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Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

So AoP is coming up and I've never participated, but I am giving it some consideration.
As proud as I am of my Eldar army (Aedari link in my Sig), I don't think it would particularly stand out.

So my question is: Should I bring my Chess board instead?
I've shared it before, but here it is for reference:
Spoiler:

It would certainly stand out as unique and has some of my best painting work on it. But it isn't any "army"
I figure there aren't any guidelines for what constitutes an "army" outside of a collection of unified Citadel models (which these are)

So what are your thoughts?

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This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/09/17 15:27:57


   
Made in fr
Longtime Dakkanaut




I think it depends on what you want to get from AoP.
Personally, I'll be showcasing my tiny Inquisition army. It doesn't get any use in 40K because it's very small and pure garbage, so AoP is the only occasion I have to take these minis out of their case and into the shop.
I spent a lot of time converting and painting the stuff, and while I obviously do it because I like it, having some compliments thrown my way when I'll showcase it will make it worth the effort even more.
It looks like you could be in a similar situation with your chess board.

If you're looking to win in some categories, I don't really know what your best shot is. I think the categories for AoP are "best painted", "best display board", "best theme", and "best monsters/vehicles" (I don't think you fit in the young blood category anymore ).
Best painted is usually a very tough category, but obviously it depends on the shop. I believe your chess board has the best chances at winning the "best theme" award, although your Eldars are pretty good candidates too (but where I go, a lot of the votes are actually put in by random people who don't know much about 40K, and can't spot a conversion because they don't know the range). Your Eldars army features quite a few big wraith constructs, and very cool ones too, so "best monster/vehicles" might be within reach.
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

Thanx, that's actually a lot more info than I was aware of.
I really just want to show off and maybe get my stuff shared by something GW official.
Even "runner up" to any of those categories would be great.

I think if I go with the Chess board, I may also get a 2'x2' board to display it on since that is the size you're allowed. With the extra space around the chess board itself, I can also display more of my "All Marine Chapters/Legions" models in a kind of "cheer squad" on the side lines or something like that.

I have until 10/13, so I think I can whip up a good 2'x2' board with a backdrop.

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This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2018/09/07 21:18:25


   
Made in us
Androgynous Daemon Prince of Slaanesh





Norwalk, Connecticut

The chess board for sure. Show off something unique. 10% of Warhammer players have an Eldar army. Be the .01% who has the chess board.

Reality is a nice place to visit, but I'd hate to live there.

Manchu wrote:I'm a Catholic. We eat our God.


Due to work, I can usually only ship any sales or trades out on Saturday morning. Please trade/purchase with this in mind.  
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

Yep, that's what I was thinking. Even if I don't win any category, it's sure to strike up conversion. Heck, I might even get a game of chess in during the day.
I also get to show off more variety of models and schemes, which is nice.
I've got the 2x2 board now, just need to decorate it. The chess board fits well at the center with room for my non-chess Marines and CSMs

   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

Display question: How should I set up the chess pieces?

The 2x2 board itself has room for my non-chess pieces to "sit on the side lines" with the chess board itself at the center.
Should I line up the pieces in the starting position, or with some of the pieces having moved?

I was thinking of at least having some Pawns moved forward. Particularly the T-son and SW pawns as they would be diagonal from each other and thus poised to take the other.
I'll probably have 1 other pawn per side after that, but should I move any more?
I don't want the game to look too far in (as pieces will have been lost by that time) but I'd like to have at least 1 special piece (a Knight, Bishop or Rook) for each side moved.
Probably have to be a Knight from one side and a Bishop from the other. Rooks are a bit hard to get moving early on as the pawns are in the way.

Suggestions?

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This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/09/10 16:34:51


   
Made in fr
Longtime Dakkanaut




If you move special pieces, don't move more than 1 out of the 4 on the table, so people can still clearly see what each mini is supposed to represent. Having jetpacks as knights makes sense once you see it, but heavy weapons as bishops isn't that obvious.
Similarly, you have a salamander pawn with a flamer, I think it would be best not to move it so people don't try to figure out which game piece it's supposed to represent (as it's not just a bolter marine).

Personally I would leave them on their starting position, mostly because it enhances the uniqueness of your display (pieces all over the board look more like a normal display with squads moving forward), and is also makes the board more "readable" from far away: you want people from across the room to be able to see at a glance that you have a chess board, even if they can't see the checkers pattern from where they are.
You can also try to change the setup during the event and see if people react differently.
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

Good points. I'll definitely have 2 pawns from each side (not the Flamer salamander) moved forward at least, just to give a more dynamic feel to the "action" of the display.
But I think you're onto something in regards to "readability", so I'll probably leave the rest in starting positions.

I was also thinking about making a title card. Something like:
"40K: Regicide featuring the major Legions/Chapters"

Then maybe add in smaller print below:
Kings = Captian/Chaos Lord
Queens = Librarian/ Sorcerer
Bishops = Devastators/ Havocs
Knights = Assualt Marines/ Raptors
Rooks = Terminators
Pawns = Troops

Still on the fence about that last addition though.

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This message was edited 3 times. Last update was at 2018/09/10 17:51:21


   
Made in us
Androgynous Daemon Prince of Slaanesh





Norwalk, Connecticut

For years, I’ve wanted to do an “Empire vs Chaos” chess set, with Archaon and Karl Franz as the two kings. It’s still my final plan...it’ll basically be the thing I do after I finish all the other projects I wanted. The idea of Warhammer chess sets just feels completely natural to me.

Reality is a nice place to visit, but I'd hate to live there.

Manchu wrote:I'm a Catholic. We eat our God.


Due to work, I can usually only ship any sales or trades out on Saturday morning. Please trade/purchase with this in mind.  
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

Do it. I've also seen a High Elf vs Dark Elf chess board that was well done.
What I like most about this project is that it gave me a chance to paint models that I normally would not have, and I get to use them to boot.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/09/12 12:04:59


   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

I have it pretty much finished, although I am thinking up some ways to add a bit of flourish to the edge of the chess board. Maybe opposing Marine Helmets, or various Chapter/Legion icons down the side. I'm also going to have a back board the has "Warhammer 40,000 Regicide" printed on it.
But here is what I have so far:



And at a diagonal:

   
Made in ie
Norn Queen






Dublin, Ireland

I think it looks frigging great

Dman137 wrote:
goobs is all you guys will ever be

By 1-irt: Still as long as Hissy keeps showing up this is one of the most entertaining threads ever.

"Feelin' goods, good enough". 
   
Made in gb
Stealthy Grot Snipa






UK

What a brilliant idea! Love it - may have to nick- ahem, "be inspired by" it.. ;-) Terrific work

Skinflint Games- war gaming in the age of austerity

https://skinflintgames.wordpress.com/

 
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

Thanx again.
I was messing around with my camera and Microsoft paint and came up with this last night:
Spoiler:

This is how I might have done my chess board if I hadn't first started with my All Marines project.

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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/09/18 00:12:30


   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

Done and ready for next weekend:
Spoiler:

Spoiler:



Spoiler:

   
Made in ca
Nurgle Predator Driver with an Infestation





Antioch Illinois

It looks really good

You should put guilliman and Magnus behind there respective sides as if they are playing.
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

Not a bad idea. The Deamon Prince and I guess Death Company chaplain could be directing the moves.

I was originally going to have an UM Razorback on the loyalist side, but realized the CSMs don't have a match, so I am not going to display it so that the sides are more balanced visually.
I'll be getting a Chaos Predator soon (painted Black Legion) but it won't be ready for Armies on Parade.

This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/10/07 15:11:45


   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

For anyone that is curious, I won best painted. Lookin at my gold medallion now.
I entered at a smaller store, so there weren't as many entries, but they also didn't have multiple categories like Best Theme or best large model.


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This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2018/10/14 19:10:44


   
Made in fr
Longtime Dakkanaut




Congrats!
It's weird they didn't have the other categories, since the event pack contains posters for the winners of said categories, and the ballot papers also have them listed: young blood, first army, best painted, best board, best theme, and best monsters/vehicles.
   
Made in ca
Nurgle Predator Driver with an Infestation





Antioch Illinois

Congrats man.
   
Made in us
Powerful Phoenix Lord





Dallas area, TX

fresus wrote:
It's weird they didn't have the other categories, since the event pack contains posters for the winners of said categories, and the ballot papers also have them listed: young blood, first army, best painted, best board, best theme, and best monsters/vehicles.
Yeah, it made sense since there were so few entries at that store. Most people in my area went to the Citadel (2nd largest GW in the world).
I was aiming for Best Theme and my son entered his models for Youngblood. While getting best overall is certainly welcome, my son's models were just lumped onto my table, so he didn't getting anything other than "sharing" my win, which he was excited about nonetheless.

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This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2018/10/15 14:08:04


   
 
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