Will 6th Edition Save Nids?

 Yes, Best Overall is still in hibernation mode. But it's the weekend, and the sleepy bear is wandering out of his cave for a few minutes (at least until I get too tired and fall asleep).

I could write an entire article about my feelings towards Nids, but let me just sum it up like this:

I love Tyranids. But I hate the Tyranid codex.

Ok, moving on.

I have not quite "avoided" 6th edition rumors, but I haven't been one to go out and actively seek them out either. Consequently, I have gotten a general flavor of what the rumor mill is cranking out, and frankly my feelings are mostly positive, but I don't know all of what's circulating out there.

But what I want to talk about today is how, intentionally or unintentionally, Games Workshop could save the Tyranids codex without actually touching the Dex itself.

These are based upon things I have read or, in some cases, things I half remember reading at some point. Feel free not to take any of these rules as being in any way solid (or rather, they should be viewed as even less solid than regular rumors, as I'm likely to be making them up). I'm trying to give some realistic examples of how "core" rule changes could help Nids.

Best Overall Going Into Hibernation...

I didn't want to leave you guys hanging here. I just started grad school with a 12 credit load and am still working full time as well as expecting a new baby in about a month and a half. Needless to say, I need to tone down my hobby life.

I'm not "quitting," or "retiring" or any such thing, but just know that if I don't post as regularly as normal, this is why.

I still hope to get enough free time on the weekends to finish up my Loganwing guide, but I can't make any promises until I adjust to this new phase of my life.

Thanks for your understanding and support!

Sheesh... What a Weekend

Was home sick Thursday and Friday (really sick, not "I want a long weekend" sick) but caught it early enough and got meds so I could go to an out-of-town wedding as a groomsman from Friday through this morning. Got back, and my wife had to immediately leave for her baby shower (we are expecting a son in November). So I've been hanging out with the girls at home while the wife unit does her thang.

So no posts. But my last post seems to have sparked some very interesting discussion that I would like to riff off of in the future. I also owe you guys three more sections (Fast Attack, Heavy Support, and Putting it All Together) for the Loganwing guide.

I have been painting though, on my Tyranids. Even if they end up being "just" a hobby army, they will be a kickass hobby army. And that's cool. Plus people really enjoy playing against Tyranids, lol.

One codex to rule them all...?

We have been having an interesting discussion locally, and I wanted to get your, the internet'z, take on the matter.

One of our locals believes that Blood Angels codex is 'obviously' the best.

On other parts of the interwebs, people will tell you that Space Wolves are the hands down champions.

Still others bemoan the horribly overpowered Imperial Guard.

The Hellhound...

...why does no one use this tank?

I think the idea of placing flame templates 12" away from the end of a gun that just moved 12", and being able to freely pivot that template to a large extent... is just neato.

In my head that is just devastatingly effective. And fun.

Random thoughts, I know. Anyone used them? Are they as cool on the table as they are in my head? No one likes getting hit by Strength 6 templates, even if you ARE in power armor.

Interesting... I Really Love This Game

Yes. I am talking about 40k.

 No challenge intended. No really, don't bust a cap.

Sometimes I think I forget that. I get so focused on the competitive aspects, the list building, the theorizing (which I DO love also) that I forget that, underneath it all, I love 40k.

I have been reading a lot of really bitter posts lately (some of which are really well written).

And yeah, I sure do get frustrated sometimes. Let's face it, the boyz up in Nottingham get a lot of stuff wrong.

Interesting Nids List...

Ok, so this is kind of funny.

I was just wishlisting, throwing things in my spreadsheet, and came up with the following list:

Oh Thank God... Crisis Averted

I thought I was out of Devlan Mud.

Dear GW: Please Stop Purging the Xenos

So... I know that you guys are just poking some good natured fun about my decision to take up "another" Marines army. I suppose it goes un-noticed that this would be my first heavily mechanized army... ever.

Decisions, Decisions... (Thoughts on Grey Knights)

Well, when you are broke like me it takes a while to gather together model resources to build an army. Thankfully, when that army is a space mareen army it's really a matter of "gather rhino hulls, figure out list later." Heh.

So I have been working in that direction for some time now, and am up to five Rhino/Razorbacks and 2 Dreadnoughts. And of course assloads of Chaos Space Marines, Dark Angel Robed Veterans, Space Wolves, and various and sundry other crappola.

Kromac List Idea - Circle Orboros 35 Points

I'm not really well versed on Warmahordes "net lists" per se, so this may just be painfully obvious to lots of folks already.

But if I was going to branch out into Kromac, I think I would try this at 35:

Kromac the Ravenous
Gorax
Warpwolf Stalker
Warpwolf Stalker
Tharn Bloodtrackers x 6
-Nuala the Huntress
Warpborn Skinwalkers x 5

Lots of nice targets for Kromac's upkeeps and you can upkeep cycle between the two Stalkers for some pretty ridiculous shenanigans. You've got the Gorax available for when you need to throw the Stalkers at some hard targets with P+S 20 hits and MAT 8 (and possibly with boosted to hit rolls).

Tharn Bloodtrackers can help you get your Warpaths off before the Stalkers activate (or afterwards really) instead of relying on their own kills to do it for you.

The Skinwalkers can run around with 20 Armor while engaged and just be a wall for your Stalkers to bounce behind.

Seems like fun, seems solid. Thoughts?

Remember

4th Anniversary

Well, my wife and I have enjoyed four years of marriage as of today.

Some days have been better than others, but I am so very grateful to have a wonderful partner like her.

We are going to dinner tonight, and we also have weekend plans, so don't expect too much from me until next week.

Later all!

150 Followers!

Well, a nice little milestone. You know how we like numbers we can easily divide by 5 here at Best Overall.

Even better, Sinister, my 150th Follower, is someone I know IRL! I'll have to get him something nice (There's a multi-template with your name on it, bud).

I've long since passed 100,000 pageviews, and once I hit 150,000 I'll do another "hurray" post.

Thanks everyone for keeping me motivated to keep this blog going!

Guide to Building a Loganwing - Part 4, Troops

So, at last we have arrived.

Troops.

If Logan is the heart of a Loganwing army, Wolf Guard are its muscles, its bones and its sinews.

Fitness Goals... This One's For You, Nike

Nikephoros is one of my favorite bloggers, even if we sometimes disagree. One thing that I like is the fact that he occasionally branches out from pure 40k and talks about nutrition and fitness. Interestingly enough, I randomly checked his blog as I was posting his link and he even talks about nutrition a bit in today's post!

A Response to Stelek

Stelek had asked for people to "fix" his NOVA list. I have been toying around with the idea of meching up my Space Wolves for a while, and this list is where my current musings are. It's a bit different in some ways from Stelek's concept, but shares some basic structural traits. I posted it up as a comment on his blog and thought you all might have some thoughts as well.

TSHFT Results - Very Pleased

So, I ended up taking Best Overall in the "Unranked" Category. What does that mean? Well, TSHFT uses a ranking system similar to Chess tournaments, and those players who have participated before go into either the "low" or the "high" rank based upon their prior performance. Those players who have never before participated go into their own "unranked" category. There is a Best Overall for each category, and all three categories compete for the TSHFT champion (which I believe is highest total Battlepoints). I am now the proud owner of a NIB Tau Pirahna (lol).

TSHFT Grand Tournament - Day 1 Results & Some Deep Thoughts on Where I am as a Player.

Hey everybody.

Just got done with the first day of the Seattle Heart of Fire Tournament.  I knew going in that this event has a great reputation. I know that Zen, the tournament organizer, has recently lost a lot of his support crew, including his webmaster. As a result, this event has not been as widely publicized as previous TSHFTs. We had I think 24 players show up, where previous events have seen nearly 60. Still, 24 players is certainly a respectable amount given that there was literally no official internet presence for this event.

TSHFT Tomorrow - My Latest 2k Concoction

Going to run something a bit different. Leaning more towards melee capability. I have wanted to try a build like this for a while, so why not this weekend?

I'll let you know how it goes.

Unit Creep?

Auratious Taak commented on this thread in response to Rarkthor who indicated that he took Missile Launcher Longfangs before it was a "fad."

"For the record, i know a bloke who took Missile Toting Long fangs in 2nd ed onwards to now. What is your point here? That wow, you take an obvious unit choice just like a good chunk of space wolf players the world over? *claps* Also, fad implies it will become obsolete. Unless ML's become stupidified in the future it's hard to imagine LF's w/ML's becoming unpopular as a points efficient unit that fills a vital role in a SW army."

A few things here. "Fad" implies that lots of people are doing something because lots of people are doing something. In this case I think lots of people are doing something because that something is obviously good. Longfangs have a very points efficient unit in the Missile Spam Longfangs.


That's not really that interesting. What IS interesting is what happens when a codex comes out and gives people a tool, like Missile Launcher Longfangs. They get used to having this tool and then start taking something similar in other armies too. After Space Wolves came out you saw more Missile Launcher Devastators of all kinds, as well as Missile Launcher Havoks in larger numbers. Now I'm not saying that no one did this before, because people did, but it became much more mainstream.


Now, after Grey Knights came out, you see more people taking Bolterbacks. Even though "normal" Bolterbacks aren't as good as the Grey Knights version, you suddenly realize what it means to have 18 = 27 twin linked long-range anti-infantry shots in your army. Even if they are "only" wounding on 3's instead of 2's and don't have quite as much anti-mech utility. So you see people like Stelek sticking Bolterbacks into Space Wolf armies, people putting Bolterbacks into Blood Angels armies, etc.


While they may not be "as" good, people see that they are still good.


I find this phenomenon interesting. Thought maybe you guys would too?