Turn OneThe Eldar commander (Tim_nz) concluded that the Broadside Suits occupying the small woods and high ground
on his left flank were dominating too much of the battlefield with their overwatch fire positions.
Perfect targets for Fire Prisms.
And for Revenants, who moved out at the double out, shot and retired back; in a kaleidoscope of fractal emissions.
Next a Storm Serpent moved forward ot lay fire on the Recon Formation in the dead ground behind
the Broadsides previous position. Now broken the Broadsides can be seen sitting in behind them.
Nothing like a triple retain to get you started.
Kor’elan orbital support responded to the threat and the Protector’s pin-point attacks dealt with it.
Falcons and their Fire Storms moved forward to deal with the Recon Group.
“I knew there was a reason why I don’t usually deploy them in woods.”
But here all of them managed to dodge the branches, took out the Tetras
and then dropped down into cover behind the woods.
Indirect fire from the two supporting Piranha formations first knocked out two then another three
of the Swords of Vaul. The broken survivor fled. Coordinated Fire ensured both formations activated
on the one initiative roll. Markerlights targeted the Eldar. Guided Missiles fired indirect on Sustained Fire missions;
turning AT6+ into 4+ shots. The first formation left the target unbroken and still in range for the second round of fire.
Guardians decided they were not ready to move forward. They re-grouped and remained hidden.
With the opposing forces widely separated, the closest at 60 cm and most over 90 away,
both commanders were struggling to find an advantageous way to break the deadlock.
Another Sword of Vaul formation moved forward. This time two Falcons got caught
on the branches extracting themselves from the branches.
A mechanized Fire Warrior Cadre moved forward to markerlight the Eldar tanks and take up a screening
position. Two gaps in the trees were successfully negotiated by the vehicles moving into the woods.
The Aspect Warriors, reluctant to advance into an exposed position, went onto overwatch.
On the far flank the Stealth Group moved forward to screen the Eldar Wraithgate.
And a Jetbike formation in the webway refused to activate.
Research, after the game, on the use of Portals suggests that we played that incorrectly.
I remembered some discussion on these august boards. But could not remember where,
couldn’t find it in the rules. So we did what we had both previously thought was right.
Jet Bikes failed activation, in webway, so they did a hold-regroup and the portal was considered used.
The rules as I understand it [please correct/confirm] should have meant:
Jetbikes failed to activate.
Normally they therefore have to take a Hold-Move action and make a single move out onto the table,
with a blast marker. The gate has been used.
In the situation in the photo the Stealth Suit’s scout zone of control covers the gate.
Therefore the Jetbikes are moving into a zone of control.
The only action that allows this is an Engage.
They failed activation, cannot move into the ZoC with a Hold-Move action
so remain in the webway, with a blastmarker. The gate has not been used.
They can attempt to rally the blast marker off at the end of the turn.
More generally a zone of control over the gate means only an Engage action can be used to enter the table.
The formation is moving from off-board into a ZoC. If an enemy unit is physically on the gate the assault it into close combat.
[Do you make room for them all to come out? Or only two units fight and the rest come out if they win on the consolidation move?].
Discussion mostly here:
Activation of Formations in reserve in Webway/portal?FAQs for 5.6.3 can be found somewhere here:
Tournament Pack FAQsSome relevant FAQs seem to also be in the Necron Special Rules section !!?
Having carefully conserved activations in the initial fencing with the invaders,
the Tau commander looked forward to positioning troops to increase the pressure
on the Eldar huddled around their initial deployment positions.
A ground attack run on the lone, broken, Falcon looked ideal;
BM at 45 cm range to send them packing.
Alas, . . . it was not to be, . . . THREE 1s for activation, . . . in a row.
While I’m on the delights of an Initiative 2+ Army, . . .
Following the successful Kor’vattra [Tau Fleet] strike on the Storm Serpent,
orbital assets were unable to locate the Eldar Titans sufficiently accurately for a follow on attack.
The lack of Eldar air assets over the battlefield led to a redeployment Kor’oni [Lit. Air Caste, Cover] to other theatres.
Despite the game going to four turns the Barracudas never did made an appearance; four 1s for four turns.
Without a Shas’o directing operations [no supreme re-roll] command devolved to the Ethereal on site.
Deployed with the largest Fire Warrior Cadre [BTS} the Ethereal, despite Vior’la training, did not move
for the first three turns; three 1s for the first three turns.
End of Turn One
