Hey guys, I can't take any credit for the following battle report as it was made by my mate for his blog Imperius Dominatus. I've pretty much just copied and pasted it. It was the first time I've played using Dark Eldar (pinched Mercer's) and as such a milestone I wanted to share it with you chaps. Enjoy!Played Poddy last night. He's dumped Tau and planning a Dark Eldar army, so tonight he's using mine to just get a feel of them. I won't be giving him much help as he's played against my D.E army plenty of times, so should have picked up tactics by now. Plus if he wins when I've helped he doesn't like 'false' victories, also he doesn't tend to listen to what I say anyway
I am trying a modified Necron list out. I've now got double Overlords on Barges, third Annihilation Barge and larger Wraith units, oh and a second Royal Court. I have dumped both Triarch Stalkers and the Canoptek Scarabs.
Necrons 'Necro-Wall' - 2,000 points
HQ
Overlord w/ Catacomb Command Barge - warscythe & sempiternal weave
Royal Court - 3 x Crypteks w/ harbinger of destruction - solar pulse
Overlord w/ Catacomb Command Barge - warscythe & sempiternal weave
Royal Court - 3 x Crypteks w/ harbinger of destruction
Troops
5 x Necron Warriors w/ Ghost Ark
5 x Necron Warriors w/ Ghost Ark
5 x Necron Warriors w/ Ghost Ark
5 x Necron Immortals
Fast Attack
6 x Canoptek Wraiths - 3 x whip coils
6 x Canoptek Wraiths - 3 x whip coils
Heavy Support
Annihilation Barge
Annhilation Barge
Annhilation Barge
Dark Eldar 'Kabal of a Thousand Cuts' - 2,000 points
HQ
Baron Sathonyx
Elite
4 x Trueborn w/ Venom - 4 x blasters - Venom w/ splinter cannon
4 x Trueborn w/ Venom - 4 x blasters - Venom w/ splinter cannon
3 x Trueborn w/ Venom - 4 x blasters - Venom w/ splinter cannon
Troops
5 x Kabalite Warriors w/ Venom - blaster - Venom w/ splinter cannon
5 x Kabalite Warriors w/ Venom - blaster - Venom w/ splinter cannon
5 x Kabalite Warriors w/ Venom - blaster - Venom w/ splinter cannon
5 x Kabalite Warriors w/ Venom - blaster - Venom w/ splinter cannon
5 x Kabalite Warriors w/ Venom - blaster - Venom w/ splinter cannon
5 x Kabalite Warriors w/ Venom - blaster - Venom w/ splinter cannon
Fast Attack
Beastmasters - 4 x Razorwing Flocks, 5 x Khymerae & 3 x Beastmasters
Beastmasters - 4 x Razorwing Flocks, 5 x Khymerae & 3 x Beastmasters
Heavy Support
Ravager - flickerfield
Ravager - flickerfield
Ravager - flickerfield
Pre-Game Analysis
I am pretty worried about this game even though this is Poddy's first time using Dark Eldar. The reason for this is my list has 26 dark lance weapons and I only have eight av13 vehicles, now av12 thanks to those lances. Dark Eldar struggle against mass av12, though eight vehicles isn't a lot for them to deal with. Add in that they have like 108 splinter cannon shots to deal with my infantry and also Beastmasters plus Baron to mop up in assault. Even though Poddy is new to D.E, I am in for a tough game no matter which way you cut it and looks like I am going to get a taste of my own medicine, gulp!
Game: Capture & Control + Pitched Battle
Deployment
I roll a 1 for deployment, which Poddy auto wins thanks to Baron. He decides to go first (even though I suggested going second to allow my Necrons rock up which will put all his guns in range) and deploys in the centre. Ravagers at the front length ways on, Trueborn Venoms behind then remaining Venoms - the fleet has been deployed between two ruins. Beastmasters deploy on either flank on the other side of the ruins, Baron is with the unit on the left flank. Although the Beastmasters are out in the open, they have nothing to fear as my guns cannot reach them first turn.
I deploy in the centre and almost mirror Poddy's deployment with my Ghost Arks at the front length ways on, then the Wraiths behind, then the CCB's on either flank behind the Ghost Arks and finally the Annihilation Barges in the centre. Immortals are in reserve.
My objective had already been placed in a large ruin on the left flank, the Immortals can walk on and get it. Poddy goes guts and glory and puts his midfield half on left flank and centre - objectives are moulds btw as had no objectives, though D.E have got one in the box, Poddy failed to look correctly
* Tactical Notes
This is going to be a interesting game. Poddy is going first and I suspect he's going to move everything up 12", well the Trueborn anyway and bail them out while the other Venoms move flat out to gain cover and the Ravagers lag behind.
I'll use my pulse and I hope it buys me defence from the blasters and lances, though with the D.E being so close and having night vision I am not hoping for much. If Poddy does do this then my first targets will be the Trueborn, which I'll send the Wraiths to meet and greet. I'll have to move up the Annihilation Barges and Ghost Arks to blast the Ravagers. The Overlords can just boost about until needed next turn.
Turn 1
Poddy goes aggressive and zooms all his Venoms 12" forward along with the Ravagers, two Ravagers split around the centre tower ruin. All Trueborn bail out ready to drop down with blaster death. Both Beastmaster units move and run and take cover behind the two large ruins on either flank, the unit on the right flank I cannot draw LOS to at all. Oh, solar pulse is now in use too
Shooting; Poddy blasts lances and blasters at my Ghost Arks and Ark on the left flank is wrecked (squad passes pinning test) while Ark in the centre goes boom, a few Warriors go down though squad passes morale and pinning. Ghost Ark on the right flank gets hit by blasters and is immobilised. Warriors in the Ark crater get blasted by poison and only the Cryptek remains standing. Not a bad turn at all for Poddy.
Necrons first turn; both Wraith units float 12" up to tackle the exposed Trueborn. Annihilation Barges remain in position while Overlord on the left flank moves flat out and sweeps a Ravager, it's wrecked. Other Overlord on the right flank just moves flat out to get a cover as not enough distance or room to sweep D.E vehicles in front of me. The surviving Ghost Ark regenerates a single Warrior into the depleted unit, wow.
Shooting; one Annihilation Barge attempts to fire at a Venom further back, though I am out of range, the other two fire at the Trueborn Venoms, one is wrecked and another goes boom while another is shaken, I get some more damage on other Venoms thanks to tesla arc and also wipe out the unit of three Trueborn thanks to tesla arc and shrapnel from the exploding Venom. Lanceteks blast the remaining Ravagers, the one on the left flank is immobilised (Wraiths can get it next turn) while the one on the right is stunned (with any luck the Overlord can sweep it next turn)
Assault; Wraiths charge the Trueborn and wipe them all out. One Wriath unit consolidates into the tower ruin while the other only moves 1".
* Tactical Notes
A pretty brutal first turn for both of us. I've taken out a Ravager and all three Trueborn, so lance weaponry has been depleted a lot for the rest of the game. Add in that one Ravager cannot shoot next turn and the other is immobilised ready for easy pickings. Some Venoms have also gone down, which I cannot complain about, that's less poison shots to kill my infantry.
Poddy's gamble has paid off pretty well. He's taken out two Ghost Arks and practically taken out a Warrior unit. With these two Warrior units exposed he can assault them with Beastmasters or splinter them to death. Plus the other Ghost Ark isn't moving and the Warriors inside are on the opposite side to both objectives.
Next turn I'll move both Overlords and sweep the Ravagers, Annihilation Barges will carry on blasting Venoms while Wraiths will assault exposed Dark Eldar units, maybe the immobilised Ravager if it hasn't been taken out to gun fire.
Turn 2
Dark Eldar second turn; Baron splits from the Beastmasters and moves towards the Wraiths in the tower ruin while the Beastmasters move and run towards the full strength Warrior unit on foot. Other Beastmasters attempt to flank around the shrine ruin on the right, though get poor run moves. Shaken remaining Trueborn Venom moves flat out and lands behind the others while the remaining Venoms move a little bit so I don't auto hit in assault.
Shooting; blasters fire into the remaining Ghost Ark, Poddy doesn't have good dice rolls, though the blaster does the job for him and it goes boom - the squad inside is then destroyed by posion shots. The depleted Warrior unit gets slaughtered by splinter cannons. Immobilised Ravager blasts a Annihilation Barge and it goes boom. I think that's all the shooting, doesn't seem a lot but trust me there was!
Assault; Beastmasters on the right attempt to move through cover to get the Wraiths by the shrine ruin, though get low terrain rolls and fail to make it. Other Beastmasters charge through the Ghost Ark wreck and lose take two wounds, shockingly the Beastmasters lose combat though pass morale. Baron charges the Wraiths, he gets lashed up and a Wraith phases and tears out his hard, good bye Baron you ginger little twat!
I roll for reserves and the Immortals arrive, not what I wanted. They won't be in range of shooting anything this turn, so I get brave (and perhaps foolish) and prepare to throw them into assault to backup the Warriors engaged with the Beastmasters.
Necrons second turn; Overlord on the left sweeps the immobilised Ravager, I score one hit which the flickerfield saves anyway. Overlord on the right sweeps the other Ravager and I think flickerfield makes the save again. Wraiths which killed Baron move to attack the immobilised Ravager while the other Wraiths move to attack Venoms or any exposed infantry from shooting.
Shooting; Annihilation Barges blast into Venoms and cause immobilised, weapon destroyed and stunned among results - will be handy for stopping them shooting and allow Wraiths to auto hit. That's it for me!
Assault; Wraiths charge the Ravager and make it go boom, a plain Wraith takes a wound. Other Wraiths multi charge a Venom and stunned Ravager, Ravager goes bye byes while the Venom is now weapon destroyed, nice. Immortals throw caution to the wind and charge the Beastmasters, shockingly the Beastmasters lose combat and fall back - Warriors are left with a single Cryptek and Warrior who consolidate onto my objective. Immortals consolidate into the centre Ghost Ark crater.
* Tactical Notes
Another beating for both of us this turn. I've managed to take out both Ravagers, though I've had to use my Wraiths to do that and I didn't really want to. On a good note a unit of Beastmasters is falling back and will have to keep falling back because they are within 6" of my units, add in that Baron is brown bread too.
Poddy hasn't done too bad himself this turn either. He has taken out the last Ghost Ark and a Annihilation Barge and has seriously cut down my fire power. I've also lost all Necron Warrior units and my only troop choice left is the Immortals, which I consolidated the wrong way as I am a total noob..
Next turn I'll move the Immortals onto my objective if they are still alive. Overlords will do more sweeping, Annihilation Barges blast things and Wraiths cut things up. Couldn't get a simpler plan.
Turn 3
Poddy moves what Venoms he can 12" back away from my Wraiths and leaves the others to their fates, typical Dark Eldar! Beastmasters continue to fall back with a 16" movement while the other unit flanks down to tackle the Immortals which I left out for dinner...
Shooting; splinter cannons, rifles and blasters fire into the Wraiths on the Dark Eldar Venoms, only a whip coil Wraith survives with a single wound. That's it for D.E, damn those Wraiths took some punishment.
Assault; Beastmasters charge into terrain against the Immortals and wipe them all out - there goes my last whole troop choice!
Overlords continue sweeping, the one on the left flank moves in a V shape and cuts up a empty Venom though lands back by the Beastmasters, the other one cuts open a Venom and it goes boom - squad is safe and passes pinning. Annihilation Barges hold position. Full strength Wraith unit flanks around to support the single Wraith and chew on any vehicles as Barges will have to blast the Beastmasters in order to keep my objective secure.
Shooting; Annihilation Barges blast the Beastmasters, they get cover as half in terrain though they pass morale and ready to chew on necrodermis. That's it for me!
Assault; Wraiths charge a Venom and it's wrecked while the single Wraith already engaged with the Venom from previous turn just stops it from shooting again, handy.
* Tactical Notes
Things are looking a bit bleek for me. I've lost my Immortals and got a single Warrior left who can claim my objective and it appears that Warrior is next on the Beastmaster menu. There's also half the Venoms left and my only real shooting units are the Annihilation Barges and now Poddy has pulled the moving Venoms into retreat, though at least I managed to sweep one and make it go boom!
Next turn I'll move sweep the Venoms with the Overlords and use Wraiths to mop up the exposed Warrior unit, Annihilation Barges will probably move up and start blasting. I think at this point I should be looking for a draw, my troop choices are almost gone. If I can contest objectives then I've got a draw, I could win if I table Poddy, though he has a lot left and I haven't got huge amounts to deal with what he has remaining.
Turn 4
Three Venoms move to deal with the Overlord on the right flank while the Beastmasters fall back off the board. Remaining Beastmaster unit moves 1" away from my surviving troop model on my objective.
Shooting; triple blasters fire at the CCB on the right flank, I pass two saves while one blaster misses. Squad in the crater blast the CCB on Poddy's table edge and cover makes the save. Splinter rifles and blaster from the squad by the full unit of Wraiths fire, only three Wraiths left now. The solo Wraith eats splinter cannons and snuffs it.
Assault; Beastmaster charge the Cryptek and Warrior, Warrior dies though Cryptek gets back up and holds the Beastmasters in assault.
Necrons turn; I decide to keep the Annihilation Barges static and use them to tackle the exposed Warriors by the Wraiths and the immobilised Venom, these troops are closest to Poddy's objective. I then move up the Wraiths to assault Venoms in order to spread my threats about. Overlord by Poddy's table edge sweeps the Warriors in the crater close by, one dies and the Overlord bails out as only went 6". The other Overlord moves 12" and cuts open a Venom, squad inside lose two Warriors and they pass morale.
Shooting; Annihilation Barges fire and the immobilised Venom is stunned while the Warriors are left with two Dark Eldar who fail morale and fall back, they stop near my empty CCB. Guns on the CCB's fire at the two infact remaining Venoms, one is stunned the other is fine.
Assault; Wraiths multi charge the two Venoms which got shot by the Command Barges, the one which took no damage explodes and the squad inside is pinned while the other takes no damage thanks to flickerfields if I remember right. Overlord charges the Warriors and only scores one hit and then fails to wound, useless. Beastmasters fail to kill the Cryptek who passes every armour save, combat rages on.
* Tactical Notes
I think I've got lucky this turn and managed to even things out with Poddy. He had five Venoms left in the previous turn, now he has two. I've also managed to make a squad fall back who won't regroup because the empty CCB is right by them, a squad is pinned and another engaged with a Overlord.
Poddy on the other hand has taken out my last troop choice. So I can only draw this game or win by tabling Poddy.
It's turn 5 next turn and I think the game is looking at a draw. My objective is no good for machine or beast so that's out the equation. Poddy's objective has nothing nearby and the only units able to get it are stuck in terrain, pinned or in a stunned transport. I doubt he will reach it.
Turn 5
Warriors falling back walk off the board, that's good for me or else if they would have fallen back a short distance then they could have blaster'd the rear of the CCB and it didn't move flat out. Empty Venom moves around so it doesn't get auto hit by Wraiths. I think that's it.
Shooting; blaster fires into the CCB with the other Overlord still on and fails to do anything. Splinter cannons from the empty Venom fire into the Wraiths, a Wraith takes a wound.
Assault; Overlord beats the Warriors in combat and they fall back off the board, Overlord consolidates towards the pinned unit. Wraiths attack the Venom again, not sure on results. Beastmasters beat the Cryptek, who gets back up again.
Necrons fifth turn; Overlord moves towards terrain to attack the pinned unit. Other Overlord moves 6" in the CCB and sweeps the unit in front, then bails out ready to take them out personally.
Shooting; Annihilation Barge fires into the immobilised Venom and takes it out, the other Barge fires into the squad and wipes them out. Tesla cannons fire into the stunned Venom, I don't think they do anything.
Assault; Overlords charge the Warriors and wipe destroy both squads after both hit and wound with all dice rolls, pretty good going for those guys. Wraiths take out the last Venom holding troops - squad passes pinning test. Beastmasters finally do over the Cryptek and it fails to get back up.
We roll for turn 6 and it's game on. Current situation is a draw.
* Tactical Notes
I've caused a massive amount of damage to Poddy this turn and practically wiped out all his troop choices, serves him right for doing the same to mine
. While I cannot win the game, Poddy has a chance and that's getting his last unit of troops into that empty Venom and moving it 12" towards his objective. If he can secure the objective he has the game in the bag.
Turn 6
Poddy gets the Warriors on foot into the empty ex-Trueborn Venom and moves it 6" and lands by his objective. He fires some splinter cannon shots and blaster shot into the Overlord which has taken out two Warrior units in combat, Overlord drops down to a single wound.
My turn; Annihilation Barges pivot to blast the Beastmasters just in case. Overlord gets back onto his CCB and moves 12" and sweeps the Venom, it's wrecked and the squad passes pinning test though still claims the objective. I float Wraiths over, luckily for them don't need terrain tests and will be in assault. Shooting wise the Anni Barges and CCB finish off the Beastmasters while the Wraiths charge the Warriors and kill them to the last man who fails morale and falls back.
We roll for the game and it ends, Necrons win by tabling Dark Eldar as any unit falling back at the end of the game is destroyed.
Summary
Calling that game brutal is a sheer understatement. I think I got a taste of my own medicine that game and I took a proper beating and feeling a bit sore. I was expecting a draw at the best once Poddy took out all my troop choices and still had half his Venoms left.
Necron list wise; dual Overlords and Barges rule, they can stay. Wraith units I've ran as units of 5, 4 and 6 now and 5 seems to be the best. Unit of 4 seem too fragile and struggle to get the job done while 6 only seem to do that bit better than a unit of 5. Troop numbers was my problem this game. Poddy hit me hard and took out all Ghost Arks early on, this took a lot of fire power and armour from me plus let him kill my troops. By turn 3 I thought it was all over. I'll stick with two units of five Wraiths with three whip coils and spend the remaining points to bulk up my Warrior units. I still have 27 points left, I could get another pulse I am not sure.
Game wise I think I played alright. I should have moved those Immortals into terrain also and maybe preserve them or even use them as a block against the solo Warrior from oncoming Beastmaster unit. I also realised I made a mistake about ever living, the Beastmasters should have consolidated before the Cryptek got back up, though makes no odds as each unit would be at each others throats again.
Poddy played very well seems it was his first game. He started off strong with a aggressive play style and hit me hard. He managed to keep this up through out most the game, though the last turns I managed to start stunning Venoms and cutting them up which really was down to good luck. He said he enjoyed them more than his Tau and is going to start working on a list with Wyches and Reavers though using mine as base.
Subject: Necrons vs Dark Eldar - 2,000 points 
Sat Apr 07 2012, 13:54
