So do you want to contribute to something fun, while connecting with those in the Black Templars community?  Do you want to show Games Workshop how many people actually play the BT army?  To demand that the BT receive the attention they deserve?

Then go check out this page and let your voice be heard!

Alright, so before I start making some pretty hefty changes to Implausible Nature, there are some things I'd like some input on.  Obviously, I already have my own opinion on these "questions", but I'd like some outside perspective.  Perhaps you guys will see something I haven't and it might be better than what I've thought of.  I'm going to be doing these in parts, as to make this a more discussion-oriented series.  The first of which is more of an analytical nature, though actual game-play will be greatly important to your answers.  So let's get to it.

My first question to you all is how do we, as Black Templars players, insert effective and efficient anti-infantry (specifically MEQ) into our lists in 6th Edition?  Also take into consideration the newest BT FAQ that we've received, as well as the BRB FAQ. 

We're going to be seeing an odd meta coming up, as a result of Nova Open and the newest round of FAQs.  With a few more large-scale tournaments coming up very soon (i.e. Battle of Salvation), we'll start to see the meta with a little bit more clarity.  But as it currently stands, spammed Flyers died horrible deaths at Nova.  Infantry heavy armies, specifically in the troops department, were widespread.  Part of this was due to the table quarters mission objectives and how vehicles did not provide scoring for this.  That meant transports did little other than providing mobility to your forces.  I'm not yet sure that this will be the norm, but one thing is clear:  infantry-based/hybrid forces are here to stay.  So we need ways to kill them.

I'm going to throw out some ideas on how to accomplish this.  I would like you to blow my mind with out of the box suggestions.  This can be with, or without, ally support.  Some of this I've already mentioned in some form elsewhere.

• Plasma in large quantities.  Possible sources include plasma bikers, Command Squads with plasma, and IG allies -- Command/Veteran squads.
• Torrent of fire.  This can be found in a great variety of places when using allies, but for the Black Templars, its much more limited.  Tactical Terminators and Dakka Predators are the primary sources in the codex.
• Pie Plates of Doom!  I'm looking at you Vindicators.  Obviously, a cunning general can mitigate their effectiveness dramatically with proper spacing and cover, but they still have massive damage potential.  Especially if you take more than one.  IG also have this in the Manticore and Ordnance Batteries.
• Lots of high strength/rending shooting!  This requires the use of controversial ally selection, the Grey Knights.  Yeah, yeah.  I know...allies of convenience and all that.  Witches.  Blah blah.  Fact of the matter is, these guys shoot things lots and things die.  They are relatively cheap troop infantry for their kill power.  Which is definitely not the case for our troops.
• Close Combat.  While close combat is becoming exceedingly difficult to properly engage in due to the transport nerfs, it is not lost.  We still have units that are very good in that arena and others whom can make strategic strikes against our opponent's lines before they know what hit them.  Hint:  Our 5th Edition 10-man squads aren't it.  Assault Terminators with a majority TH/SS fulfill this function perfectly.  15-20 man Crusader squads with Chaplains have a place (provided they are redundant) in our lists again.  Just to name a couple.

I just listed five different things we can do.  There are a couple more I've thought of, but they are more obscure and probably less effective so I won't list them yet.  Let's see what you've all got for me.  :)

I remember.  Do you?

So now that I've had a few days to recover, let's talk about Nova Open.  Simply put, it was amazing yet again.  Totally worth the approximate $3000 needed to properly attend (including the cost to update army and loss of wages).  I ended up with a 5-3 record, including 4-0 in my last four games which netted me a Best General award.  :)

The issues with the hotel from last year were greatly improved.  Internet access per night still cost $5, but was better than $10.  Cell phones actually had data access in the event room, which was a vast difference from last year.  There was breakfast and lunch available this time around which was good, but it was a little spendy for what you got.  You definitely paid for convenience.

Smiley face?  Better believe it.  "But...but...but!  We got nerfed again!"  I'll tell you why:  I don't like things being left open for interpretation.  I play Rules As Written (RAW) in pretty much all things.  Hell, I emailed GW about those exact things (see comments).  Moral of the story?  I built my Nova Open list assuming we'd get the rulings we did.  Vehicles = important.  I distinctly remember saying this post-6th Edition release.  The new FAQ hinders Min/Max shooty squads a little bit, but then again, I've rarely built a list with a shooty unit without a transport.

Again, the sky still isn't falling.  I'll go through the "Why" this weekend, as well as putting out my post-Nova Open articles.  I needed a few days of rest and recovery first.  Unfortunately, I'll only have battle reports of my last two games (without pictures though) as none of my opponents, besides the first one, allowed me to photograph our games. 

Also, I'm probably going to stay away from B&C for a little bit.  The knee-jerk reactions wear on you after a while.  Everyone just needs to calm down and relax.  So if you read here, you're good to go.  :)

Well, I'm here for another night and my plane leaves early in the morning...but the GT is done and over.  Awards are in about an hour.  I am very pleased with how it ended up for myself.  Finished with an overall 5-3 record.  The first two games were rough, I will admit that.  Took losses to a 150-man Orc player and a semi-flyer Necron list.  Unfortunately, I didn't have my Vendetta for those first two games, because it was smashed after I dropped it on the way downstairs.  There wasn't enough time to fix it before my games, so my opponent got free kills and no flyer to deal with.  And in the case of the necron player, nothing reliable to kill his flyers with.  That was the deal breaker. 

Took one more loss the next day, but notched 3 wins (including my last two games to put me in the Finals today) to bring me at an even 3-3.  I'd have been happy with even that.  First game today, my opponent didn't show up so I scored a forfeit victory.  But since MVBrandt wanted us at the same "fatigue" level as our Game 8 opponents, I got paired up with another guy whose opponent didn't show.  We didn't just play each other originally, cause we were in separate brackets so we just used this game for scoring purposes.  I ended up winning this game too, so I don't feel like I cheated my way into a free win.  Finished with a "finals" score of 4-0, so I won Best General in my bracket (#11).  Yay for me.

List analysis will come later tonight probably, but I do have a minor comment:  my list did just fine.  Even against Flyers.  :P

When I get back home, I'll start filtering through the forum posts...cause I see there is quite a few of them now.  As well as try and start to make a dent on emails.  Then Implausible Nature is getting a 6th Edition face-lift!  ;)


Just in case you forgot what my list was...

HQ:
* Master of Sanctity {Warlord} w/ Thunder Hammer, Storm Shield, Crozius Arcanum, Terminator Armor, and Tank Hunters; 1 Terminator Command Squad Sword Brethren w/ Storm Bolter, Power Fist, and Tank-Hunters; 2 Sword Brethren w/ Cyclone Missile Launchers, Storm Bolters, Power Fists, and Tank-Hunters; 1 Sergeant w/ Power Sword, Storm Bolter, and Tank-Hunters. [405]
* Emperor's Champion w/ Black Sword, Bolt Pistol, Armor of Faith, and the Vow: "Abhor the Witch, Destroy the Witch." [110]
* Company Command Squad {IG Allies}: 4 Veterans w/ 3 Meltaguns, 1 Lasgun, and Close Combat Weapons; 1 Company Commander w/ Laspistol, Close Combat Weapon, Refractor Field, and Frag Grenades. Mounted in a Chimera w/ Multi-Laser and Heavy Flamer. [135]

Elites:
* Sword Brethren Terminators: 7 Assault Terminators w/ 4 Thunder Hammers and Storm Shields & 3 Pairs of Lightning Claws. [280]

Troops:
* Crusader Squad: 5 Initiates w/ 3 Bolt Pistols and CCWs, 1 Plasmagun & 1 Multi-Melta. Mounted in a Rhino w/ Searchlights. [147]
* Crusader Squad: 5 Initiates w/ 3 Bolt Pistols and CCWs, 1 Plasmagun & 1 Multi-Melta. Mounted in a Rhino w/ Searchlights. [147]
* Crusader Squad: 5 Initiates w/ 3 Bolt Pistols and CCWs, 1 Plasmagun & 1 Multi-Melta. Mounted in a Rhino. [146]
* Veteran Squad {IG Allies}: 9 Veterans w/ 3 Plasmaguns, 6 Lasguns, 9 Close Combat Weapons, and Krak & Frag Grenades; 1 Veteran Sergeant w/ Laspistol, Close Combat Weapon, and Krak & Frag Grenades. Mounted in a Chimera w/ Multi-Laser and Heavy Flamer. [170]
* Veteran Squad {IG Allies}: 9 Veterans w/ 3 Plasmaguns, 6 Lasguns, 9 Close Combat Weapons, and Krak & Frag Grenades; 1 Veteran Sergeant w/ Laspistol, Close Combat Weapon, and Krak & Frag Grenades. Mounted in a Chimera w/ Multi-Laser and Heavy Flamer. [170]

Fast Attack:
* Vendetta {IG Allies} w/ 3 TL-Lascannons and Extra Armor. [130]

Heavy Support:
* Manticore {IG Allies} w/ Storm Eagle Rockets, Heavy Bolter, Searchlight, and Smoke Launchers.  [160]

Total Points:  [2000]