Inspiration: Duncan paints a 2nd Edition Blood Angel.

 This video popped up on my feed today, figured I'd add it to the blog.  Duncan Rhodes (now of Duncan Rhodes Painting Academy and of previous GW painting tutorial fame) does a retro paint job on a Blood Angel miniature from 1992.

Inspiration: Eldar Pirates and Dark Angels working together?

 After many moons of not gaming 40K (in any edition!), we finally played a proper 2nd edition game.  No modifications (except how we handle flamed units).  No PA Activations, etc...just classic 2nd edition by the book.

We took two 500 point forces and played cooperatively against a 1,000 Tyranids list.  Running my Eldar I opted for two small squads of Pirates, led by heroes...and a unit of Eldar scouts.  The Dark Angels, led by a Techmarine, ran two battle squads in rhinos.

We added a narrative mission focus, in case this turns into a campaign:

• An Imperial world had ceased communicating with the nearest system.
• A nearby Dark Angels frigate was dispatched to investigate.
• Upon arriving in system, the Dark Angels frigate experienced long-distance communication issues.
• The Dark Angels frigate was hailed by an unknown Xenos ship.
• This Xenos ship turned out to be an Eldar Pirate vessel.
• While prepared to destroy the Xenos vessel, the Dark Angels first accepted a hail from the self-proclaimed captain of the vessel.
• The Eldar Pirate Captain informed the Dark Angels that the Tyranids Xenos had overwhelmed the planet.  The Pirate Captain and his ship were monitoring the Tyranid fleet as it was nearing the Eldar Craftworld of Yderis.
• The Dark Angels acknowledged this possibility when their long-range communications failed, an issue consistent with evidence of the Tyranids hive fleets.
• Within hours of translating in system, the Dark Angels came under attack from the Tyranid hive fleet.
• A small combined party of Eldar Pirates and Dark Angels made for the surface of the planet, hoping to fire off a distress signal from the planet's communications satellites - perhaps the only communications strong enough to break the cloud of the Tyranids' fleet.

Our goal: At the start of each turn, if we possessed models inside the communications command building, we could roll a single D3.  If we acquired nine points, the message was sent successfully.

The odd alliance between Eldar Pirates and Dark Angels Space Marines attempts to hold the line.

The Dark Angels valiantly hold their line against the wave of Tyranid creatures.

The Space Marines fall as they engage the merciless Tyranids.

Using the other Pirate squad and the Space Marines as distractions, the last Pirate squad tries to reach the command station.

As the Tyranids swarm forward, one of the rhinos crashes into their lines, running down several creatures.

With their armour and skill, the Dark Angels plow directly into the Tyranid lines, firing boltguns and flamers out of the hatches of the rhino - hoping to buy enough time for the signal to be sent.

Unaccustomed to open warfare, particularly on the ground, the Eldar Pirates move up cautiously.

A squad of Eldar Scouts who had deployed inside the command structure are attacked by Hormagaunts within two turns - dying quickly.

One of the Pirate Squads and its hero engage the Termagants, hoping to buy more time.

With few weapons capable of harming the Carnifex, the rhino drivers resort to ramming - with little success.

Gargoyles spit acid all over the tactical marines - however, with 'Insane Bravery', they interrupt, gunning down several and driving them off.

 

 

In the end...we were victorious, but only just.  Our survivors included two damaged Rhinos (both of which had been sliced up by the Carnifex but luckily survived), one Techmarine and the Pirate Captain.  At the last moment they managed to fire off the message and leapt into the top hatch of a Rhino which was driving by.

Every other model was slain by a Tyranid, and we had a LOT of bugs left on the table.  We were suddenly reminded how vicious Tyranids were in 2nd edition.  We'll probably do more games in this series and continue our co-op struggle against Tyranids.

Inspiration: White Dwarf Images from the 90's.

I grabbed a few decent pictures from some PDF scans of old White Dwarf magazines during the 90's.  I will upload more as I stumble upon them.

 Orks in Mega Armour combat Karandras and his Striking Scorpion Aspect Warriors

 Catachans and a Leman Russ Battle Tank encounter Ghazhkull Thraka and his Ork horde.

 Ultramarines allied with Imperial Guard for a battle report.

 A Thraka-led large Ork force for a White Dwarf battle report.

 Ultramarines defend a bunker from vicious Tyranids.

 An Ultramarine Dreadnought faces off with its Ork counterpart.

 Ultramarine Terminators engage Tyranids and a vicious Screamer Killer.

 Ultramarine Terminators and Imperial Guard forces run into the Orks.

Ultramarine Assault Marines defend a landing pad against the Ork menace.

Inspiration: RT and 2nd edition in living colour!

A few more high-resolution scans from the wonderful 'Eavy Metal pages of the 2nd ed. rulebook.

It was images like this which stirred my 11-12 year old brain into the setting.  The battle scenes in particular (note: the terrain collection for GW was pretty small and you'd see the same terrain in all of their promo photos and battle reports!)

 

Inspiration: RT/2nd Ed. Art

These were posted up by someone on the wonderful Oldhammer Facebook group so I decided to add them here so more people can enjoy them.  Some nice high resolution pictures of RT/2nd ed. art.

Inspiration: Yderis Eldar vs. the Tyranids!

It's been a while since I've posted to the blog.  Don't fret, we're still slow-rolling our work on revising 2nd edition for a bit more playability.  I'll be hoping to put up some more datafaxes soon as well!  I appreciate the positive feedback I've been getting in messages and on some of the forums.  Thank you muchly!

Now, a treat - some pictures from a few 2nd ed. games yesterday.  Will have a load more when my partner sends me the rest of the pics!

The first game is set up!

 

A Shining Spear aims for the Hive Tyrant (failing miserably!)

 

 Having failed the first game, the Yderis Eldar set up to defend a trio of Farseers and Warlocks inside the main structure - busy trying to break through the null cloud of the Tyranids swarm --- hoping to get a message through to the Craftworld ships in the system.

 

Maugan Ra leads the defense in aid to the Craftworld.

 

Dire Avengers and Dark Reapers dig in for the waves of the Tyranid assault.

 

Fire Dragons prepare to repel the Tyranid horde.

 

Wayward Eldar Pirates return to aid in their moment of need.  Guardian grav batteries prepare for combat.

 

 Turn five of seven, the Tyranids break into the ritual, attacking the Warlocks and Farseer

As the Eldar defense crumbles, Dire Avengers run into the aid the Farseer as the Warlocks are consumed.