Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Damn You Internet & ADD!


I think I may have talked myself into a hole with my throw down to use Bugs for the Nova. There are a couple of reasons for it so let me illuminate you onto the issues I'm currently having fufilling my statement on what I'm going to run for Nova.

Issue #1 - The List!

I can't for the life of me make a 1,750 Nid army I'm happy with. 1,500? Certainly! 2,000? Most Definitely! But 1,750 seems to be the bane of what I'm looking for in a Nid list. I can't properly mix my fast units with my ranged units and I can't tuck in the resiliency I normally like to see in my bug lists. Normally I don't fret the army building portion to much, relying on myself to make up an short comings I might have in the list. But on Friday I'll be playing against some of the more solid players that can make it in the country. Add in the fact that the bane of most of my armies in the form a Venom Spam DE is definitely going to be there an pilotted by my co-author. And he has a tendency to go pretty far which increases my chance at running into my bane and to be honest it's the only army I play that I'd worry about Dash's list.

Issue #2 - The Prize/Cost!

This is the Invitational. The first event to have a solid cash prize for both Overall and Best General (Or Ren. Man and Tournament Champ). I'm spending, probably all told weekend, a significant amount to fly myself and my wife out. I can wave away a fair amount of what I'm spending because I'll be driving down to see my amazing Granny and Papa for a day or two before heading back home and I can wave away some more of it since it's the wife coming. But can I wave away my best chance at winning 1k based on what is for all intensive purposes an internet boast?

Issue #3 - The Army & Paint Job!

I'm just not happy at all with the current paint job on my Nids. This has more to do with the Nova format than my normal issues. With the Nova format painting this year will be 50% of your Ren. Man score. Now my Nids have only a few conversions and looking at it honestly my Nids are table-top quality and no higher. What does this mean? That I'm unlikely to pick up Ren. Man with them if I lose a game. So the ability to take a loss but still have the potential to win Ren. Man is largely gone which would mean I would have to be the undefeated player to walk away with a prize. While winning isn't everything this event is the kind of event that I go into to win it and my paint job just isn't going to help with that.

Issue #4 - Transportability!

So my wife and I, we're flying to DC. Not that a 20+ hour drive doesn't sound fun but it'll just be a bit easier. This means that I have to consider what I'm bringing and how. Now I can take 2 carry-ons about the size of a small Army Transport. I haven't had time to sit down and design a Battle Foam bag with for my bugs and it's way to late to get one ordered now. My bugs take up a lot of space. The big bugs fill up 4"-5" foam. All my small bugs and my mid-sized bugs. My plan was to bring 2 armies to Nova. Basically to make assuade my army ADD and to give me an option if at the last minute I change my mind. It also gives me some options for the Whiskey Challenge against Purg and possible open gaming (I'm not crazy!!!!). So with this adding up and the bugs I'd need for both my 2k and possible 1750 lists I don't see how I'd manage to transport them adequately.

Issue #5 - Army ADD

I can't for the life of me lock down a bloody list for Nova. I can't even lock down a codex. My brain is all awash with excitement and I come up with a fun and new list at least twice a day. Thank god most of them are unattainable with it this close or god help me I might try building them. Overall though I just can't concentrate and can't really get excited about painting stuff for my Bugs. And my Bugs would need some work and concentration to get finished and ready.

Conclusion:

Congrats on getting this far if you did. If you did you'll realize I just wrote an extensive article as an excuse not to run Nids for the Nova Invitational. If transport can be worked out I'll bring them for the actual Nova Open GT. If not then I'll be playing something else. Could be Space Wolves, Grey Knights, Daemons, Blood Angels, Deathwing, BT's, or maybe even my IG. I don't have time to paint my Orks or finish converting my DE so those are both out. We'll just have to see.


Comments (24)

Loading... Logging you in...
  • Logged in as
I lol'ed.
1 reply · active 711 weeks ago
Good, that's the spirit it was intended in :)
I have exactly the same army jumping problem.

Good luck picking a new army.
And...you backed out. Not going to lie, saw this coming a mile away. Kind of disheartening, as I really think with good generalship you would have done well, but the points you've listed are all very valid. Just don't get my hopes up next time :(
6 replies · active 711 weeks ago
Nids will still get out and about,. Just not for events that I have to fly to that have a large cash prize. I promise Grey :)
Hooray :D. I love when good generals use obscure armies, much more interesting to hear about! But good luck winning that sweet sweet prize! Would totally make the trip worth it.
I luled.� I didn't expect you to actually bring Tyranids, just like I can't justify bringing Necrons.�

"Good enough to mostly win" doesn't tranlate perfectly to "The best possible effort I can put forth."� And when you're flying to an event, outlaying significant expenses in doing so for a competition, it doesn't make sense to bring less than your best.
Which I completely understand. Doesn't mean I still couldn't have gotten my hopes up. And in this situation I fully support him taking whatever wants. My initial reaction went something like "Oh hell yea, I can't believe it but if he does well that is awesome!" haha.

I'm surprised you of all people said this as well, considering you will drive for hours, get a hotel, and play Necrons, possibly one of the worst armies available. There is a difference between giving your "best" while being "unique" and giving your "best" while taking the "best". You can give your best with any army, taking a competitive army doesn't translate to "your best possible effort" it just translates to "an army that will increase my chances of winning" there is no effort involved in picking up a different codex, especially one that is tailored to win. Hence all the noob SW players that manage to finish high at competitive events.

Still, I totally understand where Hulk is coming from, and fully support his decision. Next tournament he can always take something crazy. I just look forward to that :D. As a blog reader its much more interesting to read something unique then to read "Blood Angels Rofl Stomp Game 3", haha. Doesn't mean I'm going anywhere though, Keep up the Good Work!
I'd disagree that noobs are having high finishes at competitive events. You'll still see the same people cropping up at major events at the top tables and most of those with a variety of lists.

And I fully intend to get some fun builds out there for a few different lists in the future. Nova is kinda a cap of major gaming until early next year with the Dark Star here in Minneapolis in February so I'll be playing in smaller tournaments and playtesting more fun stuff over the next few months.
Right, well not major events, but definitely local tournaments for sure. We all know these people, running the latest interweb lists, which in the end is getting them to the final tables, without having much experience playing the game at all. i play 2/3 of these players on a weekly basis at our local store and club. They definitely aren't making it to the finals of Nova, but they are ending in the top 10/20 of most events simply because their codex carried them. Regardless I don't think army choice detracts or adds to your "best effort".

But yea, just read your new tyranids list and I'm pumped and ready!
Tournaments are supposed to be fun. It sounds like you're stressing way too much over the logistics of taking nids. Take them next year when you're comfortable and better prepared. The tournament + wife + bonus post tournament travel is a LOT to take in a one shot.
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by Number 2, it is the most common reason to not run Tyranids in any event in which one has a specific and vested interest in placing first. I had thought you viewed Tyranids differently then the general community but I guess not. I admit I'm a bit disappointed, I really enjoyed your Battle Reports from small and/or casual quality tournaments and was hoping to see Tyranids from a top quality player at a top quality tournament.
2 replies · active 711 weeks ago
I ran them at Adepticon and fully intended to finish first. I managed to go 2-0-2 (so undefeated :D) and still think Nids are a competitive force. You might have missed a big part of the point. It's a space issue due to the flying and I can't for the life of me find a list I like at 1,750. If the Invite was at 1,500, 1,850, or 2k I'd be down. I've played my bugs at those levels several times and feel extremely confident with them. But I haven't played a game at 1,750 since GW ran GT's.

If I had another few months to practice up with them then I'd probably find something I liked but I'd be flying blind on the specific build due to time constraints. And as good as the other players there are likely to be it's just not a good idea.
I completely understand the other reasons. I can relate to the transport issues having played max troop spam lists in the past at tournaments, airplanes where terrible for that even before the massive security overhaul.

Still disappointed though, undefeated at Adepticon really doesn't mean much, I wanted to see Tyranids at a major W/L tournament that promotes itself (or at least gets promoted by word of mouth) as an all out competitive event with the prize support to draw people in from afar.

I don;t keep up with to many of the other blogs, is Yermom still doing Tyranids or has he switched to GK's, either way he seems to do more list writing then battle reporting and never with pictures. I think fritz is looking at Tyranids for Nova.
I guess you can not teach these baby seal bugs to club back then?

Seriously though you have got to have fun at an event. I love my Tyranids but they have so many flaws; including the sheer amount of space you need to carry a 2k army. In constrast I can fit a 2.5k Grey Knight army in a single Kaiser Rushforth army case.

If you need an incentive you should get all your loyal followers to pledge a dollar or two if you just turn up and play them. That way you do not need to worry about getting the prize.
2 replies · active 711 weeks ago
I've had a ton of success with bugs so far. I'm happy with them as a book. But certain constraints listed in my reply to Went Awer will keep me from playing them this year.

I'll think about the incentive idea :) I won't make any promises on future events coming up but I can say my interest was resparked in Nids and that part hasn't died. Just frustrated I can't make it work in time and I'm not willing to limit myself by playing a list I don't feel comfortable with.
spyguyyoda's avatar

spyguyyoda · 711 weeks ago

I'd give you a dollar if you play your 'Nids. Two if you play all big bugs =P
Save the nids for adepticon where you can drive. Play whatever army gives yout he best chance at winning, whether is is painting of playing.

You going to play ard boys? Whatcha running? Do you know what store up there has second round, just in case I make it?
I hate 1750 point level tournaments. Really...I can never make a list I am happy with, but at 1850 I can. Back when wolves had to take 3 HQ's, that 1750 mark was a killer.

You know how 1750 got thrown into the mix for tournaments? The GW guys just thought it would be funny to change the points level. It has no thought behind it at all.

1500 can be fun for many armies. But at 1850-2000 most armies seem to come into their own. 1750 is a killer. I wish the tournament community would just say enough is enough and demand 1850 as the standard.
1 reply · active 711 weeks ago
To be fair only the invitational is 1,750. And it was chosen specifically because no one uses it anymore to make it more of a challenge for the 32 guys competing that day. The general tournament standard, if there is one, is probably 1850 w/a fair few 2k's thrown in.
newtoncain's avatar

newtoncain · 711 weeks ago

Tervigon AG/TS/Cat x 3 = 585
Termagants x 13 = 65
Trygon Prime x 3 = 750
HG x 7 = 350

1750
2 replies · active 711 weeks ago
And that list would be fine except for Venom Spam and GK's. It doesn't have a forward offensive pressence and is incredibly slow allowing your opponent to set the pace of the game. It's a hell of a lot of T6 wounds but half of those disapear in a hurry when you run into a single Jaws model.

It was thought about but again, just wasn't happy. I'd probably try something similar but drop 1 HG and all prime upgrades and take either genestealers or raveners depending but it's a decent list. Just don't feel like it has the tools I'd need at the level of play I'd expect on Friday.
newtoncain's avatar

newtoncain · 711 weeks ago

It was just a simple list they is fairly easy to transport.
Boooooooooo hiiissssssssssssss

Post a new comment

Comments by