Epic 4K: Biel Tan vs Heavy Mechanised Imperial Guard

Another game with Aspect heavy Biel Tan vs a new experimental Imperial Guard list Andrew wanted to try out.

My Eldar list is a rather optimistic Aspect heavy Air Assault list, which given the fragility of vampires is a risky move if you can't neutralise some enemy AA effectively.

Incompertus, 4000 POINTS
Biel-Tan Craftworld (Biel-Tan Craftworld (v4.2))
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ASPECT WARRIOR WARHOST [400]
8 Shining Spear, Exarch, Autarch

ASPECT WARRIOR WARHOST [350]
8 Swooping Hawk, 2 Exarch

ASPECT WARRIOR WARHOST [350]
8 Dark Reapers, 2 Exarch

ASPECT WARRIOR WARHOST [350]
8 Fire Dragon, 2 Exarch

ASPECT WARRIOR WARHOST [350]
8 Striking Scorpion, 2 Exarch

RANGER TROUPE [100]
4 Ranger

RANGER TROUPE [100]
4 Ranger

WRAITHGATE [50]

AVATAR [0]

GUARDIAN WARHOST (MOUNTED) [350]
Farseer, 4 Wave Serpents, 7 Guardians

SWORDS OF VAUL TROUPE [250]
3 Falcon, 2 Fire Storm

GUARDIAN WARHOST [150]
Farseer, 6 Guardians, Heavy Weapon Platform

NIGHTWINGS [300]
3 Nightwing Interceptors

NIGHTWINGS [300]
3 Nightwing Interceptors

VAMPIRE RAIDER [200]

VAMPIRE RAIDER [200]

VAMPIRE RAIDER [200]

Here's the new experimental list that Andrew used (landers are objectives this time).

425		Hvy Tank Coy, Macharius Cmd Tank + Supreme Commander, 2 Macharius Tank, Commissar
325		Hvy Tank Coy, Macharius Cmd Tank, Commissar, 2 Macharius Tanks
325		Hvy Tank Coy, Macharius Cmd Tank, Commissar, 2 Macharius Tanks
325		Hvy Tank Coy, Macharius Cmd Tank, Commissar, 2 Macharius Tanks
325		Hvy Mech Coy, Commander, Commissar, 6 Infantry, 3 Ogryn, 2 Crassus Assault Transports
200		Shadowsword, Commissar
200		Shadowsword
200		Shadowsword
450		3 Praetor Assault Launchers, Commissar
300		2 Praetor Assault Launchers
200		2 Praetor Sky-Killers
200		2 Praetor Sky-Killers
200		2 Praetor Sky-Killers
200		Storm Troopers, 6 Troopers, Commissar, Crassus Assault Transport
125		3 Salamander Scouts, Salamander Command

Turn 1

Here's the setup, with Guard deployed mostly on their flank (top left of photo), Eldar mostly offboard and favouring my own right. 

Having just reviewed the stats for this new guard list, I know I'm pretty much doomed, but the best way forward is on my right making use of the ruins to try and at least gain some protection for the infantry. I know that if my infantry deploy on the board they will be nuked by the superb Guard artillery with the long walk forwards, but being in their air transports is also risky due to the excellent AA. An unhappy dilemma...

I  teleport in with Swooping Hawks in the backfield, and win Strategy Roll, engaging and destroying the Salamander Scout Screen before consolidating back into the forest. A few other stalling activations occur.

My Rangers advance on my right, and backed up by dropped Dark Reapers their total shooting breaks the StormTroopers on the Guard left.

Macharius tanks drive forward and wipe out my Rangers on my left.

Combined shooting from everything I have eventually manages to break the Macharius tanks on my right and they fall back. My Falcons are wiped out by long range Battlecannon shots, and then Assault Launchers hitting them while broken. I swoop in with Shining Spears hoping to get really lucky for the next turn, though I'm outactivated. No such luck as more Assault Launchers kill 3 of them and break the formation. 

End of turn before disengage.

In disengaging, 2 of 3 Vampires and 3 of 6 Nightwings are destroyed due to the lethal AA which has moved over to intercept. Having lost half my army already in turn 1, for paltry damage on the Guard, I concede.

Turn 2

Wait what it's over?? :)

Conclusion

Well that was the shortest game I've played! My army was mismatched and always optimistic to hope for an Eldar air assault. More to the point though, vs approved lists this new Guard army list needs  - a bit of work, shall we say. The idea of 4+ reinforced armour on all arms, which are also all war engines, with excellent firepower, requires balancing in terms of points and likely unit stats Andrew and I agreed... :)