So as promised me and Tim bring you our re-match. The origional battle can be seen here:
http://www.dakkadakka.com/dakkaforum/posts/list/323967.page
Tim really wasnt happy with his performance last time. His predators were un impressive and he lacked mobility. To rectify this he's stripped his predators down and re-moddled them as Razorbacks. Additionally he's added a vindicator for more firepower and a land speeder storm to get his scouts where needed.
Imperail Fists
105 - Librarian w. M.Bombs
300 - (10)
Tac. Marines w.
Lc + Flamer +
PF In. R.Back w.
TLLC + E.Armour
300 - (10)
Tac. Marines w.
Lc + M.Gun +
PF In. R.Back w.
TLLC + E.Armour
90 - (5) Scouts w. S.Rifles + C.Cloaks
140 - Vindicator w. E.Armour
65 - L.Speeder (Storm) w. M.Melta
I havent really changed my army much. I like how it works but in every game Khan was just unimpressive. The main problem was I just couldnt get him where he was needed. I was reluctant to put him on a bike at such a low point level but I need to see if it works. To fund it I've stripped back 2 of the noraml bikers. They never did much anyway but they were the meat shields for the much more dangerous plasma bikers and
Pf sergent. We'll see how they do.
White Scars
205 - Khan w. Moonfang
100 - (5)
Tac Marines w. Combi-Melta + M.Bombs
90 - Razorback w. Extra Armour +
LC&TLPG
205 - (10)
Tac Marines w.
PG +
MM +
PF
50 - Rhino w. Extra Armour
110 - Techmarine w. Bike and S.Harness
195 - (3) Bikers w. 2xPG's and
PF
50 - Attack Bike w.
MM
50 - Attack Bike w.
MM
For the battle we were using the same terrain as last time as we dont have that much yet, but we did shuffle it around a little for some variaty. We rolled up Capture and Control with Spearhead deployment. I won the roll again and let Tim go first. I always do this if possible as it lets me have the last say on objectives (in theory).
Terrain and Deployment.
Obviously I had nothing on the board for the first turn so Tim just moved about a little. He was quite clever with his Storm and went over to take my objective. This was quite a problem as I could take it back quite easily but that would take time and troops. Really I need every man possible to cause as much damage as soon as I arrive so cant spare anyone straight away. Additionally I've already lost a turn on the 'outflank.' Simply - he's put a thorn in my ass.
My first real turn. I'm lucky and get Khan, the Techmarine, an attack bike and the razorback squad in straight away. Not only that but in a flurry of 6's I can bring them all in the same side as the razorback squad (who rolled a 2). I would have picked this flank anyway as it offers the most protection from the rest of his army, allowing me to tackle him piece by piece.
The Attack bike and razorback mess up there shots on the IF razorback but the sergents combi-melter comes to the rescue and blows it. Khan and the Techmarine are on hand to clean up the survivors.
Tim reacts as expected and turns everything towards me. His land speeder dodges over and takes a shot at my razorback but misses. His librarian and combat squad move over to renforce the woods and attempt to engage khan. There's no need though as the vindicator turns around and blows both Khan and my techmarine off the board. Damn. For everyone who says vindicators arnt worth it - they are. All it takes is one shot like that and they change the entire game.
I get the rest of my troops in this turn. Something I really need after that vindicator blast. My bikes come up on the far right flank and try to take out the speeder but only stun it. On the other side my lone attack bike tries to threaten the other razorback but misses horribly. The other attack bike at the top moves up to the vindicator and also, misses. Luckily my own Razorback takes a pot shot with the lascannon and shakes it. My tactical squad comes up on the left and pops smoke. I want to see what tim's next move is with the librarian squad before I commit them anywhere.
Overall a pretty bad turn. I didnt actually get anything done but I'm not in too much threat of retalliation either.
The northern woods become a bit of a mexican standoff. The shaken vindicator moves around a little. He cant get it far enough away from my attack bike to be safe next turn but this way my razorback can't shoot it and he can still rush back round next turn for a shot at everything. His Razorback edges round the other side too and blows my rhino despite smoke launchers. His troops move up and prepair to defend the woods. His last combat squad(thats been sat in the ruins all game so far) take a pot shot at my southern attack bike and take it out. At this point his objective is safe and he controls mine.
I must have accidently deleted the screenshot of this turn sorry. My remaining attack bike at the top moves up to take out the vindicator but misses AGAIN! At the end of the turn he actually charges in and lands a crack grenade on a 6 but then fails to even glance the side armour. My razorback gets into a duel with its IF counterpart but fails to do any damage. My other bikers finish off the landspeeder storm. Both tactical squads I have accept the IF challange and charge into the woods. Between shooting and charge bonuses I manage to win (just) but the librarian and his
PF sergent take there toll on my troops.
No pic sorry
The Razorback duel goes on and the combat in the woods grinds on, with the IF's loosing ground. The scouts get their first shots of the game off and take down a biker. The vindicator turns round and finally takes down the attack bike. If the game ends this turn Tim wins by holding my objective and keeping me off his.
My bikers make a rush over to the scouts on my objective and down one with a plasma gun blast, but they're too far away for an assault, fingers crossed for another turn after this! The Razorback duel goes on and I finally get a stunned result. In the woods combat the librarian is finally brought down but I cant quite manage the other sergent.
We roll to see if the game goes on, and ...
ID DOES!! I need to get my ass in gear though if I'm going to win now.
Tim uses the Extra armour on his razorback to pull it away from mine (coward). With nothing else to do he shoots the lascannon at the bikers and takes one down. I choose to remove the plasma gunner as its conbat which will pull the snipers off my objective. In combat I completly screw up and fail to kill the last IF. Thats my plan right out the windown. No consolidation moves for me.
I cant win this turn anymore, so I just play to win next turn, if the game goes that long. The biker at the bottom ploughes into the scouts in the woods and pulls them off my objective. My razorback skirts around the top of the woods and pops smoke while my last tactical marines finish off the combat and move up to attack his objective next turn. If the game goes on and I get luck I can take out both his tanks and claim his objective for the win.
Alas, it was not to be ... and the game ends on turn 6 with a well fought draw. We played the next turn to see what would have happened and I couldnt clear his objective anyway, so I feel like I gave it my best.
For me the turning point was loosing both my characters. I could have been much more threatening had they stayed alive but it was my own fault for placing them side by side with a vindicator on the prowl.
Overall tim's much happier with his army. It has a good ammount of staying power with the tactical squads but still maintains manuvurability with the razorbacks and land speeder storm.
We've decided we need a last game to decide this one for good, and we'll up the points to 1,500 next time so we can get some more goodies.
Enjoy.
Ga.
