Beyond Brilliant! Dark Mechanicus!

Another master class tournament is upon me, this time it’s Arena 2k10 in Krakow, on the other side of Poland. Every year Arena is a blast, and this year it’s organised in the same venue as the last year, which is a great improvement over the previous venues. We go there by train and by we I mean our gaming group plus some spouses – 16 people in total. The journey itself is always an entertainment, as we take a plethora of boardgames as well as proper beverages to ease the 11-hour ride.

I am faithul to my Adeptus Mechanicus army, but due to the fact that Arena 2k10 is with a 2100 points limit, I shivered when I counted the tanks I’d need to take if I were to use the imperial Guard rules. In a 1300 points list I run 9 vehicles, and as they and my infantry are resin and metal only, my army case weighs 14kgs!

For Arena my initial list had no less than 14 vehicles, most full of infantry. Space in my army case ran low.

So I ditched this idea and chose to go with my Dark Mechanicus army – using Codex: Chaos Space Marines rules. The problem was, I needed Land Raiders.

So over the last 5 days I built and painted them. Or their wicked vision.

Now, I admit they are not pretty in a traditional sense, but I kinda like them. Plus my Daemon Prince counts-as will finally be able to hide behind something (he’s the Technomagos in the glass jar).


Above are my Land Stalkers with their Electropriests (Berzerkers) cargo.
Below are the  Stalkers (Rhinos) with Protectors Maniples (Plague Marines):


Here are the HQ: Technomagos (Lord), Arcomagos (Daemon Prince, in tank) and Praetor (Greater Daemon, the one with the most limbs):

I call them Robin, Barry and Maurice.

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The Adeptus Mechanicus Project

Hi there,

Congratulations! you have found the temporary home of the Adeptus Mechanicus project. This is where I will be posting updates on the progress of what I hope will be a 2000pt Adeptus Mechanicus army (using Codex: IG).

Current status (18th October): In case anyone is wondering why there have been no updates, I am finishing off Uni for the semester and am up to my neck in assignments (all of which I should have done earlier). Project will go full steam ahead as soon as I deal with real-life.

MISSION STATEMENT
To create a fully playable Adpetus Mechanicus army, incorporating as many of their goodies as I possible can. I want to have 1750pts ready for my local tournament in June 2006 (G'Con Lismore Australia).


I estimate the army to be about 1% complete at this stage.
Current progress
1 Sergent
4 troopers
1 Plasma gunner
1 Techpriest Enginseer
1 proto-type Praetorian
1/2 finsihed Heavy Weapon platfrom
1/2 finished jetbike

Lascannons and Autocannons teams will be mounted on small tracked platforms, Heavy bolters teams will be modelled as servitors (with the second man in the team being a little cherub type thing humping ammo on its back).

Two basilisks will be included in the finished army. I have considered a few ways to 'tech them up'. The first possibility is to order FWs Armageddon pattern Basilisk, costly, but looks very nice. However to make a more original model I think I will modify the standard kit myself. The crew will be replaced by servitors, and a loading servo arm will be mounted onto the hull.
Banks of computer screens from the Land Raider interior will also be added.
A few extra cables here and there, and some AM symbols painted on and they should look the part.

ARMY LIST

I will post a link to a WIP army list soon.

The Tech Magos and his bodyguard will be represented using the rules for a DH Inquisitor Lord.

Thoughts on Doctrines:

Update: The list I was previously pretty sure about is starting to bore me, so I was thinking of trying motorised organisation. Nice and fluffy.

Abhuman doctrines: A recent WD contained Chapter approved rules for abhumans. One of these doctrines (slave levy) grants models the 'feel no pain' special rule, at the cost that they become 'slow and purposeful'. Sounds pperfect for Ad mech troopers in my opinion. The 4+ chance of getting up nicely represents hits deflecting of bionics ect. And slow and purposeful fits my idea of the lumbering but unstoppable onslaught of the Skitarii.

In my current list I have not used doctrines. This may strike people as a strange choice, but after considering all the options I decided there was nothing I really wanted badly enough.
Carapace armour and bionics, whilst fluffy for AM, add a fair bit to the squad cost. I am a big believer in weight of numbers when it comes to IG, so I would rather take more troops than the 4+ Save, which can negated by many weapons.

Mechanised and Grenadier formations are both options I considered, however once again point costs drove me away. The main use of a mechanised list is for 'drive-by' type tactics, where the troops rarely dismount. I figure that Im putting so much effort into converting the troopers, I want them on the table all the time. Footslogging AM may strike some people as strange, but this is likely to be a army primed for defense and shooting, so lack of mobility is regrettable but not critical.

Please feel free to post suggestions, or shots of your own Mechanicus conversions, and to discuss all modelling aspects of this most high and mysterious order.

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Forge World Newsletter #190 -The SUPAS!!!

A new Forge World Newsletter with details of three new  Arkurion Pattern Super Heavy Tanks. These are the conversion kits for the plastic BaneBlade model. Quite good value at £85 each.

Hi There,
Things are still very busy here at Forge World, but we have some news of a release that I know a lot have you have been waiting for since one was first previewed at Games Day UK last year; the new Super Heavies are here! Also in this newsletter, we have some great new stuff for Aeronautica Imperialis and some events news for the New Year.
Alan Bligh

Three New Imperial Super Heavy Tanks

Brand new and much anticipated are the Arkurion Pattern Stormsword, Shadowsword and Stormblade. These three new model kits are complete kits that use some of the sprues from the new GW Plastic Baneblade kit along with additional new resin components replacing the upper hulls, main weapon, engine deck and fighting compartment. These fantastic new super heavy tanks were designed by Daren Parrwood, and make fine additions to any collection whether you`re after the titan-killing firepower of the Shadowsword for your Apocalypse force or just after cool modelling project to test your skills on. These new super-heavies are available either individually or as part of special bundle deals of three to bring terror to your foes! You can find more details of our bundle deals here, and if you order the deal you’ll get free express shipping worldwide.

Here you can see pictures of the Shadowsword, Stormblade and Stormsword painted by the talented Phil Stutchinskas. You`ll be able to see further examples of Phil`s work along with a feature on how he achieved these stunning paint jobs, together with other Forge World projects from our Studio team in our forthcoming painting and modelling book, but more details on that in future newsletters!

These three new Super Heavy Tank kits (and bundles) are available for pre-order now for release the week commencing the 25th of February.

New for Aeronautica Imperialis
We also have three new releases for the Tau AI range this Newsletter in the shape of the AX-2-2 Tiger shark Drone Carrier, the Remora Stealth Drones and Aerial Mines, which you can see pictures of here. The addition of these aircraft adds even greater depth to the Tau Air Cadres, with the Tiger Shark deploying their deadly drone fighter cargo directly into the battle, while the aerial mines are fantastic defences in scenarios and campaigns.
Full rules for these aircraft, and the Typha Conflict it which they are first used in battle can be found in our Tactica Aeronautica expansion book, which (this seems a good time to mention!) can currently be purchased in a special bundle deal for a substantial saving along with the Aeronautica Imperialis rulebook on or online store.
These models are available for pre-order now for release the week commencing the 25th of February.

Gamesday Spain
Forge World will be attending our first show of the year at Games Day Spain on the 17th of February, we are however only able to take a limited selection of our stock. So, if you would like to place a reservation order for the items you`re after by phone or at our reservations email address at fwreservations@games-workshop.co.uk we’ll do our best to have your order waiting for you to pick up and pay for at the event. If you want to place a reservation, it must be with us no later than Monday the 4th of February

Forge World Open Day
Also we can confirm that we will be holding our second Forge World Open Day this Year at Warhammer World in Lenton on the 6th of April. I can`t give any more firm details yet other than to say that admission will once again be free. Last year`s Open Day was a great success, and our customers got to meet the designers, get their questions answered, take part in some special games and of course buy our latest items direct, and we are hoping to meet many of you again this year.

Forge World
Games Workshop
Willow Road, Lenton Lane
Nottingham, NG7 2WS
Phone: 0115 916 8177
Fax: 0115 916 8044
Web site: http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/

Imperial Macharius 'Vulcan' Bronze at Hussar 2011

http://www.madfly-art.com

Bronze at Hussar 2011 in Large Model Category
Painted by: Yaroslav Bozhdynsky
Contest Miniature, Masters Level, TMP
The Macharius is a Heavy Tank used by the Imperial Guard.

The Macharius is one of a variety of super heavy tanks referred to as 'second generation' Baneblades. Built by forge worlds that do not possess the STC data to build Baneblades, the Macharius (named after the legendary Lord Commander Solar Macharius), fulfills the same battlefield role as the Baneblade, but lacks most of its advanced features, engine performance and armor bracing. First developed by Magos Nalax of Forge World Lucius, there are also variants of the Macharius with various weapon systems that replace the tank's twin battle cannons.

There are several modifications:
Macharius with Battle Cannons - is armed with twin-linked Battle Cannons in the main turret. It is destructive against armored targets and infantry at long range.

Macharius with Vanquisher Cannons - is armed with twin-linked Vanquisher Cannons in the main turret. It is destructive against armored targets at long range.
One of Magos Nalax's Macharius variants replaces the battle cannons with powerful Vanquisher Cannons. These weapons, although harder to manufacture and never available in great numbers, fire a very high velocity anti-tank shell that can penetrate the thickest armor with devastating results. The addition of these weapons turns the standard Macharius into a deadly tank killer.

Macharius with Vulcan Mega-bolter - is armed with a Vulcan Mega-Bolter, a super weapon of Titans. It is destructive against groups of lightly armored targets at close range (light vehicles, infantry etc.)

The 'Vulkan' variant of the Macharius mounts the fearsome Vulcan mega-bolters, a weapon normally carried by Titans. This multiple-barrelled gatling autocannon fires thousands of rounds per minute in a destructive torrent, turning the standard Macharius into a highly effective anti-personnel weapon, although because of its size, ammunition is restricted.

Commissar (Dark Crusade) - RelicWiki

Commissar
"If you will not serve in combat, then you will serve on the firing line."
Educated to revere the Imperial Creed, these officers are posted to ensure that ordinary troopers and officers alike remain loyal to the Imperium and its laws. Heresy, crimes, and cowardice are punished by summary execution.

Tactics
The Commissar is the first commander unit available to lead Guardsmen. He provides a large morale boost and a bonus to health regeneration that will keep Guardsmen fighting. After the Field Command is upgraded to a Battle Command, the Commissar gains the Execute ability, which restores morale and increases the fighting ability of nearby squads.

The Commissar's Execute ability is a must for Guardsmen Squads to compete in Teir 2 onwards. Without the damage boost from Execute, Guardsmen will lose most gun battles horribly. Make sure to always have at least two Commissars to ensure you can maintain the Execute aura throughout the fight even if a Commissar is targeted by enemy troops.

The Commissar is also a powerful melee fighter with strong armour and relatively high hit points. A squad with an attached Commissar can be used to tie up enemy ranged infantry while other squads keep shooting. Unfortunately, a number of Guardsmen will most likely die while the Commissar fights on.

via Commissar (Dark Crusade) - RelicWiki.

Imperial Guard Regiments

LINK

Modelling Various Imperial Guard Regiments
"The Imperial Guard is a colossal military organisation consisting of billions of men and women from thousands of different worlds and systems within the Imperium of Man"

With so many different cultures and styles of warfare on just Earth alone, think how many different appearances the regiments of the Imperial Guard have being drawn from different ends of Imperial Space. I could just sit and imagine for hours about medieval, chainmail clad guardsmen from a feudal world or Samurai armored soldiers carrying katanas. GW has already done quite a bit of imagining themselves during their free time and created a wide range of Imperial Guard. Praetorans, Catachan, Ca(na)dian, DKoK, Steel Legion, Vostroyan, Vallhalan, Salvar Chem Dogs, Tanith Ghosts, Elysian Drop Troops, Mordain, Terrax, Harrkoni...the list goes on.

But GW has left the work of creating these models up to the players who want to field them. I have seen many amazing models of people's custom units both on Dakka and the rest of the web so I know it is possible to create these regiments. Here people can post how they made these troops and pictures of them so that other players can create them as well (or be inspired to create their own from parts of others)

LINK

The Great Crusade: Planet Vostroya: Raven Guard Vs Vostroyan: Part One.