40K Podcasts

Due to my night job, I have had a lot of time to listen to 40K podcasts over the past couple of weeks. Still have a lot to go through, but here are some quick viewpoints on those that I have listened to.

Independent Characters

By far my favorite podcast. It is a very in depth look at 40K as a hobby and very focused on the topics at hand. They really get into the "why" of 40K that I appreciate. Very clean, only the occassional language, very mature topics and in-depth coverage. The hosts are my kind of people, at or around the same age, background into gaming and personality types (from what you can tell from a podcast anyway) that I hang with in real life and enjoy gaming with.

11th Company

This is a good podcast with lots of subject matter. Occassional language but not too bad. Good information about the gaming aspects of 40K and is tied in second in my book with the next podcast:

Imperial Vox

At the same level of 11th company, these are the 3 podcasts that I am working through the most. Pretty much everything I've said about 11th company though perhaps (still new enough to not have all the personalities known yet) not as many hosts.

The following two are pretty adult language orientated with a younger but still knowledgeable crew. I'm not always appreciateive of their humour, but I admit I'm getting to be an old fuddy duddy. When I was younger though, these were my kind of people that I hanged with so I won't critisize them too much ;) I do listen to their podcasts and enjoy them though but again will have to give the warning about their language use and humour.

Life After the Cover Save
Screaming Heretic

There are several other podcasts out there covering 40K and I've been catching some of them here and there. I'll cover them though in a later post once I've heard more than an episode or two from them.

WIP: Purifiers Update

Not completely happy with how things are looking at this point, which is the Gryphonne Sepia wash over the gold highlights and the first layer of Mithril Silver on the armor. I've only done 2 of the models with this layer, so going to see how they look after they dry and a second coat put on. I'm thinking I need to thin down this Mithril Silver layer by a lot but we'll see. I am liking the depth that came out of the tabbard with the Gryphonne Sepia wash and hoping it translates well when I start to whiten it out a bit later.

WIP: Purifiers Update

The Shiny Gold has been applied after the Badab Black wash on all 5 models. Next up, will be to apply Gryphonne Sepia wash to the areas of gold.

WIP: Purifiers Update

Finished the Asurmen Blue wash on all 5 models. Started with the Badab Black wash.

Projects

Some pics of current project and upcoming ones.

My Grey Knights Finalized List Part 2

So far I've brought my army up to 1,500 points. If all goes to plan, I'll be able to play a fully painted 500 points by the end of September and the goal is to hit 1,000 points by end of Novemeber and 1,500 by January.

From this point onward though,a major shift occurs. Castellan Crowe is dropped from the lineup, pushing the Purifiers into an Elite slot, which means I am also dropping the 5-man Purifier Squad, while retaining the 10-man Purifier Squad. I put in 2 new HQ choices as you will see below.

Weighing in at 1,750 points:

• HQ
• Grand Master
• Rad Grenades
• Ordo Xenos Inquisitor
• Scythian Venom Blade
• 3x Servo Skulls
• Rad Grenades
• Psychotroke Grenades
• Psyker upgrade, Hammerhand
• Elites
• Purifier Squad x10 (still combat squading them)
• 4x Psycannon
• 4x Halberds
• 2x Hammer
• Razorback Transport
• Psybolt ammo for Razorback
• Venerable Dreadnaught
• Multi-melta
• Missile Launcher
• Vindicare Assassin
• Heavy Support
• Dreadnaught
• Multi-melta
• Missile Launcher
• Fast Attack
• Storm Raven Gunship
• Twin-linked Multi-melta
• Twin-linked Lascannons
• Troops
• Strike Squad x5
• Razorback transport
• Psybolt ammo for Razorback
• Strike Squad x5
• Razorback transport
• Psybolt ammo for Razorback
• Henchmen Warband
• Death Cult Assassin x7
• Crusader x3

At 1,850 points, I use the above list, but switch out the Troop Choices to:

• Troops
• Strike Squad x5
• Razorback
• Psybolt ammo for Razorback
• Terminator Squad x5
• 1x Psycannon
• 1x Warding Stave
• 1x Hammer
• 1x Falchions
• 2x Halberds

* note on Terminator Squad; Grand Master will be joining this squad and can either fly with Storm Raven and have Henchmen hoof it, or let them go on Storm Raven and the Terminators hoof it. The Warding Stave allows for some wound allocation while hoofing it and the variety of weapons stays in fluff of the Grey Knight terminators.

2,000 Points

This list follows the plan for the 1,750 point list, including Troop choices and adds the following:

• Henchmen Warband
• Add Chimera Transport
• Heavy Bolter
• Heavy Flamer
• Heavy Support
• Nemesis Dreadknight
• Heavy Incinerator
• Gatling Psilencer

I doubt I will play many games above 2,000 points but I plan on the following if it does happen:

2,250 points

Use the 2,000 point list plus:

• Heavy Support
• Dreadnaught
• Multi-melta
• Missile Launcher
• Fast Attack
• Interceptor Squad x5

2,500 points:

Use the 2,250 point list plus:

• Troops
• Strike Squad x10
• Razorback transport
• Psybolt ammo for Razorback

3,000 points:

Use the 2,500 point list plus:

• Fast Attack
• Storm Raven Gunship
• Twin-linked Multi-melta
• Twin-linked Lascannons
• Typhoon Missile Launcher
• Troops
• Terminator Squad x5
• 1x Psycannon
• 1x Brotherhood Banner
• 1x Warding Stave
• 1x Hammer
• 2x Halberd

My Grey Knights Finalized List

It's been weeks in the progress, but I've finally come up with my final Grey Knight list and the one that I am going to buy, build and paint towards. First off, some thoughts on how I got here. When I chose to go with the Grey Knights as my first army it was a combination of it being the new kid on the block, like myself and a fairly cheap and easy army to get in comparrison to other armies - at least thats what I told myself. It also appeared to be one of the easier paint jobs and in my hands I had several tutorials for Grey Knights.

Then came the hard part. Did I go pure Grey Knights? What about the big 3 that I wanted in an army? (The big 3 was the Dreadknight, the Stormraven and the Land Raider and I was content to get 2) So slowly I built up the following list, which builds upon itself as it grows with a couple shifts... and here it is:

At 500 points (expected to play by end of Sept.):

• HQ
• Castellan Crowe
• Troops
• Purifier Squad x5
• 2x Psycannons
• 2x Halberds
• 1x Hammer
• Purifier Squad x5
• 2x Psycannons
• 2x Halberds
• 1x Hammer
• Razorback Transport
• Psybolt Ammo for Razorback

This allows me what I think is a pretty good small army. Purifiers are superior IMO to regular Grey Knights and I have at least one unit that has some mobility and cover. I expect to use Crowe in smaller games like this as a tarpit.

At 1,000 Points:

• HQ
• Castellan Crowe
• Troops
• Purifier Squad x10
• 4x Psycannons
• 4x Halberds
• 2x Hammers
• Razorback Transport
• Psybolt ammo for Razorback
• Purifier Squad x5
• 2x Psycannon
• 2x Halberds
• 1x Hammer
• Razorback Transport
• Psybolt ammo for Razorback
• Elite
• Venerable Dreadnaught
• Multi-melta
• Missile Launcher
• Heavy Support
• Dreadnaught
• Multi-melta
• Missile Launcher

* note about the 10-man Purifier Squad; will combat squad them, with the assaulty squad getting the Razorback.

At 1,500 points:

• HQ
• Castellan Crowe
• Troops
• Purifier Squad x10 (as above)
• Purifier Squad x5 (as above)
• Strike Squad x5
• Razorback Transport
• Psybolt ammo for Razorback
• Elite
• Venerable Dreadnaught (as above)
• Vindicare Assassin
• Fast Attack
• Storm Raven Gunship
• Twin-linked Multi-melta
• Twin-linked Lascannons

I'll go over the next steps in my army list in the next post.

The on-going GK Internal debate

As I start ramping up my painting and purchasing this Fall for my Grey Knight army, the weight of choosing which type of Army is starting to hit. So far, I have or will have by month's end, a Dreadknight, 5 Purifiers, 5 regular Grey Knights, 5 Terminators (not expecting to use as a whole unit, but rather fill-ins and testing) Crowe, Draigo and a Storm Raven Gunship.

The main army themes I am trying to decide on are:

1) A Crowe army with at least 2 10-man squads of Purifiers, a 5 man squad of Terminators and a squad or two of regular GKSS. Fill-in around the borders with a Dreadknight and a Dreadnaught, perhaps an Interceptor Squad.

2) A Coteaz army, with Grand Master and 2 units of henchmen. One for long-range shooting and one for assault (aka Death Cult Assassins). Throw in a Vindicare, a Storm Raven and a couple regular GKSS and some transports, with a Dreadknight and a couple of Dreadnaughts.

3) A Grand Master, heavy Dreadnaught list with as many regular GKSS as I can fit and a Dreadknight.

4) A Grand Master and assault Inquisitor with Death Cult Assassins, Purifiers, regular GKSS, Dreadknight, Dreadnaughts and as many dedicated transports as I can fit.

Descisions, descisions. No matter how I go, I still intend on eventually using the HQ's and Storm Raven in some list at some point. But past that I'm still undecided how I want my first army to go. I'm leaning towards #4 or #2, if I can work out the kinks I am finding with them.

Update

Well I'm through with summer semester and am just about done with someone's wedding photos for a client/friend of mine. Things are going well, but haven't had a lot of time to blog, play 40K or much else. Thats about to change near the end of the month though and I look forward to getting more involved! In the meantime, it's been listening to podcasts at work (Independent Character - rocks!).