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