Black Templars vs Death Guard – Warhammer 40,000 Battle Report

Marshal Zantus snarled within his helm. The evidence was before him, glistening up from the snow in all its sickening foulness. The glob of rotted phlegm was proof positive that high command had been correct. The Death Guard had come to the mountains, though the reason was still unclear.

“Contact,” came the whispered voice of a neophyte on the frontline. Snapping out of his delusions of choking the life from every last traitor before them, Zantus moved to make it a reality.

A host of crusaders followed him closely, their feet crunching through snow and stone as they ploughed on to the heights above. It seemed as if they might travel forever when they suddenly emerged into the midst of the foe.

The Death Guard were busily breaking open an old pumping station, while scores of rotting slaves hauled fetid barrels toward their masters. With sudden clarity, the marshal knew what they were doing.

“Forward, for the Emperor! Cut these curs down, before they doom all of us below!”

Bolter fire tore through the cultists, leaving them nothing more than filthy shreds of meat. With a roar of righteous fury the Templars broke from cover, closing with the horrific death that lay quietly in the snow before them. If they didn’t recover the barrels before the Death Guard could, it would undoubtedly spell death for millions below.

The Armies

Dies Finis

Black Templars – 2,000

Battalion

HQ

Captain: WARLORD (Rites of War), Teeth of Terra

Emperor’s Champion

TROOPS

10 Scouts: 10 Sniper Rifles

10 Crusaders: Meltagun, Power Sword, Sword Brother has Power Sword

10 Crusaders: Meltagun, Power Sword, Sword Brother has Power Sword

ELITES

9 Reivers

3 Aggressors: Flamestorm Gauntlets

Primaris Apothecary

FAST ATTACK

10 Assault Marines: Sergeant has Combat Shield, Plasma Pistol, and Power Sword, 2 have           Plasma Pistols

3 Inceptors: Assault Bolters

HEAVY SUPPORT

10 Devastators: 4 Missile Launchers, Armorium Cherub

Vindicator

DEDICATED TRANSPORT

Repulsor: Heavy Onslaught Gatling Cannon, 3 Storm Bolters, Onslaught Gatling Cannon, 2         Krakstorm Grenade Launchers, Ironhail Heavy Stubber, Twin Heavy Bolters

Nuntius Cacotheus

Death Guard – 2,000

Battalion Detachment

HQ

Winged Demon Prince of Nurgle: WARLORD (Arch Corruptor), Demonic Axe, Malefic Talons;             Smite, Putrescent Vitality

Malignant Plaguecaster: Smite, Miasma of Pestilence, Curse of the Leper

TROOPS

7 Plague Marines: 2 Plasma Guns

7 Plague Marines: 2 Plasma Guns

7 Plague Marines: 2 Blight Launchers

7 Plague Marines: 2 Blight Launchers

FAST ATTACK

3 Myphitic Blight-Haulers

Fetid Bloat-drone: 2 Plaguespitters, Plague Probe

Fetid Bloat-drone: 2 Plaguespitters, Plague Probe

HEAVY SUPPORT

Chaos Predator: Twin Lascannons, 2 Lascannons

Chaos Predator: Twin Lascannons, 2 Lascannons

After-Action Review

After the initial Black Templar surge, I was feeling pretty confident. They took significant damage, and did not seem well-placed to do much in return. Then, the reserves came in. Between the units that jumped into the battlefield and the Aggressors, I really felt like it was a potential game-over situation for the Death Guard.

Luckily, our legendary resiliency held out, and we were able to hold on long enough. That Repulsor proved to be a beast in the first turn, but when it did go it made sure everyone on the battlefield knew about it! That D6 damage roll to every unit in range did more work that my entire army for the turn, and left the Templars reeling.

I do wonder how much differently things might have turned out if the Aggressors had charged. We discussed it after the game as a slip-up, but those gauntlets are no slouches in melee. With the Templar re-roll I am confident they would have locked more of my shooting up, not to mention my units that had to deal with the power in those punches. This really does seem like a minor but game-changing detail.

Once the Prince got in and the Repulsor went nuclear, things rapidly went downhill. His characters made a valiant last stand of things, but in the end it simply wasn’t enough. However, the Templars remain unbowed in their faith. Josh is already discussing list changes to make himself more mobile, and I have no doubt that such changes are going to leave my Death Guard in plenty of pain. Stay tuned, for the Long War is never finished!