Relictors Tactical Squad 6 Complete

Finally, not another Tactical marine to do, 60 done and not a moment too soon. I'm off this weekend back to work abroad so the hobby will take a back seat for a month or so, Pornstarjedi is still up and about though, so 'Weemen' will continue in it's haphazard way.

These guys are the AOBR marines, plus a converted Sergeant using the AOBR Sergeant shoulder pad for the raised tactical arrow. Still have to do the Dred and Termies from AOBR, but pleased these are done. Not sure these will get a Rhino anytime soon as 5 is enough for now, but eventually they will (just for that completed Battle Company!)

Usual paintjob, Codex Grey, Badab Black wash, Fortress Grey highlights and 'Ardcoated pads for a sheen look (also locks the transfer on). I've been using the Micro Sol and Micro Set for transfer application - go buy some, it rocks on curved surfaces.

Beaten last years painting tally with these, and one more ticked off project list. Bigger pics in 'Finished Relictors' album in sidebar>>>>

Finally home... for a wee bit

I have been away from home, but not the hobby, for a couple of months shore based down South but am home for a week before having to go to a proper job and work for a living back at sea starting a new assignment with a new ship.

This does however, provide me with a chance to open up all my latest purchases, (oh and catch up with the wife!) and set about at least prepping them for when I'm home again in the future. I have also got a chance to finish off my last Tactical Sqd, 60 Tac marines done and dusted, I'll post pictures of the final five AOBR (Previous half) marines later this week... next on to Devastators, Assault, Termies etc. etc.

Here's a quick look at my latest terrain piece WIP. I like it, however I've now decided to get another so I can do the other half of the building with a corner piece. Doh, curse you GW! It is exceptionally tall and a great place to lurk those Hvy Wpn Sqds. Yet to base it, add rubble, texture, paint etc. But, it gives you another chance to see it before you go buy yours...

And although I'll be away for great swathes, Pornstarjedi is still a land lubber and (hopefully) painting away (bases Jedi!) and posting...

Ultramarines & Relictors 2000pt Batrep

Another weekend, another cheeky battle between the mighty Ultramarines and the near heretical Relictors. 2000 points (ish) a side. The basic plot was to follow-on from the closely fought UM defeat during the last confrontation.

The scenario was that two critical points had been located around the large ruins that was once a proud imperial city. The Imperial Sanctuary to the north of the ruins and an abandoned chaos temple. (Siph had just picked up the new temple of skulls, great piece of terrain for the Relictors!) to the south. These were the objectives in a take and hold mission...

Deployment was done using the dawn of war rules, one HQ, and two troop choices were deployed, with the rest to follow on turn 1. Both the UM and Rel's deployed one troop choice around the obs, and the troop choices towards the large ruin. Rhino's were deployed close to their respective tactical squads. An UM Librarian was deployed further forward with the tactical marines and a Rel Chaplain with jumppack close to Siph's obj. Siph deployed his infiltrating scouts initially in the newly build watch tower, (which I thought was going to be a pain, Siph thought too isolated) however a quick re-think and they were positioned on the balcony of the ruins, 4 stories above the ground, armed with bolters and a missile launcher.
Turn 1

Relictors turn one saw a charge forward with both Rhinos and a 2 Landspeeder Tornado squadron down each flank. (Siph loves his rhino walls... Jedi). A Dreadnought and Whirlwind moved into support the objective and a 5 man Assault Sqd joined the Chaplain. The Scouts opened fire at the Tactical Sqd below, inflicting 2 casualties, again Siph's rolling for the missile launcher failed and the missile fired at almost point blank range and missed.
In return, UM turn 1 started with the scream of a drop pod assault as a drop pod full of Sternguard crashed just east of the Relictors objectives, just behind the Assault marines, Chaplain and Whirlwind. The Bike Sqd and UM Predator rolled onto the field, with the Assault marines and jumppack equipped Captain charged forward. The shooting phase saw the demise of 3 scouts due to the sharp shooting of the tactical sqd close to the centre ruin, however the sergeant managed to kill himself with this plasma pistol! (Doh. 1.) The Sternguard opened fire, operating as two combat squads, fired at two different units, killing 2 assault marines, and 2 tactical marines, again a 1 was rolled with vengeance rounds, and another armour save failed! two marines dead due to their own weapons!! (Doh! 2. Note to self, more hours of blessing ones weapons is needed.) The Librarian took out another Scout with smite, the remaining scout fled into the ruin.

Relictors turn 2 saw the arrival of the drop pod, and 10 sternguard. The DP landed just by the UM drop pod, and the sternguard wasted no time in blasting their UM counterparts with vengeance rounds killing all of them. The dreadnought destroyed the DP with lascannon fire. The Predator fired its autocannon and a hunterkiller missile at the UM Pred annihilator, again both missed! Both Landspeeders joined in and fired Multimelta shots at the predator, these missed also, one hit but Jedi made his cover save due to the smoke launchers! (cue Siph cursing the dice gods!) The UM turn was a turn that saw the arrival of both the UM Assault Terminators and another drop pod. Both deep-stroke in front of the ruin. The shooting phase saw lots of misses, another UM was killed due to his plasma gun getting hot (Doh! 3). The Predator destroyed on of the Landspeeders with 4 lascannon shots. Another Relictor was killed with heavy bolter fire, and the Librarian added another 2 kills with smite forcing the combat squad to flee.

Turn 3.

The arrival of the Relictors Assault Terminators and Librarian. They arrived close to the UM objective, could they contest the objective? The thunderfire fired upon the combat squad coming out of the Drop Pod and killed 3, causing them to run, the remaining landspeeder fired at the UM Pred missing again. The Pred D fired at the Pred also with the autocannon, this hit but didn't penetrate. The dreadnought fired at the Pred, causing the Storm Bolter to be destroyed (whoopie doo, Siph). Other shooting saw the Whirlwind hit home on the Assault sqd and the UM captain. The Captain was wounded along with one marine.

UM turn 3 saw a massive charge towards the menacing Terminators, all troops, bikers and assualt troops moved into position and all opened fire at the terminators, a ridiculously high number of hits wounded, 3 terminators fell. This resulted in the terminators fleeing. (mighty bolter fire! Jedi) More super bolter fire from the combat squad by the Drop Pod fired at the remaining Landspeeder stunning the crew. The other movement saw the UM Terminators charge through the ruins towards the Relictors objective.

Turn 4.

Turn 4 saw the Relictor Sternguard move towards the terminators, along with the Assualt sqd and chaplain. The Rel terminators rallied however could do nothing apart from look at the numerous weapons pointing their way. The Thunderfire fired upon the combat squad, killing 2. The rest of the turn saw very ineffective shooting. The close combat in the middle of the board between the terminators and assault marines/chaplain/sternguard was a tie, with one kill each.

The UM turn saw the death of the terminators and librarian, again down to numerous shots from pretty much all of the UM force. The final shot was the librarian with smite. Further shooting from the combat squad finally killed the remaining LS.

We rolled to see whether we had another turn, the roll was a 3, another turn!

Turn 5 saw ineffective shooting again, the only success was the Whirlwind taking out a biker. The main part of turn 5 was the close combat in the centre, again the combat was drawn with 2 loses on each side.

UM turn started with a bang as the UM Pred fired and destroyed the dreadnought! (And a cheeky laugh as three six's were rolled to hit/penetrate and on the damage chart! Jedi) The close combat again saw loses on both sides, the chaplain was killed with a thunderhammer blow, as well as three other marines. 1 UM terminator was killed in returned. The dice was rolled for another time but the game ended. A draw!!

Jedi's review - a very good battle which pivoted on several key moments. I really wished I had the guts to deep strike the second Drop Pod and terminators into the relictors deployment zone, this could of turned in the UM favour. My unit of the match was the bolters that took out the terminators and a land speeder. showing that numerous bolter shots have the potential for taking anything out!

Siph's Notes - as soon as my Termies were wiped out, I could only force a draw, but luckily for me Jedi seemed to want to kill them rather than go for the charge toward my objective. Only his Termies came and they slowly died and were 3 turns away from getting there - I tied them up in combat. One day my Landspeeders might actually hit something! Pornstarjedi should have used his bikes best advantage - speed! Oh, and check your points cost - Jedi's armylist was about a few hundred points over 2000 when we started, only a query by me saw him adding it up properly and removing some unengaged models.

And this next picture is for Jedi - haha.

Relictors Predator Annihilator

I have finally finished my 2nd Predator for the Relictors force. It is an expensive choice with the lascannon sponsons but with my dice rolling - i need every cannon shot to penetrate and roll higher than my normal 2 on the damage tables!

This Predator completes my order from Paintedfigs.com, which included the other Pred and the 3 Vindicators (so, half painting points for me). I have added the detailing and weathering and a bucket load of Boltgun Metal rivets! This beauty is also wearing the Extra Armour / Reinforced Armour from Forgeworld, I figured an anti-armour vehicle should at least try to stay alive when up against its prey, normally Pornstarjedi's LR or mirrored Predator Annihilator.
So, welcome 'Septimus', may all your hits be penetrating... Pictures also in 'Finished Relictors' gallery in the sidebar but again in liited pixels as on secondary camera >>>>>

DKK Heavy Support

Here is my Heavy Support for a future project of mine. To accompany the Hellhound and PDF Imp Guard, I managed to purchase and then ever so slightly modify two lovely painted Baneblades.

I figure, these machines are ancient and it doesn't really matter what colour they are in an Apocalypse force - one matches the nice red scheme i've already started and the other is a nice contrasting blue but well weathered.

Both are WIP and need the final touches, a few decals, driver, match sensors and searchlight colours, icons, but as you can see i've added DKK filters to the standard red baneblade and the blue one came with Commisar and filters already but i've magnetized the Lascannon turrets.

Hope you like. I have a 'Super Detailed Resin Baneblade' from FW of old, to this I'm adding DKK filters and accessories as well to make it a little bigger - the scale is slightly off from his modern plastic counterparts. Bring on the BIG guns!!

Relictor Force so far...

Here is a quick snap look at the Relictor Force to date. I have just had the weekend gaming with Pornstarjedi so a Batrep should follow when he gets the photos up. I was rather hungover and had nothing better to do this Sunday evening so I got the weemen out of their transport cases and sorted them back into their respective squads and repaired any battle damage (Thunderfire fell off the table and onto the hardwood floor at one point! Ouch)

While I was at it, I thought, hell that would make a nice picture - and voila! Enjoy. Now I need to finish some HQ, Elite and Fast Attack choices.

Only my old 2mp camera so pictures will not be the best qualty but big-ish pictures are available in the sidebar album 'Finished Relictors'>>>>>>>>>

Relictors Tactical Squad VI - first half done

A short post, I'm off this weekend to Pornstarjedi's so we should get another battle in under our belts. In the meantine, i've been very slowly adding to my troops choices. These are the first half of my final Tactical Squad. I now have 55 Tactical marines and 5 rhino's for now - one sqd will have a drop pod until i do another APC but that is low down on the eventual project list. I am aiming for an entire Battle Company, plus additional Armoury/Fast/Elite choices.

Next on the list after this squad will be my Assault Troops, adding to the 5 man sqd I painted eons ago - I think the challenge might be to paint those the same style as the assault troops I painted back then, they were something like the 3rd-8th models I'd ever painted.

We'll see...

3000pt Ultramarines VS Relictors Batrep

After our little 10 man confrontation on the Friday eve, we decided to go all out on the Sat afternoon with a mighty 3000pt clash between the 'misguided' Relictors and the 'loyal lapdog' Ultramarines (eachothers words). We had both made some building ruins scenery the day before and both had plenty of heavy armour to test out. The battlelines were drawn across the dining table, 8ft by 3ft allowing a large battlefront and 5 objectives were placed for a Seize Ground mission.

The Relictor force pretty much used Siph's entire painted collection to date, 4 of his 5 Tac Sqds, 3 Vindy, 2 Landspeeders, 2 Predators, Sternguard and Drop Pod, Dred, Assault Sqd with Chaplain and Assault Termies with Librarian plus 'ole faithful Thunderfire Cannon. To counter Pornstarjedi's obvious love of Marneus Calgar, Siph took a Calgar-esque leader. We limited it to 1 mighty hero and a loose FOC (Relictors bought all their heavy armour).

Pornstarjedi took a Crusader with Assault Termies, Landraider with Termies and Calgar, Pred, Whirlwind, 3 Drop Pods, Sternguard, Tac Marines, Assault Sqd, Devastator Sqd, 1 Vindy and a Thunderfire of his own. Pornstar had 3 drop pods in reserve and Drop Pod assault on the cards...
Turn one went to Siph's Relictors and the firing was intense, the UM Thunderfire and Landraider was destroyed, slaying one of the Terminator occupants. A pred shot at the UM Vindy but the lascannon bolt was absorbed, both Landspeeders closed on the right flank but missed with their MultiMeltas towards the UM Pred. On the left flank a Rhino with Tac Sqd and the Assault sqd and Chaplain raced forward. A combat sqd seized an objective by the ruins of a landraider. Elsewhere, rhinos charged forward disgourging their Tac Marines and boxed in the UM Crusader with its Assault Termies cargo - it will be a long walk if they can't destroy the rhino. (We play wrecks stay on board unless a six is rolled on damage table and vehicle explodes). That said, surely 20 something attacks by the Termie cargo with ThunderHammers should result in a messy fireball? Some great shooting from the Relictor lines caused the Combat Sqd on the top of the massive building to flee from the objective they held.
The UM turn started with a drop pod assault, one to counter the Relictor charge on the left flank and one behind the grey heavy armour - Devastators. Some accurate and heavy fire from the UM lines saw 2 of the 3 Relictor Vindicators destroyed and the Thunderfire wrecked. An oversight with the disembarkation from a transport (drop pod) counting as movement meant the Devastators couldn't fire their main weapons this turn, (Oops, a slight miss-calculation on my part- Jedi) hopefully some would survive the next turn. The left flank Relictor charge was checked by the drop pod UM Sternguard and the Relictor Tac Sqd and Assault Sqd took casualties from accurate Vengeance Rounds and Whirlwind ordanance. The fleeing Combat sqd gathered their wits and rallied still within the massive building and now further in cover - they would prove hard to shift.

Reserves for the Relictors were rolled and Marneus Relic-gar (It's so wrong to be facing the God of War! - Jedi) and the sternguard in the drop pod arrived to take out the UM Devastators, the nearby Vindicator had other bigger targets to deal with. Behind the UM lines, two Landspeeders and the flanking Relictor Dred gave some worry to the UM Heavy armour but shooting was ineffective. The Tac Marines in the ruins on the left flank gave some harrassing fire toward the UM Assault Sqd and Sternguard and then a charge from the Relictor Asault Sqd, Chaplain and Tac Sqd survivors unleashed merry hell and killed the UM Sternguard outright. Two drop pods neutralised - one left. The rhino wall in front of the UM Landraider withstood the previous +20 Thunderhammer attacks and sat there a shaken, stunned, immobilised, weapon destroyed husk. Job done well.

The UM second turn started with the arrival of a Tac Sqd behind enemy lines in a drop pod to threaten the thin Relictor rear and the furthest right flank Objective held by a single Combat Sqd. In the centre the foot slogging Assault Termies and Calgar moved toward the centre objective with a Tac Sqd to try and claim the objective next turn and prevent a conter attack from the Relictors Sternguard nearby. A combat sqd took on the surviving Chaplain to tie him up in close combat long enough for the Whirlwind to keep firing and the Techmarine with his Servo Harness to close and prevent him from jump-packing up the large building to contest objectives.The Relictor turn three saw the left flank Tac Sqds move forward breaking from cover to try and reach the objectives in the next turn. A Predator Destructor made sure the UM holed up in the opposite massive building kept their heads down. In the UM rear the Landspeeders had a shot at the UM Pred rear and failed to destroy it! But in the Relictor lines, the Pred Annihilator had better luck and destroyed the UM Vindicator. Slowly all the UM armour was being taken out and Relictors advanced throughout the UM right flank. On the left flank, the Relictor Tac Sqd survivors from the initial assaults ran a suicide mission into the enemy held building in order to prevent the UM advancing out of the door and onto an objective.The Ultramarine turn three started with the drop pod Tac Sqd advance on the Relictor held objective in the fortified ammo bunker and flamer fire failed to kill any of the troops but the later charge felled two of the defenders - next turn the objective would be in UM hands. The Termies in the centre continued their advance, scything down the Relictor Sternguard combat sqd with accurate Storm Bolter and Assault Cannon fire and the Assault Termies made ready for the defence of the centre objective. The Relictor suicide mission into the building was quickly repelled and the survivors fled towards the objective outside! Elsewhere, Marneus called his Orbital Bombard and wiped out the Relictor Combat sqd holding the Landraider wreck objective. (Direct hit with the Orb, bye bye power armour!!-Jedi)

Reserves were rolled and the Relictor assault termies and Librarian came on to charge the UM in the ammo complex aiding their troop survivors and wiped out the UM to a man. The centre looked firmly in UM hands so the Relictors decided to even up the score. Marneus Relic-gar who had been stationary decided to call up an orbital barrage and the Vindicator fired to add his weight of firepower to wipe out the UM Tac sqd holding the objective. Both scattered and the Orby bombardment landed squarly on Marneus Calgar - only his God of War status prevented him from being wiped out. The vindy shot landed on the nearby Termies and slew most of their number. The other Sternguard sqd fired with poisoned rounds (wound on 2+, normal saves) and managed another Assault Termie casualty. The remaining UM Termie was slewn in mortal combat with the Techmarine and some Combat Sqd survivors. Finally the Landspeeders and Dred had some luck and destroyed the UM Pred and damaged the Landraider. On the left flank the Relictors rallied and held the objective, advanced elsewhere to re-claim the Landraider wreck objective and slew the remaining UM Tac sqd troops in CC with the UM Techmarine and Relictor Chaplain. It was 3 to 2 objectives to the Relictors now...A fifth and sixth turn came about, the UM and Marneus charged the Relictors on the left, but failed to kill all the squad so it remained contested, in the centre, Siph's luck finally paid off and Marneus Relic-gar and the Sternguard and some Tac Marines wiped out the remaining UM Termies and Tac sqd leaving a single Sergeant, contesting the centre. This left the Ammo bunker and Wrecked Landraider objectives for the Relictors and the top of the massive building in UM hands - finally a win for the Relictors and not a draw as we often get! It was now 2am.

The Relictors advance over half of the table unopposed.

Siph's notes - Rhino walls can be excellent at slowing down Assault Termies and their Landraiders!, Assault Cannon wielding Termies are still good (everyone including me seem to have a CC 3+ Inv save Termies now), Chaplain with Jumppack still rocks!

Jedi's notes- Devastators are pretty poor coming out of a DP, especially on the first turn, over 200 points wasted! Terminators are pretty good working with a Tactical sqd to clear and claim an objective. Also the new true LOS rules allows you to play a very 'non-space marine tactic of hiding behind cover, very useful when you've got lascannon, auto cannon and demolisher rounds coming in! Marneus will have his revenge Mr Horridus!!

Ultramarines Vs Relictors 10 man confrontation

A weekend of 40k started with a cheeky 10 on 10 marine skirmish. Both sides had a flamer/missile launcher plus a sergeant armed with close combat weapons. We decided that all terrain counted as a 2+ save ('cos Power Armour is 3+ anyway), and that unit coherency did not apply (necromunda style!).
We were using some newly built buildings, Siph took a defensive position in the administratum building, with the UM looking to break down the left flank in numbers.

The game was pretty frantic, with Siph cursing the dice gods once again. Siph's initial attack down one flank resulted in four dead Relictors, falling to bolter shots and close combat. This left 8 UM, against 6 Relictors.

The Relictors changed tactics to sit within the ruins and wait for the UM advance. Spurred on by the earlier success the UM advanced forward! - Could they deliver the killing blow?The tides turned with rapid fire from the now four Relictors holed up in the ruins, cutting down UM one by one until it was 3 on 3.

The final showdown was fought in a crater, 3 relictors charged into 2 UM within the crater striking both down to the loss of 1. The final UM, armed with the missile launcher watched on, and in a desperate charge for victory dived head long into the waiting Relictors. The dice gods smiled at Siph, as he took two wounds to nothing killing the final UM.

The battle was over 15+ turns, having the cover save made the game more interesting as marines searched for, and hugged any cover. Missile launchers were pretty ineffective with all their shooting, the majority of shots missing, and any hits saved on the 2+. Bringing the terrain save to a 2+ actually meant that the Marines used the terrain for once rather than relied on the armour saves. Great fun and a tasty start to the main event on Saturday, 3000pts - hardcore.