Hey, I'm back! After a woefully extended period of 40k-lessness, I got a pair of games in with Nathaniel and Ike, with 750 point lists, at a convenient café.
First game was the Lahkers versus Nathaniel's Raven Guard, and specifically his newly assembled Shadow Force Solaq. The Lahkers had Acting Overlord Nihkyanh, present to expand his skills and knowledge of the dynasty's myriad foes, the royal Lychguard escorting him, and numbers on their side. The Shadow Force consisted of Captain Solaq, the special Vanguard and Sternguard squads, Land Speeder Darkwind, and a single extra squad of Assault Marines with Eviscerators.
My list:
Nathaniel's list:
Deployment
We chose Kill Points as the victory condition, and rolled Hammer & Anvil for deployment. Nathaniel won the roll-off, and chose to let me go first.
I set up the gunline with the tough Lychguard and Immortals on the right, the slightly-less-durable Warriors and Ref-tek in the woods, and the Spyders and Scarabs on the right. I held the Tomb Blades in reserve. Nathaniel deployed only the Vanguard Vets and the Assault squad, with Solaq, the Sternguard Vets, and the Land Speeder in reserve.
Nathaniel then stole the initiative, and got Night Fighting as well. Stupid sneaky bird Marines.
GAME TURN 1
Nathaniel moved up with his squads, that was it. Being Raven Guard, they had Shrouded until the start of their Turn 2. This didn't worry me, however, I had the Solar Pulse on Nihkyanh.
I expected to wrap the Raven Guard up like a box with a flea in it, and then stomp on it. Easy, right? The gunline advanced, the Scarabs were spawned, the Solar Pulse was fired off, and I picked off most of the Assault squad at range. Other than that, it was a quiet first turn.
GAME TURN 2
Nathaniel got both reserves in, and after conferring with Ike (who was spectating) had both Outflank. He rolled the "you choose" option, and chose to arrive on my left flank, right behind the squishy Scarabs. His mauled Assault squad and Vanguard Vets moved within assault range of my troops. Then Nathaniel toasted the Scarabs with the Sternguard's heavy flamer and Solaq's pistol for First Blood. The Land Speeder tried and failed to wound a Spyder. The Vanguard Vets charged, won, and wiped out my Immortals.
My hopes for the Tomb Blades arriving were in vain. I struck back at the Raven Guard with much anger but little effectiveness. My whole Warrior squad only killed a single Assault Marine. The Lychguard chased and got into combat with the Vanguard Vets, and slew all but the Sergeant, who was caught up in a challenge with Nihkyanh.
GAME TURN 3
Though outnumbered, Nathaniel's Marines fought all the more ferociously. The Land Speeder and lone Assault Marine killed a couple Warriors, and in the assault phase the Sternguard Vets punched one Spyder to death. The lone Assault Marine was cut down by Warrior overwatch before he could get to grips with them. Nihkyanh decked the Vanguard Sarge, won the challenge, and he and the Lychguard about-faced and headed for the distant Sternguard.
In my turn, the Warriors failed to glance the Land Speeder, thanks to its special Bird Marine re-rollable Jink, I forgot to roll for Tomb Blades to arrive, and the remaining Spyder failed to wound the Sternguard.
GAME TURN 4
Nathaniel scooted his Land Speeder towards my right flank, peppered the Warriors a bit, and otherwise focused on punching things with the remaining Sternguard and Solaq. Despite having only a few models on the table, he was ahead by way of having First Blood and more kill points than I did, with Line Breaker if he could survive the game.
I finally got my Tomb Blades on the table, and they promptly failed to ding the Land Speeder. I sent the Warriors out of cover and towards the Spyder-Sternguard combat, desperate to kill the Marines. They failed their charge roll, which *spoiler!* was probably the final turning point.
GAME TURN 5
Nathaniel had nothing to do but hope Solaq and his last Vet stayed alive, and stay alive they did. His Land Speeder zipped around and killed a few more warriors.
My turn was only a little bit longer. The Tomb Blades futiley chased the Land Speeder, Nihkyanh and the Lychguard hoofed it as fast as they could towards the combat, and in the end only the Warriors managed to get into combat. They did kill the last Vet, but Solaq survived.
The game ended bottom of Turn 5, with a Raven Guard victory, Nathaniel's 5 VP (First Blood, Line Breaker, and 3 enemy units killed) to my 2 VP (both Veteran units killed). Captain Solaq rode off triumphant on the Land Speeder, leaving Nihkyanh feeling foolish, angry, and impotent.
It was a fun game, though, a nice little match that didn't take too long and that we could enjoy over coffee. Coming up next, Nathaniel's Raven Guard take on Ike's Iron Hands.
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