Guild Ball: Shepherd's Guild Reveal 'By Hook or By Crook'

Finally some news from Steamforged Games about upcoming Guild Ball products, it has been pretty quite from them lately.

Just announced on their Facebook Page is the new upcoming Minor Guild, the Shepherd's Guild box has been revealed with a pre-order date of March 13th, 2020 and a release date of March 27th, 2020 (who knows, maybe they will have some at AdeptiCon).

As of late, I have very little excitement for Guild Ball, with the silence from SFG in the recent months to the dismantling of their Pundit program, I have been pretty down about the game (with my resurrection of Warhammer 40K).  As of this moment, I am unsure if I will get the new Shepherd's Guild, I do like the models and I think I can paint them fairly quickly, just not sure how much we will be playing.

 By Hook or By Crook

 Herder, the Shepherd's Guild Captain

 Babe, the Shepherd's Guild Mascot

 Hook and Crook

 Lamb

 Ram

 Shearer

Goal Token, Ball, Terrain Piece

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W40K: Imperial Fists 'Primaris Aggressors I'

A few days ago back on February 28th, I had wrote about swapping in some 'Primaris Aggressors' into my AdeptiCon Team Tournament list.  Well the 'Primaris Aggressors' did get moved to the front of the Painting Queue and are now completed.

My plan is to get a test game in with them sometime later this week and see if I actually like them and want to swap them into my list instead of a 'Redemptor Dreadnought'.

 Primaris Aggressors I

Primaris Aggressors I

Painting Points: 6

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Weekly Chronicle 2020 #9 (NOVA Open Registration)

Let's start with our usual recap of the week and I would it say it was an average week.  I was able to get in a 1500 point game of Warhammer 40K on Saturday (which is a plus if I get a game in a week) and I did complete a new 'Captain' for my Imperial Fists army.

So far for 2020 I am happy with how the painting has been going, January and February have been good to me and I was able to complete what is needed for AdeptiCon 2020.  The gaming side of the hobby I think I am a little behind schedule.  Two months into the year and I have only played 7 games of Warhammer 40K, so it looks like I am on schedule of hitting my 30 games for the year (probably more than that) but the other games are lacking.  Honestly right now the interest is not there for the other games, I am enjoying my time back with Games Workshop and Warhammer 40K.

Onto NOVA Open 2020, last night at 8:00 PM EST registration for NOVA Open 2020 opened, at least it attempted to open.  Their servers got so jammed with registrations that it actually took 45 minutes for my son and I to finally be able to check out, luckily I was able to get into the event I wanted.  I am officially signed up for the Warhammer 40K Grand Tournament (the GT has officially sold out as of this writing, 336 spots) and it has been a very long time since playing in a solo GT for Warhammer 40K.  After a lot of twisting my sons arm, he also registered for the 40K GT, but added a Middle-earth Strategy Battle Game event on Thursday, he actually was looking forward to the Me-SBG GT but I think I guilt tripped him into playing with me.  It'll still be fun and we'll get 3 days of Warhammer 40K.  Not playing to win at all costs, just trying to have some fun in a larger environment.  So once AdeptiCon wraps up at the end of this month, it will be time to start getting in 2000 point practice games of Warhammer 40K with the ITC Missions (close to NOVA Open missions) and work on the lists we want for NOVA.

That's a wrap for this week.

Models Completed: 1
Games Played: 1

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Battle Report: W40K 2/29/2020 (AdeptiCon "Burn It Down")

Yesterday my son and I spent our time playing through the latest FAQ changes for Space Marines in a 1500 point game using one of the AdeptiCon 2020 Championship Missions "Burn It Down".

I enjoyed playing this mission, from the Deployment Zone being 15" to the fact you had to make a decision on whether or not you want to hold an Objective or destroy it and then the added benefits of playing for Tertiary Objectives.

Now what about the new Doctrines for Space Marines? Yes not being able to sit in the Devastator Doctrine all game hurts my Imperial Fists, but it honestly was not bad.  My Auto Bolt Rifles then gained an advantage in Turns 2 & 3.

I was a little scared in this game with going Second, but my Imperial Fists held there ground and I was slowly able to pick off Dark Angel Units one by one and finally wiping them out by Turn 5 and at the same time holding onto some Objectives.  The Imperial Fists scored 35 points to the Dark Angels 1 and in AdeptiCon tournament results scoring, the Imperial Fists would have scored 40 and the Dark Angels 0.

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W40K: Imperial Fists 'Captain Storm Bolter/Power Sword I'

I enjoy painting single models over Units, probably because less repetitious over painting an assembly line.  One of the lists I am thinking about playing at the NOVA Open has a Spearhead Detachment with 3 'Thunderfire Cannons' and to lead that Detachment, I need a HQ model, so here is 'Captain' equipped with a Storm Bolter and Power Sword.  The ability to re-roll 1's to hit for the 'Thunderfire Cannons' will be nice with the 'Captain' back by them.

 Captain with Storm Bolter/Power Sword I

 Captain with Storm Bolter/Power Sword I

Captain with Storm Bolter/Power Sword I

Painting Points: 1

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Daily Chronicle: Primaris Aggressors To The Front Of The Queue

With the release of the new Space Marines FAQ yesterday, I am making a slight change to my list for the AdeptiCon Team Tournament, at least I am going to hope for the change.

I decided that instead of running a 'Redemptor Dreadnought', I am going ahead and swapping it out for a Unit of 'Primaris Aggressors'.  The 'Redemptor Dreadnought' basically has all Heavy weapons that are short range (which would be hard to take advantage of during Turn 1) and the 'Primaris Aggressors' have all Assault type weapons that I can use the Doctrines turning Turns 2 & 3, plus I get a few more shots with them over the 'Redemptor Dreadnought'.  With the 'Redemptor Dreadnought' I would have anywhere between 19-24 shots mostly at S5, but with the 'Primaris Aggressors', it would be anywhere from 21-36 S4 shots and with the Imperial Fist "bolt" rule in place of additional hits on a 6.

So the 'Primaris Aggressors' are moving up to the front of my Painting Queue.  Hopefully I can complete assembly on them tonight and then on Sunday start painting them with a planned finish of next week.  Luckily my son already a squad new in box so I can get an early start and when mine arrives I will just hand it over to him..... maybe.... LOL

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W40K: FAQ Space Marines 2/27/2020

There has been a disturbance in  the Warhammer 40K Universe this morning with a new FAQ for the Space Marines, and it is a pretty significant change, especially for my Imperial Fists.

In an effort to further reduce the competitiveness of the Iron Hands Chapter, Games Workshop made a change to the Combat Doctrines for Space Marines.  Previously everyone started on the Devastator Doctrine and then starting with Turn 2 can elect to change to the next Doctrine or stay on the Devastator Doctrine, now with the new FAQ, everyone is required to change.

Currently my Imperial Fists rely on a lot Heavy weapons so I would just stay on the Devastator Doctrine, now this is going to change some things up a bit for me, especially the two new Intercessor Units with Stalkers I was going to work on for NOVA Open, now I may just keep them as Auto Bolt Rifles.

Honestly I do feel this change is good, it was not until September when these Doctrines were first introduced, so the Doctrines still help us, not as much as it used to for me.

I am not changing any of my lists for AdeptiCon, but I may take another look at my options for NOVA Open after a few play test games with these new rules.

You can download the new FAQ by visiting Warhammer Community.

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Weekly Chronicle 2020 #8

Not too many models were completed during Week #8, but it was still a good week non the less.  First off I was able to work on some ruin walls for Warhammer 40K with my 'STC Ryza-Pattern Ruins I & II', then I completed a "smash captain" for my Imperial Fists that I call "Smashfist".

Gaming for the week I am also happy with myself.  2 games of Warhammer 40K, both were 1500 point games in preparation for the AdeptiCon Friendly, one was last Monday night and then another this past Saturday.

For this coming week, I am honestly not sure what/if anything will get completed, I kind of a few projects going on at the same time.  I ended up purchasing more models for my Imperial Fists (Thunderfire Cannons, Whirlwind, Intercessors, Phobos Captain) and I started building two more 5 man Squads of Stalker equipped 'Intercessors'.  I would like to have those assembled by the end of the week and I think after AdeptiCon they will hit the painting table.  I also have five more 'Termagants' that are all primed and ready for painting, so if anything will actually be completed this week it will probably be those models.

NOVA Open registration begins Sunday night at 8:00 PM EST and I am still undecided what events I want to do that Labor Day weekend.  I could spend the whole weekend playing MeSBG (Friday Doubles, Saturday/Sunday GT) or try and sign up for the WH40K GT for Friday/Saturday and possibly Sunday.  I think my gut is leaning towards WH40K as it will give me plenty of practice time after AdeptiCon to play 2000 point games and give me something to look forward to in getting my models completed in time, although my son will most likely have a MeSBG weekend.

Next Mondays Weekly Chronicle I will reveal what I signed up for.

Models Completed: 17 (with terrain)
Games Played: 2

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Battle Report: W40K 2/22/2020 (CA2019 "Crusade")

Yesterday morning I drove out to Michigan City, IN to Heroes Haven Comics & Games and met up with a long time friend from IL to get in a practice game of Warhammer 40K.  In preparation for the AdeptiCon Friendly tournament, the game was 1500 points and my friend was playing an Eldar force (first time facing Eldar in a very very long time) and I was playing with my Imperial Fists.

We rolled off for the Mission from the Chapter Approved Eternal War and came up with "Crusade".

We then starting placing 6 Objective Markers across the table.

Next we rolled for Attacker/Defender and I lost the roll and my friend Chris chose to be the Attacker so I then proceeded to roll for the Deployment Map and rolled "Search and Destroy" and selected my Deployment Zone (which I ended up choosing the wrong one).  The Zone I gave Chris already had 2 Objective Markers in it so it was going to be an uphill battle.

Chris deployed first and then myself and then the game began.

The Eldar had some pretty good First Turn shooting with the 'Dark Reapers' destroying my 'Redemptor Dreadnought' and his bikes shooting and charging my 'Scouts' with the 'Scouts' getting wiped out.  Chris scored 1 VP to destroying a Unit in the First Turn.

My First Turn was not as good as it could have been, but my 'Centurion Devastators' did manage to destroy his 'Falcon' scoring me 1 VP and then I followed up and proceeded to kill the 'Fire Dragon' that were inside with some other models.

There was a lot of back and forth going on, but Chris was scoring 2-3 VP's per Turn from sitting on Objectives to my only 1 VP so I was following behind fast.

I think the highlight of the game was when 'Tor' charged into his 'Avatar'.  His 'Avatar' was already doing work on my 'Centurions' so it was payback.  'Tor' just demolished the 'Avatar', but a Stratagem brought him back with 6 Wounds and proceeded to do all but 1 damage to 'Tor', 'Tor' was still standing.

The following Turn after Charge fights were fought, I interrupted the Fight with "Counter Offensive" and proceeded to have 'Tor' strike down the 'Avatar' again before he was able to bring down 'Tor' and it worked.  Later in the game 'Tor' was also able to finish off one of his last bikers before succumbing to his last Wound.

From Turn 4 on it was mainly just securing the existing Objectives we had as I was too far away from securing any new ones.  At the end of Turn 6, my Imperial Fists ended up losing 17-7.  I still had my 'Chapter Master Captain/Warlord', 'Primaris Chaplain', 2x 'Eliminators' and a Unit of 'Intercessors' with Stalkers.  Chris had his Unit of 'Dark Reapers' and Unit of 'Dire Avengers'.  Those 2 Units he had scored him 10 VP's sitting on their Objectives and I could not reach them....bad pick of Deployment Zone for me.

It was a good game and great to play Chris after all these years.  We are going to try and do this about every other month alternating between Michigan City and possibly someplace closer to him.

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W40K: Imperial Fists 'Captain Smashfist'

The other day I saw a post in a Facebook Group asking what a typical "Smash Captain" is for Imperial Fists.  Usually a "Smash Captain" consists of a Captain with a Jump Pack, Storm Shield and a Thunder Hammer, but for the Imperial Fists, we 'have' (have as in it would be cool to be in theme) would be to swap put the Thunder Hammer for a Power Fist.  The reason for this swap (besides what I mentioned to be in theme) is that the Imperial Fists can take a Special-Issue Wargear Relic called "Fist of Terra", the "Fist of Terror" replaces the models Power Fist stat line with it's own, the main benefit is that it no longer suffers -1 to hit and it makes 1 additional attack with the weapon.

My son had mentioned that he had some bits laying around from a 'Vanguard Veteran Squad' box he had purchased along with an Imperial Fist Power Fist I had still had left over, so I went to work and created my own "Captain Smashfist", once I completed the assembly, I knew he had to skip to the front of the line in painting queue.

"Captain Smashfist" is now completed.  So far all of my HQ models have been Primaris models and they have been wearing cloaks (which I painted red), so to stay in theme, a little red was added to this model so I have consistency with my army.

 Captain Smashfist

 Captain Smashfist

Captain Smashfist

Painting Points: 1

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