Cromwells... ASSEMBLE!

So, I just got done assembling 11 Cromwells, 1 Cromwell CS, and 3 Sherman Firefly VCs.

Yikes.

Getting the tanks ready to hit the table by throwing on the tracks is easy. Getting all the little 'fiddly bits' like the fenders, the hatches, the crew, the guns, etc. well... it takes some time.

I have to say I am a bit dissapointed by the quality of some of the stuff. The tracks don't have any really clear "line me up here" points, which is strange. Only one of the tanks is actually "screwed up" but, meh.

The fenders don't really want to go on straight, either.

All fixable/ignorable stuff, but it wasn't fantastic.

But at that scale, I can forgive a few sins. These are pretty darned small models.

I will try and take some photos before I prime them all.

And I need to get ahold of an entire 8 gun 25 pounder battery still... so lots to do.

Flames of War - British 7th Armoured vs German Infantry, Quick Recaps

So, I had some excellent learning opportunities provided to me by DylanGould.

I brought out my 1575 list, which is:

2 HQ Cromwells
3 Cromwells, Firefly VC
3 Cromwells, Firefly VC
3 Cromwells, Firefly VC
3 Recce Stuarts
8 x 25 Pound Artillery and the fixin's.
Aerial Observation Post (AoP)

I did take some photos, which I will try to post up at some point. Suffice to say I put my hand into the wood chipper on the first game, and on the second game I almost couldn't have lost because of the mission and his army, and I did in fact "win." Both games were great learning experiences with my army and taught me to respect Pioneers in a serious way. Seriously, these guys in buildings are just ridiculous.

I learned that my army is a hammer, but it's a small hammer which must be applied precisely onto a previously stressed and prepared position in order to win. It's not a "smash your enemy's army to bits" type of a hammer. And that's ok.

It also makes me want to try my hand at infantry. It's always a good sign when playing the game makes you want to try new things, get new armies, etc.

Flames of War: British 7th Armoured, Late War, 1575 Points

This is what I think I am going to work towards. I like the fact that the Cromwell is a “Light Tank” but really is a Sherman. The Cromwell (and Challenger) are a bit strange because their speed combines strangely with their special rule, semi-indirect fire (which requires them to be stationary and long range), but I suppose there will be some situations to stand still and shoot and some situations to use the speed to zip up and get flank shots… and still other situations when you use your speed to move into position to sit back and pound on things the next turn. *Shrug* time will tell.

Here’s the list. 1575 for an upcoming tournament.

Headquarters Platoon, Cromwell Tanks x 2

Armored Platoon, Cromwell Tanks x 3, Firefly VC x 1
Armored Platoon, Cromwell Tanks x 3, Firefly VC x 1
Armored Platoon, Cromwell Tanks x 3, Firefly VC x 1
Recce Patrol, Stuart Tanks x 3 (Reconnaissance)

Corps Field Battery, Royal Artillary, 8 x OQF 25 pound guns, tractors, 2 Sherman Observer tanks.
Aerial Observation Post

FoW - Late War British Armor

So.

I finally bit the bullet. I just ordered a Cromwell Armored Platoon.

Comes with 4 Cromwells and Firefly VC.

I'm thinking the Turning Tide Armored Squadron is my best bet.

Building for 1575 because that's what the upcoming tournament is going to be played at.

Trying to decide whether Air Support is worthwhile in that list. Open to suggestions...

HQ 2 Cromwells
Combat 3 Cromwells, 1 Firefly VC
Combat 3 Cromwells, 1 Firefly VC
Combat 3 Cromwells, 1 Firefly VC
3 Recon Stuarts
AOP
2 OQF 25 Pounder


That leaves me 195 points. Thoughts? Suggestions on tactics? I'm assuming the best uses of the Fireflys will often be to leave them sitting and shooting with Semi-indirect fire while the Cromwells move forward...?

How to deal with dug-in infantry?

The Plan...?

I really like my Tyranids. Call me crazy. Call me stupid. Call me an truly incorrigible asshole (thanks Nurglitch...lol).

I just picked up my SEVENTH Hive Guard in metal, and I was on the lookout for two more.

I have 40 Gargoyles. 40 Genestealers. A Gallon ziplock baggie of Termagants.

I have converted 2 T-Fexes and 2 Tervigons. I made them as big as possible with the pieces I had. I never actually "finished" the Tervigons though, because I just didn't feel up to the challenge of sculpting the egg sac. I kept thinking about it, but never did it.

Well, my initial rage/irritation/dismay aside, this situation might be salvagable. It's really going to take an in-person look at the new kits to see if it's feasible, but at this point it seems possible.

Purchase TWO of the new T-Fex/Tervigon kits. Strip them down to the hubcaps. Rebuild/Upscale all four of my MCs.

It's possible, I think.

Worse... it kind of sounds like fun.

Argh.

New Nid Models... Why Do I Have to Be So Right...?

SO, a little over a year ago, I heard a little rumor that there was going to be a new wave of Tyranid models coming out.

Tervigons, Tyrannofexes, Harpies.

Well, the rumor mill had the basics right, but the timing was WAY off.

But back then, I talked a bit about my concerns about the "official" models being released. I was specifically worried that they would be SUPERGIGANTOHUMONGOUS. Because that would immediately invalidate all Tyranid players who had been playing the game for, oh, the last two years.

I had hoped, nay, prayed, that the models would be of a similar size to the Carnifexes, which were the only kits that players could reasonably base their conversions on for, again, over two years (less at the time, but you get the point).

TWO FUCKING YEARS.

So now we are supposed to cheerfully trot out and spend $200.00 to make our armies legal again, for a codex that for anyone still playing is a labor of love anyways?

Even if the models were being given out free, their increased size just makes them even more fucktartedly difficult to play with. Oops, no more Hive Guard cover wall for you, m'boy.

You want to put me on an Apocalypse base? Fine, give me 8 wounds, +3 to saves versus Jaws of the World Wolf, and Regen for free. Then we'll talk.

I mean, honestly, the idea that Jaws of the World Wolf could swallow a Tervigon when it's bigger than a fucking Land Raider is just stupid. 

Christ on a cracker. Just stupid.

The Nids community, in all honesty, would have been much better off if they hadn't released this kit AT ALL. Just let us have our conversions. We spent enough fucking time on them.

Assholes.

I'm now going to go back to my corner, where I will not be playing, not be painting, and in general not be excited about 40k.

Purgatus Goes to a Tourney... WIth Bugs... Egads! (Abbreviated Batreps)

So, in a VERY last minute change of plans, my wife gave me "the nod" to go to a rogue trader tournament this weekend. I had thought last weekend I might be able to go, then quickly realized I couldn't, then found out Friday night I could... it was crazy, yo.

So anyways, this was a "doubles" tournament, which I really enjoy in general. One can argue about how well the format works at the top levels of competition in terms of balance and fair play (often not well), but it is great fun.