Obvious stupid is stupid obvious

 

 

It seems like every couple of weeks now, some buffoon on Bell of Lost Souls makes a comment referring to "Codexes".

Today it actually started with the following gem:

Rakoth
in reply to Gareson
Would you rather quickly done, not planned out codi *cough*Tyranids*cough*, or well written and interesting codi?

"Codi"?  Really?  To be fair, at least the poster knew that something was wrong with his first instinct.

This being the internet, it wasn't long before someone supplied the correction.  Yes, children, the plural of "codex" is..."codices".

Because:

"Codex" is a Latin word for an old book.  Basically.  And the plural ending for words ending in "-dex" is "-dices".  I don't make these rules.  Blame the Romans.

Other words you might know like this include index, uh...subindex, and...uh...caudex.  Words ending "-ix" are the same.  Appendix.  Radix.  Also words ending "-tex".  Vortex.  Vertex.  Cortex.  And words ending "-pex".  Auspex.  But not apex.  Oh well.

Spandex is actually pluralized spandexes.  This word is an anagram for expands.  It was invented by Americans.

Now, back to BoLS, and here enters RealGenius.  Spoiler alert:  He's not a real genius.

---

RealGenius
Since it is a big 'c' word, you can use Codexes as well. No one speaks Latin here

...

RealGenius
It is the "Space Marine Codex", not the "Space Marine book-format-that-replaced-the-scroll-and-stone-tablet". English, we take words and make them ours.

...

RealGenius
I read Codexes, not codexes or codices.

---

Now, part way through looking like a complete fool, RealGenius makes this interesting move:

---

PANZERbunny
in reply to RealGenius
I think your username looks ridiculous when taken in context of what you're saying.

RealGenius
in reply to RealGenius
Finally the irony (OMG, a joke?!) isn't lost on PANZERbunny.

...

RealGenius
in reply to Psyberwolfe
Happy to be an American with the right to argue any damn point I want. Seriously, how often does this come up? (At least twice a year.) Why to people keep trying to correct grammar in the comments section of a poorly edited blog? I'd link you to several other articles where I explain codex/codicies, but I'm lazy and the irony/humor would be lost on you.

Psyberwolfe
in reply to RealGenius
Oh please do I'm all ears. The irony here is linked to my previous statement, "...can't be bothered to read a dictionary..." vs. yours, "...I'm lazy..."

PenelopeTheWonderPony
in reply to RealGenius
You spelt "codices" wrong. Just sayin' :P

---

But I will give RealGenius this: he goes out with a little class.

---

Weafwolf
in reply to RealGenius
Twice a year? I think it came up four weeks ago. The appropriate plural is "codices," but GW has printed "codexes," so do what you want. I'm sticking with "codices" because I like to feel superior to you.

RealGenius
in reply to Weafwolf
Best reason ever!

---

This will come up again, I'm sure. And every time it does, we can look back on this moment and see a high point of low points in the 40k meta.

Marine Commander: Leman Russ

Marine Commander

Imperial Record AA/SW 05/015. f19.P6. Profile: Leman Russ Born: 2612016. M32. Guranta D Gurantan system. Commissioned Adeptus Terra as special agent 0134041. M32. First rose to Imperial notice during Lucan Crusade. Appointed Imperial Commander Lucan 0333042. M32. Instrumental in founding Adepts Astartes unit 4 'Spacewolves'. Suffered severe alviola damage during acid storms on Susa. Transplanted with model cybron-osmotic grill.

Good job, Games Workshop

I love to rag on GW at the corporate level.  As a consumer, I think some big mistakes have been made there over the past few years.

I also love to tease the red shirts for their dogmatic sales technique, but I've also had a lot of good experiences with the staff at my local GWs (shout out to Vince, Matt, and now Ben at Montreal Eaton's Centre).

Today, though, I had my second great experience dealing with GW customer service on the phone.

See, I collect the White Dwarf.  I've been back collecting it for years, and I need something like 38 of the 260+ issues that have peen printed, and almost all of those are in the first 50.

So this is a big deal to me.

Now, one might think that I would get a subscription to the White Dwarf, but I've never had one.  When I worked for GW I got it free every month for the couple of years I worked there, and otherwise I made a regular trek to the store to buy it.  In December, however, at the prompting of my local W manager, I coughed up for a subscription (and the Space White Dwarf).

I was anxiously awaiting my first ever issue in the mail.

It arrived.  Unbagged.  With the label stuck on it.  Dog eared and folded.

This was not good.

I called GW, ready to cancel my sub, but the fellow who answered assured me that this wasn't how it was supposed to come, that he'd look into it, and in the meantime he'd ship me a brand new one.

This was good.

The replacement issue arrived in a huge box, well protected and padded, and all was well.  Until this week, when my second ever issue arrived.

Unbagged.  With the label stuck on it.  Dog eared and folded.  With a little tear.

This was not good.

My second call to GW was effortless.  Madison was understanding, helpful, and very pleasant on the phone.  He took my issue seriously, and has arranged for me to pick up a replacement issue at my local GW.  He assured me that he would pass this up the line and that things would get sorted out.  And, if it happened again, he asked me to call back, and he'd look after me.

Thank you, Madison.  Thank you, Games Workshop.

I appreciate it.

Titans and their varieties

Titan configurations present a wide variety of often confusing nomenclature.  This is a product of two main circumstance:

First, the models have evolved quite significantly since their introduction originally in Adeptus Titanicus; that game introduced only one broad type of Titan, but we now have about twenty.

Second, Games Workshop has been...ambiguous in sorting things out and, on at least one occasion, made obvious errors. Now the ambiguity helps to reinforce the mysterious elements of 40k, but simple errors could have been avoided.

I.  TYPE

Broadly speaking, the first and most important distinction between Titans is their Type.  Since most of the 40k universe is presented through the eyes of the Imperium, they get to label the Types.  They are:

Emperor - the largest and rarest type, Emperor Titans are mammoth.

Battle - the most common type, Battle Titans perform a variety of battlefield roles and do the majority of the fighting.

Scout - the lightest type, Scout Titans perform in a reconaissance and support role.

II.  CLASS

Within each type, there are subdivisions.  Essentially, this is a matter of the basic "chassis".

The Imperium fields 4 (or possibly 5) different Classes of Titan.  They are:

Imperator (Emperor type)
Warlord (Battle type)
Reaver (Battle type)
Warhound (Scout type)

The possible fifth class is the Warmonger.  This monster is an Emperor type Titan; however, it is not clear if it is a variant of the Imperator, or a unique chassis.  There are important similarities and differences between the two.

III.  PATTERN

Various classes of Titans are produced throughout the Imperium.  As a consequence of STC technology, the same essential Titan could be built by a variety of forge worlds.  However, because of the fallen state of the Imperium, a number of cosmetic and even systemic differences can exist between the same class of Titan.

The most obvious Pattern disticntion is that between Mars and Lucius pattern Titans.  Mars-produced Titans tend to have rounded carapaces and armour plates, whereas Lucius-produced Titans tend to be more angular and slab-sided.

HOWEVER, this analysis is complicated by the fact that Epic: Armageddon and Jervis Johnson indicate that "pattern" refers to weapons loadout, rather than cosmetic appearance or place of origin.  This position should be discarded as grossly inconsistent with Forge World's various conversion kits (Ryza pattern turrets) and essentially the entirety of the rest of what we know about Titan classification.

IV.  MARK

Because GW's modelling technology has advanced over time, and they have withdrawn and reintroduced models, "Mark" has emerged as a way of distinguishing earlier/later versions of the same model.  The Armorcast Warhound, with it's rounded carapace, is clearly a Mars-pattern; Forge World's most recent smooth armoured Warhound is also Mars-pattern, hence Mark 1 and Mark 2.

V.  VARIANT

Variant refers to weapon and equipment loadout.  In Adeptus Titanicus, this was a very important classification, but it has diminished in importance over time as more Titans' were introduced to the game.  Since in Adeptus Titanicus there was only one class of Titan in the box, these could be configured differently to create light, medium, and heavy versions.  As the Reaver and Warhound were introduced, these roles were filled by dedicated Titan classes, and so variants become much less of an issue.  Nonetheless, some weapon variations are so common that they have been standardized as named variants.


Imperial Titans appear in the following variants:

Warlord Nightgaunt - Assault weapons [Laser Burners, CCWs]
Warlord Nemesis - Support weapons
Warlord Eclipse - Relics
Warlord Deathbringer - Tactical weapons

Reaver Vandal - Relics [Devotional Bells, etc]
Reaver Hun - Tactical weapons [Gatling Blasters, Turbolasers]
Reaver Goth - Support weapons [Vortex Missiles, Deathstrike Cannons]

Warhound Wolf - Anti-Tank weapons [Plasma Blastgun & Turbolaser]
Warhound Jackal - Anti-Infantry weapons [Inferno Gun & Vulcan Megabolter]

It could be argued that the Warmonger is in fact a variant of the Imperator, given that much of the structure is identical, but for the weapons load.

As a reference, here is the complete list of cards produced for the Warhammer Quest Game, including its various expansions.

Warhammer Quest Boxed Set
Treasure Card Packs 1
Treasure Card Packs 2
Treasure Card Packs 3
Lair of the Orc Lord Expansion
Catacombs of Terror Expansion
All the cards from White Dwarf WHQ articles
Some of the treasure cards in the treasure packs can be inspirational for designing your own quests. Design a Quest in which the Warriors must collect all the Amulets, or Runestones, or chase after the magic items of Le Marquis. If they fail, huge vortexes of evil magic will descend upon the Empire, etc. etc.

Warhammer Quest Card List:

Boxed Set Event Cards:
Cave-In (E)
Encounter (E)
Dead Body (E)
Old Bones (E)
Portcullis (E)
Scorpions (E)
Trap (E)
2D6 Giant Bats (M)
2D6 Giant Rats (M)
2D6 Giant Spiders (M)
6 Goblin Archers (M)
6 Goblin Spearmen (M)
1D6 Goblin Spearmen & 1D6 Goblin Archers (M)
1 Minotaur (M)
1D3 Minotaurs (M)
6 Orcs (M)
1D6 Orcs & 1D6 Orc Archers (M)
2D6 Skaven (M)
2D6 Snotlings (M)
13x Blank Monster event cards
4x Blank Event event cards
"How-to fill out Blank Event cards" Card

Boxed Set Treasure Cards:
Amulet of Power
Arrows of Death
Boots of Swiftness
Chalice of Fate
Darting Steel Daggers
Deathstone
Dragon Shield
Enchanted Shield
Ensorcelled Blade
Finger of Doom
Firebomb
Flash Powder
Fur Cloak
Gold (3 gp)
Gold (100 gp)
Healing Potion
Healing Salve
Hell Mace
Incense of Healing
Invisibility Ring
Lightning Fire Ring
Lucky Talisman
Magic Potion
Orb of Might
Potion of Healing
Quake Scroll
Shield of Deliverance
Spear
Talon of Death
Time Freeze Ring

Boxed Set Dungeon Cards:
Corridor Cards:
1x Corner
1x Stairway
3x T-Junction
7x Passageway
Dungeon Room Cards:
Circle of Power
Dungeon Cell
Guard Room
Monster's Lair
Torture Chamber
Well of Doom
Objective Room Cards:
Fighting Pit
Firechasm
Fountain of Light
Idol Chamber
Tomb Chamber

Boxed Set Spell Cards:
Attack Spell Cards:
Fireball
Freeze
Lightning Bolt
Ogre Strength
Pit of Despair
Defense Spell Cards:
Confuse
Iron Skin
Levitate
Rebound
Shield
Healing Spell Cards:
Healing Hands
Heal Wounds
Lifebringer
Life Force
Resurrection

Boxed Set Equipment Cards:
The Lantern
The Rope
Hand of Death Spell Scroll
Healing Potion (full wounds)

Boxed Set Warrior + Advance Cards:
Barbarian
Dwarf
Elf
Wizard
 
Card Packs

 Treasure Card Pack #1:
Cover card
Objective Room Treasure Cards:
Armour of Dargan
Arrows of Loren
Battle Stone of Le Marquis
Blood Sword
Boots of Flight
Bane Sword
Elf Helm
Hammer of Spite
Hellfire Sword
Horn of Vengeance
Power Stone of Le Marquis
Shield Spell Scroll
Sword of Vengeance
Warningstone of Asuryan
The Hammer of Sigmar
Dungeon Room Treasure Cards:
Ancient Vase of Lustria
Armour of Fortune
Arrow of Slaying
Axe of Slaughter
Band of Magic
Bane Scroll of the Undead
Blade of Sea Gold
Blade of Slicing
Bladed Boots
Boots of Tzchak
Bow of Tor Alessi
Cloak of Loren
Cloak of Deception
Cloak of Stealth
Coughing Spell Jewel
Dispel Magic Scroll
Dome of Power
Fanged Death Helm
Firebombs (1D6)
Glory! Spell Scroll
Glowstone
Gold (1D6x50)
Hidden Alcove
Holy Artefact
Lifebringer Spell Scroll
Lifestealer Talisman
Pearl Necklace
Pit of Despair Scroll
Potion of Alchemy
Potion of Flight
Potion of Instability
Potion of Weapon Mastery
Relic Blade
Ring of Sure Seeing
Runestone of Slaying
Spell Ring
Tankard
Undead Bane
Wall of Steel

Treasure Card Pack #2:
Cover Card
Objective Room Treasure Cards:
Armour of Meteoric Iron
Axe of Slaying
Blade of Leaping Gold
Crown of Thoughts
Dragon Stone of Le Marquis
Elf Shield
Firestorm Icon
Gauntlets of Soul Rending
Horn of Defiance
Lifestone of Ashraaz
Life Stone of Le Marquis
Ring of Regeneration
Ring of the Warp
Surefire Bow
Sword of Hoeth
Dungeon Room Treasure Cards:
Arrows of Piercing
Arrows of Sure Flight
Backpack
Bauble of Anurandel
Boots of Battle
Boots of Leaping
Bugman's XXXXXX
Chaos Bane
Confuse Spell Scroll
Crown of Madness
Cure Small Wounds Spell
Exotic Foods of Tilea
Fine Clothes
Fine Elf Wine
Fleet of Foot Scroll
Goblet of Vitality
Halo of Vengeance Scroll
Healing Hands Jewel
Horn of Shielding
Icon of Combat
Icon of Determination
Invisibility Spell Scroll
Iron Skin Spell Scroll
Light of Courage
Obsidian Blade
Ogre Slayer
Ogre Strength Scroll
Orb of Power
Potion of Battle
Potion of Healing (1D6 wounds)
Potion of Pain
Potion of Strength
Quarg Horn
Ring of Power
Spices from Araby
Stone of Bravery
Stone of Transmutation
Strength Spell Scroll
Swords of Doom Scroll

Treasure Card Pack #3:
Cover Card
Objective Room Treasure Cards:
Axe of Blood
Bracelet of Saphery
Chalice of Battle
Dragon Sword
Bow of Loren
Helm of Possession
Pistol & Shot
Ring of Seeking
Speed Stone of Le Marquis
Sword of Heroes
Talisman of Jet
Wand of Diabolum
Wand of Jade
Warp Jump Spell Jewel
Dungeon Room Treasure Cards:
Abandoned Backpack
Amulet of Fury
Amulet of Vindication
Bag of Gold (1d6x25)
Blessed Sword
Blood Pulse Spell Scroll
Bone Blade
Bow of Tiranoc
Destroy Magic Scroll
Destroy Magic Scroll
Dwarf Pick
Eltharion's Bow
Flesh Worm Scroll
Glittering Robe Scroll
Holy Water
Horn of Resilience
Icon of Agility
Javelin
Luckstone of Anurandel
Map
Potion of Endurance
Potion of Flying
Potion of Keensight
Potion of Lightning Blades
Potion of Toughness
Potion of Water Walking
Precious Icon
Protection Ring
Rapid Fire Bracelets
Ring of Invisibility
Rune of Destruction
Runestone of Death
Runestone of Magic
Salve of Strength
Stonebread
Sword of Might
Window of the Void Scroll
Wines of Bretonnia
Wings of Power Scroll
Wizard's Staff

Blank Event Card Blister Pack:
17x Blank Monster event cards
4x Blank Event event cards





Catacombs of Terror

Catacombs of Terror Event Cards:
Curse of the Dread King (E)
Death Curse (E)
Dwarf Ghost (E)
Horror in the Darkness (E)
Spectral Attack (E)
Vampire Bats (E)
Van Damneg - The Dread King (M)
Gunther Laranscheld - Evil Necromancer (M)
Luthor, Laranshceld's Hunchback Servant (M)
1 Carrion (M)
2D6 Ghouls (M)
1D6+3 Skeletons (Archers) (M)
1D6+3 Skeletons (M)
1D6 Skeleton Spearmen (M)
1D6 Skeleton Spearmen and 1D6 Skeleton Archers (M)
1 Tomb Guardian (M)
1D3 Tomb Guardians (M)
1D6+3 Zombies (M)

Catacombs of Terror Treasure Cards:
Objective Room Treasure Card:
Sceptre of Zandri
Dungeon Room Treasure Cards:
Amulet of Charadris
Axe of Khemri
Chalice of Vigour
Helm of Alcadizzar
Silver Stone
Stone Icon of Ghamaluk
Orb of Sigmar
Talisman of Alcadizzar
The Blessed Gem
The Kingshield of Tilea

Catacombs of Terror Dungeon Cards:
Corridor Card:
Chasm of Despair
Flames of Khazla
Dungeon Room Cards:
Hall of Death
Objective Room Card:
Dread King's Throne Room

Catacombs of Terror Special Cards:
Grimoire Necris
Necromantic Magic
Undead Minions

Lair of the Orc Lord

Lair of the Orc Lord Event Cards:
Bogoff The Snotling (E)
Challenge! (E)
Falling Block (E)
Get The Little Git (E)
Gubbinz The Jester (E)
Map (E)
Spikes! (E)
Spore Fungus (E)
Trip Up (E)
Wounded Knight (E)
1D6 Black Orcs (M)
3 Goblin Fanatics (M)
1D3+1 Goblin Wolf Riders (M)
Gorgut And Minions (M)
3 Gorgut's Big'Uns (M)
1D6 Orcs And 1D6 Night Goblin Archers (M)
1D6 Night Goblin Archers And 1 Fanatic (M)
4 Night Goblin Netters And 4 Clubbers (M)
Skabnoze The Shaman With Minions (M)
2 Squig Hunters With Cave Squig (M)
1D6 Wild Cave Squigs (M)

Lair of the Orc Lord Treasure Cards:
Bograt's Krown
Fungus Brew
Magic Arrers
Plergit's Stabba
Pritty Stonez
Ring Of Life
Scroll Of The Chimera
The Hammer Of Hargon

Lair of the Orc Lord Dungeon Cards:
Corridor Card:
Collapsed Passage
Dungeon Room Card:
Shaman's Den
Objective Room Card:
Gorgut's Lair

Lair of the Orc Lord Special Cards:
Shaman's Den
Skabnoze's Spells
Squig Hound
Sword Of Malediction




White Dwarf Magazine

White Dwarf 185:
Gaol Key Equipment Card
Gaol Board Section
Gaol Dungeon Card

White Dwarf 186:
Flames of Khazla Board Section
Flames of Khazla Dungeon Card

White Dwarf 187:
4x Treasure Cards:
Freezing Death Spell Jewel
Gemstone
Moradrel's Boots
Reaper Sword

White Dwarf 189:
Treasure Map Equipment Card
2x Treasure Cards:
Gem of Passage
Globe of Destruction

White Dwarf 190:
8x Dark Secret Cards:
Discovery
Escort
Personal Supplies
Phobia
Pursuit
Rescue
Secret Map
Vengeance

White Dwarf 191:
2x Treasure Cards:
Soulstone
Blessed Water

White Dwarf 192:
3x Board Sections:
Dead End
Collapsed Passage
Into The Dark
3x Dungeon Cards:
Dead End
Collapsed Passage
Into The Dark

White Dwarf 193:
4x Event Cards:
Orc Ambush (M)
Rat Ogre (M)
Spider's Lair (E)
Treasure Trove (E)

White Dwarf 195:
Rat Golem Event Card (M)
Skreek Deathstrike Event Card (M)
Quirrik Event Card (M)
Quirrik's Laboratory Dungeon Card
Quirrik's Lab board section
6x Warpstone counters

White Dwarf 197:
4x Event Cards:
Alarm (E)
Shifting Sands (E)
Sliding Wall (E)
Snake Pit (E)

White Dwarf 201:
Affliction of Nurgle Event Card (E)
Chaos Dwarf Anvil board section (no Dungeon card)

White Dwarf 204:
Sewer Board Section
Sewer Dungeon Card
Fascination of Slaanesh Event Card (E)


(above archived from http://home.earthlink.net/~djrobert/Sanctum/whqcardlist.htm)

Specialist Game - "Inquisitor" - Book List

Have:

Inquisitor Rulebook
Thorian Faction Sourcebook (pdf)


Inquisitor Conspiracies:  The Ciran Legacy
Inquisitor Conspiracies:  Death of an Angel

Inquisitor Annual 2002

Inquisitor Annual 2004

Exterminatus #5
Exterminatus #6
Exterminatus #7
Exterminatus #9
Exterminatus #10

Need:


Inquisitor Conspiracies:   Heavenfall

Exterminatus #1
Exterminatus #2
Exterminatus #3
Exterminatus #4
Exterminatus #8
Exterminatus #11+

The Shark Mouth

Made famous by the American Volunteer Group, aka the Flying Tigers, in China, the "Shark Toothed Mouth" design is a variety of nose art that first appeared in the First World War.  A variety of countries have employed it, and the effect can be both comical and menacing.

The Americans are almost certainly the dominant users of the design at present:

 A-10 Thunderbolt II "Warthog"

The appeal of the design lies, probably, in the image of the shark as a sleek predator, always staying in motion to survive.  Plus, big teeth are awesome!

Dassault Ouragon flown by the Israeli Air Force

 

 Apache AH-64D Longbow, flown by the United States Army

The use of the shark mouth for helicopters is very popular with American forces, turning up in Viet Nam on Hueys and continuing as above and below.

AH-1 Cobra Gunship

Because f the popularity on helicopters, it is only natural that it should appear on the sides of the new plastic Valkyrie gunships, which are sort of a mix of Huey air cav and attack gunship.

Valkyrie

Though the design is most often utilized in aircraft, I thought it was worth mentioning that Canada Russia* has a slightly different take on the issue.  And, in my opinion, size does matter.

 Canadian Russian Ice Breaker

* Thanks to an unidentified commenter for correcting my national attribution.