Announcement - TERA F2P Starting February 5th

Recently I started playing TERA; recent as in, I haven't even hit level 10. But the only reason I started playing is cos I got wind that TERA will be going Free to Play sometime in February (ever since WoW I no longer play any subscription fee based game). And I tell you, after playing the Unlimited Free Trial, the game is AWESOME! In my personal opinion, TERA is much more fun to play than Guild Wars 2 (more fun, I never said better).

I highly recommend you play TERA with a controller, either a 360 controller or a PS3 controller (I think it supports a PS3 controller; I know for a fact it supports a 360 controller as that's what I use). Just remember to change a few key bindings to suit your preference. Really, the default key bindings really aren't that great.

Anyway, who care's about what I'm saying. Onto what En Masse Entertainment is saying:

Space Marine Legion Tactics - Legion Breacher Siege Squad

When Space Marine Legions are in a siege, their core troops are the Legion Breacher Siege Squad. Not only are the the core troops of a siege, they are also vanguard assault force in the worst conditions of war. Some Space Marine Legions have a strong preference for these kinds of warfare, specifically the Imperial Fists, Iron Warriors and World Eaters.

The Legion Breacher Siege Squad is literally designed for Siege Warfare and Zone Mortalis. In all respects, this squad would be my go to choice for any Zone Mortalis game (it fits theme and they count as Void Hardened). Otherwise, you can treat them exactly like a Legion Tactical Squad. Hell, they are almost the same (emphasis on the word almost).

Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm and The Elder Scrolls Online New Cinematics

Well I just found out today that a new Cinematic has been released for both Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm and The Elder Scrolls Online.

Check out both videos now!!

I tell you, I'm extremely excited for both!! Tho less on Starcraft 2: Heart of the Swarm and more on The Elder Scrolls Online. I (kinda) definitely know which side I'm choosing!! It's the Ebonheart Pact!! After all, my favourite races in The Elder Scrolls are the Nord then the Dunmer (Dark Elves)!! :)

Space Marine Legion Tactics - Legion Assault Squad

"And of the Assault Marine so do I decree: He shall descend upon the perfidious foe as an Angel of Judgement from on high. Let the jump pack be his wings, and the roar of its engines a hymn of retribution. Let the chainsword be his sceptre of decree, its harsh voice singing joyfully with each and every blow. With it shall the Assault Marine bring bloody retribution to the heretic, the traitor and all alien aggressors who trespass on the Emperor's domain. So will the Assault Marine be the hunter of warlords and the slayer of kings. His armour shall run slick with the life-blood of the vanquished, and all shall honour his name."

— The teachings of Primarch Roboute Guilliman, the Apocrypha of Skaros

Where the core of Legion is the Tactical Squad, then the Knife, or better yet the Dagger of the Legion is the Assault Squad.

Rules and Tactics-wise, the Legion Assault Squad is no different than an Assault Squad from Codex: Space Marines or Codex: Blood Angels. When fielded en-masse they can really put the hurt on anyone in the brutal art of Close Combat. Twenty bodies with 3 Attacks on a charge and Hammer of Wrath can seriously ruin anyone's day.

I do have some profane love for Space Marine Squads of 20, that really, I create Tactics that revolve around sheer wait of numbers, and lately it seems, hording is the way to go, especially with Legion Armies. Like the Tactical Squad, purchasing the extra 10 Assault Marines is extremely cheap, hence it really is best to take as many as you can. But this also leads into the MAJOR drawback of the Legion Assault Squad!!

Space Marine Legion Tactics - Legion Tactical Squad

Every army, regardless of who they are, always require a strong and solid core. This 'core' will almost always form the backbone of which the rest of the army revolves around. This can be a strong formation of tanks or a battalion of soldiers. In the terms of a tabletop commander, this core is your Troops choice.

For a Space Marine Legion Army List, you have many different Troops choices. The first of which (and by far the best IMHO) is the Legion Tactical Squad.They literally will form the backbone of your army (unless you use Rites of War: Pride of the Legion, though more on that at a later date).

The Legion Tactical Squad lacks the And They Shall Know No Fear special rule, so ironically for Space Marines who have no fear, can be affected by fear. However they do have the Legiones Astartes Special Rule, which allows them to regroup regardless of casualties (so you shouldn't have to worry about them running away... too much). In addition they have a fancy rule, Fury of the Legion. This allows them to forgo moving to fire their Bolters twice. Really handy just before your opponent attempts an Assault.

Anyway, less on rules and more onto actual tactics.

Heresy-Era Imperial Fists (Nuncio-Vox Conversion)

After not painting for approximately 2 years or more, I haven't done too bad a job. Unfortunately I'm still learning how to take photos of my miniatures. I've been taught by one of the White Dwarf Editors (least I think he was, he mentioned something about taking photos for White Dwarf) on how to take photos (this was at Games Day Australia 2012). But it still requires practice. Specifically how far I need to zoom the camera and the distance from the models. Once I finally get a hang of things, a tutorial might be in order. I only do this as a hobby, so it'll be a tutorial for those with a budget.

Anyway, enough about how to take photos, I reckon more photos are in order. Oh and I still need to add the Imperial Fists symbol on them.

Space Marine Nuncio-Vox Conversion

This Basilisk has been sitting on my shelf for like 2 years...

Whilst I'm still waiting on my order of Glass Micro Beads to arrive. I figured I should get started on some other units who don't actually need studded shoulder-pads. I remember reading somewhere that the studs on the MK V Heresy Armour were designed to protect against Bolter rounds. I figured the main frontline troops would require these studs, whereas the crew of say a Space Marine Rapier Laser Destroyer or an Artillery unit like a Basilisk would have less studs as they don't see much action whilst supporting the frontline troops.

In the Space Marine Legion Army List, there are some units that can take a Nuncio-Vox. Basically it allows Barrage weapons to draw line of sight from the Space Marine with a Nuncio-Vox (think a Space Marine calling down an artillery strike). I figured to communicate with one of these the crew must also require a Nuncio-Vox.

Forge World New Releases - Deathshroud and Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer

Image from Forge World (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/New_Stuff/CERBERUS_HEAVY_TANK_DESTROYER.html)

Hi everybody!! Just got wind (via Forge World's Facebook page) that Forge World has now released 2 new Horus Heresy units, the Deathshroud and the Cerberus Heavy Tank Destroyer.

Image from Forge World (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/New_Stuff/DEATHSHROUD_TERMINATORS.html)

The Deathshroud are Scythe Wielding Terminators who are the Death Guard's elite warriors. They are hand picked by the Primarch Mortarian himself. It is said that the Deathshroud are always within 49 Paces of their Primarch.

Rule-wise, the Deathshroud are basically really, really tough close combat Terminators. They have 2 wounds (I think) and are in Terminator Armour; which means they have a 2+ Armour Save and a 5+ Invulnerable save (they're not in Cataphractii Terminator Armour).

Sons of Horus - Legion Army List 1

Image from the Black Legion Wikia Page (http://warhammer40k.wikia.com/wiki/Black_Legion)

Whenever I collect an army, I always start off with a bit of research and a plan. The plan being an army list of course. It's usually used as a rough guideline so I know how much money needs to be spent and what I would need. I normally collect to a theme with some battlefield effectiveness in mind.

So without further ado, here's my army list:

Deimos Pattern Predator Conversion - WIP 1

Image taken from Forge World (http://www.forgeworld.co.uk/)

This year I finally got my hands on a copy of Forge World's "Horus Heresy Book 1 - Betrayal" and I tell ya, it is a seriously fantastic book. Hell IMO I reckon it is Forge World's BEST rulebook! It is jammed packed with all sorts of fluff/lore relating to the initial stages of the Horus Heresy. In addition to a Space Marine Legion Army List!!

What stood out for me tank-wise, was the fact that Space Marine tanks can be taken in a squadron. As much as I wanted to build a Land Raider Squadron, it was just too expensive (points and money-wise)!! So I chose the next best tank, the ever reliable Predator.

Currently I already have one Deimos Pattern Predator (that still needs to be built), but I had an unbuilt Rhino too... Conversion Time!!

SGT-Thaddeus' Blog of All Things - Overhaul

Hi everybody!! Or rather "Greetings to the people of the online community". This is your master Sgt-Thaddeus, here to tell you that this blog of mine will be going through a massive overhaul.

For the past year all I've ever felt is lost, I had no drive nor inspiration. I didn't aspire to do anything! I had no goals. Then the new year came, and hell, twas a terrible start full of bad omens. And really, IMHO (in my honest opinion) I reckon it'll be a terrible year for me. But, as they say "We choose our own destiny", and I shall attempt to make this year a great year!

To some up that little story, I shall be setting myself a goals (relating to this blog): every week, there will be a minimum of one post made by me relating to Warhammer 40k. I want to maintain this blog properly. In addition it'll constantly give me a deadline for my miniatures, in which I am a very slow hobbyist.

So all in all, I wish you a happy new year and I hope this year will be fantastic... for all of us!!

Sgt-Thaddeus