Battle Report - Artifact Retrieval
The group got together at Gamer’s Arsenal this weekend to play a few games and hang out with the local community. Josh (Griff) and Brandon Hutchings played a standard game in the Eternal War mission set. With the Relictors squaring off against the Death Guard, it made sense that the Relictors were seeking possession of a valuable artifact in the possession of their nefarious enemies. This shaped up into one of the closest games our group has played in a long time. You will notice there are few pictures once the game starts; this was entirely my fault, as I got wrapped up in the ensuing slug fest.
Artifact Retrieval
The Mission
The mission for this game was The Emperor’s Will, with Vanguard Strike deployment.
Army Lists
Relictors - Raider Task Force
Space Marines - 2,000
Chapter Tactics: Imperial Fists
HQ
Chaplain
ELITES
Sternguard Veteran Squad: four additional Veterans, 2x Heavy Flamer, Rhino transport
TROOPS
Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines, Multi-Melta, Meltagun, Space Marine Sergeant has Combi-Melta, Rhino transport
Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines, Multi-Melta, Meltagun, Space Marine Sergeant has Combi-Melta, Rhino transport
Tactical Squad: Flamer, Razorback transport with Lascannon and Twin Plasma Guns
Tactical Squad: Flamer, Razorback transport with Lascannon and Twin Plasma Guns
Tactical Squad: Plasma Cannon
Scout Squad: Land Speeder Storm transport with Heavy Flamer
FAST ATTACK
Stormtalon Gunship: Skyhammer Missile Launcher, Twin Assault Cannon
Stormtalon Gunship: Skyhammer Missile Launcher, Twin Assault Cannon
HEAVY SUPPORT
Centurion Devastator Squad: Nebuloscope; Twin Lascannons, Missile Launchers
Thunderfire Cannon
Stalker
The Traveler’s Host
Chaos Space Marines - 2,000
FORTIFICATIONAegis Defense Line
HQ
Typhus
TROOPS
Plague Marines: two additional Plague Marines, 2 Plasma Guns, Plague Champion has Power Fist, Rhino transport
Plague Marines: two additional Plague Marines, 2 Plasma Guns, Plague Champion has Power Fist, Rhino transport
Plague Marines: two additional Plague Marines, 2 Meltaguns, Plague Champion has Power Fist
Chaos Cultists: Plague Zombies
FAST ATTACK
Chaos Spawn: four additional Chaos Spawn, Mark of Nurgle
Chaos Spawn: four additional Chaos Spawn, Mark of Nurgle
HEAVY SUPPORT
Chaos Land Raider: Extra Armor, Dirge Caster
Obliterator: one additional Obliterator, Mark of Nurgle, Veterans of the Long War
Obliterator: one additional Obliterator, Mark of Nurgle, Veterans of the Long War
Pre-game
Typhus’s Warlord Trait is preset as Lord of Terror; the Chaplain rolled for his and got Storm of Fire. The Death Guard placed their Aegis Defense Line along the center of the table so they could move up and use it as cover on turn one. The first turn would not be affected by Night Fight.
The Space Marines' objective can be seen on the left side of the second floor.
The Chaos objective is sitting against the furthest Bastion in the left picture.
The Scouts Infiltrated with their Storm onto the extreme left flank, behind the Firestorm Redoubt.
Chaos attempted unsuccessfully to Seize the Initative. The Space Marines then leapt into action against their hated foe.
Turn One
With the majority of their offensive capacity in reserve, the Space Marines settled into position and started firing. The Centurions managed two Glancing Hits on the Land Raider, removing two Hull Points. The Thunderfire Cannon rained down ordnance on the squad of Spawn nearest to the Land Raider, bringing down one of the beasts. Further fire was unable to do any significant damage to the dug-in Chaos Marines.
The Death Guard responded by rushing the center of the table. The Plague Marines zipped up to the Aegis Line to protect their Rhinos, while the Spawn careened headlong towards combat. At such high speeds, their firepower had little effect on the entrenched foe. The Chaos Spawn on the right flank assaulted the Land Speeder Storm, surrounding it to ensure no survivors. Unbelievably, they were unable to even scratch the light transport.
Objectives Controlled: Chaos Space Marines 0, Space Marines 1
Additional Chaos Space Marine Points: None
Additional Space Marine Points: None
Turn One Score: 0-3, Space Marines
Turn Two
Both Tactical Squads arrived from Reserves, escorted by the Stormtalons. These all deployed on the Space Marines’ right flank, near a Plague Marine Rhino and the unscathed group of Spawn. The Land Speeder Storm shot away at maximum speed, moving toward the Chaos objective. With other minor movements, the Space Marines started their shooting phase.
Both Stormtalons fired on the Rhino, but to the surprise of all it emerged completely unscathed. Not even a single Hull Point had been removed! The first Tactical Squad then added their fire with three Melta shots; they ALSO failed to damage the transport! Finally the last Tactical Squad fired, and were able to destroy the resilient vehicle in a storm of shrapnel.
The Centurions fired on the Land Raider once more, but failed to do any damage. The Razorbacks went next, evaporating the surviving Rhino in a terrible explosion. The Plasma Cannon fired on the survivors, leaving three Plague Marines intact.
The Death Guard received both Obliterator squads from Reserve; they landed safely behind the main Relictors defensive position and engaged their weaponry. The Plague Marines consolidated from their wrecked vehicles and took up defensive positions to offer fire support. Typhus and his squad disembarked from their Land Raider near the Stalker, while the tank itself turned to make a shot against the Scouts.
The Obliterators opened fire on the Thunderfire Cannon, disabling the artillery piece with beams of searing energy. The second squad fired on the Razorback, exploding the Lascannon on the turret. Three Tactical Marines died under the hail of corroded Boltguns, and the Land Raider shot the Scouts’ speeding transport from the sky.
The unscathed Spawn squad launched a disordered charge against both Tactical Squads, suffering no damage from the Overwatch. Several Marines were slain in the melee, and the Spawn suffered a few wounds in return. One of the Tactical Squads fled from combat, exiting the table as they did so. This left the other squad to deal with the mutated horrors. Typhus and his squad crushed the Stalker in close combat, turning their attentions toward the main Space Marine defenses.
Objectives Controlled: Chaos Space Marines 0, Space Marines 1
Additional Chaos Space Marine Points: None
Additional Space Marine Points: First Blood
Turn Two Score: 0-4, Space Marines
Turn Three
The Sternguard failed again to arrive from Reserve. The Space Marines quickly repositioned to deal with the threats in their backfield. Both Flyers moved to engage the Obliterators, along with the Razorbacks. The Scouts rushed the Chaos objective on foot, moving to secure the potential weapon for chapter use.
The Techmarine, Razorbacks, and Stormtalons managed to kill one squad of two Obliterators and wound one from the second squad. The Centurions were still unable to knock out the Chaos Land Raider, and the Tactical Marines were still locked in close combat. With a roar of hatred, the Techmarine charged the two surviving Obliterators.
The Servo Arm worked back and forth, cutting the first Obliterator in two and wounding the second. Before the next stroke could be finished, the Obliterator formed a crackling fist of its own, and the Techmarine exploded in a welter of gore. The Spawn and the Tactical Squad exchanged more wounds, but neither side could gain an advantage in the desperate fight.
Typhus and his squad continued their advance as the Plague Zombies shambled onto the board near the Scouts. The lone Obliterator turned toward the Hovering Stormtalon, already morphing its next weapon.
The Obliterator fired his Multi-Melta, destroying the Stormtalon’s Skyhammer Launchers. Typhus’s men exploded the Razorback that waited just in front of them. The second squad ran up the flank, getting closer to help attack the Imperial base.
Typhus and his Plague Marines were unable to reach the Space Marines that fell from the destroyed Razorback in the Assault Phase. However, the Obliterator easily punched through the Hovering Stormtalon, exploding it in a rain of fiery debris. The Spawn and the Tactical Squad continued their fight, with neither side able to gain the upper hand.
Objectives Controlled: Chaos Space Marines 0, Space Marines 2
Additional Chaos Space Marine Points: Linebreaker
Additional Space Marine Points: First Blood, Linebreaker
Turn Three Score: 1-7, Space Marines
Turn Four
The Sternguard finally arrived from Reserve and deployed in the crater near the wrecked Stalker, lining up their shots on Typhus and his rotten band. The Stormtalon jetted away to deal with the Plague Zombies before they could overwhelm the Scouts. The other free assets in the Space Marine firebase positioned to ensure the Obliterator was slain.
The Razorback fired its twin Plasma Guns and cut down the demonic Marine. Next the Centurions fired, again failing to damage the Land Raider. However, the Scouts and the Stormtalon combined their fire to leave only four Plague Zombies as a threat to the Scouts. The Sternguard then opened fire on the Plague Marines with Typhus, using their Vengeance rounds. Unbelievably, they failed to bring down even a single enemy! Despite inflicting three wounds, the Plague Marines passed all of their Feel No Pain rolls.
The surviving Zombies shambled towards the Scouts to launch an assault. The Land Raider picked up the survivors in the middle of the field, starting back towards the Chaos objective. Typhus and his squad moved into the Relictors firebase, crawling up floor after floor towards the Tactical Squad and the Centurions. The Spawn moved to within striking distance of the Sternguard, crying out in unwitting praise to Father Nurgle.
Typhus swept his Manreaper in a cleaving arc, dismembering the entire squad of Tactical Marines while his Champion challenged the Sergeant. A moment later the Sergeant was crushed into the wall by a terrible Power Fist blow, and the Champion called out his praise to Father Nurgle. Apparently the warrior’s arrogance was offensive to his patron, for bony protrusions exploded from the corpulent flesh. Spawnhood!
The freshly arrived Spawn crashed into the Sternguard, losing one of their number to the Overwatch. The Chaplain quickly dispatched a second in close combat, and the remainder of the Sternguard slew a third. The remaining Spawn managed to drag down one of the Sternguard during these opening moments of the melee.
The struggle continued to no avail between the other Spawn and the Tactical Squad; they had now been locked in combat for five rounds of combat, and both sides of the struggle were somehow still above half strength. The Plague Zombies charged into the Scouts, and were cut down with the exception of a lone fighter, with no return damage done to the Scouts.
It had been a brutal turn for Chaos, but Typhus and his entire squad were now knee-deep in slain Space Marines. The objectives game had become very close.
Objectives Controlled: Chaos Space Marines 1, Space Marines 0
Additional Chaos Space Marine Points: Linebreaker
Additional Space Marine Points: First Blood, Linebreaker
Turn Four Score: 4-2, Chaos Space Marines
Turn Five
The Space Marines were running short on units that could help affect the battle at this point. Night fell over the battlefield as the small squad from the surviving Razorback disembarked and moved toward their own objective, while the squad from the exploded Razorback moved forward to contribute their shots. The Stormtalon moved toward the Land Raider in hopes that it could engage the troops inside; the Plague Marines were getting dangerously close to the Scouts on the Chaos objective.
The Centurion Sergeant bolstered his brothers as they took aim on the retreating Land Raider; if they were to stop the rampaging behemoth, this would be their last chance. The warriors finally found their mark. After rerolls for Tank Hunter, the Lascannons had scored three Penetrating Hits, and the Missile Launchers contributed a further two Glancing Hits! The Land Raider mushroomed in a titanic explosion, leaving three Plague Marines standing in the crater. The Storm Talon opened fire on these survivors, but they endured with typical Death Guard resilience.
Combined fire from the two small Tactical Squads brought down two Plague Marines from Typhus’s unit. With the shooting completed, it moved on to the assaults still raging. The Chaplain and his men quickly put the last Spawn to the sword, moving to put some distance between themselves and Typhus. At this point Slay the Warlord had become too important to risk; the points were going to be very close! The Scouts finished their battle with the Zombies and stepped behind the bastion, clearing any potential shots from the approaching Plague Marines. The Space Marines and Spawn continued their battle on the flank, with absolutely no damage being done.
The Plague Marines struggled to get clear of their destroyed Land Raider as Typhus moved to engage the Chaplain and Sternguard. His squad of Plague Marines remained behind to engage the Tactical Marines that were approaching.
The Spawn and the Tactical Squad continued to impress absolutely no one. Typhus declared his charge against the Sternguard, taking two more Wounds from Overwatch in the process! On top of these poor rolls, he failed to make the distance across the crater. The Spawn that had been the Plague Champion barreled into the nearest Tactical Squad, exchanging one wound for no damage done in return.
At this point the Space Marines were controlling a very narrow victory; however, the dice roll determined there would be a sixth turn.
Objectives Controlled: Chaos Space Marines 0, Space Marines 1
Additional Chaos Space Marine Points: Linebreaker
Additional Space Marine Points: First Blood, Linebreaker
Turn Five Score: 1-5, Space Marines
Turn Six
Both sides were exhausted from the endless combats, but the Space Marines were solidifying their hold on the back objective. It was still a matter of keeping the Scouts intact until the battle came to a close.
The Stormtalon repositioned to take aim on the advancing Plague Marines once more, putting itself in a dangerous position to do so. The Centurions drew a bead through the central ruins as well, hoping to protect the Neophytes from the grisly fate that was approaching. The Tactical Squads made moves to get better firing positions on the Plague Marines fighting for the Relictors objective.
The Centurions scored five hits and five wounds against the Plague Marines, catching the first in the open. However, the bloated veteran soaked both Missile Launcher hits and one of the Lascannon hits before he perished. The remaining hits then eliminated the second Plague Marine, leaving a lone survivor. The Stormtalon unleashed a blistering point-blank fusillade of its own; when the smoke cleared the Plague Marines were no more.
The Sternguard Rhino moved quickly to protect its charges from Typhus, sealing off his route to potentially engage them in close combat. The close combats were fought again, with no real damage being done by either side.
The Plague Marines on the Relictors’ right flank had been encroaching all game from their shattered ride; they now turned back to attempt shots on the Scouts. Unfortunately for Chaos, they were just outside of range. Typhus turned and barreled into the unengaged Tactical Marines, while the Plague Marines joined their former Champion in battle against the other squad. Little damage was done to either side in this close combat, until Typhus issued his challenge.
The Sergeant leapt forward to honor the Relictors, hammering his chainsword against Typhus’s armor. His blade couldn’t find purchase, but before he could step clear the Manreaper bisected his torso, instantly turning him to carrion. Typhus took a step to engage the rest of the squad before his torso exploded in a fountain of gore, mutated limbs ripping him apart. Typhus had rolled Spawnhood as well!
The roll came up a 4+; the game would continue to the seventh and final turn.
Objectives Controlled: Chaos Space Marines 0, Space Marines 1
Additional Chaos Space Marine Points: Linebreaker
Additional Space Marine Points: First Blood, Linebreaker
Turn Six Score: 1-5, Space Marines
Turn Seven
Recognizing the last threat to the Scouts, the Stormtalon spun on its axis and lined up a shot on the Plague Marines. The Rhinos from the two Tactical Squads moved to block a potential charge from the surviving Spawn, as they were now only facing a single Marine. The Centurions moved down as well, looking to engage one of the mewling Spawn below them.
The Stormtalon unleashed its ordnance on the Plague Marines, slaying one of them. Then the remainder of the battlefield devolved into a brutal melee.
Typhus’ Spawn held firm, despite being charged by the Centurions and fighting off the Tactical Squad’s attacks. However, he was unable to do any damage in return. The Sternguard were lead crashing into the Plague Marines by their Chaplain, cutting down all but one of them before taking a pair of casualties in return. Finally, the Spawn on the right flank cut clear of their opponents and consolidated back towards the Scouts.
The Spawn made a move as directly as possible towards the Scouts. Unfortunately, they were still 14” away from their intended target, and so could take no further part in the game. The Plague Marines moved ahead as well; the Scouts had moved away as far as they could while still possessing the objective, which meant two of the Plague Marines would be able to fire.
The Plague Marines scored two hits against their foe, but neither could be converted to a wound. At this point, the two armies had struggled as far as they could go, and the Relictor had emerged victorious.
Objectives Controlled: Chaos Space Marines 0, Space Marines 1
Additional Chaos Space Marine Points: Linebreaker
Additional Space Marine Points: First Blood, Linebreaker
Turn Seven Score: 1-5, Space Marines Victory
Post-Game Thoughts:
When this game started, I had planned to just pay enough attention to the game to write a battle report. I had plenty of Tyranids to be painting, after all. Early on, however, I was pulled completely into the game. It became very apparent that this one would come down to the wire.
I think the Spawn definitely helped insure a Space Marines victory. They spent all game rolling very few attacks, and rolling poorly for the attacks they did receive. When you consider they had an easy kill lined up on the Land Speeder Storm early on, it becomes obvious how much of an impact their poor performance had on the outcome.
The issue with the Boons also reminded me why I don’t play Chaos anymore. I wonder how much damage Typhus could have done if he hadn’t been cut down by a single bad luck roll of chance? It is further frustrating for the Chaos player here because he is being punished for “winning” a challenge. At any rate, we can’t go back and find out. The dice fall as they will.
The Space Marine list performed very admirably, particularly the firebase. The Centurion Devastators did what needed to be done, and saved a late objective loss from occurring. The Chaplain also makes for a very nice, cheap helper HQ to lead the Sternguard. With their extra attack, his Hatred also comes into play more effectively.
The game was a dogfight to the end, and it was great fun to watch. In the end, however, the Relictors escaped with their artifact. I’m sure the Death Guard will return soon to avenge this slight, and reclaim what is theirs in a rematch!
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