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2012/08/09 23:17:10
Subject: Battle Sisters at the Golden Throne GT (Game 4 of 7 vs Necrons)
HEAVY SUPPORT Annihilation Barge Doom Scythe Doom Scythe
Pre-Game I was on a serious roll through my first three games and unfortunately I was matched up against the one army I really really really didn't want to fight: jy2's Wraith/Scythe Necrons.
The Necrons are good at objective missions to begin with since he has four cheap scoring units, two of which can beam down with an effective 42" range. Well Scouring makes it even worse because now the dreaded Wraiths can take objectives!
Before I start to get too whiny, I also had a bunch of FA choices that were now able to score (5 to be exact), but they're not nearly as tough as Wraiths and my opponent will get bonus points for killing them.
Deployment
Spoiler:
We each placed three objectives. I used my red poker chips and jy2 used his famous turtles. The third turtle is behind the central ruin and not visible in this picture.
I deployed in my (now typical) gun line, although I chose to put my Retributor squad on the right flank instead of the BSS. The idea was to make sure I had firepower on each of his backfield objectives. I deployed the Seraphim forward since they would need to get as deep into his side of the board as possible.
I made a small deployment error though. I should have put my right side BSS either behind the Retributors or over in that crater. That way they would be between the two objectives and could move to take whichever one was more valuable.
The Necrons deploy only the Wraiths and Annihilation Barge. All flyers and Warriors are in reserves.
Not pictured: We rolled for the objective values. The objectives in my DZ (from left to right) were worth 2, 1, and 3pts. His objectives were (from left to right) 4 and 3 pts, with the central objective being also 2pts. Things just went from bad to worse. I was going to have to get deep behind his lines if I wanted to win this mission!
Sisters Turn 1
Spoiler:
I moved the Seraphim up to give him something to think about. I also moved my Exorcist from behind the ruin to a position where it could fire on either side of the central terrain. It must have been Night Fighting because I don't think I shot anything. jy2 is taking his own picture for a battle report that will, no doubt, be much better than this one.
Necrons Turn 1
Spoiler:
The Necrons Advance! The Necrons also failed their charge! I think he needed about a 6" and instead rolled a 3". I may have given his Destroyer Lord the finger. I make no apologies!
Sisters Turn 2
Spoiler:
This picture sucks, but what it does show is that I f'n went for it. Shooting from the Seras put down almost all of the Wraiths! Retributors killed a single Wraith from the other unit. I also blew up his Annihilation Barge which got me First Blood! Hell yeah! It's on Necrons!!!
Necrons Turn 2
Spoiler:
Turn 2 reserves see two Night Scythes, a Doom Scythe, and a squad of Warriors (back right) come on.
I got one of my outflanking Dominion squads on and they went full speed at the 4pt objective. Unfortunately they were intercepted by a Doom Scythe. Speaking of Interceptions, my Quad Gun whiffed hard against the Doom Scythe leaving the poor Dominions to face its wrath.
Wrath'd! To add insult to exploded Immolator, the Dominions failed their pinning check in what would be the first in a series of amazing feats of cowardice that would continue throughout the tournament.
...and the Quad Gun is dead.
The Saint and the Seraphim Hit & Run from what's left of the Wraiths.
Sisters Turn 3
Spoiler:
The Seras make short work of the Warriors. So at this point I've killed a Troop, reduced both Wraith units to single models, and the Destroyer Lord has one wound remaining. I'm doing much better than I had anticipated.
Unleash the disappointment!
On the other side of the ruin I got my other Dominion squad in. So I was ready to shoot down some filthy Necron flyers. Apparently I wasn't ready at all though, because between the Immo, the Dominions, the Exorcist, and two Retributor squads I didn't do crap!
Necrons Turn 3
Spoiler:
Completely unimpressed by my shooting, the Night Scythes go after my Seraphim. The Doom Scythe has developed a taste for Immolators and goes after my Dominions.
Tesla'd!
The second squad of foot Warriors came on (remember that there are still two more units embarked in Night Scythes). They rapid fired into my previously pinned Dominions who promptly broke and ran.
The Doom Scythe's Death Ray blew up the Immo and killed three of the Dominions, including a meltagun.
The nearly destroyed Seraphim squad was charged by the Destroyer Lord and his lone Wraith buddy. Celestine and the Destroyer entered into a challenge. She shrugged off the effects of his Mindshackle Scarabs and prompltly delivered a killing blow! But, being a Necron, he reassembled himself came back for vengeance.
Celestine's luck spared her from the Lord's Warscythe but the last Seraphim was not as fortunate and was killed by the Wraith. This was very disappointing since I was no longer able to Hit & Run.
Sisters Turn 4
Spoiler:
Well that was a rough turn. I don't think I've ever gone from totally confident to desperately srambling so quickly.
So I immediately shift into damage control mode. I put down a few Warriors with my Exorcist since they're holding the most valuable objective. Unfortunately, only one stayed dead.
My Dominions attack the Doom Scythe that blew up their Immolator and manage to scratch the paint a little.
Unsurprisingly, Celestine was killed by the Destroyer Lord.
Necrons Turn 4
Spoiler:
In my turn I had moved my right side BSS across the Aegis Line to try and get closer to the 3pt objective. The Necrons were having none of that, so a tandem of scythes attacked.
Oh God! All but one Battle Sister is dead! Just keep running!
The chicken Dominions were attacked by the other Doom Scythe and deservedly wiped out.
Sisters Turn 5
Spoiler:
I moved the lone surviving Battle Sister to the 3pt objective. (Bottom middle of the picture.) You can't see the Battle Sister because she was met and eaten by a Wraith.
I also moved my last two Dominions over towards the 4pt objective, hoping to either contest or maybe even get lucky and kill the Warriors. (Far back of the picture near the Skyshield.)
Necrons Turn 5
Spoiler:
The Warriors fired at the Dominions killing the meltagun. The VSS knows when she can't win so she turns tail and runs.
This would be the end of the game.
The Aftermath
Spoiler:
These shots are a little blurry, but if you squint, you can see that he has a 4pt and two 3pt objectives. Celestine failed to stand up so he got the Slay the Warlord point. He also got Linebreaker from his Wraith and all 5 VPs for my fast attack choices!
I had a single 2pt objective and the bonus for First Blood
Crushing Victory for the Necrons! 17-3
Note: Putting this report together, I noticed a big mistake that I made. On Turn 3 I should have split Celestine off to kill the Warriors by herself and left the Seraphim to try and finish off the Wraiths. They only had one wound each, so with some template shenanigans I would have had a good shot at wiping them out. I could have then assaulted the Destroyer Lord and locked him up in a Challenge for at least a single turn.
Even if I had done all of that, it still would be unlikely that I'd get a victory. The Necrons still had two embarked Warrior squads that could have easily captured the objectives that the Wraiths were holding, so even in my best outcome I'm still losing 17-6.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2012/08/10 04:40:18
2012/08/11 02:11:49
Subject: Battle Sisters at the Golden Throne GT (Game 4 of 7 vs Necrons)
I would like to comment on all of these, but one is enough. I shelved my Sisters after the WD codex - they seemed lackluster - but I think the new edition has really ironed out some of their previous issues.
In short, I think it is time for my Daemons to take a break, so I can startup with the Sisters again - if only I had bought those extra Heavy Bolters when they were on sale!
Dominions were attacked by the other Doom Scythe and deservedly wiped out.
