Batrep - Ad Mech Vs Ultramarines 2000pts - The Scouring

Hello Readers, thanks for dropping in to check out the latest fun game of 40K we had, it was an awesome match, could the Cult Mechanicus and Skitarii forces withstand the might of the Ultramarines Skyhammer Task Force led by the mighty hero Librarian Tigurius; or would the faceless war machine of the Mechanicum consume the proud warriors in their never ending quest for arcane knowledge...

The battle lines were drawn up, The Scouring, Hammer and Anvil deployment, 6 objectives, 1x 4VP, 1x 1VP, 2x 3VP and 2x 2VP randomly scattered and unknown until the first turn - the Ad Mech forces won first turn and UM failed to seize. Destroyed FA Units would give up 1VP and secondary First Blood, Linebreaker and Slay Warlord were each 1VP. Lord Halfpenny had 4 FA Units, Attack Bike, Drop Pod, 2x Assault Squads. Siph had Sydonian Dragoons.

The UM fielded a first turn drop pod assault of 4 pods, Grav/Melta Skyhammer Annihilation Force plus Grav/Plasma Sternguard and Grav Centurions with Tiggy, backed up with another pod of Tac Marines, a Thunderfire, 2x Scouts and an allied Vindicare Assassin and a Multi-Melta Attack Bike.

The Cult Mechanicus fielded a Dominus Tech Priest with 2x Torsion Cannon Breachers in a deep strike formation - Holy Requisitioner, 2x Castelan Robot Maniples, one with PF and one with 3x Heavy Phospher Blaster robots and some Fulgrite Techpriests. These were allied with Skitarii Rangers, 2x Sydonian Lancers, 2x Dunecrawlers (Neutron Laser and Icarus Array) and a squad of Sicaran Ruststalkers.

The Mechanicum set up knowing the drop pod assault was imminent, so used the Canticles of Shroudpsalm to cast an improved Cover Save to Ad Mech Units (increased by 2+), the Sydonian Dragoons had a 5+ cover save in the open anyway due to Incense and the Ruststalkers infiltrated up the field by Plasma Obliterator objective. The Rangers held the objective in the Sanctum Imperialis and the the Castelan Robot Maniple with guns held the Watchtower objective.

The UM force set up mainly in reserve, with 2x Scout Squads in back field, one by Plasma Obliterator and one in bolstered ruins by Techmarine/Thunderfire and Vindicare and another objective.

The Objectives were revealed and the Plasma Obliterator terrain one was worth 2VPs, the Thunderfire held Mechanicum Ruins terrain was 3VPs, the central terrain Power Generators 4VPs (The Macaroon Generator - everyone loves cake!), the central Reactor building 1VP, the Sanctum Imperialis held by Rangers 3VPs and Skull Watchtower terrain held by shooty Castelans 2VPs. (Check out the links for terrain ideas).

Ad Mech Turn 1 - The Sicaran Ruststalkers moved up and assaulted the MM Attack Bike slaying it easily for First Blood and FA Choice (2VP). The Fulgrite Techpriests moved towards the centre objective. The Onager Dunecrawlers with snap-fire Icarus Array and Neutron Laser targeted the ruins with the Scouts and Thunderfire killing 4 Scouts (good rolling 6's to Hit and Gatling Rocket Launcher ignores cover) and making the ML armed scout flee the building. The Castelan PF Robots on the far flank moved forward towards the Thunderfire.

UM Turn 1 - Four Drop Pods scream down into the Ad Mech lines, the Icarus Autocannons, separate from the Icarus Missiles and Rockets intercepted a Drop Pod and took a HP off Tigurius' Pod, Tiggy targeted the Fulgrite Priests killing 5 and wounded a Castelan Robot. The Grav Centurions target the Robots on the Watchtower but combined cover saves and Shroudpsalm saved them entirely! Lord Halfpenny also forgot the chest mounted MLs. 

In assault, one of the Assault Squads charged the Sicaran Ruststalkers killing one but were wiped out in return through a combination of number of attacks and transonic blade attacks.

The Skyhammer Grav Devastators wiped out the Datasmith and his two PF armed Castelan Robots - boom. The Assault Marine squad near the Onager Dunecrawlers struck with the Eviscerator cleaving through the Neutron Laser armed machine after it was glanced by the Combi-Grav Sternguard. The Assassin failed to glance the same machine.

The Combi-Plasma Sternguard along with the Skyhammer MM Devastators opened up on the two Sydonian Dragoons wiping them out for Scouring FA choice (1VP). The Thunderfire Cannon struck at the Rangers killing five but they remained steadfast. A brutal first turn, showing the power of the Skyhammer.

Ad Mech Turn 2 - The Techpriest Dominus and Breachers arrived from Deep Strike to gun down 2 Grav Centurions with their AP1 Torsion Cannons. The nearby Fulgrite Priests failed their charge.

The Castelan Robots wiped out the MM Devastators with a flurry of Heavy Phospher AP3 shots. The Dunecrawler in combat with the Assault Marines was glanced once, and the nearby Rangers shot and missed the Sternguard below them.

The Sicaran Ruststalkers charged and easily wiped out the Scout Squad by the Plasma Obliterator, losing one to overwatch.

UM Turn 2 - Tiggy wounded a Castelan Robot with Smite and Psychic Screamed a Breacher taking a wound. The lone Centurion opened fire on the Castelans killing a robot, two remained. The Grav Devs targeted the Rangers in the ruins, killing 4 of the 5, the Drop Pod automated guns felled the last Ranger. The Vindicare Assassin shot at the Dominus but the Refractor Field saved him.

The Thunderfire targeted the recent arrivals and struck the Breachers 7 times but failed to wound or get past the armour. The Sternguard now switched to Vengeance Rounds killing 4 of the six Breachers. The Scout ML shot at the Ruststalkers but missed.

The Assault Squad in combat with the Dunestalker tore into it with the Eviscerator, cleaving the reactor triggering an explosion which killed two marines!

The Drop Pod containing the 5 man Tac Squad dropped down by the Fulgrite Priests and shot them killing one, and then charged (which after we realised you cannot do, nevermind.. these are not Skyhammer) killing another, the Priests in return killed a marine (no real effect on results). Another great turn for the UM's, the Ad Mech forces are reeling, now need to start the fight back...

Ad Mech Turn 3 - The Castelan Robots sight the Sternguard advancing on the Dominus and wipe out the Combi-Plasma Squad. With hindsight we played the Lumingen rule wrong, however they were in the open so even Going to Ground would have only saved on a six, and the weight of fire (6x TL AP3 and 6x AP3 from two robots) so we agreed it wouldn't make much difference! The Dominus on his own with Macro-stubber Pistol and Volkite Blaster killing the last Grav Centurion (who rolled double one for 2+ save) and Tigurius for Slay the Warlord (1VP). The remaining Breachers open fired on the FA Drop Pod destroying it for a further (1VP). The Fulgrite Priest in combat with 4 Tac Marines died... The Ruststalkers stalked towards the Objective worth 4VPs. A great turn-around turn for the depleted Ad Mech forces, putting some hurt on the UM forces and gaining vital VPs.

UM Turn 3 - The Vindicare Assassin proved his worthless nature for Lord Halfpenny again, needing a 2 to Hit the Dominus, rolling a one, but the BS bonus gets a second roll of a 4+ to hit and still failed (facepalm!) rolling another one... BS, he certainly is again.

The Thunderfire Cannon and Vengeance Round Sternguard finish off the two Breachers. The Thunderfire also puts a wound on the Dominus. The Assault Squad survivors move up towards the Dominus. The Grav Devestators now move towards the Objective in the Sanctum Imperialis now the Rangers have all been killed. The 4 Tac Marines move towards the Power Generator Objective, the Ruststalkers are targeted by the Scout with ML, killing one with a Krak Missile.

Ad Mech Turn 4 - The Castelans holed up in the Skull Watchtower target the advancing Sternguard, wiping them out, two squads in two turns! The Dominus being threatened by the advancing Assault Marines chooses to charge himself, killing two marines before being struck down by the remaining Assault Sergeant and his Eviscerator ceding (1VP) for Slay the Warlord. The Sicaran Ruststalkers use their superior speed and close the distance to the Tactical Marines on the Objective.

UM Turn 4 - The Assassin opens up on the Castelans but again, fails to penetrate. The Drop Pod guns fail to wound the same. The Tactical Marines fire on the advancing Sicaran Ruststalkers but they save the shots. The Assault Sergeant charges the remaining Castelan Robots and Datasmith intent on a Challenge, but is cut down in a hail of Overwatch fire!

Ad Mech Turn 5 - All that is left is the Castelans and two Ruststalkers. The big robots use their superior range to snipe at the Grav Devs across the board who are heading to claim an Objective, killing three and making the remaining marines flee away from the Sanctum Imperialis - putting the Objective worth 3VPs out of reach. The Sicaran Ruststalkers charge the Tactical Marines killing two remaining in combat with the final members, contesting the objective.

UM Turn 5 - The Assassin yet again fails to wound the Castelan robots, he really should be cast into the void... The Thunderfire hits the same robots 5 times but fails to wound. The Drop Pod Storm Bolters killing one robot. The Scout with ML runs to claim the Plasma Obliterator 2VP Objective. The Tactical Marines in combat with the Sicaran Ruststalkers die leaving the 4VP Objective in Ad Mech hands. The surviving Grav Devs move to secure Linebreaker for (1VP).

The roll for turn 6 failed meaning the game ends... when the dust settles, somehow the Ad Mech claim victory from the jaws of defeat!!

The UM's claim 3VP Objective, 2VP Objective, 1VP for Slay Warlord, 1VP for Linebreaker and 1VP for Scouring (FA Sydonian Dragoons) = 8VPs

The Ad Mech claim 4VP Objective, 2VP Objective, 1VP for Slay Warlord, 1VP for First Blood, 4VPs for Scouring (FA Drop Pod, Attack Bike, Assault Squad x2) = 12VPs

Conclusions

Well that was a bloody brutal battle, awesome twists and turns and after a big bloody nose from the Skyhammer and Drop Pod Assault in the Ad Mech lines, after turn two the tide started to turn with the very effective shooting from the Castelans with the AP3 guns on the Skull Watchtower Objective.

The only UM forces left were 1 Scout, 1 Techmarine with Thunderfire, 1 useless Vindicare and 2 Grav Devastators and 4 empty Drop Pods. The Ad Mech had 2 Sicaran Ruststalkers, 1 Castelan Robots and Datasmith.

One more turn and the Ruststalkers would have been wiped out by Drop Pods and Thunderfire Cannon losing 4VPs. The Canticles of Omnissah granting Shroudpsalm in the first turn saved the Castelan Robots from Centurion Grav Cannons which became the undoing of the UM force. With hindsight, instead of advancing the Sternguard towards the AP3 guns, one squad should have claimed the Sanctum Imperialis Objective for 3VPs, but this was left to the Grav Devs which turned and ran when they needed to get in the building, the Assault Sergeant should have sought cover away from the bristling overwatch that killed him, perhaps claiming the Reactor Objective for 1VP and not ceding 1VP for his FA Unit.

Unit of the match for UMs was the Eviscerator armed Assault Sergeant chewing his way through two Onager Dunecrawlers and the Dominus. The Thunderfire Cannon which was a constant thorn in my side and the Sternguard proved their worth killing Breachers x2 and Sydonian Dragoons. The Ad Mech unit of the match was the Castelan Robot Maniple with Heavy Phosper Blasters for deleting units Sternguard x2, MM Devastators, Assault Squad, closely followed by the Sicaran Ruststalkers who killed Attack Bike, Scout Squad and Tactical Marines.

Lord Halfpenny - What a game, what a battle, so close in the end, but how? I thought after T2 it was there for the taking, a position I've been in several times in the past and I seem to be very good at going for the total victory rather than looking to secure objectives (maybe its the Khorne in me... death, burn etc). The marine of the game was indeed the Eviscerator Assault Sergeant, on the flip side the Vindicare assassin was poor - I think he managed 2 hits during the game, one failed to wound, the other saved. He might be retired after this battle, its not the first time he's been a very bad unit choice. We love a close match and throughout it seemed like the Ad Mech were on the back foot, but still in disbelief how they clawed that back.

Brilliant fun game had by both Lord Halfpenny and myself.