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Background
I had been doing final assignments for class pretty hardcore over the course of the last month, so I was itching to get in a game of 40k. So when Crablezworth texted me and asked if I wanted to play a team game with Sallieman, I was definitely up for it! It would be Sallieman (Salamanders) and I (Space Wolves) vs Crablezworth (Deathwatch), 3000pts per side. Since we were split into 2 teams, we decided to have 2 Warlords per side, and no random traits – instead, you get to pick which one you want (which, in my experience, is actually a much better way of playing them).

(All lists are approximate, I can't quite remember what everyone had)
Space Wolves


Sallieman's Salamanders


Deathwatch


DEPLOYMENT
Instead of rolling for Mission, we just decided to do 5 objectives worth 3VP each, but rolled for deployment and got Dawn of War. Sallieman and I got to place objectives and set up first. Andilus and his Wolf Guard Terminators hopped in their Stormraven, while Vulkan and the Tactical Termies decided to try to outflank the enemy. We also rolled and determined that it would not be Night Fighting for the first turn of the game.

As the game was about to begin, Crablezworth rolled to seize the initiative and...






















Turn 1 – Deathwatch
Crablezworth began his Movement phase by dropping his Ironclad Dreadnought near the Salamanders Scouts on the middle objective. A combat squad then moved up and captured the objective in his deployment zone. Finally, he moved his Land Speeder Typhoon onto a building, but immobilized it in the process!




In the Shooting Phase, the Deathwatch Scouts fired their missile launcher at my right-most Rhino, stunning it. The Ironclad decided to attack the Salamanders Scouts rather than the Rhinos, killing 3 of them and forcing them to fall back. Finally, the Thunderfire Cannon fired at the left-most Salamanders Rhino, but missed, instead managing to glance my left-most Rhino instead (I was joking that the Rhino that had the foresight to take cover got hit while the guys out in the open were unhurt... fortune favours the brave it seems ).











Turn 1 – Salamanders/Space Wolves
The Sternguard arrived, landing in front of the Vindicator on the right. After that, the coalition forces advanced. The Scouts regrouped and grabbed the objective again. They were followed by a combat squad which stuck close to cover the objective when/if the Scouts died. The left-most Salamander and Space Wolves Rhinos advanced, using the middle Space Wolves Rhino as cover. The other two Rhinos on the right hugged cover and hoped to destroy the Ironclad Dreadnought. Finally, the Assault Termies advanced in order to destroy the Ironclad Dreadnought.

In the Shooting Phase, the Sternguard wiped out a combat squad and destroyed the Vindicator (I forgot to kill it in the VASSAL overview). The combat squad in the Rhino on the right also destroyed the Iconclad with a meltagun, but an Assault Terminator died in the blast... The Assault Termies decided to go after the Drop Pod instead. All other shooting was ineffective this turn. At the very least though, we got First Blood.

In the Assault Phase, the Hammernators charged the Pod and blew it up... but another Terminator was killed in the blast!!! They just weren't having any luck this game!









Turn 2 – Deathwatch
The Deathwatch rolled their reserves, and their last Drop Pod arrived. It landed just behind where the Ironclad had and disembarked the Command Squad and Baron Samedi (a Chaplain Cassius proxy, but we called him Baron Samedi because he looked like the James Bond henchman):






The Land Speeder Storm arrived as well, outflanking onto the left side of the board and preparing to attack my left Rhino's rear armour. Unlike Crablezworth's rather conservative first turn, he moved many of his units ahead in earnest. His Assault Termies + Watch-Captain hurried down the gauntlet to attack our right flank. Meanwhile, his Land Speeders sped forward, his bikers skirted behind his lines, and the last Vindicator prepared for a shot on the 3 Rhinos on the left.

In the Shooting Phase, the combined fire of the immobilized Land Speeder Typhoon, the Land Speeder Storm, Thunderfire Cannon and Rifleman Dread destroyed both of the Grey Hunter Rhinos on the left, and killed 1 Grey Hunter in 1 squad, and 3 in the other. The Vindicator then opened fire on the nearest squad of exposed Grey Hunters, causing enough wounds to kill the squad to a man as if they were the PDF. I decided to go to ground instead, and go lucky with my , only losing 3 more Grey Hunters in the squad.

Elsewhere, one of the Razorbacks and a Land Speeder killed all the combi-melta-toting Sternguard, and Samedi's squad shot yet another Hammernator to death. Once again, no assaults could be initiated, but it looked like this was going to change imminently...











Turn 2 – Salamanders/Space Wolves
Sallieman rolled to see if Vulkan's unit would arrive, but unfortunately they did not. However, Andilus and his Stormeagle did. I decided to send the flyer in towards the Assault Termie Deathstar bearing down on our right flank. The whittled-down Salamanders Assault Terminators decided to sell their lives attacking Baron Samedi's Command Squad. Sternguard turned around to help out as well. The Grey Hunters nearest the Land Speeder Storm decided to get some revenge and charged straight towards it. Finally, the Salamanders Rhino on the left moved forward and disembarked its Combat Squad occupants, hoping to destroy the Vindicator with a meltagun.

In the Shooting Phase, the Grey Hunters opened fire on the Land Speeder Storm, but despite having 2 meltas, failed to scratch the thing. The Stormeagle then fired, using Power of the Machine Spirit to shoot the Vengenace Launcher at the Sniper Scouts and the Typhoon Missile Launcher at the Vindicator's side armour. The Scouts went to ground for a 3+ cover save (we were playing ruins as 5+ cover, which is actually pretty fun), and managed to save everything. However, the Vindicator took a single penetrating hit, which resulted in a ! The tank exploded, taking a nearby Tac Marine with it. Since the Vindicator was gone, the Salamanders Combat Squad didn't have a target anymore, so decided to try to finish off the Typhoon Land Speeder... buuuuuuuut they failed.

In the Assault Phase, the Grey Hunters charged the Land Speeder Storm. Despite having Krak Grenades on everyone, plus a Wulfen and a Wolf Guard with a Power Axe, they only managed to Immobilize the thing. The Hammernators and Sternguard fared only slightly better, killing 2 Veterans in the Command Squad. However, the 2 Sternguard and 1 Hammernator were killed in return, causing the last Termie to fall back.

Hmm... things aren't looking so great for us at the moment.













Turn 3 – Deathwatch
Knowing that his Land Speeder was doomed, the Scouts disembarked and hurried off to safety. Crablezworth was hoping I'd play ring around the rosy with him. Meanwhile, the Rifleman Dread began advancing on the open objective to camp it and one of the Land Speeders moved to attack the last 2 Salamanders Scouts and Combat Squad. The Watch-Captain Deathstar also advanced, preparing for the attack that my Wolf Lord would bring next turn. Samedi also broke off from his Command Squad, joining the Deathstar. Finally, the Bikers moved to attack the right flank.

In the Shooting Phase, the Land Speeder fired its heavy flamer and multi-melta at the Combat Squad, catching the Scouts with the flamer as well. The Scouts were wiped out, and 2 Tac Marines were killed as well. The combined firepower of the Rifleman Dread, a Combat Squad, the Typhoon Speeder and the Thunderfire Cannon wiped out the over-extended Combat Squad and their Rhino (I missed this in the VASSAL overview, and forgot to kill them for a couple turns ). 1 of the nearby Grey Hunters was killed as well. Finally, the Contemptor Mortis fired at the Stormeagle, causing 3 penetrating hits. I decided to evade, nullifying 2 of them, but the 3rd ended up getting Velocity Locked... We weren't entirely sure how to play this (could I enter hover mode still?) and decided to 4+ it. As a result, we decided that no, I could not (which turned out to be correct), but Sallieman said I could just voluntarily crash it by moving less than its required speed (this turned out to be incorrect as well, but damn would that be a fun rule if it was legal!). In the end, I decided to do that next turn – BANZAI!!!

In the Assault Phase, the Command Squad charged the Hammernator, finishing him off with ease. They consolidated into cover, hoping to weather the retribution that was sure to come from the nearby Grey Hunters and Combat Squad. Finally, the Grey Hunters finished off the immobilized Land Speeder Storm with their grenades.















Turn 3 – Salamanders/Space Wolves
Once again, Vulkan failed to arrive... and we really needed him right now too! Anyway, I decided I was going to crash my Stormraven and hope I didn't lose too many Wolf Guard in the process. The flaming wreck crashed into the Deathstar, killing a Lightning Claw Termie in the blast. However, 4 Wolf Guard were killed in the crash as well (the 2x Wolf Claws, Wolf Claw/Storm Shield, TH/SS and Power Weapon/Storm Bolter). All-in-all, more than I expected but still enough to work with. The survivors formed up close to the Watch-Captain's Deathstar and prepared to charge.

Meanwhile, the left Grey Hunters didn't take the Scouts' bait, choosing to head towards the objective rather than pursue them. The remaining 3 Grey Hunters which had been hit by the Vindicator decided to sell their lives attacking the Rifleman Dread. The survivors of the Combat Squad then abandoned their objective in order to destroy the Land Speeder in assault, while another Combat Squad moved to reinforce them. Finally, the right Combat Squad and Grey Hunters disembarked and prepared to annihilate the Command Squad with their bolters.

In the Shooting Phase, the Grey Hunters + Combat Squad's combined fire were enough to finish off the Command Squad. The rest of our shooting was ineffective.

In the Assault Phase, the Combat Squad charged the Land Speeder and wrecked it with their grenades. The Grey Hunters charged the Rifleman Dread as well, but only glanced it once. A single Grey Hunter was killed in return. Finally, the main attraction: Andilus and his Wolf Guard Terminators charged the Watch-Captain's Deathstar. Since he had Legendary Fighter, I challenged and the Assault Terminator Sergeant accepted (Crablezworth was trying to do damage control I guess). Andilus slew the foolhardy champion with ease. Meanwhile, 1 of the TH/SS Wolf Guard was killed, but they killed a TH/SS Termie in return.













Turn 4 – Deathwatch
His attack on the right flank stalled, Crablezworth began advancing his forces. The Scouts decided to double-back, preparing to attack the objective in our deployment zone and get Linebreaker in the process. His left-most Combat Squad also began to advance, hoping to grab the top-left objective. The rest of his forces that could help out decided to dog-pile Andlius and destroy his squad ASAP. The combat squad near his center objective moved to reinforce Samedi and the Watch-Captain, while the Contemptor and Bikers prepared to launch their assaults next turn.

There wasn't very much shooting in the Shooting Phase this turn. The last mobile Land Speeder fired its multi-melta, destroying the only remaining Space Wolves Rhino. The Bikers then fired their plasma guns, killing 2 of the newly-exposed Grey Hunters.

In the Assault Phase, the Rifleman Dread finished off the last 2 Grey Hunters. Meanwhile, the Tactical Marines successfully made it into the assault to reinforce their Watch Captain. Baron Samedi then bellowed a challenge to Andilus, and the Wolf Lord accepted. The pair fought to a stand-still, each failing to break the other's resistance. The other combatants also failed to damage the other, the only casualty being one of the Deathwatch's TH/SS Termies.















Turn 4 – Salamanders/Space Wolves
Vulkan finally arrived (mostly because he had to), and outflanked onto the left side of the board. He moved to attack either the Rifleman Dread or Thunderfire Cannon next turn. Meanwhile, the right-most Combat Squad reembarked in the Rhino and headed towards the left to try to capture the top-left objective next turn. The left Grey Hunters moved towards it as well. Finally, the right Grey Hunters advanced, hoping to assault either the Bikers or Land Speeder.

In the Shooting Phase, the only thing of note which happened was that Vulkan's unit and the Combat Squad camping the objective in our deployment zone opened fire on the Scouts, wiping them out.

In the Assault Phase, I changed my plan, sending the Grey Hunters to attack the Tactical Marines in the big Deathstar assault. The Terminators and Wolf Guard fought to a standstill once again, killing only the TH/SS Wolf Guard. The Grey Hunters tore the Marines apart without suffering any casualties and consolidated into the Assault Terminators. Finally, Andilus and Baron Samedi continued to fight. Andilus managed to cause a wound to Samedi, but Samedi also landed a wounding blow.

Things are starting to look more positive for our side, but it could still go either way...







Turn 5 – Deathwatch
Night Fighting began this turn. Crablezworth moved his units to try to capture as many objectives as he could. The Rifleman Dread and Combat Squad moved forward to try to destroy my left Grey Hunters, while the Contemptor Dread and Bikers prepared to assault Andilus and hopefully, finally break this tarpit. His Razorback also disembarked a combat squad onto an objective (once again, I forgot to put this in the VASSAL overview). Finally, the Land Speeder moved to attack the Combat Squads on the center objective.

In the Shooting Phase, the Thunderfire Cannon lined up my left Grey Hunters in its sights and fired. It did manage to kill all but 2 of them, but 1 of the shots scattered and hit the Rifleman Dread right in its rear armour. The shot penetrated and then caused an explodes result, killing a couple of the Tactical Marines nearby!




Suffice to say, Sallieman and I had a good laugh.

In the Assault Phase, the Bikers successfully made it into combat, but the Contemptor came up short. The Bikers focused on the Grey Hunters, killing 1 of them, while taking 1 wound on the Attack Bike in return. The Assault Terminators then managed to kill the last Wolf Guard Terminator without suffering any casualties. Lastly, Andilus finally struck down Baron Samedi, but I'll give him credit – he lasted way longer than most challengees. With that kill, we earned another 2VP for Legendary Fighter and for Slay the Warlord.













Turn 5 – Salamanders/Space Wolves
Since this may be the last turn, our forces moved to secure what objectives we had and hope for the best. My last 2 Grey Hunters on the left regrouped and tried to make it to the objective for the possible Turn 6. Meanwhile, the left Salamanders Rhino moved and disembarked its occupants onto the objective, hoping to gun down the approaching Deathwatch Combat Squad.

Nothing of note happened in the Shooting Phase, all of our shots whiffed. In the Assault Phase, Andilus challenged the Watch-Captain, but Crablezworth couldn't afford to give up any more VPs, so he declined. The Bikers then went and killed a Grey Hunter, but their Wulfen killed a Biker in return. Andilus also killed a TH/SS Terminator.

We rolled to see if there would be a Turn 6 and...








Turn 6 – Deathwatch
Crablezworth was no in a bit of trouble, so he moved to try to knock our units off of as many objectives as possible. His Land Speeder moved to line up the Combat Squad on the center objective and hopefully make them fall back.

In the Shooting Phase, the Thunderfire Cannon, Typhoon Speeder, Combat Squad and Razorback combined fire on the Salamanders Combat Squad bearing down on them, killing all but 1 of them. The survivor fell back. Also, the Land Speeder fired at the 2 Combat Squads on the center objective, killing 2 (out of 3) from one squad and 1 from the other.

In the Assault Phase, the Contemptor failed to make it into combat AGAIN. The Watch-Captain declined Andilus' challenge once again, allowing Andilus to kill the last TH/SS Termie. The Grey Hunters' Wulfen also killed another Biker without suffering any casualties, causing the Watch-Captain and the last Assault Termie to fall back. However, the Bikers held their ground, and Andilus turned his attention to them.









Turn 6 – Salamanders/Space Wolves
All of the Grey Hunters and Salamanders near the top-left moved to secure the objective there from the last 2 Deathwatch Marines. Vulkan was going to join them, but I convinced Sallieman to send him after that pesky Thunderfire Cannon instead.

Shooting was minimal. The Grey Hunters and Salamanders fired at the Combat Squad on the top-left objective, killing 1 of them. 2 Combat Squads also fired at the Land Speeder, but, despite having 2 melta weapons between them, failed to kill the damn thing.

In the Assault Phase, Vulkan and his squad annihilated the Thunderfire Cannon and its Techmarine with ease. Also, the Grey Hunters charged the final Deathwatch Marine, but failed to kill him! Meanwhile, the Grey Hunters and Bikers whiffed, but Andilus finished off them by himself, and consolidated into contestation range of the nearby objective.

We rolled to see if there would be a Turn 7 and...














AFTERTHOUGHTS
That was a GREAT study break! Lots of funny stuff happened, and it could have gone either way up until the end (even then, Crablezworth could still have won with some luck). The bit with the Stormeagle seemed like it was the turning point, so I feel kinda bad that it wasn't exactly legal... but that's how we played it and it still only worked out well because of good luck on my part. The Andilus vs Baron Samedi showdown was epic.

Also, this game went way later than I had expected... I didn't get to bed til 5am! Oh well, it was a fun time regardless, and I'd do it again in a heartbeat (plus I got a bunch of Chaos Marines for a friend for dirt cheap )!

If you enjoyed this, be sure to check out my other battle reports!

Once again, a wonderful batrep. I get a chukle out of the VISIONPLEX every time.

Thanks for commenting, yeah I love the terrain Crablezworth and Sallieman have cooked up!

Sweet battle, armies look amazing as well!

Amazing report dude!

We gotta get another game in soon, I wanna play your nids again.

excellent pics. I've gotta go back and read the report now! Well done. Like the vassal record too!
G

Fun batrep. Maybe I'll come on over in the next year and put my BA in for a go.

Great report, thanks for putting this together!

I'll second the comments on the terrain, I might have to steal the idea myself

Great battle and terrain, enjoyed it!

Eldercaveman wrote:Sweet battle, armies look amazing as well!

doktor_g wrote:excellent pics. I've gotta go back and read the report now! Well done. Like the vassal record too!
G

Hedgehog wrote:Great report, thanks for putting this together!

I'll second the comments on the terrain, I might have to steal the idea myself

RandyMcStab wrote:Great battle and terrain, enjoyed it!

Thank you all.

Crablezworth wrote:Amazing report dude!

We gotta get another game in soon, I wanna play your nids again.

For sure, I've got a rather silly list planned for that.

Titan Atlas wrote:Fun batrep. Maybe I'll come on over in the next year and put my BA in for a go.

We shall see.

Very nice battle report ! I love the table, with the posters of Marbo !

 Kantor wrote:
Very nice battle report ! I love the table, with the posters of Marbo !

Yeah, Sallieman and Crablezworth cooked up some awesome terrain!

It's really just gorgeous all around - I love seeing fully painted armies with fun conversions on a board filled with nice terrain. Win all around.

 Thor665 wrote:
It's really just gorgeous all around - I love seeing fully painted armies with fun conversions on a board filled with nice terrain. Win all around.

Thank you good sir.