Let's start with a single statement of the obvious: dreams are weird. I think we can all agree on that one. I mean, half the time you're falling from an infinite height into an eternal abyss, the other half you're standing naked in your high school speech class, am I right?
Of course, that's a gross simplification. Emphasis possibly on gross. I mean, most people don't remember many of their dreams. I know I don't. I can count the dreams I recall from my 26 years of life on one hand. Now, one was when I was a kid and just kinda strange (features Droopy the Dog and the house from Casper the Friendly Ghost - please, don't ask; I was five).
One, and probably the most disappointing, was one of those half-awake dreams, and I recall vividly watching a brand new episode of Firefly, possibly from the second season. Unfortunately, there are no new episodes of Firefly, much less a season 2, and I couldn't remember what the plot was about after I got up. Still gets me a little sad thinking about it...
The other two, however, were more significant. Each one gave me a touch of insight into my relationship with my now wife. I won't go into any details here, but I remember each one as if I lived it, even in their strange details - one took place at UAH, but the building was the church I went to back home - and learned some important things that helped me not long afterwards.
So when, this morning, I woke up suddenly to my alarm, remembering only that I'd had a very vivid dream but not having any of the content, I was a tad frustrated. Because dreams are more than just strange visions of your subconcious (though they can be that at times). They are important ways you can learn more about the world you live in, and how you should relate to it.
Monday, April 22, 2013
Friday, April 19, 2013
Fiction Fridays: Book Review: Prospero Burns
So, yesterday I finished a second readthrough of Dan Abnett's book Prospero Burns, part of the Horus Heresy series of books from Black Library. Set in the background of the Warhammer 40k universe, these books delve into the rich history crafted for the game, expanding upon it and showing us how we got to the grim darkness that we know and love.
Prospero Burns is actually part of a duology, a companion book to Graham McNeill's A Thousand Sons. Both tell a single story from two different sides, that story being the Scouring of Prospero. Prospero is the homeworld of the Thousand Sons Legion, an Astartes force which is able, to a man, to manifest psychic powers to such an extent that people believe it to be sorcery. In A Thousand Sons, and in fact from the known facts of the Warhammer world, we know that they have indeed delved into true sorcery, especially their Primarch Magnus the Red. As such, they are censured by the Emperor, who forbids them from practicing their magics again, and when they break that pledge the Wolves of Fenris are unleashed upon them.
This half of the story is what is told in Prospero Burns. We learn about the Space Wolves Legion and how they operate as a force. The Heresy-era Wolves are incredibly different from their more modern counterparts. Where modern Space Wolves are seen as boisterous and amicable by the normal humans of the Imperium, the older force is an object of fear and terror to much of the fledgling Imperium, and even see themselves as the Emperor's Executioners. The fact that we get to see all of this through the human eyes of Kasper Hawser allows us to see the fear, but also we're allowed to get close to them and see the Rout, as they call themselves, at rest.
Abnett has always been most at home writing the 40k world through merely human eyes. Not to say that he can't write Astartes, but he has had quite a bit of experience writing the human perspective with his Gaunt's Ghosts series. This book is yet another example of how well he can write, as the main character goes through monumental changes through the book. As he becomes more and more a part of the Rout, we can see his mindset changing bit by bit, going from the aloof researcher he wanted to be at the start, to becoming the skald of Tra, a historian and storyteller to one of the Great Companies of the Rout and truly a member of them, even to the extent that the last portion of the book, which actually details the attack on Prospero itself, is told in first person as if he is telling the story to the company.
One of my favorite portions, and I will mention that there are going to be minor spoilers at this point, is how he used a single portion of text, repeated over and over, to great effect. Kasper's memories have been messed with, which is part of why he came to Fenris to study the Rout in the first place. Over much of the book, we see portions of his memory and life before he came to Fenris, but there is one memory that Kasper sees in his dreams. We see this memory multiple times, each time he wakes before it finishes, before he can turn around and see who is behind him. But each time is subtly different, until finally it features prominently in the last battle, though I won't add anymore for fear of great spoilers. Oh, and spoilers done.
All in all, Prospero Burns is a fantastic novel, and is a must for any fan of the Warhammer 40k setting. Like all good stories, it surprises us, not only with the plot points (some designed to mislead, especially those leading to the ending), but also with the exploration of who some of these organizations are. The Astartes are all shrouded in enigma for various reasons, and like much of the Horus Heresy series, this one is devoted to shedding some light upon these warriors we love to play with on the tabletop.
Prospero Burns is actually part of a duology, a companion book to Graham McNeill's A Thousand Sons. Both tell a single story from two different sides, that story being the Scouring of Prospero. Prospero is the homeworld of the Thousand Sons Legion, an Astartes force which is able, to a man, to manifest psychic powers to such an extent that people believe it to be sorcery. In A Thousand Sons, and in fact from the known facts of the Warhammer world, we know that they have indeed delved into true sorcery, especially their Primarch Magnus the Red. As such, they are censured by the Emperor, who forbids them from practicing their magics again, and when they break that pledge the Wolves of Fenris are unleashed upon them.
This half of the story is what is told in Prospero Burns. We learn about the Space Wolves Legion and how they operate as a force. The Heresy-era Wolves are incredibly different from their more modern counterparts. Where modern Space Wolves are seen as boisterous and amicable by the normal humans of the Imperium, the older force is an object of fear and terror to much of the fledgling Imperium, and even see themselves as the Emperor's Executioners. The fact that we get to see all of this through the human eyes of Kasper Hawser allows us to see the fear, but also we're allowed to get close to them and see the Rout, as they call themselves, at rest.
Abnett has always been most at home writing the 40k world through merely human eyes. Not to say that he can't write Astartes, but he has had quite a bit of experience writing the human perspective with his Gaunt's Ghosts series. This book is yet another example of how well he can write, as the main character goes through monumental changes through the book. As he becomes more and more a part of the Rout, we can see his mindset changing bit by bit, going from the aloof researcher he wanted to be at the start, to becoming the skald of Tra, a historian and storyteller to one of the Great Companies of the Rout and truly a member of them, even to the extent that the last portion of the book, which actually details the attack on Prospero itself, is told in first person as if he is telling the story to the company.
One of my favorite portions, and I will mention that there are going to be minor spoilers at this point, is how he used a single portion of text, repeated over and over, to great effect. Kasper's memories have been messed with, which is part of why he came to Fenris to study the Rout in the first place. Over much of the book, we see portions of his memory and life before he came to Fenris, but there is one memory that Kasper sees in his dreams. We see this memory multiple times, each time he wakes before it finishes, before he can turn around and see who is behind him. But each time is subtly different, until finally it features prominently in the last battle, though I won't add anymore for fear of great spoilers. Oh, and spoilers done.
All in all, Prospero Burns is a fantastic novel, and is a must for any fan of the Warhammer 40k setting. Like all good stories, it surprises us, not only with the plot points (some designed to mislead, especially those leading to the ending), but also with the exploration of who some of these organizations are. The Astartes are all shrouded in enigma for various reasons, and like much of the Horus Heresy series, this one is devoted to shedding some light upon these warriors we love to play with on the tabletop.
Thursday, April 18, 2013
Thankful Thursday: Books
I like to read.
Just so we're clear, that last sentence is an understatement on the same scale as "Space is kinda big." Just ask my wife, who has banned me from getting another bookcase for a while.
Now, we're living in the age of eReaders and tablets, letting us get our books in digital form, but personally, I'm not a big fan of them. Sure, they're great for portability, there are some pretty amazing things being done with reference material in eBooks because you can include cross-references and updates to books that you just can't get with a hard copy. But I want the hard copy. There is simply something about holding the book in your hand, the feel of the page, the words on paper rather than yet another screen. I spend a lot of time staring at computer screens, I'd rather not do so to read a book, too.
When I'm reading a good book in a quiet room, I'm rarely if ever thinking about the room I'm in. Instead, I'm far away and loving it. I have been a voracious reader for most of my life, from early elementary school on through today. I mean, I ran out of books to read for class in middle school and had to work with the librarian to make up tests for other books simply so I could complete my assignments.
Whether classic authors like Orwell or more modern authors like Butcher or Abnett, I've enjoyed all sorts of books, though I'll be the first to admit I lean heavily towards fantasy and science fiction. There have been days when a good book is all that got me through the day, and you'll hardly ever find me without something to read.
Books are amazing things, and I couldn't imagine what life would be like without them.
Just so we're clear, that last sentence is an understatement on the same scale as "Space is kinda big." Just ask my wife, who has banned me from getting another bookcase for a while.
Now, we're living in the age of eReaders and tablets, letting us get our books in digital form, but personally, I'm not a big fan of them. Sure, they're great for portability, there are some pretty amazing things being done with reference material in eBooks because you can include cross-references and updates to books that you just can't get with a hard copy. But I want the hard copy. There is simply something about holding the book in your hand, the feel of the page, the words on paper rather than yet another screen. I spend a lot of time staring at computer screens, I'd rather not do so to read a book, too.
When I'm reading a good book in a quiet room, I'm rarely if ever thinking about the room I'm in. Instead, I'm far away and loving it. I have been a voracious reader for most of my life, from early elementary school on through today. I mean, I ran out of books to read for class in middle school and had to work with the librarian to make up tests for other books simply so I could complete my assignments.
Whether classic authors like Orwell or more modern authors like Butcher or Abnett, I've enjoyed all sorts of books, though I'll be the first to admit I lean heavily towards fantasy and science fiction. There have been days when a good book is all that got me through the day, and you'll hardly ever find me without something to read.
Books are amazing things, and I couldn't imagine what life would be like without them.
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
Thoughts and Impressions from the Tau Empire
First off: I posted a new video on YouTube! Called the Strategy Guide, it should be the first in a monthly series of videos trying to give tips to intermediate level tabletop players, learning to apply higher-order skills than just the basic rules. Go check it out, I did the voice over for it this month and even show up in a shot! Check it out if you've got five minutes.
Anyway, I finally got in a game with my new Tau, and have to say I was duly impressed with them when I finally got a few things down with them. Not everything worked as intended, though, and so we'll give the rundown here, in no particular order, of the things I have learned thus far.
Anyway, I finally got in a game with my new Tau, and have to say I was duly impressed with them when I finally got a few things down with them. Not everything worked as intended, though, and so we'll give the rundown here, in no particular order, of the things I have learned thus far.
- The Riptide has to be shepherded closely. Using the Ion Accelerator, I managed to kill precisely nothing with this model across the four turns of the game. Twice he burned himself with his own weapon, despite having to roll two 1's in a row to do that. The other two shots scattered so wildly that it was more than a little rediculous; fortunately, he didn't hit my own troops with those either. He obviously either needs to just fire the normal mode or switch to the burst cannon option, but more testing is required to see if the model is truly cursed.
- Markerlights are AMAZING when used in close concert with your men. I managed to destroy a Razorback, a combat squad and Ulrik the Slayer with only a few units because of markerlights boosting ballistic skill and the high rate of fire offered by burst cannons and Ethereal backed Fire Warriors (more on that in a minute). It's a touch tricky getting the order down right on how to fire all your markers, though, so I still need to work on my shooting order and target priority.
- Related to the markerlight note, the two flyers in this codex simply aren't worth it. They are nice little planes and have good abilities, but they compete for spots in the army with Pathfinders, which are the primary way to get markerlights in the army. Were there a way to make Pathfinders troops, we would likely see the flyers hit the table, but as it stands the opportunity cost is simply too high on them.
- Ethereals are fantastic for what they cost. 50 points nets you a 12" Ld 10 bubble to anchor your firing line with and confers Stubborn to the unit he's attached to, which are both nice abilities in and of themselves. However, he also has his Invocation of the Elements ability, which is simply amazing. I used it to good effect in this Relic game, allowing a Fire Warrior squad to move forward towards the objective, and then run and still snap fire (which my markerlights made back into normal or better shooting), getting to the objective first. Then as the eneemy closed in I could increase the output of my Fire Warriors by 50%, mopping up squads with relative ease. Definitely worth it.
Friday, April 12, 2013
Thankful Friday: CAD modelling
Okay, first off: I don't have a good excuse for missing yesterday's post. I was sleepy and couldn't concentrate on the screen in the morning, and was watching severe weather in the afternoon and evening. But here we are, so we won't worry too much about it.
Anyway, this time I'm thankful for something a little more frivolous than previous posts. Y'see, with as many models as I build, you get to know which ones are good sculpts, and which ones are bad sculpts. A bad sculpt is painful to try and get together. The pieces don't fit quite right, they come from the manufacturer warped, or sometimes even with a pristine kit, the parts just don't do what they're designed to do.
Space Marine Land Speeder, I'm looking at you here.
However, the kit I built yesterday while watching that severe weather (don't judge me, I needed something to take my mind off it) was a joy to work with. The new Tau XV109 Riptide suit is an absolute dream. Each segment - lower legs, upper legs, upper and lower arms - was individual and poseable. All I had to do was snip a couple of small support studs - which the instructions themselves recommended to be cut if you wanted to pose it like I did - and I got this thing to look amazing.
Now, GW has been using a computer aided design or CAD tool for the past several years to help design their new models, and I think this kit exemplifies what can be done with them. It was just amazing, and I can't wait to take this giant model out onto the field.
Anyway, this time I'm thankful for something a little more frivolous than previous posts. Y'see, with as many models as I build, you get to know which ones are good sculpts, and which ones are bad sculpts. A bad sculpt is painful to try and get together. The pieces don't fit quite right, they come from the manufacturer warped, or sometimes even with a pristine kit, the parts just don't do what they're designed to do.
Space Marine Land Speeder, I'm looking at you here.
However, the kit I built yesterday while watching that severe weather (don't judge me, I needed something to take my mind off it) was a joy to work with. The new Tau XV109 Riptide suit is an absolute dream. Each segment - lower legs, upper legs, upper and lower arms - was individual and poseable. All I had to do was snip a couple of small support studs - which the instructions themselves recommended to be cut if you wanted to pose it like I did - and I got this thing to look amazing.
Now, GW has been using a computer aided design or CAD tool for the past several years to help design their new models, and I think this kit exemplifies what can be done with them. It was just amazing, and I can't wait to take this giant model out onto the field.
Wednesday, April 10, 2013
Follow-up: Worry isn't worth it
So, yesterday I wrote a post about worry, and job interviews, and all that jazz. Well, first off, the Lord does work in His own ways and time, and I now have a new job! Was quite amazed and a little shocked at how fast it all happened, feels a little like a dream, but it really happened.
Which brings me to my point: all that worrying I did last week was for nothing. I was so worried that the other job would take me away from things I felt I needed to do, from things I wanted to do, and it turned out not to matter. I knew the other job would give me and Alicia more in the way of financial security, and it would have given me a little more downtime to recover, but the trade-off was just too great in my mind, which is what was making me fret over it.
But now, none of that is an issue. I truly believe the Lord was with me through it all. I was so much more confident during the interview itself, I actually didn't worry about it beforehand much. And I was hired literally less than an hour after the interview was over. I was just so blessed through the entire process that it had to be the Lord's hand involved.
So, the biggest point is: what did I learn? I learned that worry doesn't change anything, and when looks like my best option is horrible, there just may be a better one coming along the pipeline. Patience may be hard, but there's a reason why it's a virtue.
Which brings me to my point: all that worrying I did last week was for nothing. I was so worried that the other job would take me away from things I felt I needed to do, from things I wanted to do, and it turned out not to matter. I knew the other job would give me and Alicia more in the way of financial security, and it would have given me a little more downtime to recover, but the trade-off was just too great in my mind, which is what was making me fret over it.
But now, none of that is an issue. I truly believe the Lord was with me through it all. I was so much more confident during the interview itself, I actually didn't worry about it beforehand much. And I was hired literally less than an hour after the interview was over. I was just so blessed through the entire process that it had to be the Lord's hand involved.
So, the biggest point is: what did I learn? I learned that worry doesn't change anything, and when looks like my best option is horrible, there just may be a better one coming along the pipeline. Patience may be hard, but there's a reason why it's a virtue.
Tuesday, April 9, 2013
I Worry Too Much...
Does anyone else hate interviews? I know I do. I've got another one today that I think is for an even better job than last week's was. Does it have it's own issues? Of course, but I think it would be better for me long term.
But to come to the point: I worry about it. I chalk it up to the fact that I think too much. Whenever something comes up, I always analyze it, try and figure out possible outcomes and how it could affect how I live my life, those around me, what have you. And, as is possibly inevitable, those scenarios are usually decently grim.
I try and be a positive person. I let the bad things roll off my shoulders whenever possible. But when I'm coming up to a big decision point - like a job interview - all I'm able to do is think and ponder and worry about it.
And that really, really bites.
Yesterday, I posted Proverbs 12:25 on my Facebook page: "Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up." Two days before, I posted a very similar passage from Luke 12. You'd think that, with all the Bible has to say about worry - in a word: don't - I'd be able to move past it. And I'm trying to, I really am.
But for now, all I can do is pray that what should be will be, and try and turn my mind off for a while. So glad that I have absolutely no downtime at my current job... wait a minute... ;)
Time to work on some more Tau lists...
But to come to the point: I worry about it. I chalk it up to the fact that I think too much. Whenever something comes up, I always analyze it, try and figure out possible outcomes and how it could affect how I live my life, those around me, what have you. And, as is possibly inevitable, those scenarios are usually decently grim.
I try and be a positive person. I let the bad things roll off my shoulders whenever possible. But when I'm coming up to a big decision point - like a job interview - all I'm able to do is think and ponder and worry about it.
And that really, really bites.
Yesterday, I posted Proverbs 12:25 on my Facebook page: "Worry weighs a person down; an encouraging word cheers a person up." Two days before, I posted a very similar passage from Luke 12. You'd think that, with all the Bible has to say about worry - in a word: don't - I'd be able to move past it. And I'm trying to, I really am.
But for now, all I can do is pray that what should be will be, and try and turn my mind off for a while. So glad that I have absolutely no downtime at my current job... wait a minute... ;)
Time to work on some more Tau lists...
Monday, April 8, 2013
Putting Words in Your Mouth
So, I'm trying to get back to doing videos for my local gaming store, the Foundry. I did them for a long while this past fall (you can find them here) pertaining to gaming news across multiple gaming systems, such as Warhammer, Malifaux, and Flames of War, but due to work issues I stopped doing them.
When you work at 4 AM, staying up late to film a video doesn't really become high on your priority list.
But now that I'm mostly settled in, I'm trying to get back to it because I really enjoyed it. Rather than the biweekly pace I did before (when I was unemployed), I plan on doing bi-monthly videos instead so I can hopefully keep on track rather than slipping behind. However, I'm only going to do one news broadcast because, lets face it, unless I cover absolutely every company invovled in tabletop gaming, I'm not going to have enough info for a broadcast twice monthly. And since I'm doing this for a local scene, I'd rather cover what we care about rather than just adding info no one will care about.
So, to take up the slack, I'm going to start covering the finer points of tactics as taught by the masters. By masters, I don't mean top players, I'm going straight to the source: Sun-Tzu, Clauswitz, etc. While they talk about warfare on usually a much larger scale than these games are able to cover, the principles they teach are still incredibly useful.
It looks to be a lot of fun, and for this first one I'll be talking about flexibility and multi-role capability, both on the strategic and tactical scales. Got the script mostly written last night (just needs some tuning), and I hope to have it filmed and online by next Monday. Now, to figure out who to use to voice the video...
When you work at 4 AM, staying up late to film a video doesn't really become high on your priority list.
But now that I'm mostly settled in, I'm trying to get back to it because I really enjoyed it. Rather than the biweekly pace I did before (when I was unemployed), I plan on doing bi-monthly videos instead so I can hopefully keep on track rather than slipping behind. However, I'm only going to do one news broadcast because, lets face it, unless I cover absolutely every company invovled in tabletop gaming, I'm not going to have enough info for a broadcast twice monthly. And since I'm doing this for a local scene, I'd rather cover what we care about rather than just adding info no one will care about.
So, to take up the slack, I'm going to start covering the finer points of tactics as taught by the masters. By masters, I don't mean top players, I'm going straight to the source: Sun-Tzu, Clauswitz, etc. While they talk about warfare on usually a much larger scale than these games are able to cover, the principles they teach are still incredibly useful.
It looks to be a lot of fun, and for this first one I'll be talking about flexibility and multi-role capability, both on the strategic and tactical scales. Got the script mostly written last night (just needs some tuning), and I hope to have it filmed and online by next Monday. Now, to figure out who to use to voice the video...
Friday, April 5, 2013
343rd RRC: My Tau Army in Pictures
Better late than never, right? Sorry it's taken so long, but I finally got the pictures done and uploaded, and so here we are. I know I'm no master painter, and my army definitely isn't Golden Daemon worthy, but for what it's worth here we are: the 343rd Rapid Response Cadre, such as it currently stands.
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| Fire Warrior squad A with their Devilfish |
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| Shas'ui Yos'srin with his Dreadnought trophy |
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| Close up on the Devilfish for squad A |
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| Fire Warrior squad B with their own Devilfish |
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| Squad B's Devilfish |
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| Shas'ui Guid'vel with his Land Speeder trophy |
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| Fire Warrior squad C with Devilfish |
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| Squad C's Devilfish; slightly different camo colors |
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| Fire Warrior squad D with Devilfish |
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| Squad D's Devilfish is still in someone else's paint scheme :S |
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| Fire Warrior squad E; these last two do have Devilfish, but they're unpainted still |
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| ...and Fire Warrior squad F. Yes, there are 60 of the dudes. And I have 12 more I could still paint! |
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| Pathfinder Team 1; 10 man with 3 rail rifles |
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| Pathfinder Team 2; 8 man |
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| My XV15 stealth suits; have 3 more unpainted. |
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| XV25 stealth suits; prefer the 15's, so these are all I have of them |
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| Hammerhead 'Mjolnir' with two weapon options |
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| Hammerhead 'Amo-no-nuboko' with two weapon options |
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| and the Hammerhead 'Excalibur' with just the Rail Cannon, though I have another Ion Cannon I can still build |
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| My collection of painted XV8 Crisis suits; a few more lurk in my bits I could use |
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| Close up of my XV8 commander; the shield has the unit colors and the text reads '343 Recon', the old unit name |
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| My four XV88 Broadsides; one still in someone else's paint scheme |
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| Close up of my most heavily converted; still haven't finished the paintwork |
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| Shas'O R'myr from Forge World; using it as my Crisis Commander |
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| and last but not least, the Ethereal Aun'Shi |
Fiction Fridays: Tau
So here we come to another Fiction Friday! Again, we're on our Tau kick this week, so we'll keep with the theme and let's try and make some background for my Tau army, shall we?
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The 343rd Rapid Response Cadre served along the forefront of the Third Sphere expansion of the Tau Empire. Hailing from the Sa'cea sept worlds and bringing the martial tradition of their world to the new colonies, the members of this Cadre have fought in numerous engagements across numerous worlds.
Several times the cadre engaged against the forces of the Imperium's Space Marines, from numerous chapters as they sought to stop the Tau's expansion. Several warriors distinguished themselves in these engagements, such as Shas'la Guid'vel who managed to intercept and destroy a Land Speeder which was making its attack run on another squad of Fire Warriors despite the rest of his squad having been scattered by an incoming hail of bolter fire. Another, Shas'la Yos'srin, had his unit charged by one of the Astartes battlesuits called Dreadnoughts. Maneuvering behind it in the heat of battle, he was able to place a precisely aimed pulse round in its reactor core and destroyed it. Both were promoted for their heroism.
Their Shas'el, Commander Darksight, distinguished himself against the Dark Eldar. Attempting to defend a resupply post being struck by a corsair raid, Darksight found himself and his bodyguard attacked by numerous eldar upon skyboards. One, later determined to be the enemy commander, came towards Darksight in the blink of an eye, and so he was forced to fight at short range. The honorless enemy was utilizing chemical enhancements to boost his already considerable combat prowess, and seeing an opportunity Darksight ripped the control mechanism from the enemy's body. Possibly by blind luck, the drugs began to cascade into the eldar's body, killing him instantly. Their leader dead, the remainder of the Eldar vanished back into the night from whence they came.
When the Tau took control of the Imperial-held world of Taros, the 343rd served proudly, rushing from engagement to engagement as needed. Their most notable battle was against the Elysian Drop Troops attempting to take control of the capitol's water supply, coming in at the forefront of that attack. Despite heavy casualties, it was the 343rd that finished off the ill-advised attack.
After a layover on Sa'cea itself for rebuilding and retraining, a new Shas'el took over command of the Cadre, known as Commander Longstride. Favoring manouvre and rapid strike tactics even moreso than most Fire Caste do, he removed some of the more static elements of the force and retasked others, relying on his Hammerhead Gunships and Razorshark Fighters for anti-armour fighting, while his few remaining Broadsides took over as anti-air. He was also assigned one of the new XV-104 Riptide suits, and assigned it to one of his most senior pilots.
So far the rebuilt 343rd remains untested. However, while the 3rd Sphere Expansion may have halted temporarily, rest assured that it will start up again soon, and the 343rd will be there at the forefront. Whether at a new world, or in the defense of old holdings, they will do their duty.
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The 343rd Rapid Response Cadre served along the forefront of the Third Sphere expansion of the Tau Empire. Hailing from the Sa'cea sept worlds and bringing the martial tradition of their world to the new colonies, the members of this Cadre have fought in numerous engagements across numerous worlds.
Several times the cadre engaged against the forces of the Imperium's Space Marines, from numerous chapters as they sought to stop the Tau's expansion. Several warriors distinguished themselves in these engagements, such as Shas'la Guid'vel who managed to intercept and destroy a Land Speeder which was making its attack run on another squad of Fire Warriors despite the rest of his squad having been scattered by an incoming hail of bolter fire. Another, Shas'la Yos'srin, had his unit charged by one of the Astartes battlesuits called Dreadnoughts. Maneuvering behind it in the heat of battle, he was able to place a precisely aimed pulse round in its reactor core and destroyed it. Both were promoted for their heroism.
Their Shas'el, Commander Darksight, distinguished himself against the Dark Eldar. Attempting to defend a resupply post being struck by a corsair raid, Darksight found himself and his bodyguard attacked by numerous eldar upon skyboards. One, later determined to be the enemy commander, came towards Darksight in the blink of an eye, and so he was forced to fight at short range. The honorless enemy was utilizing chemical enhancements to boost his already considerable combat prowess, and seeing an opportunity Darksight ripped the control mechanism from the enemy's body. Possibly by blind luck, the drugs began to cascade into the eldar's body, killing him instantly. Their leader dead, the remainder of the Eldar vanished back into the night from whence they came.
When the Tau took control of the Imperial-held world of Taros, the 343rd served proudly, rushing from engagement to engagement as needed. Their most notable battle was against the Elysian Drop Troops attempting to take control of the capitol's water supply, coming in at the forefront of that attack. Despite heavy casualties, it was the 343rd that finished off the ill-advised attack.
After a layover on Sa'cea itself for rebuilding and retraining, a new Shas'el took over command of the Cadre, known as Commander Longstride. Favoring manouvre and rapid strike tactics even moreso than most Fire Caste do, he removed some of the more static elements of the force and retasked others, relying on his Hammerhead Gunships and Razorshark Fighters for anti-armour fighting, while his few remaining Broadsides took over as anti-air. He was also assigned one of the new XV-104 Riptide suits, and assigned it to one of his most senior pilots.
So far the rebuilt 343rd remains untested. However, while the 3rd Sphere Expansion may have halted temporarily, rest assured that it will start up again soon, and the 343rd will be there at the forefront. Whether at a new world, or in the defense of old holdings, they will do their duty.
Thursday, April 4, 2013
Thankful Thursday: Opportunity Knockin'
First off, an editor's note: I had every intention of doing a post with army pictures yesterday, but was unable to do so due to other commitments and the need to actually be rested before a job interview today. So many apologies, but I shall get that post completed this afternoon if all goes well.
So, speaking of that job interview we come to my weekly Thankful Thursday, where today it's gotta be Opportunity. Y'see, I work in the television industry. You may think "Oh, wow, you're on TV? That must be so awesome and give you a great paycheck!"
You'd be wrong. Very wrong.
I work on the production side, doing the morning shift at a local tv station. So what I get instead are long hours, odd hours, stressful moments of sheer terror when things don't quite go as planned, and a dismal paycheck as a reward. But television is something I've always wanted to do, something that I enjoy. I find it rewarding to put a production together, and when it comes together successfully.
I've volunteered with the television ministry at local churches wherever I've been since I was in middle school, and that's where I picked up the bug. Being a part of something like that is an amazing thing, being able to send the service out across the air to wherever it may need to go, to whomever needs to hear it. And to be honest, media ministry is where my heart lies, but working in tv news is great training, discovering what it takes to make a truly exceptional broadcast day in and day out.
Now, because of that dismal paycheck, I wouldn't be able to do this if I was living on my own. But my wife is an amazing woman as I've already discussed, and we make do like we are now. I don't know how we do it, but she's keeping the books in order and making sure we don't starve. I know it's stressful on her, and I don't thank her enough for it, but she's letting me pursue my dreams, and so I really need to thank her again when I get home.
But now I've got an interview for another job here at the station, one that's full time, pays more, gives me benefits, the works. The hours still bite, and it's still not an amazing paycheck, but it's something. Hopefully it's a stepping stone onto something else, or maybe the Lord has something better in mind for later. But for now, I'm simply thankful for the opportunity to try, and for everything He's done to make it happen.
So, speaking of that job interview we come to my weekly Thankful Thursday, where today it's gotta be Opportunity. Y'see, I work in the television industry. You may think "Oh, wow, you're on TV? That must be so awesome and give you a great paycheck!"
You'd be wrong. Very wrong.
I work on the production side, doing the morning shift at a local tv station. So what I get instead are long hours, odd hours, stressful moments of sheer terror when things don't quite go as planned, and a dismal paycheck as a reward. But television is something I've always wanted to do, something that I enjoy. I find it rewarding to put a production together, and when it comes together successfully.
I've volunteered with the television ministry at local churches wherever I've been since I was in middle school, and that's where I picked up the bug. Being a part of something like that is an amazing thing, being able to send the service out across the air to wherever it may need to go, to whomever needs to hear it. And to be honest, media ministry is where my heart lies, but working in tv news is great training, discovering what it takes to make a truly exceptional broadcast day in and day out.
Now, because of that dismal paycheck, I wouldn't be able to do this if I was living on my own. But my wife is an amazing woman as I've already discussed, and we make do like we are now. I don't know how we do it, but she's keeping the books in order and making sure we don't starve. I know it's stressful on her, and I don't thank her enough for it, but she's letting me pursue my dreams, and so I really need to thank her again when I get home.
But now I've got an interview for another job here at the station, one that's full time, pays more, gives me benefits, the works. The hours still bite, and it's still not an amazing paycheck, but it's something. Hopefully it's a stepping stone onto something else, or maybe the Lord has something better in mind for later. But for now, I'm simply thankful for the opportunity to try, and for everything He's done to make it happen.
Tuesday, April 2, 2013
Release Week!
Because as I kinda mentioned last week, one of my favorite armies, the Tau Empire, release this week. And man, am I excited.
The previous book was released in 2006 (I started playing the next year) at a time when the codicies were mostly just the army lists, a few pages of pictures and maybe a couple pages of fluff, or storyline. So while the Tau race is always described as an energetic and vibrant young species in contrast to the elder human Imperium and the ancient Eldar, comparatively little is known about the Tau culture.
Modern codices, on the other hand, are over a hundred pages, about half of which is fluff. While I expect a decent amount of story that we've already seen in the previous book, I'm looking forward to finally getting to know a little more about the Empire. From what I've heard, there is a large dose of Imperial China and Japan in how they operate, which pleases me to no end.
One key difference, however, is how they fight. While most cultures favor short range, hand-to-hand combat as the more honorable and more dignified, the Tau turn that on its head. They see hand-to-hand as something bestial, a form of combat practiced by animals and those who are more like them. Ranged combat is the preferred method, the method practiced by civilized societies and by honorable men (if you'll forgive the general use of the term).
So like I said, I'm really excited to get the new fluff, in addition to the new rules. Tomorrow, I think I'll take some pictures of my Tau army as it stands now, and post them for you to see. Stay tuned! You'll get to see my painting skills next.
Monday, April 1, 2013
Tactical Concepts
So currently I'm playing my Alpha Legion army for a 40k campaign, though I plan on taking it to tournaments as well. The cornerstone of my army is the special character Huron Blackheart, though I'm personally re-visualizing him as Alpharius, the leader of my warband rather than using the background supplied in the book. But that's not really relevant here.
A lot of people frown on using special characters, and for the most part I would agree. Much of what they do can be done just as well and cheaper by a regular HQ choice. Huron really isn't that great in combat and could be replaced on that score by a Khorne Lord and be cheaper and better. And while some may look at his familiar and the ability to get access to the Divination school of psychic powers as a boon, it's far too random to be useful. Instead, there is a single ability that makes me take him every time.
He comes with the Master of Deception warlord trait standard rather than rolling for it.
Now, there are some really rather decent warlord traits available to Chaos generals, but for my money this has got to be one of the best. At the beginning of each game, I get to designate d3 infantry units as Infiltrators. Now, for an infantry heavy army, d3 may not sound like much, but it's the fact that I get to pick them at the start of the game rather than during listbuilding that makes this so incredible. I offer a quote:
"To know the enemy but not yourself is only halfway to victory. To know yourself but not the enemy is only halfway to victory. To know the enemy and yourself but not the terrain is only halfway to victory. One who knows these things shall not be endangered in a thousand engagements."
By letting me designate my infiltrators after I've seen the enemy and the terrain, I give myself a tactical advantage. Is he bringing heavy tanks? I can designate my Obliterators and site them appropriately. Infantry hordes? I can bring my flamers to bear quickly. Is he running Ravenwing and looking to shove his bikes in my face turn 1? I can put a sacrificial unit forward to buy time to respond.
And then, of course, there are the implications of infiltrate itself, just letting me deploy those units after my opponent finishes his deployment, even if I went first. Did he deploy a major threat in my weak side? I can deploy to strengthen that side and stop his ambitions. Did he deploy forward, hoping to capitalize on a mistake I made? I can try and correct that.
When most people look at infiltrate, they see the rules for how far forward they can place their men. And to be honest, I did too at first, and lost a couple games because of it. Now, while I'm far from being able to really embody the quote above from Sun Tzu, I think that using Huron like this will definitely give me an edge against most opponents, and should make my games a lot closer than they used to be.
Though what I'm going to do against a Necron Air Force I still have no clue.
A lot of people frown on using special characters, and for the most part I would agree. Much of what they do can be done just as well and cheaper by a regular HQ choice. Huron really isn't that great in combat and could be replaced on that score by a Khorne Lord and be cheaper and better. And while some may look at his familiar and the ability to get access to the Divination school of psychic powers as a boon, it's far too random to be useful. Instead, there is a single ability that makes me take him every time.
He comes with the Master of Deception warlord trait standard rather than rolling for it.
Now, there are some really rather decent warlord traits available to Chaos generals, but for my money this has got to be one of the best. At the beginning of each game, I get to designate d3 infantry units as Infiltrators. Now, for an infantry heavy army, d3 may not sound like much, but it's the fact that I get to pick them at the start of the game rather than during listbuilding that makes this so incredible. I offer a quote:
"To know the enemy but not yourself is only halfway to victory. To know yourself but not the enemy is only halfway to victory. To know the enemy and yourself but not the terrain is only halfway to victory. One who knows these things shall not be endangered in a thousand engagements."
By letting me designate my infiltrators after I've seen the enemy and the terrain, I give myself a tactical advantage. Is he bringing heavy tanks? I can designate my Obliterators and site them appropriately. Infantry hordes? I can bring my flamers to bear quickly. Is he running Ravenwing and looking to shove his bikes in my face turn 1? I can put a sacrificial unit forward to buy time to respond.
And then, of course, there are the implications of infiltrate itself, just letting me deploy those units after my opponent finishes his deployment, even if I went first. Did he deploy a major threat in my weak side? I can deploy to strengthen that side and stop his ambitions. Did he deploy forward, hoping to capitalize on a mistake I made? I can try and correct that.
When most people look at infiltrate, they see the rules for how far forward they can place their men. And to be honest, I did too at first, and lost a couple games because of it. Now, while I'm far from being able to really embody the quote above from Sun Tzu, I think that using Huron like this will definitely give me an edge against most opponents, and should make my games a lot closer than they used to be.
Though what I'm going to do against a Necron Air Force I still have no clue.
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