Marcharius IX Campaign: Curtain Call

"I dont care about that damned planet,I only care that the heads of each and every [Chaos] Lord there is on a [expletive] pike" - Uriel Bejz (Renegade Marine, once of the Minotaur's chapter 999 M41)

"I commend them, the Gue'La. Not for their tenacity, not for their ferocity nor for their cunning. It is for their honor that I now have great respect for them. Even when drawn down to a man, even when death was inevitable, they still fought us with all they had, instead of cowering or surrendering like dogs. When faced against overwhelming odds, they stood strong, even when scores fell. These...humans...they will forever have my respect." -  Shas'O BrightSun (T'Kain Sept, Marcharius IX reclamation Force M41)

Today ends our groups Marcharius IX Table top Campaign. Marcharius IX first appeared in our Dark Heresy game as a world on the edge of the Imperium. Located between Tau Space and the Imperium, this world would come to have drastic consequences for the party.

The party first encounter Marcharius IX in their pursuit of the Rogue Trader Josiah. Josiah had been spreading chaos tainted wheat across the imperium for years, having been chased by Inquisitor Herodotus and his warband. Bo Terran, the charismatic interrogator and de facto leader of the party, unintentionally brought the party to the world after getting captured and pulled into in a webway with eldar pirates. What the party found was a world high in tension. Tau and Humans living together in tense truce. After reestablishing contact, they found that the local Governor of the world had made a trade deal with Josiah in order to sell the world's resources to chaos in exchange for immortality. It was discovered that Bubo the plague father and Kordan of the Thousand Sons would soon arrive. Bubo with the Rogue trader, and Kordan in pursuit of Bubo. The party only barely escaped as the world fell to chaos around them. Having made it out alive, the party called upon the Marines of the Dorn's Raiders and "The Coalition", a mass gathering of Space Marines, Guardsmen, and other factions of the imperium in order to retake Marcharius IX. When the party returned to Marcharius, they had one goal. Kill the 2 chaos lords. While Bubo was killed in the fighting, many members of the Coalition were lost. Unable to stop the imperium, Kordan summoned a warp storm and consumed the planet in the warp. The party was only barely able to escape having suffered major losses in friendly Non player characters and major damage to themselves. The Coalition along with the Dorn's Raiders took massive causalities in the fighting as well.

100 years passed......

This is where the table top campaign took off. After 31 days in May, each of the former PCs and GM recorded a total of 20 games played.  The armies were as followed:  Jon: Detachment D-44 (Imperium), Jerry: T'Kain Sep (Tau), Greg: Dorn's Raiders (Space Marines) and Tallarn (Imperial Guard), Kurtis: 186th Death Korp (Imperial Guard) and Chaos Marines (Night Lords) , and Matt: Brother Hood of Ferrus (Iron Hands Space Marines).

 The Imperium had a 1:4 win loss ratio.  The Tau had a 1:1 win loss ratio and chaos had a 0:0 ratio. The height of the campaign was when the Dark mech stole a former PC's power lance that they had left behind for the survivors. What chaos wants with the Power lance is a story that will be told when Wrath and Glory (the new 40k RPG) releases this June This is not the last we have heard of Marcharius IX. In the mean time, the Tau of the T'Kain Sept had reclaimed the world in the name of the Tau Empire. What they found was horrific and barbaric......

Post Campagin Patch for Detachment D-44

The last of the Gue'la lay dead in a pile. The firefight had been tough and many shas'la of the T'kain sept lay dead near where the Gue'la tank had blasted their position. After a month of fighting, the human world, once known as Marcharius IX had been reclaimed by the Tau Empire. The Etherals wanted to cleanse the world of all chaos taint and make it into a new sept world. One that would be a shining example to the rest of the Empire. However Commander Brightsun was not so sure. Having seen the horrors of the landscape and the chaotic influences that had ravaged this world for so long, Bright sun was sure that no tau citizen could ever truly consider this a home. The surviving human forces had either been scattered or died en masse. As for the chaos forces, they had disappeared as quickly as they had come. Many of the Imperiums soldiers had escaped and command reported that they had gotten back to the Imperium lines. Entire parts of the world burned. The Imperium had not left quietly and Brightsun believed they would back someday. Among the survivors had been found humans as old as 150 years old. Many Earth Caste believed this was not natural for the human life span and questions had been asked of those who had been found. One of them, a young human had responded that the warp had kept them alive to live their own personal hells. Many Earth caste scientist took this be the ramblings of a insane human.Whatever the case was, there was still work to be done. The twisted barren landscape was still full of daemon creatures and resistance cells. Whether or not the world could ever  be fully reclaimed Brightsun did not know. Taking a last look at the deadpile of tau warriors Bright sun activated his XV-8 and flew off to find another battle.

Read more »

Tau Codex: Warlord Traits and Dreams

Hello everyone, my name is Jerry and today we will be talking Traits, my feelings on them and just a general review of them. Jon will be posting this for me but lets move on.

To start off, I would like to point out the “Named Character and Warlord Traits”. Of the six named characters, there are two from different Septs, the rest are T'au. So if we want to run a Battalion or Brigade from another Sept, we HAVE to have either a Fireblade or a Ethreal in it because of the COMMANDER limit. Already not a fan.

Another thing I would like to talk about is that we only really have three “types” of Warlord (excluding Longstrike and Darkstrider). We have the Ethreal, the Cadre Fireblade, and the COMMANDER. When looking at a lot of these traits, a lot of them seem to have been built for suits in mind. Precision of the Hunter, A Ghost Walks Among Us, and Examplar of the Mont'ka come to mind, but we have a limit to one per detachement

There is good too though. For example my favorite Trait thus far has been Through Unity, Devastation. This thing takes your average gunline and makes it a slightly more deadly or turns your Crisis Suits into Assassins. Say you have a Fireblade with this Trait and you've got fourteen Pulse Rifles that have a target within Volley Shot range. On average, with only re-rolls of 1, because that is all I use my Fireblade for is Markerlights, they are needing to save against sixteen shots, and of those about five are at -1. Now my math maybe a little suspect, but those Sixteen shots alone would usually kill any infantry in their way. But those Five -1's, when going up against stats like 2+/3++ *Cough*Custodes*Cough* give that little edge on possibly nicking more health off it. Hell, it helps against most MEQ in general and can even flat out kill some GEQ. The idea is that whether you're spamming pulse fire, or Ion cannons, it makes your dudes that much more lethal.

                                                            The Good

Through Unity, Devastation: Like I talked about above, this Trait gives all your 6+ wound rolls an additional AP when within 6” of the Warlord and against a single unit. Helps that gunline focus fire and annihilate more armored foes. Best part is it works on any toughness.

Academy Luminary: What's not to like? It increases the range of your three HQs abilities and gives you an additional CP. I personally haven't thrown it on anybody but Aun'Shi and a Kroot blob, but the thought of throwing it on a Commander, and advancing a gunline Via Mont'ka to cover a large swath of board without losing aim is great!

Precision of the Hunter: So this is one of those Traits I mentioned earlier that was meant more for a suit. I cannot think of a good reason a Fireblade or Ethreal are re-rolling 1's vs. MONSTERS and VEHICLES when most things that have that keyword they will be wounding on 4+ or worse. If it wasn't for the fact it is really, really good on a Anti-heavy 'Mander, this would be Bad. But when I get to re-roll wound rolls of 1 against things I am wounding on 4+ or better, yeah, really helps when my Fusionmander is burying 3 Blasters into a tank and really wants that gooey Marine or Guardsman inside.

Seeker of Perfection: Again another suit made Trait. For each 6+ hit roll, +1 to wound roll. The Fireblade is not pumping out enough shots to make this reliable and the Ethreal will most likely die before it can really see it's use with it's 5+ save in melee. Kinda in the same ballpark as Precision of the Hunter in the sense that it is great at making sure your shots go through, but feels more like it is built for large volumes of fire with weaker guns. Say for example a Coldstar decked with burst cannons and HBC. He is going to be wounding most things you wanna throw volume fire at on 3+ so adding 1 for every 6+ hit is kinda neat and it seems to stack with Overwatch. So it seems that every time you hit in Overwatch you get to add 1 to your wound as you need a 6 to hit in Overwatch as Bork'an Sept.

Hero of the Enclaves: This thing is awesome! Now T'au should never in their right minds get in melee, but when it comes to the Farsight Enclaves, sword range is where they like to be. And no Trait better emphasises this fact than by letting you Heroic intervention 6” and basically as long as you don't stay in melee you get to re-roll FAILED hit rolls. So even though average 'Mander is hitting in melee on 3+, that “all failed rolls” part makes you that much more of a Kung Fu badass. And with Fly, there is no reason you aren't making sure the conditions for the Trait aren't met. By far this Trait is the most reliable and possibly the most potent...as long as you have some Fusion blades because you still don't have melee weapons and still have AP 0, D1 fists.

                                  The Bad

Exemplar of the Mont'ka: So let's start off with Mont'ka. Back in the Chapter approved, this rule read “Your Warlord can Advance and still shoot as if they hadn't moved this turn”. Frankly kinda busted because then my Darkstrider (who I got a tonne of use in Index) or Shadowsun could just run down the field and in Darkstrider and a Fireblade's case, Markerlight on 2+ still, and on Shadowsun she could bounce up to some tough guys with her min 9” move and blast them in the face with her Blasters. Now with the Codex out, Darkstrider no longer get's this, nor does Shadowsun and Fireblades are more prone to standing around with their gunline. I can see it's use on a non-Vior'la Fireblade keeping up with some Carbine warriors still wanting Markerlight, or maybe a COMMANDER that want's to save points instead of being a Coldstar but otherwise is overshadowed by Vior'la Tenant.

Through Boldness, Victory: Great if you didn't already hit on 2+ and usually is able to re-roll 1s's. Also doesn't work during Overwtach, which admittedly would be busted, and not when outside 12” which is when all other armies -1 to hit ability no longer applies. It's good when you no longer have re-rolls, and  when you have lost you mind and are allowing something to stay within 12” of your Warlord without being an Assassin or Meat Grinder. Risk is too great for a payout that you easily get already.

A Ghost Walks Among Us: Let's bring back Darkstrider because he gets this. Pretty good for him because he gets to be all zippy on the field with his 7” Vanguard, 7” move and now +6” advance. Other than that, not that great. Ethreal can get it, but only good thing I see coming out of it is keeping up with Kroot mob. Fireblade is prone to standing around and if he advances he can't shoot anything that turn anyway (unless Vior'la but even then only the rifle can be used) and when it comes to COMMANDERs, there is the Coldstar who has a better movement (though I am unsure if you can stack it with a Coldstar as the Trait says specifically when rolling a dice).  The point is that it seems the Units that would get the most use out of it are heading into melee, which we don't want our Warlord most of the time (see above, Hero of the Enclaves.) or have a unit that does this better for 18 points more.

                                  The Ugly

Strength of Belief: I hate this thing. It reminds me that T'au have no Psyker defense, have no reliable mortal wound generator (see Seeker missile) anymore, and the thing is useless anyway. First off it is put on our Tank Commander. Other than a handful of guns, there is nothing else but Psyker powers that dish mortal wounds. And most Psyker powers that do mortal wounds hit the closest unit. I don't know about you, but my Longstrike is far away from any Psyker unless it is Grey knights or some Eldar units that like to get close. Even then there is a unit in between Longstrike and that Psyker.When not on Longstrike, the only time I see it's use is from snipers, but sniper rifles and most other weapons are not reliable mortal wound generator to see it's use unless you opponent spams those things.

Overall I think when it comes to Traits, there are some that will see way more use than others, but overall I can't say we did terribly. Next time I will be Talking Tenants and kinda do an overview much like this for it.

Read more »

Battle Report: Investigaton at Hive Felix (7th Edition)

"Foolish Mon-Keigh, thinking they can save this city. Let us show them the true meaning of Pain" - Archon Linnaeus before his raid into Hive Felix

Today I bring you another battle report from the front lines. This battle was between my brother's DE (Proxying with tau here) and my own Adeptus Mech forces of Metallica lead by my Female Magos with Inquisitional support. The mission was kill points with a extra point award to me for every Heavy support choice that i killed and claimed with my forces.

My brother and I rolled off and he claimed turn 1. Turn one saw him move up his forces and shot a bunch of my ruststalkers. He killed two. The raiders shot at my Onager but missed and the Ravager did as well. The Inquisitional Chimera was killed during this turn by a Raider. He also claimed two objectives during this turn.

My turn 1 saw my forces move up and claim a objective. My shooting however was ineffective and so I did very little damage to him.

His Turn 2 saw him move up again and fire upon my magos. Those shots went wide and missed mostly. The breachers were the next target and he got off some good shots. However the breachers made their saves and were able to tank the fire. His Raider had moved up and the warriors inside the raider fired upon my ruststalkers killing two of them. The incubi hide and held a objective in the back.

My turn 2 saw me move up again. Having lost most of my right flank, my forces were forced to close off that flank and leave it to the Dark Eldar. My Ruststalkers moved up and prepared for a charge against the Dark Eldar warriors. The breachers moved up and fired upon the warriors. Many warriors were killed by the breachers and Skitarii rangers. I was able to kill 2 of the Raiders on the left flank at this time but still the Dark eldar held. My ruststalkers charged into the Dark Eldar but failed to make their charge leaving them open to splinter fire.

His turn 3 saw him move up and fire upon my forces again. The jetbikes moved up and the warriors fired upon my ruststalkers. The ruststalkers were killed to a man. More fire was placed upon the Magos and Onager. Both tanked the fire and refused to die. Two breachers were killed to splinter fire. At this time, he charged his forces into my Dunestrider. The dunestrider survived and was able to kill off one reaver jetbike.

My turn 3 saw me move up some of my rangers as well as my Magos and breachers. I was able to kill off a squad of warriors and seized a point in the middle away from his witches. On the left flank, the breachers killed off a few more warriors and tried to get in range to charge the jetbikes. They would ultimately fail to make the charge. However, the Rangers and the Inquisitor were able to make the charge and killed two jetbikes.

His Turn 4 saw his second witch squad move up as well as his warrior squads on the right flank which had fully collapsed for the Ad Mech. The Magos and Onager were fired upon again but tanked it and the Dark Eldar Archon let out a sigh as his forces failed to do any damage on the left flank to the dunestrider / Rangers / Inquisitor.

My turn 4 saw my forces move up and proceed to fire upon the remaining warriors. The warriors holding the middle point were finally killed off but the breachers had a lot of room to move up before they could capture the point. In the assault phase the Rangers / dunestrider / Inquisitor were able to kill off  the last of the jetbikes and secure the objective.

At this point the game had to end due to time. Dark Eldar had earned 19 points to the Ad Mech  15.  It was a significant Dark Eldar victory but the Ad Mech had proved that they would not let the xeno off without a fight. Hive Felix had been cleansed of all those who had lived there but the records would at least indicate that the civilians had not been killed but dragged off to a fate worst than death.

Archon Linnaeus looked out over the battle field. The slaves had already been captured and dragged back to the slave pits. Now with the mon'keigh forces broken he could escape. His forces had taken a serious hit but he knew at the end of the day his Kabal would gain wealth from the slaves. He smiled to himself, A victory such as this was one that he could celebrate back in the halls tonight. With that last though, he stepped through the webway portal and left the world behind.

Now on to some 8th Edition discussion. Since 8th Edition is coming this next weekend, we here at Behind the Lines Gaming are going to hold off on the blog posting till 8th drops. At that point we will resume with our bi monthly posting as well as give you all our first impressions of 8th Edition.

Stay tuned, Exciting things are happening and we hope to be your leading source for all the newest changes coming to 40k.

Till next time!

Read more »

Sisters of Battle: Squad Hana and 8th Edition

"She was like a angel, a divine voice sent forward by the Emperor to testify in his name. When she spoke nobody wanted to turn away but instead listen to her word upon which we all wanted to listen to."  -  Deckhand 32245 "Arthur"  Port side  Imperial Navy Cruiser Tempest in relation to Sister Hana

Today I am here to show off my newest additions to my Inquisitional force: Sisters of Battle. This squad is Squad Hana. Those of you who are frequent readers will remember that Hana is one of the player characters from my Dark Heresy game. In the past the character has been done without power armor representing her time with the Inquisition. Today, I present to you her in her power armor once she left the Inquisition. The colors of her Sisterhood are those of the Ebon Chalice. This squad is my first 5 (wo)man squad of sisters and it might in the future lead to a small force of sisters of battle.

I started off this army by painting with Vallejo black-grey. I then washed the models with a nuln oil wash before highlighting the armor in Vallejo rubber grey. I then did the metallic paints with washes before applying the flesh paints on the face. The red and white robes were the hardest part but gave the models the best effect. Once the models were finished I then applied a astrogranite paint to the base.  In the future I hope to add a few more sisters of battle as well as a leader unit for the army. For the moment these models will be a part of my Inquisitional task force.

With 8th Edition coming the game is about to get a massive shake up. To this end, the blog might be on hold from the end of May till the release of 8th Edition on June 23rd. This will be not only because I have gotten a new job, but also t
o account for the release of 8th. To my loyal readers, I am grateful for your continued support.

Brother's WiP Archon (2017)

Also, my brother has just gotten a 2000 point Dark Eldar army. He has asked me to help him strip, clean and paint his models so he can get started playing. In the future, we might see a few of his models show up here. As a teaser im going to post his Archon WIP. This is his first model and his first time painting miniatures that are his own. Tell me what you all think?

Till next time, say hi, leave a comment or just say hello. Every little bit helps.

Brother's First Model (2014)

Read more »