Interdiction

[Ming]

As a preview of the upcoming Fratris Salutem event at Crossroad Games in Maine - we bring you a battle report - Word Bearers vs Ultramarines

 

1500 Points
Big Guns Never Tire (4 Objectives)
Hammer and Anvil Deployment

 

Librarian Arcadius boarded the teleport platform of the Cruiser Calth's Revenge with 3rd Squad of the 1st Company, as the leader of the Calth Reaction Force.  With grim determination, he reviewed the information that had been sent to him via Chief Librarian Tigurius.  The Ultramarines were still weakened but recovering from the System-wide assault by the Iron Warriors and their "BloodBorne" allies some 4 years ago.  Arcadius was leading a quick reaction force of 1st Company and 3rd Company assets.  Their task was to interdict a Word bearers Scouting Force and eliminate them.  The platform glowed, and then in a wash of bright light, the teleportation began.

 

OPFOR:
Chaos Lord, TDA, PSword, Flaming Brand
3 Mutilators (nurgle)
3 Mutilators (Khorne)
3 Obliterators
3 Oblitorators
10 Chaos marines, 2 plasma guns, rhino, dirge caster (CSM1)
10 chaos marines, 2 meltaguns, rhino, dirge caster (CSM2)
5+ chaos marines, flamer, rhino, dirge caster (CSM3)

 

Calth Reaction Force:
Librarian Arcadius, TDA, SS, Staff, Gate, Avenger
10 Tactical Terminators, 2 CMLs, 1 Psword, 1 Chainfist, 8 PFs.
10 Sternguard, 3 CMGs, 2 CPGs, PG, LClaw, Pod
10 Tactical marines, PG, MM, PSword, Pod (Tac Squad Alpha)
10 Tactical marines, FL, ML, Pod (Tac Squad Bravo)
Stormtalon, TLAC, SHMs

 

Pre-battle Assessment:
The terrain was a mix of icy hills, ruins, and terrain in a winter environment.  Turn 1 would be night. 
 

The 4 objectives were deployed in a rough diamond pattern.  The Chaos marines won the roll to deploy first, and chose the deployment zone on the Ultramarines Left.  This was going to be a tough battle - as it was big guns never tire, the enemy would have 5 tough scoring units to capture the 4 objectives.  The Ultramarines had just 2 scoring units expandable to 4 if combat squadded. The Chaos force had no interceptor/sky fire, and no flyers, so the Ultramarines could control the air.  The Chaos warlord's trait was to be able to reroll assault dice IIRR.  Arcadius was allowed to experiment with a newly-popular BRB method of selecting warlord traits - The dice was rolled (a 4) and then the trait selected as choice from the columns - I selected the strategic trait of being able to roll /reroll reserves (to help get the reserves in on turn 2). The 4 objectives were all a good distance apart.  The Ultramarines determined to focus on the objectives near the table center and in the Chaos deep deployment zone Objs 1 and 3. Overall, with 4 objectives, linebreaker, first blood, and warlord and 2 heavy units (oblits) there were 17 game points in play.  

 

Deployment: 
The Chaos marines deployed everything but the Khorne mutilators and the Lord, which were held in reserves together.  Looking across the short deployment edge (near to far), the Chaos deployment was a nearer cluster of 2 rhinos (full squads), Nurgle mutilators, Oblits, and a far cluster of the third rhino and second oblits.  The two groups were separated by a piece of light woods / area terrain.  The units were deployed to quickly advance on objectives 2 and 3 near the table center line.  Obj. 1 was left vacant.

 

The Ultramarines deployed just the 10 terminators and librarian, at a location that was hoped to provide some cover from the left-most obliterator unit, and 30 inches from the right-most oblits. It was not ideal, but the Ultramarine strategy was to concentrate on the units to the right in order to achieve local superiority. I decided I did not have the manpower to keep obj. 4 in my own deployment zone, so Squad Bravo was kept in reserves.

 

Ultramarines rolled to steal the initiative and rolled a 1. 

 

Turn 1:
The Chaos marines rolled the entire mass forward towards the Ultramarine terminators.  The leftmost unit formed a partial wall with the Rhinos to the fore in order to screen the Mutilators.  In shooting, two Ultramarine terminators were lost (one normal, one chainfist) - one to a Rhino twin-linked bolter, the other to an obliterator plasma cannon shot. 

 

On the Ultramarine Turn, pods bearing the Sternguard and Squad Alpha dropped down with the intention of landing behind the northern chaos group.  The sternguard pod deviated a long distance to drop before them just left of obj. 3, and as the hatches popped, split into two combat squads; the Sargeant and CMG half going to the right after the oblits, and the plasma-half going left to stand before the CSM3 rhino. Squad Alpha's rhino drifted back, about 12 inches behind CSM3's rhino.  The squad dismounted to use the pod as cover, while lining up shots on CSM3's transport rear. Arcadius and the 8 terminators moved forward, but to get CML shots on CSM2's rhino.  In shooting, the CMLs failed to damage the CSM2 rhino! 

The podded assets though did much better - Alpha eliminated CSM3's rhino (exploded), killing a CSM; The plasma sternguard then fired, killing 2 chaos marines in the crater.  The CMG combat squad then killed an obliterator.

 

Score:  Ultras 1 (first blood); Chaos (3 [obj#3])

 

Turn 2: 
The Chaos Lord and Mutilator retinue deep strike in from reserves, to be near the table center.  Squads CSM1 and CSM2 drive forward and dismount, to get shots on the Ultramarine terminators.  Squad CSM3 moves from the crater of their former rhino to get close to Squad Alpha, and the nurgle mutilators head in the same direction.  In shooting, 2 more tactical terminators, 2 marines from Alpha, and a sternguard (from the CMG half)   are dropped.  The Word Bearer's lord places the torrent template over both sternguard combat squads, and a bad dice roll means no sternguard are casualties (whew!). The Nurlge mutilators assault alphas drop pod (it is exploded), and CSM3 assaults Alpha (failed distance). The oblits on the marine righ assault the sternguard, and an oblit is killed as a casualty and remains stuck in combat.

 

Ultramarines roll for reserves and get the Stormtalon and Squad Bravo.  Bravo determines to land near Alpha, and the drop pod crashes down near the first one's crater. The 10 tactical marines disembark to face the Nurgle mutilators.  Arcadius and the terminators move forward towards the large mass of the 2 CSM squads plus the Lord and Mutilators. The Stormtalon lines up to shoot CSM1's rhino. In shooting, Arcadius uses avenger on CSM1, and the CMLs and stormbolters open up (note mistake...as I write this I realize I did not fire the storm bolters on the CML terminators...4 dice opportunity), and after all the dice and templates are done, CSM1 and CSM2 are damaged, and one mutilator is wounded.  The Nurgle mutilators squad also loses a mutilator, and the Stormtalon does nothing to CSM1's rhino.  In assault, Arcadius and the terminators decide to pull of a combined assault on CSM1, CSM2, and the Lord/mutilators (losing the charge bonus and attracting more overwatching fire!). Similarly, Bravo assaults the nurgle mutilators.  In the center, although 2 terminators are dispatched, CSM1 is eliminated (the champion dispatched in a challenge from myy terminator sargeant), as is another mutilator (fisted).  But the surviving Chaos forces hold firm and pile in. 

Score: Ultras 1; Chaos 0

 

Turn 3:
The unengaged oblits move to fire at the sternguard near objective 3.  The remnants of CSM3 move to engage Alpha.  The Chaos Rhinos move to be nearer Alpha. With assaults all over the place, it is a real mess.  In the center, I lose 3 terminators, and IIRR I still win the combat, but the chaos forces remain engaged.  I think I'm down to just the Librarian and maybe 2 terminators. I finish off the oblit in the right, and somehow in the confusion CSM3 and Alpha and the mutiliators fight to a standstill, IIRR I'm on the losing end, so I decide to disengage the 4 or or survivors (CSM3 is wiped out).  

 

On my turn we engage in a question on whether Gate can be used to exit an assault. We decide that they can, so Arcadius gates himself and the two surviving terminators to land at a location near the obliterators that were headed towards Bravo. The remnants of Alpha head towards Objective 3.  Bravo lines up to shoot the surviving Mutilator.  The stormtalon lines up to shoot at the oblits near the librarian.  In shooting, the Stormtalon and terminator storm bolters fail to kill off any oblits, but the last nurgle mutilator is left with a single wound. Squad Bravo is down to 6 marines, Alpha with 2, and I have a total of 6 or so sternguard left (4 and 2). 

 

Score: Ultras 2 (+1KP for the oblit unit); Chaos 0

 

Turn 4:
The Chaos marines are down to 6 tactical marines and 3 obliterators as scoring units. The Lord and surviving mutiliators move quickly towards my remaining tactical marines, and the oblits move to be able to assault my surviving terminator elements.  The surviving CSM2 elements move towards Obj.3.  The Torrent template flashes out and with a good dice roll, ALL of Squad Bravo is eliminated in an AP3 firebomb. The lone mutilator re-carges Squad Alpha, and kills another marine - the sargeant determines to break for it again, to get out of assault and heads towards a nearby drop pod for cover.  The oblits shoot up the terminators, and after assault, I'm left with just the librarian.  I decode to break off from combat...and roll a 12 to end up on top of an icy hill, far away from any combat.

On my turn, the Librarian tries to Gate but rolls an 11, and is stuck on the hill.  He later runs a few inches to get off the hill, heading towards CSM2.  The Stormtalon goes into skimmer mode to straff CSM2. The survivor of Alpha gets through difficult terrain to hide behind the drop pod, thinking he is safe to grab obj.3 on turn 5...The sternguard remnants line up to protect Obj.3.In shooting, I kill 2 marines from CSM2 (they pass their leadership, now down to 4 marines), and shooting does not finish off the lone single-wound mutilator. 

 

Score: Ultras 2; Chaos 0

 

Turn 5:
The Chaos lord and his retinue (1 or 2 Khorne mutilators) heads no to be closer to my surviving marines.  CSM2 moves through terrain to get within scoring distance of Obj.3, and the surviving Oblit heads toward Obj.1 but is short from scoring.  In shooting, the Torrent template again flashes out, covering 2 sternguard and the Alpha survivor...and the survivor perishes.  The lone mutilator gets into assault with the other sternguard remnant combat squad, and starts carving them up. Adding to the frey, a chaos rhino tries to tank shock Arcadius, and this further blocks Arcadius from moving towards the fight near obj.3!!! 

On my turn, Arcadius gates 24 inches towards Obj.1 and deviates to be about 5 inches from it!  The Stormtalon lines up to shoot at the distant Obliterator and misses. In shooting, the remaining sternguard have rallied and shoot, killing of the lone mutilator, clearing a way for them to head back as needed towards Obj.3.The Librarian runs to contest Obj1 should the game continue. 

 

Score: Utras 1; Chaos 3 (obj.3).

The dice is cast and the game CONTINUES.

 

Turn 6:
The Chaos Lord and his 1.5 mutilator retinue turns around and heads towards Obj.1.  The last oblit is moved within 3 inches of the objective to score it, and the Librarian Arcadius is just a few inches away, contesting it! The other Chaos units (few as they are) look for ways to get shots on the two remaining sternguard. In the assault phase, the Chaos Lord and mutilators assault the librarian, and in a challenge the two warlords face off!  The Lord had in fact killed off a sergeant in hand-to-hand early in the game (IIRR) and was now I6, so he attacked first!  In the end, there were no wounds on the Librarian, and no wounds on the Lord. The two sternguard has also weathered the sporadic shooting from the two surviving Chaos rhinos and the 4 remaining members of CSM2. 

 

On the Ultramarines turn, the two Sternguard again moved forward to contest Obj.3, and the Stormtalon again moved to get shots on CSM2. In shooting, an amazing thing happened.  CSM2 (all four marines) fell under a torrent of Stormtalon fire, and the last oblit fell to bolter fire from the two remaining drop pods and long-distance shots from the last two sternguard! In assault, the Librarian remained toe-to-toe with the Chaos Lord, still within range to contest obj1.

The Game ends...

 

Final Score: Ultras 4 (+1 KP for the oblit, +1 pt for linebreaker); Chaos 0.

 

End Notes:
This was a game the Ultramarines were going to lose, no matter what. With 4 widely spread objectives, obliterators as scoring, and a burning torrent template of AP3 doom thrown around at will...how could they win? Well, the win happened!

The Ultramarines hampered themselves with a couple of mistakes or unfortunate events or other issues.  Here is a basic rundown of things I could have improved on:

 

1. We did not read throught the scenario fully, and so I did not see that the oblits were worth kill points until after theg game (I knew they were scoring, but skipped the rest of the details...)

2. It was unfortunate that the sternguard pod deviated the way it did, because it ruined the plan from the start (blocking the advance of the terminators and librarian). The Sternguard pod could have dropped further back and the sternguarrd would still have hasd the range. 

3. The Stormtalon (my first game use) was used to target a Empty Rhino when it came on (that was a waste, even if it had worked), rather than shooting at the unengaged oblits or other important target. Target priority is always a weak spot for me.

4. My Librarian still plays as modeled (force stave), which is horrible vs MEQs.
 

5. The sternguard could use a full-time meltagun rather than 3 combimeltas.  Other than that they worked well combat squadded. 

6. Need to remember to keep spread out when torrent AP3 flamers are around. I could have mitigated some losses by keeping the marines apart, and I was very lucky that the losses from that one template over the course of the game did not double.

 
7. In a few times in this game, my marines in regular armor had to charge terminator equivalents.  Not a good choice, but in this case the issue is to charge or be charged.

8. The Chaos rhinos clearly earned their points this game as walls, dirge-caster platforms, and as a source of bolter rounds. They clearly influenced the game, even when empty.

9. CML terminators retain their storm bolters...

 

I ended the game with a librarian, 2 drop pods, 2 sternguard, and the Stormtalon in play.  IIRR the Chaos marines ended the game with the Lord, 2 mutilators, and 2 rhinos remaining. Crazy fun game, but we both left alot of points on thhe table. It was good practise for me for the Fratris Salutem event, I hope to get some painting and another game done this week!

 

[Kierdale]

An entertaining and hard fought battle.

Congratulations!