Requiem for MkI…MenothJohn’s Perspective

Goodnight MkI...Don't Let the gate to Urcaen hit ya in the arse.

This is my one year anniversary playing Privateer’s pewter crack game.  I think it is appropriate to take a step back and talk a little bit about MkI, MkII, and the impending release of the play test of Hordes MkII.

First, let me start with an introduction…

“Hi.  I’m MenothJohn, and I have been a pewter-holic for one year.”  (hears “Hi MenothJohn” erupting from the readers)

MkI Warmachine was my first miniatures war game.  I had seen pictures.  I had heard people talk about Warmachine on podcasts like Fear the Boot, and D6 Generation, but I didn’t think that was my speed.  I was just getting into German boardgaming, and thought that might be where my gaming destiny lay.  That was all before I got introduced to Kreoss, the Crusader, the Repenter, and the Revenger.  I was hooked.  Before it was all over for MkI, I owned one of everything (at least) except Idrians and Deliverers.  I had 2000+ pts of Khador, and I was eyeing up Retribution with great anticipation.  Today I close the door on MkI.

Building a Conversion – The Making of BoB

The MkI list that I always wanted to try, but never gotten to try out, features everyone’s favorite maligned caster…Amon Ad-Bad Ass.  The list of infamy you might ask?  I like to call it …

Quad Dervish

Amon Ad-Raza

Dervish

Dervish

Dervish

Dervish

Do you get a theme growing here?  This is one of the only 350 Mangled Metal lists in Warmachine that can field 5 models.  Oh sure…your Cryx lists with their chicken jacks can field more…but…do chicken jacks have a P+S 17 combo attack that allows the chicken jack to move 2″ sans free strikes?  If you try to hit it’s sorry DEF 14 frame, and miss, does a chicken jack hit back?  Does a chicken jack have as many damage boxes as a Dervish?

No…chicken jacks don’t.

Tweaking a Dirty Hippie

In my last post, I mentioned my success with my latest 750 list.  That list, headed by Kreuger, was successful mostly due to the above average performance of the Gatorman Posse.  It was the combination of Lightning tendrils, Beast Lore, and three attacks that allowed the unit to kill a fresh Typhon and Angelius in a single activation.

I also mentioned that the Tharn Bloodtracker unit continues to mystify me.  I have not failed, in the four games I have played with them to get them killed without getting anywhere NEAR their point value.  On paper, ambuscade, high defense, high speed, and stealth should be the goods.  In my game, a unit of Raptors took out half the unit on one turn, and then the Raptors killed the other half of the unit the next turn.  They did get off one ambuscade on Rhyas and a couple of them hit…which was nice.  This continued lack of performance has gotten them benched.  Who will be taking their place you ask…

The Wolves of Orboros

Dude...over there...MADE YA LOOK!!!

Dirty Hippies Love Flying Snakes to Death…

In my last post, I teased that I was going to move up to my 500 pt Circle list…Ha…if you can expect anything from MenothJohn, it is the unexpected.  Take that readers!

I got a chance to bust out and get some gaming in this afternoon, and I decided it was time to get me some Circle love going against one of my favorite opponents…Jefferson Jorgensen.  Jeff is a a helluva guy.  A VERY talented artist (he had his Carnivean featured in Beast about Town in No Quarter issue before last) and a really good sport.  His only problem…he plays the Legion of Easybutton.  A fella of his gaming skills shouldn’t have to rely on the broken shinannigans of the flying snake brigade.

A New Approach to the Dirty Hippies

The time has come and gone for summer rampage…my first.  I have to say that emotions ran higher than I personally would have liked.  I am a very competitive guy, and it brought out an ugly side that is most certainly there…and I am not proud of.  I suppose that knowing and taking ownership is the first step to getting better, but I wish someone would break that info loose on my ex-wife.  She could benefit from it.

Bottom line…I had relocated to..

.

One of the things I wanted to do following SR 09 was to put Menoth away for a few months and attempt to get better at Circle.  Playing Circle, compared to Menoth, is like doing a neutral drop in a Dodge Superbee from the early 1970’s…its abrupt, violent, and takes some getting used to.  Circle is about as opposite from Menoth as it gets.  Sure, Circle has some magic denial, but the speed and maneuverability is so far off the scale for Circle it takes a complete tactical rework.

Repenter Week: Shirl, The Repenter of Everbreast

Here is my first Warjack that I have prepared the for Breast Cancer Brawl in Boise.  I think it’s only fitting I take Feora…and in particular Epic Feora to BCB since she is one of the few female casters that the Protectorate has in its stable.  To that end…My fiery girlfriend loves her some fire…so…Let me present to you…Shirl, The Repenter of Everbreast.

“Umm…Yes…My shoulder armor is pink.  I will burn you all the same heretic…”

Painted!!! Megalith :-)

The week of JohnCon was a heaping handful of Warmachine and Hordes.  I played a lot…and I painted some too. 

Submitted for your approval…Megalith

Hulk Smash!

JohnCon 2009 – Wrap Up

 I know you have been waiting…and here it is…the long awaited wrap up of Northern Utah’s answer to GenCon…

It’s…

First off, I want to thank all my friends and fellow gamers who helped make the first annual JohnCon a big success.  With my wife out of town and me playing Mr. Mom, having some time to play the game I love really helped make the hours pass.

Second, The finale of JohnCon on Thursday August 13th was epic.  We had 10 people in attendance and three game boards going full blast.  (I know that might not sound like much…but its the most people I have ever had in my basement!)

Third, Next time…how bout letting the host of the Con win at least ONE DAMN GAME.   Yes…I went 0-7.  Without boring you with all the details…Here is how JohnCon went down (by the way – I played Circle the whole Con):

Preparing for Breast Cancer Brawl – Boise – TFG UA

October is going to be here before I know what happens.  I guess I had better get painting!  To that end…I managed got get the TFG Unit Attachment painted.  And here it is…

“You say you don’t like pink???  Menoth’s Howl on 3!  1, 2, 3!!!

JohnCon – End of Day 1 Report

Day 1 Report

It was a beautiful day here in Northern Utah.  The birds were singing, the sun was shining and the humidity was low…and the growl of Warbeasts could be heard through the Cache Valley…JohnCon was on.

Game 1:  Circle (MenothJohn) vs. Skorne (McCryx)

The first ever match in JohnCon history kicked off at Phoenix Games with a 350 MM / TC game.  In the Green cornener representing the Devouring Wurm, The Terror of the Trees, The Legendary Skin of Stone – Baldur.  In the Red Corner, representing sadists everywhere and worshiping nobody…The Assassin….Morgul.

The game was a virtual stand off.  Circle couldn’t find an opening due to all the buffs being put on Molik Karn (aka…the new biggest pain in the ass ever) and Skorne had nothing they could do against the rough terrain of Baldur and the boys.  Finally Circle blinked and attacked, and it really was over very quickly.  Skorn won by elimination of all warbeasts.

Game 2:  Circle (MenothJohn) vs. Skorne (McCryx)

We had enough time and enough models to play another 350 MM /TC but with different casters.  Circle trotted out Kromac the Ravenous, a Pureblood, Megalith, and a Woldwyrd.  Cryx brought out one of their egyptian sounding warlochs that has the pair of big silly sticks that kill you in the face.  I can’t remember his name so I will call him Cleopatra.

This game was much more traditional, but ended in Kromac getting eaten in the face by a Bronzeback.  This time I was actually able to kill something and killed his Titan Gladiator.  That pissed off the Bronzeback to no end and it got into melee with Kromac…and then I was dead.  It was a bit closer than the first game, but the result was the same…circle bought the farm.

Game 3: Circle (MenothJohn) vs. Circle (Mike)

Who doesn’t like a little hippy on hippy action amirite?  This time at a 750 pt level.  Mike and I arrived with almost identical 750 pt lists…I had Kromac and a bunch of stuff, and he came with Baldur and a whole bunch of pretty much the same stuff.  I decided that was pretty boring so I changed to Mohsar.  I hadn’t played the blind guy from the desert so…why not!  My list was as so…

Mohsar
Pureblood, Warpwolf, Megalith
Druids + Overseer
Full Bloodtrackers
Blackclad (x2)
Shifting Stones
Sentry Stone
Swamp Gobbers

This list was a ball to play.  Two Blackclads are a gas and keep your opponent guessing where things are going to show up next.  The Druids continue to be my favorite unit.  Decent speed…almost assured hits for great power.  Mohsar is great fun too.  I killed half a unit of druids with his Crevasse spell causing them to fail their command check and run.  That is the first time I have caused a unit in any game to start to run off the table.

All things considered…Mohsar is a bit on the fragile side, but his excellent control range should keep you from needing to get all up and anyones face.

Current Standings After Day 1

First Place:     Mike OD – 21 VPs

Second Place: McCryx – 20 VPs

Third Place: MenothJohn – 13 VPs

Remember…Most VP’s at the end of Thursday wins a free blister of their choosing…and I am sanctioning all Wednesday night games as Official JohnCon games!