Recon on Corus II
The Dark Eldar emerged from the webway and descended on Corus II. The Black Templar were currently holed up in an old industrial complex.
�Find out how many of them there are and bring back as many as you can,� the Dracon in charge ordered.
�Make the mon-keigh suffer��
The Forces
The game was played on a 3� x 5� table, using 1200 point lists and the standard rules for a Recon. Not having the rosters, this is roughly what was fielded:
Kabal of the Crimson Dawn
HQ
1 Dracon w/ Shadowfield, Combat Drugs and Agoniser
Elites
5 Mandrakes
Troops
9 Warrior Raider Squad w/ Splinter Cannon and Blaster
1 Sybarite w/ Agoniser
10 Warrior Raider Squad w/ Splinter Cannon and Blaster
10 Warrior Squad w/ Splinter Cannons, Blaster and Shredder
10 Warrior Squad w/ Splinter Cannons, Blaster and Shredder
10 Warrior Squad w/ Dark Lances
Fast Attack
5 Reaver Jetbikes
Heavy Support
1 Ravager w/ 3 Disintegrators
Black Templar � Legio Desertus
HQ
1 Chaplain w/ Jetpack, Plasma Pistol, Power Weapon and Meltabombs
Elites
1 Dreadnought w/Lascannon and Missile Launcher
1 Vindicare Assassin
Troops
5 Marines on Rhino w/ Close Combat Weapons, Bolt Pistols and Meltagun
1 Emperor�s Champion
5 Marines w/ Close Combat Weapons, Bolt Pistols
5 Marines w/ Close Combat Weapons, Bolt Pistols and Meltagun
5 Marines w/ Close Combat Weapons, Bolt Pistols
Fast Attack
6 Assault Marines w/ Close Combat Weapons, Bolt Pistols and Meltabombs
The Board
Using Necromunda terrain, we had a large multi-level complex, with raised walkways, as well as a handful of ruins.
Deployment
The Dark Eldar appeared to be everywhere at the start. Two Warrior groups started aboard the Raiders (R1 & R2) and the irst Marines Tac squad were aboard the Rhino (R). The Black Templar Chaplain is joined with the Assault group.
Turn 1 � Dark Eldar
The Dark Eldar launched into the fray ordering their entire force forward, save for the Fifth Warriors. The last Warrior group leveled their Dark Lances at the Vindicare Assassin entrenched across from them. The dark matter made quick work of the specialist, killing him instantly.
Turn 1 � Black Templar
The Templars advanced, undaunted by the shear number of Dark Eldar bearing down on them. The First Tactical squad poured out of the Rhino as it stopped advancing so they could fire on the Raider hovering nearby. Neither the Rhino, nor the Marines could damage the craft. The Dreadnought fried on the Fifth Warriors with its lascannon and killed a Warrior outright. The Second Tactical caught sight of the raider and snapped off several shots, but also failed to damage the craft. The Fourth Tactical caught the tail end of the Jetbike group, but the fast moving craft proved difficult to hit. The Assault troops landed not far from the Fourth Warriors and fired a volley into their ranks, killing three. They followed up the shots by charging in. The Marines, led by the Chaplain, killed five additional soldiers, while losing only one of their own.
Turn 2 � Dark Eldar
The Dark Eldar pressed onward. The Fifth Warriors continued firing, this time at the Dreadnought and managed to shake the vehicle, as well as immobilize it. The Jetbikes soared toward the Fourth Marines, shooting as they approached, but they failed to injure the Marines. The troops aboard the First Raider aimed at the Fourth Marines and killed a single soldier. The Fourth Warriors continued their fight with the Assault Marines, but were quickly wiped out. The Jetbikes plunged into melee with the Fourth Marines, but succeeded only in wiping out one of their own. The Dracon grinned as she charged into the Second Marines and swung her Agoniser wildly. When she finished over half of the squad lay dead at her feet and the Marines broke away from her and charged toward the nearby Raider.
Turn 2 � Black Templar
The Templar were heavily engaged with the enemy, so they moved little. The Second Marines fried at their new target, but failed to pierce the armor of the Raider. The Third Marines took aim on the Raider and managed to shake the crew. The Rhino saw the Dracon gloating over her kills and fired its guns. The Shadowfield failed instantly and the Dracon was blown into pieces from her position on the walkway. The Assault Marines saw the rear armor of the Ravager as they touched down and they opened fire on the craft�s exposed rear quarter. Striking the propulsion system, the craft plunged to the ground. The First Marines saw the Raider still hovering to the north and fired. They failed to bring it down, although they successfully disoriented the pilot. The Fourth Marines busied themselves with the Jetbikes, killing two, while losing one.
Turn 3 � Dark Eldar
The Dark Eldar were losing their ranks too quickly. Their fortunes had to change. The Fifth Warriors fired on the Rhino, but failed to damage the craft, thanks to the smoke launchers it used. The Third Warriors leveled their guns and fired at the Assault Marines at extreme range. All shots sailed wide from the target. The Haemonculus in the North fired her Stinger at the Assault troops, but failed to pierce the armor. The First Raider moved out and aimed the Dark Lance at the Assault Marines and finally managed to kill a soldier. The Mandrakes appeared near the First Marines and fired, missing the target. The Mandrakes charged in and were easily dealt with, losing three of their number. The Jetbikes continued their fight versus the Marines, but were totally wiped out.
Turn 3 � Black Templar
The Templar continued to punish the Dark Eldar. The Second Marines fired at the Raider and managed to bring the craft down, killing five of the crew on board. The Dreadnought fired on the Fifth Warriors and killed three soldiers. The Rhino fired on the Fifth as well, killing another Warrior. The Fourth Marines fired on the Haemonculus but missed the target. The Assault Marines turned to the Haemonculus and fired, killing the torturer instantly. The Assault Marines then assaulted the Raider, and they successfully destroyed the Dark Lance mounted on the craft. The First Marines made quick work of the last two Mandrakes. The Second Marines charged into the survivors from the raider crash and killed two of the Warriors without sustaining a casualty.
Turn 4 � Dark Eldar
The pirates were starting to come apart. The Fifth Warriors, decided that the Dreadnought could not go unpunished. They fired their Dark Lances and successfully destroyed the vehicle, boring a hole through its chest. The Third Warriors stepped off the walkway and took aim on the Third Tactical, killing two in the volley. The Raider crew fired on the Forth Marines, but failed to kill any troops. The survivors of the Second Warriors fought against the Second Marines, but fought to a standstill.
Turn 4 � Black Templar
The Templars began to converge on the surviving raiders. Landing behind the Raider, the Assault Marines fired on the transport and finally brought it down, killing three of the Warriors on board. The Fourth Marines fired on the survivors and killed four of them with weapons fire. The Third Marines fired into the Third Warriors and killed three soldiers prior to charging in. In the whirling melee, one Marine fell, as did another Warrior. The Rhino rolled forward and killed a Warrior in the Fifth squad. The Second Marines continued their fight with the Second Warriors and the Warriors won the day, by bringing down the last Marines in the unit.
Turn 5 � Dark Eldar
The Dark Eldar clung to last hopes. The Second Warriors moved into a position so they could see the First Marines, but their shots sailed wide. The Fifth Warriors fired on the Rhino and shook the crew, but did little else. The Haemonculus fired his Destructor into the Fourth Marines and the acid reduced a soldier to a sizzling pile of biomass. The First Warriors charged into the Assault Marines but neither side could harm the other. The Third Warriors successfully wounded and killed a Marine in the Third Company. The Haemonculus charged into the Fourth Company with Scissorhands ready, but neither side could land a blow.
Turn 5 � Black Templar
The Templar held their ground and fought. The First Company fired into the Second Warriors and wiped out the squad. The Third Company fought against the Third Warriors, but were outnumbered and killed. The Forth Company fought against the Haemonculus and while they were able to injure him, they couldn�t stop him entirely. The Assault Marines engaged the First Warriors and quickly dispatched those who remained.
Turn 6 � Dark Eldar
The Fifth Warriors aimed to deny the Marines access to their deployment zone and fired into the Rhino. The craft was immobilized as the Dark Lance fire tore the tracks from the right side of the craft. The Haemonculus tried to kill the Marines he was tied up with, but the two sides were at stalemate.
Turn 6 � Black Templar
The Assault Marines descended on the Third Warriors. The bolter fire claimed two soldiers before the Chaplain charged his men into melee and killed five more. The First Company and the immobilized Rhino fired into the Fifth Warriors, killing two soldiers, but the group still refused to break. The Fourth Company could not shake the Haemonculus, as the two sides remained locked in battle.
Final
With several key units still on the board, the Templar secure the area and repel the invaders.
Dark Eldar � 599 VP, Black Templar � 1069 VP. Black Templar Victory.
Comments
Jason: Well, I tried. The dice just didn�t roll well for me in melee� I should have been able to do more damage than I did. Damned power armour� It was a fun game and it looked promising for me for a little while, but I got one poor roll after another while my guys dropped like flies. Next time will be different�
Dark Eldar MVP Picks:
Dark Eldar � Tough call, but I think I have to give it to the Fifth. They killed the Vindicare, the Dreadnought and crippled the Rhino. They made their points back, which I don�t think any other unit accomplished.
Runner up � Third Warriors. They last until turn six and they destroyed the Third Marines solo while sustaining few casualties (until the met the Chaplain�s crew).
Templar MVP - Assault Marines. Destroyed the First, Fourth, Ravager, Raider and a Haemonculus. Nuff said.
Runner up � First Marines. They took no casualties, pestered my units and that damned Rhino just wouldn�t bugger off.
Logan: Well my second game of Warhammer 40k ever and I got damned lucky. I was making armour saves left and right and I'm not even going to get into the fiasco with the rhino taking out the Dracon in one round. I lost some expensive units right up front but the line troops more than made up it later on.
Things I learned:
1) Cover will not save you if your opponent decides to dedicate an entire warrior squad to shooting down your sniper.
2) Being hull down will only save you for so long.
3) Jetpacks kick ass.
4) Skimmers are a pain to drop in melee.
Overall, a hell of a lot more successful than I expected on my first outing.
Black Templar MVP Picks:
Templar MVP Pick � The Assault Marines, same reasons as above. They did more damage than most of my other troops combined.
Runner up � The Rhino, for sheer blind luck in taking out the Dracon in one round of bolter fire.
Dark Eldar MVP � The Fifth Warrior Group. The bastards just wouldn�t die and inflicted far too much damage.
Runner up � First Haemonculus. For tying up Tac 4 and being the only other thing left alive at the end of the game. Again it just wouldn�t die.