Battle Report: GW Battle Bunker “Total War” 2500 point tournament

The Local Games Workshop Battle Bunker decided to fill the void left by the loss of ‘Ard Boyz with a 2500 point store event themed around the previous years events. x3 2.5 hour rounds, no painting requirements, and non standard missions.  24 attendees (down from 34, I think in part from the high point value) resulted in a $240 prize pot.

Colonial 2012 Wrapup: How to not repeat a GT win.

Hands down this was the event I was most excited to attend  this year, not just because I wonlast year, but because it was exceptionally well run event. Exceptional location, the best portable tables (Mechanicon), some of the best terrain I have seen in both quantity and quality (Brothers Grim, Mechanicon, and I think Showcase Comics), all in all it was the best event two day GT I did in 2011.

Due to a rumored falling out this year 40k was not run by Grimm group, and the previous location raised the rates resulting in us being the basement of a VFW. Expectations were high and overall Chris Nanry did not disappoint.  The location was dark; it was a basement of a VFW but…. There was a bar 10 feet from the 40k area (reasonable prices I heard), catered free lunch on Saturday and breakfast on Sunday was included!

Battle Report: 3rd Annual Inner Circle High Stakes Jamboree

Inner Circle Gaming Club

A week after my wedding I was given the nod by my new wife (I guess I did a good enough job to warrant a day pass).

The Details!!!
2000 point 3 round tournament, random missions and game length. No painting but WYSIWYG
$25 Gate Fee, includes lunch (surprisingly good in the past!)
Each win gets you $10 in store credit, additional prized for Most VP killed and Least VP given up.

The Prep:

Breaking from my 1850 list I normally field, I chatted with Brandon about ideas about what to do with the extra 150 points. Being very underwhelmed by a Librarian on Bike (too expensive and weak psychic powers) Dropping the Typhoon I gained another 90 points and decided to add 9 scout bikers with a power fist… So pulling from the junkyard of broken toys I stayed up late and repaired and based 9 “scout” bikers…

I promptly forgot them that morning…

Mechanicon (part 2 of 2 part recap)

To start I had a couple great conversations with both the Mechanicon staff and Chris (Mastermolder) about expensive tournaments… Mechanicon is one of the more expensive ($125 ticket price) 40k GT’s on the East Coast which has turned a lot of people off and I have heard there has been drama on the Interweb about the price and where the money goes. One thing people forget is unless it’s in a gamestore a huge chunk of the gatefee goes to paying for the Hotel. Ballrooms are not free, often costing thousands of dollars. Additionally Tony’s crew has some of the best tables around. Professionally built 4’x8’s, high end terrain, which adds up quickly.

Post Mechanicon Part 1 of 2

A huge group of the Beltway Gamers decided to take the leap and head up to Mechanicon for the Warmachine events, and jonesing like a junky for a fix I signed up for the 40K GT event.

A few weeks passed and I realized days before the Mechanicon weekend I had not played a single game since The Battle for Blobs park!! With a busy work schedule and a couple personal projects keeping me busy I checked the rooster of scheduled events and found the Friday Night Fights Imperial Armour event, for $15 dollars I could get 3 games in, some great practice, and maybe win a Forge World event with my standard bike list…

Colonial Followup, Plaque!

I'm shamless I admit it, but it looks cool...

Arrived Via Fedex today..



Recap can be found here

A Day late and a dollar short, My Colonial Wrapup

Let me start by saying that W/L/D, The Colonial was a tremendous amount of fun

Chris Nanry, aka MasterMoulder, and the whole crew up there ran a great GT.

I did win, going 5/0/0, and I might be slightly biased, but still it was a blast.

I arrived Friday night with a few friends, and first thing took a trip down to the second ballroom to find the terrain setup with 25%++ and the event organizers there to answer any last minute questions before Saturdays start.

Saturday found tables ready to go with packets on each including a copy of each players list, with wargear and rule breakdowns, mission and packets, a host of Red Shirts (read judges) wandering around to answer any questions and a smooth event.

Second Major tourney with my Khan based Space Marine list.

Total Roster Cost: 1850

1 Kor'sarro Khan, 160 pts (1#, 205 pts)
1 Moondrakkan, 45 pts
7 Space Marine Bike Squad, 195 pts = 7 * 25 (base cost 25) + Meltagun x2 20 (9#, 310 pts)
1 Attack Bike, 50 pts = (base cost 40) + Multi-Melta 10
1 Sergeant, 65 pts = (base cost 40) + Power Fist 25
7 Space Marine Bike Squad, 195 pts = 7 * 25 (base cost 25) + Meltagun x2 20 (9#, 310 pts)
1 Attack Bike, 50 pts = (base cost 40) + Multi-Melta 10
1 Sergeant, 65 pts = (base cost 40) + Power Fist 25
4 Scout Squad, 65 pts = 4 * 13 (base cost 13) + Sergeant 28 (5#, 80 pts)
1 Sergeant, 15 pts = (base cost 10 + Melta Bombs 5)
4 Scout Squad, 65 pts = 4 * 13 (base cost 13) + Sergeant 28 (5#, 80 pts)
1 Sergeant, 15 pts = (base cost 10 + Melta Bombs 5)
1 Dreadnought, 125 pts = (105 + Twin Linked Autocannon 10 + Twin Linked Autocannon 10)
1 Dreadnought, 125 pts = (105 + Twin Linked Autocannon 10 + Twin Linked Autocannon 10)
1 Dreadnought, 125 pts = (105 + Twin Linked Autocannon 10 + Twin Linked Autocannon 10)
1 Thunderfire Cannon, 100 pts
1 Thunderfire Cannon, 100 pts
1 Thunderfire Cannon, 100 pts
1 Land Speeder Storm, 50 pts
1 Land Speeder Storm, 50 pts
1 Land Speeder Squadron, 90 pts = (base cost 50) + Typhoon Missile Launcher x1 40

Round 1

Deployment: Pitched Battle

Primary : Seize Ground.

Secondary: Table Quarters

Tertiary: KP / VP

Bonus Points (5):Kill highest HQ; Win Primary/Secondary; Scoring unit within 3” of center; Control more terrain pieces; scoring unit in enemy’s deployment.

Doug Waltman - CSM – Nurgle

Daemon Prince, Wings, MoS, LoS 155

Great Summoned Daemon (100)

Plague Marines, x7, PF, Combi Melta, x2 MG, Icon, Rhino Dozerblade (276)

Plague Marines, x7, PF, Combi Melta, x2 MG, Icon, Rhino Dozerblade (276)

Plague Marines x13, PF, MB, Combi Melta, x2 PG, Icon (389)

CSM,IoCG, Rhino, Dozerblade (140)

Lesser Daemons x7 (91)

Lesser Daemons x7 (91)

Lesser Daemons x7 (91)

Lesser Daemons x7 (91)

Oblits x2 (150)

A Great guy to play!!! Oddly it was a rematch of Game 5 at Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre, small change in his HQ but otherwise a very similar list… He got first turn but I seized on him. Game was not NEARLY as decisive as our first, with me on the defensive the whole game after I failed to kill a single vehicle until turn 4. I managed to really come back into it on turn 5 & 6 pulling off max points. I was honestly shocked to win so solidly.

Round 2:

Deployment: Spearhead

Primary : Table Quarters

Secondary: KP / VP..

Tertiary: Seize Ground..

Bonus Points (5):Kill all troops; Least expensive unit alive; No enemy units in deployment; Win Primary and Tertiary; Kill Highest point cost HQ.

Casey Campbell – Dark Eldar

Haemonculus (55)

Kalalite Trueborn x3, Darklance, x2 Splinter Rifle, Venom Transport (121)

Kalalite Trueborn x3, Darklance, x2 Splinter Rifle, Venom Transport (121)

Kalalite Trueborn x3, Splinter Rifle, Shredder x2, Venom Transport (106)

Wyches x8, Hydra, Hekatrix, Raider w/ Darklance (198)

Kalalite Warriors x10, Dark Lance, Raider w/ Darklance (185)

Kalalite Warriors x5, Blaster, Raider w/ Darklance (125)

Kalalite Warriors x5, Blaster, Raider w/ Darklance (125)

Kalalite Warriors x5, Blaster, Raider w/ Darklance (125)

Kalalite Warriors x5, Raider w/ Darklance (110)

Reavers x3, Heatlance, (78)

Reavers x3, Heatlance, (78)

Reavers x3, Heatlance, (78)

Ravager x3 Darklance (115)

Ravager x3 Darklance (115)

Ravager x3 Darklance (115)

Good opponent with a nice looking army! I had first turn, deployed in cover. I was able to lay down a crippling amount of fire power vs his open topped AV 10 & 11 vehicles.. In the end I had the rock to his scissors as even bolt pistols took their toll.

Game ended on turn 4 and I was able to net max points

Round 3:

Deployment: Pitched Battle

Primary : Capture & Control (fixed number, starting turn 4 roll to see which ones are real objectives)

Secondary: KP / VP..

Tertiary: Invasion (control enemy’s home base).

Bonus Points (5): x4 Table Quarters; No enemy units in deployment; Win Secondary and Teriary; Score Unit within 3” of center; Destroy Enemy’s Highest value unit.

Nick Navanti – Daemons – Slaanesh/Tzeentch heavy.

Herald of Tzeentch, Chariot, Bolt of Tz, Daemonic Gaze, rDGT (100)

Herald of Tzeentch, Chariot, Bolt of Tz, Daemonic Gaze, rDGT (100)

Fiend of Slaanesh x6 (180)

Fiend of Slaanesh x6 (180)

Fiend of Slaanesh x6 (180)

Bloodletters of Khorne x7 w/ Icon (137)

Bloodletters of Khorne x7 w/ Icon (137)

Bloodletters of Khorne x7 (112)

Bloodletters of Khorne x7 (112)

Bloodletters of Khorne x7 (112)
Screamers x5 (80)

Screamers x5 (80)

Seekers of Slaanesh x20 (340)

Nick was a excellent opponent with a really tight Daemons list. I am a big fan of redundancy in all my armies. He had maxed his two games before me, and I was told he maxed every game after me which did not surprise me at all. I won the diceroll and chose to go second… One of the most precious moments of the game is when he looked me in eye and ask me “Are you sure?”… I am willing to bet atleast a couple people have fallen for that! I castled in the corner, using the storms to shelter my deployment and force him into the couple large open areas on the board.

I surprised him twice. The first with the use of the Land Speeder storms (He asked why I had not used them to deny the few open spaces, forcing him into cover) I wanted to control his placement, keep him in front of me, and clustered as much as possible. The second by actually using my bikes aggressively! I both used them as mobile firebases getting into double tap twin-linked range as often as possible and I often assaulted him, pulling him into multiple combats.

In the end I tabled him by the end of turn 4, scoring max, loosing only a couple units. He honored me by reporting that I was the first to table him…

Round 4:

Deployment: Spearhead

Primary : Capture & Control

Secondary: Critical Position, Center of table..

Tertiary: KP / VP..

Bonus Points (5): Earn more KP; Control more Terrain; Destroy Highest Value unit; Scoring unit in Enemy’s deployment; Least Expensive unit alit.

Brad Nichols – Dark Angels – Deathwing.

Belial, SoS, (130)

Deathwing Terminator Squad, TH/SS x4, Cyclone Missile Launcher, Narthecium, Company Banner, Chainfist (295)

Deathwing Terminator Squad, TH/SS x4, Chain Fist, Cyclone Missile Launcher (240)

Deathwing Terminator Squad, TH/SS x4, Chain Fist, Cyclone Missile Launcher (240)

Deathwing Terminator Squad, TH/SS x4, Chain Fist, Cyclone Missile Launcher (240)

Deathwing Terminator Squad, TH/SS x4, Chain Fist, Cyclone Missile Launcher (240)

Ravenwing Attack Squad, x2 Meltagun, x1 PF, x1 Attack Bike w/ MM (215)

Landspeeder Typhoon w/ Multi-Melta (75)

Landspeeder Typhoon w/ Multi-Melta (75)

Grey Knight Hero, Combi Melta, Psychic Hood (96)

Brad was a exceptional foe. Exacting, a perfect grasp of the rules, he even knew my codex better then me, correcting a miss-use of the TFC. No quarter was asked, and none was given. His deepstrike placement was inspired, using the limited terrain for the best advantage. I lost both Landspeeder storms first turn (both rolling a 2 on the cover save) and managed to also loose a scout squad to the assault. The game was as close as it could be until turn 5 when I was able to drop all but 1 of the Deathwing Squads. I made a final move mistake where I should have gotten secondary but moved a unit out of order resulting in me being too far from the center objective to claim it. Solid victory, a lot learned.

Round 5:
Deployment: Modified DoW (18” deployment)

Primary : KP/VP

Secondary: Seize Ground

Tertiary: Advance! (Units fully in enemy’s deployment)

Bonus Points (5): More Table Quarters; No enemy scoring units in Deployment; Destroy all enemy troop choices; More VP; More Terrain features.

Simon Leen – Witchhunters - SoB

Sisters of Battle with Inducted Guard:

Cannoness, Book of St. Lucius, Bolter, boltpistol, ccw, x4 Celestians, x2 Meltas, Sister Superior, Immolator, smoke (207)

Celestians x4, x2 Melta, Sister Superior, Immolator, smoke (153)

Celestians x4, x2 Melta, Sister Superior, Immolator, smoke (153)

Celestians x4, x2 Melta, Sister Superior, Immolator, smoke (153)

Dominions x4, x3 flamers, Sister Superior, Immolator, smoke (150)

Dominions x4, x3 flamers, Sister Superior, Immolator, smoke (150)

Dominions x4, x3 flamers, Sister Superior, Immolator, smoke (150)

Immolator, Smoke (68)

Immolator, Smoke (68)

Immolator, Smoke (68)

Inducted Guard x5, x2 Melta (70)

Inducted Guard x5, x2 Melta (70)

Inducted Guard x5, x2 Melta (70)

IG PCS x4 Flamers, x1 Chimera (105)

IG Squad, lascannon (70)

IG Squad, lascannon (70)

IG HWS, x3 Autocannons (75)

My Second Mirror Match from Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre!!

I was tired and feeling a bit unwell at the start of the round, but Simon was a great opponent, and both of our enthusiasm for the rematch really helped keep me focused. As soon as I won the roll off he was pretty sure he had lost the game. With more then double the possible KP I could see his point, but the dice were not with me…

Game started nice and clean, but I had two major problems… First my bikes failed 9 out of the first 11 3+ saves (I have it on video) I had to make, completely collapsing one whole side of my advance… Secondly I could not wreck vehicles, my chronic curse returned. My scouts managed FIVE penetrating hits vs a stationary Immolator on the first round of close combat, I stuned it and pulled it turret off.. It took 4 phases with the Sergeant’s Meltabombs to finally crack it… That is how the whole game went until turn 5. I finally got multiple wrecks and explosions, thinning out the “herd” but by that point the damage was done. I won the game, and it was a solid victory, but I did not get secondary, tertiary or most of the bonus points. The MVP was oddly enough the same scout squad that took 4 phases to kill a stationary vehicle, they held out for almost 7 close combat phases vs first one and then finally three sisters of battle squads!

Again all in all a great tourney and I plan to go back next year!

 The prize support was exceptional and the staff friendly!