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I played a semi-serious game against a friend this past weekend. He had been excited to play his guard in a game with a few more points than our local gaming group usually fields. I was happy to oblige.

My list - 1850
Dante
Librarian, Jump pack, Blood lance, Shield of sanguinius
Furioso dreadnought, Librarian, Extra armor, Blood lance, Shield of sanguinius
Terminator assault squad, 5x TH and SS
(3) Sanguinary priests, Jump packs
(10) Assault squad, 2 Melta guns, Power weapon
(10) Assault squad, 2 Melta guns, Power weapon
(10) Assault squad, 2 Melta guns
Stormraven, Twin-linked multi melta, Twin-linked lascannon

His list (As well as I can remember)
Command squad, Vox caster
Sly Marbo
Vet squad, 3 Plasma guns, Chimera
Vet squad, 3 Melta guns, Chimera
Infantry command squad, 3 Melta guns, Vox, Chimera
Infantry squad, Lascannon, Sniper rifle, Power weapon
Infantry squad, Lascannon, Sniper rifle, Power weapon
Infantry squad, Lascannon, Sniper rifle, Power weapon
Heavy weapons team, 3 Autocannons
Vendetta
Devil dog, Multi-melta
Devil dog, Multi-melta
Leman russ battle tank
Leman russ demolisher battle tank
Colossus

Pregame analysis:
This game should give me all I can handle and then some. My friend is the most experienced player in our gaming group. He has tournament experience and in 15 or 20 games played against him I've beaten him... once (several draws). To make matters worse, he is starting to fine tune his guard army, which is arguably the most powerful codex out at the moment. With all that said, we play the games for a reason instead of just looking at the two lists and picking a winner.

Game details:
Seize ground (4 objectives), Dawn of war

Deployment:
I put my two assault squads and librarian spread out along the halfway mark of the table. I figure if I huddle near the middle, I can adjust to where he deploys and be in assault during turn two. He countered with an infantry platoon, a veteran squad in a chimera, and his command squad. They huddled near the long table edge and off center to my left.

BA T1
The game began and I got the chance to draw first blood. I moved both of my assault squads 12 inches towards his infantry platoon. The librarian joined the left squad in the process. Several bolt pistol shots later resulted in four dead traitorous guardsmen.

IG T1
The guard held their position. Their commanders ordered fresh AA batteries to be distributed and for the troops to make ready to illuminate the enemy. The commander ordered 1st rank, 2nd rank. I knew this was coming and I was mentally prepared for the worst. My libby put up shield of sanguinius. Terrible dice rolling ensues. The guard opened up with 50ish flashlights. 13 beams of light temporarily caused the marines to avert their eyes, but ZERO wounds were scored. I was shaking my head at this point. The dice Gods are very fickle, but for the moment, they were on my side. The guard continued their shooting barrage with some lascannons (3), sniper shots (3), plasma guns (5), a multi laser (1), and a heavy bolter (1). The end result was four dead marines. That could have been A LOT worse.

BA T2
Reserves start to arrive. I get everything except the dreadnought. Dante, with an assault squad, and a priest drop in on the far left, very near the veteran squad in a chimera. The storm raven moved 6 inches onto the table in the far left corner. My missiles and lascannon should still be in range. The two assault squads and librarian moved closer to the infantry platoon. Plan: The stormraven will pop the veteran chimera. Dante and the funky bunch will then open up on the veterans that pile out. The two assault squads will open up some bolt pistol fire to soften up the infantry platoon before assaulting. Actual: The twin-linked lascannon and bloodstrike missile failed to pop the veteran chimera. Mildly disappointing, but no need for concern. Dante and the funky bunch, with two meltaguns, opened up on the chimera and wreck it. The parking lot has its first paying customer. I should have put Dante and gang directly behind the chimera when I arrived. I could have prevented him from disembarking and I would have had cover from his reserves arriving at the bottom of the turn. Hindsight is 20/20. I moved the libby in such a way that blood lance was able to hit eight guardsmen. Seven died. I am having a lot of fun with that power. Bolt pistols and meltaguns erupted from the remaining marines. Several more die. I misplayed this as well. I should have opened up with the far assault squad first. Several marines did not get a shot as my opponent was clever in his casualty removal. Assault began and the guardsmen are wiped out. Woot! So far, so good!

IG T2
Reserves arrive. Terrible rolls continued to fall from my friend's hands. He only got a veteran squad in a chimera, a devil dog, and the vendetta. The devil dog moved on to shoot at Dante and the funky bunch. The vets in the chimera move on to open up on the reduced assault squad with libby. The vendetta also moved on and tracked the reduced assault squad with libby. My libby activated the shield of sanguinius. The devil dog and the veterans that disembarked from the destroyed chimera cause the funky bunch to evaporate from around Dante. He even took a wound and suddenly feels very alone. The veterans and the vendetta reduce the assault squad even further. Down to the sergeant, priest, and libby. I've lost 600 points of my army and have one "viable" scoring unit left on the table. I'm starting to think I'm going to have to work very hard for a draw...

BA T3
The last of my reserves arrive (Furioso dreadnought librarian). At this point I am really wishing I picked wings of sanguinus as one of my psychic powers... The dread moved on six inches. I ran it to try and get it into the fight. Plan: My terminators are too far away and big armor is on its way. I move the stormraven flat out towards the IG lines. I move Dante away from the plasma veteran squad, into position to destroy the devil dog. A S8, AP1, blast is just too nasty to let live. The reduced assault squad moved to engage the command squad and block the guard from disembarking from the second veteran chimera. I maneuvered the libby so a lucky roll might allow the blood lance to hit the devil dog. The full assault squad moved to destroy the second veteran chimera. Actual: The libby hit everyone in the command squad and the devil dog. The command squad evaporates and the devil dog explodes. Dante chills, mourning the loss of the funky bunch. The full assault squad wrecks the second veteran chimera. They are unable to disembark. This is getting interesting. There are very few guard models on the board, but some heavy hitters are yet to roll on...

IG T3
My friend's dice were on a million one march. His luck was starting to make me feel guilty for enjoying the game so much. His reserves continued to arrive, slowly... He got Marbo, a heavy weapons team, the second devil dog, and the colossus. The picture I took at the end of his turn was so bad it is worthless to post. Allow me to describe the action as well as I can. The colossus moved on six inches in the far right corner of the board. It was in a safe position to rain fire on me the rest of the game. The second devil dog moved on approximately 30 inches away from my reduced assault squad with libby. The heavy weapons team moved onto the board and embarked onto the vendetta. The libby activated the shield one more time. The veterans in the corner, opened up on the stormraven. It was saved by a 4+ flat out cover save. Marbo, the devil dog, vendetta, and colossus kill several of the formerly full assault squad.

BA T4
One of the differences between good players and bad players is the ability to limit play mistakes. I still make too many play mistakes to consider moving my game to the next level (serious games at the FLGS / tournaments). Allow me to explain further as I describe the remaining turns. It is turn four and my dreadnought and terminators have still done nothing. I should have moved the stormraven flat out on turn two and possibly on turn three. TH and SS terminators can absorb a lot of shots. It is a mistake for them to have done nothing to this point. I have no excuse for the dreadnought. If I had deployed Dante and the funky bunch correctly, I would have destroyed the chimera and veterans inside. It is possible I would have a few more scoring marines alive as well. Now, I have to send Dante back over there to finish what he started, essentially moving him in the wrong direction. On with the turn... Plan: Move Dante towards the plasma vets that disembarked from the wrecked chimera and wipe them out in an assault phase or two. Move the libby, priest, and sergeant towards the devil dog in hopes of a good blood lance roll. Move the second assault squad to kill Marbo, then consolidate to a covered position so the vendetta and devil dog for a better cover save. Move the dread closer. Actual: Dante performed slightly less than stellar. Between shooting and assault, he killed... three. The libby activated blood lance but falls one inch short of hitting the devil dog. The stormraven switched targets from the vendetta, which might be out of range, to the devil dog. Shaken. Marbo down.

IG T4
The table started to rumble as his heavy hitters rolled on. His two leman russ tanks rolled on. They moved into perfect position to fire on any target. The platoon command squad rolled on in a chimera. They rolled on about 18 inches away from my assault squads. The shaken devil dog moved flat out away from the long table edge. My opponent did not forget the objective of the game. He opened fire on my troops. My libby rolled a five and six in an effort to activate the shield. Oi! I think the picture speaks for itself, but allow me to summarize... At the end of turn four, I had five TH and SS termies, one assault marine with a meltagun, a dread libby, and Dante remaining. He had a platoon command squad in a chimera, a heavy weapons team in a vendetta, a devil dog, two leman russ tanks, and a colossus.

BA T5
Draw, draw, draw, how can I pull out a draw. He just has too much mobility remaining. It has been a very fun, close game to this point. Let's see what happens... Plan: The termies will assault the two leman russ tanks. Move the dread and hope for a good blood lance roll on the remaining devil dog. Dante will start to move towards the remaining guard. I make another debatable play mistake. I move my remaining assault marine towards the platoon command squad in the chimera with the aim of destroying the chimera with the meltagun. This is a debatable mistake because I could have tried to hide my last remaining scoring unit. At the time I thought it was better to go out with a bang as opposed to hoping for my opponent to miss / make a mistake. Opinions? Actual: Dante moved. The termies destroyed the two battle tanks. The solo marine with a meltagun destroyed the platoon command chimera. All five guardsmen inside were wounded, but my opponent made three of the five 5+ t-shirt saves. The dread libby immobilizes the devil dog. I guess my termies are 30+ inches away from my opponent's platoon command squad. Dante, lying down in the picture because of wobbly model syndrome, is 36ish inches away. The game is essentially over at this point, but we play on because it has been a close, fun game.

IG T5
The remaining three platoon command squad members move out from behind the destroyed chimera and leveled their meltaguns on veteran marine Ace "melta to the face" Solo. The vendetta moved onto the nearest objective and the heavy weapons team disembarked. Ace lived up to his nickname. The immobilized devil dog destroyed my libby dread. I forgot to activate the shield power. The colossus dropped some fire on Dante and wounded him. My opponent rolled a four and the game continued...


No more pictures.

BA T6
Termies move and run. They are natural sprinters. Very effective over short distances. Unfortunately, I finish turn six around 22ish inches away from his guardsmen on the objective. I lost track of the turn. I was thinking I had two turns to get there... Dante moves near the termies. He doesn't think they can replace the old funky bunch, so he keeps his distance.

IG T6
The platoon command squad moved closer to the objective with the heavy weapons team. The heavy weapons team embarked on the vendetta and the vendetta moved towards a second objective. The colossus rained more fire down on Dante, he made the save this time. I rolled a six for an additional turn.

BA T7
Termies move and run. They are still at 10 inches away from the objective with the platoon command squad. Dante flies and runs towards the vendetta on the second objective. Sadly, he is still 5ish inches away from the objective. DARNIT! I tried...

IG T7
The question that has plagued us all for thousands of years was finally answered. Who would win between three twin-linked lascannon shots and Dante? The lascannons won.

Postgame analysis:
The game ended with the guard controlling two objectives and the blood angels controlling zero objectives. It was a fun game that felt much closer than it actually was. I was pleased because I made a great numbers of play mistakes, but I think I recognized most of them and I hope to not make those mistakes in the future. I built my list knowing I was going to face guard. My opponent built his list as an all comers list. It is slightly disappointing knowing my best shot wasn't enough. Ah well. If I can eliminate some of my play mistakes, I might turn out to be an okay player one of these days... Thanks for reading and any comments or feedback!

Sad to see Dante get wrecked in the last turn... but I like the way you worded it haha

Great batrep!

Personally, I agree with you. I hate playing for a draw. I'd rather go out in a blaze of glory and give away the win than just play the spoiler when an opponent clearly has the upper hand (especially in a casual game). I just wish my guard could survive for 7 turns like that but they suffer from poor leadership.

Dwarf Terminators FTW

Thanks for the report whith pics, was interesting to read.
If i may, there are some rules things you should take a look at.
From what i remember:
- One veteran squad in chimera count as two troop choice for dawn of war, so he had 3 instead of 2.
- You can't destroy embarked troop so easily by blocking the back door, you have to surround it completely or they can make an emergency exit
- How can Dante be only wounded by a devildog?
- blood lance is not like the space wolf power, it's not every mini under the line, it is one hit for every unit under the light.

Continue with the nice reports! :-)

We did make several rule mistakes. I think the biggest mistake was not reading dawn of war carefully enough. We both incorrectly thought everything was forced into reserves, when in fact you choose to put stuff into reserves, otherwise it comes on turn 2...

- One veteran squad in chimera count as two troop choice for dawn of war, so he had 3 instead of 2.

You are right! I see on page 87 of the 5th ed core rule book dedicated transports count as a unit of the same force org chart they were bought for. I deployed two priests at the start of the game. I incorrectly reasoned they were attached to the squad.

- You can't destroy embarked troop so easily by blocking the back door, you have to surround it completely or they can make an emergency exit

You are right! I see the emergency disembark rule on page 67 of the core rule book. I'll be sure to share this with my friend.

- How can Dante be only wounded by a devildog?

I may not have been as clear as I should have been in the Bat Rep. The devil dog melta cannon scattered and hit six or seven of the assault marines. The veterans that disembarked from the chimera in the left corner opened up on the remaining marines and Dante. Dante suffered a wound, but not an instant death wound from the devil dog's melta cannon.

- blood lance is not like the space wolf power, it's not every mini under the line, it is one hit for every unit under the light.

You are right! Page 63 of the BA dex clearly reads one hit per unit. Darn. It's still a cool power, just not as cool.

Thanks again for the feedback and rules clarifications. Knowing the rules is one of the best ways to become a better player.

Awesome Bat rep, Keep it up. Just so you know the colossus can't fire the turn it gets on the board. Ordnance barrage says it must stay stationary and the colossus can't fire directly only indirectly. It could have saved you a few marines.

The guard player should have been able to move almost everything onto the table turn 1 and he would have decimated your assault squads and dante. Nice report though, cheers

Tell your friend to consider swapping the devil dog for a medusa with bastion breacher shells. Same number of points, but has a str10 ap1 blast that dosnt have to be at half range to roll 2D6 for penetration. Its a heavy weapon so it can shoot 36" the turn it rolls on from reserve also. Downsides are open topped and not fast and it takes up a heavy support slot, instead of fast attack, but is far better at that particular role in my opinion. In my guard army I field 1 medusa, 1 collosus, and 1 normal russ with plasma sponsoons. Works great.

Excellent batrep m8! Great write up & very detailed pictures made for quite an exciting read. Better luck next time. I think you did very well overall.

G