After reading about Battle Chronicler on a forum a short while back, I simply had to try it out for battle reporting. The report below is the result of testing the Battle Chronicler software that can be downloaded for free on http://battlechronicler.com/ I’m not going to review the Battle Chronicler software here, but I’m sure that you’ll get my comments to the application in a later article.
The game played was one of the missions from the Emperor’s Chosen XI tournament pack. When I attended the tournament I didn’t get at chance to play the Decoy scenario as defender, so I had to give that a try…
DECOY!
Attacker’s Briefing: A transport vessel carrying important data has been shot down by the enemy. The stasis chests onboard the vessel are now scattered across a large area. Use your scanners to locate the right stasis chest and secure the important data before it falls into enemy hands!
Defender’s Briefing: Your forces have successfully shot down an enemy transport vessel. Suddenly, you find yourself under attack from an enemy raiding force searching for something in the vicinity of the wreckage. Judging by the rapid and forceful attack by the enemy, they must be seeking something important. Secure all the wreckage from the ship and repel the attackers!
Special Rules: Attacker Priority, Counters, Deep Strike, Infiltrate, Outflank & Reserves.
Set-Up:
1) Roll a dice. Winner gets to choose deployment zone.
2) Before both armies are deployed, the defender places three Counters. These counters must be placed 18” from the defender’s long board edge, and minimum 15” apart and 15” from the short table edge. Then the attacker secretly chooses which counter is the primary objective. Write this down on a piece of paper.
3) The attacker deploys his entire force first. Then the defender deploys his entire force.
4) The attacker gets the first turn.
Reserves: The defender may place one unit (max. 10 models, with up to 1 Independent Character attached, and a dedicated transport) in reserve. The attacker may not use reserves except for deep striking or
Game Length: The game lasts for six turns.
Line of Retreat: Towards own table edge.
Primary Mission Objective: The attacker must control the primary mission objective at the end of the game in order to win. If the attacker does not control the Counter the defender wins. The winner is awarded 20 BP’s and the loser is awarded 0 BP’s.
The Armies (1600points with S3 armyselection restrictions):
Space Marines (Attacker):
Chaplain (JP & Power Fist)
9 Assault marine squad (Power Fist)
10 Tactical marine squad split in combat squads (Rhino, Melta, Lascannon)
10 Tactical marin squad split in combat squads (Rhino, Melta, Lascannon)
5 Tactical squad split in combat squads (Heavy Bolter Razor Back)
Vindicator
Reserves:
5 Terminators (Chain Fist & Cyclone Launcher)
Venerable Dread in Drop pod
2 Landspeeders squadron (Multi Melta & Heavy Bolter)
Imperial Guard (defender):
Company Command Squad (Regimental Standard, 3 Sniper, Body guard)
Company Commander(Plasma Pistol & Power Weapon)
Infantry Platoon (41#, 405 pts)
5 Platoon Command Squad
10 Infantry Squad (Heavy Weapons Team - Lascannon)
10 Infantry Squad (Heavy Weapons Team - Lascannon)
10 Infantry Squad (Heavy Weapons Team - Lascannon)
3 Heavy Weapons Squad - Missile Launcher
3 Heavy Weapons Squad - Autocannon
2 Leman Russ Battle
10 Storm Trooper Squad (2 Meltagun & Power Weapon)
5 Ratling Squad
2 Scout Sentinel in squadron (Autocannon)
1 Manticore Rocket Launcher
Reserves:
Valkyrie Assault Carrier carrying 10 Veteran Squad (3 x Plasmagun & Plasmapistol)
Terrain setup
The downed transport vessel was located in the middle of the defender’s deployment zone with jungle and a wood just north of the crash site. The three objective counter was placed with the center one on the hull of the wreck and the others left and right of that (marked with a red *).
Deployment:
The attacking marines deployed with the vindicator in the middle and Razor Back, Rhino and one combat squad carrying a lascannon the left. On the right flank the other combat squad carrying a lascannon, the Chaplain and Assault marines and the last Rhino took up positions.
The IG set up a gunline with Compagny Command in the middle flanked by heavy weapons squads. Left flank was held by Ratlings, the Leman Russ squadron and the Manticore Rocket Launcher. The other flank was left to the platoon commander and his squads with lascannons and the scout sentinels on the far right. Infiltrating storm troopers takes up positions on the wreck to guard the middle objective.
Turn 1 - Marines:
The Razorback roars forward and takes up position behind a ruin on the left flank. On the right the combat squad in the Rhino and the chaplain and assault marines takes up position around the wood. As the shooting starts the storm troopers takes a beating, loosing half of the squad, but manages to keep their cool.
Turn 1 - IG:
The platoon commander moves forward on the right and takes up position on the hill on the right. The company commander orders the missile launchers to fire on the Vindicator, resulting a devastating hit on the tank. The Autocannon teams then scores a hit on the razorback on the left flank, immobilizing the tank. Following that all fire is directed to the chaplain and his assault marines, resulting in 6 fatalities in the squad.
Turn 2 - Marines:
At the start of the second turn both Terminators and the land speeder squadron arrives. The land speeders suffer a mishap and arrive in the woods instead of next to the IG tanks. The shooting that follows kills the remaining storm troopers and decimates the platoon command squad and the 3rd infantry squad. The Chaplain assaults the 1st infantry squad, killing them all in a sweeping advance. On the right flank the remaining assault marines assaults the scout sentinels, locking the units in a bitter fight.
Turn 2 - IG:
Just as the right flank looks like it is collapsing the Valkyrie and veterans arrive from reserve and engages the Terminators. In the shooting that follows their arrival the terminator squad is cut in half. The shooting ordered by the company commander inspires the heavy weapon teams to destroy both Rhinos. The Chaplain is killed by massed infantry fire and the shooting from the Leman Russ tanks makes a heavy impact on the land speeders – One is killed the other stunned. The Manticore’s storm eagle rockets makes short work of the marines who had just evacuated their Rhino.
Turn 3 - Marines:
Following the collapse of the right flank the terminators decide to take on the veterans, while the remaining squads fire at the guardsmen, hoping to break their morale. The Assault on the veterans cost almost half of the unit to die, but they manage to hold their ground.
Turn 3 – IG:
The Leman Russ squadron begins to move forward on the left objective. The Valkyrie leaves the veterans, as their fate is now in the power fists of the Terminators. The shooting that follows kills the last land speeder and a couple of marines. Then the terminators break the veterans, who are now below ½ strength and fleeing for their lives.
Turn 4 - Marines:
Falling from the sky a drop pod brings the venerable dread into action (we forgot the drop pod assault rule!). The dreadnaught is lined up perfectly for shooting his multi melta at the tanks, but only manages to score a shaking hit on one of the Leman Russ tanks. On the right flank the terminators kills the platoon commander and moves on towards the 3rd infantry squad. The remaining assault marine manages to finish off the sentinels and moves in on the Valkyrie.
Turn 4 - IG:
Acknowledging that right flank is collapsed the 3rd infantry squad embarks in the Valkyrie and is flown to safety close to the rightmost objective. The fleeing veterans manages to get their revenge, killing the terminators with massed plasma fire. The dreadnaught draws a lot of fire from the heavy weapons, but stands unscratched. Random fire takes out several marines, breaking the morale on one of the combat squads.
Turn 5 - Marines:
The venerable dread makes a move on the Leman Russ tanks, blowing one of them up. Lascannon fire destroys a weapon on the other.
Turn 5 - IG:
Having shot off all storm eagle rockets the Manticore rams the dreadnaught, but fails to do anything. The 3rd infantry squad disembarks and shoots the remaining assault marine. Massed fire on the dreadnaught fails to make an impact. The remaining Leman Russ destroys the remaining members of the combat squad north of its position.
Turn 6 - Marines:
The venerable dread tries to kill of the armour blocking its access to the left objective, but in vain – The marines are unable to repel the defenders!
Turn 6 - IG:
All able guns fire at the Dread – It suffers multiple penetrating and glancing hits, but as the smoke clears it stands…
Despite the casualties the Marines were very close to claiming the victory – Had it not been for the Manticore Ramming the dread, blocking him from claiming the objective.
/Nicolai aka Atoom
No comments:
Post a Comment