BEER LEAGUE - Apocalyptic Finale

Well, the 2013-2014 season of the Winnipeg Warhammer 40,000 Beer League has come to an end.

Now it's time for playoffs!

But we can't jump into the playoffs without posting about the killer game we had on Saturday as the final game of the season and a bit of a wind up celebration for the 8 month season.

Leading up to this final battle, players battled through 7 different scenarios to gain a few different types of points. League Points (LP) were the "sports" equivalent scoring system. A simple 2 points were awarded for each win and 1 point was awarded for each draw. LP are the critical points for seeding the top 8 players from the League who will battle in the playoffs. But more on that later...

The other important score from Beer League is Faction Points (FP). These were accumulated throughout the season as "secondary objectives" in each Mission. But FP became the front and centre scoring system for the Apocalypse game. There were a ton of FP up for grabs in this game because this game was all about finding out which Faction would reign supreme. With the 8 playoff qualifiers determined the night before the game, this Apocalypse game was all about trying to win the narrative element of the Beer League. Specifically, we call the award Campaign Winner.

With way too much to type about already, I will not be doing a full battle report. Also, I was just using my phone for pictures. I saw some people with some pretty fancy cameras, so maybe someone got some better pics than I did. But, I will provide a brief synopsis...

The prologue to the game was as follows:

The Empire of Octarius has been consumed by the warp storm, turning the sector into another massive Chaos realm and most of its planets into Daemon Worlds. The Orks have been extirpated and the Tyranids have moved along to the next source of biomass: the nearby Maiden World that was unveiled when the storms removed its cloak. The Eldar have fallen back to protect their precious planet, pursued by a small fleet of Chaos forces bent on utterly dominating the entire Sector. The Eldar have found themselves fending off two enemies as the campaign to protect Ishar Deh comes to a bloody finale. Thought to have been completely eliminated along with the Orks, the remaining forces of Space Marines found a small breach in the warp storm along the outer rim of the Empire. It did not take long for the Imperium to send a massive fleet through this safe passage and reinforce the Space Marines in Octarius. With a host of reserves in tow, the Angels of Death descended upon Ishar Deh to bring an end to their enemies once and for all.

The Eldar, Chaos, and Tyranids had been engaged in battle with one another upon the lush landscape of Ishar Deh. Then, they saw the skies turn black with drop pods...

 

The game took place on the Maiden World of Ishar Deh. Something a little bit different than every other Apoc game I have played, there wasn't a single piece of sci-fi, city, ruin, or wreckage terrain. The whole board was a lush landscape with forests, rivers, jungles, and plains. Highlighting the board was some amazing Eldar Maiden World pieces graciously provided by Mechani-kon (thanks guys).

 

 

As you can see, the board was also an interesting shape. Not your typical rectangle, the zig zag board made for a neat deployment zone that spread forces around and made for some fun engagements.

 

Greg already posted the teams in a previous post, but just a quick recall... It was team Angels of Death (5 players) versus team Enemies of the Imperium (6 players: 3 Eldar, 2 Tyranids, and 1 Chaos). Kind of a strange arrangement, it made for some interesting twists forcing Eldar, Chaos, and the Nids to fight alongside one another.  

 

Following the standard rules for Apocalypse, forces had to control Strategic Objectives to gain Strategic Victory Points. There were 5 of those awesome Eldar pieces on the table, so each one counted as an objective. We also allowed SVP for the bonus points criteria listed on page 23 of the Apocalypse book. Now, to bring some imbalance to team Enemies of the Imperium, bonus points would not go into the pool of SVP for the team, but rather, into individual "sub-pools" that could only be claimed by the players in the Faction playing in team Enemies of the Imperium. Say that sentence 3 times as fast as you can... At the end of the game, all Strategic Victory Points were converted into Faction Points (1 SVP = 3 FP) to bring the game in line with League Scoring. But that's not all. Each Faction was given Secret Objectives to gain FP. Only the players in each Faction knew their objectives, which added for some sneakiness and a little bit of good old treachery.

 

Angels of Death were tasked with killing the 7 Warlords on the Enemies of the Imperium for an award of 2 FP per Warlord destroyed. In addition, they would earn 10 FP if they had more points on the board than the other side at the end of the game. As the only team that was a single Faction, these criteria were something everyone on the team could commit to.

 

Traitor Legions were tasked with trying to make sure Chaos models were used to claim objectives for team Enemies of the Imperium. You know, cause Chaos does not like sharing Glory... They got an extra 2 FP at the end of a Session for each objective that was controlled by a Chaos unit. Also, they were tasked with killing Azrael (the team Angels of Death Warmaster) for 10 FP.

 

Tyranids were tasked with smashing vehicles. Being all excited to start making biomass salads of out the great Maiden World resources, they were pissed off to have big tanks and drop pods get in the way of their dinner. They would get 1 FP for every vehicle destroyed, and 2 FP for every Super-heavy vehicle. And trust me, it added up quick when the Marines decided to hammer their ranks with drop pods full of Dreadnoughts. Pretty damn hilarious...

 

Craftworld Eldar were tasked with holding the centre of the board where there was a rather large Eldar tower. They would get 3 FP for every Session where there was an Eldar unit that held the objective. They would also be given 10 FP if there were nothing but Eldar units within 18" of the tower at the end of the game. But wait, how would they do that if they are on a team with Nids and Chaos? Well, because they were given the secret option to split off from their team at the start of Session 3 and become a third team. And of course being the assholes that they are, they decided to do that... Go Eldar.

 

But then Chaos just shot them up...

 

The Outcome. Based on purely SVP, the Angels of Death won the Apocalypse game. They did an amazing job of getting on objectives and playing a classic game of Apocalypse. In terms of the impact of Secret Objective and the total FP earned in the game, the Traitor Legions scored the most FP in the game.

 

But, when you add it all up to the rest of the standings from the rest of the Season... Craftworld Eldar won the campaign. Congratulations to the Eldar players: Fabio Fiorentino, Wes Szmaglik, Sean Thiessen, Dave Violago, and Mike Major. You guys fought together to maximize FP in your games and managed to bring Craftworld Eldar to victory.

 

So, we have our campaign all wrapped up, and our 8 players ready to do battle in the playoffs:

 

Click for larger

 

Since Eldar won the campaign, the top two players from Craftworld Eldar got to choose their opponents in the quarter-final of the playoffs. The rest of the participants were seeded by Standings leaving a clear playoff picture for this post season:

 

 

Once the quarter-final is complete, the winners of round one will be matched up in the semi-final based on season standing seeds. The two winners of the semi-final will then face each other in an epic final for the title of League Champion.

 

There is one final trophy available in the Beer League, and that is Player of the Year. The Player of the Year is awarded to the player who showed the most passion for the League while making games enjoyable for their opponents and making an imprint on the club overall. This award was decided by a vote from all the players in the League. We are more than happy to announce that Jordan Nykolaishen was presented with the award. Stupid me, I forgot to take a picture of the trophy... It's gorgeous, so I hope Jordan posts a picture of it.

 

It is now time for the playoffs. I will email the players the rules for the playoffs, but the players should begin to arrange their games. The quarter-final round should be arranged on your own terms, but we will hopefully hold the semi-final and final on single evening somewhere. That's what we did last year and it was a lot of fun.

 

Finally, a special mention to Garth Bowman, Greg Ritchie, Charles Janke, Jordan Nykolaishen, Fabio Fiorentino, Sean Thiessen, and Mario Rocha. What did these guys do? They all have a big shiney number "8" beside Games Played in the Standings. In other words, they played every single Mission. Thanks guys for being a part of the whole season and seeing it through until the end, one game at a time. But, thanks to everyone, really. All 24 players with a special "props" to the 11 guys that showed up for Apocalypse. You guys are the reason I put the work in this year and the reason why this League exists.

 

Here are some more pictures of the Apoc game. But please, add a post if you got more. It was a wild game with some of the most beautiful models I have ever seen.

 

 

Nerd photography session for non nerds @ 40kegger 6

Hello 40Keggers!

My name is Tiffany, and I'm a WarGaming wife (*hi, Tiffany*) Well, unfortunately I don't have any game write-ups, product details (or slams) or other things to share but I hope you won't just stop reading here... 

I am a photographer and I'm looking to book a couple photo sessions during a certain beer league tournament that my husband is playing, battling, and drinking in! 

The sessions would take place on Sunday, May 25th, 2014 in Assiniboine Park in Winnipeg, Canada. The total investment of this session will be $40 USD (or$44 CAD) which will include a 20 minute outdoor lifestyle portrait session, up to 15 professionally composed and edited images, a signed print release for your printing pleasure, and emailed copies of the high resolution files within 7 days of our session. 

 

As a special deal for 40Keggers: Any other WarGaming wife or family will receive $5 off of their session! (As a hint hint I offer gift certificates, and that's right after mother's day...) 

To book your session today please email me at 11tmortenson@gmail.com. Appointments are necessary. To check out my previous work please check out my website at www.temphotography.weebly.com or "like" me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TEMPhotography

Alright, enough non-WarHammer shenanigans, game on tabletop nerds!

Tiffany

Extermi-mutherfucking-Atus

 

The points and teams have been decided for the 40kegger Winnipeg beer league wind up! Thanks all who responded and are able to attend the event!

After 8 months of the Angles of Death attempting to reclaim the Octarius Sector back from the Orks and Tyranids (while at the same time dealing with the Chaos filth and ballerina tactics of the foppish Eldar) the Space Marines have decided to say "FUCK EM ALL! EXTERMINATUS!!!"

The teams will be

Greg (Salamanders)
Charles (Blood Angels)
Garth (Dark Angels)
Christian (Mentors)
Thursty (Astral Claws)

VS

Fabio (Eldar)
Sean (Alaitoc)
Wes (Alaitoc)
Jordan (Alpha Legion & Night Lords)
Scotty (World Eaters & Night Lords)
Mario (Hive fleet Nocturnus)
Neil (Hive fleet Bartharax)

14, 000 points per side.

Again, thanks to everyone who responded that they can make it. To those that didn't, maybe next year! Cheers, see y'all next weekend!

Another epic POV (non porn) shot!

Since nobody has submitted any epic photos, I'll post another one of mine.

2 years ago the Astro guys held an epic apocalypse game of Orks vs Imperium. To battle the Green Tide, I brought the Green Wall. I think I had something like 8 Salamander Dreadnaughts. They held the line against countless Stompas for 2 turns. This photo depicts my Mortis Pattern Contemptor flank marching to eradicate some of the Ork footsloggers. If I remember correctly... he didn't do much. But it was a cool pic non the less!

This just in: Assault Ram useful for once!

I just wanted to throw up this short quick little post of epicness! For those of you who know me, you'll know that I love my Assault Ram. You'll also know that it the most useless piece of shit model, when in my hands. I believe Rob L has even nicknamed my Assault Ram "The Muffin Launcher"!
But last night, for the second time ever, was good (The first time being when it rammed Big Seans Warhound titan and blew it up!)! My Assault Ram actually 1) hit a target 2) wounded the target 3) deleted the target!

The unit in question was 8 BA Assault Marines, a Sanguinary Priest and a Librarian. The Assault Ram caused 29 s6 ap4 wounds and 9 s8 ap1 wounds! Killed every single model... and just barely!!!! The very last cover save was for the very last model!
The BA unit had just deep struck the turn before, and were therefore all clumped up in a lovely Magna-Melta shaped blob! Charles Lined them up along the table edge as they died. Thanks Charles!

If you have any epic stories that can be expressed by ONE picture, submit them to me (picture and write up) and it will featured on the website. Email submissions to Greg@40kegger.com

Mike & Jordan VS Rob & Lance: FIGHT!!

He could feel the massive psychic entity that was the Hive Mind.  It’s tendrils of conscious thought extending out to touch the Tyranid synaptic creatures.  The runes that covered the floor around him began to glow as the ritual progressed.  The hundreds of pacified psykers chained to the altars began to thrash and scream as their life force was drained from them.

If this ritual was successful, Veritas would be able stretch a strand of his own consciousness into the rivers of information that flowed from the Hive Mind and gently manipulate certain Tyranid creatures.

As the ritual grew in intensity a whirling gust of power formed with Veritas at the center raising him into the air.  The power surged through his body, blood pouring from his nose and eyes, an inhuman shriek of power and pain erupting from his throat only to be cut off by bloody phlegm and vomit spewing forth.  As the ritual reached it’s peak, the chained psykers exploded with a shower of gore and Veritas dropped to the ground and was still for a long time.

Veritas opened his eyes to see the scarred face of Proelium, the veteran of his chosen guard.  Veritas whispered only two words before a fit of coughing seized him, but Proelium knew what to do.  He rushed to prepare the army to fight, his own stimulant injectors pumping him with adrenaline, the words “It worked” echoing through his mind.

So the above little story should give you an idea as to how this game went, or at least how it started.  Mike and I both got Puppet Master.

Here is the deployment.

The poor quality picture is due to poor lighting conditions of an unfinished lighting situation.

Mike and I got turn 1 and we both moved up being careful to stay far enough away to not get assaulted right away.  Mike’s shooting was a little lackluster killing a couple hormagaunts with his vindicator.  Mine was far better.  I was able to use my oblits to pop the truck that had the meganobs in it, and I successfully used Puppet Master

to shoot the Exocrine into the side of the Battlewagon and kill it.

So essentially I almost totally neutralized the Ork army for at least a turn as all of it’s mobility was gone and it didn’t have any ranged shooting.

Their turn was spent moving forward as fast as possible.  The Hive Tyrant moved up on top of the “skyshield” in the middle of table and it had lost a wound to the Warp Table.  It was able to shoot up the side armour of the Vidicator and wreck it.

Our turn again and Mike sets up his cultists to shoot at the Hive Tyrant hoping to ground it so we can Puppet Master it but fairs way better and kills it with his cultists.  Yep you read that right.  Mike’s 20 odd cultists manage to inflict 5 wounds on the flying beast and Lance has the decency to fail 3 of them.  I get my Sorcerer within range to use The Last Memory of Yuranthos on 3 units and kill around 20 models.  Mike’s 2 units of marines move up, bail out, and shoot the shit out of Lance’s big Hormagaunt squad.  Things are looking pretty good for us right now.

I make a monster of a bone head play and charge my Maulerfiend into the battlewagonless Orks hoping to get into base contact with the Warboss so my Lasher Tendrils can deny him 2 attacks and I could win on combat rez.  Well that does not work and the Warboss punks the Maulerfiend hard.

I’ve never used the Maulerfiend before and now have a slightly better understanding of what he can and can’t do.  Thanks Rob!

The cavalry arrives for Lance and Rob in the form of both Dakka Jets that come on and almost annihilates a whole squad of marines.

The Exocrine shoots up my rhino and I have to bail out which allows Rob and the battlewagonless orks make a decent charge and get in my face.  I challenge with my Lord and he accepts with his Warboss who proceed to slap each other around and do nothing.  I do, however, kill the rest of the squad making him fall back but I fail to sweep him.

The rest of the game goes like this…

Except they weren't cute puppies.

…with the exception of these 3 spectacular things that happen.  First, my warlord dies to a dangerous terrain check and Perils of the Warp.  Second, Mike uses Puppet Master to shoot the Exocrine at the Warboss who just re-grouped.  And lastly, the very last bullet that was shot in the game killed the last cultists who just happened to be holding on to the relic, and it was shot by an Ork Nob.

So, the game ended a tie, as the Relic usually does I find.  We managed to keep one of our warlords alive and kill both of theirs but still cough up enough faction points to make it 8-7 for Chaos.

The fancy warp storm chart didn’t really come into play except when it put the wound on the Hive Tyrant on the first turn.  After that it killed 2 or 3 hormagaunts, made my Chosen squad stubborn and gave the Champ Shred, and it did NOTHING for 5 rolls.

Had a good time and other than a long drive out to Rob's place it was a pretty quickly organized game, considering needing to get 4 players on the same schedule.

Thanks to Lance and Mike for making the long trek and thanks to Rob for hosting and supplying beers, although it was just me and him drinking them.

Happy gaming til next time!

Beer league Apocalypse - Back to beginings

Those of you in the 2013/2014 40kegger Beer League know that that our wind up will be a game of Apocalypse. It's going to be held where it all started. I was going through my videos today and found this old gem. It's from our first big Apocalypse game. Thought I'd share it again to get everyone's destructive juices flowing!