Thank you all for the very kind comments! Sorry it took a bit to get up, irl got a bit too busy...
I will get to individual replies later, but please enjoy the rest of the rep!
Best,
-BT
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Setup: Well, good news bad news on the setup. The good is that there's cover in the middle of the board. Bad news is that it's all forest. Good news is that I have Kroot to help with that, bad is that well... this is going to be painful trying to root out Invisible Eldar units. One side has two objectives and the other has one. The side with two objectives has plenty of cover, so it's going to be a pain to dig out.
My opponent chooses to deploy first, and puts his big unit of Jetbikes out with both Farseers attached. The Nightspinner goes down next to them. The Wraithknight goes into infiltrate (!) while the other Jetbikes go into reserve. The Crimson Hunters are of course in reserve as well.
That's... quite distressing.
I decide to go HARD CASTLE mode and put Armless (my Stormsurge) in the corner with Broadsides and Shiva with her Drones. Two Kroot go in front and the last Kroot go in reserves. Han'zo and his Stealth Suits go into deep strike.
The Eldar then deploy their Wraithknight as far forward as possible and then declare they will go first.
I (of course) then fail to seize the initiative and the game is on!
Picture Caption: Gunline vs Gunline. This seems fair. Wait... what's that Wraithknight doing there?
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Interlude: The Calm Before
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Shas'vre Kor'va sighed again, watching the holopic of his love, Lorilune for the umpteenth time. Her haughty frown, her long, alien hair and strange pointed ears. She was equally unfathomable and alluring... and she was lost. Taken by foul Orks, and Bang would not rest until he brought her home.
Shiva had said all sorts of things about Orks and Eldar and how he shouldn't assume things, but nothing could change the way he felt. And it was sort of luck that they had heard rumours about these other Eldar. Bang didn't know much about the Eldar as a species, save that they were ancient beyond imagining and had incredible powers. Lorliune had never talked about her people, and Bang had never pried, but part of him had always wondered how the other Eldar felt about her. Some of the other Tau had expressed concerns that Bang was so invested with an alien, but Bang hadn't really listened to them. He had never really thought about it, but maybe the Eldar would feel the same way. So maybe it wouldn't be best to bring it up in the first conversation. That much was...
"Look out below!"
Bang had a moment to look up as a massive metal object fell from the sky. Instincts kicked in and he barely had time to leap out of the way. The ground tremored with the impact, and he turned around to see a pair of familiar new faces shaking their heads and arguing with one another. It was the new Shas'vre Dia'va and her co-pilot Hia'ko. Both were new to the Cadre and recently elevated to the new honour of being Battlesuit pilots.
However, something had happened during their evaluation that Bang wasn't privy to, so the two girls were instead given the dubious duty of being the handlers of the new experimental suit. Normally, Bang would have been all over the new, rather pretty additions to the unit, but his mind was elsewhere. In fact, Bang had almost forgotten their names, but not their suit. He looked up at the enormous new Stormsurge that towered over everything. It was easily twice the height of his Riptide and had a massive gun that looked like it could shoot a sun out of the sky. But... there were interesting... changes about the design.
For some reason, the Stormsurge was built without arms, and it lead to some problems. The least of which was the inability to pick things up that fell off the enormous suit. Bang wasn't sure if it was the untested nature of the suit or the pilots, but the Stormsuge had picked up the nickname "Armless," as the lumbering machine seemed like it wasn't that big of threat.
"Hey! Can you give us a hand?"
Kor'va looked over to see the two still struggling with the enormous metal cylinder, and he ran over quickly and only slowed down when he realized what it was.
"Umm.. is that... Is that a Destroyer Missile?"
The two girls nodded and Bang felt his blood go cold. Destroyer missiles were part of the new suit and were made specifically to destroy the alien enormous machines that started to pop up with increasing frequency. Each was capable of annihilating even the heaviest of armored battlesuits and even make short work of a Hammerhead. The fact that one had casually fallen off the Stormsurge made Bang more than a bit worried.
"It... It just fell off. I... I think it's a problem with the magnetic locks." Dia'va said with a look of concern. Kor'va remembered that she was the oldest of the two sisters. They had been briefly introduced, but it was obvious that there was some kind of black mark on their record that wasn't spoken about openly, but it made everyone in the Cadre hesitant to talk to them. Bang realized that even he was keeping his distance. But, he thought, looking at the accidentally dropped massive missile, perhaps there was a reason.
Dia'va's younger co-pilot whimpered, "You... You don't have to tell the Shas'O, do you? We haven't gotten to fight yet, and I don't think anyone... you know... likes us."
Bang's insides swum as his feelings of concern for the overall safety of everyone and the enormous ego boost of having two attractive girls in his favour fought for a while, but ego eventually come out with flying colours.
"Not to worry. Just, let me suit up and we'll get this missile right back on..."
Suddenly, alarms blared out from every suit, and Shiva's voice came over the comms.
"New sightings. Eldar jetbikes armed to the teeth."
Bang nodded and replied, "That's... That's good right?"
Shiva snarled back, "Bang, get back to your suit. We have to be ready in case..."
There was a sudden burst of light and all of the Tau ran to the front of their burnt-out ruin, looking across the snow-covered fields. An enormous creature made of alien crystal strode out wielding two enormous cannons. It loomed over a forest as the Jetbikes swirled around it's ankles.
Bang swallowed. Apparently, Eldar didn't get along with each other as much as he had hoped.
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Turn 1: Eldar
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Farseer Illandara chuckled as the Tau scrambled amongst the ruins like children hiding from a lightning storm. And in a way they were. The Eldar were everything that the Tau were not. Ancient, powerful and magnificent beyond imagining.
But, she reminded herself, it would be too cruel to prolong their inevitable demise. Summoning her psychic might, she reached into the minds of the collective Tau cadre and simply made the Wraithknight vanish. Their screams of surprise caused a small smirk to cross her face.
Did they really think they ever had a chance?
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The Eldar get Invisibility off on the Wraithknight, who moves forward to tangle with the Kroot-screen.
The Jetbikes move up and shoot the beans out of the front Kroot squad, who despite having 3+ cover saves are nearly shot to bits.
The Wraithknight takes a pot-shot at the Stormsurge, but luckily I make my saves (bless night-fight!).
Picture Caption: Kroot do what they do best: Get in the way.
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Turn 1: Tau
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"Check again!" roared Shas'O Sha'shiva as her sensors scanned the suddenly empty treeline. The enormous Eldar monster had just disappeared. What was going on?
"Negative, Shas'O," came the reply from her forward scouts, " It's... It's like it turned into a ghost."
Murmurs started to spring up from the comm-line, but Shiva quieted them with a sharp bark across the lines.
"Quiet! We are Tau. Whatever trick the Eldar has does not stand up to the Greater Good. We will be the victors today."
Shiva squinted in the darkness, and then nodded when a patch of trees shifted unnaturally.
"There, it's there! All units, open fire!"
"You got it, Shiva! Suck this you invisible Alien Monster! ION BLAST!"
Shiva sighed as she watched Bang fire wildly into the air. At least there was only one of him.
"Uh... MEGA-MISSILE STORM!"
The cry made Shiva jerk her head back as she saw the massive KV128 let go with a massive salvo of missiles. Shiva sighed as she saw the missiles spin in random directions, and very few found purchase on anything. She would have a talk with the pilots of that Stormsurge, assuming, of course, that they survived.
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The Kroot mill around to try and make a better shield.
As the Jetbikes pulled back using their Jetbike assault move, I'm sort of just stuck shooting at the Wraithknight. As Markerlights are shared using the new rules if you're in a Hunter Cadre, I manage to stick one Markerlight on the Wraithknight, but only a single wound goes through despite many handfuls of dice thrown it's way...
Oh, and I did put down Stabilizers for Armless, so I so hope next phase will be more eventful...
Picture Caption: Helpless flailing beginning in 5... 4... 3... 2...
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Turn 2: Eldar
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Illandara looked around at the rather bored looking Guardians around her. The Tau were in disarray as the Wraithknight loped before them, causing chaos as it went. Not a single Eldar had fallen. A perfect victory was within her grasp.
"Is this really necessary, Illandara?"
Illandara felt a quiet distemper come over her features as she turned to look at Farseer Kelros. Kelros has been a quiet proponent in her recent return to power at the Craftworld, and had eagerly attended her on the mission. Nary a contrary word had ever crossed his lips, but something was bothering him.
"Kelros," she nodded in return, "Why would exterminating an annoyance be unnecessary?"
Kelros shrugged, "They are clearly powerless against us. Why not just leave them in disarray? It makes no sense to..."
"No sense? No sense?!" roared Illandara, "Lorilune left me to die on a nameless desert world. She started me on the road to... to a dark place and time."
Kelros pulled back against the verbal onslaught.
"My apologies, Illandara, I did not..."
Illandara paused and then with a visible effort reigned in her anger.
"No, Kelros, you... you did not know. That abomination taints everything that she touches. More the reason to be thorough..."
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The Eldar are somewhat hampered by my Warlord trait, and only a single Crimson Hunter pops in.
The Jetbikes are forced more forwards now, and it looks like they will finally be within 36" or so (finally) if they want to put Invisibility on the Wraithknight.
They sadly do manage to get off their psychic shanigans again, and everything continues to move forwards.
The rest of the Kroot are pretty much shot to ribbons at this point earining First Blood for the Eldar, and some shots are thrown the Commander's way, but to little effect. Thankfully, the Jetbikes kind of stall out in their assault move, so are forced to stay hunkered down in a ruin, which is just outsite of 36" of my forces...
Picture Caption: Please let reserves be good...
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Turn 2: Tau
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Shas'vre Han'zo took a quiet sip from the water tube inside his XV95. He and his Stealth Suits had been deployed for days, watching and waiting for the unexpected. High Command had issued orders deploying him and his unit to follow Sha'shiva's Cadre from a distance. Although they trusted the Shas'O, the involvement of the Eldar made the entire situation unpredictable. And he was there for situations just the like this one. The aliens had surprised the cadre, and their main lines were clearly in disarray from the now invisible creature.
Han'zo had fought the Eldar before. They were a powerful enemy in their own right, but their main enemy was one that they could never conquer: their own arrogance.
He made a silent motion that spoke volumes to his fellows. The throat of the serpent lay open and ready to be cut.
Let the Eldar not find the Greater Good wanting.
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Everyone comes in to party, with the Kroot coming in on my left and Han'zo and his Stealth Suits landing around the ruin with the Jetbikes. I decide to move Bang up so he can potentially add some shots to the guys in the back, and also jump up with Shiva.
I think for a bit about what to shoot and decide that I need to eradicate the bikes, but something has to be done about the Wraithknight.
So, I power up Bang's shields and ready for an assault (gulp).
The Markerlights all go off on the Jetbikes and now everything shooting at them gets ignore cover and +2 BS...
Pulse Cannon shots hail down on them as does a surprising amount of firepower from the Stealth Suits. The Bikes are cut down to just Illandara, who fails morale and falls back. Han'zo shows why the OST is kinda OP and takes out the Nightspinner by himself! (S7 attacks versus rear armor is just crazy good)
The Broadsides take out the Crimson Hunter and shooting puts another wound on the Wraithknight. Bang assaults into the Wraithknight.
He announces his SMASH attack and despite taking a wound from the Gargantuan Creature, he also deals one out, keeping combat locked up (this is good). Shiva jumps back to safety as does the OST.
Picture Caption: Being able to share Markerlights is just dirty! Han'zo also getting scary OP.
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Turn 3: Eldar
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Bang yelped as the enormous fists of the now very-visible Wraithknight slammed into the shield on his Riptide. This idea seemed so much sensible when he couldn't see it. The creature seemed completely unnatural. There were no roars of battle or signs of rage. Just silent efficiency.
It was like fighting a drone.
A Stormsurge-sized drone with fists as big as his suit. But, a drone nonetheless.
Perhaps... perhaps he had bit off a bit more than he could chew...
A roar of engines brought his attention to the sky as a brightly coloured Eldar plane streaked right for the rear lines. Bang was about to shout out a warning over his comms when suddenly a shadowy figure emerged from the trees near him and unloaded a fusillade of energy with incredible accuracy, shearing the plane in half with a single burst. Before he could even look at the suit, it faded back into the shadows.
Right, maybe they did have a chance after all!
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One set of Jetbikes comes in, and Ilandara shifts over to join up with them in the corner.
Another Crimson Hunter comes in, but is torn from the sky by Han'zo.
(Note to self: ignore cover + S7 + velocity trackers is REALLY good)
The Jetbikes fire a bit at Han'zo, but 2+ cover saves mean that not much happens.
The focus then shifts to the Wraithknight who takes a wound from Bang, but delivers back two wounds!
Bang doesn't run though (uh oh), which means that the Knight is going to be locked in combat on my turn...
Picture Caption: Bang... maybe we should have a talk about knowing when to let the big guys win... and then get shot to pieces.
Poll