Reload

Ok. So CuRoi's Blogging Experience, take one, didn't fare so well. Going to kick the hampsters off their lazy rumps and get the gears moving again this weekend.

Close... But Not Quite Enough

Currently running around getting ready for vaction, but I've neglected this blog for a few days now, and I'd like to keep in the habit.

The Scourge had an incredible showing in the BoLS IG Regiment challenge. Unfortuantely, I staying solid in seventh place trhought he etirety of the voting. Regardless, I was impressed that I did even that well, as the talent of the BoLS readers is considerable. My "concession" post is copied below:

With voting almost at a close, and The Scourge holding solid in seventh place, looks likely I won't be making this cut. That doesn't change the fact that this has surprisingly been a great deal of fun for me (I doubt I have ever shift-clicked a refresh on my browser this much).

Really appreciate all the votes guys. Considering the wealth of talent in this community, and the quality of the submissions, I didn't expect such a strong showing. Most importantly... this contest has re-encouraged me to get off my lazy behind and get back to painting the piles of primed models clogging up my workshop.

Though I likely won't post the entirety of my fluff here, there is (I think) a rather cool little bit about the weapons. Please note this is greatly expanded from the actual submission due to the paragraph-only contest rules (and I am only posting it as it likely will not be in the final publication).



Thanks again BoLS. This has been an absolute blast! Do this again, please.

(I'll update more from the mountains, but right now my lovely mate is screamin incoherently about getting my stuff together... as I have (predicably) waited until the very last moment)

Beginning of the End...

Day one. Never, ever.... EVER possessed a blog before. Uncharted territory for me. Suppose there's no sense in delaying further (and there is always the "edit" button)...

So I stumbled upon a contest being held by Bell of Lost Souls (http://belloflostsouls.blogspot.com/) wherein there was a chance of user-created custom Imperial Guard submissions to appear in the latest in a string of phenomenal codexes (codexi?) entitled the Marcharian Crusade. BoLS is asking for a single modded IG trooper and a corresponding one-paragraph fluff piece.

Generally, I pass these sort of contests by due to the fact that:

1) I am undoubtedly THE most particular painter in the North American hemisphere (just ask my poor regular 40K opponent who has been waiting seven months to play my "finished" renegade marines). And, I have an annoying tendency to "tweak". Constantly.

2) I never think my stuff is quite as good as it should be, in comparison to these freak-of-nature junior Michelangos out there.

3) It always seems that I am busier than a one-legged cat trying to bury a turd on the ice.

But for some reason, this one really piqued my interest, and I don't even play IG. So... I spent a few hours building a damn fine background and putting it to paper (never got around to condensing to one paragraph). Got home from work and set to modding. A little IG, a little Tau and a little Eldar later, I had a pretty incredible little piece. Some primer and paint, and she was just waiting for a suitable base job.

Come to find out, the planet I had chosen (Adrantis V) for the "renegade" IG was already extensively covered in the codex. After a few smashes of the head through my rec room drywall... back in the bits box my masterpiece went. I may still attempt a submission, but my end result of the mod turned the figure into something unlike any "standard" IG. I'm still mulling over my options. Anyhow...

The point of all of this was that I want to preserve my the background I tossed together for possible use (with creative editing) in the future. That being said... see below:

Shrouded deep within the Segmentum Pacificus and separated from the Imperium of Man for some five thousand years, few could claim surprise at the proud inhabitant’s of Adrantis V refusal to bend to the will of the Macharial Crusade when the Third Crusade Army Group under the command of General Tarka mustered around the planet and demanded fealty to the Immortal Emperor. The Andranti’s incredibly advanced technology coupled with a philosophy which venerated knowledge and held religion and superstition in disdain gave the inhabitants of Adrantis valid reason to believe the technologically-backwards fleet which settled into high orbit above them posed only a marginal threat.

Attempts at planetary bombardment were utterly thwarted by Adranti planetary defense batteries, and beachheads were hard-fought and even harder won as regardless of the Imperial Guard’s superior numbers, the Adranti possessed the advantages of both superior technology and familiarity of terrain. Adranti troops initiated a highly effective campaign of hit-and-run assaults, decimating Guard supply and command structures, and seeding paranoia amongst the Guard rank-and-file. The conflict quickly degenerated from stalemate to quagmire from the Guard perspective.The Macharian High Command grew increasingly impatient at Tarka’s lack of results and apparent inability to bring the Adrantians under the yoke of Imperial rule. Pressured to produce and frustrated with the stagnant conflict, Tarka sealed Adranti V’s fate as he ordered the re-orientation of celestial body AS-327a to ensure the comet’s revised route intersected with the planet.

Even in the face of certain annihilation at the hands of Tarka's redirected comet, a significant portion of the Adranti forces continued their desperate assault against retreating guardsmen to both stall Imperial evacuation (thereby inflicting additional casualties on those unlucky enough to remain) and permit their own attempt at civilian evacuation, regardless of the futility of the effort. 395M41 brought an end to the Adranti conflict as AS-327a breached the upper atmosphere, evaporating it in a millisecond, and careened into the hapless planet… the verdant rainforests and majestic city spires obliterated in a maelstrom of flame and pressure waves.

While an indescribable multitude of Adranti ships were destroyed attempting the frantic run against Tarka's blockade, an undisclosed number of vessels managed to slip out-system. The ultimate fate of these escapees remains unknown; though haunting regional tales persist of organic-looking "ghost ships" striking without warning and leaving only the venting hulks of their victims as evidence of passage as they vanish back into the ether.

Adranti troops utilized highly flexible protective fatigue of unknown manufacture and material. Composed of a loosely fitting cloth-like garment, augmented with ultra-lightweight molded plates at critical locations such as torso and groin, this armor possessed characteristics similar to the Imperial Guard’s Carapace armor while permitting the wearing to retain close to 100% maneuverability. Unlike Carapace armor, troop endurance and stamina remained virtually unaffected when worn in the field for extended periods of time.

Standard Adranti infantry-level weapon technology appears to have been based upon the utilization of a semi-viscous and stable liquid accelerant which became volatile only upon the application of electrical current. The liquid was introduced to the firing chamber via nozzle and current was applied to the chamber through diodes; with the resultant reaction propelling caseless multi-flechette or high velocity sabot ammunition. While the Adranti rifle possessed remarkably similar characteristics to the standard-issue Imperial lasrifle in terms of range and stopping power, the weapon was purportedly more refined and simplistic in design, allowing for considerable advantages in ease of operation, reliability and maintenance. There also exists some speculation that the Adranti weapon possessed higher inherent accuracy due to advanced manufacture techniques. Representatives of both the Adeptus Mechanus and Ordo Obsuletus collected samples of the Adranti rifles during the conflict, though it is unknown if any examples of the technology survive to this day.