The mission was 5 objectives with a pitched battle deployment. We won the roll for objectives and placed two in our deployment zone and the other midfield. Tau and BA vs. Guard and BA. Both of the lists we were facing were nothing like what we usually run into and definitely not what our lists were prepared to face. There was well over 120 guard on the table, and about 50 marines. The number of models looked closer to 2000 than it did 1250. Thankfully, I'd also switched to a de-meched style with lots of bodies, and Gundam John was running a couple big Kroot squads to help even out the model count.
We did something we don't do a whole lot of as teammates and actually talked during the deployment and movement phase *GASP*. Rail guns in the back with cover from the terminators, suits and assault marines behind cover in case of a seize. We through the two piranhas and a squad of jump marines on the far left away from our castle on the right near the objectives.
The first two turns didn't go so well for us, I lost 7 guys from a marine squad from an AP 2 Psyker Blast, even with cover. I also misjudged range when advancing my honor guard and ended up placing them in assault range of Simon's Assault marines. Ended up losing all but the priest before my 10 man squad came to bail them out. Marines moved forward and ignored most everything that hit them. Tau fired a bunch of shots and Simon's marines failed a few cover saves. It wasn't enough damage to make me feel like we were making progress, but over the course of the game the rate at which power armor came off the board proved to be adequate.
Round 2 was much like round 1 with us killing a few things and us losing more than I would have liked to. But by round three the terminators hit their wheel house midfield and started chewing up assault marines. Also the Psychic hood started really earning it's keep against the Guard Psyker squad, shutting down several shots.
By the end of round 4, there were only 5 Blood Angel models on the table, all mine. Tau shooting and Terminator Assaults had cleared them off the table. Also, so bad leadership checks got them running, with my keeping within 6 to jump them off.
We were in a really stong position going into turn 5. We had 3 objectives to their 1. However, at the bottom of 5 some great shooting cleared us off two of the objectives and the game ended. Not much we could have done at that point except pray for another turn. The further the game went at that point would have favored us heavily; but at the bottom of 5, Kroot on one objective took 25% casualties and ran, while the one assault marine left on another objective took a Lascannon shot to the face.
I was thrilled with how both of our lists performed. We could have done a couple of things differently that would have made a difference. The lone marine at the end, was part of the AP2 Blast round 1. I was too agressive moving these forward first turn...a mistake I made against Simon last time we played that apparently hasn't stuck. If I had held them back out of range I would have been in a much better place to hold objectives with them later on. Alternately, if they were split into combat squads, I could have held 5 back and still pressed ahead with the others.
The part of the game where I felt we dominated was definitely midfield control. In an objective game like this it was crucial. We were successful in keeping them pressed into their deployment zone most of the game.
I'm very excited to see how this list plays out against the more traditional armies that will be at the tournament. I know we'll see plenty of Necrons and Grey Knights. I don't see either of these being too much of an issue since the Tau shooting counters both of these rather nicely. Also, our lack of armor is something most opponents are not prepared for. I'm planning on making some minor changes to the list, mostly wargear swaps, nothing major.
Lots to paint for this tournament and two weeks is not as long as it sounds.
My to do List:
Greenstuff hair for 2 Assault Marines and 3 Honor Guard
Paint 5 Honor Guard (Banner for the Honor Guard Priest and more distinctive shoulder pads)
Paint 10 Assault Marines
Repaint Shoulder Pad for Librarian
Base 6 objective Markers
Base 20 Assault Marines and 5 Honor Guard
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