The Indy Open: Battle Reports

The Indy Open has ended, I am back in my home state of Maryland.

I went 3-1 on day 1, putting me out of contention for Best General (and a ticket to the NOVA invitational). I was already out of the running for renaissance man, because I am not a good painter or modeller.
The above, coupled with a poor nights sleep led me to leave early on day 2. I did play one game on day 2 (half-assed) and lost. The prospect of a 10 hour drive was really all I could think about. (More on this later)

So, I played 5 games (or so). In a tournament environment, you really do not have time to pen a battle report (for time constraints) so I will give a general outline of what transpired, as well as an army list.

First, what I took to the Indy Open.

Company Command Squad w/3 Plasma Guns, Officer of the Fleet
Chimera w/Hull Heavy Flamer
Veteran Squad w/3 Meltaguns
Chimera w/Hull Heavy Flamer
Veteran Squad w/3 Meltaguns
Chimera w/Hull Heavy Flamer
Platoon Command Squad w/3 Flamers
Chimera w/Hull Heavy Flamer
Infantry Squad w/Autocannon, Flamer
Chimera
Infantry Squad w/Autocannon, Flamer
Chimera
Infantry Squad w/Autocannon, Flamer
Chimera
Infantry Squad w/Flamer
Infantry Squad w/Flamer
Special Weapons Squad w/3 Meltaguns
Valkyrie w/Multiple Rocket Pods
Vendetta
Vendetta
Leman Russ Demolisher w/Hull Heavy Flamer
Manticore w/Hull Heavy Flamer
Manticore w/Hull Heavy Flamer

Round 1: John Loy, Sisters of Battle

Uriah Jacobus
Battle Conclave w/4 Crusaders, 4 Death Cult Assassins
Rhino w/Serarchlight, Dozer Blade
Arch-Confessor Kyrinov
Battle Conclave w/3 Crusaders, 4 Death Cult Assassins
10 Sisters w/Power Weapon, Heavy Flamer, Meltagun
Rhino w/Searchlight, Dozer Blade
10 Sisters w/Power Weapon, Heavy Flamer, Meltagun
Rhino w/Searchlight, Dozer Blade
12 Sisters w/Power Weapon, Multi-Melta
5 Dominions w/2 Meltaguns, Combi-Melta
Immolator w/Twin-Linked Multi-Meltas, Searchlight
5 Dominions w/2 Meltaguns, Meltabombs
Immolator w/Twin-Linked Multi-Meltas, Searchlight
5 Dominions w/2 Meltaguns, Meltabombs
Immolator w/Twin-Linked Multi-Meltas, Searchlight
10 Retributors w/4 Heavy Bolters, Simulacrum, Storm Bolter
Exorcist
Exorcist

We played a Pitched Battle (Seize Ground, Kill Points, Table Quarters)
I won to go first and deployed. I kept the 2 Infantry Squads w/Flamers in reserve.
Jon Deployed everything except the dominions (all 3 would outflank) across his board edge.
His Infantry squad on foot were deployed to take advantage of Kyrinovs fearless bubble.

Turn one I silence his exorcists and begin destroying Rhinos. All his ranged anti-tank is now gone. (save for the Retributors and a Multi-Melta). My Officer of the Fleet kept Jon's dominions off the board until turn 5. Even then, they did not come in on the side he really wanted (at this point most of my army was midfield) A quick game and decisive victory.

Round 2: Alan Campos, Chaos Space Marines

Kharn the Betrayer
Chaos Sorcerer w/Wings, Mark of Slaanesh, Lash of Submission
Summoned Greater Daemon
8 Berzerkers w/Aspiring Champion, Powerfist
Rhino
8 Berzerkers w/Aspiring Champion, Powerfist
Rhino
8 Berzerkers w/Aspiring Champion, Powerfist
Rhino
10 Chaos Space Mariens w/2 Meltaguns, Icon of Chaos Glory, Aspiring Champion
Rhino
8 Raptors w/2 Meltaguns, Icon of Khorne, Aspiring Champion, Pair of Lightning Claws
2 Obliterators
Obliterator
5 Chaos Havoks w/4 Missile Launchers

We played a Dawn of War (Table Quarters, Seize Ground, Kill Points) Alan is more of a modeller/painter than actual player. I deployed first; I placed a single Infantry Flamer squad in the center of the board. Alan placed a Rhino full of berzerkers 18" away.

I moved everything else on turn 1 and stunned his Rhino. He moved his army on (save the Greater Daemon) and shook a Vendetta and Immobilized the Valkyrie. During the course of the game, I moved a Chimera wall towards the Rhino wall he had built. I destroyed all the Rhinos and he got out and charged the Chimeras. He killed two of three chimeras in assault, but was left in the open. After that, I was able to destroy two squads a turn using sacrificial units as assault "speed bumps". Alan conceded defeat in turn 4 or 5 (I cannot recall).

Round 3: Brett Perkins, Imperial Guard

Company Command Squad w/4 Meltaguns, Officer of the Fleet
Chimera w/Hull Heavy Flamer
Company Command Squad w/4 Meltaguns
9 Psyker Battle Squad (8 Psykers, 1 Overseer)
Chimera
10 Veterans w/Demolitions
10 Veterans w/3 Meltaguns
Chimera w/Hull Heavy Flamer
10 Veterans w/3 Meltaguns
Chimera w/Hull Heavy Flamer
Platoon Command Squad w/4 Flamers
Infantry Squad w/Lascannon, Commissar, Power Weapon
Infantry Squad w/Lascannon
Infantry Squad w/Lascannon
Vendetta
Vendetta
Vendetta
Leman Russ Demolisher
2 Hydra Flak Tanks
Manticore w/Hull Heavy Flamer

We played a Spearhead (Capture and Control w/an extra objective in center, Kill Points Table Quarters)

I take first turn and set up all of my army except the Infantry Squads. Brett deployed his Infantry platoon (2 squads plus commissar, single squad alone ) his Manticore, his Hydras, and his Company Command in the Chimera. His Vendettas would outflank and the rest of his army (Meltavets, PBS, and Demolisher) would enter on his board edge.

This game was quite close, quite tense, and long. We both played well, only a few mistakes, but we ran out of time. (Kinda) He played his last turn (turn 5) as if the game was ending but we had time left, so I wanted to play another turn and he did not. So, I called a judge over and he said we should keep playing (we had 14 minutes left and I was confident that I could finish) we argued about it for another few minutes and Brett went back and made some moves to account for the turn going on. I begin my turn 6, in a pretty good position, as Brett had few things left. 7 minutes later, as I was about to begin my shooting phase, judge said "dice down". Then Brett took a full turn. (as I had gone first). Brett was able to contest the two objectives I had held, and knock me off of the third. In retrospect, I should have played my turn 5 like the game was going to end, but I thought I had more time. (I could have better used my chimera to block access to the objective). So, I ended with a loss. The game was tense, but Brett was fair and there were definitely no hard feelings (as Brett would end up playing in the finals).

I do hate to finish a game like that. (either win or lose) I though the time rules were rather odd. Our arguing about a next turn cut into my turn, so I had to do a "dice down" before I was able to do any damage to Brett. (I had felt confident about my chances to pull a win, but it was by no means guaranteed)
On the other hand, if I had successfully argued for another turn and won, how would Brett have felt? Food for thought. Also, neither of us played slow, but there were some rules questions in early turns that involved us (and the head judge) having to look through the rulebook, which took time away from dice-rolling.

Round 4: Dustin Sanders, Dark Eldar

Baron Sathonyx
Haemonculus
3 Trueborn w/3 Blasters
Venom w/Splinter Cannon, Grisly Trophies
3 Trueborn w/3 Blasters
Venom w/Splinter Cannon, Grisly Trophies
20 Hellions w/Helliarch, Power Weapon
5 Warriors w/Blaster
Venom w/Splinter Cannon, Grisly Trophies
5 Warriors w/Blaster
Venom w/Splinter Cannon, Grisly Trophies
5 Warriors w/Blaster
Venom w/Splinter Cannon, Grisly Trophies
5 Warriors w/Blaster
Venom w/Splinter Cannon, Grisly Trophies
Beast Pack w/5 Beastmasters, 6 Razorwing Flocks, 10 Khymerae.
Ravager w/Flickerfield
Ravager w/Flickerfield
Voidraven Bomber w/Flickerfield, Implosion Missile

We played a Dawn of War (Kill Points, Table Quarters, Seize Ground)

I deployed first, nothing. Dustin deployed his Hellions w/Baron in the center of the board in area terrain. The important thing is that they did not begin with a pain token. I moved everything on turn 1, spotlit the Hellions and unleashed an entire armies worth of firepower into them. Tons died, break test was failed, they would not be returning to the table.
After this, Dustin did not feel like playing anymore and called it.
(His reasons were the same as my own, as we had both just been knocked out of contention)
We both just went around and watched games, which is a ton of fun, and stress-free.
That was the end of day 1.

I did not sleep well that night because of kids running around the hotel I was staying at at 2am, and someones alarm clock going off for hours. On day two I decided I would play one game, then dip out for the 10 hour drive back to MD.

Round 5: Anthony Pazera, Grey Knights

Castellan Crowe
10 Purifiers w/4 Psycannons, 5 Halberds, Daemonhammer
10 Purifiers w/4 Psycannons, 5 Halberds, Daemonhammer
10 Purifiers w/4 Psycannons, 5 Halberds, Daemonhammer
10 Grey Knights Strike Squad w/2 Psycannons, Daemonhammer
10 Interceptor Squads w/2 Psycannons, 5 Daemonhammers
Dreadnought w/2 Twin-Linked Autocannons, Psybolt Ammo
Dreadnought w/2 Twin-Linked Autocannons, Psybolt Ammo
Dreadnought w/2 Twin-Linked Autocannons, Psybolt Ammo

We played a Pitched Battle (Table Quarters, Kill Points, Seize Ground)

I assumed that Anthony would be Deep Striking Combat squads into my side armor, so I let him go first. My mistake was that I thought Purifiers could Deep Strike. I was wrong.
So, he set up everything, I set up everything. We traded fire for 6 turns. I was not aggressive, I played lazy, I was really just focused on driving and calculating how many hours of sleep I would get if I left at certain times. In the late game, Anthony rolled damn well making 24 of 27 3+ saves in turn 5. He then made 5 of 7 3+ saves in Turn 6. (The fact that I only did 7 wounds is hilariously bad)
We tied on Table Quarters. I had killed Crowe, a purifier squad, the interceptor squad, and two dreadnoughts. I had lost far more (most of my Vehicles, only 2 Infantry Squads) and lost on kill points.
Anthony was fun, the game was actually close, we spent most of the time talking about cases and other stuff. Very enjoyable.

So, at the end I went "3"-2, not great, but not unexpected as I had not played since Battle for Salvation back in October. I definitely need to practice more and play some games against some skilled Necron players.

Thanks to all my opponents, all of you were great. (yes, even Brett, despite us having a tense game, Brett was cool)

-Mike