I made some changes to my original list based on my previous game versus Tyranids. Here's the new list:
Primary Detachment Ultramarines
Marneus Calgar /Warlord (Storm of Fire)
• Terminator Armor
4x Honour Guard: (attached to Marneus Calgar)
4x Power Axe, Bolter, Bolt Pistol
Chapter Champion:
• Thunder Hammer, Bolter, Bolt Pistol
Drop Pod (#1)
Chief Librarian Tigurius (Misfortune, Prescience, Precognition)
4x Sternguard Veteran:
3x Combi-Grav Gun, Bolt Pistol
Heavy Flamer, Bolt Pistol
Veteran Sergeant:
• Melta Bombs, Grav Pistol, Grav Pistol
Drop Pod (#2)
Techmarine:
• Combi-Plasmagun, Servo Arm, Melta Bombs
5x Tactical Marine: (attached to Tigurius)
4x Bolter, Bolt Pistol
Plasma Gun
Sergeant:
• Melta Bombs, Combi-Plasma Gun, Bolt Pistol
Drop Pod (#3)
5x Tactical Marine: (attached to Techmarine)
4x Bolter, Bolt Pistol
Plasma Gun, Bolt Pistol
Sergeant:
• Melta Bombs, Combi-Plasma Gun, Bolt Pistol
Drop Pod (#4)
4x Devastator: (HS)
4x Missile Launcher + Flakk Missiles, Bolter, Bolt Pistol
Sergeant:
• Bolter, Bolt Pistol, Signum
Drop Pod (#5)
Allied Detachment Space Wolves
Rune Priest (Jaws of the World Wolf, Living Lightning)
• Runic Armor
8x Grey Hunter: (attached to Rune Priest)
Wolf Standard, Bolter, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword
Plasma Gun, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword
Plasma Pistol, Bolter, Chainsword
Power Axe, Bolter, Bolt Pistol
4x Bolter, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword
Drop Pod (#6)
8x Grey Hunter:
Wolf Standard, Bolter, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword
Plasma Gun, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword
Plasma Pistol, Bolter, Chainsword
Power Axe, Bolter, Bolt Pistol
4x Bolter, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword
Drop Pod (#7)
I dropped one Techmarine and one squad of Sternguard so I could add a second squad of Grey Hunters. I have four scoring units now, which is just what I needed.
Here is my opponent's army to the best of my recollection:
Ethereal
Buff Commander (lots of bells and whistles plus missile pod and fusion gun) /Warlord (Move through Cover & Stealth Ruins)
8x Marker Drone (attached to Buff Commander)
15x Fire Warrior
15x Fire Warrior
14x Kroot & Kroot Hound
14x Kroot & Kroot Hound
Hammerhead w. Commander Longstrike (HS)
Riptide - Ion Accelerator, Stim Injector, Early Warning Override
Riptide - Ion Accelerator, Stim Injector, Early Warning Override
Riptide - Ion Accelerator, Stim Injector, Early Warning Override
3x Broadside - 3x High Yield Missile Pod, 3x Velocity Tracker (HS)
Aegis Defense Line - Quadgun
Mission Big Guns Never Tire
There are three objective markers placed in a triangular pattern around the center of the table—this makes it hard for Tau scoring units to reach them without first exposing themselves and Kroot can't outflank on top of them.
Deployment Vanguard Strike
No Night Fight first turn.
I win the roll to deploy and choose to go second. There's no advantage versus Tau going first in an objective based mission except that their Riptides can't Nova Charge... Which is not that big a deal to me as I don't want to focus a lot on them (except for the Rune Priest obviously).
My opponent reserves both Kroot squads (outflanking), castles the Tau-Ethreal-Hammerhead in his corner behind the Aegis Defense Line, Riptides are spread out across his deployment zone, Buff Commander with drones in the center and Missileside forward in hard cover. Riptides are deployed such that I can't draw a line across all three with my Rune Priest.
Devastators elect to walk onto the table and drop their empty pod. All other Space Marine units will arrive via drop pod assault.
1st Turn - Tau
The Riptides Nova Charge their shields for the 3++ and one fails. The Ethereal selects Feel No Pain (attached to one squad of Fire Warriors). Everything sits still waiting in preparation for the initial drop.
1st Turn - Space Marines
I elect to drop the following units:
• Marneus Calgar & Honor Guard
They land right beside the Buff Commander and drones with minimal scatter. The Buff Commander is on the far side of the drop so he can't tank any wounds.
• Techmarine & Tactical squad
They land beside the Broadsides with minimal scatter.
• Sternguard
They land right in front of one Fire Warrior squad with minimal scatter.
• Rune Priest & Grey Hunters
They land off to the side so the Rune Priest can line up on two Riptides, also with minimal scatter.
All four units have cover—using their pods—from the Riptides and are placed one inch away from enemy units to prevent pie plates.
Marneus pops Storm of Fire on the tactical squad and the Tactical Doctrine. Grey Hunters pop their Wolf Standard.
Tau intercept with minimal damage from the Riptides but the quad gun drops four of the tactical Marines (ouch).
The Rune Priest successfully casts JotWW targeting two Riptides but they both pass their initiative tests. The Techmarine and remainder of the tactical squad target the Broadside failing to inflict any damage. Marneus and Honor Guard target the drones killing a couple. Sternguard target the Ethereal (closest model), electing to fire cover ignoring rounds along with the heavy flamer... The Ethereal is smoked along with a few Fire Warriors (not enough for break check though).
Tau: 0; Space Marines: 2 - First Blood & VP for Ethereal
2nd Turn - Tau
One squad of Kroot arrive outflanking right beside the Space Wolves. All three Riptides successfully Nova Charge their shields. One Riptide moves into charge range of the Space Wolves.
Drones target Marneus and the Honor Guard scoring five Markerlight hits. Broadsides boost to BS6, target Marneus|Honor Guard and blast them off the table (I should dropped the orbital strike my first turn). One squad of Fire Warriors and Kroot target the Space Wolves but only manage to drop a couple Grey Hunters. The other squad of Fire Warriors target the Sternguard along with the Hammerhead—the Sternguard elect to go to ground on their side of the Aegis Defense Line... Two die and they then elect to auto break falling back toward the Broadsides.
The Riptide charges the Space Wolves taking no wounds from Overwatch. No wounds inflicted on either side, so they lock.
2nd Turn - Space Marines
The rest of the Space Marine army arrives:
• 2nd squad of Grey Hunters
They land beside the other Hunter squad to lend some more support with minimal scatter.
• 2nd Tactical squad with Tigurius
They land in the center of the table behind a bastion size piece of terrain to hide and are very close to one of the objective markers.
• Devastators
They walk onto the table behind a small piece of hard terrain centrally located with line of sight to the Kroot. The empty pod lands close to the Kroot with minimal scatter.
The Ultramarines pop the Devastator Doctrine. The second squad of Grey Hunters pop their Wolf Standard. The Sternguard auto regroup and move closer towards the Broadside to assault.
The Devastators drop frag on the Kroot eliminating close to half the squad. The second squad of Grey Hunters also target the Kroot bringing them down to less than five but they just manage pass their break check. Drop pods target the drones killing a couple more. The Techmarine and remaining sergeant from the first tactical squad fire their bolt pistols at the Broadside but fail to inflict any wounds. The second tactical squad also target the Broadsides and manage to drop one wound with the plasma gun. The Sternguard fire their pistols at the Broadsides and score another wound.
The Techmarine and remaining sergeant from the first tactical squad assault the Broadsides which was followed up by an assault from the Sternguard. The Techmarine miracously survives the ensuing Overwatch... Broadsides lose the combat and are run down. Both squads consolidate behind a small piece of hard cover. The Riptide scores one wound versus the Space Wolves in their ongoing assault—the Space Wolves break (box cars) and fall back towards the Kroot... Note they are very close to the short table edge.
Tau: 1 - Slay the Warlord; Space Marines: 3 - First Blood, VP for Ethereal & BGNT
3rd Turn - Tau
The second squad of Kroot arrive via outflank engulfing the Space Wolves. All three Riptides successfully Nova Charge their shields.
The Riptides move forward for better line of sight while the Buff Commander and the remainder of his drones move towards the Bastion size piece of terrain.
Drones markerlight the Sternguard scoring several hits. One Riptide targets the Sternguard and blasts them off the table. The second Riptide targets the Devastators but the pie plate scatters off the table. The third Riptide targets the Rune Priest and remainder of the first Grey Hunter pack but again the pie plate scatters off the table. The Hammerhead fires it's sublimation round at the Devastators but it also scatters off the table. Both squads of Kroot and one squad of Fire Warriors all target the Rune Priest and remainder of the first Grey Hunter pack but the Rune Priest tanks all the wounds (runic armor FTW). The quad gun targets them as well and again the Rune Priest tanks all the wounds.
No assaults.
3rd Turn - Space Marines
Ultramarines pop the Assault Doctrine.
Tigurius successfully passes psychic checks for Prescience and Precognition. Rune Priest and his Grey Hunters auto regroup—the Rune Priest moves to line up two Riptides again. The second Grey Hunter pack moves into position to multi-assault the second Kroot squad along with one Riptide. The Techmarine and second tactical squad along with Tigurius both move to assault the Buff Commander and drones.
Devastators drop frag on the second squad of Kroot but only manage to slay a handful. The Rune Priest successfully casts JotWW again drawing a line through the Kroot and two Riptides but the Kroot pass their Deny the Witch test (really - Uuuugh). Drop pods finish off the last Kroot from the first squad.
The Rune Priest and his Grey Hunters are the first to assault, surviving the Overwatch. The second Grey Hunter pack successfully manage to multi-assault both the Kroot and the closest Riptide. Space Wolves demolish the Kroot and sweep the Riptide. The Techmarine assaults the drones but is waxed by Fire Support from another close by Riptide. The second tactical squad assaults them... Tigurius drops the last of the drones then they sweep the Buff Commander. Everybody consolidates into hard cover.
Tau: 1 - Slay the Warlord; Space Marines: 4 - First Blood, Slay the Warlord, VP for Ethereal & BGNT
4th Turn - Tau
The two remaining Riptides attempt to Nova Charge their shields—one fails and takes a wound.
Tau forces inflict minimal damage in the shooting phase due to cover saves and scattering pie plates.
4th Turn - Space Marines
Tigurius successfully passes psychic checks for both Prescience and Precognition, electing not to cast Misfortune.
Yet again the Rune Priest moves into position to draw a line through the two remaining Riptides. The second Grey Hunter pack moves forward to secure Line Breaker. Tigurius and the second tactical squad move back behind the Bastion size piece of terrain to hide and control an objective marker.
For the third time the Rune Priest successfully casts JotWW drawing a line through one Riptide and sends it to the null zone (finally) ! Third time is the proverbial charm. Devastators drop frag on the closest Fire Warriors but don't manage to break them.
I have a substantial lead in points now so we call it.
Tau: 1 - Slay the Warlord; Space Marines: 8 - First Blood, Slay the Warlord, Line Breaker, VP for Ethereal & BGNT
Post Game Analysis
It was a tough battle even if it didn't seem like it. I was lucky during a couple of the Tau shooting phases but a big part of that was due to using good cover whenever possible. It hurt losing Marneus early on and I forgot to use his Orbital Strike—lesson learned ! Again the Devastators were pure gold along with the Sternguard. The successful assaults sweeping one Riptide and the Buff Commander were the turning points that got me right back into the game. I didn't have all they much left at the end but then neither did my opponent. The Riptides were a bit overly aggressive along with the Buff Commander and that hurt my opponent. The Rune Priest had a bad day overall but finally rallied his Space Wolves to help secure the win.