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Main => Campaigns and Battle Reports => Topic started by: lIlceman on October 11, 2010, 12:24:24 AM
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First battle report ever, so I apologize for any erros. Wife had the digital camera, so no pics this time :'(
Fresh off of a rampage of a nearby Imperial colony on Artonis, a mixed detachment of Chaos Marines stumble upon the Exodite world of Nianithel in a neighboring system. Forseeing this incursion, the forces of Craftworld Ulthwé are mustered in reponse.
Forces of Chaos:
Daemon Prince w/ Wings, MoK
Daemon Prince w/ Sorcerer, Wings, MoS, Lash of Submission
Summoned Greater Daemon of Khorne
(11) Summoned Lesser Daemons of Khorne
(9) Plague Marines w/ Personal Icon, 8 Bolters, 2 Plasmaguns
Plague Marine Champion w/ Power Fist
Rhino w/ Havoc Launcher and Extra Armor
(9) Plague Marines w/ Personal Icon, 8 Bolters, 2 Plasmaguns
Plague Marine Champion w/ Power Fist
Rhino w/ Havoc Launcher and Extra Armor
(9) Khorne Berserkers w/ Personal Icon, 9 Bolt Pistols
Skull Champion w/ Power Weapon
Land Raider w/ Havoc Launcher, Extra Armor
(6) Terminator Champions w/ 4 Chain Fists, 1 Power Fist & Combi-Flamer, 1 Power Fist & Reaper Autocannon
Vindicator w/ Havoc Launcher and Extra Armor
Defiler w/ TL Lascannons, Extra CC Arm
Defenders of Ulthwé
Avatar of Khaine
Farseer w/ Witchblade, RoWt, RoWa, SS, Doom, Fortune, Eldritch Storm
(10) Warlocks w/ 10 Sing Spear, Enhance, Embolden, 2x Destructor
Mounted in Wave Serpent w/ TL BL, SS
(9) Striking Scorpions
Striking Scorpion Exarch w/ Scorpion Claw, Shadowstrike, Stalker
(9) Howling Banshees
Howling Banshee Exarch w/ 2 Mirrorswords, War Shout, Acrobatic
Mounted in Wave Serpent w/ TL BL, SS
(5) Fire Dragons
Fire Dragon Exarch w/ Firepike, Crackshot, Tank Hunters
Mounted in Falcon w/ Bright Lance
(9) Dire Avengers
Dire Avenger Exarch w/ Power Weapon, Shimmershield, Defend
(9) Dire Avengers
Dire Avenger Exarch w/ Power Weapon, Shimmershield, Defend
(20) Guardians w/ BL
Warlock w/ Witchblade, Conceal
(3) War Walkers w/ 6 Scatter Lasers
Wraithlord w/ Wraithsword, BL
Quick Note: I use the term "Right" and "Left" side to refer to the long table edges to my right and left as this is a Pitched Battle. This is a game between my brother and I. I went for a Hammer and Anvil style strategy, though I understand it is not as effective in this edition of 40K. I would have gone full mechanized, but I don't own enough Wave Serpents! Game is Annihilation. Pitched Battle. He wins deployment roll and decides to deploy first. Terrain and deployment are: Large Building in his corner, flanked on the left with a rock group about 20" away, another rock group slightly to the right and about 24" in front of the building. Hillock dead center, rock group in the back right corner, and medium building in back left corner (my corner) lesser daemons, greater daemon and terminators are in reserve. Defiler is out of sight on the left side of his building. Tanks are lined on the right side of the building. Vindy is next to building, followed by Land Raider and both Rhinos. Both Demon Princes are hiding behind the tank line.
My War Walkers and Striking Scorpions outflank. One group of Dire Avengers are in reserve. Avatar is close to the center behind the hillock. Behind him are the Dire Avengers, Guardians are behind them. Falcon, Wraithlord and both Wave Serpents are hiding behind my building.
TURN 1
I fail to seize the initiative. The Defiler moves out from behind the building. The two Daemon Princes fly out in front of the tank line and cower behind a rock pile, out of sight. The two Rhinos retreat fully behind the tank line, and the firestorm begins. The Defiler attempts to shoot at the Avatar of Khaine, but the Bloody Handed one is not fazed. The Vindicator attempts to bombard my Dire Avengers, but they stand fast as the shots fall wide. The Land Raider lands a few successful hits against the Dire Avengers, however, and three precious lives are lost. When the guns of Chaos fall silent, my deadly work begins. My Farseer imbues his Wave Serpent and squadron with Fortune. This Wave Serpent moves flat out at 24", carrying my Seer Council straight towards the enemy tank line. The other Wave Serpent moves 12" at an angle to the right, taking advantage of cover from the big guns of the Land Raider, but maintaining line of sight to the Vindicator. The Falcon moves up atop the building and takes aim. Towards the center, the Avatar moves closer to the hillock, making use of the cover provided, and the Dire Avengers follow suit. The guardians come up behind them, with the BL platform sticking out slightly for a shot. The Eldar rain fire upon the enemy to some effect. The slower Wave Serpent strikes the Vinidcator to no effect. The Wraithlord shakes the Land Raider, and the Falcon does little against the enemies press of arms. The guardians have no effect. The battlefield is silent briefly.
TURN 2
With some twisted fortune of Chaos, the Greater Daemon and Lesser Daemons are summoned in front of the Land Raider, and the Terminators teleport in to it's right flank. The Daemon Princes advance across the field towards the hillock, cowering behind the lesser daemons as they do so. The Rhinos move up again, past the Land Raider's right flank. A hail of ordnance and lascannon fire rains from the Defiler, but again goes wide of the Avatar. The Vindicator and Land Raider both rain death upon my Guardians as their only target available, and the unit is nearly cut in half! My Farseer continues to pull the strands of Fortune for his Council, and manages to spell Doom upon the enemy Daemon Prince of Khorne. My second unit of Dire Avengers march onto the field behind the building, where they take cover for the time being. The Avatar continues to burn a path around the hillock while staying out of sight of the tanks, with the Dire Avengers following suit. The Guardians stay near by. The falcon and Wraithlord continue to advance, while the Wave Serpent speeds it's Seer Council behind the enemy tank line. My other Wave Serpent continues around the right side of the rock formation. The Guardians again have little effect, however the Falcon and Wraithlord together manage to immobilize and destroy BOTH weapons of the Vindicator, leaving it essentially useless but still functioning. The other Wave Serpent manages to shake the Land Raider, and both sides take a break for lunch as the delivery man arrives.
TURN 3
The lesser daemons of Nurgle ooze and shuffle their way in a long line in front of the tanks, creating a mildly distracting, if somewhat putrid meat shield conga line. The Greater Daemon and Daemon Prince of Khorne continue to travel behind this line to the back side of the hillock that my Avatar waits behind, plotting their destruction. The Daemon Prince of Slaanesh alights behind the tank line, ready to face off against my Seer Council. A unit of Plague Marines also disembarks to the right of the Terminators for fire support, and the second Rhino moves towards my other Wave Serpent and also disembarks it's contingent of Plague Marines. The Defiler fires at my Avatar again, but misses wide, landing among my Dire Avengers and killing several! The guns of the Vindicator and Land Raider have been silenced for now. The terminators and the Plague Marines unleash a dizzying barrage of fire at the Wave Serpent, destroying it's Bright Lances and shaking, but not destroying it. The Terminators and Daemon Prince of Slaanesh are left with no choice but to assault the Wave Serpent, resulting in a dazzling explosion that leaves one of my Warlocks dead in the wreckage. As the tide of battle ebbs, the Eldar make their move. My War Walkers make a surprise appearance directly behind the Defiler, and the Striking Scorpions appear to their right, some ways from the desperate battle my Seer Council is about to become locked into. To add insult to injury, the Farseer fails his attempt at Fortune, and my Seer Council is left vulnerable to the predations of the Warp! The Falcon flies across the stretched line of lesser daemons to land behind them, and my Fire Dragons disembark, although this would later prove to be a hasty and ill-calculated move. The Wraithlord continues his ponderous advance as my Avatar moves into position for the slaughter ahead. The Dire Avengers move back slightly, eager to stay away from the fierce firestorm of Khaine's rage that is about to ensue, and the reduced squad of Guardians follows suit. The other unit of Dire Avengers advances towards the battle. The remaining Wave Serpent moves up, ready to engage the Plague Marines, but the mechanism on the launch ramp fails and my Howling Banshees are trapped inside! (I forgot to deploy them, although this oversight would end up working slightly to my advantage). The Fire Dragons lay down a superheated wave of deadly plasma that puts the Vindicator's remaining crew out of their misery, cooking them alive inside their tank, while the Falcon glances one of the Rhinos, leaving it shaken. The Wraithlord continues to launch shots at the Land Raider, but again to no avail. The faulty Wave Serpent does manage to shake the Land Raider however. The Avatar levels Wailing Doom at the Greater Daemon of Khorne, and the foul Daemon is pounded backwards by the force of the blast. Meanwhile the Farseer locks the Daemon Prince of Slaanesh in a Mind War, successfully causing slight injury to the creature. This is followed by a hail of Singing Spears that bring the Daemon Prince to his knees, while the Striking Scorpions run boldly towards the fray. The War Walkers do their Craftworld proud, and the sky is lit with the lightning of their massed Scatter Laser fire against the Defiler's backside. The possessed engine is immobilized and loses it's deadly Battle Cannon in the barrage. The Seer Council assaults the pathetic remains of the Daemon Prince, cutting him down before he can raise a hand in defense. The Dire Avengers and Guardians near the Avatar launch a volley of razor bladed discs at the Daemon Prince of Khorne, who shrugs off the weak attempts. With a cry of rage, the Avatar launches himself at the Greater Daemon, causing massive damage against the foul creature while receiving a light injury in return, and the Forces of Chaos ready their response.
TURN 4
The Defiler struggles on it's useless limbs. The Vindicator is a smoking wreck. One Daemon Prince lies dead and a Greater Daemon is close to following. Chaos is wounded, but not defeated. The Khorne Beserkers disembark from the Land Raider in a howling rage, and the Terminators ready themselves for the assault. The second unit of Plague Marines move to within striking distance of my remaining Wave Serpent, and the Daemon Prince of Khorne readies himself for the charge against my hapless Dire Avengers, who were unable to get far enough away in time. The Lesser Daemons consolidate slightly, hoping to assault the Falcon or it's disembarked Fire Dragons. Both Rhinos turn and loose a volley of missile and bolter fire that completely annihilates my unit of Fire Dragons. The plasmagun and bolter fire of the Plague Marines bounces harmlessly off of my Wave Serpent. My Seer Council does not fare as well. The combined fire from the Terminators, Plague Marines and Khorne Berserkers pours into my Seer Council, and without the expected protection of the Farseer's powers, several are perforated dozens of times and left bleeding on the steppe. The Khorne Berserkers and the Terminators then assault into the Seer Council. The Seer Council manages to kill off three of the crazed Berserkers, but after a hard fought battle only the Farseer and a single Warlock remains standing, but they hold fast and do not break in the face of overwhelming odds. The other unit of Plague Marines assault my remaining Wave Serpent, critically damaging it's gravitic thrusters and forcing the Howling Banshees inside to disembark from the wreckage. The Avatar and the Greater Daemon of Khorne continue their struggle, fighting to a standstill. The Daemon Prince tears into the remaining Dire Avengers, killing several as their blows bounce off his Warp-cursed hide. The Lesser Daemons assault my Falcon, but to no effect as my turn begins. My Wraithlord continues moving up, hugging the rock formation that separates him from the Plague Marines and the Banshees. The Falcon pulls back towards the Defiler in an attempt to get away from the Lesser Daemon horde. My second squad of Dire Avengers move up towards the Lesser Daemons, and the Guardians begin to backpedal. The Striking Scorpions move closer, but it looks like they will not be in time to save the Council at this rate! They continue to run to the battle. The second Dire Avenger unit unleashes a deadly rain of monofilament shurikens at the Lesser Daemons, killing five of them. The Wraithlord fires at the Land Raider again, but doing little real damage. The War Walkers finish off the Defiler, the resulting explosion leaving nothing but a smoking crater. The Falcon levels its guns at the Land Raider, shaking it's crew in the process. The Banshees fire at the Plague Marines, but to no effect. The Banshees launch into a dance of flashing blades that cuts down several Plague Marines, but they suffer four deaths of their own. Meanwhile the Avatar cuts down the Greater Daemon, standing across the smoking corpse of his vanquished foe. At the same time, the Daemon Prince slays the rest of the Dire Avengers, who are reduced to nothing more than a mound of corpses at his feet as he stalks towards the Guardians. The Guardians cower at the display, but the Warlock encourages them to hold their ground. The Seer Council continues their vain struggle, and only the Farseer remains, grievously wounded.
TURN 5
The Land Raider turns and moves in closer to the nearby melee. The unengaged Plague Marines re-embark, and the Rhino moves up to support their brethren. The Lesser Daemons move to cower behind the hillock in the center of the field, hoping to avoid enemy fire. The melee ends poorly, and my Farseer cries out in anguish as he is impaled upon the energize claws of the Terminators, and both units consolidate forward towards my rushing Scorpions. The Banshees struggle against the Plague Marines, cutting two more down, but soon only the exarch and a single Banshee remain standing. The last Daemon Prince rushed at the Guardians, turning three of them into gory piles of meat. The Falcon continues to fire against the Rhinos, finally managing to detonate the magazine of the one carrying the Plague Marines who climb unscathed from the smoldering wreckage. The Dire Avengers launch a second volley against the Lesser Daemons, and only two are left standing, which the War Walkers cut down completely. The Wraithlord's Brightlance continues to be mildly effectual as he chases the Land Raider (shaking him), and I begin to wonder why I keep bringing him along. The Striking Scorpions vow vengeance for the death of the Farseer, and launch their own volley of pistol fire at the Berserkers, to no effect. They then launch themselves at the Berserkers in a rage, killing several of them while taking a few losses of their own. The Avatar eagerly re-enters the fray, raining blow upon vicious blow down on the back of the Daemon Prince, wounding him. The Daemon Prince manages to eliminate many of the Guardians, leaving only the Warlock and a single Guardian standing, who hold fast under the blood lust imbued by Khaine's presence. The tides begin to turn for the Howling Banshees, and soon only the Exarch remains. The die of fate is cast, and the battle continues.
TURN 6
The Land Raider moves up closer to the melee again, and the Plague Marines emerging from the crater of their transport move in behind the melee with the Banshees, ready to engage themselves. The Striking Scorpions continue their struggle, killing all but one of the Berserkers, but taking several wounds of their own. Deciding discretion is the better part of valor, the Exarch and his remaining cohort decide to fall back. The Terminator is unable to pursue due to the bulk of their unwieldy Tactical Dreadnaught Armor, and the Berserker just doesn't have it in him to give chase, but they move close behind the fleeing Scorpions to harry them. The Daemon Prince kills the Warlock, but is himself mortally wounded by the Avatar and barely able to continue his struggle. The Banshees struggle valiantly, but do little real damage as the Plague Marines cut them down. It is my turn, and the War Walkers move into firing position against the Terminators. The Striking Scorpions continue to flee, and are unable to regroup due to the proximity of the enemy. The Terminators are weighed down by the sheer volume of fire, and soon only one is left standing. I don't remember what the Wraithlord did at this point, but I remember he did pretty much nothing all battle, not being able to reach anything worthwhile. The Falcon falls back some more, firing on the remaining Rhino to no effect. The pulse laser misses the last Rhino. The Dire Avengers lay fire into the Plague Marines who had slain the Banshees, but the Plague Marines shrug off the incoming shuriken fire as if it were a mere annoyance. As the Daemon Prince turns to face his assailant, he is eviscerated by Wailing Doom, and the God of War howls in triumph once again. The die is cast, the battle continues...
TURN 7
The Striking Scorpions continue to flee much to my chagrin, and the lone Terminator gives chase. The remaining Berserker flees to the safety of the Land Raider, who moves along the backside of the building to engage my War Walker squadron. Both units of Plague Marines take cover behind the rock formations. The Land Raider showers a fusillade of fire upon my War Walkers, and an immobilized Walker is left for dead, his companions eager to move on. The two units of Plague Marines fire back from the cover of the rocks, and combined with the fire of the last Rhino, eight Dire Avengers fall. The Exarch and remaining Dire Avenger stand fast. As my turn begins, the Falcon falls back more, hoping to get both the Land Raider and Rhino in line of sight for maximum shooting options, but the Brightlance ends up being out of range of the Rhino and the Pulse Laser does no damage. War Walkers are unable to damage anything in range. The Wraithlord finally earns his keep by killing the last Terminator with his Brightlance, and the battle is ended, a sad day for the Eldar, though it is a very narrow loss, and the Exodite colony is left to fend for itself against the tide of Chaos Undivided.
I ended up with six points to his seven. (Or was it seven to his eight? I forget) It was a close one. Tactics feedback is of course welcome, but please also let me know if the text was too long/flowery! This is my first battle report, and I promise pics for the next one.
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I really enjoyed this battle report. It explained what happened in a more realistic way. I felt like I was reading a book instead of looking at data. This was really epic in my opinion and I think your next battle reports should be just like it in the way of style. I know you play elder but this deserves a marine: UH-RAH! ;D
P.S. Good job putting so many of those Chaos scum out of their misery. I am sure the valiant stand of the Ulthwe in this battle will go down into the annals of eldar history. ;)
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Thanks Gunner! I feel like most people didn't bother reading it due to length and/or lack of pictures. I will definitely include pics in the next one! Please let me know if you have any suggestions on strategies and tactics, as I am still fairly weak in that arena.