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Well, I played in 'Ard Boyz this weekend and thought I would throw down some analysis of my games. I ended up placing first at my location. Due to playing the day before and getting my invite, I passed my invite AND prize onto the next people. Before anyone gets excited, at my Saturday location, there were three new players and three players with decent lists, so I did not block anyone from being able to move on (I actually asked each, and none were interested).

First, my list:

http://www.yesthetruthhurts.com/2010/03/imperial-guard-ard-boyz-4-approved.html

Anyway, yes, it is mostly unpainted. I have been in an escalation Fantasy campaign for the last few months and made the mistake of starting a Skaven army from scratch. Their rule is: not painted, you are out. So... yeah. I'll get around to colouring these guys.

Here is a quick breakdown:

CCS w/ 3x Meltagun, Flamer, Officer of the Fleet, Astropath, Chimera
DH Inquisitor Lord w/ Psycannon, Tarot, Psychic Hood, 2x Mystic, 2x Plasmavets

Stormtroopers w/ 2x Melta, Chimera
Stormtroopers w/ 2x Melta, Chimera

Veterans w/ 3x Melta, Chimera
PCS w/ 3x Melta, Flamer, Chimera
Infantry Squad w/ Sniper Rifle, Lascannon, Chimera
Infantry Squad w/ Sniper Rifle, Lascannon, Chimera
3x Autocannon Heavy Weapons Squad
3x Autocannon Heavy Weapons Squad
DH Stormtroopers w/ 2x Plasmagun
DH Stormtroopers w/ 2x Plasmagun

Vendetta w/ Heavy Bolter Sponsons
Vendetta w/ Heavy Bolter Sponsons
Vendetta w/ Heavy Bolter Sponsons

Leman Russ Exterminator w/ Plasmacannon Sponsons
Leman Russ Exterminator w/ Plasmacannon Sponsons
Leman Russ Exterminator w/ Plasmacannon Sponsons

List Analysis in Retrospect:

This list basically gives me a nice toolkit to deal with anything on the table. It is slightly weak in anti-horde, but I can play tactically to avoid their strengths due to vehicle damage tables and my mobility (6s to hit is a bitch). Meanwhile, I have what I need in there in a combined arms approach to deal with any list that comes out. I never had a need to reserve this list yet, so I am not really sure how that would go (though I think it can come on strong from a complete reserve). I really subscribe to the theory of making something I call a 'Flat List'. Basically, everything on the table comes to around 100 or so points, making it very difficult to make target priorities along with the fact that I am not affected by one or two units being knocked out. I really don't know if I would change much, nothing underperformed for me.

Tournament Venue:

I played at a location named Thunderground Comics in Edmonton, Alberta. Roy Kim who runs the place really made it an amazing event. His store is set up to support up to ten gaming tables inside. He just started supporting Warhammer recently, but his terrain is coming along. He handed out loot bags of store coupons and comics, pop and even made hotdogs for everyone to keep things moving. I am glad I found this place and intend to pass the message of a great venue in the city; I even let him know of my intention of running a tournament out of his store in the late summer.

A little plug for him: http://www.thundergroundcomics.com/

Mission 1:

Opponent: Foot Eldar

List: I won't get into this game too much. I think the photos will speak for themselves. The guy came with 1235 points of a foot army to play 40k. He was new, and we had a good time talking about strategy and why I did the things I did on the table. Unfortunately, I still needed to get my points in this game.



Basically, it took my whole first turn to drop the Avatar and a couple other targets. Table on the second turn less a single pathfinder, which gave me the chance to get my full battle points.



24 Battlepoints.

Moving along!

tough first match i dont know how you pulled through! hopefully the next few will be better battle reps. Congrats on your win though.

shh this never happened

You said that you have a flat list where its hard to prioritize targets....

I see three lascannon platforms (Vendettas) and think: Those need to die first.

If you don't go first, do you reserve them and pray for good dice rolls on turn2? Feels like once those are gone, there's no threat left on the table - throwing it out there for you to answer.

I have to agree with Dash- once those are gone, you have nothing to deal with hard armor. 2 BS3 infnatry squad lascannons and a vet squad in a chimera would become the next target(depending on if you bunker or move).

First, let me make it a little clearer what I meant by the 'flat army' thing. It is more about low points costs and redundancies that are important. There are no single linchpins in this list and I am prepared to lose things against competent players. Yes, you are correct that if I lose all three of my Vendettas in one turn, then my long-range anti-armour will be affected (I won't pretend it will not).

All that being said, I have options. Against non-guard, reserves come in on a 4+ on turn 2, so that's something. If I want the shooting or transport capacity, their scout move comes out handy. I can choose to outflank them or just normal reserves (thanks to these silly deployment schemes).

After those die off, I still have five melta squads, two if which deepstrike (and reroll a bad one).

Anyway, I won't pretend that things don't die. Still, it seems that many point out in list comparisons how easily things die and assume their army does not.

Three individual Vendettas are hard to kill. It can be done, but it is not as super-easy as most think. in principle. Even every lascannon only has a 1/3 chance after hitting and penetrating to drop one.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
Another thing I want to add is the way that Vendettas are an example of a unit that makes most opponents go crazy.

Yes they are a fantastic, undercosted unit. But, I find they draw more fire than they deserve. I spoke about this idea with my second opponent who agrees with the concept, stating that is the only reason he brings a single Defiler - to draw fire to a big thing that doesn't deserve it. Monoliths would be another example.

Vendettas make your opponents make mistakes. Flat out one right in front of the enemy and see how it makes nearly his whole army move toward it.