Vassal BATREP: Deathwing vs Dark Eldar

[[TA]Typher]

Hey guys,

I know I haven't had the time/effort to make a batrep recently. Sorry about that. Today I had the house to myself and nothing to do and no excuses. So I put a little more polish on this one for you guys.

This was a Maelstrom mission. Not my favorite, as I feel they are too random and need some work to allow for good generalship as opposed to random luck.This was the first time I've played this opponent so I figured I'll give it a go anyway. To help with the randomness, we agreed that we would instantly discard anything that was totally unattainable.

We rolled the mission that only started you with one card but allowed you to draw more more card per turn. So, turn one had 1 card, turn two gave you 2 cards, turn 3 had 3 cards and so on.

The mission also sets deployment as hammer and anvil. that would be good for me, as it would limit his ability to spread out and help me corner him. This would be very important as a Dark Eldar player is usually all about mobility and speed.


http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/IMG_4777_zpsc029057d.jpg

++My list++
Force Decending Misericordia

Master of the Deathwig: Belial -TH/SS

Librarian: Brother-Librarian Epoch -ML2, Force Axe (I rolled on the telepathy and got Invisibility, Terrify and the Primius P. Shriek)

TechMarine:Brother Argimous -Servoharness, PFG

6 Deathwing Knights: (Lib attached to this squad) -In Landraider with Librarian
5 Deathwing Terms: -2xTH/SS, Heavy Flamer -In Landraider with Belial and Techmarine
5 Deathwing Terms: -1xTH/SS, CML -DWA
5 Deathwing Terms: -1xTH/SS, CML -DWA

LandRaider Crusader: Indomitable Absolution -Multi-Melta, Dozer Blades, Venerable Vehicle

LandRaider Crusader: Vengeful Wrath -Multi-Melta, Dozer Blades, Venerable Vehicle



++His List++
The Hidden Blade

The Duke (Duchess Llyothass of the Crimson blade in this case)
9 Trueborn -Various weapons, Haywire grenades
Raider with Dark Lance

10 Icubi
Raider with Dark Lance
Haemoculous -various wargear

9 Wytches -Haywire grenades
Raider with Dark Lance

10 Warriors
Raider with Dark Lance

10 Warriors
Raider with Dark Lance

Ravager -Nightshields, shadowfield

Ravager -Nightshields, shadowfield

I'm missing a lot of wargear here I know, but this was the bulk of his force. He had a few more odds and ends, but they didn't stick out to me.
He rolled to go first and took it.

Since you can score on turn one with the Maelstrom's cards, I tried to seize to help limit him from taking objectives. I failed.
And now... the battle of Narvier Secondous



http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/7thvsDE_zps10c4fec7.jpg

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As the Master of the Deathwing thick fingers hammered the last rune-key into the console he grimaced. He sat staring at the heavily magnified planet on the viewport from the command chair of the Battlebarge Angelalious. In front of him the bridge was live with post warp transition activity.
Behind the Lord of the first Company Brother-Librarian Epoch stood. The Normally taciturn mutant was awash with power. His eyes blazed with blinding light that dwarfed most stars. He hand was held out toward the distant world, a nimbus of light radiating from it.

His voice came as if from a great distance. It broke as first until he was able to summon enough energy to add enough force to it. "H..he is there. I feel him. He hides amongst the humans there. The Xenos sow a blood trail and he moves with great fluidity. He will be difficult to find with the raiders herding the population". As if switched off, the light from Brother-librarian suddenly stopped. His eyes dulled from the intense infernos they had been. He rubbed them as if the act would wash away the residual warp that he had tapped into. When they had cleared he noticed that Belial had left. The Grim Master was almost to the blast doors of the bridge.

Without turning he spoke. He voice hard and gruff, "Then I will break the Xenos. He will be mine".


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http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/7thvsDE0_zps4af21c3e.jpg

Deployment "I am here not to free you, but to save you" -The Primarch of the 1st Legion

All the buildings blocked LOS. Unfortunately the trees did not. I tried to place all the objectives as close as possible. I figured that I could own 2, 3, 4 and 5. I might be able to shoot people off of 1, but 6 would be lost to me. With a slow army I would have to hedge my bets and abandon the points that were too far.

My plan would be punch forward and deal as much damage as I could, ignoring objectives that were not in my immediate path. The biggest obstacle I've found when wielding the Deathwing is attrition. With hordes of fast, shooting units I wouldn't be able to hold points without breaking the enemy first. Going for easy VPs instead of hammering the xenos would cost me the late game. The Deathwing would not pause. I would bring him the fight.
Unit Notes: There are not Deathwing Knights in vassal yet. I will be subbing the unit of blackclad terms as them.



http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/7thvsDE1_zps81e2f711.jpg

DE Turn 1 "I am the thirsting shadow. I am the razor at your throat. I am your nightmare fleshed into life and your slow death at the blade" -Duchess Llyothass of the Crimson blade

My opponent drew "1VP if you have a unit within 12" of your opponents edge of the board". Doable, but not a great start for him.

Turning from the carnage they had been sowing, the host of Dark Eldar spun with fluid grace. Just under a dozen Dark Lances shot out at the Vengeful Wrath (the bottom LRC that had the Knights and Lib) as if on que. The eldritch energy begged to unleash itself on the oncoming hulking vehicle, but as the almost struck a blue haze met them. He made 4 pens and glances but my dice were hot and they all disappeared with a brilliant dissipation of energy as the PFG sternly turned them.

To the south a Raider with warriors coasted to the east.

+++

Gripping the command railing the Duchess Grinned with feral rage. These aberrations had made quiet planet fall and broken her harvest. This was not ideal, but perhaps she could turn this to her favor. Even a handful of these changed ones would be worth thousands of the herd they had cornered in the overhive. She shot a glace over to Irillix, the flayed Haemoculous. The scarecrow-like thing worked it's long spider-like fingers on the railing of it's Raider. she could almost sense it's longing to carve the flesh from the gene-humans.

The course is set then she thought. "Kill them", she whispered.


http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/7thvsDE2_zps47870bed.jpg

DW Turn 1 "I am the will of the Emperor made manifest. I have come to find him. He that turned from the Lion. There is not a Xeno in the universe that can stop me from my task" -Belial the Master of the Deathwing

Forward was the word and quick was the action. Both Land Raiders moved forward. I drew the "take objective 3 card" I could have taken it, but then I would have to leave the protective bubble of the PFG and separate my forces. With a lot of fire power on the board for the DE I didn't think that was a good idea.

Led by Librarian Epoch the Knights charged out. In front of me the raider with the Wytches loomed and that many haywire grenades were a huge threat. He had deployed back, but with invisibility I didn't fear leaving my LRC too early. I cast the power and easily got it off. (this is such a broken power)

My plan was to shoot the Raider with the Wytches and the Ravager with my LRCs, then charge the Wytches. Unfortunately I had to use both LRCs to take the Wytch Raider down. Instead of exploding it, it was only wrecked and the Wytches deployed behind the husk of the vehicle, out of charge range. Ugh.. On the bright side they failed a pinning check and were rooted to the spot.

With little to charge at I tried for the Ravager in the woodline. It was 8 inches away and I had to charge through terrain. I would need a 10. I rolled double 6s. Come the Angels of Death!

I didn't need to empower the maces for the vehicle to die, but the Librarians Force Axe did just that. The explosion killed 4 Wytches. The Hardened resolve of the Deathwing refused fall.

Not a bad start. I scored 1 VP for first Blood.

+++

Outside a muffled explosion was no more than a whisper from the encased troop compartment of the Indomitible Absolution. He stood immobile, eyes closed in contemplation. Out there he was hiding, biding his time to escape. It would not happen. He would not escape again.

Behind the Lord of the Deathwing Brother Argimous slowly adjusted the gauges of the archaic device he held. The blind Tech-Marine was old to the point of being ancient, but the object he held dwarfed him in age as a world dwarfs a marble. Sparks lit the sides of it in a random pattern as it flared to life with each protective activation. He would stay here, in the divine construct of the machine god, Lord Belial had made that clear.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/IMG_4778_zps15ba1c35.jpg


http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/7thvsDE3_zps45f41b38.jpg

DE Turn 2 "Irillix you fool! At least kill some of them before you die!" -The Duchess

He Drew "Take Objective 1 for 1 VP"

No longer underestimating my reach, most of this Raiders retreated to more distant firing solutions. To the south the Incubi moved close to objective 3 and one of the warrior Raiders moved to the east, spreading out. The Trueborn to the south took Objective 1.

Again a torrent of Lances sprang to life. I failed every PFG save and took 3 hull points of damage. Ugh...
Every gun that was left he fired at the DWK, but between Invisibility, T5 and 2+ Armor the Knights were unscathed.
It was now 1 to 1.

+++

Duchess Llyothass fired her weapon from the aft of her Raider. The shimmering Giants were there. She knew it, but like their monstrous vehicles that were slowing advancing they refused to die. "I want their blood", She bellowed. To the south Trueborn dumped flesh grenades into a hab-shelter. Hundreds would be dead down there. A small victory she thought.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/7thvsDE4_zps2d4d47c0.jpg

DW Turn 2 "I am the blade in the dark, the shield of the Imperium. I am the wrath of the Lion and the will of the Emperor!" -From the book of the Raven

I drew "Destroy one unit by shooting for 1 VP"

Lightning sparked along the ground. Alive and hungry it grew. Thunder followed and within seconds of it's forming the giants had come. When the light from teleportation ebbed they strode forward.

Epoch cast invisibility again.

Moving both the Landraiders up, Belial exited. He charged out flaming the Wytches and charging the Warriors raider. Both units died to his wrath! The remaining warriors took the brunt of fire from one of the newly arrived DW term units and only 1 remained. Through either shock or anger he held his ground. The squads missiles struck the Duchess Raider taking off a hullpoint. Both Landraiders shot at but failed to harm the Duchess vehicle.
The last DW Term unit split fired it's CML into the distant Ravager, shaking it. The rest of the fire managed 1 hull point on the warriors Raider to the south.

Epoch tried to charge the Duchess's raider but failed.

Contested by the Incubi, I was unable to take objective 3 with the Knights LRC.

+++

"Forward Brothers, show these foul things the might of the Angels" The Lord bellowed through a heavily voxed grill. Outside carnage blossomed and thrived.


http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/7thvsDE5_zps56fc61ae.jpg

DE Turn 3 "Take down that hideous vehicle" -The Duchess

He drew "destroy a vehicle for 1 VP"

He continued to spread the southern Raiders to the east.

His last Ravager tired at the damaged Vengeful Wrath. Needing 6's to hit it failed. Firing everything else he managed 1 Lance Pen, but the runs gave me a cover save, which I passed! The Emperor protects!

The Warrior Raider to the east could only see the undamaged LRC. I failed my PFG roll and took a glance.

+++

Shot after shot struck the thick side of the Landraider, each failing to penetrate ancient vehicle. With gritted teeth the Duchess threw her pistol at a nearby lackey, striking him in the side of the head. "I will not fail on this swamp of a planet!", She bellowed.


http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/7thvsDE6_zps8013a8db.jpg

DW Turn 3 "Epoch, bring then ruin" -The Lord of the Deathwing.

I drew "Take objective 2 and also take Objective 5"

Epoch cast invisibility on his unit again. (soooo broken)

The Indomitable Absolution moved to take Objective 5, Belial did the same for Objective 2.

The DW Term unit to the west killed the last warrior that was close by and split fired it's missiles into the ravager, shaking it again. The other DWT unit, along with the Indomitable Absolution killed the Warrior Raider, but failed their 7 inch charge. I was going to move them back into cover as I knew the Incubi were coming and they didn't have frag nades, but risked the chance to assault to limit his scoring units. I knew I would pay for the failure.
The other LRC failed to harm the Incubi raider as it's Multi-melta killed the Duchesses Raider.

Epoch charged (loosing 1 knight to overwatch..lol) In the combat the DE issued a challege (+1 VP for him). I the duel the Duchess failed to harm the Knight Master. His attacks back killed her on the first hit as she rolled a 1. Two knights died despite being invisible, but in return they killed all the Xenos. They consolidated toward the Truborn.

+++

The Duchess was fast. Her blades sliced across the chest of the Knight Master with effort that only could have come with thousands of years of training. These blades had fell nearly every type of creature. They had bathed in the blood and taken souls. But here... here they had found no purchase. She looked dumbfounded as the lumbering hulk backhanded her with his immense blade, taking her head at the shoulders.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/IMG_4782_zps858355ad.jpg


http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/7thvsDE7_zpsa8ac6234.jpg

DE Turn 4 "Zzz...shhhh.. Zzz Kill them and then fade into the shadows" -Intercepted Xeno transmisison.

He drew take Objective 2 and Objective 6. Belial was guarding 2, but 6 was open.
The Warriors moved and then ran toward 6.

The Incubi moved up and charged one of the DWT units. In the swirling battle the Incubi slayed all the Marines.
The remaining DE units fired at the damaged Vengeful Wrath, but again my Armor held and he was denied the VP.

+++

The blades fell with precision and speed. the armor of the Terminators was hard and thick, but the blades of the Incubi were not to be denied. WIth each strike one of the giant monsters fell. A forest of the dead was sown and the Incubi were it's creators.

http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/IMG_4784_zps960c8083.jpg


http://i1187.photobucket.com/albums/z389/typher/BatRep/7thvsDE8_zps6fd3028d.jpg

DW Turn 4 "Now close the noose and let slip the death cry of this filth" -Interrogator Chaplain Israfil on the height of the battle of SharrowBlades

I drew "Take twice as many objectives as your opponent for d3 VP".

The Indomitable Absolution and the last DWT unit unleashed hell on the Incubi. 5 fell and their comrades fled before the reaping.
Epoch failed to cast invisibility, but charged into the trueborn, loosing one to overwatch. In the melee the knights killed several of the trueborn, causing them to flee.

I was able to turn in last card and scored 3 VP. With that my opponent conceded.

+++

The plan had worked. the Xenos had been routed. Their lithe little bodies littered the ground like refuse. Without breaking for rest or contemplation Belial was already issuing orders. "Find him!"

Epoch looked back as they moved on to the city-hive, behind him burning wrecks and bodies littered the ground. They had been foolish to oppose them. The great prey was here and no act baring that the Lion or Emperor would stop them.

The Angels moved out. If he was here he would be dreading the failure of the Eldar. His salvation and death was hunting him.




In the end It was a overwhelming victory for the Deathwing, 11 to 4. The cards weren't equal, but they were pretty close. Our house rule to discard useless ones was helpful to both of us, but the Hammer and Anvil deployment hurt him bad. bunching up the objectives helped too. All the troops and scoring units couldn't do much when I held all the real estate in which they lived.

Getting invisibility was game breaking. being able to walk un the middle of the board against the firepower of a DE list is just OP. I really think that it should reduce the enemy to BS and WS 1. It would still be really good, but templates and blast would still work and melee wouldn't be so dominating. As I played my game a thousand son player on the table next to me infiltrated his 8 man term unit with Arihman cast invis and singlehandedly dismantled a demon list. This power is almost a autowin.

Overall the cards are different, but I don't find them better than the normal missions. Having more randomness isn't good. I played Orcs and Goblins in fantasy and I feel lilke the cards could have easily been part of that army with how random they are. I feel like my army is playing twister.. right foot green.

Anyway I don't think I'll do more Batreps with the cards, just because they are harder to keep track of. I'll still play them every now and then, but remembering all the cards and the points from turn to turn to hard.
So.. hope you enjoyed this. Honor to the first!

[Kasper_Hawser]

Good win Typhus. I would have thought the Dark Eldar have a sheer amount of poison weapons to overcome even your invisibility and T5 though. Then again, there's the 2+ armour.

[[TA]Typher]

Good win Typhus. I would have thought the Dark Eldar have a sheer amount of poison weapons to overcome even your invisibility and T5 though. Then again, there's the 2+ armour.

It's 16% per shot to hit. Even with poison this gets dropped down to 8% will wound. 2+ armor drop this down further to about 1.3% per shot. I could wade though armies with that unscathed.

[markham82]

Thank you very much for the awesome batrep. Always a highlight of the day.

 

Well done on purging those xenos.

[Polythemus]

ouch invis is a hell of a power. I love the splash planetary shot you did at the begining. Really nice batrep. I haven't tried doing a 7th ed batrep yet, you make a good point about the logistical problem of tracking objectives. Hoping this isn't the last rep you do for 7th.

[Kilofix]

Always enjoy your batreps Typher (and for that matter Polythemus too).

 

Just curious though, have you ever lost your Land Raiders early in a battle? And, have you ever had a problem with lack of ranged AP1 / AP2?

[[TA]Typher]

Always enjoy your batreps Typher (and for that matter Polythemus too).

 

Just curious though, have you ever lost your Land Raiders early in a battle? And, have you ever had a problem with lack of ranged AP1 / AP2?

 

Yeah I lost a LRC a couple of weeks ago to the grey knights. Hammerhand + Thunderhammer = dead Landraider. PFG or not. They go down every now and then, but it usually takes a lot of firepower to do it. 

 

The Multi-meltas on the LRC are great. Deathwing is a in your face army so the MM's usually pull their weight.

 

Now if I can defeat these typos..