Got a game with John on Friday. Here's the report, might be a little hazy though.
Blood Angels "Wing Striker" - 2,000 points
HQ
Librarian - shield of sanguinus & unleash rage
Librarian - shield of sanguinus & unleash rage
Honour Guard w/ Razorback - 2 x flamers - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasma gun
Honour Guard w/ Razorback - 2 x meltaguns - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasma gun
Elite
1 x Sanguinary Priest
Troops
5 x Assault Marines w/ Razorback - 1 x flamer - sgt w/ power weapon - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasmagun
5 x Assault Marines w/ Razorback - 1 x flamer - sgt w/ power weapon - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasmagun
5 x Assault Marines w/ Razorback - 1 x flamer - sgt w/ power weapon - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasmagun
5 x Assault Marines w/ Razorback - 1 x meltagun - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasmagun
5 x Assault Marines w/ Razorback - 1 x meltagun - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasmagun
5 x Assault Marines w/ Razorback - 1 x meltagun - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasmagun
Heavy Support
Vindicator
Vindicator
Eldar "Craftworld Vagisil" - 2,000 points
HQ
Eldrad
Farseer - fortune
Elites
5 x Fire Dragons w/ Wave Serpent - Serpent w/ twin-linked shuriken cannon, shuriken cannon & spirit stones
5 x Fire Dragons w/ Wave Serpent - Serpent w/ twin-linked shuriken cannon, shuriken cannon & spirit stones
5 x Fire Dragons w/ Wave Serpent - Serpent w/ twin-linked shuriken cannon, shuriken cannon & spirit stones
Troops
5 x Dire Avengers w/ Wave Serpent - Serpent w/ twin-linked shuriken cannon, shuriken cannon & spirit
5 x Dire Avengers w/ Wave Serpent - Serpent w/ twin-linked shuriken cannon, shuriken cannon & spirit
5 x Dire Avengers w/ Wave Serpent - Serpent w/ twin-linked shuriken cannon, shuriken cannon & spirit
Heavy Support
3 x War Walkers - 6 x eldar missile launchers
3 x War Walkers - 6 x scatter lasers
3 x War Walkers - 6 x scatter lasers
Pre-Game Analysis
I haven't played with my Angels against John's Eldar for a long time, and last time I lost :( . I will always have a tough game against John's Eldar as he out shoots me and it's not like my Razorbacks are bullet proof. Even if he stops my guns firing in some shape or form it's a issue.
I think I'll be best moving up into his face as quickly as I can, then if my tanks get taken out I can move up and start smashing face in. I'll be going for the Fire Dragons first and then the War Walkers, I just hope that the S6 doesn't do too much damage to my transports.
Deployment
John wins the roll off and goes second. I chose to deploy in the bottom left corner as the top right seems to have the less cover.
Nothing fancy with my deployment, I just spread my Razorbacks around with the Vindicators of my quarter of the board. I do put a melta squad on my objective (in the large ruin in my quarter) and have their Razorback riding around empty.
John deploys keeping majority of his Serpents back with the F.D vehicles at the front. His
EML War Walkers are tucked away behind the Serpents and the others have got cover from ruins, it's a pretty tight deployment. He has put his objective in the large ruin half way across the board, I think his objective perhaps could have been placed better as I can easily roll up and park at the side of the ruin and contest.
* Tactical Notes
Ok, I know John has chosen to go second because he wants to boost his Serpents last turn to get objectives. I need to stop those Serpents from moving some way or another, it's going to be tough. At the moment he's held everything back and using the ruins and forward Serpents to get cover. I'll move up 12" and drop Vindicator shells on the front Dragon Serpents and then lascannons can open up on the War Walkers. Will take it from there.
Turn 1
I split my army and move a bigger bulk of red vehicles towards my table edge round the centre ruin while a Vindie and three Razorbacks flank around towards John's table edge, both formations will rock up the centre towards John and both have shield and feel no pain bubbles.
Shooting; I fire two Vindicators at the front Dragon Serpent, one shot totally scatters and the other causes shaken thanks to spirit stones. Lascannons blast out, they do rubbish at hitting though I do explode a Dragon Serpent behind the shaken one and kill two Dragon's in the blast - they pass pinning and morale. I do also frag a War Walker in the unit towards John's table edge.
Eldar turn; the shaken Dragon Serpent moves 12" and the Dragons bail out in front of the Vindicator near my table edge. Another Serpent moves flat out along John's table edge carrying the other Fire Dragons. The full unit of scatter-walkers come out to play.
Shooting; I cast shield and one Librarian fails and takes a wound from perils, this is the Librarian with the bulk of armour, nice. Dragons are out of
2d6 range on the Vindicator, but score double weapon destroyed so the storm bolter and demolisher cannon are totalled. Scatter lasers and
EMLs fire and explode the melta Honour Guard's Razorback and immobilise and stun another melta squad's Razorback on the same flank as the Vindicator. One of the Razorbacks on the other formation explodes, melta unti is safe inside though.
* Tactical Notes
Right, not a too bad start, though I think John has got one up on me here. John has taken out two Razorbacks completely, immobilised and stunned another and also practically taken out a Vindicator out the game. I've managed to take out a Wave Serpent and leave those Dragons stranded and taken out a War Walker. One unit of Dragons is exposed for a punch in the face next turn.
Next turn I'll carry on moving up the armour while the single melta unit along with Razorbacks will try and tackle the last Dragon Serpent while the other formation will blast and take out the exposed Fire Dragons and their Serpent.
Turn 2
I move the weaponless Vindicator 12" and pop it behind a ruin near my table edge. Remaining Razorbacks move forward 6" to use both those guns on the Dragon's Serpent while a melta unit bails out the immobilised Razorback to deal with the Dragon's in front. The two Razorbacks move to deal with the Serpent which moved flat out, the melta unit moves to support while the Vindicator moves to drop a shell on the scatter-walkers - if I don't take out those Dragons it's dead anyway.
Shooting; I blast the crap out of the Dragon Serpent and only manage to score shaken. I fire some shots into the depleted scatter-walkers and rip off a scatter laser. Vindicator fires into the exposed scatter-walkers and totals one while another is shaken. Razorbacks and melta fire into the Serpent which went flat out, thanks to fortune it is safe as houses. Bolt pistols fire into the Dragons on foot near their Serpent, I kill two and they pass morale.
Assault; melta unit charges and batters the Fire Dragons, like a noob I consolidate them towards John's objective but also out of
fnp range, what a goose!
John's second turn; the two scatter-walkers move into the safety of terrain while the unit moves out to tackle the Razorbacks near John's table edge. Fire Dragons jump out their ride and move round to slag the Vindicator while their Serpent moves to blast a Razorback. I think that's it. The shaken Wave Serpent moves 24" towards my objective and lands by the shrine ruin.
Shooting; scatter-walkers and shuri cannons from Eldrad's ride blast the melta squad I hung out to dry and two remain - they pass morale. Dragon's blast the Vindicator and rip off the weapons and immobilise it. Scatter-walkers on John's table edge and the Serpent blast into the two Razorbacks, I can't remember the results though both take damage.
EMLs blast and explode a Razorback carrying a flamer unit and the Priest - squad takes no damage and pass pinning.
Assault; Fire Dragons assault the Vindicator and blow it up with melta bombs, one Dragon dies from shrapnel.
* Tactical Notes
I don't think it's going too bad, though John is definitely cutting my fire power down and with my luck with lascannons I'm not taking down his armour quick enough. I guess at least one Fire Dragon unit is down and the other one is probably going to get punched in the face shortly.
Next turn I'll move up the two Assault Marines left from the melta unit and they will tie up the scatter-walkers near John's objective. Melta Honour Guard will double back and slag the Serpent which moved 24" while the Dragons and their Serpent will be dealt with.
Turn 3
Blood Angels third turn; I move a Razorback up 12" to support the depleted melta unit while the squad moves to the ruin to blast and assault the War Walkers. I use the Razorback which moved 12" as a shield while a flamer squad moves out of terrain from their exploded Razorback. Melta unit and Honour Guard near John's table edge move out their tank/towards the Serpent which moved 12" and prepare to dish out a krak attack. Librarian and his unit bail out of their Razorback ready to assault the Fire Dragons.
Shooting; depleted melta unit blasts the War Walkers and I rip a weapon off one with a bolt pistol. The other unit of scatter-walkers gets shot by lascannons and one explodes. Melta Honour Guard slag the Serpent which moved flat out and it goes boom. That's all I've got shooting wise.
Assault; melta unit and flamer Honour Guard assault the Wave Serpent as I don't want it moving flat out and getting close to my objective, mass attacks I chosen instead and it's immobilised and shaken. Librarian's unit charges and kills the Fire Dragons. Depleted melta unit charges and ties up the scatter-walkers.
Eldar third turn; the single scatter-walker moves down John's flank to fire on Marines while the remaining Fire Dragons move forward to blast some Marines. Eldrad's ride moves to block the Eldar objective, though doesn't look like has done it good enough.
Shooting; single scatter-walker blasts and kills a Marine I think. Fire Dragons kill a single Marine in cover if I remember right, from the Librarian's unit as they consolidated into the Vindicator crater.
EMLs fire and score damage on the Razorback I am using as a shield while Eldrad's Serpent wrecks the Razorback carrying the wounded Librarian and a flamer squad - unit passes pinning.
In assault my Blood Angels lay kraks on the Serpent and wreck it. The scatter-walkers some how beat the Assault Marines in combat and consolidate onto their objective.
* Tactical Notes
Damage wise it's not going well for me. John has almost stopped all Razorbacks, I don't think I have a fully operational one left now and is slowly but surely depleting my fire power. I can't say it's all roses for John though, I've managed to take out two Serpents which had a chance of getting my objective, at the moment he hasn't got a lot which can even reach my objective while my Angels and Vindicator are getting close to his.
Next turn I'll move my melta squad out from behind terrain which was blocking LOS to them and circle my objective, the melta Honour Guard will move back and act as a first line of defence, as lets face it they aren't going any where. Assault Marines near John's table edge I'll move and run into the ruin and I hope I get within 3" of his objective. I'll move the Vindicator up and pop smoke too.
Turn 4
Blood Angels turn 4; I move the melta Honour Guard back towards my objective while the unit in terrain moves out and rings around my objective. I move all Assault Marine units towards the ruin which helds the Eldar objective, though I need another turn to get inside the ruin. I move the Vindicator up, pop smoke and contest the Eldar objective. Melta unit which took out the Serpent moves to engage the single scatter-walker while the flamer Honour Guard moves behind. Librarian's unit in terrain moves out to engage the Dragons, though I get poor terrain rolls.
Shooting; bolt pistols fire at the single scatter-walker and do nothing. Bolt pistols fire into the scatter-walkers on John's objective and do nothing. I fire plasma at the unit of Fire Dragons, they get cover and are fine. I go to fire the Librarian's unit which has moved out of terrain to get them, though only a few bolt pistols are in range and the Dragons are safe.
Assault; melta unit charges the War Walker and scores stunned and rips a weapon off.
Eldar turn; a Wave Serpent moves 24" and lands near the Vindicator crater. Fire Dragons move up to slag the Librarian's unit as the
eml-walkers move up to get better
LOS on the same unit. Eldrad's Serpent moves away from the Vindicator.
Shooting; Fire Dragons and
EMLs gib and slag the Librarian's unit. Scatter lasers and shuri fire into the oncoming horde of Assault Marines, not sure on damage, though plenty of Marines left.
Assault; I think a Marine dies in the scatter-walker fight though the walker takes more damage.
* Tactical Notes
Right, I am breathing down John's next and I think I have swung the game around. I've got two units of Assault Marines on John's doorstep plus the Vindicator. The only problem I've got is that Wave Serpent which just moved flat out, I'll have to wait until John brings it closer as I have nothing to deal with it.
I feel that John could have defended his objective better. He knew my Vindicator has been sitting by the ruin for a few turns now. I think if he moved the Serpent to block the objective better and move the War Walkers up to block the Assault Marines and then bail out his Avengers and cirlce his objective he would have stopped me getting close.
Next turn I'll split the Librarian from the unit to give John another target plus it's another unit to contest his objective. Assault Marines will move up and bunker down on his objective while the Vindicator moves a bit so it doesn't get auto hit.
Turn 5
I split the Librarian from the Assault Squad and move all three units into terrain and now contest John's objective. I slightly move the Vindicator just in case. Melta Honour Guard move to block off movement from my own objective while the flamer Honour Guard move to engage the Wave Serpent which moved flat out.
Shooting; I don't think I have any, so assault..
Assault; Flamer Honour Guard charge the Serpent and cause stunned, I get excited as I think I've stopped the Serpent and John reminds me of spirit stones so it's only stunned. Scatter-walker and Assault Marines carry on to battle it out.
John's turn; Eldrad's Serpent moves a bit so it doesn't get auto hit in assault. The remaining Fire Dragons move and run round the ruin to tackle the Vindicator with melta bombs. The shaken Serpent moves flat out towards my objective while another moves flat out and lands in it's place.
Shooting;
EMLs blast a Assault Squad, I go to ground and save some bacon though the same unit eats scatter lasers and shuri cannons and two remain - they pass morale.
Assault; Fire Dragons only manage to immobilise the Vindicator if I remember right.
We roll for it and game ends, I pick up a sneaky win.
Summary
That was a pretty intense game, and to be honest I was really hoping for it to end on turn 5 so I can pick up a sneaky victory, the dice gods must have heard me
.
I took a beating all this game and looking back I have no tanks which are fully operational. John did well keeping my fire power down to a minimum, I think ultimately he came at me piecemeal with the odd Wave Serpent each turn and I took them out which slowly started cutting his army down. While this was a objective game and I got a close victory, if this would have been kill points John would have owned me as he had 8 and I had 4.
I think the only mistake I made this game was hanging that melta unit out to dry, though I guess they survived and managed to hold up the scatter-walkers in assault for a turn. Every cloud has a silver lining and all that.
John played well, though I think his end tactics let him down as he could have turned a loss into a draw. As mentioned earlier, he know that Vindicator was there, and while he couldn't do anything about it as only shuri cannons had
LOS, he could have blocked it off better. I think he should have put the scatter-walkers between his objective and use them to tarpit my Assault Marines while the
EML War Walkers came down to support. Then he could have bailed out the Avengers and Eldrad and ring his objective while the Serpent moves to get into the side armour of the Vindicator and also block it. Also instead of moving that last Serpent flat out (as it only got half way) I think the fire power of that unit would have helped more, at the end, on his objective I had a unit of two Assault Marines, a unit of 4 and the wounded Librarian, my Priest was also dead at this point. I think the extra fire power would have defintely helped here.