Hi All
My
FLGS is running an increasing point’s planet strike campaign, we were meant to working our way through the 6 mission in the book increasing the point by 250 for each one. Last night was meant to be the second game, but thanks to my
FLGS now only providing 4x4 tables my opponent (a guy called Tom) and I decided that the second mission was unfeasible and played basic
PS rules.
Apologies I forgot to grab a copy of my opponents list and I’m not that familiar with Death Wing.
Tom’s Deathwing (attacker) 6 Terminators (I think one was a
HQ choice with power sword and one had an assault cannon)
5 Terminators – Sergeant with Thunder hammer, Assault Cannon, Storm Bolter all had Chain fists
3 attack bike – teleporter beacons, twin linked bolter (I think)
1 lone attack bike with a side Car – with twin linked bolters and
MM Jalvene 33rd 2nd Company under Captain Books (Defender) CCS meltas x4
Chimera
ML/
HF PCS 4 flamers
Infantry Squad x2
meltas x2
Melta Bomb x2
PW x2
Commissar
PW PCS 4 flamers
Infantry Squad x 2
Lascannon x 2
Demolisher w
HF Fluff Extracts from Cadet Commissar Von Impe’s personal account to his mentor Commissar Genk:
“As you instructed, I was on my way with elements of the Jalvene 33rd, to whom I was currently assigned, to reinforce Col Lynch and the rest of the regiment whom had been experiencing some difficulties in their endeavours to remove the Greenskin taint from one of his Divine Majesties worlds. How any emperor fearing, military man of sound mind could have difficulties with such brainless scum is beyond my understanding, however I am sure with your guiding hand and the reinforcements I bring the emperor will prevail. The 2nd Company, under the command of Captain Books as you know, had been receiving a fresh influx of Jalvene recruits at the ministorium depot several systems away. We had been in the process of whipping the fresh face juves into stern faced guardsmen when we received the communiqué from the Colonel and yourself.
However I digress whilst on route, during one of our periodic exits into normal space, the ships astropathe received a desperate plea for aid originating from the third planet in the system. It appears that we had stumbled, by accident or by divine guidance, in to a newly emerging conflict.
After brief communications, with the planet in question, which turned out to be a largely feudal world with a smattering of the usual smattering of clerks and priest, plus a dilapidated PDF garrison, we were able to ascertain that a band of renegade Astarte’s, traitor scum may their soul’s burn eternally in the warp, had just entered the system and demanded tribute under threat of hostilities. During a heated discussion between Captain Books and the Officers of the ship I was forced to remind all present that is was our duty to assist, on personal note it surprising how fast people will change their point view upon the production of a strong counter argument and a fully loaded bolt pistol.
With all Alacrity we made planet fall and set about shoring up the garrison meagre defences.”Deployment
I set up two bastions (we had to use War hammer tower, for a store running a
PS campaign they seem very short on appropriate scenery) diagonally opposite each other just over 12” from the board edges, and that was about it. I deployed the platoon with
LC putting the 20 man
LC blob in one bastion (Bastion Peter) and the
PCS in the other (Bastion Paul) and held everything else in reserve. I gave the Bastion Peter Ammo Stores (stratagem allowing that allows rerolls to hit) and Hidden Entrance in Bastion Paul (stratagem that allows the occupier to disembark anywhere within 18” of the Bastion). I gave both Bastions Icarus pattern Lascannons.
Tom then rolled for fire storms and got a 1 meaning giving him a total of 3. He then picked the edge closest to the
LC bastion for his DZ.
Picture deployment
Tactics ok that’s more terminators than I was hoping for but I’m not worried at this point, with the Defensive systems of the Bastions I’ve got 4
LC (3 of which are twin linked), 4 melta’s and demolisher that can all hurt them. Plus model count wise I out number him 58 to 14. I’m going to have to make it as I go though, my chance of winning is to wipe him out or at least keep him bogged down away from the bastions so he can’t claim them.
Attacker Turn 1 - Invasion launched First firestorm is aimed at the Peter and misses by a mile, second on Paul again it scatters off, third is a direct hit on Peter it penetrates but only stuns it.
Movement Tom roles for his reserves (3+ on turn one) and gets everything. The three attack bikes zoom across the board from his DZ towards Paul, using their Teleporter beacon he teleports the group of 5 terminators within assault range of Paul. The
MM attack bike rolls on and lines up with peter, the remaining 6 terminator surprisingly walk on towards Peter (turned out later he had misjudged the distance).
Picture 1
Shooting The
MM bike and the group of 6 terminators shoot at peter but fail to do anything. The chainfist terminators shoot at Paul for the hell of it and don’t even scratch the paint work.
Assault The group of 6 terminators turn out to be to far away to assault, unfortunately the same can’t be said for the Chain fists, they charge Paul and get 3 explosions (there was other damage but it doesn’t really matter when you’ve just been blown up 3 times).The explosion radiates a massive 1” does nothing to the terminators but kills 3 of the flamer.
I decided to keep the junior officer because of his higher leadership, and I’m glad I did he passes both moral and pinning but only just.
Defender Turn 1 Movement I roll for reserves but only get the
CCS which comes on from the edge next to his deployment. They turn up to support Peter and position themselves to open up on the group of 6 terminators.
Picture 2
Shooting The
CCS fire all 4 of their meltas, the Commander’s laspistol and the heavy flamer on the chimera at the 6 terminators and do nothing. All four meltas missed, get 4 hits with the
HF but only one wounds which he saves.
I then fire all 3 twin linked
LC from peter at them and miss or fail to wound with all of them (so many 1’s).
The
PCS survivors from Paul fire at the terminators he just blew up half their squad and to my surprise actually drop 1.
Assault The Survivors of Paul knowing they are going to die next turn anyway charge the 4 remaining terminators and actually manage to wound two but the terminators armour shrugs them off. The terminators then do some very unpleasant things to them.
Fluff “We made our makeshift Command in the operations room of the local PDF garrison, who were more than eager to make way for their would be saviours. In honesty the room was little more than a rockcrete cellar with a scattering of vox and auspex equipment, the whole planets defence appeared to be wholly inadequate. It appeared the governor had been lax in his duty and failed to maintain his planets defence. I have sent correspondence to my superiors in sector command, requesting a full investigation be commenced.
It was whilst in process of establishing ourselves and discussing the best course of action that the first reports of traitors landing adjacent to sector G came in. Fortunately the sector had little to no civilian presence to hinder us in the performance of our duty. The sector was also blessed with the presence of a pair of bastions, of a somewhat non standard design but bastions none the less, which Captain Book had had the great forethought to post a platoon of the Jalvene 33rd.
Although I was not present at the beginning of the invasion I was able to piece together the opening scenes from several survivors’ reports. The enemies opening salvos were far less than had anticipated. The invasion force was small but they were reported to be using tactical dreadnaught armour and teleporters. The idea of such sacred devices in the hands of traitors is enough to boil my blood even now.
With such items in their possession they were able to quickly overcome one of our bastions and kill the command squad inside, while I am want to compare such heretical scum to the emperors own angels it would appear while traitorous these marine employed similar tactic to their loyal brethren in one stroke they effectively severed the head of the command structure in that sector. From the reports I received the Lt in question died with great valour and fortitude charging the traitors regardless odds. On a Personal note I must endeavour to find out his name.
With no clear chain of leadership remaining in the sector, or at least in grave peril of collapse at the time of his departure, Captain Books impetuously set off with his Command squad, leaving me to marshal our remaining forces. It is my understanding though that he and his men were in such haste that they only succeeded in making fools of themselves, leaving the enemy intact and themselves in a perilous position. On a personal note it is unacceptable for a squad of so called veterans to fail so abysmally in there duties to the throne. I have launched an investigation into whether the correct litany spoken and procedures followed. Tactics Ok that could have gone better, was hoping for more reserves than that, and my
CCS complete failure to hurt those terminators didn’t help but it’s not over yet. My
CCS are going to be lucky to survive this turn but if he goes after them he’s moving away from the Bastion Peter, plus he’ll probably end up bunching which will help if I can get my demolisher on.
My priority is to keep Peter intact so I can keep using the ammo store. With no way on knowing what I’m going to get or where they are going to come in from it’s hard to plan. I’ve still got plenty of men and he’s totally deployed, if I can get reinforcements to Peter I can overwhelm him, the other terminators are too far away to be any help and if he moves them he loses the objective. Then using the
LC I can snipe him to death.
Attacker Turn 2 Movement Much as you’d expect really, the chainfist terminators move into the smoking hole that was Paul, the 3 bikers do like wise. The 6 other terminators lumber toward the
CCS chimera and the
MM bike scoot around back to get a shot at the rear armour.
Shooting Terminators shoot the chimera but do nothing (they were facing the front armour)
MM bike blows off the
HF.
Assault Terminators pile into the chimera and wreck it by destroying the
ML and immobilising it. The
CCS pile out the back and pass their pinning test.
Picture 3
Tactics – ok that went better than expected. Looks like the
CCS will get another chance at those terminators and with the
LC hopefully I can finish them off.
Defender Turn 2 Movement Both my Demolisher and Platoon arrive from reserves. The Platoon arrive opposite the DZ and the demolisher arrives from their DZ. The platoon moves toward the chainfist terminators with the
PCS slightly in front as bait.
The demolisher trundles on with the intention of dropping a pie plate on the terminators who just killed the
CCS chimera.
The
CCS moves away from the chimera in order to get
LOS on the terminators and the
MM bike, as well getting some distance in case of scatter.
Shooting Demolisher gets 5 hits and manages to kill 4 of the 6 terminators, meltas try to finish them off and suck again.
The power Blob is out of assault range so fires (unfortunately a lot of them were out side 12”) get a few hits, but terminators being terminators I fail to wound or they just shrug it off.
PCS is only in template range of one model, so I get 4 hits but through failure to wound and armour saves does nothing.
I think the
LC fired at the 3 bikes and killed one, I think I was trying to support the blob.
Assault I thought about assaulting the
CCS into the two remaining terminators but decided against it; looking back I’m not sure why though.
Picture 4
Fluff “Using my power of persuasion, and my boot, to good effect I was able to marshal our forces including a demolisher tank. Through no small feat of military strategy I as to coordinate a two pronged attack, including the masterful outflanking of our armour support. What I would give to have seen the look on those filthy traitors faces when they realised the amour arriving from their drop zone was not their own.
Even from my position across the field of battle I was able to see the demolisher live up to its name and tear a number of the traitors asunder with a shot from it mighty gun. However my revelry was some what dampened when it became clear that Captain Books had not only lost his transport as a result of enemy action but had once again failed to fulfil his duty and slay these traitors.
However I had other issues to concern myself, I would have entrust the emperor to guide his soldiers to victory where I could not. Bravo platoon under my guidance and the command of a Lieutenant whose name escapes me at the moment were faced with a number of the vial brutes, still covered in the gore of the bastions defenders, ourselves.” Tactics The reserves coming in from opposite sides meant I had to rethink my plan, I doubted the ability of my power blob to get across the board and wipe out the terminators on that side especially with all the bike still roaming around. This game has become a game of two halves for both of us. Plan is grind the chainfist squad down with my power blob,
LC to snipe the bikes and demolisher to clean up the terminators when they’ve finished gutting my
CCS.
Attacker Turn 3 Movement The
MM bike zips around to the demolishers flank (can’t reach the back), the four chainfist terminators move menacingly toward the
PCS, the attack bikes move to get out of range of the demolisher and spread out. The two terminators near Peter advance on the
CCS.
Shooting The
MM bike is the only thing that shoots (I think he was worried about doing to much damage to
CCS and
PCS respectively) it stuns the demolisher.
Assault The chain fists charge the
PCS and wipe them out, I got the impression he was hoping they stay around longer, and consolidated back into the ruin of Paul.
The other two terminators kill two of the
CCS, who pass there
LD and stay in combat.
Picture 5
Defender Turn 3 Movement The Power blob moves within assault range of the one chain fist terminator who could quite make it back into cover.
Shooting LC kill the
MM bike (should have done that earlier), power blob fires it meltas and pistols at chain fists and do nothing
Assault Power blob assaults the Chain fists and kills two but lose 3 in return, I fail the
LD test and the commissar puts a bolt through one of the sergeant (wow that sucks), the reroll keeps me in combat. The
CCS is wiped out and the two terminators try to hide behind the wrecked chimera.
Picture 6
Fluff “
Once again the traitor scum singled out members of the command structure, simultaneously launching assault against both Company and Platoon command elements; no doubt they have never seen an officer of the commissariat before and thus failed to recognise the importance of my office.
The rest of the platoon and I rushed to assist the stricken Lieutenant but were unable to reach him or his squad in time, they died for the emperor and will be honoured as heroes, are course of action was clear, vengeance would be ours. With my power sword thrumming in my hand we engaged the enemy with battle prayer on our lips. With the emperor on our side I was confident we would succeed even against these armoured behemoths. Unfortunately certain members of the platoon did not share this confidence and I was forced to make an example. On personal note this was my first battlefield execution, although I can not say I enjoyed the experience, the failings of my fellow man always saddens me, there is something to be said for the fire it puts in men’s belly to be reminded of their duty and to know cowards are the first to die. As a further note although the Death of captain Books goes some way to alleviate suspicions I will still be recommending a full investigation into the possibility of treacherous leaning/sympathies amongst the remnants of his command platoon” Attacker Turn 4 There is no moving or shooting
Assault The power blob kills another Terminator but loses two in return; they pass their leadership with out the need for executions.
Defender Turn 4 Movement the demolisher potters about he can’t get
LOS on the terminators behind the chimera.
Shooting. The demolisher tries for the bikes, but scatters luckily away from the ongoing assault.
The Peter
LCs fire on the terminators hiding behind the wreckage and manage to get one.
Attacker turn 5 Movement the lone terminator adjusts himself, so he is hidden from both Peter and the Demolisher.
The Assault continues I do nothing to his lone terminator, he kills 1 guardsman, I pass my leadership.
Tactics At this point I’m looking at a draw, I can’t get
LOS on the terminators, my blob is still in assault and even if they win he’s still got the bikes on the objective.
Defender Turn 5 Demolisher moves trying to get
LOS on the lone terminator just in case there is a turn 6 but still can’t see him.
Shooting LC goes for the only target available the two bikes, and kills them both.
Assault The Power blob terminator continues I lose another guardsman and again do nothing back.
Tom Rolls for a turn 6 and we get it.
Attacker turn 6 The lone terminator sprints from behind the chimera wreckage to contest Peter.
In assault the power blob is finally able to wipe out the last terminator and consolidate onto the remains of the objective.
Defenders turn 6 Demolisher Rumbles toward the last and only remain terminator.
The demolisher flames him but does nothing, I consider using the main gun but decide not to as chance were I’d end up blowing up my own bastion. Plus I’ve still got three twinlinked
LC, which all then fail to hit.
Picture7
Game ends there with a draw, he’s got one terminator claiming Peter and I own Paul.
It was a fun game with some truly horrible rolling on both sides, my army did as well as I expected really. I’m not the greatest Tactician at the best of times but this
PS campaign I’ve found really hard to plan for. The Games them selves are inconsistent enough couple that with the fact I don’t know from one week to another who I’ll up against or whether I’ll be attacking or defending means I end up making stuff up as I go along.
I think keeping most of my army in reserve worked well, and will be doing it again in future.
Thanks for reading
Fluff “
Although we lost one stronghold and enemy was able to destroy the other we had blunted the enemies advance. Our enemy may have forced a stalemate but it would not last, our casualties were light compared to theirs and we had the light of the emperor upon us. The next day I led the remainders of our forces in the hunt for enemy survivors. The few we found fought furiously, like cornered animals, however we put down without mercy like the traitorous dogs they were, priests were called to see to the immolation of their bodies and the sanctifying of the ground thereafter. I also contacted members of sector command and mechanicus should they wish to salvage any of the armour and equipment, although I suspect it was all far too tainted.
We remained on station for several months until relieved at which point we set about rejoining the rest of the regiment, all be it with less men than we set out with however I am confident that the survivors, having survived the fires of battle, will prove them far more useful than the raw recruits I set out with.
Ave Imperator
33rd Jalvene Outlanders & 112th Task Force 6600 Points (last count)
yeah I totally agree with you about the life of one sergeant with 15pts of ugrades being more than worth it, it kind of sucked because this was the first time ever i've failed a stubborn leadership role. I know it had to happen at some point but I think I'd started to kid myself that it wouldn't.
