White Scars vs Talons of the Emperor 10/24/20

The Mission:

The Talons of the Emperor:

Shield-Captain with Sentinel Blade and Storm Shield

Shield-Captain with Guardian Spear

Custodian Guard x 3

Allarus Custodians x 3

Vexillus Praetor

Venerable Contemptor Dreadnought

Venerable Land Raider

Sisters of Silence Prosecutors x 5

Agendas: Priority Target, Reaper, Survivor (Shield-Captain with Shield)

The White Scars Stormwrath Brotherhood of Hibogen Khan:

Khan on Bike

Lieutenant with Jump Pack

10-man Tactical Squad broken into Combat Squads of 5

5-man Tactical Squad

Terminators x 5

3-man Bike Squad with Attack Bike

Ironclad Dreadnought

Predator Destructor

Rhino

The battlefield. There is a narrowing Search Area centered on the white marker in the middle, with four objective markers scattered around the rest of the field.

The progressive objective scored for controlling the Search Area can be scored in the first battle round, unlike some others, so that incentivizes deploying as many models as possible in the section of it that overlaps with the deployment zone. Further, controlling the Search Area is only dependent on model count within it, and Objective Secured has no meaning for that purpose. Vehicles count as five models.

With that in mind, deployments: 

Talons deployment. There were the equivalent of 22 models in the Search Area.

White Scars deployment. They made the equivalent of 24 models in the Search Area.

Talons got 2 CP Crusade Blessings.

White Scars win the roll off, choose to go second.

Round 1.

Talons take first turn.

Miss controlling the search area by two models.

Allarus, Shield Captain with Spear (Spear Cap) advance up one flank.

Land Raider moves up behind them.

Custodian Guard, Vexillus advance through center ruins.

Dreadnought advances around the other flank.

Shield Cap with Storm Shield and Sentinel Blade (Shield Cap), Sisters of Silence Prosecutor Squad hold objectives.

Land Raider shoots Lascannons at Predator. 4 hits, 3 wounds CP reroll into 4 wounds. 3 go to damage. 9 damage done.

Twin Heavy Bolter and Storm Bolter at a Tac Squad in cover. 1 marine dies.

Marines pass morale.

WS turn 1.

Devastator Doctrine in effect.

Control the search area, and so score 15 VP.

Rhino moves up near objective, Tac marines Lightning Debark out.

Terminators move up.

Tac Squad with Heavy Bolter remain stationary.

Ironclad moves up nearer to Allarus and Land Raider.

Lieutenant with Jump Pack advances 18” to give his aura to as many units as possible.

Predator can only move 3”, and does.

Bike Squad and Khan move up near to Custodian Guard. 

Here I realize the Custodes have really F’d up because now they’re in 12” of the center of the battlefield and that means no invulnerable saves can be taken. This could get ugly.

Predator Lascannons at the Land Raider. Hitting on 5s, two hits!  Two wounds, on saved. 1 damage, rerolled into 2. meh.

HKM fails to wound.

Autocannon and Storm Bolter at Allarus. Nothing.

Ironclad’s 2 HKM at Land Raider. 5 damage, bringing it down to 9 wounds remaining.

Ironclad’s Heavy Flamer and Melta into Allarus. 1 damage gets through.

Rhino HKM at Land Raider. Miss.

Storm Bolter at Allarus. Nothing.

1st Tac Squad fire at Allarus. Grav Pistol gets through and does 3 damage to finish off one Allarus Custodian.

2nd Tac Squad fire at Allarus. nada.

3rd Tac Squad fire at Allarus. A Heavy Bolter shot gets through for 2 damage.

Lieutenant shoots at Allarus. nada.

Terminators shoot 4 Storm Bolters at Allarus. Second one dies, third loses a wound.

Khan and Bike Squad shoot at Custodian Guard squad. nothing!

Allarus pass morale.

Round 2.

Search Area narrows. Talons to not control it.

Score 10 VP for hold and hold 2.

Custodians all move a little to try and clear the marines off one objective.

Dreadnought rounds the corner to get into the mix.

Shield Cap and Sisters stay on their objectives.

Superior Fire Patterns (double the shots of Rapid Fire weapons) and Blood Games Veterans (unmodified 6s to hit auto-wound) on Custodian Guard Squad.

They shoot at the Tac Squad on the nearby objective. Only one marine dies.

Spear Cap shoots same squad. Nada.

Last Allarus shoots them. One more marine dies. 

Land Raider Twin Heavy Bolter and Storm Bolter at the same squad. Wipes them.

Lascannons at Ironclad and Predator. 3 damage only on the Ironclad, wasting another CP reroll. Can’t even wound the Predator!

Dreadnought Muilti-melta at Ironclad. Can’t wound.

Storm Bolter at Terminators. nada. 

Spear Cap charges Lieutenant. fail

Allarus charges Lieutenant. success.

Custodian Guard Squad charge Bikers. success.

Dreadnought also. Fails. 

Custodian Guard fight bikers with Piercing Strike having them add 1 to wound rolls. So hitting and wounding both on 2s. AP-3. Wipe the whole damn squad. Consolidate into the Khan.

Counter-offensive. Lieutenant fights Allarus. 1 damage through.

Allarus fights Lieutenant. Kills him.

Khan fights Custodian Guard Squad. No wounds.

WS turn 2.

Tactical Doctrine in effect.

Score 15 for controlling the Search Area.

Score 5 for holding an objective.

Khan falls back from Custodians. Feinting Withdrawal so he can still shoot this turn.

Rhino and a Tac Squad reposition slightly.

Predator also.

Rhino Storm Bolter at Allarus. nada.

Tac Squad at Allarus. nada.

Other Tac Squad at Allarus. nada.

Ironclad heavy flamer at Allarus. nope.

Ironclad Melta at Land Allarus. -5 AP says die! Kills the final Allarus.

Predator Lascannons at Land Raider. miss.

Autocannon and Storm Bolter at Custodian Guard Squad. Nothing.

Khan shoots at Custodians. no luck.

Terminators shoot all at Custodians. 1 damage done.

Fierce Rivalries for a 3D6, drop one charge. Terminators at Custodians. Success.

Khan also charges them.

Ironclad too.

Rhino charges Spear Cap and Land Raider.

Terminators fight Custodians. Fury of the First adds 1 to hit rolls. Wipe them out.

Ironclad piles in and consolidates even though Custodians are dead (I think this is legal?)

Rhino fights, misses.

Land Raider and Spear Cap fight Rhino, do 2 damage.

Round 3

Search Area narrows again to 12”

Talons do not control it.

Score 10 for hold, hold 2.

Dreadnought moves up closer to Ironclad and Predator.

Vexillus moves up closer to Ironclad and Khan and Terminators.

Others stay on objectives or in combat.

Land Raider declares shots at Rhino in combat with it, and outside of combat at Tac Squad.

Lame. 4 Lascannons can only deliver 3 damage.

2 Sisters shoot bolters at Ironclad. Can’t wound it.

Dreadnought multi-melta at Ironclad. 10 damage! Reduced by 1 per attack, 8 total. Dead Ironclad. No explosion.

Storm Bolter at Khan. Khan takes 1 damage.

Dreadnought charges Khan and Terminators. Success. Vexillus charges same group. fail, reroll, success.

Dreadnought fights Terminators. Only one dies.

Vexillus fights Terminators. 2 damage dealt.

Khan fights Vexillus. Deals 3 damage.

Spear Cap fights, kills Rhino, which explodes. 1 Tac Marines dies. Land Raider takes 1 mortal wound. Spear Cap takes 3 mortal wounds but gets FNP to ignore one.

Spear Cap consolidates onto objective.

Terminators fight Vexillus and Dreadnought.

Vexillus dies. Dreadnought takes 6, FNP ignores 1 damage.

Marines pass morale.

WS turn 3.

Assault Doctrine.

Do not control Search Area.

Score 5 for holding one.

The Eternal Hunt. This stratagem can only be used once per battle, during Assault Doctrine. It says when you have an unmodified wound roll of 6, that attack from a Pistol or Melee weapon gets a further -1 AP in addition to that from Assault Doctrine. So a marine with a chainsword is now hitting at -3 AP, and fists are hitting at -2 AP. Perfect for taking down Custodes! 

Khan falls back to very near Land Raider. Terminators fall back.

Predator and both Tac Squads fire all at Land Raider. 7 damage gets through, all from the lascannons.

Terminators charge Dreadnought. Overwatch. nada. Charge goes off. Khan charges Land Raider and Spear Cap. success.

Tac Squad also. success.

Terminators fight Dreadnought. 6 damage gets through to kill it, no explosion.

Khan fights the Land Raider. 5 damage through to kill it.  No explosion.

Spear Cap breaks sequence to fight and kill Khan. 

Tac Squad fights next. Bring Spear Cap to 1 wound remaining.

Round 4.

Search Area narrows to 9”

Talons do not control it.

Score 10 for hold, hold 2. 

Not much to do but proceed to Fight phase.

Tac Squad fights Spear Cap first. nothing.

Cap fights back. Kills two marines.

Marines pass morale.

WS turn 4.

Score 15 for controlling Search Area.

Score 10 for hold, hold 2.

Tac Squad falls back from Cap.

Ebon Tac Squad advance toward Cap.

Terminators move to get LoS on Cap.

Terminators shoot at Cap. Kill him.

Round 5.

Search Area shrinks to 6”.

Talons can’t score that.

Score 10 for objectives.

Sisters might have a play before its over. They advance to LoS on Tac Squad.  Pop a strat so Boltguns are 18” Assault 3, and fire. 

One marine dies.

The other passes Morale.

WS Turn 5.

No one controls Search Area.

Score 5 for holding. 

Lone Sgt moves up toward Sisters.

Predator shoots at Sisters. One dies.

Ebon Tac Squad next. Nada.

Terminators. Two Sisters Die.

Lone Sgt shoots Grav-Pistol, kills another.

Sgt charges last Sister. Overwatch. She deals one dmg to him.

Charge success. 

Sgt kills the last Sister of Silence in combat.

Game. 

WS win, final score 50-40.

One unit that took part in the battle gets a weapon enhancement battle honour.

White Scars vs Astra Militarum 10/14/20

Strike Force - Supplies from Above. 

This is an interesting mission with a unique wrinkle--the objectives move D3+3" in a random direction at the beginning of each battle round. You may think you have control of one, and it move away from you before you have a chance to score it!

This is the battlefield for this game, with 6 objectives in their initial spots.

The White Scars force (75 PL):

Khan on Bike

Librarian with Jump Pack

Tactical Squad (10)

Tactical Squad (5)

Tactical Squad (5)

Terminator Squad (5)

Ironclad Dreadnought

Bike Squad (3) with Attack Bike

Devastator Squad (5)

Predator Destructor

Rhino

Tactical and Devastator Squads in the Rhino (on the board)

Terminators in Teleportarium Chamber

Predator in Strategic Reserves

Agendas: Cull the Hordes, Priority Target, Survivor (Khan on Bike)

Against:

Icthyos Rho VIII PDF "Tundra Bastion" (75PL):

Company Commander

Tank Commander in Leman Russ Vanquisher

Primaris Psyker

5 x Infantry Squad (cosmetically: Vostroyan, Mordian, Armageddon, Kasrkin, Tallarn)

Command Squad Omni (Standard, Heavy Flamer, Medi-Pack, Vox-caster)

Command Squad Snipers (3 x Sniper Rifle, Vox-caster)

Platoon Commander

Commissar

Heavy Weapons Squad (3x Autocannon team)

Leman Russ Battle Tank

Leman Russ Punisher

2x Chimera

AM get +3 CP Crusade Blessings

WS spend 1 CP to put Predator in Strategic Reserves.

Agendas: Reaper, Priority Target, Survivor (Tank Commander)

AM begin to deploy first.

PDF deployment above. Tanks mostly to the left, infantry to the right and inside Chimeras.

White Scars deployment below. Things trying to be as hidden as possible while still on the table. Ebon Keshig Tac Squad in the ruins to the left. Ironclad and Rhino also sheltering behind the same ruins. Bikers behind a container, Tac Squad to the right on an objective, hidden behind terrain.

WS win the roll off, choose to go second.

Round 1 Wind Roll, objectives move D3+3” each in a direction determined by rolling two dice, and drawing an arrow from lowest to highest of them.

AM turn 1.

Russes move up for LoS or planning ahead.

Infantry move to chase objectives.

Chimeras move up toward farther objectives.

Autocannon and Sniper squads have shots, stay put.

Commander moves to support a couple of infantry squads. 

Command squad Omni follow him.

Tank Commander orders Battle Cannon Russ with Gunners, Kill on Sight, to re-roll hit rolls of 1.

Tank Commander orders self to do the same.

Snipers have LoS on Khan, so Commander orders them to reroll hit rolls of 1.

He also orders Mordians to do the same with their Mortar plus reroll wound rolls of 1.

Autocannon teams shoot at Bike Squad, adding 1 to hit and wound via Concentrated Fire strat. 3 hits, 3 wounds, 3 saves.

Battle Cannon Russ gets 11 shots at Bike Squad, re-rolling 1s. 6 hits, 5 wounds, no saves. 2 dead bikers, damaged Attack Bike.

Lascannon at Rhino. 2 damage. 

Tank Commander targets Rhino with Vanquisher Cannon. 2 damage.

With Lascannon. 6 more damage to the Rhino. Ouch. 

 

Gray Chimera shoots Heavy Bolter and Lasgun Array at Bike Squad.

Las cause 1 dmg.

HB misses.

Snipers shoot Khan. He takes 1 mortal wound and 1 regular wound.

Mordians shoot at Ebon Tac Squad. nada

Green Chimera shoots same squad. 1 marine dies to Heavy Bolter fire.

Bike Squad passes morale.

WS turn 1.

Devastator Doctrine. 

Rhino is severely damaged and can only move 3”, so it moves, then makes another advance using wind-swift for 8” inches (rerolling a 1 into a 5), then Devastators and Tac Squad Lighting Debark out from it.

Ironclad advances 14” to near Green Chimera.

Ebon Tac Squad can try to control an objective which may move away before it can be scored, or move toward an Infantry Squad to shoot at, so they do the latter.

Bike Squad advance up toward another Infantry Squad. Hunter’s Fusillade on them so they can shoot Heavy and Rapid Fire as Assault. 

Khan advances to near Tank Commander.

Librarian advances to hopefully buff Khan.

Tac Squad advance up to near a point and to try to block movement of Chimera.

Predator comes in from Reserves with a shot on two Russes.

Librarian casts Storm-Wreathed on Khan, preventing Overwatch and granting mortal wounds on the charge.

Smite on Tank Commander for 1 wound.

Predator Shoots S8 and up Heavy Weapons at Tank Commander. 2 wounds.

Shoots the rest at Autocannon Teams. 1 dies.

Tac Squad has a flamer that can shoot at Chimera. Nada.

Devastators shoot all at Tank Commander. Kill him. Denies Survivor Agenda to AM.

Rhino Storm Bolter at Command Squad. nada.

Bikers shoot at Vostroyans, kill 1, the melta at Chimera, 2 damage.

Tac Squad 4 bolters at Vostroyans. 1 dies.

Ironclad melta at previously wounded Chimera. Fails the wound roll.

Ebon Tac Squad shoots at Mordians. 3 die.

Ironclad charges Chimera. Overwatch does nothing, charge success.

Bikers charge Vostroyans, success.

Khan and Librarian both successfully charge Gray Chimera. 

Ironclad takes 5 swings but only one goes to damage, 5 done, brings Chimera down to 3.

Bike Squad fight Vostroyans, 4 die.

Khan fights and does 5 damage to the other Chimera.

Librarian also fights it, does one more damage.

Chimera A fights Ironclad. nada.

Chimera B fights Librarian. nada.

Vostroyans fight bikers. A wound gets through.

Insane Bravery on Vostroyans so they pass morale. Otherwise they'd be toast.

Round 2.

Objectives move D3+3”

AM score 20 VP for hold, hold 2.

Everyone jumps out of Chimeras and then the Chimeras fall back.

Vostroyans fall back from Bikers.

Commander positions himself in 6” of three different Infantry Squads to give orders.

Command Squad move up to bring Heavy Flamer to LoS.

Medic heals one Vostroyan back to the squad.

Primaris Psyker Smites Ironclad for 6!

Commander issues orders to self. Reroll 1s to hit. 

To Snipers: re-roll 1s to wound.

To Kasrkin: re-roll 1s to wound.

Commander overchages Plasma Pistol at Ironclad. lol 1. rerolls into hit, fails to wound. command re-roll. wounds. Ironclad passes the 6+ save.

Kasrkin fire all into Ironclad. 1 damage done.

Snipers shoot at Librarian. 1 damage.

Mordian Lasguns and Melta into Ironclad.  nada. Mortar into a Tac Squad. nada.

Psyker and Platoon Commander Laspistols at Ironclad. nada.

Command Squad Lasguns into Ironclad. nada. Heavy Flamer at Bikers. nada.

Tallarn Squad everything into Librarian. Not even a scratch.

Autocannon Teams at Predator. Adding 1 to hit and wound. nothing.

Battle Canon Russ all at Predator. 9 damage total. Yeesh.

Commissar overcharges plasma pistol at Tac Squad. A marine dies.

Punisher tank Multi-meltas and Lascannon into Librarian (closer than Khan), kills him.

Gatling Cannon at Tac Squad. First volley kills 1. Second kills 1 more. Poor results.

Steel Legion shoot at Bikers. Finish them off with good rolls.

Commissar charges Tac Squad.

Commissar kills one marine.

Last marine fights back, does 1 damage to Commissar.

Last marine fails morale, runs away. Boo to the new And They Shall Know No Fear...

White Scars turn 2.

Tactical Doctrine.

Score 10 VP for holding.

Ironclad moves up to get LoS on Punisher. 

Ebon Tac Squad moves up. 

Steppe Tac Squad advance over to an objective.

Rhino backs up a bit to hold another objective.

Devastators have LoS on a Russ, so sit tight.

Predator sits still.

Khan is hemmed in between terrain and tanks. Repositions slightly closer to Punisher.

Terminators teleport in.

Predator kills one autocannon team with T7 and lesser guns. Lascannons at Russ. 5 damage.

Devastators all Heavy at Russ. Kill it. No explosion. Thats 2 Russ kills for these guys.

Dev Sgt also pinged a wound off the Commissar with Bolter.

Rhino Storm Bolter at Kasrkin. nada.

Khan twin boltgun into Tallarn. 3 die.

Steppe bolters at Kasrkin from long range. nada.

Ebon Tac Squad all into Kasrkin.

Kill 5.

Ironclad melta at Chimera. Kills it. No explosion.

Ironclad 2x HKM at Punisher. 5 damage total.

Ironclad Heavy Flamer into Command Squad. 3 die.

Terminator Heavy Flamer into Sniper squad. Boxcars for saves.

2 Storm Bolters next. 3 Snipers die.

2 Storm Bolters at last Autocannon team. Kill it.

Ebon Tac Squad charge Kasrkin. 3D6 drop one, courtesy of Fierce Rivalries. 12.

Ironclad charges 3 characters in a blob. Success.

Khan charges Punisher. Overwatch. Leaves Khan with a single wound remaining.

Charge Succeeds.

Terminators also charge the Punisher. Fail.

Khan Fights. 2 damage. lousy dice.

Counter-Offensive, Primaris Psyker fights Ironclad. No luck.

Ironclad fights, 2 at Company Commander, 2 at Platoon Commander, 1 at Psyker. Platoon Commander dies, Company Commander is left with 1 wound remaining, Psyker dodges.

Ebon Tac Squad fights. All Kasrkin die. Score one Cull the Hordes tally mark. Consolidate into Mordians.

Company Commander fights Ironclad. nada.

Tallarn Squad fail Morale. 2 guys flee.

Lone Sniper fails, flees.

Lone Heavy Flamer guy from other Command Squad flees also.

Round 3

Objectives move again.

AM score 10 for holding one.

Commissar advances to an objective.

Gray Chimera moves to an objective and into flamer range on Devastators. 

Tallarns stay put.

Punisher remains in combat with Khan.

Steel Legion and Vostroyans stay put.

Mordians fall back from Ebon Tac Squad.

Company Commander falls back from Ironclad.

Smite Ironclad. Kills it. Explodes. Psyker and Ebon squad take a mortal wound each.

Commander orders Mordians and self to shoot, rerolling 1s after falling back. Orders Vostroyans to reroll 1s to hit and wound.

Mordians shoot Ebon squad, kill one.

Commander overcharges plasma pistol. Another marine dies.

Vostroyans all at Ebon. nada.

Steel Legion all at Terminators. 2 wounds off one of them.

Punisher all at the Khan in combat. Kills him.WS denied their Survivor Agenda.

Tallarn missile into Predator blows it up. no explosion.

Tallarn lasguns into Devastators. nada.

Chimera Heavy Bolter and Flamer into Devastators. Two die.

Morale is passed all around. 

WS Turn 3.

Score 20 VP for hold, hold 2.

Assault Doctrine.

Rhino heals up to 3 wounds remaining.

Rhino moves to keep control of one objective.

Steppe Tac Squad same.

Devs stay.

Ebon tac squad move up near Mordians and a third objective. 

Terminators move up toward Punisher, Steel Legion, and fourth objective.

Devs fire all into Chimera. 2 damage. Leaves it up with 2 remaining, on an objective.

Rhino Storm Bolter also can’t scratch it. The HKM does the job, though. Blows it up.

Ebon tac squad shoot all at Mordians. 2 die.

Terminators fire all at Steel Legion. 7 die. Cull the Hordes scored.

Ebon Squad charge Mordians. Succeed.

Terminators charge Punisher. Overwatch. nada. Charge roll is barely a success. 4 needed, 4 rolled.

Terminators fight the Punisher Russ. 4 power fist wounds get through at -4 AP so no save, 12 damage. Russ is smashed. Does not explode. Terminators consolidate onto objective and into Steel Legion. 

Ebon Tac Squad fight. Mordians all die. Score Cull the Hordes. Consolidate onto objective. 

Steel Legion fight Terminators. nada.

Steel legion fail morale. 1 runs away.

Round 4.

Objectives move again.

AM Turn 4. 

AM score 20 for hold, hold 2.

Commissar moves toward an objective. 

Commander and Psyker reposition.

Steel Legion fall back from Terminators.

 

Smite Ebon Tac Squad. 3 mortal wounds.

Commander orders self, Vostroyans to reroll 1s to hit, Steel Legion to fire even though they fell back.

Commander shoots plasma pistol. One tac marine dies.

Vostroyans shoot all. Nada.

Steel Legion all at Tac Squad. One Marine dies.

Tallarn Squad missile at Rhino. Saved.

Lasguns at Terminators. nada.

WS turn 4.

 Score 20 VP for hold, hold 2.

Rhino, Steppe Tac Squad, Ebon Tac Squad, and Devastators all normal move toward objectives.

Terminators move near one also, trying to remove some Infantry from it.

 

Devs shoot, kill Commissar.

Rhino Storm Bolter at Vostroyans. 1 dies.

Ebon Tac Squad at Vostroyans. Another 1 dies.

Terminators fire 3 storm bolters at Tallarn squad. 1 dies.1 SB at Steel Legion.  1 wound on the 2-wound heavy bolter team... heavy flamer at Vostroyans. 2 wounds to kill their heavy bolter team. 

Terminators charge Vostroyans, Steel Legion, and Company Commander. Overwatch. nada. Charge goes off. 

Terminators fight. Steel Legion die. Vostroyans Die. Company Commander dies. 

Round 5.

Objectives move again.

AM Turn 5. 

AM score none this time.

Smite on Terminators. Kills one.

Laspistol on Terminators. nada.

Tallarn shoot Devs. nothing.

Psyker charges Terminators.

Fights, kills one.

Terminators fight back. Kill Psyker.

WS turn 5.

Score 30 for hold, hold 2, hold more.

Terminators move back to get LoS on Tallarns.

Devs shoot Tallarns, kill one. 

Terminators kill the rest.

AM tabled, game over.

WS win 80-50, and get two RP for the battle instead of one.