The last two months have been kind of crazy. I spent a lot of time building, play testing, rebuilding, and painting various armies in preparation for the 40k Championship of the Las Vegas Open.
First, I started off with several iterations of my Salamanders Space Marines. I put together the roaming Aggressor mob backed by an Ancient with banner, Captain, Lieutenant. I also had three devastator squads with heavy bolters and missile launchers for those tasty mortal wounds. I also tried a similar version of the list with Gillymon and Ultramarines but I could never quite get the list to take out the Astra Militarium hoard with Imperial Knights.
I tinkered and tinkered.
I tried Ad Mech, my Khorne rush, and Dark Eldar but I never really felt good about any of the lists so I decided to build an Eldar list similar to one I've seen online. I gave myself about a month to buy, assemble, paint and play test my army. (Note to self: not a good idea.)
Alaitoc
Farseer
3 units of 5 Dark Reapers
12 Guardians
1 Wave Serpent
3 Hemlock Wraithfighters
Saim Hann
3 units of 5 Windriders with scatter lasers
1 Farseer
To complicate things further, I recently switched jobs, had some car trouble, a sick dog, and the main sewer line from my house burst... It seemed like every free moment I had to paint/play was being taken away with more pressing matters. It's a small list but I got it done in time! It's not quite to my usual standard but I was happy with where I ended up.
My buddy Jim and took off from work and headed to chilly Las Vegas! Seriously, it was cold. It snowed in Vegas.
I went to the LVO two years ago and had a blast and this year was no different. Actually, last time I went, I got food poisoning and was extremely ill but this time I was illness free. I'm not going to break out every game I had, but I'll just post a few highlights.
This game was a real hum-dinger! Not only was I playing an international Youtuber, Danny was a ton of fun play. Both of us threw haymakers at each other all game long but he edged me out 28 -27. This had to be one of my favorite games of 40k I've ever played. You can follow Danny's Instagram here:
In the second round, I learned a few lessons. I played a semi-well known Eldar player who took me to task and reminded me that you shouldn't enter a high-level competition with only having played an army for about a month. I had a major case of forgetfullness throughout the game... I don't know what it is about tourneys that gets me so hyped that I forget the basics. I think I'm like a dog who is about to go for a ride in the car. The opponent bounced around from cutthroat to nice (especially when he had the game well in hand) and offered to give me some tips - but it came off as a lecture. I tried to take it but his buddy popped over and they would whisper, point, then giggle about me or my army. It got in my head. Luckily, the rest of my opponents were stellar.
I faced off against a Ynnari Spirit Host close combat army that understood how buff mobs should work. Plus, he expertly played a Death Jester into my back field that cause a lot of headaches and taught me some lessons about how to use heroic intervention.
I also had a lot of fun playing a guy from LA who brought his Genestealer Cult to the battle. This game felt like I was winning, until the last turn when my dice decided to turn sub-zero cold. Jacob and I had great time chatting about 40k, other models like SF3D/Maschinen Krieger, and Japanese Spider-Man. He also works in television (like real shows that people watch) and it was cool to talk shop with him.
In my last game was against Michael from East Bay(?) playing a mixed Astra Militarium (nay Imperial Guard) army. It was a swell game and my dice were hot - especially when I needed a 6+ spirit stone save. I must have made like 20 rolls... it was unlike my usual dice.
Sadly, I played like crap most of the tournament. I did not win any of these:
But I did get to meet B-Bone from Tabletop Tactics! This may be one of my highlights of the trip! Another guy from Topeka got to play him and I was so jealous.
Vegas has eats. Lots of eats. It is also home to the best bowl of ramen I've ever had. Seriously, my mouth still waters thinking about this bowl of soup.
First, I started off with several iterations of my Salamanders Space Marines. I put together the roaming Aggressor mob backed by an Ancient with banner, Captain, Lieutenant. I also had three devastator squads with heavy bolters and missile launchers for those tasty mortal wounds. I also tried a similar version of the list with Gillymon and Ultramarines but I could never quite get the list to take out the Astra Militarium hoard with Imperial Knights.
I tinkered and tinkered.
I tried Ad Mech, my Khorne rush, and Dark Eldar but I never really felt good about any of the lists so I decided to build an Eldar list similar to one I've seen online. I gave myself about a month to buy, assemble, paint and play test my army. (Note to self: not a good idea.)
Alaitoc
Farseer
3 units of 5 Dark Reapers
12 Guardians
1 Wave Serpent
3 Hemlock Wraithfighters
Saim Hann
3 units of 5 Windriders with scatter lasers
1 Farseer
To complicate things further, I recently switched jobs, had some car trouble, a sick dog, and the main sewer line from my house burst... It seemed like every free moment I had to paint/play was being taken away with more pressing matters. It's a small list but I got it done in time! It's not quite to my usual standard but I was happy with where I ended up.
 |
| My LVO army |
My buddy Jim and took off from work and headed to chilly Las Vegas! Seriously, it was cold. It snowed in Vegas.
I went to the LVO two years ago and had a blast and this year was no different. Actually, last time I went, I got food poisoning and was extremely ill but this time I was illness free. I'm not going to break out every game I had, but I'll just post a few highlights.
Round 1 vs. Danny from Hellstorm Wargaming and his Alpha Legion
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| Danny and my giant head. |
In the second round, I learned a few lessons. I played a semi-well known Eldar player who took me to task and reminded me that you shouldn't enter a high-level competition with only having played an army for about a month. I had a major case of forgetfullness throughout the game... I don't know what it is about tourneys that gets me so hyped that I forget the basics. I think I'm like a dog who is about to go for a ride in the car. The opponent bounced around from cutthroat to nice (especially when he had the game well in hand) and offered to give me some tips - but it came off as a lecture. I tried to take it but his buddy popped over and they would whisper, point, then giggle about me or my army. It got in my head. Luckily, the rest of my opponents were stellar.
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| Ynnari Spirit Host |
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| My deployment vs Ynnari. |
I also had a lot of fun playing a guy from LA who brought his Genestealer Cult to the battle. This game felt like I was winning, until the last turn when my dice decided to turn sub-zero cold. Jacob and I had great time chatting about 40k, other models like SF3D/Maschinen Krieger, and Japanese Spider-Man. He also works in television (like real shows that people watch) and it was cool to talk shop with him.
 |
| Eldar Craftworlds vs Genestealer Cult. |
In my last game was against Michael from East Bay(?) playing a mixed Astra Militarium (nay Imperial Guard) army. It was a swell game and my dice were hot - especially when I needed a 6+ spirit stone save. I must have made like 20 rolls... it was unlike my usual dice.
 |
| Eldar Craftworlds vs Astra Militarium |
Sadly, I played like crap most of the tournament. I did not win any of these:
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| Trophies! Not mine. |
But I did get to meet B-Bone from Tabletop Tactics! This may be one of my highlights of the trip! Another guy from Topeka got to play him and I was so jealous.
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| Me and B-Bone! |
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| Chicken Ramen |
Despite my failings at the table, the trip to the LVO was amazing. I think I've learned more for this trip that other tournaments I've played in the past. Moving forward, here is my plan for future success: I'm going to dump the Eldar and go back to the armies I know best; Marines, Guard and Ad Mech. I've tried building fluffy lists, and I've tried building single-faction lists but I really think I will play better when I know the codex inside and out and I've already narrowed down my list to two choices.
1. Astra Militarium, Blood Angel Smash Captains, Custodes Dawn Eagle Jetbikes.
2. Mars Ad Mech guns with Stygies close combat troopss backed by a Castellan Knight.
I've got a ton of ideas for paint schemes and conversion bits so come back soon for WIP and modeling pics.
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