T’au Il’porrui Eir O’ran light cruiser
That’s the last of my Tau capital ships! Big thanks to Joshua who borrowed this fleet for my Tau campaign and graciously did all the legwork to name the ships. Well, now his names will live forever. Coming up next: Tau Escorts, a visit to my peeps in Highland, and HOPEFULLY I can get a Friday off so I can visit AFK and get some 40K on a regular basis. Stay tuned!
Battlefleet Gothic – Marines vs. Tyranids – A Long Time Coming
I’ve been on a Gothic kick, and just coincidentally my good friend John who got me into Gothic came into town. We weren’t going to play anything due to a delayed start from inclement death weather, but John sort of pulled a huge guilt trip and I set up my old dusty table I bought from the closing Games Workshop Novi.
John decided to play his new Tyranid fleet, but they were packed in the same case as his home made Ork Roks, so I snapped this pic:
John’s Tyranid fleet is only half complete, so he used some paper cutout proxies. As much as I like models, I have to admit they look good.
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Scenario – The Raiders
Battlezone – Deep Space
Tyranid defenders are at -1Ld for the first 4 turns
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John – Tyranid Hive Fleet 2501 – 1500 points (Defender)
-Two Hive Mind Re-rolls
-Hive Ship, upgrade to Ld 9, Prow Feeder Tentacles, Thorax Bio Plasma, 3x Port/Starboard Bio Plasma
-Hive Ship, upgrade to Ld 9, Prow Feeder Tentacles, Thorax Launch Bays, 3x Port/Starboard Launch Bays
-Cruiser, Prow Massive Claws, Thorax Massive Claws, 2x Port/Starboard Bio Plasma
-Cruiser, Prow Massive Claws, Thorax Massive Claws, 2x Port/Starboard Bio Plasma
-Cruiser, Prow Massive Claws, Thorax Massive Claws, 2x Port/Starboard Bio Plasma
-Kraken x6, Massive Claws
-Escort Drone x7, 6x Bio Plasma, 1x Fire Ship
-Escort Drone x7, 7x Bio Plasma
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Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines – 750 points (Attacker)
-Zeraf Antonius, Master of the Fleet (Ld 10), 2 Re-Rolls, Honour Guard (aboard the Honor)
-Strike Cruiser Honor, Extra Shield
-Strike Cruiser Duty, Extra Shield
-Strike Cruiser Courage, Extra Shield
-Strike Cruiser Vigilance, Extra Shield
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Setup:
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Two squadrons, the Honor with the Duty and the Courage with the Vigilance come in from the right side, both squadrons going on Lock On. Fantastic battery fire and poor Kraken brace saves destroy the entire Kraken squadron. Bombardment cannons and twenty four torpedoes destroy the paper Cruiser.
The Hive Fleet, massing to attack this system, is surprised by Space Marines!
Four Strike Cruisers do some serious damage.
Turn 1 – Hive Fleet 2501
Dead cruiser drifts forward, other cruisers and escorts go on Come to a New Heading to respond to the Space Marine threat. Carrier Hive Ship launches 8 fighters, and they perform various CAPs. Thunderhawk Gunships move out.
The Tyranids, caught napping, begin the lengthy process of turning around.
Thunderhawk flights away.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
Both squadrons Reload Ordnance. One Escort Drone is destroyed by Thunderhawks, causing a Brace.
Turn 2 – Hive Fleet 2501
Escort Drones with the Fire Ship go on All Ahead Full. Thunderhawks hit the Hive Ship, causing a Brace and disabling the Feeder Tentacles. Woo. Carrier launches 8 more fighters.
Thunderhawks sow confusion in the Tyranid fleet.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
Fleet moves up. Poor bombardment cannon rolls do nothing to the Escort Drones, but scare them into a Brace. Torpedoes cause three damage to the Hive Ship and one damage to the Cruiser. Thunderhawks cause three more effects to disable the Feeder Tentacles on the Hive Ship. During the Ordnance Phase, some Tyranid Fighters arrive a bit late.
It’s time for… MORE TORPEDOES!
Turn 3 – Hive Fleet 2501
Cruiser pulls up and fires, doing one damage to the Honor. Rest of fleet continues to wheel. Several fighters are voluntarily removed so that the Carrier Hive Ship can launch 8 Assault Boats.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
Both squadrons go on Lock on. Fire removes four Escort Drones from one squadron (including the Fire Ship) and one from the other.
Turn 4 – Hive Fleet 2501
Close enough to fire, the fleet pulls off major manuevers to fire every gun they can. The Honor is crippled.
Turn 5 – Azure Flames
Fleet disenages. The squadron with the Honor almost fails, but a re-roll gets them safely away. Game over.
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Final Score
Azure Flames: 366
Hive Fleet 2501: 149
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Post Game: I could have won on turn 2 by disengaging. However, that would have been boring. This result had a smaller margin of victory, but was much more in-keeping with the fluff. After all, the Space Marines would try to hurt the Tyranids as much as possible before they got too far in-system. John had all of his ships facing towards the left of the setup picture above, so I came in from the right. My nimble Strike Cruisers outmaneuvered his Tyranid space cows. Escort Drones and Cruisers have a 45 degree turn. Ugh. The Raiders is a tough one for the Defender. You need to be facing every direction, and you need fast maneuverable things to respond to any threat.
Coming up next, more Gothic and perhaps some 40K from Highland! I also hope to go back to AFK this coming Friday, unless something happens. Stay tuned!
Battlefleet Gothic Compendium 4.0
http://fourstrandshobby.com/battlefleet-gothic-compendium-2010-update/
The link above (and the handy one in the sidebar to the right) links to my Battlefleet Gothic Compendium. I have updated it in a major way for a third time, making this the fourth iteration of the compendium. In truth, this was done months ago, but I couldn’t upload the front cover until now due to file size shenanigans.
Here it is, in all it’s glory:
The new 4.0 version has the following features:
-Full bleed front cover, for aesthetics.
-Table of contents inside front cover for organization.
-All files now updated to 2010 Compendium, including rules updates and lists such as Eldar Iyanden Fleet.
-Fixes for all files for spelling, rules accuracy, and readability, especially for tables.
-Scenarios, Campaign Rules, and Planetary Defences split into separate sections, and printed on different color paper to differentiate.
-Imperial Navy and Space Marines are now two different sections with different colors, as they are different “races” in Gothic.
-Chaos Daemonship rules are now 1/2 of a page rather than one paragraph for ease of explanation and accuracy.
-Several minor fleet lists added, for completeness sake, such as Ork Pirates of the Cyclops Cluster and Eldar Gothic Sector Corsairs.
-Major update for Tau including special character Kor’O’Mesme and 2010 rules for modified Kroot Warspheres.
-Expanded Tyranids due to page count purposes. Vanguard fleet list now completely pointed out, and Evolution of the Hive Mind is a well organized table rather than paragraph form.
-Moved Leadership table to inside cover, and Boarding table and modifiers to back cover. Now, all resources neccesary for setup are on the inside back cover, and all tables for play are on the outside back cover. This allows easy access to tables without page flipping.
As with all my home made compendia, the following goes: I did not create any of this content. It all came from the Battlefleet Gothic Main Rulebook, Armada Rulebook, and 2010 update. This compendium merely condenses approximately 450 pages of rules and fluff into approximately 80 pages of rules in outline, bullet point, or table format. If you want to print this for yourself, you are welcome to do so. HOWEVER, PLEASE DO NOT SELL THESE FILES OR ANY PRINTS MADE FROM THESE FILES FOR ANY REASON. Thank you, and have fun!
Gothic Time at Highland!
Some people bring the mountain to Mohammed. I brought the Gothic to the Highland Library. Ian and Sean had my classic demo game, here are some highlights:
The setup: a classic Cruiser Clash.
First blood to Sean: the Imperials let loose a wave of torpedoes!
The ordered battle lines descend into a furball.
Ian gambles and loses: the Carnage class cruiser with the Chaos Lord stays too long after being crippled, and explodes!
Ian’s Chaos gets a thrashing, and withdraws; victory to Sean and the Imperium!
…while they were experiencing Gothic for the first time, Rob and I played Space Marines vs. Tau Kor’or’vesh.
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Mission: The Bait
Location: Outer Reaches
Pursuers: Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines
-Strike Cruiser Vigilance, Extra shield
-Strike Cruiser Sacrifice, Extra shield
-Strike Cruiser Duty, Extra shield
Pursued: Rob – Tau Kor’or’vesh Shan’al Shi’ur Commerce Protection Fleet
–T’au Lar’shi’vre Shi Kais “Protector” class cruiser, T’olku configuration (PURSUED SHIP)
–T’au Lar’shi’vre Aloh Shoka “Protector” class cruiser, Vior’la configuration
–T’au Il’porrui Sh’ve Mont’re “Emmisary” class light cruiser, Sa’cea configuration
–T’au Il’porrui M’yen Lar’shi “Emmisary” class light cruiser, Sa’cea configuration
–J’karra La’rua, “Mirror squadron” consisting of 2 Kir’shashvre “Castellan” escorts
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Setup:
Turn 1 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
The Shi Kais turns and launches fighters and missiles.
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
All three Strike Cruisers go on All Ahead Full, launch Thunderhawk gunships.
Turn 2 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
A squadron of the Protector Aloh Shoka and Emmisary Sh’ve Mont’re comes on from the board edge, launches fighters and missiles. A lucky shot removes a wave of Thunderhawks.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
Sacrifice Reloads Ordnance while Vigilance and Duty go on All Ahead Full again.
Turn 3 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
The newly arrived squadron takes up station by the small planet. Failure to reload prevents more launching. Turn not pictured.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
Vigilance boards Shi Kais while the other strike cruisers provide support fire. Despite help, a poor boarding roll loses the fight, as Tau Battlesuits storm the Vigilance, doing one damage.
Turn 4 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
Emmisary cruiser M’yen Lar’shi and J’karra La’rua Castellan Squadron arrive, damaging Duty. Squadron by the planet damages Vigilance with battery and lance fire. Turn not pictured.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
Duty lines up and boards Shi Kais. Despite poor support from the other strike cruisers, a good roll causes four damage, crippling Shi Kais.
Turn 5 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
Shi Kais disengages. The rest of the fleet damages Duty and cripples it. Turn not pictured.
Turn 5 – Azure Flames
Duty disengages. Vigilance reloads ordnance and severely damages M’yen Larshi with an amazing torpedo roll. Sacrifice boards the Sh’ve Mont’re and causes one damage.
Turn 6 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
Unable to get targets in their sight if they move, the Castellan Squadron goes on Burn Retros and turns on a dime. M’yen Lar’shi disengages. The capital ship squadron damages Vigilance, causing a Bridge Smashed result! Turn not pictured.
Turn 6 – Azure Flames
Sacrifice Reloads Ordnance and blows up the Castellan squadron. Vigilance tried to disengage, but fails.
Turn 7 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
The capital ship squadron tries to finish Vigilance, but Vigilance barely survives.
Turn 7 – Azure Flames
Vigilance disenages. Sacrifice reloads ordnance and smashes the Sh’ve Mont’re with torpedoes and Thunderhawks. Poor torpedo rolls spare the Aloh Sho’ka.
Turn 8 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
Squadron, having braced for impact, can’t damage the Sacrifice.
Turn 8 – Azure Flames
Sacrifice reloads again. Torpedoes and Thunderhawks cripple the Aloh Sho’ka, and fire from batteries and Bombardment Cannons reduce Sh’ve Mont’re to a drifting hulk. Game ceded.
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Stay tuned next week, as more players have requested Gothic! Plus, stay tuned for more Tau ships painted!
T’au Il’porrui Lynu Kar’tyr “Emmisary” class light cruiser
One more light cruiser to go, and then it’s on to the escorts! Next: BATTLEFLEET GOTHIC AT HIGHLAND!
T’au Il’porrui M’yen Lar’shi Emmisary Class Light Cruiser
In truth this was 95% done, but I was too busy (and lazy) to put the finishing touches on tonight. On another important note, Testors brand matte varnish will “dry” to a shine at 5 degrees Fahrenheit, and then become matte when warmed to room temperature. Fun fact!
Next: another Tau light cruiser, and the Battlefleet Gothic stuff in action at Highland!
Gothic Campaign – Finale
Liam Perseus, Chapter Master of the Azure Flames, strode onto the bridge of His Hammer II with a look of disgust on his face. In a rare display, Admiral Piers looked up from the monitors surrounding his command throne.
“How went the Exterminatus of the Kutner system, my lord?” Piers asked before turning his attention back to orchestrating the machinations of his Battle Barge.
“It was unnecessary. The Necrons are gone.” Perseus spat.
Piers raised one eyebrow. “You sound disappointed.”
“Wouldn’t you be?” Perseus shot back. “The filthy xenos don’t have the stomach for a fight. I wanted to cleanse that world of them, but it seems that they have done so for us.”
“Their disappearance allows me to proceed with the final phase of this crusade.” Piers began typing almost too fast for Perseus to follow. “Brother O’Brien, open a channel to all Imperial ships, Emerald encryption.” Piers waited for confirmation before beginning. ” Attention Imperial Navy vessels. This is Admiral Piers in command of the Azure Flames fleet. Although you refuse to submit to our authority, we do have a common enemy. We move to chase the Tau who fled this sector to preserve their homeworld. You would be welcome in cleansing this xenos scum alongside us. In the Emperor’s name.” Piers ended the transmission. “Brother, dispatch orders to Flame, Wrath, and Blade squadrons to begin warp translation and pursue the Tau fleet.”
“You have no intention of chasing the Tau all the way back to the Damocles Gulf.” Perseus stated in a flat, emotionless cadence.
“Of course not, my lord.” Piers replied.
“…and the Imperials know that Emerald level encryption has been broken by the cowardly aliens?” Perseus continued in the same tone.
In the most blase voice possible, Piers answered “They remain unaware. The Tau will decipher that message within minutes.”
“So,” Perseus yelled, his voice growing to a shout, “You have just informed the Traitors that we will leave Laurie’s Hope undefended, and allowed the aliens to KNOW? The Tau will double their retreat, forever preventing us from crushing them, and the Imperials WILL THROW EVERYTHING THEY HAVE AT US!”
Piers turned and looked Perseus directly in the eye, and smiled. “Yes my lord. They most certainly will.”
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In the final game of the campaign, Nathaniel, the only other surviving opponent played a winner-take all Planetary Assault against the Hive World of Laurie’s Hope! Will the Space Marines be able to defend this prize, or will the Imperials take it away from them?
Planetary Assault – 1500pts
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Nathaniel – Imperial Navy
-Emperor Battleship Thor’s Gaze, Shark Assault Boats
-Retribution Battleship Nieman Lion
-Mars Battlecruiser Saratoga, third turret, Flagship, Admiral Ld8 with one Re-roll
-Overlord Battlecruiser Centaur, third turret, left shift on batteries
-Cobra Squadron x4 Exemplar Squadron
-Two Transports
-Two Transports
-Heavy Transport Argosy
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Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines
-Battle Barge His Hammer II, Honour Guard, Terminator Boarding Parties, Flagship: Ranidan Piers, Admiral (Ld10) 3 re-rolls, Crew Skill: Extra re-roll for this ship
-Strike Cruiser Vigilance, Extra Shield, Refit: +1Ld for Reload Ordnance
-Strike Cruiser Duty, Extra Shield, Crew Skill: Pass one Leadership check automatically, Refit: +2 Hull Points, -5cm Speed
-Strike Cruiser Courage, Extra Shield, Crew Skill: Re-roll x2, Refit: +2D6 on All Ahead Full
-Strike Cruiser Sacrifice, Extra Shield, Refit: +1D6 for Critical Repairs
-Strike Cruiser Honor, Extra Shield, Crew Skill: +1Ld for Lock on, Refit: Suffer no movement penalty for Blast Markers
-Minefield (15cm x 15cm)
-Minefield (15cm x 10cm)
-Orbital Mine
-Orbital Defence Platform (batteries)
-Ground Laser Battery x4
-Ground Air Base x2
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Setup:
———————————————————————————————–
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Fleet advances.
Turn 1 – Imperial Navy
Every ship in the fleet except the two Battlecrusiers goes on All Ahead Full. The Mars uses Come to a New Heading to maneuver to get line of sight for the Nova Cannon and the Overlord fails. Wild scatter on the Nova Cannon does no damage. Emperor fires 2 Fighters and 6 Bombers, while Mars fires 4 Bombers.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
Fleet advances. Bombers launched by the Mars are lost in an asteroid field.
Turn 2 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze goes on All Ahead Full, but other ships fail. Cobra squadron fires a Strength 8 torpedo wave.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
The Courage and Sacrifice fire torpedoes, Thunderhawks, and Bombardment cannons which annihilate the Cobra Squadron. Bombardment Canons from Honor and Vigilance take out the bomber wave, while their torpedoes and Thunderhawks fly directly into the path of the Retribution Battleship. Duty’s Thunderhawks move in front of the Emperor Battleship.
Turn 3 – Imperial Navy
The Retribution braces against the Space Marine ordnance. Poor torpedo roll does no damage, but Thunderhawk Gunships take out the dorsal lances. The Emperor’s turrets make mincemeat out of the Thunderhawks, but a poor leadership test does 3 damage from asteroids. Nova Cannon from the Mars glances the Duty, lowering one shield. 5 torpedoes from the Retribution ignore the Duty and move past it.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
Torpedoes and Thunderhawks cause the Mars to brace, barely saving it from being crippled. Broadsides pound the Heavy Transport. His Hammer II boards Thor’s Gaze and does 2 damage, starts 2 fires, and damages the starboard weapons. Broadside fire kills 2 transports, and torpedoes kill another. A good brace save protects the last transport and the Overlord Battlecruiser from harm.
Turn 4 – Imperial Navy
Mars moves up and fires the Nova Cannon at the asteroids hoping for a lucky scatter. Fortune is fickle, and the template scatters onto BOTH His Hammer II AND the Neiman Lion, lowering one shield each. Thor’s Gaze runs through the asteroids, taking one damage from an unrepaired Fire. Torpedoes from the Overlord miss His Hammer II. In a gutsy move, the Nieman Lion boards the Strike Cruiser Duty, and in a double surprise the action is a TIE!
Turn 5 – Azure Flames
Honor and Vigilance board the Mars, crippling it. Despite brace saves, the Heavy Transport explodes, the last escort class transport is killed, and the Overlord battlecruiser is crippled. An Orbital Mine from the Minefield hits Thor’s Gaze, causing 3 more Fire effects! Duty and the Nieman Lion fight another boarding action, and it is another tie! DOUBLE TIE!
Turn 5 – Imperial Navy
Crippled and on fire, Thor’s Gaze disengages. The crippled Overlord fails to navigate the asteroids and is destroyed. The Mars, crippled and braced, lowers a shield on the Duty. Finally, the boarding fight between the Duty and the Nieman Lion is decisive: 7 damage to the Nieman Lion, crippling it. Critical damage finishes off the Nieman Lion, leaving it a drifting hulk.
Turn 6 – Azure Flames
All nearby ships Lock On and destroy the Mars. Turn not pictured. Game over.
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WHAT A SLAUGHTER! Nathaniel had some bad luck, but mostly he let the Space Marines get close. He would have done better with Dauntless cruisers with lances and a mix of boats with balanced weapons. Some more Nova Cannons would not have hurt either.
This concludes the Battlefleet Gothic Campaign for the summer! Stay tuned for more fluff to wrap up the story, including a surprise guest!
Gothic Campaign Week 10 – The Cost of Valor
Ramping up to the second to last week, Nathaniel’s Imperial Navy defended the HO-53 system from my encroaching Space Marines in a Fleet Engagement!
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Fleet Engagement 1500pts (Imperial Navy as defenders had 1400 because the system was uninhabited)
Space Marines choose Sphere, Imperial Navy chose Sphere.
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Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines
-Battle Barge His Hammer II, Fleet Admiral Ranidan Piers 39 Renown, 3 Re-rolls, Honour Guard, Terminator Boarding Parties
-Strike Cruiser Vigilance, Extra Sheild, Refit: +1Ld to Reload Ordnance Checks
-Strike Cruiser Duty, Extra Sheild, Crew Skill: auto pass one leadership test, Refit: +2 Hull points, -5cm speed
-Strike Cruiser Courage, Extra Sheild, Refit: +2D6 on All Ahead Full, Crew Skill: re-roll x2
-Strike Cruiser Sacrifice, Extra Sheild, Refit: +1D6 for critical effect repairs
-Nova Destroyer x6, Flame Squadron
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Nathaniel – Imperial Navy
-Retribution Battleship Nieman Lion
-Mars Battlecruiser Saratoga, Admiral 3 Renown, 1 re-roll, Third Turret
-Lunar Cruiser True Heart, Power Ram
-Tyrant Cruiser Belligerent, extra range on batteries
-Dominator Cruiser Kar Duniash
-Dauntless Light Cruiser Kestrel, Lances
-Dauntless Light Cruiser Roanoke, Lances
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Setup
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Imperial Navy – Turn 1
The whole fleet moves up. The Tyrant flanks the squadron of Dauntless Light Cruisers. The Retribution and the Dominator move up the center. The Lunar and Mars go up the right side. Mars launches 4 fighters, on CAP. Tyrant fires torpedoes.
Azure Flames – Turn 1
Vigilance takes the extreme left, Courage, Duty, Sacrifice, and Flame Squadron go up the center, His Hammer II is on the right side. Every ship with bays launches Thunderhawks. The CAP for the Mars splits in two.
Imperial Navy – Turn 2
Tyrant reloads and fires torpedoes at the Novas, but lucky brace saves prevent any from dying. Lances from the Dauntlesses whiff. Retribution takes down a shield on the Sacrifice. Dominator’s Nova Cannon misses His Hammer II.
Azure Flames – Turn 2
Novas go right past the Tyrant. The four Strike Cruisers gang up on the right side, unleashing a barrage of torpedoes and Thunderhawks. The Tyrant’s prow torpedoes are disabled. His Hammer II reloads, fires Boarding Torpedoes at the Retribution and causes Port and Prow weapons to be disabled.
Imperial Navy – Turn 3
Heavily damaged, the Dauntlesses disengage. The Tyrant takes down the Vigilance’s shields with starboard guns and the Sacrifice’s with port. His Hammer II braces for impact as the Dominator’s Nova Cannon causes 6 hits! Brace fails to protect against one. Lunar comes to a new heading. Boarding Torpedoes that missed the Retribution go after the Dominator, which braces. None of the torpedoes hit anyway.
Azure Flames – Turn 3
His Hammer II moves up, but braced guns are ineffective. Vigilance moves up to board the Tyrant. The other Strike Cruisers and Novas blast the Tyrant which refuses to brace. The Tyrant is crippled. Subsequent boarding action does 4 more damage, turning the Tyrant into a drifting hulk.
Imperial Navy – Turn 4
Mars fires Nova Cannon at the Battle Barge, which takes 2 damage. A critical effect collapses the Battle Barge’s shields! Lunar fires torpedoes, but they come up a bit short.
Azure Flames – Turn 4
Battle Barge disengages. The rest of the fleet moves out towards the Imperial Navy. Lance fire at the Dominator takes down shields.
Imperial Navy – Turn 5
Fire kills one Nova escort after they brace. Mars reloads and launches four bombers.
Azure Flames – Turn 5
Mixed results on Reload Ordnance leaves some Strike Cruisers without torpedoes. The ones that do fire on the Dominator. One wave gets through to the Lunar which causes a critical Fire! The Dominator refuses to brace for incoming Bombardment Cannon fire and a critical hit causes a Hull Breach that takes the last point of damage, turning the Dominator into a Blazing Hulk!
Imperial Navy – Turn 6
The Blazing Hulk Dominator moves forward, and explodes! The Lunar is lucky, only loses one shield, but several Thunderhawk flights are not so lucky. The Lunar’s guns fire unbelievably well and kill three of the Novas after the Mars’ Nova Cannon takes down their shields. Retribution forces a brace on one of the Strike Cruisers.
Azure Flames – Turn 6
The Novas disengage. The Courage moves up to board the Lunar. Boarding action does only one damage.
Imperial Navy – Turn 7
Fire from the Lunar and Retribution cripple the Vigilance. Mars’ Nova Cannon forces a brace on the Duty.
Azure Flames – Turn 7
Courage moves up to board the Mars. Fire from the other Strike Cruisers cause a Hull breach which does two extra damage. Boarding action does 5 damage, hulking the Mars.
Imperial Navy – Turn 8
Lunar disengages. Retribution fails to disengage, even on leadership 10!
Azure Flames – Turn 8
Reloads and launches all around.
Imperial Navy – Turn 9
Retribution disengages. Mars is left as a hulk.
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This battle looks bad. It is. Nathan refused to Brace for Impact in almost every situation. Bracing in the wrong situation can tie your hands behind your back, but NOT bracing can blow your arms off.
Next week: Last week of the campaign! I’m so excited!
BONUS: Former Tau player Josh dropped out to start a Warhammer Fantasy campaign! Here’s their second game (the first was too short for me to document), a blazing two-on-two with Brettonians and Lizardmen vs. Tomb Kings and Warriors of Chaos!
Gothic Campaign Week 9 – Wheat and Chaff
Major shakeup: our Tau player dropped out, leaving his systems completely undefended! Our part-time Imperial Navy player, Nathaniel, took advantage of this and launched an attack on the coveted Epps system. Can the Space Marines prevent the Imperial Navy from expanding their sphere of influence?
Fleet Engagement – 800 pts
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Bozeman – Azure Flames
-Battlebarge His Anvil (refit: Left Shift)
-Strike Cruiser Courage (refit: +2D6 on All Ahead Full, Crew Skills: re-roll x2)
-Strike Cruiser Honor (refit: does not suffer speed penalty for blast markers)
Nathaniel – Imperial Navy
-Emperor class Battleship Thor’s Gaze, with Shark Assault Boats
-Sword Frigates x6 Hellfire Squadron
-Cobra Destroyers x4 Deathbringer Squadron
-Cobra Destroyers x4 Exemplar Squadron
(Note: both fleets totaled exactly 800pts)
Setup:
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Turn 1 – Imperial Navy
Escort squadrons move forward to engage, while the Emperor fires 4 fighters and 4 bombers.
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
All ships launch Thunderhawks, which either form CAPs or try to mitigate enemy ordnance.
Turn 2 – Imperial Navy
Torpedoes fired by both Cobra squadrons do no damage. Remaining attack craft put themselves right in the path of the Battle Barge.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
His Anvil and Honor Reload Ordnance, but Courage fails to do so. His Anvil kills two of the four Cobras near it, and combined fire from the Strike Cruisers kill three of the four of the others. All Imperial escort squadrons Brace for Impact.
Turn 3 – Imperial Navy
Braced Firestorms fire on Strike Cruiser Courage, but roll poorly. Lone Cobra fails to disengage. Thor’s Gaze moves up through the asteroids to shield it from the Battle Barge, and reloads. However, it fails to navigate the asteroids and takes two damage!
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
His Anvil fails to navigate the asteroids, leaving it down one damage point, and unable to fire on Thor’s Gaze! Honor rolls poorly to kill the lone Cobra. Fire from Courage forces a Brace on the Firestorms, but no casualties.
Turn 4 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze fires on His Anvil point blank, causing two damage and a Brace. Cobras disengage. Firestorms go for Honor, but fail to do damage.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
His Anvil escapes through the Asteroid field. Combined fire from the Strike Cruisers kills two Firestorms who decline to brace.
Turn 5 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze launches 2 fighters and 6 Bombers. Firestorms cause 2 damage to Honor.
Turn 5 – Azure Flames
Courage and Honor reload, and fire on the Firestorms, reducing them to 1. Bombers force a Brace on Courage, causing 1 damage. His Anvil begins the long turnaround.
Turn 6 – Imperial Navy
Lone Firestorm disengages. Thor’s Gaze reloads, launches again. Fire brings down Honor’s shields.
Turn 6 – Azure Flames
The Strike Cruisers remove the ordnance with their Bombardment Cannons. Courage uses Lock On to do so better.
Turn 7 – Imperial Navy
Reload, 2 fighters 6 bombers.
Turn 7 – Azure Flames
Bombardment Cannons blast the ordnance again.
Turn 8 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze uses Lock On and cripples Honor.
Turn 8 – Azure Flames
Courage disengages as Honor tries to swing around an asteroid field to get behind Thor’s Gaze. His Anvil finally comes around.
Turn 9 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze reloads, launches, turns toward asteroids.
Turn 9 – Azure Flames
Honor launches a CAP and fails to shoot down the ordnance.
Turn 10 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze reloads and the bombers cripple Honor.
Turn 10 – Azure Flames
Honor disengages. His Anvil fires Boarding Torpedoes at Thor’s Gaze, disabling the port guns and starting a fire.
Turn 11 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze fails to lock on, does not damage His Anvil, but repairs its critical effects.
Turn 11 – Azure Flames
His Anvil boards Thor’s Gaze, and causes 4 damage, an Engine Room result (one more damage) and another Fire. Thor’s Gaze is crippled with 4 damage left.
Turn 12 – Imperial Navy
Crippled, Thor’s Gaze locks on and despite a Brace, His Anvil is crippled. Thor’s Gaze takes one damage from the fire.
Turn 12 – Azure Flames
Shooting is ineffective.
Turn 13 – Imperial Navy
Thor’s Gaze disengages.
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Imperial Navy: 200 Victory points
Azure Flames: 200 Victory points
Result: A TIE?????!!!!???!!!
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UNBELIEVABLE! I’ve never seen a tie in Gothic like this! We both took fleets of EXACTLY 800pts and all of our fleets were crippled, so we both got 25% of each others fleet! Weird. Oh well, the campaign continues! Tune in next week for more Gothic!
T’au Il’porrui Sh’ve Mont’re “Emmisary” class light cruiser
Next: another Tau light cruiser and a batrep for the Gothic league!
Edit: The Battlefleet Gothic Image Gallery now contains the Tau ships I’ve painted.