After a successful military procurement program, future Gordon Brown outlines his plan for "peace for our time" with GünSchwarm.
Future Gordon Brown's fate rests on whether or not enemy flak guns have actual aircraft to shoot at.
Thursday, June 4, 2009
Future Gordon Brown's own Labour says new FutureBritz force a Matter of Confidence
After a successful military procurement program, future Gordon Brown outlines his plan for "peace for our time" with GünSchwarm.Future Gordon Brown's fate rests on whether or not enemy flak guns have actual aircraft to shoot at.
Wednesday, June 3, 2009
Prototype Tank for GünSchwarm
In the various armoured vehicles used by Conscript members for our FutureWars armies, the big guns and large sizes occasionally seem a bit outlandish. However, during WW2 Krupp worked on a prototype tank, the Ratte which was designated as a "Landkreuzer" or Land Cruiser. It was eventually scrapped by Albert Speer as too huge, but it would make an interesting addition to the GünSchwarm forces. Go for it, Greg.
Astro-mini-con 2009: Game 1 - Lost Patrol
On Saturday, May 30, the local Games Workshop store hosted the second annual Astro-mini-con, a Warhammer 40K tournament. They filled all 14 available slots and had people on the waiting list.
Christian and Keith ran the tournament, using scoring similar to that used in the normal Astronomi-con circuit tournaments. That is, game play was worth less than half of your total score, with the rest coming from appearance, army composition, sportsmanship and the like. There was a different scenario on each table, all requiring very "outside the box" tactics from the standard scenarios in the basic rules.
I ran my Eldar Swordwind army; very light on upgrades, heavy on Aspect Warriors and skimmer hulls:
(remember, click on the images for larger photos)
HQ
Sword-of-the-Lord - Farseer, Doom, Eldar Jetbike, Runes of Warding, Singing Spear
Warrior of Surprise - Autarch, Eldar Jetbike, Fusion Gun, Laser Lance
TROOPS
Companions - Dire Avengers x 10
- Far-Darter - Exarch upgrade, Bladestorm, 2nd Avenger Shuriken Catapult
- Ancient Whispers - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon, Shuriken Cannon Upgrade
Blood Redeemers - Dire Avengers x 10
- Pious - Exarch upgrade, Bladestorm, Diresword and Shuriken Pistol
- Peacemaker - Wave Serpent, TL Bright Lances
ELITES
Blade Dancers - Howling Banshees x 10
- Angelic Rhapsody - Exarch upgrade, Executioner
- Fencing Master - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon
Fate’s Tears - Fire Dragons x 5
- The Kid - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon
FAST ATTACK
Dreamweavers - Warp Spiders x 5
HEAVY SUPPORT
War Prayer – Fire Prism
Total: 1499 points
***
Game One: Lost Patrol
The first game was against Lance's Space Marine army. Lance started playing 40K back when it first came out. Some of his infantry were the old plastic "beaky" marines from the first box set from 1987. He's had custom decals made up for his chapter marking on both the marines' armour and their vehicles. Very nice.
Captain Cato Sicarius (he allowed the mounted Rhino squad to Outflank), riding with the Terminators
5-man close combat Terminator Squad, riding in the Land Raider
10-man Tactical Squad with meltagun and plasmagun in a Rhino APC
10-man Tactical squad with Lascannon and meltagun on foot
3 x Vindicator self-propelled assault guns (a Linebreaker Squadron!)
Land Raider assault tank
That's a LOT of heavy armour. If I didn't have to actually fight them, I wouldn't.
Scenario:
Your patrol is attempting to disengage from the enemy which is in pursuit. Evade enemy forces and get them back to your lines. Your commander is awaiting their report and your forces are moving in to hold off the enemy!
Special rules included Victory Points. Each side had to choose a unit to act as its Lost Patrol. That unit would set up within 12" of the enemy board edge (for vehicles and fast units, they basically set up at the board edge). If they ended the game within 6" of your own table edge, they scored an extra 300 victory points. Everything else on both sides would come on as reserves.
The terrain was basically farmland, with some hills and small forests scattered around the edges.
I won choice, so the Swordwind went second. The Space Marines set up a tactical squad on foot, in the southwest table corner. I set up the Fire Dragons in their Wave Serpent skimmer, in the northeast table quarter. My thought was that if their boat was shot down early, the Fire Dragons' and their melta weapons might cause some damage to the enemy tanks, before they were wiped out.
For reserves, the Warp Spiders would not deep strike, and the Banshees would stay on foot.
The game started, and the Space Marine squad ran north to mid-table. The Dragons' Wave Serpent skimmed south and west, trying to stay away from the eastern table edge, mindful of the outflanking melta squad. The Serpent's prow was turned to point straight north, to use the Serpent's energy field to guard against enemy anti-tank fire, and keeping in mind the lascannon in the hands of the tactical squad already in play.
The Space Marines rolled for reserves, getting the Land Raider and its occupants, one Vindicator, and the outflanking Tactical Squad. Where would the Tacticals come in? This was a crucial roll, since they could randomly appear on either flank. Lance rolled - and they showed up on the western table edge. The Space Marines moved onto the table in a block, in the northwest table quarter. Firing from the Land Raider failed to breach the Wave Serpent's hull.
The Swordwind tried for an all-out effort, adding the Autarch's "+1" to all reserves rolls. Everything but the Fire Prism showed up. The two Avenger squads came on and dismounted in range of the Space Marines. The Spiders teleported near the Marines, for some up close work. Risking a dangerous terrain test, the Autarch moved onto the top of a farm building, to also get a shot at the Marines. The Farseer bravely hid behind an outbuilding. The Banshees entered the table on foot, too far from the action to get into the fight. The Banshee's Wave Serpent moved flat out north, interposing its hull between the bulk of the Eldar forces and the Space Marine fire sure to be coming next turn.
Meanwhile, the Dragons in their Wave Serpent skimmed into the southeast corner of the table beside a hill.
After a Bladestorm, the other Avenger squad had no targets - the surviving Marines were behind a ruined building. The Spiders and Autarch still had line of sight though, and the Marine's Lost Patrol was wiped out. In addition to the vp's for the sqaud itself, this prevented Lance from gaining those extra 300 vp's under the scenario rules.
The Spiders moved forward with their second jump to intercept the melta squad to the north, and the Autarch used his jetbike slide to get off the building and try and shield the Avengers.
The second Vindicator then showed up. Moving into some woods the two assault guns were out of range of the bulk of the Eldar forces. The Land Raider bounced another lascannon shot off a Wave Serpent's energy field. The Rhino successfully negotiated some craters, and the Marines disembarked and shot up the Spiders, killing all but one - whose morale fortunately held.
The Fire Dragons moved into the very southwest corner of the table, behind a hill, out of line of sight of everyone. They stayed there for the rest of the game, hoping they'd survive.
The Avenger squads both mounted up and moved east hugging the southern table edge, keeping away from the short-ranged but deadly shots of the Vindicators. Serpent fire immobilized and pulled the guns off the Rhino. The Farseer Doomed the Space Marine Tactical Squad, and the Autarch led the Banshees in a charge. After 35 power weapon attacks, the Marine squad was wiped out, and the victors consolidated east.
The last Vindicator self-propelled gun showed up and joined its brothers. Some of the Banshees were killed by incoming fire, but their morale held. They mounted up in their skimmer and headed east. Meanwhile, the Autarch headed north and attacked the left-most Vindicator with his meltagun, destroying it. He used his second move to place its hulk between himself and the rest of the Marine's wall of iron and steel.
The Land Raider advanced right through a crater, dismounted the Terminators and Sicarius, and shot down the Banshee's Serpent. It was merely wrecked, which was not what Lance wanted - the surviving Banshees were out of charge reach when they were forced to disembark.
I had been rolling "1's" for reserves for the Fire Prism tank all game. Now, at the bottom of the fifth and final turn, I forgot about the tank entirely. As it turned out, I didn't need it.
The Autarch moved east behind another Vindicator, stunning it. The Farseer Doomed the Terminators. One squad of Avengers dismounted and the last Spider moved in for the kill. The Banshees advanced within charge reach. A Bladestorm and other fire killed a couple of Terminators. The firepower included the Banshees' pistols; that's maybe the third time in 5 years they've fired those things.
The Banshees charged home. One Banshee wounded Sicarius and was killed in return, but the rest of the Terminators were wiped out. As the game ended, Sicarius was last seen fighting on alone, surrounded by Eldar warrior women, whose swords were raised in anticipation:
The Eldar forces had destroyed two Tactical Squads, a Terminator Squad, and a Vindicator assualt tank, scored half points for the two damaged vehicles, and the bonus 300 vp's for bringing the Lost Patrol home. The Space Marines scored vp's for the downed Wave Serpent skimmer tank and partial points for the Warp Spiders and Howling Banshees, who were both below half strength.
Result: Eldar Victory
Please click here for the Game 2 battle report.
Christian and Keith ran the tournament, using scoring similar to that used in the normal Astronomi-con circuit tournaments. That is, game play was worth less than half of your total score, with the rest coming from appearance, army composition, sportsmanship and the like. There was a different scenario on each table, all requiring very "outside the box" tactics from the standard scenarios in the basic rules.
I ran my Eldar Swordwind army; very light on upgrades, heavy on Aspect Warriors and skimmer hulls:
(remember, click on the images for larger photos)
HQ
Sword-of-the-Lord - Farseer, Doom, Eldar Jetbike, Runes of Warding, Singing Spear
Warrior of Surprise - Autarch, Eldar Jetbike, Fusion Gun, Laser Lance
TROOPS
Companions - Dire Avengers x 10
- Far-Darter - Exarch upgrade, Bladestorm, 2nd Avenger Shuriken Catapult
- Ancient Whispers - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon, Shuriken Cannon Upgrade
Blood Redeemers - Dire Avengers x 10
- Pious - Exarch upgrade, Bladestorm, Diresword and Shuriken Pistol
- Peacemaker - Wave Serpent, TL Bright Lances
ELITES
Blade Dancers - Howling Banshees x 10
- Angelic Rhapsody - Exarch upgrade, Executioner
- Fencing Master - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon
Fate’s Tears - Fire Dragons x 5
- The Kid - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon
FAST ATTACK
Dreamweavers - Warp Spiders x 5
HEAVY SUPPORT
War Prayer – Fire Prism
Total: 1499 points
***
Game One: Lost Patrol
The first game was against Lance's Space Marine army. Lance started playing 40K back when it first came out. Some of his infantry were the old plastic "beaky" marines from the first box set from 1987. He's had custom decals made up for his chapter marking on both the marines' armour and their vehicles. Very nice.
Captain Cato Sicarius (he allowed the mounted Rhino squad to Outflank), riding with the Terminators
5-man close combat Terminator Squad, riding in the Land Raider
10-man Tactical Squad with meltagun and plasmagun in a Rhino APC
10-man Tactical squad with Lascannon and meltagun on foot
3 x Vindicator self-propelled assault guns (a Linebreaker Squadron!)
Land Raider assault tank
That's a LOT of heavy armour. If I didn't have to actually fight them, I wouldn't.
Scenario:
Your patrol is attempting to disengage from the enemy which is in pursuit. Evade enemy forces and get them back to your lines. Your commander is awaiting their report and your forces are moving in to hold off the enemy!
Special rules included Victory Points. Each side had to choose a unit to act as its Lost Patrol. That unit would set up within 12" of the enemy board edge (for vehicles and fast units, they basically set up at the board edge). If they ended the game within 6" of your own table edge, they scored an extra 300 victory points. Everything else on both sides would come on as reserves.
The terrain was basically farmland, with some hills and small forests scattered around the edges.
I won choice, so the Swordwind went second. The Space Marines set up a tactical squad on foot, in the southwest table corner. I set up the Fire Dragons in their Wave Serpent skimmer, in the northeast table quarter. My thought was that if their boat was shot down early, the Fire Dragons' and their melta weapons might cause some damage to the enemy tanks, before they were wiped out.
For reserves, the Warp Spiders would not deep strike, and the Banshees would stay on foot.
The game started, and the Space Marine squad ran north to mid-table. The Dragons' Wave Serpent skimmed south and west, trying to stay away from the eastern table edge, mindful of the outflanking melta squad. The Serpent's prow was turned to point straight north, to use the Serpent's energy field to guard against enemy anti-tank fire, and keeping in mind the lascannon in the hands of the tactical squad already in play.
The Space Marines rolled for reserves, getting the Land Raider and its occupants, one Vindicator, and the outflanking Tactical Squad. Where would the Tacticals come in? This was a crucial roll, since they could randomly appear on either flank. Lance rolled - and they showed up on the western table edge. The Space Marines moved onto the table in a block, in the northwest table quarter. Firing from the Land Raider failed to breach the Wave Serpent's hull.
The Swordwind tried for an all-out effort, adding the Autarch's "+1" to all reserves rolls. Everything but the Fire Prism showed up. The two Avenger squads came on and dismounted in range of the Space Marines. The Spiders teleported near the Marines, for some up close work. Risking a dangerous terrain test, the Autarch moved onto the top of a farm building, to also get a shot at the Marines. The Farseer bravely hid behind an outbuilding. The Banshees entered the table on foot, too far from the action to get into the fight. The Banshee's Wave Serpent moved flat out north, interposing its hull between the bulk of the Eldar forces and the Space Marine fire sure to be coming next turn.
Meanwhile, the Dragons in their Wave Serpent skimmed into the southeast corner of the table beside a hill.
After a Bladestorm, the other Avenger squad had no targets - the surviving Marines were behind a ruined building. The Spiders and Autarch still had line of sight though, and the Marine's Lost Patrol was wiped out. In addition to the vp's for the sqaud itself, this prevented Lance from gaining those extra 300 vp's under the scenario rules.
The Spiders moved forward with their second jump to intercept the melta squad to the north, and the Autarch used his jetbike slide to get off the building and try and shield the Avengers.
The second Vindicator then showed up. Moving into some woods the two assault guns were out of range of the bulk of the Eldar forces. The Land Raider bounced another lascannon shot off a Wave Serpent's energy field. The Rhino successfully negotiated some craters, and the Marines disembarked and shot up the Spiders, killing all but one - whose morale fortunately held.
The Fire Dragons moved into the very southwest corner of the table, behind a hill, out of line of sight of everyone. They stayed there for the rest of the game, hoping they'd survive.
The Avenger squads both mounted up and moved east hugging the southern table edge, keeping away from the short-ranged but deadly shots of the Vindicators. Serpent fire immobilized and pulled the guns off the Rhino. The Farseer Doomed the Space Marine Tactical Squad, and the Autarch led the Banshees in a charge. After 35 power weapon attacks, the Marine squad was wiped out, and the victors consolidated east.
The last Vindicator self-propelled gun showed up and joined its brothers. Some of the Banshees were killed by incoming fire, but their morale held. They mounted up in their skimmer and headed east. Meanwhile, the Autarch headed north and attacked the left-most Vindicator with his meltagun, destroying it. He used his second move to place its hulk between himself and the rest of the Marine's wall of iron and steel.
The Land Raider advanced right through a crater, dismounted the Terminators and Sicarius, and shot down the Banshee's Serpent. It was merely wrecked, which was not what Lance wanted - the surviving Banshees were out of charge reach when they were forced to disembark.
I had been rolling "1's" for reserves for the Fire Prism tank all game. Now, at the bottom of the fifth and final turn, I forgot about the tank entirely. As it turned out, I didn't need it.
The Autarch moved east behind another Vindicator, stunning it. The Farseer Doomed the Terminators. One squad of Avengers dismounted and the last Spider moved in for the kill. The Banshees advanced within charge reach. A Bladestorm and other fire killed a couple of Terminators. The firepower included the Banshees' pistols; that's maybe the third time in 5 years they've fired those things.
The Banshees charged home. One Banshee wounded Sicarius and was killed in return, but the rest of the Terminators were wiped out. As the game ended, Sicarius was last seen fighting on alone, surrounded by Eldar warrior women, whose swords were raised in anticipation:
The Eldar forces had destroyed two Tactical Squads, a Terminator Squad, and a Vindicator assualt tank, scored half points for the two damaged vehicles, and the bonus 300 vp's for bringing the Lost Patrol home. The Space Marines scored vp's for the downed Wave Serpent skimmer tank and partial points for the Warp Spiders and Howling Banshees, who were both below half strength.
Result: Eldar Victory
Please click here for the Game 2 battle report.
Tuesday, June 2, 2009
PrairieCon at 30
PrairieCon is a tradition in the small gaming community of western Manitoba. Every Spring for almost 30 years (!) gamers have gathered to play roleplaying games, card games, board games and miniature wargames. While the premier event at PrairieCon is still the AD&D tournament (run continuously since PrairieCon I) other games have become increasingly popular.
I've been attending PrairieCon since PrairieCon III or so and most years I try to run at least one game on the weekend. Two years ago Conscript Greg B. and I ran a monster World War III game; last year Conscript Mike F. and I ran a very cool zombie game; and this year Conscript Frederick and I put on a big Star Wars game: "Escape from Mos Eisley". We set up the game with four factions, each with two players: the Rebels (Luke, Ben, Han, Chewie, 3PO and R2D2, plus a few Rebel survivors from the Tantive IV), the Imperials (Darth Vader, stormtroopers), the Sand People (led by a very disgruntled Jawa and including several Banthas) and Jabba's gang (bounty hunters and Fringe riff-raff led by the Hutt himself).
The scene is set just after Luke sells his landspeeder - credits in hand, he, Ben and the droids head towards the Falcon and passage off-planet. Han and Chewie are at the ship already, but in order to get there Luke and Ben must traverse a dense urban swath of terrain and elude the other factions! The winner of the game is the faction that has possession of R2 when time runs out. In the event it was an extremely close result between Cory (Rebels) and Conscript Mike F. (Jabba's bounty hunters) but Mike finally prevailed! Well done Mike (and 4-LOM!)
Now for the pictures...
a wretched hive of scum and villainy...
Tusken Raiders moving in single file to hide their numbers...
Over the clash of sabers...
... comes the sound of a thundering herd!
In a stunning revision of canon, Ben kills Vader!
Final battle for the astromech droid. 4-LOM won
Big thanks to Frederick for schlepping his buildings and terrain out to Brandon and for doing a great job running the game (while I kibbitzed with all my old gaming pals I only see once a year) and to the organizers of PrairieCon 30 for a job well done!
GünSchwarm outlines plan for universal order
Well, it's been a bit quiet on the Fawcett Avenue front lately - unfortunately a few real life things have impeded progress on painting project's etc. However, you will be pleased to know that GünSchwarm has put the time to good use, appointing FutureAlGore as its public spokesperson.
FutureAl will make the ideal public face for GünSchwarm. After all, like GünSchwarm, he is concerned about the impact of universal solar warming will have on the galaxy, and understands that peace through the armed domination of GünSchwarm will be the only way to save the galactic climate...
Watch for more details this weekend, as "armed discussions" resume in the midst of our celebration of Mike F's impending wedding!
Also, welcome back Dallas. We look forward to reports from Eurotrip, as well as Prairiecon 2009!
FutureAl will make the ideal public face for GünSchwarm. After all, like GünSchwarm, he is concerned about the impact of universal solar warming will have on the galaxy, and understands that peace through the armed domination of GünSchwarm will be the only way to save the galactic climate...
Watch for more details this weekend, as "armed discussions" resume in the midst of our celebration of Mike F's impending wedding!
Also, welcome back Dallas. We look forward to reports from Eurotrip, as well as Prairiecon 2009!
Monday, May 18, 2009
Future Britz Reinforcements
After agreeing to the acquisition of some toxic assets and derivatives by the U.K. from King Barack III of the reconstituted United States, the Future Britz can now manufacture the new (old) Space Patton under license. The vehicle was soon upgraded with a 200 pounder gun.
A slightly more difficult initiative by the Future Gordon Brown government was that of recruitment. A recent chin wag in New New Berlin in which servicemen were denied access to their APC's so that anti-rubble mechanisms could be installed, resulted in a unnecessary loss of life and has become quite the scandal in an already scandal plagued government. Luckily, Chelsea once again smashed Manchesters backside in a recent match. The ensuing riot and drunkeness provided an opportunity for the new Community Service Branch of the Ministry of Defence to expand into enlistment services.
Saturday, May 16, 2009
"Eldar on Eldar. Pull out the Rubber Shurikens!"
Eldar Field Training Exercise
On Wednesday, May 13, Thurston and I brought out our respective Eldar armies for some hot, Eldar on Eldar action at Thurston and Alex's place.
Considering the fluff and background of our respective forces, we agreed that this was a training exercise, where the units were using the Eldar equivalent of rubber shuriken and rattan swords. Broken bones, maybe, but no needless deaths for the dying race...
***
I brought out a very lean Swordwind force. Light on the squad and vehicle upgrades, heavy on Aspect Warrior bodies and boats:
Swordwind
HQ
Sword-of-the-Lord - Farseer, Doom, Eldar Jetbike, Runes of Warding, Singing Spear
Warrior of Surprise - Autarch, Eldar Jetbike, Fusion Gun, Laser Lance
TROOPS
Companions - Dire Avengers x 10
- Far-Darter - Exarch upgrade, Bladestorm, 2nd Avenger Shuriken Catapult
- Ancient Whispers - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon, Shuriken Cannon Upgrade
Blood Redeemers - Dire Avengers x 10
- Pious - Exarch upgrade, Bladestorm, Diresword and Shuriken Pistol
- Peacemaker - Wave Serpent, TL Bright Lances
ELITES
Blade Dancers - Howling Banshees x 10
- Angelic Rhapsody - Exarch upgrade, Executioner
- Fencing Master - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon
Fate’s Tears - Fire Dragons x 5
- The Kid - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon
FAST ATTACK
Dreamweavers - Warp Spiders x 5
HEAVY SUPPORT
War Prayer – Fire Prism
Total: 1499 points
***
Thurston used his Saim-Hann jetbike army; IIRC:
Saim-Hann
Farseer w/ Spirit Stones, Guide and Doom, riding with
10 Dire Avengers
- including Exarch w/ Bladestorm, Power Weapon and Shimmershield
- Wave Serpent w/ TL Bright Lances and Stones
6 Fire Dragons (riding in the Falcon)
- Exarch w/ Dragon's Breath Flamer and Tank Hunter
7 Guardian Jetbikes, w/ 2 Shuriken Cannons
- plus Warlock w/ Enhance and Singing Spear (8 bikes total)
7 Guardian Jetbikes, w/ 2 Shuriken Cannons
- plus Warlock w/ Enhance and Singing Spear (8 bikes total)
Vyper Jetbike w/ Missile Launcher and Spirit Stones
5 Dark Reapers - Exarch w/ Fast Shot and Missile Launcher
Falcon Grav Tank w/ Holofield, Spirit Stones, and Scatter Laser
As we conversed before the game, I thought to myself, "Fighting Thurston's army is going to be like trying to fight smoke."
***
We played a scenario straight out of the main rulebook, Seize Ground, with Pitched Battle (long table edge) deployment. Thurston rolled up 3 objectives, so we took turns placing my three objective counters. I set up a Ghostwarrior on the middle west of the table, Thurston put a Ranger in a foxhole in a clearing to the east, and I responded with the final counter, an ex-slave Sister of Battle, just over 12" north of the first counter. The player controlling the most objectives would win...
Fun With Objectives
I was trying to be creative with the placement of objectives. With the first two counters so widely separated, the game could really divide my forces. By placing the last counter so close to the first, I would hopefully force Thurston to concentrate the bulk of his forces on the western half of the table, to prevent an easy victory on my part. Due to the sizes of the grav tanks and the on-table footprint of a squad of Dire Avengers or Guardian Jetbikes, a single scoring unit could easily control both western objectives. Thus, the Swordwind might be able to ensure their control of the eastern objective.
Rolling for first turn, Thurston won and decided that the Saim-Hann would go first. He set up the Falcon and Dark Reapers in the far northwest corner, overlooking the two western objectives, which sat in a natural fire lane. The two units set up were long-ranged units (48" range guns), but there was a lot of terrain blocking their LOS to the eastern objective.
I declined to set up anything, holding the Swordwind in reserve, with the Warp Spiders set to deep strike, the Farseer and the Autarch off-table together as an ersatz unit, and everyone else mounted in their respective Wave Serpent transports.
For the second turn, Thurston held pat with Saim-Hann's two heavy support units, and brought on their Farseer/Dire Avenger combo in the middle of the northern board edge, flanked to the east by a Guardian Jetbike squad, and to the west by the Vyper.
The Swordwind's Farseer/Autarch bike combo, Fire Dragons, Howling Banshees and Fire Prism showed up. The two Avenger squads stayed in reserve, which was OK. This prevented the Swordwind's only two scoring units from receiving fire. The Fire Prism came on to the west to challenge the Reapers, and everything else moved on to the far east, hiding as best they could behind rocky terrain.
The Fire Prism managed to stick a pie plate blast marker over the Reapers, dropping a couple of them and breaking them, forcing them to fall back.
As the game progressed, it continued its chess-like exercise in movement and counter-movement. There were almost no casualties for a couple of turns as both sides jockeyed for position. Thurston's Saim-Hann bikes hovered at range, firing pot shots with their shuriken cannons and fading back 6" to be just out of reach of most of the Swordwind's guns - trying to taunt the Swordwind into Saim-Hann's combined killing zones. The Saim-Hann Farseer in his Serpent moved to the west and hovered in that general vicinity, to guide the Falcon and help control the action. The Vyper, after being shaken, moved flat out west to hind behind rocks.
Conversely, the Swordwind stayed at range to prevent the bikes from turbo-boosting in behind the Wave Serpents, where the bikes could surround the Serpents and block their escape hatches, setting up possible squad kills if the boats went down to other units' fire. As reinforcements arrived, one Avenger Serpent moved to the Eastern objective, and the other moved on near the Fire Prism. The second Avenger Serpent was stunned by a couple of missiles from the Dark Reaper Exarch, but its pilot recovered in time for the action noted below.
Around the fourth turn, things started to really happen. In the middle of the table, Saim-Hann's Fire Dragons disembarked from their Falcon and brought down the Swordwind Dragons' Wave Serpent. The Swordwind Dragons fortunately took no casualties and passed their Pin test as they climbed out of the "wreck." That Serpent's pilot then took time out for some tea.
In response, the Banshees in their ride moved slightly north in between a couple of pieces of rocky terrain, to forestall Saim-Hann movement towards the centre, leaving just enough room behind to disembark.
The Fire Prism had been Shaken last turn, so it skimmed flat out north to contest both western objectives.
The Spiders finally deigned to show up. In a risky move, they teleported behind the Saim-Hann Farseer's Wave Serpent. However, all their S6 shots only managed to stun the thing.
The Swordwind bike Farseer separated off and disabled the Falcon's pulse laser with her thrown Singing Spear. The Swordwind's Dragons dropped 5 from the Saim-Hann Dragon squad. Their Exarch was left on his feet, with his heavy flamer. He had to go, so the Autarch charged him and beat him bloody with his blunted lance. For his consolidation move, the Autarch advanced forward towards a Guardian Bike squad, to draw their fire and to shield the Dragons.
For their second (Assault Phase) moves the Swordwind tried to hide their Farseer behind some rocks, and teleported the Spiders next to the surviving Saim-Hann Dark Reapers (to force a response against them by the enemy Avengers, instead of those Avengers converging on the western objectives).
As the Saim-Hann Dragon Exarch limped off the field to the sidelines for a drink of the Eldar equivalent of Gatorade, their Farseer Doomed the Warp Spiders. The Avengers disembarked and Bladestormed the Spiders, leaving a couple standing. A subsequent Avenger charge left those two Spiders covered with bruises, as they were pummeled down by the Avenger Exarch's blunted glaive.
Meanwhile, the Falcon slid south and overwhelmed the Swordwind Farseer's mystic defenses with an attenuated Scatter Laser burst. She broke a fingernail as she landed ass-first in the dust.
An entire Guardian Bike squad let loose on the Autarch, who gamely leaned into the hail of blunt shuriken until his armour's sensors also registered him as "killed."
"Whaddaya know, it's beer-o'clock already!"
The other bike squad's cannons immobilized the Banshee skimmer and disabled its turret. The bikes then faded back north, seemingly out of range of any response.
Bottom of the fifth turn, and the game might end due to the random game length rule. I decided that the Swordwind would "go all in", to try and seize control of two objectives, and knock out the Saim-Hann ability to control objectives in response.
The Fire Prism spun in place to make room for the Avenger squad. The Avenger's Serpent backed up by the southwest objective, disembarking the Avengers in a skirmish line around the back of the boat, within shuriken range of the western Guardian Bike squad. The Dragons also advanced on those bikers, hoping to be in range with their fusion rifles. To the east, the other Avenger Serpent moved 6" north out from behind cover, allowing its turret and chin shuriken cannons to bear on the northern bike squad. The Banshees disembarked and moved north from their immobilized skimmer.
The Prism landed a big blast marker on some bikers and a couple of Avengers, dropping the latter.
The Fire Dragons were just in range of the bikers' Warlock, nailing a couple of the Wild Riders. The dismounted Swordwind Avengers unleashed a Bladestorm on the remaining bikers, reducing their number to two and downing the Warlock. The last of them broke and, unable to rally now due to losses, fled north to avoid more bruising.
The Banshees launched themselves into a run. If they rolled a "1" they would never reach the Guardian bikers.
As Brian would say, "Never tell me the odds!"
The Banshee Exarch must have been a fitness guru, since they rolled a "6" for their run move, to put them just within charge reach of the remaining Guardian Bike squad.
I rolled for the Banshee's run first, so I could decide later what to do with the remaining Avenger Serpent. If it now fired and killed one or two bikes, canny casualty removal by Thurston might leave the Banshees high and dry, subject to a hail of shuriken themselves. I held off, leaving the Avengers content to control the eastern objective.
In the ensuing Assault Phase, the Banshees' 30 attacks overwhelmed the Guardian bike squad with much beating about their heads and shoulders, wiping them out.
The photo below show the results of the close quarters battles. All the 60mm bases and biker models on the right hand table edge are Guardian Bike casualties. (Note: Click on the photo for a larger version.)
As the fifth turn ended, the Swordwind controlled two objectives and contested the third. Destroying two of the Saim-Hann scoring units really reduced their chance of winning the field exercise. However, the Saim-Hann forces still had two mobile skimmer tanks and a Vyper, allowing possible tank shocks and gunfire to maybe drive off the dismounted Swordwind Avengers, and contest a couple of objectives. The Saim-Hann Avengers were out of ammo, but with a good series of run and difficult terrain rolls they might be able to reach some of the Swordwind Avengers in assault. With identical initiatives and both sides' Exarchs skilled in swordplay, both squads might break each other.
Thurston rolled for game end and rolled a three. The game would continue! However, it was already midnight on a work night...
Meanwhile, back on the Craftworld:
The Saim-Hann Farseer looked at the position of the various units, and looked at a gem that passed for a chronometer. He got on the comm-link and offered the Swordwind a draw. The Banshee Exarch, the ranking "survivor" due to her centuries of service, didn't need her dear Farseer's runes to see that this scrum might continue into a purplish-bruised stalemate. She readily accepted the offer of a draw. As both sides powered down their weapon systems, she looked forward to an evening of gamboling in the Temple bath house with her warrior women.
On Wednesday, May 13, Thurston and I brought out our respective Eldar armies for some hot, Eldar on Eldar action at Thurston and Alex's place.
Considering the fluff and background of our respective forces, we agreed that this was a training exercise, where the units were using the Eldar equivalent of rubber shuriken and rattan swords. Broken bones, maybe, but no needless deaths for the dying race...
***
I brought out a very lean Swordwind force. Light on the squad and vehicle upgrades, heavy on Aspect Warrior bodies and boats:
Swordwind
HQ
Sword-of-the-Lord - Farseer, Doom, Eldar Jetbike, Runes of Warding, Singing Spear
Warrior of Surprise - Autarch, Eldar Jetbike, Fusion Gun, Laser Lance
TROOPS
Companions - Dire Avengers x 10
- Far-Darter - Exarch upgrade, Bladestorm, 2nd Avenger Shuriken Catapult
- Ancient Whispers - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon, Shuriken Cannon Upgrade
Blood Redeemers - Dire Avengers x 10
- Pious - Exarch upgrade, Bladestorm, Diresword and Shuriken Pistol
- Peacemaker - Wave Serpent, TL Bright Lances
ELITES
Blade Dancers - Howling Banshees x 10
- Angelic Rhapsody - Exarch upgrade, Executioner
- Fencing Master - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon
Fate’s Tears - Fire Dragons x 5
- The Kid - Wave Serpent, TL Shuriken Cannon
FAST ATTACK
Dreamweavers - Warp Spiders x 5
HEAVY SUPPORT
War Prayer – Fire Prism
Total: 1499 points
***
Thurston used his Saim-Hann jetbike army; IIRC:
Saim-Hann
Farseer w/ Spirit Stones, Guide and Doom, riding with
10 Dire Avengers
- including Exarch w/ Bladestorm, Power Weapon and Shimmershield
- Wave Serpent w/ TL Bright Lances and Stones
6 Fire Dragons (riding in the Falcon)
- Exarch w/ Dragon's Breath Flamer and Tank Hunter
7 Guardian Jetbikes, w/ 2 Shuriken Cannons
- plus Warlock w/ Enhance and Singing Spear (8 bikes total)
7 Guardian Jetbikes, w/ 2 Shuriken Cannons
- plus Warlock w/ Enhance and Singing Spear (8 bikes total)
Vyper Jetbike w/ Missile Launcher and Spirit Stones
5 Dark Reapers - Exarch w/ Fast Shot and Missile Launcher
Falcon Grav Tank w/ Holofield, Spirit Stones, and Scatter Laser
As we conversed before the game, I thought to myself, "Fighting Thurston's army is going to be like trying to fight smoke."
***
We played a scenario straight out of the main rulebook, Seize Ground, with Pitched Battle (long table edge) deployment. Thurston rolled up 3 objectives, so we took turns placing my three objective counters. I set up a Ghostwarrior on the middle west of the table, Thurston put a Ranger in a foxhole in a clearing to the east, and I responded with the final counter, an ex-slave Sister of Battle, just over 12" north of the first counter. The player controlling the most objectives would win...
Fun With Objectives
I was trying to be creative with the placement of objectives. With the first two counters so widely separated, the game could really divide my forces. By placing the last counter so close to the first, I would hopefully force Thurston to concentrate the bulk of his forces on the western half of the table, to prevent an easy victory on my part. Due to the sizes of the grav tanks and the on-table footprint of a squad of Dire Avengers or Guardian Jetbikes, a single scoring unit could easily control both western objectives. Thus, the Swordwind might be able to ensure their control of the eastern objective.
Rolling for first turn, Thurston won and decided that the Saim-Hann would go first. He set up the Falcon and Dark Reapers in the far northwest corner, overlooking the two western objectives, which sat in a natural fire lane. The two units set up were long-ranged units (48" range guns), but there was a lot of terrain blocking their LOS to the eastern objective.
I declined to set up anything, holding the Swordwind in reserve, with the Warp Spiders set to deep strike, the Farseer and the Autarch off-table together as an ersatz unit, and everyone else mounted in their respective Wave Serpent transports.
For the second turn, Thurston held pat with Saim-Hann's two heavy support units, and brought on their Farseer/Dire Avenger combo in the middle of the northern board edge, flanked to the east by a Guardian Jetbike squad, and to the west by the Vyper.
The Swordwind's Farseer/Autarch bike combo, Fire Dragons, Howling Banshees and Fire Prism showed up. The two Avenger squads stayed in reserve, which was OK. This prevented the Swordwind's only two scoring units from receiving fire. The Fire Prism came on to the west to challenge the Reapers, and everything else moved on to the far east, hiding as best they could behind rocky terrain.
The Fire Prism managed to stick a pie plate blast marker over the Reapers, dropping a couple of them and breaking them, forcing them to fall back.
As the game progressed, it continued its chess-like exercise in movement and counter-movement. There were almost no casualties for a couple of turns as both sides jockeyed for position. Thurston's Saim-Hann bikes hovered at range, firing pot shots with their shuriken cannons and fading back 6" to be just out of reach of most of the Swordwind's guns - trying to taunt the Swordwind into Saim-Hann's combined killing zones. The Saim-Hann Farseer in his Serpent moved to the west and hovered in that general vicinity, to guide the Falcon and help control the action. The Vyper, after being shaken, moved flat out west to hind behind rocks.
Conversely, the Swordwind stayed at range to prevent the bikes from turbo-boosting in behind the Wave Serpents, where the bikes could surround the Serpents and block their escape hatches, setting up possible squad kills if the boats went down to other units' fire. As reinforcements arrived, one Avenger Serpent moved to the Eastern objective, and the other moved on near the Fire Prism. The second Avenger Serpent was stunned by a couple of missiles from the Dark Reaper Exarch, but its pilot recovered in time for the action noted below.
Around the fourth turn, things started to really happen. In the middle of the table, Saim-Hann's Fire Dragons disembarked from their Falcon and brought down the Swordwind Dragons' Wave Serpent. The Swordwind Dragons fortunately took no casualties and passed their Pin test as they climbed out of the "wreck." That Serpent's pilot then took time out for some tea.
In response, the Banshees in their ride moved slightly north in between a couple of pieces of rocky terrain, to forestall Saim-Hann movement towards the centre, leaving just enough room behind to disembark.
The Fire Prism had been Shaken last turn, so it skimmed flat out north to contest both western objectives.
The Spiders finally deigned to show up. In a risky move, they teleported behind the Saim-Hann Farseer's Wave Serpent. However, all their S6 shots only managed to stun the thing.
The Swordwind bike Farseer separated off and disabled the Falcon's pulse laser with her thrown Singing Spear. The Swordwind's Dragons dropped 5 from the Saim-Hann Dragon squad. Their Exarch was left on his feet, with his heavy flamer. He had to go, so the Autarch charged him and beat him bloody with his blunted lance. For his consolidation move, the Autarch advanced forward towards a Guardian Bike squad, to draw their fire and to shield the Dragons.
For their second (Assault Phase) moves the Swordwind tried to hide their Farseer behind some rocks, and teleported the Spiders next to the surviving Saim-Hann Dark Reapers (to force a response against them by the enemy Avengers, instead of those Avengers converging on the western objectives).
As the Saim-Hann Dragon Exarch limped off the field to the sidelines for a drink of the Eldar equivalent of Gatorade, their Farseer Doomed the Warp Spiders. The Avengers disembarked and Bladestormed the Spiders, leaving a couple standing. A subsequent Avenger charge left those two Spiders covered with bruises, as they were pummeled down by the Avenger Exarch's blunted glaive.
Meanwhile, the Falcon slid south and overwhelmed the Swordwind Farseer's mystic defenses with an attenuated Scatter Laser burst. She broke a fingernail as she landed ass-first in the dust.
An entire Guardian Bike squad let loose on the Autarch, who gamely leaned into the hail of blunt shuriken until his armour's sensors also registered him as "killed."
"Whaddaya know, it's beer-o'clock already!"
The other bike squad's cannons immobilized the Banshee skimmer and disabled its turret. The bikes then faded back north, seemingly out of range of any response.
Bottom of the fifth turn, and the game might end due to the random game length rule. I decided that the Swordwind would "go all in", to try and seize control of two objectives, and knock out the Saim-Hann ability to control objectives in response.
The Fire Prism spun in place to make room for the Avenger squad. The Avenger's Serpent backed up by the southwest objective, disembarking the Avengers in a skirmish line around the back of the boat, within shuriken range of the western Guardian Bike squad. The Dragons also advanced on those bikers, hoping to be in range with their fusion rifles. To the east, the other Avenger Serpent moved 6" north out from behind cover, allowing its turret and chin shuriken cannons to bear on the northern bike squad. The Banshees disembarked and moved north from their immobilized skimmer.
The Prism landed a big blast marker on some bikers and a couple of Avengers, dropping the latter.
The Fire Dragons were just in range of the bikers' Warlock, nailing a couple of the Wild Riders. The dismounted Swordwind Avengers unleashed a Bladestorm on the remaining bikers, reducing their number to two and downing the Warlock. The last of them broke and, unable to rally now due to losses, fled north to avoid more bruising.
The Banshees launched themselves into a run. If they rolled a "1" they would never reach the Guardian bikers.
As Brian would say, "Never tell me the odds!"
The Banshee Exarch must have been a fitness guru, since they rolled a "6" for their run move, to put them just within charge reach of the remaining Guardian Bike squad.
I rolled for the Banshee's run first, so I could decide later what to do with the remaining Avenger Serpent. If it now fired and killed one or two bikes, canny casualty removal by Thurston might leave the Banshees high and dry, subject to a hail of shuriken themselves. I held off, leaving the Avengers content to control the eastern objective.
In the ensuing Assault Phase, the Banshees' 30 attacks overwhelmed the Guardian bike squad with much beating about their heads and shoulders, wiping them out.
The photo below show the results of the close quarters battles. All the 60mm bases and biker models on the right hand table edge are Guardian Bike casualties. (Note: Click on the photo for a larger version.)
As the fifth turn ended, the Swordwind controlled two objectives and contested the third. Destroying two of the Saim-Hann scoring units really reduced their chance of winning the field exercise. However, the Saim-Hann forces still had two mobile skimmer tanks and a Vyper, allowing possible tank shocks and gunfire to maybe drive off the dismounted Swordwind Avengers, and contest a couple of objectives. The Saim-Hann Avengers were out of ammo, but with a good series of run and difficult terrain rolls they might be able to reach some of the Swordwind Avengers in assault. With identical initiatives and both sides' Exarchs skilled in swordplay, both squads might break each other.
Thurston rolled for game end and rolled a three. The game would continue! However, it was already midnight on a work night...
Meanwhile, back on the Craftworld:
The Saim-Hann Farseer looked at the position of the various units, and looked at a gem that passed for a chronometer. He got on the comm-link and offered the Swordwind a draw. The Banshee Exarch, the ranking "survivor" due to her centuries of service, didn't need her dear Farseer's runes to see that this scrum might continue into a purplish-bruised stalemate. She readily accepted the offer of a draw. As both sides powered down their weapon systems, she looked forward to an evening of gamboling in the Temple bath house with her warrior women.
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