This weekend, our little gaming group decided to play some small games of 5th edition 40k at 500 points a piece.
We've been playing some three-way 500 points games using a scenario that was found fir just such an occasion, but now Wes has jumped into the retro 40k pit with us, it was a chance for something a bit different.
Naturally, as I've just finished them off, I opted to run my Astral Claws as vanilla Space Marines, and as I've been busy printing, I also decided to be 'that guy' and bring a tank.
My army list was as follows:
- Librarian
- 10 Tactical Marines (Flamer & Missile Launcher)
- 3 Bikes (Power Sword & Meltagun)
- Vindicator
I appreciate that the Vindicator might seem to be a somewhat over-powered selection, but in my defence, it does have a really massive gun.
Game 1 vs Pete's Space Wolves
I've been on the receiving end of Pete's Fenrisians in other editions, so I knew what to expect. He would cross the table quickly and try to rip my face off.
Fortunately, he'd only brought one unit with jump packs and no vehicles, meaning that I should have time to thin them down, in a direct role reversal from when my Blood Angels play his Alpha Legion in 30k.
To the best of my memory, his army was:
- Wolf Priest
- 8 Grey Hunters
- 7 Blood Claws (Power Fist)
- 5 Skyclaws (Jump Packs, Power Fist)
He was as delighted as you'd imagine to discover that he'd be charging down the barrel of my Vindicator and so set about hugging cover as much as he could, sending the Blood Claws and Wolf Priest down my left, the Grey Hunters down the centre and the Skyclaws screaming down my right.
Unfortunately for Pete, Vindicators can fire indirectly and I scored a lucky hit on the Blood Claws, killing all but two of them.
The Skyclaws ploughed into the Tactical Combat Squad I'd left Manning the ruin, winning the fight but failing to break my unit.
In return, I charged in the second Combat Squad that I'd pulled back from the advancing Blood Claws. Accompanied by the Force Sword wielding Librarian, they made short work of the Space Wolf assault troops and steadied the line.
With the Wolf Priest and remaining Blood Claws isolated by my Bikes refusing the flank, the Grey Hunters were left to assault my line alone.
The Grey Hunters bravely charged in and killed several Astral Claws, and drove the Librarian back.
However this was somewhat of a phyrric victory as they were much reduced and then counter-charged from both sides and cut down where they stood.
Although Pete still had troops on the table, we decided to end the game as he would not be able to kill enough of my units in the time remaining, handing victory to the Astral Claws.
Game 2 vs Matt's Biel-Tan Eldar
Matt made the decision last year to invest in a subscription to Combat Patrol magazine, and this is eventually going to start quite a few new armies, including the Eldar.
His army used pretty much everything he's painted so far:
- Farseer
- 10 Guardians
- 5 Jetbikes
- Wraithlord
Matt had given Wes's Imperial Guard a torrid time using hit and run tactics and this game began in much the same vein until I once again managed to score an indirect hit on the Jetbikes, killing three of them.
I'd also managed to race my Bikes forward to savage the Guardians in close combat and they were now free to harry the Eldar rear.
It should be pointed out that I had benefitted from some atrocious Eldar shooting, with the Wraithlord's Brightlance, guided by the Farseer, repeatedly missing the Vindicator and the Jetbikes' Shuriken weapons failing to significantly dent power armoured Marines.
With the Guardians killed, the Bikes were conveniently placed to charge in and kill the Farseer, robbing Matt of his leader.
Although the Bikes were now fair game for the Wraithlord, it could not stop the Jetbikes being forced into the open where they were destroyed by Bolter fire, winning the game for the Astral Claws.
All in all, a successful night and a chance to field some units that I hadn't used yet.
However, I suspect that the next time we do this there might be a few more tanks in attendance.
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