What Price Victory II - BFG Battle reports

[Brother Panis]

I denne tråd kan der skrives BFG battle reports. De vil blive skrevet af vinderen!

Håber I syntes om indholdet og at det er fyldt med Black Templar sejre

/Niels

[Brother Panis]

Battle II - Turning the Ambush

The ambush was setup perfect. All the Eldar ships were in perfect position, drifting lightly on the solar winds of the Ashweers-systems small sun. The Farseers had predicted that a sizable Mon Keigh fleet would make its way towards Ashweers Minoris to support the ongoing war there. The imperial fleet would have to navigate the dense asteroid fields between the 7th and 6th planet in order to get to Ashweers Minoris. It was in this belt of stone that Admiral Thatueil had placed his ships and it would be here that the Mon Keigh was destroyed.

"Enemy detected!"

A thought pulse disrupted Thatueil's thoughts of victory. He quickly scanned the tactical display in front of him and saw that the Mon Keigh was coming towards him as predicted and that they had not detected his ships. The enemy was the Black Templars, an enemy know to rush headlong into engagements, trying to bull rush its opponents. It would be easy to lure them in and then destroy them, but they needed to come a little closer before he gave them the lure! Thatueil smiled, this would be a great victory.

"Launch bombers and hold position" he ordered.

The Dragonship ... along with the two Wraithships ... and ... gracefully held their position, while fighters and bombers launched from them as wasps from their nest. On each flank the two squadrons of Shadowhunters, three with gun batteries and four with pulsar lances, also held position.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Something was wrong! There was no mistaking it. He could feel that special tingle in his right hand that always came, when something was not right. It had always been that way, ever since he was selected to become a neophyte some 173 years ago. He would get a tingle in his right hand whenever danger was near. He still got these tingles even though his right arm had been ripped of fighting a genestealer brood on Aproxima. It had saved him more than once and he had come to see it as a sign from the Emperor, so he trusted it and followed it whenever he felt it.

"Reduce speed to a crawl, launch Thunderhawks on CAP and get the ships ready for battle!" Fleet Commander Felibert bellowed.
"But, sir, there is no enemy on the auspex, why not speed towards our goal?" The helmsman said.
"You may not be able to see the enemy, but it is here trust me!" Felibert said.

The ships of his fleet slowed down. He had divided his capital ships in two squadrons, Wrath of Terra and his own Iron Fist in one and the Spear of the Devine and Emperors Fury in the other. These proud ships were escorted by Faith Squadron, six Gladius-frigates.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Not much happened in the first turn. The Eldar held their position and the Templars fleet just moving at minimum speed. Both fleets launched attack crafts, which engaged one another in the middle of the board.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Second turn saw both fleets move forward a bit and the destruction of three Shadowhunter escorts with Pulsar-lances. Again the attack crafts slugged it out between the two fleets.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Third turn the fleets had closed. The Eldar scored some hits on one of the Strike Cruisers and killed a Gladius. In retaliation the Templars killed three Shadowhunters with weapon batteries. Again in this round the attack crafts of both fleets battled it out in the middle. Four squadrons of Eldar bombers tried to go through an asteroid field but were not successful as they were destroyed by the flying stones.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This turn were not good for the Templars as it saw a Eldar bomber attack hitting the Emperors Fury, reducing it to 1 hull point, and reducing the Gladius squadron to one ship. The Templars did retaliate but not much due to masterful use of the Eldars movement.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At the start of fifth turn half the Templar fleet was caught on the wrong side of the asteroid field and therefore out of reach for the Eldar, so they destroyed the last Gladius and scored a minor hit on Wrath of Terra. The Templars cruisers Spear of the Devine and Emperors Fury masterfully navigated trough the asteroids to get in range of the Eldar, but could do little against the two Wraithships arranged against them doing no damage. The Iron Fist and Wrath of Terra fared somewhat better as they scored a couple of hits on the Eldar flagship and destroyed its Holofield. The rest of the turn was a disappointment for the Templar fleet as three squadrons of Thunderhawk Annihilators failed to score a single hit on the flagship as it braced itself and four attempts to teleport onto the Wraithships failed as their Holofields made it impossible to lock on to the ships.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

This turn saw a dramatic change in the score. At the start of the turn the Eldar had two Wraithships and a Shadowhunter with pulsar-lances at close range with the two Strike Cruisers Spear of the Devine and Emperors Fury, the last of which was badly damaged. On top of that the two Strike Cruisers didn't have any Thunderhawks to protect them against the Eldar bombers being launched. And although the Dragonship had been badly damaged it was still alive and in the game.

It looked to be a very one-side turn, but it is said that a Templar is never more dangerous than when corned and as the Captain of Emperors Fury realized their position, he charged out of formation and as the proud Strike Cruiser fragmented due to incoming fire he ordered the Warp-core detonated. This valiant sacrifice destroyed one of the Wraithships outright and created such large disturbance in the real space that the incoming bombers were ripped apart. Again did the Dragonship survive the bombardment of the Iron Fist and Wrath of Terra, although it was reduced to one hull point and had severe structural damage.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

The two fleets were almost spent. The Templars having lost all their escorts and one Strike Cruiser while another was badly damaged and on the other side the Eldar had one Shadowhunter and one Wraithship remaining, while their flagship was very badly damaged and whiteout the protection of its Holofield!

So this turn saw the two fleets disengage from one another, but not before the Iron Fist scored a single hit on the Eldar flagship at extreme range, making the Dragonship explode and drift in space.

Although it had almost ended in a massacre, if not for the heroic sacrifice of the Emperors Fury, the Templars won the day.

+++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Result:
The Templar warfleet:
+ 8 reknown
Wrath of Terra – crippled; -1Ld
Emperors Fury – destroyed
Faith squadron – destroyed

Craftworld Rhiadan:
+2 reknown
Wraithship - hulked
Dragonship - hulked
Shadowhunter squadron w. weapon batteries - destroyed
Shadowhunter squadron w. pulsars - crippled; -1Ld

[Master Ciaphas]

Battlefleet Gothic - Battle III - Schism

Khorlak Daemonsoul surveyed the wreakage of the Eldar fleet in space around Regulus IV; the Eldar had been well and truly annihilated, and the sorry remaineder of their fleet had left the system as quickly as they could. The Carnage-class cruiser "Maleficarum" had taken light damage, but repairs would soon be completed, and then the Armada would pursue the Eldar and destroy the last of them, before they could regroup and return.

A few hours later, the Armada was reinforced by the newly arrived Acheron-class heavy cruiser "The Undying". Transferring his flag to this experienced ship, Khorlak left the Malevolence to guard the space above Regulus IV, while the rest of the fleet made to pursue the Xenos.

***    ***    ***

Unbeknownst to the fleet supporting the Despoiler in his Crusade against the Cadian Gate, the secretive Alpha Legion had gathered intelligence, that the Eldar were in control above Regulus IV, and launched a  strike perfectly poised to destroy their frail ships.

The Alpha Legion fleet Warmaster had adopted the title of "Dragonmaster" in reverence to the hydra emblem carried on his shoulder, and his many years of void combat had honed his skills to a razor edge. When the blundering fleet of Khorlak Daemonsoul appeared on the sensors of his flagship - "Gorgon" - he could but smile. The inept Khorlak was known to him; a monster of an Astartes, who had long ago bartered away his soul in return for fleeting secular power...a fool, who had condemned himself to eternal torment, once his mortal form was destroyed...

The Dragonmaster addressed the vox-officer "Mister Quén. Signal the Golem as well as squadrons Wraith and Gargoyle. Tell them to engage the enemy and terminate. We will leave no survivors"...

***    ***    ***

Drawing up the fleet in two lines, Khorlak Daemonsoul ordered the advance - the fleet across the void from them appeared almost indentical in terms of firepower and ability to withstand punishment. Only superior tactics and cunning would carry the day.

The Crimson Armada set a course round the lifeless 10th planet in the Regulus system, maintaining speed and course.

The Devastation-class cruisers launch a fighter screen for the Undying and sent a flight of bombers towards the enemy's escorts.

***    ***    ***

The Alpha Legion fleet moved to intercept the Armada, keeping out of range. Only the Golem opened fire, destroying the flight of bombers at long range.

***    ***    ***

The Crimson Armada suddenly powered their engines to the fullest extent, driving forward through the cold void. The sudden movement brought them within firing distance of the Legion fleet.

Locking on, the Carnages fired all their weapons, supported by the rest of the fleet, crippling the enemy Carnage-class ship, "Golem".

The return fire was desultory, but the Undying did take hits which penetrated it's shields, damaging it's hull. The escort of Gargoyle squadron fired it's torpedo, the missiles being placed directly in the path of the Maleficarum.

Moving forward, the Crimson Armada unleashed it's terrible vengeance on the Legion fleet. The Maleficarum's turrets managed to down the torpedoes ahead of it. Two of three escorts from Wraith squadron were blasted apart by the Armada's Carnage-class cruisers, while the Malevolence and the Devastation-class cruisers concentrated all firepower on the enemy flagship, crippling it. The concentrated fire damaged port armament and the engine room; damage which the sorely pressed crew did not manage to repair...

***    ***    ***

Realising that the game was up, the Dragonmaster decided to try and preserve as much of his fleet, as he could. Giving the order, his flagship disengaged, followed quickly by the surviving escorts.

Alas, the Golemfailed in it's attempt to disengage, and thus the Devastation-class and the Slaughter-class elected to remain behind, and guard it, until it could successfully disengage.

The Devastation-class launched bombers and the Slaughter-class fired what weapons it could at the Undying, heavily damaging it, crippling it's efficiency in the rest of the engagement.

In return, the Crimson Armada drew up close to the Legion fleet. All guns were fired, crippling the Devastation-class. The amount of punishment dealt to it, saw explosions ripple through it's hull, blasting out it's engines, tearing off dorsal and port armaments.

The Legion fleet was well and truly in dire straits...

***    ***    ***

The Legion fleet disengaged as best it could. The flaghip had already powered down, slipping away like a thief in the night, and the escorts had followed suit.

Now, the Devastation-class and the Slaughter-class as well as the Golemwere the only ships left. Heading into the gas cloud, the Golemtried to follow the flagship, and disengage from the battle. As  the other two ships successfully disengaged, the Golem's crippled systems refused to power down, keeping it firmly in the sensors of the Crimson Armada.

The Golemfaced it's destiny alone and abandonded within the gas cloud, as Devastation's Hand and Ahesver prepared to launch boarders. While the Devasation cruiser's lined up to board, the Maleficarum and the Eternal Torment unleashed broadsides into the Golem's rear, bringing it to the point of destruction, where one more blow, would be sufficient to hulk it.




Captain Maccabbe of the Golem screamed with impotent rage, as the blast doors to his bridge were blown open, and through the breach stormed a diseased rabble of warriors, led by Death Guard chaos marines. Though he would fight bravely, he would be overcome, and damned to languish in agony for years to come...

The Alpha Legion had been comprehensively defeated - but the majority of their fleet had escaped to fight another day. 

***    ***    ***

Result:
The Crimson Armada
+ 8 reknown
The Undying: crippled, -1 Ld, 3 damage carried over to next round
The Maleficarum: +1 Ld

Alpha Legion Nocturne Nebula Interdiction Force
+ 0 reknown
Golem: hulked
Gorgon: crippled
Manticore: crippled
Wraith squadron: crippled

[Brother Panis]

Fed rapport!

Og det virker som om The Crimson Armada for uddelt nogle tæv! Av av!

/Niels

[Rhiadan]

Nocturne Nebula Campaign – Campaign turn 1
Battle Fleet Gothic battle of 11. August 2012
Craftworld Eldar vs. Chaos

"A Turn of Fate"

The Crimson Armada i Nocturne Nebulaen var gået fra sejr til sejr og havde vundet mere Reknown end nogen anden fraktion. Efter at have besejret først Craftworld Rhiadans rumflåde ved planeten Regulus IV og derefter de lumske Alpha Legion-skibe, sendte Armadaens grumme admiral, kendt som 'The Ascended', straks sine styrker mod de flygtende eldars base, planeten Beta Epsilon, også kaldet Illiandrath af eldarerne. Forfølgelsesstyrken blev kommanderet af Lord Sayl Snaketongue of Tzeentch og bestod af 5 Chaos-slagkrydsere. En horde af infernalske invasionsstyrker blev fragtet i deres last.



Autarch-Admiral Solamnis Thatueil var netop via webway undsluppet ødelæggelserne ombord på hans forrige slagskib, 'The Spear of Khaine', der nu svævede som en hulk i det evige mørke. Rhiadans flåde lå i ruiner. Fra den hemmelige Haven Spire-base i Beta Epsilon-systemet blev de hårdt skadede escort-squadrons repareret med al hast. Flådens eneste overlevende krydser, wraithskibet 'Isha's Arrow' havde ingen chance for på egen hånd at modstå de forfølgende Chaos-styrker. Thatueil måtte trække på alle sine kontakter for at få nye forstærkninger til fronten. Det lykkedes ham at overtale selve farseeren 'The Voice of Rhiadan' til at omdirigere både et dragonship og et wraithship til Illiandrath. Skibene var dog nybyggede og uerfarne i rumkamp. Thatueil så derfor ikke nogen anden udvej end at placere alle sine 3 krydsere i én slagformation, så han personligt kunne tage kommandoen over alle skibene.



Snart ankom Lord Snaketongue med sine slagkrydsere til Beta Epsilon. Rhiadans hastigt sammenskrabede flåde lå klar over planetens natside. Lord Snaketongue var godt bekendt med eldarernes særlige sejldrevne fremdrift og havde timet sit angreb til at begynde, mens han havde solen i ryggen. Det ville vanskeliggøre det for eldarerne at komme tæt på hans skibe med deres kortrækkende våben.

***

Thatueil affyrede en wave af 4 fighters+4 bombers mod fjenden og bevægede sine skibe hastigt ud mod flankerne. En Shadowhunter escort squadron gik i ly bag ved planeten. Chaos-skibene bragede frem. Med overlegen ildkraft skød de waven af angribende eldar attack craft ned, samtidig med at de launchede 8 fighters selv, der straks gik på CAP omkring Chaos-krydserne. Carnage Class-krydserne 'Maleficarum' og 'Eternal Torment' skød med weapon batteries styrke 32 efter Eldar-krydserne under Thatueils kommando. Wraithskibet 'Starsinger' led 1 skade og tog en critical hit på sin super structure, hvilket gav 1 ekstra skade.



I Eldar tur 2 lykkedes det krydserne at reloade ordnance, men det krævede Thathueils fleet commander re-roll, da hans skibe var nye og uerfarne. De to Shadowhunter escort squadrons beskød fjenden og rykkede ganske tæt hen foran Chaos-krydsernes snuder. Eldar-krydserne vendte rundt og affyrede alle våben mod Lord Snaketongues flagskib, 'Veiled Falsehood', der tog 3 skade. En ny fighter/bomber-wave sendte Thatueil ind i et nærliggende asteroidefelt, hvor fjenden ikke kunne se dem, og hvorfra de ville kunne angribe næste tur. De klarede deres rul for ikke at blive smadret af de farlige asteroider (de ville dø på en 6'er).

Chaos-skibene flyttede nu varsomt frem. 'Veiled Falsehood' drejede af fra kampen, mens de øvrige skibe beskød shadowhunters. Der døde 3 fra den ene squadron og 1 fra den anden. I ordnancefasen angreb den skjulte eldar attackcraft wave ud fra asteroidefeltet mod Devastation-class krydserne. De undgik igen at blive ødelagt af asteroider. Chaosfighterne på CAP skød 1 eldar fighter ned. Krydsernes turrets fik ikke ram på nogen. Det efterfølgende bomber attack run medførte 4 i skade til 'Devastation's Hand', der blev cripled, men undgik critical damage. 'Starsinger' fik repareret sin skadede super structure.



I eldar tur 3 lykkedes det igen ikke at reloade ordnance. Den shadowhunter squadron, der var reduceret til et enkelt skib, disengagede fra slaget, mens den anden squadron åbnede ild mod en Chaos-krydser uden at skade andet end dens skjolde. Eldar-krydserne manøvrerede så tæt på asteroidefeltet, at de ville være næsten umulige at skyde på for Chaos.



Lord Snaketongue var alvorligt rystet over slagets gang. Han havde ikke forventet at møde alvorlig modstand efter eldarernes seneste nederlag. Hvorfra kom alle disse skibe? Hans egne skibe var fulde af invasionstropper, der meget vel kunne ende med at lade livet uden nytte i rummets dyb, hvis han fortsatte kampen. Han ville få overmåde svært ved at ramme eldar-krydserne bag ved asteroiderne, men de ville kunne sende wave efter wave af attack craft ud for at angribe hans skibe.  Han indså kampens futilitet og gav derefter kommando til at disengage alle skibe fra slaget.



Solamnis Thatueil så med en blanding af tilfredshed og ærgrelse Chaos-krydserne blinke væk fra scannernes rækkevidde ét efter ét, indtil de alle var forsvundet. Han havde forpasset muligheden for at tilføje dem mere alvorlig skade, men havde omvent kun lidt små tab selv. Nu kunne han få fred til at genopbygge sine styrkers slagkraft. Faren mod Illiandrath var afværget for nu.

Results: Eldar victory.

Det tekniske:
Inden slaget havde vi taget vores udestående 'Aftermath Phase' actions fra de forrige slag. Rhiadan havde repareret 3 shadowhunter escort squadrons til fuld styrke og havde fået reinforcements med 1 dragonship, 'Wrath of Rhiadan', og 1 wraithship, 'Starsinger'. The Crimson Armada havde uden held forsøgt at refitte et skib og havde fejlet 1 reinforcementrul og succesfuld reinforcet med 1 escort squadron.

I slagets Aftermath fik både 'Wrath of Rhiadan' og 'Starsinger' + 1 ld. 'Isha's Arrow' fik crew skill 'elite command crew'. Shadowhunter escort squadron 'The Shadowbites' var blevet cripled og gik fra ld 10 til ld 9. Repair points gik på at reparere 'Starsinger' og 1 escort i 'Vanae's Blades', således at begge var oppe på fuld styrke. 'The Shadowbites' blev withdrawn. Eldar reinforcede med 1 escort squadron. Eldar fik +2 reknown for at vinde et battle, +2 reknown for victory point, +1 reknown for at kæmpe mod en modstander med højere reknown, for en total på +5 reknown.

Chaos' skibe fik ingen bonusser. 'Devastation's Hand' blev repareret helt, men den var også blevet cripled og gik derfor fra ld 7 til ld 6. 'Veiled Falsehood' blev withdrawn. Chaos reinforcede med yderligere 1 escort squadron og fejlede et refitrul. Chaos mistede 1 reknown på at tabe slaget og fik 1 reknown for victory points, for en total på +0 reknown.

Campaign Status:
Craftworld Rhiadan Eldar + 5 reknown
The Crimson Armada +0 reknown

Billeder blev taget af Master Ciaphas, der snarest vil lægge dem op :-)

[Master Ciaphas]

Battlefleet Gothic - Battle V - Death among the stars

Following their defeat to the Crimson Armada, the Alpha Legion had regrouped and sent a task force to Regulus IV, in order to either support their efforts there or do would they could to aid the unsuspecting Avenging Angels battling on the surface.

However, in order to do so, they would first have to break the cordon imposed by the Crimson Armada. Knowing from their spies, that the majority of the Armada was out attacking the Eldar, the Legion determined the optimal moment of success was now.

Overseeing the support of the Crusade's war on Regulus IV, the Ascended himself, had brought the Reaper's Scythe to the planet. The mighty and ancient warship prowling space like a predator.

As the Alpha Legion fleet started to appear on the auspex, the Ascended growled in pleasure - void battle was what it existed for...



As the Legion fleet powered forward, so did the Crimson Armada, spearheaded by their flagship. The two Devastations unleashed their deadly payload of attack craft, which flew rapidly into the void to bring death to the Alpha Legion vessels.



Having positioned themselves superbly, the Crimson Armada prepared to punish the Alpha Legion voidships. Firing it's massive torpedo banks, the Reaper's Scythe rocked as the missiles sped ahead to strike first the Minotaur and then to immolate a lone escort vessel. Sadly, the damage done was far below expectations.





The Heathen Promise powered ahead, firing it's weapon batteries at the escort to it's port, destroying it. In reply, the Alpha Legion fleet unleashed all their wrath at it, hulking it easily. As the firepower ravished it's tortured hull, it was as if the voidship sighed, before exploding in an incandescent ball of fire - fortunately for the Scythe, the Promise was sufficiently far away, for the explosion not to damage it.



As the Scythe swung round, the Ahesver and the Devastation's Hand yet again unleashed a flight of Doomfire bombers. The lethal vessels raced through the void, dodging the artillery fired at them - as they closed with the Chimera, they fired their torpedoes. Though some of the Doomfires were brought down by the defensive turrets, the majority of them made their target. Their deadly payload struck the already ailing Chimera, and which the final explosion, the vessel flashed out of existence.



As the hulk of the Minotaur vanished into the depths of the void, the Ascended looked at the auspex screens. The Alpha Legion warfleet was slowly disengagning. They had lost two capital ships, as well as both their escort vessels and suffered damage on their last two cruisers. While the Crimson Armada had two severely damaged vessels, Reaper's Scythe was still entirely untouched - and more than a match for the Devastation and Acheron class remaining of the Alpha Legion.

Yet again, the Crimson Armada had carried the day, and secured the interests of Abaddon the Despoiler in the Nocture Nebula!

Result:
The Crimson Armada:
Ahesver: repairs 3 (and thus all) damage
Devastation's Hand: 2 damage repaired
Heathen Promise: destroyed
Reaper's Scythe: undamaged
+ 5 reknown
Chaos reinforced med én ny Slaughter class cruiser og fejlede et refit rul.

Alpha Legion Avenging Host:
Minotaur: destroyed
Chimera: destroyed
Gorgon: 1 damage from last battle
Scylla: 4 damage (3 repaired)
Infidel escort: destroyed
Idolator escort: destroyed
+ 1 reknown
The Alpha Legion reinforced med én ny Carnage class cruiser.

[Rhiadan]

Sejt at se Reaper´s Scythe i kamp. Det er et fint skib. Men vi eldar er nu lettere bekymrede over udviklingen i Nocturne Nebula. Nogen må gøre noget...

Hvordan gik det de overlevende skibe? Var der nogen plusser eller minusser til dem?

[VonPanne]

Det var et fint spil, der var overraskende lige indtil sidste tur hvor jeg mistede Chimera, fordi jeg troede spillet var slut 

Selvom min flåde slet ikke var så tunet som The Crimson Armada, lykkedes det mig trods at at følge med (han havde i praksis 975 point mod mine 850, pga. hans gratis Warmaster). Jeg valgte helt at ignorere slagskibet, da jeg slet ikke havde ildkraft nok til at komme gennem skjoldene, og fik ødelagt hans Slaugherer, crippled hans ene Devastation og givet den anden 3 hits. Kombinationen med to Devastations i squadron er altså uhyggelig effektiv, ikke mindst forbi man altid skal skyde på den tætteste, så det bagerste skib er 100% beskyttet.

Scylla fik -1 Ld, Gorgon fik +1 Ld. Devastation's Hand fik -1 Ld. Jeg fik i øvrigt kun +1 reknown og ikke +2 som skrevet. Jeg tillader mig lige at rette i rapporten.

[Brother Panis]

Battlefleet Gothic - Battle I - Chariots of the True Gods

The space surrounding Regulus IV was filled with exhausted minining asteroids and other debris left by the colonization of an entire star system.

It was through this void that the graceful voidcraft of Craftworld Rhiadan sailed on the solar winds. Led by the inestimable Autarch-Admiral Solamnis Thatueil, the fleet drew ever closer to Regulus IV. His orders were simple: claim space supremacy from the Mon-Keigh, and land support for Farseer Martok Stargazer's ongoing attack on the surface. With grim determination, Admiral Thatueil advanced his fleet with all due haste. Before long however, he was alerted by his communications station. "Sir!" the ensign cried out "Enemy contacts; closing fast from deep voidward..."

Thatueil smiled - finally, his crews would spill the blood of enemies!

***    ***    ***

Khorlak Daemonsoul looked hungrily at the auspex reads..."Eldar...souls", he growled, saliva dripping down his chin, glistning from a mouth filled with rows upon rows of shark-like dentures. Reaching with one taloned fist, he grabbed an unlucky menial by the cuff. Pulling him closer, Khorlak wheezed into the shivering man's face, a foul odor escaping from his throat "Signal all...ships...to attack..."


The Crimson Armada fleet composed of the Acheron-class cruiser "Malevolence", carrying the standard of Khorlad Daemonsoul, the Carnage-class cruisers "Eternal Torment" & "Maleficarum" and the infamous Devatation-class cruisers "Ahesver" & "Devastation's Hand". Across the gulf of space are the Shadowhunter escorts as well as the Wraithships "Void Dancer" & "Isha's Arrow" led by Admiral Thatueil's flagship, the Dragonship "Shadow Prism".



Blasting forward, powered by enourmous plasma engines, the Renegade fleet sped east systemwise, maintaing a careful line. Their first volley managed to obliterate two unlucky Shadowhunters, and were fortunate enough to wreck the keel launch bays on "Shadow Prism".

The two Devastations took a route around a nearby asteroid field, shielding themselves from Eldar retribution, whilst launching Swiftdeath fighters to perform CAP duties around the Ahesver and the two Carnages.

In reply, the Eldar force sailed forward, but much to the frustration of Admiral Thatueil, they failed to do any damage to the Renegades.

Powering up their weapon batteries, the Carnages prepared to let the full wrath of their warcruisers hit the foul, soft Eldar vessels. Letting the armaments fly, the Shadow Prism was struck repeatedly, it's hull cracking under the strain. The crew braced as best they could, but the truth was clear: the vessel was floundering, and starting to break up.

***    ***    ***

Admiral Thatueil grabbed the handrail. His beautiful ship, victor of a hundred void battles, was being bested by primitive mon-Keigh ships. It was with a heavy heart, that he gave the order to abandon ship.

***    ***    ***

In the depth of the void, the stricken Shadow Prism continued into the void; it had been set ablaze, and was untenable. A good portion of the crew had managed to make to the emergency Webways, but many Eldar had lost their lives here. The Prism would be their tomb for many, many centuries to come, until a lone Craftworld ranger, would dare set foot on it, to reclaim the soulstones...



Result:
The Crimson Armada:
+ 8 reknown
No ships crippled or lost
Devastation's Hand - experienced; +1Ld

Craftworld Rhiadan:
Shadow Prism - hulked
Void Dancer - hulked
Shadowhunter squadron w. weapon batteries - crippled; -1Ld
Shadowhunter squadron w. pulsars - experienced; expert gunnery crews
 

[Brother Panis]

Jeg har lige et sæt "lidt" bedre billeder fra slaget!

Og jeg må sige at det var en noget en sidet affære! Det er hvis mere simpelt at spille Chaos end Eldar i det her system

























/Niels

[Skanque]

Fede rapporter.
Desværre har eldar et stort problem med weapon batteries.
Hvilket Chaos har de bedste af, så uden en masse planeter at gemme sig bag, bliver det lidt af et turkey shoot.

Det kribler godt nok i fingerne for at smide min cosair fleet ind som reinforcements hehe

[Rhiadan]

Nocturne Nebula Campaign – Campaign turn 2
Battlefleet Gothic battle of 24. October 2012
Craftworld Rhiadan Eldar vs. The Crimson Armada

"A Spire Afire"

The Crimson Armada havde hurtigt regrupperet sig efter deres seneste og uventede nederlag til Craftworld Rhiadans rumstyrker og var vendt tilbage til planeten Beta Epsilon for at lede efter Rhiadan eldarernes fremskudte rumbase, som de vidste måtte være der. Målet var at lande invasionsstyrker på den ubesmittede planet eller at ødelægge rumbasen.

Commander Continar på rumbasen Thenniel, et eldar Haven class spire, var i færd med at overvåge en reparationsoperation på en squadron af Shadowhunter escorts, da hans sensorer opfangede chaoskrydsere på vej mod hans position i angrebsformation. Han fordømte de besatte monkeighs held og skyndte sig at give kommando til klart skib. Han håbede, at de forankrede shadowhunters kunne nå at komme klar af rumdokkene, inden de blev skudt til slagger af angriberne. Til alt held var Thenniel netop blevet anløbet af tre wraithships, der endnu ikke var blevet lagt op til refits.

***

Der blev spillet scenario four: Surprise attack. The Crimson Armada nærmede sig Spire Thenniel og de dokkede shadowhunters i formation til at levere en række kraftige bredsider.





Armadaen valgte dog at affyre deres langtrækkende våben mod Thenniel, der tog begrænset skade. I ly heraf lykkedes det med hjælp fra commander Continars ordrer at få shadowhunter-eskadren flot af rumdokkene og ind i kampen på rekordtid. Rhiadan-eldarernes besvarende ildkraft rettede sig mod chaos-flagskibet, der blev cripled.





Chaos-kommandøren valgte omgående at disengage sit skib frem for at risikere yderligere skade. Imens fortsatte de øvrige fire chaoskrydsere med at bombardere spire Thenniel med alt hvad de havde af både kort- og langtrækkende våben, mens de passerede forbi i højeste underlysfart. Rumbasen blev hulket og brød i brand.

De adrætte eldarskibe lagde sig i halen på de fremadbragende chaoskrydsere og gav ild, men formåede desværre ikke at gøre den store skade. Shadowhunters formåede ikke at lave lock-on med deres shadow lances, og en bomber-wave afsendt fra wraithships blev opslugt af flyvende vragstykker på deres kurs mod den bagerste chaoskrydser.



Wraithships manøvrerede ind i en position lige foran chaoskrydserne, så de ville ligge godt til at få et skud ind, når de blev passeret af dem.



Chaoskrydserne indstillede herefter deres ild og forsøgte alle som én at disengage. Måske fordi de ville følge deres usle leders eksempel, måske fordi deres virkelige mål var opfyldt. Det lykkedes de forreste chaoskrydsere med hangardæk at disengage, men eldarnes hævntørstige scannere var fast låst på de sidste to chaoskrydsere, der måtte tåle endnu en rundes skydning før det lykkedes dem at forsvinde i det nærtliggende asteroidefelt.



Faren for invasion på Illiandrath var afværget for nu, men Thenniel spire stod i brand.

Results: Eldar victory

Ved at holde the field fik eldar 100 victory points for det brændende spir, der talte som et blazing hulk, der endnu ikke var eksploderet. Med VP for de disengagede og criplede chaosskibe vandt eldar derfor med 217 VP mod chaos' 200 VP. Chaos lykkedes med sit sub-plot, Blood Bond, der bestod i at have mere end halvdelen af sine skibe i un-cripled tilstand efter slaget, og Eldar lykkedes også med sit sub-plot, Signalling Problems, der bestod i at have mere end halvdelen af sine escorts i live efter slaget.

I slagets Aftermath fase fik wraithship 'Crescent Moon' +1 ld og steg fra ld 8 til ld 9. Escort squadron 'Vanae's Blades' fik også + 1 ld og steg fra ld 7 til ld 8. Repair points gik på at bygge 2 escort squadrons, 'The Shadowbites' og 'Vanae's Blades', fra 4 skibe hver op på 6 skibe hver. Eldar reinforcede med et nyt Haven class spire samt med 'The Flame of Asuryan' – som blev udnævnt til den samlede eldarflådes flagskib, Autarch-Admiral Solamnis Tathueils personlige skib.

Chaosflådens flagskib 'Veiled Falsehood' havde taget 4 i skade og fik -1 ld fordi den var blevet cripled. Den gik fra ld 9 til ld 8. Skibet blev withdrawn. 'Devastation's Hand' fik + 1 ld og gik fra ld 6 til ld 7. Skibet havde startet slaget med 3 damage points, men de blev alle repareret efter slaget. 'Eternal Torment' havde taget 2 i skade, men dette blev også repareret efter slaget. Chaos reinforcede med en Blackstone Fortress og  fejlede et reinforcement-rul.

Vi diskuterede hvordan det nye eldar spire skulle indgå i vores campagne-setting, hvor eldar kan erobre planeter ligesom de øvrige spillere, og vi blev enige om, at et spire skal tilføjes eldarspillerens fleet roster, ligesom øvrige skibe. Det kan bruges, når eldar forsvarer et system, som de kontrollerer.

Campaign Status:
Craftworld Rhiadan Eldar + 7 reknown
The Crimson Armada +2 reknown

[Brother Panis]

Battlefleet Gothic - Battle VII - Clash in the Stars


Humanities Light clawed its way back into real space with a flash of light equal to that of Regulus' distant sun. Rafe Belur, captain of Humanities Light for two centuries, strode around the bridge.

"Where are my sensor scans? Have we made contact with the rest of the fleet?"

The Fleet Commander had appointed Rafe to command the vanguard fleet, as it scouted the approach to Regulus IV and probed the planets defenses. The rest of the fleet would soon follow, ready to strike at the chaos filth occupying the space above the planet and to support the embattled brothers on its surface. The last reports from the surface were dire indeed as both deceitful Eldar and hordes of diseased Chaos Cultist where preparing to attack the Templar positions.

"Sir, we have made contact with the Spear of the Devine, as well as the Iron Fist and Wrath of Terra!"

Rafe looked at the tactical display where the three ships where now represented as three blue triangles. All ships had dropped out of the warp at the correct position. The Spear of the Devine a little behind but close on Humanities Lights port side, while the two other cruisers where in a similar formation further away on the starboard side. 

"And Savior and the escorts?" Rafe asked.

"No word yet but we are detecting a faint traces at extreme range moving core wards at high speeds!"

"Categorize them as hostile for now and then find Savior! If there are hostiles in the area I will not have them attack this fleet piecemeal!"

It seemed like forever, but the chono in his helmet display show that only 2 minutes had passed since the last update.

"Sir, we have made contact with Savior and Shield squadron. They are on the other side of the portside asteroid field and have made contact with what appears to be an Eldar fleet! They are requesting assistance and are trying to close on the enemy."
Rafe looked at the display where a big blue triangle surrounded by four smaller once represented the rest of the fleet and a number of red circles showed the position of the enemy ships. He made his plan.

"Order Fist and Wrath to move at full speed to Saviors location and to launch Thunder Hawk CAPs as soon as possible! And then signal the engine room to go all ahead full and steer us port side around the warp anomaly!"

"Yes sir"

The maneuver would hide the Savior and Humanities Light from the Eldar until the enemy fleet completely surrounded leaving them nowhere to run, but it also used Savior as bait. Rafe prayed to the Emperor that the escorts would be able to shield the cruiser from the worst of the damage.

The bridge vibrated as the all power was applied and the powerful engines accelerated the ships to max speed. There was one last report from Savior, before the ship slid behind the warp anomaly, saying that the Eldar had disabled the escorts but that no great harm had befallen the cruiser itself. At the same time, Savior and her two sister-cruisers powering in from behind, where herding the Eldar in the right direction, leaving them precious little room to maneuver. Between the two fleets a vicious dog-fight had broken out, so far with the Space Marines winning.

"Sir, scanners show Eldar escort-class ships moving on a head-on course! What are your orders?"

"Let them pass on the port-side and then ignore them! "

"But sir, won't that give them the opportunity to get in behind us?"

"Possibly, but we go for the cruisers, if we can disable them, then the escort will flee!"

"Yes sir!"

"Now give me a firing solution on the cruisers"

The Eldar cruisers had run out of space and was now trying to hide in a cloud of gas. It would make the target acquisition harder, but with five Strike Cruisers in range the damage the enemy would suffer would still be great.

As the Spear of Light and Humanities Light rounded the warp anomaly the mighty bombardment canons in the prow fired upon the enemy. As Rafe had predicted the damage done to the enemy was not as severe as it could have been, but all enemy cruisers got hit multiple times and on one the flimsy solar-sail broke of greatly reducing its elegance and speed. As a shoal of sharks the three cruisers turned and power towards the Templar flag-ship, but what pitiful firepower the stricken ships could muster bounced of the strike cruisers heavy armour.

"Give them another broadside and finish them off!" Rafe ordered.

Again the five strike cruisers poured fire upond the enemy. This time the result was more spectacular, as one of the cruisers exploded in a flash of light, further damaging the largest of the enemy ships.

The loss of one of their ships broke the spirit of the Eldar cruiser squadron and they disengaged, but as the big blue triangles disappeared, a host of small ones blinked into existence behind the Templar fleet. There was no time for evasive actions!
"Brace for impact and then move us into formation with the others!" Rafe ordered as the first enemy shots hit home shaking the bridge and throwing serfs to the floor.

The shooting stopped as quickly as it had begun, leaving Savior with multiple hull breaches and fires on three floors.
"Sir, the Eldar escorts are fleeing the battle! The battleground is ours! Praise the Emperor!"


Result:
The Templar warfleet:
+7 reknown
The Spear of Light – crippled; -1Ld
Shield squadron – destroyed

Craftworld Rhiadan:
+0 reknown
Isias Arrow - hulked
Wrath of Rhiadan – Crippled; - 1Ld

[Rhiadan]

God rapport, og dejligt slag - selv om jeg tabte 

Hvad med repairs, refits og reinforcements?

Det skal måske også lige med, at Black Templars med denne sejr fik lov til at angribe Chaos-held Regulus frem for eldar.

[Master Ciaphas]

Battlefleet Gothic - Battle VIII - Breaking the Iron Cordon

In the void above Regulus, the stars were afire. Blocaded by the Crimson Armada for weeks, the stuggle on the ground was going on on the planet surface.

The forces loyal to the true gods of the Pantheon, were slowly, but surely, grinding their way towards victory, secure with their dominance in space.

True to form, the Crimson Armada had begun to fortify Regulus so as to ensure that the planet would fall to the forces of the Despoiler.

To this end, a massive edifice of war had be brough to bear - an activated Blackstone Fortress!

A cordon of iron had been cast around the planet, once loyal to the Imperium of Man...to break it, the best and finest of the Emperor, would have to throw their all at it...

The Battle Barge Vengeance of Ullaris sped through the warp, leading its assembled fleet. The sons of Dorn would bring fierce retribution to the Arch-Enemy...and liberate the system for the Emperor!

To their dismay, the Crimson Armada was waiting for them. Led by the Acheron-class heavy cruiser, The Undying, and a fearsome squadron of Devastation-class heavy cruisers made up of the Ahesver and Devastation's Hand, they guarded the activated Blackstone Fortress Pantheon Star.

Into the rain of fire and the jaws of death sailed the Black Templars. Though they fought bravely, the firepower of the Pantheon Star proved decisive in the engagement. Disengaging from the system to lick their wounds, the Templars withdrew in good order, having mauled the Crimson Fleet to such a degree, that they were incapable of giving chase.

During the fight both the Ahesver and The Undying had been hulked by the Templars, who themselves had suffered but light casualties.

In reality, the forces of chaos had been aided by the daemonic servants of the God of Change. Onboard the proud vessel Vengeance of Ullaris, the Changeling had fed false data into the auger systems, deceiving the Black Templars' to a false conclusion. The Crimson Armada had suffered the worst in the engagement, and only the ill-informed withdrawal had saved them from complete annihilation.

Many praises were sung that night...and many bloody sacrifices made to Lord Tzeentch!

Result:
Crimson Armada
Ahesver destroyed
The Undying destroyed
+7 Reknown

Hellion Crusade
UNKNOWN

[Rhiadan]

Spændende. Det lyder som om Black Templars outsmartede sig selv. Er der billeder af slaget?