Newsletter Febuary 2001

Next meeting:

Saturday Febuary 10^th 2001, at St. Johns Church Hall, Norrie St., Drury, starting at 9a.m.

Games arranged:  

Morning session: 9.30 am to 1.00pm

Afternoon session: 1.30pm to 5.00pm

If you can't make any of these games let me know - Kevin 2670319

Copy for the Newsletter

Copy for the news letter needs to be to me by week before we meet .- Kevin

The Pete-House Forum

Some tasty rumours are floating around, and I’ve diligently delivered them here for your personal enlightenment, ENJOY!

First off, in WARHAMMER!

An imminent release for the blood-suckers, and a whole slew of rules and crap to boot! The Vampire Counts are about to gain a new bloodline to the four existing ones. The Strigor as they will be known, have lost their nobility, and can be found in abandoned crypts and tombs and graveyards and such, presiding over their court of ghouls. Apparently their Vampire Counts and Lords get a 4+ save, but are unable to have any equipment, but their bloodline things are supposed to make up for this. The Lahmians also cannot have equipment, except barding. The Carstein Ring, that insidiously evil item that all opponents to undead LOVE to hate, now confers a 4+ save and regeneration, and that’s it. The Wight cavalry are now called Black Knights, and will have the Killing Blow special rule in place of the D3wounds thing. Grave Guard also get the Killing Blow rule, and new models to boot! Necromantic magic now uses the same system as the other lores of magic, no recasts, and it can be miscast, HURRAH! Ghouls apparently skirmish and have poisoned attacks…a little far-fetched, but I suppose it could be true. Any Undead unit within 12inches of the General can now march…which means there’ll be even MORE emphasis to kill the bastid! They’re re-doing the Zombie Dragon model…they’re making it stand up like the rest of the dragon models. I ask "Why?" As the Zombie Dragon was undoubtedly the best-posed of all the dragons! This earns the design team Peter’s Big Seal Of Stupidity™

Also, a helluva lotta updating done for the Dark Elves!!!

You know that new Dark Elf Dragon model? That’s the Witch King riding it. And you know the Witch King’s Cold One Chariot? He’s mass produced them and given them to his many armies. Yes, Dark Elves get chariots now. Apparently the City Guard is going, but it’s not really a great loss I suspect, as I have rarely seen anything in a Dark Elf Army which didn’t have the words ‘Witch’, ‘Rider’, or ‘Corsair’ in it ( I resent that I allways field 40 of them - Kevin) The Dark Riders lose their free march move, and the Dark Elf Scouts (Shades) lose a point of BS BUT, a lot of new rules for most of the Dark Elves: Executioners get Killing Blow (makes sense), the Black Guard are apparently Stubborn, and Hate everyone, and the Dark Elf Assassins apparently get to use different kinds of poison. Finally, the rumour I found most interesting and amusing, Dark Elf Sorcerors, for some unknown reason, won’t ever be part of a unit with an Assassin in it, HAHAAAAA!

I have heard a rumour that Chaos Armies will be either a Chaos Warrior army, or a Chaos Beastmen army, each having their own book. No Daemon army. The Daemons are apparently part of the other army lists, to be taken as Special or Rare choices, depending on what type. Also, interestingly, I’ve heard that the Chaos Warriors will get all the ‘classic’ Daemons, whereas the Beastmen will have new Daemons in keeping with their feral, unaligned Chaos nature and appearance. I also heard from Robert that he heard from a friend that this rumour is utter bull, but rumours is rumours, and it’s nice to know ‘em anyway =)

Quick last note for the Fantasy aspect of the hobby, there are new Brettonian models for warmaster, and you can see them at http://www.stromm.com/

Now on to 40K

The Cadians are getting a new Plastic Squad Box, like the Catachans did. Along with the release of the Cadians will be the long rumoured ‘City Fight’ supplement, and although the Cadians won’t get their own special rules, they’ll be able to use some of the ‘City Fight’ rules. Also, White Dwarf may be putting out a new White Scars Space Marines army list for you all to use, with new troop types, Veteran Bike Squads, Command Squads in Jump Packs, and other such tasty goodness. NEW RACE! The Tau, ugly muthas they are, get to use technology from the Dark Age of Technology…I am very much picturing something with a ‘Stargate’ feel, even though I haven’t actually heard much of anything in the way of background, I just reckon a bunch of skinny, ugly, desert dwelling aliens with vastly superior technology is very kewl indeed, and the look of the model I saw just screamed that idea!

Inquisitor sounds like an excellent game. Which is a pity because if it absolutely SUCKED, then this next bit wouldn’t concern me at all. The rulebook will be $80 pretty much, or you can get the boxed game containing 2 miniatures for $160 Individual models cost $40-$50 EACH!!! Does this strike anyone else as INCREDIBLY EXPENSIVE? And to make matters worse, after the first few months of release, it’s going to be delegated to Fanatic for further support…just like Blood Bowl and Necromunda, and you surely know it’s harder to get things for those games than the rest. This earns G.W. ‘Peter’s Big Prize of Penny-Pinchingness’

Finally, Games Workshop IS making a Lord of the Rings game…mixed feelings here. Rick Priestly is doing it, and if he does a good job, I’ll be happy. If he does a BAD job, I will kill him. Anyway, that’s it as far as rumours go for now.

The Defence of Bakersfield!

I’ll portents and dark omens increase! The skulls of seeing kept by the court Necromancers scream into the night, and the stars shimmer a dull red as Morrsleib waxes, and it’s red glare fills the night sky. There have been increasing numbers of orcs seen in the area, and the peasants claim the dead walk the roads, craving to bring a fall to the living. In desperation the Mayor and Marshall of Bakersfield, Jon Davisz has sent letters imploring the assistance of ANYONE who will be able to reach Bakersfield within a month. Already a reply has been received, and the noted and famed Empire General Bryan von Orsbourne is currently marching towards the town of Bakersfield, ready to assist in it’s defence against the greenskin scum and anything else encountered

There looks to be a mighty battle brewing!

Okay, so far I have two people on the side of Good, being the renowned Bryan, fielding his host of mighty Empire soldiers, and myself, fielding a slightly less mighty and slightly less painted host of Empire troops, now I just need one more person on the side of Good. This can be an Empire player, or a High Elf, or even a Wood Elf player, there’s trees in the Empire, and wood elves DO live in some of those forests, so you never know. Brettonians, um, well, if I can find no-one else, I guess Brettonians are okay. Dogs of War, if need be. Lizardmen will do in a pinch. Any takers? It’s gonna be a game the size of which you may very well NOT have the chance to play again in a LONG time, so sign up quick please. If there’s enough support, I may even increase the game to 4 on 4.

Also, now on the side of Evil, is the kind of capable force of Damien’s undead, and now Wade has decided he shall attempt to rival the might of the Empire of Man with his greenskinned devils. That means I’m in need of another Evil player. Chaos, Undead, Orcs and Gobbos, Dark Elves, Chaos Dwarves, all are welcome here, so give me a buzz at the meeting. So far, I’m hoping for around 3000 points per player, I can field this amount with ease, and I’m sure Brian is quite capable of that too, and it shouldn’t be too hard to get this amount from Damien and Wade I should imagine. 3000 points each from 3 players, that’s a 9000 point game…if I boost it up to 4 players, 12000 point game! And it’s pretty easy, and should move fairly quickly, with a break at the end of the third turn for lunch, it’ll be a blast =)

Please if you want to play, tell me at the next meeting, so I have enough time to come up with contingency plans if people want to get in or drop out, it would be much appreciated.

Cheers!

-Peter

Battle Reports

Jaymesh (Crimson Fists) beat Wade (Blood Angels)

It started with a massive roar from my Vindicator. SPLAT! Two Marines down. It took a devastator squad and Land Speeder Typhoon to take out 1 Rhino We tore each other apart in a good old hand-to-hand blood bath. Our Lords attacked each other. We killed each other, we stabbed each other at the same time. My Vindicator helped me heaps. When Wade and I slowly killed each other at the end, I got my bikes, land speeder, scout squad, my devestators, and my vindicator.

Manoj (Space Wolves) and Jaymesh (Crimson Fists) beat Nick (Midnight Marines) and Paul (Dark Angels)

Right what can I say? We deployed tight-knit and in their face. First few turns shot them to bits and wolves sliced em up in close combat. At one stage 35 marines attacked the blood claws who took them down to 8 before finally perishing. A big and scary Land Raider was finally destroyed by a multi-melta. Another highlight was when the vindicator destroyed a command squad and 6tactical marines in one shot. God I love Ordnance. In the end the Fists and Wolves had lost 10 blood claws, 1 vindicator, 1 bike and 4 Terminators, while they had lost their armies except for 1 man who ran off the table. So in the end we controlled 4 table quarters. Did I mention I love Ordnance?

Manoj (Chaos Berserkers) beat Paul (Dark Angels and Space Wolves)

What can I say?…CHARGE!!! Blood for the blood god! After tank-shocking the grey hunters and blood claws, who both broke, the good marines were cut down and killed in succession. Yes I know Space Wolves and Dark Angels hate each other, but I leant Paul my Space Wolves because he only brought 500pts of troops.

Peter Colson (Orks) beat Wade Mitchell (Blood Angels)

"WAAAAAAGH!!!" the warboss roared as the driver gunned his engines sending the war-trukk speading across the field towards the Blood Angels. Already the green tide of Tuffgitt’s Orks was marching it’s way steadily towards the marines’ lines, the shoota boyz and the kult of speed buggies and wartrakk taking the far right flank, the center held by the sluggaz and the dreadnought, and on the left being dominated by Tuffgitt and his bodyguard, and 4 bikes. The marines quickly made their first move, a rhino full of Death Company marines screaming toward the Ork lines, halting just in front of the imposing figure of the Ork Dreadnought. The marines opened fire, and thinned the ranks of the slugga boys in the center, but not managing to see them off. The Orks replied by surging forward, the shootas and buggies pivoting around the spire and laying down a withering hail of fire upon the tactical units of Marines, while the dread stalked towards the Rhino and opened fire. After realising that accuracy was not it’s strong point, the dreadnought charged into the black chasis of the rhino housing the Death Company, blowing it to smithereens, eliminating two of the passengers. To the left of the slugga boys, the warboss and his bodyguard sped around the hedges, with the bikers close behind them. The Warboss, his nobs, and the painboy in the truck opened up on the landspeeder in front of them, and managed to take it down in a single round of shooting. The warbikes also met with success as they gunned down a few members of the largest marine tactical squad just beyond the war-trukk. The marines fought back valiantly, the Death Company making a decisive strike against the Slugga Boys, while the rest of the marines attempted to mow down as many of the green-skinned monsters as they could…..which they are unfortunately rather proficient at =(  The death company screamed with battle lust as they tore towards the mass of orks in the center of the field, while the largest tactical squad sprinted towards the warboss and his command unit, intent on taking the figurative head off the figurative chicken, metaphorically speaking of course…

The Nobs and warboss chuckled malevolently as the blows the Blood Angels landed were to no effect, and swung around their ponderously slow Power Claws at the astonished Blood Angels, eviscerating them to a man, and advancing slowly ever onward to the Devestator Squad positioned high on a fortification of some sort… one that vaguely resembled a lot of ice-block sticks curiously. The Death Company, however, were an entirely different matter. They charged in, and Ork limbs were flying EVERYWHERE! Their charge, supported by the Marine Commander and five more Marines, reduced the Orks to a mere handful, which were soon dwindled further to one Ork Nob, who decided to follow the value of the principle of strategic redeployment. The Death Company pursued the Nob, but failed to catch him; and the Commander and his marines stood their ground so as not to weaken the marine centre. Now clear of the rock spire, the orks on the right of the battlefield were able to get clear shots at the marines, which helped… a little.

In the center of the field, the Ork Dreadnought, completely forgotten by the Marines it seemed, espied the Death Company screaming and howling in pursuit of the Nob, and the Ork pilot grinned in eager anticipation. Bellowing a mighty, digitally enhanced "WAAAAAAAAAGH!!!!!", feedback screaching through the speakers at such a pitch that would turn a human’s brain to jelly, it stormed into the Marines, gears and chains and fan belts whirring, screaching, and grinding. It impacted with a frightening force, and fought ferociously, levelling many of the psychotic marines with it’s scything dreadnought Power Claws, with the marines unable to penetrate it’s thick metal shell. The marines were caught fighting an impossible battle, and slowly but surely succumbed to the massive claws of the dreadnought. As the last marine fell, Wade rejoiced as he now had a chance to shoot the Dread, sadistic bugger aint he? =)

In the centre still, the Marine Commander and the unit he was accompanying was charged by the four Ork Warbikes, led by a nob. A long, long, LONG fight ensued, which would only be brought to a halt by the eventual arrival of the Ork Dreadnought, terror of all marines! The Orky Kult Of Speed raced further around the Marines’ right flank, and unleashed a hail of fire, chipping away at the Blood Angel forces a piece at a time, reducing many of the units considerably, until there was only one tactical marine left, who charged into the Ork Shoota boys, and almost managed to scare me. But he too fell, even though it took a lot of Orks to put him away. Why do some people just not know when to die? All that was left was the Space Marine Devestator Squad, who were routed by Ork SHOOTING!!! But to kill the last of them the Warboss ‘ad to charge ‘em an’ show ‘em ‘o is boss! And with that the game was over. The Orks controlled the entire table, fully secured…despite the fact that the Ork Army was much smaller than when it started, but we can ignore such things and claim it as a glorious victory!

Hurrah!

Peter Colson (Orks!) beat Nick Williams (Midnight Marines)

"Orright ladz, we’z gonna jus’ stomp over to da uvva side of dat dere bunch of trees an’ see oo’s dere, right?" "Right!" the high pitched voices of Urtygor da deathskullz’ runts repeated in unison as the old warboss layed out the plans for their mission. The Ork forces were spread out across their front, with the Dread and shoota boys holding the left, with the sluggas in the middle, and the Kult Of Speed, war-bikes, and Tuffgitt and his boys on the right. The Space Marines positioned themselves centrally around the bastion of their Land Raider, and with a decisive push there, may have made the game a very different one indeed. To the left of the land raider (my right) was a unit of marines hiding in a crater, and behind the raider was a unit of assault marines ready to leap out in reply to any ork assault. Inside the raider itself was a full five terminators (eep!), and to the right, a full ten tactical marines, and the command squad. As the Orks advanced, the Marines thinned their ranks with bolt rounds and frag missiles. The Kult Of Speed and Warboss sped around the hill protecting the right flank, with the War-bikers speeding through the centre valley, followed by the foot-slogging sluggas. On the left flank the Shootas progressed through the ruins, with the Dreadnought creeping through the cover, unseen by the enemy, suprisingly. The Slugga boys’ rocket armed troops fired at the Land Raider, and the bikers opened fire as excessively as they opened throttle at the land speeder, and each machine suffered hits which made it through the armour, causing them to… get stunned. Well, it was a start okay? What do you expect from Ork shooting? The marines’ chaplain on his bike, and the assault marines, and terminators, moved around to intercept the Kult Of Speed and warboss. The rest of the marines’ action consisted of shooting and horribly maiming a number of orks with their bolters and missile launchers once more. All this ‘shooting’ was getting to be annoying. I’d have to do something about it. Evidently the warboss’ ploy had worked, and as the Kult Of Speed zoomed around the hill to open fire at the marines, the canny warboss sped OVER the hill towards the land raider, and he and his bodyguard disembarked and unleashed a withering hail of fire at the marines in the crater. Problem was, the fire withered before it reached the marines, and did all of jack-shite nuthin.

The Ork’s commanding section launched itself against the mighty hull of the land raider, and old Tuffgitt Badskaga managed to breach the hull, and the land raider was engulfed in a mighty explosion that failed to wound anyone, despite being very big and impressive. By this time, the Midnight Marines had managed to destroy the Kult Of Speed with a combination of shooting and banging their fists on the chasis of the last buggy (Power fists are good at that sorta thing). The Space Marine Command Group and Tactical Squad launched an assault on the Ork Shoota Boys, and the most frightening part of this was, they out-numbered the Orks! The Orks received the charge, and held, but very quickly perished, bar the Nob who stood for long enough for the Warboss and his Nobs to engage the marines, such a valiant act of self-sacrifice! As the Warbikes and Dreadnought engaged the Land Speeder, which had spent the entire game being stunned, it fell to the opening shots of Orky Big Shootas! After being dispatched like this, the Ork Dreadnought turned it’s attention to the Space Marine Supreme Commander, and iced him with a mighty swing of his power claw! As the Ork Warboss and Nobs engaged the tactical squad and bodyguard of the SM Commander, and all fell before them, and mighty were their cries of victory, sweetened by the blood of the fallen! MUAHAHAAAAA!!!

It was at this point that Nick started using devious tactics and I got worried.

The Terminators, Assault Marines, Tactical Squad, and Chaplain, after obliterating my remaining bikers in a vicious firefight, all made a drive to my table edge, on my unprotected right flank. To counter this threat to victory… and not let the opportunity of a good fight get away, the Slugga Boys assaulted the marines! Four of the five Terminators feel in the initial charge of combat, and the fifth soon followed, and the Tactical Marines were slowly being reduced in number. However, the Orks were being reduced in number rather quickly, but still managed to win the combat, forcing the tactical marines back. Two out of three threats either eliminated or halted, but the assault marines were still making their way to my deployment zone. The battle drew to a close at this point, as I could not reach the Assault Marines, and the tactical marines were wiped out finally, and not a single thing else could be done to alter the game greatly. Nick, final scores were 1940 to 706.5, in my favour. Told you I’d work out the Victory Points for ya =)

Peter Colson beat Bryan Orsbourne and Ken Snow (Electronic wargaming Diplomacy Campaign)

Man the guns! Mount the horses! Infant the infantry…errrrr

Well, I anchored my left flank with my heavy artillery, and guarded them with my Guard (that’s why they’re called ‘Guard’ =) and formed up my line units to the right of this, pushing the loose order infantry in front of them… I mean, letting those brave souls lead the charge of glory! Yes, yes that will do, yes…

A titanic clash in the center filed, with the orthodox tactics of Ken and Bryan’s alliance equalling my own efforts, but my heavy barragement managed to scare off a few of their forces. Soon most of my army were chased off the table, only for my guard to pound some of their infantry, and my heavy artillery slowly chased them off the table, until the game ended with a halted unit of guard and two heavy artillery forces on my side, and Bryan’s lone heavy artillery, whose amazing acrobatic feats managed to enable them to dodge EVERY SINGLE SHOT FROM MY ARTILLERY AND NEVER DIE!!! As a stalemate formed, we drew the conclusion that eventually the guard would grow bold enough to advance, and the fact that I outnumbered Bryan’s forces by three detachments to one, it counted as a victory for me. Most of my guys were fleeing, and almost all of theirs were, so orders were an easy thing to do after the game as I had so few to make.

First Electronics victory I’ve ever had!

HURRAH!

For Sale

Man 'O' War

1000 point dark elf fleet plus all three boxes (Complete) ridiculous offers to Paul Beach 8336681

Warhammer

Manoj has, 11 orc warriors, 1 Orc Musician and 1 orc standard bearer,   14 Orc Arrer Boyz,  all 6th ed for $20 dollars, bring money at feb games club were the miniatures will be there

Club Information

This newsletter is edited by Kevin Carberry so anything you would like included in the newsletter should be sent to me at 48 Beaumonts way, Manurewa, South Auckland. Phone 2670319, kevin@profax.co.nz

Robert "Dictator" Davies is the Club President so any queries, problems, issues or suggestions about the club should go to him at 14 Grebe Street, Manurewa. Phone 2670899.