My first Blood Angels game

Technically, they're Flesh Tearers colors but I unwisely didn't get any of the shoulder pads from GW. And my freehand leaves much to be desired, so for now some have plain black shoulder pads, and others have Death Company shoulder pads. Anyway, I showed up hoping to play 1750 or 2000 points, but my opponent could only muster 1500. He was trying out the new Grey Knights codex, and ran 3 strike squads, one 5-man purifier squad, one interceptor squad and a couple of HQ's (a regular librarian and a Grand Master if I recall correctly - whoever he was, he had a power that allowed D3 of his units to be scoring units, which was amazing).

My List was:

Reclusiarch
meltabombs

2 Sanguinary Priests

Tactical Squad
Missile Launcher
Flamer
power fist
Razorback

Assault Squad
meltagun
meltagun
power fist
Rhino

Assault Squad
meltagun
meltagun
2 Lightning Claws
Rhino

Death Company (10)
power fist
power fist

Storm Raven
TLAC
TL Mutli-Melta
Extra Armor

Land Speeder
Heavy Flamer

**

I had some model limitations - I was playing WYSIWYG. I really, really should have been running some power weapons they really would have paid off. So on to the fight!

We rolled Pitched Battle / Capture and Control, I went first. I deployed everything but my StormRaven and Landspeeder. This turned out to be a really dumb idea - the only thing my opponent had that could take out a Raven were his Purifiers who I could have avoided with a simple middle-table deployment, and turn 1 turbo boost. I am terrible at deployment! I combat squadded my Tactical squad, putting the sergeant, flamer 3 other dudes and a Priest in the Razor back near my objective and the Missile Launcher squad also near the objective. Both of these squads wound up shooting at the same Strike squad the whole game. My assault squads were in their Rhinos behind cover. First turn, I moved the Rhinos toward the middle of the board. A whole 12 inches. Yes, I forgot they can go fast and I'm used to Space Marines. My second lesson learned: know your army. And here's a third: put your priest somewhere he can do some good. I had it in my head that the priest needed to be in a vehicle, so he wound up riding with the Death Company and doing nothing but soaking up a wound. I should have stuck him in a Rhino with a 9-man assault squad, but I was far too excited about getting to run a troop choice with 2 meltaguns. In my defense, the 1750 and 2000 point lists each had a Land Raider Redeemer instead of a second Rhino, and the plan was for a priest to ride in that with a 10-man assault squad. Next lesson learned: If you have to make a new list, don't just chop things out of an existing list - put some thought into it!

He wound up winning by capturing my point. My Death Company and Land Speeder made sure he didn't hold his point.

So first impressions of Blood Angels? Overall, very good. I need to be more careful with how I use my priests, and I need to learn how to decide to deploy or reserve a Storm Raven. I hadn't planned on running any Death Company, but I was pretty awed once they rolled up a Strike Squad, Purifier Squad and part of an Interceptor Squad. Furious Charge from the priests is nice. Feel No Pain was great when they shot at me, but didn't help in close combat as all GK have power weapons. Yes, ALL of them.

First impressions of Grey Knights? They're really good. Everybody has Strength 5 Storm Bolters and a power weapon (aside from the Purifiers who can see through friggin walls and shoot S7 Heavy/Assault weapons with Rending instead). The storm bolters will glance the crap out of a Rhino, no problem. One of the HQ's has a power that grants both he and the unit he's with Initiative 10, and the Strike Squads can give themselves S5 which was a potent combo. You really need to take them out on the charge or at least put the hurt on 'em as they can slowly whittle you down when stuck in.

All in all, I had fun and learned a lot about both armies. I'm looking forward to my next matchup with this yet-to-be-named Blood Angels successor chapter of mine.

A sad day

I just found out last night that my friendly local game store, The Inquisitive, will be going out of business soon. I will always remember the good times I've had there, and Tim's awesome frozen Caramel Macchiatos. I have many fond memories of hauling my Space Marines into the shop to die gloriously for the Emperor, safely nestled in their egg cartons (yeah I used egg cartons to carry my minis, I've since upgraded) - at least until the bullets started flying.

So now I've got to find a new haunt. The only viable options at this time are either Active Imagination or Ares Wargames, both across town. Compounded with the facts that a) they only play on Sundays at both shops and b) I have a 18 month old at home I think my 40k time is about to plummet. Monday was the "40k day" at the Inquisitive, so I need to figure something out here.

Such is life, I guess.