Objectives

We have noticed that there are a lot of objectives needed for the new 40k. A trip to the bits box got the juices going and I give you Gobbo the artist.

After the recent battle some of the Da Boyz returned to scene to pick over the remains. They luckily came across some unused bombz.

Da Bombz

With no Trukk Da Boyz decided to hide the bomb and hastily threw a shelter together that would hide the loot.

Da Hideout

Da bombz were quickly tucked away.

Hidden Stash

At this point Gobbo the grot came ambling up and so he was left in charge of the bombz until Da Boyz could find some transport.

No-one mentioned that this was a hide away. Gobbo thought it would be a good idea to make the place easy to find and so....

Gobbo the artist

painted a big Bombz sign on the side of the hide away. I sure hope that Da Boyz get back there quickly or someone else might just see that sign and then there will be trouble!

The green tide cometh!

Warhammer 40k, 8th Edition. I have decided that there is no point comparing it to previous editions. It is a new game with new rules and making backward looking comparisons is just a waste of time. Like any new game it takes a while to settle into its routine and once the basics have become natural you can begin to have fun with the combinations made possible by the new playing mechanics.

Last night we played our second game of 8th edition. This time we played battle forged armies and set the limit at 1000points. We used the command points for the first time and rolled on the table for mission and deployment style. My Orks v's the Dark Templar Marine salamanders. We played on a 4X4 table.

I kept my play style very simple and went with the 'green tide' Ork style. I just wanted to 'feel my way' into the game. We were strict with ourselves and followed the phasing very deliberately. This went really well and gave us structure.

1000 point Ork Army

I had 100 models on the table to the Dark Templars 24. He was intimidated for sure. I didn't take Ghazghkull nor did I take any Warbosses. I wanted to save them for another day. I did take a Painboy, Boss Zagstruck, Nob with Warbanner and my leader for the night a Weirdboy. I didn't take Da Jump again something for the future I took the more conservative Warpath instead. I just wanted to see how the boyz would do.

I had: -

30 boyz, nob with PK
30 boyz, nob with PK
15 boyz, nob with PK
20 stormboys, nob with PK

All this meant I did not have to remember lots of different Ork rules. I could settle into the game ruleset. This gave me a battalion detachment and 3 command points on top of the 3 you have as standard. I could have easily tweaked the list to also have a second battalion but again I kept it basic for this game.

Ork Set-up

I set the boyz up with a declined flank so leaving the left side clear.

The marines set-up in the middle of the board opposite. We alternated one squad at a time.

Marines set-up

The Dread was separated off to the left. This was done deliberately to take away landing areas from my Stormboyz. Good move DT.

I had the first turn and I advanced the green tide. The first thing to note here is that characters move separately and as such have to be rolled for separately so there can be some disconnect. This can be a problem if the boyz get away in front because you really want the buffs from the characters. I will need to think about this for the future. I think that greater care is needed in the set-up to make this unlikely. I had the characters behind the boyz, and the boyz were keen.

I went for it and brought in the Stormboyz on the left hand side 'declined' flank.

Stormboyz arrive

What a sweet sight. I advanced them and lost a couple guys doing that but this improved my charge chances. The charge was successful and I was in. I went for the 'first blood' victory point and completely destroyed the 6 man veteran squad before spreading out to entangle the other troops.

It felt great!

However there are lessons to learn. The Boss is not part of the squad and has to be rolled for separately. I had him attack a different target, the Razorback. This was a mistake and I nearly lost him. In future I would declare the charge against two units and this would give him protection. I would also put him against troops.

I also note that everyone gets an extra attack if there are more than 20 models so in future I will always take a larger unit that can afford to lose a few guys and still retain this advantage. Probably take the full 30.

Positioning before and after the 3" secondary move is really essential so that everyone gets tied up. I am going to have to really think about this. I was lucky in that I did tie up all the units but I very nearly didn't succeed in this aim.

Stormboyz in action

Had the Boss gone against the marines and had I got 20 additional attacks because the squad was the right size I could have been much more devastating. I declared all the boyz against the six man squad and could have killed 12 marines with the result, a waste. I should have split the attacks and taken the additional overwatch. There are real lessons to learn here.

I could support this chaos with some Kommando's or indeed some fast attack buggies or ..... there are options and many of them to consider but it would to great to feel some more help arriving before the boyz finally make it.

The boyz arrive

And make it they did! They were buffed by the Warbanner and the Weirdboy's Warpath giving +1 attack and +1 to hit. I didn't get them all into the action I would guess at least 10 - 15 had no attacks and this was just a big mistake. They get 2 attacks normal ,+1 for the choppa, +1 for Warpath, that's four and the PK was in the wrong place - idiot - and both the nob with Warbanner and the Wierdboy had fallen behind and could'n't charge and the Painboy had been mugged because of the same problem. Just silly stuff. But missing out on 40 attacks and not getting the characters in was crazy. Note to self - learn from this experience.

Anyway - I missed the opportunity to smash all before me. Too many errors in both set-up and tactics. The marines held on and in the end the only two people left on the field were both the marine characters.

I was delighted for the Dark Templar. He fought stoutly and just inched his way into the winning position. It was a great night and the game is definitely fun to play. Congrats to the DT and my Wierdboy will be getting a yellow streak on his cloak to remember his actions on this night ;-)

Ghazghkull in Da House

Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thrakka (Ghaz to his mates) strode across the broken piles of mechanisation that had once been the advance party of the Dark Templar Marines. Broken pieces of Annihilator, crushed under the weight of his boots. Ghazghkull was here and this could only mean one thing....

Ghazghkull Thrakka

Waaagh!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The new Space Marine Codex comes out on Saturday. There will be marines to kill - Oh Yes.

I do hope you all appreciate my take on Dark Templar purple, and I can confirm that Annihilator's make such wonderful 'door mats'!

Its choppa time!

Last night we played our first game of Warhammer 40k, 8th Edition. The Dark Templar brought his infamous Dark Templar marines to the table and I dusted off my trusty Orks. He has been building this army for as long as I have known him.

My Orks

I brought 30 Boyz, 30 Stormboyz, 15 Lootas in a Battlewagon along with a Warboss. Nothing complicated so that we could get a feel for the game.

It wasn't long before I was using my chopper like a can opener on those lovely shiny marines.

30 Stormboyz will make a mess alright

To be fair we were just messing around. This is not the 40k we are used to at all! We were learning the new rules and unlearning everything we thought we knew and still making tonnes of errors. Our dice rolling was also shockingly poor, I mean seriously!

It was good fun but it did feel odd.

A picture speaks a thousand words

 How did it work out? Take a good look at the picture and judge for yourself. A satisfactory collection of heads to be sure.

Deff Rolla

I have spent some time looking at some of the heavy metal options for the Orks. I do like a big bit of kit on the table and for whatever reason I seem to have a lot of good luck using them in game especially the Deff Dread.

However a particular option for the Battlewagon has caught my eye and it feels like a proper Ork addition to a vehicle - the Deff Rolla!

Deff Rolla

In the 8th Edition the Battlewagon has a WS and can therefore get stuck into Melee. Now there is a big change! So what can it do?

It has a WS of 5+ so a bit crap, it will need to roll 5 or above to hit. On the up side it has a S8 and 6 attacks. All in all, not great. Until you read the Deff Rolla rules. It has the Strength of the User, in this case 8, AP-2 and you add 3 to the hit rolls.....what?!

So now you get 6 attacks, hitting on a 2+ with a Strength of 8 so that it is double most infantry Toughness meaning 2+ to wound and AP-2 significantly reduces the armour save. Even against marines that is some serious damage. 6 Attacks needing 2+ to Hit, 2+ to Wound and armour save of 5+.

I think I need to get me one of these beauties! Bitz Box here I come.

8th Edition Tankbustas

As those that know me will testify, I just love the Tankbastas. I love the very idea of them. They want to go out there and maul vehicles. It is so understandable and just so Orky! They have rokkits and rokkit pistols and tank hammers and bombs of every sort and of course my real favourite Squig bombs!

The Best!

There can be 15 boyz in the unit and you can add 2 squig bombs for every 5 boyz. The boyz are all armed with S8 Rokkit Launchas. They can swap in close combat stuff but I prefer to attack from distance. As usual the downside here is the BS of 5 meaning you need 5+ to hit. So that is an average of 5 hits per turn for the 15 boyz probably needing 3+ to wound but....

Each squig bomb, and there are six, has a BS of 2 and a range of 18". They are single use as explode  with the bomb. They have S8, AP-2 and D6 damage. Now that is pretty cool indeed and their deaths are ignored for the purposes of morale.

If we close the distance to the target the boyz can use Tankbusta Bombs with R6", Grenade D3, S8, AP-2 and D D6. Not bad for Orks and the D3 grenade is a big help to increase the volume of hits as is the D6 damage, especially against multi wound vehicles.

Da Boyz

The unit also benefits from 'Ere we go (re-roll failed charge rolls) and Mob Rule (use the leadership characteristic of any unit within 6")

The thing that really sets them apart though is the Tank Hunters rule. This means that they can  re-roll failed hit rolls when attacking vehicles. Oh yes indeedy folks. This really gives them an edge. In effect it doubles the number of hits achievable.

And for the Squigs .... they hit on a 2+ with a re-roll. In my book that is six guaranteed hits then. For shooting this is as good as it gets!

Now just imagine that there is a particular vehicle that you really want to take out. Weirdboy use Da Jump to move the Tankbustas within 9". Deploy the Bomb Squigs and throw the Tank Busta bombs. So what are we talking as averages against a T7 vehicle?

Bomb Squigs - 6 hits needing 3+ to wound so that is 4 wounds D6 should make it 12 and AP-2 should mean only a 6 will save so with 2 saves that is 10 wounds.

Tankbusta bombs - 5 hits, re-roll the 10 miss's another 3 hits, thats 8, D3 grenade should make it 16 hits needing 3+ to wound call that 10 wounds, D6 should make it 30 and AP-2 should mean only a 6 will save so with 5 saves that is 25 wounds.

In summary - No more vehicle - it is merely a pile of smoking metal with some very happy Tankbusta Boyz standing nearby taking selfies.

8th Edition Loota's

It is a well known fact that Orks are CRAP at shooting. BS of 5 so needing 5+ to hit after which you have to Wound and then the opposing unit gets a chance to make armour saves. The math tell you that this does not add up to much damage.

So how on earth do you get to lay down some serious ranged damage. May I have the pleasure of introducing the Ork Loota.

Loota's

The unit can include 15 Loota's They are armed with Deffguns with R48", Heavy D3, S7, AP-1 and D2.

Things to note: -
1) 48" range. You can stand outside the range of most opposing units and still be effective. This is an important advantage.

2) Heavy, D3. You roll one dice and apply the outcome to the entire unit. So you will have either 15 shots, 30 shots or 45 shots. Volume baby. Likely 33% hit so 5, 10 or 15 hits. Lady luck will have play her part. Heavy makes the unit static so consideration can be given to put the unit in a transport for added mobility and protection. Likely a Battle Wagon to optimise the number of troops in the unit.

3) S7 so when to hit you are likely to be doing damage. Probably wounding on 3+, 66%.

4) D2 so that is doubling the damage if the target has multiple wounds.

5)AP-1 reduces the armour save by one.

That is some tasty output.

Up to 3 Loota's can be replaced with Spanner's. Spanners come with the Mekaniak special rule that allows them to repair a vehicle would once per turn. So it might be worth swapping out one of the Lootas for a Spanner. Bearing in mind that we want these guys operating from distance consideration could be given to arming him with a Souped-up-weapon. Maybe a Kustom Mega Blasta with R24", Assault 1, S8, AP-3, D D3. I think I would likely stick with the Loota's myself.

I think it is safe to say that many an Ork general will be including some Lootas.

Da Boyz are back in town - WAAAAAAGH!

This blog started as a Waaaaagh so this brings us full circle.

It had to happen, the 8th edition has been published and I have been to get my copy. So what does it mean for the green skins? It's all change in the 40k world but is it a good thing? 7th edition was a disaster for Orks. They were pretty unplayable. These are my first thoughts on the new rules.

My beloved 'Ard Boyz are gone. They have been a mainstay for years and, if I am reading the codex right, they the are gone. RIP. They were the first thing I went looking for. Downhearted, I flicked on through the pages. Things got better, much better.....

Da Boyz

STATS
First up, Da Boyz are now S4 and I like it.

FEARLESS
The Mob Rule ability means that the units can use the number of models in the unit instead Leadership for morale. The allowable unit size is up to 30 so this is encouraging the Green Tide. We can be Fearless again. Superb!

Note all template weapons are gone from the game so no need for all that spacing out Da Boyz to maximise the 2" allowable gap. Much better for the green skins and for playing generally.

MOVEMENT
Move is reduced to 5", boo hiss. There is now an Advance option where the unit can move forward a further D6". Charge is a 2D6 test and the 'Ere We Go ability allows this to be re-rolled. There is a 3" Piling In allowance and a Heroic Intervention allowance of 3" for Characters.

So basically move 5", Advance D6 say 3" (8" total), Charge 2D6, with re-rolls, should be 8" (16" total), to Move within 1" of the enemy (17" total) then everything else comes Piling In and uses Heroic Intervention for characters. Yip - that is potentially a good long way!

Disembarking vehicles has to be done before the vehicle moves. So no more racing Da Boyz forward in Trukks and jumping out for some choppa fun. Alternatives need to be found.

Wierdboyz can now choose their Power of Waaagh discipline. Da Jump is a real possibility as a unit can be moved to within 9" of the enemy.

Stormboyz are interesting too. They have a 12" move. They can Advance and Charge the same turn (with some downside but ...). They also have 'Ere we Go and Mob Rule. Upto 30 in a unit. Gosh. So using 12" instead of 5" above thats 24" total. Potential to be in combat during the first turn.

Kommandos can sneak in behind the enemy. He, he. I have used this to my advantage before.

When it is all done units can Consolidate a further 3" towards the enemy.

FIGHTING
I have been having a look through the latest fight rules the first thing that strikes is that Initiative is gone so Da Boyz can hit first when they charge. A proper first for Orks. Yipee!

Waaagh

Overwatch is still a pain, but such is life.

And so to dice......Da Boyz get 2 attacks, plus an attack for using a Choppa (3A's), plus an attack for Green Tide (being more than 20 models in the unit) (4A's), A Wierdboy with Warpath plus another attack (5A's), add Ghazghkull Thraka with his Great Waagh so Da Boyz can Advance and Charge in the same turn and you also get plus one attack for every model in the unit (6A's). I am making that 180 attacks plus the extra ones for Nobs and Boss's etc. Throw in a Waagh Banner and you get plus one to the hit rolls. I mean seriously! (not sure how this will work out points wise but even the thought of it.....)

I think I am going need some more dice and a bloody big bucket to throw them :-)

I am also going to need more models and I just never thought that would be the case with all the Orks currently in my possession.

SUMMARY
Da Boys are back in town - Waaaaaagh!!