The Five - Feb 2011 Edition

original image taken from http://english.eastday.com without permission.

The five best things about Special Operations: Killzone.

5. Overwatch – A rule from second edition makes it return to the game.

4. Missions – The Killzone team knocked this one out of the park by providing players with 18 missions.

3. Kill Teams – Seems kind of obvious, but there is something cool about being able to play a game with only a few models. This approach is great for folks like me that like to dip into certain armies without feeling the need to dive into them like standard 40K.

2. Themes – The army building rules allow for kill teams to be built around themes. This gives the game a sense of balance and really lets a person be creative using the existing codices.

1. Strategic but Small – I think some people have the misconception that Killzone games lack depth because of the small size. It is actually the opposite, as every model acts on its own and you are playing games on very terrain dense boards. The priority rules also make it that the game is always changing and you can be caught by surprise.

The Five - Jan 2011 Edition

What I always enjoy about any type of “Best of” list is the conversation that it generates. In particular I find it fun to read how individuals would change the list and their reasons for why the original is incorrect. “The Five” is my attempt at a monthly top five list related to the hobby.

original image taken from http://english.eastday.com without permission.

Who are the 5 most important supporting characters in the 40k Universe?

This month’s list is what I consider the five characters that have had the biggest influence on the current fluff without being in the main spotlight. We are not talking about the guys that books are based around, but the ones that get name dropped in stories. I also avoided any special characters which have actual game rules and/or models.

5. Arkhan Land
Arkhan Land was the technoarchaeologist that was responsible for finding the original designs that resulted in the land raider and land speeder.

4. Sebastian Thor
Sebastian Thor played a pivotal role in the defeat of Goge Vandire and the birth of the Sisters or Battle.

3. Inquisitor Kryptman
A desperate gambit to halt the Tyranid incursion has resulted in two races becoming stronger.

2. Commander Puretide
All of the Tau’s war philosophy originates with this guy.

1. The Dragon
The C’Tan at the heart of Mars is my choice for the most influential supporting character in the 40K universe because of its affect on the Adeptus Mechanicus.