Thursday, April 30, 2015

Save vs. Summer: Warhammer 40K ITC Tournament 2015



This July 5th 2015, A-Z Gaming Club will host the second Wargamers in Japan event linked with Frontline Gaming's Independent Tournament Circuit (ITC). More info on ITC .
 
The Event will be held at the Camp Zama Community Club at 1000 am. Registration to begin at 0900am.
 
There are a total of 32 open slots available for this Tournament
There is a $25 entry fee per participant

Those that live locally can make it to Camp Zama by walking from Odakyu lines Sobudaimae station to the back gate the morning of the event. Map.
You can plan your train schedule here to make your travel plans.

Attendees that are in the military traveling from out of area can make reservations at the Zama Army Lodge
Attendees not in the military can make a reservation at a local hotel. Machida is the largest local area for reservations or Yokohama is also within a 20-30 minute travel. Hotels.

Anyone coming in from out of country should know that not all places in Japan accept American Credit and ATM cards. If you wish to withdrawal money the best place is to do it at the Japanese Post Office or Seven-Eleven (called 7 and I holdings).



All NON-Military are required to bring your Passport or Gaijin Card to gain access to the base. Passport is the best option.


 
There are a total of 32 open slots available for this Tournament
There is a $25 entry fee for participants

Army List Guidelines for the ITC 2015 40K Season

    1,850pts
  • Battle Forged armies, only. No Unbound lists.
  • An army may be built using up to two Detachments.
  • An army may not have a duplicate of any Detachment.
    • Note: This includes “Decurion Style” Detachments which are comprised of multiple data slates and Formations. They may not take duplicate Formations within the Detachment, although they make take duplicate Data Slate units within the Detachment if permitted to do so.
  • An allied Detachment may be the same faction as the Primary Detachment.
  • A Detachment may not be included in an army if it is Come the Apocalypse allies with another Detachment in the army.
  • All current source material is allowed, including GW Codexes, Data Slates, Formations, and current Forge World units and army lists which are listed below. Please note, Experimental and Horus Heresy/30K Forge World units are not allowed.
    • Army lists in Imperial Armor 14: The Siege of Vraks: The Death Korps of Krieg and Renegades of Vraks
    • Army lists in Imperial Armor 13: War Machines of the Lost and the Damned: Renegades and Heretics
  • Reference our Imperial Armor Unit Index for the most recent rules for Forge World units.
  • Regardless of Detachments, no more than 1 Fortification and/or 1 Super Heavy/Gargantuan Lord of War may be taken,  and limited to 25% of the army list (so 462 points).
  • If one player has a Super Heavy/Gargantuan LoW and the other does not, the player without can roll on the Escalation Warlord Table and also earns an extra Maelstrom point for every 3 Hull Points/Wounds dealt to the Super Heavy/Gargantuan Creature LoW.
  • Codex Iyanden: There has been email traffic from GW saying that codex was designed for the 6th edition codex, and not meant for the new 7th edition codex. In my opinion an Iyanden style force could be made with creative detachment/formation utilization from the new 7th edition codex. Any player still wishing to use this codex may do so, but is still bound by all restrictions above, and within the codex itself.  

Tournament Format

  • Reference the ITC FAQ for rules questions.
  • ITC events use a W/L/D format with Swiss pairings.
  • Each mission has 2 Win Conditions worth 4 points each, and 3 Bonus Points as defined in the mission packet. The player that achieves the most points during the course of the game is the winner. Both players note their mission points.
    • In the case of both players having the same amount of mission points, the game is scored as a tie.
  • The winner adds 1,000 to their mission points to determine their total battle score. The loser adds nothing to their mission points. In the case of a tie, both players add 500 points to their mission points to determine their total battle score.
    • Example 1: Player A defeats Player B, 7 mission points to 4. Player A’s total battle score would be 1,007 and player B’s would be 4.
    • Example 2: Player C ties Player D, 5 mission points to 5. Both of their battle scores would be 505.
    • The purpose of adding the points is to stratify the field based on their W/L/D records to allow for easy Swiss pairings. Simply pair players with the highest scores, working your way down. By adding 1,000 and 500, accumulated mission points will never trump a player’s win/loss/draw record.
  • The player with the highest battle score score at the end of the tournament is the tournament champion.

Modeling and Painting

  • In order to be eligible for any prize support, all models in your army must be painted to a 3 color minimum. Primer counts as a color.
  • All models are expected to be WYSIWYG to a reasonable standard. Exceptions will be made for themed units or armies.
    • Using a proxy for a model violates our policy.
    • Using a reasonable substitute to “Counts As” another model, does not violate our policy.
    • If in doubt, send a picture in of a model to ask if it is acceptable.
  • Paint judging is done by TO’s and staff on a 0-11 scale, with 11 being masterclass, 1 being only 3 colors, and a 0 for an army that is not painted to a 3 color minimum. The player with the highest score is the winner. In the case of a tied score, judges present will cast votes to break the tie.

Sportsmanship

  • Sportsmanship is handled with a Thumb’s Up, Thumbs Down format. We default games to a Thumbs Up from both players.
  • If your opponent was acting in an unsportsmanlike manner, which we define as being verbally abusive, physically aggressive, was more than 15 minutes late for a round, or knowingly cheated on a rule, you are free to give him or her a Thumbs Down on sports. It is not there to express displeasure in a game because you didn’t like your opponent, your opponent’s army, or you had rules debates, etc.
  • A player that receives two or more Thumbs Down on Sportsmanship will be met with administrative action up to and including ejection from the event with no refund of the ticket cost.

Rules Alterations

  • ITC events modify the following rules:
    • With any saving throw of a 2+ that can be rerolled, if the first roll is failed, the reroll is failed on the second roll of a 1,2 or 3.
    • The Invisibility psychic power is altered to read: units shooting at the Invisible unit do so at BS1, and hit it in melee on a 5+.

Missions

Mission 1
Mission 2
Mission 3
Mission 4
Mission 5
Mission 6

  • Terrain: Terrain should be defined between players and adjusted before the game begins. There should be a roughly symmetrical distribution of terrain on the table, with 2 line of sight blocking terrain pieces outside of either deployment zone, offset from the center of the table.
  • Fortifications: are all placed using the same guidelines. Fortifications may not be placed within 3″ of a board edge or another piece of terrain. If a Fortification cannot be placed under those guidelines, move a piece of terrain. If it is still not possible to place a Fortification, remove a piece of terrain to make room for it.
    • Exception: Aegis Lines may be placed anywhere on the table disregarding the 3″ rule.
    • Exception: The Skyshield landing pad can be placed closer than 3″ to a table edge, but not another piece of terrain.
  • Bonus Points: Each is worth 1 mission point. PLEASE NOTE: THESE POINTS ARE STILL IN TESTING AND MAY CHANGE.
    • First Blood: Per the book.
    • Linebreaker: Per the book.
    • Slay the Warlord: Per the book.
    • Big Game Hunter: At the end of the game, of all destroyed units, the player that destroyed the unit worth the most points wins this point.
      • Note: Independent Characters count as their own unit, regardless of whether they are in another unit or not.
      • Note: Combat Squads of Marines count as a two units, each worth half the total cost of the unit.
    • First Strike: A player earns this point if they destroy an enemy unit in the first game turn.
      • Note: Bother players can earn this point.
    • Table Quarters: The player with the most Kill Points of units that are more than 50% in a table quarter controls that quarter. The player that controls the most table quarters wins this point.
      • Note: Independent Characters only count as a point for this objective if they are not in a unit.
      • Note: Units in a transport do not count towards this objective unless they are outside of their transport.
    • King of the Hill: The player with the most points worth of units at least partially within 6″ of the center point of the table wins this point.
      • Note: a unit under half of it’s starting value, a monstrous creature below half it’s starting wounds, a vehicle below half its starting Hull Points value, all count for half points, rounding up.
      • Note: this is the old Victory Points system, you count the points you paid for a unit, not Kill Points.
    • Ground Control: Control or contest two or more objectives at the end of the game to achieve this point.

Things you must bring:


  • Your Army
  • Tape Measure, Dice, Game Aids, etc.
  • 3 Objective Markers on 25mm bases, 2 Objective Markers on 40mm bases.
  • 5 Typed Copies of your army list. Be sure to notate who your Warlord is on your army list. (1 for the TO, and up to four for your opponent).
  • All pertinent rules for your army. Codices, White Dwarf Articles, Foregworld Rules, etc.
  • If you are using a counts as army, YOU MUST HAVE YOUR PLAYER HANDOUT FOR YOUR OPPONENT IDENTIFYING WHAT EACH UNIT IN YOUR ARMY IS.

Prizes!

OF COURSE there will be prizes!!!!!

Sunday, January 11, 2015

Plight of Kandavar

War, blood, and mayhem was everywhere. In centuries of combat in the Emperor's name this was the worst Inazuma had ever witnessed. Enemies were on all fronts surronding the city, and the taint of chaos which had went unseen unitl now crept out of the undercity to plague the defenders at the most inopportune time. After days of combat death was more abundant than ammunition. What could still be seen of the sky above the planet shattered apart as malefic forces were born into reality, and blood fell from the heavens.

Inazuma gathered his honor guard around him as he charged head on into the next group of daemons materializing in front of the Temple of the Emperors Ascended. He swore that no beast would desecrate the Temple while he still lived. For hours he fought, never slowing, but the daemons still came on. Whatever the traitorous pigs on this planet did to bring the warp beasts to Kandavar most of planned for years to bring so much power with them. Then to his right he saw the beast leading them. A giant beast clad in bronze armor, three times the size of a dreadnought dropped down in front of the Warhound Titan holding the line, and bellowed a challenge to any that dared. The titan accepted gladly and leveled its laser destuctor at it, evaporating it completely in a two shot blast.

Inazuma had rekindled hope for a moment as the beast was banished back to whatever hell forged place it came from, but it appeared again just moments later with its focus on destroying the titan that just angered it. He could almost feel the morale dropping around him as the beast charged forward to smite the titan down. The defenses were starting to buckle now. On the other side of the city Captain Jonus was reporting that the Tyranids had broken into the city there which meant the southern defense lines had been breached, and more and more renegade forces were spilling forth from the undercity trapping them between the Tyranids. Also, sightings of the Eldar making their way into the heart of the city, and he knew that some nefarious plan was about to be hatched.

On the outskirts of the north side of the city Capatain Carvex was hard pressed by the Tau forces landing there. Every effort to break the Tau fire line was crushed, and Carvex was requesting reinforcements that could not be given.

Admiral Kalkim was fighting a tactical withdrawl trying to inflict as much damage on the Tyranid fleet as possible while remaining out of the bioships engagement range. The damage caused to the hivefleet was horrendous, but their numbers could not be stopped. With his own numbers falling, his only chance of eliminating the Tyranids was to bring them into the firing lines af the Tau battlefleet.

Commander Vistrowski noticed the swarm of Tyranids attacking head on at the defence lines was slacking. Only small pockets of fighting was still happening on the killing fields and a great cheer rose up from the defenders as they thought the battle had been won. However, that was not the case. The bioships now chasing Kalkim's fleet were now disgorging tyrannocytes deep into the city and Vitrowski decided he needed to send his armor into the city to assist the other beleaguered forces.

Admiral Kalkim knew he had made the right decision as he noticed the Tau ships firing at the Tyranids bioships instead of his own ravaged ships. Still this was just a gambit to draw the Tyranids away from the planet and cause as much damage as possible. As the vessels were being brought down b the Tyranids one by one he commanded the Captains of those ships to overload their plasma drives to erase entire swaths of the attackers.

All around as the various forces fought against each other, Illithrys, Urkas, and Ullsandir worked their way forward to the designated ritual site. The Eldar force was small and not willing to risk open combat unless necessary. Every step forward towards the site was slow going as the combat was such chaos. If it wasn't for the raging warp storms swirling around this planet then they could of easily just used a warp portal to get there. Ullsandir knew they were close and would be able to begin unlocking the bomb.

So far Inazuma had kept his promise to keep the chaos filth out of the Cathedral, but for every daemon that he killed it seemed a dozen more took its place and he was forced to retreat again, but his options were becoming limited and had to fall back to the cathedral itself. Suddenly above him a daemon prince crashed through the stained glass image of the Emperor and descended to  do combat with him.

Only small pockets of Imperial resistance remained and the battle began to shift to Tau and Tyranids fighting on land now as well as the space battle above. Commander Shasshi knew exactly how to deal with this menace and the Tau pushed forward to claim what was left of their prize.

Before the daemon dropped upon him it threw a device that opened a whole in the floor where Inazuma stood. Below he could see the rows of cryocells filled with geneseed. This is what the traitors had came for he thought to himself. The Daemon and Angel threw themselves at each other knowing that the victor would decide the outcome of multiple chapters worth of more post human warriors. Inazuma fought as he had never before fueled by the hatred granted to him by the Emperor. However, the daemon was too fast and began to wear him down.  A left hook slipped past his guard and he staggered, then the right hand came up and lifted him from the ground and an evil cracked upon the daemons face as he knew victory was at hand.

With Inazuma now held aloft by the daemon prince the other daemons were coming in from all angles to get to the geneseed vaults. In the second that all seemed lost a spark of light burst forth and black clad warriors ringed in blue flame stepped forward to eradicate the advancing daemons. The daemon prince was hit multiple times and dropped Inazuma to the ground. Inazuma picked up his blessed blade Junjoo and with one cut removed his foul head.

At that same moment the lifeeater bomb exploded and rapidly spread out from the epicenter consuming all life in its path. The power unleashed by the Eldar to destroy the advancing Tyranids was long ago foreseen by Tzeentch  and the planned death of Jazrikz the daemon prince was set into motion by him to serve as a catalyst. The entire sector of Kandavar was sucked into the warp ordained to replay the battles for eternity more to the laughter of the dark gods.

Thursday, November 13, 2014

Downright Apocalyptic!!!

Chapter Master Inazuma of the Emperors Shadows presided over the war council. All were gathered. Captains of the Emperors Shadows 1st and 3rd through 7th, Captains Kiln and Honas of the Sons of Medusa, and Carvex of the Charcadons along with Admiral Kalkim and Commander Vistrowski.

Things looked grim for the defenders. The Moons of Tannacus held by the heathen Tau with augur reports showing them staging for further attack. Another Hive Fleet inboud after holding them off at Yuion, and new reports of the treacherous Eldar attacking Dependence and a Life Eater warhead removed from its stasis cell.

Inazuma addressed them. "With the Tyranids being the most imminent threat a Vanguard Fleet will have to go furth and harass the approaching bioships. Eliminate as many as you can with as few loses manageable. Make them pay for every inch of space!" " We must also be ready for the Tau, and more treachery from those that attacked Dependence.

Important defense plans were formalized and everywhere new fortifications were raised to thwart the invaders. Damaged vehicles were repaired and refitted and made their way to new firing positions. All over Kandavar was ready for war.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

 Ullsandir walked with Illithrys to the bridge of Duke Urkas's Void Cruiser Dannan Kilithikadya. Little was said between the two as they made way, but they both were thinking the same thing.

When the two finally meet with Duke Urkas again he seemed younger and stronger than before and surely cockier as a large smile cracked his flawless face. "Back so soon, my cousins"?

" You have taken the one weapon we need to destroy the devourer, what have you done with it"? Illithrys screamed at him.

"I am just turning your desires to my advantage". " I wish for you to ignite it on the planet of Kandavar and rid myself of these pesky Monkeigh that plague my domain".

Illithrys looked at Ullsandir and bowed his head. The agreement had been struck.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Fresh reinforcements continued to flood in around the remains of Tannacus for advancement further into Imperial space. Commander O’Shasshi would not be surprised again by their gene enhanced warriors and  spent the time waiting for the rest of the fleet training and making preparations for war based on the tactics learned at Tannacus.

The Greater Good would triumph at all costs.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The Brotherhood of Pathosis gathered in the dark tunnels below the city of Kandavar. The time had come to show their true faith. Kandavar was breaking apart with war and the call of the Dark Master was strong.

The Host must be brought to the Temple of the Emperor Ascended and the sacrifice made.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Inazuma watched the sky from the central observation platform at the governors palace. To the southern side of planet as clouds coalesced and formed a wall that pushed in towards the city. Lighning split the sky illuminating the hive ships through the cloud cover, and the sky began to rain flesh and bone. The fleet had did everything it could to prevent as much of the Hive fleet making planet fall and he knew that they were still up there fighting off as much as possible.

Reports were coming in that the Tau had made contact with the outer defenses orbiting the northern side of the planet and knew they would be soon making planet fall as well. He wondered how in their ignorance to expand  their territory and remove the Imperium that they missed seeing the threat of the Tyranids looming so close.

 Sightings of the Eldar forming in the Hab-blocks to the east of the capital were also coming through. Whether or not they came with plans of using the Life Eater warhead taken from Dependence was still unclear, but he planned to find out.

Other reports of zealots coming before the Temple of the Emperors Ascended in the west preaching
about the Time of Ending were springing up everywhere and riots were starting in the streets.

Inazuma took it all in as any commander of the Emperors Elite would with a small smile on his face. This is what he was breed for and marched off to battle. There can be only war!

Wednesday, October 29, 2014

Dark Harvest

At this early hour many were sleeping but Defense Complex Tetra II was still up and running at full alert. Those on shift were ever diligent in their duties. Augur sweeps were constant and guards were manning defense positions. With the prior attack on Tannacus, and now a war on Yuion the forces here were not taking any chances in their duties to the Imperium. Mechanicum  and PDF forces on Dependence were mustering to support those fights and tensions were high with the thought of another looming war.     

The Eldar knew that to get into a prolonged war here was suicide against the heavy defences at the complex and took every measure to ensure a quick victory for a timely withdrawl. They attacked just before dawn using the early hour and remaining darkness to allow for deadly alpha strike against the massive war engines and standing indomitable over the complex. This is why their darker cousins were required; shadow rays blasted worth nullifying void shields so lance weaponary could be used to fell the massive walkers.

Dark crystals appeared floating in the air behind defense bunkers and fortified positions that rent wholes in reality and sinister warriors emerged slaughtering the defenders inside. Wave serpents and raiders swooped over the high walls and disgourged warriors into the midst of the complex. The initial assault was total carnage as the defenders found themselves pressed from all sides before a solid defense could be fortified.

A few solid defenses did form around the center of the complex as a few inspiring leaders rallied against the slaughter. However, this didnt last long as the few crippled war engines went critical from their wounds disintegrating areas of defense for the enemy, and with the Imperial Titans gone, the Eldar Titans took to the field intent on cracking open the last remaining bunker to get their prize.

The attack didnt last more than an hour all of the defenders of Tetra II were dead or too wounded to fight anymore. Farseer Ullsandir walked with Illithrys down into the complex to take the weapon that they came here for. Automated defenses awoke to eliminate the intruders, but they were no match for the Farseer as lighting arced from his fingers and struck the machines causing them to overload.

Finally they stood before the entance to the vault. Illithrys used a fusion gun to burn access into the inner room. There in the center of the room stood the stasis cell that held the weapon they needed, but it was empty.

In the corner of the room a dark form melded into the shadows.

Tuesday, October 14, 2014

Diviners of Fates


Farseer Ullsandir sat cross legged in the center of Hall of Seers, he was ringed by nine stones of scrying, each one carved with a single rune of foresight. The stones in turn were ringed by nine of his brothers and sisters of the path. Each of the outer nine combed through the threads of fate, looking at the possible futures of  Craftworld Alaitoc. They then sent there visions to filter through Ullsandir in the center, combining all of their separate visions as one and eliminating those seen not be to be true.

Autarch Illithrys stood alone outside the Hall of Seers, impatient, but unmoving. He waited as he had everyday for the last twenty days. The path of the seer remained an enigma to him as he had not walked its path before, but he understood its need to the Craftworld. It was not uncommon for the council to commune for days at a time when the threads of fate were difficult to discern, but this is the first time he has ever waited this long.

When Ullsandir stepped out of the Hall of Seers, Illithrys knew that he would be taking the Craftworld to war, The seers posture said it all before he spoke.

"The Devourer approaches, and the Young King must be chosen".

"We must not become Iyanden, what have the fates shown you"?

"The Monkeigh have a destruction device that we must capture and use against them while they are engaged against the Devourer".

"So distasteful, that we must use their primative technology to destroy our enemies".

"That is not the worst of it".

"What could be worse than lowering ourselves to using Monkeigh weapons"?

"You must go and speak to our dark brethren, we will need them in the coming assualt".

Just before dawn the defenders of Defense Complex Tetra II on Dependence were awakened to sound of alarms. The complex was coming under attack.