Tried out the new nid list in another game for the Alfakta campaign today.

Rule: Handbook 2008, plus 9.1 tyranids. Modifications - Lictors with sniper instead of MW.

Guard:
-Reg HQ, Ogryns, Fire Support, extra chimeras
-Leman Russ Company
-Basilisk Company
-Shadowsword Company
-Infantry Company, Fire Support
-Infantry Company, Ogryns
-Deathstrike Battery
-Bombard Battery
-Hydra Battery

Tyranids:
-Dominatrix, 6 Trygons
-1 Tyrant, 4 termagants
-6x3 Warrriors (with commons gaunts below divided between them.
-2x3 Lictors
-3x6 Genestealers

-9x4 Termagants
-8x4 Hormagaunts (didn't have enough so gargoyles 'counting as' to make up numbers)

Setup below:

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Turn 1:

So... in traditional style, the bugs swarm forward and the guard open up with artillery. The Leman Russ company marches across to reinforce the guard right flank. End of turn and all bug losses are respawned except for the 3 genestealers and a wounded trygon. (I note the trygons have had their speed decreased dramatically in the new list!?).

Turn 2 start below... the lictors arrive near the guard artillery.

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Turn 2:

Guard win strategy roll, first activation the shadowswords move and fire, destroying the first Lictor brood. Second activation the Reg HQ tries to retain but fails even with the commanders reroll... they move towards the Lictors deploying a couple of support platforms.

The remaining lictors attack... the deathstrikes overwatch fire with their heavy bolters killing one and the imperial artillery kills the remaining two lictors for the loss of a single basilisk...

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Turn 2 (cont):

I retain with the Dominatrix trying to order a combined assault up the hill with the two other swarms... but fail even with a reroll... aaagh.
Dom and trygons kill an ogryn and a couple of guard stands with fire (and the dom's bioplasma damages a trygon).

The Leman Russ crest the hill and blast the Dominatrix swarm killing 3 trygons and damaging two more... ouch.

Then with no commanders to organise combined assaults, and taking fire as I attack, I start throwing swarms piecemeal into the guard infantry companies. 3 very costly assaults to finally rout the infantry company on the hill...

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Turn 2 (cont):

And another 3 assaults to rout the centre most guard infantry company.

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Turn 3 and 4:

At end of turn 2 the bugs have taken massive amounts of losses (over 50 units), to rout two infantry companies. However, turn 3 the bugs win initiative and the Dominatrix swarm (what's left of it...) assaults the hilltop. In a two round combat (first just being a firefight) they wipe out the Leman Russ company.  Then the swarm in the centre ruins assaults and wipes out the remainder of a guard company that had rallied there.

However, the amount of enemy fire cuts down many more tyranids...  the deathstrikes fire and wipe out the dominatrix's protective trygon screen, and turn 4 the shadowswords kill the dominatrix as their first activation.

Some genestealers wipe out the bombard battery but it is too little too late.

No extra turn. Objectives are 1-1. Tyranids have they shall not pass, Guard have break their spirit.

Victory points:
Guard have lost 1400, tyranids 2500+. so win to guard.

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Conclusions:

Well, messing up the co-ordianted assault with the Dominatrix certainly didn't help. Nor having only two commanders and mixed swarms (would have been better to have some more firefight support oriented and others close combat oriented).  Tough game... If I was more onto it I could have held my own objectives (defend the flag) to gain an extra victory condition, but then the enemy probably would have simply driven into my territory to stop me getting 'they shall not pass'/


Overall I like the new streamlined tyranid rules. Good move. Had to double check a few things?! No regeneration any more? And can someone point me to discussion on why the trygon's move was gutted?

Also when your swarms rally they get BM equal to half the units remaining same as other armies? Is that correct?

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Aaagh the trygon is 15cm on the quick ref, but 25cm in the unit stats   I was robbed...

Also regeneration is still listed on the quick ref sheet for the titans.

Cheers for the info.

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Morning speed picking up. Making a mug o'java and feeding the swarms (of small furry animals) and there's three more responses...  

Another nice report... ed battle.
Thanks for the write up and the Alfakta report!

I can't but say one thing. A basic gaming mat would enhance that battlefield immensely. The terrain look really good. The cloth doesn't make it justice.  

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It would be nice to get lightspeed,
so far we can only reach slight speed.- Erik M
092b85658e746a91d343e53509d357744e56f641

Tis true!!

I actually have two flocked 6x4 tables, but this game was around at a mates place using a crusty old gaming cloth.  

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Great read though. I always enjoy watching the bugs go.
Yeah, a mat would have been good but I would game on most anything to get a game. We used to play on the floor and I had been recently thinking of a sheet for snow fields.

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My head is full of War...

[img]http://i278.photobucket.com/albums/kk120/Warhead40k/Tyranid%20Swarm/DSC02262.jpg[/img]

Great report, Markconz, thanks!

And, yeah, typos always seem to creep into reference sheets... *laugh*

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"EPIC: Total War" Lead Developer

Now living in Boston... any EPIC players want to meet up?