WTF Dust?

So Battlefront was supposed to take over marketing and distribution for Dust starting this month, but nothing has happened.  Not even a "Hey something big's coming!".  All we got was the press release a few months back, and then nothing.   I'm sure Fantasy Flights selling off their existing stock still, but when that's gone what happens?

Oh well.  Guys at the south side Games Preserver are throwing a Dust Warfare tournament on July 20th at 10:00 AM.  I'll try to make it, but I'm not sure what the point level for the tournament is.

Space Elf Hoverboards

Still playing around with Blender to make me some Space Elf hover boards to print in 3D.  I've been making some progress, but I'm still learning the tool.  This is what I've got so far...

It's two linked together to save on the printing costs.  It's still a little rough.  The underside is pretty devoid of detail.  I don't want to add to much more because it will up the volume and the price.  Right now these two together will cost roughly $7.50 to print.  Throwing in a box of guardians to make the riders, a squad of 6 would cost about $60.  Still a bit more than I'd like, but it does save $20 bucks off of buying 6 Jet bikes directly from GW. 

It may be cheaper to print off a single set, and then cast more with a basic resin casting kit from the hobby store.  The lack of underside detail may be beneficial in that case since I could get away with using a one sided mold.  

Though getting the Guardians to make the riders are still the bulk of the cost.    

Wow - You did something good GW? Keep doing it. Less of the other stuff please.

So GW is releasing some digital content for devices other than the iPad.  When I first heard about it, it was only some 15 page fluff supplements for 5 bucks each.  Not very useful.  But now they added the Eldar Codex to the list.  For only $32.99.   That's like what a codex should cost in a sane world.  I'm floored.  An actual reasonable business choice that benefits their consumers.  Does this mean there's a new power behind the throne at GW?

This format apparently doesn't have the bells and whistles of the iBooks version.  Still, way worth it for the reduced cost.  Kind of sucks that they didn't release it until three weeks after the codex proper hit the shelves and most of us probably either already bought the print or previous digital edition.  I hope that this doesn't lead to poor sales for this version and hurt the prospects of future releases like this.

Of course, I rather like the iBooks versions.  While it's unfortunate that they are the same price as the physical book, the cross-referencing, automatic FAQ updates, and quick navigation make them very useful.  Especially in this edition where I've found that I need to double check some of more tedious special rules and tables frequently.  

Man of Awsome

Just want to let everyone know to ignore the reviews on Man of Steel.  I'm usually pretty trusting of the rottentomatoes score, but this is the bizarre exception to the rule.  I think it took a 15-20% percent hit because too many critics are overly invested in the old Reeves/Donner films.

MoS isn't a perfect movie.  It's got a few clunky issues, but overall it's a decent movie.  It has less problems than the latest Trek movie, and it easily beats out the non Robert Downey Jr. equipped Marvel films.  It's got none of the ironic snark of the Marvel films.  It's a much more serious move.  All the actors involved turned in great performances.  Crowe and Costner where awesome, and Shannon's Zod was one hell of a villain.

It's also the first time in live action where superman is actually super.  The action matches what he can do in animation and the comics.   A frakin' deisel locomotive gets thrown at someone's head!

Worth watching,  

Anyone Not Going to Tippcon?

Just wondering if anyone was going to be around Indy this weekend for 40K at G2D4.

How about some Eldar list with the new codex?

I put together a few 1850 point lists with the new book.  They look a lot like the lists I tried to run before the new codex came out.  That's what happens when a codex doesn't really do much to fix its internal balance issues.

Farseer w Spear, Runes of Witnessing
Karandras(or Asurman depending on my mood)
1x Warlock
5x Firedragons in a Waveserpent with Scatter Laser and Shuriken Cannon
5x Firedragons in a Waveserpent with Scatter Laser and Shuriken Cannon
9x Dire Avengers in a Waveserpent with Scatter Laser and Shuriken Cannon
9x Dire Avengers in a Waveserpent with Scatter Laser and Shuriken Cannon

20x Guardians with 2 Brightlance platforms

Fire Prism w/ Shuriken Cannons

Fire Prism w/ Shuriken Cannons

This probably the first list I'm going to try out this weekend.  It's pretty balanced, but neglects anti-air.  I'm hoping laser-locked Scatter Lasers on Serpents will be semi-effective in that role.  Farseer, Warlock, and the Phoenix Lord attach to the guardian squad.  Pretty tough with stealth, shrouded, and hopefully Fortune from the Farseer.

Farseer w Spear, Runes of Witnessing
Karandras(or Asurman depending on my mood)
1x Warlock
5x Firedragons in a Waveserpent with Scatter Laser and Shuriken Cannon
5x Firedragons in a Waveserpent with Scatter Laser and Shuriken Cannon
6x Jetbikes w 2 Shuriken Cannons
6x Jetbikes w 2 Shuriken Cannons
6x Jetbikes w 2 Shuriken Cannons
6x Jetbikes w 2 Shuriken Cannons

20x Guardians with 2 Brightlance platforms

Fire Prism w/ Shuriken Cannons

Fire Prism w/ Shuriken Cannons

I like this a little better than the last one.  I just need to scrounge up the 24 jetbikes to pull it off.

Farseer
Karandras(or Asurman depending on my mood)
1x Warlock
8x Striking Scorpions
20x Guardians with 2 Brightlance platforms

10x Rangers

10x Rangers

10x Dire Avengers in a Waveserpent with Scatter Laser and Shuriken Cannon 

10x Dire Avengers in a Waveserpent with Scatter Laser and Shuriken Cannon 

5x Warp Spiders

Fire Prism w/ Shuriken Cannons

Fire Prism w/ Shuriken Cannons

More of a foot hoard.  The Avengers go on foot in this list, and the Serpents act as pure gunboats. 

I'm not supper excited about these lists.  They're weak against flyers.  The Eldar skyfire options are just a little too expensive to take with out hamstringing the list against everything else.  I'll have  to hope I get lucky from Guide, Prescience, or Waveserpents.  I'm also thinking of tweaking these just a little to get the 15 points per serpent to give them Holofields for the +1 cover.

Eldar Codex Review Part 2 - Review Harder

I've been musing some more on the new units.  I'm still disappointed that there are some issues with the army that I thought should be addressed, but weren't.  Though it's not all doom and gloom.  I think some decent lists can be built from the codex.  So here's some stuff that's probably worth taking.

Farseers -  100 points for a level 3 psycher who gets divination, telepathy, and one of the Eldar tables.  You get enough rolls that you should get at least one good power.   The Farseer casting both prescience and  guide is probably the best way to get anti-air firepower in the book outside of a Crimson Hunter.

Phoenix Lords - Just Asurman and Karandras.  Don't know which one I like better.  Karandras hits harder with 5 S8 AP 2 I7 attacks in melee and has stealth and monster hunter.  Unfortunately he doesn't have an invul.  Asurman has a 4++ and can go to a 3++ in a challenge.  He also gets 3 rolls on the warlord table.  The only one you really care about is the one that lets you re-roll 1's on saves.  I want to use them to tank for  Guardian blob squads.

Scorpions - They get stealth now.  Their Exarch is also a pretty decent hitter and challenge specialist if you want to spend the 30 points for the Scorpion Claw.

Wraithgaurd/blades - I haven't looked at them too in depth, but they look promising.  The upgrade for flamer templates is pretty pricey.  I haven't considered them too much since I don't have any of the models.

Dire Avengers - I still like them.  Pseudo-rending Avenger Catapults are pretty nice.  Too bad the Exarch options are so expensive.  He has access to the probably the best upgrade list of any of the Exarchs, but it cost just too many points.  Dire Avengers and Guardians probably benefit the most from the new army wide rules.

Gaurdians - Very good.  BS4, plus catapult upgrade, plus 1 weapons platform per 10 guys makes them much improved.  Sad that I only have enough for one squad of 20.

Jetbikes - Very very good.  Wish I had 30.

Rangers - Priced better this edition.  I don't think taking Illic and upgrading to pathfinders is worth it.  Cheap sniper unit with stealth.

Waveserpent - Holy Snikeys. With a scatter laser and a Shuri-Cannon upgrade it gets 7 ST6 and d6+1 S7 shots twin linked.  And the S7 shots ignore cover.  That's your gun tank right there.

Spiders, Hawks, Spears - I'm on the fence about all three of these units.  I think each of them can work in the right list now. Better than they were, but not quite better enough.  We'll see.

Crimson Hunter - Maybe, 160 points for armor 10 is a bit underwhelming.  It does look ridiculously good at killing other flyers.  You'll have to deal with any interceptor units quickly before bringing it on the board.

War Walkers - Another unit I wish I had a dozen of.  Still a glass cannon, but a more appropriately costed glass cannon with a 5++.

Fire Prisms - The gun is better, and you don't have to sacrifice another prism's shooting to make it work.

Darkreapers - Better, but still way expensive.  Could work in the right list.