Monday, October 24, 2011

Conclave II 2011 - Imperium

Conclave has been and gone and it was a blast. As I intended I will now be providing a full report of the tournament. As a reminder, the list I was bringing for this 2000pt tournament can be found here.

So I was up bright and too-early Saturday morning and with everything packed away I grabbed a quick breakfast and was on my way. I met one of the lads from the club along the way and when we arrived there were already a lot of players setting up their armies on trays to prepare. So as such I got a tray and set my own up. Draws weren't too long after this and for round one I got paired up against an old nemesis Alex Wills and his Orks. My Purifiers were smiling this morning.


Quote Ork Warboss

Ork Warboss


10x Nobs

Painboy, Waagh Banner in Transport 1


20x Boyz
Power Claw

20x Boyz
Power Claw

20x Boyz
Power Claw

20x Boyz
Power Claw

20x Grots
3x Runtherders


2x Deffkoptas
Rockit-Launchas

3x Warbuggies
3x Warbuggies


Looted Wagon
Looted Wagon
Looted Wagon



Transport 1: Trukk

There was wargear on the Warboss' obviously but I never got to find out what it was. Similarly other unit then the Boyz may have had more items too.

So the first scenario was Annihilaton Pitched Battle. Alex won the roll off and deployed spread across the board, with a heavy Boyz presense on the western side with the other slots more prevelant in the east. I took advantage of that and deployed heavily to the east so I could maximise my shooting before getting in combat with awl da boyz. I placed my Servo Skulls to force his Deffkoptas out in the open instead of allowing them to Scout down my flank and so they went Flat-Out toward my lines.

Thank to my good friend Coteaz I stole the initiative.




Turn 1

Not much movement; I moved a Chimera to flame the Deffkoptas (get something through the cover save at least) and redeployed the Razorback that hid behind it. The west Rhino popped smoke.

Anyway the army opened up on the Orks with great efficiency. The Dreads each accounted for a Looted Wagon, two being wrecked while one blew up killing 10 Grots and causing the rest to run off the board. The Chimera's Flamer took out a Deffkopta and the Meltaguns from the back of it took out the other. The Heavy Bolters then combined until the Trukk was taken out. The Vindicare finished up by unsuccessfully sniping the Waagh Banner from the now disembarked Nobs. I was now up 5-0 after just one turn.



All the Orks did in their turn was run at me.




Turn 2

A redeployed a Razorback and a Dread for firing lanes. Both units of Purifiers then disembarked and moved toward the Nob unit.

Shooting wasn't as eeffective this turn as it took almost the entire army just to take out a unit of Warbuggies while the other unit's Nob took a wound.

The Purifiers both charged in. The OXI threw her Grenades disorienting the Orks and causing one Warboss and 4 Nobs to strike out against their own. The OXI cast Hammerhand however Coteaz failed. The Purifiers then started hacking down Nobs and Warboss'. The OXI's unit managed to activate Force Weapons however the Knight of the Flame from Coteaz' unit failed trying and died to Perils. 3 Purifiers from Coteaz unit were killed in the return attacks, though not before 4 Nobs and both Warboss' were taken out. The remaining Nobs and their Painboy fled but were swept, Coteaz' unit consolidating back toward the Chimera and the OXI's unit moving behind cover.



The Boyz units kept moving east and running, bar two as one shot at Coteaz' unit killing one, and the other charged Coteaz' unit along with the remainging Warbuggies.

Cleansing Flame wiped ~12 of the Boyz while 6 more were killed by Purifier attacks after Coteaz' Hammerhand. All the Purifiers were wiped out however, but Coteaz survived and struck out, killing a Warbuggy. The Warbuggies fled the combat but got away as the Boyz held.




Turn 3-4

The OXI led her unit into the terrain to assault the Boyz. The Chimera near the action moved back full pace and popped smoke. Everything else just redeployed and then opened fire on the middle Boyz unit, killing 14 in total. In the assault 3 Purifiers were killed however the Boyz were wiped out.

In the other assault Coteaz fell and the Boyz consolidated toward a Razorback.



The Boyz that killed Coteaz surrounded the Razorback nearby. The rest of the Boyz moved toward the OXI's unit. The Warbuggies failed to rally and fled the table.

Alex declared the Waagh and the Boyz could now easily assault the Purifiers. In the ensuing fight all the Purifiers were wiped out as were all the Boyz (both units) leaving the OXI as the sole survivor of that combat. The other unit of Boyz blew up the Razorback exposing the Strikes inside.

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y11...urn_3_Orks.jpg

With only two Boyz left in the entire army my army just shot them dead in turn 4 and won the game with a clear victory.


Conclusions

Well no illusions, Orks weren't ever going to do well against Purifiers. Taking out his AT after getting the initiative was important and meant that Claws were needed for AT duty. Of course with two units of Purifiers running around his army those Claws were more than a little busy.

That victory got me a 19-1 (15VPs short of 20-0) and shot me up the table 2 to play Kieran Waters' Space Wolves. Game 2 was Capture and Control Dawn of War. I had played Kieran once before at the summer Conclave with my Eldar in the same sort of mission and got a draw so I was confident for this one. His list had changed a lot since then however.


Quote Wolf Lord
Artificer Armour, Storm Shield, Thunderwolf, Fenrisian Wolf, Frost Weapon

Wolf Priest
Power Armour


Venerable Dreadnought
Assault Cannon, Heavy Flamer in Transport 1

5x Wolf Guard
5x Power Armour, 3x Wolf Claws, Power Fist, Mark of the Wulfen in Transport 2


10x Grey Hunters
2x Flamers, Wolf Standard, Power Fist in Transport 3

10x Grey Hunters
2x Meltaguns, Wolf Standard, Power Fist in Transport 4


3x Thunderwolf Cavalry
2x Storm Shields, 2x Power Fists

Land Speeder
Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer

Land Speeder
Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer


Vindicator


Transport 1: Drop Pod
Transport 2: Land Raider Redeemer
Transport 3: Rhino
Transport 4: Drop Pod

I was relieved to see no Long Fangs there but the unit of Thunderwolf Cavalry could be scary. I won the roll off and went with it. I deployed some Strikes in their Razorback in the ruins to the east where my objective while he did the same on the opposite side with some Grey Hunters. The Wolf Priest gave the Wolf Guard Preferred Enemy (Infantry) while the Joks gave my big unit extra armour save, and the small unit extra range. Kieran failed to seize.




Turn 1

I cast Warp Quake with the Strikes and then rolled the rest of the army on, failing to spot the Rhino with my Dread in the east.

Kieran's army rolled on with his Dread dropping midfield out of Warp Quake range. His Grey Hunters advanced while the rest of the army positioned.

The Dread spotted the Vindicare unfortunately and without cover he died.




Turn 2

Seeing as he had focused his army in the east, I put up the three Warp Quakes and then started heading east.

A Dread blew up the Rhino, pinning the Grey Hunters, and for the lack of anything better to do the Purifiers in the Rhino shot at them and killed one. The western most forces wrecked the Drop Pod while the more central forces destroyed the Ven Dread's Assault Cannon and Stunned him. The last Dread in my army shot at the Land Raider then, destroying the Assault Cannon.



Warp Quake finally paid off as the other Drop Pod came in and scattered within range, sendig it right back up into reserve. The Land Raider, Land Speeders and Thunderwolf Cavalry all rolled forward. The Land Speeders both shot at the Dread in the corner but missed.




Turn 3

Turn 3 is usually a good turn for me as some of you might have noticed throughout my reports, and this was no different. I put up two Warp Quakes (failing the eastern-most one) and kept rolling the western forces eastward. I moved a Chimera with the longer ranged Henchmen 6" forward to be within 12" of the Redeemer and let rip.

The Meltaguns from the back of the Chimera managed to blow up the Redeemer while the Chimera itself blew up a Land Speeder. A Heavy Bolters blew up the other Land Speeder and everything else in range shot at the Wolves, killing one and wounding the Lord. The rest shot at the now disembarked Wolf Guard or ran.



Still all that did was piss the Space Wolves off, and so they ran at me. The Thunderwolf Cavalry pelted at my objective and made it, assaulting the Razorback there. The Ven Dread also Shook my Chimera with its Heavy Flamer before charging it. The Wolf Guard tried to get in there also but rolled bad terrain rolls. The Vindicator also moved out to get shots.

Note the Drop Pod didn't come down this turn.

The Vindicator was the only shooting, shooting at the Chimera but scattering and thus only Stunning it. In the assault the Ven Dread penetrated the Chimera's hull twice but luck was on my side and it only rip off both weapons. Similarly, the Wolves only managed to Stun my Razorback.




Turn 4

I continue my trek eastward (after once again putting up Warp Quakes) with both Henchmen units getting out. The Razorback put up a successful Fortitude before the Strikes got out the back and moved toward the cavalry. The OXI's Purifiers followed suit. Both vehicles then moved out of the way, with the Rhino popping smoke so as to make sure it survived for the next turn's dash across the table.

The small unit of Henchmen had some successful shooting, taking down 2 Wolf Guard with a Dread taking down one more. The other Henchmen unit combined with another Dread also managed to wreck the Ven Dread.

Meanwhile the Purifiers and Strikes assaulted the cavalry, killing one, the Lord, and the wolf, losing 2 Strikes in the process. The last man stood.



The Grey Hunters began the retreat to the objective as disaster strikes; the Drop Pod comes down hoping to land on the Space Wolf objective instead of risking Warp Quake but scatters off the board allowing me to promptly place it in the North-West corner of the board where the unit will play no part in the game. The Vindicator continues to move around to fire, and the Wolf Guard shoot and assault the Henchmen.

The Vindicator is once again the only true shooting and it takes out both the large Henchmen squad and destroys the Multi-Laser of their Chimera. The Wolf Guard easily wipe out the Henchmen in combat and consolidate into the Redeemer's wreck, however the lone cavalry man gets cut down.




Turn 5-6

I don't bother with Warp Quakes anymore obviously and begin crossing the board to contest. The Purifiers and OXI enter their Rhino once again and trundle over the wreck before them, as does the western Chimera, while the other Chimera tank shocks through the Wolf Guard and Redeemer wreck. The remainder of the army moves to shoot...

...and shoot they do wiping out the Vindicator, the Wolf Priest, and the Wolf Guard.



All the Space Wolves could do is move both units of Grey Hunters toward their objective and hope the game ended, however it went on to turn 6.



Turn 6 ended simply as the Rhino tank shocked the Grey Hunters on the objective and they fled the table, so we called it there, as neither of us though any more victory points would be had out of it.


Conclusions

That was a tougher game alright, but it was obvious that luck was on my side, considering Kieran's awful damage rolls and the two mishaps. The Thunderwolf Cavalry almost cost me, as the plan was to roll out in turn 4, but they had to be dealt with in turn 4 unfortunately.

Well cest 'le vie and all that jazz. That victory was another 19-1 which put me up to table 1 for the final game against an awesome White Scars army. The army was commanded by Saoirse Bryne and was beautifully painted in the White Scars colours with the iconography to be had. The list wasn't optimised but had potential.


Quote Chapter Master
Command Squad in Transport 1

Captain
Relic Blade, Bike


Venerable Dreadnought

5x Assault Terminators

5x Lightning Claws in Transport 2


5x Tactical Marines
Power Fist in Transport 3

5x Bikes
Meltagun, Attack Bike with Multi-Melta

6x Bikes
Meltagun, Attack Bike with Multi-Melta


Transport 1: Razorback with Twin-Linked Lascannon
Transport 2: Land Raider Redeemer
Transport 3: Razorback with Twin-Linked Lascannon

The mission was Seize Ground (4) Spearhead. Saoirse played a good gambit here, allowing the objectives to be set up in corners, and then after winning the roll-off for deployment picked the corners for deployment that had no objectives in them, thereby forcing me to split up my forces and allowing his force to fully utilise its superior mobility.

Note I rolled extra range for both Henchmen units. I also stole the initiative once again thanks to Coteaz.




Turn 1

I moved out the OXIs unit and a unit of Strikes toward the objective while I spread out my other vehicles. The Vindicare penetrated the Land Raider but only managed to blow off the Assault Cannon. One Dread managed to Immobolise and Stun the Command Razorback while a combination of other shooting wiped out three bikes.



All of the bikes moved toward the Vindicare, the smaller unit turbo-boosting around the back of the ruins. The Ven Dread also ran in that direction. The Redeemer swung out eastward toward the objectives while the Razorback repositioned.

The Razorback proved effective as it blew up a Dread with a single Lascannon shot. The bikes also forced the Vindicare to ground (needlessly as it would turn out), taking a wound from him.




Turn 2

Coteaz led a small force westward to combat the bikes while the OXI continued north. All shooting managed this turn was to Immobolise the second Razorback and once again Stun the Command Razorback.

The smaller Bike unit swung around the back of the ruins and killed the Vindicare. The larger unit came east and wrecked Coteaz' Rhino. The Redeemer continued east and the Razorback once again proved its worth, wrecking another Dread.




Turn 3

The eastern Chimera tried rolling over the crater but blew a track and got stuck. The Henchmen thus were forced to bail out in order to get to the Redeemer. The Strikes in the south made way to the center objective while the Chimera with them swung around the wreck of Coteaz' Rhino. Meanwhile, Coteaz himself led a charge into the Bike unit with the Captain.

Shooting was a bit better this turn, with a Razorback getting blown up. Coteaz' charge was rather successful, wiping out the Bikes and wounding the Captain, though 3 Purifiers died along the way.



The Chapter Master was now eager to call down the Orbital Bombardment so his unit disembarked so he could get the aid he seeked next turn. The Tac Squad moved toward the objective while the Redeemer moved to flame the Henchmen.

The Ven Dread fired its Multi-Melta at the Chimera and Immobolised it. The Command Razorback fired a shot at the advancing Strikes in the east and blew up their ride. Meanwhile the Redeemer tried to flame the Henchmen but only managed to kill the Jokaero. In the assault two more Purifiers fell but Coteaz managed to crack the Captain's skull with his Hammer.




Turn 4

The Grey Knights made some big move this turn. The Strikes in the center disembarked and Coteaz joined them, the last Purifier moving alone into the safety of the ruins. The Purifiers with the OXI got out and along with the Henchmen surrounded the Land Raider. Their Rhino then moved around the front of the ruins. The Strikes followed up, ready to jump on the objective next turn.

Despite 3 Meltaguns, 3 Psycannon shots and then 3 strikes of a S10 Hammer, the Land Raider only lost its Flamestorm Cannons. The Strikes and Coteaz managed to fell a Marine and their Razorback blew up the Command Razorback.



The Redeemer backed out of the circle of enemies and released its cargo, who promptly charged the Purifiers. The Tacs moved onto their objective and the Ven Dread repositioned for a side shot. The Orbital Bombardment was called down but scattered off target. Other shooting was also useless. In the assault, the Terminators were hit with a daze as the OXI dropped her Psychotroke Grenades on them, making them initiative 1. As such 3 of them were wiped out before they could strike, and though the remaining two got to kill 4 Purifiers, the Hammer killed them both, allowing the remainder of the unit to consolidate near the objective.




Turn 5

I moved the Strikes to the objective on the first floor of the ruins so the Land Raider couldn't Tank Shock me should I fail to stop it. Coteaz led his Strikes onto the central objective while his Razorback and the OXI's Rhino moved to contest in the north. The lone Purifiers in the middle moved out to slow down the Ven Dread. The other Strikes moved to contest also.

The Chimera's crew shot 4 Meltas at the Ven Dread but only destroyed its close combat weapon. A massed hail of shooting wiped out the Tac Squad and the Henchmen in the east Immobolised the Land Raider. In the assault the Purifier only managed to Stun the Ven Dread.



The Command Squad moved out and ran toward the objective. Shooting was ineffective and so the assault came quick. However I made my one mistake here and went for Hammerhand to try and kill the Ven Dread instead of just trying to hold him up, and as a result I Perils'ed and the Ven Dread was able to consolidate to contest the central objective and tie the game.




Conclusions

That was some intense game. The ending was amusing, if ever-so-slightly disappointing. I think Saorise played a good game and his only mistake in my mind was moving the Captain's Bike Squad in assault range of Coteaz and friends. Early on the trouble with the Land Raider made me doubtful about the outcome and indeed it took the whole game just to Immobolise it. To those who say a Land Raider is no good once Melta is on the table, let this tell you otherwise.

Anyway, despite the tie, I got a 12-8 for that game, and with 50 out of 60 points managed to win the tournament, with Saoirse coming 3rd, with Luke Osbourne from one of the earlier practice games coming 2nd. It was a great craic and I was very pleased with the list. My next endeavour is going to be King Kon, my first ever 2500pts tournament, so expect to see a list for that online in the weeks to come.

Friday, October 14, 2011

The Rage to Overcome

As promised in my last post, I have two battle reports here for you from two practice games I had during the week in preparation for the coming Conclave II. One was against James Carey's Chaos Space Marines and the other against Luke Osbourne's Grey Knights.

So for game 1 Wednesday night I faced James Carey's Chaos Space Marines. I was confident going into the game as Chaos really don't match up well against Grey Knights. Furthermore we rolled Spearhead deployment Capture and Control, a set-up ht suits my army quite nicely. James' list is below.


Quote Daemon Prince
Mark of Tzeentch, Warptime, Bolt of Change, Wings


5x Terminators
Mark of Tzeentch, 3x Combi-Plasma, Power Fist, Chain Fist, Heavy Flamer

5x Terminators
Mark of Slaanesh, 3x Combi-Melta, 3x Chain Fists, Heavy Flamer


10x Plague Marines
2x Plasma Guns, Icon, Power Fist in Transport 1

10x Chaos Space Marines
Mark of Slaanesh, 2x Meltaguns, Power Weapon in Transport 2

9x Thousand Sons
Bolt of Change in Transport 3


2x Obliterators
2x Obliterators
2x Obliterators



Transport 1: Rhino with Combi-Melta
Transport 2: Rhino
Transport 3: Rhino

My main concern here was the mass of Terminators, however this was partially calmed when one of the Henchmen units (the smaller one) rolled extra 12" from the Jokaero's upgrade (though the other unit got nothing, despite rolling a 6 first). I won the roll off and deployed in the corner with the most terrain. There was a large Shrine of the Aquila on the other side of the board from the one I wanted and had I picked the other corner James would have been able to use that to advance with very little fire on him.

I deployed vehicles in pairs with a supporting Dread so as to give cover to each other. James deployed everything, choosing not to Deep Strike over Warp Quake. He layered up the Terminators and Obliterators, putting most one behind the other so as to provide cover to all but the Tzeentch guys (who didn't need it). The rest of the army went in or behind the Shrine. My Vindicare deployed in a forest where he could get clear shots into the Shrine. James tried to seize but failed.




Turn 1

My only movement was redeployment of vehicles of popping of some smoke to give most of my mech cover saves. I made a bunch of shots but only managed to kill an Obliterator, and Stun, Weapon Destroy, and Immobolise the Nurgle Rhino.



Most of James' army advanced, with two units of Oblits, the Terminators and the Daemon Prince swinging up the left flank with the Slannesh Rhino encased in among them. The Plague Marines got out and made some good terrain and run rolls to get up one level of the Shrine while the lone Obliterator up there moved forward.

The Thousand Sons made a beeline east, disembarking and shooting the crap out of the Vindicare. He survived the Bolters but the Bolt of Change burned him alive. The Tzeentch Terminator unloaded their Combi-Plasma into the lead Razorback but only Shook it.




Turn 2

I made even less movements than last time, pulling the same tricks to provide cover for most of my vehicles. The lead Razorback had an amusing moment casting Fortitude to get rid of its Shaken result, and though it passed, it rolled snake eyes for the pass, getting Immobolised by the Perils glance.

Shooting was not much better this turn, with the Nurgle Rhino getting wrecked, the lone Obliterator getting smoked, and a Tzeentch Terminator getting flattened.



The Chaos forces continued their advance, with the western forces moving onward, while the Plague Marines climbed to the top of the Shrine and the Thousand Sons embarked again and went on the move.

A failed Bolt of Change attempt at my Rhino started the shooting phase. Though one unit of Oblits just couldn't hurt the Immobolised Razorback, the other managed to wreck a Dread.




Turn 3

I went on the offensive this turn, determined to get the Terminators into some deep trouble, while also sending a force out toward the Chaos objective. A Strike Squad also debussed to help out.

Shooting was impressive with everything near my objective (bar the Dread) shooting at the Tzeentch Terminators and wiping them out (Meltas are awesome). Meanwhile the Dread took out another Oblit while the advancing forces failed to do damage to the Tzeentch Rhino.



With the Tzeentch Terminators taken out I was happy to give something back in order to get the Slaanesh Terminators in alone against my home forces. They and the Daemon Prince came in toward my Strikes and Henchmen, while the Marines and Oblits moved in mid-table. The Thousand Sons swung in by my advance force, hoping to blow me away after an Oblit took out a transport.

However this didn't happen and Bolt of Change even failed. The two man Oblit unit managed to pop the Chimera (the Henchmen passed their test) while the Slaanesh Terminators charged and shredded the Razorback. The Plague Marines however killed two Strikes.




Turn 4

I swung a Razorback far north to try going around the Shrine to the objective (didn't want to get in Melta range of the Oblits). The Purifiers disembarked and prepared for the charge while the Chimera moved up and the guys inside blew up the Chimera, killing a Purifier and two Thousand Sons in the blast. The hurt Strike Squad moved into the ruins next to the objective to stay safen while their ride repositoned.

Down south, the Henchmen claimed into the wreck of the Razorback while the Strikes circled around the Terminators. Both units opened up and the combination of Meltas and S5 fire brought the unit to one man, who was killed in assault. The Dreads tried at Oblits but only one died. The Purifiers charged the Thousand Sons, and despite getting double Hammerhand (which I realise now was an unnecessary risk thanks to the Rad Grenades) only killed 3 of them, while 2 Purifiers fell in return.



The Slaanesh Rhino came over the crashed Aquila Lander in the centre of the board and debussed its guys, while the Daemon Prince came down south, ready for the kill. Note he hadn't been doing nothing this whole time, just Reinforced Aegis was ensuring his Bolts did nothing. The Oblits continued a steady advance.

The Oblits fried Multi-Meltas at the advancing Razorback but to no avail, however this was evened out when the Marines took out an entire Strike Squad in one round of shooting. The Prince attacked the Henchmen and easily wiped them out. In the ongoing combat two more Purifiers were killed for only one Thousand Son in return, with the Inquisitor taking a wound from Fearless saves.




Turn 5

I debussed Coteaz and friends and moved them toward the Daemon Prince. The Dread nearby moved toward the Marines, since without a Fist he could reliably tie them up for awhile and stop them taking or contesting my objective. The Razorback continued on north while the Rhino moved up to pick up the Purifiers should they survive.

The Dread fired at the Marines and killed one only somehow. The other fired at the Oblits but failed to hurt any. The Purifiers shot everything at the Daemon Prince and managed a wound. The assault was moved effective, however despite Psyk-Out Grenades, the Prince held on with one wound from the Halberd attacks and got to strike simultaineously with the Hammer and Coteaz killing 3 Purifiers as Coteaz bashed his skull in. The Dread faired well also against the Marines, killing one for no damage in return. The last Purifiers cut down one Thousand Son before the Sorcerer killed him, leaving the Inquisitor alone in combat though she held on.

(Note I forgot to fire my Meltas at the Obliterator this turn, which is why it seems like the Chimera randomly advanced).



It was crunch time and the Rhino rammed my Razorback unsccessfully. The Oblits advanced and failed to damage the Chimera. The Plague Marines seemed to make a mistake here, maybe thinking the game was likely to go on and moved down to the bottom and toward the Razorback, firing at it and only losing a guy to Plasma, leaving the objective empty (though it had been for the whole game).

The last thing that happened in the game (it ended this turn) was the Inquisitor got pissed off and killed the last two Thousand Sons, surviving their simultaineous return attacks. The bitch was back!




Conclusions

That was a good game, however it was one-sided from the start to a degree to be fair; Grey Knights are not a good match-up for Chaos. James' mistake won me the game, however it was a gamble on the 66% chance that the game would end. It is the common crux of many 40k players though to forget the mission in the heat of blowing shit up.

That game gave me a 17-3 win that I was happy with. The list performed very well I thought though I didn't get to try a few things out (Warp Quake and Servo-Skulls namely). I knew learning the right time and place to debuss Strikes was something I had to learn, however this game didn't call for it much.

So with that done it was on to Thursday and my game with Luke Osbourne and his Heretical Space Wolf Wannabe Grey Knights (Grey Knights made from Space Wolf models). Luke ran a similar list to my own with the same sort of thing going on.


Quote Inquisitor Coteaz


Vindicare Assassin

5x Purifiers

2x Psycannons, Daemonhammer in Trasnport 1

5x Purifiers
2x Psycannons, Daemonhammer in Transport 2


5x Grey Knights
Psycannon in Transport 3

5x Grey Knights
Psycannon in Transport 4

3x Henchmen
3x Warriors with 1x Plasma Gun in Transport 5

3x Henchmen
3x Warriors with 1x Plasma Gun in Transport 6

3x Henchmen
3x Warriors with 1x Plasma Gun in Transport 7

3x Servitors
3x Multi-Meltas in Transport 8


10x Interceptors
2x Psycannons, 2x Daemonhammers


Dreadnought
Twin-Linked Assault Cannon, Psybolt Ammuntion

Dreadnought
2x Twin-Linked Autocannons, Psybolt Ammuntion

Dreadnought
2x Twin-Linked Autocannons, Psybolt Ammuntion


Transport 1: Rhino
Transport 2: Rhino
Transport 3: Razorback with Twin-Linked Assault Cannon and Psybolt Ammunition
Transport 4: Razorback with Twin-Linked Assault Cannon and Psybolt Ammunition
Transport 5: Razorback with Psybolt Ammunition
Transport 6: Razorback with Psybolt Ammunition
Transport 7: Razorback with Psybolt Ammunition
Transport 8: Chimera with Multi-Laser and Heavy Bolter

It was an intimidating list, so combined with the fact that we rolled Seize Ground (5) Pitched Battle, I was overly relieved to roll highest for both deployment and objectives. I placed my three with two in the south-west corner and the other out of the west flank, so Luke placed him dead center and in the ruins in the north-east.

I bunkered up near my objectives, planning to simply try holding the 3 I had near me while sending a small distraction force out toward his. With any luck I could hold them long enough to win (note I have never won Seize Ground before except once - against Luke ). I kept the vehicle pairing idea from the last game with supporting Dreads, sending a Rhino and Razorback with their respective squads out toward the east to put pressure on Luke's home objective (and the center). I placed my Skulls out in such a way that his Vindicare couldn't Infiltrate in any terrain that would also put him in range of my mech. Luke deployed in the opposite, afraid that by spliting his forces to hold both the home objective and go for mine that my first turn fire would be too devastating on him. He also held his Interceptors in reserve and chose to deploy the Vindicare as normal behind his Dreads (out of LOS though in the open).

Unfortunately then, despite my preparations just incase, Luke seized.

Forgot to mention, my small Henchmen squad rolled a 5+ invulnerable save, while the larger unit got Rending.




Turn 1

Luke debussed some Henchmen and ran them behind a wall in range of his objective and then he advanced everything in a parking lot like fashion to provide cover. Combined Assault Cannon and Heavy Bolter fire killed my Vindicare who I had Infiltrated not far out of my deployment zone. He also managed to drop a Dread with the Vindicare, shake another with his Dread, and use his other to pop a Rhino.



The Dread passed his Fortitude test. The now debussed Coteaz and friends ran behind the hill (it was quite large and blocked LOS to infantry easily enough). The central Dread moved back west to claim the place of the fallen one. A Strike Squad debussed and moved up the ruins to claim one of my objectives. Nearby a Razorback moved for both cover and firing lanes.

I managed to run a pretty successful turn of shooting, Immobolising a Rhino and a Psyfleman and dropping the gun from a Psyback. I also managed to blow up the Assman Dread.




Turn 2

Luke's Interceptors came on, and fearing the amount of firepower I could bring to bear on them this early on, deployed behind his army near his objective and advanced with them as they continued. He failed to match the previous turns round of shooting, only knocking the weapon from a Razorback and Dread, and Shaking the latter.



With its weapon gone the eastern most Razorback let it guys debus into the ruins before hiding behind them itself. The Dread lined up to Luke's lead Dread and that was all.

The Dread started calling it and blowing up Luke's lead Dread. The recently debussed Strikes managed to Immobolise the second Rhinos, messing up the eastern advance, while last turn's debussed Strikes Immobolised an Assback. Coteaz and friends shot at the damaged Razorback and wrecked it, pinning the Acolytes that came out. The two Joks also managed to destroy the Assault Cannon on the other Assback. All in all an excellent turn of shooting, shutting down a lot of Luke's mobility.




Turn 3

With Immobolised vehicles now blocking his LOS the Vindicare hoped in the empty Pysback and it moved. All of the Purifiers debussed and the Interceptors moved up to meet them.

The Dread opened up on my western Dread and destroyed it, while the Purifiers and Interceptors combined with the Chimera to wipe out both the Strike Squad and their Razorback.



I decided to start toward the western objective now that the Dreads were mostly cleared out, and so sent a unit of Purifiers in their Rhino (with the OXI) toward it to try and keep it safe so as not to risk a scoring unit so early. The last of the Strikes debussed into the ruins as their ride switcheroo'ed with the other Pysback for cover and shots. Meanwhile the Dread, Coteaz and friends all moved back westward to get away from the easts heavy enemy presence (and dakka).

I did a bunch of shooting but managed a very miserable turn, only getting rid of the last Assault Cannon.




Turn 4

With most of the central vehicles either Immobolised or stuck because of Immobolised vehicles, everything debussed and moved toward the terrain. The Purifiers and Interceptors joined them while the Henchmen debussed and ran in too so as to give the ther Purifiers their ride (which advanced with the Chimera). Hoping to stay in the game the Dread moved back so the Joks could no longer draw a bead to it. The Vindicare got back out now that firing lanes had once again opened up (or were about to).

The Henchmen who were pinned last turn moved and shot at the Purifiers, killing none, however combined fire from the Strikes killed two. Thankfully everything else either failed in the same attempt or failed against my Dread.



With the enemy so close the Razorback swung around the ruins and Cotez and friends got in to safety, popping smoke. The other Razorback and Dread moved for firing spots. The Rhino moved further into the objective while the Chimera started to move out cautiously.

The Psyback managed to draw a bead at the Chimera's side armour, and even with cover, managed to Shake it, blow off its Multi-Laser, and Immobolise it, basically taking the Servitors out of the game. The Dread has similar luck, knocking both arms off the enemy Dread, effectively neutralising him. The only other shooting casualties were one of the Henchmen squads.




Turn 5

It was now crunch time and Luke found himself in a bit of a pickle; as he explained it, he couldn't yet shunt with the Interceptors as no matter which of my objectives they went for, they would be killed in my subsequent turn from mass shooting and possibly multi-charges, so he needed to try wipe out or whittle down some of my holding troops in this turn and hope the game goes on.

So the Strikes both moved in on the objective along with the Purifiers, Coteaz, and a Henchmen squad. The Interceptors then jumped into the space between the wreck and the Immobolised parking lot. His Dread moved to try and contest to western objective next turn (if there was one).

The Vindicare started, unable to see the Dread or Coteaz' Rhino, he settled for the OXI's Rhino and blew it up spectactularly despite cover. One Purifier died in the blast. Everything else was unloaded into Coteaz' Razorback, and since it was only wrecked and not blown up, the Strike Squad on the balcony, with a single Striker survivng and passing his test.



I moved the Chimera up now to claim the objective with the Dread and Interceptors my targets for this (hopefully last) turn. The lone Strike moved into hiding while the larger squad in the ruins took his place, and Coteaz and friends took theirs. The other Razorback then moved back home.

Shooting was apt in that I managed to clean up some points, destroying the Dread and an Assback, killing half of the Interceptors, and killing one of the Henchmen causing them to flee.

With that we rolled and the game ended, 3-2 to the Grey Knights (the real ones ).




Conclusions

That was a fun and tough game. I got off to a bad start however I clawed it back efficiently with the plan working pretty much to a tee. List wise I am loving it. I know the Henchmen did little that game, however with how little they cost, their potential, and the fact that it is to be expected, I am ok with that; some games they just will be a scoring crappy Lascannon battery. I am particularly loving the S5 fire, as it puts on extra pressure and it helped me open up a good few things in that game; indeed some glances on AV11 from Storm Psybolters turned the tied in a few rounds.

I am pleased that I finally won a 5 objective mission as it is my weakest mission without a doubt (or at least was; this list handles it better than my old list(s)). I have noticed also that the list is easy to learn to use, and the feel is one of good synergy, so I am happy with that two.

That game was a 15-5. So with two wins so far with the list I am set and ready for Conclave on Saturday. Wish us luck.