Dissent in the ranks Campaign - Wrath of Dorn

Well, it finally happened. Finished the last game of the 30k campaign started over a year ago. If you would like to go back to the beginning of this journey, click here.

This game was a 1000pt Zone Mortalis game set in an alternate 30k universe. Some Imperial Fists have separated from Dorn, and are intent on joining the secessionists, along with Polux. Sigismund was the main man fighting them, and won enough games to warrant Dorn's attention. This last game is Dorn finally coming to the piece, and exacting so good old fashioned retribution.

This game uses the Space Hulk tiles to represent an underground base. We used all the ZM rules, other than the cold void rules as that didn't make sense due to the stable atmosphere of this subterranean base. Otherwise, we used the rules I have used previously here. It was also decided that all models and units would be fearless as my forces, led by Dorn, are hellbent on destroying the foe and will not give up While the rebel Fists have no where to run to, other than the exit.

For this game I got Dorn for free (pretty sweet), and my friend got a 10 Veteran tactical marines with Stubborn, plus any other upgrades for free.

Here are the army lists (as much as I can remember)

Loyalist Imperial Fists (1000pts)
Primarch's Chosen RoW

Dorn (free)

Primaris Medicae
Artificer Armour
Solarite Power Guantlet

5 Templar Brethren
Combat Shields
Solarite Power Guantlet

Apothecary 


7 Huscarls
Power Sword
2 Chainfists
Power Maul
3 Thunder Hammers

10 Veteran Tactical Marines
2 Heavy Bolters with suspensor webs
Sniper

 Veterans plus medic

 Dorn leading the Templar Brethren, with the Primaris Medicae.

 Solid Huscarls again lend their aid.

Secessionist Imperial Fists
Pride of the Legion RoW
Praetor
Cataphracti Terminator Armour
Storm Shield
Paragon Blade
Digi Lasers

Sons of Guilleman Veteran tactical Squad (free)
Missile Launcher with suspensor web

5 Terminators
Tartaros Terminator Armour
Assualt Cannon
Power Sword
3 Storm Shields and Thunder Hammers

10 Veteran Tactical squad
Sniper

Apothecary

5 Veteran Tactical squad
Heavy Bolter with suspensor web
Sniper


5 Veteran Tactical squad
Sniper


The Game
Having played a game before hand that was quite one sided, we changed the deployment, so only the Sons of Guilliman were deplyed in the starting area, with the rest of the rebel Imperial Fist forces deplyed around the facility to help them escape. The loyalists who made it to the facility, were deployed in a flanking position on both sides, so the SoG would have to be quick to outrun them.

Objectives
Loyalist Imperial Fists were to primarily eliminate the SoG squad, if done, then game won and campaign ended. If not done, then secondary objectives would be victory points and gathering intel represented as dice in certain locations on the board.

Secceionists were to get the SoG to escape off the board to the left, if done with 5 or more marines, then that is a win for them, and there would be another campaign game after. Secondary objectives would be victory points.

I kept to tradition and failed to sieze the initiative (I can't remember the last time I had first turn...)

 Secessionist Turn 1

 All the units move out as you can see, with the veteran units close to Dorn, making sure they had some good firing lines, and that it wouldn't be an easy charge (it was ruled early on that units could charge around corners).

Loyalist Turn 1

Dorn and the Templar Brethren (with Primaris Medicae in tow) rush towards the large unit of veterans, hoping to eliminate them early. The Huscarls and loyalist veterans just moved as far as they could. With no shooting, Dorn charges at the veterans, with them succeeding in inflicting 2 wounds with their sniper shots!

Dorn and the Templar's then wipe them out, consolidating towards the smaller 5 man vet squad with the Heavy Bolter.

Secessionists Turn 2

Everything that can more, moves as far as it can, with the praetor providing the precious squad some padding. The 5 man vet squad near Dorn, falls back, and opens up, causing another wound to the primarch!

Loyalist Turn 2

Dorn rushes and wipes out the demi squad of veterans, and took the intel in the room to boot. The Huscarls move close to the center passages, whereas the other veteran squad takes some pot shots at the 5 man enemy vet squad near the,, and then roll snake eyes for assault.

Secessionist Turn 3

 Lots of action this turn. The secessionist terminators charge the Huscarls, the demi vet squad shoots up my veteran squad, killing 3 marines plus the medic with a precision shot. The praetor then charges in, tanking all the shots, and gets into combat with them. The SoG sqaud advance along the center passage, free from obstruction.

The assault did not go well for the loyalists. The terminator fight was 1 killed each, though I proved again that 2+ armour saves are easy to fail. The praetor annihilates the veterans, with only the heavy bolters left to hold him up with their lives.

Loyalist Turn 3

Dorn and his squad charge the enemy terminators in an effort to free up his Huscarls. Combat ensured that there was still 2 enemy terminators left, now holding up my whole army. The veterans against the praetor was very short lived.

Secessionist Turn 4

 Deciding to go for a gamble, and take the quick way, the SoG run past the big melee, with the praetor and demi squad moving up in support, to get close to the action. His 2 remaining thunder hammer, storm shield terminators needed to hold up my forces for one more turn and it would look very favourable. Despite their heroic actions, they all fell to the mass attacks, and Dorn, along with all his remaining forces, consolidated towards the main objective.

Loyalist Turn 4

 Dorn and the Templars move up to the door and open it to see their objective running along the corridor. The Huscarls go around the other way, to head them off.

 All of the loyalist forces charge the objective squad...

...they manage to kill a Templar, but are wiped out for their trouble. With the main mission complete for the loyalists, the game comes to an end.

The remaining forces scatter before the titanic fury of the primarch!

So the last game of the campaign turned out to be a loyalist victory. It was good to finally wrap up the campaign, and Dorn is now firmly on the loyalist side for the rest of the campaign.

It was an enoyable mini campaign and it was good to finally use that primarch model, that I have had for many years.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers!

Warzones of the Eradication Era

The Battle for Mars
The war for Mars rages on, the Mechanicum fighting for the sovereignty of Mars whilst the Legions fight for a vital staging point for further conquest and to secure munitions and materiel.  Ever more Legions are drawn to the struggle as the fate of the red planet, the Imperium and Imperium Secundus hang in the balance.

We also have the following mini-campaigns in effect:
The mini-campaign games do not effect the Battle for Mars map.

Dissent in the Ranks
The Imperial Fists civil war on their home world of Inwit

Deliverance Lost
The White Scars assault on the Raven Guard in an attempt to purge the legion, fought on Deliverance.

Fall of the Iron Hands
Following the Iron Hands on their descent into worship of Tzeentch.

Lion and the Drake.
The trials of two Legions with the strongest bond, the formation and collapse of the Paladin order

Between a Forge and a Hard Place.
Substantial forces of Iron Warriors and Iron Hands meet in one of the bloodiest conflicts of the Secession.

Enter the Darkness
Guilliman has tasked the Alpha Legion with the destruction of the Night Lords, a thousand skirmishes on a thousand worlds as each Legions seeks to tear the other apart.

Dissent in the ranks - Confrontation in the ruins of Plexis

Game 4 of our little side campaign about the heresy in the ranks of the Imperial Fists Legion. For a little background, have a look at this older battle reports.

Dissent in the ranks - A Heresy Era Battle Part 1 

Dissent in the ranks - A Heresy Era Battle Part 2

Dissent in the ranks - Supply grab Heresy Battle part 1

Dissent in the ranks - Supply grab Heresy Battle part 2

Dissent in the ranks - Wrath of Sigismund Part 1

Dissent in the ranks - Wrath of Sigismund Part 2

 

So now that you are up to speed, this is game 4 of our dissent and of course the future of the allegiance of the Imperial Fists Legion. This game was 2500pts, so was a very large game. As a consequence of that, this game did only go for 4 turns, due to time considerations. Still we managed to get all our full turns.

The Forces

Sigismund's Assault Force

Sigismund                                                                                                                          

Chaplain Akrida                                                                 

Crossius Arcanum (Power Maul)

Artificer Armour                                                               

Refractor Field                                                                  

Melta-Bombs                                                                    

                                                                                                                                              

Primaris Medicae Omni                                               

Terminator Armour                                                         

Storm Shield                                                                    

Solarite Power Glove                                                     

                                                                                                                                              

Legion Terminator Squad                                             

Thunder hammers                                                          

Storm Shields                                                                    

                                                                                                                                               

Legion Terminator Squad                                             

Storm Shields                                                                    

3 Thunder Hammers                                                       

                                                                                                                                               

Spartan Assault Tank                                                               

-Armoured Ceramite                                                      

Flare Shield                                                                         

                                                                                                                                              

Legion Tactical Squad (I)                                              

Powerfist                                                                            

                                                                                                                                               

--> Rhino                                                                             

--> Extra Armour                                                              

                                                                                                                                               

Legion Tactical Squad (II)                                              

Powersword                                                                      

                                                                                                                                               

--> Rhino                                                                             

--> Extra Armour                                                              

                                                                                                                                               

Legion Heavy Support Squad                                      

6 Missile Launchers                                                         

Scanner                                                                                                

+ 2 Marines                                                                        

                                                                                                                                               

Land Raider Proteus                                                       

-Armoured Ceramite                                                      

                                                                                                                                               

Land Raider Proteus                                                       

-Armoured Ceramite                                                      

                                                                                                                                               

Secessionist Forces

Legion Praetor

Digilasers

Solarite Power Gauntlet

Consul Master of the Fleet

Consul Librarian in Terminator Armour

Contemptor Dreadnought 

Multimelta, Dreadnought Close combat weapon

Contemptor Dreadnought 

Multimelta, Dreadnought Close combat weapon

Contemptor Dreadnought

2 Chainfists, 2 melta guns, Chassis Havoc Launcher

Legion Dreanought

Twin-linked Lascannon, Dreadnought Close combat weapon

Terminator Squad (10 man)

3 Thunder Hammers, Storm Shields

2 Chainfists

Powersword

Assault Cannon

The rest with upgraded Power Fists

Legion Veteran Squad (I)

(sniper special rule)

Legion Veteran Squad (II)

Heavy Bolter, Meltagun (Fearless)

Legion Veteran squad (III)

Unknown

Heavy Support Squad

5 Plasma Cannons

The Mission

For this game, we decided to do the mission cards thing again. It was good fun last time, and its great to have a fluid and dynamic set of objectives to obtain during the game. Plus I was looking forward to actually having some decent cards for this match.

Essentially Sigismund is forcing the Secessionists back, well into their territory. This game had big stakes, as the winner essentially had the sole ear of Rogal Dorn, and could take him in the next game. Sigismund was ready to dish out some justice and silence and heresy that would threaten his Primarch. Glory was just a bonus.

 With the forces set and me having failed to steal the initative. The seccessionist move forward.

 Secessionist Turn 1

The Secessionist move forward, ready to take the fight to the Loyalists. They move up towards the objectives in middle field.

Some shots are fired, but they only succeed in causing some light damage to Tactical Squad I's Rhino. The fearless Veteran tactical squad runs to secure the objective on the right flank.

Loyalist Turn 1

 The loyalists take stock of the situation and attempt to knock out some of the incoming threats. The Land Raider 'Indomitable', unloads the devastator squad onto the objective, where they take a very quick aim at the incoming contemptor's. The rest of the Land Raiders and the Spartan, lock sights on the contemptors, inflicting 2 hull points at the end. No other shooting takes place.

Secessionist Turn 2

The Sececcionist still surge forward, claiming more objectives and scoring well on their objectives. More shooting takes place, and the Devastator squad is wiped out. First blood to the Secessionists! The contemptor's attempt to charge the Spartan, but they all fail to make the distance.

Loyalist Turn 2

Seeing the approaching threat, and hungry for blood, Sigismund and his squad disembark and assault into 2 of the enemy contemptors. The Spartan and the Land Raiders line up and take out the 3rd Contemptor.

Seeing the approaching Veteran marines, the Huscarls decide to go out and protect the objective. 

The squad fly into combat and manage to batter one contemptor down, and would the other. They don't destroy it, so thy are locked into combat.

Secessionist Turn 3

Most of the Secessionists move closer to Imperial lines, scrambling for some objectives. In a surprise assault, the Veteran marines assault and destroy tactical Squad's II Rhino. They disembark, ready for revenge. Sigismund as his squad manage to destroy the last contemptor.

Loyalist Turn 3

Sigismund and his squad line up to take out the Sniper Veteran Squad (blue). The land Raiders and Spartan line up to take out the Veteran Squad with the Warlord in it. tactical Squad I also moves into position to take some shots at the enemy warlord's squad. Shooting wise, the Spartan managed to kill enough marines to get some shots on the enemy Warlord and slay him. The Land Raiders both open up on the approaching Terminators and manage to kill 2.

The Terminator Huscarls and Tactical Squad II assault the Veteran squad on the right flank. I roll terrible, and lose the combat. The Terminators stays in the fight, though the Tactical Squad falls back (safely). What I thought was a sure thing, turned out to be very close to a total disaster. Its now up to the terminators to hang in there.

Sigismund and his squad assault into the Veteran marines and wipe them out to a man. He falls back in the face of Sigismund, and Sigismund consolidates to hold the objective. 
 
Secessionist Turn 4

The Terminator's surge forward towards the stricken Rhino. The Veteran Marines (yellow) on the left flank moves towards the objective right near the Spartan. The Terminators assault the Rhino and unsurprisingly remove its last hull point. It explodes killing a few more of my tactical marines.

Combat between the Terminator Huscarls and the veterans in the right flank finally go my way, with the Terminator's wiping them out. They then consolidate towards the enemy Terminators.

Loyalist Turn 4

Time was called for this turn, so this was my last turn to get some points. I was at this stage 2 points down, so needed to earn 3 for a win. The Huscarls move towards the objective in the middle of the field, just making it into range to capture it. The Land Raiders and Spartan and Tactical Squad I manage to wipe out the last 2 Veteran Marines, netting another point.

Sigismund and his squad assault the lone veteran marine (blue) and mange to kill him which also was the final point needed. 

So the final scores are:

Loyalists: 7

Secessionists: 6

 

A very close win for the Loyalists! I felt I had some sub par luck this game, but still, a little luck swung my way in the end to get those final points. The the whole game I was trailing in victory points, so I thought it was going to be difficult to equalize without some decent mission objectives to get bumped up.

So with the conclusion of this game, Sigismund ensures victory for the Imperial Fists. Dorn will now come into the next game on the side of the Imperialists, ready to dispense some of his own justice. The next game should be interesting, as it will be 1000pts, with me getting a 'free' Dorn, and my friend getting a 'free' squad of Traitor Ultramarines, that need to escape from a complex. We will be using the Space Hulk tiles to recreate the complex, and as such there will be no vehicles. So it should be interesting for me, as I do like my tanks!

Anyways, thanks for looking!

Cheers!

Dissent in the ranks - Wrath of Sigismund Part 2

Here is the second part of the 2000pt battle between Sigismund and the Secessionist forces of the Imperial Fists. If you missed the first part, you can find it here.

Secessionist Turn 4

After the destruction of the last Contemptor and Legion Dreadnought, the rest of the forces make a run for the copse of trees towards the Imperial lines. A few Veteran marines from the lead squads take some accurate shots at the Imperialist Heavy Support squad, and do enough damage that they fail their morale and duck inside the building.

Imperialist Turn 4

The Spartan "Victory", rushes towards the last remnants and opens fire. The other Land Raiders move to draw beads on the approaching infantry. Tactical Squad II's Rhino moves in support of the Land Raider "Dauntless". The shots cause some casualties.

Secessionist Turn 5

Most of the forces of the Secessionists make it into the cover of the copse of woods, though with no available targets, they just bunker down.

Imperialist Turn 5

The Spartan and the Land Raider's move right up to the last of the forces, determined to reduce their numbers before the final assault commences. The Heavy Support squad in the building continue to flee towards safety, and Tactical Squad II's Rhino provides cover for the last members of the Heavy Support Squad.

The firepower of the Spartan and Land Raider's takes its toll.

Secessionist Turn 6

The enemy Praetor tries for a last ditch attack on the Spartan "Victory", however the undergrowth of the wood slows him and his last member of Veteran Squad III. They instead consolidate their position along with the Librarian and his last remnants into a last stand.

 Imperialist Turn 6

The Land Raider's and Spartan move up to finish them last forces. The Heavy Support Squad rallies and takes cover behind the old watch tower.

All the shooting was directed at the Veteran Squad II (blue squad), and manages to finish them off. The Librarian finally breaks and flees from the slaughter. Sigismund and the Huscarl's charge out of the Spartan "Victory" and get ready to assault the enemy Warlord and his last faithful marine. However the copse of trees again foils the efforts of those seeking to stride under its bough's and the assault falls short.

 End Game

 

That is the end game! A much bigger battle this one, though I was very pleased that all my forces (and that of my friend were all fully painted). So the end result was:

Imperialist: 10

Secessionist: 2

Victory to the Impeiralists! I think that having Sigismund in an assault vehicle meant that he got into the think of it very quickly (Turn 2), and he would have made it again into the combat on Turn 6 if I rolled average on the charge roll. Ahh well, never to mind. The next game is planned to be 2500pts, which is going to be a monster of a game.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers!

Dissent in the ranks - Wrath of Sigismund Part 1

Game 3 of out little side campaign set in the Heresy was played out recently. If you have no idea what is going on, here are some links to the other battles that have taken place.

Dissent in the ranks - A Heresy Era Battle Part 1 

Dissent in the ranks - A Heresy Era Battle Part 2

Dissent in the ranks - Supply grab Heresy Battle part 1

Dissent in the Ranks - Supply grab Heresy Battle part 2

Essentially it is a series of games set in an alternative 30k timeline, between the forces of Sigismund and Alexis Polux.  This game marked game 3 of our mini-campaign, pitting the torn forces of the Imperial Fists Legion and set at 2000 pts. 

Here are the lists. 

Sigismund's Force (2000pts)

Sigismund                                                                                                                         

Chaplain Akrida                                                                

Crossius Arcanum

Artificer Armour                                                              

Refractor Field                                                                  

Melta-Bombs                                                                   

                                                                                                                                               

Legion Terminator Squad (Cataphractii)                                            

Storm Shields                                                                    

3 Thunder Hammers                                                       

                                                                                                                                           

Spartan Assault Tank                                                                

Armoured Ceramite                                                      

Flare Shield                                                                         

                                                                                                                                               

Legion Tactical Squad (I)                                                

Powerfist                                                                            

                                                                                                                                               

--> Rhino                                                                             

--> Extra Armour                                                              

                                                                                                                                               

Legion Tactical Squad (II)                                              

Powersword                                                                      

                                                                                                                                               

--> Rhino                                                                             

--> Extra Armour                                                              

                                                                                                                                               

Legion Heavy Support Squad                                      

6 Missile Launchers                                                         

Scanner                                                                                                

+ 2 Marines                                                                        

                                                                                                                                               

Land Raider Proteus                                                       

-Armoured Ceramite                                                      

                                                                                                                                               

Land Raider Proteus                                                       

-Armoured Ceramite                                                      

                                                                                                                                               

Secessionist Forces

Legion Praetor

Digilasers

Solarite Power Gauntlet

Consul Master of the Fleet

Consul Librarian in Terminator Armour

Contemptor Dreadnought 

Multimelta, Dreadnought Close combat weapon

Contemptor Dreadnought 

Multimelta, Dreadnought Close combat weapon

Contemptor Dreadnought

2 Chainfists, 2 melta guns, Chassis Havoc Launcher

Legion Dreanought

Twin-linked Lascannon, Dreadnought Close combat weapon

Legion Veteran Squad (I)

(sniper special rule)

Legion Veteran Squad (II)

Heavy Bolter, Meltagun

Legion Veteran squad (III)

Unknown

Heavy Support Squad

5 Plasma Cannons

The Mission
The mission for this game was blissfully simple. Kill them all, and try not to get wiped out too bad in the process. Sigismund, having well and truly enough of this Heresy in the ranks, seeks to expunge and wipe out all enemy forces. No mercy. With his mission set, the tanks lined up ready for battle (I lost the roll for deployment), only to be fired upon by the Secessionist forces lying in wait! (My friend also stole the initiative).

Imperial forces all deployed together in an armoured gauntlet.

The Secessionist forces split their forces in two, with the Heavy Support squad, Veteran Squad I and the Master of Signals on the bottom left, with the rest of the forces deployed on the upper side of the table.

The scene is set!

Secessionist Turn 1

 A devastating blast from the Legion Dreadnought commenced the attack of the traitors. The shot rang true and tactical Squads Rhino I was destroyed, even slaying 4 of the marines inside. The rest of the forces and contemptors moved forward, with a few running in order to close the gaps with the Imperial Forces. The Plasma Heavy Support squad fired upon the Imperialist Missile launchers in the old building, slaying the Sergeant. First blood to the Secessionists!
 
Imperialist Turn 1

With a deep rumble, the armoured might of Sigismund went forward. The Spartan "Victory", went as quick as it could towards the forces on the far left flank, determined to unleash Sigismund and his vengeance upon the forces there. The Land Raider's maneuvered to take aim at the approaching Contemptor's, and the remnants of Tactical Squad I embarked upon the Land Raider "Indomitable".

No shots rang out from the Spartan, as it was focused on speed. The Land Raiders and Missile launchers from the Heavy support Squad unleashed their fury on the approaching contemptor's, destroying one of them and causing some damage to another.
 
Secessionist Turn 2

Swarming over the fallen remains of the contemptor, the Secessionist Forces moved again with all haste toward the Imperial lines, eager to get to grips in short range fire fights.

The Master of Signal's, identifying the approaching Spartan as Sigismund's personal transport, leaves Veteran Squad I, and calls down a barrage onto the Heavy support unit in the building. Another 2 marines fall to the barrage and plasma cannon shots.

Imperialist Turn 2

The Land Raiders and Heavy support squad again unleash their payload against the approaching contemptors, destroying another one and critically damaging another.

The Spartan "Victory" unloads Sigismund, Akrida and the Terminators into the midst of the enemy positions. Sigismund sounds the charge and they crash into Veteran Squad I. All that could be reached were slain, though due to fearless, the two survivors fight on, and Sigismund and his squad close with the last members of the squad.

Secessionist Turn 3

The Master of Signals sees the carnage unleashed by Sigismund and his unit, and decides to relocate to other ground. The rest of their forces again move forward. The Legion Dreadnought successfully causes some damage to the Land Raider "Indomitable" though a glancing hit.

In the assault, Sigismund finishes off the last two members of Veteran Squad I, and the unit then consolidates towards the Spartan "Victory".

Imperialist Turn 3

Sigismund and the Terminators embark on the Spartan "Victory", leaving Akrida to deal with the last Plasma cannon marine. The Spartan then goes on the shoot the 'relocating' Master of Signals, killing him outright. The Land Raiders and the Heavy Support Squad fire again on the last contemptor and Legion Dreadnought, destroying both.

Akrida charges into assault and finishes off the last Plasma Cannon marine from the Heavy Support Squad. 

That marks the half way game. I will endeavour to get the last part up soon enough.

Thanks for looking!

Cheers!