Chaplain's hobby misc. Red Gobbo!

[Daemon2027]

Another plog I have missed. Some really excellent work, really excellent.

[JeffTibbetts]

I swear, those kits by Subtle look better than Forge World easily, and on par with the actual plastic LR kit. I'm excited to get one myself. Yours looks great. I can't wait to see you get some paint on these bad boys. 

[War Angel]

So what's the difference in that land raider?

[The_Chaplain]

@The Hydra:Thank you brother- both for the compliment, and for taking the time to look through the blog. Much appreciated.

 

@Jeff Tibbetts:The loricatus mkii kit was honestly a real treat to work with-- the resin was perfectly cast, it was easy to clean, easier to assemble; and quite frankly it looks freaking great.  If you're thinking about getting a set, do it it-- I highly recommend it. (And I'm really excited to see what else he makes for loyalists in the future).   As for painting...eventually™

 

@War Angel:  The dark works site (subtle discord's web shop) has better pictures than I can post up right now. http://thedarkworks.bigcartel.com/product/loricatus-mk-ii-hvy-armour-kit  Really, it looks similar to the extra armor kit forgeworld produces-- except with studded trim, and it has plating for the top of the landraider as well.

 

For this morning's perusal, I have a second battle report written up and ready for your reading pleasure detailing the game I had against Vash113's imperial guard last week--broken up into spoilered chunks so the wall of text doesn't crit and kill ya:

Army lists:

HQ: Master of the forge: primarch's wrath, auspex, conversion beamer = 140 points

 

Troops:

10 man assault squad, 1 grav gun, 1 flamer, sergeant with lightning claw, dedicated transport landraider prometheus with extra armor and pintle multi melta = 490 points

10 man assault squad, 1 grav gun, 1 flamer, sergeant with lightning claw, dedicated transport landraider prometheus with extra armor and pintle multi melta = 490 points

 

Fast Attack:

Storm talon with typhoon missile launcher: 145 points

Stormraven with TLLC, multi-melta and hurricane bolters. 230 points

 

Heavy Support:

Relic sicaran: armored ceramite, battle of sarosh (legacy of glory), 185 points

Vindicator tank squadron: 2 vindicators, siege shields and extra armor = 260 points

Thunderfire cannon = 100 points

2040 points.

 

Guard: don't have the list itself but going from memory-- 3 basilisks with hull mounted HBs, 3 mortar teams, 3 autocannon heavy weapon teams, 5 infantry squads with grenade launchers, 1 leman russ, 1 chimera with meltagun storm troopers, 1 leman russ executioner, 1 valkyrie with lascannon, 1 company commander, 1 company command squad. (I'll be sure to edit this report with the full army list from my opponent.)

 

Pre-game notes and Turn 1

7 total objectives-- the majority of which were located in the center of the board, with outliers being one in the building on the far left where the autocannon weapon teams had set up.  Siege objective was on top of a ruined building that was held by a blob of guardsmen.  Master of the forge rolled master of bombardment again, enemy company commander rolled draconian disciplinarian.  Guard had first turn, the attempt to sieze the objective failed.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Battle%20Report%20Pics/IMG_20150114_131548633_zpsbuch1mpz.jpghttp://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Battle%20Report%20Pics/IMG_20150114_131559222_zpsdfdxlcco.jpg

Guard turn 1:

Leman russ executioner, leman russ and chimera surged forward-- guns already charged and ready to fire, disgorged searing bolts of plasma towards the master of the forge and nearby thunderfire cannon; almost as if receiving divine punishment for its hubris, the executioner suffered a gets hot result, stripping a hullpoint.  The drums of war would beat in rhythm to the artillery fire this day, and the soldiers of the guard were determined to ensure they were the only ones playing the tune-- almost to support that theory, the mortar teams hidden behind the siege objective supplemented the executioner's opening salvo and destroyed the thunderfire's techmarine and master of the forge with explosive shrapnel.  Slay the warlord . The thunderous artillery continued as basilisks turned their deadly gaze towards the ancient sicaran and rained a destructive hailstorm upon it; reducing it to a single hull point and immobilizing the otherwise nimble predator.  The accompanying vindicator fared little better, as ablative armor was stripped away reducing the tanks defenses by a hull point.  Spotting another vindicator-- autocannon teams fired, stripping all life from the mighty siege tank and destroying it.

 

Marines turn 1: 

Seemingly undeterred by the losses sustained in the opening seconds of the battle- the space marines sallied forth; land raider prometheus and crusader moving forward and beginning return fire-- the prometheus, with its sponson heavy bolters and pintle mounted multi melta fired upon the chimera, reducing it to a single hull point.  The crusader fired upon the leman russ, reducing it to a single hull point between the combined arms of the multi melta and emperor blessed assault cannon! 

The sicaran, wounded, vomited forth a hail of bullets from the combined might of it's accelerator cannon, and trio of heavy bolters-- the master of the forge had seen fit to equip its sponsons that day, and with the death of only 3 guardsmen out of 10-- the tank's gunner couldn't help but wonder if the decision had been a sound one. In tandem, the remaining vindicator fired upon the same squad-- the shot going wild and scattering onto the squads of guard holding the siege objective!  Sadly, of the eight that were hit only died-- the rest passed their cover save.

 

Turn 2:

Guard turn 2:

Cracking the whip, so to speak, the company commander ordered a veritable sea of infantry to surge forward.  The limping chimera disgorged her belly full of storm trooper babies like a giant metal opossum.  The infantry squad which had suffered the attack from the sicaran ran towards it-- their intentions of destryoing the venerable war machine shockingly obvious. The imperial valkyrie tore its way through the urban cityscape; but had a hull point removed from the intercepting fire from the sicaran's accelerator cannon (from the sarosh legacy of glory). The basilisks fired upon the sicaran and vindicator riding side saddle-- but their shots went wild, and all three blasts scattered off of the table! Its plasma cannons having cooled, the executioner fired at the landraider crusader-- but the tank crew received a grim reminder that their plasma weaponry, although devastating, was ineffective against an astartes battle tank. (He unfortunately forgot that s7 cannot glance or pen av14-- but he had already rolled, and had to commit to the action.).  The neighboring leman russ with its hull mounted lascannon and battle cannon removed two hull points from the crusader moments later, but failed to fell the armoured beast.http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Battle%20Report%20Pics/IMG_20150114_140159865_zpsdsdsqzb2.jpg

 

Marine turn 2:

 

The machine spirit of the vindicator's demolisher cannon roared into action once again- firing an explosive siege round into the stormtroopers foolish enough to reveal themselves in the nearby building; the glorified mortar of the demolisher blowing apart the wall and exposing its prey fully to the snarling sicaran-- their combined fire (snap shot heavy bolters) killing 4 storm troopers!  The landraider, utilizing its power of the machine spirit fired upon and destroyed the leman russ, silencing the drum of its battlecannon forever.  The prometheus, woefully, missed with its multi-melta. No matter, because aerial support swooped onto the table this turn! the stormtalon and stormraven arrived and immediately set to work chipping away at the enemy's armored column.  The stormtalon removed another hull point from the valkyrie, reducing it to one.  The stormraven, with its anti-vehicle firepower opened fire with its lascannon first & being within 12'' of the executioner fired its multi-melta second for the extra armor penetration and reduced the vehicle to molten slag!

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Battle%20Report%20Pics/IMG_20150114_142610727_zpsst8s9ufb.jpg

 

Turn 3

Guard turn 3:

The basilisk cannons fully reloaded, turned their steely gaze towards the landraiders-- removing two hull points from the prometheus, and destroying the crusader-- four assault marines were consumed in the violent fires from the death throes of their transport, with a fifth succumbing to mortar team fire-- but the glorious engine would be avenged, Imperator vult! The valkyrie whined, as it pivoted in the air-- firing blindly at the storm talon, removing a hull point with its lascannon.  The despotic platoon commander ordered his men to "Bring it down!" and every available infantry unit that was equipped with grenade launchers attempted to shell the talon into a fiery crash-- but the pilot deftly jinked, unharmed! The talon would begin its onslaught anew!  Unfortunately, the sicaran didn't fare as well- it's life brought to an end by the storm troopers that ran forward, using scorching melta beam to bring it low.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Battle%20Report%20Pics/IMG_20150114_144307329_zpsjv0dkxdq.jpg

Marine turn 3:

Hearing the death cries of the sicaran, the stormraven zoomed towards the storm troopers and began firing calibrations.  The vindicator opened fire with demolisher and storm bolter- crumpling the chimera into a ball of scrap, and felling a couple of storm troopers in the process.  The stormraven, calibrations complete, unloaded hurricane bolter into the storm trooper- wiping them out! The sicaran had been avenged!  The stormtalon took off from the table into ongoing reserves, determined to bring swift death to the enemy on its next pass around.  The assault squad that had emerged from the ruined crusader brought a furious retribution with them-- killing 8 guardsmen with a combination of searing flamer and concussive grav! The bolt pistols proved ineffective by comparison, failing to wound a single guardsmen.  The second assault squad disembarked from the prometheus, and opened fire upon their nearby prey; wiping the entire squad out with flamer, grav and bolt pistol fire! Marksmen awards for the lot! The nearby command squad- a lonely sergeant and his grenadier watched in horror as the infantry squad they were accompanying was picked apart and rendered to ash; before fleeing towards the autocannon weapons teams, no doubt afraid of the wrath they had incurred!  But the exercise would prove futile one, as the Prometheus, tracking their movement, switched on its battle auspex-- and fired into the autocannon nest, sundering the walls to rubble and reducing the infantry therein to bloodied giblets!

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Battle%20Report%20Pics/IMG_20150114_153349504_zpssvj2mnn2.jpg

 

Turn 4, 5 and 6 coming up in the next post! Stay tuned! 

[The_Chaplain]

Turn 4:

Guard Turn 4:

Guard turn 4: 

Having witnessed the death of an entire infanty squad, the trigger discipline of the guardsmen became a bit lax-- firing wave upon wave of lasgun fire at the crippled 4 man assault unit, and slaying them all; the strength of their ceramite plate effectively useless against mass fire of that magnitude.  The second assault squad was shelled by mortar fire, and the rallied command squad grenadier's explosive round-- puncturing the gas tank of the squads flamer and lighting him, the sergeant and a trooper to a fiery grave.  The basilisks, hoping to capitalize on the ensuing chaos, fired at the prometheus but their shots scattered leaving the tank unharmed; or would have-- were it not for the lascannon on the valkyrie which reduced the tank to a solitary HP.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Battle%20Report%20Pics/IMG_20150114_155501129_zpsltsceeoy.jpg

Marine Turn 4:

The stormtalon returned, this time with the basilisks in its targetting reticles, assault cannon and krak missile destroying one outright and taking a hull point off of a second tank! The stormraven fired wildly into the guardsman squad charging towards the remaining vindicator, felling a paltry few of them. The vindicator, fired through the building it had been systematically pummeling the last few turns towards another infantry squad-- attempting to soften them for the ensuing assault, sending five corpses into the air under the weight of its impact. The prometheus, heavy bolters already aimed towards the elevated autocannon teams pivoted and moved forward before firing onto the siege objective-- killing only a few guardsmen, despite how densely packed they were.  Eyeing the company commander, the assault squad's grav gun fired into his entourage, the gravitic force of the arcane weapon causing two guardsmen to crumple in on themselves like paper balls, before charging into the throng.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Battle%20Report%20Pics/IMG_20150114_161647800_zpsuagzexdw.jpg

Turn 5:

Guard Turn 5

The guardsman nearest the remaining vindicator continued their charge alongside its flank, successfully maneuvering around to its rear before firing grenades into it-- but luck was not on their side, as the grenades harmlessly bounced off its hull! The basilisks lumbered on their treads as they turned to fire hull mounted heavy bolters at the stormtalon-- forcing a jink save, which it passed! The command squad grenadier fired at the stormtalon as well, but to no avail; the veteran pilot casually avoiding the troopers ordnance.  The valkrie's lascannon sang out once more, lancing the prometheus' rear with a crimson beam, bringing its shooting spree to a pitiable end.  The company commander, in a despicable act of cowardice ordered the remaining infantry into the grandiose melee as he chose to run against the tide of bodies engaging the Confessors marines atop the smouldering corpse of the Leman Russ, rather than die with dignity in the next turn's combat after having been reduced to a single wound!  Like ants swarming an invading insect, they pulled an assault marine down- bayonets finding purchase in the soft armor of his astartes battle plate.

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Battle%20Report%20Pics/IMG_20150114_162921198_zpsncwchlzh.jpg

Marine Turn 5:

The vindicator lurched forward, passing its difficult terrain test to begin the advance-- lobbing another demolisher shell, this time up towards the siege objective in a grand arc; inflicting five hits and killing four! Another assault marine was felled in the melee atop the ruined russ, but two guardsmen were taken down alongside him! The stormtalon and stormraven, having moved off the table entered ongoing reserves.  Rolling for a turn 6...the game continued!

Turn 6

Guard Turn 6

The would be saboteurs fired into the rear of the vindicator with their grenade launchers, but again the ordnance harmlessly bounced off of the hull!  The valkyrie discharged another lance of lascannon fire, but the shot hit a nearby wall (hooray for cover actually working in my favor for once).  The respite was a short lived one, as the valkyrie's heavy bolters found a chink in the tank's side armor, ending its furious existence.  The assault marines wiped out a unit of infantry atop the tank, suffering no casualties in return-- the other squad broke, and were hacked down in a sweeping advance! Charging forth with their consolidation move, the siege objective seemingly in sight-- but with only 4 marines remaining, could victory be theirs?

http://i107.photobucket.com/albums/m307/Vash113/Battle%20Report%20Pics/IMG_20150114_164249620_zpsqzolluap.jpg

Marine Turn 6

The stormtalon and stormraven didn't return onto the board-- the boost to reserve rolls via the prometheus no longer being a factor in the game with the Prometheus having been destroyed.  The assault marines ran towards the building with the siege objective on its roof- and forwent shooting to run further in.  Rolling for a turn 7, needing a 4+ to continue...a 3 was rolled.

 

Statistics and VPs:

Survivors: 

Guard: 21 of 90 infantry models (including the mortar teams)

Marines: 4 of 22 infantry models

 

Victory points:

Guard: slay the warlord (master of the forge), 2 objectives, first blood = 4 vp

Marines: none

 

Vash113's write up:

The Battle of the Emerald Tower

       

Just weeks after the Battle of the Kyrathos Plains the Confessors received a highly encoded message bearing the seal of the Ordo Hereticus of the Inquisition. According to the missive an Inquisitor had discovered that the Imperial Governor of the Arkanos system had fallen in league with the ruinous powers and was harboring a large coven of sorcerers and cultists. The Inquisitor had been lost along with most of his team but one of his acolytes had survived long enough to transmit evidence of the Governor's heresy. With no available reinforcements in the vicinity to dispatch from the Inquisition the Ordo Hereticus was calling on the Confessors to enact retribution and capture or kill the Governor and his coven of witches. The Confessors Strike Cruiser immediately diverted to the Arkanos system. Emerging from the warp at the system edge the Strike Cruiser entered the system in a standard approach pattern, transmitting codes requesting resupply. Though Space Marine vessels were rare they were known to stop at Arkanos for supplies. As a major trade hub between several stable warp routes through the Segmentum Tempestus the Arkanos system was a massive warehouse world, it's entire infrastructure and populace given over to the transfer, cataloging and storage of gigatons of materials ranging from foodstuffs and raw minerals to arms, armor and munitions. If something could be acquired in the Segmentum Tempestus there was a good chance it may have passed through Arkanos at some point. As a result the world had hundreds of vessels in orbit, from system monitors and warships of Battlegroup Tempestus to tow-tugs and bulk conveyors, Rogue Trader merchant vessels and Mechanicus haulers. There was no way the Confessors could smash through the cordon without causing excessive collateral damage and, equally troublesome, would be slowed down too much to ensure a smooth capture or kill of the traitor Governor. With so many vessels in system if the Governor was able to reach orbit the Confessors would never be able to stop or chase him, they had to take him on the ground. Choosing a covert insertion the Confessors transferred aboard a bulk lifter under the guise of transferring materials. Once aboard the Confessors commandeered the vessel and forced the captain to land at the principal starport of Arkanos Prime, the capitol city where the Governor was based. Rather than remain at his palatial residence on the outskirts of the city the Governor had moved into one of the control and defense towers at the northern end of the expansive primary landing fields. In the preceding years the place had become surrounded by run-down buildings whose residents had either vanished or been evicted, and the tower itself had been transformed into a dark and ominous place where people entered but rarely left. The locals had christened the place the Emerald Tower and it was here the Confessors would attack. Rolling down the ramps of the bulk conveyor an armored strike force of Confessors numbering twenty assault marines, a Thunderfire cannon and Techmarine gunner, the Master of the Forge acting as strike force commander, two Vindicator Siege Tanks, a rare Sicaran battle-tank and two Land Raiders ground swiftly over the broken urban city-scape and drove hard for the distant tower.

 

           Surveillance from orbit had revealed the tower to be only lightly guarded with a small number of patrols ranged throughout the surrounding area and a small garrison. The Confessors force was considerable overkill but against enemy psykers the chapter was not going to underestimate the foe. Yet when the armored spearhead smashed through the last ruin and emerged into the courtyard before the tower they found a line of adamantium and lasguns facing them. An entire company of the Governor's personal bodyguard backed up by Leman Russ tanks, Artillery, and Valkyrie gunships. The first salvo from the traitors obliterated the ruins in which the Master of the Forge and the Thunderfire cannon were attempting to setup, collapsing the building and burying the Confessors artillery support. Immediately realizing the attack was at risk of stalling the senior squad sergeant called in air-support, a Storm Talon and Storm Raven gunships had been secreted aboard the bulk conveyor and at the sergeant's word both aircraft lifted from the deck and burst from the holds, heading north at speed to join the battle. In moments the two armored lines crashed together, high powered energy weapons and artillery slashing across the battlefield in both directions. As the minutes dragged by more and more tanks were crippled or destroyed, soon the courtyard was littered with burning wrecks. Advancing behind their armor the traitor guardsmen emerged through the smoking wrecks searching for survivors only to run headlong into the charging warriors of the Confessors assault squads. Though outnumbered five to one the Confessors ripped into the enemy guard and cut them down. Dozens fell before their blades and though Confessors fell they pressed on hard. The Governor had had the arrogance to command his warriors from the field and now found himself left alone, his command squad cut down, facing a demi-squad of the Emperor's Angels of Death. Twenty of his bodyguards rushed in to protect their lord and the Governor quickly fled back to his tower even as his warriors were cut down behind him. Overhead gunships slashed across the sky, ravaging blasts of energy and roaring cannons stitching the air. Even as the last four Confessors on their feet and fighting reached the doors of the tower the Governor's Valkyrie Gunship pulled up to the top of the tower and evacuated the remaining defenders. The Confessors could only watch in outrage as the gunship, revealed to be void capable, powering into orbit. By the time the Confessors gained entry and slaughtered the last of the Governor's guard there was nothing left. All evidence had been removed or destroyed and the Governor and his coven were even then boarding a waiting cutter in orbit and vanishing into milling vessels crowding the system. The tower had been taken, the enemy slain, but at a high cost to the chapter task force and the quarry had escaped. Worse was to come however, with the planetary government left leaderless and the warriors of the Imperium clashing in bitter combat within the primary starport the world was thrown into chaos. Cultists abandoned by their leader turned on their comrades while guardsmen loyal to the Emperor wound up fighting each other, uncertain who was friend and who was foe. Civilians clogged the transits, slowing down the fighting forces and disrupting the efforts of commanders and the local Adeptus Arbites to restore order. The Confessors were ill-equipped to deal with such large-scale civil unrest and were forced to rally their battle-brothers at the former Governor's tower and send out a call for reinforcements. It would take numbers to restore order, and numbers the Confessors just didn't have.

 

Post battle commentary:

  This was my first outing against the imperial guard.  It was a painful learning experience.  After that first turn, it became less about winning and more about reaping a bloody, retributive toll-- something I like to think I achieved.  I was honestly impressed with the stormraven, borrowing one of Vash's-- I look forward to trying out a stormwing formation.  My comment at the time of meltaing the Leman Russ to death was "I need to model my raven with one of those. That 12'' melta shot is brutal in a way only death metal can sing about."  I stand by that comment.   I didn't have nearly enough anti-tank fire this game, and that bit me in the ass; having the talon and raven come on helped-- but it isn't something I should become dependent on.  The master of the forge did nothing this game, and it hurt. A lot.  Next game, I think I'm going to proxy a foot slogger chaplain or a melee siege master-- and maybe try out a landraider redeemer.  I'm too complacent in letting the guns on the landraiders do the heavy lifting, when I need to be rushing the siege objective and then turning the raiders around.  I also need to remember that storm talons can hover-- and not lock into zooming around the table; and remember that they have pinning via strafing run.   With all the changes that have been made since 5th edition, when i last tinkered with the game, I essentially have to learn 40k all over again.

   Having said that, I'm glad I have a regular gaming buddy in Vash113-- who is patient enough to put up with my mistakes and correct them when necessary.

 

Anyways, that's it for today folks-- thanks for reading.  Until next time! 

 

 

 

 

 

[Argent aquila]

AWESOME!

 

love having pictures, it helps out a lot.

 

do you have another game scheduled? that'd be fun to hear about, especially if it's nids!

[sockwithaticket]

Agree with Argent Aquila, batreps with pics are the best.  I like the way you add a narrative element to them as well, a bit more interesting than bare bones reporting of what went on. Sounds like you did as well as you could given your inexperience and that brutal first round of Guard shooting.

Really like where the Crusader''s headed and the hurricane bolters look even more boss when fixed to the chassis. Those skulls for the Caestus, could you not make a press mold for them with a piece of Instant Mold or something? Might save a bit of expense and time spent trawling bits sellers.

[The_Chaplain]

Those skulls for the Caestus, could you not make a press mold for them with a piece of Instant Mold or something? Might save a bit of expense and time spent trawling bits sellers.

That's a good idea, I'll have to give it a try.

 

do you have another game scheduled? that'd be fun to hear about, especially if it's nids! 

As a matter of fact, I do-- I'm trying to fit in a 1k game and maybe a 500 point game for potential entries into the "Crusade of Wrath" event in the Black Templar subforum this week.   Neither will be against nids.  90% of my opponents back in 5th edition were nids...and I don't want to open that old scab again any time soon.

 

Tonight's update is a small one-- but that's because it was shockingly time consuming.  Getting the Vortimer pattern frag launchers to fit onto the Loricatus kit!

A couple hours of measuring, cutting, and sanding by hand all told.  Next step for the launchers is gap filling, and then mounting side armor from plastic frag launchers to complete the classic mount plate.  I think I have an idea for how to make the housing for the Skullicane™ camera lenses, but it will involve rifling through my fiance's teaching/nanny supplies for beads (primarily because I don't want to go to Michael's-- beginning to hate that place with a fiery passion.)

 

That's it for tonight folks-- off to work on a 1k list (and probably play some dawn of war. Emperor bless that humble bundle sale from the other day)

Edited January 27, 2015 by The_Chaplain

[Argent aquila]

the effort and time pays off, eventually!!!

 

keep at it!

[The_Chaplain]

Got 2 posts for you all tonight, one with a battle report, and the second with some something related to the first post.  First up, the battle report.

 

Army Lists:

Guard list: Iron Hand Strakken and command squad including an astropath (psyker!) Two Veteran Squads, one with Sergeant Harker.  The Leman Russ Executioner and two Valkyrie Gunships with multi-lasers, multiple rocket pods, and door mounted heavy bolters!

 

My marine's 1k list (siege assault vanguard with templar chapter tactics)

HQ: Siege Master  with teeth of terra  and storm shield                            

Troop 1: Assault marine squad: , 2 flamers, sergeant with lightning claw             

  Landraider Redeemer dedicated transport with Multi-melta                         

Troop 2: Siege tactical squad with siege mantlets,, melta gun, multi-melta , sergeant

with lightning claw                                                                      

HS: Hunter, extra armor, Rapier Laser Destroyer Battery (2 platforms)

 

Battle report:

Pre-games notes:

enemy warlord rolled Master of Discipline for his warlord trait, whereas I rolled Arch Logistician (conferring split fire to the warlord. He has no ranged weapons, so it was a bit moot).  With the exception of a Leman Russ Excecutioner, the entirety of the enemy army either infiltrated, or arrived via reserve.  This immediately forced me to shift gears, and deploy defensively to protect the hunter, as it had the least survivability of all the units on the table—sticking the siege mantlet equipped squad inside cover with them, and the redeemer nearby as well.  The siege master gives a single non-flyer unit the choice of several special rules, one of which was interceptor—which I gave to my rapier platforms.

Turn 1 Guard:

   

Having finished sharpening its proverbial axe, the executioner emerged from cover and immediately began its searing plasma rampage—targeting and firing upon the astartes rapier weapons platforms.  Despite its impressive firepower, all of its shots went wide, plasma and lascannon fire streaking across the sky in an impressive fireworks display.  The insidious infiltrators fared little better—the heavy bolter of their brutish leader firing off a volley of shots ultimately inflicting a solitary point of damage to a rapier carrier, leaving the gun completely operational, a mistake that would cost them dearly.

Turn 1 Confessors:

   

The rapier crew, momentarily assailed by fire took aim with laser destroyers- forgoing return fire at the irksome saboteurs, and focusing targeting matrixes at the real target- the executioner.  Beams of vivid scarlet cut converged upon the executioner, and destroyed it; their countless targeting drills paying off in a glorious instant!  The redeemer, anxious to deliver its belly full of astartes to their destination, surged forward- firing off a hail of assault cannon shots at the infiltrators in hopes of clearing their path to the objective—felling one.

   The mantlet marines, moved with a deftness remarkable for space marines toting ceramite shields, and sprang 6’’ from cover towards the nearest objective.  The redeemer would make short work of the infiltrators, they could leave the hunter to do what it did best; hunt.

Turn 2 Guard:

           

With a bellow speaking more of bravado than brain, the brutish heavy bolter toting sergeant ordered his men to charge towards the ancient Redeemer, determined that their man toted weapons could cripple the marine siege engine; their combined might of heavy bolter, krak grenade and meltagun might have felled it, had it been a lesser astartes vehicle, but their munitions harmlessly bounced from its armored hide.  One of the Valkyries arrived onto the table, a screeching angel of war, seeking vengeance for the Executioner- reticles honing in on the mantlet squad below.  Fingers firmly depressing the trigger, the Valkyrie fired an explosive salvo of rockets and door mounted heavy bolter at the space marines, waiting for the smoke to clear before confirming their target destroyed.  What awaited them, was a grim reminder of why the astartes are the angels of death; for not a single marine had fallen to the onslaught.  Siege mantlets, designed for taking even the heaviest fire in boarding actions, had proven effective on terra firma as well- shrugging off the valkyrie’s fury, like bothersome snowfall, leaving the marines behind them completely unharmed.

Confessors Turn 2:

 

The Redeemer violently lunged forward, treads whining in protest as it drove through the crater that stood between it and its quarry, determined to bring about a fiery end to its would be attackers. It had been an elaborate ruse on their part, attempting to charge the tank, angering the machine spirit- hoping that the snarling war engine would be angered to the point of charging, not unlike the standoff of a bull and the matador; and very much like the matador- slicing the neck of the bull as it charged past, they too were ready for the armored behemoth, having lobbed an explosive satchel into the crater in their previous volley.  The whining became a screech as tread fell away from gear and wheel housings, and the dance of the matador and bull came to an end; as the bull was rendered immobilized. But this bull didn’t have horns.  It had assault cannons, and flamethrowers brimming with sacred promethium.  This bull didn’t gore, it left gore in its wake—and in conjunction with the rapiers above- attempted to reduce the squad to smoldering ember; felling the bolter toting sergeant, and a few of his ilk to ashes.  The hunter roared into life- thrusting its skyspear at the Valkyrie— clipping its wings, and sending it crashing to the ground in a glorious fireball, claiming the lives of all but one of the passengers inside.

Guard Turn 3:

           

Hoping to ferry its sister to the afterlife, the second Valkyrie arrived, carrying the warlord and his entourage. Before it could bring its weapons to bear, it was lanced with intercepting fire from the Rapier batteries of the astartes strike force, destabilizing its firing computers and rendering the pilots unable of any actions but keeping the craft aloft; as the warlord and his flunkies repelled to the ruined administatum building below.  The sole survivor of the Valkyrie crash scant minutes before composed himself, and took aim at an astartes advancing towards a critical objective; but his laspistol shot pulled to the right, leaving a scorch mark and bubbling the paint on his siege mantlet.  Sensing the intentions of the angels of death, the remnants of the machismo-driven sergeant’s squad rallied, and rushed toward the siege objective, determined to fight the astartes off or die trying.

Confessors turn 3:

   

Their laser destroyers needing to cool, the rapier crews began maintenance chanting over their weapons, leaving the destruction of the newly arrived Valkyrie to the dedicated anti-air platform the hunter.  Launching another sky spear, the hunter shook the Valkyrie again- rattling the aircraft, and the nerves of its pilots.  Forced to stabilize the craft once again, the hovering gunship proved to be the perfect target for the pintle-mounted multi-melta of the Redeemer.  Using the blown out remains of a stained glass window as a giant crosshair, the landraider’s gunner carefully aligned the shot and fired—bringing the hovering craft careening downwards into a building, its sputtering hover VTOL no match for the forces of gravity; a shot worthy of the siege master’s praise. 

But the siege master was far too busy to notice such matters—engaged the hatch release of the assault ramp, he and his makeshift retinue of assault marines rushing towards their objective.  The sacred relic was in sight now, and with bolt pistols flaring, was freed of the desecrating presence the unclean guardsmen were subjecting it to with their proximity; their lifeless bodies falling to the ground.   The battle was not yet won, this would come down to a final, bloody melee- or at least that always seemed to be the case, the siege captain thought, thumbing the activation runes of his baroque chainsword.

Guard turn 4:

   

Seemingly unfazed by the destruction of his transport Valkyrie overhead, the renegade warlord commanded his loyal psyker to throw its lot in with the powers of the warp, and attempt to destroy the charging marine captain.  Overhead the sky seemed to darken, and the actinic taste and smell of an incoming storm hung heavy in the air—warp energies coiling from his fingertips, the filthy witch took aim and unleashed all the power he could muster with a psychic shriek.  But lo! It was of no use! For these were astartes and not ordinary men, the powers of the witch as useless against them as pebbles against the ocean! The nearby melta gunner, sensing his impending demise, took aim- firing at the advancing flamer marine, causing the promethium tanks to explode; swallowing the marine like the maw of some hellspawned creature.  To his dismay, the marines were undeterred in their advance, not even turning to acknowledge the death of their brother.

Confessors Turn 4:

 

Ordering his retinue to secure the objective, the siege captain detaching himself from his protective detail, began his maneuvering towards this final combat, brushing past his brothers to better position himself on the flank.  Before he could charge, his weapon sputtered and the engine fell silent, cutting his charge short.  As he coaxed his weapon back into life, he ordered all available weapons to fire on the enemy- determined to either bring the building down on top of them, or force them into a final desperate charge; rapiers, redeemer and hunter fired at the enemy commander, killing two of his retinue.

   

Guard Turn 5:

`           

The commander, flushed from cover, fired his plasma pistol at the astartes captain- a shot which was absorbed by the energy fields of his storm shield, bellowing a challenge at the siege master as he closed the distance with a frenzied charge.  His trusted psyker fired off a second fistful of eldritch energies, felling two assault marines.  The chaintoothed relic’s roar rivaled that of the enemy commander, and swung in a series of downward arcs, hewing the human commander apart- where it couldn’t find purchase on reinforced bionic, it made due by biting into his mortal flesh, the commander slain- the siege master catapulted himself over and through the falling visceral rain, hot on the heels of the enemy psyker—bringing his chainsword down in a series of final, vindictive arcs in a bloody overrun maneuver.  The relic, and victory, went to the Confessors.

VPs:

Guard: 0

Confessors: Siege objective (0), slay the warlord, first blood, linebreaker and 2 additional objectives = 5 

Edited January 30, 2015 by The_Chaplain

[The_Chaplain]

Second post, related to the post above.  For the last couple games, I've been running the Siege Assault Vanguard list that Forgeworld came up with.  For those games, I've been running assault marines (and siege mantlet marines in the last game) using crusaders and my friend's marines to proxy.  Well, that's going to change...

 

Leg detail taken from a miscast legion of the damned legionnaire and put on a greave to replace the elite detailing/laurel of the vanguard leg. 

Blood angel teardrop in the reliquary was removed and replaced with a cut down aerial off of a helmet for an instant candle!

This one will require some Mr. Surfacer, but removed the vanguard detailing on the greave, and the chalice and teardrop on the chest for a hybrid mk4/6 looking assault marine.

Chest from the mkIV power weapon set from forgeworld, with the armored codplate heated with a hairdryer and moved so it flows with the leg's movement.

Confessors clenched fist chapter symbol added in between the winged motif on the pad. It opened up an opportunity to have some fun with the back of the backpack as well...

 

As I'm nearing the finishing line on some projects, this is a glimpse into the future so to speak-- hope you like it.

 

Just wanted to get this up before the weekend guys-- I have a lot of wedding related stuff to do this weekend, and in the weeks leading up to the event.  So, updates are going to be fewer and farther between; but I will make it a goal to make sure each update is full of more content in the future.  So, as always, stay tuned. 

[Argent aquila]

will look forwar to the next ones, when possible.

[War Angel]

That is really nice stuff, where did you get the chains from?

 

Might I request future battle reports include some pictures?

[The_Chaplain]

That is really nice stuff, where did you get the chains from?

 

Might I request future battle reports include some pictures?

The chains were purchased off of eBay-- produced by the company A-line, HO (model railroad scale) 50 links per inch.

 

Actually, the battle report I posted on the 25th has pictures, they are just spoilered to conserve space on the page.  I'll be sure to get pictures of the next one though-- just formatted the card on the macro camera, so should have plenty of room for pictures. 

 

will look forward to the next ones, when possible. 

Thanks brother-- appreciate you taking the time to consistently check and comment on this blog.  Keep up the good work on your Tundaran Knights til the next update, alright?

Edited January 30, 2015 by The_Chaplain

[The_Chaplain]

Howdy folks-- just wanted to pop in and tell you all that I'm not dead, just busy.   But not busy enough to post some pictures of things I've been working on!

 

With the announcement of the rapier thudd cannon about a week after receiving my finecast thunderfire cannon; I was a bit annoyed.  But, determined to make lemons into lemonade- I converted a techmarine gunner for the eventual thudd rapier (which will be a much smaller, easier to transport model anyway)

 

But that's not all-- I received "reinforcements" for valentine's day; and like all things plastic and resin-- they're now under the knife.  

I'm not just removing shoulder pad trim and misc. ornamentation either...

I'm reposing the static standing legs too; and let me tell you something-- it's not a walk in the park to do, haha.

Here's a side shot before I put the side pistons on.

And the reposed legs walking alongside the stock walking legs from the centurion box.  I tried to mirror the walking motion as much as possible.

 

I have a few ideas for the centurions which I am looking into- like scrapbooking pearls/beads for molecular bonding studs in the armor, venerable dreadnought helmet replacements, and potentially pauldron mounted weaponry systems instead of the austin powers fembot breast guns they currently have.  If I can swing it, the original gun mounts will be turned into air intake vents.  I'm also brainstorming a way of integrating an omni-scope/sensor suite into what will be the sergeant's torso; but that'll be a bit down the line.

 

The county has a snow day tomorrow-- so I'll be working on the last set of legs at the very least tomorrow.   Thanks for looking folks! Until next time!   

[Monstra Sumus]

Fembot chest guns are the only thing that keep the priests in the motor-pool entertained! 

 

I'm seriously digging the assault marines and your centurions are shaping up nicely. 

[Marshal Reinhard]

To call you Industrious would be an understatment, Brother. I neglect to read this thread for a while and it grows by a number of pages higher than I care to relate.

 

Never liked centurions, I've tried but always come up short. Still I'd be lying if I'm not looking forward to see what you do with them. The reposed legs look spot on already

[Eberious]

I'll admit I haven't read all, but I mostly like looking at shiny pics anyways. The army is looking very cool, lots of fiddly little details going on. Love it!

 

Also interested in how these centurions turn out. I've always been kinda on the fence with these models, its like lipton ice tea, you hate it but cant stop drinking it. Although that might just be me, and I haven't had any in years. Did have plans to have them in my Templar army, probably more of just a converting project than anything else.

 

The filing on them looks very rough, is this intentional to give them battle/aged worn look?  

[The_Chaplain]

Brother Tyrax: thanks brother, much appreciated. More assault marines will be completed in the future as well-- I'm really enjoying the siege assault vanguard list, and assault marine troops are extremely useful.  The issue is reposing all the tactical squad legs I have to charging poses as well as tracking down 20 combat shields, haha.

 

Reinhard: Thank you for the compliment brother.  But lets be fair, its the quality of a thread, not the page number that counts-- and you have beautifully painted and converted models on every page of yours.  I hope my confessors can look even half as good as your templars and other various blogs on the B&C

 

Eberious: The "roughness" is more to do with the photoshop style enhancing filters I put on the picture than the actual filing.  I use an ultra fine sandpaper to file off errant and unwanted details before surfacing with Mr. Surfacer 500 followed by a second round of sandpapering-- the end result should be a smooth surface that wont look rough after priming and painting.   The stock centurion models have entirely too much decoration on them for me to take their role as a dedicated siege unit seriously.  That's why I'll be adding bonding studs like mk V and mk VI armor have on the larger surfaces like the pauldrons and ablative leg panels.  Love the Lipton tea analogy by the way, perfect way to describe how I feel about stock centurions. 

 

Finished the third pair of legs:

I accidentally broke a piston in the leg, so I will need to either snag a replacement, or find a substitute plastic tube that passes muster.  That said, now I can work on the arm and weaponry assemblies for the other 2! 

Edited February 17, 2015 by The_Chaplain

[deathspectersgt7]

Sweet!!!

[The_Chaplain]

Haha, glad you like him DSS7.

 

Got some more work on the centurions done: all their arm assemblies, wires (gonna need to fiddle with a couple of them tomorrow), the ablative hip armor, and a weapon conversion:

 

I flipped the grav amp lens and grav cannon barrels to the opposite arms.  I could never stand the idea of the one arm pointing the amplifier at something/someone menacingly.  The amp doesn't kill people, the grav cannon does.  So, the swap needed to be made on all of them to remain uniformity.

 

 I'll see if I can get over to the craft store in the next day or so to start looking for bonding studs.  I'm actually having a lot of fun building these centurions.  Thanks for looking!  

[The_Chaplain]

Quick picture update today folks-- managed to get over to the craft store for the next step on those centurions:

 

 

Recollections brand "adhesive faux pearls" (found in the scrapbooking section of craft stores) come in a variety of sizes, and were just about perfect for the task at hand.  Apply, then reinforce with a dot of superglue.  Took me about an hour per model so far-- still need to sand the third pair of legs before gluing the pearls on.  After that, another round of surfacing/sanding to clean up errant glue from this step-- and then...who knows?

 

Thanks for looking! 

[KBA]

 

Hell yes.

[Argent aquila]

awesome work!

[Vash113]

That's intense dude, looking forward to trashing those dudes on the tabletop!