This Week in 40K Podcasting – 9/07/2012 – 9/13/2012

Welcome to another “This Week in 40K Podcasting,”

Here is this week’s top 5!

The 11th Company – Episode 134

Highlights:  This week it is a full house with the addition of Paul Murphy and Anthony from the forums to the show.  They guys open up the show with ‘This Week in Gaming’ where the guys discuss the games they have played recently.  Next up in Tactical Terrain, Eric is back and talking about Ruins in 6^th Edition.  He discusses how the rules have changed from 5^th to 6^th and offers up some tips for ruin making; from making your own ruins to the GW ruin kits.  Next up was a ‘Rules Battle’ between Neil and Paul in regards to an article he wrote here at BoLS.  His article focused on Necrons taking damage when their Flyers are shot down.  Paul made his argument first about why he believes that Necrons should take the ‘Crash and Burn’ wounds, and Neil presented his counter argument to this.  This included some rules argument from Blackmoor’s most recent event.  In the ‘40K Community’ segment, we hear from the Hitting on 3s podcast, Tablewar, Romeo from Battlefoam on their DuelCon event, Geek Nation Tours on Adepticon 2013, the Sothern Inquisition podcast and much more!  Then, in the ‘Segmentum Obscurus’ segment, and Kevin and Marcus have a conversation about dealing with a new army/codex coming out.  They discuss understanding what a model does on the battlefield before you sink the money into buying, and don’t base your purchases off of the rumor mill.  The guys close out the show with a discussion about the Table Quarters mission they intend to run at their event and how it will differ from the Nova quarters mission.  They also discuss the flaws associated with a quarter mission and debate how to fix the quarters mission in 6^th and answer some questions from their listeners. 

Opinion:  This was just an outstanding show and my favorite for the week.  Tactical Terrain was my favorite segment, as once again filled my head with all sorts of great terrain ideas.  The rules debate was also thought provoking and I am still unsure as to where I fall on the argument.  Overall, lots of stuff to love about this week’s show!

40K Radio – Episode 48 ***Explicit***

Highlights: Rik and Kyle are back and they open up the show with what they have been doing lately in gaming and the hobby.  Next up was the ‘Rapid Fire’ segment, where the guys answer questions posed by their forum users.  Then, the guys moved on the News and Rumors section, where they talked about the latest releases from the Black Library, Forgeworld, and Dark Vengeance.  They also talk about the Chaos Space Marine and Dark Angels rumors.  Next, the guys have an interview with Teras from Geek Nation Tours.  They talk to him about their upcoming Gamesday UK trip they are taking and the upcoming Adepticon trip.  Rik then led the discussion in the Black Library Corner where he reviewed the ‘Ascension of Balthazar’ audiobook on the Dark Vengeance.  Next, in the ‘Tactica’ segment, the boys talked about their 2000 point game between the Salamanders and Orks.  This included some reviews of how good Marine Tactical squads are now in 6^th Edition, the joys of the Dakkajet, and how important model placement is now in 6^thEdition!  They close out the show with ‘In the crosshairs’ where the guys take a good look at the new FAQs.  This included an army-by-army review of their FAQs and finished off with the main rulebook FAQ.  This included the character re-writes to Paladins, Nobs and Wolf Guard, and an editorial on players who used exploits in the game to win.  They also talked about using FNP on Perils of the Warp and ignoring difficult terrain, except in assault.          

Opinion:  Checking in with yet another outstanding show, the 40K Radio boys have found a winning formula and are sticking to it.  This show had everything I love in a podcast, great fluff discussion with Black Library Corner, some outstanding tactical discussion, and a pretty good review of the FAQs.  Overall, a really good show I am comfortable calling my number 1a.  Great work guys!

Deep Strike Radio – Episode 44

Highlights:  The guys are back after a month off and they open up the show with what they have been up to lately in the hobby and gaming.  This included a review of Big Jim’s narrative event at CelestiCon.  Next in the news, the cover the latest releases from GW including Dark Vengeance, mass Finecast, and the FAQs.  They move on to talk about the latest from the Black Library, Forgeworld, and other game companies as well.  Next up in the ‘‘The Librarius’the guys are talking about the Tallarn Desert Raiders of the Imperial Guard.  They start off by discussing the world of Tallarn itself and its similarities to other IP desert worlds the virus bomb that wiped out almost all live on the world, and the fully mechanized war to reclaim the world and the buried Chaos artifact under the sand.  They then discuss the look and feel of the Tallarn Desert Raiders and some of their more noteworthy heroes.  Next in the ‘Armory’ the boys each build lists to best represent this army, Chase took over the role of the 1000 point list, Jim took the 1500 point list, and Chris laid out a tank have 2000 point list.  Next, in the ‘Hobby Trenches’ the guys are covering basing, this included everything from cheap and easy ways to flock and gravel bases to making your own resin decorative bases.  They also discuss how much is too much and what not to do when basing your models.  They close out the show with the ‘Briefing Room’ and they talk about dealing with new Codex releases.  This included looking ahead at planning ahead for new rules, new tactics, and the new models due out for that Codex. 

Opinion:  I absolutely love the army review the DSR guy do and this one was no exception.  Once again they covered a branch of an army I only knew by name and knew little more about.  So this episode was a great education for me.  And they tossed in a great Briefing Room which I am sure most of you CSM players will find useful.  Great show guys!

The Heroic 28s – Special FAQ Episode and Episode 44

Highlights:  For the second week in a row I had one of my favorite shows treat me twice with a double release, so as before I will briefly cover both shows here:

FAQ Show: This episode is solely dedicated to reviewing and explaining the new 40K FAQs!  They open up with the main rulebook changes, starting with an in-depth look at the change to the ‘Look Out, Sir!’ rule.  They move on to talk about the bouncing ball Flying Monstrous Creatures, the stripping of the character status to several and much more.  They then take a deeper look at the Codex FAQs that closely affect them and the armies that the play.  They started with the Eldar Codex, And moved on to Grey Knights, Imperial Guard, Necrons, Orks, Space Marines, Tau and Tyranids. 

Episode 44:  This episode focuses on the guy’s first part of their review of Codex Tyranids.  Cowboy Kenny leads the review of Codex Tyranids, starting with how the Codex performed under the 5^thEdition rules.  They then move on to cover the Special Rules for the army.  They then move on to cover the HQ choices and go in-depth to their practical uses.  This included a comprehensive look at the psychic powers available to them in the book and their disciplines.  In the final segment of the show the guys discuss the Tyranid Troop choices and the Mycetic Spore dedicated transport. 

Opinion:  What is better then having a great podcast from one of your favorites?  Two show in the same week, man!  The FAQ special was an on the fly overview of the new changes and it was outstanding.  It covered all of the big ones and cleared up a few wording for me.  And despite my lack of faith in the Tyranid Codex in this and last edition, their review of Coded Tyranids has made me want to blow the dust off the ‘ol bugs and try out some new things!  Thanks guys!

Screaming Heretic – Episode 33 ***Explicit***

Highlights:  This week the gang starts off with a smaller recording crew than usual, but open up the show with their hobby and gaming updates.  They quickly moved on to the news, which included Dark Vengeance, White Dwarf updates, and some releases from other companies.  They also discussed the world wide campaign that DakkaDakka is launching.  Next, in the Conversion segment, the guys from BitzBox talk about some converted vehicles and describe how they were done.  In segment two, the guys cover the ‘Tale of Two Lists’, and review a 1750 point Imperial Guard list with some under-used units like Rough Riders and Medusas that can be upgraded to a 2000 point list.  They then review a Chaos Space Marine list, also starting at 1750 and bumping up to 2000.  They move on to talk about the new GW FAQs, specifically the FAQ for the main rulebook.  They cover some of the major changes, like the changes to the ‘Look Out, Sir!’ rule, loss of Characters by Paladins and Nob Bikers, the bouncing Monstrous Creature rule, and much more.  Next, Djinn24 host a segment on Paints and Additives and the differences between cheap hobby paint and miniatures paints.  We also hear from Raymond from Grex Airbrush with a conversation about mixing type and nozzle type.  In the last segment the girls join in the conversation and start off with a Dark Eldar ‘Kiss My List’.  To close out the show, the Girls talk about putting together the best Gaming Party!  This included identifying what kind of games will be played, a list of some quick and easy to learn games that anyone can play, and of course, food! 

Opinion:  Glad to see the gang back in the top five this week, clocking in with a show to cover all of your 40K needs.  I have found the airbrush review to be my most favorite as I didn’t know a thing about them until this review.  And of course I have a soft spot for the Girls and they never disappoint.  This week they have given me a great idea to throw a gaming party, outside of the weekly 40K night.  Nice job gang!

Honorable Mentions – All great podcasts that just missed this cut this week, but you should still check them out, in no particular order:

Signals from the Frontline ***Explicit***  CSM Rumors and Rules, Comikaze, and much, much more!

Jaded Gamercast – Episode 94 ***Explicit***  Necrons and how they have been effected by 6^thEdition and the new FAQs and their impact

Ohiohammer: Second Founding – Episode 13 ***Explicit***  40K Boxed Sets through the years and a full Dark Vengeance review

Skared – Episode 12 Back from a long break, brief Allies and Mission talk, contest winners, and much more!