A Break From the Usual Programing + ETC wrap up

The blog will be a bit quiet for the next 6 weeks as I am off holidaying in Europe.

ETC has been played and won by Germany. Congrats go out to them. Our Team NZ where close behind them in 26th place, just being nudged out by the Aussies...

ETC was an awsome experience and I highly recommend anyone who has the opportunity to go take up the challenge.

I finished the weekend with a 14, 11, 10, 10, 9, and a 0!
I managed to loose a K'daai Destroyer and Sorcerer Prophet on Bale Taurus (both undamaged) to a single Skullcannon in my match vs Denmark. The Prophet also managed to fluff all his and the Tuarus's attacks and then fail his break test on 9 to be caught vs Malta, both games turning big wins to draws/losses...
My best match was vs the Netherlands Dark Elves player Evilmonkeylord. Easily the most enjoyable gaming experience I have had in a long time. The game resulted in a draw with 0 vp difference. The Ceczh Republic was a great team to play against as well, as where all our games.

Serbia was a great host nation. The event was organized extremly well and I m told it is the best yet by others. Met a bunch of new friends whom I hope to meet maybe next year. Loved the 0.50 1 litre beers as did all.

I am off to Prague now so may not be posting for a while.

ETC WHFB day one results

Results after end of day one. We havn't been smashed, but need to pick up our game if we want a top 1/2 result

First up today is Northern Ireland

ETC day one is go

Team Kiwi is up bright and early today. No hangovers to speak of and it has nothing to do with the 30 degreeheat in the mornings...

 We have our complete team together for the first (ever after Jimbo dissapeared last night)

The official draw for round one is a little under 2 hours away

ETC Team Kiwi are go

Today I started my journey to Novi Sad for this years ETC.

The event starts Wednesday with the singles event, and Friday the main event kicks off.

I will be posting live updates on Team New Zealands progress throughout the event here on my blog, and also on my twitter account. You can follow me and the team on Jossy@plastic_krak

For a run down on this years team you can listen to Mal & myself on kiwihammer podcast. Go check them out if you havnt already

This years Team NZ is represented by the following:

Simon Turner - Beastmen
David Meachen - Deamons of Chaos
Michael Stewart - Empire
Mark Audley - Bretonnians
James Humphries - Warriors of Chaos
Mal Patel - Lizardmen
Haig McLisky - Ors & Goblins
& myself with Chaos Dwarves

We are captained this year by Chris Willcox, and an honourable mention to Mark Skilton our team tech


Thats all for now. Next stop Dubai

Full ETC lists released

Well after the little teaser we had of breakdown the full lists are now available

You can find them in PDF format here

Team New Zealand will be spending the next few weeks going through them all and analysing team breakdowns and matchups



Updated with most current lists!!!

ETC 2013 - Team New Zealand Army Lists

Team New Zealand has arrived!

Chris Willcox (c)

Simon Turner, Beastmen
Greater Bray Shaman: General, Level 4, Lore of Beasts,Talisman of preservation, hagtree fetish, crown of command, 335
Greater Bray Shaman: Level 4, Lore of the Wild, herdstone, staff of darkoth, 335
Wargor: BSB, Heavy Armour, Shield, gnarled hide, beast banner 206
Bray Shaman: Level 1, Lore of shadows, Dispel Scroll, 100
1 x 47 Gor: Musician, Standard Bearer, Extra Hand Weapons, 391
3 x 5 Ungor Raiders: 30
1 x 9 Ungor Raiders: 54
2 x 1 Tuskgor chariot: 80
1 x 27 Bestigors: FCG, Banner of Discipline, 369
1 x 8 Razorgors: 440
2 x 1 Razorgor: 55
2 x 5 Harpies: 55
Total: 2700

David Meachen, Daemons of Chaos
Great Unclean One: General, Level 4, Lore of Death, Exalted Gift, Lesser Gift, 580
Herald of Nurgle: BSB, Greater Locus of Fecundity, 160
1 x 31 Plaguebearers of Nurgle: FCG, Banner of Swiftness, 448
1 x 11 Horrors of Tzeentch: Musician, 153
2 x 5 Chaos Furies: 60
2 x 1 Beast of Nurgle: 60
1 x 6 Beasts of Nurgle: 360
1 x 5 Plague Drones of Nurgle: Standard Bearer, Plague Probosics, Banner of the Eternal Flame, 320
1 x 1 Skull Cannon of Khorne: 135
Total: 2396

Michael Stewart, Empire 
Arch Lector on War Altar: General, Armour of Destiny, Shield, 304
Battle Wizard Lord: Level 4, Lore of Light, Dispel scroll, 225
Captain of the Empire: BSB, Talisman of Preservation, Full Plate Armour, Shield, 138
Warrior Priest on Barded Warhorse: The White Cloak of Ulric, Heavy armour, Shield, 135
Captain of the Empire on Barded Warhorse: Full Plate Armour, Shield, Ogre Blade, 124
Battle Wizard: Level 1, Lore of light, 65
1 x 10 Knightly Orders: FCG, Inner Circle, Steel Standard, 315
1 x 38 Halberdiers: FCG, 258
D1 8 Archers: 56
D2 8 Archers: 56
2 x 4 Demigryph Knights: Musician, 242
2 x Great Cannon: 120
Total: 2400

Mark Audley, Bretonnia
Bretonnian Lord on Royal Pegasus: General, Questing Vow, Virtue of Heroism, Charmed Shield, Sword of Swift Slaying, Insignia of the Quest, 272
Prophetess of the Lady on Bretonnian Warhorse: Level 4, Lore of Heavens, Dispel Scroll, Crown of Command, 300
Paladin on barded Bretonnian Warhorse: BSB, Shrieking Blade, Gromril Great Helm, 114
Paladin on Royal Pegasus: Shield, Dragonhelm, The Wyrmlance, Gauntlet of the Dual, 152
Damsel of the Lady on Bretonnian Warhorse: Level 1, Lore of Beasts, The Silver Mirror, 120
2 x 5 Knights of the Realm: Champion, 120
1 x 8 Knights of the Realm: FCG, Banner of Swiftness, 231
1 x 8 Knights of the Realm: FCG, Standard of Discipline, 231
1 x 10 Peasant Bowmen: Brazier, 65
2 x 3 Pegasus Knights: Champion, 165
2 x 5 Mounted Yeomen: Musician, 82
2 x 1 Field Trebuchet: 90
Total: 2399

James Humphries, Warriors of Chaos
Sorcerer Lord on Barded Daemonic Mount: General, Level 4, Lore of Tzeentch, Mark of Tzeentch, Dispel Scroll, Ironcurse Icon, Warrior Bane, Armour of Destiny, Obsidian Trinket, Scaled Skin, 455pts
Exalted Hero on Barded Daemonic Mount: BSB, Mark of Tzeentch, Great Weapon, Charmed Shield, Talisman of Preservation, 251pts
3 x Chaos Chariot: Mark of Slaanesh, 115
2 x 5 Chaos Warhounds: Vanguard, 40
1 x 10 Chaos Warhounds: 60pts
2 x 5 Marauder Horsemen: Mark of Slaanesh, Javelin, 80
2 x 8 Chaos Trolls: 280 
2 x 3 Skullcrushers of Khorne: Ensorcelled Weapons, Musician, 244
Total: 2399


Tim Joss, Legion of Azgorh Chaos Dwarves
Sorcerer Prophet on Bale Taurus: General, Level 4, Lore of Hashut, Charmed Shield, Earthing Rod, Talisman of Preservation, 600
Bull Centaur Taur’ruk: Great Weapon, Blackshard Armour, Dawnstone, Dragonhelm, 220
Daemonsmith Sorcerer: Level 2, Lore of Fire, Dispel Scroll, Enchanted Shield, 160
Hobgoblin Khan on giant wolf: 52
Hobgoblin Khan on giant wolf: 52
1 x 20 Hobgoblin Cuttthroats: Musician, Bows, 104
1 x 20 Hobgoblin Cuttthroats: Musician, Bows, Shields, 114 
1 x 30 Chaos Dwarf Infernal Guard: Musician, Standard Bearer, Gleaming Pennant, 385
1 x 3 Bull Centaur Renders: Musician, Shields, 140
1 x 1 Deathshrieker Death Rocket: 100
1 x 1 Magma Cannon: 145
1 x 1 K’Daai Destroyer: 325
Total: 2397

Haig McLisky, Orcs and Goblins
Black Orc Warboss: General, Basha's Axe of Stunty Smashin', Enchanted Shield, Talisman of Endurance, The Other Trickster's Shard, 260
Savage Orc Great Shaman: Level 4, Lore of Da Big Waaargh, Fencer's Blades, Lucky Shrunken Head, Dragonbane Gem, 295
Black Orc Big Boss: BSB, Shield, Armour of Fortune, 152
Night Goblin Shaman: Level 1, Lore of the Little Waaargh, Dispel Scroll, Ironcurse Icon, 80
Night Goblin Shaman: Level 1, Lore of the Little Waaargh, Obsidian Trinket, 65
Goblin Big Boss on Giant Wolf: Short Bow, Light Armour, Shield, Shrieking Blade, Dragonhelm, 73
1 x 29 Savage Orc Big'Uns: FCG, Big Uns , Extra Hand Weapons, 354
1 x 5 Goblin Wolf Riders: Musician, Standard Bearer, Short Bow, Spear, Light Armour, Shield, 85
1 x 10 Orc Arrer Boyz: 70 
1 x 24 Night Goblins: Musician, Standard Bearer, Shields, 2x Fanatics, 142
1 x 19 Black Orcs: FCG, Shields, Standard of Discipline, 297
2 x 1 Goblin Wolf Chariot: 50 
2 x 1 Boar Chariot: 85
1 x 1 Goblin Spear Chukka: 35
2 x 1 Goblin Doom Diver Catapult: 80
1 x 1 Goblin Rock Lobber: 85
2 x 1 Mangler Squig: 65 
1 x 1 Snotling Pump Wagon: 45
Total: 2598

Mal Patel, Lizardmen
Slann Mage Priest: General, BSB, Level 4, Lore of Metal, Soul of Stone, Focused Rumination, Banner of Discipline, Divine Plaque of Protection, Scroll of Shielding, Aura of Quetzl, 450
Scar Veteran on Cold-One: Great Weapon, Light Armour, Talisman of Preservation, Charmed Shield, 166
Scar Veteran on Cold-One: Great Weapon, Light Armour, Dragonhelm, Dawnstone, Venom of the Firefly Frog, 161
Skink Priest: Level 1, Lore of Heavens, Cube of Darkness, Dragonbane Gem, 110
Skink Priest: Level 1, Lore of Heavens, Feedback Scroll, 115
6 x 21 Skink Cohort: Musician, 111
3 x 3 Terradon Riders: 90
3 x 6 Chameleon Skinks: 72
1 x 3 Salamanders, 3 addition handlers: 240 
Total: 2394

ETC WHFB Breakdown

All lists are submitted now and going through scrutinizing as we speak, however we have a teaser...

At a glance:

So we see that not only WoC is very popular (who would have thought...) but High Elves are the new ETC filth as well!

The ever popular Skaven are present in the top 5, as is Empire. VC surprisingly rounding out the top 5 popularity contest this year, but I guess ETC hammer restrictions make them better in this environment. I expect to see Terrorgiests in every list.

The next 5 lists see Daemons still ever present, followed equally by Dark Elves. Orcs and Goblins with their extra 200 points head off Lizardmen who have been hit hard this year by the comp, and snapping at the heals is the rock/paper/scissor filth of Chaos Dwarves. If the 6 nations is anything to go by then 15 of them will be Death/Hell Cannon combos

The ever present Dwarves do not make top 10 this year, and Bretts continue to show they are good in team games by sneaking in ahead of Ogres. Yes Ogres are 4th from last! That is surprising... I guess the comping of Mournfang and Funblasters really touched a few in the wrong places.

Beastmen still struggle for love from the player base down in 14th despite the extra points, and Tomb Kings second to last after suffering a nerf to the popular light council builds of last year. And rounding out last place is Wood Elves. Either someone knows something nobody else does or the Aussies have misread the meta terribly!

I will do a more in depth analysis once lists are fully revealed.

Things just got real...

Equinox Roundup - Battlereports

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending my first singles tournament of the year being Equinox. I took this as an opportunity to practice for the ETC later this year and entered a Chaos Dwarf army based on the Tamurkhan Books Legion of Azgorh. After running them at the NZTC earlier this year I was looking to get a variety of games in against a host of the other slave races, and not just Daemons.

The event was an interesting one in that we had 4 games on the first day, followed by a break on Sunday morning and 2 games in the afternoon. Something to do with a booking cock up from the Auckland Council.
The draw for the first round was published a few days before the event and we went in almost blind with none of the lists readily available pre tournament.

So the first settlement I came across was James Brown and his Ogres. James had been playing the good game all week with the "pre tournament smack" and had even gone as far as starting what can only be a new additional sideline competition going forward. The Battle of the blogs was on an New Zealands top Warhammer Celebrity would be decided this weekend. 

Lining up opposite me was all the usual suspects except this build had a tonne of fire wards. James, where you expecting my company? Being a crafty little Jafa, James lined up his little fatties all in a row as to minimise any magmacannon pain coming his way. James then lucked up and grabbed first turn, getting off a 2D6 fireball and taking out my Magmacannon first turn, followed up by laser guided cannonball taking out a Death Shrieker Rocket. To add to my misery a hobgoblin unit decided to leg it after failing an animosity test. I got my own back with the other Death shrieker rocket taking out the Ironblaster. The game was them spent with each of us out-maneuvering each other with me avoiding the Gutstar with the Bowser the K'Daai and James avoiding the K'daai with the Mournfang. Henery Khan managed to run around all game picking up heroic 1v1's with Sabre Tusks. The little (hob)goblin that could...This resulted in 10 slaves captured and 10 getting away. A draw in anyones books

Game two was against Russell and his VC. Normally not a very good matchup for the Dawi Zharr but in this case I wasnt to realise till after "what could have been". Russell had a Terrorgiest, or what I like to call it, no.1 top priority to kill. He also had a Black Knight Bus loaded up with leaches, and some skittles and what not to match. After taking out the no.1 target, my artillery spent the game working on dropping the numbers of skittles. Some timely casting of ash storm stopped them coming back. I fed the Bus with Henry first, followed by the Bull Centaurs whilst I ran around the back of the bus with Bowser and the Prophet after it survive a "going down the hole" roll. Meanwhile, my hobgoblins decided it was time to leg it again, and fled from the oncoming Ghouls. Early in the game Russell miscast and feedback caused wounds on a bunch of his characters allowing me the ability to snipe his BSB with curse of Hashut. This resulted in me picking up 12 slaves to his 8. After the game Russell pointed out that he had the flaming banner on his Bus, and only mundane weapons on the characters in the bus, and wondered why I didn't change in with Bowser. I had no answer except top bash my head against the table...

After kicking myself some more it was time for me top face Mike Stewart, a future (and past) team mate of the upcoming ETC. We had a mission this time, King of the Hill!. Mike had Empire with only one chicken Knights, however there was 2 cannons... Knowing my armies worst enemy was on the board in the form of cannons, I decided I would try just running at him. Yeah I want to be an Ogre deep down and push everything forward. A rolled up first turn and after hiding behind a hill I flew up the prophet and zapped a cannon with a 2D6 flaming wrath, but only picked up 2 wounds. I then finished it off with a Death Shrieker. Henry ran up the right flank into a grap shot from the other cannon. Meanwhile Bowser steamrolled right into the Halberdiers bunker with the L4 caster in tit and spent the next few turns grinding it to dust. I left the Great Swords alone whilst leading around the chickens until the Prophet could come over and deal with them. I sat some hobgoblins on the hill after chasing of some archers and collected myself 19 new slaves for the trouble, letting one get away. Damn it I still can't believe I didn't pick up on the flaming banner in the Black Knight Bus...

Game 4. Game on. Lining up opposite me was Rob's Chaos Warriors made up of many classic miniatures from GW's hay days. Looking good Rob. I started out by landing a perfect magmacannon shot on the trolls, removing 4 out of 5. The last one then spent the game hiding behind a hill whilst the cork come out the magmacannon and it blew itself up. The Hellcannon was dropped first turn to a combined Death Shrieker attack and I started pushing a refused flank in the hole I had made. I loose anothe Death Shrieker to a msifire and the Prophet survives another "down the hole" miscast  after zapping the Tzeentch Sorcerer Bowser then makes contact with 18 Warriors and a L2 sorcerer and cleans them up. Robs Tzeentch lord then ties him down for the rest of the game and I throw Henry under the skullcrushers to save them contacting Bowser. I pick up 13 slaves for my efforts.

Game 5 and a new venue. Tom is next up and another Ogre matchup to contend with. I start by giving Tom, a former ETC player and stuntie player a lesson on what it feels like to line up agaisnt a classic Dwarf deployment... Yeah I turtle up in the corner. Fist turn and another perfect Magmacannon shot. Bye bye Ironguts. I take 4 wounds off the Ironblaster but don't finish it off. In return Tom uses it to take out the Magmacanon. Tom tries to entrap my K'daai but I manage to get it in behind his lines. My Prophet takes out Toms "Bruiser who thinks he's an Arabian Prince" and overruns into 2 mournfang. A timely ashstorm stops the 4 mournfang in their tracks. I try make an Ogre sammich (between Bowser and the Prophet) but Tom bails all his chars into the Bulls before Bowser gets in to finish the ironguts. Tom lets me have a hardcast Burning wrath which I then roll up 12 hits on the remaining 4 strong Mournfang, killing 2. This however allows Tom the ability to charge my warmachines as Henry is no longer redirecting them. The Mournfang clean up a Death shrieker before overruning into the other one, which in turn allows me to charge the fangs in the flank with my Infernal Guard breaking them. I pick up 16 slaves for my troubles this game.

Last game and I am matched against the undefeated Ross and his Warriors of Chaos. He has a nasty list, including Skullcrushers, chariots, and the unkillable Tzeentch disc lord, not to mention that Nurgle Daemon Prince build we all love... Split deployment sees my Prophet and Bowser lined up opposite Ross's Helcannon and Daemon Prince. I get first turn and push up the flank with them. The DP and HC are out of range of the Death Shriekers so with the help of the Magma cannon they take of the Chimera instead. I zapp the DP with Curse of Hashut and take a wound off. In my second turn Bowser charges into the Hellcannon whilst the Prophet flies in behind the DP and zapps it again. Ross throw 6 dice at it to dispel, and rolls a 1,1,1,1,2 and 3... yeah. I cause 5 wounds in which he saves one. Bye bye DP. I fireball off some chaff and shoot some dogs. Poor puppies. Meanwhile, both Hobgoblin units feel that things are going so well that they are not needed, so leg it... again... and the magmacannon kills 4 or 5 Warriors each turn before the Tzeentch lord takes it off. The warriors flee the field. At this point Ross is felling extremely under the weather and asks to call the game. The game is called and we work out I have captured another 16 slaves all up. 

So that ends my first outing with the Dawi Zharr in a singles event, and with well over 40 attending I pick up 1st place over all, after the tie breaker with Ross. Not a bad way to start the year. I am happy at how the Chaos Dwarves are preforming so far and got some good practice in for the ETC later this year. The tournament was very tight at the top, with Dan Butler (WOC) out scoring me on battlepoints but with an unpainted army, and 13 points splitting the top 22 players!  I bagged 84 slaves out of a possible 120 so I hope the tower masters will be pleased. 

A New Beginning

So this is my first post for the new year, after a very quiet blogging month in December. I had not found much time at all to do anything hobby related during the silly season, much to my disappointment, and the world didn't end, much to my amusement!

So 2013 starts off with a big self serving xmas present to myself in the form of a new army...

After spending all of 2012 marching the dead legions to war, I am starting on a new journey for 2013. I achieved all the goals I had set myself with my Tomb Kings at the beginning of the year. Often regarded as the weakest of the new books and a bottom tier army in the competitive arena, I managed to get a tournament win (4 wins in the end!), made it to the masters tournament, and get selected to team NZ ETC 2013.

This year I enter the slave trade. The Dawi Zharr will march forth from their Ziggurats in the far east scouring the lands for more victims to toil in the blasted forges of the fallen ones. Not only will my new slavers see the light of the old world, so will my retired army of Daemons come to the fore when/if the rumoured new book arrives this February. 

These will be my major projects for the year. In addition I have some other things I wish to finish off. I started making a modular gaming table mid last year that typically never got finished. I also have my Horus Heresy legion that I started, although I am wavering on the actual legion, I want to get 1500-2000 points done by 2014 (I have quickly begun to hate painting yellow). There is also the apocalypse scale Necron army that needs to be refreshed and finished.

So my New Years Hobby goals are

• Build a Chaos Dwarf army
• Rebuild my Daemon army
• Finish my modular gaming table
• Finish painting my Necron army
• Make a 1500 point Horus Heresy Legion
• Buy and paint a Titan (or something else as epically scaled)
• Find some other project to throw me completely off my other goals 

Some hefty goals to achieve, and probably unrealistic knowing how good I am at procrastinating. Somewhere in all that I hope to finish painting my Tomb Kings which sit 90% done.

And I guess I should throw down my gaming goals as well, since I do enjoy the competitive side of Warhammer. NZ has such a great WHFB community at the moment and a tournament environment that has solidly moved into the little to no comp environment.

• Attend 3 NZ WHFB Tournaments
• Win a NZ Tournament
• Achieve a podium at NZ Masters (providing I actually make it that far!)
• Attend the ETC

I would also like to organise and/or run a tournament this year, but thanks to my location I do not think this is a realistic goal. 

At the end of the year I will dig this post up gain and see how well I have done.

Oh and lol puppies will feature this year. You have been warned.

NZ 2013 ETC Team announced

This weekend has seen the NZ ETC team be announced for 2013 in Serbia August 8-12

Chris Willcox (non playing cap)
Mal Patel
Tim Joss
Simon Turner
Michael Stewart
James Humphries
Mark Audley
Haig Mclisky
Dave Meachen
Mark Skilton (team tech)

This will be Chris's first outing as team captain replacing Dave Grant and it looks like he has a strong line up (and no its not cause I am on the team!) with several caps returning. I'm happy to have been selected for the team!

ETC 2013

Another tournament season has come to a close and its time to start thinking about 2013.

I've thrown my name into the hat for Team NZ 2013 in Novi Sad, Serbia. The team is going to be selected on the Friday 14th December so there is still plenty of opportunity to put your name forward if your keen. ETC is held in or around August traditionally.

Best way is to contact "archer" (Chris Willcox) on The Warhammer Forum as he is the Team Captain for 2013, and I can also pass your details onto him.