Battle Report: Vadinax Campaign - Mission 4 Dread Night

      ++++Transmission: INQUISITION PRIORITY CLASSIFIED++++

SOURCE: BATTLE BARGE EXCELSIOR
DESTINATION: THE INVIOLATE SENTENCE
ENCODING FREQUENCY: 181.2 MHz
+++++
DATE: 5153023/M42
REF: Inq/40675099654/BR-1036/6
TO: Inquisitor Aleris Mylenne
CC: Inquisitor Nirobe Vant
FROM: Acolyte G. Farrington
RE: Continued Assault on VALERN CITADEL

Task Force 'Faustus' received telemetry of ambush on elements of the Scylian 1st Regiment column moving through GRID 327A.5.  Captain Faustus correctly anticipated this indicated a renewed assault on VALERN CITADEL and deployed to defend the stronghold.

Imperial positions along the outer perimeter of the Citadel continue to erode, but the efforts of the Captain blunted the advance.  Captain Faustus personally destroyed one war machine in a show of his commitment to the defense of the zone before his lieutenants recommended a tactical withdrawal.

I see no indications of heresy or corruption, in fact, the warriors of these ULTRAMARINES display collected bravery in the face of overwhelming odds.

Detailed report to follow.

G. Farrington

      ++++Transmission End++++

Here we are on the fourth installment of the Vadinax Campaign and things are going bad for the Imperium.  The Inquisition has dispatched 'helpers' but still, not looking great.  I'm having fun though!  Latest game against my opponent David and his Chaos Knights was very close.  I had a solid game plan but just got unlucky with some key charges.  Nevertheless, it was great fun and it kinda felt like a win:  my captain achieved his quest for atonement, I only took one battle scar amongst 11 destroyed units, and I kept it close and played alright!  Looking forward to the next one!

Edit: Its fun to get featured in the global campaign write-up!

Battle Report:

Ruleset: Core Crusade 2023 Arks of Omen Grand Tournament - Strike Force, 2023 Q1 Balance Datasheet & Points, and Goonhammer Vadinax Crusade rules
Mission: Arks of Omen GT: 23 The Scouring
Points: 1500

My Forces:

++ Arks of Omen Detachment 1490pts ++

**Chapter Selector**: Ultramarines
Battle Size [6CP]: Strike Force(101-200 Total PL / 1001-2000 Points) [6CP]
Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: Arks of Omen Grand Tournament + Crusade

+ HQ +

• Primus Leo Exevio Faustus - Captain Terminator Armour: Rites of War, The Sanctic Halo, Power Fist, Wrist mounted grenade launcher, Storm Bolter, Warlord (Warleader) [LOSS OF REPUTATION Scar]
• Praelior Tarquinius Iulian Regulus - Chaplain in Terminator Armour:  Benediction of Fury  Storm bolter, Canticle of Hate, Litany of Hate, The Imperium's Sword
• Lt. Commander Psigoras - Lieutenant: Plasma Pistol, Power Sword

+ Troops +

• Squad Cornelius - 5 man Tactical Squad - Power Fist, Plasma pistol, Bolt pistols, Meltagun, Bolters [Walking Wounded scar]
• Squad Kaiel- 5 man Tactical Squad - Chainsword, Plasma pistol, Bolt pistols, Meltagun, Bolters
• Squad Vitus - 5 man Tactical Squad - Chainsword, Bolt pistols, Heavy Bolter, Bolters

+ Elites +

• Chief Apothecary Hulm Singa - Apothecary: Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, Selfless Healer, The Armour Indomitus, Conversion Field, Custodian of the Future [Lost Leg Scar]
• Venerable Brother "Fury" - Dreadnought: Dreadnought melee weapon w/ Storm bolter, Twin Lascannon
• Squad Nox - 5man Terminator Assault Squad: Teleport Homer,  5x Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield
• Squad Tourbillion - 5 man Terminator Squad: Teleport Homer, Power sword, Storm bolter, Assault cannon, 3x Chainfist, Power fist
• Kill Team Rubrum - 5 man Terminator Squad: Teleport Homer, Power sword, Storm bolter, Heavy Flamer, 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

Agendas: Survivor, Quest of Atonement, Priority Target

The Hungering Legion:

++ Arks of Omen Detachment 1410pts ++

• Ravenous - Knight Desecrator: (Warleader)
• The Bloodied Wolf - Knight Desecrator
• The Jackal - War Dog Karnivore
• The Raven - War Dog Executioner
• The Vulture - War Dog Executioner
• The Wolverine - War Dog Brigand

Takeaways & Analysis:

I know that my force is a bit weak in anti-tank, so getting the terminators (especially Squad Tourbillion's chainfists) into combat first was supper important.  I also knew my best bet was to try to take out the War Dogs and then play for the objectives.  It was the right strategy, but David did an excellent job of keeping his War Dogs in close proximity to the Desecrators. 

Squad Vitus - First to fall courageously holding an objective

 I was also a bit unlucky: I failed all of the critical charges which wasn't great.  

Chaplain Regulus and Kill Team Rubrum teleport into the thick of the maelstrom...

...but the Battle Priest's words are not very inspiring so they decide not to charge.

Still I think I maybe should not have tried for a charge into one of the Desecrators without whittling it down more.  That was probably a mistake - I should have gone for one of the Wardogs on the other side and made the Desecrators have to move around to me.  

Squad Tourbillion beams in but loses the initiative

Face... Off

Brother Veridian goes down fighting

My devastators couldn't get hits or wounds which wasn't helping and so I probably should have had tighter castling with Captain Faustus not in the Teleportarium - stacking the re-roll hits and wounds auras onto a few more units would have been good.

Land Speeders forgot how to shoot again.

And the Devastators are having problems figuring out where to point those things...

I remembered to use a bunch of stratagems such as Avenge the Fallen and mostly played well.  I think in the future I could use that one a bit more.  I only used it once, but theoretically I could have used it every time a unit got killed.

I also made use of melta-bombs.  Squad Cornelius (which survived the battle even) managed to get a kill with bombs!  That squad is definitely doing work this campaign - just a normal Tactical Squad with 3 kills, and they're walking wounded right now.  The other squad that tried melta-bombs failed twice, so I need to try paring it with re-rolls.

While Squad Cornelius gets things done with Melta-bombs and Power Fists!  3 kills in 4 games!

To be fair, I was trying to make sure Faustus could beam down to complete his Quest of Atonement.  Furthermore, his Loss of Reputation scar from meant that his aura was very limited.  At least this paid off - he thematically landed the last blow to an Executioner and won back his honour!

Captain Faustus moments before destroying the Executioner and achieving his Quest of Atonement.

 I really love Crusade where you really feel like you can be winning by achieving agendas and creating a fun story, even if you aren't doing well in a particular match.

Anyway, I really need to finish up my multi-melta Devastators (just starting) - I think they'll really improve my chances in games like this.

The Forces of the Imperium are driven from Valern Citadel as the Chaos Knights win the day.

Vanguard Veterans Complete!

Ok, finally done.  Best models yet!  It's true what they say, just keep painting and you get better and better every time.

While I think that the gothic text for Sergeant Nox's was my best ever, the text lettering across all shields and etc. was fairly consistent and still pretty neat.

The face for the (yet unnamed) alternate sergeant's face really turned out great too, very pleased.

The NMM gold also turned out pretty great for a first real dive into that.  I can definitely see spots where it isn't quite right, but I feel that this is one of those skills that will have a lot of room to master.  Mostly it seems like its all about looking at examples and reference images.  There is a guy on instagram that posts really great examples all the time and I think had subconsciously helped me a bit, maybe further conscious effort to look at his work, and others, would be the next step there.

I think the magnetization needs a bit of improvement.  I used smaller magnets (mostly because drilling bigger holes into pewter might not have been possible) and between that less than perfect placement - some of the arms feel a bit weakly attached, or aren't quite joining perfectly.  That's an area to improve next time.  I do think these vets are a bit of a special case with different weapon options, but yeah not exactly sure if it was worth it.

And finally here they are in the pose I've been capturing throughout the process.  Perhaps I'll get around to a gif that steps through the steps again.

Vanguard Vets (WIP) Update 9 - Face Painting

Really close to complete now.  Almost all colors have been shaded and highlighted.  What is left is lettering on the various scrolls, and the face on one of the two alternate sergeants.  Saving the hardest parts for last.

While I have painted a few faces before, looking back they were fine for my skill level at the time, but in the past few years I feel I've really improved a lot.  For this attempt, I was going to follow Darren Latham's technique.  I've used his contrast paint technique for a face before, but this would be the first time with conventional paint.

Starting Point: 4 or so coats of Bugman's Glow

With these zoomed in images, I can tell that I'm still not quite on the high level that I see from other hobbyists/professionals online, but I do see improvement from my own work in the past.  One thing that stands out though is the bumpiness - I think this is the spray primer which continues to disappoint, but when I look at the models in person they look much better.

Basic highlights added

I found Darren's instructions really detailed and easy to follow and I'm really pleased with the results.  Below I have the basic steps and paints for my own reference.  I don't typically work with paints thinned down to washes so much, especially since it tends to pond/pool, but after watching his work and trying this out, I think I've actually made a breakthrough in how to control the watery paint and draw it off if its ponding.

Basic shading added

The model itself has really extremely exaggerated cheekbones, more so than the primaris space marine head that Darren used, so I used deeper shading, but otherwise I mostly followed his instructions (from his youtube video) directly.  Also, this miniature has barred teeth, so I used some Zandri Dust and Screaming Skull and it worked great (I felt white would be too much).  I used white ink for the first time and it is a lot better than white paint.  

Color glazes and final highlights added

The model seems to have one eye open and one eye closed (or the primer obscured the detail), and the open eye seems to have a deep scowl so you can only see the side of the eyeball.  Thus, I decided that, after the step to black out the eye, I just needed to put a dot of white on the side of the eyeball, and use the existing black to create the iris.  Since the narrowed eye and the direction he would be looking would mean you wouldn't see the white on the other side of the iris, it massively simplified the hardest steps of painting the eyes.  I think it turned out great, especially when viewed in person.  With my magnifying glasses, I can tell it still isn't quite perfect, but overall I'm really happy my first time trying this technique out, it worked much, much better than the methods I had pieced together before.

Final details: eyes, teeth, etc added

This time I skipped adding stubble/ 5o'clock shadow.  Either the sculpt has scaring on the left side of the face (in shadow here) or the primer/finish kinda messed up the details, but either way I decided trying to go for the stubble wouldn't turn out.  Maybe next time.  Looking forward to trying this again and using darker shades to vary the skin tone.

Finally, here's the whole troop (just before painting the face):

Battle Report: Vadinax Campaign - Mission 3 Twisted Sisters

     ++++Transmission: Imperial Command: VADINAX SECTOR++++
TRANSMITTED: Levrivor IV
RECEIVED: Iq-DCKKVI
DESTINATION: TERN'S ENDEAVOR
TELEPATHIC DUCT: Astropath-terminus
+++++
DATE: 5124023/M42
REF: Inq/40675099654/BR
BY: Inquisitor Nirobe Vant
RE: Assault on VALERN CITADEL
THOUGHT: Trust no one else and trust yourself less.

Primus Faustus:

The importance of VALERN CITADEL, the very bastion of the Imperial presence on Tern's Endeavor, cannot be stressed enough.  The Lord-Commander is relieved that ultimately the daemonic incursion was turned away, but not without great cost to TASK FORCE 'FAUSTUS'.

STRIKE FORCE 'PEGASUS' has had great success in maintaining imperial order, perhaps through coordination with the Sons of Medusa, the battle lines around the strategic stronghold can be reenforced.

It goes without saying that when the BATTLE BARGE EXCELSIOR emerged from the warp after being lost for almost ten thousand years, there are many keen to look more closely into the events surrounding this curious event, those that emerged on it, such as yourself and the space marines under your command.  The dark age technology and relic artifacts at your disposal are a true wonder, but could be seen by some as heresy, however, it is a true gift from the EMPEROR that you and your men have returned to defend humanity.

Inquisitor Nirobe Vant

 ++++Transmission End++++

Here we are on Mission 3 in the local Vadinax Crusade!  I must say I'm having a ton of fun, and it has been great encountering several different factions that I haven't played before.  This time it was the Adeptus Sororitas (AKA Sisters of Battle).  Of course, these were 'Twisted Sisters' - or 'Sisters of Slaanesh' - corrupted by the dark gods to do dark things.  My opponent, James, had a great back story for these 'fallen angels' and chief among them was "Canoness Ezzie the Murderess" - who has at this point ascended to be a dark princess and can deal out insane amounts of mortal wounds. 

Battle Report:

Ruleset: Core Crusade 2023 Arks of Omen Grand Tournament - Incursion, 2023 Q1 Balance Datasheet & Points, and Goonhammer Vadinax Crusade rules
Mission: Arks of Omen GT: 32 Display of Spiritual Might
Points: 1000

My Forces:

++ Arks of Omen Detachment 975pts ++

**Chapter Selector**: Ultramarines
Battle Size [3CP]: Incursion (51-100 Total PL / 501-1000 Points) [3CP]
Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: Arks of Omen Grand Tournament + Crusade

+ HQ +

• Primus Leo Exevio Faustus - Captain Terminator Armour: Rites of War, The Sanctic Halo, Power Fist, Wrist mounted grenade launcher, Storm Bolter, Warlord (Warleader) 
• Praelior Tarquinius Iulian Regulus - Chaplain in Terminator Armour:  Benediction of Fury  Storm bolter, Canticle of Hate, Litany of Hate, The Imperium's Sword

+ Troops +

• Squad Cornelius - 5 man Tactical Squad - Power Fist, Plasma pistol, Bolt pistol, Meltagun, Bolters

+ Elites +

• Apothecary Hulm Singa - Apothecary: Astartes Chainsword, Bolt pistol, Frag & Krak grenades, The Armour Indomitus, Conversion Field
• Venerable Brother "Fury" - Dreadnought: Dreadnought melee weapon w/ Storm bolter, Twin Lascannon
• Squad Nox - 5man Terminator Assault Squad - Teleport Homer,  5x Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield
• Squad 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

Agendas: Survivor, Guide the Chapter, Reaper

Sisters of Slaanesh:

++ Arks of Omen Detachment 999pts ++

**Order Convictions**: Our Martyred Lady
Battle Size [3CP]: Incursion (51-100 Total PL / 501-1000 Points) [3CP]
Game Type: 4. Chapter Approved: Arks of Omen Grand Tournament + Crusade

+ HQ +

• Ezzie the Murderess - Canoness: Blade of Sacrifice, Martyr's Strength, Righteous Rage, and a whole bunch of gifts from the dark gods...
• Palatine:  Plasma pistol

+ Elites +

• Celestian Sacresants
• Dogmata: Litany of Enduring Faith
• Paragon Warsuits: Multi-Meltas and Swords
• Sisters Repentia

+ Heavy Support+

• Mortifiers
• Retributor Squad: Multi-Meltas

+ No Force Org+

• Repentia Superior

Takeaways & Analysis:

Again I did my homework coming into this game.  I had a plan.  I knew the Warsuits and Retributor squad (i.e. the meltas) had to die right away.  I also knew that my hail of storm bolters, Squad Tourbillion would be best suited to deal with the Sisters Repentia and other infantry.  So of course all my plans went out the window when James elected to put both the Warsuits and Retributor in reserve.  But it was ok because I could adjust.  The next high priority target for the heavy weapons were the Mortifiers, and so I still put Tourbillion in the teleportarium to beam into the Repentia and give them a bad time.

I also planned on using an orbital strike to deny an objective.  For the first half of the game I would say things went well according to the plan.  The orbital bombardment did keep the sisters off their home objective and so I was able to get a slight early lead.  However, I played very cautious, so I didn't venture out to contest the midfield objectives as much as I would have liked knowing that a lot of meltas were waiting in the wings to strike.

Per usual, the Terminators and Chaplain Regulus beamed in.  They destroyed the Mortifiers (with some pot-shot support from Nero's Devastators) and almost entirely eliminate the Repentia (the last one bravely ran away).

Teleport blooms blind the Twisted Sisters - oh wait, they're wearing blindfolds.

Regulus takes a critical hit, but does not waiver from intoning the litanies of battle to inspire Squad Tourbillion as he falls.

That was when Ezzie the Murderess struck back though.  I had read some things, but I wasn't expecting the terrifying power of mortal wounds.  In a single combat she obliterated Squad Tourbillion.  Still I felt that I was in ok position.  Also, surprisingly the orbital strike went off and took out the Repentia Superior!  First time Faustus ever got a kill this way.

*Five versus one?  Ha, she doesn't stand a cha-- Wha? *  *Static*

Meanwhile,  the cautious play mostly paid off when the Warsuits did arrive, I was able to take them out by just sacrificing my tactical squad - a fairly good trade.

When I brought my Dreadnought in, I still had a chance to control the west side of the board, and if I could have snipped Ezzie with his lascannons (she was away from her bodyguard Sacresants) I think I could have won.  

The pivotal moment...

But critical misses from both the lascannons and storm bolter meant that she was able to charge and blend him while the rest made short work of my Land Speeder (who heroically lasted a lot longer than in previous games and managed to get another kill!  Actually he killed Ezzie, but she has an ability to get up again).

*Negative, negative, the shot went wide.  It was an honor to serve wi--- * *Static*

The Retributor squad came in from the other side and melted a good chunk of Squad Nox were were out in the open after fighting the warsuits.  They retreated into safety, basically allowing Apothecary Singa to achieve his survival objective (and get promoted to Chief Apothecary).  Squad Nero was not able to do much to the Retributors, also a critical turning point.

Ezzie and her entourage faced down Faustus and his retinue in a rumble in the center.  It was great fun and we let them fight a bit carelessly just for narrative purposes, and so Squad Nox was able to strike Ezzie down again, but the Sacresants got their revenge on Faustus who also went down in a heap.

After the battle, only Faustus got a battle scar - loss of reputation - which is awesome for narrative purposes, and now he will be on a Quest for Atonement in subsequent games!

 +++++++++++++++++

The communique from the Inquisition was not a surprise to Faustus. 

That he and his men, loyal Legiones Astartes of the Ultramarines, emerged from a warp storm off course and ten millennia into a stagnant, dark future reminded him that the duty of Astartes (now Adeptus Astartes) would be never-ending.  Of course there would be suspicion, it was logical.  It was the inevitable curse of the Horus Heresy.

But, as transmission display dimmed on the screen, he had no doubt it would only be on the battlefield where his loyalty must be demonstrated, perhaps in perpetuity.