40k Video Battle Report #6– Space Marines vs Tyranids

After a few missions to learn the new rules, Josh and I decided to give the Maelstrom of War missions a try. We rolled up the second mission, Contact Lost, and then set up for a game of random objectives.

The Armies

Relictors 2^nd Company Strike Force

Space Marines – 2,000

Chapter Tactics: Imperial Fists

HQ

Pedro Kantor: WARLORD

ELITES

Sternguard Veteran Squad: four additional Veterans, Rhino transport

TROOPS

Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines, Plasma Gun, Combi-Plasma, Rhino transport

Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines, Plasma Gun, Combi-Plasma, Rhino transport

Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines, Meltagun, 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

FAST ATTACK

Stormtalon Gunship: Skyhammer Missile Launcher, Twin Assault Cannons

Stormtalon Gunship: Skyhammer Missile Launcher, Twin Assault Cannons

HEAVY SUPPORT

Centurion Devastator Squad: Twin Lascannons, Missile Launchers

Stalker

Whirlwind

Hive Fleet Nug Assault Swarm

Tyranids – 2,000

HQ

Hive Tyrant: WARLORD (Conqueror of Cities), Wings, 2x Twin Devourers; Dominion,   Paroxysm, Psychic Scream

Tervigon: Cluster Spines; Dominion, Psychic Scream

ELITES

Haruspex: Adrenal Glands

Zoanthrope Brood: two additional Zoanthropes; Dominion, Warp Blast, Paroxysm

Venomthrope Brood: one additional Venomthrope

TROOPS

Hormagaunt Brood: ten additional Hormagaunts

Hormagaunt Brood: ten additional Hormagaunts

Hormagaunt Brood: ten additional Hormagaunts

Hormagaunt Brood: nine additional Hormagaunts

FAST ATTACK

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

HEAVY SUPPORT

Carnifex: 2x Scything Talons, Cluster Spines, Adrenal Glands

Carnifex: 2x Scything Talons, Cluster Spines, Adrenal Glands

Carnifex: 2x Scything Talons, Cluster Spines, Adrenal Glands

After Action Review

One game is probably not sufficient evidence to give the Maelstrom of War setup a fair critique. With that qualifier given, I also think it is important to leave my thoughts on this way of playing Warhammer 40,000.

First off, the Tactical Objectives seem to affect the game in a haphazard, random fashion. When the game started he earned a quick point simply for being in his own deployment zone, and I had only the option to become engaged in a challenge…with Tyranids…on Turn 1. From there it all went downhill for my opponent, with me drawing several cards that seemed completely like “gimmes.” It never seemed that we were working toward objectives. Rather, it felt as if we were drawing cards that gave us advantages because of where we happened to be on the battlefield.

With all that said, I also feel that Maelstrom of War is weighted too heavily in the favor of fast armies and horde armies. There was little the Space Marine force could do to barrel into an intact Tyranid force, yet that was their only option to stop the absolute hemorrhage of points. This left the game feeling too easy for my Tyranids, and insurmountable for my opponent. Again, I admit that some more games are in order before we axe this portion of the rulebook completely, but the first foray into Tactical Objectives has us gun shy about doing so again.

The new Tyranid list was nice. I’ve been worried about armor in 7^th edition, and the Carnifexes and Haruspex seem to address this problem nicely. They are all good at killing armor, and each brings a significant number of attacks to the table in normal games. I don’t suspect that these models will be departing from the list any time soon.

Stay tuned for more, the forces of Hive Fleet Nug are ever hungry!