This Week in 40K Podcasting – 10/3/2014 – 10/09/2014
The 11th Company – Episode 208
Highlights: This week the guys are discussing Painting and the new Grey Knights Codex and the Assassins Dataslate! They opened up the show with what they have been doing lately in gaming, which included Neil’s from Gaming Group experience and a lot of ‘Battle for Salvation’ preparations. Next, Tactical Terrain is back and this week Eric is focusing on improving your appearance scores and how to display your models correctly on the display board. Then, the guys sat down to discuss Painting Scores at competitive events and how to they are scored. They discussed some points like, having a professional paint your army and should there be a penalty for not painting your army. Neil then reviewed the painting rubric that they use for the 11th Company GT and how it is scored. They, Jesse and Matt were back with another ‘List Doctor’ segment where they broke down an Eldar list, played it, and offered up some suggestions on how to improve it. The boy then moved on to a discussion about the new Grey Knights Codex and the Assassins Dataslate. The leak that they had several weeks ago was completely accurate and basically they discussed some of the things they like about it, including Dragio with Centurion-Star being insane, Dreadknights are now alright, Strike Squads of over costed, and more. They then moved on to discuss where the weaknesses in this army lies, including the inability to kill Wave Serpents, 2+ Saves are an issue and most of their units have lost their teeth. They then moved on to briefly discuss the Assassins Dataslate and what it brings to the table. They were not so high on any of the Assassins, save for the Cullexes. They closed out the show by answering questions from their FaceBook Fans!
Opinion: This was a very hobby centered podcast from the competitive guys, and I am a big fan. Eric’s segment was really quite interesting, but I have to admit I am in Neil’s camp with painting and painting scores. The second look at the Grey Knights Codex and the Assassins Dataslate were all very interesting. Overall, a great show once again, my favorite for the week!
Highlights: This week the boys got their hand on the new Dark Eldar Codex and they review this new addition to the game. They kicked off the show with what they have been doing lately in gaming and the hobby. Then it was on to their review of the new Dark Eldar Codex, starting with an overview of the release and how the models release was sort of blain, the book removes anything without a model was removed, and Vect is gone. They move on to the Special Rules for the army, starting with the ‘Power from Pain’ special rule and including Combat Drugs and how they work now. They then moved on to the Warlord Traits and moved on to the HQ choices like the Archon, the Court of the Archon, Succubus, Lilith, Haemonculus, and more. They did go on a great rant on the loss of Vect and how stupid an idea this was. They then moved on to the Troop choices like the Warriors, Wyches, Trueborn and more. It wasn then on to the Elite choices like Mandrakes, they then back tracked to cover the Phantasm Grenade Launcher and what the ‘Soulfright’ rule does. They got back to Wracks and Grotesques. It was then on to the Fast Attack choices like the Beastmasters, Raiders, Venoms, Reavers, Hellions, and the Razorwing Jet Fighter! They then moved on to the Heavy Support choices like the Talos/Cronos, Ravagers, and the new Voidraven Bomber! They then covered the Detachments, the Artifacts of Cruelty, and close out the show with their overall thoughts on the book.
Opinion: The great podcast just keep on rolling out from the Jaded guys and this one was another gem. I now cannot read a codex the correct way, having had it fixed for my using the Jaded Method! As usually, the guys did an outstanding job covering each unit of the army and pointing some of the craziness that was to be found here. A great review and a great show!
Highlights: This week the guys dig into the new Grey Knights Codex! They kicked off the show with the news where they covered the new Dark Eldar releases from GW and some of the rumors swirling around that army. Next, the boys dove into what they have been doing lately in the hobby and gaming, which included a new contest and what lists they have been running lately. Next, the boys moved on to their look at the new Grey Knights Codex. They started with where the Grey Knights were before and where they are now. A lot of things were removed from this book and a lot of the roles it use to play are no longer there. So what does one do with this new book? Well, play them like Grey Knights, as a supporting Codex and not as a full army on their own. Next, Steve, joined by Ciaran and Adam, discussed the Arena Combat mini-game from the Crusade of Fire campaign book. They talked about all of the fun they had playing this particular game.
Opinion: I am always happy when Steve and Ciaran are on the same show! Their review of the Grey Knight Codex was alright; it wasn’t very detailed and was more from the narrative end, which was fine, but really lacked in details. I did really like the Arena Combat review from that book that no one could get! Good show overall guys!
Allies of Convenience – Episode 2 ***Explicit***
Highlights: In the vacuum that was left with the loss of 40K Global, the Allies of Convenience show is a good place to go to fill in that hole. This week the cast of the show is overflowing with great 40K personalities, too many to count to be honest. They kicked off the show with what they have been up to lately in gaming and the hobby. This included a lot of prep work the UK GT Heat 2, rule debates on Legion of the Damned and Dark Eldar, and much more. This then moved on to a discussion about the new Grey Knight Codex and how it really doesn’t feel like it is a standalone codex anymore. They moved on to review a few tournaments they guys have been participating in lately, including the Northern Warlords GT and the UK GT Heat 1. They discussed the lists that they took to these events, some of the good lists that they faced off against, and their overall performance at the events, in the case of the GT review, it was a round-by-round review.
Opinion: I have to say that I felt that anyone stepping into the shoes of 40K Global was going to have an uphill battle. While it is still early on in their podcast life, the guys over at Allies of Convenience are doing an admirable job! I think they need some intro and outro music, and perhaps tone down the number of guys on the show, but overall, for their send episode, I really liked it. A lot of tactical 40K discussion in tournament environments, which is really something I enjoy. Good start guys!
Forge the Narrative – Episode 67
Highlights: This week the guys are discussing Apocalypse and more tournament builds! They kicked of the show by discussing some of the Eldar lists they have been working on that have not see the light of tournament day yet. This spilled over into a conversation about how expanding what is competitive will make the game all that more interesting. They then discussed their hopes for ‘Feast of Blades’ and that their missions will be run at that event. They then moved on to some tournament talk, starting off with the power that is the Transcendent C’Tan, and moving on to the Knight Titans and should some of those crazy Apocalypse Formations be available in standard 40K now? They then moved on to talk about the ‘End Times’ story arc in Fantasy and how this could add some interesting things to the 40K universe if it were to happen. They closed out the show by running down Kenny’s list for Feast of Blades!
Opinion: Another interesting show this week, I have to say I really liked the ‘Feast of Blades’ prep talk and the lists that they intended to run were all pretty cool. I really liked the speculation of the ‘End Times’ of 40K, I really wish they had gone much further down that rabbit hole. A good show overall!
Honorable Mentions – All great podcasts that just missed this cut this week, but you should still check them out, in no particular order:
6s to Hit – Episode 48 Return to Podcasting!
Boltgun Battle Brothers – Episode 32 Game Table Adventures Year 3, Malifaux, and more!
After Ullanor – Episode 7.1 Part 2 Legion!
The Wolfkin Podcast – Episode 27 ***Explicit*** Eldar, Dark Eldar
Facing the Grey Tide – Episode 13 The NOVA Open 2014!
The Kessel RunBrought you by the Heroic 28s!
NOVA Squadron Radio Your home for tactical X-Wing discussion!
Scum and VillainyThe Team Covenant X-Wing Podcast
The X-Wing Podcast Ben Curry & Ben Johnson’s UK Show
