Apocalypse: The Big Game III

The largest Warhammer 40,000 game in the world returns Saturday, March 16, 2013, with the primary battlefield for The Big Game III moving to Games Workshop's Memphis Battle Bunker--and an additional front of the massive conflict occurring in North Texas, at Gunslinger Games!

Hosted by http://www.apocalypse40K.com The Big Game III will feature a custom scenario linking Apocalypse battles across the United States and six countries!

Interested players in the DFW area are encouraged to arrive at Gunslinger Games at 9:30am; set-up and first turn will be completed before a lunch break, then play will accelerate to the grand climax. There is *no charge* to participate in The Big Game III, and no restriction on what players may bring beyond that they be fully-painted, authorized/licensed Apocalypse miniatures (Citadel, ForgeWorld, Epicast/Armorcast, etc) and that all participants have a printed copy in hand of the relevant codex/datasheet/sourcebook for their used-forces. Players are encouraged to bring all their goodies, though forces may be sized at time of play to achieve relative balance for the custom scenario.

Join thousands of hobbyists and millions of points of forty-first millennium armies at Gunslinger Games Saturday, March 16, 2013 for Apocalypse: The Big Game III!
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Apocalypse 40K February 23 at Gunslinger Games

Gunslinger Games will host a Warhammer 40,000 6th Edition Apocalypse Multiplayer Megabattle Saturday, February 23, 2013, beginning at noon, as the forces of the Imperium rally against the Ruinous Powers to gain control of an Imperial research outpost that has gone inexplicably silent in the 'Race For Dark Arcangel!'

Anyone interested in participating may bring a force of up to 750 points from a single codex, with at least one Troops choice and some model clearly recognizable as a leader (either an HQ choice, a squad upgrade such as a Sergeant, or a distinguishable model) mandatory--anything else they wish to include is their preference! Players must have a legible, accurate army list and the source codex in hand.

Players wishing to play an Apocalypse Datasheet--either a superheavy vehicle, gargantuan creature or Apocalypse formation--may substitute that vehicle, creature or formation instead of the 750 point base force described above, so long as the model is painted and the player has the source Datasheet in hand (either from White Dwarf, an Apocalypse published volume or printed from the GW website). IF THE DATASHEET HAS NOT YET BEEN MODIFIED FOR 6th EDITION IT WILL NOT BE ALLOWED IF THE PLAYER HAS NOT CLEARED IT--AND HAD IT UPDATED IF NECESSARY--BY THE EVENT MODERATOR IN ADVANCE. This can be done via the Adeptus North Texas emailing list, accessible from http://www.adeptusnorthtexas.com . This may mean the player has slightly fewer or considerably more points available to them than the base force--a single Reaver Titan, for example--but it would not be an Apocalypse game without such monarchs of the battlefield! Trust from past experience there will be important roles the standard objective-seizing squad will still have to play on the day.

If Players wish to bring a Core 750 point force such as described above AND a Datasheet, or two Datasheets (such as two superheavy vehicles), they can--but to do so, they must make a minimum $20 purchase from host Gunslinger Games, and notify the Moderator via the Adeptus North Texas emailing list they have so qualified. Anyone making such a purchase from GsG of an Imperial Bunker terrain piece or a Skyshield Landing Pad terrain piece and who gets it assembled, painted and brought to GsG for use in the scenario on the day of battle will accrue a custom Apocalypse Stratagem battlefield benefit, useable by their force on the day!

The thematic forces in the battle will be Imperial--Space Marines [including Dark Angels, Blood Angels, Space Wolves and Black Templars], Grey Knights [including Inquisition], Imperial Guard and Sisters of Battle--against Chaos--Chaos Daemons, Chaos Space Marines and Traitor Imperial Guard. Eldar, Tau, Dark Eldar, Orks, Tyranids and Necrons may all either be drawn to the conflict or already have a presence on the planet and be awakened by it; they will fight whichever side they are attacked by/view as the enemy (ie, will be used to balance sides) but will not be able to determine victory or defeat for the scenario--if any forces of these races, regardless of which side they battle for, hold the objective(s) at race's end, the result is a Draw (arguably a victory for them).

Apocalypse Stratagems will be used but will be assigned to each side to use collectively in the pre-battle conference.

Generals, rally your commands; Arcangel has fallen silent, fell powers gather about it, and a terrible secret lies waiting for those with the power to seize it. Take to the 41st millennium battlefield Saturday, February 23, 2013 at noon at Gunslinger Games and attempt to win the 'Race for Dark Arcangel!'
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Secret Door Apocalypse Charity Event

The Secret Door, a new North Texas GW retailer in the Midway Mall in Sherman, announces a Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse event Saturday, July 14, at the Bryan County Community Center, Bryan County Fairgrounds, Oklahoma, to benefit 'Raising for Rylie'--a charitable organization funding a liver transplant for a six-year-old girl in need.

A donation of at least $10 per player (with all proceeds going to the charity) earns participants the opportunity to bring a force of 1000 - 4000 points. Every 40K race is welcome, and while painted models are preferred the charitable nature of the event means all are welcome. Gameplay will begin at 10am.

The event will also include a Raffle, an Auction, starter kit building demos, a model display, other fundraising activities--and food!

Contact Andrew at The Secret Door with questions or for additional details, and rise to Rylie's defense July 14!

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War for the Norh'tek Nebula Campaign

The release of 6th Edition Warhammer 40,000 is upon us...and to renew enthusiasm for the Hobby and its storytelling and model-building--as well as gameplay--aspects, Adeptus North Texas and participating Metroplex retailers will follow it up with an expansive new ongoing campaign!

War for the Norh'tek Nebula will see each participating store representing a planetary system; as the Nebula region of space roughly corresponds to North Texas, so each store system will be roughly contiguous to their location across the Metroplex. The campaign theme will be announced following the release of V6 details, but all 40K combatant armies will be able to participate!

Campaign battles will be fought three ways 1) in participating stores; 2) at special events (tournaments, Nebula games days/Apocalypse megabattles) in participating stores; and 3) at home/clubs/anywhere else. There will be incentives to fight games actually in stores--for example, retailers who provide in-store playing space will represent a planetary system within the Nebula with a major planet, and all games played in-store will count toward control of that major body, while games fought elsewhere but committed to that system will count toward control of moons/minor planetary bodies therein--but *any* game played (and reported) by participating hobbyists can affect the ongoing campaign. This will allow participating stores which retail GW product but lack in-store playspace to still participate (though their planetary system may be a shattered planet or asteroid belt or somesuch similar lacking a major planet--since they cannot host the in-store game portion--if they can rearrange their store for the occasional special event they might get a special 'high priority' asset discovered to fight over, for example).

The campaign is being announced well in advance of product release to allow hobbyists to take advantage of an additional campaign feature: players will be able to 'declare' a home planetary system by purchasing any version of the upcoming V6 rulebook or the eventual V6 starter boxed set from a chosen retailer--and any campaign games players win for their home system accrue extra benefits toward control of that store's system (representing investment of and/or control of high value assets, etc, such as any martial force might commit to maintain 'home base'). Hobbyists should thus consider in advance where they play most frequently, encourage that retailer to join the campaign, and then make their rulebook/starter set purchases there!

All administering of the campaign will be done on Adeptus North Texas so interested hobbyists will need to be subscribed to the site's emailing list to report results and follow campaign events. Hobbyist participation will be rewarded with in-campaign benefits, as well: name your army's commander, write up your chapter's background, share a campaign battle report, use your graphic arts skills to help compose the Norh'Tek Nebula map (or your store's individual planetary system)--and post it to Adeptus for the community to share!--and you may see it reflected in ongoing campaign events.

It is a time of change; it is a time of struggle. It is the forty-first millennium--and regardless of edition changes, one fact remains constant: in the grim darkness of the far future...there is only war!

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TTS Megabattle Objective Contest

A reminder that, while most prizes at next Saturday's Apocalypse 40K Megabattle at Texas Toy Soldier will be awarded randomly, door-prize style, to pre-registered players, there will also be a prize awarded to the participant who brings the Best Objective to be used in the game.

This marker can be anything your contingent might fight over--a building ruin containing some special resource, a wrecked vehicle (your own, or an opponent's!), a casualty to be captured or rescued--and will actually be used in-game, so the more the better! Please insure your marker is based for ease of setup.

Use your creativity, your imagination, your spare parts/Bitz box; make a start toward some new home-table terrain or an element of your Astronomicon 2012 display board; and have an objective your army will be motivated to fight for on the shores of the river Akeron at the Apocalypse Megabattle, September 24 at TTS!
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Superheavy Hall of Fame in September at HobbytownUSA Dallas

Now through the last Sunday in September, 9/25, hobbyists can submit their best Baneblade, Shadowsword, Stompa or other Citadel/Forgeworld superheavy vehicle to HobbytownUSA Dallas, 8041 Walnut Hill Lane at Central Expressway, for display in their 'Superheavy Hall of Fame!'

As noted in this month's White Dwarf, submitted models will be showcased instore through Sunday, September 25, 2011, when those judged best will be awarded prizes from HTUD and Games Workshop!

See Jeff, Adam and the staff at HTUD for details--and get your best 41st millennium war machine model entered into the Superheavy Hall of Fame! +++

40K Apocalypse Megabattle Sat, Sept 24 at TTS!

Texas Toy Soldier will turn their entire game room into the 41st millennium on a grand scale Saturday, September 24--supplying over eight meters of Apocalypse 40,000 battlefront for an enormous--and totally free--multiplayer megabattle!

Order will defend against Ruin along the banks of the River Akeron, with objectives for all 40K armies to be seized or held. Players should begin arriving for briefing at 11am, with first turn kicking off by Noon at latest.

To insure participation, players should sign up in person at TTS for a slot as either Order (all Loyalist Space Marine chapters, Imperial Guard, Inquisition [-including Grey Knights and the White Dwarf Sisters of Battle-], Eldar and Tau) or Ruin (Chaos [-including Chaos Space Marines, Chaos Daemons and Traitor Guard-], Orks, Tyranids, Necrons and Dark Eldar). Players should indicate on the sign-up sheet their name *and* army.

In addition to guaranteeing their slot, players who sign up in advance will be allowed to field a 1000 Point Apocalypse force of any organization (including Datasheets, both formations and superheavies), and will be encouraged to bring additional superheavies to balance sides. Players who do not sign up in advance may show up on the day at TTS, subject to available slots, but may bring only a 500 Point Apocalypse force OR a single superheavy to a maximum value of approximately 500 Points.

Additionally, Texas Toy Soldier and Games Workshop will support the megabattle with prizes on the day, most of which will only be eligible to those who sign up in advance!

Many prizes will be randomly awarded during the battle--but one major prize will go to the player who brings the Best Modeled and Painted Objective to the battle, representing their chosen army. This could be as small as a fallen commander (modeled on a base at minimum, please) or as large as a race-customized terrain piece, vehicle wreck or other structure!

All models used on the day must be fully painted and based. Additionally, players should have an accurate, printed army list of their detachment for review, and all supporting publications (codex, datasheet, etc).

The River Akeron has been the site of brutal combat for control of the planet Scytulus III. Fallen on both blood-soaked banks are heroes of both sides, important data- and weapon-caches, and salvageable wreckage. Fate has conspired to bring the rescue forces of virtually every major combatant together simultaneously...and the Akeron runs red again!

Be a part of it Saturday, September 24, 2011--at the Texas Toy Soldier!
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Battle of Thirteen Fiends at HTUD Aug 13!

While the competitive 40K player has Ard Boys at various venues across the country Saturday, Aug 13, North Texas hobbyists with a storytelling bent can join HobbytownUSA Dallas that day for an Apocalypse Megabattle, as seen in this month's White Dwarf--The Battle of Thirteen Fiends!

Join Jeff and Adam with either Chaos Daemons, Chaos Space Marines or Traitor Guard to try to protect a latent spawning portal on Scytulus III, or with Grey Knights, Space Marines, Imperial Guard, Sisters of Battle or Inquisition forces to attempt to seal it! Eldar and Tau players may fight alongside the Imperium, and Dark Eldar, Ork, Necron and Tyranid players may ally with Chaos (albeit for their own nefarious purposes).

Players should arrive at HTUD by 11am Saturday, April 13, with an initial 500 point Apocalypse force (which can also be a Datasheet formation or superheavy vehicle of roughly 500 points); this initial force need not be fully painted, so newcomers should feel welcome! Veterans with larger forces can bring addtl 500 point allotments which moderators will add to each side, for balance (although these should be painted). Call Jeff or Adam for further details.

Just beyond the warp veil, the Thirteen Fiends lurk, ready to sweep onto the ravaged battlescape of Scytulus III--will you save the world from their unholy wrath, or usher them into reality to unleash it?
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Result: Gunslinger Games 40K Apocalypse Megabattle

Eight players representing both Loyal and Traitor Guard, space marines, Chaos Daemons and Tyranids--including two Reaver battle titans, two Warhound scout titans and a Dactylis bio-titan--clashed atop the plateaus of Scytulus III's primary mountain range at Gunslinger Games' 40K Megabattle Saturday, with every participant taking home prizes as well as at least one memorable moment of heroism (or villainy) for their detachment, before the Dactylis located the objective--a wand of brass, obsidian, amber and lapis pulsing with Warp power--and managed to wade through the combined firepower and physical resistance of all the other players to escape with it!

Although a wealth of other events on the day (and I hope to hear results of both WHFB tourneys and the other 40K megabattle here--as well as Free RPG Day tales!) kept some hobbyists who had made qualifying purchases from attending, the event seemed to have been enjoyed by all participants, the Scytulus campaign storyline advanced--and GsG is onboard for future GW hobby events. Watch Adeptus for details.

See Gunslinger Games' website and the For The Emperor website for additional photos and coverage, and thanks to GsG for hosting a great afternoon of wargaming fun!

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Gunslinger Games 40K Megabattle June 18th

Gunslinger Games announces their first Games Workshop organized play event--and it will be Apocalyptic!

On Saturday, June 18, hobbyists are invited to participate at an all-day Warhammer 40,000 multiplayer Megabattle, 'The Secret of Scytulus III,' incorporating Apocalypse superheavy vehicles, flyers and datasheets, and featuring multiple interactive battlefronts!

Through a purchase (or purchases) of GW product from Gunslinger Games, players qualify to participate in this megabattle event--and if they then build, paint and bring the qualifying purchase in to use during the day, they can accrue special in-game bonuses!

Players may qualify to participate in the 40K Megabattle through the following kinds of purchases from Gunslinger Games:

1. Any GW/Citadel Building or Ruin Terrain kit (note this includes any Warhammer Fantasy kits, as the Imperial world in contest is quasi-medieval).
2. Any Warhammer 40K Vehicle or Monster kit (this includes Walkers, Transports and even Superheavies).
3. Any variety of Warhammer 40K Squad box set (which can include odd models that are not strictly vehicles, such as bikes, jetbikes, destroyers, battlesuits, etc).

Qualifying hobbyists should make their purchases from GG as soon as possible, especially if the item will have to be special ordered, to ensure they can assemble and paint their purchase, and bring it to play with on event day at Gunslinger Games as a part of their Megabattle exploratory force. Players who purchase a Building or Ruin terrain kit and bring it, finished, to play over, will get rerolls to search every terrain piece, based on advance scouting/recon of the area having provided them an extra level of battlefield familiarity; players who purchased and bring, finished, a Vehicle to play with as a part of their exploratory force may have a free tech-specialist crewman aboard, with an ingame effect of affording them rerolls on any vehicle damaged/destroyed results (must take second roll); players who purchased and bring, finished, a 40K Monster as part of their exploratory force may assign it D3 extra Wounds to begin the battle, rolled before their first movement, to represent their sending their mightiest into the fray; and players who bring, finished, their purchased squad may see it led by *their* best of the best, a hero (sergeant or squad-leader equivalent) who has a free Iron Halo 4+ Inv Save and the player's choice of either +1WS or +1BS!

And most importantly--these benefits may be combined: any player who buys and brings a terrain piece, a vehicle or monster AND a squad purchased from Gunslinger, for example, may receive all three purchase bonuses during the day's event! If there is a battleforce box you have been considering for your army--or as the basis for starting a new one!--this would be an opportunity to make one purchase qualify for several play bonuses!

And although an Apocalypse game in every sense, for those who prefer that, Gunslinger Games' June 18 Megabattle will be a terrific opportunity to try out a new army, as each participant's exploratory force will be built to a maximum of 500 points. These forces can be constructed using Apocalypse rules--which means no Force Organization Chart is necessary, players may bring any combination of models they choose--and may also include Datasheets, or be composed of Gargantuan Creatures and Superheavy Vehicles...but the per player total of no more than 500 points makes constructing a compact starter force to explore with easy (which in turn becomes the foundation of an entire army). That 500 point total may be approximated if a player chooses the Gargantuan Creature/Superheavy Option, as some such cannot be fielded for less than 500-and-change; the awesome Citadel Baneblade and variant tank kits, or the Ork Stompa, would make excellent qualifying Vehicle purchases, and be even more survivable with the Megabattle special rules for completion. Players wishing to field a Gargantuan Creature/Superheavy Vehicle of *significantly* more than 500 points (such as a ForgeWorld Titan or Flyer) may be allowed to do so, but as that purchase could not be made through Gunslinger to qualify, they will have to purchase and complete the Building or Ruin option indicated above in order to participate, and then clear permission to bring their high-point Superheavy in advance with the event moderator (North Texas Outrider Chris at Adeptus North Texas).

What will these exploratory forces be fighting over? The Imperial world Scytulus III has already seen an explosion of conflict, as the seemingly insignificant, quasi-feudal world has been suddenly and savagely attacked, from within and without; now that conflict has suddenly intensified, as scanner readings have revealed the presence of an object of enormous arcane power, somewhere on the world. The players' objective will be to search the planetary ruins for that hidden object of power.

This item of power will be revealed in-game, when found, and will be something the squad, monster or vehicle which successfully retrieves it will be able to employ not only during the Megabattle, but in future Scytulus III games/events at Gunslinger Games and across North Texas! To heighten interest, however, Gunslinger Games, Adeptus North Texas and Games Workshop are going to up the ante still further, by offering qualified participants a number of prizes throughout the day--which will be triggered by terrain searches which *do not* reveal the mystery object! These prizes will include Gunslinger Games gift certificates, admission to future events, Black Library novels and Citadel miniatures!

And do not forget that Gunslinger Games is the host of the spectacular Battletech Virtual Reality pods, which will be up and running at a special rate for Megabattle participants on the day!

June 18 will be that day; Gunslinger Games will be the place; the fate of an Imperial world will be the bounty. Time is of the essence: get to Gunslinger as soon as possible to insure you have plenty of time (over two months from event announcement!) to order, receive, construct and finish your terrain or army element.
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Texas Toy Soldier Apocalypse Game Feb 5!

Allen and the crew at the Texas Toy Soldier will host a Warhammer 40K Apocalypse Game Saturday, Feb 5!

Players should arrive when the store opens at 10am and *must* be unpacked, deployed and ready to roll dice before Noon, and may bring forces of up to 3000 points per participant *subject to the constant standard for play at Texas Toy Soldier that all models must be fully painted.*

All 40K army factions are eligible for participation in this one, and there is no cost or purchase requirement to participate (though TTS's sales are ongoing)--so make your way with superheavies, flyers and datasheets in hand to the Texas Toy Soldier, 4220 Spring Valley Road just east of Midway on Saturday, Feb 5 for war in the forty-first millennium--Apocalypse style!
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Result: HobbytownUSA Dallas Worldwide 40K Apocalypse Battle

Ten players rostered over 16,000 points (including a total of five gargantuan creatures and two superheavy vehicles) in the HobbytownUSA Dallas portion of the worldwide Imperium vs Xenos Apocalypse 40K megabattle January 22, 2011. The Dallas portion of the battlefield took place amidst a wintry city ruin, with the two forces clashing across a dried-up and decaying canal bed. The Imperial forces were led by a Puritan Daemonhunter Inquisitor with retinue and a contingent of Grey Knights in the center, Soul Drinkers space marines to the right flank and Howling Griffons terminators led by Librarian Ulysses to the left, with the entire battle line buttressed by the guns of the Imperial Guard; facing them were tendrils of Tyranid hive fleets Tiamat and Cerberus, and a small contingent of Necrons awakened by the conflict. The battle was escalated by the unexpected arrival of Khornate Reaver Titan Angrones Irae...for Khorne cares not whence the blood flows.

The Xenos seized the initiative and threw their dominance in monstrous and gargantuan creatures across the crumbling spillway at the Imperial host, taking an early first turn advantage in held objectives 3-1 which humanity could never quite make up. At the top of the third turn, the Imperium adopted a Stalingradian approach to the battle, eventually using their firepower advantage to destroy *every* objective on the field save for the three they either had controlled, or felt they could contest; consensus was the strategy would have worked if initiated a single turn sooner, but at battle's end the Xenos held a 5-4 advantage in objectives held for at least one turn, and held one of the three remaining objectives with the other two in contest.

Apocalypse, however, is less about the outcome than the moments of high drama getting there, and this battle featured them aplenty. Without question the hero of the day was Howling Griffons Terminator Librarian Ulysses: aided by the most effective deployment of the archeotech Asset Vortex Grenade seen in some time, the space marine psyker dispatched a Tyranid Heirophant, most of the Necron infantry and combined with orbital strikes from his battle barge and the guns of his faction's Baneblade to see off the interloper Chaos Titan (inflicting damage with both his psychic powers and in hand-to-hand combat!).

Thanks to all the players who came out and made the day an outstanding hobby event, HobbytownUSA Dallas for sponsoring, hosting and moderating participation in the Worldwide Apocalypse megabattle, and to http://www.apocalypse40k.com for organizing the entire enormous undertaking!
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Worldwide Apocalypse Campaign Game in North Texas Sat, Jan 22nd!

On Saturday, January 22, 2011, gamers across the globe will unite in an Imperium versus Xenos Apocalypse campaign coordinated through http://www.apocalypse40K.com -- and hobbyists in North Texas will be able to participate, at HobbytownUSA Dallas!

All of the coordinating has been taken care of, through Adeptus North Texas -- all interested participants need do is arrive with their armies according to the instructions following, and attempt to win control of their corner of the worldwide battlefield through a massive multi-player Apocalypse 40,000 megabattle!

The game will take place at HobbytownUSA Dallas (the previous Game Hall which is now devoted to their in-store discounts and sales will be reconfigured for play use on the day) from 11am until 6pm. No purchase or sign up is necessary (although HTUD will continue to run their Games Workshop sale--buy 3 get the 4th free, or buy 4 get 2 additional free!--during the event).

Players should bring armies for either the Imperium (any Space Marines, any Imperial Guard, any Inquisition) or Xenos (Orks, Tyranids, Necrons, Eldar, Dark Eldar or Tau) in increments of 1000 points. Datasheets and superheavy vehicles/gigantic creatures are welcome, and can be used in place of a 1000 point increment; in the case of a superheavy which exceeds that approximate points block, the opposing side will be allowed to add increments to compensate, and players who bring additional 1000 point blocks may be allowed to field them, to balance sides. All models must be at least fully assembled, based, primed, and with at least some effort made toward painting; models need not be detailed/completed, but no bare metal/plastic or one-colour-primed models can be used in the megabattle. Space is limited; moderators recommend interested players use the emailing list via Adeptus North Texas to identify to host store and moderators their intention to play.

New Years Day Apocalypse at Texas Toy Soldier!

Saturday, January 1, the Texas Toy Soldier will host the first event of 2011--an all-day Apocalypse game of Warhammer 40K!

Located at 4220 Spring Valley, just east of Midway, the Texas Toy Soldier will be open regular hours--10am till 6pm--and will continue their big sale of 25% off all Games Workshop product and 10% off all other stock (historicals, supplies, terrain, everything!).

The Apocalypse game will occur in their comfortable onsite game room during business hours. Everyone is invited to bring out their armies, Apocalypse formations and superheavies...with the only caveat that every model used must be painted. So bring your best looking miniatures to the fray, Saturday, January 1, 2011, for the New Years Day Apocalypse at the Texas Toy Soldier!
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Result: Madness Games Scytulus III Apocalypse Megabattle

After carnage undreamt-of, both Defenders and Ruin left the massive battle in the agrofields outside Scytulus III's major habs mostly frustrated: the stalwart bastion built by the Imperium to overwatch the verdant fields was flattened, and neither the Dragonriders tactical squad remaining in its wreckage nor the villainous Bloodthirster Kubrash assaulting them could claim to hold it uncontested; though an heroic effort by the Emerald Lions and Ordo Xenos Inquisitor Rhadamanthus Goh's pheromone-controlled Tyranid monster had driven off the forces of Ruin holding it, the food storage/processing facility holding the last resources collected before the daemonic invasion had been wrecked as well, and no Imperial defenders were in position to resecure it; the abduction attempt of the radical Daemonhunter Sunvale had been nearly accomplished but fallen just short of success; and the mysterious Necrons which arrived midbattle as Inquisitor Goh had predicted frustratingly phased back out before the Defenders could learn what secrets they possessed about what was befalling Scytulus III. In short--one objective was contested and three were unaccomplished, leaving the second major clash on Scytulus III an unresolved draw...

For the Defenders, however, it was something of a rally in the face of the relentless daemonic onslaught--and a moral victory in driving Ruin from the second objective with a monumental final turn effort. And the intelligence (that not all on Scytulus III is as it seems, that there are fell powers other than the invading daemons which will ultimately need reckoning with) brought from parts unknown by the Inquisitor Lord seemed confirmed with the Necrons' appearance.

And for Ruin...when all is smoke and flame and death, at the end of the day, carcasses and wreckage scattered across the battlefield and far more slain than living--that is a 'draw' Ruin will always count a victory...

Thanks to Madness Games for a terrific afternoon in a fantastic store and playing facility, and to all thirteen participants for getting almost 20,000 points into action on the tabletop, and for the bounty of memorable moments that are the sum of why Apocalypse is such a fun version of Warhammer 40,000 to play. Watch http://www.adeptusnorthtexas.com for your chance to join them in participating in the next chapter in the ongoing sage of the Seige of Scytulus III!
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Next 40K Megabattle at Madness Games Plano!

Sunday, September 5th, 2010, at noon, Madness Games in Plano will show off their newly-relocated store, complete with fantastic new gaming space, to the North Texas community, by hosting a Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse Megabattle continuing the Scytulus III campaign narrative!

Participants may bring any one superheavy or gargantuan creature (of any points value, from Apocalypse, Apocalypse Reload, Imperial Armour I and II or GW's Apocalypse resource website) OR 500 points of their chosen army to the battle (no Force Org required, per standard Apocalypse rules). Players with larger forces are encouraged to bring additional units in 500 point increments, which can be added to their initial force to balance sides as needed. There will be no need to register for this battle in advance...simply compose your chosen force or construct your superheavy vehicle, and arrive on the day ready to fight for the Ruin of the besieged planet Scytulus III--as Chaos Daemons, Chaos Space Marines, Traitor Guard, Tyranids, Orks, Necrons or Dark Eldar--or stand in its Defense--as Inquisition, Imperial Guard, Space Marines, Eldar or Tau.

Anyone interested in bringing something costlier than the initial 500 point force which is not a superheavy-equivalent--such as a particular Apocalypse Datasheet, for example--can so indicate via http://www.adeptusnorthtexas.com , so that opposing-side players can create a counterbalancing force. In fact, indicating in advance on the hobby website emailing list that you will be attending, and for which side, will be a good way for players of either faction to begin coordinating with each other: the balance between the game-altering power of Apocalypse superheavies and Datasheets and the scoring units necessary to actually achieve victory can be a tricky thing to manage...

The Imperial world of Scytulus III is a precious resource--rich in the promethium reserves which power the Imperial war machine, and a potential recruiting world for multiple space marine chapters--and an ominous mystery, as its far continent appears to have been overtaken by catastrophe which has sundered the boundary between universes, letting the horrors of the Warp pour through. The initial clash has gone to Chaos, as whole Imperial cities have been smashed to ruin and their people enslaved; can her Defenders rally, or will Evil press their advantage to ever more terrible effect?

You can decide, at Madness Games, Sunday, September 5th!

Scytulus Campaign 40K Megabattle at XMax Aug 15!

Scytulus III is a world in cataclysm, riven by dimensional cascades which have unleashed the chaotic, the daemonic and the wicked upon it. Defenders of order have swarmed to defend the wartorn world. The result? Apocalypse...

The battle for Scytulus III will play out in events across North Texas in the coming months--and XMax Games Dallas will host a Warhammer 40,000 Apocalypse multi-player megabattle Sunday, August 15, 2010 to open the campaign, and determine whether a critical component of Scytulus III's infrastructure holds, or falls.

To participate, interested hobbyists need only make any Games Workshop purchase from XMax, sign up for an available slot representing either the Defenders of Order or the Forces of Ruin, then arrive on Sunday, Aug 15 at 1pm with the force they have committed to. Slots will vary in size beginning as small as 500 points, allowing even starter hobbyists to participate in the campaign.

Slots are limited, and can be claimed following a qualifying purchase on a first-come/first-served basis. Registering for a slot represents a commitment; players who fail to honour it will be disallowed future participation in the campaign. All models used in the megabattle must be assembled, primed and based Citadel miniatures, as realistically WYSIWYG as possible; the larger participation slots will be limited to fully-painted armies only. Remember, Apocalypse games do NOT require Force Org compliance (players may bring whatever they desire), and DO allow superheavy vehicles, gargantuan creatures and datasheet formations. Each participant will need an accurate, printed army list for his megabattle force.

The only additional requirement is that every player should have a named, designated Commander of their force, a persona who, ideally, will become a continuing figure in the developing continuity of the Scytulus III campaign--hero or villain.

The wall between worlds is coming down on Scytulus III. Daemons pour forth from the warp; aliens descend from the darkness; constructs crawl forth from the earth. Join the destruction or stand firm against it Sunday, August 15 at 1pm at XMax Games and make your mark in ongoing forty-first millennium history!
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Results: Send In The Superheavies!

Presaging a great conflict to come, forces of the Imperial Guard, Space Marines, Chaos, Tyranids and Orks landed on Aquiline XII, an extreme-light-gravity world with an unstable planetary rotation and weird magnetic fields; combatants discovered these phenomena in combination caused all but the heaviest objects on its surface to be unpredictably cast up into its atmosphere. However, the mysterious power source radiating an unclassifiable energy signature somewhere on the planet's surface appeared able to defy this effect--and so the race began to reach, identify and claim this objective on Aquiline's treacherous surface. Regular infantry, even normal vehicles, lacked sufficient mass to retain contact with the surface and function, however...so the only option was to send in the Superheavies!

Six players (and twice that many onlookers as the game wore on) arrived at HobbytownUSA Dallas' Game Hall to accept the gauntlet thrown down. Five arrived with either superheavy vehicles or gargantuan creatures--an Imperial Guard Baneblade, an Imperial Guard Hellhammer, a Chaos Traitor Doomhammer, an Ork Stompa and a Tyranid Scythed Heirodule. The Space Marines of the Howling Griffons chapter dispatched a Predator tank in defiance of the risk of being cast into orbit. All six were beautifully painted, making the table a great pleasure to look at as the battle progressed.

The objective was determined to be in the ruins of an abandoned Ork fortress, planetside. To get there, each model had to test against a D6 before each Movement phase to see whether it succumbed to the weird gravitic phenomena of Aquiline XII: one a rolled '1', any superheavy or gargantuan creature could not move that turn as it struggled to retain purchase on the surface (non-superheavies had to roll twice, accepting any result of '1'); if the vehicle rolled another '1' on its next Movement phase, it was hurled into orbit around the planet. Any fully-painted participating model got to ignore its first rolled '1'.

As the battle progressed, every model faced this consequence at least once--all being saved from their first rolled '1' by having been so nicely painted by their players. No one struggled with the atmospheric effects more than Clay Smith's beautifully-painted Ork Stompa--and aptly, it was the first model to fail consecutive tests, and be launched into space, gatla-blasting and grot-missiling at the enemy all the way. It will be interesting to see whether the meks responsible for it had the foresight to seal it against vacuum...

On the right flank, Jack Salva's Hellhammer found itself alone in a duel for its life against David Caldwell's Scythed Heirodule: the Hellhammer blasted away valiantly at the onrushing beast, doing it two Wounds, before the black-and-purple monster was able to come to grips with, and finally wreck, the valiant Imperial tank. One more shooting turn...

One the left flank, the Stompa and Chad Jones' Doomhammer gunfought Tim Gregart's Baneblade and Jeff Whitehead's Predator: the space marine tank made a valiant run for the Objective, coming within a turn of reaching its cover before succumbing, while the Baneblade held its own against two Disorder superheavies until gravity evened the odds.

The Heirodule's superior speed allowed it to reach the Ork ruin first, and with the demise of the two furthest-advanced Imperial vehicles, it appeared control of the objective would belong the Tyranids--but Tim pulled out the now-standard-in-fifth-edition building destruction rules, trained the entire arsenal of the Baneblade on the Ork fastness...and atomized it, destroying whatever had been secreted inside, and denying the enemy the objective.

With the secret now obliterated, only surviving remained: the Baneblade continued to reap its bloody tally, finishing the Heirodule, before the Doomhammer disabled it in turn, to claim last-vehicle-standing honours.

What the Tyranid had seen in the depths of that old ruin could only be guessed at from impressions of psykers in orbit: a strange sigil of power, a rune of activation of some sort, perhaps...and the lingering words, somehow related: 'Mordant Thirteenth...'

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Thanks to everyone who participated, and all those hobbyists who took time out of their holiday to drop by and cheer one side or the other on. A good time was had, and in addition to an afternoon of Apocalypse fun, all six participants in 'Send In The Superheavies' earned an unadvertised bonus: their first participation stamp in 2009's Apocalypse Lucky 13s Campaign for North Texas!

Watch the mailing list and website at http://www.adeptusnorthtexas.com for the next North Texas area Apocalypse, Warhammer and Lucky 13s events--including the first formally announced events of the 2009 campaign--Mega-Battle 1 on May 9 and the Gallery of Giants!

Send In The Superheavies!

To celebrate the new Apocalypse Ork Stompa and Imperial Shadowsword/Stormlord kits hitting store shelves March 7, HobbytownUSA Dallas will have an Apocalypse multiplayer mega-battle to which buyers of one of the new kits, or the existing Baneblade Superheavy tank, will get first access!

Aquiline XII is an extreme-light-gravity world, with an unstable planetary rotation; in combination these tend to cause all but the heaviest objects on its surface to be unpredictably cast up into its atmosphere. When a mysterious object is detected defying this planetary effect, and radiating an unclassifiable energy signature, however, the race amongst the nearest forces to reach, identify and claim the object on Aquiline's treacherous surface is on. Regular infantry, even normal vehicles, lack sufficient mass to operate on the world's surface; the only option: send in the Superheavies!

Players simply pre-order their Superheavy of choice, or purchase one from store stock once they are released, and following their purchase, sign up to participate with that tank via the instore Sign-Up sheet provided and have a store employee initial alongside. Slots are limited, making the pre-order option doubly appealing!

Send In The Superheavies! takes place Sunday, April 12, 2009 from 1pm till 5pm at the HobbytownUSA Dallas Game Hall. Attacking Players may sign up to participate with an Ork Stompa or a Traitor version of either a Baneblade-variant or one of the variants from the new Shadowsword/Stormlord kit; Defending Players may participate with one of the Loyalist Superheavy tank variants.

If a Sign-Up slot has multiple options, please WRITE IN the Superheavy you are bringing to play (ie, Slot 1 for each faction can only be an Ork Stompa or an Imperial Baneblade so no such notice is required, but Slot 5 must indicate what type vehicle the player Signing-Up intends to bring). Slots 1-4 for each faction may only be Signed-Up for following a purchase of a new Ork Stompa or Baneblade/Shadowsword/Variant kit from HTUD; players possessing Baneblades or Forgeworld Superheavies, or who purchase a kit from another stockist, may sign up for Slots 5-6 and Alternates (as may purchases of Stompas or Superheavy tanks from HTUD as well). Signing-Up is a promise to complete the indicated vehicle kit in time for the event. Sign-Up for a given slot is only valid if the player signing up has a HTUD employee initial at the end of that line. There will be NO 'scratching out' or 'whiting out' of names, once Signed-Up; if another commitment prevents a Signed-Up player from participating, that player MUST notify the event moderator, Outrider Chris, via either the HTUD Game Club mailing list, the Adeptus North Texas mailing list, or directly by email, who will make any correction to the Sign-Up sheet. Failure to follow Sign-Up instructions--or to be present on the day--could result in action up to and including the violating player being prevented from participation in future events. Gargantuan Creatures (such as Ork Squiggoths or Tyranid Xenos) may replace Superheavies for the Attacking Slots 5-6 and Alternates. Superheavies which have a 'Transport' capacity will be allowed to bring up to one (1) unit of the appropriate type from the relevant Codex and up to one (1) attached Character (no more, even if the Transport capacity is greater); these MUST be completely painted, based, sealed and otherwise finished (and remember the conditions on Aquiline XII noted above!). The Superheavies themselves must be fully assembled, WYSIWYG and at least primed; painted is preferred, and there will be an in-game bonus for participating models which are fully painted. For questions and further information: HTUDGameClub-subscribe@yahoogroups.com or http://www.adeptusnorthtexas.com.

Results: Lucky 13's Megabattle 6: Day Two!

The battle for the chaos arcano-engine erupting through the surface of Bonner's Reach continued all across the planet--including downstream from the epic struggle won previously by the Mordant 13th Imperial Guard and their allies. This final struggle was smaller in scope, but no less critical--and so was left to the Space Marines, Imperial masters of the fast surgical strike, to seize: a potent alliance of Space Wolves, Jade Legion, Void Phantoms and Grey Knights!

The opposition mustered against them the full force of greenskin infantry--Ghazghkull Mag Uruk Thrakka, Warboss Big Killy, Mad Doc Grotsnik, a Green Tide of over 120 Nobs and Boyz and a Stompa-led Dread Mob, Gilyazza's Goregashas, along with Khornate Daemons and Traitor Space Marines and several waves of Genestealers. Disorder also brought a Traitor Baneblade and an Ork Skullhamma to this final conflict--giving them the edge in both numbers and superheavies!

Momentum in this second battle shifted back and forth: the Allies took four of the five objectives early, by the end of Turn One...but Disorder threw them off the two on the furthest flanks by the end of Turn Two, and the Chaos Vindicator Linebreaker Squadron obliterated the central objective, as well, to draw things even again. The third Turn proved decisive: Space Wolf Scouts destroyed first the Baneblade then the Skullhamma with meltabomb attacks, allowing a Grey Knight Brother Captain and his bodyguard of terminators to seize the objective the superheavies had been protecting in Disorder's own zone, and veteran Grey Hunters worked their way amongst the Chaos elements on the left flank--a Soulgrinder, a sorceror and terminator warband, obliterators and a Defiler--to retake that objective and hunker down, never again to be shaken off it. The Stompa ran wild down the opposite flank, but its mightiest efforts to either destroy the objective in the Allied home zone, or failing that to blow the claiming Eldar allies and Jade Legion Scouts off of it, came up short.

In the end, though the Green Tide--which waaaghed the length of the battlefield, despite the most heroic efforts of various Imperial heroes to hold them up in combat--managed to claim that flank objective for Disorder, the others were retained by Allied control (including their home zone objective, which they had used a Strategic Asset to declare Vital, and thus worth two objective points), for a 4 objective to 1 Imperial and Eldar victory! Following up on the great Allied win further upstream previously, the climactic weekend of the Lucky 13s campaign went decisively for the Imperium!

Kudos to Disorder players Mason, Alex, Blake, David and Warboss Avery, and congratulations to Order players Josh, Paul, Kyle and Great Wolf Eric for a memorable grand finale to the year-long campaign. Award of merit for outstanding units was clear on both sides, and fittingly they were controlled by each side's force commander: nothing could stop the rampage of Avery's Stompa except time, and Eric's Wolf Scouts accounted for over 20% of the opposing points' worth of models by themselves (though Alex's genestealers eventually avenged themselves upon them). Mason's Ork characters also acquitted themselves well, accounting for overall Allied Commander Wolf Lord Emryk, Void Phantoms Chief Librarian Lord Liche and several Rune Priests...then had their rampage halted in hand-to-hand combat by radical Ordo Xenos Inquisitor Rhadamanthus Goh, no less, in the final turn. Fittingly, it was an final Apocalypse battle dominated not by spectacular formations and towering superheavies, as wonderful as those are...but rather was decided by the deeds of rank-and-file troopers, and the courage of individual heroes taking a stand.

And with the Space Marine strike force decisively securing this final battlehead, to protect the flank of the Mordant 13th and the main Allied army further upstream, the Imperium--in this sector of Bonner's Reach, at least--has definitively denied to the archenemy access and control of the subsurface chaos arcano-engine. The yearlong struggle of the Lucky 13s, which has spanned much of known space and flung them against every enemy known to Man, has come to an end...with the Mordant 13th Imperial Guard still victorious...still standing fast.