On Gaming and Me

There is a point while playing that you have to realize you are there to have fun.  The problem is that this point in time may not be a definite length of time and you may miss it.  When you play, is it to adhere to the rules?  If you find yourself and your opponent at a cross roads do you give in or do you stick to your point and continue to drive it home?

I found myself playing at the usual Monday night game and became very competitive.  I don't mean to imply that I am not normally competitive.  I think thats why the majority of us are drawn to the game actually.  Sure you have your painters and modelers who enjoy the work, or the few who delve into the story and feel that the fight on the table is an extension.  But I would say the majority of purchasers of GW merchandise are competitors.  Maybe they don't go to the tournaments, but they try to play games to win when they have the opportunity.

We had a rules question about a dreadnought and when he is destroyed.  I had my line of thinking and Matt had his.  As we are both strong willed men, we both became very heated in our discussion.  I still wouldn't call it an argument.  Matt's wife did and probably didn't appreciate it (sorry again, I know the Olympics were on.)  Eventually we spent a good 20 minutes looking up the rule and re-reading it to each other.  Matt ended up pulling the model just to get the game going but it didn't leave me with the satisfaction that I had won.  If anything it left me feeling pissed off that I couldn't understand a rule.  A rule in a book that has no real world application.  Even now Matt has posted a question on his website (Archangels), but hasn't had any answers.

I think we may have to institute a two minute rule.  After two minutes if it can't be easily answered or found in the book, then both sides just need to pick a fair outcome.  Whether thats a real world outcome or just one person giving in, I don't know.  It probably won't work because I doubt either of us will give in.  But it took a 2000 pt game, and turned it into a four hour mêlée.

New Plastic Deff Dread and Killa Kan!

GW just realeased some new Walkers for Hummies and Orks.  I am loving the different variations you can make.  Once again by switching a model to plastic, GW has increased the number of Ork bitz.

The Black Library

So a few months ago I decided that I needed to jump start my 40K interest.  I had all these models but I wasn't playing my 'Crons or building with my Orks.  So i started reading Dan Abnett's Gaunt's Ghost series.  I picked up the first omnibus and never really put it down.  After devouring the first omnibus I started the second, "The Saint" which continues directly where Gaunt's Ghosts left off.  I have to be honest with you, the writing had me jones'in for a Guard fix.  I then decided to read Ravenor and I had a little down time with this one but was able to power through some of the longer parts and still very much enjoyed the read.

What I am looking for now is a good Space Marine story in the fashion of Gaunts Ghosts.  Anyone have any recommendations?

Ork Freebooters!

  So in an effort to enjoy the game more (i.e. see previous post) I sat down and created a semi-competitive/fluff list of what I want in a 2000pt Ork army.  The first time I opened the Ork codex and read through it, I found the entry on Kaptin Badrukk and instantly knew that I wanted a Freebooter army.  The idea of Orks being pirates of space was an instant appeal.

  But I hate the Badrukk model from GW.  Its too short and squat, the pirate hate/flags look dated to a time when GW didn't have the same sculpting resources it has now.  So I have been attempting to collect many many bitz so that when I do get around to making an Ork army, it will have a very awesome theme, and after all, whats an Ork army without a theme.

  So given my theme, here is the 2000pt list I have generated:
HQ-
  Big Mek: w/Power Klaw, Force Field, Cybork Body, Attack Squig, 'Eavy Armour
  Big Mek: w/Power Klaw, Force Field, Cybork Body, Attack Squig, 'Eavy Armour
Troop-
  Deff Dread: w/Skorcha, Kustom Mega-Blasta, Armour Plates
  Deff Dread: w/Skorcha, Rokkit Launcha, Armour Plates
  'Ard Boyz - 11 w/Nob: Power Klaw, Boss Pole, 'Eavy Armour, Big Shoota, Rokkit Launcha, Dedicated Transport
  Ork Boyz - 11 w/Nob: Power Klaw, Boss Pole, 'Eavy Armour, Nob Big Shoota, Rokkit Launcha, Dedicated Transport
  Ork Boyz - 11 w/Nob: Power Klaw, Boss Pole, 'Eavy Armour, Nob Big Shoota, Rokkit Launcha, Dedicated Transport
  Ork Boyz - 11 w/Nob: Power Klaw, Boss Pole, 'Eavy Armour, Nob Big Shoota, Rokkit Launcha, Dedicated Transport
Heavy-
  Flash Gitz - 5: More Dakka, Ammo Runtz (3,) Kaptin Badrukk
  Killa Kans - 3: Armour Plates, Shoota, Skorcha, Rokkit Launcha
  Killa Kans - 3: Armour Plates, Shoota, Skorcha, Rokkit Launcha
Elite-
  Lootas - 10: Meks (2)

So heres the rub, I loaded the troops into trucks, but don't have transport for the Flash Gitz or the Lootas (who I plan on keeping in cover and using their range.)  Ork players out there, whats your thoughts?  Concerns?  I thought about dropping a set of boyz and adding a looted tank or maybe working to find room for a Battle Wagon.  Also everyone seems to be taking bikes or deffkoptas, should I look for points for those?

Where I am in 40K.

I began playing the game of 40K in late 3rd Edition. I stopped just before 4th Edition release and came back after the arrival of 5th. I chose Eldar as my third edition army and enjoyed the many aspects of the game, although I never fully grasped the game and never put as much effort into the game as I do now. Move on to 5th edition and I chose a xenos again with Necrons. Being the person that I am, I chose more for my attraction of the models and the fluff than for the "win-ability."

This has lead to many many losses by my 40K cohort Matt at Emperors Archangels. Matt is a great opponent who is gracious and doesn't press the fact that I often lose to him (although that could also be because he wouldn't have anyone else to play against.) Unfortunately for me, Matt's two primary armies are Dark Angels and Tyranids (and his Nids are all tooth and nail.) This is not meant to become a boo-hoo session, but to express my frustration. I am not a person who enjoys losing. I can take the loss and try to learn from it sure, but the repeated losses begin to wear on a person.

This line of thinking lead Matt and myself to ask some deep questions after a Monday night battle. Am I playing the game because I want to win, or am I playing because its a fun and enjoyable experience? If I win, is that the only way its enjoyable? When did I start to think of the game as a win only competition? Or did I always think that way? If I only want to play the game to win, but often find myself in un-win-able positions, do I keep playing?

I have been trying to answer these questions for the last day or so. I have models waiting to be painted, been working on green stuff to fill in gaps on my Monolith and thinking of ways to change over all the neon green to blue. I also picked up about $200.00 worth of Orcs last year after the Exterminatus Tournament, thinking I would enjoy yet another xenos army (It would help if I knew what type of Orc army I wanted to build.)

So there I am, if you have read this far, I commend you. It was alot to let out at once and I know there is more inside that I am thinking. If you have any recommendations let loose or if you think I am just being a cry baby... well go ahead and throw that out there too, I can delete them, after all it is my blog ;) .

Gaming Again!

Its been a long, long time. But after almost a year off I have started playing again and it was fun. We were even able to add a third to our group (although he bought an army almost a year ago...) We played some quick games, nothing to big, and I found that I too have to follow Fritz's ideas on his Return of the Star Gods blog. The main thing is in knowing your army, you have to keep to your plan. A Necron army is not a fluid and quick changing army. If you look at your opponent and know what its going to take to win the battle, then that must remain your plan. To try and change horses mid stream, you will only find yourself floundering on the battle field and most of your army will be wiped out.

So here is to a new year, with a hope that I will have many good games and will have the building/painting bug strike full force.