Infestation! Tyranids incoming!

"Ui'Acuri, heavy vibrations on east of cadre station!"
"I feel them too. It sounds like more than two monstous creatures coming... No, not only. Mass of smaller creatures can be felt too... And even seen!" Pathfinder switched vox channels "O'Amis, we are under Tyranid attack! Get all units ready to battle!"
"Thank you, Ui'Acuri. What can we expect?" Asked Commander.
"Looks like Tervigon and Carnifex with something like fog-making creature and Biovore... not sure, maybe some newly evolved creature...? Plus about 20 to 40 Terma- or Hormagaunts."
"Moving into position" Devilfishes' and Hammerhead's crew announced through vox.
Then Ui' Acuri heard rustling and then saw them: broods of small, winged creatures with three winged Tyranid Warriors were coming from north.
"O'Amis, Gargoyles striking from north! No, no! My brother!!!"

In this bat-rep I'll try a new way of showing what happened. I drawn a map with terrain, units and their moves. After pictures I'll write what happened. Okay?

Here you have match data and deployment scheme.

And there goes game scheme.

We tried out Battle Missions. I rolled dice and it was Tyranid Infestation. Winner chooses which quarter will be Tyranids' opponent's deployment zone (I won, I chose south-west one). Then Mauryc deployed his Tyranids (2x broods of 15 Gargoyles, 3 Shrikes, Tervigon, Tyrannofex, 1x Hive Gurad, 1x Venomthrope, 30x Termagants, 2 broods of 10x Genestealers, Trygon Prime). I deployed mine (League list tryout). He was going to Outflank with Genestealers, I with Kroot, he decided to Deep Strike Trygon and I Flamer XV8s.

In first turn Mauryc forgot to produce Termagants with Tervigon, but managed to give nearby Termagants Feel no Pain. Gargoyles and Warriors killed 5 out of 6 Pathfinders, the last didn't pass Morale and ran off the board.

I Tank Shocked Termagants, getting them tighter, shoot at them with O'Amis' AFP and wounded 8, but thanks to FnP I killed only 2 of them. Fire Warriors which weren't in DF embarked onto Pathfinders' DF. I moved as showed, shot with DFs on Gargoyles killing 5, HH shot at Warriors causing three wounds and killing 1 more Gargoyle. XV88s and Deathrains shot at Tervigon (or Tyrannofex, I'm not sure :D ) causing one or two wounds.

Second turn started with exhausting spawning of 5 Termagants by Tervigon (2, 2, 1) :D . Everything moved onward, 9 Gargoyles flew onto Pathfinders' hill together with  Shrikes, and he got out of Reserves one Genestealers brood, however they didn't manage to cause any more damage than destroying a weapon on not-PF DF. Again all Tyrannofex's and Hive Guard's shots bounced off the Broadsides armor, and Gargoyles' shots done nothing to HH. In Assault phase he tried to charge XV88s with Shrikes, but he rolled 5 for Diff. Terrain test and so I was out of his reach.

In my turn I rolled 2+ for flamer-XV8s thanks to Pos. Relay and Deep Struck them just in front of this huge Termagant brood and I burnt 17 of them... nice! I moved HH and DFs in such manoeuver to block Genestealers should they survive or should next brood come in, disembarked FWs and shot. Genestealers were killed by one FWs team, those 9 Gargoyles by second FWs team, Shrikes by Deathrains and one of Broadsides. Piranhas moved to shoot on Venomthrope, but missed one, rolled one 1 ot wound and 3rd shot he Cover saved on 6, but the other Broadside shot, wounded and insta-killed him at least. HH shot at second Gargoyles brood together with Commander, killing 12. Enough.

Third turn was palyed only by Maurycy, 'cause shops' owner fired us to make space for Magic: the Gathering players... from now on: I officially hate them. Even that I played it 3 years ago... ;)

So, last 3 Gargoyles charged into FWs killing 4, but I managed to kill all 3 of those flying beasts. I won HtH combat! ;) two teams of Termagants (5+11 or so) charged on XV8s, but we didn't roll for this combat thanks to MtG. Instead we calculated that he Would inflict about 2 unsaved wound on me, and I would kill 2 of them too. So, draw. 

Anyhow would it be later, I think nobody will deny my victory! I killed 6 units (2 Gargoyle broods, Shrikes, Venomthrope and 2 Genestealer broods) and he killed only one! Poor Pathfinders... So this was a Mont'ka tactic, Killing Blow! Only 10 casualties...

Or you think he would have won (I'll remind you he still didn't Deep Strike Trygon Prime, and I had Kroots in Outflank...)? Any thoughts on used tactic?

Cheers,
O'Amis, The Shadow Hunter

Tournament scores

Well, after looong two weeks in mountains, one skiing, one snowboarding (no broken arms&legs ;), I returned safely to home. But just before, I won 3rd tournament game with... surprise! Tau! But hey, I just couldn't have lost. He had too high point costs, as it came out just after match, he was newbie, it was his first REAL game, so not a big succes. But it's always good to see somebody new to Tau - I hope to teach him something, play and see new Tau Commander rising.
4th game was with (I begged Fortune, Fate etc. for not play against him, but...) my friend, Mauryc. He had Tyranids with really good amount of Genestealers (21 I think), and all of them Outflanked in one turn. Well, I made no strategic mistake, as we both agreed aftermatch, just nobody would stand against that alive. Oh, I have to remind you we played on 48"x48" table, he rolled 4,5 and 6 for his three teams of Genestealers for running, and it was on turn 2. Enough? No? We played Spearhead deployment. Still not enough? He had two Zoanthropes, one of them destroying Devilfish in first turn (ok, my bad: still have to work on mind-measuring).
So, he blew me out, annihilated me completely. He took 5th place in final scores, I was like 26th or so. it was 34 players. But I didn't want to win it, I wanted to collect informations about players in my city. So:

Objective achieved!

Now I feel I have to admit I failed in attempt to make Crisis team in January. So it moves to February. Keep your fingers crossed for me! ;D

See you,
Shadow Hunter

PS. I just saw that my name (Shadow Hunter) is the nick (title?) of the Karandras, Eldar Phoenix Lord. However I must say I invented it by myself, not copied the idea from him. Anybody believes me...?

Tournament - 2nd game

Tau WIN!

"For the Greater Good, we shall resolve all conflicts diplomatically!"

So, it was practically draw, however Greater Good won! Bad news is, it wasn't my Greater Good... ;) At first, we tried to resolve this intestine conflict - we played 2 first turns 2,5 hours! Next 4 took 4 hours - diplomacy has failed, so Railguns had to be used. Generally, the game was as tactical, as possible - using cover, manoeuvring, just one close combat, killing, falling back, there were few last stands... I loved that match. It would be pure draw just if I hadn't moved Devilfish from objective, but anyway it was perfect. No only 1s or only 6s dice rolls...

Ok, here are our army lists:

His Tau:

HQ 1 (175pkt)
- Shas'o - AFP + CIB + Positional Relay + HWDC + HWMT + Stimulant Injector + BK +2x SHIELD DRONE

ELITE 1: Crisis Battlesuit Team (192pkt)
- Team leader - PR + TWL MP + HWMT + HWTL + HWDC + BK + SHIELD DRONE
- Crisis Battlesuit 2x - FL + TWL MP

TROOPS 3: (292pkt)
- Firewarrior 9x + Pulse Rifle (90pkt)
- Firewarrior 9x + Pulse Rifle (90pkt)
- Kroot Carnivore Squad - Kroot x10 + Kroot Hound x7 (112pkt)

FAST 1: Pathfinder Team (143pts)
- Pathfinder x4 + Pulse Carabine w/markerlight (1 survived)
- Devilfish - BC + Gun drone 2x (destroyed) + Distruption pod + Sensory Spines

HEAVY: 1 Broadside Battlesuit Team (198pkt):
- Team Leader - Railgun + SMS + AdvSS + HWMT +HWTL +HWBF + BK +HWDC + SHIELD DRONE
- Broadside Battlesuit - Railgun + SMS + AdvSS

My Tau:
XV8 Shas'o AFP, Plasma Rifle, Shield Gen., HW MT, Stim. Inj., Hw Drone Ctrlr., Shield Drone (destroyed)

2x XV8 Shas'ui TL Missile Pod, HW Drone Ctrlr, Shield Drone (destroyed)

12x Shas'la 'ui upgrade, Bonding Knife, Devilfish (D. pod, MT) (only 'ui alive)

12x Shas'la 'ui upgrade, Bonding Knife, Devilfish (D. pod, MT)

10x Kroot (2 stayed alive)

2x XV88 'vre upgrade, 2xA.S.S., vre: TL Plasma Rifles, HW Target Lock, HW MT.

So, I marked red units that weren't on table at the end of the game, and orange are units halved or less and damaged vehicles.

Ok, guess who am I playing in 3rd turn?

See you, 

Shadow Hunter

Tournament - 1st game

Ok, I expected I will suck at my first tournament, but this gone so bad... But to start off, I want to show You our forces:

Tau:
XV8 Shas'o AFP, Plasma Rifle, Shield Gen., HW MT, Stim. Inj., Hw Drone Ctrlr., Shield Drone


2x XV8 Shas'ui TL Missile Pod, HW Drone Ctrlr, Shield Drone


12x Shas'la 'ui upgrade, Bonding Knife, Devilfish (D. pod, MT)


12x Shas'la 'ui upgrade, Bonding Knife, Devilfish (D. pod, MT)


10x Kroot

2x XV88 'vre upgrade, 2xA.S.S., vre: TL Plasma Rifles, HW Target Lock, HW MT.


CSM:
Deamon Prince Mark of Tzeentch, Wings, Wind of Chaos, Warptime 

10x Khorne Berzerkers Champion, power fist, Rhino

7x Plauge Marines Champion: power fist, combi-flamer, 2x flamer, Rhino

10x CSM Champion, power fist, 2x melta, Icon of Chaos Glory, Rhino


So after looking at my opponent's army list I thought: I have 2 Railguns to shoot at 2 Rhinos and Deathrains for 3rd one. If I can at least stop them from moving, I'm safe. My FWs with Shas'O help are able to kill Daemon Prince in one turn of Rapid Fire, so no problem. I just need a bit of luck on dices. Just a bit. Broadsides penetrate Rhinos on 2s. Hey, I blow up Lnad Raider 1/2 times I meet him, so Rhino is not a problem. Well, it was.


In fluff battle would look like:
After deploying Broadsides and Devilfishes with a bunch of Kroots, XV8s arrived on right flank to make some mess and target a Rhino with those Chaos SMs. However as Crisis pilots saw Daemon Prince standing in front of them, they nearly pissed their pants. But one shot which could have penetrated Rhino, was daemonically destroyed in its flight.  Then Broadsides shot, but they missed and projectiles bounced off the hill. Daemon Prince was flying straight onto one of Devilfishes, second moving away. One Rhino started to drive in pursuit of XV8s, while they were jumping away, but weren't able to destroy it. At least, CSMs disembarked from it and because they destroyed Tau Battlesuits' Shiled drones with meltas, Crisis team flew away for they dear lives.


In the meanwhile Daemon Prince manged to but his hands on Tau Devilfish and destroyed its thrusters. That happening, Kroots, O'Amis, one Broadside (other one stunned one Rhino) and Fire Warriors who disembarked from immobilised Devilfish shot at Prince, killing it immediately. Green, with oganic parts of armour, Plague Marines disembarked from Rhino, and charged on Tau and Shadow Hunter. Their Rhino tried to squash Kroots under its tracks, although it had to stop because Kroots didn't flew, but rather charged and destroyed its bolters. In close combat with Marines Tau didn't get a chance, so they sprinted as fast as possible out of battlezone, O'Amis with them unsuccesfully attempting to stop them... Kroots tried to take attention of Plagues away from Broadsides, but they died in close combat, leaving XV88s to CSMs' melta fire and charge of Plague Marines. At least, they killed one of Plagues with Rail-headshot. Two minutes later Broadside Battlesuits laid down with pilots smashed insides.


On the other battlezone's side second, still working Devilfish flew at rear of last Rhino, disembarked FWs and shot at rear of CSM transport, however it couldn't destroy it. FWs, who counted on DF to blow Rhino up decided it'll be greater good to blow up Rhino, than do nothing waiting for Berserkers from inside. They laid hail of fire, immobilizing it, destroying its weapon and finally wrecking it in flames. Of course, they got assaulted by Berserkers and 4 of them were killed, until they gave up and run out of batlezone in fear of Chaos. Devilfish was charged by Berserkers Champion and two other Marines from squad, blowing it up, paying one marine life for that. Drones survived and tried to fly away, shooting at Marines, but unable to do anything on their Power Armour. Drones from the other DF moved at rear of Plague Rhino, which had stopped hanging in air on rocks, and managed to destroy it with a bit of luck. But then luck of those brave Drones ended as they fell under rapid fire from Marines. That was a hard day and morale wasn't restored in next two rotaas.


The game was completely lost for Tau in 3rd turn, although I still hoped to make it at least draw. I failed, saving Tau lifes for the Greater good, shall they fight better in next game.


On the other side I just read new pairs, and this week I'm going to play against... Tau! Funny thing, our forces are pretty similar. So await next post in close future. It's possible I'll try to post something by mobile phone.

Bat Rep: Tau vs Orks at 1000 pts

So, after being smashed by Ultramarines, my friend drew out Orks. And so I played my revenge against Da Greenskins! We agreed board was good, so not changing it. After rolling who is better (Master B), we rolled for mission and deployment: Seize Ground in Pitched Battle - really nice.

So, I deployed a recently created army list for horde armies:
Shas'O in always-to-be config
2x three-man Crisis team, each with TL flamer and two Gun drones
10 man Fire Warrior team with Shas'ui upgrade
10 man Fire Warrior team with Shas'ui upgrade with Devilfish
10 man Kroot squad
4 Pathfinders without any upgrades (besides Disruption Pods for Devilfish)

Orks had:
Big Mek with this funy-always-rolling-for-strenght gun
30 Boyz
30 Shoota Boyz
3 Orks in Mega Armor with one kombi-skorcha and two kombi-rokkits with Trukk
6 Warbikers

So in first turn he moved Trukk to my firebase and shot with Mek's Shokk Attack Gun, killing one Fire Warrior,  and moved and ran with everything else, contesting one objective with Turbo-Boosting Warbikers. I moved one DF and those now-9-man FWs squad embarked inside. Commander shot with Big Gun, killing about 3-5 Orks and 1 more with Plasma. But best of this turm was when 10 FW's, with Markerlight help, Destroyed Trukk. However Trukk was close enough to enable Mega-Armors charge next turn. Not good.

Then Master B moved everything forward, claiming one objective with Boyz, Shootas claimed objective, contested 'till now by Warbikers, and shot with Big gun at FWs, killing few more. So I was loosing. Well, 'till next turn.

Ha-ha! Burning Wave (Crisis team) Deep striking in perfect spot, thanks to Pathfinders' DF. Diengaged drones from DF were trying to make Mega-Armors not charge next turn. I burn like18-21 of Boyz with Burning Wave, Commander taking off two wounds from Mega-Armors, and FWs, with Pathfinders help, taking off two more, in effect killing one, two remaining with one wound. However I decided to charge them with Drones and Commander, to be perfectly sure my Scoring unit won't die. Of course, they killed Commander, but not drone, remaining in Close Combat in his turn. Not bad, not bad...

Then Warbikers charged Devilfish (only destroying weapon), Boyz charged Burning Wave, Big Mek killing like 1-2 Pathfinders. Of course he killed Drone in Close Combat with Mega-Armors, but he managed to kill only 4 Drones from Crisis team with Boyz, and I disengaged from Close Combat, winning roll for Sweeping Advance! Wow!

In my third turn, next Burning Wave Deep struck in front of Shootas, burning like 18of them,Veteran Burning Wave regrouping an burning 5 of 6 Warbikers, then charging, and thanks to Initiative higher than Power Klawed Nob, killing him in Close Combat. Two teams (one from this Devilfish-which-lost-weapon-last-turn) of Fire Warriors killed those Mega-Armors (with Pathifiders' help, of course), other Devilfish killed Boyz which lost combat with Battlesuits, leaving like 3 of them, I was feeling good.

In Orks' fourth turn, remaining Shootas charged Crisis siut, with better effect, than Boyz, wiping'em out in Sweeping Advance, and consolidating to claim objective. Remains of Boyz tried to hide behind the Trukk. Big Mek shot his Gun and he was so succesfull, that he nearly wiped Veteran Burning Wave out. But that was     all he could do.

Fire Warriors embarked onto DFs and one moved to claim objective, other one (still with Burst Cannon) trying to kill Boyz remains, succeding to leave only Nob with Power Klaw with one wound. Remaining Crisis jumped to hide from Mek.

In fifth turn only one thing Orks could do, was shooting with Mek. So he shot at Devilfish claiming objective, but awww... Disruption Pods once more proved their annoying ability to give me Cover Save =D

Not-objective-claiming Devilfish moved towards objective, and still tried to shoot this Orh Nob, at least killing him, Crisis moved and jumped towards Shootas claiming objective, and this turn Kroots Outflanked, getting Rapid fire at shootas, trying to kill them. Well, only four of them survived, but they were not claiming objective.

The roll for sixth turn was 2, so game was ended. Because of my good mood, I allowed him to move Shootas to claim objective and make this game tactical draw, still having this feeling of win. At least, let him have this draw, we are friend, aren't we? So remember, it's official draw. ;)

Here are two pics showing end of game:

Few nice shots

So, in January I want to make Crisis teams from Rapid Insertion Force I bought last year (how it sounds...). Let's see how I'll do it.

Cheers,
O'Amis

2010: Tau, let's roll out!

Well, for 2010 I decided to glue (and) paint at least one unit a month. Let's hope it'll be fulfilled. And watching Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen in first hours of New 2010 Year, I made up my mind about Tau: more Crisis Battlesuits in Transformers poses. Do you remember Ironhide shooting his two guns to turnover? I'd like to see Crisis like this. Or Optimus Prime, shooting in face this huge Transformer in Shanghai... whoa. Okay, we'll see what borns out from those ideas.

On 1st of January, I played two games with my friend: one versus Space Marines at 1,5k, and one at 1000 points versus Da Orks.

In first game I played with:
-Shas'O with Shield Drones, in my favourite cofig (PR, AFP, Pos. Relay, Stim. inj., HW MT);
-Shadowsun: so long from her last game...
-team of two Crisis in Plasma/Fusion combo (A.K.A. Helios);
-three teams of 6 Fire Warriors;
-team of Kroots;
-full Pathfinders' unit, one with Rail Rifle, with mandatory DFish;
-squad of 6 Gun Drones;
-two SDTs;
-unit of two XV88, leader with Target Lock

"Master B" had:
-Chaplain
-5-6 Sternguards with two meltas and Drop Pod
-2x10 Tac Marines in Drop Pods
-5 Scouts
-Dreadnought with Drop Pod
-10 Assault Marines
-Land Raider

We rolled for mission and deployment: massacre - Annihilation in Dawn of War...

We started with nothing on table, he started by dropping two Tac squads and moving Land Raider with Scouts onboard. He hid it, so I can't shoot him anyhow. And I moved eveything in, except Kroots, Gun Drones and Shadowsun. Shadowsun Deep Struck in second turn, but managed only stunned result on Damage Table. Drop pods with Deathwind were killing big amount enough to make me hate them for rest of my life, as Tau Commander. And so, I hadn't luck with Land Raider, and Scouts from inside charged shadowsun and killed her in Sweeping Advance, as I remember. Well, not good. XV88's got charged by Tac Marines, but managed to destroy one Drop pod (leader missed: two 1s!). And I was slowly losing one after another units: game was a complete Master B's win!

It was 4:8 kill points for him.

Mine were:
1 Tac squad
1 Drop Pod
Chaplain and
Sternguard squad

He killed:
Broadside team
2x SDT
team of Kroots
Shadowsun (by Scouts... :O )
Pathfinders
2x FWs team
Crisis squad

Well, it was a good and nice game, hovewer I will NEVER ever take such a bad army list...

I wil post second game later,

Happy New Year!
O'Amis

SMs attack Tyranids! BR

Here it is! Cygan attacked Tyranids territory with his brave SMurfs!
I have no idea about upgrades and generally about details of fight, it was battle for like ~750-100 points, so I can just show you pictures:

Beginning of the game: Tyranids start

Space Marines force trying to take Tyranid territory, supporrted by massive Land Raider:

Tyranid army readying to defend their territory and counterattack at those little an few grey knights...

Somewhere at the end of the game (4th - 5th turn) Tyranids overruning Ultragreymarines:

Space Marines counter attack in the "Last Stand" type:

Game ends and Tyranids have two Strategic Points, SM have zero. Great Devourer have defended his flora and fauna, and in the repercussion Tyranids can take one of SMs territories on a roll of 3+! Mauryc rolls enough and take the one with power station:

However this was SMs turn, and Cygan chose to build Manufactorum on one of his territories.

Next time we'll meet for campaign matches will probably be New Year, so it will be some time 'till campaign update will fly into Web.

Tau vs Ultramarines campaign battle report

Points: 1500
Mission: Capture and control
Deployment: Pitched battle

Armies:
Tau army list:
HQ
XV8 O'Shadow Hunter w/ PR, AFP, Shield Gen., Stim. Inj., 2x Shield Drones, Multitracker,

Ethereal no upgrades

ELITES
XV8 team:
Shas'vre w/ PR, BC and MT, Drone Contr. integrated
Shas'ui w/ PR, BC and Drone Contr.

XV25 Stealth Marker Team:
4x Shas'ui w/ Shas'vre upgr, Fusion Blaster (vre), ML (vre), 4x DC, int. MT (vre), 4xGD, 4xMD

TROOPS
FW team:
10x Shas'la w/ Shas'ui upgr.

FW team:
10x Shas'la w/Shas'ui upgr., Gun Drone and Marker Drone

Kroot Carniv. squad:
16x Kroots w/ Shaper,
4xHounds

FAST ATTACK
PF team:
4x Pathfinders w/ Shas'ui upgr. and 1x Rail Rifle upgr.
Devilfish w/ Disruption Pods

HEAVY SUPPORT
Hammerhead w/ Railgun, BCs, DP,1x Seeker missile,

SM army:

Sicarius
Chaplain
6xSternguard
10x Tac SMs
10x Tac SMs
Land Raider
10x Devastator squad
not sure about those Tacs and Devs, but who cares... ;)

Strategic points: blue cricle
Infiltration: yellowish green circle
One Tac Squad was given infiltration thanks to Sicarius, my XV25's were infiltrating, and first time ever I infiltrated Kroots, which was probably biggest mistake in this game, but about that later.

Before game, after deployment:

Ok, first bad thing: SMs started infiltration. They infiltrated at the position forcing me to place XV25s further from Land Raider than I'd have wished. 
First turn
I was first, and so I moved Kroots, moved XV25's, commander left FWs who embarked into DF and sped behind those circular towers. XV25s with MD help and DF killed 4 SM, which is pretty good beginning. Kroots ran, because of nothing in range to shoot, but only 3". At least, they got cover from blastscape. Pathfinders markerlighted devastators with lascannons (they split into two teams: one with 2 lascannons and one with heavy bolters). Then Rail rifled one missed :S BUT FWs have killed one. Commander not having range because of going to have cover meant no more kills in this turn. Oh, and Hammerhead stunned Land Raider. Then of course XV25s and commander made their jumps.

After my turn:

First thing my friend Cygan made, was deep striking drop pod with sternguard. Uh-oh, which unit's gonna die...? Kroots. Well, there's nothing bad, what would not work out for good. At least, FWs are safe this turn. Devs' lascannons stunned DF, don't remember rest. Here are pics:

Kroot history in first and their last turn:

Our dead piles after 1st turn:

Board after 1st turn:

Board after Tau second shooting phase:

Board after Tau second turn:

Board after SM moving phase in 2nd turn:

Board after Tau 3rd turn:

after 3rd Tau turn:

end of 3rd SMs' turn:

Board after 4th Tau turn:

Few views after 4th Tau turn:

Board after 4th SM turn:

Board after 5th Tau turn:

Board after game:

Tau win! With 3 fearless Fire Warriors having Ethereal within 3" of objective (white ruins) and Ultramarines with neither claimed nor contested objectives, Tau won battle! That means I can try to take off one of SMs territories. I roll 6, which means I can! So, this is campaign board after this battle:

We accepted rule that each player can build one building in his turn. So, I built Manufactorum:

Well, thats all.

In next battle report: SMs attack Tyranids!

PS. all pictures are on my WebAlbums page.