Standard League - Let's Meet Our Players

Welcome Commanders - it is time. Season 3 of the Standard League begins today!

For those of you new to the club I do a self indulgent blog to accompany both the Standard and Narrative Leagues, predicting results and talking about all the matches after the fact. I have at least 3 regular readers so you know it's good.

Before I kick off the first week of predictions I want to introduce all the wonderful participants below.

The minor change to this Season is that rather than a fixed time when people can change their lists we have 2 Wildcards each. These can be used up at any time to make a full list change.

---

The Players

Dave - Chaos Space Marines What faction are you playing and why? I’m playing Pact Bound Chaos Space Marines. I don’t know why. Maybe part of me just wants to watch the whole world burn. But also, I painted that fucking trim, so it’s getting put on the God Damn table. Sunk Cost Baby Where would you like to finish?

As long as I beat Luke i’ll be happy. Edit: Lukes dead, so being a CSM player, it’s either finish on top or Spawndom.

Thoughts on the current state of your faction/detachment?

The faction is just too expensive. Raiders is a Meta slaying list that’s dependant on not bumping into a vehicle skew list with a decent pilot. The alternative is Abaddons shooting castle, which is absolutely not how Abaddon should fit into a list. At this point I think most things need a 5-10% pts decrease with the exception of legionnaires, lords, chosen and the vehicles (although Land raider is too expensive to be competitive).

Ross - Imperial Guard

What faction are you playing and why?

Astra Mili-Ogryns - because everyone loves 24 Ogryns in cars !

Where would you like to finish?

Mid table would be nice, my Stormlords can't really move on these boards 😅

Thoughts on the current state of your faction/detachment?

Astra Militarum seem like they have a ton of internal balance right now, you can take pretty much whatever you want

Jack - Aeldari

What faction are you playing and why?

Aeldari, because I’m scum with a potential ego problem.

Where would you like to finish?

Top 2 preferably top 1.

Thoughts on the current state of your faction/detachment?

Weakest army in the game

Leo - World Eaters

What faction are you playing and why?

I'm am playing the world eaters. I need to reap blood for the blood god, take skulls for the skull throne. I want destruction and death to all.

Where would you like to finish?

The blood god cares not for the whims of mortals. Competition is irrelevant. Death, blood and skulls is all the will sait my fury.

Thoughts on the current state of your faction/detachment?

Current faction needs more units to destroy things. A few bigger boys, with more bang would be good. I like model variety and unfortunately I don't have as much choice as I would like. New models and units would be cool

Gary - Orks

What faction are you playing and why?

Beast Snagga themed Orks! All Squigs all the time!

Where would you like to finish?

As always I am to win the league and anything less is a completely failure although there’s some new blood in this league and a few tasty opponents who could give me a run for my money. Nah I’m joking I’m gonna krump all these noobs.

Thoughts on the current state of your faction/detachment?

Well Orks win rate is currently in the gutter but as always it’s more about player skill IMO. After running Da Big Hunt at a recent tourney it is pretty lacklustre, didn’t stop me finishing second though because of my natural Chad like abilities, I’ll be running Warhorde as permanent sustained hits is just nice and solid. Only just started playing Orks and they really struggle against high armour saves but the big blocks of Squighog Boyz can tank a lot of damage so hoping I can just grind out my opponents.

Sam - Dark Angels

What faction are you playing and why?

Dark Angels DWK bricks and Inner Circle because I can't help myself play melee armies.

Where would you like to finish?

Top 3 as we have a few unknowns here and I have never played marines.

Thoughts on the current state of your faction/detachment?

Probably due a nerf to DWK in September, I will enjoy my two games in the sun. Luckily it's not like marines don't have a couple of other datasheets

Andy - Imperial Guard

What faction are you playing and why?

I’m playing Imperial Guard because somebody said there were already too many Marine players for the November teams tournament, and, naturally not wanting to fall flat on my face, I’ve started trying to get good** with (pause for dramatic effect) His Most Glorious Imperial Guard. I haven’t seriously run them since 5th edition, so it’s been a lot to get my head around, as the organisation of the army has changed a great deal.

Where would you like to finish?

I would like to convingly place in the Top 5, but who knows, maybe I’ll beat Leo to the wooden spoon this time around

Thoughts on the current state of your faction/detachment?

My thoughts on the current state of the faction (are already well known to a lot of you, haha). I think overall the army is a lot more balanced than it was in previous editions of the game. Although I’m not such a big fan of the current mech/armoured meta that’s being pushed after GW ran the artillery/infantry combined arms build into the ground. It’s ok though, I I’ve plenty of tanks to play with, and my infantry company can cheer them on from the sidelines. If we get really lucky they’ll see the light of day with the new codex for 3 months before they nuke 10th into oblivion again. I’m not bitter.

*Astra Milawhat? You’re in the Guard, son.

** So I can convingly fall flat on my face - rather than get rinsed turn 1

Dave - Tau

What faction are you playing and why?

Playing T’au Empire, switching to Mont’ka from Ret Cadre for this league as a change whilst I work on a BA project. Mont’ka: They look pretty saucy objectively but we’ll see how well they go into other aggressive (and probably more durable) lists. They’re not quite as innately tough as my safe space ret cadre, nor do they have the same deep strike threat, but they do seem to have a few nice movement tricks and damage enhancements. Just need to make the best of rounds 1-3.

Where would you like to finish?

Finishing in the middle of the pack would be great, given the calibre of the competition.

Max - Custodes

What faction are you playing and why?

I’m playing the mighty Adeptus Custodes for this league. I chose to play as the golden boys as I’m a fan of highly elite armies that each individual model packs an incredible punch. They also all look incredible as I’ve painted my men up in the “Shadowkeeper” style to really make them all look different from the norm.

Where would you like to finish?

I personally would love to finish anywhere mid table to be honest. I’ve not brought a highly ‘meta’ list as I’ve normally just played in a casual setting and I’m looking to improve. This is the start of myself dipping my toes into more competitive gaming with 40K.

Thoughts on the current state of your faction/detachment?

Since the errata dropped the Custodes seem to be a little more tougher than before but we are still missing that universal 4++ against mortals. Now it is just a case of using the Shield Host detachment and hoping I roll a load of 5+ in close combat!

Ben - World Eaters

What faction are you playing and why?

Running World Eaters so I can deliver Blood for the Blood God and Skulls for the Skull Throne.

Where would you like to finish?

As long as the is a massacre I don’t care where I finish 🤣

Thoughts on the current state of your faction/detachment?

Fun to play with, plenty of death and destruction but suffering from a lack of codex and not likely to see one anytime soon.

Alex - Nids

What faction are you playing and why?

I’ll be playing Nids again as I’m really enjoying them at the moment (although the urge to play Eldar again is growing).

Where would you like to finish?

I’m a pretty competitive person in general, so I always try my best to win, although it doesn’t always work out.

Thoughts on the current state of your faction/detachment?

I think Nids are in a good position in the meta at the moment. They are better than their win rate suggests but not too overpowered. They also have good internal balance, with 4 viable detachments and a lot of decent datasheets.

Craig - Death Guard

What faction are you playing and why?

Death Guard - the original Typhus was my favourite model back in the day and they have a very unique aesthetic

Where would you like to finish?

If I don't finish last I think it would be a genuine miracle.

Thoughts on the current state of your faction/detachment?

Detachment rules are nicely thematic (hurting the enemy by bringing their filth over), latest changes were definitely a nerf but encourages slightly different playstyles. Change to tank shock is great for the demon engines