Wargames Gallery: Scouts in Chaos Terrain

Deep in the hostile terrain of a chaos-held Moon, scouts from the Blood Ravens space marines chapter hold off an assault of heretics with some well placed sniping bolstered by a missile launcher.

6th on the way and Burning Scenery

The old 5th edition rulebook is now no longer available through Games Workshop online retail.  This can only mean that the 6th edition will be on its way very soon.  Coupled with the rules in White Dwarf about the flyers, new chaos marines, Dark Angels on the spine of White Dwarf (etc.): there's a lot of change in the air at the moment.  

The snippet of information that I've been liking most is the possibility of flamer weapons setting alight scenery pieces.  Although there have been some arbitrary rules about things like this for some time (cf. the Battle Missions book), having this canonised in rule form for all to have access to is good.  I'm hoping the flamer will become a tactic in its own right: multiple units of chaos marines that really are making the galaxy burn one building at a time!  Consider this: units of chosen advancing behind a screen of flames until they're ready to unleash some hidden power weapons... well: I can dream anyway.

Dear Alpharius (vol.II)

Dear Alpharius,

In my earlier letter to you, I talked of the dichotomy of your schemes: of Corax, of subversion of whole worlds to Horus and more.

Now it would seem that this is being played out more fully: you are moving against thy self; you have a serpent within as well as without.  And perhaps other serpents yet hidden beneath.  Wheels within wheels to which you nor I know the full details of.  Hydra dominatus hydra: the centre conflicting with the core.  The Scars have been set moving.

That said, I seek to establish the connection between your good self and your other good self.  Do you know of each others minds?  Does the soul connection also connect thy minds, or are we divided against the whole?  Divided loyalties; secrets and lies.

Being the latter, I trust that the triple paradox found within the serpent within can be extrapolated.  For the first, is it that we must support the enemy to result in the final victory?  For the second, that we must simultaneously aim for the opposite?  Just in case?  In which case the third justifies the divide against the self?  Of us all?  Or perhaps there yet exists a "third way" we need to establish?  And divided is the sole way forward and onward.  Or truly we divide.

Your Loyal Servant,

Alpharius.

Battle Report: Crimson Fists vs. Black Templars

Crimson Fists vs. Black Templars (a Wasp Campaign report via Chuck Thunder)

Mission: In the thick of it (primary targets), Humiliation (secondary targets)

Deployment: Pitched Battle

Crimson Fists list 1226pt:

Pedro Kantor, 175pt

Tactical squad (10 man), flamer, lascannon, power fist  205pt

Tactical squad (10 man), flamer, lascannon, power fist  205pt

Sternguard veterans (5 man), power fist, 3xcombi-plasma, 2xcombi-melta 175pt +Infiltrate +BS1

Razorback, twin-linked lascannon, dozer blade 85pt

Devestator squad (6 man), 2xplasma cannon, 2xmissile launcher 186pt

Drop pod, deathwind missile launcher 55pt
Ironclad Dreadnaught, close combat weapon, seismic hammer, meltagun, heavy flamer 145pt

Black Templar list 1276pt:

Emperors Champion, Vows: Accept any challenge, no matter the odds 140pt

Marshal, power weapon, storm bolter,iron halo, artificer armour, melta bomb, frag grenade 151pt

Sword Brethren Terminator squad (5 man), power fists, storm bolters, 2x cyclone missile launchers, tank hunters 265pt

Sword Brethren squad (5 man), pair of lightning claws, power weapon, furious charge, frag and krak grenades 150pt

Rhino, smoke launcher 53pt

Crusader squad (5 initiates), lascannon, plasma gun 101pt

Crusader squad (5 initiates), lascannon, plasma gun 101pt

Predator Anihilator, power of the machine spirit 175pt

Land speeder Typhoon 70pt

Land speeder Typhoon 70pt

With three primary targets to take down the Crimson fists chose to immobilise the Black Templar, knowing of their might in close combat. They targetted the rhino and both land speeders. The Black Templar targetted the razorback, sternguard veterans and the chapter master Kantor, a plan that backfired when the Crimson Fists decided to bring the veterans in from reserve in their transport. The Crimson Fists won the initiative and chose to deploy first, setting up a firing line largely protected by cover. The Black Templar also made use of cover where possible, hiding the fast vehicles and rhino behind buildings, and the initiates using their predator for cover.

Turn 1:

The Crimson Fists drop pod descended deep into the heart of Black Templar territory, landing between a rhino and land speeder and releasing the ironclad dreadnaught inside, which immediately unleashed its armour piercing melta gun, dropping a land speeder (1st primary objective).  Concerned with the grunt inside the Black Templar rhino, the Fists bombarded it with lascannon, plasma and krak missiles, but the transport made it through unscathed.  The rhino and remaining land speeder moved clear of the mighty deadnaught, allowing the tank-hunting terminators bring it to its knees with krak missiles and a barrage of storm bolter fire.  With no other vehicle to shoot at, the Black Templar aimed their heavy arsenal of lascannons at the tactical squad led by Kantor, but the Emperor was favouring Kantor and his men, and the casulties were minimal.

Turn 2:

Still adament on stopping the Templar's charge, all heavy fire was aimed at their rhino, which withstood more than imaginable, before finally succumbing to multiple plasma cannon blasts (2nd primary objective).  Black Templar lascannon fire zipped across the battlefield in the direction of Kantor, but they must have angered the Machine God, as they yield little damage.

Turn 3:

The Crimson Fists sensed the opportunity left by the misfiring Templar, and called in their legendary sterngurd veterans from reserve.  They attempted to outflank their opponents, but did so from the wrong side of the battlefield, leaving them short of firing range.  Kantor, seeing this misjudgment calls in an orbital bombardment, taking out 2 terminators.  His tactical squad and the devastators drop 2 more.  Stunned by the fall of their battle brothers, the Black Templar sword brethren forget to advance.  Their multitude of lascannon fire is again deflected, this time by the approaching razorback, before it is shaken by a krak missile.  A squad of initiates reduce Kantor's tactical squad to 2 men.

Turns 4 and 5:

Confident with the swing in momentum, Kantor moves to higher ground to re-assess the battle.  A combination of plasma and krak destroy the Black Templar predator, and immobilise their remaining land speeder, but can't manage to destroy it.  The Crimson Fists razorback withstands another barrage, protecting the sternguard within, who never reach the frontline to disembark.  The Templar initiates and sword brethren charge forward for a final hurrah, but don't manage to reach any primary objectives.

Final Result: Crimson Fists Victory

Crimson Fists: 6pts 
Black Templar: 3pts

Price Increases

Looks like GW are increasing their prices if the post from BoLS is to be believed.  Whilst an annual increase is not an issue for me personally, the steep rise of some of the prices is.  In particular, the percentage increases are above what might have been expected given the general state of the global economy coupled with "disposable" income. 

So, I'm saving up for the new chaos codex!  I feel the pain of the horde army players and painters out there.  Perhaps small elite forces are the way forward for me now.

Battle Report: Blood Ravens vs. Chaos space marines

Mission: Primary targets, Humiliation

Deployment: Spearhead

Blood Ravens (space marine) list 1150pt:

Librarian, Plasma pistol, Null zone, Avenger 115pt

Tactical squad (10 man), Veteran: Infiltrate, meltagun, multi-melta, combi-melta 185pt

Scouts squad (5 man), Camo cloaks, missile launcher, Sniper rifles 100pt

Sternguard veterans (5 man), Power fist, combi-plasma, upgrade: +1BS 175pt

Rhino, H/K missile 45pt

Assault terminators (5 man), Thunder hammer and storm shields, Bastion upgrade: Fleet 200pt

Predator, autocannon, lascannon sponsons, H/K missile 130pt

Mercenaries:

Grey knights Purifier squad (5 man), Psycannon, Nemesis force halberds x 3, Master-crafted Nemesis Daemon hammer 146pt.

Grey knights rhino, dozer blade 45pt

Chaos space marine list 1250pt:

Daemon Prince, Mark of Nurgle, Wings, Doombolt (160 points)

Daemon Prince, Wings (130 points)

5 plague marines, 1 flamer, 1 melta, 1 plague champion with powerfist (170 points)

5 plague marines, 1 flamer, 1 melta, 1 plague champion with powerfist (170 points)

1 Rhino with Havoc Launcher (50 points)

1 Rhino with Havoc Launcher (50 points)

1 Rhino with Havoc Launcher (50 points)

1 obliterator (75 points)

1 obliterator (75 points)

Chaos Vindicator, Daemonic Possession (145 points)

Mercenaries:

9 Genestealers, 1 broodlord (172)

Preamble:

With the forces of chaos rapidly gaining ground on Wasp’s moon and the weakening of the Black Templar presence due to their unwelcome inquiry into Blood Raven loyalty, it was time for the Blood Ravens to move against the heretics.

The mission was to strike quick and true against primary targets so as to weaken the enemy for future major engagements. Also, striking at the revered heroes of the enemy to humiliate and weaken their resolve is always a good thing!

Being spread thin by their large territory control the Blood ravens called upon the aid of the Ordo Malleus. Fortunately the Grey knights obliged by sending a detachment of Purifiers to help control the Chaos presence.

The Heretics had plans of their own, unleashing a group of genestealers from their bonds to harvest Loyalist geneseed.

Both armies with a wealth of resources behind them had several Command bastion bonuses and Initiative bonuses from their power plants. The Blood Ravens won initiative and managed to avoid having it seized after deploying first. Blood Ravens deployed in a very forward wedge, the infiltrating tactical squad and scout squad taking up dug in positions on their flanks. The forces of chaos responded with very forward positions also hoping to get the jump on the loyalists. The Genestealers were unleashed behind the Blood Ravens lines, looking to catch them by surprise and keep them from lashing out at their chaos captors.

Turn 1:

“With Me brothers, Advance!” Shout the Blood Ravens assault terminators as they charge forward toward the foe. Unleashing a volley from the Predators guns an obliterator is vaporized (1 secondary target). The dug in scouts and tactical marines opened up their guns on the horrifying demon princes taking a wound off each. Librarian Zaphel sensing a disturbance in the warp ordered his rhinos’ driver to move to the back of the Blood Ravens lines at full speed. He and the Sternguard veterans accompanying him disembark to see a disturbing sight, Genestealers! Unleashing the power of the warp the Librarian burned 3 with his Avenger ability. All but a wounded Broodlord remained after the Sternguard opened up on them with Hellfire rounds. The Grey knights advanced toward their quarry lashing out with Psycannon and storm bolter but failed to remove another wound from the closest demon prince.

In reprisal, the Heretics opened up with Vindictor blast and plasma from a disembarking plague marine squad to stop the advancing Terminators killing 2. The Demon princes advanced but failed to make close combat, The Grey knights rhino was wrecked by a well placed lascannon shot from the obliterator atop a whirl of warp energy, The purifiers were quick to disembark taking cover behind the wreck of their transport. The Brood lord charged the Librarian and his veterans seeking geneseed, and he tasted a little of Librarian Zaphel but was cut down soon after. Whilst the havoc launchers from all 3 chaos rhinos killed 4 of the dug in tactical squad, but they held their ground.  

Turn 2:

Their job done, Librarian Zaphel and his Sternguard re-embark their Rhino and move back toward the fray popping smoke launchers for cover. The Assault Terminators perform a daring multi-charge into the Vindicator and the disembarked Plague marine squad. Destroying the Vindictor (1 primary Target down) and killing a Plague marine. The tactical marines concentrated fire on the too close for comfort demon prince and removed yet another wound. Meanwhile, the Predator focused all its firepower on the other demon prince reducing it to 1 wound and the scouts finished the wounded demon off (2 primary targets down). Finally the Grey knights found their quarry, they advanced on the second wounded demon prince and readily put it down (3^rd and last primary target) before it had a chance to react, then moved toward their next foe.

Battered and bruised the remaining chaos forces continued their advance. Hammering the dug in Tactical squad yet again with havoc launcher missiles and a plasma cannon round from the “floating” obliterator.  They were forced to break and began their retreat toward the game board edge, the second plague marine squad disembarked their rhino next to the purifiers and opened fire slaying two. In the ensuing melee 2 more plague marines were reduced to pulp and pus by the Terminators thunder hammers.

Turn 3:

Forced to continue their fall back due to the proximity of the enemy, the tactical marine squad retreated from the board (1 Primary target to chaos). The Predator lined the floating obliterator up and removed it from existence (2 secondary targets down). With a volley of stormbolter fire and following assault the remaining Purifiers wiped out the nearby plague marines (3^rd and last secondary target down). The Assault terminators slew the last plague marine and moved on. Disembarking their rhino once again, the Sternguard and Librarian opened up with plasma on a nearby chaos rhino removing its weapons and immobilizing it. Meanwhile, with a missile the scouts stunned a second rhino.

With only one rhino to move, chaos withdrew. A massacre victory was awarded to the Blood Ravens given the state of the battlefield.  Chaos did kill two of their secondary objectives (but we cannot recall what they were…)