Command and Control
1850 Points plus Handicaps
Hammer and Anvil
A hard fought and enjoyable opening to the Five Zones Campaign ended with victory for the Iron Hands - but the Tyranids, with more luck, could well have reversed the result.
Battle was joined when the Tyranids began to advance across the board towards the central objectives. Their plans were immediately thrown into disarray by the bravery of the Iron Hands Chapter Master and his entourage (a Command Squad and Techmarine) who launched their Drop Pod into the heart of the enemy (thereby securing control of one of the high value objectives).
A second Drop Pod inserted a Tactical Squad which seized control of one of the centre markers, and a tank formation began to advance towards the bugs. In the backfield, a Devastator Squad - occupying a Bastion - began to target the enemy.
Enraged, the Tyranids sent their heavy hitters into the fray. One enormous insect arrived by drop pod and enveloped the Bastion (and its occupants) in a spray of foul ichor, whilst simultaneously taking control of one of the high scoring objectives; and a group of gene stealers outflanked to seize control of the other.
Crucially, however, the Tyranids could make little impact on the Chapter Master and his team; nor were they able to eliminate the Tacticals in the middle of the board. The latter clung on in the face of a combination of air assault and ground advance; the former engaged with - and began to exterminate - a large formation of gaunts.
On Iron Hands turn 2, a number of reserves arrived to shore up their end of the field whilst putting additional pressure on the Tyranid defences. A Bike Squad armed with grav guns engaged the acid spraying monstrosity, and a small Tactical Squad arrived to contest with the gene stealers. A larger group of Tacticals dropped in and immediately engaged a team of Psykers.
The Iron Hands armour now reversed course and began to target the larger Tyranid units that were menacing the Bastion. The surviving Devastators targeted the enemies Flyrant, inflicting several hits on the powerful beast. Finally, the Chapter Master and his team finished off the gaunts and began to advance on the Tyranid warlord.
Still the bugs came on. A large burrowing creature erupted beneath the small Tactical Squad, which somehow survived the assault, and the Iron Hand bikes were all but wiped out by the acid thrower. The imperials in the middle of the board were again assailed; and a huge amount of ordnance was hurled against the Chapter Master...
... to no avail. Ably assisted by the Techmarine, the Chapter Master and his fellow Iron Hands launched an all out assault on the heart of the Tyranid positions. Although the Techmarine eventually succumbed to his wounds, the remaining marines succeeded in wiping out the elite warrior bodyguard of the Tyranid Warlord, leaving him dangerously exposed.
At the same time, decisive blows were struck at the Iron Hands' end of the board. They had lost one tank in the previous phase, but were now able to kill off all the gene stealers, the wounded flyrant, the acid sprayer and the burrower. With their objectives secured, the Imperials could now turn their attention to those at the far end of the field.
Seeing that the prospects of victory had effectively ended, the Tyranid warlord chose to cede the field.
Result: Game conceded at the end of turn 3
The only areas we had that were adjacent are in the North East zone - Slay the Alien (Modified). I have updated the current map which can be seen from the link at the bottom of the Handicap page.
ReplyDeleteAlso, FYI, I played 1,650+handicap(450)=2,100 I guess you played 1,650+handicap(200)=1,850.