Post by DukeMantis on Nov 5, 2012 0:32:09 GMT
Hail, innumerable maws of the Hive, i come with sustenance...
Welcome to my second ever 6thEdition 40k batrep, and my second wargame with this army after a long break from the tables!
I employed similar tactics to my first game, which you can find details of here:
thetyranidhive.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Tactics&action=display&thread=41079
I made a few little changes to my list after last game, just to try out 'le Doom. The details are a little sketchy as we didnt take notes during the game, but ive tried my best to make it readable. I was against one of the clubs best players by all accounts, a veteran Templar player.
Enjoy folks, comments questions criticisms etc always welcome!
Now for the fluff
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CLASS/VESSEL : STRIKE CRUISER > DORNS SWORD
LOCATION: SEGMENTUM PACIFICUS > SABBAT WORLDS > CARCARADON CLUSTER
MISSION: EN ROUTE TO REJOIN BATTLE BARGE SIGISMUND'S LIGHT
''Greetings Marshall. Comms Officer Zarn at your service...ahem. We have received a vox from a passing rogue trader vessel. The captain of the Warp Drifter; a refitted sword class frigate, has relayed an encoded message he had received from the planet of Evla IV. The resident PDF commander claims his armoured column lost sight of the Ork horde they had been observing some weeks ago, across the planets barren eastern continent. Commander Tully then states that he discovered the aftermath of a battle, around a dis-used Skyshield pad. Among the droves of dead green skins some indication of the Tyranid menace was discovered. This is most displeasing. More disturbing is that the Tyranids apparently did not halt their advance to harvest the biomass in the vicinity. This irregular behavior indicates they are still on the move and perhaps an isolated swarm... what there objective is we can only guess. I regret that no more information could be gleaned from the PDF transmission. The 406th Cadian are somewhere in this cluster... being the force usually tasked with patrolling these worlds. Unfortunately all contact with their battle cruiser was lost four days ago. The Shadow in the Warp is rapidly shrouding the Segmentum's northern fringe; which no doubt heralds the arrival of a sizeable Hive Fleet. No new orders have been issued to the flight deck as yet...but at current speed we will clear the sector in thirteen hours; well before our astropath is jeapordized. What are your orders Marshall?''
''Inform Chaplain Sirius his meditations must be interrupted, and prepare the Land Raiders. Set a course for Evla IV.''
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TEMPLARS vS NIDS: Thunderhammers At Dawn
BIG GUNS NEVER TIRE, HAMER AND ANVIL DEPLOYMENT
Black Templars
2 Land Raider Crusaders
1 Techmarine, stormshield, full servo harness
1 chaplain, jump pack, storm shield, artificer armour, powerfist
1 emperor's champion, accept any challenge no matter the odds
1 marshall, terminator armour, storm shield, thunder hammer
2x crusader squad of 10 initiates (melta gun, powerfist, 8 bp/ccw), 2 neophytes (ccw/bp)
2x crusader squad of 5 initiates, 1 lascannon, 4 bolters
2x razorback with twin linked lascannons
Hive Fleet Mantis
Hive Tyrant w/ Wings, 2x T-L Devourers, Hive Commander
7 Ymgarl Genestealers
3 Hive Guard
Doom of Malantai w/ Spore
15 Devilgaunts w/ Spore
Tervigon w/ Crushing Claws, Onslaught, Catalyst, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs
25 Hormagants w/ Toxin Sacs + Adrenal Glands
Trygon
Trygon Prime
20 Gargoyles w/ Toxin Sacs + Adrenal Glands
TYRANID TURN 1:
Under cover of darkness the Tyranids seize the initiative and launch their assault. A large pack of Hormagants skitters up the left flank towards the Templar position; darting from the ruins to the safety of the treeline. The Hive guard climb into the upper floors of the ruined building on the right flank, aiming their Impaler cannons at the town to the north. In the broken street below the hulking Tervigon roars in dismay; it’s first birthing of Termagants having ruptured its innards. Eleven newborn beasts crawl from the bloated birthing sacs fully aware; with dripping flesh borer’s ready to fire. Above the advancing swarm the sound of wing-beats rents the air; the monstrous form of the Hive Commander swoops forward. The Hive Tyrant takes refuge in the colossal ruined archway in the center of the battlefield; its cold black eyes gleam with malevolence as it seeks any sign of the prey.
TEMPLARS TURN 1:
As the distant roar of the Xenos heralds the grim business of the coming dawn, the Black Templars prepare for battle. Land raiders hold each flank of the town, with Razorbacks at the center; bottlenecking the approaching foes into a valley filled with debris and tank traps. Each lascannon and assault cannon is primed and ready; hungry for first blood. The Land Raider on the marines left flank, powers up its searchlight and scans the dark field ahead. The disciplined Astartes open up with their lascannons at the first sign of movement; a huge winged shape in the archway ahead. When the smoke clears a pool of green ichor stains the ancient structure… but no foe seems to have been grounded. Two squads of initiates on foot reinforce the center of the Templar line, digging into defensive positions in the ruined chapel and small forest.
TYRANID TURN 2:
The ground shakes beneath the feet of the Astartes as a colossal Trygon Prime bursts from the earth, its serpentine form quivering with streaks of deadly lightning. High above the town mycetic spores rain down from the dim skies, crashing to the earth and revealing yet more Tyranids. The Doom of Malantai; its bulbous head pulsing with eldritch energies disembarks its spore in the center of the Templar line. The bizarre psyker’s murderous aura vaporizes several marines in the small forest in an instant, leaving piles of armour billowing sulphurous wisps of smoke. The Hive Tyrant strikes! Swooping out of the dawn mist with a keening wail, it unleashes a withering volley with its double devourers; a Templar Razorback explodes violently. On the marine right flank a pack of Ymgarl stealers is awakened by the presence of the Hive Mind and charges the Marshall’s Land Raider from their lair in the ruins; shards of shredded metal litter the floor as the stealers rip a chunk out of the hull. Behind the Templar position a huge swarm of gargoyles floods the ruins, outflanking the arcs of fire of the hurricane bolters. As the last shreds of night fade the grim reality is revealed; the noose of Tyrannic creatures encircles the valiant Templars, with the Tervigon and swarms of Hormagants still charging across the open ground toward the town.
TEMPLAR TURN 2:
With a roar of its engines the Marshall’s Land Raider reverses away from the Ymgarl stealers and over the approaching flock of gargoyles, who scatter wildly. The Land Raiders assault cannon blazes away at the Trygon Prime wounding the monstrous creature. The remnants of the marine’s in the forest dive for cover as the deadly aura of the Doom drifts through the decaying trees seeking new life to drain. The Land Raider on the marine right flank powers its engines and wheels before coming to a grinding halt… its assault ramp drops and into the breach strides the chaplain with his entourage of initiates; with Techmarine in tow. The combined firepower of the Templar left flank pours into the Doom of Malantai, a few shots somehow pierce its psychic wards, injuring it and drawing its gaze toward the challengers.
TYRANID TURN 3:
The Trygon Prime hisses in frustration as the gargoyles snaking through its path slow its advance toward the Marshall’s Land Raider. The hellish serpent vents its anger on the nearby razorback instead; the tank jackknifes violently as its side armour explodes from the ensuing bolt of bio electricity. The Ymgarls slink away from the roaring marine guns; running for the opposite flank, to the relative safety of the ruined chapel. Flashes of psychic fire burst from beyond the small forest as the Doom unleashes its devastating psychic blasts at the Chaplain and his comrades; the marines hold the line as one more luckless comrade falls prey to the sorcerous energies.
TEMPLAR TURN 3:
On the threshold of the boarding ramp the Chaplain addresses his initiates- ‘’The Xenos have split our line in two, this we cannot allow! Onward brothers! No Pity! No Remorse! No Fear!’’ As the Templars take up the battlecry the Chaplain charges the Doom of Malantai, along with his initiates and the Techmarine. The Crozius Arcanum glows bloodily amidst the storm of swords; as the Templars batter huge pulpy wounds into the bulbous monster, reducing it to a crippled heap. Their Land Raider, wheels and drives through the ruined back wall of the chapel, seeking fresh quarry for its assault cannons. Its crew behold the battle for the right flank in full swing as their comrades in the Marshall’s Land Raider open up on the advancing Trygon Prime, leaving deep wounds in its bonded exoskeleton. Their attention is drawn back to their immediate vicinity as the ground beneath them rumbles ominously…
TYRANID TURN 4:
A second Trygon bursts from the earth behind the ruined chapel with a deafening roar, and begins stalking the nearby Land Raider. The noose of talons and toxin closes tighter as the swarms of gargoyles and onrushing hormagants are joined by another mycetic spore, this time filled with Devilgaunts . These foul minions of the hive pour a woefully aimed volley of fire into the Chaplains unit who are fresh from butchering the Doom and tactically withdrawing to the ruined chapel. The Techmarine falls under the hail of fire along with one other marine. Furious that his underlings failed so miserably to overcome the power armour of the space marines, the Hive Tyrant glides down from the skies and charges into the building after the Chaplain and his cohorts...
The sounds of the duel between the Hive Tyrant and the Chaplain echo off the ruins for a few minutes, as mace and mandible parry and slash… until a guttural cry shakes the ground and a tremor of uncertainty rocks the resolve of the swarm – the Hive warlord is slain!
TYRANID TURN 4 CONTINUED:
Meanwhile on the marine right flank the Trygon Prime finally reaches the Marshalls Land Raider; upending it and ripping it open like a tin of grox meat before casting it aside.
TEMPLAR TURN 4:
From the twisted ruin of the Land Raider the Black Templar Marshall emerges, facing off against the gargantuan nightmare of the Trygon Prime. The monster hisses and spits at the space marine, its heavy coils crackling menacingly; the Astartes warlord clashes his weapon upon his shield in stern retort as the beast attacks. Wielding his mighty thunder hammer – the Marshall battles the Trygon with economy of effort, dismembering it with precision strokes and avoiding damage with deft use of his shield. Mounting the corpse of his fallen foe he surveys his faltering battle-line grimly...
TEMPLAR TURN 4 CONTINUED:
The Marshalls entourage emerge from the ruined raider to find themselves surrounded by gargoyles; outnumbered and peppered with fleshborer fire the stoic marines hold their ground, sending the winged horrors into full flight... As the dust settles the Emperors Champion is found, the hero lies slain upon a heap of broken gargoyle corpses. The Marshall and his squad then trudge in the direction of the carnage at the other end of their lines as muzzle flashes and whirring chainswords announce the clash between the Chaplain and his squad against the Ymgarl stealers. Behind that ruined chapel the second Land Raider reverses, all guns blazing; trying to ram the newly arrived Trygon - but the alien serpent dodges and coils itself to spring. The sounds of battle fade suddenly in the chapel; a handful of battered looking stealers limp from a shattered doorway to mill around with the Devilgaunts.
TYRANID TURN 5:
The second land raider releases a few more disciplined bursts of fire as it is flipped onto its back by the Trygon behind the chapel; the hive serpent peels the tank open and seeks the crew inside with the tip of a scything talon. The tanks guns abruptly fall silent. The Ymgarls snap and swipe at the termagants milling about them behind the ruin; the smaller Xenos huddle closer tothe larger Tyranids - confused by the sudden absence of the hive minds control. The huge swarm of Hormagants is steadily getting closer to the town, the hulking Tervigon bringing up the rear limps after them dragging its broken spawning sacs over the tank traps. The remnants of the gargoyles flee from the outskirts of the town.
TEMPLARS TURN 5:
The Marshall and his squad arrive at the left side of town and unleash their full fury against the Tyranids. The Marshall takes on and massacres all the Ymgarls, his mighty hammer smiting them into cauterised chunks. His squad makes short bloody work of the Devilgants, with hundreds of shots ricocheting harmlessly of their power armour as they charge into the fray. After the few surviving ‘gaunts flee the Marshall and his loyal initiates enter the ruins of the chapel to see what has become of their comrades. In the main hall they find the mangled corpses of Ymgarl stealers amidst those of their own battle-brothers. They find the bloodied Chaplain upon the steps, propped upright against the broken remains of the hive tyrant, Crozius in hand– but he does not stir. After a moment of solemn vigil the Marshall surveys the battlefield out of the long-ago broken chapel windows; the swarm is coming.
TYRANID TURN 6(shared pic below): A deafening chorus of alien screams echoes across the valley as the sea of Hormagants finally nears the ruined chapel, guided by the will of the Tervigon they home in on a single breach in the wall and rush the final klom with bounding leaps. A small group of Space Marines stands fast on the chapel threshold with weapons at the ready as the monsters charge. All sight of the Marshall and the remains of his army are lost in a sea of chitin and scything talons as the combat begins. The ponderous Tervigon slows its advance, aware that whatever waits ahead has already slain its master; instead it rallies the fleeing gargoyles to its will and commands them to seek any survivors and harvest their biomass.
TEMPLAR TURN 6(shared pic above): The last few marines form square about their Marshall and battle the storm of claws and teeth, crushing Hormagants left and right with hammer and sword. One marine mistimes his parry and is grappled by a gang of gaunts, who drag him bodily into their midst to feed with talons scything; the remaining marines grimly close ranks and hold the chapel breach, determined to sell their lives dearly.
TYRANID TURN 7(shared pic below): The Tervigon watches the battle for the chapel breach with mounting anger, as the 'gaunts are culled with steady efficiency by the Templars. With an earth-shaking roar the Tervigon charges- but the ground gives way at the last moment and its hind leg is lamed by a hidden tank trap. The monsters battle roar becomes a confused shriek as its charge fails. In response to the beleaguered Tervigons cry the Hive Guard abandon their refuge and lope up the left flank towards the ruined chapel, meanwhile the rallied gargoyles soar about the right flank seeking a shot with their fleshborers. The Trygon idly coils itself up atop the ruined land raider and goes to sleep, blissfully ignorant of the Hive Mind’s wishes (aka sits on objective).
TEMPLAR TURN 7(shared pic above): With his last few battle brothers beginning to tire and being blinded by the rising sun the Marshall whispers a prayer to his proud ancestor; he draws upon his deepest reserves of might. With an outraged cry the Templar warlord launches a thunderous volley of hammer strikes, decimating the remaining Hormagants; alien torso’s and limbs explode under his blows until none remain alive. The Marshall stands alone and defiant in the ruined breach.
Calmly the Space Marine leader surveys the battlefield; before him a sea of slaughtered Tyranids carpet the dirt - undeniable proof of his grim labours... but beyond them the remaining Xenos are closing in.
‘’Brothers…it has come at great cost, but the honor of the Emperor is upheld. This world is in dire peril'’
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AFTERMATH: Wow what a marathon battle! Even though the game dragged on for a full seven turns it was a really epic game. I felt very confident by turn two as my deepstrikers seemed to control the pace... but major tip of the cap to the Templar characters who simply bashed half my army in close combat all by themselves! At the end i had three objectives worth three points each, first blood and linebreaker, while my opponent had slay the warlord and on objective worth three points. That made it a Niddy day with a final score of 11 to 4!
Psych Analysis: I got brilliant powers for the Flyrant ( haemorrage, life leech) and Tervigon (iron arm, warp speed) again but as i wasnt using those units in combat much the powers played no part in the game, i will be making getting the tervigon into a combat a priority for my next battle to really see what iron arm can do! Buffing iron arm kept the opponent from bothering to shoot my Tervigon all game which might have been useful if it hadnt epic failed its spawning in turn 1.
MVP: TIE - Doom of Malantai, Templar Characters
My Trygons rocked but for pure bullet magnetry the Doom edges them out, it took a couple of turns to die and didnt kill alot but was a huge bullet magnet, drawing fire from everything else. My hero.
The Chaplain and Marshall were absolutely sick! These two guys put down about 35 gaunts/gants, ymgarls, gargoyles, a hive tyrant, a trygon prime and the doom of malantai between them! Total monsters of hand to hand! Much respect to these guys for giving me a good bashing after an unlucky game for his tanks.
Fail Award: Hive Guard im afraid, were out of range for the first two turns, then managed only one hull point on one of the land raiders all game. Not a terrible performance but pretty much nullified by being out of range all game.
Facepalm Award: Tervigon, once again it was too slow (or i was) to get to combat, it failing its charge in my last turn was the final insult. Big old facepalms for the breeder!
Unlucky Bro Award Goes to...: TIE, His Tanks and my Hormies
His twin Land Raider Crusaders and double Razorbacks collectively did about two or three wounds the entire game on the Trygons and Hive Tyrant, super unlucky in my opinion.
My Hormagaunts took ALL GAME to get to combat due to my unfortunate deployment and how the game developed; when they finally arrived they got massacred by the Marshall super easily! Damn those storm shields.
VICTORY MANTIS
Welcome to my second ever 6thEdition 40k batrep, and my second wargame with this army after a long break from the tables!
I employed similar tactics to my first game, which you can find details of here:
thetyranidhive.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=Tactics&action=display&thread=41079
I made a few little changes to my list after last game, just to try out 'le Doom. The details are a little sketchy as we didnt take notes during the game, but ive tried my best to make it readable. I was against one of the clubs best players by all accounts, a veteran Templar player.
Enjoy folks, comments questions criticisms etc always welcome!
Now for the fluff
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
CLASS/VESSEL : STRIKE CRUISER > DORNS SWORD
LOCATION: SEGMENTUM PACIFICUS > SABBAT WORLDS > CARCARADON CLUSTER
MISSION: EN ROUTE TO REJOIN BATTLE BARGE SIGISMUND'S LIGHT
''Greetings Marshall. Comms Officer Zarn at your service...ahem. We have received a vox from a passing rogue trader vessel. The captain of the Warp Drifter; a refitted sword class frigate, has relayed an encoded message he had received from the planet of Evla IV. The resident PDF commander claims his armoured column lost sight of the Ork horde they had been observing some weeks ago, across the planets barren eastern continent. Commander Tully then states that he discovered the aftermath of a battle, around a dis-used Skyshield pad. Among the droves of dead green skins some indication of the Tyranid menace was discovered. This is most displeasing. More disturbing is that the Tyranids apparently did not halt their advance to harvest the biomass in the vicinity. This irregular behavior indicates they are still on the move and perhaps an isolated swarm... what there objective is we can only guess. I regret that no more information could be gleaned from the PDF transmission. The 406th Cadian are somewhere in this cluster... being the force usually tasked with patrolling these worlds. Unfortunately all contact with their battle cruiser was lost four days ago. The Shadow in the Warp is rapidly shrouding the Segmentum's northern fringe; which no doubt heralds the arrival of a sizeable Hive Fleet. No new orders have been issued to the flight deck as yet...but at current speed we will clear the sector in thirteen hours; well before our astropath is jeapordized. What are your orders Marshall?''
''Inform Chaplain Sirius his meditations must be interrupted, and prepare the Land Raiders. Set a course for Evla IV.''
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TEMPLARS vS NIDS: Thunderhammers At Dawn
BIG GUNS NEVER TIRE, HAMER AND ANVIL DEPLOYMENT
Black Templars
2 Land Raider Crusaders
1 Techmarine, stormshield, full servo harness
1 chaplain, jump pack, storm shield, artificer armour, powerfist
1 emperor's champion, accept any challenge no matter the odds
1 marshall, terminator armour, storm shield, thunder hammer
2x crusader squad of 10 initiates (melta gun, powerfist, 8 bp/ccw), 2 neophytes (ccw/bp)
2x crusader squad of 5 initiates, 1 lascannon, 4 bolters
2x razorback with twin linked lascannons
Hive Fleet Mantis
Hive Tyrant w/ Wings, 2x T-L Devourers, Hive Commander
7 Ymgarl Genestealers
3 Hive Guard
Doom of Malantai w/ Spore
15 Devilgaunts w/ Spore
Tervigon w/ Crushing Claws, Onslaught, Catalyst, Adrenal Glands, Toxin Sacs
25 Hormagants w/ Toxin Sacs + Adrenal Glands
Trygon
Trygon Prime
20 Gargoyles w/ Toxin Sacs + Adrenal Glands
TYRANID TURN 1:
Under cover of darkness the Tyranids seize the initiative and launch their assault. A large pack of Hormagants skitters up the left flank towards the Templar position; darting from the ruins to the safety of the treeline. The Hive guard climb into the upper floors of the ruined building on the right flank, aiming their Impaler cannons at the town to the north. In the broken street below the hulking Tervigon roars in dismay; it’s first birthing of Termagants having ruptured its innards. Eleven newborn beasts crawl from the bloated birthing sacs fully aware; with dripping flesh borer’s ready to fire. Above the advancing swarm the sound of wing-beats rents the air; the monstrous form of the Hive Commander swoops forward. The Hive Tyrant takes refuge in the colossal ruined archway in the center of the battlefield; its cold black eyes gleam with malevolence as it seeks any sign of the prey.
TEMPLARS TURN 1:
As the distant roar of the Xenos heralds the grim business of the coming dawn, the Black Templars prepare for battle. Land raiders hold each flank of the town, with Razorbacks at the center; bottlenecking the approaching foes into a valley filled with debris and tank traps. Each lascannon and assault cannon is primed and ready; hungry for first blood. The Land Raider on the marines left flank, powers up its searchlight and scans the dark field ahead. The disciplined Astartes open up with their lascannons at the first sign of movement; a huge winged shape in the archway ahead. When the smoke clears a pool of green ichor stains the ancient structure… but no foe seems to have been grounded. Two squads of initiates on foot reinforce the center of the Templar line, digging into defensive positions in the ruined chapel and small forest.
TYRANID TURN 2:
The ground shakes beneath the feet of the Astartes as a colossal Trygon Prime bursts from the earth, its serpentine form quivering with streaks of deadly lightning. High above the town mycetic spores rain down from the dim skies, crashing to the earth and revealing yet more Tyranids. The Doom of Malantai; its bulbous head pulsing with eldritch energies disembarks its spore in the center of the Templar line. The bizarre psyker’s murderous aura vaporizes several marines in the small forest in an instant, leaving piles of armour billowing sulphurous wisps of smoke. The Hive Tyrant strikes! Swooping out of the dawn mist with a keening wail, it unleashes a withering volley with its double devourers; a Templar Razorback explodes violently. On the marine right flank a pack of Ymgarl stealers is awakened by the presence of the Hive Mind and charges the Marshall’s Land Raider from their lair in the ruins; shards of shredded metal litter the floor as the stealers rip a chunk out of the hull. Behind the Templar position a huge swarm of gargoyles floods the ruins, outflanking the arcs of fire of the hurricane bolters. As the last shreds of night fade the grim reality is revealed; the noose of Tyrannic creatures encircles the valiant Templars, with the Tervigon and swarms of Hormagants still charging across the open ground toward the town.
TEMPLAR TURN 2:
With a roar of its engines the Marshall’s Land Raider reverses away from the Ymgarl stealers and over the approaching flock of gargoyles, who scatter wildly. The Land Raiders assault cannon blazes away at the Trygon Prime wounding the monstrous creature. The remnants of the marine’s in the forest dive for cover as the deadly aura of the Doom drifts through the decaying trees seeking new life to drain. The Land Raider on the marine right flank powers its engines and wheels before coming to a grinding halt… its assault ramp drops and into the breach strides the chaplain with his entourage of initiates; with Techmarine in tow. The combined firepower of the Templar left flank pours into the Doom of Malantai, a few shots somehow pierce its psychic wards, injuring it and drawing its gaze toward the challengers.
TYRANID TURN 3:
The Trygon Prime hisses in frustration as the gargoyles snaking through its path slow its advance toward the Marshall’s Land Raider. The hellish serpent vents its anger on the nearby razorback instead; the tank jackknifes violently as its side armour explodes from the ensuing bolt of bio electricity. The Ymgarls slink away from the roaring marine guns; running for the opposite flank, to the relative safety of the ruined chapel. Flashes of psychic fire burst from beyond the small forest as the Doom unleashes its devastating psychic blasts at the Chaplain and his comrades; the marines hold the line as one more luckless comrade falls prey to the sorcerous energies.
TEMPLAR TURN 3:
On the threshold of the boarding ramp the Chaplain addresses his initiates- ‘’The Xenos have split our line in two, this we cannot allow! Onward brothers! No Pity! No Remorse! No Fear!’’ As the Templars take up the battlecry the Chaplain charges the Doom of Malantai, along with his initiates and the Techmarine. The Crozius Arcanum glows bloodily amidst the storm of swords; as the Templars batter huge pulpy wounds into the bulbous monster, reducing it to a crippled heap. Their Land Raider, wheels and drives through the ruined back wall of the chapel, seeking fresh quarry for its assault cannons. Its crew behold the battle for the right flank in full swing as their comrades in the Marshall’s Land Raider open up on the advancing Trygon Prime, leaving deep wounds in its bonded exoskeleton. Their attention is drawn back to their immediate vicinity as the ground beneath them rumbles ominously…
TYRANID TURN 4:
A second Trygon bursts from the earth behind the ruined chapel with a deafening roar, and begins stalking the nearby Land Raider. The noose of talons and toxin closes tighter as the swarms of gargoyles and onrushing hormagants are joined by another mycetic spore, this time filled with Devilgaunts . These foul minions of the hive pour a woefully aimed volley of fire into the Chaplains unit who are fresh from butchering the Doom and tactically withdrawing to the ruined chapel. The Techmarine falls under the hail of fire along with one other marine. Furious that his underlings failed so miserably to overcome the power armour of the space marines, the Hive Tyrant glides down from the skies and charges into the building after the Chaplain and his cohorts...
The sounds of the duel between the Hive Tyrant and the Chaplain echo off the ruins for a few minutes, as mace and mandible parry and slash… until a guttural cry shakes the ground and a tremor of uncertainty rocks the resolve of the swarm – the Hive warlord is slain!
TYRANID TURN 4 CONTINUED:
Meanwhile on the marine right flank the Trygon Prime finally reaches the Marshalls Land Raider; upending it and ripping it open like a tin of grox meat before casting it aside.
TEMPLAR TURN 4:
From the twisted ruin of the Land Raider the Black Templar Marshall emerges, facing off against the gargantuan nightmare of the Trygon Prime. The monster hisses and spits at the space marine, its heavy coils crackling menacingly; the Astartes warlord clashes his weapon upon his shield in stern retort as the beast attacks. Wielding his mighty thunder hammer – the Marshall battles the Trygon with economy of effort, dismembering it with precision strokes and avoiding damage with deft use of his shield. Mounting the corpse of his fallen foe he surveys his faltering battle-line grimly...
TEMPLAR TURN 4 CONTINUED:
The Marshalls entourage emerge from the ruined raider to find themselves surrounded by gargoyles; outnumbered and peppered with fleshborer fire the stoic marines hold their ground, sending the winged horrors into full flight... As the dust settles the Emperors Champion is found, the hero lies slain upon a heap of broken gargoyle corpses. The Marshall and his squad then trudge in the direction of the carnage at the other end of their lines as muzzle flashes and whirring chainswords announce the clash between the Chaplain and his squad against the Ymgarl stealers. Behind that ruined chapel the second Land Raider reverses, all guns blazing; trying to ram the newly arrived Trygon - but the alien serpent dodges and coils itself to spring. The sounds of battle fade suddenly in the chapel; a handful of battered looking stealers limp from a shattered doorway to mill around with the Devilgaunts.
TYRANID TURN 5:
The second land raider releases a few more disciplined bursts of fire as it is flipped onto its back by the Trygon behind the chapel; the hive serpent peels the tank open and seeks the crew inside with the tip of a scything talon. The tanks guns abruptly fall silent. The Ymgarls snap and swipe at the termagants milling about them behind the ruin; the smaller Xenos huddle closer tothe larger Tyranids - confused by the sudden absence of the hive minds control. The huge swarm of Hormagants is steadily getting closer to the town, the hulking Tervigon bringing up the rear limps after them dragging its broken spawning sacs over the tank traps. The remnants of the gargoyles flee from the outskirts of the town.
TEMPLARS TURN 5:
The Marshall and his squad arrive at the left side of town and unleash their full fury against the Tyranids. The Marshall takes on and massacres all the Ymgarls, his mighty hammer smiting them into cauterised chunks. His squad makes short bloody work of the Devilgants, with hundreds of shots ricocheting harmlessly of their power armour as they charge into the fray. After the few surviving ‘gaunts flee the Marshall and his loyal initiates enter the ruins of the chapel to see what has become of their comrades. In the main hall they find the mangled corpses of Ymgarl stealers amidst those of their own battle-brothers. They find the bloodied Chaplain upon the steps, propped upright against the broken remains of the hive tyrant, Crozius in hand– but he does not stir. After a moment of solemn vigil the Marshall surveys the battlefield out of the long-ago broken chapel windows; the swarm is coming.
TYRANID TURN 6(shared pic below): A deafening chorus of alien screams echoes across the valley as the sea of Hormagants finally nears the ruined chapel, guided by the will of the Tervigon they home in on a single breach in the wall and rush the final klom with bounding leaps. A small group of Space Marines stands fast on the chapel threshold with weapons at the ready as the monsters charge. All sight of the Marshall and the remains of his army are lost in a sea of chitin and scything talons as the combat begins. The ponderous Tervigon slows its advance, aware that whatever waits ahead has already slain its master; instead it rallies the fleeing gargoyles to its will and commands them to seek any survivors and harvest their biomass.
TEMPLAR TURN 6(shared pic above): The last few marines form square about their Marshall and battle the storm of claws and teeth, crushing Hormagants left and right with hammer and sword. One marine mistimes his parry and is grappled by a gang of gaunts, who drag him bodily into their midst to feed with talons scything; the remaining marines grimly close ranks and hold the chapel breach, determined to sell their lives dearly.
TYRANID TURN 7(shared pic below): The Tervigon watches the battle for the chapel breach with mounting anger, as the 'gaunts are culled with steady efficiency by the Templars. With an earth-shaking roar the Tervigon charges- but the ground gives way at the last moment and its hind leg is lamed by a hidden tank trap. The monsters battle roar becomes a confused shriek as its charge fails. In response to the beleaguered Tervigons cry the Hive Guard abandon their refuge and lope up the left flank towards the ruined chapel, meanwhile the rallied gargoyles soar about the right flank seeking a shot with their fleshborers. The Trygon idly coils itself up atop the ruined land raider and goes to sleep, blissfully ignorant of the Hive Mind’s wishes (aka sits on objective).
TEMPLAR TURN 7(shared pic above): With his last few battle brothers beginning to tire and being blinded by the rising sun the Marshall whispers a prayer to his proud ancestor; he draws upon his deepest reserves of might. With an outraged cry the Templar warlord launches a thunderous volley of hammer strikes, decimating the remaining Hormagants; alien torso’s and limbs explode under his blows until none remain alive. The Marshall stands alone and defiant in the ruined breach.
Calmly the Space Marine leader surveys the battlefield; before him a sea of slaughtered Tyranids carpet the dirt - undeniable proof of his grim labours... but beyond them the remaining Xenos are closing in.
‘’Brothers…it has come at great cost, but the honor of the Emperor is upheld. This world is in dire peril'’
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AFTERMATH: Wow what a marathon battle! Even though the game dragged on for a full seven turns it was a really epic game. I felt very confident by turn two as my deepstrikers seemed to control the pace... but major tip of the cap to the Templar characters who simply bashed half my army in close combat all by themselves! At the end i had three objectives worth three points each, first blood and linebreaker, while my opponent had slay the warlord and on objective worth three points. That made it a Niddy day with a final score of 11 to 4!
Psych Analysis: I got brilliant powers for the Flyrant ( haemorrage, life leech) and Tervigon (iron arm, warp speed) again but as i wasnt using those units in combat much the powers played no part in the game, i will be making getting the tervigon into a combat a priority for my next battle to really see what iron arm can do! Buffing iron arm kept the opponent from bothering to shoot my Tervigon all game which might have been useful if it hadnt epic failed its spawning in turn 1.
MVP: TIE - Doom of Malantai, Templar Characters
My Trygons rocked but for pure bullet magnetry the Doom edges them out, it took a couple of turns to die and didnt kill alot but was a huge bullet magnet, drawing fire from everything else. My hero.
The Chaplain and Marshall were absolutely sick! These two guys put down about 35 gaunts/gants, ymgarls, gargoyles, a hive tyrant, a trygon prime and the doom of malantai between them! Total monsters of hand to hand! Much respect to these guys for giving me a good bashing after an unlucky game for his tanks.
Fail Award: Hive Guard im afraid, were out of range for the first two turns, then managed only one hull point on one of the land raiders all game. Not a terrible performance but pretty much nullified by being out of range all game.
Facepalm Award: Tervigon, once again it was too slow (or i was) to get to combat, it failing its charge in my last turn was the final insult. Big old facepalms for the breeder!
Unlucky Bro Award Goes to...: TIE, His Tanks and my Hormies
His twin Land Raider Crusaders and double Razorbacks collectively did about two or three wounds the entire game on the Trygons and Hive Tyrant, super unlucky in my opinion.
My Hormagaunts took ALL GAME to get to combat due to my unfortunate deployment and how the game developed; when they finally arrived they got massacred by the Marshall super easily! Damn those storm shields.
VICTORY MANTIS
