Back where I started

Back in 2009 I decided that I wanted to get back in to 40k, and shortly after started this blog. Going back through the archives I noticed an odd coincidence, my major blog updates always seem to happen just before a new codex release, in this case its the new 'Astra Militarum' let's just call it the new guard codex. The reason I find this both a coincidence, and slightly odd is that on both occasions I was completely oblivious to anything 40k related news wise, so when I look back and find that my second post on the blog was about the coming of the new guard codex, I thought it was only fitting that I follow up my return post with more of the same.

Before I really dig into this one, yes I am aware that's a pic from the "scions" book, its a pre release post, didn't feel like going through the mountain of leaked posts on BolS to dig up the astra book cover. More to the point in perfectly illustrates my mixed feelings about the new guard. At first blush and assuming that the( leaked stat line is correct it really feels like scions are basically SM scouts but take up a whole FoC  (4 up armor save not withstanding) I don't really want to get to bogged down in the 'this and that's' of stats, what I really care bout is why GW chose to go a very different route with this new design. The phrase 'like rogue trader' seems to be popping up quite frequently, and after the recent retcon on the chaos books, and the rise of 30k I can say that I am not all to surprised that GW's design style seems to be going back to the primitive. This doesn't mean that the models are necessarily bad, far from it actually, the new sculpts and models that I have seen so far look incredibly detailed, but are they 40k? Without actually having the models in my hands and based off of what I have seen with scions and ogryn I would have to say no. Again this is not a negative slant on the new models, I see a lot of potential in some of the new kits, but it feels decidedly not grim dark. The new Scion stuff looks decidedly cleaner, newer, and I would dare say a bit on the cartoon'ish side as is the case with the new Ogryn (to be fair they have always had that kind of disjointed caricature quality to them) this new batch from Nottingham looks to be based on a more classic design language then the newer 2000's kits.

 

I was quite keen to use this guy in an example, good sculpt, defined features, loads of detail, totally confusing design wise. To expand on that a bit further. Games Workshop has done a good job of reinforcing its visual tropes in 40k, smooth and articulated means elder, rounded plates and hard clean edges mean marines, garbage pile covered in corrugated roofing material means orks. To me baroque interlocking gothic plates has always = chaos, granted this guy is supposedly a special character but again I am not sure this kind of styling syncs up with my idea of how units in the army should look. That being said, I can see a lot of new players (read: younger players) getting more into this style.

 

 



 

 

Don't ask me why, but the new Scion's kit reminds me a lot of some of the Empire kits from fantasy(greatswords pictured above) Those rounded chest plates with the gothic metalwork just smack of fantasy, and I think that's what chafes me a bit about the design, everything else about them is spot on, the heads, the legs and arms, they all sync up and flow, but I look at those torsos and it becomes a 'you got your peanut butter in my chocolate' scenario. There's not to clear a distinction there either though, because they throw in a bit of scifi to liven it up, but at the end of the day it all just seems a bit forced rather than organic, I foresee a lot of kit bashing and jewelers files in this sets future.

 

What about the Taurox?

Indeed what about the Ork battle wagon with all treads and a Russ turret that they are trying to sell me as a 'new' kit.

 

There's still a few questions on the table that have yet to be answered, but I think a lot of those will get cleared up after tomorrows White Dwarf release. The big one for me is what's happening with the basic Cadian's, are we getting new sprues, veteran upgrades, new battle box's? Just IG in general is still a bit of a mystery, there have been practically no rules leaked on the meat and potatoes of the Imperium of man, so color me curious as to what GW has in store for the grunt wall. With GW's latest barrage of supplements and data slates, its not to hard to imagine all of our favorite fluffy forces like Catachans and Vostroyans or Steel Legion getting their own mini dex's in the near future.

 

As I just finished painting my fourth imperial guard army, I can say I am sufficiently pumped for next weeks release. While I don't know if I am really into the new storm troopers I think that the new dex will no doubt be full of updates and goodies for us to all pour over for the next couple of weeks.

 

See you on the battlefield

 

-Scott

BH Senior Editor

 



Happy New Year: 2010 a year of progress

The magic hour draws nearer and the guys all wanted to get one last post in before the ball drops. Rather then run through everything we are just going to to a quick recap of everything that made 2010 a great year for 40k and Fantasy. First off the updates, not just Dark Eldar, Space Wolves, Blood Angels and not to mention the slew of new kits to go with them. In 2010 we saw two dead armies be reborn (BA and DE) and got a ton of new all plastic kits to go with them. Its been a year of progress, with new codices and new kits the community had its fill of new material and new possibility's. There where also the new modules for Battle Missions and Spearhead. And then of course there was the sensational release of Fantasy 8th edition and the waves of new skaven (including the awesome island of blood set)

But not all was good. we saw price increases and scandal (well at least in the Oakridge store) With no official word on weather 2011 will see another price increase or not a lot of gamers are growing weary of the constant price fluctuations, who knows what the new year may hold for us.

For the most part how ever the community has never been stronger. With fresh faces and new talent being brought into the fold and new blogs and webcasts starting up all over 2010 has been one of the best years for growth in terms of the net community.


But the web community is not the only place we have seen growth. Our own gaming group over at Legends Games has exploded, from a couple of us meeting on the weekends and wailing on each other has grown to well over thirty people with a core of about ten regulars. We also started our increasingly popular play for paint tournament series over at the shop. With regular events and games we have seen our small group of gamers grow into a small community.

As for the store we have gone from this
To this...

We also saw the holidays go off with a bang, with Legends first annual "Seasons Beatings" tournament. Seven of the stores top generals and Seer's battled it out for the top spot.


This year also saw my transformation from a relatively casual hobbies into a "professional Painter" I went from the occasional unit to having a full workload with waiting list. D has yet to let me live down the shame of turning into the one thing I love to hate on the inter webs (mostly eBay) Which brings me to the post I should have made a few days ago, but thanks to a blizzard and several shipping delays I couldn't do so until tonight.



Yes tonight I finally got a light box, nothing fancy, but the best part is its compact and stows away easily. So expect more (hopefully decent) photos of future projects. Also I just had to break this thing in (and considering how bad my last botched light tent attempts)


Well that's about it, so tonight raise a glass to the emperor or the ruinous powers and drink deep, but have a toast for all of us to, from the guys down in the trenches to the Fly Lords of Terra. From all of us at Bay Hammer have a happy new years.


Cheers

Scott
BH Senior Editor

WFB Island of Blood Unboxing Video

Bay Hammer Exclusive.
GW really takes the mystery out of upcoming releases with their advanced order page, but all the same I still felt it necessary to share this. Through my various contacts we managed to get our hands on an advance store copy of the box set and I being the progressive type that I am decided to do this un boxing on video. Mind my ineptitude with some of the unit names.




Cheers

Scott
BH Senior Editor

Bay Hammer Radio Tonight

Tonight's show is going to be a bit short, this is due to both having to come straight from work myself, and having to co host the Warhammer 8th Edition pre release party at legends in Cupertino. We will however still be going live tonight at 5:15 pm PST so don't forget to tune in for all the news and tips that you didn't get on BoLs.

Topics will include:
-Upcoming events
-Dark Eldar and Chaos Demons release dates
-Spearhead review and tactics
-Product review
-Whats on the work bench

and more.

So tune in and relax for another exciting installment of Bay Hammer Radio (Home of the Chaos Tyranids)

Hope to see you there

Scott
BH Senior Editor

E3 Explosion

This year E3 has brought us some stunning announcements. THQ's Dark Millennium is topping the charts on the blog circuit and Space Marine for the 360 is making the rounds yet again, but there is so much more. Nintendo steals the show with the latest flavor of their popular handheld series with the 3DS, the first handheld device to have active 3D rendering without the need for those dorky glasses.

Not only are we seeing new hardware this year, but we where also shown a slew of new titles and the next line up for some familiar faces (I cant wait for the new red faction) So after your done drooling over Dark Millennium (and crying yourself to sleep after you see the release date) check out some of the other titles, some will be out as early as this September, while others linger on the distant horizon. All in all its been a good season for game announcements, this coupled with the pre release of 8th edition is making for quite an exciting weekend.


Cheers

Scott
BH Senior Editor

P.S.
Don't forget to tune in to Bay Hammer Radios live show on ustream this Friday night at 6pm PST

http://www.ustream.tv/channel/bay-hammer

Bay Hammer Gets 8th Edition

More details to come this week as the guys back at the bunker pick apart the copy we got our hands on yesterday. While I have yet to browse our advance copy I assure you that we will be covering our findings on this weeks show on Friday night, so make sure to tune in this week for some of the juicy details (within the legal limits of course)

That's all from me for today, expect this to be covered up by D's awesome Apocalypse pics of his entire army.


Cheers

Scott
BH Senior Editor