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Dave came round mine Sunday for a game. I was going to use Eldar but had a change of mind and used Blood Angels as I wanted to see how a pair of Vindicators worked instead of Baal Predators.

Blood Angels "Wing Striker" - 2,000 points

HQ

Librarian - shield of sanguinus & unleash rage

Librarian - shield of sanguinus & unleash rage


Honour Guard w/ Razorback - 3 x power weapons & power fist - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasma gun

Honour Guard w/ Razorback - 3 x power weapons & thunderhammer- Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasma gun


Elite

Sanguinary Priest

Troops

5 x Assault Marines w/ Razorback - flamer - sgt w/ power weapon - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasma gun

5 x Assault Marines w/ Razorback - flamer - sgt w/ power weapon - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasma gun


5 x Assault Marines w/ Razorback - meltagun - sgt w/ melta bombs - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasma gun


5 x Assault Marines w/ Razorback - meltagun - sgt w/ melta bombs - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasma gun

5 x Assault Marines w/ Razorback - meltagun - sgt w/ melta bombs - Razorback w/ lascannon & twin-linked plasma gun

Heavy Support

Vindicator

Vindicator

Total: 2,000 points


Tyranids "Hive Fleet Dave" - 2,000 points

HQ

Tyranid Prime - devourer, bonesword & lashwhip

Tyranid Prime - devourer, bonesword & lashwhip

Elite

2 x Hive Guard

2 x Hive Guard

2 x Zoanthropes

Troops

15 x Termagants

15 x Termagants

4 x Warriors - not sure what armed with

20 x Hormagaunts

12 x Genestealers

Fast Attack

5 x Raveners - rending claws

5 x Raveners - rending claws

Heavy Support

Trygon - adrenal glands

Trygon - adrenal glands

2 x Biovores

Game: Spearhead + capture & control

Deployment

I lost the roll off and Dave went first. He lined his bugs up to be within assault range a.s.a.p and deployed one unit of Hive Guard in the shrine ruin and the other unit in a small ruin flanked by the two Trygons.

I deployed my wall of armour holding one tank back which went in the far right corner where my objective is. I had line of sight to the Trygons and Hive Guard which are my main threats.




*Tactical Notes

My targets in this game are the Hive Guard and Trygons. The Zoanthropes are a pain but with only two shots and passing psychic tests hopefully they won't get as far as Hive Guard who have more shots and longer range, plus the Zoanthropes need weight of fire power or attacks to smash their big bulbous heads in. I'll then go for Genestealers which are infiltrating, but will see where they appear and then the Raveners, one unit is hiding behind the shrine ruin the other out in the open - I'll introduce them to the Vindicators

Turn 1

Dave deploys his infiltrating Genestealers in a ruin directly opposite my Razor formation, I'll have to deal with these before the Trygons which will be in assault by turn 2. I roll to steal the initiative and I'm now going first - Vindicators at the ready!! I roll for the black rage (usually forget this!) and a melta unit on the front line gets it and the unit on the objective, lol.

My first turn I roll the two flamer units over terrain ok, I roll the black raging melta unit into terrain ok while three other Razorbacks turn to blast the Genestealers in terrain.

Shooting I blast a Vindicator at the wall of Warriors in front of the Raveners, lands on target and blows up three of them leaving a single Warrior and Prime left along with a Ravener. I fire the second Vindi and it scatters back and splatters a few Hormagaunts. Razorbacks blast out killing a single Hive Guard model from the shrine ruin while remaining ones blast the 'Stealers, but 8 still live!

In Daves movement turn he moves the single Hive Guard the other side of the shrine ruin while moving his Trygons out, battered Warrior and Prime into terrain after running them and the Raveners behind. The Genestealers come running out of terrain ready to multi assault my trio of Razorbacks which just blasted at them.

Shooting the single Hive Guard misses both shots at a Razorback, the other unit is out of range. Zoanthropes both shockingly fail psychic tests but neither take a wound.

In assault the Genestealers charge and wreck a Honour Guard's Razorback, the other two Razors are ok.





*Tactical Notes

Well the seize the initiative roll worked well letting me tackle a Hive Guard so less shots and mowing down some Warriors. At least I've got in some fire power before I started. As expected a Razorback was tackled by the Stealers though next turn they're dead either by mass bolt pistols and or Honour Guard power weapons.

Next turn I'll blast the Vindicators again at the Raveners, the Trygons I'll blast with lascannons and plasma while the Genestealers will feel mass bolt pistol death and power weapon pain.

Turn 2

I bail the Honour Guard out the operational Razorback and tank shock the Genestealers in front, one tries death or glory and fails and gets made into paste. I attempt to move through terrain with a Razor holding melta Marines, but it gets immobilised. I try to move three other Razorbacks through terrain and immobilise them all!! WTF!!? Vindicators I draw back from the oncoming horde, but they're still in range.

Shooting I blast the Genestealers with bolt pistols from the Honour Guard and leave four left. I blast the closest Trygon with plasma and lascannons killing it, and put two wounds on the remaining Trygon. Vindicators blast out at the Raveners, but they get cover thanks to the Warrior and Prime in front, only two Raveners remain now.

In assault my Honour Guard charge the Genestealers, the thunderhammer armed Honour Guard gets shredded by rending claws but the Genestealers eat power weapons, unleash rage really helped here - the squad consolidates behind their Razorback which moved 6" away from them in the movement turn.

In Daves turn he moves both Ravener squads towards the flamer units, one of these Razorbacks was immobilised in my turn, doh! The Warrior and Prime move to get a Razor stuck in terrain while the last Trygon moves to eat a Razorback.

Dave tries to use his Zoanthropes, both pass psychic tests, I stop one with my psychic hood though the other misses anyway. I can't remember what other shooting he does.

In assault the Trygon chows down the Razorback and leaves a big dusty crater. The Warrior and Prime fail to do any damage to the immobilised Razorback, even with auto hits - fail! :( Both Ravener squads do much better and pop both Razorbacks they was assaulting.









* Tactical Notes

Ok 'Stealers down, Trygon down, Zoanthropes not firing bad times Raveners got my tanks :( Good times is I can burn them and blast them and follow up with an assault, which a Sanguinary Priest happens to be close by - hello furious charge!!

Plan next turn is to torrent that Trygon with lascannons and plasma guns, charge the Raveners and hopefully wipe out the smaller unit, if I can, blast the Warrior and Prime with meltaguns if that fails charge with a Honour Guard unit - if that Trygon does live I'll charge it with the Honour Guard which slayed the Genestealers, at least they'll go first, hopefully if I do that it will have a single wound left and I'll take it out easily.

Turn 3

My movement turn I move the Honour Guard through the crater of their Razorback towards the Trygon, melta Assault Squad stuck in terrain bail out their Razorback to lend some melta goodness. Other Honour Guard move ready to pistol blast and whip the Warrior and Prime as the Assault Squad with meltas bail out in terrain ready to blast them. Vindicators move around to blast the horde to thin it out in case the horde assaults the Honour Guard or so the Honour Guard with other units can assault them.

Shooting both flamer Assault Squads lay into the Raveners with flame and bolt putting wounds on both units. Trygon gets blasted by melta, plasma and lascannons and sees it die. Assault Squad blasts the Warrior and Prime, one shot misses one hits, but they pass cover so no I.D for them :(

In assault both flamer squads charge the Raveners, the squad against the larger Ravener unit takes a beating but hangs on, though only two Raveners remain after that fight. The other Raveners aren't so lucky and are smashed into ichor pools. Warrior and Prime get charged by the Honour Guard and Assault Squad, Honour Guard I strike first with mass power weapons smashing them to pieces and then a little bit of I.D with a power fist

Daves turn he blasts spore mines (which he has all game but they've done nothing) one explodes by my Assault Squad which charged the Warrior and Prime but Marines pass armour saves. He moves the Hormagaunt horde away from the Vindicators while the Termagants and other Prime flank around still.

Shooting Zoanthrope fire, one Vindicator is crew shaken which could have been worse. Hive Guard blast the other Vindicator and manage to immobilise it and score weapon destroyed.

In assault Raveners and Blood Angels battle it out, the larger Ravener squad has only two snakes left but the Angels fail combat and fall back leaving just the sgt remaining.








*Tactical Notes

Ok I think it's going well, a good bulk of anti armour threats are down but unfortunately I've done more damage to my own tanks than Dave by immobilising four of them last turn - wtf!? Anyway, I'll move the last flamer Assault Squad ready to flamer and charge the Raveners, I'll bring the Honour Guard around too but I think they will be out of assault range. I'll move all other units towards the Tyranids objective as it's turn 4 and I need to start getting to their objective - while I haven't got my own because I moved and immobilised my own tank, turn 5 I can bail out and get my own objective so not a problem - I'm just keeping them in so they don't get Spore Mined!

Turn 4

I start to move everything through terrain and running towards Daves objective, a mass sea of red moving out with each Honour Guard squad supporting by a Assault Squad while the Assault Squad with meltas which got Spore Mined head straight for the Zoanthropes, they don't run, ready to dispense some I.D, hopefully! The mobile Vindicator I move through terrain opting to go around the Zoanthropes, guess what? I immobilise it! feth!

Shooting I blast the Zoanthropes with meltagun and I.D a Bobblehead. I blast the other one and it dies too.

Daves turn he moves his Raveners to multi assault my Honour Guard and flamer Assault Squad he also sends the Hormagaunts to multi assault the other Honour Guard and supporting melta Assault Squad.

Dave blasts Hive Guard at the flamer Assault Squad and manages to kill one, no FnP because double toughness :(

In assault the Raveners charge, one Honour Guard and one flamer Assault Marine dead and Raveners all dead, Marines consolidate towards the Tyranid objective. Hormagaunts kill one Assault Marine and one Honour Guard, all Hormagaunts die, I see a pattern here - units consolidate towards the Tyranids objective.



*Tactical Notes

Well that's good, for me at least Daves speed bumps assaults failed costing him two units, both which are pretty fast and in the process giving me free extra movement thanks to the consolidation movement. Now all his units coming by me cannot reach me now, so I just need to keep ploughing through and I'll take his objective.

Next turn I'll move the units up blasting the Hive Guard with melta shots and assault them with Honour Guard dishing out power weapon evilness. Just got to hope there's a next turn or else it's a draw.

Turn 5

I start running majority of units forward with a flamer Assault Squad on Dave's doorstep. I move the Honour Guard and supporting melta Assault Squad forward ready to deal with the Hive Guard. I bail out the melta Assault Squad by by own objective and make sure I claim my own objective

Shooting I blast the Hive Guard with melta and bolt pistols killing one.

In assault I charge the Hive Guard with the Assault Squad (Honour Guard are out) and wipe the bugger out, I consolidate closer to the Tyranid objective.

In Daves turn he brings the Prime and Termagant unit which had been flanking behind the shrine ruin the entire game but they're still out of range. Biovores fire at Assault Marines but miss and leave a Spore Mine floating around, Termagants fire fleshborers at the Assault Marines coming at them but only kill one.



* Tactical Notes

Well his has now certainly changed for the better for me - Hive Guard are down leaving a single Hive Guard hiding behind the shrine, a small horde miles away and some puny Biovores in front of me and then Termagants hiding behind those - I have a flamer

Next turn I'll move the flamer Assault Squad into the Termagants and unleash the fire and assault them while the melta Assault Squad blasts and charges the Biovores.

Turn 6

We roll for it and it happens. We call it a day though as I'm off to a bonfire shortly and I'll claim or contest the Tyranid objective this turn either way.

Technical draw on the game, win for Blood Angels as would have had the Tyranid objective

Summary

The last few turns made me chuckle seeing a tide of red power armour charge up the board hoofing it baring fangs as they go, just need some cheer leaders shouting go Space Vampires! lol. Was cool how they smashed everything in their path and the Tyranid objective was in their grasp.

I don't think I made any mistakes game play wise, though getting 5 immobilised tanks is extremely bad luck - everything else went fine.

I do like the double Vindicators better than the Baals. The Baals roll up turn 2 and burn something and then die, because my Razorbacks and holding back until I know I can assault the Baals end up being unsupported. The Vindicators did better blasting stuff, didn't kill a huge amount but they seriously mauled a Warrior unit, Raveners and chopped some Hormagaunts down.

Dave's army is getting better but he is still taking weird choices lol - Biovores!? Rest seemed ok, the Raveners are a pain in the arse and I see Daves point why he hasn't got toxin sacs on the 'Stealers - because he uses them against vehicles, though I would get some smaller multiple units so you could attack several vehicles, as they can only multi assault at the moment. The double Trygons worked better but Hormagaunts with toxin sacs are seriously better, wounding on 5+ isn't too cool :(

This seemed to boil down into two armies just charging forward and mashing into each other. Did it really just boil down to list building, target prioritization, and luck?

Oh, and nice to see some in-action pictures.

That's exactly what it, head on charging and smashing. And yes, list building and target priority was what made the game.

Thanks, will be getting more of those in future - the in-action shots

Love the shot with the Trygon in the background, really captures the essence of the battle. I would not want to face that Razor army if I could help it, that is a scary amount of firepower to dish out.

Thanks dude, the towering Trygon is pretty cool.

I've been trying to refine the list but I don't think I'm going to do any more, really liking the Vindicators instead of the Baals though

Loved the "war journalist" shots.

"I roll for the black rage (usually forget this!)"

You mean Red Thirst

Yeah that's the one lol thanks, first time I've actually rolled for it in a game using my Angels

Nids are creeeepeee! No offense.

Well slightly comp list vs a very.... not comp list. Was pretty one sided; even if you hadn't seized lol. The vindis definitely worked well for this fight, so many things to insta kill!

Zid wrote:Well slightly comp list vs a very.... not comp list. Was pretty one sided; even if you hadn't seized lol. The vindis definitely worked well for this fight, so many things to insta kill!

When you say slightly comp list, what would a comp Angels list look like?

The Vindicators are pretty cool, I.D worked well as you said. Much better than the Baals.

Id take Vindis over a baal any day.

partly because i play DA XD but thats irrelevant.

Large blast str10 ap2 weapons.... feel there wrath.... or just die. either way is fine

nice bat reps

Regards

Yeah, I've found moving 12" and having a 24" range can really put the hurt. Double S10 AP2 blasts really put the fear in opponents.

Thanks for the report mercer. Always good to read yours.

Thanks bud

I wouldn't say Vindi's are "better" than Baal's.
For your list there such would be true.

But Baal Preds fill a different kinda task. IMO

Different task? Maybe. The Baals are designed to get infantry and destroy them, particularly ones in cover. The Vindicators are designed to smash infantry and vehicles so has a dual role? Are Vindicators better than Baals? Yes, I personaly would say so, though Vindicators do suit my list better

mercer wrote:

Zid wrote:Well slightly comp list vs a very.... not comp list. Was pretty one sided; even if you hadn't seized lol. The vindis definitely worked well for this fight, so many things to insta kill!

When you say slightly comp list, what would a comp Angels list look like?

The Vindicators are pretty cool, I.D worked well as you said. Much better than the Baals.

More like 3 baals, 3 preds for the "typical" razorspam build. Vindi's have never been competitive in my opinion due to their limited range and having the same weaknesses as preds (which preds negate better with their longer range). Either way its my opinion, play what ya will lol. I call anything thats not 100% comp "semi-comp"

Just saying, the dude had no real chance either way unless you played a more fun list

I was just genuinely interested in what a so called competitive list looked like

Tried Baals, not that brilliant. Tried Predators, sponsons are just a pain the ass. Baals infact have same range as Vindicators and the Vindicator is fast so it gets into range rapidly.