Introduction
This match was a prep game for a 1000pt tournament we are playing in a few weeks which is based on the ITC Bay Area Open rules. The scenario we chose was BAO Scenario 1, which is a modified version of Emperor’s Will including some modified maelstrom rules.
Logan brought his Farsight Enclave and I brought Blood Angels. The board had very little LOS blocking terrain, which was certain to play to the Tau’s advantages.
We both rolled on Strategic Warlord Traits table. Tau got Divide to Conquer, giving me a minus to reserve rolls, harsh with that Stormraven sitting on the side lines. I rolled Strategic Genius, giving a bonus to seize the initiative and reroll reserves, so it balanced out.
He placed his Primary Objective token on his side, I placed mine in a nearly mirror position on my side. He placed the first Maelstrom Objective atop the western ruined buildings, I placed one next to the ruined shrine.
He rolled to deploy first.
Lists
Blood Angels
+ HQ (81pts) + Sanguinary Priest (81pts) [Additional Weapon, Boltgun, Melta bombs, Power weapon, Warlord] + Elites (188pts) + Death Company Squad (188pts) [4x Bolt Pistol, 2x Bolter, 4x Chainsword, 6x Death Company Marine, Jump Pack, 2x Power Fist] + Troops (368pts) + Tactical Squad (215pts) [Flamer, Heavy flamer, 9x Tactical Marine] ····Drop Pod [Storm Bolter] ····Tactical Sergeant [Combi-Flamer, Power weapon] Tactical Squad (153pts) [Meltagun, Rhino, 6x Tactical Marine] ····Tactical Sergeant [Boltgun, Chainsword] + Heavy Support (360pts) + Stormraven Gunship (230pts) [Hurricane Bolter Sponsons, Twin Linked Lascannon, Twin-linked Multi-melta] Vindicator (130pts) [Overcharged engines]
Farsight Enclave
+ HQ (165pts) + Commander (165pts) [2x Fusion Blaster, Talisman of Arthas Moloch, Target lock, Velocity tracker] + Elites (193pts) + XV104 Riptide (193pts) [Advanced Targeting System, Early Warning Override, Ion Accelerator, Twin-linked Smart Missile System] + Troops (429pts) + XV8 Crisis Team (174pts) [Bonding Knife Ritual] ····Crisis Shas'ui [Plasma Rifle, Twin-linked Plasma Rifle] ····Crisis Shas'ui [Plasma Rifle, Twin-linked Plasma Rifle] ····Crisis Shas'ui [Plasma Rifle, Twin-linked Plasma Rifle] XV8 Crisis Team (111pts) [Bonding Knife Ritual] ····Crisis Shas'ui [2x Fusion Blaster] ····Crisis Shas'ui [Fusion Blaster, Twin-linked Fusion Blaster] XV8 Crisis Team (compulsory) (144pts) [Bonding Knife Ritual] ····Crisis Shas'ui [Burst cannon, Twin-linked burst cannon] ····Crisis Shas'ui [Burst cannon, Twin-linked burst cannon] ····Crisis Shas'ui [Burst cannon, Twin-linked burst cannon] + Heavy Support (213pts) + XV88 Broadside Team (71pts) [Bonding Knife Ritual] ····Broadside Shas'ui [Early Warning Override, Twin-linked High-Yield Missile Pod, Twin-linked Smart Missile System] XV88 Broadside Team (71pts) [Bonding Knife Ritual] ····Broadside Shas'ui [Early Warning Override, Twin-linked High-Yield Missile Pod, Twin-linked Smart Missile System] XV88 Broadside Team (71pts) [Bonding Knife Ritual] ····Broadside Shas'ui [Early Warning Override, Twin-linked High-Yield Missile Pod, Twin-linked Smart Missile System]
Deployment
The Tau deployed along their front, pretty well distributing their fire power and ensuring I would be in range of maximum dakka.
With the limited LOS blocking terrain, and the amount of weapons he brought that ignored it and cover, I deployed my humble two vehicles on the far southwest corner to limit the damage.
I failed to seize the initiative. This was the scenario I feared and is the point where this list was the most vulnerable.
Turn One
Tau rolled Hold MO2, and Occupy their deployment zone.
The Tau opening volley popped my Rhino, giving them first blood. The Riptide also moved onto MO2. This secured them both Maelstrom points for the round.
I rolled Hold MO1, and Destroy a Unit.
I tried to be judicious with my drop pod and placed it amidst some terrain to help guide it in, but it scattered further than average and went out to the side. When the marines came out they got intercepted pretty rough, but did what marines do. The Vindicator moved 12″ and then blasted the main unit of crisis suits and their commander off the map, securing a Maelstrom point and Slay the Warlord. The marines from the Rhino moved and ran forward. The marines from the drop pod stood their ground.
Points: FE 3, BA 2
Turn Two
Tau rolled Destroy a Unit, and Occupy his deployment zone.
Tau reserves arrived and took a hull point from the Vindicator. Tau killed most of one unit of the northern squad of marines. The Riptide scattered off the southern squad of marines and only took one casualty. The Riptide failed to activate the Nova Engine and lost a hull point.
I rolled Hold MO2, and Destroy a Unit.
I failed my initial reserve roll, but succeeded on the reroll, bringing my Stormraven in. The northern marines regrouped behind some cover, more for fun than for effect. The southern marines moved towards MO1. The Stormraven opened fire and destroyed the riptide and a crisis suit, securing a Maelstrom point. In all the excitement I neglected to shoot with the Vindicator.
Points: FE 3, BA 3
Turn Three
Tau rolled Hold MO1, and Occupy his deployment zone.
The Tau reserves came in with two more crisis suits. They glanced a hull point off the Vindicator. The broadsides wiped the northern marines.
Blood Angels roll Hold MO2 and Occupy their deployment zone.
I brought the Stormraven up in the middle of the remaining Crisis suits and broadsides. It then opened fire, taking out the crisis suits and one broadside. The remaining marines hunker down on the MO1. The Vindicator shot at something as well, but I forgot what.
Points: FE 3, BA 3
Turn Four
Tau roll Occupy enemy deployment area, and Destroy a unit.
The southern crisis squad moves into the BA deployment zone, securing a Maelstrom point and then pops the Vindicator, earning another Maelstrom point. A few shots at the Stormraven are ineffective.
Blood Angels roll Hold MO1, and Destroy a unit.
The marines stayed on MO1, earning a Maelstrom point. The Stormraven moved to hover mode, swivels and unloads it’s Death Company. It then proceeded to kill everything left on the board, earning another Maelstrom point.
With everything dead, the game ended. I had units in the enemy deployment zone, earning Linebreaker.
Neither Primary Objectives were being held, so no points were awarded for that.
Points: FE 5, BA 6
Summary
The Blood Angels were easily outmatched at the beginning of the game, and with the early loss of the Rhino the game could have easily gone the other way. Both sides made some mistakes, but this match very much came down to air superiority. The Stormraven basically dominated the board upon arrival.
Takeaway
There were several surprises and mistakes during this match. I didn’t realize that Interceptor would work against the models coming out of the Drop Pod, which wasn’t as bad as it could have been, but definitely something to remember for the future. I got lucky with the surprising speed of the Vindicator, but also forgot to shoot with it on the second round. My fears with this army were nearly realized, until the Stormraven came in on round two. If it had delayed much longer the game would have been very one sided.
Also, I should really take pictures at the end of each turn, not the end of each round. So much detail was lost betwee the pictures. Also, I think they are a little out of focus.
