Fresh-Faced New User
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Background to the mission
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In an imperial base, languishing on a backwater planet in the far fringes of known Imperial Space, a weapon was to be born. Though the complex itself had seen better days, and the regiments at its defence were hardly worth mentioning, several alien eyes peered for answers.
It was the Eldar Rangers, on a simple recon exercise who seemingly first set eyes on the activity. Laying crouched and prone some ways away from the near ghostly compound, it was only after several days of study that the movement of Imperial scientists, light militia, and a smattering of what looked like civilians caught the eye of one of the watches.
“Elan!” he spoke, in a harsh whisper usual of any sniper
“ What disturbs you, Daalin?” another respond, whilst holding his masked visage firm to his own viewing area
“There! Some ways to the horizon; movement to the west!”
Quickly, the lead ranger snatched the viewing equipment from Daalin, the young one. Peering through the machine, he confirmed the sighting. A troupe of civil scientists lead the way into a small, white building, soon followed by several bigger humans carrying covered equipment.
“Mon-Kai indeed. It should seem as though this place serves them purpose yet.” “I will inform the craft world immediately, seeking aid for action.” He flipped open a side panel on his arm, near the wrist and began entering codes in such a way that only the nimble fingers of Eldar could. Yet, just as he reached the Craftworld with thought and technology, an immense crack shuttered the very ground beneath them.
The air, turning cold to the touch, gave way to a familiar sinister ebbing of atoms. Green haze had proliferated, and soon, just as the human activity was noted, the terrible pyramidal Monolith emerged, as etheral as a shorted-out hologram.
The rangers all held their breath, via frozen air and fear, while only Elan could transmit a few scattered thoughts of the Necron attack on the human base, to the Craftworld.
As quickly as the Monolith appeared, it vanished, and while that would be relief to human and eldar alike, the menace it left would be the real threat. Soon, Wraiths, Warriors and a terrifying Destroyer Lord emerged on the horizon, with the terrible Flayed ones rising from the earth at the heart of the Imperial compound.This once backwater planet had found something they shouldn’t have; and though this meeting between Eldar and Necron might only seem chance to some, there was something of terrible value to be had for the victor.
As Gauss easily tore through the poorly armed and armoured militia, the Necrons looked towards the artefacts in the base.
For Elan and his Rangers, their fates were blessed, as his thoughts had made it to the craftworld, and through the webway, his brothers and sisters to follow.
There would be war this night.
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Preamble
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The game was a Seize ground mission, with a 6 turn limit in which we resolved that the central, map-spanning Imperial base would be composed of 5 important structures, each of which represented an objective (5 was rolled randomly, just as the mission itself.) To facilitate our terrain and play area, we did adjust the seize ground rules in which we agreed that Controlling objectives would mean 1” around that objective, or ontop or in it, respectively, instead of the usual 3” radius. The game would allow 750 pt forces. Here are the objectives in play:
Objectives
O 1) Science Facility- West
O2) Northwest Watch Tower
O 3) Northern Command Centre
O4) Eastern Watch Tower
O5) Southern Supply Depot and Barracks
ARMY LISTS
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Al’s Necron Force
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HQ
Destoryer Lord Zynikrycis
w/ Destroyer Body, Phylactery, Warscythe Pts: 155
Troops
10 Warriors Pts: 180
10 Warriors Pts: 180
Fast Attack
1 Wraith Pts: 41
1 Wraith Pts: 41
1 Wraith Pts: 41
Elite
6 Flayed Ones Pts: 108
Total Pts: 746
Alex’s Eldar Force
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HQ
Avatar Pts: 155
Troops
9 Dire Avengers Pts: 108
13 Storm Squad Guardians: 104
5 Eldar Rangers Pts: 95
Fast Attack
5 Warp Spiders Pts: 110
Heavy Support
1 Falcon Grav-Tank
w/ Vectored Engines, Bright Lance, Twin-Linked Shuriken Catapult and Pulse Laser Pts: 175
Total Pts: 747
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DEPLOYMENT
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A Roll off between the competitors took place to determine deployment: Alex, the Eldar player rolls 5 while Al, the Necron player rolls a lowly 2. However, I elected to give first deployment to Necrons
This meant that Eldar would hold the North Deployment Zone, while the Necrons would hold the South
Infiltration was featured in this one, as Al’s 6 Flayed Ones, rose up in the middle of the compound, behind the Northern Command Centre; at its south wall, and my Eldar Rangers took up position in between the east side of Command Centre, and the Eastern tower prepping for a seize of either.
THE BATTLE BEGINS
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TURN 1: Necron
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Choosing to go first, Al and his Necron’s begin the race for the seizure of the Imperial Base. First, his Destroyer Lord moves 12’’ and into a covered area behind the western Science Facility, though because only troop choices can hold objectives, there was no score just yet.
Next his first squad of Necron Warriors trudged silently 6” toward the Science facility with an eye on capturing it.
Following this, his ghostly Wraiths took flight, with the first of 3 separate horrors moving 12’’ into the Science Facility. It appeared that the Necrons had a keen eye for the unearthed imperial artefacts, as the science facilty seemed to be a major staging point in the battle for the cold and calculating Lord Zynikrycis.
The second Wraith then positioned himself behind the Imperial Supply Depot, gliding a smooth 8” along its southern wall.
Now, the third wraith, perhaps most daring of them all, moved a full 12” to reach the eastern tower. At this move, he was eerily close to the Rangers that lay just on the other side of the small spire.
Next, the second group of Necron Warriors moved 6” toward the nearby Supply Depo, officially gaining control, and giving the Necrons an early 1-0 lead.
Finally, the flayed ones Flayed elected to move toward the Command Centre, moving 6 through difficult terr and officially entering the what was left of the shattered lobby, coming nearly face to face with members of the Eldar warhost.
--No shooting—
Heightened by the sense of urgency, the first group of Necron Warriors then enacted a run procedure, striding with metal limbs a full 4” inches toward the science facility, officially taking control, and upping the Necrons to a 2-0 lead.
As the final move of the Necron portion of turn one, the Flayed Ones reciprocated that urgency and ran 4” more inches admist the command centre, drawing nearer to the nearby eldar force.
---END OF NECRON Turn----
Turn 1: Eldar
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Being that the Eldar were more closely positioned to the Command Centre, it was imperative that they reach it immediately, and with Flayed ones looming, it was even more important to beat them back and gain control. With this in mind, the Dire Avengers moved forward 4” from a difficult terrain test, struggling, even in their grace to climb its slick slopes and failing to enter it, though the territory was officially contested.
Similarly, the Avatar bounded 6” toward the same Command Centre, while the Wap Spiders engage their intital teleportation devices, landing in the midst of the debris laden Command lobby. While most materialized unharmed behind a downed column with a visual on the Flayed Ones, one Warp Spider suffered an unimaginable and erroneous death, (via a failed dangerous terrain test), teleporting into a column, the floor, or being snatched up in the Warp altogether.
(as this is my first battle report, I'll keep things simpler from here on in, at least, for a while)
SGuardians- 6 towards 6” West Tower
Falcon moved 6” to line up Necron Wariors near Science Fac.
SGuardians Run 3” toward West Tower, gaining control
--Shooting—
Dire Avengers fire into Flayed Ones inside CommC- 13 Hits Scored, 3 Wounds, 1 Casualty
Warp Spiders fire into Falyed Ones- Scoring 6 Hits, 6 wounds, forcing flayed ones to ground, 1 casualty.
Falcon fires into Warriors 1, killing 2; one with bright lance, one with PL, and downing 1 with shuriken Cat.
Rangers fire long range into Warriors1 Downing 3, and forcing a pinning test at -2 modifier; failed pinning test, forcing them to ground
Avatar attempts charge into Flayed Ones, failed due to diff terrain test roll of 2.
Turn 1 Control: Necrons: Science Fac, Supply Depot (Total: 2)
Eldar: Tower (Total 1)
END OF TURN 1
Turn 2
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Necron WBB: 1 warrior successfully repairs, leaving Warriors one at 6
Wraith1 moves 12” through Science Fac. And right infront of SGuardians, near West Tower
Necron Lord follows suit, moving 12” towards nearby Falcon
Wraith2 moves 12” through Supply Depot and towards CommC.
Wraith3 moves through East tower right at the nose of the Rangers.
---No shooting due to pinned units---
Wraith1 Assualts Storm Gaurdians:
Superior initiative of Wraith means the wraith strikes first, 4 attacks, 3 hits, 3 Deaths. Storm Guardians react to the assault, piling as many soldiers forward as possible. The Guardians deal several wounds taking the lone wraith down—for good.
Destroyer Lord, charges Falcon, ravaging the tank with 4 hits. Tearing at the engines with a warscythe, the Falcon is forced to make an emergency landing, the next hits destroyed a twin-linked Shuriken Catapult, and shook the crew.
Wraith 2: Charges Warspiders in the CommC, dealing death to the warp Spides, killing 2. The Warp Spiders fight back, but their daggers fail to do damage. The Warpspiders then failed their leadership test of 5 (due to -2 for below 50%, and -2 for 2 wounds) Rolling a 10 the Spiders were entirely Routed and cut to pieces as they attempted to flee.
Wraith 3: Charges Rangers, cleaving 1 down. The rangers retailiate and fail to do damage. Friegtened by the harrowing and unscathed wraith, the Rangers fail their morale check terribly (rolled 12). However, the rangers did manage to elude the snipping claws of the wraith and fell back, (11 inches) well beyond the menacing wraith.
Eldar turn two
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After falling back successfully, the Rangers, now bolstered into acts of daring by the nearby inspiring Avatar, immediately regroup. In a show deviance, the remaining Rangers move slowly towards the once persuing wraith hoping to open pistol fire.
The Dire Avengers, hung on the outskirts of the CommC, managed to slightly creep some members into lobby and infront of the wraith.
Similiarly the Avatar, unscathed as yet, bounds into the CommC and between the pervious wraith and the remaining flayed ones.
The rangers, opening fire with pistols, managed to down Wraith 3 after all, though a nearby Wraith 2 gives him hope to return.
Next, the movement struggling Dire Avengers managed to overwhelm Wraith 2 in a hail of Shuriken Fire
The Avatar, seeing his allies achieve victory over the wraith, elected to charge the flayed ones, downing 3 with a swing of his sword and sending the lone survivor fleeing.
END OF TURN 2 Capture Totals: Necron: Science Fac., Depot (2), Eldar CommC. WT (2)
Unclaimed: East Tower
Turn 3
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Necron will be back, Two of three flayed ones managed to repair, teleporting themselves to the position of their fleeing comrade. Leaving 3 remaining
The wraiths however, weren’t so lucky both failing to rise, giving full control of the CommC. to the Eldar—For now
The fleeing flayed ones, stunned by the sight of the Avatar, still flee.
The Warriors1, finally rising from their pinned state, stood ground, holding the science facility.
The Destroyer Lord, pending an assault, moved 12” to face the Avatar in ensuing combat
The second group of Warriors managed only to slowly climb the supply depot ramps, giving 4 of their number a height advantage while the rest lagged behind, out of sight and mind.
The first group of warriors near the Science Facility, elected to open long range fire at the Avatar, taking 10 shots, that managed to take one of his wounds.
The second warriors on the ramp, then directed their fire to the Avatar as well, firing rapidly and causing one wound, that the Avatar shrugged off. (saved)
Next, the Destroyer Lord assaulted the beleaguered Avatar.
The Avatar, strinking first landed an unsavable wound with his great size.
The Destroyer Lord fighting back with shows of his Warsythe landed 2 hits, but no wounds. Placing the onus of a morale check on the Lord. He was undetered, and the combat locked
Eldar turn 3
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The Storm Guardians held their ground, securing the West Tower
The Rangers made a run manuvere in an attempt to secure the East Tower but fell short
The Dire Avengers, remaining in control of the CommC, exited its main lobby and moved along its backside, single file.
Now, the Bloody melee between Lord and Avatar continued, with the Avatar striking first, and wounding the Necron Lord twice. He would fall and without a resurrection orb would not get the chance to self-repair due to the monstrous size of the Avatar (allowing no armour saves), and the Avatar consolidated 5” towards the necrons at the supply depot.
Necron turn 4
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The flayed ones, with 3 remaining, were able to regroup, and moved 3” in a regroup move towards the immobile but now functioning Falcon.
The Necrons, now with only two scoring units remaining, had to move one squad forward and away from control of the science facility in a last ditch attempt to eliminate the scoring potential of the Eldar.
Similarly, the second group of Warriors moved forward 4” to the ramps of the Supply Depot, staring the Avatar in the face.
The First group of Warriors on the move, fired a rapid volley of Gauss at the Avatar; but with only two warriors in range, no damage was done.
The second pressed forward on the ramps of the supply depot, fired an astonishing 16 rounds from their Guass flayers, at the Avatar, scoring 8 hits.
Shockingly, none of the electricity managed to penetrate the Molten Hardened skin of the Avatar.
Finally, the remaining flayed ones, surged forward toward the downed falcon in a bit to finally erase its existence, however, lacking disruption fields, the front armour was unscathed. They would need to round its backside.
Eldar turn 4
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The rangers moved to the Eastern tower. Hugging its walls, they finally secured it. Bringing the Eldar to the lead; 3-1, for now.
The Falcon, finally taking a turn to fire, dropped two flayed ones, with bright lance and pulse laser, and although there was only 1 remaining, the flayed one still held his ground!
The Avatar, barrelling forward, climbed the ramps of the Depot and charged the Warriors. The narrow ramps of that Depot, would facilitate a bloody
combat, and the reacting Necrons, 6 of 10 in all, readied themselves, with several leaping from atop the ramps to the heels of the avatar.
Swinging wildy at the leaping Necron Warriors, the Avatar only managed to kill two with his massive blade.
In retaliation, six Necrons struck back with bayonettes hiting only once but landing a wound that was easily shrugged off by the 4 wound Avatar.
The Necrons, in the face of the Avatar, held their ground mightily, and the remaining Necrons rushed to aid their comrades.
Necron Turn 5
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In a surprise move, the lone Flayed One pressed to corner of the CommC, forcing into a disputed terriorty.
While the first necron squad, moved toward the west tower with hopes of contention, while still maintaining control of the science fac. Due to a 1” capture radius.
Those same 6 necrons opened a torrent of Guass fire at the side armour of the downed Falcon, scoring 9 hits. Shockingly, through the theoretically impossible technology of the Gauss Flayer the Necron warriors manage 3 glancng hits. These resulted in the destruction of the last two weapons and a shaking of the crew. The Falcon, now a husk of its former self, would surely blow If struck again.
Finally, the combat between avatar and warriors reconvened, with the Avatar obliterating 3 necrons, and the retaliating 5 doing no damage. In a show of determination, the warriors still held.
Eldar turn 5
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The rangers take aim at the pressing Flayed one, many yards away but fail to do any damage. Leaving the territory still contested.
The grim combat for the Warriors continued; the avatar killed 3 more, and while the Necrons did no damage in return, they made an absolutely miraculous leadership save of 3, with a roll of 3, and still hung in there.
Necron turn 6
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The lone flayed skulked around the west side of the CommC and out of the Rangers’ line of fire.
Next, the Necrons near the Science lab fired a long volley at the faraway rangers, but despite engaging stealth, and going to ground, the Rangers suffered enough wounds to route them, leaving two among their number, and causing them to losing control of the point as they fled.
The point control now stands at a teetering 1-1 draw with two contested zones and one neutral!
The Rangers, continued to flee the battle
While the dire avengers, pressed into action by the nullifying Flayed one who contested their CommC, moved around the east flank of the CommC and towards the tower, making a run attempt towards the tower, in order to secure the uncontested neutral territory. They fell short of the tower however, and, in leaving their territory, it became neurtal, as the flayed one could not hold the terrioty, as an elite troop choice.
The Storm Guardians, like The Necrons near the science lab, simply held their ground and the point.
And still, the combat between Avatar and Necron warrior raged.
As the last action of the match, it proved to be the most important:
At 9 models left, the Necron force teetered with the notion of a phase out,
and all their glorious work to comeback and contest would be lost. As it turned out, the Avatar was able to slay two more with his massive warblade, and, the Necrons, who had fought so well to contest and attempt to draw a game that was once 3-0 in favour of the eldar, had suddenly disappeared, phasing out leaving the compound to the battle scarred and bloodied eldar; in an official 1-0 control point victory.
Talk about playing on the edge.
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Man of the match: Avatar; slaying an entire platoon of 10 necron warriors, and a Destoryer Lord, and crushing 5 of 6 Flayed Ones (though they would cause problems still) , the Avatar, being the harbringer of the eventual
Necron phase out, was truly the man of the match.
Honourable Mention: First Necron Warrior Squad: Overcoming their pinning in turn 1, the Necron warriors consistently held the Science Facility (even while pinned) while still causing great damage. Stripping the Falcon of its last TWO weapons, wounding the otherwise unwounded avatar once, and getting revenge on the Rangers who pinned them, these warriors certainly paid their dues. More than that however, they were almost single handidly responsible for bringing the game so close to a draw, as they caused the Rangers to flee their post, in a hail mary volley of guass.
A 1-0 Victory goes to the Eldar via Necron Phase Out
Competitor’s Final Thougts:
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“Great fun was had by all”
Al (Necron Player): - “Playing an actual mission was far more interesting and much more fun than a seek and destroy or anihiliation game”
-“Not having the resurrection orb was a big mistake, especially against the Avatar”
-“Losing Wraith 2 and 3 after failing their WBB’s really hurt; they were in prime position to charge several units”
-“The Avatar seems FAR superior to a destroyer lord, even though their points are about equal”
-“Overall, it was a great game”
-“Damn the Phase out, but that’s the price you pay for a hunk of metal skin!”
Alex (Eldar Player) “ I was really surprised at how well the Avatar really did; of course it is a monstrous creature made out of magma with a huge warblade, so maybe I shouldn’t be surprised.
-“I was totally pleased with the style of firing that the Dire Avengers have. Being that this is my first time using eldar, it was particularly satisfying firing a point blank hail of shuriken shots at wraiths and the like.”
-“Wow, I was entirely underwhelmed by the Falcon Grav Tank; that thing got owned and although vaporizing 3 warriors, it went down to the Warscythe incredibly quickly, and lost its weapons soon after. But hey, at least it still survived the battle as a near-wreck.
-“ I have to say that I became really worried in the early goings there, from those harrying wraith attacks tearing my Warp Spiders and other troops to pieces. I’ll have to try and toast those guys earlier next time”
-“ Man oh man, was I sweating there… I had a 3-0 lead late, then, out of nowhere a lone flayed one and a hail mary shot from those warriors turned the battle into a 1-1 draw for awhile.
-“My Motto: I love phase out!”
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Thanks all!
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