Topic: Silver Ghosts: How they fared in '07 and two full length batreps: DH & IG

[Starrakatt]

   Hi all!

   It's been a long time since I wrote anything in there, and since I have a load of non written battles (only flying notes here and there taking dust) I'll borrow Gwaihir’s idea (with, I hope, his approbation) from his last series of reports and  string short ones one after the other to culminate with a descriptive one for the last.
   They are also more or less in the chronological order I played them.

   And now for some fluff.

   -The Silver Ghosts aren't part of the regular warhosts fielded by Iyanden in their times of need but rather an elite force assembled by the Iyanden Military Council lead by Yriel, master of the Fleet and High Autarch of Iyanden.

   The Ghosts are usually sent to missions and military action where there would be little hope for survivors to come trough but that must be accomplished nonetheless as an inevitable thread of the Craftworld future.
   Though being predicted as taking heavy casualties, these military actions still must come to pass but Iyanden is still recovering from the Tyranid onslaught and cannot permit itself to send its warriors to certain death and so was created the Silver Ghosts Host.

   Being composed mostly from the wraithbone constructs know as Wraithguard and Wraithlord and often supported by Spirit Stone inducted vehicles, that offensive military force is managed by a highly trained and specialised psyher cadre called the Wraith Council led by a Farseer of great military experience.
   Tough mostly constituted from the dead, the Silver Ghosts often include some Aspect Warriors from their depleted Craftworld and from time to time even Harlequins of the Laughing God were sighted to perform with the Dead Warriors.

   And just now, through the next battles the Silver Ghosts will try to perform what they were created for: So that few battle again and die, again, for that the many may live.

   So, the force I used for the first 5 games was as follow  (there was slight variations from lists to list but it's generally swapping some weapons, wargear or vehicle upgrades):

SILVER GHOSTS TASK FORCE

HQ: 133 PTS
   -Farseer: Spirit Stones, Fortune, Doom, Singing Spear - 133 pts

ELITE: 554 PTS
   -Wraithguard: X 5, Warlock with S.Spear, Destructor - 213 pts (AKA Spearguard)
   +Wave Serpent: Twin Shurican, Shurican upg, S.Stone, V.Engine, S.Engine -155 pts
   -Harlies: X 7, Shadowseer, D.Jester, 5 Kisses - 186 pts

TROOP: 698 PTS
   -Wraithguard: X 10, Spiritseer, Conceal - 396 pts (AKA Landguard)
   -Avengers: X 10, Exarch, Bladestorm - 147 pts
   +Wave Serpent: Twin Shurican, Shurican upg, S.Stone, V.Engine, S.Engine -155 pts

HEAVY: 465 PTS
   -Wraithlord: Starcannon/Scatter Laser - 140 pts (AKA Starlord)
   -Wraithlord: Brightlance/EML - 155 pts (AKA Lancelord)
   -Fire Prism: Shurican upg, S.Stone, Holofield - 170 pts

FAST: NONE

TOTAL: 1850 PTS

-TYRANIDS : An equal mix of critters and MCs.

   Mission : Cleanse, Gamma.

   The Eldar used superior skimmer mobility combined with cover to shred the little bugs apart all around the field while keeping return fire to a minimum, disembarking their load to dish crippling blows while the Wraith constructs battleline withered down the big ones one after the others and finally finishing off the walking Tyrant, Carnie and the last brood of Gaunts with a last devastating volley and ensuing charge.
    In the end, I lost a Wave Serpent to Carnifexe fire, half a squad of Avenger from Tyrant shooting, half the Harlies and one Wraithlord to Warp Blast fire.

   Result : Victorious Slaughter for a Win, the Bug player wielded after turn 4 with only a Lictor and a Zoanthrope left on the board.
   Silver Ghosts MVP : Are to go to the Prism who killed an uncanny amount of gribblies.
   Tyranids MVP : That one Zoanthrope who killed 1 Wraithlord and wounded the other by itself.


-THOUSAND SONS : Sorcerer Lord on Disc/Wind of Chaos, 3 squads of Sons with Bolt of Change/Familiars Sorcerers, 2 squads of Flamers and 1 of Screamers and 2 Pred Anihilator of Doom. All squads were of 9 models.

   Mission : Secure & Control, Gamma.

   The battle was a close fought one, with damage dealt to the Eldar was mainly done by massive antitank shooting from the Sorcerers and Preds. While the TS by themselves did nothing. The Sorcerer Lord hid all the game. The 3 Deamon packs were destroyed trough superior mobility through Shuriken fire and Harlies assaults.

   Eldar : The Prism and both WLs showed an incredible ability at killing almost nothing, the Prism missing or being Shaken all the game and one of the WL dying uselessly to heavy fire but the other did his few damages to a TS squad. The footslogging Wraithguard had their days when halving a TS squad helped by the surviving WL as did the Harlies by destroying two full squad of summoned deamons.
   One of the Pred was destroyed by the Wave Serpent transported WGs, both to be subsequently destroyed themselves by heavy fire and Wind of Chaos/assault.

   Chaos : TS Sorcerers are mean with Bolt of Change and showed it by killing one WL and with the Preds bring the other to 1 wound and got the Prism Shaken for most of the game along with destroying a Serpent.

   Result : Draw, whilst the TS had more objectives, I dealt him slightly more damage in the end. All in all, a hard fight throughout the game against a good player.
   Silver Ghosts MVP : Harlies for killing their worth in gold of Deamons.
   Thousand Sons MVP : Aspiring Sorcerers in their squads.


-DARK ANGELS :  Commander/10 Retinue/Jumpacks/combat squads, 3 Tac/combat squads Lascan/Plasma Gun/Powerfist/Razorback, Venerable Asscan Dread, 2 Asscan Dreadnoughts, 2 Pred Destructors, Vindicator.

-IYANDEN : I had a slight change and dropped a Wraithlord for a second Prism.

   Mission : Seek & Destroy, Gamma.

   In this one, I knew I was up to a tough battle, since that pal of mine’s somehow the best general at our LGC. I hate fighting mechanised forces, since I just do not have enough diversified firepower to at last try to destroy/cripple multiple vehicles a turn and this fight was very hard due to heavy target saturation while the DA player had few.
   DA units ( including splinted Combat Squads and Razorbacks) : 17 + Commander
   Eldar  units ( including Wave Serpents) : 9 + Farseer

   Eldar : I had a bad beginning due to few cover and with the DA beginning and stripping both Prism of their Prism Cannon and shaking a Serpent.   Due to the proliferation of mobile HB/Asscan, my Harlies could’t go anywhere and were stuck to protect the back of the WG.
   The Avengers killed a Combat Squad before being destroyed along with their Serpent, The WG on Serpent did the same with the Vindie while their Serpent managed to immobilize a Dreadnought, one Prism was destroyed in CC by a Dread while trying to cover charging lanes to WG and the other one died from plasma shots in the back but not before he Tank Shocked a Combat Squad off table and the Wraithlord was totally useless for the entirety of the game and finally died from Heavy Bolter fire. Talk about pathetic.
   On the bright side, the center Wraithguard unit, along with the Farseer and Harlies almost made the game for themselves, taking out the Commander & Retinue,  1 Combat Squad, 1 Razorback, 2 Dreadnought (including Venerable) and 1 Predator.

   Dark Angels : They killed about everything in my force, except for the main Wraithguard squad and Farseer, grinding me down turn after turn through Heavy Bolter, Asscan, Autocannon, Plasma and Lacannon fire.
   The Commander eliminated the Serpent Wraithguard after these destroyed the Vindicator in a single turn of HtH with a flurry of Power Weapons and Powerfist sixes, but they failed miserably to ulteriorly bringing down the Farseer and got wiped by the Harlies.
   Harlies that died to the last to Bolter fire in the last DA turn after a crappy Hit & Run roll. Most of the DA force got a more or less even performance, duck shooting the Eladar with no or few heavy weaponry ever answering their own.

   In the end, I never recovered from the first turn shooting that got my 2 main antitank/antimarine units and my WL that didn't hit a barn troughout the game. Cover to hide only one Tank on my side didn't help either but it had to be the Wraithguard’s one.
   However, my friend played well, keeping his assets far from my WG when possible and did a good job at deployment, succeeding at nullifying almost every cover available for my tanks and making impossible for my outnumbered forces to cover all the field and generally outmaneuvering me.

Result : Crushing Victory for the DA.
   Silver Ghosts MVP : The 10 Wraithguard squad really. They did a wonderfull job at keeping the center and collapsing his left flank at the end.
   Dark Angels MVP : Both Predators who stripped the Prism of their guns and killed the Wraithlord.



-SPACE WOLFS :   Not sure for HQs but there it goes : Wolf Lord, Runepriest with Melta Servitors and Another One (All with trappings, Frostblades and whatever), 2 squads of 14 Bloodclaws, 1 squad of 10 Grey Hunthers, 1 squad of Longfangs with Missile Launchers and Heavy Bolters, one squad of 6 Termies with 2 Asscan, one LS Tornado and one LR Crusader.

   Mission : Cleanse at Gamma level.

   I didn't knew what to expect from that one. My friend (and owner of the local store) is a long time SW player but hadn't played for at  last a year and a half. After asking around the LGC if I should go soft on him (all good spirit teasing) I got a NO!
   With that NO! in mind (and with a good dice roll) I chose a corner where I could deploy almost all of my tanks out of LOS, my Harlies in the open and 10 Wraithguard in heavy cover in that big building.

   Eldar :   The Farseer exploded his head with the first psychic roll of the game.   Enough said. I turtled the first two turns behind cover with both Wraithlord and Prism (got 3 Termies on the first shot) slowly grinding him down on both his flank by cutting angles, himself taking potshots to my WL with his Longfangs and Crusader.
   The 10 Wraithguards in the building withstood fire as they could with no Farseer to Fortune them and being slowly grinded to under half troughout the game.
   Glory came to me when he the SW player forgot to smoke his LRC (in fact, he didn't even thought to buy the upgrade!) when it got near enough of my lines.
   Over the next two turns, I wiped  out half of his army by taking out the Raider with my WG on Serpent, then killing all the transported (and entangled) Blood Claws and their IC trough Wraithcannon fire and assault with both WG units, the while both the Harlies and the Wolf Lord and Grey Hunthers retinue killed each others in HtH.
   Fear the Wolf's Countercharge!

   After that, it took what was left of the game to kill of the Termies with my Avengers, the  surviving WL and Prism taking turn to almost eradicate the footslogging True Gritted Bloodclaw, while the Serpents got a squad of WG in the SW corner and killed off the Wolfpriest Servitors and killed 3 Longfangs to bring them under half before one was brought down.
   Finally, the Fire Prism managed to take down the Tornado at long range that was hanging in his corner to deny VPs and score that corner.

   Space Wolfs : Altough the game was basically lost after the third turn, they fought on despite the odds taking out one Wraithlord with Assault Cannon fire, taking off two wounds from the other with Krak Missiles and the Land Raider Multimelta and wrecking the Avenger's Wave Serpent.
   The Termies and Blood Claws got the Wraithguard in heavy cover under their fire for most of the game and succeeded to kill no less than 7 of them before most of then succumbed to Eldar firepower.
   With no over half strength unit left to challenge corners and the Eldar occupying their own deployment zone, the battle was effectively lost.

Results : Victorious Slaughter for the Silver Ghosts!
   Silver Ghosts MVP : Both Wraithguard squads for taking out the LRC, 14 Bloodclaws, 1 IC of Doom and claiming a 925 VPs worth corner!
   Space Wolfs MVP : I guess the Termies  since they took a tremendous amount of firepower to take down and took many WG and a WL with them.


-DARK ANGELS (again, same player, slight changes in army) : Commander, 3 Tac/combat squads Lascan/Plasma Gun/Powerfist/Razorback, Venerable Asscan Dread, 1 Asscan Dreadnought, 1 Lascannon/Missile Launcher Dread, 2 Pred Destructors, Devastator X 10/Combat Squad, (2 Heavy Bolters and 2 Plasma Cannons)/Razorback.

Mission : Take & Hold, Gamma.

   I wondered if it was even worth mentioning that game, but since I made the vow of writing all my games and post them, I decided for it anyway. So there's a short resume.

   I deployed badly. He begun. He destroyed my 10 man Wraithguard squad bar 3, including Spirit Seer and they stayed hidden the remainder of the game to deny VPs. The Prism was shaken all the game. The Farseer survived by hiding behind cover. Those are the survivors.

   I killed or Destroyed : 1 Combat squad, 2 Razorbacks, 1 Predator Destructor and 2 SM for another squad.
   No really, the BL/EML Wraithlord stood in heavy cover and got Fortuned by the farseer all the game. He's the one account for the 2 Razorbacks, the Predator and 2 SM from a squad closing on the objective. The Harlies accounted for a full Combat Squad before fleeing off the board before a Dreadnought.

   Couldn't hit a barn, when I hit couldn't wound or get a consequent result on the Damage Tables, couldn't make a save for the love of Khaine. Most of my units were utterly useless or got shot down before doing something.
   Oh, and he got the objective.

Result : Total and Unrecoverable Victorious Slaughter for the Dark Angels!
   Silver Ghosts MVP : ah-ah-ah!!  Well, the Lancelord (backed through the battle by the Farseer) did the job he was paid for, but was overwhelmed in the end.
   Dark Angel MVP : Both Asscan and Lascan Dreadnought who crushed my entire flank and ½ of my army almost by themselves.

   It's not that he was overly lucky, that's just me that didn't seem to be able to roll over 2 on dice, + he both deployed well (like he usually does: ie. sapmming his DZ by intercalating combat squads and vehicles) and played to his usual standard, which is good. I guess I could have made better calls on target priority but since I didn't hit anyway most of the time... These things happens I guess.

   The next 2 reports are going to be at the 1500 pts level in a local tournament (not much really, only 2 games), followed by battle against Vanilla Marines followed by that cursed DA player (again) in a CoD battle (my first) and finally confronting Necrons.

   Until next time!

   Starky

Edited for better reading

[Starrakatt]

   Hello everyone! I'm late as usual when it comes to batreps follow up.

   So as I wrote last in the precedent post, these two reports were played in a small local tourney.
   The army I used for both game is hardly maximized for winning or comp scoring as I just wanted to test a smaller variant of my usual force (I usually play at 1850 pts) and see how it would fare in a competitive environment, as I didn't get into any tournament for years.

   There's my 1500 Pts force that I presented myself with at the store:

   Silver Ghosts Task Force: 1 486 Pts

HQ: 298 Pts
   -The Avatar of Khaine.
   -Farseer with Runes of Warding, Spirit Stones, Fortune, Guide, Singing Spear.

ELITE: 353 Pts
   -Wraithguard (AKA Spearguard) X 5, Warlock with Destructor, Singing Spear.
   +Wave Serpent with Twin Shuriken Cannon, Shuriken Cannon upgrade, Spirit Stone, Vectored Engine.

TROOPS: 540 Pts
   -Wraithguard (AKA Landguard) X 10, Spiritseer with Conceal.
   -Pathfinders X 6.

Heavy: 295 Pts
   -Wraithlord (AKA Lancelord) with Brightlance & Eldar Missile Launcher.
   -Wraithlord (AKA Starlord) with Starcannon & Scatter Laser.


My first opponent was playing Deamon Hunters with Sisters of Battle allies and his army looked somewhat like that:

   Deamon Hunthers: 1500 Pts (?)

HQ: x pts
   -Grandmaster with Terminator Armor, something called a Shroudwhatever, a Deamon slayer weapon and maybe some wargear.

ELITE: x pts
   -Grey Knight Terminators X 5 with 1 Incinerator.
   -Grey Knights Dreadnought with Assault Cannon & DCCW/Heavy Flamer.

TROOPS: x pts
   -Grey Knights X 6 (maybe with sarge upgrade).
   -Grey Knights X 6 (maybe with sarge upgrade).
   -Sister squad X 10 with 2 Meltaguns.
   -Sister squad X 10 with 2 Meltaguns.
   +Rhino with Extra Armor and Smoke Launchers.

HEAVY: 253 Pts
   -Grey Knights Land Raider with Smoke Launchers.


   The first mission was a Kill the Other side mission with corner deployment at Gamma level, played on 4' X 4' table. There is one big Level 3 ruin about 12" across in the center and 1 smaller ruin in each of two opposite corners and some minor cover in the two others.

   We roll for table side and opt for the one corner with the only level 3 ruin.

   I deploy first, beginning with my Starlord behind the Central Ruin to push him back as far as possible.
   My subsequent deployment goes like this: I hid my Serpent/Spearguard and Lancelord behind the small Lev 3 ruin in th right corner of my DZ, the Landguard out to the left (putting the Spiritseer within 12" of the Starlord to nullify Wraithsight), the Avatar and Farseer stand between the Landguard and the small ruin and I finally deploy the Pathfinder inside the small ruin.

   His deployment is pretty simple, putting everything he have on the other side of the Central Ruin just clearing the 18" from the Starlord, with the Dreadnought and Rhino/Sisters on the left and Landraider/GK squad on the right.

   We roll for beginning and he grab first turn.

---TURN 1---

   -DH: He moves all forward at maximum speed, the footslogging GK squad reaching the Ruin's limit, Termies & Lord + footslogging Sisters on the right preceded by the LR carrying  a GK squad that pop smoke.
   On the left, the Rhino make it's 12" (he forgot to smoke! ) followed by the lumbering Dreadnought. In the shooting phase, the Dread manage to have a partial LOS to the Starlord but fail to take a rending wound due to cover save. There is no assault.

   -Eldar: The Farseer begin by Fortuning the Avatar and Guiding the Lancelord. On the right, the Spearguard mount in their Serpent which drifted 12" forward and right and proceeded to open fire on the Termies but failing to see them due to the Grandmaster Shroud thing.
   The Lance lord manage to shake the Land Raider and the Pathfinder take out one Sister, pinning the squad!
   On the left, the Landguard, Avatar and Farseer all move forward and to the left to keep far from the LR and close to the Dreadnought and Rhino. The Starlord move left out of cover to intercept the Dreadnought the following turn and manage to explode the Rhino with a flurry of shots from his weapons, killing two SoB and one GK in the ensuing explosion!
   There is no assault.

   ---TURN 2---

   -DH: Again everything moves forward except for the two SoB squads that are pinned/entangled.
   On the right, the LR move 6" and the Spirit Machine shoot a Twin-Lascannon on the Serpent, wrecking the transport and entangling the Spearguard! The GM and his Terminator bodyguards kill one Pathfinder with their Stormbolters.
   On the left, the five GK move inside the central Ruin and shoot their Stormbolters at the Wraithguard but fail to do any wounds. The Dreadnought advance, again shooting its Assault Cannon at the Starlord but failed to wound the construct.
   There is no assault.

   -Eldar: The Farseer again Fortune the Avatar and Guide the Lancelord.
   To my horror, the Starlord succumb to Wraithsight and does nothing, as he is just outside the Spiritseer's influence!
   On the right side, the Spearguard does nothing as they try to get out of the Serpent's wreck.
   The Lancelord stay in cover and and again shake the LR. The Pathfinder manage to take down a GK Terminator with precise shooting but they pass their Pinning Test.
   On the left, the Avatar move forward and left to intercept the Dreadnought/Grey Knights in the central Ruin. The Landguard follow and is joined by the Farseer.
   No other shooting, no assault.

   ---TURN 3---

   -DH: All his force again move 6" forward.
   On the right, the LR disembark the 6 GK who makes their way inside the wrecked Serpent. Again, the Spirit Machine open up but this time against the Avatar and take one wound off, despite Him being Fortuned.
   The Lord and Termies open up again on the Pathfinders, kill two and the three survivors promptly fail their morale check and flee.
   The GK now wading inside the ruined Serpent manage to reach the Spearguard and promptly dispatch one in CC for no loss in return. Pile in time.
   On the left, the Grey Knights move out of the central Ruin toward the Landguard and shoot their Stormbolters but again fail to kill any. The Dreadnought is more successfull and wound the Starlord standing uselessly in the open and destroy it in a subsequent charge, consolidating toward the approaching Wraithguard. Darn.

   -Eldar: The Farseer fail miserably to Fortune the Avatar of Khaine but succeed in Guiding the Landguard. The Pathfinder rally in the middle of nowhere.
   On the right, the Lancelord charge in CC to get off some pressure from the Spearguard but his three attacks fail to connect. On the other hand, the Warlock manage to skewer a GK with his Spear while the Emperor's lackeys destroy three of the wraithbone construct in an orgy of failed saves.
   On the left side of the battle, the Landguard advance a full 6" toward the Dreadnought and easily destroy it with a volley of their Wraithcannons. At their right, the mighty Avatar of Khaine shoot His Wailing Doom, burning to cinder one GK.

   ---TURN 4---

   -DH: On the right flank, the Lord & Termies, Sisters and LR move 6" straight toward the left flank. The Lord and Termies added their firepower to the Land raider to light up the Avatar, their shooting wounding Him twice, the Sister squad lagging behind.
   In CC, the Grey Knights finish off the last Spearguard and Warlock while the Lancelord fail again to do any damage.
   On the left, the SoB squad move up in dire range of the landguard but only some of them are in range and they fail to inflict any wounds except for a Melta shot that turn one Wraithguard to crispy wraithbone.
   The four surviving Grey Knights shoot and charge the mighty Avatar but fail to wound the towering god while the incarnation of Khaine stomp one into the ground.

   -Eldar: The Farseer Guide and Fortune the Wraithguard (a bit too far for to Fortune the Avatar).
   On the right, the rallied Pathfinders snipe the GK Terminators and add another to their tally. In CC, the Lancelord finally succeed in killing a lone GK but suffer a wound in return, making the fight a draw.
   On the left, the Landguard move away as far as they can from the right side and the approaching Lord & Termies, ensuring that they will stay out of CC in the next round. However, their move permittedthem to close on the Sisters standing in the open that destroyed one of their own the last turn. So with a volley of Guided Wraithcannons they totally obliterate the eight strong SoB squad!
   In CC, the Avatar kill one GK and succeed to hang on His last wound by making two saves in a row, thus winning the fight and trampling the two remaining Grey Knights in the dust due to the No Retreat rule!

   ---TURN 5---

   -DH: On the right, both the Lancelord and GK fail to inflict any wound.
   Now in the center, the Lord and Termies mount into the Land Raider who make 6" toward the Landguard, hoping to catch the evasive wraith construct next turn and take off the Avatar's last wound in the shooting phase. The Sister squad follow the LR.

   -Eldar: The Farseer cast again Fortune and Guide on the Wraithguard.
   On the right, the Pathfinder snipe a SoB out of her boots and the ongoing CC between the 4 GK and the Lancelord is again uneventful.
   On the left/center, the Farseer detach himself from the Landguard, who reverse their fleeing movement and advance toward the Land Raider, the venerable seer following them.
   In the shooting phase, the Farseer throws his Singing Spear at the LR and penetrate the heavy armor, immobilizing/stunning the behemoth and making the Lord & 3 Termies bail out from the forward hatch.
   The Landguard subsequently fire a Guided volley of Wraithcannons on the Terminator suits killing the three elite GK and taking a wound on the GrandMaster, then charge in CC and take another wound from the Grey Knight Lord but suffer three casualties from their own ranks.
   Running for the Land Raider, the Farseer try to pry out the armor in CC but with less success this time.

   ---TURN 6---

   -DH: On the right, the four GK manage to wound the towering Wraithlord for no casualty in return. Again.
   Center and left, some of the SoB squad move in sight of the Farseer and fry him with a Melta shot.
   The LR's Spirit Machine shoot it's Twin Heavy Bolters at the three Pathfinders reducing them into a pile of gore.
   In CC, the Grandmaster destroy another two of the Landguard for no wound in return.

   -Eldar: There's no move nor shooting, everything Eldar is in CC.
   On the right, after 7 rounds of CC and 15 attacks later, the Lancelord finally manage to take a second Grey Knight down with no wound in return, the GK losing the fight and subsequently lose one of their own due to the No Retreat! rule, bringing the squad under half.
   Beside the Land Raider, the Grandmaster kill another two Wraithguard for no wound in return, bringing the game to an end.


RESULTS: After adding VPs, the game ended into a DRAW at the Deamon Hunter advantage.

   Overview:

   I think I made three major errors in the game that could have nestled me a confortable victory:
   -I never should have moved my Wave Serpent out from cover to take pot shots at these Terminators (which failed anyway). I assumed to be fairly safe as the LR was Shaken but was proved very, very wrong.
   -The Starlord dying uselessly because I forgot about Wraithsight.
   -At endgame, I was overzealous and shot the Farseer's Spear on the Land Raider, got a penetrating hit but didn't destroy the thing, thus failing to entangle the transported models.
   Had I shot the LR with the Guided Wraithguard, utter destruction would have probably ensued and those Lord and Termies would have been entangled in the wreck.
   Now, after failing to kill them all with their Wraitcannons, the Landguard had no other choice than to charge the Grandmaster which they failed to kill and were subsequently brought under half, nestling a 200 VP for the DH player.

   The MVP of the game were the without contest the Landguard, destroying the Dreadnought, an almost full squad of Sisters and wiping out the Termies/bring the Master to one wound.
   On the other hand, I was utterly disappointed by Lancelord performance in CC tough, where I rolled miserably turn after turn (C'mon, 7 round of CC, 15 attacks, for a total of 2 direct kills! ). At the last, I succeeded to bring that GK squad under half but really, they should have died...

   Starky

[Starrakatt]

Late again (shrug).

My second opponent was playing Mech Guard and his army looked like this:

   Mech Guard: 1 500 Pts

HQ: 343 Pts
   -Junior officer, Bolt pistol, Powerfist, 4 Flamers, Chimera APC, Multilaser, Heavy Bolter, Smoke Launcher, Extra Armor - 193 pts

   -3 Sentinels with Lascannons - 165 pts

ELITE: None

TROOPS: 639 PTS
   -10 Kasrkins, 2 Plasma Guns, Chimera APC, Multilaser, Heavy Bolter, Smoke Launcher, Extra Armor - 213 pts
   -10 Kasrkins, 2 Plasma Guns, Chimera APC, Multilaser, Heavy Bolter, Smoke Launcher, Extra Armor - 213 pts
   -10 Kasrkins, 2 Plasma Guns, Chimera APC, Multilaser, Heavy Bolter, Smoke Launcher, Extra Armor - 213 pts

FAST: 370 PTS
   -Hellhound, Extra Armor, Rough Terrain Modification - 125 pts
   -Hellhound, Extra Armor, Rough Terrain Modification - 125 pts

HEAVY: 270 PTS
   -Leman Russ, 2 Heavy Bolters, Lascannon, Rough Terrain Modifications - 170 pts
   -Basilisk - 100 pts


   The second game was a Take Corners mission, each corner worth 325 VPs at Gamma level using standard 12" deployment, still on a 4' X 4' table.
   Straight center there was a 12" square pyramid, on the right side and facing each other were a pair of small forests bordering both DZ, just big enough to hide a tank and on the left were some low clutter, bushes and rubles within both DZ.

   We rolled for table side and I won but since it was somewhat a mirror board it didn't really matter.

   He deployed first: Basilisk goes to the right behind the forest, flanked by the two Hellhounds.
   Leman Russ to the extreme left, obscured behind rubble. The four Chimeras (including the HQ's) with their respective squads behind their transports, are deployed between Mr. Russ and the center board where he deploy his Lascannon Sentinels, preparing a steamroll to the left while leaving the Bassie and both Hellies to cover his right flank.

   My deployment: I mainly reacted to his Bassie and Russ deployment and going for a widely spread deployment to negate pie plates.
   On the left, facing the Russ I deployed the Lancelord and Pathfinders inside rubble, the Landguard was spread from the left besides the Lancelord to the center behind the Pyramid.
   Dead center and behind the Pyramid I deployed the Starlord, Avatar and Farseer. On the far right, I deployed the Spearguard inside their Wave Serpent behind the wood and totally out of LOS.

   He got first turn and decided to take it.


   ---TURN 1---

   -IG: Behind the Pyramid, the Sentinel does their scout move reposition a bit.

   On the right, one Helly goes 12" forward and shoot the Starlord (for lack of other target) with it's Inferno Cannon, doing nothing.
   The other Helly on the extreme right stay back and the Bassie shoot at the Starlord, but scatter badly and find no target.

   On the left, Mr. Russ stay put and land a pie plate on the Lancelord, 3 pathfinders and 1 Wraithguard, failing to wound the WL but killing the Landguard, the Pathfinders succeeding their cover saves.
   The Sentinels light up the Lancelord but fail to hit/wound. Three Chimeras embark their squads and do a 12" move forward and to the left and smoke (including the HQ one), two of them presenting their rear for a next turn assault.
   The last Chimera made only 6" and shot at the Landguard to no effect. First blood for the Imperium.
   There is no Assault.

   -Eldar: The Farseer Fortune the Landguard and Guide the Starlord.

   On the center and right, the Starlord, followed by the Avatar move forward and right and get a partial LOS to the Basilisk but fail to inflict damages.
   The Spearguard's Wave Serpent advance 12" and shoot the advancing Hellhound and succeed to Immobilise and Shake it.
   In the center, the Landguard advance and destroy the Command Chimera with a volley of Glancing hits, entangling the HQ. The Farseer follow up but stay within Wraithsight range of the Starlord.
   On the left, the Pathfinders Immobilise a Sentinel and Stun another while the Lancelord succeed in Stunning the Leman Russ.
   There is no Assault. All in all, not a bad turn of shooting.


   ---TURN 2---

   -IG: Frowning at his pinned HQ and Stunned Leman Russ, the IG player disembark one squad, advance the two precedently smoked Chimeras (one of 6", the other of 12") to screen the Leman Russ and disembark the other squad. Then the one that can open up on the Landguard but do not get past the Fortuned wraithbone armor.
   Both Kasrkin squads open fire on the Landguard with everything they have but only succeed to fell one with a plasma hit.
   The other Chimera hanging in the back move 6", using the wrecked one as cover, disembark it's cargo behind it and light up the Landguard to, again, no effect (high toughness yeah!).
   The two mobile Sentinels reposition and the non Shaken one take a wound from the Lancelord with it's Lascannon.

   On the right side, the Basilisk land an earthshaker round on the Starlord but fail to wound. The mobile Hellhound move 6" forward and also shoot at the Starlord, also failing to wound the construct.
   There is no Assault.

   -Eldar: Fortune and Guide are casted on the Landguard. The Farseer move up a bit behind the Pyramid.
   On the right, the Wave Serpent moves up 12" and disembark its cargo beside the second Hellhound while it shoot it's Shuricans at extreme range at the Sentinels now in LOS and Immobilize a second one while destroying the Lascannon/Stunning another.
   The Spearguard then happily and quickly dispatch the Helly they are standing by.

   Center right, the Avatar begin the climb of the Pyramid and shoot the Immobilized Hellhound with HIS Wailing Doom, slagging it.
   Beside HIM, the Starlord also begin the climb and shoot a the side of the Chimera that moved 6" to screen Mr. Russ and destroy it.

   Left: The Fortuned and Guided Wraithguard advance toward the IG line and obliterate their HQ, sending company to the deamons of the Warp.
   The Lancelord advance out of cover to get LOS to the Chimera standing at the back, shoot the thing and manage to penetrate the transport, taking out the Multilaser and Stunning it.
   Finally, the  Pathfinder find another weak spot in the Sentinel's armor they precedently immobilized and destroy it.
   There is no Assault (yet). A tremendous round of shooting!;D


   ---TURN 3---

   -IG: Trying to get back in the game, the IG player, not daring to get his Basilisk out from behind the wood, shot at the now visible Avatar (now visible on the Pyramid and with no other target) but the Incarnation of Khaine save the wound.

   The two surviving Sentinels are either Shaken/Stunned and can do nothing but Mr. Russ succeed in landing a pie plate on the Landguard who lose three of their numbers despite being Fortuned.
   The back Chimera being Stunned, the remaining one move to block LOS from the Pathfinders and add it's firepower to one of the two Kasrkin squads now in range and LOS of the Landguard, but they both fail to kill any, again thanks to Conceal and Fortune.
   The remaining IG squad shoot the now in the open Lancelord and wound once the mighty construct with plasma fire, bringing it to his last wound. Fire magnet indeed.

   -Eldar: The Farseer fail his roll for Fortune but Guide again the 6 remaining Landguard/Spiritseer.
   On the center/right, Avvy reach the Pyramid's top and shoot at the crippled Sentinels but roll a one. The Spearguard climb back on their mount and the Serpent skim to the Bassie's side and let fly, Immobilising/Stunning/Destroying the Earthshaker Cannon.
   The Starlord climb a bit more and gain an all new and shinny LOS to the Basilisk and destroy it's Heavy Bolter.

   On the left, the Pathfinders try their luck against the nearest Kasrkins but failed to kill any.
   The Lancelord then advance on the same target and shoot/assault the Kasrkin squad (the one that wounded him the last turn), killing 7 and overrunning them, leaving him stranded in the open.
   Finally, the Landguard move north, shoot and assault the other Kasrkin squad standing between the HQ's wrecked Chimera and the destroyed Sentinel, killing 5 in total to no casualties in return but this time the elite Kasrkin stand their ground.
   Pile in ensue.


   ---TURN 4---

   -IG: In the center, the last active Sentinel try it's luck against the Starlord (having LOS only to it or Avatar) but cover save the wound. The Chimera stunned earlier move forward but get no LOS except for the Starlord standing on the Pyramid and fail to wound him with it's Heavy Bolter.

   On the left, the Leman Russ shoot the Lancelord with Lascannon and Heavy Bolters but fail to bring him down but the remaining unengaged Kasrkin are more efficient and kill the Wraithlord with a well placed plasma shot.
   Beside to crumbling Wraithlord, the intact Chimera unleash hell on the Pathfinders but cover saves them all but one.

   In CC, the Landguard kill two of the Kasrkin while losing one of theirs to the Emperor's warriors, them subsequently losing the fight and being overrun. The Landguard consolidate toward the IG line.

   -Eldar: After the Landguard assault move, the Farseer has no one to Fortune except himself and so does he.
   On the right, the Wave Serpent fly over the crippled Bassie and kick it's Star Engines moving 36" toward the Leman Russ along the IG DZ.
   The Avatar of Khaine climb down the Pyramid toward the right and shoot the immobilized & weaponless Sentinel, shaking it.
   The Starlord stay where he is and shoot at the intact Kasrkin squad, killing 4 and sending them fleeing.

   The Landguard advance toward the damaged Chimera, nearing the IG DZ and destroy the detonate the transport, losing one Wraithguard in the explosion.
   The Farseer follow and detonate the Sentinel that was shaken by the Avatar (losing a wound from the resulting explosion despite being Fortuned) and assault the remaining one, wrecking it with his Singing Spear.
   Finally, the Pathfinder on the left light up the lightly armored Chimera's side armor and blow up the sturdy transport, leaving them a clear LOS.


   ---TURN 5---

   -IG: The Kasrkin rally and consolidate toward the Landguard, and open up at the Landguard, destroying two with Plasma and Lasgun fire.
   The Leman Russ 'crew, eyeing the approaching Serpent and the nearer Landguard, decide to go for the easy target and obliterate the remaining construct and the accompanying Spiritseer.
   On the right, the crew of the crippled Bassie pray the Emperor to be forgotten in their corner...

   -Eldar: Mop up time.
   The Farseer being all alone and facing the gaping barrel of a Battle Cannon cast Fortune on himself and move toward the heavy Tank.
   On the left, the Pathfinders target the rallied Kasrkin squad killing one.

   Center: The Starlord, now all alone pass his Wraithsight test and move backward toward the south-left corner and shoot the Kasrkin on the move, killing another two.
   The Avatar stride toward the crippled Basilisk.

   Finally, the Wave Serpent move 12" straight for the Leman Russ and disembark the Spearguard who manage to hit the tank only once but nonetheless destroying the Battle Cannon & Stunning it.
   The wile, the Serpent shredded another Kasrkin from rapidly shrinking squad, leaving two of them standing.


   ---TURN 6---

   -IG: With the Basilisk crippled, Mr. Russ being stunned and only two Guardsmen with Plasma Gun standing, the IG made his last stand by backing the Kasrkin toward the Leman Russ and open up on the Spearguard, hoping for lucky hits to bring them under scoring but only managed to burn one to cinder...

   -Eldar: The Starlord again passed his Wraithsight and moved squarely in to the south left corner.
   The Avatar get in shootin range of the Bassie and slag it with the Wailing Doom.

   The Pathfinders finish off the two Kasrkin and the Spearguard make Russy full of holes detonating it and ending the game with no IG models standing on the table.


RESULTS: Well, it was an utter massacre, netting me a maximum of VPs minus my Landguard and Lancelord and claiming all four corners.

   Overview:

   It's the very first time as a gamer (well, that I can remember) that almost everything went as planned. And also the very first time at all that I got a total massacre with my Iyanden force. I cannot say that I was displeased.
   My opponent really took it all in good humor, and even insisting of playing the last turn even it was clear that I would get a massacre for the game.
   He had awful luck all along the game but after speaking of it, he admitted not knowing much on Wraithguard and their potential and that was a glaring mistake to try to take them on in close range.
   All in all, a good spirited game even if one sided.

   MVP of the game: Both Wraithguard squads, really. Even if the Landguard was finally destroyed, it accounted for a big chunk of the opposition by themselves and acted a a good firemagnet.
   But the real stars are the Spearguard and their Serpent, together accounting for one Hellhound, Leman Russ, crippling the other Hellhound, the Basilisk, one Sentinel and killing one Kasrkin, while claiming a table quarter on their own.

   Overall, the dice rolled well for me and a good plan (that worked!) and deployment, not forgetting well placed firepower gave me the victory.


    Now, since that thread doesn't seem to receive positive input, I'll forego the last three batreps promised at the end of the first post.

   Thanks for everyone who bothered to read.

   Starky

[Arkion]

From Game 2:

So with a volley of Guided Wraithcannons they totally obliterate the eight strong SoB squad!

You had to feel good about that.  I just read Game 2; I liked your army list, but those Grey Knights are nothing if not resilient.  The GK player's decision to rush your avatar seemed crazy - makes me wonder how he won; although tying up your avatar with a doomed unit seems like it might've worked as he intended...  I think your assessments about what you could have done better are accurate.  Thanks for writing.

[Illumini]

Cool army you got yourself, been wanting to start an eldar army with 10 man wraitguard, but the thought of having your 400pts unit blown to bits by a battlecannon is not very appealing, cudos on not starting to cry when you saw one. The IG player seemed to make some... strange target priorities in the last game, bassie shooting at a MC? Why not at the wraithguard?

I think the reason for the few replies, is the compact style of your reports, no fluff, no pics etc. When you play this much, I see that is a problem, and I'm hardly bothered to take pics myself, so can't complain really 

Good reports and playing though

[g00gle5]

It's nice to see the wraithguard perform well and kicking ass, I'm tempted to get mine out to field now...

That DA list seems nasty and it is a shame you had such horrible luck against him as well as it could have been a fantastic match. It is also really nice to see such a competitive DA army doing well.

Tempted to trade your farseer in for Eldrad yet? First time I used the new codex first thing that happened was the farseer blew himself up.

Also nice to see such different lists being fielded in a tournament (friendly or not!) I would have cried tears of joy to fight a sisters and grey knight army just for the diversity!

Lastly, really fun battle reports, you keep them short and to the point, I usually don't read the battle reports if there are no pictures but these were an exception

[Starrakatt]

From Game 2:

So with a volley of Guided Wraithcannons they totally obliterate the eight strong SoB squad!

You had to feel good about that.

   You bet! That was... very sweet.

  The GK player's decision to rush your avatar seemed crazy - makes me wonder how he won; although tying up your avatar with a doomed unit seems like it might've worked as he intended...

   He hadn't many other choices really, since I were to assault him with the Avatar next turn if he didn't, so he took the chance.

Cool army you got yourself, been wanting to start an eldar army with 10 man wraitguard, but the thought of having your 400pts unit blown to bits by a battlecannon is not very appealing, cudos on not starting to cry when you saw one.

   Well, thank you. (For the 'cool' part at the least). Facing Ordnance pie plates are always a pain when deploying Wraithguard. I guess you learn to cope with it.
   For that particular deployment, I had the Landguard stretched for about 20 inches in a long line except for the right part of squad where the Russ had no LOS, so blast damages were minimized.

   The IG player seemed to make some... strange target priorities in the last game, bassie shooting at a MC? Why not at the wraithguard?

   The center pyramid blocked the Basilisk LOS and he had not paid for indirect fire, which limited his options. I believe that the Bassie's intent in his list was intended mostly a as distraction/bait.

   I think the reason for the few replies, is the compact style of your reports, no fluff, no pics etc.

   You are (most) probably right on that, I will now try in the future to take pics when playing (if I can stop forgetting the damn camera! ) The fact that my army is now well underway for painting is somewhat a motivating factor too...

Good reports and playing though

   Thanks!

That DA list seems nasty and it is a shame you had such horrible luck against him as well as it could have been a fantastic match. It is also really nice to see such a competitive DA army doing well.

   It is nasty and I effectively had poor luck on these first two games but wait! I won the third! Have to write the batrep though.

Tempted to trade your farseer in for Eldrad yet? First time I used the new codex first thing that happened was the farseer blew himself up.

   It is sometimes very tempting, but there's so much groaning at the LGC if I even mention him that I didn't made my mind yet. Maybe in a tourny list.
   And yes, it suck so much to see your 140 pts model shower his surrounding with his own brain. And the humiliation!

Lastly, really fun battle reports, you keep them short and to the point, I usually don't read the battle reports if there are no pictures but these were an exception

   Thank you very much. I'll try to do with pictures next time I write one. The (still) unposted one against Necrons do have pics, though the quality could be better as they are my first try.
   Now I need to write that one...

   Anyway, thank you all to have bothered to answer since I had pretty much given hope on that thread. Nothing better than some answers this to keep someone motivated!

   Ciao to the next batrep, Starky