Big Game VI – The Omega War is complete! Farewell 2020!
2020 is over and as a parting gift, Big Game VI – The Omega War is COMPLETE! This behemoth is as long as most Black Library stand alone novels, at 55,013 words, over 46 chapters plus the Introduction and Epilogue.
For contrast, Big Game V – The Battle of Iperin was 50,267 words with 71 chapters. This was because BGV was a post-by-post continuity on the old Big Game V forums maintained by Brian. There were a lot more authors, and a lot less planning making for some short snippets.
It’s been a hard year, but it goes out with a bang. Farewell 2020. Farewell Omega Station. Farewell pre-Gathering Storm continuity for the Azure Flames.
It’s with this post that I am officially beginning work on Home Fires: an Azure Flames novel, which will detail the fate of the Azure Flames after the Psychic Awakening.
Stay tuned for more updates, including a new Blood Bowl post!
Double Header – Azure Flames vs XVI Legion Primaris @ home!
COVID sucks. You can’t go to places because some people just can’t seem to wear masks. So, here I am with a big empty dining room table, old boards from Studio 40K, but only a handful of craters and no other terrain.
Luckily, long time Fourstrands contributor Thomas has been amassing terrain in hopes someone has boards! So we had some (socially distanced) 40K in my dining room!
Our original plan was for multiple games on one day, but delays forced us to split them between two days. It’s time for a batrep double header!
Bozeman – Azure Flames (Salamanders) 2000 points
- Battalion
- Captain, Warlord, Exemplar of the Promethean Creed, Forge Master, Miraculous Constitution, The Salamander Mantle
- Librarian, Fire Shield, Drakeskin, Fury of Nocturne, The Tome of Vel’cona (-1CP)
- Lieutenant, Chainsword, Combi-Plasma
- Intercessors x10, Thunder Hammer, Bolt Rifles, 1x Grenade Launcher
- Tactical Squad x6, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer
- Agressors x3, Flamestorm Gauntlets
- Apothecary
- Company Ancient, Combi Melta
- Servitors, 2x Heavy Bolter
- Sternguard Veterans x10, Power Fist, 10x Combi-Grav
- Terminators x7, 1x Assault Cannon, 1x Chainfist
- Devastators x5, Armourium Cherub, 4x Grav Cannon
- Devastators x5, Armourium Cherub, 2x Lascannon, 1x Missile Launcher, 1x Heavy Bolter
- Thunderfire Cannon
Thomas – XVI Legion Successors (counts as Imperial Fists)
- Battalion
- Captain, Combi-Melta, The Fist of Dorn, Warlord
- Phobos Librarian
- Primaris Chaplain
- Intercessors x5, Bolt Rifles, Power Fist
- Intercessors x5, Bolt Rifles, Power Fist
- Incursors x10, mine
- Reivers x5, Grapple hooks
- Reivers x5, Grapple hooks
- Gladiator Valiant
- 10x Cataphractii Terminators, Power Sword, 9x Lightning Claws, 2x Reaper Autocannon, 8x Combi Bolter
- Primaris Apothecary
- Invictor Warsuit, Ironhail Autocannon
- Relic Contemptor Dreadnought, 2x Twin Linked Heavy Bolter
Mission – Overrun
Long Board Edges, 6 objectives. Control 2, 3, and more than the opponent for 5VP each, cumulative, cannot be scored on the first turn.
Setup
Not pictured. Thunderfire was to my extreme right. Tactical and Grav Sternguard on my right objective. Agressors, Grav Devastators, and characters on my center objective. Terminators and Tactical on my right objective. Devs and Servitors on my left flank.
Thomas hid most large targets behind a large building. Incursors took up the center big building. Reivers infiltrated.
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Turn not pictured. Agressors advance and the whole army fires on the Incursors and Warsuit, eliminating them. Intercessors get a lucky charge on the Phobos Librarian but whiff and he cuts a few down in return.
Turn 1 – XVI Legion
Intercessors charge the Azure Flames Intercessors, but can’t save the Librarian. Shots do a bit of damage here and there. Left flank Devs are reduced to one Lascannon.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
The Azure Flames Intercessors are removed by the XVI Legion Intercessors in the building. Apothecary restores an Aggressor and they take the center crater. Librarian does first of three rituals for VP, but then Perils! Terminators move up and do a small amount of damage.
Turn 2 – XVI Legion
Aggressors get vaped by the Gladiator, and the Terminators take some wounds off the Ancient and the Captain. Reiver squads arrive on the left flank and behind me. Contemptor emerges and blasts a Tactical squad.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
Terminators Charge, doing surprisingly little damage and taking surprisingly little in return. Lone Tactical Sergeant punches the Contemptor to death after the lone Lascannon pops off a shot. Tactical squad on the right flank captures an objective.
After this, we decided it was getting late and Thomas ceded.
In this mission, getting objectives is the key. For turns 2 and 3 I got 15 VPs for the primary objective while Thomas got 0. This was a bit odd for this list as it was designed to castle up.
Next Batrep!
Bozeman – Azure Flames (Salamanders)\
- Batallion
- Captain, Warlord, Exemplar of the Promethean Creed, Forge Master, Miraculous Constitution, The Salamander Mantle
- Librarian, Might of Heroes, Null Zone
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Meltagun
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Meltagun
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer
- Tactical Squad x5, Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer
- Company Champion
- Sternguard x10, Power Fist, 10x Combi-Grav
- Sternguard x10, Power Fist, 10x Combi-Melta
- Assault Squad x5, 2x Flamer
- Land Raider Crusader, Multi-Melta, Hunter-Killer Missile
- Razorback, Twin Linked Heavy Bolter
- Rhino
- Rhino
- Rhino
Thomas – XVI Legion Successors (Imperial Fists)
Note: Thomas’ list was the same as above.
Mission: Vital Intelligence
In this mission, objectives that you capture stay yours until an opponent captures them. Controlling 2, 3 and more than your opponent gives 5VP each.
Setup:
Turn 1 – XVI Legion
Shooting pops a Rhino on the left flank killing 4 Marines as they disembark. Another Rhino is crippled.
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Both Sternguard squads disembark and shoot up the Incursors. A Rhino blocks the Objective. Assault Squad runs to another Objective. Land Raider puts some decent wounds on the Gladiator.
Turn 2 – XVI Legion
Terminators pop the Rhino on the right and FIVE marines die! As Intercessors charge the Land Raider, Melta Tacticals overwatch with Born Heroes and countercharge! Warsuit charges the Rhino and damages it, while Contemptor charges the Tactical marines and gets punched hard!
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
Rhino falls back and the Melta Sternguard wipe the Invictor and a few Incursors. Tacticals punch the Contemptor again doing a bit of damage. Land Raider shoots the Intercessors to death, freeing the Tactical Marines to shoot the Terminators, and charge a lone Intercessor, killing him and then consolidating into the path of the Terminators so they can’t move forward as easily! Turn not pictured.
Turn 3 – XVI Legion
Terminators annihilate the Tactical Marines and the Assault Marines! Contemptor shoots the Tactical Marines to death in combat!
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
Last Rhino advances to steal the objective on the right. Last Incursor is eliminated which frees up the Melta Sternguard to fire at all four Characters! All four are eliminated! Land Raider finishes off the Gladiator!
Turn 4 – XVI Legion
Ternimators charge the Land Raider and do some wounds. Contemptor charges the Rhino and somehow takes one wound.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
Contemptor and Rhino stare at each other angrily. Melta fire kills 4/5 of an Intercessor squad in the gray building. Terminators continue to fight the Land Raider.
Turn 5 – XVI Legion
Contemptor whiffs on shooting and the Rhino does another close combat wound! Terminators continue struggle.
Turn 5 – Azure Flames
Boxcars SUPER SMITE wipes TWO Terminators! Shooting kills all but one with one wound. The Rhino kills the Contemptor with a lucky Bolt round. Captain executes the last Intercessor. Finally, in close combat, the Land Raider removes the last wound from the last Terminator. Tabled.
Once again, I was pulling down 15 VP per turn. 9th ed is all about going fast, hanging tough, and dishing out damage, in that order. If you get objectives it doesn’t matter if your models are dying as long as you keep those objectives.
Next: More batreps hopefully and some Infiltrators!
40K 9th Ed Turn Tracker, Firstborn Tank Hatches, and Devastator Decals
Normally, I alternate between Firstborn and Primaris projects, and it’s the Firstborn’s turn. I had a lot of options, but in a recent game, I found myself not able to take Hunter Killer Missiles on some tanks due to lack of appropriate bits. So, I decided on a very short project:
Now I have more missile-y goodness and a blank hatch for a placeholder. However, this update was a bit light, and luckily I’m supplementing it with a Turn Tracker from littlepri_16 on Ebay. It’s 3D printed and awesome!
The dials are separate pieces which I will later magnetize once my order from K&J Magnetics arrives. My only gripe is that this font has a weird upwards serif on the upper left of the capital T, but I can live with it.
Finally, as with every project, a touchup and decal! This is the last of three Devastator Bolter units:
Next: a special feature! Longtime Fourstrands contributor Thomas is coming over to break my dry streak for some (socially distanced and safe) gaming! Expect battle reports galore and some awesome times!
Judicar and Indominus Project Complete!
My Judicar is finally complete after some holiday related delays!
I did a head swap with the helmeted Captain head from Indominus, after filling the cross shaped hole with putty. I also added a flame to the left shoulder pad.
I wasn’t brave enough to do Dynamic Lighting on Antonius, but because i cared less about the Judicar I gave it a shot and it worked quite well!
Finally, the Indominus Project is complete!
Steely eyed veterans of MSU’s Studio 40K circa 2000-2005 will remember these boards!
It took longer than I wanted, but that was mostly because I imposed a strict protocol of Primaris -> Squad touchup and decals -> Firstborn -> Squad touchup and decals, repeat. In the end I’ve made tons of progress and I’m raring for more!
Speaking of more, here’s a touchup to five more Devastator Bolters:
Next: a relatively boring update as I’m making more Hunter Killer missiles and blank hatches for Land Raiders and other sundry tanks. I need more options and what I have doesn’t cut it. Plus more decals!