Wave Serpents WIP

Just sharing to share ...

Step 1 (airbrush)

Step 2 (darklines)

Step 3 (first color down on gems)

Charity Mission Pack, Information, Address

Charity Mission Packs have been sent out, along with address and other information.

For those wishing to spectate / sneak in at the last minute if a spot opens (there are 4 spots left now due to a couple of last minute drops), the location is at the corner of Old Courthouse and Creek Crossing roads in Vienna, VA. The specific address was sent in the informative e-mail to registered attendees.

If you are registered, and did not receive your e-mail, check your spam folder and/or contact me at mvbrandt@gmail.com

Looking forward to Saturday! We'll be on, rain or shine.

Charity RTT Update for this Saturday - 5 spots left

6/27 EDIT - EMAILS INCOMING SHORTLY; FINISHING UP PACKET FOR PREVIEW; 27/30 SPOTS GONE; WILL CLOSE EARLY REGISTRATION BY NOON TOMORROW; IF YOU SIGN UP AFTER THAT, IT'LL HAVE TO BE ON SITE


OK All,

The Charity RTT will be this Saturday, as per the prior informative post.

There are 5 spots left as of 11:09AM. Please keep attentive to this location; donations made after we are full will not earn guaranteed spots (though with RTT's, usually there's a no show or two).

Registered attendees will receive an informative e-mail later on today. Please make sure you have mvbrandt@gmail.com on your exceptions list or whatever, so that you don't spam block an e-mail sent to a large # of BCC'ed recipients.

This is not a painted, WYSIWYG required event. Being incompletely painted will deny you an ability to win Overall (the Invitational Alternate spot). If you are not WYSIWYG, you MUST be clear and reasonable. This is a fun event for a good cause, so we won't be overly harsh with anyone.

Please be on time and bring your best behavior - we'll be gaming at a volunteer's residence, and we'll be hosting several traveling out of towners, including several GT winners. Should be an interesting event :)

 - Mike


Registered List as of 9:50AM 6/27
A. Barron
L. Baranowitz
C. Shriner
D. McNeill-Burton
M. Taylor
M. Schuchman
B. Hunt
M. Andrews
D. Green
W. Born
N. Nanavati
S. Dodd
B. Roda
J. Parsons
S. Jasiczek
T. Augliere
K. Clauss
A. Gonyo
C. Gobel
J. Messmore
A. Calderone
K. Whalen
E. Siegel
M. Neville
T. Kopach
J. Metcalf
N. Thomas

"When the Bad Things Become Good Things" - Culmination of a Tournament "Season," and the Development of a Meta

Last year, I was in Amsterdam when 6th Edition Warhammer 40,000 fell down upon us.

Being the "responsible" TO I like to try to be, I'd preordered mine for pick up from ... well, from the Amsterdam Games Workshop. It's a cool place!

The release of 6th Edition did some CRAZY things to the NOVA Open. First, we had a bunch of drops; players who didn't feel they'd be ready in time and said "let's do next year." That was ok ... we had a lot MORE players say they would rather drop if we stuck with the old edition ... and who could blame them? Who wants to play an "old" Edition at a major GT when the new hotness just dropped?

So there we were, faced with a matter of really only a month to translate an entire new edition, new FAQ's, new combinations, new everythings, and somehow manipulate our missions into shape to be functional without also totally screwing over the players who'd just spent months preparing and purchasing and painting!

Last year's NOVA missions strongly resembled our 5th Edition standard and packet. They were tweaked to be more functional with 6th Edition, but not much.

This year, they've taken a lot of time, investment, and energy from the world community at large, and have developed into what I feel proud in saying are some of the best and most 6th-edition-reflective tournament missions out there. A whole big post is still in the works about WHY I feel that's the case, and what went into their design, and making them work in such a way that "standard" rulebook mission 6th edition armies would translate well in feel and success to the NOVA's matured 6th Edition mission packet.

Pausing there, the real thing about this post is ... sometimes Bad Things end up being Good Things.

For the first year of 6th edition, the big GT scene in a sense kicked off with the NOVA, and one might say despite hours of work, we couldn't have been perfectly ready ... and weren't. The missions weren't perfect, the meta wasn't developed, and it was a wild and whacky experience. BUT ... as a result ... we also get to be the first major GT to be held with a full year of brand new, rapid-fire-released codices, matured FAQ's, experienced blog-reading meta-developing list-building, and everything else all packed in and settled down.

So ... the bad thing is now kind of a good thing, and the buzz is showing. Registrations are at an all time high, and we're still getting tons of great feedback (At this point, mostly just positive) about where the missions and planning have gone to. I'm excited about it.

That said, what's the opinion of the average reader out there on where the meta is now? At first, everyone reacted to the changes to transports and vehicles with a mass exodus to "Foot." Blob guard and GK foot hordes ruled the day for a while, and the spectre of "Cron Air is going to dominate!!!!" faded in the face of mass foot armies kind of ignoring them, and winning a ton of events.

Then came the dreaded Heldrake FAQ (note, I don't say: CSM Dex), the FMC circus of Chaos Daemons, the rule-bending firepower of Tau, and now the Serpentine and very subtle potency of Eldar. Let's not forget DA and all that jazz. Either way ... the meta has changed as a result. Vehicles are now peppered into many armies, monstrous creatures and marginal deathstars are re-featuring, and the game is moving to this pretty radical place where balanced armies bringing a combination of big things, armored things, and foot are doing quite well.

What armies do you think will do well at NOVA and into the future this year? What style of build do you think will do best? Where do you think the game will go next? I, for one, am excited ... and can't wait to get my own models back down on a table with BFS, AdeptiCon, and more throughout the rest of 2013, 2014, and into the unknown future of 6th Edition. I'm just ... kind of excited about the game right now!

PS - Caveat - the "actual" Tourney Season, if there really is one, probably starts with AdeptiCon for most people, as the biggest and coolest and most mature event. I'm speaking more to the unique situation this year where the NOVA was the first international GT to hit after the release by dumb chance, and taking a long-view look at the maturation of the meta from radical instant-knee-jerk immediacy in August 2012, through what it looks to be turning into by August 2013 (in my opinion - something really awesome, cool, balanced, variable, and fun!).

Backyard BBQ for Charity - Vienna, VA, DC/MD/VA area, June 29 - RTT, Invitational Alternate

Anyone in the DC Metro region, this one's for you (and anyone who feels like a sunny weekend)
All proceeds will go to the NOVA Charitable Foundation (a formally organized, transparent, and entirely charitable 501c3), in direct support of Doctors Without Borders, the Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and Fisher House
Check out our charity raffles while you're at it (you need not attend the NOVA to win, or to support good causes!): http://novaopenfoundation.org/

Saturday, June 29
This RTT has room for 16-30 spots
$30 registration fee covers food, beverage, and support for a good cause

1850 Points, no FW, painting is not required, but is rewarded, and is required for Best Overall
This will also be the first look anyone gets at Torrent of Fire
http://www.torrentoffire.com/

Sign up and pay registration by going to:
http://novaopenfoundation.org/?tcp_product_category=donation
Select the fourth bullet, "Name of Charity: NOVA Charitable Foundation"
Increase quantity to 3 (So, $30)
Donate!

Registration includes tournament materials, and if you show up we'll give you:
1 x Burger (fresh ground beef patties), 1 x Hot Dog (kosher beef dogs)
2 x bags of potato chips
Beverages:
4 x 12oz Bottled Water
2 x Tasty cold beverage tickets (Some variety will be available)
2 x tasty cold beverage tickets may be exchanged for 3 x additional waters
You'll need to bring an ID

LIMITED additional beverage/food will be available

NOVA Missions; NOVA Primer, expect missions 4-6: http://www.novaopen.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/02/40kGTInvPrimer2013.pdf
3 Rounds, 2.5 hour rounds, 1 hour lunch, 30 minute 2nd break
9AM - 10AM Registration
10A - 12:30P - Round 1
12:30P - 1:30P - Lunch
1:30P - 4:00P - Round 2
4:00-4:30 - 2nd Break
4:30 - 7:00 - Round 3
7:30 - Awards

Awards -
Will be in the form of cash; scaling with registration #'s
Minimum $45 for Tournament Champion (highest BP + 3-0), Renaissance Man ([(Record X .9 + BP/Possible x .1)/10]/(Paint Score/100))
Minimum $45 for Best Painted
This will scale up to $90 cash for each award if we hit 30 players
The Renaissance Man will earn an ALTERNATE spot for the NOVA Invitational (http://novaopen.com)

All proceeds support the NOVA Charitable Foundation (which raises money for Doctors Without Borders, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, and Fisher House)

Dress for warm weather! There will be plenty of covered table space, but for those of us in better shape for the great outdoors, there will also be tables that can be enjoyed in the sun (optionally).

Address forthcoming, in Vienna, VA; this will happen in the lovely, large and sprawling yard and driveway space. The gaming area will be treated to remove / repel bugs prior to the event.

Please let us know any specific food allergies, restrictions, etc.

Thirty attendees is a HARD cap; if you want to attend, sign up!

More information forthcoming as I note errors or add more data. Please note, this is being put on by the NOVA Open in support of the NOVA Charitable Foundation; the two organizations are partners, but are not owned by the same individuals; no proceeds from or to the Foundation in any way impact or support the NOVA Open itself.

Torrent of Fire Further Explained - from the Developers

Chip Boyd is one of the minds behind the development of Torrent of Fire, which has been teased about on this blog and in the NOVA Open newsletters.

Chip is the hobby-side expert for a major publications company putting forth a highly-supported, heavily developed suite of tools designed to make the tournament going experience even better for both attendees and interested spectators.

He took some time to sit down in front of a blinking red "record" light to share some of his personal thoughts on TOF and where it's going, and why it's being developed.

Enjoy.

Meet Chip Boyd, the creator of Torrent of Fire and self-diagnosed 40k addict. He explains what you can expect this August, and how Torrent of Fire will give you the competitive edge that's been missing from our game. Join him in this revolution.

https://vimeo.com/68439967

Help a Cause Out - Work in Progress Photos of Charity Armies - DO NOT NEED TO BE AT NOVA TO WIN

A reminder quickly before the gorgeous photos - you do not need to attend the NOVA Open to win any of the armies. Moreover, the Charitable Foundation is fully independent of the NOVA Open, LLC. It's purely for charity, and that's where all the funds go!

http://novaopenfoundation.org/


BLOGGERS - Please, for a good cause, if you don't mind - give a shot at re-posting this on your own blogs and getting the word out. Every bit helps, a ton!

Some works in progress to whet your whistle.
Redemption of the Fallen, supporting Doctors Without Borders

Dan Withers of Valhalla Games has been posting some works in progress, and has finished a Rhino (click his site for more!):

You can see the very beginnings of Tim Williamson's award-winning techniques and talents on display as he begins some tactical marines (click HIS name for a lot more from his site, click "award-winning techniques" for an example):

I can't even bring myself yet to share Mike Cho's early work on Azrael.

The House of the Silent King, supporting Fisher House

Don't forget to check out The House of the Silent King for a very useful plug-and-play Necron detachment that's also getting the gorgeous treatment by Stiffneck Studios:

The Lightish Red, supporting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation

And Brendon Caulkins' gorgeous Lightish Red Khador army:

A special thanks to the board of the NOVA Open Foundation, and to the artists helping them out ... especially these rad graphics they've put together to logo each army:

Narrative Teaser Video and Hobby "College" @ NOVA Open 2013

Not into competitive gaming? Tour DC during the day, or participate in any of TWENTY SIX DIFFERENT SEMINARS, and then ... 

In the evenings ... 

Fight for the future of DC ... a little campy fun: 
https://vimeo.com/67614459


Just another quick video link of some campy fun put together by the NOVA's creative crew.

Share with your less tournament enthusiastic friends, if you don't mind, what they're missing out on by now in attending the NOVA!

Also, tournament attendees - all of these seminars can be taken ALONG WITH GT and other tournament play, check the schedule (http://www.novaopen.com/wp-content/uploads/NOVA-OPEN-2013-SCHEDULE.pdf). Some may even benefit you directly - how about building a display board with Jawaballs on Friday morning to use in the GT that follows?

Seminars:

Non-Hobby:
American Craft Cocktail - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=american-craft-cocktail-seminar
American Craft Beer - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=american-craft-beer-seminar
Basic Black Personal Firearms Defense - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=basic-black-introduction

Hobby:
Build-and-take Tectonic Terrain - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=take-home-tectonic-terrain-hands-on
Mold-and-take Hirst Arts / Molding/Casting - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=hirst-arts-terrain-tim-stone

By Justin McCoy, of Secret Weapon Miniatures:
Airbrushing Miniatures - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=airbrushing-miniatures-demo
Weathering - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=weathering-techniques-demonstration
Basing - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=basing-your-models-demonstration
Pigments Hands-On - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=using-pigments-on-miniatures-hands-on
Master Class Painting - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=master-class-painting


By Caleb Wissenback, Crystal Brush and numerous other award winning artist:
Primer to Tabletop Quality - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=primer-to-tabletop-caleb-wissenback
Blending 101 - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=blending-101-caleb-wissenback
Max Your Paint Score - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=max-your-paint-score-caleb-wissenback

By Chris "Jawaballs" Dubuque and his highly regarded "Jawaballs Way":
Freehanding Miniatures - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=freehanding-minis-chris-jawaballs-dubuque
Build-and-Use Display Board, Jawaballs Way - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=build-a-display-board-chris-jawaballs-dubuque

There's even a seminar pass just for the hobbyist - http://www.novaopen.com/?tcp_product=deluxe-seminar-pass-includes-one-entry-to-capital-palette-save-10-click-for-details

PSA on Rankings HQ

Just a quick PSA -

Rankings HQ has been non-responsive for over 2 months now to repeat attempts to upload the 2012 NOVA Open 40k results. There's a strange issue where I am unable to get them to show up in my list of tourneys I can upload results for, but several random events like the Onslaught GT show up on my list instead.

I haven't been able to get any replies since April 3, when he said my account should be good to go (and was not). Also offered to send results sheet to him, for them to upload. No response to that.

For anyone curious, the results are otherwise ready to go, sheet is fully filled out / etc. Simply can't upload and cannot get RHQ to reply to any of many repeated PM's. After a good deal of frustration, and some similar finagles last year where RHQ challenged us to prove we actually had 204 participants, figured a PSA was necessary for those who've been asking why we hadn't posted results yet.

A better tournament tracking system is needed. Hmm ... torrent of fire ...

 - Mike

40k Summer League - DC/MD/VA - Playoffs Yield NOVA Invitational Spot, and Cash - Run by IFL

Go here for full info and to sign-up;
http://www.ironfistleague.com/forums/General/Events/annual-ifl-road-to-the-nova-open-invitational-2013/
...below is excerpt:


Who: All DC area 40k gamers

What: The annual IFL Road to the NOVA Open Invitational – a six week Warhammer 40K 6th Edition 1850 league with the top 8 players competing in a 3 round playoff for an invite to the NOVA Open Invitational held August 29th – September 1st 2013.

When: Games start June 3rd and end July 14th.

Where: DC area local gaming stores or an agreed upon battle location

Why: To earn a chance to battle with 32 of the best players in the nation for $2,000 in cash prizes. . . 4 Days . . . 32 Players . . . 5 Rounds . . . 1850 Points.

Cost: Entry fee is $25.

Timeline:
Registration: 5/15 - 6/1
League schedule posted: 6/2
League Play: 6/3 - 7/14 (each week is Mon-Sun)
Playoffs: Location will be at Mike Brandt’s hacienda and date is TBD – most likely the fourth week in July or 1st week in August

Registration: Cost is $25 with $20 of each fee going to a prize pool with the remainder to the IFL and to support food/drinks for the playoffs. To lock in your spot pre-pay with Pay Pal to treasury@ironfistleague.com and note what the payment is for in the comments (IFL Road to NOVA Invitational) and your name / IFL forum login. Obtaining your IFL forum access is simple and free at http://www.ironfistleague.com/SignUp.aspx

League play:

- Participants will play 6 games over the 6 weeks against randomly paired opponents based upon current gaming location and then filled out by other league participants – we will try to minimize traveling but that is contingent upon how many players sign up at each respective gaming location.

- Each week we will use the NOVA Open 40k Primer Missions with week 1 using mission 1 and so on through week 6.  http://www.novaopen.com/wp-content/...er2013.pdf

- This is a 40k league so folks can get in their required weekly games WHEREVER AND WHENEVER they choose - at a nearby DC game store or other suitable battle location agreed upon by the opponents.

- A couple of DC 40k open gaming nights for your consideration are: Tues at IFL game central – aka Brittany's Restaurant , Woodbridge, VA; Wed at Dream Wizards , Rockville, MD; Thurs at Game Vault , Fredericksburg, VA; and Fri at Eagle and Empire , Alexandria, VA.

- Opponents can use the IFL forum thread or PM function to coordinate games – access is free and requires filling out a short access form.

- You have one week (Mon-Sun) to play your game. If you cannot play your game that week you can reschedule your game to be played in the subsequent two weeks (as long as it is before last day of the regular season).

- Whenever a game cannot be played in the week it is assigned, a reschedule is no problem.  However, the gamer requesting the postponement must be credited as the ʺpostponerʺ.  If the game is not played by the end of the season it counts as a loss for the postponer and a win and 20 battle points are awarded to the opponent. If it is a mutual postponement, the game will be labeled as such, and if the game is never played, the game will result in a draw with 5 battle points awarded to each player.

- The Winning player will report whether he won by primary, secondary, tertiary, or tiebreaker or by how many battle points on the league’s google doc spreadsheet – see below for point breakdown.   To validate score, both players will have to input their initials in a cell in the spreadsheet for the score to be official.

Tiered Missions:
Win on Primary - 20 battle points
Win on Secondary - 15 battle points
Win on Tertiary - 10 battle points
Win by Tiebreaker - 5 battle points BOTH PLAYERS REGARDLESS OF W/L

Cumulative Missions:
Win by 5+ Mission Points - 20 battle points
Win by 3-4 Mission Points - 15 battle points
Win by 1-2 Mission Points - 10 battle points
Win by Tiebreaker - 5 battle points BOTH PLAYERS REGARDLESS OF W/L

- Rankings will be made by win/draw/loss and then by battle points. In the event of a tie for the final playoff spots, a play-in may be used to determine seeding - this call will be made by the Commissioners.

- Games are self-policed – any arguments will be settled by a dice roll-off if not located in the rulebook and/or subject to interpretation. Report any rules abuses to the Commissioners – they will review and take action accordingly to include issuing warnings to rules abusers.

- League games will be played without a time limit and will end per 6th Ed Basic Rule Book criteria. Playoff games will be completed per the Invitational parameters set forth in the NOVA Primer.

Army lists:

- Must be submitted upon registration/payment to: theironfistleague@gmail.com Players must use one 1850 army list for the entire league.  Allies and fortifications are allowed except for the Fortress of Redemption. No Forge World is allowed.

- For League play we will accept proxies with the goal of a fully painted WYSIWYG by the playoffs. If a top 8 army does not meet this standard by the playoffs they will be disqualified - the next ranked player down will be invited to the playoffs and so on until the 8 player requirement is met. A player can always petition the Commissioners for a waiver if there are extenuating circumstances that prevent meeting the established standards.

*********Update**********
- New Eldar:  due to the impending release of the new Eldar codex on June 1, we have adopted the following policy:  Players that commit to playing Eldar as a primary detachment or ally submit a list using the old Eldar codex.  Within 72hrs of the codex release (or it is acquired via other means), Eldar players must resubmit their lists.  After that, all lists will be made public and accessible via Google docs.



Prizes:
Estimated minimum 20 players x $25 = $500
$100 set aside for playoffs food/drinks
Purse: $400
1st place: 35%
2nd place: 25%
3rd place: 12.5%
4th place: 7.5%
5th place: 5%
6th place: 5%
7th place: 5%
8th place: 5%

Staff: League Commissioners – Madd_Mike, Shrinedawg, and Purdune (IFL Forum names)
** All rulings and interpretations made by the league commissioners are final.