So real life (especially work) really kept me busy this
month. I was only JUST able to get 1 game in with Graham again.
This month, points were 1500. I was pretty happy overall
with how my last list did. I decided to “boost”
it just a bit rather than a completely different list.
- Wolf Lord with Frost Sword and Storm shield, Saga of the Warrior Born
- Rune Priest with Runic Psychic Hood, Plasma Pistoland Runic Axe
- 12 Blood Claws with Wolf Guard Pack Leader – Leader had Frost Sword and Bolt Pistol, 1 Blood Claw with Flame Thrower and all others with Bolt Pistol & Chain Swords
- 10 Grey Hunters with 2 Plasma Guns, all others with Bolters, Bolt Pistols & Chain Swords except the Pack Leader having a Power Sword
- 6 Grey Hunters (Mounted in Razorback) with 1 plasma Pistol, the rest with Bolt Pistols. All have Bolters and Chain Swords. Razorback had Lascannon & Twin-linked Plasma Guns.
- 5 Long Fangs (Mounted in Razorback) with 1 Lascannon, 1 Heavy Bolter, 2 Missile Launchers and the Pack Leader with Bolt Gun and Chain Sword. Razorback had Lascannon & Twin-linked Plasma Guns.
- Predator Tank with Twin Link Lascannon in turret and 2 Lascannons in side sponsons.
- Stormwolf with 2 Lascannons, 2 Twin-Linked Heavy Bolters and Twin-Linked Helfrost Canon.
Space Wolf Deployment
Graham’s Deathwatch list had changed quite a bit. Going from memory:
- Captain in Terminator Armour with Lightning Claw and Storm Bolter
- 2 Librarians in Terminator Armour.
- 5 Terminators with 2 Assault Cannons, a Cyclone Launcher and 2 Storm Bolters, all with Power Fists (I think).
- 6 (?) Deathwatch (Mounted in Razorback) in standard marine armour, with mixed weapons: Thunder Hammer & Storm Shield, Siege Shield with Power Maul, Flak Cannon, Heavy Bolter, Power Sword and Bolter. Razorback had Twin-Linked Heavy Bolter & Storm Bolter.
- 6(?) Deathwatch (Mounted in Razorback) in Standard Marine Armour, this time mostly heavy weapons: 2 X Heavy Bolters, 2 X Missile Launchers, some sort of Sniper rifle with Helfire rounds(?). The Razorback had twin-linked Lascannons, a Storm Bolter and a Hunter-Killer Missile.
- Venerable Dreadnought (Sorry, completely forgot what weapons) (It didn’t last very long…) 😁
Deathwatch Deployment
We rolled the Mission Sealed
Orders.
Both sides draw 5 Tactical Mission cards but keep them secret until
they complete the missions. A command Point can be spent at the end of a player’s
turn to discard up to 3 Tactic Cards. Once all the Tactic Cards are gone,
player will load up another 5. If necessary, they then load up 4, etc…
Victory Points awarded based on the cards’ objectives/point
value. As well, the standard 3 Objectives: Slay the Warload, First Blood and
Line Breaker.
Alternating deployment, from my left to right: deployed the
10 Man Grey Hunters on the Landing Platform, with the 6 Man Grey Hunters held
off-board using the Wolf Stratagem: Cunning of the Wolf, but their Razorback
was deployed on the ground behind the platform, covering an objective. The
Stormwolf deployed in the left corner with the Blood Claws, Wolf Lord and Rune
Priest on board. The Long Fangs deployed in a Ruin in the center of the Wolf
deployment zone, their Razorback beside them on the left. Finally, the Predator
deployed on the right side, partially obscured by a . . not sure what it was.
Graham deployed the Death Watch Dreadnought behind a (large)
imperial Statue, then both Razorbacks, with their squads mounted inside, behind
a ruin closer to the center of their zone with the Captain and 1 Librarian. The
rest of the terminators stayed off board, waiting to teleport.
Space Wolves won first turn.
Turn 1:
Space Wolves:
Stormwolf stayed Supersonic and moved more or less straight
towards the enemy deployment zone, drawing Line-of-Sight to the Dreadnought.
Both Razorbacks moved forward on the left while the Grey Hunters on the
platform stood still (there was a reason). The Predator moved to hide behind
the ruin the Long Fangs had hid.
Psychic phase was short; the Rune Priest was inside the
Stormwolf, so wasn’t able to do anything.
Shooting phase and the Stormwolf unloaded Lascannons and
Helfrost at full power onto the Dreadnought. It was enough to destroy the
Dreadnought in 1 volley. The Heavy Bolters did 2 points damage to the Razorback
with Heavy Bolters. No other shots were possible.
Stormwolf Attack with Razorback Support
Completed:
First Blood: 1VP
Supremacy: 1VP
Secure Objective 1: 1VP (those Grey Hunters were guarding it!)
First Blood: 1VP
Supremacy: 1VP
Secure Objective 1: 1VP (those Grey Hunters were guarding it!)
Deathwatch:
Both Razorbacks dismount their squads. The Razorbacks both
move forward, the Lasercannon hiding behind a Cargo Container, the Bolter
behind a central ruin. Both Squads also moved forward, the 1st squad
towards an objective within a crater on the Space Wolves left, the 2nd
Squad in a line abrest formation, pointing towards the Stormwolf. In fact,
pretty much everything pointed towards the Stormwolf. The Terminator Librarian
moved ahead of the 1st Squad (he wanted to get in range to cast
Smite on the Stormwolf) while the Captain climbed to the 2nd floor
of the ruin. Finally, the Terminators (with the 2nd Librarian) teleported
to the right of the central ruin, drawing Line-of-Sight to the Long Fangs.
Deathwatch Advance Into The Fray
In the Psychic phase, the first Librarian cast Smite on the
Stormwolf, inflicting 1 wound, then Veil of Time on the 1st Squad.
The 2nd Librarian cast Smite on the Long Fangs, killing 2.
Librarian Smites the Long Fangs
Good thing the Psychic phase did some damage, because Graham
maintained tradition and failed to inflict a single wound in spite of all the
shooting from his army!
Completed:
Secure Objective: 1VP
Area Denial: 1VP
Area Denial: 1VP
====================================
Turn 2:
Space Wolves:
So, the Stormwolf started the turn by going into “Hover”
mode, unloading all its Passengers! (Don’t think Graham expected to see that
many Blood Claws! He couldn’t pick out the Rune Priest or Wolf Lord until I
pointed them out!) The Stormwolf slid over to the back of the Deathwatch
deployment zone. The Blodd Claws and HQ moved forward towards Objective 3, in
the Crater. One Razorback moved forward for a better angle while the other
stayed still to shoot at the approaching Terminator threat. The last Grey
Hunter pack came on the table behind the ruin containing the Long Fangs in
order to help protect the flank, if necessary, and Objective 6. The 10-man pack
moved forward and to the wall of the Platform, hoping for a shot or two.
The Stormwolf Unloads Its Cargo!
The rest of the Great Company Prepare
In the Psychic phase, the Rune Priest cast smite on the
Librarian as it was the closest model to him and inflicted 1 wound! Then the
Rune Priest got greedy and cast Jaws of the World Wolf, but rolled Double-1,
inflicting a wound on himself and killing a Blood Claw who stood too close!
Shooting phase, the Blood Claws shot their pistols at the
Librarian and inflicted 2 wounds while the Long Fangs killed the Terminator
with the Cyclone Launcher!
In the Assault Phase, the Blood Claws charged and killed the
Librarian, then consolidated into the crater (and onto Objective 3).
Blood Claws Capture Objective 3
After Defeating the Librarian
Completed:
Blood & Guts: 1VP.
Defend Objective 5: 2VP
Secure Objective 3: 1VP
Blood & Guts: 1VP.
Defend Objective 5: 2VP
Secure Objective 3: 1VP
(I made an error here.
If I could have gotten rid of my last card (which I wouldn’t ever be
able to complete) for 1 Command Point, then drawn 5 new cards at the beginning
of my next turn. I missed that and so wasted a turn, waiting until I could dump
a card at the end of turn 3!)
Deathwatch:
I didn’t record that the Deathwatch moved anything this
turn. However, the Captain and Squad 1 MUST have moved towards the Blood Claws
hiding in the crater.
Well, the remaining Librarian failed to cast Smite, so that
was the end of the Psychic phase.
Squad 1 open fired on the Blood Claws, but because of the
cover of the crater (and some dismal rolling on Graham’s part), only the Frag
Cannon was able to inflict any wounds; it killed 3 Blood Claws. The Captain
failed to wound the Blood Claws as well. However, just about everyone else made
up for it. A Razorback, a Long Fang and 6 more Blood Claws were killed in the
rest of the firing phase.
The Deathwatch Squad 1 charged the remaining Blood Claws.
Armed with only pistols (and terrible aim), the Blood Claws failed to cause any
wounds before they were engaged. The
Wolf Lord and Rune Priest were both just a little too far away to do “Heroic
Intervention", so couldn't join in the fight. With the Blood Claws engaged, the Deathwatch Captain also charged
in without having to worry about Overwatch. Squad 1 killed 1 Blood Claw while
the Captain killed only one more (11 Blood Claws dead in 1 Turn!). The 1 Blood
Claw and the Blood Claw Pack Leader, plus the Wolf Guard Pack Leader failed to
inflict any wounds.
In spite of the Wolf Lord’s presence, the Blood Claw
Survivors were all lost to Morale Test at the end of the turn.
The Blood Claws are wiped out!
Completed:
Psychological Warfare: 1VP
====================================
Turn 3:
Due to the amount of talking and bemoaning and just plain
chewing the fat with other gamers, we realized we had to end the game after
Turn 3, simply because the store was closing soon and we still had to pack up.
Normally, this is a 5-7 Random Mission length game.
Space Wolves:
Probably silly, but I left the Stormwolf in Hover Mode and slid
sideways a bit for a better angle. The Grey Hunters on the Platform moved
forward and to the rails to see if they could help at all. The other Grey Hunters
stood still – waiting to see if they were needed (actually, nowhere to put them
where they might be useful). The Wolf Lord and Rune Priest moved forward
towards the Terminator Captain and Squad 1.
Rune Priest Miscast Smite, ending the Psychic Phase.
Predator opens up with all laser cannons and in spite of 2 wounding
hits with Lascannons, only manages to kill 1 terminator (rolled a 1 for the
first shot and the second shot was over-kill for a wounded terminator). Long
Fang took out a 2nd Terminator. The Grey Hunters on the platform
were all within long range to squad 1 and after the smoke had cleared, there
was no Squad 1! The remaining Razorback fired on the Heavy Bolter Razorback,
but failed to damage it. The Stormwolf did better, inflicting 4 wounds to the
same Razorback.
In the Charge Phase, the Wolf Lord and Rune Priest both
charged the Terminator Captain and managed to inflict 2 wounds. The Captain put
a second wound on the Rune Priest.
In the end Phase, I dumped the last Tactic Card for 1
Command Point (This assumed we “might” make another quick turn, but that failed
to happen).
Rune Priest & Wolf Lord Attack The Deathwatch Captain!
Completed: Nothing.
Deathwatch:
Both Razorbacks moved, 1 to hide from the Wolf’s Razorback,
the other to get Line-of-Sight on the Stormwolf. Squad 2 stood still so they
could shoot at the Stormwolf without penalty. Finally, the Terminator Captain
recalled the remaining Terminators to his side (1 Term with Assault Cannon, and
1 Librarian), ready to charge into Close combat and help him. Maybe.
The Librarian cast Smite on the Stormwolf, inflicting 6
wounds! However, he failed to cast Might of Heroes.
The Assault Cannon on the other Terminator let loose and
shot down the Stormwolf finally! However, the cheer was cut short as it exploded
and both terminators were within 6”! The Assault Cannon Terminator took 1 wound,
but the Librarian took 5, killing him instantly!
Death of the Stormwolf (and the Librarian)!
For whatever reason, Graham didn’t charge the last
Terminator into combat to help his Captain. As Graham cackled with
anticipation, I reminded him my Wolf Lord’s Saga allowed him to always strike 1st! 4 attacks, 3 Hits, needing 3s to wound and I rolled 1s and 2s… Graham was
relieved then devoted all his attacks onto the Rune Priest, killing him finally.
Death of the Rune Priest
Completed:
Kill the Witch: 1VP
Kill the Witch: 1VP
We checked the clock, not enough
for another turn. Game over.
====================================
Space Wolves: 7VP
Deathwatch: 4VP
(He said 5, but
I don’t know from what.)
Space Wolf Victory!
====================================
The Deathwatch's two Squads with Razorbacks gave him the extra fire-power and speed he really was lacking before. I think it was a much better force than last time.
On the Wolf's side, I like the extra fire-power of the full 10-man Grey Hunters, especially with 2 Plasma Rifles in the squad. The Larger Blood Claw pack also made a difference, Harder to kill off and it could take hits and still be useful. Dropping out of the Stormwolf made them more dangerous as they can be dropped off more closely so that I was almost guaranteed a successful charge.
I did misplace the 6-man Grey Hunters. I was afraid the Long Fangs were going to be destroyed in turn 2.As a result, they had no place in the battle. The Predator didn't do too much, but as a threat on my right flank, it did its job.
The question is what do I do for a 2000pt list next month/week...
