Summer 40k League R3 Roundup and R4 Predictions

I am again combining the Roundup and Predictions into one blog post because I can do what I want. The Roundup won't have images but the Predictions will - I am a generous and benevolent soul.

Roundup

Craig (Champions of Contagion) V Ben B (Seer Council)

Prediction: Ben B

Result: Ben B

Boom shaka got one right straight away! I watched Craig during this game, not only to plan my next sexual conquest, and he openly wept several times. Aeldari continuing to be irritating as fuck to play against. What a loser.

Tom S (Gladius Ultras) V Max (His usual IA nonsense)

Prediction: Max

Result: Max

Tom got idiot jailed and didn't push out fast enough to stop Max claiming the win.

Sam (All Bigs IK) V Fletcher (Fulgrim Peerless)

Prediction: Fletcher

Result: Sam

I forgot to take Fixed for this, which was the plan, as big Knights can action and shoot/fight and thought I had dropped a right bollock. However EC really dont have many answers to hull skews.

I boshed my Lancer right into him T1, and got Battleshocked through a wall. Seemed to have all gone wrong when it didn't kill Fulgrim but I exploded and took about 300 points with me.

Fletcher took an early lead but was tabled T4 and I could catch up and storm ahead.

Ross (Aspect Host) V James (All rounder Invasion Nids)

Prediction: Ross

Result: Ross

This was James' first introduction to Aeldari in 10th and it was something of a ruining.

Jack (Final Day GSC) V Dan (Virulent DG)

Prediction: Dan

Result: Jack

Although I predicted Dan's return to mediocrity I underestimated Jack. These two were part of the four pioneering Outdoorhammer at Hobby Henchmen and they tell us it was a rioting success despite being in the direct sun for the first half of the evening...

Sean (Berzerker WE) V Gary (Virulent)

Prediction: Sean

Result: Gary

Maybe the Outdoorhammer of both games threw Sean and Dans brains out and that is why my predictions were off. Yeah I reckon it was that.

Angus (Phalanx Tsons) V Jenko (Kauyon Tau)

Prediction: Jenko

Result: Jenko

Angus was initially down as the winner but this was mostly due to him being glacier slow at 40k currently. Probably all the poisoned water he spends his time frolicking in. Jenko was given the win by both parties when the remaining turns were looked at.

Chris (Combined Guard) V John (Hekaton Votann)

Prediction: John

Result: Chris

I don't really know what happened here, I think Johns list is good into Chris and we know Chris struggles to do things that need neural connectivity. John just hates VP.

Mike (SS Necrons) V Dickie (Hammer with Baneblade Guard)

Prediction: Dickie

Result: Mike

It all came down to Queen Liz and Queen Liz disappointing in staggeringly unlikely statistical ways. I'm sure this will make Dickie change his mind....

Luke (MSU Votann) V Nick (Lions Custodes)

Prediction: Luke

Result: Luke

Luke basically started his 40k career learning how to murder Custodes and he has got it down to a fine art.

Mark (Reapers Drukhari) V Ryan (Noble IK)

Prediction: Ryan

Result: Ryan

Mark fucking loves playing Knights - he has asked for extra gaming sessions just to play them with his Drukhari because the match up is so good. Loves it.

Harry Lord of the Rubric (Coven Tsons) V Ben J (Gladius Ultras)

Prediction: No one wins here

Result: Ben

Harry has an interesting knack of making steps forward with 40k, taking on suggestions, appearing to learn how to play. Then BOOM he takes leaping strides backwards, forgets all previous instructions and guidance and scores 24vp.

Luke N - Jamie

Bye for Luke N

Tom D (Taktical Orks) V Freddie (Stormfang Wolves)

Prediction: Tom D

Result: Freddie

Tom is clearly spending too much time near Harry.

Predictions

Sam (All Armigers) V Max (IA nonsense)

Prediction: Sam

I have reached into my crystal ball and decided that I will smash Max on stream and cause a near incident with a shower and toaster.

Dickie (Baneblade Guard) V John (Land Fortress Votann)

Bye for Dickie

Ben B (Seer Council Aeldari) V Ross (Aspect Host Aeldari)

Prediction: Ross

Pointy eared showdown with one being more irritating and the other being more aggressive. Both players are seasoned Aeldari players so this could be a quite a close one. The mission is Lynchpin and both armies have sneaky ways to get to your home objective and be a dick about it. I am plumping for Ross just based on experience but could go either way.

Jack (Final Day GSC) V Tom S (Gladius UM)

Prediction: Jack

Tom has already taken a DG scalp and lost to IA so is hard to predict right now. I think his low volume, high quality shots count against him here though, similar to IA. Those flamers of Jack can do annoyingly devastating things to marines with additional AP so Tom might have to be more aggressive with his vehicles to pull off the win here.

Chris (mechanised Hammer) V "Craig" (Champs DG)

Prediction: Chris

This is a dicey one as DG are hard to bet against in general but with Chris rolling forward four Dorns I can see trouble in Craig's future. DG can kill Dorns but its a matter of how efficiently they can do it. Even lowering their Toughness by 1 doesn't make wounding them much better for a majority of the DG army.

The flipside is if Chris leaves space for some 6" Deathshroud ambushing he could be in serious danger.

Mike (Sharshatter Necrons) V Luke (MSU Votann)

Prediction: Luke

I don't underestimate the pure killing power and ability for Mike to hold objectives but I know Luke's list trade super efficiently and Beserks can potentially chew through those Wraith Bricks. Not sure they get it done in a round though and that could really hurt Luke in response.

I think this is a genuinely exciting game as I think it is all to play for. In fact I am going to name this my "Game of the Week". This means absolutely nothing except I think it is the most interesting match up. I might remember to do this going forward for a game and get each players post game take. Also I might forget this is a thing.

Fletcher (Peerless EC) V Ryan (Canis + Armigers)

Prediction: Ryan

Another person who absolutely loves the incoming Knight meta - Fletcher. EC are more able to kill small knights though so it is more of a game than it was against my all bigs list. I still think Coterie offers more than Peerless but Fletcher is sticking with it, like a fool.

Me and Ryan have been exchanging love notes about IK recently and he seems well equipped to take on EC here. Don't let me down man!

Jenko (50 Breachers Kauyon) V Dan (Virulent DG)

Prediction: Jenko

I actually think Jenko's weird 50 Breachers can do good work against DG just with pure volume not really caring about the toughness of what they are shooting. The Sky Rays can also totally wreck HBLs so all the killing power is there to get the job done. Question is whether Jenko will fall behind on primary too quickly while Dan weathers a bazillion shots each turn.

Sean (Mixed Arms WE) V Luke N (Awakened Necrons)

Prediction: Luke N

I really think Sean will struggle to clear the Warrior and Wraith bricks without getting bogged down and grounded away. The DDA's outshoot the Forgefiends as well so I think this is going to be an uphill struggle for Sean. Luke does occasionally go mad and do mental things so I would be hoping for that.

Ben J (Gladius UM) V James (Invasion Nids)

Prediction: James

One day I will predict a win for Ben. But it is not this day.

Nick (Lions Custodes) V Freddie (Mental Stormfang Wolves)

Prediction: Freddie

This is a hard one to predict - Custodes have ample ways to weather the storm and punch back in anger but there is just a lot of stuff on Freddie's side. Freddie is also well primed to launch an attack on Nick's home (usually guarded by a unit of sisters) which is back breaking in Lynchpin.

Mark (Reapers Drukhari) V Tom D (Taktical Orks)

Prediction: Mark

This is a weird one - on one hand Drukhari can kill infantry super effectively, of which Ork armies are dominantly made up of, but on the other the Orks arrive mostly in Trukks, which is more of a pain for Mark.

If Mark can pop the transports and have stuff ready to charge in and mop up the game is his. If Tom can stay safe and then pounce in the Waaagh then Mark will be stuck trying to stem the tide of death rather than scoring points.

Harry Lord of the Rubric V Jamie (Dread CK)

Prediction: Jamie

Harry is gonna get run over.