Honor the Codex: Back in Black // Ride the Lightning

Hello and good day readers. Today's post was originally going to be centered around digging unique tricks, units, and builds out of all the Marine codices (seeings how they've all been updated!) but, by good fortune, GW saw fit to release two new Space Marine supplements as a part of Kayoun (Also known as Warzone: Damocles 2nd Edition), and these are the long rumored Raven Guard and White Scars supplements, since those highlight those former legions which sought to battle Shadowsun. They're more expansive reconstructions for these two chapter tactics than simple supplements, but recycle enough from the basic blue book that they aren't quite standalone codices. So, without further ado, let's dig in.

Honor the Codex/Critique Corner Mashup: Bikes!

It's that time again! Sparrowhawk has given me another list to review. Today's order? 2500 points of bikes, bikes and more bikes, crossing party lines to find White Scars, Dark Angels, and even a Knightly friend, as well as some timely air support. Now, before we hit the break, Sparrowhawk did clarify for me that this list is designed around the RAI argument that any DA character which you equip with a bike earns the benefits of the Raven Wing special rules. Thus, my review will act with those constraints (or lack thereof) in mind.

RobPod #28: Mechanicum Series - Part III

Hello everyone, and welcome back.  I'm continuing my stay on Martian soil with another installment to my running series, this time I am joined by Trooper as we dive into two Black Library publications.  Novel reviews are normally a part of the Into the Black Library or Heresy in the Library series', but given the specialty of the topic, we figured they fit better here.  Today we're covering Mechanicum and Cybernetica. So strap in for some bionic hi-jinx and enjoy.

"When I grow up... I wanna go to MARS!

Cheers!

Godfrey's GenCon 2015 Video Tour

Hey guys, and welcome back.  instead of the usual article I would normally write, I thought I'd do something a bit different this year and give you guys a video to enjoy.  It's by no means all encompassing and I know it's very long.  But for those of you who stick it out, there are some little extras I threw in during editing (if nothing else check out 14:45).

I hope you guys enjoy the video.  Hopefully next year I'll have one a little more planned and streamlined prepared for you.  But if nothing else, here are a few pictures I snapped along the way.

First Thoughts: Zaal, the Ancestral Advocate

Greetings Gentlereaders,

The dust hasn't nearly settled, but I'm here to give you the latest about the newly announced (and not fully released) Skorne warlock, Zaal, the Ancestral Advocate.  As always, there has been a river of tears shed on the various Skorne forums that he may be taking up a place as our worst warlock.  From what I hear Dominar Rasheth received a similar reception and now he's one of our strongest warlocks.  It's been less than a week since his rules have been spoiled at Gencon.  Since the rest of the crew will be giving you a rundown of their experiences, here's my Gencon 2015 story.  Let's cut through the dross and see what gold we can mine from the game's first construct warlock and the first caster who is neither living in any way nor undead.

Fair Warning: This is a review of a warlock.  It's going to be long.

Critique Corner V: Salamander Gladius

The Emperor protects, noble servants of the Imperium, and today he has blessed us with a demonstration of his finest - a mustering of Space Marines, fresh and ready for combat. This force has been brought before us by Sparrowhawk, whose intel suggests will be engaging in a sizable training exercise with fellow Astartes, bearing with them some significant quantity of armor. For such a task, he has recruited none other than the Salamanders, warriors born of ash and flame, and led by the mighty Vulkan He'stan, to take the fight to the foe. What challenges might they face? Will they succeed in their efforts to maintain the honor of the Emperor? Hit the jump to see what 2500 points of Salamander Gladius can really do!

Honor the Codex: Back with a Vengeance

Greetings disciples, and welcome to the return of Honor The Codex. With the dawning of a new codex, it would make sense to reevaluate our stance on units, formations, and tactics. This won't necessarily be another full review, but more a changelog, built off my understanding of the new current Space Marine codex, and my experiences with the last one. I won't make any bones about this, I'm going to break down the codex at both the 'tier one' (tournament) and 'tier two' (casual competitive relative to my local meta) levels, with the same ruthless rating system as last time.

RobPod #23: Mechanicum Series - Part I

Hey everyone, Godfrey here with my first of a series of Mechanicum themed solo-casts.  With Mechanicum in full swing, I'm diving into my long awaited force, and my first topic is a codex review for the Skitarii.  The series is dedicated to looking into the new faction, from codex and rules, to models and hobby, even planning to do a review of the Horus Heresy novel Mechanicum as part of the series.

So grab your blessed unguents, prime the servo-arms, and strap in for this installment of the Mechanicum review!

Cheers!

Thoughts on Theme Forces

Go home, nobody loves you.  Except Vetock.

I hate the space pope more than Godfrey hates my taste in movies.  I loath the idea of putting the most important person in your society in a war zone unless absolutely necessary.  Then there are characters and units who are only included in lists because they're the only thing you have or they're the only ones who fit the points available. What would it take for you to bring those models to a tournament?

That's  a question PP has been taking seriously to the betterment and detriment of WarmaHordes.  While GW has made characters like Pedro Kantor, Farsight and now supplements to encourage players to play different styles of armies, the ability to play an army from three or more books leaves me a bit sour on armies having their own sense of identity.  Not so with theme forces.  They've got their own very distinct feels that make one caster feel radically different from another.  Sometimes its' a list that shakes the earth of the competative metagame and sometimes it's "No, I won't buy your shitty Animantarax, PP.  Stop trying to make me."  So is the benefit of having these worth the unintended consequences that errors in designing these lists my bring?

Spring Cleaning: Checking under the hood for gaming

Spring is in the air. Fresh breezes, new beginnings, an an end to hibernation for many, including myself. After an intermittent dry spell in gaming as I've gotten some of my affairs in order, it's high time for me to do one of my routine self checks. We're a year into 7th, and in that same year, I've really reached into other systems. How am I feeling, what am I seeing, what are different games missing, hit the break and let's see what the diagnostics have to say.

RobPod 20: They're Back!

In the Grim Dark caverns of the Grim Dark worlds, in the Grim Dark Universe of 40k, they awaken. They have risen once again to lay claim to the universe, and the top-tier spot of the tournament scene! Welcome back folks to this installment of the RobPod - our review of the new Codex: Necrons! This new codex clocks in at an impressively balanced level of "really damn good, but just this side of broken (mostly)." So join Corvus and I as we bend over and take it up the... *cough* review the codex!

Warning... this is a long cast.  Long Cast is loooooooooooong. So be sure you get plenty of booze, and be ready to drink.

Cheers!

RoBPod #19: Sentinels of Terra-bad

Hey all, join Godfrey and I in discussing some listener requested content that's more than a little underwhelming. Warning: opinion piece ahead!

Faith and Purity: Grey Knight Codex Review (With podcast!)

Hey everybody, Corvus here, and in the wake of my "War. Game." post, I decided it was high time to get my feet wet with a 7th edition codex. After some browsing of other cidices, I was left with the new Grey Knights, something I have off and on referred to as "Objectively the worst codex this side of Tyranids," a dubious honor I didn't even award to Orks or DEldar. So, what made me decide to take the plunge? Hit the gap and read on, or tune in. It's not a narrated post mind you, so the experiences are unique!

Intergalactic Toys Hits Indy

Hey folks, welcome back.  So continuing my unplanned stint away from the Grim Dark, I come today bearing more of a news spot and review rather than my usual observations and musings.  Recently a friend of mine had asked me "Hey... wanna go to this new toy store here in town?"  Me being the ever-poor, but nerd that I am couldn't resist the urge to check out a toy store.  My original mindset was that I would go and take a look around, but probably not buy anything.  Money is tight these days. And yet I still failed spectacularly not to buy something...

Podcast #15 - The Orkiest Codex Review!

Oi Ya Gitz!  Godfrey here bringing with me the Orkiest book 40k has for our newest codex review. Not unlike the Grim Dark, Orks is here ta stay, and so with my love for the army finally able to be shown by playing the army, I think it's only fair to let you guys know what I think about the codex.  It's a roller coaster of thoughts from ranging from the high notes to the low notes of the book.  I do go on a little at the beginning about 7th edition codex mechanics as it was the first of the new style, but I do take it to review the book more or less cover to cover.  So grab a brewski and listen up as I review the Bestest Codex!

Cheers!

Heresy at GenCon 2014

Hello all! This is Trooper and welcome to a special editorial piece for the Rites of Battle. As many of you Indy/Midwest folks are aware, GenCon 2014 was last week and, of course, I had to check it out and spend both a huge amount of time and money there. So without further delay, let's get into the sights, sounds, and impressions that this Guardsman saw during his trip to Hive Indianapolis.

Into the Black Library: Priests of Mars

Greetings all, and welcome back.  I thought I'd write up my thoughts on my most recent reading material from Black Library, Priests of Mars.  It is the first in a trilogy by none other than my favorite author Graham McNeill, avid author of Black Library and once upon a time the author of Codex: Black Templar.  True to his high standards, the book is a fantastic work of art which covers a huge swath of the lore which until now has remained fairly shrouded in the mysterium of the 41st millennium. It is one of my favorite single groups not only among the Imperium of Man, but in the whole of 40k... The Adeptus Mechanicus.  And as an added bonus, I also get to read more about my favorite chapter of the Adeptus Astartes.  And who better to capture their essence in detail besides he who bore them into their own right?

All bias aside, The book stands as the foundation of an excellent tale which breaks the boundaries of the galaxy itself.  And it's only the first of three.

A Word of Warning, there will be spoilers ahead.  Turn ye from this page should you not wish the spoils of plot upon yourself.

Heresy in the Library - Vengeful Spirit

Greetings good people and welcome back! Trooper here with another installment of "Heresy in the Library", where I review Black Library publications and let you, the reader at the other end of the data-slate, know how it is! Up for review is the newest Horus Heresy full length novel Vengeful Spirit. In it we revisit the Sons of Horus legion about midway through the Horus Heresy itself. Horus himself returns in full swing and some interesting, albeit "old" side plots open up throughout the novel. Ultimately the Battle of Molech, which the book details, comes out to be apocalyptic and fun as we could expect. So sit back, grab some amasec, and enjoy my review of the Vengeful Spirit. 

4/19 Game Preserve Bloomington Tournament Report

Good day readers, and welcome to another exciting chapter in my exciting battles on the tournament scene. This past weekend, I made the monthly pilgrimage through beautiful Brown County to arrive at the Game Preserve in Bloomington, bringing two in tow for their inaugural event at the venue. Hit the break to see how things went.

Podcast #11: The Astra Militarum

Join Godfrey, Trooper, and our guest Ultimate Dave 469 as they discuss the release of the new Imperial Guard (or Astra Militarum if your silly and actually use that name).  The book certainly shows some signs of improvement over it's predecessor, but does fall a little short in terms of the potential it had.  Its a roller coaster ride filled with ups.... and the downs........