Echoes of Betrayal part 2

This weekend was the Echoes of Betrayal pt 2 event at Mindtaker Miniatures in Vancouver, WA. I played two rounds, taking 2 heads and 2 wins with my Alpha Legion Headhunter Leviathal army list. First against Iron Warriors! #30K #HorusHeresy #AlphaLegion #HydraDominatus #WarhammerCommunity

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— countelmdor.bsky.social (@countelmdor.bsky.social) Jun 17, 2024 at 1:30 PM

Game 2 was against the corrupted Word Bearers, in which my Seeker and Headhunter squads worked together to snipe Argel Tal out of the large unit of Gal Vorbak possessed marines he led. For the Emperor… #30K #HorusHeresy #HydraDominatus #AlphaLegion #WarhammerCommunity

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— countelmdor.bsky.social (@countelmdor.bsky.social) Jun 17, 2024 at 1:34 PM

The Bluesky posts there basically say it all, but I am very proud of the showing my Headhunter Leviathal pulled out at the second of these events I brought it to. The first was a bit of a bust because I had to leave after only one game in which we only really played a couple of rounds, and thus didn't get the chance to really prove the list. 

In a nutshell, it's designed to kill the enemy's Warlord, the model at the head of their army, for extra victory points to add to the game end tally. Most of those will come from smart primary objective play, but the points of Slay the Warlord are enough to put me over the top in the event of a draw or near draw. 

It's also just a real Alpha move, a real PsyOp, and entirely thematically consistent with the lore of my army, the Alpha Legion, who thrive on sneaky, underhanded mind games they use to supplement their already prodigious capabilities as a straight up Space Marine Legion.

Pics from my game vs Dark Mechanicum over the weekend. #HorusHeresy #30K #AlphaLegion #Warhammer #HydraDominatus

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— countelmdor.bsky.social (@countelmdor.bsky.social) Apr 30, 2024 at 1:04 PM

Pics immediately above from Echoes of Betrayal part 1 in which I played against Mechanicum.

Ironjawz vs Sylvaneth 05/14/23

 I'm officially playing Age of Sigmar now, too! I got my first game in against James, who was gracious enough to walk me through the basics, as I had shown up with some models with some paint on them, but not having read much in the way of rules. 

This was the kickoff of the slow-grow AoS league at my local Warhammer store, using some campaign rules that have come out in recent months' White Dwarf issues. It's called Da Great Stomp!!! or perhaps some less Orruk-y equivalent. 

I have long been an admirer from afar of the Ironjawz model range, and I had even bought a few of the kits that were just waiting around to be worked through. I had some nebulout plans for the future, but when I heard about the upcoming campaign which was very Orruk-centric but without any Orruk players, and the games for which I could likely make most weeks, I knew I had to rise to the occasion. So, I quickly chose a 500 point force from what I owned, got that built and primed, and even got some green on the skin of a few of the models.

For the game, since it was the beginning of the campaign, 500 points was the intended size. James has a force of Sylvaneth that he was able to whittle down to appx 500 points to give me a learning game, and both of us a campaign scoring game. 

Being deep into the hobby for a few years now, I'd learned a little about AoS rules through osmosis, and being familiar with other GW games like 40K, Heresy, Blood Bowl, and Titanicus. James was very good about walking me through the AoS turn sequence, and letting me know the little differences in things like unit coherency, fighting and engagement ranges, and such from other GW games.

We played a very simple 'kill 'em all' battle, without using any Battleplan as laid out in any rules anywhere. His Sylvaneth were able to strike and fade, making it hard for me to hit back when they hit me, but I did get my boys in to a good scrap a time or two, and that was fun.

In the end, my Megaboss made a long charge into some Kurnoth Hunters and was able to take down one or two before being killed himself. I was left with only Morgok, of Morgok's Krushas, who rushed at the enemy general, a Branchwych. Unfortunately, it was not to be, and my Ironjawz were wiped out. 

       

This was a fun game, though, and I'm looking forward to playing a lot more in the next several weeks.

Adeptus Titanicus Demos

 After the excitement of Adepticon, I wanted to bring some of the joy of Adeptus Titanicus back to my local scene, so I asked the store manager of the local Warhammer Store if I could run some demo games sometime. He obliged by suggesting a day and then posting about it on Facebook beforehand to draw in more interest.

I got to the store that Saturday morning and set up a small board with just a couple of Titans on either side in an approximately balanced approach. I also set up a few other Titans and all my terminals and such to show people what the game is all about and how it looks and works. 

I ended up demonstrating the game through a few turns to a few different people, had a good time doing it, and hopefully got a few more people interested in playing a game that seems curiously underplayed, though many espouse its greatness. I did meet a couple of potential future opponents, as well, whenever I can potentially set up a game again.

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.

Talons of the Emperor vs Tau Empire 02/10/2023

 This game was such a blowout that I don't really even want to recount it. These pics are in no particular order.

My force was mercilessly leaf-blown off the table by a triple-commander Tau list at 1,000 points.

Doesn't seem right, does it? Three tooled-up commanders at 1,000 points?

I guess that's one thing to keep in mind in games like this. Consider how the game will play out for your opponent. Particularly when it's not a particularly competitive environment. 

Like say, a casual Friday afternoon game at a store not known for it's hardcore crowd.

Not that I'm bitter. I probably tend too much toward the narrative or rule-of-cool skew when it comes to list building. I'm used to losing on account of it.

I should have required more terrain, and any at all to block line of sight for this game.

Another area I've been deficient playing with Custodes... their 2+ armor save and 4+ invulnerable save make them tough, but far from invincible.

And the low model count per unit make it so that games can snowball against you once you start losing models here and there.

I probably lean too hard into Sisters of Silence in my lists, but they're very cool models.

I think I'll remove the Vigilators squad until such time as I can give them a transport to take up the board.

I've already drafted another list for next time, and it'll include a buffed up Venerable Contemptor.

Adeptus Custodes Mirror Match 01/27/23

Last week I got in my third game out with my Adeptus Custodes, or Talons of the Emperor as they are more properly known when in concert with the Anathema Psykana, or Sisters of Silence. 

This was also my first game against another force of Custodes.

We played at 1,000 points, generating a mission from my Tempest of War deck.

His army was much heavier than mine, with both a Contemptor-Achillus and a Telemon Heavy Dreadnought. Against this I had the dubious advantage of more models.

We both had Blade Champions, but where mine was my Warlord, he actually had a Shield-Captain in Allarus armor as his Warlord.

I ended up being outdone on objective play by just a little, but then also down on kill points.

His indominable dreadnoughts didn't help my cause much, either.

While my Custodians and Sisters did put in a decent showing, we were definitely outclassed here.

I knew this was likely going in, so why didn't I at least bring along my Venerable Contemptor dreadnought?

I guess the allure of an infantry-skewed list was just too much to resist.

It was a good looking game, at least.

Talons of the Emperor vs Deathwatch 01/06/23

I got in another game with my Talons of the Emperor force, their second time out, versus Deathwatch this time. 

This is a player I've played against a time or two before, and the same army as he had once when I had my White Scars, though he brought different units this time.

For my part, I had just added a newly painted Blade Champion to the list:

Blade Champion

Aleya

Custodian Guard with Spears x3

''

Prosecutors x5

Allarus Terminators x3

Venerable Contemtor Dreadnought

Vigilators x5

Witchseekers x5

This all came to 1000 points on the nose.

My opponent had roughly:

Primaris Lieutenant in Reiver Armour

Deathwatch veterans x5 --missile launchers

Deathwatch veterans x5 --plasma guns

Invictor Warsuit

Gladiator Lancer

Land Raider Redeemer

I completely forgot to take any pictures for the first turn or two, but my opponent went first, and drove his Land Raider up to my lines and promptly roasted several of my Sisters of Silence. He also picked off a Custodian Guard or two in that first turn before I could do anything.

In my turn I moved a lot of stuff up toward the offending Land Raider and after firing off some potshots to little effect, charged it and brought it down in combat, forcing the Veterans inside with their missile launchers to hop out. Unfortunately none died in the emergency disembarkation.

On the other side of the battlefield I had a squad of Custodian Guard and the Allarus Terminators moving toward the Gladiator and Invictor, though they got reduced to about half strength on the way.

Eventually I mopped up, mostly in combat, the veterans with the missiles and their Terminator-armored leader, and turned my attentions over to the side of the board with the Gladiator tank and Invictor warsuit.

Along the way, my Contemptor took some shots at the veterans with plasma guns that had deep struck into my deployment zone, but did nothing. More of them died to their plasma guns overcharging and exploading then I killed, in the end, though all did die.

I misunderstood a fight order rule and that may have ended up letting my Blade Champion and Custodian with spear kill his Invictor when that wouldn't have been possible. Oops! Well, to make up for it, I gave him first turn even though I'd won the roll off...

In the end it came down to his Gladiator on a single wound being his only model left. I had my Blade Champion, single Custodian, Aleya, and a single Vigilator remaining, and the edge in Victory Points from playing the objectives all game, as well.

This was a mission generated from the Open War deck where there were three objectives to control and one at random would end up being worth more VP each round. The deployment zones were two triangles that met in the middle of the board from each long edge, and the twist this game was that Aura abilities would only go out to 2" (from 6" in most cases).

What did we learn?

Even Custodes should deploy behind some cover.

Autocannons are hateful to play against with Custodes.

Sisters of Silence die like Guardsmen despite the better armor save.

The 4+ save against mortal wounds from the Emperor's Chosen Shield Host rule is maybe even better than the free reroll it also grants.

Arcane Genetic Alchemy (can't be wounded on anything less than a 4) is well worth the 1 CP to protect your high-investment golden guys.

My Vigilators at least could probably use a Rhino.

Alpha Legion vs Space Wolves 12/18/22

I got in a game at the local club against Space Wolves the other night. We played the mission War of Lies on a Dawn of War deployment at 3,000 points.

My opponent was proxying some 40K models, but from what I recall his list was like this:

Geigor Fell-hand

Hvarl Red Blade

Varagyr Terminators x10

Grey Hunters/Stalkers (not sure which) x10

Another unit of the above

Contemptor Dreadnought

Leviathan Dreadnought

2 Land Raider Spartans

Sicaran Battle Tank

He won the roll off to choose to deploy first and go first (unles the other player can Sieze the Initiative), but let me have the first turn. I infiltrated my Headhunter Kill Team, but not very far up. I knew he would be coming my way, and I wanted to keep some range to let them hopefully do their thing and take out a character.

In the first turn, I destroyed his Sicaran with my Spartan, and killed a few of his Troops with my own Sicarans. I think I shot at his Leviathan but didn't ping off any wounds with the Kratos. I got confused regarding my Kratos about whether I had paid the points for Flashburn shells (I had), so I didn't use those, and so the Kratos was weaker against the Leviathan and Spartans on the other side than I would have liked. From now on I'll remember that yes I definitely have paid for the Flashburn shells every time I field the Kratos tank. 

Later on, I went to fire at his Spartan with mine and mine was immobilized by a Return Fire reaction. It slipped my mind that this reaction was not actually possible (only defensive weapons can be used when a vehicle reacts), but we made good on it later on when he gave me a freebie reaction with my Spartan under similar circumstances. He even let me target something out of my firing arcs.

The play of the game has to go to his use of his Advanced Reaction. When I moved up a squad of Veterans to make use of the 9" Rapid Fire range of their Banestrike bolters, he reacted allowing a unit to first make an Initiative move toward me then a charge, in my Movement phase! 

We wrapped the game up early after only 3-4 rounds of the 6 this mission states, because it was getting late. We talked through what might have happened if we carried on, and while he was confident I would have taken out his Dreadnoughts, and thought I had a chance to win (as VP seemed close), I think it would have come out in his favor once my remaining Line units were wiped. I was already down to almost no answers to his heavier units, and without the scoring units, he could have had it sewn up, I think.

I guess this way I don't have to count it as a loss, though! 2-0-1 for the Alpha Legion, so far.

Lessons learned:

It's hard to go into lists with 2 Spartans and 2 dreadnoughts. I don't know if tooling up more for them is the right answer yet, though.

Always take the Flashburn shells on the Kratos.

Heart of the Legion is very good, make sure to use it. Evade's 5+ Shrouded roll is also very good.

Graviton (from my Contemptor's palm gun) can make charging difficult since it leaves behind a blast area of difficult/dangerous terrain. Charging through difficult terrain means a -2 to the roll, and those chargers fight at Initiative 1 in the following combat.

Watch out for that Space Wolves advanced reaction! 

Alpha Legion vs Word Bearers 12/10/22

Last night at the Ordo Fanaticus club in Portland I had my second game out with my Alpha Legion, playing The Horus Heresy.

I played against a guy called Gregor, whose Word Bearers army I had played once before, with my White Scars, a few months back. Indeed, I recognized a few of the units he brought along this time.

He was running a list like this:

Warmonger Consul

Moritat Consul

2x Tactical squads

Tactical Support squad with plasma guns

Reconaissance squad with shotguns

Gal Vorbak big unit of 6

Ashen Circle unit of 10

Contemptor Dreadnought

2x Sicaran battle tanks

My list was this:

Delegatus Consul

2x Tactical squads

Veteran squad of 7

Veteran squad of 5

Cataphractii big unit of 10 in a

Land Raider Spartan

Headhunter Kill Team of 10

Contemptor Dreadnought

2x Sicaran battle tanks

Interesting coincidence that we both brought 2 Sicarans. At least one Contemptor seems like a given, with how good they are in this game. We were playing at 2500 points. I have a little over 3000 painted, but Gregor didn't have quite that much done and wanted to maintain a certain standard in that regard.

You can see much of his deployment below.

We were playing the mission Tide of Carnage on the Search and Destroy deployment map.

I won't do a play-by-play report here, but only some of the highlights.

I began deployment and took the first turn, and started my Headhunter unit infiltrated and scouted very close to his lines, aiming to take out his Support squad with the plasma guns. I managed to take out 7 of them in the first turn, and caused the remaining 3 to flee. Then, when it was his turn and he was going to try to take out the remaining Headhunters not killed by Return Fire, I used Smoke and Mirrors, the Alpha Legion advanced reaction, to redeploy them 12" away and out of sight! 

My units of Veterans again proved their worth in this game by twice slaughtering opposing squads more than twice their size of Tactical marines. Their high Weapon Skill and power swords make them slice through regular infantry like butter.

Gregor reserved his Warmonger with Gal Vorbak to deep strike, as well has his Moritat with Ashen Circle. In both turns when one of these units arrived, I got off a double Interceptor reaction. There was minimal effect into the Gal Vorbak, just because they are so tough, but the Ashen Circle were substantially damaged. Augury Scanners giving free additional Interceptor uses might be a bit much!

I did learn from one mistake I made this game. It was neigher the pic above or below this line, though. They were both good plays.

When his Gal Vorbak appeared in my backfield, I knew I had to deal with them immediately.

I used Interceptor against them, as I mentioned. The template on them is from my Contemptor's Graviton gun.

Here's my mistake: deploying my WS4 Cataphractii Terminators to charge into the WS5 Gal Vorbak.

My Terminators did very little to them in combat, and ended up losing the combat, falling back, and being swept by the Gal Vorbak! I lost 7 unscathed Terminators with little in return aside from perhaps roadblocking the Gal Vorbak's way into my nearby Tactical squad.

When the Ashen Circle and Moritat arrived from reserves, they scattered and landed on dangerous terrain, which, combined with my two Interceptor reactions, immediately killed 8 of 10.

In the end, with my Cataprhractii fled, I cut down the Gal Vorbak with ranged fire from my Sicarans, Spartan, and Contemptor, then used the dreadnought to charge and smash the enemy Warlord, the Warmonger consul. Here is where we ended the game, after my fourth turn.

A few takeaways from this game:

1) Veterans are still very good value for points, particularly into WS4 infantry. Mine are extra good because they have Banestrike bolters (Alpha Legion) and I also pay for power swords on them, which does make them expensive. Worth it, though.

2) I should probably run them with either a character in each squad, or vexilla at the least, since they top out at Ld 8.

3) The above, but doubly so, for my Cataphractii. They are mostly Ld 7.

4) Never ever ever ever fight against a unit with higher WS

5) Coming in from reserves is very risky in a world of Augury Scanners giving units free Interceptor reactions to no limit.

Talons of the Emperor vs Deathskullz 12/02/22

This game is really only notable in that it is the first time I have taken my Talons of the Emperor force out to play against another live player. I had a casual list put together for a game at 50PL, which is the standard for play at my local Warhammer store. I had pre-arranged a game with Hassan, a guy I know from the store and who I have played before, only with my White Scars force. 

Come to find out, the Warhammer store was closed today, so I messaged Hassan about another venue, a local game store called Rainy Day Games which only recently opened up their play annex. This was my first time playing there, and I would rate the experience very highly. Granted, it was nearly empty on a Friday night, so they were pretty accommodating, even on a non-40K night, allowing us to commandeer a couple of tables and relatively large space and a bunch of their terrain and such.

Chatting with Hassan, we decided to go ahead and play a larger game than I had originally planned for, at about 1500 points. For me this meant only the addition of three more models, albeit high value ones. For Hassan, it meant he could get closer to his actual tournament list. Considering how the game went, maybe we should have stuck at 50 PL!

I got the first turn, and got off to what looked like a decent start, clearing an objective of his Kommandos with my Allarus Terminators.

However, his first turn was a hammer blow to my conical Custodes helmet, as he called the Waaagh and surged across the board with his Orky jet (Wazbom something perhaps) and Deffkoptas loaded out with Rokkits, and his Morkanaut and tons of other hard-hitting stuff.

I had a couple of good moments, getting to use the Tanglefoot Grenade stratagem to try and foil a charge of his. He re-rolled it and got a 12 anyway. He charged my Witchseeker squad, which was full of flamers, and I got to do a superpowered Overwatch which knocked out a couple of the Deffkoptas.

Otherwise, it was a slaughter.

His Squighog boys annihilated a trio of Custodian Guard, and his Bikers were enough to take care of my Allarus, too. Meanwhile his plane was in my base, his Mek Guns were all still operational, and the Morkanaut had not even been brought down a bracket on it's damage table.

It was getting to be about the time we'd both planned to leave anyway, so we called the game early, even though it was clearly all but over before his second turn. Hassan advised I add some Vertus Praetors to my list, and as much as I am ambivalent about those models, I think he's right that they would help. My preferred additions would be some Sagittarum Guard and Pallas Grav-attacks, but they would also cost twice as much or more in dollar terms, and not being plastic GW models, wouldn't have the rules support (Stratagems, Codex inclusion) the Vertus Praetors do. I picked up a Blade Champion model while there at the shop. I like to buy something every time I play at a place to show support, and I particularly like this place since it's got a wide open, well lit space and also happens to be only about 10-15 minutes drive from my house.