Another fantastic batrep thanks to the good folks at AFK!  This game was against Mike, who’s been playing a while, but is a newcomer to AFK.  Hopefully we see more of him and his fantastic Imperial Fists successor the Steel Circle!

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Bozeman – Azure Flames (Salamanders)

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

-Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Meltagun, Multi-Melta in a Drop Pod

-Tactical Squad x10, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer, Multi-Melta in a Rhino with Extra Armor

-Vindicator with a Siege Shield

-Ironclad Dreadnought, Chainfist, Ironclad Launchers in a Drop Pod with a Locator Beacon

-Stormtalon Gunship with Typhoon Missile Launcher

-Bike Squad x8 with Attack Bike, Veteran Sergeant, Power Fist, Melta Bombs, 2x Meltagun, Multi-Melta

-Land Speeder, Multimelta

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Mike – Steel Circle (Imperial Fists)

-Darnath “Beatstick” Lysander

-Assault Termintors x5, 2x Thunder Hammer/Storm Shield

-Land Raider Crusader

-Techmarine

-Sternguard x10, 3x Combi-Meltas, 2x Combi-Plasma in a Drop Pod

-Tactical Squad x10, Plasma Pistol, Plasma Gun, Multi-Melta in a Drop Pod

-Tactical Squad x10, Plasma Gun, Missile Launcher in a Drop Pod

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Mission: The Relic (one movable objective)

Setup: Dawn of War (long table edges)

Mike set up first, here’s our setup:

The whole board

Lysander, the Terminators, and the Techmarine are in the Land Raider Crusader

My units are spread out and hiding from the inevitable Drop Pod storm.

Initiative not seized.  No night fight.

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Turn 1 – Steel Circle

Lysander’s Land Raider moves up 12″ and Power of the Machine Spirit lets it take out two of the five bikes facing it.  The Stenguard and the Tactical Squad with a Plasma Pistol drop pod in near Leonidas and the Tactical Squad in the building.  The Sternguard blow the bike combat squad away.  Leonidas’ squad loses its sergeant and Leonidas takes a wound.

Lysander surges forward toward the Relic.

Steel Rain falls on the Azure Flames.

Turn 1 – Azure Flames

Tactical Squad in Drop Pod arrives behind the Land Raider.  The remaining bikes move forward, but even with the bikes, the Tactical Squad and the Vindicator the Land Raider only takes two glancing hits!  Combined fire from Leonidas and his Tactical Squad put the hurt on the Sternguard, and then assault them, leaving only one alive.  The Land Speeder gives a penetrating result to the Tactical Squad’s Drop Pod and removes the Storm Bolter, turning it into a rock.

Land Raiders are built tough!  …plus I rolled horribly

One remaining Sternguard stands before Leonidas and the Tactical Squad.

Another bad melta roll makes the Drop Pod useless.

Turn 2 – Steel Circle

The Land Raider turns around, and in an incredibly good flurry of rolls with split fire, kills the meltagun in one squad, and the multi-melta in another!  The last Sternguard falls to Leonidas.  The Tacitcal Marines kill one of the combat squad in the building and the Land Speeder.

Trick shot!  All Melta removed!

The bike squad is avenged by Leonidas.

Land Speeder goes down in a hail of plasma fire.

Turn 2 – Azure Flames

The bikes move up and wreck the Land Raider.  Subsequent Vindicator fire and a bad Look Out Sir roll kills four of the five Terminators, and the Techmarine, and puts a wound on Lysander who shakes it off due to Eternal Warrior.  Lysander and one Lightning Claw Terminator break and run for cover in the nearby building.  The Ironclad Dreadnought arrives, as does the Stormtalon.  The Dreadnought, Stormtalon, and the Combat Squad in the building kill all of the combat squad but the Sergeant.  Leonidas and his remaining squad assault the other combat squad and kill all but the Multi-Melta, who doesn’t break.

An incredibly good turn takes out most of the Terminators!

The Tactical Squad is mostly dealt with.

Turn 3 – Steel Circle

Lysander and the Terminator regroup and assault one of the combat squads.  The squad dies horribly.  Leonidas finishes the multi-melta and advances towards the objective.  The remaining sergeant charges the combat squad in the building, but no one dies.

Lysander gets things done!

Alas, poor multi-melta…

Charge!

Turn 3 – Azure Flames

The combat with the lone sergeant goes nowhere fast as a flurry of whiffs occurs.  Leonidas and the Dreadnought run for the objective, as does the remaining part of the other tactical squad.  Bad scatter from the Vindicator goes onto the a bike!  However a lucky jink save keeps him alive.

OK, so should I hit you or should you hit me?

Keep your eyes on the prize.

The tank shot his own guy, but don’t worry!  He shouted FORE!

Turn 4 – Steel Circle

Lysander fails a charge against the bikes from four inches away!  The last Steel Circle tactical squad arrives via drop pod, and kills the remaining two tacitcal marines with Leonidas.  The lone sergeant kills one tactical marine but finally goes down!

Leonidas is all alone…

Took them long enough!

Turn 4 – Azure Flames

Leonidas joins the tactical squad running away from Lysander, and the sergeant of that squad picks up the objective.  The Vindicator kills the Lighting Claw Terminator.  The newly arrived tactical squad takes fire from the Stormtalon and Drop Pods, and Dreadnought and is then charged by the Dreadnought.

Did anyone bring melta bombs?

Turn 5 – Steel Circle

Lysander charges Leonidas and a mighty Challenge ensues!  …where nothing happens.  The Dreadnought continues to wear down the tactical squad.

Whiffing on the first round of combat is a tradition during this game.

Turn 5 – Azure Flames

The Stormtalon kills a Drop Pod, and the Tactical Squad kills the damaged one.  The Dreadnought kills the tactical squad down to 3.  Leonidas does one wound to Lysander, and takes none in return!  Lysander breaks but succeeds in his re-roll so stays.

Fight!

Turn 6 – Steel Circle

Dreadnought kills no one in the Tactical Squad.  Lysander and Leonidas continue to duel ineffectually.

The fights continue.

Turn 6 – Azure Flames

More ineffectual fighting.  Game ends.

Final score: Azure Flames have the objective for 3 points, plus Linebreaker for 4 total.  Steel Circle has First Blood for 1.

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Wow!  What a fun game.  I haven’t had this good of a time playing for a while.  Honestly this was due to Mike’s painted army.  Its just not the same fighting someone whose army is not painted.  Plus Mike challenged me tactically like I haven’t been in a while.  Lysander is also incredible.  Mike failed a 2+ Look Out Sir roll for the Techmarine and had he succeeded (multiple times) he could have distributed the Vindicator’s shots to Lysander who would have laughed off the S10 ordnance.  One thing not mentioned above is that 3 of the 5 drop pods in this game scattered 10″ or more!  This was a game full of unlikely rolls, which happens.

Next: more batreps, hopefully some painted minis, and possibly a GOTHIC CAMPAIGN?  We shall see!