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Last week, I got in a game of 'ard Boyz practice with Vindicator#9 (fellow Dakka-ite, aka Chris). Took me a week to get this up, so there may be some minor issues turn-wise.

We agreed to play at the 2500 point level, so he could practice for the 'Ard Boys tournament, even though at the time we had no idea what the scenarios would be. We just generated them randomly, per rulebook.

Since I don't have a full 2500, I had to proxy some extra Zoanthropes, using empty bases. Each squad of Zoes, though, had 1 "real" model in there in case of LOS issues.

Vindicator#9's Thousand Sons..
HQ-
2x Chaos lord- Deathscreamer, Mark of Tzeentch (in Rhinos with the 8 count squads)

Troops-
8 Thousand Sons- Asp. Sorc.(Wind of Chaos, Meltabombs) Rhino-combi melta
8 Thousand Sons- Asp. Sorc.(Wind of Chaos, Meltabombs) Rhino-combi melta
9 Thousand Sons-same equipment as other two Sons squads, Rhino-Combi Melta
9 CSM Icon of Tzeentch, Asp. Champ- powerfist, Rhino-Combi Melta
9 CSM Icon of Tzeentch, Asp. Champ- powerfist, Rhino-Combi Melta

Elites-
3 CSM Termies- 3 combimeltas and Land Raider (dedicated transport, although the Termies would be Deep Striking)

Heavy Support-
CSM Vindicator - Demonic Possession
CSM Vindicator - Demonic Possession
CSM Vindicator - Demonic Possession




Porkuslime's Hive Fleet Portentosa
HQ-
Warrior Prime (biggerized Genestealer model, not actually using Genestealer rules - SIGH) (Pretty straight, swapped ranged weapons for Rending Claws)

Elite-
3 Zoanthropes (2 models, 1 blank base)
3 Zoanthropes (1 models, 2 blank bases)
3 Zoanthropes (1 models, 2 blank bases)

Troops-
15 Genestealers with included Broodlord (orange)
20 Genestealers with included Broodlord (blue)
20 Genestealers with included Broodlord (yellow)
20 Genestealers with included Broodlord (fuscia)
20 Genestealers with included Broodlord (green)
20 Genestealers with included Broodlord (pink)



Consulting the lil ol Rulebook, we rolled up the classic Annihilation mission, with the Dawn of War deployment.

I won the roll to go first, and took it. Deployed the Prime in woods, right along the middle line of the board and held a Genestealer squad for Infiltrate deployment. Chris decided to stick a Rhino, 8 man TS, and Chaos Lord along his back line, just 18 inches away from the Prime. Then I was able to hide the 15 strong stealer squad behind a building, out of line of sight of the Rhino and 13 inches away from it.



Chris attempted, and failed, to Seize the Initiative.

Stealer Turn 1-
The Orange Stealers boil from around the building, making for the Rhino. The Prime dithers in the woods, moving up a bit. All 3 of the Zoanthrope squads come on, one in the east, along a ruined building, and the other 2 in the west, also behind buildings.

No Shooting, but the Orange Stealers make a good run, getting within 2 inches of the Rhino. The Zoanthropes all roll poorly, and advance just a little.

Assault - Orange Stealers pile into the CSM Rhino, autohitting, and cracking it like a nut.. blowing it up. 2 Stealers and 1 Son die in the explosion.





Thousand Sons Turn 1-
Chris brings on his ENTIRE mechanized force, leaving only the CSM Terminators in reserve. Most of the vehicles come in Cruising speed, with the exceptions of the 3 Vindicators, 2 behind the eastern ruins and 1 into the western forest.






Shooting- The Lord attempts to use a psychic power (Wind/breath of chaos??) but fails the Psychic test, while the remainder of the squad rapid fires into the oncoming Brood. They kill a lot, but the Broodlord won't let the bugs run!



Stealer turn 2-
Rolling for reserves, I get 3 more broods (Fuscia, Pink, and Blue). They ALL decide to Outflank on the eastern table edge. Got really crowded! Fuscia ran alongside the 2 Vindicators, Blue went between the ruins, and Pink went into the multi-story ruin and camped out there. (This is the last time I will use them in the game, cause they were out of sight! I forgot to move them, and just blanked on them for the remainder of the game)



The Fuscia Brood got really lucky, as there was 2 inches of space alongside each of those Vindicators, so they could move around them both! The 3 Zoanthrope squads continued their advances towards the armored protein cans. Prime hugged trees. The Orange brood moved up a bit towards the Sons and Lord.

Shooting - Right. No one in range of the Zoes, so they run some more... and don't get much. The Blue brood runs a whopping 5 inches (took care of that during deployment).

Assault- Orange Brood hits the Sons, and the Fuscia Brood multicharges the Vindicators. The Vindicators get bamfed, and both explode, taking 5 genestealers with them. The Broodlord attacks the Lord, while his brood brothers get disappointed that the armor of the troops only contains dust. The Lord manages to blow all armor saves from the Broodlord, and dies. CSM is reduced to the Aspiring Sorcerer and 2 Sons. They make LD and stay stuck in.





Thousand Sons turn 2-
No Terminators this turn. The Land Raider turns and attempts a Tank Shock on the Genestealers (who avoid it easily). The Rhino with the other Lord onboard moves towards the Blue Stealers and Prime, while the 2 rhinos on the west edge move towards the Zoanthropes. The sole Vindicator moves out of the forest and draws a bead on a Zoanthrope squad. The last Rhino turns and moves behind the back building heading towards the Orange brood.





Shooting - The Lord attempts the Wind of Chaos and it works! 3 Blue Brood stealers are eliminated. A Son inside the rhino as well as the bolter on the rhino also kill 2 blue stealers. The Vindicator targets and clips one of the Zoanthropes, but the mighty blast is negated by the Warp Field.

Assault- The scrum in the center continues, with the Aspiring Sorcerer surviving, as well as 1 trooper and the Orange brood down to the Broodlord and 3 bugs.. sigh.



Stealer Turn 3-
The last 2 broods become available. Yellow and Green BOTH come on on the western edge of the board. Truly bad luck for Chris.. I was able to get the Green Brood into the woods, and Yellow Brood made it to one of the Rhinos. Zoanthropes floated a little closer. Fuscia Brood and Blue Brood headed towards the Sorcerer Lord's Rhino. Prime continues to dance around the perimeter, without committing himself.

Shooting- The Zoes all manage to target one of the CSM trooper rhinos, and between the 6 of them, one takes a wound from the Warp, and the others Lance the Rhino into teeeny tiny bits, killing 1 trooper inside.

Assault - The Fuscia Stealers pile into the back of the Lord's Rhino, but the Blue brood decides NOT to. How un-stealer like! (I thought I could kill it with just one squad, and .. I was right!) The Yellow Brood wreck the last western rhino, and the troopers inside pile out the back.





In the backfield, the combat between the Orange bugs and the Sons finishes, with the bugs winning, and consolidating just a little towards the last Rhino, hiding behind the building in the rear.

Thousand Sons Turn 3-
The call for the Terminators to reinforce the Sons... fails. The CSM Land Raider slams it into reverse, and does a back-up Tank Shock on the Fuscia stealers, who move aside politely. The Lord and his Sons embark to save themselves from the bugs.



On the western side, the CSM troops spread out and get into firing position. The Vindicator does not move, but pivots in place to shoot at the less-well protected Green Brood.



Shooting- No fire on the eastern front. In the West, both squads of troopers fire into the Yellow stealers, but only manage to dispatch 5. The Vindicator fires at the Green brood, hitting a couple of Yellow Brood as well, and nails 8. Both Broodlords ensure that no one is thinking about chickening out.

Assault- No one is in combat!

Stealer Turn 4-
No more reserves (unless you count the Pink Brood doing the reverse Ygmarl thing.. going INTO terrain and going to sleep).

Zoanthropes move slightly on the west, the eastern brood slides alongside the forest to get a shot at the rear of the LR. Blue Brood moves fully into the forest, as the Prime reports that it is a nice place to avoid conflict. Fuscia Brood heads towards that last moving Rhino, but the Orange Squad gets there first. Yellow brood moves up to assault the CSM trooper crescent, and with a FABULOUS move-thru-cover roll, the Green brood gets to and surrounds the last Vindicator.

Shooting- The Zoanthropes in the west all use the Warp Blast power to snuff out 3 of the CSM troopers, (one from the OTHER CSM squad) and the Warp claims one Zoanthrope in return. The Eastern Zoes successfully take the Heavy Bolter off the CSM Raider. Not a kill, but at least a multi-shot weapon is gone.

Assault - Orange Brood assaults the last Rhino, and Wrecks it. Thousand Sons squad inside gets out the rear door. Green brood blows up the last Vindicator. Yellow Brood annihilates the CSM troopers, and consolidates towards the last squad of basic CSM.





Thousand Sons Turn 4 -
The Terminators decide to show up! They Deep Strike in the middle of the table, within 12 inches of all the Zoanthrope squads. The Land Raider continues to advance to the rear, and Tank Shocks the Fuscia Genestealers again! They nicely line up alongside the tank. The Lord and his Sons hop out, ready to rapid-fire them.



Shooting- The Sons in the backfield rapid-fire into the Orange brood that broke their ride, killing all but the Broodlord. The Lord attempts to summon the Winds of Chaos, but he is too close to the Zoanthropes and fails the test... but does not take a wound. The Sons with him fire into the Fuscias, and remove 4. The last CSM trooper squad in the open, fires into the oncoming Yellow brood, reducing them to 5 plus the Broodlord. The Terminators unleash hot melta death into the Zoanthropes by the woods, eliminating one.



Assault - Are you kidding?

Stealer Turn 5-
Green Brood jumps the last Sons unit, the Fuscia bugs assault the Lord and Sons, the Yellow Brood hits the last CSM trooper squad and the Blue Brood make the Move Thru Cover rolls and assault the Terminators. Zoanthropes jockey for good lines of sight to the Land Raider. Orange Broodlord does not go for combat, but moves into the cover of the rear building.

Shooting - Zoanthropes shoot twice at the LR, and hit both times, and roll 2 "ones" for pen.. arrrgh!

Assault - Blue Brood steamrolls and eliminates the Terminators. Yellow Brood does the same for the CSM troopers, as the Green Brood minces the Sons. Fuscia Brood takes down the Lord and his Sons with a TON of rending attacks. (Something like 12!).

(sorry, no pictures at this point)

At this point, Chris is down to a single CSM Land Raider. Nothing else. He conceeds.

Tallying up the Kill Points for this mission..
Chris gives up - 5 infantry squads, 2 HQ, Terminator unit, 5 Rhinos, 3 Vindicators. 16 kill points.
Jim gives up - nothing.

Thanks to the Orange Broodlord not assaulting the last turn, I manage to keep one member of any unit alive to deny Chris any sort of comfort. Sorry bud!

Genestealer Victory!

Units of the match -
Jim- Probably the Fuscia genestealers - took out 2 Vindicators, a Rhino, Lord and Sons squad.
Chris - the Lord and Sons squad from the beginning of the game - tarpitted the Orange Stealers for 3 turns.

Sub-par units-
Jim - Pink Genestealers.. totally forgot they were in the ruins.
Chris - Terminators.. never showed up until the end, and only removed 1 Zoe when they did.

Honorable Mention goes to the Store Cats .. Squig slept underneath the table on a padded chair the WHOLE match.. and Ripper laired under my army bag.. occasionally swiping at my feet.





-Porkuslime

great battle report thats a crap load of genestealers and he really didn't have much in the way of anti horde

For the love of Tzeentch! Stay away from the short table edges.

Great report. The other guy really needs to up his army with atleast one flamer or something that can do a horde damage.

Yeah this was my test run against hordes to see what would happened and i changed my list a little to deal out more damage and have damage control. Hence why i was toying with Chaos lords. Winds are my horde control but it sucks having to roll 3d6 to be able to get the power off. I made lots of mistakes during this game and he made me pay for them no doubt about it. I have adjusted my list accordingly and hope that got my bad rolls out of my system. Good report Jim and thanks for doing all the work. Damn genestealers.

I'm surprised to see an almost-all genestealer list working. However, it was your opponent's deployment that probably did him in.

He must be new at this. Did he not know that almost your entire army was outflanking? It really is easy to counter such a list if you're familiar with it.

BTW, for your info, if this was mission 3 of the 'Ard Boyz, you actually got 34KP's.

Not used to going up against hordes local Newark meta game is usually SM, Eldar, Mech Orks. Not too many Nid players. This was my first game up against not only new nids but also an all infiltrator list. Yes i also am still fairly new to the game 2-3 years. I dont get regular weekly games in. Only 2-3 times a month at most. Still learning and now know better than to park my butt along the table edges. Jim was a great and knowledgeable player and hope to play him again soon. If anyone could give some tips against something like this feel free to let me know. Hordes are my worst opponent.

no no.. trust me. Immobile or slow-moving Vindicators along the side edges are the BEST way to use them.

But seriously, you should have castled up in the middle of the back line, with all the troops embarked and ready to rapid fire when the rhinos pop. Since you will get one round of fire and genestealers have tissue paper armor vs bolters, my bugs would melt away.

Counter-intuitive perhaps, but using the rhinos as bunkers and mentally acknowledging them as already wrecked, might have helped the mental game.

Ahhhh never thought of that. Good tip for next time. See i am still learning and losing helps me. I enjoyed the game and i thought that bogging you down with the vindies would work a little better than it did.

I really expected more from Vindicators Vindicators.

What is going on?!?

porkuslime wrote:Counter-intuitive perhaps, but using the rhinos as bunkers and mentally acknowledging them as already wrecked, might have helped the mental game.

...and move them EVERY TURN when it looks like they are going to have even a CHANCE of being assaulted. Even if it's only an inch. Being hit on a 4+ is very different than being auto-hit. Especially on that paper back armor.


Honestly, though, I do not fancy your 'Ard Boys chances with a T-Sons themed list. You're not getting a lot of individual high S shots to spread around, and you have a SERIOUSLY low model count.

Just IMO.

Eric

Thats cool never said anyone had to like my list. I acknowledge that i have low model count and it isnt terribly competitive. I like the models i have and plan on sticking with them. I enjoy a challenge and the best way to learn is to learn from mistakes. Now this list was a huge mistake and so was my deployment. I need to learn how to deploy better than i have in the past.


Automatically Appended Next Post:
BTW yes the Vindies didnt do as planned and plan on putting up a revised list in Army List section so feel free to hop over there and tear it up some more.

That... is a LOT of Genestealers.

Cool battle report!

Any batrep with Necromunda buildings is pure win in my opinion.

He didn't get out and shoot... Why?

He didn't get out and shoot... Why? Thousand sons can't beat a 5man squad of guardsmen and yet he basicle waited for you to be in close combat, also why didn't he take into acc that gene stealers outflant and keep away from the sides, that army Is awesome, he CSM player just really didn't play with them in a way that would actually do anything

sorry for being so negative but CSM player, if you read this, read that battle report and seriosly reathink your stratigy

Madman49 wrote:He didn't get out and shoot... Why? Thousand sobs can'tbeat a 5man squad of guardsmen and yet he basicle waited for you to be in close combat, also why didn't he take into acc that gene stealers outflant and keep away from the sides, that army Is awesome, he CSM player just really didn't play with them in a way that would actually do anything

sorry for being so negative but CSM player, if you read this, read that battle report and seriosly reathink your stratigy

Quick.
Everyone who didn't read the thread before posting: raise your hand.
; )

Eric

Yea sorry bad conn=double post
oops sorry must have missed vindicators post, soz lol

vindi it's a good list, just rethink your stratigy, that list is good for attacking anything that doesn't come to you, when the stuff comes to you get your sons out the Rhino's line up the vindi's and even march forward into the rapid fire just whatever you do don't wait in the rhino's forthem to come just doen't work and NEVER open your vindicators vunarble to the sides for exacly the reason

Nice report and an awesome nids army! Seemed like an uphill game for the 1ksons, but really, aren't they all lol? All that LOS blocking terrain seemed to help the nids too.

Yes there were lots of Blocking terrain, but 'Ard Boyz has lots of that and was playing at that angle. No excuse for the poorly thought out strategy though.
@Madman i just got off a 4 month stint of playing orks so my strategy for 1k sons was corroded with so much rust the worlds supply of WD-40 wouldnt have helped. I do appreciate the feedback guys.

great report!

Oh yea, I dont mean to detract from the Nids victory, I was more thinking along the lines of the 1ksons using the terrain to their advantage a bit more perhaps by giving it a wider berth and forcing the nids to advance just a handful of specific paths or suffer through terrain, though I understand the desire not too bunch up against so many stealers

Those bugs werent upgraded at all?

Nope.. bare bones bugs lets me take even more of them. I find that additional bodies helps vs bolters.