Hello, fellow Warhammer 40k fans! SaltyJohn from TFG Radio, and one of the Las Vegas Open Head Judges, here to bring you another article reviewing the ITC Standings for the 2019 season with the new scoring method in place.
Before we talk about anything. Can I just say, we need some more Chaos Knight rumors? You can’t just give us teaser photos and hints at new weaponry and maybe even new variants then leave us hanging GW. I need to start planning my new plastic crack shopping list. Thank you.
On the topic of painting, the ITC Hobby Track is in full swing this season. Jim Vesal, who I interviewed for last week’s article on his competitive hot streak, is also currently number one in the Hobby Track. It’s not fair that some people can do it all I suppose, but here we are. The best 40k player in the world is also the best 40k hobbyist in the world.
With the Bay Area Open rapidly approaching we are likely to see a decent change in the Top 10, several of the players in the top 10 are attending the BAO, can someone unseat Jim Vesal or with the Vesal Reign of Terror continue? It will be fun to watch play out. The Hobby Track, like the ITC Competitive Rankings, also has a Team Ranking. The team currently in the first place spot has some real talent on it in terms of hobbyists. I contacted Kelly Wallace to get some information on his team The General Staff and their success this season in the Hobby rankings.
Who else is on your team?
Thomas Byrd, Alexis Putt, Jeremy Jackson, Stephen Cosgrove, Adam Abramowicz, Daniel Hesters, Collin Watts, Fabio Van Der Merwe, Bob Ezell, Red Powell, Clayton Greis, Stephen Mitchell, John Keenan, Mark Hall, Robert Birmingham
How long has your team existed?
10+ Years
Give me a brief history of your team.
The General Staff originally formed around a group of friends who played a variety of games (including Warhammer 40k) in the early 2000s. Around the time that I joined the group, it began to get more focused on 40k and travelling to fun events around the southeast as well as the annual pilgrimage to Adepticon. Now, the core group puts on the Warzone: Atlanta and Warzone: Giga-Bites events each year, and travels to events around the country having a great time and preaching the “total hobby” experience that is our core principle.
Who are your best/notable players? Tell me a little about them.
Thomas Byrd – Currently ranked the #2 Space Marine player in the ITC and a true “renaissance man” in 40k tournaments. He is an amazing painter and such a fun opponent that people compete to get paired against him at any event he attends. If you’ve seen an Ultramarines Stormbird at Adepticon or elsewhere, you’ve seen Thomas’ army!
Jeremy Jackson – Currently the #8 Chaos Demons player in the ITC and an amazing hobbyist. Often referred to as the “top 40k player in Atlanta.”
Alexis Putt – Currently the #2 Harlequins player in the ITC and another fantastic painter. Always a brutal opponent at the table with a beautiful army.
Price Wilkes – Currently the #22 Forces of the Hive Mind player in the ITC and custodian of more than 38,000 points of Tyranids and their friends. Another great player who always brings a beautiful army to the table.
Adam Abramowicz – Known for “The Best General” podcast, the hobby master for The Army Painter. He won the Fabricator Artisan (Best Appearance) prize at the first Warzone: Atlanta in 2015 and has consistently finished in the top cut each year since.
Red Powell — The 2018 ITC Silent King (#1 Necron Player), who refuses to play with models that aren’t completely finished. He’s switched to Khorne for 2019 and brings an awesome looking army full of Bloodthirsters and Berzerkers.
Stephen Mitchell — A top-tier player and another master hobbyist.
Collin Watts — A fantastically skilled 40k player. Known as the “Final Boss” for finishing on the top table at Warzone: Atlanta four years in a row.
Daniel Hesters — Currently #6 in the ITC, Daniel is constantly building and painting to bring the pain to the table.
Kelly Wallace – I’m currently abusing myself by trying to play (and paint) Necrons competitively (and I’m sitting at #14 right now). I’ve got a few well-painted armies on the shelf including a ton of Nurgle Demons, Iron Hands, and Tau.
Who are your best/notable players in terms of the Hobby Track? Tell me a little about them.
Fabio Van Der Merwe — An incredible artisan who has brought a beautiful, completely new army to every Warzone: Atlanta event since 2015. He just recently won the Fabricator Artisan prize at Warzone: Giga-Bites II in April.
Bob Ezell — Whether it’s Necrons or Guard or AdMech, Bob Ezell brings the hobby with a vengeance. A great player and a great hobbiest.
John Keenan — A veteran of many editions, John puts a lot of time and effort into all of his armies and the attention shows.
Mark Hall — Mark doesn’t make it down to Atlanta to play with us very option, but he always brings a beautifully painted force to the table.
Are you from a specific Region? If so, which one?
Most of us are in the Atlanta, Georgia area.
Who is the team leader?
I guess that I am (Kelly Wallace).
How did your team do last season? Both competitively and in terms of the Hobby side of things 2018.
We didn’t play in a lot of events that reported for the Hobby Track, and finished 21st for the year there. We had a better showing at regular and finished a respectable 15th.
Does your team have a goal, slogan, ideal, mantra etc? Please explain.
Nothing official. We believe in the total hobby experience – strong competition, strong hobby, and fun games.
Thank you to Kelly Wallace for agreeing to answer my questions. He was also king enough to include many photos of his team’s armies! Included are the work of Adam Abramowicz, Alexis Putt, Bob Ezell, Fabio Van Der Merwe, Jeremy Jackson, John Keenan, Kelly Wallance, Price Wilkes, Stephen Cosgrove, and Thomas Byrd. When you’re done looking at the photos you will no doubt agree that the first place spot in the ITC Hobby Track is well deserved for this team. Enjoy.
And remember, Frontline Gaming sells gaming products at a discount, every day in their webcart!
Some beautiful armies in there!
Yes, really impressive work. I love the Thunderhawk, but mostly because, you know. Thunderhawk.
That’s a Stormbird, isn’t it?
Pretty sure it is, yeah. Thunderhawk has a different wing/fuselage configuration.
Yeah, and it’s more of a brick with wings in design.
Reece, almost every space marine flyer is a brick with wings. You’re gonna have to be more specific.
Lol, you got me there!
Yeah, it’s a Stormbird. The Thunderhawk has a Turbo-Laser on top, where the third engine is on the Stormbird. Also, in the interview, Kelly specifically called out someone on his team as always running an Ultramarines Stormbird.
My bad! Still a cool model!