Friday, February 11, 2011

Inner Circle High Stakes Tournament and Sausage Fest

As a new father and dedicated husband, I’m finding less and less time to get out and roll dice at the my local store. Sure, after the family has gone to bed I get in about an hour and a half of solid painting each night, but I’m really missing out on the gaming aspect of the hobby. Tournaments are becoming my sole source of gaming. Not because I am a uber-competitive guy, but because they are planned in advance, contain at least 3 games in one, and do the networking for me---I don’t have to seek out new opponents, I just meet them at tournaments.

My next appearance at the table-top is going to be next Saturday at Games N Stuff in Glen Burnie, Maryland. The Inner Circle is hosting their annual High Stakes Tournament and Sausage Fest. And yes, it’s going to be a sausage fest in both its meanings. We’re going to be dining on sausages throughout the day and yes, it’s pretty much going to be a big room of man-dudes.

It’s an 1850 tournament, using missions straight from the 40k rulebook, rolled collectively each turn. Pairings each round are going to be randomized. There is a prize after each round. If you win, you get 10 bucks, if you draw you get 5. Fair enough. So what this means, is that the tournament isn’t really a tournament, its more of day of friendly gaming with an added bonus of winning some cash and eating sausages. It’s just what I am looking for.

I’m bringing a list just like my 1750 list I took to conflict, with another Broadside thrown in.

HQ: Shas'El Commander with Missile Pod, Plasma Rifle, Target Lock, HW- Blacksun Filter HW-Mulitracker 95

Elites: Crisis Team: 1 XV8 Team Leader with Twin-Linked Missile Pod, Flamer and HW-Drone Controller and 2 Gun Drones, 2 XV8s  with Twin-Linked Missile Pod, Flamer 166
Elites: Crisis Team: 1 XV8 Team Leader with Twin-Linked Missile Pod, Flamer and HW-Drone Controller and 2 Gun Drones, 2 XV8s  with Twin-Linked Missile Pod, Flamer 166
Elites: Crisis Team: 1 XV8 Team Leader with Twin-Linked Missile Pod, Flamer and HW-Drone Controller and 2 Gun Drones, 2 XV8s  with Twin-Linked Missile Pod, Flamer 166

Troops: 6 Fire Warriors 60
Troops: 6 Fire Warriors 60
Troops: 10 Kroot, 3 Kroot Hounds 88
Troops: 10 Kroot, 3 Kroot Hounds 88

Fast Attack: 4 Pathfinders, Devilfish with Disruption Pod 133
Fast Attack: 4 Pathfinders, Devilfish with Disruption Pod 133
Fast Attack: 3 Piranhas with Fusion Blasters 195

Heavy Support: Broadside Team, 1 XV88 Team Leader with Advanced Stab. System, HW-Blacksun filter, HW-Drone Controller with 2 Shield Drones, 1 XV88 with Advanced Stab. System 198
Heavy Support: Broadside Team, 1 XV88 Team Leader with Advanced Stab. System, HW-Blacksun filter, HW-Drone Controller with 2 Shield Drones, 1 XV88 with Advanced Stab. System 198
Heavy Support: Broadside Team, 1 XV88 Team Leader with Advanced Stab. System, HW-Blacksun filter, HW-Drone Controller with 1 Shield Drone 103

I gave my XV-88 Team Leaders and the Shas’El Blacksun Filters in case we end up rolling Dawn of War for deployment. There is the potential for that to come up more than once. If we happen to roll annihilation more than once, I’m going to be having trouble. That said, if I play smart I’m sure I can protect my units from getting destroyed. 


This list is actually fairly durable in-game. I know theory-hammer-wise, people would be shocked at the amount of Kill Points it has but with careful placement and ensuring cover-saves on all my units each turn, it can soak up damage like the dickens. Lascannons and meltas are made less effective as it’s mostly infantry based, and even heavy bolters and assault cannons have trouble knocking out my units.

So far the list of participants is really small. So if you’re in the area, please sign up!

11 comments:

Pete W said...

I might just have to sign up for this one and bring my Orks out to play. Just wrote 1850pts for a game tomorrow so if the list works, why not do it again next week.

fester said...

Can't help out with tournament number, being on the other side of the planet and all, but just wanted to say - welcome to the fold brother. Being a new Daddy makes it hard to get out and do the pre-bub things, and tournaments are good to ensure games.
The only issue it that in Aus we do 2 day events, and outside of major cities, one per year, so me trying to do what you are doing (which is all I can do to get games) means I often add travel to the weekend :/

Anyway, good luck with the fish'eads.
Remember the old Tau adage: shoot them 'til they are dead, then shoot them once more for good measure.

Tim said...

Pete, I think your attendance is actually required for this event, you being such a big fan of man-meat and sausages and all. :P

Fester, thanks! It's great being a new dad, and having loads of local tourneys helps a lot. Sorry to hear about the Aussie situation...I'm actually impressed there's a vibrant 40k community there.

Fish'eads is da best...

Richard Erwin said...

Would you consider the Fire Knife configuration the best for an unknown enemy condition? Do you use the Pathfinders to up their BS or spend those on the Broadsides? How do you deploy the Pathfinders?

Thanks and good luck.

Gramps said...

OSH,

Each mission and deployment will be played once. So you will have annihilation 1 time and DoW 1 time. First round is random. 2nd round is random between what's left. 3rd round is whatever is leftover.

My Deathwing and I will see you there, trying out our new TH/SS conversions.

Oh, and I don't mind taking a little drive on the weekends if you ever want a game.

Richard Erwin said...

Why do you bring the Devilfish with the Pathfinders? You don't deepstrike and they can't take objectives, the marker lights are heavy weapons so Fish of Fury is out. Whats the deal? Why not just scout move them?

Richard Erwin said...

One more. I'd like to make a proposal. The missile like object which comes with the Devilfish, it isn't a seeker missile. It is the disruption pod. For those of you who know military aircraft the Electronic Counter Measures(ECM) package is mounted on the wing like a missile. This way you can take it off when you don't need it and it is aerodynamic. See the AN/ALQ-184 by Raytheon.

Tim said...

Richard, I am a cheap-skate. I like my crisis suits to be inexpensive. I'm not a big fan of them but that doesn't mean they're shite. Fireknife configs are present in a lot of powerful tau builds that's for sure. Are they best for an unknown enemy army list? Probably...if you can keep them cheap by taking 3 Shas'ui with missiles, plasma and 'tracker and no drones or other upgrades.. then they're only 186 points.

I use pathies for whatever I need them for. I'd say most of the time they strip cover saves from vehicles and boost the BS of my 3 piranhas. Also very useful for broadsides.

Setting them up is pretty much a matter of good judgement. There's a couple things to consider. 1) they need to be in cover 2) they don't need to be close to the enemy as they have a 36 inch range. 3) they need a good field of fire. 4) if needed they can be pressed into service as a speed bump unit.

Tim said...

Richard, pathies have to take Devilfish. Its a requirement. Anyway, their fish get highjacked by my firewarriors.

Oh neat little factoid about army vehicles. I love hearing stuff like that. Thanks for the tip...

You seem to know quite a bit about 40k but from 4th edition, are you just getting back into the game?

Richard Erwin said...

OSH

A. Is your name derived from the NES game?

B. I don't know where my head was Friday night. Of course the Pathfinders have to take the Devilfish. That was just stupid.

C. The missiles that come in the box are seeker missiles. Just look at the Skyray. Then quickly forget about it.

D. I am playing in tournaments on Tuesday and Saturday. I am pumped to be trying out your tactics. I bought 4 Piranhas last week.

E. I played back in the 90's and I'm just getting back.

Thanks for all your help.

HuronBH said...

I played in the Pancake Jamboree last year and had planned to attend this year until I saw it was on the 19th. I have a Malifaux I have already consent to attend that day so I won't be able to make it up.