Ork Defense Force: Getting back on the Battlewagon

So, for the first time since September, I dusted off the Orks and went to a tournament. Its been really tough for me in the last few months to get a game in. First of all, I moved about an hour away from all my old gaming buddies. Second of all, in the last two years, the two stores where we’ve all congregated have gone under; meaning we’ve had some serious diaspora. Thirdly, Malifaux is spreading like a virus among us gamers here in Seattle. I too was compromised when a buddy of mine bought me a starter crew for Christmas, and I’ve been putting time into that game as well.

But really, I can’t stay away from 40k forever. 5th edition is too compelling and I love my Ork army too much.

Fortunately, I heard from a buddy in Portland that he and some other people I know from the tournament scene up here were going to be travelling up to Auburn Washington for an RTT event at a new game store there called Gameforge Games (http://gameforgegames.com/). Auburn happens to be pretty close to where I live, so I was stoked to have a chance to play. My wife gave me a pass for the day, and I was set!

Now, the missions and such were set up in such a way that it gave foot-based armies an advantage (1st mission let you start your whole army on the half-line and vehicles were worth 2 KP for instance…), so this isn’t going to be some kind of PROOF that my army is capable of winning (I already know it is!); rather, this is a celebration on my part for actually being able to play again and get my 40k groove on.

For those interested, here’s the break down of how the tournament was run:

http://ordofanaticus.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=5&t=5736&start=0

I brought my standard Ork army at 2k (haven’t changed it in two years).

Big Mek: 85
Kustom Force Field

14 lootas: 210

10 Kommandos: 215
2 burnas, +Snikrot

30 Boyz: 245
Shootas, 3 Rokkits, Nob: Power
Klaw

12 Boyz: 152
Choppas, Nob: Power Klaw, Boss
Pole
Trukk: Ram

10 Gretchin: 40
+Runtherd

15 Stormboyz: 220
Nob: Power Klaw, Boss Pole

2 Rokkit Buggies: 70

BattleWagon: 135
Kannon, ‘Ard case, 3 big
shootas, reinforced ram

3 Killa Kans: 150
Rokkits

3 Lobbas: 81
2 ammo runts

2000
My first opponent ran a vanilla marine army. He was fielding an army that I think we can all agree wasn’t optimal. Basically it was Shrike and an assault squad with 2 plasma guns and a power first; three full tactical squads with las/plas with a basic razorback transport; a full devastator squad with four heavy bolters; 5 lightning claw terminators in a basic Land Raider; and a vindicator.

I won the roll and went first, starting on the 24″ line. In retrospect, I should’ve put everything on the line to start, but I goofed and left the trukk boyz in reserve. I also was forced to outflank with one troops choice, and I chose the gretchin, since I didn’t care where they ended up and I was close enough with the boyz that I wouldn’t have to worry about it too much (and I didn’t want to risk showing up late or on the wrong side). He predictably responded with a refused flank away from my lootas. The game was pretty bland as I just moved up and shot him up, used Snikrot and fast-moving Stormobyz to make him crumble. I even had the joy of my kans not getting killed and then the last kan with no weapons assaulting the terminators and locking them up in combat. A decisive win for the Orks, but due to the mission rules, I only got 16 points for the win.

My second opponent was Necrons. He’d apparently won his first game and was now set to take on my boyz. He ran something along the lines of: The deceiver; lord with res orb and teleporty thing; 2 units of 10 warriors; 2 units of 8 immortals; two units of destroyers (3 and 4 strong); and two monoliths. The mission called for me to basically go all out against him and that’s what I did. To say that the matchup for the mission was unfair is an understatement; and then, to top it off, I had amazing luck on cover saves and…well, pretty much everything. I dropped one monolith on turn 2 with a stormboyz power klaw (who then got locked up with the deciever and put two wounds on him) and the other on turn 4. I used Snikrot to get both units of destroyers locked up on turn 2, and then finished them off on turn 3 with a trukk boy squad. The destroyer went down in a hail of fire (2 wounds from ONE trukk…). My opponent then just hid his warriors to deny me the points for the scenario (and with the mistaken hope of deepstriking in later with his teleporty gadget thing). Solid win for the Orks and I got 18 points.

Last game I played against someone I know from Ordo Fanaticus. He also was running Orks, with no vehicles. Our game was actually really tense, and I had some bad luck at some critical moments and would’ve lost; but the game ended on turn 5 with my desperate gamble to draw the game working. You can see the full report from his video blog on YouTube here (skip to 8:15 for the game):

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c4N7qqQi4OQ

Since I killed his Warboss, I got a few more points and ended up with 11 battle points.

When all was tabulated; my buddy Jeremy (the one who told me about the event) took Best Overall with his foot-Space Wolves list and I got best General and $100 in store credit. Booya!

It was really nice to get back into the swing of things and I was super stoked to get the rust off of my game.