Escalation League Update - Round 2

[Mammon]

Brothers, Hello again!

 

 The Escalation League ramps up! We finished off the last set of matches at the 500 points level. Starting next week, all games will be 750 points. Same rules apply, no armor 14 and cheesy armies are strickly prohibited. Anything you bring at the 500 point level must be present through the 750 and 1000 point stages. That said, on to the report for round 2!

 

Round 2

 

 My opponent from the first round challenged me to a rematch. I gladly accepted. I wanted to prove the last win wasn't a fluke (both to me and the league). 

 

 Our army lists remained the same since we are sticking to a true escalation format.

 

 Space Wolves packed two Grey Hunter Packs, each with seven Hunters the Mark of the Wulfen and a Standard. One Pack, Jorma's, carried a Plasmagun. In Soren's pack, the was a meltagun. Five Long Fangs toting four Rocket Launchers provided a base of fire. (No, I do not call them missile launchers for very specific dice-related reasons) Rune Priest Askil is my HQ choice, he has Saga of the Beastslayer. 

 

 Orks opposed me with a single mob of 'Ard Boys, numbering nine and packing a Big Shoota'. A single Deff Kopta. Three Killa' Kans, two with Scorcha's (or Burna's?) a Trukk and a Warboss  in 'Eavy Armor with a Powerklaw. A pack of 5 Burna Boys rounds out his list. 

 

 The Ork player is young but has put many of the older players on the ropes. Last game we fought I won with only four Marines left on the board! I am taking him seriously. He is hungry for a win against my Wolves. 

 

Set Up/Deployment

 

Terrain is very open. Tall hills blocking line of sight along the right and left board edges. A single "pass" bisects the high ground, providing good LOS if one were inclined charge straight down the middle. We deploy up to 12" in on a 48" board. This gives me roughly two or so turns of shooting before the Orks close the gap. If he uses the terrain along either flank of the board to block my LOS, he can get into close combat before I can whittle him down. 

 

  Rolling for Warlord traits yields nothing of note for me or the Ork player. I think I rollled the Counter Attack and my enemy got the bonus to reserve rolls. He wins the initial roll and chooses to go first. Each league game at the 500 points level is Kill Points. No perks for Slaying the Warlord or First Blood. 

 

 Deployment is quick. He sets everyone to the left, behind a hill. On the right, the lone Deff Kopta hovers. To counter, I place my Long Fangs in the middle of the pass with a pack of Grey Hunters in the Hills of the right and left flanks. Rune Priest Askil is feeling very saucy and stands in the middle out of cover. He is bait with the Long Fangs. Two easy Kill Points just sitting there. 

 

 I try to steal the Initiative but fail. 

 

Turn One

 

 Orks

 

 The Orks advance as one...straight down the middle of the board.The Kans, Trukk and Deff Kopta are in the open. He took the bait! Now I just have to survive the Orks shooting. 

 

 Playing on a 4x4 board means he is already in range of my Long Fangs and Rune Priest. He opens up with the Big Shoota on the Trukk, Kan and the Deff Kopta inflicting two wounds on my Long Fangs. I save both. Cracking my knuckles, it is time to dish out from the can of whoop-arse!

 

 Space Wolves

 

 The Grey Hunters advance on each flank. Long Fangs and Askil stay in place, it is a target rich environment!

 

 With Living Lightning and four rockets, the Space Wolves reduce the ork threat by a Trukk, Kan and a Deff Kopta. The Warboss and his boys spill out of their ruined steed, losing three orks in the explosive death of the Trukk. Still well shy of assault range, we move into the second turn. 

 

 Turn Two

 

 Orks

 

 Off to a bad start, the orks hotfoot it forwards, only close combat can save them now. The Kans push onward through the still burning wreckage of their comrade. The Warboss aims his boyz straight for the Grey Hunters (Jorma) on the right flank. Burna Boyz run forward. 

 

 There are a few shots from the orks. A lucky bullet drops a Grey Hunter from Jorma's Pack. 

 

 Space Wolves

 

 Movement is minor. Each Grey Hunter Pack advances, getting ready for assault. Askil moves to the right, ready to join up with Jorma's Pack. 

 

 Shooting is bountiful. Krak rockets blow apart another Kan. Living Lightning from Askil drop a few more Orks. Jorma's pack starts peppering the 'Ard Boyz with their bolters killing another. Four Boyz and a Boss are all that remains of the squad. 

 

 Turn Three

 

 Orks

 

 My opponent is losing heart. Wearily, me positions his Warboss and 'Ard Boyz to assault Jorma's Pack. The surviving Kan and the Burna Boyz advance towards Soren's Pack on the left flank. 

 

 Ork Shooting fails to kill any Marines. I save seven wounds. I am feeling the blessing of the spirits in this game!

 

 With a warcry, the Boss and his Boyz charge Jorma's pack. Overwatch shooting fails to kill any Orks. My Leadership check for Counter Attack is a success and the Grey Hunters leap to meet the onrush of green. Askil challenges the Warboss, desperate to be worthy of his Saga.  I manage to hit the boss three times ( thanks to the rerolls) and wound him once. My Psychic test is successful and the wound gains Instant Death due to Askil's Force Weapon. Without their Warboss, the rest of the 'Ard Boys are cut down in a flurry of strikes from the Grey Hunters without striking back! Using their consolidation move, the Pack advances towards the cowering greenskins.

 

 Space Wolves

 

 Soren and Jorma advance forwards towards the Burna Boyz and remaining Kan.

 

 Long Fangs repay the Kans for routing them in the previous game by wiping them out in the second match. The last Kan explodes. Both Grey Hunter Packs riddle the five Burna's with bolts, melta and plasma. At the bottom of Turn 3 the orks are no more.  

 

 

 Conclusion

 

 This report is from memory so forgive the lack of detail. It is also well past my usual rack time. 

 

 All in all, the Wolves performed superbly. When the Orks took the bait, I could not believe my luck. By moving into the open, he denied himself the 4+ Cover Save from the hills and positioned his units right in the cross hairs of the Long Fangs. My rolling was dynamite that game and I wound up losing only one Grey Hunter during the match. That said, by positioning my Long Fangs in the open, I could have easily lost them to some poor rolls and wound up in the same dire straits as my first game against the orks. That match was won by a verrry slim margin. 

 

 My challenger is a good sport and I doubt I can pull off the same trick twice. Our next match will not be until 1000 points and I feel he will be a difficult man to beat at that level. He learns quickly and if he adds another Trukk or a mob of boyz it will be much harder to counter him. 

 

 I will post the 3rd Round match results this week, I hope. In that game I was paired off against the Tyranids. My first game against the bugs since 4th Edition! 

 

 if you have any comments or constructive criticism, I'd love to hear it!