[40K] IG/BA vs BT/GK

This week's league game was against the team I forgot about- IG &BA. The team is composed of the youngest players in the league, something I really didn't notice until the LO pointed it out.


I was worried about a lot of shooting, and for good reason. We lost, even playing pretty aggressively. My partner summed it up pretty accurately- it was frustrating. Rather than just my snapshot, let's see how it went.

[I absolutely failed to get any sort of idea of their army list. I'm guessing here-

1 Chimera,
1 artillery tank thing
1 Predator (?) with TLLC
1 Vendetta
Dev squad with 4 plasma cannons
Mephiston
IC of unknown stripe (bronze with wings) and jumper crew
IG squad with Demo and melta inside small tank
Drop Pod
Furioso Dreadnaught]

We brought something kinda like: ( I can't completely remember. We made a last minute change from our pre-determined list that might not have been so wise)

EC (Accept any challenge)
5 Terminators w 2 CML and tank hunter
Crusader Squad (9)w LRC (dozer blade on the LRC)
Crusader Squad (5)
Razorback w/ TLLC

Grand Master
Purifier Squad in Rhino
Terminator Squad of GK doom
Librarian

We had Spearhead with Seize Ground, 4 objectives. We finally got first turn and they declined to attempt to seize. (One of my opponents said that in objective games, it's better to go second. I have never found this to be true, but I really don't have a lot of experience.) We deployed across our deployment zone something like this:

Then we use a psychic scout move thing to advance a couple units some more. They put everything in reserves. On our turn,we move some more and then sit tight since there is nothing to shoot at. They can't come in, so turn 2 comes around very quickly.

We mostly sit tight again, waiting for something to do. Of course we move towards objectives, acting in a fairly aggressive fashion since there's really not a reason not to. The drop pod comes in behind my LRC, and out comes Furioso.

The rest of their units fail to come in on turn 2, so it's turn 3. We shoot at Furioso and the pod, do a little more scooting and getting onto objectives, but wait it out again. On turn 3, they STILL don't come in except for the artillery thing whose name I don't know. Of course, I shoot at it with my LRC.

Turn 4. Finally things to shoot at and things to do.  He brings in his Purifiers on a Rhino, as well as move through cover to get better shots and get on objectives. We shoot a lot- and get shot in return. My Termies go down pretty fast despite being in area cover. This was a big victory for them as the CML are a big part of our army. Then the IG blob comes in and takes out a ton of the GK termies. The tide is starting to change...

I missed almost the entirety of turn 5 due to being at the counter with a regular customer. Luckily, I have a great partner that I trust to kill heretics and mutants with much more effectiveness than I can. I came back and I was still alive- which was good news in my book, since his crew was kinda shaky.

Turn 6. My troops from inside the LRC are contesting an objective, but there's a vehicle on it so of course, we assault it to actually HOLD it. His last couple GK Termies are in HtH with Mephiston (uh-oh). I destroy the vehicle and bunker up on the objective, and then his GK are down to one.

After Mephiston wins in HtH with a Grey Knight terminator.

Turn 7- The last of my guys were in assault combat with Mephiston due to his jump move, and well- we got eaten for breakfast. We held on as long as we could, because my LRC was pushing towards the objective- but the IG guys immobilized it and this game was a wrap with them winning 2-0.


What I learned: It wasn't anything I did- I learned something really awesome by watching. My partner's use of cover to keep his guys within 50% or more of cover was amazing. He moved carefully and stretched his Terminators to the absolute maximum of the 2" coherency to get guys in a "conga line" across area terrain to area terrain and still stay "in cover"-it was masterful. In addition, his REMOVAL of GK was brilliant- he was careful to keep 50% or more of the unit in cover at all times- so when he had to take guys off the field, he always took guys that didn't hurt his cover ratio. I would never in a million years think of something like that if I had not seen him do it.



What I need to work on: With both my partner and I fielding small, expensive armies, I need to use everything I have to my advantage and not take silly stuff. A lasgun might not be the best choice against some of our opponents to come.

About my opponents:  I honestly don't mind losing to younger players- as I've said before, my son smokes me pretty often when I (rarely) play Warmachine. They were very pessimistic the first 3 turns- but when the guns started blazing, they got really into it. I enjoy the enthusiasm- they had fun. Their army was pretty tight, and set for Termies- which did not help us a lot. Despite some communication gaps between them, they did well and played a tough game.


I am looking at making a big change to my army... but I haven't decided yet. We'll see what my partner says and go from there...

[40K] IG/Eldar vs GK/BT (with a question)

My camera is MIA! No pictures! Suckage.

My partner and I played against our local Bat-rep extraordinaire dude and his partner, the Jet-Bike Eldar of DOOM. (Seriously) The IG guy who writes glorious reports has decided to take a break from writing (apparently it took him scads of work) and so we were going to be left with my and my notoriously less-than-stellar reporting abilities. AND, of course, my camera goes missing. GAH.

So we faced an army composed of something like:

Seer Council on Jetbikes
Autarch on Jetbike
3 Squads of Jetbike Guardians w/ 2 Shuriken Cannon/squad
2 of the Hellhound variants with the Multi Meltas, forget the name…
3 Leman Russ Demolishers with LC and Plasma Sponsons

and we brought something like:

EC, AAC
Terminator Squad w/ 2 CML and Tank Hunter
Large squad of CCW/Pistol Marines
2 Line Squads, 1 ML, 1 Las Cannon
Vindicator
Librarian
10 man Terminator squad w/ 2 Psycannon, Banner
DN w/ 2 TLAC and Psybolt ammo
Dreadknight w/ Teleporter and Heavy Inferno

We got Spearhead with Annihilation - and they got first turn.

Knowing this was KP was sort of a kick in the teeth for me.I brought extra feet because so many of our battles have been close due to not enough troops, and now I have a LOT for them to shoot at. Can't win 'em all, right?

I'm skipping ahead to my usual wrap up chatter here, for reasons explained shortly.

What I learned:  Having dedicated fire squads actually can and does work. Also, hiding Termies is MUCH better than leaving them in the open.

What I need to work on: I'm addressing that later on in this post.

About my opponents: One of them has smoked me right off the board before. The other has consistently been at the top of the league for months. I was not super confident, especially when they had so much mech and I had a ton load of dudes. However, they are fun players and I enjoyed seeing certain parts of the game in action,


My partner did a pretty effective write up here . Rather than repeat his efforts, I'm going to cover an issue that came up in the game a lot.

I do not understand how damaging vehicles works. Every time I think I have a handle on it, I am wrong. Something about the strength and armor and facing just confuses the crap outta me. Help a girl out, will ya? 

[40K] BT/GK vs Chaos/'Crons

Week 2 of our team league with shared force org. After last week, when we really needed more bodies, I volunteered to bring some this time. I have a ton of models and my troops are at least sort of cheap. My partner's choices are pretty limited, and pretty expensive, too.

We faced off against the team that gave me the most concern- Chaos/Necrons. Between Oblits and teleporting, "We'll Be Back", monoliths and GINORMOUS template weapons, I was NERVOUS to face this army. We got Spearhead with pitched battle, and 3 objectives.

They had something like this:
3 Oblits
Raptor Squad
Nurgle Bike Squad (with Icon)
Demon Prince
Lash on someone (but I don't know who)
2 Monoliths
Res Orb (?) 
Warriors

We had something like this:
2 Small troops (1 Las, 1 ML)
1 Big troop (1 power weapon)
6 Termies, 2 CML with Tank Hunter
Vindicator
Grey Knight Land Raider
5 Grey Knight termies inside, Psycannons, Null Rod, Psychic Hood
1 Captain/Brother
1 Vindicaire Assasin

They roll first and keep. When we set up, I'm babysitting an objective, while creating fire lanes across our area as best able in the event that I get shot off the terrain.

A good idea of my guys' setup. Objective on the white piece.

My partner is bunkered up in the Land Raider for now. Pinata time will come later.

general idea of their setup. Bikes hiding behind Monolith for now.

The lonely assassin, waiting to shoot. 

Turn 1 boils down to : they move, we stay still as much as we can. They shoot at us (me, specifically) and move some of my guys off objectives and/or terrain. My partner's psychic hood defuses some psychic ability (thank you, Emperor's Psychic Badasses!). I was a little more bunched up than I probably should have been on the objective and Monolith template spam ate my squad up pretty quick.

My CMLs are on the other side of the boxcars and my CC squad is moving due to RZ. 

After we get shot at repeatedly by Monoliths and bikers, which thins my squads down even further, our Turn 2 makes liberal use of cover, blocking and lots of movement to better position our guys.

Fuzzy picture of me getting attacked by Bikes and the Demon Prince.

The demon Prince pulls my squad right off the objective through assault and kicks the bejeezus out of my doodz. BigSword (aka Darious) was left to face him all alone.

My partner, blocking the bikers from attacking me. Thanks! 

Turn 3 brings the Grey Knights out of the Land Raider to attack -well, whatever's handy. Which happens to be Oblits. THANK YOU, PARTNER. Oblits need to die in a hole- and man, GK SMOKED those guys. (On a plain, but they died and that's all I care about. THANK YOU!)

Somehow our opponents see them as a threat. 

Rain of fire (Monolith shots, Oblits, bikers, warriors double tapping with Gauss thingys) opens up on the Grey Knights, with the Bikers coming in to assault. Meanwhile, our concentrated fire plan against the Monoliths continues to do a whole lot of nothing. (we realize in Turn FOUR we should have been barraging the Warriors)

Turn four:

GreyKnights continue to get attacked. I don't have any idea why....

Yeah, Ok,  maybe I DO know why. They roll a LOT of dice.

After a round of combat- a LOT of guys (theirs and ours) are gone. 

Another round gone by. More bikers gone, but only 2 GK left.

We really should have shot at Warriors and not the Monoliths. We do a little moving to try to hold onto our objectives, or at least refuse assault.

Turn 5- The Raptors finally come in. They pile in right where the GK and Bikers are (homing in on an icon) and start kicking some ass. One of the last of the GK fall, but luckily for us, the Assassin has been waiting for something to do all game and the LC Raptor dies quickly.



 We would really love for the game to end; as we're at a draw. I roll, and fail yet again.

Turn 6, Those Raptors decide they want to get me off my objective- NOW.

I am Raptor dinner. 

One of the GK tries sitting on our opponent's objective, and it sort of works until he's destroyed by shooting from a Monolith (I think).  My last little squad from on top of the building starts doing a conga line over towards the objective, and actually makes it ONTO the terrain holding our dear marker. Unfortunately, my little Raptor Lunchmates will not die and there's fall-in on assault right next to the terrain and one of the Raptors is within 3 of the objective when I roll to end at the end of turn 6.


Quick recap: WOW, this was an AWESOME game. SO MUCH FUN! I'll get into detail in a moment- but I wanted to get it out that this was an absolute blast.

What I learned: I am getting better. (But not on my own. I am getting help.)  With one or two exceptions, I understood WHY we were making the choices we were making and have gained a HUGE grasp of cover and using firelines due to some incredible instruction through my partner being super patient with me.

What I need to improve on: Using the 2" allowed between guys for coherency to my advantage- ie: SPREAD OUT if I'm facing template weapons.

About my opponents: They are funny. They are smart. They are deceptive- with their "I can't roll for crap, I always lose" mantras, they could "seem" like easy pickings to other teams. I knew better- one of them is a fantastic skirmish-based game player and applies a lot of that theory to his 40K playing, and the other is far more analytical than he seems with his goofball personality. They were a serious challenge. I kept asking "are we about to die?" to my opponent- because I thought they had us dead to rights at least twice before the game was over.

The game was fun, challenging, and very tough. I loved it because I understood almost everything that was going on. I had a couple moments of serious confusion; but mostly based on not knowing the opponent's rules. I felt like I actually contributed some instead of just listening to directions- although the instructions sure did not hurt when I DID listen.

About my partner: For a silly list, that was awesome! I'm bringing feet again next time, right?

[40K] BT/GK vs IG/DE

All right guys, my long winter's nap is  over! I have been down and out and I have a lot to catch up on. Hoping to get this on the board before Wednesday is over, and then get to work on my writeup for Friday. 

Week one of our team league  was actually pretty fun. My partner (who bless his heart is trying to blame his codex for any "gimping" we get rather than me) and I spent some time via email/FB planning ideas and whatnot, and we had something of a coherent idea for our game. (Rather than aimless meandering, which I do a lot)

We were paired against a pretty tough team- both players are very smart and well versed in their armies. They had lists something like this: 

IG-

2 Vendettas (4 las ea)

1 melta squad

two 30 man squads

1 Chimera

1 small squad on obj.

DE

2 venom

2 ravagers

2 raiders

assortment of dark lances, blasters, decimators 

(I know there was something else but I am blanking on what it might be)

My partner ran Grey Knights, with something like this:

assasin

Inquisitor in Terminator armor (Psycannon, null rod, teleport homer)
Henchmen squad w/MM, Plasma, Mystics, sages, etc...
Chimera
Grey Knight Squad w/ 2 Psycannon
DN (TLAC)... Rifleman class DN

a couple other goodies but again not sure what 

I had my Templars suited up like so:

5 man unit Las,

5 man unit missile

9 man power weapon, flamer

EC

Land Raider

5 man squad terminators, 2 CMLw/TH

We rolled for deployment and got spearhead, with capture & control mission. After looking at the terrain, my partner commented that this would probably be a draw. I shrugged, not ever having done spearhead before. 

Here's the right side with a LOT of flying crap.

My team didn't have access to a Whirlwind (really, I don't get that) so we had to do some real interesting target priority to blow up the mobile gun platforms. Our deployment sort of included our ideas on that. 

You can see MOST of our set up here- although this is a later pic and my Termies have died some =(

I deployed my 2 little units on top of  the objective in cover, with my Terminators in some cover in the ruin there, and my Land Raider (with the BIG CC squad) hid between two hills. The DN, Chimera, and small squad were all deployed with cover as well. 

This game was full of surprises for me- We built and used good cover- and it actually mattered...

We attempted to sieze, failed. 

and now onto the best synopsis I can make given my really bad memory and inability to keep track of ONE army, much less 4...(If I forgot something important or left out your favorite part, I apologize!)

[40K] BT vs IG x 2

I've played against 2 different IG armies in the past 2 weeks.


The first was against the Star Wars army, which was mostly Sentinels and lots of blob squads. This particular scenario was pitched battle, with objectives rather than VP. The game was a lot of fun with back and forth elements- his army essentially trying to shoot mine to pieces; and mine trying to chop his to bits before he could do so.

A general look at our deployment:

I had Terminators in reserve to deepstrike, and a Rhino with Cru squad not visible here. 



I also tried the VenDread again, this time with TLLC.

Unfortunately, my opponent viewed TLLC as "bad" and shot the daylights out of my poor Dread. Despite lots of concentrated firepower, he stayed alive, but didn't get into CC until the very end of the game, and did a whole lot of nothing.

No, his arm was not blown off. The arm was to another model and didn't fit this fellow. 

Honestly, this game was so much fun, I think we forgot about objectives and trying to win. We did a lot of  "pew-pew" noises, and just had a blast trying to shoot each other off the board. I mean, who wouldn't have fun against a guy that loves his army this much?

At the end of the game, we were at a draw- I held an objective, and another was hotly contested. 

I had a tough time against 6 Sentinels and 3 blob squads- but I think I'm learning.

What I learned: Sometimes a fun game is just what you need.

What I can work on: Concentrating firepower against stuff that can blow me up. (Also known as "target priority".) I still haven't figured this out.

About my opponent: He's a semi-regular dude around the store. He's a total ham, and something of a goof- but he is a BLAST to play against and I had a good time. Thanks, FoggyGolem!

My next game was against an entirely different sort of IG list. This one was meched up beyond belief- he was bringing SIX hydras! (Well, sort of. He proxied some Chimeras in. One of them has a cool conversion getting started.)

He also had some Vendettas.  They were really pretty and well magnetized to make transport and wreckage easier. 

I brought some long range firepower- TLLC, to be exact.

On a Predator AND a Dread. 

Unfortunately, my opponent had a plan for that.

Meltas. Lots of em. 

We used the Rules of Engagement and had Long Table Edges for deployment, with my Primary Objective being "Mixed Signals". (Holding 2 objective markers determined by die roll.) His Primary was to take all my units down to below 50%.

I was pretty excited about this game, because I held my own and didn't get flustered, even when both my Pred and my Dread were blown up on turn 1. I kept my focus on trying to gain objectives, and kill stuff along the way.

Brother Darius on the way to kill some IG scum.

Getting to close combat showed how monstrous BT can be, if the opponent shoots a lot. I got no less than 10 inches of free movement due to Righteous Zeal, and it made a huge difference in the balance of the game. I was really bemoaning this rule at first- but now I understand how beneficial it can be.

This game was very close, with a lot of back and forth. At the end of turn 5, we were at a draw. I hoped to be able to end the game- it honestly would have been a moral victory at that point; doing so well against a tough mech IG list and a VERY good player. When we went on to turn 6, I was decimated and he won in a landslide. I still felt pretty good overall, and wasn't too disappointed.

Then I went home and totaled up my list- and I was way over. I truly feel bad- I surely didn't intend to cheat my opponent. I played at the spur of the moment (in fact running home to get my bag) and didn't have a list ready; and guessed at totals. I hope that he'll give me another chance, with an under limit list, this time.

What I learned: I need to find a way to deal with my opponent seizing initiative. It's happened 3 times in a row now, and it has really mattered.

What I can improve on: Being more prepared- having my bag with me, a list ready, etc.

About my opponent: A really good tactical player who knows his army's capabilities very well. He was playing an experimental list and still killed me. If I'd been "legal" on points, he would have smoked me right off the board.

[40K] Post # 200, Bat Rep #3 and Star Wars Imperial Guard!

I got in another 40K game during League play on Monday. It's an escalation league at 1250 points.

I missed the 1000 point games so I jumped from 750 to 1250. It's a big jump, and I'm not entirely sure I put together the best list to play- but I gave it a shot.

I played a CSM player whose list was roughly like this:

Defiler

4 Oblits

2 Demon princes

10 Man Squad with mark of Khorne

Dedicated Rhino

10 Man Squad

Dedicated Rhino
someone on that list had Lash, but I don't know who (I think it was an Oblit???)

Mine was something like

EC, AAC

7 Initiates, 2 Neophytes (1 power sword, 1 flamer)

frag & krak

Dedicated Rhino

7 Initiates, 1 Neophyte (1 lascannon, 1 flamer)

Frag & krak

2 landspeeders

1 Typhoon Missile launcher

1 Multimelta

Predator Annihilator

Turret TLLC

(side sponson las)

terminator Sword brethren

3 Storm Bolters, CCW

1 Typhoon Missile Launcher

1 Assault cannon

1 venerable Dred,

Extra armor

Multimelta

We used the ROE to determine deployment and neither of us liked the results, so we re-rolled to get pitched battle. My primary win condition was to destroy his objectives and my secondary was to hold any two.

Grab Bag

-Warning: language-

1- I really and truly love reading BatReps (most specifically 40K, but WM too). They are almost always fun and informative. I learn a great deal about deployment (which absolutely confounds me), seizing initiative, HQ/troop selection, approach choices and rationale as well as overall tactics. BatReps are in many ways the best kind of education- most of them have pictures to describe the action, which helps me immensely.

Most writers are fantastic and fair. They describe their failures just as well as their wins. Many of them have great senses of humor with commentary like "Here's where the other guy's forces made Swiss cheese of my army" or "I actually had a chance until my dice decided to be traitors". Others are a bit more serious with excellent insights such as "in hindsight, separating my forces and sending half to advance on [X model] was a dumb move" or "Wow, could I have deployed in a more terrible fashion?".

There are a couple guys whose BatReps I read that are less than fair. One guy wins a lot, which apparently inflated his ego. His writeups are all glorious washes of his greatness and descriptions of how awesome his list and tactics are. His descriptions are great, but very inflated. There's another guy that has a pretty standard win/loss ratio, but his reports are always more than a little lopsided. His opponents are always dumb (but lucky, if they win) and when forced to partner with someone, his partners are morons that he has to prop up in some way. His reports are full of condescension and rationalizing, and his dickwashing never fails to make everyone else around him look idiotic.

So why do I read these guys? Well, the first guy wins a lot. I DO learn a lot from his approach and his explanations of tactics, even if they are douchy. The second guy is somewhat local, which makes me feel sort of obligated to read his comments, and in addition, he's a GREAT writer. If he was less of a turd, I would thoroughly enjoy his writeups. I don't know that there's any way to un-jerk-ify these guys, so I'll keep reading them, knowing I'll have to scrub the layer of slime off my brain when I am done.

2-- I had an awesome out of game session with my WOD ST recently, talking about motivations, directions, options and ideas for Eile. It was probably one of the single best head-to-heads I've had with a  GM type in YEARS.

3--- I envision Eile as a less moral Neil Caffrey.

4---- I'm trying to come up with a chicken dinner for Saturday's WOD potluck.

5----- Still working on Diamond. What do you do when you love the shell of a character but the inside is empty?