Battle Report: LGS Escalation League - More WAAAAAGH!

Bozzbones Bigun is continuing his WAAAAGH!  Even after being beaten back last time, he's still at it, but this time with more Orks!  We randomly ended up playing the same mission as before, but finally with the new Arks of Omen GT rules.

Battle Report:

Ruleset: 2023 Arks of Omen Grand Tournament - Strike Force (w/ 2023 Q1 Balance Datasheet & Points)
Mission: 3 2 Death and Zeal 
Points: 1500

Matt's Goff Warband:

++ Arks of Omen Detachment 0CP 1,496pts ++
**Clan Kultur**: Goffs
Battle Size [6CP]: 3. Strike Force (101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [6CP]
Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: Arks of Omen Grand Tournament

+ HQ +

• Big Mek w/ Shokk Attack Gun
• Bozzbones Bigun - Warboss: Brutal but Kunnin, Da Killa Klaw, Kombi-rokkit, Power Klaw, Stratagem: Relic [-1CP], Stratagem: Warlord Trait [-1CP], Warlord
• Weirdboy: Warpath, Da Jump

+ 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 - 6 Orks: 5x Choppa, 5x Slugga, 5x Stikkbombs, Power Klaw
• Nobz - 5 Orks: Killsaw, 4x Power Klaw, 5x Slugga
• Painboy

+ Fast Attack +

• Stormboyz - 10 Orks: 9x Choppa, 9x Slugga, 9x Stikkbombs, Power Klaw
• DeffKoptas - 3 Koptas: One with Big Bomb

+ Heavy Support +

• Deff Dreads: 4x Dread Klaw
• Killa Kans - 3x Kans: 3x Kan Klaw, Big Shoota, Grotzooka, Rokkit Launcha
• Lootas - 5 Orks: 4x Deffgun, 4x Stikkbombs, Big Shoota

+ Dedicated Transport +

• Truck: Wreckin' Ball

+ No Force Org Slot +

• Runtherd: Grabba Stikk, Squig Hound

Secondaries: Assassination, Grind them Down, Behind Enemy Lines

My Forces:

++ Battalion Detachment 0CP 1,500pts ++
**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
• Praelior Tarquinius Iulian Regulus - Chaplain in Terminator Armour:  Benediction of Fury [Relic -1 CP], Storm bolter, Canticle of Hate, Litany of Hate, Mantra of Strength, Master of Sanctity, Wise Orator
• Master of the Forge Samus Dexter - Techmarine: Master of the Forge, Bolt pistol, toolbox, drill (counts as Omnissian power axe), Servo-arm

+ Troops +

• Cornelius - 5 man Tactical Squad - Power Fist, Plasma pistol, Bolt 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]
• Venerable Brother "Eddy" - Dreadnought: Dreadnought melee weapon w/ Storm bolter, Plasma Cannon
• Venerable Brother "Fury" - Dreadnought: Dreadnought melee weapon w/ Storm bolter, Twin Lascannon
• Nox - 10 man Terminator Assault Squad - Teleport Homer,  5x Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield, 5x Lightning Claw (Pair)
• Tourbillion - 5 man Terminator Squad - Power sword, Storm bolter, Assault cannon, Chainfist 3x, Power fist

+ Heavy Support +

• Squad Nero - Devastator Squad: Power sword, plasma pistol, 2x Lascannon, Missile Launcher, Plasma Cannon

+ Fast Attack +

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

Secondaries: Oaths of Moment, We March for Macragge, Behind Enemy Lines

Takeaways & Analysis:

This game was a lot closer than our last meeting.  Matt got screened out a lot on his deep strikes but still managed to pop the Deff Dread in to my deployment zone in the very corner.  He was able to score a lot out of the Behind Enemy Lines secondary because I hadn't quite screened it perfectly.  Meanwhile, he kept a lot of his units back in his deployment zone, so while I didn't score at all with Behind Enemy Lines, perhaps the threat did tie up his forces.

Matt also did a good job hitting my squishy Tac and Devastator squads with his melee heavy units this time and avoided the terminators head on.  This allowed me to control the center and score a lot for Oaths.  But the points were very close.

I messed up and didn't make use of the new We March for Macragge rules which now let you score in your own deployment zone too.

The hero of the game was Brother Sergeant Nero - who survived the Kommando assault that took out his Devastator squad - he made a tactical withdrawal to take out the bigger threat - the Deff Dread, who he felled with his power sword, and then he was still fighting as the DeffKoptas loomed.  He will forever be remembered!

+++ Brother Sergeant Nero - break off and destroy priority target Deff Dread! +++

+++ Understood sir +++

*Ennio Morricone music*

Final tally was just a slight victory for the Ultramarines 60-56.

Vanguard Veterans (WIP) Update 8

Starting to look close to done now.  Completed some major milestones:  Got the first of two layers of edge highlights - the Calgar Blue is done and just have to do the Fenrisian Grey - on all of the power armor.  And two, finished all of the non-metalic metal (NMM) gold on pretty much everything.

I don't think I can give a guide for NMM, and there's tons out there that are really good, but I do want to offer words of encouragement.  Dont feel like you have to do the perfect mirror finish, I've opted for a "brushed" or "sandblased" gold that is more reflective than the matte power armor areas, but isn't mirrored either.  The basic idea is that on non reflective surfaces the gradient from shade to highlight might be somewhat linear, while something semi reflective makes this more exponential - slower to stay shaded and then suddenly pops to a bright highlight.  Then when you get to mirror finish you have to worry about reflections and such which adds a lot more complexity, so by skipping those reflections with a brushed look, or simplified NMM seems like a good starting point.

Kinda hard to tell with the lighting but first everything is flat Mornfang Brown

Next we've glazed in mixes of brown and orange all the way to full on orange in the areas towards the light source

And then it all comes together with Vallejo Golden Yellow on the edges and in very small amounts on surfaces, and Vallejo Flat yellow dot highlights and vertices.

Battle Report: 2 vs 2 at the LGS

The other day we had a 2 vs 2 game: Ultramarines and Astra Militarum versus The Grey Knights and Adeptus Mechanicus.  This was the first time playing a 2v2 game and it was interesting to find that there didn't seem to be any official rules for this gameplay mode.  We decided that each team would alternate per battle round, but within the team each player would go through their phases individually.  This ended up being a bit weird, and I think perhaps it should have been to step through the phases with one player completing their phase then the partner completing the phase etc.  Our intention was to find the fastest and most intuitive way to play, but it caused a bit of confusion during the fight phase when you had fights between all 4 players occurring.

The Q1 2023 Balance Dataslate & Munitorum Field Manual 2023 MkI (v2) were recently published and we decided to use the new points and rules - which of course meant no more Armor of Contempt.  

Battle Report:

Ruleset: 2022 War Zone Nephilim Grand Tournament - Strike Force (w/ Q1 2023 Balance Dataslate & Points)
Mission: 2 2 Conversion
Points: 1500 (750 each)

The Opponents: Cooper's Grey Knights and Sam's Adeptus Mechanicus:

Cooper's Grey Knights

+ HQ +

• Brother-Captain 

+ Troops +

• Brotherhood Terminator Squad  (5 man)
• Strike Squad (5 man)

+ Elites +

• Brotherhood Ancient 

+ Fast Attack +

• Interceptor Squad (5 man)

+ Heavy Support +

• Nemesis Dreadknight 

Sam's Adeptus Mechanicus

+ HQ +

• Skitarii Marshal 
• Tech-Priest Enginseer 
• Tech-Priest Manipulus 

+ Troops +

• Skitarii Rangers (20 martians)

+ Elites +

• Fulgurite Electro-Priests (10 martians)

+ Fast Attack +

• Ironstrider Ballistarii 

+ Dedicated Transport +

• Terrax-Pattern Termite 

Secondaries: Assassination, Behind Enemy Lines, No Prisoners

Our Forces:

The Ultramarines

+ No Force Org Slot +

• Chief Apothecary Hulm Singa - Apothecary
• Company Veterans (2 marines)

+ HQ +

• Primus Leo Exevio Faustus - Chapter Master in Terminator Armour
• Praelior Tarquinius Iulian Regulus - Chaplain in Terminator Armour w/ Benediction of Fury

+ Troops +

• Squad Cornelius - Tactical Squad : (5 marines) w/ Meltagun, Power Fist, Plasma pistol

+ Elites +

• Squad Nox - 5 man Terminator Assault Squad: 5x Thunder Hammer & Storm Shields
• Squad Tourbillion - 5 man Terminator Squad: Assault cannon, Chainfist 4x, Power Sword, Storm Bolters

Liberty's Astra Militarum

+ HQ +

• Cadian Command Squad: Power sword, plasma gun, Regimental Standard, Master-vox
• Tank Commander in Leman Russ 

+ Troops +

• Cadian Shock Troops (10 Troops): Plasma gun, Meltagun, chainsword, vox-caster
• Cadian Shock Troops (10 Troops): Plasma gun, Meltagun, chainsword, vox-caster
• Infantry Squad (10 Troops): Plasma gun, Lascannon, boltgun, vox-caster
• Infantry Squad (10 Troops): Plasma gun, Lascannon, boltgun, vox-caster

+ Elites +

• Commissar: Chainsword, Plasma pistol

+ Fast Attack +

• Scout Sentinels: Lascannon

+ Heavy Support +

• Leman Russ Battle Tank

Secondaries: Oaths of Moment, Boots on the Ground, Raise the Banners High

Takeaways & Analysis:

The main thing that I learned from this one was to make sure you don't set up terrain without your opponent (or all players in team games).  Each player/team should be able to select and set down half of the terrain, and there should be a negotiation beforehand, since its much harder to do after the fact. Terrain with very large footprints but don't block true line of sight are not good to use.  Also its difficult to make use of traits and relics and have enough for possibly using CP for pre-game redeploy now that they've reduced starting CP.  It would be nice if they just gave you a certain limit for traits and relics and then a starting amount.

The Adeptus Mechanicus got the first turn and was able to shoot and destroy 2 squads of guards and 2 terminators.  The Grey Knights advanced forward but weren't having the best luck in the psychic phase, but did get off some smites.

The Ultramarines and Guard were essentially pinned down.  While the terminators were able to charge into the Grey Knights when they rounded the corner and take out a unit, they were mostly cut down by the Skitarii and Dreadknight coming out of deepstrike. However, the valent Sentinel crew occupied the Skitarii long enough so the Assault Terminators and Faustus could take out the Grey Knight Terminators.  Meanwhile, the Termite Drill couldn't be screened out and the electro priests popped out and made short work of the pinned down tank.

Tourbillion's squad of terminators teleporting down got unlucky with their charge, even after heroic efforts by Regulus to inspire them, and so they got shot to pieces once the Sentinel went down.  On the flank, the Interceptor squad made short work of Squad Cornelius, but Liberty's Russ got revenge.  Regulus would then fall, but not after taking out the Strike Squad of Grey Knights.

We ended the game there.  We had perhaps 1 tank and 2 terminators left vs essentially the full strength Ad Mech force (the Grey Knights had bravely taken the brunt of the reprisals, but they still had their Captain, Ancient and Dreadknight).

+++TRANSMISSION  ADEPTUS ADMINISTRATUM+++

WORLD: [REDACTED]

REPORT: 7T8-00-A-9Y31:02GV

RE: Exterminatus of Imperial Forces on [REDACTED]

It is with great sorrow that the Astra Militarum and Adeptus Astartes forces on [REDACTED] are to be retired after the incursion of [REDACTED]

They will forever be remembered.

Grey Knights have been sent to the sector.  Additionally, the Adeptus Mechanicus will assist in recovering [REDACTED]

[RECORD SEALED]

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

++ END TRANSMISSION ++

REF: 7T8-00-A-9Y31:02GV 344/76Q-80492-CHECK3

THOUGHT: Intellect is a mask for traitors. (4thED 178)

Battle Report: LGS Escalation League - The Knights Strike Back!

In a rematch of the last mirror match in the LGS Escalation League, we again found the Ashen Knights in opposition to the Ultramarines.  This time I was a bit too aggressive and a bit unlucky, but it was a good game.  This was the first ever game where I brought a techmarine and used both dreadnoughts.

Yes, the Chapter Master is taller than RT era Dreadnoughts.

Battle Report:

Ruleset: 2022 War Zone Nephilim Grand Tournament - Strike Force (w/ Q4 Balance Datasheet)
Mission: 3 1 Tide of Conviction
Points: 1500

My Forces:

++ Battalion Detachment 1,500pts ++
**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 of the Chapter [-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
• Master of the Forge Samus Dexter - Techmarine: Bolt pistol, Chapter Command: Master of the Forge, Frag & Krak grenades, Power maul, Servo-arm, Stratagem: Hero of the Chapter [-1CP], Warden of the Ancients

+ Troops +

• Vitus - 5 man Tactical Squad - Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Bolters
• Jaegnar - 5 man Tactical Squad - Bolters
• Ashro - 5 man Tactical Squad - 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" - Dreadnought: Dreadnought melee weapon w/ Storm bolter, Heavy Plasma Cannon
• "Fury" - Dreadnought: Dreadnought melee weapon w/ Storm bolter, Twin Lascannons
• 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 +

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

Secondaries: Oaths of Moment, Raise the Banners, and Shock Tactics

Cooper's Space Marines: Ashen Knights

Chapter Selector: Born Heroes , Custom Chapter, Imperial Fists Successor, Warded

+ HQ +

• Harron Valrud - Chapter Master with Master-crafted Heavy Bolt Rifle: Chapter Command:  Chapter Master, Stubborn Heroism, The Armour Indomitus, Warlord
• Primaris Techmarine
• Librarian in Phobos Armour: Tenebrous Curse

+ Troops +

• Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 105pts]: Astartes Grenade Launcher, Auto Bolt Rifle, 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades
• Heavy Intercessor Squad: Hellstorm bolt rifle, Hellstorm heavy bolter, 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Frag & Krak grenades
• Tactical Squad: 4x Bolt pistol, 4x Boltgun, 5x Frag & Krak grenades, Plasma pistol, Meltagun

+ Elites +

• Aggressor Squad: 3x Auto Boltstorm Gauntlets/Fragstorm Grenade Launcher
• Apothecary
• Ironclad Dreadnought: 2x Hunter-killer missile, Ironclad Assault Launchers, Meltagun, Seismic hammer, Ironclad combat weapon w/ storm bolter
• Redemptor Dreadnought: 2x Storm Bolters, Icarus Rocket Pod, Macro Plasma Incinerator, Onslaught Gatling Cannon
• Bladeguard Veteran Squad: 5x Frag & Krak grenades, 4x Heavy Bolt Pistol, 5x Master-crafted power sword, 5x Storm Shield, Neo-volkite pistol

+ Heavy Support +

• Firestrike Servo-Turret: Twin accelerator autocannon

Secondaries: Oaths of Moment, Bolster Barricades, Assassination

Takeaways & Analysis:

*Librarian curls mustache*

This game was not as close as last time.  Off the bat the sneaky librarian got a huge smite on speeder 'One Charlie' destroying it before it could fire off a shot - but I had been a bit aggressive in positioning, which I am prone to do with the speeders.  This then pressured me to over commit to the charge to take out the Redemptor which allowed a massive counter charge that pretty much ended things.  Didn't help I was rolling a bit poorly, but really I was just careless.  I still haven't found that spot of knowing when to be aggressive or not.  Also a bunch of mistakes on rules again - not getting cover from terrain, not remembering the feel no pains from the Apothecary etc.  But all things that should improve with practice.  I was rusty having not played for several weeks and I could tell.

*Perhaps we didn't all have to charge...*

Cooper took chapter and Space Marine secondaries this time and they really paid off, also I think he had some good ideas bringing more Bladeguards and using the tactical squad to hold one objective while performing an action on the second.

+++TRANSMISSION  ADEPTUS ADMINISTRATUM+++

WORLD: XARANT

REPORT: 68Q-17-A-0084:593B

Clashes erupted on industrial world of Xarant between the Ultramarines and Ashen Knights, as street fighting occurred in various cities. The cause of the confrontation remains unclear, but tensions had been high between the two chapters for some time.

Master of the Ashen Knights, Harron Valrud, and Primus Leo Exevio Faustus of the Ultramarines were seen engaged in a fierce duel that left both battered and bloodied.  

We have as of yet not been able to determine the cause of the hostilities and recommend investigation at once.  

..

.

[REDACTED]

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

++ END TRANSMISSION ++

REF: 68Q-17-A-0084:593B 284/6X0-30302-6C

THOUGHT: Step not from the path of the Emperor (C:C3)

Vanguard Veterans (WIP) Update 7

First set of blue highlights are complete across all areas!  It took 13 hours.  I'm convinced that my technique is the slowest.

I'm now starting in on a basic NMM technique that I've used before on the gold areas.  I think that they have a brushed metal, so I'm not going for full on mirror NMM reflections yet.  The shield on the right is the base brown (such as above as well), and the shield on the left has the first few layers of brown-orange and orange.  There will be a shade (to fix anything that fell into a recess) and then a few more layers of golden yellow and yellow in very limited amounts to complete the effect.  I'm adding glaze medium to help smooth the transitions.