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Blood Axe List
http://www.tacticalwargames.net/taccmd/viewtopic.php?f=86&t=11432		 Page 1 of 4
Author:  nealhunt [ Tue May 10, 2005 7:06 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
Hey guys.  Over last weekend, I posted a list for the Blood Axe clan on the EA Forum.  I would love to hear some feedback from you guys.  I can also provide a .doc file if anyone would like a copy.

http://www.specialist-games.com/epic/fo ... IC_ID=6391

As a quick teaser:
=============

DESIGN NOTES: The goal of writing a Blood Axe list was to create an army list that is Orky in feel, yet different enough from the core list to give it a distinct flavour and feel. The following were the major ideas that I wished to include:

1) Looted imperial vehicles. I believe this is mandatory for a proper Blood Axe list.

2) In keeping with their background of raiding from spacecraft, I felt there needed to be a substantial Planetfall potential.

3) Create a new concept for Ork armies similar to a 20th century Air Assault force that operates with rapid, helicopter insertion into dangerous areas.
Author:  CyberShadow [ Wed May 11, 2005 4:44 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
Hi. I noticed this fairly quickly, and I have been looking for the time to go into it in more detail. One thing that I am not sure about is your theory that the Blood Axes would be a 'drop' force. I have not heard this before.

Also, I am not convinced that any amount of Ork tinkering would be able to make a Vindicator (or Hellhound) into a Flak Wagon!  :D  I understand that there are there mainly because they dont have transport, but you have no actual Gunwagons in the force. Is this right, or an I just confused?

I must admit, that my conception of a Blood Axe force is extremely similar to the standard Orks, with the addition of Imperial-type vehicles and a few more Stormboyz.

I am sure that there is an easier way of dealing with the vehicles, either simply having a seperate stat that covers five of six different vehicle types (Predator-type, Leman Russ-type), or applying a standard modifier to the basic normal stat line (for example +5 points, -1 armour, +1 firefight, all ranges reduced by 15cm to a minimum of 15cm, +5cm speed) and then limiting exaclty which vehicles can be purchased (so no Shadowswords for example).
Author:  nealhunt [ Wed May 11, 2005 5:15 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
Also, I am not convinced that any amount of Ork tinkering would be able to make a Vindicator (or Hellhound) into a Flak Wagon!  


I posted a typo.  Either no one else caught it or they realized what it meant and ignored it.  It should have been:

Gunwagons
Razorbacks
Vindicators
Hellhounds
Predator

I went and edited the thread.

With respect to the standard Ork-conversion modifiers, I considered that, but then that would mean making point costs for all the different variations.  At the very least it would require a Marine-conversion factor and an IG-conversion factor because of the different point structures for the armies, i.e. different initative, strategy and morale rules make the point conversion different.  I made up the Appendix Count-as-IG option for people who really wanted to field Imperial vehicles with minimal modification.

I'm actually strongly considering gutting my entire IG force to make a Blood Axe army that could be fielded either way...


One thing that I am not sure about is your theory that the Blood Axes would be a 'drop' force. I have not heard this before.

From GW's official fluff:
By means of a few working spacecraft crewed by slaves, and by infesting suitable space hulks, the Blood Axes are able to launch sporadic raids on other Ork clanz. They do this to settle old scores; to capture loot, slaves and Gretchin.

That put the drop-theme in my head and it seemed fun and different than the core Ork list.  The Drop Kan idea is one that I've had running around my head so long I can't remember if I read it in fluff, a friend made it up way back when, or my own demented imagination produced it.  I've even got a mental image of a crunched-down soup-can sort of pod, with a parachute landed haphazardly next to it.

========

Are there mechanical/balance concerns or is it just the style you dislike?
Author:  vanvlak [ Wed May 11, 2005 5:29 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
I like it Jimbo - any Imperial left overs from the Squatachan disease will find an Orky home. I only disagree with CS on one point - a Mekaniak WOULD find a way of making a Vindicator an AA weapon. And I think I'll prove it... :p
Author:  CyberShadow [ Thu May 12, 2005 12:51 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
Jimbo? He gets everywhere!  :;): Damn, now you have got me thinking about how an Ork would convert a Vindicator to a flak unit! I cant wait to see this.

Neal - Sorry, it is a product of my job that I pick at all of the little details, perhaps more than I should. Anyway, I am glad that Gubwagons are included as for me they are the key unit in a Blood Axe force.

You present a very good argument against Ork-conversion modifiers. I am not so keen on using Imperial vehicles unmodified. For me, a Blood Axe force is a load of Orky-Imperial vehicles. I was considering just using the standard Ork list and stats but changing the minis, but I am very intrigued by your list.

Dont get me wrong, I am certainly not against a drop Blood Axe list. I was just unfamiliar with the background behind it. Besides, I think that it will be the strongest element to distinguish the difference between the Blood Axe clan and the Deth Skullz, which would otherwise result in a similar looking force. Besides, I love the idea of Drop Kans!  :D
Author:  vanvlak [ Thu May 12, 2005 1:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
Quote (CyberShadow @ 12 2005 May,13:51)
Jimbo? He gets everywhere! ?:;): Damn, now you have got me thinking about how an Ork would convert a Vindicator to a flak unit! I cant wait to see this.

Bwaaa-ha-ha! Actually, it's very damaging to progress, as I diverge to other projects all the time. This one has two solutions...... hurr-hurr-hurr  :cool: (orky skunk works)
Author:  nealhunt [ Thu May 12, 2005 7:36 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
CS:  No sweat.  I just misunderstood.  I really wanted to do the Air Cav force for Orks.  A confluence of different ideas that had been turned over with a lot of different folks suddenly made that come to life for me and I figured the Blood Axes would be the perfect clan.

What is your opinion on the overall style?  Does it feel Orky?  Is it distinct enough?  Do you think that the 3 new styles (armored div, air cav, drop troops) fit?

And most importantly... what's your opinion of the balance?
Author:  Mojarn Piett [ Fri May 13, 2005 7:10 am ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
I like the "Imperial" style as it fits the old fluff of the Blood Axes actually trading with the Imperium. Back then they even used human mercenaries.   :cool:

Unfortunately I can't comment on the balance as I have no playing experience with E:A.  :(
Author:  vanvlak [ Fri May 13, 2005 7:18 am ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
Ditto Mojarn - I remember that old pic of a Blood Axe boss haggling with a commissar, with Imperial troops and Orks attacking together.... I'd certainly be willing to try it out!
Incidentally, the Vindicator AA construction is complete; painting next. I'll be posting the pics elsewhere so as not to clutter this thread.
Author:  Mojarn Piett [ Fri May 13, 2005 1:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
Quote (vanvlak @ 13 2005 May,07:18)
Incidentally, the Vindicator AA construction is complete; painting next. I'll be posting the pics elsewhere so as not to clutter this thread.

Does it shoot something like the Japanese AA shells for battleships' main armament? They were filled with tracers and were supposed to burst in the middle of a aircraft formation and function like giant shotgun shells.  :O
Author:  CyberShadow [ Fri May 13, 2005 2:37 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
Neal: I guess that the air-cav thing just hit me from left-field a bit, but I must admit that I warming to the idea. In general (and this is based on observation alone), it seems quite well balanced. I like the idea and I think that it will look cool.

But, for me, there just seems to be something missing, that I cant quite put my finger on. I think that it needs a stronger central theme. Right now, it a rearrangement of the standard Ork force, which is probably why the balance looks right. I think that it needs something different/new to mark it out. I want to collect both a standard Ork force, and a Blood Axe one, and I want the armies to play differently.

Am I making this clear? I will think on it some more. I think that the list works well.

Thanks.
Author:  nealhunt [ Fri May 13, 2005 3:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
I think that it needs a stronger central theme.


Fair enough.  I'll ponder it a bit.  If you come up with some ideas I'd like to hear them even if their off-the-wall.
Author:  Legion 4 [ Fri May 13, 2005 3:27 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
We're very pleased with the SM1 (w/mod from SM2/E40K) Ork Templates. So we use those and plan on staying with them. We do that for most of our armies.  Only 'Nids and T&K are in question for organization ?  But do what works for you, as we do ...     :;):
Author:  iblisdrax [ Sat May 14, 2005 8:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
Whee!!  Another list to playtest!  Will report back as soon as possible.

:D

my 2cents,

iblisdrax
Author:  vanvlak [ Sat May 14, 2005 9:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Blood Axe List
Ok. This is bad. I hadn't noticed the Lobba wagons. Or the drop kans. I'm building a Vindicator AA, a pair of Land Raider conversions might just end up in Blood Axe colours, and my 20 IG tanks based on Orky plastic tanks are reverting back to Orkdom. I've even found a colour scheme.... Nealhunt, you have to answer for this!  :p
It seems my Bad Moon gargants will get BAs in support.   :cool:
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