Building a Necron List with Lychguard and Trayzn

So, I've had a chance now to read the new codex and over all I like it.  Thought I would try my hand at building a list using Lychguard with the shields simply because I really like the new models.  I wanted to include a Necron Lord with res orb and warscythe to give them a boost to their reanimation protocols and the ability to deal with walkers and vehicles in HtH.  Finally I figure that with all the points I've put into this squad that Trazyn should join the unit to effectively make them scoring.  In order to assure that he will stay with the squad I'm not going to take any other overlords, cryptics or lords so that he cannot inadvertently leave the squad should he die.

I also want to  protect the squad from psychic attacks that target their ld score.  So I'm going to include a min of one spider with gloom prism.  If I'm taking tomb spiders then I'm going to take scarabs to boot.  Because I'm limiting myself to only upgrading the lychguard squad I figure I should horde up on my troop choices.  So the end result looks like this:

HQ:
Trayzin

Elite:
8 Lychguard with dispersion shields + 1 Necron Lord with Res Orb and Warscythe

Troops:
6 x 10 Necron warrior squads

Fast:
3 x 9 Scarab swarms

Heavy:
3 Spiders with Gloom Prism's

Overall I think the list looks a lot like a Nid list with one big exception.  It can deal with armour at range.  The Necron warriors give me 6 scoring squads, that can deal with infantry at range and stunlock any armoured vehicle in the game.  They will get blown out of the water in assaults but I think that this is compensated by the return firepower that the necrons can bear down on an exposed squad.  Also, the Spiders and Lychguard provide the army with some counter assault abilities.

For deployment, I would layer the army like a nid list, overlapping squads of necron warriors with the lychguard at its core.  The Spiders will be placed to maximize the pyschic defence over army and in the early phases of the game spawn more scarabs.  As for the scarabs, they will hide behind the wall of necron warriors slowly building their numbers up.  Timing wise, I think I would only use them on vehicles that have been stun locked to maximize their entropic strikes.  Over all there are a 100 models in the list that should provide durability by sheer force of numbers coupled with reanimation protocols.  The army would advance as a group to gain the middle ground.

I think the list has potential at any rate with 7 scoring units.  I also think it could be built on the cheap if one were to pick up all the used Necron warriors that have sprung up across the internet.  So there you have it my two bits.

Random Necrotic Thoughts

I picked up the new White Dwarf this morning and just finished reading the included battle report between 4k of new Necrons and the Ultramarine/Alaitoc alliance (2k each respectively).  What immediately impreased me was that the Necrons did not win.  I've always suspected that the end result of these matches in WD was predetermined to see the new model range consistently come out on top.  Not the case here.  The army's actually selected (at least from the Eldar perspective) were not very optimal, but they rarely are in a WD.  I take it the reasoning is to showcase a model range vs an optimal build.  With all that aside it was a fun read.  I for one enjoy reading WD every month.  I'm a sucker for glossy pictures and I enjoy the painting articles. I understand its the primary vessel to advertise GW products but c'est la vie, I shell out my 10 dollars monthly and don't regret it.

I really like how GW is making it possible to build different units with the same kits.  Namely the Immortals/Deathmarks, Lych guard/Praetorian, Command/Annihilation Barge and the Ghost/Doomsday arc.  I'm hoping this is a trend that might be extended to the Eldar when they get their release one day in the future.  I'm no economist but combining the kits might make it feasable to produce plastic aspect warriors in the future.  Scorpion/Warp Spiders could share the same heaver armour with variations for weapons and heads or Banshees/Fire Dragons could be combined in a similar fashion.  Each box would allow you to make a hth or shooty unit.  Ultimately I'm hoping that the Eldar get the plastic treatment.

This may all be wishful thinking though as the recent fine cast release of the Aspect range may indicate that GW does not have plans for reworking this particular model range.  It seems that GW produces its models well in advance to releasing an update: so if the rumor mill is correct a new Eldar book for next year would mean that the new Eldar range of models coming down the pipe are already completed.  I hope this is not the case as I've grown to dislike metal models and I'm hoping to make the transfer to plastic with the advent of a new book.

I do believe that the change in direction for the Necrons does highlight a close connection between the Black Library and GW game design group.  We were given a glimpse of the critical thinking Necron in the Fall of Damnos novel along with how flayed ones and destroyers were going to be developed.  This connection was also seen in the Salamander series of books and the Dark Eldar codex release.  So why am I thinking about this intimate tie between the two GW studios.  Well, I think that the Gav Thorpe novels featuring the Eldar may give us a glimpse of what might be included in a future a Eldar codex release.  A couple of ideas that first spring to mind are the following:

1) The ability to sacrifice an Exarch to 'reserect' a Phoenix Lord (as seen in the finale of Path of the Warrior).
2) The Farseer gaining a power to grant preferred enemy (as depicted in Path of the Seer during the farseer's duel with a Librarian).
3) Rangers/Pathfinders being able to deploy webway portals that aspect warriors can reserve out from (again described in Path of the Seer).

Just ideas to be sure but heck its a fun exercise.

One parting thought that I would like to leave with is that the latest WD has exasperated a pet peeve of mine.  Again the Eldar are treated as the 40k whipping boy.  In a minor reflected image of the 13th crusade, on the game table the Eldar save the day, yet in the fluff they get the short end of the stick.  The last assault described is between Farseer Starbane with the support of a lone Avenger Exarch and a squad of Necron warriors.  The two Eldar models manage to win combat and claim the last objective to give the allies the win.  Hooray for Eldar they save the day.  Yet in the parting fluff Farseeer Starbane is taken captive by both the Necron overlord and Sicarius (who by the way took a shot to the face and went down mid game).  Petty on my part but hey, I would like to see the background story provided reflect the results of the game.

At any rate, just random thoughts.  The end result is that I'm excited to face a new legion of undead on the table top.  Over and out.

2k Flesh Tearers vs Ultramarines

Got a game in against a friends ultramarine army the other day.  The end result was a tie, though I was on the ropes the whole game.  I'm not going to go into the match itself; rather, I just wanted to post some pictures of the amazing paint job my opponent has done.  I wish I managed to get some more photo's and plan to do so in the future.  Anyway I got three up close shots as follows:

Take a close look at the freehand work done on the dozer blade.  Simply unreal.  The landraider is not finished but you can see the work being done with more amazing freehand work.  The last shot just shows the standard the army is painted to.  It was a real pleasure playing this army and seeing how far a guy can take this hobby.

That's all for now, painting for me has slowed down but is still plugging along.  Still working on getting my first 1k painted to completion.

Thoughts on a Harlequin and Wraithseer combo

New list time...

I was really happy with how the wraithseer played last game, and have been fooling around with army builder (now that it includes it in the HQ options) to figure out a list I might bring down to my FLGS next time.  The big problem with the last list I played is it depended on a deathstar unit that could not deal with assaults.  I dig the wraithseer and perhaps I should be looking at not including a full squad of wraithguard next time.  I only need to select the basic unit to unlock the wraithseer.  Also, why bring another wraithlord when they pail in comparison to the wraithseer (in assaults anyway).  I've found wraithlords have too few attacks to make a big impact in Hand to Hand.  Also when they have to take fearless wounds, their toughness 8 is completely bypassed.

What to do then?  While I like the two lists I came up with why not include a Hand to Hand element to even things out?  Also, the rangers are a liability once my army starts marching up the board.  So, I have an idea to try out some Harliquins to capitalize on the veil of tears and provide my wraithguard a better save than given by conceal.  So here it goes another list to mull over:

HQ:
Farseer - RoWard, Fortune
Wraithseer

Elite:
5 wraithguard
8 Harlequins + 1 Shadow Seer - 9 Harequin Kisses

Troops:
(2) 4 Jetbikes + 1 Warlock - Shuriken Cannon, Singing Spear, Destructor

Total Points: 1000

The idea is to attach the farseer to the wraithguard and march them up behind the harlequins and the jetbikes start in reserve.  The wraithseer tows along for the ride.  Low model count for footdar but what the heck, I play Eldar for the models more than any other reason...

Wraithseer Trial Run

Got a thousand point game in last night.  Did not want to disturb the Flesh Tearers from the paint que so I assembled a 1k list of Eldar.  I brought the following:

HQ:
Farseer - RoWard, Spear, Fortune
Wraithseer - D-Cannon

Troops:
10 Wraithguard - Spirit Seer, Spear, Conceal
7 Rangers

Heavy:
Wraithlord - Bright Lance

I ended up playing against a DoA list with Astorath the Grim.  From memory he had the following:

HQ:
Astorath

Elite:
Priest - Jump Pack

Troops:
3(10) man assault squads - flamer, melta gun, 2 power fists, 1 power sword.

The game was roll dice and tie and spearhead.  I did not expect to win the game, but eked out a draw.  I should have lost though, but the game ended on turn five and the opponent was 1/2 inch from contesting my objective.  Over all the wraithseer performed well.  Managed to take out Astorath and all but a couple of marines from an assault squad.  The rangers did squat.  Next time I think pathfinders are needed, the AP 1 on a 5+ to hit is worth the points.

Unfortunately I was not able to get a salvo off with the wraithguard.  The 18 inch threat range of the assault marines vs the 12 inch range of the wraithgun meant we went straight into hand to hand.  The wraithguard actually held up well in the assault.  I forgot to cast fortune on a turn though and that made the difference.  The problem was the because the game from the get go descended into a giant melee, I lost track of whose turn it was.  What finally did in the wraithguard were the two powerfists.  Next time I think I will find the points to take Eldrad.  His power weapon attacks and mind war would have tip the scales in my favour to win combats.  Also, I should have taken enhance.  The extra WS and I would have paid off in spaids.

As for the Wraithseer, I was happy with how it performed.  Was able to resurrect a couple of wraithguard with the extra 6+ save.  Also being able to cast Fleet allowed him to catch the marine player off guard to get into assault with Astorath.  The D-Cannon is not worth the points though so I'll likely strike it next time I roll with this wraith list.

The game was for fun and my opponent was cool to let me try out the wraithseer.  Even though I only had about 20 models on the table, it looked awesome seeing a full squad of wraithguard.  I've got two lists in mind for next time, one with the Avatar and one with Eldrad.

The list with the Avatar looks like this:

HQ:
Avatar
Wraithseer - EML

Elite:
5 Wraithguard

Troops:
(2) 5 Pathfinders

Heavy:
(2) Wraithlords - Wriathsword, Shuriken Cannons

I like this list as I have 4 MC's at 1k points.  Again its for fun and not a competitive list but man it does make for a fun game.

With Eldrad I would take the following:

HQ:
Eldrad
Wraithseer

Troops:
10 Wraithguard - Spirit Sear, Enhance
5 Rangers

Heavy:
Wraithlord - Wraithsword, Shuriken Cannon

Not sure which list I want to try next.  I like the idea of a full wraithguard squad as a troop choice, but I also like having the 4 MC's a 1k.  I have all the models (though not painted) so likely will try them both.

Anyway that's all for now.

Seth Nearly Complete

Worked on Seth again, and I'm nearly done.  I'm not ecstatic about the face but it will do for now.  I need to paint his backpack and cape then I'm going to call him done.  If they ever release him as finecast, I might take a second crack at him.  One thing about using a high res camera is that all the imperfections become abundantly clear when viewing the mini blown up.  On the table top I think he is looking good so onward on forwards.

Here is another photo from a different angle:

Dr. Who in the Eye of Terror

I picked up this book solely becasue the cover intrigued me.  What the heck was this human doing wearing Harlequin gear I thought.  Now, I'm not one to do book reviews, but I really enjoyed this one.  I had just finished reading Path of the Seer (which was good as well) and was hungry for more Eldar fluff.  I'm not going to go into the substance of the novel; rather just touch on what I liked about the book.

For starters, the Harlequins, as portrayed in the Infernal Atlas, kick ass!  They manhandled Space Marines, Iconic Chaos Space Marines and even Deamons.  I liked that a lot.  All too often it seems that the Eldar are always being portrayed as the 40k whipping boy.  I mean how many times has the Avatar bit the dust to a generic space marine hero.  Anyway, the Harlequins are a force to be reckoned with in the book which was nice.

What stood out to me was the fact that the novel did not portray the GW war torn universe in the cardboard black or white manner which seems to be the norm.  The protagonist is one crazy character that adventures in the grey areas of the fluff.  I found it refreshing.

Finally, if your like me and starved for Eldar fluff, the book does touch on the Black Library and the interactions between Harlequins and Craftworld Eldar.  I realize not cannon, but its nice to read a story that fleshes out the Eldar background.

Anyway, if you want a fun light read, I recommend giving Atlas Infernal a try.