Brother Captain Prophylactic's mood was dark. Following an embarrassing defeat a moon cycle ago his forces had been forced to return to their fortress while rebels and insurgents openly mocked the Astartes with graffiti and pamphlets ridiculing their prowess. Civil disobedience had reached critical levels and now a large group of rebels were marching on the Blood Angel fortress. It was hard to tell exact numbers but Brother Sergeant Buttafucco estimated over 200,000. This was possibly incorrect as ever since Buttafucco had been struck by a xenos mind ray during the Gorgonzolan rebellion, his mental acuity had been in question. All Astarte forces were prepared for combat. As the fortress automated gun defense systems activated the rebels marched on regardless heedless to their own casualties (which were huge). As the commander looked on through the vid screens the fortress was rocked by an enormous explosion. The vox came alive with status reports when one voice took precedence, it was Brother Cuppola from the lower courtyard. "Be advised brothers, hostiles in the courtyard assistance imperative!".
Brother Captain Prophylactic then gave the order "Brothers, eradication protocols, lower courtyard, converge and destroy!".
Welcome to the pleasure dome! Probably an incongruous opening statement, but I will plow on regardless. It's time for another battle report. It's been a while since this game was played so I will try to make it factual yet amusing. It's a 2000 points a side game featuring my Genestealer Cult Army against Aaron's Blood Angel force. Aaron and I had a game a mere 2 weeks ago (I think) which was a bit of a one sided massacre, By this time the GSC had been exhaustively analysed online, closing a couple of loopholes that had originally seemed ambiguous. Would the result be the same? Read on....
Following my previous battle report where the Blood Angels got a bloody nose we decided to have a rematch. In the context of a narrative storyline, a small Blood Angel patrol were ambushed by a Genestealer Cult on the backwater planet of Dy Celiac IV. The Blood Angels had effectively be stranded on the planet after they were deployed to reinforce the local PDF against Tau aggression. The Tau, once defeated activated a EMP device to cripple the BA spacecraft, marooning them. Unknown to the Astartes Dy Celiac IV had a strong Genestealer presence. Patriarch Gestalethebes sent a probing attack on the patrol to assess any weaknesses. Learning what he needed to know about his enemy the Patriarch sent a massive throng of cultists to assault the fortress whilst at the same time sending his true assault through the sewers by detonating an enormous bomb under the fortress' foundations, This is where the battle report is set, in the lower courtyard of the Blood Angel stronghold.
Army Lists
Below are the army list brought to you by good old Battlescribe. As usual it's all very civil, a day or two before the game army lists were exchanged on Whatsapp and presumably battle plans are formulated. I never really ask too much about my opponents plan before the game and only glean little snippets of info in the post match analysis. So anyway here are the list;
Battalion Detachment (Imperium - Blood Angels)
HQ;
Brother Captain Dystalgesic in Phobos Armour: Camo cloak, Master-crafted instigator bolt carbine
Librarian Spooktron in Phobos Armour: Camo cloak, Force sword
Troops;
Infiltrator Squad: 8x Infilltrator, Infiltrator Helix Adept, Infiltrator Sergeant
Intercessor Squad: Auxiliary grenade launcher, Bolt rifle, 4x Intercessor, Intercessor Sergeant
Tactical Squad . 7x Space Marine. Space Marine (Heavy weapon): Heavy bolter. Space Marine: Plasma gun. Space Marine Sergeant: Combi-grav, Power sword
Heavy Support;
Baal Predator: Twin assault cannon. Two heavy bolters: 2x Heavy bolter
Eliminator Squad. 2x Eliminator: 2x Bolt sniper rifle, 2x Camo cloak. Eliminator Sergeant Buttafucco: Bolt sniper rifle, Camo cloak
Vanguard Detachment
HQ;
Brother Captain Prophylactic 2. Artisan of War, Jump Pack, Storm shield, The Angel's Wing (replaces jump pack), Thunder hammer, Warlord
Lieutenant Buckweed in Phobos Armour: Grav-chute, Master-crafted occulus bolt rifle
Elites;
Aggressor Squad. 2x Aggressor: 2x Flamestorm gauntlets. Aggressor Sergeant: Flamestorm gauntlets
Death Company Dreadnought: Furioso fist (pair), Magna-grapple, Meltagun, Storm bolter
Sanguinary Guard: Death mask. Sanguinary Guard: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine axe
. Sanguinary Guard: Angelus boltgun, Power fist. Sanguinary Guard: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword. Sanguinary Guard: Angelus boltgun, Encarmine sword.
Fast Attack;
Suppressor Squad. 2x Suppressor: 2x Accelerator autocannon, 2x Grav-chute. Suppressor Sergeant: Accelerator autocannon, Grav-chute.
Heavy Support;
Hellblaster Squad: 4x Hellblaster, Plasma incinerator. Hellblaster Sergeant: Bolt pistol
Predator: Storm bolter, Twin lascannon. Two lascannons: 2x Lascannon
Total: [104 PL, 3CP, 1999pts]
Brigade Detachment +12CP (Tyranids - Genestealer Cults) [112 PL, 3CP, 1999pts] ++
Cult Creed: Cult of the Four-Armed Emperor
HQ;
Jackal Alphus Mary
Magus Cruciatus: Power: Mass Hypnosis, Power: Mind Control, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Inscrutable Cunning
Patriarch Gestalethebes: Amulet of the Voidwyrm, Power: Mental Onslaught, Power: Might From Beyond, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Shadow Stalker
Primus Amichitz: Bonesword, Warlord, Warlord Trait: Alien Majesty
Troops;
Acolyte Hybrids: Cult Icon. 6x Acolyte Hybrid. Acolyte Hybrid (Heavy Weapon): Autopistol, Heavy Rock Cutter. Acolyte Hybrid (Heavy Weapon): Autopistol, Demolition Charge. Acolyte Leader: Autopistol, Cultist Knife
Acolyte Hybrids: Cult Icon. 7x Acolyte Hybrid. Acolyte Hybrid (Heavy Weapon): Autopistol, Heavy Rock Saw. Acolyte Hybrid (Heavy Weapon): Autopistol, Heavy Rock Cutter. Acolyte Leader: Autopistol, Cultist Knife'
Brood Brothers Infantry Squad: 9x Brood Brother, Brood Brothers Leader
Brood Brothers Infantry Squad: 9x Brood Brother, Brood Brothers Leader
Neophyte Hybrids: Cult Icon, 11x Neophyte Hybrid. Neophyte Hybrid (Grenade): Grenade Launcher
. 2x Neophyte Hybrid (Mining): 2x Mining Laser. Neophyte Hybrid: Webber. Neophyte Leader: Autogun, Autopistol
Neophyte Hybrids: 9x Neophyte Hybrid. 2x Neophyte Hybrid: 2x Grenade Launcher. Neophyte Hybrid: Mining Laser. Neophyte Hybrid: Seismic Cannon. Neophyte Leader: Autogun, Autopistol
Elites;
Aberrants. 3x Aberrant (Hammer): 3x Heavy Power Hammer. 5x Aberrant (Pick): 5x Power Pick. Aberrant Hypermorph (Improvised): Heavy Improvised Weapon.
Clamavus.
Nexos.
Purestrain Genestealers: 14x Purestrain Genestealer
Sanctus: Silencer Sniper Rifle
Fast Attack;
Achilles Ridgerunners. Achilles Ridgerunner: Flare Launcher, Heavy Mining Laser, 2x Heavy Stubber.
Achilles Ridgerunners. Achilles Ridgerunner: Flare Launcher, Heavy Mining Laser, 2x Heavy Stubber
Atalan Jackals. Atalan Jackal: Demolition Charge, Shotgun. Atalan Jackal: Demolition Charge, shotgun. Atalan Jackal: Demolition Charge, Grenade Launcher. Atalan Leader: Demolition Charge, Power axe. Atalan Wolfquad: Atalan Incinerator, Shotgun
Heavy Support;
Brood Brothers Heavy Weapons Squad. 3x Brood Brothers Weapons Team: 3x Heavy Bolter
Goliath Rockgrinder: Cache of Demolition Charges, Heavy Mining Laser, Heavy Stubber
Goliath Rockgrinder: Cache of Demolition Charges, Heavy Mining Laser, Heavy Stubber
++ Total: [112 PL, 3CP, 1999pts
Aaron took some nasty stuff (all marines are pretty nasty in my opinion). Of particular note was the two Predators, they could really do a number on my vehicles. Lots of heavy weapons and elites. The Hellblasters and Aggressors are of particular concern but I have a plan. One of the fun combo's I have found (anyone who can read has also probably found it too) is the Amulet of the Voidwyrm and Shadow Stalker warlord trait put these on a Patriarch and he (it?) becomes very difficult to kill. As long as you can keep a unit of meat shields around him as well he gets hugely durable. Anyway back to the plan. My Clamavus hangs around the Patriarch and Purestrains giving them +1 to their advance and charge rolls. This should in theory get me a turn one charge and as the Patriarch cannot be targeted for overwatch he charges in, then the Purestrains follow wrecking the enemies front line while my remaining force support with various industrial equipment. There are some other subtleties but that's my main idea. Also the Primus has the job of trying to stick as close to the Rockgrinders as possible to give them a devastating charge with their choppy rotating blades of death. But as any 40k player knows the game isn't played in a vacuum so the plan will probably change 30 seconds into the game. 😒
Set Up & Other Malarkey
We couldn't be bothered to roll for scenario so we played Cleanse & Capture as it really is a fun game. I won the map type so I went for Front Line Assault as it has gives me the opportunity to set up closer to the enemy making my turn one charge very doable. Aaron won the first turn and during his deployment put his Infiltrator squad sitting on objective 2 (the wrecked Ultramarine Rhino*). This would give me some problems especially if he needed to defend the objective. I placed my series of blip counters with a few near the apex of the deployment zone. The best part of Cult Ambush ability is that if get first turn I place very my all singing all dancing Patriarch, Purestrain & Clamavus chorus line to get into my opponents face right quick, and if the opposite happens I just put Brood brothers there to soak up bullets. So when the time came to seize initiative I duly rolled a 6 and made such considerations moot. So now that whatever battle plan plan Aaron had for the game was thrown into disarray I got to place my models around the blips.
The Game
At the nearest possible point to the enemy I placed the Patriarch, Purestrains and Clamavus. Closely followed by Aberrants and other expendables. The GSC shooting was impressive, virtually wrecking both Predators and making them minor annoyances for the remainder of the game. Also in my first turn I advanced the Patriarch and Purestrains to fetid breath range of the Blood Angels giving me an easy charge into the Infiltrators. The Clamavus and Abberants also advanced to keep my other hard hitting elites ready to inflict a secondary assault.
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| The left hand side of the Blood Angel force, note the Infiltrators blissfully unaware that I would steal initiative and seal their doom. Mwahahahahaha! |
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| The Blood Angel right the Eliminator squad sit on the landing pad guarding an objective. Incidentally Brother Sergeant Buttafucco leads this unit. The Predator skulks behind it. |
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| Probably the best shot of the battle. Well it would be nigh on perfect except for the BA codex being in the way. |
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| An Aaron's eye view of the demise of the Infiltrators. |
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| The Infiltrators are put to the claw and consolidating into the Hellblasters stopped any overwatch from their nasty flamers. The thin red line of marines look a bit nervous (to me anyway). |
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| Mass Hypnosis improves my Hybrid's survivability. The already shot to shit Predator receives some loving attention from some Hybrids with power tools. |
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| Aberrants and Jackals move up to attack. The Primus can be seen keeping up the pretense of wanting to get into combat. |
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| The two Rockgrinders used their heavy mining lasers to good effect, taking the Predator down to the crap bracket. The score at the end of the turn is visible too. |
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| Aaron's Sanguinary Guard plummet from the sky to attack my Jackals. Some truly rubbish dice rolling later the Jackals survive, much to my surprise. |
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| Objective 2 is being hotly contested. One of the Eliminators has sniped a wound off my Clamavus, very ungroovy! |
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The Predator is now scrap and the Hybrids try to look inconspicuous for a bit. The Blood Angel management formulate a plan. Brother Captain Prophylactic provides moral support.
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| The Patriarch is giving the Hellblaster unit some attention after doing in the Dreadnaught. Meanwhile the Purestrains were having a bit of trouble with the Aggressors so the Aberrants kindly obliged them by attacked with big hammers and such. A unit of Brood Brothers run like buggery towards the Clamavus so they can throw themselves in the way of bullets and other unsavoury weaponry. |
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| The Sanguinary guard slap about the Jackals so they call in their big brother to help - the Rockgrinder. I had assumed it would charge in and basically mince the marines but it only killed two. Another piece of kit that didn't live up to expectations. Maybe because it still thinks it's a Chimera. |
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| There seems to be a small amount of milling about. The Clamavus is trying not to get shot by hiding behind a bit of ruins. The Primus is also milling around a bit shouting orders. The Aggressor is no more but a Lieutenant has gotten into combat with the Purestrains. The Aberrants are now beating the Hellblasters into pulp/mincemeat depending on what they're armed with. The Patriarch having killed the dreadnaught is caught in two minds, "do I attack the accursed marines with their really hot painful death guns or go towards the accursed marines cowering in the building to my alien left?". |
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| The Lieutenant and remaining Intercessor watch the Librarian run off to possible certain death. Brother Captain Prophylactic has run off to grab an objective with his 3++ save to protect him. |
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| Some victory points are scored. Thanks in part to Psychological Warfare and Secure Objectives 2. |
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This slightly blurry picture notes has distinct lack of Jackals. This is because they decided to fall back rather than give the Sanguinary Guard something weedy to kick. The Rockgrinder is now soon to be assisted by Neophytes.
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| The Patriarch is now in charge of the fortified ruin. The Tactical squad are gone, presumed dead, well not really presumed dead, actually dead except for one or two who will be strapped into ovipositor reception chairs and impregnated. |
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| The Sanguinary Guard decide that the Rockgrinder is no longer worth playing with so are looking for less tough opponents they can beat up. |
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| This scrap was a bit vicious, the Hellblasters are pretty tough opponents. The Clamavus gives rubbish physical support. |
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| The fight continues..... |
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| Having wiped out the tactical squad and claimed the building as his next hatchery, the ludicrous Suppressor models come out of their ivory tower to kill characters. Sadly for them, a combination of the Patriarch being nearer than the Primus, cover and the Amulet Of The Voidwyrm saves his arse. |
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| The score at the end of BA turn 3. |
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| The final turn was pretty grim for the Blood Angels, but it was mercifully short. The Sanguinary Guard are wiped out by a Rockgrinder. The Supressor Squad is smited/mining lasered to death. Brother Captain Prophylactic gets to his objective only to fall to mining laser shots. |
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The last marines on the table retreat before they are hunted down and implanted. Brother Sergeant Buttafucco leads the retreat.
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The Planet is Ours!
To be honest that was a bit of a smash and grab victory for the Cult. Stealing Initiative ruined whatever plan Aaron had especially with my turn one charge that effectively neutralised the Blood Angel centre giving me a massive advantage. Other heroes of the revolution were Jackal Alphus Mary who gave the Achilles Ridgerunners +1 to hit all game and of course my Clamavus who basically got the Patriarch and Genestealers into combat in the first turn. I used a Nexos in this game but I really don't remember it achieving much. The final score was 7 - 2 but that didn't reflect how close the game seemed to be all through. One of the greatest things about this game was Aaron's fantastically painted Blood Angels. He really is doing great things with them, I, on the other hand am really letting the side down with my lack luster efforts. So in conclusion the Genestealer Cult of Dy Celiac IV has virtually expunged the Blood angel presence from the planet and is ready to take over the rest of the planetary system.
Brother Sergeant Buttafucco and his two remaining squad mates fled through the catacombs of the fortress. He was not certain of the fate of the rest of the Blood angels but it did not bode well. His next objective was to get word off planet to bring retribution and try to contact any still loyal PDF units. All the advantages lay with the rebels but he vowed to do his utmost to thwart them using whatever means necessary.
* Why there should be a wrecked Ultramarine Rhino in the lower courtyard of a Blood Angel fortress is beyond me. In all probability Brother Captain Prophylactic is considering turning traitor and to test the waters with his company has them shooting Imperial vehicles to desensitize them.
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