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Had a game with Craig on Friday with his Dark Eldar, I was planning on using Tyranids from the start but I was expecting him to bring Orks instead, surprise surprise Cila!

Tyranids "Hive Fleet Kraken" - 2,000 points


HQ

Hive Tyrant - 2 x twin-linked devourers, old adversary & armoured shell

Tyrant Guard - lash whip

Elite

2 x Hive Guard

2 x Hive Guard

2 x Hive Guard

Troops

Tervigon - crushing claws, adrenal glands, toxin sacs & catalyst

Tervigon - crushing claws, adrenal glands, toxin sacs & catalyst

10 x Termagants

10 x Termagants

7 x Genestealers

7 x Genestealers

Heavy Support

Trygon - adrenal glands

Trygon - adrenal glands

Trygon - adrenal glands


Total: 2,000


Dark Eldar "The Dark Fleas" - 2,000 points

HQ

Archon - shadowfield, agoniser & phantasm grenade launcher

Haemonculus - webway portal

Elite

5 x Incub w/ Raider - Klaivex w/ demiklavies - Raider w/ flickerfield



Troops

20 x Kabalite Warriors - 2 x splinter cannons

20 x Kabalite Warriors - 2 x splinter cannons

20 x Kabalite Warriors - 2 x splinter cannons

10 x Wytches w/ Raider - Sybarite w/ agoniser - Raider w/ flickerfield
10 x Wytches w/ Raider - Sybarite w/ agoniser - Raider w/ flickerfield


Heavy Support

Ravager - flickerfield

Ravager - flickerfield

Talos

Game: Capture & Control + Pitched Battle

Deployment

D.E won the roll off and went first setting everything up on the left flank and keeping a squad of Warriors in a large ruin in the centre of the board. In reserve was the Talos, two squads of Warriors and both Wytch units.

I deployed all my Tyranids except the Genestealers which would outflank. I used the terrain to block LOS and deployed my Tyranids so Termagants at the front, then Hive Guard then the Tervigons and then the Trygons so everything was getting cover - debatable on the Trygons though.

Objectives were placed in the ruins where the Warriors had deployed, one on the right flank D.E side of the board and one in a large ruin by me which I had deployed Hive Guard in.







* Tactical Notes

I'm going to go for the Ravagers first as they have mass lances and then the Raiders so all lances will be taken out. Wytches I'll blast from a far and then charge them, same with the Incubi. The Warriors I'll sic a monstrous creature on them, lol.

Turn 1

Craig brings his skimmers forward with the Haemonculus bailing out the Raider carrying the Archon and Incubi.

Shooting the Haemonculus drops down a webway portal ready for the reserves to pour out of next turn. Lances, splinter cannons and rifles put wounds on a Trygon and a Tervigon.

Tyranids turn, one Tervigon burns itselfs out spawning Termagants, great start, the rest move forward.

Shooting a Ravager gets crew stunned while a Raider gets wrecked.

In assault the Haemonculus gets eaten by a Tervigon, ripped to pieces by it's crushing claws which get a extra 2 attacks.



* Tactical Notes

In game the Ravager was crew shaken, but now I think it about it can be never crew shaken as it's open topped as the worst result is shaken, but +1 on the damage table will stunned.

Well a Ravager is at least disabled and a Raider is down. The Haemonculus wasn't a threat really but was just begging to be killed, lol. I haven't taken too much damage myself either, though a Tervigon has lost half it's wounds and a Trygon has taken some damage.

My plan this turn is ti wait and see what comes through the portal, I didn't know anything about a portal until Craig said so was a surprise! Lets see how it works..

Turn 2

Craig calls for reserves and two squads of Wytches come in along with a Warrior squad, the other Warrior squad couldn't fit around the portal so come on the board edge towards the right flank objective.

Movement Craig turbo boosts his Ravager away from me while a Raider moves around the tower ruin to get better LOS on the wounded Trygon.

Shooting Warriors and the Raider fire at the Trygon leaving it with only a few wounds. Wytches shoot a Tervigon but do nothing. Warriors on the objective and which just came on via the board edge fire at the other Tervigon and kill it, the back lash mauls two Termagant units, wiping one out if I remember right.

In assault Wytches assault the Trygon and kill it with the agoniser while the other Wytches get stuck in on the Tervigon and cause two wounds on it while the Wytches take some pain from the crushing claws.

Tyranids call for reserves with a 'Stealer unit outflanking and coming on the left flank towards the Warriors. Trygon in the centre of the board slithers slowly towards the right flank as Termagants take cover. On the left flank the Tervigon in combat spawns a crap load of Termagants while another unit comes to support it in combat along with the Tyrant.

Shooting the Tyrant blasts the Warriors with paroxysm, but fails the psychic test, the devourers kill two Warriors. Wytches get blasted by the Trygons bio electric as Hive Guard blast and explode a Raider.

In assault the 'Stealers charge the Warriors but have to go through cover due to models being removed thanks to the Tyrant killing some, the 'Stealers lose three but ultimately kill the Warriors via sweeping advance. Trygon charges the Wytches, combat is a draw. Termagants pile into the Wytches and leave only four left which fail morale and leg it.



* Tactical Notes

Ok not a too bad turn which I managed to tackle another Raider, slaughter some Warriors and made some Wytches run off which cannot regroup as they're under half strength. Shame the Trygon didn't smash those Wytches some more but I'll pile some Termagants into those next turn.

My plan is to move the 'Stealers towards the Warrior held objective and outflank the other 'Stealer unit on the right flank objective. I'll send some Termagants to bail the Trygon out of combat while everything elses moves forward and blasts Raiders etc.

Turn 3

Dark Eldar call for reserves and the Talos pops out the portal.

Movement the Wytches fall back some more as the Archon and Incubi bail out the Raider ready to get into assault. The Warriors on the right flank move onto the objective.

Shooting the Trygon in the centre of the board gets shot at and loses a single wound. The Talos fires at some Termagants

In assault the Archon and Incubi multi assault the Tervigon and a unit of Termagants while the Talos charges another Termagant squad. The Archon kills the Tervigon which causes a back lash wiping out a Termagant squad and seriously mauling another, the other then gets mauled by the Talos which consolidates towards it's own side objective.

Tyranids call for reserves and the other 'Stealer squd outflanks on the right flank and moves to assault the Warriors.

Other Genestealer unit moves out of terrain towards the Wytches falling back as the Tyrant moves to blast the Archon and Incubi.

Shooting the Hive Guard blast the Incubi killing a few, the Tyrant blasts them with paroxysm passing the psychic test and then blasts them with devourers leaving just the Incubi leader left.

In assault the Genestealers kill the Warriors via sweeping advance and consolidate onto the objective. The other 'Stealer squad charges the Wytches, the Wytches fail morale a test to fight and get wiped out. The Trygon kills more Wytches but only has a single wound left.

At this point we call it a day as Craig has to go, Tyranids win claiming two out of three objectives. We decide to do a "what if" next turn happened, but only looked at two fights, the Wytches killed the Trygon, which utlimately would have seen them probably dead after they would have been blasted by Hive Guard in the Tyranids turn. The Archon and Incubi charge the Tyrant and Guard, they strike last thanks to the lash whip and need 5+ to hit thanks to paroxysm, the Incubi dies and the Archon is smashed by the Tyrant and dead thanks to instant death. We didn't do the Talos vs 'Stealer fight, but I expected it to probably win, if not the Stealers would have moved onto the Warrior held objective while the Tyrant moves through cover and blasts them with paroxysm.

If the Wytches would have died by Hive Guard and the Warriors get mauled by the 'Stealers I would expect Craig just to have transports left, which he probably would have turbo boosted to contest objectives, but with the game still going on normaly until turn 5 those transports more than likely would have been taken out by ranged fire power or even in assault.

Summary

The battle went well and I'm pleased how the Tyrant performed, with it on foot it just lasts a whole lot longer and still provides benefits to the army as it moves at the same pace, plus it costs cheaper as doesn't need a Gargoyle body guard! I was a bit disappointed to see both Tervigons die early in the game but Craig did his target priority right taking them out which also killed plenty of Termagants in the process, I felt at this point the back of my army had been broken. I think another Tervigon is required...Trygons, disappointed by them again. One got shot down before it made it into the fight, the other got bogged down in combat while another just minced about doing nothing. I'm going to switch them for Carnifexes with two pairs of devourers I think.

The game started well for both us on turn 1 though I think turn 2 I turned it around as Craig was quite surprised the damage those Termagants did in combat and he also lost his Warriors. Turn 3 Craig clawed it back killing the last Tervigon and plenty of Termagants leaving a lack of infantry, however my 'Stealers took out his Warriors scoring the win.

As mentioned we did a little extra which saw the Trygon snuff it and the Wytches win combat, these more than likely I would have shot with muliple Hive Guard units and they most likely would have died as there was only four of them left, Wytches in the open don't last long! The Talos no doubt would have assault the Genestealers but the outcome of that fight remains unknown. The Incubi and Archon got killed by the Tyrant, I would have consolidated it through terrain and then blasted the Warriors on the objective, paroxsym would have been great if no Tyranid reached combat as the Warriors shooting wouldn't be good and then next turn move in. I would have expected that last Trygon to be blasted by darklances, not sure what I would have done with that, maybe move it up. Either way i think if the game went full turn I think the Dark Eldar would have still lost as they only had two infantry squads left!

all that poisoned shooting the DE have is nasty against monsterous creatures.

Well-played, but it looks to me like your opponent made three huge mistakes, all involving the warriors. First, he should have started them on the board. They're shooty units and had plenty of cover from which to choose. Second and third, he shouldn't have deployed/left his warriors in charge range of the board edges. He should have seen the 'stealers coming, especially the second time around. Those mistakes cost him 400 points and the game.

Nice batrep.

I may be wrong, but it seems that your battles always seem to end early, which is a shame.

I don't really get the point in giving the Wyches Raiders if they are coming through a portal, I guess it gives you some options but surely more Wyches would be a better choice in this case.

Btw you can still shake a Ravager, it would have had to have been a glancing hit.

bagtagger wrote:all that poisoned shooting the DE have is nasty against monsterous creatures.

Poisoned against monstrous creatures is indeed a pain in the arse

Hesperus wrote:Well-played, but it looks to me like your opponent made three huge mistakes, all involving the warriors. First, he should have started them on the board. They're shooty units and had plenty of cover from which to choose. Second and third, he shouldn't have deployed/left his warriors in charge range of the board edges. He should have seen the 'stealers coming, especially the second time around. Those mistakes cost him 400 points and the game.

Yup. I was surprised he didn't move a skimmer over to the right flank objective as he knew I would outflank my 'Stealers onto there. Though I agree, all Warrior units could have sat back and shot things up.

MrEconomics wrote:Nice batrep.

I may be wrong, but it seems that your battles always seem to end early, which is a shame.

Indeed you are wrong as we always play until the dice says, or if it's getting late. This is the only game which has finished this early.

Powerguy wrote:I don't really get the point in giving the Wyches Raiders if they are coming through a portal, I guess it gives you some options but surely more Wyches would be a better choice in this case.

Btw you can still shake a Ravager, it would have had to have been a glancing hit.

I guess to give more lances but it's a expensive way of getting lances. Cuold give them to Wariors for cheaper and blast transports, monstrous creatures and also infantry which would work well with poisoned weapons.

Don't think you can shake a Ravager because of +1 on open topped. You get a 2 on the damage chart -2 is crew shaken +1 is crew stunned.

Glancing hits are at -2 on the damage chart. Open topped is a +1 on the damage chart, for a total of -1. Thus, if you glance a Ravager, a roll of 1 or 2 on the damage chart results in Crew Shaken.

nice bat rep mercer. love seeing you use the nids. glad they are working well for you. It seems a lot of abt reps involving nids usually has them at a loss and usually quite early.

Im not sure about the carnifexes, they are a lot of points for what they do. But if the trygons arent working....Have you considered tyrannos?

The Trygons are there for close combat nastyness but don't make it due to get shot to pieces or getting bogged down in terrain. Carnifexes I'm using with double devourers so giving ranged threat, so if they are 18" away they can still lay the smack down, unlike the Trygon which more than likely would have run.

I wouldn't take Tyrannofexes, too expensive for what they do I think.

... hoping for some news on the crushing claws on the tervigons, but they never lasted long enough to use them!

Already mentioned crushing claws on several bat reps they on average get 7 attacks extra through out the game which is about 3.5 points extra a attack. It makes them a lot more evil in combat, especially when charging with 7 attacks . Sometimes it works sometimes it doesn't getting the right rolls but it's something I'm not going to drop as it makes them a decent threat in combat, especially when they can slug it out with 6 wounds.

Whats your view Merc on CCs on Carnifexes?
Im thinking hard about running mine with them.

Never used a dedicated c.c one Ratius mate so I can only base my opinion on paper. It can re-roll to hit which is cool and adding frags it a must making is 165 points, you could add the bio plasma for 20 but that's expensive. But it's slow and doesn't have fleet, it can be avoided for sometime of the game and can be shot to pieces during. I would personally take a Trygon for combat, more expensive but does a much better job and has fleet!

Ive used Carnis for CC and found them to be lack luster...the same amount of points in Genestealers works better. I prefer MC saturation and usualy end up bringing Trygon Primes, Tervigons, Shooty Hive Tyrant and a Harpy. I know most people dont like Harpys but charging someone in cover with a harpy and assaulting with a Trygon is awesome...monsterous creatures going first in CC is just amazing.

How would the Trygon go first?

Charging Harpy's drop the initive of any unit they charge to 1 for the first round of combat.

Ah right I see. I thought they just had frags. Every day is a nice school day!

I believe the rule is screaming assault...dont have my Tyranid book sitting next to me tho.

Thanks peeps, I'll just have to try em out I suppose and see what works/fails.

Was he bringing the raiders out of the portal? because it can't be used for vehicles...

Cool report

as drahzaar said....if those wyches were in raiders they shouldnt have been coming out of a WWP

drahzaar wrote:Was he bringing the raiders out of the portal? because it can't be used for vehicles...

No, as mentioned and in pictures the skimmers were deployed at the start of the game and the Wytches come through the portal only.

Gorechild wrote:Cool report

Thanks

I think the wych raiders started on the board and the wyches themselves came through the portal.

Aye they did mate.