1500 Blitz vs. Blood Angels

Another action packed batrep from AFK Games!  Tonight, Chris brought his Blood Angels and we played a good old fashioned Blitz!

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Mission – Blitz

The attacker gets 18″ in from a short board edge.  The Defender sets up secretly on the other table half.  The attacker gets 1 victory point at the end of the game if a unit has at least 1 model within 36″ of the opponent’s board edge, or 2 victory points if within 18″.  The attacker gets a Preliminary Bombardment.

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Bozeman – Azure Flames (Salamanders) (Attacker)

• Captain Valerien, Combi Melta, Power Axe, Rites of War
• Ory-Hara, Chief Librarian of the Azure Flames, Force Sword, Plasma Pistol, Salamander Mantle, Smite, Veil of Time, Might of Heroes
• Tactical Squad x10, Combi Melta, Power Fist, Meltagun, Lascannon
  • Razorback, Twin Lascannon
• Tactical Squad x10, Combi Melta, Power Fist, Meltagun, Lascannon
  • Razorback, Twin Lascannon
• Tactical Squad x10, Combi Flamer, Power Fist, Flamer, Heavy Bolter
  • Rhino
• Bikes x8 + Attack Bike, Power Fist, 2x Meltaguns, Multi-Melta
• Land Speeder, Multi-Melta

Chris – Blood Angels (Defender)

• Librarian in Terminator Armour, Force Axe, Storm Bolter
• Sanguinary Priest, Inferno Pistol, Chainsword
• Tactical Squad x5, Heavy Bolter
• Tactical Squad x5, Heavy Bolter
• Scout Squad x5, 4x Sniper Rifle, Missile Launcher, Camo Cloaks
• Furioso Dreadnought
• Baal Predator, Twin Assault Cannon, Heavy Bolter Sponsons
• Baal Predator, Twin Assault Cannon, Heavy Bolter Sponsons
• Land Raider (Phobos Pattern, 2x Twin Lascannon, Twin Heavy Bolter)
• Terminators x5, Assault Cannon

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Setup

As you can see, the attacker’s board edge (left) was sparse while the defender (right) had lots of fortifications. (the guns on the building are decorative)

Chris set up secretly, then I deployed my army.  My preliminary bombardment clipped his Librarian, doing one wound, but it also killed 4 of 5 men in one of the Tactical Squads, and put 6 wounds on the Furioso!

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Turn 1 – Azure Flames

The Bikes surged forward!  The lone Blood Angel that survived the Bombardment died, and so did two of the other Tactical Squad.  The Rhino and Razorbacks moved up and their fire finished off the Furioso Dreadnought, which exploded, but did not harm anyone.  The Bikes then charged the Tactical Squad, bringing their numbers down to two!

Turn 1 – Blood Angels

Terminators disembarked from the Land Raider, and fired on the combat squad in the Rhino Ruin, killing two.  ABYSMAL roll from the Land Raider only does 4 wounds to the Librarian’s Razorback!  Tactical Squad falls back from the Bikes so that the Baal Predators can shoot, but they only do one wound to the Bikes.

Turn 2 – Azure Flames

Melta Weapons and Lascannons remove one of the Baal Predators and severely damage the second.  Transports disgorge three Tactical Squads, then move up and pop smoke.  Combat squads in the backfield snipe two Terminators with lascannons.  Bikes charge the wounded Predator and the Sanguinary Priest.  Bad wound rolls get the Priest only one wound.

Turn 2 – Blood Angels

Even with the -1 to hit, the Land Raider takes out the wounded Razorback.  The Predator retreats, leaving the Sanguinary Priest to absorb another wound.  Scouts try to snipe the Librarian, but roll awfully.

Turn 3 – Azure Flames

Backfield Lascannons snipe two more Terminators, leaving the sergeant alone!  Bikes finish the Sanguinary Priest and consolidate into the ruins.  Everyone moves forward.

Turn 3 – Blood Angels

Once again the Scouts roll poorly, as does the Land Raider which only does 4 wounds to the vulnerable Land Speeder.

Turn 4 – Azure Flames

Bikes move up and shoot the Scouts, then try to charge 10″ with Veil of Time.  Sadly, they don’t make it.

Turn 4 – Blood Angels

Librarian casts Blood Boil and PERILS causes 6 wounds to the Bikes, leaving the sergeant with 1 wound, and the Librarian with 1 wound!  Scouts and Land Raider try to pop the Rhino, but don’t.  Game ceded.

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Well, that was interesting.  I didn’t get a chance to recycle any units.  To be fair, Chris lost this game mainly because of rolls.  The Land Raider SHOULD have been popping a transport a turn (possibly with help from the Scout Missile Launcher).  However, he was routinely rolling 2-3 misses per turn on a 3+, and always failing to wound on one roll.

I also rolled somewhat poorly but this was offset by the AMAZING Salamanders doctrine!  It feels just like the good old days of 3rd edition: Salamanders Heavy Weapons are guaranteed to hit or your pizza is free.

Also, I guess the Rhino Rush is back.  Razorbacks are fantastic, and turn 1 charges seem to be the order of the day.

Finally, I’d like to say that Chris’ list had a centerpiece of the Land Raider stuffed with Terminators.  He sadly kept them off to the right side of the board as a firebase.  They are a big, scary unit!  They should have been more aggressive, stalling my rush by plugging the hole in the middle of the fortification wall.  As it stood, the Terminators killed two bolter marines, and the Land Raider blasted a few vehicles, but did nothing to stall the advance of my army.

Next: hopefully some painting!