BatRep 005-09-06-1999
Eldar vs Space Marines
Planetfall!

After countless years, a huge Eldar warhost has returned to the Sesharrim moon to reclaim their territory. The Imperial colony that had flourished in their absense was swept aside effortlessly-- until the Adeptus Astartes are sent in to reclaim the moon for the Emperor!

Editor's Note:
Because we wanted to cover so much in this huge battle, there were a number of stipulations in effect. First, we reduced all the Titans field saves from 4+ to 5+ in order to insure that they did not dominate the battle. Second, because we wanted a big battle, each of the four players was allowed to fill out his own Force Organization-- so there are 4 detachments on the table: Two Marines, two Eldar. Next, I wanted to try out the Space Wolves army list from WD 231/234. (You can read a bit more about my spin on this army list here.) Finally, because of the number of pics we took, I haven't had time yet to properly finish them all in Photoshop-- removing flying stands, improving the look of smoke, and so on. And now on to the BatRep!

 


View from the North / View from the South

Ben (Space Wolf stand-ins): We were all worried about the Titans overpowering the game, so we agreed ahead of time that our Titans would have to walk onto the board from the North table edge. While the Eldar set up their hidden deployment, Mike and I discussed our Deep Strike strategies-- Mike wanting to concentrate in one spot, and me wanting to try a pincer move. As it turns out, we ended up deploying in opposite corners. Given the dispersement of our targets (Eldar HQ units) this turned out for the best.
Unit WS BS S T W I A Ld Save Notes Points
Grand Ecclesiarch 5 5 4 4 3 5 4 10 3+ Iron Halo, Power weapon,
melta bombs
(as Wolf Lord)		 130
Chaplain Corps 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 - see below
(as Wolf Guard)		 -
Ecclesiarch's Retinue 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 2+ Terminator Armor w/
Power weapon, storm bolter		 45
Ecclesiarch's Retinue 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 2+ Terminator Armor w/
Assault cannon, powerfist		 90
Ecclesiarch's Retinue 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 2+ Terminator Armor w/
Assault cannon, powerfist		 90
Devastator Chaplain 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 3+ Power sword, bolt pistol 45
Bike Squad Chaplain 4 4 4 5 1 4 2 9 3+ Bike, plasma pistol,
power weaon		 95
Scout Squad Chaplain 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 3+ Power weapon,
storm bolter		 50
Veterans (5) 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 8 3+ 3 w/ plasma pistol,
2 w/ power weapon,
frag grenades
(as Grey Hunters)		 135

Rhino

                   aux. storm bolter, smoke 63
Veterans (5) 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 8 3+ 3 w/ plasma pistol,
1w/ power weapon,
1 w/power fist,
frag grenades
(as Grey Hunters)		 140

Razorback

                   multimelta, smoke 78
Scout Squad (5) 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 8 4+ 4 w/ sniper rifles,
1 w/heavy bolter,
frag and krak		 112
Assault Squad (5) 4 4 4 5 1 4 1 7 (8) 3+ Bikes; 2 w/ plasma pistol,
2 w/ power weapon,
sgt. w/ melta gun
(as Blood Claws)		 222
Landspeeder                   Heavy bolter 50
Devastator Squad (5) 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 9 3+ 2 w/ heavy bolter,
2 w/ lascannon,
sgt. w/ melta gun
(as Long Fangs)		 200

Razorback

                   twin lascannons, smoke 93
Warhound Titan 4 3             5+ Mega-bolter, Turbolaser 350
Warhound Titan 4 3             5+ Plasma Blaster, Turbolaser 350

TOTAL: 2338

Mike (Dark Angels): I knew Planetfall was going to be tough. The huge Eldar army would be very widely dispersed in their deployment zone. I chose to Deep Strike into one corner of the board and managed to land fairly effectively without losing a single unit. I had the Eldar Titan in the gunsights of my Land Raider on the first turn. Unfortunately, most of my army was in the gunsights of several jetbikes, a Falcon and a squad of Dark Reapers.
Unit WS BS S T W I A Ld Save Notes Points
Commander 5 5 4 4 3 5 4 10 3+ Power weapon,
Combi-plasma, T. honors,
Lion Helm		 160
Librarian 5 5 4 4 2 5 3 9 2+ Terminator Armor,
Force Axe		 150
Dreadnought 4 4 10 - - 4 2 - - Assault cannon, power fist,
heavy flamer, smoke		 118
Dreadnought 4 4 6 - - 4 2 - - Twin-linked lascannon,
missile launcher, storm bolter, smoke		 130
Eversor Assassin 5 5 4 4 2 5 3 10 4+ large array of unfriendly shit 95
Scout Squad (5) 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 8 4+ 4 w/ bolt pistol/ccw,
1 w/heavy bolter,
frag and krak		 114

Veteran Sgt.

 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 4+ bolt pistol, ccw, melta bombs +18
Tactical Squad (6) 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 8 3+ 1 w/ flamer,
frag and krak		 95

Veteran Sgt.

 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 3+ bolt pistol, ccw, melta bombs +20
Assault Squad (5) 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 8 3+ 2 w/ plasma pistol;
melta bombs		 155

Veteran Sgt.

 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 3+ bolt pistol, power sword +30
Ravenwing Speeder                 6+ Assault Cannon,
Heavy bolter		 85
Predator                   Autocannon,
Lascannon sponsons;
smoke, dozer blade, storm bolter		 143
Devastator Squad (6) 4 4 4 4 1 4 1 8 3+ 1 w/ heavy plasma, 1 w/heavy bolter, 2 w/missile launcher 180

Veteran Sgt.

 4 4 4 4 1 4 2 9 3+ plasma pistol +30
Land Raider                   Twin lascannon, twin heavy bolters, storm bolter, smoke 263

TOTAL: 1786
GRAND TOTAL: 4124

 

John (wizened Eldar): I wasn't sure what to expect from this battle. I've never played the Planetfall mission before, and this would also be our first 3rd edition game with Titans and the Eldar codex. Planetfall would allow us to use one of my favorite tactics: Surround them from the middle. From turn one all of the Eldar units should be in firing range. In a normal game Eldar would have to spend at least 1 if not 2 turns closing before we could fire. This was so cool having enemy forces dispersed throughout our entire deployment area. There would be very little manuevering. The hardest decision would be what to go after first.
Unit WS BS S T W I A Ld Save Notes Points
Farseer 5 5 3 4 3 5 1 10 4+ Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade;
Spirit stone, Guide, Mind War		 141

Warlocks (2)

 4 4 3 3 1 4 1 8 4+ Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade;
1 w/ Enhance, 1 w/Conceal		 89
Farseer 5 5 3 4 3 5 1 10 4+ Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade;
Spirit stone, Guide, Mind War		 141
Wraithguard (10) 4 4 5 5 1 4 1 10 3+ Wraithcannon 350
Banshees(10) 4 4 3 3 1 5 1 9 4+ Shuriken Pistol,
Power Sword		 160
Dire Avengers (6) 4 4 3 3 1 5 1 9 4+ Shuriken Catapult 72

Exarch

 5 5 3 3 1 6 2 9 3+ Shuriken Pistol,
Dire Sword		 +34
Defender Squad (5) 3 3 3 3 1 4 1 8 5+ Shuriken Catapult 40
Grav Platform - - - - - - - - - Bright Lance 50
Storm Squad (6) 3 3 3 3 1 4 1 8 5+ shuriken pistol, ccw;
plasma, krak, haywire		 78
Rangers (6) 3 4 3 3 1 4 1 8 5+ Ranger long rifle;
camo cloaks		 114
Jet Bikes (6) 3 3 3 4 1 4 1 8 3+ 4 w/ Shuriken Catapults,
2 w/Shuriken Cannon		 250
Vyper Squadron (3)                   2 w/ Scatter Laser,
1 w/ Star Cannon		 175
Wraithlord 4 4 10 8 3 4 3 10 3+ Shuriken catapults,
Star Cannon		 120
Falcon Grav Tank                   Scatter laser, shuriken cannon, holofield, spirit stone, crystal targeting matrix, scythes 190
Revenant Titan 4 4   13/12/11   4 3   5+ Heavy pulse laser, multi-launcher, scatter laser 425

TOTAL: 2417

Mr. May (hardened Eldar): Three major factors in this game were new Eldar Codex, Planetfall scenario and Titans. The new Codex left me looking in the book most of the game. I had no idea what some of the new Eldar powers and weapons did. On top of that, Planetfall was a scenario that I had never played. We set up to have good balance all around the board and heavy fire power at the end where the Titans would arrive.
Unit WS BS S T W I A Ld Save Notes Points
Avatar 10 - 6 6 4 5 3 10 5+ Wailing Doom, bad paint job 80
Farseer 5 5 3 4 3 5 1 10 4+ Spirit Stone, Singing Spear;
Mind War, Guide,
Eldritch Storm		 179

Warlocks (3)

 4 4 3 3 1 4 1 8 4+ Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade;
2 w/ Destructor,
1 w/Enhance		 126
Warp Spiders (5) 4 4 3 3 1 5 1 9 3+ Deathspinner, Jump Pack 110
Striking Scorpions(6) 4 4 4 3 1 5 1 9 3+ Shuriken Pistol, Chainsword,
Mandiblasters		 96

Exarch

 5 5 3 3 1 6 2 9 3+ Biting Blade,
Crushing Blow, Stealth		 +47
Fire Dragons (10) 4 4 4 3 1 5 1 9 4+ Fusion Gun, Melta bombs 170

Exarch

 5 5 3 3 1 6 2 9 3+ Firepike, Tank Hunters +44
Dire Avengers (10) 4 4 3 3 1 5 1 9 4+ Shuriken Catapult 120
Dire Avengers (5) 4 4 3 3 1 5 1 9 4+ Shuriken Catapult 60
Storm Squad (10) 3 3 3 3 1 4 1 8 5+ 2 w/Fusion guns;
plasma, krak, haywire		 138

Warlock

 4 4 3 3 1 4 1 8 4+ Shuriken Pistol, Witchblade;
Conceal		 47
Warwalkers (3) 3 3 5     4 2   3+ Each w/ 2 Bright Lance 300
Dark Reapers (5) 4 4 3 3 1 5 1 9 4+ Reaper Launchers 185

Exarch

 5 5 3 3 1 6 2 9 3+ Shuriken Cannon; Fast Shot +43
Wraithlord 4 4 10 8 3 4 3 10 3+ Shuriken catapults,
Star Cannon		 120

TOTAL: 1865
GRAND TOTAL: 4282

Planetfall!

Penitents (Space Wolf) Deployment: Looking over the Eldar hidden deployment, the Penitents tried to Deep Strike towards the largest concentrations of hidden markers. Deep Strike was fairly accurate, with only a couple of mishaps-- the Razorback struck forward a bit too close to the top of the hill, and the Scouts missed the table entirely!


The Penitents deploy in the northeast...

Dark Angel Deployment: The Dark Angels deployment could have gone much better. Nearly everywhere they set down, each unit was confronted with a squad that seemed custom made to match them head on. The Predator dropped nose-to-nose with a truly nasty Falcon; the assualt squad landed right in front of the Vipers and Dark Reapers; and the Land Raider touched down in front of a huge squad of tank-hunting Fire Dragons!

But the Deep Strike was not without its good points. The Dark Angel close combat Dreadnought fell right into the trenches, its heavy flamer already aimed right down the line of Guardians. The Eversor tried to deploy into the hidden units on the wooded hill, but instead landed in a squad of Banshees, right under the feet of the Revenant! Terrible luck, but worth it for the humor value.

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