So, let’s get my priorities in order.  I’m leaving for GenCon tomorrow, so everything else, especially work, can jump right into the lake, and stay there, wet as water, until I get back.

There, that felt good.  Okay, so after the next four indescribably good days I’m about to have, I’ve got a tournament, the UGG 1600 point jobber, the week after that.. and I still don’t have a decision on the army I’m playing.  The bottom line is, I think that my opponents might have more fun seeing Bretonnians, because they’re uncommon in my gaming area, but I’m a lot more comfortable behind the reigns of a Dark Elf army.  I LIKE my Bretonnians, but frankly, I’m far less experienced with ‘em.  Okay, well, I think by typing this, I’ve just made my decision.  One enters a competition to compete.  Dark Elves it is.  Done.

I’ve gotten no painting done since Starcraft II came out, by the way.  I’m going to get NO points because I’m bringing a grey plastic army to a tournament.  I’m such a loser, and I have James Raynor, ex-Confederate marshall, to blame.  Outside Warhammer and Starcraft II, I’ve taken a very big personal interest in Mantic Entertainment recently, as they’ve officially gotten Alessio Cavatore to write their rulebook.  I’m volunteering to be part of the beta for their rules, and would love to broadcast the results.  Mantic’s miniatures have gone from good to great, and their prices are getting harder for me to ignore.  I may have to pick up a few boxes of their dwarfs to use for my Chaos Dwarf legion, and I’m getting excited to see their eventual Orc line, coming sometime down the road.

On a personal note, my 13-month old son Samuel is officially walking, not just faltering steps, but really moving about the apartment.  Egads!

So, we’ve got a tourney coming up next month, and I’ve been tweaking a Dark Elf army.  It’s lean, it’s mean, and considering that the tournament is only 1600pts, I’m pretty happy with how much havoc my mean little elves can create.  Six point spearmen beg to be put into the horde formation.  Army Standard Bearers belong in this army… and frankly, EVERY army.  Cold One Knights can be reliable again, and more to the point, utterly vicious.  My Crossbowmen are getting MORE shots out per turn thanks to ”Fire In Two Ranks”, and finally, Dark Elf magic is versatile, easy to cast and destructive.

So, WHY ON EARTH do I keep revisiting my Bretonnians?  I believe quite firmly that they’re not benefiting from the new rules the way other armies are.  Cavalry don’t appear to have to impetous to deal with the huge rank and file blocks expected in the new metagame.  Every table is brimming with cavalry-unfriendly terrain.  The threat of a Steadfast unit has the potential to be the undoing of the very concept of this whole army.

Yet we now have Heroic Killing Blow in our arsenal, one of the most powerful stone throwers in the game, significantly improved options for magic, not to mention that the Lance Formation, Lady’s Blessing, and Knightly Vows haven’t gone anywhere.  I’m stubbornly determined to make these guys a success in 8th.  Famous last words.

Well, if nothing else, I could always go back to my Chaos Dwarfs.  Steadfast this Earthshaker cannon, you scumbags!

So, now that Daniel has got us blog pages, Christopher will undoubtedly be posting here. However, at this time he’s asleep and I don’t want it to just say “Sorry, Christopher hasn’t posted anything yet.” so I’m putting this up.

I’m certain he’ll delete this soon. He’s mean like that.