Capture and Control mission. Pitched battle deployment. Grey Knights vs Genestealer fluff, Imperial Guard. 2,000 point game. 1 objective in each deployment zone, no kill-points, only objectives matter. GK's get to deploy first and move first, IG does not take intiative.
So round one and I'm already forgetting almost all of the strategy I've learned so far in the game. Seeing him set his objective in a corner of his deployment area, I get this sudden urge to deploy all of my forces to take the edge of the table and hold him off. Least thats the plan that pops in my head. Gone is the tactic of "go second when you can" and I totally forget that I can Deep Strike with nearly all of my forces (20 regular Grey Knights and Interceptor squad), so I combat squad one of my 10-man Strike Squad, one to hold my objective, the other in a Rhino to run up the edge.
I send out one of my two Dreadknights into the middle of the table, nearly into his deployment zone via teleporter and unleash my Heavy Incinerator, forget that I could of used my Gatling Psilencer and then didn't cry when it got hosed down during his turn. Meanwhile my 3 Rhinos, 1 carrying 10 Purifiers move all out up the side of the table and blow smoke. My other Dreadknight and Dreadnaught take some pot shots and my Grand Master and Interceptor squad hang out and the GM takes an Orbital Relay Strike to.... nowhere. Yeah, not impressive at all.
Round 2 comes, I've lost a Rhino, half of a 10-man squad of regular Grey Knights, one of my Dreadknights and a couple of my interceptors and purifiers. This was the low point in the game for me. Half my army is taken out, my Orbital Relay Strike now seems like a horrible idea and have to waste it by getting my squad behind cover, cause ZOMG the tanks, I'm nowhere near assault range and I'm barely 24" to maybe a 1/10th of his troops.
The 2 remaining Rhino's move forward and pivot, offering some cover for the squads that are now deployed. Some shots and psycannon shots ring out and some things die, but nothing big, nothing major, no fireworks yet. His turn. More of my guys die.
Round 3 and I am now optimistic. I walked into this game knowing I wouldn't win. Not against my brother-in-law who has played this game forever and not against his IG that was designed perfectly to play against the GK weaknesses. He could outshot me, out distance me, and I had very little anti-tank and he had more maneuverability. But then, all I needed to do was hold onto my objective, even though I knew it would be contested and contest his objective. Another Orbital Relay Strike. Fizzled. Dual Tank Shock! with the Rhino's. Wrecked. Returned fire kills off one of my squads, nearly obliberates my purifiers and only a single guy is left from yet another squad and he's taking heavy fire. Missile launcher on my Dreadnaught goes bye-bye and it is obvious my other Dreadknight isn't a threat.
Round 4. I jump. Too soon. The other Dreadknight that wasn't a threat to him now becomes one and misses as he teleports into the back 40 of his deployment area near his objective. The returned fire... I did not cry. Only 2 regular Grey Knights are left, from different squads, one has engaged in melee assault and is doing well, making saves. The other is making pot shots and missing, but making saves like crazy. My interceptor squad is about to be in trouble and now I've only 1 regular Grey Knight left in my deployment objective. His tanks are coming and has tank shocked me.
Round 5. I breathe a sigh as I survive the round with 1 regular Grey Knight on his objective in combat, 1 regular Grey Knight on my objective and the Grand Master coming in to save that guy from the tanks. The Dreadnaught got in a lucky shot, buying me some time but it is dead now too.
Round 6 happens and the Grand Master is in range of my objective but the regular GK there dies. The other regular GK is still alive, contesting his objective. The game ends.
I have my Grand Master on my objective between two of his tanks. I have a regular Grey Knight surrounded by troops on his objective. Both objectives are considered contested. Tie game.
I cheer, as in this point of my 40K career, a tie vs my brother-in-law is a moral victory to me. I made some serious flawed mistakes, but I am happy to say I held out to the bitter end. I think the best three quotes of the night were:
Brother-in-law in response to like my 10th cover/armor save in a row: "of course you make it."
My 3rd use of Orbital Strike Relay: "What a fu-king waste of points."
My response to the bottom of the third round, when he looked at me and asked how I was doing, my reply: "I'm actually optimistic about this game." The disbelief in his eyes was awesome.
Anyway was a lot of fun and looking forward to our next match.
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