Orks Waagh to the Top

Lot's of text incoming, and no pictures due to my wife leaving our camera at her work. :(

So the LGS trournament was a fun time and I did quite well finishing on the top of the heap at the end of the day.  A good clip of the regulars were up in Alameda for the GT going on there so the tournament was a little light with 12 people.  I think the breakdown was something like: 2 Blood Angels, 2 Tyranid, 1 Vanilla Marine, 1 Space Wolf, 1 Black Templar, 1 CSM, 1 Chaos Daemon, 1 Sisters, 1 Dark Eldar and me with my Orks.  A pretty good blend with really only IG not appearing being the only surprise, but with 12 people even popular codecs don't always get represented.

One of the local players has taken up the mantle of running the monthly tournaments for a few months and he made the missions and over all the day was nice and smooth.  There was only the DE army that was also fully painted I think, though 1 or 2 were pretty close to done. The TO mentioned that people who place don't get the Painted as well as its nice to get more people walking out with a prize.  I've gotten two before and, ya it's kinda cool to get two prizes but also a little douche-a-riffic.  I don't know if I would have had more votes than the DE (or other not 100% armies) but I probably had a good chance of getting paint... but obviously was going to try to do well regardless!

Game 1: Lorin's Sisters
So Lorin's moved down from Seattle and I think this might have been his first tournament at the LGS.  He was really friendly and outgoing, introducing himself to folks before the tournament and joking about how he should be writing a paper for school but decided to come play anyway.  He was really a cool mellow guy and was tough to boot!  His list was unlike a sisters list I have played before even remotely:

Inq Lord Karamazov
Canoness, Eviserator, BP, Cloak of St Aspira, Book of St Lucius
Callidus Assasin
10 Battle Sisters, Melta, HF, Vet Sup w/ Book in Rhino w/ EA, Smoke
10 Battle Sisters, Melta, Vet Sup w/ Eviserator, BP, Book in Rhino w/ EA, Smoke
IG Plattoon
-Command Squad, 2 Grenade Launchers
-Infantry Squad w/ Lascannon
-Infantry Squad w/ Lascannon
-Special Weapon Squad w/ 2 Demo Charges, Flamer
-Heavy Weapon Team w/ Mortars
7 Seraphim w/ 2 Hand Flamers, Vet Sup, Book
Exorcist, Smoke, Searchlight
Immolater, EA, Smoke

Deployment: Dawn of war.  Objectives #1 5 objectives (control more); #2 Most Expensive Unit Killed; #3 Control objective in enemies deployment.

He wins roll off and has much thinking about how to deploy.  He's not sure whether to push me back or sit deep.   After a bit of agonizing he decides to sit back mostly, but I end up dropping everything to walk in on turn 1.  I don't want that Callidus moving me around before the game!

I'm not sure how to best describe this game.  I advanced but I was taking so few loses from his shooting that I held back a little as well.  Meanwhile he kept his guys a bit bunched in the center rear of his zone.  His Callidus creamed a Loota squad and promptly died to the Shoota boyz.  I probably could have gotten Ghaz into combat turn 2 but decided to hold tight and then waagh turn 3 when he could be supported.  The wagon survived a solid round of fire (meltas, demo charges, etc) though it did get immobilized.  A few options were taken away but I decided to then charge to combat.  We all got stuck in, and the only thing I really forgot about was that damn book which kept his girls stuck in even when I was mowing through them.  I was able to drag his Inq Lord down with Boyz and Ghaz kept standing in the end.  He made a push with vehicles to contest two objectives and I couldn't pop em, and we both claimed one at the end of 5 with minutes left on the clock.  Neither objecive posessed was in the opponents zone so while we tied on the objective for 5 I picked up another 3 points for killing his most expensive unit.

Had the game gone on I'm not sure who it would have favored.  He still had guys running around and could have contested more, but I might have also been able to clear off some others.  Either way it was a great game

I will say I definately missed having Snikrot this game, as it would have just made a mess of his back line.  I'm just not sure what I could feasibly pull out in 1500 for him.

Game 2: Tom's Dark Eldar
Tom is one of the nicest guys at the shop.  He and I played early in this year when I brought BT pods, and he had a which cult theme.  Today he had a bit of a different build.

Archon on Jetbike (w/ stuff)
Haemonculi on Jetbike (w/ stuff)
10 Warriors w 2/ Dark Lances
10 Warriors w 2/ Dark Lances
10 Warriors w 2/ Dark Lances
9 Warriors w Blaster, Sybarite (w/ Stuff) in Raider, Lance, Horrorfex, Nightshields
8 Warriors w Blaster, Sybarite (w/ Stuff) in Raider, Lance, Horrorfex, Nightshields
5 Jetbikes w/ 2 Blasters, Succubus (w/ Stuff)
Talos
Talos
Talos

Deployment: Spearhead, Objectives #1: Modified KP (Hq 3, Elite/Fast/Heavy 2, Troops/Transports 1); #2 More table quarters; #3 Slay all opposing Troops.

Oddly we get the table that Tom and I before the game had decided was probably the best board for me to play on that day.  We're both looking at each others lists and the mission (his possible 21 kp to my 15) and we know this is going to be ugly fast. 

He wins roll off but lets me set up first.  I deploy and leave one 30 boy squad in reserve hoping they'll help protect/threaten a flank and if they come in late at least take the table quarter.  He sets up with as much cover as he can and leaves his to Raider in reserve.

My turn 1 I advance up and focus fire on one Talos and bring it down.  His turn and he gets a lance through and pops Ghaz's Wagon and advances his Talos up and his bike squad.  I think the only mistake he made was he didn't have his Archon with the squad. 

On my turn 2 I shoot both Loota squads at him.  He's got a 2+ invul for his first W, but on the second round of Loota fire it finally fails, but then is insta killed due to Str of the Deffgun.  Ghaz is close enough to just assault one warrior squad in cover and he makes short work of them.  The KFF has moved off to join another slugga boy squad. 

On his turn one raider comes on the table.  His raider and 2 remaining squad lay the hurt down on Ghaz and the boyz, and I call the waagh hoping to drop some of the lances on Ghaz.  This lets me keep the manz alive by having them take splinter rifle saves instead.  Sadly Ghaz end up still taking 3 wounds, and 2 of my Manz have wounds by now.  His 2 Talos advance and shoot up the sluggas they are approaching but are out of range of assault.  His jetbikes chage the Lootas but 2 live after fearless save (due to the Waagh being called) and I think I might have even killed a bike.

My turn 3 and my boyz show up and advance on the Talos and jetbikes.  The other Sluggas are also right on them.  Ghaz moves up to his gunline and Raider.  My shooting does nothing.  In CC the Manz wipe out his 2nd Warrior squad and Ghaz pops the Raider.  His jetbikes finish of the lootas, and his Talos kill a few boyz.  In return the jetbikes are attacked by about 45 boyz and killed, while the two PF nobs work on the Talos doing 1 W to one and 2 W to the other.  Sadly I still actually lose combat and take a few fearless deaths.

His turn 3 and his Raider comes on the table.  After debating what to do he bring it in to help support wiping Ghaz.  That new unit plus the 2 remaining Warrior squads finally put Ghaz and the Manz down.  In CC I finish up the Talos with a few loses.

At this point there's still about 25 minutes but Tom knows the proverbial goose is cooked.  I've lost a Lootas squad, Ghaz, the Manz and a BW for 7 points.  He's ONLY got a raider and 3 Warrior squads, meaning he's given up 17 kp.  Further more my shootas are up on one flank holding a quarter.  My Lootas are in my original deployment zone holding it (any unit could claim for this), one slugga squad is just about dead center but not quite in his quarter and the other is in the right flank zone to hold it.  Had the game gone on I might have made assault range but maybe not, but the raider was probably toast to Loota fire.   Even if not his best case would be to try to push to get all 4 alive units to each quarter to make that a push, but it seems unlikely as all hell so we call it a game.  We clean up and talk about the upcoming DE realease and we joke around about our painted armies.  We turn in the result sheet and the 13 battle points put me at 21, and now I've somehow landed on table 1!

Game 3: Scott's Space Wolves
I played Scott last early in the realease of 5th edition with my orks and his old bugs.  He's been playing SW consistantly since they came out and usually does very well so I'm not totally shocked he's won both his games (coming in with 27 points) and know this is going to be a challenge.

Rune Priest, Chooser of the Slain, Living Lightning, JotWW
5 Wolf Gaurd w/ Melta Bombsx 1, PFx4, Combi Melta x 4
5 Wolf Scouts, Melta
8 Grey Hunters, Melta, Wolf Standard, MofW, Rhino
8 Grey Hunters, Melta, Wolf Standard, MofW, Rhino
8 Grey Hunters, Melta, Wolf Standard, MofW, Rhino
5 Grey Hunters, Melta, MofW, Razorback (HB)
6 Long Fangs w/ 5 Missile Launchers
6 Long Fangs w/ 5 Missile Launchers
6 Long Fangs w/ 5 Missile Launchers

Deployment:  Pitched Battle. Objectives #1 Center objective; #2 Scoring Unit in Enemy Deployment Zone; #3 Destroy Opponents General
It's probably a text book list.  The Wolf Gaurd get to split up for every Hunter list and I think the Scouts too.  He wins roll off and goes first.  We're on one of the city boards and his Long Fangs fit perfectly on little square building roof tops with pretty good LOS down various fire lanes.  He spread his rhinos around down different avenues.  I set up using every bit of tom-foolery I can to get cover.  I've conga lined boys down around buildings and behind ruins, I've got Lootas in building/runis, and I've got my KFF on the wagon on the far right flank with another 30 man squad.

Turn 1 and the frag-fest begins.  The worst comes to one Loota squad who take the 5 frags for about 14 hits, 8 Wounds, and I failed EVERY 4+ cover save.  Funny enough that guy sticks around and remains the rest of the game shooting (though be it ineffectively) and any hull that he can draw LOS.  A few other boys go down but the cover saves help, and one set of Krak bounces harmlessly off the BW.

On my turn I advance up but again try to pull off as much cover as I can.  The Wagon goes up but positions so that only two Fang squads can draw LOS and they have to take front armor.  My rokkits and lootas manage to stun two rhinos but aside from that nothing to write home about at all.

His turn 2 and he starts to move his Priest rhino (which must have just been shaken) down his deployment toward the center.  Also his Scouts come in with his choice of deployment.  I've strayed to close to might right flank so they get to come on and take 6" melta shots.  I think one missed, and the second only managed a Stun so w/ Armor I'm just shaken.  He drops 4 Lootas with Frag out of my whole squad, and I think a few more boyz out of my far left flank.  He charges in with his scouts and Wolf Gaurd but they miss alot due to needing 6s and what they do hit fails to glance.

My turn 2 and I again find myself debating whether to go all out or hold back.  Ghaz could blast straight up and try to charge his two rhinos, but then will be left in the open to missiles and more importantly other melta/fist pain.  Instead I hook around the corner to give chase to the rune priest unit.  Again most of my shooting is ineffective (maybe another shaken rhino?) but my sluggas krump the scouts good, and cosolidate enough to catch the 6" KFF to at least get the 5+ cover.

His turn 3 and now he's ready to lay it on my hard.  On the left flank his rhino advances up and drops out a unit to rapid fire my conga lined unit of boyz, plus he's got the Razorback.  He drops enough shots with the rapid fire and one long fangs squad to drop me out of cover, then the Razorback picks off two more guys.  I think on this fron I'm down to about 15 guys.  One the far right flank we've got a similar maneaver.  One squad of Rapid fire plus two long fang squad probably drop me down to about the 15 man mark as well.  The rune priest rhino has moved to about the cetner of the board but still toward his deployment.

By my turn 3 my shootas have been slowly moving through cover (its a canal down the center) to finaly get to sit on the objective.  Now I've got to make new tough choices.  I don't think wither flank is going horribly well, not to where 15 orks are going to take 9 counter charging Space wolves.  My shootas are in range to lay down a near full volley of dakka on his left flank hunters and miraculously kill 4 guys.  Even more miraculously the fail their LD and fall back.  I have that unit charge the rhino and stun it, and they are close enough to that falling back squad to keep them moving.  On my right flank I decided to have Ghaz get out on the call the Waagh so he can hussle to move over to lend support to that squad.  I'm able to kill the squad to the man, but I lose probably 8 orks also.  The boyz hook around to get some cover, and Ghaz who wasn't able to be a part of that squad yet, stands nearby to further... provide cover and look menacing I guess.  My BW and KFF Mek had also started to make there way over to the center objective.  LASTLY, my Manz are able to Waagh around with 2 of them in cover and pop his rune  priests rhino.  Not a bad turn at all for the orks, and we would reflect later that this was the tipping point of the game.

Scott's turn 4 and things are starting to look challenging.  On my left flank his small squad gets out of the Razorback and they drop some shots along side it to kill off another 4 boyz, but are out of range of assault.   He now sees the problem he's got with my shootas on the objective and I think two long fangs drop shots on them, but I think in the end he only kills about 6 guys.  His priest also has to make the tough choice of deal with the Manz on his ass or move off to the objective.  He decides the Manz half to go.  he draws JotWW on two manz but amazingly they both roll their init test.  Of course they then die to PW/PF combat but not before one of them bonks the rune priest on the head with a Klaw to insta kill him.  His remaing two guys move for cover.  His last long fang squad shoots past ghaz at the boyz and manage to kill a few.

My turn 4 and things are looking promising.  My far left squad moves up to pop the Razroback with the Klaw and it wrecks.  My BW moves over to block off that flank from any of his troops from coming down that avenue (yes I blocked my own guys off  too but that leaves a wreck and boyz before they would get to the BW).  Ghaz officially joins up with the small sluggas and hooks around to try to move up to the deployment zone taking what cover they can.  The remainging Lootas do little, but hey they're still there trying to be useful.  We've got about 20 mintues left so we decide we might as try for a full turn 5.

His turn 5 and 2 of the long fangs are dropping to whittle the shootas away.  At this point I'm going to ground and I think he dropped another 4 guys, just leaving me at fearless level if I recall.  On the left flank he did some rapid fire on my dwindling (and now blocked in squad) and drops them to about 7 but they make the LD test to stay.  His last long fang squad work on Ghaz's squad, but I think he only manages two deaths.  His two last Grey Hunters on that side charge in and kill two more orks (2 are left) and Ghaz puts a quick end to them.  I get a decent cosolidate and move toward his deployment zone.

My turn 5 and there's not much to do.  I've got the center, I let Ghaz leave the troop squad so they can move freely up and they get a good enough run roll to hit his deployment zone.  Some pot shots later and we call it a game with about 5 minutes on the clock.  Sure had we pushed it he could have probably long fanged that squad down, but we had agreed it would end, and I could have alos left Ghaz with them to try to soak some shots... but really it didn't matter (even to the overall score).

I collected 15 points to take the day at 36.  Even thought Scott got a 0 on round 3 his 27 points was enough to tie for second with the Daemon player.  Tom got painting (which I thought was clear cut now that I had placed... plus I voted for him :) ) and 3 raffle prizes for just showing up to the remaining players (a $90 box set, a $45 boxset, and a $20 box).  Always a nice touch by the LGS.

I had a great time and all of my opponents were fun.  I was also really happy because I felt like any time something came up I just let my opponent have what they said.  Not big argumentative things, things like 'is this blast 2 or 3 guys.'  Just take the 3 guys.  It's orks.  I'm going to lose them, it isn't a big deal.  In the end it really didn't matter and I'm sure my opponents appreciated not feeling like they'd have to argue for the small stuff.

Word is this TO will run the Nov 3rd event and is looking to bump the points higher which would be sweet.  As much as I'd love to do the 2 day GT up in Sac I think I'll keep it one day and local in Nov as well.