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IceAngel wrote:I must say Knightley, I am very envious of your squiggle ability. I mean, if squiggles were a tactical squad, you'd be the sergeant. If squiggles were an HQ, you'd be the special character. If squiggles were a way of life, you'd be Doctor Phil...
^^^^ this, totally worth your time, or anyone's in my opionion!
IceAngel wrote:I must say Knightley, I am very envious of your squiggle ability. I mean, if squiggles were a tactical squad, you'd be the sergeant. If squiggles were an HQ, you'd be the special character. If squiggles were a way of life, you'd be Doctor Phil...
Necrons can absorb a stupid amount of firepower. Have you thought about including more CC elements into your list? I know you’ve got the GKs, but how choppy are they? The old “Shoot the choppy ones, chop the shooty ones” philosophy.
Well, I had my share of bad luck. Two things misshaped on the way down, warlord (psycher) came down in a pod with a group of cents, cast a single spell, periled, died & took half the squad with him. My opponent found a skyfire mysterious objective so he just sat a ghost ark on there filled with warriors, shooting down anything that got close enough. That combined with the fact that you just can't kill them... two to 3 saving-throw rolls apiece & rerolls of they pop an orb... ark's replacing losses, etc. They (like Tau) just aren't fun to play against. You suffer through it so your opponent can have fun, that's about it.
Unfortunately Nev, I don't really have much in the way of assault units. Two 5-man squads of generic assault marines, that's all I've got. Given how easily they shrug off damage from any source, I don't think they would make much of an impact.
Anvildude: "Honestly, it's kinda refreshing to see an Ork vehicle that doesn't look like a rainbow threw up on it."
As we are planning the next one for some time in August.... I thought I'd update everyone on the last battle of what I've dubbed "The Devil Wears Prada" campaign between my friend Yorkright and I. Let's start by reminding everyone where we left off... (I'll spoiler everything so you don't have to read it again unless you're really interested.)
The story so far...
Spoiler:
An inquisitor named Jaxeena believes that the re-constituted Mantis Warrior chapter is using unauthorized technology (specifically centurion suits) and is slipping back into it's rebellious ways. She had demanded samples of the chapter's gene seed in order to test them for purity. It's clear that she's already made up her mind as to the Chapter's guilt, and is just looking for confirmation of any sort. The Mantis Warriors of course, have refused her request... deeming it neither justified nor reasonable and a major insult to the Adeptis Astartes. Jaxeena has approached a Blood Angel company in the vicinity and convinced them to aid her in her quest.
Chapter 1: Jaxeena and her BA Allies try to take a gene seed sample by force. In her arrogance, she aims to simply drive the "traitors" from the field a rip the samples she needs from the bodies of the fallen. While the Blood Angels do win the day, it is a very narrow victory (1 VP in game terms) and the Mantis Warrior defensive line remained reasonably in-tact, in spite of a considerable drop pod alpha-strike by the Blood Angels. Thus she was unable to get her prize. For their part, the Mantis Warriors are basically butt-hurt about the continued harassment by the Inquisition, but as there are clearly no inquisitional forces involved in the battle yet, they suspect that this is simply the agenda of a single Inquisitor as opposed to an Inquisitional mandate (as they've had to deal with the Inquisition on a regular basis every since the reinstatement of the chapter). They focus much of their efforts on trying to kill Jaxeena, but fail to do so.
Prelude to Chapter 2: The Mantis Warriors hope that their stalwart defense of their position, combined with the BA casualties at "The Battle of Littleton" would be enough to dissuade Jaxeena from her course, but as you can see from the challenge above... unfortunately it is not to be. They are trying to walk a fine line... defeat Jaxeena and her BA allies without actually making themselves a target of the greater Inquisition, nor starting an all-out inter-chapter war. On the BA side... some are starting to question the validity of Jaxeena's claim based on their observations of MW conduct, equipment and tactics exhibited in the first confrontation. As a result, the BA decide to rely heavily on their Death Company for the next confrontation. The Blood Angel's astropaths have tried to reach out to their upper command echelon to get advice on how to handle the situation, but for some reason their attempts at communication have not been successful, perhaps being interfered with by the Mantis Warriors or some other power.
Chapter 2: Inquisitor Jaxeena has discovered the existence of a lightly defended strong point well away from the current concentration of MW forces. The bastion is an access point to the entire Mantis Warrior data network & if captured, will give her access to the Mantis Warrior's own records regarding their genetic stock. Failing that, she and the BA commanders have been issued with special gear from the vaults of the Inquisition\s own apothecarion that will allow them to collect gene seed from fallen Mantis Warriors on the battlefield.
By the time the Mantis Warriors realize what the Inquisitor's next target is, all they can do is throw together whatever mobile units they can scavenge and send them to reinforce the bastion (which is currently being manned by a single tech marine on a maintenance tour of duty).
Nuts and bolts of Game 2:
Spoiler:
The Battle for Typhon Tower
Short edge deployment. BA have no limits on deployment (save normal ones). The Mantis Warriors start with a single TFC on the Bastion and an extra layer of fortification (both the bastion and an AEGIS wall}. Half of their army (measured in units) rolls on from reserve in turn 1, the rest comes on in normal reserve. This is to represent the haphazard scramble the MW have had to arrange to get units from wherever they can to defend the bastion. There are no classic objectives in this mission (not even tertiary). MW casualties will stay on the table for one full turn to facilitate the objectives below.
Mission Objectives - Blood Angels: (there are many of which that overlap, each delivering a varying degree of victory to the BA side) - capture the communications array at the top of Typhon Tower by game's end (total victory) - drive the MW off & have the tower surrounded by game's end. (draw) - Each of the BA/Inquisition characters has been issued special war gear which will allow them to extract a genetic sample from fallen marines on the battlefield. They must reach the marine within 1 turn or dying in order to collect the sample. The sample may be passed from the collector to another marine, but each time it does so it degrades by 1/3. At the end of the game, if there are no complete samples and the tower has not been taken, each third collected will be rolled for (D3) and if a complete DNA set results, Jaxeena has her sample (victory)
Mission Objectives - Mantis Warriors: - do not allow Jaxeena to obtain a complete gene sample from fallen MW (partial victory) - capture Jaxeena by defeating her in melee (total victory) - hold the tower (partial victory)
The Armies:
Spoiler:
The Battle:
Unfortunately all of my photos from the battle were lost in a combination of failing internet, failing phone systems, failing cameras, a change in operating systems on my computer and a little bit of nerd rage thrown in for spice. I do have one or two photos to add to this report thanks to Steve's handiwork.... but they're just of key events, not anything that will really give you the feel of the battle.
In essence, Typhon Tower was close to the back of my table edge with the wall around it. The TFC was on top at the beginning of the game. Yep, that was my deployment.
In turn 1, half my non-flying force arrived. That being the two tactical squads and the land raider. The two tactical squads took up flanking positions behind the aegis wall, surrounding the tower.
The rest were to come via normal reserve rolls. The BA started moving across the table at speed with Herself in the land raider along with a group of death company. While the BA advance is uniform, it is also rather scattered, leaving just enough space for the hell-bent-for-leather assault squad, chaplain and captain to drop into the center of the table in order to take a bite out of Jaxeena's hind quarters (and I don't mean in the kinky way either). Unfortunately... the concept of "a land raider full of death company" didn't quite sink in when the captain picked the drop spot. I'm sure the chaplain pacing back and fourth in the open thunderhawk bay, waving his baton around and ranting about having faith in the Emperor didn't help him think very clearly. In any case, they dropped, they got shot at, then were assaulted by the occupants of the LR (though Jaxeena stayed pat). Amazingly... they survived... they not only survived but the ensuing scrum lasted nearly the entire battle and involved 3 units of BA infantry (2 small tac squads & the death company).
Elsewhere on the table, things generally went well for the boys in green. As I recall I was doing pretty well at either popping the rhinos, putting their occupants on the slow path where they could be shot... or ignoring the rhinos all-together knowing that the guys inside couldn't really hurt me until the turn after they disembarked... giving me a turn of shooting to thin them out. Over the course of the battle, the tower and its communication array was never really in jeopardy (keeping in mind that the scenario dictated that Steve could not just simply blow it up).
Late in the game as things thinned out, the BA managed to loot a fallen Mantis Warrior for a gene seed sample. The only way the Mantis Warriors could now win the day would be to take out the she-demon herself. This is what happened next...
Out of a mound of Adeptis Astartes bodies staggered the Mantis Warrior Captain. His armor scarred and smoking... severely injured and down to his last wound he slogged out of the bloody morass and beheld the cause of all the needless carnage... Jaxeena herself. With grim resolve he triggered his jump pack and raised his hammer aloft to deal a final, crushing blow to his enemy.
His helmet had been split in the mayhem of the previous melee, so there was naught to protect his lungs from the wash of promethium and flames that greeted his assault. Weakened as he was with his chest still heaving from having defeated so many bother Astartes (he'd killed nearly every enemy marine in the scrum by himself), the flames found their way into his lungs and nearly eliminated his capacity to absorb life-giving oxygen. The Captain's near lifeless, smoking body skidded to a halt at Jaxeena's feet.
"Death to all Heretics" ... Jaxeena spoke softly, her nose wrinkling at the stench of burnt flesh. She spat on the Captain's body, then turned and flagged down one of the few, still functioning rhinos.
Major victory for the Inquisition / BA. They have not only a regular gene seed sample but a living captain of the chapter for testing and prosecution. The only saving grace for the Mantis Warriors is that Typhon Tower is still in their possession & with it they are able to block communications between planet-side enemy forces and their support.
This message was edited 2 times. Last update was at 2015/07/11 02:16:51
Anvildude: "Honestly, it's kinda refreshing to see an Ork vehicle that doesn't look like a rainbow threw up on it."
Bummer about your loss. It is really cool to see your story continue though. I am a bit bummed that Inquisitor didn't get beaten by your captain. That would have been fantastic.
There are a bunch of words, that if I used right here, might get me banned or suspended from Dakka. So i'll give you the short version:
It's awesome, the small part of the universe Ice is telling us about is full of war, intrigue and death... oh and more war, supplemented by amazing set ups for character and story arcs, nailed by gritty combat and rounded off by more fluff about the Ice Angels and his chapters goings on.
Oh and my GMS is now in the story and I want him to wreck some faces.
Read it, read it now
IceAngel wrote:I must say Knightley, I am very envious of your squiggle ability. I mean, if squiggles were a tactical squad, you'd be the sergeant. If squiggles were an HQ, you'd be the special character. If squiggles were a way of life, you'd be Doctor Phil...
[40k] Orks - Kaptin Grimskragas Razorfangs; Tyranids - Hive Fleet Acidica; Astra Militarum - Murdochs 5th Armoured Detachment & 7th Abhuman Detachment, 17th Tullarium “Immovables” + Remnant of the 6th Tullarium Rifles “The Lucky Few”; Necron - Reclamation Legion of Tomb World Fordris; Inquisition - Ordos Hereticus Witchfinder Tasetus and Coven; Iron Hands - Taskforce of the Garrsak Clan Company; Alpha Legion - XII Ambush Cell; Aeldari - Guiding Light of Yarn Le'ath;
[Warhammer] Empire - Obsidian Order; Bretonnian - Vain Quest for the Grail; Dwarf - Throng of Kark Veng; Ogre Kingdoms - Wondrous Caravan of the Traveller; Tomb Kings - Bronze Host of Ka-Sabar; Chaos Dwarf - Protectors of Hashuts Holy Places; High Elf - Dragonriders of Caledor; Beastmen - Harvesters of Morrslieb;
2015/07/14 06:43:04
Subject: Re:Rebuilding the Mantis Warriors (7/10: "The Devil Wears Prada" campaign BatRep #3 w/ pics!)
Please let Ice know your thoughts on his fluff blog, it keeps him motivated!
IceAngel wrote:I must say Knightley, I am very envious of your squiggle ability. I mean, if squiggles were a tactical squad, you'd be the sergeant. If squiggles were an HQ, you'd be the special character. If squiggles were a way of life, you'd be Doctor Phil...
Sorry to hear (late) about the toe, Gits! Love the army shot last page, particularly the gemstone eyes of your centurions - for some reason I hadn't ever seen that part of them so close and man they look fantastic! Looks like you didn't end up selling those Grey Knights, eh
2015/07/14 12:52:37
Subject: Re:Rebuilding the Mantis Warriors (7/10: "The Devil Wears Prada" campaign BatRep #3 w/ pics!)
@Ice: I was frankly stunned at his loss. I could have easily stepped back and shot her... but it wouldn't have seemed right. This was far more epic (even though it didn't work out).
@Knightley: Stunning review. I will make some time and get caught up!
@Archer: Thanks for your continued support. Well, both Yorkright and I work on it together, but honestly... the games do most of the work.
@Nev: Funny you should ask. Yorkright is planning the next battle. Here's a little preview of our next game in August, I'll have more later as we get closer to the day.
Jaxeena is still unable to contact her superiors or call for off-planet aid due to the communications black-out the Mantis Warriors have been able to maintain thanks to their successful defense of Typhon Tower & it's communications array. The BA are out of it for a bit while they re-group after sustaining heavy losses in the tower assault, so Jaxeena has commandeered a small Astra Militarum outpost. The Mantis Warriors are also badly beaten up and all they can muster for the rescue is a 10th Company detachment (out of the new dex) who had been on training exercises in the Madgaruk Mountains nearby. These had been joint exercises with a small contingent of Skitarii rangers associated with an AdMech archiotechnology dig at an ancient ruin high up in the Madgaruk peaks. As the agents of Mars have never been on the best of terms with the Inquisition... the rangers have been authorized to accompany the scouts as "observers" and "technical advisors". However, it's well known that the only way to really observe a battle is through the scope of an arquebus!
@ RiTides: Thanks! Well, the eyes on those mantis heads are appropriately large... so I wanted to do something a bit more unique and notable when it came to painting. Nah, couldn't bring myself to sell the GK. Even added a few more figures and a second knight to go with them!
Next up: In order to get ready for the upcoming campaign game... I'll be painting 4 scouts with missile launchers, another scout biker & finishing up my two squads of Skitarii rangers. All things I've wanted to do for a long time now.
This message was edited 4 times. Last update was at 2015/07/14 12:59:27
Anvildude: "Honestly, it's kinda refreshing to see an Ork vehicle that doesn't look like a rainbow threw up on it."
Unfortunately, that's impossible in the way I've laid out my chapter history. Tranquility pattern camo is reserved for the home-world guard (which no longer exists as their original home-world was taken away). Any scout from that time would have long been promoted to full marine. I could make a tranquility scout sergeant though, hmmmm.....
Anvildude: "Honestly, it's kinda refreshing to see an Ork vehicle that doesn't look like a rainbow threw up on it."
I will have to second RiTides suggestion on tranquility scouts. I think some of your best conversion work was done on those guys and I'd love to see you do more.
I'll see what I can do guys. TBH I don't see too many opportunities for scout conversions... the models just don't support it. But I'll give it a shot for a vet sergeant or two.
I have started on the 4 ML scouts. It's pretty crude work but since I'm not in my usual painting digs I'll settle for just getting some main colors on & clean up the paint jobs later. I'll get you guys a pic on Friday for sure.... there should be something to see then.
Anvildude: "Honestly, it's kinda refreshing to see an Ork vehicle that doesn't look like a rainbow threw up on it."
Played in a local tournament today with my MW w/ GK back-up. Did well. My team mate and I took 4th out of 9. Good considering the level of competition. Felt I was in each game, even the one I lost. Also got a set of ModCube objective markers to play test (though they arrived too late for today's tournament). They are PHENOMENAL. Go get some.
Pics and such tomorrow. I'm kinda tired and the foot is sore (standing on it all day to game probably wasn't the smartest thing).
Anvildude: "Honestly, it's kinda refreshing to see an Ork vehicle that doesn't look like a rainbow threw up on it."
Iron Hands with a lot of marines (the gold and red in the images below). I scored a few more points than he did overall, but I think I had more favorable match-ups.
Didn't take a lot of pics, wanted to enjoy playing. Here's a few from the club's facebook page... I took the first set and Yorkright of the Inquisitor Jaxeena campaign took the rest. As you can see we had a ton of nicely painted armies at the event! (Not to mention Yorkright's green demon kin army, which I just love.)
... and some Yorkright took...
It was a very fun day.
Anvildude: "Honestly, it's kinda refreshing to see an Ork vehicle that doesn't look like a rainbow threw up on it."
So, I'm sure you guys have given up on my ever actually painting again, but I thought I'd surprise you with a little MW project in progress. Namely 4 scouts with MLs to go with my snipers. Have two partially done. They're painted in order to match my existing scouts, which is why they don't have the usual airbrushy blends.
I'll add some detail and some flora to the bases and the first two should be ready to go!
Thing 1 is now 15. Gods.... No 40k presents but he scored a ton of manga books (black butler), some books on japanese kanji & a cool blue-tooth speaker thingie that's reasonably water/shock proof to name a few parts of his haul. Asked for a surf & turf dinner (steak and butterfly shrimp) with grilled broccoli, roasted potato wedges and cucumber salad.
This message was edited 1 time. Last update was at 2015/07/24 02:23:00
Anvildude: "Honestly, it's kinda refreshing to see an Ork vehicle that doesn't look like a rainbow threw up on it."
That's terrifying. I think your boys were 9 & 6 when I first swung by your blog. Time, like an ever rolling stream, it bears its sons away, forgotten, etc, etc.
Also woo! MWs!
Theophony"... and there's strippers in terminator armor and lovecraftian shenanigans afoot."
Solar_Lion: "Man this sums up your blog nicely."
Anpu-adom: "being Geek is about Love. Some love broadly. Some love deeply. And then there are people like Graven.
2015/07/24 11:38:16
Subject: Rebuilding the Mantis Warriors (7/23: ML scouts and Thing 1's birthday!)
Bolstering the scout forces for your re-match? Have you picked up any of the new Dev box? IIRC there is a missile launched bit in there that looks fun to use, wonder if it works for the scout ML.
Kids grow up just too darn fast. I guess that’s what happens when you feed them. On the bright side, one more year until you can make him dance like a puppet just by jingling the car keys.
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