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Sometimes you just want to put a ton of models on the table. Dark Eldar were my original army, but they have not been used since May. Tyranids are the new kid on the block and have been my sole army since August. It is time to see who deserves the play at tournaments. My Dark Eldar have never lost to Tyranids, but will that sort of confident attitude be able to secure another victory?

This game is 5K per side with seize ground (5 objectives) as the mission and victory points as the tie breaker. I will be playing both sides as I really want to see if I can beat myself as Dark Eldar with Tyranids. Slightly convoluted, but it is 10K of models beating the snot out of each other, so who cares. Both of these armies are in the process of being painted. For more information about that check out my painting and modeling blog at http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/0/418640.page#3709915.

Dark Eldar



HQ
[240] Asdubael Vect
[135] Archon (Huskblade/Soul Trap/Shadowfield)
[135] Archon (Huskblade/Soul Trap/Shadowfield)
~[160] Court of the Archon (1 Lhamaean, 1 Medusae, 2 Sslyth, and 5 Ur-Ghul)
~~[70] Raider (Flickerfield)
[230] Drazhar
[195] 3 Haemonculi (Venom Blades and Liquifier Guns)

Elite
[108] 4 Trueborn (4 Blaster)
~[65] Venom (Extra Splinter Cannon)
[108] 4 Trueborn (4 Blaster)
~[65] Venom (Extra Splinter Cannon)
[108] 4 Trueborn (4 Blaster)
~[65] Venom (Extra Splinter Cannon)
[198] 9 Incubi
~[70] Raider (Flickerfield)
[290] 8 Grotesques (Liquifier)

Troops
[140] 9 Wyches (Shardnet+Impaler/Hekatrix+Agonizer)
~~[70] Raider (Flickerfield)
[140] 9 Wyches (Hydra Gauntlets/Hekatrix+Agonizer)
~~[70] Raider (Flickerfield)
[115] 9 Wracks (Liquifier/Acothyst+Venom Blade)
~~[70] Raider (Flickerfield)
[115] 9 Wracks (Liquifier/Acothyst+Venom Blade)
~~[70] Raider (Flickerfield)
[135] 10 Wracks (2 Liquifier/Acothyst+Venom Blade)
~~[70] Raider (Flickerfield)
[60] 5 Warriors (Blaster)
~[65] Venom (Extra Splinter Cannon)
[60] 5 Warriors (Blaster)
~[65] Venom (Extra Splinter Cannon)
[100] 10 Warriors (Darklance)
[100] 10 Warriors (Darklance)
[100] 10 Warriors (Darklance)
[100] 10 Warriors (Darklance)
[100] 10 Warriors (Darklance)
[100] 10 Warriors (Darklance)
[100] 10 Warriors (Darklance)

Fast Attack
[130] 5 Scourges (2 Splinter Cannons)
[34] 2 Beastmasters (2 Venom Blades)
~[60] 5 Kymera
~[30] 2 Razorwing Flocks
[29] 2 Beastmasters (1 Venom Blades)
~[60] 5 Kymera
~[30] 2 Razorwing Flocks

Heavy Support
[115] Ravager (Flickerfield)
[115] Ravager (Flickerfield)
[115] Ravager (Flickerfield)
[115] Ravager (Flickerfield)


Tyranids



HQ
[280] The Swarmlord
~[240] Tyrant Guard (Lashwhip/Bonesword)
[100] Tyranid Prime (Lashwhip/Bonesword/Adrenal Glands)
[100] Tyranid Prime (Deathspitter/Rending Claws/Adrenal Glands)
[90] Tyranid Prime (Devourer/Scything Talons/Adrenal Glands)

Elite
[130] Deathleaper
[150] 3 Hive Guard
[150] 3 Hive Guard
[180] 3 Zoanthropes

Troops
[150] 3 Tyranid Warriors (Lashwhip/Bonesword/Adrenal Glands)
[225] 5 Tyranid Warriors (Deathspitters/Rending Claws/Adrenal Glands)
[140] 4 Tyranid Warriors (Devourers/Scything Talons/Adrenal Glands)
[293] 13 Genestealers (Scything Talons/Toxin Sacs/Broodlord)
[293] 13 Genestealers (Scything Talons/Toxin Sacs/Broodlord)
[228] 12 Genestealers (Scything Talons/Toxin Sacs)
[228] 12 Genestealers (Scything Talons/Toxin Sacs)
[190] Tervigon (Catalyst/Onslaught/Cluster Spines)
[190] Tervigon (Catalyst/Onslaught/Cluster Spines)
[55] 11 Termagants (Fleshborers
[120] 12 Termagants (Devourers)
[150] 15 Hormagaunts (Toxin Sacs/Adrenal Glands)
[140] 14 Hormagaunts (Toxin Sacs/Adrenal Glands)

Fast Attack
[115] 3 Raveners (Rending Claws)
[160] 20 Gargoyles (Adrenal Glands/Toxin Sacs)
[30] 3 Spore Mines
[30] 3 Spore Mines
[30] 3 Spore Mines

Heavy Support
[135] 3 Biovores
[210] Trygon (Adrenal Glands)
[210] Trygon (Adrenal Glands)
[265] Tyrannofex (Rupture Cannon/Cluster Spines/Desiccator Larvae)


Coming Up: Deployment

If DE begin tyranids will be in a world of sh... i think !

no contest for the DE. this baby will be over by turn 2.

DE won't be able to table nids....they are just too resilient unless the opponent brings Destroyer weapons (in Apoc). However, nids don't have what it takes to beat DE with what little shooting that they have.

If I were building a big list to take on specifically Tyranids, I would definitely trade in the Ravagers for Razorwings. Especially in a game this large, the enemy models are going to be fairly well packed in together. Even with FnP, a dozen S6 large blasts would knock huge holes in the enemy lines. If you backed those up with a pair of Disintegrator Cannons and a Splinter Cannon, each 'Wing would continue to be able to chew large numbers of wounds off of any unit on the 'Nid side even after blowing through it's missiles.

Just a little note - the beast master unit is not legal - only 1 master per unit can exchange his weapon.

That said, that much poison is just all bad for the nids!

Saldiven wrote:If I were building a big list to take on specifically Tyranids, I would definitely trade in the Ravagers for Razorwings. Especially in a game this large, the enemy models are going to be fairly well packed in together. Even with FnP, a dozen S6 large blasts would knock huge holes in the enemy lines. If you backed those up with a pair of Disintegrator Cannons and a Splinter Cannon, each 'Wing would continue to be able to chew large numbers of wounds off of any unit on the 'Nid side even after blowing through it's missiles.

The lists are not tailored, but rather are taken as I would normally run them. I also do not have the models for the razorwings as my conversions are horribly out of scale.

Speaking of blasts, I completely disregarded the biovores while deploying Dark Eldar. They will need to spread out right away.

Massaen wrote:Just a little note - the beast master unit is not legal - only 1 master per unit can exchange his weapon.

Good catch!


Much to the dismay of the Tyranids, Dark Eldar win the roll to go first!

Here is the table. Objectives are marked by red and area terrain is marked by yellow.



The Dark Eldar originally tried to set up a flank but had too many units. With the ability to go first they hope to spread out and take the edge off the front charge. Target priority includes the spore mines which are sitting way to close for comfort and the Tervigons.



The Tyranids are also spread out, but in a more logical way, reacting to the DE by setting up direct charge lanes. The tervigons are in position to spawn broods onto objectives in cover which will be very good fo0or them considering the mission. Unmarked below are the top two squads of infiltrating genestealers. I did not want outflank everything as DE is fast and so ending on the wrong flank could really hurt. All Tyranid squads (non-genestealer) are deployed an inch back from the 12" line, guaranteeing that 24" poison will be out of alpha strike range.




The deathleaper named Vect as his target and reduced his Ld by 3!

The tyranids do not seize!

----------------------------------------------------------------------------

Dark Eldar Turn 1




Dark Eldar shooting is known to be bad for Tyranids...and it was. The big loss was the two tervigons, whose deaths caused 11 gants to also die. On top of that luck though, Vects squad getting the five they needed to assault through cover to the Genestealers was huge!

One fact remains though going into the Tyranid turn...the Swarmlord is already in charge range of Vect!

DE: 2
Nids: 1


Tyranid Turn 1




If Tyranids needed a comeback they sure got one! Four exploded vehicles is sick! On top of that the Biovores scattered onto the Archon's court, killing seven! Some hot assaults have turned things around and greatly reduced DE's potential. I am sure the Trygon's will be some of the next targets to take down. Now that Vect is dead and both Archon's appear to be in losing efforts in close combat, who will step up to lead the Dark Eldar?

At this point I think the Dark Eldar's focus should be in protecting the four squads of warriors who are deep in their own territory. If between the beasts and grotesques they can slow the Nids, they might be able to hold only their two main objectives while contesting others.

DE: 2
Nids: 1


Dark Eldar Turn 2




Dark Eldar are still hitting hard. I was impressed that the two Archons held in combat. With more troops alive Dark Eldar have to be smiling. That first turn advantage really helped them big time. With Tyranid reserves coming in though, there are some vulnerable warrior squads.

DE: 2
Nids: 0


Tyranid Turn 2




Tyranids try to limit how many troops DE has left. DE is successfully protecting their core area by their two held objectives. Not marked down is a squad of beasts fleeing after a biovore attack. The above image is wrong. The Deathleaper is in cover in DE territory and it exploded the Raider, not the Tyrannofex.

DE: 2
Nids:1


Dark Eldar Turn 3




Not their best turn. All the big targets were in combat so the threats are now on the move. This next turn could be big for Tyranids.

DE: 2
Nids: 1

Not esthetic but it is a good idea the commentaries in pictures

tetsuo666 wrote:Not esthetic but it is a good idea the commentaries in pictures

I got the idea from Kirby a 3++. I figure it makes them easier to read, and it is way easier to write that way than describe something mulch-dimentional by text.



Tyranids Turn 3





Talk about a turn of events! I feels late in the game since I have been playing for nine hours, but it is the bottom of turn three and Tyranids are taking over the Dark Eldar's 'Base'. I would say now would be a good time for tank shocking and that fantastic DE shooting.

DE: 1
Nids: 2


Dark Eldar Turn 4




Shooting destroyed the Nid presence on the left of the battlefield. Lucky break for the Nids that the Tyrannofex passed tons of saves, leading them to win the combat on the right. The question is whether Deathleaper will go after the Dark Eldar Warriors, or whether he will disappear to contest an objective on turn five...

DE: 0
Nids: 1


Tyranids Turn 4

Deathleaper kills two of the Warriors from the one squad not in combat. They fail leadership and run off the table. The last of the Hormagaunts dies on the right side combat, but the last of the warriors in the combat died first.

DE: 0
Nids: 1


Dark Eldar Turn 5

Shooting kills some Hive Guard. Vehicles tank shock, but the gants are fearless from the Tyranid Prime who is locked in combat less than a foot away. They pass all cover saves from shooting. Grotesques kill the Tyranid Prime. Because of the distance units traveled to tank shock they could reach the gants, but are most likely not contesting.

DE:0
Nids:1

Tyranids Turn 5

Shooting by lurking units does nothing much. Nids hope the game ends to maybe squeek out a win due to the DE not having any troops left. The dice rolls...1!






Upon official measurement, the Raider is 2.5 inches from the objective meaning that this game is a 0-0 draw![i]

At just over 10 hours of gameplay, which was close every turn, I call it a fantastic battle! Dark Eldar has 854 points of models left on the table and Tyranids only have 520 points left standing.

Thanks for reading and experiencing this game with me. It is 7AM, and I am off the bed!

Interesting, I don't know if I'd have the patience to play for that long. I have one complaint though, the Tyranids look horrible, though it might only be because there aren't any close-ups.

Wow, 5000 point games are extremely confusing

Yeah for threanomancy. This thread is over 2 years old!

Thread is being locked due to thread necromancy.