September 20, 2020
Transports are on the upswing in 9th Edition, with armies from virtually every faction making use of them in a variety of ways. But the rules for transports hardly changed at all from the previous edition, so what is it that is making them so popular? In this episode we talk about how transports are like ogres (they have layers, you see), the surprising variety of ways they can boost your movement, using the hull itself, and ways that your transports can do more than just... transport things.
September 14, 2020
A little bit of a shorter episode this week, as Ben is occupied with other business so Sean and Shaylynn talk about her Grey Knights army in 9th Edition- where it's been, where it is, and where it's going, as well as how it got there. We discuss the various iterations of her list, the principles they were based on, and why they worked (or didn't) as well as what she learned about the army and the game from each of them.
September 7, 2020
We've had enough time now to take in the changes and breadth of the new edition, so let's take a moment to examine just what it all means. What sort of armies are we seeing in the new meta? What sort of strategies are they using, and how can those be countered? What sort of features of lists are important in all archetypes, and which ones are more niche? What sort of things should you be scouring your codex to find if you have access to them, and what are more optional? All three hosts give their opinions on the current shape of 9E as well as a short peek at what may be the road ahead.
August 31, 2020
One of the biggest changes for 9th edition is the introduction of strategic reserves, a concept that will be familiar to players of 7th or prior. Of course, this time around things are significantly different; reserves aren't random but also aren't free, and can enter the battlefield much more flexibly. All of this heralds some extremely significant shifts in how armies play on the tabletop as well as a huge variety of new strategies that you can use to succeed in both the primary and secondary missions. In this episode we take a look at how you can take advantage of these new options as well as some counter-play and the things you need to consider when looking at strategic reserves, both your own and your enemy's.
August 17, 2020
Those who played many of the alternative formats from last edition, such as ITC, NOVA, Renagade Open, etc, may already be quite familiar with the new system for secondary objectives- but what about the new missions themselves? This episode, we take a good, long look (a touch longer than normal, even!) at these new missions and how they affect gameplay. Which ones are worth taking? Which ones are redundant with each other? Which ones are niche in application? Which ones do the hosts like or dislike? We also discuss what kinds of expectations you should have for scoring them, the risk vs. reward tradeoff of taking certain secondaries, and how to sync your plan for both primary and secondary objectives with each other such that they're not working at cross purposes.
August 10, 2020
9th Edition has brought with it a whole host of major changes, not the least of which is the changes to how terrain functions. In this episode, our three hosts dig into the new terrain rules in detail- what they do, what they mean for your army, and how they're going to change how you play the game. Whether you're bringing giant, stompy robots or hordes of fragile infantry, you're going to see some major shifts in what terrain means for your army, no matter the format.
July 4, 2020
9th Ed is here, and we are back! With the combination of rules leaks and the official GW pdf out in the wild, Sean and Shaylynn give their first impressions on the new edition's rules- what's changed, what's important, and some hints of where we think things might be going. We skim the surface lightly on this one, but rest assured- we are going to have a lot to talk about in future episodes discussing more of these things in greater detail. We'll also have another episode coming soon that covers just the mission pack, which we felt was a big enough deal to handle separately.
April 13, 2020
Some games can be won or lost practically before they even begin- not by the army lists, but in mistakes (or strategic plays) during deployment. Deployment dictates how the whole rest of the game will play out and for the canny player, it offers opportunities to bait the enemy into following your plan even before the first turn happens. In this episode, we talk about some of the common mistakes we see during deployment, as well as ways to avoid them and the big considerations you should be thinking about when putting your units down. Can I get Seized on? Should my units go on the line? Do I concentrate everything in one area, or spread out? What factors during deployment will affect whether I pick first or second turn, and how should my deployments change when doing so? It's a subject with a lot of meat on its bones, and we do our best to dig in deep.
April 5, 2020
Playing at tournaments is an ideal way to practice and improve your 40K skills, but what about when you're stuck in non-ideal situations? This week our three hosts talk about ways to get better at the game when you don't have that option- for example, if you are confined to your house due to pandemic, locked inside due to murderous clowns, or if it turns out that the floor outside is lava. We talk about deployment practice, studying battle reports, doing your homework, and other fun and interesting things that normal people spend their free time on as well as multitudes of other ways to while away the hours when you have nothing better to do. Stay safe out there, wargamers.
March 29, 2020
One of the things we take for granted in 40K is the ability to move around the battlefield- you can move your units wherever you'd like, within the limits of their range. Being able to selectively deny the enemy that freedom is a powerful tool, and one that can completely change the course of a game when used right, whether by ensuring control of objectives, denying charges, or keeping the enemy boxed up in their deployment zone. In this episode, we talk about the ways you can block your opponent's movement- what units to use, where and when to do it, and even how to control units with Fly or similar abilities that may seem like these strategies might not work on. And, of course, we also look at ways to counter your opponent's move-blocking, as well as how to use it in phases apart from the movement phase and how it differs from similar strategies such as screening or reserve-blocking.
