The Sharpest Weapon: a short story followed by a battle report.
A low growl emitted from the Chaos Lord’s axe. The Daemon within had not tasted blood in quite some time. He felt a pull on his emotions, but brushed the sensation aside.
Soon, my pet the Chaos Lord thought. Hearing this, the axe increased the sensations of hunger. The Lord once again crushed the sensation, but the axe continued to growl. The growling increased as a Herald of Tzeentch approached. The axe shifted and twisted in his hand. He tightened his grip.
“You seek the artifact, mortal?” It spoke. It’s voice was both melodic and grating. Worse, it could not maintain eye contact. The eyes kept growing, moving, and disappearing. One even went down the creature’s gullet.
“I seek many things, servant of the Shaper of Ways. This artifact is but one.”
The Herald emitted a sound that may have been laughter. “The artifact is sought by many. Slaves to He Whose Light Brings Pain come. Few in number but with a resolve to match your own.” The Herald’s mouth twisted into a spiral grin. “Astartes.”
“Children.” The Lord answered. “I have fought the Long War for ten millennia. What have these lapdogs to the False Emperor ever accomplished? All they have built will be dust. I will stoop to honoring them by adding their skulls to the Skull Throne. Then I shall take the artifact.”
“Taking for you, yes, but secrets the artifact holds. Dark secrets that bind this world.” The Demon’s eyes became big, like a child full of hope. “Perhaps you would share them? I can be of much use.”
“Enough prattle.” The Lord swung his axe, pointing the head at the Daemon. “Serve me and I will consider your request. Cross me and my pet will feast on your essence for a thousand years.”
The Herald grew a beard made of green fire. It stroked the beard with a gnarled, clawed hand. Thoughtfully. Twice.
“Acceptable.” It gurgled.
“Good. Show me where these Astartes are.”
—————————————————————————————————
“Advance patrol to His Hammer II.”
“This is Captain Leonidas. Go ahead.”
“We have found the Archeotech. The signal has led us to a ruined manufactorum. However, there are Traitors here from the XII Legion. They outnumber us two to one and are aided by foul demons.”
“World Eaters? Engage them at once. The Emperor will be your shield, and I will personally come to your aid.”
“Sir?”
“The World Eaters have taken many good friends from me. I intend to pay them pack in kind. One last order, Sergeant.”
“Yes, my lord?”
“Make them mad.”
“…am I to understand that you want us to anger them, my lord?”
“You heard me. Taunt them. Make them unable to see the visors over their own eyes. This is not a request.”
“…I think I have just the thing, sir.
—————————————————————————————————
Smoke plumes from loyalist Rhinos approached. Now was the time. The Chaos Lord began to broadcast, as he had done so many times before, the last thing the loyalists would hear.
“Servants of the False Emperor! Rejoice this day, for you shall find the greatest glory you have ever known. Your blood will be spilled in glorious battle and your skulls will be placed upon the throne of Khorne. For eternity, your skulls will join with the honored slain. Come! Spill blood with us! Exult in the worship of Khorne!”
The Chaos Lord had given this speech to hundreds of thousands of opponents, adversaries, and victims. He had been met with defiance, zeal, terror, and occasionally, delight.
He had never heard such derisive laughter.
Man and daemon screamed as one, creating an unearthly howl that would deafen a god. The axe in his hand came alive with rage, and shook violently in his hand.
“CHARGE THEM!” He bellowed.
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Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines (Salamanders)
-Captain Leonidas of the 1st Company (counts as Vulkan He’Stan)
-Command Squad, Company Standard, Apothecary, Company Champion, Power Axe, Flamer, Meltagun
–Drop Pod
-Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer, Multi-Melta
–Rhino, Extra Armor
-Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Flamer, Multi-Melta
–Rhino, Extra Armor
-Ironclad Dreadnought, Ironclad Launchers, Chainfist
–Drop Pod
-Land Speeder x3, 3x Multi-Melta
-Stormtalon Gunship, Typhoon Missile Launcher
-Bike Squadron x3, 2x Meltagun
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Kyle – World Eaters with Chaos Daemon Allies
-Chaos Lord, Axe of Blind Fury, Blood Crusher, Mark of Khorne, Chaos Gift
-Bloodcrushers x3
-Land Raider, Combi-bolter, Combi-plasma
-Khorne Berzerkers x10, Power Sword, Chaos Gift
-Khorne Berzerkers x5, Chaos Gift
–Rhino, Dirge Caster
-Hellbrute, Multi-melta
-Cultists x20, Mark of Khorne, Chaos Gift
-Dark Apostle, Sigil of Chaos, Mark of Khorne, Chaos Gift
-Pink Horrors x11
-Herald of Tzeentch, Psyker Mastery 3, Disc of Tzeentch. Psychic Powers: Mental Fortitude, Invisibility, Hallucination, Psychic Shriek
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Mission: The Relic
Points: 1500
Board Setup
Forces Set Up
Cultists in the Forest for first turn protection, ten Berzerkers in the Land Raider.
Lord with Bloodcrushers central, 5 Berzerkers in Rhino, Horrors hiding behind terrain.
Bikes on my right (picture left), Tatsquad with combi-flamer in Rhino, Tatsquad with combi-melta in ruins.
Land Speeders on the right, opposite enemy forces.
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Turn 1 – Chaos
Lord and Bloodcrushers charge forward, bypassing the main objective. Land Raider and Rhino move flat out. Hellbrute moves up right side. Cultists run after the Land Raider. Herald advances and casts Invisibility on the Rhino and Mental Fortitude on the Lord and Bloodcrushers.
SKULLS FOR KHORNE!
A wall of hate advances.
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Land Speeders pop out and explode the Land Raider, killing one Berzerker and five cultists. Ironclad Dreadnought arrives via Drop Pod. Melta and bolter fire kill the Bloodcrushers escorting the Chaos Lord. Bikes move up and cause one penetrating hit on the Hellbrute, stunning it.
Pop goes the Raider!
The Lord gets a new friend!
Turn 2 – Chaos
Cultists and Berzerkers charge and destroy the Land Speeders. Chaos Lord charges the Ironclad, causing two glancing results, but is killed outright in the process. Five man Berzerker squad and Rhino take lucky bolter shots and kill the two Bikes with meltaguns. The Tzeench Herald fails to cast Invisibility on the Lord.
Land Speeders are chopped to bits!
The Dreadnought played too rough with his new friend, and so goes looking for new ones.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
Leonidas and the Command Squad arrive by Drop Pod and bake a few Berzerkers and Cultists. Ironclad kills a Berzerker with a melta shot, then charges and whiffs all his attacks. Lone bike glances the Chaos Rhino with a Krak Grenade. Tactical Squad in the ruins advances on the objective. Stormtalon arrives from reserves and kills the Herald of Tzeentch. Multi-melta firing from Rhino Hatch explodes the Hellbrute.
Leonidas gets into the thick of it.
The Ironclad treats these new friends with care. He doesn’t kill a single one!
The Herald dead, the Objective is clear.
Turn 3 – Chaos
The Berzerkers and Cultists charge Leonidas and the command squad. UNBELIEVEABLE overwatch kills 5 of the 9 Berzerkers. Sub par attacks and amazing armor save and feel no pain rolls save all but one Command Squad member, and kill about a third of the Cultists. Rhino backs up to menace the objective. Ironclad kills one Berzerker.
CHAAAAAARGE! …wait, uh oh…
BEEP BEEP BEEP BEEP…
Oops! One friend down…
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
Combat rages as Leonidas kills several Berzerkers. Tactial squad in Rhino moves up. Tactical squad by objective secures the objective, and pops the Chaos Rhino. Turn not pictured.
Turn 4 – Chaos
The Pink Horrors emerge to try to get the objective. Ironclad kills another Berzerker. The fight with Leonidas continues, as more Berzerkers and cultists die.
Horrors, AWAY!
MOAR HUGS!
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
Leonidas and the squad finish the Bererkers and cultists. Tatsquad and Stormtalon finish the Pink Horrors. Ironclad finishes the Berzerkers. Tabled.
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Post Game Analysis: I haven’t had a victory this one-sided since the old days of Mary Mayo when playing against Lexington’s Orks. Kyle had an ABYSMAL time on the left side of the board. He should have been able to kill Leonidas and the Command Squad, and then menace the Tactical Squad as they holed up in their Rhino (that was my plan). Instead, the Command Squad broke the Khornate wave and survived with one casualty. I also got lucky when Invisibility failed, making the Khorne Lord actually killable by the Ironclad. The only thing Kyle should have changed is that the Pink Horrors should have been right behind the Lord to go get the Relic.
Stay tuned: there will be painting done soon, as well as (hopefully) batreps from AFK. Keep an eye out next month, as I’m going back to Highland for BATTLEFLEET GOTHIC! You heard right! See you then!
Highland Library 40K Campaign
Visited my peeps at the Highland Library. A battle report to follow, but I thought I’d do a separate post to highlight the fantastic games going on during their Planetary Empires campaign. But first, a former colleague of mine, Dominic brought Space Hulk 4th Edition. Four new missions, a better hourglass, and other extras!
Here, Dominic engages in a Marine vs. Marine 3500 point battle with the same player he played in Space Hulk above.
Chaos clashed with Blood Angels in a huge melee.
Finally, all of the other members of the club got into a multi-player frenzy with at least six players! It started at 1pm and showed no signs of stopping at 6:30!
Next: a battle report for my game at Highland, complete with fluff! Stay tuned!
Ups and downs, strikes and gutters.
Haven’t been updating, but I want to take this opportunity to turn that around. New year’s resolution: at least one update every two weeks. Battle reports are going to be sparse, but I’m hoping to have a big one after this Tuesday when I’ll be going back to my old stomping grounds: the Highland Library.
But, anyway, here’s what I’ve been up to. Had some games at AFK, lost both, and lost the pics for the second one. I’m a bit out of the 40K meta. Here are some highlights of me getting my ass kicked by the Space Wolves.
This Ironclad Dreadnought got immobilized with a lucky shot and stood still, ignored, all game.
Thunderwolves are basically unstoppable. A full team of Sternguard unloaded their Grav shots on them, killed one and wounded two.
Five Terminators got whittled down to two by a Tactical squad. My librarian charged them in a futile effort to take them out. It turns out Power axes go last.
The whole game went like that. For some reason I don’t even have a picture of the boat of an aircraft that popped all my Rhinos and blew up half my troops. It was a good game though.
Anyway, I’ve got games at Highland coming up, gonna get back to work on my Tau fleet, and a HUGE update to the Gothic guide!
On my plate 9/26/14: Distracted Edition
Things are not going great, but it’s high time for me to stop letting life get in the way and do some hardcore hobby action! All three of my readers demand it! Well, truth be told, they’ve been a bit silent, but I can feel it in their hearts. My hobby bones are rumbling.
Bones rumble, don’t they?
Battlefleet Gothic Tau – As my Tau player dropped out during our campaign I sort of lost interest in painting this fleet. However it’s about 1/3 done and I want to finish it so it should be my primary goal. Other projects should jump in. Status: 3 more capital ships, a large selection of escorts, and some defences left to do. I also have to pick a scheme for the Nicassar. Perhaps earth tones? Or go super extravagant with gold?
Azure Flames – I need to finish my Grav Sternguard. Next, a 5 man non-jump-pack assault squad with 2 flamers. Finally, I need to make some new sergeants with power swords. I have been getting MURDERED in challenges with Power Fists. I also need Centurions, a Hunter/Stalker, and a Stormraven.
Orks – MORE LADZ! I also need to buy some Fighta-bommaz and perhaps some new Big Gunz.
Battlefleet Gothic Eldar – I purchased a pre-painted Eldar fleet, but it had no light cruisers. I won one of each light cruiser in an auction and I need to strip them and try to match the paint scheme of my new fleet.
Battlefleet Gothic Necrons – I need a paint scheme and I need to get painting. They are the last thing for Gothic. Until I buy a new fleet NO BAD BOZEMAN!
Blood Bowl Orcs – I need to make four Cheerleader goblins, and then paint them as well as my four Assistant Coach goblins and the team coach, Warboss Grimfang da Lotz.
Epic Orks – Gotta finish that 3000pt teaching list.
Epic Eldar – Gotta make a 3000 pt teaching list and build it and paint it as the Yme-Loc craftworld (gray and orange with white details)
Epic Lost and the Damned – 3000pt teaching list and paint it.
Necromunda – Paint my Escher gang, Razor and the Scumettes.
Epic Space Marines – Finish painting a whole chapter so I can say “I have painted a whole chapter of Space Marines.”
Space Hulk – Wait for an ebay auction for the new mission book and rulebook, and the new tiles. Also “acquire” the expansions. *looks innocent*
Gothic Campaign – Finale
Liam Perseus, Chapter Master of the Azure Flames, strode onto the bridge of His Hammer II with a look of disgust on his face. In a rare display, Admiral Piers looked up from the monitors surrounding his command throne.
“How went the Exterminatus of the Kutner system, my lord?” Piers asked before turning his attention back to orchestrating the machinations of his Battle Barge.
“It was unnecessary. The Necrons are gone.” Perseus spat.
Piers raised one eyebrow. “You sound disappointed.”
“Wouldn’t you be?” Perseus shot back. “The filthy xenos don’t have the stomach for a fight. I wanted to cleanse that world of them, but it seems that they have done so for us.”
“Their disappearance allows me to proceed with the final phase of this crusade.” Piers began typing almost too fast for Perseus to follow. “Brother O’Brien, open a channel to all Imperial ships, Emerald encryption.” Piers waited for confirmation before beginning. ” Attention Imperial Navy vessels. This is Admiral Piers in command of the Azure Flames fleet. Although you refuse to submit to our authority, we do have a common enemy. We move to chase the Tau who fled this sector to preserve their homeworld. You would be welcome in cleansing this xenos scum alongside us. In the Emperor’s name.” Piers ended the transmission. “Brother, dispatch orders to Flame, Wrath, and Blade squadrons to begin warp translation and pursue the Tau fleet.”
“You have no intention of chasing the Tau all the way back to the Damocles Gulf.” Perseus stated in a flat, emotionless cadence.
“Of course not, my lord.” Piers replied.
“…and the Imperials know that Emerald level encryption has been broken by the cowardly aliens?” Perseus continued in the same tone.
In the most blase voice possible, Piers answered “They remain unaware. The Tau will decipher that message within minutes.”
“So,” Perseus yelled, his voice growing to a shout, “You have just informed the Traitors that we will leave Laurie’s Hope undefended, and allowed the aliens to KNOW? The Tau will double their retreat, forever preventing us from crushing them, and the Imperials WILL THROW EVERYTHING THEY HAVE AT US!”
Piers turned and looked Perseus directly in the eye, and smiled. “Yes my lord. They most certainly will.”
———————————————————————————————–
In the final game of the campaign, Nathaniel, the only other surviving opponent played a winner-take all Planetary Assault against the Hive World of Laurie’s Hope! Will the Space Marines be able to defend this prize, or will the Imperials take it away from them?
Planetary Assault – 1500pts
———————————————————————————————–
Nathaniel – Imperial Navy
-Emperor Battleship Thor’s Gaze, Shark Assault Boats
-Retribution Battleship Nieman Lion
-Mars Battlecruiser Saratoga, third turret, Flagship, Admiral Ld8 with one Re-roll
-Overlord Battlecruiser Centaur, third turret, left shift on batteries
-Cobra Squadron x4 Exemplar Squadron
-Two Transports
-Two Transports
-Heavy Transport Argosy
———————————————————————————————–
Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines
-Battle Barge His Hammer II, Honour Guard, Terminator Boarding Parties, Flagship: Ranidan Piers, Admiral (Ld10) 3 re-rolls, Crew Skill: Extra re-roll for this ship
-Strike Cruiser Vigilance, Extra Shield, Refit: +1Ld for Reload Ordnance
-Strike Cruiser Duty, Extra Shield, Crew Skill: Pass one Leadership check automatically, Refit: +2 Hull Points, -5cm Speed
-Strike Cruiser Courage, Extra Shield, Crew Skill: Re-roll x2, Refit: +2D6 on All Ahead Full
-Strike Cruiser Sacrifice, Extra Shield, Refit: +1D6 for Critical Repairs
-Strike Cruiser Honor, Extra Shield, Crew Skill: +1Ld for Lock on, Refit: Suffer no movement penalty for Blast Markers
-Minefield (15cm x 15cm)
-Minefield (15cm x 10cm)
-Orbital Mine
-Orbital Defence Platform (batteries)
-Ground Laser Battery x4
-Ground Air Base x2
———————————————————————————————–
Setup:
———————————————————————————————–
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Fleet advances.
Turn 1 – Imperial Navy
Every ship in the fleet except the two Battlecrusiers goes on All Ahead Full. The Mars uses Come to a New Heading to maneuver to get line of sight for the Nova Cannon and the Overlord fails. Wild scatter on the Nova Cannon does no damage. Emperor fires 2 Fighters and 6 Bombers, while Mars fires 4 Bombers.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
Fleet advances. Bombers launched by the Mars are lost in an asteroid field.
Turn 2 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze goes on All Ahead Full, but other ships fail. Cobra squadron fires a Strength 8 torpedo wave.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
The Courage and Sacrifice fire torpedoes, Thunderhawks, and Bombardment cannons which annihilate the Cobra Squadron. Bombardment Canons from Honor and Vigilance take out the bomber wave, while their torpedoes and Thunderhawks fly directly into the path of the Retribution Battleship. Duty’s Thunderhawks move in front of the Emperor Battleship.
Turn 3 – Imperial Navy
The Retribution braces against the Space Marine ordnance. Poor torpedo roll does no damage, but Thunderhawk Gunships take out the dorsal lances. The Emperor’s turrets make mincemeat out of the Thunderhawks, but a poor leadership test does 3 damage from asteroids. Nova Cannon from the Mars glances the Duty, lowering one shield. 5 torpedoes from the Retribution ignore the Duty and move past it.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
Torpedoes and Thunderhawks cause the Mars to brace, barely saving it from being crippled. Broadsides pound the Heavy Transport. His Hammer II boards Thor’s Gaze and does 2 damage, starts 2 fires, and damages the starboard weapons. Broadside fire kills 2 transports, and torpedoes kill another. A good brace save protects the last transport and the Overlord Battlecruiser from harm.
Turn 4 – Imperial Navy
Mars moves up and fires the Nova Cannon at the asteroids hoping for a lucky scatter. Fortune is fickle, and the template scatters onto BOTH His Hammer II AND the Neiman Lion, lowering one shield each. Thor’s Gaze runs through the asteroids, taking one damage from an unrepaired Fire. Torpedoes from the Overlord miss His Hammer II. In a gutsy move, the Nieman Lion boards the Strike Cruiser Duty, and in a double surprise the action is a TIE!
Turn 5 – Azure Flames
Honor and Vigilance board the Mars, crippling it. Despite brace saves, the Heavy Transport explodes, the last escort class transport is killed, and the Overlord battlecruiser is crippled. An Orbital Mine from the Minefield hits Thor’s Gaze, causing 3 more Fire effects! Duty and the Nieman Lion fight another boarding action, and it is another tie! DOUBLE TIE!
Turn 5 – Imperial Navy
Crippled and on fire, Thor’s Gaze disengages. The crippled Overlord fails to navigate the asteroids and is destroyed. The Mars, crippled and braced, lowers a shield on the Duty. Finally, the boarding fight between the Duty and the Nieman Lion is decisive: 7 damage to the Nieman Lion, crippling it. Critical damage finishes off the Nieman Lion, leaving it a drifting hulk.
Turn 6 – Azure Flames
All nearby ships Lock On and destroy the Mars. Turn not pictured. Game over.
———————————————————————————————–
WHAT A SLAUGHTER! Nathaniel had some bad luck, but mostly he let the Space Marines get close. He would have done better with Dauntless cruisers with lances and a mix of boats with balanced weapons. Some more Nova Cannons would not have hurt either.
This concludes the Battlefleet Gothic Campaign for the summer! Stay tuned for more fluff to wrap up the story, including a surprise guest!
Gothic Campaign Week 10 – The Cost of Valor
Ramping up to the second to last week, Nathaniel’s Imperial Navy defended the HO-53 system from my encroaching Space Marines in a Fleet Engagement!
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Fleet Engagement 1500pts (Imperial Navy as defenders had 1400 because the system was uninhabited)
Space Marines choose Sphere, Imperial Navy chose Sphere.
———————————————————————
Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines
-Battle Barge His Hammer II, Fleet Admiral Ranidan Piers 39 Renown, 3 Re-rolls, Honour Guard, Terminator Boarding Parties
-Strike Cruiser Vigilance, Extra Sheild, Refit: +1Ld to Reload Ordnance Checks
-Strike Cruiser Duty, Extra Sheild, Crew Skill: auto pass one leadership test, Refit: +2 Hull points, -5cm speed
-Strike Cruiser Courage, Extra Sheild, Refit: +2D6 on All Ahead Full, Crew Skill: re-roll x2
-Strike Cruiser Sacrifice, Extra Sheild, Refit: +1D6 for critical effect repairs
-Nova Destroyer x6, Flame Squadron
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Nathaniel – Imperial Navy
-Retribution Battleship Nieman Lion
-Mars Battlecruiser Saratoga, Admiral 3 Renown, 1 re-roll, Third Turret
-Lunar Cruiser True Heart, Power Ram
-Tyrant Cruiser Belligerent, extra range on batteries
-Dominator Cruiser Kar Duniash
-Dauntless Light Cruiser Kestrel, Lances
-Dauntless Light Cruiser Roanoke, Lances
———————————————————————
Setup
———————————————————————
Imperial Navy – Turn 1
The whole fleet moves up. The Tyrant flanks the squadron of Dauntless Light Cruisers. The Retribution and the Dominator move up the center. The Lunar and Mars go up the right side. Mars launches 4 fighters, on CAP. Tyrant fires torpedoes.
Azure Flames – Turn 1
Vigilance takes the extreme left, Courage, Duty, Sacrifice, and Flame Squadron go up the center, His Hammer II is on the right side. Every ship with bays launches Thunderhawks. The CAP for the Mars splits in two.
Imperial Navy – Turn 2
Tyrant reloads and fires torpedoes at the Novas, but lucky brace saves prevent any from dying. Lances from the Dauntlesses whiff. Retribution takes down a shield on the Sacrifice. Dominator’s Nova Cannon misses His Hammer II.
Azure Flames – Turn 2
Novas go right past the Tyrant. The four Strike Cruisers gang up on the right side, unleashing a barrage of torpedoes and Thunderhawks. The Tyrant’s prow torpedoes are disabled. His Hammer II reloads, fires Boarding Torpedoes at the Retribution and causes Port and Prow weapons to be disabled.
Imperial Navy – Turn 3
Heavily damaged, the Dauntlesses disengage. The Tyrant takes down the Vigilance’s shields with starboard guns and the Sacrifice’s with port. His Hammer II braces for impact as the Dominator’s Nova Cannon causes 6 hits! Brace fails to protect against one. Lunar comes to a new heading. Boarding Torpedoes that missed the Retribution go after the Dominator, which braces. None of the torpedoes hit anyway.
Azure Flames – Turn 3
His Hammer II moves up, but braced guns are ineffective. Vigilance moves up to board the Tyrant. The other Strike Cruisers and Novas blast the Tyrant which refuses to brace. The Tyrant is crippled. Subsequent boarding action does 4 more damage, turning the Tyrant into a drifting hulk.
Imperial Navy – Turn 4
Mars fires Nova Cannon at the Battle Barge, which takes 2 damage. A critical effect collapses the Battle Barge’s shields! Lunar fires torpedoes, but they come up a bit short.
Azure Flames – Turn 4
Battle Barge disengages. The rest of the fleet moves out towards the Imperial Navy. Lance fire at the Dominator takes down shields.
Imperial Navy – Turn 5
Fire kills one Nova escort after they brace. Mars reloads and launches four bombers.
Azure Flames – Turn 5
Mixed results on Reload Ordnance leaves some Strike Cruisers without torpedoes. The ones that do fire on the Dominator. One wave gets through to the Lunar which causes a critical Fire! The Dominator refuses to brace for incoming Bombardment Cannon fire and a critical hit causes a Hull Breach that takes the last point of damage, turning the Dominator into a Blazing Hulk!
Imperial Navy – Turn 6
The Blazing Hulk Dominator moves forward, and explodes! The Lunar is lucky, only loses one shield, but several Thunderhawk flights are not so lucky. The Lunar’s guns fire unbelievably well and kill three of the Novas after the Mars’ Nova Cannon takes down their shields. Retribution forces a brace on one of the Strike Cruisers.
Azure Flames – Turn 6
The Novas disengage. The Courage moves up to board the Lunar. Boarding action does only one damage.
Imperial Navy – Turn 7
Fire from the Lunar and Retribution cripple the Vigilance. Mars’ Nova Cannon forces a brace on the Duty.
Azure Flames – Turn 7
Courage moves up to board the Mars. Fire from the other Strike Cruisers cause a Hull breach which does two extra damage. Boarding action does 5 damage, hulking the Mars.
Imperial Navy – Turn 8
Lunar disengages. Retribution fails to disengage, even on leadership 10!
Azure Flames – Turn 8
Reloads and launches all around.
Imperial Navy – Turn 9
Retribution disengages. Mars is left as a hulk.
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This battle looks bad. It is. Nathan refused to Brace for Impact in almost every situation. Bracing in the wrong situation can tie your hands behind your back, but NOT bracing can blow your arms off.
Next week: Last week of the campaign! I’m so excited!
BONUS: Former Tau player Josh dropped out to start a Warhammer Fantasy campaign! Here’s their second game (the first was too short for me to document), a blazing two-on-two with Brettonians and Lizardmen vs. Tomb Kings and Warriors of Chaos!
Gothic Campaign Week 9 – Wheat and Chaff
Major shakeup: our Tau player dropped out, leaving his systems completely undefended! Our part-time Imperial Navy player, Nathaniel, took advantage of this and launched an attack on the coveted Epps system. Can the Space Marines prevent the Imperial Navy from expanding their sphere of influence?
Fleet Engagement – 800 pts
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Bozeman – Azure Flames
-Battlebarge His Anvil (refit: Left Shift)
-Strike Cruiser Courage (refit: +2D6 on All Ahead Full, Crew Skills: re-roll x2)
-Strike Cruiser Honor (refit: does not suffer speed penalty for blast markers)
Nathaniel – Imperial Navy
-Emperor class Battleship Thor’s Gaze, with Shark Assault Boats
-Sword Frigates x6 Hellfire Squadron
-Cobra Destroyers x4 Deathbringer Squadron
-Cobra Destroyers x4 Exemplar Squadron
(Note: both fleets totaled exactly 800pts)
Setup:
———————————————————–
Turn 1 – Imperial Navy
Escort squadrons move forward to engage, while the Emperor fires 4 fighters and 4 bombers.
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
All ships launch Thunderhawks, which either form CAPs or try to mitigate enemy ordnance.
Turn 2 – Imperial Navy
Torpedoes fired by both Cobra squadrons do no damage. Remaining attack craft put themselves right in the path of the Battle Barge.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
His Anvil and Honor Reload Ordnance, but Courage fails to do so. His Anvil kills two of the four Cobras near it, and combined fire from the Strike Cruisers kill three of the four of the others. All Imperial escort squadrons Brace for Impact.
Turn 3 – Imperial Navy
Braced Firestorms fire on Strike Cruiser Courage, but roll poorly. Lone Cobra fails to disengage. Thor’s Gaze moves up through the asteroids to shield it from the Battle Barge, and reloads. However, it fails to navigate the asteroids and takes two damage!
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
His Anvil fails to navigate the asteroids, leaving it down one damage point, and unable to fire on Thor’s Gaze! Honor rolls poorly to kill the lone Cobra. Fire from Courage forces a Brace on the Firestorms, but no casualties.
Turn 4 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze fires on His Anvil point blank, causing two damage and a Brace. Cobras disengage. Firestorms go for Honor, but fail to do damage.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
His Anvil escapes through the Asteroid field. Combined fire from the Strike Cruisers kills two Firestorms who decline to brace.
Turn 5 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze launches 2 fighters and 6 Bombers. Firestorms cause 2 damage to Honor.
Turn 5 – Azure Flames
Courage and Honor reload, and fire on the Firestorms, reducing them to 1. Bombers force a Brace on Courage, causing 1 damage. His Anvil begins the long turnaround.
Turn 6 – Imperial Navy
Lone Firestorm disengages. Thor’s Gaze reloads, launches again. Fire brings down Honor’s shields.
Turn 6 – Azure Flames
The Strike Cruisers remove the ordnance with their Bombardment Cannons. Courage uses Lock On to do so better.
Turn 7 – Imperial Navy
Reload, 2 fighters 6 bombers.
Turn 7 – Azure Flames
Bombardment Cannons blast the ordnance again.
Turn 8 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze uses Lock On and cripples Honor.
Turn 8 – Azure Flames
Courage disengages as Honor tries to swing around an asteroid field to get behind Thor’s Gaze. His Anvil finally comes around.
Turn 9 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze reloads, launches, turns toward asteroids.
Turn 9 – Azure Flames
Honor launches a CAP and fails to shoot down the ordnance.
Turn 10 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze reloads and the bombers cripple Honor.
Turn 10 – Azure Flames
Honor disengages. His Anvil fires Boarding Torpedoes at Thor’s Gaze, disabling the port guns and starting a fire.
Turn 11 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze fails to lock on, does not damage His Anvil, but repairs its critical effects.
Turn 11 – Azure Flames
His Anvil boards Thor’s Gaze, and causes 4 damage, an Engine Room result (one more damage) and another Fire. Thor’s Gaze is crippled with 4 damage left.
Turn 12 – Imperial Navy
Crippled, Thor’s Gaze locks on and despite a Brace, His Anvil is crippled. Thor’s Gaze takes one damage from the fire.
Turn 12 – Azure Flames
Shooting is ineffective.
Turn 13 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze disengages.
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Imperial Navy: 200 Victory points
Azure Flames: 200 Victory points
Result: A TIE?????!!!!???!!!
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UNBELIEVABLE! I’ve never seen a tie in Gothic like this! We both took fleets of EXACTLY 800pts and all of our fleets were crippled, so we both got 25% of each others fleet! Weird. Oh well, the campaign continues! Tune in next week for more Gothic!
T’au Il’porrui Sh’ve Mont’re “Emmisary” class light cruiser
Next: another Tau light cruiser and a batrep for the Gothic league!
Edit: The Battlefleet Gothic Image Gallery now contains the Tau ships I’ve painted.
Gothic Campaign Week 8: Marines vs. Tau Planetary Assault
Another action packed week! Sadly our new players did not show, but veteran player Josh played as the defender in a Planetary Assault mission! We had 1000 points, and Josh got 30 extra points for defences.
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Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines
-Battle Barge His Hammer II, Admiral Piers (Ld9, 3 re-rolls), Terminator Boarding Party, Honour Guard
-Strike Cruiser Duty, Extra Shield, Crew Skill: Automatically pass one Leadership test per game
-Strike Cruiser Courage, Extra Shield, Refit: +2D6 on All Ahead Full
-Strike Cruiser Honor, Extra Shield, Refit: No speed penalty for blast markers.
-Four Transports
Josh – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur (Kor’or’vesh)
-Or’es El’leath “Custodian” class Battleship, Admiral (Ld9, 2 re-rolls)
-Lar’shi’vre “Protector” class Cruiser, Vior’la configuration
-Il’porrui “Emissary” class light Cruiser, Sa’cea configuration
-Squadron of 3 Kir’la “Warden” and 2 Kir’shashvre “Castellan” escorts
-Kor Caste Orbital City
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Setup
Our planet was a Large planet (in this case the Planetary Edge is the edge of the cloud barrier, along which several antigrav mining platforms float. Otherwise this mission would make no sense.) It had gas and dust cloud rings, and one moon. Josh set up all of his fleet on “standby” so they had to be set up within 30cm of the planet.
Radiation Burst causes -1 Ld!
Turn 1 – Azure Flames Space Marines
The Battle Barge went on All Ahead Full. All ships with Launch Bays launched Thunderhawks. 1/2 of the Thunderhawks from the Strike Cruisers go on CAP with the Transports, while the others CAP their home vessel. The Battlebarge’s 3 Thunderhawks CAP with it.
Turn 1 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
Custodian goes on Burn Retros. Launch bays for the entire fleet launch Fighters to mitigate the Thunderhawk CAP and also fire Tau Missiles.
Radiation Burst causes -1 Ld!
Turn 2 – Azure Flames Space Marines
Thanks to a re-roll, the Battlebarge and all 3 Strike Cruisers go on All Ahead Full. The Strike Cruisers fire normal torpedoes at the gap between asteroids near the Tau escort squadron. Bombardment cannon fire destroys the worst of the incoming Tau missiles. Turn not pictured.
Turn 2 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
All of the Tau ships (not the station) go on Reload Ordnance. More ordnance is fired, doing one damage to the Battlebarge. Fire brings down the shields. Tau fighters remove the CAP Thunderhawks. Escorts must make a right turn as they come out of the asteroids to avoid the torpedoes. Torpedoes self destruct due to running into asteroids and/or each other.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames Space Marines
Battlebarge and Strike Cruisers Reload Ordnance. Boarding Torpedoes and Thunderhawks from the Battlebarge cripple the Port and Starboard weapons on the Custodian, and also start a fire. Batteries and Bombardment Cannons take down the shields on the Protector and do one damage, starting a fire. Torpedoes and Bombardment Cannons from the Strike Cruisers kill two Wardens in the escort squadron. Escorts Brace for Impact. Tau fighters remove the CAP on the Transports.
Turn 3 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
Battery fire against the Battlebarge is lackluster, but Tau Missiles do two more damage. Emmisary goes after the Strike Cruisers, and the Escorts on Brace fire missiles, but to little effect. Tau missiles close in on the Transports.
Radiation Burst causes -4 Ld!
Turn 4 – Azure Flames Space Marines
Battlebarge boards the Custodian. Fire from the Strike Crusiers, as well as other factors cause the Custodian to lose by 5. Brace saves two for a total of 3 damage, and a Fire critical. Strike Cruisers wipe out the Tau escorts. Transports bunch up for safety.
Turn 4 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
The Emmisary chases after the Strike Cruisers, but fails to damage. Tau missiles kill three of the Transports because they fail to Brace several times. Against all odds, the Battlebarge braces, saving it from damage!
Turn 5 – Azure Flames Space Marines
Battlebarge disengages. Strike Cruisers make it to the Low Orbit table. Game ceded.
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Space Marines are better than the internet led me to believe. Other than my first game in which I had bad luck disengaging, I have been doing quite well. Thunderhawk gunships are terrifyingly powerful, and the ability to fire critical-guaranteed Boarding Torpedoes or regular ones is a great boon. Marines have to get up close and personal and really slug it out.
Next: the Gothic campaign continues! Hopefully we will see more rookie players!
Gothic Campaign Week 7: Marines vs. Necrons
This was a light week, with several regulars taking a week off. However, Matt showed up, eager to learn more about the Necron fleet he commands. We played a 1000 point Fleet Engagement. We both chose the Sphere deployment, so we set up on opposite sides of the board, neither having an advantage.
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Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines
-Battle Barge His Hammer, Flagship (Commander Piers, Ld 9, 3 re-rolls), Honour Guard, Terminator Boarding Party
-Strike Cruiser Vigilance, Extra Shield, Weapon Refit: Auto Loaders (+1 Ld for Reload Ordnance)
-Strike Cruiser Duty, Extra Shield, Crew Skill: Elite Command Crew (auto pass one Leadership check per game)
-Hunter Destroyer x5, Wrath Squadron
Matt – Necron Tomb Fleet
-Necron Tombship, Sepulchre
-Scythe class Cruiser
-Shroud class Light Cruiser
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Setup:
Turn 1 – Necrons
Necron Tombship goes on All Ahead Full, but only moves 30cm. Other ships move up.
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Hunters take a right turn, fire 10 Torpedoes at the Shroud but do nothing. The squadron of two Strike Cruisers fire 12 boarding torpedoes and 4 Thunderhawks. Battlebarge moves up.
Turn 2 – Necrons
Tombship gets only 30cm on All Ahead Full again. The Shroud takes a left turn, away from the Hunters. The Boarding Torpedoes fired by the Strike Cruisers hit the Shroud, causing a Drive Damaged result, preventing the Shroud from turning. The Scythe moves up. Thunderhawks launched by the Strike Cruisers hit the Tombship, but a fantastic turrets roll kills all four! Turn not pictured.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
Battlebarge moves up. Strike Cruisers Reload Ordnance, but the Hunters fail to Reload. The surviving Boarding Torpedoes that hit the Shroud turn to the right, and continue.
Turn 3 – Necrons
Because the Shroud can’t turn, its minimum movement takes it off the board, forcing it to disengage. The Scythe goes on All Ahead Full. The Tombship moves up. Lance fire from the Tombship takes down one shield on the Battlebarge.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
Strike Cruisers move up. They launch Torpedoes and Thunderhawks at the Tombship, causing a Power Flow Disruption that prevents Necron lances and batteries from firing in any arc! Both the Tombship and the Scythe Brace for Impact as the Strike Cruisers also fire on the Scythe, causing one damage. The Battlebarge adds its fire to little effect, and the Hunters fail to reload again.
Turn 4 – Necrons
A foolish decision on my part not to Brace for Impact, along with fantastic firing from both Necron ships causes three damage to the Vigilance, crippling it.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
The Vigilance tries to disengage, but due to a Bridge Smashed result, it fails. The Duty moves behind the Tombship, and fires. The Hunters Reload, and fire Boarding Torpedoes at the Tombship, which cause a whole mess of critical effects. The Battlebarge Locks On, and fires. In total, 3 damage and 5 critical effects from torpedoes and Bombardment Cannons make the Tombship hurt. Traveling for six player turns, the Boarding Torpedoes fired by the Hunters on turn 1 start to catch up behind the Necrons.
Turn 5 – Necrons
Plagued by effects, the Tombship disenages. The Scythe locks on, and its weapons take down the Battlebarge’s shields and do one damage. The Battlebarge braces.
Turn 5 – Azure Flames
The Vigilance successfully disengages. The Duty, Hunters, and Battlebarge open fire on the Scythe, which takes one damage despite a Brace.
Turn 6 – Necrons
Scythe disengages.
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Great game! The campaign is going along nicely. Next: more Tau painted ships and more batreps!