Black Matt's Black Legion Blog

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from Battle for Salvation in White Plains, NY

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Thu, 24 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Everyone, well almost everone, from Battle for Salvation in White Plains, would like to wish everyone Happy Holidays.

Happy Birthday James!!

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 01:11:00 +0000

The Band wagon!! What an excellent seat!

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 14:57:00 +0000

Well its that time of year again, a new codex, another end of the world. Except this time, I have decided to help usher in this apocolypse!!! Announcing right here and now, I bought my very own tyranid army!!!!!!! I am not going to say anything about the new codex, because I couldnt give a care how good it is! It will have good things, it will have bad things but what I know for a fact is that it will have great new models. I bought Ultrabob's tyranids off him, who in turn bought them off of me! What goes around comes around? That, I know is a fact! Anyway enjoy the battle report!

Organized are we?

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:04:00 +0000

Dark Lord cape construction part 3

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Mon, 14 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Warmongering in White Plains, NY

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 01:00:00 +0000

Like the video says, We have had a lot of new players come through the past year. None of them have been as Zealot as this guy!

Sorcerer Lord cape construction part 2

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 15:12:00 +0000

Sorcerer Lord cape construction part 1

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Real life Mother effing tactics

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Sun, 06 Dec 2009 02:54:00 +0000

Holy crap where do I begin? Should I worry about what may be interpreted as hubris, or should I tell a great story? Well I obviously have already made that decision since I am here writing this. I cant help, it as I am beaming with joy at what has unfolded. When I go home to my native Springfield, IL I am going to get, "mad props," for this. Oh damn I cant wait to see some of my oldest and dearest friends. Hahahahaha!! Have I built it up enough!??!
Introducing to my left, Matt Mitrione! Ex NY Giant, Ex Minnesota Viking professional football player, and now the winner of a televised UFC fight. HAhahaha, gotta give the guy a plug right!

www.mattmitrione.com

So Saturday night I was flipping channels watching T.V. and land on the Spike channel and watch for a few moments as they introduce each fighter and I laugh to myself that one of the contenders reminds me of someone who I had an "encounter," with in high school during a indoor soccer match. Then while announcing their bios, they mention that both fighters are EX NFL players. My eyes and grin widen to the point that Gollum would be put to shame! When I was in high school, I got into a fist fight with this slow wit and beat his ass. Not malicously, but heroicly as he was much bigger and stronger than most and was using that advantage to bully his way. This is no joke and I am telling no tales here, mister! When things broke out, all he knew was attack, and attack he did, recklessly!!! Peppering him with jabs and staying away from him, I waited until the fool tripped over his own feet and landed face first at mine. Opportunity knocked, so I answered and knocked right back, HARD! I embarrassed him since he didn't land one punch and he left with his head held low. As with most jocks or anyone who is used to dominating their field, it is SO easy to turn their arrogance and incorrect prejudice of your weakness into a weapon that you can use to turn the tables on them and beat them down. Just be careful, there is a reason they are overly confident in themselves. You better come out swinging and seize the opportunity when it presents itself or you'll end up another notch in his belt!

Black Matt vs Jawaballs repost

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Fri, 04 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

This is, by far, my favorite battle report that I have done!

Vs. Ultrabob's nids

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

XENOS EXTERMINATUS

the Wolf counter attacks 1K vs Wolves prt 2

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Wed, 02 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

My first battle report vs Fritz

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 14:00:00 +0000

I know this is a repost but since I have a few more readers, I thought I would drag some of my favorit battle reports out of my chaos crypt. This is the first one that I ever taped against good ole Fritz! Enjoy!

vs. Huron Black Heart from Blood and Blades!!

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Mon, 30 Nov 2009 14:10:00 +0000

Hey Huron, I had a good time getting to know you and thanks for the challenge! See ya next time for round 2!

Action Pics from BFS tournament Fall 09'

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 23:42:00 +0000

Here are some of the miscellanous pictures that I took while walking around last weekends tournament. Next week I plan on reposting some of my favorite battle reports as well as some new ones. I had a challenge from Huron BH that I want to get up and a rematch of the Thousand Sons of Magnus versus the Wolves of Fenris.

the contender

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Wed, 25 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Well here are Rob's Orks! Impressive arent they? When I said that I was back and forth all day on who should win best painted, I wasnt kidding! An uneducated eye might ask why I would choose Ben over Rob. That is a good question! Without a doubt, Rob's army was displayed better than Ben's. That would have been one of my major critiques of Ben, the absence of a display board. The best way that I can describe my decision to give it to Ben over Rob, would be to compare it to the judging of an olympic diving event. The complexity of the dive is given great consideration in the final judging and score of the competitor. Rob's conversions are without doubt the best at the event and I took special joy in them. But I was reminded that this was a painting competition and not a converting contest. In reflection, I feel I should have taken how extensive his conversion work was into consideration when choosing a winner. I will chalk this up to inexperience and do a better job next time. That decision left me with close scrutiny of color choices and techniques. As awesome as Rob's army looks, it would be a fairly simple technique to paint. I loved Bens color choices and his line weight was VERY consistant, thourough and straight. Rob's army tended to blend together and it felt as though there should be one more color in there to break up those badass convertions!

The beauty of it all is that I cant be wrong because I was the judge!!! muhahahahahahaha. My opinion is that both armies were great for different reasons. I choose to take a more hard lined approach to my first judging. Was it right? Let me have it!!!!!!!!!!

Best Painted

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Mon, 23 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

I am not really sure why but I didnt take that many pictures of Ben's Army. I video I took was supposed to be complimented by another one of the contender's, (Rob Baur,) army but I spaced on that as well. I did however take a lot of pics of his so that will be coming up. I had two major critiques of Ben's Army and I will give them to him personally if he asks!

and the winners are!?

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Sun, 22 Nov 2009 02:46:00 +0000

We just finished up with the fall 09' tournament here in White Plains, NY and we had a surprising repeat! Jawaballs returned to take the top spot of OVERALL BADASS. Greg from Brothers Grimm took 2nd place Badass and our own Danny Internets took 3rd. Robert Roda took Best Sportsman and Ben Bangley wowed with his Eldar for Best Painted. Special mention has to go to Rob Baur for his great work on his awesome ork/guard army. I was back and forth all day on who was the winner! Jawaballs was also in the running until I caught him with some mold lines on a couple of guys.
It was the closest tournament that I have ever seen. We had a three way tie for third and a tie for first. I dont know what people will say, but the way we had to choose a tie breaker was the only way I see possible. The scoring of our tournament considered battle points and sportsmanship. These were the only two categories given a numerical value. Sportsman was used as a tie breaker for battle points, but as usual, sportmanship scores were all perfect. Go figure, I really hate sportsmanship scores, and with a tie in battle points and a tie in sporty points, how do you pick a winner. We choose to look at the toughness of opponents. Jawaballs won because his opponents had scored more battle points than Gregs. That is how we then decided who won third and who lost out. To be honest, I wish that our club members would have lost out in both situations because of the possible whispers saying there was homecourt advantage pressed here. I want to guarantee to everyone that is not the case!!!!!!! It just worked out that way! So what do you guys think. Given the situation should we have chosen a winner a different way?
***edit*** In the future we will keep track of either kill points or victory points in order not be put in this situation again!

vs. Fritz and the green apple corp

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

Hey everyone, since I was unable to successfully wield the eldar blade, Fritz thought he would give me a hand by showing me how. It is Wed. night and I still dont have the army done because I havent recieved the bits that I need to finish it. Will they get here in time? We will see wont we?

If I dont own a rulebook, is that wrong?

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:29:00 +0000

Powerfists, flamers, and meltas oh my!

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Mon, 16 Nov 2009 14:11:00 +0000

When I first started playing this unit, I took all flamers for the 08' ard boys. Its also the first time I played the divine Lash. Over the past year and a half, I have taken the chosen in many different forms. Most common was 5 guys with 5 meltas and a rhino on a suicide mission. Recently, I have wanted them to be more survivable so I add more guys to act as meat shields and a powerfist so they dont become bogged down in close combats. I have also become a big fan of combi meltas on the rhino so I can target two different units when I come in off the board edges. If I could afford it, I would really like a mark of Tzeench on the unit for the 5+Inv. I have had better than expected results play testing this unit, so even though its all my 250 eggs in one basket, this is what I have chosen!

8 man chosen = 144

1 powerfist = 25

3 meltas= 30

1 flamer = 5

Rhino = 35

w/ combi weapon = 10

249 pts.

*** Xadhoom gave me some serious thought about the chosen squad. I dont play the daemons so I didnt really think about this idea beforehand. Good Job Xadhoom and I gave it some serious thought, but I am going to stick to my guns and not play any sort of daemons. ***

"The Chosen infiltrate, have a lot of special weapons, as well as the cheapest Aspiring Champion in the Codex. Mix in a Greater Daemon (or rather, the potential threat of one) into this, and you have a distraction the enemy simply cannot ignore in the opening stages of the battle." - Xadhoom

The choice is made!

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:34:00 +0000

The choice that I have made is a unit that can be tooled out to deal with a lot of different threats. I choose the CHOSEN!
One of the things tha I have found is htat my army is lacking, is distraction units. I would consider my army an elite army because everything that I take tends to be on the expensive side . WIth no cheap units to provide a distraction, I find the meat and potatoes of my force taking the full force of my opponents wrath.
During any objective mission, I will almost always outflank the chosen. Outflanking is the main reason that I take this unit when jumping up to 2000 pts. That and being able to arm them to the teeth outweighs them being where I need them only 66% of the time. So the wrap up question today is: How do you equip your chosen squad with only 250 points to spend?

1750 to 2000 what to do?

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:17:00 +0000

So expanding from 1750 to 2000 for the upcoming tourney has left with some interesting choices. There are a lot of things to consider when making a points jump. Available force org slots, number of points, style of play that you enjoy, and what your army is lacking are all things you should consider.
In my situation, I have several options available. If I wanted, I could combine my 6 Oblits into 2 squads from 3 and include another heavy slot. With 250 points I could include any heavy choice or break up the points and get any of a number of cheaper one hit units. I could take a 70 point predator and still have 180pts to do what I want with. There are a million combos but only 1 that I have chosen. Tell me what you guys think!!
1) What is my 1750 dual Lash tournament list lacking?
2) How would you spend the 250 pts when jumping from 1750 to 2000 without changing the original 1750 composition?

Jetike army vs. orks

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:28:00 +0000

Well I will have to compare Fritz to a gymnast from now on because he makes it look damn easy! Whadya think of the new banner and Chris' scratch built deff dread?

guardian torso conversions

raker1@rocketmail.com (Black Matt) — Fri, 06 Nov 2009 14:00:00 +0000

As everyone probably already knows, Battle for Salvation is putting on our Fall tournament in a few weeks. We have been having a few technical difficulties with our registration site, so I am writing this post so that evryone knows that it should be fixed. www.baldandscreaming.com/tournament

Sorry about the mix up. If you have already sent your money to the paypal account, that will be enough to register yourself for the tournament. There are a couple of people who I know pay attention to the blog that I need to get a hold of. Greg Sabino, Doug Mundy, and Tony Fasano, if you guys could shoot me an email I would appreciate it. Raker1@rocketmail.com We accidently erased your email address'. The video is for Magilla Gurilla who asked me how I got the guardian torsos on the jetbike rider legs. Here is your answer and hope your feeling better!