40k League - 11th - Season 1 - Round 1 - Division 1

We are back boys and we have outsourced labour to a selection of Henchmen's finest chimps. And by finest I mean they were given a crash course in word processing and a very limited understanding of the written word. But here at Hobby Henchmen we work with what we have and that means Jack, Leo, Nick and Dan will be writing your predictions and results blogs for their respective Divisions while I do this one. So what is the landscape in Division 1? We have yours truly on a combination of Plague Legion and Cavalcade Daemons, looking to pressure you with Juggers and Screamers while GUOs and Plaguebearers score the points. Ross is clinging to the Kroot dream despite an aggressively disappointing 4-1 run at Birmingham this weekend....pathetic. Maxy boy is putting his faith in Purge and a very fast Custodes list, looking to roll 4s. Mike has broken out of the Necron mould to put the Grey Knights on the table - absolutely rogue choice but I love it. Chris has stuck safely in the smooth space of Necrons - I don't love it.

Luke isn't exactly known as an innovator but it never stops him dreaming! He is playing the same old shit. Then we have Mr Corbin stepping in with a filthy murder army of fish heads, gross.

Predictions

Max V Ross - Lions Purge vs Kroot Take and Hold

Winner: Ross

I feel like the missions aren't particularly skewed one way or the other here - usually it would favour Purge but that would only be the case if Max can hold his expansion throughout and against Kroot that is much easier said than done. If Max CAN hold his expansion throughout then year he should end up with a Primary victory especially as he has an End of Battle VP bonus. However it is Max and Ross so whatever the math says I was always gonna back the tiny bush dweller.

Luke V Tom - Hearthband Priority vs Montka Purge

Prediction: Luke

This is quite an interesting one as I think both lists can murder the shit out of a lot of the other list. But it will be whether Tom's force still has the juice once the Hearthguard land while also keeping Luke off the Centre objectives. They both have a decent amount of idiots to throw forward and keeping Luke off the Central objectives by standing right on the edge is the best way to use them, but Tau also need them for spotting so it is a bit of a tough one.

Purge can score regular big points by just murdering more of Luke's idiots than Luke does in return so my guess is an early lead and trying to hold on until the end. I think a lot depends on whether any Hearthguard are on the board. If they are in DS Votann are really exposed to mass pressure from Montka early and might not have enough left. But they are also slow boys.

I am going for Luke just because he has basically been playing the exact same thing for two years.

Mike V Chris - Brotherhood/Purgation Purge vs Cursed/Skyshroud Recon

Prediction: Mike, no Chris, no Mike, wait maybe Chris

Honestly I think both lists are fucking weird. I think Purgation Squads are wildly overcosted at 150 but I have neither faced them or run them in the new world of 11th so I could be totally wrong. I just think it is more likely the venereal diseases have already reached Freddie's brain when he was recommending stuff to Mike.

Chris' is only weird in the sense that it is relatively novel compared to usual Crons and I like that. Its more pure murder than pure aids that we usually face and this seems right up Chris' alley and he does have more experience playing Crons than Mike does GK. As you can see, above, I had a hard time picking a winner here. I think the roster to Disposition make up is highly advantageous to Chris but that relies on Chris actually playing the mission and stopping Mike from playing his game. Chris can shoot stuff and Consecrate super easily so if he can keep Mike off objectives the game is his. However I also expect him to leave gaping holes allowing Mike back in.

Everything in me wants to say Mike just based on Chris getting the red mist but I am going out on a limb here and backing the Necrons.