Forge World Official?

Thursday Theories

So I've been noticing that people around the gaming circles seem to think that Forge World publications are not "official". This is fallacy (AKA: YOU'RE WRONG!). Allow me to explain.

1. Forge World is owned by Games Workshop. Why on earth would they only do test rules and unofficial works when their units are clearly designed for use in the newest system (6th ed 40k, 8th ed. Fantasy)? They wouldn't. That would be stupid.
2. Apocalypse, an "Official" expansion to the Warhammer 40,000 universe utilizes 99% of everything Forge World makes and contains "Official" rules for these units. That alone makes them no different than units created for Planetstrike, Cities of Death, and any of the various Codecii currently available.
3. and lastly there is this little affidavit in ALL current Forge World books:
   
   3. Warhammer 40,000 Unit: This unit is intended to be used in 'standard' games of Warhammer 40,000, within the usual limitations of Codex selection and force organisation charts. As with all our models these should be considered 'official', but owing to the fact they may be unknown to your opponent, it's best to make sure they are happy to play a game using Forge World models before you start.

Seems to me that last little blurb, transcribed word for word (typos and all) from page 4 of the Imperial Armour 11:Doom of Mymeara book, kind of puts paid to that whole concept of Forge World rules not being official. So let's call that whole argument done with shall we?
I have to get back to reading the 6th ed rulebook... and my many plans within plans...
The Baron would be proud.
Bean out~

Life without focus: Maq Exposure

Hey there reader!
Right off the bat, I'm just gonna go out and throw this out there: don’t expect too much in the way or organization/regularity from me. While I’ve been a hobbyist for a good umpteen 20 years, it’s been a pretty crazy trip with a whole lot of enthusiastic buggery and just jumping into things randomly and picking up new skills as I go along. The upside of things is that I’ve had the opportunity to expand the old repertoire. Keep in mind though, that the majority of my focus in this hobby has been in the creative side with there not being much traction in the actual completion side of things… Since the ol’ Beaner (a good friend for the past 10+ years now) has asked if I were interested in contributing anyway, I will be pretty much chiming in on random subjects as they come to me! Hopefully, my lack of focus and general fluffing about will be of some interest and use... In fact, that's what I'm gonna call these entries: Life without Focus!

Richard's Warhammer 40,000 List Building: Eldar Corsairs

I've been extremely busy the last few days so now that I managed to find some time to sit down and actually post, here's what I've been working on. While Forgeworld was technically legal in 40K a few years ago (as Bean made abundantly clear to me a couple of weeks ago), it's only with sixth edition that such a fact is beginning to reach tournament organizers and the player base as a whole. And while most Forgeworld units are actually over-costed for their profile, I thought I would visit a more fluffy list that combines some of my favourite models, armies and units. I present an Eldar Corsair list!

Painting Flesh: Quick Study

Tuesday Tutorial

 

Lots of Pictures ahead!

So I've been asked how I paint my Skin tones. Due to a lack of a good camera and due to my inability to make a decent painting video (because, honestly, that's the best way to show how it's done), I've been loath to do any painting tutorials. WELL, today that changed... If only cause it was a gorgeous day outside and I had nothing really to do. So I gave it a shot.

The start of something beautiful

Saturday Potpourri

As you may have noticed, there has been a couple of additions to the Roll of the Dice recently, namely the addition of a pair of new contributors: Richard and Maqma.

WELCOME!

Now that that is out of the way, I'll explain why this is so exciting. Firstly, this means (obviously) brings new blood to the blog, including their alternate insights into aspects of the hobby that I won't necessarily have. Secondly this brings their respective talents to the blog (Maqma has quite the skill in photography, sculpting and conversion, while Richard has a solid foundation in the rules of any game he plays and can pick them apart to create some very interesting results... as I'm sure you'll have noticed already... and has extensive skills in being both a GM and a player for RPGS), which will only help diversify the articles I(we) publish.
Lastly this also allows us to do some interesting things here at Roll of the Dice as well:

• Build and Paint challenges
• Battle Reports.
• Vicious hand-to-hand battles (read: Dance-offs, West-Side story style)
  Pillow fights
• and what have you. This is a most wonderful thing.

So with that I'd like to once again welcome these two to the Blog and all you readers keep an eye on the future...
You're in for a treat.

Till next time,

GET TO WORK YOU TWO!

Bean out~

Richard's Warhammer 40,000 List Building: Blood Axe Blitzkrieg

Hello comrades, I think it's time we Waaagh in here! To start off, we all know the indomitable story behind the Leman Russ Battle Tank. Named after the Space Wolves Primarch, it's characterized as a robust, if not simple tank that gets the job done. In other words, it kills aliens dead. It's also heavily armoured with an AV 14/13/11 or 10. What matters is that front facing. Now in 5th edition, mechanized/armour spam was highly competitive because it reduced the effectiveness of your opponent's ability to destroy enough of your transports/tank before you overwhelmed him with fire power and/or tank shock.

In sixth edition, mechanized spam is still very important, although with hull points, tanks can be focus fired down and removed as almost a sure bet provided you have the fire power to do it. Of course, AV 14 creates issues for some codices out there, and all armies simply need to put in more shots to take out a Leman Russ, Battle Wagon or especially a Land Raider or Monolith. And thus, I present to you the Blood Axe Blitzkrieg.

Behind The Screen: Multi-Tiered Campaigns part 4: The Endening

Behind the Screen

AHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. In addition I would like to add "HA!"

Ahoy there!
In this last installment We're going to create the third (tertiary) tier of your Multi-Tiered campaign. The major aim of this tier is to add realism to your campaign world by creating a few missions that progress in the background of the game world regardless of the players interaction. Small seeming events that are unrelated but will all tie into the final result of the main campaign plot. These events should all be unrelated, and more importantly require real effort on the players parts to interfere with.

And away we go!

Richard's Warhammer 40,000 List Building: Blood Angels Dread Bash

List Building

Hello! My name is Richard and I've decided to help contribute to Roll of the Dice by starting off with a bi-weekly list-building blog for Warhammer 40K. My aim is to help promote competitive, non-competitive, fluffy and outrageous lists that are not only fun, but will ensure you drive your enemies before you and hear the lamentations of their women...or hive minds, spirit stones, ect..

A brief introduction is order though! I've been playing Warhammer 40K since the age of sixteen, and having recently turned twenty eight, I can safely and grudgingly call myself a veteran. Thankfully I leave most of the crusty bitterness at the door and approach the hobby with optimism and enthusiasm. I have known Sean for several years and have had the privilege of gaming with him in as many formats as you can imagine. We participate in weekly table top role-playing sessions, sit down with card games once in a blue moon, and of course obsess over several different war games at any given time.

With the release of Warhammer 40K: 6th Edition, excitement has reached a feverish pitch across the net and I have decided to add in my voice to the net-building that helps form the meta. Not all of my posts will focus exclusively on specific 2000 pt lists, but rather provide tactics, strategy and advice about the new rule set and how to understand the game on a conceptual and tabletop level. Anyway, on to my very first list for Roll of the Dice!

Behind The Screen: Multi-Tiered Campaigns part the third: Secondary Tier

Behind the Screen

Crap!  They found me again!

Welcome back!
Last time we developed the primary tier of a plot driven fantasy rpg game. This week I want to go through the creation of the Secondary Tier, which will add spice and a feeling of openness to the gaming world for your players to enjoy. Let us begin!

Ebay Victory!

Random

Those who know me know I have an unhealthy love of a few strange things. Zombies, Old school GW miniatures (pre-2000) and AD&D 2nd edition. I am always on a quest to attain certain things pertaining to those items. Hence today is a victory.
BEHOLD!

Ratskin Brave with Musket and AD&D 2e (black border) DMG (which replaces the one stolen from me many moons ago). Both for a total, including shipping, of $25. This all makes my week.

VICTORY DANCE!

Time to do my victory lap(hobble.. where's my cane?... hmm...)
Bean out~

Behind The Screen: Multi-Tiered Campaigns Part 2: Primary Tier

Behind the Screen

Look Piter... Guests!

Welcome to part 2 of my series on Multi-tiered campaigns. In this article I want to talk about the creation of the Primary Tier of the campaign. The Main plot if you will. This is the central story for the adventure to circulate, will provide the GM with an idea of what the final outcomes may be, and give concept to what will be needed to create a realistic setting.
And since I'm in a Fantasy kind of mood (I'm watching Willow),We'll create a Fantasy plot :)

Behind The Screen: Multi-Tiered Campaigns

Behind The Screen

I have such WONDERS to show you

Many GM's struggle with creating a genuinely realistic seeming setting for their players to interact in. The difficulty of keeping things open/unwritten enough for players to explore as they want, while simultaneously having enough written down to keep the game flowing and moving in the direction you want. I've discussed ad-infinitum with many of my gaming buddies that have sat on both sides of the GM screen and have come up with a style that works well for me (which in the end is really what matters, coming up with something that works for you, the GM and your group). I call it Multi-tiered Campaigning.

Who's got two thumbs and knows the rules...?

Saturday Potpourri

I'm sure you have all met "That guy". You know the one I'm talking about. The Rules lawyer, Aka: the know it all, aka: the asshat. And I'm also sure (s)he is reviled throughout the gaming community. Whether it's the guy that stands on the sidelines of your game and constantly interrupts your dice rolls to tell you how you're not allowed that saving throw, or the girl who, having been listening in on your game, reminds you that YES your opponent can use that card combo because 2 turns back your dispel card was, itself, dispelled.
We all hate that person don't we....
But why?
If you think about it, they are, as they see it, just helping out. They saw an error and were just pointing it out. Maybe you forgot that that Rhino was a fast vehicle in your opponents army (Blood angels yay!), and you were starting a rules challenge with your opponent. Really, if you think about it, most of the time, you only (truly) mind the interruption when they point out something that helps your opponent. When it's in your favor, you'll often stand back and let them duke it out on your behalf. Let them be the proxy asshat, if you will.
Now of course not everyone wants any kind of sideline help, for them or their opponent (I happen to be of the opinion that if you're watching, watch, don't participate... Or suffer the consequences**), and the interruption is not only unwelcome but also incredibly aggravating. You're first reaction can't be helped really. But before you unleash your hatred...

I HATE YOUR FACE!!!

... Take a step back. Take a deep breath. Ask the offender to kindly stop their sideline preaching. If they want to play, offer them a game after so they can demonstrate their acute gaming skill. They are, after all just trying to help, and if they are any kind of human being, will realize they are causing an issue and step back. We all make mistakes and get caught up in a great game and want to help. They are just acting on that urge. It happens.



I guess what I'm saying is this: Rules Lawyers are people too, so treat them as such and maybe they won't feel the need to lord their knowledge of the useless over you.


And hey, if they don't back off, feel free to indulge your baser desire to bring them into their own self-induced hell.... Cause really. F*** that guy.



**Consequences include, but are not restricted to: Violent Semantication dedicated to making you cry, Wild Gesticulation, Angry Grunting, and never-ending searing hatred and a new-found devotion to seeing your untimely demise. Oh, and sometimes I'll swear at you too.
Or pee on you. True story.

Counts as: or how I learned to stop worrying and learned to love Allies

Thursday Theories

Once upon a time (every day) there was an argument on the internet about that most wonderful of "Abuses" known as Counts as. This argument is based on the concept of people modeling and painting (or not, in the case of some lazy prats) armies of one type to be used as another. Examples of which are Orks with trenchcoats and tanks to be used as imperial guard (Blood Axes Clan), or World Eater Chaos space marines using the blood angles codex. The arguments center on, If you wantt to play the army you should just use the correct models, and HOW DARE YOU USE THAT RHINO AS A CHIMERA BY PUTTING LAS-GUNS OUT ITS ASS!
Needless to say, this disagreement is a big deal to some people.
First off, I personally throw down on the "If it's modeled and painted correctly, then props on the effort, that looks awesome and hell yes you should be able to play it" side. I believe people who have put time and effort into awesome conversions (or attempts to make awesome conversions) should be rewarded, and honestly, it's a game and people should play it how ever they want. On the flip side, if you are using a coke can as a Land Raider, then you need to be pushed down some tall tall stairs and I hope your broken body drowns in a puddle of urine at the bottom.
Proxies are a whole different ball of yarn, one day I'll throw down on that topic I'm sure.

I'm a complicated creature.

Choosing the Correct Army for your Playstyle

Tutorial Tuesday

Player One Select

When it comes to choosing the correct army in Warhammer 40k, new players are often at a loss. Of course there are as many different answers to this question as there are people to ask. Do they buy the models that look coolest to them? Do they buy the strongest army? Do they start small? Or  buy it all in one go? Just where in the world IS Carmen Sandiego*?

Luckily I have the answer... OR rather you do, You just don't know it yet.

Allow me to explain.