Game one is over here!
Morgrim surveyed the carnage with indifference. Da Fishboyz 'ad not impressed 'im. If anytink, he woz mildly annoyed. Not by da destruction of 'is Trukk - plenty more where dat came from, and da culprits 'ad bin dealt with - personally - but by da delay. It would 'ave bin okay if da Fishboyz 'ad put up a decent fight…
Grimskab paced before 'is two prisonas, gesturing wildly with a running buzzsaw. Grot orderlies scurried about, making sure to give 'im a wide berth. "Right you two!" Grimskab addressed da captives, "One of use is gunna tell me where da beakies went, da uvver is gunna say 'ello to my little friend." Grimskab opened da throttle on the da buzzsaw for effect, the whir of da buzzsaw elevatin' to a high pitched whine. "So whose it gunna be?" Grimskab spun so dat 'is back faced da captivs, 'is arms stretched out and back. Somethin' stopped 'im from spinnin' completely aroun'. Da buzzsaw's high pitched whine reduced once again to a whir, but dis time more laboured, and accompanied by the sound of bone and flesh being ripped apart. Grimskab felt something warm and sticky splatter across 'is back. He turned back around, pulling da buzzsaw free of what remained of da capiv's 'ead. "Oops… You lot!" Grimskab pointed to the grot orderlies, "Check dat one for gin seed." Da remainin' captiv looked on in horror as three Grotz tore wot remained of his comrade apart with cruel, vicious tools. "Right, where was I? Yes - you woz gunna tell me what I need ta know!"
"Wot took so long?" Morgrim demanded as Grimskab, covered in Fishboy blood and flesh, approached. "'Ad ta check'em for gin seed." Morgrim scratched 'is 'ead. "I thought only da beakies 'ad gin seed?" Grimskab grinned. "Can neva be too sure Boss!" Morgrim's muscles flinched impatiently. Grimskab took the cue and proceeded directly with 'is report. "Da beakies woz 'ere, but sum time ago. Dere's a fresha battle site dat way…"
DA DARK ANGELZ
[
HQ] Morgrim "Da Lion" Grimork (Da Warboss): Mega Armour (Power Klaw, Twin Linked Shoota, Stikkbombs), Cybork Body (110pts)
[
HQ] Skarag Mekslag (Da Big Mek): Burna, Kustom Force Field, Mek's Tools (105pts)
[TR] Grimskab Badwort (Da Painboy): 'Urty Syringe, Dok's Tools, Cybork Body and Da Inna Circul (5 Nobz): 2 Power Klaws, Big Choppa, 2 Choppas, 4 Sluggas, Twin Linked Shoota, 5 'Eavy Armour, Bosspole, Cybork Bodies in a Trukk: Big Shoota, Boarding Plank, Red Paint Job, Reinforced Ram (320pts)
[TR] Da Warboss' Taktikal Boyz - 10 Shootas including Big Shoota and Nob: Power Klaw, Slugga, Bosspole in a Trukk: Big Shoota, Boarding Plank, Red Paint Job, Reinforced Ram (155pts)
[TR] Skarag's Taktikal Boyz - 11 Shootas including Rokkit Launcha and Nob: Power Klaw, Slugga, Bosspole in a Trukk: Big Shoota, Boarding Plank, Red Paint Job, Reinforced Ram (166pts)
[
FA] Rav'nwing I - Deffkopta with Twin Linked Rocket Launchas and Buzzsaw (70pts)
[
FA] Rav'nwing II - Deffkopta with Twin Linked Rocket Launchas and Buzzsaw (70pts)
TOTAL: 996pts
EL QUIXO
[
HQ]
El Quixo (Commander Shas'
el): Flamer, Twin Linked Missile Pod
[
EL] 3 Crisis Battlesuit: Flamers, Twin Linked Missile Pods
[TR] 12 Fire Warriors with Pulse Rifles including Shas'ui with Bonding Knife
[TR] 12 Fire Warriors with Pulse Rifles including Shas'ui with Bonding Knife
[
FA] 8 Pathfinders: Markerlights, Pulse Carbines including Shas'ui in a Devilfish with Burst Cannon, 2 Gun Drones (Twin Linked Pulse Carbines), Flechette Discharger
[
HS] Hammerhead Gunship, Railgun, Smart Missile System?
[
HS] Hammerhead Gunship, Railgun, Smart Missile System?
MISSION: Seize Ground (4 Objectives)
DEPLOYMENT: Pitched Battle
PRELUDE
El Quixo places the first objective in the north west, on the refinery. Da Dark Angelz place the second objective 12" east north east of the first, in the open.
El Quixo places the third objective on the other (east) side of the battle, centrally. Da Dark Angelz place the last objective south east of the first two, in the open, forming a triangle, resulting in the objectives ending up clumped mostly in the north west quarter, with one in the far east.
Morgrim contemplates letting
El Quixo make the first move in the interests of a challenge, but eventually chooses to launch the attack, choosing the south board edge (opposite the objectives). Da Dark Angelz set up centrally and await da Fishboyz arrival. West to east - Morgrim's Taktikal Trukk, Rav'nwing I, Skarag's Taktikal Trukk, Rav'nwing II and Grimskab's Trukk with Da Inna Circul.
El Quixo deploys along the north east edge. West to east -
El Quixo and Crisis Suits, Firewarriors, Pathfinders (behind Firewarriors), Firewarriors (behind Pathfinders), Pathfinder Devilfish (behind Firewarriors) and the Hammerheads.
Rav'nwing I & II turboboost forward, Rav'nwing I towards the Crisis Suits and Rav'nwing II towards the Hammerheads - though the positioning of
El Quixo's Firewarriors deny it a first turn charge.
El Quixo fails to seize the initiative and the battle begins!
TURN 1
Da Trukks open the throttle and move flat out straight towards the
El Quixo's Tau lines (again). Rav'nwing II moves towards the Hammerheads, firing on side armour, but missing. Rav'nwing I instakills a Crisis Suit with a well aimed Rokkit before assaulting.
El Quixo was unfazed however, he and his bodyguard putting out a flurry of wounding hits (4!) - downing Rav'nwing I before he could bring his Buzzsaw to bear… (made 2 saves…).
El Quixo and the Crisis Suits consolidated away from the Ork lines.
The front Firewarriors moved forward whilst the Pathfinders and rear Firewarriors moved back.
El Quixo and his bodyguard moved further west. The Pathfinders opened up on Rav'nwing II, downing him with Pulse Carbine fire. A Hammerhead Railgun punched through the
KFF save making Grimskab's Trukk go Kaboom! - the combination of 'Eavy Armour and
FNP negating any wounds.
El Quixo and his bodyguard opened up a torrent of Missile Pod fire on Morgrim's ride, the
KFF unable to stop it all - sending him Kareening towards the refinery and the cluster of objectives before also going Kaboom! and killing two boyz. To add insult to injury, rapid firing Firewarriors sent Skarag's Trukk Kareening backwards as well - though failed to cause any casualties. The effects of a wound from the Devilfish drones (pinning) was ignored as they were still Fearless. All in all,
El Quixo had made it clear he wasn't going to tolerate the Orks presence! Luckily they had made all of their pinning checks…
DA DARK ANGELZ: 2 Objectives (0
KP),
EL QUIXO: 0 Objectives (5
KP)
TURN 2
Taken by surprise by the Tau firepower, Morgrim was momentarily confused as to what to do! He started off towards
El Quixo and the Crisis Suits to revenge the loss (again!) of 'is Trukk.
Grimskab and da Inna Circul moved up cautiously through the wreckage of their Trukk. Skarag's Taktikal boyz, being further behind the action, moved up somewhat less cautiously. Da Inna Circul opened fire on the Firewarriors in front of them, downing three and causing them to flee - which they found most unamusing as now they were out of charge range! Skarag's Taktikal boyz legged it up in line with the now confused Nobz. Morgrim, in a rare moment of clarity, realised he would neither be able to catch the Crisis Suits, nor kill them with shooting. Neither did he want to babysit the objectives whilst taking fire, and so decided to make his way towards da rest of da boy and Skarag's
KFF.
The rear Firewarriors embarked on the Devilfish whilst the Pathfinders moved back further away from the Orks. The front Firewarriors rallied. The Crisis Suits continued to taunt Morgrim, keeping out of range. Fire from the bulk of
El Quixo's forces reduced Skarag's boyz by four to seven, and
El Quixo's bodyguard scored another of Morgrim's boyz, reducing them to seven as well.
DA DARK ANGELZ: 2 Objectives (0
KP),
EL QUIXO: 0 Objectives (5
KP)
TURN 3
Grimskab, Skarag and Morgrim continued to move towards the bulk of
El Quixo's forces. Morgim called down the Waaagh! and all three units legged it closer towards the Tau lines. Grimskab and Da Inna Circul assaulted the Firewarriors they had meant to previously, cutting them down and consolidating towards the Hammerheads.
El Quixo continued to move to frustrate Morgrim, but being so far away from the rest of his forces, was unable to persuade the rest of his forces too. Morgrim grinned as first the leftmost Hammerhead decided to Tank Shock the Nobz as well as Skarag's Taktikal Boyz, and then the Devilfish Tank Shocked da Nobz as well. Skarag and Grimskab passed their required Morale checks and now the Tau tanks were right where da boy wanted them! The m's other Hammerhead and the Pathfinders continued to move away from the Orks. Another disadvantage to the Tank Shocks became apparent as the Railgun submunition blasts could no longer be placed as advantageously. Still, massed fire continued to whittle down Skarag's and Morgrim's Taktikal mobs - Skarag's down to six boyz including a wound on 'imself - and Morgrim's down to four including a wound on the Nob.
DA DARK ANGELZ: 0 Objectives (1
KP),
EL QUIXO: 0 Objectives (5
KP)
TURN 4
Da Inna Circul moved to allow a multi assault on the Devilfish and the Pathfinders. Skarag's Taktikal mob moved around the Hammerhead, allowing the Rokkit Launcha a rear armour shot, whilst what was left of Morgrim's Taktikal mob moved up to assault the front. Assaults saw the Devilfish wrecked and the Pathfinders wiped, allowing the Nobz to consolidate towards the remaining Hammerhead. Morgrim and Skarag's boyz however only managed to stun the fast moving Hammerhead.
The remaining Hammerhead rammed the Nobz without effect, whilst the disembarked Firewarriors ran westwards and
El Quixo and his bodyguard circled around. Fire from
El Quixo saw Morgrim's squad wiped and Skarag lost another boy as well as the Nob wounded to fire from the Hammerhead. Morgrim was unfazed however, and promptly destroyed the Hammerhead in front of him. Morgrim consolidated through the forest towards the Firewarriors whilst Skarag led his boyz back towards the eastern objective.
DA DARK ANGELZ: 0 Objectives (4
KP),
EL QUIXO: 0 Objectives (6
KP)
TURN 5
Morgrim moved towards the Firewarriors, Da Inna Cirul moved towards the Hammerhead and Skarag and his remaining boyz moved towards the eastern objective. Skarag's boy ran towards the eastern objective, finally bringing it within their reach. Morgrim fired on and assaulted the Firewarriors, cutting them down as they fled, and consolidated back into the forest. Da Inna Circul assaulted the Hammerhead, destroying it and consolidating towards the eastern objective also.
El Quixo, in an effort to salvage a draw, moved forward in an attempt to lure Skarag off his objective, should the battle continue. A deluge of Missile Pod fire looked like it might shift Skarag, but the cover from the Trukk wreckage kept the losses to a single boy.
DA DARK ANGELZ: 1 Objective (6
KP),
EL QUIXO: 0 Objectives (6
KP)
TURN 6
Morgrim moved south through the forest, but was once again too far from the rest of the battle. Da Inna Circul continued towards the eastern objective while Skarag and his remaining boyz took the bait and moved towards the Crisis Suits. Morgrim ran, as did Da Inna Circul - managing to barely arrive close enough to claim the eastern objective. Skarag's boyz assaulted
El Quixo and his bodyguard -
El Quixo moving to face off against the wounded Skarag in single combat! Skarag's burna struck first, but only managed to deal two wounds to
El Quixo - ensuring he would get to strike back! However, it was not to be. The two remaining Crisis Suits managed to down an Ork before the Nob instakilled both of them.
El Quixo, deciding the battle over, withdrew. Skarag and his remaining boyz consolidated towards the nearby objective.
El Quixo fled. As a final shot, he took out two more of Skarag's boyz, and then the battle was over.
DA DARK ANGELZ: 1 Objective (8
KP),
EL QUIXO: 0 Objectives (6
KP)
VICTORY: DA DARK ANGELZ
AFTERMATH - DA DARK ANGELZ
I can't help but feel that *should* have been a Tau victory. Certainly I started my second turn with very little idea of what to do - having lost both Deffkoptas, all three Trukks, and two of them Kareening *away* from the Tau! The Deffkopta went down to two Crisis Suits and the Commander - 7 attacks needing 4's, then 5's and then saving on 4's. I think he rolled 6 hits and 4 wounds - of which I only managed to save 2 (sure, *my* luck was average!) Locking them in combat would have saved the Warboss' Trukk….
Then, to add insult to injury, I managed to break the Firewarrior squad I was planning to assault with the Nobz in turn 2 with 4 sluggas and a twin linked shoota…
Unfortunately for the Tau, da boyz managed to pass all of their Leadership/Morale checks this game - and therefore the Tank Shock ploy not only didn't pay off - but played right into my hands as well.
Although I set up centrally, it was more to the left (where the three objectives were) than the right. I think I should have set up more to the right in an attempt to encourage the Tau to set up more to the left - where the objectives were. After the first turn, I was in a great position to hunker down in some cover on all of the objectives - but I doubt I could have weathered 5 turns of fire from the whole Tau army. Plus its un-Orky!
Morgrim should have given up on the Crisis Suits a move earlier. The Nobz shouldn't have shot the Firewarriors as they needed the assault. Other than that, I'm not sure what else I should have done.
Mob of the match(es) goes to the Nobz, who only managed to take a single wound over two games thanks to 'Eavy Armour and
FNP (though they were never really directly targeted). I had considered them a point sink (which, funnily enough, I needed for these battles) - but the ability to just throw them out there and not worry about them was awesome.
I hope you enjoyed! All comments welcome - regarding the game, the armies, the photos - even the battle report format! I'm doing my best to improve everything!
Arakasi
Imperial Knights: The Avengers Initiative
Da Dark Angelz
Arakasi vs Infinity
2,000 points and Growing
3,000 Points and Waiting 
