"Appropriate quote."

Edwin Voskamp's WH40K Battlereport 6: Eldar vs. Chaos undivided (2700 points)

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Introduction

[CHAOS INTRO]

""

* * *

Eldrad closed his eyes and shivered as he felt the forces of Chaos gather. Tiredly he dropped the seer runes in the bag on his waist and spoke with calm resignation.

"The forces of Chaos are seeking to destroy us; followers of many of their foul gods are allied against us. With their dark gods' strength they have kept the composition of their forces from me. We will have to wait until their forces are aligned against us. A group of Scouts is trying to get us information.

Therefore, we will not take any of the Guardians; this is a battle for the Aspects. Neither will we take the Dreadnoughts; we want to remain fluid.

As usual, I will form the center with the Wraithguard. The Dark Reapers with their Exarch will stay with me to deploy to the side their attack comes from. The Dire Avengers shall deploy in front of us to stop any force moving in on us. The Swooping Hawks will remain behind our forces and fly up to get us information. The Striking Scorpions will follow the Avatar when He arrives to support Him in His attack. The Fire Dragons shall follow behind, to defend the Avatar. A squad of Dark Reapers will set up behind them to keep heavy weapons away from them. Tthe Warp Spiders deploy to the right and act as they see fit".

He looked at each of the warriors, so full of terrible resolve within their warrior personae:

"May our spirits be save from this abomination!"

House Rules

In addition to our current House Rules, we used these additional rules:

1. Hand-to-Hand combat is to the death. When engaged in hand-to-hand, we keep going through combat turns until the combat is resolved, within a single turn of play.

The Armies

Chaos Army

Characters

Chaos Space Marine Commander of Tzeentch

Chaos Space Marine Hero of Tzeentch

Chaos Magus Master

Squads

2 Terminator Squads

Chaos Space Marine Squad

Chaos Space Marine Squad

Daemons

Blood Thirster

8 Flesh Hounds

Support

Predator

Land Raider

Eldar Army

Part of the 'Fire Warhost of Eternal Night' (Craftworld of Ulthwé).

2699 points, 47 models: 8 characters, 9 squads (39 models) and no support vehicles.

Characters/Squads/Support: 1342:1357:0 or 50:50:0%.

Characters

The Avatar of Khalea Mensa Kaine (300)

Eldrad Ulthran - Farseer or Ulthwé (274)

Dire Avenger Exarch (90)

Fire Dragon Exarch (136)

Dark Reaper Exarch (165)

Swooping Hawk Exarch (135)

Striking Scorpion Exarch (98)

Warp Spider Exarch (144)

Squads

Dire Avenger Squad (88)

Fire Dragon Squad (108)

Dark Reaper Squad (201)

Dark Reaper Squad (201)

Swooping Hawk Squad (112)

Striking Scorpions (104)

Warp Spider Squad (164)

Eldar Scout Squad (200)

Wraithguard (175)

Support

None.

Pre-Battle

Chaos

Mission

Guerilla War (ZY?)

Strategy Cards

Special Issue

Divine inspiration

ZY?

Psychic Powers

Boon of Tzeentch

Bolt of Change

Displacement

Lightning Arc

Plan

Eldar

Mission

Dawn Raid

Strategy Cards

Forced March

Brilliant Strategy

Craven Cowardice

Booby Traps

Psychic Powers

Guide

Mind War

Doom

Eldritch Storm

Plan

The base plan was to hang back and determine what his troops were capable of. I drew Brilliant Strategy and Forced March. I used these to set up the Striking Scorpions and Warp Spiders on the flanks in the forest, as well as the Dire Avengers below the crest of the hill in the center.

The daemons set up on my left wing, with a squad of Assault marines in Jump Packs. Two squads of Terminators and a Devastator squad in the center and a Land Raider and Predator of Change to the right.

This would be the first time I used the Avatar, and I knew my opponent would be bringing a Blood Thirster, therefore I would try to get my Avatar in Hand-to-hand combat with his daemons, where he would be most effective. I put the Striking Scorpions with the Avatar to hold the left side, push it back and roll it up. I put the Fire Dragons with them, to be able to 'bathe' the Avatar in life-giving fire.

The Center: The usual: Eldrad, with 5 Wraithguard zig-zagged in front of him. The Dire Avengers before that, to draw incoming fire. A Dark Reaper squad with the Exarch with Eldrad to redeploy to either flank.

The Right: Warp Spiders, to make their way to the back, with an Exarch with Melta Bombs to attack vehicles. In the end I put the Scouts there as well, to hopefully scrape past his Terminators and get in his backfield.

The Left: The close combat zone: Avatar, in cover of the ruins where a squad of Dark Reapers were ready to provide long-range fire-support. Ahead of them Striking Scorpions in the woods, with Fire Dragons to the side.

Various: Swooping Hawks in the back, in cover, to fly high on turn one.

The Battle

Setup

Chaos

Chaos set up demons first, with the Blood Thirster and Flesh Hounds on the Eldar left. The Tzeentch Mage hid behind a building in the center.

Eldar

The Eldar set up the Dire Avengers on the back slope of the center hill. Scorpions were set up on the left flank, and Warp Spiders on the right flank.

Chaos

A 5 man squad of Thousand Sons with jump packs set up behind the Flesh Hounds, a Hero, the Captain and a 5 man squad of Thousand Sons set up in the middle. The right flank had a Predator and a landraider. The Tzeentch Terminator squad deployed at the right of the trees to the right of the magus. The Khornate Terminators deployed to the left of the center Thousand Sons squad.

Eldar

A squad of Dark Reapers deployed on the building to the left, with the Avatar next to them. The Fire Dragons were on the left flank outside of the forest. Eldrad deployed in the center building, with the Wraithguard to his left, and a Dark Reaper squad (with Exarch) to his right in the building.

Eldar Infiltrated Troops

The Scouts were deployed to the right of the center hill in the forest.

Final Preparations

The Chaos army played Divine Inspiration.

Movement

Chaos won the roll to go first.

Final Thoughts

Chaos

This army is not prepared to fight infantry.

Eldar

Why did I bring the Scouts?

Turn 1

Chaos

Eldar played Traps, killed 2 Thousand Sons in the center, didn't get the Commander.

Movement

The Flesh Hounds charged the Striking Scorpions. Two were engaged, one was engaged by two.

Blood Thirster moves left to the edge of the woods. Jump troops jump to the left of the Blood Thirster. After minor scatter they ended up out of coherecny distance. The Commander runs forward and set off the Traps, but Terminator armour saves. The Land Raider moved forward up the corridor in the right trees and the Predator moved forward to the right of the trees. The Thousand Sons in the center moved to regain coherency and lost one move. The Chaos Hero warp jumped and was jammed. He wanted to get behind the SS and ended up to the left front of the Wraithguard in the clear. The Terminators all moved forward, going around the hill to the left (Tzeentch) and the right (Khorne).

Fire

Predator to fire at a Warp Spider, Assault cannon hits 4 times, lascannon hits, 1 dead Warp Spider.

Land Raider fires a lascannon at a Scout, twin linked lascannon hits,

Lascannon shoots at Fire Dragon, misses

3 Khornate Terminator, 1 with Assault cannon, shoot at Wraithguard, Stormbolters out of range. Assault cannon, 4 hits, wraith guard wounded then knocked down, the other is knocked down.

Chaos Champion throws Stasis grenade at Wraithguard, hits one that is wounded and down and sucks in the one that is on the edge of the effect.

Hand-to-hand

Flesh Hound vs. Scorpion: Scorpion wins first round, 4 hits, 2 wounds, dead Flesh Hound

Flesh Hound vs. Scorpion: two rounds of combat, Flesh Hound dies

2 Flesh Hounds vs. Scorpion: first Flesh Hound does 5 wounds and kills.

Two Flesh Hounds follow up into Scorpions

Psychic Phase

6 cards.

Chaos: Boon of Tzeentch, works

Eldar: Mindwar on Assault cannon Terminator, not Nullified, 1 wound.

Chaos: Displacement on Hero, Ultimate force, in base to base contact with SS Exarch.

Eldar: Guide on Wraithguard, dead Khornate Terminator

Eldar

The Stasis grenade remains.

Movement

Unengaged Scorpion charges Flesh Hound. Avatar charges Flesh Hound.

Both squads of Dark Reapers, the Dire Avengers and the Fire Dragons go to overwatch.

Wraithguard move right. Scouts move to get lines of fire on the Terminators. Warp Spider Exarch jumps Land Raider, other Spiders sit. Swooping Hawks fly high.

Fire

6 Scouts fire. 3 hits, none dead.

Hand-to-hand

Avatar vs. Flesh Hound: Flesh Hound dies.

SS vs. Flesh Hound (charging): Mandiblasters wound, long combat, Flesh Hound dies.

SS vs. Flesh Hound: Mandiblaster wounds, Scorpion dies.

SS vs. Flesh Hound: Mandiblaster misses, Scorpions dies

SS Exarch vs. Hero: Mandiblaster wounds, SS dies

Warp Spider blows off Land Raider's tracks.

Psychic Phase

7 cards

Eldar: Guide Nullified

Chaos: Boon of Tzeentch, Nullified

Eldar: Mind War, kills Tzeentch Assault cannon Terminator

Chaos: Displacement on Commander, Nullified

Eldar: Pass

Chaos: Energy Drain

Victory points

Chaos (2)

SS Exarch (1+1 for engage and destroy), 50% SS squad

Eldar (3)

50% Flesh Hound squad, 50% Thousand Sons squad, damaged Land Raider.

Turn 2

Stasis grenade stays.

Chaos

Movement

Flesh Hound and Blood Thirster charge Avatar, jumppack squad charges SS. Terminators charge Scouts.

Overwatch: 2DA at Terminator, 1 hit, 1 on SF, no wounds

Exarch: Hits, 1 on SF, 1 wounds, saved.

Center DR: 2 hits on Land Raider, penetrates lascannon, destroys, penetrates track, flips Land Raider over, all troops survive.

FD and Exarch fire at cluster around Avatar. Two hit and Exarch. All hit same Flesh Hound, it's very dead.

Left DR fire at Predator, 1 hit, hull, no penetration.

Predator runs down left and into forest. Runs down 2 Warp Spiders, one dies. Hits tree, fails to penetrate, rolls a 10 penetration on damage reflection.

Terminator and captain move forward to the left of the hill.

Fire

Predator shoots Warp Spider. Assault Cannon 2SF dice, 5 hits

Land Raider crew, 3 hits, two wounds, both save.

Magus at Scout. Hits, wounds, Scouts saves.

Hand-to-hand

SS vs. Flesh Hound and 3 marines (1 with Power Fist): Mandiblasters miss.

Avatar vs 2 Flesh Hounds, Hero and Blood Thirster: Avatar kills all but Blood Thirster, who kills Avatar, and remains unwounded.

Terminators kill Scout squad.

Psychic Phase

11 cards

Chaos: Boon of Tzeentch

Eldar: Guide on Wraithguard to Blood Thirster, Nullified.

Chaos: Displacement on Magus Nullified

Eldar: Doom on Blood Thirster, Nullified

Chaos: Pass

Eldar: Mind War on Blood Thirster, Nullified

Eldar

Movement

Dire Avengers move up the hill. Warp Spider Exarch jumped to wipe out Land Raider crew. Wraithguard move left around the hill.

All the DR go onto onverwatch.

Fire

FD shoot at Blood Thirster, 1 hit, 5 wounds, Exarch, two hits, one fail to wound, 3 wounds.

DR Exarch shoots at Blood Thirster 2 hits 6+jam on SF dice, 1 wounds, does one wound

2 DA shoot at khorne Terminator on left 1 hit, 3 on SF, 1 wound, saves

2 DA shoot at Tzeentch Terminator at right 1 hit, 3 on SF, 1 wound, saves

Exarch at lascannon trooop hits, 1 on SF die, fails to wound

WS Exarch kills all the Land Raider troops.

Wraithguard shoots, 1 hits and displaces Terminator Sergeant forward

Hand-to-hand

SH fight Magus. 2 Hawks die, Exarch does 1 wound and magus displaces up hill.

Psychic Phase

6 cards

Eldar: Pass

Chaos : Boon of Tzeentch, Nullified

Eldar: Pass

Chaos: Lightning arc, kills 4 DA.

Eldar: Mind war on Blood Thirster, dead.

Chaos: Displacement

Eldar: Guide on Wraithguard

Victory points

Chaos (17)

Squad of DA (1+1), Squad of SS (2+1), Squad of Scouts (2+1), Squad of WS (2+1), SS Exarch (1+1), Avatar (3+1)

Eldar (9)

Hero (2), 50% squad of SM (1), Blood Thirster (3), Flesh Hounds (1), Land Raider (2).

Turn 3

Chaos

Movement

Flesh Hound and jump pack troops charge. Flesh Hound dies to OW fire.

Terminators rejoin.

Fire

Predator shoots WSE.

Terminator shoot Hawks. SH Exarch hit 5 times, 3 wounds.

Term at DA Exarch, does not wound

Captain hits twice. Jams first shot.

Lascannon misses.

3 term at Wraithguard, 3 hits 7 on SF die, 3 penetrate.

Hand-to-hand

troop vs 3 DR: 1 DR dies, 1 DR dies, Chaos marine dies.

FD Exarch kills SM.

SM kills FD

Psychic Phase

9 cards

Chaos: Boon of Tzeentch, Nullified

Eldar: Guide, Nullified

Chaos: passes

Eldar: Mind War on Terminator, Nullified

Eldar

Movement

DR go to overwatch.

DA Exarxh goes to OW.

SH fly high.

Fire

FD hit Terminator, wounds, saves.

Wraithguard hit Terminators, displaces toward Wraithguard.

Hand-to-hand

FD vs. Jump pack troop. FD dies.

FD Exarch vs. Jump pack troopm, Chaos dies..

Psychic Phase

10 cards.

Eldar: Guide Wraithguard to Terminator, Nullified.

Chaos: Boon of Tzeentch, Nullified

Eldar: Pass

Chaos: Displacement

Eldar: Ultimate force on Mind war, on Commander, Nullified by doom of Tzeentch.

Chaos: pass

Eldar: Doom on Chaos Commander

Victory points

Chaos (20)

Squad of DA (1+1), Squad of SS (2+1), Squad of Scouts (2+1), Squad of WS (2+1), SS Exarch (1+1), Avatar (3+1), 50% squad if DR (1), 50% squad of FD (1) , 50% of squad of SH (1)

Eldar (12)

Hero (2), 50% squad of SM (1), Blood Thirster (3), Flesh Hounds (3), Land Raider (2), 50% SM squad (1).

Turn 4

Chaos

Movement

Tzeentch Terminators move forward.

Khorne Terminators move.

DR on OW hits (Khornate Terminator) and fails to wound

DR squad hits Tzeentch Terminators. 2 hits, 2 wounds, 2 dead.

Fire

Khornate Terminators hit 1 Wraithguard, blows up, takes one to warp.

Lascannon shoots last FD.

Hand-to-hand

FD Exarch kills jump pack marine.

Commander kills DA Exarch

Psychic Phase

10 cards.

Chaos: Boon of Tzeentch

Eldar: Guide on Wraithguad kills khornate Terminator.

Chaos: Displacement, Nullified

Eldar: Mind war on Captain, Nullified

Eldar

Movement

None.

Fire

DR at Khorne Terminator, killls

FD Exarch at Khornate Marine, kills

Wraithguard at

DR Exarch

DR blows away Captain, Terminator is hit and saves

Hand-to-hand

None.

Psychic Phase

10 cards.

Eldar: Guide on Dark Reaper, Nullified

Chaos: Displacement on Magus, Nullified

Edlar: Eldritch Storm on Tzeentch Terminators.

Chaos: Psychic Duel.

Eldar: Mind War, stripped.

Victory points

Chaos (23)

Squad of DA (1+1), Squad of SS (2+1), Squad of Scouts (2+1), Squad of WS (2+1), SS Exarch (1+1), Avatar (3+1), 50% squad if DR (1), squad of FD (2+1), 50% of Wraithguard (1), 50% of squad of SH (1)

Eldar (21)

Hero (2), 50% squad of SM (1), Blood Thirster (3), Flesh Hounds (3), Land Raider (2), SM squad (2), Khorne Terminator squad (4), 50% of Tzeentch Terminators (2), Commander (2).

Post Mortem

Chaos

Eldar

I made some mistakes in the army composition:

The Scouts were useless.

The Plan worked, the execution was sloppy:

I lost a Warp Spider to careless setup.

I lost the Warp Spider Exarch to careless setup.

I gave the Conversion Field and Executioner to the Warp Spider Exarch, whereas the Striking Scorpion Exarch should have had it.

I lost a Swooping Hawk to attack a Chaos Magus that was unnecessary. They could have flied up.

I did not follow up the Warp Spider Exarch to the Predator in Hand-to-Hand and use its Melta Bombs.

I used the Warp Spider Exarch to shoot the troops from the Land Raider that were not worth any Victory Points and could not hit anything.

I forgot to land the Swooping Hawks for the Dawn Raid Victory Points.

I also made some mistakes:

Use the Avatar such that it could be charged by five troops plus the Blood Thirster.

All in all a rather satisfactorily game. Despite the 200 points wasted and lack of knowledge about Chaos, facing a rather tough army (Greater Daemon, 8 Daemons, Assault Squad, 13 Terminators and two vehicles) the 'Fire Warhost of Eternal Night' once again proved itself. Just attacking the Predator with the Warp Spider or Swooping Hawk Exarch, or landing the Swooping Hawk squad would have won the battle. Now, I had Eldrad, a Wraithguard, a squad of three Dark Reapers and its Exarch, another Dark Reaper and a Fire Dragon Exarch, a Swooping Hawk Exarch with two Swooping Hawks facing two frozen Terminators out in the open, a Predator and a Chaos Magus with a Lascannon-toting Devastator and a regular Devastator marine behind the hill.

Next time, Chaos will not stand a chance ...