How cool was it walking in the big doors of the Stamford, past the vallet service, and up to the ballroom. Look out you rich and well to do epicureans; Gamers with a bag full of trouble coming through! The scornful heiresses and scowling fat-cats did nothing to deter me from enjoying myself. (Actually the guests and staff of the Stamford were fine i found, but i like to demonize the rich. Oh, and use the word epicurean.)

I find myself capable in most social situations and with all sorts of people, so i was able to enjoy the plush surrondings of the Stamford. Swanky place. However, once i was face to face with 100? gamers i was intimidated. Like a possem caught in the headlights of a car, i just stared at the crowd after i registered. Then Swoop tweaked my nipples from behind and my inhibitions melted away.

An observation before i do a small Batrep. When i was told by staff i could place my bags over on the far table i hesitated. Why? Believe it or not i was scared of theft. The hesitation left as i remebered Swoops nipple tweak and i realised i was in a room of like minded people. I know that there are clicks inside clicks, but i have to admit the moral character of people i have met thorough Warhammer is high. I wouldn't let my Farseer turn his back on my opponents Blood Thirster, but i felt very comfortable. There may be dumby spitters amoungst us, but i'm proud to be involved with this hobby.

Lets change the mood. I came armed to the GT with an Iyanden force. The Flames of Asuryan. My favorite army at the moment. It's a strange little force but it keeps me on my toes. Here's the list i used;

1 Farseer (HQ) @ 151 Pts
Witchblade (x1)
Shuriken Pistol (x1)
Runes of Witnessing [5]
Spirit Stones [40]
Fortune [20]
Guide [30]

7 Warp Spiders (Elites) @ 154 Pts
Deathspinner

1 Wraithlord (Troops) @ 120 Pts
Flamer (x1)
Shuriken Catapult (x1)
Bright Lance

1 Wraithlord (Troops) @ 105 Pts
Flamer (x1)
Shuriken Catapult (x1)
Scatter Laser

8 Wraithguard (Troops) @ 327 Pts
Wraithcannon

1 Warlock @ [47] Pts
Witchblade (x1)
Shuriken Pistol (x1)
Conceal [20]

5 Wraithguard (Troops) @ 342 Pts
Wraithcannon

1 Warlock @ [42] Pts
Witchblade (x1)
Shuriken Pistol (x1)
Enhance [15]

1 Wave Serpent @ [125] Pts
Linked Shuriken Catapults
Linked Scatter Lasers
Spirit Stone [10]

4 Crew (Heavy Support) @ 100 Pts
Shuriken Pistol & CCW (x4)

2 Support Weapons @ [60] Pts
D-Cannon

1 Falcon Grav-Tank (Heavy Support) @ 200 Pts
Shuriken Cannon Upgrade
Scatter Laser
Pulse Laser
Holo-Field [25]
Spirit Stone [10]

Models in Army: 33
Total Army Cost: 1499


DAY 1

1st GAME vs Necrons - Ashley Harris

Over View:
Falcon down in first turn before it moved, Wave serpent down in the second. My speed was targeted by Ashley and i managed to only move into one other table quater contesting it. The Necrons delt out some decent damage but didn't break my army. I destroyed only one unit of Destroyers and did some minor damage to some Warrior squads. Ashley ran his force tightly and recieved victory accordingly.

In Hindsight:
This game reminded me to assualt more readily and to pay more attention to deployment. Large squads of Necron Warriors put out some major firepower.

2nd GAME vs Cadians - Stuart Johnson

Over view:
A Cleanse mission i think. Stuart lost his Demolisher in the 1st turn and i had gotten in a prime position to lauch my assaults. Iyanden quickley got it's Wraith Guard and Wraith Lords into assualt and eventually broke the Cadians. I didn't manage to take Stuarts deployment quater, but i siezed the sides winning the game.

In Hindsight:
Stuart would have benifitted from deploying further back and putting his Demolisher Hull down. Perhaps he could have used his Sentinels more defensively to claim or contest quaters in the final turn.

3rd GAME - Iron Warriors - Andy Casey

Overview:
Capture the Loot. Couldn't see where this game was going to go at first. I took out Andys Land Raider in the first turn but had in no way hamstrung his force. A Deamon Prince with a possible 24" charge kept me at bay and subjected my force to alot of firepower. Andy took a chance at getting his Deamon prince into charge range in the 2nd turn but fell short, which put him in range of a Guided D-Cannon battery. Instant deathed Deamon Prince; but the game wasn't over. The Iyanden Falcon got all it's weapons shot off in the 3rd. Trading shots continued for another turn. Then with some favorable assaults for me in the 5th, i landed on 2 out of 3 Loot counters at the end of the game.

In Hindsight:
I think Andy could have been more patient with the charge from his Deamon Prince. If he had of got a good charge in i think i would have been left without an army to play with.

I usually find the time to get raving drunk on tourney nights. But i just wasn't up for it! What a soft cock! Where was the Beast?! I guess i prefer to get out of town before i get out of my gourd. Love you Shippy. Love you Narracorte. XXX



DAY 2

4th GAME - Necrons - Todd Hopley

Overview:
Seek and Destroy with Escalation. The best game i played. For the most of the game we moved and nibbled at each other. We concealed lines of sight and waited for each other to make a mistake, fantastic! Unfortunatly i made them. Shooting at the incorrect units and not assaulting soon enough, chasing a Monolith of all things! Great game.

In Hindsight:
To quote Pete Dunn, "Next time play better". Sometimes when you lose you don't learn anything, you just get reminded that you're forgetful. Great game.

5ht GAME - Tau - Chris Appleby

Over View :

Ahh, my good friend Chris. I'm used to him beating me actually, but Night Fight did not bode well for him. I managed an assualt in the 2nd turn. A squad of 5 Wraith Guard and Warlock. They jumped from squad to squad through the course of the game, and Chris didn't get a chance to shoot them. A full Devilfish was moved badly which Warp Spiders took down in the 3rd which was the turn of the game. Chris was a great sport of course, much better mannered than i am.

In Hindsight :

Deploying further back by Chris, and perhaps getting the Fire Warrior Squads out of the Devil Fish sooner.


Thanks then to the GT staff. Swish event, the GT was special. I heard the Fantasy and LoTR guys had a good time. Well done. I don't know the GT staff all that well, but you're definatly good-clean-wholesome.

Well done Lee, some nice insights there!

2 Necron armies in one tournament? ooh, and you still came 4th? top effort!

Cheers,

Tom

very nice work mate; any reason you had the tooled up farseer and not two?

The single Farseer feels good to me. I don't thinks it's terribly advantageous to have two of them. Perhaps an aversion to painting as well. But most of all because it feels good.

And cheers Tom, love your work too. With one hand 'tied behind your back' to boot! Excellent show with the Deathwing, again.

Cleanse? I can't remember either.

Yeah I didn't use my sentinels very well that game, and by turn 3 I realised how much time I wasted shooting at your falcon. I would've been better off shooting your other wraithlord. Still I was happy not fighting damned Biel-tan or Ulthwe for once.

I think your initial idea of using the Sentinels movement to get a shot at my Falcon before it moved was sound, then they could have lurked. I must admit you roled very poorly for their shooting too. Separating you normal infatry from the Storm Troopers with a greater distance would have made it difficult for my small force to achive the objectives. Thanks for the game.

Will i see those Elysians you spoke of next time?

My shooting was poor throughout the tournament unfortunately.



I sure hope so, I'm itching to paint them but I want to get my Cadians finished first

quick, short, succinct report Lee.....agree with your comments about the wargaming fraternity....I left my digital camera unattended (ny mistake) and never looked like walking.....same thing happened at Conquest 2003...

how come swoop nipple tweaked you and not me ? favouritism !

I wanted dearly to catch your game vs Todd, it shaped up to be a cracker....unfortunatlely I was busy fighting a khorne army.......

4th place overall.....fantastic effort, great army, unreal painting......it is a good hobby :-D

congratulations....

stu

men it sounds like you had a ball ,must go next year.

Yep top bunch of fellas (even those Fanatsy guys). Congrats on the Sports Award, couldn't have gone to a more fitting person. You are a good Sort Stu.



Yeah do that. See you at the next tourney Chris.