Monday 5 December 2016

1500pts battle report - Caledonian Highlander 5 - Tyranids v Tau

Peter Lennon was my final opponent of the tournament, also with Tau but a slightly unique list with only 1 Riptide, it's almost as if he thought a Highlander event was about bringing just one of a particular type. That said he also had 2 Remora, 2 Tetra, 2 XV9 Battlesuits some Kroot and Farsight with his gang.

Psychic Powers
Winged Tyrant HQTervigon CC TRBroodlord
OnslaughtDominionDominion
The HorrorPsychic ScreamThe Horror
Dominion



The low down:
  • Eternal War missions
  • Maelstrom missions
  • Hammer and Anvil
  • I think I won deployment but asked Pete to deploy first and failed to seize on a 1!
  • Warlord Trait -Warlord and 3 units get infiltrate
  • Not sure about night fighting. 
Unfortunately I lost the most important dice role of the game - getting to deploy Infiltrators first. Peter positioned those Stealth suits the other side of the Factory ruins effectively blocking off my options to capitalise on my 5 Infiltrators. The best I could do was bunch up on the flank  halfway up the board and my Genestealers just 3" out of my DZ.

Peter had the advantage of the high ground and cover.


Peter lines up the Malenthrope with marker lights and he suffers 3 wounds before he's even moved. Luckily everything else was left unmolested.


With the weight of fire from all the Devourers the Riptide just couldn't last and was readily dispatched. This may have been First Blood and probably a Maelstrom Card too, things were looking good with the major threat out of the picture.


Kroot came on at the back of my DZ


The Remoras zoomed on, dodging through the ruins...


their targeting systems locking onto the Flyrant...


...putting 3 wounds on the conduit to the Hive Mind, despite jinking.

 
Farsight and his gang appeared behind my advance force.


They would not suffer the Tyrannofex to live and executed him with precision, the Malenthrope was also destroyed.


The Flyrant swooped across to take cover behind the rocks.


I actually think he may have died from a Perils, I think that's the Perils result of a two, which is a wound with no saves. Stupid winged flappy thing!


Meanwhile the Genestealers had only just made it into the Factory - lazy gets! But I think they did secure objective 6 for me.


Which did them no favours as they were cut to ribbons by the XV9s and Stealth Suits.



With no airborne targets left the Remoras focused their attention on the Hormagaunts holding objective 5.


They thinned their numbers but Farsight was nearby to mop anything else up.


The Carnifex came under fire from the Battle Suits on the building but their armour was ridiculously ineffective against the Tau weaponry.


That wasn't the end of their woes and the remaining Carnifex took another two wounds.



Farsight, rebel that he is assaulted the Hormagaunts.


They got wiped out with the Termagants next on his list.


The gaunts swarmed together, putting two wounds on his retinue.



The battlesuits systematically dispatched gaunt after gaunt


But the weight of number brought two of the suits down leaving Farsight and one bodyguard.


The XV9s faced down 8 spawned gaunts but however hard they tried they could not eliminate the last one as it skulked int e shadows.


The last Carnifex headed towards the Tau line unawares the last Remora had targeted it from behind.


The Carnifex was brought down and suddenly my entire flank had crumbled, so much for that good start!


The Tyrannocyte arrived deep in the heart of Tau territory, it's cargo of Rippers stealing the objective out from under the Battle Suits but it's Deathspitters limited in effectiveness against the Tau armour.


Meanwhile back in my DZ the Kroot had moved to snatch objective 2 away from my Tervigon. It was repeatedly casting dominion to keep the still engaged Termagants from bolting from Farsight.


With only one bodyguard left the suits could fight in close harmony using Farsights enhance Weapon Skill to hamper my ability to hit. He still took wounds but the brood was thinning each round of combat.


Eventually the Kroot contested objective 2, turn 5 came and the game ended. I think another 20-0 defeat after differentials [I socred points in the game but when you look at the difference Pete gets 20 points and I got zero for game score]. I thought I had a chance of the wooden spoon but Sandy must have had another bad game as he went away with the rather impressive trophy, £15 voucher and jar of lollipops.


With time left on the board, I know, me not going to full time! We played out the Farsight combat I was curious to find out if the Gaunts could prevail. Sadly they didn't, with Farsight cutting them all down - amazing, Tau succeeding in assault. I'm sure the Tervigon would have Miasmic Spit the Kroot off objective 2 and joined the fray at some point. But overall it was amazing to witness the nids just crumble so quickly with the loss of the Flyrant.


Another great event attended and five excellent games with genuinely pleasant individuals. The perception beforehand was the Caledonian events breed a more competitive atmosphere and although the Highlander format attempts to make it less WAAC there were clearly some very competitive builds. Of course I spent most of the tournament down on the bottom tables were just getting a win was challenging all round. I have to say not having any aspirations of progress it's so much more relaxed and enjoyable. I always play my best but if my best isn't good enough then I'll have a darn good time losing! I think this marks a new dawn in my appreciation of the social aspect above and beyond the competitive side, as evidenced by the selfies. I know it's a bit cheesy regardless of the results it's the people that count and the shared experiences, here's to the next event!

2 comments:

  1. Can't win then all but glad to hear you had fun.

    Farsight had a nice not too crazy list. Strong play.

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  2. Always love seeing the nids on the table. They are so gorgeously painted!

    ReplyDelete