FoW- dethtron’s Panzerdivision

As you’ll all recall from before my temporary hiatus, your intrepid author had just embarked on starting to play Flames of War, one of the few games on the market where you can truly be a fluff Nazi!  After just under a dozen games (all losses no less) against some friends, I’ve got to say that I’m smitten.  If you’re interested in a more generic “what the fuck is FoW” type of post let me know in the comments and I may be able to oblige.

I’ve had to adjust to new types of strategy as the “run forward real fast and kill” or “stand still and kill with shooting” tactics predominant in so many other table top games don’t really work.   Strategery is needed.  Like real bona fide strategery.  (more…)

FoW- Now I’ve done did it….

As Lauby already knows from chats via Google, and Hoagy already knows from finding my dirty little secret laying out on the coffee table when he was over for band practice this weekend, I have picked up a copy of the Flames of War Rules and the Fortress Europe book.  I’ve been eying this game for a long while and the inner treadhead in me final won out when I got a coupon from my FLGS.  (more…)

Drumroll……brrzzzzzzzzzz: THE ROTOROOTER!

Over the past few months I’ve hinted in the most vague of possible ways that I have been working on a new IG list to highlight my Cadians.  I’d like to play test this a lot more, but time constraints being what they are, I’ll go ahead and post what I’ve been working on so far- understanding that this is still going to be subject to a lot of play testing.  In order to dispel the myths that the Leafblower is the end all be all of IG lists, I’ve tried to create something that eschews a lot of the usual suspects that are most guard armies.  Specifically I wanted to avoid a few tournament stand-bys: the Hydra, Manticore, and Vendetta.  I’m not at all trying to play a fluffier than thou card or any shit like that because I still think the Leafblower is pretty unified in its fluff.  Neither am I trying to find a way to make Ogryn or Rough Riders viable.  I think that would be a completely fruitless effort.  Being the tread-head that I am, my list will still include a number of Chimerae and a shit load of other vehicles. 

Rather than what you might be expecting, though, this list is built around the hidden synergies between the Leman Russ Eradicator and the Devil Dog.  As you will soon see, the army is built around a quasi-wave type of flow, where the fast moving Devil Dogs make a quick strike on enemy armor followed by the lumbering Eradicators’ push to annihilate enemy infantry that have been forced out of their transports.  Playing it so far has been a blast and I’m looking forward to finding a few local tournaments to try this out in before moving on to larger super secret events.  I’ll stop blathering for the moment and present the Rotorooter V1.0 to you all.

HQ

CCS 3x melta 80

~officer of the fleet 35
~chimera hull heavy flamer 55

Elite

Psyker battle squad 6 psykers; overseer 80

~chimera hull heavy flamer 55

Psyker battle squad 6 psykers; overseer 80
~chimera hull heavy flamer 55

Troops

Veterans 3x melta 100

~Chimera hull heavy flamer 55

Veterans 3x melta 100
~Chimera hull heavy flamer 55

PCS autocannon, grenade launcher 45
~chimera 55

Infantry squad autocannon, grenade launcher 65

Infantry squad autocannon, grenade launcher 65

Infantry squad autocannon, grenade launcher 65
~Commissar 35

Fast Attack
2x Devil Dog Hull heavy flamer 240

2x Devil Dog Hull heavy flamer 240

Devil Dog Hull heavy flamer 120

Heavy Support
Leman Russ Eradicator Hull heavy flamer 160

Leman Russ Eradicator Hull heavy flamer 160

Total: 2,000

The list is built around a pretty decent amount of firepower making use of seldom seen units that should cause a lot of confusion about target priority.  Even if my opponent isn’t a dumbass, it should still cause difficulties as nothing in the army is particularly frightening.  So we have mediocre units and lots of them!  It’s also built around the concept of shifting primary anti-armor duties to the FA slot, while putting pretty much dedicated anti-infatry units in the HS slot (although they’ll due against transports in a pinch).  Back that up with a whithering amount of autocannons and grenade launchers to tackle transports and you’ve got a lot of threats.  Once most of your opponent’s vehicles are gone it’s time to welcome them to heavy flamer town, population: your foe.
I own all I’ll need to make this list except for 1 Devil Dog.  Everything other than the Dogs are also assembled and painted, so this project could be up and running inside of a week, once I get around to it.  I’m going to attempt to use magnets on the Dogs though (a first for me) to make them so I can use every weapons option in other lists, though, so that might slow me down a bit.  It also doesn’t help that I don’t feel comfortable fully assembling the Hell/Devil/Bane Dog prior to painting, because they have so many fucking nooks and crannies.  They seriously are going to be a pain in the dick to paint. 
 
So, have at it.  Commence ripping my list apart

Return to the Ogre Kingdoms

After a couple people pointed out that my previous Ogre list was illegal and Randroid pointed out that it also sucked, I’ve made a few changes.  I was able to use better equipment on characters and upgrade my Butcher to a Slaughtermaster while only losing a total of 2 models, both of which are leadbelchers, so probably nothing really lost there anyway ;P  I think the real accomplishment here is that I’ve resisted the urge to mention Shrek…. shit!

Whatever.  The basic changes were as follows:

• The Motherfucker stays in as is.  So no changes, I just wanted to remind everyone how awesome a horde of 18 Ogres called the motherfucker is.  Also they got ironfists.  I’m still on the fence about this, as it’s a very very expensive upgrade that suffers from diminishing returns like a bastard on a horde unit like this.  That is to say that even though I have to pay for 18 upgrades, only 6 people can use them at any one time if used as an extra HW.
• Tyrant dropped siegebreaker in exchange for a cathayan longsword and the giantbreaker big name.  Not a bad move- improved WS  and I is never a bad thing, especially when paired with an extra S as well.
• Condensed 2 units of 3 Leadbelchers into a unit of 4.
• Upgraded Butcher to Slaughtermaster and also got him a dispel scroll
• Downgraded a unit of Ironguts to Bulls.  Don’t lose much by doing this and save on points big time.  This also makes the 2 units of gnoblar legal
• Dropped ragsomething banner from the BSB.  Couldn’t really find a magic banner that did anything worthwhile, so just going with a mundane BSB.

So here’s the revised list.  I probably won’t post any further revisions, but as I’m still a total born again virgin with fantasy (wow, that is way awkward out of context), comments, criticism, insults, baseless ad hominim attacks, and high praise are always welcome.

Lords 19.44%

Tyrant ogre club, heavy armor, cathayan longsword, giantbreaker 241

Slaughtermaster Wyrdstone Necklace (5+ ward), hand weapon, dispel scroll 245

 
Heroes 6.76%
 
Bruiser battle standard, ogre club, heavy armor, iron fist 169

Core 58%
 
17 Bulls ogre club, crusher, standard bearer, bellower, light armor, ironfists 781

5 Bulls ogre club, crusher, standard bearer, bellower, light armor, ironfists 255

5 Iron Guts heavy armor, great weapons, gutlord, bellower, standard 290

30 gnoblars hand weapon, sharp stuff, groinbiter 62

30 gnoblars hand weapon, sharp stuff, groinbiter 62

Special 8.8%
 
4 Leadbelchers 220

 
Rare 7%
 
Slavegiant 175

Total 2,500 points

2,500 Point Ogre Kingdoms List

It’s official- I’ve been bitten by the fantasy bug.  After getting in a game with my Empire army, I’m really excited about playing more fantasty.  While I like the Empire, it’s not a radical departure from the type of army I normally take.  Grab big guns, set up a cheap meat shield of piss poor troops, perhaps throw in some combos and sneakiness, et voila- sit on your ass and throw templates at people all day from the comfort of your own deployment zone.  Let’s look at a brief history of armies that I play/played regularly: Mech IG, Semi-mech IG, airborne IG, Protectorate of Menoth (template/combo city!), Empire, and a deep-striking shooty Tyranid list.  Lots of camping and shooting with a shitload of models.  The pattern should be obvious.

With my thoughts of ”holy fuck, I can fit over 10 artillery pieces into a list,” my Empire army was starting to fall into the paradigm of a normal Dethtron list.  Since ebay was kind to me a while back when I started stocking up on minis and I still love the shit out of blasting suckas with my guns, I will totally be finishing and using the Empire, but I wanted to throw something up to have fun with on the side that wouldn’t cost me an arm and a leg.  I’ve amassed (via OLD stuff I have on hand, Island of Blood, and ebay) quite a Skaven collection.  I’ll do something with that eventually, but puttering around with lists has, again, led me to a shooty horde type list.  Looking for something different, I started flipping through the army books that I own-

• Brettonia- sold all of my original minis from years ago and have no plans to buy them again.  Plus these guys suck right now.
• Warriors of Chaos- wanted to do an all cavalry/chariot list.  Not really viable in the current edition.  Scrap that.
• High Elves- meh, elves. 

So that wasn’t a very promising start to stepping out of the box.  I thought about other armies like Lizardmen (not a fan of the models/fluff), Vampire Counts (I like the idea of these, but decided to pass), and Dark Elves (something about them just doesn’t do it for me) and still came up with nothing.  Then I picked up a copy of the Ogre Kingdoms book, realizing that I’d never played a bruiser army before.  I was hooked instantly.  With bull charge and stomp you can crush the shit out of people.  Add in Ok magic and the general concept of huge guys smashing and running around with a pretty high movement, and I think we’ve got a winner.

Armed with the book and very limited play experience, I set out on a journey to figure out a good starting point. I settled on the list that follows, which is comprised of the contents of 3 battallion boxes (which are a super value) with only a few parts left over and a limited number of additional purchases necessary.  Seriously, I’ll just need a Tyrant, Butcher, and giant as I’m planning on converting the BSB Bruiser out of leftover Iron guts (I’ll have an extra 2 dudes).  Here’s the list.  Explanations and deployment guide will follow.

Lords 9.64%

Tyrant ogre club, siegebreaker, heavy armor, potion of foolhardiness 241

Heroes 23.8%
 
Bruiser battle standard, ogre club, heavy armor, ragbanner, iron fist 204

Butcher Wyrdstone Necklace (5+ ward), hand weapon 150

Core 56%
 
17 Bulls ogre club, crusher, standard bearer, bellower, light armor 696

5 Iron Guts heavy armor, great weapons, gutlord, bellower, standard 290

5 Iron Guts heavy armor, great weapons, gutlord, bellower, standard 290

30 gnoblars hand weapon, sharp stuff, groinbiter 62

30 gnoblars hand weapon, sharp stuff, groinbiter 62

Special 13.2%

3 leadbelchers leadbelcher cannon, light armor 165

3 leadbelchers leadbelcher cannon, light armor 165

Rare 7%
Slavegiant 175
 
Total: 2,500 points

BSB, a necessity from what I hear, goes into the giant ass block of Ogre Bulls in a 6×3 horde formation, henceforth known as “The Motherfucker.” (apologies if the linked video is kind of annoying, but apparently Rollins’ people remove most of his stuff from youtube, meaning that a pitchshifted version is the only one that still has an audio track) This unit will be in midfield to give everyone access to the BSB, and at nearly 900 points, I do not want the motherfucker breaking.  The Butcher and Tyrant then go into each of the Iron Gut units.  This should give me a tight enough formation that I can cover everybody with the BSB and the Tyrant’s leadership.  The deployment is as follows (units are almost approximately to scale):

The above has the Gnoblars in a 10×3 horde formation to block a maximum of my army from charges.  It should block the charge lane leading to the motherfucker and cover as much of my army’s frontage as possible.  It should also be set up to wheel out of the way like a gate to allow the motherfucker to charge and to allow the Iron Guts to go around them just fine.  If it proves impractical, the Gnoblar can be deployed 6×5 or 5×6, as space allows.  The giant can go wherever.
 
The tactics are simple enough, move forward, smash face, soften up targets with limited shooting, don’t let your Ogres get charged, and laugh at the Gnoblars as they are wiped off the board.  With 20 attacks base plus bull charge plus stomp attacks, if the motherfucker charges you, the motherfucker will destroy you.  Primary targets for this would be infantry and cavalry.  Just in case, it has a pair of standards, one being a BSB which lets the unit roll 3 dice and discard one for LD tests, a decent rank bonus, and potential access to the Tyrant’s LD the motherfucker shouldn’t be breaking any time soon.  Did I mention that the motherfucker breaking would be really bad?
 
 
The Ironguts, giant, and Tyrant are in there to deal with monsters, Steam tanks, and the like.  If no such target is available, they should be able to go toe to toe with most units.  The gnoblars prevent the army from getting charged and can potentially tarpit  anything pesky.  The leadbelchers are in there to soften up large infantry blocks and offer supporting charges in the mid to late game.  I know a lot of people don’t appreciate these guys, but I think they perform an important role here. 
 
I’m slightly concerned that I have too many points invested in characters, but felt the need to wedge a butcher in there.  Without him, I’d be taking it in the ass from enemy magic all day long.  Even if he doesn’t have access to super exciting spells, the ability to dispel is very important to me.  The Tyrant and Bruiser BSB also seem indispensable.  I really need the LD 9 from the tyrant and you’d be stupid not to grab a BSB for an army of expensive troops that are notorious for breaking out in panic at inopportune moments. 
 
Well, that’s that.  I’d love some comments and thoughts on this.  As I’ve stated, I have very limited 8th edition experience at the moment, so would love to have any obvious shortcomings pointed out to me, even though this is more of a just for fun list than a super hard tourney list.  I’m also always trying to up my deployment game, so what do you guys think of my proposed deployment?

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