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Part One - Introduction
This was a 2250 point game using double FOC and allies. This was my first game versus Imperial Knights. I didn't want to specifically tailor my list to face them so this was a good test match to see if my existing list had enough of the right tools. You can take a look at my army list below and predict whether or not it can get the job done. I'm still working on my biker command squad (WIP) so my army list will eventually change to incorporate them.



Here is my army list:

White Scars - Primary Detachment I
Khan - Moondrakken /Warlord

5x biker Marine
2x Grav Gun - Combi-Grav (Sergeant)

5x biker Marine
2x Grav Gun - Combi-Grav (Sergeant)

White Scars - Primary Detachment II
Chapter Master
Bike - Artificer Armor - Shield Eternal - Thunderhammer

5x biker Marine
2x Grav Gun - Combi-Grav (Sergeant)

5x biker Marine
2x Grav Gun - Combi-Grav (Sergeant)

Stormraven (Heavy Support)
Twin-linked Assault Cannon - Twin-linked Multi-Melta - Hurricane Bolter Sponsons

Space Wolves - Allied Detachment I
Wolf Lord
Bike - Runic Armor - Stormshield - Wolf Tooth Necklace - Thunderhammer - Saga of the Bear

7x Grey Hunter
Plasmagun - Plasma pistol - Power axe - Wolf Standard
Drop Pod

7x Grey Hunter
Plasmagun - Plasma Pistol - Power Axe - Wolf Standard
Drop Pod

Space Wolves - Allied Detachment II
Rune Priest
Bike - Runic Armor - Level 2 Psyker (Forewarning & Prescience)

7x Grey Hunter
Plasmagun - Plasma Pistol - Power Axe - Wolf Standard
Drop Pod

Khan, the Chapter Master, Wolf Lord and Rune Priest all attach to one bike squad to form the deathstar.





Here is my opponent's army list to the best of my memory:

Imperial Knights Primary Detachment
Seneschal /Warlord
Thermal Cannon - Heavy Stubber

Paladin
Battle Cannon - 2x Heavy Stubber

Paladin
Battle Cannon - 2x Heavy Stubber

Iron Hands Allied Detachment
Librarian
Level 2 Psyker (Psychic Shriek & Terrify)

10x Tactical Marine
Missile Launcher

10x Tactical Marine
Missile Launcher

10x Sternguard
Drop Pod

Stormraven (Heavy Support)
Twin-Linked Assault Cannon - Twin-Linked Lascannon - Hurricane Bolter Spinsons

Stormtalon
Twin-Linked Assault Cannon - Missile Launcher

Fortifications
Aegis Defense Line w. Icarus Lascannon



Mission Rules

Primary
Big Guns Never Tire (5 objectives)
Each marker is worth one victory point. Three objectives were placed evenly across the center of the table and two were placed in my opponent's deployment zone. Note that I wanted to play it such that the Stormravens can't hold objectives while my opponent wanted to play it the other way... Let's see if it could have changed the final outcome.

Secondary
The Relic
The Relic is worth three victory points.

Bonuses
First Blood - Slay the Warlord - Line Breaker

Win Condition
Whomever accumulates the most victory points wins.

Deployment
Dawn of War

No Night Fight on first turn.

My opponent won the roll and chose to go second. It's always good to go second in objective based missions but on the other hand I'll need the jink saves for my bikers so I don't have to eat multiple pie plates to the face right off the bat !

My Deployment
I deployed my deathstar 12" up right in the center of the table.

The three remaining bike squads will all outflank. The Stormraven and drop pods are held in reserve.

Opponent's Deployment
My opponent broke all of his Marines into combat squads. One tactical squad would join the Librarian and man the Icarus lascannon while the other combat squad embarked into the Stormraven. The other two tactical combat squads were deployed to his left behind one of the Knights. His two flyers are held in reserve.



Scout Moves
I scout the deathstar 12" straight towards my opponent entering a multi level ruin, hiding the Khan and Rune Priest behind a wall.



My opponent rolled and seized the initiative then graciously declined it, which I greatly appreciated ! This was a competitive game for sure but a friendly match as well. : )


Pre-Game Analysis
My main goal is to kill all the enemy scoring units. Maybe a bike squad or Grey Hunter pack can grab an objective towards the end of the game. I'd have loved to had the biker command squad as those four prescienced grav guns would obviously be very strong versus the Knights. This will be a good learning experience versus Imperial Knights though and that's the main thing. I'm not worried about the Iron Hands but I'm sure their two flyers will be very annoying... Oh well.

There are more pictures in the link below:

I think your list is really out matched here. You have nothing that can hurt the IK efficiently. Grav guns need 6's and because you cannot immobilize a serperheavy you won't double up on HP is I am not mistaken. That is 18 very tough HP's, 60 grav shots will grab you 24 hits and only 4 glances, 2 after ion shield saves.

Your gona want to go for the relic and secondaries and hide all game. Had he kept the initiative he stole you would have had a heck of a time getting the relic, though he deployed his ADL terribly as it made his IK have to cross it.

Hi red - I enjoy reading your comments as your insight helps to keeps people honest IMO. I think you'll be a bit surprised with how the game plays out and the style of play I opted to run. My army is designed to be in your face quickly and hit hard - plus there wasn't much LoS blocking terrain.

Looking forwards to a game between 2 very strong and well-rounded armies.

It'll be interesting to see how your army deal with the knights. My guess is to mainly ignore them and go for the marine troops. Then afterwards, send in that S10 Wolf Lord and S8 Chapter Master with a bunch of ablative bike wounds.

BTW, are you playing that the IK's both score and deny or only that they score? Seems to be some controversy there.

 Dozer Blades wrote:
Hi red - I enjoy reading your comments as your insight helps to keeps people honest IMO. I think you'll be a bit surprised with how the game plays out and the style of play I opted to run. My army is designed to be in your face quickly and hit hard - plus there wasn't much LoS blocking terrain.

My pleasure, I love having in depth discussions on battles, I sometimes come off the wrong way though

I can't wait to see how you tackle those things, they can be a bother to try and hunt head on, but if you think you have the tools by all means. My dice never do what the odds tell me so I am inclined to go for the mission but I see people beat the odds all the time.

I watched guard beat 4 IK's in a 1500 point game this weekend, Col Iron hand Straken killed one in HtH with 5hp left and walked away! It's not every day you see a guard character gut a titan with his bare hands Same guy has spectacular luck like this on the regular!

To start... is that khan on the puppets war jet bike... I have a rampagers color scheme on my bikes.. and my khan uses that jet bike as well.... so nice paint job..

Besides that... I think it could be interesting. The CM unit and the SR have a good chance to do some damage to the IK but since he is going second.. if he gets good rolls can limit the damage you do with his flyers.

TL on 9 grav shots and the orbital could put down some hurt as well.

 jy2 wrote:
Looking forwards to a game between 2 very strong and well-rounded armies.

It'll be interesting to see how your army deal with the knights. My guess is to mainly ignore them and go for the marine troops. Then afterwards, send in that S10 Wolf Lord and S8 Chapter Master with a bunch of ablative bike wounds.

BTW, are you playing that the IK's both score and deny or only that they score? Seems to be some controversy there.

I did focus on killing troops but the Knights score and you can only avoid them so long. The Wolf Lord unfortunately is only S8 on a bike but he has a lot of attacks. Those D attacks are just brutal.

As a TO I'd probably rule a Knight can hold not contest.

 Red Corsair wrote:

 Dozer Blades wrote:
Hi red - I enjoy reading your comments as your insight helps to keeps people honest IMO. I think you'll be a bit surprised with how the game plays out and the style of play I opted to run. My army is designed to be in your face quickly and hit hard - plus there wasn't much LoS blocking terrain.

My pleasure, I love having in depth discussions on battles, I sometimes come off the wrong way though

I can't wait to see how you tackle those things, they can be a bother to try and hunt head on, but if you think you have the tools by all means. My dice never do what the odds tell me so I am inclined to go for the mission but I see people beat the odds all the time.

I watched guard beat 4 IK's in a 1500 point game this weekend, Col Iron hand Straken killed one in HtH with 5hp left and walked away! It's not every day you see a guard character gut a titan with his bare hands Same guy has spectacular luck like this on the regular!

I think the best way to quickly bring them down is in melee and hopefully the mega pie plate will scatter off. That chainsword is really bad news ! I found with bikes it's easy to target them from multiple facings which helps a lot to bring them down.

 Roci wrote:
To start... is that khan on the puppets war jet bike... I have a rampagers color scheme on my bikes.. and my khan uses that jet bike as well.... so nice paint job..

Besides that... I think it could be interesting. The CM unit and the SR have a good chance to do some damage to the IK but since he is going second.. if he gets good rolls can limit the damage you do with his flyers.

TL on 9 grav shots and the orbital could put down some hurt as well.

It's actually my Wolf Lord on the jet bike... I wish I could field a whole biker army like that. I'm sure the Rampager color scheme suits it well.

I really like the SR as a gunship and I think that is where it really shines.

I hope to post a good portion of the batrep tomorrow... Just got home now. It's been a crazy week .

 Dozer Blades wrote:

 jy2 wrote:
Looking forwards to a game between 2 very strong and well-rounded armies.

It'll be interesting to see how your army deal with the knights. My guess is to mainly ignore them and go for the marine troops. Then afterwards, send in that S10 Wolf Lord and S8 Chapter Master with a bunch of ablative bike wounds.

BTW, are you playing that the IK's both score and deny or only that they score? Seems to be some controversy there.

I did focus on killing troops but the Knights score and you can only avoid them so long. The Wolf Lord unfortunately is only S8 on a bike but he has a lot of attacks. Those D attacks are just brutal.

As a TO I'd probably rule a Knight can hold not contest.

Hmmmm....so used to seeing Wolf Lords on TWC's that I instinctively think of S10 when I hear someone running Wolf Lords. S8 isn't so bad when you can throw enough of them.

S10 is really really good but I prefer for my Death Star to be able to turbo boost. Mixed movement modes is just sloppy.

Lots of pictures these first two turns... Enjoy them now because I became fully engrossed in the game after the second turn concluded.


1st Turn - White Scars & Space Wolves

Two drop pods arrive. One lands to my right in front of the defense line and the other lands in area terrain further to the right with a clear firing lane behind the defense line. The Rune Priest successfully casts both Forewarning and Prescience, targeting the deathstar (of course... Duh). The first Grey Hunter pack disembarks to cutoff forward movement for one of the Paladins. The second pack disembarks into the area terrain. The deathstar moves just on the other side of the defense line cutting off another Knight.





Shooting commences. The deathstar is able to strip several hull points from the closest Paladin and both Grey Hunter packs focus fire on one combat squad bringing them down to a couple Marines whom pass their morale check.

My opponent reminds me I can't charge since I scouted the deathstar... Heh. I'm right up in their face now though with multiple units.


1st Turn - Imperial Knights & Iron Hands

The Sternguard drop down taking a risky landing to cut off my Grey Hunters to my right but my opponent rolls a hit on the scatter. There's not much movement other than the drop pod. Note that the Iron Hands Sternguard split into combat squads when they disembark.



The Librarian successfully casts Terrify but my Rune Priest blocks it with his runic weapon.

Shooting then commences. I lose all of my White Scars bikers in the deathstar for First Blood to my opponent and the Wolf Lord takes a wound - I failed five LoS in a row... Dayum !!! The rest of my biker HQ are fully intact though.

Two Knights charge. One Grey Hunter pack is reduced to a single model and he passes his morale check. My biker HQ reduce the wounded Paladin to a single hull point then successfully Hit and Run out of combat dropping straight back.


2nd Turn - White Scars & Space Wolves

The third Grey Hunter pack arrives from reserve along with two more White Scars biker squads. The Grey Hunters land in the area terrain beside the other drop pod with minimal scatter. One biker squad pulls up one the far side of the area terrain well hidden from the Knights' line of sight. The other biker squad heads straight towards the Sternguard ready to blaze them hard. The Stormraven also arrives and moves in place to target rear armor on the Seneschal caught out of position.



The Rune Priest successfully casts Forewarning and Prescience but perils once rolling snake eyes... He's such a chump - heh.

The deathstar lines up to assault the Librarian along with his combat squad while the unengaged Grey Hunters line up for a charge on the closest Sternguard combat squad.

Shooting then commences. The deathstar refrains from shooting to make sure they'll have a two inch charge. The Stormraven manages to strip three hull points off the Seneschal. The biker squad and fresh Grey Hunter squad focus fire on the forward Sternguard combat squad—the wounded Sternguard suffer heavy losses then break off the table.

The deathstar charges the Librarian and combat squad blowing them off the table. The Paladin fails to inflict any wounds on the lone Grey Hunter... w00t !!! The other Grey Hunter pack charges the other Sternguard combat squad and locks horns.


At this point the Iron Hands have suffered heavy losses and two Knights have lost a significant number of hull points... Chipping away at the big stone !

2nd Turn - Imperial Knights & Iron Hands
My opponent's Stormraven arrives from reserve and makes a beeline towards mine. The Knights shift around to shoot and assault. His Marines hold their ground to rapid fire my Grey Hunters.

His Stormraven blows mine out of the air. Rapid firing fails to inflict any damage. My Wolf Lord and Chapter Master tank all the shooting from his Knights.

The Seneschal makes it into combat with the deathstar but his unengaged Paladin comes up short. The other Paladin crushes the lone Grey Hunter. The deathstar suffers no wound then destroys the Seneschal for Slay the Warlord and consolidate into base contact with the unmanned Icarus lascannon. One down, two to go !


3rd Turn - White Scars & Space Wolves
My last White Scars biker squad fails to arrive this turn and the Rune Priest successfully casts both his Divination spells.

The remaining Grey Hunters form up to charge the Iron Hands with one White Scars biker squad moving forward into the fray to lend their support. The other White Scars biker squad moves into position to target the wounded Paladin.

Khan fires the Icarus lascannon into the wounded Paladin - the shot slips through and penetrates taking the Paladin down to its last hull point. The free roaming White Scars biker squad fail to finish it off. The Grey Hunters fire their pistols into the remaining Sternguard along with drop pods and drop a couple but the enemy unit doesn't break.

The Deathstar charges one of the wounded Paladins and blows it apart. Again another Knight is laid low. The mega blast scatters onto the remaining Paladin striping a hull point. My Grey Hunters and one biker squad assault the remaining Sternguard wiping them all out. The Deathstar consolidates back into base contact with the Icarus lascannon while the Grey Hunters and White Scars spread out... aka Chinese fire drill.



One last Knight remaining now !

I think at this point the writing is on the wall. Thanks to everyone who voted for me ! My apology if this is a bit anti-climatic.

My conclusion is my list is just fine as is. Melee is the quickest way to drop Knights. Knights suck up so many points the supporting units are rather weak.

Ave Imperator .

Good job man on killing those Knights. Nice to see those big dumb things get destroyed.

It was a lot of fun punching them repeatedly in the face then run away and doing it again.

Cool report so far. Not sure I'd necessarily advocate assaulting multiple IK, but it worked for you this game as there was some definitive luck with super high scatter rolls for when an IK loses its last hull point and blows up. I just played against one yesterday and when it scattered and fell, it took out most of my opponent's Long Fang Pack.

Big risk can pay out big reward as it seemed to here. Kudos.

Melee is the quickest way to drop them plus no invulnerable save. Khan and the Rune Priest ended up being the sacrificial lambs so the hammers could keep hammering.

Yea it seems like you still got a tad lucky in those melees so far. A charging IK should remove at least one if not two characters. Removing models with stomping 6'S and strength D hurts. Then the fact your using s8 to pen AV13 and nailing him haha. But hey, seems like they missed that day

Yea, I am surprised. I would think in combat the knight would be removing 1-2 models per phase in the death star.

He only has three base attacks and hits on 4+ versus Marines. It not all that amazing. A roll of 4+ is no sure thing.

 Dozer Blades wrote:
He only has three base attacks and hits on 4+ versus Marines. It not all that amazing. A roll of 4+ is no sure thing.

No doubt, but you need 5+ to even remove a HP from him as well, no sure thing either. I am not knocking your win, you played it right, just illustrating that he should be hitting 1.5 times and basically removing a model a turn. Then he gets a d3 stomps which if he gets that 6 removes anyone undera template. That also didn't happen. I love seeing those things get punched out by characters it looks awesome

I saw Straken charge one with 5 HP remaining. It missed him every time while straken hit every time smashing and proceeded to explode it and get 3 HP plus the other two killing it! It then stumbled away from his command and exploded on a hill ... Hilarious! Sadly I doubt that will ever happen again either

Straken is the Iron Man for sure !!

 Dozer Blades wrote:
Straken is the Iron Man for sure !!

Don't get me started... I love that bad boy! Of course when I field him he never performs like that lol.

Yes he is truly awesome ! One of my favorite IG characters. I've seen him take down Swarmlord.