Yesterday after work, a buddy and I had the opportunity to give our 'Ard Boyz lists a spin against each other. We figured that as wonky as the missions are for 'Ard Boyz, we would do one with all 3 objectives at once with Seize Ground as Primary, Kill Points as Secondary and Capture and Control as Tertiary. We rolled for deployment type and ended up with Pitched Battle.
Army Lists:
Space Wolves
H.Q.
Bjorn
Plasma Cannon -270
Njal
Runic Armor -245
Rune Priest
Chooser of the Slain, Living Lightning, Murderous Hurricane -110
Elites
Wolf Scouts 5x
Melta -85
Wolf Scouts 5x
Melta -85
Wolf Guard 4x
4x Combi-Melta/Power Fist -172
Troops
Grey Hunters 6x
Melta, Mark of the Wulfen, Wolf Standard, Rhino -155
Grey Hunters 6x
Melta, Mark of the Wulfen, Wolf Standard, Rhino -155
Grey Hunters 5x
Flamer, Las/
Plas Razorback -150
Grey Hunters 5x
Flamer, Las/
Plas Razorback -150
Grey Hunters 5x
Flamer, Las/
Plas Razorback -150
Grey Hunters 5x
Flamer, Las/
Plas Razorback -150
Heavy Support
Long Fangs 6x
3x Missile Launchers, 2x Plasma Cannons, Lazorback -235
Long Fangs 6x
3x Missile Launchers, 2x Lascannons, Lazorback -245
Long Fangs 6x
5x Missile Launchers -140
Total: 2497
Grey Knights:
H.Q.
Draigo -275
Librarian
Quickening, Shrouding, Sanctuary, Might of Titan -170
Troops
Paladins 10x
Apothecary, Brotherhood banner/Psycannon, Force Halberd/Psycannon, Daemonhammer/Psycannon, Force Weapon/Psycannon, Daemonhammer, Force Halberd, Force Weapon, Halberd, Daemon Hammer -770
Troops 6x
Justicar with Daemonhammer, Psycannon/Halberd, Force Weapon, Halberd, Daemonhammer, Force Weapon -265
Troops 6x
Justicar with Daemonhammer, Psycannon/Halberd, Force Weapon, Halberd, Daemonhammer, Force Weapon -265
Troops 6x
Justicar with Daemonhammer, Psycannon/Halberd, Force Weapon, Halberd, Daemonhammer, Force Weapon -265
Troops 6x
Justicar with Daemonhammer, Psycannon/Halberd, Force Weapon, Halberd, Daemonhammer, Force Weapon -265
Troops 5x
Justicar with Daemonhammer, Psycannon/Halberd, Force Weapon, Halberd, Force Weapon -225
Total: 2500
Terrain: We wanted to make it as fair as possible whichever deployment type we resulted in so we went with the following for both sides of the table with the terrain features stretching from 6" off the board edge to the edge of the deployment zones. On each side (going from left to right) there was a 2 story structure that counted as a ruin, a forested area that counted as 5+ cover and a single story "bunker-like" structure that counted as a ruin again. In the middle of the board along the center line, there was a moderate patch (large enough to obscure most of a Land Raider behing) of forest giving 5+ cover, a large structure that blocked like of sight (enough to completely obscure a Land Raider behind) and a forest similar to the one previously described.
Objective Placement: The Seize Ground Objectives were placed within each of the structures on the 2nd floor (or the roof of the bunkers). Capture and Control objectives were left off until deployment.
We roll to see who deploys first and he ends up winning; however, I choose to use Bjorn's re-roll as I need to get as much shooting in as possible before that terminator armored horde reaches my lines and as I need to prevent that Paladin squad getting dug into that center structure.
After the roll my opponent rolls for Grand Strategy and gets a 1. He decides to give Counter Attack to his Paladins.
Deployment: I decide to split my army to maximize my shooting as much as possible. On my left, I deploy my Plasma Cannon Long Fangs and Missile Launcher Long Fangs in the 2 story ruin, deploy one Las/
Plas Grey Hunter pack along the back of the building out of
LOS and deploy forward Njal's Rhino on the right of the structure, another Las/
Plas Razorback next the Njal's Rhino and deploy one of the Lazorbacks sideways in front of the Rhino and Razorback along the Deployment Line so as to obscure both tanks in the event the Initiative is seized. I place my Capture and Control objective in the middle of my forest. On the other side, I do an almost mirror deployment with a few exceptions. Bjorn hangs out behind the Rune Priest's Rhino and the Lascannon Long Fangs deploy inside the bunker. The Wolf Scouts are both left in reserve. My opponent decides he wants to nullify my deployment as much as possible and decides to strong arm Bjorn's side of the board as much as possible.
He places his Capture and Control marker to the front left (from my perspective) of his 2 story ruin. In the ruin he places a six man terminator squad and 5 man terminator squad in the top floor and places a third terminator squad in the bottom floor of the building. The Paladins stretch out along the middle of the deployment with half of the squad taking up cover in the forest and then forming a Conga line to the Capture and Control objective, Draigo is in the middle and the Librarian is about 6" from the ruin. He decides to leave his other 2 six man squads in reserve to Deep Strike.
At this point, my opponent rolls to seize and ends up getting a 5
Turn 1
Space Wolves
Before moving, I roll Njal's super special sauce power and get Driving Gale! (Enemies within 24" are -1
BS this turn) I also cast Storm Caller Successfully on Njal.
Movement sees Njal's Rhino and the Long Fang Lazorback scooting to the back wall of the center terrain piece (moved 12" on both), the left-front most Las/
Plas Razorback shifted 12" to the right stopping just inside the woods. On the right side, the mass of tanks and Bjorn all moved forward 6" so as to get some clearer shots on the Paladins.
In shooting, his Librarian casts shrouding successfully (Rune Priest doesn't block it) and I focus the Lascannon Long Fangs first on the Paladins. 3 Missile Launchers and 2 Lascannons later, there's 4 wounds on the Paladins (2 Lascannon, 2 Missile Launcher). He has a conundrum now as everyone has a 3+ Invulnerable against shooting and he isn't sure if he should start taking chances with Draigo. He votes for the safe bet and takes one Lascannon wound on Draigo and the other on a Force Sword Paladin. He allocates one Missile Launcher to the Force Sword/Psycannon Paladin and the other on a Force Halberd Paladin. Draigo and Friend roll 2's for their saves, vaporizing the Paladin and putting a Wound on Draigo. Just when I think it really can't get any worse for the guy he rolls a 1 for the Psycannon Paladin but saves for the Halberd. Next, I decide the Lazorback would be better suited to pop smoke as I feel I've done enough damage this turn. The Las/
Plas Razorback whiffs with its Lascannon. The Rune Priest casts Living Lightning on the Paladins but they laugh it off between 2+ armor and Feel No Pain. I decide Bjorn's Plasma Cannon will be wasted on the Paladins as they're do spread out. I decide to aim for the 2nd story of the Structure and end up covering 3 terminators from the 6 man squad and 2 terminators from the 5 man squad, rolling to wound isn't surprising as everyone is wounded under the template but what is surprising is his failure on all 5 saves! At this point, I've exhausted all of my shooting and he passes all of his Leadership tests handily.
Grey Knights
Movement sees the Paladins lumber forward, coming a little closer together and coming out of cover (only 2 were left in the forest at this point). The terminators in the building shuffled some to prevent a repeat of the previous turn.
Shooting sees the Psycannon from the depleted 6 man Terminators failing to do anything to the Lazorback between horrible rolling and 1 passed cover save. The depleted 5 man squad picks up the slack and ends up penning 3 times on the Lazorback and rolling a 2,3 and 4 on the damage table. The 6 man terminator team decides the las/
plas razorback is a more appealing target and fires off its shots but to no avail as it passes the 2 cover saves it is called to make. The Paladins decide that they need some Grey Hunters out on foot so they pour 12 Psycannon shots into the Rune Priests Rhino but forget that they're shooting like guardsmen and only hit with 3 shots. The 3 shots penetrate, with 2 being blocked by cover and the 3rd shot blowing off the Storm Bolter of the Rhino.
Turn 2
Space Wolves
Njal's special sauce power for the turn ends up being Driving Gale, making the Paladins lives miserable. Njal casts Tempests Wrath in case the Terminators come in this run and gets it off without a hitch (Libby doesn't block it) For reserves, I roll snake eyes for both Scout Squads.
Movement sees the Left Side staying stationary, the Lazorback and Njal's Rhino shift right to give clear line of sight to the Paladins for the Lazorback and cover from Njal's Rhino. The Rune Priest Rhino and Las/
Plas Razorback stay still as does Bjorn.
In shooting, the Librarian gets off Shrouding (Njal fails to block) and I decide to chance it and cast Jaws of the World Wolf to try and snipe out Draigo but the Librarian blocks it. The Grey Hunters inside fire their lone Melta Gun and whiff completely against the Paladins. The Lazorback that's still working rolls 1's to hit so he sucks it up. The Las/
Plas Razorback lands a shot on the Paladins with the Lascannon but Draigo makes the save . The Rune Priest casts Murderous Hurricane successfully (Libby Failed to block) and does no damage with the S3 hits but does enough by making them take Dangerous Terrain on top of difficult terrain tests. Long Fangs decide to try and make something happen and fire everything into the depleted 5 man squad and end up killing the Psycannon and 1 more Terminator between everything. Bjorn unloads on the other depleted squad and only nets a kill on a hammer terminator. The Las/
Plas razorback in the woods pops a shot off at the Paladins and Draigo fails another save.
Grey Knights
Draigo casts Psychic Communion but is subsequently blocked by Njal's runic staff. Upon rolling for reserves, he gets box cars so it doesn't really matter. His first placement is about 6-7"behind Njal's rhino, he rolls the scatter and they drift right on top of the Rhino, go to the Mishap Table and my poor boy rolls a 1
. On his next placement, he decides to try to be ballsy again and places the 2nd terminator squad in the center building, they land on target and no one fails their Dangerous Terrain tests.
Movement sees the Paladins setting an angry glare at the Rune Priest but decide Njal makes a juicier target and makes their move towards him but roll snake eyes for terrain. No one takes dangerous terrain wounds. Everyone else kind of shuffles.
Shooting sees the newly arrived terminators exploding Njal's Rhino (ouch!) and the Paladin's getting all keyed up for a fusillade of Storm Bolter and Psycannon fire. In the end though, it is relatively ineffective as BS3 terminators aren't the scariest in the world, I end up losing 3 regular Grey Hunters after all is said and done. The psycannon that remained on the top floor decides to go for the easy kill point and pops the bust Lazorback. The bottom floor terminators pop open the Lazorback that is out in the open.
The Paladins wish they could assault, but no dice.
Turn 3
Njal rolls Vengeful Tornado (sweetness) and decides to save his Psychic Powers for the coming phases. Reserves see both Scouts coming in on my right hand side.
Movement sees Njal's squad moving towards the Paladins, the Rune Priests squad disembarking and moving towards the Paladins and the Scouts moving towards the middle to aim at the Paladins (at this point I have 8 melta guns pointed at the Paladins). The Las/
PLas Razorback moves up 6 while the Rune Priests Rhino zooms forward 12" and pops smoke to provide cover for the Razorback. Bjorn shuffles in behind the Razorback and beside the wrecked Razorback so as to line up some shots. Las/
Plas Razorbacks that are in the backfield move onto their objectives.
Shooting sees Shrouding blocked again and the bored out of their mind Long Fangs unleashing hell on the newly arrived terminators and vaporizing the squad between Plasma Cannons and Frag Missiles. The Rune Priests squad opened up with their Melta's but only one landed a hit and Draigo saved it. The scouts fired, hit and in the end downed 2 Paladins. Njal's squad fired and downed 2 more Paladins. Lascannon Long Fangs fired into the top floor finally waxing the psycannon up there. Bjorn nails the bottom floor termies netting 2 dead and the Plasma Gun from the Las/
Plas netted another dead terminator. Vengeful Tornado nets 0 damage to the Paladins
. The top terminator squad stays with leadership; however, the bottom unit breaks and falls back 7". Paladins pass their Leadership. Both Grey Hunter squads that are disembarked pop their Wolf Standards for the glorious assault.
In assault, Njal's and the Rune Priests squad roll in on the Paladin horde and everyone makes it in. He successfully casts Hammer Hand on the Librarian, the Paladins and Draigo (yeah...total suckage). With the Halberds striking first and getting 4 attacks each, things don't go well for the Wolves. I lose 4 Grey Hunters from Njal's squad (this saves me however as it prevents Draigo from swinging) and lose 3 Grey Hunters from the Rune Priests squad. The Librarian takes no wounds from Nightwing (Njal and the Librarian are in Base to Base); however, Njal gets a Wound through and Force Weapons the Librarian. Sadly, at the same time, the Librarian puts 4 power weapon wounds on Njal and fells the master of tempests. The remaining Grey Hunters with regular weapons do nothing spectacular, failing to cause a wound. Both Mark of the Wulfen hunters swing with 6 attacks and net single wounds spread throughout the remaining Paladins. The Daemonhammers and up killing off the rest of the Grey Hunters while the Power Fist Wolf Guard kill 3 Paladins. Oh and the other Rune Priest just sat around swinging wildly hoping for the best. I end up losing combat but make my morale on box cars.
Grey Knights
Not much for him to do so he moves out the daemon hammer and other terminator squad to assault my stuff by his objective.
Shooting sees the remaining psycannon destroying the Rune Priests Rhino.
Assault sees Draigo and the last Paladin wipe out what was left of the 2 Grey Hunter Packs. The Terminators that came out of the ruin wrecked the Las/
Plas Razorback with their hammer.
Turn 4
Before we start, I look at the clock and realize we have 10 minutes so we call it at that point.
Tallying up, I have 2 seize ground objectives to 1, I had 5 kill points to his 7 and controlled my objective while contesting his. A pretty solid win but one hell of a fight!
Tactical analysis to come up after lunch!
