SO, we've rounded off out 'everyone vs Tau' series of reports with the last of Panic's armies - the bright green Necrons. This was a difficult one - and the first time we'd tried out a flyer list against the new Tau. We also tried out my fancy new industrial terrain for the first time. Here goes...
Panic's Green Greencrons - 1500pts
* 12 Necron Warriors plus Overlord [Resurrection Orb, Warscythe]
* 12 Necron Warriors plus Necron Lord [Resurrection Orb, Warscythe]
* 7 Necron Warriors
* 5 Deathmarks
* 10 Scarab Swarms
* 5 Scarab Swarms
* 3 Canoptek Spyders
* Doom Scythe
* Doom Scythe
ArbitorIan's Tau Ye'lo Sept - 1500pts
* Commander (2 Missile Pods) with Shield Drone
* Ethereal
* 3 Crisis Suits (
TL Missile Pods, Flamer)
* 3 Crisis Suits (Plasma Rifle, Fusion Blaster, 1 Shield Generator, 1 Target Lock) with 2 Gun Drones
* 12 Fire Warriors (Shas'la with markerlight) with Gun Drone
* 12 Fire Warriors (Shas'la with markerlight) with Gun Drone
* 5 Pathfinders (1 Rail Rifle)
* Skyray (Disruption Pod,
SMS)
* Hammerhead (Railgun,
SMS, Disruption Pod)
* 3 Broadsides (HRR,
SMS, Early Warning Override) with 2 Shield Drones.
Mission
We played Implacable Advance - a Necron mission from the Battle Missions book. Since this was written for 5ed, we also used the three extra 6ed points for Linebreaker, First Blood and Slay The Warlord, and make the objectives worth 3 points each.
In Implacable Advance, the game is played lengthways, and an objective placed in the centre of each third of the table. Objectives can be 'secured' by a scoring unit, after which the unit can move away. The objective is still held by that player, unless the other player secures it later in the game. In addition, everyone is Stubborn, and nobody can Outflank. Necrons deploy first and go first.
Pre-game and Deployment
The Necrons set up first, two Necron Warriors squads forward to rush the centre objective, with one on the pipeline objective.
The rest set up as far forward as possible, with the Deathmarks and flyers in reserve.
Tau held the other half of the pipeline objective with one squad of Fire Warriors. The other squad and the Missile Suits deployed above this, with the Marker Drones and Commander in support.
The two tanks and Pathfinders deployed below the pipeline, taking cover behind the chemical tanks. The Plasma Suits stay in reserve.
Deployment, and the Tau fail to steal the initiative. First turn to Necrons
Necron Turn 1
The entire Necron line pushes forwards - most of the are out of range, so almost the whole army run.
The scarab swarms reach the bottom of the central chemical tanks, atop which is the centre objective.
Tau Turn 1
The Hammerhead and Skyray move out into the open, the Hammerhead blowing a wound off a Spyder.
The rest of the army targets the large Scarab unit, killing seven of the thirteen swarms.
The Commander and Missile Suits then bounce back into cover.
Necron Turn 2
The first Doom Croissant arrives, but the Broadsides use their Early Warning Override and blow it out of the sky before it gets a chance to do anything!
The Deathmarks arrive behind the Skyray, and mark the Ethereal's unit, holding the pipeline. They take down three warriors.
The rest of the army advances, the Lord and Warriors reaching the central chemical tanks, and the larger of the swarms making their way towards the Tau vehicles.
See the deathmarks, just hidden behind the skyway?
Tau Turn 2
The Pathfinders mark the nearest Scarabs, and as the Plasma Suits arrive from reserve, they take out four bases, leaving only three.
The firebase moves forward and shoots at the Necron Warriors around the central objective, but only kills two (they just keep getting back up!!), and causes enough wounds to kill one of the Spyders.
And the Ethereal's squad leave the pipeline, advancing into rapid fire range and killing all the Deathmarks.
The Plasma Suits bounce back into cover behind some industrial wreckage.
Necron Turn 3
The Necron Warriors score enough movement to ascend the first 6" of the chemical towers, as the Spyders and small Scarab swarm move forward in support.
The Spyders kill two Fire Warriors, while the Overlord's squad fire on the Plasma Suits, killing both drones and causing a wound.
Running, the Necrons claim the central objective, as the three Scarabs in the open charge the Hammerhead.
Explosion! The Scarabs munch through the weapons, munch through the hull, and munch the Hammerhead to death. Death by munching.
Tau Turn 3
The Broadsides lean precariously over the chemical towers to kill the last two Spyders.
And the Skyray and a single Plasma Suit take out the munchy Scarabs.
The rest of the Plasma Suits and the Ethereal's squad advance and kill six of the Overlord's squad, before the suits bounce back into cover.
Necron Turn 4
The next Death Pastry arrives, and is intercepted by the Broadsides again, suffering two hull points of damage. The Overlord swaps unit, joining the one at the back, while his original unit and the Death Pastry fire at the Ethereal's squad, wiping it out!
The Necron Warriors in the centre kill two Fire Warriors, before the Scarabs attempt to charge them.
In a controversial move, the Missile Suits nearby do Supporting Fire with their flamers. Obviously this would usually be disallowed as the flamer template would go over the Fire Warrior squad, but since this is Overwatch fire, no template is used and the Scarabs suffer 3d3 hits, all causing double wounds as the Flamer is still a 'Template' weapon! Four bases die and the charge fails. Dodgy rules?
Lots of little white skulls this turn...
Tau Turn 4
The Skyray and Missile Suits try to shoot down the Flying Bread Roll, but to no avail.
The firebase then targets the Necrons on the objective, killing everyone on top, and taking out a Scarab swarm
But the Necrons still have the objective until the Fire Warriors get up the ladder...
Necron Turn 5
The Overlord's squad fire at the Plasma Suits, killing one.
And the Lord's squad try to kill the Fire Warriors, but it's not until the Doom Pastry joins in that almost the whole squad are wiped out - the remainder flee!
The third Necron squad are making for the Tau pipeline objective.
Tau Turn 5
The fleeing Fire Warriors keep going, and in revenge, the Missile Suits take out the entire Lord's squad with flamers and missiles.
The Plasma Suits only manage to kill one of the Overlord's squad
And the Broadsides force the Doom Pastry to evade, so it wont' be able to shoot next turn.
Necron Turn 6
The Death Croissant turns and flies out of the way - if it leaves the board, then it raises the change of the Necrons being tabled - the only way the Tau can now win! The rest of the Warriors advance.
All the Necrons need to do is survive, so the remaining two Scarab bases run into cover behind the fences.
Tau Turn 6
The Tau go all out trying to mop up, the Commander killing both Scarab bases.
And, using markerlight hits from the Skyray to Ignore Cover, the Broadsides blow up the Death Bun.
The rest of the army targets the Warriors, but only manages to kill a few.
And the game ends! Necrons win!
Necrons - 8
VP (2 Objectives, Linebreaker, Killing the Ethereal)
Tau - 4
VP (First Blood, 1 Objective)