Big Guns...Space Marine Heavy and Elites



I know this is a bit late, but here's the last of my Space Marine Codex review.  Partially inspired by my recent visit to the Battleship New Jersey (those are her foward turrets with the main battery's 16" guns taken by me from the Bridge) today we're talking about firepower.  Every slot typically has a job in an army.  The HQ leads, the Fast Attack gets where it's needed quickly and the troops hold ground but the Elites and Heavies are there for one reason...to kill stuff.  As ususal we have some good choices, one AWESOME choice and some crap.  There's lots of choices and wargear options, but I'll try to focus on the what to do and what not to do as much as possible.

Too damn 'Ard Boys

As many of you know this past weekend was Fantasy 'Ard Boys...a day for no holds barred battles.  Of course for people like me it's an excuse to take some serious punishment.  I don't have a functioning 3000 point army.  I borrowed my friends WoC army because my VC's blow right now and I don't feel like buying a new vampire army and my Empire is about 16 models strong at the moment.  I got 0 points.  That's right ZERO!  There were only a few people that showed up so I hoped I'd at least place but it was not to be.

 

My list consisted of 2 squads of 20 warriors of Khorne with shields, full command and 2 hand weapons, 20 chosen with the same and the frenzy banner.  5 knights with full command, a Khorne lord on juggernaught, a BSB, a Khorne hero, a Sorceror Lord with lore of Death and a Sorceror of Nurgle with a scroll and lore of Nurgle.  70 models total...way too few as I would learn...

The Orks are done!

I have completed my Killa Kans and with that, my Orks are complete for Orkfest.  I'm still hoping to scratch-build a Stompa but I don't have any plasticard to do so yet.  Still I set my goal last year and I made it.  90 Boys, 5 Nob Bikers with Painboy, 6 foot Nobs with Painboy, 10 Lootas, 3 Killa Kans, 4 Deffcoptas, a Big Mek with KFF and a Warboss on a bike all painted and ready to go.

Olaf...METAL!

Well it seems GW may be changing the game again.  Several sources have now made the announcement that GW has or will very soon stop production on their entire metal line.  Now they do have several new metal releases and a few models (like the damn Space Monkey) that aren't even out yet so they are at least making metal a little longer but rumors abound that in the very near future they'll be phasing it out.  Considering the rising price of tin combined with recent laws regarding the sales of metal "toys" that may contain lead and this comes as little surprise.  Right now it's still up in the air what they will replace it with but there are theories.

The first theory is that they'll take what they've learned from Forge World and start making resin blisters.  I personally doubt this for a few reasons.  Anyone who has worked with resin models knows it can be a mixed bag what you get an d how difficult it can be to get things right...plus many model resins are toxic.  Resin casting is also a bit of a challenge and seems to be more time consuming and less forgiving.  Finally from what I hear it's probably going to cost them the same as metal.

The tactics of Tactical Marines or Scouts honor...

Round Two: Troops and Fast Attack.
Honestly this won't be as long as Spcae Marines don't have many choices in either squad...and even less good ones.  Still you need troops and there are some decent options so here we go.

Troops

Here we have Tactical Marines and Scouts.  These are both very symbolic units in 40k in general and there are few people in the hobby that don't have a Tactical Marine lying around somewhere in their collection.  Both of these recieved major changes for better and worse with the coming of the not-so-new codex, but since you need at least two from these guys, you have to know what to do with them.

At last!...not quite

Followers of my warp little blog will know I was once an independant retailer.  Now my store has long since closed, but I do still get insider info from time to time that retailers are not supposed to share, but since I'm not one anymore, I could give a damn.  So here it is...NECRONS at last!  Now there are still a few things I don't know but I can address a few things...

First, Phase out is gone.  This alone makes them infinately more playable.  WBB is being changed to work something like a combination between the old rules and FnP.  Basically you'll get it vs any weapon, but it happens immediately.  The orbs, which are now standard equipment make it a 3+.

The Gauss rule is being altered somewhat.  Not every weapon has it anymore, but now rolling a 6 leads to a second roll...a 5+ on that will penetrate no matter what.  If not, it's still a glance.