Episodes
In this episode, we take a look back through previous editions and examine game mechanics that aren’t in 10th Edition anymore. Which ones do are we sad to see gone, and which ones are we glad to see gone? Thanks to our very rigorous and scientific methods – there are number ratings and everything – we’ve narrowed the field down to our top and bottom six, along with some others where we had very conflicting opinions. All this, as well as discussion of some of the newest news and upcoming...
Published 11/04/24
It’s that time of year again – Warhammer Day has come and gone, and with it came a batch of previews. Actual previews, with actual things shown! In this episode, we discuss the reveals of the 2024 Warhammer Day Preview. We look at the five new holiday battleforce boxes, take a brief stop in Kill Team Land to look at some Ratlings and Tankbustas, and have a number of tangents including the new version of Underworlds, the price of hobby tools, and another company’s answer to an army builder...
Published 10/24/24
For once, we don’t have a new codex to review or a reveal to discuss, so it’s time to go off-schedule and just talk about nothing – and anything. We start off with our impressions of Space Marine 2, both positive and negative, move on to the new Kill Team release, have a small digression to talk about time, and then finish up with something we haven’t done in a while – hobby progress! It’s a little bit of everything in this episode about nothing. Sponsor: Preferred Enemies on...
Published 10/12/24
The NoVA Open Roadmap presentation came and went and… we have thoughts. We look at what was promised, what was delivered, and what wasn’t delivered. What are the possible implications of this upcoming release schedule, and what would we have done differently? Afterwards, we look at the various things that have been asked for since the early days of the podcast back in 5th Edition – more frequent codex releases, more errata, better and more standardized missions, and more playable factions –...
Published 09/16/24
We’re off the roadmap now, and a new codex is upon us! In this episode, we take a look at the upcoming Blood Angels codex supplement to determine how well the sons of Sanguinius survived the shift from index to codex. Do the new detachments serve up an appropriately Blood Angels-ish experience? Did the Sanguinary Guard get anything in exchange for their nipples? And who didn’t make it into the final book? Also, we look at the Hivestorm preview and talk about promises of free rules and where a...
Published 09/01/24
Two books dropped on the same weekend, and we decided to tackle them both at once this time! In part one, we take a look at the new Imperial Agents codex. This mashup was much maligned by us in its past incarnations, so does this version fare any better? Is it a viable book? Do the Imperial Agents work as an army? And what does this mean for the Deathwatch? Meanwhile, in part two, we delve into the tome that is the Boarding Actions Compendium. The Arks of Omen books brought us this new format...
Published 08/18/24
It’s been just about a year since we graded 10th Edition Warhammer 40K to determine how well it delivered on its promises after launch. Well, 12 months, 11 codexes, 2 narrative campaign books, and 2 tournament mission packs later, it’s time to see where they’ve improved and where they’ve faltered. Has faction balance recovered from its dismal state at the game’s launch? Is the game still “simplified, not simple”? Have codexes delivered quality rules without bogging the game down with too much...
Published 08/04/24
It’s time to talk narrative play! In this episode, we’re joined by Chris Stover, organizer of Narrative events at the NOVA Open. You might recognize him from last year’s Grand Narrative coverage, but he’s more than a chaos cultist cosplayer; he’s the person behind one of the biggest narrative Warhammer 40K events in the country! We talk with Chris about what it’s like to organize and run such a large event, what’s happened in the NOVA Open narrative story over the last couple of years, what...
Published 07/22/24
The second episode of our Religious Codex Double-Feature is here, and this time we delve into the undercities of the Imperium to take a look at the Genestealer Cults. How did these half-human, half-alien hybrids get here? Will the Star Children truly save them? And how did they handle the transition from index to codex? We try to untangle their plans and figure out how they stack up, especially compared to their opposites in devotion, the Sisters of Battle. Also, we examine the changes from...
Published 07/08/24
A double event of codex religiosity is upon us, and first up are the militant arm of the Eccleisarchy, the Adepta Sororitas! In this episode, we dive into the new book for the Sisters of Battle and look at how these faithful females fared in the transition from index to codex. Can you actually have a good codex with only four detachments? Did the Acts of Faith system get changed again? And is there a chance this book came out… possibly too good? And will they pay for it with the points...
Published 06/30/24
The Long War is upon us, and that means it’s time to discuss the forces that have been fighting it all this time – the Chaos Space Marines! Their new codex is out, so it’s time to discuss these traitor legions and how they’re reflected on the table in this new book. With eight detachments to choose from, what playstyles are supported? Which ones are clear threats, which ones are there for the flavor, and which ones just don’t quite make the grade? What units changed, and was it for the better...
Published 06/10/24
It’s our 300th episode, and we celebrate with a double-helping of event coverage! In part one, we talk about the Midwest Conquest 2024, with Dennis and Kevin running a narrative event, Rob playing in the narrative event, and Richard judging the paint competition for the GT. We’re also joined by Daniel, one of the judges, to hear about the competitive side of the convention. Then, in part two, Dennis and Kevin continue their narrative coverage with their experiences at the Dallas Open...
Published 05/28/24
It’s time for the second half of the double-codex release review, and this time, we’ve traded Richard for Dennis as we trade Orks for Custodes! The Emperor’s golden guard are here with their new 10th edition codex, and it’s definitely had… a reception by the community, that’s for sure. No need to be coy – this book is definitely weaker than the index that preceded it. But how exactly did that happen? What about this book makes it less powerful? Is this a sign of a larger trend in codex...
Published 05/06/24
Two codexes are out for pre-order, but we’ve only got room in the episode to talk about one, so we’re going with the one that’s mean and green! In this episode, we take a look at the upcoming Ork codex. What’s new, what’s changed, what’s gone, and how is this going to change how everyone’s favorite fungal combat hooligans play? Also, we take a look at the recently-announced purge of Age of Sigmar models and contemplate what, if anything, this could mean for 40K in the future. Link: Midwest...
Published 04/13/24
Sometimes, you want a break from matched play, or you just want to tell a neat story with your miniatures, and that’s where narrative play comes in! In this episode, we discuss the ins and outs of Crusade, the narrative system that Games Workshop introduced with 9th edition and continues to support into 10th. We delve into how it works, what we like about it, and what we don’t like as much, and some alternative narrative systems you might consider as well. Also, we discuss the Adepticon 2024...
Published 03/31/24
The Kroot are on the hunt, and we get the spoils! In this episode, we review the new Kroot Hunting Pack army box and the new T’au Empire codex that’s included inside. In part one, we discuss the box’s presentation, examine the new Kroot models, and look at how they compare to the old Kroot Carnivores. In part two, we dig into the meat of the new book and work through the ups and downs of the new codex. Is it the greater good or a killing blow for this army, or somewhere in-between? Listen to...
Published 03/16/24
It’s Crusade time! In this episode, we take a look at the new Pariah Nexus campaign book and delve into the goings-on in the Nephilim Sector. What have the Necrons been up to? Why are the Adepta Sororitas the only ones who can stop them? What does Belisarius Cawl hope to achieve with his explorator fleets? How did [REDACTED] get involved? And are super-weapons ever a good idea? We take a look at the story and the campaign rules of this brand new book! Link: Midwest Conquest 2024 Sponsor:...
Published 02/27/24
Thanks to attempts by Nurgle and Vashtorr to stop us, this episode is delayed but not defeated! In this episode, we discuss all the news from the 2024 Las Vegas Open, including the previews, the main event, and Kevin bringing home a trophy from the Narrative event. We also take a quick spin through last week’s Balance Dataslate and look at some of the changes and where the game is sitting now. In part two, we dig into the new Deathwing Assault box and the Dark Angel codex supplement. The...
Published 02/09/24
We’re back in the new year, and there’s a whole set of previews that GW released over the holiday break! In part one, we discuss those Christmas Angels, the mystery mini silhouettes, a bizarre boxed set re-release (with a slight tangent into the Old World), and the winner of Model of the Year (two of us picked the winner!). In part two, we talk about our hobby and gaming goals for 2024. Join us on our brand-new Discord to tell us your hobby goals! Link: Midwest Conquest 2024 Sponsor:...
Published 01/16/24
It’s our last episode of 2023, and it’s time to wrap things up with a look back and a look ahead! In part one, we discuss a topic that’s been plaguing Rob as of late – is 10th Edition good yet? We review our first quarter grade card from August and look at how the environment has changed. Some grades go way up… and some may go way down. In part two, we take a look ahead at the 40K roadmap for next year and make some predictions about what models we might see released with each codex, what...
Published 12/24/23
It’s a double event! Two codexes have dropped, and we’ve got one episode to get through them both. Can we do it? We certainly try! In this episode, we take a look at the two newest codexes with two very different takes on technology – worship it, or be it? The Adeptus Mechanicus have had a rough go in 10th Edition with arguably the weakest detachment rules – does this new codex give them the tools they need to field multiple viable armies? Meanwhile, the Necrons have had a bit of an...
Published 12/11/23
It’s the end of the Warhammer Open season, and that means it’s Grand Narrative time! We had a great time at the Narrative event in Kansas City, so we sent Kevin and Dennis down to Atlanta to experience the finale of the story we started telling back in June. We’ve got four days of coverage, from the initial briefings to the final aftermath, and everything in between. How did Dennis’s Leagues of Votann and Kevin’s very special World Eaters army fare? Listen to find out! Sponsor: Preferred...
Published 12/01/23
In our last episode, we walked through the process of building a new army from a logistic and financial sense. In this episode, it’s time to build that army in a more literal sense, so we’re talking building and painting your army! We go through the range of tools and techniques for getting your models off the sprue, assembled, painted, and based, as well as tips and tricks we’ve learned over the years. Is a $50 pair of sprue clippers worth the price? Who makes the best glue? Should you ever...
Published 11/14/23
If you’re contemplating starting a new army, it can be daunting trying to figure out how to get started. In this episode, we give you our general strategy (or maybe a strategy we should have followed, in some instances) on how to handle that process without getting in over your head. With any luck, this plan should carry you from initial concepting all the way through your first dozen games or so. Also, we have a bit of a beginning rant/discussion on disappearing unit options and our concerns...
Published 10/15/23
The second codex of 10th Edition is coming, and this time, the poster boys of Warhammer 40K are up! The Space Marines make their transition from index to codex, and in this episode, we dive into this thick book and look at some of the surprisingly large changes. From their core mechanic getting updated, to the new First Founding detachments, to all the units that have been consolidated or cut, there’s a lot to cover in just a couple of hours. Also, how do we think these changes will affect...
Published 09/30/23