Brood Brother |
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Joined: Wed Aug 10, 2005 11:44 pm Posts: 1891 Location: Katy, Republic of Texas
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Ok, I didn?t have time to create a map yet, so I?ll try to post one this weekend.
Brett (a great guy to play against, pretty savvy 40K player) fielded one of those SM lists that can give you fits:
2 x Tactical formations + Hunter + Commander 1 x Predator formation, 2 each of Destructor/Annihilator 1 x Vindicator formation 1 x Thunderhawk 2 x Terminators
So a good mix of units, especially for someone who was playing in their first full game. He did do his homework by reading up on all the Elysian posts. I should also mention that his original list had 4 x Thunderbolts and 2 Marauders in it, but I convinced him that we ought to leave the aerospace units for another time. Also, he?s already looking at a potential 5 Thunderhawks in his next list.
On Brett?s part, I believe he was looking to see how all the different units functioned together and how his list might change in future games. I was looking to continue testing how the basic drop companies performed, along with adding the Multi-melta Sentinel and the Mortars. I?m not sure I knew what I was going to do with the mortars, but sometimes you don?t figure that out until you need something and you grab the first thing that?s handy.
Rather than describe a play by play as I don?t have the map yet, I?ll go over some of the significant events in each turn. I deployed both Storm Trooper companies, both Vulture squadrons and that?s it. Brett deployed everything except the Thunderhawk and the two Terminator formations.
In general, Brett had the Vindicators on my right, the Predators on my left, and the two tactical formations in the center. I on the other hand had a Storm Trooper company and Vulture squadron on each flank, with nothing in the center.
Turn One
Neither of us teleported any units in.
I suspect the ?One trick pony? Vulture play will get pulled on all first time opponents of the Elysians, or those who are not familiar with the IG list. Brett placed his Predators out in the open and the Vultures on that side ensured that they would not have an impact on the rest of the game. I hate doing that to someone, but it is a lesson that never needs repeating. The response was the moving of the Vindicators behind LoF terrain.
I moved the right most Vultures and Storm troopers up the flank, with the goal of moving being able to influence action around the objectives on that side of the board.
I also moved the Storm trooper company up and near the center of the table, which prompted the Thunderhawk to swoop out of the sky and drop a Valkyrie and one ST unit.
Turn Two - The ?Drop? Turn
Brett put one Terminator formation on his Blitzkrieg and one on mine. It was difficult to restrain my level of enthusiasm. I ended up placing one drop troop company (DTC) near my Blitz, but oriented towards an open area where I expected his tacticals to advance.
I then put one DTC on the SM objective on the right, the Regimental HQ in some buildings directly in front of the SM Blitz, another DTC in buildings to the left of the RHQ, and the Sentinels to the left, but close to the RHQ and the Terminators.
So we rolled to see who goes first, but the outcome was never in doubt. So while the Rainbow Warriors were conferring with Eldar advisors, I tried to figure out what I was going to do with those terminators.
The Terminators decided to FF the Sentinels, wiping them out, however, the Sentinels dropped 3 out of the four terminators and I thought that was a pretty good exchange. In one of those 20/20 hindsight things, Brett realized that he probably should have activated his Thunderhawk and shot up the Sentinels (more than likely breaking them) and then retained with the Terminators to try and knock off the Regimental HQ in front of their position. Oh well, live and learn.
On the left, the Rainbow Warriors tactical units advance toward the DTC in a woods and start shooting the crap out of them. This draws Vulture and Storm trooper support from me and the end result is that I break the rightmost tactical.
On the right, the Vindicators are harried by Vultures and eventually break.
Turn Three - The ?Money? Turn
The Rainbow Warriors continue their trend of doing whatever they want, whenever they want to, and advance the Terminator formation on my Blitz just enough into the woods to make toothpicks out of the woods with their assault cannons and break the DTC. The DTC decides to emulate Elmer Fudd (?Shush, be verwy, verwy, qwiet?) and move around the Terminators, back to my Blitz. I?m hoping they rally at the end and allow me to contest that objective.
On the left, I shoot at the broken Tactical formation until all the units are dead. Then I shoot them a little more just to be sure. However, the remaining tactical unit fires away in a blaze of glory and breaks the Storm trooper company, leaving 3 Valkyries and 3 infantry stands. I move them over to the leftmost objective on my side in the hopes that they will rally.
Near Brett?s Blitz, I shoot the Hardened Veterans from the leftmost DTC (Sniper) at the remaining terminator unit and break them. It is then my intention to assault them with the Regimental HQ. The RHQ isn?t sure what I mean. So I tell them again (SC re-roll), but they still don?t get it, so they fire ineffectually at the guys as big as an earthmover and do nothing.
The Storm trooper company on the right moves up to shoot at the Vindicators (who are broken) and wipe them out.
I attempt to rally guys, but they don?t get it.
When we tally up the victory conditions, I have scored against the Rainbow Warriors Blitz, Break Their Spirit, and Capture the Flag. Against me is my Blitz, so 3 to 1 to the Elysians. Although I?m not sure the score indicates it, the game was very close and if not for a couple plays taken another direction, I think I would have been hard pressed to pull out a win. Those Terminators are quite brutal?at least the ones that don?t have Eldar advisors attached. 
After Action Report
I was fairly happy with how the basic DTC operated. I think the MM Sentinels are an extremely welcome addition to the list. The mortars didn?t add that much value to my RHQ fire and I think we?ll need to see how they fit into the plan as it?s not obvious to me at this point. In this game, I might have been better served by the Support section.
You will notice that there is very little mention of the demo charge effects, and nothing at all about Iron Discipline. In the case of the former, I decided to not initiate heavy HtH fighting with the marines unless absolutely necessary (although I did try around Brett?s Blitz and did not get to engage) and in the latter the rule was so new to me that it never made it to my radar screen.
So, an interesting data point for certain. I thoroughly enjoyed the game and would play against Brett anytime and highly recommend him as an opponent. I look forward to having air assets available to integrate with operations because it was quite annoying to be watching the Thunderhawk fly where ever it wanted to because the Elysian do not have any ground AA assets, which is going to be challenging to say the least, and as it should be.
Great game Brett!
_________________ Honda
"Remember Taros? We do"
- 23rd Elysian Drop Regiment
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