where has the time gone?

It seems many months has passed and i havent kept up with the blog.
worry not, although im working on another project, the scouts arent going anywhere.

Those of you who read my last blog post have probably wondered how i got on in my last tournament, the truth is not very well.
i ended up mid table with 2 wins and 2 losses, it was a bad days dice rolling where i didnt even win a single first turn roll off, which when you consider the alpha strike potential of the shrike based army was a big kick in the fleshy pouch.
Still to get 2 wins was pretty good, the bottom table loomed after my first two defeats and i only just scraped a win against my tau opponent in game three, my dice were so bad i was losing in assault to firewarriors. The shame!!!!!!
anyway a turn 5 fleet to take and hold as many objectives saw me clinche the game despite only having 8 models left, the fact that everything scores can be an advantage.

Still after every big game or tournament i like to examine my progress and determine if i need to change direction, sadly after all the years of work i think i have taken a wrong turn.
Shrike, despite his awesomeness of giving everyone fleet really paints a scout army into an alpha striking corner, the army becomes very two dimensional, win big or lose big.
and if im honest ive felt that in my games too.

so ive decided to take a step backwards and look at khan again.
eventually ill build a command squad and khan on bike, but for the time being i think ill re-invent an old list and use my horde approach for upcoming tournaments

Khan
Chaplain with combi-flamer
10 ccw scouts, power fist, combi-flamer
10 snipers, telion, ML
10 bolter scouts, power fist, HB
LSS with MM
5 LSS scouts with ccw, combi melta and meltabombs
LSS with MM
5 LSS scouts with ccw, combi-melta and meltabombs
10 scout bikes, power fist, 3 grenade launchers, cluster mines
thunderfire cannon
thunderfire cannon
10 snipers, ML

i am considering replacing the last ten snipers with a quad plasma command squad, they are a half decent way to get some high strength low AP weapons into a scout force and in tournaments thats sorely needed, time and playtesting will tell.

hopefully im attending a 2 day event in january, so wish me luck as i experiment some more with my lists.
who knows with 6th ed looming next summer those land speeder storms may become dedicated transports, my army could become mechanised

All done

Its taken the best part of a year to convert and paint them all, but ive finally finsihed my army.

ASMOH is a mere 6 days away, so im hoping the new paint job will scare away the bad luck trolls.

almost there

ive been pretty busy of late, which goes someway to explaining my lack of activity on this blog, a truer reason would be to state my degree of laziness ;)

I have however been very busy painting in preparation for a tournament at basingstoke in may, its called "a small matter of honour" and its run by the sad muppet guys (i kid you not) I had alot of fun there last year, and hope this year to do better, my full painting progress can be found here:

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?showtopic=214311&st=0

When i first started out with scouts, i fully admit it wasnt becuase i particuarly loved them, in truth it was a challenge. I thought they could be competative, where many others thought i was kidding myself. Obviously since then i have really immersed myself in the tenth and have formed a really in depth appreciation for the little guys. I consider my initial aims to be pretty much complete, i proved they could be competative, however a much bigger challenge is ahead, since the space wolves and blood angel dexes were released ive found difficulties in beating them, its not impossible just alot more difficult than standard space marine forces. Recent experience with the grey knights has further compounded these issues. With servo skulls and shrouding they are proving a tough nut, and seem to have the tools to counter my best punches.

So heres the thing, not one to give up or balk at a challenge, im meeting these new armies head on, i may have to include the odd non-scout unit, but my new goal is to create an army which can combat any other force on the competative circuit, it will mean a few changes in my current list and some definate changes in my combo of tactics, the basics will reamin the same, but i will have to get creative.

Its definately a big ask, he first hurdle for me to conquer is the upcoming tournament. unfortunately i dont have the time to change my list before then, so i will have to rely on sheer luck and sneaky gameplay to get past any GK opponents.

So watch this space, lets see if the noobs can scale the obstacles before them.

Heres my first LSS MK2 scouts, apologies for the poor quality pic.

over the holidays i worked on a few changes to the list including the JP librarian that i mentioned in my last post. I tried him out for a bit and was completely underwhelmed so quickly dropped him again.
what i have done is added another ten man sniper squad and replaced one of my LSS teams with 2 typhoon speeders for extra anti-mech.

its all still theory at the moment, but i hope to have the main block of my army list worked out after this coming weekend, as im off to westbury for a weekend of gaming with the ultramarine guys from the bolterandchainsword site.

heres what im currently running at 1750:

Shrike
10 ccw scouts, fist, combi-melta
10 snipers, Telion, ML
10 snipers, HB
10 bolter scouts, ML, fist
5 ccw scouts, fist, combi-melta
LSS, MM
2 typhoons
thunderfire cannon
thunderfire cannon
10 scout bikes, fist, 3GL

the changes im 'considering' would be to drop the second unit of snipers in favour of another unit type, probably assault scouts.
i can also remove the typhoons and replace them with a melta storm and five scouts as above for exactly the same cost.. so far the typhoons have been a little hit or miss so im not sure if im sticking with them just yet.
If i do change back to the 5 scouts and LSS id probably switch the snipers for another choice, otherwise id be assault scout heavy, so i still have a lot of choices to make, should this list dissapoint.

As of febuary im working hard on getting my MK2 scouts finsihed, ill make sure to post more pics and updates of my work and progress.
if anyone wants to read my recent battle reports you can find them here:
http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/index.php?showtopic=219458

until next time, thanks for reading.