SHADOW IN THE WARP!

The once proud Imperial city had succumbed to the forces of Chaos a long time ago. But the Chaos strong hold, governed by Kharn the Betrayer, now felt the presence of another great evil. He felt a Shadow in the Warp!

TYRANID BATTLE MISSION – INFESTATION

2000P – KILL POINTS

Hive Fleet Grendel (Ørnulv) vs Chaos (Dag)

DEPLOYMENT

The Tyranid forces closed around the table quarter in the northwest where the forces of Chaos where mustering their forces. Northeast a Tervigon supported by a unit Gaunts and a Winged Hive Tyrant. Centre-east a Hive Guard and Zoanthropes. Centre-south a unit Gaunts. Centre-west a unit Gargoyles, a Tervigon, a unit Hive Guard and a Winged Hive Tyrant. 2 Tervigon Primes and 2 units Genestealers where held in reserve.

Chaos deployed a Landraider with Terminators in the centre, flanked by a Defiler and backed up by a Rhino with Khorne Berzerkers and one Rhino with Thousand Sons. In the northeast a Predator (Destructor) and a Vindicator. To the northwest a Rhino with Plague marines. Northwest, holding back, a Winged Demon Prince and a retinue of Raptors.

TURN 1

To the northeast the Gaunts and the Tervigon rushed forward against the Vindicator and Predator. The Hive Tyrant, Hive Guard and Zoanthropes went around the obstacles (dangerous terrain in this scenario) heading centre-north, and opened fire. The Heavy Venom Cannon managed to immobilise the Vindicator. To the south the Gaunt unit rushed into one of the burned out buildings. The Hive Guard unit southwest opened fire against the centre-Rhino, but only managed to stun it. The Hive Tyrant in the southwest jumped over the burning building and charged the Defiler. The Hive Tyrant screamed in anger as he failed to destroy it, and instead taking 2 wounds!

The Landraider surged forward 12” into the city and popped smoke. The Winged Daemon prince jumped up on top of one of the buildings in the southwest corner of the battlefield, threatening the Hive Tyrant from behind, and the Gargoyles and Tervigon. The Raptors advanced into the centre area. The Vindicator to the northeast opened fire against the advancing Gaunts, killing half of them. The Predator wounded the Tervigon. With a shriek the Hive Tyrant to the southwest hammered against the Defiler, but could not penetrate its armour. The defiler answered by killing it and consolidates to the south.

Chaos had the upper hand.

TURN 2

The ground shoked as massive bio construct erupted from the center of the table! The massive shape of a Trygon Prime emerged from the dust! The Tervigon to the north managed to reach the Vindicator and smashed it to peaces. The Hive Tyrant jumped over a building and fired at the Predator. The venom cloud scattered onto the Rhino in centre, blowing it up! 2 Khorne Berzerkers died in the flames. The Hive Tyrant then assaulted and destroyed the Predator. In the centre the Hive Guard and Zoanthropes opened fire at the Landraider. The Lance shot from one of the Zoanthropes managed to immobilise it. The Gargoyles to the south where ordered to take position between the Demon Prince and the Tervigon, trying to protect the superior being. They opened fire on the Daemon Prince but the wounds where neglected. The Hive Guard unit and Trygon Prime also opened fire, finally taking two wounds from it.

The Defiler opened fire at the Gargoyles, burning half of them, and killing the rest in close combat. Kharn and his Khorne Berzerkers charged out of the ruins of their Rhino and into the Tervigon. Unfortunately one Berzerker where consumed by the wreck. Kharn and Skull Champion managed to inflict several wounds on the massive creature, which in return wounded Kharn two times. The Raptors jumped forward, over the Trygon, south. The centre-north Rhino approached the centre. The Terminators left the Landraider heading east for the Zoanthropes. The Daemon Prince lost a wound flying of the ruined building, deciding it was wise to fall behind the Rhino in the centre.

The odds had evened.

TURN 3

Again the ground shocked, and again a Trygon Prime emerged from the deep, this time centre-west behind the defiler, opening fire at the Raptor unit, and killing 3. A Genestealers unit entered the battlefield from the east, heading full speed towards the centre. The Winged Hive Tyrant jumped over a building, landing beside Kharn, and assaulted him. Hold at bay by the Lash Whip Kharn was killed by the combined effort from the badly wounded Trygon and the Hive Tyrant. The remaining Berzerkers managed to kill the Trygon. The Hive Guard to the south-vest opened fire (from behind) on the Defiler, blowing it up! In the north the Zoanthropes headed east to draw the Terminators closer to the Genestealers and away from the Tervigon and Hive Guard who took cover behind a building with the Gaunt unit in front of them.

The Raptors moved north. The Thousand Sons disembarked and took up fire position against the newly arrived Trygon Prime, and wounded it. The Daemon Prince approached the centre planning to give aid against the Hive Tyrant there. In the northeast the Rhino with Plague Marines moved east. The Hive Tyrant killed the remaining Khorne Berzerkers. The Terminators shot at and wiped out the Zoanthropes in close combat.

The Tyranids had gained an advantage.

TURN 4

Again a unit of Genestealers arrived from the east, speeding due vest. In the north the Gaunts rushed forward against the Terminators. The Tervigon spawned 11 Gaunts who also rushed forward against them. All the Gaunts and the Hive Guard opened fire against the Terminators. They inflicted several wounds, but it did not make a difference, as the Terminators passed all their saves! The Genestealers who entered battle last turn was still to fare away to assault the Terminators. The Hive Mind decided, and believed, the Spawned Gaunt unit could hold the Terminators in position for one turn, and assaulted them. Again the Terminators made all of their saves, but fortunately the Gaunts only lost a couple of their numbers. The Genestealers surged forward against them. In the centre the Thousand Sons and Hive Tyrant clashed, The Hive Tyrant quickly getting the upper hand. The Trygon Prime in centre-west moved, fleeted and assaulted the Daemon Prince. Taking wounds, the Trygon Prime managed to take the last wound of the Chaos Prince.

The Plague Marines disembarked their Rhino and opened fire against the Trygon Prime, but did not manage to damage it. The Terminators won the combat against the Gaunts, but the will of The Hive Mind ensured that there where enough of them left to hold them in place for the next turn. The Thousand Suns managed to wound the Hive Tyrant, but more of them fell.

Time to Devour!

TURN 5

The Genestealers to the east assaulted the Terminators. Attacking through difficult terrain, they where at a disadvantage. But, only 4 died, and the rest of them (together with the remaining Gaunts) wiped out the Terminators (2 rending wounds). The Trygon Prime approached the Plague Marines. The Hive Guard headed north firing and destroying the centre Rhino. The Hive Tyrant cut down one of the Thousand Sons.

The rest of the Thousand Sons fell to the Hive Tyrant. The Plague Marines wounded the Trygon Prime. The Lascannons on the Landraider had very little to shot at (and had misses all through the game…).

It was over! Result:

Tyranids 11VP – Chaos 3VP

Word Bearers Objective Markers (Architecture of Aggression XXIV)

The final project for the Freebootaz 2010 Motivational Challenge: Themed objectives for the army I've been painting all year.

For once, I got started on assembly fairly early so I actually had the markers undercoated and managed to begin painting during the weekend the Gold Challenge started. Nothing much happened until the end of the following week however, but I was able to sit down for a few hours today and finish off the icons.

The five icons from the CSM command sprue seemed perfect for those five objectives you'd need in Seize Ground. For a game of Capture and Control, what better than a third company UltraMarines sergeant on his knees. His Bolt Pistol out of ammo and his Chainsword broken at his feet. ;)

WW8 Testrun 01 - Endzone

The rules pack for Winter War VIII is out (link in sidebar), so Trond and I thought we might as well try them out.

"Architecture of Aggression" (1750 pts from C:CSM)
- Chaos Lord - Terminator Armour, Lightning Claws, Mark of Khorne, Personal Icon.
- Terminators (4) - Chain Fist, Heavy Flamer, Combi-melta x2.
- Berzerker squad (10) - Champion w/Power Fist.
- CSM squad (10) - Champion w/Power Fist. Melta gun x2, Icon of Chaos' Glory.
- Rhino - Dozer Blade, Havoc Launcher.
- CSM squad (10) - Champion w/Power Fist. Melta gun x2, Icon of Chaos' Glory.
- Rhino - Dozer Blade, Havoc Launcher.
- Summoned Lesser Daemons (5)
- Obliterators (2)
- Land Raider
- Land Raider

"Gladius Ventus" (1750 pts from C:Eldar) ...from my faltering memory
- Farseer - Fortune, Jet bike, Singing Spear, Runes of Jarlsberg, etc...
- Fire Dragons (5)
- Dire Avengers (10) - Exarch w/Defend.
- Wave Serpent - TL Bright Lance,
- Storm Guardians (10) - Warlock w/Destructor. Melta gun x2.
- Wave Serpent - TL Bright Lance,
- Jet bike squadron (5) - Shuriken Cannon x1
- Warp Spiders (10) - Exarch w/Power Blades, Twin whatchamaycallit, Withdraw.
- Wraith Lord - Bright Lance, Wraithblade.
- Falcon - Pulse Laser, Eldar Missile Launcher.

Before rolling any dice, Trond and I read through the mission and were a bit confused about there apparently being no Mission Special Rules in play. The same was true for all the missions in the rules pack, so we agreed to play it with Reserves and Deep Strike as per the missions in the rulebook. We'll have to have Chris & Co clarify the point later though...

Trond won the initial roll-off, and made Jørn choose table edge and deploy first.

Jørn deployed the Word Bearers facing east. A CSM squad and the Berzerkers in a Land Raider was placed on the road coming in from the north flank, while the other CSM squad, the Obliterators and the Lord and Terminators set up in and around a ruin between two of the Chaos objectives.

Trond split his Eldar force, placing the Falcon with a Wave Serpent on each side out on the southern flank. The Wraith Lord and Jet bike squadron with the Farseer set up behind the ruined Aquila Shrine, out of sight.

With that done, Trond picked up a D6 to steal the initiative - and rolled a five. :P

Turn one

On the north flank, the Rhino with the CSM squad races eighteen inches along the road before popping smoke. The land Raider with the Berzerkers moves twelve inches straight towards the Wraith Lord. The CSM squad by the Chaos objectives moves their Rhino at Combat Speed forward while the Land Raider with the Lord and Terminators backs a little to get a shot off at one of the Wave Serpents. The Obliterators adjust their position a little to get a clearer line of sight to the same skimmer.
While the Land Raider misses, one of the Obliterators hits penetrates and wrecks the Wave Serpent. The Rhino just below fires it’s Havoc Launcher at the emerging Dire Avengers, killing four.

Wave Serpent and Falcon moves up on the southern flank, while the Dire Avengers spread out and moves back towards the Eldar objectives. The Jet bike squadron with the Farseer
Wraith Lord speeds off to the centre of the Eldar deployment zone, leaving the Wraith Lord slowly backing away from the advancing Land Raider.
The Wraith Lord can hardly help but hit the Land Raider, but the shot does no damage. The surviving Wave Serpent however lances one of the Obliterators and pitches it off the ruin where it had taken cover. The Dire Avengers run towards the central Eldar objective.

Turn two

The Summoned Lesser Daemons arrives from Reserves, arriving between the Rhino and the Land Raider on the north flank. Said Land Raider advances six inches forwards, while the Rhino cruises to the corner of the shrine. The Rhino by the Chaos objectives moves to get out of the way of the Land Raider coming up from behind.
The Berzerkers' Land Raider fires a Lascannon at the Wraith Lord. It hits but fails to wound. The Terminators' Land Raider fires its Heavy Bolter and kills another of the Dire Avengers after the Rhino scatters waaay off with the Havoc Launcher.

Both the Warp Spiders and the War Walkers arrive. The latter prances in on the northern flank and the former Deep Striking close to the southernmost Chaos Objective. The Wave Serpent and Falcon turns back toward the Eldar table edge. The Farseer and Jet bike squadron Turbo Boosts over to surround the Rhino on the north flank. The Wraith Lord continues to back away from the Berzerkers.
It proceeds to shoot and wreck the Berzerkers' Land Raider. The War Walkers shoots and wrecks the Rhino that's surrounded by the Jet bike squadron, forcing the Chaos Marines to leave two brothers in the burning wreck. On the south flank, the remaining Wave Serpent poaches the Obliterator still left in the ruin between two of the Chaos objectives. The Warp Spiders opens up on the nearby Rhino, but merely shreds the Havoc Launcher and immobilizes the vehicle. (Yay for "AP -"!)
The Farseer, Fortuned as he is, assaults the emerged Chaos Marines to hold them in place until the Wraith Lord can get there. It ends rather messily, as he fails both attempts to save against a Power Fist to the face as is killed instantly.

Turn three

The Berzerkers and Daemons are forced to continue their advance on foot. The now blooded CSM squad sets their eyes on the Jet bike squadron. The Terminators' Land Raider idles forward a little more.
The Land Raider Heavy Bolter guns down two more Dire avengers while the Berzerkers and the Daemons, obviously distracted by the blood scent in the air, just stumble a few (1 and 3 respectively) more inches forward. The CSM squad nearby shoots down three of the Jet bikes before assaulting the remaining one and the Warlock.
The CSM squad manages only to kill the remaining Jet bike Guardian. The Warlock stands his ground and pulls the Chaos Marines in.

The Falcon and the remaining Wave Serpent splits up. The former boosts in towards the CSM squad and Terminators guarding the Chaos objectives, while the latter moves towards the Eldar objectives at Combat Speed. The remaining Dire Avengers moves quickly out of the ruins where they've been taking cover in the direction of the Locked CSM squad. The Wraith Lord turns and marches toward the same squad, and the War Walkers moves a little further in from the north table edge.
The Warp Spiders fire on the remaining Rhino again, and destroy the Combi-bolter as well. The Dire Avengers makes a Run move while the War Walkers send a storm of shuriken past the wrecked Land Raider to kill six Berzerkers (13 hits, 11 wounds and 6 failed Armour Saves.)
Due to the Wraith Lord's much larger base, it has to take a Difficult Terrain test to assault the CSM squad engaged with the Warlock. A roll of six leaves no doubt. The Dire Avengers rolls equally high, but it is still not quite enough to reach the Marines. On the other side of the table, the Warp Spiders move around the rear of the ruins now shielding them from the CSM Squad in the Rhino. The Warlock and Marines locked in combat are unable to harm each other. The Wraith Lord kills three of the Marines, but is wounded twice by the Aspiring Champion.

Jørn notes that the Berzerkers are nowhere close...

Turn four

The few remaining Berzerkers and Daemons continue to chase the Wraith Lord. On the south flank, the CSM squad and the Terminators both leave their vehicles and moves to intercept the Warp Spiders.
The two squads shoot and kill eight of the ten Aspect Warriors, forcing them to beat a hasty retreat. The Berzerkers and Daemons stumble one and two inches through the ruined shrine, still seeking the Wraith Lord.
The CSM squad by the Chaos objectives assaults and wipes the remaining Warp spiders, before sweeping back into the ruin. The few remaining Marines from the other CSM squad kill both the Warlock and the Wraith Lord, and sweep into the shrine.

The Falcon and Wave Serpent both move Flat Out to reach the Eldar objectives, while the Dire Avengers stalk through the ruin recently vacated by the CSM squad.
The Falcon fires its Star Engines to move another twelve inches behind the shrine. The War Walkers are finally starting to lose their momentum, merely killing two Berzerkers.

Turn five

The remaining Land Raider spins around where it stands. The Berzerkers and the Daemons stumble further into the shrine, one of the Marines moving to within reach of the northernmost Eldar objective. The CSM squad already in the shrine climbs to the second floor. The CSM squad guarding the Chaos objectives spreads out to within three inches of two of the objectives - just in case Trod will try something funky.
The Land Raider fires all weapons, hitting with everything. Only one hit penetrates and one hit glances, but both are saved by the intervening cover. The CSM squad in the shrine fires at the Dire Avengers, but does no damage.

The War Walkers keep moving south and west. The remaining Eldar forces moves to cover all their objectives, except the Dire Avengers who moves straight towards the Chaos forces in the shrine.
The War Walkers kill the last two Berzerkers, while the Falcon and Fire Dragons kills all but one Daemon and the Dire Avengers run.
Dire Avengers assaults the last Daemon and the two remaining Chaos Marines. Swords are brandished and threatening gestures are made, but no damage is done by either side.

Trond takes the roll to see if we'll be playing another turn. The dice tells us “no” - with a one.

We are tied for Primary. Trond has managed to overtake me on Secondary during the last couple of turns, so it doesn't matter after all that I killed his Farseer for Tertiary early in the game.

Trond 6
Jørn 4