Third in the series for Birka II in the Alfakta campaign.
http://alfakta.org/index.php

Used Handbook 2008 Ulthwe, and Tyranids 9.1 with sniper lictors and +2 to rally mods. Forces were:

Tyranids (same as last two times):
Dominatrix, 3 Trygons.
Hydraphant
Hierophant
Hierophant
Synapse Node, 2 Dactylis, 4 Termis
2 Tyrants, 6 Carnis
2 Tyrants, 6 Carnis
3 Warriors, 12 Hormis, 12 Termis
3 Warriors, 8 Hormis, 16 Termis
1 Harridan, 4 Gargoyles
1 Harridan, 4 Gargoyles
6 Genestealers
4 Lictors

Ulthwe:
Black Guardians, Platforms.
Guardians, Wraithguard, platforms
Guardians, Wraithguard, platforms
Guardians, Wraithguard, platforms
3 Scorpions
2 Cobras
1 Stormserpent
1 Stormserpent
3 Falcon, 1 Firestorm, 1 Fire Prism
3 Falcon, 1 Firestorm, 1 Fire Prism
8 Rangers
4 Howling Banshees, Exarch
1 Jetbikes, 5 Vypers
Phoenix Bombers
Vampire

Setup below

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Turn 1:

The Tyranids rush the Eldar line in traditional fashion.

Over on the tyranid left flank the Eldar attack the flank of tyranid swarm with a guardian host from a Stormserpent, prepping for assault. However the Genestealers launch an assault supported by a Harridan and nearby gaunts.

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In a brutal combat, the Ulthwe host is wiped out, a single genestealer brood surviving the melee.

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The Ulthewe counterattack with another Storm Serpent and Guardian Host, routing the Harridan which flaps off with only a single damage point remaining.

Over on the right, a solid line of tyranids lines up the Ulthwe positions. Eldar Rangers snipe two tyranid warrior broods, endangering the synapse control of the rightmost gaunt swarm.

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End of turn 1... eldar rangers feel nervous.

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Turn 2:

Avatar appears behind the Rangers, Lictors behind the Black Guardians on the hill near the Eldar Blitz.

Ulthwe win Strategy roll and unexpectedly assault the Lictors with Howling Banshees from the Gate! With firefight support from the Black Guardians the Lictors are cut down for the loss of 2 Banshee squads.

The Cobras then sustain fire killing four Carnis, a Tyrant and some Gaunts.

The Hydraphant assualts the Rangers and the intermingled Avatar.
The Avatar heroically charges into close combat with the Hydraphant hoping for a lucky hit. Not to be, hungry hyngry hydraphant slays the Avatar and all the Rangers for the loss of 2 wounds. Nearby Eldar formations take blast markers as they see the Avatar destroyed.

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On the left the gaunt swarm assaults the guardian host and intermingled grav tanks. 8 Hormagaunt broods are slain, but the eldar lose 3 grav tanks, 3 guardians and a Wraithguard, and lost the combat resolution roll by 1. The gaunts follow up the fleeing eldar.

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The Eldar move formations towards Tyranid objectives, with jetbikes sweeping from a Stormserpent to take the Tyranid Blitz.

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The tyranids continue to scuttle towards the Eldar blitz, routing all but the Scorpions, and destroying the Cobras.

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Turn 3:

The Eldar Scorpions march to claim the right-most tyranid objective, and a Guardian host wipes out the swarm defending the tyranid blitz. Eldar hold all 3 tyranid objectives.

The Tyranids wipe out Eldar formations around the Eldar blitz who haven't got out of the way in time, and race back to attack the Eldar grav tanks that soared overhead and got behind them. The Scorpions survive the incoming bioplasma and biocannon fire, but the objective is contested as bio-titans arrive in force.

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Jetbikes on the Tyranid blitz go on overwatch, opening fire as a Harridan flaps back over the hill to defend the objective. The Vyper jetbikes score two hits, but the Harridan armour deflects them.

Activations fizzle out on both sides, with Tyranids holding the Eldar blitz and a take and hold objective, and the Eldar now only a single take and hold objective which is not enough to give them a victory condition by itself. 2-0 victory to the Tyranids.

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Conclusions:

Once again the Harridans prove vital with their long move, one flapping 105cm back to contest it's own blitz this game in turn 3 at a crucial time. Had it not made it, the game would have gone another turn, as the Eldar were holding one of the other tyranid objectives over on the left flank. In fact the Eldar might even have won if they had managed to get a unit zipping back to their own blitz and stopped the Harridan.

Eldar playing an evade game has potential to be frustrating for bugs, but fortunately I managed to catch and maul quite a few of them this game. Glad to not be facing a Phantom Titan, though Stormserpents always cause a headache!

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As always that was a pleasure to read. There is something quite pleasing about Tyranids. I think it's the amount you get to put on the table. Pity the Avatar didn't last a while longer. That would have been Epic if he had seen off that Bio-Titan.

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My head is full of War...

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

And yet another lovely report from Markconz!
So far it seem as three straight victories in the battle for Birka I.
How does the Devaour faction manage against the humans on Stidsvik then?

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