Post by halos on Jul 25, 2012 13:54:39 GMT
Hello again everyone!
I'm back with a fresh battle report, this weeks episode is; 'You got your Mech Spam in my 6th Edition!' Although I did take my camera I didn't take any pics as my opponents army was unpainted and mine is full of dirty proxies for the time being.
I was randomly drawn against a Blood Angels player with a list containing far too many assault cannons, we grabbed a 4x4 ice themed board and a bunch of ruins and got to setting up.
~Army Lists~
Blood Angels
•HQ
-Mephiston, Lord of Death
-Librarian (Force Axe, Bolt Pistol, 2x Psychic Powers)
•Elites
-4x Assault Terminators (3x Lightning Claws, 1x TH/SS)
-Assault Terminator Sergeant (TH/SS)
-Sanguinary Priest
-Furioso Dreadnaught (2x Blood Talons, Storm Bolter, Meltagun)
•Troops
-5x Assault Marines (Meltagun, Bolt Pistols/CCW)
-Razorback (TL Assault Cannon)
-5x Assault Marines (Meltagun, Bolt Pistols/CCW)
-Razorback (TL Assault Cannon)
-5x Assault Marines (Meltagun, Bolt Pistols/CCW)
-Razorback (TL Assault Cannon)
•Fast Attack
-Baal Predator (TL Assault Cannon, 2x Heavy Bolter sponsons)
-Baal Predator (TL Assault Cannon, 2x Heavy Bolter sponsons)
•Heavy Support
-Stormraven Gunship (TL Assault Cannon, TL Multimelta, 2x Hurricane Bolter sponsons, 4x Bloodstrike Missiles)
Tyranids
•HQ
-Hive Tyrant (2x TL Devourers, Old Adversary, Armoured Shell)
•Elites
-5x Ym'garl Genestealers
-2x Hive Guad
-2x Zoanthropes
•Troops
-14x Termagants (Devourers)
-14x Termagants (Devourers)
-Tervigon (Crushing Claws, Toxin Sacs, Adrenal Glands, 3x Psychic Powers)
-Tervigon (Crushing Claws, Toxin Sacs, Adrenal Glands, 3x Psychic Powers)
•Heavy Support
-Trygon
-Trygon
~Set Up~
The mission was The Scouring, with 6 objectives worth varied values of victory points between 1 and 4 placed secretly around the board. In addition any Fast Attack unit becomes a scoring unit, irrelevant to the Tyranids but allowing the Blood Angels Baal Predators to claim objectives. The terrain was randomly determined as per the rulebook giving us a nice looking ruined city in the snow to fight over. We used a 12" deployment zone and rolled for Warlord Traits. For the Blood Angels Mephiston gained the Strategic trait Conqueror of Cities granting all Blood Angel units Move through Cover (ruins) and Stealth (ruins). The Hive Tyrant gained the Strategic trait Divide and Conquer; lowering the enemies Reserves rolls by -1. The Blood Angels won the coin toss for first turn and we moved into deployment.
~Deployment~
Mephiston, the legendary hero of the Imperium, felt the cold, clammy grip of dread around his mind, a wave of all-pervading doom about to break over all their heads. The Shadow in the Warp, and to feel it's effects even through his impressive psychic defenses a dangerous Tyranid force must be close at hand. Well, no matter, steeling his mind still further he ordered his men to prepare. They would show the aliens what true dread felt like...
The Blood Angels deployed first, the Librarian swapped his powers out for the Divination table, taking the primaris power Prescience and Foreboding. Mephiston keeps his codex powers. The Librarian and Sanguinary Priest joined the Terminator squad in the Gunship which, as a flier, was forced to start in reserves, the Dreadnaught is locked into it's rear clamp mechanism. The remaining vehicles lined up at the front edge of the deployment zone, with Mephiston skulking behind a Razorback on the left flank.
The Tyranids then got to deploy. The Ym'garls were hidden in the ruin marked on the map, ready to make nuisances of themselves when the time arrived. The Tyranids were split into two groups, with the Tyrant, and half the Gaunts, Trygons and Tervigons on the left and everything else on the right. The Tyrant rolled on the Biomancy table gaining both Iron Arm and Life Leech. The Zoanthropes also swapped their powers, one gaining Iron Arm and Warp Speed and the other Endurance and Life Leech. The Tervigons also swapped out their powers, but the only power used by either of them throughout the game is Endurance and I can't recall what else was rolled.
The Baal Predators make their 12" Scout moves and the Tyranids do not attempt to seize the iniative. The objective markers are flipped over revealing that the Tyranid board half holds the lion's share of the Victory Points; the Blood Angels would have to take the fight to them for a chance of victory. This task is made easier when it is revealed that Night Fighting is not in effect.
~Turn 1: Victory Points - Blood Angels 3 / Tyranids 8 ~
Blood Angels
The tracks of the extensively modified imperial vehicles churn the fresh snow into slush before finding purchase and propelling the hefty tanks forwards at considerable speed. All the while a veritable hail of self-propelled rounds fired with unerring accuracy slam into the ranks of chitinous monstrosities, staining the snow with unspeakable viscera.
No reserves this turn so the Blood Angels just slam forwards. Mephiston activates the Wings of Sanguinius and hops (bravely?) behind a Baal Predator. The Objective in the top centre is revealed to be Grav Wave Generator, halving the charge ranges of nearby enemies.
All available weaponry opens up on the squishy gant squads, killing 5 from the green brood and 7 from the teal.
There are no assaults making this a quick and easy first turn.
Tyranids
Crushing the fallen remains of their brethren the Tyranid horde surges forwards, sliding into the shadows of the ruined building like so many ghosts, or rats. The careful, measured, intelligence of the group is shared via synaptic links, the larger beasts using the soul-less eyes of the smaller to gauge the next strategy.
First off things need to be buffed. The Tyrant attempts to, and fails, to cast Iron Arm on herself but thankfully does not suffer Perils. The green Tervigon then attempts to throw Endurance on the Tyrant in compensation but also fails! It appears the Tyrant is immune to pyschic shenanigans. The Zoanthropes and remaining Tervigon both succed in casting Endurance on both Trygons. The Nids all move forwards, grabbing cover from the ruins. The objective towards the bottom of the map is Nothing of note but both of the two objectives claimed as the gaunts move forwards are found to be growths of alien fauna, emitting bursts of retching fog capable of stopping even a Space Marine in their tracks (Grav Wave Generators.)
The right hand Trygon runs into a ruin and coils down in the ample cover. The remaining teal gants also run deeper into the building and further secure the objective. The Zoanthropes and Tervigons run, but not particularly far. The Hive Guard fire at the Baal Predator, out of sight behind the building, meter long spikes of bone pierce the vehicles enlarged fuel tanks setting of a catastrophic explosion. First Blood to the Tyranids. The Hive Tyrant fires at the second Predator and knocks off a Hull Point.
The Trygon succesfully pulls of a 9" charge, safe in the knowledge that vehicles cannot Overwatch even if he fails, without even need the Fleet re-roll. The towering monster smashes bodily into the tank, bowling the entire chassis over and caving in the already damaged hull. That's both of his bonus scoring Fast Attack units dealt with at any rate...
~Turn 2: Victory Points Blood Angels 5 / Tyranids 8 ~
Blood Angels
Scrambling from the wreckage of the decimated Predator the Blood Angel driver stares up, unbelieving but not afraid, at the hideous creature rearing up to deal the final blow. In the instance before the wicked talons bite home however, he feels a blast of air from behind followed by a blinding flash of light; Mephiston! The mighty warrior steps through the air as if it were solid ground, his ancient sword glowing a resplendant blue. The alien launches a bight salvo of arched lightning which scatters harmlessly from the great heroes armour as he launches himself into the fray. A drop of liquid slaps against the Marines visor; red blood? Surely Mephiston cannot have been slain by such a brute?
Despite the Tyranids Warlord trait the Stormraven gunship comes screaming out of reserves this turn, moving 18" onto the board, although unable to be placed where my opponent wanted it without being within 1" of the Trygon so he settled for the position shown above. Mephiston moves forwards to engage the Trygon. One Razorback plows forwards and the other two shuffle backwards slightly. A squad of Marines disembark to claim their objective, and to ensure they aren't inside the vehicle in case it suddenly comes down with a case of 'ohgodtrygon.'
Having learned just how dangerous the Hive Guard are to his transports the Stormravens Assault Cannon catches them without a cover save, killing one and wounding the other. One Razorback wounds the Trygon on the right flank and another manages to wound the Tervigon in the centre. The remaining Razorback and the rest of the Stormravens considerable arsenal as well as Mephistons plasma pistol open up on the nearby Trygon, knocking it down to only two wounds.
Mephiston then charges at the Trygon, predictably killing it with relative ease, although not before losing a wound to the Shadow in the Warp when he casts Sanguine Sword. He consolidates into the cover of the ruin housing the most valuable objective.
Tyranids
With the untimely death of the Trygon the hordes tactics shift dramatically. This prey-which-fights is too dangerous to be attacked piece-meal; it must be worn down before it can be broken down. The nearby gaunts heed the irresistable call of the Hive Mind and begin to round on the giant in his gothic armour.
I don't think I passed a single FnP roll with that Trygon, disappointing if not unexpected. Ah well. The Ym'garls decide to stay hidden this turn, perhaps concerned that there's a Trygon murdering madman on the loose. Psychic buffs occur as well. This time the Tyrant is succesfully Iron Armed, boosting her Strength and Toughness by 2. The Trygon is buffed with Endurance as is the Tyrant and the central Tervigon. Both Tervigons spawn gaunts, the central one creates only 6 but does not run out, these move to surround her on the objective. The other Tervigon produces 9 but rolls a double 4 and thus cannot spawn for the rest of the game. These move into the ruins.
The remaining Trygon smashes out of cover, eager to get to grips with the enemy. The gants and Tyrant to the left round on Mephiston. The Hive Guard gets properly out of LoS, the brood may be half strenght but he is still a threat on his own. The teal gaunts jump out of the ruins to attack the foolishly close Av10 tank.
Nothing can really be done about the flier at this stage so I opt to ignore it. The Hive Guard goes for a long shot at the Razorback towards the back of the board and manages to Immobilise it. The gants and Tyrant fire at Mephiston and knock him down another wound.
The Trygon succeeds in charging the Razorback and smashes it to pieces with incredible ease, hitting on 3s with re-rolls and auto-penning is extremely good against light armour. The teal gants manage to knock two Hull Points off their Razorback, but not enough to destroy it, leaving them out in the open for next turn. The green gaunts charge Mephiston but the Tyrant fails her charge, rolling a 4. Mephiston readily cleaves through five gants, but the remaining 5 with Preferred Enemy and Poisoned attacks manage to take off another wound, leaving him with 2.
~Turn 3: Victory Points Blood Angels 1 / Tyranids 9 ~
Blood Angels
Terminator Sergeant Dydrin stands in the underbelly of the Stormraven as the assault drop doors open before him, showing him his first physical view of the battle field as the holy machine comes in for deployment. He sees his superior, the mighty Mephiston, awash in a sea of tiny pests. Bellowing his men forwards the jump from the hovering jet, landing heavily in the soft snow. But even as they move to assist their great leader a huge shadow unfurls itself from the ruin walls above them, a ferocious beast, toxic smog billowing from dorsal vents, psychic power crackling from it's grotesque head the Hive Tyrant stands as a physical barrier between them and their mission. A barrier which they will overcome.
No more reserves at this stage so straight to movement. The Stormraven drops into Hover mode so it can dump it's cargo. (I try to keep the grin from my face) It buzzes over to the rear of the Tyranid forces and drops the Dreadnaught to take care of one objective and the Terminators another. The damaged Razorback zooms backwards 6" and the marines disembark onto an objective concealed behind a high wall the objective is (again!) revealed to be a Grav Wave Generator. The assault marines also disembark from the immobilised Razorback and set up to spray the exposed Termagants with bullets. The transport-less marines move away from the objective, and the Trygon, in order to get a bead on it over the ruins.
Most shooting goes onto the Hive Tyrant, but at T8 and a combination of a 2+ armour save and 4+ cover save (from most directions) sees her standing high and dry with not a single wound lost. The Dreadnaught fires at the Zoanthropes but fails to wound them. The assault marines in the upper right fire upon the Trygon, knocking off another wound even through it's FnP. The central assault marines then attempt to fire at the exposed gants, but kill only a single creature.
In combat the same assault squad attempts to charge the gaunts to finish the job, suffering a round of devourer Overwatch and losing a marine and then failing to make the charge with a low charge range. The Dreadnaught charges the Zoanthrope killing one and wounding the other. The Terminators charge mightily at the Hive Tyrant, but it's Twin-Linked, Preferred Enemy Overwatch succeeds in killing off the Terminato Sergeant (and, more importantly, his Thunder Hammer.) The Tyrant issues a challenge, which is denied preventing the Librarian (and his AP2 axe) from attacking. The Tyrant attacks first and succeeds in killing the last Thunder Hammer terminator. For this turn the lightning claws are S5 thanks to FC and so still have a chance of wounding the Tyrant, but only one wound gets through and it is deflected by the dense armoured shell. Mephiston kills all but one of the gants, leaving him stuck in combat still.
Tyranids
The Stormraven pilot can only look on as he drops his passengers deep into the hot zone and they get torn apart by some enormous beast. Regardless his orders now are to continue providing fire support, and he begins pulling the aircraft up to a safe altitude, unaware of the lumbering creature lunging from the ruins behind the gunship.
The Ym'garl stealers jump out and shout boo this turn, heading towards the assault squad who foolishly decided to abandon their transport. The Hive Tyrant once again casts Iron Arm up to T8, but suffers a wound from Perils in the process. The teal Tervigon spawns 9 more gants but runs dry in the process. These head to keep Mephiston locked down. The Trygon, Tyrant and wounded Tervigon are all hit with Endurance.
The teal Tervigon smashes through the wall to get at the flier which can now be hit in combat. The last Hive Guard moves to occupy the Tervigons old gant screen to avoid the wrath of the Dreadnaught. The Trygon moves to attack the assault squad and the central gants round on the last assault squad to show them how it's done.
Shooting is effectively limited to the teal devourer gants who fire at the assault squad and kill two of them.
In assault Mephiston kills some more gants, but with only 5 attacks he's never killing enough. The Ym'garls smash into the teal assault squad and, despite a decent Overwatch roll, their T5 and 4+ saves keeps them safe. They cause 4 rending wounds, which I force my opponent to take first. Of course his last remaining marine passes all 3 of the remaining saves. The teal gants smack into the black marines, killing one but losing two of their own in return. The Trygon smashes into the green assault squad, dodges the overwatch but rolls poorly and kills only three of them. The Tyrant issues another challenge, this time accepted by the Sanquniary Priest (in order to keep his other stuff alive for a time they can actually hurt the Tyrant presumedly) and is promptly squished by S8AP2 attacks. The Dreadnaught kills off the last Zoanthrope and rounds on the gants holding the objective. The green Tervigon attempts to charge the nearby Razorback but falls short. The teal Tervigon claws up at the ascending aircraft, delivering a mighty slam which spirals the machines hull in a tight corcksrew, unable to reorientate the VTOL thrusters quickly enough the gunship plows heavily into the ground and explodes spectacularly.
The wounded Trygon regains both wounds thanks to It Will Not Die.
~Turn 4: Victory Points Blood Angels 0 / Tyranids 10 ~
Blood Angels
Mephiston, Lord of Death, begins to feel the effects of fatigue upon his ancient bones, or is that just the Shadow seeping into his mind? Space Marines do not tire of their duty! But it is just too much, for every foul creature he pierces through of parries away another leaps up, all his power and might is naught against this implacable horde. No! Shaking his head and strenghtening his mind Mephiston fights on.
With few other options the damaged Razorback boosts across the map to try and avoid the encroaching Tervigon. The Dreadnaught shifts through cover, keeping it's front armour towards the Hive Guard.
The only shooting comes from the Dreadnaught but it's shots are foiled as the gants scurry and dash through the cover.
The Ym'garls finish off the last teal Assault Marine and move to assist the gants with their Mephiston problem. The Trygon also finishes squshing his assault squad and moves towards the immobilised Razorback. The teal gants find the last Marine much braver than the rest can fail to wound him, losing two of their number. Mephiston kills another 4 Gants. The Librarian attempts to slay the beast with his Force Weapon but cannot pierce it's psychic field and is crushed beneath it's weight. The Dreadnaught attempts to charge the gants, he rolls a double 1, no problem, he's only 1.1" away. Or at least it wouldn't be a problem if that objective didn't half charge ranges...
The Dreadnaught doesn't make it.
Tyranids
Retreat is the order, and the Razorback pilot can't help but agree, there is no use fighting on here, the xenos are too many and the Marines too few. He guns the light transport across the snow wastes, dodging still-smoking wreckage and piles of fallen masonry, hoping to reach reinforcements, first however there is the matter of the gargantuan monster between him and escape...
The Tyrant fails to cast Iron Arm with an 11, the Terminators may yet stand a chance. The green Tervigon throws Endurance on him instead. The second Terigon puts Endurance on herself to try and get a wound back.
The green Tervigon moves to claim the least valuable objective, but hey, VP is VP. The teal Tervigon moves towards the speeding Razorback, moving flat-out won't save you in this edition! The Trygon heads to finish off the immobilized Razorback and the Hive Guard moves out of cover to hit the side armour of the Dreadnaught. The Ym'garls head towards Mephiston.
The Hive Guard fails to damage the Dreadnaught, but does draw it's attention.
The Hive Tyrant, although back to only T6 still kills two Terminators before they can strike and the last bounces harmlessly from the monsters tough hide. Mephiston slays three of the five genestealers but the remaining two flick open bladed spurs from their bodies and strike mercilessly, knocking him down to one wound with a rending hit. The teal space marine kills another gant and the Trygon forces the Razorback to explode, killing the last one. The Tervigon catches the last Razorback and, with an incredible 6 S10 Ap2 attacks destroys it effortlessly.
~Turn 5: Victory Points Blood Angels 0 / Tyranids 13 ~
Blood Angels
Assault Marine Larcus was dying, a ferocious alien locking claws around his helmet, attempting to wrench it off his head to deliver the final bite, it was all he could do to struggle. Suddenly a violent explosion rocked the area, debris and shrapnel pinging from his ceramite armour. His adversary was knocked sprawling, and before it could recover Larcus pounced, driving a combat knife deep into the damnable creatures skull. It was than that he heard, or rather felt, the deep rumble of a roar, bellowed from some enormous throat. Looking round and upwards, through the smoke of his former transport Larcus spied the Trygon, and the Trygon spied back. Slowly hefting a grenade in his free hand Larcus stood stock still. This is how heroes are made.
Not a lot of movement, the last assault marine heads towards the Trygon. The Dreadnaught spins on the Hive Guard (might have been wiser to go for th gants, but at this stage not really relevant.)
The Dreadnaught kills the Hive Guard with it's meltagun, and the assault marine pings the Trygon in the eye with his pistol, knocking off a wound.
In combat Mephiston finishes off the Ym'garls and, unfortunately as it would have been hilarious, the gants fail to kill him. The Tyrant polishes off the last Terminator and heads towards Mephiston. The assault marine charges at the Trygon without a hint of fear, lobbing a krak grenade straight into the creatures gaping maw. The detonation throwing the Trygon off guard, but not enough to prevent it crushing the Space Marine utterly. (Technically FnP saved the wound from the grenade, but it's much more dramatic this way.)
Tyranids
Mephiston smiles grimly, there are no more gaunts now, the depths of the Tyrannic forces are not unfathomable after all, he is badly wounded but he will triumph. Then the screaming in his mind is amplified ten-fold, staggering, almost falling to his knees the Lord of Death looks around into a face like a grinning skull, all teeth and horn and armour, the leader beast? It controls the Shadow like it controls it's minions. He would need all his might to slay such a monster, raising his blade high he opens his mind to eke out what strenght he can from the Warp which is nigh closed to him.
The Tyrant gets another Iron Arm, this time jumping up to a frankly ludicrous T9. The teal Tervigon casts Endurance on itself and the green one on the Tyrant.
The Tyrant rounds on Mephiston, with T9, Eternal Warrior, FnP and Mephiston's sword only being AP3 I'm pretty confident I can knock a wound off him. The teal Tervigon readies itself to charge the Dreadnaught, this one, I accept is a stupid decision, the Dreadnaught can likely murder the Tervigon no problem with the incredibly dumb Blood Talons rules. But whatever, the games over either way. The other Tervigon moves to secure the more valuable objective at the top of the map.
The Tyrant charges bodily at Mephiston, who attempts to channel the Warp into his sword in order to be able to harm the Tyrant at a reasonable rate. He rolls a double 1 and dies. Kinda anti-climatic but there you are. I guess the Warp gets a VP for Slay the Warlord. The Tervigon charges the Dreadnaught, who predicably starts blending into it as I fail every FnP roll available. Eventually however the machine has missed enough attacks and failed to wound enough times that he is left with no attacks, and the Tervigon still has 1 wound left! Great success! She than smashes the irritating vehicle to pieces.
~Results~
So that's that. The Tyranids tabled the Blood Angels and so automatically won regardless but the final victory points looked like:
Tyranids - 13 (Primary Objectives x3 (4vp, 3vp, 3vp), Secondary Objectives x3 (First Blood, Linebreaker, Slay the Warlord)
Blood Angels - 0
So yeah that was pretty fun, I finally got to Smash a vehicle with a MC and it was awesome, it absolutely wrecks light vehicles and you get a solid chance against more heavily armoured ones as well. I think it might be slightly better than the old S+2D6 armour pen? Certainly for things like Tervigons anyway.
I kinda wish I could've got my Tyrant in with the Dreadnaught just to watch as his Ap3 'lightning claws' do nothing to it.
I'm still forgetting rules, I don't think I have once remembered Fear or HoW on MCs for example. But I am enjoying myself now that Fearless actually doesn't suck and most of the missions are objective based.
Thanks for reading, feel free to comment and what-not. Hopefully next week I shall be able to include photos as well, who knows?
I'm back with a fresh battle report, this weeks episode is; 'You got your Mech Spam in my 6th Edition!' Although I did take my camera I didn't take any pics as my opponents army was unpainted and mine is full of dirty proxies for the time being.
I was randomly drawn against a Blood Angels player with a list containing far too many assault cannons, we grabbed a 4x4 ice themed board and a bunch of ruins and got to setting up.
~Army Lists~
Blood Angels
•HQ
-Mephiston, Lord of Death
-Librarian (Force Axe, Bolt Pistol, 2x Psychic Powers)
•Elites
-4x Assault Terminators (3x Lightning Claws, 1x TH/SS)
-Assault Terminator Sergeant (TH/SS)
-Sanguinary Priest
-Furioso Dreadnaught (2x Blood Talons, Storm Bolter, Meltagun)
•Troops
-5x Assault Marines (Meltagun, Bolt Pistols/CCW)
-Razorback (TL Assault Cannon)
-5x Assault Marines (Meltagun, Bolt Pistols/CCW)
-Razorback (TL Assault Cannon)
-5x Assault Marines (Meltagun, Bolt Pistols/CCW)
-Razorback (TL Assault Cannon)
•Fast Attack
-Baal Predator (TL Assault Cannon, 2x Heavy Bolter sponsons)
-Baal Predator (TL Assault Cannon, 2x Heavy Bolter sponsons)
•Heavy Support
-Stormraven Gunship (TL Assault Cannon, TL Multimelta, 2x Hurricane Bolter sponsons, 4x Bloodstrike Missiles)
Tyranids
•HQ
-Hive Tyrant (2x TL Devourers, Old Adversary, Armoured Shell)
•Elites
-5x Ym'garl Genestealers
-2x Hive Guad
-2x Zoanthropes
•Troops
-14x Termagants (Devourers)
-14x Termagants (Devourers)
-Tervigon (Crushing Claws, Toxin Sacs, Adrenal Glands, 3x Psychic Powers)
-Tervigon (Crushing Claws, Toxin Sacs, Adrenal Glands, 3x Psychic Powers)
•Heavy Support
-Trygon
-Trygon
~Set Up~
The mission was The Scouring, with 6 objectives worth varied values of victory points between 1 and 4 placed secretly around the board. In addition any Fast Attack unit becomes a scoring unit, irrelevant to the Tyranids but allowing the Blood Angels Baal Predators to claim objectives. The terrain was randomly determined as per the rulebook giving us a nice looking ruined city in the snow to fight over. We used a 12" deployment zone and rolled for Warlord Traits. For the Blood Angels Mephiston gained the Strategic trait Conqueror of Cities granting all Blood Angel units Move through Cover (ruins) and Stealth (ruins). The Hive Tyrant gained the Strategic trait Divide and Conquer; lowering the enemies Reserves rolls by -1. The Blood Angels won the coin toss for first turn and we moved into deployment.
~Deployment~
Mephiston, the legendary hero of the Imperium, felt the cold, clammy grip of dread around his mind, a wave of all-pervading doom about to break over all their heads. The Shadow in the Warp, and to feel it's effects even through his impressive psychic defenses a dangerous Tyranid force must be close at hand. Well, no matter, steeling his mind still further he ordered his men to prepare. They would show the aliens what true dread felt like...
The Blood Angels deployed first, the Librarian swapped his powers out for the Divination table, taking the primaris power Prescience and Foreboding. Mephiston keeps his codex powers. The Librarian and Sanguinary Priest joined the Terminator squad in the Gunship which, as a flier, was forced to start in reserves, the Dreadnaught is locked into it's rear clamp mechanism. The remaining vehicles lined up at the front edge of the deployment zone, with Mephiston skulking behind a Razorback on the left flank.
The Tyranids then got to deploy. The Ym'garls were hidden in the ruin marked on the map, ready to make nuisances of themselves when the time arrived. The Tyranids were split into two groups, with the Tyrant, and half the Gaunts, Trygons and Tervigons on the left and everything else on the right. The Tyrant rolled on the Biomancy table gaining both Iron Arm and Life Leech. The Zoanthropes also swapped their powers, one gaining Iron Arm and Warp Speed and the other Endurance and Life Leech. The Tervigons also swapped out their powers, but the only power used by either of them throughout the game is Endurance and I can't recall what else was rolled.
The Baal Predators make their 12" Scout moves and the Tyranids do not attempt to seize the iniative. The objective markers are flipped over revealing that the Tyranid board half holds the lion's share of the Victory Points; the Blood Angels would have to take the fight to them for a chance of victory. This task is made easier when it is revealed that Night Fighting is not in effect.
~Turn 1: Victory Points - Blood Angels 3 / Tyranids 8 ~
Blood Angels
The tracks of the extensively modified imperial vehicles churn the fresh snow into slush before finding purchase and propelling the hefty tanks forwards at considerable speed. All the while a veritable hail of self-propelled rounds fired with unerring accuracy slam into the ranks of chitinous monstrosities, staining the snow with unspeakable viscera.
No reserves this turn so the Blood Angels just slam forwards. Mephiston activates the Wings of Sanguinius and hops (bravely?) behind a Baal Predator. The Objective in the top centre is revealed to be Grav Wave Generator, halving the charge ranges of nearby enemies.
All available weaponry opens up on the squishy gant squads, killing 5 from the green brood and 7 from the teal.
There are no assaults making this a quick and easy first turn.
Tyranids
Crushing the fallen remains of their brethren the Tyranid horde surges forwards, sliding into the shadows of the ruined building like so many ghosts, or rats. The careful, measured, intelligence of the group is shared via synaptic links, the larger beasts using the soul-less eyes of the smaller to gauge the next strategy.
First off things need to be buffed. The Tyrant attempts to, and fails, to cast Iron Arm on herself but thankfully does not suffer Perils. The green Tervigon then attempts to throw Endurance on the Tyrant in compensation but also fails! It appears the Tyrant is immune to pyschic shenanigans. The Zoanthropes and remaining Tervigon both succed in casting Endurance on both Trygons. The Nids all move forwards, grabbing cover from the ruins. The objective towards the bottom of the map is Nothing of note but both of the two objectives claimed as the gaunts move forwards are found to be growths of alien fauna, emitting bursts of retching fog capable of stopping even a Space Marine in their tracks (Grav Wave Generators.)
The right hand Trygon runs into a ruin and coils down in the ample cover. The remaining teal gants also run deeper into the building and further secure the objective. The Zoanthropes and Tervigons run, but not particularly far. The Hive Guard fire at the Baal Predator, out of sight behind the building, meter long spikes of bone pierce the vehicles enlarged fuel tanks setting of a catastrophic explosion. First Blood to the Tyranids. The Hive Tyrant fires at the second Predator and knocks off a Hull Point.
The Trygon succesfully pulls of a 9" charge, safe in the knowledge that vehicles cannot Overwatch even if he fails, without even need the Fleet re-roll. The towering monster smashes bodily into the tank, bowling the entire chassis over and caving in the already damaged hull. That's both of his bonus scoring Fast Attack units dealt with at any rate...
~Turn 2: Victory Points Blood Angels 5 / Tyranids 8 ~
Blood Angels
Scrambling from the wreckage of the decimated Predator the Blood Angel driver stares up, unbelieving but not afraid, at the hideous creature rearing up to deal the final blow. In the instance before the wicked talons bite home however, he feels a blast of air from behind followed by a blinding flash of light; Mephiston! The mighty warrior steps through the air as if it were solid ground, his ancient sword glowing a resplendant blue. The alien launches a bight salvo of arched lightning which scatters harmlessly from the great heroes armour as he launches himself into the fray. A drop of liquid slaps against the Marines visor; red blood? Surely Mephiston cannot have been slain by such a brute?
Despite the Tyranids Warlord trait the Stormraven gunship comes screaming out of reserves this turn, moving 18" onto the board, although unable to be placed where my opponent wanted it without being within 1" of the Trygon so he settled for the position shown above. Mephiston moves forwards to engage the Trygon. One Razorback plows forwards and the other two shuffle backwards slightly. A squad of Marines disembark to claim their objective, and to ensure they aren't inside the vehicle in case it suddenly comes down with a case of 'ohgodtrygon.'
Having learned just how dangerous the Hive Guard are to his transports the Stormravens Assault Cannon catches them without a cover save, killing one and wounding the other. One Razorback wounds the Trygon on the right flank and another manages to wound the Tervigon in the centre. The remaining Razorback and the rest of the Stormravens considerable arsenal as well as Mephistons plasma pistol open up on the nearby Trygon, knocking it down to only two wounds.
Mephiston then charges at the Trygon, predictably killing it with relative ease, although not before losing a wound to the Shadow in the Warp when he casts Sanguine Sword. He consolidates into the cover of the ruin housing the most valuable objective.
Tyranids
With the untimely death of the Trygon the hordes tactics shift dramatically. This prey-which-fights is too dangerous to be attacked piece-meal; it must be worn down before it can be broken down. The nearby gaunts heed the irresistable call of the Hive Mind and begin to round on the giant in his gothic armour.
I don't think I passed a single FnP roll with that Trygon, disappointing if not unexpected. Ah well. The Ym'garls decide to stay hidden this turn, perhaps concerned that there's a Trygon murdering madman on the loose. Psychic buffs occur as well. This time the Tyrant is succesfully Iron Armed, boosting her Strength and Toughness by 2. The Trygon is buffed with Endurance as is the Tyrant and the central Tervigon. Both Tervigons spawn gaunts, the central one creates only 6 but does not run out, these move to surround her on the objective. The other Tervigon produces 9 but rolls a double 4 and thus cannot spawn for the rest of the game. These move into the ruins.
The remaining Trygon smashes out of cover, eager to get to grips with the enemy. The gants and Tyrant to the left round on Mephiston. The Hive Guard gets properly out of LoS, the brood may be half strenght but he is still a threat on his own. The teal gaunts jump out of the ruins to attack the foolishly close Av10 tank.
Nothing can really be done about the flier at this stage so I opt to ignore it. The Hive Guard goes for a long shot at the Razorback towards the back of the board and manages to Immobilise it. The gants and Tyrant fire at Mephiston and knock him down another wound.
The Trygon succeeds in charging the Razorback and smashes it to pieces with incredible ease, hitting on 3s with re-rolls and auto-penning is extremely good against light armour. The teal gants manage to knock two Hull Points off their Razorback, but not enough to destroy it, leaving them out in the open for next turn. The green gaunts charge Mephiston but the Tyrant fails her charge, rolling a 4. Mephiston readily cleaves through five gants, but the remaining 5 with Preferred Enemy and Poisoned attacks manage to take off another wound, leaving him with 2.
~Turn 3: Victory Points Blood Angels 1 / Tyranids 9 ~
Blood Angels
Terminator Sergeant Dydrin stands in the underbelly of the Stormraven as the assault drop doors open before him, showing him his first physical view of the battle field as the holy machine comes in for deployment. He sees his superior, the mighty Mephiston, awash in a sea of tiny pests. Bellowing his men forwards the jump from the hovering jet, landing heavily in the soft snow. But even as they move to assist their great leader a huge shadow unfurls itself from the ruin walls above them, a ferocious beast, toxic smog billowing from dorsal vents, psychic power crackling from it's grotesque head the Hive Tyrant stands as a physical barrier between them and their mission. A barrier which they will overcome.
No more reserves at this stage so straight to movement. The Stormraven drops into Hover mode so it can dump it's cargo. (I try to keep the grin from my face) It buzzes over to the rear of the Tyranid forces and drops the Dreadnaught to take care of one objective and the Terminators another. The damaged Razorback zooms backwards 6" and the marines disembark onto an objective concealed behind a high wall the objective is (again!) revealed to be a Grav Wave Generator. The assault marines also disembark from the immobilised Razorback and set up to spray the exposed Termagants with bullets. The transport-less marines move away from the objective, and the Trygon, in order to get a bead on it over the ruins.
Most shooting goes onto the Hive Tyrant, but at T8 and a combination of a 2+ armour save and 4+ cover save (from most directions) sees her standing high and dry with not a single wound lost. The Dreadnaught fires at the Zoanthropes but fails to wound them. The assault marines in the upper right fire upon the Trygon, knocking off another wound even through it's FnP. The central assault marines then attempt to fire at the exposed gants, but kill only a single creature.
In combat the same assault squad attempts to charge the gaunts to finish the job, suffering a round of devourer Overwatch and losing a marine and then failing to make the charge with a low charge range. The Dreadnaught charges the Zoanthrope killing one and wounding the other. The Terminators charge mightily at the Hive Tyrant, but it's Twin-Linked, Preferred Enemy Overwatch succeeds in killing off the Terminato Sergeant (and, more importantly, his Thunder Hammer.) The Tyrant issues a challenge, which is denied preventing the Librarian (and his AP2 axe) from attacking. The Tyrant attacks first and succeeds in killing the last Thunder Hammer terminator. For this turn the lightning claws are S5 thanks to FC and so still have a chance of wounding the Tyrant, but only one wound gets through and it is deflected by the dense armoured shell. Mephiston kills all but one of the gants, leaving him stuck in combat still.
Tyranids
The Stormraven pilot can only look on as he drops his passengers deep into the hot zone and they get torn apart by some enormous beast. Regardless his orders now are to continue providing fire support, and he begins pulling the aircraft up to a safe altitude, unaware of the lumbering creature lunging from the ruins behind the gunship.
The Ym'garl stealers jump out and shout boo this turn, heading towards the assault squad who foolishly decided to abandon their transport. The Hive Tyrant once again casts Iron Arm up to T8, but suffers a wound from Perils in the process. The teal Tervigon spawns 9 more gants but runs dry in the process. These head to keep Mephiston locked down. The Trygon, Tyrant and wounded Tervigon are all hit with Endurance.
The teal Tervigon smashes through the wall to get at the flier which can now be hit in combat. The last Hive Guard moves to occupy the Tervigons old gant screen to avoid the wrath of the Dreadnaught. The Trygon moves to attack the assault squad and the central gants round on the last assault squad to show them how it's done.
Shooting is effectively limited to the teal devourer gants who fire at the assault squad and kill two of them.
In assault Mephiston kills some more gants, but with only 5 attacks he's never killing enough. The Ym'garls smash into the teal assault squad and, despite a decent Overwatch roll, their T5 and 4+ saves keeps them safe. They cause 4 rending wounds, which I force my opponent to take first. Of course his last remaining marine passes all 3 of the remaining saves. The teal gants smack into the black marines, killing one but losing two of their own in return. The Trygon smashes into the green assault squad, dodges the overwatch but rolls poorly and kills only three of them. The Tyrant issues another challenge, this time accepted by the Sanquniary Priest (in order to keep his other stuff alive for a time they can actually hurt the Tyrant presumedly) and is promptly squished by S8AP2 attacks. The Dreadnaught kills off the last Zoanthrope and rounds on the gants holding the objective. The green Tervigon attempts to charge the nearby Razorback but falls short. The teal Tervigon claws up at the ascending aircraft, delivering a mighty slam which spirals the machines hull in a tight corcksrew, unable to reorientate the VTOL thrusters quickly enough the gunship plows heavily into the ground and explodes spectacularly.
The wounded Trygon regains both wounds thanks to It Will Not Die.
~Turn 4: Victory Points Blood Angels 0 / Tyranids 10 ~
Blood Angels
Mephiston, Lord of Death, begins to feel the effects of fatigue upon his ancient bones, or is that just the Shadow seeping into his mind? Space Marines do not tire of their duty! But it is just too much, for every foul creature he pierces through of parries away another leaps up, all his power and might is naught against this implacable horde. No! Shaking his head and strenghtening his mind Mephiston fights on.
With few other options the damaged Razorback boosts across the map to try and avoid the encroaching Tervigon. The Dreadnaught shifts through cover, keeping it's front armour towards the Hive Guard.
The only shooting comes from the Dreadnaught but it's shots are foiled as the gants scurry and dash through the cover.
The Ym'garls finish off the last teal Assault Marine and move to assist the gants with their Mephiston problem. The Trygon also finishes squshing his assault squad and moves towards the immobilised Razorback. The teal gants find the last Marine much braver than the rest can fail to wound him, losing two of their number. Mephiston kills another 4 Gants. The Librarian attempts to slay the beast with his Force Weapon but cannot pierce it's psychic field and is crushed beneath it's weight. The Dreadnaught attempts to charge the gants, he rolls a double 1, no problem, he's only 1.1" away. Or at least it wouldn't be a problem if that objective didn't half charge ranges...
The Dreadnaught doesn't make it.
Tyranids
Retreat is the order, and the Razorback pilot can't help but agree, there is no use fighting on here, the xenos are too many and the Marines too few. He guns the light transport across the snow wastes, dodging still-smoking wreckage and piles of fallen masonry, hoping to reach reinforcements, first however there is the matter of the gargantuan monster between him and escape...
The Tyrant fails to cast Iron Arm with an 11, the Terminators may yet stand a chance. The green Tervigon throws Endurance on him instead. The second Terigon puts Endurance on herself to try and get a wound back.
The green Tervigon moves to claim the least valuable objective, but hey, VP is VP. The teal Tervigon moves towards the speeding Razorback, moving flat-out won't save you in this edition! The Trygon heads to finish off the immobilized Razorback and the Hive Guard moves out of cover to hit the side armour of the Dreadnaught. The Ym'garls head towards Mephiston.
The Hive Guard fails to damage the Dreadnaught, but does draw it's attention.
The Hive Tyrant, although back to only T6 still kills two Terminators before they can strike and the last bounces harmlessly from the monsters tough hide. Mephiston slays three of the five genestealers but the remaining two flick open bladed spurs from their bodies and strike mercilessly, knocking him down to one wound with a rending hit. The teal space marine kills another gant and the Trygon forces the Razorback to explode, killing the last one. The Tervigon catches the last Razorback and, with an incredible 6 S10 Ap2 attacks destroys it effortlessly.
~Turn 5: Victory Points Blood Angels 0 / Tyranids 13 ~
Blood Angels
Assault Marine Larcus was dying, a ferocious alien locking claws around his helmet, attempting to wrench it off his head to deliver the final bite, it was all he could do to struggle. Suddenly a violent explosion rocked the area, debris and shrapnel pinging from his ceramite armour. His adversary was knocked sprawling, and before it could recover Larcus pounced, driving a combat knife deep into the damnable creatures skull. It was than that he heard, or rather felt, the deep rumble of a roar, bellowed from some enormous throat. Looking round and upwards, through the smoke of his former transport Larcus spied the Trygon, and the Trygon spied back. Slowly hefting a grenade in his free hand Larcus stood stock still. This is how heroes are made.
Not a lot of movement, the last assault marine heads towards the Trygon. The Dreadnaught spins on the Hive Guard (might have been wiser to go for th gants, but at this stage not really relevant.)
The Dreadnaught kills the Hive Guard with it's meltagun, and the assault marine pings the Trygon in the eye with his pistol, knocking off a wound.
In combat Mephiston finishes off the Ym'garls and, unfortunately as it would have been hilarious, the gants fail to kill him. The Tyrant polishes off the last Terminator and heads towards Mephiston. The assault marine charges at the Trygon without a hint of fear, lobbing a krak grenade straight into the creatures gaping maw. The detonation throwing the Trygon off guard, but not enough to prevent it crushing the Space Marine utterly. (Technically FnP saved the wound from the grenade, but it's much more dramatic this way.)
Tyranids
Mephiston smiles grimly, there are no more gaunts now, the depths of the Tyrannic forces are not unfathomable after all, he is badly wounded but he will triumph. Then the screaming in his mind is amplified ten-fold, staggering, almost falling to his knees the Lord of Death looks around into a face like a grinning skull, all teeth and horn and armour, the leader beast? It controls the Shadow like it controls it's minions. He would need all his might to slay such a monster, raising his blade high he opens his mind to eke out what strenght he can from the Warp which is nigh closed to him.
The Tyrant gets another Iron Arm, this time jumping up to a frankly ludicrous T9. The teal Tervigon casts Endurance on itself and the green one on the Tyrant.
The Tyrant rounds on Mephiston, with T9, Eternal Warrior, FnP and Mephiston's sword only being AP3 I'm pretty confident I can knock a wound off him. The teal Tervigon readies itself to charge the Dreadnaught, this one, I accept is a stupid decision, the Dreadnaught can likely murder the Tervigon no problem with the incredibly dumb Blood Talons rules. But whatever, the games over either way. The other Tervigon moves to secure the more valuable objective at the top of the map.
The Tyrant charges bodily at Mephiston, who attempts to channel the Warp into his sword in order to be able to harm the Tyrant at a reasonable rate. He rolls a double 1 and dies. Kinda anti-climatic but there you are. I guess the Warp gets a VP for Slay the Warlord. The Tervigon charges the Dreadnaught, who predicably starts blending into it as I fail every FnP roll available. Eventually however the machine has missed enough attacks and failed to wound enough times that he is left with no attacks, and the Tervigon still has 1 wound left! Great success! She than smashes the irritating vehicle to pieces.
~Results~
So that's that. The Tyranids tabled the Blood Angels and so automatically won regardless but the final victory points looked like:
Tyranids - 13 (Primary Objectives x3 (4vp, 3vp, 3vp), Secondary Objectives x3 (First Blood, Linebreaker, Slay the Warlord)
Blood Angels - 0
So yeah that was pretty fun, I finally got to Smash a vehicle with a MC and it was awesome, it absolutely wrecks light vehicles and you get a solid chance against more heavily armoured ones as well. I think it might be slightly better than the old S+2D6 armour pen? Certainly for things like Tervigons anyway.
I kinda wish I could've got my Tyrant in with the Dreadnaught just to watch as his Ap3 'lightning claws' do nothing to it.
I'm still forgetting rules, I don't think I have once remembered Fear or HoW on MCs for example. But I am enjoying myself now that Fearless actually doesn't suck and most of the missions are objective based.
Thanks for reading, feel free to comment and what-not. Hopefully next week I shall be able to include photos as well, who knows?
