Veteran's Day

I want to personally Thank You, Veterans, for fighting and preserving the Freedoms that we enjoy and treasure in the United States. Your sacrifices are so much, and I am truly grateful.

Grav Guns and Tigurius Alternatives: Space Marines 6th Edition

You know what I like most about these new codices that Gee Dub is pushing on it's 40K players? It isn't the associated price tag- that's for sure. It's the printer's ink. I love the smell of a new book when you first open it's pages: That aroma of printer's ink that wafts up with each turn of a page- it's the best. With all of the colored pictures in this book, there is A LOT of printer's ink!

Space Marines 6th Edition Drop: Kerplunk!

I'm a Space Marine fan boy. It all started with Jim Burns' box art for Space Marine featuring epic battles in the age of heresy. At the time, this picture mingled feature's of Darth Vader's helmet with a hint of Sardaukar and the Roman Empire- I was hooked.

Nova Open 2013: 11th Company Live Broadcast

I'm really excited to watch the 11th Company coverage of the Nova Open 2013, starting this morning. For those of you (like myself) unable to attend Nova, follow the link and watch along!

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/the-11th-company

To all of the competitors: Good luck, have fun!

Blood Angels as a Competitive Force?

In anticipation of Codex: Space Marines dropping next month, I've had a bit of a renaissance with regard to my first 3+ army that I played- the Blood Angels.

Lets face it, the Blood Angels is a challenging army to play in sixth edition. Not an auto-loss by any means, but, the codex does seem wanting when compared to the likes of Space Wolves and Dark Angels. Definitely not the first, second, third, or even fourth choice to take to a tournament. The question is; can the codex provide a competitive list?

Surfin' the Gray Tide with a Kanban Board: Sweet Waves!

Now that things at work are situated, I have more time to devote to my home and hobby. I've been knocking out my honey-dos' around the house, and have actually had time to look at my 40K collection. And let me tell ya, is it a sea of gray plastic!

Space Marine Count Down

Big Red just posted a consolidated rumor dump for the Space Marine's anticipated September release. Among changes of note are point decreases for Tactical Squads, Sternguard, Vanguard, Biker Squads, Scouts...A decrease in points of this magnitude would cause a knee-jerk reaction in most bitter vets' (40K has produced it's own strain of bitter vets) to accuse Gee Dub of loading the plastic crack pipe. I see it as a potential to free up more points for the impending new toys rumored to be in this latest codex like:

Happy Independence Day, July 4th!

One Nation, under God, with liberty and justice for All.

I like to remember, this day, all of the men and women that have given the ultimate sacrifice for the Citizens of this country. Thank You.

Thank You

Never forget our men and women that have fought and died for our freedom.

40K 2000 Team Tournament 02/23/13: OCC

This Saturday, February 23rd, at Olympic Cards and Comics, Gabi is hosting a 2,000 point 40K teams' tournament, and all of the gritty details can be found here. Gabi is going to sweeten the pot, and throw in a Games Day Blood Angels Limited Edition Captain as a tournament prize. This figure usually goes for 30-40 bucks on Ebay- not too shabby!

Death From the Skies 40K Supplement: Figther Ace Upgrade(s)

I took a peek at 'Death From the Skies' 40K Supplement, specifically, at the Fighter Ace upgrade for qualified armies. First, the Fighter Ace upgrade may be purchased by any unit with the 'flyer' special rule for 50 points. An is then chosen at random from an army-specific list.

Mike Brandt: You Class Act!

http://www.novaopen.com/

I was curious how Tournament Organizers (TOs) were going to handle the rules supplement, 'Death From the Skies', but I will fully admit that Mike Brandt, of NOVA Open fame just chose the best case scenario I had envisioned!

He just posted on his blog, Whiskey 40K, how the Nova Open will handle Games Workshop's latest rules supplement, 'Death From the Skies' and what it will mean to those attending the Tournament. In a demonstration of  customer service, Brandt has decided that Attendees will need not bring, nor own, a copy of 'Death From the Skies' to use it's rules. Talk about building customer loyalty!

Damn, I wish I could attend the Nova. Brandt and his team are such a class acts- I applaud them. Mike and his team have now set the standard for other TOs to follow.

Is a Written Complaint Still a Rant?

You know, I am really disappointed with Games Workshop and the way the Company's new 40K rules supplement, 'Death From the Skies' was released and made 'not so' available to Customers. There are some key issues as a result of this latest marketing strategy that greatly concern me, should they prove to trend moving forward. As a result, I took a moment to pen my concerns to paper in the form of a complaint, and mailed it to Games Workshop.

If there is one thing I have learned, it is that written feedback provided by Customers is rarely ignored. In fact, in my personal experience, it is very much like a hot knife through butter. Will GW bend, or bow to my claims? Maybe not. However, I do actively practice customer loyalty, and prefer to spend my money with Companies that I can support in good conscience.

Games Workshop: Stormraven

I noticed something interesting this morning: The Blood Angels Stormraven received additional pictures depicting the Flyer in Ultramarine blue!

2,000 Point Team Tourney Saturday, February 23rd 2013

Gabi, at Olympic Cards and Comics, has opened her shop doors to another 40K Teams Tournament slated for Saturday February 23rd 2013!

Following is a copy/paste of Jancoran's WarSound forum post:

Hogarth Vs Goliath (Games Workshop)

Recently, GW decided to draw a very aggressive line in the proverbial sand around the words "Space Marine". In particular, against an Author's use of the word in her work of fiction.

The Author is M.C.A Hogarth, and her book, 'Spot the Space Marine: Defense of the Fiddler' was removed by Amazon as a result of GW's posturing. Fortunately, the book is still available on Smashwords.

Hogarth writes that she is now in talks with the Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF), and I hope EFF will represent her in this case, as just days before Hogarth posted that she did not have the means to counter GW legally.

To show my support for Hogarth, and fair use of common word/name associations in general, and to express how very displeased I am with GW's most recent acts of 'Douchebaggery', I have purchased a copy of Hogarth's book, 'Spot the Space Marine'. In the process, I think I stumbled across a wonderful piece of fiction that I may not have otherwise read!

My best wishes to Hogarth- I support you! Shame on you, GW. Shame.

Saturday Fluff: Fan Fiction

Saturday Fluff: When Six and I first started playing 40K, it really kick-started our creative juices. Six was so inspired that he wrote four chapters of story fleshing out his Death Korps of Kriegs army, and a fallen Commissar by the name of Codan.

Its fun to create a story that provides a narrative for your army, a particular unit, a model, or character. One of the best aspects of 40K is when the game creates a narrative, and something happens that must be recorded and shared. Something completely unbelievable such as Six's lowly IG Sergeant winning three challenges in close combat against some big, bad, Dark Eldar Independent Character. We visualized the poor soul fending off his ghastly opponent with nothing more than his issued shovel and pistol- it was epic!

Below, you will find links to some of our 40K fan fiction:

Codan and Wanzenjagers:

• Codan Preface
• Codan Chapter 1
• Codan Chapter 2
• Codan Chapter 3
• Codan Chapter 4

Lost Chapter Astartes: Spirit Eagles

• Spirit Eagles Chapter 1
• Spirit Eagles Chatper 2

Dark Angels, FAQs, and Gee Dub Price Point!

I got my hands on the Dark Angels codex when it dropped. Fifty bucks was a hefty sum for a 40K book that ISN'T Forgeworld...and if it weren't for the Olympic Cards and Comics gift certificate that I received at Christmas, I probably would have passed.