Tyranids – HOUSE OF GECKO

Alan has another of his battle reports for us today, with his Rout facing off against the Tyranid horde! See how he fares…

The Valhalla System, Oathed in fealty to the Allfather, the Wolf King and the Vl legion since the days of the Great Crusade. Vital industrial worlds for the supply of arms and munitions to the Chapter cut off from the light of Holy Terra. Threatened on all sides by the spawn of laughing gods.

A desperate garbled distress signal is received by the light cruiser ‘Morkaii’s Axe’, from the Imperial Governor of Valhalla.

Defenceless, weak, dammed, alone.

The silent null of the approach of the tyrannids. Ragankok nears.

The Sons of Russ appear, the lords of winter and war, the executioners, the fury and savagery of a storm, the vengeance of a galaxy wronged, the Allfathers most loyal sons.

This is the grim darkness of the 41st millennium, there is only war in the Allfather’s Domains!

Dawn of War set up with six objectives placed as per the mission ‘the Scouring’. Units are placed alternatively with the player who placed their last unit first getting the first turn, which ensured the wolves would be going first unless the initiative was ceased.

Long fangs take up position on what turns out to be the superior objective.

Blood claw pack and ferensian wolves screen the centre.

The Vlka Gungnir took defensive positions covering the back field, trying to give the long fangs and hellblasters good fire arcs. Two combat packs of infiltrators are utilised to deny any Deep striking Tyranid charges.

The Vlka Gungnir prepare to face the red tide.

The tyranids set up with a large castle as a right hook with lots of units ready to deep strike held in reserve. With the superior objective held by my long fangs and the inferior objective in the tyranids deployment zone, the wolves expected a hard fight against the lightning quick Hive Fleet Kraken.

Turn one, assets of the vlka gungnir advance, the repulsor slaying a horde of gaunts to claim first blood. Ferensian wolves screen the repulsor as the blood claws sprint into the central ruins.

The Hive Fleet prepare to devour the Vlka Gungnir! Deep striking xenos beasts of all descriptions appear with the flying Hove Tyrant and Trygon popping up as a left hook. Genestealers advance through the centre, and the remaining termagaunt brood supported by a carnifex advancing as a right hook.

Tyranid psychic and shooting turns thinned out a hellblasters pack and the ferisian wolf screen is almost obliterated! The mighty repulsor ‘Wrath of Fenris’ takes some serious punishment, but the Vlka Gungnir stand firm.

Turn two sees the long fangs frag missile the termagaunt brood down to the last few, and the repulsor obliterates the carnifex in a hail of fire. The Vlka Gungnir are feeling confident about holding the left flank and the superior objective with it.

The blood claw pack holding the centre with wolf priest Baldur the Grim fail their charges into the genestealer brood. They prepare to face their wrath and that of the Broodlord next turn. The surviving hellblasters supporting the right flank succumbe to overcharging plasma attempting to slay the trygon.

Tyranid turn two sees the genestealers charge into the bloodclaws.

The hive tyrant sweeps across the battlefield, attempting to down the Storm Hawk ‘Gungnir ‘

Safe from overwatch the Broodlord made a mighty charge into the bloodclaws only for Baldur the Grim to heroically intervene!

The Broodlord strikes first, severely wounding Baldur the Grim – however, the wolves interrupt the combat phase and fight the genestealers with the bloodclaws who in a savage frenzy slew them all!

Turn three for the Wolves saw the blood claws consolidate on the center field objective and rune priest Leif Stormbreaker charging into the Broodlord, smiting the Gould beast before summoning ‘Fury of the Wolf Spirits’ granting six additional attacks with ‘Freki and Geri’. Baldur the Grim is felled before Leif slays the Broodlord in epic combat. The storm hawk Gungnir manages to slay the hive tyrant in a hail of fire ensuring victory for the Vlka Gungnir!

A savage battle sees victory for the Vlka Gungnir, 7-5 on victory points, my opponent shaking hands after seeing his Hive Tyrant, Brood lord and genestealer brood slain. It was a close run match however, and the interruption of combat by the bloodclaws probably swung it for the Vlka Gungnir. I have no doubt they would have been slain to a man by the genestealers if they didn’t fight first.

Alan’s Post Battle Reflection

List wise it was the first time using some units, the repulsor ‘Wrath of Fenris’ was excellent on its debut, slaying a termagaunt brood for first blood and popping a carnifex to blunt the tyranid right hook. I need to utilise its transport capability better as it is a large points sink.

I have struggled with pure primaris lists so have commenced primaris sizing space wolf specific units such as the bloodclaws seen today. This provides cheaper troop choices for list building and helped with getting more bodies on the table. They did an excellent job against the genestealers and claimed the center objective. The Space Wolf chapter tactic allowing +1 to hit when charging or being charged allowed for an awful lot of hits and I would name them the MVP unit.

On the other side of the scale is probably my hellblaster packs, they are expensive points wise and with only one damage unless overcharging didn’t provide the firepower to threaten the tyranid big beasts. I will be working on primaris sized long fang packs in the near future to provide more options in that slot.

Brilliant battle report Alan, that was a close one! Looks like the Wrath of Fenris really put the work in, good floaty tank!

Today, Matt brings us a Battle Report on the recent defence of Hive City by the Imperium forces stationed there…

The cold wind sweeps across the battlements. Cpt. Ajax Norbreth of the Tempestus Scions looks out over the dreary world as rain lashed his armour. Down to his left, ranks of Imperial Guard soldiers of the Aluesian 110th Infantry stand ready in defensive positions, on his right, more ranks of weathered soldiers. Behind them were the Leman Russ tanks, like hungry predators they wait. The low grumble of engines can be heard across the ramparts. Across his vox, “Ajax, where are the seething mass?” a low voice grumbled, coming from the Command Tank ‘Aluesian Fury’. “No Idea Ironhead, usually the beasts are on time” he jested back at the senior commander. Without giving time for reply from the General came the reply that would signify the end to any joy or happiness. The feral screams and roars sounded like a hurricane approaching, and then suddenly the ground breaks open and in pours the Xenos filth. Thousands of tyranids, swarming, massing, writhing to get to their next meal. In that split second it was almost calm, and then the thunder of guns destroyed the afternoon.

Hive Fleet Kraken crashes against the Imperials like a wave into the rocks of a cove. There is no end to them, but the city needs time to evacuate key personnel. So the Imperial defence has to hold. It would have been a lot more difficult had Inquisitor Lok not sent a call to requisition the specialist Emperor’s Chosen warriors of the Deathwatch. This reinforcement increased the chances of victory… in a minuscule increment. Nonetheless, Kraken will be repelled. Like an immovable object the Imperium will hold. Must hold.

Deathwatch Veterans engages with vicious Genestealers. They fight to take the attention away from the guardsmen.

As the Battle wears on, the feral beasts of Hive Kraken pushes into Imperial lines. Sustained bombardment from hive guard tyranid beasts destroys a mighty Deathwatch Corvus. The immediate assault is swift and brutal. But now within effective weapons range, and close enough for Astartes to utilise their hulking aggression and fighting prowess, the Imperium gets to swing its mighty hammer. A valiant squad of deathwatch Veterans, led by a Black Templar begin a suicidal March into Xenos lines. Librarian M’Batu from the Salamanders chapter follows to provide much needed psychic power, known by all Aleusians for the deeds performed only weeks earlier against the foul forces of the Arch Enemy.

Librarian M’Batu gives support to the heroic Deathwatch Veterans charging into the mouth of destruction

One of the foul beasts swoops and dives into imperials lines, plucking soldiers from the ramparts.

The advance continues, it never ends. It’s almost monotonous, the constant thud of guns and the screech of alien death. But shaking from the battle, an enormous beast, identified via short range auspex scans, known as ‘Old One Eye’ comes screeching across the battlefield. The Deathwatch know no fear and stand firm in the face of an enormous tide. Their stormbolters and chainswords barking and growling as they tear aliens piece from piece.

‘Old One Eye’ crashes through the battlefield. The Veterans hold firm, relishing the challenge that is to come.

As afternoon slinks away and night takes hold. The battlefield is illuminated by fire and flash. It is clear now that the situation is increasingly perilous. The never ending wave of monstrous creatures and horde of mindless creatures shows no hope. But the Emperor’s champions need no hope. They relish the horde. A glorious death in combat awaits. For the Emperor they continue to slay and fight. Their fury unending – the death toll mounts.

Two armoured sentinels dash forward in an attempt to flame out the beasts. The Swarmlord roars and shreds them in half, leaving a mess of metal and dead guardsmen

Ratling Raus sneaks through the enemy advance and manages to launch 6 satchel charges at the beast, wounding it severely. This actions saved many lives… but alas, was not enough

The guns of the Imperium roared continuously. The thud of armour silences the skies. Shrieks and roars of alien beasts competed for their moment… and overpowered the forces of Man. In the dying stages of battle, tanks, guns, even satchel charges thrown from brave ratlings was not enough. The Hive consumes all. It leaves nothing in its wake. It just digests and then moves to the next source of biomass. The Imperium is lost in this battle. But the war, the war rages on. The Deathwatch and the Aluesians will have their chance for glory soon enough.