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Well then my fine Lords and Ladies.. I have a tale to tell about an inquisitorial strike force sent to a lonely planet to bring a halt to the depradations of one Abaddon, supposed "High Master of Chaos" or some such..

In other words, I was able to field a complete 1750 point army, and found an opponent at the FLGS 40k night who was willing to take me on, and he was running CSM with Abaddon ..

Hoo boy.

I have never faced Abaddon before, and it seemed fitting to try my army out vs CSM .. the only thing better would have been Nids or Daemons, I guess.

Foes of the Imperium, despair!

The A.V.P. D.W.S.F (I need to have a better name, I swear.. )

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/307185.page (the Project blog)

HQ-
Peter Singer (Pedro Kantor count-as)
Inquisitor Speilman (Librarian, Gate of Infinity, Vortex)

Elites-
Squad Jerez - Sternguard, Sarge with PF, 2x Combi Melta, 1x Combi Flamer, 6x basic sternguard.. in drop pod (with both HQ as well)
Squad Eisenfell - Sternguard, Sarge with Combimelta, power sword, 3x combi Meltas, 6 basic sternguard .. in a drop pod
Squad Katai'gida (got a temp promotion) - Sternguard - 2x combi flamer, 6 basic stern .. in a rhino

Troops -
Scout Squad Clancy - Sarge, Missile Launcher, 5x snipers
Scout Squad Hewano - Sarge, Heavy Bolter, 6x snipers

Fast Attack -
Squad Zac - Sarge with Power Axe, 4x Power Swords, 2x Chainswords, 1x Power Fist

My Most Honorable Opponent Chris - (going by memory, and hazy on his upgrades)

HQ-
Abaddon the Despoiler
Chaos Lord with Daemon Weapon, Combi Melta, and Terminator Armor

Elites-
3x Obliterators
3x Chaos Terminators, with Combi Meltas, Power Fists

Troops-
1000 Sons - Asp Sorcerer (Bolt of Change), 8x troopers, in a Rhino with TL Bolter
Plague Marines - Champ, 4x Plague Marines in a Rhino with TL Bolter

HS-
Chaos Vindicator
Chaos Land Raider with Demonic Possession (Abby and the Lord and Terminators were riding in this)

Greater Daemon of Slaanesh

We rolled up 3 Objectives, and Spearhead deployment. I got First turn, and decided to only deploy my Scouts.. so he deployed first, and then my scouts.

Objectives were placed near the center dias and off to the north side of the board.

I used my scout move with the ML squad to get into position for a side shot on a Rhino.. and the HB squad was placed to be near the 2nd objective.



And.. he promptly STOLE the Initiative, the tricky dastard!

So..

Turn 1 CSM-

He repositions the Vindicator and the PM Rhino, while the LR and the 1k Rhino move up. The LR can see Squad Clancy just sitting there, and picks off 3 with the Heavy Bolter, while the Rhino misses. The Vindicator can see 1/2 of one of the Snipers from Squad Hewano, and scatters off target.



Scouts make their Morale, and stick around.

Turn 1 DW-

Drop Pod Jerez comes in right behind the LR and the 1k Sons Rhino. Nothing else comes in. Squad Hewano stays behind the wall. Squad Clancy holds their ground as well, hoping that a transport will get cracked and they can snipe.

Squad Jerez fires both combi-meltas at the LR, missing with one and penetrating with the second. Promptly roll a 1, which means it is a 2, and the Demonic Possession ignored that. This pretty much set the tone of the game...

(If I had been thinking at ALL clearly, I probably should have popped the Rhino instead, but I was overly leery of Abby and his homies)



Turn 2 CSM-

The GD of Slaanesh and the Obliterators fail to show up from reserves.

The Land Raider pulls away from the Drop Pod, heading to the scouts. The Vindicator moves thru the woods to get another shot on Squad Hewano, and the PM Rhino heads towards the lone objective sitting in the sticks. The 1k Sons hop out and train their bolters on Squad Jerez and my commanders.



Shooting -
the 1k Sons and their Sorcerer pile shots at Rapid Fire range into the Sternguard of Jerez.. and at THIS point I come to realize that those damn things have AP3.. I had a learning moment. 7 Wounds = 7 dead Sternguard. Fuuuuuuuuu bar.



The Land Raider only manages to ping off one more scout from Squad Clancy.. and the Vindicator continues to miss the scouts behind the wall. Brave lads.

Turn 2 DW-

The Vanguard squad shows up! But the other Drop Pod and Rhino don't. (sad face)

The Vanguards manage to Heroically Intervene very close to the 1k Sons, while Inquisitor Speilman and Master Singer take the 3 remaining members of Jerez and Gate behind a hill.. a tactical advance to the rear.. with accompaning blurry picture.. Squad Clancy realizes that they are doing no good, and edge backwards in the face of the LR..



Shooting-
The Drop Pod, and the Vanguard bolt pistols account for a single 1k Son.. and then they charged! When the dust settled, the 1k Sons managed to eliminate 1 Vanguardian, and only had the Sorcerer and 1 Trooper left.. and they made their Fearless wound saves to stick around.



(Felt pretty good about that one)

Turn 3 CSM-

Greater Daemon and the Obliterators become available.. and the Greater Daemon immediately possesses the Aspiring Sorcerer and grins at the Vanguards!

The Obliterators Deep Strike near Squad Hewano, and configure TL Flamers..

The Land Raider Tank Shocks Squad Clancy, and they flee a bit.

The Vindicator backs up and starts heading toward the Drop Pod, while the PM Rhino gets to the Objective in left field, and camps there for the remainder of the game, taking no further part in the battle.

Shooting -
Vindicator shoots and misses the Drop Pod. The Land Raider once again Heavy Bolters the scouts, killing 1. Oblits set Squad Hewano on fire, and kill 3, but they make LD and ready weapons.

Assault -
The GD hits the Vanguards.. thanks to having equal Init, it all happens at the same time. 4 Van with Power Swords hit the Daemon, and the remainder go for the last 1k Son. 1k Son dies, Daemon kills 4 Vanguard at the expense of 2 wounds. I lose by 2, but I am Stubborn, so I have raw LD.. and roll a 12. Bugger all! So, he tries to sweep me, rolls a 6 to my 1, and kills the whole squad. G.D. F. I. A. T. H. Vanguard squad gone like that.. Daemon heads towards the Drop Pod.



Turn 3 DW-
At this point, I neeeeed my reserves and get the Drop Pod with Squad Eisenfell. No Rhino.

I am so distraught by the loss of the Vanguard, I forget to take pictures until the very end of the turn.

The Drop Pod manages to come down between the LR and the Rhino. The HQ squad does not move, planning on shooting stuff. Squad Hewano lines up the Oblits with their Sniper rifles.

Shooting -
The brown Drop Pod Stormbolter manages to hit, but not wound the GD. Squad Eisenfell unloads all 4 combimeltas into the LR.. and gets 3 hits and 3 penetrates.. and of course I roll a 1,2,3 which takes off the HB and immobilizes it. I Want It Dead! (not thinking tactially, just being frustrated.) So, Master Singer uses his Orbital Bombardment and Inquisitor Speilman uses Vortex and neither damage it further. Either scattered or was JUST out of range.. ArRGH. Squad Hewano puts a wound on one Oblit..

No Assault.



Turn 4 CSM-

Abaddon and his posse get out of the LR and into the Scout Squad.. the GD decides to forgo the Drop Pod and assault the newly arrived Sternguard! The Oblits lock in the TL Flamers and get good lines of site into Squad Hewano. The Vindicator gets frustrated with the Pod and decides to ram it.

Shooting -
Abaddon and Termies do not shoot. The LR, and the TL Bolter on the Rhino kill 2 Sternguard, and the Obliterators turn Hewano into ash.

Assault -
The GD takes a wound as he kills 3 Sternguard. Abaddon turns Squad Clancy into goo, and consolidates towards the command remnants. The Vindicator bounces off the Drop Pod.





Turn 4 DW-
No Rhino.. rolled a 1. Erg.

Lets see.. Sternguard locked in combat with GD.. HQ squad cowering behind a hill.. 2 scout squads a fine mist in the air..

I try to use Vortex again, and manage an 11 on the dice.. the Sternguard and Master Singer fire into the Terminators with all the effect of a fine spring rain.

The Drop Pod attempts to kill the GD.. but nope.

Assault -
The Greater Deamon kills another 3 Sternguard, and takes no wounds in return. I roll a 10 for LD, we flee.. he attempts to sweep, and rolls a 5 to my 2. Gee.. that GD has eliminated ANOTHER squad.

Turn 5 CSM-
Abby and Friends charge into the HQ mess.. Abby going mano-a-mano with Master Singer.. the Chaos Lord taking the Librarian, and the terminators taking the Sternguard remnants.

The Oblits configure Lascannons as the GD heads over to show the Vindicator how to kill a Drop Pod..

Shooting -
The Obliterators Obliterate the Black Drop Pod. The Vindicator lands a shell on target and kills the brown Drop Pod, much to the annoyance of the GD.

Assault -
Well.. Abaddon manages to roll an ungodly number of dice.. causing 5 wounds on Peter.. and if I fail any ONE of the Inv Iron Halo saves I die.. hmm.. rolled a 1, 1, 2, 3 and a 6.. so, yeah.. little tiny chunks of Chapter Master. The Chaos Lord takes a wound from the Librarian, and fails to hit him in return! (yeah!), and the terminators lose one to killing the 3 Sternguard. So.. currently on the board, I manage to have the Librarian.. my Inquisitor guy.. and no one else.

Of COURSE he fails his LD and routs off towards the edge of the board.. but NO.. he doesn't make it.. he rolls a 2 on 2d6.. and stops 3 inches from the edge.

Turn 5 DW-
The Rhino shows up! The guys inside wave at the Inquisitor as he runs off the board.. At least, fluffwise, he lived. I am sure he will spin doctor things back at Inquisitonal HQ!

The Rhino moves on 12 inches and dumps Squad Katai'gida out close to the objective.

Shooting - Fire Combi Flamers and special poison Ammo into the Obliterators.. a whopping zero wounds dealt out of 14 wounds inflicted. Curses 2+ Armor Save!



Rolling to see if the game continues, or if I can hold out .. we play a turn 6.

Turn 6 CSM-
The Obliterators turn in place, and reconfigure TL Flamers. The GD amuses itself by beating up on the ruins of the Drop pod.. and Abaddon and friends head towards the action.

Abaddon, Terminators, Obliterators, and LR Lascannons reduce the Sternguard to this..



Brother Keenan from the Sons of Talitha with his back to the Rhino.. seeing the Ultimate Embodiment of Chaos looming..

Assault -
Obliterators multicharge the Rhino and Brother Keenan..

(Lets just draw a curtain over the sorry scene.. )

Resounding Loss to me.. ouch.
Objectives
CSM - 1
DW -0

The sole survivor of my army was the Inquisitor/Librarian..

Man of the Match
DW- None really.. Brother Keenan wins Last Man Standing, briefly.
CSM- Greater Daemon .. killed and ran down 2 squads.

Lessons learned.. fear Abaddon in CCW, Do not sit in front of 1k sons and wait to get boltered, kill GD from range. Do not use Power Weapons vs stuff with Invulnerable Saves.

I really blew this game. Dice rolls (which stunk .. and were commented upon by bystanders).. not to blame them nearly as much as my tactical mistakes. It did not help that my Reserves were pretty much piecemeal either.

I need something to help with Mech..

Afterwards in the post-game tactics.. I did realize that I completely failed to take out his Troops.. If I had sent the second Pod of Eisenfell vs the PM Rhino camped on the far objective, I would have been able to grab a tie.. I blew it when failed to remember that Sternguard score in this army, which was the whole POINT of the project dammit. Just goes to show what you intend, can go *poof* in the heat of battle.

Chris was a great opponent and the game itself was quite fun.

The AVPDW was ooohed and aaahed over by the players at the FLGS, and to everyone who painted for me.. your work was universally praised!

-Porkuslime

Nice battle report.

A couple things though, first off when he shot his 1k sons at your sterngaurd in turn 2, you should have gotten a 4+ cover save looking at the picture :(

And secondly, a huge thing - familiarize yourself with the "They shall know no fear" rule. If you get caught by a sweeping advance, you arent destroyed, but continue fighting and take "no retreat" wounds. Also, you lost the combat by one in the vanguard vs GD, because you killed the last 1K son model. 4 wounds lost 3 wounds caused. Combat is the total result. So you would have had to make a single armor save at the end, not lose the unit. Same thing with the sternguard vs GD - 3 armor saves after getting caught in the SA.

All space marines automaticly regroup when retreating, even if they normally coulnt do so.

I suggest you read over both your codex and the 40k rulebook from front to back in your free time. It really helps to know some of these rules lol.

Yep.. I have just realized that thanks to you pointing it out.

It has been .. almost .. 7-8 months since I have played with vanilla marines, and my memory of ATSKNF got distilled down to "Automatically regroup if morale is failed" and not the rest of it.

I HAD refreshed my memory on Pedro Kantor and the Sternguard and Vanguard.. I just didn't re-read the "army rules" section I guess. Knowing my luck, though, I probably would have failed to make those armor saves.. but I would not have auto-lost the units.

Yep. Dont forget cover as well. 50% or more of the models of a unit are covered in any way, they all get cover saves. Your Sternguard could have gone to ground for a 3+ cover save while your vanguard killed the 1k sons.

Try and find that guy for a rematch, you lost a lot of units in that game that you shouldnt have.

great battle report, thank you for sharing,

All space marines automaticly regroup when retreating, even if they normally coulnt do so.

Keeping in mind, of course, that the 6" rule is still in effect.


Nice batrep, Jim!


Eric

If you use heroic intervention you cant shoot your bolt pistols or anything just assualt if close enough to.

the way to win against abaddon is to kill everything else and ignore him

A huge pile of mistakes, but it looked like a fun game. Thanks for posting.

Well, after checking the Codex: Vanilla SM, it does look like I made some less-than-stellar mistakes...

Vanguard cannot shoot before Assault while Deep Striking

Pedro Kantor replaces Combat Tactics with Stubborn, NOT Combat Squading.. and if I HAD combat squadded the second Stern Pod's occupants I could have Hellfire Bolted the GD of Slaanesh..

ATSKNF prevents marines from getting swept.

All this does, though, is re-inforce my need to play with this army more!

It is too cool to do it the dis-service of bone head mistakes.

MagickalMemories wrote:

All space marines automaticly regroup when retreating, even if they normally coulnt do so.

Keeping in mind, of course, that the 6" rule is still in effect.


Nice batrep, Jim!


Eric

and.. ATSKNF does not prevent Abby from running the Librarian off the field.. 4 inches away from the big bad means I rout. Thanks Eric!

i think i saw mymarine in a picture! how did my boy do!

"DW- None really.. Brother Keenan wins Last Man Standing, briefly. "

that is dope! great my brother did well

great battle rep, please bring more to come!