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| Game 1 vs IG |
My first game was to be against a 40k veteran called Craig, who was packing a well painted Guard army. A quick look at his two trays of models gave me the distinct impression that this guy had played more than a few games of 40k...
Pre-Game:
HQ
Command Squad (incl. Vox, Medic, Plasma x 2) in Chimera (Dozer Blade)
Troops
Vets (Vox, Plasma Gun x3, Plasma Pistol, Power Weapon) in Chimera (Dozer Blade)
Infantry Platoon, with:
Command Squad (Vox, Flamer, Power Fist)
Squad 1 (Vox, Flamer)
Squad 2 (Vox, Flamer, Heavy Bolter)
Squad 3 (Vox, Flamer) in Chimera (Dozer Blade)
Heavy Weapon Squad (Lascannons x 3)
Heavy Weapon Squad (Mortar x 3)
Special Weapons Squad (Melta x 3)
Fast AttackHellhound (Flamer, Dozer Blade)
Heavy SupportManticore (Flamer)
Leman Russ Executioner (Heavy Bolter, Plasma Sponsons, Dozer Blade)
So, a good amount of mid to high AV hulls (though certainly not the most possible), plasma, a smattering of melta and lascannons, plasma, plenty of bodies, lots of templates (including a Manticore!) and just in case you missed it, MORE PLASMA! Particularly the Executioner, who I later found out could pump out no less that 5 templates a turn... Thankfully, no Hydras, Vendettas with Demo Vets, or massed Chimeras containing Melta Vets.
On the plus side, at least know what the majority of the army did, and knew that my overall strategy would be to push as far into his lines as possible as early as possible. Then the tournament organiser rolled for the mission and it was - Dawn of War, Annihilation. And Craig won the first turn. Hmm. We both had 15 kill points, but going first meant that I would probably be pushed to the back edge of my deployment zone and get hammered by the long range firepower the IG are so well known for.
Looking at the table, it was reasonably well covered (perhaps 20-25%), but there was little LOS blocking terrain in the mid-table. I did get some cover for my Fangs, but I expected it to be a long slog across to the other side of the table...
Deployment:
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| IG Deployment |
Making the most of the platoon only counting as one Troop choice, the IG swarmed over the battlefield and took cover where possible. The lascannons took position on the hill to the right with decent lines of sight over the majority of the board. The mortar team, who didn't need lines of sight, hid behind the ruins near the center. The three infantry squads pushed as close as they could to the center line to force me backwards whilst hugging cover and the command squad and special weapon teams deployed near the back next to the lascannon team to dish out orders and counter any threats.
A generally sensible deployment, I'd say, pushing me back as far as possible and making the most of cover. It was a bit risky leaving the command and special weapon squads in the open, and I might have parked the chimera in front to try to block line of sight. That being said, night fighting and probably the first turn (barring me seizing the initiative) meant that this wasn't that much of a gamble.
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| SW Deployment |
As I need to get across the board asap, I deployed two rhinos with grey hunters and attached wolf guard and the WGBL as far forward as I could. I chose the area just left of center, as the other location to the far right was too far away from the action, and I didn't want the IG to just fall back to the left and shoot me to bits before I could get close. Also, with the long charge range of the WGBL, I might even be able to pull off a second turn charge, assuming he lived that long!
My overall plan was to drop the pod with the Jaws priest, CML would gaurd and grey hunters in next to a priority target and rush the rhinos up for support. Dreads would come in on the flanks to try to get some side shots and the long fangs would be dropped off in the central hill in my deployment to offer fire support.
In retrospect, this wasn't a bad deployment/plan, but I think I should have placed the WGBL further forward and a rhino further back. This would have extended the charge range by another three inches or so, and since he was equipped with a storm shield, it's not like he needed cover!
I rolled to try and steal the first turn and... failed!
IG Turn 1:
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| Remaining IG roll on
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On rolled the remaining force, generally moving at combat speed with the intention of lighting up my small force with searchlights and then blowing them sky high! The manticore took position in the far left corner, with the Leman Russ just to the side. The two remaining chimeras and hellhound came in centrally, and the forward troops pulled back except the heavy bolter squad who sat still waiting for targets.
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| IG end of turn positions
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Everything equipped with a searchlight tried to see the distant rhino hulls. A couple succeeded, but thankfully the reduced firing only resulted in one rhino being stunned by the end of the turn. Phew!
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| Minimal SW damage |
A good first turn for the Wolves so far. With no casualties and plenty of space to drop the pod in, things were going much better than I had anticipated!
KP score 0:0
SW Turn 1:
Time to bring my guys to the party. Firstly, the drop pod crashed in on target next to the Executioner, with the missiles, melta and living lightning carefully placed to be able to target either this or the side armour of the manticore. I had considered Jaws'ing the mortar team, command squad or special weapons teams, but decided that the big guns were a much higher priority.
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| The pod lands and wrecks the Manticore |
As planned, the dreads moved in on either flank, the Fangs' razorback passed its dangerous terrain roll into the central ruins/hill and the Long Fangs shouldered their missle launchers and ale kegs and took firing positions. Unfortunately, the two large pillars obscured some of the battlefield, but not enough to really cause any major concerns.
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| Central Chimera Stunned
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The rhino that had escaped unscathed from the first round of shooting accelerated forward with the thunderwolf loping behind. The remaining rhino rolled up next to it's stunned brethren, with the second rune priest popping out of the top hatch, and the final empty razorback piled forward to provide cover for the righthand dread.
With plenty of targets in sight, the Wolves took aim...
First off, I decided that the Manticore was the priority target. If I had dual melta in the squad and no priest, then I would have chosen the Executioner, but given where the pod landed and the available weapons, I think that the manticore was the better choice. Six high strength shots later, and the Manticore exploded in a massive fire ball, singing a few beards but otherwise doing no permanent damage. One kill point to the Wolves!
The WGBL ran towards the nearby heavy bolter infantry squad. There would be a lot more shooting coming my way next turn, and the safest place for him was in combat (assuming the thunderwolf didn't eat all the Guard, which was a strong possibility!).
The rest of the turns shooting was directed at the only visible targets - the chimeras. Between them, the dreads and rune priest in the backfield managed to repeatedly stun the middle chimera, and wreck another in the back left field (see pod photo above). Another KP to the Wolves!
Finally, the WGBL dug his heels into his thunderwolf mount, attempting to charge the infant squad. One very careful measurement later saw the charge fall short by half an inch, so no breakfast yet!
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| End of SW Turn 1
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Two kill points up with no loses, and I was very happy! If I had deployed the WGBL further forward, it may well have been three, but hindsight is a beautiful thing! All in all a strong start.
KP score 2:0
IG Turn 2:
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| IG Turn 2 - Firing squad for the pod |
Now it was the turn of the Guard to take revenge for their early losses! The entire left flank moved to form a gunline around the pod, including a redeployed plasma squad. The front line troops fell back away from the approaching rhinos and the command squad dished out orders to the stationary heavy weapons teams.
The Executioner, plasma squad, heavy bolter squad, hellhound and an infantry platoon opened up on the pod team, leaving nothing but a large pile of smoking power and terminator armour behind. This pulled Craig back to level KP, but had taken most of the shooting for the turn to do so.
The mortar team landed three accurate blasts into the Long Fangs, but only resulted in spilled ale, much to the Fangs' horror! The only other shooting, from the lascannon team, failed to damage the smoked razorback on the right.
KP score 2:2
SW Turn 2:
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| SW Turn 2
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Although I'd lost 1/6th of my army, the rest were still good to go! The WLBL was definately going to be in range this turn, and would likely net me a significant win in combat against any infantry. Hopefully the victims wouldn't break and leave my guy standing alone, ready to be shot to pieces, but this was a risk inherent with any combat. I decided to target the infantry in the middle, as this would open up more of the battlefield next turn (if he survived!).
My dreads continued to develop their flanking positions, seeking side shots on the chimeras. The two razorbacks also rolled forward, training their lascannons on the enemy tanks, with one ploughing though difficult terrain without difficulties and the other also providing cover to the right hand dread from the lascannon team on the hill.
The previously stunned rhino belted forward, ready to unleash the grey hunters next turn, and the forward rhino closed in on the nearby chimera. The remaining Rune Priest's rhino also advanced, with the intention of blasting some long range targets with lightning.
In the shooting phase, the thunderwolf padded closer to the cowering infantry squad in cover (juicier targets like the special weapons or command squads were out of range and would have to wait until next turn).
The top hatch of the central rhino popped open, and the melta gunner and wolf guard attempted to slag the adjacent chimera. Although in melta range, this resulted in a disappointing shaken result. To add insult to injury, the combined firepower of the rest of my army could only stun a further chimera in the backfield and the hellhound. Not a good round of shooting overall, as I was really hoping to net another kill point!
The elusive KP finally emerged when the thunderwolf ate the infantry squad for breakfast, after they failed their leadership test, but left the WGBL exposed as I had feared...
Then, disaster struck!
We were told on the way up to Nottingham (a 4.5 hour journey from the south coast) that the games would last 2 hours each. Now, even this was a little tight, as I knew from experience that completing a 1500pt battle in this time was a little optimistic! So at the end of turn two when we learned that we would only get a total of 1.5h [er game, I was not impressed!
However, in war we must adapt to changing circumstances, so after a quick moan we carried on, agreeing that we would only have time to complete the third turn...
KP score 3:2
IG Turn 3:
Knowing that this was his last turn, Craig tried to catch up the 1 KP deficit and preserve his easy targets from reprisal. To this end, he closed in on my WGBL with his plasma toting Executioner and special weapons squad. He also advanced towards the central rhino with his meltas and his squads on my right fell back out of charge range.
Unsurprisingly, 5 plasma templates (including 3 direct hits!) and 4 rapid firing plasma guns rinsed through my WGBL's T5, W2 and 3++ save. The melta guns also managed to slag the rhino, taking the IG into the lead. Other shooting was thankfully relatively ineffective, with the mortars causing a single casualty on my Long Fangs and the twin-linking lascannon squad stunning the right hand razorback under the 'bring it down' order.
KP score 3:4
SW Turn 3:
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| SW Turn 3
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Crunch time. I needed 2 KP to win, and there were plenty of juicy targets to choose from! Unfortunately, time was running out and I had about 10 minutes to complete my turn!
My adrenaline was pumping as I moved the dread on the left towards the depleted plasma squad in the crater of the chimera. If I could cause one casualty, it would force a leadership test. If they were running at the end of the game, it would be a KP to me.
My remaining forces rushed closer to the two squads in the middle and the stunned chimera. Although I had used one of the combi-meltas last turn, I still had 3 more melta shots available between the two central units of grey hunters, plus a lascannon on the Fangs' razorback, 4 missiles, the living lightning from the remaining priest and the another dread to shoot. By this time, I only had 5 minutes to shoot them!
So the dread on the left managed to waste one of the plasma squad in cover, forcing a leadership test as I'd hoped. The hunters with the single melta shot left hit but only stunned the chimera, and the lascannon could do no more, leaving it up to the other grey hunter squad to leave it a steaming wreck. The other dread and lighting managed to fell two of the depleted central infantry squads, but some terrible scatters and some impressive armour saves from the command squad meant that there were no further casualties.
On to combat, and I realised to my horror that because the chimera was wrecked, I could no longer multi-charge my hunter squads into the nearby infantry! Noooooo!!!!!
All that was left to do was roll two sets of leadership tests for the squads who had lost members this turn. Surely one of them would fail with the Guard's low leadership...
Craig picked up the dice, rolled for the plasma squad... Who passed! Then for the remaining squad.... Who also passed!
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| End Game (Turn 3!) |
What had seemed like a certain victory at the beginning of my turn had somehow resulted in a cheeky draw!
Final score: 4-4 KPs (Draw)
Post-Game Analysis:
Well for my first ever tournament game, I have to say I'm very happy. To have been in the lead the whole game with a strong chance of winning, especially vs a veteran with a decent list, was a much better performance than I hoped! I can forgive myself for throwing three game away at the end considering how little time I had and how much adrenaline was pumping through my veins! However, looking back there were a number of things I would do differently next time...
Firstly, and most obviously, my target priority went to pieces at the end. I should have shot the grey hunters at the infantry squads, allowing for a multi-charge against the chimera (which didn't move the previous turn) with krak grenades. The hunters would have stomped the two small squads, probably giving me the two KP I needed.
I think I got a bit hung up on that chimera to be honest. I'd been blasting it with krak missiles, autocannon side shots and melta all game, and it would just not die! Looking back, there were much better targets nearby, e.g. the lascannon heavy weapons team and command squad, both of which had no cover and should have folded to a long range blasting! I'd found autocannons to be excellent at tagging heavy weapons teams in my previous game vs Guard, as S7 insta-gibbs the T3 W2 bases. Lesson learned there!
Taking another look at the photos, I also think that my right hand flank dread and razorback should have been deployed further to the side. They still would have been in range, but the nearby forest would have allowed cover saves. This would also have also allowed clear lines of sight to the central chimera. Minor point but it all adds up!
So does anyone have any other comments? Any glaring errors or things I could have improved on?
