Battle Report: February 4, 2011

[cavalier1864]

Crimson Suns Space Marines vs Tau Shadowsun Sept

2000 Points

Deployment: Pitched Battle
Scenario: Annihilation
Terrain: Hills and Forest

Note: All directions and flanks are given from the point of view of the Crimson Suns, so Right Flank will always be the Right Flank of the Crimson Suns.

Deployment Phase:

Tau - Winning on the dice roll, Josh Gordon decided to go first, and thus deployed first. A Pathfinder team deployed on a low hillock forward on the Right Flank, backed by their Devilfish. In the center, holding the rear areas, were a pair of large Fire Warrior squads hunkered down behind a Rail Cannon Hammerhead. On the Left Flank, a pair of Broadside Battlesuits and a Sniper Gun Drone Team provided promise for potential for horrible things. Held in Reserve were two Stealth Suit Teams, a Crisis Suit Team, a Shas'O, and Commander Shadowsun herself.
The Tau Plan Deepstrike the Suits into the Marine backfield and murder everything in sight.

Space Marines - The Crimson Suns brought a lot of vicious pain to the battlefield, deploying the entire Strike Force in an aggressive manner. On the Right Flank, Strike Lance Barnard split into two combat squads (Barnard A & B) with the Heavy Bolter and four bolter marines occupying a hill, and the Sergeant with Power Fist and the Flamer Marine in the Razorback R. Canum Venaticorum. Also on the right were the Predator Annihilators Flares of Betelgeuse and Furnace of Rasalgethe, poised to engage enemy armour at optimum lascannon range. In the Center, the Venerable Dreadnoughts Seneca and Cicero were supported by the Terminators of Terminator Squad Antares with Terminator Epistolary Romulus, while Vanguard Lance Algol deployed with Epistolary Remus. On the Left Flank, Scout Lance Tiede deployed forward in the woods, while Tactical Lance Pegasi split into combat Squads (A&B) with tactical squad A containing the Sergeant and Flamer Marines at the base of the hillock and squad B containing the Heavy Bolter and four bolter Marines at the summit of the hill.
The Space Marine Plan Use the Epistolaries' Gate of Infinity to get the Terminators and Vanguard into position and slaughter everything in sight while the Predators knock out enemy Armour and the the Dreadnoughts mop up. Tactical combat squads will provide support, and the Razorback will run up and gun down more enemy troopers.

Seize the Initiative: The Crimson Suns of Pyr fail to Seize the Initiative, Tau go first.

Turn 1:
Shadowsun Sept - All units remained in place, firing from their prepared positions. Pathfinders started the shooting with a barrage of Marker Light shots on Terminator Squad Antares. Missiles, Railgun, and a number of other munitions fail to inflict any wounds. Sniper Gun Drones and Broadsides manage to kill two members of Pegasi Squad A.

Crimson Suns - R. Canum Venaticorum rushed up the Right Flank, moving 12 Inches. Epistolary Remus successfully Invoked Gates of Infinity, bringing Vanguard Lance Algol up to the Hammerhead. Epistolary Romulus failed to Invoke Gates of Infinity twice, forcing Terminator Squad Antares to start walking forward. Venerable Seneca and Cicero both advanced, skirting the central large hill, while Strike Lance Pegasi A advanced to hug the Left Flank of the central hill. R. Canum Venaticorum fired at one of the Firewarrior Squads killing one of the gun drones, while Strike Lance Barnard Squad B and Terminator Lance Antares opened up on the Pathfinders, inflicting 2 drone casualties due to the cover from the trees. From its elevated position, Furnace of Rasalgethe fired into the Devilfish, causing it to explode, and killing another 3 members of the Pathfinder squad. Venerable Cicero fired its Twin Linked Lascannons, failing to damage the Hammerhead, and Venerable Seneca raked the Pathfinders with Assault Cannon fire, killing one more Pathfinder. Pegasi Squad B fired ineffectually at the Sniper Gun Drones, while the snipers of Scout Lance Tiede harassed the Broadsides. The Vanguard Veterans of Lance Algol Assaulted the Hammerhead, destroying it and taking cover in the wreckage. Forced to take a Leadership Test due to casualties, the Pathfinders break and run.

EDIT: Note - the results of Turn 1 are incorrect due to ruling error on the field. The battle is invalidated and is declared a draw. Please note that Algol Lance would either have had to Gate or Deepstrike from reserve on turn 2 or later using Heroic Intervention, but could not do both.

Turn 2:
Shadowsun Sept - Most of the reserves failed to enter the fray at the head of Turn 2, leaving the dwindling advance force alone to deal with angry Marines supported only by the Crisis Team, which Deep Struck into the Marine backfield to the right of center. The Pathfinders failed to regroup on the Right Flank, but did not make it off the board, huddling in the wreckage of the Devilfish just an inch shy of board edge. The Fire Warriors advanced to blast Vanguard Lance Algol, which they did, killing 5 Veterans, the Sergeant, and Epistolary Remus, while the remaining Veteran stood fast. The Broadsides and Snipers failed to inflict any damage, however the Crisis Team slaughtered the troopers in Pegasi Squad A, leaving one lone Tactical Marine to continue the advance.

Crimson Suns - Epistolary Romulus finally managed to figure out how his powers work and Gated the Terminators into the center of the Tau forces. R. Canum Venaticorum continued its advance, while the Venerable Cicero and Seneca backpedaled to deal with the Crisis Suits in the backfield, and Predator Flares of Betelgeuse turned its attention on the same targets and Furance of Raselgethe advanced on the Right Flank for a better angle on the Broadsides. The lone Veteran from Lance Algol jumped out to position himself for an assault on one of the Fire Warrior Squads, and the lone survivor of Pegasi Squad A made a dash for the dubious safety of the hill. Combined fire from the Venerables and Flares of Betelgeuse took out two of the three Crisis Suits, while Furnace of Rasalgethe and R. Canum Venaticorum inflicted some heave losses on the Firewarriors. Pegasi B and the Snipers managed to inflict no casualties on the Broadsides, however Terminator Lance Antares plastered a big chunk of one of the Fire Warrior squads. The lone Veteran from Algol Lance slaughtered the remnants of one of the Fire Warrior Squad and withdrew into cover.

Turn 3:
Shadowsun Sept - The Shas'O arrived from Reserve, however the Gun Drones, Stealth Suits, and Shadowsun remained in Reserve. The remnants of the Fire Warrior squad and the Pathfinder Squad managed to regroup. The Shas'O, Broadsides, and Sniper Drones fired a desperate volley, hoping to knock out some members of Terminator Lance Antares, however their shots only managed to kill one Terminator.

Crimson Suns - Cicero and Seneca moved further into the center, angling themselves to ascend the large central hill. R. Canum Venaticorum sped into the center, while the remaining Tactical Marine from the doomed Pegasi A Squad continued to slowly climb the central hill. Terminator Squad Antares advanced on foot to the Left Flank, hoping to engage both the Broadsides and the Sniper Gun Drones in a simultaneous Close Combat. The lone remaining Veteran of Lance Algol jumped out of cover and proceeded to advance on the freshly regrouped Pathfinders. A devastating fusillade from the Predators and Dreadnoughts wiped out the remnants of the Crisis Squad, Terminators Squad Antares killed both the Broadsides and the Sniper Drones, and the Veteran from Algol Lance butchered the Pathfinders.

Turn 4:
Shadowsun Sept - Shadowsun, the Gun Drones, and both Stealth Teams finally arrived on the field. Between them, Shadowsun and the Stealth Team vaporized the Predators, the Shas'O knocked out a Terminator, and the other Stealth Team managed to kill off another Terminator leaving only the Sergeant, one Storm Bolter Terminator, and Epistolary Romulus. The Gun Drones shot, and killed, the surviving Veteran from Algol Lance.

Crimson Suns - Terminator Squad Antares advanced on the Stealth Squad, hoping to bring them into close combat, while R. Canum Venaticorum sped into the center of the board. Pegasi Squads A and B and the Scouts from Tiede Lance managed to inflict a wound on the Shas'O with a blaze of gunfire, while the Barnard Squad B and the Venerables inflicted heavy casualties on the Stealth Team and Shadowsun's Drones. R. Canum Venaticorum and Barnard Squad A wiped out the Gun Drones, while Antares Lance brutally crushed the Stealth Team.

Turn 5:
Shadowsun Sept - The Shas'O attempted to maneuver to his advantage, as did Shadowsun, and their few remaining Fire Warriors and Stealth Suits. Shooting accounted for one casualty each in Terminator Lance Antares, Barnard Squad A, and Barnard Squad B. The Shas'O managed to jump further away from the Terminators.

Crimson Suns - In an amusing turn of events, R. Canum Venaticorum Tank Shocked the survivors of the Fire Warrior Squad, killing one in Death or Glory, and maneuvering the other into easy murder-range of the Tactical Marines of Barnard Squad A. The Terminators continued their inexorable advance on the Shas'O, and managed to inflict two wounds with shooting. Shadowsun lost another two drones to fire from the Venerable Cicero and Seneca, and the Stealth Team on the Right Flank was lost to fire from Barnard B. The Snipers, and the Tacticals from both of the Pegasi Squads continued to fire ineffectually.

Turn 6:
Shadowsun Sept - The Shas'O killed off the last of the Terminators, leaving Epistolary Romulus unsupported, and inflicted a wound on the Epistolary. Shadowsun fired on the Venerable Cicero, but was unable to affect it.

Crimson Suns - The Venerables Cicero and Seneca fired a ridiculous barrage at Shadowsun, eventually killing her drones and her, while the Shas'O managed to absorb bullets from Epistolary Romulus, R. Canum Venaticorum, both Pegasi Squads, and the remnants of Barnard A Squad without incident, only to succumb to pitiful scout sniper shots from Tiede Lance.

End Result: Space Marine Victory, no survivors of Shadowsun Sept DRAW due to incorrect ruling on the field in Turn One

Kill Points Earned:
Shadowsun Sept - 6
Crimson Suns - 13

Lessons Learned
Shadowsun Sept
Reserves are a bad choice for Crisis Teams and Gun Drones (likely also for Shas'O), but are smart for Stealth and Shadowsun.
Plasma (edit) Ion Hammerhead better for massed Marines.
Pathfinders need better positioning and support, or smaller squad.
Sniper Drones are OK, but not great.
Broadsides remain an awesome choice.


Crimson Suns
Gates of Infinity continues to be a ridiculous power.
Providing Might of the Ancients to a Librarian in Terminator Armour, attached to a squad of Shooty Terminators is stupid. Better to take Smite for Romulus when deploying with Antares Lance.
Vanguard Veterans remain an excellent choice.
Have to remember to move the Razorback 12 inches as there are no defensive guns and the only thing shooting is the Main Twin HB.
Providing names helps differentiate squads.

[werkrobotwerk]

Ion Hammerhead, there is no Plasma hammer head

I will get you next time.

[cavalier1864]

Yeah, that too:)

[rapture]

Always nice to read a quick battle report. I will have to get into the habit of documenting my games.

My only question is how you assaulted the hammerhead on turn 1. I was under the impression that Vanguard Veterans couldn't use Heroic Intervention if they have an IC attached (which makes Gate of Infinity almost useless for them).

[cavalier1864]

Technically speaking, you can Gate and then have the IC leave the unit (which I forgot to do, but had meant to do), so technically the Libby would not have been part of the Vanguard assault on the Hammerhead. Of course, the only person to suffer in this was me, as the Libby got shot up with the Veterans, and if I had been doing it properly the two Fire Warrior squads would have been forced to split their fire between the Veterans and the Libby, which would mean that more Vets would have survived or the Libby would have survived. Ooops.

[rapture]

Not to hijack your thread, but can't the librarian only leave in the unit in movement phase, which he wouldn't have the chance to do even if he could move as heroic intervention is declared before the scatter dice are rolled?

[cavalier1864]

It is not hijacking the thread when you note that somebody is just plain incorrect, as in this case, I am totally incorrect. I had forgotten that particular bit of text about declaring the Intervention before the die are rolled. That certainly puts a damper on that particular tactic, and as such, I would have to declare Shenanegins on myself at this point

What is funny is that this is the 3rd time I have used this combo (granted the first two times were almost two years ago, but in a Marine dominated store), and you are the first person to notice the error. I now feel really crappy as that Hammerhead could very well have turned the battle.

I will amend the Battle Report.

[cavalier1864]

On the plus side, we can run the same approximate lists and the same mission as a rematch