Throne Of Skulls Heat 3 Blog: Pure GK (now with added IST)

[SamaNagol]

Mainly for my own benefit to go back and view things with hindsight I am going to start up a running blog of my path to Heat3 of the UK GT. I'm going to include lots of pictures and try and do a good few bat-reps when possible. I'm aiming for at least a couple of entries every week until the end of November.

 

I've had quite a while away from the hobby on a regular basis, so you will have to put up with me re-learning the subtleties of the more abstract rules and getting to grips with army builds that are entirely new to me as well.

 

Hopefully this will end up culminating in a nice picture filled journal up to, and including the GT Heat. My aim is to go there and get 3 wins out of 6.

 

I'm currently playing this list:

 

HQ:

Grand Master

Psychic Hood

Sacred Incense

175pts

 

3 Grey Knight Terminators

Incinerator

1 Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield

153pts

 

Troops:

6 Grey Knights

inc Justicar w/ Melta Bombs

2 Incinerators

200pts

 

6 Grey Knights

inc Justicar w/ Melta Bombs

2 Incinerators

200pts

 

Heavy Support:

Land Raider

Extra Armour

Smoke Launchers

258pts

 

Land Raider Crusader

Searchlight

256pts

 

Land Raider

Extra Armour

Smoke Launchers

258pts

 

But I am torn between this and swapping out the GM and GKT for a Psycannon BC and another unit of PAGK. I do love the GKT though. I'll be rambling through this journal until I come to a decision.

 

Going to take some photos this evening of the boys all nearly assembled awaiting priming.

[Iron-Daemon Forge]

GT Heat. My aim is to go there and get 3 wins out of 6.

 

Add a draw onto this as well ^_^ (three win & a draw on good VP get you through :D )

 

Will be keep a eye on this topic & see how your Grey Knight do in battle.

 

Do you have a game line up soon?

 

But yes can't wait for your reports :tu:

 

IP

[SamaNagol]

Some WIP shots:

 

Grand Master/Brother Captain:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00086.jpg

 

With retinue:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00084.jpg

 

Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00085.jpg

 

Troop Choice 1:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00088.jpg

 

Justicar 1:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00089.jpg

 

Troop Choice 2:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00091.jpg

 

Justicar 2:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00074.jpg

 

Taxi rank:

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00094.jpg

[SamaNagol]

I try and play twice a week be it in store or just locally.

[DinoDoc]

How did you the TH to come out so well for the GKT? SS looks to be from Forgeworld IQ, right?

[SamaNagol]

I bought Lysander at Games Day when the Codex came out and never even opened the blister. Using a saw I removed the shoulder pad just above the joint on the TH arm, then I removed the shoulder pad below the joint from a NFW arm and filed them both flat to fit. It's a seemless bond. The SS was a bit more complicated as it involved 3 parts and some dremmelling.

 

So all in all, minus the plastic bits which include a Marauder Horseman head and a Terminator Storm Shield arm, I think it worked out at around £47 for the 46pt model. Heh.

[Archon_77]

Mainly for my own benefit to go back and view things with hindsight I am going to start up a running blog of my path to Heat3 of the UK GT. I'm going to include lots of pictures and try and do a good few bat-reps when possible. I'm aiming for at least a couple of entries every week until the end of November.

 

I've had quite a while away from the hobby on a regular basis, so you will have to put up with me re-learning the subtleties of the more abstract rules and getting to grips with army builds that are entirely new to me as well.

 

Hopefully this will end up culminating in a nice picture filled journal up to, and including the GT Heat. My aim is to go there and get 3 wins out of 6.

 

I'm currently playing this list:

 

HQ:

Grand Master

Psychic Hood

Sacred Incense

175pts

 

3 Grey Knight Terminators

Incinerator

1 Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield

153pts

 

Troops:

6 Grey Knights

inc Justicar w/ Melta Bombs

2 Incinerators

200pts

 

6 Grey Knights

inc Justicar w/ Melta Bombs

2 Incinerators

200pts

 

Heavy Support:

Land Raider

Extra Armour

Smoke Launchers

258pts

 

Land Raider Crusader

Searchlight

256pts

 

Land Raider

Extra Armour

Smoke Launchers

258pts

 

But I am torn between this and swapping out the GM and GKT for a Psycannon BC and another unit of PAGK. I do love the GKT though. I'll be rambling through this journal until I come to a decision.

 

Going to take some photos this evening of the boys all nearly assembled awaiting priming.

 

 

I thought you had the option to take One incinerator in a squad of PAGKs.... am I way off base here? I dont have my codex handy..

[SamaNagol]

2 special weapons per PAGK squad.

[SamaNagol]

I have a strong urge to get a 3rd GHLR. If I do end up going for the 3 Psycannon unit with BC, instead of GM and GKT then a Crusader isn't going to be what I want. After flicking through the Codex: Space Marines this evening and remembering how amazing Calgar's LR looks, I have decided I'm going to try and fit Extra Armour onto a Mk2 Heresy era Raider and try dress it up a bit. Afterall, it will be used as transport for my BC and Psycannon support unit.

[SamaNagol]

I wasn't happy with my Brother Captain/Grand Master model. Looked too plain. So I made a new Brother Captain. I'm doing a far more extensive conversion for the Grand Master

 

Here's my new Brother Captain:

 

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00104.jpg

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00105.jpg

[Iron-Daemon Forge]

I really like how your Grey Knight are look in term of the conversion. Are you doing anything specil for the base??

 

Be intresting to see how the army dose overall, when GT heat 3 happen make sure to take photos of the cool armies & your battles :P

 

IP

[SamaNagol]

Just some slate chips and citadel sand bases painted black with some of the burnt grass citadel are bringin out for colour. Burnt waste style. Will keep the attention on the models.

[SamaNagol]

Roll call:

 

Terminators ready for after I learn how to paint weathered gun metal:

 

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00106.jpg

[SamaNagol]

All the infantry for both 1500pt builds is no assembled and primed:

 

So that's a Brother Captain with Psycannon, 5 man PAGK squad with 2 psycannon, 6/7 man PAGK squad with 2 Incinerators, 6/7 man PAGK squad with 2 incinerators, 3/4 man GKT squad with TH/SS and Incinerator. I'm awaiting the arrival of a MK2 Heresy Era Land Raider to dress up and then I will finish assembling and decorating the 4 raiders I'm gonna need.

 

Line up:

 

Close up of Brother Captain Arthas

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00107.jpg

 

Arthas & Terminator Squad Balthi

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00109.jpg

 

Arthas, Justicar Walamir & Grey Knight Squad Amal

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00110.jpg

 

Justicar Theodoric & Grey Knight Squad Augis

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00111.jpg

 

Justicar Athal & Grey Knight Squad Eurich

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00112.jpg

 

Will complete the Raider assembly and then do some test models on some plastic marines. Still undediced on which list to run, and I am going to try and fit in some games before the end of the week using the list below including mini purg squad with BC to contrast with the recent games played with the GM and GKT.

 

Brother Captain, Psycannon 91pts

 

5 Grey Knights, Justicar w/ Auspex & Targeter. 2 Psycannon 203pts

7 Grey Knights, 2 Incinerators 220pts

7 Grey Knights, 2 Incinerators 220pts

 

Land Raider, Extra Armour, Searchlight 256pts

Land Raider, Extra Armour 255pts

Land Raider, Extra Armour 255pts

[Alanter]

Looks great so far. I really like the hodded BC/GM. Reminds me of an artwork in the dex.

[SamaNagol]

Been slacking recently with all the Space Wolf rumours and getting excited by those so not really posted much in this room.

 

I've played 3 games in the last week and a half. Tried to challenge myself as well.

 

One was up against an IG army with 3 Medusas and a huge amount of other tanks. We played objectives, rolled 3 of them and quarters deployment. I put both of my 2 objectives in his deployment zone at the sides facing the centre, and he put his third in the corner of his deployment zone as well. I was going to be assaulting tanks anyway, so why give myself a trek to grab them right? That went pretty much as expected really, apart from him rolling a 6, seizing the initiative and wrecking a Raider in his first turn before I could even use my uber smoke. Unfortunately, when it came to sheer nastiness, his list was lacking. 3 standard LRBT, 3 Hydras and a Vendetta accompanied the 3 Medusas, so it was only Lascannon I had any reason to be scared of aside from the Medusas. He had 2 units of veterans with NO melta. My plan was to race forwards as quickly as possible, popping smoke so those Medusas weren't able to cripple any more Raiders, then assault and use their smoking wrecks as cover to block LOS before I could get back in to my safe warm Raiders. This time I was running 3 GHLR with 3 troops. 2 x 6 PAGK w 2 Incinerators and a Mini-Purg 5 man PAGK squad with 2 Psycannon accompanied by the BC with Psycannon. After the setback of losing a Land Raider early on, I had to kite one squad behind another Land Raider in tight formation to avoid giving LOS. This didnt stop him shooting every blast weapon at the LR in front hoping for a favourable scatter lol Luckily they all arrived in tact and made their way through the numerous AV10 rear armoured tanks. With no infantry to support him it ended up with dead tanks and my LRs blocking off 2 objectives and him only contesting one, so a victory to me. I would have found it much harder against a more melta loaded list with less useless artillery, but you can only beat what you face.

 

Second game was a KP mission against Slaanesh Marines with a Raider with Terms, 2 Rhinos w/10 man Doom Siren delivery units, 3 single Oblits and a Lash Prince. Deployment was DoW. We both started off with everything in reserve. I brought everything on and parked up touching my table edge making sure I had all approaches covered with firing arcs from at least 2 of the 3 Raiders. He rolled on leaving 2 Oblits to DS and failed to spot anything through the night. Turn 2 and I poured fire into the Rhinos for KPs. I managed to blow the combi bolter off one and failed to damage anything else. His turn 2 and he managed to roll one Oblit on and put it next to my 2 Raiders on my right flank. It rolled a hit and shot me with T/L Meltagun, but somehow rolled a 5 on 2D6 for pen to my relief. He rolled forwards with everything he had with the first Oblit firing a Lascannon at one of my Raiders failing to pen, and the Raider missed with it's shot. My turn and I drove the Land Raider with the BC in it in front of the Oblit block off LOS between him and the main force. I then disembarked out the side door facing my own table edge and shot it with 3 Psycannon and a Lascannon. It died. I also destroyed one Rhino approaching down the same flank which was acting as a mobile bunker for the Daemon Prince. The 10 man Noise Marine unit piled out and ate some Heavy Bolter shots and 1 Lascannon from the other Land Raider. 2KPs to me. His 3rd Oblit came down and joined the 1st in his backfield. It shot at my middle Land Raider along with his buddy and the Terminators Land Raider. Again he only managed a Crew Shaken from his 3 shots. His DP flew behind a building towards my middle Land Raider and the BC/Psycannon squad. everything else advanced trying to give themselves cover saves. My 4th turn and I climbed back aboard the LR wuth my BC and squad. I reversed away from the Rhino moving down my left flank. Fired numerous shots at the Obliterator nearest me with everything I had left and it finally failed a cover save against the 3rd Lascannon shot, killing him instantly. 3KPs to 0 His turn and he flew the DP within assault range of the BC/Purg Squad's LR and ran forward with the Noise Marines. The Land Raider rumbled forwards and put a shot into one of mine causing a Crew Shaken. His remaining Rhino advanced down my left flank and used some trees to grant cover, before the squad disembarked and ran into the wood looking to come out the other side next turn and charge my left Land Raider. Finally his DP charged my Land Raider but failed to hit with any of his attacks, needing 6s. I drove everything away 12 inches and fired one shot from each at his remaining Obliterator. It managed to make both saves from the two wounding hits and survive. His 5th turn and he charged again with his DP after shooting the Land Raider with both Lascannon on his own Raider and only managing to destroy a Lascannon sponson. Again needing 6s he hit once and immobilised it. However this was where the game ended and I had secured victory.

 

I feel in both cases I won due to victory denial. I tried very hard to make sure that my opponent's chances to win or lose were based on terms which were in my favour. I am unsure how I would have played against stronger lists. A second DP and Marked CSM in those Rhinos with Meltas, or Melta Vets and better Leman Russ Variants/Bastion Breacher Medusas would have maybe been a bit too much of a destructive threat for me.

 

I feel the 3xPAGK list is a bit more forgiving in terms of Objective missions, and those are 66% of all games, so really if I am to run a 1500pt competitive list it is going to have to mean waving good bye to my GKT unless I am going completely the opposite way and using IST Rhinos as mobile Melta Gun platforms with GKT in support in Crusaders.

 

Oh and I also just received from Forgeworld my MK2 Heresy LR kit... along with Reinforced Armour kit, GK Driver and full Inquisition door sets. Im going to try and combine them all to make an Extra Armoured PH GHLR for my BC to ride in. Should have some WIPs tomorrow for you if I can straighten out these wonky resin bits!

[templargdt]

NIce reading man, keep up the good work!

[unbeliever87]

I agree, very nice battle reports. Even without pictures I was able to visualise the battle in my head quite nicely. It's also comforting to see that a pure GK list can win in 5th edition!

 

If you don't mind, I have a couple of questions about your playing style that I was hoping you could clear up for me. As you said in your last post, a lot of your playing style seems to be about VP denial. As a new GK player this is something I have been trying to do in my games (based off Silents water warrior tactica), but without a great deal of success. How long did it take you to get a handle on VP and LOS denial tactics?

How do you generally handle your B-C? In my games I usually deepstrike him in to give me a bit more mid-game flexibility, however he never lasts more than one turn. What do you think?

[number6]

Good work in those battles, SamaNagol! B) I agree with your assessment that superior lists would give you more trouble (no meltas on IG vets?! wha?!), but that doesn't take away from your superior tactical acumen in both matches. I'm particularly appreciative of your mech tactics in game 2. Keeping those raiders moving 6+" clearly saved your bacon and illustrated much of what has been discussed on this forum recently vis-a-vis mech vs footslogging.

 

In fact, the converse could be seen in your game 1 against the IG. Your IG player failed to keep his armour moving, which made them vulnerable and easy assault targets for your GKs. Had your opponent stuck heavy flamers on those vehicles and kept them spread to avoid both multi-charges and to give them freedom to run around it could have been an entirely different outcome for you (even without meltas on his IG vets).

 

Still, as I said, you clearly outplayed both opponents. Looking forward to more.

[SamaNagol]

The thing that helped me the most in Silent's long ass thread was the section about planning out your entire turn in your head before you move a single model. And also the old axiom, 'Plan for the worst, hope for the best'. I look at exactly what I need to do to reduce the effectiveness of the opposition force, and work out an order in my head before the game even starts of target priority. Then once the game commences it is a case of re-evaluating that priority rating every turn and systematically going through each one until you have whittled his army down to a pretty ineffective rabble and then you can pick it apart.

 

Also, in my mind I will try and come to terms with losing one Land Raider every turn and think what I can do for each one. I always run my squads inside the raiders. They never get out unless the odds are weighted heavily in my favour. That's either by Tank Shocking infantry into an Incinerator Cha-Cha line or putting a couple of wounds into that Monstrous Creature with Lascannon fire. I am still very much a novice but I can definitely feel myself improving against the pretty average lists in my local gaming community.

 

I run the BC in a Mini Purgation squad of 5 GK Troops with 2 Psycannon. They go in a raider. Everyone is in a raider. 3 LRs, 3 PAGK units, 1 BC.

[SamaNagol]

Thanks, number6! Very kind words. I am still very much learning the nuances of 5th Edition so it is taking me a while to really see the loopholes so to speak when it comes to taking advantage of the Grey Knights in battle.

 

And as for the other side of the hobby, I am nearly finished the bare bones assembly of my Brother Captain's Land Raider. It's going to be receiving a lot of brown stuff to fill in gaps, and I am going to give it some strong consideration when it comes to decoration as well, here's the WIP though.

 

http://i601.photobucket.com/albums/tt91/Sa...ol/DSC00123.jpg

[SamaNagol]

Went into the shop today and played 2 games against arguably the best 40k player locally, and he had a new GT list of.... 2 Lash, 2x7 Plague Marines, 2xVindicators w/ Daemonic Possesion, 3 Oblits and a 10 man CSM squad. All with Melta and Power Fists. I managed to get 2 games in, as I was enthusiastic about going up against builds similar to the sort of all out winning lists from the Tournament circuit.

 

First game was bases with pitched battle deployment. I started off with my Land Raiders all in a line to focus fire into the first Vindicator down the flank with his objective. He placed one Vindi on each flank so it was impossible to stay out of range of both, so I ensured only one could target me. I was going to utilise the same tactics as the previous game vs IG and try and take out the threats in order. It was to prove fruitless however. My opponent won first turn and drove his Vindicator forwards to within 24 inches and rolled a hit on my middle Land Raider. Then a 6. Then a 6. Great start. One of the PAGK inside died in the explosion. Everything else walked forwards apart from the 7 Plague Marines who sat on the objective in his far corner. I ran the homeless PAGK squad to behind one of the remaining LRs to block line of sight to them and poured 4 Lascannon shots into the Vindicator. I rolled two 1s and a 2 for damage and Daemonic Possession laughed it off. His second turn saw 1 of his Daemon Princes fly forwards down the flank towards to exposed PAGK and then lash them towards him. Psychic Hood failed and I ended up getting assaulted. He only managed to kill 3 of them and in return I took 2 wounds off. I passed my Fearless save. His 2 vindicators both rolled forwards and dropped one shot each on the remaining Land Raiders. He managed a Crew Shaken on one and missed the other. The Obliterators took a Lascannon off the Shaken Raider. Everything else moved forwards with his second unit of Plague Marines running inside a building. My turn and I drove forwards with the injured Raider and popped smoke. I fired 2 Lascannon at the Vindicator up the middle and again only managed a 2 on the damage roll. The Grey Knights lost another 2 casualties and the remaining Justicar took off another wound from the Prince. He passed his save from Fearless. His third turn and he moved his vindicator back up the middle 6 inches and opened fire with both Vindis and all 3 Oblits at the LR with my Brother Captain inside. He managed to score a Shaken as only one Vindicator even managed to hit and get through the armour. The Daemon Prince finished off the Justicar and consolidated towards the Brother Captains Land Raider. The second Prince charged the other Raider, needing 4s to hit he managed to penetrate a whopping 3 times and immobilised the vehicle. My 3rd turn and it was looking very grim for me. I tank shocked a unit of Chaos Space Marines who had been advancing on foot up the middle with the Vindicator previously. They bunched up in a nice group and I got out with Incinerators ready. He managed to make 5 saves and I only caused 1 casualty. Storm Bolter fire was equally as effective and removed another. I shot once at the Vindicator with the land raider and again it failed to register as the glancing hit was reduced to an ignored Crew Shaken. The PAGK assaulted and the Slaaneshi marked CSM piled in. The Brother Captain and his mini purg squad climbed out of the now immobilised raider, shot completely ineffectually and charged the Daemon Prince who had just wiped out the last members of the other PAGK squad. In close combat he swung first and his Daemon Prince killed 3 of the 6 Grey Knights (BC didn't make it into b2b so couldn't be targeted) In turn I caused a single wound back. I failed a save. 4 dead in a bat of an eyelid. Joy. Against the Slaanesh CSM they again struck first and caused one casualty. I killed 3 back in turn and the Champion killed 2 with his Fist to draw the combat. His DP still in b2b with the immobilised Raider tore it to pieces. His turn 4 and I have precisely 6 models on the table and a Raider. He strolled his Plague Marines out of the building and shot at the Land Raider along with the 3 Oblits all using Melta weapons. It died. Explosively, catching both his deamon princes and 1 each of our Marines locked in combat.. I lost another PAGK from the blast, he made the save on his Daemon Princes and his CSM. The Daemon Prince wiped out the remaining PAGK and Brother Captain, The CSM and PAGK traded one casualty each and the Power Fist Champion cleared the remaining Justicar to table me. Turn 4. Match lost.

 

However I felt I had learned some lessons and challenged him to a rematch after we grabbed some food. I'll write that up tomorrow as I have to head out now.

[archonbrujah]

Thanks for the detailed batreps. It's nice to see how the tactics are being used (I don't play my GK's often enough to get familiar with the nuances). This is a big help, and interesting to see what type of lists you are playing against.

 

Keep it up,

 

Archonbrujah

[SamaNagol]

Second game we played was objectives with Dawn of War deployment. We rolled 4 objectives and I won first turn. My two objectives were placed my side of a small wood left of mid table and in open space just in front of my table edge ever so slightly right of centre. He placed his two on the 2nd floor of a gun emplacement just on his side of the table dead centre of the board (The planetstrike AA one I think) and right in his own left corner. I started with everything in reserve and he placed his 2 plague marine units on his two objectives with a Daemon Prince behind the gun emplacement.

 

My first turn and all 3 of my Land Raiders rolled on 6", all with cargo of the PAGK squads either side of the BC and his mini purg squad in the central raider, and spotted his Daemon Prince. They stripped him down to one wound collectively and ignored the Plague Marines for now. His turn and his 2 Vindicators moved on 12" with everything else moving normally. The second Daemon Prince flew up behind the wounded one and tried to run towards the cover. His Slaanesh marines deployed down his right flank and ran. The obliterators stumbled on and took pot shots at my right side Raider but only managed a Shaken result.

 

My turn 2 and I made a move down my right flank with a PAGK Raider towards a power plant which blocked LoS near mid table and would force me to go completely round to get at the Plague Marines on his objective. I popped smoke. The other two Land Raiders rolled forwards 6" with the BC going up the middle towards the 2 DPs and the right vindicator which were all making their way towards the Plague Marines in the gun tower on his second objective. My home objective was directly under the BCs Land Raider and I parked up. The second PAGK Land Raider on my left flank moved up towards the objective by the wood, which was obscuring LoS between it and the second Vindicator and Slaanesh CSM squad. The BC Land Raider fired 2 Lascannon at the Vindicator and managed to get a weapon destroyed. After the last game I was over the moon! And then to top it off the second Land Raider shot once at the Daemon Prince who failed his invulnerable save and was removed from play. A much better start than the previous game for me! His turn consisted of him rumbling forwards with the Obliterators, the Slaanesh CSM who were not equi-distant from the wood objective as my Land Raider and his remaining Daemon Prince flew over the wood and landed in between the Land Raider and the objective as if taunting me. He parked up the useless Vindicator side on in front of my BC Land Raider touching the power plant to hinder my progress and also blocking line of sight to the Plague Marines holding the objective in his back field.

 

I completely ignored them and wheeled my BC Raider to face the Daemon Prince on my left flank by the woods and dismounted my BC and PAGK squad with 2 Psycannon out of the left door so they could not be seen by the remainder of his force. The Land Raider moving down my right flank drove 12" forward towards the plague marines on his objective in the corner but stopped short of making it past the Power Plant which was concealing all of it's side armour giving me a cover save if needed. I tank shocked 12" to the Slaanesh CSM back away from the objective and parked right on top of it, wheeling so one Lascannon had a line on the Daemon Prince. My PAGK squad jumped out with 2 incinerators and it was time for the shooting phase. I poured 3 Lascannon shots into the Daemon Prince and he saved all 3 wounding hits! The Psycannon fared little better taking only one wound with 9 shots! Storm Bolter fire bounced off his armour also. I fired the Heavy Bolter from the far right Land Raider by the power plant at the Plague Marines and managed to remove one of them reducing them to 6 men. On my left flank the disembarked PAGK squad unloaded 2 Incinerators scoring 10 hits. 7 wounds. ALL saved! Storm bolter fire removed 1 Marine and with a sigh I assaulted as I was commited and damned if I was going to give them the charge bonus next turn. They went first and managed to kill 1 Grey Knight with their 8 remaining Marines. My Justicar removed 2 and the regular guys managed another 1. The Champion swung his fist and killed 2. Drawn combat, but I was now down to 3 models vs his 7 and he would be going first again next turn. His turn began with the Plague Marines nearest his table edge shuffling towards the Land Raider but trundling along only 3 inches, the Obliterators seemed to roll a 4 and a 3 every turn and they also advanced further up the middle. They were around 18 inches away so continued to concentrate Lascannon fire on the BCs Land Raider which was acting as a shield and also covering the objective. His impotent Vindicator kicked into life and drove 12 inches parking right between my Land Raider down the right flank and the Plague Marines. I had completely forgot it was even still functional having moved on to targets new! His second Vindicator took a pop at my BCs Raider but missed horribly. The remaining Daemon Prince charged my Land Raider down my left flank as the PAGK and Slaanesh CSM continued their combat with me winning by one but them holding fast against my remaining 2 marines. His Champion with Fist managed to roll 2 1s to wound and saved my skin! The Daemon Prince failed miserable to hit my LR needing 6s. His Plague Marines took some pot shots from their gun tower with bolters that could see my BC and his squad, but failed to inflict any casualties.

 

My turn and the BC and squad hopped back into their raider. My Raider down the right flank tried to ram the Vindicator but it failed to penetrate. The LR on my left wheeled round to face the Daemon Prince and moved a couple of inches to completely obscure the objective marker. It fired both Lascannon at him causing 2 wounds leaving him on 1. The BCs Land Raider fired both of it's Lascannon at the DP and it was killed finally. It then cheekily fired it's Heavy Bolters using Machine Spirit at the Plague Marines in the Gun Tower, but caused no casualties in return to their shooting earlier. The Slaanesh Champion finally killed the remaining 2 PAGK and consolidated towards the Raider, but were not likely to be able to hurt it as the special weapons were dead by this time as only the Icon Bearer and Champion remained. The Obliterators again shuffled forwards a mighty 2 inches and fired 3 Lascannon at the BCs Raider parked on my home objective. His second vindicator fired cross table at my Land Raider which was parked on the objective in a risky move as it could have scattered onto either the CSM. It hit but only managed to score a crew shaken result.

 

My turn 5 and the Land Raider down my right flank drove round the parked up Vindicator and tank shocked the edge of the Plague Marine unit a couple of inches off the objective and wheeled to allow my PAGK to dismount. Flamer fire, a twin linked Lascannon and 4 storm bolters reduced the 6 man squad to 3 men. I then charged in. I wheeled the Land Raider on the left and Tank Shocked the 2 Slaanesh CSM backwards away from the objectibe. A Lascannon shot removed the Icon Bearer leaving just the Champion with Fist behind. My BC Land Raider sat parked up on my Objective with nothing within range of threatening it, so it fired everything at the side of the Vindicator, causing it to explode. The PAGK unfortunately wiped out the Plague Marines in close combat and consolidated 1 inch sheepish backwards towards their Land Raider getting as much space between them as possible. That is because his turn consisted of the Obliterators turning round and firing 3 Plasma Cannon shots at the squad. I watched him roll 3 hits in a row, for which he apologised and then proceeded to roll 12 dice ALL scoring 2+ wiping out the squad entirely. There goes my win!

 

The game ended with my BC and PAGK in their Raider holding my home objective, and his Plague Marines holding the objective in the tower. The remaining two objectives were contested and it finished as a draw. I felt disappointed that the PAGK had wiped out his Plague Marines in one turn of combat rather than taking 2 turns like civilised warriors of the faith so they could stroll back into their Raider for safety. Land Raiders take showers under Plasma Cannon. As it stands, I think my mistake was placement of objectives. I should have seen the gun emplacement as something which was nigh on impossible to shift a squad out of, let alone Plague Marines and this placed my first objective so as to deny placement of one there. I felt my target selection and use of angles to deny his Vindicators shots was much better this game and if anything my plan was executed a little too well. And Land Raiders are wonderful tools for getting units off objectives, especially when they are fearless and you have 2 incinerators per squad.

 

I am strongly considering dropping all of the Psycannon from my list and swapping out my 111 point Brother Captain and 50 pts worth of Psycannon for a 145 pt Grand Master and 20 points more of incinerators making it 3 units of 6 PAGK with 2 in each. I find the Brother Captain to be pretty ineffectual in combat as he can be targeted as an IC when with the PAGK and with only 1 wound he is guaranteed as dead even to S4 power weapon attacks. The GM offers character killing potential, Initiative 5 and another attack therefor helping me become more useful at getting assaults in against anything better than basic troops. And with 3 wounds he can risk to absorb some shots or basic weapon wounds using allocation. I will need to find 4 points from somewhere and it might end up having to be smoke launchers, which I don't really know if I feel comfortable with. I might lose them on the 2 Raiders which carry just the PAGK to get 6 points necessary to make up the 4 point deficit in trading up to a GM, and then leave the Smoke on his wagon. I will have to see whether putting him in a LRC completely skews the squad's use or not. As they are Troops inside, I can still use them to be my Spear Tip when grabbing objectives from the enemy.

 

Next couple of games then I will be trying out:

 

Grand Master 145

 

3 x 6 PAGK with 2 Incinerators (with Frag Grenades on the Justicar in the Crusader Squad) 586

 

2 x Land Raiders with Extra Armour 510

 

1 x Land Raider Crusader with Smoke Launchers and Searchlight 259

 

1500pts on the nose

[Uncle Mel]

Nice read,

 

Great use of tank shock to move the enemy.

 

I fear the grand master will have the same issues as your BC though in that he can be targeted individually, he is better at CC though but in my opinion this only comes to its right with a termie retinue.

 

Let us know!

 

Mel