First 40k 8th edition game with the Blood Angels

Due to no small amount of effort to get my Blood Angels Terminators to a gaming standard, my Blood Angels army has reached a the magic 100 power or 2000 points. Although this is achieved with no less than four HQs, including 2 Captains.

While 40k can be a lot of fun at smaller sizes. Two thousand points continues to be regarded as the default all afternoon game size by my gaming group. The Blood Angels aren’t my go to Space Marine force, so don’t tend to get a lot of attention. The recent Codex release has inspired me to try and finish the Space Hulk set which I purchased almost ten years ago. The armour on the Terminators has now mostly been highlighted across the all the squad members and a lot of the largest details have been finished. It’s always the last 10 percent of of models that I struggle with getting finished off. Niggly details I call them. Anyway…

On to the Blood Angel’s Battle

We ended up playing the 1st narrative mission in the rule book. Which sees the defender trying to survive to the end of the games. The attacker has unending reserves. I having a slightly larger force and opted to be the attacker. The game uses random game length. Which really adds to the tension of the mission.

My Blood Angel army was made from a Terminator Captain armed with a Storm Shield and Thunder Hammer, represented by a Sergeant model from Space Hulk.

Blood Angels

Two 5 man Terminator Squads and a Death Company squad with jumpacks gave me one extra command point. A Two 5 man tactical squads, a Chaplin, an assault squad and a devastator squad rounded off the infantry. A Rhino and a Knight Errant where the only vehicles in my force.

Blood Angels

My opponent picked a Lord commissar to lead his force. He took about as many veterans and flamers as he could muster from his collection. A sniper squad, two units of Storm Troopers, a sentinel squadron, a Manticore and a Knight Crusader rounded off the force.

Blood Angels

The game went much as you might expect. I threw all I could at the Guard as aggressively as I could. The guard player focused his efforts on removing the fastest units and closest ranged units in my force. Removing the longer range units could just see them return the next turn and unload the weapons, meaning no real differences to the Guards chances of survival.

By the end of the 5th turn I wasn’t at all close to wiping out the guard….

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Blood Angels

By the end of turn 6 the Guard still has a wounded Sentinel and 2 veterans inside the bunker remaining. I was certain to wipe them out in turn 7. The roll for the random game length was a 2, meaning the game was over.

The Guard completed whatever ritual, intel retrieval or wipe they were conducting and retreated into a secret tunnel complex. The Blood Angels would have to find them and complete their purge another day.

40k 30th Anniversary display at Warhammer Fest

Games Workshop really went all out for the 40k 30th Anniversary display at Warhammer Fest this year. Games Workshop don’t have many of their old rouge trader models. Rarely accessed and highly protected archives indicate they where not included in the sale of the business many years ago, however it is something the servitors refuse to speak about. None the less by using some private collections by staff and fans, Games Workshop did manage to put together a good showing of these rare Rouge Trader models.
 Squat 40k 30th Anniversary display40k 30th Anniversary display

Slane

40k 30th Anniversary display

RTB01 marines 40k 30th Anniversary display

Dreadnought and Robots40k 30th Anniversary display

Tanks note the card blaneblade40k 30th Anniversary display

Space Dwarfs40k 30th Anniversary display40k 30th Anniversary display40k 30th Anniversary display
Mki Blood Angel Landspeader

There were also a couple of older models in the Golden Demon Competition this year.

The first Ultramarines Captain Model

40k 30th Anniversary display

The First Blood Claw Sergent Model40k 30th Anniversary display 

An Epic Ork Gargent40k 30th Anniversary display

40k Single Miniture – Golden Demond 2017

The Single 40k Miniture catagory is always one of the most popular and Golden Demond, 2017 was no exception.

This was the first set of photos from the day and unfortunately therefore the worst quality. I also got to this cabinet so early, they were a bit Spartan. None the less they were still some fantastically well painted models.
Blood Angel Captain 

Built using the Master of the Recuits model from the Masters of the Chapter box set. The power Sword had been expertly converted for a Blood Angel power sword with a helmet and plasma pistol and back pack icon also added from Blood Angel plastic kits.Blood Angel Captain Golden Demon 2017

Space Wolves Wolf Guard 

This is a strightforward use of the Storm Bolter and Wolf claw from the Space Wolves termintor kit. Wolf Guard Golden Demon 2017

Dark Angel Interigator Chaplain 

While using a modern colour pallet, the yellow plasma pistol is a old school nod back to the second edition days.Dark Angel Chaplain

Tech Priest

Dark tones have been used to make the red robes of the machine cult stand out adding some warmth to an otherwise very cold colour pallet. Tech Priest Golden Demon 2017

Ultramarine Chapter Standard

A straightforward interpretation of the Ultramarine Chapter ancient. The blue has been extensively blended creating a pastal colour tone to off set the darker reds used on to acsent the details.

Ultramarine Chapter Standard Bearer Golden Demon 2017

Space Wolves Blood Claw Sergeant

Every year it seams there is someone who replicates a Mike McVey paint job from the old days. They never do well in Judging but as a grey beard I always enjoy seeing them.

Space Wolves Blood Claw Sergeant golden Demon 2017

Space Marine Captain

Space Marine Captain Golden Demon 2017

Ultramarine Chapter Champion 

Made using the Ultramarine upgrade kit and a plastic MK4 space marine. The helmet has been painted white to reflect the Mariens service within the 1st company.

Ultramarine Chapter Champion Golden Demon 2017

Space Marine Limited Edition Terminator Chaplain

Space Marine Limited Edition Terminator Chaplain

Geanstealer Magus 

Geanstealer Magus

 Space Wolves Legion Chaplain 

Lunar Wolves Chaplain Golden Demon 2017

Emperors Children Leagion PreditorGeanstealer Magus and Lunor Wolves Chaplain Golden Demon 2017

Emperors Children Leagion Preditor

Dark Angels Terminator Chaplain conversionDark Angels Terminator Chaplain conversion Golden Demon 2017

Harlequin Solitaire Harlequin Solitaire Golden Demon 2017

Catachan Jungle Fighter – Colonel ‘Iron Hand’ StrakenCatachan Jungle Fighter - Colonel 'Iron Hand' Straken

Imperial First Legion Centurion

Imperial First Legion Centurion Golden Demon 2017

Dark Angel Legion Champion and Ultramarine Tech MarineDark Angel Legion Champion and Ultramarine Tech Marine Golden Demon 2017 

Space Wolf  Arjac Rock Fist conversion 

This model has me confounded as to what parts have been used to recreate this classic Space Wolve miniature.
Space Wolf  Arjac Rock Fist conversion

Ork War Boss on Bike

A surprising entry of a bike in the category, however the rider is undead an Ork Warboss.

Ork War Bike Golden Demon 2017
There were a lot more entries which were off for judging. As always this was a very competitor category at Golden Demon. Not one for the first time enterant to try, unless they are extremely talented.

Warhammer 40,000 Squad – Golden Demon 2017

The Golden Demon Warhammer 40,000 Squad entry was very difficult to get near at Warhammer Fest. I managed to get most of these photos later in the day when the area around the cabinets had calmed down.

Space Wolf Long Fangs by Michael ‘Harley’ Rutz

Mechanicum Thanatar Siege-automats

Ork Warboss and Bodyguard 

Emperor’s Childers Blade Sqaud

Raven Guard Vanguad Veteran Squad

Ultramarine Cataphractii Terminator Squad

Iron Hands Sterguard Veteran Squad

Death Guard Cataphractii Terminator Squad

I havn’t notice GW doing a kit for these so assume this is some excellent conversion work. [Edit: correction this is a Forge World upgrade set. Nurgle get the love]

Blood Angel Kill Team

Dark Angeld Fallen Squad lead by Cypher