Warhammer Dwarfs: 8th Edition Review

I've never bothered to really review an army book before, but I thought I might do so here, since I've already been asked a few things about it.

I think it’s fair to say that this book has been eagerly anticipated by most players. Dwarf players are sick of using the same book since the end of 6th edition, and many of them (and their opponents) are well and truly tired of the lack of variety in the list and the extremely static play style that it basically demanded. However, I was worried whether they would be able to tread the fine line of maintaining the fundamental character of the race, and adding some more playability to the list. Did they manage it?

Frosthearted Filth

Having had a High Elf army for many years, my army has many bases covered in terms of painted models. However, I had not yet painted any of the new toys that appeared in the latest book. Over Christmas and my birthday a few weeks later, I managed to get my hands on a number of those things. Now I just need to paint some of them.

I figured I should start with one of the most significant (broken?) additions to the High Elf army - Frostheart Phoenixes. I was given an additional shove by someone wanting to borrow them for an upcoming tournament, which helped me get around to actually doing them. As usual my focus was more on getting them done than making them a work of art, so there was a fair bit of drybrushing involved. On the bright side, it meant they got done very quickly...

Double the filth! 2 Frostheart Phoenixes, each with a different head.

Cancon 2014 Aftermath: Part 1

It's now well over a week since Cancon was run and won, but I am only now getting around to writing up my usual post-tournament report. This was partly because I was still recovering from a long weekend of travel, gaming and not really enough sleep. It hasn't been helped by the apparent death of my normal computer. I think the hard drive caught the BUS only to RAM into your Mother(board)... I don't know what's wrong with it, other than it failing to boot makes me want to boot it somewhere. Ironic, eh?

EDIT: I am now posting this some 5 days after I wrote the stuff above, and nothing much has changed. Computer is still dead, and it's now 2 weeks since Cancon. As such, I thought I had better post what I had, rather than waiting until I had written up all 3 of my first day games. So, this post is only the first game. Sorry...

Anyway, these things aside I still have a report to write. Cancon is an epic 8 games over 3 days, so there is even more reporting to do than for most events. So I shall give up on my usual promise to try to keep things short (which seems to fail anyway) and just get on with things...

The army I entered had a theme of sorts, in that it had Flagellants. Lots of Flagellants. For all the people who kept trying to call them Fanatics over the course of the weekend, they are not called that. Fanatics are small, green, and whirly. My army was somewhat slanted as a result of all these Flagellants, and ended up with no shooting whatsoever. It did have some magic (included partly with the intent of trying to make the Flagellants more impressive), but its ranged prowess was limited. I shall repeat the list here, although I did discuss it a bit before.

My Empire army for Cancon.

• Arch Lector on War Altar with Great Weapon, Heavy Armour, Shield, White Cloak of Ulric
• Wizard Lord of the Light Order (Level 3) on Warhorse with Scroll of Shielding, Talisman of Endurance
• Captain of the Empire with Battle Standard on Barded Steed with Full Plate Armour, Shield, Sword of Might, Dawn Stone
• Battle Wizard of the Amber Order (Level 1) on Warhorse with Dragonbane Gem
• 9 Knights of the Inner Circle with Lances, Standard, Musician, Banner of Swiftness
• 10 Knightly Orders with Great Weapons, Standard, Musician
• 5 Knightly Orders with Lances
• 4 Demigryph Knights with Lances, Standard, Musician
• 28 Flagellants
• 25 Flagellants
• Celestial Hurricanum

Total Army Cost: 2400

Final Swedish Score: 15.3

Battle of Finuval Plain: Turn 6 – Murderous Spite

This is a final turn of the account of the Battle of Finuval Plain. If you missed the previous turn, you can find it here. If you want to go to the Finuval Plain main page, click here.

High Elves Turn 6

High Elves Turn 6. To see a larger version, right-click and select "Open Link in New Tab"

The Witch King had fallen, but so too had the Everqueen's personal champion, Tyrion. It was a psychological blow for both sides, but the High Elves were gaining the upper hand, and dared to hope that this battle might indeed be the moment the invasion was halted and turned back.

The frustration of the Cold One Knights engaging Teclis' Archer bodyguard had reached fever pitch by the time they were surrounded and destroyed by the thundering charge of Silver Helms, Star Dragon and Frostheart Phoenix. It was a terrible assault, and the outcome of the combat was never really in question. The sole survivor of the charge was N'kari's battle standard bearer, who died trying to protect his banner as half the High Elf army closed in around him. Teclis had been rescued, and with him the left flank had been saved.

There's no kill like overkill. The High Elves apply excessive force in removing the Cold Ones from Teclis' flank.

Once more to Cancon

I thought I would interrupt my series of Finuval Plain battle report segments to post briefly about what is coming up this weekend. For what is probably close to the 15^th time for me, I will be heading up to Canberra for the annual event that is Cancon. As always, I will be playing Warhammer Fantasy – and so will another 129 people! This makes it the largest Australian tournament in years, by a fair margin. Cancon is also the only remaining 3 day, 8 game tournament on the calendar. Between that and the huge number of players attending, it's shaping as the big event for the year.

Warhammer at Cancon has a rich history of wildly varied and sometimes terrible composition rules and scores. I've seen peer comp, panel comp, hard caps, really really hard caps, and everything in between. This year the TOs have elected to run Swedish Comp, which I have talked about before. Given that I don't think comp worked all that well last year, and 130 is a stupendous number of lists to assess, I believe the decision is a good one. How it has actually been implemented, I am not so keen on.

Battle of Finuval Plain: Turn 5 – Don't Fail Your Strength Test...

This is a continuation of the account of the Battle of Finuval Plain. If you missed the previous turn, you can find it here. If you want to go to the Finuval Plain main page, click here.

High Elves Turn 5

High Elves Turn 5. To see a larger version, right-click and select "Open Link in New Tab"

The battle continued to be closely fought, with neither side gaining a clear upper hand. The winds of magic gusted and swirled strongly across the battlefield, and the Mages of the High Elves sensed that the moment for dramatic intervention had now come. Opening themselves to the energy around them and channelling it into them, they prepared to unleash a sorcerous onslaught upon their enemies.

The situation is making Teclis nervous.

Battle of Finuval Plain: Turn 4 – A Beast Awakened

This is a continuation of the account of the Battle of Finuval Plain. If you missed the previous turn, you can find it here. If you want to go to the Finuval Plain main page, click here.

High Elves Turn 4

High Elves Turn 4. The flash up the top is the second Comet of Cassandora hitting. To see a larger version, right-click and select "Open Link in New Tab"

With dozens of regiments struggling in bitter hand-to-hand combat and the Witch King having finally committed himself to battle, matters were coming to a head. If the High Elves could push through now, perhaps the Witch King's stranglehold over Ulthuan could be broken.

Behind the Dark Elf lines, another Comet of Cassandora crashed to earth with thunderous force, though slightly less devastation than the High Elf Archmage had hoped. Two enemy Bolt Throwers were vaporised, although the crew of a third managed to dive aside and avoid serious injury. The blast was alarming enough to send the small unit of Crossbowmen guarding the machines running from the field, their duties forgotten.

On the left flank, the Chosen continued to hack at the flank of the White Lions, however true to their reputation, they resisted stubbornly and a single survivor stood his ground defiantly. The frustration of the elite Chaos Warriors was evident, but it was they who had failed to break through to fresh opposition.

I'll take you all!! I don't even need a blade on my axe! I'll club you with my stick (not a euphemism)!