Back and with a vengeance!

So I took a WM/H break, why? I got demotivated by the constantly changing rules. But now the "final" version of the field test was released, I was happy and tried them in my local gaming group yesterday. I had a game with epic Morghoul and liked it.

Now I am motivated enough to go to a tournament in 10 days. I already know my first list, but I am still breaking my brains about a nice anti warmachine list, which will also work nicely versus shooty hordes.

My first list:
Points: 35
Lord Assassin Morghoul (*6pts)
* Cyclopse Savage (5pts)
* Molik Karn (11pts)
* Titan Gladiator (8pts)
Bloodrunners (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (Leader and 3 Grunts) (2pts)
Praetorian Swordsmen (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Bloodrunner Master Tormentor (2pts)
Extoler Soulward (2pts)

My second list is one with the new and improved Hexeris, I keep it secret a little bit longer, but smells like bacon.

How do I look at my stuff right now? (part 6 minions)

Fighting for coin or just to stay alive, all the minions (and merc) I own for my Skorne army.

Swamp gobbers, the only one point option in our army list, with the new rules unable to hide behind their own cloud, which lost the -2 Mat. Still useful to keep your stuff hidden for one more round.
Orin Midwinter, not very much changed, to antimagic aura is very nice, but I usually end up to low on points to include fun solo's like him.
The Feralgeist has been unnerfed and nerfed at the same time. You will get an activation, but he will only go into enemy beasts. Only the though of having him in something like Typhon will make you very happy.
Wrong eye and Snapjaw are a fun team, the influence on wrong eye is very nice, gives him something to spend his fury on, as long as it does not have to much defense. Snapjaw's animus is a classic. Abuse not working on them anymore is a loss to me. Have to try them out to see how I really think about them.
Rorsh & Brine, or smart pig and monster pig, what else do you want? The diversionary tactics is still there and Brine got two extra attacks, not finally his animus has a use. Painresponse got a little bit worse, same goes for pigheaded. Have to try them out to see how I really think about them.

These are all the minions I have, but more might come in the near future, especially if you can make gator and farrow armies then.

How do I look at my stuff right now? (part 5 solos)

To weak to be a warcaster or real beast, to egocentric to be in an unit, most of them just plain wierd, the Skorne solos!

Ancestral Guardian, our primal solo and the only which I own a pair, got nerved hard in the fieldtest. He was very good in mark 1, but is he still worth his 3 points compared to the other solo's, which are all 2 points. Having a mat 8 model which is able to boost to hit is nice and he still is hard to kill, but that is about all.
Void Spirit, like him, the eruption of ash is so cool. Of course auto include with Mordikaar.
Soulward, still very nice, the boostable zap can be useful, but needing souls to get eyeless sight is sometimes annoying, you'll have to wait till your opponent gets around to kill something.
Master Tormentor. She brings the pain, the mat boost for the bloodrunners is very welcome.
The Agonizer is something I never got working in the previous mark, he didn't change that much, maybe time to get to know this little bugger better.

How do I look at my stuff right now? (part 4 units).

Loved and hated, without further introduction, the Skorne infantry!

Arcuarii, nice unit for its cost. Plays well with a lot of our casters Mordikaar for the boosted attacks, makeda for the 5" extra move, Xerxis for the 5d6 charge, etc. Less fragile because of the 8 hitpoints they now have and the drag can be really helpful from time to time.
Cetrati, hard hard unit to kill, but look at the cost! In mark 2 they also hit harder.
Karax, see my previous post.
Swordsmen, good for their cheap points, with added UA their are a lot of plinging katana's coming your way!
Paingivers, a little bit nerved, but still healing beasts and managing fury is very nice, not to forgot the added strenght?
Out little construct unit, the immortals, I love them, I do like vengeance a lot is really, P+S is a sweet spot, they move a little slow, but a very good second wave, for the moment your opponent has lost the ability to wipe units in one turn. Filling mine up to 10 is high on my wish list.
Ferox, sounds like a glass cannon to me. Fast, very fast with makeda, but fragile and not hitting very hard. I have not tried them, being restrained by the massive point cost.
Bloodrunners, cleaning up your single wound infantry since 2009.
Venators, paying a lot of points for some weak attacks, might be dangerous in the wrong (or right) hands. Didn't get them working in mk1, might give them a serious try with mk2 soon.
The catapult, has a hard time hitting stuff, good to clean up massed enemy infantry if you're lucky.

How do I look at my stuff right now? (part 3 small beasts).

Welcome to part 3! Enjoy the ugly toads and one eyed giants!

Krea, don't really know if I still like her. I have to admit she was way to good in mk1. The paralysis sounds like fun.
Drake, like him, with the new spray rules and his animus, although very situational, still very nice.
Savage, good old one eye.
Brute, well executed model rule wise. The no knock down can be very useful in a lot of situations and he is really though.
Shaman, don't own one, but on my wish list. Like his tricks.

How do I look at my stuff right now? (part 2 big beasts).

Part two of this little set of posts, I hope you like these brain dumps.

Gladiator, yes! Finally a reason to get this beasty out of the cabinet and into action. His stats are fine for his price, his animus is very nice to get this 2" more or pathfinder. I even have used rush (one from the gladiator, two from the warcaster) on arcuarii to get them into combat though terrrain. And then there is the elephant brawler look on him.
Cannoneer, my staple warbeast for mark 1, still very nice in mark 2, especially when helped by Rush. Still good in combat because of his head attack. His animus got a little bit weakish.
Karn, hardly played in mk1, still waiting for paint. All I can see for now is that I find the 11 points a bit steep when we get a good combat beast for 8 points.
Bronzeback, I dont own one, looks like has an unit of infantry for dinner and then a warcaster as desert.
Rhinodon, have to think about him more, for now I think about him as the weaker version of the gladiator with a weaker animus.

How do I look at my stuff right now? (part 1 warcasters).

Also using this little serie of post to put my own thoughts in order. I only have about 7 games in on mk2, but this is my feeling about the warcasters.

I see both morghouls are a bit bland. They still have a nice bunch of abilities, but still feel a bit boring compared to what other factions have. I have the feeling they can be fun and powerful when you get the grips of their tricks (especially the assassination runs, normal morgs no overloading powerfields/transfers, epic blinding and slaying.
Normal makeda falls in the same category, she used to be one of my favorites in mk1 and she has hardly changed, I somehow lost the affection I once had for her. This might be caused by the nerf bat hitting on the stuff I liked to play with her (guardians, krea's and ferox). Although when you play her now, she feels the same, which I think I will like in the long run.
Epic makeda, never played her in mk1, I really like that they did something to make her (feat) a lot more different from the non epic version.
Hexeris, well, hard to say without trying, a lot has changed, I do still dislike the feat, but like his new spells.
Xerxis is the bad ass beatstick in the Skorne neighbourhood. I like the tweaks to his feat, his spells, the fact he got some of the tyrant abilities (he is a tyrant after all). Played a few games with him and he feels like I think he should have been when he was launched (did not really like him in mk1).
Zaal, on paper, looks like he lost it. AG's nerved, spells nerved, but I am still neutral about him, maybe because I love his fluff, or maybe it is not all as bad as it seems.
Mordikaar: I think (for now) he is the best skorne has to offer, although his feat has disappointed me in the few games I played with him. Very good spells.

The revenge of catzilla

Today I came home from work and the cat was nowhere, no problem, because he likes to hang out in his own room when no one is home. But after a few hours of no cat I was getting worried. He is my little buddy, so I went up to look for him, but he was not is his room. When I left the room I heard a little meow form the attic, my wargaming attic! So I sprinted up, released him from his prison and assessed the damage. He walked along my mini's standing around a little, tip over a lot of them, but one broke the back banner and threw one of my arcuari of the cabinet it was standing on, it landed on the floor 90cm below in 7 parts!

(click for a bigger version)

All kinds of memories came back, like when I got the arcuari they were the only Skorne infantry released (maybe the preats were also released, not sure). How much of a pain they were to put the flags on and paint, how much I liked them with Hexeris and deathmarch and how quickly I docked them when I got my unit of cetrati. I really hope they get a little cheaper in mkII.

And yes, the cat came out unharmed, slightly upset, he didnt even make a mess somewhere. He tends to get himself into trouble all the time. He got in yesterday like 20 times while I was doing my adminstration, which I also keep in that room, on the floor and walked over it all night. He left only 19 times. And now he is purring on my lap (and laptop) while I am trying to post this.

Ranting about more gold lines. And Wrong Eye & Snapjaw painted!

I have painted on my Skorne stuff for the first time in 3 weeks, after finishing Rorsh&Brine and WrongEye&Snappy. And I have to admit, I hate my colour scheme, not how it looks, but way it has to be painted. Arg! The boltgun metal is ok, just boring. But the gold edges and black-lining them is not painting but just paining. Am I glad I am getting close to getting Skorne complete so I can think about another faction or doing some more minions (and with washes this time).

Just had to blow of some steam. For the people who got all this way, a little reward ;). A picture of my painted Wrong Eye & Snapjaw.

Happy birthday to me, happy birthday to me!

I had my 30th birthday yesterday (yes, now I will get old and ugly). And got some Skorne as gift from my gaming pals:
* Epic Makeda (they are going to regret giving this)
* Tormentor (they are also going to regret this)
* Bloodrunners (they are really going to regret this!)
Thanks guys!

I love PP!

Good news, as some of the regular readers already knew, I had this huge mispack before I went to France. Now I got back, there was a package at the office, containing a complete Rorsh & Brine. Thanks PP!

Back from la France

I am back from my very good and very long vacation in the sunny France with my girlfriend (yes guys, girls are more fun then lead miniatures ;)). I spend most of the time sightseeing, at the pool or doing nothing at all ;)



Now I am back in the Netherlands, there is a lot of the stuff with was far away when I left, is now close by. We have our quarterly local 20ish player tournament in 3 weeks and I haven't prepared in any way. The Masters of the Benelux is further away, but also needs a lot more preparation, because I just want to finish in a good position for that one. I am also looking forward to our weekly gaming nights.

I also got an email from my work that a package for me arrived, which I guess are my Rorsh and Brine.

Had a lot of fun on the vacation, but good to be back!

Last tuesday we played mk2

I borrowed some cygnar of a friend and played against his menoth. Siege vs Reznik, first battle I got Reznik to one hp left and then Siege died, second battle he got Reznik to one hp left and then Siege died. It was 15 pts only jacks, but still great fun. And yes, mk2 is still warmachine, I even think not very much changed, some rules, some sucky models got better, some cheezy models got less cheezy. So overall it still has the same feeling and I still like it. I cannot wait to see what mk2 will do to my little skornes.

Fully painted! for blood in the snow

Hurray! The Ferox are done. I would like to show off the freehand on the banner and the complete painted unit, but still no camera-cable. I am planning on spending part of my 13th month on getting a Canon Powershot A1000 camera which is lot better then the old thing I have now and I will have a new cable ;)

So I am fully painted and ready for the Blood in the Snow tournament Sunday. Going with two palls. One playing Circle with most probable Kaya. The other with Cryx with his power Denega or something else, you never know. I got my cans of cheap-ass redbull like stuff, so I am all ready.

Edit got the new camera made a picture:

Hurray!

Dragoons are confirmed for Meta! Yes, now lets hope we do get some utility solo, but finally the commander solo the most militaristic faction is missing.

Why I am looking forward to the Void Spirit

First of all voidy looks cool, second he is al spirit, with incorporeal, terror and all. He can move through stuff/terrain and can take out nasty solo's and teleport away, or at least threaten these solo's and scare them away. The -2 ARM aura is a lot better then most people think. He does not need to get powered up like the AG and is more effective in tournament settings. And you can field two.
He also has nice synergies with all most all warcaster:
* With Morghoul he can finally make the assassination more viable, by reducing the opponents MAT by two, will give you a lot more potential damage.
* With Makeda, running 12" through models and attacking, that should take care of the annoying stuff like pipers, etc. And your own troops are not scared of them.
* With Hexeris, no something I can think up quickly.
* With Xerxis, he can get two attacks and an extra dice on the charge (on feat turn).
* With Zaal, he can be nasty under last stand.
* With eMorghoul, although I do not own him, he can be fun on the feat turn and helping big M with the assassination.

Feeling bored = starting blog

Hi,
Having a hard time getting to sleep, because of this stupid medical condition I have. I decided, I felt like starting a blog about my Skorne army for the Hordes game made by Privateer Press. My English might not be perfect, but that's because I am from a small country called The Netherlands.

Lets tell me what I want to do with this blog, first I want to keep track of stuff, so I can see what I have done. I want to make at least a small post for each battle I fight and miniature I paint.

To keep track of stuff, I will first have to descibe my starting point. I have started Skorne in september 2006, with just the battle box and an unit of Arcuarii. Have been gathering them for some time, lets describe my collection, starting with the warcasters.

Morghoul: He came in the battle box, so he has been painted now for aged, I play him from time to time, because I like him. Mostly his overall fast, but fragile feel. And two of his three spells are quite good (Unrelenting and Abuse) and his feat kicks ass vs beast heavy horde armies. I do not play him a lot, because he sucks versus Warmachine and he and his army has a hard time handling terrain.

Makeda: My favorite warcaster, painted and slightly converted because I hated the silly backbanner. I have played her a lot and I think at the moment she is the best allround warcaster the Skorne have for me (with Zaal probably comming second). Savagery is very good, getting shieldwall units to run and still get their shieldwall, or having a krea run 12" and make 5 boosted attacks if a drake is near, or just put it on ferox to get them to attack something within 18". Carnage is good because it really helps your troops hitting stuff. Defenders ward is good on about every unit (specially Cetrati, Karax and Ferox). He feet works against every opponent, cause it effects you own army. Her defensive stats and hitpoints are good enough and when needed she can dish out om serious damage in combat.

Hexeris: He was my second caster and also painted for a long time. Used to play him more often when I just started, be he became a bit boring. Deathmarch, deathdealer and vampiric reaving are great fun but he is just not for me. Also I think his feat is a bit weak or situational at best.

Xerxis: My first evolution mini, finished painted a few months ago. I just am not impressed about this guy, also happered by terrain, his move of 5, low fury and his medium base bugger me. His feat is stronger then a lot of people think, but hard to pull of propperly.

Zaal: Starting to like him, but still not painted (kovass done 3 months ago). He has a lot of potential, which I did not see in the only game I played with him 2 weeks ago. The only AG I have did not get killed, so no Kovass. I screwed multiple times, because I did not come prepared, but I hope to give my opponent(s) a harder time next time.

Titan gladiator: Came in the battle box, painted for a long time played with him a lot in the old days. Good in combat, bad in getting there. The chain attack is where he shines, his animus helped me from time to time. Replaced this guy with a cannoneer or rhinodon, because I like those better.

Titan cannonneer: Painted for about a year. Like his ranged attack and animus, can do some damage in combat. Allowed me to get some reach with my armies. He is not played a lot lately, because I like the mediums better.

Rhinodon: Have him since he was released, painted half a year ago. He is good in what he does, killing stuff. His animus works good on himself and he is faster and better versus infantry then the gladiator. Played him a bunch of times, but I have been playing mediums mostly lately.

Krea: Got one when released and painted up rather quickly, got another one, which I finished about 4 months ago. The star of the Skorne show, she kicks ass. Good annoyance factor (aura, field and ranged attack) and can dash a lot of damage with a Drake short by. Fielded one in my armies since I got one, sometimes even two.

Drake: Got one with my first krea and one with my second, got the first one painted up, the other one in base coat. A girls best frield and his spray is nice at P+S 14. Just nice to have around with all this infantry around.

Savage: Got two in my battle box, one has been painted for a long time, the other one got primed a month ago. He is fast, good animus, mat and P+S for a medium, but I prefer to leave the damage dealing to infantry and solo's and use beasts for utility. Getting a beast at the front is getting it killed fast and they are needed for fury.

Arcuarii: Got them with the battle box (box+one blister), all painted. They are way overpriced, but can be fun to play. Have not used them for a long time.

Cetrati: Have them for about a year, took me ages to get them painted. Auto include (do I need to say more) specially with Makeda.

Swordsmen: Got them when they were called Preatorians. Finnished painted them about a year ago. Cheap, give souls and can put up a fight. They can even put up a better fight after I got my UA. Have been using them a lot, since I do not have any Karrax.

Paingivers: Have them about two years now, painted them fast. I used them more in the past, when I tended to play more beast heavy. They are good at what they do.

Ferox: Have them about half a year, they are now my priority painting target. Played only 3 games with them and like them. They are the only Skorne which can navigate terrain and even enemy troups and never fall over. Not to mention their fast speed.

Ancestral Guardian: Have one since it was released, painted it up and have used it in about every battle since. He can go a lot faster then people expect and fully loaded he can dish out a lot of damage. The downside of using him, is that is a late bloomer, which hurts him in combat. He is really good, so good I want at least one more.

Orin Midwinter: Have him for a few months. Tried him out some times, but is hard to use, but I see his strenghts.

Smoke Gobbers: My first minions, painted 18 months ago. Their are good value for their 15 points, and I use them when I have points left, or need the smoke.

Catapult: Got them for my last birthday, are still in the blister, although I really want to try them.

Agonizer: Have him for a year now and painted him not long after I got the little fellow. He is strong vs hordes, but hard to get loaded when you play with a few medium beasts, I have not used him that much.

Feralgeist: Have him and painted for about 9 months. Very powerfull, but again only versus Hordes. Taking over beasts, or giving your beasts a last breath is really nice. Have been using him a lot in my hordes vs hordes games, and he is recommendable.

So this is my Skorne in short, now I am going to try to get some sleep again.