Game ON! 1/5/2011

[cavalier1864]

Hey Gang,

Just wanted to let y'all know that Josh and I will be duking it out in a 2000 point battle of Warhammer 40000 around 6-6:30p on 1/5. I will be bringing a Foot Guard list composed of... well, my former AT-43 strike forces (I am testing an army build and these models are appropriate). If you are looking to learn 40K, join us and we can chat while we play!

[cavalier1864]

Space Marines - 2000 Points commanded by Josh Gordon
Imperial Guard - 2000 Points commanded by Todd Ehrenfels

Scenario: Capture and Control
Deployment: Dawn of War

(Note: all directions are from the Todd's point of view, so 'Left Flank' will always mean the Guard Army's left flank)

Deployment Phase:
Guard: Ursarkar Creed's command squad deployed along the left flank in a defensive trench with a Heavy Weapon Missile Launcher Squad deployed in the forward position of the trench. The Assault Platoon and Assault Platoon Command Squad deployed behind the trench, positioned to advance up the center-left routes on the board to make maximum use of the cover afforded by the large Chaos temple in the center. Heavy Weapon Teams, Lasgun Platoon blob, Platoon Command, and Grenade Launcher Squad deployed on the right, securing the Guard objective.

Space Marines: Command Squad deployed in a Razorback to the left of center, while one squad of Tactical Marines combat squadded and deployed on the Left Flank and the Chaos Temple and a Scout Squad combat squadded and deployed Sniper Rifles on the Right Flank and the Shot gunners on the Left Flank.

Seize the Initiative: Failed

Turn 1:
Imperial Guard:
During the Movement phase, two squads of Rough Riders, a Hydra, a Manticore, and a Medusa arrived at the board edge, while a squad of Melta-armed Veterans arrived on the Right Flank using Creed's Tactical Genius. The Rough Riders advanced along the Left Flank in an effort to come to grips with the tactical squad early. Creed issued Bring It Down orders to two Missile Squads who succeeded in taking out the Razorback. Assault Platoon Lieutenant issued Move, Move, Move to the Assault Platoon blob which advanced into the center. The Lasgun Platoon Lieutenant issued a Bring it Down order to the Grenade Launcher SW squad who knocked out several of the Scout Snipers.

Space Marines:
Whirlwind and Predator Destructor arrived on the Left Flank while a Predator Annihilator and a Chaplain Dreadnought, along with one combat Squad of Tactical Marines arrived in the center. A Venerable Dreadnought with Assault Cannon, a Venerable Dreadnought with a Plasma Cannon, and three additional combat squads of Tactical Marines, as well as a lone Bike with Heavy Bolter arrived on the Right Flank. The Command Squad advanced slowly up the center, slowed primarily by the wreck of the Razorback. Shooting accounted for the deaths of two troopers in the Grenade Launcher squad and four Veterans from the Veteran Squad (which hit the deck in order to survive). One Rough Rider also fell to Bolter fire.

Turn 2:
Imperial Guard:
Pressing forward on the Left Flank, the Rough Riders advanced further along the Board edge and threatened the Tactical Marines and Scouts while the Assault Platoon Command Squad and Assault Platoon made a concerted effort to run up the center-left. Creed issued two "For the Honor of Cadia!" Orders before flubbing his role (Creed can haz Perils of the Warp now?!), leaving the Assault Platoon Lieutenant to Order "Bring it Down" to one of the Missile Launcher Squads (which managed to do nothing to a the Assault Cannon Dreadnought) and the Lasgun Platoon Lieutenant to Order "Bring it Down" to another Missile Launcher squad, which managed to shake the Plasma Cannon Dreadnought. The third, orderless Missile Launcher squad shot at the Predator Annihilator, Stunning it. The Medusa fired a shot into the Space Marine Command Squad, annihilating all but the Captain on a lucky direct hit which also managed to destroy the Annihilator. The Grenade Launcher Squad continued to chew up the Scouts, leaving only the Heavy Bolter Scout alive. The Hydra fired ineffectually into the Whirlwind, while the Manticore scored a lucky pair of hits on a tactical squad and the Assault Cannon Dreadnought, shaking the Dread and killing one Marine. The Rough Riders Assaulted into the Tactical And Scout Squads, eliminating the entire Tactical Squad with no losses, but failing to kill off the Scouts and taking one loss.

Space Marines:
The Company Captain, Chaplain Dreadnought, and one Tactical Combat Squad advanced up the center while the bike and shaken Venerables advanced along the Right Flank with the Combat Squad with the Flamer. Shooting accounted for the deaths of two Assault Troopers, a Flamer Trooper form the Assault Command Squad, all but one of the Grenade Launcher Squad, the remainder of the Veterans, two Missile Launcher Squad troopers, two Lasgun Troopers, and three Rough Riders. Close Combat at the Chaos Temple resulted in the deaths of four Assault troopers and got the Tactical Combat Squad in the Temple massacred. The Scouts managed to kill another two Rough Riders while taking no wounds in return and killing the Rough Riders in the ensuing Sweeping Advance.

Turn Three:
Imperial Guard:
Rough Riders continued up the Left Flank to menace the Predator Destructor and Whirlwind while the Assault Squad piled up the center in an effort to eliminate the company Commander and Chaplain Dreadnought. Creed ordered the Missile Troopers to Bring it Down, succeeding only in shaking the Chaplain Dreadnought, then issued "For the Honor of Cadia!" to the Assault Platoon and Move, Move, Move, to the remnants of the Assault Platoon Command Squad. The Assault Platoon Lieutenant ordered one of the Missile teams to Bring it Down, knocking the Plasma Cannon off of the Venerable Dreadnought and shaking it. The Lasgun Platoon Lieutenant ordered his Lasgun Platoon blob to First Rank Fire, Second Rank Fire, vaporizing the attack biker with 58 lasgun shots (10 wounds, three missed saves). Missile Launcher fire managed to shake the Assault Cannon Dreadnought again. Hydra fire immobilized the Whirlwind, to no effect, Manticore fire immobilized the Assault Cannon Dreadnought, and the Medusa wiped out another Tactical Squad. Creed's Master of Ordinance, who had been standing around waiting for something to do, knocked another three Marines out of one of the Tactical Squads, and the Grenade Launcher trooper bravely blasted the last Scout. The Ministorum Priests took out the Space Marine Captain, losing four Assault Troopers in the fight, and the Rough Riders assaulted the Predator Destructor, destroying its Autocannon and Immobilizing it.

Space Marines:
The Chaplain Dreadnought and the surviving Tactical Marine Sergeant advanced on the Assault blob while the surviving Scouts from the Left Flank advanced on Creed's trench. On the RIght Flank, the Tactical Combat Squad with the Flamer continued to advance. Shooting accounted for the deaths of two Missile troopers, the Whirlwind fired on Creed, but deviated into the advancing Scouts to no effect, Bolter and Missile fire killed off the remaining Rough Riders. Several more Lasgun troopers died from Bolter fire, but the lone Grenade Launcher trooper survived to fire again. The Chaplain Dreadnought and Veteran assaulted into the Assault Platoon, killing three troopers in exchange for the destruction of the Dreadnought and the sergeant. The Scouts massacred the Missile Launcher squad in close combat, stranding themselves in front of the Company Command Squad.

Turn Four:
Imperial Guard:
The Assault Platoon advanced on the Space Marine Objective as the Assault Platoon Command Squad advanced into cover. Difficult Terrain slowed the advances of both units to a crawl, but Creed's "Move, Move, Move!" order came through loud and clear advancing the units a bit closer (even with my poor rolling). A Bring it Down Order was issued to a Missile Launcher Squad which managed to divest one of the Dreadnoughts of its Assault Cannon. Creed issued a FRF,SRF Order to his own unit and the Scouts fell to a hail of lasgun blasts. The Master of Ordnance fired again, but deviated out of contact with any units. The Hydra finally managed to knock out the Whirlwind's turret, while the Manticore Immobilized and destroyed the Plasma Cannon on the other Venerable Dreadnought. The Medusa missed the Tactical squad and deviated onto the Predator Destructor, knocking out the sponson Heavy Bolter. Lasgun Fire killed off the Tactical Marine with the Flamer on the far Right Flank.

Space Marines:
On the Right Flank, the Squad with the Flamer stopped their advance preferring to switch to Bolters against the massive 30+ trooper Lasgun Platoon blob. The remaining Missile and bolter Marine from one of the Combat Squads blasted the Grenade Launcher trooper into the next world. The full strength Combat Squad fired off a salvo at the Assault Platoon Command Squad, killing off all but the Lieutenant, who had gone to ground and passed his morale test.

Turn 5:
Imperial Guard:
The Assault Platoon and Assault Platoon Lieutenant both succeeded in securing the Space Marine Objective. Hydra Fire knocked out another weapon on one of the immobilized Dreadnoughts, while an fierce fusillade of Missiles crippled the other Dreadnought. Both the Medusa and the Master of Ordinance deviated ineffectively, but combined lasgun fire managed to knock out another two Tactical Marines on the Right Flank and the Snipers finally found their mark with shots taking out a few more Tac Marines.

Space Marines:
The few remaining tactical Marines took revenge upon the Assault Platoon Command Squad, wiping it off the map. Two more Missile Troopers ate hot Bolter fire before the game ended due to a roll of 1 for turn 6.
[glow=red,2,300]
Objectives: IG - 2/SM - 0[/glow]
[glow=red,2,300]
Kill Points Earned:[/glow]
IG - 10 (Razorback, Command Squad, Captain, Chaplain Dreadnought, 2 Scout Marine Combat Squads, Whirlwind, Biker, 2 Tactical Combat Squads)
SM - 5 (2 Rough Rider Squads, Grenade Launcher Squad, Missile Launcher Squad, Veteran Squad, Assault Platoon Command Squad)

[billybob]

Nice battle report.

[cavalier1864]

Grazie

I think that we can all learn a lot from a proper battle report, and though I usually try to add more flavor to my BatReps, I felt that to get the ball rolling was more important than flexing my writing muscles, lol.

My lessons learned:
1) Hydras have four shots, not 2 shots (duh)
2) Manticores are pretty effective against vehicles and non-MEQ, but stink against Marines
3) Medusas are nasty when they hit
4) Pay closer attention to the number of turns you fire the Manticore (I did not fire in turn 5 because I knew that Manticores only have 4 shots and for got that he did not shoot in turn 1)
5) Concentrate on Dreadnoughts, they are far scarier than they look
6) SW Grenade Launcher Squads are really bad, but they do make for great ablative armor/mobile cover save units.
7) Outfitting a platoon command squad with Sniper Rifles is a good threat, but not very effective otherwise.

[chulak]

thank you for the time and effort put into your posts. I really appreciate the details you put into your battle report here and hope to read more. Posts like this make it easier for everyone to get better at the game. Thanks man

[cavalier1864]

You are very welcome, Chulak, and thank you for the kind words:)