I Smell Er-rat-ta

Greetings Gentlereaders,

Today I'm going to do my best to cover the direct effects and metagame implications of the recent errata document released by Privateer Press. There's some very simple, but impactful changes that hit a certain pair of epic sisters, and everyone's favorite mad scientist.  Combine that with some buffs to under-loved models and it feels like PP isn't just attempting to fix rules writing problems and typos, but rather to fix their mistakes in balancing models.  After my experience with GW erratas and their liberal use of "the most important rule," I'm happy to see something addressing perceived balance problems, even if they aren't addressing some of the problems I've heard are the most egregious.  With that preface, let's dig into these changes.

Intergalactic Toys Hits Indy

Hey folks, welcome back.  So continuing my unplanned stint away from the Grim Dark, I come today bearing more of a news spot and review rather than my usual observations and musings.  Recently a friend of mine had asked me "Hey... wanna go to this new toy store here in town?"  Me being the ever-poor, but nerd that I am couldn't resist the urge to check out a toy store.  My original mindset was that I would go and take a look around, but probably not buy anything.  Money is tight these days. And yet I still failed spectacularly not to buy something...

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!

The Eternal Crusade: Founders Unleashed

Hey everyone, welcome back to Rites of Battle.  While we always love you guys showing up to read our prattling 'ons, today I wanted to let you guys know that another site across the internet, formed in the shadows of the warp itself, has birthed into life a new creation in the Grim Dark.  BEhavior has launched their founders program for the Eternal Crusade, slated for sometime next year.

The program is basically the players' chance to pre-order the game, as well as save some character and guild names, and even load up on some extra in-game goodies.  While the selection of races and the unique factions within them are still pretty limited (sadly no Black Templar in there), it's shaping up the be a fantastic core to what will be a first in the Grim Darkness.

For those of you interested in checking it out for yourself, or even signing up, follow this link.  As a Founder myself, I am trying to do my part to get new faces who may be interested in checking it out on board.

Link to Eternal Crusade

With this slated for next year, as well as the Lord Inquisitor fan-movie coming in the next year or two (link to an awesome video for those who missed it), and not to mention the new found life form 7th edition, this is a great era indeed for the Grim Dark.  Almost as though the Golden Age of Wonder has returned.

I'll look forward to seeing you guys around the next corner, and hopefully soon I will have the next installment of the Tru-Scale codex.  Until then...

Cheers!

The Arrival of the Knights & Thoughts on Enhancing the Quality of the 40k Experience

Hey there everyone, and welcome back to Rites of Battle.  While my personal life has pretty much crumbled under my feet, I thought it unfair to neglect my responsibilities to those of you who return time and again to read about 40k.  While I have been somewhat detached from news, some things haven't completely escaped my eyes and ears, and it seems that these are sparking quite the discussion on the Wartrukk regarding the state of the game.  This got me thinking yet again on how to improve some of what I perceive as weak points, and even failings on the part of the Games Workshop design team, and while I won't claim to have perfect solutions, It has always been taught to me that you should try to present some alternatives or solutions if you are going to voice a dissenting opinion of the topic at hand.  Not only this, but I'd love to give a quick thought on the spark of the whole debate, as well as some shout outs to recent events.

It's a jam packed article, so sit down, strap in, and enjoy.

A Full Docket

Hello everyone.  There isn't much in the way of content here, but I wanted to let everyone know that with the new year has come several major events in the area.  Several tournaments and Narrative themed Apocalypse events have been scheduled.  To help you guys plan for the events, we've updated the Event Calendar here on Rites to give you the best idea of what all is going on and when.

Check out the Rites of Battle Event Calender and start painting your models.  The new year is certainly starting out with a bang!

Cheers!

40k MMORPG Public Forum Opens

So with the license to the 40k mmorpg picked up, work has been going steady to get this title up and running.  The designers have produced some excellent information and prep videos featuring the slightest tidbits of gaming details.  They have even started their own armies to get more into the game, which is cool in my book.

Today I received an email that their public forum has opened.  So if you are interested in chatting with other like-minded gitz, check out their forums

HERE

Cheers!

From the Vastness of Space...

A friend and long time 40k player recently informed me this past weekend that he hosts his own blog.  He has a vast array of armies and approaches the game in a great way mixing skill and fun.  Rites of Battle is happy to add him to the Wargamer's Blog List.

Check it out.

Forgeworld: New and Improved!

 Link to the the Updated Forgeworld page.

For those of you who do not frequent GW's largest (and only) subsidiary company's website, it might be a different experience for you when you return.  With the success of the Horus Heresy only just starting and the large quantity of models it now has, the website has been updated substantially, including the checkout process.

One does have to wonder however with so many alternative routes to obtaining the highly detailed resin models through third party sources for upwards of 20% + savings... will this update be worth the time and money invested?

History Repeats itself in Recent David vs. Goliath

A Press Release from Winston & Strawn LLP

CHICAGO, IL – In a classic David-versus-Goliath battle, Winston & Strawn LLP represented Chapterhouse Studios LLC on a pro bono basis in a cutting-edge federal trademark and copyright dispute in the Northern District of Illinois (Games Workshop Limited v. Chapterhouse Studios LLC 1:10-cv-8103). The verdict of this jury trial, held in June 2013 before Judge Matthew Kennelly, confirms that copyright and trademark law should not be used to block add-on products. Winston & Strawn has litigated the case since 2010, and co-counsel law firm Marshall Gerstein joined the matter in 2012.

GW strikes again!

It appears that GW has deemed it necessary to send Bell of Lost Souls (BoLS) as well as Faiet 212 a CND order due to posting of upcoming/current White Dwarf publicized magazines.  With these being some of the game's major contributors to the online community, what does this mean for the future of 40k's online communities.

Dark Vengeance Rules

 Well there is very little here to be surprised about, but here are the leaked pictures of the new Dark Vengeance rules!  As a side note, I was a little surprised to see the Lord not being a little more tough than he is, as his stats mirror that of a generic SM Captain.  Time will tell if this is what we see in the new CSM Codex.

I did catch something a little interesting about that chaplain.  I'm hoping that this pulls over into the standard game rules, but I noticed his litanies allow him to re-roll 1's on shooting attacks as well as melee.  I wonder if that might pull over into chaplains across the board when the fabled "Mass F.A.Q.s start dropping."  A little less in melee as it's only the 1's that re-roll, but it would applying to shooting would be pretty nice considering 6th's shiny new shooting rules.

Cheers!

Making Sense out of Cents

So as most everyone in the community is aware, the prices are going up generally across the board in 40k.  These days, you can count on relatively few things, but it seems some of the few constants are taxes suck, gas is expensive, and GW will raise their prices.  So why does this happen?  What are we to do?

New Wolf & Tyranids to be Released

List to the prices for New Models

These new models look pretty darned good.  I did like the design similarities between the new big baddy creatures of the Nids to the Herophant Bio-Titan.

Though, these models would have been nice a year ago... you know, before everyone already built there own.  If G.W. would put half the energy into putting out models more expeditiously as they do shutting down 3rd party model makers covering their gaps, we might have a lot more diversity in the hobby and on the table top.

Plug and Preview

Good day everyone and Happy Thanksgiving! I hope you all had a good time celebrating with your families and that you survived the commercial carnage of Black Friday. I'll be trying to write more, as I've been busy for the last few months, but before I jump into an idea on army composition I'd like to give a little plug to some friends of mine who are opening a new game shop.

Incoming!

Deepstriking onto the radar is a new box I wouldn't have called from way of of left field. Chaos Daemons now have a battalion (battleforce) to help get those daemonic players a start. It seems to come with a whole host of daemons representing all of the dark gods but Nurgle. Must be too nice to put resin in a big box :P. And it's not too bad if you are looking to get a host of daemons for an undivided army. That said, those who favor one or two gods may do better to simply buys their units alone.

A few new toys did come into play though. A Finecast herald of Tzeench on disk being the main focus and some very pretty resin banners.

I was pleasantly surprised to see some of the Archon's command squad units finally have some models.

Pics can be seen here from GW's site.

No One Expects...

The folks over at Heresy-Online have done it again. The most beautiful of armies now has at least a first impression look at our disposal. Katie Drake, I tip my servo skull to you on this most excellent work.


Grey Knight First Look


Note: Yes the photos are blurry... but for a first look it looks great.

Another Note: The sword on my Dreadnought feels too small now. Curse you Dreadknight!!!

Forgeworld's Little Secret

There has been a lot of talk floating around the interweb about these two pictures forgeworld released. The only hint they gave was that the time frame in which these models belong is in fact the present (so they aren't technically heresy helms) but they look beautiful.

As for me, I hope they belong to a new Templar set, as they do look very much like the helms I have. But they could also be a Grey Knight set, or something brand new. Who knows what the mystery is.

What about you guys? Any thoughts on the matter?

Well, screw you too, GW.

So, here is the first.

And the second.

As you guys may have previously informed, Daemonhunters no longer have rules to ally with other codices.

Some armies enjoyed those old pieces of wargear, and they just got the big one from Geims Waaaghkshop. Sure, these are now available for free, but what's the damned point, unless you have a royal hardon for Grey Knights?

Question is: might this be an indicator of a new army book coming soon, or GW reminding us what Marcellus Wallace looks like?