Farseer Varshar vs Space marines

I thought I would start my first post this year with a report as to a game I had last Sunday against Space Marines. This was to be a 2500 point game. Below is my army for that game.

HQ:

• Farseer Varshar (Doom, Guide, Runes of Witnessing, Runes of Warding, Spirit Stones) - 145 pts

Troops:

• Guardian Jetbike Squadron - 88 pts
  
• Pathfinders (Rangers) - 120 pts
  
• Guardian Squad (Starcannon), Warlock (Destructor, Singing spear) - 149 pts
  
• Dire Avengers, Exarch (Avenger Shuriken catapults x 2, Blade storm) - 297 pts
  
• WraithGuard & Warlock (Conceal) - 396 pts
  

Elite:

• Howling Banshees, Exarch (Executioner, War shout, Acrobatic) & Wave Serpent (Shuriken cannon, Bright Lance) - 273 pts
  
• Striking Scorpions, Exarch (Scorpions Claw, Shadow Strike, Stalker) - 148 pts
• Fire Dragons, Exarch (Firepike, Tank Hunters, Crack Shot) - 136 pts
  

Heavy Support:

• Fire Prism (Holo-Fields, Spirit Stone) - 160 pts
  
• Fire Prism (Holo-Fields, Spirit Stone) - 160 pts
  
• Falcon (Holo-Fields, Spirit Stone, Missile Launcher) - 180 pts
  
  

Fast Attack:

• Vyper (Holo-Field, Spirit Stone, Missile Launcher) - 110 pts
  
• Warp Spiders, Exarch (Death Spinner x 2, PowerBlades) - 137 pts

Total = 2499

I met my opponent Rob at Games Workshop in Bromley and he told me that he only had 2300 points and could i do the same. I was tempted to say no, but being the kind soul that i am removed my Guardian Squad to reduce my army by 150 points. This left me with 50 points over his total, but i wasn't about to do micro tweaks to my army to accommodate him (Rob was the one who had challenged me to a 2500 point game in the first place!). Anyway enough ranting.... to the game!

Mission: Annihilation
Deployment: Dawn of War

The Farseer would be deployed with Dire Avengers, the Fire Dragons would be deployed inside the Falcon, and my Striking Scorpions, Warp Spiders would be outflanking, deep striking respectively.

I won the dice role and deployed my Rangers into woods, and the Wraith Guard between the hills, as seen below in the dodgy picture I made. (Apologies for the rough map using paint, but I forgot to take pictures! Hopefully next time!).

The idea behind my deployment was to use the 10 Wraith Guard as focal point for the enemy. Toughness 6, fearless, 3+ armour save and with the wraith cannon make them hard to ignore. Especially if i deploy them in the middle of the table! Also as this was a Dawn of War deployment, I didn't want to have to walk them from my table edge. Where I would have almost 400 points being ineffective for 2-3 turns as they lumbered up the table.

Rob deployed a 10 tactical squad in a Rhino and some Scouts with combat shotguns.

TURN ONE
Beginning of the turn Rob tried to steal the initiative, but only rolled a four...phew!

My Wraith Guard lumbered towards the Rhino, whilst the rest of my army pushed up onto the table.

Due to the dawn fighting the only effective shots were done by my Wraith Guard which blew the hunter killer missile off the Rhino!

In response, During Robs move phase he moved onto the board his Librarian, Tactical squad, Vindicator and HQ units from his table edge. The Rhino made a 180 degree turn and deployed the Tac squad. Robs Drop Pod containing Stern Guard landed bang on target next to my Wraith Guard.

Robs shooting phase consisted of his entire army that was in visual and weapon range shooting at my Wraith Guard. This resulted in eight of them dying as well as the attached Warlock. A lot of harm was due to the amount of fire power heading their way, but also some extremely rubbish armour saves by me! The Vindicator targeted the Falcon, but deviated way off target.

TURN TWO

I started the turn by Dooming the Tactical squad next to the Devastator squad and guiding the Dire Avengers.
I moved the Wave Serpents, Fire Prisms, Vyper and Falcon at cruising speed forward (Before realising that i hadn't rolled for reserves!!!!). Being fast skimmers, this allowed me to still fire a single main weapon and all defensive weapons (and made it 6's to hit for any marine that decided to assault). The Dire Avengers deployed from the wave serpent on the left.

In the shooting phase I prioritised my targets. That being anything that could harm my vehicles. With that in mind I linked fired the Fire Prisms, dropping a large blast strength 6, AP 3 on top of the Devastators. This killed four out of the five marines (after re-rolling wounds...the joy of being twin-linked when combining fire!). This left one marine with a lascannon, which my Vyper finished off with a well placed crack missile. The Dire Avengers that had deployed from the Wave Serpent on the left released their blade storm which decimated the Tactical squad. Looking at the Librarian, I asked Rob if he was attached to the Tac squad behind him. To my surprise he said no! I vaporised his Librarian with the pulsars from the Falcon, as his Terminator armours 5+ invulnerable save didn't work. The Wave Serpents on the left and right fired at the Drop Pod and Vindicator respectively with no armour penetration. The remaining two Wraith Guard fired at the Vindicator, causing a glancing hit which shook the vehicle. The Rangers didn't manage to harm the Stern Guard next to the Drop Pod.

In Robs turn his second squad of five Scouts arrived on the board. One was armed with a missile launcher. Robs Terminators failed to arrive this turn.

During the movement phase his units moved forward apart from the Stern Guard who stayed in the shadows of the Drop Pod, and the Tactical squad next to the Rhino.

Firing commenced with the Stern Guard finishing off the Wraith Guard with vengeance rounds. The Scouts who arrived on this turn fired at the Jet Bikes with their bolters, but these bounced off their armour. The Tactical Squad next to the Rhino fired their missile launcher at the Falcon, but only shook it (thanks to the holo-fields and spirit stones).

TURN THREE
I rolled for reserves with only my Striking Scorpions arriving this turn on the right flank.

Movement consisted of the Dire Avengers getting back into the Wave Serpent and moving back behind the hill (as they couldn't fire this turn) . The Fire Prisms moved so that they could get clear line of sight to the Tactical squad next to the Rhino. The Wave Serpent on the right deployed the Howling Banshees who moved towards the Command Squad. The Wave Serpent then moved on to the hill to get clear line of sight to the Vindicator. The Falcon went flat out as it couldn't fire this turn. The Striking Scorpions who were outflanking on the Right moved towards the Chapter Master and his retinue. The Vyper moved forward to get a clear line of sight to everything.

Shooting consisted of the Fire Prisms combining fire to kill eight out of the Tactical squad marines next to the Rhino. The Wave Serpent fired its bright lance and the Vyper shot a crack missile to kill the remaining two marines in the squad. The Howling Banshees now with a clear path to the Command squad ran forward five inches to get within assault range. The Striking Scorpions fired at the Chapter Master and his retinue killing one marine. The Jet Bikes fired at the Scouts killing three of the recruits, and the Wave Serpent carrying the Dire Avengers killed another recruit. The remaining Scout with missile launcher failed his morale check and headed back towards his table edge. The Wave Serpent on the left fired the bright lance at the Drop Pod, but did not penetrate. The rangers scored three hits on the Stern Guard, but didn't manage to wound them.

During the assault phase my Howling Banshees wiped out the Command squad. I lost only three of the Banshees. I then consolidated the Banshees into the wood line on the left, to prepare for an attack on the Stern Guard in my next turn. The Striking Scorpions smashed into the Chapter Master and his retinue killing all, and losing four scorpions in the process. They then consolidated towards the Vindicator with a mighty six inch move!

In Robs turn, his Terminators deep striked onto the table. He moved the Rhino back to allow the Vindicator a better line of sight.

Robs shooting consisted of concentrated firepower from the Stern Guard and Tactical squad onto the remaining Howling Banshees, killing all of the them. The Rhino killed a Striking Scorpion leaving the Exarch. The Vindicator fired at the Wave Serpent, but the shot did not penetrate. The Tactical squad fired at the Jet Bikes, killing one rider. At the end of the shooting phase the Jet Bikes passed their leadership test.

TURN FOUR
Now that the Dire Avengers had reloaded their weapons, I guided them whilst Dooming the Terminators. My reserve roll for the Warp Spiders was successful.

In my movement phase the Dire Avengers disembarked from the Wave Serpent next to the Terminators. The Fire Dragons who had been waiting patiently inside the Falcon also disembarked, and moved towards the Terminators. The Falcon then moved to also get a clean line of site to the same target. The Warp Spiders deep striked behind the Vindicator and the Scorpion Exarch moved within striking distance of the Vindicator as well. The Fire Prisms moved into positions which allowed them to hit multiple targets depending on the outcome of the rest of my shooting.

Shooting commenced with the Dire Avengers blade storm. This resulted in one Terminator failing his 2+ save. I then fired the Falcons pulsars and shuriken catapults, with no damage. The Fire Dragons then fired their weapons killing two more Terminators (even with one of them having a 3+ invulnerable from its storm shield). The Rangers then fired killing another. This left one Terminator with paired lighting claws! The Warp Spiders fired into the rear of the Vindicator resulting in it being wrecked. The Fire Prism fired at the remaining Tactical squad, killing eight of them. The Scorpion Exarch ran towards the Rhino.

During the assault phase i had to make a decision as to whether to assault the last Terminator with the Fire Dragons. I knew that if he stayed alive, he could cause some serious damage. To my surprise I managed to get 5 wounds, which subsequently he only managed to save all but one!

This was the straw that broke the camels back, Rob shook my hand and conceded the game.

Hopefully you have enjoyed this report, and next time I will be able to have a report with proper photos!