Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report #20 – Astra Militarum/Space Marines vs Tyranids

Today we continue our coverage of the Stulte Mors campaign, with the Space Marines and the Astra Militarum working together against a hive node of Hive Fleet Nug. In the old style of alliances, this one pits Griff’s Relictors and Hutch’s Cadians against my Tyranids, with 2,800ish points per side. Army lists are from memory, as we had fun with this one and simply kept adding stuff!

The surface of Luna non Mortua was cratered, with a thin atmosphere and no oxygen to speak of. The Space Marines would have no worries, of that Colonel Zet was sure. His men would look to their wargear to protect them, though the slightest scratch was likely to kill. With Tyranids, there were always plenty of opportunities to be scratched.

Colonel Zet’s Vendetta carried him swiftly across the planet’s surface, a pair of Stormtalons flying as his escort. Suddenly, a ruined defense platform loomed on the horizon, tentacles sprouting from glistening egg pods as the Tyranids went about birthing their nefarious warrior species. A handful of large organisms patrolled the area, but they would soon be woefully outnumbered.

The signal came through from the orbiting battle barge. The Drop Pods had launched.

“Stand fast,” Zet called out over the vox. He watched the Chimeras rushing into position below, dirt trails snaking off behind them as they disturbed the ruddy satellite. “Show no mercy, for you will receive none in return.”

At the heart of the Tyranid cluster, a Hive Tyrant turned to coldly regard his incoming prey. Soundlessly, the Tyranids moved to defensive posture. The node would be protected, no matter the cost.

Army Lists

The Cadian 342^nd Hellhogs

Astra Militarum

HQ

Company Command Squad: Colonel is WARLORD (Divide to Conquer); Carapace Armor;         Colonel has Plasma Pistol and Melta Bombs, Heavy Flamer, 3x Meltagun

TROOPS

Veterans: Carapace Armor, 2x Plasma Gun, Heavy Flamer, Krak Grenades, Chimera transport      with Multi-Laser, Heavy Bolter, and Dozer Blade

Veterans: Carapace Armor, 2x Plasma Gun, Heavy Flamer, Krak Grenades, Chimera transport      with Multi-Laser, Heavy Bolter, and Dozer Blade

Veterans: Carapace Armor, 2x Meltagun, Heavy Flamer, Krak Grenades, Chimera transport          with Multi-Laser, Heavy Bolter, and Dozer Blade

ELITES

Militarum Tempestus Platoon

            Tempestus Scions: one additional Scion; 2x Plasma Gun, Plasma Pistol

FAST ATTACK

Vendetta Squadron

HEAVY SUPPORT

Leman Russ Demolisher: Dozer Blades

Wyvern Battery: two Wyverns

Wyvern Battery

Relictors 2^nd Company

Space Marines

HQ

Chaplain: WARLORD (Rites of War)

TROOPS

Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines; Multi-Melta, Meltagun, Sergeant has Combi-         Melta and Melta Bombs, Drop Pod transport with Deathwind Launcher

Tactical Squad: five additional Space Marines; Multi-Melta, Meltagun, Sergeant has Combi-         Melta and Melta Bombs, Drop Pod transport with Deathwind Launcher

ELITES

Sternguard Veteran Squad: five additional Veterans; 2x Heavy Flamer, Veteran Sergeant has       Power Fist, Drop Pod transport with Deathwind Launcher

Dreadnought: Assault Cannon, Heavy Flamer, Drop Pod transport with Deathwind Launcher

FAST ATTACK

Assault Squad: four additional Space Marines; 2x Flamer, Sergeant has Power Fist, Drop Pod      transport with Deathwind Missile Launcher

Stormtalon Gunship: Twin Assault Cannons, Skyhammer Missile Launcher

Stormtalon Gunship: Twin Assault Cannons, Skyhammer Missile Launcher

Nug

Tyranids

2x Combined Arms Detachments

HQ

Hive Tyrant: WARLORD (Digestive Denial); Heavy Venom Cannon, Lash Whip & Bonesword,             Adrenal Glands, Electroshock Grubs; Dominion, Catalyst, Onslaught

Tyrant Guard Brood: two additional Tyrant Guard; Scything Talons, Rending Claws, and            Adrenal Glands

Tervigon: Electroshock Grubs, Cluster Spines; Dominion, Catalyst

TROOPS

Hormagaunt Brood: eleven additional Hormagaunts; Adrenal Glands

Hormagaunt Brood: eleven additional Hormagaunts; Adrenal Glands

Hormagaunt Brood: eleven additional Hormagaunts; Adrenal Glands

Hormagaunt Brood: eleven additional Hormagaunts; Adrenal Glands

ELITES

Zoanthrope Brood: four additional Zoanthropes; Neurothrope; Dominion, Warp Blast, Spirit         Leech, Paroxysm

Hive Guard Brood: two additional Hive Guard; Impaler Cannons

Venomthrope Brood: one additional Venomthrope

Zoanthrope Brood: Dominion, Warp Blast, Paroxysm

Zoanthrope Brood: Dominion, Warp Blast, The Horror

Zoanthrope Brood: Dominion, Warp Blast, Catalyst

FAST ATTACK

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

Hive Crone: Cluster Spines

HEAVY SUPPORT

Exocrine

Sporocyst: 5x Venom Cannons

Mawloc: Adrenal Glands

Mawloc: Adrenal Glands

After Action Review

Brandon:

Well, that was a fun game with a lot of laughs involved. Even from the beginning since we only had three people, we decided to do a two on one game which lead to an adventure trying to make a list. Then at the start of the game, two of my three Chimeras that were supposed to support the Marine drop were Immobilized on terrain, right from the start. WITH REROLLS! After that it was just a matter of doing what I could to save some Marines from dying too quickly (although at one point I did start shooting Demolisher shells close to Marines in combat. When my teammate said something about it I said, “Well, they’re dead anyway.” (To much laughter, I might add.) By the end of the game there weren’t many models left, but it was an awesome game and I can’t wait until the next one.

Randall:

I love multi-player games, where an additional person steps in on one or both sides to up the stakes. When I designed this mission I did so in the hopes that it would create a sense of a desperate struggle for the defenders, as their base was caught largely unaware of the encroaching attackers. I can say for certain that I felt this desperation; despite their massing casualties, an end on Turn Five would have been an Imperial victory. As the game wound down, though, the Tyranids just would not give up those hive nodes. Short of one stubborn Dreadnought, I was able to sweep them from my table half.

The new Tyranids units are fun, although I did suffer some rotten luck in the Psychic Phase. I’ve never been a fan of individual Zoanthropes, and this game reminded me why. They give up First Blood far too easily, and that one point would have changed my defensive victory into a defeat had the game ended on Turn Five. With that said, I am a big fan of the large brood; it just kept taking hits, despite poor saves, and has a fairly significant Synapse blanket.

The Sporocyst also surprised me, chalking up three Sternguard with the Mucolid and nineteen Guardsmen casualties in the late game. I’m not sure how effective it will be in standard play, but for this defensive scenario it was a ton of fun. To me that adds more value to the unit in terms of the hobbyist’s perspective, as you know it will have applicability when you go out of your way to “Forge the Narrative.”

Overall I cannot complain; the Hormagaunts were probably out of place, as they kept getting in my way for zone defense, but the rest of the army filled its role admirably. MVP goes to the first Mawloc to arrive. After clobbering an entire squad with his Terror From the Deep rule, he proceeded to annihilate those pesky Wyverns one after another. I have so much trouble, choosing between them and Carnifexes!

Stay tuned for more; the events surrounding this campaign are just heating up. Don’t be surprised to see some Planetstrike/Cities of Death/Apocalypse before it is all said and done!