Second half of Assault Intercessors and Tactical touch-ups
Five more Assault Intercessors ready to go!
In addition the third of my four Tactical Squads has been retouched and updated with decals.
Next: Third Company Ancient (Standard Bearer) and the last Tactical update!
Surround and Destroy 2000 Azure Flames vs. Black Legion
Had another game of 9th yesterday at AFK Games in Holt! This time Andrew brought the forces of the Warmaster himself!
Bozeman – Azure Flames (Salamanders Space Marines)
- Battallion
- Captain Edgard, Warlord, Forge Master, Miraculous Constitution (Exemplar of the Promethean Creed -1 CP), Power Fist, Combi-Melta, The Salamander Mantle
- Librarian, Bolt Pistol, Force Stave, Might of Heroes, Null Zone
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Meltagun
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Meltagun
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer
- Company Champion
- Sternguard Veterans x10, Power Fist, 10x Combi-Melta
- Sternguard Veterans x10, Power Fist, 10x Combi-Grav
- Assault Squad x5, 2x Flamer
- Land Raider Crusader, Multi-Melta
- Razorback, Twin Lascannon
- Rhino
- Rhino
- Rhino
Andrew – Black Legion Chaos Space Marines
- Battallion
- Abbadon the Despoiler, Warlord
- Sorcerer in Terminator Armor, Prescience, Warptime, Angel’s Bane
- Dark Apostle
- Dark Disciples x2
- Chaos Space Marines x5
- Chaos Space Marines x5
- Cultists x30
- Berzerkers of Khorne x9, Power Fist, 1x Bolter, 8x Chainsword, 8x Chain Axe
- Chaos Terminators x5, 5x Chainfist
- Obliterators x3, Mark of Slaanesh
- Rhino
- Patrol (-2 CP)
- Lord Discordant, Mark of Khorne, Talisman of Burning Blood
- Chaos Space Marines x5
- Venomcrawler, Mark of Khorne
- Venomcrawler, Mark of Khorne
Mission: Surround and Destroy
Primary Mission: Take and Hold (+5 VP for holding 1, 2, and more than the enemy.)
Setup
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Rhino with 5 Assault Marines advances to take one of the center objectives. Rhinos each with 2x Tactical Squads move up cautiously. Land Raider moves up and blasts the Lord Discordant with a Multi-Melta and the cultists with all other weapons. The Razorback finishes off the Lord Discordant.
Turn 1 – Black Legion
Berzerkers pile out and charge the Rhino with the Assault Squad. After 2 rounds of combat, the Rhino dies and the Assault Squad piles out, only to be engaged by the Berzerkers. Abbadon and the rest of the left flank move up and do minimal damage to the Land Raider. Two of the Chaos Marine squads perform actions on objectives to gain points.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
One Tactical Squad, the Melta Sternguard, and the Characters pile out of their vehicles and blast the Cultists and the red Venomcrawler, removing all of them. The Librarian attempts to cast Null Zone and Might of Heroes but fails both rolls. Assault Squad falls back, and two Tactical Squads blast the Berzerkers, who die in a flurry of bad rolls.
Turn 2 – Black Legion
Terminators arrive on my board edge, but one of the Grav Sternguard Combat Squads uses Auspex scan, and with another flurry of bad rolls, all 5 Terminators are eliminated! Obliterators arrive in the central building and reduce the Land Raider to 2 wounds. Sorcerer kills the Librarian with Angel’s Bane. Abbadon charges the Land Raider, finishing it, then piles into the Razorback. Rhino charges all three squads in the right center, and causes one wound to the Assault Squad before the Tactical Sergeants kill it. Remaining Venomcrawler assaults the Melta Sternguard who totally whiff Overwach. Captain Edgard and the Company Champion Heroically Intervene, but the Venomcrawler kills Edgard and the Champ, and 4 of the Sternguard after fighting twice! Turn not pictured.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
One Flamer squad on the right side advances, while the Melta Squad and Assault Squad attack the Obliterators, killing one. Razorback falls back from Abbadon, and shooting reduces him to 4 wounds. Flamer squad on the left pops out of the Rhino and advances. Sternguard fall back and Melta fire erases the last Venomcrawler, who explodes!
Turn 3 – Black Legion
Obliterators move down to get farther into enemy territory for points, and blast the Razorback, reducing it to one wound. Once again, Abbadon finishes the job, killing the Razorback and consolidating into the Rhino. Sorcerer in Terminator Armor charges the Melta Sternguard and is vaporized by overwatch! Dark Apostle also charges them, narrowly avoiding Born Protectors Overwatch fire from the smaller Tactical squad, and charging so they cannot Heroically Intervene. Chaos Marine squad on the right objective charges the Flamer squad, but get seriously damaged for the effort.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
Melta Tacticals on the right kill one Obliterator and reduce the second to one wound. Assault Squad can’t hurt it, but a lucky bolt round from the Rhino finishes the poor Obliterator! Fight continues in the upper right, leaving the Aspiring Champion alone against four Azure Flames. Rhino falls back from Abbadon, and the Melta Squad and Grav Squad put the Warmaster down! Melta Sternguard finish the Dark Apostle in combat (power fist whiffs, but regular attacks are rolling amazing!) Flamer squad in the upper left flames one Chaos Marine squad who die thanks to bad rolls, and then charges another squad on the objective! Game Ceded.
Final Score
Azure Flames: 50
Black Legion: 35
Thoughts
This list, which I called Rhino Rush, is AMAZING for 9th! I built it as a thought experiment for 8th, but never wanted to use it. Now I don’t want to stop. It’s perfect for going out and accomplishing objectives which is all 9th is about!
Andrew played a good game. There was one moment where he forgot to shoot twice with Obliterators, and he probably should have been more conservative when deep striking the Terminators, but other than that, he lost due to bad rolls during key times. Likewise, I didn’t really do much to complain about, but had some amazing rolls (including three different D6 damage rolls of 6!) This is a good mission, but I’m hoping to play a different one next week.
Next: the second half of the Assault Intercessors and another Tactical Squad revamped!
Tactical Sergeants and Tactical Squad Retouch and Decals
The last of the Tactical Squad Sergeants are finished!
Additionally, another Tactical Squad has been retouched and given fresh Decals!
Next: Five more Assault Intercessors, a Company Ancient, and then a special surprise!
Azure Flames vs. White Scars 2000 Surround and Destroy
Thanks to the Grand Tournament Pack which has everything you need from the main rulebook and more, I was able to play one of the polished and balanced new missions with Tyler at AFK! Let’s Batrep!
Azure Flames (Bozeman)
- Battalion
- Captain Edgard of the 3rd Company, Warlord, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, The Salamander Mantle, Forge Master, Miraculous Constitution (Exemplar of the Promethean Creed, -1CP)
- Lieutenant, Combi-Melta, Power Fist
- Apothecary
- Chapter Ancient, Relic Banner (-1CP)
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer
- Tactical Squad x5, Chainsword, Storm Bolter, Heavy Bolter
- Sternguard x10, Power Fist, 10x Combi-Melta
- Sternguard x10, Power Fist, 10x Combi-Grav
- Devastator Squad x5, Chainsword, 4x Grav-Cannon, Armourium Cherub
- Bikes x3, Power Fist, 2x Flamer
- Attack Bike, Multi-Melta
- Thunderfire Cannon
- Whirlwind, Vengeance Launcher
- Rhino
- Drop Pod
- Drop Pod
- Drop Pod
White Scars (Tyler)
- Battalion
- Indominus Captain, Warlord, The Burning Blade
- Indominus Lieutenant
- Primaris Lieutenant, Power Sword, Bolt Pistol
- Bladeguard Ancient
- Bladeguard x3
- Repulsor
- Redemptor Dreadnought, Macro-Plasma Incinerator, Storm Bolters
- Eradicators x3, Melta Rifles
- Assault Intercessors x5
- Assault Intercessors x5
- Intercessors x5, Auto Bolt Rifles
- Hellblasters x5, Plasma Incinerators
- Hellblasters x5, Plasma Incinerators
- Inceptor x3, Assault Bolters
- Inceptor x3, Assault Bolters
Mission: Surround and Destroy (6 objectives, 2 in each deployment zone and 2 near the middle, long board edges)
Primary Objective: Take and Hold – Score 5 VP for, 1 objective, 2 objectives, and holding more than your opponent (max 15/turn)
Setup (not pictured): I put Bikes, Attack Bike, and Whirlwind to my left, while the Thunderfire, Heavy Bolter squad, and Rhino with 2x Flamer squads were on my right. Tyler put a Repulsor with characters and Bladeguard in the center, as well as the Dreadnought and Eradicators. Hellblasters went in a building to my left, and Intercessors and Assault Intercessors were in another to my right.
All of the rest of my army was packed into three Drop Pods. Tyler held Inceptors and one Assault Intercessor in reserve.
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Bikes move up and hide behind the crates. Attack Bike wipes two Eradicators in the far building. Drop Pods come down, and wipe out the Repulsor and the Dreadnought, and 2/3 of the Bladeguard. Rhino moves up and spends 1CP to pop smoke. Whirlwind and Thunderfire bust up the Intercessors high in the right hand building.
Turn 1 – White Scars
Captain, Lieutenants, Ancient, and Bladeguard charge. Assault Intercessors fail to charge. Overwatch kills the Bladeguard, and Born Protector Overwatch puts 4 wounds on the Lieutenant with the bolt pistol. The Grav Sternguard wrap around as they heroically intervene, and Edgard also intervenes! Huge fight in the middle kills the wounded Lieutenant, the Melta Sternguard, and puts a few other wounds here and there. Eradicators move up and waste two bikes (bad roll). Inceptors arrive and charge the Techmarine. He weathers their assualt and kills two of them! One consolidates into the Tactical Squad. Two Hellblasters move up.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
Bike Sergeant charges and kills the two remaining Hellblasters. AMAZING bolt pistol shots and decent Melee kill all White Scars characters in the central scrum. The Techmarine kills two more Inceptors, but he’s down to one wound! Flamer units pile out, fire on the Intercessors, and then assault the Assault Intercessors with their Rhino!
Turn 2 – White Scars
Eradicators kill the Bike Sergeant and take an objective. Fight with the Assault Intercessors continues, leaving one alive. The reserved Assault Intercessors arrive and charge the Techmarine, killing him! I spend 2 CP for Rise from the Ashes trying to revive him but to no avail!
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
Various shooting removes some units, game ceded.
Results:
Azure Flames: 28
White Scars: 4
Discussion
I rolled EXCEEDINGLY WELL for this game. I made saves when I needed to and shot very well on turn 1, especially with pistols in close combat. I also had a very nasty Alpha Strike list. However, I may need to modify it, as the Grav Drop no longer has the stratagem that allows Grav Cannons to wipe entire units of Terminators in one go!
Combine that with the Thunderfire Techmarine getting a TWO WOUND BUMP so that he’s a real boy now! That saved me on the right flank!
Inceptors are not fantastic against Marines with the Assault Bolters. Plasma would have been more effective, or possibly some more Assault Intercessors to pour on damage. Tyler should also have hidden behind buildings or put out screening units such as Infiltrators to stop Drop Pod shenanigans.
Next: The last of the Tactical Sergeants and some wicked conversions!
Indominus Assault Intercessors part 1, and 1st Squad 3rd Company Tactical retouch and decal
I chose to split the Assault Intercessors in two. The first half, including a custom Thunder Hammer conversion is complete!
Following that, I went back to the very first Tactical Squad I ever painted to do some quick touch ups and add decals.
They were a mess.
I’ve touched up squads, especially for Big Games, but never this one. This had a 19 year old paint job. Details were ignored, mould lines were still around, and paint was a bit cakey.
I did what I could. They look much better now, especially with the new decals.
Long time Fourstrands veterans will recognize Brother Jonathan as the lone Tactical marine who stood against a heavily armed Guard commander and Commisar for THREE ROUNDS of close combat, holding up their army and turning a loss into a win. He was the first Marine I named.
He used to be in 4th company, but this squad is now clearly part of the 3rd.
Well… the 4th Company is going to have something bad happen to it. You’ll see in future updates to the Big Game VI storyline.
Next: The final two Tactical Sergeants and another Tactical squad update! Hopefully this one will be less… intense.
9th Edition Debut! 1000 Azure Flames vs. Deathwatch – Ransack
AFK Games is now doing game night with limited tables! Masks and social distancing are required, so fear not all three readers, because I am playing it safe.
This game was played on 10/9/20, which prevented me from using the newest Marine codex. Therefore my list was drawn from the old 8th Edition codex. However, my opponent Thomas and I agreed to use the stats for models and weapons released in FAQs so we were sort of close to a 9th edition game! Sadly my list would have been illegal due to using Scouts as troops (they are now Elites) and Double Heavy Flamers on Land Speeders (not an option anymore, even in Legends!)
Despite the inconveniences, Thomas and I made do. Here’s the Batrep!
Bozeman – Azure Flames (counts as Salamanders using 8th ed rules with modifications to copy leaked 9th ed rules) 1000 points
- Battalion Detachment
- Captain Khalil on Bike, Warlord, Miraculous Constitution, Forge Master (Exemplar of the Promethean Creed), Drake-Smiter (Thunder Hammer), Storm Shield
- Lieutenant, Jump Pack, Power Axe, Combi-Melta
- Intercessors x 5, Bolt Rifles, Thunder Hammer
- Scouts x 10, Bolters, Missile Launcher
- Tactical Squad x 5, Storm Bolter, Lascannon
- Land Speeders x 3, 2 x Heavy Flamers
- Thunderfire Cannon
Thomas – Deathwatch (using 8th ed rules with bolter-crippling FAQ)
- Patrol Detachment
- Watch Captain in Terminator Armor, Combi-Melta, Chainfist, Warlord
- Deathwatch Kill Team x 5, 5 x Combi-Melta
- Deathwatch Kill Team x 5, 4 x Heavy Bolter
- Corvus Blackstar
- Vanguard Detachment
- Venerable Dreadnought, Twin Lascannon, Missile Launcher
- Venerable Dreadnought, Power Fist, Storm Bolter, Assault Cannon
- Contemptor Dreadnought, Multi-Melta, Assault Cannon
- (Note: I believe this detachment had an HQ but it got forgotten during setup)
Mission – Ransack
6 objectives. +5VP for controlling 2 objectives, 3 objectives, or more objectives than your opponent (cumulative) at the end of your Command Phase.
Setup:
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Khalil roars ahead, and charges the Lascannon/Missile Dreadnought, killing it in one combat! The Land Speeders accompanied by the Jump Pack Lieutenant wipe out the Heavy Bolter squad.
Turn 1 – Deathwatch
The Corvus Blackstar flies all the way across the board and kills 4/5 of the Intercessor Squad. Fire from the Corvus and a well placed punch from the Dreadnought kills one Land Speeder and wounds another.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
Land Speeders fall back and the Dreadnought is killed by the Lieutenants Combi-Melta. Khalil charges and damages the Contemptor Dreadnought.
Turn 2 – Deathwatch
The Corvus drops off the Watch Captain and Melta Squad. Poor rolls leave one Land Speeder alive, but remove the last Intercessor. The Watch Captain bakes the Techmarine. Poor rolls by Khalil damage the Contemptor further.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
Land Speeder kills one of the Melta squad while the Lieutenant meltas and then CHARGES the Corvus Blackstar, causing medium damage! Khalil slays the Contemptor.
Turn 3 – Deathwatch
Fire from the Melta squad reduces the Lieutenant to 1 wound. Corvus Blackstar’s weapons bounce off of Khalil’s Storm Shield.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
Khalil turbo boosts to an objective. The Lieutenant charges the Melta Squad, kills one, and is slain! For the 4th time this game, the Tactical Squad Lascannon misses! The Scout Missile Launcher reduces the Corvus Blackstar to one wound, and then Bolters finish it! Turn not pictured. Game ceded.
Results:
Azure Flames: 54 VP
Deathwatch: 10 VP
Breakdown:
9th edition is going to play a lot differently! It’s now about scoring LOTS of points in LOTS of ways! Choosing good Secondary Objectives is key. For example, I chose the mission-specific secondary Ransack, which didn’t score me any points at all because I didn’t hold objectives on the opposing board edge enough!
I rolled very well except for the Lascannon shots from the Tactical Squad. Thomas had quite a bad night, with Las-Talons on the Corvus missing more often than they hit! Thomas also had too few boots on the ground to take advantage of mission objectives.
All in all, I think 9th is going to be good. However, we played on a board much bigger than the new minimum. Games may be played in much smaller spaces! This will give assault armies a leg up, but also prevent hiding and require a lot of terrain.
Bonus, a new player, Ben, showed off his sweet Indominus Necrons! Check ’em out!
Next: Assault Intercessors and more batreps!
Indominus Primaris Lieutenant Sandeep, leader of the Lightguard, and Shotgun Scout touchups with decals
My Primaris lieutenant is complete! Formerly Sergeant Sandeep of the Lightguard, now Lieutenant of the 4th Company, seconded to Captain Antonius.
In addition, I spent a while fixing up my old shotgun scouts! I used them all the time in 3rd where they were the superior choice to Bolter scouts. Indeed, in Antonius’ backstory, he used a Shotgun as a scout, meaning these august and weary models represented him and his squad!
These were some of the first models I painted and it shows. Almost two decades of wear made them a challenge to touch up. In addition, some of their faces made them look like they had just seen the Ark of the Covenant open. Why didn’t they get a touch up until now? Guess I just didn’t think about it.
Now, however, they have a nice touch up and snazzy decals! Next: Sniper Scout Sergeants!