You read before playing escalation league

[Loki-LaughingDeath]

Round 4 kicked off last Saturday and while my opponent wasn't there for it, I got in an 1100 point game against an ork horde and wiped it out to the man.... slightly satisfying.

 

Last night I got in my game against the latest Imperial Guard recruit who has another view of how to run the guard and it was nasty. Funny thing, we got a camera for Christmas (still trying to figure out the :P thing) I took it last night with the intentions of taking pictures and forgot it was even there.

 

His Army looked like this

Command Squad with 2 or 3 plasma guns in a Chimera

Platoon Command Squad

3 Squads with Auto Cannons

6 Veteran Squads in Chimeras with 3 Melta Guns

Leman Russ MBT

Leman Russ Executioner

Manticore

 

After we had played he told me that he had designed this army to wipe out Marines. Mike also said he was tired of playing a gun line. There was very little movement and he never got to participate in CC unless somebody charged him.

 

I am starting to listen...kinda and well the list changed somewhat....

 

Njal and 9 Grey Hunters in a Rhino with a Melta Gun, Power Weapon and the Mark of the Wulfen

9 Grey Hunters in a Rhino with a Melta Gun, Power Weapon and the Mark of the Wulfen.

Hiemdal Grim Eyes 9 Blood Claws with a Power Fist and Flamer.

Land Speeder Typhoon "Gyrfalcon" with a Multi Melta

Long Fang Squad Harvest 3 Missile Launchers and a Lascannon

Long Fang Squad Reaper 2 Heavy Bolters and 2 Plasma Cannons

Land Raider Dragon Slayer

 

We rolled for terrain and put out 5 pieces mainly rock outcrops. The mission was seize ground with 4 objectives 2 on his side and 2 on mine. He won the roll to go first and I couldn't steal.

 

This ended up being a gun fight...and despite him bringing more guns, mine were more damaging. The Execution blew up in a shower of debris that nearly wiped out the Platoon command and a regular squad from the Lascannon of Harvest Squad. The Manticore and Leman Russ both focused most of their attention on Dragon Slayer but despite that, he only suffered minor damage to his track systems immobilizing him and destroying one of his lascannons. The sole surviving PC gunner accounted for 3 of the 5 Chimeras on the board. Gyrfalcon managed the deep strike but once again failed to hit anything rolling triple ones. The game went to 6 turns before ending in a draw, both of us controlling one objective each. He still had more stuff but I was in a postition to deal with it.

 

This game made me uneasy. 4 Rounds of Arty strikes is nasty, and with the open ground and all his stuff locked up in chimeras it made me think about how I wanted to play it. In the end I lost the Blood claws and most of a unit of hunters and Harvest squad. The dice were spotty last night, I think they were a reflection of my hesitation. I am most proud of Dragon Slayer though. He made sure that there were a couple of rounds where the Leman Russ wasn't firing and caused some casualties, but most of all he survived a massive pounding. I am not sure about Gyrfalcon however, I just cant get the hang of how to use it. Of all the pieces of my army that is the piece that I am not sure of. No real damage done to the priority targets it gets, destroyed every game it made it to the table the following turn or very shortly there after.

 

I am looking at next round and the taking Mjolnir my LRC and up grading the claws, but the more I think of the use of Dragon Slayer the more I hesitate.... I DO NOT want to give up the anti-armor that he brings, but at the same time I want to break out the claws.

 

Like I said up top, this is uncharted territory for me. Last month's winner had 2 wins and a draw. There have been problems with people not playing their games or even trying to make contact. I am currently in 3rd place overall in the league and if I can get some more wins then I have a shot.

[elithren]

Loki, I've been following your reports and from what I can tell, Njal doesnt quite seem to put out for you. I dont know if that is because you just dont mention what he does in the games or if that he actually doesnt do much. If he doesnt, I recommend swapping him out for a regular priest and then add another speeder to help Gyrfalcon feel more secure (twos always seem to have an impact on the dice, dont know why....). You could even add in another bare boned priest for the other GH squad, if I do my math right.

[Loki-LaughingDeath]

I don't mention Njal anymore because he just wipes stuff out. Between Murderous Hurricane, Living Lightning and Chain Lightning, he pretty much gutted most of the Squads that were trying to take an objective. He would either wipe them out whole sale (17 hits causing 14 wounds on one Unit that saved twice) or take out survivors.. He works, not dropping him he's too much fun.

[Wulfenstein]

I love when people admit to Njal being a bad-:down: in battle reports. People always tell me he is a waste for his points and most of the time he earns double his points back in kills. Maybe I get lucky but I am more inclined to think he is a beast.

[Gerwulf]

A very interesting read as always and congratulations on tabling the pesky orks ;)

 

Are you sure his army list is correct? I don't know guard that well, but it looks a bit iffy. Taking a platoon command means he would have to take 2 infantry platoons, he can't just take the heavy weapon squads.

Also, if he takes 6 veteran squads, there are no slots left for the infantry platoon.

 

A singley typhoon can do well, but change the MM back to a HB to save some points and start it out on the field, don't deepstrike it. The typhone launcher is an excellent ranged weapon, while the MM is a great short range weapon. Dropping a 100 point land speeder with armour 10 all around in the middle of your opponents army is not a good idea. For those points you can almost field 2 land speeders with a MM each which have a slightly higher survivability, whith a bit less firepower, but stronger tank busting. Keep the typhone in the backfield and use it's excellent mobility to get side armour shots from afar. A second land speeder wouldn't go amiss either. But again, it's probably not a good idea to drop them. I think the only unit that drops somewhat well alone is a dreadnought with a multi melta.

 

If you increase the numbers of the blood claws and want to use them as a serious assault unit add a Wolf Priest, which has a great synergy with them.

 

It's strange to see power weapons and MotW in the same squads. Most people I know use either one or the other. Which one is preferred depends on your own taste. (I hate the MotW, even thought it is statistically better than a power weapon). Anyway, I guess having both of them give you some extra punch. However, if you replace one of them with a Wolf Standard the squad will become A LOT better than having both of them. If you can add a WS while keeping both, even better. And again... Wolf Standards for 10 points are a bargain and are a MUST for any GH squad.

 

If you can afford the points, add a 10th GH to the second squad, which will give you a free melta.

[Loki-LaughingDeath]

I love when people admit to Njal being a bad-:cuss in battle reports. People always tell me he is a waste for his points and most of the time he earns double his points back in kills. Maybe I get lucky but I am more inclined to think he is a beast.

 

No argument from me on this point

 

A very interesting read as always and congratulations on tabling the pesky orks ;)

 

Are you sure his army list is correct? I don't know guard that well, but it looks a bit iffy. Taking a platoon command means he would have to take 2 infantry platoons, he can't just take the heavy weapon squads.

Also, if he takes 6 veteran squads, there are no slots left for the infantry platoon.

 

A singley typhoon can do well, but change the MM back to a HB to save some points and start it out on the field, don't deepstrike it. The typhone launcher is an excellent ranged weapon, while the MM is a great short range weapon. Dropping a 100 point land speeder with armour 10 all around in the middle of your opponents army is not a good idea. For those points you can almost field 2 land speeders with a MM each which have a slightly higher survivability, whith a bit less firepower, but stronger tank busting. Keep the typhone in the backfield and use it's excellent mobility to get side armour shots from afar. A second land speeder wouldn't go amiss either. But again, it's probably not a good idea to drop them. I think the only unit that drops somewhat well alone is a dreadnought with a multi melta.

 

If you increase the numbers of the blood claws and want to use them as a serious assault unit add a Wolf Priest, which has a great synergy with them.

 

It's strange to see power weapons and MotW in the same squads. Most people I know use either one or the other. Which one is preferred depends on your own taste. (I hate the MotW, even thought it is statistically better than a power weapon). Anyway, I guess having both of them give you some extra punch. However, if you replace one of them with a Wolf Standard the squad will become A LOT better than having both of them. If you can add a WS while keeping both, even better. And again... Wolf Standards for 10 points are a bargain and are a MUST for any GH squad.

 

If you can afford the points, add a 10th GH to the second squad, which will give you a free melta.

 

 

I guess I kinda screwed up, the 3 squads were infantry squads with an auto cannon... and then tons of vets for a very formidable mechanized infantry force. There were no heavy weapons squads involved.

 

The choice with the MotW and the Power weapon is originally I was using a Power Fist...great in some regards...not so groovy against the numbers that I have been going up against. What I was looking at doing was being able to capitalize on a marine's speed... while not Eldar of either flavor they are still fast and don't allow saves. The MotW is a strictly numbers decision, the worst I can do is 2 attacks, 3 on the charge, getting that anyway so anything else is just icing on the cake. Rending is nice but didn't contribute to my choices. I was just thinking about the quickest way to dish out the most attacks and potential wounds possible and this is what I came up with. The 9 man unit is prep for next month when they get their wolf guard with frost axe. ;)

[Gerwulf]

I don't really argue the choice of either... or both... They are both good options. But what you really should do is adding a Wolf Standard :cuss

 

Re-rolling all ones in one assault phase is worth it's points in gold! In one game a full unit of DE Wyches attacked my GH (in a forrest) and didn't do any damage in the first round. ;)

 

I'm currently using wolf guard with combi-weapons and powerfists to good results (I used to hate the idea, now it is almost a standard procedure for me). But then, I'm mainly playing opponents fielding monstrous creatures ;)

The wolf guard with frost weapon will help you against larger groups of enemies.

Think of this: with S5 you wound T3 units on a 2+... but what happens if you can reroll 1s!

 

What are you intending to field for the other 2 WG choices you need?

[Quillen]

Except he never meleed. So the banner(which I always take too) is wasted.

[Loki-LaughingDeath]

Last night was another grudge match...Ian the first marine gun line I faced off against....on an open table with a Thunderfire Cannon. Well we went at it again last night and I think that he screwed himself. The mission was Capture and Control and to be a Nice guy I put my objective right in the middle of the table. His objective was on my right flank in some rubble.

 

This is what he was packing

 

Captain with a Relic Blade Bolt Pistol and Artificer Armor in a 10 man tactical squad with missile launcher and flamer and sergeant with power fist

Epistolary Librarian in TDA with Stormbolter and Force Weapon with a 10 man tactical squad with missile launcher and flamer and sergeant with power fist

5 Man tactical sqaud sergeant has power fist

Predator Annihilator with additional lascannon goodness and extra armor

Vindicator with extra armor

Thunderfire Cannon

5 Man Devastator Squad with Signum?

 

I went with something a little different this time...

 

Njal and 9 Grey Hunters with a melta gun, power weapon and mark of the Wulfen in a Rhino

Hiemdal and 9 Blood Claws with a power fist and flamer in a Rhino

10 Grey Hunters with a power weapon and Mark of the Wulfen

Land Speeder Typhoon Gyrfalcon

Long Fang Squad Harvest 3 missile launchers and a lascannon

Long Fang Squad Reaper 2 heavy bolters and 2 plasma cannons

Land Raider Dragon Slayer

 

We rolled for terrain and ended up setting out 7 pieces and jolly me I won the roll to go first. I set up with Dragon Slayer on my Far Right with Harvest Squad nestled up in some rocks to cover his objective with Njal's rhino behind them. Harvest Squad was in the next group of rocks with Hiemdal's Claws and Gyrfalcon behind them. Ian's set up was a line with the Thunder Fire on the far Left then the Devastator Squad then Librarian's squad and the Vindicator covering my objective with that massive gun. The Predator was behind a wall with the Captain's squad and the 5 man squad ready to move up and secure his objective. He rolled to steal and came up short so we were off.

 

Turn 1

 

So I get to go first and start of with Njal's storm power which was pretty much useless nothing was going to be in range from the looks of it. So Hiemdal's Claws and Gyrfalcon break left behind a wall on the far left flank to get into CC and a good firing position on the Predator. Dragon Slayer breaks right behind some rocks for a good firing lane on the Vindicator. Njal held position and Started blasting away with living lightning but failed properly concentrate. Dragon Slayer

opened up on the Vindicator, only managing to prevent the crew from firing. Gyrfalcon managed to miss (according to tradition) Harvest squad split it's fire and managed pick off a 2 missile launchers from the devastator squad while the Lascannon missed the Thunderfire. Reaper Squad picked off 2 tactical marines from the Captain's squad with a plasma cannon, while the other missed and all the heavy bolter shots were saved.

 

Ian opened up with the Captain's squad and the 5 man squad running up into the cover of the rocks with the objective. The Librarian's squad opened up on Gyrfalcon with the missile launcher but missed, while the librarian summoned his control into protective energies. The remaining devastator's hit Njal's rhino with krak missile but only managed to immobilize it. The Predator took a good look at Dragon Slayer and despite three hits the lascannons failed to penetrate the massive armor. The Thunderfire took it's shots at the Hiemdal's rhino and the one shot that did manage to penetrate was saved by the cover of the wall.

 

Turn 2

 

Hiemdal order the driver to punch it and hit the smoke as the rhino dashed into the open. Gyrfalcon stayed in place and lined up their shot on the Predator and to make up for the poor showing last time destroyed the ancient tank. Dragon Slayer slid to the side and opened fire on the Vindicator but the psychic energy deflected the massive lascannon bolts....

The veterans of Harvest Squad lined up their fire and Scyld wanting to make up for last time put a lascannon bolt center mass of the Techmarine manning the cannon to silence it while the rest of the squad fired into their counter parts but they were ablte to take advantage of the protective energy as well. Reaper squad not wanting to be out done opened up on the Captain's squad and took out another 2 marines. Njal attempted to add to the casualties but they were able to save against the lightning descending from the heavens while the driver and gunner attempted to jury rig the drive systems.

 

The Captain ordered the missile launcher to take out Dragon Slayer but the missile was no match for it's armor. The Librarian ordered his missile launcher to take out the rhino but it missed. The devastators however launched 3 missiles that all hit despite the smoke and all penetrated but only managed to shake the crew as the krak missiles spent their energy in the drivers compartment. The vindicator opened fire on Gyrfalcon, barely missing the craft with it's massive shell, but the gunner was peppered by shrapnel momentarily stunning him.

 

Turn 3

 

Hiemdal had the claws bail out of their rhino(I will talk about this and other mistakes I made later) on the right side of the rhino. Meanwhile the driver sensing that they were in deep hit the thrust and shot off across the battle field looking for better cover jinking recklessly the whole way. Dragon Slayer took control of it's lascannons furious at the presumption of an upstart marine thinking it could save the prey he had choosen and fired into the Vindicator again this time blowing through the engine compartment of the siege tank. Njal and his retinue exited their stricken machine thinking to make the assault on foot but stayed in cover waiting their moment while the crew worked frantically getting the rhino back into the action. Harvest Squad reduced the number of of the devastator squad down to the sergeant and a lone gunner. Reaper Squad piled more fire into the Captain's squad taking them down to the captain, the Heavy weapon specialist and 2 marines.

 

The captian had the missile launcher fire at Gyrfalcon, but it lived up to it's name nimbly evading the lethal projectile. The librarian kept up the protective energies, and had his squad and heavy weapon fire a frag missile along with the Devastator that took out 6 claws.

 

Turn 4

 

Hiemdal and the claws collected their wounded comrades throwing them back into the rhino while the venerable priest went to work treating his wounded charges, the driver floored it back into cover ready to take the objective. Dragon Slayer moved up opened the assault ramp and told the hunters to "TAKE THEM" as he poured lascannon shots into the surviving members of the captian's squad while Reaper squad did the same. Between the 2 they managed to incapacitate the remaining squad members, leaving the captain alone with a single wound. Gyrfalcon stooped on the wounded Vindicator and finished the wounded beast with a multimelta shot. Scyld was getting annoyed with the rest of Harvest Squad and dropped the Devastator Sergeant and dared the rest of the Squad to do better....which they did not. The Hunters assaulted into the 5 man tactical squad and reduced them to a sergeant and one trooper(this one gets mentioned as well). Njal was having trouble concentrating again, but the good news was that the crew got their rhino running again and Njal's squad was close.

 

The Captain swept into combat despite his injuries and because of those injuries is only able to wound 1 marine. The Wulfen and hunter armed with a power sword swept in on the injured captain and took him out of the fight while the rest of the hunters focused their attention on the rest of the squad* but failed to achieve any significant advantage, while the sergeant got hold of another Hunter. The Librarian had his squad run up to secure the Wolves objective.

 

 

Turn 5(also known as Mistakes'R us!)

 

So this is easy...everything that can shoot...shoots into the Librarian's squad while Gyrfalcon takes down the last devastator.... when all is said and done it hits me....movement. There are 2 Marines and the Librarian still standing within 3 inches of my objective... On the good side the Hunters captured the last 2 marines on his objective...

 

His missile launcher takes aim at the claws rhino and misses....

 

Dice come up a 5

 

Turn 6

 

Njal & idiots jump into their drivable rhino and hit the gas meanwhile Hiemdal kicks the driver and does the same. Dragon Slayer takes out the last 2 marines and Harvest squad polished off the Librarian...Scyld will be getting lots and lots of ale FOREVER!

 

After Action Review...the Barn Dance Card.

 

Ian is a new guy and it shows...4 heavy choices. Not legal and I don't think he even realizes it.

 

On to me: OH MY GOD HOW CAN I DO THAT AGAIN!! WHAT AM I GOING TO HAVE TO DO GET MOVEMENT TATTOOED ON MY FREAKING FOREHEAD TO REMIND ME TO MOVE MY TROOPS??? There is no combat without movement.

 

When I assaulted his 5 man unit, it was a reminder when I faced off against Kharne and his berserkers only with the opposite results. 14 wounds....1 failed save. The dice are sooo fickle which bogged down allowing his captain to charge in 4 attacks one hit one kill.

 

Gyrfalcon is the killer of the match...when I fired the first salvo and saw the 2s sitting there mocking me, I was figuring okay that is typical...then those two went on a tear. Predator, Vindicator.

 

Ian's numbers were too light. Heck I feel too light and now I am looking at facing off against 2 Time Mikey.... the mike who won the first 2 rounds of the league... What does he bring....I Guard Flying Circus Mech Infantry. 2 Vendettas, 2 Leman Russ MBTs, a Manticore and Veteran Squads up the butt...and to make things better the Mission is Annihilation. For some strange reason I have this puckering sensation. I can play with 10% of my list between games, for me that is 150 Points, not enough to swap out a unit, but enough to make some changes, like dropping the Melta Guns, Power Fist and Power Weapons out of the Claws and Hunters to add another Long Fang with Lascannon for more tank hunting power and another LF heavy bolter to squish squads... or a Razorback with TWLLC. If I can pull off this win... I think I have a shot at winning the Round this time...