Daemon combat army. His forces included a Skull Cannon, a Bloodthirster, two units of Bloodletters and (I think) a Soulgrinder. As would be the case in all my weekend's games, I was going second. Jason pushed forward with his forces, but failed to do much damage to my serpent-shielded vehicles. In my first turn I retaliated, and I was lucky to take out all of Jason's big threats - the Soulgrinder, the Bloodthirster and the gun on the Skull Cannon. With those gone, it was just a matter of time; I simply sat back and shot for the next couple of turns, taking out Jason's remaining units. It was a good win but a bit of a disappointing game for Jason as my lucky first turn of shooting pretty much ruined it as a competitive game.  

Game 2 result - win

GAME 3

 

My third game was against Rob Graham, and another drop-pod Blood Angels army. I must admit that the game is a bit of a blur to me, mostly as the round started at 9.30pm and by that time I was knackered from driving and the fast pace of the three games. All I know is that I managed a draw!

 

Game 3 result - draw

Having managed a win and two draws, I was therefore astounded to find out that I had finished third overall in the Friday night Open event! It is easily my best-ever result in a (semi) competitive environment and it gave me great hope for the main event to follow - the Caledonian Uprising...

 

Spam-A-Lot Eldar for Caledonian Uprising

This weekend Claws & Fists will be represented at the largest tournament of the year, Caledonian Uprising, by yours truly. This year however I've decided to ditch my usual Tyranids and mech Squat Guard for something a bit... spammier. Since Eldar are one of the top two codexes, and I just happen to have an old fifth-edition Eldar army gathering dust, I have decided to go all-out for mid-table mediocrity (as opposed to my usual bottom-table supremacy).

Therefore,  my list is as follows:


PRIMARY DETACHMENT: Codex: Eldar

HQ1 : Farseer (100), + singing spear (5)+ Eldar jetbike (15) = [120]

HQ2 : Farseer (100), + singing spear (5) + Eldar jetbike (15) 

+ Shard of Anaris (replaces Shuriken Pistol) (40) = [160]

ELITES 1 : 5 Fire Dragons = [110] + TRANSPORT 1

TROOPS 1 : 5 Dire Avengers = [65] + TRANSPORT 2

TROOPS 2 : 5 Dire Avengers = [65] + TRANSPORT 3

TROOPS 3 : 5 Dire Avengers = [65] + TRANSPORT 4

TROOPS 4 : 5 Dire Avengers = [65] + TRANSPORT 5

TROOPS 5 : 3 Windrider Guardians = [51]

TROOPS 6 : 3 Windrider Guardians = [51]

HEAVY SUPPORT 1 : 2 x War Walkers (2 x 60) + bright lance (2 x 5) + scatter laser (2 x 5) = [140]

HEAVY SUPPORT 2 : 2 x War Walkers (2 x 60) + bright lance (2 x 5) + scatter laser (2 x 5) = [140]

TRANSPORT 1 : Wave Serpent (115) + Holo-fields (15) + twin-linked bright lance (5) = [135]
TRANSPORT 2 : Wave Serpent (115) + Holo-fields (15) + twin-linked scatter laser (5) + shuriken cannon (10) = [145]

TRANSPORT 3 : Wave Serpent (115) + Holo-fields (15) + twin-linked scatter laser (5) + shuriken cannon (10) = [145]

TRANSPORT 4 : Wave Serpent (115) + Holo-fields (15) + twin-linked bright lance (5) + shuriken cannon (10) = [145]
TRANSPORT 5 : Wave Serpent (115) + Holo-fields (15) + twin-linked scatter laser (5) + shuriken cannon (10) = [145]

ELDAR TOTAL : 1,747 points

Aegis Defence Lines (50) + gun emplacement with quad-gun (50) = [100]

FORTIFICATIONS TOTAL : 100 points

GRAND TOTAL : 1,847 points