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A warning beforehand, this is my second game and my first battle report so things may be a bit off and any suggestions or advice is appreciated. Also a few turns are missing pictures.
Imperial Guard List:
Spoiler:
++Headquarters++ Company Command Squad Officer of the Fleet Plasmagun x3 Vox-caster Chimera
Company Command Squad Astropath Plasmagun x3 Vox-caster Chimera
++Troops++ Platoon Command Squad Heavy Weapons Team - Lascannon Vox-caster
Infantry Squad Heavy Weapons Team - Lascannon Vox-caster Infantry Squad Heavy Weapons Team - Lascannon Vox-caster
Veteran Squad Veteran Weapons Team - Lascannon Plasma gun x3 Chimera Heavy Flamer
Veteran Squad Veteran Weapons Team - Lascannon Plasma gun x4 Chimera Heavy Flamer
Veteran Squad Veteran Weapons Team - Lascannon Plasma gun x4 Chimera Heavy Flamer
++Fast Attack++ Vendetta Gunship
Vendetta Gunship
Vendetta Gunship
++Heavy Support++ Leman Russ Battle Tank Multimelta
HmrHead RailGun Disruption Pod Multi Tracker Burst Cannon x2
Sniper Drone
Mission: Emperor's Will (Single 3 VP objective each side)
Deployment: Vanguard Strike (Diagonal)
Warlords: CCS with Commander of the Fleet: Strategic Genius (reroll reserves) Shas'o: Night Fighter (force night fight first turn)
Pregame Thoughts:
Spoiler:
Looking at the Tau list, there are a lot of models; in that regard we are pretty even. I have the advantage in both armour and air superiority. I also have the advantage of 6 scoring units to his 2. If I can eliminate his Fire Warriors while holding my objective victory should be ensured. The Tau's range concerns me, however my Leman Russ's and Earthshaker cannon should compensate.
Deployment:
I deploy pretty defensively which may be a mistake against Tau, however I give both my Leman Russ's lines of fire on the more exposed Tau troops in hopes of First Blood in the first turn. My opponent has chosen to make it night fight for the first turn which limits my options. I have loaded up my Vendettas with my Infantry Platoon in hopes of using them as a means to capture his object once I have whittled away some of his forces.
Imperial Guard T1:
Spoiler:
No Image
No movement. I open up with my Leman Russ on the Stealth Suits and paint them with my searchlight. My Earthshaker follows with a barrage so that it is not restricted to the 36" range. Three Stealth Suits models are killed. Here is where my opponent and I messed up; the Stealth Suits should have needed to make a leadership check. Second Leman Russ fires at the Broadsides managing a single wound.
Tau T1:
Spoiler:
Night fight is still in effect so very few of his units have the range to hit me. Stealth Suits and Grey Crisis Suits seek cover in southeast ruins. Green Crisis Suits seek cover in central ruins. Broadsides move and fire on far west Chimera scoring a penetrating hit, stunning the crew.
Imperial Guard T2:
Spoiler:
Roll for reserves and call in all 3 Vendettas. 2 Vendetta take up position to fire on the Hammerhead knowing it is the Tau's best chance of taking out my armour. Southern most Chimera moves to fire on Stealth Suits just outside of the ruins. Nothing else moves. Two Vendettas in the center fire on the Hammerhead scoring a penetrating hit that explodes the Hammerhead, a very lucky but fortunate result that gives me First Blood. West Vendetta fires on Green Crisis Suits killing one model. Both Leman Russes fire on the Shas'o Warlord and the Squad. The scatter dice treat me well and 3 wounds are scored on the Warlord's squad. 1 is taken by the shield drone and 2 on the Shas'o Warlord, 2 more wounds to kill. 1 Fire Warrior also bites the dust. West Chimeras fire on the Broadsides with their Multilasers dealing 1 wound. South-central Chimera fires on the Stealth Suits for no wounds.
Tau T2:
Spoiler:
Shas'o moves closer to central ruins. Broadsiders move closer to west Chimera. Both Stealth Suits and Grey Crisis Suits break cover. Shas'o Warlord joins Fire Warrior Squad. Broadsiders fire at Chimera resulting in another glancing hit, destroying the Heavy Bolter. 1 HP remaining. Everything that has a chance of damaging my Vendetta in the corner fires on it resulting in 1 glance, 2 HP remain. Green Crisis Suits fire on west Leman Russ, no damage.
Imperial Guard T3:
Spoiler:
2 Vendetta in the center fly off map. South Chimera turns to fire on Grey Crisis Suits. West Chimeras move on Broadsiders. West Chimera's eliminate the Broadsiders with a combination of Multilasers, Heavy Bolters, and Plasmaguns. I lose 1 model to plasma overheat. West Leman Russ unloads on Green Crisis Suits, leaving 1 model with 1 wound remaining. South central Chimera fires ineffectively on the Grey Crisis Suits. Vendetta, remaining Leman Russ, and Earthshaker fire on Fire Warrior squad with Warlord killing 4 models.
Tau T3:
Spoiler:
No image
Shas'o joins last Green Crisis suit and make a breaks for silos. Grey Crisis Suits move next to South central Chimera. Stealth Suits move towards Leman Russ. Vespids move out of forest. Only Damage is Grey Crisis Suits glance South central Chimera, immobilizing it.
Imperial Guard T4:
Spoiler:
2 Vendettas come out of reserves and fly to near center of the map; the remaining Vendetta flies off map. Far west Chimera moves towards combined Shas'o/Crisis Suit squad. Other Chimera moves towards enemies deployment zone hopefully for an eventual Line Breaker. Purple Veteran Squad disembarks securing objective. Nothing else moves. Chimera fires on combined Shas'o/Crisis Suit killing the shield drone. South central Chimera kills Grey Crisis squad with plasmagun fire, losing 2 plasma gunners in the process. Vendettas, Leman Russes, and Earthshaker cannon fire on Fire Warrior squad with the Warlord killing 5 models in that squad and 1 Vespid from the scatter.
Tau T4:
Spoiler:
No Image
Vespids break cover to go for Vendetta. Stealth Suits move next to Leman Russ. Combined Shas'o/Crisis Suit squad moves on south Central Chimera. Stealth Suits score a penetrating hit and my Leman Russ explodes. Combined Shas'o/Crisis Suit squad wrecks south central Chimera pinning the crew. Vespids glance Vendetta to death...crew dies. By far my opponents luckiest turn.
Imperial Guard T5:
Spoiler:
Vendetta comes in from reserves. Second Vendetta goes into skimmer mode and Infantry Squad disembarks. Western Chimeras move closer to enemy deployment zone. Remaining south central Chimera lines up shot on Combined Shas'o/Crisis Suit squad. Two Vendettas and Leman Russ fire on Fire warrior squad killing everyone including the Warlord. Kill the Warlord complete and 1 scoring unit down. Earthshaker scores a lucky non-scattering hit on the Vespids and kills the entire squad. South central Chimera and the black Veteran squad (pinned) fire on the Combined Shas'o/Crisis Suit squad killing the drone and the Crisis Suit.
Tau T5:
Spoiler:
Stealth Suits move to fire on the Black Veteran Squad. Shas'o hides from the Chimera. Fire Warriors move to secure objective. Sniper Drones continue to hide in the forest. Stealth Suits and Shas'o kill the Black Veteran Squad. Sniper Drones and Fire Warrior's kill most of my Light green Infantry Squad. Stealth Suits hide behind the Chimera. Game Continues.
Imperial Guard T6:
Spoiler:
Vendetta moves up to go after the Fire Warrior squad. South central Chimera moves after the Stealth Suits. North central Chimera moves and Brown Veteran Squad disembarks, into Line Breaker. Center Chimera continues forward. Vendettas destroy the last of the Fire Warrior squad securing my victory as long as I do not lose my objective. Leman Russ and Earthshaker fail to kill any of the sniper drones. South central Chimera kills Shas'o.
Tau T6:
Spoiler:
Stealth Suits round wrecked Chimera and cause 2 glances on south central chimera. Sniper Drones kill 4 models in Brown Veteran Squad. Game continues.
Imperial Guard T7:
Spoiler:
No image
North Chimera moves to block Brown Veteran Squad from Sniper Drones. Vendetta moves up. Center Chimera moves up. South central Chimera fires on Stealth Suits killing 2. 1 Plasma gunner dies. Vendetta's, Leman Russ, and Earthshaker fire on Sniper Drones killing 2.
Tau T7:
Spoiler:
Stealth Suits wreck Chimera. Game Ends.
Final Score:
Spoiler:
Imperial Guard: 6 VP First Blood: 1 VP Kill the Warlord: 1 VP Line Breaker: 1 VP Secured Objective: 3 VP Tau: 1 VP Line Breaker: 1 VP
Post Game Thoughts:
Spoiler:
Overall this game went very well for me, but comparing the list I had a decisive advantage. The combination of the armour and air superiority alone was huge. In addition I had 3 times the scoring units and the a good combination of range units to go toe-to-toe with Tau's range (Earthshaker Cannon, 2 Leman Russes). Every one of my units played a part except maybe my command squads which I purposely kept in the rear to avoid my opponent getting Kill the Warlord. Since my opponent didn't have any reserves I did not get to use my Astropath's ability but I am still a big fan of the Commander of the Fleet/Astropath combination.
Killing the Hammerhead was a lucky shot but given how much more prepared to take on vehicles my list was I don't think that not happening would have been a game changer. His lucky break, killing my one Leman Russ and my Chimera in a single turn was big but too late in the game to really change anything except make it take longer to kill off his Fire Warriors.
There are a few things I would have done differently. I felt I very much underestimated the Stealth Suits; I wished I had focused more on them. Killing them and the Grey Crisis Suits early would have opened up the opponents left flank...instead the Stealth Suits went on to maul my right flank. The other thing would have been to drop a Infantry Squad into the forest with the Sniper Drones early on to by time for my other units to hopefully get in scoring position on the object (other Infantry Squad possibly).
An impressive showing for my guardsmen especially considering this was my second game.
This message was edited 38 times. Last update was at 2012/08/19 22:22:06
I had a full squad of stealth suits(6) and a full squad of crisis suits(6). I had a enough points for another team of crisis suits, only two though with melta guns. This was the first game I have played against an IG "tank" army and going into this battle I did not know who I was facing or what army they were using. I didn't keep anything in reserve due to the astropath and the ton of terrain (deep strike accidents happen to me quite often). I was also trying out no bodyguard with my HQ which I usually don't do. The aircraft really messed me up also. I started to focus on those when I should have focused of the ground vehicles. I agree I was out matched with this army. I didn't have enough anti-tank weapons, and Tau as they are, like many armies, don't have anti-air. But most have some access to flyers. I'll have to retool my list...I can't wait for the new codex
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2012/08/19 15:36:37
