This Week in 40K Podcasting – 10/04/2013 – 10/10/2013

Welcome to another “This Week in 40K Podcasting,” Here is this week’s top 5!

The Heroic 28s – Episode 79

Highlights:  This week the boys are back and they opened up the show with a little news and what they have been up to lately in gaming and the hobby.  This included the new Sisters of Battle Digital Codex and a brief review of the Throne of Skulls in Waco.  Next came the main topic of the show, how to combat the current meta.  They run down some of the top lists out there now, what they are and what they do, and some of the best tactics to fighting them.  They started off with Necrons and some of the top Necron builds where their strengths are, and how handle them.   Next up came the brutal Eldar Wave Serpent list and all of the gross firepower it can churn out.  They also looked at the Seer Council list as well.  The guys were really at a loss with this list and did their best to try to counter it.  Next, it was on to Chaos Daemons and the Screamer Council and Flying Circus lists and their counter tactics to for these power lists.  They then moved on to the offensive juggernaut, the Tau Empire!  They cover the typical Tau list, what it does on the table, why it is so devastating, and the best theories for defeating them.  They then discussed the Allies shenanigans, with armies like Tau/Farsight, Tau/Eldar, Eldar/Tau, and Tau Marines.  They finished off their list with the new Space Marines, namely the White Scars Biker list. 

Opinion: This was just one outstanding show, and the guys were just coming up with a filler show too!  The topic is hot right now, with the ever changing meta and all new codices and Supplements, even the top players are having some trouble keeping up .  this was a great show to catch the current pulse of 40K and what you’ll be seeing in your FLGS soon.  Easily the best show this week, hands down!

40K Global – Episode 96 ***Explicit***

Highlights:  This week the boys hit us with another 4+ hour show, and they are back more to a stand show.  They opened up the show with an ‘Operation Codex’ segment and this time BJ and Gary discussed the Eldar Special Characters in the current meta.  First, they look at those characters, starting with Eldrad and working down, making sure to discuss all of their tactical advantages.  They then moved on to a closer look at the Codex now that it has been a few months since their release and what they are seeing on the table.  Next, Edi is back with another interview and this week she has a talk with Mike Hall about some the new missions he has created for us to play on the 40K Global blog.  Then, Dave had an interview with Gaz Donnelly and Adam Ryland to discuss the Warlords GT and Gaz’s big win with his Iyanden army.  Gaz went in with a plan to prove how broken the Skyshield is and how Eldar can exploit it, and he discussed his Serpent spam/Wraithknight list and how well it performed.  Dave also talked to Adam about his AV 13 Spam Necron list and how well it did at the event.  Next, Dave had an interview with Mike Marlow to discuss Dark Eldar in the current meta.  They talked about how the army played in 5^th and what it has evolved into in 6^th, albeit not much has changed.  What has changed is Allies in 6^th and how they can help to fill some holes in the DE army.  Mike ran down his current list and the reasons why he uses what he uses, and this included several tips for the DE player.  They guys then discussed the list and why it does so well and what Allies have really helped this army. 

Opinion:  Once again anther top notch show from the 40K Global guys, and this one was all over the board with great army talk.  I personally enjoyed the conversation with Gaz and hearing about how he exploited the Skyshield. We do not really use it here in my local area, and now I know why!  Outstanding show, I cannot recommend this one enough!

The 11th Company – Episode 178 

Highlights:  This week the crew hit us with a huge 4+ hour show!  They opened up the show as usual with ‘This Week in Gaming’ where they discussed the games they have been playing lately.  Next, it was on to a whirlwind of interviews in Pat’s Corner as he talked to Nick Rose to discuss the Nova Open the ATC, and his new Eldar army.  He then talked to Kenny Boucher from the Forge the Narrative podcast to discuss his Blood Angels army he took to the Nova Open.  Pat then talked to Jesse Newton from Stomping Ground and he took first place at the Nova Open Invitational, and is an awesome guy!  Next, in Tactical Terrain, Eric is back and this week discussing DualCon!  He interviewed some of the players he played and he talked about his list, the missions, and his overall performance at the event.  He also interview Reese from Frontline Gaming who ran the event and Gareth who came in first with his Screamer Star list.  Next, Neil and the gang continued their conversation about the new Space Marine codex.  This conversation hit on the big FAQ questions out there and the new war gear.  This included a lot on the Gav Gun and the Relics.  Then, in ‘Simhammer’ DJ is back and this week discussing dice roiling and dice probabilities in large quantities of dice rolls.  In the ‘Community’ segment we heard from Guiding Games and the founder of Torrent of Fire.  They closed out the show this week with some Tournament Talk where the boys looked at some of the top armies on the circuit right now and Deathstar40K being the only response to the current meta! 

Opinion:  I was really happy to have the boys back this week.  I admit I go into 11^th Company withdraw if too many weeks go by with out a show.  I really liked the more in-depth look at Space Marines a few weeks in as the competitive builds start to filter out.  Eric also had some great coverage of DualCon which I really enjoyed!  The gem here though was the look at the meta as it stands now.  Until Tyranids come out next year, it is what it is and we need to learn what works and what doesn’t 

The Overlords – Episode 136 ***Explicit***

Highlights:  This week the boys continue with the coverage of Codex Space Marines!  They opened up the show with an interview with Dave and Franco from the 40K UK podcast to discuss some list building techniques.  They first started with the basics, what one need to at least be prepared for a more competitive environment and how to battle those top lists like Tau and Eldar.  Next, Jason talked to Trevor, Liam, and Edward to discuss Warhammer 30K and the Horus Hersey progress they have had in their hobby.  Then, the boys picked back up with their Codex Space Marines.  They started off with the Black Templar and how they fit into this new book, including their Chapter Traits and special units only available to them.  They then moved briefly into a unit-by-unit review, starting with the HQs and the named Special Characters and what they bring to the table.  This included some great discussion on the Relics and upgrades.  They then moved on to the Troop choices like the Tactical Squads and the changes found there and their transports.  They then moved on to the jam packed Elite section, including the Vanguard Veterans, Sternguard, Dreadnaughts, Legion of the Damned, the new Centurions and more!  They then moved on to the Fast Attack choices, including the outstanding Bikes, Storm Talons, and much more!  Next, it was on to the massive Heavy Support choices, most of which is still the same but they did highlight the Devastator Squad, Centurion Devastators and the Grav Gun, Thunderfire Cannons, the Hunter and the Stalker.  The boys then debated the Codex and how they feel about it in 6^thEdition.  They closed out the show this week with more discussion about the Badab War Campaign their club is running.  The covered the mission they ran, the story about it, the battlefield, and how the games they played turned out. 

Opinion:  This was a real cornucopia of 40K goodness this week, with competitive talk with the 40K Global guys, to their own brad of codex review of the Space Marines, to their Badad War campaign; this was just full of fun and great content. I highly recommend this one. 

The Screaming Heretic – Episode 50 ***Explicit***

Highlights:  This week the gang is celebrating their 50^th Episode!  They opened up the show with fun with Zombie Dog before moving on to Hobby Updates and games played.  Then, thanks to some technical issues, the crew re-reviewed their GenCon experience.  Warning, there was some very adult oriented material to be found here, but some funny stories and great games played as well.  They then moved on to their review of Codex Space Marines!  They started off with some of the major changes to the marines, like Chapter Tactics, the Black Templars, the Graviton Gun, and much more!  They closed out the segment with some thoughts on the book and the army and how well they will do on the table.  They closed out the show with a look back at podcasting for 50 Episodes!  They reflected on all of the fun they have had together and some of their favorite moments on the show. 

Opinion:  I wanted to send a very heartfelt congratulation to the cast and crew of the Screaming Heretic!  I know I say this a lot, but in my job it is true, I have been listening from the very beginning and I have loved every episode.  This show has been through quite a bit, including Joe’s accident, a big move, two GencCons, two Adepticons, a wedding, and much more.  It was a bit bitter-sweet that Erin could not attend, but it has been a fun ride, here’s to 50 more guys!

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***General Gaming News, Rumors, List Reviews, Tactics, and Rants!

Jaded Gamercast – Episode 147 ***Explicit***  More Dark Elves Review

Hitting on 3s – Episode 35 ***Explicit***  Hobby Progress

6s to Hit – Episode 42 ***Explicit***  Gamesday UK 2013

Forge the Narrative – Episode 28  Da Boyz GT Review

Life After the Cover Save – Episode 85 ***Explicit***  Battleforce Breakdown: Space Marines Strikeforce!