This Week in 40K Podcasting – 08/16/2013 – 08/22/2013

Back fresh from a family emergency, it is time to get back to work!  Welcome to another “This Week in 40K Podcasting,”

Here is this week’s top 5!

Highlights:  This week Bill and Sean take an in-depth look at the Tau Codex!  They opened up the show with what they have been up to lately in gaming, the hobby, and more.  They also discussed some of the leaked photos of the new Space Marine models.  Next, it was on to their review of the Tau Codex, starting with the Special Rules of the army which included the dreaded Supporting Fire rule, and the Warlord Traits.  Next, they moved on to the HQ units, starting with the Commander and all of the fun things he can add to a unit he is in.  They also discussed some of the Special Characters and the Etherals with their powers.  They then looked at Markerlights and what they add to the Tau army.  They then moved on to discuss the Troop choices, the Fire Warriors and the Kroot with their sniper rounds.  Next, it was the Elite section and they hit on Crisis Suit teams, Stealth Teams, and the killer Riptide.  They moved on to the Fast Attack slot and the Pathfinders, Vespids, Drone Squads, the awesome Piranha, and the Flyers.  They finished off with the outstanding Heavy Support choices, starting with the Broadsides.  They moved on to the Hammerhead, the Skyray, and Sniper Drone teams.  They completed the show by debating some good tactics to how to beat this great army and how you’ll most likely see them fielded on the table. 

Opinion:  This was just a stellar show this week, all about an army we all need to know about as they WILL be on the tournament scene.  The guys did a really good job covering the codex and each unit of worth (which were a lot) in this book.  I did find myself wishing they had given some thoughts on playing Tau and how to beat other armies with them, but they did give some great ideas on how to beat them.  So overall, a really good show, my top pick for the week. 

Highlights:  This week the boys continued their review of Codex: Dark Eldar, in high speed fashion!  They opened up the show with some announcements before discussing day two of the Space City Con that the boys recently attended.  They talked about the games that they played, how well they did, and how everything turned out for the staff of the show.  Next it was back to their review of Codex: Dark Eldar.  They started with the Elite Choices from the book of Mandrakes and moved on to cover Harlequins, Hekatrix Bloodbrides, Grotesques, Wracks, and Kabalite Trueborn!  They moved on to the Fast Attack slot and discussed the Scourges, Hellions, Beastmasters, and Reavers!  After a break the boys polished off the review with the Heavy Support which included the Talos Pain Engine, the Cronos Parasite Engine, the Ravager, the Voidraven Bomber and the Razorwing Jetfighter!  They closed out the show by discussing how to use the Allies with this book and some tactics to running them now. 

Opinion:  This was easily the shortest show I can remember in recent history for the boys, and despite its size, it was jam packed with loads of Dark Eldar goodness.  This show also represented the end of their Codex Review shows as they have completed all of them, save for Black Templar (rolled into Space Marines in September) and Sisters of Battle (not a real Codex).  I have always highly recommended each of these shows and would recommend everyone check these out.  Great show guys!

Highlights:  This week’s episode is completely dedicated to the ETC Championships 2013 in Serbia!  They opened up the show with some background on the ETC itself, what it is and how it work and what their countries goals were going into the event.  They moved on to discuss how armies are selected and play tested for the event, rather than taking what they want they took what the team needed, and how they prepared for the event.  They also discussed some of the adventures on getting to the event itself and some of their misfortunes.  They then moved on discuss their teams, what armies they were bringing and the lists they were going to run.  They then gave a really quick rundown of each of their countries rounds and the results of those rounds, which varied in detail.  The closed out the show with some war stories of the event, their personal highlights, and what they thought of the overall experience. 

The Overlords – Episode 133 ***Explicit***

Highlights:  This week the Jon and Jason are joined by Ciaran and they opened up the show with the news, which included the Black Legion supplement and the impending Space Marine release.  They discussed the new Centurion models, new Rhino variants, Grav weapons, and Black Templar being rolled into the Codex.  They moved on to talk about what they have been up to lately in the hobby, gaming, and reading.  Next, the boys sat down to discuss the recent events of the Podcast Cup, held at Warhammer World  between the Overlords and the Freebootaz of 40K Radio.  They talked a bit about the missions that they ran, and some of the details of the games they played that day.  The boys then discussed the Baddab War campaign that they will be running at their club.  They give an idea of how the campaign will be run, reporting wins and losses for the listeners, and the background of the first battle they intend to run.  They closed out the show with an interview with Thomas from Auroch Digital who is developing the Chainsaw Warrior GW game in a digital format. 

Highlights:  This week the guys are talking about their Hobby Progress Challenge!  They opened up the show with some announcements before moving on to talk about their hobby progress and gaming they have done recently.  Next, the boys interviewed Tim from their forums to discuss his Hobby Progress Challenge Tau army.  He talked about his near traditional paint scheme and the steps he took to get that look.  Next, they talked to Chandler who discussed his Tyranid army and its progress throughout the challenge and his motivations for jumping on this year.  They also discussed his semi-competitive play style and the list itself.  They then talked to Jody, last year’s winner, and he discussed the Sisters of Battle army he is doing for the hobby challenge.  Then then talked to Josh and his hobby progress challenge army, his Necrons!  They closed out the show with another Warrior Lodge segment and they hit on a few topics.  They first discussed the addition of Codex Supplements in the release arc of 40K in 6^thEdition.  They moved on to discuss big events or tournaments and why it is worth it to go to one, the larger scale models that are being released like the Riptide and the Wraithknight, and the Centurions from the upcoming Space Marine codex.  Lastly they discussed the release of Apocalypse and how it has changed. 

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!

Skaredcast – Episode 59 DA Warlord Traits and the Michael Mudd Memorial Tournament

Forge the Narrative – Episode 22 ATC Wrap up and a look at the Black Legion Supplement!

Second Founding – Episode 37 GenCon 2013 Review

Boltgun Battle Brothers – Episode 14 ***Explicit*** Malifaux 2^ndEdition

Life After the Cover Save – Episode 81 ***Explicit*** Thunderdoom: Champ vs. Champ

Death or Glory – Episode 19 ***Explicit*** A review of the Codex Supplements!

The Deployment Zone – Episode 41 New 40K Supplements and Lizardman