The Return of 40K Neotube: Space Marine vs. Chaos

So it's been too long since I've done a 40K Neotube, but with the holidays I just haven't had the time to devote to sifting through all the videos out there to find ones I want to post.  So the return was made pretty easy when a new trailer for Dawn of War II: Retribution came out last week.  With all the holiday madness I missed it, but here it is.

Space Marine vs. Chaos, narrated by Gabriel Angelos, and setting up the next chapter in the Blood Ravens story.  It's brief and cool and I didn't see much of the Land Raider, but the last line gave me chills "Whether I'm victorious or slain, my sins will know retribution."

See the vid after the jump

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to everyone!  May Santa bring you lots of 40K goodies, and may your families only roll their eyes occasionally as you open that mini you've been asking for.

Blood Bowl: Legendary Edition on Sale at Steam

I'm not sure how many people were planning on picking up the recently released Blood Bowl: Legendary Edition, but Steam has it 33% off right now at their store.  I'm not sure how long the sale lasts, but I took advantage of it with some Christmas money that was burning a hole in my pocket.  I'll have a review of it up at some point.

40K Retro - Dawn of War: Winter Assault

With the coming release of Dawn of War II: Retribution; I’ve decided to replay all the Dawn of War Campaigns from the very beginning.  I wanted to see the story of the Blood Ravens as it unfolds in the video games.  This is the story as it appears on my computer screen, and in no relation is affected by any of the novelizations.  After completing the first Dawn of War game, next on the list was the Winter Assault expansion.

Dawn of War II: Retribution Space Marine Multiplayer Unit Revealed

After I posted the link to the Space Marine Campaign Heroes yesterday, Relic posted another entry featuring information on the new Space Marine Multiplayer Unit, the Land Raider.

Abilities:
Frag Assault – Launch a volley of grenades, knocking back and dealing heavy damage to most infantry units.

Retreat Beacon – When activated, all squads will retreat to the Land Raider beacon.

A late game behemoth, the Land Raider Redeemer is expensive and powerful.  Although it is not particularly agile or quick, it’s dual Flamestorm Cannons spew enough fire to melt any infantry to get near.  The Land Raider can serve as a base of operations for Space Marine players.  With the Retreat Beacon activated, squads can quickly retreat to the Land Raider instead of the Space Marine base.  Squads near the Land Raider can be reinforced, replacing lost squad members, and get back in the fight much more quickly than having to make the run to and from their base.

Needless to say I know a few Space Marine players I am going to have to fight really hard to keep from getting to Tier 3.  I'd consider switching to Space Marines for multi if this beast was a game-changer, but then I think Battlewagon and all thoughts of abandonment melt away.

Is it March yet?

Dawn of War II: Retribution Space Marine Campaign Heroes Revealed

Relic just released info about the Space Marine Campaign Heroes in Retribution.  Needless to say if I could insert cartoon sound effects used for hot women, I would.  Because this news is altogether excellent.

It is Diomedes that the Retribution campaign for the Space Marines focuses on.
Captain of Chapter Master Kyras’ Honor Guard, Diomedes is a decorated and respected member of the Blood Ravens.

He appeared toward the end of Chaos Rising and I'm intrigued to see how his devotion to Kyras affects his role in the campaign.

Back from previous campaigns are Cyrus who was effective but underused when I played through both Dawn of War II and Chaos Rising (for the record I did use him more in Chaos Rising).  Also it appears Techmarine Martellus survived and is playable in this campaign (cool, but he was the traitor when I played through the campaign...unless they decided that the canonical ending was that our hero fell to Chaos).

However, most intriguing to me is The Ancient:

He gives no name, and instead is known by his rank of ‘Ancient’, the honorific title given to marines who serve as bearers to the Chapter’s sacred standards.   He does not speak, having taken a vow of silence to atone for past sins, but his actions speak volumes on the battlefield.  His abilities vary widely, a testament to his experience and skill earned from centuries of battle.

Any character or unit with an element of mystery is always fascinating to me, so naturally I'm gravitating towards this character initially.

Now I have my gripes that both Avitus and Davian Thule are missing from the list, but Cyrus is included.  Not because I don't like Cyrus, I just loves me my Dreadnaught and Terminators.  I also know one person who is pissed that Gabriel Angelos is not playable again, so any other cripes, concerns, or comments on this news?  I'm all ears.

Dawn of War II: Retribution Units Revealed

Oh man, I didn't realize that Relic had been releasing unit information for Dawn of War II: Retribution, but they have and the anticipation has actually grown.

The units they are revealing are multiplayer units and campaign heroes.  Let's break down what they've released so far by race.

Eldar
Campaign Heroes
The Eldar will have 4 heroes available to them in their campaign:

• Kayleth, an Eldar Autarch who leads the Eldar of Craftworld Alaitoc
• Ronahn, a former Pathfinder of Craftworld Ulthwe who renounced his ties to that Craftworld and wanders the stars
• Veldoran, an aged and wise Warlock
• Elenwe, a Farseer who helps guide Kayleth through the Eldar campaign.

Multiplayer Unit
The new Eldar multiplayer unit is the Eldar Autarch:

Abilities:
Fleet of Foot – Greatly increases the unit’s speed but reduces the Autarch’s damage output for the duration of the ability.
Leap – Soar through the air and land at the targeted location. Upon landing the Autarch increases the speed, damage, health and of nearby infantry units.
Skyleap – The Autarch jumps high into the atmosphere, returning to the global ability bar to be called in for a reduced cost.

The Autarch descends to the battlefield when called in from the global ability bar. The unit can be dropped into any hot spot on the map, provided you have line of sight on the drop zone.

Tyranids
Campaign Hero
The Tyranids have a unique campaign that has only 1 hero, the Hive Lord who strives to bring together the scattered remnants of the Tyranids in the Aurelian Sub-Sector.

Multiplayer Unit
The new Tyranid multiplayer unit is the Tyranid Swarmlord:

Abilities:
Leech Essence – The Swarmlord drains the life from surrounding infantry units for a duration which increases his health regeneration.
Blade Flurry – Unleashes the full strength of the Swarmlord, heavily damaging and knocking back adjacent infantry.
The Swarmlord isn’t going to be on the field until late in the game, given its cost and the Tier 3 requirement.  The Swarmlord’s status as a powerful late game unit results in it being nearly unstoppable in melee combat, wielding four bone sabers, but it also increases the movement speed of all Tyranids within range of its synapse.

Orks
No Campaign Hero information has been released yet, but you can guarantee I will be watching very closely for that news.

Multiplayer Unit

Abilities:
Deff Rolla Rampage – Spin up the Deff Rolla for a short period, knocking back and potentially crushing nearby infantry.  Temporarily increases the speed of the Battlewagon.
Mega Boomshot – Fire an explosive long-range artillery shot.  Deals heavy damage to most units.
An expensive late game unit, the Battlewagon can tear into enemy formations and receive little damage.  It is a heavy assault transport vehicle that has anti-vehicle as well as anti-infantry weaponry.

Okay needless to say this is all such cool news.  But the coolest news is the Ork Battlewagon.  Oh my god, I cannot wait for that unit.  And a Deff Rolla Rampage?  You can better believe I'm looking forward to lining up some non-greenskin scum in my sites and runnin' 'em down wit da rolla!  Definitely March 2011 is way too far off.

Dan Abnett Speaks

Mostly about the Ultramarines Movie that gets released this week.

The movie is supposed to start shipping this week, so hopefully we all get it soon (and I can figure out how to open it and watch the movie without my wife catching me so I can get a review up before the end of the year).

A Boatload of Information on Dark Millennium Online

PC Gamer has a great write-up of the coming 40K MMO, Dark Millennium Online.

It's obvious from the article that they are still working out a lot of details (like the fact the only announced playable faction is the Space Marines), but Vigil is really trying to make this a game changer.  They have some harsh words for the MMOs on the market now, and give some details on how they plan to make DMO a better MMO experience by making it truer to the 40K fluff (i.e. no gathering item such-and-such for some nameless denizen of a small village).

Needless to say my excitement level for this game has gone up substantially.

Also, the pictures and captions are highly entertaining.

Black Library Horus Heresy Contest

Black Library has posted a contest based around Graham McNeill's next Horus Heresy novel.  The gist of the contests is to guess the name of the novel based on Neil Roberts' rough sketch for the cover artwork.  Winner will get a signed copy of the book well before it's released.

Corporae Doublespeak, or How Codex Talks to Fans

A new update hit the web today regarding the utter failure by Codex to release the Ultramarines Movie on time.

Here's the whole post:

We can update today that the unexpected production issue has been resolved. We still expect and are working to be able to commence shipping next week but are awaiting final confirmation from our suppliers and fulfilment houses.
We apologise once again for the delay in ship date and very much hope to have confirmed information about the new dispatch date tomorrow.
Codex Pictures

This little message sums up everything about this debacle that has pissed me off.  First, no real information was given.  We still don't know what the production issue was that caused the biggest blunder in all things 40K I've ever seen.

Second we are still without an actual ship date.  Look next week is great, but I want something concrete that I can look to, and if Codex is gunshy about making themselves accountable, then they shouldn't have let the first ship date be a failure.

Finally, this was written by a lawyer.  Or at least approved by one.  I don't want vague promises of potential delivery, or phrases like "unexpected production issue".  I want plain English.  I want to know what happened, I want to know what was done to fix it, and I want to know what's been done to make sure it never happens again, and I want to know when I'm getting my stuff I paid for.  And believe me, for Codex's sake, if they are allowed to make another 40K movie (because if I was Games Workshop, I'd be having serious discussions about that) they had better realize that 40K nerds are nerds.  We're smart.  We see through crap like this.  And we won't be watching the buildup around the making of a new movie.  We'll be watching that release date, with torches and pitchforks ready if they screw it up again.

An Important Public Service Announcement

Sorry, no 40K Neotube this week.  I really am not in the mood to go through looking for videos about 40K.

What I do want to talk to you about is a very serious situation that has slammed the small town I live in.  I have never covered a non-40K item here on this blog, and I don't plan on doing it again.  However, I want to talk about these three boys:

These are Andrew, Alexander, and Tanner Skelton.  They have been missing since Thanksgiving.  If you live in the United States you may have heard about their story.  Basically they were last seen in their father's backyard Thanksgiving afternoon.  Their father, John Skelton claimed he gave them to a woman he knew to bring to their mom while he attempted to commit suicide.  The father has been arrested for Parental Kidnapping, and the boys have not been seen since.

This story hits home for me on several levels.  First of all, they are from Morenci, Michigan which is where I live.  I know the family, or at least some of them.  This has shaken our little town to the core, and yet it has withstood the pressure, set aside differences, and come together to support and protect the family.  Christmas is considered a season of hope and love, and I have seen that here.  Hundreds of people have volunteered to brave the elements and help search for the boys.  Others have cooked food for the volunteers, or the family.  So many people have set aside so much to help this family, and word is the family has said it helps.

The other way it hits home, is all three of those boys go to the same school my daughter goes to.  Alexander is the same age as my daughter, but a year behind her in school.  I look at his picture, and the pictures of his brothers, and I can't imagine what state I would be in if this happened to my daughter.

If anyone out there knows anything about the whereabouts of these boys are, please contact the Morenci Police at 517-458-7104.  There is a $10,000 reward for their safe return, and I know so many of us here in this small town just want closure.  We cling to the hope that they are still alive, but we are braced for the worst.  Either way, we just want this to end so the family can come to terms with this.

Please, if you are reading this and know something about the whereabouts of these boys, please call.  We need this over with.

Another "Ultramarines Movie Trips and Falls Out the Gate" Update

Let me say it's nothing personal to Codex Pictures when I say this whole situation with the delayed CE release is ridiculous and should never have gotten this far.


I'm not sure what happened where, but what I do know is that I should not have gotten an e-mail the day the movie was supposed to be released saying it hadn't shipped yet.  Codex today announced that they STILL cannot give a definitive release date.  Why?  What's the problem?  What happened?  When did it happen?  Why did they not tell us until the day the package was supposed to ship?


I've sent 2 e-mail inquiries to Codex regarding this and have received no answer, but based on their latest news update they don't seem to want to tell us what happened.  So until I know where the problem is I will be blaming Codex, and with each day without a release date or anything definitive I can't help but think that this release is a failure.

I hope Games Workshop is watching this closely, because right now their baby isn't being treated with the proper care it deserves, and this release that isn't a release is an embarrassment for everyone involved.

Ultramarines The Movie The Shipping Quagmire The Update

I just received the following update from Codex Pictures regarding the delayed Ultramarines The Movie shipment.  This is not a direct answer to my inquiries but a generic e-mail sent to anyone who purchased the Collector's Edition.

Dear Sean

RE Order #########

As we advised yesterday, due to a production issue outside our control, we were not able to start shipping the complete Ultramarines DVD collector’s set on November 29th 2010 as planned.

We have teams in the UK, US and Europe working around the clock to resolve the issue.

At this time, we are hoping that orders can start to ship next week. In the meantime, we will keep you informed as soon as we receive more information.

Once again, please accept our sincere apologies for this delay to you receiving your Ultramarines DVD.

Sincerely,

Codex Pictures

 Currently the Exterminatus Order has been written, but the Inquisition has not signed off on it...yet...

Happy Ultramarines the Movie Release D'Oh

If you were like me and looking forward to the release of The Ultramarines Movie Collector's Edition, well your wait isn't over.

Codex announced today they had an "unanticipated production problem" that has delayed the release of the collector's set, with no anticipated release date announced.

I'll post more as it becomes available, but honestly this doesn't totally kill me because I was informed by my wife that this was going to be a Christmas present and I was going to have to covertly watch the movie before she wrapped it....actually now that I think about it, this will shrink that window from when we get the package to when it's wrapped, and it does affect me.  Dammit.

40K Neophyte Review - Death Angel

I have talked often about how challenging it can be to game on a budget.  I have a limited well of money to dip from, and a wide array of interests I could easily spend that money on.  Oh sure occasionally a new computer game will win out over a new unit for 40K, but I have stayed on task with 40K as best I can.  However one area I have not gotten into yet are the Fantasy Flight Games that take the trappings of 40K (and other franchises) and apply them to role playing, board, and card games.  Partly because of the cost, partly because I don't have anybody else to play with, and partly because while they look cool I wasn't sure if they were worth the investment.

Well let me just say that if the other games are as fun as Death Angel, then damn my tiny wallet.

40K Retro - Dawn of War

When Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising came out earlier this year I voraciously played through the campaign avoiding corruption, with the intent of replaying Dawn of War II to create another character to play in Chaos Rising as corrupt as possible.  Then I decided to play through all the Dawn of War campaigns.  And then I got sidetracked by other games.  Seriously, if I had an unlimited budget I’d have gaming ADHD.  I’m not making light of ADHD, I’m just saying that if I could play any game I wanted to and money was no object, I’d waste away in front of my computer.  For the sake of the games I love it’s a good thing I have that limited budget so I can spend the time playing them that they deserve.  So then I decided that since I was playing through all the campaigns I was going to review each single player campaign looking at how they are in context to when they came out, how they stack up to the other Dawn of War games, and how well they have aged.  All leading up to the release of Retribution in March of next year.

And Another New Ultramarines Clip

Unlike my earlier post, this clip actually looked pretty damn good.  But there was less walking, and more vile corruption...heh heh.  Thanks to SFX for this clip.

40K Neotube - 11/18/10 Pre-Holiday Special

With Thanksgiving next weekend I will not be posting a 40K Neotube.  I have something lined up for early in the week, but beyond that I'm going to be busy getting ready for our first hosted Thanksgiving.

So to sate the masses...all 5 of you...let me post this new clip from the upcoming Ultramarines Movie that apparently hit the net yesterday.  You can see the clip after the jump, or check it out and some screen caps over at HeyUGuys.uk.

I'm not going to lie, it doesn't really show much, except some apparently unnatural looking walking by the Ultramarines.  I really hope the animation is worthy of what 40K deserves, and most of it looked good, but the walking didn't impress me.

40K Neotube - 11/18/10

40K Neotube is late this week, so sue me.

I went with this retro video of the first Dawn of War animated intro because not only do I like it, but it also works with my article that's publishing at noon today.

Watch the video now.

Come back at noon and read my article.

Have a great weekend.

Belated Free eBook Friday Update

With my issues last week, I also never posted that the latest free eBook from Black Library was posted.  The most recent release was another Warhammer Fantasy book, Honour of the Grave by Robin D. Laws.

You can find that download and all the other free stuff here.

40K Neotube - 11/10/10

First let me apologize for the void that was last week's updates.  Several different real life issues crashed in on me in the middle of the week.  I had work issues, our area lost all telco based data and phone communication, my step-son left for the air force, and my wife was an emotional basket case because of it.

So to make up for it, I found a series of 3 movies that feature some of the bloodiest and best finishing moves from Dawn of War II.  I've gotten back into DoWII and Chaos Rising because some buddies picked it up recently when Steam offered the Gold Edition on sale.  I would have posted about it but I had no idea it was even happening.

After the jump watch a bunch of Xenos, Space Marines and Chaos Marines die bloody deaths...

Free eBook Friday Continues

The continuing saga of free eBooks from Black Library on Fridays continues today with Trollslayer by William King.  This is the first Warhammer Fantasy book they've offered.  As always the book is available in both the .epub and .mobi file types.

While you're there to get that feel free to download the first audio book offering.  They released it Monday, but as I wasn't expecting anything until today I didn't see it then.  It's Horus Rising CD1, so I'm not sure how much of the book is covered in that file, but I plan on giving it a listen to see what it's like.

40K Neotube - 10/27/10

With Halloween just around the corner, what better race to feature in 40K Neotube than the Necrons?  Well I guess the Chaos would have worked, but I don't know if I've ever featured the Necrons in anything.  So hit the jump and see a video that features some pretty cool artwork and appropriately moody music for this time of year.

Free eBook Friday

Free eBook Friday returns today with Hammer and Bolter Issue 1.  A collection of 40K, Warhammer, and Horus Heresy short stories.  The big draw, besides being free, is the first chapter of Prospero Burns included in the "pages".  Anyway, follow the link and get your free shi*...stuff, and if you haven't gotten them grab First and Only and Nightbringer too.

40K Neotube - 10/20/10

The next video for Dawn of War II: Retribution hit yesterday.  This time the faction of choice is Tyranids.

Really I have nothing else, my love of all things DoW is well documented and I cannot wait for this game to come out.

The video is after the jump

Dawn of War II Sale

Okay, I'm not trying to be some corporate shill or gogamer.com whore, but right now their 48 Hour Madness, which as of noon on Tuesday has 39 hours left, features Dawn of War II for only $9.90.  So if you haven't picked it up, and you're looking for something fun to sate that 40K addiction, I highly recommend it.

Black Library eBooks

Did anybody else miss this?  I totally missed this.  So when I saw the chatter on Twitter this morning about it...well, I was decidedly excited.

The this that I'm referring to is the release of eBooks by Black Library.  I've been slow to get on the eBooks train as I don't have a Kindle or Nook (I'll never join a cult, so I'll never get an iPad).  However with this new venture Black Library is celebrating with Free eBook Fridays.  4 Fridays, 4 free books.  And I've given up my resistance, and I'm in.  I've got the books and I'll read them as soon as I'm done reading Fulgrim.

So get over there and get them.

And if you need a free eBook app?  I'm currently downloading installing the Nook app.

40K Neotube - 10/13/10

There's a first look video from G4 for Relic's upcoming 3rd Person Shooter, Space Marine.  Needless to say, it looks astounding.  My favorite part?  The Rokkit Boy getting shot and then sucked into the engine.  Heh bloody and violent, just like 40K should be.

See the video after the jump.

This Grand Age of 40K

I’ve noticed a theme recently in my posts, and post titles:  Pants.  More specifically, the desecration/destruction of my pants brought on by some sort of spasmodic fit after seeing or reading something really cool related to Warhammer 40K.

• The latest preview video for the next Dawn of War II game, Retribution.
• Screenshots for the 40K MMO, Dark Millennium
• The Grot Mega Tank coming from Forgeworld (although so much of their stuff has that affect on me)
• The various Ultramarines The Movie news:  release date, Special Edition, and latest trailer

So it got me thinking, with high quality tie-ins being produced in both video game and (hopefully) movie markets, as well as continued popularity with the Black Library and Forgeworld divisions of Games Workshop, is it possible we are in a Golden Age of 40K?  The answer of course is no, I don’t have the hubris to claim that.  I’d be willing to maybe call Silver Age, but I’m going to need to look at what’s come before to really label this a silver age.  I am positive, though, we are seeing a creative output that puts us in the Age of Desecrated Pants.

Okay, all kidding aside, I have high hopes for the future of 40K, both from what Games Workshop is doing, to what I’m seeing as far as tie-ins, even to the community as a whole.

These Guys Have Made a Total Mess of My Pants

Look it's a Friday, it was a long week, and I totally didn't get a 40K Neotube this week, so excuse me for what I'm about to say.

Forgeworld started it.  They sent out their e-mail newsletter that had a link to this Grot Mega Tank.  As soon as I saw it, I messed myself.  A lot.  I mean I just lost all control.  I couldn't help it.  It's too cool.  Look at it, it's awesome with an extra dollop of sweet on top.

But not to be outdone, The Ultramarines Movie announced a release date for the movie, November 29, 2010.  And then to add to it, have put the Special Edition available for pre-order.  There's a lot of stuff with the Special Edition, but I again lost control and there went my pants again....so I'll leave it to you to forget my horrible commentary and just go buy the damn thing.

Oh and check out this new video and see if you don't suffer the same ungodly fate as me.

Dark Millennium Screen Shots...

...or as I like to call it:  Time to change my pants.

THQ has a gallery of screenshots from Dark Millennium that, well, oh my god they are so full of win, and awesome, and wow...I need a cigarette, and I don't even smoke.

I've posted my favorites after the jump.

40K Neotube - 9/29/10

The next video for the next Dawn of War II expansion, Retribution, has been posted.  It reveals the Eldar, and it made me mess my pants.  Maybe it was just me, because of the recent news about the Dark Eldar, but if Retribution contains the corruption gameplay from Chaos Rising, then that means we get a smidge of Dark Eldar (hinted at with the "For the Fallen!" line)...and that's just awesome.

Also, anything related to Dawn of War II tends to make happy in an "Oh my god I have to have this game now, why the hell is March so far off?" sort of way...which really doesn't sound happy, but really it is.

Weekend Weather News

Our top story from the weekend.  Reports have been coming in that Hell, also known as the Underworld or Beelzebub's Bungalow, was hit with a massive cold front that seemed to emanate from GamesDay UK.  Early reports indicate this massive cold front brought excessive winds, freezing rain, and snow, and that all of Hell has been blanketed in a coat of ice and snow as if it was frozen over.

The cause of this weather phenomenon has been a major debate with experts, but all signs seem to point to a relaunch of the maligned and neglected race of Dark Eldar by Games Workshop as the primary cause.

Hell released the following statement, "While the denizens of Hell appreciate the occasional snow shower, we did not expect this to happen.  This cold wave is the biggest we've seen since that guy that runs the 40K Neo site got laid.  Man, we totally never saw that coming.  We knew there was going to be a cold breeze or something this weekend, but man how long had it been since the Dark Eldar had seen some love?  2nd Edition?  Thanks to all those Dark Eldar players who sold their soul to Satan to get them updated.  Don't get used to the snowball fights, you're facing an eternity of torment."

40K Neotube - 9/22/10

A month ago a new trailer for Space Marine hit, and I totally missed it.  Still, it's worthwhile to see because it shows more of what appears to be some awesome gameplay.  Seriously I look at this gameplay and if it were a man and I was a woman I'd totally let it have its way with me, and not care if it called me the next day.  But the gameplay would call me the next day, and it'd  be super cool because it did.  Honestly the graphics are so awesome if it was an editor it would totally make me re-write that lame metaphor, but it's not an editor, and I have no self respect, and so I won't rewrite the metaphor, I'll just tell you to check out the video after that jump.

40K Neotube - 9/15/10

The universe of 40K is big.  And often times the epic gothic grandness is what we key in on.  It's the most overt part of the game since it is a major part of the Space Marines.  It's their thing to be big, and the gothic trappings add to it.  But one of the more fascinating parts of the universe, to me, is the Imperial Guard.

I probably won't play them because I play the Orks and one mob army is quite enough, thank you very much.  But there's this cool feel to the IG.  They have the cool tanks, they have the cool imagery, and you have to think they have the cool propaganda films.

This film isn't the best (can we learn spelling and grammar people?), and it's a bit long, but it reminded me of why I was drawn to the IG in the first place.  They are the natural evolution of modern military to the 41st millennium, and they have cool tanks.

40K Neotube - 9/8/10

I play Orks.  And when you play Orks you table Boyz.  They're the core of any good Ork army.  And you don't just have a few.  You bring a mob or two to the table.  It's how Orks roll.

So here's a brief video on Ork Boyz tactics.  And I totally agree with the Rokkit Boy assessment.  I have never actually rolled a hit, let alone a wound with a Rokkit Boy.

A Tale of Woe and Customer Service

I don't have any paid advertising on this site.  Any advertising there is happens to be a byproduct of blog and gaming networks I belong to.  This blog is about my love of Warhammer 40K, not about making a buck, or helping someone make a buck.  For Games Workshop and the vendors it's all about making money, and that's fine, but my goal isn't to help them with that.  My goal is to write about the game, share videos about it, and pass along new or interesting information I want to share.

That being said, this hobby of ours does require we buy stuff.  We all have vendors we like, some are based on price, some on location, and some just because we like the people who work/hang out there.  This story I'm about to share is about my first time buying anything from MiniWarGaming.com.  A purchase I made just this last July.

40K Neotube - 9/1/10

I know my posting this summer has basically been just 40K Neotubes, and I apologize.  My summers, as I have stated before, are really hard for me to fit in a lot of 40K stuff.  However, Labor Day is coming and that means that things should settle down soon.  As a matter of fact, I'm already working on my first attempt to remove paint off minis and will have an article about that probably next week.

So enjoy this fan made video that I picked mostly because I was in the mood for the soundtrack when I found it.

40K Neotube - 8/25/10

It hit earlier this week, so for many this isn't a rare find or a hidden gem.  But it does look like someone over at the Ultramarines Movie production team did some research and figured out how to make a trailer.  While it doesn't really reveal anything, it does show more of the Marines then a guy lost in thought about whether he left his stove on or not...before the attack that may or may not be going on around him.

So yeah, this is a far better trailer, and it has recaptured the excitement I know I had going into the reveal of that first trailer.

Dawn of War II - Retribution Announced

Okay as much as I don't have time to post anything right now, I cannot pass up this news.  THQ has announced a new Dawn of War II expansion, Retribution, to be released March 2011.

Taking place years after the events in Dawn of War II: Chaos Rising, this title allows players to choose their perspective with the first multiple-race single player campaign in the Dawn of War II series. The first race to be revealed is the savage Orks, but no matter which race is chosen players will be taken on an epic journey through each story arc, revealing the answers to many questions left open in previous Dawn of War titles.
As well as the single player campaign, RetributionTM will feature new multiplayer units, maps and an entire new playable faction when it ships.

Let's just soak this in.

• Multi-race Single Player campaign, hopefully similar to what we had with Dark Crusade
• New Faction (I'd love it to be the Daemon or Witch Hunters to tie in with the Blood Raven story line, but I'll take whatever).
• New Multiplayer Units
• Answers

2011 can't come fast enough.

Hit the jump to see the Debut Trailer, and head over to the Dawn of War Community Site to see the press release.

40K Neotube - 8/18/10

So it's been another crazy week at work.  And another crazy week at home.  And so my 40K time has been almost nothing.

What that means is I was so thankful for the Ultramarines Movie guys to take pity on me and release this video of the director and artists discussing the work that's gone into this movie.

40K Neotube - 8/11/10

My apologies for no Neotube updates last week, but it was just a really shitty crappy week.  I was swamped at work, and my time at home was busy.  This week is no easier as my lovely wife has decided she wants a bigger house which will give me more room for miniature modeling, but will crimp my time getting our current house "sale ready" and then, assuming we can sell and buy, then I'll have redecorating and moving.

However, my magnets from the free magnet day at MiniWargaming.com came in, unfortunately they charged full price, and I have not been able to talk to somebody there (though I have left messages).  So while I deal with that I also have magnets which is something I wanted/needed for my Ork Trukk.  So in honor of the Ork Trukk I have no time to paint, here's a video about Ork Trukk usage.

The Summer Duldrums

Last year I had the same problem.  Summer hits, and I find myself a slave to my wife's naggish whims...and busy with family stuff.  Either way, my productivity in painting, gaming, and blogging all go down.  So I decided to update my pictures of my Boyz.  I was hoping to have more done before I did it, but I'm currently cleaning the paint off my Stormboyz to repaint them to my liking, and my magnets haven't arrived so I've done very little with my Trukk and Deff Dread.

So hit the jump to see some photos of Da Boyz...none of which are as badly Photoshopped as Da Ork enjoyin' da sand 'n da sun on da beach.  Also, these images and more are part of the slideshow on the main page.

40K Neotube - 7/28/10

Last week at Sand Diego Comic Con somebody filmed a quick, impromptu interview with Dan Abnett.  First, there's absolutely nothing new for the Ultramarines Movie, although he did mention he just finished up Prospero Burns.  But more importantly, it's the comparative analysis of his popularity versus Dirk Benedict that really intrigued me.

After the jump, natch.

40K Neotube - 7/21/10

I've been getting ready to put my Ork Trukk and Deff Dread together, but I want them to be customizable to the game I'm playing.  Maybe I need to limit points values for them, or maybe I need to focus on a specific type of warfare based on who I'm playing.  The easiest way to handle that is magnets.  And so I've been wanting to pick up some magnets.  Lo and behold, while I was on vacation MiniWargaming.com announced they will be giving away free magnets for one day at some point in the next couple weeks.

In preparation for the giveaway they released this nice little magnet buying guide, and then also released a video guide to magnets.  I know I run a lot of MWG videos on 40K Neotube, but they have the most videos and I only run the ones that I think are valuable resources.  And this guide to magnets is a valuable resource.

So check the video after the jump.

Welcome Back 40K Radio

The first new 40K Radio episode since everything went to crap is now live.  It's an introduction to the new 40K Radio, discussing a little about the transition, what they plan to do with the show, who's involved, their backgrounds, things like that.  It's a unique episode, because really it's about the podcast, people, and plans, and not really about the game of 40K.  Which is fine, there was unfinished business that had to be taken care of, rumors that needed to be addressed, and concerns about Romeo of Battle Foam owning the show now.  At this point it's not a commercial for Battle Foam, and hopefully it stays that way.  You can tell the people love 40K, and hopefully that passion carries through into the regular episodes when those start up in August.  Also, unlike the regular episodes, this is just an hour long, so it's only a 60 minute podcast about the podcast.  I don't begrudge them this episode, though.  It needed to be done to wipe the slate clean and prep everyone for what's to come.

If you were a fan of 40K Radio, or if you're looking for a new 40K Podcast to listen to, then I recommend checking out 40K Radio Volume 2, Episode 1.

40K Neotube - 7/14/10

The London MCM Expo featured an Ultramarines panel.  Chock full of information it really helped explain the foundation of the movie as far as people involved, technology used, and the like.  They still won't tell us who the baddies are in the movie, but still a great panel with lots of information.

If you can't have the volume loud enough to hear everything (like say at work) there is a transcript of the panel.

See the video of it after the jump.

Ultramarines the Movie To Feature More Than Just Ultramarines

Ultramarines the Movie has announced that there will be more than just Ultramarines featured in the upcoming movie.  The Imperial Fists will also have a part to play.  Not only that, but John Hurt and Johnny Harris are both playing Imperial Fists.

You can read the whole announcement over at the Ultramarines Movie Blog, but personally I'm looking forward to more than just Ultramarines in the movie.  I know the Ultramarines are the face of the franchise for Games Workshop, but there are other Space Marine chapters I enjoy more, and the Imperial Fists are one of them.  No word yet on if they are battling Xenos or Chaos Marines, but I'll take any info I can get.

They even included some concept art for the Imperial Fists.  You can see all the art here, but I thought I'd include the Imperial Fists Shrine Vault detail image here.

40K Neotube - 7/7/10

I'm not going to lie. When I look for 40K videos for 40K Neotube, I have to wade through a lot of crap. A lot. Bad movies, bad animation, bad writing. Eventually I'll find something good and BAM it's posted. Occasionally I will stumble on a video that just floors me. Such is the case for this old fake teaser for Dawn of War II. It's a few years old, and still the animation is just stellar. It's not long, but it doesn't need to be. It's just pure win for the watcher (okay yes I know I should have used viewer but I like to use alliteration, so why don't you step down off the soap box, push it aside and quit judging me).

Also, enjoy the video.

40k Neotube - 6/30/10

I missed this interview with Relic about Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine from E3 when it first hit, but believe me if it has something to do with 40K and video games I'm there.

Highlights of the video

• No confirmed release date
• Multiplayer will be available, but no details yet
• Character customization (nothing against Ultramarines, but I'd rather play Blood Ravens or Dark Angels...)
• He refers to your character as being a bug hunter
• RPG elements in an action environment

Things I want to see

• The Corruption element from Chaos Rising brought to this game
• Playable Xenos in Multiplayer
• War..oh wait, it's 40K, there is only war.

See the video after the jump.

That Cool Warboss is Finally Up on Cool Mini Or Not

That cool Ork Warboss who graces my new and improved logo was painted by my buddy Steve.  He posted it on Cool Mini Or Not.  I totally recommend checking it out so you can get a better look at the work of the best painter in our gaming group.  Oh yeah, and you can vote too (*cough* 10).

Ultramarines the Movie Miniatures

After the uninspiring teaser trailer, I was really looking forward to some good news about the Ultramarines movie.  And it came in the form of miniatures.  Specifically that the 'Eavy Metal guys painted miniatures of the main characters for the Codex team.

The trailer may have been Proteus deciding if he really needed that ice cream cone, or was it just going to go to his hips.  But at least we know that when the animated Space Marines actually do something on screen, the artists had a great template to base their work off of.

You can see the pics here.

Battle Report 6-12-10 Orks v Sisters

One of the things we try to do as a group of gamers, being not a hobby or gaming club, but just friends who all enjoy the same game, is to have painting parties. My buddy Steve has probably the most central location, and has the space necessary for painting and gaming. Last month Steve had a painting party, and as with all painting parties, the day ended with gaming. I have no battle reports from that day because I wasn’t able to go. So Steve decided to have an impromptu painting party last weekend. His wife was out of town, and it just seemed to work for him. So with the last minute nature of the party the only people who could attend were our friend Chris and I, the two people who couldn’t make it to the party last month.

 As a painting party it kinda sucked, since we didn’t paint. As a gaming party it was top-notch.

Brand New Look, Same Mediocre Content

I love this blog.  Really I do.  I may not get to spend the time on it I would like, but in all honesty if I had my way this blog would be my job.  I would gladly spend my day writing about 40K, working on 40K stuff, scanning the interwebernets for all sorts of great 40K news and goodness.  To me, this blog has been a major component of this hobby, having had it since the beginning of when I really got into 40K.

The hobby and the blog are linked.

So believe me when I say that I get bored with the site, it's not the site per se, but the look of the site.  Every now and then I like to mix things up.  So the recent updates to the look are all thanks to the new toys Blogger gave us for site design.  I've also streamlined some of the columns and tabs, splitting out podcasts to be separate from general 40K sites, combining all the different blog groups and sites I link with, little things like that.  All this was just to keep the look and feel fresh for me.

And then this morning I opened up my e-mail.  And I almost fainted from the gloriousness that is my new banner from my buddy Jason.  I liked my old banner, I spent about 30 minutes making it...but seriously when you go from this

to this

Well, who am I to complain?  I mean look at that.  And to give credit where credit is due, because lord knows I don't have the skill and patience for that kind of pure awesomeness, the Ork Warboss pcitured was painted by my buddy Steve.  I suspect we'll be seeing that figure on Cool Mini or Not very soon, and I'll let everyone know when it is up with Steve's other models.

So if any rich, attractive, single women want to talk about what I need to do for them to fund my site, I'm listening.  Oh and let me wake up from that pipe dream so I can thank Steve and Jason for their help, and let me know if you like the new look here.

40k Neotube - 6/23/10

I've been able to really focus on painting recently having finished the 10 Ork Boyz I was working on, working on the remaining AoBR Boyz I had bought separate, and looking at finally finishing those Stormboyz I've had sitting there.  I want to paint my Ork Trukk and Deff Dread, and other figures so I'm really working on finishing up what I have unfinished as far as Ork Boyz.  I also have my untouched AoBR that I got for Christmas to paint as well.  All that being said, the painting bug has bit me, and so I thought I'd share a painting tutorial.

Today it is painting flesh.

This actually doesn't help me since I paint Orks, but that doesn't mean I still can't glean helpful tips from this video...which is, of course, after the jump.

Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising Golden Joystick Shortlist Voting [UPDATED]

You might remember when I linked to the long list voting for the Golden Joystick.  Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising was listed for Strategy Game of the Year.  Well the shortlist nominees were announced, and voting is open, and Dawn of War II - Chaos rising is on the short list.  So go out and vote, and let's make sure one of the richest most rewarding RTS games to hit the market gets the recognition it deserves.

**UPDATE** Blood Bowl is listed in the Sports Games category, so make sure and vote for that too.

40K Neotube - 6/16/10

Well since it's E3 time, and that means videos galore to entice, I give you the E3 trailers for Warhammer 40,000: Space Marine and Warhammer 40,000: Dark Millennium Online.

Both are after the jump, and I highly recommend preparing yourself for loss of fluids.  Either through drool, sweat, or some....other reaction....

I've Been Inspired

Inspired to concoct another hair-brained scheme that I'll never follow through with (it happens a lot, believe me).  This time, I want to create a to-scale PC Case Mod of an Ork Stompa.  Why?  Because some guy created an awesome looking Dreadnaught PC Case.  But as beautiful as it is, my buddy Steve was quick to point out that it's very impractical.  Taking it to a LAN party looks to be an undertaking as monumental as building the whole thing was.  Plus, why risk having a Deff Dread defeated by his Dred.  Everyone knows a Stompa is better then a Dred, even one as cool as this:

You can see his entire progress and all of his pics here.

40K Neotube - 6/9/10

I have not had much time to paint in the last 3 months.  Between work issues, and home renovations, home repairs, and kids home from college, I've just been really busy.  So I'm looking forward to getting some painting done this weekend at my buddy Steve's paint and gaming party.  So in preparation, and because I'm itching to paint my Trukk and my Deff Dread, I found this cool video of a guy showing off his Battlewagon.  Had some neat ideas that I'm intrigued with, and I love what he did with the magnets.  So click through the jump, and enjoy.

Also, no usual pic because Google has caught whatever Twitter has today, and it won't let me upload images.  I swear it feels like the internet is just falling apart today.  Sorry, just had to get that off my chest.

40K Radio, An Update

40K Radio may not be dead after all.  There is a new site called, of all things, Save 40K Radio.  From 40K Radio contributor, and organizer of the movement, Eldanesh:

 It's been a little over a week now since Spencer announced the cancellation of the show and I think it's time to get some things straightened out...
...I did want to let the community know that Spencer and I have been talking at length about the future of 40K Radio, where he wants to leave it and where it can go from here. One such possibility is that I may take up the reigns of the show in the future depending upon the arrangement. There have been other offers from former Freebooters and other Podcasts as well (you know who you are), and Spencer is weighing those options too.

I was not happy about the end of 40K Radio, so I'm glad to have some apparent good news to follow up with.  40K Radio was one of my favorite podcasts.  Like many people I loved to have it playing in the background as I painted minis.  So hopefully this movement to save 40K Radio can gain momentum.  It won't be the same, but change happens and hopefully this podcast can rise from the ashes.

40K Neotube - 6/2/10

There was no doubt this was going to be the video of the week, it's also an opportunity for me to give my review.  So I'm going to mix up my format a bit.  I'm going to put the video before the jump, and then my thoughts after.  So watch the video if you haven't already, and then click through to see what I have to say.

40K Neotube - 5/26/10

So it's been a while since I've posted a video that offers insight into actually playing the game of 40K here.  And since I had to miss my buddy Steve's last painting party and gaming session, I'm trying to sate the urge to game and dispel the darkness in my soul by posting this look into the Tank Shock and Death or Glory rules.

The 40K Radio Incident

So if you haven't heard, 40K Radio has ended.  There's been a lot going on over there and I was probably about 4 -5 podcasts behind.  Now I can't speak to the apparent falling out between Spencer, Scott, and Chipley, but during this time Spencer's wife had a miscarriage and Jar Jar (the guy who dropped the N-bomb on an episode) was allowed back for a second chance after his permanent ban was changed to temporary.

Ultramarines the Movie Teaser Trailer Teased

The Ultramarines the Movie guys have announced the teaser trailer for the movie is coming out this Saturday.  Since I'll be gone camping this weekend with no internet access I will not be able to watch it until Monday.  Needless to say, though, I'm stoked to see what they are doing.  Based on the interviews, concept art, and the conceptual 3D modeling, I have high hopes for this movie, and can't wait to see a glimpse of how it will look.

40K Neotube - 5/19/10

Well it's a busy week for me with work, and home life stuff, and Lost ending, and an article I'm working on, and work.  So I've held this in reserve for quite some time, but I give you (after the jump of course) the most boring 40k video I've ever seen:  The history of Games Workshop paints.  It's not that the video is bad, Devstro gives a good presentation, it's just that the topic is...so...freaking...dry...

40K Neotube - 5/12/10

Sometimes the videos are easy to find.  Sometimes it takes me a while to find a video I enjoy.  Sometimes I find a video and it's just not quite right, but I can't find anything better.  Today is the last scenario.  I found this cool stop motion Space Hulk video, but the sound has been disabled.  So, crank up the soundtrack to DoW or DoW II and enjoy the video.

After the jump of course....

Ultramarines the Movie Design a Standard Competition

The guys over at the Ultramarines the Movie site have a new competition to win a storyboard from the movie.  All you have to do is design a Standard.  The details are here.

Here's the 2nd Company Standard concept art if you need any ideas on what to do:

40K Neotube - 5/5/10

Happy Cinco de Mayo.  It's my privilege to present a video that is totally unrelated to Cinco de Mayo today.  Mostly because I don't know what Cinco de Mayo is about except drinking a lot of Mexican beer and eating a lot of Mexican food.  Seriously, I know it celebrates the victory over French forces by the Mexican Army, but for me it's just an excuse to buy Dos Equis and eat tamales.

So really this video is just a funny way to relax with a warm tamale and a cold Dos Equis.

Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising Golden Joystick Award Voting

The Golden Joystick Longlist voting has opened.  This is the first round of voting for the Golden Joystick to pare down the candidates to the more reasonable shortlist.

Dawn of War II - Chaos Rising is listed in the strategy game category.  I highly recommend voting for it.  And so does this guy:

40K Neotube - 4/28/10

My apologies to Bell of Lost Souls for running this video so soon after they did, but after my recent article lambasting the prequels I wanted to show how there can be common ground between our hobby and Star Wars.  And what better way than seeing Peter Cushing, aka Grand Moff Tarkin, painting and playing with historical miniatures.  Obviously the footage predates the existence of Warhammer 40k, but I like to think that if 40K had been around at the time he might have been playing our game as well.

See the video after the jump

Check Out this Blood Ravens Librarian

Not one to pass up an opportunity to wield the frighteningly minuscule power of my blog for good, I thought I'd link to the Blood Ravens Librarian my buddy Steve painted and then posted to Cool Mini Or Not.

I encourage you to go check it out and rate it.

40K Neotube - 4/21/10

Sometimes I just want to laugh.  And sometimes I laugh at the most ridiculous things.  Like a Team Fortress 2 Dawn of War mash up.  So enjoy and laugh.

After the jump, of course...

The Fall of Horus, A Comparison

It's been a while since I posted anything with any meat out here.  I've been swamped at work, and between vacation and family stuff, my 40K time has been lacking.  Except in regards to reading.  Where I haven't had the time to focus on painting, I was able to read.  I just finished the third book of the Horus Heresy series, "Galaxy in Flames", and while a lot of people have said a lot of things about these books, I couldn't pass up the opportunity to say something myself.  Reading these books stirred up a lot of emotions about another story featuring a character's fall.  So while I tried not to gripe and complain about the other story non-stop I just couldn't help but find that where this story faltered at tunes the Horus Heresy triumphed.

So if you want to find out what the other story is, and read my thoughts on the Horus Heresy, then feel free to hit the jump and enjoy my long-winded opinion.

40K Neotube - 4/14/10

I missed 40K Neotube last week because I was on vacation, and actually was driving home that day.  So as I wandered the sometimes desolate landscape that is 40K videos online looking at anything from Dark Eldar tributes, to how to use a spray gun, I found this video that hit last week.  It's several of the voice actors from Ultramarines The Movie discussing the facial capture technology they are using to animate the movie.

You can see the video after the jump

Ultramarines the Movie 3D Models, now with Textures

Hot Damn!  No, not the cinnamon schnapps.  The exclamation.  Because the awesome concept art that was fleshed out to greyscale models last week has now been given color and texture.

Here's the evolution of the Flamer:

And here's a larger image of the Flamer:

You can see the Bolt Gun, Chainsword, and Auspex Scanner in the Gallery

Dawn of War II/Chaos Rising Patch v2.2 Released

For what it's worth Dawn of War II and Chaos Rising have been patched.  I have personally not experienced any of the bugs that they fix, and I don't play much multi-player.  So this patch isn't a big issue for me...but it might be for you.

The patch will auto-install through Steam, but the details of what is fixed are here.

Ultramarines the Movie Greyscale Weapon Models

The first day back from vacation is always painful.  I like to equate it to a ton of bricks and a ton of Mondays sandwiching me in a crushing death blow that doesn't really kill me but make me wish I was dead.  Thus I would like to personally thank the people over at the Ultramarines the Movie site for making my return to reality a lot less painful with these greyscale models of the weapons that have, until now, been just seen in thoroughly awesome concept art.

The imagery isn't as cool as seeing a new Purity Seal, but it's really helping to show how they are working to flesh out the art from it's 2D conceptual phase to a 3D modeled look.  Plus, and maybe this is just me, but I love the idea that like our beloved miniatures the artwork starts as a gray model.

You can see all the greyscale models in the gallery.

Happy Birthday To Me

Celebrated my birthday at my parents' house in Georgia. I got the new Deff Dread. Oh baby I can't wait to put this bad boy together and have one of my buddies destroy him before he's able to do anything in the battle.
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

Ultramarines the Movie Character Concept Art - The best Easter gift since Jesus?

Sweet Zombie Jesus.  Character concept art for the Ultramarines Movie.

It's like I've died and gone to 40K heaven, which fittingly works with the Easter joke motif, but seriously,
just look at Captain Severus

You can see the rest of the images in their gallery.

40K Neotube - 3/31/10

I recently started reading the Horus Heresy, and I am currently engrossed in Book 2, "False Gods" by Graham McNeill.  I wanted to do something Heresy related but none of the fan made trailers I saw really interested me, so instead I thought I'd feature this cool interview with Graham McNeill