Time for another Raven Guard Battle Report. This time I was up against Max’s Harlequins, and a player with a somewhat more competitive oeuvre to my own, so even though he was 'handicapped', as it were, by a slightly less-than-top-tier army, I was feeling slightly pessimistic. So pessimistic, in fact, that if pessimism were an Olympic event, I wouldn't have fancied my chances. Hur hur hur.
But enough ground-breaking comedy, time for a serious report. I took plenty of photos this time, as well. Anyway, my army consisted of my Counts-as Lias Issodon, a Level 2 Librarian, five Sternguard, one Mortis and one Venerable Dreadnought, two mechanised Tactical Squads, a Stormtalon and both my Predators. I'd packed this army in the morning, and only found out at Lunch Time on the day of the battle that my opponent was bringing a full Masque Detachment loaded with Caresses and as many Haywire weapons as possible. Nevertheless, I felt that I had enough armoured infantry to swarm him where he castled and get as much Instant Death going on with his Jetbikes as possible. We rolled for a Dawn of War and Purge the Alien game and started deploying.
I won the roll-off (after no fewer than five tied attempts!) and chose to go first, deploying my Predator Annihilator and Mortis Dreadnought in commanding positions and my Tactical Squads as close to his castled units as I could, intending that they would use their transports to get into Rapid-fire range and start depleting units before they could gain momentum. For Max's part, it seemed he intended to run rings around me from the get-go, so I would have to do my best to deny him the chance.
Turn 1 began with my Venerable Dread podding into cover, ready to charge some Jetbikes as soon as he had the chance. After this, a Rhino barely managed to move an inch before it immobilised itself on a rock. Grumbling, the tactical Squad inside debarked and lined up to do their best at maximum range. Meanwhile, the Predator Destructor broke cover and started putting rounds on the enemy Skimmer, joined a moment later by its Lascannon counterpart. The light vehicle was momentarily lost in a haze of colour and dancing images before it exploded spectacularly, its mirage launchers hopelessly outmatched by the Imperial firepower. After this, a Skyweaver was smoked by the Mortis Dreadnought, the rest of the Squadron then failing their Morale check and fleeing to the very edge of the battlefield. A single dancer on the other side of the board was the final casualty, his squad weathering a storm of fire from the Tactical Squad before failing one save against a throw-away Storm Bolter from the immobilised Rhino.
In return, the Harlequins took a significant chunk out of my army. Making use of a rule I had totally forgotten about, the Death Jester's Shrieker Cannon took one Marine out of one of my Tactical Squads, who then failed their Morale Check and ran sideways off the board. Meanwhile, my infiltrated Sternguard copped a charge from a full Troupe, complete with Shadowseer. The Eldar took wounds from Combi-flamers, claiming three Sternguard in return, while Korbijn slew the Shadowseer in single combat. The Troupe Master making his escape, with the Sternguard hot on his heels.
The Skyweavers began the game castled in the corner of the board.
2+ Cover Saves, indeed!
The Voidweaver was about as much use as my Rhino, shame it was thrice the price.
Turn 2 saw me make some gains here and there. I dealt significant wounds to one Skyweaver Squadron. My Venerable Dreadnought fired its Plasma Cannon at the Death Jester, who was saved by his cover shenanigans. Korbijn and his Sternguard finished off their assailants, with the Troupe Master being gunned down as he fled.
My plan to hammer the Harlies while they were castled was in tatters, so my remaining Tactical Squad prepared to receive a charge. The lone Skyweaver came first, with all of my Overwatch failing to accomplish anything. After this, the squad was also charged by a full Troupe, including a Solitaire. Obviously they didn’t even get the chance to strike. My Sternguard fared little better, losing all of their remaining members to Zephyrglaives. Finally, the depleted Troupe on the far right of the board charged and wrecked the stricken Rhino with their Caresses.
The Venerable Dread would probably have been one of my star players, had it not failed in the last combat.
Making use of that sweet Shrouding.
By the end of Turn 3, I had begun to think I might be in with a chance of winning. My Stormtalon dropped onto the board in Hover Mode. My remaining Rhino roared toward the consolidating Harlequin Troupe, sending them packing even as it failed its terrain check *rolls eyes*. Meanwhile, the Venerable Dread made a counter-charge against the Skyweavers, knocking two out of the air and sending the last one fleeing off the board.
The enemy turn saw the Harlequins start clawing back the game. The Troupe which had previously wrecked the a Rhino went on to do the same to my Predator Annihilator, while their counterparts in the centre of the board rallied, casting Veil of Tears and Shrouding and taking out the other Rhino. With that, the Victory Points stood at 6 – 4 and I was quietly confident.
Mortis puts Las up the field. As you can see, we take things seriously at our club.
I love Dreadnoughts, and they love me.
Turn 4 saw me truly give the game away. With Veil of Tears and Shrouding preventing any meaningful shooting against them, the remaining Troupe was all but invulnerable. Stupidly, I moved my Predator, Dreadnought and Stormtalon forward to see if I could get a shot, while Korbijn and the Librarian ran to claim a Linebreaker.
In the Harlequin’s turn, my defeat was assured. The Troupe which had taken out my Predator stuck around to claim its own Linebreaker point. The central Deathstar hammered forward, their sights set on the helpless units I had stupidly fed them. The tank lasted all of three seconds, while the Drop Pod actually managed to weather the Solitaire’s onslaught.
The Sternguard prepare to receive a thunderous charge.
...having already survived one difficult combat against the Eldar.
Luckily, they would have help against the Jetbikes.
The fifth and final turn of the game was just a matter of clearing up. My Venerable Dreadnought charged the Troupe in the centre even as they picked over the wreck of my Predator. He whiffed all but one of his attacks and absolutely obliterated one basic Harlequin. A Second hit would have got me a Kill Point, but it wasn’t to be. The Mortis Dreadnought took a cheeky shot at the Solitaire, but it was to no avail.
Finally, the Harlequins ended the Venerable Dread’s rampage with Caresses and Haywire grenades, claiming a tenth Victory Point for Max and ending the game.
This was the point at which it all went wrong, really.
I should have focussed more fire on that unit.
This Rhino would prove quite the inconvenience to the Eldar, and would pay dearly for it.
The final result was 8 – 10 to the Harlies. I definitely feel like I snatched defeat from the jaws of victory there. If I had been more careful and not under-estimated that Deathstar to such a degree. Nevertheless, it was a rather entertaining game. No grinding combats, no turns consisting only of movement, just two fully-painted armies going at each-other like mortal foes.
As a final thought, Max told me that the game had restored his faith in Harlequins as an army. Sadly, with the opponents he usually faces, he felt that he couldn’t make the army work. I’m glad I could be of use in that regard, at least.
Still hoping to get that game against some Tyrant’s Legion, so stay tuned.
