AoS Shorts: Your Essential Guide to Age of Sigmar

Bad Moon Cafe, London

Hey all, today I have a quick post and interview on London’s newest Warhammer venue, the Bad Moon Cafe in Borough. Since the store opened in December 2018, I’ve seen a lot of great comments about the Bad Moon Cafe on Twitter and other Warhammer Age of Sigmar social media. So I just had to get in touch and learn a bit more about the venue, the design and business decisions that led to it opening and their plans for the future. Check out their website, Facebook and Twitter for more new news and updates.

Bad Moon Cafe

The Bad Moon Cafe

The Bad Moon Cafe is a modern and truly dedicated Warhammer venue, built from the ground-up to be an inviting and enjoyable place to play. Think the best merger between a cafe, bar and gaming tables. The venue has 15 full Warhammer gaming tables (with mats and thematic terrain), a board-gaming space, barista coffee, locally-brewed craft beers, sandwiches, pastries from Borough Market and wood-fired Basilico pizza.

Bad Moon Cafe

Where to find them?

The Bad Moon Cafe is minutes away from Borough Station and a 10 minute from London Bridge and Elephant & Castle stations.

159 Great Dover Street
London
SE1 4GZ


How to book tables?

The Bad Moon Cafe has 15 6×4″ gaming tables dedicated to either fantasy or sci-fi themes, each with their own mats. The venue operates an online booking system with the following slots:

  • Weekdays: Free until 5.00 pm.  One bookable gaming session from 5.00 pm – 11.00 pm.  
  • Saturdays: 3 bookable gaming sessions:
    • 10am – 2pm,
    • 2pm – 6pm, and
    • 6pm – 11pm.
  • Sundays: 2 bookable gaming sessions:
    • 10am – 2pm,
    • 2pm – 6pm.

The price per table per gaming session is £12, which can be paid online or in person.


Board gaming at the Bad Moon Cafe

The Bad Moon Cafe has 10 board game cafe tables and an in-store library of over 60 titles. The board game tables operate on a first-come-first-served basis. There is a charge of £4 per person, which gives access to the entire board game library without a time limit.  These tables are suitable for parties of 2 – 4 people.


The Bad Moon Cafe Interview

When I heard the rave reviews, I contacted the Bad Moon Cafe and sent through some questions about the store, its design, development and background. Hugh kindly answered.

AoS Shorts: Can you share anything about the people behind the store? Who are the key people in the store that visitors can expect to meet?

Wil and I (Hugh) are the founders – Wil is the manager of the store and I’m the marketing/social media/designer person. Wil is there nearly all the time and is extremely enthusiastic about the hobby – I think so far he’s spoken to every Warhammer player who’s come through the door about their current Warhammer project!

We’ve got great employees too – Paul is our other Games Workshop fanboy and is helping hosting our monthly tournaments. Ringo is our Board Games man and manages the board game library and stock as well as managing our board game meetup groups. Then we have Dave, Tom and Carolina who are all geeks in their own right and help organise D&D and other groups. They’re all trained baristas too! Although we’ve only been opened a few weeks, all the Facebook and Google reviews mention how great our staff are which we’re really proud of!


AoS Shorts: How long did it take you from the idea of the store to the store opening?

Wil first floated the idea of a store in spring 2018. He was working in retail management and wanted to use those skills for a hobby store. We had met playing Warhammer Age of Sigmar in various London groups and had gotten along great. When he mentioned opening a store, I realised I could use my experience working in architecture and design to help design the store itself and create a great venue. We founded the company in late July 2018 and opened on 15th December 2018, which seemed like a pretty quick turnaround to us!


AoS Shorts: What considerations did you take into account when choosing a venue?

There were two core considerations- centrality and size. London, despite being a huge and populous city, is served by only a couple of hobby stores (at least in the more central parts!). Otherwise, we have to rely on meetup groups to meet people and game. London Wargaming Guild in particular are a fantastic group – it’s where I met Wil! – but we felt there’d be a market for a venue with a store and proper food and drink. There are actually several great stores outside of central London, but they can be quite a journey to get to, especially on weekdays after people have had a day in the office. So having a central location was key to serving this player base of people who work and/or live in London but who are only served by meetup groups or venues outside of the center.

Bad Moon Cafe

Size was also key – the core of the business is community and supporting that community. To have a good sized community, we needed a good number of full sized tables, so then we could host tournaments and become the place to play for Londoners. We essentially searched for the largest place within our budget and found a 3,500sqft location near Borough which seemed perfect – we could fit 15 full sized tables in as well as a cafe and bar!


AoS Shorts: What research did you do on the local player and potential customer base?  Did you already have existing connections to the Warhammer communities and clubs in London? Have you made any affiliations with local clubs now for regular gaming nights?

Research into this kind of thing is pretty difficult! We had met the regional sales manager for Games Workshop in Nottingham when we produced our first concept for the Cafe who mentioned the huge increase in player base for Warhammer 40k and Age of Sigmar in the past two years. When discussing this new player base, it became clear to us they were much like us – which is to say people in their late 20s or early 30s who had rediscovered Warhammer having left the hobby in our teenage years. For whatever reason, this new player base weren’t finding some of the existing gaming venues that attractive and meetup groups were getting pretty great attendance, even if they had to use venues like pubs which aren’t exactly tailored to huge wargaming tables, miniatures and rulebooks! This told us there was a market for a venue made for Warhammer that didn’t need to be supported by Magic the Gathering or other TCGs, as most hobby stores are.

We’ve now affiliated with a few clubs – London Wargaming Guild foremost amongst them – to host monthly Warhammer 40k and Warhammer AoS tournaments as well as events for 9th Age, Warhammer Underworlds and Middle Earth.


AoS Shorts: How did you decide on your table set-up, amount of space per table, shelves etc?

The tables were the key thing the entire venue was designed around. My day job is Architectural Illustration, so we had all the tools we needed to figure out best use of space.

We wanted to maximise the number of tables but didn’t want to compromise on space for players and player experience, which is usually required for smaller venues.

We wanted to avoid some of the problems we saw when playing in pubs, meetups or other venues – lack of space between tables, lack of storage for our stuff and lack of space beside the tables for food, drinks, armies, books and dice.

Our dream situation for the tables was to have the table only for the miniatures- no books, miniatures in reserve or even dice would have to be placed on the table! To that end, our table design has 1ft of space on each side for books, models and a dice tray as well as a shelf below the play surface for bags, foam etc.

The shelving was actually a pretty easy decision – the space was so large and only 1 wall didn’t have any windows or doors on- so we just covered the entire wall in shelving, which allows us to have the full range of Warhammer 40k and Age of Sigmar products (or at least that product we’re allowed to stock as a third party seller!).

Bad Moon Cafe

We also knew we needed space for a bar/cafe/board game area. The board gaming area was part of the initial plan – before returning to the hobby, I was (and still am!) a huge board gamer and knew that it would be a great market to tap into to supplement our core Warhammer offering. As the venue is in a huge student residential area, a market that seem to love board gaming, we knew it would be a great addition to the store for the local community. From the first day, it’s proven hugely popular!

Finally, and key to the whole feel of the venue, was our bar. This is a huge thing – 6.5m in length, and dominates the cafe area. It’s our company’s identity on site and ties together our whole business of mixing a bar, cafe, board gaming and Warhammer venue in one place. It also makes the cafe/bar area feel like a proper cafe or bar and not just an add on to a Warhammer space!


AoS Shorts: I see you have long bookable gaming sessions?  Was it important to give players enough time to get through a decent sized Warhammer game?

Yes, for us we knew that a game can take 2 hours or 4 hours and didn’t want to force anyone off a table! We can’t underestimate how much we want it to be the place to game in London and customer comfort is everything. I would hate to have a game ended early when I’ve paid to hire the table and I’ve traveled to the venue after work, giving up my evening to play. We also wanted to allow people to choose their specific table they wanted to book- so our online booking system allows you to choose a specific table at a specific time to book! All our tables are themed with matching game mats and terrain so being able to choose specific tables- as you can do at Warhammer World- seemed like a no-brainer.


AoS Shorts: What is your current split between wargaming and board gaming patronage?

We’ve only been opened for a few weeks now but our Warhammer community of returning players is growing rapidly – though not sold out every day yet, we’ll likely be doing that in the next few months. The board gaming cafe area is usually full on weekends and most weekdays- though London sort of empties for the Christmas period, so this January will really give us a clearer idea of where we’re heading!


AoS Shorts: You seem to have really focused on the atmosphere of the venue and the amenities – real coffee and Italian pizza.  Was this an important consideration? What kind of impression do you want to leave visitors with?

This was really my entire focus in the time before we opened. We wanted somewhere people wanted to spend time in. Not just gamers, but even someone wanting a coffee in the morning or a beer in the evening. We wanted it to be like a great coffee shop for the general public, have that same feel of great atmosphere in a nice venue.

If we could manage that atmosphere with Warhammer gaming and store offering, we could attract the new player base we identified early on in our planning. We also felt that if we’re asking you to spend your evening in our venue we should make it the nicest venue we can. If you’ve spent a day in the office having carried your foam bag around London on public transport, it would be so nice to be able to grab a beer and a proper meal while playing at a table with space and storage for everything, rather than having a sandwich from a supermarket on the way and balancing all your hobby stuff on the table or floor.

Bad Moon Cafe

When we were looking at food and drink, we wanted it to be the best we could get. We’re using a local brewery called Kernel, who make some of our favourite beers, and a local pizza place called Basilico, who make proper wood-fired italian pizzas – thin crust, cooked at very high temperature with great quality ingredients. We’re already looking at expanding our selection too! We’ve got proper barista coffee on offer as well, which has proven a hit with the local community and turned us into the morning staffroom for the local schools!

Essentially, we wanted our venue to not just be the place that you go to play Warhammer, but the place you’d love to spend your evening in, whether you’re playing Warhammer, a board game, an RPG or just drinking with friends.


AoS Shorts: How do you find people new to the hobby, or with no connection to tabletop gaming, enjoy the venue?

The whole new hobbyist market is something we really wanted to cater to. Some hobby stores can be pretty intimidating to new hobbyists. Games Workshop stores do a pretty good job already, though their size somewhat limits them. Really the key to attracting these new hobbyists is our staff- they love talking about Warhammer and what you’re currently working on. We’ve had people come in and buy their first kits and make them in store, we’ve had people come in and buy the rulebook and read it with a coffee for a couple of hours and we’ve had people come in for hours to just paint and have a drink and some food! We’re really keen on providing a great first experience of the hobby and have gotten great feedback so far.


AoS Shorts: Do you have regular events planned? Or is the focus on more casual gaming?

We do already have monthly Warhammer Age of Sigmar and Warhammer 40k tournaments organised – these are 18 to 24 player one day, 3 game events which are more casual than a 2 day tournament but still provide a decent challenge to seasoned players, in no small part thanks to some great local players who are pretty serious tournament players. We’re also planning 1 or 2 annual two-day, 5 game events. Having said that, I’m a casual player at heart, so catering to casual gaming is also important. We’re developing some events for casual gaming and new hobbyists which should provide a great day to meet new players, work on hobby projects and play a game or two against more casual players.


Thanks again to Hugh and everyone else at the Bad Moon Cafe for taking the time to answer my questions. It’s great having an opportunity to talk about the design and decision-making process that led to the opening of the store. Wish we had a similar place down here!

Gloomspite Gitz Battletome Review (Part 2) – Allegiance Abilities

Today I have the second part in Gloomspite Gitz Battletome Review, covering the allegiance abilities. Over the next few days, I am taking aspects of the book and giving my initial thoughts and comments. You can check out the first part, covering the top 10 things you need to know and my review approach, and the warscroll review page for more details.

And just before we dive into it, the site is now partnered with Dark Fantastic Mills. DFM produces amazing 3D printed terrain and you can use the code “AoS Shorts” to get a further 10% off and support the site.  The terrain is super light so shipping worldwide is surprisingly cheap. Check out the Doomcap Deeps range for things suitable mushroom-inspired and DFM have special offers on now.

Gloomspite Gitz

The Bad Moon Rises – Gloomspite Gitz Battle Trait

The Gloomspite Gitz Battle Trait revolves around the Bad Moon and is suitably thematic. As with many features of Moonclan armies of past ages, it is random, unreliable, and powerful.

Choosing where the Bad Moon rises

At the start of the first battle round, before determining who has first turn, the Gloomspite Gitz player picks a corner of the battlefield as the starting location of the Bad Moon. If both players are playing Gloomspite Gitz then the players roll-off to see who picks.

Over the course of the game, the Bad Moon will move from that corner, diagonally across the battlefield and even off the far corner of that table.

From the start of the second battle round, before determining who has first turn, the Gloomspite Gitz player must roll a dice to determine how the Bad Moon will move that battleround.

  • on a 1, the Bad Moon does not move
  • on a 2-5, it makes 1 move
  • on a 6, it makes 2 moves

What’s a move? A move is from the starting point to the next point along the diagonal line. For example, 1 move would be from the corner to the centre of the closest quadrant of the board, 2 moves would be from the corner of the board to the centre. See the map below from the battletome.

Once the moon hits the opposite corner of the battlefield (i.e. after 4 moves), it is removed from the battlefield and has no further effect.

Gloomspite Gitz

The Light of the Bad Moon

The location of the Bad Moon determines which models are affected by its light:

  • if the Moon is in the corner, it has no effect
  • if the Moon is in the centre of a quadrant (the moon shape above), then it affects models wholly within the same quarter of the battlefield
  • if the Moon is in the centre of the battlefield then it affects all models on the battlefield.

The effects of the Bad Moon are (all of them apply at the same time):

  • Fangz of the Bad Moon: at the start of your hero phase, pick one enemy. Roll a dice. If the roll is equal to or less than the number of models in that unit affected by the light, that unit suffers D3 mortal wounds.
    • NB: a unit with 6 or more models in the area affected by the light will be guaranteed to take D3 mortal wounds.
  • Bad Moon Magic: GLOOMSPITE GITZ WIZARDS add 1 to casting rolls. WIZARDS that don’t have the GLOOMSPITE GITZ keywords subtract 1 from casting rolls.
    • NB: this effect doesn’t apply to unbinding rolls, but is a useful benefit given that Moonclan shaman no longer have access to the same +2 to cast mechanic that they once did.
    • GLOOMSPITE GITZ WIZARDS are:
      • Skragrott, the Loonking (already +1 to cast and able to cast two spells a turn)
      • Fungoid Cave-Shaman (able to cast two spells once a game)
      • Zarbag (once per game, can roll a dice and on a 2+ can cast with +2 to cast)
      • Madcap Shaman (once per battle can attempt to cast one additional spell, but if the casting roll is a double the shaman suffers D3 mortal wounds)
      • Webspinner Shaman on Arachnarok Spider (a two spell caster which projects a +1 to cast bubble already for SPIDERFANG WIZARDS)
      • Webspinner Shaman
      • Boggleye
      • Shroomancer
  • Loonatic Inspiration: If you have a GLOOMSPITE GITZ general, and that general is affected by the Bad Moon at the start of your hero phase, you get 1 extra command point.
  • Lunar Squigs: If all of the models in a friendly SQUIG unit are affected by the Bad Moon at the start of your charge phase, that unit can attempt a charge, even if it ran in the same turn.
    • Highly useful given the random movement of a Loonboss on Mangler Squig, Colossal Squig, Mangler Squigs, your Squig Hoppers and your Boingrot Bounders. It works well with the Squig Rider Stampede battalion benefit of re-rolling the random move distance for units in the battalion.
    • Note the Loonboss with Great Cave Squig and the Sneaky Snufflers don’t have the SQUIG keyword so won’t be affected
  • Moonclan Fungus Brew: you can re-roll hit rolls of 1 for attacks made by MOONCLAN GROT models which they are affected by the light of the Bad Moon.
    • useful for maximising the weight of attacks from your large MOONCLAN GROT units (Stabbas mainly).
    • Note the Loonsmasha and Sporesplatta Fanatics, the Squig Hoppers, Boingrot Bounderz don’t have the GROT keyword so will not benefit.
  • Spiderfang Venom: while SPIDERFANG models are affected by the light, their Spider Venom ability causes mortal wounds on an unmodified hit roll of a 5+ instead of 6+.
    • Doubling the mortal wound output of a highly mobile unit which can position itself to benefit from the Moon’s position is great. Watch out for the effect of this combined with the Monstrous Mount command trait and spells on the Scuttleboss.
  • Troggoth Renewal: If all the models in a friendly TROGGOTH unit are affected by the Moon when it uses its Regeneration ability (i.e. in the hero phase), you can re-roll the dice that determines if the ability heals any wounds, or you can double the number of wounds healed (if the first roll was successful).

My personal preferences for combining with other abilities and building a list around are the casting bonus, the squig movement and the spider mortal wound output. However, almost all of them offer substantial benefits.

The benefits of the Bad Moon also affect some of the Gloomspite Gitz artefacts, spells and battalions, for example:

  • Loon-touched (for MOONCLAN WIZARDS): +2 to casting rolls if this general is affected by the light of the Bad Moon, rather than +1.
  • Loonskin (for DANKHOLD TROGGOTH HEROs): This general counts as being affected by the light of the Bad Moon regardless of where the Bad Moon is on the board (it no longer has any effect once the Bad Moon has left the board).
  • Call da Moon (spell for MOONCLAN WIZARDS): the Bad Moon allows you to re-roll the D3 that determines the number of mortal wounds.
  • Moonclan Skrap battalion: all the units in this battalion do not take battleshock tests while affected by the light of the Moon.
  • Squigalanche battalion: if the light of the Moon affects a unit from this battalion at the start of the combat phase, that unit is eligible to fight in the combat phase if it is within 6″ of an enemy unit instead of 3″, and can move an extra 3″ when it piles in. (Amazing).

Making the most of the Bad Moon

The tactical challenge for Gloomspite Gitz generals is deciding where the Bad Moon should start. For me, the following factors are relevant to that decision:

  • the scenario you are playing (Take and Hold, Meeting Engagement for example)
  • how your army plays (are you defensive, offensive, or mixed arms?)
  • the type of army you are facing (how fast is the opponent? are you likely to be fighting in your half of the board or theirs?)
  • can you manipulate the roll for the Bad Moon’s movement? (i.e. do you have Skragrott, the Loonking in your list)

The randomness of the Moon makes it hard to predict and plan around (very true to theme there). The Moon could skip the centre of the battlefield (depriving you of its greatest impact) or stay there for a few turns.

Your only option is to try to manipulate the roll is to take Skragrott as your general and use his once per game command ability to determine whether the Bad Moon moves once, twice or not at all that turn.


Gloomspite Gitz Command Traits

The Gloomspite Gitz have access to four different sets of command traits depending on the identity of the general:

  • LOONBOSS – Loonboss on Mangler Squigs, Loonboss, Loonboss with Great Cave Squig
  • MOONCLAN WIZARD – Fungoid Cave-Shaman, Boggleye, Shroomancer, Madcap Shaman
  • SCUTTLEBOSS – Scuttleboss on Gigantic Spider
  • DANKHOLD TROGGOTH HERO – Dankhold Troggboss

Note the lack of command traits for Webspinner Shaman on Arachnaroks.

Each class of general has 6 command traits to choose from (and some abilities are shared between the tables).

Blessings of the Bad Moon (Loonboss)

Loonbosses can access 6 command traits. I suspect the most commonly taken will be:

  • Fight Another Day: each time this general attacks with its melee weapons it can make a 2D6″ move after all of its attacks have been resolved (finishing that move more than 3″ away from enemy units).
    • The ability to charge, first and then immediately disengage to avoid being hit back is amazing. Perfect for a Loonboss on Mangler Squigs given the damage output, its ability to fly (so can’t be trapped easily) and the need to protect the Loonboss from taking wounds in order to maintain its damage output.
  • Tough ‘n’ Leathery: add 2 to the general’s Wounds characteristic.
  • The Clammy Hand: If this general is within 12″ of a Loonshrine at the start of your hero phase, you can use the Moonclan Lair scenery rule twice in that hero phase.
    • if you are planning on running a defensive grind list with large units of buffed Stabbas with spears that can dish out a lot of attacks, swamp objectives and be replenished as required.
    • NB: I expect this will be erratad given that the Loonshrine warscroll says the effect happens at the end of your turn, rather than in the hero phase.
Gloomspite Gitz

Gifts of The Gloomspite (Moonclan Wizards)

Moonclan Wizards can also access six command traits. The most likely to be seen are:

  • Great Shaman: The general knows 1 extra spell from the Lore of the Moonclans
    • This would be most useful on a Fungoid Cave-Shaman given he is the only non-named Moonclan Wizard that can cast two spells in a turn
  • Boss Shaman: This general has the “I’m Da Boss, Now Stab ‘Em Good! command ability from the Loonboss. That ability is activated at the start of the combat phase by you picking 1 of your MOONCLAN GROT units (likely Stabbas) wholly within 24” of your general. If the unmodified wound roll for an attack made by that unit in that phase is 6, that attack inflicts 1 mortal wound on the target in addition to any normal damage.
    • Useful in that it allows you to gain the benefits of two heroes in one hero (thus saving points for use elsewhere). However, again you would want to put it on the Fungoid Cave-Shaman in order to have the resilience of a 5+ or 6+ save followed by a 4+ ignore wound save.
    • The Loonboss ability is great on high number of attacks units and causes mortal wounds in addition to normal damage (rather than simply replacing the normal damage from those attacks).
    • Note you can’t spam this command ability by selecting the same unit to benefit more than once per phase (however, you could pick two different units in the same phase).
  • Loon-touched: +2 to cast when affected by the Bad Moon (instead of +1 to cast).

Marks of the Spider God’s Favour (Scuttleboss)

There is one clear stand-out in the Scuttleboss table:

  • Monstrous Mount: Double the number of mortal wounds that are inflicted by this general’s Spider Venom ability.
    • The Spider Venom ability says that the model inflicts one mortal wound (and the attack sequence ends) for every unmodified hit roll of a 6. This applies to both the Scuttleboss and the Gigantic Spider (so 8 attacks total base). This can also be improved to a 5+ through the Totem of the Spider God artefact or the Light of the Bad Moon.

Other command traits available add 4″ to the general’s move, create a bravery debuff bubble, add 2 to the general’s Wounds characteristic, allow a free use of a command ability, deprive enemy units of cover when attacked by SPIDERFANG units near the general.

Fortuitous Troggboss Traits (Dankhold Troggboss)

Of the six command traits available to a Dankhold Troggboss, my picks would be:

  • Pulverising Grip: When you use this general’s Crushing Grip ability you can re-roll the dice that determines if the target is slain.
    • Crushing Grip is 1 attack, which does not use the usual attack sequence. Instead, pick 1 enemy model that is within 1″ of the Troggboss and roll a dice. If the roll is equal to or greater than the Wounds characteristic of that model, it is slain.
    • A very useful ability for killing support heroes or picking out banner bearers and musicians in a unit.
  • Mighty Blow: You can re-roll the dice that determines the Damage characteristic of this general’s Boulder Club (4 attacks D6 damage)
Gloomspite Gitz

Gloomspite Gitz Artefacts

Just like with the command traits, the Gloomspite Gitz artefacts are divided up into categories determined by the identity of the bearer. There are artefacts available for:

  • Loonbosses
  • Madcap Shamans
  • Spiderfang Heroes
  • Dankhold Troggbosses

Troglodytic Treasures (Loonboss)

Loonbosses have access to 6 artefacts – my picks are:

  • Loonstone Talisman: Roll a dice each time you allocate a mortal wound to the bearer. On a 5+ that mortal wound is ignored.
  • The Clammy Cowl: Subtract 1 from hit rolls for attacks that target the bearer.

However, realm artefacts are always likely to be favoured here – Gryphfeather Charm or the Ethereal Amulet would be better choices on a Loonboss on Mangler Squigs.

I’ve also discounted the Spiteful Prodder given the kinds of units which have the GROT keyword and the (low) likelihood that you would have a large number of them wholly within 12″ of the bearer.

Foetid Fetishes (Madcap Shamans)

Madcap Shamans can choose from 3 artefacts. My picks:

  • Moonface Mommet: At the start of the combat phase, pick 1 enemy unit within 12″ of the bearer. Subtract 1 from save rolls for attacks that target that unit until the end of the phase.
  • Staff of Sneaky Stealin: Add 1 to casting and unbinding rolls for the bearer for each enemy WIZARD within 12″ of the bearer. In addition, add 1 to casting and unbinding rolls for the bearer for each enemy HERO with an artefact of power within 12″ of the bearer.

Venomous Valuables (Spiderfang Hero)

The Spiderfang heroes get access to a decent set of 6 artefacts. They probably have the most well-rounded selection to choose from of the Gloomspite Gitz heros. My picks:

  • Totem of the Spider God: While a friendly SPIDERFANG unit is wholly within 12″ of the bearer, its Spider Venom ability causes mortal wounds on an unmodified hit roll of 5+ instead of a 6.
    • enjoy twice the mortal wounds without the risk of the Bad Moon being in the wrong place
  • Headdress of Many Eyes: Subtract 1 from hit rolls for attacks that target the bearer.
  • The Black Fang: Pick one of the bearer’s melee weapons. If the unmodified hit roll for an attack made with that weapon is 6, that attack inflicts D3 mortal wounds on the target and the attack sequence ends. If the weapon already inflicts mortal wounds on a roll of a 6, add D3 to the number of mortal wounds it inflicts instead.
    • The standout artefact and part of the combo allowing a Scuttleboss to do a ridiculous amount of mortal wound damage.

Glinty Gubbinz that Troggoths Found (Dankhold Troggboss)

Dankhold Troggbosses can access one of three artefacts.

The Glowy Howzit is the standout. Roll a dice each time you allocate a wound or mortal wound to the bearer. On a 4+ that wound is negated. On a 1, the bearer eats the Glowy Howzit and it cannot be used again for the rest of the battle.


Gloomspite Gitz Spell Lores

The Gloomspite Gitz have two spell lores:

  • the Lore of the Moonclans for Moonclan Wizards (surprise)
  • the Lore of the Spiderfangs for Spiderfang Wizards (funnily enough)

Both sets give plenty of viable and strong options that can be cast reasonably reliably with all the bonuses to cast available to Gloomspite Gitz wizards.

Gloomspite Gitz Lore

Lore of the Moonclans

6 spells available to Moonclan Wizards, with a few great throwbacks to Moonclan history.

  • Itchy Nuisance (6): if successfully cast, pick 1 enemy unit within 18″ of the caster and visible to them. That unit fights at the end of the next combat phase, after the players have picked any other units to fight in the combat phase.
    • An excellent offensive and defensive spell – you can turn off your opponent’s main combat threat, select an enemy unit that decreases in effectiveness once its taken wounds, or protect a vulnerable and important unit of yours by ensuring it can attack first (and at least go down swinging if necessary)
  • The Great Green Spite (7): pick 1 friendly GLOOMSPITE GITZ unit wholly within 18″ of the caster and an enemy unit within 24″ of the caster and visible to them. The enemy unit suffers 1 mortal wound if the firendly unit has fewer than 10 models, D3 mortal wounds if the firendly unit has 10 to 20 models, and D6 mortal wounds if it has more than 20 models.
  • The Hand of Gork (7): pick 1 friendly GLOOMSPITE GITZ unit wholly within 24″ of the caster, visible to them and more than 3″ from any enemy units. Remove that unit from the battlefield and set it up again anywhere on the battlefield more than 9″ from any enemy units. It may not move in the subsequent movement phase.
  • Squig Lure (5): pick up to D3 friendly SQUIG units wholly within 18″ of the caster and visible to them. Those units can run and still charge later in the same turn.

Lore of the Spiderfangs

Another strong set of six spells and still useful in a mixed Gloomspite Gitz army (given how the keywords work on the spells):

  • Scuttling Terrors (7): pick 1 friendly SPIDERFANG units wholly within 24″ of the caster. That unit can run and still shoot and/or charge later in the same turn.
  • Sneaky Distraction (7): until your next hero phase subtract 1 from hit rolls for attacks made by enemy units while they are wholly within 12″ of the caster.
    • Massive bubbles around the Webspinner Shaman on Arachnarok allowing several minuses to hit.
  • Curse of da Spider God (7): pick 1 enemy unit within 24″ of the caster and visible to them. Until your next hero phase, hit rolls made for attacks by that unit always fail on an unmodified roll of 1 or 2 instead of only on a 1, and save rolls made for attacks that target that unit always fails on an unmodified roll of 1 or 2 instead of only on a 1.
  • Gift of the Spider God (8): pick 1 friendly SPIDERFANG MONSTER within 12″ of the caster that is visible to them. You can heal D6 wounds allocated to that unit.

More Gloomspite Gitz Reviews

With each Warhammer Age of Sigmar battletome release there is a lot to talk about and the Gloomspite Gitz are a bumper crop given the large number of new units being released and the size of the battletome.

Over the next week or so, I’ll complete the subsequent parts of my Gloomspite Gitz review, including:

  • Warscroll by warscroll review
  • Moonclan focus
  • Spiderfang focus
  • Troggoth focus
  • Lore and background

In the mean time, let me know what you think of the new releases and the warscrolls we have seen so far. You can contact me on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram.

Gloomspite Gitz

ETC 2019: Team England

The second team for the Age of Sigmar European Team Championships 2019 has been announced today – congratulations to Team England. In today’s post, I’ll briefly cover what the ETC is, the Team England selection process and profile the team members.  I’ll be covering all the ETC news, with each team selection, and covering the event as it happens.

For those, who don’t want to read the whole piece, Team England 2019 is:

You can also check out the Team USA announcement here.


What are the European Team Championships?

The European Team Championships is the World Cup of Warhammer with national teams from around the world competing in Warhammer Fantasy (before AoS) and Warhammer 40k, as well as The Ninth Age and Flames of War.  Age of Sigmar was run as a side-event in 2018 and is now growing to fully-fledged game system this year with 19 teams registered so far.

ETC 2019

Where and when is ETC 2019?

The ETC is held August 9-11 2019 in Novi Sad, Serbia.

ETC 2019

What is the format?

Teams of 6 players face off in a series of individual games each round, with a combined score determining the results of each round.  The event will be over 6 rounds to decide the overall winner.

The rules pack is currently being discussed, negotiated and voted on between the captains, coaches and representatives of the various teams.  The desire is to play the event as “out-of-the-box” as possible.


How was Team England selected?

Team England 2019 was decided by a selection committee of Tom Mawdsley, Chris Tomlin, Nigel Chorlton, Ady McWalter, and Paul Buckler.  All experienced tournament players and long-standing members of the English Warhammer scene.

Public applications were open from October 2018 for thirty days.

Rankings and tournament results were not the only criteria for selection.  But conduct, army flexibility, and play-style all featured in the selection process.  


Team England 2019

So, as announced at the beginning, Team England 2019 is:

  • Jack Armstrong
  • Russ Veal
  • Tony Moore
  • Les Martin
  • Darren Watson
  • Byron Orde
  • Tom Mawdsley (Non-playing Captain / Coach / Manager)

Now for a quick word from Tom Mawdsley as Captain:

We had the opportunity to select a team that not only fit my mandate of being (in my opinion) the team that will absolutely go out and win the ETC, but also each player on the team has experience in International team events, I believe this experience is invaluable at an event such as the ETC. The team are all extremely flexible players, gentlemen on the table and will be amazing ambassadors for the country. There’s some real pedigree on the team, and i’m sure you’ll get behind the team throughout the year as we attend events and practice with armies that we might take to the ETC!


Tom Mawdsley

Tom Mawdsley, Team England 2019 Non-playing Captain, Coach and Selector.  Tom has four ETC caps as selector, coach and player before under 7th and 8th edition Warhammer Fantasy.  Tom has been rocking the Daughters of Khaine for the last six months, with notable recent results being:

  • 1st at Element Games Grand Slam (52 players) with Daughters
  • 6th at Blood and Glory (166 players) with Daughters
  • 9th at Blood Tithe (76 players) with Kharadron Overlords

You can check out Tom’s thoughts on Daughters of Khaine on Warhammer TV here.


Jack Armstrong

A man who needs no introduction to the English tournament scene, Mr 400 himself, Jack Armstrong.  Jack is a long-standing member of Warhammer ETC teams past with several attendances during Warhammer Fantasy battle days.

Jack finished the 2018 season first in the UK rankings with a highly respectable 395.45 (out of 400).  His recent highlights include:

  • 1st at BOBO (86 players) with Stormcast Eternals
  • 1st at SCGT (100 players) with Order
  • 1st at Blood Tithe (76 players) with Stormcast Eternals
  • 4th at the London GT (66 players) with Seraphon
  • 1st at Facehammer GT (91 players) with Stormcast Eternals

If you are interested in Jack’s thoughts on team tournaments and list-building, you can check out his show with me here.


Russ Veal

Another man who needs little introduction, Russ “the Face” Veal has been to numerous ETCs, won the UK masters and is a member of the Facehammer podcast.  

With a lighter tournament year in 2018 than years past, Russ finished 14th in the rankings with Best in Race honours for Legion of Sacrament and Nighthaunt.  Russ notably won the Blood and Glory Championships with 166 players.


Tony Moore

Tony Moore, Master of Death and the Orange Hoodie, proud member of the Marauders, previous ETC team member, and avid tournament attendee. Tony finished the 2018 season 8th on the UK rankings with notable results being:

  • 1st at GW Heat 3 (88 players) with Disciples of Tzeentch
  • 9th at BOBO (86 players) with Daughters of Khaine
  • 4th at Element Games Grand Slam (52 players) with Grand Host of Nagash
  • 4th at Blood and Glory (166 players) with Grand Host of Nagash

Tony gave a Masterclass show for Tzeentch and list-building under AoS 1 here if you are interested.  He has also been a regular on Warhammer TV (his most recent show is here).


Les Martin

Les Martin, proud creator of the Les Martin™ Stormcast build, podcaster, prize-winning painter and bespectacled player of Order.  Les has mainly been running Idoneth Deepkin this year, but will we see a return to Stormcast Eternals or Sylvaneth for the event? (only time will tell).  

Picture supplied…

Les is making his ETC debut, after being in the England 6 Nations team for the last 2 years, performing extremely well in the role he was given both years.


Darren Watson

Darren Watson, UK AoS tournament dancing champion, ferocious list-writer, owner of the world’s best postal-themed army, and all-round nice guy.  The second ETC debutant in Team England. Darren had a great 2018 season, finishing 6th in the rankings running mainly Chaos (Blades of Khorne, Nurgle, Maggotkin of Nurgle etc).  Darren’s notable results were:

  • 1st at the London GT (66 players) with Maggotkin
  • 2nd at Blood Tithe (76 players) with Seraphon
  • 3rd at SCGT (100 players) with Maggotkin
  • 7th at BOBO (86 players) with Nurgle.

If you are interested in more from Darren, you can check out his AoS 1 Archaon Masterclass he wrote for the site.  Over 4,000 words of list-tech goodness.


Byron Orde

Finally, by no means least, we have the third ETC debutant, Byron Orde(r).  Byron is the face of Element Games, a pro-painter, lover of grey, and has shocked the world with fantastic results from seemingly a bundle of Order models just picked off a shelf.  Byron took 1st at the Games Workshop GT final in 2017 and has only built from there with consistent GT performances. Notable results for the 2018 season include:

  • 1st at GW Heat 1 (86 players) with Order
  • 4th at Blackout (94 players) with Order
  • 7th at EGGS (52 players) with Order

New Gloomspite Gitz Warscrolls Review

Hey all, the next part of my Gloomspite Gitz Review is to go through the new warscrolls for the Gloomspite Gitz. You can also check out the first part of my review covering the top 10 things to know from the Gloomspite Gitz battletome or my “all-in-one” page covering all the preview coverage so far.

And just before we dive into it, the site is now partnered with Dark Fantastic Mills. DFM produces amazing 3D printed terrain and you can use the code “AoS Shorts” to get a further 10% off and support the site.  The terrain is super light so shipping worldwide is surprisingly cheap. Check out the Doomcap Deeps range for things suitable mushroom-inspired and DFM have special offers on now.

Gloomspite Gitz

Bad Moon Loonshrine

I’m starting with the Bad Moon Loonshrine, the terrain piece available to all Gloomspite Gitz armies at no points cost.

The Loonshrine model is truly massive. It is about 12″ tall and 6 to 8 inches wide, meaning it is perfect for line of site blocking for your heroes or your Squig Gobba artillery (which don’t need line of site to fire). The Loonshrine is set up wholly within your territory, more than 12″ from enemy territory and more than 1″ away from other terrain.

The Loonshrine does two things in addition to just being a big chunk of rock:

  • Gloomspite Gitz units wholly within 12″ do not take battleshock tests – useful for your bunker units and to save command points for other things (such as re-roll charges). Its large size really helps create an effective 30″ bubble of battleshock protection that will be very useful in scenarios such as Take and Hold.
  • at the end of your turns, and on a 4+, you can return half of a destroyed Stabbas or Shootas unit to the battlefield for free (so 30 models of a 60 model unit etc). You can only do this once for each destroyed unit (it isn’t endlessly recycling grots) and the unit must be set up wholly within 12″ of the Loonshrine and more than 3″ away from enemy units.
Gloomspite Gitz

Skragrott, the Loonking

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Fungoid Cave-Shaman

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Dankhold Troggboss

WIP


Loonboss on Mangler Squigs

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Scuttleboss on Gigantic Spider

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Loonboss on Giant Cave Squig

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Madcap Shaman

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Webspinner Shaman

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Loonsmasha Fanatics

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Sporesplatta Fanatics

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Squig Herd

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Squig Hoppers

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Boingrot Bounderz

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Fellwater Troggoths

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Arachnarok Spider with Flinger

WIP


Arachnarok Spider with Spiderfang Warparty

WIP


Skitterstrand Arachnarok

WIP


Webspinner Shaman on Arachnarok Spider

WIP


Malevolent Moon

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Mork’s Mighty Mushroom

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Scrapskuttle’s Arachnacauldron

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Scuttletide

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Stabbas

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Shootas

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Bonegrinder Gargant

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Colossal Squig

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Squig Gobba

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Troggoth Hag

WIP

Gloomspite Gitz

Gloomspite Gitz: The Lore

Warhammer Community produced a great short video on the lore and background of the Gloomspite Gitz as part of the previews leading up to the launch of the new battletome. You can check out the video here and my bullet-point notes below. If you want to see all the coverage of the Gloomspite Gitz release in one place, you can check out my Gloomspite Gitz page.

The Lore Summarised

The key points from the video for me are:

  • loose coalition of Moonclan Grots, Spiderfang Grots, Troggoths and “a whole host of subterranean monsters
  • united in their worship of the Bad Moon
  • the Bad Moon randomly travels through the heavens of the Mortal Realms, a thing of horror and mystery. Its path is unpredictable and those who seek to divine its path are driven mad
  • the Bad Moon fills the Gloomspite Gits with lunacy, which they refer to as “Gloomspite”. When the Bad Moon waxes, wars rage
Gloomspite Gitz Lore
  • The Gitz want to strike out in sight of the Bad Moon and win its favour so that the moon might stay, permanently eclipse Hysh and usher in a period of total domination by the Gloomspite Gitz
  • more Troggoths than ever will be joining the ranks of Destruction – Fellwater, Rockgut, and the new Dankhold Troggoth
Gloomspite Gitz Lore
  • the Troggoths will be joined by a new hero – the Dankhold Troggboss – very stupid, very powerful
  • the Moonclan venerate the Bad Moon as the lunar object that it is and as an aspect of GorkaMorka that they worship
  • the Spiderfang grots believe in the spider god that is a giant arachnid demi-god that bit GorkaMorka on the foot and got infused with the god’s power. The Spiderfang believe that the Bad Moon is the giant egg-sac of the spidergod. If they impress it enough, they believe the moon will hatch and rain spiders down on the Mortal Realms
  • you can field a mixed army or specialise in just a Moonclan army, just a Spiderfang army or just a Troggoth army (a Troggherd)
  • predicting where the Bad Moon will rise is of massive importance to the Gloomspite Gitz
  • the Bad Moon sends ill portents and drives seers mad. Skragrott the Loonking has abducted every lunatic seer and deranged prophet he can find before infecting them with a fungal strain that turns them into half-human, half-mushroom hybrids. The Loonking keeps these captives in his fungal asylum. He hopes they will foretell where the Bad Moon will rise
Gloomspite Gitz Lore
  • The Loonking wants to cover all the Mortal Realms in the Clammy-Dank and he has already achieved this in one part of Chamon

Gloomspite Gitz and Moonclan Grots

Hey all, just a quick post to say that I now have a holding page up for all the coverage of the Gloomspite Gitz / Moonclan Grots battletome coverage for Warhammer Age of Sigmar. As usual, I’ll be compiling all the breaking news and previews as an when we have them from Warhammer Community, Twitch, Facebook and more. So you can check back and rest assured all the Gloomspite Gitz and Moonclan Grots coverage will be in one easy location.

Find the page here: Gloomspite Gitz

Gloomspite Moonclan

Blood & Glory Age of Sigmar Championship 2018 Recap

Blood & Glory, one of the UK’s largest Warhammer conventions, was recently held over the weekend of 3 and 4 November 2018.  Over 400 gamers turned up to play Warhammer Age of Sigmar (whether in the 166 player Championship, smaller point events, or in the amazing event of Warhammer Achievements), Warhammer 40,000, Warhammer Underworlds, Horus Heresy, Blood Bowl, Kill Team and more.  This post will cover the Blood and Glory Championship, but future posts will cover the smaller events and Warhammer Achievements.  Here you’ll find the Championship pack, pictures, coverage, awards, results, top lists and more.

Blood & Glory

As always, check out Dark Fantastic Mills for great 3D printed terrain perfect for wargaming.  Its super versatile and light so worldwide shipping is inexpensive.  Use the “aos shorts” discount code for a further 10% off the already decent prices and also help support the site.  Age of Sigmar


Blood & Glory Age of Sigmar Championship

The Blood & Glory Age of Sigmar Championship was a five round, 2000 point matched play event of Warhammer Age of Sigmar.  You can read the full pack, but the key details were:

  • Terrain warscrolls were in use (for Games Workshop produced terrain), otherwise terrain effects were randomly generated
  • Any of the 18 Battleplans from the Core Rules and Generals Handbook could be played (the 5 selected plans were announced after registration)
  • Each round was played in a different Realm and used the Realm Magic, Realm Commands and Realmscape Features for that round (again, these were announced after registration)
  • The event also used Hidden Agenda secret objectives
  • 150 Battle Points were available – 30 for each Major Win, 25 for a Minor Win, 15 for a Draw, 5 for a Minor Loss and 0 for a Major Loss
  • Bonus Points were awarded for receiving a Vote for Best Opponent (10), receiving a vote for Best Army (10) and for turning your list in on time (10).  These bonus points were capped at 30.
  • You could score a maximum of 25 points for painting, based on a checklist which had 31 points available.
  • The winner was decided on overall score, followed by victory point difference, sports scores, painting score, and finally total kill points (if necessary).

The scenario and realm rules used were:

  • Game 1 – Relocation Orb in Aqshy (Every Step a League)
  • Game 2 – Escalation in Ghyran (Life Springs)
  • Game 3 – Total Commitment in Chamon (Rust Plague)
  • Game 4 – Star Strike in Ulgu (Shadow Realm)
  • Game 5 – Blood and Glory in Shyish (Life Leeaching)

Blood & Glory Studio Preview

Blood & Glory is now a staple on the Games Workshop studio preview circuit.  Check out the Warhammer Community article for all the reveals from the studio preview if you haven’t yet seen them.

Blood & Glory


Blood & Glory Championship Results and Awards

So I’ve pulled together the Top 30 overall from the Blood & Glory Championship out of the 166 players.  If you are interested in Battle Points alone, I’ve also listed them in the table.  For a full breakdown of the results and the pairings, check out the event page on Best Coast Pairings.

Blood & Glory


Blood & Glory Top Lists

As always, people have got in touch asking about lists.  Below I’ve included the top 13 lists based on the players’ battle points scores.  Why 13? Its so you can have at least one list from each of the Grand Alliances.  Check out all the rest of the lists with a subscription to the Best Coast Pairings app (for both iOS and Android).

  1. Russ Veal (Legion of Sacrament)
  2. Craig Namvar (Stormcast Eternals)
  3. Joe McGough (Legion of Sacrament)
  4. Tony Moore (Grand Host of Nagash)
  5. Will Barton (Idoneth Deepkin)
  6. Tom Mawdsley (Daughters of Khaine)
  7. Benjamin Savva (Daughters of Khaine)
  8. Laurie Hugget-Wilde (Sylvaneth)
  9. Ricky Mee (Grand Host of Nagash)
  10. Ben Harper (Daughters of Khaine)
  11. James Tinsdale (Idoneth Deepkin)
  12. Lewis Swan (Blades of Khorne)
  13. Donal Taylor (Grand Alliance Destruction)

If you are interested in lists, check out the tournament list archive and the new series of pages covering top Age of Sigmar lists for each faction.


Russ Veal – 1st on Battle Points and Overall

Allegiance: Legion of Sacrament
Mortal Realm: Ulgu

Leaders
Arkhan The Black Mortarch of Sacrament (320)
 General
 Lore of the Dead: Amaranthine Orb (Vampires)
Vampire Lord On Zombie Dragon (440)
 Deathlance & Shield & Chalice
 Artefact: Doppelganger Cloak 
 Lore of the Vampires: Vile Transference
Necromancer (110)
 Lore of the Deathmages: Fading Vigour

Battleline
5 x Dire Wolves (60)
5 x Dire Wolves (60)
5 x Dire Wolves (60)

Units
20 x Grimghast Reapers (280)
6 x Spirit Hosts (240)
6 x Spirit Hosts (240)

Behemoths
Mortis Engine (180)

Total: 1990 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 0
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 128


Craig Namvar – 2nd on Battle / 4th Overall

Allegiance: Stormcast Eternals
– Stormhost: Hammers of Sigmar
Mortal Realm: Aqshy

Leaders
Lord-Arcanum (180)
 General
 Trait: We Cannot Fail 
 Artefact: Ignax’s Scales 
 Spell: Azyrite Halo
Knight-Vexillor (120)
 Pennant of the Stormbringer
Lord-Castellant (100)
Gavriel Sureheart (100)

Battleline
20 x Sequitors (400)
 Stormsmite Mauls and Soulshields
 8x Stormsmite Greatmaces
20 x Sequitors (400)
 Stormsmite Mauls and Soulshields
 8x Stormsmite Greatmaces
5 x Sequitors (120)
 Stormsmite Mauls and Soulshields
 3x Stormsmite Greatmaces

Units
5 x Evocators (200)
5 x Evocators (200)

Battalions
Cleansing Phalanx (120)

Total: 1940 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 2
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 142


Joe McGough – 3rd on Battle / 2nd Overall

Allegiance: Legion of Sacrament

Leaders
Arkhan The Black Mortarch of Sacrament (320)
 General
 Lore of the Dead: Fading Vigour (Deathmages)
Neferata Mortarch Of Blood (400)
 Lore of the Dead: Vile Transference (Vampires)
Vampire Lord (140)
 Mount: Flying Horror
 Artefact: Azyrbane Standard 
 Lore of the Vampires: Amethystine Pinions
Necromancer (110)
 Lore of the Deathmages: Overwhelming Dread

Battleline
5 x Dire Wolves (60)
5 x Dire Wolves (60)
5 x Dire Wolves (60)

Units
30 x Grimghast Reapers (360)
10 x Hexwraiths (320)

Endless Spells
Chronomantic Cogs (60)
Umbral Spellportal (60)

Total: 1950 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 1
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 112


Tony Moore – 4th on Battle / 3rd Overall

Allegiance: Grand Host of Nagash
Mortal Realm: Shyish

Leaders
Nagash Supreme Lord Of The Undead (800)
 General
 Lores of the Dead Spell 1: Fading Vigour (Deathmages)
 Lores of the Dead Spell 2: Amethystine Pinions (Vampires)
 Lores of the Dead Spell 3: Vile Transference (Vampires)
Necromancer (110)
 Lore of the Deathmages: Overwhelming Dread
Vampire Lord (140)
 Mount: Nightmare
 Artefact: Balefire Lantern 
 Lore of the Vampires: Amaranthine OrbBattleline
40 x Skeleton Warriors (280)
 Ancient Spears
5 x Dire Wolves (60)
5 x Dire Wolves (60)

Units
30 x Grimghast Reapers (360)

Endless Spells
Umbral Spellportal (60)
Prismatic Palisade (30)

Total: 1900 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 2
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 116


Will Barton – 5th in Battle

Allegiance: Idoneth Deepkin
– Enclave: Fuethan
Mortal Realm: Shyish

Leaders
Isharann Tidecaster (100)
 General
 Trait: Born From Agony 
 Lore of the Deeps: Steed of Tides
Akhelian King (240)
 Artefact: Ethereal Amulet 
Isharann Soulscryer (100)

Battleline
10 x Namarti Thralls (140)
10 x Namarti Thralls (140)
10 x Namarti Reavers (140)

Units
9 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (480)
6 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (320)
6 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (320)

Total: 1980 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 0
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 131


Tom Mawdsley – 6th in Battle

Allegiance: Daughters Of Khaine
– Temple: Hagg Nar
Mortal Realm: Aqshy

Leaders
Slaughter Queen on Cauldron Of Blood (330)
 General
 Trait: Devoted Desciples 
 Artefact: Thermalrider Cloak 
 Prayer: Blessing of Khaine
Morathi High Oracle of Khaine (480)
 Lore of Shadows: Mindrazor
Hag Queen (60)
 Prayer: Catechism of Murder
Hag Queen (60)
 Prayer: Martyr’s Sacrifice
Celestant-Prime (340)

Battleline
30 x Witch Aelves (270)
 Pairs of Sacrificial Knives
30 x Witch Aelves (270)
 Pairs of Sacrificial Knives
10 x Witch Aelves (100)
 Pairs of Sacrificial Knives

Units
5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (80)

Total: 1990 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 0
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 112

 


Benjamin Savva – 7th in Battle

Allegiance: Daughters Of Khaine
– Temple: Hagg Nar

Leaders
Slaughter Queen on Cauldron Of Blood (330)
 General
 Trait: Devoted Desciples 
 Artefact: Iron Circlet 
 Prayer: Blessing of Khaine
Morathi High Oracle of Khaine (480)
 Lore of Shadows: Shroud of Despair
Bloodwrack Medusa (140)
 Artefact: Shadow Stone 
 Lore of Shadows: Mindrazor
Hag Queen (60)
 Prayer: Catechism of Murder

Battleline
30 x Sisters Of Slaughter (300)
 Barbed Whips and Blade Bucklers
10 x Sisters Of Slaughter (120)
 Barbed Whips and Sacrificial Knives
30 x Witch Aelves (270)
 Pairs of Sacrificial Knives

Units
5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (80)
5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (80)

Battalions
Slaughter Troupe (130)

Total: 1990 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 1
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 110


Laurie Hugget-Wilde – 8th in Battle

Allegiance: Sylvaneth

Leaders
Branchwraith (80)
 General
 Trait: Warsinger 
 Artefact: Acorn of the Ages 
 Deepwood Spell: Regrowth
Branchwraith (80)
 Artefact: Ranu’s Lamentiri 
 Deepwood Spell: Verdant Blessing
Alarielle the Everqueen (600)
 Deepwood Spell: Throne of Vines
Anointed Of Asuryan On Frostheart Phoenix (280)
 Allies

Battleline
30 x Dryads (270)
20 x Dryads (200)
10 x Dryads (100)
10 x Dryads (100)

Battalions
Forest Folk (140)
Winterleaf Wargrove (90)

Endless Spells
Chronomantic Cogs (60)

Total: 2000 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 2
Allies: 280 / 400
Wounds: 108

 


Ricky Mee – 9th in Battle

Allegiance: Grand Host of Nagash

Ben Harper – 10th in Battle

Allegiance: Daughters Of Khaine
– Temple: Hagg Nar
Mortal Realm: Ulgu

Leaders
Slaughter Queen on Cauldron Of Blood (330)
 General
 Trait: Devoted Desciples 
 Artefact: Iron Circlet 
 Prayer: Blessing of Khaine
Bloodwrack Shrine (220)
 Lore of Shadows: Steed of Shadows
Bloodwrack Medusa (140)
 Artefact: Shadow Stone 
 Lore of Shadows: Mindrazor
Hag Queen (60)
 Prayer: Catechism of Murder
Hag Queen (60)
 Prayer: Martyr’s Sacrifice
Hag Queen (60)
 Prayer: Crimson Rejuvenation

Battleline
30 x Sisters Of Slaughter (300)
 Barbed Whips and Blade Bucklers
30 x Witch Aelves (270)
 Pairs of Sacrificial Knives
20 x Witch Aelves (200)
 Pairs of Sacrificial Knives

Units
5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (80)
5 x Khinerai Lifetakers (80)
5 x Khinerai Lifetakers (80)

Battalions
Cauldron Guard (120)

Total: 2000 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 1
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 142


James Tinsdale – 11th in Battle

Allegiance: Idoneth Deepkin
– Enclave: Fuethan
Mortal Realm: Ulgu

Leaders
Isharann Tidecaster (100)
 General
 Trait: Born From Agony 
 Lore of the Deeps: Steed of Tides
Isharann Soulscryer (100)
Isharann Soulscryer (100)
Eidolon of Mathlann, Aspect of the Storm (400)
 Artefact: Doppelganger Cloak 

Battleline
10 x Namarti Thralls (140)
10 x Namarti Thralls (140)
10 x Namarti Thralls (140)

Units
6 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (320)
9 x Akhelian Morrsarr Guard (480)
5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (80)
 Allies

Total: 2000 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 0
Allies: 80 / 400
Wounds: 122


Lewis Swan – 12th in Battle

Allegiance: Khorne
Mortal Realm: Ulgu

Leaders
Bloodsecrator (140)
 Artefact: The Blood-forged Armour 
Bloodstoker (80)
 Artefact: Talisman of Burning Blood 
Slaughterpriest with Hackblade and Wrathhammer (100)
 Blood Blessing: Killing Frenzy
Slaughterpriest with Hackblade and Wrathhammer (100)
 Blood Blessing: Killing Frenzy
Slaughterpriest with Hackblade and Wrathhammer (100)
 Blood Blessing: Killing Frenzy
Wrath Of Khorne Bloodthirster (320)
 General
 Trait: Arch-slaughterer 
 Artefact: Sword of Judgement 

Battleline
5 x Blood Warriors (100)
 Goreaxe & Gorefist
40 x Bloodreavers (240)
 Meatripper Axes
20 x Bloodreavers (140)
 Reaver Blades
10 x Bloodreavers (70)
 Reaver Blades

Units
5 x Wrathmongers (180)

Battalions
Dark Feast (200)
Gore Pilgrims (200)

Total: 1970 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 2
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 137


Donal Taylor – 13th in Battle

Allegiance: Destruction
Mortal Realm: Aqshy

Leaders
Frostlord on Stonehorn (420)
 Artefact: Thermalrider Cloak 
Fungoid Cave-Shaman (80)
 General
 Trait: Bellowing Tyrant
Moonclan Grot Shaman (80)
Troggoth Hag (380)

Battleline
60 x Moonclan Grots (360)
 Pokin Spears & Moon Shields
40 x Moonclan Grots (260)
 Pokin Spears & Moon Shields
20 x Moonclan Grots (130)
 Pokin Spears & Moon Shields

Units
3 x Grot Fanatics (100)
3 x Grot Fanatics (100)

Endless Spells
Geminids of Uhl-Gysh (40)

Total: 1950 / 2000
Extra Command Points: 1
Allies: 0 / 400
Wounds: 163


Warhammer TV covered the Blood and Glory lists on their regular Wednesday Age of Sigmar show.  If you have a subscription, you can hear Martin’s commentary on the lists and how they work here:

Watch WARHAMMER AGE OF SIGMAR // TACTICS // BLOOD AND GLORY CHAMPIONSHIPS ROUNDUP from Warhammer on www.twitch.tv


Blood & Glory Coverage

Ben and his team did a great job covering the event over social media through the weekend.  Check out the #BloodandGlory hashtag and Ben Curry’s feed for so many videos and pictures that it would be simply impossible for me to include them all here.

 


Blood and Glory on Warhammer TV

Warhammer TV covered the event all weekend long, and you’ll find links to each of the televised games here:

  • Game 1 – Terry Pike (Maggotkin of Nurgle) vs Jamie (Legions of Nagash) in Relocation Orb in Aqshy (Every Step a League) (Part 1 / Part 2)
  • Game 2 – Gaz (Blades of Khorne) vs Marc (Clan Pestilens) in Escalation in Ghyran (Life Springs) (Part 1)
  • Game 3 – Darren Watson (Blades of Khorne) vs Ben Savva (Daughters of Khaine) in Total Commitment in Chamon (Rust Plague) (starts at 01:06:50 / Part 2)
  • Game 4 – Laurie Hugget-Wilde (Sylvaneth) vs Chris Myhill (Order) in Star Strike in Ulgu (Shadow Realm) (Part 1 / Part 2)
  • Game 5 – Laurie Hugget-Wilde (Sylvaneth) vs Craig Namvar (Stormcast) in Blood and Glory in Shyish (Life Leeaching) (starts at 3 mins)

Warhammer Community also had a quick round-up of the event, with some more photos, in their article, Blood & Glory 2018: The Roundup.

 

 

 

Top Age of Sigmar Lists

Hey all, I’ve decided to start a new series of articles on the site comparing and contrasting top tournament lists from the most competitive Warhammer Age of Sigmar factions.  The aim is to provide analysis and a resource:

  • for new players – who want to know what the most common units used in top tournament lists; and
  • for experienced players – to consider the nuances and key differences of the lists, as well as to prepare for their next tournament.

So today I’ve added a page on the Top Legions of Nagash lists given that Legions of Nagash are currently the flavour of the month on the Age of Sigmar scene.  Check out the page here or click on the image below.

Legions of Nagash Lists

Let me know what you think of the series and what more details I should include.  I think Daughters of Khaine, Stormcast Eternals and Sylvaneth will be next on my list.

 

ETC 2019: Team USA Announcement

The European Team Championships (ETC), the World Cup of Warhammer, will host an Age of Sigmar event from August 9-11, 2019 in Novi Sad, Serbia.  The ETC is a tabletop miniature game tournament that has been held every year since 2006.  In 2018, it was held in Zagreb, Croatia and attended by more than 1,000 wargamers from all over the world.  The three main events last year were The 9th Age, Warhammer 40,000 and Flames of War, but in years past it was the premier international tournament for Warhammer Fantasy Battles.

ETC 2019

After a test event with four teams this year, 2019 promises to be the first main year for Age of Sigmar at the ETC.  Traditionally, the ETC is an 8 person team tournament involving national teams selected by countries around the world.  In the days of Warhammer Fantasy Battles, teams from 30-40 countries competed over three days.

ETC 2019

In the build-up to the 2019 ETC, I”ll be covering the event, the rules pack and the teams attending.  And in today’s post, I have the first press release ever published on the site – the announcement of the US ETC team by ETC 2019 Team USA captain, Bill Souza.  The pictures are my handiwork.

 


Team USA for Age of Sigmar at ETC 2019

Thank you everyone for taking the time to read this post. For those of you who are not aware, as of 2018, AoS now has an international team event that is a part of the ETC. This is a very exciting step for the global AoS community and a promising sign of growth for the relatively new game.

ETC 2019

Over the past two years myself and a small group of like-minded individuals have been working on preliminary preparations in the event that the aforementioned scenario became a reality. I personally feel that bringing a US team over to Europe is an equally positive sign of growth in the US AoS community. When the event was announced; I took the opportunity to claim captainship of the first Team USA for AoS ETC beginning in 2019 in Novi Sad, Serbia. I am hoping this is met with nothing but overwhelming positivity and support as this dedicated group of players is about to (and have) invest(ed) significant portions of their personal time and personal finances to represent our country.

All this being said; I am proud to announce our first ever Team USA AoS:

  • Alan Bajramovic (Player)
  • Roger Barker (Player)
  • Greg Goede (Coach)
  • Sam Gould (Player)
  • Joe Krier (Player)
  • Bill Souza (Captain/Player)
  • Michael Vagenos (Player)

This group of players was not selected in a popularity contest (some recognizable names and some not).  They were selected off several key qualities that are needed for a successful team. They are all extremely skilled, sporting, and dedicated. They certainly know how to play to get victories one on one and if the situation requires; play for victories for the team. Many have team format and ETC experience.

Thank you all in advance for your support.


This Week in Age of Sigmar (10 Aug 18)

Hey everyone, I’ve been wanting to do more with the AoS Shorts YouTube Channel for a while now so I’ve started a new video series – This Week in Age of Sigmar.  The aim of the videos is to cover all the Warhammer Age of Sigmar news from the previous week – both direct from Games Workshop and from the independent community.  I touch on Age of Sigmar news, new releases and events run and coming up.

There is so much great content out there that I wanted to make sure that I was adding something different and that would not add too much time on to managing the site (which is the main project for AoS Shorts).  I also want to experiment more with video and off-the-cuff sharing of the hobby.

Let me know what you think of the concept and if you have any suggestions get in touch via Twitter or Facebook.  As always, check out Dark Fantastic Mills, and use the discount code “aos shorts” for 10% off.

Age of Sigmar


Age of Sigmar News – 10 August 2018

Last weekend

  • BLACKOUT 2018  (coverage post)
    • Congrats Ben – Nighthaunt’s first major tournament victory
  • Call to Arms (Notorious AOS coverage podcast)
    • Congrats to Matt and his 4 VLOZDs
  • European Team Championships
    • France won the 4 team exhibition event

Games Workshop – Twitch and Warhammer Community

AoS Shorts

Out this weekend – 11/12 August 2018

  • The Tainted Heart by CL Werner – follows Esselt and Talocarn, characters first seen in the short story The Witch Takers from 2017’s Advent Calendar (Amazon US / Amazon UK)
  • Evocator on Dracoline
  • Lord Ordinator with Astral Grandhammer
  • Alternative Lord Executioner – the one with the hourglass
  • Bladegheist Revanants
  • Dreadscythe Harridons

Pre-orders this weekend – 11/12 August 2018

  • Not up at time of recording.

Age of Sigmar events this weekend

  • Pompey Pillage
  • a lot of events coming up in the next few weeks – Capital City Bloodbath in Canada, Pandemonium in NZ, Warhammer Fest in Europe, EGGS and Northern Invasion in the UK, Siegeworld in the US, Blue Dragon GT and Gods of War both in Australia.  With the big event of NOVA at the end of the month.

Advertising two events coming up

  • Da Boyz GT in Rochester NY – tickets on sale – November 9-11 2018
  • Tempest 2019 tickets are now on sale – 2 day event in Stirling, January 19-20
  • Brew City Brawl 2 – May 17 – 19th 2019 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Check out aosevents.org for all the event details you need.