40k SN Battle Report: White Scars vs Raptors
SN Battle Reports vs Tabletop Tactics locked in a fight to the death! Thrills! Spills! A spectacle of which the likes has never been seen!
Ladies and Gentlemen boys and girls, back doing what we do best, back from combat duties at No Retreat 2, in glorious Technicolor we present Battle Report 49!
The throaty roar of Astartes bikers combined with the bark of boltguns and concussive thuds of detonating ordnance came together in a symphony of war. In the eye of this storm of fire and noise crouched a figure who exuded an air of icy calm at odds with the maelstrom of violence that enveloped him. With unhurried grace, Chapter Master Lias Issodon reloaded his custom boltgun, Malice, and sighted down her omniscope sending a mass-reactive bolt through the eye lens of a speeding traitor biker’s at a distance of four hundred metres. Kill confirmed. He slowly swung Malice around searching for new targets to present themselves, dispatching them with the same merciless precision that marked the biker’s demise. The grey and scarlet armoured Ashen Huntsmen countered the Raptors punishing fire with lightning hit-and-run warfare for which they had justly accrued such fame when they had served the Emperor as the Storm Riders. The two chapters, once sworn brothers now mortal foes, made war at opposite sides of the spectrum. The Raptors, as true sons of Corax, fought with a detached mien, prioritising planning and clever deployment, maximising the use of all available forces against the chinks in the enemies dispositions bringing about their foes defeat with the minimum amount of effort to better preserve their strength for future campaigns. The blood of The Khan ran hot through the veins of the Ashen Huntsmen, crying “Uukhai” with delight as they surged forward like a viper to strike the enemy with venom, only to recoil before their victim had even registered the bite, whooping and howling all the while. They would not halt until all their prey had been run to ground. The circumstances of their fall from grace rendered even more tragic by the ease with which they could have been avoided.
Left to wage an unending war against the stellar empire of Warboss Killagutsmasha, unsupported and forgotten by the byzantine bureaucracy of the Adeptus Munitorum, their savage pride not allowing them to withdraw until their assigned hunt was brought to a victorious conclusion. For two centuries they had tried to inflict death by a thousand cuts to a beast that reconstituted itself with a speed that outstripped its losses. The tectonic pace at which the Imperium moved was highlighted when at last reinforcement arrived in the form of the renowned Raptors chapter, 217 years after the Storm Riders had begun their campaign. The Raptors were thrust into a furious three-way war between themselves, the Orks and the Storm Riders, who had renounced their oath of fealty to the Imperium that had abandoned them and hailed themselves as the Ashen Huntsmen. Lias Issodon had prioritised their elimination for as dangerous as the Orks were, a renegade Astartes chapter was a far more terrible threat, and doubly so one which was skilled in the art of rapid movement and lightning strikes… If the Ashen Huntsmen were not stopped here, before they could disentangle themselves from their xenos foes, then they could run rampant throughout the sector, destabilising the vital arterial trade routes that ran all the way to distant, sacred Terra. With that thought uppermost in his mind, Lias Issodon shouldered Malice and lifted its scope lens to his eye brining the crosshairs to bear on a MkIV armoured helm in storm grey livery. He gently exhaled and in that interminable moment between breaths he carefully, almost reverently, squeezed Malice’s trigger sending a kraken round racing towards yet another target.
Deployment: Dawn of War
Points: 1750
Mission: Crusade (3 Objectives)
Chapter Tactics: White Scars
Librarian: Lv2, Space Marine bike; The Hunter’s Eye
4 Scouts: 4× Space Marine shotgun; + 1 Scout Sergeant (Space Marine shotgun)…
• Land Speeder Storm: multi-melta
4 Scouts: 4× Space Marine shotgun; +
1 Scout Sergeant (Space Marine shotgun)
• Land Speeder Storm: multi-melta
Stormtalon Gunship: Skyhammer missile launcher
Stormtalon Gunship: Skyhammer missile launcher
(Stormlance Battle Demi-Company)
Kor’sarro Khan: Moondrakkan
2 Space Marine Bikers: 2× grav-gun; + 1 Biker Sergeant
4 Tactical Marines: flamer; + 1 Space Marine Sergeant
• Razorback: twin-linked lascannon
4 Tactical Marines: flamer; + 1 Space Marine Sergeant
• Razorback: twin-linked lascannon
4 Tactical Marines: flamer; + 1 Space Marine Sergeant
• Razorback: twin-linked lascannon
Command Squad: 4× grav-gun; Space Marine bikes; Apothecary
4 Devastator Marines: 4× grav-cannon and grav-amp; + 1 Space Marine Sergeant
• Razorback: twin-linked lascannon
Chaptar Tactics: Raptors
Lias Issoden
Captain: storm shield…
9 Tactical Marines: plasma gun; plasma cannon; + 1 Space Marine Sergeant (combi-plasma)
• Rhino
9 Tactical Marines: grav-gun; heavy bolter; + 1 Space Marine Sergeant (combi-grav)
• Rhino
4 Sternguard Veterans: 2× combi-melta; 2× heavy flamer; + 1 Veteran Sergeant (combi-melta)
• Drop Pod
4 Space Marine Bikers: 2× flamer; + 1 Biker Sergeant (combi-flamer)
2 Devastator Centurions: 2× grav-cannon and grav-amp; + 1 Centurion Sergeant (grav-cannon and grav-amp; missile launcher; omniscope)
Land Raider Redeemer: multi-melta
4 Devastator Marines: 2× missile launcher (flakk missiles); 2× lascannon; + 1 Space Marine Sergeant
Sergeant
Xenos and Humans! Boys and Girls! Our Reports are back! After an absolutely amazing No Retreat 2 event and a nice couple of days rest (believe me we needed it, we aren’t as young as we used to be) we are back to “business”. So what better way to start the new month than to use one of the terrain sets that was custom made for the event by our friends at Wargame Terrain Factory (the amazing guys that built us our amazing crashed ship set that we love so much). And wow this set is amazing and not only looks good but is very playable as well! And we have more! What? I hear at least one of you ask! Lucky you should ask… this report is about to get bigger and better as we are going to have our great dictator the one and only (thank the Emperor there is only one of him!) Steven against The Chef from Tabletop Tactics! Yes! SN v TTT! I know who my money is on…. As you have seen Steven is using his lovely Raptors whereas the Chef is using the list he used as No Retreat 2! This is going to be EPIC!
So after a bit of thought and a long look at both armies and the terrain we decided to go for the Crusade mission. Three batches of crates scattered across the battlefield in three different locations. Here you can see one of them exactly in the middle of the battlefield. This was a great location to have one as all terrain was to be used with the ruins rule so a 4+ cover guarding the objective. Should help with all the firepower that’s coming to the tabletop!
Here you have another of the objectives just on the other side of the battlefield nicely painted by Lawrence (apologies to Lawrence for stacking them… but we thought it added some character to it and helped LOS blocking…). After all three objectives were placed we rolled for night fighting (no night fighting) and we then rolled to see who would go first. After the first roll of the game it was Mike “The Chef” that won and opted to deploy first. Hold on to your seats this is going to be epic! (Insert Epic Music here.)
So here we go…. Mike starts to deploy his very cool and clean strikingly schemed army splitting the army straight away in two. He first deploys his command squad and one of his Tactical Squads in a Razorback on one side closest to the Fence and forest. Note that all his army will scout move after infiltrators and for those of you who do not know what his formation does here you go…. Stormlance Demi Company Clear and Sweep: In the Shooting Phase, can reroll misses against enemy units controlling an Objective Mobile Firebase: In the Shooting Phase, after resolving their attack, a unit can redeploy D6″, or 2D6″ if Bike or Jump type. This can be used to embark on the units Dedicated Transport, even if they have disembarked this turn, provided that all members of the unit end their move within 2″ of the Transports access points. Units making this move cannot assault this turn Yep we will surely see some amazing shenanigans from these traitorous renegades (boo hiss!) (Hey I have to support Steven don’t I?)
The other half of the army deploys on the other side immediately capturing one of the objectives. Not in this picture is the other Razorback with the Grav Devastator squad just on the other side of the terrain to our right.
Mike hands over the tape measure to Steven and so the Raptors start to deploy. Our great leader the wise and generous Steven deploys his Reedemer just in front of the 3 man bike squad and Razorback. Even though it’s a transport Steven opted not to deploy any units inside. We are sure he has reasons for that… In Steven we trust!
After both armies are deployed we have the second roll off this time for infiltrators. Lias Issoden giving himself and three other units Infiltrate gives Steven an awesome chance to get his Grav Centurions into range first turn. With this in mind Steven decides to deploy them on this ruin after winning the roll off and getting the change to deploy first.
Mike’s turn now, he infiltrates one of his Land Speeders into the ruin and pre measures his next move. Damn him and his so-called “Tabletop Tactics”! SN don’t need no Tactics… (ok I may have found a slight problem in our style here, can I change sides now?) No? Ok… Mike then moves his forces forward using the Scout special rule from the White Scars Chapter Tactics. (More darn Tactics on this Tabletop!) You can also see Lias “The Grim” and his devastators deployment just at the bottom of the picture getting in what is hoped is a great position of the whole battlefield deployed on the Ork Rig.
Now for some fun! SN can do Tactics too! An amazing rule of Lias’ (set out below) means 8 hits on the enemy command squad before the game even starts! MuaHaHA! Luckly for Mike a combination of Power Armour and FnP rolls sees only two veteran bikes removed. Better than nothing though! Infiltrate, Isolate, Destroy: If an army includes Lias Issodon its controlling player may select a single enemy unit, Monstrous Creature or vehicle that has been deployed onto the table. After any Scout redeployments have been made, but before the game begins, the chosen unit suffers D6+3 wounds with no AP value if a squad or Monstrous Creature, distributed as shooting hits (assume the attack has originated from the closest unit in Issodon’s force). If the target is a vehicle, it suffers D3 rolls on the Haywire table instead.
Turn 1 (Tabletop Tactics) After suffering some casualties the Librarian, Warlord and his unit move up closer towards the enemy. The Razorback covers them from the side by also moving forward into the incoming enemy.
Turn 1 (Tabletop Tactics) Mike also moves his forces on the other side moving his small bike squad up into Grav range to hopefully target and immobilise the Landraider. The Razorback follows close behind for some extra support.
Turn 1 (Tabletop Tactics) Mike starts his shooting phase with some great rolling managing to roll a 6 to glance the Landraider making it immobilised and lose a hull point. This is already a game changer as this amazing tank will not be able to use his flamers as Mike will surely not get close enough to the tanks strong strength 6 ap3 templates. Not a great start for the great Steven… And he was doing so well…
Turn 1 (Tabletop Tactics) The infiltrated Landspeeder moves up and shoots at the Rhino behind the ruin but in true melta fashion it fails to hit. (Why does this always happen? Why does Plasma always get hot? Why do terminators always die to lasguns?) At least Steven was happy again.
Turn 1 (Tabletop Tactics) With nothing else in range two of the Veterans from the command squad fire their grav guns at the same rhino hitting with all shots but amazingly failing to roll any 6s! Steven you lucky man! The Emperor protects!
Turn 1 (Tabletop Tactics) The awesome shenanigans begin after disembarking from the rhino and firing some shots at the Centurions (but failing to wound) the unit jumps back in its rhino for some extra cover. I love this formation! (But what do they think they are? Eldar or something?)
Turn 1 (Raptors) Time to hit back! Steven’s turn now and his Veteran and Captain filled drop pod get a direct hit landing just in front of the command squad and Razorback. This is going to get messy isn’t it? Loving that Captain and his Burning Blade….
Turn 1 (Raptors) Hoping to bring down as many renegade marines as possible Steven opts to disembark his units from his rhinos and have as many shots towards the enemy as possible. Awesome sight!
Turn 1 (Raptors) View from the other disembarked squad ready to fire all it has got towards the command squad or so it seems… Amazing paint jobs on these Raptors no wonder they are Steven’s favourite army.
Turn 1 (Raptors) Burn Heretics! (Just for the fluff of the story). Or, if you want to get personal, “Time to burn the pastry!” Does that even make sense? Who cares? Steven starts his shooting phase in style flaming the command squad with two heavy flamers hitting 8 times and wounding 3. But Mike’s saves are great as none are removed. The Veterans then fire their Meltas and manage to pierce through the first bike which is removed from play. The two other tactical squads fire all they have towards this lethal squad which have Ignore cover Grav guns because of the Hunters Eye on the Librarian. Steven really needs to deal with this squad asap. Some more great shots by Steven sees more Veterans wounded to which another one dies leaving just the Warlord and the apothecary alive on that side of the Razorback. The other Squad however can only see the Librarian and opens fire on him some great skilled shooting by them sees wound after wound passed onto Mike to save, Mike, not opting to look out sir as he needs that Apothcary alive, tries to Jink and FnP his Librarian as much as possible but too many wounds and some poor rolling by Mike sees the Librarian removed from play.
Turn 1 (Raptors) The Centurions, who have moved up closer to the ruin’s edge, fire down onto the Bike squad just able to see 2 of them and only fire with two of them. Steven Opts to fire with his Sergeants weapons towards the Razorback hoping to Immobilise it with his omniscope splitfire rule. Steven fires but fails to roll a 6 even with the reroll but the other Centurions manage to remove the two bikers from play leaving the squad with just one. Not the best of turns from Steven as he did need to finish off some units but failed to do so. Lets see what turn two has in store for us.
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) I’m so excited about this turn it’s a make or break situation for both armies at the moment… The first of Mike’s reserves comes in using the outflank rule. He deploys the Land speeder and scouts just beside the Drop pod giving that flank some extra support.
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) 1 of 2 Stormtalons also come into the battlefield from reserve luckily the -1 reserve roll from Lias issoden doesn’t permit the two from coming in. Awesome shot of the Storm Talon manoeuvring into position.
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) Mike disembarks his Devastator grav squad just in front of the newly disembarked Raptors seeking revenge for their fallen Librarian……… Ouch this is going to hurt isn’t it! Great paint job on the Gravs Mike!
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) Great view of Mike’s second assault on the raptors and it is looking like they have totally surrounded the Captain and all other Units on this flank. Interesting to see how this goes…..but to tell you the truth is doesn’t look too good for Steven. But I still have faith in our glorious one to uphold the honour of SN against the renegade TTT interlopers! (Did I say that right boss?)
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) The apothecary and Artan “Khan” move forward into the heart of battle. Love this shot! So much going on just imagine this actually happening bikes crossing the battlefield all those marines coming out of the tanks hatches….Amazing!
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) The scouts disembark out of the Land speeder and prepare to assault what looks like the Rhino. Krak grenades anyone?
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) A great shot from one of the Razorback’s Lascannons below manages to hit and wound the Devastator squad to which Steven fails his 2+ cover save (Lias gives the unit shrouded)…
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) The lonely biker moves up and tries his luck one more time as he fires his Grav Gun towards the Land raider but he doesn’t succeed this time as no 6s are rolled. Brave lil’ fella isn’t he. Bless. Shame he is a heretic…
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) Fire at will! (Which one is Will?) The Storm talon and all tactical Marines fire at the Stern Guard and Captain. Mike targets them with his flamers first, the Captain passing most of his look out sir rolls.
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) After firing all they have and removing all 5 Sternguard Veterans, with some excellent shooting and not too excellent saving throws by Steven, all the Marines again embark on their transports….Awesome use of Oyster Cards for unlimited travel…
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) Mike targets the now oh so lonely Captain with all three Lascannons. The first 2 roll and wound but are saved by the Captain’s Storm Shield but too many powerful shots prove too much as the Captain doesn’t move fast enough. One of the shots passes through his Storm Shield instantly killing him. Wow wasn’t expecting that.
Turn 2 (Tabletop Tactics) The Cerberus launcher fires at the Plasma squad killing 3! A very under used weapon in my humble opinion. To make matters worse they fail their initiative test for the blind test.
See the full Battle Report Here for the exciting conclusion and remember to subscribe!
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