2021 Year in Review

As I always say each year, the two blog posts I enjoy writing the most are "What's in store for" (next year), and the second one is my "Year in Review". 

2021 started with a "What's in store for 2021!" so we will use that post as basis for our year in review.

Arena Rex 2021

Painting Goal: None, I am not setting any expectations for painting.

Gaming Goal: I missed my planned goal of 5 games last year with only 2 played, so we are going to shoot for 3 games played in 2021.

Arena Rex was a big MISS in 2021 with no models painted and 0 games played.

DCU Miniature Game 2021

Painting Goal: If Knight Models would ever ship me my models, there may actually be a goal in place.  I placed an order in November and still have not heard anything from them, honestly I do not think I ever will.  If my models arrive, then I may put a few on the painting table through out the year.

Gaming Goal: Just like with Arena Rex above, this game be played every now and then when we want to change it up.  I think 3 games played may be a good expectation.

DCU was pretty much a MISS, but I did get a few models completed in January 2021, but 0 games were played in the year.  I did offer to play a game with my son, but then we ended up playing Warhammer 40,000 instead.

Blitz Bowl / Blood Bowl 2021

Painting Goal: 1 full Blood Bowl team box of 12 players will be my goal for 2021, I really think this is attainable and may surprise myself with another.  I just need to decide which team will be first.

Gaming Goal: I have high expectations for Blood Bowl this year (at least with Blood Bowl 7's).  We are planning on playing an in house League with 4 Teams to start the new year off and then add a few Teams in future Seasons.  Blood Bowl does still take a few hours to play, so combing Blitz Bowl/Blood Bowl.... I am going to shoot for 30 games played in 2021.

I had really high hoped for Blitz Bowl / Blood Bowl in 2021, with purchasing a lot of new armies for the game.  But with like most games lately, it was a big MISS.  We did end up playing 2 games of Blitz Bowl, so far that is better than the above two games.  I also did not get a Team painted for the game either.

Middle-earth SBG 2021

Painting Goal: I did buy a lot of models at the end of 2020 for quite a few different armies so I may concentrate on getting some of them done.  I am not really setting any goals or armies completed, where I can see myself painting a few models / warbands here and there through out the year.  There is a big convention in the Fall (that actually may happen) where it would probably kick my painting into high gear if I elect to play MeSBG there.

Gaming Goal:  My plan is to try and play 1 game a month, so in theory that would be 12 games for the year, but we all know other plans do happen.  So I am setting a goal of 10 games for 2021.

Well I did paint a few models for Middle-earth SBG, like with DCU above, they all got completed in January 2021, and nothing since.  NOVA Open 2021 was cancelled, so that Fall event did not kick start me into a higher gear.  Unfortunaltly 0 games were also played this year.

Warhammer 40,000 2021

Painting Goal: With AdeptiCon 2021 already cancelled, it is tough to set any painting goals.  I think it will be more like MeSBG above and when I am in the mood to paint a model for Warhammer 40,000, I'll just paint it.  I have fully painted Imperial Fists army for 1000/1500/2000 point games, and plenty of more models to add to that army.

Gaming Goal: Last year I had a goal of 30 games and I hit it with 38 games played.  If we are not attending any events this year for Warhammer 40,000, I have it scheduled for twice a month which would be 24 games.  That is less than last year, but we are adding MeSBG and Blood Bowl into the mix.  I think I will stick to what is scheduled and set my goal of 24 games played in 2021.

Warhammer 40,000 was our mainstay game of the year and we stuck with it.  This is where most of my painting time was spent with expanding my Imperial Fists army, and in October starting a whole new army with the Necrons and completing over 2000 Points of them.  I had a low amount of games set for the year with 24, and we barely just hit that with 29 games played, at least I did hit my goal for the year.

X-Wing 2021

Painting Goal: Not Applicable (pre-painted miniatures)

Gaming Goal: Last year I lowered my expectations with a goal of 6 games played, and I hit it with 10 games played.  For 2021 I will keep the same goal of 6 games played.  If more games are played again in 2021, that will be a bonus.

X-Wing was another HUGE MISS for the year, I honestly thought we would get more than 1 game played in the year.

Events 2021

As I had thought, the early part of 2021 were not good for events with most of them being cancelled due to COVID.  The first event we attended was Motor City Mayhem in April which was a nice event and close to home.  Then in October was the Michigan GT that we attended and once again was close to home.  At least we were able to get away to two events for the year.

New Games Played 2021

Warhammer Age of Sigmar

Painting Goals: None

Gaming Goals: None

Warhammer Age of Sigmar was a new game I picked up for 2021.  We started off the year pretty hot about it with building a whole Kharadron Overlords army and playing 4 games, and then it kind of simmered.  Age of Sigmar v3 was released in the Summer and thought we may get a few more games in, but it has still been sitting.

Painting Points 2021

January 2021 started the year hot for Painting Points with 66 points for the month, then it cooled way down until the Fall when I decided to start a new Necron army for Warhammer 40,000 and the points really picked up and saved the year for me finishing with 293 points.

By reading the above post, you'd probably think that 2021 was not that good of year, but in all honesty, I did pick up Bass Fishing as another hobby and some of my weekend time in the Spring thru Fall were spent Fishing instead of playing games and painting.  To me, I had a satisfying 2021.

Weekly Chronicle 2021 #52 (Final Week of 2021)

Here we are the final week of 2021, and it has been a pretty decent year so far.  COVID is still around not going away any time soon, but at least we are not locked down as much as we were in 2020.

Nothing too exciting going on this week, I am prepping some models for painting for 2022 and getting ready for the Las Vegas Open at the end of January.

We did manage another LVO practice game this past Saturday (on Christmas) and my Imperial Fists did manage pull off the victory in this game (more than likely because I had first turn).  I am not sure how many more practice games we will get in with those lists (list are due January 14th) so this may be it for me.

This week is also the week where I do my "Yearly Review" and "What's in Store for 2022", so be sure to come back on Friday and Saturday for those posts. 

W40K: Necrons 'Doom Scythe I'

This past Sunday I had chores I had to around the house, and in between those chores, I decided to also paint my 'Doom Scythe' Flyer that came in my Combat Patrol box.

Next thing I now it is Sunday night, and the model was done (minus the base).  So come Monday I had to get the base finished so I could call this model completed.

I was unsure how I wanted to paint this model, and still unsure about it, but at least it matches the theme with the rest of my army.

Doom Scythe I

Doom Scythe I

Painting Points: 10

W40K: Necrons Battleforce 'Worldscour Legion''

For a few years now, Games Workshop has been releasing Battleforce boxes around the Holiday times, and this year was no different.

With just starting a new army, I was very interested in seeing what was coming out.  Well low and behold, one of the boxes were for Necrons.  The "Worldscour Legion" battleforce actually has most of the models that I still need for the Necrons (minus the Warriors, but I do actually still need more of those).  So of course I placed an order for box, and my battleforce arrived yesterday.

The "Worldscour Legion" battleforce comes with the following models:

• Psychomancer
• 10 Necron Warriors with 3 Scarab Swarms
• Lokhust Heavy Destroyer
• 3 Ophydian Destroyers
• 5 Flayed Ones,
• 2 Canoptek Doomstalkers

Now with this box and what I still have for the Necrons, I have quite a bit to keep me busy in 2022.  Of course I did have to open the box and start building a few models.

Weekly Chronicle 2021 #50 (Battle Foam Arrived)

Each year during Black Friday, Battle Foam puts on a huge sale for their products (foam trays / bags) and with starting a new Necron army in October, I thought it would be a perfect time to take advantage of their sale and find a home for the Necrons.

I have to admit, Battle Foam is not cheap, but they are really good and lately I have been using foam / bags from Games Plus.  The problem with my Necron army, I have some very large models for them (Tesseract Vault, Silent King) and the larger trays and custom cut outs from Battle Foam will be easier to store them.

Now that I am going with Battle Foam foam, I need something to carry the foam.  I currently own a few smaller bags from Battle Foam, but that will not be enough to carry all the Necrons, so I add 3 bags to my order, a really big one, medium one and a smaller one, to give me options on how I want to carry my army.

Well this past Friday my order arrived,  I was really shocked it came this fast, when placing the order, it said 8-10 weeks to arrive (I do miss the days of living in Gilbert, AZ and just driving to their location for pick ups).

So after a 1000 Point game on Saturday in which my Necrons squeaked out a victory, it was time to place my models into their foam trays.  I did purchase some trays that will cover future models, and I "should" be good on foam for the next year... I hope.

W40K: Necrons 'Technomancer II'

It is time for the twin brother to 'Technomancer I' that was posted on Friday and I am officially caught up with my Necron models that are finished.

With that, here is 'Technomancer II'.

Technomancer II

Technomancer II

Painting Points: 5

W40K: Necrons 'Technomancer I'

I am finally catching up my posts with my finished Necron models, and as of now I am done to the last 2 models, and I call these guys my "Techno Twins".

I want to try a list that runs 2 'Technomancers' so multiple Units can benefit from their abilities, so while I was down in South Bend not long ago I went into our LGS and he had 2 of them and I purchased them.  I did not think I would have them done this week, but I managed to finish them.

Here is 'Technomancer I'

Technomancer I

Technomancer I

Painting Points: 5

W40K: Necrons 'Deathmarks I'

In my recent purchases of my Necron army, one of the purchases was the Combat Patrol box because I was interested in the 'Overlord' that was included.

I finally got around to some of the other models that were included.  The Combat Patrol box has the ability to model 10 'Immortals' or 10 'Deathmarks', or the combination of both.  Since I already have 10 'Immortals' completed, I elected to build 5 as 'Deathmarks' and see how they do before I decide on the next 5.

The 'Deathmarks' are suppose to be a sniper type Unit for the Necrons, similar to what the 'Eliminators' are to the Space Marines, but stat wise are not as good.  Also since the 'Deathmarks' are an Elite choice and 'Immortals' are Troops, I think in the long run it may be better to have another Troop choice.

Deathmarks I

Painting Points: 5

W40K: Necrons 'Canoptek Wraiths I'

Up next is another Fast Attack Unit that recently have gotten better with the updated CORE keyword, and that is the 'Canoptek Wraiths'.

For now I only have 3 of these models, but I look to add another 3 sometime in 2022.  These guys can Move 12", then they can Fall Back ad Charge again so that way they can be fighting first.

Canoptek Wraiths I

Painting Points: 15

W40K: Necrons 'Tomb Sentinel I'

Back in October at the Michigan GT 40,000 Friendly, I played against a Necron army (which is what really got me started with this army) and my opponent was playing a 'Tomb Sentinel' from Forgeworld (a division of Games Workshop).

I really liked the look of this model, a gigantic robotic centipede model and thought it would be a cool model to have for my army, plus I do like having Forgeworld models in my army.  When this model came in and I opened the box, I knew it would not be fun to build, but I managed through it and then painted it.  Instead of having just a few leg tips glued to the base and breaking off, I decided to magnetize the model to the base instead with an extra Magnet Baron kit that I had.

Tomb Sentinel I

Painting Points: 10

W40K: Necrons 'Warriors II'

Identical to yesterday's 'Warriors I', this is just another 10 to fill a Unit to 20 models, or allows me to run them as separate Units of 10.

Necron Warriors II (Gauss Flayers)

Painting Points: 10

Daily Chronicle: Cruisehammer 2022 August 7th-14th

Last week I came across an event that I never knew had existed, the Cruisehammer event has been going on since 2016, but the last few years it has been cancelled due to COVID.

So what is Cruisehammer 2022?

"For those unfamiliar, Cruisehammer is a week-long adventure where you join us for either a Warhammer 40,000 tournament or Age of Sigmar tournament on a cruise. In 2022, we will be cruising throughout the Caribbean! Cruisehammer 2022 is booked from Aug 7th to Aug 14th leaving from Galveston, TX."

Usually in the Fall time my son and I try to hit up the Events, NOVA Open, Michigan GT, Renegade Open, but Cruisehammer 2022 is going to have to replace those events this year (except for the Michigan GT since it is so close).

Once I found out about the event, I asked my son if he was interested, yes he was.... check... now I had to run it by the wife and make sure it was okay with her (my wife loves cruises and she is going on one next month so I knew she would not ask to come along, plus vacation days are tight for her), the wife said yes... check... now I had to fill out the registration form and get our deposits paid... check... my son and I are confirmed for Cruisehammer 2022.

For more information about Cruisehammer 2022, schedule / pricing/ registration, you can visit their page, www.cruisehammer.org

W40K: Necrons 'Warriors I'

It is finally time to get to some of the 'Necron Warriors' in the army.  The Indomitus box came with 20 of these models and I built them with Gauss Flayers for the 24" range.  I think the time I purchase more 'Warriors', they will be built with Gauss Reapers for the added Strength.

Here if the first 10 'Necron Warriors'

Necron Warriors I (Gauss Flayers)

Painting Points: 10

W40K: Necrons 'Illuminor Szeras'

I skipped on yesterdays "Weekly Chronicle", but there was not much news to report.  I did manage a game with my Necrons at a full 2000 Points that took us (me) a long time to play as I was still learning all te synergies of my army.

In that game was used this model, 'Illuminor Szeras', he looks great on paper now that we have a lot of Core Units, but he is a bit slow for some of the heavy hitters in the army.  More practice will be needed with this big guy.

Illuminor Szeras

Painting Points: 5

W40K: Necrons 'Plasmancer I'

This is another HQ Unit that was included in the Indomitus box last year, his main benefit is buff other Cryptek Units in the army.  When the enemy does get close to him, he can also dish out some Mortal Wounds which will be really nice.

With this model, I have also tied last years "Painting Points" with 218 points, and I still have some more points coming this year.

Plasmancer

Plasmancer

Painting Points: 1

W40K: Necrons 'Overlord' (Resurrection Orb / Warscythe)

I really wanted this Necron 'Overlord' model with Resurrection Orb and Warscythe that was about to purchase him separately, but I came across a great deal and gift cards that I ended up just getting the Combat Patrol box and this 'Overlord' was included in it.

Overlord (Resurrection Orb / Warscythe)

Overlord (Resurrection Orb / Warscythe)

Painting Points: 2

W40K: Necrons 'Overlord' (Tachylon Arrow / Hyperphase Glaive)

I have been falling behind on my posts for my new Necron army.  Continuing with working on HQ Units, up next is the 'Overlord' that came inside the Indomitus box, he is armed with a Tachylon Arrow and Hyperphase Glaive.

Overlord (Tachylon Arrow / Hyperphase Glaive)

Overlord (Tachylon Arrow / Hyperphase Glaive)

Painting Points: 2

Weekly Chronicle 2021 #47

There was no gaming to be had this week, as I had a few days vacation last week (Thurs/Fri) and wanted to spend the time painting/modeling,  I am happy with my outcome because what I had planned for the weekend, I was able to accomplish, and this is more work on my Necron army.

My model posts are lacking behind what is actually finished (since I try and only post once a day, if that) but my Necron army is way ahead of schedule.  I do know have enough to field 1500 points full painted, and I am really close to 2000 points (and that is without 'The Silent King').

Here is a little sneak peek of the army prior to this past weekend.

I still have plenty more models that are not assembled yet (most of the Combat Patrol Box, The Silent King and Tesseract Vault) and I am thinking about getting the Necron Batleforce box that will be released in Decemeber, so the backlog is plentiful.

I wanted to get enough done for AdeptiCon if I decide to play them in the Warhammer 40,000 Friendly (which I now have), so the rest of the models will be getting done as time allows.

The plan for this coming weekend is to try them out at 1500 Points, and "maybe" at 2000 Points if I can get another Unit completed by Saturday.

W40K: Necrons 'Royal Warden I'

Here is an HQ model that came in the Indomitus box, that actually has some benefits, but may not see the table that often, the 'Royal Warden'.

I am trying to fit him into some lists, but am having  hard time, there are already a lot of really good HQ choices.  He has an ability that allows a CORE unit to Fall Back, Shoot, and Charge again, which can be really beneficial with all the added CORE keyword updates the Necrons received recently.

Royal Warden I

Royal Warden I

Painting Points: 1

W40K: Necrons 'Skorpekh Lord I'

In order to have a legal army, I need to have some HQ choices, so it is time to move onto some of those.

First up is the 'Skorpekh Lord' who will be going into battle to help out his Units of 'Skorpekh Destroyers'.

Skorpekh Lord I

Skorpekh Lord I

Painting Points: 5

W40K: Necrons 'Triarch Praetorians I'

I have one more Unit to post before I move onto my HQ Units, and that is this Fast Attack Unit, the 'Triarch Praetorians'.  With the "Rod of Covenant" in hand, these guys are deadly in Shooting and Melee.  On the plus side, with the recent update to Warhammer 40,000, this Unit is now considered Core.

Triarch Praetorians I

Painting Points: 5

Weekly Chronicle 2021 #46

Now that I am in full Necron mode, it has been a pretty good week painting.  My goal was to have 1500 Points of Necrons finished in time for AdeptiCon 2022 in March, and it is looking like those will be completed by the end of this month.

I am alright with that, it will then leave 2022 to painting other Units for the Necrons that will like to eventually try and allow some time to paint for other armies.  I was able to complete 3 'Lokhust Destroyers' and 2 Units of 'Skorpekh Destroyers'.

Gaming has been a little low this year, where this past Saturday I only played my 25th game of Warhammer 40,000 for the year.  I did hit my goal for the year, but honestly thought I would have far exceeded it, but do we do have a few more weeks left in the year.

We played  2000 Point Las Vegas Friendly practice game and I got a first look at the army I am thinking of bringing.  It is well themed with Bolt(ers) but that may also be the downside, not much fire power I am used to in my games.  Because my son was not fully painted, the end result was much closer, 65-69, I lost.

I only have 1 weapon that is a S7 on my 'Predator Destructor' and it was taken out early in the game, after that, the strongest weapon I have are S5 Heavy Bolters.  I know LVO is a Friendly and more geared towards theme, but I feel naked without my fire power....oh well, hopefully we'll score high on theme.

W40K: Necrons 'Skorpekh Destroyers II'

Now completed is the second Unit of 'Skorpekh Destroyers'.  As I mentioned the other day, these models can run in a Unit from 1-6 models, so having 6 of these models allows some options for my army.

Skorpekh Destroyers II

Painting Points: 15