Chapter Approved: November 2022

Tuesday, November 29, 2022

Battle Report: LGS Escalation League - WAAAAAGH! at the Farm

Another first time match-up, this time with the iconic foes of the Space Marines (well the foes on the cover of Rogue Trader, and props to you if you get the RT farm reference in the title)... the Orks. WAAAAAGH!

Battle Report:

Ruleset: 2022 War Zone Nephilim Grand Tournament - Strike Force (w/ Q4 Balance Datasheet)
Mission: 3 2 Death and Zeal (modified to 48 x 48 size)
Points: 1250

Matt's Goff Warband:

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP 1,250pts ++
**Clan Kultur**: Goffs
Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [6CP]
Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

+ HQ +

Big Mek w/ Shokk Attack Gun
Bozzbones Bigun - Warboss: Might is Right, Da Killa Klaw, Kombi-rokkit, Power Klaw, Stratagem: Relic [-1CP], Stratagem: Warlord Trait [-1CP], Warlord

+ Troops +

Boyz - 10 Orks: 9x Shoota, 9x Stikkbombs, Big Shoota, Choppa, Slugga
Boyz - 10 Orks: 10x Choppa, 10x Slugga, 10x Stikkbombs, Big Choppa, Slugga
Boyz - 10 Orks: 10x Choppa, 10x Slugga, 10x Stikkbombs, Big Choppa, Slugga
Gretchin - 10 Gretchins: 10x Grot Blaster

+ Elites +

Burna Boyz - 5 Orks: 4x Burna, 4x Stikkbombs, Kustom Mega-Blasta
Kommandos - 10 Orks (with attendant Squig and Gretchin): Bomb Squig, Distraction Grot, 5x Choppa, 5x Slugga, 5x Stikkbombs, Power Klaw, Breacha Ram, Burna, Kustom Shoota, Rokkit Launcha
Painboy

+ Fast Attack +

Stormboyz - 10 Orks: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga, 9x Stikkbombs, Power Klaw

+ Heavy Support +

Deff Dreads: 4x Dread Klaw
Killa Kans - 3x Kans: 3x Kan Klaw, Big Shoota, Grotzooka, Rokkit Launcha

+ Dedicated Transport +

Truck: Wreckin' Ball

+ No Force Org Slot +

Runtherd: Grabba Stikk, Squig Hound

My Forces:

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP 1,250pts ++
**Chapter Selector**: Ultramarines
Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [6CP]
Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: War Zone Nephilim

+ HQ +

Primus Leo Exevio Faustus - Chapter Master in Terminator Armour: Adept of the Codex, Chapter Command: Chapter Master, Power sword, Storm bolter, Stratagem: Exemplar of the Chapter [-1CP], Stratagem: Relic [-1CP], Stratagem: Warlord Trait [-1CP], The Burning Blade, The Imperium's Sword, Warlord
Lt Commander Psigoras - Lieutenant: Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Plasma pistol, Power sword

+ Troops +

Vitus - 5 man Tactical Squad - Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Heavy Bolter, Bolters
Nero - 5 man Tactical Squad - Plasma pistol, Power sword, Heavy Bolter, Bolters
Kaiel - 5 man Tactical Squad - Astartes Chainsword, Plasma pistol, Meltagun, Bolters

+ Elites +

Chief Apothecary Hulm Singa - Apothecary: Acquittal, Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Chapter Command: Chief Apothecary, Frag & Krak grenades, Selfless Healer, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter [-1CP], Stratagem: Relic [-1CP]
"Eddy" - Relic Contemptor Dreadnought [-1CP]: Dreadnought melee weapon w/ Storm bolter, Twin Volkite Culverin
Nox - 5 man Terminator Assault Squad - Teleport Homer, Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield, 4x Lightning Claw (Pair)
Tourbillion - 5 man Terminator Squad - Power sword, Storm bolter, Assault cannon, Chainfist 3x, Power fist

+ Fast Attack +

"One Charlie" - Land Speeder Tornado: Heavy flamer, Multi-melta

Secondaries: Oaths of Moment, We March for Macragge, and Shock Tactics

Takeaways & Analysis:

Wow there were a lot of models on the table. Matt won the roll-off to go first and immediately Kommandos and Stormboyz were charging in as the WAAAAAGH was called turn one.

Squad Nero on the far right flank got pulverized before getting to fight back and I thought for sure I was going to be steamrolled by the Green Tide.

*Xenos Sighted!*

KRUMPED!

But not all was lost for the Imperium... I think a little bit to both our surprise, the Terminators proved to be quite durable. Time and time again they withstood the tide enough for Chief Apothecary Singa to heal them back up. Not only had I not faced off vs Orks before, but Matt also had never encountered terminators, so we both learned a lot.

Here we go....

OI DOSE 'UMIEZ IZ TUFF

GOFF ROKKAZ!

Also, I was quite lucky - very lucky actually with hot dice. The exemplary performance was from Sergeant Nox - the lone Assault Terminator equipped with a storm shield. When Ol' Warboss BozzBones Bigun himself charged in and dealt 9 wounds at 3 damage each, Nox stood at the fore to shield the squad. Our wonderful Escalation League facilitator/rulesmeister Quinn was on hand to witness (and guide us on the proper way to roll the saves - one at a time) - Nox withstood all nine hits! This allowed his lightening claw equipped squad to swing back with full force and bring the Warboss low. I had similar luck the rest of the evening:

...such as the fight with the giant dreadnought.

*heavy metal noises*

...or the key win vs the Kans on the other flank - "Eddy" took on 3 Kans and came out ahead with one wound remaining.

Three Kans One Poof

...and the speeder "One Charlie" running over the last Kommando with a last ditch charge after a poorly aimed melta and less than ideal flamer blast. Yeah, lots of things going my way.

*This is One Charlie, we've hit a Speederbump over here...* *GROAN*

Finally, Combat attrition is also a surprising thing to see when you're used to armies that are fearless. Anyway, I think things could have gone south pretty quick if I hadn't been quite as lucky - even if the death-ball of Terminators couldn't be easily dealt with - the tactical squads on the flanking objectives on my side of the battlefield just barely hung on. Maybe the GOFF ROKKAZ performing for the big bad Warboss needed to turn up the noise a bit more? But, Orks are a ton of fun - wacky models that are so random - exceptional paint job on Matt's horde - really great black and white checkering, cant wait for the next game against the iconic greenskins!

Hi!

*Hello!*

LETS BE FRIENDS :)

so why iz it we always 'ave ta wait 'n 'da trukk?

++++++

HIGHLY CLASSIFIED

++++++

Decontamination Protocol Ultima 327

Date: 2903022.M42

REF: 494X-U9H03-37102/6

The aftermath of the plague bombing of Iax in subsector Ultramar has diverted significant resources towards decontamination of the surrounding systems. Expect significant XENOS activity.

Of immediate concern is Agro World U9H. U9H does not appear on any Imperial Records but contributed significantly to the output of Iax. ORK warbands have been detected in the area and the Warboss BOZZBONES BIGUN may have amassed enough influence to launch an invasion force. INTERDICT and NEUTRALIZE!

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

THOUGHT: Honor your Chapter. (RT84)

++++Transmission End++++

Wednesday, November 23, 2022

Battle Report: LGS Escalation League - Mirror Match!

Surprisingly this was my first match against other space marines. I guess there was probably a time long ago when this was more common, but now that xenos and chaos are strong and popular and everyone (else) has multiple factions, I think maybe this is now less so.

It was really great playing against Cooper and his custom Ashen Knights chapter. They have a cool winter theme and I'm looking forward to our next game.

Battle Report:

Ruleset: 2022 War Zone Nephilim Grand Tournament - Incursion (w/ Q4 Balance Datasheet)
Mission: 2 3 Surge of Faith (modified to 48 x 44 size)
Points: 1250

My Forces:

+ HQ +

Primus Leo Exevio Faustus - Chapter Master in Terminator Armour: Chapter Command: Chapter Master, Paragon of War, Power sword, Storm bolter, Stratagem: Exemplar of the Chapter [-1CP], Stratagem: Relic of the Chapter [-1CP], Stratagem: Warlord Trait [-1CP], The Burning Blade, The Imperium's Sword, Warlord
Epistolary Prior Isaac Theodesius - Librarian in Terminator Armour: 1) Veil of Time, 2) Might of Heroes, 3) Null Zone (Aura), Chapter Command: Chief Librarian, Force axe, Smite, Storm bolter

+ Troops +

Vitus - 5 man Tactical Squad - Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Meltagun, Bolters
Nero - 5 man Tactical Squad - Plasma pistol, Power sword, Meltagun, Bolters
Kaiel - 5 man Tactical Squad - Astartes Chainsword, Plasma pistol, Plasma gun, Bolters

+ Elites +

Chief Apothecary Hulm Singa - Apothecary: Acquittal, Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Chapter Command: Chief Apothecary, Frag & Krak grenades, Selfless Healer, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter [-1CP], Stratagem: Relic [-1CP]
Nox - 5 man Terminator Assault Squad - Teleport Homer, 3x Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield, 2x Lightning Claw (Pair)
Tourbillion - 5 man Terminator Squad - Power sword, Storm bolter, Assault cannon, Chainfist 3x, Power fist

+ Fast Attack +

Land Speeder Tornado: Heavy flamer, Multi-melta
Land Speeder Tornado: Heavy flamer, Multi-melta

Secondaries: Oaths of Moment, We March for Macragge, and Warp Ritual

Cooper's Space Marines: Ashen Knights

Chapter Selector: Ashen Knights (Imperial Fists successor chapter)

+ HQ +

Captain Cadreagal Marock - Captain: Master-crafted boltgun, Relic blade, The Armour Indomitus, Warlord
Malgard - Primaris Techmarine

+ Troops +

Infiltrator Squad: 5x Bolt pistol, 5x Frag & Krak grenades, 5x Marksman bolt carbine
Intercessor Squad: 5x Auto Bolt Rifle, 5x Bolt pistol, 5x Frag & Krak grenades
Heavy Intercessor Squad: 3x Hellstorm bolt rifle, Hellstorm heavy bolter, 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades

+ Elites +

Bladeguard Veteran Squad: 3x Frag & Krak grenades, 3x Heavy Bolt Pistol, 3x Master-crafted power sword, 3x Storm Shield
Company Veterans 3xLightning Claw, 3x Storm shield
Venerable Kathrial - Ironclad Dreadnought: 2x Hunter-killer missile, Meltagun, Seismic hammer, Dreadnought combat weapon w/Storm Bolter
Redemptor Dreadnought: 2x Storm Bolters, Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon

+ Fast Attack +

Suppressor Squad: 3x Accelerator autocannon, 3x Bolt pistol, 3x Frag & Krak grenades

+ Heavy Support +

Firestrike Servo-Turret: Twin accelerator autocannon

Secondaries: Assassination, Grind Them Down, and Engage On All Fronts

Takeaways & Analysis:

This was a very close game. By mistake we used the incursion mission rather than the strike force mission. We also didn't read the bonus objective rules right and so we ended up just awarding points for the objective instead of making it an action. It seemed to work out though.

From the beginning I was much happier with my individual play. I kept to largely the same units as the prior games and so I was doing better remembering to use apothecary and librarian abilities. Also for the most part I'm getting better at remembering weapon profiles and armor saves and didn't get mentally tired until the last turn.

Additionally I was more confident about line of sight rules, and we picked terrain that was mostly closed, so we didn't deal with cover and keywords this game. That helped to simplify things a bit.

Cooper's forward Infiltrator squad was quite exposed but took a bit more damage than we would have expected. He then dropped an orbital bombardment on my cluster of terminators. At the same time, however, his dreadnought had rounded the corner just enough for me to get the whole death-ball of infantry to charge and thus get out of the blast area. I liked the idea though, and thinking back, I would have liked to drop a bombardment behind his dreadnought to cut off his bladeguards (who turned out to do a lot more damage than I would have expected).

*This is LSV-01, we're gonna need a tow, over*

I sacrificed my speeders to do enough damage to clear both of his dreadnoughts which allowed my librarian to score all of the warp ritual points. When his melee units arrived and started swinging the momentum the other way I was saved by the bell (last turn) and managed to get just a few points ahead from secondaries. I realized that if I had pushed forward a bit with my tactical squad in the west, I might have prevented him from securing the objective on the 5th turn. In the end the game could have gone either way, but the points from Oaths of Moment to take out the 2 dreadnoughts and the techmarine gave me the win 73-71.

Surprisingly, no vehicles exploded - just a bit of a smolder

Dreadnought goes *POOF*

*Look over your shoulder!*

Near the end of the giant melee - Captian Marock (center) and Chief Librarian Theodesius (bottom Right) were the only two left standing in the foreground

====================================================

++ Decode Pict Feed 8494ABG CONFIRM ++

++ Transcription (CHECK VALUE a90c5fe) ++

Primus Faustus: *Illegible*

Cheif Apothecary Singa: Hold still or you'll reopen the wound.

Marock: You were right to order the attack, I would have done the same.

Faustus: *Coughing* The corruption to the Iax system was stopped just so. Even now that the Death Guard are in retreat, the virus bomb's effects persist, and it is strange to me that your men seem unaffected.

Epistolary Theodesius: Sir, it was confirmed. The psychic rift was indeed sealed and there was no psychic anomalies manifested in the Ashen Knights...

Faustus: ...and that your chapter had been observed with the Cults of Decay prisoners in custody.

Marock: ...Being interrogated and analyzed for pathogenic immunity prior to judgement. But what stayed your hand? Despite Epistolary Thoedesius' conclusion, you would have been in the right to destroy us outright.

Faustus: *getting up*

Singa: Careful with that side..

Faustus: Perhaps I should ask you the same *looks down at his wound*.. *To Theodesius* transmit coordinates to the teleportarium. *Looking back at Marock* We will remain in orbit and transmit to you decontamination procedures.

Marock: We will await your signal *bowing with the sign of the Aquila*

====================================================

++ END TRANSMISSION ++

REF: 9217/00118-53242-A1217BQ04710

THOUGHT: A weapon cannot substitute for zeal (4TH ED 217)

Tuesday, November 22, 2022

Vanguard Veterans (WIP) Update 3

Vanguard Vets are magnetized and primed and painting is in progress!

The base coat priming didn't go on exactly as I'd like. It's such an important step and it seems like there is a lot in the hands of the humidity and temperature gods. I think this time I sprayed when it was too dry and windy and a bit too far away so there is a very minor fuzz in a few patches.

Some of the tricks online are to use glass wine bottles with the miniature tacked to the cap. This provides a heavy, stable base that wont get blown around in the wind and allows you to hold the miniature so you can get a good angle on the underside and also spin to get 360. The video I watched also seemed to have them spray closer than I have been which might help with the spray drying too much before contact.

Tuesday, November 15, 2022

Battle Report: LGS Escalation League - Admech

Last week’s escalation match jumped up to 1250 points and I got a chance to face an army I haven’t played against yet: the Adeptus Mechanicus. In this case it was the Ryza forge world and my opponent Sam was clear that they weren’t traitors, just intent on not letting anyone else get the technology they were after… perhaps something in the binaric cant static they were transmitting got lost in translation?

Battle Report:

Ruleset: 2022 War Zone Nephilim Grand Tournament - Strike Force (w/ Q4 Balance Datasheet)
Mission: 2 1 Abandoned Sanctuaries
Points: 1250

My Forces:

+ HQ +

Primus Leo Exevio Faustus - Chapter Master in Terminator Armour: Adept of the Codex, Chapter Command: Chapter Master, Power sword, Rites of War, Storm bolter, Stratagem: Exemplar of the Chapter [-1CP], Stratagem: Relic [-1CP], Stratagem: Warlord Trait [-1CP], The Burning Blade, Warlord
Lt Commander Psigoras - Lieutenant: Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Plasma pistol, Power sword

+ Troops +

Vitus - 5 man Tactical Squad - Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Meltagun, Bolters
Quinn - 5 man Tactical Squad - Plasma pistol, Power sword, Meltagun, Bolters
Kaiel - 5 man Tactical Squad - Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Flamer, Bolters

+ Elites +

Chief Apothecary Hulm Singa - Apothecary: Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Chapter Command: Chief Apothecary, Frag & Krak grenades, Selfless Healer, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter [-1CP]
Nox - 5 man Terminator Assault Squad - Teleport Homer, 3x Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield, 2x Lightning Claw (Pair)
Tourbillion - 5 man Terminator Squad - Power sword, Storm bolter, Assault cannon, Chainfist 3x, Power fist

+ Fast Attack +

Land Speeder Tornado: Heavy flamer, Multi-melta

+ Heavy Support +

Nero - 10 man Devastator Squad - Plasma pistol, Power sword , 2x Lascannon, Plasma Cannon, Missile launcher

Secondaries: Oaths of Moment, We March for Macragge, and Shock Tactics

Sam's Adeptus Mechanicus: Forge World Ryza

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP (Imperium - Adeptus Mechanicus) ++
Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points)
Forge World Choice: Forge World: Ryza

+ HQ +

Skitarii Marshal: Relic: Exemplar's Eternity, Stratagem: Relic, Stratagem: Warlord Trait, Warlord, Warlord Trait (Codex 2): Battle-Sphere Uplink
Tech-Priest Enginseer
Tech-Priest Manipulus: Magnarail lance

+ Troops +

Kataphron Breachers: 3x Hydraulic Claw, Torsion Cannon
Kataphron Breachers: 3x Hydraulic Claw, Torsion Cannon
Skitarii Rangers: Omnispex, Host of the Intermediary, Warlord Trait (Codex 3): Programmed Retreat, 19x Galvanic Rifle, Plasma Caliver

+ Elites +

Fulgurite Electro-Priests: 10x Electroleech Stave
Sicarian Ruststalkers: Ruststalker Princeps (Razor), . 4x Sicarian Ruststalker (Razor/Chordclaw): 4x Chordclaw, 4x Transonic Razor
Sicarian Ruststalkers: Ruststalker Princeps (Razor), . 4x Sicarian Ruststalker (Razor/Chordclaw): 4x Chordclaw, 4x Transonic Razor

+ Fast Attack +

Ironstrider Ballistarius: Twin Cognis Lascannon

+ Dedicated Transport +

Terrax-Pattern Termite: Terrax heavy Flamers, Termite Drill, Terrax melta cutter

Secondaries: Retrieve Nephilim Data, Behind Enemy Lines, Assassination

Takeaways & Analysis:

Chapter Master Leo called down an orbital bombardment and nuked a few breachers! And squad Nox kept on trucking to the bitter end.

This one was a bit lopsided though, quite a blow-out actually. Sam was able to get a strong first turn advantage and keep me off of all of the objectives all game, and thus lead to a runaway. In cribbage this is called 'getting skunked.' I learned a lot about the terrain keyword Obscure vs Line of Sight rules this game that I don't think I was as clear on as I thought. I think it is because this was a lot shooty-er than some prior games. I mistakenly thought that Obscure would also confer some type of imaginary Line of Sight benefit, but this is not the case, you actually have to select terrain that physically does obstruct/obscure a line of sight between models. Anyway, I would have been a lot more careful about using LOS blocking terrain (I got there first and set up the board so it was completely on me), and then where I would have placed my units.

I also made a lot of mistakes using the Apothecary. I thought I had the rules down but I kept forgetting the wound heal and unit resurrections, and while it wouldn't have ultimately made much of a difference, my opponent was gracious enough to let me retroactively fix mistakes so that I could try to get the hang of my army.

I also completely missed my doctrines after battle round two, and all CP re-rolls. Basically I was forgetting all of my rules this game.

Sam gave good feedback - I needed to be able to get the first charges onto the kataphrons and maybe be a bit more aggressive with the speeder to kill something and trade.