Rage and outrage

 

Ultramarine heroes stand against the horde of filth.

I was able to arrange my affairs in such a way that I was able to join the guys for a game night at one of the local game stores. This time we chose a new venue, The Outpost, for our place of battle. Nothing against the old place, but the appeal of a slightly quieter place to play (with air conditioning!) made it worth trying out. 

This time we had four armies in attendance, and with a time limit set against us we decided to team up and do two vs. two. My Deathwatch aligned up with Da Masta Cheef's Ultramarines, and RT Vorel (aka Mike) had his Wraithguard themed Eldar alien with Murl's (aka Rob) Death Guard army. We used the Open War deck to select a Twist for our ad-hoc game. There would be an objective in the center of the table and the army in control of if at the end of each round would get a VP. 

1k of Wraithguard.

1k of Death Guard (blurry pic due to nervousness)

1k of Deathwatch 

1k of Ultramarines.

Set up.

LpThe objective is a stone needle with a really cool zone marker placed around it. Rob got it from somewhere online and I like it a lot. Anyway, the bad guys got turn one and we somehow survived the initial exchange of fire with a loss or two (losing a bike was a bummer).  On our first turn the bikes zipped up and claimed the objective.

Objective held by the bikers.

It was quickly apparent that the Eldar side of this fight was almost unkillable. With the amount of firepower we threw at them, their high saves and 5+ "Shrugs" made them sickeningly resilient. Even their Nurgle alies were like "Dude! WTF?" 

With the ranges closed the combined Death Guard and Eldar were able to make their hits land. The Kill Team with four Heavy Bolters were reduced to a single guy, the bikers were wiped out, and the Ultramarines were finding themselves within engagement range of the Death Guard and were also starting to take some loses. 

On Turn Two the two Squads of Deathwatch Terminators teleported into the back of the Eldar part of the enemy Deployment Zone. After an impressive volley of Assault Cannon and Plasma Cannon fire against the Wraithlord, it was still standing with half it's wounds left! I confess, I wasn't paying too much attention to Cheef's side of things as he was mostly tangling with the Death Guard while I was having an existential crisis trying to figure out how to continue to exist after dealing with this Wraithguard army. But he did manage to get some troops onto the objective despite all the Typhus mortal wounds stuff taking place. 

Wraithbone, the original bullet sponge. 

Once again circumstances occurred that caused my Librarian to be stuck out in the open, and despite his best efforts he was soundly (as in the sound his body and armor made when it was torn apart by the warp) defeated. 

Two squads of Wraithguard vs. a guy. 

The battle Royale between the Ultramarines and Death Guard was a grueling back and forth that lasted for the remainder of the game. 

"I like your purity seals," "I like your maggots,"

On our Turn 3 the Terminators focused again on taking out the Wraithlord and actually succeeded. Yes, that took two rounds and,  yes, that took both squads to do it. 

The Wraithlord falls! 

The Terminators charged the Spiritseer (represented here by a marine proxy) and beat him to death with thunderhammers. That was honestly quite satisfying. 

The Eldar leadership falls.

So glad these guys couldn't turn around and fire...

I was in absolute awe of how much fire power the Wraithguard could absorb, and then how many models they could bring for having such a high level of resilience. 

The Eldar casualty pile.

Back to the Ultramarines side, and the fight against the Deathshroud Terminators was a heroic stand indeed despite the futility of it all. 

Heroes on both sides that deserve paint.

One melee that didn't want to end was a massive dice rolling fest on that resulted in only a single casualty on both sides. And that was even with the +1 Attack from Rage. Not quite the balance the design team was looking for with 'Armor of Contempt' was it? 

Paddycake!

Here's Cheef's thoughts: 

"The armor of contempt rule has made marine vs marine combat kinda boring, it's very 7th ed with 3+ saves everywhere. Add to that the disgustingly (yes pun intended) resilient plague marines and a unit that can almost drop a carnifex on the charge is instead damned near useless."

How the battle ended. 

We called the game at the end of Turn 3. It was a time thing, but honestly, we had 3 vps and they had 0 vps. Even with two more rounds they couldn't win this. But, there was a lot of models left and quite a few more fights to have or resolve. I was hoping the Terminators would have better luck in melee against the damned Wraithguard but we were never able to make that match-up happen. 

My only regret about this game was that I should have had the Deathwatch Terminators on the field from turn one. Their firepower could have made a difference.  Maybe.  

Despite the "OMG they're tough!" wailing from Cheef and I, we actually did have a lot of fun. Although we recommend Mike tune his list down a bit... 😉

Wounded Guardian (Art Monday)

 Greetings, today's art Monday is basically a scene from a battle where these Eldar Guardians haven't really fared so well. This was back in the 2nd edition era when Eldar Guardians were often seen with las weapons, so it's understandable that they would get their butts kicked a bit more often. Actually, most Eldar players from that time did everything they could to not take las weapons as the shurikan catapults were a lot more effective (even with the jams). 

"You bastards!!!"

This is another unpublished piece that was submitted to some of the 40k fanzines in the mid-'90s but was never published. 

The Prize.

 

The fight for The Prize! 

++++++++++++++

FAO: Master-General Styker of Departento Munitorium
TRANSMITTED: Colcha
RECEIVED: The Future Home Of The Volunteer Parkway Primus Textile Manufacturium, Department H.
DATE:4911999.M41-ish?
TELEPATHIC DUCT: Astropath-terminus: Jim
AUTHOR: Father Abernathy The Black Monk of Unicoi Secondus.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: The alien fails because it cannot embrace the Emperor.
+++++++++++++

Dear Xenos scum,

This is your final notice that you are to immediately vacate and leave the world of The Future Home Of The  Volunteer Parkway Primus Textile Manufacturium, Department H. It's designated role as a manufacturium dedicated to the fabrication of textiles needed to supply His Glorious Imperial Army exceeds any ancestral or aboriginal claims your kind and kin may protest to claim. Since our previous efforts to persuade you resulted in the death of our Missionary, Grievous The Unkind, and his attaché, we are giving you a second, and final,  chance. Also,  we have determined that his translator servo  skull was left behind when he departed and we suspect his message was improperly conveyed. But we do thank you for the return of his remains, even though the note you sent with the package indicates that you wish for us to 'go copulate' with ourselves. Again, the lack of a proper translation device is on us, but we are giving you this final chance to vacate with what you xenos refer to as your 'lives'* 

The voice of His Holiness, 

Abernathy 

The Black Monk of Unicoi Secondus.

*How any creature considers living without a 18 hour work day devoted to the service of the Holy Emperor Of Mankind a "life" is a baffling concept to us, but that's your business. Perhaps we could find a role for your kind in a sub-department of the new textile manufacturium? We will attach applications along with this message. 

+++++++++++++++

It's safe assume that the Eldar were less that amused to receive that message. Well Da Masta Cheef was bemused when I sent him that jovial pre-game taunt email. Yes, we were able to arrange a game and we settled on a small 500 point game to stretch out these lethargic gamer limbs. It allowed me to chose an army that I have been itching to do something with since I acquired it from my brother oh so many years ago: Astra Militarum Imperial Guard. 

The Imperial Guard. 

Here is what I brought (per pic above, left to right): Two Chimeras with track guards and a storm bolter, Infantry Squad with 9 lasguns, and a Sergeant with bolt pistol, Militarum Tempestus Scions with 7 hot-shot lasguns, a plasma gun and a melta gun, led by a Tempestuous with bolt pistol and chainsword, six Ratlings, Company Commander (Duke) with chainsword, and The Black Monk himself an Ministorum Priest with a bolt pistol. 

The Eldar.

Per the above pic (left to right), the Eldar are a Dire Avengers with Exarch, Ten Guardian Defenders with a Shurikan Cannon, Dragon Knight Autarch with fusion gun, warlock with singing spear, Corsair Falcon with scatter laser and pulse laser and a Corsair Reaver Band armed with a brace of pistols, Sunburst grenades, and Sparglaives, 

The Open War deck draws.

The Open War Deck gave us The Prize as a mission. A single objective that a single model can pick up and carry off. The side who has it wins the game at the end of Turn 5. If no one has it, it's a draw. Cheef and I like it simple and with this small of a points game, it was a perfect mission to draw. We aren't entirely sure what The Prize is since we didn't have a proper objective marker, we settled on using one of the old 6th edition era ones that I carry around in my gaming bag. Maybe The Prize is some item or info that would end this land dispute or maybe it's those job apps those out of work xenos desperately need. Who knows?  But these guys want to kill each other over it and we're happy to oblige.  

The Twist card was interesting as the driving rain and wind it describes bestows the benefit of Light Cover to anyone beyond 18". A condition my ratlings were pleased to have to their advantage! 

Here's how my deployment turned out. The Scions were in reserve. The Infantry unit was inside the chimera to the left while the other was empty. Both were poised to to zip up to The Prize. The Black Monk and the Commander were outside and behind the Infantry loaded chimera so as to be able to benefit them when needed. The ratlings were positioned on the opposite side of the wall close to the objective.

Imperial Guard deployment.

The xenos were also poised to dash towards The Prize. The Corsair Reaver Band went into reserves, waiting for their moment to pounce.

Eldar deployment.

TURN ONE

Lucky me, I won the roll off and the Imperial Guard go first. The Chimera zipped up but the Infantry remained embarked. Both Chimera opened up on the Guardians, as did the ratlings. After the morale phase all that remained of them was the gun platform and two defenders. 

The surviving Guardian Defenders.

The Eldar's first turn was surprisingly ineffective, much to Cheef's disbelief (and my relief).  The Falcon's attempt to take out the chimera failed to even wound it. 

The showdown that wasn't.

Turn 2

My dice were still hot as the Infantry disembarked from their Chimera and their Sergeant grabbed The Prize. The Chimera to to my right moved up and opened fire on the Dire Avengers but it wasn't as effective as the Scions who landed behind them. Their hot-shot lasguns tore into them with only a single one left standing, the Exarch. 

The Dire Avengers are cut down.

The Cheef was exasperated that his dice were forsaking him, but when I accidently touched them he immediately decided that my luck would transfer to them. I laughed off such superstitious nonsense but it did seem that Cheef's and the Eldar's luck was about to change... the Chimera that deployed the Infantry turned it's weapons on the Falcon but the Falcon easily deflected the attacks. 

Bottom of Turn 2.

I thought the ratlings were safe but the Corsairs arrived and ambushed them. 

Ambushing the ambushers.

I played the Take Cover! Stratagem, but it just wasn't enough. The ratlings were wiped out! Cheef was now happy. 

' "Take cover" doesn't mean jump in a grave!'

The Falcon performed way better this turn leaving it's chimera opponent with a single wound remaining.

Defensive Gunners! 

The Guard's luck wasn't over yet though as the Defensive Gunners Stratagem was played. Despite the wounding hits, the Autarch's made his saves and ripped into the Infantry. And he was joined by the Dire Avenger Exarch who gleefully joined in the bloodletting. I had to play the Insane Bravery Stratagem to assure that my men didn't bolt and stayed in the fight. 

Turn Three

The Scions were not within range of any more viable targets so they advanced towards the center. Meanwhile the chimera on the right turned around and approached the Corsairs bringing a few of them down with a hail of fire. Sarge's bolt pistol was his only effective attack option apparently, as these were the only wounds the Autarch couldn't seem to save. The Commander and the Black Monk joined in the fight also, but the Black Monk took a wound for his efforts.  

The fight for The Prize is in full swing. 

Bottom of Turn 3. 

Eldar Turn 3.

The Falcon finished off the last Chimera and put some wounds on the other one as well. The Corsairs took off more wounds on the chimera mostly thanks to a Sunburst grenade attack that impressed the heck out of me. They then charged the Chimera hoping to finish it but, that didn't have the desired results that the xenos had hoped for.

The Corsairs assault the Chimera.

Meanwhile at the center of the table the Warlock joins the fray.  The Commander (Duke) had taken a wound by this point also but everyone else stayed in the fight!

"Give me the prize!"

Turn 4

The Chimera backed up, and blasted the heck out of the Corsairs, leaving only one member of the squad left.  The Black Monk killed the Dire Avenger Exarch and moved to confront the Warlock face to face. But more dramatically, the Autarch felled the Sergeant and claimed The Prize!

"I have The Prize!"

Eldar Turn Four, the Falcon and the support weapon try to wipe out the scions but only manage to pick off one or two.  Autarch, grabs The Prize and flees to an area of the board where he thinks he'll be safe. The last corsair dashes up to to assist the Warlock. 

Warlock & Preacher have a Three Stooges moment.

The Eldar turn ends the Imperial Guard in a challenging place: who could I possibly get to intercept that damn Autarch?!

The end of Turn 4. 

TURN 5

Being a point (499 pts) under the Eldar (500 pts) I was able to draw a Ruse card that I had almost forgotten about which I desperately employed now: Tactical Reserves. I brought in another squad of ratlings as their guns had the longer range and potential for them to take out that Autarch than the Infantry squads did. 

Ratling tactical reserves arrive.

And it was worth it. One of the shots caused a Mortal Wound which felled the Autarch and The Prize was dropped!

Taken down by a flurry of needles.

This upset was followed by another upset, as the Black Monk was defeated by the Warlock! 

"No one talks to me like that in an email! No one!"

Turn 5 is the last turn of the game and I managed to set us up for a draw by having the ratlings snuff out the Autarch. 

Set up for a draw.

Well, I underestimated, again, the speediness of the Eldar. The Guardian Defenders, those who were hammered so hard in Turn 1, zipped over and grabbed the prize! 

"We got it!"

Fresh from eliminating the Black Monk, the Warlock was feeling mighty and tough so he boldly approached the Scions, attempted to cast one of his psychic attacks...and rolled a Perils Of The Warp result. The resulting warp detonation did kill a few Scions but the resulting, spectacular demise the Warlock (who had passed a statistic defying number of armor saves throughout the game up to this point) took him along with it. Perhaps She Who Milks needed a new companion and summed him to her lair (stable)? Regardless, he was gone!

The Scions, after the suicide Warlock attack

The Falcon blew the ratlings off of the table (so much hate!) much to the glee of Cheef.

And this is how it ended, with the Eldar taking full advantage of their final turn to claim The Prize while the Imperial Guard watched them ride out in the sunset.

The table at the end of Turn 5.

Another fun and furious game! The Imperial Guard did pretty good really. I think they would have done better had I remembered to issue Orders more often, or had the Scions been more strategicly placed (riding me of the those Dire Avengers was blessing though), this could've turned out better. Ultimately though, it's clear that it's best to keep your Guardsmen away from close combat as much as possible. I was impressed with Sarge's durability as he did live longer that I thought he would have going toe to toe against an Autarch (guess he really wanted The Prize!).

Painted or camouflage? 

The Eldar's armor turned into a laser proof Teflon material halfway though the game, with the Warlock being particularly resistant to every successful attack the IG made against him. He only died because he botched a psychic attack. We both agreed that he deserves a paint job and should get a spot in Cheef's painting queue soon (instead of painting Battletech scenery..). Speaking of paint jobs, the Falcon defied the rule of 'New Model Syndrome' and not only survived the game but finished it fully intact! It was definitely impressive in this match. 

"This zone is secure! Move out!"

++++++++++++++

FAO: Master-General Styker of Departento Munitorium
TRANSMITTED: Colcha
RECEIVED: The Future Home Of The Volunteer Parkway Primus Textile Manufacturium, Department H.
DATE:4911999.M41-ish?
TELEPATHIC DUCT: Astropath-terminus: Jim
AUTHOR: Father Abernathy The Black Monk of Unicoi Secondus.

THOUGHT FOR THE DAY: Only despair can defeat us. Or bad dice. 
+++++++++++++

Dear Xenos scum,

We have received your complaint and after careful consideration have determined that your world probably wouldn't make a good manufacturum after all. We have therefor suspended our plans. As a further consequence all applications received so far have been voided for consideration. Which is a relief since the constitution of your frail race probably couldn't survive an 18-hour work day anyway, and we would need efficiency for this project to be successful. 

Enjoy your so called lives.   

Brother Brown, speaking on behalf of Father Abernathy, who is in traction. 

Kill the Courier

+++++++++++++++DATE ++++++++++++++++REF ++++++++TRANSMITTED +++++++++++++++++TO ++++++++++++SUBJECT +++++++++++LOCATION +++++++++++++SECTOR ++++++AUTHORIZATION ++++++++++++THOUGHT

3394819.M41 Inq/045678506/BI Wolf Priest Jorvik Blacktooth Wolf Lord Sven Axegrinder Campaign Update from Segmentum Warzones Segmentum Obscurus Tri-Cinci Sub, Hobbytown Secundus LETUS05.61.CLA Knowledge causes confusion. We must retrieve the artifact, the water bowl of Freki,the foul xenos scum stole it five years ago and have escaped our vengeance since that time. They must be brought to heel and the artifact must be retrieved at all cost. Lord Grimnar has added the following message to assure the importance of this mission:   "Extreme prejudice is sanctioned and encouraged.  YOU ARE EXPENDABLE, THE WATER BOWL IS NOT. -LG"

Finally, the Space Wolves get a (sorta) rematch against these foul xenos! Da Masta Cheef and I arranged this game shortly after the last one when I reminded him of the time his Eldar soundly defeated my Space Wolves back in 5th edition. Since that time he has sold off a lot his Eldar, both the Exodites and Corsairs, leaving only a scattering of each. I agreed to let him use some of mine to fill in the gaps. I lent him Fire Dragons, Swooping Hawks and Dark Reapers.

This game was one of many firsts! Most importantly it was the first time using Da Cheef's new awesome convertible gaming table (a.k.a. The Jasper). It was my first time using Space Wolves in 8th ed, and my first time using a few units with them. Such as the Intercessors, Stormhawk, and a Wolf Priest (it's true, in the decades I have played this game, I have never used a generic Wolf Priest). It was Cheef's first time using many of the Eldar units in this game as well.

Once again we used the Open War cards, pulling the  'long way' deployment and Kill the Courier as a mission. Note that I pulled out form the deck any of the missions that didn't have some sort of specific objective to fight over. The Twist card that we pulled (Double or Nothing) resulted in us not having any twists.

Open War!

After choosing our zones, we set up our forces on The Jasper. Clearly the Xenos scum, having traded the sacred Space Wolf artifact, the Water Bowl of Freki, many times over, were about to pass on the artifact to another group. Now the Space Wolves have cornered a band of Corsairs who have been joined by a detachment of Craftworld Eldar, no doubt sending the artifact to it's final intended, and debauch, destination. The Eldar Courier was identified as the Farseer. The Eldar have selected my Rune Priest as the Courier for the Space Wolves. What twisted vision did that Farseer see to select the Rune Priest as his target is not known at this time, only that the xenos sought his demise.

Eldar set-up. 

Our set ups were fairly straight forward,  with the scenery some what sparse there was still plenty of defensive positions to take advantage of.

Space Wolf Set-Up. 

TURN ONE

The Eldar advance. They fired a lot shots at the Space Wolves, but only one of the Sons of Russ was eliminated.

The Eldar are coming!

Space Wolves Turn One, and they did not take the loss of Brother Banebreath too well! The counter attack was intense, with the Eldar taking considerable losses, but it was the Stormhawk Interceptor that truly brought the thunder. I knew this thing has potential for fire power but damn! We were not expecting it to be this impressive! It destroyed a unit of Corsairs and a Dire Avenger unit! Cheef was livid at this thing and was determined to bring it down.

The wall of bullets is spat out by the Stormhawk.

TURN TWO

The Eldar counter attacked, killing a few Space Wolves with shooting. The Autarch on Jetbike (it only looks like a griffin) charged into the Stormhawk. he didn't knock it out of the sky like he intended too but he did get it down to 6 wounds remaining.

Bonzi!!!

Space Wolves Turn Two

Smoking but still aggressive, the Stromhawk turned it's attention towards the Vyper. After the 1st round, we expected this to be an ugly event, but no, the Vyper not only absorbed everything the Stormhawk threw at it, but managed to survive with 2 Wounds remaining!

The Vyper's escape!

In my 2nd Turn Movement phase my Drop Pod appeared, and out sprang my 2nd Grey Hunters squad who killed off the Dark Reapers.

Drop Pod assault!

The Intercessors charged into a Guardian unit while the Wolf Priest and the remaining Grey Hunters charges the Autarch.

Charge!

The Autarach was unharmed due to his invulnerable saves and would fly off in his his next Movement phase.

TURN 3, and the Autarch charged the Interceptor again, which by this point had been reduced down to 4 Wounds. The Autarch finished it off, and Interceptor bits rained down onto the field.

The last of the Corsairs killed off the entire 2nd Squad of Grey Hunters with shooting. Clearly they were getting too close to the Courier!

The Autrach in his glory. 

The Intercessors gunned down the Autarch on Jet Bike/Griffen, ending his reign of air supremacy.

TURN 4

Meanwhile the 2nd Autarch and a Squad of Dire Avengers was hunting down my Rune Priest, who, along with the Long Fangs, had just all but finished off a FIre Dragon squad (the Exarch still lived!). After failing to Wound him they charged him.

"We have you know Mon'Keigh!"

The Swooping  Hawks charged the Primaris Marines that had just finished off the Guardian, tying them up in melee.

Space Wolves Turn 4,

With the swirling Melee nearby, the two survivors of the 1st Grey Hunter Squad spotted the Farseer, and the Meltagunner took off all but one wound from the Farseer; leaving the Space Wolves only one wound away from victory! Naturally they charged the Farseer who managed to make all of his saves, yet failed to kill his attackers!

The Farseer (Courier) is wounded!

TURN 4, and we are running out of models! The Vindicator had been hunted down by the Vyper and the Fire Dragon Exarch they were  picking wounds off of it, and somehow it survived an assault with Melta Bombs, but it was down to only 2 Wounds!

Space Wolves Turn 4, and the Vindicator pretty much point-blank annihilated the Fire Dragon Exarch, thankfull that templates are no longer a thing! It then Turned it's attention to the Vyper, finishing it off with it's storm bolter.

The Vindicator, sticking it out to vanquish it's oppressors. 

Turn 5

The Farseer used Smite to kill off his Attackers! He then advanced himself to position of cover.

"I Smite thee!"

The Runepriest liked that idea and Smited the Autarch attacking him, kill him out right while the Dire Avengers continued to press the assault.

"I Smite thee!"

The Long Fangs, now out of targets, moved down to assist the Runepriest, who now only had one opponent.

We;re here to help boss!

Having bested the last of the Swooping Hawks in the Eldar Fight Phase, the Wolf Priest and surviving Primaris Marines found the hidden Farseer crouching in the ruins. With a blast from his Plasma Pistol, the Farseer's days as a Courier were no more, and the Water Bowl of Freki was retrieved!.

Victory!

That was a fast summary, and I know I left out a lot of details, but it was getting late and my memory is somewhat fractured and dependent upon these pics. But what a fight! In case it's not obvious, there was only one survivor in the Eldar army, and she was a Dire Avenger desperately trying to take out the Rune Priest, who was now down to just 3 Wounds himself. I like to think that the Runepriest and the Long Fangs took her as a prisoner. Likewise, Cheef likes to think that the Wolf Priest slagged the Water Bowl of Freki with that plasma blast...

It was a good, intense game! My MVP was easily the Stormhawk Interceptor due to it's first round introduction where it blew away two units! This thing has the potential to dish our a lot of death if the dice are hot! A definite honor mention for Wolf Priest Jorvik Blacktooth for staying alive, inspiring his troops (those re-rolls to hit are just divine!) and for the winning shot of the game. He definitely earns his pace in the hall of heroes!

Cheef's MVP was that Vyper, simply for the incredible amount of firepower it absorbed during the game!  it stood up the Stormhawk, survived and went on to pester my forces until it was eventually dealt with. It was very tough to kill! His Autarch on Jetbike (Griffin) was probably the 2nd place contender.

And that's a wrap, the Water Bowl of Freki has been recovered, and the Space Wolves have a prisoner! Will the Eldar attempt a rescue?