Road to Nationals.

[Demoulius]

keep that chin up Mort, bad games happen to everyone ^_^

[Morticon]

Sisters list wasd :

 

Celestine,

Canoness- jp, ip, blessed weapon

5seraphin - inferno pistol,pw

3x 10girls , hvy flmr, flmr, ip, imagifier, book, evisc

Rhino

3x exorcists

 

Ill give a full batrep later of course but terrain played a huge role. Also grossly underestimnated that mini death squad of jumpers

[Morticon]

Hey guys- update day two- just had the worst luck agaaain today but still managed to eek out a win!

 

The biker list I faced in the first game is on top tables and is currently 4for 4!

[Demoulius]

way to go mort! pull yourself out of that ditch man :D

 

now win the rest of those games! you can do it *insert cheerleader smiley here*

[Midnightmare]

C'mon Morticon, you got the whole of the forum behind you! Good luck with your remaining games :jaw:

[Terrahawk]

C'mon Morticon, you got the whole of the forum behind you! Good luck with your remaining games -_-

 

Hear hear!

 

Go rip 'em a new one in the name of Sanguinius! :D

[Wildfire]

Hope that last game went well, Mort.

 

If you remember, I'd love to know about that Khan list's composition.

[Morticon]

Bleeeeh ><;

 

Hey guys, sorry for the huge delay.

 

And more importantly the huge let down :lol:

 

Im back from Joburg from what was my worst tourney performance in about 4 or 5 years ><;

 

I'll break it down after this overview.

 

I crashed out with some horrible mistakes, some poor tactical calls and some very bad luck.

 

Suffice to say I have learned this from the tournament, unless I absolutely cannot fit it in, I will never go into a tourney without Corbulo again!!

Too many games were wrecked by 1 die roll to think twice about this.

 

My over-all Nationals result was:

 

2 Wins

3 Losses

and a Draw.

 

For a placement of 25 out of the allocated 42 slots

 

Ron1n was doing really, really well until day two and crashed down to 35th.

 

The top ten were:

 

1 Space Marines (Khaan Biker list)

2 Space Wolves (thunderwolf heavy)

3 Imperial Guard (6 vendettas)

4 Imperial Guard (4 vendettas)

5 Blood Angels (2x fear libby vanilla style list)

6 Blood Angels (mixed vanilla esque list- beautifully painted)

7 Space Marines ?

8 Imperial Guard ?

9 Chaos Space Marines (mixed list)

10 Imperial Guard (9 valks/vendettas)

 

 

Winning list was:

 

Khaan on bike

Chaplain on bike

Command Squad on bike with: Champ, 2 Storm Shields, 2 Claws, banner - at least.

8 Bikers, 1MM attack bike - 2 mg, 1 fist

8 Bikers, 1MM attack bike - 2 mg, 1 fist

8 Bikers, 1MM attack bike - 2 mg, 1 fist

 

thats it.

 

 

I'll start on the batreps sooooon !

[Morticon]

First - the location

 

 

Warzone in Johannesburg, South Africa.

 

Yup - they even have 40k in Africa. Who woulda thunk it!!

 

 

Here are a few pics of the location we were playing in - a gutted house remodeled expressly for the purposes of playing 40k!!

 

Wicked coool !!

 

 

http://img571.imageshack.us/img571/4207/img1738o.jpg

 

http://img441.imageshack.us/img441/3386/img1739yt.jpg

 

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/3108/img1741i.jpg

 

http://img80.imageshack.us/img80/3207/img1740t.jpg

 

http://img837.imageshack.us/img837/2148/img1744s.jpg

 

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/7136/img1745ho.jpg

[Drachnon]

Sad to hear it didn't go so well. Also kinda sad to see that the top 10 armies are kinda similar either guard or marine in one flavour or another.

[Morticon]

BATREP ONE.

 

 

So, for some reason in the tourney we were paired up a little bit differently from the way they worked the rankings usually.

Also, after we were matched with opponents, then they chose the mission - which again was a bit odd, but all good.

 

 

My opponent was the Khan biker list listed above.

 

The mission was Kill Points and pitched battle (or annihilation)

 

He had 6 - I had 11 ><; was gonna be tough off the bat.

 

 

I won roll off and opted to go first.

In retrospect I may have been better off going second, but have had zero experience with all biker lists.

 

He deployed full into reserve with one squad coming in from his board edge and the rest from outflank.

 

I deployed as centrally as I could.

In his 2nd turn, only one squad came on. I came in on the right hand side. Conveniently.

He superboosted from the one edge up, making use of the 3++.

 

Heres where the turning point of the game came - it was a gamble and one that i felt had odds in my favour.

Mephy casted wings and flew towards the lone biker squad.

 

Now, by my approximation I was about 9" away from the enemy. I would need a 3+ to get into combat.

Mephy rolled a 1.

The first 1 of about 5 run rolls in the entire tournament (in fact there was only one time he didnt roll a one).

 

So, nowhere near combat - i had to move him back, but not even able to put him into cover.

 

The following turn (3) everything came on.

And as luck would have it for him, everything came on from the same side.

 

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/1303/img1746q.jpg

 

 

http://img833.imageshack.us/img833/936/img1747c.jpg

 

My tactical mistake of the game (not being used to outflankers) is to not deploy 12" (or in this case 18")- i deployed my assaulters and my bikers too close.

 

In his turn he shot mephiston, my bikers and my RAS - i was first quite happy with that since i figured Mephy would survive assault (wrong).

 

He then tied up pretty much my entire army for the game.

http://img178.imageshack.us/img178/8357/img1749.jpg

 

He charged through gaps to get my bikers, into the assaulters, and into the assault bikers I had turboed up at the top.

 

Mephy managed to kill Khaan before he struck, but he made his 3+ invulnerable saves on shields and then went down to power claws and weapons with the help of the chappies rerolls to hit.

 

In my turn I brought out the tacs and the 5man RAS and got them up to take on the 5man bikers.

 

In the next few turns it was just a gigantic slug fest. I was winning most combats but the bikes were making LD checks, and actually got to use the banner reroll 3 times ><;

I should have won the top combat with 15 marines charging in (1 PW and 1 PF) but my rolling let me down there)

 

In the end he had 3 bikes left, 1 from a broken squad that then rallied, and two from the command squad.

I had an immobed baal a rhino and the Razorback.

 

It was a hard fought game, but he was on top for the most part of things by pure numbers and resiliency of the bikes.

 

Not to mention Mephs less than stellar performance. My priest as well duffed roll after roll of 3+ to hit ><;

Thats the way it goes.

That roll of 1 for mephy made me think about corbs.

Props to the opponent though who took away the strength of the BA by getting the charge on me rather than the other way around!

http://img199.imageshack.us/img199/2786/img1751qo.jpg

[Morticon]

Game 2 - Dawn of War - 5 Objectives

 

opponent - Ash - IG.

 

Ive faced Ashley 4 times now in tournies.

He beat me once (but lost after it all since he had a slightly illegal list - Inquisitor Lord without retinue) in the first regional heats.

We drew in the Veterans tournament (17 to 17 KP) and then I beat him in the second regional heats.

 

So, a very apt opponent. Craziest thing is Ash is only 14 years old. ;)

 

His list:

 

Command Squad -

Master of Ordnance, lascannon

3 Vendettas

3 Veterans squads

jnr command

1 Platoon squad -autocan

1 Platoon squad - autocan

2 Chimeras

Inq lord, psycan, retinue- 2plasguns, mystics

Manticore

Colossus

2Hydras

Marbo

 

 

Ash won first turn and elected to go first.

He set up really cleverly and decoyed mephiston with his one squad, so I placed him less than central to try for the first turn charge.

I deployed mephy and a combat squadded TACTICAL squad, and chose to deepstrike my jumpers.

 

In his first turn stuff moved on entirely on the left flank away from meph(smart) and tried to take some long range shots at my lasteam.

 

I then moved on.

 

This is where I made my first big tactical (kinda) mistake.

I had factored on the fact that if you shot your weapons from a vehicle (ie: the valks) you automatically used your searchlights.

As a result I moved my pred and my razor less than usual to get some good shots on the enemy.

 

We checked the rule book cause he wasnt aware that that was the case and we argued to the point that judges ruled that only if you acquired a target would you then be spottable (but yes you automatically use them if you do acquire a target).

Mephy tried to gain ground towards the lone junior command squad, keeping out of the thick of things, while everything else tried to weather the storm and move forward.

 

http://img185.imageshack.us/img185/3995/img1753m.jpg

 

 

:wub: boo.

 

In his turn he did everything he could to try take out the bikes- he only managed one or two and the three attack bikers.

 

In my turn I moved up again where I could.

My range was off for the baal as i was too worried about taking out the collossus and didnt focus on the hydras.

 

Anyway, my bikers shot at the valk and then multicharged the inquisitor and friends.

 

 

I cant remember the specifics of the whole game, but I made one big mistake earlier - I was so concerned about getting the master of ordnance dead, I charged the command squad with the lone priest that had survived the rest of the shooting instead of charging the troop squad on the bunker.

 

 

We traded long range shots and I slowly whittled him down with what little firepower I had.

Since i had so much forward pressure my pred at the back went largely unmolested.

My few marines did what they could to fight the loads of guard, but sadly my saves were less than stellar and they went down in a few places where they possibly shouldnt have.

http://img442.imageshack.us/img442/9194/img1754l.jpg

 

 

We were pressed for time, with 10 minutes left, we discussed calling it - it would be a draw.

Ash assured that his turn would be quick and I thought I could wangle a win if im lucky - i went for it.

 

His shooting failed and it put me in prime position.

Mephy would be able to get to one squad, my baal could contest one, my jumpers kill and claim and my pred contest, leaving me with 1-0.

 

Then...i have an EPIC brain fart. I blame on me rushing.

 

Check here ->

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/6951/img1755h.jpg

 

In my turn - I move that pred on the right from that middle objective - CONTESTING....onto that right objective...for what reason I CANNOT tell you.

In my mind i was like- if mephy doesnt make it into combat, or doesnt kill them and they claim there...(like he wouldnt kill 10 guardsmen)...

i moved it- and realised...but the tournament had a touch move rule in which you were not allowed to take back your move once you moved it.

 

I had just given him the draw from a winning position :(

 

I was sooo gutted.

 

This result would now shape the rest of the coming tournament - filled with "woulda, coulda, shoulda".

[synack]

I have to cheer for Ashley since he's in my club, go Ash! :rolleyes:

 

That aside, sounds like you had a tough time, but I'm sure your BA will be back in the thick of it soon enough... I know my Nids want a rematch.

[Morticon]

quick snap of all the players in the South African Nationals.

http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab270/Trancebucket1/40K%20Nationals%202010/S6305317.jpg

[Terrahawk]

Thanks for the batreps and pictures, very interesting stuff.

 

There really isn't much you can do when the dice aren't with you, and besides being 25 out of 42 in the Nationals is no shame! :tu:

[shatter]

quick snap of all the players in the South African Nationals.

http://i870.photobucket.com/albums/ab270/Trancebucket1/40K%20Nationals%202010/S6305317.jpg

 

My gf said something about 40k being the opiate of the white and nerdy, even in Afrika. :/

My gf was (once again) mocking me.

 

Which nerd are you?

[Wildfire]

Wow, nice room. I notice even the tables are custom built for 40k! At least, I assume so, since in the second picture the leg is carved with the Elites symbol.

[Morticon]

My gf said something about 40k being the opiate of the white and nerdy, even in Afrika. :/

My gf was (once again) mocking me.

 

Which nerd are you?

 

Thats 100% correct my man!!

 

Im way at the back in the middle, with my head sticking out- wearing a red teeshirt.

 

Wow, nice room. I notice even the tables are custom built for 40k! At least, I assume so, since in the second picture the leg is carved with the Elites symbol.

 

Wildfire, yup!!! All the tables had the aquilla and then that symbol!

 

Very cool stuff.

More batreps tonight lads!

[Morticon]

Game 3 - Sisters

3 Objectives SPEARHEAD

 

I was playing against a 3 excorcist sister list (is there any other kind?)

It was manned by the current no.3 player in the country (if im not mistaken) - so he knows what he's doing - but like me was having a poor tourney.

 

his list:

 

St Celestine

Canoness - jp, blesssed weapon, inferno pistol

5 Seraphim - infernopistol, flamer, pw

10 sisters, flamer, heavy flamer, infernopistol, eviscerator.

Rhino

10 sisters, flamer, heavy flamer, infernopistol, eviscerator.

Rhino

10 sisters, flamer, heavy flamer, infernopistol, eviscerator.

Rhino

3 Excorcists

 

The terrain was mental.

 

We played on this castle like board with a huuge chunk covering about 25% of the board alone in the middle. It was one level up then flat at the top.

 

I won the dice off and gave him first turn.

Unfortunately with the way the objectives were placed (ie: quite spread, but with one on the terrain) I would have issues dealing with him since my bikes cant go up levels.

 

He deployed like such....

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/9366/img1758h.jpg

 

and me like such..

 

http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/5899/img1757m.jpg

 

I kept my attack bikes and las pred in reserve and my baal outflanking - and my jumpers coming down by strike.

 

 

His first turn saw a little movement with the girls making a run for the roof while his jumpy death squad moved forward.

 

In my turn, I made possibly the biggest tactical mistake of the game (other than the dumbass mistake of previous game) by charging that little death squad.

I know sisters very well - or so I thought. There are things to look out for - the invuln. saves for example, but the combination of certain elements with the acts of faith I was not ready for.

The jumpy death squad made every single shooting save it needed, and then every single close combat save (i put all my attacks into celestine and the canonness hoping for the instant death). No dice.

They then hit back after they passed all the saves and TORE mephiston a new one thanks to blessed weapon PLUS +2 strength. It was horrible :P

Such an epic noob mistake on my part there. But man oh man was that squad nasty. It also didnt help that my assault squad (5man) failed to make it 4inches up and across the wall, and that he passed both his gaze checks for his ICs (yup under 6 on both LD checks.

 

I had tried to gain ground with the tacs on one flank, drawing out the excorcists so they would attack and my reserves wold come in and hit side armour.

http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/448/img1759j.jpg

 

 

Anyway, his shooting wasnt so hot and I managed to keep my rhino alive and mobile for my next turn. His jumpers split up into multiple units and assaulted a few of my units.

He blasted my RAZ apart with inferno madness and then started hacking away at the RAS and the bikers.

 

I managed to take the celestine out with the fist though!

But the seraphim destroyed the blasted 5man RAS.

http://img714.imageshack.us/img714/3285/img1760gz.jpg

 

At this point the battle did a big ring-a-ring-rosey kinda vibe as i moved around to take out the most of his forces while my new guys came on. My TACs jumped out to engage the excorcists, and generally it looked like i was doing well.

 

For the next few turns I bashed most of his army up, taking heavy casualties too, but taking almost everything out.

In the end however, I had lost all my troops thanks largely to that godawful Celestine who came back three times.

The most memorable fight was a TAC vs. sisters epic battle which I just failed to do well in, losing as many marines as sisters every turn. We eventually killed each other.

 

So, at the end, I had wiped out almost everything of his except for a squad of sisters on the center castle objective.

I shot what I could, and forced a breakcheck - but it wasnt enough and the LD9 held strong (ld 8?)

Whatever it was it held.

 

Lost one objective to nil :tu:

 

In retrospect, I was WAY too cautious of the sister squad on the mound - i didnt want to dedicate guys to that since I knew they could go rending bolter on my BA ass. I was also overly concerned about the excorcists and spend so much time taking them out.

In the end just too many poor judgement calls on my part - and the unfamiliar type of terrain (weak excuse i know ><; but its true) just totally threw me.

 

 

 

http://img408.imageshack.us/img408/7069/img1761z.jpg

[Morticon]

Half time interlude.

 

 

Here are a few snaps of another BA players force - "The Impalers".

 

If im not mistaken he came 5th ? Maybe 6th?

 

Gorgeous army ->

 

http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/440/img1762pd.jpg

 

http://img828.imageshack.us/img828/2731/img1763g.jpg

 

 

http://img340.imageshack.us/img340/2329/img1764u.jpg

[the jeske]

I know sisters very well - or so I thought. There are things to look out for - the invuln. saves for example, but the combination of certain elements with the acts of faith I was not ready for.

mort you do know that acts of faith have to [at least the inv one] announces before charges are declared ?

also interesting sob build. inferno pistols and no book of st lucius . something different from what one normaly gets to see.

 

 

I had a few tournaments like this in my life too. where rolling was bad and one placing [why ,why did I move that stupid fex out of 2 objectives to kill a weaponless raider and draw instead of wining ? I will never know. cost me top 4 too. ] screws up the whole game , but hey thats what happens when you play a build like yours [with singles , so its hard when an important part dies or gets tar pited]. Only thing one can do is test and test and test some more . the more an army is played the fewer mistakes are made. But in the end you can beat any oppont , but you will never win against your own dice . personaly am puting the blame for those rolls you had on using up your mojo luck durning the testing :)

 

 

how did a bike army with terrain like that win is beyond my me by the way .

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

I didn't realize the sisters army had Saint Celestine until I read the batrep. She can be quite nasty. From the pictures it looks like there was lots of balanced armies as opposed to over the top lists.

 

0b ;)

[Morticon]

I know sisters very well - or so I thought. There are things to look out for - the invuln. saves for example, but the combination of certain elements with the acts of faith I was not ready for.

mort you do know that acts of faith have to [at least the inv one] announces before charges are declared ?

also interesting sob build. inferno pistols and no book of st lucius . something different from what one normaly gets to see.

 

 

I had a few tournaments like this in my life too. where rolling was bad and one placing [why ,why did I move that stupid fex out of 2 objectives to kill a weaponless raider and draw instead of wining ? I will never know. cost me top 4 too. ] screws up the whole game , but hey thats what happens when you play a build like yours [with singles , so its hard when an important part dies or gets tar pited]. Only thing one can do is test and test and test some more . the more an army is played the fewer mistakes are made. But in the end you can beat any oppont , but you will never win against your own dice . personaly am puting the blame for those rolls you had on using up your mojo luck durning the testing :D

 

 

how did a bike army with terrain like that win is beyond my me by the way .

 

Jeske - sorry my bad - i didnt mention the book cause i assumed it was automatic gear on everyone ;) every squad had one!

 

Also, I wasnt too fussy about the exact timing of the acts- i mentioned to him that it should be done at a specific time and he should do it from that point from next time on - I expected him to do it anyway, so I wasnt too fussed.

 

As for the bike army and terrain like that- yeah man- i know. I think it had something to do with outflanking!! Possibly.

 

 

I didn't realize the sisters army had Saint Celestine until I read the batrep. She can be quite nasty. From the pictures it looks like there was lots of balanced armies as opposed to over the top lists.

 

0b

 

Hard to completely break a list at 1650 BO! Although- the 9 vendetta/valk list certainly tried :)

[Demoulius]

woah, that terrain looks...weird :P

 

in the end you still ripped most of his army asunder Mort, just a bad judgement call and some bad luck...live and learn man. and break some peoples back in "practice games" some more ;)

[Grimtooth]

Better luck next time Mort.

 

I mentioned it before, but it seems that your reliance on Meph to always perform optimally to make your list continues to be a weakness. I mean you did make it to nationals so I am not questioning your skill just the all in one basket mentality it seems some BA players have about Meph. I fell into the same spell with dual thunderlord lists. I have since dropped it down to one and expanded my army elsewhere with pretty good results.