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Da Dark Angelz Crash (and Burn at) Partick Crucible 2

Saturday 28th May 2011 (almost 4 weeks ago!) was the Partick Crucible 2 Tournament in Glasgow. Having attended the first last year, I was of course eager to return! Last year I was frantically trying to get 1000pts together and painted to "gallant effort" standard - but didn't quite manage to get my second Deffkopta finished. Since then, the second Deffkopta has been completed and more paint applied - though still not finished yet! So, there are no changes from last year. Not sure how I'm going to deal with Brother Bartius' Avatar should I face him again…

The big change this year was the numbers - almost doubling from 12 to 20 - so this time we were spread across two rooms and the atmosphere, I felt, was also double the intensity. Good work to troy_tempest for organising it all again!

So, without further ado, Arakasi presents:

Arakasi's Da Dark Angelz (Orks)

[HQ] Morgrim "Da Lion" Grimork (Da Warboss): Mega Armour (Power Klaw, Twin Linked Shoota, Stikkbombs), Cybork Body (110pts)
[HQ] Skarag Mekslag (Da Big Mek): Burna, Kustom Force Field, Mek's Tools (105pts)
[TR] Grimskab Badwort (Da Painboy): 'Urty Syringe, Dok's Tools, Cybork Body and Da Inna Circul (5 Nobz): 2 Power Klaws, Big Choppa, 2 Choppas, 4 Sluggas, Twin Linked Shoota, 5 'Eavy Armour, Bosspole, Cybork Bodies in a Trukk: Big Shoota, Boarding Plank, Red Paint Job, Reinforced Ram (320pts)
[TR] Da Warboss' Taktikal Boyz - 10 Shootas including Big Shoota and Nob: Power Klaw, Slugga, Bosspole in a Trukk: Big Shoota, Boarding Plank, Red Paint Job, Reinforced Ram (155pts)
[TR] Skarag's Taktikal Boyz - 11 Shootas including Rokkit Launcha and Nob: Power Klaw, Slugga, Bosspole in a Trukk: Big Shoota, Boarding Plank, Red Paint Job, Reinforced Ram (166pts)
[FA] Rav'nwing I - Deffkopta with Twin Linked Rocket Launchas and Buzzsaw (70pts)
[FA] Rav'nwing II - Deffkopta with Twin Linked Rocket Launchas and Buzzsaw (70pts)
TOTAL: 996pts

Game 1 - Dark Angels Grudge Match - Spearhead, Capture & Control
[HQ] Belial - Thunderhammer/Storm Shield
[EL] Dreadnought, Plasma Cannon, Heavy Flamer
[TR] 5 Deathwing Terminators - Apothecary w TH/SS, Lightning Claws, SB/Chainfist, TH/SS w Cyclone Missile Launcher, TH/SS
[TR] 5 Deathwing Terminators - 3x TH/SS, SB/Chainfist, CML w TH/SS
[FA] Ravenwing Landspeeder - Multimelta, Typhoon Missile Launchers
[FA] Ravenwing Landspeeder - Multimelta, Typhoon Missile Launchers
[FA] Ravenwing Landspeeder - Multimelta, Typhoon Missile Launchers

First game and Da Dark Angelz are paired up against Holy~Heretic, who we had the pleasure of playing at Partick Crucible 1. But this time we are facing a very different Dark Angels army - Deathwing and Ravenwing, small and elite. Da Dark Angelz have much hope of looting some more ginseed and progloid lands - our reserves are running low...

I win the roll off, and, it being an objective mission, I am a bit indecisive about choosing first or second - but eventually decide on first - with it being Spearhead, I'll have a *lot* of ground to cover - and I want to deal with those Landspeeders as quickly as possible... I set up in standard formation, Morgrim's Trukk in the ruins near my objective - just in case he get's stuck. The Dark Angels set up well back, their objective hidden in the back corner ruins. The Deffkoptas scout forward towards the Landspeeders. Dark Angels fail to seize and it's on to Turn 1!


Ork Deployment

As usual, not much to report in the first Ork turn. All three Trukks advance flat out as per normal. The Deffkoptas advance on the Land Speeders, but only the right one will be in assault range. He manages to explode his Land Speeder, but in doing so put himself dangerously close to the Dreadnought... In return, the Dark Angels take out the second Deffkopta with shooting and immobilise Morgrim's Trukk - but otherwise have difficulty hitting/getting past the KFF. The Dreadnought ends up assaulting and killing the second Deffkopta.


Ork Turn 1

Skarag hops out of his Trukk and heads behind Morgrim's to have a go fixing it. Sensing the Deathwing might be in range, the Nobz and Skarag's boyz move forward and disembark. A Waaagh! is called and they run towards the two units of Deathwing whilst Skarag gets Morgrim's Trukk mobilised again and various Big Shoota shooting managed to suppress the two remaining Landspeeders. The Nobz assault Belial's unit on the left, one Powerklaw targeting Belial, whilst Skarag's boyz *just* make the other unit on the right. What the Dark Angels lost in shooting they made up for in assault - which was all the more punishing as I hadn't fully appreciated how hard TH/SS Terminators are! The Nobz were hurt the most, only managing to down a single Terminator for the loss of five Nobz - the Powerklaw Nob on Belial quickly deciding that he would rather be somewhere else. Skarag's Boyz fared better - managing to down two Termi's before the Thunderhammers thinned their numbers. The Powerklaw Nob claimed another, and the boyz managed to hold... Belial, having dealt so effectively with the Nobz, moved to help clean up Skarag's Boyz. Some more ineffectual shooting later, Belial assaulted into Skarag's Boyz - who only managed to down one of the two remaining Terminators from the first unit before being all cut down.


Dark Angels Turn 2

Having lost two of my three Troops units, and been pretty much ineffective against the TH/SS Terminators, Morgrim goes into damage control mode. He sends his Boyz off with Skarag to secure the Ork objective whilst ordering the Trukks to move forward to contest the Dark Angels objective while he attempts to slow down the advancing Belial and Deathwing. The Nobz Trukk moves flat out to contest the Dark Angels objective. Skarag's Trukk attempts to Tank Shock through the Deathwing to do likewise - but runs straight into the Chainfist wielding Terminator with predictable results. Meanwhile Morgrim's Trukk continues to attempt to suppress the remaining Landspeeders. Morgrim assaults Belial and company, but is unable to break through the Storm Shields and is cut down. The single Terminator moves back to the Dark Angels objective, but shooting is unable to shift the Ork Trukk. Meanwhile, Belial and his Deathwing attack Morgrim's Trukk and explode it.


Ork Turn 3 - Camping the objective…


The last Nob continues to flee…


...taking pot shots at the Landspeeders as he goes...


…while the Deathwing finish off the Ork Trukk...


Run away!

We are running out of time, and the Orks are ahead an objective, but we go for turn 4! Skarag, with Morgrim's boyz, secure the Ork objective. Limited fire power means we aren't able to stop the closest Landspeeder. However, we are able to stop it flat out moving to contest the Ork objective - now it all comes down to the Trukk contesting the Dark Angels objective! However, the Dark Angels manage to explode it this time and the game ends in a draw.

Orks: 1 Objective (1KP)
Dark Angels: 1 Objective (8KP)

VICTORY: DRAW!

AFTERMATH

Well, that wasn't a very successful start to the day! This must be the first time I've faced Thunderhammer/Storm Shield Terminators, especially in numbers - and they are hard! Although the combat with the Nobz was luck poor - I worked out I should have killed another Terminator and lost one less Nob - the results were always going to be the same… The only reason the Boyz mob did better was they luckily killed off two before they struck back - oh and losses are only one wound, not two!

I think, primarily, I should have been using my Shootas! I saw a small elite force and thought this would be a cake walk and instead got my green butt handed back to me. The combats were never going to go my way, and realistically, he had very little actual firepower past the Landspeeders. I think I should have moved at combat speed towards the right flank and Landspeeders, using the Deffkoptas and Trukk Big Shootas to suppress the Landspeeders and bring the Shootas into range the following turn. Once the Landspeeders were dealt with, I should have been in range to boarding plank the Dreadnought, and then I would just play drive by shooting with the Terminators until the combat favoured me.

And Grot Riggers for Morgrim and the Nobz Trukk - I am seriously getting tired of them getting immobilised!

Report Card:
Morgrim "Da Lion" Grimork (Da Warboss): Sacrificed himself for a draw, but to little avail… D
Skarag Mekslag (Da Big Mek): KFF above average (though not much to protect against), repaired Morgrim's Trukk, baby sat Morgrim's Boyz on the objective for a draw B-
Grimskab Badwort (Da Painboy) and Da Inna Circul (5 Nobz) in a Trukk: Learnt the painful lesson that is Thunderhammer/Storm Shield Terminators. Trukk *almost* contested the enemy objective for a win… F
Da Warboss' Taktikal Boyz in a Trukk: Big Shoota helped suppress a Landspeeder for a turn or two. Held my objective for the draw. B-
Skarag's Taktikal Boyz in a Trukk: Were lucky against Thunderhammer/Stormshield Terminators, but failed to actually kill the squad - and were ganged up on due to the Nobz failing even worse! C
Rav'nwing I: Diverted fire from Trukks. Took out a LandspeederB
Rav'nwing II: Diverted fire from Trukks. C

Game 2 - Black Templars - Dawn of War, Seize Ground (5 Objectives)
[HQ] Emperor's Champion
[EL] 5 Terminators (LC, 4x TH/SS) + Drop Pod
[TR] 5? Tacticals + Razorback?
[TR] 10? Tacticals + Rhino
[HS] Predator - Twin linked Lascannons + Lascannon sponsons

Apologies - no pictures for this one!

I think I won the roll off for placing objectives - we ended up with three relatively close together in the bottom right with the other two in the top left and top centre respectively. The Black Templars chose to go first, placing a Tactical Squad with Emperors Champion in a Razorback? on the halfway line on the right. In response, I placed the Nobz in their Trukk opposite it. No scouts. Failed to seize.

The Terminator Drop Pod drops down near an objective bottom centre - conveniently in range of my reinforcements - while the Predator, Rhino and a combat squad move on to the board. The Rhino comes on top left, headed towards the objective there. The combat squad comes on top centre, running (slowly) towards the objective there. The Predator comes on to the right of this. The Razorback moves forward and manages to immobilise the Nobz Trukk - grrrr! In return, a Deffkopta turbo-boosts on from bottom left, headed towards the Rhino. Another moves on from bottom right, attempting side armour of the Razorback. Skarag comes on to the right of the Nobz and hops out to attempt to repair the vehicle, leaving his Boyz embarked. Morgrim moves up to the Terminators and disembarks with his Boyz. Shooting is pretty ineffectual - or doesn't happen at all - not entirely sure about the rules for Black Templars advancing - or more importantly - choosing to voluntarily retreat - so just don't end up doing much. Can't remember if Skarag managed to repair the Nobz Trukk - I have a suspicion that he did, only for it to get immobilised again later… I think the right Deffkopta may have shaken the Razorback, possibly in assault. Meanwhile, Morgrim and his boy assault the Terminators. Reroll to hit and wound Lightning Claws put two wounds on Morgrim. I think I end up losing the combat again, but stick in there… Going better than the previous game, but I haven't completely learnt my lesson yet…

Turn 2 and the Marines on the other side of the board advance a bit more, while the Emperor's Champion and Tacticals jump out to attack Skarag's Trukk, while the Razorback Tank Shocks the Deffkopta, sending it scrambling. Shooting sees the left Deffkopta downed, but not much else from memory. I think the Emperor's Champion and Tacticals may have even attempted to assault Skarag's Trukk, but to no avail. Unfortunately, Morgrim succumbed to Lightning Claws and his Boyz fled from the Terminators . In response, Skarag's Boyz move to deal with the three? remaining Terminators while the Nobz disembark and join Skarag for an assault on the Tacticals and Emperor's Champion. The remaining right Deffkopta rallies and continues to play with the Razorback. Skarag's Boyz choose not to shoot again(!) before assaulting the Terminators - I should perhaps reevaluate my fear of Space Marines falling back out of charge range… no, I should have stayed in the Trukk and shot them! Unbeknownst to me, the Emporer's Champion moves away from my Power Klaw nob and into contact with Skarag, who he then proceeds to overkill. The Nobz clean up the Tacticals. The Terminators lose two more, but send Skarag's Boyz packing - ready to flee the table next turn…

Turn 3 and the Marines on the other side of the board advance on to two objectives. The remaining Terminator move towards the empty Trukks. The Nobz finished off the Emperor's Champion and consolidated onto an objective. I think I had one remaining mobile Trukk, which flat out moved towards the Black Templars on their objectives, while the remaining Deffkopta turbo-boosted to contest the closest one. The Nobz assaulted the Razorback, destroying it.

Turn 4 the lone Terminator holed up on another objective - out of reach of my Nobz. The Trukk making its way to contest was blown up. Much firepower eventually made it through the Deffkopta's turbo-boost save, killing it. The Nobz managed a lucky shot, downing the last Terminator. We run out of time - not that things were going to get better for me...

Black Templars: 2 Objectives (8KP)
Orks: 1 Objective (4KP)

VICTORY: BLACK TEMPLARS

AFTERMATH

Well, at least I didn't make the mistake of sending my Nobz against the Thunderhammer/Storm Shield Terminators Again, I completely wasted my *Shootas* by not using them - twice! - and instead fed two Troops units to those annoying Terminators, as well as Morgrim. Again, in hind sight, sending the two Trukks to just hammer them with Shootas for a turn to soften them up would have been *much* smarter. Even better - assaulting the remnants with two Boyz mobs with two Power Klaws plus Morgrim's.

In further hindsight…
1) I probably shouldn't have deployed the Nobz at all. With his Razorback on the half way line, all I was doing really was giving him a target, and a non KFF one at that.
2) All three Trukks should have then moved on centre towards the Terminators. The Nobz Trukk could move Cruising Speed in order to attempt to Boarding Plank the Drop Pod, while the other two could move Combat Speed and lay firepower into the Terminators. Making sure, of course, that all vehicles are a) in KFF distance and b) not in multi assault range. I would have lost a Trukk to the Terminator charge, but then I could have surrounded, shot, and assaulted with two Boyz units including two Power Klaw Nobs and the Warboss. Statistically, that should do it
3) The Deffkopta should have both come on the right and dealt with the Razorback, trying to keep out of line of sight/range of his back field shooting.
4) After that, I should have been able to secure my three objectives with little chance of being shifted…

Report Card:
Morgrim "Da Lion" Grimork (Da Warboss): Managed to hold the Boyz in combat for a turn, but otherwise wasted. D+
Skarag Mekslag (Da Big Mek): KFF hardly used. Died in combat. May have repaired a vehicle. C-
Grimskab Badwort (Da Painboy) and Da Inna Circul (5 Nobz) in a Trukk: Took out Tacticals and Emperor's Champion and their Razorback, shot a Terminator, held an objective. B+
Da Warboss' Taktikal Boyz in a Trukk: Sacrificed to the Terminators, chose not to shoot. C-
Skarag's Taktikal Boyz in a Trukk: Sacrificed to the Terminators, chose not to shoot. C-
Rav'nwing I: No impact? Probably should have gone after the Drop Pod… D
Rav'nwing II: Harassed the Razorback, managed to suppress it once. B

Game 3 - Space Wolves - Pitched Battle, Annihilation
[HQ] Librarian
[EL] Lone Wolf, PA
[TR] 10 Grey Hunters, Wolfguard with +D6 attacks, Melta, Combi Melta, Powerfist, Rhino
[TR] 10 Grey Hunters, Wolfguard with +D6 attacks, Melta, Combi Melta, Powerfist, Rhino
[TR] 9 Grey Hunters, Wolfguard with +D6 attacks, Melta, Combi Melta, Powerfist, Rhino
[HS] 5 Long fangs, 4 Missile Launchers

After a draw and a loss, I expect I'm pretty much out of the running this tournament, and my games should get easier. So, of course, I 'm up against a Space Wolves army that numbers more than me! Can't remember if I chose or was given first turn, but I set up first in the middle as standard. Three Rhinos set up opposite me, with Long Fangs in cover on the left, the Lone Wolf on the right. The Deffkoptas turbo boost forward, the left towards the Long Fangs, the right towards the Lone Wolf/Rhino. Of course, the Space Wolves seize!

Two Rhinos move forward a bit while one moves towards the right Deffkopta. Shooting, including split fire by the Long Fangs, only manages to take out the right Deffkopta. In return, the Trukks flat out forward while the left Deffkopta moves in and assaults the Long Fangs. They get counter assault off, but are unable to kill the Deffkopta before it slices two with its Buzzsaw. They hold.


Orks Turn 1

Turn two and two units of Grey Hunters disembark in front of the oncoming Trukks - I can't believe my luck! They manage an immobilisation on the Nobz Trukk - but it is too little too late. Meanwhile, the Deffkopta kills another Long Fang and they run off the table. Going into my turn, I'm feeling very confident. Too confident. Morgrim's Trukk moves off to the left and he and his Boyz disembark ready to assault the Librarian and Grey Hunters on the left. The Nobz disembark ready to assault the Grey Hunters on the right. Skarag and his boy stay embarked and pour their firepower into the Lone Wolf, along with three Trukk Big Shootas. The Deffkopta moves behind a Rhino, shoots and assaults in along with everyone else. Both Grey Hunters units fail their counter assault attempts, and I almost feel sorry for my opponent as I expect to carve through two units of Grey Hunters. But everything goes horribly wrong! First, he rolls 6 extra rending attack for both Wolf Guard. Both units then proceed to inflict high casualties on both Ork units - expected on Morgrim's Boyz, but the Nobz not only take a lot of hits, but fail a lot of 'Eavy Armour and Feel No Pain saves. In return, the Orks just can't seem to get through Power Armour, or in the case of Power Klaws, hit in the first place. All in all, I kill seven marines across two units (Powerklaw Nob fails to kill the Librarian), lose combat on both, and both units are run down . I've just lost two thirds of my force in my turn…


Ork Turn 2 - those two outside Trukks used to be full of Boyz/Nobz. The Wolves don't look any less intimidating

My opponent is very agreeable - too agreeable - he doesn't push his now significant advantage. He kills the last Deffkopta and fires at Skarag's Trukk, but basically stays where he is. Having watched Morgrim and the Nobz cut down, Skarag decides not to follow suit! Morgrim's Trukk tank shocks through the two units, bunching them up. Skarag's Trukk moves into a good firing position and he and his Boyz let loose, the Burna template by itself covering most of the disembarked Marines, and we manage to thin the Grey Hunter numbers by a further seven - much better!

Turn 4 and the Space Wolves, realising the Orks are no longer coming to them, move in and shoot/assault Skarag's ride, exploding it, killing four Orks in the process.


Skarag is forcibly disembarked...


Space Wolves Turn 4

In return, Morgrim's Trukk tank shock's the Lone Wolf, killing him (I didn't realise the Space Wolf player was trying to get him killed all along to avoid giving up a KP!) and Skarag and his Boyz assault in. I think they moved out of the wreckage, which meant they failed to multi-assault - more mistakes on my part. They managed to take the left Grey Hunter pack down to the Librarian.

Turn 5 and the lone Powerfist Wolf Guard assaults and wrecks my last Trukk, whilst da Boyz finish of the Librarian - though Skarag died somewhere in there too… and we are out of time...


Space Wolf Turn 5 - Ork mop up in aisle one...

Space Wolves: 9KP
Orks: 3KP

VICTORY: SPACE WOLVES

AFTERMATH

Another abysmal effort. And it was all going so well! It's not obvious from the pictures, but there are ten Grey Hunters still unaccounted for in that third Rhino Again, I was over cocky and with a small swing of luck against me led to detrimental results. I don't know why I thought Orks would be a one-for-one match with Space Marines. Again, I would have been better off shooting - the Deffkopta was in a perfect position to escort any fall back shenanigans off the board. I could even have remained mounted up for another turn to attempt to thin the Space Marine numbers before charging in. My force is too small and elite for such grandiose mistakes...

In further hindsight:
1) I should have moved Combat Speed, perhaps Tank Shocking (but making sure to avoid Powerfists/Meltas) towards the empty Rhinos, pouring all firepower from the Trukks into a single unit and then Boarding Planking the Rhinos - keeping out of multi assault range if possible too…
2) I should then have pounced two or three units on each Space Wolf unit in turn. One to one is not good odds. Three to one is

Report Card:
Morgrim "Da Lion" Grimork (Da Warboss): Ineffectual due to below average rolling D
Skarag Mekslag (Da Big Mek): KFF good. Using his Burna was one of the more effective units this game… B
Grimskab Badwort (Da Painboy) and Da Inna Circul (5 Nobz) in a Trukk: Embarrassed by Grey Hunters. Absolutely shocking. D
Da Warboss' Taktikal Boyz in a Trukk: Embarrassed by Grey Hunters. Nob couldn't kill the Librarian! D
Skarag's Taktikal Boyz in a Trukk: Along with Skarag, accounted for more casualties than the Warboss, his Boyz and the Nobz combined! A
Rav'nwing I: Diverted fire from Trukks. C
Rav'nwing II: Diverted fire from Trukks. Took out the Long Fangs. Harassed a Rhino A

Game 4 - Necrons - Pitched Battle, Annihilation
[HQ] Lord, Res Orb, Warscythe?
[TR] 10 Necrons
[TR] 10 Necrons
[HS] 5 Heavy Destroyers
[HS] Monolith

A draw and two losses saw me competing for the wooden spoon for my fourth game - against Necrons! My opponent seemed pessimistic. I was confident as always. Necrons can't beat me in close combat - can they? I won the roll off and chose to deploy and go first, setting up in the middle in standard formation. The Necrons chose a refused flank, with the Monolith out in front, covering the Necron Warriors, and the Heavy Destroyers on the far left. I've never played Necrons, so an all out attack was chosen as my plan - what did I have to lose? The Deffkoptas scouted forward, one towards the left and the Heavy Destroyers, one to the centre and the Monolith/Necron Warriors… Necrons failed to seize - so far, so good…

Turn 1 and the Trukk surge forwards moving flat out towards the Necron lines. The Deffkoptas move towards their respective prey - the right one even managing to hit and put down a Necron Warrior with its Rokkits! Both assault in. Five Heavy Destroyers manage two wounds on the left Deffkopta, who promptly fails both 4+ armour saves - doh! On the right, the Necrons manage to get a wound through before the Deffkopta, completely stunned, fails to hit anything. Of course, he promptly fails his Morale check and is then run down… by Necrons… oh the embarrassment… The Necrons proceed to play shooting gallery with my Trukks, managing to send both Morgrim and Skarag's rides Kareening forward and exploding. I am already down 4KP...


Ork Turn 1

Turn 2 and the Orks move forward to attempt to put the hurt on. The Nobz, not immobilised for a change, head off towards the Heavy Destroyers and disembark ready to do what needs to be done. Morgrim and his Boyz move forward to avenge the Deffkopta whilst Skarag and his Boyz Trukk crater hop - Skarag moving to put the Nob Trukk within KFF range. Morgrim and his Boyz and the Nobz assault their respective targets - with no surprises regarding the outcome. A single Heavy Destroyer breaks and runs, another left to attempt "We'll Be Back". The Necron Warriors are also sent running towards the table edge - Morgrim and his Boyz consolidating amongst the fallen ones to help escort them off the table. The Necron turn comes around and we can't quite work out what happens with the Necron Warriors. I'm expecting them to flee off the table, while the Necron player wants to recycle them through the Monolith. In the end, they fled (seemed more appropriate than porting in front of the Monolith only to flee afterwards…) - but who knows? Maybe a Necron playing reading this can sort it out? The downed Heavy Destroyer got back up and retreated along with its partner (while putting shots into the Nobz who had consolidated into terrain) while the other Necron Warriors moved into the other side of the same terrain. And then the Monolith let loose on all units in 6" - which was all my units! Luckily, the number of shots rolled were low for all except the Nobz Trukk - which even with KFF couldn't save against the barrage headed its way.


Ork Turn 2 - I'm sure we had more Trukks...


Nobz get stuck in!


Da Boyz get stuck in!


Gitsplitta's GMS Nob in action...

We had been playing pretty slowly, taking more photos, and had a rules discussion - so we almost didn't even complete Turn 3! Morgrim split from his Boyz, but both moved towards the remaining Necron Warriors - Morgrim closer to the Monolith if his Slow and Purposeful was looking to stop him reaching. Skarag's Boyz moved towards the Monolith and the Nobz crept through the terrain towards the Necron Warriors. A Waaagh! was called, but the Orks stumbled more than ran. Morgrim and Skarag's Boyz assaulted the Monolith, managing a single weapon destroyed. Morgrim's Boyz and the Nobz assaulted the Lord and Necron Warriors - though the Nobz could only get one Power Klaw into the fight Battered and demoralised from previous hand to hand beatings, the Power Klaws whiff leaving the Necron Lord unscathed and Necrons winning the combat by one! Nervously I manage to make both morale checks - phew! At this point my only chancing of victory is Phase Out. We quickly perform the Necron turn round of Hand-to-Hand - and although the Orks do better, it's only just. The Necron Lord *still* lives and the Necrons make their Leadership test. Time is called, and it is all over for a fun, yet unsuccessful day...

Orks: 2KP
Necrons: 5KP

VICTORY: Necrons

AFTERMATH

Sadly, I'm happy to say that this loss was more due to bad luck than anything else. Even with the bad luck I think I could have achieved Phase Out by turn 5. Morgrim should not have broken off after the Monolith, but added his weight to the Necron Lord/Warrior combat - but apart from that I'm not sure what I could have done better. Extremely bad luck to have both Deffkoptas fail in combat first turn. I usually expect them to at least equal combat resolution and tie up units for a turn. On a happy note - at least the Nobz Trukk wasn't immobilised!

Report Card:
Morgrim "Da Lion" Grimork (Da Warboss): Used his superior armour to protect da Bayz. Killed some Necron Warriors. Had a go at bagging himself a Monolith. C+
Skarag Mekslag (Da Big Mek): KFF couldn't stop the barrage of attacks, and otherwise didn't play much part in the battle. C
Grimskab Badwort (Da Painboy) and Da Inna Circul (5 Nobz) in a Trukk: Killed the Heavy Destroyers. Stumbled a lot, and ran out of steam against the Necron Warriors B-
Da Warboss' Taktikal Boyz in a Trukk: Broke a Necron Warrior squad but ran out of steam against the second. B-
Skarag's Taktikal Boyz in a Trukk: Nob didn't have much luck against the Monolith. Little to no effect due to being out of position from a Kareen. C-
Rav'nwing I: Killed by Heavy Destroyers - on *my* charge D
Rav'nwing II: Run down by Necron Warriors - on *my* charge F

PARTICK CRUCIBLE 2 AFTERMATH
1 draw, 3 losses, 1 point, -20 net KP, 20th of 20 To give you an idea of how poor that was - 19th place (which wasn't the Necrons incidentally - poor Tau) - was 3 points (not sure if that's one win or three draws…), -9 net KP.

So I had a fun time, even with the poor showing. I keep trying to tell myself I've been looking forward to some hard losses - those are the ones you learn the most from! So what have I learnt?

1) Thunderhammer/Storm Shield Terminators are *hard*. My army isn't really equipped to deal with them - I need to use my manoeuvrability and firepower to thin them out before ganging up on the leftovers. On the upside, they have very little (if anything) in the way of ranged weapons - I don't have to worry about them shooting up my Trukks. I do need to worry about other elements of the army shooting up my Trukks though…
2) Sometimes I don't want or need to close, in which case I may be better off moving Cruising Speed and bringing my Trukk Big Shootas to bear. I did say sometimes…
3) I don't need to be in a rush to assault - especially with Shootas! I may be better off moving Combat Speed and doing a drive by to soften up the target from the relative safety of my Trukks.
4) Remember Tank Shock and Boarding Planks. Better still, try to manoeuvre the Deffkoptas (if still alive) to assist with escorting retreating units.
5) Play faster!

Thanks to everyone for an enjoyable day, and especially troy_tempest for organising it all. I hope to redeem myself at Partick Crucible 3!

Partick Crucible 2 Report Card:
Morgrim "Da Lion" Grimork (Da Warboss): Used very ineffectually, mostly in last ditched efforts D+
Skarag Mekslag (Da Big Mek): KFF was never really taxed, unless it was over taxed. A few repair attempts. No stand out moments. C+
Grimskab Badwort (Da Painboy) and Da Inna Circul (5 Nobz) in a Trukk: Wildly fluctuating effectiveness - mainly due to extremely poor match ups and bad tactics - da ginseed woz really runnin' low dis time. Not helped by below average luck. Too expensive to not pull their weight consistently! C
Da Warboss' Taktikal Boyz in a Trukk: Again, poor tactics did not give them an opportunity to shine. C
Skarag's Taktikal Boyz in a Trukk: The stand out unit for the tournament, which isn't saying much. When everything else is going horribly wrong, they tend to do better for not being committed as early as the others. B
Rav'nwing I & II: Pretty much performed as expected, with the advantage of less tactical blunders - though a little bad luck in the end. B-

Thanks for taking the time to write this Arakasi.

I like the format of afterthougt and report card. Its good to see what you've learned from your experiences.

I wouldn't be too hard on yourself about your placing as sometimes it doesn't matter what you do. If lady luck doesn't smile on you then your stuffed.

On a side note it may well be another year before you get your chance at revenge against my pansies.

I'm only going to claim bad luck on the last one - the others were bad tactical errors that only good luck could have compensated for.

I may get that revenge sooner...

Nice write ups Arakasi, was fun to play again. I didnt even notice you were taking photos, I was concentrating on playing badly too much!!!

You shouldn't be too hard on your self in ourt game tho, if Belial had failed a storm shield save in that first combat vs your nobs, the game would have been alot different.

Thanks! I've learnt to sneak the photos in during my opponents turn Belial had to make, two saves? I had a slightly better than 50% chance to kill him (5/9) - and it would have made no difference - I would have lost the combat by 6 instead of 9 - still needed snake eyes to go another round It really was a losing proposition that I should have identified beforehand...

We can have another game soon as a pick-me-up for you arakasi...
Wow, Why is it that everyone bar me manages to get through the KFF early on?!?

Loved the reports and the armies especially looked particularly nice. The terrain on the tables is definitely a tad woeful though...

Good job all the same!

L. Wrex

IM join the club, KFF is the bane of my existence vs. Arakasi!

I like this battle report a lot, and I saw your Da Dark Angelz orks in a WIP thread I think. And i love it! Nice to see them in action.

I also play DW/RW and I have to say that you pretty much made good decisions and you are learning from those mistakes you did make. Killing those Land Speeders is definitely priority one as they can munch up your trukks like nobody's business. With those trukks gone the DW can just shoot you and charge.

TBH, FNP and TH/SS Deathwing termies are the only thing that DA really have going for them in terms of really powerful units. As orks it's tough to force them to make invul saves w/o being in CC with them, which plays heavily in their favor. In a game like this where he was not deep striking i would have to say use your trukks to outmanover him and hit one squad with everything you have got. Preferably the one w/o the apothecary. They WILL roll 1's believe me. Boarding plank the dread is a good idea too.

Overall you had the right idea it just didn't go totally right. Nice job though and better luck next time

@Imperial Monkey: endtransmission will be getting that honour next weekend - mmmm Guard Of course, if he steps up his game I'll have no choice but to come and face you... hopefully the KFF will hold out against him too...

@Lycaeus Wrex: Terrain was light (that's why I bring my own - KFF!) - I think maybe they stretched the terrain from 12 tables last year to 20... its an evolving thing, and I haven't helped yet...

@troy_tempest: You an Imperial Monkey are just *so* unlucky with it

@VardenV2: Thanks. The WIP thread is still going strong (see my signature) - even has a catchup post on page 50! Thanks for the advice!