Easter Invasion!

Hi there folks!

wow its been a long time since I last posted anything, But I've been anything but away from the hobby.

I'll catch you up in a future post, but for now, lets get straight into a battle report!

------------------++++++++Incoming Transmission ++++++++--------------------------------------

------------------++++++++Transmission Recieved -- 8 600 850.M41++++++++------------------

------------------++++++++Transmission Sent ----- not found-----++++++++----------------------

------------------++++++++Transmission Begins ++++++++------------------------------------------

------------------++++++++Transmission Auther: Colonel Winters. 88th++++++++---------------

The local "Good Friday" celebrations went unoticed by all but the newest of recruits, who shared a cigarette in what they had determined a break from Commissar spears' watchful gaze. I noticed he had pencilled in an extention to the rationing of smokes to be rolled out during the next downtime.

With Borliningrav Palace in a state of, nausiating and uneasy silence, for want of a better word than "peace". The Lucky 88th has been re-located to the western gate in preparation of an impending uprising, leaving the eatsern gate PDF, the 2nd if memory recalls, to keep the peace on the workers entrance.

Reports started to come in of strange yellow lights decending from the heavens. 4 if most reports are to be believed.

It was after this time that the Vox caster lit up with reports of alien presences in the eastern city, aproaching the Landing pad at the old military site Base 287

Strangely, at this time We were ordered not to react by an Astartus signature transmission, so the eastern wall was ordered to sit tight and brace.

The following is a collection of exerpts from broadcast transmissions.

------------------++++++++Unmarked Transmission 1++++++++------------------------------------ The Marines Astartus of the Chapter Salamanders have made planetfall, after chasing the unidentified light sources to the planet of Borlina. they seem to have landed at the derelict spaceport on the eastern front of the Palace walls. A Tendril of the Hive mind is already present on the planet, but they are dug deeply into the cityscape and have been impossible to trace accurately. Energy traces have also been detected in the viscinity, advice from the Ordos Xenos hints at a TAU presence, though no more evidence exists. Our aim was to make planetfall between the palace and the artifacts, though we have been caught in a bitter struggle with the Tyranid infiltrators. Intercepting TAU transmissions, we have divulged that the sentient Xenos are of no threat for our mission, and will make useful +++CENSORED BY THE LEGIO ASTARTUS+++

The TAU lined the back table edge, with the Marines in a more agressive stance ready to take the impending charge.

Spore mines were already nearby one of the odd objectives.

The tyranid force was spread along the opposing table edge. A hammer force on the left of big monsters with a smattering of smaller griblies. A longer thin force stretching to the right.

On the far right, a zoanthrope lurks controlling a small task force.

------------------++++++++ Transmission 2++++++++------------------------------------

The Artifacts have fused with the first surface they have come into contact with, we will require time to remove them for inspection. The Hive mind draws near, they have already dropped spores near our claimed objectives.

Two artifacts remain out of our grasp, one, situated in the centre of the landing pad, perhaps suggesting some intelligence of the art+++++++CENSORED BY THE INQUISITION+++++++

The TAU have claimed an artifact, precariously placed on the top of a ruined manufactorum

------------------++++++++ Transmission 3++++++++------------------------------------

The Tyranid Creatures have reached the artifact in the centre of the landing pad.

We have secured an objective in the forest outskirts

With only 3 Artifacts sighted, we must assume it lost to the hivemind. Efforts must be made to hold our 2 current artifacts, and obtain the 3rd.

The Librarian Captain has taken the fight to the enemy, many marines have died already to this wave.A brood of foul beasts, identified as Ymgarl Genestealers has revealed themselves within the very forest we had claimed.

We are beginning to see the Hive mind's devious plan, Trygon monstrocities are beginning to appear from the ground.

Our position has been overrun, many marines have perished, whilst our TAU +++++++CENSORED BY LEGIO ASTARTUS+++++++ have sat back, unable to hold the artifacts

------------------++++++++ Transmission 4++++++++------------------------------------

------------------++++++++ Signal Believed to be of Xenos Origin, Translated for human use++++++++------------------------------------

Our temporary Gue'vesa allies have taken a terrible toll in the name of the greater good, but despite this our fate is also sealed, the Hive mind is particularly devious in this sector, and have amassed a large outflanking force which will surely defeat us entirely.

The last stand of the TAU on Borlina will go un noticed, but the actions on this planet will not be in vain.

A last ditch attempt to free the Artifacts from the enemies' grasp has been in vain

We have had to retreat from the artifacts

Whatever these strange devices were, they are now surely to be absorbed into the hive mind's genepool.

------------------++++++++End of Transmission ++++++++--------------------------------------

I really enjoyed our Good Friday game, 4 of us got together with 2000 points a piece, John P and I constructed a large Tyranid invasion force, whilst Lee and Chris deployed a combined TAU and Vulkan led Space Marine force.

It ended in a Tyranid Win, with us holding 2 objectives, with the other 2 contested. A bloody battle indeed, We suprised ourselves with the sheer amount of reserves we had, they just kept coming!

Well I have to get going I have a Gaming weekend next weekend, 5 games at 2300 points over a weekend, and it looks like a lot of fun, with all sorts of rules and missions to make it a fun-oriented gaming environment.

Cheers for now

TSINI

To Battle Once More!!

I've just got back from Triple Helix Wargames which is only down the road from me, they're open till 10 on tuesdays and thursdays, perfect for some wargaming after work.

I actually hadn't seen the guys for a few months, so it was great to catch up and make some wargaming related plans, and chat shizzle about all the new (and controversial) goings on at GW, and our other planned game systems (dystopian wars being one... we got our hands on some of the new dreadnoughts and the new FSA land ships due to one of the sculpters hanging around)

So onto the game!

We decided on a 4 v 4 game which the others had played at a shindig at TripleHelix before.

Essentially "Capture the Flag"

500 points per player

Each player deployed in a 12" square from the table corner.

A wheely bin objective was placed in the centre. This objective would join the first infantry unit which came into contact with it. and would move with the unit (including being loaded onto transports for no space taken up - it could be towed/stowed on the roof) before moving the unit must test for initiative (1D6) if failed, the wheely bin would sip from their grip, scattering 2D6 and stopping when it came into contact with any scenery/other units.

You score a victory point for moving the carrying unit off of your deployment table edge (12" from your corner) once this happens, your unit is then placed in reserve (available next turn) and the wheely bin appears suddenly at the centre of the board.

So this is the force I assembled, Its pretty much exactly what I took to calneage two years ago. I knew that it was going to be a 500 point game and figured, it was funny then so should be a laugh this time round.

Platoon Command: Power Sword, Missile Launcher, Grenade Launcher

Infantry Squad 1: Autocannon, Grenade Launcher

Infantry Squad 2: Missile Launcher, Grenade Launcher

Conscripts: 20 men

Heavy Bolter Weapons Team

Autocannon Weapons Team

Armoured Sentinel: Plasma Cannon

500 points Exactly

Deployment As you can see, a crowded start for my infantry heavy force, . I had Dark Eldar to my right, hence the heavy bolters placement, and many many many Attack bikes to my right, hence the plasma cannon.

I scored First deployment/turn, So elected to charge forwards without a single shot. the basic plan, stay in the trees and get the long range weapons in position, and of course....

CHARGE OF THE CONSCRIPTS!!!!!!

Heres the table in full, a defensive line between two forests, with a temple at the centre, housing the "Holy Wheely Bin"

Lees Three glass towers, or Dark Eldar vehicles if you will.

A Detachment of Khorn set up in the opposing forest

And the Many (Many) Attack bikes arrive from the open to my left.

Here it is, THE HOLY WHEELY BIN who knows what wonders are inside it.

Obviously the Dark Eldar have an advantage with insane movement capabilities. Though sitting a Raider on the objective does mean it will have to endure all the following firing.

With my right flank in tatters after a few Dark eldar strafing runs, my left flank advances at a rapid rate.

The Platoon Command made it into a busted bunker, ordering the conscripts to make the dash for the objective, and eyeing up targets for their missile launcher.

You can see the missile launcher team eyeing up lees raider, which had already claimed my heavy bolter team

The wheely bin however was making a dash for the board edge under the other raider which had escaped from the board centre untouched

The conscripts charge after the wheely bin

The marine bikers make it to the centre of the temple, pursuing the Dark eldar

The missile launcher Infantry squad hold base in my deployment zone, ready to give cover/aid to any returning units with the wheely bin

Lee's Dark Eldar manage to get the Wheely bin off of his table edge.

The Bin is reset, And now the slower armies are all over the centre

The bikes make contact,

The attack bike had obviously been a tad too enthusiastic when it reached the centre and dropped the wheely bin almost immediately

Originally the objective scattered 8" over the top of the chaos rhino, which is when we ammended the rules to stop the scatter when it comes into contact with objects/units

the wheely bin nearly coasted into the hands of some newly disembarked Khorn Berserkers, but was snatched away and back to the marine deployment zone. but the bikes were organised and had a second unit ready to pounce when the bin was reset a second time.

The bikers make second contact, under the conscripts' noses

The first successful hit by my sentinel paid off, if it had scattered anywhere my poor conscripts would have been badly injured... Luckily a Hit scored me 3 Berserker kills

You can see how close that shot was

My autocannon Infantry Squad make a daring move once the biker was dispatched, using the conscripts as a shield between them and the berserkers, they grab the objective

The conscripts "bravely" take on the berserkers

And unsurprisingly FLEE!!

The remaining 2 berserkers are dispatched by plasma cannon fire, and the champion is humiliated by a laspistol wound which kills him.

The wheely bin looks to be in guard control on turn 5

Although casualties are mounting

Turn 6, and my second infantry squad run out to help bring back the objective (which has mysteriously turned into a purple rock...)

The sentinel leaps out to hold off the chasing bike

With that being the 6th turn, and Lee needing to head off (hence the wheely bin dissapearing) the guys suggested i tested to see if i could get my guys off of the table in turn 7. (i had held up every enemy unit which could have impeded my movement)

With 11" to cover, I needed to roll a 5+ for my run...

2

Dark Eldar and Marines win with a point each. Proving that when it comes to capture the flag, bikes and tranports get it done quicker than marching your men like the grand old duke of york!

But which is more fun?

Cheers All!!

TSINI