ETC Preparation

Recently the updates have been a bit more spasmodic than usual. This is largely due to a month fighting a cold and prep for the upcoming ETC.


Finally got on top of the cold - fighting it involves handfuls of Codral tablets and sleep - just in time to head over to the ETC. Sure seasonal change will result in relapse when I return.


The ETC takes an enormous amount of time. I've been lucky in that I've been able to delegate out the various tasks to guys in the team. This means the load has been shared somewhat. As a result we have:

• Hotels booked
• NZ Dice
• Templates
• Team shirts
• ETC registration and entry fees
• Lists collated (and lodged)

all covered. Thanks very much to the guys for doing this. Sharing out the tasks has really helped.


We've also had a dedicated forum and with team members in four countries and three time zones this has been invaluable. Thanks to Jack for setting this up for us - giant leap over the old single forum on TWF.


In recent weeks my main focus (in addition to getting in 4-5 games a week - thanks to locals especially Sam, Ryan and Joel) is working on the matchup process. I'm a great believer in the "Moneyball" concept, essentially using stats/maths rather than gut feel. To this end Jack has built me a software programme that lets me take the emotion out of the matchup process. We've used it at the last two NZTCs and it works beautifully - the key is that the info that goes in is correct and that performance matches prediction.


So the last three-four weeks (since release of lists) has been on getting the best possible info to put in the system. This has meant constantly questioning assessments that players have given me and asking them to "justify" certain predictions. Over the past two weeks I've run the software and it definitely improves the matchup over gut feel. I appreciate the time James Brown has given up to act as my "opponent".


This weekend I'm running three more "dummies" just to ensure I am happy with the operation.


I think we are travelling well to reach our target of Top Half and if we really perform we may push Top 10. That's the goal anyway.


So as you can see I've been busy. The lack of blog updates hasn't been laziness rather alternative focus. Looking forward to posting heaps of photos from the event to give readers a feel for the tourney.

No Brets This Week

They say bad news comes in threes. I'm not sure about that but this week it comes in twos.

First there are no Brets (or indeed any WHFB). Second, there are Space Wolves.

Now back in the day, my two denzians of Chaos, Plaguelord Colthrax and Noiselord Challis Drant used to make much sport whipping the local dog that was Hagen Kerr's Hakkon Ironwolf. It's fair to say that the beatings he took were what drove Hagen to build his Imperial Guard - it must get depressing removing handfuls of Space Marines on a weekly roster. Still despite the aforementioned Hakkon Ironwolf being my bitch, I hate Space Wolves. Largely I guess because they display all the subtlety and ingenuity of a wounded cur and returned week after week to accept there punishment. That and their horrible powder blue power armour.

Hopefully some Fantasy soon.

Internet Tuesday - Google Trends

I was searching the net this morning and came across Google Trends and some analysis on Games Workshop

Check this out.

It charts Search Engine enquiries over time and I guess provides an idea as to how popular something is.

Pretty stark.

Here is the same for Privateer Press. You can see enquiries there peaked in 2011 - possibly in response to some disillusionment with 8th Ed Warhammer

However it is important to give some context. Here is a graph showing both the GW and PP data on the same graph.

Also interesting is Warmachine vs. Warhammer which is plotted here. I started later as there is a massive spike in Warhammer during 2008 (Release of Warhammer Online perhaps?)

Google Trends is really a fun tool.

Internet Tuesday - Universal Battlegrounds

Thought on today's Internet Tuesday I'd highlight a local company, Universal Battlegrounds.

You can access their website here

The site is run by local gamer Daryl Painter and they make a variety of laser cut terrain suitable for most skirmish games.

We had them make a set of WHFB templates for the NZ ETC team.

So you see UB can do custom jobs. 

Check out the website and if you do buy anything let them know Fields of Blood sent you!

Miniature Monday - Nada

Sorry, nothing this week.


Fighting a cold and playing ETC practice games.


However while huddled down on couch, I did watch the full 1968-1974 "Planet of the Apes" movie franchise.


I'm pretty sure they used to be a lot better.

Happy Birthday Warhammer Fantasy 8th Edition

So this week represents four years since Warhammer Fantasy 8th Edition hit the streets.

HAPPY FOURTH BIRTHDAY 8th Ed

It's arrival saw much gnashing of teeth and running to the door as those who "disliked" the system (affectionately called Ragequitters) and their acolytes voted with their feet and decamped to other systems.

if I am brutally honest I think in a lot of cases - Australia for sure - those that left never intended to give it a chance and decided it was just time to try something different. A lot of these guys are mates of mine and I know that they have gone on to be just as successful and have just as much fun in their new gaming system.

However I remain convinced that there was never a problem with 8th Ed but rather with the shift in dominant skill base from resource to risk management. Other systems still emphasise resource management so I can understand the attraction in shifting.

But for me the current edition of Warhammer is the most fun (by a country mile) of the three I played. Much like Warhammer 40k v3.5 and v4, I could happily play all day 2-3 times a week. And the reason for this is twofold:

• The game has random elements that you have to manage - scenarios, charge distances, variable PD; and
• The books, as a set, are the most balanced I remember them - minimising the need for comp

The last 4-6 months I've been playing ETC hammer and I can't wait to get back to the full-blown game.

My biggest hope is that GW take this opportunity to finish off the three armies without 8th Ed books - Brets, Skaven and Beasts (and if they have a chance even pen a book for the "Not A Proper Army"). That has two big attractions. First, all armies are on same edition.......and secondly, it means we get another year of this great version of the game.

And as 9th drops what do I think we'll see? Well let's say I think we'll get quite a few returnees to the game even if the changes are cosmetic. Like me with my 40k and DBM armies, I'm betting deep down they really miss it.

New 40k Realm of Battle Gameboard Confirmed

This week's White Dwarf confirms the release of the new 40k RoB  Gameboard.

This looks really nice. It'll be interesting to see whether it is Limited Edition (I suspect not) and what price point it comes in at. I suspect it will be in line with current board price. 

What would be great but we'll never likely see is a transition tile to link existing and new board. 

FOB NZ Rankings - Warhammer 40k Updated for BATB

The annual battle in the north has been fought and one - this year by Mark Buttle and his tricksey Eldar. It also represented the first appearance of the new Imperial Knights with Pascal Roggen steering them into 3rd Place.


The rankings have been updated to include the results.

Seerlord Morskitta at Panzershtreck

As noted earlier in the week Panzershreck was held over the last weekend and provided an opportunity to give my ETC list a hit out now that it is finalised.

Game 1 - John Murrie (Dwarfs)

John managed to blow up my Bell on Turn 3 but by that time I had cleared out his support units leaving only the three blocks. I concentrated on one block - Hammerers - leaving the two Warriors relatively unscathed.

Win 16-4

Game 2 - Mike King (Beastmen)

Mike is now known as the "Black Swan" as he took a Beastmen army to an ETC event - there are no Beastmen in the 256 armies at this year's event. In this game I concentrated my shooting/magic on the Ghorgan (I deployed my Gutter Runners) and managed to take it down creating a hole in the middle of Mike's lines. This inspired a series of Panic Tests which saw a number of supports give up the ghost. Mike was unlucky in that his big Gor unit failed 3 Panic Tests over the course of the game making them largely ineffective. I managed to clear up chaff and also destroy the 6 man Mino unit and BSB.

Win 19-1

Game 3 - Greg Greenfield (Dark Elves)

Greg had a list based around a Black Dragon, Peg Rider, DR bus and Manicore rider. It is the type of list - multiple T/S and breath weapon - that Skaven don't like. We traded points early on. Greg got lucky when his Dragon survived two Str 10 WLC shots without a wound. I received some luck when I got an out of turn move on a Doomwheel into Greg's big Shades which failed Fear Test. In the end I picked up Manticore (Bell charge) and all but one Corsair to push it slightly my favour.

Win 12-8

Game 4 - Sam Whitt (Dark Elves)

Game was effectively settled when Sam's Sorceress went down a hole Turn 1. I then had magic dominance and used it to good effect. Picked up Witch Elves, Cold Ones, CO Masters over 2-3 turns while holding DR bus at distance. Cannoned off Peg rider who was in combat with Slaves. Solid win based on Sam's early bad luck.

Win 16-4

Game 5 - Peter Williamson (Wood Elves)

Deployed in corner to neutralise Peter's mobility advantage and then turned game into Battle for Pass. By start of Peter's Turn 2 he had one of eighteen Wild Riders left - Magic plus he left me a WLC flank shot. From there I just worked on picking up points while not giving too much away. I sat in middle of table to maximise magic range. Didn't wound Unicorn :-(

Win 15-5

Game 6 - Joel van de Ven-Long (Empire)

Going into last round I was12 Battle Points clear. However picked up my worst possible match - Life Empire. My plan here was to minimise the loss. I deployed Bell last hard on board edge and made run for far corner using terrain to screen from cannons. One Doomwheel took out two units of Knights, Gutter Runners got cannons and other Doomwheel got into protracted fight with Steam Tank. Other than that I fed Joel chaff, chaff and more chaff. Then warmachines. In the last turn we swapped Doomwheel and WLC for Stank and game ended a draw with my Bell cowering in Joel's deployment zone corner. I was happy.


Draw 10-10

Roundup


So I had five wins and a draw picking up 88/120 Battle Points. It was enough to pick up 1st Place. My last four opponents all finished in Top 8 with Sam, Joel and Greg finishing 2nd, 3rd and 4th respectively.


Nice to get some practice in. Thanks to all my opponents for fun, challenging games

NZ ETC Team Uniform Revealed

In big news today the NZ ETC team shirts arrived today.

I'm pretty sure this is going to be a much sought after item, come the traditional shirt swapping sessions.

Gone with the Tiki motif this year for shirts, dice and templates. 

Names and international cap number on the back. In this case Dave Meachen. 

And below is our own heavy lifter Dan Butler modelling the exciting new uniform (and check out the guns).