Corvus's GenCon 2014 in Review

Hey all, I'm back, a week after the conclusion of the best four days in gaming, that's right: GenCon. I'm way late on this, as Trooper beat me to the punch, but we did have some different experiences, given that we went for different games. And to add to that, I took pictures! So, hit the break and follow me through the only thing that excites me more than Christmas.

The Indy Open Approaches

Hey Folks, and welcome back.  With August drawing near it's end, September looms on the horizon.  While normally the shift in months can pass with relatively little notice from me, this shift is a big one.  With GenCon behind us, it's time for the gamers of the mid-west to have something to look forward to.  And to that, we have the Indy Open!

Established for some time now, I am embarrassed to say that I have never actually had the fortune myself to actually make it down.  Be it school, work, or just personal life, I have just never had a chance to make it down.  I know the guys down there put on a great show, and it's been sad to miss it.  But no more.  This year, I change all that.  This year, I'm heading down!

Heresy at GenCon 2014

Hello all! This is Trooper and welcome to a special editorial piece for the Rites of Battle. As many of you Indy/Midwest folks are aware, GenCon 2014 was last week and, of course, I had to check it out and spend both a huge amount of time and money there. So without further delay, let's get into the sights, sounds, and impressions that this Guardsman saw during his trip to Hive Indianapolis.

Lex Verum Astartes VI: The Armoury - Armour

Welcome to the next installment of my Tru-Scale project.  Today we'll cover something which more or less defines a Space Marine both in aesthetic and durability.  The various types of armour which the Adeptus Astartes wear may differ in their design, color, and even shape.  But they all serve to keep them alive long enough to pass judgment on the enemies of mankind.  That said, I have always been a little underwhelmed by their staying power on today's battlefields of the grim dark.

War. Game. Wargame.

Hello and good day readers. I know that the pace of my release schedule has slowed drastically, and the blade cuts both ways. Certainly I have felt a bit starved for inspiration (my gaming hours having been cut short of late), but so too have my pleas for drive or subject matter seemingly fallen on deaf ears with you, dearest reader base. I'm left a bit at a loss for words, as I felt previously we were so ready, anxious, and otherwise eager to feed off one another and am not quite sure what's come between us. Nevertheless, I come again, with an article pulling me well and truly back to my roots, the foundations of game design I hold most dear. I'm going to dismantle and offer perspective on what I think, what I like, and what I don't like in games, in general. So, hit that break, and follow me.

Heresy in the Library - The Damnation of Pythos

Greetings good people and welcome back! Trooper here with another installment of "Heresy in the Library", where I review Black Library publications and let you, the reader at the other end of the data-slate, know how it is! Up for review is the newest Horus Heresy full length novel The Damnation of Pythos. The follow up novel from the audio drama Veritas Ferrum chronicles the crew of the Veritas Ferrum as they escape from Istvaan V and begin a guerilla war against the traitor legions. It's an interesting mix of things so sit back, grab some amasec, and enjoy my review of The Damnation of Pythos.

Lex Verum Astartes V: The Armoury - Melee Weapons

Welcome back folks.  As promised, this time around we're hitting the armoury for the melee weapons of the Tru-Scale Space Marines.  While there isn't nearly as much here as our previous installment in terms of quantity, it does help us establish just how powerful the Space Marines will be in close quarters fighting.

I tried to make a very clear distinction between basic weaponry, chain weaponry, and power weapons.  The Energy Field rule will be revealed at the end of the armoury, but it does promise to make the high price point for purchasing them worth the investment.  Next up in the armoury will be the amour section.  While in the current incarnation of the Space Marine codex it's more or less a brush-over, armour in this book does more than offer a save.  But, that's another installment.  For now, Enjoy!