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Down at Powerfist Gaming last night and played against a chap who goes by the name of Jon. I haven't played against Jon before so will be interesting to see what he brings and how he plays.

Sorry, didn't take pics as had no intention of writing a bat rep. Was still in my mind so I thought I would get it written.

Dark Angels 'Ravenwing' - 2,000 points

HQ

Sammael, Master of the Ravenwing
Ravenwing Command Squad - Black Knight, Apothecary, banner of devastation & grenade launcher
Techmarine - bike, power field generator & auspex

Troops

6 x Ravenwing Attack Squad w/ Attack Bike - 2 x meltaguns - Sgt w/ melta bomb - Attack Bike w/ multi melta
6 x Ravenwing Attack Squad w/ Attack Bike - 2 x meltaguns - Sgt w/ melta bomb - Attack Bike w/ multi melta
6 x Ravenwing Attack Squad w/ Attack Bike - 2 x flamers - Attack Bike w/ multi melta
6 x Ravenwing Attack Squad w/ Attack Bike - 2 x plasma guns - Attack Bike w/ multi melta
6 x Ravenwing Attack Squad w/ Attack Bike - 2 x plasma guns

Fast Attack

7 x Ravenwing Black Knights - 2 x grenade launchers

Chaos Space Marines - 2,000 points

HQ

Chaos Lord - mark of nurgle, black mace & gift of mutation
Chaos Lord - terminator armour, lightning claw, combi flamer & gift of mutation

Troops

7 x Plague Marines - 2 x meltaguns - Champion w/ combi melta
7 x Plague Marines - 2 x flamers
5 x Plague Marines - 2 x plasma guns
5 x Plague Marines - 2 x plasma guns
5 x Plague Marines - 2 x plasma guns
10 x Chaos Cultists

Fast Attack

Heldrake - baleflamer
Heldrake - baleflamer

Heavy Support

2 x Obliterators - mark of nurgle
2 x Obliterators - mark of nurgle
2 x Obliterators - mark of nurgle

Fortifications

Aegis Defence Line w/ comms relay

Game: Dawn of War + Purge the Alien (night fighting is not on)

Deployment

I won the roll off for table sides though lost for deployment; Jon decided to go first. Jon put his aegis at the back in the middle and all three Oblits were positioned behind it. On my right flank was the warlord with a melta unit and a plasma unit for support while all the other units were positioned on the left flank. Cultists are in reserve.

I deployed in the centre, in the centre is a large ruin which will give some good LOS blocking and cover, which I want to use to my advantage as those plasma cannons from the Oblits are really going to hurt me. I put the RW in the centre with the Black Knights and Command Squad in a crater while Attack Bikes take the front flanks with flamer and melta units behind them and then finally the plasma units behind; I suspect plasma units will be high target priority for Jon so I don't want them taking fire.

* Tactical Notes

Jon has a pretty nasty list; Oblits can blow me up with plasma cannons; Heldrakes burn me and I get zero saves; Plague Marines have poison weapons so even if I get them in combat they are pretty survivable, plus they have defensive grenades, uhhh.

My plan is to scout up and try and seize, though it doesn't matter if I manage to seize or not, though it would be nice. Reason for scouting is the Oblits out range me and can hurt me in my deployment zone, basically those Oblits will get two turns firing at me before I can bring my guns into range effectively. At least if I scout I can use the centre ruin for cover and put the pressure on Jon early.

I will drop rad shells on the Oblits and gun them down with plasma etc, though I hope to instatgib them with melta.

To avoid Heldrakes I will move into combat, though I will do this on depleted units as my T5 cannot help me this time against the Plague Marine's poison weapons.

Turn 1

I do my scout move and zoom all my units forward, I don't move the full 12" and Jon has deployed majority of his units 12" from his table edge, so I do not want him charging me or getting into rapid fire range. I then attempt to seize but fail.

Jon moves the plasma unit on the right flank up while all other units fall back.

Shooting; plasma unit fires and kills an Attack Bike on the right flank. Oblits drop mass plasma cannons, as Jon is firing at one of my units which is behind another I get cover; which I pass both wounds Jon scored. Another unit of Oblits totally miss while the other kills two Ravenwing from a melta unit on the left flank.

Ravenwing; all bikers move forward with the Black Knights leading trhe vanguard, the Black Knights have moved into a crater which is right in front of the aegis - going to be close if they are in rapid fire range. I make sure all units (except Attack Bikes) are in the banner range, with the right coherency spacing it can be done.

Shooting; Black Knights rapid fire a single plasma talon into the Oblits along with single shots from the others and two grenade launchers, one grenade launcher fires rad shell and drops the Oblits down to T4. After the plasma rain one Oblit remains with a single wound (Jon went to ground to get +2 cover save from the aegis). Attack Bikes fire into the single Oblit hoping to instagib with melta, though fail. Bolters on the right flank dakka into the plasma unit, Jon does extremely well on his saves and never fails one! Termi-Lord's unit comes under bolter fire and plasma fire from the Command Squad, entire squad is wiped out thanks to mass dakka death and some look out, sir wound passes.

Assault; Attack Bike on the right flank and melta unit charge the plasma unit who earlier killed an Attack Bike, both units slam in and combat is a draw after both sides lose a marine each.

Black Knights attempt to charge the solo Oblit but roll extremely low.

Kill Points - Ravenwing: 1 Chaos Space Marines: 1

* Tactical Notes

Ok, not a too bad start; Jon has got first blood, but that's ok. I have taken out a Plague Marine unit which leaves his warlord exposed, though I guess Jon will move the Termi-Lord to join another unit. I have engaged a plasma unit so at least I am not getting shot; hopefully next turn I'll do hit and run and off I go.

Next turn I will focus on the Oblits some more and the plasma Plague Marines along with the Termi-Lord. I hope I do not take much damage from Heldrake fire attack as my Command Squad is pretty bunched up in the middle.

Turn 2

Jon rolls for reserves and gets all three units, though he re-rolls the result for the Cultists, which turns into a fail so they stay off. Both Heldrakes coming zooming down from the top right ready to bring on the pain.

Movement; Chaos Lord joins a plasma Plague Marine unit on the left flank, this leaves just a single plasma unit ont he left flank free. A unit of Oblits come out to play while the Mace-Lord and his buddies move around to back up the plasma Plague Marines engaged in close combat.

Shooting; plasma Plague Marines on the left flank fire into an Attack Bike and take it out. Termi-Lord's unit fire bolt pistols into the Black Knights, all are safe, Oblits add in heavy flamer support and kill two. Both Heldrakes blast the Command Squad, the first Heldrake scores 5 wounds which one Black Knight just bounces off with power field generator and feel no pain, unfortunately isn't so lucky when the second Heldrake fired and dies - though I only lost two Black Knights from the Command Squad from the dual Heldrake attack, not bad if you ask me . Oblits fire assault cannons into the Command Squad, Techmarine fails the first save and then fails look out, sir, rest of the wounds are saved.

Assault; Mace-Lord charges the already engaged bike, Champion issues a challenge and my Sgt replies. I lose combat after the melta unit loses a marine, they flee while the Attack Bike does hit and run leaving both CSM units to consolidate and be free to shot at. Termi-Lord and Plague Marines charge the Black Knights, Jon forgets to charge the Oblits, doh; Termi-Lord kills a single Black Knight though the Black Knights hammer the Plague Marines with overwatch and two die then another dies to mass corvus hammer attacks. Black Knights attempt to do hit and run and fail :(

Ravenwing; the falling back unit auto regroups and moves forward with support from the nearby flamer unit. All units move up with the idea of gunning down the Obliterators Jon forgot to move, the solo Obliterator and the plasma Plague Marines on the left and right flanks. If it goes well I am going to gain a lot of points this turn.

Shooting; Attack Bike on the left flank along with a plasma unit and melta unit blast the unenaged plasma Plague Marines, only one dies, which is a bit disappointing. Command Squad unleash plasma talons, plasma cannon and rapid fire krak grenades into the solo Oblit, goes to ground and survives all. Oblits in the crater who didn't assault eat bolters and plasma and go down to china town. Flamer unit and supporting melta unit dakka the depleted plasma Plague Marine squad on the right flank, melta unit is out of dakka banner range, I only managed to kill two Plague Marines - only one left which I hope to deck in close combat.

Assault; flamer unit and melta unit charge the solo Plague Marine and smack him silly. Command Squad charges the solo Obliterator and the sheer force of bikes ploughing into the Obliterator finishes him off. Attack Bike and melta unit charge the plasma Plague Marines on the left flank, I think I lose combat though pass morale for both units. Termi-Lord fails to hit a single thing in close combat, my remaining four Black Knights wipe out the Plague Marines leaving just the Termi-lord alive.

Kill Points - Ravenwing: 5 Chaos Space Marines: 3

* Tactical Notes

I've managed to take the lead this turn though I suspect those Heldrakes are going to bring it. I have tried to spread my units and put them in places the Heldrakes my struggle to reach, but when they can move up to 36", vector strike and have torrent it is very difficult.

I suspect Jon will move his Mace-Lord to attack the flamer or melta unit while Heldrakes start burning and doing vector strikes.

Next turn I hope the Plague Marines engaged in close combat fall, if not I will send in the Command Squad to help them. I'll do hit and run with the Black Knights and gun down the Termi-Lord, remaining fire power can go into the Oblits and the Mace-Lord's Plague Marine unit.

Turn 3

Jon rolls for reserves and the Cultists fail to show up; Jon is happy.

Movement; Mace-Lord's unit move to attack the melta unit on the right flank while Heldrakes fly over the flamer unit and Command Squad. Oblits move behind the aegis towards my Command Squad.

Shooting; Heldrakes vector strike the Command Squad and flamer squad; Command Squad is wiped out while two die from the flamer unit. Heldrakes then flame the flamer unit (one survives passes morale), Attack Bike (who dies as only had a single wound left) and plasma unit, which is on the left flank, only one plasma dude survives who passes morale. Oblits rapid fire Sammy, he drops down to a single wound. Mace-Lord's unit fires bolt pistols and a single Ravenwing dies.

Assault; Mace-Lord's unit charges, only a single melta Ravenwing remains and he does hit and run and legs it. Oblits fail charge on Sammy, which is a good job as they would have mushed him. Plague Marines and Ravenwing juke it out, two from each squad left now; Ravenwing fail hit and run, though engaged Attack Bike splits. Termi-Lord kills a single Black Knight, the unit then does hit and run successfully.

Ravenwing; Sammy moves to back up the the two engaged Ravenwing while all units move into the crater for cover from Oblit fire and to act as a terrain buffer, the Termi-Lord is surrounded. Single melta Ravenwing zooms behind the Heldrake mid-field while the Attack Bike gets in the rear of the other Heldrake.

Shooting; the single melta Ravenwing gets lucky and hits the rear of the mid-field Heldrake, scores a penetrating hit which Jon fails to save, I roll a 4 on the damage table; boom it's gone! The remaining Attack Bike fails to be as lucky though. Termi-Lord comes under fire, goes to ground as in terrain and survives with a single wound, damn, I wanted to put fire into the Obliterators.

Assault; Black Knights, remaining plasma dude and nearly full strength plasma unit charge the Termi-Lord and batter him, though I find out the Termi-Lord is not the warlord and I have been going after the wrong Lord, doh! Sammy charges the Plague Marines and only one remains now after Jon passes feel no pain with the other.

Kill Points - Ravenwing: 7 Chaos Space Marines: 5

Turn 4

* At this point due to game the game will be ending this turn.

Cultists come in and Jon drops them down far right corner, even if there was a turn 5 I have little chance of getting them.

Jon moves the Mace-Lord's unit around to the single melta Ravenwing, long way to assault but easily in rapid fire range. Remaining Oblits move out and target the solo flamer Ravenwing while the last Heldrake circles and is ready to burn something.

Shooting; Mace-Lord's unit wastes the solo melta Ravenwing and bags a point for Jon, the Oblits drop double heavy flamers on the solo flamer Ravenwing, though he survives. Heldrake double flames the Black Knights and solo plasma guy, Jon rolls low and scores no wounds.

Assault; Oblits charge and easily mush the solo flamer guy, though the last plasma Plague Marine falls to Sammy's sword.

In my last turn I move all units to dakka the Oblits, I have a lot of plasma left, which I manage to wipe them out and bag myself another kill point.

At the end of the game I only have Sammy (who has a single wound), one plasma Ravenwing, three Black Knights and a depleted plasma unit left. Jon has a Heldrake, Cultists and depleted Plague Marine unit left - it has been a bloody battle!

Ravenwing have got a total of 9 points and one for linebreaker making it 10 points and Chaos Space Marines have a total of 7 kill points plus another for first blood giving Jon a total of 8 points altogether.

Summary

What a proper slugfest! The game was pretty evenly managed as we both had about the same number of kill points and both our armies are equally matched and have some powerful units/combos i.e Heldrake & dakka banner.

Jon played well, though instead of falling back away from me first turn I would have pressed forward and unleashed some rapid fire death. With Jon moving backwards he lost some shooting and pushed himself to his table edge, it servered no advantage as in my turn I just moved up and was still in range anyway. The only other mistake Jon made is he forgot to assault with his Obliterators against my Black Knights, which I am sure combat would have gone his way if he did the assault.

A good game with Jon, really enjoyed it, he has a pretty tough army and as the army is on foot the weakness looks deceiving.

Great report! Very exciting game. Thanks for sharing.

Glad you enjoyed it

Why would you run Black Knights when you can have two Ravenwing Command Squads and the Ravenwing Banner for free (14 points saved off the BKs) which gives you automatic hit-and-run 4d6 in a 12" radius?

With that the game would have been a whitewash.

He probably didn't know. I'm taking notes though - thanks for sharing your advice! It is duly noted. : )

Chaos Lords are fearless = cannot go to ground

You cannot insta gib nurgle marked oblits with meltas as they are T5. Also I personally would have used the helldrakes to flame the non blackknight bikes and denied saves and focused the firepower that they would saves against regardless on them.

You can insta-kill them after you hit them with a Rad grenade from the RW grenade launcher which lowers their T by 1

Asmodai Asmodean wrote:Why would you run Black Knights when you can have two Ravenwing Command Squads and the Ravenwing Banner for free (14 points saved off the BKs) which gives you automatic hit-and-run 4d6 in a 12" radius?

With that the game would have been a whitewash.

That's a very good point. I shall investigate! The auto hit and run is an awesome thing to have.

WangoFett wrote:Chaos Lords are fearless = cannot go to ground

I'll keep that in mind, thanks.

krazykishere wrote:You cannot insta gib nurgle marked oblits with meltas as they are T5. Also I personally would have used the helldrakes to flame the non blackknight bikes and denied saves and focused the firepower that they would saves against regardless on them.

You can when you hit them with a rad shell before firing multi meltas, the rad shell does -1 toughness.

And yes, I would have done the flamer trick you mentioned too.