Dark Vengeance: Review

Just to get this out there. My experience with Warhammer 40K, or any table top game for that matter is null. 

Purchasing Dark Vengeance was quite an investment, costing £70. It felt like a gamble, as if I didn't like it then I've blown all that cash. However as I used to collect a few models a few (13) years back, I felt pretty confident in buying it.

What made me get this box set over other starter army sets is that it included models, introduction guides and the tools needed to play.

Included in the set are the following items:

• How to play quick start booklet 48 pages
• Abbreviated rulebook- 168 pages
• Assembly guide- 15 pages
• Reference sheet
• Template set with dice pack and range finders
• 28 Chaos minis: 1 Chaos Lord, 6 Chosen, 1 Helbrute, 20 Chaos Cultists
• 20 Dark Angels: 1 Company Master, 1 Librarian, 5 Terminators, 10 Marines, 3 Bikes
• Base pack

As someone who used to collect CSM, all these new models were right up my street and began my submersion back into WH40K.

From a beginners point of view, it's an expensive start. If your experience in this sort of thing is limited it can be overwhelming to buy this box set. It is a good way to get into the game, as this whole set saves you a good £100 if you do take up the hobby.

You get a starting ground to build an army, it may not be a massive one but big enough to enjoy some games with.

I've suggested it to a few people who are interested in playing as its value for money is brilliant unless it turns out to not be your cup of tea.

Very glad with the purchase and hope you enjoy the up coming models.

Killa Kan: WIP

Just a quick shot of my first Killa Kan in progress.

Chaos Cultists: Meat shields of the 41th Millennium

First out of my Dark Vengeance box, and first to get blasted with the spray can.

MEAT SHIELDS. Weak bullet fodder. 

These are the first models that I've completed from scratch (in ten years) and even they suffer the spray can for a second attempt.

Luckily there aren't any photos of the first paint job, so this shame is well hidden.

Other than playing the standard games which come as part of the box set, I haven't used these guys in a proper game yet. 

Cheaper than normal CSM, so you can swam your opponent with them, but these poor wretches are nothing better than meat shields.

I did find use for them when playing the "Helfire Stone" scenario included in Dark Vengeance.  

By using them as a shield for the Helbrute who was the one grabbing the relic, they came in use and helped win the game. 

Now that my understanding of the rules has improved (not by much, forgive me), it turns out that only troop units can pick up relics. So after what use I did find, it turns out I wasn't playing fair.

As far as colours goes, I hadn't decided on what legion I wanted for my Chaos Space Marines when I started these. Using separate colours schemes for each of the units, I went for a lore approach. Being cultists, they'd have jumped alongside any CSM on their planet, so match colours didn't matter.

Enjoy!

Introduction

Hello and welcome.

First thing to know about me and my skills with playing Warhammer 40k is that I am a beginner to the actual game.
However this blog is here to capture my skills as a mini painter, along with my developing skills are a table top gamer.

A little about me...

I first collected Warhammer way back sometime around 2001 when I was 11 years old. Back then a friend got me into collecting as I was amazed by all the models and pieces. What few models I did paint back then, well let's just say they can stay hidden in 2001, and my gaming skills didn't fall short of picking the models up and shouting "pew pew, take that monster!", whilst knocking the others over. Again those shall remain in the past.

So back to the present.

I got a little bored with my time around autumn of 2013 and was wondering past a Games Workshop were I decided to pop in for a look, a craving for nostalgia. It was suggested that I purchase the "Dark Vengeance" box set as way to see if I still wanted to get into it. After a few days mulling it over I caved and thought why the hell not. The money was only going to go on beer at the pub.

There I sat, over a month of painting and gluing, flocking and basing, spraying and stabbing... and they all looked awful.

Now I'm not new to painting or anything "arty". I hold an A Level in Art and Design, I'm practically Van Gough (unappreciated in my time, he he) or something like that. But even with all these wonderful skills I have at painting things that will bring me fame after my death, not even I could be happy with the way my first actual attempt to paint turned out.

After advice from posts in Reddit (r/warhammer and r/warhammer40k) I pulled the spray can back out and went to work on them once more.

And now you have my blog, a collection of my painted models and up coming projects, a look at my newbie army lists and reviews of games where even the Blood God is ashamed of how many of my own skulls are being collected.

Regards,
Dan