The Calgar Experiment Game: Not Really a Batrep 1850

[Prot]

So this really isn't a batrep. I was trying to do something new for my Ultra's because as I have said recently, I do feel like I've played just about everything combination wise, from the recent codex, and most of the Kauyon formations (including the Talon Strike Force)

Well I admit having trouble being motivated to actually create something new because I confess to playing in a fairly competitive environment and for lack of better terms, playing too fluffy can make for an old school beating if I'm not careful.

That being said I had a chance to get a few games in this week with some people that were playing fairly 'tame' 40K lists. I had no idea what I would play, but we decided on Maelstrom and I ended up facing Tau! A high source of protein, and Omega 3 fats!

Tau is the smart heart food of Astartes choice, but let's be honest, they do have our number.

The idea here was to get Calgar in a game, and find some motivation to finish painting him and his squad of Honour Guard. They were basically crammed into a pod with Calgar, and I had decided on a basic Demi Co Gladius, with 1st Co, which seemed like it would synergize fairly well with the other pods, and specialized ammo. Calgar is slow, but I thought if I created the proper honey pot, he'd have to gut the 1st Co which was comprised of Melta Sternguard in a Pod, and Plasma/Hvy Flamer Sternguard in another pod. Finally a squad of modestly equipped Vanguard comprised the third squad of 1st Co. (I've been pleasantly surprised with them in low end games.)

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So the actual Maelstrom Game is secondary in this post. Really I just wanted to get Calgar in this game. But that being said I did get first turn, and the Tau stole the initiative!

I was taking it all game because my podding units just had so much trouble getting involved in the fight as he deployed tightly packed and used those walls for cover. However, the deny cover rounds were very, very helpful here and he was playing a 'light' Tau list so no interceptor.

I was dying something miserable.... eventually I was realizing I'm finished, but have to try to wrench the mission points in my favour before getting tabled.

In Turn 3 Calgar Finally comes in!

+ Here a Headless Calgar decides to plop down.+

- I tried to keep his best stuff occupied but you can see I'm seriously dwindled down with the superior movement and shootiness of the Tau.

- Calgar did nestle in nicely behind a giant rock formation (just out of the picture) far away from a Breacher squad, and closer to the Kroot and close enough to his lines to attempt a charge next turn.

- I try to stomach as much firepower as he can muster, but my Vanguard do a decent job of keeping him worried about the opposite flank. Of course I use FnP for Calgar, but the Honour Guard take a very typical, but MASSIVE volley of fire power from Tau.

+ Down to 2 wounds, and 2 Honour Guard, Calgar is glad he left his head at home. +

- The Tau HQ had been failing reserves, but of course on the top of 4 they auto come in. His Commander puts more wounds into the squad, and it's apparent I'll be lucky to keep Calgar alive long enough to screw his head back on.

- I assault with the Sarge in the back to save Calgar from Overwatch. So the Sarge takes the overwatch like a boss and dies (you gotta love middle management tactics). And Calgar.... rolls snake eyes for the assault.

- Officially Calgar is hammered by so many breacher shots as a result, he is fantastically dead. Never a chance. At the end of Turn 4 I have so little left on the table I offer to concede. But I know my opponent is probably relishing this moment, and I tell him I will try to make a game of it.

- I had a hole to overcome if I was to make a game of this because in my opening turn I got zilch, and my opponent had First Blood, now Slay the Warlord, then of course he's also leading on Maelstrom.

- To my credit I looked at what was plausible, and used the last of my Vanguard to the best of my ability, and the last 2 Grav Cannons I had on the table finally paid off and I killed two Battle suits with them, and depleted a Breacher squad, but my fear tests never bloody worked. I was still almost tabled, however, I took the lead with a fantastic turn but by 1 point.

- My opponent has his Turn 5, and I deny him a few points he could have had, and he settles for one Maelstrom point and we add them up, and it appears I am winning by 1 measily point, and somehow I'm not quite tabled yet (I have pods on the table and 4 tacticle marines and one Grav Dev!)

So I tell my opponent to roll for the game to end simply because I'm winning by one point, and if it ends here, he can't catch up and I see a point I can get.... he rolls a 2, and I completely and utterly steal a victory I had written off in turn 3.

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- In the end Calgar is going back in the box. I find utterly no advantage to using Honour Guard over Assault Centurions, and would not recommend them in anything above a 'fun' game. It's okay to be slow, but to have no real ranged punch as well in this era of uber shooty, dodgy armies, I personally think they are a little too inefficient for me. But as they say, your mileage may vary. :)

[True Blue Marine]

Wow!!! Excellent battle. Ultras do find a way to win. I've been in matches like yours before and believe me, its's a discouraging way to win. I agree with you on Calgar and the HG. I have absolutely have no use for them in any of my games. I use a Chapter Master with Shield Eternal ,TH, bike and Artificer Armor and still comes out cheaper than Calgar. It sucks because i remember a time when they use to be used a lot in games. Now, 1st company, Supression Force, and Librarius Conclave are my favorite to add in almost any army i build. Good win Prot

[Prot]

Wow!!! Excellent battle. Ultras do find a way to win. I've been in matches like yours before and believe me, its's a discouraging way to win. I agree with you on Calgar and the HG. I have absolutely have no use for them in any of my games. I use a Chapter Master with Shield Eternal ,TH, bike and Artificer Armor and still comes out cheaper than Calgar. It sucks because i remember a time when they use to be used a lot in games. Now, 1st company, Supression Force, and Librarius Conclave are my favorite to add in almost any army i build. Good win Prot

 

Thanks. That's very kind of you. My signature has a link to my Ultra thread, and there are a lot more in depth Batreps there, often in a slightly more competitive environment.

 

This was a one off because I wanted to do this test. But yea, the generic captain with toys is definitely the way to go.

 

For fun games I love 1st Co and I often pair it with LibCon for some pretty fun stuff. Suppression force is fun too, but I probably wouldn't take it to something extremely competitive. It's nice and cheap though. :)

 

I am gearing up my Battle Co for more serious games, I just wanted to try this for fun. Thanks for checking it out.

[phoenix01]

It's no wonder Calgar didn't do well on the table: how can he see what he's doing with no head? And the rule of Painted Minis applies too..

[markham82]

Did you get some chips with that?

 

I've had the same happen with me, also against tau. My opponent and I both believed I had lost until we tallied the points and it turns out I won by 1 point, the only difference being it was the first game I won ever so I was over the moon.

[derLumpi]

You know, Prot, your battle reports are pretty intense. I can almost see you standing there at the table thinking about what to do next. How to turn a certain defeat into an (almost) glorious victory.

 

Awesome job! :)

[Prot]

It's no wonder Calgar didn't do well on the table: how can he see what he's doing with no head? And the rule of Painted Minis applies too..

Good call on the no paint. I should have known. ;)

Actually when I see headless figs, I usually call the 'where is everyone' rule and do a D6 + scatter to see if the figure in question can figure out where the action is. :D (true story)

I rarely, rarely play with stuff that isn't at least put together 100% but painting characters I take my time on, and I can't finish this guy, and this game illustrates why.

Did you get some chips with that?

I've had the same happen with me, also against tau. My opponent and I both believed I had lost until we tallied the points and it turns out I won by 1 point, the only difference being it was the first game I won ever so I was over the moon.

- Yea I haven't batrepped most of my Ultramarine games lately but this has happened to me twice very recently. (I made a goofy 10th company based Demi Glad list) and I was going to concede on T4 and ended up winning by one point.

90% of my Ultra wins against very good players are simply the result of surviving with ObSec and trying not to die.

You know, Prot, your battle reports are pretty intense. I can almost see you standing there at the table thinking about what to do next. How to turn a certain defeat into an (almost) glorious victory.

Awesome job!

That's kind to say but it's a pretty light batrep. :) I'm glad you get some entertainment out of them!