Greetings,
So, we decided to mix up our usual Apocalypse game by making it a Planetstrike/Apocalypse hybrid. Here's the breakdown;
Planetstrike rules and force org apply.
No Apocalypse Strategic Assets allowed.
The exception to both the above is that you are allowed to take
Apoc Formations/Vehicles/ect. - they won't count against Force Org. and any
SA granted by them will apply (though only for that formation)
Chaos takes a formation that basically makes every
HQ a disruption beacon (that screws with
DS and reserves) The Imperium side whines about it due to the board size basically making that situation mean he is disrupting the entire board and Plaentstrike obliagtes (and indeed is about) reserve attacks. Chaos graciously agrees to ixnay that formation much to team Whiny Imperium's happiness and we thank him for it.
The Chaos Space Marines are the Defenders.
Imperium Forces are the Attackers
Slaying the PDF forces that had held it, the forces of Chaos have entrenched themselves on a moon base above the Hive World of Apox IV, there they plan to use the orbital defense relays to pummel the planet below them into ash and dust. A desperate cry for help from the planetary governor manages to reach both Captain Lysander of the Imperial Fists and a crusading band of Black Templar. The battle brothers of both chapters renew their vows of allegiance as they plan a most...aggressive assault on the moon base.
THE BOARD
The forces of Chaos manage to fill a table all by themselves. The 6,000 point army features six squads of Obliterators, Khorne and Nurgle Terminators, heavily armed Chosen, Dreads, Defilers, Vindicators, and more Daemon Princes then you can shake a thunder hammer at.
Also - two landraiders filled with Berserkers and KHARN! (eager to surpass his impressive kill quota from our
last battle)
The Imperial Fists army reminded me of how easy it is to transport 3,000 points of Marines - if you play Orks and
DE enough you can forget that armies can be 'small' at that point level
No actual planning or coordination was done on this - but both the IF and
BT armies featured a *lot* or Termies and very minimal armor (with one major exception).
The signal array represented the control of the orbital cannon - whomever claimed it at the end of Turn 3 would earn the right to call down an Orbital Bombardment (per
Apoc rules) anywhere on the field of battle - it would be a heavily contested and bloody field around the signal array before the game ended...
CHAOS DEPLOYMENT
Chaos deploys a not small force on the board to start - occupying the 4 Bastions with Chosen armed with plasma and melta weaponry.
In the center of the base, Daemon Princes and Landraiders filled with Berserkers wait for any sign of where the Imperium will attack - ready to respond with murderous force to any assault.
Unlikely allies - a Daemon Prince of Khorne and a Slaanesh Dreadnaught wait near the base of the bastion guarding the signal array.
Multiple Rhinos await in the shadows, trying to take some cover from the pre-assault firestorm. Take note of the one Rhino hidden in the garage under the building.
The rot of Nurgle infests the moon base much like the forces of Chaos infest the defense lines - what foce could possibly usurp their position?
It almost suggests that certain Dreads maybe hurt their own side as much as the enemy...
Chaos also reveals both of its stratagems - the first is an ammo store in the bastion next to the orbital relay - the plasma rifles of the Chosen will be able to re-roll misses. They also have a refused flank and take the side of the board that is the "back" of the base - the Imperium won't be moving around the wall the easy way - they're going to have to breach the defenses.
THE FIRESTORM
The Imperium reveals its first asset - Scorched Skies, they will get
2d6+4 Firestorm templates...as is par for me (this is the third time I've taken this particular asset) we manage a pretty gak roll and mange a 3 on
2d6...yay. So, 7 blasts.
A scatter smashes a firestorm template into one of the Rhinos, sending the Plague Marines stumbling out of the wreck in confusion. Some of the other Firestorms shake a bastion and blast an arm off the Slaanesh Dread.
Hurrr - safe from scattering templates.
The Imperium, unhappy with that, reveal their next asset and send a wave of wreckage sailing down from orbit - the remains of a Chaos Battle Barge that attempted to prevent the landing. A Gift from The Emperor!
Fubar the Dread manages to look up and mutter an oath of exclamation before he's smashed into dust (John, the Chaos player, suggests we shouldn't hurt our own units
) Other damage includes a destroyed lascannon off a bastion, and a stunned Landraider. The Daemon Prince of Tzeentch is hit, but laughs off the impact.
By the time the bombardment is over, multiple Bastions are shaken/stunned and/or have the lascannon blasted off their roofs. A Rhino is wrecked and another immobilized, and one dread is smashed and another lost an arm. Not shabby. Before the forces of Chaos can even fully shake off the dust from the wreckage they feel a trembling in the ground as the first wave of Imperial forces appear from their deployment zone.
TURN 1
The Imperium reserve rolls are...kinda weak. But we do get one important big gun.
A Rifleman Dread and a Las Predator roll on.
Two squads of Templar Termies rush onto the board, defending the feet of the God Machine that walks with them as a Warhound Titan stalks onto the field. Chaos lets out a sad groan of resignation.
A Landspeeder zips into view, training its weaponry on the closest bastion.
And that's all that showed up.
The princeps of the Warhound recognizes the threat of the Landraiders - with a flash of actinic light a lascannon sponsoon is blasted off one of them.
There is no scatter on the second shot, and Kharn's landraider is blasted apart - he and the Berserkers storm out of the wreckage, already revving their weapons as they howl for vengeance.
With its second salvo the Warhound tries to sweep some of the defenses off the signal hill - the bastion is battered and the Slaanesh Dread is destroyed in a thunderous explosion (we predict the Khorne prince used him as a human shield)
The Imperial Fist armor brigade adds their firepower to the effort, blasting away at the Khorne Prince.
Their now rises an ominous roar of eagerness from the forces of Chaos. As if on cue their own forces emerge from hiding, ready to ambush the attackers.0
A Defiler and a Vindicator appear behind the Marine lines.
As Chosen advance from the stunned bastion, wave after wave of Obliterators appear from the Warp, their bodies oozing with weaponry.
Raptors spring over the Marine line, readying their weaponry as they eye the Termies guarding the Warhound.
An overview right before shooting, you can see the one good Landraider driving around its wrecked brother, as Chaos gears up for shooting.
Two terminators are incinerated within the blast of the Vindicator's heavy gun. Meanwhile lascannons ring out, ripping apart all the void shields on the Warhound.
The Chosen rapid fire with their plasma weaponry, blasting the Landspeeder from the skies.
With a mechanical roar the Vindicator assaults, as do the Raptors.
Combats go poorly for the Templars, as only one Marine is left standing versus the monstrous Defiler, and one versus the whole Raptor squad.
TURN 2
Reserves go better this round, as though the Templar Land Raider/Death Star unit fails to show - the Imperial Fist Death Star unit does arrive - the Deathknell Orbital Strike Force!
The Berserkers look in confusion as the beacon streaks down from the skies to smash into the ground...until a moment later when an Orbital Bombardment crashes down on their heads, engulfing the unit in fire and flame.
An unfortunate cover save attempt for the Berserks... (though Karn made his save - whew!...or 'boo!' depending on what side you're rooting for as you read
)
In the wake of the apocalyptic barrage the Berserkers are left in a sad disarray and the Landraider is shaken (the Tzeentch prince again laughed off the damage)
There's no time to take a breather though - as 25 Terminators, a Chaplain in Terminator Armor, and Lysander himself teleport down to the surface, along with a drop pod bearing an Ironclad Dread.
Yes, that's 25 Termies - 4 Lightning Claws, 6 Thunder Hammers, 2 Cyclone Missile Launchers, 1 Assault Cannon, 3 Chain Fists, 12 Power Fists, a Chaplain, and Lysander. All with bad attitudes.
Primarch-Progenitor, to your glory and the glory of him on earth! Two more drop pods filled with Tactical Marines crash down.
Squad Adara takes to the hill, knowing they need to dismantle the Bastion's gun, incapacitate the Chaos forces, and secure the orbital relay.
Assault Marines drop into the rear field - their target some Plague Marines shuffling around near the relay.
An overview of the Fist incursion.
Black Templar shooting destroys the Vindicator.
Riflemen Dreads fire at the Demon Prince.
The Ironclad's melta makes short work of a Bastion, leaving the Chosen with a ruin and a prayer as they sit with all their fancy melta in assault range of multiple units.
Cyclone Missiles tear apart the Chaos Rhino.
The Termies will assault the squad and wipe them out easily.
The Raptors finish off their prey, but the Termie and the Defiler will hold for a while longer.
Using his Litany of Furiously Angry Ferocity - the Chaplain urges his men onwards into the Khorne Prince, who falls to the Terminator assault.
The Nurgle Prince fares better, managing to kill some Termies and hold the line despite grievous wounds.
Lysander's squad assaults the Landraider and the Berserks - Lysander himself singles out Kharn as the two titans of close combat smash into each other - whoever wins will hold the center of the map and a commanding position near the orbital relay controls.
The messy stomping says it all - Kharn puts a wound on Lysander, and then is crushed by the Fist of Dorn.
"Trollololol - come out Berserks!" The Termies smash up the Land Raider, but fail to wreck it (a good thing for Chaos as they were surrounding it pretty aggressively).
.
Nurgle Prince having survived the assault phase.
Termies stalk through the crater where once stood Plague Marines.
The squad itself kills nothing, but the Sarge smacks three Plague Marines to death all by himself.
Chaos assess things after the fury of the Terminator assault.
Chosen readying themselves within the ruins of their bastion.
For the second turn in a row, the last Chaos Dread continues to fire frenzy "Blaaargh! So insane and evil!"
Appearing off icons carried by the Plague Marines, multiple waves of Chaos Terminators appear to face off against the Imperial Fist Terminator assault.
Two daemon princes fly over to "discuss" with Lysander about his defeating Kharn.
In a whirl of clanking legs the Defiler shambles forward to assault one of the Riflemen.
Terminator on Terminator action!
Terminator on Assault Marine action!
Guess what fight is still going on...I think this is the round the Terminator finally gets pulped though.
The Terminators attacking the Assault Marines handily tear apart the squad and send it fleeing in disarray. However, when 15 power weapon attacks manage to do no wounds things go suddenly poorly for the other Terminator squad, as the Imperial Fist Assault Termies tear huge bloody holes in them - the Chaos Terminators fall back in horror.
Not pictured - Khonre Lightning Claw Terminators attack and easily wipe out the Terminator Squad claiming the Orbital relay.
Not pictured - Lysander totally pulps the Tzeentch Daemon Prince and stomps over to finish off the Nurgle one.
TURN 3
The Black Templar Marshall finally decides to make an appearance - he and his men are literally the first unit on the Imperium's side that will cross the defensive barricades.
The Imperial Fists basically ignore the Defiler locked up with the Dread and instead keep launching firepower at their foes, the Landspeeder moves up to allow its flamer to say 'hi' to the Raptors.
The scrum in the center field remains a bloody brawl;
Bottom left - the Chaplain's Terminators advance through the catwalks as they advance to aid the Ironclad in crushing the Chosen he's been brawling with.
Upper left - the Tactical squads move in to claim the shattered bastion and orbital relay (visable near it is the Khorne Termies that currently are securing it).
Right Side - various Nurgle forces creep forward, trying to reclaim ground claimed by the Terminators.
Dead Center - Lysander's Termies prepare to deal with the Land Raider as Lysander himself duels with the Nurgle Prince.
Storming up the hill towards the Bastion and destiny...
The Warhound turns its attention to the Terminators lurking in the rear of the field, blasts of its mighty cannons shred apart the fearsome Chaos Warriors, removing them as a threat.
More blasts tear holes in the plague zombies (summoned daemons) and Plague Marines on the right flank.
Something guns down a Rhino (I frankly have no idea what...was it a Warhound shot? I think that's my guess.
After the Landspeeder's shooting the Raptors decide discretion is the better part of valor and flee.
The Predator puts the Defiler out.
Storming over the barricades the Black Templars bring the Emperor's Mercy to the Obliterators.
Not much of a shock there. The Oblits fall before the Templars
The Dread is freed from the Chosen as the Chaplain single handedly wipes them out - he and his men secure the Bastion as the Dread stomps off to investigate the Berserk question.
As Lysander's hammer ends the Daemon Prince of Nurgle - a chainfist tears open the Landraider. The Berserks, finally free of their makeshift prison, howl as they promise revenge on Lysander for crushing the Chaos center.
10 Berserkers vs. 2 Termies and a half dead Lysander...all for spite!
Not pictured - the Khorne Terms are shot to pieces and then assaulted by a
Tac squad and an Assault Terminator squad with predictable results.
The Chaos Dread finally gets his act together and assaults the fleeing Assault Squad with some Plague Marines - the
PMs are slain and the Assault Marines lose about half their number and keep running away.
Quite literally the plan was "let's just kill Lysander" One of his Termies is cut down, and Lysander himself takes a wound from a power fist, but the Marine return damage is potent and leaves half of the Berserkers dead.
Turn 3 comes to an end and the Imperial Fists are at the helm of the orbital relay.
Let's see...looks like some forces of Chaos right over there...
For the Emperor...b*****s!
At this point Chaos assess the situation.
The Templars will easily claim this objective.
Having wiped out the Chosen, the Imperial Fists hold this Bastion.
The Chaplain holds a third.
All Chaos has left on the field is 5 Berserks (locked in combat with Lysander with a Dread and Assault Terms closing in from all sides)
2 Summoned Daemons. A squad of 1 Plauge Marine.
A Vindicator.
And the Defiler still locked in combat with the rifle dread.
The Imperium has a Landraider, a ton of termies, a Pred, and...well, y'know, that Warhound situation.
Chaos tips his king and withdraws from the field of battle.
Winners: Team Dorn's Legacy!
Chaos MVP
A rough call, because Chaos really ate this fight on the chin. I think I'd probably go for the Khorne Termies though - they did eat a Termie squad and had enough of a fear factor that I devoted some serious attention to dealing with them (and even came a little close to winning the fight versus two squads trying to kill them. They did what they were supposed to do and did it well, if the rest of the army could have claimed that then Chaos probably could have won.
Chaos WTF
Again, this is actually a little hard to say, because a lot of Chaos units ended up eating it before they could even *try* to get something going (like...oh, all the Dreads that died before Chaos even got a turn) And I don't really want to poke fun at the one Dread who fire frenzied twice because...hey, it's a Chaos Dread, it's what it does. I think I'll actually point at the Terminator squad that assaulted my Termie Assault squad - that thing was 15 power weapon attacks, plus some fist, and outnumbered me 2 to 1 when it assaulted. there was no reason that they shouldn't have eaten my Termies alive - and yet...
pfut. Not only did that look pathetic on their part - but it basically was the final breaking straw in the central scrum - Chaos *needed* that assault to work for them, and instead it just went terribly, terribly wrong. Dishonerable mention to the 12 or so Obliterators who failed to so much as dent the Warhound - Chaos kinda needed that one to work out for them too.
Dorn's Legacy MVP
Lysander - just, Lysander. From the point he hit the ground till the end of game he was actually afforded as much (and probably more) attention than the Warhound. His death toll included 7 Berserkers, a Landraider, 2 Daemon Princes, and Kharn himself (also, an additional 8 or so Berserks through his Deathknell entrance barrage) - just a devastating display of force. i always knew Lysander was a beast of a man, but he just carved a path of epic destruction this game.
Dorn's Legacy WTF
This is a little rough to call too - it was such a nasty and crushing win for the Imperial side of things that it's not like anyone really stuck out as a failure. I guess I could point at the Templar Landraider for not showing up till basically everything was over. Maybe a dink to the Ironclad that allowed itself to be trapped stomping on Chosen for two rounds while it was needed elsewhere. Meh.
Overall a really fun game, hope you all enjoy. We're hoping to do a few more story driven missions in the future with an interconnected campaign - hope you'll all enjoy reading that stuff half as much as I expect I will playing them
