Tyranids attack, 26 Nov

 

Greg, Dean, Trent, & I had a great game of Epic Armageddon last night. Trent (with Greg assisting) fielded a Tyranid Army from EA UK, which is much more in keeping with the background than the other lists. Lots of hurty-bitey things! Dean & I commanded the Ironclaw Marines, with more infantry & Warhounds but fewer Predators than usual.

While a Predator unit got gobbled by the Tyranids, and there were lots of half-eaten Marines scattered about, the game went to the Ironclaws. BUT, had those tunneler/teleported Lictors gotten first strike in the Marines rear area, it could have been a sad ending indeed for the SM's.

An interesting, fast moving, and very rollercoaster ( I have never seen so many double 1's rolled in a game)battle. Good game , good laughs with good friends. It doesn't get better than that!

Battle forces

The Ironclaw Space Marines Task Force

5 x Warhound Titans,

2 x Predator Annihilator platoons

4 x Tactical Marine platoons.(two with chaplain)

2 x Whirlwind units

1 x scout unit

Tyranids (110929) UK ARMY LIST
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BIG ASSAULT SWARM [500]
4 Tyranid Warrior, 8 Termagant, 8 Hormaguant, 3 Carnifex
NORMAL ASSAULT SWARM [405]
2 Tyranid Warrior, 8 Termagant, 2 Carnifex, 3 Raveners
DOMINATRIX SWARM [1000]
1 Dominatrix, 4 Hierodule
NEST SWARM [605]
8 Termagant, 2 Hormaguant, 4 Biovore, 4 Dactylis
BIG BRUTE SWARM [500]
2 Hive Tyrants, 2 Carnifex, 6 Exocrines
HARASSMENT SWARN [265]
1 Harridan and 0-4 Gargoyles, 2 Gargoyles
LICTOR SWARM [350]
7 Lictor
SUBTERRANEAN SWARM [370]
1 Trygon and 2 Raveners, 4 Ravener

Deployment

 

Turn one

The iron claws win the initiative and have the Tyranids go first. The Tyranids roll to active the HARASSMENT SWARN and roll a one, so a blast marker is place and the unit moves up to the rock formation to gain cover, but out of range of the artillery. The iron claws move their scouts out to take hold of another objective marker. Then pass the turn back to the Tyranids which moved its BIG BRUTE SWARM up to try and engaged the scouts and was out of range. The Iron Claws the fired a whirlwind unit at the HARASSMENT SWARN and manage to put a blast maker on it for the dice rolling did, ok so it kill just about all the Gargoyles. So they pass the turn back to the Tyranids and they attempted to move the NORMAL ASSAULT SWARM and rolled a one, so it sat in the woods on the left side of the deployment zone. The Iron claws double move up their first titian and shoot the BIG BRUTE SWARM , managing to kill one of the Exocrines. So they pass the turn back to the Tyranids and they move the BIG ASSAULT SWARM up to the building that contain the objective marker. The turn was passed back to the Iron Claws, they move up a tactical  unit into the rock formation, and so past the turn back to the tyranids and they activate the NEST SWARM and it rain death on the tactical unit that just moved into the rock formation, to Kill two rhinos. So again it was passed back to the Marines and they moved up another tactical unit and deployed the marines and then shot at the BIG ASSAULT SWARM kill bugs for no result. Then the Tyranids try and move their last unit the DOMINATRIX SWARM and they roll a one and so they use the supreme commander roll and get enough to pass.So they move up and shot, the tactical unit on the road for no result. This left the Iron claws with free ran on the rest of the turn. So on the right flank, they double move the warhound squad up and shoot the BIG BRUTE SWARM, kill move of the creatures and then predator unit double moved up and fired into the BIG BRUTE SWARM, this was enough to break the unit and so it double moved back to the forest flank. The last whirlwind unit fired at the BIG ASSAULT SWARM killing more of the low creatures. Then a tactical unit double moved up and parked behind a rock out crop to gain cover and a blocked los. The Iron claws then double moved the other warhound unit up and fired into the BIG ASSAULT SWARM again kill lots, but have nothing to show for it. Then the iron claws double move a tactical unit up into the rock formation and shot the BIG ASSAULT SWARM. The last unit of Predators was moved to behind the rock formation. So at end of turn the Tyranids didn’t rally the unit that was broken. The marines didn’t remove blast markers off a titian unit, tactical unit. The Tyranids fair little better with the HARASSMENT SWARN, BIG ASSAULT SWARM failing to remove blast markers.

 

Turn two

Before the initiative is rolled the Tyranids teleport in the LICTOR SWARM and SUBTERRANEAN SWARM. The SUBTERRANEAN SWARM in the rock formation on the right flank, about a normal move from the marines. The LICTOR SWARM was placed in the forest behind the whirlwind unit and tactical unit.

The dice for the initiative was rolled the Iron claws getting a one and so the Tyranids needed to get a 5 or 6 and they would go first, no joy they roll a one. So Iron claws first, so they fire fight on the left flank against the SUBTERRANEAN SWARM and the dice were rolled. The marines won the first run and the second wiping the unit off the board, for the lost of two rhinos. So the iron claw go for a second initiative and they make the roll and so fire fight the lictors and the Tyranids commander states the two units are intermingled and so both the marine units have to fight. In the end the Lictors do no wounds and killed to a creature. So not a good start to the turn for the Tyranids. So the Tyranids do a marshalling move on the HARASSMENT SWARN and manage to remove all but one blast marker. So the turns back to the iron claws, who double move the warhound unit up on the right flank to shoot at the broken BIG BRUTE SWARM and manage to do no hits at all. The turn passes back to the Tyranids and so they activate the NEST SWARM  and they fire at the warhound unit, using indirect fire, taking a shield down. So the marines fire the whirlwind unit at the BIG ASSAULT SWARM and kill more creatures and the results are starting to be felt buy the unit. The tyranids pass the initiative, by doing a marshal move on the BIG ASSAULT SWARM and move it closer to the building. The marines use the tactical unit on the road to shoot the BIG ASSAULT SWARM, kill more of the unit and adding blast markers. The Tyranids try and active the DOMINATRIX SWARM and they roll a one and so they use the supreme commander roll and so roll again and get a one.So they shot, the tactical unit on the road and kill two space marine stands. The marines need 4+ to save and they roll two one’s(there a pattern happening here). So the marines move the predator unit on the right flank and shoot the broken BIG BRUTE SWARM, killing it to a creature. The maries pass the turn back to the Tyranids, who active the NORMAL ASSAULT SWARM and assault the predator unit, which is given support from the warhounds. The only sound heard was the tearing of metal as they cut open with ease. The combat was won by the NORMAL ASSAULT SWARM and the titian had to retreat back 30cms and received a blast marker. Then the marines moved their tactical unit behind the rock out crop to the front and did a fire fight with the NORMAL ASSAULT SWARM, wiping the swarm off the board. So at this point the Marine have free move again since they have more units. So they move to a Titian unit, which had blast markers and so rolled a one. The unit shot the BIG ASSAULT SWARM kill and adding blast markers. They the move to the tactical unit on the road and they rolled a one again. So the unit shot the BIG ASSAULT SWARM and adding more blast markers, but not enough to break it. So marine moved to the tactical unit in the rock formation and fired at the BIG ASSAULT SWARM and it enough to break the unit and make it flee. So the Predator unit was move up so that it could shoot at the DOMINATRIX SWARM, putting a blast marker on it. At this point gave the game to the marines they were 3-0.

Fun game, the tyranids list was done by my second youngest and I think he has learned to add more activations to the list he is using, but for his first try at building a list, he did O.K.. The dice rolls didn’t help him, but that’s part of the game. Turn two could have been different if he had mange to win the initiative. OH well maybe next time :-).

May the dice roll high for you.

Regards

Greg

Epic Armageddon, Squats vs Ironclaw Marines, 15 Oct

This, my friends, is what real wargaming is all about: Nicely painted miniatures, pleasant looking terrain on the table, excellent rules, and friendly players. That pretty much sums up last nights Epic Armageddon game.  This was a very enjoyable evening with lots of laughs, decisive actions, miserable luck, and heroic fights that will be long remembered. (Actually, I might want to forget that part where my Tac Marines were chased out of town by some mole mortars).

   Greg & Dean ably commanded the Squats while Trent & I led the heroic Space Marines. While we ran out of time to complete the game, and thus counted it as a draw, both sides had their moments of glory and tragedy. The Squat War Engines, which were numerous, proved the biggest problem for the Marines. Very hard to take out. We soon adopted the strategy of “hit ‘em where they ain’t”, picking off the lighter stuff and going for objectives over body count. While no more successful than the Squat strategy, it gave us a viable mission. Just shooting at the monster Squat War Engines certainly wasn’t going to get us anywhere. Had the game went longer, a huge force of Squat Tunnelers would have erupted in front of one of the objectives giving the already overstretched Ironclaw Marines a hard time indeed.

   One of the last actions proved the most interesting. Marine Terminators had jumped near the Squat Mega cannon, hoping to take them out. However, we lost the initiative that round, so a very large mass of Squat infantry with the head honcho Squat moved first, and screened the cannon. Two Warhound Titans entered the fray and the Terminators attacked with Titan support. A long & involved 2 round battle followed that saw the Terminators & 1 Warhound dead and the other routed.

Battle forces

The Ironclaw Space Marines Task Force

4 x Warhound Titans,

4 x Predator Annihilator platoons

3 x Tactical Marine platoons.(ONE WITH COMMANDER)

1 x Whirlwind units

2 x scout unit

1 x Terminator unit.

 

Squats force

IRON BREAKERS [700] WARLORD unit, 12 Warrior units AND 4 Gorgon

IRON EAGLE [275] 4 Iron Eagle Gyrocopters

GOLIATH MEGA-CANNON [300] 2 Goliath Mega-Canons

COLOSSUS [450]

LEVIATHAN [350]

THUNDER BATTERY [500] 10 Thunders and 5 Spartans

GRAND BATTERY [300] 9 Mole Mortar units

THUNDERFIRE BATERY 2 Thunder Fire Guns

BERZERKER BROTHERHOOD 12 Berserkers in 6 Termites.

Deployment

The deployment was pretty standard and both side deployed their units evenly across the battle line. The first picture gives lay out of table

 

 

Turn one

The Iron claws won the initiative and marched a tactical unit up the left flank and that was end of their first activation. So the squats rolled to fire the Mega cannons and manage hit the whirl wind and tactical unit. The whirlwind unit suffered a hit and mange to make their arm save and the tactical suffered no hits, both units received blast markers. So the Squats retain the initiative and get’s a unit of robots to shoot the scout unit that’s in front of them, causing a hit which the scout fail to save and so receive two blast markers. The Iron claws then send another tactical unit on a march move and put on the other side of the forest that was on the left flank and in view of the town(near the mole mortars). The squats then open on the tactical unit, that’s in front of the Gyrocopters and manage to kill three figures all up. So the Squats retain the initiative and move the IRON BREAKERS unit so that its just out of town and deployed the infantry. The iron claws double move their warhound unit on the right flank and then fire at the IRON BREAKERS unit, killing a couple of units. Squats active their bike squad and move it over towards the object in the middle of the table roughly and so the squats try to active the THUNDERFIRE BATERY and rolled a 1, so nothing happens and the initiative is past back to the Iron claws, which send in the scout unit against the bikes and so two rounds of combat happen with the scouts begin victorious, but are left with two rhinos and a scout stand. The squats have initiative and a so shoot up the scout unit that just won combat before had, killing a rhino and routing it. The Squats retain the initiative and double move the LEVIATHAN so that it was facing the Tactical unit out front of the town(near the mole mortars) and fire all of it weapons at it, killed units and add blast markers, but didn’t break the unit. The Iron claws then moved a predator unit up and shot at the LEVIATHAN, after the smoke cleared all was to was a blast maker and few scratch's on the beast.So squats turn and they moved the THUNDER BATTERY up and poured fire and death into the predator unit, only to kill one and that was it. The Iron claws then moved another predator unit up and shot at the THUNDER BATTERY and after the smoke settled. They had manage to only place a blast marker and that was it. The iron claws on the right flank move a predator unit up and fire for little effected. The squats then move their COLOSSUS and fired at the predator unit and giving it another blast marker. The iron claws move their other warhound unit and blasted the THUNDER BATTERY and manage to kill three Spartans. Not enough to break the unit. The iron claws moved the rest of their unit into position, for the started of turn 2. The end phase both side removed blast markers and the routed scout unit didn’t rally for the iron claws.

Turn two

 The Iron claws deployment their Terminator on the right flank near the Goliath Mega-Canons, in the hope they would get the initiative, they don’t and roll a 1, so the initiative goes to the squats. The squats double move their IRON BREAKERS so that they are in between the Terminator and the Goliath Mega-Canons and then shoot and they manage to kill one stand and add two blast markers all up. So the Squats retain the initiative and Goliath Mega-Canons are the unit they want to active and they roll a 1 and so they use the supreme commander ability and re-roll the dice and only to get a 1 again, the Goliath Mega-Canons shoot directly at a unit that’s with in 120cm and line of sight. They hit the tactical unit that’s near the town and manage to kill some stands and add blast markers. So the iron claw sends a tactical unit into assault the mole mortars and after much dice rolling, fails and is routed by the mole mortars. The squats then open fire on other tactical unit with the Iron Eagle Gyrocopters and manage to get a few hits, the unit failed it’s saves and was broken and fled back to their starting point. Then Iron claws turn the heat up on the THUNDER BATTERY by using their warhound squad and killed six stand, enough to break the unit and make it run behind the hill. The squats use their COLOSSUS and fired at the warhound unit managing to take shields down and kill one warhound and wound the other, this broke the warhound unit and it went fleeing back to their base line. So the Squats retain the initiative and THUNDERFIRE BATERY fires are the Blue predator unit, getting three hits and the unit failed all saves and was wiped out. The iron claws move a tactical unit on the right flank and fire fight the robots unit that’s holding the objective there, after the smoke clears there is only the Tactical unit left, it wipe the robots off the board. So the squats through the last unit of robots out on a double movement to get into range of the routed war hounds and they did, fire and only manage to do one hit, not enough to destroy the unit. The iron claws double move their other warhound unit, into 6cm range of the IRON BREAKERS fires its guns and when the smoke cleared the squat were still standing, they all made their saves. The squats triple move the LEVIATHAN so that it was in 15cm range of the objective marker.So the iron claws had the rest of the turn to them self’s, so they move the red predator unit in the centre of the board to the objective on their right to claim it. The other red predator unit move back to the objective behind them, so they could claim it(Blitzer). Then move the blue predator unit to the objective were the LEVIATHAN was so that it was contested. Then they did a close combat with the Terminator unit on the IRON BREAKER unit, which bought in the Goliath Mega-Canons and it also bought the warhound unit in. It took two rounds of combat and buy the end the Iron claws had lost a Terminator unit and war hound, with a warhound routing. The IRON BREAKER also broke and fled. This end the game and it was called a draw, but another turn thing could have been different.

I will echo the same comment that was at the start of the AAR, which was written by Britt . This was a very enjoyable evening with lots of laughs, decisive actions, miserable luck, and heroic fights that will be long remembered.

Any ways may the dice roll high for you.

Regards

Greg