New League new blog

[Galron]

I have joined my first Crusade league. I had other plans but once they put out the balance slate I decided it was a good time to bring out my 555th Praetorian Queen's Light Rifles Regiment. I built most of this army back in 8th and have only played it once in 9th versus Custodes which rocked it. 

My first game is Saturday versus a Traitor Guard army and I have no clue what to expect and we are playing at 500 points

 

My list consists of the custom traits of Disciplined Shooters and Wilderness Survivors. I was taking these anyway but it helps that the first planet I am fighting on is a Jungle planet and all cover counts as dense cover. 

 

Col. Lazarus Sharpe

company commander- 1RP for Laurals of command

company commander-no name yet

 

5 Infantry squads with plasma and lascannon + vox, sgt with powersword and plasma pistol

 

Platoon commander

 

2 Heavy weapon Mortar squads

 

Ug, paperwork with this army is going to be a headache

[WarriorFish]

Don't forget pictures when you report back, good luck! :tu:

[Slave to Darkness]

 

Col.  Sharpe

 

If the enemy commander talks into his hat just to chat with his mother be worried. That Obadiah is a slippery sod. 

[Galron]

So my first game was against a guy who had already had 3 games prior so I started with 9 CP. He was a traitor guard player. Kind of hodgepodged and all his Imperial keywords are simply changed to chaos. He is using cadians and all the new toys in whatever book has them. Kind of silly that only cadians got all this new crap and not anyone else. Grrr

 

Anyway, he had a spiffy commander with traits and exp, an infantry squad equipped exactly like mine, 20 conscript white shields, 10 vets with some skill, and a Door Knocker Cannon and 3 heavy flamer equipped Leman Russ commander with a 4+ invul from the crusade relic. Yeah, he had 13 Crusade points.

 

We played Supply Drop, all three objectives were acoss the middle of the board in no mans land. For some reason he put the LR in reserve. I set two squads and one commander in each corner, one in the center with both mortar squads and the 1st sgt in the middle middle mostly out of LOS.

 

I got first turn. I did not do too much damage actually. He somehow worked the hell out of his armor saves and lost 6 total conscripts to mortars, like 4 vets to my corner dudes and 4 or so dudes to his infantry squad in the other corner. BUT he wiffed the hell out of his morale saves except for the conscripts. His vets failed and then lost 4 more guys to attrition leaving only the sgt. His other infantry squad didnt do much better leaving only the sgt and plasma guy. His T1: He used some sort of strat to make his white shields advance and then act as if stationary. They then first rank fire, second rank fire and killed a few dudes in my far left squad. His commander moved into a corner out of sight(but not from my mortars....)

 

My T2: Mortars all fire at the commander while the loaders forget about loading and shoot the 2 man infantry squads. So they do in fact manage to kill both. The center and two left squads first rank fire/second rank fire and somehow manage to still leave 5 guys standing from the conscripts. The other two squads kill off the last vet. Two squads charge the 5 conscripts and STILL just barely manage to kill the 5 remaining conscripts. Two regular infantry squads at almost full strength BARELY kill 5 conscripts, as in he managed to roll all but 5 saves. His T2: So despite wiping out his whole army that was on the board, apparently in 9th it doesnt mean the game is done. So he rolls his tank on which promptly kills a mortar squad and gets 14 wounds on an infantry squad who fail exactly 10 saves.

 

My T3: So everything that can closes to 18" or less. It literally takes until the last unit left to fire to finish off the tank.

 

No battle scars for the 2 wiped out units, he ended up with them for both the vets and the conscripts.

 

So my team took that planet and one of my other teammates takes down a tau player to take that planet. Now we need our third attacker to take the center. So far neither of our defenders have played their games. I am going to knock out a few no consequence exp games to buff up my guys a bit since this game did jack for their exp.

 

Problems I see are I have so many units and will have so many units in the future that my exp is going to be stretched thin and my warlord characters are never going to be badasses at 1 exp a game since they stand back and order things.

 

Any suggestions on how I can get better exp than one or two a game for my units? I gave the MVP award to one of my mortar squads. I think I remember a battle trait that gives them -1ap on their shots.

[WarriorFish]

I've not played Crusade yet so I can't offer detailed help unfortunately, I think it's probably worth aiming for boons to your better units. An Infantry Squad isn't going to get much chance to prosper or utility from them especially when you get to larger games.

[Galron]

Thats kind of why I was leaning towards my heavy weapons teams since they will be doing a lot of work. When we go up to 1k I add 3 heavy mortars, a vet squad with plasma and a squad or two of regulars.

[Galron]

The camp was quiet and sleepy early in the morning. A light breeze ruffled the heavy large gold trimmed red, white and blue jack with the gold thread eagle embroidered on it. A trumpeter blew a tune on his brass horn signalling stand to. Most men simply sat up against the make shift barricades they had set up the night before and immediately checked their weapons first before sliding on no longer shined black boots. The guard squad was already dressed and manning the upper deck in some ruins that formed part of their temporary encampment. 

 

After their battle with the traitor forces several days earlier, long range patrols in force like these had become standard as they tried to root out the forces of chaos from this world and sector. 

 

"Oi! I always hate these rusty pieces of terrain that always seem to be around." Private Jenkins of third squad complained to Private Hornady next to him.

 

"You are always complaining about it. Didnt you grow up in rusty ruins like this in that hive hovel you are from?"

 

"T-right but I joined the regiment to go see the galaxy, you know, different planets, different biomes. But its always the same, even when we get to fight in the jungle, for some reason its always flat open desert and rusty ruined buildings, right?" He explained, "For once I would like to be assigned, you know, to a lovely quaint village with a bubbling brook running through it or maybe get to sit in nice non-rusty defensive positions guarding some beach."

 

"Piff, you know that is not ever going to happen. Just get used to it. What you want is in another entire system and will never be for the likes of us."

 

From a slightly higher vantage point actually paying attention to their assigned sector of fire, Sgt. Loxley put down his binoculars and grabbed the hand set from their vox operator. "Can it you two, we have action."

 

He then spoke into the hand set, "Mortars, FIRE MISSION!" He looked down at his map to figure out the prearranged point of reference nearest to what he was looking at.

 

Jenkins looked over the ramparts of the platform and in the distance saw a group of black armored troops sprinting across the field. Behind them stood a giant walking monstrosity with a massive gun on one arm and a glowing claw on the other. Riding along side them on a bike was a black armored giant with a skull mask. 

 

4th squad, on the ground below them, was still getting their gear on when the giant walker appeared to explode as it unleashed a deadly volley of fire. Men were blown apart by explosive bolt rounds while limbs were thrown in the air, torn off of bodies by the walker's missiles. Plasma incinerated three men before they had time to scream. 

 

"MORTARS, FIRE MISSION! GRID REFERENCE DELTA 3. FIRE FOR EFFECT!" The sergeant yelled. 

 

1st Lieutenant came scrambling up the makeshift ladder to get a view on things and start directing the fight. Immediately ordering the remainder of 4th and 3rd to bring that thing down. Despite being shaken by events, the lascannon gunner who somehow escaped the incoming fire managed to fire and hit the dreadnought at the same time as Private Jenkins fired his own. Both aiming at center of mass as they were trained. Miraculously the powerful blasts simply washed over the lumbering black and white machine without even marring the paint. Lasgun and blue pulses of plasma lanced out at the machine but failed to damage its thick armor.

 

On the other end of the encampment loud cracks with accompanying concussive waves came from the mortar pits behind an L-shaped ruin. The squad on top of the ruin cringed as the round flew past them from behind. The rounds landed behind a tall building where unknown to the gunners, the squad of marines had taken cover. 

 

In the center of camp, Captain Sharpe ran out of his white canvas tent buckling on his power sabre and organized the middle defense line. "Alright men, when these traitor bastards come out from around the building, lets give them what for! FOR PREATORIA!" 

 

The assembled two squads of men and the squad on the upper level responded with a hardy "HUZZAH! HUZZAH! HUZZAH!" The trumpeter blew the assemble fire lines command as the waited for the enemy to come into sight.

 

From around the building the marine on a bike with the skull mask, wielding a huge mace in the shape of a golden eagle, with an Aquila emblazoned on his chest plate sped out on a bee-line to 4th squad. Nine black armored marines with white shoulders painted with a black cross, buzzing chain swords and heavy pistols came sprinting out from behind the building towards the center line. 

 

The dreadnought however stood still, seemingly wary of the multitude of lascannons it was facing, and fired on third squad. "Oh, bloody hell! Get Down!" Sgt. Loxley yelled as he dove to the floor. Jenkins and his loader along with most of the squad ducked behind their makeshift barricades and only some of the slower men were hit by the mass of fire that devastated their shelter. 

 

The Chaplain sped into 4th squad with his golden crozius held high before sweeping into the guardsmen there. A spray of blood painted the wall behind them as none were left standing by this skull masked avatar of destruction.

 

Looking down at what could only be a lord of the blood god himself, the lieutenant rallied his men. "At that man! First rank fire! Second rank Fire!" Discipline volleys of lasfire rained down on the chaplain several of which pierced his heavy black armor. Plasma bolts burned gaping holes into the armor and melted the flesh under it. Jenkins lifted the rear of his lascannon up and fired directly into the chest of the man penetrating the armor as well. Despite being hit by enough fire power to destroy a tank, somehow the man stayed functional despite being knocked off his bike and barely managing to stay on his feet. That would change as the LT called for fire from the mortars. After all the explosions, the only thing Jenkins heard from the officer behind him was "Dont screw this up master sergeant, danger close!"

 

He once again threw himself to the ground as the ground rumbled and concussive blasts made him go airborne several times as he bounced on the rusty metal surface with his loader. When the rounds stopped falling, he peaked of the ramparts and saw a large imperfect crater with a few pieces of mangled bike lying around it. He looked back at the company executive officer and saw he was standing and wiping the dust off his pristine uniform, he looked over and saw Jenkins and the squad lying on the ground still. "Well? You lads going to go on holiday or get back in the fight?" He looked over at Jenkins who was about to answer, "Its supposed to be rhetorical, Jenkins. Get on your gun, its time to finish this!" 

 

In the center, the Preatorian guardsmen formed two long lines facing the charging black marines. "Volley Fire by ranks!" Captain Sharpe ordered waving his curved power sabre at the incoming enemy. "First rank, FIRE!" The front line took a knee fired their various lasgun and plasma weapons causing several marines to fall. "Second rank, FIRE!" The second rank remained standing and fired their rifles at the incoming marines dropping a couple more. "Third rank, FIRE!" From the heights behind and above them, the third squad volley fired. At the end three marines, one dragging an injured leg kept charging mindlessly forward and impacted the front rank of guardsmen and tore through them like a buzz saw although it wasnt completely one sided as the sergeant with his dying breath impaled a black armored marine on his power sword. The lascannon team was far enough back that they were not involved with the combat and fell back beside the Captain. 

 

The dreadnought finally came out into the open and fired up 3rd squad again. Only Jenkins and Smith, the plasma gunner were not lying injured on the ground. The LT came up to Jenkins, "get back in the fight, son! You have a dreadnought to kill."

 

The force on the center and right flanks looked at the two remaining marines who stood defiant and opened fire in a blaze of lasfire and boom of far too close mortars. When the smoke cleared two blackened hulks remained.  

 

Its loudspeakers roaring with rage, the dreadnought charged forward, guns blazing. The remaining full strength squad in the center was left with Corporal Trotsky, the plasma gunner, who quickly ran up to the corner of a building and inflicted several smoking holes on the armor of the dreadnought. Every other weapon in the force turned their guns on the giant brute. Lasfire burned holes, repeated mortar rounds cracked the flat plates of its torso. Finally Jenkins drew a bead on the head of the beast with his lascannon and pressed the trigger. The super high powered beam of light impacted perfectly on the stylized marine helm and burned through and into the sarcophagi and the entombed marine within it. The multi-ton walking monster creaked and slowly fell forward, impacting the ground with a loud boom and crunch. 

 

The battlefield was silent, with just the fluttering of their unit flag in the light breeze. 

 

Jenkins lifted his head from the sights at a touch to his shoulder. The XO stood there with a cigar in the corner of his mouth. "Good shot, Corporal" He handed down an unlit cigar to the trooper. "Good shot."

 

************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

Was a fun 500 point exp game that didnt count for anything. Got real worried when I first saw the list but for some reason he was less aggressive than I would have been so I was able to pick them off one at a time. Initially the redemptor dread was just shrugging off plasma and lascannon fire. He literally couldnt fail to not roll 5+s over and over. literally 3 turns of heavy fire where I was in fact hitting and wounding. Same couldnt be said for his chaplain who took 4 wounds to lasfire, 2 to an over charged plasma gun and 1 to a lascannon(I already burned my cp reroll), all from a depleted guard squad that simply FRFSRF'd and that was with his 4++ and 5+++. Then the miracles ended and it took 6 mortars, concentrate fire, and reroll 1s to hit to inflict the 1 wound I needed to kill him. My opponent had a beautifully painted Black Templar army and we were playing Assassinate. He failed to kill my WL since I had quite a few dudes to throw in front of him. 

 

I ended up with both mortar squads getting battle honors so they now innately reroll 1s to hit, so now my LT will be giving them reroll 1s to wound orders. 

Edited May 2, 2022 by Galron

[duz_]

Great write up! But where's the pictures? :( Edited May 2, 2022 by duz_

[Galron]

I forgot to take pictures. One day I will figure out how to post them on here....been saying that for awhile :P

[Galron]

"Those things have too many arms to be human, shoot them!"

"Hey, those bikes over there, shoot them!" 

"Auspex says there is a target behind that building. Mortars!, Fire Mission!"

"its charging right for us! Everyone throw your grenades!"

 

I would write up my most recent game but the above 4 sentences pretty much sum it up. I played against a genestealer Cult. My last game of 500 points for this league, now we go to 1k. The GSC player was new, made the mistake of deep striking several units which once again allowed me to pick each one off. I got first round and killed 10 genestealers(although he managed to fail 8 out of 11 4++ armor saves from lasguns). I then blew away his 4 jackels, who were in cover even with the -1 to hit. Then my mortars fired up his patriarch hiding behind a building and did 4 wounds to him. On his turn he charged an infantry squad. Finally, for the first time since 8th edition I got to use my grenadiers strat and rolled 38 dice for overwatch and did exactly the 3 wounds I needed to kill it. Next turn some dudes with hand flamers and a kelermorph dropped in. He shot the gun slinger at my non-warlord company commander who managed to save 3 of 4 wrymtongue rounds on his refractor field. The flamers killed 4 dudes in an infantry squad which allowed me to remove enough so he couldnt even declare a charge. The next turn I simply hosed his guys down. He popped the shoot when he dies strat on the kelermorph and he tried to kill my officer again and got a single wound which refractor field saved. 5++ for the win!

 

So yeah, I didnt lose a single unit. I did actually move quite a bit this game with only the mortars remaining in place and I took all three objectives so it wasnt straight gunline. with my 18" rapid fire I am actually incentivized to use my infantry as maneuver units  since most enemies do not have an 18" charge range.

[WarriorFish]

The Emperor looks after His own ;) Wins are always wins, though the game does change across point values so at larger points you will likely find it harder to get such good results. Though with your luck who knows? :lol:

[Galron]

Oh I am aware. The benefit of this is that this is crusade which means people are stuck with what they are stuck with and tailoring to fight one opponent could screw you in later games. My biggest fear is what Mordian Glory ran into during his first tournament game, a mass fire army that can just pour on the pain. If I am against most general armies I should do ok. I am so tempted to bring tanks when I get towards the 2k point. Was thinking 4 leman russes might be useful.

 

EDIT: I went through points and decided instead of Leman Russes my final 2k will be 12 squads, CCx3, commissar, platoon cmdr, vet squad with three meltas. Then 3 mortar squads(2 of which already rr1s to hit on their own), 3 heavy mortars, 3 medusa carriages, and finally 2 Colossus seige bombards.

 

Is it the most efficient? No. but in a meta where opponents are not allowed to tailor with quite a few newish players, I just love all the artillery that isnt manticors or basilisks. As it is I have to go and add some small piping to my current medusa siege tanks to do a simple conversion to make them basilisks. Grrr.If it wasnt for not having used my Colossi in about 6 years I might jump them ahead in the queue.

Edited May 8, 2022 by Galron

[WarriorFish]

I've always enjoyed playing smaller games and recommend them as there's no better way to learn the army as their strengths and weaknesses are front and centre, it also gives more opportunity to codices that are behind the curve as there's less room for meaner things to turn up. You've got the right idea to plan for additions to help tackle these meaner things as well as playing the meta - a useful skill normally but all the more so with an older codex :lol:

 

It'll be a good thing to introduce new players to as well, show them the game comes in many forms :) Some cooler than others as not much can beat an artillery list arranged for war :tu:

[The Pounder]

Oh I am aware. The benefit of this is that this is crusade which means people are stuck with what they are stuck with and tailoring to fight one opponent could screw you in later games. My biggest fear is what Mordian Glory ran into during his first tournament game, a mass fire army that can just pour on the pain. If I am against most general armies I should do ok. I am so tempted to bring tanks when I get towards the 2k point. Was thinking 4 leman russes might be useful.

 

EDIT: I went through points and decided instead of Leman Russes my final 2k will be 12 squads, CCx3, commissar, platoon cmdr, vet squad with three meltas. Then 3 mortar squads(2 of which already rr1s to hit on their own), 3 heavy mortars, 3 medusa carriages, and finally 2 Colossus seige bombards.

 

Is it the most efficient? No. but in a meta where opponents are not allowed to tailor with quite a few newish players, I just love all the artillery that isnt manticors or basilisks. As it is I have to go and add some small piping to my current medusa siege tanks to do a simple conversion to make them basilisks. Grrr.If it wasnt for not having used my Colossi in about 6 years I might jump them ahead in the queue.

 

A man after my own heart! I just love my artillery!

 

Got any pics of yours yet? Sounds like you’ve got a great collection.

[Galron]

The camp stretched for miles. Main rutted roads arcing out like spokes on a wheel from the central command HQ in the center. At various locations along these spokes sat regimental camps from different units of the Imperial Guard. The individual regiments various attitudes reflected greatly on how their camps appeared. Some units from more feral or less disciplined worlds were ramshackle affairs. Groups of tents here and there. At the edge of camp lay the Attilian regiment, theirs in neat clusters of yurts with individual corrals for their long haired horses. The Elysian camp were orderly rows of olive green two man tents, low to the ground which would have blended in well with the grassy plains if there was still green grass left. The Preatorian camp stretched a good distance. It consisted of row upon row of white canvas tents, each big enough for half a squad with platoons in a row and company roads divided the different units of the regiment.

 

In the distance a trumpeter played a tune signaling it was tea time. There was a loud roar as a bulk transport ship lifted from the makeshift space port several miles from the camp. A  chugging engine and the squeak of dusty bushings announced the arrival of several lorries. 

 

Captain Sharpe sat at his wooden desk, a pile of papers in front of him.. He heard the crunch of boots on dry grass approaching and his guard outside the tent coming to attention. He heard a slight tap on the tent poles on either side of the door flap of the tent. "Sir, First Sergeant Krael to see you, sir!"

 

"Enter!"

 

The Captain sat up in his chair as the grizzled veteran sergeant with brilliant reddish orange muttonchops entered the tent with a bundle of papers under his left arm and stood at the front of his desk and saluted. "Top of the morning to you, sir!" 

 

"Good morning to you too, Top." the captain said reaching into a drawer and pulling out his pipe and a tin of tobacco. "Have a seat, you are just in time for tea."

 

"Oh, jolly good sir." The captain filled his pipe and pushed the tin over to the sergeant who pulled out his own elaborate pipe and filled it. 

 

As if by magic, the captain's orderly appeared with a tray with a pot of tea and two cups and began serving the two soldiers.

 

"What do you hear from regiment?" the Captain asked. As in all cases in the military, the NCO corps tends to spread word about events and going ons faster than official channels and usually with better detail.

 

"Well I have heard we are getting ready to move out. We should be getting a FRAGO any time now, in fact it might be in these missives here." He said taking a puff and pulling a small flask from his crimson jacket and pouring a small bit into his tea and holding it out to the captain.

 

'No thanks, please continue."

 

"Well regiment finally is sorting out the incoming personnel and the absolute Fuster Cluck of a deployment from the bulk transports from when we arrived. And on that note, part of our long lost second platoon came with me. They had been over with third battalion on the far side all this time and no one would listen to their squad leaders so they had been posting someone at regimental HQ to look for one of us. Third didnt want to give them up so they snuck out and met my lorry behind their camp."

 

"Thats very good to get them back in the fold. Also, fresh from Repple Depple is a Lieutenant Hacklock, he has been assigned to us as our weapons platoon leader and is right outside."

 

"Lieutenant Hacklock, you can enter."

 

A sharply dressed officer entered the tent and walked to the desk. "Lieutenant Ryan Hacklock reporting for duty, sir."

 

"Very good, LT." The captain said returning the salute without getting up. "Your accent, you are not from Victoria Hive are you?"

 

"Nay, sir," he answered, "I am from Harlech Hive."

 

"Oh bloody hell, if you sing that damn song...."

 

"But I am a very good tenor, sir." He said with a wry smile. "I also come bearing gifts."

 

"Oh?" The captain said, "I am supposed to be wary of fresh lieutenants bearing gifts. What did you bring?"

 

"I wrangled a battery of heavy mortars from regiment. They are from Harlech Hive as well."

 

"Well that is good news then, just be sure they keep their hands in their own pockets. I have two very good mortar squads assigned at this time who will go under your command, I assume you know how to command them?"

 

"Aye sir, I specialized in heavy weapon operations and cross trained with artillery." The young officer said proudly.

 

"The surprises never cease." He looked over at his First Sergeant who was reading one of the papers in his bundle and appeared to be grinding his teeth. "Problem, Top?"

 

The senior NCO passed over the paper. Sharpe read it. "Well LT, your timing is perfect, dont unpack. We have our orders. We are boarding a bulk transport tomorrow. Strike the camp. And first sergeant, see if you can wrangle some cold weather gear for the company, we are going to need it."

*************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

I have been collecting guard for years. I can field everything from a full mechanized infantry company to this all infantry Praetorians. I also have a full Elysian army with all their support vehicles, a leman russ company, a heavy platoon of macharius tanks and a slow grow Krieg army. Guard is the only army I own that I havent sold off over the decades. Have had 5 tau armies, multiple chaos and loyalist marine armies, dark eldar, orks and so on. Eventually i sell them off. 

 

In the campaign we put in our attack declarations last night. Only one of my team's planets is getting attacked and we are launching three attacks. One to recapture our Mustafar planet which we lost in round one. Our White Scars player is defending our new water world from Grey Knights. Our tyranid player is assaulting the blue team's capital planet which is a fungal world and will likely be defended by an experienced Death Guard player. I will be attacking an artic world also belonging to blue which is also being attacked by red team. No clue who red is sending or who Blue is defending with and whether it will be a three way game or we each fight out one on ones. I will out number them though :)

[Galron]

The large ships emerged from the warp in a bright flashes of coruscating energy, rainbow tendrils wafting off into the starry blackness as the fleet emerged in real space. The were immediately greeted by lances of energy from the waiting Death Guard fleet. Giant vessels died as the vanguard desperately tried to raise shields. Volleys of torpedoes crossed between them each heading for the others. Flashes lit the blackness as reactors overloaded or lost containment and exploded.

 

On the other side of the target world, through a break in the warp that the navigators discovered emerged a larger fleet of Imperial ships, both battleships and  bulk transports who emerged from the warp engines blazing. Hedging their bets however, the Death Guard had stationed a smaller picket fleet of larger slower ships who turned to engage these new interlopers.

 

The Imperial fleet didnt slow to engage. Light flashed from lances. Torpedoes flew across the void. Battleships and transports along with the army troops on board them died. The fleet commander ordered the transports to drop immediately even as they were destroyed. The goal was to get troops on the ground before the main Death Guard Fleet could counter.

 

In the confusion, some transports landed where needed, others landed far off course. Units were scattered across the drop zone. 

 

******************************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

In an old cathedral in the former city Captain Sharpe tried to read the map of the city. He had his two platoons set up in an L shape facing a series of weird sickly green glowing lights in the dark of night. His mortars had set up in the courtyard outside the former religious building and were sighting in the tubes. A rumble was heard behind him and in the murky light two lightly armored Wyverns pulled up. An officer with a large vox system hopped off one of them and walked over to the weapons platoon leader who pointed over towards Sharpe and went back to his duties. 

 

The officer walked over to the building and saluted. "Evening, sir! Lieutenant Jeers, Bravo Battery, 17th Heavy Artillery Regiment. Where are we?"

 

"Captain Sharpe, 3rd infantry battalion, 555th Light Rifles. As to where we are, your guess is as good as mine. I think were are supposed to be several kilometers to the east. Where is your unit?"

 

"Unknown sir, my group got separated from the rest of the battery when we landed. We have been driving around in the dark blind until we ran into you. Figure Ill  attach to you guys for a bit until we can re-establish contact with higher."

 

"Works for my LT, we lost contact with our heavy mortar battery when we landed and can use the fire support. Get with Lt Hacklock over there with the mortars to tie into our vox net. I expect we will be needed all the guns we can shortly. My pickets report hearing odd noises and sounds of movement in front of us."

 

As the new Lieutenant walked back over to the mortar leader a new vehicle pulled up to the rear, headlights blazing. It looked like a Rhino transport from the spacing. A door opened on the side spilling a dim green light. The captain was agry at this flagrant disregard of light discipline but cooled down as a man in black power armor sporting the bright red "I" of the inquisition crunched over to him through the loose rubble. 

 

"You there, identify yourself!" the inquisitor demanded imperiously.

 

"Captain Sharpe,Delta Company, 3rd infantry battlalion, 555th Queens Light Rifles. Can I ask why you are bloody giving our position away with your damn headlights to every Death Guard unit for miles?"

 

"Why are you here?" He said not bothering to explain, "This is a zone claimed by the inquisition. There is foulness afoot. I am Crusader Renniger. Since you are here and my IST is not, I am taking overall command of your unit."

 

"I am keeping tactical command. Just point out what you would like to accomplish."

 

"We need to take and purify those glowing orbs. They are some sort of warp conduits the enemy is using for a dark ritual. I will take your flank platoon over here and investigate that one. I need you to send units to provide overwatch on those other two."

 

As he was talking, a weird rainbow glow emanated from behind a large building to the unit's North east."Its begun. See to my orders, Captain, we dont have much time."

 

He was about to give orders when a huge sonic boom cracked across the landscape. Loose masonry fell from buildings and guardsmen clutched their ears in pain. An inhumane roar echoed across the field as the a bright light bloomed silhouetting a giant winged figure standing atop the building. In the light figures could be seen capering and striding across the landscape. These did not appear to be coming at the Imperial troops. However a red portal appeared on the company's right flank and a horde of red skinned humanoids brandishing giant hellish swords ran out charging the guardsmen. 

 

The horde of red skinned monsters charged into the line of horrified infantry as three full squads took the brunt of the assault. Sgt Loxley however kept his cool and yelled "Grenades!, For Praetoria!" And his entire squad threw frag grenades into the charging mob of screaming daemons. Several were downed by the small explosive devices and he drew his power sword to defend the position. A swirling melee erupted and with a grace given by years of sword fighting in the underhive of Praetoria, Loxley slashed and parried attack after attack. Along the line guardsmen were ripped apart by the blades of the daemons but taking heart at Loxley's bravery they stood the ground or in some case met the charge with a small charge of their own, cutting down the daemons or gutting them with the bayonets of their rifles.

 

Perhaps it was luck, perhaps it was a emotional response to the bravery of the guardsmen and the example of the heroic Sergeant but the surviving daemons began to dematerialize and fade back into the warp from whenst they came. Loxley removed the head of the last daemon and spat on the corpse. "Back to hell with you, foul daemon!" 

 

From the shadows behind them emerged the crusader who approached the squad leader. "Impressive indeed, sergeant! The Emperor is truly guiding your hand. Gather your men, we must secure that glowing orb."

 

"Alright boys," the sergeant yelled, "We got a job to do, lets go!" He waved his sword towards the orb and the platoon moved out at a trot.

 

In the center of the battlefield, a swirling melee erupted. Hidden Death Guard terminators emerged from behind a wall and assaulted the newly arrived daemons. The greater daemon as impressive as it was, fell to the giant scythes of the death shroud terminators and vanished into the warp in a rainbow smoke cloud. The rest of the nearby daemons followed suit and the forces of the Deathguard turned to the Imperial Guardsmen.

 

In the flickering dim light of the distant globes the Praetorians unleashed volley after volley into the lumbering Deathshroud little effect. The mortars and the wyverns blasted away at them and the fragmentation simply bounced off their seemingly impervious armor. By the end of the first volley of lascannon, lasgun and plasma fire, only a single terminator had fallen. The terminators reaped their revenge and unleashed a fearsome wall of green acid which melted a forward squad in seconds. A blast from somewhere in the rear exploded amidst another squad which was wiped out by volkite fire and missiles from a distant Contemptor dreadnought stalking down a broken avenue.

 

On the right there was a bright flash and a hideous terminator lord stood over the glowing orb. The three infantry squads reacted by unleashing a barrage of fire on him, spurred on by their charging crusader. Even a direct hit by a lascannon seemed to do nothing to the monstrous astartes.

 

The Death Shroud stalked ever closer to the guard lines and fired another volley at the veteran 3rd and 5th squads high in the former cathedral's ramparts. The first squad died to the acid while the other disappeared in a cloud of flame and smoke from the Contemptor. Rounds from the distant plagueburst crawler now landed behind the cathedral knocking a ful squad of mortars to the ground leaving their tubes a mangled mess. 

 

The terminator lord swaggered towards the three squads, holding up some sort of skull relic and immediately the closest squad fell to the ground convulsing. The crusader had his holy blade drawn and leapt into combat with the beast of a man and was contemptuously sliced cleanly in to by the giant scythe without even breaking stride. Loxley once again yelled "For Praetoria! Give him hell!" 

 

Grenades arced out from his squad and exploded all over and around the terminator. This time however he did not go unscathed and now sported numerous holes in his armor which spouted blood and foul pus. But ingoring his grievous wounds he charged into the squad and with a great sweep of his blade killed half the squad and injured several more. 

 

Taking the opportunity in the pause of the back swing, Loxley jumped forward and stabbed his power sword deep into one of the rents from the previous grendades. The blue hot blade of the weapon sizzled and popped as it met the wet bloated flesh of the terminator lord. The lord felt something he hadnt felt in centuries... pain.

 

Loxley twisted and levered the blade as much as he could to cause as much damage as possible, holding onto it for dear life. His efforts were successful as he severed one of the two hearts of the astartes and nicked the other. The beast fell backwards onto the ground with a thud and Loxley pulled his blade from the carcass, pus and blood still sizzling and bubbling on the powered blade. 

 

Despite the success against the enemy lord, the Death Guard did not falter in their march to stomp out the imperial guard. Realizing the futility of continuing to fight against an opponent that would not die Sharpe made the call. "Signal the retreat!" He ordered the trumpeter. 

 

The trumpet sent out a tune and guardsmen grabbed wounded comrades and began to fall back. The few intact squad attempting to fire covering fire to slow down the deathshroud even as acid and massive explosions from the plagueburst crawler exploded among them.

 

Once out of the the are of the globes, the Death Guard ceased following them. Sharpe brought the remnants of his unit to a transport that was readiying to lift. Apparently across the world the invasion had failed and the Imperial forces were falling back to their ships. "We live to fight another day. !st Sgt Loxely!" He shouted.

 

A few moments later a rough looking Sgt Loxley arrived and saluted. "Sir, its Staff Sergeant Loxley." 

 

Sharpe looked the man and his ruffled, burned and battered uniform over. "Not any more its not. We lost the former first sergeant and after hearing of your deeds, it looks like you are a deserving replacement. I need a full listing on who we lost, equipment needed and so forth."

 

"Sir, yes sir!" Responded the bewildered Loxley. As hive scum, he never anticipated rising to the ranks of senior NCOs. That was reserved for high level gang leaders and cast down nobles who couldnt afford a commission.

 

"And First Sergeant?"

 

"Sir?"

 

"Get your uniform cleaned up, you are supposed to be setting an example."

 

********************************************************************************************************************************************************************************

 

This was a rough one. The Death Guard player had already played multiple games last round, all three allowed exp games this round and had a supper buffed up list. 16 crusade points to my 8 and the daemon's 3. Needless to say he killed off the daemons on turn 2. To make matters worse the scenario we rolled for was a night fight which meant aside from an area around the globes, everything was -1 to hit. So most of my shots did jack. His lord was so jacked up that even a lascannon didnt budge his 2+ armor. The contemptor was buffed by a tallyman and had exploding 6s and +1 to hit and the contemptor itself rerolled 1s. The deathshroud had several buffs including the +1 to move. 

 

So needless to say, with the prime ability of my army nerfed to the level of orks I was screwed.

 

The shining moment was my squad overwatching, grenadiering, and vengeance for cadia, his lord inflicting 4 or 5 wounds on him that he didnt save followed by the sergeant killing him with his power sword. The khorne daemon attack was humorous. 1st turn charge and I expected to lose big. I killed three on over watch then proceeded to kill 7 in combat, and him losing 3 more to morale for a total of 13 guardsmen killed. 

 

I did actually take pics this time but still need to load them

[Galron]

Some pics of the most recent game before the bottom fell out.

[Galron]

Went against Tyrannids last night in the last 1k exp game. Holy crap... I will not be voluntarily playing against nids with my guard again, they are just not any fun to play against. Their codex is flat out stupidly broken. Hormagants with 12" move and advance and charge, 60 attacks, exploding 6s with autowound 6s and ap -1, and they can come back, + 5++ and 5+++ fnp, and apparently do not care about synapse anymore? Thats just their basic troop. I would just spam those guys if I was playing, weight of attacks. Their warlord carried a gun that is single handedly more lethal than any other gun in the entire IG codex... We wont even get into pysker abilities. No overwatch armywide

 

I conceded t2 before I even had my half the turn. T1, before I even went, I lost 5 out of 9 squads, a wyvern, and a mortar squad. I managed to get the parasite of whatever down to one wound and then he spent a single CP to regen 3 health and killed a ravager squad and got the hormagaunts down to 1 guy.  My opponent is a really nice guy and I know he didnt cheese out his list as bad as he could have which makes the power balance here even worse. What the hell was GW thinking? Hopefully the same crack head that did this codex had nothing to do with HH 2.0

Edited May 26, 2022 by Galron

[duz_]

Ouch :cry: