Crusade of Vengeance - Black Scorpion HQ's

OVERLORD:

Isembard Kane - Legion Master of the Black Scorpions

Despite only having been Master for a few years, Kane has already carved out a fearsome reputation as a cruel, brutal and unforgiving warrior. Amongst the T'au, he is known as the Reaper, after his butchering of over a million Tau civilians. The Orks call simply call him 'The big Un' after he strangeled the life out of Warboss Gutsmek. He is amongst the largest space marine ever to have lived, looming over his fellow marines like titan of old. It is currently unknown as to why he has grown to such size. He always enters battle in specially designed Terminator armour, and never fights without his trusted Assault Cannon, which he has carried ever since his first days in the 1st company. Kane is personally leading the hunt for the dreaded Sons of Keraz after his mentor, Chaplain Ramius, was cut down by the forces summoned on Kemlik.

PTS          WS       BS     S    T    W    I   A   LD   SV
275             7           5      6     6     5    7   4    10     2+/5+

Wargear: Terminator Armour, Assault Cannon, Power Sword, Powerfist.
Independent Character


*For this character I used Mephiston as a basis. I removed, plasma pistol, transfixing gaze, and 3 psychic powers + force sword. I added a 5+ invulnerable, IC, a powerfist and an assault cannon and 25 points.

LORDS:

1) Stokahn Hammerhand - Librarian

Stokahn Hammerhand is an enigma, a novice librarian yet powerful and
wise beyond his years. His first encounter with the denizens of the warp would be brutal
baptism of fire, one that would be leave him scarred and bitter. While fighting an Ulthwe force of Perisar VI, Stokahn suffered a psychic assault and lay wounded on the battlefield. A Warlock unleashed a physic attack that momentarily stripped Stokahn of his psychic barriers. Daemons of all shapes and sizes flocked to the unprotected mind. Wracked with pain, Stokahn writhed on the ground as the daemon took hold. What used to be Stokahn now arouse, fire in it's eyes and a soul of darkness. The possessed marine slew his squad and roamed the battlefield, wild-eyed and enraged.

Stokahn however, was not finished. A titanic battle was taking place in the warp. Stokahn's soul battled the daemon with every fibre of strength. In an incredible feat of willpower Stokahn managed the almost unheard of feat of 'self-exorcism'

Stokhan awoke on the body-strewn battlefield, He roared in triumph. His victory was short lived. Stokahn saw his reflection in a pool of water. The possesion had left terrible scars. Two gnarled black horns protruded from his head and his teeth were now a row of sharp fangs.

Stokahn rejoined his chapter but not before being subjected to grueling interrogations and physchic screening. Stokahn now strives to confront daemons and destroy them whereever they may be found.

His Stats are the same as a librarian but he has artificier armour:
PTS: 115

2) Centurion Verlaine - Commander of the 4th Cohort.

Centurion Verlaine is a born killer, a fierce and skilled close combat warrior. Many a foe have underestimated him and have tasted his axe shortly after. His uncontrolled, wild style of combat only serves to increase his effectiveness. He wields a gigantic, ancient axe which he has carried for many years. His skill is without question but his rash battlefield decisions are unpredictable and dangerous.
Verlaine leads the 4th Cohort and commands 60 men. He witnessed the destruction of Kemlik first hand and is eager for revenge!

Counts as Gabriel Seth but -1 wound. PTS: 150

3) Chaplain Lucius
Lucius has taken Ramius' place as Reclusiarch. He is well aware of the fate that befell his predessor. Lucius is determined to avoid a similar fate. His even temper and skilled sword hand have made him a valuable member of the Scorpions. Now is his time to truly shine. As a newly appointed Reclusiarch he is determined to bring new glories to his name and his Legion. The Fall of Ramius will be avenged, no matter the cost.

PTS: 125 (standard reclusiarch) or 155 if his takes a jump pack.

L-87

L-87 is a temperate planet located in the Eastern Fringe. This once noble planet of the Imperium fell silent during the age of strife. The great cities are now ruined and silent. The name of the planet has long since been forgotten.

An Adeptus Mechanicus explorator team, off course and caught in a violent warpstorm were forced to drop out of the warp. They happened upon the planet they designated L-87. They made planet fall and discovered the ruins of Imperial cities. In one particular city they discovered something disturbing. A servitor conducting a sweep of the lower levels of the city fell through the floor, down a deep shaft into a black abyss. The explorers traveled deep into the darkness and found ancient foundations that predated the Imperium of Man. The team, marveling at this discovery began a scanner sweep. The hum of the scanner reverberated in the darkness and soon triggered a mechanism of some kind. The dark corridors shook and rumbled. Masonry and rubble fell from the roof and cracks appeared in the walls. The team was forced abandoned their sweep as the tunnels collapsed around them.

When the team returned to the surface and contacted their ship they found, to their amazement that the warp storms had abated, navigators reported that they'd never seen the warp so calm before. The light of the Astronomican was clear and bright. The device beneath the surface had somehow calmed the warp around the system.

This stable warp allowed for a safe trade and travel route through the system. L-87 was found to have rich deposits of promethium and other valuable minerals. Greedy rogue traders and settlers quickly arrived and in turn attracted pirates, orks and other criminals. The chaotic situation was rectified when Black Scorpions Legion arrived, who's home planet is but a few light years away. They have taken control of the system much to the chagrin of local governers and avarice filled bureaucrats. These fools know little of the true reasons for the Legion's presence. The ancient ruins hide secrets... powerful secrets.

It has barely been a year since L-87 was re-discovered. With a recent Tyranid fleet defeated and pirate activity halted, the Space Marines of the Black Scorpions can finally find the answers they seek. However, across the gulf of space, immeasurably ancient minds regard L-87 with envious eyes... and slowly...surely they draw their plans against the Legion.

City Outskirts - First light

1500 points - Rik's Necrons VS Rottimus's Scorpions (using BA codex)

The Battle: The Emperor's Will - Both sides have an HQ which needs to be captured!

Both forces deploying as such:

The forces meet!

The Scorpions deployed a tactical squad in the abandoned precint, which would serve as the HQ. Their bolters ready to guard it. Lazarus (corbulo), ten terminators and a ten man assault squad with meltas deployed on the ground, ready to leap into action. A death company and a chaplain were in reserve aboard a storm raven.

The necrons deployed 1 overlord, 2 lords, two 10 man warriors squads, 10 immortals, 5 triarch pretorians. a stalker and a Ctan Shard near their HQ, ruined Tavern. 3 Wraiths and an annihilation barge deployed on the far left of the Necron deployment zone.

Turn 1

The assault marines leap into action, powering towards the ruined tavern. Slamming into the ground, they immediately run forward in an attempt to get into cover. Everything else stays put. The terminators open fire on the warriors in front of them. The torrent downs 8 necrons. Further fire from the tactical squad, downs the other 2. With the squad wiped out, their reanimation protocols fail to kick in. First blood, and 1 victory point to the Scorpions!

Bolter fire smashes through a squad of warriors, leaving only shards of junk metal on the ground.

The necrons, unperterbed by the slaughter of a full unit, march forward in true necron style. The Stalker moves forward further into the ruins with 5 pretorians.The Ctan also shifts through the old tavern. Immortals take up positions in the ruins in the middle and the wraiths skim towards the marines objective.

The annhilation barge opens fire on the tactical marines. Scoring 4 wounds. The marines' armour holds true. No casualties. The warriors and immortals target Lazarus and the Terminators. Gauss flayers fire in, tesla weapons crack. Many wounds are scored. A single terminator falls to the fire.

The assault squad runs into trouble!

The stalker fire at the assault marines killing 1. The triarchs also fire, now gaining re-rolls due to the targetting array on the stalker. 2 marines die. The Necrons then charge in with the Triarch pretorians. Overwatch downs one before they clash in close combat. 1 triarch dies along with a single marine. They stay locked in combat.

Turn 2

The Terminators move forward, supporting the advance. A Stormraven zooms into play!
The Stormraven targets the Stalker in the ruins, scoring 4 hits with missiles. The rockets slam into the stalker wrecking it!, the assault cannon strafes with warriors, downing 4. The Terminators open fire on the same warrior squad. 2 Assault cannons and 7 stormbolters wipe it out completely.

withering fire slays the second warrior squad.

 The tactical squad on the Precint fires into the immortals in the ruins. 2 bolters score wounds and a well placed frag missile scores 3 wounds.

The frag missile explodes amongst the tightly packed immortals

 Rik rolls the following for his 5 3+ armour saves:

ERMAHGHERD!

 

Rik thrice damns the dice gods

1 of his immortals does get back up... but it's still hard to swallow. The close combat phase ensued:

Another marine falls to the warscythes (consistent bad rolling from Rik allowed this assault squad to live much longer than they probably should have). The sergeant strikes one down. Stalemate yet again. The Ctan lurking in the ruins would soon change that.

 The Necrons strike back! The wraiths move dangerously close to the Scorpion HQ. The annhilation barge targets the zooming stormraven with tesla destructor fire! Rik scores 2 hits, two sixes. Which gives an extra 4 auto hits!!!! 6 hits on a flyer, strength 7! My chaplain and deathcompany inside the raven held on for dear life as the lighting took its toll! 5s and 6s were need to damage it. Rik proceeded to roll a 5 and a 6, taking 2 hulls points off it and destroying the twin linked assault cannon. I opt not to evade in order to use it's weapons next turn.

The Ctan finally enters the fray along with a lord. They both charge into the assault marines. The assault marines slay a pretorian before being ganked by an effective Ctan.

Turn 3

Lazarus and the Terminators move out toward the Ctan, Revenge will be taken! The stormraven enters hover mode. The Chaplain and the Death Company move out to engage the overlord and the immortals. The tactical squad move to meet the wraiths threatening their position.

The terminators fire full force at the Ctan, scoring only 1 wound. The death company rapid fire their bolters killing only a single immortal (20 shots!, 2 wounds!, terrible rolling). The storm raven attemtps to support the tacticals and unleashes a fussilade of missile fire. The wraiths shifting forms dogde and evade all damage. The tacticals fire a flamer and bolt pistols at the wraiths scoring no wounds.

The Terminators move to engage!

The assault phase begins. Terminators move into combat with the Ctan, Death company engage the overlord and immortals, the tacticals engage the wraiths.

The Ctan strikes out, scoring 3 wounds.Lazarus ran away from the challenge! the coward! Luckily a terminator saves 1 wound with his invulnerable save and amazingly, I roll 2 5's 'feel no paining' the other two! The Ctan is slain under the barrage of strength 9 (furious charge) powerfists. It explodes killing the lord with his Ctan blast death and wounding several terminators. Lazarus (corbulo) absorbs the wounds 2+ feel no pain FTW!

The Death company charge in. 40 strength weapon skill 5, strength 5 attacks with re rolls to wound and to hit! (chaplain is the ultimate death company leader). Needles to say, the unit is wiped out! the lord goes head to head with the chaplain. The chaplain inflicts one wound and the lord fails to entrap the chaplain in a tesseract labyrinth. He promptly fails his morale check and is slain (failing his everliving rolls) Thats 1 victory point for Slay the Warlord and 1 for linebreaker (denial unit in the enemies deployment zone)

The combat by the HQ is a turgid affair, one marine is slain and one wound is inflicted on the Wraiths. Stalmate.

At his point Rik concedes defeat. The results:

3 victory points for Rottimus - Slay the Warlord, First blood, and Linebreaker
vs
1 for Rik (linebreaker due to his wraiths being in my deployment

Both HQ's are contested or denied.

Conclusion:

An emphatic victory for the Space Marines. The concentrated assault of the Terminators, assault squad and death company into to the heart of Rik's forces was too many bodies to fight off. In hindsight the day was won by unit placement, concentrated fire and maybe some unlucky rolling on Rik's part. I've learned quickly that if you can wipe out individual squads of Necrons, you really rob them of one of their best attributes, reanimation.

I'd say Rik made an error by spreading his forces out too much. His wraiths spent 3 turns moving across toward my home objective. Maybe combining his warriors into one squad of 20 would have prevented their quick destruction.

If were Rik I would have screened the warriors with the immortals. This mega unit would camp the middle (or the objective) with the Stalker. The Ctan, triarch pretorians and wraiths can move forward and take on some nasties. Credit to Rik for a positive attitude and an educational approach.

At the risk of sounds like a sanctimonius wankstain.... Rik has a way to go when it comes to handling Necrons. I see the remants of an imperial guard commander in his tactics. Warriors arent for sacrificing! =)

Good game!

Zuzzy 'Terra-Flex' System Review

It's easy to spend lots of money on time on great army, we spend a huge amount of time and money on our hobby. I personally like to allocate a fair amount of that time and money to my gaming board.

When I do get time to play a game of Warhammer 40k, I want it to be epic, scenic and great to look at. A friend of mine sent me a link a while back to www.zuzzy.com. I was blown away by what I saw. Here was a great product, an innovative, flexible, practical and durable way to create nice gaming table. I looked at a number of other products before I purchased the Zuzzy Mat. I'd made a city fight table myself, which turned out OK for a first attempt but the materials (I live in Norway so everything is pricy) were expensive. It was also time consuming and ended up being large and unwieldy.

For the sake of ease and familiarity I'll be comparing this to the Games Workshop Realm of Battle board. I went for the 'Ruined Land' 6x4 foot mat.

Here it is all painted up!, still a few bits to touch up.

1) LOOKS

This mat looks great!, even straight out of the box, unpainted and a dull grey. The detail struck me. There is SO much to this mat. Dried out swamps, broken trees, stones of all different shapes and sizes and about 4-5 different textures spread out across the map. I'm SUPER happy with the finished result. It looks great and when painted, the detail really pops! Here is a gaming table that will look fantastic with a fully painted army on it. No longer a drab single flat colour. Now a detailed, textured and characterful battlefield. Compared to the games workshop realm of battle this wins easily. The detail is evenly spread and crisp.

All in all a really nice, detailed and cool mat. Impressive - 5/5

2) PRACTICALITY / EASE OF USE

First of I washed the mat with some soapy water. This wasn't easy as this mat is a 6x4. I ended up washing it nicely and then having to rinse it off in the shower. The texture really foams the soap up.
The matt really smells when you first get it. (It's made from Latex) After washing though, it was fine.

A quick brown wash, followed by green, brown and grey on the various bits. A quick drybrush all over with a light ochre colour and voila!. The little rocks and broken trees were a bit of a pain to paint but worht the effort. The little details really make this mat pop. So it's worth spending the time to do it right.

All in all it gets high marks for being flexible (it be rolled up nice and small). It gets dragged down a little because, although it rolls up nicely, it's quite heavy. It was also quite a pain to get the strong smell away. - 4/5

3) PRICE

I live in Norway. Getting things here is expensive. The zuzzy sells for 53 dollars or 35 pounds sterling. But after normal shipping it ends up being around 70 quid, and that's if customs don't bone you. Either way, the Citadel Realm of battle costs a whopping 175 quid. The Zuzzy mat is well worth it. It's got more detail, is more durable, and is much cheaper. It also takes up less space.

As far as I can tell Zuzzy is a one man operation. Many have had trouble getting their mat. Delays in shipment, emails that aren't replied to etc. Either way I hope he gets better. Because this is a winning product. So much so that I'm contemplating taking a trip to the States and seeing if I can get licensing to make them in Europe.... They're that good!