The Eldar race is in termoul all over, the Craftworlds are going their seperate ways as the evil spreads through our beloved race... It is almost impossible to imagine, but many of our Kin have resigned to their nature and forgone the true path; thus they must be erradicated as any other "Mon-Kiegh" before they establish themselves and their ways. It is unfortunate that some of our own Kin have succumbed to their Darker Nature; and even though some are actually close brethren to me and our clan, I Saim-Lucster will ensure that all Mon-Kiegh are elliminated so that the true path can once again be followed and Eldar can once again rule supreme in the multiverse.
Son, your thoughts trouble me, and although you are the newly elected Chief, you must be careful to curb your emotions or you too may succumb to the Darker Nature of our Race. Remember that I and the Farseer's have forcast this "Fall" from grace for some time now, and that you were selected to hold the Saim-Hann Craftworld together through this time.... Your primary goal must always be to family, and then to race, and finally to your emotions. If you let your emotions fool you, then you will be no better than your brother who left our family to follow his Dark Nature. And you too will fall from grace and become not an outcast; but one of the Hunter Dark Ones. Remeber son that I, Saim-Lir, have sworn to hunt all Eldar that fall from grace, and although I love you... you are not above reproach.
Thus, Saim-Lucster and Saim-Lir begin their quest to eliminate all Eldar that have gone the path of the Dark. To systematically wipe them out as all mon-kiegh deserve. To show no mercer in their task, to take no repreave, and to only set their current family as a priority above this task. The Hunt begins.
The two armies assembled for battle....
Saim-Hann Eldar (moc065) Dark Eldar Raiders (Gary)
Please note that Gary is a friend an another Mature Gamer... his list is not week and not Uber; but it holds certain slick tricks that fit his theme and it can be brutal as he is a good General. Gary was also asked to bring a list that was competitive and that might have a hidden gem that could fool most Opponents, as Gary is known for having something un-conventional. Composition and theme were not factors in the DE-Raider list, and should not be considered.
HQ(165) Wyche Archite Lord: Reth-Tahl, Shadow field, combat drugs, punisher, animus vitea, tormentor helm, and a trophy rack.
(105) Dtacon: horith verran, combat drugs, punisher, xenospasm, and a trophy rack.
(86) Incubi Master: keligus, combat drugs.
(100) 4 Incubi
(55) Raider: disintegrator.
EL(191) 7 Wyches with plasma grenades, + Succubus with antagonzer, Raider wih disintigrator.
(204) 8 Wyches with plasma grenades, + Succubus with antagonzer, Raider wih disintigrator.
TR(100) 10 Warriors, 2 DL's
(100) 10 Warriors, 2 DL's
(110) 10 Warriors, 2 Splinters, 2 blasters.
(232) 10 Warriors, 2 splinters, 2 blasters, sybarite and webway portal, Raider with Disintegrator.
HS(100) Talos
(100) Talos
(120) Ravager 3 Disintegrators.
1749pts, 16 KP's, 4 Scoring Units, and 69 figures. The Mission was "Capture and Control" (2 MO's), with a "Dawn of War" set-up... The Wild Riders won the roll off but decided to allow the DE-Raiders first turn My thoughts here were simple, I figured that he would set up close to center and rush me as Dark Eldar are typically an aggressive type of army... I would then arrive on mass in my Turn 1, and waste one or two of his units outright... removing his vehicles to limit his options. But understand I was simply going from what I saw on the table (above) and I never actually looked at his list (And I should have known better). Thus I stated that my army would be set on the table, or come in as regular DoW Reserves in Turn 1; Gary stated that he would set up his Troops bring the rest in as Reserves.
Turn 1 The DE-Raiders took the field with a single Raider filled with their Warriors, they were so bold as to simply secure the middle of the battlefield with this one unit. The Saim-Hann delivered Saim-Lir (their Farseer) and Warlocks on Jetbikes into a fairly well hidden possition and then Saim-Lir atttempted to steal the initiative form her Dark Kin. The DE-Raiders were fully aware of their surroundings and thus they maintained the initiative; standing fast, and shooting at the Saim-Lir and her Kinsmen, and then they subtly set their Web Way Portal to do its dirty work mid battlefield. Saim-Lir had not scried anything about the WWP and was caught unaware (I never saw one used for almost 2 years now ~ so I actually forgot about it, and never pre-viewed the list ~ Duh), but she cast Fortune on her squad after seeing one Warlock succumb to the DE shooting, and she moved her squad to gain a slightly better possition. She then brought in her entire force (as I had declared this on Set-up) and although knowing that she would loose some casualties early on (a sacrafice had to be made or the battle would be lost), she hoped that her forces could see well enough in the early mist to make their take some decent cover, etc.
Pictures of first turn prior to SH shooting.
Turn 1 Casualties.SH -1 Warlock on JB
DE Raider Immobilized and weapon removed.
I was duped by the Web Way Portal and actually should have known better. I thought my ranged shooting would go better; but rolled horribly for Nightfight. I also figured that it might be better to give up a few things early in order to remain capable of actually playing to the Mission. Thus I knew that the Vypers would probably be sacrifaced; but I to stick to the plan of Ground and Pound the enemy in order to win.
Turn 2 The Dark Eldar exited the Web Way Portal on mass and with their speed and firepower quickly took the Saim-Hann to task, shooting several vehicles out of the air and actually arriveing into assault as well. The Saim-Hann had not seen the Combat Drugs of their Dark Kin in action (12" Assault is sick), and at some points they felt overwhelmed; but they endeavored to fight back, even through their casualties to even the score and hopefully gain control of the battle. The Saim-Hann worked to slow down their enemies rush, and then planned to devide them up and remove them as needed; all they needed now was a bit of resolve to weather the storm and Saim-Lucster and Saim-Lir continued to add psychic support to their force.
Here are a couple pic of what we were doing through turn 2.
Turn 2 Casualties.SH -2 Vypers (one wrecked 1 exploded) 1 entire Jetbike squad.
DE -1 wound on Talos, -5 Warriors, HQ Raider expoded.
I know that I could have played it safer and used distance; but I had a plan to get those Wyches and HQ guys on the ground were I could work on them, I also totally failed to get his Ravager even after a lot of effort was expended to keep missing it. So far though I had only lost a few units and none of those were critical to actually completing the mission... I still had enough to win as long as I didn't loose too much more, and some rolls started going my way.
Turn 3 The Dark Eldar were slowed a little but not much.. as their HQ jumped into a different Raider, and the rest of their army continued its onslaught of the Saim-Hann. Their shooting was incredible and they even managed to get the Talos' into an assault with the JB Council. The Saim-Hann were not done though, as they continued to bring down the Dark Vehicles and cause as much havoc as possible while staving off casualties. Saim-Lir wounded the Talos and sent a small moral victory cry out to her force.
Here is pic showing how the Saim-Hann used their speed to try and regain the battle field control
Turn 3 Casualties.SH Council down to 6 JBs and in assault with 2 Talos
DE Raider exploded, wounds on Talos' a few dead Warriors, and other Raider shaken.
I had managed to keep his best CC units out of the game, and I was using the terrain well enough to limit his options. My goal was to keep working away on him slowly while setting up for the big finish. I had hoped to waste one of the Talos in CC but Gary rolled well for his saves. I also had not seen any army shoot as well as these Dark Eldar in quite some time.
Turn 4 The Dark Eldar continued to fight hard with shooting (Ravager blasted 5/7 Jetbikes off the table); but their assault punch was becoming less and the Saim-Hann had used their speed to regain control of the battle for the most part. The Council had withstood an incredible amount of punishment from the two Talos in CC; but they were slowly faltering. The Saim-Hann shooting was hitting the mark but too often was not effective enough; although when the Storm Guardians roasted an entire squad of Dark Warriors, Saim-Lir felt that a new breath of life had been infused in her force, and when her last 2 Jetbikers Turbo'd into possition she knew that there were still ways to win this battle outright.
Here are a couple pics through turn 4, it was getting ugle in there; but the SH were slowing getting to where they wanted to be.
Turn 4 Casualties.SH Council down a it more -5 JB's.
DE Raiders immobilized and weaponless or shaken, -1 Talos, wounds on Talos, Lots of Warriors dead, Ravager reduced in weaponry.
OK, that hurt a little (maybe a lot); but I was making head way. I probably revealed the Stormies a little too early; but I did have a back up plan with the Jetbikers, even if it was a long shot. And I really was hoping to be done with the Talos by this point (unbelievable rolls from Gary on their saves were starting to be my undoing).
Turn 5 The Dark Eldar were not done, No... They downed the Saim-Hann Serpent and blew off its EML's (another great 12" assault), then they shot the Storm Guardians to obliviion with disintegrators, splinters, and anything else they could find. The Wyches made a rush at the Falcon as well; but failed to damage it. But Saim-Lir no longer had any support vs the Talos besides her son Saim-Lucster; but he was ill equiped in this type of tough Close Combat and through the pain he felt for the loss of his brethren. She bolstered the Saim-Hann for one last rush though, in a effort to cleanse the Battlefield of her Dark Kin. Thus she had them take the objectives so that reinforcements could arrive. The Jetbikers used Turbo once agian and secured one objective, while the Falcon move flat out to push the Dark Eldar off of their Objective. All the while her and her son held the Talos in CC to the bitter end.
Here is pic through part of the DE turn 5...
Turn 5 Casualties.SH - 10 Storm Gaurdians and a Warlock.
DE -
OK, that hurt some more (a lot). Loosing the Stormies was expected in a way (when I look back at it) but I didn't expect some of Gary's tactics and/or shooting ability, and I can't believe how much fire power the Ravarger soaked up... Oh well, I was in a possition to win and the game was a lot of fun up to this point....
Turn 6 The Game ended here on a roll of a 2... and although the Dark Eldar certainly did put up a serious fight, the Saim-Hann prevailed in the end to claim one objective and contest the other...
Gary was a seriously good General, and the Web Way Portal through me for such a loop that I pretty well threw him a win at the beginning (I should have held more in reserves; or at least looked at his list to understand his potential tactics better)... Anyway, it was a great game and I would like to once again thank Gary, GW Halifax (Dave the Blackshirt), and all the guys that watched for making it a truely "Fun" experience.
PS... I got freaking lucky at the end; but I will take the win, as Gary bested me in our privious 2 encounters (that makes us 3-2 in my favour Gary vs your DE.. and I must say, your one of the few that give me trouble in every game, so Well and I truely respect your ability as a DE General ~~ Nice lise BTW).
CaHG