Topic: eldar vs guard 2k

[croggy]

I had a game with a friend of mine the other night here is he's battle report
hope you all enjoy

Had a game with Craig (Croggy on Dakka Dakka) last night. I'm trying out a slightly modified list so lets see how it goes.

Eldar "The Lost" - 2,000 points


HQ

Farseer doom, guide & spirit stones

Farseer doom, guide & spirit stones

Elites

5 x Fire Dragons w/ Wave Serpent serpent w/ eldar missile launcher & shuriken cannon

5 x Fire Dragons w/ Wave Serpent serpent w/ scatter lasers & shuriken cannon

5 x Fire Dragons w/ Wave Serpent serpent w/ scatter lasers & shuriken cannon

Troops

10 x Dire Avengers w/ Wave Serpent serpent w/ eldar missile launcher & shuriken cannon

10 x Dire Avengers w/ Wave Serpent serpent w/ eldar missile launcher & shuriken cannon

10 x Dire Avengers w/ Wave Serpent serpent w/ eldar missile launcher & shuriken cannon

6 x Guardian jetbikes 2 x shuriken cannon

Heavy Support

Fire Prism

Fire Prism

Total: 1,992

 
Imperial Guard
 
HQ
 
CCS w/ Chimera - 4 x plasma guns
 
CCS - 4 x meltaguns
 
Elite
 
6 x Ratlings
 
Troops
 
Veterans w/ Chimera - 3 x plasma guns & carapace armour
 
Veterans - 3 x meltaguns
 
PCS w/ Chimera - 4 x flamers
 
20 x Guardsmen w/ Commissar - 2 x autocannons & 2 x grenade launcher
 
20 x Guardsmen - 2 x autocannons & 2 x grenade launcher

10 x Guardsmen - autocannon & grenade launcher
 
Fast Attack
 
Valkyrie - multiple missile pods
 
Vendetta
 
Heavy Support
 
Leman Russ Executioner
 
Leman Russ Demolisher - heavy bolter
 
Manticore
 
 
Game: Capture & control + pitched battle
 
Deployment
 
I lost the roll off and Craig deployed first. He deployed his armour against the board edge and then spanned his platoons through cover leaving a gap for some of them to get through. In front of those he put his gunships.
 
I deployed along the board putting Fire Prisms to blow up the Platoon with the Commissar, Jetbikes hidden and the rest of the Serpents lined up.
 
Objectives, we didn't have none lol. So we used paint pots, a spare Eldar Fire Dragon and a orange handle - at least you can see them clearly!! lol.
 
 
(Image removed from quote.)

 
*Tactical Notes
 
Knowing Craig he will alpha strike me with his melta CCS and melta Vets in the gunships. His army can put out a lot of fire power first turn with the two melta units, Vendetta and Manticore. So, I'll steal the initiative (hopefully!) and if I do I'll tubo boost the Dragon units, maybe more one 12" towards the Manticore and then torrent the Valkyries until they blow up.
 
Turn 1
 
Craig turbo boosts his gunships towards my lines, the Vendetta going to the Prisms and the Valkyrie to a Dragon Serpent. I fail to seize the intiative
 
Minimal movement from the Guard. Vendetta moves back so does the Valkyrie which turbo boosts away while armour moves forward.
 
Shooting, a Fire Prism is immobilised and crew stunned from melta Veterans, Dragon Serpent is wrecked by CCS. Manticore scores a weapon destroyed result on a Serpent carrying Avengers and a Farseer, EML is lost. Vendetta blasts the other Prism scoring weapon destroyed. Executioner fires at a Serpent but it does nothnig, however a shot scatters and manages to kill a Jetbike.
 
In assault Veterans charge the Fire Prism with krak grenades and make it go boom! 25% killed in the blast, they fail morale and run off - lol!
 
Ok, my turn. I've lost two vehicles and one is inaffective and another lost it's main weapon. I move my Jetbikes through terrain to target the melta Vets and lose one thanks to dangerous terrain tests. I move a Dragon Serpent towards one objective while the Avenger Serpent with the broken EML moves onto the closest objective in a crater, they bail out ready to blast away the CCS. The Dragons out their wrecked ride move into terrain while the other Dragon Serpents moves 12" towards Guard lines using terrain to block LOS.
 
Shooting I hammer the Veterans with the Fire Prism shuri catapult and Jetbikes, kill some and force morale but they don't run away, though they was falling back anyway. I blast EMLs at the wall of Chimeras and score two crew shaken results, so at least the tanks won't be firing and the squads inside need to get out to do some damage. I torrent the CCS with shuri catapult fire from the Avengers, Commander is left alive with a single wound and passes morale. Dragon Serpent hiding behind terrain fires scatter lasers into side armour of a Chimera but I don't think does anything.
 

(Image removed from quote.)



*Tactical Notes

Ok first turn could have had more damage output for me. I forgot to use psychic powers so could have used guide on the Avengers which fired at the CCS and doomed that unit too, not matter, only the Commander left. I've lost a bit more armour than I liked, however I did write off both Prisms and in total I've lost two tanks and took some damage along with crew shaken results.

This turn I'll finish off those melta Veterans, zoom both mobile Fire Dragons forward to start nuking stuff and move Avengers with a Farseer in their Serpent to claim the objective in the black ruin.

Turn 2

Craig scoots around his gunships pulling them back while his melta Veterans manage to regroup and move 3" towards the last Prism. He moves both shaken Chimeras down the centre of the board using the road for 6" extra movement and bails out a plasma Veteran unit out of one which moves onto the black ruin objective, well close by, and the PCS which bail out into terrain. The Commander runs into the wreckage of the Serpent, he falls the dangerous terrain test and his invulnerable and kills him self with his suicide empalement on xeno wreckage! lol.

Shooting his Ratlings kill a Jetbike, melta Veterans explode the last Prism killing some more Guardsmen, Vendetta punches holes in the rear armour of the Wave Serpent with the destroyed EML and it's wrecked, Manticore rains down on Serpent with a Farseer inside and makes it go boom, I lose two Eldar in the explosion. Plasma Veterans blast the closest Dragon Serpent but only shake it, the other Dragon Serpent gets blasted by autocannons and other stuff but still fine.  PCS fire multiple flamer templates scoring 10 wounds, I lose 4 and pass morale ok.

Start of my turn I cast psychic powers. Farseer from the wrecked Serpent dooms the plasma Veterans and guides his own unit, other Farseer casts doom on the PCS and guides the Avengers holding the objective in the crater.

Movement I sent the Farseer and Avengers out the crater left by the 'slpoded Serpent towards the plasma Veterans in hope of assaulting and contesting the objective. I move the shaken Dragon Serpent towards the Executioner, the Dragons bail out. The other Dragon Serpent turbo boosts towards the Manticores position. The last fully operational Serpent holds position to knock out a Chimera close by and so I can turbo boost it and claim the mid field objective too. The Fire Dragons blown out their transport move through terrain of the wrecked Serpent, one is killed thanks to dangerous terrain test.
 
Shooting I blast the Executioner and make it go boom loosing one Dragon and killing two Guardsman in the blast. I blast the plasma Veterans but they don't take many wounds. I blast the PCS and only one dies. I blast a Chimera with the mobile Serpent and score weapon destroyed, so I take the heavy flamer so at least my Eldar get cover saves still.
 
In assault I charge the Veterans and kill one, they stay in combat.
 
(Image removed from quote.)


*Tactical Notes

Ok could have had a slightly better turn, though I think my army is pretty crippled at the moment and lost a lot of fire power. The Executioner wasn't a pain as such but the meltas need to tackle tough armour, it was either the Vendetta or Executioner and if I went Vendetta they wouldn't be around to tackle the Executioner and I'd have nothing to do it with! I'm just hoping that turbo boosted Serpent will hold out!

My plan next turn is to finish off that PCS, blow up those two Chimeras some how, pop the Manticore and beat up those Guard in combat. We'll see....

Turn 3

Again, not a huge amount of movement from the Guard. The Platoon on the right flank moves so the Demolisher can take a shot at the Serpent, but Guard are still close to it. The PCS attempt to get back in their transport but fail to move through terrain.

Shooting, Fire Dragons get taken out with plenty of fire power, their Serpent takes a beating but is immobilised with only a snigle weapon and is crew stunned. Ratlings fire at the Jetbikes and kill the last two. Nearby Chimeras fire at the Dragon Serpent and don't do anything. The Platoon by the turbo boost Dragon Serpent fire krak grenades but do nothing. The Vendetta fires at the last operational Serpent and manages to shake it.

In assault the Platoon charges with frag grenades at the Dragon Serpent and only managed to score crew shaken result. The Eldar vs plasma Veteran fight rages on as combat comes to a draw.

I use psychic powers casting doom on the Veterans in the fight, doom on the PCS and guide the Avengers ready to shoot at them.

In my turn the turbo boosted Serpent moves to the top right board edge and the Dragons bail out ready to nuke the Manticore. I move the last Serpent towards the mid field objective, which I'll go for next turn.

Shooting the Dragons make the Manticore go boom but my Dragons are safe. The PCS is wiped out.

In assault the fight rages on with another draw.


(Image removed from quote.)


*Tactical Notes

Ok the annoying Manticore is gone, if I can sweep through with Fire Dragons and take out the Demolisher I'm happy. Though I was hoping my Eldar would have done more damage to those Guard by now in combat!

This turn I'll move the operational Serpent to the mid field objective, last turn I'll bail out the squad and move the Serpent to the orange handle objective. I'll send the Fire Dragons into that Guard fight for some help, kill them consolidate onto the black building objective.

Turn 4

Lots of guns turn to point at the Fire Dragons - gulp!

Last Serpent goes boom thanks to the Vendetta. Dragons lose all but one man after pretty everything fires at them, though the single guy keeps his bottle and sticks around! The squad out the last Serpent get shot down leaving only a few left, but they pass morale ok. Ratlings fire at the Avengers on my objective, I go to ground and pass all saves.

In assault my Eldar lose combat and fail morale! Guardsmen then destroy them in sweeping advance! WTF!

Ok, running out of guns here and I forget to cast psychic powers! I move the Fire Dragons into terrain to reinforce the objective I have, they're too far away to get the black building one. I keep the last Avengers in the crater left by their Serpent while the Dragon moves up to pop the Demolisher.

Shooting the Avengers in the crater from their Serpent kill a few Guardsmen, Dragon scores weapon destroyed on the Demoilsher and the Avengers in the crater I believe couldn't shoot as I went to ground when the Ratlings fired at them last tunr.

In assault my Dragon charges the Demolisher with primed melta bomb and scores weapon destroyed.


(Image removed from quote.)


*Tactical Notes

Ok things are looking grim here. Can't believe my Eldar lost combat to Guardsmen of all things, could have hopefully killed them myself and moved onto that objective!

This turn we agreed to be the last due to time. So I'll run the Fire Dragons towards the black building and hopefully assault and contest. I can hopefully move the Dragons Serpent if operational towards the orange handle objective and maybe contest it, perhaps do the same if the Dragon is alive but I doubt will be.

Turn 5

In Guards final turn everything avaiable surrounded the orange handle objective while melta Veterans still remaining moved onto the black building objective as plasma Veterans moved to position to fire at Avengers on my objective. The Demolisher tank shocks my Dragon, I death or glory and I fail - Dragon is mush!

Guard fire as many shots into the Avengers and Farseer in the crater but they remain and pass morale. Avengers on the objective attempt to get shot at by plasma Veterans but they're out of range! Ratlings fire at the Dragons but they pass cover saves.

In my turn I move the last Serpent in the top corner of the board to tank shock, autocannon does death or glory and immobilises it. I attempt to run the Dragons closer to the melta Veterans holding the black building objective as I move around the Avengers and Farseer in the crater to claim the mid field objective.

I don't think I fire anything, so in assault the Dragons try to assault the melta Veterans but fall short.

Guard win claiming 3 objectives Eldar claim 2!


(Image removed from quote.)


Summary

Close game in the end. At the start Craig can put out a lot of fire power so need to go first to get rid of much as this as possible, unfortunately I didn't get the roll off. My force was crippled pretty badly turn 2 onwards but I started to claw it back taking out threats close range to me.

I made some mistakes forgetting to cast psychic powers, also, the Fire Dragon which got ran over by the Demolisher should have survived as it scored a penetrating hit and any result would have kept that Dragon alive as the tank had no weapons so would have been immobilised and crew shaken would have been stunned because +1 thanks to melta. You live and learn eh, I don't think much other mistakes though should have hidden the Fire Prisms as I'd know Craig would go for them and hide the meltas in the Serpents but space them out because of the Manticore.

I used Eldar today to test EML. I found they work the same as brightlances on lighter armour and my Dragons are going after the heavy armour anyway. I kept scatter lasers as I had some comments saying putting eggs all in one basket, however, it doesn't matter because the Fire Dragons are a target anyway. So I won't be using scatter lasers on the Dragons transports - just EML which gives me more fire power and still anti troop too.

Craigs mistakes were his deployment, mainly his Demolisher. He had it back behind the Platoon which means he had to move the Platoon in order to move the Demolisher and he didn't want do to that - it twice all game, once it auto missed because out of range and on turn 5 at the Dragons which it scattered, but still hit. Other than that I don't think he made any others, besides forgetting to do orders and fire some units

[Skyleap]

Nice batrep and pics. The Tactical notes portions leading into each subsequent turn is a nice touch.

I'm curious about one thing. If you knew you were going second, why did you deploy all of your vehicles out in the open like you did? Even if you stole the initiative, you could've maneuvered them out into the open to get shots off. By putting them all out like that it left you wide open without the benefit of any cover saves. By the looks of your deployment zone in Turn 1, it appears you could've put 5-6 of your skimmers behind the two ruins next to your deployment zone, as well as one in the ruin area itself. Granted, there's a chance you could've rolled a 1 for Dangerous Terrain, but keeping them tucked safe would've saved you plenty of grief on his turn, forced him to drive out to get LoS on something and really generated a nice flow according to how you wanted to dictate the action.

Or am I just misinterpreting something?

[croggy]

i was the guard player, it says at the top this is my friends batrep from his blog. i just said i would start sharing them with the community
glad you enjoyed it

[Skyleap]

Ah, sorry. My mistake.

So, any reason why your friend deployed like that? lol

[croggy]

he got no ?autrach?

and he was expecting to get his fire dragons turbo boosted over and ripping me to pieces

but i went for the old alpha strike and did to him what he wanted to do to me.

also he said he though he had limited my scout movement with his deployment , which he had no chance of doing as my melta is only ever going to be rolling one dice to pen anyway

and he didn't think the other melta squad would reach his prisms but guess what he was wrong lol

[Skyleap]

I see. He was putting too much stake in stealing the initiative. I would've assumed I wouldn't get it and kept my units safe. If I did wind up stealing, I could still Turbo Boost over the ruins I was hiding behind without too much loss of distance.

As for limiting Scout movement, I think he meant Infiltrators. Assuming that, hiding behind the ruins would've accomplished that just fine. The units behind one ruin could see anything camped behind the other ruin, and vice versa. What's more, placing the vehicles right behind the ruins puts infiltrators anywhere within the ruins right out of the opponent's mind, not to mention placing them within 12" on either flank.