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Well, taking a mental break from the struggles with my army list... next projects... two GMS marines.

1. Prototype of a different type of assault marine for vent.

2. The IA-10 Mantis Warrior libby for graven.


These should be fun to build & I've been looking forward to them for quite some time now (since having a reasonable idea about what I'd do with them). Might start the builds as early as tomorrow.

Your missile launcher guys are great. Nice blending/highlights and the scrolls and newer bits 'update' the old beakies nicely. As always your modeling and painting are inspiring.

I wouldn't worry about losing too much, cool models trump all, imho.

Whatever you do Gits, rest assured we will watch. A lot of the army comes from its look, not just its build. The RT era Marines are fantastic.

If you are feeling the pain with re-organization of Army Lists, the best advice I can give is to maybe just make some generic units you can chop and change. As a Guard player i know the feeling of discovering your force gets pummelled real early.

Kill, maim, destroy. Or not. Mind you, this is why I don't play competitively. Sounds like, despite the 0-4, you had a couple of good close games. If you're not enjoying the list, I'd change it. And it's more than possible to lose regularly and enjoy, but you know that. Is it the lack of synergy that frustrates you? Identify what it is you dislike about the play style of the army - eg, as you say, Kantor - and rebuild from there.

I can think if builds where Kantor would be quite good. This just isn't it. My problem is that the meta-game is so vehicle and assault oriented that my relatively static, shooty army just doesn't measure up.

The one thing that makes Kantor pretty much a bad deal all-round, is that he does not have terminator armor, eternal warrior or an iron halo. So on the battlefield he's just Joe-blow marine with a couple of extra wounds. Ridiculous for a chapter master to be so vulnerable.

I did cook up a pretty fun list using him though... would have to combine Thing 1s Doom Eagles and my Mantis Warriors to come up with enough parts to field it (and even then I'd need to paint a number of things first)... but I think it would be a real hoot to run and certainly more competitive than my current army.

Sorry to hear about your bad run in the tourney, my only suggestion is that classic stormbolter termies can be both shooty and decent in assault. They may be able to stradle the shooty/assault division for you, I like chucking them in terrain near an objective that has been bolstered to 3+ by the MotF and watching my opponent wonder what the hell to do with them.

Oh and MORE RIFLEMEN!!!!!

Just looked in my codex he has an iron halo. Do think he should have eternal warroir. I run kantor in a sternguard squad all the time.

Stonelessword wrote:Just looked in my codex he has an iron halo. Do think he should have eternal warroir. I run kantor in a sternguard squad all the time.

Yeah i thought he does have an Iron Halo.
Eternal Warrior would be nice.

BLACKHAND wrote:Sorry to hear about your bad run in the tourney, my only suggestion is that classic stormbolter termies can be both shooty and decent in assault. They may be able to stradle the shooty/assault division for you, I like chucking them in terrain near an objective that has been bolstered to 3+ by the MotF and watching my opponent wonder what the hell to do with them.

Oh and MORE RIFLEMEN!!!!!

Actually, here's the list I've been poking around with...

Kantor
5 assault termies/ 2x TH/SS in LR Redeemer w/ either terminator chaplain or libby
5 tac termies w/ chain fist in LR Redeemer (Kantor rides in here)
5 sternguard w/ 2 las cannons
2x 5 man sniper scouts w/ ML
2x vindicators

So you have 3 small scoring squads, all stationary originally to give long-range supporting fire, then can move at will once supporting fire is no longer necessary. LRs & vindis go screaming across the table on turn one. Turn 2 the vindi's open fire as most things should be in range by then (depending on the scenario) and the LR's disgorge their content into assault. Kantor goes or stays in LR, either way giving +! attack in assault to all units within 12". With the termies, vindicators and land raiders laying about themselves, the three scoring units should be free to move where ever they are needed.


3 infantry units are all scoring while vehicles pile in at 12" then all hell breaks loose.

Stonelessword wrote:Just looked in my codex he has an iron halo. Do think he should have eternal warroir. I run kantor in a sternguard squad all the time.

Yeah, you're right. Don't know how I missed that... I think it's the lack of eternal warrior in the chapter masters that I find the most vexing. One crack missile hit and *poof*. Red mist.


OH, and reading the final tally I think I came in second on appearance. This army's now been in 3 tourneys at my FLGS and I think came in second all three times to 3 different armies! So, that works out to 4th best in appearance overall.... LOL! Guess I was right to begin with.

I got most of the bits picked out for vent's marine. All save for the arms. and getting two arms to match in pose is nearly impossible (still working on it). There's going to be a serious amount of difficult conversion on this model... should be interesting.

Hey Gits, it was a rough day, but I'm glad you still had some fun. If I could have stuck around for a 5th game I would have challenged you to a battle of the cups, but alas, it was not to be. Perhaps next time. From what I've learned about Codex Marines, one of the keys is to take advantage of some of their cheap firepower options. The obvious rifleman, but Predators, Vindis, Whirlwinds are all inexpensive and useful. My last Marine list also included a Thunderfire, which was nice because you can choose your ammo, not as good as an Obliterator, but handy. Sadly, you do almost need the termies to be competitive, but there's a fair number of guys here that run codex lists that are out of the ordinary and do well. I've seen dominating Kantor and Shrike lists, plenty of Vulkan, and one good list without a special character yesterday, so there's lots of variety to be had.

As far as your painting, the army looks spectacular, but I think it might have been the Land Speeders that made the difference.

Wow, that must of been a lush game!
They look great on the table top!
Also let me geuss agints your kids?!

Nerf wrote:Hey Gits, it was a rough day, but I'm glad you still had some fun. If I could have stuck around for a 5th game I would have challenged you to a battle of the cups, but alas, it was not to be. Perhaps next time. From what I've learned about Codex Marines, one of the keys is to take advantage of some of their cheap firepower options. The obvious rifleman, but Predators, Vindis, Whirlwinds are all inexpensive and useful. My last Marine list also included a Thunderfire, which was nice because you can choose your ammo, not as good as an Obliterator, but handy. Sadly, you do almost need the termies to be competitive, but there's a fair number of guys here that run codex lists that are out of the ordinary and do well. I've seen dominating Kantor and Shrike lists, plenty of Vulkan, and one good list without a special character yesterday, so there's lots of variety to be had.

As far as your painting, the army looks spectacular, but I think it might have been the Land Speeders that made the difference.

Yeah, they got thrown in at the last minute and were just painted up to my old standards from years ago. I'm not worried about the painting thing... the fact that there are so many nicely painted armies in the tournament just means the odds are better that I'll get to play them, which always means I have a better time win or lose. Anyway *I* also voted for the winning Dark Eldar army... so I'm very cool with the final results! :-)

Would have loved to play you... just was completely fried by the end of the 4th game & went home as well. While I don't want to use tanks in my late-period MW list (fluff reasons), I am free to use them in this early list. I've been painting a lot of things up to now that can be used in both (for obvious reasons), perhaps it's time to work on some more tanks for the early list. I just drew up a really fun looking mechanized marine list... assault termies in LR w/ libby, 3 troops in las/plas razorbacks, 3 las preds & a tech marine w/ servitors to keep it all running. I think I own most of the figures but there would be a LOT of painting involved... Wouldn't be much good vs. horde armies but nasty vs. anything mechanized.

HAZZER wrote:Wow, that must of been a lush game!
They look great on the table top!
Also let me geuss agints your kids?!

Not sure which game you're referring to Haz. The last 4 were at a tournament at the local shop.


Got done selecting the bits for the Mantis Warrior I'm making for vent. This will be another proof-of-concept for my vanguard.

Gitsplitta wrote:

Got done selecting the bits for the Mantis Warrior I'm making for vent. This will be another proof-of-concept for my vanguard.

.......That is going to be awesome.

lets be honest, having a nice, themed army that you enjoy playing is generally more fun to play than uber-must-win-no-matter-what-generic-popular-(insert own comment here) anyway (that's how I see it) as this is a hobby, not anything else.
Can we see some pics of your land speeders gits?

They're nothing special IM... just plastic landspeeders painted a lot like my old marines... medium/dark green with a few yellow patches. Not even any highlighting or anything. I'll re-do them properly eventually.

You can see them if you zoom in on that first battle pic.

Here's the build for vent's Mantis Warrior vanguard. Decided I wanted to separate regular vanguard from those with power weapons (lightening claws), so I used the same general concept as the dual chainswords but executed it in an different fashion. Both blades on each arm will be powered. I really wanted to make the model look like it was taking flight, so he's leaning way forward and the wings are in the "up" position.


OH and the Mini of the Month Competition is up and running!

You can see all of the entries here. Mini of the Month Competition

Go check it out and vote for your favorite Mantis Warrior... uh... I mean "vote for your favorite mini!"


Actually there are several really good minis that people have put forth... its worth your time to stop by and take a look. Please support all the many entrants hard work and take time to vote for the one you like best.

o.o these wings are awesome

I really like the wings git. Can 't wait to see it painted and with buddies.

I do see a casting bubble on the lowest left hand wing though, be sure to catch that before priming! I assume hes still WIP, but some handles on the top of the hands would be good too. I like the way he is looking so far, very staby.

Looks awesome Gits,

The pose almost looks like he should have the falchions rotated 180 degrees, that's my thought anyhow.

Is he gonna be pinned to look like hes flying?

whalemusic360 wrote:I do see a casting bubble on the lowest left hand wing though, be sure to catch that before priming!

Damn you WM, you would find the bubble!

whalemusic360 wrote:I do see a casting bubble on the lowest left hand wing though, be sure to catch that before priming! I assume hes still WIP, but some handles on the top of the hands would be good too. I like the way he is looking so far, very staby.

Didn't notice that... good catch, I'll fix it. Yeah, the swords will have handle bits, just didn't get to that yet.

Knightley wrote:Looks awesome Gits,

The pose almost looks like he should have the falchions rotated 180 degrees, that's my thought anyhow.

In general terms I agree that would make more sense, but I'm trying to keep these consistent with preying mantis arms that go upwards and then down again, whiich is why there are the elbow blades and the inverted swords with the blade facing the arm blades. Consider it "poetic license" with modeling.

polari wrote:Is he gonna be pinned to look like hes flying?

More like leaping. He'll be off the base a little bit more so he'll be larger and more intimidating than the standard opponent, but I don't want to go too far up or I have pin issues to deal with.

Thanks for your comments!

cracking mini gits. "mantis warriors - they don't prey for you, they prey on you!"

LOL! Good one weety!

Hey, how's the mug business going? I see your work popping up in the gallery from time to time. Still enjoying the heck out of mine. It's filled with delicious Sumatran as I type!


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Ooooh, just checked out your Facebook page... nice stuff!

Downward pointing blades are cool, besides if he was stabbing down the way or something he would have to rotate his wrist or hand and it may look awkward. Very nice posing of the model.
The wings out are cool too sort of makes him look biigger and more intimidating, like "I am gonna half scare you to death before I skewer you" pose

I'm imagining the shadow that's going to cast on the poor enemy.

Suddenly makes their whole DS rule all the more fluffy.

Heroic Intervention go!

Well, swords are pretty easy to flip in your hands as long as you aren't engaged. I envisioned this as the classic "mantis attack" pose.

Thanks gits - business is booming - but I dont seem to be making very much profit. I'm paying to much for studio rent. But I enjoy it too much to stop! Need to move into my dads shed maybe.
Cant wait to see the new mantis guy painted - he really is very stabby-cutty