Emerging from the darkness... and Embracing it!

Yeah, I know it's been a while since I've posted anything up here. I kinda felt like everything I had to say was being said better by other people for a while, and I don't like re-posting my material across different places (I do a lot of posting on the DA Forums at Bolter & Chainsword). I've decided to start updating things here a little more often. Not a lot, as I've still got a ton of other things going on, but I do have a new 40K project that could use a log of sorts.

So yesterday I was talking with Chumbalaya and some others over at 3++ Is the New Black, and got to thinking about how to make my old Eldar as Dark Eldar idea work. The problem we discovered back then was that the vehicles were the biggest problem for opponents to deal with. I don't like the Raider and Ravager, and most people have a hard time seeing the Wave Serpent properly filling that role.

What I've decided to try out is making a convertible Wave Serpent. The idea is to cut out the top of the wave serpent around the turret mount and make something similar to how you change between a rhino and a razorback. With that piece off, I can make room for a platform and some other things to make the wave serpent feel more like a skiff.

This will require heavy modification to the internal structure of the Wave Serpent, and I spent a good bit of time last night doing the initial prep work on a single Wave Serpent. I now have the ability to convert it between looking like a normal WS and having an open space in the rear. The next step is to figure out how I want to make the platform area and figure out what other details will work.

I definitely want to keep a mostly Eldar look. The army is being painted up as Ulthwé, so grabbing too many spiky bits and DE weapons will take the army out of theme. I'm going to be building all my units from Guardians, Dire Avengers, and Seer Councils. The idea rules-wise are that Power from Pain and Combat Drugs are really psychic powers. Haemunculi and Wracks will be Wraithguard-like units. I think it will work out pretty well and it gives me a chance to regularly use something other than my massive Space Marine collection.

I really am tired of waiting for the Eldar update, and I think this conversion will let me get the best of both worlds and avoid the flak from the gaming community. I'll get some pictures up by tomorrow to show off how I'm dealing with the conversion. I was pretty tired when I started last night and didn't think about doing pictures at that time.

As always, I'm open to feedback.

Being Gamist: How and Why of Counts As

I've been sitting on this article a little bit, as it's taken me some time to get it all written out. Let's see how this goes and if I've managed to present everything as clearly as I originally intended.

When someone normally mentions the words “Counts As”, what image pops into your head? Do you see a wonderfully converted army of kit-bashed miniatures wonderfully painted and modeled to represent the forces of the Adeptus Mechanicus? Do you envision Space Marines in robes and Dark Green armor being used with a 5th Edition codex, being led by Pedro Kantor, Logan Grimnar, or Mephiston? Do you envision a swarm of tyranid creatures and monsters deep striking onto the planet below coming in waves using the rules from Codex: Chaos Daemons (or vice versa: using Chaos Daemons with Codex: Tyranids)?

This post is going to discuss the various opinions I have seen on the topic as well as give you my opinion on the subject. I’ll tell you straight up that most of you will absolutely disagree with me, and I can’t fault you for doing so. As with all articles in this series just realize that these ideas are coming from someone whose greatest enjoyment of Warhammer 40k comes from playing the game and mastering the system. I don’t want to deny you what makes the game fun for you, I just ask you give me the same courtesy.

I am gamist. Some would even say I play to win at all costs. In a competitive setting they are entirely correct. I will use the rules in every legal way possible to defeat my opponent. I will be gentlemanly and courteous. I abhor bullying (and conflict), but I thrive on competition. You see, being WAAC doesn’t make you rude or a cheater. Being rude and cheating do, and I personally don’t like much of either of them.

Keep that in mind as you read this post. What I am going to say will rub some people the wrong way, but it needs to be heard. For too long has this voice been silent, and with the sweeping changes to tournament formats the world over, this idea may just be able to gain some public acceptance.

Struggling with "Counts As"

Most of you have probably seen the basic Dark Eldar list I posted a little over a week ago. As stated previously, I intend to run my Craftworld Eldar army to "Count As" their darker brethren. I've tweaked the list since then, but the units are pretty much the same.

In my playtesting so far (just a few quick games to get used to the units) some of my opponents have been irked by the presence of Wave Serpents representing Raiders. The two arguments I've heard are fairly reasonable, and I expect many others like myself will face similar arguments. Let's take a look at what my opponents had to say: