Wargames Gallery: Scouts in Chaos Terrain

Deep in the hostile terrain of a chaos-held Moon, scouts from the Blood Ravens space marines chapter hold off an assault of heretics with some well placed sniping bolstered by a missile launcher.

Battle Report: Blood Ravens vs. Chaos space marines

Mission: Primary targets, Humiliation

Deployment: Spearhead

Blood Ravens (space marine) list 1150pt:

Librarian, Plasma pistol, Null zone, Avenger 115pt

Tactical squad (10 man), Veteran: Infiltrate, meltagun, multi-melta, combi-melta 185pt

Scouts squad (5 man), Camo cloaks, missile launcher, Sniper rifles 100pt

Sternguard veterans (5 man), Power fist, combi-plasma, upgrade: +1BS 175pt

Rhino, H/K missile 45pt

Assault terminators (5 man), Thunder hammer and storm shields, Bastion upgrade: Fleet 200pt

Predator, autocannon, lascannon sponsons, H/K missile 130pt

Mercenaries:

Grey knights Purifier squad (5 man), Psycannon, Nemesis force halberds x 3, Master-crafted Nemesis Daemon hammer 146pt.

Grey knights rhino, dozer blade 45pt

Chaos space marine list 1250pt:

Daemon Prince, Mark of Nurgle, Wings, Doombolt (160 points)

Daemon Prince, Wings (130 points)

5 plague marines, 1 flamer, 1 melta, 1 plague champion with powerfist (170 points)

5 plague marines, 1 flamer, 1 melta, 1 plague champion with powerfist (170 points)

1 Rhino with Havoc Launcher (50 points)

1 Rhino with Havoc Launcher (50 points)

1 Rhino with Havoc Launcher (50 points)

1 obliterator (75 points)

1 obliterator (75 points)

Chaos Vindicator, Daemonic Possession (145 points)

Mercenaries:

9 Genestealers, 1 broodlord (172)

Preamble:

With the forces of chaos rapidly gaining ground on Wasp’s moon and the weakening of the Black Templar presence due to their unwelcome inquiry into Blood Raven loyalty, it was time for the Blood Ravens to move against the heretics.

The mission was to strike quick and true against primary targets so as to weaken the enemy for future major engagements. Also, striking at the revered heroes of the enemy to humiliate and weaken their resolve is always a good thing!

Being spread thin by their large territory control the Blood ravens called upon the aid of the Ordo Malleus. Fortunately the Grey knights obliged by sending a detachment of Purifiers to help control the Chaos presence.

The Heretics had plans of their own, unleashing a group of genestealers from their bonds to harvest Loyalist geneseed.

Both armies with a wealth of resources behind them had several Command bastion bonuses and Initiative bonuses from their power plants. The Blood Ravens won initiative and managed to avoid having it seized after deploying first. Blood Ravens deployed in a very forward wedge, the infiltrating tactical squad and scout squad taking up dug in positions on their flanks. The forces of chaos responded with very forward positions also hoping to get the jump on the loyalists. The Genestealers were unleashed behind the Blood Ravens lines, looking to catch them by surprise and keep them from lashing out at their chaos captors.

Turn 1:

“With Me brothers, Advance!” Shout the Blood Ravens assault terminators as they charge forward toward the foe. Unleashing a volley from the Predators guns an obliterator is vaporized (1 secondary target). The dug in scouts and tactical marines opened up their guns on the horrifying demon princes taking a wound off each. Librarian Zaphel sensing a disturbance in the warp ordered his rhinos’ driver to move to the back of the Blood Ravens lines at full speed. He and the Sternguard veterans accompanying him disembark to see a disturbing sight, Genestealers! Unleashing the power of the warp the Librarian burned 3 with his Avenger ability. All but a wounded Broodlord remained after the Sternguard opened up on them with Hellfire rounds. The Grey knights advanced toward their quarry lashing out with Psycannon and storm bolter but failed to remove another wound from the closest demon prince.

In reprisal, the Heretics opened up with Vindictor blast and plasma from a disembarking plague marine squad to stop the advancing Terminators killing 2. The Demon princes advanced but failed to make close combat, The Grey knights rhino was wrecked by a well placed lascannon shot from the obliterator atop a whirl of warp energy, The purifiers were quick to disembark taking cover behind the wreck of their transport. The Brood lord charged the Librarian and his veterans seeking geneseed, and he tasted a little of Librarian Zaphel but was cut down soon after. Whilst the havoc launchers from all 3 chaos rhinos killed 4 of the dug in tactical squad, but they held their ground.  

Turn 2:

Their job done, Librarian Zaphel and his Sternguard re-embark their Rhino and move back toward the fray popping smoke launchers for cover. The Assault Terminators perform a daring multi-charge into the Vindicator and the disembarked Plague marine squad. Destroying the Vindictor (1 primary Target down) and killing a Plague marine. The tactical marines concentrated fire on the too close for comfort demon prince and removed yet another wound. Meanwhile, the Predator focused all its firepower on the other demon prince reducing it to 1 wound and the scouts finished the wounded demon off (2 primary targets down). Finally the Grey knights found their quarry, they advanced on the second wounded demon prince and readily put it down (3^rd and last primary target) before it had a chance to react, then moved toward their next foe.

Battered and bruised the remaining chaos forces continued their advance. Hammering the dug in Tactical squad yet again with havoc launcher missiles and a plasma cannon round from the “floating” obliterator.  They were forced to break and began their retreat toward the game board edge, the second plague marine squad disembarked their rhino next to the purifiers and opened fire slaying two. In the ensuing melee 2 more plague marines were reduced to pulp and pus by the Terminators thunder hammers.

Turn 3:

Forced to continue their fall back due to the proximity of the enemy, the tactical marine squad retreated from the board (1 Primary target to chaos). The Predator lined the floating obliterator up and removed it from existence (2 secondary targets down). With a volley of stormbolter fire and following assault the remaining Purifiers wiped out the nearby plague marines (3^rd and last secondary target down). The Assault terminators slew the last plague marine and moved on. Disembarking their rhino once again, the Sternguard and Librarian opened up with plasma on a nearby chaos rhino removing its weapons and immobilizing it. Meanwhile, with a missile the scouts stunned a second rhino.

With only one rhino to move, chaos withdrew. A massacre victory was awarded to the Blood Ravens given the state of the battlefield.  Chaos did kill two of their secondary objectives (but we cannot recall what they were…)

Wargames Gallery: Heretic Blood Ravens

Suspected of heresy in the Wasp campaign, the Blood Ravens captain prepares to face the onslaught from the Black Templars finest.

Battle Report: Blood Ravens vs. Orks

The space marines of the Blood Ravens chapter arrived on Wasp-987c and immediately secured an ancient brass keep. Had it not been for their subsequent action against the orks, more questions would likely have been raised about their true purpose on the planet's surface...

Battle report from paladin84.

Blood Ravens vs. Orks
Mission: Seize ground, 5 objectives
Deployment: Dawn of war.

Blood Ravens (space marine) list 1000pt:
Librarian, plasma pistol, null zone, Avenger 115pt
Tactical squad (10 man), flamer, missile launcher 170pt
Rhino, H/K missile 45pt
Tactical squad (10 man), melta, multi-melta, combi-melta 185pt
Sternguard veterans (5 man), 5x combi-plasma, power fist 175pt
Dreadnought, Heavy flamer, Assault cannon 125pt
Drop pod, Deathwind missile launcher 55pt
Predator, autocannon, las cannon sponsons, H/K missile 130pt

Orks list 1050pt:
Warboss, power claw, eavy armor 90pt
Nobz mob (10 man), power claw, big choppa, WAAAAGH banner, kombi-skorcha, pain boy 280pt
Slugga boyz mob (20 man), Nob, Power claw, bosspole 160pt
Slugga boyz mob (20 man), Nob, Power claw, bosspole 160pt
Shoota boyz mob (20 man), 2x big shootas 130pt
Deffkopta, rockets 45pt
Deffkopta, rockets 45pt
Trukk 35pt
Killa kan, grotzooka 45pt
2x zzap guns 60pt

The green tide was all too close for comfort at the beginning of this fight. The orks winning initiative found 2 large mobs of them calling for blood at the Blood Ravens' doorstep. Two combat squads of tactical marines set up their heavy weapons in some cover and braced for the tide, knowing that their brothers were behind them. A veritable horde of over 70 greenskins, outnumbering the space marines almost 3 to 1 rushed forward in their first round hoping to launch a devastating waaaaagh!, in the second turn. The ork boyz squad advancing on the dug-in tactical squads was reduced from 20 to 5 in the volleys of holy bolter fire bestowed upon them. Brother Corvus (Dreadnought) arrived via drop pod and immediately set flame to the second squad of advancing ork boys slaying 6.

The second round saw a further bold advancement by the greenskins as the warboss and his biggest and da strongest nobz moved flat out in their truck right into the U'mie’s front lines. The ork boys inspired by the presence of their warboss brought the WAAAAAAGH! With the 5 man boys squad launching an assault on the missile launcher tactical squad and the other falling short on their assault on the U'mies with the melti guns running for the shiny bauble. The rest of the horde advanced.

With the greenskins over running their deployment zone the Blood ravens unleashed a tirade of fire, fury, las, plas, missile and holy bolt. When the dust settled, ancient Corvus had removed all trace of the shoota mob, the remnants of the boys mobs were going toe-to-toe with tactical marines and the war boss and his 5 remaining nobs along with their pain boy discovered what the u'mies were made from after ripping the sternguard veterans to pieces, followed by the valiant and unfortunate Librarian Zaphel.

Although the warboss was unstoppable in his close combat fury, his waaaaagh was annihilated, the remains of the ork horde were rubbed out and the warboss finally put to death. The Blood Ravens emerged victorious capturing the vital objectives for the emperor. The emperor protects!

Result: space marine massacre victory.

Blood Ravens army list for the Wasp Campaign

The sixth and final army list for the Wasp Campaign are from the Blood Ravens space marine chapter   (comments and criticism welcome!)


Presenting Paladin84's Blood Ravens Space Marines (1500 points):

HQ:
Librarian; plasma pistol, (Avenger and Null Zone) (115 points)
Captain; artificer armour, relic blade, storm bolter (148 points)

Elites:
5 assault terminators (200 points)
5 sternguard veterans; 5 combi-plasmas, 1 power fist (175 points)
Dreadnought; heavy flamer, power fist, assault cannon (125 points)

Troops:
10 tactical marines; 1 multi-melta, 1 combi-melta, melta bombs (190 points)
10 tactical marines; 1 missile launcher, 1 flamer (170 points)
5 scouts; camo cloaks, 1 missile launcher (100 points)

Heavy Support:
Predator; autocannon, las cannon sponsons, hunter-killer missile (130 points)

Dedicated transports:
Drop pod; deathwind missile launcher (55 points)
Rhino; hunter-killer missile (45 points)
Razorback; dozer blade, twin-linked heavy bolters (45 points)

TOTAL = 1498 points

Wargames Gallery: Bloodcrusher // Blood Raven

Charging in to a squad of Blood Ravens, a Bloodcrusher lets out an unearthly battlecry as his steed's part-mechanical, part-deamonic feet cause the ground to tremble at every footfall.

Wargames Gallery: Objective Melee

Around a hotly contested objective, a squad of plague marines meets Black Templars and Blood Ravens head on.  Although the objective switches hands a number of times, the clock runs out for the Death Guard and they lose the battle eventually.  At least the librarian and his pesky Null Zone perishes.

Wargames Gallery: Blood Ravens Predator

A Blood Raven's predator stares down my chaos space marine force.  (The tank belongs to palad84, rather than myself, but I thought the photo was worth sharing none the less!).

In game 1, I got off a lucky shot from my dreadnought's plasma cannon to wreck the predator.  In game 2 however, it really ripped in to my ranks and survived the entire game!

Wargames Gallery: Rhino Intercept

Renegades from the Warp Hornets chapter assault a Blood Raven's rhino.

Wargames Gallery: Daemon Prince Rampage

This picture comes from an earlier battle report where the strength of the Death Guard took on the Blood Ravens chapter.

Here, the Daemon Prince of Nurgle up-ends a rhino and pours out the contents: a space marine commander with his squad of marines.

Particularly awesome is the interior of the rhino -- check out the hand painted Blood Raven's icon.

Battle Summary: Death Guard vs. Space Marines (1000 points)

Over the vacation period, we were at it again: my Death Guard against the Blood Ravens space marines chapter for a fun grudge match (cf: here).

Mission:
Capture & Control / Pitched Battle.
Table:
4 ft x 4 ft, scattered ruins and craters.

Death Guard Army:
Deamon Prince, Mark of Nurgle, Wings, Doombolt (160)
7 plague marines (1 champion with power fist), 1 melta, 1 flamer, Rhino with havoc launcher (266)

7 plague marines (1 champion with power fist), 1 melta, 1 flamer, Rhino with havoc launcher (266)

7 plague marines, 2 plasma guns (191)

Dreadnought with plasma cannon (105)

Blood Ravens Army: (approximately)

Commander with relic blade and artificer armour

2 full tactical squads with missile launchers, meltas

5 scouts, sergeant with power weapon

1 rhino

5 thunder hammer and storm shield terminators

5 assault marines, power fist

Early Turns.

Both armies deploy on the board and amongst some ruins, guarding their home objectives.  The image below shows the disposition of the forces at the end of the first turn.  I've ran forward my two rhinos that are carrying two of my squads with the daemon prince running behind one of them for a little bit of cover.  The plasma Death Guard squad are holding the objective in the Imperial Ruins in the background.  Meanwhile, my dreadnought has had a turn 1 craziness result and fires his plasma cannon twice at the oncoming terminators on the left flank.  That reduces them down to a single miniature already -- quite remarkable for me.

With only a single terminator left to deal with, the dreadnought weathers an assault and slaughters the Blood Raven.  However, the servos on the dreadnought's legs have been compromised: he is now immobile and doesn't play much of a part for the rest of the game.  Good job he has a poor line of sight for firing anywhere, otherwise my rhino's would be toast.

Middle Turns.

But it looks like it doesn't matter too much -- both of my rhinos are whacked by krak missiles & the assault marine squad. They get their havoc launchers destroyed and one becomes a wreck.  The on-board Death Guard disembark to brace themselves for the foot-slogging fight.  The image below depicts the early stages of the developing melee.  One Death Guard squad is headed right for the assault marines, whilst another edges close to the main cohort of marines in the ruins.

Over at my end of the board, some sneaky scouts outflank and start racing toward my plasma gun squad.  They slowly get whittled down, but the rhino coming toward the plasma gun squad is also looking like a dangerous threat.  Better set my Daemon Prince on to the task.

Late Turns.

The daemon prince wrecks the Blood Raven's rhino (and discovers that the interior is remarkably well painted!).  The command squad exits and lays in to the prince (killing him!) and moves on to the plasma gun squad.

The scouts also head toward the plasma gun squad and join in the fun.  But the high toughness of the plague marines does their points value justice as they hold out and slay the scouts and the majority of the regular marines. 

At the other end of the table, my marines are readily weathering the melee and finish off several squads.  I re-embark one squad back in to a rhino and make a mad dash back toward the plasma gun squad to support it whilst the other squad is relishing the melee and contesting the opposing objective.

Sadly, the game ends before I can reinforce my plasma squad.  The enemy commander is contesting my home objective whilst one of the plague marine squads is contesting the opposite one.  I just needed more turns!

End Result: Draw -- both objectives contested.

Gallery: Herald of Khorne Doesn't Need Help

On a mission to rid the world of Angstrom from the Blood Ravens, a Herald of Khorne takes on a force commander in single handed combat. He bellows at the Soul Grinder coming over the wreck of a rhino behind that this skull is his...

(with apologies to David whose Blood Ravens weren't having a good day out that day...)