Army Building - More Sagyar Mazan, A Tank, and a Palate Cleanser

 As I mentioned in the last post, and in the manner specified, I polished off the first Tactical Squad for the White Scars Sagyar Mazan list. I also painted up the second one, to the same point minus transfers. That gives me two full units nearly done for the list. What's left will be to finish transfers on them, since I'm not sure I am happy with the amount I put on the first squad so far, then do an oil wash for weathering, and finally the bases.

I had for nearly two years had a Leman Russ battle tank mostly assembled and primed, and one day last week when I felt like airbrushing something, I got it out and pretty quickly decided on a color and got it sprayed in a nice hunter green that is only mostly opaque over the model's white primer coat, giving it a nice mottled look consistent with some wintry camo schemes I have either seen or am Mandela-effecting myself into thinking are real. From there I just did the metals and a couple of other small details and glued the tracks on, and the model is now battle-ready. It joins my Icthyos Rho VIII PDF "Tundra Bastion" army of Imperial Guard/Astra Militarum, which now boasts no fewer than five Leman Russ tanks! I should get that out and play it sometime, whether under the new 40K Index rules or as a Militia force in Heresy.

back during Covid I went crazy buying tons of models online for random army ideas I had. I see now I was just bored at home a lot. Anyway here’s a vintage Leman Russ Battle Tank. As it happens my Imperial Guard are mostly old metal infantry, even though I never was into this stuff until about 2016.

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— countelmdor.bsky.social (@countelmdor.bsky.social) May 27, 2024 at 8:44 AM

Speaking of getting out and playing, I suppose I should recount that I did just that with my Grey Knights army this weekend, for a full-size 2000 point game, no less. It worked out that I had a few hours free on Sunday, and my spur-of-the-moment idea to get a pickup game of 40K worked out. Alex also came up to the store with a game in mind, and happened to have his Adeptus Custodes army with him, so we spent the day playing a game which probably should not have taken quite so long, in retrospect. We did go the full 5 rounds, though. He ended up taking it 55-64, mostly due to playing the Primary better than I did, though it didn't help my case that I forgot to do secondaries a couple of times. The way the game was trending I would have tabled his army eventually, but alas that is not what decides who wins! It was fun and reassuring in a sense to get out and play a full Strike Force sized game again. Nice to use the Grey Knights rules again at least one good time before they eventually are replaced by a new Codex, which could happen before too much longer.

After finishing up that Leman Russ and second squad of Tactical Marines, I wasn't sure if I wanted to jump into another batch of White Scars right away. Add to this the fact that Chaos Space Marines have been tickling the back of my mind for a few weeks now, and I took a look at what I have currently painted for my original CSM warband, the Marines Malcontent (they're just not happy!), and found that with the addition of just 3 Legionaries models I could field a whole extra unit of them, by repurposing the 7 older Chosen models I have as one unit of 5 and 2 leftover. Adding 3 more would bring the total to 10, or two 5-man squads, which I would be able to field with the Chaos Lord and Master of Executions (formerly Exalted Champion) I also have painted currently. So, the plan at the moment is to go home today, dig out my CSM, and get started on building 3 of them to paint this week.

I could also stand to get back to hobby-related reading, as well. I've been in the middle of the Mortarion novel from the Primarchs series for entirely too long without continuing it. That's not to mention the backlog of White Dwarf issues and campaign books I have yet to really dig into.

Astra Militarum vs Goff Orks 04/07/23

 Knowing since Adepticon that the 10th edition of 40K is on its way, I resolved to get in a few games of 9th with factions I hadn't played much outside of my own house, and in this case, with a Codes I bought but hadn't played at all.

I resolved to take 1000 points filled with as many tanks and mechanised infantry as I could. 

The opponent was playing Goffs, and while they're overpowering in close combat to my mere Guardsmen...

the sheer brute force of four Leman Russ battle tanks proved too much for them to handle. 

So much armor on such a small battlefield at 1000 points probably didn't make for the most enjoyable game for my opponent, in hindsight, but he seemed to be having a good time nonetheless. I just wanted to run a tank squadron, really. if we were to re-rack I'd probably limit myself to two Russes, and fill in the remainder of the points with more infantry.

White Scars vs Astra Militarum 09/25/21

I have just added my Land Raider Proteus to my White Scars crusade list, and I wanted to play a vehicle-heavy game, so I broke out all of their heaviest units from the list and formed a Spearhead detachment, which I then put up against one from my Astra Militarum list featuring all of my tanks, allied with my Imperial Knight Freeblade.

Above is the White Scars force, featuring plenty of Lascannons, Melta, and Power fists to smash up T8 hulls.

Said collection of T8 and T7 hulls, along with a couple of infantry squads to go in the Chimeras, and a heavy weapons squad of three Autocannon teams.

This mission is remarkable for the 12" circle in the middle of the field where no invulnerable saves can be taken.

The black rectangular thingy in the center of the image above represents the centerpoint of the battlefield.

White Scars deployment above. Ironclad Dreadnought and Devastator squad on the left off the field are embarked in the Stormraven. The other Devastator Squad is in the Land Raider, and the Terminators are in a Teleport chamber.

Guard deployment. The two infantry squads at the bottom are in either Chimera.

WS Win the roll-off, and go first.

No VP are awarded in their first turn. Devastators hop out of the Stormraven, which flies over near to where the Autocannon teams are. Bikers and Speeder move up to take shots at tanks. Predator and Land Raider move to get line of sight on other tanks.

Multi-meltas and missiles from the Bikers, Speeder, and flyer all take out the white Leman Russ Punisher. Massed hurricane bolter fire from the flyer kills the Autocannon teams. The Stormraven also blows up a Chimera, and two infantry squad are killed jumping out of it.

The Predator is unable to wound the Imperial Knight Freeblade, which has rotated ion shields and now has a 4+ invulnerable save.

The Land Raider brings the Leman Russ Battle Tank down to 6 wounds remaining.

Devastator squad brings the Leman Russ Eradicator down to only 2 wounds remaining.

The Valhallans who lost two models when the Chimera exploded pass Morale.

This Predator only had line of sight to the Knight. 

In the Astra Militarum first turn, they get 15 VP for control of the middle of the board Search Zone, which is apparently something you can score in the first round, unlike other objectives.

They then regenerate a few wounds on the damaged tanks.

Tallarn squad disembark their Chimera and move over to a nearby objective point. Their Chimera then moves up to fire at the Devastator squad, but ends the move just a tad outside of heavy flamer range. The Tank Commander positions himself between the other two Russes to issue orders to both. The Knight circles the Null Zone area, intending to make his way over to where the Predator and Land Raider are.

Primaris Psyker buffs the infantry squad with him, then Smites the Stormraven for a few wounds.

The Chimera and Russ Eradicator together kill the Devastator squad on that side of the board. 

Combined shooting from the other tanks and Knight bring the Stormraven down to just 1 wound remaining. The Land Speeder loses one wound from the Knight's heavy stubbers, as well.

At the beginning of the White Scars second turn, they score 10 VP for being on objectives.

Ironclad Dreadnought is dropped off by the Stormraven, which then flies over into the Guard's backfield. The Land Raider moves up and the Devastators inside Lightning Disembark out of it and move over to some cover and near to an objective. Terminators Teleport Strike into the Guard's backfield, 9" away from a couple of their tanks.

Shooting from the Terminators, Stormraven, and speeder eliminate the remaining infantry and psyker on one objective. The Chimera and Russ Eradicator are taken out by the Devastators and Predator. The Land Raider puts a few wounds into the Tank Commander. The Ironclad adds a few with his hunter-killer missiles and meltagun, and takes a wound off the Commissar with his heavy flamer. Bikers also kill a couple Tallarn with boltgun fire.

The Terminators pull off a 10" charge into the Leman Russ Battle Tank and smash it to bits with their Power fists. The Ironclad charges into the Tallarn squad and kills three of them. The Commissar with them fights back and takes a couple of wounds off it. 

In Morale, a couple more Tallarn models run away. 

Guard turn two, no VP are scored.

Tallarn and Commissar fall back onto the nearby objective.

Knight moves around the building to get close to the Devastators.

Tank Commander fires at the Terminators who have consolidated into him, killing two.

Knight fires heavy stubbers at the Devastators, killing one.

Fires the Rapid Fire Battle Cannon at the Predator, missing most shots, resulting in only 3 wounds.

The Knight charges the Devastators and kills them all with his chainsword. Then consolidates into the Land Raider.

The Terminators fight the Tank Commander and kill him.

White Scars third turn, they score 15 VP from controlling the search zone, and another 15 for controlling the objectives around the board. 

Land Raider falls back from the Knight, using Feinting Withdrawal so it can still shoot.

Terminators and Land Speeder pick off the remaining Commissar and Tallarn infantry.

Everything else opens up with ranged into the Knight, bringing it down to 16 wounds remaining. 

Khan on Bike and Ironclad charge the Knight and finish it off between them. The Khan deals 9 wounds with his spear, and the Ironclad deals another 12 with his combat weapon.

With this, the Guard force is completely wiped out, and the White Scars have fulfilled the Angels of Death Agenda for massive XP gains all around.

White Scars vs Icthyos Rho VIII PDF 11/27/20

White Scars vs Icthyos Rho VII PDF “Tundra Bastion” 11/27/20

Crusade Mission - Strike Force: Retrieval

The battlefield:

Deployment:

Ebon Keshig Tactical Squad with Stormseer Librarian on the left flank objective.

Assault Squad Sirocco with Lieutenant Oglai Hawkseye near to the objective in the center of the field.

Another Ebon Keshig combat squad, a Terminator Squad, and Thunderfire Cannon Conquestmaker on the right flank objective.

Stormraven Yesugei's Regard in Outlank carrying Combat Squad Steppe, Devastators Kaminari, and Ironclad Dreadnought Temdegt.

The Planetary Defense Force's left flank. Chimera Grey Fox carrying an Infantry Squad, Platoon Commander, and Commissar, three further Infantry Squads, Company Commander, and Command Squad Omni on the ground, and Command Squad Snipers on the tower.

The right. Infantry Squad, Chimera Spotted Snake carrying another with a Platoon Commander and Primaris Psyker, Vanquisher Tank Commander , Leman Russ Battle Tank Warhorse, Leman Russ Punisher Castle Burn't'all, Heavy Weapons Squad with Autocannons.

WS force amounts to 19 Crusade Points

PDF add up to 8

PDF get half the difference rounded up in Crusade Blessings (+6 Command Points)

PDF get first turn:

General movement up to objectives.

Tanks move to get an angle on a Tac Squad.

Chimera performs Search Site action. 

Various Orders and Stratagems popped, Leman Russ Battle Tank “Warhorse” is able to kill the Ebon Tac Squad on the White Scars' left flank, leaving the Librarian solo there.

 

Autocannon squad cannot hit the Librarian that is now exposed, however.

Mortar unable to hit Librarian.

End of turn, Search Site action completes. Site clear, objective removed. 10 VP scored.

 

White Scars turn 1:

Devastator Doctrine.

Adaptive Strategy on Terminators. 

Librarian advances to safety

Assault Squad, Lieutenant, and Terminators both move toward target units. 

Tac Squad begins Search Action.

Librarian casts Ride The Winds and Storm-Wreathed on self.

Assault Squad and Lieutenant shoot and reduce an Infantry squad to 2 models remaining.

Terminators take 4 wounds off Chimera with Shooting.

TFC targets Autocannon squad, killing one team and wounding another.

Assault Squad charge Infantry Squad. Success.

Lieutenant same. Success.

Terminators charge Chimera, which will Overwatch, and Defensive Gunners to hit on 5+. No damage done. Charge Succeeds.

Terminators fight, using Fury of the First to add 1 to hit rolls. 12 damage.

Chimera dies, no explosion. 12 models pour out. 5 are killed in the process. (1s are rolled)

Terminators consolidate.

 

Lieutenant fights Infantry Squad. Wipes them.

Lieutenant and Assault Squad consolidate.

 

Morale, one Infantry Squad uses Fight to the Death to roll on a D3 and so pass.

Autocannon Squad passes as well.

Search Action completes, site cleared, objective removed, 10 VP scored.

Round 2.

PDF turn 2.

Tank Commander and Chimera move to get a shot on Librarian.

Infantry move up to an objective and begin Search Action.

Battle Tank moves for a shot at Assault Squad.

Punisher moves up toward a central objective.

On the other flank, infantry move to mac shots on nearby marines, and officers position for orders.

Chimera shoots at Librarian and does 1 wound.

Tank Commander finishes off Librarian with Vanquisher Cannon.

Combined shooting on the left flank kills two Assault marines and brings the Lieutenant down to 1 wound remaining.

Infantry Squad charge Lieutenant and Assault Squad. Overwatch does nothing. Charge succeeds.

Commissar charges Assault Squad. Success.

None of their attacks do anything.

Lieutenant fights back. Kills 2 Guardsmen. 

Assault Squad fight back. Kill the Commissar.

Morale, everyone passes.

Search resolves, objective cleared and removed, 10 VP scored.

White Scars turn 2.

Tactical Doctrine.

Lieutenant falls back to an objective.

Assault Squad fall back to an easy charge on the Company Commander. Feinting Withdrawal so they can still shoot.

 

Terminators advance using Ride Hard, Ride Fast to make them -1 to hit for a round. Hunter’s Fusillade changes their weapons to Assault type.

Tac Squad move twice using Wind-Swift.

Stormraven comes in from Outflank where it might do the most damage to the PDF.

 

Lieutenant begins Search Site Action.

Terminators split fire between Infantry Squads.

4 Guardsmen die in total.

Assault Squad fire. No luck.

TFC fires on Autocannon Squad. Wipes them.

Stormraven fires. Missiles do 3 wounds to Battle Tank “Warhorse.”

Hurricane Bolters kill 8 guardsmen.

Twin Heavy Bolter kills 2 from the Sniper Command Squad.

Twin Assault Cannon kills 4 more Guardsmen.

Cull the Hordes Agenda scored.

 

Fierce Rivalries. The first charge is a 3D6, drop one roll. Terminators charge Platoon Commander and an Infantry Squad. Success.

Assault Squad charge Company Commander. Overwatch, he overcharges the plasma pistol, rolls a 1, rerolls it into another 1. Well, at least it was painless.

Charge fails.

Terminators kill the Platoon Commander in combat, fail to hit Infantry Squad. They consolidate into the remains of two Infantry Squads.

 

Morale, a few Guardsmen run away from different squads. One squad is finished off from desertion.

 

Lieutenant has searched his objective and it is found to be the one, so it’s worth 20 VP and the remaining two others disappear.

Now everything will converge on it at the center of the table.

Round 3.

PDF turn 3.

Infantry fall back from Terminators toward the objective.

Command Squad Omni move near to another Infantry Squad.

Battle Tank “Warhorse” moves toward the action.

Punisher “Castle Burn’t’all” moves to bring its Gatling Cannon to bear on Terminators.

Infantry Squad, Platoon Commander, and Primaris Psyker debarked from a Chimera, which then backs up and lets another squad embark.

Tank Commander backs up to Lascannon range to shoot at the Stormraven.

 

Primaris Psyker casts Psychic Maelstrom, killing the Lieutenant.

Combined fire from Tanks brings down the Stormraven. One model dies in the crash. the rest debark.

 

Combined Infantry fire plinks a few wounds off different squads of Marines, but makes no kills.

Morale, Tac Squad passes.

WS Turn 3:

Assault Doctrine.

Tactical Squad move to secure the objective.

Assault Squad move to tie up the Punisher.

Terminators advance in the direction of the Punisher as well.

Ironclad, Tacticals, and Devastators move up from their crash site toward Battle Tank “Warhorse.”

Devastators use Hunter’s Fusillade to convert their missiles and Lascannons to Assault mode. Their fire with the Ironclad’s reduce the tank to 1 wound remaining.

Tacticals kill Command Squad Omni.

TFC fires Tremor Shells on a full Infantry Squad that might take control of the objective. Kills one. Hampers their move.

Assault Squad charge Punisher. Overwatch nearly wipes the squad.

Charge succeeds, for the remaining Sergeant.

Tac squad on objective charge the infantry coming to challenge them for control. Success.

Terminators charge two Guardsmen nearby for the chance to reorient onto the objective also.

Ironclad charges an Infantry Squad. Success

Tac Squad also. Success

Devastators can’t make it.

Tac Squad fight, kill Infantry. consolidate.

Ironclad consolidates.

Terminators fight and kill their target Infantry.

Tac Squad fight and kill one guardsman.

Assault Sergeant whiffs with his Melta Bomb attack.

Infantry Squad fights, kills one marine.

Morale, Tac and Assault Squads pass. 

Round 4

PDF Turn 4

Relentless on Warhorse to make it perform at top level of its profile.

Infantry Squad falls back to allow a Chimera to move up and shoot the Tactical Squad.

Primaris Psyker moves to make the Assault Squad sergeant the closest visible model.

Tanks reposition slightly.

Smite on Assault Squad sergeant to kill him, freeing up the Punisher to fire at Terminators.

Punisher fires. Kills four of five.

Tank Commander fires everything at Ironclad. Kills it. No explosion.

Warhorse heavy flamers at nearby marines. Kills one.

Turret and Lascannon at remaining Terminator Sgt. 1 damage.

Chimera shoots Las Array at Tactical marines. One dies.

Infantry Squad with Get Back In The Fight/First Rank Fire, Second Rank Fire orders shoot same marines. One more dies.

Platoon Commander shoots. Fails to wound.

Infantry Squad charges that marine squad. Success.

Platoon Commander and Primaris Psyker also. Successes.

Psyker fights, kills one marine.

Platoon Commander fights. One damage.

Infantry Squad fights. No effect.

Tactical Sergeant fights back. leaves the Psyker with one wound remaining.

Morale, three WS units pass.

WS Turn 4.

Ebon Tac Sergeant falls back.

Terminator Sgt moves near to Infantry Squad

Steppe Tac Squad advance up to objective.

Devastators and TFC stay put.

TFC shoots Infantry Squad. 3 die.

Steppe Melta at Warhorse. Blows it up. No explosion.

Devastators all Heavy at Tank Commander. Deal 7 damage.

Boltgun at last Sniper. Kills him. 

Marines near the objective all charge through the building wall at the Infantry just on the other side.

All charges succeed.

Ebon Sgt fights Psyker. Kills him.

Steppe squad fight. 4 Guardsmen die.

Terminator can consolidate, but only moves a smidge.

Lone Infantry Sgt. fights back. No effect.

Insane Bravery keeps that Sgt in the game for 2 CP.

Round 5.

PDF turn 5.

PDF are behind in VP with no way to make up the difference, but will kill as much as possible anyway.

A Fresh Infantry Squad hop out of the Chimera.

Infantry Squad Sgt falls back. 

Platoon Commander moves to LoS on Terminator. 

 

Tanks reposition.

Tank Commander issues orders to Punisher and self to reroll 1s to hit.

Platoon Commander orders Infantry Sgt back into the fight.

Chimera splits fire. Kills Ebon Tac Sgt.

Fresh Infantry Squad fires at Steppe squad. Kill one.

Infantry Sgt. bolt pistol at Terminator Sgt. No wound.

Platoon Commander laspistol at same. Misses.

Punisher all at Devastators. Kills four of five.

Infantry Squad charge Steppe squad. Success. 

Platoon Commander charges Terminator. Success.

Platoon Commander fights. 1 wound, saved.

Infantry Squad fight Steppe squad. No damage.

Terminator fights back. Deals 2 damage.

Steppe squad fight back. 2 Guardsmen die.

Morale, Steppe and Devastators both pass. 

WS turn 5.

Score 20 more VP for a 50-20 win.

Terminator and Steppe fall back. Feinting Withdrawal on Steppe so they can shoot.

Last Devastator fires his Lascannon at a single Guardsman. Rolls a 1 to wound.

Steppe fire back at the Infantry Squad. 4 wounds. 

Terminator charges both units near him.

 

Success.

Steppe charge infantry squad near them. Success. 

Terminator fights. Kills the Platoon Commander.

Steppe squad fight. Kill one guy. Guard fight back.

Lone Sgt kills the Terminator Sgt!

Morale: Infantry Squad fail, lose one. Sgt then rolls a 1 and deserts also.

Game Ends.

 

White Scars earn the right to grant a free Crusade relic to either character that took part in the battle.