Played a game at AFK games in Holt.  Time for a battle report!  First time using the new codex too, so we’ll see if I miss running away. I played against Eric, an old friend from my college days who I reconnected with.

Bozeman – Azure Flames

Leonidas, captain of the 1st Company (counts as Vulkan He’Stan)

Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Master Crafted Power Fist, Bolter-Flamer, Flamer, Multi-Melta in a Drop Pod

Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Master Crafted Power Fist, Bolter-Flamer, Flamer, Missile Launcher with Flakk Missiles in a Rhino with Extra Armour

Scouts x5 with a Master Crafted Bolter on the sergeant in a Land Speeder Storm with a Multi Melta

Ironclad Dreadnought with the Meltagun replaced with a Heavy Flamer, Ironclad Launchers, in a Drop Pod

Land Speeders x3 with Multi-Meltas and Heavy Flamers

Devastator Squad x10, 4 Missile Launchers with Flakk Missiles, Master Crafted Bolter on the sergeant, in a Rhino with Extra Armour

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Eric – Imperial Guard

Command Squad x5 with a Power Sword on the commander and 4 grenade launchers in a Chimera

Veterans x10 in carapace armour with 3 plasma guns in a Chimera

Veterans x10 in carapace armour with 3 plasma guns in a Chimera

Vendetta Gunship with 3 TL Lascannons

Vendetta Gunship with 3 TL Lascannons

Leman Russ Battle Tank

Leman Russ Battle Tank

Leman Russ Battle Tank

Storm Troopers x10 with 2 Meltaguns, Grav Chutes, Power Sword on sergeant

Ratling Snipers x8

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Setup: Vanguard Strike (opposite corners)

Mission: The Scouring (6 random objectives, fast attack selections can hold objectives)

—Primary objectives (see below) were:

—-4 point objective in central red building

—-3 point objective in yellow building with aquilla doors on far side of board, to the left

—-3 point objective near bronze Space Marine statue

—-2 point objective in forest in the upper right

—-2 point objective in the open between the red building and the forest

—-1 point objective in the gray building near the camera

Imperial Guard Setup: Eric put 2 Leman Russes on the left side, A chimera full of veterans near the 3 point yellow building, the red Leman Russ next to the command chimera near the far short board edge, and then the last chimera closer to my edge.  All others were in reserve.  After I deployed, he put the Ratlings in the red building.

Azure Flames Setup: I put 1/2 of the tatsquad with the flakk missile in the 1 point objective building.  I put the Devastator squad in the building next door.  Leonidas joined the 2nd 1/2 of the tatsquad in their rhino.  The Land Speeders hid behind the stone wall near the camera.  All others in reserve.

INITATIVE STOLEN!!!!!!!!! (apologies that I forgot to take a picture of the setup before 1st turn)

-Turn 1: Azure Flames

The Ironclad Dreadnought in the Drop Pod dropped next to the 3 point building.  Land Speeders moved forward and went flat out to tempt and distract the Leman Russes.  The Rhino with the 1/2 tatsquad and Leonidas move up the right side.  Missile Launchers fire at the tan Leman Russ and penetrate, giving a Crew Shaken result.

-Turn 1: Imperial Guard

The veterans pour out of their Chimera and recieve a Bring It Down! order, get some lucky shots at the rear of the Ironclad Dreadnought and destroy it.  Tan Leman Russ attempts to ram one of the Land Speeders, but it makes its Jink save.  Camo Leman Russ fires at a Land Speeder and destroys it.  Red Leman Russ moves up and fires at the land speeders but misses.  Snipers snipe the land speeders but do nothing.  The other Chimera puts a glance on the rhino.

-Turn 2: Azure Flames

The Tactical squad arrives via drop pod and splits into 2 combat squads.  Lucky Snap Fire from the Multi Melta kills the Veteran’s Chimera.  Leonidas’ Heavy Flamer and the Sergeant’s bolter-flamer turn the veterans into crispy critters without the need for any of the bolters.  Land Speeders melta the Camo Leman Russ to bits.  Devastators immobilize the tan Leman Russ.  Not shown in the picture, the Scouts in the Land Speeder Storm arrive and goes flat out.  Drop Pods use Storm Bolters to kill a veteran or two.

-Turn 2: Imperial Guard

Both Vendettas arrive.  The unpainted one blows up the Land Speeder Storm and two scouts die in the explosion.  They do not break.  The Red Vendetta puts a Crew Stunned result on one of the Land Speeders.  Snipers shoot at the Tactical marines, cause no casualties.  The commander and his grenade launcher pals pop out, and kills a space marine.  The Leman Russ tries to destroy more land speeders, but they make their jink saves.

-Turn 3: Azure Flames

The three remaining scouts assault the tan Leman Russ, and their Krak Grenades destroy it.  Flakk Missiles from the Devastators put 2 glances on the red Vendetta.  The flakk missile from the tactical squad misses.  One half of the tactical squad advances on the 2 point forest.  Vulkan and the tactical squad burn the Plasma veterans and the commander, leaving only one grenade launcher, who does not break. The unhurt land speeder bakes the red Leman Russ.

-Turn 3: Imperial Guard

The Storm Troopers fail to arrive from reserves for a 2nd turn.  Unpainted Vendetta kills one of the missile launcher devastators.  Snipers, tanks, and the Red Vendetta finish off the tactical squad with Leonidas, and the other squad with the multi melta, except for one tactical marine with a flamer.

-Turn 4: Azure Flames

The Land Speeders turn around and use their Heavy Flamers to annihilate the Ratling Snipers.  The 4 pictured there actually died, Eric just forgot to remove them.  The Devastators and tatsquad with flakk missiles put 1 penetrate with crew stunned on then unpainted vendetta, which will cause it to fly off the board next turn.  The remaining flamer marine runs toward the objective.  The scouts secure the space marine statue.  5 bolter tactical marines embark in the rhino which drives them to the forest objective.

-Turn 4: Imperial Guard

Last chimera kills one Land speeder.  Red Vendetta goes into hover mode, kills last tactical marine holding 3 point objective.  Storm Troopers fail to come in.  Unpainted vendetta flies off board.

-Turn 5: Azure Flames

Land speeder kills the red vendetta because it is in hover mode.

-Turn 5: Imperial Guard

Last chimera fails to kill the land speeder.  Unpainted vendetta comes in hovering, shoots land speeder and misses, which is unlikely.  Stormtroopers arrive, blast the Drop Pod and do nothing.

-Turn 6: Azure Flames

Tactical Bolters vacate the rhino, and it tank shocks the storm troopers.  The Storm Troopers fail their morale check and flee.  The Land Speeder kills the unpainted Vendetta.

-Turn 6: Imperial Guard

Turn not pictured.  Chimera kills the land speeder.  Game ends.

Final score:

-Azure Flames: 8

-Imperial Guard: 2

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Analysis: WOW Vulkan makes a customized army very cool.  I won that game because my Melta weapons re-rolled misses.  I still need some aircraft, but flakk missiles make a suitable option.  I had forgotten how cool Imperial Guard orders were, and though Eric only used one, it made a huge difference.  It was a good game.  The Land Speeders soaked up a huge amount of fire.

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Other players were hanging out.  Four players were having a four-way game.  N.W.P. in the upper left played Guard, Granodd in the lower left played Necrons, Jacob in the lower right played Nids and Mr. Smith in the upper right played Space Marines.  It was a huge game.

Hornblower and Bill played a game.  Hornblower’s Eldar are immaculate and Bill’s Slaaneshi Chaos Daemons are fantastic.

That’s all for now.  Several super-secret projects in the mix!  Also, look out for another battle report coming soon from White Lake!