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Shakedown Cruise
I'd planned on getting in a game this week at the local GW, but the timing just didn't work out. While I'm prepared for next time, I still want to get in a test game to see how my new army works (or doesn't.) So I decided to play a game against my self. I figured a Genestealer army would be easy to throw together and I know they still work quite well in 5th edition. In addition, Genestealers are kind of the iconic anti-Terminator unit, so it was good thematically as well.
Now, I don't yet have the new codex, so I'm working with the old codex here. I know the new one has all kinds of cool, funky options and I'm looking forward to playing with it, but I want to get a few games with the Deathwing before I start thinking about the new Tyranids.
Game: Pitched Battle with Annihilation as the only objective.
Tyranids
I usually run my Genestealer army with a Flying Hive Tyrant, because they are wicked and nasty and can be hard to bring down. I usually also run with a Gunfex for antitank duty. Even though VCs are really crappy against vehicles now, they are still useful to keep the tanks from shooting for a few turns. While it probably would have made more sense against Deathwing to give my Genestealers Extended Carapace, I generally don't give it to them. Instead, I rely on Scuttlers and Fleet movement and plenty of distractions and bodies to keep them safe. Since I generally write "Take all Comers" lists, I left it like I do normally for this game.
Tyranids
209 Hive Tyrant WS6 S6 I6 Implant Attack, Warp Field 2xST
140 7x Genestealer Brood 1 Feeder Tendrils, Scuttlers
140 7x Genestealer Brood 2 Feeder Tendrils, Scuttlers
140 7x Genestealer Brood 3 Feeder Tendrils, Scuttlers
140 7x Genestealer Brood 4 Feeder Tendrils, Scuttlers
140 7x Genestealer Brood 5 Feeder Tendrils, Scuttlers
140 7x Genestealer Brood 6 Feeder Tendrils, Scuttlers
148 Gunfex Carnifex Bs3 VC/BS
1197pts
Deathwing
At this point level, there really aren't very many options. 2 Squads, 1 HQ and 2 Transports. I briefly toyed with the idea of using Cyclone Missile Launchers instead of Assault Cannon, but then I realized something. Cyclone Missile Launchers in the Space Marine Codex are Heavy 2. Cyclone Missile Launchers in the Dark Angels Codex count as Missile Launchers. (That would be Heavy 1, for those of you playing along at home.) Grr... yet another thing that doesn't work as well if you paint it in Dark Angel colors. I really can't wait until we get a new codex, or they simply allow us to use standard Space Marine gear. I did give one of my Terminators a Chainfist, not because I think he needs one, but because that's what the model has. I plan to eventually make one of them an Apothecary, but I don't have the bitz for now. I did give the LandRaiders Extra Armor, because it is vital that they be able to keep mobile for this army.
Deathwing Strike Force
130 Belial, Master of the Deathwing
250 5x Deathwing Terminator 1xSgt w/Stormbolter/PowerSword, 1xAssault Cannon/Powerfist, 2xStormbolter/Powerfist, 1xStormbolter/Chainfist
245 5x Deathwing Terminator 1xSgt w/Stormbolter/PowerSword, 1xAssault Cannon/Powerfist, 3xStormbolter/Powerfist
265 LandRaider, Extra Armor
265 LandRaider, Extra Armor
1155pts
Deployment
Deployment
The Tyranids took 1st turn and thus set up first. The Carnifex and Flyrant hid behind a large hill in one corner, while the Genestealers all went into reserve to Outflank. The Deathwing set up forward in their Deployment zone, centered to get the most cover from the ruins.
Turn 1
T: The Carnifex moved out from behind the hill and fired on the far LandRaider, but all shots missed. The Flyrant spread it's wings and vaulted over the terrain, making a beeline for the nearest LandRaider.
DW: The LandRaiders simply pivoted and fired on the Flyrant, while the 2nd Deathwing squad moved over to target it as well. Their combined shooting managed to put 3 wounds on the Flyrant, but couldn't put it down.
commentary: The LandRaiders probably should have moved. Given the results of shooting, the near LandRaider certainly could have (no Wounds done.)
End of Turn 1
Turn 2
T: None(!) of the Genestealer Broods showed up on this turn. The Carnifex continued moving forward and fired on the far LandRaider, shaking the vehicle. The Flyrant salivated and pounced on the near LandRaider, tearing off one of the tracks and immobilizing it.
DW: The near LandRaider fired on the Flyrant again, but had to fire the TL-Heavy Bolter, since the far side sponson couldn't hit. The near Deathwing squad moved forward, fired into the Flyrant, then assaulted, while Belial started moving for the Carnifex. The second Deathwing squad simply fired into the Flyrant, but still couldn't bring it down. The second LandRaider moved backward and the Machine spirit fired on the Flyrant, but couldn't hit. The Flyrant tore apart the Assault cannon gunner and both of the Terminators with standard Powerfists. The Sergeant's Powerweapon could barely breach it's carapace, but the Chainfist bit deeply into the tissue, killing the beast.
commentary: A painful turn for the Deathwing. One immobilized LandRaider, the loss of not only 3 brethren of the Deathwing but an Assault Cannon as well. Ouch! Still, that Flyrant had to die before it could hit the other LandRaider.
End of Turn 2
Turn 3
T: 4 of the Genestealer broods arrived, all coming out on the side by the immobilized LandRaider, and two of them ran extremely fast to avenge the loss of their leader (both rolled a 6 for Fleet.) The Carnifex began bashing it's way through the ruins, firing at the far LandRaider again, but causing no damage.
DW: The near Deathwing squad backpedaled, combining fire with the immobilized LandRaider and Grand Master Belial at Genestealer Brood 1 (only causing 2 casualties.) The other squad moved to get clear LOS to Brood 4, combining with LandRaider 2 to cause 3 Wounds. Belial began climbing through the ruins to get at the Carnifex.
commentary: Wow. Crap Shooting! Yikes. Doesn't look good for the Boys in Bone.
End of Turn 3
Turn 4
T: The Carnifex roars, fires it's guns at Belial (no damage, though it does actually hit something for once) and charges in against him, but the two titans do no damage to each other. The remaining two Genestealer broods appear, one from each board edge.
DW: Belial and the Carnifex continue to bash each other to no avail. The remains of DW squad 1 backpedals further and combines fire again with LR1 to reduce Genestealer Brood 1 to 2 members. DW squad 2 and their LandRaider combine fire against the newly arrived Genestealer Brood 6, reducing the brood to a pile of limbs and ichor.
commentary: Belial is cursing that his Sword of Silence is only a Master-Crafted Power Weapon. The last time I played Deathwing, it was S6! Crap. That's what I get for not checking all my equipment.
End of Turn 4
Turn 5
T: Belial finally manages to Wound the Carnifex, but his crux Terminatus saves him from one of it's massive Talons. The 2 remaining Genestealers from Brood 1 manage to (just barely) catch the remains of DW squad one, but cannot claw through their armor and are killed for their trouble.
DW: Both squads backpedal and all Deathwing shooting focuses on Brood 2, killing it. Belial causes another Wound and shrugs off another crushing Blow.
commentary: Even though Belial is currently winning the fight, it was not a good idea to send him in. I'll need to consider giving him a Thunderhammer and Storm shield, I think.
End of Turn 5
Turn 6
T: The combat between Belial and the Carnifex rages on, neither able to Wound the other. The Genestealer Broods move around the immobilized LandRaider toward their prey.
DW: Belial lands a telling blow on the Carnifex, reducing it to but one Wound, while it scratches at his armor. The squads and the mobile LandRaider combine their fire on Brood 3, wiping it out, while the immobile LandRaider manages to kill 2 from Brood 5.
commentary: Game ends, dice down. Even before I rolled, though, I knew I had the game easily in hand. The remaining Genestealers couldn't have caught up to my Kiting squads in time to avoid being gunned down, and even if the Carnifex had killed Belial, it would have been shot down before it could catch any of my units. Losing 3 brethren and having a LandRaider immobilized is always sad, but it cost the Tyranids a Flyrant and 31 Genestealers.
End of Turn 6
Final Score: Deathwing 4KP to Tyranid 0KP. Deathwing wins.
Hindsight is 20/20
While charging Belial in against the Carnifex didn't end up costing me anything except a few turns of BS5 Storm Bolter shooting, it could have cost me a lot. I think I may switch him to T-hammer and Storm Shield for such duty, but I'll have to give that some more thought. I didn't really get to employ any of my fancy tactics, particularly those using the LandRaiders, as I always felt I would be better served by using them as turrets for maximum firepower. I did get to use Kiting (moving away from an enemy unit while firing on them to whittle them down) and the 24" range of my weapons really paid off. I think this also shows the value of having all the Stormbolters that you can. If I'd given a few of my Terminators Lightning Claws (one of the few advantages DW Terminators have over conventional ones is the fact that you can mix types in a single unit) I wouldn't have had enough firepower to take out the nearest Genestealers. On only 1 occasion did I manage to do more Wounds than there were members left in a squad. Very little overkill in this game. All in all, I'm pleased with how the army performed, though I'm going to need to get more familiar with it (and all my equipment) and see how it does against a variety of armies.
If you enjoyed this, email me and let me know
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