2008/06/10: Dinner 250

Kingbreakers Marines were tasked with finding and securing critical Imperial documents lost in the flaming wreckage of a downed ship. While searching the wreckage, however, they were again set upon by Scouts and Marines of an unknown chapter! Scanning the battlefield and many possible sites for the documents, Captain Angholan quickly decided that their security was worth many devoted warriors and pushed his forces forward and out, disregarding incoming bolter and missile fire. Fortunately for them, Tactical 2 struck lucky and uncovered the documents at their first objective, after Tactical 1 had discovered only burnt rubble at their objective. The squad quickly retreated behind cover with their find, huddling close to avoid enemy missile attacks. Tactical 1 then thinned down the advancing enemy Scouts in hails of Bolter fire before pressing the attack hand-to-hand. Readily slaughtering the nameless traitors, they held the field's primary chokepoints long enough for Tactical 2 to uplink the documents and ensure the mission's success.

Attempting to capitalize on this success, Command then ordered Angholan's men to take and control the principle wreckage until reinforcements could arrive and secure the site for a detailed investigation by Adeptus Mechanicus researchers. Early on, the unnamed heathens craftily brought up new forces far to the flanks of the battlefield, yielding clear fire lines on the Kingbreakers and ascribing undue risk to their movements. Wagering all, Tactical 1 rushed toward the central wreckage and the enemy Scouts lurking nearby. Meanwhile, Tactical 2 finessed its position in an attempt to have Heavy Bolter fire ready to bring to bear as soon as the Scouts broke cover. Unfortunately though, Captain Angholan was caught in the rearguard as Tactical 1 Assaulted the Scouts and cried tears of rage as they were slain all about him. His vengeance was mighty, but ultimately not enough to prevent his overpowering by the Assaulting tricksters. Moving forward to assert some control over the wreckage, Tactical 2 was quickly thinned down and broken by sniping missile fire and the torrential assault of the enemy Scouts. Mortally wounded for any but one of the Emperor's finest, Angholan himself barely made it from the field of war to recover for battles yet to come and hope to restore his honor.

Stats

Dave W and Joe K, 250 points. One Rescue scenario, one Take and Hold scenario. About an hour per game.

Results

Rescue: A mixed victory by the Kingbreakers. Many brothers were consigned to the earth, but the Imperium's records were retrieved and defended until they could be uplinked to waiting Administratum channels.

Take and Hold: Utter defeat at the hands of the unnamed chapter---all friendly forces destroyed, a few Scouts of the enemy killed...

Lessons

Some of the scenarios need to be carefully adapted for low point value games. There's just not enough troops to move around enough in time for some of the scenarios, e.g. Rescue.

Tactical units need to sit way back and not get involved in assaults unnecessarily. That's tough though without only putting in a few shots here and there, given that they have to be stationary in order to do so without being in assault range on the enemy's turn.

Always lead with your Captain and make sure he doesn't wind up in the back during the course of maneuvering! If he's part of the unit he can't be targeted specifically anyway, and if he's in back the unit could be wiped out in front of him by an enemy character or assault force. Not having his initiative in the battle is a critical error. Remember that as a character he's a separate unit during the assault and won't be in the battle unless himself in base-to-base contact.