Battle report: Tau and BT

[Bauhus]

Greetings Brethren, this latest battle report from the 39th Terran Crusade.

 

First off, our list overviews.

 

 

I had fielded a Marshal and EC as my HQ. While my troop choices were, 2 - 5 m an Squads in Rhino's, while a 10 Initiate, 4 Neophyte ( Accompanied by Marshall ) squad deployed inside a LRC. ( My first one on the field, YAY! )

 

My opponent had 3 Crisis suits, 4 squads of Fire warriors, 2 Broadsides, a Squad of Stealth suits, and a Devilfish with a group of Fire Warriors in it.

 

 

Black Templar vs Tau - 1000 point match.

 

Capture and Control Mission / Pitched Battle Deployment.

 

 

 

Turn 1: Black Templar;

 

I moved my 3 Vehicles forward, my two Rhino's popped smoke, while my more daring Land Raider took some pot shots at a fire warrior squad in a near-by building, doing little to harm the enemy.

 

Turn 1: Tau Player;

My opponent managed to stun both my rhino's and destroy my LRC [Author's note: " I hate the Tau"]

 

 

 

Turn 2: Black Templar;

 

Seeing as it was a Sunny day on the battlefield, my templars decided to go for a 'jaunt'. Missile Launchers failed to destroy a broadside and I only scored 1 wound with my bolt pistols on an enemy Fire warrior team.

 

Turn 2: Tau Player;

 

The Tau opened up on my squads, Managing to slay 9 models in my 15 man squad, righteous zeal moved my men forward for the next turn assault. Things must turn for The Templars, the battle goes ill :devil:

 

 

 

Turn 3: Black Templar;

 

My large squad moves forward and anihilates a small squad of fire warriors, leaving them open for the Tau counter attack, crap. As usual, shooting proves useless from my smaller fire support squads.

 

Turn 3: Tau Player;

 

The Emperor Protects! The Tau player had only managed to slay a few marines, whilst leaving the squad bloodied, but not beaten. The Marshall would have his revenge. One of the smaller support squads took heavy losses, we shall see how these battle brethren fare. Oh yeah also, a broadside railgun turned a promising Emperor's Champion into a slightly less promising pile of slag.

 

 

 

Turn 4: Black Templar;

 

The Templar squads prove their worth, slaying a Fire Warrior squad, whilst the Marshal chooses his own squad to face off on. Both combats are won, and the Tau are all caught in sweeping advances. My opponent has lost control over his own objective. Though I'm sure my 3 remaining models won't live long enough to celebrate, as the Broadside turns it's Rail guns towards the valiant leader.

 

Turn 4: Tau Player;

 

Alas, the Marshal's faith in The Emperor was not enough protection against the Tau's Broadside Twin-Linked Rail gun, ( though humorously, it seemed enough against it's missile pod ) and he fell, with the Emperor's prayers on his lips. My smallest support squad was annihilated by Tau pulse carbines, and the last of the Tau move in for the kill on the last Squad remaining. [ dun dun Dunnnnnnn ]

 

 

 

Turn 5: Back Templar;

 

My lone Marine with a Power fist embarks on a heroic final stand and charges the Broadside, slaying it in true Templar Style. My last squad of marines, their backs to the wall, stare down, in a desperate attempt to deny my opponent my home objective. Staring down 3 stealth suits and a Crisis battle suit, things are not looking well.

 

Turn 5: Tau Player;

 

The Tau would not be denied their vengeance. Their collective fire making the Marine's pay for every life they had taken. And this would wipe the last of the Marines from the map, giving the battle to my opponent.

 

 

 

 

After battle comments:

 

Black Templar ( Me ) "My squads proved their worth in close combat time and time again, but I honestly wish I had made a few decisions different. Nothing too fatal, my luck was really not around tonight. I won't complain too much, the Tau seem to bloody me at every turn, but I haven't lost faith. The Emperor's hand guides me. My only real disappointments in the match were that my Missile Launchers didn't manage to kill a single thing, and my LRC bit it in turn one. "

 

 

Tau Player " While I was nervous going into the fight as I have never fought a LRC before, my Tau held their own. As proven massed fire power with superior technology, smashes those who fail to believe in the Greater Good and shall be put in their place. As far as I can tell the hit and run tactics used allowed my suits to remain relatively safe. The fire warriors prove to be a little more then a speed bump but I do believe such a melee orientated class against a shooting class is going to be one sided either way depending on how the first couple of turns plays out. As I was able to stop his rapid advance right off the bat he had to slug forward and got reaped by the Greater Good. All hail the Ethereals!

 

I'd love to hear your horror/success stories regarding the Tau, and any suggestions on how I might have fared any different. I also took a few photo's of each of the turns, to remember this one by. Let me know if you'd like to see them.

 

-Bauhus

[Brother DjoulZ]

Hi,

 

Nice read, photos would be cool !

 

Good luck for next time...

[Sulfurious]

Well you were at a major disadvantage from the beginning once you lost your LRC. That's a 25% of your points in a 1000 pts game gone on the first turn. As to what you could do differently? You could probably play that same game again and it would be different turnout altogether if the vehicles could have lasted an extra turn.

 

Obviously against Tau you want to close the gap on them as quick as possible and play to your strengths which is close combat. In 1000pts I would actually consider dropping the LRC and maybe even the marshall. With the new Templar FAQ, you can run the EC as your one and only HQ choice if you want to. It might not be a bad idea in those smaller games. Assuming no LRC and Marshall, you could go with three 5init/5Neo in Rhinos or go with larger foot slogging units and hope to zeal across the board just as fast. You could maybe throw in an assault squad with Plasma pistols, powerfist, and Storm shields to hunt down those Crisis suits and Broadsides.

 

Anyway, take this all with a grain of salt since I have yet to play a game at 1000pts with my Templar. Better luck next time!

[Marshal Guderian]

Greetings Brother Bauhus,

In response to your battle report: a few pointers for next time:

 

1) Never field a LRC against Tau in a 1000 pt game; you are GUARANTEED to lose it to St 10 weapons in short order!!

Against an opponent with low St weapons, like orcs, feel free to play your mighty LRC; it eats light infantry for breakfast.

 

2) your armies body count is woefully low; ie. you have very little meat on the ground!!

I guarantee that if you field a BT foot/hoard army against Tau in a 1000 pt match, they will be ANNIHILATED/ greater good be damned!!

(see Eisenhardts foot list in the forums as an excellent example of foot possibilities).

 

3) In short, think about the army you will be facing: what are their strengths/weaknesses;

and for the love of the Emperor play into their weaknesses!!

In the case of 1000 pt Tau: they will never be able to cut down your massed zealing hoards by the time your brethren make them meet

the business end of a chainsword!!

 

4) In summary: less Armour/more meat

 

 

Better luck next time Commander

 

PS: I'm opening a case-file in your name with the Inquisition/consider yourself under review :huh:

 

End Transmission

Marshal Guderian