A Chance to dice with Mike Brandt

Some cool Space Marine Pic I found online- No relation :)

Hello all,

This past Friday I got a chance to play Mike Brandt of in a game of 40K. I decided to field my Codex Space Marines. This is the first time I have used them in over a year and only the second game I have had in the same period of time. That said we decided to treat this as a learning game since I am WAAAAAY behind the curve with this system. Mike Brought his Imperial Guard army.

We were using the NOVA style table set up with a spear head deployment and using 5 (I think) objectives.

We rolled off and I won so chose to take second turn and did not attempt to steal initiative. Looking back I should have at least tried for 1st turn. here is the list Mike and I put together for me to use (as I said learning game.)




HQ
Cato Sicarius - 200
Pedro Kantor - 175

ELITE
Sternguard Veterans w/ Rhino, 2 Combi-Melta, 2 Missile Launchers, Power Fist - 205

TROOPS
10 Tactical Marines w/ Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Multi-Melta, Meltagun, Rhino w/ Dozer Blade - 250
10 Tactical Marines w/ Power Fist, Combi-Melta, Meltagun, Missile Launcher, Rhino w/ Dozer Blade - 250
10 Tactical Marines w/ Power Fist, Combi-Flamer, Flamer, Missile Launcher, Rhino w/ Dozer Blade - 245
5 Scouts w/ Combi-Melta Sarge, Bolt Pistol / Close Combat Weapon Scouts - 85

FAST
Land Speeder w/ Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer - 70
Land Speeder w/ Multi-Melta, Heavy Flamer - 70

HEAVY
Thunderfire Cannon - 100
Thunderfire Cannon - 100
Land Raider Redeemer w/ Multi-Melta - 250

Mikes Army was a lot of Vet squads in chimeras (some in reserve) and 3 Vendettas- I think he said he had 17 Meltaguns.

Highlights

Well the School of hard Knocks started out with both Thunderfire cannon being destroyed in turn 1. Thus showing my Warhammer Fantasy background by deploying them on a hill in LOS of the Vendettas (Lesson learned)

In my turn I learned about target priority, board control, and order of shooting... All good lessons. I managed to immobilize one Vendetta (Then spent several turns trying to kill it), move my Rhinos out but turning them so to protect them from the Flankers Mike held in reserve, and I managed to keep my Vet squad in position so it could fire it's 2 missile launchers at any of several targets (They took out the Vendetta) all of this was decided after consultation with Mike about tactics. (man is he good)

My Land Raider got vaporized after I foolishly advanced it (Falling for the bait mike left for me.)
leaving me in a position where it was surrounded by 4 Chimeras and one of the Vendettas. the Guard got out and I faced a wall of melta and 3 twin linked Las cannon...

The tank blew up and I was forced to make a pin check. Ld 10 with "Stubborn" (Good Combo) but I rolled 12 and got pinned still surrounded by "no armor save" doom.

At this point it was getting late so I conceded the game and packed my stuff up. In all it was a good learning experience (And a lot of fun) but also a wake up call that I need to step up my game if I am to ever be a contender in this environment.

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I hope to have a new Hobby update posted soon so keep on the lookout.

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Also please try to post to the blog when you get a chance- some folks have told me that they are having trouble getting it to work and I want to figure out what is going on.

Till next time....

RGH