Here is a small scenario I am developing for Chroma / Moscovians supplement.

This is loosely based on "Market Garden", the allied operation to cross the Rhine in WWII where allied troops had to try to link up to a small force of paratroopers that were holding Arnhem bridge. Here, the 'Imperium' player is trying to rescue a distant group of miners that have upset the local Eldar.

Though the Eldar have strong assault capabilities, they have to get their troops onto the table first. Equally, the 'Imperium' have reasonably strong formations to defend the miners, but can they hang on long enough?

Game notes to follow.

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

Nick asked me for a game and graciously agreed to try this scenario out.

We decided to use slightly smaller armies than suggested in the scenario to see if it worked. Apart from the Miners formation, the standard book armies were used with the latest FAQ and errata.

'Imperium' (Imperial Guard)       2500
Miners                                                   (Free)
Leman Russ tank company  + Hydra   700
Super Heavy Tank company + Hydra   550
Infantry company + Hydra                   300
Warhound                                            250
Artillery battery                                    250
Thunderbolts                                       150
Sentinels                                             100
Sentinels                                             100
Sentinels                                             100

Eldar   2500
Aspect Warhost + Autarch, Exarch        400
Swooping Hawks + Exarchs                  325
Warp Spiders + Exarchs                        325
Jet Bikes                                                200
Jet Bikes                                                200
Vampire                                                 200
Vampire                                                 200
Vampire                                                 200
Guardians                                             150
Rangers (5)                                           125
Rangers (5)                                           125
Wraith Gate                                             50

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

As the 'Imperium' my strategy was to use the IG forces as blockers to permit the miners to get home. A very important rule here is the principle that an attacker is not allowed to enter any Zones of Control except for the formation being attacked. So I planned to mask the miners with other formations as best I could

Since we had reduced the size of the armies, I could only use 600 points of troops, so the infantry company and two sentinels were deployed forward, while the remaining troops were put on the baseline. As the SHT move slowly, I put them on the road in the ruined city which was not ideal. (tanks do not like built-up areas!

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

Turn #1

As wierd things started to happen near the 'alien' object, the Miners decided to mount up and doubled through the fortified encampment of the infantry company that had been sent forward to protect them, arriving just on the otherside and under the additional protection of two Sentinel formations.

Eager to end things quickly, the Wraithgate pulsed into life and some Eldar jetbikes screamed out assaulting the encamped infantry company. Six infantry units on OW were alert enough to open fire dropping a jetbike, but the remainder slammed into the infantry killing a defender for no further loss. Confusion reigned as the assault continued with jetbikes buzzing low over barricades, but eventually the defenders dropped a further four jetbikes winning the engagement. (phew, a close call). In their rear, Eldar rangers (#1) started sniping from the nearby woods picking off a sentinel from Sentinel #1.

The Commander of the armoured rescue force ordered the Leman Russ to clear up the second group of Rangers, but doubling forward spoiled their aim so no hits were scored. Anxious to clear a path for the retreating Miners, the commander ordered the Warhound to engage the same target, but the signal was broken up by the ruined city, so the Warhound merely advanced a little.

Eldar communications fared little better as a garbled message to the airborne Warp Spider formation failed to get through, and the Eldar supreme commander could only fume impatiently as he had not yet landed.

Desperately trying to clear the woods, the Super Heavy Tanks rolled slowly forwards through the city but also failed to target any of the elusive Rangers.

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

Determined to take control, the Eldar supreme commander ordered his own vampire to assault the infantry company. The attached Hydra barked into life damaging the Vampire as it approached, but the pilot regained control landing amidst the wreckage of the jetbikes. In the ensuing assault three more defending infantry and the Hydra were felled while the Eldar lost a Striking Scorpion that was trying to clear some of the buildings. But the infantry had had enough and streamed past the Miners in an attempt to regain the relative safety of the distant ruins.

Now, only the Zone on Control exerted by the sentinels was preventing the Eldar from attacking the Miners, who were starting to sweat a little within their Rhinos chugging along the road to safety behind the fleeing Infantry.

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

A flight of Imperial ThunderBolts finally appeared on CAP, just in time to intercept another Vampire full of Guardians on their way to assaulting the weakened sentinels. This Vampire was also damaged as it closed on the Sentinels, but also managed to land safely, and the guardians made short work of their opponents wiping out the sentinels for no loss, and leaving the Miners almost totally unprotected. Only the second formation of sentinels shielded them from oblivion!

In a bold move, these Sentinels advanced ahead of the miners shooting on the elusive second group of Rangers. A lucky hit was scored which finally broke the Rangers who nevertheless decided to continue holding onto the woods, continuing to block the retreat of the Miners to safety.

This left the Miners totally exposed, but the Eldar had also run out of formations to activate (very close call)

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

The last group of Sentinels marched forward to provide another "pocket" for the miners to hide in next turn while the artillery pounded the broken rangers scoring one hit.

End of turn
The Infantry company failed to rally, but with their path blocked by the Ranger formations they withdrew further East on the flank of the sentinel groups (and hopefully acting as a screen from that direction).

Likewise the Eldar Rangers failed to rally, so remained broken and cowering in the woods

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

Turn #2
Nick suggested that it was more appropriate if the Imperial player should go first in every turn, not least because it is very difficult to defend from aerial attacks.

After some consideration, the Eldar commander ordered the Swooping Hawks to deploy near the routing Infantry company (boy was I glad I decided to rout the infantry company there!) while the bloody handed Avatar materialised near the Guardian Farseer - the Eldar really meant business and no mistake!

The miners continued their headlong withdrawal nestling between the two Sentinel formations, and screened by them and the infantry company from the 'Hawks. But this left their other flank somewhat exposed, so the Leman Russ were ordered to double forwards to cover that weakness while engaging the nearby intact Ranger formation. However, at that precise moment, other radio traffic jammed the airwaves and the message failed to get through!!!

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

Instead of advancing, the tanks contented themselves with taking pot shots at the Rangers who fled in terror.

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

Siezing the initiative, the Eldar Guardians assaulted and pulverised the nearby Sentinel formation to dust, exposing the rear of the Miners column to the Avatar, which strode forward menacingly. . .

The Rhino armour proved surprisingly resistant to the Avatar's attacks, and even more surprisingly a wrench lobbed by one of the miners hit and momentarily stunned the God-like figure.

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

Taken aback by this afront, the guardians opened up in support blowing the tracks off a Rhino, but the Avatar reeled back from the assault (assault resolution +1 to the miners!!).

The Eldar retained a second time in a desperate attempt to clinch victory before the Super Heaviy tanks could intervene, and this time the Warp Spiders heeded the order. The Vampire came in low over the heads of the fleeing infantry, out of range of the Hydras attached to the two tank formations who could only watch with frustration as the Warp Spiders piled out into the attack.

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

Using their Death Spinners, the Warp Spiders instantly killed three miners, but then two Spiders fell victim to well aimed wrenches and hammers flung by the remaining desperate miners who were cowering behind their Rhinos.

However, distracted by this latest attack, the miners failed to notice the guardians creeping forward on the blind side of the vehicles, and the finally they fell victim to the overwhelming supporting fire of the guardians.

Result
Eldar victory

(so close, yet so far)

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

Well, that was a surprisingly exciting game, many thanks to Nick for letting me take the photos throughout.

Afterwards, we discussed the scenario, and Nick did feel that the Eldar had too much flexibility, though failed activations on both sides did play their part. Key here was the failure of the Leman Russ to cover the flank and rear of the miners. We did consider putting two wraithgates out more centrally on the table, and also limiting the number of air formations. However, it is not clear how to do this without upsetting some of the constraints imposed on the Eldar deployment capabilities.

It is always going to be hard to extract the miners because of the nature of the game, but it is also great fun to try, and a welcome change from the tournament style game. If you do try the scenario, please write it up and also let us know of any recomended changes.

_________________
"Play up and play the game"

Vitai lampada
Sir Hemry Newbolt

Thanks for the report, a nice idea.

As I recall seeing similar scenarios to this in the past, it's generally necessary to limit air assault/teleport units, otherwise it can all be over rather quickly...

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http://hordesofthings.blogspot.co.nz/

Great report, very enjoyable. a valiant effort by the Guard. Most stuborn award goes to those Rangers.

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My head is full of War...

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