FluffyCon at Battlecry - 15/16 February

I asked Richard Barby, Umpire at this year's Fantasy event at Battlecry to give me the lowdown on Fluffycon.

Fluffycon makes its return as this year’s Battlecry. Why come and play at Fluffycon I hear you

 ask? 

Well Fluffycon is a fun weekend like most Warhammer weekends however this is a

 weekend where it’s about your skill as a player alone and not about writing the hardest meanest

 list.

I have selected the Swedish comp to use for the weekend to even out some of the harder armies compared to some of the weaker ones.

It's also at Battlecry the biggest gaming weekend in the country and the closest thing new Zealand has to gaming convention

TO: Richard Barby (richard.barby@hotmail.com)

VENUE: ASB Events Centre, Kohimarama, Auckland

DATES: 15th and 16th of February 2014


Hopefully the event will be well supported by the local community and will also attract out of towners to what I'm sure will be a lot of fun.

Ruination 4000 Lists Released

......and it looks like I have brought a small scritchy paw to a gunfight.

You can check out the lists here

Toughest lists are Hugh Dixon's High Elves, Joel van de Ven-Long's Empire and my pick Raymond Dick's Dark Elves.

Two of the three Dwarfs have brought the most unimaginative lists possible.

And a chocolate fish to the man who has to play 4 Lizards

Seerlord Morskitta's Urban Assault Vehicle - The Ruination 4000

Here's my list for Ruination:

Seerlord Morskitta - Screaming Bell, Skalm, Dragonbane Gem Earthing Rod

Chieftain - BSB, Standard of Discipline
Plague Priest - Level 1, Plague Furnace, Flail, Scrying Stone, Ironcurse Icon
Assassin - Weeping Blades, Potion of Strength
Engineer - Level 2, Doomrocket, Warp Condensor
Engineer - Level 1, Dispel Scroll
Engineer - Brass Orb
Engineer

40 Slaves - Full Command
40 Slaves - Full Command
40 Slaves - Full Command
40 Clanrats - Full Command, Shields - Ratling Gun
29 Stormvermin - Full Command, Storm Banner
29 Stormvermin - Full Command
2 Rat Swarms
2 Rat Swarms
2 Rat Swarms

34 Plague Monks - Full Command, Banner of Dripping Death
9 Gutter Runners - Poison, Slings
9 Gutter Runners - Poison, Slings
5 Poison Wind Globadiers
5 Poison Wind Globadiers

Warp Lightning Cannon
Warp Lightning Cannon
Plagueclaw Ratapult
Plagueclaw Ratapult
Doomwheel
Hell Pit Abomination

So seven infantry blocks, 4 warmachines, sprinkling of chaff and a bag of tricks a weasel would be proud of.

NZTC Timetable

EDIT: I have had a request to start 30 minutes earlier on the Sunday to help with flights out of the Capital. So to that end the Sunday timetable will be moved forward on the Sunday starting at 8.00am.

However I would caution against booking flights leaving before 7.30pm as we can not guarantee it will run to time (2013 did) and take no responsibility for you making your flights.

I've been asked to post the timetable for the NZTC so people can make their travel bookings.

Saturday March 1

8:00-8:30 am - Registration

8:30-8:45am - Round One Matchups

8:45-11:15am - Round One

11:15-11:45am - Lunch

11:45am-12:00pm - Round Two Matchups

12.00-2:30pm - Round Two

2:30-3:00pm - Tiffin

3:00-3:15pm - Round Three Matchups

3:15-5:45pm - Round Three

Sunday March 2 

8:30-8:45am - Round Four Matchups

8:45-11:15am - Round Four

11:15-11:45am - Lunch

11:45am-12:00pm - Round Five Matchups

12.00-2:30pm - Round Five

2:30-3:00pm - Tiffin

3:00-3:15pm - Round Six Matchups

3:15-5:45pm - Round Six

6.00-6:15pm - Prizegiving

So for those working on transport out of Wellington Airport on the Sunday evening, you should look to book flights departing from 7:30pm (Airport Check-In 7:00pm).

Runefang VII & Other 2014 Warhammer Fantasy Tournament Dates

For those of you who like to plan your year, I am looking at running the following events over the course of 2014.

Confirmed:

Ruination (4000 Points) - January - Sold Out
NZ Teams Championships - March- Sold Out
NZ Masters - December 6/7

Venue Dependant:

Runefang VII - April 26/27
The Horned Rat VII - June 21/22
Warpfire III (1000 points) - September 13
Skitterleap 2014 - October 18/19

I have asked for alternative dates a week either side if not available.

This year I will be umpiring Runefang VII. I intend to use Swedish Comp but with a twist. Instead of the normal Swedish handicap system I will be designating a level and players will have to build a list with a Swedish Comp score equal or higher. There will be no benefit if your list is higher.

For me this achieves the aim of variety in list-building that Swedish encourages but is less rewarding who those who want to "game the system". The event will also be using the FOB Painting Checklist system (as will all FOB events in 2014), however this will be revised over the next fortnight based on feedback received in 2013. It will be posted here in mid to late January so everyone knows what the expectation is for full painting points at these events.

EDIT: Dates edited because of incompetence

NZTC - The List of Teams & Team Members

There has been a request from Team DILF as to who they are likely to be playing at NZTC.

After 15 training camps so far they are narrowing down their choice of armies to 8 and hope to use this further knowledge to get it to 7 by the end of January. Actually Team Captain James Brown has instructed the NZTC organisers to only accept any team lists from him. And we are to alert him immediately should any one of them try to submit a list....or show independent thought!

So here are your teams:

#1 - The von Trapp Family

• Jack Dunn (c)
• Tom Dunn
• Joe Dixon
• Pete Dunn

#2 - Team DILF

• James Brown (c)
• John Willenbruch
• Antony Kitson
• Glen Tibbles

#3 - Shirts Off!

• Sam Whitt 
• James Milner (c)
• Ben Wadsworth
• Mal Patel

#4 - The Wolfpack

• Dan Butler (c)
• Ross Hillier-Jones
• Jeff Kent
• Locky Reid

#5 - Southern Raiders

• Basil Moskovis (c)
• Damon Quaid
• Rhys Hodgson 
• Darren Urquhart

#6 - Stonefalls Massive

• Joel van de Ven-Long (c)
• Glen Burfield
• Ryan Lister
• Wil Hoverd

#7 - Beauty & the Beasts

• Sam Campbell 
• Fern Campbell
• Hamish Gordon
• Nic Jebson (c)

#8 - Grumpy Old Men

• Raymond Dick (c)
• Mike King
• Reid Pittams
• Paul Davison

#9 - Legion of Doom

• David Oemecke
• Hermann van Krandenberg
• Luc van Kradenberg
• Rex Foote

#10 - The Nice Team

• James Millington
• Bo Patterson
• Dave Appleby
• Tane Woodley

#11 - The Bucketheads

• John Murrie (c)
• Adam Richards
• Brendon Johnston
• Regan Ridge

#12 - The League of Extraordinary Nerdymen

• Paul Clarke (c)
• TBC
• TBC
• TBC

#13 - The Philosopher's Stone

• Nick Munn (c)
• Phil Wu
• Paul Dalton
• James Cardno

#14 - Redheaded Stepchildren

• Tim Joss (c)
• Rory Finnemore
• Hagen Kerr
• Neil Williamson

#15 - Team Victoria

• Greg Greenfield (c)
• Nick Hoen
• Jabe Brown
• Ben Leopold

#16 - Team Australia

• Tim Stewart (c)
• Mark Skilton
• Sam Morgan
• Lachy Mulcahy

So those are the teams as I currently have them plus name where I was given them or my own substitutes. Please let me know if team composition has changed or team name is different.

"RUINATION" - Warfare On Another Level

"RUINATION" is a Warhammer Fantasy event to be held in Wellington on 18/19 January 2014.

RUINATION 2014

However this is something different from the norm with 4000 point armies battling it out. Big armies, big tables, great terrain - RUINATION is a hobby event aimed at ensuring all participants have a fun weekend.

You can download the Players Pack here

Vermintide Is Fast Approaching

C'mon People.....Vermintide is almost upon us and this year the signups have been slow.

Now is the time to get onto it.

For those that don't know, Vermintide is a one day event held at the Wellington Warlords on November 16.

The Players Pack can be downloaded here

Neil will be at Skitterleap this weekend so you can catch him then to register.

Let's get out and support the last event of the year in Wellington.

Skitterleap Predictions

So this weekend we have Skitterleap and as is traditional before these events I like to run my eye over the field and give my predictions.

So without further ado here are my Top Five:

#5 - Joel Van de Ven-Long (Empire)

I pick Joel to finish in the Top 5 every event and he always let's me down. Now the astute amongst you will know that Joel is not attending Skitterleap this year…..however I am not going to let a little thing like that impinge on the long record of disappointment he has built up.

#4 - Sam Campbell (Daemons of Chaos)

Sam will try and kid you that he is bringing a soft or fluffy army, however that is a lie. As a founder member of the "Kapiti Push-It-Forward Club", he would have to sell his house if he brought anything but nails. A list with Bloodthirster, ambushing Flesh Hounds and two Skullcannons is not soft. I will be keeping a very close eye on his game with Hamish Gordon to ensure that no shenanigans occur. Rumours have started to surface that he is going to lie on his back and let Hamish tickle his tummy to ensure Kapiti has two participants at the upcoming Masters.

#3 - Peter Williamson (High Elves)

He'll try and fox you that he's a good player, list builder and tactian…..but we all know better than that. Peter's strategy is not to drop too many points when he plays with the Big Boys Day One so he can score 40 points Day Two clubbing baby seals and sneaking into Third Place. Pride, Peter! It's not just a word in the dictionary.

#2 - Hamish Gordon (Warriors of Chaos)

"Finally….Hamish has come back to the Warriors of Chaos"

For those of you who don't know Hamish rage-quit WoC earlier in the year as the new book had neutered the army and it had all the hitting power of a sick puppy. In this, I believe, he may have been unique in the world. The intervening months have shown that WoC may not be quite as week as he first thought. And surely if he need any further evidence that his initial view might have been a little awry, the fact that Charlie St. Clair is all over them, like Len Brown at a Yum Char, should give him a clue.

This will be the event Hamish emerges from the cocoon of disappointment. The only thing standing between him and the podium is the Painting Judge.

#1 - Rory Finnemore (Vampire Counts)

It pains me to do this but I am picking someone from "up North" to take it out. They are a pretty motley bunch but fresh from his success in Tauranga and Guardcon, Rory….this is your time.

The big question is whether the switch from Empire to Vamps will slow him down. Many of you might remember Rory's bold claims earlier this year that "Any idiot can win with Skaven" before displaying by his abject failure with the rats at Equinox that he perhaps overestimated his own capabilities and didn't reach the bar of that particular idiot.

Still the world loves a trier and I am picking Rory to march off with this event.

As to the other awards, I'm not keen to pick the painting prizes. However I am expecting myself to be a shoo-in for Best Sportsman (given my previous Best Sportsmanship wins at GW GTs). The only thing that can hamper my securing this award is the fact that I am having a molar removed this afternoon and may still be a tad ornery come the weekend. However I'm sure my sunny disposition will overcome even this hurdle. On that basis, "C. Lock it in Eddie".

New Hills For Skitterleap

With Skitterleap on this weekend I though I'd use last Saturday and Sunday to make some new hills for the event.

Down in my garage I had a part sheet of 2" Blue High Density Foam that has been sitting there for a few years. Out came the marker pen, the jigsaw and some sandpaper and very quickly I had a selection of 2" thick oval/circular shapes.

I sanded the cut edges and then used Liquid Nails to glue some together making two step 4" hills. From here I mixed up some various grade sand and rocks and using PVA applied the mix to where the two contours joined.

A quick coat of brown paint and two lighter drybrushes and it was time to flock with static grass. Again I used my Grasstech applicator to make the grass stand up. I then picked out the bigger rocks with a variety of grey paints and PVAed some clump foilage and voila! Ten new hills.

Seven two-level, three single-level hills

Terminator model on 40mm base for scale

Hills will block Line of Sight to infantry and similar sized models

Skitterleap Lists Released

Sam has just released the lists for Skitterleap, which is happening on the 26th & 27th October.

You can download them here.

Skitterleap Update

Skitterleap is just a month away and the numbers are building nicely.

Currently there are 20 registered and paid up with five more indicating they are going to come. I sent out emails to people today reminding them that the event is on. Should I have inadvertently missed you, please drop me a line at pete@thefieldsofblood.com and I'll get the Players Pack. It is shaping nicely as the biggest Warhammer Fantasy event to be held in Wellington this year and is a great way to finish the 2013 tournament season.

Again we will have to weather an influx from the North as a group from The League Of Extraordinary Nerdymen venture South. Known for their love of painting, all things hobby - oh and Karl Franz plus two Steam Tanks - this will be the third time this year that these scruffy northerners have despoiled our lush and fertile lands. I really appreciate the support these guys (and all the locals) give to the Fields of Blood events.

Remember your army must be fully painted and based (at least to a tabletop standard). You must also have movement trays for your units. The "controversial" Fields of Blood Painting Checklist is downloadable from this site and will be used at the event. Umpire Sam Whitt will talk through the mark that he is awarding your army.

So if you are thinking about coming along then let me know and hopefully we can finish the season with a great turnout for what I am sure will be a great event.

"RUINATION" Confirmed For January

I'm happy to confirm that Fields of Blood will be running a new event in January......and boy is this an event with a difference.

The event will be for 4000 Point armies.....yes you read that right 4000 points.

Here are the headline details:

• 4000 point forces
• No Grand Army - that means only two of the same Rare choice, three of the same Special etc
• No Allies
• No Comp but there will be an Umpire's Veto
• 8' x 4' tables
• 5 Rounds - three Saturday, two Sunday
• Scenarios - Blood & Glory x2, Battleline x2, Dawn Attack x1

The date for this extravaganza will be January 18 & 19 at Cashmere Avenue School in Khandallah.

Armies must be painted but as I have most armies I am happy to supply 1500-2500 points of painted forces to those that don't have the requisite figures. In some cases I can provide a full 4000 point force.

So get planning now. As far as I'm aware this points size is unique for Warhammer in New Zealand. If you've ever wanted that opportunity to try Warhammer on a truly massive scale this is it. The focus of the event is clearly aimed at fun.

Watch out for the Players Pack which will be out in the next 10 days.

Painting Checklist - The Reality

Lots of good discussion re the painting checklist

Here for me is the reality. If you want full painting points you don't need to be a master painter, you can choose to check just the following boxes:

This gets full points. 

For each point you miss full marks by you lose 0.71 Tournament Points. Each Battle Point is worth 0.6 Tournament Points. Therefore if you got only 30 out of 35 for painting you would need to make up 6 Battle Points.

In the lead up to the event you could spend an hour a night and get the extra 5 Painting Points e.g. Flock and and paint movement trays (2 points), make a Display Base (1 point) [and you can carry your models on it] - it doesn't have to be elaborate, apply a wash or highlight to parts of your models (2 points).

And you're there.

Painting Checklist

This is the painting checklist referred to in the Skitterleap Players' Pack.

Sam Whitt, the Umpire will be using this to grade painting. As you can see it is possible to get up to 45 points. However only 35 points is required to get a full painting score.

If you sit down with your army then you should be able to objectively determine your own score by marking it against the sheet. Realistically you should be able to get within one or two points.

I'd suggest using it as a checklist when planning your army for the event if you want to maximise your painting score.

When Sam comes to mark your army you should be able to have a discussion with him pointing to the various factors.

Winning is Fun! - The Top 5 Lists at Warpfire

It appears that at least some people missed reading the bit about Warpfire being a fun event - or at least defined fun as winning. They are some true shockers at the event and the odd diamond in the rough.

Here's my pick on likely Top 5 placegetters at Warpfire.

5. Hamish Gordon (Empire)

By far the most egregious list here. The lack of podium finish so far kinda irks Hamish and so when he picked up the Players Pack and saw the word "fun" he misread it as "1+ Armour Save". This list will be played the "Kapiti Way" - pushed straight forward and attempt to bludgeon the opponent. If it works then it equals "Teh Skillorz", if not "My opponent's list was broken". Just joking Hamish. Happy Birthday.

4. Joel van de Ven-Long (Empire)

He wanted to do a Hamish but has just a bit too much self-respect. Hence inclusion of his halberdiers. Joel has been "Mr. Disappointment" 2009-13 but I'm not going to give up on him now. Surely this is your time....again.

3. Stuart Robinson (Warriors of Chaos)

But not a Warrior in sight. I said someone would lack the self-respect to do it - I had numerous candidates - but it is Stuart that has proved me right. Not content with the toughest book in the game, he felt the need to include a Special Character to circumvent the Core tax the rest of us have to pay. Bad Stuart.

2. Wil Hoverd (Ogres)

There is a way to have a fun ogre list at 1000 points - check out mine for instance - and then there is Wil's way. Combat potenial? Check. Magic? Check. Shooting? Check. After people play Wil I expect hugs when they see my list.

1. Tom Dunn

You never saw it coming. But you will remember it. A diamond amongst the rough. Makes me proud.

Warpfire Lists Released

Locky has released the lists for the 1000 point Warpfire event this weekend.

You can download them here

Earlybird Registration for Skitterleap Closes Saturday

Just a reminder Skitterleap registration is at the Earlybird Rate of $40 up to Saturday September 15.

After that it reverts to the full entry cost of $50.

Get in now and save some cash.

The Players Pack is here

Warpfire Ogres

Here is my list for Warpfire. Ogres. No magic, no shooting.

Tyrant - General, Great Weapon, Glittering Scales

5 Ironguts - Standard, Musician, Lookout Gnoblar, Standard of Discipline

3x 2 Mournfang - Heavy Armour, Ironfist, Bellower

2x 1 Sabretusk

I could have included an Ironblaster but that struck me as a bit "taking it too serious". So I'm going to line up and run at you with my 14 models.

Holy Fat Tummy, Batman!

Vermintide 2013

The Wellington Warlords and Masterton Marauders are pleased to announce the 5th Vermintide to be held on Saturday November 16th.

Growing on the success of last year's event, this tournament is a collaboration between the two clubs with the intention to further grow Warhammer Fantasy in the region. Aimed at both the experienced and the novice, there is something here for everyone.

The Players Pack can be downloaded here

Control of the event is Packmaster Neil Williamson