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After a few weeks of social distancing I've realised that there really does come a point when I can get sick of playing too many computer games. The solution? Play some 1 player 40k and post the results online of course!

I've always had a soft spot for last stands, so why not recreate the Last Stand at Glazer's Creek? If you're not aware of it already then it's well worth looking up, especially the original battle report from 1998, in WD222. The revisit in the White Dwarf of June 2018 was also pretty good.

My plan to revisit this scenario is to use an Ordo Xenos Inquisitor with some Imperial Guard and Deathwatch forces. The force will be similar, though not identical to, the defending force used in the 2018 battle report. The Power Level of this force will be 50. I'm pretty much happy with the force composition for the defenders.

The big change is that the enemy will be Tyranids, not Orks. Have any of you tried recreating this battle with attackers other than Orks? If so what tips do you have to ensure it isn't a walkover for either side? My fear is that the Tyranids might be too mobile to give the mainly Imperial Guard defenders a chance. Still, I can but try.

Assuming all goes well I'll go ahead and play the scenario this weekend and document my findings. Any tips on what to do, or what not to do, will be most welcome.



Also if you just want to use this thread to talk about how awesome the 1998 battle report was, or how great Praetorians were, or how great Zulu (the film that inspired it all) is, feel free.

I don't have any tips, but this is a really cool idea.

I remember the battle, but I'm hazy on the details- not sure if I have the 2018 WD. I did have the original, but it got lost in a move.

So I don't know about whether or not you can have part of the defending force to arrive as reinforcements, but that is one way you could cut down on some of the mobility advantage.

What are you using as your Xenos Inquisitor model?

PenitentJake wrote:
What are you using as your Xenos Inquisitor model?

The Forgeworld Solomon Lok model. I just use him as a generic Ordo Xenos Inquisitor, as a psyker with needle pistol and force sword.


I realised that I no longer have the June 2018 White Dwarf, which contains the rules for this scenario. I’ve ordered a copy off Ebay, fingers crossed it arrives by tomorrow. I’ve tried searching the Internet for the rules with no joy, anyone know if the rules exist online?

I remember for the original that all defending models started on the table (Not much deep striking in 2nd Ed guard or at the battle of Rorkes Drift).

I remember that at the end of each battle round that defending casualties you rolled a dice. I think it was 1 or that model died; 3 or 4 place in hospital (there were walking wounded rules); 5 or 6 returned to combat.

Also destroyed vehicles were left on table between rounds as wreckage.

I think that was when Orks became WS4 BS2 and Str 4.

Tygre wrote:
I remember for the original that all defending models started on the table (Not much deep striking in 2nd Ed guard or at the battle of Rorkes Drift).

I remember that at the end of each battle round that defending casualties you rolled a dice. I think it was 1 or that model died; 3 or 4 place in hospital (there were walking wounded rules); 5 or 6 returned to combat.

Also destroyed vehicles were left on table between rounds as wreckage.

I think that was when Orks became WS4 BS2 and Str 4.

You’re remembering correctly. I still have the White Dwarf and read it ocassionally. What I’m looking for is the updated 8th edition rules from 2018. The EBay seller has posted the White Dwarf today so fingers crossed it arrives tomorrow.




My army for the defenders:

Ordo Xenos Inquisitor - psyker with force sword and needle pistol
Catachan Company Commander with powerfist and plasma pistol
Primaris Psyker

4 Catachan infantry squads with plasma guns and Bolters for the sergeants
Militarum Tempestus squad with 2 plasma guns

Astropath
5 Ratlings
Catachan Veteran squad with shotguns and 3 melta guns
5 Crusaders

Heavy Weapon Squad with 3 autocannons

Deathwatch squad - 5 veterans with combi meltas and 1 Terminator with assault cannon

Power Level 50.


The plan is not to allow any deep striking or infiltrating shenanigans.

I won’t have to worry about vehicle wrecks as the Tyranids don’t have any and neither do the defenders.

I believe there is a narrative mission like that somewhere.

I can't find it right now, but basically the Tyranid force is 1.5 times larger than your force, but gets split into three equally large waves that arrive one after the other. In addition, any destroyed Tyranid units go back into reserves that arrive during the next turn.

I've played the 2018 version of the scenario with footslogging Death Guard emerging from the desert dust to harry an Imperial Guard detachment. The first waves were mostly plague marines and autogun cultists with the final waves including terminators and a dreadnought. The defenders would have been utterly slain in the last assault were it not for the last handful of officers jumping out swords drawn into the mass of cultists, slaying just enough to convince the XIV to slink back to the sandstorm as their makeshift fortress burned around them. There were like three IG models left standing or something at the end, it was glorious.

I'd make sure to follow your theme in the game: make forces that fit your situation, limit hard armour in the beginning, keep it moving. Perhaps roll randomly if there will be any more waves after the third randomly, so you won't know it in advance? If you're willing to bend the system further, we played with alternating activations which gave the defenders both more options in their gameplay and a better sense of ramping tension than just going "welp, this is the turn all my forces are stuck in combat and it's just rolling from here on".