WOOT! Got in two games of EPIC today, both against Drek; he had brought two Eldar variant armies, first was Eldar Titan Clan and second was a Alaitoc.

The pointy-eared Cads went up against Tyranids this time, with some Bug changes to test.

I'll post the armies and follow-up with the battle reports later.

Rules Used

Epic Update 2008
NetEA Recommendations
Alaitoc v2.5
Tyranids v9.2.1 – with changes

No “control range” for Synapse Swarm coherency only reorganization
Assault Group – 3 Tyranid Warriors – 100 points
Ravener – CC4+ +1EA
Assault Spawn Cluster – Include Exocrine (3)


Scenario

Tournament Scenario

Armies Used


The Tattered Host - 3000 Points

Avatar

Wraithgate

Ranger Warhost 1
4 Ranger units
4 Falcons

Ranger Warhost 2
4 Ranger units
4 Falcons

Swords of Vaul Troupe 1
3 Falcons
2 Firestorms

Swords of Vaul Troupe 2
1 Firestorm
5 Fire Prisms

Guardian Warhost
Farseer
4 Guardian units
3 Heavy Weapon Platforms

Windrider Troupe 1
4 Jetbikes
2 Vypers

Windrider Troupe 2
4 Jetbikes
2 Vypers

Aspect Warrior Troupe
4 Warp Spiders
Exarch
2 Swooping Hawks
Autarch

Revenant Titans – (BTS Target)
2 Revenants



Ulcoran Tendril Fleet - 3000 Points

BTS Target – Nine Synapse Creatures

Assault Swarm 1
3 Tyranid Warriors
3 Zoanthropes
4 Termagants
3 Hormagaunts
4 Raveners
3 Gargoyles

Assault Swarm 2
3 Tyranid Warriors
2 Zoanthropes
4 Termagants
3 Hormagaunts
4 Raveners
3 Gargoyles

Assault Swarm 3
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Termagants
3 Hormagaunts
3 Gargoyles
7 Exocrine

Assault Swarm 4
3 Tyranid Warriors
4 Termagants
3 Hormagaunts
4 Raveners
3 Gargoyles
2 Exocrine

Harrassment Swarm 1
1 Harridan

Harrassment Swarm 2
1 Harridan

Lictor Swarm
3 Lictors

Genestealer Swarm
8 Genestealers

Battlefield:

4x6

Alaitoc chose long edge.


Deployment:

Alaitoc kept the Aspect Warriors Troupe and both Windrider Troupes in the Webway.

Tyranids kept the Lictors in reserve.

Alaitoc garrisoned both Ranger Warhosts on overwatch.

Tyranids garrisoned the Genestealers, also on overwatch… don’t think the Hive Mind doesn’t have a sense of humour!

Remaining deployment as shown:

Turn 1

The Lictors show up deep inside enemy territory to harass the Eldar… they get 1 Blast marker on arrival.



Strategy Roll: TYRANIDS!!! And the Hive Mind is momentarily stunned.

For the first time in recorded history, Lictors go first in the first turn, engaging the Revenants and moving to avoid Ranger overwatch fire. (I probably shouldn’t have been so cautious, as tripping that mass of overwatch might’ve been worth the 150 point sacrifice… but I wanted the Lictors to actually *do* something… *laugh*) One Revenant takes 1DC damage… and then the Lictors are no more… the Revenants reposition to get closer to the action…



And *action* they get, as Swarm 3 advances to bring massed Exocrine fire to bear on them… doing 1DC damage. (It was kinda fun having a very shooty Tyranid army…)

The Revenants, now partially suppressed, commit to a hit-and-run double against Swarm 3, take out a single Exocrine, and return to their position.

Harridan 1 pops-up and advances to fire on the Revenants for a Blast marker.

Swords of Vaul 1 pop-up and double to fire on Harridan 1 for a single DC of damage.

Swarm 4 then surges forward on a double and puts a Blast marker on Swords of Vaul 1…

Which is the signal for the Genestealers to engage them!



The Genestealers, of course, do no damage, and then, surprisingly, the Falcons do no damage, and then cunningly, the supporting Swarm 4 does do some damage and the Eldar tanks are wiped out in resolution! (That worked according to plan… I was shocked!)



Rangers 2 advance to fire on Swarm 4 taking out 2 Raveners and 1 Exocrine.

Harridan 2 pops-up and advances to put another Blast marker on the Revenants… getting awful close there!

Swords of Vaul 2 double from their position to ground Harridan 1 like a European airliner in an ash cloud.

Swarm 1 makes a lateral march to get into a better position.

The Aspect Troupe marches out of the Gate, also jockeying for a better position.

Swarm 2 marches forward into the cover of ruins.

The Guardian Warhost marches into the woods, getting dangerously close to the Genestealers.

Ranger Warhost 1 advances on Swarm 2 and crisps 3 Raveners…



End of Turn

Everything rallies.

Swarms 2, 3, and 4 all return a single Ravener.

Swarm 1 gets back 2 Raveners.

Turn 2

Here comes the Avatar!



Strategy Roll: Alaitoc… on a tie!

The Avatar takes the Guardians in a combined assault against the Genestealers… staying just outside their large zone of control. The chittering Bugs can do nothing but die and are completely wiped out. Both Eldar formations roll forward for the next step…



Which required the Autarch’s gentle words to initiate as the Aspect Troupe then engages the intermingled Swarm 4 and Harridan 2!



All tolled, the Tyranids lose 3 Gaunts, 2 Raveners, 2 Gargoyles, and an Exocrine… the Eldar lose a Swooping Hawk. The Bugs “wisely” back off…



Ranger Warhost 2 then sustains fire on Swarm 2 taking out 2 Raveners and 2 Warriors! (Things are not looking good for the Bugs!)

Swarm 2 surges forward to take on the pesky Rangers 1.



They take out 2 Rangers, but lose 3 Gargoyles in the process and wind up losing by “1” Hormagant and break. (Yep, definitely not looking good for the Tyranids)



Swarm 3 sustains fire on the Revenants, doing 1DC damage, but still no Titans fall.

Swords of Vaul 2 pop-up and advance on Swarm 1… and take out *three* Zoanthropes!

Rangers 2 perform a hit-and-run double on Swarm 1 that drops 2 Raveners.

Swarm 1 then engages the Guardians… scores a mere three hits… which takes out 3 Guardians… lose 2 Raveners and a Hormagaunt… and then win by “1”, which takes out the Farseer! A subdued cheer goes up from the Bugs.



Windriders 1, in the Webway, fail to engage and decide to forfeit their action, allowing the Wraithgate to remain in play.

Windriders 2 then use the ‘Gate to engage Harridan 2 doing 1DC damage and losing a Jetbike, but still winning…



And they pursue the fleeing monstrosity.



The Revenants then sustain fire on Swarm 1… and kill 2 Hormagaunts…



End of Turn

The Guardians fail to rally.

Harridan 2 fails to rally.

Swarm 1 gets back a Ravener.

Swarm 2 spawns 3 Hormagants.

Swarm 3 spawns 2 Termagants.

Swarm 4 spawns 1 Ravener.

Turn 3

No teleports.

Strategy Roll: Alaitoc

The Revenants advance and pummel Swarm 3, taking out 3 Exocrine.

Swords of Vaul 2 also advance and hit Swarm 3, taking out 2 Exocrine and 1 Tyranid Warrior.

Swarm 3 responds… but engaging Swords of Vaul 2! Only 2 Gaunts go down and two Fire Prisms crash… and then the Bugs win by “2” and move forward…



…as Swarm 2 pounced on the Revenants…



Three Hormagaunts are squished underfoot, but both elegant war machines are brought toppling to the ground and the Tyranids feast on the goo within.



Rangers 1 sustain fire on Swarm 2 killing 2 Zoanthropes and 1 Warriors, leaving the swarm Synapse-less and broken… the confused creatures move towards Swarm 3.

The Aspect Warhost engages Swarm 1… 1 Ravener and 1 Gargoyle goes down… as does 1 Warp Spider… and the Warp Spider with Exarch… resulting in… A TIE! The next round sees the Aspect Warriors wiped out for the cost of a Gargoyle… the Tyranids begin to do the “happy dance”…



Swarm 1 engages Rangers 2, dropping 2 Falcons while losing 2 Gargoyles and 1 Ravener…



And then lose by 2… *sigh* The victorious Eldar move to surround the fleeing Tyranids.



And then sustain fire on them scaring away a Termagant and killing a Warrior, which scares away another Termagant leaving a very lonely Warrior in the woods…

Windriders 1 still can’t seem to get it together and they hold, moving out of the Wraithgate at an embarrassed pace.

Swarm 4 doubles, spreading wide to hold the Tyranid Blitz and Eldar Objective 1.

Windriders 2 advance on Harridan 2… but do no damage…



End of Turn

All rally.

Swarm 1 gets back a Termagant.

The remains of Swarm 2 are absorbed by Swarm 3 which also spawns 2 Hormagaunts.

Swarm 4 spawns 2 Hormagaunts.


Score:

Alaitoc 2 (BTS, DTF) vs Tyranids 2 (BTS, DTF) – On to Turn 4!

---
A single Eldar Ranger prevented the Tyranids from getting TSNP.

While a battered Harridan and a single Tyranid Warrior rallying prevented it for the Eldar.

I don’t think I’ve seen a game this close… *laugh*

Turn 4

No teleports.

Strategy Roll: Alaitoc

Rangers 2 advance on Swarm 1… and only place a Blast marker.

Windriders 1 finally get in the game and engage Swarm 1, taking no loses and leaving a single Tyranid Warrior standing.



Harridan 2 advances onto the Eldar Blitz and drops a Jetbike from Windriders 2.

Swords of Vaul 2 doubles on a hit-and-run to try and tag the last Harridan, but only put a Blast marker on it.

Swarm 3 engages Rangers 1, loses a Gargoyle and a Ravener and wipes the Eldar out.



In a desperate gamble, Windriders 2 engage Harridan 2… do no damage and are wipes out in turn… the Harridan nestles into the Eldar Blitz with a toothy smile…




End of Turn

All rally.

Spawning is unimportant at this stage.


Score

Alaitoc 1 (BTS) vs Tyranids 4 (Blitz, BTS, DTF, TSNP) – Strong Tyranid Victory!

That should be Swarm 2...

I was also a little surprised by the loss of the Falcons - what were they doing out there all alone within charge range?

Also kinda curious why no Nightspinners were taken? They would have been ideal against a horde army like this. Kind of surprised that the Revenants were left open to teleports as well, especially given the no. of rangers kicking around

I believe my opponent thought they'd be "immune" to attacks from Genestealers, not anticipating scoring *no* hits with Falcons in FF nor the very good rolling for support fire. Even a few dead 'Stealers would've made a big difference.


We play "blind" when we test things, so my opponent had no idea he'd be facing Nids with this army (nor I that I'd be facing Alaitoc), so the Nightspinners aren't an "obvious" choice all the time.

As to the "open" Revenants... well, I don't think my opponent expected my to drop my tiny Lictor squad Turn 1... nor that the Tyranids would be going first against Eldar! *laugh* Live and learn...

I kinda figured that'd be the case Chroma, though for 175pts they're a cheap and sometimes very effective activation.

I dunno, whenever I'm facing an army with teleporters/ drop pods/ air assault I always tend to screen my most valuable/ vulnerable units with rangers as it just removes that "damn, now I have to deal with those x/y/z in my back field" element.