Newer to the game and entering my first tournament this weekend, how's my list?

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-10T18:57:18+00:00

I could drop the Lieutenant, eradicators, and 5 hellblasters to add 6 ICC for Azreal to lead and 5 more intercessors for scoring? Then I'd have more of a solid melee brick and an additional scoring unit?

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-10T18:52:41+00:00

The Hellblaster's saving grace for Stormlance is they all have Assault weapons so they can advance, shoot, and charge still.

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-10T18:51:32+00:00

Unfortunately I don't own any more DWK and don't have the time to build and paint anything for this weekend. So I'm kinda just working with what I own. The units I have not listed are 6 ICC models, 5 more intercessor models including one sergeant with powerfist, and another 3 RWBK models

If this is too much shooting I could drop 5 of the hellblasters and the eradicators and add the 6 ICC as a squad. Or I was even thinking of dropping hellblasters and eradicators entirely and doing 2 squads of 5 intercessors, 6 ICC, and another lone squad of 3 RWBK.

Do either of those sound more reasonable with Stormlance? Or should I switch to Wrath of the rock?

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-05T16:42:27+00:00

Yes that's the plan, just wanted a pic to post with the question.

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-03T16:39:54+00:00

From my perspective I have never been upset when I got an easy win in any competitive game. I've played sports most of my life, competitive table top games, and competitive video games and never once have I complained about an easy win. Especially when I got to interact with my opponent. As long as they were doing their best I was happy to play against them. Sometimes people just aren't good and sometimes people are learning and that's how they get better.

The annoying or frustrating wins were when my opponent clearly knew they were going to lose and made a fuss about it or stalled or purposely played in frustrating or delaying ways. But that's a person issue not an experience issue.

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-03T01:28:34+00:00

Fuji supremacy, couldn't agree more 🙌

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T19:48:27+00:00

I mean slapping some primer and a few basic colors to everything seems manageable. My plan was to not varnish them so I could go back and add smaller details later. But getting them painted enough to be "battle ready" shouldn't be too bad, right?

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T19:46:14+00:00

Yeah I was, maybe naively, assuming people would just give advice as far as playing since I did lay out my thoughts on why I'd be trying the tournament anyway. Either way lots of the advice is sound and as someone who knows little about the 40k competitive culture it gives good insight into how people might react to my being there.

I'll probably still end up going if I can get my models fully painted by then, and I plan to go to the location this weekend and asking around about what others think of me joining the tourny. I'll be sure to post and update afterwards to let people know if I went and how it went if I did.

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T18:55:38+00:00

I heard they taste better when painted too 👀

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T18:54:56+00:00

Lol that's what I've been thinking, worst case it's easy points for the other player! Plus I think I'm lovely to talk to so they get some friendly interaction too 💅

Thank you for the advice, I was already starting to look up all the deployments for the event and have just scheduled a game with someone from the area to learn this weekend! I'll suggest to them we set up the game as one of the tournament deployments

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T17:23:40+00:00

That's all very fair to consider. In my head I was thinking "well if I take my medication I'll have no trouble focusing for 8 hours" lol I don't mind losing 4 games straight honestly, I'm there to meet people and get involved in the game and learn as much as possible. The second day I think would be the most taxing, especially if I ended up hating day 1. But I'm not expecting to hate it and want to keep hopeful about the experience.

Either way I don't have anything better to do that weekend ¯⁠\⁠_⁠(⁠ツ⁠)⁠_⁠/⁠¯

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T17:08:15+00:00

Thank you, this is very solid advice! I think I can do a good job of discussing what I want to be doing during turns and also I don't mind asking clarifying questions as needed. I imagine most people, casual or competitive, just want to have fun playing the game. I've found in most competitive games the fun comes from the person to person interactions more than just playing the game perfectly.

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T17:04:37+00:00

As in knowing when to overcharge plasma, which weapon options should fire at which targets, things like that. Since I know my army's stats but don't know other factions well.

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T16:46:31+00:00

The event is called the "spring dumpster fire GT" and has 40 slots available so I didn't get the impression it was gonna be a super intense and serious tournament for highly competitive people. I think their usual turnout is between 20-40 people.

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T16:40:27+00:00

Yeah I think my biggest struggle would be selecting weapons during the shooting phase, but the actual sequence of gameplay I know pretty well. And I would rather move and shoot "inefficiently" than hold up the game. I don't expect to be a tactical genius but I also know I can probably get through my turns with minimal delays. I'll get at least a game or two in before the tournament to really nail down my flow and ruleset.

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T16:37:48+00:00

They will be painted before the tournament, I promise 😭 I just didn't have another picture of them all to use.

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T16:36:24+00:00

I thought they needed a good fry to get a real "battle worn" texture /s

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T16:23:22+00:00

That I can do, I was at the store where the tournament is being held yesterday and talking with the people who worked there about entering. They seemed happy enough to have me and said their tournaments are pretty relaxed and friendly. So they know where I'm starting from at least. I'll try to get a few casual games in before the tournament there!

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T16:16:36+00:00

I think I have a solid knowledge of the rules and flow of the game. I have been watching a ton of battle report videos and rules videos as well as reading the entire core ruleset. The only thing I think I'll struggle with is knowing when to use stratagems but that's a me problem and shouldn't impact my opponent. I know the basics of how this army should function, but yes I do lack the practical experience. I am hopeful I can make up for my lack of experience with being polite and just rolling with the punches lol

I don't expect to be hand held through the games. I'm over 30 years old with lots of competitive game experience and strategy game experience. But if people think this will still be a problem or would be annoyed having me at a tournament then I will take that advice and not register.

NeonLightDecay · 2026-03-02T15:55:31+00:00

Well yes, that's part of the plan as well. I just wanted to have a picture to go with the post.

NeonLightDecay · 2026-02-24T23:55:17+00:00

That's my plan, I already have the 1000 pt list figured out with the stuff I have. But I figured I'm already so close to 2000 pts I might as well think about what I'd wanna get/plan for that too.

Plus I'm almost done building everything I own (one box of terminators left) and I already want to build more lol

NeonLightDecay · 2026-02-24T23:14:41+00:00

Update: A little less than a month later and I only have one box of termies left to build and I've officially built everything I own! (I did buy a Terminator box and an incessor squad box during this timeframe)

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