Janu-Waaagh!-ry ApOrkalypse Mega-battle! (Jan 31st, 2009)

My first game of Warhammer 40K 5th edition (really first game since 2nd Edition) and it happens to be a 40,000 point Apocalypse battle at Endgame. Army composition rules allowed for only 1/3 of total points from Apocalypse (legendary units, Apocalyse formations etc). The remaining 2/3 of the points had to come from the normal force organization chart. Overall, this seemed to work out nicely in that the bulk of units weren't super heavy units. Ground rules were simple, 1) have fun, 2) don't be a dick. Seems pretty straight forward to me.

The tables were actually split, with one small table representing an Ork rok. On the rok were three catapults. Whoever controlled the catapults would be able to drop a rok onto the groundside table during the shooting phase.

There were 4 bunkers in the Imperial deployment zone as well as a refinery and 4 storage tanks in the Ork zone as objectives. Objectives held were totaled up after the end of each turn. The Orks pretty much concentrated on destroying as many of the Imperial objectives as possible while defending our own. By the end of the game, the Orks had won a narrow victory, 17-14. WAAAAGH!!!!

Here's a shot of table layout. Orks deployed along the right hand side and the edges of the long table. As a special stratgem, the Orks were able to set up on the overpasses.

The Imperials and Tau set up on the short end of the T. Awful lot of heavy tanks and Hammerheads there.

WAAAAAAGH Iffy. Four mobs of 30 Boyz, a mob of 10 Nobz in a Trukk, a shiny new Klaw Stompa, a Deffkopta Skwadron, and Warboss Zagstruck and his Stormboyz, along with a Warboss and a Big Mek. Total of 2,900 points.

Initial Ork deployment. The Klaw Stompa pushes through the storage tanks while the Boyz move through the catwalks.

I pushed 2 mobs of Boyz forward to support the Big Mek Stompa.

The Boyz after a nasty first round of shooting by a Tau Nighthunter Stealth Group as well as a couple of Basilisks. I lost of total of 21 Boyz plus my Big Mek (forgot he had a cybork body).

Meanwhile the rest of the Ork (and allied) forces move up. I managed to destroy one bunker with a direct hit from my only rok (my strategic asset) and exacted some revenge on the stealth suits. The Klaw Stompa got its licks in by flaming some Marines who were contesting a storage tank.

Deffkoptas trying to outflank 9 Basilisks in the Imperial rear via a Strategic Redeployment. The first turn of defense fire from 2 Hammerheads, a salvo of missiles, and 2 squads of marines took down 4 of the Koptas, but they rolled a 7 to stay in the game. I really should have had these on the table from the beginning instead of bringing them on in turn 2 and could have placed them much better. The entire game was only 3 turns, so they didn't really get much use.

At the beginning of the 3rd turn, the Imperials uncovered their strategic assets, demo charges placed on the fuel tanks. Luckily, only one went off, but it resulted in a 23" explosion at S6. The fireball toasted 14 of the Boyz in catwalks and more importantly, immobilized the Trukk carrying my Nobz. Here's the final Imperial push at the end. The Klaw Stompa was finally taken down through the combined fire of 4 Broadsides, 3 Hammerheads, and a team of Crisis suits. This is when I discovered that the 30 Boyz inside can't all get out and fit within 2" of the rear exit point.

In hindsight, I made tons of mistakes but I learned a ton about 40K, like don't forget about your invulnerable saves, don't let your fire lanes get clogged up (couldn't help the Monoliths in front of me), mind the turn limit (especially when there aren't that many of them), and don't cram 30 figures into a Klaw Stompa -- they can't all get out. Definately picked up lessons I'll be able to use next time. Still had a great time with everyone there.

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