Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

The sun beat down on desert sands heating them to point that they couldn’t be touched. Sweat was trickling down his collar as Col Theodore Lynch surveyed scene before him.

The Red Aquila was a run down saloon in the middle of no where, which had long since gone out of business, any grandeur the building had once had was a distant memory. The once vibrant red paint that had given the saloon its name was cracked and peeling having suffered the deserts punishment for decades, exposing battered a worn timbers. The railing of the balcony were broken in numerous places or missing altogether haven been taken by wandering desert herders or the desert wind itself. There was no sign of glass in the windows, at some point some one had tried keep the sand at bay by nailing up corrugated metal sheeting. The thing that held the Col’s attention the longest though was the skeletal remains of horse still tethered to the post in front of a water trough filled with sand, he wondered how long it would be before his own bones were added to the pile.

“This place is a Gak hole, sir. “ Spat Cpl Neb” What we doing here?”
“Our Duty Corporal” replied Lynch calmly, Neb had been part of his command squad through numerous battles and the Col had found what he lacked in discipline he made up for with his grenade launcher, so allowed him to speak freely. “This Gak hole, as you so eloquently put it, is sitting on top of the only source of water for 300 kloms. If we are ever going to find out who or what is attacking the Eastern Caravans we need to secure this site. The raiders need water as surely as any one else” Neb started to nod but then suddenly stopped, eyes fixed on the horizon.
“I think we might have are answer sir” growled Cpl Neb. Col Lynch turned to follow the Corporal’s gaze. On the Horizon through the heat haze was dust cloud and it was moving. Lynch pulled out his binoculars to get a better look.
“Neb Form the men into battle line”
“What is it Sir? Who’s coming?”
“Xeno’s” spat Lynch in disgust “Orks”

Hi all this is my first battle report so apologies if it’s not up to much, a lot of this is from memory and some poorly written notes. This was a 500 point Game between me (Col Lynch and his 33rd Jalvene outlanders “the yellow leggers”) and my mate Moe (Moe’s Mob). We didn’t roll for game type or deployment as we are both still learning the basics. This is only our forth game and our first at 500 points. We chose annihilation and pitched battle.

Sorry for the lack of pictures I don’t have digital camera and the one on my phone is rubbish I know this make it more difficult to follow the action

Here is a brief description of the Battle Field. We played on a 33” by 51” dining table, we used the 33” inch side ironically as the long sides.

About 12” from one of the deployment edges and butted right next to 51” edge was “the red Aquila” a building two storey building I made. The front and back are about 16” long the sides 6”. The front and back were running parallel to the deployment edges. The building is generally used as impassable terrain in our games so I won’t go into more detail. Next to side not butted with the table edge was a crater and next to the crater was a waist high wall running to the other table edge with a slight dog leg in it.

The middle of the table was mainly empty except for an A4 size piece of difficult terrain about 6” in front of the wall. One of the long sides was flat against the 51” edge.

The other deployment side had a crater (opposite the red Aquila) about 8” from the deployment edge and 6” from the 51” side. There was also another A4 area of difficult terrain opposite the first but with its long edges running parallel to deployment. We gave all cover 4+ saves. I tried to attach a crappy picture I did in but didn't work.

The Armies
33rd Jalvene outlanders “the yellow leggers”
HQ
CCS - 50
AC – 10
GL - 5
Camo cloaks - 20

Troops
Vets - 70
3x GL - 15
Vets - 70
3x Flamers -15
Vets - 70
AC - 10
GL - 5
Forward Sentries - 30

Fast Attack
Hellhound – 130

Moe’s Mob
HQ = 90
War Boss
Slugga
Power Claw
Hvy Armour

Troop 1 = 91
Shoota Boyz – 11 models
One big Shoota
Nob w big choppa
Boss Pole

Troop 2 = 109
Slugga Boyz -14 Models
Big Shoota
Nob
Big Choppa
Boss Pole

Elite = 120
Loota’s – 8 models

Elite = 90
Komandos – 6 models (started in reserve)
2x Burners

I deployed first and chose the side with the “Red Aquila”. Working left to right I had my AC vets behind the wall, my CCS was also behind the wall but next to the crater. The flamer vets were behind the CCS. My GL vets were behind the corner of building near the crater and my hell hound was behind them.

Moe’s deployment was a straight line, on my left were the Loota’s in the area of cover, slugga’s half in area of cover, war boss was next to them and shoota’s on my right. Kommando’s were in reserve ready to outflank.

Turn 1
33rd Jalvene outlanders “the yellow leggers
The Hell hound rumbles up to the edge of the crater, readying it self to get across it in one go, the rest of the 33rd hold there ground and ready to fire.

Col Lynch glares across the battlefield and spots the enemy loota’s. Recognising the potential threat they represent he decides to ignore the majority of the orks.
“Stinking Xeno Scum” he spits “Fire on my target” with a jab of his finger at the loota’s the AC vets and his own CCS open up. A hail of AC rounds smash into the Green skins dropping two of them to the sand. The Hellhound out of range for its main armament lets loose with its Hull Mounted heavy bolter punching a fist sized hole through another loota. The Xeno’s blood is up and this fight has only just started, they hold their ground.

Moe’s Mob
“C’MON BOYZ LETS SMASH SOME HUMIES” yelled the unknown War Boss, drool hanging from his tusks and down his chin as he yearned for combat.
Cackling and shouting the Orks boy’s head straight forwards towards the imperial line. Running at full tilt (ran 5” all of them except the loota’s). Their War boss swung in behind the Shoota’s using his own Boyz as cover.
“You hurd da boss, Krump em” a loota bellowed. Firing as fast as their guns would allow, the Loota’s shower the hell hound with shots. Due to their eagerness or the solid front armour of the hellhound no damage is done. (He fired 15 shots, every time no joke. My Hellhound got a cover save due his slugga’s being in the way)

Turn 2
33rd Jalvene outlanders “the yellow leggers”
The driver of the hellhound realises he has made a critical error, if he tries to cross the crater he will not clear it one. Fearful of throwing a track he edge closer to the rim. (Complete balls up by me, one of many, I’ve not used vehicle before so was worried about passing through difficult terrain, on reflection should have just gone for it.)
Lynch curses he had hoped that one salvo would be enough to make the Loota’s turn tail, but realising that the rest of the mob is gaining ground fast he decides to split his company’s fire.
“Fire at those Lootas” he yells at the AC vets (FomT)
“Neb we’ll fire on those Boyz” (FomT) CCS fires at the Slugga boys.
The AC vets open up with another salvo hoping to finish what they started. In their haste their shot fail to find their mark.
The CCS manages to drop one slugga boy with the AC and Neb tries for a shot with his Grenade launcher but it fall short, just.
Disappointed with the progress his driver is making the Hellhound Gunner fires the Heavy Bolter crumpling two slugga boyz in mid stride.

Moe’s Mob
The Slugga’s realise that they need cover if they want to bury their choppa’s in Humie skulls.
“Leg it Boyz” shouts the slugga nobs clipping one of his subordinates around head to make sure they understand the urgency. Run deep into the Dunes on his right (ran 6” right into the second A4 area of terrain)
The Shoota continue forward unabated only stopping to fire at the AC vets. The vets are covering behind is peppered as the Orks can not make out vets thanks to their camo cloaks. However a stray round punches a Lasgunner off his feet as it shatters his face. The orks whoop with excitement. The War boss moves up just behind his shoota’s.
“I wantz me a nu Shiney” a loota bellows, and another 15 rounds thump into the hellhound. A round finds it way through the armour plating and explodes the drivers head showering the rest crew with pulped grey matter and teeth, stunning them into inaction.

Turn 3
33rd Jalvene outlanders “the yellow leggers”
With the Hellhound stranded and temporally unable to shoot Lynch Realises that things are not going well and orders units forward to brace for the encroaching horde.
Preparing for the inevitable assault from the Slugga the Flamers vets move behind the AC vets in order to provide cover or retribution. The GL vets Move behind the hell hound.
With the horde this close to the line Lynch makes the snap decision to ignore the remaining loota’s.
“Fire on those Slugga’s” Lynch yells at his AC.
The AC vets fire but only kick up sand with the auto cannon and the Grenade launcher, but a volley of searing las fire leaves smoking holes in 3 more orks.

A krak grenade from Cpl Neb (CCS) explodes another slugga in to a red stain on the floor and another falls to the AC.
Lynch smiles surely that has broken the back of that mob. The smile disappears from his face when through the smoke and sand he sees that the boyz are still coming.

Moe’s Mob
As if things aren’t bad enough Lynch hears the guttural tones of the Ork War Boss taunting him.
“Dum Humie, yu’z forgot me sneeky boyz and me Boyz iz da sneekyist”
The Kommados have arrived (he roles a 5 and places them on my left near the newly moved Flamer vets).
“By the emperor we….” gasps Lynch, the rest of his words a cut off a noise that shook him to his bones, as the entire mob as one bellow.
“WAAAAGGGHHHH” (at this point I realise I am in serious trouble it is all going pair shaped fast)
With the Hellhound out action the Loota’s switch targets and fire 15 shots into the CCS. Lynch and Neb manage to dodge the torrent of incoming fire, but the AC team and the Las gunner are pulped to gore.
The remaining crew of the hellhound hear fist and sluggas banging on their hull as the Shoota boys assault, unnerving the crew (stunned). The War boss is on their heels but due to his earlier zigzagging is unable to get into assault.
The ground explodes around the feet of the slugga’s as they charge through the field of carefully concealed snare mines the AC vets had placed earlier. Even with the advantage of the mines the Vets only manage to kill one Ork and injure the Nob whilst losing 4 of their number, but they manage to hold their ground.
The Kommado’s Bathe the Flamer Vets with burning promethium killing all but the sergeant who is cut down from behind when he tries to flee. Wiping out the whole unit. Orks 1 IG 0

Turn 4
This is when it got really confusing because we were a little uncertain about assaulting vehicles. A vehicle can’t be locked in combat, but we were not sure if I was allowed to shoot at the shootas assaulting the hellhound. In end I decided it wasn’t going to make much difference so fired at the Kommandos instead.

33rd Jalvene outlanders “the yellow leggers”
“emperor protect us, Orks in the Gun line” Lynch orders the GL vets to frfsrf, the Las fire hits but only manages to kill 1 and only one grenade find its mark killing 1 ork.
Neb fire his GL as well and drops another, sending the Kommados running.

This was another bit we were unsure about Moe’s shoota’s continues to assault the HH (to no effect) but we were uncertain if he should have been allowed to continue to assault.

The AC vets and slugga continue to pummel each other resulting in 1 wound each (killing off the Nob) melee continues.

Moe’s Mob
The shootas move away from the HH and shoot at the GL vets killing three.
Lootas try for CCS again but luck and Camo cloaks are still on Lynch and Nebs side and both survive.
“I think we might survive this sir” chuckles Nebs. Lynch is about to reply when the shoota’s pile into the GL next to the command squad and fighting spill over into engulfing the CCS in a storm of blades and fists.
The CCS beat the Orks who are surrounding them, but the GL vets didn’t do as well. The result was 5 wounds for the orks against my 4. (We weren’t sure how multiple assaults work, my CCS technically won their assault but the GL vets loss. In the end we decided to do it on total wounds, so both my CCS and GL vets took leadership test. The vets ran for it right off the table, but the CCS stayed in combat.)
“For the emperor” the sergeant of the AC vets yelled as his squad cuts down the remaining slugga’s as they flee.


At this point it was Orks 2 IG 1. Moe still had 5 lootas, 3 Kommandos (who were running for it, but still a long way from his table edge) 7 shootas and his war boss.

I had my AC vets down to the AC, Sergeant, Grenade Launcher and 1 Las gunner. My immobilized Hell hound, my company commander and the grenade launcher from his squad still locked in combat.

It was about 11:30 by this time and was fairly sure I was going to lose so forfeited the game.

It was a good game if not a little confusing in places, as we are both still kind of new to the hobby. Moe got lucky with his dice but he also played well, I think my main problem was that I wasn’t sure how to use my hellhound. This uncertainty led to it being immobilised and pretty much being useless the whole game. The Camo and Snare mines worked well for me especially during the slugga assault.

I’m going to redo my list, I just can’t cope with his Loota’s as it at the moment. I hoped my AC would take them out, if they had failed their first test the game would have been very different but they didn’t.

I’m probably going to drop the flamer vets as they have done nothing for me in any of my games, it might be due to me not using them properly but they just seem to die without getting a shot off.

Sorry again for the lack of picture and I hope that you enjoyed (was able to follow my report). LOL I did it all while at work.

I’m away for the next week so might not be able reply to any of your posts but please post any way.

Dammit i enjoyed the intro so much the rest was a huge dissapointment...
Still really cool though

Pretty good, but I don't think a head exploding represents crew stunned very well.

Joetaco: Thanks, sorry you found the rest disappointing. Any thing in particular or just generally? I didn't really get much of a chance to check it through as I was at work. I was also going to add a scene with Lynch blowing his own brains out to represent the forfeit but ran out of time.

CrazyThang: the Head exploding was actually the tank being immobilized, got stunned at the same time so thought a head exploding would better represent this than a thrown track. Sorry if it wasn't clear.

Like I said my first report haven't really found my style yet, I was tempted to do it all like a short story, but wasn't sure if people would actually want facts. Also thought more factual would aid people in giving advice.

should I have done it more like a story? Any advise on making it better would be appreciated.

Oh I see. Like the driver gets HES (head exploded syndrome) and can't drive. Cool I thought it was just a stun. It is good overall though, I enjoyed it.

SpankHammer III wrote:Joetaco: Thanks, sorry you found the rest disappointing. Any thing in particular or just generally? I didn't really get much of a chance to check it through as I was at work. I was also going to add a scene with Lynch blowing his own brains out to represent the forfeit but ran out of time.

CrazyThang: the Head exploding was actually the tank being immobilized, got stunned at the same time so thought a head exploding would better represent this than a thrown track. Sorry if it wasn't clear.

Like I said my first report haven't really found my style yet, I was tempted to do it all like a short story, but wasn't sure if people would actually want facts. Also thought more factual would aid people in giving advice.

should I have done it more like a story? Any advise on making it better would be appreciated.

Don't worry, it's a good report. Great writing makes up for the lack of pictures (and memory ) If you are worried that readers don't get the scene you are depicting, just add some facts. I enjoyed the report as it is because I do not actually like reports that resemble short stories. Those kind of texts fit well into intros but if I had to choose between cold facts and fiction, I would choose facts.

SpankHammer III wrote:Joetaco: Thanks, sorry you found the rest disappointing. Any thing in particular or just generally? I didn't really get much of a chance to check it through as I was at work. I was also going to add a scene with Lynch blowing his own brains out to represent the forfeit but ran out of time.

It wasn't supposed to be a critical thing. Sorry if i offended you i enjoyed the introduction felt alot more engaging than the rest of the story (battle report w/e) Overall it was epic and i can't wait to see more.

Crazythang: HES. i'll have to use that one. Thanks

Zaephyr: Glad you enjoyed it, i'll try and get some pics for the next one.

Joetaco: No offence taken, glad you liked the intro i really enjoyed writing it, te fluff is pretty much how i got into 40k. Once tried to write a story got to 25,000 words then got stuck, didn't know where I was taking it. Apologies if i came across offended i didn't mean to, i'm just eager to improve

For any of you who are interested, I've started a new list.

http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/277592.page#1308760

Absolutely excellent report, although I'm disappointed those filthy greenskins over-ran your line!

As for the style, I can't fault you. I think the format you created was perfect, nothing less. A bit of fluff to set the scene, a run down of the armies, then the battle play-by-play with quotes from the characters. Fantastic read, please post more!

thank you very much

No worries will definatley continue my reports, I enjoyed doing it to much not to.

Very nice report, but itemized costs are a no-no. Your IG list has costs for specific upgrades which GW can get pissy about. Cost for the squad as a whole is fine though.

Culler wrote:Very nice report, but itemized costs are a no-no. Your IG list has costs for specific upgrades which GW can get pissy about. Cost for the squad as a whole is fine though.

A mod edited the first list I posted when I joined Dakka originally and briefly mentioned the same thing... what's that all about, anyway?

Oh ok, sorry didn't know.

Guess its because if you list out all the costs you might not have to buy a codex. How are you meant to get help on an army list though?

Ah. The flavor of this report takes me back. Sweet nostalgia. 40K in story format, followed by a description of a dining room table battlefield. I love it. If you had had books for hills and pine cones for trees I would have wept for joy. The good (bad) old days.