Prot's Ultramarines: Beyond Indomitus (Updated for 9th)

[Prot]

So I played quite a few games the last few weeks, but I chose to write up a full report on a game this week against Death Guard. 
 
After a few games against GSC, Tau, Orks... why would I pick Death Guard to do a report on? 
 
It's because I was shocked at the overall game. The list for the Death Guard was extremely... plain. A lot of units you just don't see anymore. I was reluctant to play my 'typical' list which I would give a higher 'mid grade' to.
But my opponent really wanted to just play it out even after I offered to alter the list.
 
This is the batrep if you want to skim it:
https://prot40k.blog/2019/09/12/a-prot-quick-n-dirty-battle-report-ultramarines-vs-death-guard-2000-pts/
 

 

 
If you don't want to read it: Spoiler alert:
 
 
 
 

I ended up winning by one point in turn 5. We were both almost wiped and it was literally a last turn charge by Calgar against the Daemon Prince that ended the game. The resilience of the Death Guard was shocking, and the effectiveness of a lot of 'vanilla' units surprised me. It was quite a game. I've had an easier time against very strong Genestealer Cult and Orks to be honest. A lot of fun though.

[Prot]

So a minor update:

 

I've had a few more games and since the Death Guard game I've played pure infantry (plus Warsuits), and then gone back to my dual Repulsor list, and then went to a prure infantry (plus Warsuits) BUT with a very healthy dose of the Phobos marines, including a Phobos LT, and Captain using Chapter Master strat, with no Calgar. (Tiggy was the only 'typical' character I brought forward in my list.)

 

I consider this list turned down, but it's really hard to say because I've played a few games with this list and it did super good against armies that thrive on infantry. (I probably would have done -worse- with my Repulsors.) So take that for what it's worth.

 

The last game was against a 'turned down' Tau army. It only had one Riptide, but a metric ton of Crisis suits. I knew those were going to be his key to winning our game (Maelstrom is good for forcing movement to specific objectives rather than sitting on any objective for points.) 

 

The Tau also featured a very high drone count. Really annoying but I didn't even bother hitting them much with my Thunder Fire cannon. 

 

I will say I won, but it was purely on points. I had to out play him because I was severely out shot. I could drown him in S4 AP-1-2, but when it came to killing suits with T5 or more, I struggled mightily.

 

This instantly gave me some perspective on why I was doing so well lately against hyper competitive GSC, but here I was struggling against Death Guard and now Tau. 

 

I took my medicine. I played very cagey, I hit the marker light squads (because I could kill them) until he had none left. Step 2 was just making it very hard for him to deep strike all his Crisis Suits and his HQ (Can't remember what it's called but it carried 4 melta's and deep striked as well.) 

 

I waited, he had to come in, I pasted the units originally with my 'Auspex Scan' but then he realized with his Sept he could have landed +12" away and still rapid fire on me, so I let him re-do his deep striking on all three units, and therefore I took a massive beating. I was left with one Centurion, and my HQ.

 

Be that as it may, I threw -everything- I could possibly bring to bare on the 3 deep strike units. Rapid Fire Intercessors, TFC, Suppressors, Intercessors with the -2 AP rifle (forgot the name), and even scouts, and Infiltrators threw down. and finally my last 2 Aggressors.

 

It took everything and I still could not kill all 7 models (in total from 3 squads). I had to assault with Cents, and an intercessor squad, and barely did killed the final HQ.

 

So at that point I put everything I had into neutering his ability to grab any objective. The only cards he could complete were 'shoot/kill' type objectives. I felt this was the only hope I had to win.

 

Fast forward to the end, I have almost nothing. Some HQ's, Tiggy, about 4 Infiltrators, the TFC, and maybe 3-4 Intercessors from one squad. Everything else... dead. And on his side he still had 2 bigger Crisis Suits(?) they fire a ton of shots with D3 damage I think. And his Riptide was largely untouched. He had no T3 infantry or the little jump squads (smaller than Crisis suits, but always -1 to hit.) 

 

He had far more damage capability left, but it was mostly in his castle, which I just ignored, and took a 12-2 point lead and he conceded. I was almost tabled, but probably could have lasted 2 more turns with hiding intercessors and he still had almost no chance to score anything with no marker lights (his hitting went down the toilet without the Marker Drones and marker fish).

 

Very close, but what a -brutal- grind. I have to change my list to provide much more punishment to high T targets with good saves. And I need more speed to get it there. (I missed the Repulsors greatly in this match up.)

[Captain Idaho]

Relying on bolters to work through T5+ is a difficult proposition.

 

You did well though. Stuck to the objective whilst the opponent played kill-hammer. (Off subject but this is why I hate Tau - they want to play Kill-hammer rather than a fun back and forth)

 

So how do you feel the Invictor Warsuits fared against the Tau? I imagine they died quite quickly?

Edited September 20, 2019 by Captain Idaho

[Prot]

You're right, they died super quick.

 

I tried to apply early pressure. I had them completely out of LoS in turn 1, but high up the board. I had them lead and tried to add pressure with a lot of Intercessors, but both of the warsuits died in one turn. I failed a very short charge with one of them as well so they were a distraction carnifex at best. They've done better that's for sure. 

 

Tau are really... not fun to play against. I find it super challenging, but I consider it a necessary evil so I seek out the match up whenever I can. It's always a grind. :)

[Prot]

Aaaand finally a couple of updates, more on the blog, but two new figs done:

 

 

Chaplain was a lot of fun. It was a nice experiment on the  cloak (which started too dark).

 

And Tiggy!

 

I did  a fun 'magic' glow on his hand reflecting off of his cape. Such a crazy good upgrade in my opinion on the sculpt.

 

https://prot40k.blog/2019/09/24/hobby-update-ultramarines-chaplain-and-tigurius/

[Joukernaut]

Very, very nice work again brother Prot. Always a pleasure to see your finished models.

That glowing hand is truely awesome.

[Prot]

Thanks very much for looking.

[Captain Idaho]

Stop painting so well!

 

***

 

Top quality as always, Prot.

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Wow Tiggy looks absolutely amazing even better than Eavy Metal in my opinion. :)

[Ishagu]

Those two models are wounderful.

 

I have my Tiggy without the gold trim on the pouldrons, as per the official art but yours is looking better. Makes him pop a bit more.

Chaplain is great, especially the cloth.

[Prot]

Thanks guys. Those newer sculpts are amazing, but as you know they're very time consuming with all the details. (Not looking forward to the Phobos HQ's.)

[Brother Lunkhead]

Inspirational...… as usual

Edited September 25, 2019 by Brother Lunkhead

[QuarterPounder]

Beautiful! Any chance we could get close-ups of Tiggy's hand and cloak? The magic effect looks fantastic!

[Prot]

What's the size of a small corner grocery store, and sneaks up on you with a giant pistol and heavy flamer?

 

These guys!

 

 

More Pics on Blog: https://prot40k.blog/2019/10/17/hobby-update-ultramarines-invictus-warsuits-painted/

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Amazing as always.

[Joukernaut]

Oh, wow! Those look amazing!

[Prot]

Thanks guys. They're a bit of a pain to paint compared to normal dreads (more detail), but a lot of fun in game. Worth the extra effort. :)

[Captain Idaho]

Didn't see them coming! ;)

 

Very good, as always.

[Prot]

So this has been on and off my table for a long time. I bit the bullet, took some risks on this version but I'm finally done.. my second (and last) Guillman:

 

 

 

More:

https://prot40k.blog/2019/10/28/roboute-guilliman-arrives-finally-completed-painting-the-primarch-of-the-ultramarines/

[Aspecti]

Nice, you actually managed to make the bare head look good :D Really like the sword and the osl from the sword.

[Prot]

Thanks. I agree the head is a challenge.

 

Man that sword and OSL took forever. Probably the most complex application of OSL I've tried in a loong time. :tu:

[Subtleknife]

It looks wonderful. Great job.

[BLACK BLΠFLY]

Prot what is your formula for blue?

 

He looks absolutely fantastic mate.

Edited October 29, 2019 by Black Blow Fly

[Joukernaut]

Great paintjob as always Prot. That OSL looks awesome! Now go kill some heretics with him “for the emperor”

[Ishagu]

I remember your previous Guilliman, and honestly this one is better. Very vibrant, but also clean. I love it.