Ryza Ascendant (a blog)

[marshall Egregorius]

Begin Data-Shunt

Noospheric log alpha 175662

Engage Neural council protocol

Exloading: Omnissiah protects
 

Greetings brothers and sisters of the priesthood. In my quest for knowledge I have found the effective military force is an important tool. Due to the ongoing war on Ryza, I have been forced by protection-tithe protocol to surrender 50% of my effective skitarii maniples to the archmagos-general of Ryza.

 

Ryza is a forgeworld beset by war. The Orks plague the ochre sands of the waste-dunes, and clog the sacred causeways of the data-choirs. The green hordes seek combat, and the weaponry to add to that unending quest for battle. Ryza is happy to give the former, but the later will be surrendered only at the last step of the last skitarii battle maniple. Yet the orks swarm over our forges, spreading and bringing battle to every forge temple, every data-shrine.

 

                There is yet one place that has not felt their touch, one place where the presence of foul xenos has not been recorded. This is the Crystal Basilica of the Omnissiah’s Will, a relic and data repository all in one. The Basillica is located within Ryza Olympus, the tallest mountain on Ryza, and is a central data repository for the entire forge world. The interior of the basilica is lined with data-crystals arranged in precise geometric patterns. The most famous of Ryza’s possessions, the STC designs for heavy plasma weaponry, are housed here.

 

                While the Basilica is the domain of the Omnissiah on Ryza, the surrounding forge complexes that fill and grow from Ryza Olympus are the personal fief of myself, Arch Magos-Dominus Rathian X471. Similarly, the fanatical marco-clade that defends this treasured monument and the priceless data crystals and wafer-stacks it houses.

 

                These skitarii bear the mark of Ryza proudly, for they protect pure data, the Omnissiah’s soul made manifest. They stalk the mountain, its forges and its approaches constantly, felling anything that does not display the proper rank signifiers upon approach. These macroclades have even earned a signifier of their own: the Data-Blades of Ryza, and some of them have even been sent abroad to do the Omnissiah’s work in the galaxy. While the forge-world is under siege, the machine god’s due is still sancrosanct, and still required.

 

            This Data log has been created to record the re-organization and mobilization of my remaining maniples, as well as the raising of additional troops from my forge-fief's population. I hope to have pict captures within the next terran-standard week as the first volunteer's for military grade wetware and bionic implantation arrive and are processed through the armory-temples in Ryza Olympus. I have opened the log prematurely to section off space in my public noospheric drive.

 

The Omnissiah protects

Arch-magos Dominus Rathian X471

 

Exload complete, end Data-shunt

[Ordo Machinum]

SELECTED: DENTRICA I OF I

ENGAGE NEURAL CONGRESS – WIRELESS AUTOSHUNT ACQUIRED

UPLOADING… + PURGE +

 

Praise the Omnissiah. (making the sign of the cog with the interspaced knuckles of my gauntlets)

 

Let this day be His. This Xenos incursion will most assuredly realize their doom as they are forced meet our Maker.

We know your skitarii will not rest until all of Ryza's sub-hives and temples have been cleansed, Arch-magos.

 

We will continue to watch your reports with great interest.

 

R.

[Battybattybats]

Hmm how do you make that handsign properly i wonder?

The aquila i always figured was crossing one hand over the other, palms facing the chest, with thumbs up and bent to make the heads with the fingers the wings.

The sign of the cog though?
Maybe writs together like a certain streetfighter move with the fingers all curled so the folded fingers look like dentricles?
Two cogs interacting is easier, just curl the fingers from the first joint again, then with both palms towards the chest place one set of knuckles in between those of the other hand.

What other way could one make the opus mechanica emblem as a hand sign using the knuckles i wonder though?

[marshall Egregorius]

Hmm how do you make that handsign properly i wonder?

 

The aquila i always figured was crossing one hand over the other, palms facing the chest, with thumbs up and bent to make the heads with the fingers the wings.

 

The sign of the cog though?

Maybe writs together like a certain streetfighter move with the fingers all curled so the folded fingers look like dentricles?

Two cogs interacting is easier, just curl the fingers from the first joint again, then with both palms towards the chest place one set of knuckles in between those of the other hand.

 

What other way could one make the opus mechanica emblem as a hand sign using the knuckles i wonder though?

 

The relevant martian pict-captures and discussions can be found at the following link, brother.

 

http://www.bolterandchainsword.com/topic/225312-the-aquilla/

 

As an update, the first squad of newly wet-ware and military bionic infused skitarii is on it's way to me (the first order has been shipped)

[CommodusXIII]

I've seen two possible examples.  This is the first, but doesn't match how difficult it is for outsiders to replicate (as described in the fluff).  My theory would be to twist the fingers up and behind the neighboring knuckle, so your hand forms a fan of sorts.  It's difficult to explain, and I'm not flexible enough to demonstrate - though several of my friends are.  Arranging the fingers on both hands in this manner and overlapping them would form a circular, bisected cog.

 

EDIT:  Ah ha!  Something like this, but with both hands.

[marshall Egregorius]

Disaster my brothers!

 

Apparently, the regular skitarii i.e. vanguard/rangers are out of stock, meaning my FLGS can't order them.

 

How the heck does GW not account for demand.....gah.

 

I would petition the noospheric congress for aid. any ideas on where to get main troops, or should i just order a box of sicarians instead?

[abraxus]

MY local store has 7 boxes.... apparently I'm the only player in central Ohio that is interested in Skitarii.

[marshall Egregorius]

name of store and contact info?

[CommodusXIII]

MY local store has 7 boxes.... apparently I'm the only player in central Ohio that is interested in Skitarii.

 

Greetings from northern Ohio, brother magos.

[Ordo Machinum]

SELECTED: DENTRICA I OF II

ENGAGE NEURAL CONGRESS – WIRELESS AUTOSHUNT ACQUIRED

UPLOADING… + KNUCKLEHEADS +

Praise the Omnissiah. (making the sign of the cog with the interspaced knuckles of my gauntlets)

I've seen two possible examples. This is the first, but doesn't match how difficult it is for outsiders to replicate (as described in the fluff). My theory would be to twist the fingers up and behind the neighboring knuckle, so your hand forms a fan of sorts. It's difficult to explain, and I'm not flexible enough to demonstrate - though several of my friends are. Arranging the fingers on both hands in this manner and overlapping them would form a circular, bisected cog.

EDIT: Ah ha! Something like this, but with both hands.

1st example: This is possibly the closest. The difficulty for outsiders is doing it smoothly (in Titanicus the person trying it didn't have the right hand knuckles over the left). Put your fingers in a 'gnarled' position, bending them 45 degrees. Now, bring hands together locking knuckles (right hand over left) keeping fingertips inward and resting one on top of the other. Keep thumbs inward. Instant cogsign.

2nd example: Ouch. Just ouch.

Disaster my brothers!

Apparently, the regular skitarii i.e. vanguard/rangers are out of stock, meaning my FLGS can't order them.

How the heck does GW not account for demand.....gah.

I would petition the noospheric congress for aid. any ideas on where to get main troops, or should i just order a box of sicarians instead?

Apparently the corruptors of His Holy Design have intercepted your request for new recruits.

Auction places offer recruits, but only ever as a 'last resort' unless a real deal can be found. As for Sicarians, it depends on how many you plan to use. For example, I've purchased 4 Sicarian boxes so far in order to build:

5 Ruststalkers with transonic razors and chordclaws

5 Ruststalkers with two transonic blades

5 Infiltrators with stub carbines

5 Infiltrators with flechette blasters

This covers the codex designed options. I would like to make each squad ten-strong eventually, even if their unit values may exceed their useful function. I'm recruiting small groups at a time. To fill your needs, if you can't get the exact squads you want at the moment, there is nothing wrong with substituting ones that you plan to get anyway.

Hopefully GW will get their cogs in gear so there won't be any shortages before I complete my requisitions.

Personally, I blame the Xenos Craftworlds for their recent meddling.

May you remain vital, Arch-magos.

R.

[Battybattybats]

I think this is a good sign that our army is much more desirous than they predicted, which increases the odds of more releases in the future.

If this success continues then we have not only the other rumoured codexes but also further releases become possible in a campaign as well as more fiction through black library and more to come over the years.

This is surely a sign of the Omnissiah's blessing. Patience may be required but the results will be glorious.

[marshall Egregorius]

Engage Noospheric congress

Begin exload: Data-wafer 529

 

 

ALL PRAISE THE OMNISSIAH!

 

And venerate those whose hands he guides!

 

The warstore had a box!

[Olis]

Good news then. Glad to hear it. :tu:

[abraxus]

Columbus OH.  Capelle Center.  Still had several boxes when I was there today for the 3 year birthday party.

[marshall Egregorius]

Greetings brothers of the Cog,

 

The first unit (does the mechanicus have a designation? Contubernium?) of skitarii should be here by Wednesday. When they arrive I will post a practical update.

[marshall Egregorius]

Initiate Nooshperic Conference
Begin Data-shunt

Exloading pict captures

 

Greetings my brothers!

 

I come to you with an update from the biologis temple within my domain. The first skitarii are emerging.

 

In short, the local store called me up and said they had gotten my skitarii in. I was confused because they had said they could not order vanguard. (my box from the warstore should arrive today in the mail.) In actuality the store had gotten in sicarians and put aside a box for me thinking they were the vanguard. I bought them anyway as they were planned. Hence, my current army looks like such:

 

5 Vanguard, alpha, 1 plasma caviler

 

5 rangers, alpha, 1 arc rifle, 1 Transauranic arbI

 

5 sicarian infiltrators, tasers + blasters

 

I am forced to use demi-squads to equal two troops, despite wanting two full squads. the full squads will have to wait. Further, the ranger alpha is probably going to be my warlord for now. Any thoughts on additional wargear options?

 

Finally, I include the following pict captures for your perusal. I am starting with the sicarian infiltrator princeps, who i am painting in sub assemblies.

 

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2015/4/29/709581_sm-.JPG

 

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2015/4/29/709582_sm-.JPG

 

Until I have him painted, that is the update for now.

 

End Data-transmission

[CommodusXIII]

If you're going with a Ranger Alpha as your Warlord, I wouldn't go as heavy on wargear as I would for Vanguard.

 

With an arc rifle and arquebus, they're best-served staying away from combat - though it can still happen.  Your Warlord's job will be to buff his squad with Preferred Enemy and whatever trait he rolls, rather than tanking combat or taking on other characters.  Personally, I'd slap a Conversion Field on it to give him a little more survivability but probably not much else - the extra galvanic rifle at 30" might be better than a pistol that you hopefully won't be in range to use most of the game.  Might be good to give him a taser goad just in case he finds himself in combat, but the power sword is a bit overpriced and you won't get your mileage out of an arc maul.

 

Rather, I'd spread your points out on the Vanguard Alpha and Infiltrator Princeps, as they'll be more in the thick of things.

 

This is just my take on it, and I'm sure you'll get a variety of responses.

[marshall Egregorius]

If you're going with a Ranger Alpha as your Warlord, I wouldn't go as heavy on wargear as I would for Vanguard.

 

With an arc rifle and arquebus, they're best-served staying away from combat - though it can still happen.  Your Warlord's job will be to buff his squad with Preferred Enemy and whatever trait he rolls, rather than tanking combat or taking on other characters.  Personally, I'd slap a Conversion Field on it to give him a little more survivability but probably not much else - the extra galvanic rifle at 30" might be better than a pistol that you hopefully won't be in range to use most of the game.  Might be good to give him a taser goad just in case he finds himself in combat, but the power sword is a bit overpriced and you won't get your mileage out of an arc maul.

 

Rather, I'd spread your points out on the Vanguard Alpha and Infiltrator Princeps, as they'll be more in the thick of things.

 

This is just my take on it, and I'm sure you'll get a variety of responses.

 

Should i make my princeps the warlord then, because i plan to get them into combat asap for maximum taser killing.

[CommodusXIII]

I'd be glad to hear the thoughts of others on this one, but here's my take:

The Skitarii Warlord doesn't give a whole lot of benefit for combat, beyond Preferred Enemy - which works just as well for shooting.  In fact, PE works well for the Rangers as you can re-roll 1s and try for Precision Shots.  Few of the Warlord Traits have any bonuses for combat.  Most are situational.

 

Rather, the Skitarii Warlord becomes a juicy target for a Slay the Warlord victory point.  With your current list, I'd prefer to keep him out of combat - not that he'll have many other places to hide, but at least it'll be more difficult to single him out.  The Vanguard and Infiltrators can function just as well without being a Warlord, and in fact not being a Warlord allows you to use them a bit more effectively - even disposably, as is the AdMech way.

 

This changes a bit at higher point levels and larger armies.  I'm planning on using a Vanguard Warlord to buff my plasma calivers, both to ensure that they inflict maximum damage and to keep them from frying themselves.  With more bodies to soak up wounds, it becomes a bit more viable to position your Warlord closer to the action.  Without that ablative armor, though, they're a bit too squishy to go charging in.

[marshall Egregorius]

Well at the moment i am simply looking for optimal effectiveness given the points level (I'm building to 500 at first)

 

Also, my box of Skitarii troops from warlord just arrived.

[marshall Egregorius]

Initiate Noospheric Conference

Initiate Data Transfer 010001

HAIL RYZA

 

And we have the first completed skitarii, Infiltrator princeps 5791. Unfortunatley, his legs did not snap into the join with his torso quite like I had hoped, so they are as together as they will be. The rest of the sicarians will be completely built sans right arm for painting due to no flowy robes and junk.

 

I also managed a pattern on the data-screen too, which I am proud of though it is not seen in this pict.

 

Thoughts?

 

http://images.dakkadakka.com/gallery/2015/4/29/709685_sm-.JPG

 

Hail Ryza, my brothers of the cog.

 

End Data transfer

[marshall Egregorius]

Put together a couple of the skitarii troops. 1 vanguard and 1 ranger. The legs seem solid enough to survive being put in place after painting, unlike the sicarians.

[Cactus]

Infiltrator princeps 5791 looks good. How did you get that nice shade of orange? I think the servo skull and the grey armour would benefit from some shading.

[marshall Egregorius]

jokaero orange and a sepia wash.

 

Don't know how I would add depth to the armor as i have no lighter grey's.

 

touch ups are to be done on the servo skull.

[Vash]

Use Gryphone Sepia on the servo skull, follow up with your bone white colour once it has dried. 
For the grey armour, Nuln Oil shade, followed by your normal grey as high light.