The Return of the Allies...

 The Allies Return in 2023...

Legion Rising: Rhinos and Blitz!

Howdy folks!

I've been foolishly working on my Black Legion instead of preparing my Word Bearers for STIF3 and thought I would show off some of the work I've done.

Chaos Lord of the Hounds of Abaddon, three Obliterators and a random tactical just chillin'.

Standard Tactical Rhino

More to come!

-Couch

Inferno!

HYPE! HYPE! HYPE! HYPE! HYPE! HYPE! HYPE!

Inferno is here!!! Well, sorta... But it's closer than it's ever been! Forge World announced today via-Warhammer-Community that Inferno is ON THE WAY!

We could see preorders as soon as Friday!  I'm sure Tristan is running around the house doing kart-wheels!

The Mustering: Word Bearers - 2500 - Last of the Serrated Suns

Howdy folks!

I am currently working on my latest Word Bearers list for the forthcoming South Texas in Flames 3 event in Victoria, TX!

I knew going into this that I wanted to do a Last of the Serrated Suns list. Gal'Vorbak + Drop Pods = HELL YES! Unfortunately, I was too late in reserving Lorgar for the event (0-1 Primarchs), so Serrated Suns was my go to back up.

Before we look at my list, let's talk about what the Rite of War actually grants the army.

EFFECTS

• Company of Monsters: Gal Vorbak Dark Brethren may be taken as Troops in a Primary Detachment using this Rite of War. All units of Gal Vorbak have access to Legion Drop Pods and Anvillus Pattern Dreadclaw Drop Pods as Dedicated Transports, and must take one of these options.
• Drop Elite: Any unit with access to a Rhino armoured transport as a Dedicated Transport may instead take a Legion Drop Pod.
• Burning Sun: Enemy units within 12" of the landing point of a Deep Striking Legion Drop Pod or Anvillus Pattern Dreadclaw Drop Pod must take a Pinning test after the vehicle’s final position is determined.

LIMITATIONS

• All infantry units in the army must deploy via a Deep Striking Drop Pod, by teleportation if such an option is available or be transported inside a Flyer that has sufficient Transport capacity to carry them.
• The army may not include any Immobile units.
• The army may not include a Fortification Detachment or an Allied Detachment.

As you can see, it creates a very unique army list that brings a lot to the table. Company of Monsters makes GV troops, which is pretty nice, but most army lists can't afford to bring more than a 2-3 units, unless it's ALL you want to take. Forcing the GV to take a pod is somewhat of a tax considering they all have Deep Strike. However, they supplement this by allowing them to take Dreadclaws, a solid assault vehicle that can really give your GV not only a new heightened level of security, but the ability to roast dudes foolish enough to stick around the thin.

The real winner of a rule in my opinion is Burning Sun. EVERY enemy unit with 12" of a pod must take a pinning test after the vehicle's final position is determined. This means that you drop a pod, force X amount of pinning tests and then move on to the next pod! You can make multiple enemy units take multiple pinning tests before your turn truly begins! Even just one unit taking a pinning test is a YUGE advantage, especially for your units cruisin' around in Legion Drop Pods. Pinning that nearby unit that could counter-assault you next turn can be game changing!

As great as Burning Sun is, it is only one trick. This list requires a bit of finesse and will definitely run into some problems against mass infantry assault lists, I feel. Hopefully, my list will answer some of these issues. While not perfect counters, it will definitely help soften the blow.

Word Bearers

Rite of War: Last of the Serrated Suns

Points: 2500

Detachment: Age of Darkness

HQ

• Hol Beloth (Warlord/MoL)
• Chaplain - Artificer Armour, Refractor Field, Thunderhammer, Meltabombs

ELITE

• 10 Legion Veteran Squad (Machine Killers) - Legion Drop Pod, x2 Meltagun, x3 Combi-melta, Artificer (sgt), Power Fist (sgt)
• 10 Legion Veteran Squad (Machine Killers) - Legion Drop Pod, x2 Meltagun, x3 Combi-melta, Artificer (sgt), Power Fist (sgt)

TROOPS

• 5 Gal'Vorbak Dark Brethren - Legion Dreadclaw, Meltagun, Artificer Armour (sgt), Power Fist (sgt)
• 5 Gal'Vorbak Dark Brethren - Legion Dreadclaw, Meltagun, Artificer Armour (sgt), Power Fist (sgt)
• 10 Legion Tactical Support Squad - Legion Drop Pod, x9 Flamers, Artificer Armour (sgt), Power Fist (sgt)

HEAVY SUPPORT

• 8 Legion Heavy Support Squad - Legion Drop Pod, x7 Heavy Flamers, Artificer (sgt)
• Leviathan Siege Dreadnought - Legion Dreadnought Drop Pod, Grav-flux Bombard, Leviathan Siege Drill, x2 Heavy Flamers, Armoured Ceramite, Phosphex Discharger

During the Great Crusade, the Word Bearers were known for purging any anti-imperial monuments and history with fire and flame. After Monarchia, the heat turned up... Purgation squads became... well... let's say... over-used. The Emperor wanted compliance, and the Word Bearers brought it...

This is in effect what I wanted to theme my Serrated Suns list around. While there are no Ashen Circle in the list, I wanted it themed around the desecration of cultures through the glory of the Word of Lorgar. Thus, I have brought lots of melta and flame.

In a few earlier orginations of this this list, I ran a little light on melta and had a hard time peeling dudes out of transports, handling spartans, etc. I knew I had to step up the AT game. Two units of Machine Killer melta vets in a DP should do the trick. S9 Melta will make even the armoured ceramite players sweat a little. 

After I built the melta squads, I knew I had to have a way to handle the guys inside. At first I considered plasma squads, but found I was running out of points way to quickly and it was messing with my drop pod manipulation numbers. I decided to go for flamers. Cheap and deadly.  A 10 man support squad and a Heavy Support squad with flamers and heavy flamers was something I could definitely get behind (Did Ian have something to do with this? hmmm...). Ideally the melta squads would pop transports early in the game and the flamer squads would come in later and begin roasting anyone footslogging it.

Meanwhile, the Gal Vorbak drop in, cause pinning tests, burn people with their Dreadclaws and sit tight, waiting for their opportunity to assault. I stuck a melta gun in each unit in case the vet squads can't quite get it done. In my second play test of the list, one unit of GV hopped out of the Dreadclaw turn 2, moved 6", popped a rhino with a meltagun, and charged everyone inside. It was pretty brutal. both Dark Martyr's have a S10 Ap2 Power Fist with 5 attacks on the charge. Sweet jeebus.

Lastly, I wanted to bring my big poppa bear Leviathan Seige dreadnought. The Dreadnought Pod contributes to pod manipulation and definitely helps with his short range on the Grav-Flux (18"). A Dreadnought Pod also being an assault vehicle and open topped means the Levi can shoot the turn he comes down while chillin' inside, and then assault out on his second turn in play. Lots of fun!

As for HQ's, I wanted to bring Hol Beloth and of course the mandatory Chaplain/Centurion per the Charismatic Leadership rule. Hol Beloth is a BEAST. He took on Vulkan for THREE rounds before finally biting the dust. Granted, he only did like 2 wounds to Vulkan who then regenerated one of them back via-It Will Not Die. But that was THREE turns of Vulkan NOT smashing the rest of my force! Beloth's ability to shrug off the first wound he takes (even if it would result in Instant Death) is YUUUUGE. The Chaplain does what chaplains do best. Zealot. This time, however, I elected to take a Thunderhammer in place of the traditional Crozius. HAMMERTIME! Man... melta, flame, thunderhammers... am I playing Salamanders?! 

Both HQ's will hang out in the Heavy Support squad. I dare anyone to charge that unit... DO IT!

Well, there it is! That's the list! It will either crush face, or I'm going to get rocked every game!  But who cares! It's not a perfect list, but it will cause problems and that's all I am going for. Make my opponent sweat and capitalize on mistakes.

-Couchatron

The Act of Witnessing: Lorgar Aurelian, The Urizen, The Golden, The Voice of Truth

Howdy folks!

Just wanted to show off my Lorgar Aurelian! I completed him back in early October but never got around to posting him. Surprisingly an easy model to paint and TONS of fun! Kind of makes me want to paint a few more primarchs.... oh dear...

Legion Rising: The Despoiler Himself

Howdy folks,

I just wanted to give a little hobby progress update on Abaddon the Despoiler! He is almost done! Just a few more highlights here and details there. I originally took this photo while trying to compare base rim colors. Ultimately I decided on a Eshin Grey which is less blue than Abaddon's base (Dark Reaper) but darker than the marine on the right (Skavenblight Dinge).

Can't wait to finish him and his retinue of terminators up and get them on the table!

-Couch

Hobby Progress Weekly 1/15/2017

Hodwy folks an Happy New Year!

The Desperate Allies have a new years resolution! To be better about sharing our adventures! So let's get started!


I myself and working on both my Black Legion and my Word Bearers (30k). As I work towards my South Texas in Flames 3 (STIF3) list, I am also making great headway on Black Legion army! Currently I building Word Bearers Veterans and painting Word Bearers Dread Claws and Black Legion Terminators!

Word Bearers Veterans with lots of Machine Killer Melta!

Word Bearers Dreadclaws. A nice ride for my Gal Vorbak.

Abaddon and his Bringers of Despair!

Ian is starting a new and exciting project this year as well! He and his brother Tristan are working a brand new city table! From what I they have told me, it's going to be quite the table. TONS of line of sight blocking terrain, mysterious alleyways, and other dark secrets from the scum filled hives of the Imperium! Rumor also has it that there will be some tyranid infestation too...  *gulp*

Oh nice! They are starting their city table with the Sector Imperialis board! AWESOME!

Wait a second... what are you doing with that?

OH MY GOD! YOU MONSTER! WHAT HAVE YOU DONE?!

Nathan is working on his Imperial Triumvirate! I spoke with Nathan a few days ago and had a good chat about the functionality and possibilities with the new Imperial Formations and Detachments. It's going to be really neat to see his Guard, Minotaurs, and Knights all part of one legal detachment!

Man what a beast of a model Cawl is... 

Alongside working with Ian on the city table, Tristan is hard at work on his 30k Space Wolves! Hopefully we will have some pictures soon!

No idea what Steve is up to, unfortunately...