Minneapolis Showdown! Bozeman vs. Lexington Massive Three Part Battle Report!
WOW, I am back home after a long vacation visiting my old buddy Lexington, his lovely wife, and their amazing cats in the lovely Twin Cities of Minneapolis/St. Paul.
While there, we dined at some of the finest restaurants, saw sights including Minnehaha Falls, and I even cooked them a nutritious Ribeye meal with a custom pan sauce.
Of course, there was also 40K.
After all, I stored my living necessities in a backpack and devoted 100% of my main luggage to an army designed for hassle free airplane travel! In a custom foam tray setup, I managed not to freak out the TSA with my oddly shaped metal objects, and brought the Azure Flames to the Twin Cities for Lexington's first games of 9th edition!
To make the army easy to transport, I created the list according to the old 7th edition "Highlander" style, meaning no spam; each codex entry can only be used once. Additionally, I made a 1000, 1500, and 2000 point list, but limited myself so that all models in the 1000 list were in the 1500 list with only additions; no changes to the actual minis. The same goes for the 2000, so the final 2000 list has all models needed for all three lists.
Lexington brought me down to the GameZEnter (formerly Fantasy Flight) and we got three amazing games in! Let's get to it!
Game 1: Ascension (1000 points)
Bozeman - Azure Flames (Salamanders)
- Battalion
- Captain Khalil of the 7th Company on Bike, Forge Master, Miraculous Constitution, Drake Smiter, Storm Shield, Exemplar of the Promethean Creed, Warlord
- Sangamon, Chief Librarian, Jump Pack, Force Axe, Bolt Pistol, The Tome of Vel'Cona, Flaming Blast, Fire Shield, Burning Hands, Drakeskin
- Assault Intercessors x5, Thunder Hammer
- Intercessors x5, Thunder Hammer, Grenade Launcher
- Tactical Squad x5, Chainsword, Combi-Grav, Muilt-Melta
- Bike Squad x3, Power Fist, 2x Meltagun
- Devastator Squad x5, 2x Lascannon, Missile Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Armourium Cherub
- Thunderfire Cannon
Lexington - Zagdakka's Warband (Evil Sunz Orks)
- Battalion
- Warboss, Da Killa Klaw, Kombi-Rokkit Launcha, Da Biggest Boss
- Weirdboy, Da Jump, Visions in Da Smoke
- Ork Shoota Boys x29, Nob, Killsaw
- Gretchin x10
- Gretchin x10
- Burna-Bomma
- Trukk
- Tankbusta Boys x6, 2x Bomb Squigs
- Megatrakk Scrapjet, Corkscrew
Setup
Turn 1 - Orks
The Scrapjet charges forward and does some damage to the Bike Squad. Burna Bomma flies up close and drops some damage on the Intercessors and Assualt Intercessors. Boys and Warboss advance and shoot.
Turn 1 - Azure Flames
Bikes fall back and the Devastators scrap the Scrapjet. Lucky Multi-Melta shot vapes the Burna-Bomma, causing a huge explosion that deals mortal wounds to many units! Khalil charges the Warboss and crushes him with THREE MASSIVE natural 6s to wound, dealing 18 total damage! Thunderfire Cannon and other shooting wipes the Tankbustas.
Turn 2 - Orks
Trukk charges the bikes as Grots move up to gain an objective. Boys continue to fight Khalil
Turn 2 - Azure Flames
Bike falls back again, and split fire from the Devs hurt the Trukk and Grots. Khalil and the Assualt Intercessors wipe the Boys. Thunderfire damages the grots in the backfield.
Turn 3 - Orks
Weirdboy, Trukk, and Grots retreat behind the building to try to use their superior score to wait out the game.
Turn 3 - Azure Flames
Devs move and pop Trukk. Khalil and the Bikes wipe the Grots and Weirdboy. Tabled.
Discussion
That was over faster then I thought! I was seriously worried about a massive turn 1 charge, and Da Jump with Tankbustas. However, Lexington had few options. We realized after the game that the Warboss could have fought with a Stratagem. Oh well! That's how you learn.
Game 2 - Retrieval Mission (1500 points)
Bozeman - Azure Flames (Salamanders)
- Battalion
- Captain Khalil of the 7th Company on Bike, Forge Master, Miraculous Constitution, Drake Smiter, Storm Shield, Exemplar of the Promethean Creed, Warlord
- Sangamon, Chief Librarian, Jump Pack, Force Axe, Bolt Pistol, The Tome of Vel'Cona, Flaming Blast, Fire Shield, Burning Hands, Drakeskin
- Assault Intercessors x5, Thunder Hammer
- Intercessors x6, Thunder Hammer, Grenade Launcher
- Tactical Squad x5, Chainsword, Combi-Grav, Muilt-Melta
- Aggressors x3, Flamestorm Gauntlets
- Ironclad Dreadnought, Ironclad Launchers, 2x Hunter Killer Missile, Chainfist, Meltagun, Hurricane Bolter
- Bike Squad x8, Power Fist, 2x Meltagun, Attack Bike, Multi-Melta
- Devastator Squad x5, 2x Lascannon, Missile Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Armourium Cherub
- Thunderfire Cannon
Lexington - Zagdakka's Warband (Evil Sunz Orks)
- Battalion
- Warboss, Da Killa Klaw, Kombi-Rokkit Launcha, Da Biggest Boss
- Weirdboy, Da Jump, Visions in Da Smoke
- Ork Shoota Boys x29, Nob, Killsaw
- Ork Shoota Boys x29, Nob, Killsaw
- Ork Shoota Boys x29, Nob, Killsaw
- Gretchin x10
- Burna-Bomma
- Trukk
- Tankbusta Boys x6, 2x Bomb Squigs
- Megatrakk Scrapjet, Corkscrew
Setup
Turn 1 - Orks
Da Jump with Tankbustas surprises the Thunderfire Cannon! A lucky save roll reduces the Techmarine to 1 wound, and he barely survives combat! Orks move up to gain objectives. Burna Bomma uses Flying 'Eadbutt and smacks my front lines HARD.
Turn 1 - Azure Flames
I spend all of my CP this turn. Techmarine fires Flamer as a pistol to finish the two remaining Tankbustas, allowing the Thunderfire to blow a huge hole in the boys squad near the Warboss. Additional fire evaporates the rest of the squad. Aggressors, Bikes, and Assault Intercessors take out the boys on the right side of the board.
Turn 2 - Orks
Warboss charges the Ironclad Dreadnought, and reduces it to 2 wounds. The Ironclad squishes him, but the Warboss fights while dying and the Ironclad goes down! Boys charge the bikes. Weirdboy smites the other bikes, and charges the Assualt Intercessors. He misses all attacks and the Intercessors cut him down.
Turn 2 - Azure Flames
Everyone on the left side of the board charges in to rescue the bikes, and the boys are reduced to only a few! Bikes on the right charge Gretchin and eliminate them! Game ceded.
Discussion
So, yeah, if you spend 10 CP in one turn, you can do some real damage. Aggressors spent 3 by themselves and managed to kill about 20 orks. Having the Techmarine spend one to use his flamer as a pistol saved him and the Thunderfire Cannon got to shoot!
Flying 'Eadbutt is the answer to castle formations and hardcore high Invul MSU armies such as Custodes. They do just fine against a Marine gunline as well.
Game 3 - Overrun (2000 points)
Bozeman - Azure Flames (Salamanders)
- Battalion
- Captain Khalil of the 7th Company on Bike, Forge Master, Miraculous Constitution, Drake Smiter, Storm Shield, Exemplar of the Promethean Creed, Warlord
- Sangamon, Chief Librarian, Jump Pack, Force Axe, Bolt Pistol, The Tome of Vel'Cona, Flaming Blast, Fire Shield, Burning Hands, Drakeskin
- Lieutenant, Jump Pack, Power Axe, Combi-Melta
- Assault Intercessors x5, Thunder Hammer
- Intercessors x7, Thunder Hammer, Grenade Launcher
- Tactical Squad x5, Chainsword, Combi-Grav, Muilt-Melta
- Aggressors x3, Flamestorm Gauntlets
- Ironclad Dreadnought, Ironclad Launchers, 2x Hunter Killer Missile, Chainfist, Meltagun, Hurricane Bolter
- Bike Squad x8, Power Fist, 2x Meltagun, Attack Bike, Multi-Melta
- Land Speeder Tornado x3, Heavy Flamer x3, Multi-Melta x3
- Devastator Squad x5, 2x Lascannon, Missile Launcher, Heavy Bolter, Armourium Cherub
- Thunderfire Cannon
- Whirlwind, Castellan Missiles
Lexington - Zagdakka's Warband (Evil Sunz Orks)
- Battalion
- Warboss, Da Killa Klaw, Kombi-Rokkit Launcha, Da Biggest Boss
- Weirdboy, Da Jump, Visions in Da Smoke
- Ork Shoota Boys x29, Nob, Killsaw
- Ork Shoota Boys x29, Nob, Killsaw
- Ork Shoota Boys x29, Nob, Killsaw
- Gretchin x10
- Burna-Bomma
- Trukk
- Tankbusta Boys x6, 2x Bomb Squigs
- Megatrakk Scrapjet, Corkscrew
- Megatrakk Scrapjet, Corkscrew
- Lootas x10
- Deffdred, 4x Dredsaw
- Deffdred, 4x Dredsaw
Setup
Turn 1 - Orks (yes, Lexington went first all three games)
Once again, Flaming 'Eadbutt causes the Burna Bomma to deal major damage to my right flank. Boys squad gets Jumped and tries to assault the Aggressors, but overwatch and Born Protector overwatch from the Land Speeders kills 20 Orks and they fail to charge! Lootas move up to a better position. Other elements advance.
Turn 1 - Azure Flames
Walls of horrible fire remove the remaining boys and Lootas. Multi-melta and meltagun shots vaporize the Scrapjets. Tankbustas, and two boys squads are damaged by massed fire. Devastators take out Trukk.
Turn 2 - Orks
Tellyporta Deffdreds come in and one charges the Whirlwind! However, it MASSIVELY WHIFFS dealing only 2 damage! In a repeat of last game, the Warboss charges the Ironclad, does minimal damage, is killed, and then fights after dying to kill the Ironclad! Boys remove the Assault Intercessors. Other boys charge the Bikes, killing the wounded Attack Bike.
Turn 2 - Azure Flames
Whirlwind falls back, allowing the Devastators to blast the Deffdred. Khalil charges the other Deffdred, doing 6 damage. Lieutenant and Agressor take out the Weirdboy. Librarian and bikes reduce the boys. Game Ceded.
Discussion
This 2000 point list was created long ago, as I originally used it as my "balanced" list in 8th edition. I wanted to play Lexington last year, but the pandemic stopped that. For 9th, I edited it very slightly, and then took out 500 point blocks to make the other lists.
They worked much better than I hoped. Additionally, foot based Ork lists seem to be a little underpowered. Orks really do rely on Smasha Gunz, lots of Lootas, and other mean long range tricks rather than the good old Green Tide.
That being said, we had a blast! Lexington will hopefully get the hang of 9th, and the upcoming Ork codex will hopefully make Orks top tier WHERE THEY DESERVE TO BE.
Next: more Crusade highlights and Supressors!
AFK Crusade: Week 2
Week 2 was full of amazing things!
Azure Flames 3rd Company Expeditionary Force
- Captain Edgard of the 3rd Company, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Forge Master, The Salamander Mantle (+2 Crusade Points)
- Codicier Sangamon (Librarian), Force Axe, Jump Pack, Fire Shield, Drakeskin
- 1st Tactical Squad 3rd Company, Combi-Grav, Chainsword, Multi-melta
- 4th Tactical Squad 3rd Company, Combi-Grav, Chainsword, Heavy Bolter
- Chief Apothecary Luiz, Selfless Healer
- 13th Aggressor Squad, 4th Company, Flamestorm Gauntlets
- 7th Bike Squad 4th Company (x3), Power Fist, 2x Meltagun
- 8th Squad 7th Company Attack Bike, Multi-Melta
- 10th Squad Devastators, 3rd Company, 4x Grav Cannon, Armourium Cherub
- 15th Squad Eradicators, 4th Company, Melta Rifle
- Brother Gondalus, Techmarine Gunner
- Thunderfire Cannon
Game one was against Doug, a previous contributor to Four Strands, with his sneaky AdMech!
Near the end, Captain Edgard marched forward and smashed into the enemy lines!
Game 1 was a victory as Doug fled with only 2 models remaining.
Next, another game against the fantastic Rob and his Howling Griffons!
Both of our first turns were extremely horrible! Plagued with bad hit rolls and worse decisions. In the End, Edgard hauled the Relic objective back to my side just in time for the game to end.
Next week, more Crusade!
AFK Crusade: Week 1
AFK is open for gaming, and we just had week 1 of a Crusade Campaign! Here's my starting Crusade List
Azure Flames 3rd Company Expeditionary Force
- Captain Edgard of the 3rd Company, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Forge Master, The Salamander Mantle (+2 Crusade Points)
- Codicier Sangamon (Librarian), Force Axe, Jump Pack, Fire Shield, Drakeskin
- 1st Tactical Squad 3rd Company, Combi-Grav, Chainsword, Multi-melta
- 4th Tactical Squad 3rd Company, Combi-Grav, Chainsword, Heavy Bolter
- 13th Aggressor Squad, 4th Company, Flamestorm Gauntlets
- 7th Bike Squad 4th Company (x3), Power Fist, 2x Meltagun
- 8th Squad 7th Company Attack Bike, Multi-Melta
- 10th Squad Devastators, 3rd Company, 4x Grav Cannon, Armourium Cherub
- 15th Squad Eradicators, 4th Company, Melta Rifle
My first game was with Thad and his awesome purple AdMech! We played 50PL, Incursion.
I went first and moved up to destroy the objectives. I also managed to wipe the Kastelan Robots and the Serberys Raiders.
Thad struck back, almost wiping the Agressors and killing the Attack Bike
Next, my bikes charged his Dominus Techpriest while the Eradicators blast the Kataphron Destroyers and the Devastators manage to remove the Onager Dunecrawler.
Thad wiped the last Agressor and killed all but the Bike Sergeant. Then, Sangamon valiantly charged, whiffed, and was cut down! The rest of Thad's army was eventually wiped, mostly thanks to the Devastators.
Next, I went up against Rob, a former contributor to Fourstrands battle reports, and who also participated in my Gothic campaign! Rob brought his Howling Griffons and we played a 25PL Sweep and Clear
Over the first two turns, Rob's Deredeo Dreadnought wiped BOTH the Agressors and the Eradicators!
Afterwards, the Tactical Squad's Multi-melta finally finishes the Deredeo, and Captain Edgard takes a melta shot to the face! Luckily he survives, and takes a charge from a 4 man Intercessor squad, and knocks them all out in one go!
Afterward, the Tactical Squad and Edgard wiped the last Howling Griffon squad.
Once completed, I had three units that leveled up! It looks like it's going to be an action packed campaign!
Batrep Double Header!
Two more games with the incomparable Thomas!
Bozeman: Azure Flames (Salamanders)
- Battalion
-
- Captain, Combi-Melta, Power Fist, Salamander Mantle, Warlord, Exemplar of the Promethean Creed (-1CP), Forge Master, Miraculous Constitution
- Librarian on Bike, Force Axe, Bolt Pistol, Might of Heroes, Null Zone
- Lieutennant, Combi-Melta, Power Fist
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Meltagun
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Meltagun
- Tactical Squad x5, Chainsword, Storm Bolter, Multi-Melta
- Apothecary
- Company Ancient, Chapter Ancient, Combi-Melta
- Ironclad Dreadnought, Chainfist, Meltagun, Hurricane Bolter, Ironclad Launchers
- Sternguard x10, Power Fist, 10x Combi-Melta
- Bikes x5 and Attack Bike, Power Fist, 2x Meltagun, Multi-Melta
- Devastators x5, 4x Multi-Melta, Armourium Cherub
- Eradicators x3
- Drop Pod
- Drop Pod
- Drop Pod
Thomas: XVI Legion successors (Imperial Fists)
- Battalion
- Indominus Captain, The Spartean, Warlord, The Hand of Dorn, Fleetmaster
- Primaris Chaplain, The Eye of Hypnoth
- Assault Intercessors x5, Plasma Pistol, Power Fist
- Assault Intercessors x5
- Intercessors x5, Power Fist
- Intercessors x5, Power Fist
- Primaris Techmarine
- Primaris Apothecary
- Gladiator Reaper
- Gladiator Valiant
- Contemptor Dreadnought, 2x Twin Heavy Bolters
- Redemptor Dreadnought, Gatling Cannon
- Relic Terminators, Power Sword, 9x Lightning Claw, 2x Reaper Autocannon, 8x Combi-Bolter
Our first game was short, so here are the hightlights:
Setup
On turn 1 I dropped in all Drop Pods. The Terminators were reduced to 4, and several squads were destroyed. The Bikes move up to the right.
Thomas fought back, charging my Captain with his in a deadly duel! An amazing overwatch roll deletes the rest of the Terminators.
Bikes assault the Gladiator on the right, and Librarian uses Null Zone to turn off the enemy's Storm Shield. After that the fight was much more one sided. The left flank collapses.
Game was ceded. I don't think I'll take this list ever again unless fighting Knights which it was designed to do. It's either a turn 1 win by vaping half the enemy, or it would be useless if fighting hordes or a well screened opponent.
Next game!
Bozeman: Azure Flames (Salamanders)
- Spearhead (-3CP)
- Techmarine on Bike, Drake Smiter, Conversion Beamer, Master of the Forge, Warlord, Forge Master
- Techmarine, Servo Harness
- Servitors, 2x Heavy Bolter
- Land Speeder Tornado x3, 3x Heavy Bolter, 3x Assault Cannon
- Land Raider, Hunter Killer Missile, Storm Bolter
- Land Raider Crusader, Hunter Killer Missile, Multi-Melta
- Land Raider Redeemer, Hunter Killer Missile, Multi-Melta
- Predator Annihilator, Lascannon Sponsons
- Predator Annihilator, Lascannon Sponsons
- Vindicator, Hunter Killer Missile, Storm Bolter
- Razorback, Twin Lascannon, Hunter Killer Missile
Note: Thomas' list was the same as in the game above.
Mission - Sweep and Clear
Setup:
Turn 1 - XVI Legion
Stratagems and withering fire kill both Predators and reduce the Vindicator to 5 wounds.
Turn 1 - Azure Flames
Vindicator whiffs despite buffs from Techmarine. Redeemer moves out and does some damage to a lot of the Intercessors. Land Raiders pop out to grab an objective and do some damage to one of the Gladiators. Both Dreadnoughts are removed.
Turn 2 - XVI Legion
Concentrated fire finishes off the Land Raider Redeemer. Terminators advance to the center objective. Two of the Land Raiders are blasted by the Gladiator.
Turn 2 - Azure Flames
Land Raider moves to the left to grab an objective. Terminators are cut in half. Lascannons from the Razorback finish off one of the Gladiators.
Turn 3 - XVI Legion
Terminators charge the Crusader, but largely bounce off. Intercessors blast the last Land Speeder.
Turn 3 - Azure Flames
Without the Terminators for cover, all fire blasts the Captain, vaporising him. The Crusader kills two Terminators with close range fire.
Turn 4 - XVI Legion
Chaplain and Gladiator charge the Vindicator.
Turn 4 - Azure Flames
Shooting from the Land Raider harms the Terminators, and the Master of the Forge charges in, wiping the rest with his hammer.
Turn 5 - XVI Legion
Fight with the Vindicator continues.
Turn 5 - Azure Flames
Vindicator falls back using a strategem, and doesn't roll a 1. The Techmarine, Apothecary, and Gladiator are removed. Turn not pictured.
Final Score:
Azure Flames - 84
XVI Legion - 78
This game was a bloodbath! Thomas had only one squad left and I had significantly fewer tanks. I thought this list was a dud, just a joke with an all-tank theme. However it has such toughness and firepower that it can be really fantastic. The Servitors never even disembarked!
Next: More Games and hopefully some Infiltrators.
Blood Bowl Chameleon Skinks and Team Markers
With the new edition of Blood Bowl, it seems the Chameleon Skinks, previously not fantastic, are now super good! So I had to have two.
Sadly, they're hard to find by themselves, and the new models don't fit the self-built aesthetic of the Konquata Monitors.
So I ebayed up some archive Chameleon Skinks (got a good price) and stripped them, then converted them pretty hard.
Behold, the newest members of the Konquata Monitors!
The old pewter Chameleon Skinks had grenades that needed to be snipped off. Then, I shaved down the arms of some plastic Skinks and rebuilt the fingers to have two conjoined grasping fingers like a chameleon. Then I added putty here and there to cover up scars from the grenade clipping.
Sadly, the two sculpts I got were the same (there used to be two) but that only make my creative juices flow for ways to differentiate them. Ehecatl had a hole drilled in his mouth, and pinned with a paperclip length. To the end, I puttied a sticky tongue, and then sculpted a Blue Morpho butterfly.
Each player of course has Genestealer armor plates for shoulder pads, decorated with their number in Mayan numerals. They also have Nahautl names.
I wasn't done! With the first season box set I had, there were no card tokens to keep track of turn, re-rolls, and score. So I raided my bitz and found suitable pieces for the Monitors as well as the Grimfang Scrappaz.
Now I'll be playing in style!
Next: more batreps and some Infiltrators!
Belated Pre-New Year Batrep
After a stunning battle, I lost my camera under a pile of bills, preventing me from sharing it, or the works I've done recently. But the wayward camera has been found.
Sadly, being so late, I forget the major details of the battle, so this is going to be a "broad strokes" kind of batrep.
Bozeman - Azure Flames (Salamanders)
- Battalion
- Zeraf Antonius, Captain of the 4th Company, (Primaris Captain from Indominus) Warlord, Exemplar of the Promethean Creed (-1CP) Anvil of Strength, Iron Resolve, The Burning Blade, Relic Shield
- Chief Librarian Ory-Hara (Primaris Librarian), Chief Librarian, The Tome of Vel'Cona (-1CP), Flaming Blast, Fire Shield, Drakeskin, Fury of Nocturne
- Assault Intercessors x10, Thunder Hammer
- Tactical Squad x5, Combi-Melta, Power Fist, Meltagun
- Tactical Squad x5, Combi-Melta, Power Fist, Meltagun
- Tactical Squad x5, Combi-Flamer, Power Fist, Flamer
- Tactical Squad x5, Combi-Flamer, Power Fist, Flamer
- Bladeguard Ancient
- Bladeguard Veterans x3
- Terminator Assault Squad x5, Lightning Claws
- Assault Squad x10, Jump Packs, 2x Flamer, Power Fist
- Assault Squad x10, Jump Packs, 2x Flamer, Power Fist
- Outrider Squad
- Rhino
- Rhino
Thomas - XVI Legion Successors (counts as Imperial Fists)
- Battalion
- Captain, Combi-Melta, The Fist of Dorn, Warlord
- Phobos Librarian
- Primaris Chaplain
- Intercessors x5, Bolt Rifles, Power Fist
- Intercessors x5, Bolt Rifles, Power Fist
- Incursors x10, mine
- Reivers x5, Grapple hooks
- Reivers x5, Grapple hooks
- Gladiator Valiant
- 10x Cataphractii Terminators, Power Sword, 9x Lightning Claws, 2x Reaper Autocannon, 8x Combi Bolter
- Primaris Apothecary
- Invictor Warsuit, Ironhail Autocannon
- Relic Contemptor Dreadnought, 2x Twin Linked Heavy Bolter
Setup
Turn 1 saw the Azure Flames run forward, taking minor casualties
On Turn 2, Objectives were grabbed and the central building was navigated. An Assualt Squad wipes out one of the Intercessor squads in a crater. They are wiped out in return and some Phobos units arrive in my backfield.
My remaining Terminator charged some Incursors. Sadly, I forgot that they get two extra attacks apiece so they end up dueling the Incursors for several turns! Some units get charges off but others fail. The melee is not kind. The Contemptor Dreadnought shoots a unit out of the building.
Turn 3 saw fights raging around the board
By turn 4, my wave had broken. The Sons of Horus marched forward.
On turn 5 I tried to salvage what I could, but I was tabled!
This list isn't very competitive. It's slow and relies on charge rolls, which are unreliable. I think that a Company Champion to help charges could work, as could some Impulsors or other fast moving weapons to support the melee wave.
Next: CHAMELEON SKINKS! Time for Blood Bowl!
Big Game VI – The Omega War is complete! Farewell 2020!
2020 is over and as a parting gift, Big Game VI - The Omega War is COMPLETE! This behemoth is as long as most Black Library stand alone novels, at 55,013 words, over 46 chapters plus the Introduction and Epilogue.
For contrast, Big Game V - The Battle of Iperin was 50,267 words with 71 chapters. This was because BGV was a post-by-post continuity on the old Big Game V forums maintained by Brian. There were a lot more authors, and a lot less planning making for some short snippets.
It's been a hard year, but it goes out with a bang. Farewell 2020. Farewell Omega Station. Farewell pre-Gathering Storm continuity for the Azure Flames.
It's with this post that I am officially beginning work on Home Fires: an Azure Flames novel, which will detail the fate of the Azure Flames after the Psychic Awakening.
Stay tuned for more updates, including a new Blood Bowl post!
Double Header – Azure Flames vs XVI Legion Primaris @ home!
COVID sucks. You can't go to places because some people just can't seem to wear masks. So, here I am with a big empty dining room table, old boards from Studio 40K, but only a handful of craters and no other terrain.
Luckily, long time Fourstrands contributor Thomas has been amassing terrain in hopes someone has boards! So we had some (socially distanced) 40K in my dining room!
Our original plan was for multiple games on one day, but delays forced us to split them between two days. It's time for a batrep double header!
Bozeman - Azure Flames (Salamanders) 2000 points
- Battalion
- Captain, Warlord, Exemplar of the Promethean Creed, Forge Master, Miraculous Constitution, The Salamander Mantle
- Librarian, Fire Shield, Drakeskin, Fury of Nocturne, The Tome of Vel'cona (-1CP)
- Lieutenant, Chainsword, Combi-Plasma
- Intercessors x10, Thunder Hammer, Bolt Rifles, 1x Grenade Launcher
- Tactical Squad x6, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer
- Agressors x3, Flamestorm Gauntlets
- Apothecary
- Company Ancient, Combi Melta
- Servitors, 2x Heavy Bolter
- Sternguard Veterans x10, Power Fist, 10x Combi-Grav
- Terminators x7, 1x Assault Cannon, 1x Chainfist
- Devastators x5, Armourium Cherub, 4x Grav Cannon
- Devastators x5, Armourium Cherub, 2x Lascannon, 1x Missile Launcher, 1x Heavy Bolter
- Thunderfire Cannon
Thomas - XVI Legion Successors (counts as Imperial Fists)
- Battalion
- Captain, Combi-Melta, The Fist of Dorn, Warlord
- Phobos Librarian
- Primaris Chaplain
- Intercessors x5, Bolt Rifles, Power Fist
- Intercessors x5, Bolt Rifles, Power Fist
- Incursors x10, mine
- Reivers x5, Grapple hooks
- Reivers x5, Grapple hooks
- Gladiator Valiant
- 10x Cataphractii Terminators, Power Sword, 9x Lightning Claws, 2x Reaper Autocannon, 8x Combi Bolter
- Primaris Apothecary
- Invictor Warsuit, Ironhail Autocannon
- Relic Contemptor Dreadnought, 2x Twin Linked Heavy Bolter
Mission - Overrun
Long Board Edges, 6 objectives. Control 2, 3, and more than the opponent for 5VP each, cumulative, cannot be scored on the first turn.
Setup
Not pictured. Thunderfire was to my extreme right. Tactical and Grav Sternguard on my right objective. Agressors, Grav Devastators, and characters on my center objective. Terminators and Tactical on my right objective. Devs and Servitors on my left flank.
Thomas hid most large targets behind a large building. Incursors took up the center big building. Reivers infiltrated.
Turn 1 - Azure Flames
Turn not pictured. Agressors advance and the whole army fires on the Incursors and Warsuit, eliminating them. Intercessors get a lucky charge on the Phobos Librarian but whiff and he cuts a few down in return.
Turn 1 - XVI Legion
Intercessors charge the Azure Flames Intercessors, but can't save the Librarian. Shots do a bit of damage here and there. Left flank Devs are reduced to one Lascannon.
Turn 2 - Azure Flames
The Azure Flames Intercessors are removed by the XVI Legion Intercessors in the building. Apothecary restores an Aggressor and they take the center crater. Librarian does first of three rituals for VP, but then Perils! Terminators move up and do a small amount of damage.
Turn 2 - XVI Legion
Aggressors get vaped by the Gladiator, and the Terminators take some wounds off the Ancient and the Captain. Reiver squads arrive on the left flank and behind me. Contemptor emerges and blasts a Tactical squad.
Turn 3 - Azure Flames
Terminators Charge, doing surprisingly little damage and taking surprisingly little in return. Lone Tactical Sergeant punches the Contemptor to death after the lone Lascannon pops off a shot. Tactical squad on the right flank captures an objective.
After this, we decided it was getting late and Thomas ceded.
In this mission, getting objectives is the key. For turns 2 and 3 I got 15 VPs for the primary objective while Thomas got 0. This was a bit odd for this list as it was designed to castle up.
Next Batrep!
Bozeman - Azure Flames (Salamanders)\
- Batallion
- Captain, Warlord, Exemplar of the Promethean Creed, Forge Master, Miraculous Constitution, The Salamander Mantle
- Librarian, 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 x10, Power Fist, 10x Combi-Grav
- Sternguard x10, Power Fist, 10x Combi-Melta
- Assault Squad x5, 2x Flamer
- Land Raider Crusader, Multi-Melta, Hunter-Killer Missile
- Razorback, Twin Linked Heavy Bolter
- Rhino
- Rhino
- Rhino
Thomas - XVI Legion Successors (Imperial Fists)
Note: Thomas' list was the same as above.
Mission: Vital Intelligence
In this mission, objectives that you capture stay yours until an opponent captures them. Controlling 2, 3 and more than your opponent gives 5VP each.
Setup:
Turn 1 - XVI Legion
Shooting pops a Rhino on the left flank killing 4 Marines as they disembark. Another Rhino is crippled.
Turn 1 - Azure Flames
Both Sternguard squads disembark and shoot up the Incursors. A Rhino blocks the Objective. Assault Squad runs to another Objective. Land Raider puts some decent wounds on the Gladiator.
Turn 2 - XVI Legion
Terminators pop the Rhino on the right and FIVE marines die! As Intercessors charge the Land Raider, Melta Tacticals overwatch with Born Heroes and countercharge! Warsuit charges the Rhino and damages it, while Contemptor charges the Tactical marines and gets punched hard!
Turn 2 - Azure Flames
Rhino falls back and the Melta Sternguard wipe the Invictor and a few Incursors. Tacticals punch the Contemptor again doing a bit of damage. Land Raider shoots the Intercessors to death, freeing the Tactical Marines to shoot the Terminators, and charge a lone Intercessor, killing him and then consolidating into the path of the Terminators so they can't move forward as easily! Turn not pictured.
Turn 3 - XVI Legion
Terminators annihilate the Tactical Marines and the Assault Marines! Contemptor shoots the Tactical Marines to death in combat!
Turn 3 - Azure Flames
Last Rhino advances to steal the objective on the right. Last Incursor is eliminated which frees up the Melta Sternguard to fire at all four Characters! All four are eliminated! Land Raider finishes off the Gladiator!
Turn 4 - XVI Legion
Ternimators charge the Land Raider and do some wounds. Contemptor charges the Rhino and somehow takes one wound.
Turn 4 - Azure Flames
Contemptor and Rhino stare at each other angrily. Melta fire kills 4/5 of an Intercessor squad in the gray building. Terminators continue to fight the Land Raider.
Turn 5 - XVI Legion
Contemptor whiffs on shooting and the Rhino does another close combat wound! Terminators continue struggle.
Turn 5 - Azure Flames
Boxcars SUPER SMITE wipes TWO Terminators! Shooting kills all but one with one wound. The Rhino kills the Contemptor with a lucky Bolt round. Captain executes the last Intercessor. Finally, in close combat, the Land Raider removes the last wound from the last Terminator. Tabled.
Once again, I was pulling down 15 VP per turn. 9th ed is all about going fast, hanging tough, and dishing out damage, in that order. If you get objectives it doesn't matter if your models are dying as long as you keep those objectives.
Next: More batreps hopefully and some Infiltrators!
40K 9th Ed Turn Tracker, Firstborn Tank Hatches, and Devastator Decals
Normally, I alternate between Firstborn and Primaris projects, and it's the Firstborn's turn. I had a lot of options, but in a recent game, I found myself not able to take Hunter Killer Missiles on some tanks due to lack of appropriate bits. So, I decided on a very short project:
Now I have more missile-y goodness and a blank hatch for a placeholder. However, this update was a bit light, and luckily I'm supplementing it with a Turn Tracker from littlepri_16 on Ebay. It's 3D printed and awesome!
The dials are separate pieces which I will later magnetize once my order from K&J Magnetics arrives. My only gripe is that this font has a weird upwards serif on the upper left of the capital T, but I can live with it.
Finally, as with every project, a touchup and decal! This is the last of three Devastator Bolter units:
Next: a special feature! Longtime Fourstrands contributor Thomas is coming over to break my dry streak for some (socially distanced and safe) gaming! Expect battle reports galore and some awesome times!
Judicar and Indominus Project Complete!
My Judicar is finally complete after some holiday related delays!
I did a head swap with the helmeted Captain head from Indominus, after filling the cross shaped hole with putty. I also added a flame to the left shoulder pad.
I wasn't brave enough to do Dynamic Lighting on Antonius, but because i cared less about the Judicar I gave it a shot and it worked quite well!
Finally, the Indominus Project is complete!
Steely eyed veterans of MSU's Studio 40K circa 2000-2005 will remember these boards!
It took longer than I wanted, but that was mostly because I imposed a strict protocol of Primaris -> Squad touchup and decals -> Firstborn -> Squad touchup and decals, repeat. In the end I've made tons of progress and I'm raring for more!
Speaking of more, here's a touchup to five more Devastator Bolters:
Next: a relatively boring update as I'm making more Hunter Killer missiles and blank hatches for Land Raiders and other sundry tanks. I need more options and what I have doesn't cut it. Plus more decals!