Great report keep it up your work is great

Thanks very much Bunny  

Yet again and as last time I did a Battle Report I find I have to apologise at how long this is taking. It seems that whenever I start posting one of these things random life encounters, friends and family all want a piece of my time. They don't understand about BatReps, it's a hard concept to explain to the uninitiated.  

Schedule: I will be dinning out tonight after work but plan to get at least one more turn posted. I'm off on Friday though so I WILL finish the report off then.

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My head is full of War...

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

Bah! Snow fall, Sauna visit, Dinner out... Humbug! You even use WORK as an excuse!




Great report.   We look forward to it's continued unravelling.

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

LOL  

Meh! I suppose I own that one. Ah well, on with the unravelling of the story I suppose...

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My head is full of War...

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

TURN 3

James rolls a fantastic Initiative score and retains the Initiative for another turn.

Unable to pin the Hell Knights the exposed Cavalry troop chose discretion as the better part of valour and Advance through their own defences in the hopes of counter charging any Slaanesh assault as it tries to breach the razorwire.


The Sentinel Squadron make it to the safety of the ruins and the Imperial defences around it. The Other Cavalry troops prepare to meet any Slaanesh charge but none emerges as the Hell Knights and Subjugators seem content to continue their long ranged sniping. The Human Bombs put the pins back in their bomb packs and also wait patiently for a chance to serve the Emperor in their own special way.

The remaining Sabres pull out of their prepared positions having proven ineffective in the long range encounter. Their commander can but hope they prove some worth elsewhere in the Imperial line. The poor Riflemen are left to face the unceasing cannon fire.


Two packs of Slaanesh Knights prepare to target any more Imperial air assaults while the other packs of Knights and most of the Subjugators either close down the LOS of units that can range them or settle down in good positions to blast away at the overmatched Imperials. The rest of the Chaos Force begins to co-ordinate for a coming attack on the defences around the Ruin.


One cunning Subjugator having watched the Stormhammer explode seizes it's chance and rushes forward, stopping just short of the razorwire fence. Without the emplacement occupied by the Stormhammer the Titan is in a defilade from the rest of the defenders with the exception of one Robot. It's a perfect spot to mount an assault run on the Shadowsword next turn.


The damaged Subjugator manages to stick the gearshift in drive and stumbles into a better position that hopefully wont get it killed. It will still have to roll if it wants to fire in the Advance Fire phase.

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My head is full of War...

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

A squadron of Thunderbolts flashes over the heads of the Imperial defenders.

"Group Leader this is White Flag you're forward ground controller, I have three targets for you. you're first target is the damaged Scout Titan, target number eleven at the north east corner of the combat zone. Secondary targets are the two Knights approx 200 yards further to the east of the primary target... request full saturation..."

"Rodger White Flag, identified you're forces and request for full saturation in the north east corner of the targeted area..."

"Group Leader, this is White Flag. I have you in sight, low and to the west call and confirm that you have target in sight..."

"That is confirmed White Flag, target is acquired and we are beginning our run..."

The Thunderbolts slash down low, wing cannons and nose laser (as per the Novel Double Eagle) blazing away at the three targets as they ripple off a salvo of rockets each. The attack is interrupted by two Hell Knights further back on First Fire orders and one of the Thunderbolts erupts in a ball of flame before it can find it's target. The explosion disrupts the attack and although the Subjugator is hit twice and one of the Knights takes a hit they are easily deflected from their armour. The two remaining Thunderbolts make a wide circle of the battle and return to base for re-arming.



Only one Magog is forced to call off it's attack until next turn having failed to get clear targeting instructions. However, a squadron of Marauders, a Magog and another Thunderbolt Squadron all make their runs...


The Marauders come down low and open fire with their battlecannons and turret guns first. Only the lead Marauder is in range of one of the Hell Knights snap firing thermal cannons, which miss. Despite several hits the Knights all make their saves until one of the tail gunners gets a lucky shot in destroying one of the Chaos war machines lurking in the trees. The Marauders pass over the Knights in front of them and drop their Melta Bombs. The remaining Knights that have still to fire snap off their shots and manage to bring down a Marauder before it can complete it's attack. As the bombs go off only one Fiend caught in the blast is killed.



A solitary Magog Heavy Bomber attempts to immolate the damaged Titan and it's Knight escorts but the armour proves too tough for Napalm. However, as it attempts to pull out of the dive it takes two shots from a detachment of Veteran Marines hidden in the trees behind the targeted Knights. The Magog tumbles from the sky exploding as it hits the ground.


Another squadron of Thunderbolts finally conclude the air attacks with a strafing run on the damaged Titan and almost broken Hell Knights. Again, the Knights and Titan make their armour saves despite several hits.



The airstrip shows the units returning to base (backs to the camera) and the units available to make an attack next turn.

_________________
My head is full of War...

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

Obviously between James' air attacks I have been firing off my own First Fire shots.

However, despite having chased the Sabres away the Subjugators find the Riflemen that are left to be a harder target. At the end of an intense salvo of Psi-Beams and Thermal Cannon fire only four Riflemen have been killed. The Ruins are also too far for the Daemonic Alter to effect and the Rolling Vibration psychic attack can't be used twice in a row.    Still, three aircraft shot down is not bad.

The Advance Fire phase is cause for a surprise as the seemingly harmless Robots engulf the Subjugator in a torrent of flame. Fortunately it survives the hit due to the hit scattering off the template (should flame template hits scatter on a template, seems odd. Am I doing it wrong?)
To my great annoyance the Subjugator fails to nail the damn Robot with it's Psi-Cannon or any of it's other weapons.


Various other shots are fired from both sides as the turn draws to it's end. The Veteran Chaos Marines take two casualties from the surviving riflemen defending the ruins while another detachment of Vet Marines kill off their Commissar. The Commissars Rhino legs it in the End Phase... The ruins look like a promising area of attack.


A unit of Hydras target one of the Knights from a pack that is almost broken. Only two shots hit (needing 7+) but are both saved.

The End Phase sees the damaged Subjugator fail to repair the damage again and the Morale of the Imperial units in the ruins is still fortified by the Sanctioned Psykers "Embolden" power. All's quite...


...and then the next Chaos reinforcements arrive...


I thought it might be best to get some Flak units on the table to help against all the pesky air assaults. Another of Mr Pinchy's friends arrives with some Hell Striders. The rest are fodder for the guns.

Again the Imperials gain another 5VP although they are still to break anything.

Chaos: 8            Imperials: 10

Casualties...

_________________
My head is full of War...

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

Wow !!  Nice !!    Lots of Bad Guys there !   Cool night shots too !!  I see you called in an Airstike or 2 !   Good idea !!    Nice Temple ruins on the board too !   Well done old boy !!!  

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Legion 4 "Cry Havoc, and let slip the Dogs of War !" ... "People sleep peaceably in their beds at night only because rough men stand ready to do violence on their behalf."

Thanks L4. I took your advice/idea for the CAS glad you approved. The temple is from a garden centre of all places. It's for an aquarium of all things and they come in a bigger size. I've been toying with getting another.  

_________________
My head is full of War...

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

The temple is a very good centrepiece. Reminds me of how it in "Gaunt's ghosts" always seem to be a fight for a certain objective. Either a place, a time or a thing.

Your idea to give the imperial side Vp's per turn is genious. That is a good way to pit un-equal forces on each other.

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

Thanks Erik. When we started mucking about with the Assault rules we all quickly came to realise that the VP rule was needed as some armies gain a benefit or advantage for being in the lead. If it wasn't there then the defender would be unlikely to gain the lead or even keep level with the attackers score. Also this way the attacker is forced to increase his VP by at least five points per turn. (Depending on the scenario you could increase this VP limit to suit)

The other thing of note that I haven't explained is that the defender does not need to withdraw from the table successfully to be allowed to keep these points. Even if the entire force is wiped out the PDF player in the campaign still adds all the VP earned here to his running total. They sold there lives for the benifit of their brothers.

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My head is full of War...

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

Cool report so far.....it is always a story spread over a few days though isn't it  

Are you playing a NE5.0 battle but using 4.1 Flyer rules?  And the Robots with flamers?

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Fire bad, tree pretty - Buffy

These are the bits I hate explaining... I forgot to put in House Rules for the robots. I'll post it up now. There is just too much stuff to explain. These Robots still work the same way being mindless machines. It seemed that James had given them only First Fire or Ignore orders.


Assault Mech
15cm, 4+ save, +5Caf, Power Fists - - - -(Walker/Infantry, Robot, PD3)

Assault Mech I
10cm, 4+ save, +3Caf, Multi Melta + Fist, 25cm, x1, 3+, -2TSM, (Walker/Infantry, Robot, PD2)

Assault Mech II
10cm, 4+ save, +3Caf, Heavy Flamers, Temp, -  5+, 0TSM,  (Walker/Infantry, Robot, Ignore cover, PD2)

Support Mech
10cm, 5+ save, +2Caf, Heavy Bolters 50cm, x3, 5+, -1TSM,  (Walker/Infantry, Robot, PD1)

Support Mech I
10cm, 5+ save,  +1Caf, Twin Autocannons 75cm, x1, 4+, -1TSM,  (Walker/Infantry, Robot, PD1)

Support Mech II
5cm,  6+ save,  +0Caf,  Missile Launchers 75cm, Temp, 1BP, -2TSM, (Walker/Infantry, Robot, Artillery, 6cm Temp, PD1)

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My head is full of War...

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

I don't even play NetEpic, and I love your battle reports Warhead. Keep them coming!

Thanks TwilightWalker, I don't really understand why or if people like what I do here but, hey ho!  

TURN 4

James fluffs his Initiative roll giving me a perfect opportunity.

Forced to move first James has very few options. Having even fewer units that have been given movement orders doesn't help. His cavalry end up doing what they can while his Human Bombs are practically useless.

The newly arrived Chaos reinforcements move up. The Cultist Hydras take up position on a nearby hill and set up good fields of fire for next turn. The Chaos Forces gather in the tree line facing the Ruins ready to move in while three Subjugators rush forward engaging the lowly infantry in the defences around the ruin.



Their screams of feral hate mixed with lust filled desire chills the blood but the defenders hold in the face of the attack. One of the Subjugators discovers the Sanctioned Psyker and heads towards him, it's hateful intent is clear.
This provokes James into acts of desperation as his Cavalry charge two of the Titans in a sheer act of defiance. Salamanders move into position to fry the survivors.



To the rear of the ruins the PDF forces are thrown into confusion as the Sabre IFV's and Sentinels try to pull back within the next defensive line and the protection of the heavier guns.

_________________
My head is full of War...

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