Jawaballs Mail Call

Dark Angels questions!

I am no Dark Angels expert, but here is a question I received today.
Dark Angels
Hey how is it going? Recently I just purchased a 40k starter set (space marines and orks) and planning to play space marines. i picked up the Dark Angels chapter and was wondering if you could give me a few tips on painting and tactics.

One question for painting, on the starter set all the marines have that arrow pointing up on the right shoulder pad, so how would i change that or would i just paint the squad marking over it?

Second is that the transfers that come with the set do not include the Dark Angels symbol, so would i hand paint it or buy a sheet of dark angel transfers? And if i do buy a sheet of transfers how much would it cost?

Your videos help a lot.
OK thanks so much for the help.

By the way, could you post a video on how to hand paint the Dark Angel chapter symbol?
It will be much appreciated.



First of all, If I am correct, Dark Angels use the double ended red arrow for their Tactical symbol. The AoBR set comes with the single verticle pointed arrow. The difference is minimal and you are free to use the verticle one. Dark Angels Symbol... I believe you can get your hands on a Dark Angels transfer sheet that has DA symbols. You can probably find one on Ebay for a buck or two. Or try any bits vendor like thewarstore.com.

As for painting them, I plan on doing a series of video shorts where I attempt to hand paint each chapter symbol. Look for that over the summer! For painting tips for Dark Angels in general, of all the chapters, they respond the best to DryBrushing. I have a series of videos that demonstrates how on my store and a few samples on youtube. Drybrush away! JB

Honor Guard Update 7: Champion power sword




Here is a couple of pictures of my Honor Guard Chapter Champion. I found a good picture of a power sword on another blog: http://thepaintingcorps.blogspot.com/2008/03/few-thoughts-on-power-weapons.html This guy has a fantastic blog! Any way, I was looking for inspiration on how to paint a power sword, and found this guy. My application of it was a little clumsy, but it wasnt bad for my first try. With a little practice, maybe I can get it done better before I submit them. Any way, I went with a green crackling lightning effect... Hope you enjoy! JB

Jawaballs Mail Bag!


Here is a question I got asking for help on building an Ultramarines list.

my Ultramarine Army list problem
Hey Jawaballs,its suckthetyranidsdick8.

I have a problem with my army list.All the friends i have and they are intrested in WH40K are telling me that my list what i made isnt ok.So im asking what do you think about the list.here is the list:


Space Marine 1750 points Army list

HQ:
Captian Cato Sicarius=200 pts

Chapter Master Pedro Kantor=175 pts

Elites:
Techmarine & 4 servitors=90 pts
-2 servitors with heavy bolters........+40
Total=130 pts

Terminator squad=5 models=200 pts

Terminator squad=5 models=200 pts Replace storm bolter with assault cannon.........+30 pts
Total=230 pts

Sternguard veteran squad=5 models=125 pts
Sergeant-power fist &melta bombs=both=30 pts
1 Sternguard model-combi-flamer=5 pts Total=160 pts

Troops:
Tactical squad=9 marines and 1 sergeant=180 pts
1x flamer

Scout squad= 5 models (including Scout Sergeant Telion)=125 pts


Rhino=35 pts
Extra armour............+15
Total=50 pts


Fast attack:

Assault squad=5 models=100 pts
Sergeant:-Storm shield= 15 pts Total=130 pts
-Power weapon= 15 pts

Heavy support:

Tunderfire Cannon=100 pts
Techmarine=50 pts
-power weapon.....+15 pts

Total=100 pts

Total=1750 pts

Jawaballs Answers:

When I make an army list for some one, I lean them in two major directions. 5th edition has rendered the game down to Torrent of Fire, and mobile troops. I let them keep their commanders since they have chosen them and want to play them. But I try to modify the rest of their list to be more competitive. So Here is what you need to do.

Drop the Techmarine and servitors, and drop the Thunderfire Cannon and Techmarine. Yes, I understand that they are cool, but really shouldnt be used in a 1750 point game because for the points, they dont pack the punch you need. I would save them for appocalypse. The Thunderfire is a gimmick at best. Dont take it at all.

Replace them with Predator tanks, auto cannons, heavy bolters, storm bolters, extra armor. At least 2, 3 is better.

Drop the assault squad. Buy a couple of speeders with Typhoon missle and melta guns.

Get a Land Raider, put your commanders and a terminator squad with storm shields in it.

Keep your other terms if you like, deep strike or march them... get that assault cannon shooting. If you can add a missle launcher too, do so.

Sternguard are ok. Put them in a rhino. I think they are scoring with your commander right?

If you are using scouts, get Tellion.

Get more tacticals put them in rhinos.

Keep one ten man tactical with a Lascannon back to place on an objective on your side of the board.

What you want is a fast moving army in rhinos, supported with Predator tanks using Torrent of Fire... as many shots as possible. Ram your Land Raider Crusader down their throats, unload and kill every thing you can. Support them with your Sternguard. Go claim objecvtives with your rhino. Shoot every thing that moves with the preds. Speeders can sit back and shoot their missles, or support your assault with their melta guns.

Take your time, count up your points, and post here your progress!

Enjoy. Jawaballs

How to Paint Space Marines: Hand Painted Angel Wings video 3

Here is video 3 in the set. Again, poor focus. It seems each video I did is going to be like this. And I did not take any still shots of WIP. :( Oh well, I will post a lot of pictures when it is done. Enjoy any way! It still has some value.

Honor Guard Update 6: Sanguinary Priest Jump Pack and Standard Bearer






Here are a few pics of my Standard Bearer and Priest near completion. I have to HL the priest jump pack, but there is a decent pic of the Angel Wing on his jump pack, I am going to do a large 2nd company blood drop on the other side. The bearer is justabout done. I need to clean up his highlights and finish the banner, but he needs the least amount of work of the 5. I would say the whole squad is about 65 percent complete. The other three have interior lighting effects, power fist, power sword and Plasma Gun which are going to be hard for me to perfect. I decided to mount them all on Scenic Resin Bases, the same ones available on my E-store. So there you go! If they are good enough to be in my Golden Daemon entry, they are good enough for the table! I am going to have the 5 of them on a rock outcropping that is mounted on a wooden base for display. Their individual bases will be removable as per the GD rules. More to come!

Updated: Check out the angel wing on the heal of the priest!

How to Paint Space Marines: Hand Painted Angel Wings Video 2

Here is part two of the video set. I am very sorry for the blurry resolution. My cam has been a lil bitch lately. I think the rest get better from here. On this video, I start laying out the wings using Shadow Grey. Previously, I layed out the entire footprint of the wings in order for me to go on later and add details. Hope you enjoy! JB

How to Paint Space Marines: Hand Painted Angel Wings

Here is video one of my newest series, How to Paint Space Marines: Hand Painted Angel Wings. I will be posting them all here.

Come meet Jawaballs and Fritz at Gamesday!

Thats right! Ever wanted to know what we look like? Want to see our tactics first hand? Want to look us in the eye and tell us you think we are full of poo? Now is your chance. Come meet us at gamesday! Fritz and I will be running a Club Table at Gamesday Baltimore. You will be able to come and challenge us to games, or ask any burning question you may have! Look for painting seminars, tactical presentations, and other cool stuff offered by Jawaballs and Fritz for 40k, and The Brothers Grim for WFB. Look for my Blood Angels banner and you will find us! We are looking forward to getting a chance to meet readers and enthusiasts and have a great day of 40k fun. Also, if you cannot make Gamesday but are still in the Baltimore area, Fritz and I will be at the Baltimore Battle Bunker on Sunday to take on all challengers. If you could not get some game time against us at Gamesday, come on out and throw down! Or challenge us both to a team up with a buddy. So there you go! Looking forward to seeing you all. Jawaballs

Golden Daemon Honor Guard Update 6


Here is a quick pick of my Sanguinary priest. I decided to take an extended break from painting for a few weeks in order to refresh myself and get ready for the push for the Golden Daemon. I have a week off starting at 2pm tomorrow and will be doing a LOT of painting. Expect steady updates! JB

How to Paint Space Marines Blood Angels: Brother Bolgard musters on!



Here is another post about Brother Bolgard. He is a new Blood Angels player who has returned to 40k and was inspired by my videos. He has based his army on my 1750 Mechanized list, and used my painting techniques to paint them. This is video two of his progress. He makes pretty decent vids! He is well spoken and enthusiastic. Check him out and give him some youtube love by subscribing to his channel.

How to paint space marines: Blood Angels Another happy customer!

Here is yet another happy customer who posted a video on youtube thanking me for my video set! Don't take my word for it... take his!

How to Win Warhammer 40k: Blood Angels Tactics 4, Rhino Rush


Time to talk about Rhinos. 5th edition has welcomed the new dawn of 40k, and with the rise of that dawn came the reliable and practical use of the Space Marine Rhino. I use them extensively in my army and walk all over people. In the Way of Sanguinius, the Rhino is the key factor in my plans.

Lets discuss the Rhino first. Armor 11 on front and sides, with 10 back is lacking but not terrible. It protects the squad inside from withering small arms fire, which is the intended use of an APC any way. No armored personnel carrier is intended to withstand the heavy guns carried by tank destroyers. Once you accept that and focus on the Rhino's strengths, you will do fine. You must give your Rhino extra armor. I know, it is a 15 point investment, and when using 5 rhinos can get really expensive, but I cannot tell you how many times extra armor has been useful, especially in tank shock, which I will get into after. I personally feel it is worth while to add the second storm bolter on at least one of your Rhinos. Just think of it as a mobile gun platform. 4 shots can be used to finish off that last lucky couple of guardians, or possibly add a wound to a commander before he assaults you. They can be wonderful for dealing with speeders. Remember, 5th edition is about torrent of fire. You want as many shots as you can get on the table, regardless of STR. Lastly concerning Blood Angels Rhinos, they have Over Charged Engines. This enables them to move up to 18" and get in position to contest/claim objectives, and tank shock enemy troops.

How to use your Rhino.

Use your rhinos as a mobile gun platform. Put a 10 man tactical squad with a lascannon and meltagun inside. Move it up onto an objective. Next turn, fire that Las and melta at any thing you want, keeping the guys inside safe.

Protect your squads. Put a 5 man squad in a rhino, and drive it up onto objectives. Keep the squad in the rhino... your enemy must divert heavy weapon shots onto them to crack em open. In the meantime, the rhino is protecting your 5man squad from annoying infantry shots. You can always disembark the squad and move/assault if you have to. So long as you have gotten your rhino into position, every heavy weapon shot fired at them is one less fired at your Baal Preds and Furioso. That is a good thing in turns 3 and 4 believe me.

Provide cover. Rhinos are great and cheap at providing mobile cover. Move that rhino up on to an exposed objective, and let it get knocked out... now you have a big lump of terrain to hide behind. OR you can use them to provide cover for each other while they are on the move. In the movie The Empire Strikes Back, Luke ordered an "Outside the Box" tactic to attack the AtAt walkers. They flew in a straight line, one behind another, 3 or 4 in a row. The lead speeder maximized its front shields, while the others saved power. When the lead speeder had its shields reduced to a dangerous level, the next in line leap-frogged into the front, always keeping a charged and undamaged shield to take the brunt of the enemy fire. Of course the speeders were weak vehicles and got shot down any way, but they did their job! They slowed down the enemy advance, and even took out a few in the process. Rhinos can pull the same tactic. Use them to provide cover to the ones behind them, each overlapping the next. Pop smoke on the lead Rhino. Next turn, move one up to the front that has not popped smoke yet. If done right, your rhinos should all have cover saves in open terrain up until they reach their objectives. (And if Corbulo is in one of them, you can negate a failed cover save once per turn.) You can also use them to block the enemy charge, and line of sight. Force the ork nob/warboss biker squads to go around them, slowing them down to allow you to get to them first. Use them to block LoS from enemy plasma cannons and battle cannons so you can advance your tanks. Make a wall around objectives you have just secured. The possibilities are endless.

Tank Shock. Perhaps my most favorite tactic! With 18" of movement, you can usually reach enemy squads and tank shock them. This will usually take them completely by surprise. First of all, They may or may not know how TS works. Their lack of knowledge is your gain. It has been my experience that 40k is 1/3 Army List, 1/3 tactics and 1/2 knowledge of the rules... (weird math intentional) Do not deceive your opponent, but don't feel like you have to tell them about all the rules in the book they should have in their own hands. They will probably know about Death or Glory, you can even be a good sport and tell them that they can Death or Glory your tank, but even that is not necessary since they SHOULD already know that. You could get away with simply saying that they have to make a leadership test, and if they fail, they fall back, and if successful, they MAY move out of the way or they MAY DoG. At any rate, wether you tell your opponent if they can use a Meltagun to DoG is up to you. A good player will know that, and knowledge of the rules is what seperates the good from the orks.

NOTE: My tactics are intended to be used against experienced players, usually in tournaments. In fun pickup games, you should always be a good sport and explain rules that less experienced players may or may not know. It is ok to nail em once, but make sure that they know what you did.

Back to Tank Shock. SO here is how it breaks down. You tank shock a squad, that squad needs to pass a leadership test immediately. IF they pass the test they may simply move out of the way, moving as far as they need to stay in coherency and one inch away from your tank. Fearless models need not roll. If they fail to pass the test, they will immediately fall back as per the rules... In this case, simply chase them off the table by staying within 6" of the squad. They can NEVER regroup so long as you have a model nearby.

If they pass, they may attempt to DoG. They can elect to select one model, and get a free shot against the front armor of the tank with whatever weapon they are holding. Over zealous 4th edition experts may jump to choose that powerfist... but in 5th edition you may use Meltaguns or lascannons to do the same thing. At any rate, which ever model you use, it gets an auto hit. It has to penetrate the front armor. If you manage to stop the tanks movement, either by rolling a 2, 4, 5, or 6 on the damage table you are successful. Glances modify the roll accordingly. But here is where it gets interesting. Extra armor allows you to ignore the 2, it is treated as a 1. So you can still move and now you are only stopped on a 4,5 or 6. That is a 50% chance at being successful... You cant beat that! Especially if you tank shock a squad with 3 Rhinos... They have to make 3 leadership tests, then beat those 50% odds 3 times. If the DoG is successful, then the model stops where it encountered the squad and the damage is resolved as normal.. IE your guys get out if it is destroyed and will probably die next turn. But if the DoG fails, the model dies, and your tank keeps on plowing through. You can even move on to TS another squad! This is crucial for taking and/or contesting objectives. Where Melta guns throw off the math is that they add a +1 to the damage chart... and reduce your chance of success to what 18%? 2 in 6 instead of 3 in 6... (assuming the penetration happens)

I once tank shocked a squad that had 2 meltaguns, with 2 rhinos, and the poor guy failed to stop the vehicles twice... Losing both models. You just never know.

There you have it. Cover saves and Over Charged Engines make Blood Angels Rhinos superb at land grab, take and hold missions. They are survivable, and are good at knocking squads off objetives. Especially if you can get to ones that do not have heavy weapons. Some guys like to take squishy and weak troops just to fill the requirement and hold objectives. They put them in the back and forget about them. Tank shock away!

Jawaballs 1750 Mechanized List April 2009

Dante
Corbulo

Troops:
Assault Squad 1
5 marines
power fist
rhino
extra armor

Assault Squad 2
5 marines
power sword
rhino
extra armor

Assault Squad 3
5 marines
power sword
rhino
extra armor

Tactical squad
5 marines
+5 marines
meltagun
lascannon
rhino
storm bolter
extra armor

Furioso Dread
extra armor
death company
heavy flamer

deathcompany
rhino
extra armor

baal predator
extra armor
storm bolter
heavy bolters

baal predator
extra armor
storm bolter
heavy bolters

baal predator
extra armor
storm bolter
heavy bolters

This is my list as of April 2009

Another happy customer!

Just a quick thanks to Bolgard from Youtube for posting this video:



He purchased my "How to Paint" Blood Angels video set and did a great job getting started! Thanks for the response Bolgard!

JB