Forum adverts like this one are shown to any user who is not logged in. Join us by filling out a tiny 3 field form and you will get your own, free, dakka user account which gives a good range of benefits to you: No adverts like this in the forums anymore. Times and dates in your local timezone. Full tracking of what you have read so you can skip to your first unread post, easily see what has changed since you last logged in, and easily see what is new at a glance. Email notifications for threads you want to watch closely. Being a part of the oldest wargaming community on the net. If you are already a member then feel free to login now.

Yet another Battle Report coming from Monday Night Madness. (The previous can be found here) So on this fateful Monday night, we have my Space Wolves being pitted up against an Eldar Player who has recently moved to the area. Now, to begin with, I have to say I was slightly anxious to play this guy for multiple reasons: 1) It has been YEARS since I have played against Eldar 2) He is the better of the 2 Eldar Players we have at our gaming group. Alright, now to the business end of the deal.

Eldar

H.Q.

Eldrad Ulthran

Maugan Ra

Elites

Howling Banshees 10x
Exarch with Mirror Swords, Wave Serpent: Scatter Laser


Fire Dragons 8x
Exarch with Firepike, Tank Hunters, Wave Serpent: Scatter Laser

Troops

Pathfinders 7x

Dire Avengers 10x
Exarch, Wave Serpent: Scatter Laser (don't know what they had as they never did anything the entire game)

Heavy Support

Falcon
Eldar Missile Launcher

Fire Prism 2x


Space Wolves

H.Q.

Bjorn
Plasma Cannon -270

Grey Knight Grand Master
Psychic Hood, Icon of the Just, Psychic Power: Hammer Hand, Terminator Retinue: 1 with Incinerator, 2 Standard -353

Rune Priest
Chooser of the Slain, Psychic Powers: Living Lightning, Tempests Wrath -110

Elites

Wolf Guard 3x
2x Power Weapons, 1 Standard, Land Raider Crusader: Extra Armor, Multi Melta -349

Troops

Grey Hunters 5x
Flamer, Mark of the Wulfen, Razorback: Lascannons -165

Grey Hunters 5x
Flamer, Mark of the Wulfen, Razorback: Lascannons -165

Heavy Support

Long Fangs 5x
4x Missile Launchers -115

Vindicator -115

Vindicator -115

Total: 1757

(Wanted to use pretty much the same list as last week with a few exceptions: Switching the Power Fists to Power Weapons to give up points for the Psychic Hood, Dropping the Psycannon Bolts)

He was trying something different, I believe he usually takes Harlequins instead of the Howling Banshees. Overall though, we were looking forward to a game of good clean fun.

In rolling for Deployment and Mission we end up with Spearhead and Capture and Control. I think we were both pretty happy with this result as Seize ground would have been a nightmare with each of us only having 2 troops and Annihilation would have just been a slug fest.

Again, a third party set up the terrain and it went something like this: From my upper left hand corner (start of the long edge going to the end of it) there were a few trees that were clumped together in the corner, about 2 feet in there was a ruined building and something resembling a fortress wall. Continuing on there was not much other terrain save for another cluster of trees. In the middle there was a demolished building along the short board edge to the left, something similar to the middle and a destroyed Hospital to the right. Along the edge closest to me, there was a small ruined structure, a building with parapets and wall in the middle and another piece of rubble at the far right.

We rolled to see who would deploy first and he ended up with a two, while I rolled a 1! Wasn't going to have that, so I forced the re-roll using Bjorn's Ancient Tactician. The second time around he rolled a 4 and I a 5.

With the rolls done, I decided to choose the quarter with the ruined Hospital as I wanted to deny cover to the Eldar as much as possible. My objective was placed directly to the right of the Hospital towards the top edge of my deployment zone. I deployed the Long Fangs, Rune Priest and attached Wolf Guard in the Hospital on the Second Floor. Bjorn was placed in between the objective and the Hospital, one Razorback was placed in front of Bjorn so that he was obscured from any firing and the second was placed slightly further back in on the left hand side of Bjorn. The Vindicators and Land Raider Crusader were placed at the 12" bubble with the Grey Knights right next to the Land Raider so they could embark on Turn 1. I place the Chooser of the Slain directly on the middle piece of area terrain. He placed his objective right next to the ruined building, on the side closest to the far corner from my deployment zone. His deployment saw both Fire Prisms in the far corner opposite of mine. The Falcon was placed about 2-3" from the ruined building, while the Dire Avenger Wave Serpent was placed right next to the Objective. The Howling Banshee Wave Serpent was placed directly in front of the ruined building that housed Maugan Ra, Eldrad and the 7 Pathfinders (some of the Path Finders spread out into the fortress wall). The Fire Dragon Wave Serpent was placed right at the edge of his deployment zone against the 12" bubble.

He rolls to seize the Initiative and fails with a 5.

Turn 1

I move the Vindicator closest to the Pathfinder towards them 6". The Grey Knights Embark onto the Land Raider Crusader and it moves forward 6", the other Vindicator moves forward 6" as well; both are moving towards the Fire Dragons. The Lazroabcks and Bjorn shuffle forward 6". In the shooting phase, the Vindicator closest the Fire Dragons hits and only manages to shake the Wave Serpent. The Vindicator Closest to the Path Finders fires at them, gets a direct hit, wounds 6 and kills 0 thanks to their 2+ cover save...The Lazorback in front of Bjorn fires its lascannon and scores a penetrating hit on the Banshee Wave Serpent; however the result is something less spectacular as the Serpent is only stunned. The other Lazorback fails miserably at shooting. The Long fangs left with no other targets at this point fire 4 Missile Launchers at the Falcon while the Rune Priest targets the rear-most Fire Prism with Living Lightning. The Long Fangs destroy the Falcon in a barrage of Missiles while the Rune Priest Immobilizes the Fire Prism.

His turn sees the Dire Avenger Wave Serpent Turbo Boosting in front of the fortress wall, the Fire Dragon Wave Serpent Turbo Boosts right in front of the Land Raider Crusader. The still mobile Fire Prism moves out forward to gain line of sight to my units by the Hospital. He uses Eldrad to cast Guide on the Pathfinders, Maugan Ra and the Fire Prism. The Grand Masters hood Nullifies only the guide on the Fire Prism. The shooting phase sees some downright obscenity in the form of the 7 Pathfinders rending with AP 1 shots on the Vindicator destroying its demolisher cannon (well sh!t). The fire prism focsues its fire to take out Bjorn; however, the shot scatters wildly in both cases and Bjorn is unharmed.

Turn 2

I move the Vindicator closest to the Land Raider crusader towards the building with a parapet placing its rear armor against it. The Land Raider moves straight back in preparation of the Fire Dragon onslaught. Lazorbacks and Bjorn shuffle back 6 inches. The damaged Vindicator Rams the Dire Avenger Wave Serpent merely shaking it then pops smoke. The Land Raider Crusader pours everything that can hurt the Fire Dragon Wave Serpent and ends up only stunning it. Long Fangs fire their Missiles into the Fire Dragon Waves Serpent doing nothing while the Rune Priest casts living lightning, suffers a Perils of the Warp attack on rolling a 12 on 3d6 and does not get the power off. The Vindicator then fires; but, scatters off target and does nothing. Bjorn fires his Plasma Cannon at the Howling Banshees Wave Serpent and does nothing. The front most Lazroback lands another Penetrating hit on the Banshee Wave Serpent and this time blows it up 6"! In the blast, on Banshee is killed but Maugan Ra, Eldrad and the Pathfinders are all safe from the blast. The second Lazorback aims at the mobile Fire Prism however, it wiffs in shooting again.

His turn sees the Dire Avengers Piling out of the Wave Serpent and falling back into cover. The Wave Serpent then Turbo Boosts over to land right next to the Banshees. They embark onto the newly arrived Wave Serpent. The Fire Prism inches forward about 3" for better Line of Sight. The Fire Dragons disembark and decide to go after the Vindicator instead of the Land Raider (lucky me...). Eldrad goes to Guide the same units again; however, all attempts are blocked by the Psychic Hood. Shooting Phase sees some ineffectual shooting from the Pathfinders and Maugan Ra. The Fire Prism lands a penetrating hit on the left most Lazroabck, the Grey Hunters pile out. Fire Dragons nuke the Vindicator and lose 2 of their own in the resulting blast.

Turn 3

After seeing the Fire Dragons have their way, the Grand Master and his retinue disembark and move towards the Fire Dragons and their Wave Serpent. The Land Raider moves 12" towards the Pathfinders while the surviving Lazorback falls in behind the Land Raider moving 12 as well. The remaining Vindicator moves 12" and ends up directly in front of the ruined building blocking Line of sight for the Fire Prism, and Maugan Ra. Bjorn walks back and ends up in his original starting position. The Grey Hunters fall back into cover. Shooting sees the Banshee Wave Serpent stunned by the Long Fangs Missile Launchers, Living Lightning only shakes the mobile Fire Prism. Bjorn is out of range to shoot. In assault, the Grey Knights charge the Fire Dragons as well as the Wave Serpent. The Grey Knight Grand Master casts Hammer Hand and crushes the stationary Wave Serpent. The Fire Dragons swing away wearily and fail to cause a wound. The Grey Knights in turn annihilate the unit. Afterwards, they consolidate 5" toward the Land Raider.

His movement phase really just sees the Fire Prism shuffling back in front of the objective, Maugan Ra and Eldrad detach from the Path Finders to meet the oncoming Land Raider, the Dire Avengers shuffle in terrain back towards their objecvie. Shooting is...well pretty sad to say the least. Eldrad only gets guide off on Maugan Ra and fortune on himself and Maugan Ra the Pscychic Hood blocks the rest. The Pathfinders test to see if they see the Grey Knights and fail. The still capable Fire Prism fires at the Long Fangs with its large blast S6 AP3 blast, this kills the attached Wolf Guard, 1 Missile Launcher and the Long Fang Squad leader. Eldrad Assaults the Laund Raider and well...does nothing.

Turn 4

I move the Grey Knights up to the Land Raider Crusader and they embark inside. The Land Raider moves forward 6" and the Lazorback moves forward 6" into the shadow of the Land Raider. This leaves Maugan Ra and Eldrad out in the open with ALOT of guns pointing at them. The Vindicator rolls around the building and contests the Eldar Objective! Shooting sees equal misery for the Space Wolves as it did for the Eldar last time, but with a twist. The Rune Priest suffers an aneurysm from a Perils of the Warp attack and dies. The old wolves standing next to him shrug off the loss and take aim at the Howling Banshee Wave Serpent and do nothing. The Land Raider fires into the Pathfinders and do nothing. The Lazorback fires its Lascannon at Maugan Ra and Eldrad. The Eldar player decides to use Eldrads Invulnerable save, rolls a 2, re-rolls and ends up with a 2...no more Eldrad.

Maugan Ra books it back to cover but is still left in the open...poor guy. Banshees Wave Serpent goes flat out towards the hospital and immobilizes itself. Eldar shooting is well...the Fire Prism is the only thing that does anything worth noting...fires its S10 AP1 at Bjorn and he deflects it with his Ward of the Primarch save!

Turn 5

I disembark the Grey Knights next to Maugan Ra and the Land Raider backs up to make room for the Lazorback to get in range of the Objective. Lazorback 5" from the Objective. Bjorn walks over to the immobilized Serpent and flexes his claws in anticipation. Shooting sees the Missile Launchers doing nothing, Land Raider Pours its fire onto the other Fire Prism doing nothing. On to Assaults, the Grey Knights assault Maugan Ra, Bjorn Steps up to the Wave Serpent. Bjorn Vaporizes the Wave Serpent and the Banshees lose another 3 of their own, sadly though, they are not pinned. Maugan Ra strikes first with his attacks and only causes 1 wound which is saved. The Grey Knight Grand Master hits with all 5 attacks and causes 5 wounds on Maugan Ra...he falls shortly thereafter.

At this point, it is pretty much over, and the Eldar concede as he knows what the end result is going to be.

Overall, I think that it was a pretty well fought battle and that there were a few tactical mistakes made on both sides; however, it was more for fun than anything else. In the end, we decided in 2 weeks to have a re-match with our 'Ard Boyz lists for a more competitive feel.

nice report. i like seeing eldar lose.

Seeing Eldar lose is pretty satisfying, especially when it is a well fought battle. In all honesty, there is no way I should have won this game.

If I had been him, I would have just focused on the Razorbacks and then picked off the heavier armor as the game went along. He could have easily just sat on his objective and zipped around me for a few turns before rushing me on turn 4 or 5.

.:shrugs:. who knows, maybe I'm just lucky

Cool report. On turn two a Wave Serpent disimbarked a squad and then Moved Fast, IIRC you can't do that. My only qualm
Good luck in future games

yea you cant disembark/embark before or after moving flat out.....seems like he didnt use his expensive units properly. the banshees didnt get into combat, theres over 200 points down the drain....eldrad didnt add much to list, another 200.....maugan ra also did nothing, a further 200 points..................lol. Lots of wasted points that did nothing

It sounded like he wasted most of his list to be sure. He was relying too much on his HQ's to win the game and that allowed your psychic hood to basically disrupt his plans more than anything your generalship did.

The only impressive thing he did was destroy the vindi cannon with rangers =p

I'm not sure, but it sounds like you were playing that a single Fire Prism has a S6 AP3 shot or a S10 AP1 shot. That ain't right. I can't remember if the basic large blast is S5 or S6, but I know it's AP4, and I know the focused shot is S9 AP2. You can only get the higher values if you combine fire, and you can't do that unless a) both Prisms have LoS, and b) both can shoot.

Something to keep in mind for next time.

As I wrote this up I noticed certain points weren't adding up and in referring to my notes I did notice that there were a few discrepancies concerning rules and such. .:shrugs:.

I'll make sure I keep an eye out for things like this in the future...funny how this real minor rule fudges seem so prevalent in my area...maybe people just haven't spent enough time reading the rules or knowing their lists, which is very disheartening in ever sense of the word.

Next time, I'll just keep a copy of the Rulebook and their codex handy for any iffy moments...