1,500 points vs. Tau (Vassal): VICTORY

Played against someone called Orhanuva today in a vassal 1,500 point game playing the Capture & Control mission (defend your objective, yay! :D) using the Dawn of War deployment (Every game I've played using DoW has either been a defeat or a draw. :( ). Apparently we were fighting over a sewage treatment facility that was in a strategic location or something. Anyways, I managed to sieze the initiative and I almost completely wiped out one of his two Fire Warrior squads in the first turn (he only brought 2, wtf!?). Despite the fact that my chimera was immobilized, it managed to claim 8 fire warriors before it became useless (he took out the turret, and it was at the wrong angle to be able to use its heavy flamer all that well). By turn 5, the chimera was still alive despite taking massed flank fire from a stealth team with a fusion blaster firing at point-blank range, and he was out of fire warriors with which to hold objectives, so all I had to do was hold out until the end of the game (which ended due to server malfunction). Since realistically there was no way he could have won this game, I will call it another victory for the Corvis 08th.

Spring Break Battle Reports Installment 4:

1,500 vs. Orks (Vassal): Given that this was my first solo game against Orks, I think I did fairly well. By turn 6 I had lost both russes, chimera and almost all of my grenadiers, in addition to my platoon HQ. On turn 3 the Ork player got a mob of Boyz entrenched in one of the objectives (it took several turns of massed, sustained fire to finally wipe them off, and even then it didn't happen until turn 6). One of the highlights of the game was when my grenadiers assaulted a mob of Stormboyz and wiped them out in close combat after two turns and only sustained four casualties (I love carapace armor). The game ended in a draw (1 objective each, one remained unclaimed). All in all, fighting Orks seems to require similar tactics as Marines; massed fire and lots of heavy bolters, autocannons and pie plates. Avoid close combat, and only charge when you know they will. The only difference is that there are more of them, but they generally have worse armor and aim.

Spring Break Battle Reports Installment 3:

1,500 vs. Space Marines: This was my first real game against Marines with this build, and it hurt. I still managed to pull a draw (my JO, Lt. Sharps, managed to bring down the enemy company master in close combat. \m/:D\m/ Unfortunately, because I was unable to have my russes on the table until turn 3, I was unable to rain pie plates of death on them from the beginning of the game. After looking at the Dawn of War rules, we both learned that only three units are allowed to be deployed on the table at the start (2 Troops and an HQ), which really shafts Guard (because our infantry platoons are a minimum of three squads, and most of my heavy weapons are in my command platoon).

Apocalypse Game: Blood Angels, Space Marines and Guard vs. Tyranids and Orks (approximately 7,500 points per side): This was an absolute bloodbath. The Orks brought two stompas and a Skullhamma to the table, in addition to numerous looted vehicles. I brought an Infantry company formation and two Russ squadrons (with the intent of blitzkrieging them with the combined fire of three Demolishers and three Russes). Didn't quite work out how I envisioned it would in my head (stupid antitank 'Fexes). One of the stompas managed to drop a 13" blast radius Belly Kannon shot (which also hit a genestealer and half of his flank-marching 'Ard Boyz). My two squadrons of rough riders failed to do much (only inflicted two wounds on the Fex, and 3 on the Mega Nobz) but the scout bike squadrons not only managed to earn back the points the cluster mines cost, but also inflicted major damage on several Gaunt broods. After the 'Ard Boyz assaulted through my line, they were left open to 12 heavy bolter attacks, 8 autocannon shells, 6 grenade launchers and more las than you could shake a grot at. I managed to wipe them out to an Ork, and with some timely maneuvering from Lex's marines, we managed to secure an objective while denying the enemy the other two.

A very productive Spring Break, if I do say so myself. This build remains undefeated.

Spring Break Battle Reports Installment 2:

1,500 points vs. Space Marines (Vassal): I won again. This time we were playing for objectives. I still basically wiped the Marines out, but there wasn't much more to work off of other than that I can, in fact beat Marines consistently.

1,500 points vs. Space Marines (Vassal): This time, we were playing with Dawn of War deployment (for objectives, again). This game ended in a draw, if not because the Marines had no Troops choices left with which to hold objectives while my Grenadiers were just a little too far out to take the enemy objective. Not nearly as much carnage as before (the Marine player was experimenting with Combat Squads), probably because I wasn't able to bring down the pie plates on the first turn like I usually do.

1,250 points vs. Tau: God, what a massacre. That game was a shining example of what happens when a Tau force designed for objectives games is forced into a kill points game against an IG force designed to fight SMurfs and the Tau don't bring any armor. The final score was Guard 7, Tau 2. I don't think I have ever beaten anyone so decisively in 40K before.

Apparently one of the Marine players I regularly play against is now afraid of me and my new build (despite the fact that he has no first-hand experience against it). I can't wait to take him on. Finally, I've found a combined arms list that actually works.

Spring Break Battle Reports Installment 1:

In order:

1,500 points vs. Space Marines: It was a cityfight map, but I got my ass handed to me that game. I basically lost my only tank (a Chimera) in the Marines' first turn, I wasted my only Infantry Platoon to enemy shooting, and my Hardened Veteran squad was completely ineffectual. Also, I must learn to beware of Scout Bikers' cluster mines. Actually, just bikes in general (too damn hard to kill...)

1,500 points vs. Tau: I worked up a new build with some modified Doctrines and more tanks this time, and if it wasn't for all of those Devilfishes loaded with Fire Warriors descending on my objective in the last turn, I would have been able to force a draw that game. Must kill every enemy vehicle when I have the chance. Especially transports.

1,500 points vs. Space Marines (Vassal): Finally, a resounding victory. Despite a Demolisher round scattering wide and only killing one tactical marine, the subsequent battle cannon shot managed to reduce a 10-man tactical squad to the special weapon, the heavy and the sergeant, and also inflicted a couple wounds on the Devastators behind them. The kill points total was 9-5, Guard to Ultramarines, despite losing both of my Russ turrets and a chimera with most of its grenadier cargo. In other words, the SMurfs were slaughtered to a man. Pie plates are good. Assaulting a terminator squad with a command squad because the officer has a power weapon is bad.

So the lesson learned is this: More MBTs like Russes or Demolishers, not more stealthers. Keep the Infantry Platoon and the heavy weapons on the objective, use grenadiers and tanks to contest/take and hold objectives. Outflanking Sentinels works just about every time (and you can generally get your points back if you do it right).

New Vassal Report: Defeat vs. Tau 1,000-points

As can be imagined by the title, I lost again, this time against the Tau.

I was being very careless with this one, which cost me the game (along with some very stupid deployment). Also, Guard aren't all that good at the 1,ooo point level (in my experience).

Revised 08th Corvis List:

Doctrines: Grenadiers, Carapace Armor, Ratlings, Close Order Drill, Sharpshooters (+30)

HQ: 1 Command Platoon (Alpha):
1 Command Squad (Alpha 0): Carapace Armor, Sharpshooters 155
1 SO w/ BP, PW, Surveyor, Macharian Cross
1 HWT w/ Lascannon
1 IG w/ Plasma Gun
1 medic
Troops: 1 Infantry Platoon (Bravo):
1 Command Squad (Bravo 0): All Doctrines 119
1 JO w/ BP, PW, Surveyor, Macharian Cross
2 IGs w/ Shotguns
1 IG w/ Meltagun
1 Medic
2 Infantry Squads (Bravoes 1 & 2): All Doctrines 242
1 Vet Sgt. w/ laspistol, CCW
1 HWT w/ Lascannons
7 IGs
Troops: 1 Armored Fist Squad (Charlie 1): Carapace Armor 201
1 Vet Sgt. w/ laspistol, CCW, meltabombs
1 IG w/ flamer
8 IGs
all models have frag grenades
1 Chimera w/ turret HB, hull HF
Troops: 1 Grenadier Squad (Delta 1): 217
1 Vet Sgt. w/ BP, PW
2 STs w/ Meltaguns
7 STs
1 Chimera w/ turret HB, hull HF
Elites: 1 Ratling Squad (Echo): 66
6 Ratlings
1000 point total: 1000
HQ+: 1 Fire Support Squad w/ Heavy Bolters (Alpha 1): No COD 110
HQ+: 1 Fire Support Squad w/ Autocannons (Alpha 2): No COD 125
HQ+: 1 Antitank Squad w/ missile launchers (Alpha 2): No COD 125
HQ+: 1 Antitank Squad w/ Lascannons (Alpha 3): No COD 140
Heavy Support: 1 Leman Russ Demolisher (Foxtrot) 175
Hull lascannon, sponson Heavy Flamers
Elites: 1 Hardened Veteran Squad (Golf): Carapace Armor 153
1 Vet Sgt w/ bolter, Surveyor, Macharian Cross
1 HWT w/ missile launcher, lasguns
1 vet w/ meltagun
3 vets w/ shotguns
3 vets w/ laspistols, CCWs
Elites+: 2 more Ratlings 22
Fast Attack: 1 Sentinel Squadron (India): 150
3 Catachan Patterns w/ HK missiles
2000 point total: 2000
Heavy Support: 1 Basilisk w/ Indirect Fire Capacity (Kilo) 125
Heavy Support: 1 Leman Russ 165
Hull Lascannon, sponson HF
Fast Attack: 1 Hellhound w/ HK missile (Lima) 125
Fast Attack: 1 Hellhound w/ HK missile (Mike) 125
Troops: 1 Grenadier Squad (Delta 2): 219
1 Vet Sgt. w/ BP, PW, surveyor
2 STs w/ meltaguns
7 STs
1 Chimera with turret HB, hull HF
Troops: 1 Grenadier Squad (Delta 3): 219
1 Vet Sgt. w/ BP, PW, surveyor
2 STs w/ meltaguns
7 STs
1 Chimera w/ turret HB, hull HF
Elites+: 2 more Ratlings 22
3000 point total: 3000

As it turns out, the previous list was slightly illegal due to the fact that I had more Armored Fist squads than infantry platoons (Grrr...) So I had to start taking Grenadiers now (elite shock troops). I may actually consider getting rid of the Fists entirely and replace them with more heavy weapons (or a tank... ^_____^).