X I I I · V S · I V
+++528.011.M31 - TALLARN, NEAR ORBIT+++
I’ve told you a dozen times and I’ll tell you again, Captain - tell the Old Bear I’m going down there. We saw the IV move in to that sector twice in the past hour on Auspex and have confirmed eyes on from nearby Seeker squads. They’re going for those Archaeotech clusters man! and yes I know we can’t stop them but we can at least harry them until you can meet with the other elements of the chapter and organise an appropriate practical response. Don’t look at me like that. Tell the old man I’ll see him in hell. I hope the Olympians have bought enough tanks to make this worth my while. ~Stelos Titus, Praetor 12th Chapter XIII Legion Assault Element
+++528.011.M31 - TALLARN, SURFACE - [[Exact location redacted]]+++
“Ha, do you see now Victus, they didn’t bring enough of their vaunted armour it seems. Onward!” ~ The last words of Praetor Stelos Titus, shortly before his complete annihilation by concentrated Deimos-pattern Vindicator Laser Destroyer fire
I’d been wanting to have a game against Johannes since meeting him last year, and we managed to finally get an evening planned in after some IRL rescheduling on my side. I took a couple of photos but should have taken more!
The game didn’t go well for the XIII. I left my Praetor, his retinue and an Assault Squad in low orbit for a deep strike. I lost the roll off so went second. First turn’s fire was overwhelming from the IV’s armour - the Vindicator with laser destroyer minced my Inductii Rhino and the Scorpius squadron exploded some of the bigger Tactical squad on the other side. Spartan was fine, I’ll miss the Flare shield in 3.0!
I had read my opponent’s list but had zero idea what most of it really meant - I figured the Tactical squads were just cheap ways to fill line slots but it turns out the RoW Johannes used gave them all Shrapnel Bolters - properly mean Boltguns basically full of nuts and screws as well as being mass-reactive. Nasty stuff!
The Contemptors clashed, but Ancient Aequitas was already damaged by Melta fire from the Predator squadron and was at a disadvantage. I really liked the Inductii squad with their meltaguns and will be building at least one more squad for the XIII as soon as their new rules drop this year.
My first turn’s shooting was pretty unspectacular.
Second turn started well as I managed to stick the landing on the deep strike. What I wasn’t prepared for was the inevitable overwatch fire from the shrapnel bolters 😂 The Assault squad was pretty much mulched but it did ok once it had actually charged. Praetor and his retinue smashed up some tanks but hadn’t bet on being in the sights of a Vindicator laser destroyer and he was annihalated in a single shot! Pop goes the weasel.
Great fun game though and I can’t wait for a rematch with a few more points. You can find Johannes’ write up here.