2v2 Batrep - The Danse Macabre

A storm was gathering above the planet Gerexus, making it hard to differentiate friend from foe. Many parties had previously fought over the bountiful rewards on offer, with few being able to claim absolute victory. As the walls of reality weakened, armies of the Imperium, wanderers of the Webway, newborn races, Traitor Legions, and denizens of the Warp all converged on the planet yet again. In the ensuing battle, none would be able to truly tell friend from foe....

Mork and I entered the 2v2 tournament held at Gamersaurus Rex over the weekend. We eventually settled on a combined Ynnari and Death Guard list. Much as I dislike the fluff behind it, soulburst brings a whole new way to punish lists which get an alpha strike in, while Mork's Death Guard added some resiliency for securing objectives.

The forces of the Danse Morkabre gathered.

Slowburn Month 5 Progress

As with all leagues, attrition is guaranteed. This month only 3 people managed to turn up, although I know a few of the guys actually have valid reasons. Nevertheless, really proud of the guys who did and completed their pledges despite being so busy with life. Here they are! 

Sam and Ray - Death Angels! 

Sam's 3rd army this league! 

While he didn't get them all to his usual top finished standard, this is his 3rd army. Started with Eldar, then Nids and now Marines! Madness!

Red wants to go fasta! 

Month 5's theme was Red Wants to go Fasta hence I completed these fast units. But as a bonus, I completed the Terminators and Cassor the Damned as well.

Probably spent the most time on these guys in my entire painting career these Terminators. I do love them though. Each one of them dripping with character.

Mark and his really lovingly crafted Orks! 

Sam, Mark and myself are thinking of doing a battle between the Death Angels vs the Orks. Mark will need reinforcements in the form of Alex though! 1500 vs 1500. Bring it! 

Slowburn: Blood Angels vs Dark Angels

The skies rip open as the Angels of Death clash. Davin just returned from the States and brought with him his Dark Angels. With the Slowburn League in full swing, we brought our painted armies to play. 

Sicaran, Drop Pod Assault Squad, Sniper Scouts, Tactical Rhino, Death Co and Chaplain as Warlord

Death Wing with Raven Wing

 Game 1

Ballsy move by Davin

Too ballsy

Game 1 was over in 1 turn. Davin made a big gamble and one that did not favour him. I wiped the bikes out and it was game over.

We set up for Game 2 and I suggested he changed his deployment up a little.

Game 2

We rolled on mission again and played the Spoils of War. Granted this is Davin's 2nd 7th Ed game so we really took the gentle route here.

Death Co standing in the open daring Davin to come challenge them! 

I had the nimble part of my force in the open ready to grab objectives as this was a race game. Also, I would be able to react to anything Davin threw at me.

Pod dropping in capture point 6 and threaten Davin's bike squad

Deathwing drops in behind the ruins to attempt to capture objective 3 while putting some hurt on the Sicaran

Another hero emerges! He took out the Bikes and proceeded to charge the Land Speeder but failed! 

I pulled my Death Co back to handle the Deathwing. Terminators are hard to deal with at 750 points

I tried to charge but failed the 12" charge. Davin then returns the favour

And swarms the Death Company

Towards the end of the game, I pulled my vehicles away to capture the objectives. Davin lacked the mobility and loss 

I basically played to the mission and secured 11 cards. Davin only scored 8 I think

With bonuses, I pulled a small margin of victory. Considering again that this is Davin's second 7th Ed game, I really shouldn't be proud with my success. There was nothing I could do to take the Terminators out as they were just godlike in their 2+ armour saves.

Looks like my list may need some tweaking. That unit of Tactical Marines aren't really doing that much every game, just cruising around in their Rhino. I may Drop Pod them in at 1000 points. Hmmmm

Breaking News: New Dark Angel Decurion

I'll just leave this here

Apocalypse 20k points Battle

A farewell Apocalypse battle Marshall organise for Stephen who is leaving the country. 

3 players a side. DA/SOB vs SW+AM/Chaos with each side taking approximate 10k points.

SOB & DA with Warhound, Knight Titans

Space Wolves + Vostroyans + knight titans

More SW & Vostroyans

More DA Raven Wing & knight titans

More DA Death wing 

Subtle shade of grey Chaos 

Deployment

More pictures after the Jump. Let the carnage begin!

Shield of Baal - Apocalypse

After 6 weeks of campaigning, each faction scored bonuses for the final game which took place yesterday at Titan Games. Props to them for supporting this campaign, providing us not only a dedicated place to play but supplying us with food and even sponsoring the prizes at the end! 

As for the players, each player contributed to the greater fight by taking on opponents on the opposing faction and scoring bonuses which helped in the Apocalypse. 

Apoc in progress

Shield of Baal - Campaign Week 1 Vitria Strike

3,000 points aside, we played a 2v2 game. Each player had 1,500 points to play with. This is the first game for the Shield of Baal Campaign that I am running for Titan Games. It is a 7 week campaign that uses league rules. Two main factions each vying for Mission Points every week. Each week will award a bonus to the final week's game which is an apocalypse game. 

This week is the 1st week so we played the Vitria Strike Mission from the Shield of Baal Campaign book. 

Mission 1

The reward for the apoc game is additional reinforcements for the winning Faction. 

Imperial: 1 unit of 10 Scions (hotshot lasguns with 2 plasma guns) with Sergeant (the Kappic Eagles) mounted in Valkryie. 

Tyranids: 1 unit of 16 Genestealers with Broodlord (both work out to 285 points)

Batrep: Eldar vs Dark Angels: Ravenwing

Stephen wanted a game with me after our apoc game we had last weekend so we made an appointment to play on Wednesday. He plays Dark Angels and paints his stuff. Excellent. He brought a full Ravenwing with Sammael, 2 units of Black Knights, 2 units of Ravenwing bikers, 2 Dreads and 2 units of Devastators. I brought my usual 1850 points of Eldar.

1850 points, we played the first mission in the book: Cleanse and Control. 

I deployed first to get the first turn. 

Kept my War Walkers, 1 unit of jetbikes and 2 units of Warp Spiders in Reserve/Deep Strike. 

Batrep: 1850 Eldar vs Dark Angels

It was the night of the Tyranid book launch here so Marshall and I headed down to GRX to watch the fanfare and get a game in. 

Been quite enamoured with the Eldar recently. Have been tweaking a list that I have built which is a take all comers type of list. This is the breakdown of that list:

Farseer: Mantle of the Laughing God, Runes of Witnessing, Witchblade, Jetbike [Warlord]
Farseer: Runes of Witnessing, Singing Spear, Jetbike
Fire Dragons x6: Wave Serpent - Holofields, Twin Linked Scatter Lasers (proxy), Shuriken Cannon (proxy)
Guardians x10: Wave Serpent - Holofields, Twin Linked Scatter Lasers (proxy), Shuriken Cannon (proxy)
Dire Avengers x10: Wave Serpent - Holofields, Twin Linked Scatter Lasers (proxy), Shuriken Cannon (proxy)
Windrider Jetbike x3
Windrider Jetbike x3
Warp Spiders x8
Warp Spiders x8
Fire Prism: Holo Fields
War Walker x3: Bright Lance (proxy), Scatter Laser

Farseers rolled up the powers:

Seer 1 [Warlord]: Guide, Forewarning, Mind War; Ambush of Blades [Warlord Trait]

Seer 2: Guide, Doom, Prescience

Marshall my opponent brought a Dark Angel list. Fully painted too! 

Azrael [Warlord]
Deathwing Terminators x5: Assault Cannon, Chainfist, Inner Circle, Sergeant (Storm Bolter + Power Sword)
Deathwing Terminators x5: Assault Cannon, Chainfist, Inner Circle, Sergeant (Storm Bolter + Power Sword)
Deathwing Terminators x5: Assault Cannon, Chainfist, Inner Circle, Sergeant (Storm Bolter + Power Sword)
Ravenwing x5: Meltagun x2, Teleport Homer, Sergeant
Tactical Squad x9: Sergeant, Plasmagun + Droppod
Devastator Squad x5: Sergeant + Signum, Lascanon x4
Devastator Squad x5: Sergeant + Signum, Lascanon x4
Devastator Squad x5: Sergeant + Signum, Lascanon x4
Aegis Defence Line with Quad Gun

I felt a little ashamed not having a fully painted army when my opponent did. I have resolved to paint faster!

We rolled for missions and for the first time in 6th Edition, I will be playing the Relic! 

Rolled for first turn and I managed to take the first turn. 

Eldar deployment - kept my Fire Prism far back owing to it's long range and supported my flank with the War Walkers. Spiders took middle ground with my Wave Serpents coming around the rims. Kept my Fire Dragons' Wave Serpent back to plug any gaps in the deployment lines

Marshall's deployment. Two Devastator squads in the ruins on the right and centre of the picture. The ones in the right was badly deployed. They had little line of sight to anything as the windows were pointing to the quarter that was empty. 

A bird's eye view of the said deployment

Marshall rolled to seize but no luck. Phew!

Deployment for both sides with Reserves waiting on the sidelines (white jetbikes and Terminators)

DA makes their Scout moves bringing them much closer to the objective

Eldar Turn 1: Advanced aggressively in the middle. I knew that his Terminators would be able to come in Turn 1 with a Drop Pod supporting their push so I had to keep my units together and give him no room to deploy. 

Managed to buff all my units using the Farseer powers. Disembarked my Guardians to attempt to seize the objective and pull it back into my table side. 

Managed to take 2 Marines out despite the Night Fight and Aegis Line

DA Turn 1: Marshall lands the Drop Pod right in front of my War Walkers. In fly a unit of Terminators as well

Another successful drop by Marshall. I was going to have to kill them all to get the Relic from him

The bikers move around the building to attempt to take out the Wave Serpent

The Terminators opened up on the Guardians mowing them down

While the Bikers charged in and take out the Wave Serpent

Eldar Turn 2: This was what I was waiting for. The full DA force has committed itself. Now to return the favour. My Reserved Jetbikes turned up unfortunately. I buffed my unit of Spiders with both Guide and Forewarning. I Doomed the unit of Terminators holding onto the Relic

Closed all my units in and disembarked my Fire Dragons on the right to counter his bikes. My Dire Avenger Wave Serpent moved further north to attend to his 2 other units of Terminators. 

It was the Terminators' last stand

Warp Spiders are currently my favourite unit. The amount of damage they do is Godly. Add in Farseer powers, these two combined make a powerful foe. I Battlefocussed the units back out of range and LOS to the Terminators in the north. 

"Fall back and regroup"

DA Turn 2: With vengeance, the Terminators took out my Dire Avengers' Wave Serpent. I lost 3 to the explosion. He managed reduce my Guardians to the last man who fled

Eldar Turn 3: Could not rally my last Guardian which would flee the battlefield. Buffed up my Spider Superfriends.

Moved the Dragons into the ruins and moved some of my units at the back around to tackle his blob of Terminators

Superfriends all buffed up ready to take on another unit of Terminators and earn themselves a place in the annals of the Craftworld. The Avengers were in Dire need of help. 

Moved my Avengers as far as possible towards the building.

And WOW! The Spiders again proved their worth! This time without Doom, I managed to delete not one but TWO units of Terminators. Of course the Avengers helped out but WOW! 

DA Turn 3: Marshall felt the pressure now. He had only one unit of Troops who could realistically capture the Relic. I had units between him and the Relic. 

He moved behind the Drop Pod and managed to drop one of my War Walkers. Was it going to be enough?

Eldar Turn 4: I moved the remaining armour to the left knowing that his Tactical Squad could not really harm them. A unit of Spiders moved into the ruins to support the Dragons. The other unit of Spiders moved into the bunker and enveloped the poor Tactical Squad. 

Everything opened up on them

Having accomplished that, I moved my units back out of range and into cover

Battlefocus is so bloody powerful. 

Side note: Spiders are jetpack units. I can make a 2D6" move in the assault phase if I did not assault a unit. Wow! So I have 6+2D6" Movement, D6" Battlefocus and 2D6" Jetpack move. Potentially moving from 10" to 36" per turn! 

MORE SPIDERS PLEASE!

Moved my units around to hug the Relic and out of LOS from his Devastator squads. 

DA Turn 4: There was little that they could do to capture the objective. Marshall did have First Blood so went for the Warlord. He shot my Warlord and at St8, one shot the frail Farseer. 

Eldar Turn 5: I advanced my Spiders up and over the building to take more shots at his Tactical unit. At the end of this round Marshall called it. There was nothing he could do to kill off the Avengers who were hidden behind this building. 

Good game. Close start but it started swaying my way once the Terminators died. The combination of powers and firepower by the units were amazing.

In hindsight, Marshall should have chosen my table side. The Relic was covered by the building, cutting the field in half. Considering his bulk is long range fire power, he should have taken the side with ample firing lanes.

I collected my Tyranid book and minis too so keep your eyes posted for other batreps coming soon!