Post by roystencrow on Dec 18, 2021 2:13:43 GMT
My second game ever: We had the cards and models for the thing where you have 150-200 points and take turns ‘buying’ the terrain with its own abilities. Only one teeny piece of Obscuring for me, but this time I was experimenting with ditching the Hive Guard and an Exocrine and going melee just for fun.
Situation: A force from Hive Fleet Leviathan gain a foothold on a new world. As soon as it is detected, Primaris from the Ultramarines Chapter are immediately dispatched to end the Xenos threat and take back a valuable Imperial planet. From Hive Fleet Kraken, Old One Eye lumbers forth to join the Tyranid ranks, bringing a Spearhead force comprised of a Carnifex Brood, an Exocrine, and a small unit of Termagaunts that are left in reserve as Leviathan Rippers and a Lictor situate themselves deep behind what will inevitably become enemy lines.
Turn 1: The two units of Hormagaunts pause in cover to seek out and acquire Octarius Data. Feeder Tendrils will be inserted into the retrieved servo skull to provide vital strategic information for future expansion in this sector. The unsympathetic cold intellect of the Hive Mind gives it momentary priority over the harvesting of biomass.
Neurothropes glow with power as the Hive Nexus flows across every Leviathan bioform, extending the synaptic link.
The Venom Canon and Exocrine start launching their deadly barrages into the enemy, and the Termagaunts with Devourers charge up the center, firing, their bioweapon bond inflicting unexpectedly intense damage.
The return fire from the Space Marines focuses almost solely on the rushing Carnifexes, the unnatural speed bequeathed by Hive Fleet Kraken causing concern in their Company Commanders. Bolters and heavy weapons bellow, and risky overcharging pays off, the beasts are felled. Old One Eye begins sustaining damage, but manages to keep an inevitable pace forward.
Turn 2: The concentration of fire on the monstrous Carnifex Brood allow the unscathed Hormgaunts to gain even more ground. The Swarmlord advances and as Hive Commander his domineering will causes them to surge with new effort. They scale the cargo containers in an instant and are almost into the Space Marine lines.
The Termgaunts stall their advance and under the protective umbrella of Catalyst and with Hormagaunts and Old One Eye captivating the Ultramarines attention, they open fire. The Warriors move forward, striding over the pipes and getting their Deathspitters into range. The vile weapons, assisted by synaptic links, cause significant damage.
The Swarm gets some feline advice on its next move.
Turn 3: The Zonathropes emerge from the safety of their hiding place, their numbers allowing them to unleash ghastly enhanced blasts of psychic might.
The Termagaunts continue to lay down massive barrages of fire. Old One Eye’s wounds seal as it Rapidly Regenerates and with a ravenous shriek charges into the Primaris. The ancient beast starts ripping them apart with its Monstrous Scything Talons, the Living Battering Ram causing considerable casualties. Even the enhanced physique of the elite Primaris are unable to withstand such unrelenting close quarter killing power. If Old One Eye is to be brought down, weapons fire is the only solution.
The unit of Hormagaunts rush into the Space Marines, engaging several elite members of the company. Their claws scratch vainly against the hardened armour of their foes, but every second allows the rest of the Swarm to advance or unleash even more volleys of fire.
The Ultramarines advance and reserves start to appear to reinforce their ailing line. A critical error though, they are coaxed too far forward, leaving an objective exposed.
The chameleonic skin of a Lictor shimmers. The foul beast emerges near the exposed objective and its Pheromone Trail instantly lures ten Termagaunts to its side. They immediately seek the invaluable Octarius Data for which they have been sent. The Lictor eagerly eyes the nearby Librarian who is grievously wounded and near death. It contemplates a kill so its Feeder Tendrils can burrow into his brain and harvest all manner of priceless secrets. However, this hunger goes unslaked as the entire force is annihilated when the Ultramarines refocus their attention and charge into the force, cutting them down before they can act. The lifeless tendrils of the Lictor slip from the servo skull, the data acquired, the Hive Mind further enlightened. Only one more source of knowledge remains.
More feline tactical advice from Hive Fleet Kitteh
Zoanthropes, one of them already significantly damaged. They are dangerously close to losing the additional psychic might their numbers bestow. Despite a valiant attempt, the Marines fail to pierce the Warp Field that protects them. In response, a barrage of psychic blasts scourge their ranks, and the chainswords that were poised to rend Xenos flesh, sputter and fall silent.
The Tyranid Warriors continue to hurl Deathspitter and Venom Cannon fire into the approaching Space Marine forces. With the Prime acting as Swarm Leader it concentrates their efforts in conjunction with synaptic links and brings their efforts to new and grevious levels. One corner of the field of battle remains unexplored, the Swarmlord levies its piercing gaze on this area and readies to engage.
A small group of three Warriors. Their Scything talons have not tasted blood, but their Deathspitters and Venom Cannon have done much, and their presence has helped stretch the Synaptic Link as they harass the approaching Marine lines with continued fire
Turn 4: The Zonathropes start to give ground, their psychic wrath adequate to cross the extended distance and continue their psychic harrying of the Primaris.
The last of the advance Hormagaunts on the left side of the field are exterminated, just as the other unit pours into close combat. They cause some casualties but again, their bodies prevent the Marines and their leaders from acting against the ranged weapons causing such havoc in their lines.
Taking advantage of this distraction - so casually purchased with Hormagaunt bodies, the Swarmlord and the Neurothrope move into cover while the Warriors remain steadfast on the objectives and continue to rain down hails of bioweapon fire into the Space Marines.
The Exocrine starts to sustain wounds as vengeful Ultramarines concentrate their attacks on it, the loss of their Battle Brothers to its brutal bio-plasmic cannon enraging them.
More advice from the fur gallery.
Turn 5: A potent sense of urgency sweeps through the entire swarm. Victory might be at hand. The Hive Mind directs them to push their advantage. The pauses to harvest information has accentuated its thirst for raw material and this ravenous need now rushes through every bioform under its dominion.
The Zoanthropes intermediately move forward once more and devastate the last of their opponents. The Neurothrope does the same, healing its pierced flesh via the carnage it inflicts as a Spiritual Leech.
The Termagaunts are suddenly filled with a surge of Metabolic Overdrive and rush forth, losing one of their number to the excess physical demands. They swarm the objective, galloping over the torn bodies of the fallen Lictor and Termagaunts.
The Swarmlord leaps from cover and storms across the blood soaked field of battle. The vaunted beast charges into the Space Marines and enters savage personal combat with the Ultramarine Captain. Bone Sabres rain down, cleaving through armour and tearing him asunder.
Hive Fleet Leviathan is victorious.
The Rippers finally emerge and begin to devour the fallen flesh of the Ultramarines and slowly, the capillary towers start to emerge from the ground. They reach up anxiously to the awaiting bioships in orbit, readying to strip the world of everything of value as the Tyranids regroup and ready to move on to the next world.
Situation: A force from Hive Fleet Leviathan gain a foothold on a new world. As soon as it is detected, Primaris from the Ultramarines Chapter are immediately dispatched to end the Xenos threat and take back a valuable Imperial planet. From Hive Fleet Kraken, Old One Eye lumbers forth to join the Tyranid ranks, bringing a Spearhead force comprised of a Carnifex Brood, an Exocrine, and a small unit of Termagaunts that are left in reserve as Leviathan Rippers and a Lictor situate themselves deep behind what will inevitably become enemy lines.
Turn 1: The two units of Hormagaunts pause in cover to seek out and acquire Octarius Data. Feeder Tendrils will be inserted into the retrieved servo skull to provide vital strategic information for future expansion in this sector. The unsympathetic cold intellect of the Hive Mind gives it momentary priority over the harvesting of biomass.
Neurothropes glow with power as the Hive Nexus flows across every Leviathan bioform, extending the synaptic link.
The Venom Canon and Exocrine start launching their deadly barrages into the enemy, and the Termagaunts with Devourers charge up the center, firing, their bioweapon bond inflicting unexpectedly intense damage.
The return fire from the Space Marines focuses almost solely on the rushing Carnifexes, the unnatural speed bequeathed by Hive Fleet Kraken causing concern in their Company Commanders. Bolters and heavy weapons bellow, and risky overcharging pays off, the beasts are felled. Old One Eye begins sustaining damage, but manages to keep an inevitable pace forward.
Turn 2: The concentration of fire on the monstrous Carnifex Brood allow the unscathed Hormgaunts to gain even more ground. The Swarmlord advances and as Hive Commander his domineering will causes them to surge with new effort. They scale the cargo containers in an instant and are almost into the Space Marine lines.
The Termgaunts stall their advance and under the protective umbrella of Catalyst and with Hormagaunts and Old One Eye captivating the Ultramarines attention, they open fire. The Warriors move forward, striding over the pipes and getting their Deathspitters into range. The vile weapons, assisted by synaptic links, cause significant damage.
The Swarm gets some feline advice on its next move.
Turn 3: The Zonathropes emerge from the safety of their hiding place, their numbers allowing them to unleash ghastly enhanced blasts of psychic might.
The Termagaunts continue to lay down massive barrages of fire. Old One Eye’s wounds seal as it Rapidly Regenerates and with a ravenous shriek charges into the Primaris. The ancient beast starts ripping them apart with its Monstrous Scything Talons, the Living Battering Ram causing considerable casualties. Even the enhanced physique of the elite Primaris are unable to withstand such unrelenting close quarter killing power. If Old One Eye is to be brought down, weapons fire is the only solution.
The unit of Hormagaunts rush into the Space Marines, engaging several elite members of the company. Their claws scratch vainly against the hardened armour of their foes, but every second allows the rest of the Swarm to advance or unleash even more volleys of fire.
The Ultramarines advance and reserves start to appear to reinforce their ailing line. A critical error though, they are coaxed too far forward, leaving an objective exposed.
The chameleonic skin of a Lictor shimmers. The foul beast emerges near the exposed objective and its Pheromone Trail instantly lures ten Termagaunts to its side. They immediately seek the invaluable Octarius Data for which they have been sent. The Lictor eagerly eyes the nearby Librarian who is grievously wounded and near death. It contemplates a kill so its Feeder Tendrils can burrow into his brain and harvest all manner of priceless secrets. However, this hunger goes unslaked as the entire force is annihilated when the Ultramarines refocus their attention and charge into the force, cutting them down before they can act. The lifeless tendrils of the Lictor slip from the servo skull, the data acquired, the Hive Mind further enlightened. Only one more source of knowledge remains.
More feline tactical advice from Hive Fleet Kitteh
Zoanthropes, one of them already significantly damaged. They are dangerously close to losing the additional psychic might their numbers bestow. Despite a valiant attempt, the Marines fail to pierce the Warp Field that protects them. In response, a barrage of psychic blasts scourge their ranks, and the chainswords that were poised to rend Xenos flesh, sputter and fall silent.
The Tyranid Warriors continue to hurl Deathspitter and Venom Cannon fire into the approaching Space Marine forces. With the Prime acting as Swarm Leader it concentrates their efforts in conjunction with synaptic links and brings their efforts to new and grevious levels. One corner of the field of battle remains unexplored, the Swarmlord levies its piercing gaze on this area and readies to engage.
A small group of three Warriors. Their Scything talons have not tasted blood, but their Deathspitters and Venom Cannon have done much, and their presence has helped stretch the Synaptic Link as they harass the approaching Marine lines with continued fire
Turn 4: The Zonathropes start to give ground, their psychic wrath adequate to cross the extended distance and continue their psychic harrying of the Primaris.
The last of the advance Hormagaunts on the left side of the field are exterminated, just as the other unit pours into close combat. They cause some casualties but again, their bodies prevent the Marines and their leaders from acting against the ranged weapons causing such havoc in their lines.
Taking advantage of this distraction - so casually purchased with Hormagaunt bodies, the Swarmlord and the Neurothrope move into cover while the Warriors remain steadfast on the objectives and continue to rain down hails of bioweapon fire into the Space Marines.
The Exocrine starts to sustain wounds as vengeful Ultramarines concentrate their attacks on it, the loss of their Battle Brothers to its brutal bio-plasmic cannon enraging them.
More advice from the fur gallery.
Turn 5: A potent sense of urgency sweeps through the entire swarm. Victory might be at hand. The Hive Mind directs them to push their advantage. The pauses to harvest information has accentuated its thirst for raw material and this ravenous need now rushes through every bioform under its dominion.
The Zoanthropes intermediately move forward once more and devastate the last of their opponents. The Neurothrope does the same, healing its pierced flesh via the carnage it inflicts as a Spiritual Leech.
The Termagaunts are suddenly filled with a surge of Metabolic Overdrive and rush forth, losing one of their number to the excess physical demands. They swarm the objective, galloping over the torn bodies of the fallen Lictor and Termagaunts.
The Swarmlord leaps from cover and storms across the blood soaked field of battle. The vaunted beast charges into the Space Marines and enters savage personal combat with the Ultramarine Captain. Bone Sabres rain down, cleaving through armour and tearing him asunder.
Hive Fleet Leviathan is victorious.
The Rippers finally emerge and begin to devour the fallen flesh of the Ultramarines and slowly, the capillary towers start to emerge from the ground. They reach up anxiously to the awaiting bioships in orbit, readying to strip the world of everything of value as the Tyranids regroup and ready to move on to the next world.
