HOME DBM EPIC 40 000

AMBUSHING THE GREENSKINS

Segmentum Pacificus; Agriworld Zealandia; Christos Island; 24/11/42001; 1605 Hours; Thought for the Day: Fighting the dishonourable compells one not to honourable deeds.

This game was 4000 points, Imperials attacking Orks in an Ambush Scenario. Myself and Nick Grant were the Ork Bosses while David Wallace and Michael Stewart commanded the ambushing Imperials. Rules were E40k with FP1 amendments and a few houserules as usual. Also trialled were some rules for Andy Skinners The Titan Project. The Gargant and both Great Gargants belly guns were now classified as 'gut-bustas' meaning they could choose to fire a 45cm range 'Deathray' shot, or the normal mega-cannon shot.

DEPLOYMENT

In an ambush scenario the defender deploys strung out in a column of march. Here is the front of the ork column advancing past an Imperial depot. The attacker deploys using the rules for hidden set-up but only has half of their forces available at the start, the rest of their forces (including all war machines) arrive as reserves from turn 2 onwards.

Here is a view from the rear of the ork column, showing the entire ork deployment. The Imperial players have decided upon the positions of their hidden units and both sides are ready for the turn 1.

TURN 1

The orks realise they are under attack and start advancing toward the Imperial deployment zone. Hidden Imperial units reveal themselves unleashing a devastating barrage of fire.

The ork center is massacred. 3 Siege Artillery, 12 Heavy Artillery, 10 Leman Russ Main Battle Tanks, and White Infantry Company all target this part of line. 3 large ork detachments drop below half strength. 2 of them take no further effective part in the battle. Imperial losses are minimal.

The rear of the ork column advances on the Imperial positions. Only Red Infantry Company stands in their way, but this small detachment is in rocky terrain conferring the benefits of hard cover.

The Guardsmen of Red Infantry Company unleash a devastating volley of fire upon the rearmost ork battlewagonz. The battlewagonz fail a leadership test meaning that they and the infantry hitching a lift on them cannot assault Red Companies position this turn.

Ork Morale has dropped from 80 to 34 this turn. Imperial Morale has improved slightly from 80 to 83.

TURN 2

As the orks continue to assault, Imperial reinforcements arrive. Near the front of the ork column a Reaver Titan and Shadowsword super heavy tank arrive.

Near the rear of the ork column another Reaver and Shadowsword arrive, as well as an Ordinatus Armageddon.

From hidden positions Imperial Roughrider cavalry ride to reinforce the Imperial center. 4 of the original 10 Leman Russ Tanks are still holding in the ruins to the Roughriders right. Together the Roughriders and Leman Russ halt the advancing ork infantry.

At close range and with little available cover the two opposing sides devastate each other. The Gargant is on fire and has lost half its damage capacity. The Stompa and Shooty Boyz mobs supporting it are almost annihilated. The Imperial Infantry and Artillery detachments take heavy casualties, as they come under fire from the Stompas, Shooty boyz, the Gargant and Great Gargant.

The ork infantry finally takes Red Infantry Companies position, with the aid of massive firepower from the Mega-Gargant. One of the Mega-Gargants Krooze Missiles hits and destroys the Ordinatus Armageddon before it can fire. Meanwhile the Great Gargant wades into the forest causing White Infantry Company to flee before it.

Unfortunately for the orks these local successes are not enough to stop the ork army from routing. Heavy Artillery has broken two more ork detachments, and ork morale drops below 0 to -1. Imperial morale has also plummetted, from 83 to 34, nevertheless the result is a convincing win to the Imperials in just two turns.