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Hardboyz 7/12/09
The Realm Games and Comics, Brea CA


Hey all,

Here’s my battle report from the Hardboyz Preliminaries. Hope you enjoy!


Guard 2500

Company HQ w/ Astropath, Fleet Officer, Bodyguard and Chimera

3x Storm Trooper squad, all with 2 Meltaguns and one with a Chimera

Platoon HQ w/ Chimera
4x 10 man Infantry squads
2x Heavy Weapons squads with Autocannons

2x Veteran squads w/ 3 Meltaguns and Chimeras

3x Hydras

3x Demolishers

2x Executioners w/ Plasma Sponsons


vs Miguel playing Chaos Daemons

Great Unclean One
Skulltaker on foot
Masque

3x Flamers
3x Flamers

16 Bloodletters w/ Icon and Musician
16 Daemonettes w/ Icon and Musician
15 Horrors w/ Icon
15 Plaguebearers w/ Icon and Musician

8 Flesh Hounds w/ Karnak

Soul Grinder w/ all upgrades
Soul Grinder w/ all upgrades
Daemon Prince w/ all sorts of stuff



Mission had five objectives, one in the center and the other 4 placed by us, two in each deployment zone. Pitched Battle deployment with 1st turn Nightfight. Miguel won first turn and gave it to me.





I deploy pretty much across the line, with the Russes massed to the left side. The Hydras set up away from the objectives to the right, and Chimeras and infantry plan to advance forward. Two Stormtrooper squads infiltrate on both of Miguel’s objectives, while the 3rd one Scout moves forward.









Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn One Guard

General advance across the front, with Move! orders keeping the infantry screen in front of the armour, which promptly fires off their smoke launchers in anticipation of the Daemonic assault.









Turn One Daemons

The preferred wave shows up and Daemons drop onto the battlefield, but the Great Unclean One takes a wild scatter and goes right back into reserves. A Flamer unit also mishaps and I place them in a nearby forest out of template range. Bloodletters + Skulltaker drop in near the Storm Trooper Chimera along with a supporting Soul Grinder. Karnak and his Flesh Hound pack land on the left side. Finally, the Daemonettes + Masque execute a dangerous drop and land behind the Guard lines. The Soul Grinder’s Tongue attack misses the Storm Trooper Chimera and Flamer fire kill a couple of Guardsmen.









Turn Two Guard

Guard firepower nearly sweeps the board clean in a horrendous barrage. The Executioner squadron neatly vaporizes the entire Daemonette pack, while Demolisher rounds and Chimera flamers knock the Bloodletters down to a pair and Skulltaker. Both the Flamers and Flesh Hounds are gunned down by lasguns and heavy flamers. The only real survivor is the Soul Grinder which manages to survive 5 meltagun shots at close range without damage.








Turn Two Daemons

Plaguebearers appear on the field, with the remainder of the Daemons being stopped by the Fleet Officer’s interference. Skulltaker and the Soul Grinder assault the two close Chimeras, but only explode one.










Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn Three Guard

With no other targets, the Guard armour shifts to the right, vaporizing the Plaguebearers in a shower of blood, gore and Demolisher rounds. Skulltaker and his last remaining cohorts also fall, but the Soul Grinder again survives 5 meltagun rounds at point blank range (!!!).










Turn Three Daemons

The Great Unclean One makes his second journey to the battlefield, and drops near the Guard autocannon emplacements along with the Daemon Prince. However, the Horrors scatter wide and kill themselves on the front hull of a Leman Russ without impact. One Flamer squad remains in reserve as does the second Soul Grinder.

The two autocannon squads are hit with various Daemonic gifts and run off the board, while the Daemon Prince fails to damage the Demolisher squadron. Off on the right, the Soul Grinder manages to destroy another Chimera.










Turn Four Guard

Daemon Prince and Great Unclean One die, but the Soul Grinder fights on!!! Apparently it’s been equipped with Ceramite Armour, as meltaguns aren’t doing squat against it!












Turn Four Daemons

The Flamers show up, drop behind the Demolishers and blow off a cannon. Still amazed at the Guard’s inability to hurt it, the Soul Grinder tentatively vomits all over the nearby Storm Troopers and kills all of them.












Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn Five Guard

The Veterans kill the Soul Grinder! The Veterans kill the Soul Grinder! The Veterans kill the Soul Grinder!

<ahem>

Oh yeah, the Flamers die also.









Turn Five Daemons

OH !#$$!, there’s another Soul Grinder on the field!!!







And that’s the game. The second Soul Grinder singlehandedly destroys the Guard army in a completely shocking reversal. Massacre for the Daemons.







Automatically Appended Next Post:
Game Two vs. Ian playing Deathwing


Belial + Command Squad w/ Banner and Apothecary

Terminator Squad w/ Chain Fist, Thunder Hammer, Lighting Claws + Cyclone
Terminator Squad w/ Chain Fist, Thunder Hammer, Lighting Claws + Cyclone
Terminator Squad w/ Chain Fist, Thunder Hammer, Lighting Claws + Assault Cannon
Terminator Squad w/ Chain Fist, Thunder Hammer, Lighting Claws + Assault Cannon

Grey Knight Brother-Captain w/ Psycannon
7 Grey Knight Terminators w/ Psycannon and 2 Thunder Hammers

Dreadnought w/ Assault Cannon
Dreadnought w/ Assault Cannon
Dreadnought w/ Assault Cannon

Land Raider


Mission is Dawn of War, with modified Kill Points. Ian wins the roll off and takes the first turn, deploying two Terminator squads and the Grey Knights. I deploy nothing to start with, and Ian starts his Deathwing Assault teleport.





Turn One Deathwing

Belial and a third Terminator squad teleport to the battlefield while the Land Raider and 3 Dreadnoughts march in from the rear. All units run forward and with nothing to shoot at, that’s the turn.








Turn One Guard

In one of the more sillier deployments I’ve ever had to do, nearly the entire Guard army squeezes itself onto the board. Infantry squads run forward to screen the tanks from assault, searchlights illuminate the battlefield, and Belial, his command squad and another Terminator squad perish under the brutal Guard opening volley.









Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn Two Deathwing

The Deathwing and their Grey Knight allies charge forward , mutilating the forward infantry screen, but are unable to kill any of the blocking Chimeras. In the rear, the 3 Dreadnoughts run forward as far as they can while the Land Raider bounces lascannon fire off the Russes.








Turn Two Guard

Storm Troopers drop from the sky and shatter the Land Raider with close range meltagun fire (perhaps making up for their performance against the Soul Grinder last game?). In the center, a second infantry squad takes up their position as tank defenders, while Demolisher rounds kill most of the Grey Knights, including the Brother-Captain. A single Deathwing squad member survives the Executioner plasma storm though, making 5 (!!!) 5+ Invulnerable saves on himself to continue the fight! Hydra fire cripples one of the Deathwing dreadnoughts, taking off its legs and weaponry.








Turn Three Deathwing

Still no sign of the last Deathwing squad. Deathwing charges and wipes out the blocking infantry squad, while the lone heroic Terminator sneaks through a gap and shakes the Executioner squadron by himself. Grey Knights charge and destroy a Chimera, but assault cannon fire from the Dreads bounce off another Chimera.








Turn Three Guard

Lather, rinse, repeat. A third Guard squad steps into the breach, but it’ll be unnecessary as the remaining Terminators and Grey Knights fall under heavy firepower. Another Dreadnought blows up from the Hydras.









Turn Four – Both

The final Deathwing squad drops into the battle, mishaps, and is placed in a nice open place to get shot. On my turn, they perish and we call the game.




Tried to post the third game here, but the images are messing up, maybe because of length? I'll wait for a sec and then try reposting it.

I must say, that demons list was horrible.

Game Three vs. Adam playing Eldar


Eldrad
Avatar

9x Harlequins w/ Shadowseer and Kisses
9x Harlequins w/ Shadowseer and Kisses
8x Scorpions w/ Exarch, Claw, Infiltrate, Move through Cover

10x Wraithguard w/ Spiritseer, Conceal
10x Wraithguard w/ Spiritseer, Conceal
5x Pathfinders
5x Pathfinders

Wraithlord w/ Missile Launcher and Brightlance
Wraithlord w/ Missile Launcher and Brightlance
Wraithlord w/ Missile Launcher and Brightlance



I win first turn and decide to take it. Stormtroopers outflank and deep strike, and already packed into my deployment zone, I keep both Veterans and their Chimeras off board also.








Turn One – Guard

Guard advances steadily across the board, fanning out to approach both objectives. In shooting, mass Autocannon fire downs the Avatar and plasma rounds annihilate a Pathfinder squad.








Turn One – Eldar


Eldar advance in return, Harlequins screening the Wraithguard. No effective fire in this turn.









Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn Two – Guard

The infantry continue their advance in front of the tanks. Shooting takes down a Wraithlord, but the Fortuned Wraithguard are rather resilient against the Executioner with a few dying and a few invisible Harlequins falling to scattered rounds.








Turn Two – Eldar

Harlequins fan out to engage the Guardsmen screen and kill two squads. Brightlance fire kills an Executioner.









Turn Three – Guard

Chimeras flame a Harlequin pack, but two of them survive and keep going. I forget to First Rank Fire on the other Harlequins, and they live also. And to top it off, both Wraithlords survive the Demolisher volley without even a single wound. Very bad turn for me. L





No pic out of my sadness.


Turn Three – Eldar

Adam takes full advantage of my ineptitude and Harlies pile all over my Guardsmen, flitting around the armour. A Singing Spear takes out the remaining Executioner as the Wraithguard continue their advance.











Automatically Appended Next Post:
Turn Four – Guard

With all my Guardsmen on the left dead, I move the Hydra squadron out to try to contest. One Harlequin squad dies to flamers, but the other survives with a few men left. On the right, a Chimera flames the ranger squad and Guardsmen charge, but the combat ends in a tie. A few Wraithguard die to Demolisher rounds, but not enough.





no pic (like Blackmoor says, it’s hard to remember to take pictures when you’re losing!)


Turn Four - Eldar

Adam’s Scorpions finally show up, end up on the left side and bounce the Hydras around a bit. Brightlance fire kills a Demolisher and the right Wraithguard charge and wipe out the Guard squad on that side.





no pic (see above)


Turn Five – Guard

We get the time warning, so this’ll be the last turn sadly. The Hydras drive forward to contest the objective, while a Veteran squad on the right does the same. Demolisher rounds and meltagun fire force the Wraithguard squad to hit the dirt, and it pays off as one of them lives! The Rangers on the right are killed by flame and on the left side, my outflanking Storm Troopers finally show up and actually find their hotshot lasguns useful against Scorpions, mowing half of them down.







Turn Five – Eldar

We’re in a hurry, and the right Wraithguard is pinned, so we just play out the Hydras. Wraithcannon pick off a pair with smoke launchers blocking most of the kill shots. And finally in assault, despite moving fast, the last Hydra dies in assault by the Wraithguard.









So that’s the tournament. Three good games, and as it turns out, despite being massacred by Adam in the last one, the two perfect games to start off with are enough to take 3rd place by a single point! So I guess I’ll be attending Round Two over at Game Empire Pasadena in a few weeks. Thanks for reading.

Great bat rep man. I was cracking up about the solo Soul Grinder of Doom. Nice to see the new Guard Codex throw down.

Congratulations on the two solid wins and thank you for the excellent battle reports--the combination of photos and vassal makes things crystal clear. You beat the living @$#% out of that demon player. He must have wanted to walk away after turn 2.

excellent report! congratulations and keep up the fight for the guard!

wow great job with vassal and the pictures excellent report, also that daemon list was pretty bad I felt really bad for him having to face that in the first game well done

Nice battle reports! Loving the tactical maps, make it alot easier to figure out what exactly is going on. What program did you use to make those?

Very nice report, and congrats on taking 3rd place. Good luck in the rest of the tournament.

Great job and nice BR.

Did any of the Terminator squads in the second game have storm sheilds for the 3+ inv save?

Thanks all. It was a bit of work, but hopefully I can keep the batrep format up for the next tournament I play.

PirateRobotNinjaofDeath: I used Vassal40k http://www.vassal40k.com/ to make the images. It's a really neat program, but if you're interested, you'd better hurry as it's being shut down by GW IP at the end of the month.

PipeAlley: Some did, but when you're taking 20-30 wounds from 10 plasma cannons a turn, it really doesn't matter what your save is.

Yeah those plasma cannons make me laugh!! My orks are looking forward to them

Storm sheilds were my bane in my third round of Ard Boys this year!! I don't know why someone wouldn't take them with the Thunder Hammer? Anyone have a reason?

He was dark angels and they don't have the 3+ invulnerable.

Great report, thanks for taking the time to share it

As for the stormshields, they don't really help out too much against orks or small arms, and especially against ork hordes, the LC's are better. A healthy mix is probably the best

Good battle reports. I don't think you included in the third battle report the time when all 3 of your demolisher rounds scattered off my wraithlords and onto a storm trooper squad with meltaguns that were right next to them =). I love it when dice games get dicey!

Excellent batrep. Loved the photos!

mortevie: I have blocked that event from my memory due the traumatic issues it caused. Let us never speak of this again.

Nice report!

Must have been hard, seeing especially as the Realm has less gaming space...

I can sympathise. I killed almost as many of my guys with scattering mortars and Medusa shells as my opponent did in Ard boyz rd 3. Every time I fired a bastion breacher shell they tried their hardest to hit MY vehicles. The bums.

Yeah, I'll pretend it didn't happen too, then.

In hindsight, I think I should have had avatar move up with my wraithguard on the extreme left (your right, the side where only 1 wraithguard survived) and focused on killing the demolishers-the executioners didn't do as much as I had feared... Also, my use of pathfinders was slowed, though I'm glad you chose to shoot at them and not anything else...That really opened my eyes to the executioner's potential!

I forgot how keeping guys 2 inches apart mitigates most of the small blast weapons and rerolling 4" cover on t6 is better against s7 small blast than s10 big for sure! You have a mean list and the demolisher squadron is GOLD! Good luck next round, maybe we'll play each other? I'm not looking forward to all that nidzilla spam
=(.

You write some of the best battle reports awesome read. Thanks for sharing.

This is an amazing battle report, I will remember your name and cant wait to see another one.

That was a great Battle Report! Thank you for sharing!

Agreed!! Fine work on the reports and congrats on the wins!!!

Spmusubi, great batrep and congrats again

I had a couple questions for you about your list, and how you thought each of the units did.


naked infantry platoons: were they worth the 200 points as tank babysitters, objective grabbers, and FRFSRF machines?

storm troopers: how do you think they would stood up to the ubiquitous 10-man vets w/ triple melta? Is the re-rolled deep strike what sold you, or the increased survivability from small arms?


Also, I'm a little sad you didn't run into any other mech armies, I would have loved to see what your 5 multilasers, 6 autocannons, and 6 hydra autocannons would do to some poor unsuspecting rhinos

Had a nice read. Thanks!

Thanks again for the compliments all.

Cryonicleech: Yeah, we got 16 players and 8 tables inside the store which is something I would not have believed possible at first. Multiple air conditioners and fans were setup also, so while it wasn't the perfect setup, it wasn't really that bad.

mortevie: One reason I started doing battle reports in the first place is how obvious a lot of my play errors appear when I'm writing them up. There are MANY times when I'm like "Why the heck did I do that???" although I'm sure it made plenty of sense at the time. For example, like you pointed out, if I had pushed the Demolishers to the right, I could have overrun your single Wraithguard unit, but instead I got target fixated on the Wraithlords and kept bouncing rounds off them. Hopefully it makes me a better player by seeing my mistakes and can prevent some other players from making the same ones.

The Defenestrator: I'd say the basic infantry works out very well. Multiple throwaway units that you really don't have to worry about, but your opponent does are great! I can scatter objectives all over the board, knowing that my opponent typically doesn't have the manpower to send a squad after each one. The killing power of the heavy armour only works as long as they're not getting beat down in close combat, so everytime an attacker gets close to them, I throw an infantry squad in the way to speedbump. Game 2 is a pretty good example of that as every assault block costs Ian a Terminator squad or two as consolidation tends to leave them hanging out in the wind.

Storm Troopers were sort of an experiment as a successor to the old codex's 5 man triple Melta drop Veterans. I really wasn't expecting that much from them, but I found myself pleasantly surprised by their performance, in particular the Special Operations rule. While the Deep Strike one is obvious, the other two (Infiltrate and Scout) are also excellent for first turn push back and Deep Strike defense. I really think there's more to them then then at first glance and plan to try them out in some more games.

That was cool how did you do the over head art thing

Really well done battle report! I love the combination of actual gameboard photos and VASSAL screencaps.

Congrats on taking 3rd!

I'm looking forward to more of your batreps.

Great report and pics. I also was a little sad that you didn't face anything really competitive or mech-ish.

- Blackbone