This Week in 40K Podcasting – 9/21/2012 – 9/27/2012

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

Here is this week’s top 5!

The Heroic 28s – Episode 45

Highlights:  This week is dedicated to Part 2 of the coverage of Codex Tyranids!  The guys open up the show with a public safety announcement about controlling your plastic crack addiction.  Next, the guys are back to their Codex review and start off with the Fast Attack choices, the Shrikes, Raveners, Sky-Slasher Swarms, Gargoyles, Harpies, and Spore Mines.  Next, the guys review the Heavy Support choices, starting with the Carnifex and moving on to the awesome Trygon, the Mawloc, Biovores, and the Tyrannofex.  They then move on to the highly contested Elite choices, starting with the best overall, the Hive Guard.  Then they talk about the poor Lictors and Death Leaper, and Venomthropes.  They then cover how cool Zoanthropes got with the new edition and the Doom of Malan’Tai and how the psychic powers work for him now in 6^th.  Kenny then goes on a run to make a case for the Pyrovore, which I’m I might be swayed to at least trying.  Then then move on to the Ymgarl Genestealers and all of the fun that they can be.  The guys close out the show with a discussion about tactics and standard builds for the Tyranid army.  They talk about the absurd number of Psykers that the army can take and how much the Biomancy powers add to the army.  They move on to talk about the strengths of the army, including their deep striking abilities, anti-infantry firepower, and the psychic support. 

Opinion:  This week’s podcast if for nothing else hit my number one this week as it was a good look at my favorite army and how it functions in 6^th.  And I have to admit it has reawakened my hive mind!  While I do not completely agree with the views presented in this week’s show, it has allowed me to look at an army I had shelved in 5^th Edition as ‘unplayable’ to something I want to try in 6^th.  The guys presented some really great arguments and did an outstanding job reviewing the Codex.  Thanks guys!

The 11th Company – Episode 135 

Highlights:  This week is the TO special, where the boys are joined Reese, Nick Rose, and Chandler, TOs of major events around the country.  They open up the show with ‘This Week in Gaming’ where they discuss the most recent games they have been playing, which included preparation for the Battle for Salvation.  Next up in ‘Pat’s Corner’, Pat has an interview with Doc and they discuss his 2250 Tyranid list that he takes to Grate Escape Games events.  Next, the guys have a conversation with the Reese about DuelCon and their tournament format with three simultaneous mission objectives at the same time.  They then move on to talk to Chandler about the Feasts of Blades, and he talks about running his event.  He also talked about the now legendary Purity Seals awarded at the event.  This moved on to a conversation about the logistics of running an event at a hotel and all the hops that need to be gone through to pull off an event like this.  Next in Tactical Terrain, Eric is back with Part 2 of his Ruins review, which included highlighting lights to your terrain, adding gravel, stained glass and much, much more!  In the Community Segment, we heard from freelance writer Alan Siegel, vendors, tournaments, and much more.  Next, the guys have a detailed discussion with the TOs about using Forgeworld rules and models at the GT level.  They cover the trend of events who to want to allow Forgeworld models, and some of the plus and minuses to using them.  They close out the show by answering some questions from their listeners. 

Opinion:  What better then having the TO of one of the top competitive events in the country on your show, how about three!  This was just an amazing show this week, hearing from Reese, Nick, and Chandler all in one show and them sharing their thought on running big events.  I also liked hearing from Alan Siegel, as I found his article fascinating and the discussion about Forgeworld rules at big events.  It is something that seems like an eventuality and we all might as well get ready for it.  Great show guys!

The Overlords – Episode 109 ***Explicit***

Highlights:  This week the guys open up the show with some news, including the Horus Hersey: Book One from Forgeworld and the models associated with it.  They also hit on some great events that are up coming and the massive Finecast releases.  In the next segment, the talk about what they have been up to lately in gaming and the hobby.  In the next segment, ‘Small Arms Fire’, the guys discussed the concepts and importance of troop choices and the weapons they wield.  This touched on how weapons like Bolters/Storm Bolters, Lasguns, etc. have all improved in 6^th Edition, including the addition of Overwatch.  To close out the show, Ciaran is back and he and Steve cover the Main Rulebook FAQs, focusing on all of the big changes.  They covered, in depth, the ‘Look Out, Sir!’ special rule, how it reads in the rulebook currently and what they changed it to in the FAQ.  This also covered how some of the wound allocation exploits have been fixed by this FAQ.  This then moved on to the ruling on Grounded Monstrous Creature and how it has changed Flying MCs.  They then look as some of the specific FAQ questions that were answered, including the clarification of the pile-in move and whips that drop models down to I 1, Snap Shot questions and what can and cannot hit Flyers, Psychic Shooting attacks, and much more. 

Opinion:  This show had two segments in which I really enjoyed.  First the ‘Small Arms Fire’ conversation was very interesting, as it seem the importance of Troop and their weapons are become more prevalent in the game.  What with Rhino chassis slows disappearing from the game.  And it was great to hear from Ciaran once again, I was beginning to miss him, and he and Steve’s evaluation of the rulebook FAQ was quite informative. 

Turn 8 – Episode 26

Highlights:  This week the guys continue on with their local campaign discussion.  They open up the show with ‘the Round-Up’ where they talk about their recent gaming and hobby progress.  Then, in the ‘News’, the guys started off talking about the latest massive release of Fincecast from GW, the iOS Psyker Power app, what’s new from the Black Library and Forgeworld.  They moved on to cover the latest rumors of the Chaos Space Marines and Horus Hersey book one, Betrayal.  Next, they discuss some local news including a charity event coming up.  Then, it was back to the ‘Campaign Trial’.  Isaac joins the cast and each of the guys goes through their latest campaign games in detail.  Then, in the main segment of the show, the guys discuss the new FAQs from GW.  They open up by talking about the core rules that changed with the new FAQs.  This included the revamp to the ‘Look Out, Sir!’ and Characters rules, Flying Monstrous Creatures, and more.  They move on to talk about how the new FAQs affected each of their armies.  After that was the signature ‘Battle Report’, and this week it is a 1500 point battle between Tyranids and Eldar.  They guys run down the missions, the deployment, described the battlefield, and ran down the lists quickly.  Next was the outstanding dramatization of this great battle, followed up by a review of the outcome of the game.  Next, the guys go back to their campaign and this time cover why they are running one, how it is being run and the rules they used, and the story behind their campaign.  The guys close out the show with ‘Rules of Engagement’ where this week they cover Difficult Terrain and it’s on the field applications. 

Opinion:  This was a very campaigned centered show this week, with two full segments dedicated tot heir local campaign.  Coming from a show know for its storyline, this was a welcomed addition to their show, and I look forward to hearing how it turns out.  Of course I will have to say the Battle Report is still my favorite segment, this time featuring my beloved Tyranids! 

Preferred Enemies – Episode 37 ***Explicit***

Highlights:  The guys open up the show with a full review of the new iPhone Psyker app from GW.  They move on to discuss the main topic of the show, the FAQs!  They open up talking about the big changes to ‘Look Out, Sir!’ and character definitions and how this changed the game massively.  They also discussed the bouncing ball Monstrous Creature ruling, and some other small changes to the rulebook.  They then moved on to the army specific FAQs and how these affect the game.  This included the Eldar/Dark Eldar clarification and still no Flak Missiles.  The guys then moved on to discuss the impending release of Codex Chaos Space Marines and the revamped White Dwarf magazine.  They cover the new model releases and some of the rumored rules to go along with this new Codex.  They next have a review of the Mid-West Massacre, a two day event they recently attended.  They run down briefly each of their games at the event and their overall performance.  They close out the show with their hobby progress reports. 

Opinion:  The FAQs were really the big new this past week and as each show catches up with their recording times, each is taking a swing at the FAQs.  The PE did a good job covering most of the big changes.  What I am finding more informative however, is how each cast member is reacting to their own army’s FAQs and how it will affect them.  Great job guys!

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

The Independent Characters – Episode 62  CelestiCon from the Gamer and TOs point of view, and Gav Thorpe on his Eldar Path books!

Imperial Vox Cast – Episode 83 ***Explicit***  the FAQs and analyzing the Mission/Deployment Matrix

Tyrant’s Due – Episode 32 ***Explicit***  CSM Release/Rumors, Horus Hersey: Book One preview, Iron Kingdoms RPG, Kickstarter and Black Library book reviews

Hitting on 3s – Episode 7 ***Explicit***  New CSM, Big Mek’s Garage, Tough Lists, Worthless units and much more

Life After the Cover Save – Episode 55 ***Explicit***  Random conversation, Week in Hobby and Gaming, and LAtCS questions

Signals from the Frontline ***Explicit***  Chaos Rules, Horus Hersey Rules, and more!

Jaded Gamercast – Episode 95 ***Explicit***  Firestorm Armada Event, Space Orks in 6^th Edition 40K, and a variety of Stupidity Checks