Everyone loves a good scarp and boy, this is a good scrap.
Buckle up people we’re dropping into a WAR ZONE!!!
BACKGROUND...
Berossus’ cold metallic
eyes focused in on a collection of blasted ruins in the lay of the shimmering
horizon.
After several hours scouring
the desert basin he knew instinctively that he’d found his quarry. It called to
his worm ridden heart like a siren song drifting across the dunes. As if re-affirming
Berossus’ lock on the scent trail, Torador's scanner display released a low
discordant chime, indicating the presence of an energy spike at the ruins’
centre.
“We have it Commander”
hissed Torador. His nostrils rising to a pointed sneer as the sun glistened off
his razor edged teeth.
Berossus turned to
face his Execution Squad. “We have little time. Alien forces seek to take what
is ours and we must not allow it.” “Varnak, move the squad through the pass.
Atreus, move up onto the ridge and cover the advance.”
Atreus’ servo gears strained
as the hulking Dreadnought turned direction. The hum of it’s capacitor banks
increasing to a low whine as it’s Plasma Cannon powered up in readiness for the
kill.
Berossus raised his
slaughter stained chainsword skyward in salute of unseen ruinous gods.
“Iron Within!” he
bellowed. “Iron Without!” roared the Execution Squad.
THE FORCES...
Iron Warriors –
Commander: Dan (HBID!)
6 x Chaos Marines – Bolter, Bolt Pistol, Chainsword
1 x Chaos Dreadnought – Plasma Cannon, Power Claw
Orks – Commander: Pete (Inquisitor James)
10 x Ork Boyz – Big Shoota, Nob with Big Choppa
1 x Dakkajet – 3 x T/L Big Shootas
Tau – Commander: Olly (The Bearded Arts)
1 x Crisis Suit – Fusion Blaster, Plasma Rifle, Shield Drone
6 x Fire Warriors – Pulse Rifle, Marker Light
6 x Gun Drones – T/L Pulse Carbines
DEPLOYMENT…
Orks win the roll-off and deploy in the SE corner – The Ork Boyz
are 9” from the board centre, with the Dakkajet at the back of the board. The Forces
of Chaos arrive next in the NE sector, with the Iron Warriors facing off
against the Ork Boyz in the centre and the Chaos Dreadnought guarding their right
flank. Finally, the Tau setup in the NW quadrant with the Fire Warriors taking
a commanding position on the hilltop, a squad of Gun Drones out towards the
centre of the board and the Crisis Battlesuit and Shield Drone taking cover in
the ruins…
TURN 1
The Iron Warriors win the roll-off and immediately open up
with their Boltguns on the mob of Ork Boyz in the centre, killing 3 in the
process. The Chaos Dreadnought turns it’s attentions to the Tau on it’s right
flank and takes down a Gun Drone and incinerates a Fire Warrior with it’s
Plasma Cannon…
Despite their losses, the Orks Boyz hold their
ground and open up with their Big Shoota on the Tau Fire Warriors positioned on
the hill. The sheer volume of fire sends the Tau scrambling for cover, but once
the dust settles it’s clear that they remain unscathed. Exacting revenge, for
the earlier deaths of the Ork Boyz, the Dakkajet screams onto the board and
releases a torrent of Supa Shoota fire into the Iron Warriors. One of the Iron
Warriors is torn apart in a hail of fire, whilst the rest of the squad are hit
with 5 wounds… All of which are saved.
Taking the opportunity to out-flank the Ork Boyz, the Tau
Gun Drones move round the ruins in the centre and open up with their Pulse
Carbines, cutting down the Ork with the Big Shoota and causing the Nob to take
a wound. Seizing the initiative, the Fire Warriors also open up on the mob and
cause yet another casualty. They also target the Iron Warrios causing a wound,
although the CSM’s power armour proves too strong this time. Meanwhile, sensing
the imminent threat on the left flank, The Tau Crisis Suit orders the Fire
Warrior team leader to marker light the Chaos Dreadnought. This fails to land
and the Crisis Suit’s subsequent blast from it’s Plasma Rifle also fails to hit
the target.
TURN 2
The Iron Warriors again open fire on the Ork Boyz holed up
in the ruins, blasting 3 apart in a hail of Bolter fire. They also target the
Dakkajet destroying one of it’s Supa Shootas in the process. Sensing the kill,
the Chaos Dreadnought turns and also opens up on the Dakkajet with it’s Plasma
Cannon, immobilising it and scoring a further Crew Shaken result. The jet
plummets to the ground gouging a huge furrow as it eventually slides to a halt
just in front of the Iron Warriors! The Ork pilot has a huge grin on his face…
In a desperate attempt to outdo the Ork pilot in the ‘We’re
not goin down wiv out a fight!’ stakes, the remaining 2 Ork Boyz rally and charge towards the Tau lines.
Bellowing and screaming, they open up with everything they have got and in
typical Orky fashion, completely miss…
Meanwhile, with the Chaos Dreadnought
pre-occupied with taking down the Ork Dakkajet, the Tau take a further opportunity
to target it with the markerlight. This time it finds it’s target, lighting up
the Dreadnought and enabling the Tau Crisis suit to score multiple hits with
its Plasma Rifle and Fusion Gun. The Chaos Dreadnought is knocked sideways by
the barrage of super heated death and explodes in a huge ball of white plasma!
Not to be outdone, the Tau Gun Drones target the two remaining Ork Boyz and
shred them under intense fire from their Pulse Carbines. The Ork threat is effectively
over…
TURN 3
Enraged by the loss of their Dreadnought, the Iron Warriors
pour all available fire into the Tau lines, scoring multiple hits on the Crisis
Suit, only for it to take advantage of the ruins it is sheltering in and saving
all wounds.
As the last surviving Ork on the battlefield, the Dakkajet
pilot finally comes to his senses, fails his leadership test, and hot foots it
into the desert, never to be seen again…
The Tau Gun Drones swoop round to get a better lock on the 5
remaining Iron Warriors, whilst the Crisis Suit and Tau Fire Warriors on the
hill pour in a fusillade of fire, killing 2 of the Iron Warriors...
TURN 4
The 3 remaining Iron Warriors pass their leadership test and
charge the Crisis suit, firing their Bolt Pistols as they close the distance. With
a crash of chainsword on armour plate, the Iron Warriors reap bloody revenge on
the Crisis Suit by destroying it in the first round of combat…
Desperate to stop the crazed charge of the Iron
Warriors from reaching deeper into their lines, the remaining Tau Fire Warriors
and Gun Drones again open up with everything they’ve got on the Chaos Marines.
2 of the Iron Warriors are torn apart mid charge…
TURN 5
The sole remaining Iron Warrior let’s out a defiant roar and
passes his leadership test, despite the -1 modifier due to having to take a second
break test. He again charges the Tau lines and locks one of the Tau Fire
Warriors in close combat. However, neither combatant is able to land the
killing blow…
TURN 6
Despite a further -2 modifier, the enraged Iron Warrior
again stands his ground and passes his leadership test. He continues to duel
with the Tau Fire Warrior but again, fails to cut him down. Sensing a better
opportunity to take out the Iron Warrior from range, the remaining Fire Warriors
and Gun Drones disengage towards the cover of the ruins...
TURN 7
Despite a -3 modifier, the Iron Warrior continues to be
blessed by the Dark Gods and remains locked in the fight with the Fire Warrior.
Eventually, side stepping an arcing blow from the Tau, the Iron Warrior pivots
to his right, levels his chainsword and removes the Fire Warriors head in one
clean blow.
TURN 8
With a 2D6 roll of 5, the Iron Warrior defies a further -4
leadership modifier and blasts a Drone out of the sky with his Boltgun. With
the Iron Warrior seemingly impervious to everything they have to throw at him,
the Tau finally lose stomach for the fight, fail their leadership test, and opt
to make a tactical withdrawal from the battlefield.
With victory finally his, the sole remaining Iron Warrior
raises his blood soaked chainsword to the sky and lets out a triumphant roar - ‘Iron Within, Iron Without!’
Score: Dan 1 – Olly 0
– Pete 0.
Dan - That was one cool game. It had everything from crashing Dakkajets to exploding Dreadnoughts and of course, those incredible leadership roles of Berossus, the triumphant Iron Warriors Commander - truly he is favoured by the Dark Gods…Would I have done anything different, given another opportunity? Hell no! It was complete and utter carnage and I loved every minute of it! Something tells me this won’t be the last time the Orks, Tau and Iron Warriors clash on the battlefield and I’ll be sure to let you know how that next blood soaked, battle royale goes down…
Pete - Jees, I can’t believe those Leadership rolls, I’ve never seen anything like it! I figured I’d play the game in the spirit of the Orks and go all-out, but in hindsight, I should have been way more cautious. Orks aren’t the hardiest of creatures in the 41st millennium and I totally paid the price. Their strength is definitely in numbers and I should have preserved the few I had. I’d originally considered taking Kommandos, but I figured I’d have even fewer to play with (plus they’re finecast), so that option’s out for the time being. Next time will be different. Next time...
Olly - I think hindsight is a good thing with Kill Team, also
reading the 40k Rules helps. I wrote my list with a couple of unfortunately
false assumptions or at least miss conceptions. As a 40k novice I
didn't fully appreciate that my Crisis Suit being infantry could only fire 1
weapon system a turn. Also that the gun drones pinning weapons wouldn't work so
well against single characters (as the units are split to individuals per the Kill
Team Special Rules). Having said that, it was pretty funny, blood heavy and
fairly fast paced. My Team were able to take advantage of there greater numbers
and avoid having to take leadership tests. They also performed rather well
against the Orks (although Chaos blew up the jet). Points for me to learn from
and take forward - If my fire warriors are being charged just keep moving them
and don't leave your battle suit too close to the enemy, they'll just
chainsword it. Also blow up Dan’s Dreadnought, it's horribly effective. I think a slightly
re-written list is the way forward for next time. I need something with
slightly more punch and possibly switching from a numbers game to something
that can actually kill stuff…
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