Campaign: DARK OCTOBER 2008
Scenario: Seek & Destroy!
Notes & Special Rules: Gamma (Infiltrate, Deep Strike, Dusk & Dawn, Victory Points)
This is the first official Campaign Game in the Dark October 2008 series. We hope you enjoy the synopsis!
ATTACKER:
John’s Ultramarines Force: ‘Silver Serpents’
|
Category |
Type |
Name |
Description |
Points |
|
HQ |
Reclusiarch |
Br. Serpent |
Independent Character, Honor of the Chapter, Litanies of Hate Frag Grenades, Crozius Arcanum, Rosarius Bolt Pistol. Jump Pack, Terminator Honors |
122 |
|
TROOPS |
Scout Squad |
Forward-A |
(x4) Infiltrate, Move Through Cover (x3) Bolter, (x1) Heavy Bolter (x1) Sergeant: Bolt Pistol & Close Combat Weapon |
70 [13] |
|
TROOPS |
Tactical Squad |
Alpha |
(x9) Bolter (x7), Flamer (x1), Missile Launcher (x1) (x1) Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Power Weapon, Terminator Honors |
191 [40] |
|
TROOPS |
Tactical Squad |
Beta |
(x9) Bolter (x7), Flamer (x1), Missile Launcher (x1) (x1) Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Power Weapon, Terminator Honors |
191 [40] |
|
TROOPS |
Tactical Squad |
Gamma |
(x5) Bolter (x5) (x1) Sergeant: Bolt Pistol, Power Fist, Terminator Honors Razorback: Twin-Linked Lascannon |
210 [45] [90] |
|
FAST ATTACK |
Assault Squad |
‘Rattlers’ |
(x4) Deep Strike, Jump Packs, Frag Grenades (x2) Bolt Pistol, (x2) Plasma Pistol, (x4) Close Combat Weapon (x1) Sergeant: Jump Pack, Bolt Pistol, Power Weapon, Terminator Honors |
145 [70] |
|
TOTAL |
38 models |
|
1x HQ, 4x TROOPS, 1x FAST ATTACK |
929 |
DEFENDER:
Kent’s Necron Force: Dark October Tomb Guardians
|
Category |
Type |
Name |
Description |
Points |
|
HQ |
Necron Lord |
Nightstalker |
Necrons, Staff of Light, Disruption Field, Gaze of Flame Phylactery, Resurrection Orb |
175 |
|
TROOPS |
Warriors |
Ultimus Guardians |
(x12) Necrons, Reserves, Gauss Flayers |
216 |
|
TROOPS |
Warriors |
Omega Guardians |
(x11) Necrons, Reserves, Gauss Flayers |
198 |
|
FAST ATTACK |
Destroyers |
Deathdealers |
(x4) Necrons, Jetbikes, Gauss Cannons |
200 |
|
HEAVY SUPPORT |
Monolith |
Decimator |
Living Metal, Ponderous, Deep Strike, Gauss Flux Arc Particle Whip, Power Matrix |
235 |
|
TOTAL |
29 |
|
1x HQ, 2x TROOPS, 1x FAST ATTACK, 1x HVY SUPPORT |
1024 |
Setup & Battleboard:
The Battleboards used in this campaign are setup to provide a 4’ x 4’ playing area, getting the action started almost immediately for both players when the battle begins.
The battle’s stage was set around a horseshoe in the path of a wandering river. There were two wooded hills, a large cliff in the center with a ruins on top, also dotting the terrain were a supply dump & two small ruined buildings. This was an unusual board to play on with much of the difficult terrain running parallel to the majority of movement by either side (long river sections). All of the terrain pieces placed are considered to be ‘Area Terrain’ for this battle.
DEPLOYMENT:
The Necrons won the die roll for picking deployment zones & chose ‘Zone A’, leaving ‘Zone B’ for the Ultramarines to setup in first.
TURN ONE:
An incredible shot from the Ultramarine Razorback Immobilizes the Monolith!
Gaining the advantage of initiative after three tied rolls, the Silver Serpents struck the first blows of combat against their frightening Necrontyr foes. With a powerful & precise shot from their Twin-Linked Lascannon, the Razorback crew was emboldened by scoring an immobilization of the mighty Necron Monolith! As the rest of the Ultramarines moved to better positions for engaging their unloving foes, a lone missile launcher fired harassingly into a group of Warriors along the North Flank.
With only a single Warrior fallen, it reconstructed itself for further battle. Enraged by the insolent attacks of the Space Marine forces, Necron Destroyers unleash a deadly volley from their Gauss Cannons. The Silver Serpents tactical squad which had fired a missile launcher into their ranks suffered the loss of two marines in retribution. Additionally the Necrons consolidated their Warriors on the field.
The battle was in full effect now, two Marines fall to Gauss Cannon fire!
TURN TWO:
Marines advance while they only down a single Destroyer with missile launcher shooting.
As the Marines advance fearlessly, their weapons of the Imperium seem almost ineffective against the ancient Living Metal exoskeletons of the Necrontyr guardians. Only a single Destroyer falls under Ultramarine fire. The Chaplain & Assault Squad see the early success of bolter & Lascannon fire waning so decide they must take the battle to the Necrons in person.
As the Necron Destroyer reconstructed it launched, with its companions a withering hail of Gauss Cannon shots into a Tactical Squad, killing all of the armor-clad humans but one, which fled from the carnage. No other marines became victims to the ancient technology but nine dead marked a major shift in the battle, leaving the advancing Assault Squad exposed.
Punishing fire from Gauss Cannons has decimated a Silver Serpents Tactical Squad!
TURN THREE:
The Chaplain leads his Assault Squad into the Necrons as his Razorback detonates the Monolith!
Without their loyal chapter brethren ahead of them to screen enemy firepower the Assault Squad & Chaplain must now go all out and advance into assault before they are cut to pieces. With just enough maneuvering room & distance they hit their mark, felling numerous Warriors, winning combat & locking up firing lanes. The Razorback team recalibrates their scopes & score a devastating shot on the Monolith, causing the living metal behemoth to explode into fiery arcane shards!
Some Necrons stand up after the Silver Serpent’s vicious assault, but others cannot reconstruct even with a nearby Resurrection Orb urging them to fight on. The Necron Lord joined close combat, helping the locked Warriors slay two Marines defiantly as several of their own fell again in assault. The Destroyers & unengaged Warriors moved back, consolidating firing opportunities.
Deadly Gauss Cannons mercilessly shred the exposed Scout Squad, leaving no survivors.
TURN FOUR:
The last of the Warriors in close combat fall to mighty Power Swords!
With resilient determination, the last Marine from Alpha Squad rallies next to his brethren comprising a full Tactical Squad, he even fired his missile launcher at the Destroyers in defiance! Bogging down against the tough Necron Lord, the Chaplain and his Assault Squad continued to be locked into close combat.
Their Lord holding the line through the Space Marine Assault Phase, Necron Destroyers skim into a position behind a supply dump to fire at the last full squad of Tactical Marines, killing a few. This was a costly mistake however as the Assault Marines finished the Necron Lord & swept into the Destroyers during the Necrons Assault phase!
Although they whittled at a Tactical Squad, the Destroyers leave themselves vulnerable to assault.
TURN FIVE:
More Silver Serpents assets reach the point of battle, zeroing in on the remaining Necrontyr.
With the Destroyers out of shooting possibilities the Razorback & Tactical Squad remaining move up to engage the last unit of Necron Warriors. A series of horrid die rolls prevent the Space Marines from harming a single Destroyer in the Assault Phase! Shooting from the Marines only knock down a single Necron Warrior while the Razorback moves forward, staying out of their firing lane.
Without any targets and having the potential of Assault Marines bearing down upon them, the Warriors move away to defend themselves if need be. During the Necrons’ Assault Phase the remaining Assault Marines & Chaplain make short work of the Destroyers, killing them.
Necron Warriors move away from assault range as their Destroyer cohorts are smashed.
TURN SIX:
Neither side wished to risk further loss of assets during the final turn of this battle, moving what units they had left away from the enemy. There were no objectives to capture or quarters to win & so they called the game over to tally Victory Points.
Conclusion & Results:
The Necron Tomb Raiders resisted ‘phase out’ but were grievously harmed by the destruction of both Necron Lord & Monolith by determined Ultramarine ‘Silver Serpents’ attackers. The Space Marine contingent suffered the loss of their aspiring recruits in the form of a Scout Squad and also lost many veteran Marines in the battle. It was decisive a decisive & destructive battle overall.
Space Marine ‘Silver Serpents’ forces were reduced by a half of a Tactical Squad & the elimination of an entire Scout Squad.
Total Necron score = 166 Victory Points.
Although they resisted ‘phase out’ the Necron forces were severely depleted in the fight. Losses included the Monolith, Necron Lord, an entire unit of Warriors & the unit of Necron Destroyers.
Total Space Marines score = 826 Victory Points.
With a points limit in this game of more than 500pts but less than 1500pts, a difference of 660 Victory Points gives a Solid Victory! to the Space Marine player.
Many lessons were learned on both sides by the fledgling players in this battle!