This Week in 40K Podcasting – 04/05/2013 – 04/11/2013

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

Here is this week’s top 5!

40K UK – Episode 69 ***Explicit***

Highlights:  This week the guys are back with their standard 4+ hour show and this week they are focusing on the second half of the UK GT and the new Tau Codex!  They opened up the show with a few announcements before getting on to day two of the UK GT finals!  Josh, Nathan and Dave sat down and discussed their games four, five and six of the event.  Each of them went over their games in detail, touching on the missions, key points to the game, and the outcome.  At the end of the segment they took the time to look at some of the top winners and the lists that they took as well as looking at the success of the event itself.  Next, in ‘Operation Codex’, BJ, Franco, Sharron, and Bob (who are all top UK  Tau players) sat down with the new shiny Tau Codex and give it a once over review!  They opened up with some discussion about what the Tau had been like prior to this new book, which helped to show off some of the shining units we all will be seeing on the table real soon!  They discuss the changes to Markerlights including the increase to BS on Overwatch, the boost to Special Characters especially Farsight and his bodyguard of Crisis Suits and much more on Crisis Suits themselves!  They covered units that they believe stand out like Pathfinders and what they bring to the table, Drone and Drone Squadrons, the new Flyers, Broadsides and their changes, and how you kit out a Commander to make him awesome!  They then looked at the Riptide and the ultimate weapon that this model is, the Hammerhead, the Devilfish and its non-drop in points, and Kroot and how they have lost their assaulting punch.  They close out by looking at the Warlord Traits, some of the HQ choices and what they believe will be typical builds.

Opinion:  This was just an outstanding podcast this week, easily my favorite.  I, like many others according to the sell outs of Tau Codices and models, have really looking forward tot his release and the boys did a great job with their first look at this book.  The final piece of the GT coverage was quite good as well.  I highly recommend this one!

The Independent Characters – Episode 76

Highlights: This week Aaron joins the boys to tackle a very serious subject, ‘Cheating on your wife… with 40K!’  They opened up the show with some announcements before moving on to ‘The Work Bench’ where they covered what they have been doing in gaming and the hobby.  Next, finally, after some time of teasing this topic for some time the guys finally discuss the all-important topic of ‘Cheating on your wife… with 40K’.  They open up by discussing how to deal with that non-gamer tolerant spouse or significant other.  They open up with the concept of misdirection with techniques such as ‘I got this on sale’, the ‘I’ve had this model for a long time’, the price tag switch, the shipments to work, and the consolidating sprues in one box techniques.  Next, they talked about setting up your secret gaming events, with useful techniques as ‘Working Late’ or ‘Day off for gaming’ method.  They moved on to finances with tricks like PO Boxes, phantom credit cards, eBay and PayPal funds and more.  They then get into the extreme methods, such as off shore bank accounts, secret gaming apartments with your fellow married gamers, fake business trips, and much more.  They closed out the show with another ‘Warrior Lodge’ where they boys discussed some of the hot topic issue in 40K.  They first topic was ‘The State of 40K’ right now with 6^th Edition, sales, the models, and much more.  This included rules to match model sales, nerfing of units in favor of the new units in a codex, and more.  They also discuss the pace at which they are releasing codices and models in 6^th Edition, as opposed to what the release schedule was like priory to this edition.  They also discussed some of the new Tau units and rules!  They closed out the segment with a discussion on Tournaments, and what was a great moment from that tournament. 

Opinion:  I have some really mixed feeling about this podcast this week.  First, it was all done in good fun, and I get that so of course I laughed at quite a bit of their techniques to hide your hobby.  I do have to say, however, that some of these were pretty underhanded, and I almost felt dirty learning some of this.  That being said, I could see someone finding QUITE a bit of use out of this show.  Nice work guys! 

The Overlords – Episode 124

Highlights:  This week we receive a very welcome surprise, Commissar Random has returned to the show!  Alongside Jason, Adam, and Teras from Geek Nation Tours the boys opened up the show with the news, focusing mostly on the new Tau release and the fast FAQ!  Next, they moved on to what they have been up to lately in gaming and the hobby.  This included all of the latest trips Geek Nation Tours has on the docket!  Next, Jon leads a segment on his adventures in Japan.  He shared some of his experiences in Japan and interesting situations, like paying with cash all of the time, dealing more with people then machines, and some of what his work was like there.  He also discussed some of the hobby he found there, some of the bits he picked up, and much more.  Next, Jason and Dagmire led a ‘Search and Destroy’ segment all about how to hobby and game in a foreign country, in his case Iraq!  He started off by talking about what he took with him on his journey to Iraq and what his set up is there to get his hobby done.  He moved on to talk about some of his project and detailed out what steps he has taken to finish a few of his projects.  In their next segment, the boys take a second look at the 6^th Edition Rules and some of the rules that seem to be optional.  This week they focused on the terrain placement rules.  They also discussed some of the release schedule that GW has been on this edition and their hopes for the future!  They closed out the show with a Q&A segment, where they answers question from their Facebook fans!    

Opinion:  Well, you never really know how much you missed something until it is not there.  I have to say I got a big smile on my face to hear that Jon was back with the show.  His absence has been noticed, despite the boys doing some good shows in the meantime.  I was very happy to hear his voice again.  This show had a very, hobby on the road, feel to it and I really did enjoy it.  Nice work guys!

Turn 8 – Episode 35

Highlights:  This week the boys opened up the show with what they have been lately in the hobby and gaming.  They then moved on to the ‘News’ where they covered the new Tau releases!  They cover all of the new models out with this release, including the Riptide, the Flyers, and the new Broadsides!  They also covered the latest from Forgeworld and the Black Library, some of the Rumors that are floating out there for what’s next on the horizon, and some local announcements.  Next, it was on to the famous Battle Report.  They opened up with a brief review of the forces involved, describing the Space Wolves and old Tau 1000 point list, the deployment, the mission, and a description of the table.  Next, it was on to the dramatization of this epic battle!  They boys closed out the show this week by analyzing the battle and describing what when right and wrong for each army. 

Opinion:  This week’s show was a little shorter then most, but it did not lack in great content.  By now everyone should know I am a huge fan of their battle reports and this one was a good one.  I also liked their preview of the new Tau, despite that it was just a bit behind.  I am really looking forward to their next show!  Great work guys!

Forge the Narrative – Episode 3

Highlights: This week Paul has on Mike, Kenny, and Rob and this week discuss a hot button topic, Women in Wargaming.  More specifically they discussed female models in our game.  They opened up by discussing some new models out on the market by Raging Heroes that are very female Commissar-like models.  They point out the lack of female models in the GW line, and the ones that they do have are not very good looking female models.  They moved on to talk about Liz Foster and her big win at the Bay Area Open and a female cracking the top 8 in Magic the Gathering.  They move on to discuss major female characters from the Black Library novels not appearing in any 40K codices, and they talk about which female character they would love to see as official models.  They close out by summing up the subject of the need for good looking female models in our hobby. 

Opinion:  This was my first listen to the show, and so far I have a pretty good feel for this one.  The audio is good, the show was a little over a half and hour, so that fills that short format spot, and the subject this week was really interesting.  Overall, I’ll be keeping my eye on this one.  It was a good, check it out!

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*** News, Rumors, GWs Tau Release, and some Kickstarters

Skaredcast – Episode 41 Tournament Recap and the Tau Release

Jaded Gamercast – Episode 122 ***Explicit***  Tau Codex Review!

Life After the Cover Save – Episode 67 ***Explicit***  Thunderdoom Survivor Series: Topless vs Mat, crank call to Carl!

Tyrant’s Due – Episode 41 ***Explicit***  Relic and Tau Codex Review

The Deployment Zone – Episode 34  Dark Age, GW Trade Policy, and the Internet and Gaming

6s to Hit – Episode 25 ***Explicit***  Who is doing it right in the Gaming Industry

Hitting on 3s – Episode 22 ***Explicit***   GW Trade Agreement, New Tau Codex quick hit, Thing you should check out

Screaming Heretics – Episode 43 ***Explicit***  Color Selection, Teras from Geek Nation Tours, Adepticon Team Tournament, and you might be an a$$hat gamer…