Reformation Theses for 40k

I've finally done it. I've sat down and committed to article a proposed changelog for 40k. I've had the fortune of a lot of good discussion with friends and peers whom I respect greatly within the 40k community recently, and after seeing many of them leave the hobby for other games (30k and X-Wing, with some splatters of WM/H) I've tried to distill a list of things that grinds our gears for 40k. It's not a comprehensive log, and won't fix all gripes for all players. It's quick. It's dirty. But I'd like to think it's mechanical enough, and focused on the game rather than GW, to be able to try to kick around and see if it improves game feel for folks. So, here goes!

Honor the Codex: Building Steam, Talking Tax

For those of you have been longtime readers, you know that we here at Rites love talking about how 40k plays for different armies at different points costs. Whether we're talking about kill team, escalation leagues, tournaments, or apocalypse, it's fascinating to us to see the different dynamics that pan out based on available resources. So, that said, I'm fortunate enough that my FLGS is hosting a new 40k escalation league. After my last, very poor experience, I've decided to enroll my Ravens. They've got more options available to them, and I'm always excited to try new things with them.

RobPod #28: Mechanicum Series - Part III

Hello everyone, and welcome back.  I'm continuing my stay on Martian soil with another installment to my running series, this time I am joined by Trooper as we dive into two Black Library publications.  Novel reviews are normally a part of the Into the Black Library or Heresy in the Library series', but given the specialty of the topic, we figured they fit better here.  Today we're covering Mechanicum and Cybernetica. So strap in for some bionic hi-jinx and enjoy.

"When I grow up... I wanna go to MARS!

Cheers!

Trooper's GenCon 2015 Write Up and Thoughts

Hey all, and welcome back to the Rites of Battle. This is Trooper and I'm writing something out of the norm in relation to what I usually put out. Just somethin
g quick and fun to wrap up the 2015 GenCon experience. I am going to break down things by day. While not as swanky of a video as Godfrey posted, or as cool as the podcast we all did... I do better with the written word anyway. I would also like to use this as a prelude to something else I would like to starting writing for on the Rites of Battle. I really would like to delve more into the roleplaying aspect of games. In a way it was my big break into gaming in general (my room mate Collin got me into dice rolling and a break up got me into 40k)So, without further ceremony....

RobPod #27: GenCon!

It was a whirlwind weekend for Godfrey, Havoc, Trooper, and myself. Join us in recounding our adventures with GenCon 2015!

Movement and Game theory

This is really Corvus' and Havoc's game

Hello there everyone!  I'm here to talk about something I don't know much about and something I hope to God I know more about, those being X-wing  and game theory.  Now I don't mean "game theory" as in a theory of how you best design board games or how to make the most money off them.  No, I mean the branch of economics that talks about how people make choices in different defined settings and how the structure of those settings ("games") influences how individuals choose, how they "play the game."  If you've ever heard of "The Prisoners' Dilemma," you've heard of game theory and have a bit of a leg up.  I'm going to start out with a short discussion of the Prisoners' Dilemma to illustrate some principles of game theory and then show how it applies to board gaming and makes me rather interested in X-wing, though I've only watched part of one game.

Spring Cleaning: Checking under the hood for gaming

Spring is in the air. Fresh breezes, new beginnings, an an end to hibernation for many, including myself. After an intermittent dry spell in gaming as I've gotten some of my affairs in order, it's high time for me to do one of my routine self checks. We're a year into 7th, and in that same year, I've really reached into other systems. How am I feeling, what am I seeing, what are different games missing, hit the break and let's see what the diagnostics have to say.

Heresy in the Library - An Opinion on the Excessive

Hello again fellow dwellers on the front line. Trooper here, back again without a review, but an opinion piece. It's been months since my last transmission but I wanted to post a piece (and meet the Commissar's quota for propaganda inspirational pieces) explaining my thoughts about the recent unswing in Black Library publications. The diversity in publications, the flood of new authors, the massive fleshing out of the 40k (and 30k universe). What does it all mean?

Heresy in the Library - Rebirth

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 new Nick Kyme novel, Rebirth, the first in the "Circle of Fire" trilogy detailing the Salamanders chapter and their "legendary" war with the Sisters of Battle against the Black Legion. While I don't know what exactly is so legendary about the "Promethean War", Kyme has seen fit to make another Salamanders trilogy on the matter. So sit back, grab some amasec, and enjoy my review of Rebirth.

Heresy in the Library - The Talon of Horus

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 Talon of Horus, the first in a new trilogy to come out Black Library. Following the origins of the Black Legion, author Aaron Dembski-Bowden begins the trilogy to explain just how and why the Black Legion came about and the trials they faced. It's...different...that's all I am going to say. So let's dive right in to The Talon of Horus!