"Appropriate quote."

Edwin Voskamp's WH40K Battlereport 7: Eldar vs. Space Marines (2000 points)

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Introduction

[Space Marines INTRO]

"Space Marines quote"

* * *

Eldar looked tiredly at the assembled Warhost and spoke: "The 4th Company we've been fighting has been joined by a powerful Psyker from their Chapter Head Quarters. The runes indicate that if we kill him, overall there will be more skeins that lead to success for our Eternal Night."

He looked at the warriors: "I have found some probabilities that lead us to confront them without a detachment from their First Company: if we move fast, we will not have to face the dreaded Terminators. We have to act now and move fast. Unfortunately that does not leave us the time to wake Dreadnoughts or Wraithguard."

He snapped up his head and closed his eyes as his hands moved to the Seer Runes in the pouch on his belt. He seemed to be lost in a trance. The troops waited without even moving a muscle. Later, Eldrad looked up and said: "Either rheir psyker is better than I felt, or these humans are lucky. A detachment of their Fourth Company is forging our way in a Forced March to deal us a preemptive strike. We will deploy on the edge of the destroyed village near the forest. "

As he spoke with confidence, he sketched out his plans: "The Dire Avengers and Warp Spiders will lead. Upon first contact, the Dire Avengers will fall back in defensive positions and the Warp Spiders will engage at will. The close combat troupes will run around them to engage the main body of their forces. The Dark Reapers will set up in the back on a small hill and provide covering fire. I will support you from there!"

"We will suffice!"

House Rules

See my House Rules higher up on this Web page.

The Armies

Space Marines Army

Part of the 'Death Angels Chapter, Fourth Company' (Origin).

1996 points, XX models: 7 characters, 4 squads (20 models) and 14 support vehicles.

Characters/Squads/Support: XXXX:XXXX:XXXX or XX:XX:XX%.

Characters

Captain ??

Chief Librarian ??

Lexicanium ??

Chaplain ??

2 Techmarines

Apothecary ??

Squads

7th Assault Squad, split in two Combat squads ??

9th Devastator Squad, split in two Combat squads ??

Support

Thudd Gun Squadron

Thudd Gun Squadron

Land Speeder Squad, of the 8th Assault Squad ??

Eldar Army

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

2000 points, 47 models: 8 characters, 9 squads (39 models) and no support vehicles.

Characters/Squads/Support: 941:1059:0 or 47:53:0%.

Characters

Eldrad Ulthran - Farseer or Ulthwé (272)

Dire Avenger Exarch (91)

Dark Reaper Exarch (135)

Howling Banshee Exarch (95)

Swooping Hawk Exarch (114)

Striking Scorpion Exarch (76)

Warp Spider Exarch (158)

Squads

Dire Avenger Squad (88)

Dark Reaper Squad (201)

Dark Reaper Squad (201)

Swooping Hawk Squad (140)

Howling Banshees (135)

Striking Scorpions (130)

Warp Spider Squad (164)

Support

None.

Pre-Battle

Mission Cards were kept secret.

Space Marines

Mission

Engage and Destroy

Strategy Cards

Forced March

Look out sir, aargh!

Psychic Powers

??

Psychic Powers

Carmine Assassin

Teleport

Vortex

Salamander

Plan

??

Eldar

Mission

Witch Hunt

Strategy Cards

Brilliant Strategy

Malfunction

Crack Shot

Psychic Powers

Mind War

Doom

Executioner

Battle Fate

Plan

The basic plan was to kill the Chief Librarian and deny him his mission.

Against Dawn Raid: Dark Reapers, Warp Spiders, Swooping Hawks.

Against Take and Hold: Run the close combat troops up the forest and take his objective.

Against Witch Hunt and The Assassins: Keep Eldrad save.

Against Engage and Destroy: Use 5-man squads, pull back heavily damaged squads and do not sacrifice squads.

Against Guerilla War: only use Striking Scorpions, Howling Banshees and Exarchs in hand-to-hand, unless it is to kill the Chief Librarian.

The order of batlle would be:

Destroy the Devastators

Destroy the Land Speeders

Kill the Chief Librarian

Destroy the Thudd Guns

Assorted secondary objectives are:

Deny his Assault Squads to Charge anything but Striking Scorpions

Ignore Techmarines and Servitors (worth no victory points) and go for the Thudd guns themselves.

Kill squads completely, for victory points

After set up the basic idea was to swarm the forest with hand-to-hand troops, kill Devastators and Land Speeders with Dark Reapers and use Warp Spiders as an harassment and interdiction force, to prevent his right Assault squad from closing, until the Dark Reapers are freed up to engage them on Overwatch. Then use Warp Spiders and/or Swooping Hawks to take out squad remnants, Thudd guns and sacrifice one in hand-to-hand with the Chief Librarian and kill him.

The Battle

Setup

Space Marines played Forced March.

Eldar played Brilliant Strategy and rolled a 4.

Space Marines

Space Marines set up two Thudd gun squadrons in the back of the far right side of their setup zone, screened by the 'light' combat squad of the Devastator Squad. In front of them, on top of a hill, the 'heavy' half of the Devastator Squad. The captain in between these two groups, and the Chief Librarian nearby.

Towards the left flank an Assault combat squad, with the Lexicanium. On the right wing, screened by the hill the Landspeeder Squadron, followed by the other Assault Combat Squad with the Chaplain.

Eldar

After the Space Marines on Forced March took the top of the hill with the Heavy Devastator Squad, in hard cover, they covered most of my setup zone. Most of the house ruins were open on the axis towards the hill, so they were out. From experience I know how nasty the Land Speeders are, on Combat Speed, or better, whipping around the end and strafing my Deployment Zone lenghtwise.

I setup the Dark Reapers to the far right of my setup zone, with a line on the hill with the Devastators and a lot of space to line up incoming Land Speeders. I put Eldrad behind them, far away from heavy weaponry and with space to run along my Deployment Zone, from hand-to-hand troops, or into the forest, behind Striking Scorpions and Howling Banshees.

The Dire Avengers were set up in the middle of my deployment zone, to draw the fire of the Devastators, and, for the survivors, to go on Overwatch against low-flying Assault squads.

The Striking Scorpions and Howling Banshees set up behind the Dire Avengers, with what cover they could find, ready to run for the forest.

The Warp Spiders hid in the ruins of a house to the back of the Dire Avengers.

The Swooping Hawks set up behind trees, in the farthest right corner of my Deployment zone, as it is my habit to have them Fly High on turn one.

Space Marines Infiltrated Troops

None.

Eldar Infiltrated Troops

None.

Final Preparations

None.

Movement

Space Marines won the roll to go first (6 vs. 5).

Final Thoughts

Space Marines

Eldar

Those Devastators have to go. I have the Malfunction card to play on the Lascannon: it is sudden death on any of my troops and it has enormous range. It also has enough penetratrion to take down walls of house ruins. The Dark Reapers have to take them out on turn one. After that they will take Chris' Thudd gun fire. If I can trade both Dark Reaper squads for the Devastator squads and a Land Speeder, I'll be happy.

The Thuddguns are very well set up: I can't get Swooping Hawks to overfly, and there is too much Overwatch fire to land and shoot.

Turn 1

Space Marines

Movement

Left Assault squad moves to the forest.

Landspeeders move forward,followed by the second squad.

Fire

Devastator Squad Lite goes on Overwatch.

Heavy Weapon squad fires at Dire Avengers.

Missile Launcher fires Frag missile: hit front guy, next to it, and catches Exarch: 2 Dire Avengers are dead.

Two Heavy Bolters: 1 hits, 2 SD: 4 hits.

Lascannon fires and Malfunction (Eldar Strategy Card). Trooper gets wounded, but saves.

Hand-to-hand

None.

Psychic Phase

3D cards: 10.

Space Marines plays Energy Drain

Eldar

Movement

Swooping Hawks Fly High.

Striking Scorpions and Howling Banshees Run for the forest.

Dire Avenger Runs towards hill.

Warp Spiders Warp 17-18" forward to house beside left target.

Fire

Both Dark Reaper Squads and their lone Exarch go to Overwatch.

Hand-to-hand

(List all hand-to-hand combat, then add results and follow-ups)

Psychic Phase

3D6 cards: 8.

Eldar passes (Daemonic Attack, Reflection, 2 Nullify)

Space Marines passes

Eldar retains 1

Space Marines retains 2

Victory points

Space Marines (1)

1: Dire Avenger squad Destroyed

Eldar (0)

Turn 2

Space Marines

Movement

Left Dark Reaper Squad fires 3 Frag missiles, that all miss. First one blows up in the pipe, destroying Missile Launcher, hitting one other, no wounds. Other two scatter off.

Exarch shoots and kills leader, no heavy weapon. Shoots again, kills Missile Launcher and Jams.

Second squad fires, miss two, kills one.

Remainder of Squad Runs back towards the Support Batteries.

Assault Squad near the forest runs back.

Land Speeder Squadron speeds up to Combat speed and charges across the back field.

Fire

Lexicanum goes on Overwatch.

Devastator Squad Lite remains on Overwatch.

Landspeeder Squad fires at Warp Spider Squad with Heavy Flamers and kill one.

Landspeeder Squad fires at Striking Scorpions with Multi Meltas and kills 3 Striking Scorpions and Break

First Thudd gun hits two: misses to catch in center, does not wound guy next to him. Second gun firing hits two, kills one and one saves.

Second Thudd gun hits twice: misses to catch in center, wounds guy next to him, saves. Second gun gets one, does not catch another and fails to wound the one.

Hand-to-hand

None.

Psychic Phase

3D6 cards: 9.

Space Marines: Teleport Chief Librarian 4D6 (11") across to the center.

Eldar: Mind War (out of range).

Space Marines: Vortex (Nullified)

Eldar: Pass

Space Marines: Carmine Assassin (kills one Warp Spider)

Eldar: Pass

Eldar

Movement

Striking Scorpions move sideways into a building (Broken).

Howling Banshees Run into forest.

Warp Spiders split to engage Land Speeders.

Dire Avenger walks up to get in Short Range.

Fire

Dark Reaper Exarch clears Jam.

Dark Reaper squads go on Overwatch.

Warp Spiders fire at Land Speeders.

Warp Spider Exarch fires at Land Speeders: kill all four crew. The two spiders jump back into the building.

Hand-to-hand

None.

Psychic Phase

3D6 cards: 11.

Eldar: Battle Fate on Dark Reapers.

Space Marines: Teleport, not Nullified, use Seer Runes

Eldar: pass

Space Marines: Salamander, Nullify fails, nullify works.

Eldar: pass

Victory points

Space Marines (3)

1: Dire Avenger squad Destroyed

1: Warp Spider squad 50% Destroyed

1: Striking Scorpion squad 50% Destroyed

Eldar (4)

1: Devastator squad 50% Destroyed

3: Land Speeder squad (290) Destroyed

Turn 3

Space Marines

Movement

The left Land Speeder slews left 45 degrees, the Dire Avenger Exarch avoids being hit and it rams the ground, the resulting explosion (5) throwing the flaming wreck 11" to the left. The other slews 45 degrees right, to the back edge of the table and the explosion throws it left into the ruins of a building.

The left Assault squad steps back some to receive the Banshees' charge.

Right Dark Reaper squad takes its Overwatch fire and hits the Librarian twice (2 6s), wounds him (2 6s) and does 13 wounds (3+10); he is dead and the squad exhonerated itself.

The other Assault squad comes from over to the left.

The Thudd guns take indirect fire aim at the two Dark Reaper squads again.

Fire

The Thudd guns take indirect fire aim at the two Dark Reaper squads again.

Hand-to-hand

None.

Psychic Phase

2D6 cards: 10.

Space Marines: pass

Eldar: pass

Eldar retains 3 cards.

Eldar

Movement

Left Dark Reapers step up the hill, their Exarch in front of them. The other spreads out against Thudd gun hits. Eldrad runs around the hill to close.

Howling Banshees Run forward, as do the Striking Scorpions.

The Dire Avenger Exarch moves around the building to get a line of fire on the Psyker.

Warp Spider Exarch jumps a full 18" forward.

Swooping Hawks land in the ruins in the Space Marines' Deployment zone, under Overwatch fire from the Heavy Bolter (1), that misses.

Warp Spiders Jump 14" forward.

Fire

Swooping Hawks fire at the Assault squad: 3 fire, 1 hit, wounded, saved.

Dire Avenger Exarch fires at Psyker: fires Armour Piercing Ammo, 6 for hit, 6 for wound: dead.

Warp Spiders fire at Psyker/Assault squad: kill 2 and Jump back, into a building.

Dark Reaper Exarch fires at Assault squad: hits, 3 sustained, 3 wounded, 2 dead. Second shot, 1 hit, no wound and a Jam.

Hand-to-hand

None.

Psychic Phase

1D6 cards: 2.

Eldar: pass

Victory points

Space Marines (3)

1: Dire Avenger squad Destroyed

1: Warp Spider squad 50% Destroyed

1: Striking Scorpion squad 50% Destroyed

Eldar (13)

1: Devastator squad 50% Destroyed

3: Land Speeder squad (290) Destroyed

3: Chief Librarian

1: Lexicanium

5: Primary Mission

Turn 4

Space Marines

None.

Movement

Left Assault squad with the Chaplain charges Swooping Hawks. After scatter Chaplain and Sergeant engage Exarch, two others engage regular Hawks.

Captain moves back.

Fire

Captain goes to Overwatch.

Assault squad remains on Overwatch.

Devastator Lite Rapid Fires at one Warp Spider: 4 hits, 2 wounds: saves (2 1s): he's dead.

Heavy Bolter fires at Howling Banshees: Misses.

Left Thudd gun squad fires: both hit. First one catches one Dark Reaper twice, 1 hits and saves. Dark Reaper saves.

Right Thudd gun squad fires: Both miss, one scatters on top of the left Dark Reaper squad, hits an Exarch, wound, fails save and one other; doesn't wound. Second scatters of the board.

Hand-to-hand

Assault trooper with Chainsword and Plasma pistol versus Swooping Hawk: 3 hits, 3 wounds, 3 failed saves; he's dead.

Assault trooper with Chainsword and Bolt pistol: 3 hits, 2 wounds, both failed to save .

Chaplain and Sergeant with Power Fist and Hand Flamer engage Exarch: Exarch does two hits, 1 wound, fails save: Sergeant is dead. Chaplain does 3 hits, 2 wounds. Fails both Conversion saves and Armour saves, including Battle Fortunes save.

Swooping Hawks make Break test.

Psychic Phase

1D6 cards: .

Eldar: Dooms Chaplain

Eldar: Battle Fate on Howling Banshees

Eldar: Ultimate Force & two cards Mind War on chaplain: 2 Wounds; he's dead.

Eldar

Movement

Banshees Charge Assault squad: 2 can engage.

Swooping Hawks Fly High.

Eldrad runs forward.

Dark Reaper Exarch steps back.

Warp Spider Jumps forward (8")

Warp Spider Exarch Jumps into Hand-to-Hand combat with two remaining Devastator Heavys.

Assault Squad takes Overwatch fire: two with Bolt Pistols take out Lasgun with two hits. One with Plasma pistol hits Heavy bolter guy.

Fire

Striking Scorpions go to Overwatch.

Dire Avenger Exarch goes to Overwatch.

Dark Reapers fire at Devastator squad: both miss.

Warp Spider kills one Devastator Lite and misses the Captain.

Hand-to-hand

Banshee kills one trooper.

Warp Spider Exarch kills Devastator Heavy,

Psychic Phase

1D6 cards: 4.

Eldar: MindWar assault trooper, nullified.

Victory points

Space Marines (5)

1: Dire Avenger squad Destroyed

2: Swooping Hawk Exarch killed

1: Warp Spider squad 50% Destroyed

1: Striking Scorpion squad 50% Destroyed

1: Primary Mission, Swooping Hawk Exarch

1: Primary Mission, Dire Avenger Squad

Eldar (20)

1: Assault squad 50% Destroyed

1: Devastator Lite squad 50% Destroyed

3: Devastator squad Destroyed

3: Land Speeder squad (290) Destroyed

3: Chief Librarian

1: Lexicanium

1: Chaplain

5: Primary Mission, Chief Librarian

1: Primary Mission, Lexicanium

1: Primary Mission, Chaplain

Post Mortem

Space Marines

Eldar

All in all a very satisfactorily game, although there seems to be a severe imbalance between me playing my Eldar 'Fire Warhost of Eternal Night' and Chris fielding his 'Fourth Company of the Dark Angels Chapter': it was a massacre. So much, and in line with the previous games that we have to determine if the Eldar are overpriced: we'll re-run the battle, switching sides.

I was extremely happy in that for the first time I managed to use all the elements of my warhost. I had no elements that were ineffective, cannon fodder or that I could not deploy. I think I'm getting to grips with these Eldar.

The Swooping Hawks were not actively used, but they did pin troops back on Overwatch, pushed back an Assault squad and Captain, for fear of a 36" grenade bombing run. They were slaughtered in hand-to-hand, as expected, but, unexpectedly, the Exarch died quickly too.

It was the first time I got to use the Dark Reaper Exarch, with his Shuriken Cannon and he is very effective. It was the first time I managed to engage with the Howling Banshees and I think I'm learning how to better use them.