1500p: Blood Angels vs Eldar Corsairs (with a twist)

So, in WD400 they talked about games with Game Masters. I've always wanted to play in a game like that, but as they say the best way to get something done is to do it yourself. So I took the scenario from the battle report in WD400, changed it a bit to be more doable for both sides and asked some friends if they wanted to play. And here we are.

The scenario is this:
We have an Imperial Bunker where I (GM) will place three Objectives. These Objectives can only be captured by the Defender, but can be contested by the Attacker. They are worth 1VP each. In the middle of the board there is an artefact, with rules like a Relic from that scenario. This can be captured by the Defender and is worth 3VP. This Artefact is however guarded by a squad of Thousand Sons with a Sorcerer controlled by me (GM), who will try to escape with it on the opposite board edge and fight anything in their way (taking their turn after the two players).
The Attacker on the other hand is doing Killpoints. Pure and simple. However, the Thousand Sons doesn't give away any Killpoint. Both sides also have Slay the Warlord for an extra VP.
I reckon this is roughly balanced for 1500p armies.

And for players we have the defending Blood Angels and the attacking Corsairs! But why would they fight here and now? Simple, the Chaos Sorcerer broke into the Imperial Bunker by night and stole the portable Library containing many of the secrets of the Blood Angels. Secret rites, not often talked about and when they are in whispers. However he was discovered just before dawn, and the Blood Angels mount a force to reclaim their portable library. Meanwhile the Eldar Corsair notice the commotion on their scans, and takes this opportunity to attack the Imperial Bunker in a quick raid to grab whatever goods or values they can, or even capture some slaves to sell to the Dark Eldar.

And well, with all that backstory in place, and me not playing... we'll see if I can't just write this report up in story mode...

Lists (approx.)

Blood Angels
HQ
Librarian - Terminator Armour, Storm Bolter

Troops
10 Tactical Marines - Missile-Launcher, Meltagun
+Rhino
8 Assault Marines - Plasma Pistol

Elites
5 Assault Terminators
5 Terminators
Dreadnought - Missile Launcher, Assault Cannon

Fast Attack
Baal Predator - Flamestorm Cannon

Heavy Support
10 Devastators - 2 Plasma Cannons, 1 Lascannon, 1 Missile Launcher, 2 Heavy Bolters

Eldar Corsairs
HQ
Prince

Troops
10 Corsairs - 2 Missile Launchers, 2 Flamers, Jetpacks
10 Corsairs - 2 Missile Launchers, 2 Flamers, Jetpacks

Elites
8 Harlequinns

Fast Attack
Interceptor

Heavy Support
Warp Hunter
3 Warwalkers - Missile Launchers
3 Warwalkers - Missile Launchers

Deployment.

+++

D'raeldn couldn't quite believe it. He had almost done it. So close!

'Move move move you worthless noisy chunks of metal!' he screamed over the warning sirens to his Rubricae, knowing that they were all ready commanded to move as quickly as they possibly could.

The encryption of the mobile library was much too complex for him to break through on the move. He would need a quite strong ritual to defeat the guarding spirit and get access to it's contents. He wasn't quite sure it would contain the data he was looking for... but he was quite certain he would find some clues on how to reach the Webway on this world. He just WOULD get into the Webway by any means necessary... 

Wait, what was that? His psychic senses detected something... Eldar? No, surely it was just his thoughts about the Webway that confused his senses? Then he saw familiar shapes in the pre-dawn darkness. No, there were really Eldar here. Surrounded... where did they come from?!

+++

'Prepare to teleport in front of those heretics Brothers, we shall pursue from behind so that we may catch them between us. Our sacred texts must be recovered at all costs.' Brother Librarian Michelangelo voxxed to the other Terminators at the teleportation bay.

He saw those dark shapes, barely visible in the pre-dawn gloom. 'Brother Bael, can you catch them?'

Getting hot...

'Affirmative Brother Librarian, I will toast them and you're invited to the party!' the reply came as the screeching sound of the Baal Predators engines started sounding in the dark, and suddenly the darkness was lit up by the flames. Several of the traitor Marines simply melted away.

One of those days... first roll is a yatzy!

 
'Target acquired and well lit, fire!' the voxx came from Brother Didier leading the Devastators. After the barrage only a few of the Traitor Marines were left standing. This would be an easy recovery after all, how could those heretics have thought to succeed with so few?

Left after turn 1.

Librarian chasing the Chaos Sorcerer.

+++

'The Mon-keighs are moving out of the bunker, Prince. Have they detected us?'

'I'm not sure, they seem to be fighting amongst themselves. But bring that Tank down anyway, it's dangerously close!' 

The Corsair Prince was not pleased. This was supposed to be a surprise raid to stop the guard patrols of the supply convoys sent in this system. How had those inferior creatures detected his approach so soon? Lost in these thoughts he heard the whistling sound of missiles fired from the War-walkers... and watched the smoky arc with his keen eyes... and winced in dismay as the missiles simply bounced off the blasted tank. In the distance he could see the bunker lit up by Warp energy unleashed by the Warp Hunter, hopefully that was more successful than the missiles had been. Meanwhile he ordered the advance, staying hidden in these ruins.

+++ 

D'raeldn's Rubricae was falling all around him, only three of the automations was still with him. Blasted Blood Angels. He was trapped between the newly arrived Eldar, but thankfully they seem to ignore him at least. He moved as fast as he could towards those ruins...

+++

'Brother Librarian Michelangelo, the teleportation device is struggling we suspect interference by those heretics while they were inside the bunker. We will be delayed' Veteran Terminator Sergeant Pardos crackling voice came from the voxx caster. Brother Michelangelo was not worried however, he had seen the Chaos Marines futile attempt to harm the mighty Baal Predator... all though those missiles had come from a strange direction... best order the Assault Marines up to retrieve the Mobile Library as soon as possible. He started to get a bad feeling...

+++

D'raeldn watched the last of the Rubricae go down around him. Not good, not good at all... then suddenly those Eldar in front of him let loose their full arsenal in the dawning light... and the Tank behind him went up in flames! Ah, maybe a chance after all! He saw more of those missiles coming in, the Dreadnought went up in a large explosion as well, the flames spreading well over the bunker. Even those hulking Terminators went out by a Warp-blast. D'raeldn felt the psychic presence of the hated Librarian go out. Suddenly it looked as if his pursuers were not so numerous after all... 

He noticed some Eldar in front of him, the only thing between him and freedom. He quickly channelled his focus into hot searing flames, watching those hated Eldar melt before him with glee. He readied himself to charge in and finish the last ones off... but first he had to check to the Library... yes it was still intact. 

When he turned around to start his charge he was suddenly hit square in the chest by a missile and all went black.

+++

'Command, Brother Librarian Michelangelo has gone down, I take command of this situation. We've just landed inside the ruins. There are Xenos here! Seems those heretics weren't so few after all. Take defensive positions now!' Brother Pardo voxxed on all channels.

Behind him the Assault Marines landed on top of the Sacred Library, and he saw them let loose their Bolt Pistols at nearby Eldar forces, but restraining themselves from charging in. Good he thought, that Library is more important than some filthy Xenos.

He watched the movements of the Xenos in front of him while receiving acknowledgements from the forces around the bunker as the repositioned to face the new threat. So few of them all ready? No matter, faith in the Emperor would see them through this day.

+++

'Interceptor to Prince, a lone transport vehicle is sighted. I'll take care of it.'

The pilot watched as all his missiles and lance bursts shot out around the lone Rhino. Not a single hit.

'Erm, Prince... Target still stands.'

---

The Prince himself was much too bust ordering his Corsairs to let loose on the Terminators that had arrived in front of him. A barrage of Shuriken, Plasma missiles and flamers were let loose. He was pleased to see that not a single Mon-keigh was left standing. Surprisingly easy.

He spotted the Jump Marines in the distance and quickly ordered the Warp Hunter to lock on them. The ensuing Warp blast killed most of them, and he was further pleased to note that the last survivor holding some strange artefact was blasted to pieces by missiles without his direct command. Ah, the day was won! 

'They are completely decimated now, we retreat from this field and turn towards the supply convoy instead... this will be a great raid indeed...'

+++

D'raeldn woke up by the shaking ground and as he opened his eyes he saw a large explosion right next to him... he just glimpsed the Portable Library before it was engulfed in the flames...

Blasted Eldar. They had catched on to his plans it seemed. But he would have his revange...

+++


Conclusions

So... it was just one of those days it seemed. The Blood Angels rolled extremely poorly. I think he failed about 50% of his 2+ armour saves... and the fact that the Terminators didn't show up in turn 2 was just adding more bad. Then you combine that with the fact that the Corsairs rolled 'Explodes' for every single penetrating hit they got, and hitting well above average... it turned out very one-sided unfortunately. I mean, when the Dread exploded it took FOUR Devastators with it...
The other part that didn't help was my set up of the board, when I imagined the scenario I thought of the attacked as a close range army, like in the WD-battle report. Instead Corsairs are very much ranged, and I definitely should have thought of this and set the board in a different way. The Bunker should've been in one of the middle sections, that way the Blood Angels would've at least had the chance to have some guns in range... As it were they were completely outranged, and the Devastators only got to shoot once at the Thousand Sons... 
So as a first time GM I learned that I should focus on balance more first, and less on the fun stuff... as it turned out most of my fun stuff never even happened anyway... ah well, until next time! 
 

500p: Black Legion vs Iron Hands

Well, usually we meet up on Wednesdays to paint stuff (hahahaha...) and sometimes roll some dice. So I polled to see if anyone was interested in a small game, and thus prepared a small force... Since it's painting eve I didn't lend much thinking to the list, at 500 points you don't have terribly many choices. So I simply chose some stuff that I need to finish painting - in case there was no game...! No need to think further really as I wasn't sure who'd show up with an army or even how many so... I simply went with "easy to bring".

Tactics? I have a small Deathstar since my HQ is really tooled up and the whole unit (Sacred number!) being AP3 and all. Sorcerer will roll on Biomancy, Telepathy and Tzeentch. With the Aspiring Sorcerer in the same unit I might also try to grant my HQ Sorcerer a lot of extra boons, and we'll see how that works out... (I better bring Spawns...)


LISTS

Black Legion Chaos Space Marines
HQ
Chaos Sorcerer (D'raeldn) - Tzeentch, Level 3, Spell Familiar, Sigil of Corruption, Melta bombs, VotLW

Troops
9 Thousand Sons - Melta bombs
5 Chaos Space Marines


Iron Hands Space Marines
HQ
Librarian - Terminator armour, Stormbolter

Troops
10 Tactical Marines - Missile Launcher, Flamer, Combi-Melta
+Rhino - Stormbolter
5 Scouts - Camocloaks, Sniper Rifles

Heavy Support
Predator - Autocannon


Pre

So it turned out to be Iron Hands to be the only challenger! As we played such a small scale game we went for a 4'x4' board instead of a normal one. We set it up with a large ruin in the middle, just because. Rolled The Relic for mission. Always fun stuff! Vanguard Strike deployment. Warlord traits, he got Scoring unit and I got D3 (=3) units infiltrating. I won the roll off for going first - chose to go first since my whole army was infiltrating anyway and thus deployed after him.
For Psychic powers he got Smite and Life Leach. I got Chaos Boon for my Aspiring Sorcerer just like I wanted, and for my HQ Sorcerer I got Doombolt, Warp Speed and Psychic Shriek.
Rolled for Night Fighting and it was on first turn. He won roll off for deploying Infiltrators first and chose to go second to try and counter deploy me. So I simply grabbed the middle. Then he stole initiative.

+++

D'raeldn and his Thousand Sons were moving carefully towards the large ruin. That book had said an Eldar artefact could be found in these parts. He was certain this must be the place. They had scoured this sector in great detail, and all reports from the scouting parties indicated this must be the spot. But it was a silent night and D'raeldn didn't trust silence. Silence indicated nothing was changing, that all was still - and how could a believer in Tzeentch trust something like that?

He called forth his apprentice, that thick witted Berlm. He motioned him to come closer and said silently 'This silence isn't natural, make the Rubricae move more carefully. We don't want no surprises, not tonight.'

The Aspiring Sorcerer nodded and started to whisper his words of command. D'raeldn made a hand signal to the scouting Chaos Marines in front of him to move into the ruins and then silently followed after them. The building was a mess, but he could definitely sense something now. They were in the right spot for sure. He started to reach out into the building, and there! Something was glimmering under the rubble! He started to move towards it...

'AMBUSH!' the shout came from the Aspiring Champion up ahead, D'raeldn turned around and saw dark shapes climb in from the ruined window up ahead. Space Marines. He felt the old hatred surge up inside of him.

'Up there! On the second floor! Space Marines! Nothing shall stop us now, this knowledge shall be ours! KILL THEM!'

The Rubricae slowly turned their Bolters towards the uper floor, shots started to land among them but none of the Rubricae were affected and their return fire cracked in the night. None were left standing, and the silence returned for moment before it was yet again broken by a shout from the other side of the building,

'Heavy armour incoming!', the words had barely reached D'raeldn before a loud crack sounded and a Rhino suddenly appeared through the ruined wall...

+++



Turn 1 - Iron Hands

So with his stolen initiative he moved everything closer, jumping the Scouts up on the ledge to get a good firing position and the Rhino moved forwards and popped smoke. Snipers did no damage at all, neither did the Predator.


Turn 1 - Black Legion

I started by casting Boon of Chaos on Warlord, got unworthy offering. I then proceeded to cast Warp Speed, just in case I somehow would get charged - rolled perils but Spell Familiar saved me. Normal Marines moved up to grab the Relic, while Thousand Sons loaded their guns and slaughtered the Scouts killing all but one. Getting a Precision Shot with my HQ Sorcerer I made sure he was the one to kill the sergeant. My Boon? I got an additional D3+1 rolls and rolled a 6! So four boons for me, and I got +1BS, Fleet, Melee attacks causing Instant Death and an unworthy offering. Not bad at all!
The Marines then executed the last Scout. First Blood!

Yay, I got a shiny surf board!

Turn 2 - Iron Hands

Time for retaliation thought the Iron Hands. The Rhino moved in and dropped off the flamer and combi-melta. While the other half of the army moved closer trying to get in on the action. The flamer, melta and rapid fire bolters killed 3 Chaos Marines and one Thousand Son (flamer reached him), including the Champion and they promptly dropped the Relic and ran (failing Leadership on a 9). The Librarian also tried to use Smite on the Marines, but failed on a 11.

No, they didn't teleport there, that's the dead pile on the bottom.

Turn 2 - Black Legion

My two Chaos Marines failed to rally and fled outside the ruins. I then cast Warp Speed yet again as a precaution - failed again(!), but Spell Familiar to the rescue. I decided against casting Boons again, feeling that would be pushing my luck a bit too much as I had all ready passed so many rolls on the table... Instead I moved the Sorcerer out of the squad to shoot Doombolt at the Rhino - hit (with BS5 now!) but only got a glance for the trouble. The Thousand Sons turned their AP3-bolters on the Marines in front of them, and despite Rapid Fire actually only managed to kill 3 of them. The sergeant passed his Look Out, Sir!-rolls.

Turn 3 - Iron Hands

The Iron Hands starting to strain a bit moved closer yet again, but deciding to hide behind the wall to try and avoid AP3-bolters for one more round. The Librarian separated and got vision on the Thousand Sons though and cast Smite on them but was denied. The Predator moved up to get line of sight to the Relic. The flamer and sergeant moved up to try and get some more kills, but all saves were made.


Turn 3 - Black Legion

The Chaos Marines rallied and moved back towards the fight! I then used Warp Speed once again, and once again I would've failed if not for the Spell Familiar. My two Chaos Marines, just out of rapid fire range shot at the two Marines in the middle, actually killing the sergeant! I then decided to overkill the last one, using Psychic Shriek on him and he took 5 wounds... One loud scream! The Thousand Sons moved up to shoot at the approaching Marines, but since they had stayed behind cover last turn they could only see two of them - those two, including the missile launcher, were shot to bits.


Turn 4 - Iron Hands

Putting all his hopes on the Librarian to do something he moved up the other three Marines in front of him as a wound counter and then tried Smite again. This time it got off, and he killed one of the Thousand Sons. Bolters did nothing, and neither did the Predator or Rhino.

Turn 4 - Black Legion

The two Chaos Marines now got back inside the ruins while the Thousand Sons kept their attention fixed at the enemy. I cast Warp Speed once again, and again I needed the Spell Familiar to make it go off - this time I also rolled a +3I and A though! The Thousand Sons killed the remaining three Marines and caused a Wound on the Librarian. I tried Psychic Shriek as well but rolled 1, 1 and 3 and thus causing no wounds...
Feeling that this game needed an epic finish, and being confident with +3I and A I charged the lone Librarian and challenged him with my Sorcerer. Despite 7 attacks and 4 wounds he survived. And promptly killed my Sorcerer in return. Bah! Fearless Thousand Sons stayed in combat however.


Turn 5 - Iron Hands

He shot both the Rhino and Predator at my two remaining Chaos Marines, and actually killed both (first time the Rhino actually managed to wound something all game). In the close combat I once again had to challenge now with my Aspiring Sorcerer. Could the Student succeed where the Master failed? He saved all wounds and caused one in return, which I also saved.


Turn 5 - Black Legion

I tried to cast Boons of Chaos on the Aspiring Sorcerer to give me some help, but got another Unworthy offering. Ahwell, had to do it the hard way then! I actually managed to cause three wounds with three attacks and he failed two of his saves! Librarian was dead! But striking at the same initiative he caused one wound in return... I failed my save, but thanks to the re-roll I got from the five Thousand Sons standing by (I can't imagine what encouraging words a pile of dust might contribute though...) I managed to save him.Woo! I consolidated back towards the Relic so I could pick it up if the game continued, which it did.


Turn 6 - Iron Hands

Doing what he could to at least deny me the Relic he shot at me, but Stormbolter and Autocannon was both saved equally.


Turn 6 - Black Legion

I grabbed the Relic and then charged the Rhino (1" charge). The Rhino had stood still, so melta bombs and krak grenades hit easily and caused 5 HP lost - but no explosion! I was a bit sad, as I'd liked to see an explosion as the end of the game. Instead the game continues for another turn.


Turn 7 - Iron Hands & Black Legion

Once again the Predator failed to do anything.  I decided to charge it too, this was a 7" charge, so I would've had to drop the Relic to do so, but I forgot... ahwell, I would've done it anyway! This time the melta bombs didn't disappoint me and the Predator went Boom! A proper ending to the game!


Post

So a total of 2-1 victory for Chaos then (First Blood, Slay the Warlord), as I couldn't hold on to the Relic for the last charge! But tabling is a better way to end anyway! Not much to be learnt from this game I think, the terrain was really in my favour after I got the infiltration Warlord trait and got to set up just where I wanted to. AP3-bolters are lethal in such a small scale game as well!


+++

D'raeldn let the powers build up inside of him, and then let them out in a loud shriek. He saw the helmet of the Space Marine in front of him shatter in a large blast. His scouting Marines had just fled, the cowards. At least most of the Rubricae were still standing. D'raeldn urged them to form up once again, when suddenly another part of the wall collapsed from heavy autocannon shells and more Space Marines poured in through the hole. D'raeldn also felt a ripple in the warp. Perfect. One of those Librarians had come. A great chance for D'raelden to show him just what True Knowledge meant! He suddenly swept forward with supernatural speed and focused completely on the hated Librarian. After a flurry of attacks, his weapon barely visible for moving so fast the Librarian still stood, not a scratch on his Terminator armour. D'raelden felt the smack from the Force staff and was thrown to the ground and then stepped on, a gurgling sound coming from his throat. 

He was still awake to see Berlm throw himself at the Librarian, with no more success than his master had had. However, when the Librarian swung his staff back, Berlm stepped back, and stumbled upon the foot of one of the Rubricae that was now standing as if inactive... the motion made the staff go completely wide, and suddenly Berlms sword somehow ended up in the weak spot under the Librarians armpit and through his body. D'raeldn was laughing with his dying breath as the Terminator was collapsing, calling on Tzeentch to come and claim this mind with it's doors unbarred...

D'raeldn saw the daemon appear and taking his chance, he collected his shattered mind and sent it all towards the fallen Librarian. He had always wanted Terminator armour after all... and nothing, nothing at all would stop him from uncovering the Eldars secrets this night!

+++