For this battle I used the old V9.0 Nid list but updated the spawning to match that of the latest release. Basically I wanted to use the last list but kinda ran outta time to print it off!!  

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The Tyranid presence on Gulliver's Reach was almost extinguished. The Imperial Navy had destroyed the alien fleet in space whilst it had been deploying their swarms from low orbit. With no more reinforcements at hand, the Imperial Guard had spent just over four years and hundreds of thousands of lives pushing the Tyranid host back into the Grevastapol peninsula. However, with the Kerch Worlds Crusade underway, the Imperial Guard was stripped of valuable reserves and therefore were unable to keep up their offensive.

The Blood Angels had arrived on Gulliver's reach two years ago - they had been hunting down splinter groups in the more inhospitable regions of the planet. With this task accomplished, they were tasked with hunting down and destroying the last of the Tyranid redoubts...

Tyranids

Dominatrix
Exocrines x2
Malefactors x2

Tyranid Warriors
Raveners
Termagaunts x3
Hormagaunts

Tyranid Warriors
Raveners
Termagaunts x3
Hormagaunts

Hive Tyrant with wings
Gargoyles x2

Hierodule, Barbed


Blood Angels

Tactical Det

Terminator Det

Vindicator Det

Vindicator Det

Land Raider Det

Land Raider Det

Warhound Titan

2x Marauder Bombers

DEPLOYMENT
We had two objectives: a downed Thunderhawk near the woods and a BioTitan weapon on the hill just east of the factory complex. The blitz objectives were to the rear of the Hive Group and to the north of Vindicator Det Bellum.



Blood Angels
On the left flank were Vindicator Det Bellum. In the centre was the Warhound titan Gladius Venator, with the Land Raider Detachments Ferrum and Turbatus. On the right flank was the Vindicator Det Durus and the Tactical Det Incursus.

Tyranids
On their left flank was Assault Group Alpha, with Assault Group Beta in the centre. To the north of Beta, the Dominatrix was leading her Hive Group. The right flank was held by a Hierodule and the Attack Group

Turn One
Marines win the initiative, as they continue to do so for the rest of the game!!



Revving their engines, the Rhinos of Tac Det Incursus sped down the right flank. At the same time, the Hierodule bounded off down the Tyranids right flank, screeching as it sensed it's enemies nearby.

The Land Raiders of Turbatus moved forward, taking hold of the crossroads to their front. Meanwhile in the distance on the Tyranid right flank,  the Hive Tyrant bounded over the landscape followed by swarms of Gargoyles, follwing the Hierodule.

Vindicator Det Bellum redeployed from it's position to the north, speeding around behind the Land Raiders of Turbatus. With the Blood Angels pushing a lot of units towards them, Assault Group Alpha rushed forward to meet them, taking position amongst the ruins to their front. Just as they made it, Marauders of the Imperial Navy dropped napalm, taking down few of their number.


Assault Group Alpha rushes forward to greet the Tactical Marines

The Dominatrix now led her Hive Group towards the crossroads, seeing a tempting target arrogantly standing in defiance before her. With the Tyranid army now mobilizing, the Vindicators of Durus moved forward and took up a defensive position on the ridge just to the rear of the forward Blood Angel elements.

Assault Group Beta now rushed forward to support their queen, hoping to act as a meat shield to protect the Hive Group against any incoming fire. War horns blaring, Gladius Venator now strode forwards to keep a watchful eye on the advancing Nids, the Land Raiders of Ferrum following in its wake.


The two armies advance upon eachother

End Phase - the Tyranid Assault Group Alpha respawned two stands out of the three it had lost in the bomber attack.

Turn Two



With their auspex showing movement up ahead, the marines of Tac Det Incursus debused and move into cover, readying their weapons. However, Incursus were not to be the first to be slain of the Angels of Death - Assault Group Beta charged forwards, their powerful muscles carrying them into close combat with the Land Raiders of Turbatus. Although their armour was strong, the vehicles were heavily outnumbered and were totally wiped out.

Seeing their comrades destroyed, the Vindicators of Bellum turned and opened fire with the heavy cannon, taking down the first rank of aliens. But it was not to be the last of the slaughter - as soon as the Vindicator's smoke cleared, Assault Group Alpha bounded through the ruins and woodland in front of Tac Det Incursus. Although they were heavily outnumbered, the valiant marines fought with the red fury pumping through their veins. Incursus was wiped out, but they took a lot of the vile aliens with them. As Assault Group Alpha finished off the last Tactical marine, the Marauders returned, bombing them and whittling down their numbers further.


The Tyranids sweep into the Blood Angels - reaping a terrible harvest

Whilst the main battle was raging in the centre and south of the battlefield, the Hierodule continued bounding further round the rear of the beleaguered Blood Angels. The Land Raiders of Ferrum opened fire on the victorious Assault Group Beta but their fire was mostly ineffectual. The Hive Tyrant with it's Gargoyles followed the Hierodules lead, heading round the rear of the enemy forces.

Gladius Venator dug its huge feet into the tarmac of the junction and opened fire with a torrent of heavy firepower, adding to Ferrum's efforts. In reply, the Hive Group opened fire - the Dominatrix and her Exocrines punishing the Warhound for it's toil. With it's voids knocked down and it's armour bubbling with bio-acid, Gladius Venator withdrew further up the road, whilst its resident Tech-Priest tried to repair the damage.


Gladius Venator withdraws, it's void shields shattered.

End Phase - Assault Group Beta respawned a couple of stands that it lost to Gladius Venator and the Land Raiders of Ferrum.

Turn Three



There was a sudden whirlwind in amongst Assault Group Alpha as the Terminators teleported directly into combat. The valiant heroes fought against the odds and paid for it with their blood. Although they caused many casualties, the numbers were against them and they were forced to withdraw.

With revenge in his heart, the princeps of Gladius Venator moved the Warhound forwards - firing at Assault Group Beta at point blank range, taking down a few more stands. The Hierodule tried to continue it's massive flanking maneuver but there must have been an interruption with the hive mind as it failed it's activation - the massive beast moved into cover behind a hill.

Land Raider Det Ferrum was in danger of being swamped by Assault Group Beta. With this in mind, they put their feet down and floored it! Swinging round the flank past Alpha they positioned themselves to contest the objective. Whilst the Land Raiders were mobilising, the Vindicators of Bellum opened fire killing a few stands of Beta.

The Dominatrix was growing tired of Gladius Venator's impudent efforts to destroy her swarm. The Hive Group opened fire once again on the Imperial Titan, battering down it's voids and this time putting two damage points on it. The Titan swayed to the side, losing it's footing momentarily as the princeps fought to stay in control.


The Warhound staggers under the torrent of Tyanid bio-weapons

Durus now moved off their defensive position on the ridge into range of Assault Group Alpha - they pumped a few shells into the swarm, taking down a few stands. Alpha continued to be the target of the Marauders as they returned with more napalm death; whittling down their numbers further.

The Hive Tyrant with it's Gargoyles in tow bounded over to the marines lines, taking control of the blitzkrieg objective.

The Raveners and Hormagaunts of Assault Group Beta charged screeching into Gladius Venator. The Titan was enveloped by the alien swarm; their claws ripping open it's hull and destroying vital components. As the vile aliens fought their way inside, the crew desperately tried to defend themselves with shotguns but it was not enough; They and their engine were doomed. With a few pitiful internal explosions, the Titan keeled over, smoke rising from its corpse - signaling the end of the battle.


Gladius Venator is destroyed with tooth and claw


With Gladius Venator lost and many of his battle brothers fallen the Blood Angels commander ordered an immediate withdrawal back to their defensive positions.

Result
A win for the Tyranids with Blitzkrieg and Take and Hold objectives. I'm pretty sure they achieved the BTS goal too.

This was a game where my mates dice rolls were really against him. In a lot of the close combat, the combat resolution rolls for him were atrocious! Whereas my dice were just too good. I think if the dice god had been fairer, perhaps the game would have been more balanced.

Nice report and photos!   Poor Blood Angels.

How do you do the see through arrows on the photos btw? They're really good more making it obvious what's going on and I might like to do similar when I start posting my own reports down the line (nb I have paint, photoshop, etc I just don't know how to use them more than basically).

Have you photoshopped the gaming table on top of a pic of your garden?

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I was guessing playing in a conservatory? (if so good place to)

Thanks!!

The arrows are all created with the pen tool (vector) in Photoshop - I then add a 70% opacity to them using colour.

We've got a big lean-to shelter at the back of the house which is open to the garden.

It seemed like an ideal choice with the lovely weather but the heat did melt a few things...  

As you can see in the photos, the roads got a bit curvey too!!  

Is that open source Hena? If so even us windows users that can't afford photoshop might be interested!

Nice report. One question what size is the board your using?

Thanks for that Hena - i'd totally forgotten in my rush to get the army outta hiding! I was packed away in about two dozen different boxes!  

As it was the Hierodule was pretty much wasted as it didn't kill anything, nor claim any objectives. Also it was the only Nid unit to fail an activation.