Epic 4K: AMTL vs Skitarri 2.1

Another outing with Skitarri list, this time vs AMTL (by special request Greg!)

Here's the AMTL list, with some proxying of weaponary on some of them.

Incompertus, 4000 POINTS 

Legio Gryphonicus (NetEA v3.24 *APPROVED*) 
================================================== 

WARLORD TITAN [875] 
Carapace Landing Pad, 2 Quake Cannon, Legate, Laser Burner

WARLORD TITAN [675] 

2 Plasma Blastgun, 2 Vulcan Megabolter  

REAVER TITAN [700] 
Carapace Landing Pad, 2 Quake Cannon

REAVER TITAN [600] 
2 Turbo-laser Destructor, Laser Burner

WARHOUND TITAN [300] 
Turbo-laser Destructor, Plasma Blastgun

WARHOUND TITAN [300] 
Turbo-laser Destructor, Plasma Blastgun

WARHOUND TITAN [275] 
Vulcan Megabolter, Plasma Blastgun

WARHOUND TITAN [275] 
Vulcan Megabolter, Plasma Blastgun

Here's the Skitarri list used by Andrew, Majoris being proxied by double tanks.

275		2 Secutors, Magnus, 8 Hypaspists
325		2 Secutors, 8 Hypaspists, Ordinatus Minorus (Assault Pod)
325		2 Secutors, 8 Hypaspists, Ordinatus Minorus (Assault Pod)
225		2 Secutors, 8 Hypaspists
225		2 Secutors, 8 Hypaspists
125		4 Crusader Robots
450		3 Ordinatus Minorus (2 Gattling Cannon, Volcano Cannon)
450		3 Ordinatus Minorus (2 Gattling Cannon, Volcano Cannon)
450		Ordinatus Majoris (Sonic Disrupter)
450		Ordinatus Majoris (Sonic Disrupter)
500		Ordinatus Majoris (Armageddon)
200		2 Avenger Strike Fighters

Turn 1

Setup below. Armageddon is in the Skitarri centre, Sonic Disruptors both on their left flank (right of photo below).

First activation, I advance the Gatling Warlord and target the front infantry using all weaponary, killing three of them. I figure I need to blast away the front screen to get to the Majoris units and neutralise them, especially wanting to take out the Armageddon as quickly as possible.

The Skitarri then break two of my Warhounds with the Sonic Disruptor Majoris using the templates to get two formations. Oops. No damage but broken isn't good.

Artillery Titans rain down artillery fire, killing Hypaspists.

The Minoris and Armageddon gang up on the lead Warlord. The Minoris strip 3 shields. The Armageddon has to double to get it in range, and it is in cover so needs 5's to hit. But it gets luck with 3 hits and 8 damage which leaves the Warlord with only 3 hits remaning, and a reactor breach, but still not broken.

Then disastrously on top of this, the other two warhounds are too close together and the other Majoris Sonic Disruptor breaks them too!

End of turn, two Warhounds remain broken and two rally.

Turn 2

Skitarri win Strategy Roll, and the Armageddon destroys the lead Warlord.  The Skitarri Ordinatii roll forward blasting anything in their way and my Titan legions are sorely lacking a few volcano cannons to scare them in return, settling instead for killing more infantry with the Artillery Titans. The Reaver artillery Titan is broken by Minoris and retreats.

Turn 3

AMTL win Strategy Roll, and on the left flank the Reaver wrecks a Corvus Minoris and its passengers.

Efforts to slow down the advancing Minoris on the other flank are futile though.

Warhound on the right flanks the Minoris but is unable to do damage.

Minoris continue to advance, and another Warhound is destroyed.

Warhound that had advanced on the right is broken due to blast markers. Unable to contest objectives, AMTL loses due to Skitarri achieving Take and Hold and Defend the Flag victory conditions.

Artillery Warlord holding firm but not able to do enough this game...

Nor the Artillery Reaver.

Two Titans lost.

Skitarri casualties.

Conclusion

A rather shameful outing for the AMTL! There were definitely some powerful toys in the Skitarri arsenal, but poor positioning and poorly thought out aggression was also a problem for my Titans here.  I should have played defensively utilising the artillery, and counterpunching with other Titans when the Skitarri tried to approach, aiming for an attrition victory.

I also thought 4 Turbolasers, and 6 Plasmaguns on top of other firepower would be enough to deal with some War Engines but it was an undergunned force and the Ordinatii were able to move largely with impunity. Sonic Disruptors were able to auto-break Warhounds and range on Ordinatti units outclassed that of the AMTL leading to some awkward and limited options.

Back to drawing board with AMTL, must paint up a few more units and magnetise options!

Epic 4K: Titan Legion vs Vior'la Tau - Riptided!

Following previous defeats, some reorganisation of my Imperial Titan forces was in order, with refitting now making sure some long range support options are availabe. Also a few support Robots to hold ground and delay the enemy in the first turns. Thanks to the guys on Tactical Command for the advice!

Titan Legion 4000 POINTS
Legio Gryphonicus (NetEA v3.24 *APPROVED*) 

WARLORD TITAN [925]
Carapace Multi-Lasers, Carapace Landing Pad, Laser Burner, 2 Quake Cannon

REAVER TITAN [625]
2 Apocalypse Missile Launcher, Carapace Landing Pad

CRUSADER SCOUT MANIPLE [150]
4 Crusader Robots

CRUSADER SCOUT MANIPLE [150]
4 Crusader Robots

THUNDERBOLT SQUADRON [150]
2 Thunderbolts

THUNDERBOLT SQUADRON [150]
2 Thunderbolts

ORBITAL SUPPORT [200]
One Ark Mechanicus Battleship

WARLORD TITAN [875]
2 Gatling Blaster, 2 Apocalypse Missile Launcher, Legate

WARHOUND TITAN [275]
Vulcan Megabolter, Inferno Gun

WARHOUND TITAN PACK [500]
2 Plasma Blastgun, 2 Vulcan Megabolter

Here's the list Andrew took, using six formations of Riptides(!), proxying them with other smaller suits as he doesn't have the models yet. These are a new formation type that's been added to the Vior'la Tau list and still a bit experimental.

4000 Vior'la TAU

425 FW Cadre, 8 Fire Warriors + Cadre Fireblade + Ethereal + Shas'o, 2 Gun Drones
325 3 Riptide Suits + Shas'el
150 Recon Group, 3 Tetra, 2 Piranha
325 3 Riptide Suits + Shas'el
225 FW Cadre, 6 Fire Warriors, 3 Devilfish
150 Recon Group, 3 Tetra, 2 Piranha
325 3 Riptide Suits + Shas'el
325 3 Riptide Suits + Shas'el
325 FW Cadre, 6 Fire Warriors, 3 Devilfish, Skyray
150 Recon Group, 3 Tetra, 2 Piranha
325 3 Riptide Suits + Shas'el
325 3 Riptide Suits + Shas'el
325 FW Cadre, 6 Fire Warriors, 3 Devilfish, Skyray
150 Recon Group, 3 Tetra, 2 Piranha
150 2 Barracudas

For reference these Onslaught Miniatures Kaiju Mega Rigs are the thing to get for Riptides! Impressive models, that I believe Andrew will be ordering.

Turn 1

I set up on the left flank, refusing the right, with robot garrisons out in front. A few Tau formations are garrisoned but most are back on the baseline avoiding Quake Cannons...

Here's the right side of the field.

Tau waiting on the go line.

My new Warlord with Carapace Landing Pad and Quake Cannons.

Tau Riptides advance shredding my Robot garrisons.

My Thunderbolts break a Tau recon formation, but are then both shot down by Tau interceptors.

On the left flank, my Warhound and Reaver push forward, suppressing some enemy formations but the Warhound is also broken and retreats.

Tau Riptides and recon on my left flank.

Riptides advance in the centre and my Warlord opens fire damaging one of them.

Then my Warhounds follow up...

Killing two of them. The Warhounds are then counterattacked by more firepower, and one takes a point of damage.

My Spaceship kills another Riptide and breaks this formation.

End of turn.

My Titans rally, except for my Warhound.

Turn 2

Titan Legion wins Strategy Roll, and the Quake Cannon Warlord breaks a large mechanised Tau formation in the wood ahead of it.

The Warhounds then retreat and break the Riptide formation that was damaged by my Spaceship last turn.

Tau co-ordinated fire missions wreck my as yet untouched Warlord with double gatlings, leaving it on a single hit point! My saves against the Riptides were terrible here.

End of turn 2 and things are looking pretty hopeless, with multiple Tau formations closing in for the kill.

My Titans rally, but with one Warlord heavily damaged still, it's not going to be pleasant.

Turn 3

Tau win Strategy Roll and attack and break my Warhound pack with Riptides, also destroying one of them.  

Being Turn 3 I have to contest objectives, so my damaged Warlord blasts a hole in the Tau lines and the Reaver pushes through.

Unfortunately I don't have enough units left. Riptides and other firepower breaks the Reaver, also damaging it. I lose as Tau have all their objectives, my two Take and Hold objectives, and also the "They Shall Not Pass Victory" condition.

Conclusion

Well that was unpleasant!  My titans can't repell fire of that magnitude! Riptides are tough pieces of work, very resistant, mobile and with excellent firepower. As yet we don't have a coherent battle strategy against them...

In other news, a second outing against Eldar was rather less of a rout... and my Warlord went toe to toe beating off a Warlock Titan!

See the full report on Tactical Command for further details.

Epic 4K: Titan Legion vs Eldar

A second game using Titan Legions, this time at 4000 points, and against Tim's Eldar.

I took a similar list to last game, but taking three Warlords this time!

Legio Gryphonicus (NetEA v3.24 *APPROVED*)  4000 POINTS 
================================================== 

WARLORD TITAN [875] 
2 Gatling Blaster, 2 Apocalypse Missile Launcher, Legate

WARLORD TITAN [850] 

2 Turbo-laser Destructor, Volcano Cannon, Gatling Blaster

WARHOUND TITAN [275] 
Inferno Gun, Vulcan Megabolter

WARHOUND TITAN [275] 
Inferno Gun, Vulcan Megabolter

WARHOUND TITAN [300] 
Plasma Blastgun, Turbo-laser Destructor

WARHOUND TITAN [300] 
Plasma Blastgun, Turbo-laser Destructor

THUNDERBOLT SQUADRON [150] 
2 Thunderbolts

THUNDERBOLT SQUADRON [150] 
2 Thunderbolts

Tim used his beautifully painted Eldar, taking a Biel Tan list.

Biel-Tan Craftworld (NetEA Army Compendium v2014 (v4.2)) 4000 POINTS 
==================================================

ASPECT WARRIOR WARHOST [400]
2 Dire Avenger, 2 Dark Reaper, Exarch, Autarch, 2 Fire Dragon, 2 Striking Scorpion

SWORDS OF VAUL TROUPE [325]
5 Fire Prism

SWORDS OF VAUL TROUPE [300]
4 Falcon, 2 Fire Storm

SWORDS OF VAUL TROUPE [300]
4 Falcon, 2 Fire Storm

GUARDIAN WARHOST [150]
Farseer, 5 Guardians, 2 Heavy Weapon Platform

GUARDIAN WARHOST [150]
Farseer, 5 Guardians, 2 Heavy Weapon Platform

RANGER TROUPE [100]
4 Ranger

AVATAR [0]

WRAITHGATE [50]

ENGINE OF VAUL TROUPE [250]
Storm Serpent

VOID SPINNER [275]
Void Spinner

WINDRIDER TROUPE [200]
4 Jetbikes, 2 Vyper

ASPECT WARRIOR WARHOST [350]
8 Dire Avenger, 2 Exarch

NIGHTWINGS [300]
3 Nightwing Interceptors

VAMPIRE RAIDER [200]

REVENANT TITANS [650]
2 Revenant Titans

Turn 1

Here's the setup, all my Titans on the right flank, with Warlords in the middle of the line.

Tim's right flank.

Tim's centre.

Tim's right flank.

From behind my line. Eldar objectives, including webgate, are directly ahead.

I storm forward with the Warlords, doubling and marching. Eldar target the leading Warlord with their Void Spinner artillery, and then Shining Spears attack out of the webgate, with their armour piercing lances at the ready.

Two Shining Spears are lost, and the Warlord takes two damage.

The Warlord loses combat, with suppression and Eldar Exarchs swinging the result in the Eldar's favour. I elect to stay where I am though being a big fearless War Engine, and the bikes fly back behind a hill.

Mission successful for the Shining Spears!

My Titans keep coming, positioning themselves for a drive into the Eldar side of the table on turn 2.

A Warhound races around the Eldar right flank.

On my baseline the Eldar Vampire Transport arrives, my intercepting fighters failing to stop it.

The Warhound is attacked by disembarking Aspect Warriors and loses its void shields, but does not take any damage.

Nonetheless it breaks and retreats to the ruins, with the Eldar Aspect Warriors in hot pursuit.

The Eldar Revenant Titans then charge forward blasting and damaging the broken Warlord, and the reactor takes a critical hit.

As do the Eldar Nightwings. One of my Thunderbolt interceptors is shot down by Revenant AA fire, trying to intercept the Nightwings unsuccessfullly.

Eldar Grav Tanks race forward behind the building to my left flank and drop a couple of void shields from the nearest Warlord.

Another Warhound swings around the Eldar right. End of turn and my two broken Titans rally.

End of turn 1, the right Warlord is on a single hit point remaining, with reactor still damaged, but the rest of the force is intact, and in a good position to wreak havoc on multiple Eldar formations.

Turn 2

Eldar win Strategy Roll, and unleash a deadly series of attacks.  First the Fire Prisms blast the damaged Warlord and destroy it.

Next near my baseline my Warhound is engaged again by the Aspect Warriors and this time destroyed.

And lastly the Revenant Titans sustain fire and destroy another Warhound! I've just lost three titans in three activations!

My two remaining Warhounds attack. Somewhat stupidly I move the the anti-tank one to attack the Shining Spears, and the anti-infantry one attacks the Fire Prisms and Storm Serpent. The Shining Spears take 3 losses and run away. The tanks are untouched.

The Eldar Grav Tanks swoop in and pepper the next Warlord with fire, dropping its shields and doing two damage.

While doing Eldar hit and run attacks to stay out of line of fire.

The Warlord attempts to marshal, falling back towards my now exposed blitz objective. Unfortunately it rolls double one and so only regains a single void shield!

My remaining Warlord, with two Laser Burners, assaults the Revenants in a firefight - damaging each one, breaking them and causing them to retreat.

Eldar Guardians engage another Warhound and it breaks and retreats minus its void shields.

It is then attacked by the Eldar Vampire.

And destroyed!

My retreating Warlord is hit by Nightwings and even Vyper jetbikes join in.

End of turn and my forces have been decimated! The Eldar are largely untouched.

Turn 3

Eldar win strategy roll and the Fire Prisms race forward and finish off the damaged Warlord near my baseline.

Ouch. Stay away from these if you're a Titan!

My Warlord doubles and fires it's volcano cannons at the Revenants, but rolls a double one to hit. My Warhound wrecks a grav-tank formation.

At this point the Eldar have many activations left and I'm down to two titans... I concede.

Here's the embarrassingly small number of enemy units I managed to take out all game, for the loss of two Warlords and three Warhounds...

Conclusion

Well that was an even worse performance than the last game! Time to analyse this a little!

Eldar have a lot of good anti-titan weaponry, but Tim's force was perhaps only slightly above average in anti-tank ability for an Eldar force, and that was only part of the difficulty. So what went wrong?

As Tim agreed, the first turn set-up by the Titan force was good and all set for some devastating strikes exploiting the Eldar placements on turn 2. Perhaps I could have kept them a little closer for mutual firefight support in the centre but not a big issue.  However the pre-emptive attacks by the Eldar winning Strategy Roll turn 2 (which was most likely), ended up being very destructive - knocking out three titans, and it was always going to be a hard ask after that.  Things weren't helped though by wrong choice of targets by the Warhounds subsequently, and wasted marshal move by the Warlord. I should have concentrated on the Grav Tanks at least, as they subsequently wrecked my Warlords and I could have neutralised two or three units of these. This would have at least given me a better chance to hold on against lesser threats afterwards.

Also, I skimped on points and didn't add carapace multilasers to a Warlord, which would have given me some much needed anti-aircraft protection beyond just the Thunderbolts. And at 4000 points three Warlords was probably a bit too much, limiting my numbers of activations. Ah well, learning points for next time!