Astronomi-con Vancouver 2011 - mini post

From August 19-22 I was in Vancouver, BC to attend Astronomi-con Vancouver 2011. There were several clubs or crews in attendance, each with 2-6 players. I remember seeing crews from Calgary, Kelowna, Vancouver and Washington.

The event was awesome! A big "Thank You" goes to Christian and Keith for running a tight event, to all my opponents for a series of fun, close games (2 wins, 1 loss and 3 ties), and thanks to everyone else I met and talked to throughout the weekend.

I ran another variation of my Eldar Swordwind (pictured above):

Asurmen's Academy: The Return of Ancient Days

HQ:
Ciara Lorcáin - Farseer (Fortune; Guide; Runes of Warding; Spirit Stones)

Saoirse Riagáin - Autarch (Banshee Mask; Fusion Gun; Power Weapon)

TROOPS:
Blood Redeemers - 5 Dire Avengers
Peacemaker – Wave Serpent (Spirit Stones; TL Scatter Lasers)

Companions - 5 Dire Avengers
Fencing Master – Wave Serpent (Spirit Stones; TL Scatter Lasers)

ELITES:
Fate's Tears (1st Chorus) - 5 Fire Dragons
Ancient Whispers – Wave Serpent (Spirit Stones; Shuriken Cannon; TL Shuriken Cannons)

Fate's Tears (2nd Chorus) - 5 Fire Dragons
The Kid - Wave Serpent (Spirit Stones; TL Scatter Lasers)

FAST ATTACK:
Breaking Waves - Hornet light tank (Spirit Stones; Scatter Laser; Pulse Laser)

Moonshadow - Hornet light tank (Spirit Stones; Scatter Laser; Pulse Laser)

Dream Weavers - 4 Warp Spiders
Soul Hunter – Exarch (Death Spinner x2; Powerblades)

HEAVY SUPPORT:
War Prayer - Night Spinner artillery tank

Total Roster Cost: 1500 points

Results:

The full results of the tournament are posted here. The list of the winners is as follows:

Best Overall - Michael Rusca - Space Marines
Best Sportsman - Marshall Reeves - Imperial Guard
Best Army - Mitchell Stevens - Space Marines
Best Appearance - Dave Violago - Eldar
Best General - Jeff Everitt - Space Wolves
Best Terrain - Dean Gilbert - Tomb Raider
Best Single Miniature - William Hellebrand - Fateweaver
Best Army List - Les Sohier - Plague Marines

I managed 4th place overall in addition to the "Best Appearance" hardware noted immediately above. I shall post an army showcase and my usual battle reports. (After the GT reports. Really!)

Throne of Skulls, Las Vegas 2011 - Army Showcase

On June 17-19 I attended the Throne of Skulls tournament in Las Vegas, NV. Over half of the 198 participants were playing in the Warhammer 40K Championship.

Jen and I made a vacation of it. We landed a couple of days early, and we stayed on for a week afterwards. Lots do see and do in Sin City!

Here are some of the many finely modeled and painted armies that were brought out for all three games being played - Warhammer 40K, Warhammer Fantasy Battle, and Lord of the Rings.

Nurgle themed Chaos Space Marines:

Imperial Guard:

Interesting "counts as" Valkyrie gunship:

Very steampunk feel:

Slaanesh themed Chaos Space Marines (Jennifer's favourite army):

Note the (presumably evil) giant butterflies:

Lizardmen:

Imperial Guard:

White Scars chapter of the Imperial Space Marines:

Eldar:

Well posed, old school Wraithlord model:

Salamanders chapter of the Imperial Space Marines:

Interesting flame and lava lighting effects, done with paint:

Ultramarines chapter of the Space Marines, using Deathwing rules to represent their 1st Company:

Chapter Master and Librarian:

Nurgle themed Chaos Space Marines:

Gandalf and Dwarves, set into a tray that looked like an open book (my favourite of the Lord of the Rings forces present):

Sisters of Battle:

Ultramarines chapter of the Imperial Space Marines (all the insignia are painted freehand - there are no decals at all!):

Christian Augst's Imperial Guard (he was the only other Winnipegger at the tournament):

Orks:

Grey Knights (IIRC, this army was played by the fellow who won the "Skull Taker Award" for killing the most enemy models):

Eldar:

Bone Singer, Autarch, and a Warp Spider who failed his teleportation roll...

Black Templars chapter of the Imperial Space Marines:

Necrons:

Imperial Guard:

Dark Eldar:

Vypers conveted into Venom light transports:

Imperial Guard:

Brettonian Knights:

The Lady of the Lake blessing the Knights:

Detailed Heraldry:

Salamanders chapter of the Imperial Space Marines:

Thousand Sons Chaos Space Marines:

Blood Angels chapter of the Imperial Space Marines:

Space Wolves chapter of the Imperial Space Marines:

Nicely converted mechanical Thunderwolf Cavalry:

Praetorian Imperial Guard:

Nicely conveted gun carriages, giving the feel of 19th century field pieces:

Wood Elves:

Empire:

Eldar:

Beautifully converted Farseer:

Dynamically posed Wraithlords:

Saim Hann themed Eldar:

Tau:

Eldar:

Converted Farseer and well painted Aspect Warriors:

Harlequin themed Eldar:

Imperial Space Marines:

Imperial Guard (note the two Hydra AAA vehicles):

Chaos Daemons:

Swordwind themed Eldar:

Detailed "circuitry" done in freehand on the vehicles and infantry:

Dwarves (with a working water fountain at the top of the display):

Nurgle Themed Chaos Space Marines:

Space Wolves chapter of the Imperial Space Marines:

Marshall Reeves' Imperial Guard, winner of the Best Painted Army award for 40K:

Well painted graffiti covers the heavily converted vehicles:

Marshall hails from Kelowna, BC, and plays at Astronomi-con Vancouver:

***

A fellow has posted a video of the photos he took at Las Vegas.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OeNLJd43U70

There were lots more armies and models, but I could not get to them all. Some more will be highlighted in my forthcoming battle reports.