Requiem for Zhadsnark 'Da Rippa'

Over the last couple months every list I've played has included Zhadsnark.  But that time is drawing to a close.  I still have OFCC left later this month I'm playing Zhadsnark with the Bully Boyz, and I could play him in league through the end of this month but I want to break out my other armies.

Other then a single game the day of the BA codex release, I've been playing Orks exclusively since the codex came out.  Sure I have used allies, but still mainly focused on Orks.

1. Zhadsnark himself is pretty damn good. 
The I4 S10 power fist with 4 base attacks at WS5 is completely amazing.  The skilled rider he grants to his unit is exactly what the Ork bikes need. I have never once scouted his unit, I simply see no need to do so.  He is totally worth the points and then some.

2.  Warbikes are simply the best unit in the codex, of that I have absolutely no doubt. 
Especially if they have a painboy to tag along.  The speed, resilience, firepower, and close combat ability all combine to what is as close to the perfect unit as you can get.  Being able to sink all your points into these guys instead of having to "waste" some on infantry makes Orks so much better.

3. An Ork warbike army has little need for a supporting cast.
Sure, you can have some variations with Bully Boyz, or a loota/mek gun fire base, but in the end they are really not needed.  I don't think I found any game where I was wishing I had more firepower.  The one exception to this is maybe some outflanking Defkoptas or Warbuggies... those fit in the theme and provide additional backfield pressure which could help if your bikes get mired in the middle.

4. More units is better.
The one flaw I found is having only large units of bikes.  This didn't give me enough units to deal with objectives over the course of a game.  That is why I started running 2 large units and a unit of 3.  I think 2 full units with painboys, and 2-3 units of 3 is the way to go in the future.  I just didn't have enough models to do more!

5. Orks need a formation to do a Warbike army without Zhadsnark.
This is really the most disappointing thing about the Ork book, especially compared to all the other books that have been released since then. The complete lack of formations, especially clan-based formations. After seeing the Ravenwing formation in the DA book - that's EXACTLY what I want for Orks (10 FA slots).  Most of the formations released for Orks in things like the Red Waaagh! are ok, at best.

Orks do need fixing to be truly competitive with books released since it came out.  Not anything major, a few tweaks and new formations would do it.  It was the first book of 7th, and it shows.

Showcase: Obsidian Knight

The third knight of the lance commission is now done. The customer wanted it this way instead of another Hawkshrowd.

The shoulder decals were a lot of work, took many soakings with microsol to get them sitting flat. But they turned out just about perfect.

Showcase: Thunderwolves

I've had these done for a while except the final varnish, which I was finally able to pick up today. All done now!

Combine these guys with Dante and the Priest on a bike for the potential of a decent deathstar.  I've also built a Librarian on a bike that could go with them as well. 

Also finished up all the Space Wolf re-basing.  Not sure what's next.

Showcase: Blood Angels Sanguinary Priest on Bike

After finishing up the Thunderwolf cav, I started working on the Priest.  Mid way through painting I brought home one of the new BA upgrade sprues and swapped out the head and shoulder pad. I really like the parts on the upgrade frame.

So now I have my mounted priest to go along with Dante, a Thunderwolf lord and Thunderwolf cavalry. I do need another box of Thunderwolves and a Space Wolf Flyer.

Next project is re-basing the Space Wolves. Built 11 bases tonight, for the Rune Priest and the Grey Hunters. I might re-base Dante as well.

If someone puts out decent and affordable 32mm lava bases, then I'll consider redoing the rest of the Blood Angles. But I'm not rebuilding all of the bases - I put a lot of work into them.

Another 1850 tournament list.

I went 3-2 at the Guardian Cup and placed 17th.  Missed out on best Ork though, which made me sad. But there were 4 Ork players, which isn't bad.

Anyway today I had another 3-round 1850 tournament using the ITC rules but not the ITC missions.  It used a modified maelstrom format.

I went 2-1 and took 3rd.  Pretty happy with the results and had a lot of fun.

This was my list:

Ork Horde detachment (primary)
HQ: Zhadsnark
HQ: Painboy, bike
HQ: Painboy

Troop: 15 warbikes, nob w/pk&bp
Troop: 13 warbikes, nob w/pk&bp
Troop: 3 warbikes

Combined Arms Detachment:
HQ: Warboss, bike, pk, lucky stick
HQ: Painboy, Bike

Troop: 30 slugga boys, 'eavy armor, nob w/pk&bp
Troop: 11 grots

Allied Detachment:
HQ: Chaos Lord, bike, pk, sigil, nurgle

Troop: 10 cultists

Fast: 4 Spawn, Nurgle

First, I have to say the CSM detachment continues to do very well. 

Second, the boys mob does not seem to do much. They didn't do anything in last week's league game, and didn't do anything today either. In fact, in the 2nd round (a win) I completely forgot to deploy the unit at all!!  Short answer: I need more bikes!!

And last, adding in the 2nd warboss to Zhadsnark's unit really makes a huge difference. Having another model to take challenges, and just the damage output from a S10 power fist backed up by the lucky stick is hard to deny.

I hope to be typing up some battle reports over the next few days.  

Off to the Guardian Cup!

I finally get to play in a full 2-day ITC format tournament and I'm very happy about it.

I've been playing my list and I'm pretty comfortable with it. I do wish I had a few more points here and there but I can't have everything.

Primary: CAD
HQ (warlord): Zhadsnark 'Da Rippa'
HQ: Painboy, bike

Troop: 15 bikers, nob w/pk&bp
Troop: 15 bikers, nob w/pk&bp

Formation: Ghazzy's bully boyz
5x Meganobz, 1xkillsaw
Battlewagon, ram, 2x big shoota
5x Meganobz, 1xkillsaw
Battlewagon, ram, 2x big shoota
5x Meganobz, 1xkillsaw
Battlewagon, ram, 2x big shoota

That's it. It is a super aggressive list that just wants to run over and punch you in the face.  I think I would run 1 big unit of bikes and 2 units of smaller ones but it's kinda late now - don't want to run a list I have not played.

Anyway that's it for this post.

We'll see how it goes.

Showcase: House Hawkshroud Knight Titans

A big commission is now complete (but still one more to go) of a pair of Knight Titans done up in House Hawkshroud colors.

They turned out absolutely amazing and I'm so very happy.  Yellow was done the same way as always: base of Ushabi Bone with layers of Lamenter's Yellow glaze.  The glaze was thinned down and done in only 2 layers as the customer wanted a lighter yellow then the Imperial Fists bikes I did.

After all that was done then came the decals with lots of Micro-Sol.  However I have to say the decals with this kit are just fantastic.  Thick enough not to break but not so thick as to be hard to work with.  Almost no flash around the image as well making it very easy for the areas the decal touches the raised trim.

Anyway, pics!