This week's battle report sees my Deathwatch army take on some 30k Emperor's Children, commanded by Ed at the EDGE gaming club. We were playing the Crusade Eternal War mission with 5 objectives.
My army consisted of:
Combined Arms Detachment
Watch Captain Artemis (with V1)
Librarian- Mastery Level 2, Force Sword, Meltabombs (with V1)
5 Veterans- Heavy Thunder Hammer, 2 Deathwatch Shotguns, 2 Storm Shields, Power Maul, Power Sword (V1)
Drop Pod (DP2)
5 Veterans- 4 Frag Cannons, Auspex, Storm Shield (V2)
Drop Pod (DP1)
10 Veterans- 2 Infernus Heavy Bolters (V3 and V4)
Rhino (R)
5 Veterans- Stalker Pattern Boltguns (V5)
4 Bikers- 3 Power Swords, 1 Power Axe (B1)
4 Biker- 3 Power Swords, 1 Power Maul (B2)
Garran Branatar- Terminator Armour, Heavy Flamer, Power Fist with Auxiliary Meltagun (T)
My warlord trait for Artemis was Vigilance Incarnate, allowing me to change the Mission Tactics one more time (so two times in total). My Librarian rolled on Biomancy, getting Warp Speed, Life Leech, Smite and Force.
Ed's army consisted of:
Combined Arms Detachment
Legion Centurion- Legion Scimitar Jetbike with Heavy Bolter, Combat Shield, Meltabombs, Phoenix Spear, Sonic Shrieker (with LO or C)
Apothecary- Augury Scanner, Power Sword (with TS1)
Apothecary- Augury Scanner, Power Sword (with TS2)
Contemptor Dreadnought- Graviton Gun, Plasma Cannon (D)
20 Tactical Marines- Additional Combat Blade, Legion Vexilla, Sergeant has Artificer Armour and Phoenix Spear (TS1)
20 Tactical Marines- Additional Combat Blade, Legion Vexilla, Sergeant has Artificer Armour and Phoenix Spear (TS2)
6 Legion Outriders- 2 Power Weapons, Sergeant has Meltabombs and Phoenix Spear (LO)
Fire Raptor- Reaper Autocannon Battery, Tempest Rockets, TL Avenger Bolt Cannon (FR)
For his warlord trait, Ed rolled on the Command Traits table and got Inspiring Presence, giving the Centurion a 12" Leadership bubble.
We placed the objectives as shown below:
I won the roll for deployment and chose to go first. I set up the Stalker squad in the forest besides the objective, with one unit of Bikers besides them. On the right flank, I set up the other unit of Bikers and the Rhino.
In reply, Ed set up one Tactical Squad in the ruins opposite the Stalker Marines, with the other Tactical Squad in the forest in the centre of his deployment zone. The Outriders went on the right flank, while the Dreadnought went towards the left flank, beside the forest.
Ed failed to seize the initiative and I took the first turn.
TURN 1- DEATHWATCH
The Drop Pod arrived, landing close to the ruins sheltering the Emperor's Children Tactical Squad. As the Deathwatch emerged from the transport, they were cut down by the punishing Bolter fire of the purple-armoured Marines thanks to the Apothecary's Augury Scanner. I had forgotten about the Interceptor capabilities of 30k armies and my Frag Cannons payed the price.
The Bikers advanced on the enemy army, moving into firing range. The Veterans turned their Stalker Pattern Boltguns on the Emperor's Children, wounding them once. The Bikers fired at the unit, wounding them twice, but their armour and the ministrations of the Apothecary saved them.
Finally, the second Biker unit fired at the Tactical Marines. Despite their twin-linked shots, I suffered two Gets Hot from the AP3 shells and two of the Bikers died! The Bikers were unable to harm the Tactical Marines with their bolter fire.
The Veterans in the Rhino snap fired their Infernus Heavy Bolters at the Tactical Marines in the woods, but failed to cause any harm.
Not a great turn for the Deathwatch.
TURN 1- EMPEROR'S CHILDREN
The Outriders advanced on the Deathwatch, while on the other flank, the Contemptor Dreadnought moved up on the Black warriors in front of him.
The Outriders fired at the Deathwatch Bikers in front of them, wounding them three times. I then failed two saves and half the Bikers were wiped out.
On the left flank, the Tactical Squad fired at the Bikers, wounding them once, but failing to get past their armour. The Dreadnought fired its Plasma Cannon at the Bikers, but failed to cause any damage to the Jinking riders.
Not a great first turn for me. The Frag Cannons had been lost due to a stupid error and I had lost half of my Bikers thanks to some terrible armour save rolling.
TURN 2- DEATHWATCH
The Terminator arrived, deep striking onto the flank of the Dreadnought. The Bikers retreated out of range of the Emperor's Childrens' Bolter fire.
The Terminator opened fire on the Dreadnought, penetrating its armour, but the Dread's invulnerable save blocked the powerful Melta shot.
The Veterans opened fire on the Outlander Bike Squad, killing two of them. The nearby Bikers fired at the unit, but failed to cause any harm.
TURN 2- EMPEROR'S CHILDREN
The Fire Raptor arrived, moving on the right flank to target the enemy transport. The Tactical Squads advanced through their cover, while the Bikers moved towards the ruins in the enemy's deployment zone.
The Fire Raptor targeted the Rhino, easily wrecking it with its firepower. The Tactical Squads both ran, to try and get closer to the enemy units.
The Outlander Bikers opened fire on the Deathwatch Bikers, but were unable to cause any harm with their snap shots.
The Dreadnought assaulted the lone Terminator. The Deathwatch Terminator managed to hit with his Meltagun in overwatch, but I then failed to even glance on the AP roll. The Dreadnought easily crushed the Terminator in combat.
The Outlanders attempted to assault the Bikers, but failed to make the charge distance.
TURN 3- DEATHWATCH
On the right flank, the Deathwatch moved up to engage the Tactical Squad, while the Bikers on the left flank moved around the ruins.
The Stalker Marines and Bikers opened fire on the enemy Bikers, killing two of the squad.
The other Bikers fired on the Tactical Marines, but failed to cause any wounds despite hitting 4 times. The Deathwatch Veterans fired at the Marines, killing 4 of the squad.
TURN 3- EMPEROR'S CHILDREN
The Fire Raptor went into hover mode to target one Veteran squad, as the Dreadnought advanced on the other.
The Legion Centurion split off from the Bikers, moving to engage the Veterans in the forest, while the Outriders moved towards the Deathwatch Bikers.
The Dreadnought fired at the Veterans, but his Plasma Cannon shot scattered back onto itself. Once more, its invulnerable save protected it from harm. The Graviton gun struck the unit, killing one of them.
The Fire Raptor opened fire on the other squad of Veterans, killing three with its Avenger Cannon. It then loosed two missiles at the squad, but both shots failed to hit.
One Tactical Squad fired on the Bikers in front of them, killing one of the squad. The second Tactical Squad fired at the other unit of Bikers, wounding them 5 times. I failed 4 of the saves and the unit perished.
The Centurion charged the Veterans in the woods, killing two of the squad. The Deathwatch passed their morale test and held firm.
The Tactical Marines charged the lone Biker. His overwatch fire caused a wound, but once more, the Legion Apothecary blocked the damage (Ed had made about 75% of his Feel No Pain rolls in this game, so far!). The Tactical Squad easily took down the Biker.
TURN 4- DEATHWATCH
The Drop Pod carrying Watch Captain Artemis finally arrived, crashing to the ground beside the objective in the enemy deployment zone. The Pod scattered into the forest, the Veterans emerging from the transport and into the open. The Interceptor fire from the Tactical Squad failed to cause any damage.
The Librarian cast Smite on the Tactical Squad, killing one of them. He then failed to manifest Life Leech on 3 dice.
The Veterans opened fire on the nearby Tacticals with their Shotgun, killing one of the squad.
In the assault phase, the Centurion failed to kill any of the Veterans and the combat was drawn. The Dreadnought killed the rest of the squad that he was engaged with.
TURN 4- EMPEROR'S CHILDREN
The Tactical Squad and Dreadnought moved towards Artemis' unit, while the Fire Raptor moved over the forest to engage the Deathwatch warlord. The Bikers moved through the ruins, one of the squad succumbing to its dangerous terrain roll.
The Fire Raptor opened fire at the newly arrived Veterans, killing the Librarian and one of the Veterans carrying a Storm Shield. The Dreadnought tried to fire at the squad, but took a hull point from Gets Hot on its Plasma Cannon.
The Tactical Squad fired at Artemis' unit, causing 11 wounds on the unit, killing two of the Veterans and wounding Artemis twice (I failed two Look Out Sir rolls and then failed both armour saves!). The second Tactical Squad fired at the unit of 2 Veterans besides them, killing both of them.
In the assault phase, the Centurion killed one of the Veterans, but the unit remained locked in combat.
TURN 5- DEATHWATCH
The Deathwatch advanced on the Tactical Squad in front of them, launching themselves into assault. Artemis killed the squad Sergeant and another of the Tactical Marines. The Tactical Marines attacked back, killing two of the squad and leaving Artemis alone.
In the other assault, the Centurion wiped out the Veterans.
TURN 5- EMPEROR'S CHILDREN
The Fire Raptor moved up on the central building, immobilising itself on the structure. The rest of the Emperor's Children moved up on the objectives.
The Fire Raptor targeted the nearby Drop Pod. The Autocannon fired and penetrated the Pod three times! The Drop Pod blew up.
In the assault phase, Artemis killed the Apothecary and another of the Tactical Marines. In reply, the Tactical Marines succeeded in bringing him down.
At this point, the game eneded.
VICTORY POINTS:
Deathwatch- 4 (one objective and Linebreaker)
Emperor's Children- 8 (two objectives, First Blood and Slay the Warlord)
A win for the Emperor's Children.
AFTER-BATTLE THOUGHTS
Thanks to Ed for a great game. Brutal, but great.
I keep forgetting how much access to interceptor that 30k has, and how cheap it is. Only 5 pts to get 18" Interceptor is pretty brutal against Drop Pod units. It's a shame, as my Frag Cannons probably could have wiped out his bunched up Tactical Squad in the ruins in a single round of shooting without it. A smarter plan might have been to go after the Bikers with the single shot rounds. They would only be getting a 5+ Jink save (thanks to the Auspex) and I could have caused a fair amount of damage on them.
The Augury Scanners also pretty much neutered my combat squad led by Artemis. I couldn't risk landing next to the Tactical Marines without losing the squad to a mass of rapid fire Bolter shots.
Ed's Apothecaries were also on top form in the game. The number of Feel No Pain rolls that he passed during the game was insane, and I was glad to finally kill one before the game ended.
I was also unlucky with the Terminator against the Dreadnought. I landed and managed to penetrate with my Meltagun, but he went and saved it. Even when he charge me, I managed to score a hit with my Overwatch fire, then then failed to roll above a 5 on 2D6 to penetrate it!
Overall, not the finest of hours for my Deathwatch. It was hard not to feel that the game was over after the first turn, where I had lost the Frag Cannons without them firing a shot and half of my Bikers.
I had another game lined up against some Iron Warriors for later that day, so was hoping it would go a bit better for them in that game.
Ed's army consisted of:
Combined Arms Detachment
Legion Centurion- Legion Scimitar Jetbike with Heavy Bolter, Combat Shield, Meltabombs, Phoenix Spear, Sonic Shrieker (with LO or C)
Apothecary- Augury Scanner, Power Sword (with TS1)
Apothecary- Augury Scanner, Power Sword (with TS2)
Contemptor Dreadnought- Graviton Gun, Plasma Cannon (D)
20 Tactical Marines- Additional Combat Blade, Legion Vexilla, Sergeant has Artificer Armour and Phoenix Spear (TS1)
20 Tactical Marines- Additional Combat Blade, Legion Vexilla, Sergeant has Artificer Armour and Phoenix Spear (TS2)
6 Legion Outriders- 2 Power Weapons, Sergeant has Meltabombs and Phoenix Spear (LO)
Fire Raptor- Reaper Autocannon Battery, Tempest Rockets, TL Avenger Bolt Cannon (FR)
For his warlord trait, Ed rolled on the Command Traits table and got Inspiring Presence, giving the Centurion a 12" Leadership bubble.
We placed the objectives as shown below:
I won the roll for deployment and chose to go first. I set up the Stalker squad in the forest besides the objective, with one unit of Bikers besides them. On the right flank, I set up the other unit of Bikers and the Rhino.
In reply, Ed set up one Tactical Squad in the ruins opposite the Stalker Marines, with the other Tactical Squad in the forest in the centre of his deployment zone. The Outriders went on the right flank, while the Dreadnought went towards the left flank, beside the forest.
Ed failed to seize the initiative and I took the first turn.
TURN 1- DEATHWATCH
The Drop Pod arrived, landing close to the ruins sheltering the Emperor's Children Tactical Squad. As the Deathwatch emerged from the transport, they were cut down by the punishing Bolter fire of the purple-armoured Marines thanks to the Apothecary's Augury Scanner. I had forgotten about the Interceptor capabilities of 30k armies and my Frag Cannons payed the price.
The Bikers advanced on the enemy army, moving into firing range. The Veterans turned their Stalker Pattern Boltguns on the Emperor's Children, wounding them once. The Bikers fired at the unit, wounding them twice, but their armour and the ministrations of the Apothecary saved them.
Finally, the second Biker unit fired at the Tactical Marines. Despite their twin-linked shots, I suffered two Gets Hot from the AP3 shells and two of the Bikers died! The Bikers were unable to harm the Tactical Marines with their bolter fire.
The Veterans in the Rhino snap fired their Infernus Heavy Bolters at the Tactical Marines in the woods, but failed to cause any harm.
Not a great turn for the Deathwatch.
TURN 1- EMPEROR'S CHILDREN
The Outriders advanced on the Deathwatch, while on the other flank, the Contemptor Dreadnought moved up on the Black warriors in front of him.
The Outriders fired at the Deathwatch Bikers in front of them, wounding them three times. I then failed two saves and half the Bikers were wiped out.
On the left flank, the Tactical Squad fired at the Bikers, wounding them once, but failing to get past their armour. The Dreadnought fired its Plasma Cannon at the Bikers, but failed to cause any damage to the Jinking riders.
Not a great first turn for me. The Frag Cannons had been lost due to a stupid error and I had lost half of my Bikers thanks to some terrible armour save rolling.
TURN 2- DEATHWATCH
The Terminator arrived, deep striking onto the flank of the Dreadnought. The Bikers retreated out of range of the Emperor's Childrens' Bolter fire.
The Terminator opened fire on the Dreadnought, penetrating its armour, but the Dread's invulnerable save blocked the powerful Melta shot.
The Veterans opened fire on the Outlander Bike Squad, killing two of them. The nearby Bikers fired at the unit, but failed to cause any harm.
TURN 2- EMPEROR'S CHILDREN
The Fire Raptor arrived, moving on the right flank to target the enemy transport. The Tactical Squads advanced through their cover, while the Bikers moved towards the ruins in the enemy's deployment zone.
The Fire Raptor targeted the Rhino, easily wrecking it with its firepower. The Tactical Squads both ran, to try and get closer to the enemy units.
The Outlander Bikers opened fire on the Deathwatch Bikers, but were unable to cause any harm with their snap shots.
The Dreadnought assaulted the lone Terminator. The Deathwatch Terminator managed to hit with his Meltagun in overwatch, but I then failed to even glance on the AP roll. The Dreadnought easily crushed the Terminator in combat.
The Outlanders attempted to assault the Bikers, but failed to make the charge distance.
TURN 3- DEATHWATCH
On the right flank, the Deathwatch moved up to engage the Tactical Squad, while the Bikers on the left flank moved around the ruins.
The Stalker Marines and Bikers opened fire on the enemy Bikers, killing two of the squad.
The other Bikers fired on the Tactical Marines, but failed to cause any wounds despite hitting 4 times. The Deathwatch Veterans fired at the Marines, killing 4 of the squad.
TURN 3- EMPEROR'S CHILDREN
The Fire Raptor went into hover mode to target one Veteran squad, as the Dreadnought advanced on the other.
The Legion Centurion split off from the Bikers, moving to engage the Veterans in the forest, while the Outriders moved towards the Deathwatch Bikers.
The Dreadnought fired at the Veterans, but his Plasma Cannon shot scattered back onto itself. Once more, its invulnerable save protected it from harm. The Graviton gun struck the unit, killing one of them.
The Fire Raptor opened fire on the other squad of Veterans, killing three with its Avenger Cannon. It then loosed two missiles at the squad, but both shots failed to hit.
One Tactical Squad fired on the Bikers in front of them, killing one of the squad. The second Tactical Squad fired at the other unit of Bikers, wounding them 5 times. I failed 4 of the saves and the unit perished.
The Centurion charged the Veterans in the woods, killing two of the squad. The Deathwatch passed their morale test and held firm.
The Tactical Marines charged the lone Biker. His overwatch fire caused a wound, but once more, the Legion Apothecary blocked the damage (Ed had made about 75% of his Feel No Pain rolls in this game, so far!). The Tactical Squad easily took down the Biker.
TURN 4- DEATHWATCH
The Drop Pod carrying Watch Captain Artemis finally arrived, crashing to the ground beside the objective in the enemy deployment zone. The Pod scattered into the forest, the Veterans emerging from the transport and into the open. The Interceptor fire from the Tactical Squad failed to cause any damage.
The Librarian cast Smite on the Tactical Squad, killing one of them. He then failed to manifest Life Leech on 3 dice.
The Veterans opened fire on the nearby Tacticals with their Shotgun, killing one of the squad.
In the assault phase, the Centurion failed to kill any of the Veterans and the combat was drawn. The Dreadnought killed the rest of the squad that he was engaged with.
TURN 4- EMPEROR'S CHILDREN
The Tactical Squad and Dreadnought moved towards Artemis' unit, while the Fire Raptor moved over the forest to engage the Deathwatch warlord. The Bikers moved through the ruins, one of the squad succumbing to its dangerous terrain roll.
The Fire Raptor opened fire at the newly arrived Veterans, killing the Librarian and one of the Veterans carrying a Storm Shield. The Dreadnought tried to fire at the squad, but took a hull point from Gets Hot on its Plasma Cannon.
The Tactical Squad fired at Artemis' unit, causing 11 wounds on the unit, killing two of the Veterans and wounding Artemis twice (I failed two Look Out Sir rolls and then failed both armour saves!). The second Tactical Squad fired at the unit of 2 Veterans besides them, killing both of them.
In the assault phase, the Centurion killed one of the Veterans, but the unit remained locked in combat.
TURN 5- DEATHWATCH
The Deathwatch advanced on the Tactical Squad in front of them, launching themselves into assault. Artemis killed the squad Sergeant and another of the Tactical Marines. The Tactical Marines attacked back, killing two of the squad and leaving Artemis alone.
In the other assault, the Centurion wiped out the Veterans.
TURN 5- EMPEROR'S CHILDREN
The Fire Raptor moved up on the central building, immobilising itself on the structure. The rest of the Emperor's Children moved up on the objectives.
The Fire Raptor targeted the nearby Drop Pod. The Autocannon fired and penetrated the Pod three times! The Drop Pod blew up.
In the assault phase, Artemis killed the Apothecary and another of the Tactical Marines. In reply, the Tactical Marines succeeded in bringing him down.
At this point, the game eneded.
VICTORY POINTS:
Deathwatch- 4 (one objective and Linebreaker)
Emperor's Children- 8 (two objectives, First Blood and Slay the Warlord)
 |
| End of the game. |
A win for the Emperor's Children.
AFTER-BATTLE THOUGHTS
Thanks to Ed for a great game. Brutal, but great.
I keep forgetting how much access to interceptor that 30k has, and how cheap it is. Only 5 pts to get 18" Interceptor is pretty brutal against Drop Pod units. It's a shame, as my Frag Cannons probably could have wiped out his bunched up Tactical Squad in the ruins in a single round of shooting without it. A smarter plan might have been to go after the Bikers with the single shot rounds. They would only be getting a 5+ Jink save (thanks to the Auspex) and I could have caused a fair amount of damage on them.
The Augury Scanners also pretty much neutered my combat squad led by Artemis. I couldn't risk landing next to the Tactical Marines without losing the squad to a mass of rapid fire Bolter shots.
Ed's Apothecaries were also on top form in the game. The number of Feel No Pain rolls that he passed during the game was insane, and I was glad to finally kill one before the game ended.
I was also unlucky with the Terminator against the Dreadnought. I landed and managed to penetrate with my Meltagun, but he went and saved it. Even when he charge me, I managed to score a hit with my Overwatch fire, then then failed to roll above a 5 on 2D6 to penetrate it!
Overall, not the finest of hours for my Deathwatch. It was hard not to feel that the game was over after the first turn, where I had lost the Frag Cannons without them firing a shot and half of my Bikers.
I had another game lined up against some Iron Warriors for later that day, so was hoping it would go a bit better for them in that game.