Cheating: How, and, more importantly, why?

I don't know how many people have followed the possible cheating imbroglio from Adepticon ( videos here ), but to me I think people may have pulled the accusation out a bit early.

The link above has three videos for you to watch and decide on what you think. I, myself, being a noob to the 40K scene, can't really say much of anything one way or another. You may take a look and see something my noobish eyes didn't pick up, but that really isn't the point of this post.

Why would someone cheat at what is, essentially, a game at day's end. I just can't think of any good reason to cheat, even if it was the finals at Adepticon. It's just not that important to me. Would any of the three or four people who read this blog consider cheating? As a new player I'd like to think I'm going to get a fair shake in a game. I'm here to learn, and someone cheating would be a real turn off to just about any player, new or otherwise.

A second thought comes with these accusations. Did the accuser pull the trigger on these accusations a bit soon? I saw a post coming approximately 4 hours or so after the tournament ended with accusations of cheating, and those smelled somewhat of sour grapes. The responses were divided with people lined up on both sides based on how they felt personally about the player involved. I saw one comment claiming the accused was using rigged dice. All this with no evidence presented at the time. That accusation seems completely out of line, with the accused tried and found guilty without any evidence at the time. If you're going to make that type of accusation you damned well better have some rock solid evidence to back it up.

So, why cheat? And why make the accusations so soon?

I think this whole fiasco makes everyone involved look bad, and gives the 40K community a bad name.

A note: I have taken the advice given to me by the guys who commented on my painting, and things really have started to look better. I'll post some shots of my most recent builds, a tactical squad, another Dreadnaught, and an assault squad. Using the tips you guys gave me produced some great results. And now any vehicle painting tips you have for me on the Predator and Razorback I just finished building I'd be most appreciative.

If My Painting Skill Was Monetized....

.... I'd owe everyone who has read this blog at least $10 or so. I seriously think I have negative skills. The above is (or, should I say, was) a nice pewter Venerable Dreadnaught. Now I have created... a pile of steaming turdery. If there was an actual Space Marine being kept alive in this thing, he'd probably pull his own plug. It's just that bad.

Perhaps I'll get better, say, on a regular Dreadnaught. Let's look at that one:


Nope. Not much better. Just a less expensive steaming pile of.....well, you know where this is all going.

The really sad thing is I actually like the whole process of putting the models together and painting.

The WH40K community can only hope I actually improve so they're not forced to look at my abominations.

Next picture post I'll show you my Gawd-awful assault, terminator, and tactical squads. It'll be a craptastic buffet of painting fail, for sure!!!

Why 40K?

I know I'm the new blog on the block, and I'm probably not in a position to be pontificating here, but I have been thinking about the question posed in this post's title for some time.

I'm brand new to 40K, so it's not so much what I get out of it, but what I expect to get out of it. I'm certainly not in the normal 40K demographic (being on the other side of 40), and though I was (and still am) a fan of Battletech, I never got into that for anything but the fluff. With 40K, though, I really have a desire to play the game for the sake of the game. I think that's my expectation: I know I'm not going to win much in the beginning, but I'll learn new things, meet a few new people, and collect a nice army.

Am I in the minority? How many of you play the game for the game's sake? How many of you play to win, and only win? Or are there other reasons you play?

Please, by all means, comment away on your reasons. I'll be interested to see if I'm in the minority or not.

More painting, and a couple of 400 pt. ideas

Did some more painting last night, and I can honestly say I seem to be getting better with each model as I get more used to handling the models. Everything will be below average tabletop quality, but I'll get better. I'll post the pics of my first and most recent space marine and see if there's much difference to people other than myself.

As to the 400 pt army for the escalation tourney, thanks to those who have given me army ideas. I put together 2 armies last night that meet the rules for Combat Patrol. see what you think:

Army 1

10 Man Tactical Squad (2 - 5 man teams) - 170 pts
5 Man Scout Squad - 75 pts.
1 Rhino Transport (gotta' move those marines) - 35 pts
3 Attack Bike Squad (no multi-melta) - 120 pts.

That's 400 on the nose.

Army 2


10 Man Tactical Squad (2 - 5 man teams) - 170 pts
5 Man Scout Squad - 75 pts.
1 Rhino - 35 pts.
5 Man Devastator squad - 90 pts.
2 extra scouts w/Sniper Rifles - 26 pts

396 Points on that one.

If I could I'd love to somehow work my Chaplain on his bike in but for the life of me I can't figure it out.

All feedback is welcome as the countdown to the first game is less that 6 days away....

Painting Frenzy (Sort Of)

Well, the escalation tournament starts next week, so I'm painting like a banshee trying to get my army at least all in the same color armour.

The first part of the tourney is 2 games played under Combat Patrol rules. No more than 400 points, no more than 2 wounds, must take a troop choice, HQ choice is optional, etc (you can look it up on Google if you need more info).

I still haven't come up with my army list yet, but a 10 man tactical squad is a must, and a scout team, or course.

Anybody else have any 400 point ideas???

Thanks, FTW

Some of you may have noticed the FTW Bloggers Group logo up there on the right. I can't thank them enough for taking a craptacular blog like mine and including it with such a great collection of 40K Blogs.

If you need an answer to just about ANYTHING, click on the FTW Blogger icon and peruse the blogg rolls. You'll be glad you did (at least until you come back around to this one)

New Thought

I CAN'T PAINT WORTH A CRAP!!! I will being bringing an army to this tourney with blue faces, and one of my tactical marines has actually had his chest put on upside down.

I need painting services, stat.


On top of that I'm bidding on a Black Templar Army.


I think I may have a problem.......