On Imperial Battle barge Zeemaphrame a young neophyte hurried towards the command station to meet Lord Rob, the Imperial Lord Inquisitor commanding this sector of the Imperium of Mankind. He bowed ‘G’Day your grace I have news’.
The Lord Inquisitor stirred amongst the many cables and conduits
sustaining his ancient frame, given his vast age he looked surprisingly young.
Despite this, the interruption to his nap time left him grumpy, ‘Yes what is it?' came his curt reply.
‘We have received a broadcast from the Imperial World Octerapus,
they have found evidence of Heretic activity in the ruins’.
The Lord Inquisitor pondered the facts, Octerapus was a key
imperial world but had recently suffered the depredations of an Ork Waargh, a
Necron attack, an attempted Tau invasion and the Crimson Fists Christmas party
(which had got completely out of hand). ‘Given recent losses, I assume
their own garrisons cannot handle this problem?’.
‘Nah your grace, they are too busy dealing with a
Genestealer Cult outbreak. Still you've got to laugh, don’t you agree?’
The Ancient leader considered his options. ‘Very well, deploy the Deathwatch to root out
and destroy this heresy. Oh and Neophyte,
you are far too happy for a grimdark future.
Have yourself hideously killed in a pain amplifier to restore some
balance!’
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The Deathwatch comprised of five Marine Veterans led by Captain Tytus Mordelai (with Plasma Pistol and Xenophase blade). Erik Trollbane (Veteran Fighter with Power Maul and Stormshield), Lydus Markov (Veteran Warrior with Deathwatch Shotgun), John Doe (Gunner with Combi-Melta/Deathwatch Boltgun) and Raelyn Castigar (Heavy Gunner with Frag Cannon)
Against them the forces of Chaos deployed six Chaos Space Marines led by Derek the Miffed (Aspiring Champion with Plasma Pistol and Power Fist) and including Steve the Slaughterer (a Heavy Gunner with a Heavy Bolter), Brutus the Bloodletter (a Gunner with Meltagun), Roderick and Tyson (two Marine Warriors) and Tarquin (an Icon bearer with Bolt Pistol and Chainsword).
The game was Control the Killzone with four objective
markers to be secured each turn for 1 Victory Point each.
To simplify matters no TacOps were used as we are still learning the
rules.
The game got underway with both forces manoeuvring for position and gaining 2VP each as the objectives were secured. Unfortunately in his haste to secure the second objective for the Deathwatch Lydus ended up in the middle of an open ruin. Brutus stepped up to the wall and looking through a open window saw Lydus standing in the open.
One blast of the Meltagun and Lydus was reduced to a bubbling pool of slag. First blood to the good guys (other opinions are available – Ed). Rob expressed his dismay in the form of massed bolter fire at the Chaos Leader, who leading from the front, had already secured an objective. Dragonfire rounds removed the benefit of cover, but no hits were achieved.
Frustrated Rob threw his leader at Brother Tyson, a Plasma pistol shot saw the Chaos Marine similarly melted (one all). In response Bolter fire from Roderick saw John Doe taking 4 hits (its just a flesh wound he was heard to mutter through gritted teeth).
Turn 2 and the players remembered they had Command Points! Both sides picked Strategic Ploys which allowed 2 shots per round with Bolter weapons and Chris won initiative. First move saw Steve looking for revenge for Tyson using the medium of Heavy Bolter shots against Captain Titus. Two loads of shooting proved too much for the Captain and after considerable discussion about how to interpret the Critical rules another Deathwatch Marine fell. However as Rob was quick to remind him, ‘Only in Death does Duty End!’ 1 CP and the Captain survived for one more activation. Digging deep the brave Captain managed to both kill Steve using his Plasma Pistol on supercharge, and secure an objective before falling to his wounds (two all). Roderick was next up managing to finish off John Doe, before having a second shot at Raelyn Castigar who was hiding at the back of the Deathwatch line. Rob spent Command Points freely declaring ‘Only in death..) once more. John Doe got another turn before dying. Unfortunately he only managed to lightly injure (3 wounds) the Chaos Champion before falling. Three out of five of the Deathwatch killed with only two of the six Chaos boys taken care of. Rob started to look nervous. Time for the Chaos Champion to earn his pay. Derek secured the central objective and moved towards Erik hiding behind the wall.
A supercharged Plasma shot inflicted 10 damage on the Marine leaving him with only one remaining - ouch. Erik responded in the only way he could, by charging. Unfortunately even a Close Combat Specialist has his work cut out against an Aspiring Champion with a Power Fist, especially when he is already wounded. Erik fell inflicting a further 4 points on Derek, but leaving only one Deathwatch Veteran left. Seeing that there was no risk to him the Chaos Icon Bearer joined his boss and secured an objective into the bargain (5VP to 3 for Chaos).
Imperial hopes were fading almost as fast as Robs morale. Raelyn took a shot at Roderick with his Frag Cannon, but failed to inflict even a single hit. As there was no double shooting for non-bolter weapons he then made a run for an objective marker ready for next turn. Unfortunately Brutus was waiting for him, Melta gun at the ready.
Unfortunately for the Chaos Marine the shot went wide with no
damage inflicted, Chris noted that Brutus was a ‘Veteran of the Long War’, 1 CP to repeat
the shot. This time he inflicting 17 points onto the already injured Raelyn and
the final Deathwatch Marine was removed from the table. Victory to the forces of Chaos!
Another game of Kill Team, another chance to whinge about
Games Workshops rule writing style. Both
players found the interpretation of weapon Critical effects ‘challenging’,
resorting to working out the various options before deciding on which one made
sense. As noted previously once you’ve
figured them out, the rules work well, and are fairly straight-forward, but
they are expressed in ways that do not make them clear (Rob’s shiny new QRS
helped significantly). Despite this a
third game is planned for next week, with Genestealer Cults taking on the
Adeptus Mechanicus (assuming Rob’s not dog sitting).
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