ØRNULVS MARCH 2011 PROJECT Re-revisiting the Ultramarines 2.

Finally my March project is finished!

I must admit I had forgotten how much time it takes to paint Ultramarines (for my part anyway). Although the format of a chapter army bound to Codex Astartes does not invite too much variation or creativity, I have enjoyed working with them (Marines) again, also rying new poses to give this “last batch” attitude.

First out, Brother Sgt at arms; Two Sgt with PF and two with Combi-Meltas.

Second out; Devastator Sgt and three squad members armed with ML.

Last but not least; Tactical Marines with various weaponry (2XLC, 2XHB and 2XMeltas).

I am now looking forward to test my “new” Ultramarine army concept.

I am also looking forward to start on my brand new army (no re re re revisit Ultramarines in that batch Jørn), but wait – I hear a power plant getting closer…. ;)

D6 IN THE WARP!

Inspired by the last couple of my battle reports (Shadow in the Warp # 2 – 3), André wanted to try the same scenario. Having had great fun playing this scenario I agreed!

2000P – THREE OBJECTIVES

Primary Objective (10p); Listening Tower (on a D6 result of 5-6 a piece of area terrain reveals being a listening tower that each side wants to capture and control)

Secondary Objective (6p); Man Down (each side tries to control/rescue a strayed spy. A suitable marker is placed in the enemies deployment zone before deployment)

Tertiary Objective (4p); Grind them to a Halt (points for vehicle or monstrous creature destroyed/killed)

THE ARMIES

Craft World Eldar:

Avatar

Dire Avenger unit in Wave Serpent X 2

Guardian unit in Wave Serpent

Warp Spider unit

Striking Scorpion unit

Fire Dragon unit in Falcon

Dark Reaper unit

Tyranid Hive Fleet Grendel:

Winged Hive Tyrant X 2

Gaunt unit X 2

Genestealer unit

Tervigon X 2

Zoanthrope unit

Hive Guard

Hive Guard unit

Trygon Prime X 2

Mawlock

DEPLOYMENT

Man Down markers; Eldar places its marker southwest behind a tank obstacle. The Tyranids placed their marker (2. floor) inside the building known as “Terminatum” straight north (centre) from the Eldar marker. The markers where only 12” apart!

The 2 Dire Avenger units, embarked in their transports, enter the battlefield centre north behind the building called “Sanctum”. The Avatar emerges at the north side of “Terminatum”, threatening the Tyranid marker.

A unit of Gaunts sets up inside “Terminatum” close to the Tyranid marker. A 2. unit Gaunts enters the building known as “Auditorium” centre south. Behind it, a Winged Hive Tyrant with heavy Venom Cannon.

It is dark!

TURN 1

D6 = 6, and the Tyranids cease the initiative! Full of confidence, the Hive Mind moves all its troops onto the battlefield from the southwest, heading for the Eldar Marker and Tyranid marker at full speed. Only the Mawlock is held in reserve (deep strike). The Hive Tyrant With the Heavy Venom Cannon manages to see the closest Wave serpent, blowing of its gun turret! And know – if only one of the two buildings occupied by Gaunts to the southwest contains the listening tower, the Eldar will have to be the offensive party! D6 = 4: Damn. D6 = 2; Damn damn. The Hive Mind could be badly outmanoeuvred if the listening tower is located no the north east of the battlefield!

The Eldar force heads at full speed east, closing in on the 2 buildings to the north east of the battlefield. The rest of the force entering from north centre, preparing to set up a gun line in north centre to hinder the Tyranids from advancing north east. Since the Tyranids are out of range of the centre building, the Eldar forces flies at full speed and does not disembark and search any buildings… The Avatar heads northeast – away from the Tyranid Marker…. (boo – hiss).

TURN 2

The Tyranid army splits into 2. Hive Guard and Zoanthropes enter Auditorium and will threaten any Eldar forces closing in on the Eldar and Tyranid marker. A Trygon Prime, Genestealers, a Spawned unit of Gaunts, a Tervigon and a Winged Hive Tyrant heads north into and behind the “Terminatum” building, protecting the Tyranid marker. The rest of the force heads east and cuts of the Eldar should they decide to head for the Eldar marker south west, and trying to get closer to the eastside of the battle field should the listening tower be found there.

The Eldar Guardians enters a building to the north centre east (Sanctum), and a unit of Dire Avengers enters the massive Manifactorum structure to the far east of the battlefield. The Dark Reapers takes up a good future fire position in the north centre east. The Warp Spiders and Striking Scorpions masses behind the Sanctum building ready to strike south when the Tyranids advance. The Falcon with Fire Dragons backs up the Wave Serpent to the East. D6 = 4; Ohh. D6 = 2; What the f…. Suddenly the game changes. The centre south building (close to the Tyranid battle line) is the only structure left who could host a Listening Tower! The Eldar open fire, taking some wounds of the monsters, and the damaged Wave serpent tank shocks south re diverting a Gaunt unit from the last building who could contain the Listening Tower.

TURN 3

The Mawlock emerges from the ground wiping out most of the Guardian squad to the north centre! The Tyranid force to the east consolidates its position in and around Terminatum and the Tyranid marker. The Tervigon spawns another unit. If the Eldar decides to assault this stronghold, the counter assault would be massive! In centre south the Tervigon Spawns another unit, it reaching the last building that could host the Listening Tower. A Tervigon supports it. D6 = 2!!!! All the building in the city is empty! The two forces are almost on opposite sides of the battle field, the Eldar north centre to east with long range fire power, and the Tyranids centre west and south having surrounded both objective markers! The Hive Tyrant and Trygon Prime to the south attacks the Wave serpent who tank shocked the Gaunt unit in an attempt to prevent the Tyranids from reaching the last building. The monsters leave behind a burning wreck.

The Dire Avenger unit to the east embarks the Wave Serpent and heads south supported by the Falcon. To the north the units adjust their position around the Mawlock. As tracers the Mawlock light up the air are brought down! The Tervigon to the south is badly wounded.

TURN 4 – 5

Cat and mouse! The Tyranids consolidated position making sure al creatures where hid behind or inside the buildings close to the two objective markers, the Tervigon constantly spawning units – creating a expandable web net in front of their lines.

The Eldar strike force stared an advance southwest, killing a Tervigon and a Hive Tyrant, but where unable to find a “hole” in the defences early enough to push through when the game ended after 5 turns.

COMMENT:

Having played this scenario several times, I have found it to establish the conditions for a good battle. However, with none of the buildings turning out to be containing the “Listening Tower”, it turned out to be a predictable outcome when the whole of the Tyranid army surrounded to two object markers. Next time I opt for a different scenario!

RESULT

Primary Objective

Hive Fleet Grendel 0 – Craft world Eldar 0

Secondary Objective

Hive Fleet Grendel 6 – Craft world Eldar 0

Tertiary Objective

Hive Fleet Grendel 0 – Craft world Eldar 4

TOTAL

Hive Fleet Grendel 6 – Craft world Eldar 4

MOMENTS TO REMEMBER

Andre; Shooting down 2 monsters in one turn to the south

Ørnulv; The Mawlock finally succeeding in deep striking into a unit killing most of it!

Winter War VIII

So Trond and I flew over to Bergen for the Titan club's annual 40K tournament last weekend. Much fun was had, both on and off the tabletop. Both of us faced opponents both skilled and pleasant - most of them both.

We didn't manage to place quite as high as we had hoped, both due to our army lists not being quite up to snuff as well as the some of the missions being a little too random. The latter has been communicated to the WWVIII staff, and will no doubt be addressed for next year. The former is something which we will have to look into ourselves.

Battle report: Clash of chaos...

Word Bearers Daemon Prince Kahn-Urkan (Architecture of Aggression XXVII)

So I finally got around to finishing off the very nice Kahn-Urkan model from Raging Heroes last year. The model came with a plethora of extra parts. I've got two heads, two right hands and a left hand lying in a bits box right now. Not sure what to do with them, but I'm sure a suitable project will come along eventually... ;)

As those of you who's followed the links above (and peeked at the mini over at RH's site) may have noticed, I've used another pair of wings than the ones the model could be supplied with. If I'm ever going to be able to take the Daemon Prince with me anywhere, I'd have to 'settle' for wings that were a little smaller than the pair that were designed for it. My sollution is a pair of Pegasus wings from GW's WHFB Bretonnia range and a bit of green stuff.

I also used GW bits for the base. The rocky arrow from the Chaos Space Marine Lord was glued to a standard 60mm base, and bits from a Dire Avenger Exarch model was cut, filed and refitted before being glued partly on top of the outcrop. Pins for the DP's feet was superglued in place before the Exarch's torso an shoulder pads were greenstuffed in and sand was glued to the rest of the base. Trond gratiously provided me with an Exarch's helmet too, enabling me to finish yet another monthly project within the planned time limit.

For the next month's motivational challenge we're supposed to do Troops again. The only Troops unit I don't yet have for my Word Bearers are Plague Marines, but I don't really know how I'm supposed to represent that without going all gooey and pustulent...

SHADOW IN THE WARP # III

As they continued devouring the remains of the Chaos army (se battle report Shadow in the warp # I and II), shapes of green and white emerged from the horizon. Hive Mind Grendel had a vague memory of facing this enemy before, they where known as Eldar...

1750P – THREE OBJECTIVES

Primary Objective (10p); Listening Tower (on a D6 result of 5-6 a piece of area terrain reveals being a listening tower that each side wants to capture an control)
Secondary Objective (6p); Man Down (each side tries to control/rescue a strayed spy. A suitable marker is placed in the enemies deployment zone before deployment)
Tertiary Objective (4p); Grind them to a Halt (points for vehicle or monstrous creature destroyed/killed)

THE ARMIES

Biel Tan Craft world Eldar
Far seer
Dire Avengers in Wave Serpent
Fire Dragons in Wave Serpent
Guardians in Wave Serpent
Guardian Jet bikes
War walkers
Wraith lord
Wraith lord

Tyranid Hive Fleet Grendel
Winged Hive Tyrant
Winged Hive Tyrant
Gaunts
Gaunts
Genestealers
Genestealers
Tervigon
Tervigon
Trygon
Trygon
Mawlock

DEPLOYMENT

Man Down markers; Eldar places its marker centre south behind a crater. Tyranids places theirs inside the Sanctum building in the northeast centre.

Dire Avengers and their Wave Serpent takes position behind the Terminatum building northeast. The Guardians and their wave serpent behind the Auditorium building to the northwest.

To the east, a unit Gaunts takes position partially inside the Sanctum building. Behind them, keeping in control, a Hive Tyrant. Centre, close to the Eldar marker, another unit of Gaunts inside the Tankum structure.

TURN 1

The Guardians enter the Auditorium building, and the Dire Avengers enter the Terminatum building. A D6 shows a 5; The Auditorium Building is a listening station (deep inside the Eldar deployment zone – this is going to be a long walk….rem Ørnulv). To the northwest a unit of Jet bikes zooms forward taking cover behind the Pompum structure. The two Wraith Lords enter the battlefield centre north. The Fire Dragons (in their Wave Serpent) takes position to the northeast behind the Terminatum Building. It is dark – to dark for the gun line to inflict casualties.



To the east, a small unit of Genestealers takes cover in a crater to support the gaunt unit inside the Sanctum Building. The Gaunts inside the Sanctum Building move deeper into the building and occupies several levels. A Tervigon and Trygon takes cover behind the Tankum structure centre south, beside them facing the Eldar marking another unit of Genestealers. To the south vest, behind the massive Manifactorum structure, enters a Trygon, a Tervigon and a Hive Tyrant. The Gaunts in centre moves forward entering the Eldar deployment zone, taking cover in a crater. It is still to dark to make shooting effective.

TURN 2

With a bright light – the Warp Spiders emerges close to the Hive Tyrant guarding the Sanctum building. The War walkers enter the battlefield centre vest, and the Jet bikes turbo boosts northeast. The Wraith Lords adjusts their position. The Guardians move into and up inside the Auditorium building. The Dire Avengers enters their Wave serpent, and the Fire Dragons moves east threatening the Sanctum building from the north. The Eldar battle line opens fire. With aid, the Warp Spiders kills the Hive Tyrant protecting the Sanctum building. Other large creatures take some wounds. The Warp Spiders retreat north centre.


The Hive Mind roars in pain after loosing a Hive Tyrant so early in the battle. It also regrets having decided to try out the Mawlock instead of using biomass to produce Hive Guards. The Gaunts inside the Sanctum building moves vest ready to assault the Warp Spiders. The small Genestealer unit southeast makes a run for the Warp Spiders. Tervigon spawns a small unit of Gants, but because of a double rill on a D6 looses its ability to spawn again. The unit sets of against the Warp Spiders. In centre, the Gaunt unit turns south to cut of the Warp Spiders and surround the utterly. The Tervigon outside the Manifactorum spawns a unit of Gaunts that heads northwest facing the Auditorium building. The Trygon and Tervigon adjust their position, trying to find a path north that gives them cower. The Gaunts and Trygon to the southeast open fire on the Warp Spiders, their amour deflecting almost all the lethal hits. The Tyranids, lead by the small Genestealer units, surrounds and attacks the Warp Spider leaving 2 alive (Amazingly they did not kill them all.) and who makes their Ld test!



TURN 3

The War Walkers moves east centre. The Guardians reach the upper level on the Auditorium Building. Their wave serpent taking position in front facing south, beside it the Dire Avengers embarked inside their Wave serpent. The primary objective (the Listening station) is now protected with massive firepower and unit inside the building and outside protected by the vehicle. The jet bikes heads east together with the Wave Serpent carrying the Fire Dragons, closing in on the Sanctum Building. Failing dangerous Terrain test 2 of them are lost in the canal to the northeast. The War walkers kill most of the Gaunts inside the Manifactorum, and wound the centre Trygon, leaving it with only one wound. The Warp Spiders fights on but are finally devoured.

The Ground shakes as the Mawlock emerges from the deep! It scatters, into the Wave serpent belonging to the Guardians, immobilizing it. The Gaunt unit in Sanctum heads east to face the Jet bikes and the Wave serpent with the Fire Dragons. The two gaunt units in centre heads north, trying to find cover. The Trygon to southwest spawns another unit of Gaunts, heading straight towards the Auditorium building. The Genestealers in centre south runs north, taking cover behind tank traps, to prepare an assault on the Eldar centre battle line next turn. The Trygon head north centre. The Tyranids open fire, but does not manage to inflict damage to the Eldar who are either out of range or have cover or armor protecting them (were are my Hive Guard?).



TURN 4

The War walkers adjust their position taking careful aim at the Mawlock. The Guardians do the same. The Dire Avengers leave their Wave Serpent, having a good view to fire at the Gaunts as well as the Mawlock. The Wrath Lords move south centre. To the east the Jet Bikes takes up position just outside the Sanctum Building, backed up by the Fire Dragons. In hail of fire the Mawlock falls to the ground. But worse, the badly wounded Trygon in centre is also killed, and two units Gaunts succumb to the flamers on the Wraith Lords and fire from the Dire Avengers. The Jet bikes kills several Gaunts but are locked in combat.

Ouch! That hurt! If I only could “catch up with them….”! In a last desperate attempt to reach Auditorium, the remaining centre Gaunt unit moves north. The gaunt unit centre west and the remaining Hive Tyrant back it up. The Tervigon backing it up. The remaining Trygon heads east centre together with the other Tervigon Trying to support the small Genestealer unit that backed up the Gaunts occupying the Sanctum Building, now assaulting the Jet bikes. The Hive Tyrant smashes the immobilized Wave Serpent to bits. The Jet bikes and Fire Dragons continue their fight with the Gaunts and Genestealers inside the Sanctum building.

TURN 5

The Guardians adjusts their position. The two Wraith Lords heads for the Hive Tyrant. The Wave Serpents adjust their line of sight. Again the Eldar battle line opens fire, wounding the Hive Tyrant, killing the last Trygon and obliterating both Gaunts units in centre. The Wraith Lords kills the last Hive Tyrant. Inside Sanctum the battle continues with few models remaining on each side.



The centre Tervigon heads for the Auditorium building, hoping to stay alive so it can contest it. A small gaunt unit surrounds the Eldar centre marker.

TURN 6

The Wraith Lords position themselves in front of the Tervigon in centre, blocking it so it will not reach the Auditorium building. The Wave Serpent with the Dire Avengers fly over the centre of the battlefield and lands beside the Eldar Marker. The Eldar army opens fire and wounds both Tervigons, but they survive.

It is over! Hive Fleet Grendel is defeated – and it was Eldar who brought the right tools. High mobility in combination with bucket loads of S6 shots, “Melta units”, Lances and Missile Launchers is hard on the Hive Mind. It was a good game! The Mawlock is cool, but utterly useless in most situations. I opt for the Hive Guard and Zoanthropes next time, as always Hive Fleet Grendel regenerates. next time Trond, next time….

RESULT
Primary Objective ........ Hive Fleet Grendel 0 – Biel Tan 10
Secondary Objective ... Hive Fleet Grendel 0 – Biel Tan 0
Tertiary Objective ........ Hive Fleet Grendel 0 – Biel Tan 4

TOTAL
Hive Fleet Grendel 0 – Biel Tan 14

MOMENTS TO REMEMBER

Trond; Warp Spiders deep striking and killing the Hive Tyrant turn 2!
Ørnulv; Seeing 3 units of gaunts and 1 unit Genestealers attacking the Warp Spiders (classic situation)!