Two Player Summer Campaign

Well a quick update while I can.

My brother and I are running a small 5 game tree campaign while we are out of touch with the world for the most part.

His Daemonhunters versus my Blood Angels.
My handicap is that after each victory I only get 1 veteran ability while he still gets 2 when he wins.
We are almost done with the first game but had to run errands. But entering 5th turn, there is no possibility for a defender victory and it looks like there won't be a tie.

Ties advance on the tree with a die roll. Who ever wins that is the direction we go.

Click to a enlarge.

Well that is all for now. If I get a chance to update again I will.

Wargaming VS RPG

NOTE: I typed this off the top of my head (explained why below) and as I did I realized it just became a rambling rant. I will try to come up with something and post again tonight. I really will. Sorry in the mean time.

First of all, sorry I haven't been posting (BSFade). Been busy. Really busy. And gone. Like so far gone this was all I could see.

And unfortunately, I will be gone all of July as well. BUT As school starts again in august posting will become regular again after that. And I will make great efforts to try and post every day until I leave.

I wanted to do a post today on posing, but unfortunately someone took the camera with the photos on it for the day. So that will have to wait.

So I came up with this. NOTE: THIS IS SOLELY MY OPINION BASED ON MY EXPERIENCES!!!!

SO RPGs vs Wargaming. My opinion boils down to this:Okay so that is a little exaggerated, but I will explain why I am inclined to feel this way.

First of all, to me the depth of the hobby of wargaming is far greater. The painting, modeling and gaming aspects are all there, while with RPG it is only the game really. And if you take DnD 4th edition, RPGs are in a way trying to emulate wargames them selves, so why not get the whole package.

Next, all the effort that goes into creating my wargaming force is permanent. My attachment to my models won't be pulled out from under me. Essentially, my army can always be used and doesn't get dropped in the waste bin along side my character sheet after I got killed by an instant death trap or something of that sort.

Next is the social interaction. I like the constant interaction of the wargame with my opponent. The problem I find with RPGs is that the GM/DM is constantly shifting their focus from player to player and there are periods of time where I am not doing anything.
Then as well, it is easier for a RPG to get too personal I think. While wargames can become personal too, I can always pack up and refuse to play that player ever again. The problem in a RPG campaign is that you probably have an established group that you regularly play with as a group, so if you want to keep playing, then you have to keep interacting with the person you hold a grudge against, or you just stop playing.

I also never liked being told what type of character I can and cannot make by the GM/DM. It just was never fun to want to do one thing and be told that it wouldn't fit in so I couldn't do it. But in wargaming, no one can tell me what army I can play or not. The only exception I have encountered with this is my club megabattles, where we sometimes limit points, super heavies, formations and teams to keep the game balanced fair and fun for everyone. Which yes is the dame reason I was told not to play my RPG character the way I wanted. The difference is that the Megabattle is a single event while a RPG campaign takes place over months.

Time consumption is another point. I am a slow 40k player, but the game generally can go fast if driven. And it is easier to schedule one off games with one person because of this. RPGs though are all day and/or night affairs and everyone needs to keep a large part of a day at the same time free, which is hard for several people to do, especially college students.

Investment wise though, RPG gaming can be cheaper, but then again I have seen people who own 50 some rulebooks and bins full of monsters and all sorts of accessories, so I think both can develop into wallet drains. Though I will say wargaming has a greater chance of being a drain.

Then there is this:Really this is to be more funny than anything, but it is how I perceive it to an extent. I personally find dedicated wargamers more level headed and less eccentric. But that is my encounters. I have nothing against dedicated RPG players, I just find myself more comfortable around wargamers. I myself am a casual RPG player, but given the choice between an RPG and a game of 40k, I will play 40k every time.

Fluff Question: Which Sci-Fi universe would win? (Ground Battles)

POLL RELATED POST

Last time I did Space Battles, with the winner, not surprisingly, being Warhammer.

But another point of contestation is ground battles. Who would win with boots to the dirt?

The Contestants:
Warhammer 40k
Star Wars
Star Trek
Halo
Starship Troopers (Book, not that horrible movie
Predator/Alien
Japanese Mecha (Gundam for example)

Okay, so I put my money on 40k once again. I love star wars, really I do, but as far as the military is concerned, 40k outshines everything. So I am going to walk through and compare it against each contestant and say why it wins.

40k vs Japanese Mecha
This is for all the anime watchers out there. While I think things like mobile suits could give parts or 40k a run for its money, there are some problems to consider.
Size. I am basing this off the most popular mecha series: Gundam. So a Mobile Suit isn't actually that big. Basically, think of a tractor trailer standing up. Thats basically it. Warhound titans are about as tall, but are significantly more powerful. Then there are larger Titans still. So why are Titan's better? Shields for one. Next is the destructive capacity of their weapons. I never once saw a Mobile Suit level a city, but Quake cannons can.
Then there is support elements. Mecha can't occupy buildings or search through underground networks. What did I always see supporting the mech in gundam. Normal soldiers with machine guns and things that look like modern day tanks. Here I believe 40k wins again with tank and infantry superiority. And I always saw the tanks lose to the mobile suits, but I know in 40k that sometimes titans get thrashed by 40k tanks. So I am going to say that 40k has an edge there.
Then there is numbers. Jap Anime usually is only earth or alternate earth. They just don't have the resources to compete, even if everything I said above is a bunch of misguided mumbo jumbo.

40k vs Predator/Alien
This didn't get to show up in the space battle for 2 reasons.
1- You never get to see a space battle in their movies
2- The ships are really small compared to Star Wars and Warhammer
BUT they are cool enough to be in this post. They wouldn't win though.
Sure Predators would own the face of most things they came across in 40k, but they are solo guys for the most part and just kinda hunt. And a normal human always manages to triumph over them. There are things in 40k that can cloak, have cool sharp swords, and are big and strong. So put them up against a predator, and see what happens. Oh, and I bet a lictor could sniff one out.
Then there are the aliens. I think of them like Guants that act like Genestealers. They hide on ships and impregnate other species. Oh, and a normal person always manages to best them. They are cool and could own a bunch of Guardsmen, but a deathwatch kill team could make short work of them. They board hiveships and walk away. A group of 20 aliens is a joke to them.
Then the Pred/Alien Human Space Marines. These guys are like normal guardsmen. Just a lot less of them. Bill Paxton is cool and all, but to be a space marine you have to look like this:
Not this:So yeah, case closed there.

40k vs Star Trek
I am going to make this short and sweet. Phasers are strong (everyone who gets hit once dies it seems), but the soldiers are very vulnerable. I think if a squad of terminators boarded a federation vessel, the game would be up. Klingons may be brutal, but so are orks. Borg can't assimilate Necrons, and probably would fail to stop nids. They move so slow, they'd all be eaten before they could absorb them. Plus I can't imagine you can sever one hive mind in favour of another. Then there is all the military vehicles. The only thing I remember ever seeing is the Argo from one of the movies (nemesis). Never mind tanks or giant walkers. They had a jeep. Just doesn't compare. Star Trek needs to stay in space.

40k vs Halo
I think this one is a little bit more interesting. I still give 40k an edge, but the soldiers in this just generally seem more competent and better equipped than the above universes, as well as have more resources (equivalent to the Federation, but more militarized). The Covenant is a pretty beastly opponent as well, lots of plasma weaponry. While not equivalent to Imperial Plasma, I'd relate it to tau weapons. But I still don't think the numbers and tech keep up. While advanced, the humans still rely on bullets, and in the fluff they often beat the covenant. And they don't have too many super soldiers so while Master Chief may be kick butt, there aren't enough spartans to compete with the super soldiers of 40k.
40k vs Starship Troopers
The bugs and Tyranids are almost exactly the same. The mobile infantry is like a tactical squad crossed with an assault squad. This would be a fight. The one issue is the mobile infantry deploy regularly in far less numbers than SM can, and then there is the vast amounts of laser toting guardsmen to think about. It would be like the Badab war I imagine. Really strong frightening opponent equivalent to yourself, but destined to lose by playing the numbers game (once again). Then take titans and such into consideration and it becomes even more unbalanced. Oh, and if you haven't read the book GO DO IT NOW! Great book. Never watch the movie afterwards, you will only be disappointed.

40k vs Star Wars
This is the closet IMO because of the numbers game and tech level.
I am going to operate that a lasgun is for the most part equivalent to your standard blaster rifle from star wars. Maybe a little weaker, but close enough. That is going to be our technology point of reference there. So I'd say most planetary militias are like PDF and the Stormtroopers are like guardsmen, albiet in carapace armour (making up for the disadvantage in numbers). Droids can further make up the numbers. Then there are Jedi as well, or sith, or whatever force using sect you want to consider. They are beastly. Then there are Mando's as well. Beastly enough to take on Jedi for breakfast.
So Much Metal!
There are equivalents in war machines. AT-AT are only 15m tall, so same as a warhound, and with less destructive weapons, but there are a lot of them, and they all carry a bunch of soldiers. So I give 40k an edge in machinery, but Star Wars has military vehicles at least. Really they are just able to play the numbers game as well.
But where I think I break the tie is Space Marines. There is no equivalent. Jedi and Mando's don't have the numbers, and can't block/absorb bolter shells. And in a fist fight, an SM would definitely win. Thus tipping things in 40k's favour IMO.

Okay, tell me what you think over there --> in the Poll! If you have any others, post in the comments!

POLL RESULTS:
Which Sci-fi universe would win in a ground battle?:
Warhammer 40k 17 (73%)
Star Wars 2 (8%)
Star Trek 2 (8%)
Halo 0 (0%)
Predator/Alien 1 (4%)
Starship Troopers (Book) 0 (0%)
Other 1 (4%)Warhammer 40k 17 (73%)

Some new toys are coming

Put in an order with Chapterhouse Studios today using a Visa Giftcard.

I love variant armour in my Space Marine army. I like the idea in the fluff that every marine is different. I have gone to great lengths to ensure that. Continuing in that tradition I went ahead and got some bits to spruce things up

First off are these babies
They are going to make me have to wait a while for my order, but they make it all worth while. I got 10 to spread throughout my army. Along with 3 metal Raptor packs I have, that should be enough variance in the jump pack department (especially if I get more sanguinary guard, whose bits would get diverted all over the place)

Next up are these cool parts

These sweet heads will get dispersed as much as possible as well. These shoulder pads will go with one of them.

I got one of each of these shoulder pads just for cool conversions.

This pad is for a sanguinary priest.

And I got 2 celtic and one eagle shield just to mess around with.

So yeah, can't wait for them to get here!

Fluff Question: Which Sci-Fi Universe Would Win? (Space Battles)

POLL RELATED POST
Yep. The never ending debate. Which Sci-Fi universe would beat another.
To give everything a level playing feild, I am going to say remove super fantastic powers, so universe changing force use from SW is out. Basically, cap it at Palpatines lightning.

I think what the most critical part of an inter-universe conflict would be the application of space fleets. This is where sci-fi wars would be won/lost. Simple matter really: if the ships die in space, the fight can't be fought on the ground.
Size Comparisons here. Click on -10x for best grouping.

To me, it would come down to Star Wars and 40k here. Star Trek is just too small and weak. Borg Cubes are impressive, but Star Trek ships can beat them and I bet Star Wars and 40k woop star trek. Phasers are sooooo small and short ranged in comparison to the fighting of 40k and star wars. All the other ones suffer the same fate really. Alien, Battlestar Galactica and Starship Troopers are way to small. Halo is to far behind in technology but is at least approaching Star Wars size ships. I don't know enough about babylon 5 and macross to really compare, but just on size basis I am going to remove them.

I personally think here that 40k wins. They may not have the biggest ships, but the Empire only had 8 super star destroyers. Meanwhile, the Imperium possess thousands, if not tens of thousands, of their battleships. And then there are star forts such as a Ramilles class or even bigger things like Port Maw. Those are HUGE! and allow several battleships and cruisers to dock with them.
And you can see the GUNS. Point out where the turbolasers are on that super star destroyer. Can you. I know approximately where some are, but I can't see them. Meanwhile I can point out all the major weapon systems on the 40k star ships. They launch 30m torpedos instead of measly 1m proton torpedos. Bigger guns = bigger boom.
Next is the escorts. A 40k cobra escort is 800m long (the link I provided is wrong, but firestorms and swords are 1.5 km long so imagine that on the link provided). The smallest military vessel is 800 m. A star destroyer is twice as long yes, but it is suppossed to be the center of an Imperial fleet in Star Wars, but 40k has ESCORTS just as big.
And next is range of battle. I am taking the visual cues from Star Wars and imagining that the battle takes place at those relatively clos ranged, 10-20 km apart. That is like a WWI naval battle really.
40k happens thousands of KM apart. They only see the ships on sensors for the most part and it is rare that they are in visual range, and when they are, it is pure destruction. One ship will not survive and the other will be crippled.
Then there is ship protection. In Star Wars sheilds are falling like every minute it seems, and those ships are not armoured heavily. The true protection of a 40k ship is in its armour. Sure the sheilds help, and in the fluff fall kinda often too, but 40k ships are plated in meters of armour.
The one advantage Star Wars possesses I believe is fighter technology. Their personal star ships seem better than 40k ones, especially since they are sheilded (for the most part). But to me it is not enough to take on 40k capital ships, which possess as much if not more point defence than a Star Wars ship.
Oh yeah, and Necrons and Nids I think could chew up any other universe.

So tell me what you think. Poll over there -->
*FACTIONS RULED OUT- UNIVERSE ON UNIVERSE

Will talk about ground fighting some other time

POLL RESULTS
Who would win in a space battle?
Warhammer 40k 25 (65%)
Star Wars 3 (7%)
Babylon 5 5 (13%)
Star Trek 3 (7%)
Macross 0 (0%)
Halo 0 (0%)
Other (Post in comments) 2 (5%)