Gothic Campaign Week 8: Marines vs. Tau Planetary Assault
Another action packed week! Sadly our new players did not show, but veteran player Josh played as the defender in a Planetary Assault mission! We had 1000 points, and Josh got 30 extra points for defences.
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Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines
-Battle Barge His Hammer II, Admiral Piers (Ld9, 3 re-rolls), Terminator Boarding Party, Honour Guard
-Strike Cruiser Duty, Extra Shield, Crew Skill: Automatically pass one Leadership test per game
-Strike Cruiser Courage, Extra Shield, Refit: +2D6 on All Ahead Full
-Strike Cruiser Honor, Extra Shield, Refit: No speed penalty for blast markers.
-Four Transports
Josh – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur (Kor’or’vesh)
-Or’es El’leath “Custodian” class Battleship, Admiral (Ld9, 2 re-rolls)
-Lar’shi’vre “Protector” class Cruiser, Vior’la configuration
-Il’porrui “Emissary” class light Cruiser, Sa’cea configuration
-Squadron of 3 Kir’la “Warden” and 2 Kir’shashvre “Castellan” escorts
-Kor Caste Orbital City
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Setup
Our planet was a Large planet (in this case the Planetary Edge is the edge of the cloud barrier, along which several antigrav mining platforms float. Otherwise this mission would make no sense.) It had gas and dust cloud rings, and one moon. Josh set up all of his fleet on “standby” so they had to be set up within 30cm of the planet.
Radiation Burst causes -1 Ld!
Turn 1 – Azure Flames Space Marines
The Battle Barge went on All Ahead Full. All ships with Launch Bays launched Thunderhawks. 1/2 of the Thunderhawks from the Strike Cruisers go on CAP with the Transports, while the others CAP their home vessel. The Battlebarge’s 3 Thunderhawks CAP with it.
Turn 1 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
Custodian goes on Burn Retros. Launch bays for the entire fleet launch Fighters to mitigate the Thunderhawk CAP and also fire Tau Missiles.
Radiation Burst causes -1 Ld!
Turn 2 – Azure Flames Space Marines
Thanks to a re-roll, the Battlebarge and all 3 Strike Cruisers go on All Ahead Full. The Strike Cruisers fire normal torpedoes at the gap between asteroids near the Tau escort squadron. Bombardment cannon fire destroys the worst of the incoming Tau missiles. Turn not pictured.
Turn 2 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
All of the Tau ships (not the station) go on Reload Ordnance. More ordnance is fired, doing one damage to the Battlebarge. Fire brings down the shields. Tau fighters remove the CAP Thunderhawks. Escorts must make a right turn as they come out of the asteroids to avoid the torpedoes. Torpedoes self destruct due to running into asteroids and/or each other.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames Space Marines
Battlebarge and Strike Cruisers Reload Ordnance. Boarding Torpedoes and Thunderhawks from the Battlebarge cripple the Port and Starboard weapons on the Custodian, and also start a fire. Batteries and Bombardment Cannons take down the shields on the Protector and do one damage, starting a fire. Torpedoes and Bombardment Cannons from the Strike Cruisers kill two Wardens in the escort squadron. Escorts Brace for Impact. Tau fighters remove the CAP on the Transports.
Turn 3 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
Battery fire against the Battlebarge is lackluster, but Tau Missiles do two more damage. Emmisary goes after the Strike Cruisers, and the Escorts on Brace fire missiles, but to little effect. Tau missiles close in on the Transports.
Radiation Burst causes -4 Ld!
Turn 4 – Azure Flames Space Marines
Battlebarge boards the Custodian. Fire from the Strike Crusiers, as well as other factors cause the Custodian to lose by 5. Brace saves two for a total of 3 damage, and a Fire critical. Strike Cruisers wipe out the Tau escorts. Transports bunch up for safety.
Turn 4 – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur
The Emmisary chases after the Strike Cruisers, but fails to damage. Tau missiles kill three of the Transports because they fail to Brace several times. Against all odds, the Battlebarge braces, saving it from damage!
Turn 5 – Azure Flames Space Marines
Battlebarge disengages. Strike Cruisers make it to the Low Orbit table. Game ceded.
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Space Marines are better than the internet led me to believe. Other than my first game in which I had bad luck disengaging, I have been doing quite well. Thunderhawk gunships are terrifyingly powerful, and the ability to fire critical-guaranteed Boarding Torpedoes or regular ones is a great boon. Marines have to get up close and personal and really slug it out.
Next: the Gothic campaign continues! Hopefully we will see more rookie players!
Gothic Campaign Week 7: Marines vs. Necrons
This was a light week, with several regulars taking a week off. However, Matt showed up, eager to learn more about the Necron fleet he commands. We played a 1000 point Fleet Engagement. We both chose the Sphere deployment, so we set up on opposite sides of the board, neither having an advantage.
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Bozeman – Azure Flames Space Marines
-Battle Barge His Hammer, Flagship (Commander Piers, Ld 9, 3 re-rolls), Honour Guard, Terminator Boarding Party
-Strike Cruiser Vigilance, Extra Shield, Weapon Refit: Auto Loaders (+1 Ld for Reload Ordnance)
-Strike Cruiser Duty, Extra Shield, Crew Skill: Elite Command Crew (auto pass one Leadership check per game)
-Hunter Destroyer x5, Wrath Squadron
Matt – Necron Tomb Fleet
-Necron Tombship, Sepulchre
-Scythe class Cruiser
-Shroud class Light Cruiser
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Setup:
Turn 1 – Necrons
Necron Tombship goes on All Ahead Full, but only moves 30cm. Other ships move up.
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Hunters take a right turn, fire 10 Torpedoes at the Shroud but do nothing. The squadron of two Strike Cruisers fire 12 boarding torpedoes and 4 Thunderhawks. Battlebarge moves up.
Turn 2 – Necrons
Tombship gets only 30cm on All Ahead Full again. The Shroud takes a left turn, away from the Hunters. The Boarding Torpedoes fired by the Strike Cruisers hit the Shroud, causing a Drive Damaged result, preventing the Shroud from turning. The Scythe moves up. Thunderhawks launched by the Strike Cruisers hit the Tombship, but a fantastic turrets roll kills all four! Turn not pictured.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
Battlebarge moves up. Strike Cruisers Reload Ordnance, but the Hunters fail to Reload. The surviving Boarding Torpedoes that hit the Shroud turn to the right, and continue.
Turn 3 – Necrons
Because the Shroud can’t turn, its minimum movement takes it off the board, forcing it to disengage. The Scythe goes on All Ahead Full. The Tombship moves up. Lance fire from the Tombship takes down one shield on the Battlebarge.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
Strike Cruisers move up. They launch Torpedoes and Thunderhawks at the Tombship, causing a Power Flow Disruption that prevents Necron lances and batteries from firing in any arc! Both the Tombship and the Scythe Brace for Impact as the Strike Cruisers also fire on the Scythe, causing one damage. The Battlebarge adds its fire to little effect, and the Hunters fail to reload again.
Turn 4 – Necrons
A foolish decision on my part not to Brace for Impact, along with fantastic firing from both Necron ships causes three damage to the Vigilance, crippling it.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
The Vigilance tries to disengage, but due to a Bridge Smashed result, it fails. The Duty moves behind the Tombship, and fires. The Hunters Reload, and fire Boarding Torpedoes at the Tombship, which cause a whole mess of critical effects. The Battlebarge Locks On, and fires. In total, 3 damage and 5 critical effects from torpedoes and Bombardment Cannons make the Tombship hurt. Traveling for six player turns, the Boarding Torpedoes fired by the Hunters on turn 1 start to catch up behind the Necrons.
Turn 5 – Necrons
Plagued by effects, the Tombship disenages. The Scythe locks on, and its weapons take down the Battlebarge’s shields and do one damage. The Battlebarge braces.
Turn 5 – Azure Flames
The Vigilance successfully disengages. The Duty, Hunters, and Battlebarge open fire on the Scythe, which takes one damage despite a Brace.
Turn 6 – Necrons
Scythe disengages.
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Great game! The campaign is going along nicely. Next: more Tau painted ships and more batreps!
Tau Protector Class: T’au Lar’shi’vre Aloh Sho’ka
Another Tau cruiser! Next, light cruisers, and more games!
Gothic Campaign Week 6: Double Feature!
We had two battles this week. I faced off against Rob’s Imperial Navy Bastion Fleet in an escalating engagement, and Josh’s Tau tried to slip past newcomer Matt’s Necrons in a Convoy. Battle reports will be shorter, as these were shorter battles.
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Escalating Engagement – Azure Flames Space Marines vs. Imperial Navy Bastion Fleet
During my first turn, the Strike Cruiser Duty went on All Ahead Full to surprise Rob’s Gothic cruiser. Fire ineffective, but Thunderhawks caused a starboard weapons damage.
The Gothic cruiser, over the next several turns was pincered by Strike Cruisers.
Facing two Strike Cruisers, with a third on the way, the Gothic disengaged.
On subsequent turns, Strike Cruisers arrived, but no Imperial Navy ships did.
Rob, facing my entire fleet ready to pounce, disengaged each ship as they came on the board.
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Convoy – Tau Shan’al Shi’ur (defenders) vs. Necrons (attackers)
Necrons rolled D3 + 4 (6 total) results
1 torpedo/attack craft
3 results of 2 torpedoes/attack craft
1 squadron of escorts at 100pts
1 squadron of escorts at 150pts
The Tau split their transports into a group going left and one going right. Necron escorts punched through the Tau line, and destroyed several escorts. Then a Solar Flare hit.
Tau fire got lucky and destroyed all but one Necron Jackal. That jackal pursued a transport, as an attack craft cluster destroyed one more. The jackal chased the transport, but a lucky hit with missiles dispatched the Jackal. With no Necron forces left, the Tau were victorious!
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Next week: hopefully another double feature!
Week 5, Battle #2: Marines vs. New Imperial Navy player!
For the sector map, see the previous post.
Nathan has been interested in our campaign for some time. Communications problems prevented him from joining until now. However, he put together a fleet using my Imperial Navy. He had guts to choose his home system right between the Space Marines and the Tau, the two most powerful fleets.
We played a Cruiser Clash with fleet restrictions removed. 500 points.
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Azure Flames
-Space Marine Strike Cruiser Duty (Extra Shield)
-Space Marine Strike Cruiser Honor (Extra Shield)
-Space Marine Strike Cruiser Sacrifice (Extra Shield)
Imperial Navy
-Dauntless class Light Cruiser Kestrel (lances)
-Dauntless class Light Cruiser Surprise (lances)
-Mars class Battlecruiser Saratoga, extra turret
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Azure Flames – Turn 1
The strike cruisers go right around the asteroids, and launch Thunderhawks.
Imperial Navy – Turn 1
Nova Cannon causes the Duty to Brace for Impact, but the cannon misses. Lance fire from the Dauntlesses kills one of the Thunderhawk squadrons.
Azure Flames – Turn 2
Fire from the Sacrifice brings down one shield on the Kestrel. Four Thunderhawks cause several effects on the Surprise including an engine room damaged result.
Imperial Navy – Turn 2
Nova Cannon does three damage to the Sacrifice despite Brace for Impact. A critical hit causes the Sacrifice to have a bridge smashed result! Bombers force a Brace on the Duty but do no damage.
Azure Flames – Turn 3
The Sacrifice fails to disengage and tries to run. The Duty fires on the Dauntless as the Honor boards! A poor boarding roll causes the Kestrel to take only one damage. Critical roll against the Honor succeeds, and causes a Shields Collapsed result!
Imperial Navy – Turn 3
Concentrated fire on the stricken Sacrifice reduces it to one damage point remaining. Other fire causes Brace rolls on the other two cruisers.
Azure Flames – Turn 4
Both cruisers zero in on the Saratoga. The Honor boards again, and this time a spectacular boarding roll does 6 damage to the Saratoga. Brace saves only one, crippling the battlecruiser.
Imperial Navy – Turn 4
The Kestrel fires on the Honor, forcing a brace. The Saratoga chooses not to disengage, and fires on the Honor as well. One damage, which hits the Port side guns.
Azure Flames – Turn 5
Bombardment Cannon fire brings down the Kestrel, and a critical hit causes a bulkhead collapse, which leads to a Warp Drive Implosion! All three surviving ships Brace for Impact!
Imperial Navy – Turn 5
Saratoga tries to disengage and fails. Fire against the Duty is ineffectual.
Azure Flames – Turn 6
Braced from the turn before, the two cruisers do only one damage to the Saratoga.
Imperial Navy – Turn 6
Saratoga disengages.
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Nathan had a fantastic first game, he just had some bad luck. The Nova Cannon shot that crippled my cruiser was great, but the rolls I got on him for boarding the Mars and destroying the Dauntless were less lucky. Here’s to a great new player!
Next: more BFG campaign!
Week 5 Battle #1, Marines vs. Tau
What a week! Several players did not show including our new Necron player. However, another player, Nathan, decided to join the campaign by borrowing my Imperial Navy fleet! My battle with Nathan will be covered in the next post, as two batreps in one post is too much. This post is all about my battle with Josh’s Tau!
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Mission: The Bait
Azure Flames
-Pursued Ship: Space Marine Strike Cruiser Honor (Extra Shield, Navigational Shields)
-Space Marine Strike Cruiser Duty (Extra Shield)
-Space Marine Strike Cruiser Courage (Extra Shield)
-Space Marine Strike Cruiser Sacrifice (Extra Shield)
Tau Shan’al Shi’ur Pursuing Fleet
-Protector Cruiser, Vior’la Configuration
-Emissary Light Cruiser, Sa’cea configuration
-Nicassar Rig
-4 Nicassar Dhows
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Setup: The Honor was placed in the center of the board, and the Tau deployed 60cm behind it.
Azure Flames – Turn 1
The Honor moves ahead, and launches two Thunderhawks on CAP.
Tau Shan’al Shi’ur – Turn 1
The whole fleet moves up. One fighter is launched, and two waves of missiles.
Azure Flames – Turn 2
The Honor Reloads Ordnance and begins to come about.
Tau Shan’al Shi’ur – Turn 2
Not allowing themselves to be caught out of position, the Tau fleet takes a turn to their Starboard. Tau Missiles avoid the Honor, as the CAP would make them useful.
Azure Flames – Turn 3
Thunderhawks split off from CAP to deal with the Tau missiles. The Honor seeks cover by the large planet.
Tau Shan’al Shi’ur – Turn 3
The Nicassar Dhows provide tempting bait along the far table edge. The Protector Reloads Ordnance, and fires. The Emissary sneaks through the asteroid field.
Azure Flames – Turn 4
The Honor gains cover behind the planet as it once again launches a CAP to deal with Tau missiles.
Tau Shan’al Shi’ur – Turn 4
The Protector goes on All Ahead Full to catch the Honor next turn. The Emissary fails the leadership test to navigate the asteroids, fails to Brace for Impact, and suffers SIX DAMAGE, killing it and turning it into a Drifting Hulk! Nicassar thread the needle between the asteroid belts.
Azure Flames – Turn 5
The Duty, Courage, and Sacrifice arrive from the board edge, and launch Torpedoes, forcing the Protector to Brace. The Honor launches Thunderhawks at the Protector. Brace saves prevent all hit-and-run attacks and all but one damage.
Tau Shan’al Shi’ur – Turn 5
The Tau disengage, abandoning the Nicassar Rig which is destroyed. Game ends.
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The Bait is a gamble. Does the pursuing force push it, or do they make a hasty retreat? The Tau fleet was not slow, and speed matters. The one big deciding factor was sending the low-leadership Emissary through the asteroids. That instant death really hurt the Tau who might have been able to put the hurt on the Honor.
Next: another batrep from the same week, starring new player Nathan!
T’au Lar’shi’vre Shi Kais “Protector” class cruiser
Next: another Protector class!
Battlefleet Gothic Campaign Week 4: A new player approaches!
Our gaming has attracted the interests of a fourth! Matt showed interest in… the… Necrons… Oh dear… Well, he’s a new player, giving him the most obscenely overpowered fleet is fair. He didn’t have time for a game but he DID claim a system for his base. In the meantime, Rob and I fought a brutal battle.
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Mission: Exterminatus! (the only one with an exclamation point IN the title) 1025 points
-Azure Flames
Battle Barge His Hammer II
Battle Barge His Anvil
-Imperial Navy Segmentum Obscurus Bastion Fleet
Emperor Battleship
Lunar Cruiser
Tyrant Cruiser, range upgrade, Nova Cannon
Dauntless Light Cruiser, lance version
Squadron of 3 Firestorm frigates and 1 Cobra destroyer
Squadron of 6 Fire Ships
4 Ground Based Lance Defences
-Setup:
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Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Both Battle Barges go on All Ahead Full.
Turn 1 – Imperial Navy
Firestorm/Cobra squadron, Dauntless, and Fire Ship squadron arrives. The Fire Ships detonate and cause 3 Fire critical results on His Anvil. Emperor launches fighters and fighters with bombers in two waves.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
Both ships advance. In the End Phase, a lucky roll repairs all 3 Fire effects.
Turn 2 – Imperial Navy
The Lunar cruiser arrives. Nova Cannon fire takes down a shield on His Hammer.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
His Anvil goes on All Ahead Full. Fire from His Hammer II takes down an escort shield.
Turn 3 – Imperial Navy
Fire from almost the whole fleet takes down 3 shields on His Hammer II. Nova Cannon hit does 6 damage, including 4 criticals losing shields and smashing the bridge. Ouch. Split fire takes down one shield from His Anvil.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
Crippled, but still in the fight, His Hammer II causes a Brace for Impact on the escorts, and good save rolls save them all. His Anvil causes braces on the Emperor and Dauntless. Only does one damage to the Dauntless.
Turn 4 – Imperial Navy
The fleet concentrates on His Hammer II, doing two more damage. His Hammer II manages a lucky Brace to survive at all.
Turn 5 – Azure Flames
His Hammer II takes down two shields on the Emperor, while His Anvil makes it onto the Low Orbit table!
Turn 5 – Imperial Navy
The Lunar follows His Anvil onto the Low Orbit table. Fire from the Lunar and the ground defences does one damage to His Anvil. His Hammer II is unable to Brace this turn and is reduced to a drifting hulk.
Turn 6 – Azure Flames
His Anvil approaches to within 45cm of the planetary edge and attempts to exterminate the planet; the result: a 3! The Planet is exterminated! Random rolls turn the Agri-world into… an Agri-world. I guess there must have been another one.
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The campaign is off and running! I’m off to the fabric store to get another 4’x6′ black felt cover, as we’re about to have two games at once!
T’au Or’es Mont’yr Shi’ur Custodian Class Battleship
Finally starting to paint my Tau Kor’or’vesh fleet. This ship was named by Josh, who is borrowing my Tau fleet for our Battlefleet Gothic campaign. Next up, a battle report from today’s upcoming game, and some more Tau ships painted!
Battlefleet Gothic week three!
The Gothic campaign is alive and well! Last night was going to be our last night if our third player, Rob, did not show. However, he did, and won a spectacular victory!
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Escalating Engagement – 1000 points
Azure Flames Space Marines
-Battlebarge His Anvil
-Strike Cruiser Vigilance, extra shield (sub plot gave +1 Ld, -1 Shield)
-Strike Cruiser Sacrifice, extra shield
-Hunter Destroyer squadron x5, Vengeance Squadron
-Hunter Destroyer squadron x5, Wrath Squadron
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Imperial Navy Segmentum Tempestus Bastion Fleet
-Mars class Battlecruiser, extra turret, left shift, Admiral (Ld 8, 1 Re-roll)
-Tyrant Cruiser, longer range batteries, Nova Cannon
-Gothic Cruiser
-Dauntless Light Cruiser (lance)
-Cobra Squadron x4
-Firestorm Squadron x3
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The Imperial Navy deploys the Gothic class, and the Azure Flames deploy a Hunter squadron.
Turn 1 – Imperial Navy
Gothic class moves toward the Hunters. Marker with a squadron of the Mars and the Tyrant is deployed. Turn not pictured.
Turn 1 – Azure Flames
Hunters approach the Gothic and fire 10 Boarding torpedoes which move just short of the Gothic. Marker with the other hunters is deployed.
Turn 2 – Imperial Navy
Gothic attempts to Burn Retros and fails, so it hits the Boarding Torpedoes. Brace for impact fails, and a whopping five Engine Room Damaged results, crippling it! The Gothic disengages. The Mars and Tyrant miss with their Nova Cannons. Mars launches fighters and bombers. Dauntless marker placed. Turn not pictured.
Turn 2 – Azure Flames
The Hunter squadron disengages, and another Hunter squad arrives. They fire Boarding torpedoes. Fighters and bombers approach.
Turn 3 – Imperial Navy
Dauntless arrives. Fighter removes the Boarding Torpedoes. Nova Cannon hit gets one Hunter.
Turn 3 – Azure Flames
To deal with the fighters aend bombers, the Hunters fire a two strong regular torpedo wave and a six strong boarding wave. However, batteries from the Hunters actually hit, removing the wave! Strike Cruiser marker is placed.
Turn 4 – Imperial Navy
Nova cannon and lance fire kills three more Hunters. Mars reloads and launches fighters and bombers, removing the Boarding torpedoes.
Turn 4 – Azure Flames
Hunter fails to disengage. Strike Cruiser arrives. Battlebarge marker placed. Bombers destroy the last Hunter.
Turn 5 – Imperial Navy
Fleet moves up. Firestorm token is placed. Turn not pictured.
Turn 5 – Azure Flames
Strike Cruiser moves up and fires Boarding Torpedoes and Thunderhawks at the Dauntless, knocking out all of its weapons and starting a fire! Battle Barge goes All Ahead Full. Final Strike Cruiser token placed.
Turn 6 – Imperial Navy
Firestorms arrive and the fleet pummels the Strike Cruiser forcing it to brace for impact. Cobras also arrive and chase the Strike Cruiser. Turn not pictured.
Turn 6 – Azure Flames
Strike Cruiser arrives and kills two of the three Firestorms. Battlebarge goes on All Ahead full again. Note that all of these All Ahead Fulls are never larger than 12cm added to the 20cm of the Barge.
Turn 7 – Imperial Navy
Whole fleet fires on one of the strike cruisers, crippling it. The Dauntless repairs its fire, prow lances, and port weapons. Turn not pictured.
Turn 7 – Azure Flames
Battlebarge goes on another terrible all ahead full. Crippled Strike Cruiser disengages. Non-crippled Strike Cruiser fires boarding torpedoes at the Mars. Mars fails to brace and suffers FOUR engine destroyed results, crippling it!
Turn 8 – Imperial Navy
SOLAR FLARE occurs! Mars disengages. Cobras fail to reload ordnance, so they take up position to fire next turn. Fire causes the Strike Cruiser to Brace.
Turn 8 – Azure Flames
Strike Cruiser kills one Cobra and makes them Brace. Battlebarge hits the Dauntless with 9 boarding torpedoes which once again disables all of its weapons. It braces. Note that in the following picture, the Boarding Torpedoes were not removed when they moved into the Dauntless so they are not really there.
Turn 9 – Imperial Navy
Dauntless moves up and tries to damage the Strike Cruiser. A teleport attack disables the Bombardment Cannon. In the picture below the Dauntless is where the clear base is.
Turn 9 – Azure Flames
Strike Cruiser disengages. Battlebarge boards the Dauntless. Lucky brace saves make the Dauntless have one damage remaining!
Turn 10 – Imperial Navy
Imperial Navy disengages. Final score Imperial Navy: 264, Azure Flames 206.
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There were two things that could have won this game for me. If the Hunter squadron had disengaged, and if Rob had not made one of the 4 saves necessary to save the Dauntless. It was a nail biter! I can’t wait for next week!