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Having finally built and painted a half-respectable number of Nids, I was able to get my first game with them against a half-decent player. Until now, I had only brought them to small games against weak players, meanwhile I have never beaten this guy at any number of points with my Sisters. On the other hand, he had never faced the bugs before, which went to my advantage in the end.

My list was:
Walkrant - Barbed Strangler, Venom Cannon, Enhanced Senses, Toxin Sacks
Warriors - 5 x Deathspitters and Scything Talons, 1 x Barbed Strangler and Scything Talons, Enhanced Senses, Toxin Sacks
8 x Genestealers - Feeder Tendrils, Scuttlers
16 x Spinegaunts
16 x Spinegaunts
16 x Termagaunts
Ninjafex - 2 x Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands (WS), Toxic Miasma
Boomfex - Barbed Strangler, Scything Talons

He brought:
Biker Boss - Bike, PK, Attack Squig, Cybork.
KFF Big Mek - KFF
27 Boyz. Pk Nob w Bosspole, eavy armour. 2x Rokkit.
27 Boyz. Pk Nob w Bosspole, eavy armour. 2x Rokkit.
3x Deff Kopta w Rokkit. 1x Buzzsaw
3x Killa Kans w Rokkit.

We rolled Capture and Control with Pitched Battle deployment, and my opponent deployed and went first. He split his initial deployment, clearly intending for one force to defend his objective, with the other to attack mine. I split mine similarly, leaving the Stealers in reserve to outflank.



He started the game by moving his attacking force forward; the Biker Boss and Boyz hiding behind the terrain, but the Koptaz remained exposed.



Meanwhile, the Kanz and other Boyz just marched forward in a great mass.



I also moved forward, using the Spinegaunts as a screen to the front; the Termagaunts to screen the side, in case the split deployment was a feint. I also used the Warriors to screen the Ninjafex. The Warriors unloaded into the Boyz, causing quite a bit of damage.



Meanwhile, the other Spinegaunt unit moved to block the open entrances to the objective, in hope of acting as a speed bump. The Boomfex decimated the Koptaz, while `Becks' the Tyrant somehow curved a Barbed Strangler shot right around the mountain, straight into the middle of the Boyz behind it. This unit voluntaryly went to ground in response.



Turn two began with the Boyz reacting to the Warriors and spreading out and ineffectively shooting at the Gaunts, while the Kanz charged the Spinegaunts. This was the beginning of a run of dumb luck, as the Kanz struggled to kill any Gaunts, and I passed the saves on my Fearless wounds.



Meanwhile, the remaining Kopta returned the favour on the Boomfex and the Warboss charged the other Spinegaunt unit, where I was not quite so lucky.



I reacted to this by creating waves for the Kanz. I lined the Termagaunts behind the already engaged Spinegaunts, with the Warriors behind them, hoping to get as many shots as possible before the Kanz bust through. I also attempted to move the Ninjafex into a position where he could, with some luck, get a charge when there are few (if any) Gaunts left in combat. The Warriors fired again and, with great rolls, took out half the remaining Boyz, who went to ground with this. The Spinegaunts continues to hang in with the combat and, again, I passed all saves to Fearless wounds(!).



The Boomfex and Tyrant were, obviously, more than enough to finish off the last Kopta, but the Warboss broke through the last of the Spinegaunts around him. I had hoped to tie him down one more phase, but there were just not enough of them.



In turn three, the Spinegaunts continued to tarpit the Kanz, against all odds. The Termagaunts and Warriors fired at the Boyz, but completely failed.



Meanwhile, the other unit of Boyz began marching back to their objective, while the Warboss quickly minced up the Boomfex, suffering a couple of wounds in the process.



With this, the Stealers finally arrived, and merely sat behind cover.



Seeing that the Spinegaunts had done their job, I lined up the Ninjafex and began moving the Termagaunts back towards my objective, but I left a tail behind in case things went wrong. Fortunately, the Spinegaunts held in admirably once again, again passing saves. The Warriors attempted to put some hurt on the second unit of Boyz, but scattered horridly.



On the other hand, the Tyrant finished off the Biker Boss and dropped another Strangler on the Boyz. Clearly he packs a Marker Light somewhere with the way his templates find them!



Turn four began with the Boyz all running back to their objective.



Meanwhile, the Kanz finally finished off the Spinegaunts, but far too late.



I began charging the Stealers and towards the objective, while the Warriors pinned the Boyz. The Ninjafex charged the Kanz and managed to destroy all three without injury!



Meanwhile, to ensure at least a draw would be made of this, I ran the Termagaunts back to my objective.



Becks, once again, found his mark on the Boyz, making quite a mark on them.



At the top of turn five, the Orks simply finished moving onto the objective, hoping for a draw,



I continued to move the Stealers and Ninjafex forward, while the Warriors again pinned the Boyz.



The Termagaunts made it home, while Becks once again dropped the Strangler on the Boyz, pinning the second unit. We rolled and the game continued.



Turn six began with the Orks unable to do anything. The Stealers were able to obliterate the first unit of Boyz, with the Big Mek, but the Ninjafex was half an inch short of the second unit of Boyz, meaning a draw was still on the cards.



I tried for a lucky shot with the Tyrant, but it was only enough to pin them again. Luckly, we rolled to continue again, so we called the game in my victory.



I believe we both learned a lot about how the Nids play from this game. I anticipate I will face a harder list and tighter tactics next time we meet, but I have also gained a better appreciation for how the cogs in the Nid-Machine turn. I believe I still have a lot to learn on how to play these guys, but sure enjoyed the change from my usual games.

great battle!

Eek! lots of unpainteds... But a good report none the less. Keep it up.