and I'm back in the game

So, I finished reading the first Gaunt's Ghost's omni. and it got me itching again. So i pulled out a few boxes and started building. I now have 2 of three baneblades built (well a blade a hellhammer and the stormsword is in progress I ran out of glue. Pics to be posted soon.) That was a huge build event and I am sort of tired of building at the moment my fingers are glued, cut, and sore, but I'm not stopping. Had Lach and our newest player JC over on Monday and we got a few games in. I won the first tied my 2nd against JC who we were teaching the game too and was utterly tabled and destroyed in my third, thanks for hosing me Lach (note to all- Don't put a dreadnought in the middle of the field with no cover and then expect him to survive 40 shots from gauss weapons.) Anyway I'm back in the game mode and have started looking at tournaments to go too. We were thinking maybe BOLSCON or the exterminatus again but we haven't seen anything from the exterminatus ppl on the web yet. I'm anxiously awaiting my nid codex and I'm super excited about starting my nid army. Still working on my marines but there sort of back burner atm. Anyway as promised pics of the 3 super heavies coming and more from me as I get back into gear.

planning and questions

Not really an update or anything, but, I've been reading all the new threads about Wolves and Guardsmen and I've been trying to build an effective yet fun tourny list. I'm building around a 2k point base as that is what the tourny I will most likely be going to again is set at. I have two army list set ups right now, 1-DA and 1-SM. They're kinda cheesy but I learned last tournament that just about everyones army is, and well i need some effective killing power with my DA while at the same time playing the boys that made me make a DA to begin with. The SM army is sorta just a fun army but with some elements that should let me pull a few cards from my sleeve. anyway, here goes the lists.

DA-
Belial and Int. Chaplain
Belials Term squad- Apothecary, Standard bearer, 2x Light. claws, pwr. weapon/storm bolter.
Term squad 1-Ass., chain fist/storm bolter, pwr. weapon/storm bolter, 2x standard terms.
Term squad 2-pwr. weapon/storm bolter, 2x chain fist/storm bolter, 2x standard terms.
Term squad 3-pwr weapon/storm bolter, 4x Light. claws
Term squad 4- Ass. can/chain fist, chain fist/storm bolter, pwr. weapon/storm bolter, 2x standard terms.
(total of 5 termy squads Chaplain is attached to Belials unit.)
Land raider w/storm bolter (for unit 2)
Land raider crusader w/storm bolter (for light. claw unit 3)
-The other 3 term. units will be broke up and arrive via DW assault. All units are scoring. There's not alot of models but what's out there is tough. I know meltas are gonna be a problem, but I think I can survive some templates. Just have to see as theres not much of a group around here to play test it.

SM-
Shrike
Chaplain w/jump pack
command squad- Apoth., champion, standard, sgt w/powerfist/plas. pistol, vet. w/pwr. weapon
5xman tactical- sgt. w/pwr. fist/plasma pistol, rhino w/ex. arm.
5xman tactical- sgt. w/pwr. weapon, rhino w/ex. arm.
10x Sternguard-combi melta, combi plas, melta, flamer, 6 bolters, rhino w/ex. arm.
6x Terms-Ass. can., 2x chainfists. pwr. weapon/storm bolter, 2xstandard term.
Ironclad Dread w/ass. launchers, hvy. flamer, Drop pod w/locater beacon.
8x Vanguard-1 Relic blade, 1 Thunder hammer, 8 jump packs, 6 pwr. weapons.
-Cheesy only taking 2 5 man tacs. but I really wanna use the stern and van. The dread is dead i'm ready for that he's a decoy though and maybe he kills some folks. The pod with the beacon is key, because the terms will deep strike in close to that for hopefully a survival turn then some assault damage. Drop the pod on some troops scatter an inch and then get some terms in. the rhinos move forward and cover drop the tacs on objectives then block. The stern move up and cover fire/pop some metal. The chaplain/shrike and vangaurd join up (see ?? below.) and infil. then move in and hopefully either a round 1 or at most round 2 assault hit and some death. the command squad hangs back behind the rhinos and provides a cover unit for an objective or hops in an empty rhino and moves forward after the tac squad leaves. Again hard to play test with no group to play with.

-Ideas, thoughts, gripes?

And now for my two questions, I've been reading the rules and my 2 codex's because during my last tourny I got hit with a rule I didn't know but I think it's not a rule.
1- Can bikers assault onto 2nd levels of buildings? There not listed as vehicles so technically you roll to see if they can via dangerous terrain if they pass they do, yes/no? I can't find it in the rules, I know vehicles can't but bikes are not listed as vehicles. I know jet bikes can but marine bikes aren't jet bikes. Little help here. Also if it's no can you give me some page numbers. Hopefully I wasn't cheated.
and
2- Does the command squad bought for a captain have to be attached to the captain? If so my shrike hit and run assault vanguard chaplain team just got seriously slowed down. So I may have to drop them and bring something else. Can't find a definitive ruling on that in the dex's or the rules either.

As always any comments or help is greatly appreciated.
Thanks,
Matt

Quick review and some wip notes.

**THE EMPEROR PROTECTS**

So have you ever had a book that no matter how hard you try you just can't finish it? That's how Warrior Coven was for me. I've been trying to read it since January and usually get about 3 pages in before i put it down again. In the mean time I have been mixing in other books to have some thing to actually read. I finished Dawn of War II that was a really good read. It went pretty fast and was fun to read. I actually felt the need to finish it. Then I threw in the Blood Angles omnibus which is an exceptional read. I just made it to part 2 and have only been reading it for about a week now. But amongst all these I threw in The deathly Hallows, just trying to catch up on my harry potter with the new flicks out. But amongst it all I finally sat down last night and forced myself to finish Warrior Coven....what can I say...I hated it, nothing got clarified from warrior brood and nothing got clarified from warrior coven. It just ends and yet agian I feel myself wondering where did those 4 hours go. Anyway enoough of the book reviews I'll have more later as I have the new DA book coming as well as Salamandeders the newest Ultramine story line book and heroes of Ultramar. I may need to go check the shelves and see if I don't have something else I haven't read waiting in the wings. With my Boston trip coming up in 4 days i'm gonna need something for the trip.

On to the other news. I bought DoW2 since it was on sale for 25$. It plays very well and I enjoy it. The good thing though is it has really boosted my wanting to build and play levels. So I broke out all my nids and have started building a solid list and setting aside what I have and building a what I need list. I also put the old Hive Tyrant I bought in some power disolver. It's been in the gel for 2 days now and i'm gonna see what comes off in a few hours. I'll post some pics of it ASAP.

Lastly since im relatively new to nids and still looking for a happy medium as well as some modelling ideas (I don't like just looking standard) does anyone know of some good nid sites or do you have a nid site? Any help is greatly appreciated. Also Lach and I are still looking for some more people to get some games in with in the Tuscaloosa area or surrounding area. Drop me a line and we will see what we can do.

Later,

Matt