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.

Game One: 1500 Points vs Ultramarines.

Splinter Fleet Lyracian
Not really had a chance to put the new stuff together yet so my army was -
Prime w/ Deathspitter, Sword/Whip, Regen and TS
Hive Tyrant w/ Shell, Sword/Whip, Stranglethorn, Old Adversary, Toxic Miasma
Hive Guard x1
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x12 w/ Toxic Sacs
Xenomorphs x12 w/ Toxic Sacs
Termagant Broods 2 x11 w/ Toxic Sacs
Zoanthropes x3 & Mycetic Spore w/ TL Deathspitter
Carnifex w/ Bio-Plasma & Mycetic Spore w/ TL Deathspitter
Spore Mine Cluster

Ultramarine
Snack: Chaplain with Jump Pack
Lunch: Alpha, Beta & Gamma Tactical Squads with flamers & missiles, two Fists.
Dinner: Delta squad 10 Devastators with 4 Missiles
Tea: 10 Assault Marines with Fist and 2 Plasma pistols.
Appetiser: 5 Terminators with assault cannon
Inedible rock: Dreadnought with extra armour

Mission Seize ground, Spearhead.
Battlefield had a ruined church to the central north with a graveyard (objective) south of it leaving only a small passage way between them. North-east quadrant had an ammo dump and ruins (both objectives). South-east quadrant had a large hill. South-west had a water tower (objective) and some rocky terrain. North-west had a couple of large rocks. There was also some low walls scatters around.


Tyranids deployed Prime and Termagants west of the graveyard with Tyrant and Hive Guard behind them. Spore Mines landed dead centre of the marines deployment zone causing disruption. Alpha squad deployed north of the church. Beta squad and terminator deployed to the west of the church. Gamma squad and the Dreadnought were on the western flank behinds the rocks. Delta squad was forced to the northern edge just past the spore mines. Xenomorphs then infiltrated on the ammo dump.

Turn One
With perfect drifting spore mines killed two of Delta squad! Prime let his units forward towards the gap between church and graveyard. Tyrant killed three of Alpha squad with a blast from Stranglethorn cannon and the Xenomorphs scurried towards Alpha squad. The Terminator moved around the church to fill the gap and gunned down some gaunts. Alpha squad were a bit shaken by the blast and only managed to kill three Xenomorphs. Delta squad moved up to get a perfect firing position on the advancing horde. Spore mines were wiped out by the rest of the marine shooting.


Turn Two
Mycetic spore deviated 11” and dropped the Carnifex directly behind Delta squad. Five marines were promptly roasted by plasma, the rest ran away. Tyrant nerve shocked the Terminators and killed one. The prime and gaunts charged killing two more taking no return casualties. Alpha squad were eaten by the Xenomorphs.

Delta squad ran off the battlefield thanks to being next to the spore. Beta squad moved around the church and wiped out two-thirds of the Xenomorph threat. Gamma squad and the Dreadnought shot the Carnifex inflicting a single wound. Termagants ate the Terminators and consolidated around the church. Chaplin and his squad landed behind the Tyrant.


Turn Three
Zoanthropes landed on target next to the Tyrant. Combined fire from Tyrant, Hive Guard, Zoanthropes and guants reduced the chaplain to only two bodyguards. Tyrant nerve shocked them and charge in leaving the chaplain alone. Carnifex charged Gamma squad. Prime and Xenomorphs charged Beta squad. The three survivors of Beta squad were broken and fled.

Beta squad could not rally thanks to being next to the spore but gunned down the last of the Xenomorphs. Gamma squad were eaten by the Carnifex who took his third wound from the Power Fist. Dreadnought charge the Prime and started mowing down gaunts causing no-retreat wounds to kill more.

Turn Four
The other unit of Xenomorphs arrived and surged forward toward the graveyard. Carnifex charges the dreadnought (who misses completely) and rips its power arm off! The Chaplain makes all his saves and holds the Tyrant, Zoanthropes and Hive Guard at bay.

Beta squad ran off the battlefield thanks to being next to the spore! Carnifex is hit by the Dreadnought and dies (he fails the first save he is called on to make). Meanwhile the Chaplain is still fighting...

Turn Five.
Five Termagants run to the ammo dump to claim an objective. Xenomorphs change direction and charge the Dreadnought immobilising it. Chaplain finally dies under the Tyrants bone-sword. Xenomorphs manage to destroy the Dreadnought during the ultramarines turn.

Aftermath
Win by annihilation (but I was holding an objective too). The bad scatter for the spore really worked in my favour as it stopped two units of marines from rallying. I also got perfect reserve rolls. Without the Zoantrhopes the Tyrant would have struggled against the Assault marines. As it was the Tyrant only took two wounds, both from snake eyes on the Psi test. Marines had some bad rolls especially with the Devestators breaking in the shooting phase. Carnifex would have really suffered if those missiles had been fired at him or if Gamma squad had been able to wound.

Nice report. Good to see a carnifex in a list like this, I ive been looking at including some (mostly because I have 3 from last ed.) and was considering running the exact loadout you used. Good to see they are still pretty effective.

I like the way you named the Space marines, I demand more battle reports

Game Two: 1500 Points vs Alpha Legion.

Splinter Fleet Lyracian
Prime w/ Deathspitter, Swords, Regen with
Zoanthropes x3 & Mycetic Spore w/ Cluster Spines
Swarmlord with one Guard
Hive Guard x1
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x10 w/ Toxic Sacs
Xenomorphs x10 w/ Toxic Sacs & Broodlord with Talons
Termagant Broods 2 x10
Tyranofex with Rupture Cannon

Alpha Legion
Toffee Crisp: Tzeentch Sorcerer in Terminator armour
Lunch: Alpha & Beta Chaos Space Marine Squads
Light Snack: Havoc squad Delta with missiles and las-cannons
Supper: 10 Khorne Berserker's with Fist.
Appetiser: 7 Nurgle Terminators
Inedible rock: Defiler with Battle cannon

Mission: Annihilation Pitched Battle.
Some ruins lay in the centre of the battlefield with other smaller ruins to the south, south east and south west. Hills lay to the north-east and north-west. Western plain was broken up with an ammo dump and some scattered barricades. Swarmlord, Guards and one Termagant screen set up on the western side of the central ruins with the T-fex and other guant screen on the eastern side. Defile took the central hill to the north with Chaos Marine on each side. Berserkers took the western flank with Havocs on the eastern flank.

Turn One
T-fex stomped forward and obliterated the Defiler (two penetrating hits rolling double six on the damage table). Everything else ran forward. Alpha legion concentrated all their fire into the gaunt screen. The first brood took nine casualties while the second one made all its cover saves!

Turn Two
Xenomorphs arrived, munched the havocs, and consolidated towards the centre. Mycetic Spore spatted down table centre allowing the Zoanthropes to Warp Blast four Marines to a hideous end. The lone gaunt hid behind the spore while the Termagants exchanged fire with Marines again making all their saves from incoming fire! Terminators arrived in the east and managed to inflict a single wound on a Zoanthrope.

Turn Three.
Sensing a threat the Swarmlord veered toward the Terminators draining the life from one and nerve shocking them all. He need not have bothered though as the Broodlord arrived from the flank and slaughtered the whole unit (go Toxic Sacs). T-fex stomped towards the Berserker's who were advancing on the Hive Guard. The Prime and 'thropes charged Alpha Squad after one of the Zoantrhopes exploded its own head. Xenomorphs charged Beta Squad rending them apart. The Sorcerer materialised in the west and missed the Hive Guard with his psionic blast. The Berserker's could not quite clamber over the ammo dump to assault him either.

Turn Four
Having nothing to fight the Swarmlord and both broods of Xenomorphs had to run towards the remaining opponents. Dying in droves the Termagants charged the Sorcerer just to keep him occupied. Prime was having problems with Alpha Squad (four ones on his attacks) but at least he was regenerating. The Berserker's ripped the Hive Guard apart and surged to meet the T-fex.

Turn Five.
Unable to reach the Sorcerer Xenomorphs charged in to help the Prime. Alpha squad finally succumbed. Mwanwhile T-fex killed a few Berserker's taking five wounds in return over both phases. The Sorcerer finished off the Termagants thanks to no retreat wounds. Everything else carried on running towards the battle.

Turn Six.
Thanks to fleet both units of Xenomorphs were able to charge removing the last vestige of chaos from the planet.

Aftermath
Win by annihilation (7 Kill Points to 2 Kill Points). I had expected Alpha Legion to use their usual Land Raider, they had got fed up of it being microwaved on the first turn and tried playing something different. Another game that shows Tyranids eat foot marines.

18” Synapse and Preferred Enemy from the Swarmlord were useful but I did not really get to try him out. I did not even need the outflanking re-rolls. T-fex did his job of killing armour so I think he will be sticking around. Broodlord was overkill so may save him for higher point games.

sexiest_hero wrote:I like the way you named the Space marines, I demand more battle reports

Thanks I shall keep them coming but I do not play that often.

I envy your luck with the Tyranofex. First turn pens and explosions is pretty epic.

Nice reports, the only thing I would suggest is some pics if those are available?

Corndoggy wrote:I envy your luck with the Tyranofex. First turn pens and explosions is pretty epic.

Nice reports, the only thing I would suggest is some pics if those are available?

T-fex had a 36% chance of silencing the Battle Cannon so double pen was a bit lucky.
I am still waiting for my friend to give me the pics from the first game. I took my camera last night and was so excited about doing well forgot to take any! So none for the second game.

Game Three: 1750 Points vs White Scar Marines

Splinter Fleet Lyracian
Prime w/ Deathspitter, Swords, Regen with
Zoanthropes x3
Hive Tyrant with Bonesword, Stranglethorn, Old Adversary and one Guard
Hive Guard x3
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x11 w/ Toxic Sacs
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x11 w/ Toxic Sacs
Tervigon with TS, AG, Catalysis
Termagant Brood 12
Tyranofex with Rupture Cannon

White Scar Marines
BBQ Sauce: Kor'sarro Khan on Bike
Lollipop: Terminator Librarian Episolary
Kentucky Fried Troops: Alpha & Beta Bike Squads w Plasma, Mela and Fist
Supper: 5 man Tactcal squad Delta
Tossed Salad: 9 man Assault Squad Gamma
Appetiser: Sigma Sternguard Squad with two Heavy Bolters and Power Weapon
Inedible rocks: Landraider & Predator

Mission: Capture and Control Spearhead
Marines deployed first into the ruined cathedral [objective] in the north east quadrant behind a shallow river. Sigma and Delta squads deployed in the ruins with the librarian and Landraider to the west and predator to the east. Tyranids deployed everything but the Xenomorphs in the south west behind a ruined bus containing there eggs [objective]. There were some low hedges between the bus and the river and other ruined structures to the west.

Picture: Marine Deplyment


Turn One
With the cathedral being 30” from the bugs front line most of the marines guns were out of range. The few shots that could reach bounced off the bus, shrapnel leaving only a single gaunt dead. The bugs advanced mostly running. The tyrant killed a couple of marines with a stranglethorn blast. Tervigion produced five babies and ran dry so made the Devilgaunts resistant to damage.

Turn Two
Both bike units arrived in the west. The horde was just out of rapid-fire range so shooting killed only a single gaunt. Zoanthropes made all there saves. Mobile cover saves with Feel No Pain proved there worth as only one died to bolter fire and only a single wound got through to the Hive Guard.

The Zoanthropes reversed direction while the rest of the swarm ran on. Both broods of Xenomorphs arrived one on each flank. Zoantrhopes fried all of Beta squad while Xenomorphs stripped Khan down to an entourage of one. The other Xenomorphs assaults into the cathedral. Despite Sigma squad going first they failed to kill any aliens and only two Sternguard were left fighting. Khan fled combat with hit and run and...

Picture: Eating Sigma Squad


Turn Three
... charged into the T-fex. Where he failed to inflict a wound, but then the T-fex could not hurt him either! Gamma squad arrived and charged into the the cathedral to assist Sigma squad. The Librarian teleported into the centre of the battlefield opening a vortex of doom over the Hive Tyrant and killing one of the Hive Guard. The Landraider also zapped the Tyrant with its lasers. The gaunt screen continued to ignore the pain the predator and Delta squad were trying to inflict. Being wounded the Tyrant drained the life from Delta squad and then obliterated the rest with a blast from his cannon. The hive guard killed the Librarian (snake eyes on his saves). The Xenomorphs were just able to fleet into combat with Khan and butcher him. Meanwhile the survivors of Sigma squad ran away as Gamma squad was eaten.

Picture: Xenomorphs and T-fex consolidated onto objective.


Turn Four
Sigma squad ran off the battlefield. The predator tried to kill the Xenomorphs while the land raider concentrated on the Hive Tyrant. The Land raider lost a single gun under a hail of fire from Zoantrhopes, Hive Guard and T-fex. Then the Hive Tyrant ripped it apart with his claws. Xenomorphs only managed to scratch the paint work on the predator stunning it.

Picture: Tyrant vs Land Raider


Turn Five.
Still in base contact the Xenomorphs ripped the predator apart during the marines turn.

Aftermath: Win by annihilation (but I was holding both objectives too). Genestealers love spearhead deployment and as usual they just chewed through infantry. All the marine troops were dead by the end of the third turn giving them no chance to win the game. T-fex, along with half my army, really did not do much this game. Mostly though that was because I made 90% of my cover/FNP saves. I only lost 10% of my army. Leech Essence was good for keeping the Tyrant in the battle even if all he did was stomp around.

Not to take anything anyway from Lyracian, who played a damn good game and deservingly stomped me, but last night was my first game of 40k for over ten years and the dice Gods deserted me wholeheartedly.

But like I said, it takes nothing away from his victory. Well played, the White Scars I'm sure will return seeking vengeance.

Congrats on your victories!! Tyranids are tough to use as any other 'Nid player might tell you, but you did a great job. Keep them coming!

Where did you get those Alien (Xenomorph) models? Those are epic.

How many points were these games?

And yeah, I like the alien models, they look legit.

Shovan wrote:Where did you get those Alien (Xenomorph) models? Those are epic.

HORROR CLIX : AVP ALIENS Collectors Set

You get seven figures. I won one box and purchased a second. Not sure where you can get them now though. They are out of production.

dragon1092 wrote:How many points were these games? And yeah, I like the alien models, they look legit.

Sorry, forgot to put that. Just edited it in. Two at 1500 and the last one at 1750.
Just won game four so that will be up tomorrow.

Do you ever play more mech-y lists, because it seems like your list would have problems with IG or SM lists based around such. Just wondering. Because when you look at it, tyranids have probably the best anti infantry stuff in the game imo if you take out tanks such as chimaeras which have billions of weapons on them for like no point costs.

How has the stranglethorn been working for you? I have not used one yet mainly because after the dismantling of the old psychic choir I have become greatly disenfranchised by pinning weapons. I do use tons of cluster spines though especially on spods because cluster spines are amazing blast weapons.

Game Four: 800 points vs Blood Angels

Splinter Fleet Lyracian
Prime w/ Deathspitter, Swords, Regen
Zoanthrope
Hive Guard x3
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x10 w/ Toxic Sacs
Tervigon with TS, AG, Catalysis
Termagant Brood x12 with Devourers

Blood Angel Marines
Breakfast: Reclusiarch with PF & Jump Pack
Lunch: Alpha Squad with Flamer & Beta Squads with Missile Launcher
Supper: 5 man Assault Squad Gamma with Fist
Midnight Snack: Priest
Inedible rocks: Furioso Dreadnought and Heavy Dreadnought

Mission: Capture and Control, Dawn of War
Marines had taken control of an abandoned Elder webway and are guarding the control device [objective]. Attracted by the smell of fresh meat roving Tyranids have returned to protect there eggs [objective] among the wreckage of crashed Imperial Aquila Lander near the gateway.

Deployment
Centre of the table was a two story landing pad. Tervigon deployed to the east behind an abandoned shipping container. Prime and Termagants deployed behind the landing pad. Beta squad deployed in the ruined building to the north-west by the control unit. Reclusiarch and Gamma squad were to the east in the open.

Picture Tyranid Deployment


Picture: Marine Deployment


Turn One
Tervigon excrete seven gaunts and run dry. The new brood moves on to the objective and remain there for the whole game. The prime's brood moves up and kills a couple of marines with shooting. Zoantrhopes and hive guard walk on to the table and stumble forward.

Alpha Squad with the Priest arrives to the east of the ruined building when the two dreadnought move on to the west. Gamma squad charges forward and assaults the prime. Shooting and assault leave the Prime alone facing the Reclusiarch and two marines.

Turn Two
Xenomorphs arrive in the west and assault Alpha squad. Tervigon rushes over to get revenge for her dead babies wiping out the assault marines while the Reclusiarch kills the Prime. Tyranid anti-tank continues to run towards the battle.

Beta squad shoot the hive guard with missiles inflicting a wound. Furioso fleets into battle with the Tervigon who kills the Reclusiarch. Alpha squad make all there Feel No Pain rolls so death is only from rends. The Heavy Dreadnought charges into combat with the Xenomorphs who rip off its Blood fist. Sgt, Priest and Dreadnought carry on fighting against nine aliens.


Turn Three.
With nothing to shoot at the Hive Guard watch as the Tervigon is ripped apart by the Furio.
Xenomorphs kill the Priest and stun the Dreadnought. The Sgt dies in the marine turn along with one alien.
Furioso fleets into combat with the Hive Guard and wipes them out.


Turn Four.
Zonathrope incinerates the Furioso with a focused blast of warp energy.
Another Xenomorph dies stunning the Dreadnought. Beta squad have no targets so reposition themselves in the ruins.

Turn Five.
Zoanthrope moves up behing the landing pad leaving Beta squad no targets. Another Xenomorph dies stunning the Dreadnought - did I not just say that!
With one objective each we are heading for a draw, but the game continues...

Turn Six
Xenomorphs get three rends which stack up to wreck the Dreadnought and consolidate next to the webway controller. Zonanthrop fails to kill either of the two remaining marines.
Needing to make the Xenomorphs fall back the marines open fire but only manage to kill one with the missile (snake eyes on the bolter).


Aftermath: Tyranid win with 1 objective to zero!
A very close game with the Furio almost making it to the Tyranid eggs. I had to sacrifice one of my anti-tank units so the other would be able to shoot it. It took the Genestealers eight assault phases to kill the Dreadnought. I was getting one or two glances each turn but just could not get any damage to stick. At least I took the Blood fist out quickly so it was not inflicting penetrating damage.

Dawn of War resulted in a complete change of my deployment plans. I was going to advance the anti-tank behind the Termagant screen with the aim of destroying the Dreadnoughts before they got to me. As it was all my elite units were stuck too far away to do any good.

dragon1092 wrote:Do you ever play more mech-y lists, because it seems like your list would have problems with IG or SM lists based around such. Just wondering. Because when you look at it, tyranids have probably the best anti infantry stuff in the game imo if you take out tanks such as chimaeras which have billions of weapons on them for like no point costs.

Sometimes. I did mention that Chaos left there land raider behind as they were fed up with melta-spam. That is why I take Zoanthropes, Hive Guard and T-fex. I would probably take more guard but at £10 a model they are a bit expensive so will have to wait for Christmas. It just took me nine assault phases to kill one Dread with Xenomorphs. The other died to a single Zoanthrope. I am hopiong to play against a full mech army in a couple of weeks and see how I do popping all the Rhinos.

dragon1092 wrote:How has the stranglethorn been working for you? I have not used one yet mainly because after the dismantling of the old psychic choir I have become greatly disenfranchised by pinning weapons. I do use tons of cluster spines though especially on spods because cluster spines are amazing blast weapons.

It is the only gun I think is worthwhile on the Tyrant. 90% of my games are against Marines and they usually have a Heavy Weapon Team (Devs, Havok,Long Fangs) so killing a couple with a chance of pinning is very good. My main issue is that every turn I spend shooting, the swarm gets further away and looses Proffered Enemy. I am seriously considering just taking the Swarmlord in any game at 1750+ points.

I love the substitute marine ;D

awesomesauce mate

Game Five: 1750 points vs Chaos Demons

Splinter Fleet Lyracian
Swarmlord with two guard
Zoanthropes x3
Hive Guard 2 Broods x2
Brood lord & Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x12 w/ Toxic Sacs
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x12 w/ Toxic Sacs
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x8 w/ Toxic Sacs
Mummy Tervigon with TS, AG, Catalysis
Termagant Brood x12
Gargoyles x16

Demons of the Warp
Primary Wave
Cake: Epidemius & twelve Plague Bearers
Toffees: Nurglings x9
Stew: Plague and Pestilence – two Nurgle Demon Princes with all the trimmings
Inedible rocks: None!

Secondary Wave
Light Snack: The Masque
Pizza: Skulltaker & twelve Bloodletters
Hot Sauce: Flamers of Tzeentch
Raw Meat: Bloodcrusher
Pot Roast: Guts - Khorne Demon Prince with all the trimmings

Mission: Seize Ground (5 Objectives) Spearhead
Deployment: As expected the demons did not deploy. Tyranids set up in south-west corner with Swarmlord in the middle. Gagoyles and guard to the west. Tervigon, Zonathropes, Gaunts and Xenomorphs to the right. Two units of Xenomorphs held in reserves.

Battlefield has a large hill in the centre with scattered tank traps, ammo dumps and some walls in each quarter. Tyranids have two objectives in the south-west (13” apart). Other three are in line to the north, north-east and north-west.

Turn One
Being chaotic the demons of the warp land their second wave first spreading across the north-east quarter with no mishaps. Sadly the demons are too far away for Tyranids to shoot who just shuffle around a bit.

Turn Two
Everything except one Nurlge Prince arrives. Nurglings scatter onto the top of the hill. Epidemius and Plague both land to the North-west. Demons then all run towards the Tyranids. Zoanthropes put a wound on Guts while Guard get three wounds on Plague! Swarmlord charges the Nurglings and discovers how hard it is to kill swarms with Eternal Warrior. Tervigon spawns seven babies but fails to give Gargoyles Feel No Pain. I charge them into Epidemius and his squad anyway. Which was a big mistake as they got butchered. I get snake eyes on the outflanking and twelve Xenomorphs arrive on the empty board in the east...

Turn Three
Pestilence arrives in the north-west as the battle rages. Skulltaker charges Swarmlord and both guard are killed. Bloodcrusher & Guts charge the gaunt's (who did there job of screening the Zoanthropes). Plague charges and kills a brood of Hive Guard. Masque plays ping-pong with Xenomorphs while the Flamers kill a couple of them. Gargoyles get wiped out.

Tervigon produces sixteen babies who charge Skulltaker. Swarmlord holds his own killing Bloodletters. Broodlord and friends tear strips off Guts. More Xenomorphs arrive and charge Epidemius. They kill a couple of Plaguebearers but loose combat by one so flee back towards Mummy (at least they get to rally). Termagants tar pit Plague.


Turn Four
Epidemius shuffles towards NW objective. Pestilence kills the other Hive guard and gets a wound on mummy with its noxious breath. Swarmlord gets swamped by Nurglings and dies. Broodlord kills Guts. Flamers blast Zoanthropes but there warp field holds while Masque continues to play ping-pong with Xenomorphs.

Tervigon and the rallying Xenomorphs kill Pestilence (3 rends and a final strike from mummy) and consolidate back to the objective. Plague is still tarpitted by Termagants only managing to kill one a turn (really bad rolls). Broodlord kills Bloodcrusher and continue to hold their objective. Skulltaker kills the others gaunts. Zoanthropes kill the flamers. Xenomorphs in the east manage to fleet close enough to Masque and eat her. They consolidate forward to hold northern objective.


Turn Five
Epidemius shuffles onto the NW objective. Nurgling charge Broodlord and start hewing through the brood thanks to now being armed with power weapons. Skulltaker charges Xenomorphs and dies! Leaving one Bloodletter against two Xenomorphs. Plague finally kills the termagants but is shot down by the Zoanthropes as he advances on the objective.


Turn Six
The last Bloodletter and Nurgling die. Zoanthropes and Tervigon shoot at the Epidemius but he is too far away for it to have much effect (one dead plaguebearer). Game ends with Plaguebearers holding one objective and all three Xenomorph units scoring an objective (8, 2 and 2 models).


Aftermath: Tyranid Victory - Three Objectives to one.
Nurgle Demons were tougher than I expected. It did not help that we misread Epidemius' power and for the second half of the game Demon Prince's & Nurglings got a 3+ Feel No Pain save. It really was a tactical error to charge the Gargoyles. Not only did they get easily defeated by Toughness 5 and Feel No Pain but the kills gave everything else Noxious Touch (2+ to wound) and left an opening for the Demon Prince to charge the Hive Guard. Nurglings really were the Demon of the match, while Genestealers once again won the day for the ever hungry forces of the hive mind.

Next: It is half term in a fortnight and I have two games lined up (Blood Angles and Salamanders) so I will finally get to see how I fair against a full mech army.

Game Six: 1750 points vs Salamanders

Splinter Fleet Lyracian 11+ Spawn Kill Points
Deathstar Tyrant with three Whip guard (Shell, Regen, Sword/Whip/Brainleech,OA,HC)
Zoanthropes x3 in Spore pod
Hive Guard 2 Broods x2
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x12 w/ Toxic Sacs
Mummy Tervigon with TS, AG, Catalysis
Termagant Brood x10
Gargoyles x16
Tyrannofex with Rupture Cannon

Salamander Space Marines 15 Kill Points
Canned Fish: Librarian Dexter, 5 Hammernators in Land Raider Redeemer
Canned Veg: Alpha & Beta Squads in Razorbacks with Assault Cannons
Canned Fruit: Gamma Squad in Razorback with Heavy Bolter
Scratching Posts: Brothers Armitage and Steel, Mortis pattern Dreadnoughts.
Inedible rocks: HF/MM Land Speeders x2
More Inedible rocks: Vindicators Vi & Vii

Mission: Spearhead Annihilation
Deployment: The battle raged on a dying world as streams of lava cooled the last bastion of Marines tried to stem the time of bugs while waiting for extraction. Tyranids deployed in the SW with a Tyrant and guard flanked by Hive Guard and a Tyrannofex. All of them screened by a wall of Gargoyles. The Salamanders armoured Spearhead was drawn up in the NE. Gamma squad took point flanked by the Vindicators. Further to the east was the crashed remains of the first extraction shuttle.



Turn One.
Marching to the east the Tyrannofex was just able to get a side armour shot immobilising and stunning Vi. Everything else rushed forward. Hive Guard detonated Vii's Cannon and vaporised three of Gamma squad along with their APC. Armoured spearhead rolled forward. Marines concentrated fire on the hive guard but could not get clear shots due to the Gargoyles (I only failed one cover save). Land Speeders boosted down the eastern flank.


Turn Two.
Gaunts arrived and shot uselessly at a Land Speeder. Zoanthropes arrived and scattered ten inches forward which would give the Land Raider a cover save from Vi. So the Guard Vaporised the Vindicator giving them a clear line of fire. First Zoanthropes brain exploded, second one was stopped by the Psi Hood and third fellow vaporised the Land Raider! Gargoyles blasted two Hammernators to death and T-fex immobilising Alpha Squads APC.

Warping time and space with a Null Zone the Librarian ordered all units to fire on the Zoanthropes. They were destroyed under a hail of Assault & Autocannon fire. Land Speeders flamed the Gaunts who broke and ran off the battlefield.

Turn Three.
Stomping forward the Tyrant crushed Vii's track while his guard wrecked it. T-fex and Hive Guard managed to stun an APC. Xenomorphs & Mommy arrived in the east. Each of them ripped apart a Land Speeder (Quite impressed with Mummy since she needed a six to hit). Brother Armitage puts a wound on the T-fex. Killing one guard with shooting Brother Steel & Hammernators charge the Tyrant. Deathstar kills one Terminator and the rest of the guard are killed. Librarian Dexter fails to activate might of the ancients due to Shadow of the Warp.


Turn Four.
Hive Guard blow guns off both APC's. Spore Pod misses and kills three Gargoyles with cluster spines. T-fex deal no damage. Mummy spawns eleven babies. Together with the Xenomorphs they all advance towards the NE. Gargoyles charge and kill all the Terminators and wound Dexter . Tyrant rips Brother Steel apart. Dexter activates Might but fails to wound the Tyrant.

Alpha & Beta squad disembark. Alpha Squad slaughter all but one of the Gaunts. Beta squad charge the Hive Guard firing there pistols. Beta Squad inflict no wounds and loose two men. Brother Armitate turns the spore pod into fried calamari. Dexter is torn apart in melee. Gargoyles and Tyrant consolidate to the east.


Turn Five
It is looking grim for the marines. Hive Guard detonate Beta squads APC while there brood brothers tear Beta squad down to a single marine. T-fex eats Alpha Squad while the Tyrant wrecks the APC. Gargoyles eat Gamma Squad and Xenomorphs rip both arms and engine off Brother Armitate. The fighting is so close packed Mummy can not even get into the battle and there is nothing for the new brood she spawned to to.


Aftermath: The Salamanders have one Marine and a crippled dreadnought left so we do not even bother rolling for turn six. Tyranids have 13 Kill Points to 4. Two Gargoyles and one Gaunt survived so that was almost two more points for Salamanders. None of the Monsters had more than one wound and Xenomorphs were still three quarters strong.

Really not the game either of us were expecting. The dice loved me and hated my opponent. I do not think he rolled a single six on a 'to wound' roll all game! I still can not really decided between Tyrant and Swarmlord. Tyrant was quite weak in combat, but the Preferred Enemy did help a lot of other units.

Game Seven: 1750 points vs Ultramarines

Splinter Fleet Lyracian 11+ Spawn Kill Points
Deathstar Tyrant with two Whip guard (Shell, Regen, Sword/Whip/Brainleech,OA)
Junior Prime with Bonesword,Whip, Deathspitter, TS
Zoanthropes x3
Hive Guard 2 Broods x2
Broodlord & Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x11 w/ Toxic Sacs
Mummy Tervigon with TS, AG, Catalysis
Termagant Brood x10
Gargoyles x15
Tiny the Tyrannofex with Rupture Cannon

Ultramarine
Snack: Chaplain with Jump Pack & Digital Weapons
Canned Fruit: Alpha Tactical Squads with flamer, missiles & Fist in Rhino.
Pate: Beta Tactical Squad with flamer, Missiles & Fist. Combat squading.
Dessert: Gamma Tactical Squad (who spent the game hiding in the kit box)
Dinner: Delta squad 5 Devastators with 4 Missiles
Tea: Epsilon Squad 10 Assault Marines with Fist and Flamers.
Appetiser: 10 Terminators with assault cannon
Inedible rock: Dreadnought
Another Inedible rock: Vindicator

Mission: Pitched Battle, Seize Ground.
Unfortunately I forgot the camera so no photos this week. Game had three objectives. Two near the middle of the table 13” from each other both in cover. The third one in the SE ruins. There is a reasonable amount of cover scattered across the middle of the table and a small wood to the east.

Tyranids deployed Daddy, Mummy & Junior in centre table flanked each side by Hive Guard. T-fex was on right flank and Zoanthropes were behind mummy. Gargoyle screen was deployed in front of them all.

Marines set up Delta squad in ruined building behind a river in the NW. Chaplain & Epsilon squad were in next to the river. Vindicator and Rhino table centre with Dreadnought and Beta Squad in the NE.

Turn One.
Deathstar and Gargoyles run towards the river. Mummy moves up to the central objectives. T-fex detonates the Vindicator and Hive Guard vaporise the Rhino pinning Alpha squad. I fail three 2+ saves from shooting (two on Tyrant one on T-fex). Singing hymns the Chaplain lead his squad forward an slaughters the Gargoyles.

Turn Two.
Xenomorphs arrive in the NW and assault into the ruins killing four Marines. Zoanthropes fry a few assault marines and the rest are slaughtered by the Deathstar and Junior. Mummy makes twelve babies. Hive Guard stun the Dreadnought and then a cannon ball from the T-fex leaves it a pile of slag.

Terminators materialise on the battlefield putting another wound on Tyrant and killing one guard. Alpha squad wipes out the newly born Termagants while both parts of Beta squad unloads all weapons into the T-fex for no effect. Broodlord eats the last of Delta squad and leads his brood to the river.

Turn Three.
In the west Zoanthropes fry a couple of Terminators. Deathstar then rends another four limb from limb. The survivors manage to kill the last of the guard and wound Junior. Xenomorphs are slowed by the river and cannot quite make it to the battle. In the east Mummy spawns 17 gaunts as she runs toward Alpha squad. Termagants spread out to control both central objectives. T-fex is lurking and kills four marines from Beta squad, including the Sgt.

Alpha squad put a couple of wounds on Mummy. Beta-2 squad appear to have run out of ammo for the Missile Launcher as they can not hit tiny the T-fex! Crushing the heads of two more Terminators the Tyrant then falls in battle.

Turn Four.
Gaunts arrive from reserves and run towards the SE objective. Xenomorphs charge in and help Junior obliterate the Terminators. Biting the heads from a couple of marines mummy charges into combat with Alpha Squad. Zoanthropes and Hive Guard in the west run to the east. Still lurking the T-fex finishes off Beta-1 Squad while the other Hive Guard pepper Beta-2 killing a marine. Beta-2 have found some more ammo but can not hurt the T-fex. Mummy is severely wounded by Marines but holds her own

Turn Five.
When the dust settles after a massive volley of fire a lone marine with a missile launcher is all that remains of Beta-2. Taking heavy casualties Alpha Squad break and run away with mummy chasing them. Alpha squad run off the battlefield and unfortunately there is not a lot one marine can do against a thousand points of Tyranids.

Turn Six. Mummy has taken five wounds, but the last marine dies.

Aftermath: Win by Annihilation, but I was controlling two objectives as well. My opponent did forgot to deploy his last squad (neither of us noticed until the end of the game) which did make things a little bit easier for me.

My dice continue to amaze me by obliterating all the armour in the first two turns of the game. I know it can not continue, I just wonder how many more games I will get before they turn against me. On turn Three the T-fex was 13” from mummy and kept failing his IB tests after that. It did not really matter since he had a clear line of sight to Beta squad but it did stop him from charging. Despite moving 6+3d6” my Termagants only moved 11” so failed to get within 3” of the third objective which I find quite sad.

Game Eight: 1750 points vs Salamanders

Splinter Fleet Lyracian 11+ Spawn Kill Points
Daddy Tyrant with two Whip guard (Shell, Regen, Sword/Whip/Brainleech,OA)
Junior Prime with Bonesword,Whip, Deathspitter
Zoanthropes x3
Hive Guard 2 Broods x2
Broodlord & Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x11 w/ Toxic Sacs
Mummy Tervigon with TS, AG, Catalysis
Termagant Brood x10 with AG
Gargoyles x15
Tiny the Tyrannofex with Rupture Cannon

Salamander Space Marines 16 Kill Points
Canned Lizard: Vulkan & 5 Sternguard (5x Combi-Melta, Claw) in Rhino class APC
Canned Veg: Alpha & Beta Squads in APC (Missile, Melta, Combi-flamer & Power Sword)
Dried Fruit: Gamma Devastator Squad with Missiles
Fresh Fruit: Delta Scouts squad with Sniper Rifle and Heavy Bolter
Scratching Posts: Brothers Armitage and Steel, Mortis pattern Dreadnoughts.
Inedible rocks: HF/MM Land Speeders x2 & Land Speeder Storm
More Inedible rocks: Vindicators Vi & Vii

Mission: Capture and Control, Spearhead.
Marines deployed in the hills to the NE. Scouts were holding the beacon (objective) with Gamma squad to to the east and each flank had one Dreadnought, Vindicator, APC & Land Speeder.
Vulkan's unit deployed with the western wing while the LS-Storm scouted ahead.

Termagants & Xenomorphs were both held in reserves everything else deployed in the SW as close to centre as possible.
Behind them in the very SW corner of the battlefield were some eggs (objective).

Turn One
Marines open fire and wipe out half the gargoyles and one hive guard. Return fire sees Tiny immobilise a Vindicator and the Zoanthropes stun the other. As usual Mommy spawns only once. Land Speeder Storm races forward and flames a half dozen more gargoyles and is then ripped apart by Daddy as he stomps forward toward the Salamaders.

Turn Two.
Being immobilised Vi causes a road-block stopping the two APC’s behind being able to advance. Massed fire wounds the Prime and obliterates the Gargoyles as well as all but one of the Gaunts. Tiny detonates Vi while Zoanthropes only manage to stun Vii and the Hive guard do nothing. Everything else rushes forward.

Turn Three.
The bridge being cleared Vulkan's APC rushes forward but even with the whole squad firing melta’s they fail to kill Mummy. She killed two marines with spines and then charged into melee along with her last baby. Vulkan took a wound from the Gaunt while Mummy failed to hit anything but was not wounded herself leaving the combat drawn.

Tyranid shooting improved with Tiny crippling Armitage and the Prime wrecking a land speeder. Hive guard all miss Vulkan’s Rhino and Zoantrhopes once more stun Vii! Genestealers arrive in the east but can not quite make combat. Daddy needs to move ten inches to engage Gamma squad and managed to move one inch (even with move through cover) so shoots and kills the sgt and nerve shocks the rest.


Turn Four.
An APC zooms towards the tyranid eggs. Steel charges and kills the Prime. Alpha squad jump out and rapid fire most of the Xenomorphs to an early grave. Mummy is killed by Vulkan. Tiny & Hive Guard pass there IB check and charge into combat with Vulkan and his last remaining bodyguard. Vulkan kills one Guard so the other runs while Tiny squishes the bodyguard.

Beta squad jump out of there Rhino and kill one of Daddy's bodyguard. Daddy charges into the Scouts (and marine objective) killing all but one of them. Gaunts arrive from reserve and camp out on the tyranid eggs. Xenomorphs kills a few marines in Alpha squad and are reduced to just the Broodlord. For the fifth time the Zoanthropes stun Vii and hive Guard immobilised the other land speeder.


Turn Five
Being unable to shoot at Broodlord, Tiny or Daddy (all locked in combat) the marines in the south east all fire at Zoanthropes and kill two. Vulkan, Broodlord and the last scout die in melee. Tiny shoots Beta squad and then charges them to keep them locked in combat. Fleeing Hive Guard shoots and immobilise the APC which is just short of the Tyranid Eggs. Gaunts surge forward and thanks to Adrenal glands rip the guns off the APC making it useless.


Turn Six
The last Zoanthrope dies to Steels charge while Daddy shrugs off an impressive volley of missiles and bullets. The last remaining Hive Guard vaporises Steel in return and with one wound remaining Tiny starts to cleave through Beta squad.


Turn Seven
Targeted by Vii, Alpha Squad & a speeder the last Hive Guard hugs cover and survives. The power sword fails to kill Tiny so the marines break and run. Gamma squad can not dislodge Daddy from the beacon.

Aftermath: Tyranid Win (one Objective to zero)
A lucky win with the APC being a couple of inches short of being able to contest my objective. I was hampered by terrain this game constantly failing to move more than 2” even with the third dice from move through cover. Daddy's triple one was probably the worst, at least he rolled a six next turn to assault the scouts. Zoanthropes were a disaster offensively but did at least soak up a lot of incoming fire. T-fex was the star killing a Vindicator, Dreadnought, Vulkan & 3 Sternguard as well as half of a tactical squad (who broke and ran). I am considering giving him regen for the next battle.

Game Ten: 1750 points vs Kharn's Iron Warriors

Splinter Fleet Lyracian 12+ Spawn Kill Points
Swarmlord with two guard
Zoanthropes x3
Hive Guard 2 Broods x2
Broodlord & Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x7
Broodlord & Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x7
Mummy Tervigon with TS, AG, Catalysis
Termagant two Brood x10
Gargoyles x15
Tiny the Tyrannofex with Rupture Cannon

Kharn's Iron Warriors Chaos Marines
Chicken Feed: Plague, Flying Nurgle Prince with breath weapon
Hot Chilli: Kharn & 7 Berserker's in Rhino class APC
Canned Rotten meat: Alpha Nurgle Marine Squad in APC (PF, 2x Flamers)
Dried Fruit: Beta Iron Warriors Squad
Scratching Post: Mad Max, Plasma Cannon Dreadnought.
Apple Pie: Five Tzchee Terminators
After dinner mint: Obliterator
Inedible rock: Vindicator Vi

Mission: Spearhead, Capture and Control (four Objectives)
Deployment: There was a hill in the centre of the battlefield (Objective) with an entrance to an underground silo on either side (Objectives) and a ruined building in the SE (Objective). Termagants depolyed in the ruined building with the main Tyranid swarm pushing towards the hill.
Mad Max and Kharn's Berserker's were behind a low wall to the north. Vi and Alpha Squad were to the west with Plague and the Iron Warriors on the western flank in some more ruins.


Turn One
Tyranids swarmed forward but were ineffective with their salvo of fire. Both APC's and Mad Max rushed forward popping smoke with a Zoanthrope and several Gargoyles dying under concentrated fire.


Turn Two
More gaunts arrive in the SW. Tiny failed to destroy the APC due to smoke and the Hivers shots bounced off the hull. Mummy produced a dozen babies that charged the APC but could not scratch the paintwork. Alpha Squad & Plague flamed the Gargoyles and Plague charged into them but failed to kill any! Zoanthropes vaporised the vindicator. Terminators teleported into the battle and slaughtered the babies while Kharn led his men around the meat blockade and charged Tiny killing him and one of his own men.


Turn Three.
Xenomorphs sneak in on the western flank and eat the Iron Warriors. Swarmlord charges Plague and rips him apart. Mad Max & Alpha Squad's APC are immobilised. Kharn kills one brood of Hivers (and another of his own men). Obliterator teleports into the battle and wounds mummy.


Turn Four.
Swarmlord charges the Terminators killing half of them. Mummy crushes the Obliterator but is cut down by Kharn moment later. More Xenomorphs arrive on the eastern flank but cannot clamber over the rubble to rend the APC. Mad Max is torn apart by Hiver missiles. With there psionic cutting torches the Zoanthropes cut open Alpha Squads APC allowing the Gargoyles to charge. Sadly the Gargoyles all die allowing Alpha Squad to charge the Swarmlord.


Turn Five.
Hivers and Zoanthrope join the Swarmlord to finish off the Terminators and Alpha Squad. Xenomorphs eat the Berserker's but are then wiped out by a rampaging Kharn.


Aftermath: Tyranid Victory – 2 Objectives to zero.
Kharn was a real butcher killing four units almost single handed but he could not quite swing the battle on his own.
As usual Mummy only birthed a single brood so I am glad I dropped the Toxic Sacs for an extra brood of Termagants.

Game Twelve: 1750 points vs Kharn's Plague

Splinter Fleet Lyracian 12+ Spawn Kill Points
Swarmlord with two guard
Zoanthropes x3
Hive Guard 2 Broods x2
Broodlord & Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x7
Broodlord & Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x7
Mummy Tervigon with TS, AG, Catalysis
Termagant two Brood x10
Gargoyles x15
Tiny the Tyrannofex with Rupture Cannon

Kharn's Plague Chaos Marines
Hot Chilli: Kharn the Betrayer
Rotten Apple Pie: Chaos Lord & six Nurgle Terminators
Rotten meat: Alpha & Beta Nurgle Marine Squads
Canned Fruit: Gamma Havoc squad in a Rhino armed with missile launchers
Scratching Post: Mad Max, Plasma Cannon Dreadnought.
After dinner mints: three Obliterators
Inedible rock: Defiler with Battle cannon

Mission: Dawn of War, Capture and Control (Three Objectives)
Deployment: There were four ruined buildings (one in each corner) and Alpha and Beta squads deployed in the NE & NW ruins. There were two objectives in the north both about 12” from the buildings. There was a silo (objective) to the SW of a ruined bus in the table centre. All of the Tyranids started in reserves (outflanking/deep striking where possible)

Turn One
The rest of Kharn's army surged onto the battlefield and having doing better to do ran forward...


Turn Two
Alpha & Beta squad stayed in there buildings. Khan joined with the Terminators and advanced on the western flank. Obliterators marched up to the north-western objective and stayed behind a low stone wall. Havocs left there Rhino and dug in cover by the north-eastern objective supported by Mad Max. The defiler held the centre of the marine gun line.

Most of the aliens ran into battle. Only Gargoyles one one unit of Hivers remained. The Swarmlord rushed in 12” (thanks to a wonderful run roll) and advanced on the western flank supported by Mummy, Tiny and some termagants. The Zoanthropes led the eastern attack (since I needed some Synapse) along with Hivers and termagants. Tiny shot at (but missed) the Defiler while everything else ran. Alpha and Beta squad were assaulted by Xenomorphs. Beta squad lost combat while Alpha squad won. Fortunately for the aliens they passed the morale check.


Turn Three.
Kharn broke from the terminators and charged into support Alpha squad. Havocs could not find the correct range with there missiles (no kills) while Mad Max charged to support Beta squad. Defiler, Obliterators and Terminators all shot at Tiny inflicting a single wound. In the west Kharn slaughtered the Xenomorphs while in the east they tore Mad Max apart as well as one Plague marine only loosing a single broodmate.

Flapping down into the fray Gargoyles landed near the Havocs who took two casualties from Hiver and Zoanthrope shooting. The other Hivers ran up to support the might Swarmlord. He stomped forward nerve shocking the Terminators so they could not shoot straight. Mummy produced a brood of ten babies to act as mobile cover for there mighty leader. This time tiny was on-target and the burning wreckage of the defiler could be seen for miles around.


Turn Four.
The terminators surged forward still able to be accurate with there flamers and burnt all the babies to death. Kharn ran forward managing to reach the silo (objective). Obliterators managed to inflict a single wound on Tiny while the Havocs whittled down the Gargoyles with frag missiles.

Due to his monstrous psych the Swarmlord was able to command the Gargoyles to charge the Havocs while he charged the Terminators. Both units were wiped out leaving only the Chaos Lord fighting. Mummy produced some more babies who swarmed in to help. Kharn took eight instant death hits from Tiny and the Hivers but saved them all! The Broodlord continued to rip through Beta squad who finally succumbed to eternal rest. One unit of gaunts was next to the silo waiting for Kharn to die, while the other brood rushed toward the NW objective.


Turn Five.
With the Zoanthropes closing on his position Kharn new he could not survive another turn in the open so he charged Tiny but was only able to inflict a single wound. The Obliterators moved up allowing Alpha squad to conga-line themselves onto the objective as they ran out of cover. The Rhino shot at the Xenomorphs but failed to kill any. The Lord fell to the Swarmlords blade and he hurried towards Alpha Squad.

With Kharn locked in combat the Zoanthropes changed direction and detonated the rhino (the blast failed to kill any Xenomorphs). Mummy led her babies and Gargoyles into a large assault on the Obliterators which they won. The Swarmlord healed himself with drain life and then charged the far end of of Alpha Squad forcing them to move off the objective and fight him. Just to keep him locked into combat Hivers charged into combat with Kharn while both Termagant units claimed an objective.


Aftermath: Tyranid Victory – 2 Objectives to zero.
My army does not like DoW deployment. Getting across the table in four turns is harsh. Since I won the roll-off I should probably have gone first and just taken the north side since that was where my opponent had deployed two objectives. However since he only had two troop choices I felt confident in dealing with them. In retrospect I really needed the Toxic Sacs this time around rather than the extra unit of gaunts. The 18” synapse bubble was also very useful for ensuring I did not have to make any Instinctive Behaviour tests.

Interesting games... I'm looking at starting nids (again) because the new codex is very interesting. Keep up the good work!

Zid wrote:Interesting games... I'm looking at starting nids (again) because the new codex is very interesting. Keep up the good work!

Thanks. I do enjoying playing Tyranids.

My original plan was to document all my games. Unfortunately I only have a small force so even with them magnetised I lack a lot of options (Raveners, Trygons) so other than changing between Tyrant and Swarmlord my army is not mutating much from game to game. Therefore, as you can see from the game numbers, I missed a couple out. The missing games were fun to play they just did not add anything new to the tales of a splinter fleet. Like games 1-3 I won by annihilation (whether it was an objective game or not) by storming across the board and eating all the marines by turn six loosing less than 50% of my swarm.

I am having a couple of weeks with out playing any games which has given me some time to paint. At least the next few battle reports should look prettier! Hopefully I can get two games in next week.

Game Thirteen: 1750 points vs Ultramarines
This game is also on my blog http://lyracian.blogspot.com/2010/08/13-tales-of-splinter-fleet.html

Splinter Fleet Lyracian
Daddy Hive Tyrant (Old Adversary, TLBDx2) & one Guard
Junior Hive Tyrant (Old Adversary, TLBDx2) & one Guard
Zoanthropes x2
Hive Guard 2 Broods x2
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) 2 Broods x10 w/ Toxic Sacs
Mummy Tervigon with TS, AG, Catalysis
Termagants one Brood x10
Tiny the Tyrannofex with Rupture Cannon

Ultramarine
Snack: Chaplain Caecilius with Jump Pack
Canned Fruit: Purpureus & Albus Tactical Squads with flamer, missiles, Fist and Rhino
Canned Veg: Lucifer Tactical Squad with flamer, Hvy Bolter, Power Sword and Rhino
Dinner: Plumbeus Devastator Squad with 4 Missiles
Tea: Tripudio Assault Squad with Fist and two Flamers.
Appetiser: Tempestas Terminator Squad with assault cannon & CML
Inedible rock: Brother Grumio Dreadnought

Mission: Capture and Control, Spearhead

Deployment
Marines deployed in the north-east with all the tactical units in combat squads. The Sgt and flamer went in the APC's while the heavy weapons were stationed in the ruins.

The marines were defending the communication equipment (objective) on the roof of the four story ruined tower in the east. Squads Plumbeus, Purpureus-gravis & Lucifer-gravis were all in the tower. Albus-gravis was on the roof of a small building to the north. Tempestas & Tripudio were in front of the tower next to the water silo. Purpureus-pugnus was on there right (western) flank while Brother Grumio, Albus-pugnus & Lucifer-gladius were on there left flank.

Tyranids deployed in the South-west. Daddy and Junior formed the centre behind a small hill. A line of Termagants is in front of them with hive guard ether side. Behind them mummy was concealed in a ruined bunker where she was laying eggs (objective). To the east of the bunker was Tiny being escorted by the Zoanthropes.


Turn One
Brother Grumio, Tempestas, Tripudio and the three APC's all advance toward the centre. Between them they kill half the Termagant screen and put one wound on Juniors guard. Squads Plumbeus, Purpureus-gravis and Albus-gravis all fire there missiles at Mummy. She makes most of her cover saves and only takes a single wound (lucky Mummy).

Hive guard open fire wrecking APC-Purpureus and immobilising APC-Lucifer. Junior kills the terminator with Assault Cannon while Daddy and the Zoanthropes slaughter seven members of Tripudio including the Sargent. Finally Tiny manages to immobilise Brother Grumio. Mummy produces a dozen babies who rush forward to form a new screen. She unfortunately pops a blood vessel trying to make herself immune to pain.


Turn Two
Chaplain Caecilius leads his three men into battle against Daddy (having managed to wound the Hive Guard with the flamer). Meanwhile Juniors guard and Termagants evaporate under rapid-fire from squads Albus-pugnus & Lucifer-gladius (who have left there APC's) and Tempestas. All the missile launchers shoot at Mummy inflicting two more wounds. Caecilius is ripped apart and the survivors of Tripudio flee being chased by Daddy. The two APC's have formed a barricade to the east of the water silo stopping any advance while Tempestas hold the northern route.

Mummy makes herself immune to pain and pumps out another dozen gaunts to replace the dead. Daddy advances on Tripudio, but shoots at Albus-gravis forcing them to flee. Advancing Junior nerve shocks Tempestas and kills one Terminator. Gaunts assault Purpureus-pugnus. Tiny shoots and charges Albus-pugnus wiping them out. The first unit of Xenomorphs arrives in the west and heads toward Mummy and her eggs (objective).


Turn Three
Squad Tripudio flees the battlefield while Albus-gravis rally and return to there position on the roof. Brother Grumio finally manages to wound Tiny with his Mult-melta (one out of three is bad). Lucifer-gladius shoots and assaults Tiny. Purpureus-pugnus finish off the gaunts and climb onto the hill. Unable to shoot straight Tempestas only manage to inflict a single wound on Junior. The Heavy Bolter kills more Termagants while the missiles try and finish off Mummy. She shrugs off the shots feeling no pain.

With the rest of the Xenomorphs arriving in wrong place (right behind there brothers) the game is looking very drawn. Having spawned her last ten babies Mummy advances killing another Terminator under a hail of spines. Daddy charges onto the hill, rips Purpureus-pugnus limb from limb, and clambers down the far side. Zoanthropes vaporise APC-Albus. This leaves an open route for Tiny to run forward as he has finished eating Lucifer-gladius. Junior and his gaunts charge into Tempestas. The two remaining terminators fail to wound Junior (darn snake eyes) but hold firm.


Turn Four
A barrage of missiles puts another wound on Mummy. Daddy takes a wound from the heavy bolter. Brother Grumio misses tiny again! Zoanthropes explode both of the dreadnoughts arms while hive guard kill one marine from Plumbeus and reduce Albus-gravis to a single marine with a bolter. One brood of Xenomorphs rush north while the other guard the eggs. Everything else runs towards the tower with Junior making it.


Turn Five
Plumbeus inflict two wounds on Junior while Purpureus-gravis & Albus-gravis wipe out the large Termagant brood at his heels. Junior charges up the tower into combat with Albus-gravis. Tiny and three Termagants made into the tower while everything else shoots Purpureus-gravis. Zoanthropes killed four marines with warp blast and Daddy finished them off.

Turn Six
No longer having an objectives the marines try for a draw. Plumbeus put a barrage of missiles into the Xenomorphs hoping to make them flee (it fails). The lone marine from squad Albus runs forward but is cut down by Xenomorphs. Daddy and the Zoanthropes obliterate squad Plumbeus while Junior does the same to Albus-gravis. Hive guard manage to shoot the gun off the immobilised APC.

Turn Seven
Ultramarines start the turn with a Dreadnought (with no arms or legs) and an immobilise Rhino with no gun. The Zoanthropes finish Brother Grumio while the APC withstands all my other shooting! Finally Daddy has to charge to rip it open. We did not really need to play it, but the dice said there was a turn seven. I just wanted to see if would actually be annihilation or not.


Aftermath: Win by annihilation (I had both objectives as well)
Warp Blast and Brainleech Worm Devourers were the MVP's this game. Zoanthropes killed half the assault marines, a couple of terminators and most of the marines holding the objective on there own. The sheer torrent of fire from the Tyrants was outstanding. I did miss the 2+ save from armoured shell but I will try this configuration for Tyrants again.

Game Fourteen: 1500 Points vs Blood Angels
Also on my blog - http://lyracian.blogspot.com/2010/09/14-tales-of-splinter-fleet.html

Splinter Fleet Lyracian
Swarmlord & two whip Guard
Zoanthropes x3
Hive Guard 2 Broods x2
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) w/ Toxic Sacs
Mummy Tervigon with TS, AG, Catalysis, Onslaught, Talons
Termagants one Brood x12
Tiny the Tyrannofex with Rupture Cannon

Blood (Space Vampires) Angels
Starter: Reclusiarch Carstein leading the Death Company (Power Sword)
Energy bar: Konrad & Manfred Two Sanguinary Priest
Meat pie: Alpha and Beta Tactical Squads
Soup: Scouts with Sniper Rifles
Inedible rock: Stormraven Gunship
Inedible rock: Vindicator
Inedible rocks: Vlad and Isabella Furioso Dreadnoughts
Yet more Inedible rocks: Two Typhoon Land Speeders

Mission: Pitched Battle, Capture and Control.
Deployment:

Vlad and Death Company were inside the Stormraven. Priests joined the Marine combat squads by the NE ruin.

Turn One
Spurring his minions forward the Swarmlord advance in the east. While Zoanthropes and Hivers advanced in the west. Urged on by mummy the Hive guard ran forward and managed to snipe the vindicators cannon with shots into its side armour. Only a single gaunt fell under the long range shots of the marines. Gunning its engines to full throtle the Stormraven lauched itself over the tower and disgorged Vlad and the Death company. Charging forward Vlad slaughtered the Hivers while the Death Company rendered the Zoanthropes into jelly.

Turn Two
Tiny and mummy’s new babies blasted away at the Death Company killing two. Then Tiny launched himself into melee, doubling the death count. Abandoning his underlings the Swarmlord charged to the left crushing Vlad under his hooves as he went. The Swarm advanced while the Hivers detonating Isobella with well placed shots into the arm joints. Creeping around behind the marines the Xenomorphs leaped out and multi-charged Alpha-flamma & Beta-flamma. When the dust settled only three marines and Konrad were still fighting Xenomorphs. Under a barrage of missiles and sniper fire both Tyrant Guard and one Hive Guard perished. Now fighting alone Recusiarch Carstein wounded Tiny. Butchering Konrad and his troops the Xenomorphs advanced on Beta-gravis.


Turn Three
Xenomorphs eat Beta-gravis, while Swarmy clambered into the ruins and chopped down the scouts with his whirling blades. Tiny rips the armoured plates off the Vindicator and the sole remaining Hive Guard blasts the gyro-stabiliser from a speeder causing it to crash. Feeling no pain Swarmy survives marine shooting with one wound remaining.

Turn Four
Alpha-gravis were dispatched under Swarmy's whirling blades. The Xenomorphs crown around the Stormraven scratching its paintwork. Forming a conga-line the gaunts stretch out from the ruins to reach the marine objective and stay in synapse. In at attempt to contest both objectives the speeder turbo-boosted south, while the Stormraven jetted east mowing down gaunts with its assault cannon.


Turn Five
A Mighty blast from Tiny's cannon finished off the speeder and the Stormraven was immobilised as the remaining Xenomorphs clambered over its hull.

Aftermath: Win for the Hive Mind (Two objectives to zero).
Despite the marines having a bad shooting phase by the end of turn one it was looking bad for the hive mind, however the next two turns saw the game swing around completely. Tiny and Swarmy were both down to their last wound and without FNP wound have probably died. Once more Genestealers were the perfect unit munching through the infantry.

ouch, pretty brutal game for the marines, gratz on the win. Do your stealers consistently perform well? Particularly on the outflank?

Around here they seem to die off quickly after their initial assault.

Game Fifteen: 1750 Points vs Demons
Also on my blog - http://lyracian.blogspot.com/2010/09/15-tales-of-splinter-fleet.html

Splinter Fleet Lyracian
Daddy Swarmlord & two whip Guard
Junior Hive Tyrant (Old Adversary, Shell, TLBDx2)
Zoanthropes x3
Hive Guard 2 Broods x2
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) w/ Toxic Sacs
Mummy Tervigon with TS, AG, Catalysis, Talons
Termagants one Brood x12
Tiny the Tyrannofex with Rupture Cannon

Demons of the Warp
Primary Wave
Cake: Epidemius & twelve Plague Bearers
Toffees: Nurglings x9
Stew: Ku'gath the Plaguefather
Light Snack: Pink Horrors x10

Secondary Wave
Pizza: Skulltaker & ten Bloodletters
Hot Sauce: Flamers of Tzeentch
Raw Meat: Pestilence; Winged Demon Princes of Nurgle
Pot Roast: Tulu; Demon Prince of Tzeentch

Mission: Spearhead, Capture and Control.
Deployment: The demons are roused to war by an arcane signal telling of an ancient phylactery, buried in a graveyard, they have been charged to protect for over two millennia. Apparently the planet is about to be obliterated. Having found a quite hillside mummy, protected by Junior and Tiny, starts to lay more eggs. Hearing strange noises from a graveyard in the north-west Daddy Swarmlord advances towards some central hills to see what is happening.


Turn One
Warping in beside the graveyard were Epidemius and the Nurglings. The Plaguefather materialised behind the hill; unfortunately the Horrors had chose the same spot. They burst forth from his chest sending him screaming back into the warp.


Turn Two
Galloping his steed through the fading portal Skull-taker's cohort sprang forward into the south-eastern foothills. Instantly lightning bolts burned several bloodletters down to just charred bones.

Pestilence rose up from the ground behind mummy. His rotting stentch provoked Juniors wrath. He opened fire with his guns and mentally fried Pestilence's central nervous system allowing mummy's new babies to charge forward and devour the foul creature. Splashing through the larva Swarmy runs towards the hill where the Horrors are cowering under Tiny, and the Hivers, torrent of fire.

Turn Three
Tula slipped between the ever shifting planes onto the planets surface and seared the carapace from a Zoanthrope with his fiery breath. Clambering into the Ruins Skull-taker decapitates the Hivers; he is then nerve-shocked by Junior. Melting the sand below their feet to glass Tzeentch's Flamers landed in front of the graveyard. While they were still disoriented from the trans-location the Xenomorphs jumped out of hiding and charged forwarded devouring them. Jumping the flowing lava Swarmy eviscerated the last Horrors.

Turn Four
Scurrying out of the graveyard the Plague Bearers assault the Xenomorphs killing four. Burning him with flaming breath Tula leaped at Swarmy; only to be felled by the whirling sabres (and rending talons) of death. Swarmy then stomped into the Nurgle swarm. Skull-taker finished the last Zoanthrope however with poison dripping from there fangs gaunts finish him off and swarm over the hill towards the graveyard.


Turn Five
Struggling against there tougher opponents the Xenomorphs are reduced to a single alien. Fortunately help arrives with Hivers and Gaunts mulit-charging into the graveyard rumble. As the twin suns on the doomed planet set Swarmy leads his horde into the final assault on Epidemius.


Aftermath: Victory for the Hive Mind (one objective to zero)
Loosing one sixth of the army to a first turn mishap was a real set back for the demons. It put them on the defensive and they were just not able to threaten my objective all game. They kept playing for the draw and came very close to getting it given how hard it was to chop through all of Nurgle's minions.

Corndoggy wrote:ouch, pretty brutal game for the marines, gratz on the win. Do your stealers consistently perform well? Particularly on the outflank?
Around here they seem to die off quickly after their initial assault.

Most games they perform well. The trick is trying to get them to stay locked in combat so the opponent can not shoot them. Otherwise you have to try and consolidate into cover for a save. I think I have only had two game where they were not in combat the turn they arrived from outflanking.

My computer died last month and I lost all the photos (and writeup) for games 16 & 17. Here is a quick summary. I will post game 18 tomorrow.


Game Sixteen: 1750 Points vs Ultramarines
Dawn of War, Seize Ground (5 Objectives)
I played double Dakka Tyrant list and Red Orc played his usual Chaplain lead foot marines.
Chaplain and assault marines spent a whole turn fighting the Tervigon with no wounds being inflicted before Daddy stomped over and won the battle. On the other side of the table the Terminators were giving me trouble. Six of them killed Junior even with only having Weapon Skill one! Start of turn five saw the marines only having 5 Marines (2 Devs w/ ML, 2 Tacs with ML and one with Bolter) and 5 Terminators left. I held three objectives. By the end of the turn Mummy was dead and the Terminators had overrun a second objective so I just scrapped a 1-0 victory.

Game Seventeen: 1750 Points vs Orks
Spearhead, Capture and Control.
Expecting a lot of melee I took Swarmlord & a Dakka Tyrant. Orks seized the initiative and rolled the battle wagons forward. Deffcopotors put three wounds on Mummy and a few gaunts died. After that the green tide was turned. Tyranid shooting destroyed both wagons and a Khan then steamrollered forward throught boys and mega-nobs. Genestealers arived turn three and eat the looters then ate the Nobs on the objective turn four. At the end of turn four the Orks had a Warboss, one Deffcoptor (fleeing), One Kill-Khan (Immobile, no gun). I had only lost a unit of Hive guard, some cannon fodder gaunts. Mummy had even managed to regenerate her wounds! Since I had both objectives we did not both playing turn five. 2-0 win for the hive mind.

Game Eighteen: 1500 Points vs Salamanders
Also on my Blog - http://lyracian.blogspot.com/2010/12/18-tales-of-splinter-fleet.html

Hive Fleet Lyracian
Junior Prime w/ Swords, Toxic, Deathspitter & Regen
Hive Guard: 2 Broods x3
Zoanthropes x3
Mummy Tervigon w/ Catalysis, TS, AG, Talons
Aunty Tervigon w/ Catalysis, TS, AG, Talons
Termaguants: 2 Broods x10
Xenomorphs (Genestealers) x10
Tiny the Tyrannofex w/ Rupture Cannon, DL, CS




Salamanders Last Stand
Boiled Egg - Librarian Dallas and Beta Squads; Five Tacticals in Razorback
Bread roll - Alpha-Gravis; Five Tacticals w/ Missile Launcher
Bacon - Alpha-Pugnis; Five Man Tactical in Razorback w/ Flamer & Combi-flamer
Pancakes - Gamma & Delta Squads; Five Tacticals in Razorback
Maple Syrup - Epsilon Devestor Squad w/ Missiles
Inedible Rock - Predators XXI & XIX w/ Hvy Bolter Sponsons
Inedible Pebble - Two Typhoon Landspeeders
Inedible Stones - Armitage & Steel; Two Rifleman Dreadnought

Mission: Spearhead, Seize Ground (4 Objectives)


File: 798553/excom  Date: 0736998.M41
Subject: Species Record - Tyranids
Rating: Caucus Theta
Our expandability force had been sent to Ceti-Alpha VI to investigate strange energy reading that were belived to be from a missing star liner.  While investigating the ancient ruins discovered our scout speeder detected the advancing alien swarm skittering over the hills towards us from the south-east.  Ordering the troops back into their APC's we prepared to eliminate this minor threat before continuing with our mission.

Trooper Lambert designated tags to the larger creatures based on observed behaviour as they approached. The Mummy and Aunty monsters were seen to be spewing forth tiny gaunt's from eggs nestled between their chitinous plates as they charged into the ruins. Tiny, the hulking monster behind them, stopped on a hill giving it an excellent firing position over the ruins.

Master Dallas was able to suppress much of the psycic potential of Junior and his Zoanthrope entourage. However a single blast of warp lighting incinerated half of Epsilon squad while XIX was wrecked and XXI stunned by salvoes of cannon fire. All available artillery was used to obliterate the Zoanthropes while their power was nullified by Master Anderson.

The losses did not seem to effect the hive as Aunty shuffled into one of the ruins to lay more eggs. A continuing torrent of heavy weapon fire prevents several APC's & XXI from shooting however Armitage, Steel and the Typhoons are able to critically wound Mummy.

We had little time to celebrate this victory as Beta and Gamma squads were forced to go to ground following the destruction of their APC's. Bellowing with rage Mummy thundering into cover as her babies spread out wounding Epsilon squad with small arms. It seems that Mummy was feeling no pain as she shrugged off missile fire that found its way into the ruins.



XXI managed a single shot wounding Aunty before Tiny's cannon penetrated the hull and killed both crew. This monstrosities next two shots disabled Armitage and Steel who were valiantly trying to put down Mummy. Gamma Squad and Beta squad (along with Master Dallas) were overrun by gaunts with poison dripping from their fangs.



Mummy emerged from the ruins her loud screeching showing her dominance over the lesser Xenos as she rallied them for a final mighty charge against Delta Squad. To the north Aunty also hurled her babies into the fray against Alpha-Gravis. Both were supported by the hulking forms of the Hive Guard shooting down the Landspeeders.



Salamander expeditionary force eliminated six minutes after contact with Xenos. Battle data compiled from records recovered with the sole survivor, Dreadnought Steel, who has now been rebuilt and returned to service. Recommended cause of action - Nuke the planet from orbit. – Magos Biologis Alder Garrick.

Game 19: 1500 Points vs Ultramarines Scenario - Seize Ground, Spearhead deployment
I played a full drop pod army so nothing arrive until the bottom of turn two. This gave the marines plenty of time to position themselves ready for the attack. They just did not know where it was going to come from...

Tyranid Air Assault
Hive Tyrant (Old Adversary, Hive Commander, Wings, TL Devs x2)
Zoanthropes x2 in Spore Pod w/ TL Deathspitter
Zoanthropes x2 in Spore Pod w/ TL Deathspitter
Ymgarl Xenomorphs x8
Termagants w/ Devourers x20 in Spore Pod w/ TL Deathspitter
Tervigon (Toxic,Adreanl,Catalysis,Talons) [Outflanking]
Broodlord (Toxic,Talons) & 5 Genestealers w/ Toxic
Gargoyle Brood x11

Ultramarine
Chaplain Caecilius with Jump Pack
Purpureus & Albus Tactical Squads with flamer, missile & power-gauntlets; Albus in a Rhino
Plumbeus Devastator Squad with 4 Missiles
Tripudio Assault Squad with Fist and two Flamers.
Tempestas Terminator Squad with assault cannon & CML
Brother Grumio Dreadnought



* = Objective
Purpureus & Plumbeus Squads formed up on the top of the hill in three squads guarding the first weather mast*, they were backed up by Brother Grumio. Caecilius lead Tripudio over the hill and formed up on the second mast*. Tempestas advanced to investigate the bio-signs* from the ruins while Albus squad zoomed their APC forward and jumped out to investigate the petrified forest*.

File: 20110225/excom  Date: 0736903.M41
It had been three days since the space hulk had dropp+d out of the w+rp int+ the system. It is broa+casti+g a st+tic disruption s+gn+l +n +ll ch+nn+ls. +++++ some+++ c++ ++c++ve this. At t+++ ++

Kellerman watched the transmission from the masts. Three large meteors dropped from the sky. Two of them impacted at the bottom of the hill; the shells cracked open and the floating form of the alien Zoanthropes emerged. Searing balls of psychic plasma erupted from their elongated heads and vaporised three marines. The last spore impacted by the ruins disgorging termagants who opened fire killing six Tripudio marines. Swooping down from the sky behind the meteor spores was the gigantic form of a Hive Tyrant. It swept down in a long arc racking a deadly hail of spikes into the injured assault marines and engaged Caecilius in melee combat. Over the intercom he could hear the screams from Albus squad as genestealers ripped them apart. Only Sergeant Lucius, hypnotised by the Broodlord, was left alive after the first assault.

The Terminators stomped forward crushing termagants under their boots. Purpureus-Pugnus and Dreadnought Grumio charged into the Zoanthrope broods but were not able to penetrate their mystical protection. Meanwhile the Hive Tyrant finished with Caecilius and glides over the landscape to rend Plumbeus apart. Xenomorphs burst out of the ground and leaped onto the Terminators slaying half of them. Over the intercom could be heard Lucius' screams as he was torn limb from limb, the intercom then thankfully went silent as the aliens swarmed over the APC and torn it, and its transmitter, apart.

Purpureus-gravis opened fire on the gargoyles descending towards the hill, while Grumio and Purpureus-Pugnus continued to battle ineffectively against the Zoantrhopes. The Hive Tyrant launched itself at Grumio tearing off his arm and then shattering his cooling systems causing him to seize up and only be able to watch helplessly as the Tyrant effortlessly glided over and munched the last of Purpureus squad.


Kellerman hit the side of the screen trying to clear the static. In the distance he could see the dark shape of a large monster spuing forth termagants as it advanced towards Tempestas squad. He could see the last of his elite soldiers fighting against Gaunts, Xenomorphs and Genestealers. While they held there own for a few moments the shear weight of enemy numbers was over whelmed them. Kellerman turned to the servitor and ordered him to activate the teleportation system and bring the injured men back to base. Surrounded by a halo of violet energy six bodies, more dead than alive, materialised in the control room. The medics rushed over to adminster to them.

File: 20110225/excom  Date: 0736904.M41
++++ t++eat has ++++n th++selv++ to be T++++ds. Alien spor++ have been bom+bar+ing the +++++ ++++++e. Our marine contingent has successful repelled the first attack with minimal casult++++ Assist++++ req+++++. TRANSMISSION END. TIME STAMP DISCREPANCY DELAY IN ARRIVAL 278 DAYS.

Victory for the Hive Mind by annihilation (I also held three objectives)
WHFB Report also on my blog - http://lyracian.blogspot.com/2011/02/whfb-vampire-counts-vs-dark-elves.html