It’s time for another big paint-and-play event at Drawbridge Games in Pittsburgh, PA. This time we’re doing an event that will get people painted some new things for forces: the various and sundry cast of named Characters in the 40k universe. It’s an event we call Who’s the Boss King of the Hill!
Why is it called King of the Hill? Because it will be a royal rumble style match where the winner is the last model standing or the one most central on the hill that will compose the middle of the board for the event.
Why is it called Who’s the Boss? Because participants will get a randomly assigned two characters from the pool brought by everyone, making for a whole bunch of wild team-ups amidst these HQ’s/Leaders/Bosses during the event. No one knows until the event starts what random bosses they’ll end up fielding from the pool we’ve generated.
Event Details: 6:30pm set-up, 7:00pm start on Thursday, March 14th. Participants can bring one or more painted “named character” models/units from the list below for Warhammer 40k (tho only one of each will be available for the random draw). To participate you must be comfortable with other people touching your models (carefully, of course), and bring a printed version of the model’s stat card. Players should bring their own dice and measuring tools.
Rules: Players will place their duos on the battlefield in points cost order on the first turn, and then playing cards will be dealt that determine order of turn. The two character units are separate, and do not have access to any army rules not on their cards (no army-wide rules for their faction nor detachment bonuses or enhancements). They are treated as friendly faction models to each other (have each others’ faction keywords) but cannot form one unit. A player’s turn is a normal sequence of 40k with all phases. In the combat phase, for ongoing combats with multiple opponents a draw of cards will determine order. There are no CP. Each player will get one re-roll token chip (can be used to re-roll their own die or force another player’s die to be re-rolled), and there may be ways to acquire extra based around what unit is generated for the participant in the random seeding process. A winner is decided either when there is only one unit left (or two units controlled by the same player) or when time is reached at which point victory is given to the model closest to the top of the hill at the center of the table.
Painting and Raffle: As always with Drawbridge events, we’ll be having a raffle for great 40k prizes that everyone gets a chance at winning. For every unit newly painted for this event (specifically for this event) a player will get an additional entry into the raffle. There will also be additional entries awarded for the overall winner, the player we vote got the “worst team”, and for gold, silver, and bronze best-painted awards. Painting of models needs to be at least three colors and based in some way.
“Named Characters”: The tradition of named characters in 40k goes back a long way: the difference between any old Ork Warboss and Ghazghkull Thrakka. They might be “epic heroes” now, but we generally know who they are. The following is as comprehensive a list as I could manage of current named characters with official models. And we do ask that players use the official models for these from 40k–no 3D printed or scratchbuilt versions. If they’re somewhat modified that’s okay, but should be recognizable as the official model from GW.
| Faction | Named Characters |
| Space Marines | Chaplain Grimauldus & Retinue; High Marshal Helbrecht; Commander Dante; Mephiston; Lion El’Jonson; Azrael, Supreme Grand Master; Tor Garadon; Iron Father Feirros; Kayvaan Shrike; Adrax Agatone; Salamanders Captain Vulkan He’stan; Kor’sarro Khan; Roboute Guilliman; Marneus Calgar with Victrix Honor Guard; Chief Librarian Tigurius; Captain Uriel Ventris; Ragnar Blackmane; Bjorn the Fell-Handed; Ulrik the Slayer; Murderfang; Njal Stormcaller; Wolf Lord Krom; Logan Grimnar on Stormrider; Arjac Rockfist; Canis Wolfborn; |
| Grey Knights, Deathwatch, and Imperial Agents | Castellan Crowe; Grand Master Voldus; Lord Kaldor Draigo; Kyria Draxos, Coteaz, Greyfax, Karamazov, Eisenhorn |
| Adeptus Sororitas | Celestine, the Living Saint; Aestred Thurga, Reliquant at Arms; Morvenn Vahl, Abbess Sanctorum; Daemonifuge Ephrael Stern and Kyganil; Junith Eruita; The Triumph of Saint Katherine; Sister Superior Amalia Novena; Canoness Veridyan |
| Adeptus Custodes | Talons of the Emperor Valerian and Aleya; Captain-General Trajann Valoris |
| Adeptus Mechanicus and Imperial Knights | Belisarius Cawl; Canis Rex |
| Astra Militarum | Lord Castellan Ursula Creed; Gaunt’s Ghosts; Nork Deddog; Lord Solar Leontus; Seargent Harker; Sly Marbo; Colonel “Iron Hand” Straken |
| Chaos Daemons | Be’lakor, the Dark Master; The Masque; Skulltaker; Karanak, The Hound of Vengeance; Rotigus; Sloppity Bilepiper; Kairos Fateweaver; Skarbrand; Epidemius; Syll’Esske, The Vengeful Alliance; Horticulous Slimux; The Blue Scribes; The Changeling, Shalaxi Hellbane |
| Chaos Space Marines, Death Guard, Thousand Sons, and World Eaters | Abaddon the Despoiler; Vashtorr the Arkifane; Fabius Bile; Cypher; Mortarion; Typhus, Herald of the Plague God; Magnus the Red; Ahriman; Angron; Khârn the Betrayer |
| Aeldari and Drukhari | Maugan Ra; The Visarch; Jain Zar; Eldrad Ulthran; The Yncarne; Yvraine; Fuegan; Asurmen; Karandras; Illic Nightspear; Baharroth; Prince Yriel; Lelith Hesperax; Drazhar |
| Orks | Boss Snikrot; Boss Zagstruk; Ghazghkull Thraka and Makari; Kaptin Badrukk; Mad Dok Grotsnik; Mozrog Skragbad; Zodgrod Wortsnagga |
| Leagues of Votann | Kâhl; Ûthar the Destined |
| Necrons | Imotekh the Stormlord; Orikan the Diviner; Illuminor Szeras; Trazyn the Infinite; Anrakyr the Traveler; Vargard Obyron; Nemesor Zahndrekh |
| Tau Empire | Commander Farsight; Darkstrider; Commander Shadowsun; Longstrike |
| Tyranids | Old One Eye |
Also, some “named” characters actually appear all over (e.g. the Swarmlord, Avatar of Khaine) so those are out. If there are any I’ve missed, let me know and I’ll add to the list. Likewise if any of these have lost rules for 10th edition.
My second match was against Les’ Circle Orboros force–a beast-heavy list led by Kromac.
My list on their side of the battlefield. I was hoping that the Sorcerer could do some work by shutting off Pathfinder–hoping to catch his forces on one side of that center lake with the Sorcerer doing his thing on the far side. Alas, that was hardly what happened. 
I lost the Earthborn to the Ghetorix, as Kromac’s ability to get beasts deep and everywhere is just amazing. Sensing the jaws closing again, it was time for another attempt at ill-advised assassination run. Kromac was close enough that my Dire Trolls Blitzers could get some shots on him, and then Doomshaper2 could potentially Primal Shock from the closer one. I did just that, but Dire Troll Blitzers are just terribly awful shots who need to boost too often. Because of that, the hits didn’t quite do enough damage… leaving him able to simply take some of the hits and not transfer, so that as I worked through the couple of transfers I was left without a way to finish the job. He quickly killed Doomshaper2 in return to end the game. 
Third game was against Bill’s Mercenary-heavy Caine2 list. I felt like I had a decent shot against this list, as long as I could build my defensive fortress for Doomshaper2 each turn closer to Caine2, I could eventually launch a feat-driven assassination into him to finish him off. 
My forces arrayed with a refused flank, ready for the wall of troll warbeast meat to advance right into the enemy guns. 
This was probably my best-played game of the tourney. I did a few good things, and felt like I started to get better use out of my two Dire Troll Blizters (not just saving them to be assassination threats). They needed to get work done, and that meant getting situations against multiple targets where they could shoot and swing (and snack). 
Pyg Bushwhackers add 5 points to my total. I think they turned out really nicely. 
The Skorne Void spirit on the right adds another 2 points. I also added the Heap of Corpses that I created and painted myself as we’re doing some terrain modeling competition as part of the league. 
My Hexeris2 list with the Platoon included. The list is pretty shooty, with the Platoon intended to be a skirmish screen and contest objectives while the shooting core whittles the foe down. 
My opponent Ryan’s Cryx. Led by pSkarre and containing the Cryx Platoon, this was going to be a tough fight for my force.
Platoon on Platoon action… the Void Spirit slowed the Black Ogrun crew down, and took a free strike at the last one to leave his range (but missing, of course). 
The center was a jammed, overlapping mess. Skarre has a real advantage in a grind situation, so I had to get some quick success or Hexy2 would not be able to finish things. 
The Cannoneer is normally a shooter, but this time he had to clear the path with his melee ability (and present his back to Hexeris2 as a Ashes to Ashes target should I need an easy defense to hit). Skarre was on only a single Focus point, so Hexeris2 charged and lit into her with his spells (all the more powered by his feat). He cut her down with a final blast of magical force. 
The second game saw my Skorne Platoon defending a safe house that my opponents were trying to get a military officer into. It’s a great little mission that plays well with the small forces. 
Andy’s great-looking Minions Platoon for the league were my opponents. 
The clash with the Croaks was just too much for my forces in this scenario. I had a couple of shining moments where the granted Poltergeist ability for the Platoon made for good protection, ultimately I wasn’t able to seal down enough space nor able to reach out and take out the Military Officer. 
This brings me to 37 points painted this far in 2016. I’m a 10th of the way to having painted a point per day! I did him in the colors I’m doing the rest of my Cryx in, as he’s likely to only ever hit the table alongside my Cryx force. 
First up was a pretty balanced Skarre list run by Ian. My Shrike actually did a pretty impressive job in this game. I got jammed by a group of Satyxis Raiders early, so to make sure I could contest I had to use Goreshade3’s feat on the top of turn two. The good news was, that meant the Shrike auto-hit on a long line of tramples and he soared a whopping 13 inches (thanks to Infernal Machine) and obliterated one half of the jammers in a literal fell swoop. The rest of the game he spent dodging attacks from the Bane Knights thanks to his high defense, until one finally tagged him and destroyed the little birdjack. 
Skarre’s alpha strike really hurt, especially the Soulhunters simply annihilating my Revenant Crew. However Goreshade3 was able to rush back and apply some scenario pressure, dominating the zone and getting some points for me while my opponent never quite cleared their zone. It meant that Skarre needed to go for the assassination, but it didn’t quite take. Goreshade was left in range of Skarre with a Helldiver behind her: the little jack surfaced, headbutted her to the ground, and Goreshade3 finished her with a charge. 
Round Two I faced Cryx again. This time I was facing Ryan, who dropped his Goreshade3 versus mine. Our lists were pretty different except for Mechanithrals and Bile Thralls, and Ryan got the first turn–which proved to be pretty decisive. He played his Bile Thralls up, charged and destroyed some with Goreshade3, then used Mockery of Life to get them placed even further up the field. A variation I should have done to him if I had gone first–but instead I had to play a bit defensively and creep around the sides. 
My Goreshade3 played up to the objective between two forests, recognizing that if I was going to do anything I’d need to increase the scenario pressure a bit. 
The problem was that I had to keep flooding the middle to keep him from scoring, and the Kraken and Bane Riders kept him well ahead of the curve. I kept the pressure up as much as I could, but once he got my objective dead and dominated the center for a round, it was all over but the taxes for most part. I crowded the zone once more, but his Kraken did its thing and I was too little too late. Still a fun game, as Ryan is always a great opponent who I learn a lot from when I play (he went on to win first place in the event). 
My third round match was against Justin’s gorgeously painted Khador force. Just look at that Behemoth. He fielded Vlad, which meant that my forces would have to sell themselves dearly–whenever he attacked me he was sure to hit and damage because of the added dice. I started my pressure early with the Mechanithralls and Revenant Crew, and while they did indeed die in droves they at least took some stuff with them–in particular heavily damaging the Behemoth. 
I ended up winning thanks to the death clock–Justin timed out for the round. It was a lucky thing too, as I was definitely losing the attrition game. My jacks were intact, and I was deciding whether I could try to scenario or simply had to nudge an arc node up and hope for a Hail Mary assassination through spells. Thank goodness for the Revenant crew in this game–I think a lot of time was spent dealing with them. Though I never got any back from their unit’s ability (only through Captain Rengrave adding models), the question they ask of “can you kill enough and then get the job done on the unit leader?” is a time sink for the opponent. Overall a great game, as Justin was a really fun player to face and his army was wonderfully painted.
Completed my Shrike bonejack. Modified slightly to be flying, rather than taking off. Takes me to 34 points painted for the year!
My army arrayed for battle. Even at 35 points, Cryx makes for a fearsome large battle line.
Colton’s Khador line of battle, led by Karchev the Terrible at the front. Less widespread, certainly, but equally imposing as the Cryx line. I had my work cut out for me. 
The battle was joined, and Karchev led the way all across the board to the flag on my side. My poor Defiler was no match for the armored destruction. 
Goreshade3 followed suit, and rode across to the opposite flag himself. To win the game, I merely needed to defeat one destroyer. It took me a full turn of Goreshade3 and the Mechanithralls, then surviving the return attacks from the crippled warjack, and finishing it off the next round. Man, those crabjacks are tough! I managed to pull off the win, but only just. 
Other games from the evening. Andy’s Thornfall Alliance hog squad against Terry’s Protectorate of Menoth–the smell of bacon grilled on the flames of the righteous!
Brandon’s Trenchers dig into the zone, firing madly at Dan’s advancing Khador line. 
Another game for Brandon’s Trenchers, this time facing fellow Cygnarian compatriots in Tony’s force. 
Careful application of force can sometimes trump raw numbers. Ryan’s Cryx had been the most successful faction at racking up caster kills through the league, but this time the kill went to Rico’s Legion of Everblight. A bow shot and Parasite from Lylyth onto Asphyxious made him quick work when the Carnivean trampled in. 
The conclusion of the Protectorate/Thornfall match between Andy and Terry. Beautiful models on both sides lured me to get an extra shot of the action. 
Most of the Journeyman crew. From left to right: Andy, Tony, Ryan, Rico, Dan, Brandon, Colton, and Terry (I took the photo). We had a grand total of 13 players who participated in more than one evening of the event, with 11 who participated in all but 1-2 nights. 
Red Ones Go Faster 