Minervan Tank Legion (NetEA Tournament Pack 2014) VS Death Watch

Well we manage another game of epic. It was 3000 point per side and it was between Minervan Tank Legion (NetEA Tournament Pack 2014) and Death Watch..

Trent Death Watch and Britt used the Minervan Tank Legion (NetEA Tournament Pack 2014)..

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Armies used

Minervan Tank Legion (NetEA Tournament Pack 2014)
SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY [700]
3 Baneblade, Supreme Commander, Flak Support (2 Hydra), Commissar
SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY [600]
Flak Support (2 Hydra), 3 Stormsword, Commissar
SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY [600]
3 Stormsword, Flak Support (2 Hydra), Commissar
SALAMANDER SCOUT PLATOON [100]
3 Salamanders, Commissar
SALAMANDER SCOUT PLATOON [100]
3 Salamanders
MECHANIZED PLATOON [300]
10 Infantry, 5 Chimera, Commissar
MECHANIZED PLATOON [300]
10 Infantry, 5 Chimera, Commissar
THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS [150]
2 Thunderbolts
THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS [150]
2 Thunderbolts

Death Watch (V1.4)
WATCH COMPANY [375]
4 Veteran, 2 Corvus Black Stars, Chaplain
WATCH COMPANY [475]
Chaplain, 4 Vanguard Assault Veteran , 2 Corvus Black Stars
WATCH COMPANY [400]
No Transports, 4 Watch Terminator, Chaplain
THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS [175]
2 Thunderbolt Fighters
THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS [175]
2 Thunderbolt Fighters
STRIKE TEAM - LAND SPEEDERS [300]
5 Landspeeder Typhoon, Chaplain
STRIKE TEAM - LAND SPEEDERS [300]
5 Landspeeder Typhoon, Chaplain
WATCH COMPANY [375]
4 Veteran, 2 Corvus Black Stars, Chaplain
WATCH COMPANY [375]
Chaplain, 4 Veteran, Venerable Dreadnought, Rhinos

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Deployment

 

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Turn 1

Strategy roll: Death Watch

Pre-turn Notes: Deathwatch wins int,

[Death Watch] [THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS 1] - [CAP SET] Notes: "actives and goes on Cap."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 2] - [ADVANCE] Notes: "actives and moves up to target Landspeeder Typhoon 1, Landspeeder Typhoon 1 actives their over watch missing completely, but gives a BM, SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 2 get hits, but Land speeder make saves, but receives 3BM."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS 1] - [CAP SET] Notes: "actives and goes on Cap."

[Death Watch] [WATCH COMPANY(Veteran)4] - [DOUBLE] Notes: "actives and double move to get into position for turn 2, if they can weather the storm."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 3] - [SUSTAIN] Notes: "actives and does sustain fire at WATCH COMPANY(Veteran)4, hits but makes save."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [RETAIN] [MECHANIZED PLATOON1] - [DOUBLE] Notes: "actives and double moves to block and shoot at WATCH COMPANY(Veteran)4, but missing their target completely. THE EMPEROR PROTECTS."

[Death Watch] [WATCH COMPANY(Veteran) 5] - [OVERWATCH SET]Notes: "actives and goes on over watch."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 1(BTS)] - [OVERWATCH SET] !Sup Cmd Reroll! Notes: "actives and goes on over watch, after using SUP CMD reroll. which he needed to do."

[Death Watch] [WATCH COMPANY(Veteran) 2] - [MARCH] Notes: "actives and march moves setting up for an engagement."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [MECHANIZED PLATOON 2] - [DOUBLE] Notes: "actives and double move to target WATCH COMPANY(Veteran) 2, hits but Black star make their saves."

[Death Watch] [WATCH COMPANY(Vanguard Assault Veteran)1] - [DOUBLE] Notes: "actives and double moves setting up for next turn."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS 2] - [GROUND ATTACK]Notes: "actives and targets WATCH COMPANY(Veteran) 4 with an ground attack marine shouts INCOMING!!, shots were fired but the marines make their saves."

[Death Watch] [THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS 2] - [GROUND ATTACK] Notes: "actives and does an ground attack at SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 1, AA from four Hyades, six hits thunderbolt are blasted out of the sky."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [SALAMANDER SCOUT PLATOON1] - [OVERWATCH SET] Notes: "stays on over watch."

[Death Watch] [Landspeeder Typhoon 2] - [OVERWATCH SET] Notes: "stays on over watch."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [SALAMANDER SCOUT PLATOON 2] - [OVERWATCH SET] Notes: "stay on over watch."

Post-Turn Notes:

Legion AC: fly off without any trouble,

DW rally time: WATCH COMPANY(Veteran) 4 removes all BMs, WATCH COMPANY(Veteran)2 removes all BMs, Landspeeder Typhoon 1 removes all BM’s.

LEGION rally: SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 2 removes BMs.

END OF TURN SHOT

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Turn 2

Strategy roll: Death Watch

Pre-turn Notes: WATCH COMPANY(Watch Terminator) come on the table rolling an 1 for teleport so gets an BM. Death Watch wins Int.

[Death Watch] [Landspeeder Typhoon1] - [SUSTAIN] Notes: "actives and sustain fire at SALAMANDER SCOUT PLATOON 2, Landspeeder Typhoon1 kills two scouts and stopping the over watch from scout, which is needed.So they flee."

[Death Watch] [RETAIN] [WATCH COMPANY(Vanguard Assault Veteran)1] - [ENGAGE] Notes: "actives and does engagement against MECHANIZED PLATOON1 and calls intermingled and drags in the SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 2, WATCH COMPANY(Vanguard Assault Veteran)1 kills 6 stand, legion kills a stand, roll off DW wins 14 - 10."Both the MECHANIZED PLATOON1 and SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 2 flee..

[Minervan Tank Legion] [SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 3] - [ADVANCE] Notes: "actives and turns around to target WATCH COMPANY(Watch Terminator) 3, getting 16 enough hits, enough to kills the Terminator squad because of failed saves..

[Minervan Tank Legion] [RETAIN] [SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 1(BTS)] - [DOUBLE] Notes: "actives and doubles moves to target DWWC1 (BST), Baneblades killing the blackstars, and dealing 3BM’s."

[Death Watch] [WATCH COMPANY(Veteran)2] - [ENGAGE] Notes: "actives and does an engagement against broken MECHANIZED PLATOON1 and and calls intermingled and drags in the SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 1(BTS), DW kills two stand, Legion kills three stand, roll off Legion 11 - 10.WATCH COMPANY(Veteran)2 flees back.."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [SALAMANDER SCOUT PLATOON1] - [ADVANCE] Notes: "actives and move up to target WATCH COMPANY(Veteran) 4, missing but gives it a BM"

[Minervan Tank Legion] [RETAIN] [THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS 2] - [GROUND ATTACK] Notes: "actives and does an ground attack against WATCH COMPANY(Vanguard Assault Veteran) BST 1, But DW THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS 1 does it Cap, killing 1 AC. so the legion THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS continuers their ground attack, killing a stand, breaking the BST. so it flees back.."

[Death Watch] [WATCH COMPANY(Veteran)  4] - [SUSTAIN] Notes: "actives and does sustain fire at Scout 1, missing completely, giving it a BM."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [THUNDERBOLT FIGHTERS1] - [GROUND ATTACK] Notes: "actives and does an ground attack, against broken WATCH COMPANY(Vanguard Assault Veteran) 1 BST, killing out right."

[Death Watch] [WATCH COMPANY(Veteran)5] - [OVERWATCH SET] Notes: "stay on over watch."

[Minervan Tank Legion] [MECHANIZED PLATOON2] - [ADVANCE] Notes: "actives and double moves to dined they shall not pass and gain objective 4, over watch is set off from Landspeeder Typhoon 2 dealing an BM, and target broken WATCH COMPANY(Veteran)2 and killing the squad out right. "

Post-Turn Notes:

DW AC:fly off without trouble.

Legion AC: will fly off without an trouble.

DW rally time: WATCH COMPANY(Veteran) 4 removes BM’s.

Legion rally time: SALAMANDER SCOUT PLATOON 2 fails to rally,MECHANIZED PLATOON1 rallies, SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY 2 rallies, SALAMANDER SCOUT PLATOON1 removes BM, MECHANIZED PLATOON 1 fails to remove.

Final Notes: unlucky for key battles needed to win. Death Watch surrender due to losing to many formations.

Victory Condition	Minervan Tank Legion	Death Watch
1. Blitz	YES	no
2. Break their sprit	YES	NO
3. Defend the Flag	YES	no
4. Take and Hold	YES	no
5. They Shall not Pass	YES	no

END OF TURN SHOT

 

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Summary

So I will add the thoughts from Britt and view of the game…

Another Epic epic battle today with the Imperial Inquisition Death Watch Forces commanded by Trent vs the Imperial Guard Minervan Tank Legion that I played. Trent also wrote up the battle report while Greg photographed the show, GM’d the game, and found obscure rules.

Having faced Death Watch before, I knew the first two turns would be decisive. Trent didn’t disappoint, as a full blooded assault was launched at my Blitz (home base), and attacks all along the line. No hope of moving onto his side of the board or capturing areas, it was all I could do to hold on. Some great fights, and when it was over I had three routed units to his one. My shots seemed to seldom hit and what few did get through were saved. Looking bad for the IG.

Still, we were able to destroy some units turn two, and the Death Watch number of activations plummeted. We had enough units to start pushing toward his side of the board, and the DW attack on my Blitz was frustrated by Scout tanks. By the end of turn two the tide had swung toward the IG, even though Trent had done everything that could be done. Losses had hurt the DW more than the IG.

Trent conceded at this point. It was a fun game, and there were laughs aplenty...and consternation as well. . IMHO the Death Watch is a very good Army, but like the Eldar, difficult to play. Full blooded first turn attacks are a must, even risky ones. Orbital drop seems the best way to go. The DW army can really dish it out, especially hand-to-hand, but are not so good at taking it. Just too few boots on the ground, so that any losses quickly become critical.

Looking forward to facing them again next week. (It’s fun to be terrified!).

Cheers,

Britt

So yeah, I agree with Britt on the how the Deathwatch plays, but will add the following on Blackstars..

skimmering Death Watch around in black stars…does have its ups and downs, If using corner deployment not total sure I would say it worth it….if deploying normal, then they can redeploy quickly  and you are not too worried by terrain…The times that we used normal deployment, I would have allow the opponent to go first(depending on want I’m facing..), if I was the Death Watch…Since if the opponent move first, then you have the ability to position your forces, to concentrate on one spot, and hope you get the second turn,to overwhelm …As DW you will be outnumber…

Corner deployment  and planetfall is even more fun…again in the games that we have played, I would have plant fall all the Watch companies in black stars, and aimed to have one Flank overwhelm….and cut down on the amount of FP been throw at the formations…since you really only get one more activation after the spaceship..

The black stars work well and help boost the number count  for Death Watch, since formation sizes are only four strong. The inv save is a help, along with the extra FP…. I wouldn’t take rhino’s or land raiders in the DW List, due to a) extra movement,  b) skimmer,  c) Plant fall,  e) Inv save,  that the Blackstar’s gives…..Over all the unit plays well, but I think its missing something and I’m not sure want, but that thought maybe effected by the way, they die in our games(Pretty bloody quick).

Back to the game for a moment, as we know WATCH COMPANY(Watch Terminator) turned up turn 2 and didn't activate and was shoot to pieces..They should have come in turn 3 ?…Well from my perceptive, I don't think would have made much difference, since the Minervan Tank Legion had more then enough FP to take care of them and the other WATCH COMPANY on that flank, to claim back the their Blitz objective..All because the DW need to make sure that MTL didn't rally any formation it broken, but it manage to rally the SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY and the MECHANIZED PLATOON at the end of turn 2…

The big thing here was the DW player was looking at the other flank and want to break a few units at once, but need to clear the OWF form the scouts,to make sure he had the upper hand..the plan worked and had manage to break three units to value of 1025…The key was the second engagement which he need to win, if he had, then he would have broken the BTS and had a MECHANIZED PLATOON wipe from the board and he would have had formation near by to effect the rally of those formation broken and at least one of the SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANYS would have failed at least…

So why not active them straight off the bat? well yes that may have worked in that, if only received another BM from OWF from the SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY(BTS) and manage to do enough hits to the formation and they failed their saves..and WATCH COMPANY(Watch Terminator) wins combat..still would have left them open to the other SUPER-HEAVY TANK COMPANY shots..But again he still need to have the other engagements win after taking a pile shots and have formation in range to effect the Rally of the MTL formation broken, to make sure their chances of rally were harder.. Just my 2 cents worth..

Going to have few games against Elder next…

Regards

Greg