Army showcase: Urash's Marauders

Hey everyone, this is KrautScientist again. After my initial post (showcasing my World Eaters), I would like to show you the other chaos army project I am currently working on: My growing force of Traitor Guard, called “Urash’s Marauders”.

Your Questions and Topics, The Lord Solar Answers... (part 2)

The topic that I was asked to talk about for this installment was by ServvsUmbrarum who also has a blog, The Initiate, (though he has not posted in awhile, hopefully this will encourage him to!) He asked:

"I've got about 2k worth of guard and I was wondering if you could cover an odd topic but something I've been struggling with.

How can one build an army list that is both fun to play with and against. One of my biggest issues with the way I play guard is that I just sit back and shoot. I love my other codex's because I'm constantly moving, weighing options but my current Guard list is just so...sit there and shoot, target priority being the only real skill I have to use.

So I guess the topic I'd like to see is. "How to make a dynamic guard list that works with the unique nature and strengths of the codex without parking lot.

I hope this makes sense. I never like to make my opponent feel disengaged from the battle and am a strong believer in the 'social contract'."

Your Questions, The Lord Solar Answers (All About Allies)

O.K. so with the last post I did, a few questions/topic requests were tossed to me by some faithful readers. So I figured I would take the time to answer the first today like I said I would!

First question was from Grazer who also writes for a couple blogs, Rogue Trader and Claws and Fists so check him out (and perhaps he will join the blog roll legion for DFG after this). His question was as follows

"I'd be interested in what you think are the best options for Allies for IG, and whether you even think they are necessary at all. 

I have used Blood Angels infantry to try and strengthen my midfield and to fight for objectives, but they are quite expensive and obviously limit the amount of artillery  tanks and flyers you can select from the IG codex."

Wait… Steve… no Leman Russ? What’s wrong?

That is an exact question asked to me when I revealed my new list to a few people a couple weeks ago at Evolution games. I understand why as well, as I have for the longest time been a big proponent of the Leman Russ tanks and all the glorious damage they bring. I have won more than a fair share, or taken second, in enough tournaments to have proven my point of their power and durability if properly played and supported with the rest of your army (once again I preach balance in a list and how that makes entire codices better if used). However that does not mean I do not like to vary up my lists every once in a while and as such with the recent purchase of 3 Vendettas/Valkyries I decided it was time to take a look at some other ideas, and I built the following list with a little extra input from The Judge and Samsquanch Monster.

Sgt. Gunther Thorn's Diary: Week 3

((Sorry it has taken me so long to get this one up, have been busy and the shop has been crazy as well with EoD tourny.))


Week 3:

1000Z Ship Time

Got some bad news today. Seem a sliver from a hive fleet has broken off and is headed towards the planet. Primaris Psyker Zahleed was dispatched to a unit of Grey Knights to head down to the planet and scout ahead, we have been asked to be on call for the duration of this operation. My men are recovered from the last outing, and not losing anyone helped keep morale up. However This next mission scares me, 'Nids are nothing to be cocky about.

1500Z Ship Time

We've got the call and are headed to the teleporter. As dangerous as this is, we have been given special equipment to help us land where we need to, but Emperor save us if we still miss the target zone... I don't want to be stuck in the warp.

1530Z Ship Time

We have landed, right next to a monster, from the files it looks like it might be The Swarmlord itself. However it seems some of the bombardment from the ship injured it or was still recovering from another battle when we arrived but who would have been fighting it? I order the men to fire, quickly bringing this creature to its knees and a melta gun slides through its body cutting it in half, the cheer from the men is short lived however as a from behind we are assaulted by some sort of creatures, my men draw their blades and fight back in a flurry, the horror of the bugs ripping apart my men is lost to my mind as I fight for my life, cutting through their ranks with my power sword, the bodies of friend and foe beginning to pile up.

I hear the distant sounds of autocannon fire along with some multi-laser batteries. It seems some scout sentinals had been dispatched to assist in the assault. However over the comms i hear the cries of a the Grey Knights and Zahleed as they are attempting to kill a monster that came from the depths. Though someone keeps saying something about it "being in their head" but his voice doesn't last long before it is cut off in a strangle of death.

Gouts of flame erupt in the distance as well, it seems there is a hellhound or two, and perhaps from the look of that gas cloud, a banewolf as well. Then to my left an eruption is heard, a large chaotic blast, and over the comms i hear the muttering of "Got your back, Sir" before the channel goes silent again... was he talking to me? Was one of my men alive from our first mission on this forsaken world?

My spirits begin to rise for a moment, but then I see what must surely be my oncoming doom. A creature beyond side slams down to the earth, and though I would turn my guns and my mens upon it, we are to tied up in our struggle to be able. It did not take long for the beast to work its way to us. It quickly ate through the ranks, and I knew I was next... If I can just get...

~buzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz. The data recorder goes silent for all but the distant sounds of battle for what seems like hours. Then an unfamiliar voice is heard through the mic.~

Ha! Knew those fucking bugs couldn't get the best of you Sarge.... Can't go up to the ship with ya... but I will just activate this rescue beacon for you... and they will pick you up and patch nice and good....

~It went silent again for a long time, until it was cut off as a valkyrie touched down and a a medicae unit found the body, pulling it back inside.~

Sgt. Gunther Thorn's Diary Week 2 part 4 & 5

The first 3 entries can be found here: Part 1, Part 2, Part 3.

Week 2 Entry 4:

We watch in horror as a monster of a man in terminator armor stepped out from that mighty landraider along with a squad of terminators, and one who's psychic energy was visible even to my untrained eye. Then tendrils of chaos seem to spew forth from him, engulfing the squad of heavy bolters they had unloaded in front of, the poor men screaming in terror as they were pulled closer by these mystic things, however just after the bastard held his hands to his head and pulled off his helm to our horror as blood oozed from every hole in his head. It seemed that the taint of touching the chaos warp finally overtook him. Yet it did nothing to save the poor men and their bodies as they were torn limb from limb by the terminators. It only scared me further that I have one not only standing next to me as we load into this chimera and move off towards the defiler, that I have a psyker sitting next to me silently. Then

I order Private First Class Mathews and Vex to open the hatch and take some shots at the lumbering behemoth before us, Emperor willing we will kill the damn thing immediately. I look out the hatch myself, despite knowing my own hell-pistol is useless against the machine, yet I wanted a better look. Over our head plasma cannon shots rain down onto the battlefield from a Lemun Russ Executioner, I watched in glee as the terminator squad melted away over nearby into piles of ooze. Our own shots seemed to not get very far into the defiler and it rumbled ever closer.

Entry 5:

The men duck down into the cabin of the chimera along with myself as as the dreadnought turns its weapon upon us and fires overhead. The crew of the chimera sigh in relief, but such relief is short lived as the defiler rumbles up to us, confused by our movement previous a few of his massive swipes miss the vehicle though a couple land, rocking us inside the vehicle and shaking things around inside, the crew looks a bit out of it and it doesn't look like we will be able to do much more from inside here.

Piling out I look to my left but the lone remaining monster of a man over in the bunker is just fuming and turns to head towards his landraider, not close enough to come near us. As we exit the vehicle Primaris Psyker Zahleed looks at me and speaks in a strange tone, telling me he is heading for the bunker nearby and will support us from there and attempt to outflank the defiler, he runs off alone, and though I know I should move and protect him, I would rather not, and he ordered me too not follow anyhow. I line the men up in front of the defiler and nearly give them the order to shoot when from the bunker comes something I have not witnessed before.

Streaks of white hot lightning fly from where Zahleed has went and the sound of the seemingly quiet man screaming of how he would purify the chaos tainted in the name of the Emperor reached my ears right before the defiler in front of me exploded in a mighty, bright light. Two of my men fall down with shrapnel wounds, not serious enough to kill, but they wont be in the fight any more. I tell my men to turn their guns instead to the dreadnought and they fire away, the hot heat of the melta-guns tearing through the armor of the machine and cutting it in half, leaving nothing but wreckage in its wake.

As the smoke clears from the two dead monstrosities I look up to see the still seemingly unharmed predator rolling away from the battlefield along with the land raider and the man seemingly inside.

Zahleed comes out from the bunker, no smiles just that calm look on his face as he rejoins us commanding us to escort him back to the landing pad for our pickup was on its way. We had things to report to the high command.

I am not sure how we pulled of a victory, but I tell my men to gather up the two wounded men and help them back to the landing pad.

Week 2 Post Entry:

The high command wanted to keep a tight lip on some things, but they did let slip about who that monster of a man was. Abaddon. What the hell was he doing here? I have heard the stories about him, but what business does he have on this rock. The high command felt it was high time to inform more of the Imperium about this, and I am sure reinforcements in the form of the mighty Space Marines is well on its way, and with the psionic activity, I would not be surprised to see some of the Inquisition nearby either. The high command told my men and I to get some quick shuteye, cause we are being sent out again soon.

Sgt. Gunther Thorn's Diary Week 2 part 3

First two entries for this week can be found here and here.

Week 2 Entry 3:

The enemy has us pinned down hard now, I could give the men the order to move, but I do not want to attract to much attention. What is amazing is that just in our line of vision we saw that monstrous defiler attempt to climb over a bunker to get at a trio of heavy bolter teams. Something seemed to trip him up, allowing for a few more moments of respite for those poor souls. To our right the awful sound of lascannon could be heard. I was just waiting for the sound of the chimera to explode from the shots from that demoniacally possessed predator... yet it seems the Emperor was still blessing the men inside.

I give the order for my men to get down the ladders of the drop zone, luckily we all make it down quickly, otherwise we could have been sitting ducks. The officer who had watched his entire squad of men ripped limb from limb is in there. I almost don't want to see his face when we steps out, but I have to remain in composure, Zahleed is watching me, and his cold eyes feel like they look right into my soul, searching for something. I have nothing to fear, no chaos taint resides in me.

I watch in horror as the still alive dreadnought fires a multi-melta at the squad of three missile launcher teams in a bunker. The sound of horrified guardsmen is heard and only two teams struggle out from the bunker running as fast as their feet can carry them towards our lines, screaming about how there was nothing left of the men inside they paused for a moment but then ran again, seemingly not wanting to be a part of this battle.

Sgt. Gunther Thorn's Diary Week 2 part 2

Week 2 Entry 2:

The roar of the engines drowned out the first few seconds of thought once we hit the landing pad inside the base. It seems that one of the Scout Sentinels was in for repairs and is now to the right of us, its autocannon roaring to life as it attempts to tear apart that predator but to no avail. Another squad of men, twenty strong seem to have some lascannons on and are turning them towards the predator, but through the haze of smoke given off from the ruined dreadnought I can see it rocked the vehicle but the daemonic visage that seems to be given it power just laughs at the pitiful attempt.

Far away there is a loud flash of light, an explosion, bright orange flame spurting into the air, I can not see what caused it, no known fuel cells are over there, and the only unit nearby was that small squad of heretic marines. Emperor bless whomever would try to surprise those bastards. I sent out a call up to the Emperor's Holy Shield to see if they could spot who helped us, so far they haven't seen anything.

However spotting that had caused my eyes to wander up the field and spot a visage that scares me mightily. A land raider in the distance, and if my memory serves me correctly the heraldry on it serves me correctly, its some sort of command. The hope would be that it is empty, but I doubt we are that lucky.

Through the comms we can still hear the commissar screaming to his troops to keep up the good fight, but it was only him and the sergeants left and their pitiful bodies are torn to pieces. I can see the blood spray from here. Emperor protect us the dreadnought and defiler are free to start wandering the field of battle again.

Psyker Zaleed wants us to get close to the edge of the drop zone so perhaps we can climb down the ladders there. Nothing is in range of our guns to I agree and tell the men to get moving. Best to get off this damn thing anyhow, the entire enemy forces saw us land, no doubt they will want to aim for us next.

Sgt. Gunther Thorn's Diary Week 2

With the second week of the campaign at our FLGS happening last night I have decided to continue the storyline I started. With the points being larger I might post this in sections according to game turns. You can see the first Entry in the series here.

Week 2 Entry 1:

My new squad has been transfered off the Battleship Ravard and onto the fleet's flagship Emperor's Holy Shield. From the drills we have done it sounds like we will be a rapid response strike force, coming in to slaughter the enemy, or help out fellow guardsmen with a deep strike from the ship itself. So far I have been allowed to keep my powersword, which is good as it is a weapon my grandfather wielded into battle before me, and saved my life numerous times on the last mission. The squad has also been given the benefit of two melta-guns, and as Storm Troopers we have been given those fancy hot-shot lasguns, which seem to just rip through armor on the shooting range.

The warning bells are going off, it seems that the primary landing zone is under attack, and we have been ordered to get on the drop ship. Seems the 23rd needs some support holding the line. From what the commander is telling me, some sort of heretic marine force has landed right outside the perimeter. According to the base security cameras we have two dreadnoughts, a defliler, a predator and a single squad of heretic marines. It seems like far to small a force for taking on a base, maybe they just stumbled upon it. It seems we have been assigned a Psyker to fly down with us, as much as it makes me nervous being around such, the commander has promised me this man is untainted by chaos and something was compelling him to assist us down in the dredges of the world below, I have not seen ferver for battle in someones eyes like that since Grimes... poor bastard.

Oh Emperor Bless! As we are taking off the vid is showing one of the dreadnoughts and the defiler swarm into a 21 man strong squad of the 23rd, their commissar is somehow holding them together to hold back those monsters but it won't be long till there is nothing left but their broken bodies, the comm chatter is all quiet except for the sounds of their screaming death, they weren't even equipped with grenades to take on such a thing. They already lost a quarter of their number.

As we hit the atmosphere a cheer goes up from the entire crew and myself, though Primaris Psyker Zahleed kept quiet, as a lucky missile launcher shot from a bunker ripped through the second dreadnought right before we lost radio contact and the video signal.

May the Emperor bless us in this battle, and may my boys and I come home from this alive if he so wishes.

OK so trying something new... tell me how you like it.

Alright so Samsquanch Monster has decided to start his own campaign at our FLGS and we had our first mission last week. If you want to know what we did check out our friend's site Craftworld Lansing as he gives a basic rundown. However what I am going to try and do is give a perspective on what happened in the games based on my Units and how the game went. Giving this a story kind of feel. I hope you all enjoy it.

Sgt. Gunther Thorn's Diary

Entry 1: Scouting Mission on unknown planet.

We have been on the Battleship Ravard for what seems like months traveling to this system. I personally do not recognize once we have arrived, and the commanding officers haven't given me any clue as to our location. That is o.k., my boys don't need to know where they are, only that the Emperor wills it. The new kid, Private Raines, seems to know how to handle the plasma gun and has not had a single backfire since we started hitting the practice range with it. That at least is good news as the last chump fried his brains using the damn thing.

According to the mission report we will be equipped with a demolition charge and each man have melta bombs. Also we are getting a hold of some Carapace Armor and snare mines. The camo cloaks have been helpful in the past and my request for them has gone through. At least I know my men will be well hidden if it comes to that.

Entry 2: Scouting Mission

It seems we have been given the task of destroying a fuel depot, a get in and get out kind of scenario, although we were told to expect some resistance from some grots. Like that is gonna scare my boys, we have run across these creatures before when clearing off Cretia 9, but mainly they ran away, the Commander seems to think there is more to it than that but he wont tell me exactly his worries, but I don't expect him to. We are heading to get our blessing from Brother Francis, and I almost wish he was going with us on this, but we are supposed to strike silent like. I have given Private Joas and Private Polan the Meltagun and Grenade Launcher respectively. They know how to handle those weapons well enough, the rest of the fellows get regular weaponry except Private Grimes, who as usual will get the demo charge, he loves his explosives, already lost three fingers but that has only made him more fanatical in his duties for the Emperor. I could not ask for a better second in command.

Entry 3: We have touched ground.

We have touched ground, a lot more noise in this jungle than I anticipated. We keep hearing what sounds like some kind of broken down bike. Nearing a clearing and the men are spreading out, looks like we are about to make contact, time to draw my power sword, as I have a bad feeling I will need to use it.

Entry 4: Just out of surgery.

Well It seems things have not gone according to plan, according to the surgeon I am the only survivor. It happened so fast but I will write down what I can recall, Emperor willing.

We spotted what looked like a quad bike, with a heavy flame thrower on it, Polan knew that thing would burn us to pieces if it got near so he shot a round at it, unfortunately he missed, and the camp... army... or however you call a group of those damned things, gretchin, were swarming around, no orcs in sight. In fact the gretchin were using the vehicle and there were five groups of them, tow or three a piece, carrying big guns. I yelled for Raines and Joas to take shots at the warbuggie but Joas was out of range and Raines could not see the damned thing. The next thing I knew the damned thing kicked in gear and screamed right towards Joas and Polan, the flames breathing over them and leaving nothing but screaming flesh behind, may the Emperor take their poor souls. Raines got ripped apart by one of the big guns and I heard Stephens go down too.

From there it quickly fell into a fire fight, three or four of my men running to the buggie and placing some melta bombs onto it exploding it, yet no one was scathed. I heard Private Kellers lasgun ripping off shots and the screaming of a few dying gretchin and it brought my own reverie to and end along with Grimes we decided to try and flank the enemy, hoping to get to their edge. It was all for naught through, Grimes spotted them first and just tossed his demo charge it must have killed 5 or 6 of them in the blast but it was not enough, and all the dodging he tried to do did not work out either as he was killed by a slug through the skull, or at least that is how it looked from my angle.

I am not sure exactly what happened then. I just remember Screaming in fury at the top of my lungs, and running out slicing apart the bodies of the fucking greenskins, my power swords slicing through their flesh like soft butter. I must have killed 7 of them before the first bullet made its way through a tree limb and my armor taking me down into a pit. It did not kill me, it seems the Emperor has plans for me still. However the gretchin did not find my body either, yet their own fears of my killing caused them to back away from the fuel depot we were sent to kill, I could see it off in the distance though it seemed a mile away. I was making my way towards it, hoping to sneak into it and take it down when one of those groups carrying a gun came out of the building, it made a quick stab at them, but to no avail and they were not quick enough to strike on me. Running out into the forest I made it back to the pick up zone just in time to be taken up. I don't remember the ride. Despite my failure, Commissar Lord Zerovich paid me a personal visit in the hospital, giving me a promotion instead of a death sentence. Well its more of a lateral move, but it seems I am now in charge of a group of Storm Troopers who will be dropping in with the next wave. May the Emperor protect me and my new men.

Hello my name is Rambo... I mean Marbo... Mar-bo

Well we all knew it was coming at some point. A long look at what many a person consider to be one of the best units in the Imperial Guard list point for point.

Now I am not going to even attempt to say that Mr. Marbo is bad... but I will at least give the realistic view on his capabilities. So here it goes....

GUARDSMAN MARBO

Ok lets start with his universal special rules, starting with those i consider good. Fleet (awsome), Hit and Run (Sweet!), Stealth (perfect!) and last but not least move through cover. All these make Marbo a great little move about guy who loves his cover and will take it where-ever he can get it to take a 3+ cover save. He only has one Universal Special Rule that is a bit negative in my eyes. That would be fearless, now I know there are some psychic powers that force morale tests, but its hard enough to make his 5+ armor save in close combat once... let alone a second time if we happened to lose by 1 (somehow)

As for his unique special rules, one is very nice, while the other is kinda bad but not too upsetting. First lets go with the good: He's Behind You. This special rule Gives you the ability to place Marbo within an inch of any other model in the turn he arrives from reserves. You cant assault from this (disappointing I know) but it gives a great opportunity for his Demo Charge to hit exactly where you want it to. The slightly negative special rule would be Loner. This rule makes it so that he can not receive orders, it sounds bad, but most of the time you will be placing Marbo out of orders range anyhow. Over all he definitely has a bonus of good special rules however Eternal Warrior would be quite nice to have with his two wounds since he is only T 3.

Now for his Equipment. As already discussed he has a 5+ armor save, and a Demo charge (mmmmm Str 8 AP 2 large blast....), he also has a Envenomed Blade which is a poison CCW that wounds on a 2+ (a nasty bit of damage can be done when you get 6 attacks on the charge), a Ripper Pistol which is a AP 2 sniper rifle pistol with a 12 inch range (with his BS 5 this can be quite nice) and last but not least Melta Bombs. Need anymore to be said? This guy is a walking death dealer in terms of his weapons, but a paper cannon in terms of his armor save, 2 wounds without eternal warrior don't mean much.

Strategy:

As we look at Marbo and what he has and his stat line we realize he can be quite dangerous, if used properly. This is a hard thing how to tell to do besides: Find a group of models, put him near it and blow it up with a demo charge. However this isn't the only method of destroying people with him. You can also place him hidden away, and move him about to assault an unsuspecting group of models with his 6 attacks and hit and run him away to safety once its over.

The best is if you are able to combine the two if he lives through his first turn of being shot at.

For example the first time i really tried Marbo I was in a team game against Old School and his Chaos Plague Marine army and Captain Obvious and his Black Templar army. Marbo came in, tossed his Demo Charge on a group of Black Templar Assault Marines, and killed 7 of them in the blast, was assaulted by 3 plague marines, killed one, didnt get hurt, then killed another by its fearless check. Then hit and ran 16 inches away, next turn helped some stormtroopers assault a space marine squad with a heavy weapon and killed that off with 2 more kills, then ran away again to go after some more plague marines shooting down 2 and killing 2 more in close combat.... He had moved in total from one side of the board all 6 feet across to the other, creating havoc and mayhem the entire way and not dying.

Old School and Captain Obvious were stunned, and scared of the guy from them on... trust me... ask them. Marbo in that game has sort of become a legend at our FLGS after that performance.

Now, I am not saying that he will perform to these standards, as I also have experiences where he tosses his Demo charge on top of himself killing only himself. So he is a back and forth model, but it is TONS of fun to take him and at 65 points he fits into almost any list.

What do you think? What are your experiences?

Until next time, burn some heretics, kill some mutants, and do it always....

FOR THE EMPEROR!

My own bit of modeling. Death Korps by LSS

So i decided to take a break from my normal ranting on about Imperial Guard to give you readers a bit of the modeling that i do... So you can laugh at me I am sure. Anyhow here are a few stills of my army... wish i could get some better shots but I am not much of a photographer.