How to Paint Genestealer Cult Acolytes

This article will show you how to paint up your Genestealer Cult Acolyte Hybrids in a similar fashion to the ones that have appeared on this blog. 

The credit for this scheme goes to the awesome "How to Paint" series from Warhammer TV for the Acolyte Hybrids. I use a simplified version of this scheme for my own units. 

Hobby Update 11/12/17- Ravenwing Rebasing and Dark Angels Information

This weekend, I decided to re-base the remaining members of my Ravenwing army. With the Dark Angels codex coming out on Saturday, I was eager to get the army matching bases with the rest of the force, so that I could get some games in with them with the new codex. 

I am very excited for the new Dark Angels codex. They were my first army in 40k and have been one of my favourites for as long as I have been playing. I hope to get a lot of my games in with my Ravenwing army (and perhaps some of the other wings as well). 

Hobby Update 08/12/17- Genestealer Cult Acolyte Iconward

This week, I managed to get another HQ unit painted up for my Genestealer Cult army, the Acolyte Iconward. This model is a nice focal point for the army, with a nice big banner and provides some nice bonuses for the army. 

Here are the WIP shots and the finished model.

Club Search- Oxford Gaming Club (plus Game Summary)

Having taken a short break from gaming to settle in after my move to Oxfordshire, I was keen to find a local club to get back into some great 8th edition action. I found Oxford Gaming Club online and went along last Monday night to try out the new club.

I was able to arrange a game against Stu and his Mechanicus army on the club forum. This was fortunate, as I have been burned a few times just showing up to a new club and not getting a game in. The club meets on a Monday night from 7-10 pm. I prefer a 4 hour club night, but 3 hours is still a decent time for getting a game in (plus writing notes for a battle report).

The club members were really friendly and inviting, and it was a good atmosphere. They had some gaming mats to play on and a lot of terrain to fill our table and give my White Scars some good cover from the Mechanicus guns.

I didn't take full notes for a battle report, but took some photos and a few notes to share with you.

I tried something different with the army this time, going for a more mechanised force and using some units I hadn't tried in 8th edition yet.

My army consisted of:

Battalion Detachment

Captain- Relic Blade, Master-crafted Boltgun, The Armour Indomitus

Lieutenant- Chainsword, Master-crafted Boltgun

10 Tactical Marines- Meltagun

Rhino- Two Storm Bolters

8 Tactical Marines- Flamer

Rhino- Two Storm Bolters

5 Devastators- 4 Grav Cannons

Razorback- TL Assault Cannon, Storm Bolter

10 Sternguard Veterans

Land Raider Crusader- TL Assault Cannon, Two Hurricane Bolters

10 Vanguard Veterans- 3 Pairs Lightning Claws, Bolt Pistols and Chainswords

6 Scout Bikers- TL Bolters, Shotguns, Chainswords

Stormraven Gunship- TL Assault Cannon, Twin Heavy Bolter, Two Hurricane Bolters, Two Stormstrike Missiles

The Captain was my warlord and took Tenacious Survivor. I decided to give the Stormraven and Land Raider a go in 8th edition. I haven't used these yet, but they looked tough with a lot of firepower. I also decided to give the Grav Cannon Devastators a go. These were a brilliant unit in 7th edition and was interested to see how they performed in 8th edition.

Hobby Update 04/12/17- Genestealer Cult Patriarch

I recently completed another HQ unit for my Genestealer Cult army, the Patriarch. This is a really nice model and was actually pretty easy to paint up. 

I painted it up to match my Purestrain Genestealers, so that he would match them on the tabletop. Here are the WIP shots and the finished model.

Chapter Approved 2017 Review: Part 4- Maelstrom of War Missions

Chapter Approved 2017 features six new Maelstrom of War missions to use in your games of 40k. Maelstrom missions are one of my favourite ways to play 40k and have been since they were introduced, so I was excited to see what the new missions would have in store for me. 

Maelstrom of War

As with all maelstrom games, these missions use 6 numbered objectives for you to fight over.

Kill Confirmed

In this mission, each player has three maelstrom cards in their turn. If a maelstrom card involves destroying an enemy unit, it cannot be discarded until it is achieved (any impossible cards can be discarded and re-drawn). In addition, you score one victory point for each enemy unit that is destroyed. 

This seems like a pretty standard maelstrom mission with 3 cards a turn. The bonuses for killing enemy units would favour an army that can hit pretty hard. Some of these may be difficult to achieve. For example, if you draw Big Game Hunter but don't have the tools to easily take down an enemy vehicle or your tools are all dead.

Chapter Approved 2017 Review: Part 3- Eternal War Missions

The 2017 edition of Chapter Approved also sees the introduction of 6 new Eternal War and Maelstrom of War missions to add to the 12 in the rulebook. 

Eternal War Missions
There are six new Eternal war missions presented in the book. A couple of these introduce a new progressive scoring system, which is a nice addition to the rules and I think will encourage more objective holding or taking during the game, rather than just pouncing on them in the final turns.

Most of the missions are set up in the same way as the rulebook Eternal war missions. You set up the terrain, place objectives, determine deployment zone and the player that placed the final objective chooses the deployment zone. You alternate deploying units. In these missions, you roll off for first turn (the player that finishes deploying first gets +1 to the roll). All missions score a point for First Blood, Slay the Warlord and Linebreaker.

Front-line Warfare
This mission is slightly different in that objectives are placed after choosing deployment zones. This mission uses four objectives. The first objective marker for each player must be placed at least 12" from the centre of the board and at least 12" from each players' deployment zone. This means that for the standard Dawn of War deployment, two objectives must be placed on the central line. The second objective for each player must be placed in their own deployment zone.

At the end of the game, the central objective markers are worth 2 points each, the marker in your deployment zone is worth 1 point and the one in your opponent's deployment zone is worth 4 points.

This is a mission that encourages players not to sit in their own deployment zone and to go after the objectives in the centre and your opponent's deployment zone. I like this style of mission, as I think the game should be about going after objectives and not just sitting back and just shooting one another.

Chapter Approved 2017 Review: Part 2- Orks and Imperial Knights Faction Rules

Part 2 of my Chapter Approved 2017 review will look at the new Faction rules for the Orks and Imperial Knights. 

Orks

Warlord Trait

An Ork warlord can take the Might is Right warlord trait, giving him +1 strength. On a warboss, this will take them up to S7 base, so they will be able to wound most vehicles on a 4+ without any additional weapon. With a Big Choppa, this will take them up to S9, with a Power Klaw, up to S14. This is great, allowing you to wound most vehicles on a 2+ with a warboss with a Power Klaw. This would allow your warlord to tear through most enemy vehicles or units with ease. I can see this being a great warlord trait for an Ork warboss to take. 

Chapter Approved 2017 Review: Part 1- Deathwatch and Genestealer Cults

Chapter Approved 2017 was released this weekend, bringing new Relics and Stratagems to many armies in the game, several of which I own. It also expanded the rules on various game modes, such as Apocalypse and Planetstrike. 

Part 1 of my review will take a look at the new rules for my two most recent armies; Deathwatch and Genestealer Cults. 

Deathwatch Faction Rules

Warlord Trait

A Deathwatch Character can take the Bane of Monstrosities warlord trait, giving him re-rolls to wound when attacking Vehicles or Monsters. This could be useful on a Watch Master. His re-rolls to hit means he will probably be hitting with all four of his attacks. At S5, he is going to be wounding on a 5+ against most vehicles and monsters, so this could help him gain an extra wound or two if you are rolling well. With D3 wounds with the Guardian Spear, this could be useful for taking a few wounds off any enemy vehicle or monster. 

Not great for me. I would probably stick with the +1 attack warlord trait or the 6+ FNP one, as I tend to send my Watch Master after infantry targets most of the time. 

Hobby Update 01/12/17- Genestealer Cult Aberrants

This week, I have been able to complete the Aberrants for my Genestealer Cult army. I now have 8 of these beasts to use in games. 

Here are some WIP shots and the final models.