Neverending Campaign Project

[Damo1701]

67th Company of the 578th Tangean Armoured Regiment - Vehicle Colours - 

Leman Russ based - Deep red with blue, white, and yellow company markings in three stripes, left and right sides of hull.

Chimera based - Midnight Blue, company colours displayed on stars.

Baneblade "Tyran's Revenge" - Deep red, with reds/orange camouflage pattern.

 

Tyran's Revenge operates as the company command vehicle for Commander Absom, decorated tank multi-ace, who specialises in hard armour kills.  Often described as reckless by commissariate subordinates.  Has earned censure on multiple occasions for failure to fall back in line with general orders.  However, in these instances, Absom has seen openings his company can exploit for an Imperial win.  Always clashing with field commanders in the rear, Absom has been passed over many times for promotion, a situation he appears at peace with.

 

When Absom doesn't take to teh field in Tyran's Revenge, he uses his Leman Russ Vanquisher "Insubordination", a title given by his crew after his third insubordinate victory in the machine, previously known as Alpha 276.

 

Making up the command squadron are the Vanquishers "Old and Strong" and "I'm Coming", both captained by Absom's sons.  When the three take to the field together, they are nigh unstoppable.  All three Vanquishers are armed with the Vanquisher Cannon, a hull mounted Lascannon, and Sponson mounted heavy bolters, for point defense.

 

67-578th is made up of 4 squadrons of Leman russ variants, 2 Hellound squadrons, a Hydra battery, Manticore Battery, and Basilisk Battery.  Mixing battle tanks with artillery gives the 67-578th a tactical flexibility almost at odds with the 'armoured cavalry' charge style favoured by Absom.  However, when fielded in it's entirety, the company performs flawlessly, always claiming more kills than it suffers.  When Absom is mounted in Tyran's Revenge, the company Commissar Indeo Melafus rides in "Insubordination", a delicious irony that makes teh crews of teh company smile, and fight ever harder to follow.

 

Squadron Make Up

 

1 - 3 Exterminator Pattern, hull and sponson Heavy Bolter

2 - 3 Punisher Pattern, hull and Sponson Heavy Bolter

3 - 3 Standard Pattern, Hull mounted Lascannon no sponsons

4 - 3 Demolisher Pattern, Hull mounted Lascannon, Sponson mounted Multimelta

 

1a - Hellhound pattern, hull mounted heavy flamers

2a - Devil Dog Pattern, hull mounted Heavy Boler

 

Artillery units are all standard pattern.

[Damo1701]

Chaplain Acres was impressed.  After performing a system sweep, Thunderhawk Gamma-27 needed refuelling in order to make it to the edge of the system for rendezvous with the frigate Bellemos, they touched down on the planet Indactx, and proceeded to view the annual sports event held on the planet, in order to assess the next round of recruitment for the PDF.

 

Youths from across the globe arrived to compete for the more prestigious ranks available whenever a new regiment was raised, or vacancies appeared.  If there were no PDF vacancies, winners were sent on to reinforce regiments off world.

 

Surprisingly, the winners were incredible, performing feats that were able to surprise both the chaplain, and grizzled sergeant.  Once announced, the chaplain entered the arena, to the surprise of the gathered crowd.

 

"These youths do your planet proud!  Rejoice citizens, by the authority granted to me by the Emperor Himself, I claim these Imperial citizens, for induction  into the Emerald Serpents.  Your sons will go on to the neophyte trials, and, Emperor willing, join our ranks"  The powerful voice echoing through the stunned silence.  Modulating his tone lower. while turning back to the exit, Acres subvocalised to the sergeant at this side.  "Gather the youths up, and we'll get them home, and in the next round of trials."

 

"Neophytes!  Form up, two ranks!"  The experienced voice of the sergeant spurring the shocked youngsters into action.  They are on the older side of suitable, however, their prowess was commendable.  The thought entered the sergeant's head as he watch them scramble to form ranks before him.  "Stay behind me, and we'll lead you to the drop ship where you will leave your birthworld, and embark on the rest of your lives!"

 

As the sergeant and new recruits approached the Thunderhawk, they looked up in confusion as the sky darkened, as though something had come between the planet and its star.  Nervous, the youths began looking at each other, as though their neighbour had the answer.

 

"Sergeant!"  Acres shouted from inside the gunship.  "Arm teh youths with bolt pistols and knives.  Give them whatever protection you can find inside.  I'm taking teh squad into the sea, to investigate a rapid series of impacts.  Hold the gunship as long as possible, if this is an invasion, take off, and attempt to return to the Monastery.  The chapter needs to be warned!"

 

"Sir!"  Professional, clipped tones, as the sergeant rifled through storage compartments and threw weapons to teh youths.  Finding ten suits of scout carapace armour, he assessed those who followed him.  Those who were scanning while holding weapons ready, versus those who just looked scared.  Unsurprisingly, those were the ones who got the armour, and were placed at strategic points around the Thunderhawk.

 

***

 

Leading the remainder of the squad underwater, Acres was scanning around for signs of xenos, or debris from orbit crashing.  Returns on his retinal display were confused at best, the water clouding his suit's systems.  What was surprising, was the lack of sea life.  A gurgled weapons fire report reached the chaplain, at teh same time as the vox crackled to life.

 

"Contact!  10 metres ahead.  Large, fast moving.  No firm ID on type yet.  Not native." The voice of the marine was crackling with interference.  Mk VII plate was good, but better in the void of space than the murky depths of oceanic zones.

 

"Understood.  Deploy in Alpha Nine-Six formation, bolters to teh fore, plasma ready, discharge on my command."  The chaplain watched as his order was carried out.  Five boltguns snapped up  as the marines on the front rank advanced in aimed position, while the remaining marines formed a quarter circle at either end, with the chaplain a pace behind the leading edge.

 

Nine voices shouted at once, as eight bolters opened up.  "Contact extremis!"

 

Large, multiple limbed creatures burst out of the gloom a few metres in front of the formation.  Knowing his life was forfeit, the Chaplain ordered the sergeant to evacuate the planet with the recruits.  Activating his Crosius, Acres ordered the plasma gunner to fire at will, boiling the ocean in his immediate vicinity, and partly cooking teh marine iside his armour.  Finally, getting a clear look at the thrashing limbs, Acres recognised the horror that had found this quiet, backwater planet.  The creature before him looked like a Hive Tyrant, without legs, but an extended tail, and four large swords, flashing towards him.  Runes on his retinas were winking in different colours as the swords caught his crozius, sliced into his thigh plate, removed the hand that help his graviton pistol, and sliced cleanly through his helmet, skull, and embedded in his breastplate.

[reptilelover1995]

I like it! I'll have to figure out where to put the stuff in the former of those two posts - I believe it'd be somewhere in either the narrative section or the Forces of the Imperium section.

I'm guessing the latter of the two posts does not immediately follow the first one you wrote (where the Tyranids board the space marine ship)?

[Damo1701]

I like it! I'll have to figure out where to put the stuff in the former of those two posts - I believe it'd be somewhere in either the narrative section or the Forces of the Imperium section.

 

I'm guessing the latter of the two posts does not immediately follow the first one you wrote (where the Tyranids board the space marine ship)?

 

 

Nope, it was more a place that could introduce a planet, and possibly aquatic warfare?  New marine beasties for teh 'nids to try and assimilate from under the sea, upwards.  Think cleansing of Laeran, with Emperor's children fighting on teh sea bed etc.  

 

We all know Power Armour is void proof, and we have precedent not for underwater fighting.

 

One thing I've noticed with narrative extracts, is that they don't always connect, apart from the setting, like planet/campaign etc

[Damo1701]

Winged Swarm Approaches:

 

Imperial Forces.

 

Tank Commander squadron - 3x Leman Russ Punishers with Heavy Bolter hull and sponson mounts (Punishers were on a training mission, testing tolerances at planetary temperatures)

 

Techpriest Engineseer

 

1 Infantry Platoon

Platoon Command Squad - banner, medic, mix of specials/heavies

5 Imperial Guardsman squads  random mix of special weapons

1 Heavy Weapons team squads armed with missile launchers (+ Flakk Missiles)

1 half strength conscripts squad

 

1 Squad Veterans plasma guns- Demolitions Specialists - Chimera Transport dual Heavy Bolter

 

1 Valkyrie Squadron Lascannon and Missile Pods

 

(X Static defense turrets HB/AC weapons)

 

Tyranid forces

 

Winged Tyranid Prime

Gargoyle broods

Harpies/Hive Crones

 

+25% points of the Astra Militarum Forces

 

+++

 

Thoughts?

[reptilelover1995]

I like it. I've written up an 1850 point Tyranid list that I had in mind, but I could pretty easily add to that.

 

I also like the idea of an underwater battle, though it would require a lot of thought into rules and stuff. One awesome thing to give to the Tyranids would be a 'sonic claw', kinda like what the living pistol shrimp does to rip into hard-shelled prey - a huge crushing claw could swing forward and create a superheated bubble thing that crushes through the armor of anything in its path (it'd be relatively short ranged of course). Problem is that most Tyranid ranged weapons would be basically useless underwater so a lot of inventiveness is required there. Plus, weapon range would be significantly limited in general due to the fact that the projectiles are moving through a much denser medium.

Not saying it's impossible, just saying it would require a LOT of new designs and ideas. :P

 

Narrative-wise though, I think that would be a good thing to have in volume 3 - after Rivicto. The way I think of the narrative portion is going relatively linearly in the sense that, while it may not tell the story from the perspective of the same character throughout, it follows the events in sequence as they happen. Ie that first boarding action was great, the next narrative portion could be the first surface encounter (with the first battle scenario based on that), etc., etc. I also think that given how much work and detail would be required to work out the specifics of underwater 40k battles, it would deserve its own volume dedicated to it. I like the idea, so I want to do it justice :)

[Damo1701]

Do Termagants still have spike Rifles?

 

We could work up from there.  Bio-harpoon guns lol

[reptilelover1995]

Yeah, spike rifles still exist, though they're pretty expensive (they cost as much as a devourer) points-wise, and there isn't an actual spike rifle arm sprue in the Termagant kits. Spinefists could work too, but they are 2 points and there needs to be some viable option for a cheap vanilla sea-gaunt weapon.

[Damo1701]

Aqua rules - Permanent Night Fighting - represents murky water

Unit Type Walker/Infantry/Monstorous/Gargantuan creatures only

All movement as (jump) except gargantuan creatures

No flame weapons

Plasma/melta gets hot on 1 or 2 (boil firer in armour)

All close combat weapons count as unwieldy for models less than strength 6, To hit order is charging model unless vs high strength.

 

Acceptable units for Space Marines:

 

Infantry HQ choice - No jump packs

Sternguard Veterans

Terminator/Terminator Assault Squads (MAY Deep Strike)

Dreadnoughts (All varients) - Lascannon/Assault Cannon/Heavy Bolter/Autocannon  End of each owning player turn, roll a D6, roll of a 1 means the dreadnought is immobilised due to water damage.  Further rolls mean random weapons are destroyed (do not remove further hull points until no weapons remain)

Centurion Assault Squads

Tactical Squads

Assault Squads (no jump packs, drop pod acceptable, roll d6 on arrival, rol 1 means drop pod destroyed, treat as emergency disembarkation into dangerous terrain)

Devastator Squads

Devastator Centurions

 

Tyranids:

 

All units available - flyers treated as fast skimmers under water.

No ranged spray/acid attacks (water would dilute)

 

Big birthing beastie - Aquatic mode - Births 2D6 Aquagaunts with such violence, they can be used as living harpoons.  This is aided via the powerful tails that replace their lower legs.

 

Range 6+D6"  S4 AP- Assault 2D6 - Special:  Place models for "shots" that miss 6" from (birthing beastie)  Doubles means out of material.  Every unit wiped out by the creature in close combat allows the beast to produce another unit, provided it does nothing else during its following turn.

[Damo1701]

Defend the Dam!

 

As Imperial forces retreated from the oncoming swarm, a major problem hit them.  They needed to evacuate the promethium they had stored in the reservoir.  They needed to defend the dam as long as possible, and evacuate tonnes of the fuel.

 

Board Set Up:

 

A concave dam at one end of an 8'x4' board.  The dam should take up no more than 12" from the end of the table, and be no taller than 24" with a walkway a maximum of 12" from the surface of the table, as Sky Shield Landing Pad is located centrally on the top.

The game is played along short edge to short edge.

 

Deployment:

The Imperial player deploys a maximum of 12" from the base of the dam.

The Tyranid player deploys a maximum of 24" from the opposing table edge.

 

Victory - 

 

Imperial:  Survive 6 turns with the Dam still having a minimum of 1HP left.

Tyranid:  Destroy the Dam

 

Special Victory: - Deliver a minimum of 5 loads of fuel to the ships in orbit before the dam is destroyed.

 

Special Rules:

 

Dam

AV 14 HP 6 5+ Inv

The dam may be damaged by both parties in the game.  

 

Fuel Deliveries:

 

It takes a full turn to load a flyer with fuel.  The first flyer is fully loaded at the beginning of the game.  At the beginning of the Imperial turn, the flyer may attempt to take off.  If there is a tyranid creature within range, it may attempt to fire on the fleeing ship.  Use the weapon's standard profile.  However, the target is hit on a 4+ instead of a 6, as the flyer will be moving slowly due to it's weight.

An empty shuttle descends at the start of the Tyranid player's turn, using the same rules as take off.  4+ represents slowing for landing.

 

Forces:

 

Tyranid player may pick up to 2500 points

Imperial Player picks 1850 points

Imperial player has a free flyer to represent the fuel ship - may fire if fired upon, may not take aggressive action.

[Damo1701]

"Meat!  Prey Meat!" The instinctual thought crossed the alien mind, impenetrable, bright, alien eyes watched as the humans walked past it, totally oblivious to its existence at that time.  "Prey meat is unaware!  Will eat/learn where prey meat makes lair."

 

Slowly, without revealing itself, the Lictor unfurled itself, it's skin rippling through colour hues in order to remain hidden.  Approaching teh speed of sound, the Lictor launched its flesh hooks out, and speared the last guardsman in the line, and pulled him off his feet before he could make a sound.  As the hapless troopers lasgun hit the rocky floor, the Lictor had adjusted its camouflage, and was curled around its prey, sucking his brain matter through 3 holes in his skull.  The clatter caused a pair of guardsmen to turn, and stop.  Where was their rearguard?  It looked like he had vanished into thin air!

 

"Prey meat good!  Prey lair located!"  The thought pulsed across a link, to a mind far greater, somewhere in the void.  "More prey meat available.  Following mobile prey meat."

 

With great care and skill, the Lictor shadowed the wary and nervous squad as it finished its patrol.  Upon reaching the command area at the base of the enormous dam, the Lictor hunkered down to wait a more opportune time to enter the base.  Everything it saw was relayed along the special link.  Troop movements, static weapon positions, armour capability, strange, static winged creatures that smelled like the air around the dam.  Every detail, even when it needed to sleep.

 

"SWARM ARRIVING!"  The loud 'voice' echoed inside the mind of teh drowsing Lictor.  The many mind of teh hive was with it.  "MANY HUNTERS COMING!  LARGE CONSTRUCT WILL BE DESTROYED.  SOW FEAR AND CONFUSION!  SPORES COMING IN.  FLYING CREATURE WILL BE OURS!"

 

Faster than the eye could see, the Lictor flicked it's claws out, shredding a group of soldiers who were resting on it, thinking it a rock.  Shouts and screams rose from the humans who saw this.  With a massive bound, the Lictor swept through another small group, and vanished into shadows created by the setting sun.

 

As the Lictor settled down while the terrified humans ran around looking for it, it scented familiar pheromones.  The swarm was here.  Loud, liquid noises reached the sensitive ears of the Lictor.  The sounds of flesh and chitin opening, and the bestial roars and cries of inhuman creatures.  Welcome to the scout after many days separated from teh swarm.  The need to remain concealed ended, the lictor burst through lightweight buildings, eviscerating the soft, fleshy prey creatures that stood before it.  The strange weapons they carried attempting to inflict harm on it.  Nothing worked.

 

Massive beasts the humans called Stone-Crusher Carnifexes tore their way out of pods that collapsed on impact with the ground started building up speed as they aimed themselves at the base of the dam.  Thundering fire from large metal creatures the humans liked to hide in tore holes the the broods of the smaller warrior beasts, until other, larger beasts reached them, and started tearing holes inside them.  

 

As the smoke cleared, the Stone-Crusher Carnifexes broke through the base of the dam.  As the feeder organisms approached the leak, the Lictor approached a large creature designed to take it back to the hive fleet, for either disassembly and analysis, or deployment to the next planet while this was stripped of all useful matter.

[Damo1701]

Caught them Milling:  Scenario

 

Finally, we've caught a break.  Aerial intelligence has shown us large sections of the swarm are foundering, for whatever reason, it's time to take advantage of the situation.  Dispatch squads 5 through 14, armed with anti-personnel weapons, in Valkyries.  We will hit them hard, and fast.  If we can take the fight to them, we stand a chance to get reinforcements enough to defeat the Tyranids.  This is the first in our new objective.

 

Board Size - 6'x4'

Deployment zones are 12" in from the 4' edge.  The AM player must start with all infantry embarked on the Valkyries, and the valkyries begin in reserve.

AM player has 1 squadron enter play from own table edge on turn 1 (must include platoon command squad).  Each squadron only needs to be rolled for once (not each valkyrie).

 

Special Rules:

Low altitude insertion - See Mont'Ka for rules.

 

Dense Terrain - with clearings.

 

Forces:

 

Imperial Guard - 

 

3 squadrons of 3 Valkyries

1 Valkyrie contains a Platoon Command Squad containing:

Platoon Commander (weapons extra points)

Guardsman with Vox Caster + Lasgun

One Guardsman with Heavy Flamer

One Guardsman with Medipack

two Guardsmen with flamers

 

The remaining Valkyries contain infantry squads.

Each infantry squad must be armed with a flamer and Vox caster

Each Infantry squad may take either a Commissar, Ministorum Priest, or Primaris Psyker.  These characters may not leave the units they are attached to.

 

Tyranids:

 

Special - No Mostorus or Gargantuan Creatures 

0-1 Synapse creature choice

Equal points to the AM force.

 

Objectives:

The Tyranid player must exit the AM board edge.

The AM player must prevent, or reduce the Tyranid player from escaping.

 

Win conditions:

 

Victory points

Tyranid

Each Tyranid unit that escapes through the AM table edge, is worth +1 VP

Each AM unit destroyed +1 VP

Each AM flyer destroyed/wrecked +2VP

 

AM

Each Tyranid unit destroyed is worth +1 VP 

Each AM flyer/unit that survives +1 VP

[reptilelover1995]

Very nice! I'm really liking this.

 

Right now I'm really hoping we can get the narrative for the first volume all set up - Consumption of Exsteron, Fall of Proxion, that stuff. Then we're basically all set to have it finished - only thing would be having the Imperial forces thing and the appendix part with all the maps and stuff. This is going super well!

[Teetengee]

In Defend the Dam, can't the nids win pretty easily just by using "pods" and focusing down the dam?

[Damo1701]

The moaning of wounded soldiers carried on the wind.  Mingling eerily with the utterly alien chittering, creaking, and growling of the tyranid beasts, lurking, waiting, building up forces, just out of range of teh base weaponry.  The acrid taste of burning promethium scorched the back of the survivors throats.  The occasional man or woman vomited where they stood, sighting along their battered lasguns as droplets of blood or ichor found its way into their nose or mouth.  Battered, beaten, and weary, the troops ducked in an instinctive reaction as the vulture laden with promethium fuel barrels screamed off into orbit, Barely dodging an Arvus Lighter as it made its approach.

 

"Here they come!  Fire at will!" The shout echoed down the line of nervous troops.

 

Las bolts flashed into the darkness approaching.  Cutting down the smaller, weaker termagants and hormagaunts.  Hold the line.  That was their mission.  No option to retreat.  No chance to make for orbit.  Just plunder the planet, at the cost of lives.  Every soldier knew it.  Those of a faithful disposition began to mutter hymns.  The more practical amongst them began regimental chants, limericks, ditties, or hummed favourite tunes.

 

A deafening roar opened up behind the firing troops.  The armour was adding it's weight of fire.  Punisher cannons glowing yellow in the deepening darkness as they fed the one thing they loved to fedd the Tyranids.  Death.  Heavy bolters mounted on teh tanks, as well as crew served weapons chattered.  A roaring scream sounded as the Arvus took flight, powered to full throttle, and exploded!  Burning promethium cascaded upon the hapless defenders, igniting human torches, burning holes in the Tyranid advance as syapse creature were killed, and the smaller bests attempting to get away from the falling death.

 

Taking advantage of the wavering line, the remaining armour seized the initiative and gunned their engines, pausing their guns to reload only, they pushed through the corpses before them, and advanced towards the swarm.  Emboldened by the armoured advance, the crew served weapons teams ceased fire, and displaced to maintain a line with the armour.  A vulture touched down in the opened skyshield landing pad, and slowly raised its defenses as fuel extraction commenced.

 

Seeing the success of the armour, sergeants rallied those closest to them, and organised them into ranks.  Marching forwards slowly, and carefully, the defenders started to push teh Tyranids back.  Fluidly spreading out, the order "First Rank, FIRE! Advance.  Second Rank, FIRE!  Advance." Rang against the walls they had left, and those that surrounded them.

 

Hope grew.  THey were driving the Tyranids back!  They could survive another day,  The vulture screamed away as another began landing sequences.  It touched down, hard, and kept moving.  Sliding and screaming its way along the landing pad.  Nothing was able to arrest teh stricken craft, that can in too fast, and too steep.  As if in slow motion the craft began it's crashing journey to the ground, taking emplaced weapons to the ground.  As another Vulture landed successfully several things happened at once.

 

Massive, fleshy objects began hitting the ground, the buildings, ammo dumps, an enormous explosion engulfed the base of the dam, sending cracks racing along the surface as the dead vulture came to rest in teh middle of the fuel dump for the armour.  Beyond the walls, trees came crashing down as beasts nobody had seen on planet before came racing towards the confused defenders.  Two of teh remaining five tanks vanished underneath the bulk of the fleshy objects.  Sphincters opened up, allowing the scariest creatures to be seen emerged.  Carnifexes, but different.  Huge ram-like parts jutted from their shoulders, over their heads.  Prehensile tails swinging pulped troops caught too close, or jerked armour about as if it were made of paper.

 

From the edge of the forest, more carnifexes appeared, almost skirmishing for the creatures behind them.  The vulture took off, dodging incoming felsh-pods and fire from artillery creatures as the clambered into position.  Incoming ships risked everything to retrieve the precious fuel, and make the sacrifices of their comrades worth something.  

 

Crushing the retreating Imperial vehicles beneath hooves far larger than they had a right to be, the knight-sized beasts began to vomit forth stream of some sort of fuel, until the they belched, the vibration of which caused a spark between their teeth. Again, Imperial troops found themselves covered in fire, being consumed as if there were no tomorrow, which, would be accurate for these poor souls.

 

Several types of screaming began to compete with each other.  The scream of biological creatures used as ranged weapons, the scream of engines as craft leap off the landing pad so another may take it's place, the scream of new, chitin covered pods that either impacted with such force they dug deep into teh ground, obliterated structures, or gouged huge channels in teh face of teh dam, sending large sheets of rockrete tumbling down.

 

The pods that did not implode, explode, or rupture on contact disgorged more of the battering ram Carnifexes, which ran head first at the crumbling structure.  Precious few defenders remained.  Each one engaging where they could do the most good.  The sky darkened as winged Tyranids began to fill teh air over the dam.  Large winged creatures threw themselves into it, doing considerable damage to themselves, as well as the facing.  Vultures began exploding in the air, engine intakes clogged with flesh, fuel tanks ruptured by acidic attacks. 

 

The final nail in teh coffin of the defenders came in teh form of a vulture, clearly in trouble as it spiralled out of teh sky, and collided with teh promethium heavy ship preparing to take off.  There was nowhere safe, nowhere to hide.  Tyranid or Imperial defender, scrap metal and burning promethium rained down.  The battle was ended, those Vultrues that could, returned to orbit.  The Imperium left the planet, and, with it, the Promethium reserves that could have turned the tide...

[reptilelover1995]

I like it! Only thing I'll have to change is the forest part, since on Jana there are no forests (the environment would be inhospitable to anything except for hypothetically methanogenic microorganisms, and only if they somehow could use liquid hydrocarbons as a solvent in place of water) :P

 

I also added the armored regiment part to the book - note that the big black squares are just placeholders for pictures of the actual vehicles that will go in there once I have them.

[Damo1701]

I like it! Only thing I'll have to change is the forest part, since on Jana there are no forests (the environment would be inhospitable to anything except for hypothetically methanogenic microorganisms, and only if they somehow could use liquid hydrocarbons as a solvent in place of water)

 

I also added the armored regiment part to the book - note that the big black squares are just placeholders for pictures of the actual vehicles that will go in there once I have them.

 

Stone/rock forest, tall spires of rock/glas/silicate crystal.

 

A forest doesn't just have to be trees ;) LOL

[Damo1701]

Stories of Imperial victories and defeat poured into the planetary command post.  Swarms were utterly destroyed, others steamrollered olver the defending Imperial units, in an almost embarrassing quick time.  One sector remained quiet though, either through lack of activity, or negligence.  The Lord Commissar decided to dispatch a security detail of Commisariat troops.  A techpriest would be required too, incase of malfunction.  Scribing the orders, the Lord Commissar handed the slate to an aide, and picked up the next one.

 

Engines winding down, the black Valkyries settled down on the landing pad, and allowed the discipline troops inside to exit, and form up at the entrance to the base.  There had been no challenges, no answers to requests for landing clearance or hails.  With a burst of binaric cant, the techpriest slid a mechandendrite into the override port, and the door hissed open, revealing a gloomy, misty scene, eerily quiet.  Something was wrong.  There was no challenge, no bodies, it's as though the garrison had decided to desert.

 

Slowly, the sergeants took their squads into the facility.  One, taking the techpriest towards the control room, to see if any logs could be salvaged.  The other, exploring the base for signs of the garrison.

Condensation dripped from pipes, and steam issued from cracked walls, obviously showing signs of damage or neglect.  With a fuzz on the auspex screens, returns appeared on teh small scanning devices.  However, the devices could not differentiate between friend or foe.  As is happened, the exploration squad found they were closest to one of these returns, having it sitting behind a door to the mess hall.  Taking up cover positions, covering the trooper assigned to open the door, due to lack of barricades or similar, the commissariate troops waited with baited breath.  With a clang that echoed down the corridor, the door few open and hit the wall behind it.  Too fast for thought, the breaching trooper was torn to shreds, as was his attacker.  However, the searchlights mounted under the barrels of teh details' lasguns revealed a room full of hormagaunts and genestealers.  Rapidly, the troops fell back, losing two more of their number to the flashing claws of their attackers.  Reaching a bulkhead, the sergeant managed to seal the monstrosities away, buying time for teh other squad.

 

As they approached the  control room, the number of returns on teh auspex blurred into a single mass.  The rearguard caught sight of something and paused, flashing the searchlight across the walls and floor, he could see nothing.  His world ended as he exploded after turning to catch up.  The genestealer that had been stalking along the ceiling landed with a clink of chitinous claws on teh steel floor.

 

Getting no clear returns from the Auspex, the sergeant cautiously opened the door leading to the command corridor, wishing he had brought a flamer.  As he opened the door, claws shot through the gap between door and frame, to be severed by the sword.  Falling back, the sergeant ordered continuous fire until they reached the door to the command room.  Crackling from teh vox alerted him to the exploration squad approaching from the rear, killing tyranid creatures with weight of fire.  As he reached the command room, the sergeant saw a Tyranid Warrior beast, leader of the swarm inside the base.  Ordering his corporal to protect the techpriest while it did what it needed to do to prevent any information from falling into Tyranid hands, he charged up the corridor, sword drawn, snapping shots off ant the massive best.  Swaying aside from beetle-like projectes as the Warrior organism thundered down the cramped passageway.

 

Ignoring the foetid stench emanating from the Warrior, the sergeant ducked the initial strikes from the swords, and grabbed hold of a bony plate, and used that and his sword, which was jammed between the ribs of the beasts' exoskeleton, as a lever, he swung himself right into the face of the warrior.  As claws from behind the leader-beast swung at him, the sergeant jammed his pistol into teh roaring mouth, and emptied the powerpack, causing the back of the Tyranid's head to explode outward, after turning a cooked-meat brown colour.  Satisfaction filled him, with a job well done, as he was torn to pieces by the hormagaunts clambering up the dead warrior's body, and spearing him with their claws.

 

As the remainder of the swarm approached the control room, the techpriest signaled that his task was completed.  Whatever the mysteries of the Adeptus Mechanicus were, they had saved the data from the Tyranid invasion.  Little more than half a squad of troopers remained, however, they knew they needed to return with the information they had.  Steeling themselves, the began a fighting retread, cutting their way through the smaller, less scary creatures being thrown at them.  The creatures seemed less co-ordinated since the death of the leader-beast.

 

Four hours after arrival, the two remaining guardsmen and the wounded/damaged techpriest boarded the black valkyrie, and, with the other empty, they took off, and vectored round, to return and report.

[Damo1701]

Righty, to get things back on track, let's get a list of engagements that need a "historical" piece written.  

 

Planet - 

Terrain - 

Forces - 

Winner - 

 

With those basic things, I should be able to come up with what's needed for you.  For forces, just an overview, such as Guard vs 'Nids or whatever.

 

Then, we need a number of engagements for that section of teh campaign to be "complete".

 

If we story board it, we should be able to make some progress.

[reptilelover1995]

Righty, to get things back on track, let's get a list of engagements that need a "historical" piece written.  

 

Planet - 

Terrain - 

Forces - 

Winner - 

 

With those basic things, I should be able to come up with what's needed for you.  For forces, just an overview, such as Guard vs 'Nids or whatever.

 

Then, we need a number of engagements for that section of teh campaign to be "complete".

 

If we story board it, we should be able to make some progress.

I actually included that information in the Planetary Survey sections in each volume but I'll write the basics here anyways - look to those Planetary surveys for more details on the terrain though.

 

Planet: Exsteron

Terrain: Jungle world

Forces: Astra Militarum, Tyranids

Winner: Tyranids

 

Planet: Jana:

Terrain: Analogous to Titan (modern-day, not 40k universe Titan)

Forces: Astra Militarum (I'd also be willing to expand that if people think I should, though no Astartes), Tyranids

Winner: Tyranids

 

Planet: Niae

Terrain: See Planetary Survey, varied terrain. Extremely hot

Forces: Astra Militarum, Tyranids

Winner: Tyranids

 

Planet: Rivicto

Terrain: See Planetary Survey for details

Forces: Emerald Serpents Astartes Chapter, Tyranids

Winner: Tyranids

[Damo1701]

 

-snip-

 

Planet: Exsteron

Terrain: Jungle world

Forces: Astra Militarum, Tyranids

Winner: Tyranids

 

Planet: Jana:

Terrain: Analogous to Titan (modern-day, not 40k universe Titan)

Forces: Astra Militarum (I'd also be willing to expand that if people think I should, though no Astartes), Tyranids

Winner: Tyranids

 

Planet: Niae

Terrain: See Planetary Survey, varied terrain. Extremely hot

Forces: Astra Militarum, Tyranids

Winner: Tyranids

 

Planet: Rivicto

Terrain: See Planetary Survey for details

Forces: Emerald Serpents Astartes Chapter, Tyranids

Winner: Tyranids

 

 

Yellow - Confirmed Scenarios and storyline until the final scenario.  Narrative - Communication log.

 

Realistically, from this point, I feel the cluster/sector would be aware that there was trouble approaching, and military might would be bought to bear, defenses increased, and the Astartes alerted to a threat.  End volume 1 at this point, or, pull over to Niae.  

 

Reason for attacking Niae? - Next in line?  Genestealer cult gained power and the Patriarch/Broodlord pulls the hive towards the planet?

 

Red - No confirmed scenarios or storyline as yet.  Ideas as posted in thread.

 

All correct currently?

[reptilelover1995]

The reason they're attacking Niae is because Jana and Niae are in the same system. My idea is that while the Hive Fleet is generally moving as a single unit from system to system, it attacks Niae and Jana at the same time, so that they don't give one planet tons of time to prepare while they devour the other.

 

What you've got there is accurate, though some of the details of Rivicto are clear, namely that there is gonna be a big attack on the Fortress-Monastery, just because I love the cinematic idea that holds (space marines on top of a massive mountain, trying to fend off massive amounts of gribbly Tyranid beasties). I also will be coming up with some sort of crunch way to represent the solar flares, but that's gonna come much later.

[Damo1701]

Alert sirens sounded, heavy armour pieces revved their engines, the scream of valkyrie and vulture engines rose in volume, the tramp of booted feet pounding the rock and splashing though puddles reached teh tip of a building crescendo.  Commissar Vinchenkov surveyed the Imperial forces racing to their defensive positions with speed and alacrity.  Only those few wounded and recovered in previous engagements were not at their positions.  However, they were behind some sandbags around the command post.  The last defense should all else fail.  Ahead of them, in the weird mist generated by the promethium rich planet, the swarm of creatures made out of nightmare readied themselves of what was to come.

 

Vinchenkov pressed a button on the command wand, and a series of servitor recorders began recording.  If they were to fall, then some record of their deeds would remain.  He was under the impression reinforcements would arrive, the only variable was when.  Munitorum boys were scurrying around teh defensive hardpoints, lubricating automated units, and placing buckets of water and boxes of ammunition near groups of soldiers.  each boy carried a small calibre pistol.  Not expected to fight, but given something to allow them to defend themselves.  One boy made the mistake of looking over the trench wall, and immediately wet himself, the troops around him said nothing.  They had seen older men do the same when confronted by this particular enemy.  Maybe they had even done it themselves.

 

With an ear-splitting, alien roar, the Tyranids began to move.  Autocannons and heavy bolters began to chatter as their crews played the fire over the approaching xenos.  They large Carnifex beasts shrugging off the worst of the fire.  The occasional lucky shot emptying a head over the beasts behind a falling Screamer gave a surge of pride to both gun crews and waiting soldiers of the Emperor.  Loaders arguing over which team claims kills in an attempt to disperse tension.  Ammo is running down fast.  The zone around the weapons teams begins to heat up, jackets are removed.  The munition runners were working in pairs now to bring the feed for the loud, concussive weapons that, through weight of fire, began felling the heavily armoured Tyranids.  Joining the heavy weapons, the automated turrets began to spool up and fire in bursts, their simple servitor brains recognising the approaching signatures as a threat.  One malfunctions - Killing the squad covering it, and damaging a pair of sentinel walkers until the third sentinel destroys it.  

 

Noise level reaches critical for the human defenders as the bulk of the infantry opens up, automatic weapons churning through the smaller beasts that are scurrying around the vanguard creatures.  Screams and acid from above announce the arrival of the gargoyle broods.   They don't last long.  Hydra weapons fire shreds the small flying gaunts with ease, their weapons designed to knock armoured air craft out of the sky.

 

The Tyranids reply with the weird weapons grafted to their bodies.  Beetles fly towards the guardsmen, felling a handful with each volley.  Larger leader beasts, generally classed as Tyranid Warriors approach the defenses with their horned swords and writhing whips swinging out to grab the unwary.  A shrill whistle sounds three times.  The guardsmen throw themselves to teh floor, arms covering heads.  The Leman Russ Exterminators open fire, spewing shells into the biological horde.  Weapons glowing white, the armour ceases fire, and the infantry regain their feet in order to cover the vehicles.

 

There is little need.  A single heat source remained, at the rear of the attacking Tyranid position.  With a scream to the sky, the Hive Tyrant unfurls its enormous wings, and takes flight.  Escaping before the Hydras can track it to knock it down.

 

Vinchenkov oversees the aftermath, talking quietly into his microbead.  The Tyranids have counted their guns, and will return.  This was no attack meant to succeed.  

[reptilelover1995]

I like it! That is the perfect base for the first wave against the dam. I'll be adding it in after I've got a narrative for the first assault against the perimeter of the Primaris facility - I just need to avoid getting myself confused by placing two non-consecutive narratives in lol :p

[Damo1701]

Tyranid Formations:

 

Skybrood

 

1-3 Harpies

3-5 units of Gargoyles

 

Restrictions

None

 

Special Rules:

 

Sky Spawn - After the Harpies have made their first move after entering the table, you may place the units of gargoyles up to 6" away from the harpies.  All models count as swooping this turn

 

Strike and scare

As long as there are three harpies alive in this formation, they may make a single special attack.  Roll a D6 for each enemy unit the Harpies pass over during their movement phase.  On the roll of a 5 or 6, the unit is swept up by the Harpies, and dropped where they finish their movement.  The dropped unit suffers an equal number of S10 AP3 hits as it has models.  This does not affect models with the super heavy rule.  Any unit that has models dropped by this rule on to it must pass an initiative test or suffer an equal number of S6 AP5 hits as models covered by the Blast template.

 

Gargoyle Refill

 

Should the harpies enter ongoing reserve, they will refill with gargoyles, and may deploy more when they return.