Friday, February 29, 2008

Battle Report: Eldar vs. Tau Cityfight: Meeting Engagement

Scenario: Cityfight: Meeting Engagement
Eldar Forces: Meliadus
Tau Forces: Darkwing
This was our third Cityfight battle, at 1200 points. To keep things simple we stuck to the Meeting Engagement scenario.

Wednesday, February 27, 2008

Battle Report: Orks vs. Lanterns Cityfight: Meeting Engagement

Scenario: Cityfight: Meeting Engagement
Ork Forces: Badelaire
Lanterns Forces: Meliadus

This was our second Cityfight battle, this time upping the ante to 1200 points. To keep things simple we stuck to the Meeting Engagement scenario.

Monday, February 25, 2008

The Tau Fleet

Here are some pictures of my Tau Fleet
Hero Class Cruiser
Emissary Class Light Cruiser
Explorer Class Battleship

Friday, February 22, 2008

Battle Report: Orks vs. Space Wolves Cityfight: Meeting Engagement

Scenario: Cityfight: Meeting Engagement
Ork Forces: Badelaire
Space Wolf Forces: The D
This was our first attempt at actually using Cityfight, so we kept it to a 1000 point battle. Meeting Engagement seemed to be the simplest of the missions, which would allow us to play with a minimum of fuss and figure out the new rules. All in all, it resulted in a close and exciting game, which we completed in about four hours. (And that's with me taking notes and pictures all the time so I could make the battle report)

Wednesday, February 20, 2008

Far Away

This is another thing that isn't 40k, but it's fantasy, therefore at least vaguely related. It's at least related in the sense that along with wargaming and miniature painting, it is another expression of my nerdiness.

Anyway, a few friends of mine got together last year and made a fantasy-themed music video to Nickelback's "Far Away". It basically follows a soldier returning to his love after being away on campaign, with various trials and tribulations along the way.

Monday, February 18, 2008

Battle Report: Dark Eldar vs. Tau Rules of Engagement

Scenario: Rules of Engagement
Dark Eldar Forces: Archite
Dark Eldar Mission: Foothold; Objective: Control both enemy Objective Markers (Objectives 1 and 3)
Tau Forces: Darkwing
Tau Mission: Rescue; Objective: Primary: One non-vehicle unit must spend one full movement phase in base to base with an enemy objective (2 or 4). Secondary: Control any one of your own objective markers (1 or 3)

Friday, February 15, 2008

Wednesday, February 13, 2008

Battle Report: Necrons vs. Imperial Guard Take and Hold

Scenario: Battle Take and Hold
Necron Forces: Badelaire
Imperial Guard Forces: Darkwing
The Forces
Necron Forces
Destroyer Lord (1)
Flayed Ones (7)
Flayed Ones (7)
Immortals (8)
Warriors
Warriors (15)
Destroyers (5)
Heavy Destroyers (2)
Scarab Swarms
Monolith
Imperial Guard ForcesPoints
Command Platoon (5) with 1 Fire Support Squad (6), 2 Anti-Tank Squad (12), and 1 Mortar Squad 497
Storm Troopers (10)125
Hardened Veterans (10) 129
1st Infantry Platoon with 3 Infantry Squads (35) 320
2nd Infantry Platoon with 2 Infantry Squads (25)269
2nd Infantry Platoon with 2 Infantry Squads (25)230
Leman Russ Tank Squadron (3)527
Total Points:2097
Turn 1
2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon await the Necron assault
The Imperial Guard had a Tank Platoon and the Infantry Company’s 3rd platoon around the objective. The Guardsmen took up positions near cover, looking for the approaching Necrons.

The Necrons poured onto the battlefield in a long line. Anchoring the center was the Necron Destroyer Lord, with a Tomb Spyder next to him. They in turn were each flanked by large squads of Warriors, capped off by a Tomb Spyder at either end. A line of scarabs were in front. On the left flank moved a squad of 5 Destroyers, and on the right flank were a pair of Heavy Destroyers and a squad of Immortals. Finally, two squads of Flayed Ones had infiltrated behind cover on either flank of the Imperial position.

The Flayed Ones advanced, closing in. The Heavy Destroyers opened fire on the nearest Leman Russ, shaking up the crew.

The Imperial Guard retaliated by opening fire. Two Battlecannon opened fire, one at the Destroyers, the other at the Heavy Destroyers. Both shots missed their targets, only serving to destroy some trees and make craters. The Command Squad of the 3rd Platoon (C/3) opened fire on the Scarabs and missed. The 1st Squad of the 3rd Platoon (1/3), managed to kill one Scarab base. The 2nd Squad (2/3), fired and missed the Flayed Ones on the right flank.


The 1st and 2nd Platoons arrive to attack the Immortals
Turn 2
The Necrons advanced in a wide envelopment maneuver, closing in on the objective. The Heavy Destroyers opened fire on the center Leman Russ, detonating its magazine, sending flaming debris all around, which killed one guardsman from 2/3, and two guardsmen from C/3. On the Necron left flank, the Destroyers opened fire on the right Leman Russ, but failed to damage it.

The Scarabs assaulted 1/3 and C/3. The guardsmen attacked first, delivering two wounds, while the scarabs delivered four, but only one guardsman fell as the other three were saved by their flak armor.

The guardsmen held their ground and fired at what targets they could. 2/3 fired on the Flayed ones approaching them, killing one. The right Leman Russ fired on the same squad, and killed five more. The left Leman Russ fired on the other squad of Flayed Ones, killing four of them.

In the assault, the guardsmen killed a pair of scarab bases, while four guardsmen were killed in return.

Turn 3
The Monolith arrived from reserve, landing behind the objective, slightly to the Imperial Guard’s right flank. The rest of the Necron Army continued their advance, the Heavy Destroyers flanking the left Leman Russ. They opened fire, destroying the tank easily. On the Necron left, the Destroyers fired on 2/3, killing nine and wiping out the squad. The Monolith and a squad of Necron Warriors fired on the right Leman Russ, but failed to damage it. In close combat, the guardsmen killed another scarab base while suffering no casualties.

The Imperial Guard reserves began to arrive, dropping from the sky. The 1st and 2nd platoons arrived, as well as the Hardened Veterans and the Stormtroopers. The Headquarters Platoon (with the company’s heavy weapons) failed to arrive.

1st and 2nd Platoons landed in front of the Immortals, while others landed around the Flayed Ones and the Heavy Destroyers. The Hardened Veterans landed behind the Immortals, while the Stormtroopers unfortunately landed on top of the Flayed Ones, losing four of their number on the drop. Their mission was clear—overwhelm the Necron right flank and then roll up their line.

The right Leman Russ fired on the approaching Necron Warriors, and killed five of them.

At close range, the Imperial Guard opened up with everything they had. The Command Squad from the 2nd Platoon (C/2) and the 3rd Squad of the 1st Platoon (3/1) killed the two Heavy Destroyers, and the rest of the guardsmen concentrated on the Immortals. The 1st Platoon’s Lieutenant promptly killed himself when his Plasma Pistol overheated. 4 Storm Bolter, 1 Bolter, 2 Laspistol, 1 Hellpistol, 3 Hellgun, 4 Shotgun, 4 Meltagun, 6 Grenade Launcher, 2 Flamer, and 34 Lasgun shots later, seven Immortals were down, leaving one left standing, and thus preventing them whole unit from phasing out. To put it simply, the Imperial Guard failed horribly in their mission.

In the assault, the guardsmen finished off another scarab base, and took no casualties.

The Necrons advance as the Tomb Spyder destroys the Leman Russ
Turn 4

Four out of the seven Immortals promptly self-repaired and rejoined the fight. Three of the five Necron Warriors killed by the Leman Russ’ Battlecannon, benefiting from the Lord’s Resurrection Orb, were able to self-repair as well.

The single Flayed One on the Necron left flank failed his “All on your own” check and fell back. The Necrons continued to advance while the Monolith shifted its position. The Immortals wreaked their vengeance on the Hardened Veterans, killing five of them. A squad of Necron Warriors fired on 2/2, killing five. The other squad of Warriors fired on the right Leman Russ, shaking up the crew, and the Destroyers proceeded to destroy the tank’s Battlecannon. The Monolith attempted to finish off the tank with its Particle Whip, but missed.

One of the Necron Tomb Spyders charged into C/1 and 2/2, while the group of Flayed Ones charged the Storm Troopers.

The guardsmen in the center continued to wound Scarabs, delivering another two wounds. The Stormtroopers all missed, while the Flayed Ones killed two of the Storm Troopers. The Tomb Spyder crushed four guardsmen with ease, while not being damaged itself. 2/2 fled.

Everything that could shoot fired on the Immortals, including the Hardened Veterans, 1/1, 2/1, 1/ 2, and C/2, and between them they managed to kill a single Immortal. 3/1 assaulted the Flayed Ones to help out the Stormtroopers.

The guardsmen continued to wound the Scarabs, but the Scarabs simply would not die. In return the Scarabs killed one guardsman. The Tomb Spyder killed another guardsman. The Stormtroopers and guardsmen were useless against the Flayed Ones, who killed a pair of guardsmen in return.

The Necron Destroyer Lord enters the fray
Turn 5

The one downed Immortal promptly self-repaired. The Immortals fired again, killing five Hardened Veterans and wiping out the squad. The Warriors fired again on the Leman Russ, immobilizing it. The Destroyers fired on C/2, killing all five, wiping out the Squad.

A Tomb Spyder assaulted the Leman Russ, damaging the tracks. The Necron Lord assaulted C/3, which was locked in combat with the Scarabs, and killed one of them. The guardsmen did nothing in return, as did the Scarabs. C/3 proceeded to flee.

The Tomb Spyder on the Necron right flank killed the last member of C/1, and consolidated into 1/1. The Flayed Ones killed two more guardsmen, while the guardsmen finally felled a single Flayed One.

The Headquarters Platoon finally arrived. The Heavy Weapons Squads landed behind the objective and on the right flank, while the Command Squad itself landed close behind the objective to its left.

2/1 and 1/ 2 fired on the Immortals, killing three of them. The Leman Russ fired on the warriors with its Heavy Bolter and Lascannon, but failed to kill any of them. Then the Tomb Spyder tore into it and destroyed it.

The Necron Lord and the Scarabs killed two guardsmen, causing the rest of 1/3 to flee. The Flayed Ones killed another Guardsman, while the Stormtroopers and guardsmen killed one more Flayed One, leaving one left.

The Tomb Spyder killed two more guardsmen of 1/1.

Turn 6
One of the Immortals self-repaired, as did one of the Flayed Ones.

The Necrons continued their advance, almost unopposed. The Immortals fired on 1/ 2, killing four. The Lord used his Staff of Light on the C/HQ, killing one—another was wounded but saved by the Medic’s medipack. A unit of Warriors fired on C/HQ, killing 3, leaving only the Captain.

The Destroyers fired on the squad of Lascannon teams, wiping it out. The Monolith fired its Particle Whip on the Heavy Bolter Squad, killing one crewmember.

The Necron Lord and the Scarabs charged the Captain, wounding him. The Captain was unable to do anything in return.

The Stormtrooper Sergeant killed one Flayed One, and the fight continued. The Tomb Spyder killed another two guardsmen in 1/1.

Squads 2/1 and 1/ 2 fired on the Immortals, and failed to kill any of them. The Heavy Bolters fired on the Destroyers, killing two of them. The Mortars fired on a tightly packed bunch of Necron Warriors, hitting directly on target, but failing to kill any of them.

The Captain wounded the Necron Lord once, then the Lord killed him. The Tomb Spyder took one wound, but squashed another guardsman. The Flayed ones killed another guardsman.

By now the Necrons were swarming over the objective, and there was almost no one left to oppose them... With that the battle was over.

Saturday, February 9, 2008

Fantasy Miniatures

Just as a slight diversion from the 40k stuff, here's a selection of the some of the fantasy miniatures I've painted, from Warhammer and the Lord of the Rings.

Friday, February 8, 2008

Battle Report: Necrons vs. Tau Rearguard

After defeating the Necrons in a battle at night, the Tau chased after the retreating Necron forces in the hopes of eradicating them.

Scenario: Breakthrough Rearguard
Necron Forces: Badelaire
Tau Forces: Darkwing
The Forces
Necron ForcesPoints

Flayed Ones (10)180

Warriors (15) 270

Warriors (15) 270

Destroyers (5) 250

Total Points:970
Tau Forces Points

Commander Shas'o with Bodyguard (3)299

Ethereal 50

Crisis Battlesuit Team (3) 232

Stealth Team (6) 217

Fire Warriors (12)130

Fire Warriors (12) 130

Fire Warriors (12) 130

Fire Warriors (12) 130

Pathfinders (6) with Devilfish Dropship198

Gun Drones (8)96

Broadside Battlesuit Team (3) 235

Hammerhead Gunship 160

Total Points:2007
Turn 1
The Tau Hunter Cadre advanced onto the battlefield to face the two separate Necron forces. The Hammerhead on the Tau right flank opened fire with its Ion Cannon felling two Necron Warriors. The Crisis Suit Team fired their missile pods at the same squad, killing another Warrior. The rest of the Tau Army was out of range.

All three downed Necrons self-repaired and rejoined their unit. The Destroyers fired on the Devilfish, and while all of them hit, none of them damaged the vehicle.

Turn 2
The Tau Army continued to advance, and the Devilfish disembarked the Pathfinders. The Hammerhead fired on the Necron Warriors, again felling two with the Ion Cannon. The Crisis Suit team, and the Commander fired their Missile Pods on the Warriors, killing two more.

Three of the fallen Warriors self repaired, while one phased out, too damaged to continue. The Destroyers fired on a unit of Fire Warriors on the Tau left flank, killing four of them.

Turn 3
The Pathfinders fired their Pulse Carbines at the Necron Warrior unit on the Necron right flank, but failed to kill any of them. A Fire Warrior Squad was luckier, taking down one of them. The Devilfish also failed to kill any Warriors with its Burst Cannon.

On the Tau right flank, the Crisis suits failed to do any damage to the Necron Warrior unit, but the Hammerhead killed three of them with its Ion Cannon, and the Commander killed two more.

Two of the Necron Warriors phased out while four self-repaired. The Flayed Ones arrived, deep-striking atop the hill in front of the Crisis Team.

The Necron Warrior squad opposite the Hammerhead opened fire on it. Despite 11 shots, only three hit, and none of them damaged the Gunship. The other Necron Warrior Squad fired on the Devilfish, hitting it 11 times, glancing it twice, and destroyed it. The Destroyers opened fire on a Fire Warrior Squad again, killing eight of them and wiping out the squad.

Turn 4
The Tau second wave arrived, pouring onto the battlefield as the first wave unleashed its firepower.

The Stealth Team found themselves in range of the Flayed Ones, and they opened fire, killing four. The Crisis Team, within close range, killed five more Flayed Ones, leaving only one left. The Hammerhead finished it off with its Ion Cannon, wiping out the squad and preventing them from repairing.

The Pathfinders fired their Rail Rifles and Carbines at the Necron Warriors on the Necron right flank, killing a pair of them. The Broadsides, finally in a firing position, fired on the same Warrior unit, killing three more.

Two of the Warriors self-repaired. The Destroyers fired on the Tau Gun Drones, destroying all eight and wiping them out.
Turn 5

Time was running out for the two, and there were far too many Necrons left. The Hammerhead’s Ion Cannon was less than effective, while the Smart Missile System accounted for a single Necron.

The fire on the Tau left flank was better. The Crisis Team killed two Necron Warriors, while the Pathfinders killed one more. The Stealth Team killed three, while the Broadsides killed one more. The Necrons failed their pinning test, and were locked in place.

Five of the Necrons self-repaired, while two phased out.

The Destroyers fired on the Crisis Team, destroying two of the drones and wounding one of the Crisis Suits.

With that, the battle was over, with plenty of Necrons still in the fight.

Conclusion
Unable to press the advantage, the Tau would be forced to confront the Necrons again. (As a note, the Necrons went 17 for 22 (77%) for WBB rolls…)

Monday, February 4, 2008

Battle Report: Necrons vs. Tau Recon

After chasing the Necron forces to Arcadia Prime, a Tau Hunter Cadre landed on the planet's surface with the intention of destroying the Necrons completely. When they first clashed, it was with the intent of overrunning their enemy's positions.