40k Video Battle Report – Exterminatus Down, the Final Days

This was our last game for 6^th edition, played in support of the Dicehead Campaign for Agora. Look for 7^th edition battle reports coming soon as we start to test the new rules, but this one was worth a post as it continued the narrative of our last game.

The Armies

Cadian 317^th Infantry

Astra Militarum – 1,800

FORTIFICATION

Aegis Defense Line: Quad Gun

HQ

Company Command Squad: WARLORD, Major Treize (Creed), Regimental Standard, Medic, Carapace Armor, Chimera transport with Camo Netting, Multi-Laser, Heavy Bolter

Tank Commander: Leman Russ Punisher with Heavy Bolter and Heavy Bolter Sponsons; joined by Leman Russ Eradicator with Heavy Bolter and Heavy Bolter Sponsons

Primaris Psyker: Mastery Level 2; Prescience, Scrier’s Gaze

Commissar

Priest

TROOPS

Infantry Platoon

Platoon Command Squad: 4x Grenade Launcher, Chimera transport with Camo Netting,                          Multi-Laser, and Heavy Bolter

3x Infantry Squad: 3x Autocannon, 3x Flamer, Krak Grenades

Conscripts: fifteen additional Conscripts

Veteran Squad: Camo Cloaks, Grenadiers, 3x Plasma Guns, Lascannon

HEAVY SUPPORT

Manticore Rocket Launcher

2x Hydra Flak Tanks

Wyvern

Hive Fleet Nug – Assault Swarm

Tyranids – 2,000

HQ

The Swarmlord: WARLORD, Paroxysm, Warp Blast, The Horror

Hive Tyrant: Wings, 2x Twin Devourers with Brainleech Worms, Warp Blast, Psychic Scream

Deathleaper

TROOPS

Hormagaunt Brood: ten additional Hormagaunts

Hormagaunt Brood: ten additional Hormagaunts

Hormagaunt Brood: nine additional Hormagaunts

Hormagaunt Brood: nine additional Hormagaunts

FAST ATTACK

Hive Crone

Hive Crone

HEAVY SUPPORT

Mawloc

Mawloc

Biovore Brood: two additional Biovores

Each Guardsman knew his job, and it was a thankless position to draw. The lone platoon had been sent to babysit an extraction team, and they were praying to the Emperor that the team would be done before the Tyranids arrived.

Less than a week ago, they’d been told the Space Marines were standing between them and the forces of the Great Devourer. They’d been promised a swelling victory that would make regimental history, as they recovered the vital bits of the Exterminatus ships from Chaos hands.

The Tech Priests were busily invoking their deity and removing the scorched earth that surrounded the crash site. Smoke still hung heavily across the battlefield, obscuring the wrecked buildings that had been devastated by more than a year of constant warfare.

“How much longer?” Major Treize asked impatiently. He glanced up at the foggy battlefield once more, then returned his attention to the working Tech Priest.

“Impossible to tell,” the man muttered. “The machine spirit has been invoked. Now we have no choice but to wait for the components to respond.”

As if answering his call, the machine’s screen came to life, and illegible text scrolled across it. The Tech Priest scowled, spurting binaric communication to his teammates.

“What is it?” asked the Guard officer.

“Tyranids. Considerable numbers. Closing on our position now. Advise.”

Treize cursed his luck. “Dig faster.”

The Imperial Guard armor revved their engines and left the battlefield, returning to the rallying point and praying that their engines would hold out. The field of war became silent, other than the whisper of chitin plates scrubbing against one another.

The Swarmlord surpressed the Hormagaunts that fed around the crater, moving in closer to survey what they had not yet eaten. They hissed in irritation, but his will was undeniable.

The work of the prey had been halted, and now consumption could continue across Agora. The Swarmlord stalked away, and the Hormagaunts returned to their feast.

Post-Game Thoughts

Brandon (Astra Militarum):

Overall this was a very fun game. With only one objective, I knew all the pressure would be on that single point. With Tyranids as my opponent I knew I had an uphill battle on my hands, and that wasn’t even considering the fact that I was down by 200 points. It was a challenge I looked forward to. Apparently my army didn’t feel the same.

Creed was apparently still recovering from our last game where he took an orbital blast to the face, because with two Warlord rolls I managed to get the only two that wouldn’t help me. To further my pain, nothing seemed to want to hit. Even my twin-linked Manticore managed to scatter off-target and kill six Gaunts. That was with three blasts! Creed failed his first order, then rolled doubles sixes on the reroll, stopping all orders for the turn. After Turn One’s smoke cleared I’d done practically nothing due to poor dice. By the end of the game they were white hot, but it was too late.

I still nearly managed a draw, until the final contesting model died on the final turn. A very fun game, and I look forward to the next one.

Randall (Tyranids):

This was my opponent’s first run with the new Imperial Guard book, and he put up a good fight to have been down by 200 points. I also appreciated that he continued to play when it still seemed all hope was lost. Too often we give up on the game early, when he was still attempting to hold the objective as the game was drawing to a close. It is fun to see how differently your army shapes up as the final turns draw to a close.

The biggest thing I see changing with my Tyranids in the future is a Synapse buff. I just don’t have enough coverage. With a day or two to review the 7^th edition rulebook, I can see some changes I want to make. I’ve already played one game in 7^th with the new rules (report soon to follow), and it has only reinforced this thought.

More to follow, and as always thanks for watching and reading. Leave a comment as to what you like and what you’d like to see changed!