Battlefleet Gothic batrep: Surprise Attack 1000 pts: Space Marines vs. Imperial Navy

Stephen and I finally got our work schedules to sync up, and we got some long-awaited Gothic action at AFK Games in Holt!

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Mission: Surprise Attack (1000 pts)

Region: Inner Biosphere

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Attacker: Stephen – Imperial Navy Segmentum Obscurus Bastion Fleet

• Solar Admiral (Ld 10), 2 additional re-rolls (aboard the Enif)
• Avenger class Grand Cruiser Enif
• Dauntless class Light Cruiser Cursa (Lances)
• Dauntless class Light Cruiser Stevo (Torpedoes)
• Squadron of 4 Firestorm class Frigates
• Squadron of 3 Sword class Frigates
• Squadron of 2 Cobra class Destroyers

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Defender: Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marine Dominion Fleet

• Master of the Fleet Ranidan Piers (Ld 10), 2 re-rolls (aboard His Hammer II)
• Battle Barge His Hammer II
• Strike Cruiser Vigilance, Extra Shield
• Strike Cruiser Courage, Extra Shield
• Wrath Squadron, 5x Hunter class Destroyers
• Minefield
• Minefield
• Orbital Mine
• Orbital Mine

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Setup

Shown above, the two Strike Cruisers are squadroned together.  Battle Barge His Hammer II is on standby; all other ships are on full alert.

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Turn 1 – Imperial Navy

The entire fleet arrives via the sunward edge (far edge in pictures below).  The Stevo, the Cursa, and the Firestorm squadron arrive to the left and go after the Strike Cruisers.  The Enif, the Cobra squadron and the Sword squadron come in nearer the center.

The Stevo fires torpedoes to limit the Strike Cruiser’s options, as the rest of the fleet advances.

The rest of the fleet menaces the center.

Turn 1 – Space Marines

Wrath Squadron goes around the large minefield.  The large minefield rolls two 6s to launch 2 mines at the Swords.  His Hammer II uses the gravity well of the planet to turn twice and fires normal torpedoes and Thunderhawk Gunships at the Enif.  The Strike Cruiser squadron fires torpedoes and Thunderhawks at the Cursa, which fails to brace for impact and is crippled.  Bombardment Cannons fire on the Firestorms and destroy one.

Wrath Squadron outflanks the enemy.

Thunderhawk flights away.

Bad torpedo roll is augmented by the Cursa failing to brace for impact.  A Thunderhawk causes an Engine Room effect, leaving two damage remaining.

Turn 2 – Imperial Navy

The left side of the fleet closes in, and fires on the Strike Cruisers, doing one damage to the Courage.  Torpedoes from the Cobras are stymied by resilient Thunderhawks.  The torpedoes and Thunderhawks hit the Enif, which takes two damage.  An orbital mine kills one of the Swords.

The only actual damage was caused by a torpedo fired by the Stevo.

Ordnance hits home, doing serious damage to the Enif.

Turn 2 – Space Marines

A daring double-boarding action by the Strike Cruisers yields mixed results.  The Space Marines win both actions.  The Cursa is reduced to a drifting hulk.  The Stevo takes one damage, but in return causes a critical effect to the Courage, causing a hull breach and doing 3 damage, crippling it!  His Hammer II reloads, and launches more ordnance.  Wrath Squadron also fires, with boarding torpedoes.  All of this ordnance does four more damage to the Enif, crippling it and causing a Fire.

Boarding actions are where Space Marines shine, but they are always a gamble!

Space Marines can really pump out a lot of high quality ordnance.

Turn 3 – Imperial Navy

Enif disengages.  The Firestorms and Swords go after His Hammer II, but do no damage.  The Stevo fires on the Vigilance.

The escorts pour it on to His Hammer II, but they don’t have enough gun.

Dauntless Light Cruisers can’t put out a lot of firepower in their side arcs.

Turn 3 – Space Marines

Abysmal leadership rolls by His Hammer II fails an Ld 10 check, TWICE!  Courage disengages.  Vigilance does two damage to the Stevo.  The rest of the fleet kills one more Sword, but the last one barely survives with some fantastic Brace rolls.

It’s become a one-on-one duel between the Vigilance and the Stevo.

Lucky Sword manages to hold on, preventing the destruction of the squadron!

Turn 4 – Imperial Navy

Stevo disengages.  Sword disengages.  Firestorms, however, fail to disengage even on a modified Ld 10!  They advance and kill one Hunter.

Stevo gets out of here.

Desperate and unable to flee, the Firestorms put the hurt on the Hunters!

Turn 4 – Space Marines

The Vigilance goes on Come to a New Heading to go after the last Firestorms.  The rest of the fleet pour it on, but one Firestorm survives.

Once again, one survives to save the squadron.

Turn 5 – Imperial Navy

Last Firestorm disengages.  Game ends.

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Final Score

Azure Flames: 329.75

Imperial Navy: 50

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Final Thoughts: After the game, I convinced Stephen to re-make his Avenger class Grand Cruiser into a Vengeance class because the Avenger has been completely useless for him.  The Vengeance has much longer range and a good variety of guns, as opposed to the Avenger which is all short range batteries.  Hopefully it does better for him in the future.

Next: Blood Bowl and 40K in Highland!

Highland Library Golden Rhino Tournament 7-28-15

It’s TOURNAMENT TIME!  All the prep I’ve been doing will either pay off or fail dismally.  How did I do?  Read on to find out!

Spoiler alert: due to an overly long lunch and other factors, we only played three 2 hour games instead of 4.  Sadly, this means we did not get to play mission 4 which was my favorite of the 4.

Before we begin, here’s the goodie bag I got for entering:

Included in the bag: a bunch of White Dwarf magazines, some Age of Sigmar promo stuff, and two balls of fluff, painted and embedded with a tea light to make it look like smoldering wreckage!  Also, six sculpey-clay numbered objectives that hold a die to mark Mysterious Objectives and another objective that looks like a brain!  NEAT!

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Here is the list I took in all three games.  Remember, I am trying to win in an anything goes tournament with a Combined Arms detachment Highlander list.

Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines (Salamanders) – 2000 pts

-Leonidas, captain of the 1st company (counts as Vulkan He’stan)

-Librarian, Level 2, Space Marine Bike, Melta Bombs

-Dreadnought, Extra Armour, 2x Twin Linked Autocannons

-Ironclad Dreadnought, Ironclad Launchers, Chainfist, upgrade Storm Bolter to Heavy Flamer
—Drop Pod

-Bike Squad x8 with Attack Bike, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Melta Bombs, 2x Meltaguns, Multi-Melta

-Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Meltagun, Multi-Melta
—Rhino, Extra Armour

-Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer, Multi-Melta
—Rhino, Extra Armour

-Scouts x5
—Land Speeder Storm, Multi-Melta

-Assault Squad x5, 2x Flamer
—Drop Pod

-Land Speeder Squadron x3, 3x Multi-Melta

-Predator Destructor, Heavy Bolter sponsons

-Thunderfire Cannon

All missions have: 2 ruins, 2 craters, 1 impassable LOS blocking terrain, 1 river or water feature, 2 forests, and 1 armor 14 building.  Each mission also has the special rule At Any Cost: You may target the building, even if it is friendly.

Wins give 3 tournament points, ties 2 and losses 1.  Ties at the end of the tournament are settled via # of victory points total for all 3 games.

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Mission 1 – Command and Conquer

Dawn of War Deployment, 3 objectives in neither player’s deployment worth 3VPs and 1 in each deployment zone worth 5 VPs.

Opponent: Chris – Eldar Harlequins with Craftworld Eldar allies.

Quick Breakdown:  Chris started with a brutal Alpha Strike.  I was unable to do much at first.  The lead Harlequin charged the bikes with the Librarian, killing everyone but the Librarian.  The Librarian cast Sunburst in a brutal Nova, killing a large amount of the Eldar force that had bunched up.  Leonidas and the Assault Squad deep struck out of position and did little damage.  A Solitaire killed most of the Assault Squad and dashed away.  Most of my remaining forces on the left side of the board died, but Leonidas and the surviving Sergeant ran on turn 4 to deny objectives.  Due to time limits the game ended after 4 turns.  Final score: Azure Flames 7, Eldar 5.

Our setup

Alpha Strike kills the bikes and land speeders!

The Librarian survives against the odds, and pulls off a devastating Sunburst.

The left side of the board goes poorly for me.

The Solitaire leaves combat after wounding Leonidas and killing 4/5 of the assault squad.

On the right side, Chris killed everything except this Rhino with a Tactical Squad inside, who dutifully sat on the objective all game.

Endgame: Leonidas scores objecive 3 while the Assault Sergeant contests objective 1, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat!

Postgame: I should not have won, but the time limit saved me.  Chris was less than pleased.  On to the next game!

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Mission 2 – Recover the Standard Template Construct!

Hammer and Anvil Deployment, carryable objective similar to the Eternal War mission 6: The Relic.

Opponent: Stephen – Chaos Daemons of Nurgle with Death Guard Chaos Space Marine allies.

Quick Breakdown:  Stephen’s army moved forward in a wave on turn 1.  His Daemon Prince of Nurgle summons some Nurglings… and Perils of the Warp removes the Daemon Prince as a Caualty!  Amazingly, the Daemon did this in Stephen’s previous game.  Leonidas deep struck and with him and the Thunderfire Cannon, half of the Zombies are removed.  Stephen bolsters the remaining zombies by enfeebling Leonidas and his squad with a Great Unclean one… AND PERILS REMOVES THE GREAT UNCLEAN ONE AS WELL!  This is the most unlikely thing I’ve seen in a game, and I’ve played against Lexington.  A Helldrake arrived and killed half the bikes and half a Tactical squad before re-rolling Melta brought it down.  Leonidas and the Assault Marines whittle down the zombies until another Great Unclean One finishes them.  The objective, held by Nurglings, is dropped as a Tactical Squad charges them.  Both sides throw everything they have at each other.  In the end, no one holds the objective.  Final score: Azure Flames 9, Chaos 7.

Stephen’s setup

My setup, with the objective circled.

Centered in this picture: the empty hole where a Daemon Prince was sucked back into the warp.  Papa Nurgle ANGRY.

Not pictured: 15 zombies that burned or exploded.

Upper left: a Great Unclean One is killed by Perils, while on the bottom a Helldrake incinerates four bikes.

A last-ditch charge dislodges the objective and confounds the Nurglings!

Typhus and his Terminators arrive… a bit too late to salvage the objective.

Postgame: In baseball you win 1/3 and you lose 1/3, it’s what you do with the other 1/3 that counts.  This game was a gimme.  Stephen lost around 600-700 points from Perils of the Warp, and amazingly lost the same Daemon Prince twice in two games!  Other than that, I just tried to win by Kill Points which worked pretty well.

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Interlude

Lunch was catered by a fancy Hamburger joint and was worth all the money the Highland Library paid AND MORE!  After lunch, the Painting Competition was scored.  Franklin, who was not participating in the tournament, won first.  I won second, but when you see Franklin’s Necrons you will see why:

Absolutely stunning.

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Mission 3 – The Deadline

Vanguard Strike Deployment, Maelstrom of War objectives.  All tables generate the same Objectives, and objectives 11-16 are from the main book, not from your codex.  Each round, any objective that is not scored or discarded is COUNTED NEGATIVE to your score!  At the end of the game, your total cannot be less than zero.

Opponent: Ian, event co-ordinator – Sisters of Battle with Inquisitorial and Knight allies and Legion of the Damned, in addition to a giant Plasma Obliterator.

Quick Breakdown:  Ian stole the initiative!  I went 2nd in all three games this tournament.  Ian pinned down my forces with some heavy firepower.  Sadly for him, his objectives were un-scorable while mine were easy.  I got off to an early lead, as a good round of shooting killed Ian’s Warlord: Uriah Jacobson.  Ian’s Knight Titan stomped all over the left side of the board, wrecking unit after unit.  The Legion of the Damned arrive, kill the Predator, and hold Objective 1 which Ian had to secure several times in the game.  Land Speeders and Bikes remove Ian’s tanks one by one.  Outflanking Sisters botch a Meltagun wave, sparing the Thunderfire, who cuts them down in return.  An overheat in the Plasma Obliterator kills the Inquisitor manning it!  Objectives go back and forth in a frenzy.  Final Score: Azure Flames 19, Sisters and Allies 9.

The Azure Flames advance slowly on the right side of the board.

The Ironclad removes Uriah Jacobson’s Immolator, and the rest of the army blows the squad inside away.

Nothing can stop the Knight Titan!

The Sororitas recieve Aid Unlooked For…

The Sisters fail to remove the Thunderfire Cannon, and the Thunderfire and Dreadnought cut them down, while the Tactical Squad removes their Immolator.

To score a point, Ian blows up the bunker.  Why?  Because Maelstrom.

The Plasma Obliterator overheats, killing the poor Inquisitor inside!

Postgame: This was the most fun game of the three I played.  Although I took an early lead, Ian got some good turns later and I was on the edge of my seat thinking that I could have a bad turn to screw it up.  Luckily that didn’t happen.  Knight Titans are still such a big problem.  I have no idea how to kill one without buying a whole new Sternguard squad full of meltaguns.

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Conclusion:

I tied with Loki (see previous posts for prep game against Guard), but because I got more VPs total over all 3 games, I WON THE TOURNAMENT!  WITH A HIGHLANDER COMBINED ARMS!  WOOOOOOO!  Oh man, I feel great!  40K has problems, as it always has, but IT IS OFFICIALLY STILL FUN!

I also won this absolutely sweet book bag:

In the end winning and painting got you raffle tickets.  Here’s what I won with mine:

A 6th edition Dark Angels codex (cost me one ticket!)  A tile with Lord of the Rings models superimposed on it.  Games Workshop dice cube.  Finally, a custom made Doctor Who dice bag, made by the significant other of Event Organizer, Ian!  My fiancee, who sews and is openly critical of bad sewing, declared it to be of very high quality.  Her exact words were: “She’s got sewing game!”

Finally, we all took a picture:

This was the best time I’ve had playing 40k in a LONG TIME.  Second best to Big Game V.  Truly awesome.  The Highland Library 40K club is a wonderful group, and if you are even REMOTELY close, check them out on the last Tuesday of every month at the Highland Library.  Finally I’d like to say thanks to Dawn, who let me into the Library before it was open to use the restroom.  Seriously, thank you.

Next: I don’t know!  I’m pretty tired.  Perhaps Tau Battlefleet Gothic, Blood Bowl Ork helper models, or Necromunda Escher?  Stay tuned!

3rd Drop Pod – Just in time for the tournament!

First, big thanks to Lexington who gave me this Drop Pod after he decided to sell his Aurora Chapter.  *sniff*

Like my other drop pods, I did three layers of weathering to make it look like it had re-entered an atmosphere and made the weapons modular (which isn’t hard).

UNLIKE my other Drop Pods, I did not install the central console or gravity harnesses.  Guess who’s riding in this?  Seriously.  Guess.  Do it.  Really imagine it.

Next: THE TOURNAMENT!  YEAH!

7th Assault Squad, 4th Company and Final Tournament WYSIWYG

It’s done!

My final 5 man assault squad is done.  I really like how it turned out.

The Sergeant was an old pewter Space Marine Sergeant.  I picked him up at a Gen Con long ago for a dollar.  He had no right hand, just a pin sticking out as if someone was going to pin a new gun there.  I added a Bolt Pistol and a left arm.  This model actually has an earring and a ponytail!  That’s OK, it fits right into Azure Flames fluff, as they recruit from all over the galaxy.

Also, see a close up of one of the flamers, as his face came out pretty well.

Finally, there’s a shot of the finished Display Board for the tournament with all models painted, based, and WYSIWYG.  I hope to get a perfect score in the painting competition!  The painting categories are graded from 1-5, and the categories are as follows:

1: Overall Synergy: Does the army look uniform?  As I have a list drawn only from one chapter, the only standout is Leonidas, and that is because of his fluff.  He still fits in with the same basing format.

2: Quality of Painting: is it detailed?  I try to follow the “every model a character” ideal.  I fall a bit short, but every helmeted model has jeweled eyes and little details stick out, like the pistol holster for the new Assault Marine sergeant.  I made sure to ink the cracks to get them to pop.

3: Basing: is the army based and on proper bases?  All my bases are GW standard, and are based, except the flying bases which are an exception.

4: Unique Conversions: are there any?  Here is where I am a bit lacking.  Although the Ironclad and Predator are fully magnetized to be any version, the judge told me that they were looking for visual conversions.  In this case, only Leonidas and the Librarian on the Bike are “converted.”  Leonidas is a standard Space Marine plastic torso with a head from the Space Marine Captain box.  The hammer is from the old Salamanders Chaplain Xavier, and the Heavy Flamer is a Dreadnought piece.  Finally, the backpack is the Chaplain Xavier backpack, converted to have a flame in the back.  The Librarian is a pewter Librarian with a Force Axe, sawed in half and put on Biker legs.  I added a putty tabard at the crotch, and the cape is Malus Darkblade’s cape, in pewter.  The old pewter book from the Master of the Ravenwing in Land Speeder is on the front, while the side has a shotgun from the old Scout Biker pewter pack.  He doesn’t use it; it just looks cool!

5: Display Board: do you have it?  I do.  It looks great!

I hope to get a 25 in the painting competition, and I hope that this list is competitive in the Tournament, despite all the cheese in 40K.  We shall see!  Next, the Tournament itself, and possibly a new Drop Pod courtesy of Lexington!  Stay Tuned!

Tournament Prep part 3: Extra Cheese

Previous opponents have had some fun in their list, but nothing overtly ridiculous or game breaking.

Couldn’t last forever.

In my final test to see if I’m competitive, I played an over-the-top Inquisition-Guard-Knight list with a lot of dirty tricks and a LOT of psykers!  My opponent, who wishes to go by his gamertag Loki 1003, put together a list that assumes a cadre of Inquisitors wrangeled together a Scholastica Psykana contingent, an elite Imperial Guard regiment, and a Knight Titan into a juggernaut of psychic power and unbeatable destructive capabilities.  Can I succeed?  Let’s find out!

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Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines (Salamanders)

-Leonidas, captain of the 1st company (counts as Vulkan He’stan)

-Librarian, Level 2, Space Marine Bike, Melta Bombs

-Dreadnought, Extra Armour, 2x Twin Linked Autocannons

-Ironclad Dreadnought, Ironclad Launchers, Chainfist, upgrade Storm Bolter to Heavy Flamer
—Drop Pod

-Bike Squad x8 with Attack Bike, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Melta Bombs, 2x Meltaguns, Multi-Melta

-Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Meltagun, Multi-Melta
—Rhino, Extra Armour

-Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer, Multi-Melta
—Rhino, Extra Armour

-Scouts x5
—Land Speeder Storm, Multi-Melta

-Assault Squad x5, 2x Flamer
—Drop Pod

-Land Speeder Squadron x3, 3x Multi-Melta

-Predator Destructor, Heavy Bolter sponsons

-Thunderfire Cannon

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Loki – Inquisitorially Mandated Imperial Hodgepodge

-Malleus Inquisitor, Psyker level 1, Daemon Blade (Warlord trait: -1 to all Daemon saves within 12″)

-Malleus Inquisitor, Psyker level 1, Daemon Blade

-Hereticus Inquisitor, 3 servo skulls, Psyocculum

-Hereticus Inquisitor, 3 servo skulls, Psyocculum

-Imquisitorial Henchmen: Sanctioned Psyker x3

-Imquisitorial Henchmen: Sanctioned Psyker x3

-Imquisitorial Henchmen: Sanctioned Psyker x3

-Imquisitorial Henchmen: Sanctioned Psyker x3

-Imquisitorial Henchmen: Sanctioned Psyker x3

-Imquisitorial Henchmen: Sanctioned Psyker x3

-Company Command Squad, Astropath, Master of the Fleet, Master of Ordnance, Standard, Lascannon

-Company Command Squad, Astropath, Master of the Fleet, Master of Ordnance, Standard, Lascannon

-Veteran Squad x10, 3x Plasma gun, Lascannon, Demo Charge

-Veteran Squad x10, 3x Plasma gun, Lascannon, Demo Charge

-Rough Riders x8, Meltagun

-Knight Crusader, Icarus Autocannon, Meltagun, Melta-Cannon, Mega-Bolter

-Callidus Assassin

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Tournament Mission 3: The Deadline

Terrain: 6’x4′ board, 2x ruined buildings, 2x hills or craters, 1x impassable LOS blocking feature, 1x river or water hazard, 2x forests that count as “twisted copses,” 1x Armor 14 medium building with 4 access doors and 4 fire points, one in each direction.

At Any Cost: The building may ALWAYS be targeted for shooting and assault, regardless of who is occupying the building.

Deployment: Dawn of War

Maelstrom of War: Each player generates 3 objectives each turn.  At the end of your turn, you may discard one.  Any objective not scored or discarded SCORES NEGATIVE! It’s do or die!  This, however, cannot bring your total score to below zero.

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Deployment

Loki chose sides and went first.  No seize, no night fight.

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Inquisition Combined Force – Turn 1

Orders allow lascannons to snipe at the Predator with ignore cover, blowing off a heavy bolter and glancing it.  The Titan blasts the smaller bike combat squad, earning First Blood.  The Callidus Assassin hurts the Thunderfire Cannon, and claims objective 4 for a point.  Horrendous psychic phase sees two out of nine psychic powers successfully cast.

I guess the Psykers haven’t had their coffee yet…

There used to be some bikes here…

The Callidus eschews a quick kill to score points.

Azure Flames – Turn 1

Right flank moves up to hide behind the big wall.  The flamer Tatsquad deploys to the building and shoots the Callidus, doing one wound.  The Ironclad arrives and manages to somehow severely damage the Warlord’s Command Squad, a psyker squad, and a veteran squad.  The Warlord and one other Inquisitor are all that is left, and they break and flee!

Holy crap, a titan!  Hide!

The building is secure.

Fwoosh!

Inquisition Combined Force – Turn 2

The Titan shoots the Ironclad and the Predator, killing them, and the drop pod.  It then charges the drop pod, glancing it to death.  The Rough Riders charge the Tactical Squad, killing five, but losing three.  The Callidus shoots the Thunderfire, destroying the cannon, and then charges the Techmarine, but there is no result.  The Master of Ordnance, enhanced by a psyocculum, shoots the bikes behind the wall, killing 3 and glancing one Land Speeder.

The Titan is capable of killing three units in one turn.  So, yeah, superheavies have really added a new dimension to the game.  About this time, I feel like this Drop Pod, as I have no way to stop this rampaging titan.

Rough Riders hit hard.

The Callidus whiffs!

The teeth of the enemy list is revealed!  An ignores cover S9 AP3 large blast that is BS 10 against units that contain psykers!

Azure Flames – Turn 2

Reserve shenanigans prevent reserves from arriving.  The Librarian advances, and uses Inferno to blast a Veteran squad.  The Land Speeders move flat out as a distraction.  Combat with the Callidus and Techmarine continues with frustration.  The remaining two Tactical Marines kill a Rough Rider.  Turn not pictured.

Inquisition Combined Force – Turn 3

More ignores cover ordnance wipes out the Librarian and the bikes.  Poor fire and good jink saves kill only one Land Speeder.  The Callidus finally finishes off the Techmarine.

…predictably the Librarian is removed.  Had I known that the Psyocculum was the thing making this possible, I’d have run the Librarian alone to spare the bikes.

Techmarines are no match for an assassin.

DISTRACTION!

Azure Flames – Turn 3

In a bid to get points, the Land Speeders go for an objective.  Sadly, the psykers on the objective go to ground and deny me the point!  The Rhino takes the last wound off the Callidus with a lucky shot.

A desperate gambit doesn’t pay off…

Lucky shot!

Inquisition Combined Force – Turn 4

The last Tactical marine is killed by Veterans.  Another Veteran squad wipes out the Land Speeders.

Nothing can stand up to plasma, lascannons, and a titan.

Gone.

Azure Flames – Turn 4

Leonidas and the Assault Marines arrive.  Despite having Invisibility, the Warlord’s squad takes the brunt of two flamers and a heavy flamer!  How?  Leonidas leaves the Assault Marines, and targets a psyker squad, getting four of the Invisible Command Squad, while the Assault Marines target the Veterans, killing them and hitting three of the Command squad!  Finally, the Warlord’s squad breaks and FLEES OFF THE BOARD.  No more ignores cover crap.  The Scouts come in on the left, when I wanted them on the right, so their Land Speeder goes flat out.  Turn not pictured, sadly, as it was GLORIOUS.

Inquisition Combined Force – Turn 5

The Titan blasts all but one Assault Marine, and assaults Leonidas, killing him.

Azure Flames – Turn 5

Despite a valiant effort, the Scouts can’t do much.  Time exceeded.  Turn not pictured.

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So, how’d I do?

Inquisiton: 7 plus Slay the Warlord and First Blood for 9

Azure Flames: 7 plus Slay the Warlord and Linebreaker for 9.

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WHOOOOOOO… Damn.  That list is BRUTAL.  With reserves control, ignores cover ordnance that is BS 10 against psykers, 14 Warp Charges base, and a goddamned Titan, this is a list that can dish it out.  However, it can’t really take it and it doesn’t have the tactical flexibility.  This is another leafblower.  It’s really good.  However, it relies on a lot of randomness.  Loki got off Invisibility several times.  If he hadn’t had Invisibility, that squad with an infinite rage death pie plate would have actually been targetable in the mid and late game.

To another completely different point, I had about 2 bad turns of objectives while Loki had about one.  I still hate Maelstom of War.  It’s too random.  Good roll or draw?  You win.  Bad?  You lose.  Tactics come into it, but with Eternal War missions, you KNOW what you have to do and go DO IT.  I would never have thrown away the Land Speeders if objective 5 had not come up.  Who knows?  A lucky couple of shots with the Land Speeders might have hurt or even killed the Titan.  As it was, I needed to take stupid risks to get objectives that I had less than a turn to prepare for.

No more prep.  Tournament is at the end of the month.  Next: a super secret project and the tournament!  Stay tuned!

Tournament Prep 2: Update for the new Codex

New codex, new overpowered formations.  Can I stay true to my old school roots and eschew 300 points of free transports?

Well, of course, but can I WIN?  As a test, I played Ian’s allied Sisters and Mechanicus.

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Bozeman – Azure Flames (Salamanders Space Marines)

-Leonidas, captain of the 1st Company (counts as Vulkan He’Stan)

-Librarian, Psyker level 2, Space Marine Bike
—Pyromancy powers: Flame Breath, Firey Form, and Fire Shield

-Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Melta Bombs, Combi-Melta, Meltagun, Multi-Melta
—Dedicated Transport Rhino, Extra Armour

-Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Melta Bombs, Combi-Flamer, Flamer, Multi-Melta
—Dedicated Transport Rhino, Extra Armour

-Scouts x5, Bolters
—Land Speeder Storm, Multi-Melta

-Dreadnought, 2x Twin Linked Autocannon, Extra Armour

-Ironclad Dreadnought, Ironclad Launchers, Heavy Flamer
—Dedicated Transport Drop Pod

-Assault Squad x5 (no jump packs)
—Dedicated Transport Drop Pod

-Bikes x8 plus Attack Bike, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, 2x Meltagun, Multi-Melta, Melta Bombs

-Land Speeders x3, Multi-Meltas

-Thunderfire Cannon

-Predator, Heavy Bolter Sponsons, Extra Armour

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Ian – Adeptus Mechanicus, Skitarii, and allied Sisters of Battle

-Techpriest Dominus, Phosphor Serpenta, Eradication Ray
—Archutech Specialist Warlord Trait

-Kataphron Breachers x3

-Kataphron Destroyers x3

-Corpuscarri Electro-Priests x5

-Skitarii Vanguard x10, Arc Rifle, Plasma Cavalier, Arc Pistol, Auspex

-Skitarii Rangers x10, Transonic Arquebus, Arc Rifle, Plasma Cavalier, Phosphor Pistol

-Uriah Jacobson

-Battle Sister Squad x5, Combi-Flamer, Flamer, Heavy Flamer
—Immolator, Twin Linked Multi-Melta

-Battle Sister Squad x5, Combi-Flamer, Flamer, Heavy Flamer
—Immolator, Twin Linked Multi-Melta

-Dominion Squad x5, 4x Meltagun, Combi-melta
—Immolator, Twin Linked Multi-Melta

-Dominion Squad x5, 4x Meltagun, Combi-melta
—Immolator, Twin Linked Multi-Melta

-Exorcist, Storm Bolter

-Exorcist, Storm Bolter

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Tournament Mission 1: Command and Conquer

Terrain: 6’x4′ board, 2x ruined buildings, 2x hills or craters, 1x impassable LOS blocking feature, 1x river or water hazard, 2x forests that count as “twisted copses,” 1x Armor 14 medium building with 4 access doors and 4 fire points, one in each direction.

At Any Cost: The building may ALWAYS be targeted for shooting and assault, regardless of who is occupying the building.

Deployment: Dawn of War

After placing terrain but before deployment, players roll off, and then take turns placing 3 objectives labeled 2, 3, and 4.  Objectives must be within 24″ of the center of the board, 6″ from a board edge, and 12″ from another objective.

After deployment, players place one objective each (labeled 1 and 6) in each others deployment zone.  Objective 5 is not placed because whatever.

At the end of the game, objectives 2, 3, and 4 are 3 victory points, and objectives 1 and 6 are 5  victory points.

I won setup.  There was no night fight, and no initiative seized.

Setup:

Not shown: Several of Ian’s units used a Scout re-deploy.

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Turn 1: Azure Flames

Librarian with the bikes moves up, casts Firey Form and Fire Shield.  Bike meltas and Thunderfire cause one glance and one pen on the Immolator to the right, making it fore snap shots.  Leonidas and the Assault Squad flame the Skitarii Rangers, killing the whole unit foe first blood and leaving only the Techpriest Dominus remaining!  The Dreadnought and the Predator kill two of the Kataphron Destroyers, and the third breaks and flees off the board!  Melta tatsquad, Land Speeders, and other Bike combat squad move right around the weird white impassable hill.

The Immolator survives the odds…

Leonidas clears out the Rangers.

Hug the wall!

Turn 1: Adeptus Mechanicus and Sisters

Uriah Jacobson and a Dominion Squad, the Techpriest, and one of the Exorcists reduce Leonidas and the Assault Squad down to Leonidas and one Flamer.  The Electropriests advance on objective 3, and the Kataphron Breachers put a glance on the Dreadnought.  Battle Sister Immolators and the Skitarii Vanguard move out towards objective 2 in the center.

The Assault Marines are blasted!

The Kataphron unleash some Haywire fire!

Advance!

Turn 2: Azure Flames

Bikes advance toward Uriah Jacobson.  Librarian casts Firey Form, Flame Breath, and Fire Shield.  Bikes open fire, removing the whole squad.  Leonidas and the remaining Flamer Assault Marine charge the Kataphron, killing two and running the last one down.  Fire kills one Immolator in the center.  Ironclad arrives and its Heavy Flamer kills 7 of the Skitarii Vanguard.  Bikes approach the 5 point objective, #1.

Uriah, the Sisters, and the Kataphron  are eliminated!

The Center is contested…

The Ironclad deals with the Rangers, while the Bikes take the objective.

Turn 2: Adeptus Mechanicus and Sisters

The Electropriests, Battle Sisters, and one of the Exorcists shoot Leonidas, killing the Assualt Marine.  The Electropriests and the Techpriest charge him and a flurry of 1s take Leonidas out, for Slay the Warlord!  Another Exorcist fires 6 missiles at the Ironclad and does one glance…  Battle Sisters do a trick shot, kill a bike with a Bolter, and the bikes break!

Leonidas is eliminated!

Lots of missiles!  Not so much on the damage…

Fact: Space Marines are Leadership 8.  Fact: this can bite you in the ass.  Fact: And They Shall Know No Fear sort of makes up for it.  Sort of.

Turn 3: Azure Flames

Scouts in the Land Speeder Storm arrive by objective 1.  Ironclad does a disordered charge and kills some battle sisters.  The Thunderfire kills the Electropriests and the meltaguns on the bikes kill the Techpriest for Slay the Warlord!  Dreadnought takes the last hull point off of the Immolator that held Uriah Jacobson.

Objective secure… for now…

Dreadnought deals with the Sisters while the Electropriests are ruined by the Thunderfire, clearing the way for the Bikes to kill the Techpriest.

Immolator is gone.

Turn 3: Adeptus Mechanicus and Sisters

The Battle Sisters charge the Bikes, and are cut down!  Unbelievable Exorcist missile shots kill two Land Speeders and strip the meltagun off the third!  Ironclad finishes the Immolator.

The Sisters choose to charge!  This is not advisable…

A missile blast from the Exorcists take out the Land Speeders!

Turn 4: Azure Flames

The Tactical Squad and the Dreadnought move toward the objective.  The Bikes disordered charge the Exorcists, and kill one.

Exorcists are charged, and one dies!

Turn 4: Adeptus Mechanicus and Sisters

The last Dominion squad arrives from reserves.  Its Immolator kills the Land Speeder Storm, while the Immolators kill a bike and put a wound on the Attack Bike.  The surviving Exorcist fires on the Ironclad, but fails to do damage.

Last chance at the objective!  The Dominion squad brings the Melta hurt.

BEEP.  BEEP.  BEEP.  BEEP.

Turn 5: Azure Flames

Bikes charge and kill the last Exorcist.  The damaged Land Speeder takes the objective, while the Scouts and Thunderfire wipe out the Dominion squad.  The Bikes break the Multi-Melta on the Exorcist.

Exorcist is gone.

Only a damaged Immolator is left…

Turn 5: Adeptus Mechanicus and Sisters

Damaged Immolator tank shocks the Scouts.  Game ends.

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Final score:

Azure Flames: 19 plus Linebreaker, Slay the Warlord, and First Blood: 22

Adeptus Mechanicus and Sisters: 0 plus Slay the Warlord: 1

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Final Thoughts:  I think this list is still pretty strong.  Objective Secured would have helped if there had been more resistance around objectives.  Every unit performed a task.  Leonidas should have lasted one more turn, but I rolled poorly for saves.  Ian had a couple bad rolls here and there, and some stuff that should have died (like the Ironclad) actually lived.

Next: Assault Marines painted, possibly Battlefleet Gothic, and one more game at Highland before the tournament!  Based on other people’s lists, no one is making as super ridiculous list that can’t be beaten.  However, some people have signed up without me seeing what they have brought.  We shall see whether 40K is still alive and kicking or a hotbed of auto-win crap.  Stay tuned!

Tournament trial 2000 – Can a Highlander list defeat a modern 40K tournament?

I’ve been pretty hard on tournaments in the past (trawl through my previous posts if you’re bored).  However, the players in Highland are getting some pretty heavy prize support from a local store, and they sold it as a balanced well run tournament.

I was intrigued.  That rarely happens when you mention the word “tournament” around me.

Rules stated that the list should be 2000, and follow all the rules for army composition.  This turned me off a little, as 40K has been going into the “buy this formation for an auto-win” direction.  So, I played with another rule.

I went full Highlander.

It’s not a Highlander tournament, I was just in a Highlander mood.  For those unaware, a Highlander list cannot have ANY repeat choices, except for troops.  I’m not talking the lame Space Wolf rule that two exactly identical characters but one has melta bombs counts.  I mean if you choose a Librarian, you can’t take another.  This prevents spam, overpowered crap, and other stuff that makes 40K just unbearable to me.

So I decided to do an experiment.  Other people are going to bring their lists this week, so I’d pit my list against theirs and see if I had a chance.  If new 40K codex creep makes a balanced, fun, fluffy list untenable then Tournaments are not my scene.  However, if I have a chance, I’m going for it.

So, how’d it go?  Let’s find out!

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Custom Tournament Mission #4: Right Place at the Wrong Time

Deployment is decided randomly.  During the tournament, all simultaneous games will have the same deployment.  We rolled Vanguard Strike (corners).

Six objectives are placed as per a Maelstrom mission from the core rulebook.  When an objective is first claimed, roll a D6.   On a 1, the objective explodes with a S5 AP4 3″ blast from the objective, and the objective is removed.  On a 2-3, the objective is fake, remove it.  On a 4, the objective is real!  Roll a D6 to determine what kind of Mysterious Objective it is.  Re-roll all results of 1, as the objective is not booby trapped.  After 3 objectives have been removed as fakes, or found to be real, either remove objectives or mark them as real so that 3 real objectives remain.

Objective are worth 3 VPs.  First Blood, Linebreaker, and Slay the Warlord score as normal.

All tournament boards will have the following terrain:

– 2 ruined buildings, chipboard around building counts as area terrain

– 2 hills or craters, or a mix

– 1 impassable line of sight blocking wall

– 1 river or other water hazard

– 2 forests that count as “twisted copses” from the main rulebook

– 1 building, armor 14 all around, with entrances on all 4 sides, one fire point on each side.  This building has the special rule “At any cost necessary” which allows you to target the building, even if your own troops are occupying it (for Maelstrom missions).

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Bozeman – 2000 point Highlander (battle forged)

– Leonidas, captain of the 1st company (counts as Vulkan He’stan)

– Librarian, Level 2, Space Marine Bike, Flame Breath, Fire Shield, Spontaneous Combustion

– Tactical Squad x 10, Veteran Sergeant, Combi-Melta, Power Fist, Meltagun, Multi-melta in a Rhino

– Tactical Squad x 10, Veteran Sergeant, Combi-Flamer, Power Fist, Flamer, Multi-melta in a Rhino

– Scouts x 5 with bolters, in a Land Speeder Storm with a Multi-melta

– Dreadnought, 2x Twin Linked Autocannons

– Ironclad Dreadnought, Heavy Flamer, Ironclad Launchers, in a Drop Pod

– Assault Squad x 5, 2x Flamers, removed Jump Packs, in a FREE Drop Pod

– Bike Squad x 8 plus an Attack Bike, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, 2x Meltaguns, Multi-melta

– Land Speeders x 3, 3x Multi-meltas

– Thunderfire Cannon

– Whirlwind

– Predator Destructor (autocannon), Heavy Bolter Sponsons

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Dominic – 2000 Eldar (unbound)

– Wraith Host Formation

— Spiritseer, Embolden/Horrify, Protect/Jinx, Conceal/Reveal

— Wraithguard x 5 with Wraithcannons, in a Wave Serpent with a Scatter Laser and Holofields

— Wraithguard x 5 with D-scythes, in a Wave Serpent with a Scatter Laser and Holofields

— Wraithguard x 5 with Wraithblades, in a Wave Serpent with a Scatter Laser and Holofields

— Wraithlord, 2x flamer, Ghostglaive, 2x Brightlances

— Wraithknight with Suncannon and Scattershield

– Farseer, (warlord trait: split fire), Guide, Mind War, Fortune, Will of Asuryan

– Dire Avengers x 10, Exarch, Shimmershield in a Wave Serpent with a Scatter Laser and Holofields

– Crimson Hunter with an Exarch Pilot.

——————————————————————————–

Setup:

Above setup map enhanced with MS Paint to show the position of the 6th objective.

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Turn 1 – Eldar

Wave Serpents move out and fire on the Rhinos, taking 2 hull points off each and immobilizing one.  The Wraithknight fires on the bikes, forcing them to jink and killing 2.  The objective by the wave serpent explodes and disappears.

The Eldar move out.

Flames under fire!

Turn 1 – Azure Flames

The Ironclad drops in, but a holofield save prevent its meltagun from popping a Wave Serpent.  The rest of the army moves out and fires, killing the Wave Serpent holding the Wraithguard with D-scythes.  Objective behind the wall is real!

Move out!

The whole army was necessary to kill one Wave Serpent…  This does not bode well.  Plus, Holofields are a hell of a drug.

Turn 2 – Eldar

Wraithguard with D-Cannons pop out and destroy a Rhino.  A bad morale check leaves the occupants pinned!  Further fire from Dire Avengers whittle a few tactical marines away.  The D-scythe Wraithguard annihilate the Ironclad. Lucky Jink saves protect the Land Speeders.  Bike combat squad with the attack bike takes a few casualties.  They fall back 4″.  Side shots wreck the Predator.  The Wraithlord arrives from reserves and walks on.  The Eldar reveal two more fake objectives, all the rest are real!

Jink for your lives!

Pinned!

Turn 2 – Azure Flames

Leonidas and the Assault Squad arrive and bake the Dire Avengers.  Scouts arrive in the Land Speeder Storm.  Librarian casts Fire Shield on the assault Squad.  Lucky melta shot on the Crimson Hunter causes a penetrating hit, and forces the jet to fly off the table next turn.

Dire Avengers go bye-bye.

Masses fire has little effect when the enemy can ignore it…

Turn 3 – Eldar

Th D-scythes vent their rage on the Drop Pod.  The Wraithknight kills all but Leonidas and one Assault Marine.  The Wraithguard with wraithblades attemp to charge the bikes, but re-rolling meltas kill one and prevent the charge!  A Wave Serpent fires on the Whirlwind, glancing it.

Overwatch saves the day!

Sneaky Wave Serpent!

Turn 3 – Azure Flames

Leonidas, the Assault Squad, and the Tactical Squad assault the Wave Serpent on the hill, killing it.  The Librarian suffers a Perils of the Warp, and overcharges himself, gaining a whole slew of POWER!  He and the bikes assault a second Wave Serpent, killing it.  The other Tactical Squad assaults the last Wave Serpent, also killing it.  Hat trick!

Krak goes the grenade.

Marines with krak grenades STANDARD are fantastic.  You used to have to pay 2 points in 3rd edition!

Turn 4 – Eldar

The Wraithknight fires on Leonidas, and kills the last assault marine.  It tries to charge Leonidas, but a roll of 4 with -2 for difficult terrain fails.  The Crimson Hunter arrives, and kills the Dreadnought.  Fire kills one Land Speeder.  Wraithblade Wraithguard charge the bikes, killing all but the Librarian.  Wraithguard with D-scythes destroy one Land Speeder and the last saves with a lucky jink from the Wraithlord.

Planes are an aspect now?

I COULD charge you… but, I’m tired… yeah, that’s the ticket.

The Wraithguard make the bikes pay for their arrogance.

The Land Speeders provide a distraction.

Turn 4 – Azure Flames

The Tactical Squad charges to save the Librarian.  They kill one Wraithguard, but lose two, lose combat, and flee… four inches.  Leonidas boldly charges the Wraithknight to delay it, and succeeds, surviving the attacks.  The last Land Speeder flees behind the building to secure Linebreaker, while the Bikes advance.

Combat does not go as planned, but the Librarian is extricated.

A last, desperate charge.

Not pictured: the Land Speeder behind the building.

Turn 5 – Eldar

The Crimson Hunter arrives, after being forced to fly off the board.  It forces the tactical squad on the hill to go to ground.  Wraithlord and Wraithguard advance on the objective by the crater.  The Wraithknight finishes off Leonidas for Slay the Warlord.  Wraithblades charge the Tactical Squad, but are all killed.

Aircraft incoming!

Objective is being held.

Leonidas held as long as he could…

Turn 5 – Azure Flames

Bikes contest the objective and kill a Wraithguard.  Librarian and Tactical Squad move out towards the hill.  Land Speeder Storm peeks out from behind the building.  Game continues to turn 6.

Selling their lives dearly.

The Librarian moves to assist the beleaguered tactical squad.

Turn 6 – Eldar

Wraithknight shoots, assaults, breaks, and chases off the board the tactical squad on the hill.  It consolidates right in front of the Librarian.  Crimson Hunter takes aim at the Thunderfire holding the objective, and precision shots kill the Techmarine, removing the Thunderfire.  D-scythes end the bike squad.

Come get it!

Bikes are toast.

Precision shots clear the objective!

Turn 6 – Azure Flames

Whirlwind moves up to claim the objective behind the wall.  Tactical squad runs 6″ behind the Wraithknight, and secure the objective.  Scouts run out of the Land Speeder Storm, and thanks to Objective Secured, steal the crater objective right out from under the Eldar!  Game ends!

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Final score:

Azure Flames – 3 objectives plus First Blood and Linebreaker – 11 VPs

Eldar – Slay the Warlord and Linebreaker – 2 VPs

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Well, even with D-strength flamers, and a fancy-schmancy formation, the Highlander came out on top.  It looks like this might be a tournament worthy list after all.  Let’s do it!

Dominic’s list has neat stuff, but because the Wraithguard are so expensive, it had few options to hold points.  Those D-scythes are potent terror weapons, but they need to be in position to do the most damage.  They can also only kill one unit per turn, so a list with lots of targets can overwhelm them.  Personally, I’d like to see more aspect warriors.  Some Fire Dragons and Striking Scorpions would be awesome in Wave Serpents.

Next: some more Gothic if I can swing it, an Assault Squad painted, and more Highland tournament prep!  Stay tuned!

Big Game 2, a blast from the past.

Meeeeeeeeemories…

Oh man.  Lexington came to visit me and we took a walk down memory lane.  He brought me some photos of a past I had almost forgotten.

So, in previous posts I’ve detailed some of the Big Games, mostly Big Game 5.  However, there were others.  Big Game 1 was hardly worthy of the name, it was a big mess.  No one knew what we were doing, and some drunk fratboys interrupted us.  But it gave us ambition.

Ambition for Big Game 2.

As you can see, we’re on the floor.  This was in the the pole barn of our friend Jake’s Parent’s christmas tree farm.  The central city used the 3rd edition rules found in Codex: Cityfight (remember that?).  The yellow taped areas are “ruins”  and the green “forests.”  You see kids, back in 3rd edition, we had to use our imaginations.  We were allowed to make area terrain without having actual trees.  Sure, it’s not as visually exciting as having an actual ruin or forest, but it allows more freedom of terrain.

Seen here, the “good guys” reserves table.

…and here are some awkward looking young men!  To the left, in the foreground, is Andy (who we called Other Andy), who played Dark Angels.  Sadly, we lost touch with Other Andy, as this was the age before Facebook.  Standing above him is John.  Yes, the one who introduced me to Battlefleet Gothic, here playing his Tyranids.  The blurry kid in the jacket in the foreground is none other than yours truly, bringing the relatively young Azure Flames.  In the back, Joe (left) confers with Brian B. (right).  Joe was the leader of the “good” side, with his Space Marine chapter: the Angels Sacrosanct, a Blood Angels successor.  Brian B. is Little Matt’s younger brother, here with his Imperial Guard.

Here, Dark Eldar and Iron Warriors advance together.

Imperial Guardsmen defend the large building in the City.

Other Andy’s Dark Angels were supposed to all Deep Strike.  Sounds great, right?  They can go where they’re needed.  However, we found out after the game began that he could only Deep Strike… within 24 inches of the Fuel Dump.  So, he got to deploy randomly in a tight area and lose two of his units to Perils of the Warp.

Joe is at left, walking away.  Other Andy and I are on the ground.  Checking his watch is Andy (not Other Andy) who brought his Chaos Marines.  To the extreme right, “Little” Matt B, with his Iron Warriors.

Me and Other Andy try to take the dark portal.

The Tank Company advances toward the city.

The Azure Flames had a small force guarding the bridge.  They were supposed to hold out so that reinforcements would come…

…sadly they were waylaid by Eldar.  The Evil forces take the bridge.

Scott’s Orks roll into the city.

John’s Tyranids deploy… out of focus.

John’s Tyranids advance on the city as well.

…and enter the city.

…IN FORCE!

Space Wolves drop pod in to take the building from Dark Eldar.  Some veterans may recognize that building from GORKAMORKA.

Finally (which is ironic because it’s not the end) Andy (on the ladder) and Scott (from the waist down) survey the battle for the “bad” guys.  Fun story: Scott almost fell off that platform, and Andy ran to catch him.  That rope hanging from the ceiling and Scott’s quick wits are the only reason both of them did not go to the hospital that night.  Fun!

So, how did Big Game 2 end?  The “bad” guys won.  However, it set the stage for Big Games 3 and 5 (Big Game 4 was along a different narrative).

*drowns in nostalgia*

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.

—————————————————————————————————

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!

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!