D&D: The Escape

CAMPAIGN SETTING:  Forgotton Realms
SESSION: 2
GAME MASTER: Farseer G
PARTICIPANTS:
Alfard the Half Elven Bard (Ryanbo)
Weed the Human Wizard (Raiz)
Pink the Human Cleric (Vio)
Valenna Denethall the Human Paladin (Me)
Gothmag the Half Orc Fighter (Chaoslord SJ)
Titus the Half Elven Rogue (B)


Introduction:
After fleeing from their Drow captors our intrepid adventurers must now seek shelter to rest and recover their injuries.   Along the way, they run into Gothmag and Titus who also escaped from the Drow.  The party also picked up a few other ex-captives that decided to tag along.
Alfard recognizes the Rogue as his cousin Titus, as they both look quite similar to each other with exception that Titus resembles Alfard after his face got smashed by a treant.   

The other prisoners that escaped with the party includes:

Deldeth - A Female Dwarf
"Prince Darendil" - The Ape-man that claims he is an Elven Prince
Brinjal - A sentient humanoid shroom, Brinjal is now unofficially Violet's pet
Previous session


The Story so far:
The party with the new additions continue to seek out the nearest village as suggested by one of the ex-prisoners.   The party tries to put as much distance between them and their captors knowing that the Drow are not far behind.   The party takes a short rest and discuss their options before continuing with their journey.  By now the Bard has established himself as a leader of the party. 

Valenna's crudely drawn map of the underdark

While traveling through the underdark, our adventurers are ambushed by a swarm of giant Spiders dropping in from the ceiling.    After some fighting, the adventurers emerge victorious once again.   In the process, accumulated small bits of treasure as well as fresh injuries...  With most of their spells expended... the party is growing desperate to find a settlement to rest and replenish their lost resources.

The adventurers finally decide to head towards the closet village by the under ground lake.  The Rogue and Bard decides to scout ahead of the party.   While doing so, the Bard hears a comely feminine voice in his head, beseeching the Bard to deliver the owner of the feminine voice from her predicament.   Intrigued, the Bard decides to investigate, while the Rogue turns around and head back to the party to warn them.

The Bard ventures deeper and deeper into the side cavern and realizes that it may not be prudent to go alone.   Casting a cantrip, he creates a special glowing sign in the darkness so his companions can see it from a distance.  Unfortunately, as the cantrip lights up the dark cavern.  It also reveals another four large humanoids with large canine like heads.    Surprised by the sudden light and presence of Alfard, the four creatures brandished their weapons menacingly while snarling angrily at our fearless Bardic Leader....

D&D: Captured!

CAMPAIGN SETTING:  Forgotton Realms
SESSION: 1

GAME MASTER: Farseer G
PARTICIPANTS:
Alfard the Half Elf Bard (Ryanbo)
Weed the Human Wizard (Raiz)
Pink the Human Cleric (Vio)
Valenna Denethall the Human Paladin (Me)


Introduction:
After committing murder, Dragonman the Dragonkin Barbarian realize that he has done something wrong and it won't not be in his best interest to stay longer.   Abandoning Alfard, Dragonman fled the village.  Alfard now realizes there are too many ruffians to deal with alone and return to the village to seek aid.
Previous session

The Story so far:
Having return to the village, Alfard meets Weed & Pink a spellcasting human couple.  Weed is mysterious wizard and Violet is a shy and quiet cleric.   It is unknown which pantheon she has dedicated her prayers to.  Alfard also meets Valenia, an aspiring Paladin of unknown knightly order but shows extreme enthusiasm in apprehending the ruffians.

The adventuring party, venture to the ruffian's den.  Outside of the den, they stay hidden and observe the enemy.   Until finally deciding to act, the party manage to surprised the ruffians briefly.  After much fighting, they finally dispatched the ruffians and return to the village victorious, the ears they bring back as proof of those ruffians slain by the party.

While the party retires to rest, Alfard stays the ground floor of the tavern continuing to party and drink to his heart content.  All of a sudden, the lights went out and all was dark.  Alfard was knocked out by an unseen assailant.

When Alfard finally came about, he finds himself in a dimly lit jail cell and is surrounded by many others including his fellow party members.   Everyone has their equipment removed and is clad only in their under garments.   Brief moments later, a drow elf accompanied by another two male drows visits the jail cells.
The female drow is intrigued by Alfard and orders the jail keepers to release Alfard to her custody for soft duties.   While the rest of the prisoners including the party is sent to do hard labor.

Crude sketch of the prison

Hours of backbreaking labor later, the party is reunited back in the squalid and dimly lit jail cell.  They acquaint themselves with other prisoners and devise of a way to break free.  Sometime later, an opportunity arises.  Alfard "befriends" one of the drows who in return, promises them freedom.

Hours pass as the prisoners all fall asleep.  When they awaken, they find the door of the jail cell, slightly ajar.  The prisoners sneak out and hear sounds of fighting echoing down from the corridors.  Seizing the opportunity, they jump two unsuspecting guards and free themselves from the shackles.

In the chaos, the prisoners all flee in separate direction except for our intrepid heroes.  Who climbed up the stairs to reclaim their equipment.  There they ran into more drow guards and dispatched them after some combat and flinging of spells.   Realizing they are in an armory of sorts, the party quickly grab any armor and weapons that they could find before a patrol runs into them.   It is only then do they realize that to regain their equipment, they will have to fight their way through even more Drow guards and patrols.

With insufficient equipment, the party decide to flee in the other direction.   The party finally came upon a wooden bridge held up by rough hemp ropes.   The wooden bridge is their only way across the deep chasm and on the other end, another group of Drow guards.  After much rushing and fighting, the party defeated the drow guards and fled deeper into the underdark.

After what seems like an eternity, the party finally descended into a cavern so vast, that they cannot see the ceiling.  As the party tries to regain their sense of direction a strange vulture like monstrous humanoid with wings swoop from above.    Frightened by the appearance of such an ugly creature, Pink the cocked her Crossbow and fired at the monster.   Threatened by Pink, the monster stomp forward and took a bite out of her.   The sharp beaks tore through flesh and Pink collapse onto the ground on her own blood.

Shock at seeing their fellow companion drop down so easily.  Weed the wizard unleashed his offensive spells, while Valenna charged at the winged monster.  After a grueling battle, the winged monster wounds Valenna before it is finally dispatched.  The party patches up Pink and continue on their way trying to find safer place to rest and catch their breath.

D&D: Prelude to a new adventure

CAMPAIGN SETTING:  Forgotton Realms
SESSION: 0

GAME MASTER: Farseer G
PARTICIPANTS:
Alfard the Half Elf Bard (Ryanbo)
Dragonman the Dragonkin Barbarian (Raiz)



Introduction:
The duo started in a sleepy village somewhere in FR, looking for some quest, adventure or work.
Here we meet, Alfard the lecherous and dashing bard whose good looks come from his lineage.  Joining him is a mysterious Dragonkin Barbarian whom we know very little about.  That is why he is mysterious.


The Story so far:
While the duo is shopping around town for supplies, Alfard hears some scuffling and screams coming from within an alley.  He ventures into the dark alley only to find a lady accosted by two ruffians.  After some fighting, he managed to successfully dispatched the ruffians and rescue the lady.  It turns out that the lady is a barmaid working for the local tavern known as the "Horny Unicorn".

Alfard being the lecherous person that he is, spent 50 gold pieces just to get fresh with the barmaid.    After sometime, they were informed that there were more such ruffians harassing the village.    This time, lead by the barmaid, the duo traveled to the ruffians hideout.  Dragonman heard of how Alfard was swindled by the barmaid, murdered the barmaid to get the gold back.  Unfortunately the gold isn't on her and the duo discovered that they were too few of them to take on the whole den of ruffians.

Dungeons & Dragons: A new beginning

How it all started

Our gaming group knew each other by playing MMO, and stuck together for several year.  The journey started in Ultima Online and we eventually progressed to other MMOs throughout the years.  Dark Age of Camelot, City of Heroes, Star Wars Galaxies, World of Warcraft & Star Wars The Old Republic Online and Guild Wars 2. 

It has been a long journey but finally came to an end when people's interest in the current MMO started to wane and people went their separate ways.   Two prominent members got into WH40K, which I joined about 10 months later.  One of my friend expressed interest in getting back together but since no MMO could hold our interest but WH40K is too cost prohibitive for him to start.   He suggested that we started with D&D and it went from there.  When I heard about it, I was excited, I have not played D&D for almost a decade and was interested to get back into it.

Imperial Swords: First Cohort

The very first batch of Space Marines I did almost a year ago.  This bunch has accompanied me to battle for the longest period of time.   They were painted as part of the 500 point painting challenge my friends decided to do at that time.

From Left to Right:
1st Scout Squad, Dreadnought Rax, 1st Tactical Squad & Chaplain Dardalion in the center.

Dreadnought Rax
Brother Trendor Rax bravely threw himself in front of his Commanding Officer to shield him from a deadly attack by a Chaos Daemon.  His heroic action allowed his Captain to distract the Daemon Prince while his Sergeant landed the killing blow that slayed the Daemon Prince.

As a result Brother Rax suffered injuries so terrible that even the Apocthecaries could not mend.  For his noble sacrifice, he was interred into Dreadnought Sarcophagus to continue fighting in the name of the Imperium.

2nd Company - 1st Tacticals, Squad Katana
The generation of Tactical Squads to hit the front line after the Chapter rebuilt itself.  Squad Katana has seen the most battles and has new recruits rotated in the fill in fallen Battle Brothers.

They are also known for the most self inflicted injuries within the 2nd Company, earning numerous complains from the Company Apocthecary.  The Circle has since then requested that they spend more time cleaning and practicing with their plasma weaponry to avoid overheating in critical times. 

Squad Katana is lead by none other than Sergeant Callum Fist (Center), one of the first few recruits after the Chapter's near destruction.  Fist is a seasoned soldier and uses his experience to guide his fellow squad members.  Alongside with him is Brother Chassus Skuds (Left), otherwise known by his battle brothers as "Skulls", mostly due to his armor and boltgun adorned with skull symbols.

Assisting Sergeant Fist, is Squad Leader Varkus Trent (Center).    A seasoned Space Marine who survived many battles, he helps to ensure the 2nd element of the Squad provides covering fire where it is needed. 

Maelstrom: Spoils of War (2 vs 2)

MAELSTROM: SPOILS OF WAR (2 vs 2)

Chaos Space Marines (1000 points each)
1. Chaos Lord CF - Chaos Space Marines
2. Cmdr C - Chaos Space Marines


Adeptus Astartes Coalition (1000 points each)
1. Cmdr Luminator (Space Marines - using Salamander CT)
2. Me (Imperial Swords Space Marines)


PROLOGUE
For past three months, several Imperial Merchant Ships carrying supplies to and fro the Korvialis Sector has failed to turn up at their intended destination.  Suspecting that something went amiss, the Imperial Governors of the Sector lodged a request seeking aid in their predicament.

The Imperial Swords answered the call for help.  After weeks of patrol and a chance encounter with the forces of Chaos, they finally tracked the culprits to their hiding place.  Dorumir II, a cold terrestrial planet with very thin but breathable atmosphere.   The planet's cratered surface appears to be barren but suggest that it once supported robust and much larger lifeforms.

After making planet fall, the Imperial Swords found that another Space Marine Chapter was already set-up to do battle with the forces of Chaos.  These Space Marines had no logo or insignia which can identify them,  except for their blackened armors.

The forces of Chaos are numerous indeed, with Typhus leading a massive horde of undead and another Chaos Sorcerer accompanied by a personal retinue of Chaos Space Marines, Cultist and Chaos Terminator with armored support.   The Imperial Swords know that they are outnumbered and only by cooperating with the mysterious black Marines will they stand a chance.

Traitor vs Loyalist

DEPLOYMENT
The Imperial Swords stay true to their usual tactics and adopted defensive position.  Tanks are place in positions that would allow them clear line of sight to potential targets.  The 1st Tactical Squad are deployed next to Predator Shendao while Vindicare agent is set-up closer to Predator Seratus.   The Black Marines Vindicator tanks take up positions close to the center of the battlefield.

Scouts from Black Marines took up forward positions putting them closer to the forces of Chaos.   While Scouts from the Imperial Swords attempt to encircle the enemy to flank them.

On the Chaos side, there were simply far too many of them,  with the zombies making up at least 70% of their strength.  With very little space left, the Chaos forces are bunched up tightly together.   The zombie horde taking one flank while the other flank is taken by the Chaos Sorcerer's retinue.

The massive hordes of Chaos

THE BATTLE BEGINS

Like a well oiled machine, all the Scouts in black armor surged forward towards the Chaos position in a synchronized fashion.  As they draw closer to the forces of Chaos, an overwhelming stench of decay assaulted their sense of smell.   

Imperial Sword tank gunner watch on as Black Marines lead the charge

 Above them, a drop pod streaked across the sky before it slammed into the ground right before the zombie horde.   As soon as the Drop Pod ramps drop down, the Spaces Marines in Black Power armor strode forward dousing the zombies with jets of flaming promethium.
Although many zombies collapse in a heap of burning putrid flesh, it was not enough.     Many more zombies shambled forward.   The Librarian leading the Black Marines, unleash his psychic attack against the zombies which did nothing.  The zombies merely return the same lifeless gaze at the Space Marines that suddenly appeared before them.

The zombies set aflame by purifying fire of the Adeptus Astartes

Across the battlefield, numerous Squads of Scouts in Black Armor advance steadily towards the Chaos battle lines like a black tide. 

Scouts moving ahead to support the Drop Pod by covering the flank

Equipped with double barrel shotguns, these Scouts know no fear.

Meanwhile, their Imperial Swords allies, remained stationary.   The crew of the tanks scan the horizon and the vehicles pivot on the spot.  Turrets begin to turn as it aligns its guns facing towards the enemy forces.

Space Marine Armored vehicles getting in position for a kill

In a brief moment, scores of Lascannons beams streaked towards the Chaos Battlelines, lighting up the battlefield.  Many Chaos vehicles were damaged but still functional.  The Chaos Predator suffered severe damage to the engines, could only turn its turret to return fire at the loyalist tanks.  The Lascannon beam missed ever so slightly knocking out the searchlight of the Imperial Swords Predator tank.

Bring it on!  Forces of Chaos advances!

Undeterred by the combined Space Marine's opening salvo, all across the battlefield the Forces of Chaos advance to meet the loyalist head-on.  Chaos Rhinos move steadily across, with their combi-bolters roaring.  The cultist too fired wildly into the Black Armored Scouts.

You can't see it from here, but the Scouts could.  The flies are really that small

Elsewhere the zombies continue to shamble towards the Black Armored Scouts, the thick miasma of decaying stench and the gazillion numbers of flies hovering over the shambling mass made it difficult for the Scouts.  Try as they might, their shotgun rounds fell short even at such close proximity.  Only two miserable walking dead stayed dead after the Scouts were done, while the rest continued forward.

Flamers might not be enough.  We need a nuke

The Space Marines that Drop Pod in earlier, now found themselves completely surrounded.  Hordes of zombies continue advancing towards them.  Their flamers spitting out promethium but it did little to dent the putrefying mass closing in on them.  Within moments, the Space Marines are swinging their flamers at the zombies in melee combat.

Objective Secured!  Let none claim it!

The return fire of the Chaos forces did little to stem the advance of the Black Marines.  The Scouts continue to push forward, claiming an objective while trading gun shots at the Chaos Marines, with both sides taking minimal casualties. 

Imperial Swords Scouts, entered the battlefield from the flank, made their way behind enemy lines and rushed towards another objective. Behind the Loyalist gunline, Imperial Swords Predator tank continued to focus their fire on the Chaos Armored vehicles.
Multiple Lascannon beams pummel into the Chaos Predator, rupturing the fuel tanks setting the tank ablaze.  The next Lascannon beam ripped into the engines, causing the Chaos vehicle to explode in a ball of flames.   The Chaos Hellbrute did not suffer similar fate as the Lascannon from the loyalist lines struck only the sides of its armor.

The black armored Vindicator rumbled forward and its Demolisher cannon roared, meters away a thunderous explosion rocked the Chaos battlelines and reduce the Cultist into red mist and charred body parts.  The Vindicare Assassin lying prone within the crater, spied the Chaos Sorcerer weaving a spell.     Taking aim, the Assassin made sure the Sorcerer was in his sight and pulled the trigger.  The hellfire round punch through the Sorcerer's head.  The Chaos Sorcerer howled in rage and agony before collapsing into a heap. 

The forces of Chaos counter-attack with zombies

It was not long before the Black Armored Space Marine Command Squad was swarmed with zombies.  The forces of Chaos have overrun their position, their flamers can no longer be brought to bear upon the masses of walking dead.     Sensing the trouble that their fellow battle brothers are in, Black Armored Scouts moved into position to reinforce their senior.

Brother Marine Glenn is down!  I repeat, Glenn is down!

 
Behind the hordes of zombies, the Chaos Hellbrute stomp its way towards the Imperial Swords Scouts.  Its heavy bolters roared into action, spitting out death.   The heavy bolter punched through the Scout's armor, leaving red mists of blood when the round exploded within the Scouts body.   The Scouts tried their best to retaliate but were stunned by the ferocity of the attack.

Chaos Hellbrute stands victorious

A krak grenade bounced off the armor of the Hellbrute before exploding on the floor.   Within moments, the Hellbrute closed in, its power claws scythe through the remaining Scouts, tearing through the loyalist's carapace armor, ripping into flesh and bones.    Chaos has retaken the position claimed by the Imperial Swords earlier.

The group of zombies lead by Typhus finally closed in on the Black Armored Scouts.  The Scouts leveled their double barrel shotguns and blasted into the zombies at point blank.   Couple of zombies fell before them but many more scrambled forward, their filthy plague infested hands tried to grapple the Scouts to the ground.  The Scouts were much faster and quickly swung the butt of their shotguns to pummel at the zombies but there were just too many of them and it was too little space.
Making it difficult for the Scouts to dodge the zombies, eventually several Scouts were pulled down by the zombies and torn apart.   The gory death of one of their battle brothers unnerved the remaining Scouts and forced them to retreat. 

Dreadnought on intercept course

At center, Chaos Rhinos advance towards the objectives.   Imperial Swords Predator turns its attention towards the Rhino.  Lascannon beams pummeled the Chaos Rhino until only a smoking wreck is left.  The occupants quickly disembarked from the ruined transport only to find the barrel of a Demolisher Cannon some short distances away staring right at them.   The Black Vindicator tank unleash its devastating weapon and the resulting explosion razed the ground before it.  The Chaos Space Marine that disembarked from the Rhino was completely annihilated on the spot. 

A squad of black armored Scouts at the far end finds themselves outflanked by zombies.  For each Scout that fell, a zombie followed.  Unfortunately the zombies were too numerous and eventually only one Scout was left battling for his own life.

Game over man! Game over!

The remaining Chaos Terminators & Chaos Space Marine squads continue to advance and plowed into the Black Armored Scouts.  Out numbered and out-classed, the Scouts were swift dispatched by the Chaos Marines.    In response, the Imperial Swords Dreadnought strode forwards, its Assault Cannon and Stormbolters blazing away at the Chaos Terminators.

Imperial Swords attempt to halt the Chaos advance

Nearby a Tactical Marine leveled his Plasma Cannon at the Chaos Terminator and watched as the super heated ball of plasma careen towards his target before exploding into a miniature sun.  The Chaos Terminators howled in anguish as the plasma melted through their armor, fusing steel, bone and flesh together.   The remaining Terminator was brought down by a hail of bolter fire from the same Tactical Squad.  

While the Chaos Terminators bore the brunt of the attack from the loyalist.   One squad of Chaos Space Marines surge forward and leap into the crater, seizing the objective.  The second squad of Chaos Space Marines take the place of the Chaos Terminator to delay the loyalist's advance.  Towards

Overwhelmed, the last remaining Scout tried to take out as many zombies

Elsewhere, the Scouts that retreated from melee combat rallied and turn to face the zombies.   Their double barreled shotguns roared, many zombies fell but many more came.  Lead by Typhus, the zombies tear into the remaining Scouts.  This time there would be no escape, slowly and eventually each scout was torn apart by the plague infested zombies. 

So close... the Dreadnought is left with 1 Hull Point

At the center of the battlefield, the Dreadnought finally collided into the Chaos Space Marines.  The Powerfist swung out and grabbed hold onto a traitor Marine before crushing through power armor, muscles and bones.  Once the traitor was dead, the Dreadnought effortlessly flung it to the ground.  The remaining Chaos Space Marines tried to engage the Dreadnought in melee combat.  One of them side stepped a slammed a krak grenade on the Dreadnought causing an explosion that blew off pieces of the Dreadnoughts armor.  As the battle continued, the Dreadnought sustained heavier damage but not before entirely wiping out the remaining Chaos Space Marines.

The second Chaos Space Marine squad was annihilated by the withering firepower of the loyalist forces.  Lascannon beams, Hellfire Rounds and Demolisher cannon made short work of the few remaining Chaos Marines.

The Space Marine makes a last stand against Typhus and his zombie friends

After wiping out the Scouts at the far end, Typhus charged into the Black Armored Space Marine Command Squad that was still engaged in melee combat with the zombies.   The Librarian and his squad fought bravely but could not withstand against the unending tide of zombies and Typhus's psychic assault.   Eventually even they were overwhelmed.

After a grueling battle, it seems like most of the Black Armored Marines infantry units were utterly spent.  Only the Vindicators were left.    The Chaos forces lead by the Sorcerer was also completely wiped out.
All that was left are masses of zombies scattered on the battlefield, all under the command of Typhus.

The entire Imperial Swords gunline turned their attention towards Typhus.  Boltguns thundered in unison, Lascannons blasting away.  Several Lascannons punch through Typhus's Terminator Armor causing gaping wounds.  The Herald of Nurgle falls to one knee and clutched his Manreaper tightly for support.

Just as the Imperial Swords thought that they put the Herald of Nurgle out of action.  Typhus got up on his feet again and clambered forward.   The Space Marines looked on with disbelief, Chaplain Dardalion immediately command his squad to fire at Nurgle's Herald.
Patching in his comm, he requested all fire power to be diverted on Typhus.  Boltgun rounds ricochet off Typhus Terminator Armor, plasma balls slammed into it and was deflected by Terminator Armor's built in force field.

The Vindicare Assassin takes aim and points his Exitus Rifle at the Herald of Nurgle.  Pressing the trigger, the hellfire round found its mark and punch straight through Typhus's head.   The force of the shot jerked Typhus head backwards with such a force that it snapped his neck.  But a few seconds later, Typhus head turns back towards the Space Marines and howled with a insidious laughter.

Pointing at the Space Marines he bellowed, "Pitiful loyalist dogs, witness the power of Nurgle in all its glory!!!!"   Just then, the ground shook as Black Vindicator tank unleashed its demolisher cannon upon the Herald of Nurgle.  A thunderous explosion rocked the battlefield, scattering charred body parts all over the place where Typhus stood.    As the smoke cleared, Typhus still remains, holding onto Manreaper with one hand.

Typhus the invincible

Before Chaplain Dardalion could issue another command, a throng of zombies smashed into their flanks.  The Tactical Space Marines are engaged and stuck in melee combat.   As the battle wears on, both zombies and marines fell. 

Dardalion realize that there were far too many zombies on the battlefield, all which were advancing upon thier position.  The Black Armored Space Marines were also all but expended leaving only two tanks left.  The Chaplain had no choice but to call for general withdrawal to avoid losing more men to Typhus.  For he knew Typhus would raise a new crop of zombies from all the fallen Space Marines as well as those fallen Chaos Space Marines.

As the Space Marines retreated, Typhus mocked at them.  "Your false Emperor cannot protect you!  Nurgle is the only God worthy of worship and Nurgle will have you!"



EPILOGUE
The two loyalist Chapters retreated from Dorumir II and returned one week later with reinforcements but found nothing.  Elsewhere aboard a Chaos Warship, Typhus presides over a ritual to transform the corpses recovered from the battle into the walking dead.  This battle has only strengthen Nurgle. 

Apocalypse: Damocles Gulf Crusade

APOCALYPSE (4 vs 2) - 8000 points per side.

Team Chaos
1. Lord Renzus (Chaos Space Marines/Khorne Daemonkin)
2. Lord Jarvik (Chaos Space Marines)

Team Space Knights & Space Elves
1. Commander Davinus (Dark Angels Space Marines)
2. Commander Zuriel (Blood Angels Space Marines)
3. Farseer Nicholas (Eldar)
4. Me (Imperial Swords Space Marines)

At the main battle:  Tau forces prepares to claim Agrellan Prime

 Last week, the FLGS hosted an Apocalypse Game to coincide with the release of the new Tau.   This is to feature the Tau's 3rd sphere of expansion into Imperium Space also known as the Damocles Gulf Crusade.
There were two Apocalypse games going on at one, both battles took place on Agrellan Prime.

At the main battle: White Scars sally forth to halt the Tau advance

The main battle features the Tau Empire, who find themselves going up against the Space Marines from White Scars and Black Templar Chapters.

At the main battle:  For Khosarro Khan!!!!

On side event, a loose coalition of Space Marines allied with Eldar are going up against the Forces of Chaos.  As my Space Marines are not painted in White Scars colors, I took part in the side event - which I shall try to cover.   This will not be in the same format which I typically write my Batreps, it will be slightly narrative but there are simply too many things to cover.

At the main battle: For the Greater Good!!!

PROLOGUE
The Tau Empire poised to strike at Agrellan Prime finds the planet to be well defended.  White Scar & Black Templars meet the main Tau force head on.  While a secondary force of Space Marines from various Chapters position at the planet's polar ice cap prepare to move at the moment's notice.

But before they could do so, the forces of Chaos has arrived.  Orbital bombardments from the Chaos Space vessels destroyed various Astra Miltarum regiments within entrenched positions.
The Imperial Commanders had no choice but to re-allocate their resources to face the Chaos threat.   The White Scars and Black Templars were on their own....

Imperial face off against Chaos

DEPLOYMENT
The Blood Angels are deployed in the center of the Imperium battle line.  On their left flank, the Dark Angel Ravenwing Squadrons are arrayed against the Chaos Warmachines.

Minions of Chaos Lord Jarvik the impatient

On the right flank a small detachment of Imperial Sword Space Marines are set-up behind the aegis defense line.   Opposite them are Chaos Cultist and warbands of Chaos Space Marine Chosen.
Helldrakes and Chaos Havocs take the center of the Chaos battle line facing off against the Blood Angels.

Imperial Swords backed up by Dark Angels

THE BATTLE BEGINS
Brother Avindal  gripped his bolter tightly and clambered over the Aegis Defense Line after Brother Sergeant's Fist instruction.  He scanned to left and right, his fellow battle brothers in other squads all moving in unison towards the Chaos Cultist.  Peering through his scope, he spies two Chaos Warlords standing on top of an Abandoned building, gesturing to their minions on the ground.
Avindal pondered to himself... wondering which Commander in their right mind would put themselves out in such an open position.   And his analysis is correct, within moments one of the Chaos Lord took a shot to the chest.  Multiple lances of Lascannons soon followed immediately and charred remains of the Chaos Lords toppled from the roof of the building.

Blood Angels plunge their forces into the midst of the Chaos ranks

Elsewhere Blood Angel descended from the skies right in the thick of battle.  Materializing besides them are Deathwing Terminators.  The Imperium seems sure to bring the fight to Chaos.

Ravenwing bikes speed towards the Chaos Warmachine

On the far left of the battlefield.  Ravenwing bike squadrons races towards the Khornate Lord of Skulls.  Deathwing Terminators deep strike beside them to help support the advance.

Chaos Spawns climb over the rocky outcropping

From their positions, the forces of Chaos surge forward to meet the Space Marines head on.   The massive Chaos warmachine rumbled forward crushing into the Ravenwing & Deathwing Termiantors without any care.   The inches thick Tactical Dreadnought armor provided little defense against the massive war engine.

Blood Angels in the thick of it

The Chaos Warship in high orbit unleashed orbital barrage upon the Imperial position and destroyed the Stormsword super heavy tank.  While Heldrakes swoop in and unleash their unholy warp fire at the Imperium position.   Hard-pressed from all sides, the Imperium soldiered on.  Not willing to give the forces of Chaos an inch of Agrellan Prime.
And all of a sudden, the Eldar entered the fray on the Imperium side.  No one knows where they came from or why they were here.   But the Imperium eager to end this battle to aid their brethrens in the main battle, pays the Eldar no heed.  Imperial guns are still pointing at the forces of Chaos, blazing away.

Eldar arrived to find numerous Chaos war engines arrayed against them

The Blood Angels continue to plow through the masses of Chaos Space Marines.  But the forces of Chaos are indeed numerous.   Every Chao follower that fell, another two takes their place.   Cultist from nearby, also turn their attention towards the Blood Angels.

Striking deep into enemy territory

With the Blood Angels leading the charge and an Aegis Defense line in between.   The Imperial Sword are safe to harass the forces of Chaos from their gunline.   Heavy weapon fires continue to pound the Chaos position. 

Blood Angel Stormraven turn their attention to another part of the battlefield

Streaking past the Imperial Swords Gunline, a Cestus Assault Ram commandeered by the Blood Angels unleash its deadly cargo on the Chaos Cultist.  The superheated  melta blast, reduced flesh to ashes and equipment into molten slag.

Appearing right behind the enemy lines!

As the Imperial Swords clambered over the Aegis to engage the Chaos Forces.  They suddenly find the forces of Chaos materializing behind them.   Chaos Obliterators unleash their meltas into the Deathwing Contemptor Dreadnought, utterly annihilating it.  While Chaos Terminator unload their plasma shots into a Squad of Imperial Sword Tactical Marines.  All but one Space Marine remain of that squad.

Space Marines take their revenge on Chaos

The actions of the Chaos forces that teleported in did not go unnoticed.   Every space marine near the Imperial Swords gun line, turn their attention to towards the Chaos Marines and unleashed the full fury of their weapons.   Bolters & Assault Cannons spat out rounds after rounds at the Chaos.  Beams of Lasers & balls of plasma shots slam into the Chaos Marines.

Dreadnought finishes off where the others have left off

 
After the deadly salvo, two Oliberators are left standing.  The Imperial Swords Dreadnought closed in, moving in to finish off what its Battle Brothers have started.  Elsewhere, Khornate war machines tear into the Imperial forces.  The Imperial is slowly being pushed back.  In desperation, the Blood Angels call down an orbital strike from an nearby Strike Cruiser but manage to only cause a minor dent in the massive ranks of Chaos bearing down on them.

The turn of the battle, Chaos is gaining ground

The Eldar now turn all their attention to the Khornate war engine.  Focusing all their eldritch technology on it, they finally destroy the Lord of Skulls.   But things are not going well for the Imperium and their Eldar allies.

There are too many of them!

Locked in combat still, Blood Angel Librarian & his Terminator escorts try to fend off the forces of Chaos.  But there were simply too many fleshhounds.   Imperial Sword Scouts jump into the fray to reinforce the Blood Angels but there too few of them.   Several rounds of vicious of melee combat saw only a few fleshhounds dispatched by the Space Marines and it is taking a toll on them.


It is soon becoming evident that the the forces of Chaos are gaining ground, while the Blood Angel's advance are stymied.   Chaos forces lead by Abbadon teleported in and began to route the Imperium and their Eldar allies.  One by one the Imperial positions to the left flank collapse.   

Time to find a new camping spot

Eventually, the Vindicare Assassin ran out of suitable targets.  Leaving his hiding place within the ruined Cathedral.   He is fired upon by the Chaos Cultist.  Wounded, the Vindicare fires his Exitus pistol back at the Cultist as he scramble for cover.   He is down on his last leg and would make his shot count....

As the battle continue to rage on, all that was left are small pockets of Blood Angels left on the battlefield, each desperately trying to take out as many Chaos as they can.  The Imperial Swords gunline remains largely intact.   Eventually even the Servo Skull capturing all the vid logs were shot down.  No pict logs were available after that.

Abaddon the Despoiler finally met up with the Eldar Avatar on the fields of battle.  With Drach'nyen, Abaddon tore into the fragmented embodiment of Kaela Mensha Khaine, plunging the daemon sword through the head of the Eldar Avatar, causing it to slowly dissipate into the Immaterium.

The Dark Angels Devastator entrenched within the fortified bunker was also forcefully and violently evicted from their hiding place.  Abbadon now leading all the remaining Chaos Forces advance closer and closer to the Imperial Swords gunline.    But small pockets of resistance still remains, the Blood Angels defiant to the last put themselves in front of the Chaos forces.  

Despite their valiant efforts, the Blood Angels were exhausted and dispatched by the Forces of Chaos.  A nearby Blood Thirster, tossed aside a Deathwing Terminator like a ragged doll and stomped towards the ruined Cathedral.

Through the courageous efforts of the Dark Angels & Blood Angels as well as due to their position on the battlefield, the Imperial Swords detachment still remained largely intact.   The successor Chapter then turn their attention towards the incoming Chaos Forces and focus their fire on the forces of Chaos.

The Blood Thirster already mortally wounded by the Dark Angels and Blood Angels was the first to go.  Concentrated bolter fire from Imperial Swords Tactical Marines finally dispatched the Greater Daemon.   
The Imperial Swords then systematically picked off the already weakened Chaos units one by one while Abaddon slaughter his way towards the Imperial Swords gunline.

The Imperial Swords then turn their attention towards the approaching Abaddon and pour overwhelming amount of bolter fire and heavy weapon fire into the Chosen of the Chaos Forces.   Abaddon already severely weakened by the Blood Angels could not stand before the withering fire of the Imperial Swords.  Several Lascannon beams punch through his Terminator Armor, the Warmaster finally fell to one knee with one hand leaning on Drach'nyen for support.   But before the Successor Chapter could finish off the infamous Warmaster, Abaddon glowed briefly and teleported away to safety.


As the day comes to an end, the Imperium and their Eldar allies realized they have lost the battle.  They have lost a lot of ground to Chaos and their forces are in complete disarray.   The Imperium have no choice but to retreat from the field of battle.   The White Scars and Black Templars are truly on their own in their fight against the Tau Empire....


EPILOGUE



Elsewhere at the main battle field.  The White Scars & Black Templars put up a fierce fight with the encroaching Tau forces.  Plunging 95% of their forces into the invading Tau Forces, the Space Marine Chapters left the Imperial Governor overseeing the battle with only a pocket defense force, which the Tau quickly capitalized on.  A splinter force of Tau forces, tore through the Landraider that the Governor was hiding in and promptly cut him down with the superior firepower of the Tau empire.

Elsewhere, the main Tau force are on the defensive as they bear the brunt of the full fury of two Space Marine Chapters.  Despite the Tau's superior technology, they could not stay the wrath of the Space Marines.  Shadowsun the commander in charge of the Tau forces suffered grievous injures at the hand of the Space Marines.    With the commanding officers of both sides out of action, both the Imperium and Tau Empire pull back from the field of battle to re-group.

The Imperium is now at an disadvantaged position and may truly lose Agrellan Prime to the Tau...or perhaps the forces of Chaos?

Terrain Wishlist

I would like to one day play on an industrial or urban theme terrain that is not totally in wrecked and ruins like you see in most gaming stores that support 40K products. 
As such I am compiling a list of terrain that I may purchase to fulfill such desire them for my own future reference.  The goal is to make them as thematic as much as possible as I find many 40K tables lacking the details that bring the table to "life".

Now what do I mean by that.  Simply put most 40K tables are put together for the sake of having pieces of terrain to block LOS or provide cover.  It either makes no sense for it to be there.  Or even if it is themed, it often lacks details to flash out the type of ruin we are fighting over.  A ruin city, should have more than just ruin buildings.  Maybe it is just me but it gets old when we assumed every ruin city we fight in were caught in apocalyptic explosion and only buildings are left....   Wrecked vehicles, defaced broken statues or bridge that collapse would add so much more flavor to the board.

Also why are we fighting over a ruin city in the first place - again?  Assuming if it has no strategic value... then what assets do we gain by conquering a ruined city?  Wouldn't it make more sense for forces to battle over an areas that offer strategic value?
For an invading Xenos, the plan could be to steal the tech or cut off the Imperium's supply line.
Or sow terror and fear by striking into the heart of the known civilized Imperial World - several light years away from the front line.



Industrial Complex/Manifactorum/Forgeworld theme

1. Gaming Mat - Urban/Industrial
Option 1

2. Chemical Plant - Technolog

3. Power Plant/Power Generators
Power Control Room- More like an addon to existing building or standalone power control room
Power Generator Variant 1
Power Generator Variant 2
Power Station


4. Warehouse
Option 1 - Very nice Warehouse


5. Processing Plants/Factories
Option 1  - Looks really good.  Fits 40K as it isn't so high tech.
Option 2 - Website states warehouse, but looks more like a factory with the chimneys sticking out
Option 3 - This really adds character

6. Water Treatment Plants or Water Tanks

8.  Fuel Lines / Gas Pipes - GW promethium supply line

9.  Vehicle Repair Bay
Option 1 - Vehicle Hanger

10. Imperial Knight Repair Bay - Most likely will need to scratch build

11.  Misc
Cooling tower -  This would add character but otherwise just blocks LOS
Admin Block
Security Guard Post
Silos 
Container Cranes - Interesting but seems more appropriate for a Space Port.
Catwalks -  Adds character and height to the board.


12. Neutral Vehicles - Power Lifters/Trucks/Vehicle parts
Toy Trucks

Making plans...

It seems like I do this a lot more than actually painting & gaming.   I can't help for the latter because you do need to people to play against and I can't drop by the FLGS whenever I wanted to.

My current goal is to have a fairly competitive and playable 1850 points list painted up.  Sounds easy right?
Well it should be for most people.  Except I like to "torture" myself by putting up criterion for myself to follow.


1. Paint to the best of my ability 
I am not aiming to be Crystal Brush or Golden Daemon Standard.  But something a little close to the standards shown in White Dwarf would be okay.

2. Finish all my backlogs
This involves painting up all my models which I had accumulated several years ago.  It also includes stripping paint off my poorly painted models from eons and repainting them to my current army scheme.

3.  Customize each Squad with unique loadouts, combination and posture
This isn't as bad but it can be time consuming looking for the right parts.

4.  Have playable army that is fairly competitive
I have a lot of combos and builds in my mind.   The problem is getting them painted....


Point 1 & 4 will not work together unless I am prepared to buy new models to paint up.   Thereby adding more to my collection of unpainted models.

Point 2's goal is to minimize wastage and save resources.   I will be reusing/repainting my older models and giving them a new lease of life.  Achieving point 1 & 2 means, I cannot achieve point 4. 

Sometimes I see my friends post pictures of their work.   And I am envious.  They move from project to project while I am still painting purple marines.  If you seen one of my model, you seen them all.  They all look roughly the same.  Except different postures, heads and equipment.   All vehicles share the same template. 

There aren't much conversions, putty work, freehand, not much weathering or even OSL.   My models are neat, subtly toned and shaded but aside from that, it doesn't pop out.  I would say they are reasonably well painted.   Not the best but well painted.   But no "WOW factor". 

Nothing I am working on surprises people.  Just take for example.
Chaos Lord SJ - always have some kind of conversion.  Weathering and freehand.  And it just wow people.
Chaos Lord CF - always working on something new. 
Cmdr C - always speed painting something, always sharing something
Wolflord Melhammer - paints reasonably fast, not as fast as C but puts out quality work.  And moves from project to project.  Always something new that wow people.  Freehand, smoothness and neatness.

Me - takes forever to get something done... when done its the same thing that you seen 6 months ago.  Except this is a slightly different unit with different load out.  Wow so "exciting" huh....



Dilemmas... decisions...

2 vs 2 40K Tournament

On the 19th of September, I had experience my 2nd 40K tournament.  I am going to recap my experiences and put some comments.

Prior to the tournament, myself and Commander W psyched up the rest of the gang to join up for the experience.  Cmdr Desmondus and Wolf Lord Melhammer obliged, being the good sport that they are.

Both Melhammer and myself were not in it to win the tournament, although I had some expectations.



BEST APPEARANCE

I was one of the winners for BEST APPEARANCE for the previous tournament that I took part in.  Judging by the overall standards of painting by other participants and given Melhammer's high standard of painting, I felt that we stood a pretty good chance of winning BEST APPEARANCE again.

After I realized that Rico is taking part as well, I am not as certain of our odds.  Rico is one of the best painters in Singapore and have clinched a Golden Daemon in Australia before.   While I was particularly worried, I lowered my expectation a bit.

Lucky to have Melhammer as partner, enabling us to win best appearance

The day came and the judges awarded our team for BEST APPEARANCE.  It was a close one.   The judges have mentioned that painting are judged based both armies in the Team.  As a result we won, Rico might have won if his partner had a well painted army as well.




TOURNAMENT PERFORMANCE
I had already known my list was sub-par.   In a competitive setting, I would rate my own army list a 3/10.  I am fully aware of how limited my list is and its weaknesses.  But I paint too slow to be able to churn out a competitive list.

Melhammer OTOH had some beefy units that are useful.  Unfortunately they are not configured properly and were lacking the proper equipment to pull off the viciousness that Thunderwolf Calvary list were known for.  He also lacked ablative wounds by not having enough Fenrisian Wolves.  Likewise, it is too late for him to paint something new in such a short span of time.

Still his list hits harder than my does and I am counting on his Wolves to carry us.  While I count on my experience to help carry us further into the game, since I have more games under my belt than he does.


First Game - vs Necrons & Blood Angels

I had faced Blood Angels before and knew more or less what they were capable of.  But Necrons was completely new to me.   The special rules or mission packs also threw us a curveball.  I think on the whole, I should have redeployed or moved my troops to assist Melhammer's Space Wolves.  Our opponents utilize a divide and conquer strategy which we fell for.  At later stage, I could not find suitable targets to shoot at while Melhammer was tied down and slowly being whittled down by Necron Wraiths.

It was indeed a learning experience.  All my previous game experience counted for nothing since I only faced other Marine players before.  At the end, we lost by a significant margin and barely had enough troops left to make a difference.

Second Game - vs Blood Angels & Space Marines

We faced up against our own friends.  Desmondus and Cmdr W.  I had faced this army before and knew what to do.  Tried my best to deny any advantages to Skyhammer Annihilation Formation and opt to go second.   Although the deployment generally helped, choosing to go second did not.

At the first turn, we lost several key units in Space Wolves element to Cmdr W's move 12" and shoot str 10 barrage template Vindicators...  something which I really dreaded.  Again, our forces were slowly whittled down until very little was left.   At the last turn (game time ran out), I moved all my units that are still alive to the objective and secured them, played accordingly to the special rule of the mission.

We still lost, but it was marginal difference in VP.  Not bad.  But then later, Desmondus realized that his Grav Cannons actually had 3/5 Salvo and not 4 shots. He had played them wrongly.  So if he had done it correctly, I think our different in VP would be much more significant.

 
Third Game - vs Tyranids & Eldar

 The tournament carried on until evening and as the day went by I started to develop a headache.
I have some rough idea of what Tyranids and Eldar could do in theory but never played against them before either and our opponents are two of the most experienced players in the 40K tournament scene.

At this point in time, I could no longer focus with my headache and knowing we stand very little chance against our very experienced opponents - I have mentally thrown in the towel already.
The mission this time requires us to pick up the relic and hold it until the end of the game.  So we deployed most of our forces in the center near the relic since we have no idea how to deploy against our opponents.

As expected, our opponents took us apart piece meal and eventually tabled us.  Both of us were quite tired and just conceded after 3 or 4 turns.    The saving grace was that our opponents were quite entertaining and we had a lot of funny moments in that game even though we lost.    Out of all three games we played, the last game was the most entertaining.


CONCLUSION
I think that both my partner and myself were not really prepared to go all out to win.  We basically wrote army list based on our collection of painted models.   A competitive player serious about winning would include competitive units or set-up within their army list and have appropriate models for it.

Although I am a little disappointed with myself that I did not help carry our team and that we ended up at the bottom of the tournament. Felt that I let my team down.

At this stage, I think I fall into the category of a narrative gamer/collector. 
My current focus still remains to finish my backlog of unpainted models to the level I am satisfied with.  What this means is that I will still be far away from actually being able to compete seriously in a tournament.  I will need to re-adjust my expectations regarding competitive gaming.  I should probably refrain from giving tactical advice or commentary until I have some substantial wins under my belt.

I really should paint up more transports.   My current list feels so much like a sitting duck army list. It is just waiting for things to happen and far too passive to win any games.
Still a looong way to go....