Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report #12: Endgame Agora Part II – Logan Strikes Again!

The carnage on Agora continues, as Logan’s Great Company launches directly into the teeth of an advancing Tyranid swarm. Whatever the result, it is sure to be bloody…

Hrothgar studied the runes with a huff of frustration. One of the Long Fangs stopped cleaning his weapon and turned to study the Rune Priest.

“What is it, priest?”

Hrothgar pushed himself up with his staff. “The runes are jumbled…confused,” he said.

“Well that is less than helpful.”

“It’s the Shadow in the Warp,” Hrothgar thought aloud. “It’s affecting my ability to commune with the storm…”

A thunder of clawed feet rumbled across the grassy hillside. Capacitors hummed as the old veterans powered up their weapons. As they did, the darting forms of smaller Tyranids could be seen in the distance, flitting between rocks as they closed with freshly scented prey.

At the moment, Hrothgar and the Long Fangs stood alone against the numberless swarm. With a pulsed thought, the Rune Priest sent the signal for Logan’s Drop Pods to begin their attack.

“It is a good day to die, priest,” laughed one of the grizzled warriors, sighting his weapon on a charging Carnifex.

“Aye,” answered Hrothgar, blue fire coruscating down his staff. “One for the sagas.”

The Armies

Vlka Fenryka

Space Wolves – 2,000

Company of the Great Wolf Detachment

LORD OF WAR

Logan Grimnar: WARLORD (Saga of Majesty)

HQ

Ulrik the Slayer

ELITES

Wolf Guard Terminators: 1 additional Wolf Guard Terminator; Squad Leader and one other         Terminator have Thunder Hammers and Storm Shields; 2x Dual Wolf Claws

Dreadnought: Venerable; Multi-Melta, Great Wolf Claw with Heavy Flamer, Drop Pod transport             with Deathwind Missile Launcher

FAST ATTACK

Drop Pod: Deathwind Missile Launcher

Combined Arms Detachment

HQ

Rune Priest: Psyker (Mastery Level 2), Psychic Hood, Runic Staff; Prescience, Forewarning,       Foreboding

TROOPS

Grey Hunters: 5 additional Grey Hunters, 9x Close Combat Weapon, 2x Meltagun, Wolf Guard   Pack Leader has Power Fist and Combi-Melta, Drop Pod transport with Deathwind       Missile Launcher

Grey Hunters: 5 additional Grey Hunters, 9x Close Combat Weapon, 2x Meltagun, Wolf Guard   Pack Leader has Power Fist and Combi-Melta, Drop Pod transport with Deathwind       Missile Launcher

Blood Claws: 4 additional Blood Claws, Flamer, Power Maul, Wolf Guard Pack Leader has Dual            Wolf Claws, Drop Pod transport with Deathwind Missile Launcher

FAST ATTACK

Stormwolf: 2x Twin Multi-Meltas

HEAVY SUPPORT

Long Fangs: 4 additional Long Fangs, 5x Lascannon, Ancient is replaced by Wolf Guard Pack     Leader with Terminator Armor, Storm Bolter and Storm Shield

Hive Fleet Kraken Assault Swarm

Tyranids – 2,000

Combined Arms Detachment

HQ

Tervigon: WARLORD (Adaptive Biology), Cluster Spines; Dominion, Psychic Scream

ELITES

Haruspex: Adrenal Glands

Venomthrope Brood

Venomthrope Brood

TROOPS

Hormagaunts: ten additional Hormagaunts

Hormagaunts: ten additional Hormagaunts

FAST ATTACK

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

HEAVY SUPPORT

Carnifex: 2x Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands

Carnifex: 2x Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands

Carnifex: 2x Scything Talons, Adrenal Glands

Combined Arms Detachment

HQ

Hive Tyrant: Wings; 2x Twin Devourers with Brainleech Worms, Thorax Swarm with       Dessicator Larvae; Dominion, Psychic Scream, Onslaught

ELITES

Zoanthrope Brood: Dominion, Warp Blast, Catalyst

Zoanthrope Brood: Dominion, Warp Blast, Onslaught

Zoanthrope Brood: Dominion, Warp Blast, Psychic Scream

TROOPS

Hormagaunts: 10 additional Hormagaunts

Hormagaunts: 10 additional Hormagaunts

After Action Review

Brandon:

Well, what a game! So this was my first game playing Nids and I jumped into the deep end with a 2,000 point game against the new Wolves. As I was wanting to get a feel for the book I chose to just field my friend’s list (I also enjoy the aspect of being given an army and being told “make it work.” It makes for an interesting challenge.). Well I made a few errors early on as I should have tried for first turn but thought against all Drop Pods going second would be better. Boy was I wrong! This just allowed Logan to get a head start with running out with the objective. This became a head start that I couldn’t match. Overall though it was a wonderful game with many funny moments. And beware the Deathwind Launchers. They are nastier than they seem.

Randall:

I knew that it would be bloody to drop into the teeth of the Tyranid swarm, but I also knew that a mirrored strategy of that employed against the Orks would give me the best chances of a win. I simply had to get the objective quickly and get out, before the swarm could focus down on my limited number of soldiers.

With that said, I was once again blown away by the amount of damage inflicted by the Deathwind Launchers. They really fulfilled their fluff-oriented goal, as they thinned the Hormagaunts as fast as they could advance. The Drop Pod squads were doing a fairly decent job of holding the Monstrous Creatures at bay as well. I almost wish this had been a Purge the Alien mission, so I could have seen if the Wolves were able to hold their own throughout the assault!

After we cut the camera off, Ulrik and his Blood Claws brought down the Haruspex. Considering that his Warlord Trait provides Monster Hunter, I may very well run him as my HQ choice in “normal” games. I’m just not feeling the Rune Priest in this edition. Perhaps some more testing is in order, but I felt more immediate, tangible benefits from the Slayer.

Stay tuned for more, as the Wolves have only begun to write their sagas!