The finished Duke Sliscus conversion

Here it is. Parts from 4 different model kits and from 2 different game systems. I think it works well.

Everythings now built. Time to get painting!

Realspace Raid 14 - The Serpents Tale

This is a narative of a game I played. My opponent, Redemptor40k,  is the writer. So all credit goes to him.... fingers crossed he finishes the tale.

The Serpents eyes narrowed as he looked through the half-light towards the ruined chapel where the crippled form of the dreadnought remained.

 ‘Where are they?’ he thought to himself.

The contingent of marines that had been guarding the relic didn’t stand a chance as his best men descended on them in the darkness – their senses were super heightened from the combat drugs he had given them and the neurotoxins in their splinter rifles were tailored to shut down the marines enhanced biology. He had personally despatched the dreadnought with his blast pistol but not before it had activated its distress signal – that was what he was counting on.

He had fulfilled his part of the bargain.

“SLISCUS!” Shouted the Archon. 

The kabal's grav craft skimmed past the landing pad with the Archon stood at the helm of the most ornate raider – he could not see his face but imagined the fury in his eyes behind the leering mask.

Just as he was about to respond there was a scream of thruster jets and the landing pad was licked with flames. Before he even had chance to register the drop pods arrival the space marines were on top of them – before the spent shell casings had hit the ground the bolter rounds were lifting his men off their feet and blowing ragged bloody chunks through their ornate armour, one warrior dived in front of Sliscus as a melta was aimed at him – half the warriors face dissolved as the weapon found its new target.

Such loyalty surprised the Duke, he didn’t know the warriors name but he would remake him if there was enough of him left for the haemonculi.

As he contemplated this he unholstered his blast pistol and in one fluid move aimed it squarely at the helmet of the squad leader – the marine had no time to react and suffered the same fate as the loyal warrior. The rest of Sliscus’s band of warriors opened up on the marines but they could only bring down two more.

Sliscus looked to the distance, Laser Beams cut through the dark sky but found no target, he followed the trajectory back to its source – a Land raider followed by more of the ugly Imperial tanks. The marines had arrived and in force, hopefully the Archon would be happy now.

The bark of bolter fire brought his attention back to the landing pad, nearly half his men were dead or dying and there were still seven marines to kill. He readied his blades as the marines closed in – now it would get interesting….

Realspace Raids -11, 12 and 13.

So Ive been busy getting games in. All practise for the YOT's in a few weeks. A draw, win a loss in that order. Nothing new of note realy, the duke with the large warrior unit is starting to shine. I love that unit!

Speaking of which, Ive started my Duke conversion, heres a shot of the work in progress.

Results:- 7 wins, 3 drawn, 3 losses

Realspace Raid 10

So Im getting more practise for the 40K Yorkshire open heats. Same 1800 point list, new opponent. 

Sisters of Battle. 1 Objective a piece, line up and kill each other. Nothing of note realy, well except he had the worst case of luck. Constantly rolling 1's when wounding, and 5 and 6's for LD checks. The game just fell apart for him. Score 1 more win! One thing however stood out from the battle.

My wyches charged a Penitant Engine, fully expecting to die.  I have never played against them before, and there's no harm trying stuff out. Sixes to hit as usual, with Haywire grenades. Scoring 3 hits, a pen and 2 glance. Imbolising it.  He fluffed his attacks back, next round I was hitting on 4's. Scoring another 3 pens and killing it.  Perfect timing for a follow up charge on a unit of sisters close by. Couldnt have gone any smoother.

On a slight tangent. The Duke is by far one of the best characters in the game in my opption.  Im running him in a 20 strong unit of warriors that, when rapid fireing, gets 48 shots hitting on 3's wounding on 3s and 2 other blasters shots, usualy wounding on 2s at AP2. Thats alot of saves to make. At one point he had to take 18 saves on a unit of 7 sisters. That was with a poor set of rolls to wound from me aswell.


Results:- 6 wins, 2 drawn, 2 losses. Next game I'll do a full report.

Realspace Raid 9 - Yeah I missed a few....

Sorry about that guys, Ive played games and just not reported them back. I did however play my 8th and 9ths games yesterday. One against a new chaos player, the other Vs my usual Grey Knight opponent.

If you dont know, Im practsing for the heats of the Yorkshire Open Tournament at the end of Febuary. Its 3 games at1800 points.

Heres what Im taking.

HQ
[140]Archon - Agoniser, Combat Drugs, PGL, Shadowfield
[150]Duke Sliscus

Elite
[180]5 Incubi
Raider - Flickerfield

Troops
[210]20 Warriors - 2 Splinter Cannons, Sybarite
[210]10 Wyches - Hydra Gauntlets, Hekatrix, Agoniser
Raider - Flickerfields
[210]10 Wyches - Hydra Gauntlets, Hekatrix, Agoniser
Raider - Flickerfields
[210]10 Wyches - Hydra Gauntlets, Hekatrix, Agoniser
Raider - Flickerfields

Fast
[130]5 Reavers - 1 Caltrops

Heavy
[115]Ravager - Flickerfield
[115]Ravager - Flickerfield
[115]Ravager - Flickerfield

1800 spot on

Ok tictacs. Duke goes with the base objective holding warriors. This makes the weapons wound on a 3+ aswell. The duke gets 2 rolls on the drugs table. Hoping to get the extra PtP token. If it works, hey I have a 33% chance, Then every unit will have FNP from the get go. The duke also alows the Raiders to deepstrike, removed the cant disembark rule aswell. Im considering holding a Wyche squad back, then deepstriking them in and assaulting the enemy objective holders.


Anyhow totals so far  5 wins, 2 draws, 2 lost.

How was your christmas?

Well I hope you all had a great christmas. I personaly got spoilt with alot of geekery.

So with my first bit of  free time since the 23rd I did this. Twice.

thats a fully magnetic Ravager with Darklances and removable sail for ease of transport / imbolised status. Only need a few more Wych boxes and Im ready for the YoTs.... well after painting everything.

Realspace Raids 4 & 5 - A learning curve!

I did a whoopsie again. Its been nearly 2 weeks since I played these games and I totaly forgot to post them.  Due to that fact.... Ive also pretty much forgotten what happened in either..... Sorry.

Both games were against a regular 40K player. He brought a competative Wolves list, 1800 points. The idea being it was practise for the Yorkshire Opens around the end of January.  I learnt alot from these 2 games! It also helped me to decide on my final list, and made me decide Im going to enter the YoT aswell.

Like I said, Ive forgotten what happened. The first game was killpoints and all I can remember is my Archons Shadowfield managed an impressive  32 2++ saves, he held up 2 units in combat for over 4 turns!! He was still alive at the end too. That game ended in a Draw.

The second I remember even less of. I again think it was a draw. Malcolm if your reading, please correct me.

Totals - 3 Wins, 2 Draws.

Realspace Raid 2 - the results

At the weekend I managed to get a game Vs a Chaos Marine player.

Deployment

He brought
Chaos Sorc - Warptime, Wind of chaos
9 Marines - Flamer, Rhino
10 Marines - 2 meltas, Powerfist, Rhino
10 Marines - Flamer, Plasma, Rhino
10 Marines - 2 Plasma
Predator - 2 TL LC
5 Havocs - 2 Heavy Bolters
5 Havocs - 2 Heavy Bolters

Realspace Raid 2 - 1500pts Vs Chaos Marines.

So today I have my 2nd realspace raid. 1500 pts VS Chaos Marines. I'm still trying things out so I'll be running with....

Test mini complete.

So heres my first Dark Eldar Warrior. With my own colour scheme.

So thoughts? The highlights dont look that good in natural light, the flash has done a good job picking out the different colours on that armour. Heres the minature in natural light

So thoughts guys? Does it need a nother, more extreeme highlight?
Please be realy criticle and give some feedback. Anything will do. I want this whole army to look amazing.

Realspace Raid - First Encounter

So I took the Kabal out for there first raid. There oppoents, a small Ork force. I took with me:-

HQ
[160]Archon - Clonefield, Agoniser, Combatdrugs, ,Blast pistol, Webway portal 
[175]Lelith Hesperax

Elite
[172]6 Harlequins - 5 Harlequin Kisses 2 Fusion Pistols
Troop master ~ Power weapon

[125]5 Incubi
[80]Raider - Flickerfield, Nightshield

Troops

[125]10 Warriors- Blaster, Splinter Cannon
[90]Raider - Flickerfield, Nightshield, Splinter rack

[125]10 Warriors- Blaster, Splinter Cannon
[90]Raider - Flickerfield, Nightshield, Splinter rack

[175]10 Wyches - Hydra Gauntlets, Haywire Grenades
Hexatrix - Agoniser, Blast Pistol,

Fast
[206]6 Reaver Jetbikes - Heatlance x2, Caltrops x2
Champion

Total 1499 

We rolled for mission and got Capture and Control, Pitched Battle. Objecties placed top left and bottom right. The Orks gainin the first turn.
Unfortunatly, due to a technical glitch, the actual notes of what happend and the photos are lost to the warp.

So heres a summary. 


Lelith is awesome, as are whyches in general. The number of attacks they kick out is insane. Wounding most things on 5's isnt too great though. I did however get the reroll to wound combat drug, which helps. I also gave the squad Haywire Grenades... which appear masivly overpowered.
Against a walker or Tank how many hits do you get? Haywires say for ever hit I can roll on the Haywire chart for a result. 1= nothing, 2-5 glance, 6 pen. With 3 attacks on the charge thats a shit ton of damage for 20 points. That 1 unit killed a dred, battle waggon a unit of 10 nobs and a big mek.

Flickerfields held up well for the raiders, I did about 6 5++ saves on them. Nightshields rocked too, putting his entire arsenal out of range on the first turn. Spliterracks are nice too, making the 20 splinter rifels shots a turn hurt.

LOVED the bikes! Bladevains are so much fun. I did however run out of units to hurt with them by the last turn.

The incubi lost the raider first turn and spent the whole game running about.


Sorry there isnt more, I promise next time to just use a good old fashioned pen and paper.

So its  1 win to the Dark Eldar.

The first Dark Eldar list.

Ok first game tomorrow I hope. Against a very good 1500 point ork list. Usualy with an army I know what Im doing with, I would be in trouble against this guy. He like a mate of mine always fields the same force and knows it inside out. Like I said, Im in trouble.....
So out of the stuff Ive bought / recieved as gifts I need to make an army.

HQ
[160]Archon - Clonefield, Agoniser, Combatdrugs, ,Blast pistol, Webway portal 
[175]Lelith Hesperax

Elite
[172]6 Harlequins - 5 Harlequin Kisses 2 Fusion Pistols
Troop master ~ Power weapon

[155]5 Incubi
Klaivex ~ Demiklave
[80]Raider - Flickerfield, Nightshield

Troops

[125]10 Warriors- Blaster, Splinter Cannon
[90]Raider - Flickerfield, Nightshield, Splinter rack

[125]10 Warriors- Blaster, Splinter Cannon
[90]Raider - Flickerfield, Nightshield, Splinter rack

[155]10 Wyches - Hydra Gauntlets 
Hexatrix - Agoniser, Blast Pistol,

Fast
[206]6 Reaver Jetbikes - Heatlance x2, Caltrops x2
Champion

Total 1499

Everything is reserved except the Raiders and there contents. The Archon is with the Incubi, his main roll. Get that webway portal down first turn as far into the board as possible! Im hoping that unit takes alot of fire, they have a decent saves and it protects the squishy warriors.
The Jetbikes Im not too sure of, I may start them on the board or reserve them. Depends if I get first turn realy.
Harles and the Wyches along with Lelith come out of the WWP. Only reason its there to be honest, as I dont have that many Raiders. Getting them into combat from the bat I hope.  Fingers crossed! I'll need all the luck I can get.

Work begins

Started the build. Heres my first Raider, a total cock up tbh! Ive ballsed up the darklance while trying to magnetise it. I found out it cant be done, you just dont get drills that small. Ive also glued everything on it. As you can see. Well except the crew.

Its only now I actualy thought about storage.... take those poles off. Wich btw I think could be a wargear item, grisley tropheys (rerolls failed LD tests within 6"). The sail could easly clip in too, making it far more manageable. I also think the spikes and chains are all wargear upgrades, breaking WYSIWYG. Ah well, its a model to test paint schemes on eh.

The sucess of the night are the jet bikers.

All with fully interchangeable weapons and upgrades. Score! :)  Pity the unit looks to be a more 'friendly game' one. Anyhow I get the base coats on tonight, got all day to choose some colours.

So Ive decided...

Ive had some insightful conversations with friends recently, about my facination with 'themed' forces. All of them ended pretty much with the point of fact that I must actualy be unhappy with the army, becasue Im trying to turn it into something else. Something its not.... Tyranids are not a fast hitting force by nature, there a swarm. If I want fast play Blood Angles or Eldar. Same with the Harlequin theme, Eldar are not good at assaults in general, also having something thats T3 with a 5+ save running about is asking for a  massive casuality rate.

Anyhow to cut it short, Im esential brushing my other 40K projects to one side, and hopping on the Dark Eldar bandwaggon. There fast, assaulty and best of all, shiney!

Stay tuned for more over the comming weeks.