Hey guys back with another bat-rep! Second to last in the Escalation League series. This game was against Crimson Slaughter CSM featuring a lot of Daemon Engines. I had been very much looking forward to this game as I've not played against any of the Daemon Engines since they debuted. I was dying to pit my Wraithlord against one of the Maulerfiends if at all possible and spoiler alert.... it happened!
Also there will be some heavy commentary at the end. The report will focus on the game itself while I have some strong thoughts and opinions about the overall experience at the end. So with that out of the way, lets begin.
Escalation League Game #4Crimson Slaughter 1500ptsChaos Lord- Bike, Mark of Nurgle, Powerfist
Chaos Spawn x2
Chaos Terminators x3- Lightning Claws x3
Plague Marines x5- Plasma, Combi-Plasma
Cultists x10
Cultists x10
Havocs x6- Missile Launchers x4
Land Raider- Lascannons, Storm Bolter
Eldar 1500ptsAutarch- Bike, Lance, Banshee Mask, Fusion Gun
Farseer- Bike
Striking Scorpions x9- Exarch, Claw
Dire Avengers x10
Jetbikes x3- Scatter Lasers x3
Jetbikes x3- Scatter Lasers x3
Jetbikes x3- Scatter Lasers x3
Warp Spiders x5
Hornets x2- Pulse Lasers x4
Nightwing
Warp Hunter
Wraithlord
Deployment- The above photos is just to show the terrain set-up. So we rolled Vanguard Deployment which is divides the board diagonally. I deployed everything but one unit of bikes, my Hornets and Nightwing. I just couldn't find cover for the bikes and I wanted to try and get behind the Maulerfiends, or snap shoot the Helldrake if my Nightwing failed to bring him down. Other than that I setup as much out of LOS as possible and set up a wedge formation in the ruins, ready to receive the Crimson Slaughter attack head-on.
My opponent set-up as you would expect with the Land Raider and Maulerfiends in a little pack looking to move out together. While the Havocs, Plague Marines and Cultists held down the back lines.
Objectives- Kill points, double points for Slay the Warlord and Hold the Center of the board for an additional point.
Additional Pre-Game Notes- For Warlord traits I rolled Conqueror of Cities which is Move Through Cover, and Stealth in Ruins! Excellent, excellent.This is THE best Warlord trait for me. It allows my bikes to pop in and out of ruins without having to take Dangerous Terrain, and with hull down my Warp Hunter had a 2+ cover save in ruins. Excellent! For Psychic Powers I got Guide, Doom, Mind War and Eldritch Storm. All excellent powers. Yet my hot start didn't stop their... I also SEIZED the Initiative. Stoked!
Turn 1Eldar- Very basic approach in this one. The Havocs and the Land Raider were the only long range threats in the army. If I could remove them I could dart around and play the "Range Game". So with the Havocs well within 36" (a mistake on my opponents part?) of all my Jetbikes they were my first target and I just deluged them with fire and removed them for First Blood. Second up the Warp Hunter went after the Land Raider. I was able to position the blast marker to hit both the Land Raider and one of the Maulerfiends yet poor rolls saw the Maulerfiend escape all damage and the Land Raider only take 2 HP's though I did destroy one of its Lascannons. Meanwhile the Warp Spiders move up on my right flank in support of my Scorpions who've I'm preparing for a late game flanking attack. So a very solid start, considering most games most of my army is off the board and I don't get much offense in. Very happy thus far.
Crimson Slaughter- The Land Raider rumbles forward and lets off a Lascannon shot into my Wraithlord who passes his cover save. The Maulerfiends move and then run and are dangerously close. The Plague Marines break for my right flank towards the Scorpions and Spiders. They take some Plasma shots at them (even after I remind him of Flickerjump again) and they Flicker Jump out of range. Without any long range fire its a short turn.
Turn 2Eldar- Time for Lions of Asuryan to lay down their customary Turn 2 barrage! The Hornets and Nightwing both show up (though I try to keep the Nightwing off). I pull off a cheeky maneuver and have the Nightwing come in an extreme angle keeping him almost on the back line of my DZ and then Vector Dance facing the Maulerfiends to keep him away from the Helldrake's Vector Strike. The Hornets show up on the left flank behind the Maulerfiends after an Acute Senses re-roll to get them just where I want them. The Jetbikes all pop out of cover to support and the Warp Hunter rolls back to keep away from the Maulerfiends. The Avengers however hold, while the mighty Wraithknight boldly hops out of cover to confront the Maulerfiends! On my right flank the Spiders and Scorpions move out to engage the Plague Marines preparing to move on the center of the board in tandem later in the game. So with all the positioning accomplished its time to fire. The Hornets destroy one of the Maulerfiends, the Warp Hunter destroys the Land Raider, and the Warp Spiders reduce the Plague Marines to a lone Marine. The Lions of Asuryan are shredding the loathesome heretics and loving it.
Crimson Slaughter- The Helldrake arrives! Zooming towards the Avengers he lets off a torrent of flame and incinerates only 4 of them due to staggering their placement in the ruins. The Terminators now deposited in the center of the board, move forward and run. The Champion on a bike is also now on the edge of my Deployment Zone. The Plague Marine with a Plasma Gun shoots down a Scorpion. Also the Cultists move and run forward in an attempt to swamp the middle of the board to try and "Hold the Middle" for objective points. Meanwhile the big show begins! Maulerfiend vs. Wraithlord. He charges the Wraithlord but my higher initiative means I go first. The Wraithlord scores 3 hits with his Ghostspear, a glance and a pen, he fails his Daemon save and I blow the beast up! I couldn't have been more happy for my Wraithlord. I know I'm not playing against Tournament level armies but the Wraithlord has been a boss in these games. He's definitely got a spot on the regular rotation going forward.
Turn 3 Eldar- With both Maulerfiends gone I really crippled his attack. Yet the Chaos Lord and Helldrake both remain. So I go after the Helldrake first forcing him to Jink while the Nightwing scores a number of hits and Immobilizes/Vector Locks him, the Hornets snapfire at him as well and cause an additional HP. Then all 3 units of bikes unload on the Lord and fail to cause even a SINGLE WOUND! I need 4's to wound, and he's got a 2+ save and he just rolls like a boss. My Warp Hunter whiffs his barrage rolls and thus the Lord escapes. Then my Farseer casts Mind War and eliminates a Terminator. The Wraithlord then moves in flames and assaults them eradicating the loathe some traitors. Meanwhile the Scorpions and Spiders are poised to attack the center of the board. The noose is tightening!
Crimson Slaughter- The Helldrake unable to fire due to Jinking flies off the board. The Chaos Lord moves up and lets off a lone bolter shot at a bike removing him. Then out of the blue the Cultists assault the Wraithlord, try to tarpit him. Wall of Death and 3 Ghostglaive attacks later and then detestable rabble flees. I fail to catch him, but they only run a few inches and won't escape fiery retribution in the next turn.
Conclusion- After my opponent comments "This guy is thinking "I'm going to table this scrub" " we decide to call it, thus ending the MOST unpleasant game of the entire league and one of the most unpleasant games I've played of 40k. Regardless I've gone to 3-1, I'm in sole command of 2nd place and have played very well throughout the League. But if you'll all indulge me I want to explain WHY this was such a miserable game of 40k.
Opinion- This guy started complaining about 5 days before we even played and thats no joke. After hitting this guy up on Facebook to arrange the game, and tell him how stoked I was to face his Chaos and to have a show down with his Daemon Engines he proceeds to tell me "They'll probably get blown away Turn 1". Day of game he show up with his friend who he's trying to introduce to 40k and the first comment about the game "Are you ready to shred a bunch of Chaos Space Marines?". This guy couldn't be more sour or dispirited and we hadn't even exchanged army lists. He then goes on to tell me how useless his units are, how much GW hates Chaos Space Marines and this guy has been playing for like 4 damn months. I cannot tell you how many newbies roll up into the store complaining about this, complaining about that, crapping on GW like their 20 year vet. To make a long story short he goes into a huff, about the result of every single unit he loses. I warn him multiple times about going after units he cannot hurt like the Wraithlord or the Flicker Jump on the Spiders, but he tells me "Its All Good" and then goes on a "Woe is Me" pity party for himself after each and every result.
Look, no one needs to tell me that Chaos is in desperate need for a new Codex. Everyone knows that. I even told the guy right up front I know he's playing on "Hard Mode". My issue is that we're both trying to have a good time. Just because you are losing, doesn't mean both of us have to have a miserable experience. Show some damn class and lose with dignity. This guy was just lousy, complaining and describing how much he was sweating, burping, swearing with kids around and just whining and complaining all the way to the miserable end.
Sorry to rant guys but there are a lot of guys in my area who are just miserable people to play against. I don't know if its the area or what, but where I from New England where in sports and competition (the participants not the fans) of all forms its practically law that you don't talk trash, you don't complain, you don't hot dog, and when you win keep the public celebration to an absolute minimum. Both people are looking to have a good time. When I am losing, I'm very conscious of not spoiling the other persons fun, even if I'm losing badly. Everyone looks forward to winning and its wrong to ruin that just because you are losing.
Not only did this guy's attitude stink, his army composition did as well. The Land Raider, 3x Terminators, 5 lonesome Plague Marines and Biker Lord with 3 Spawn were all utterly useless. His deployment was also incredible weak as well putting the Havocs right in the wheel house of all 9 Jetbikes, really reflecting that he had didn't believe he had any chance to win. To me don't bother playing if thats your attitude. Its a waste of your time and mine. To that end I really went for the jugular with this guy right from the get-go. I knew this was gonna stink and while I was friendly and reserved, internally I just wanted to achieve a crushing victory and get the heck out of there.
So anyway guys sorry for the rant. I'm going to make a TRULY concerted effort to find better people to play with. There are number of good guys in the group and I'm going to try and cultivate a good relationship with them and ensure much better experiences in the future. So anyway guys THANK YOU GUYS for all your customary support, input and comments. I wish we could all be a gaming group in real life cause you guys are the best! I truly mean that. Anyway take care guys, stay tuned because there's a lot more positive and enthusiastic 40k goodness to come, I promise that!