Horus Hersey Battle 2: Death Guard vs. White Scars and Drop Troops

ARMY SELECTION: 830 Points

Death Guard - Pete

• Praetor: Terminator armor, Paragon Blade, volkite
• Tactical Squad: 14 marines with close combat weapons, sergeant with power fist and artificer armor
• Support Squad: 7 marines with volkite calivers
• Heavy Support Squad: 3 marines with missile launchers
• Dreadnought:  multi-melta, storm bolter, and power fist

The Death Guard army has the advantage in durability and firepower.

White Scars and Drop Troops - Phil

• Praetor: Power glaive, Iron Halo (represented by shield), bolter
• Veteran Squad Kheeg (+1 WS): 10 marines, 2 plasma guns, sergeant with power glaive and artificer armor 
• Veteran Squad Khoer (+1 armor penetration): 5 marines, 1 plasma gun, 2 combi-plasma guns 
• Legion Outrider Squad: 3 bikes with twin-linked plasma, sergeant with power glaive
• Drop Troop Platoon (partial)
• Platoon command squad with krak grenades and melta gun
• Veteran squad with grenade launcher, sergeant with melta bombs

The White Scars and their Drop Trooper allies have superior mobility.

Industrial Terrain: Pumping Station Painted

I finally finished painting the pumping station. The goal was to have something that could be set down on either a desert or an urban table and not look out of place so I made the base a stamped steel grating that could be a suitable foundation in either environment.

The pumping station transfers the unrefined liquids produced from wells on Xhorik Prime and does some preliminary processing.

The elevated platform is the same height as the Shadow War:Armageddon terrain and I used a few extra bits from that set to help tie this in with that terrain if I ever get around to painting it.

I think it looks sufficiently dirty and worn!

The height should be sufficient to give even large vehicles and walkers some cover.

I was trying to tie my scratch-built stuff in with the GW terrain by mixing in a few official bits. It is mostly for blocking line of sight and providing a suitable objective, but the upper platform provides a vantage point for shooting with good cover.

Models for my kids: eBay Salvage

I bought a collection of used and abused miniatures so my kids could have a bunch of models to paint and play with, without me spending hundreds of dollars. Here are some shots of what I got. They will all soon be soaking in the cleansing bath of the Emperor's light (aka Purple Power), ready to be reborn.

Everything came in a big bag. I dumped it out and this is what I had.

The main reason I bought this lot was for the space marines for my kids to paint.

It looks like mostly metal miniatures from Second Edition. There is an Assault Squad (metal jump packs!), Devastators (metal heavy weapons!) and a few random tactical marines, scout sergeant and characters. Those metal jump packs and heavy weapons make for some really unstable models, which is not so great for kids, unfortunately.

Bonus: four metal and one plastic space orks from Second Edition. Great memories here!

Some interesting chaos marines. Two terminators, four Deathguard, and three and a half Berserkers (a couple are missing their heads, unfortunately). 

The old Deathguard are actually really cool models. In some ways, better than the over-the-top new ones.

And a one-armed assassin. Another great model that is unfortunately missing pieces.

The Space Marines and Orks have obviously improved immeasurably in the last 25 years. But I really like the old Chaos and Assassin models and I think they have stood the test of time. Assuming the paint stripping works, I will definitely use that assassin as some sort of conversion. And I think I could use quite a few of the chaos bits for Horus Heresy conversions. My kids will enjoy painting the space marines. The only useless models will be the orks, although I may paint one just out of nostalgia.

WIP Pumping Station

I bought Shadow War: Armageddon to play with my son because I thought the smaller games would be better: fewer miniatures to collect and paint to start an army and quicker games. It's been quite fun and I am really impressed by the utility of the modular terrain so I have been busy cutting, scraping and gluing it together. I want to add to it until I have a truly multi-level table for small games instead of just a few platforms connected by a catwalk. So I am taking the opportunity to do some of the scratch-build projects that have been on my mind for a long time. But now I am making sure they have raised platforms that match the height of the Shadow War terrain so that it will all fit together.

This piece is a pumping/processing station. I have had the electrical box with the Legos on top and the tin cans rolling around together in a box for over a year, waiting to start building this until I had more bits for pipes and valves. This is a WIP shot and I still have more details to add, but you get the general idea of the piece: lots of pipes, hoses and ladders. I think this piece will work well as part of an industrial board with the other Shadow War terrain and could even standalone with the dessert terrain as a gathering station for the produced liquids and gasses from the extraction industries in the wastelands of Xhorik Prime.

Tankbusta Nob: Da Sarge

A couple of years (I can't believe how the time flies) after working up one of my favorite units I have ever done, my techno-savage tankbustas, I have finally built and painted their nob.

Known as "Da Sarge", he is one of Filgakk Skullsplitta's most veteran and grizzled nobz. He was recently put in charge of the World Wrecka tankbustas to give them a leader with detailed knowledge of Imperial vehicles... and most importantly to keep them in line and ensure their loyalty to da boss. Da Sarge started life as a Blood Axe and even fought as part of an ork mercenary company for desperate Imperial commanders on the Eastern Fringe. Fighting alongside Imperial vehicles gave him a deep understanding of their strengths and weaknesses that make him a very efficient tankbusta now. And it is where he picked up the extremely strange habit (to orks) of smoking cigars. Now, older even than Filgakk himself, Da Sarge commands a lot of respect from da boyz and acts as a "big boss" commanding a number of nearby lesser nobz and their units when the warboss is leading the main charge.

His boss pole is covered in trophies from destroyed tanks and their crew. His face is lined and creased, his skin tone brownish with age. And he is never seen without his trademark "seegar".

Weirdboy

This is my first weirdboy since Second Edition. He is from my World Wrecka tribe of techno-savage orks that are descended from the survivors of the Second Xhorik War. He is a mad prophet who doesn't understand his own psychic abilities. He thinks his ancestors' bones are what gives him his visions and powers so he carries them around and talks to them.The staff helps him focus and direct his psychic energies, with the copper wire providing a direct conduit from his brain. He also uses his staff to discharge his power into the ground when it builds up dangerously without a suitable target, such as in the buildup to a battle or during a warbike race around camp (that's the source of the crater at his feet). The hood and googles also help him keep his powers (a little more) under control rather than blasting anyone he happens to be looking at during a surge of Waaagh! energy.

Part prophet. Part Gimp. All mad.

More below the break.

Death Guard Legion Praetor

I've added a Legion Praetor as an HQ choice for my Horus Heresy Death Guard army. Equipment: Cataphractii terminator armor, volkite charger and paragon blade.

Hobby desk organization

I organized my hobby area this week. With multiple armies in the works plus terrain-making supplies, it was getting out of hand.

I have all the bits, sprues and junk for terrain organized well enough, but I would still like to eventually do something with my paints and brushes.

WIP Ork Characters: Tankbusta Nob and Weirdboy

After the last six or seven months working on the beginnings of a Horus Heresy White Scars army, I am back to working on my first true love: Orks. I finally made a nob for my tankbustas and then I cobbled together a weirdboy so I could add some psychic mayhem to our games.

Horus Heresy Battle 1: Dusk Skirmish

The Death Guard and the White Scars prepare to do battle for control of the ruined cathedral.

The Death Guard attack at the hour of dusk, their most ancient tactic. 

Death Guard Update

Here's a few pics of my Horus Heresy Death Guard army. I have a 14 man Tactical Squad, a Contemptor Dreadnought and a 3 man Heavy Support Squad that I hope to add to as soon as I can get my hands on some more HH era missle launchers.

White Scars Outrider Squadron

Outriders are obviously a key component of any White Scars army worthy of the name. Space Mongols need mounted units, after all.

White Scars need bikes. I hope these are first of many.

White Scars Bikes

The bikes are mostly done, except for the weathering. Now on to the riders.

The center bike is for the sergeant. His red marking is a bit longer. 

These guys are in for a bumpy ride over some rough terrain. Horus Heresy battlefields are devastated! 

I hope to have the riders done and the models finished in another week or two.

IHI Command Post - Painted (and other miscellaneous bits)

I painted up the Interplanetary Heavy Industries command post and a few other pieces of scatter terrain (plastic accessories from a toy construction kit that I just painted).

Xhorik Prime has a very corrosive atmosphere so this prefab construct is showing some wear and tear.

IHI Command Post built and ready for paint

I have been wanting to build some terrain so I have been picking up bits, toys and the odd-shaped item from Home Depot. Here is the result: a command post for an Interplanetary Heavy Industries extraction outpost in the middle of the Xhorik badlands.

IHI buildings mostly consist of prefabricated shells that can be set down and configured as needed. The doors are operated by the nearby control panels.

The Brotherhood of the Wind: Legion Tactical Squad and Legion Tactical Support Squad

I have finished the first two squads for my White Scars army for Horus Heresy.

Legion Tactical Squad. Sergeant with power glaive.

Legion Tactical Support Squad. 

Bat Rep 11: The Red Brotherhood vs. Da Blitzdreg Boyz

ARMY SELECTION: 1410 Points

Da Blitzdreg Boyz: Battle Forged Combined Arms Detachment - Phil

• Warboss Ugruk: 'Eavy armor, shoota, power klaw, boss pole, Da' Lucky Stikk
• Painboy
• Mek (with 'Ard Boyz): kustom mega blasta
• Mek (with Shoota Boyz): kustom mega blasta
• 'Ard Boyz: 11 boyz with 'eavy armor. Nob with boss pole and power klaw.
• Trukk with rokkit launcha
• Slugga Boyz: 19 boyz. Nob with boss pole and power klaw.
• Shoota Boyz: 14 boyz. Nob with boss pole. 1 rokkit launcha.
• Grotz: 17 gretchin. Runtherd with squighound.
• Tankbustas: 7 boyz
• Meganobz: 3 Meganobz. 1 with killsawz. 1 with boss pole.
• Trukk with rokkt launcha
• Kommandos: 10 boyz. 1 burna. Nob with boss pole and power klaw.
• Bikes x 7. Nob with boss pole and power klaw.
• Warbuggy with twin-linked rokkits
• Skorcha Trakk
• Killa Kan with rokkit launcha 

The Red Brotherhood: Battle Forged Combined Arms Detachment (Mostly) - Pete

• Company Captain Kane with Artificer Armor, Teeth of Terra, and Storm Shield
• 5 Tactical Terminators. 1 Assault Cannon
• Squad Alpha: 10 Tactical Marines. 1 flamer. 1 missile launcher.
• Squad Beta: 6 Tactical Marines. 1 plasma gun. 
• Razorback with twin-linkd lascannons and storm bolter
• 5 Devastator Marines: 2 Heavy Bolters. 2 Lascannons 
• Land Raider Crusader with Multi-melta, 2 x Hurricane Bolters and twin-linked Assault Cannon.
• Dreadnought with twin-linked lascannon and twin-linked autocannon.
• White Scars Tactical Squad: 8 marines. 1 with plasma gun.
• Allied Xhorik 87th Drop Troops squad: 10 Troopers. 1 with grenade launcher. 

PRE-GAME
Mission: Control the Kleinhaurker (Mission 2 from IA:3 The Taros Campaign, "Assault on Missile Silo Decima")
Primary Objective: 2 VP if you hold the primary objective at the end of the game. The attacker can get 1 VP for destroying the objective (it can still be held after being destroyed). The objective has AV13 (we reduced it from 14 in the actual mission because our armies are a bit smaller than the 1500 points recommended) and it can be shot or assaulted. Glancing hits have no effect. Penetrating hits roll on a damage able that reduces the remaining AV. If the AV reaches 0, it is destroyed.
Secondary Objectives: Slay the Warlord, First Blood.
Game Length: 7 turns. The defender can attempt to end the game early by rolling under the remaining armor value on 3d6, beginning at the end of Turn 4.

Roll for attacker/defender and orks are defender.
Deployment Type: Long table edges
Roll for deployment zone selection and orks pick western edge.
Defender (orks) deploys and goes first.


Warlord Traits: 
Warboss Ugruk: +1 to run and assault rolls for units within 12" of Warlord.
Commander Kain: Causes Fear with Fear tests on 3d6.

Campaign Impact: We decided that if the orks held the (undestroyed) objective at the end of the game, they could use the Kleinhaurker to build battlewagons for future games.

The Campaign So Far: Orks and Marines

Filgakk Skullsplitta and his Blitzdreg Boyz made planetfall during one of the frequent meteor storms that punish the interior of the northern continent of Xhorik Prime. After contact was lost with several outlying mining and drilling operational posts, the planetary government of Xhorik Prime assumed it was the usual raids of feral orks and abhuman scavengers that have plagued the interior of the planet since the climate-changing destruction of the ork rok in close orbit at the end of the  Second Xhorik War many years ago. The planetary government dispatched patrols of the Planetary Defense Force (PDF) and also requested assistance from the small, permanent garrison of Red Brotherhood space marines due to their superior mobility and response speed. The Imperium designates Xhorik Prime as a Level II planet of significant strategic importance due to abundant mineral and gas deposits, most notably the rare kleinhaurker ore, which can be refined and combined with other rare metals to create some of the strongest and most durable alloys known to the Imperium. The destruction of the rok left the planet with a low atmosphere of radioactive storms that was impenetrable to surveillance from space or high altitude and garbled most long-distance communication, making scouting operations a requirement for any reliable information.

The Brotherhood of the Wind

The Brotherhood of the Wind
Legiones Astartes White Scars
Shown here circa 012.M31  - 014.M31 during the First Xhorik War and the Battle for Terra

We hit the enemy everywhere at once, but when they attempt to strike back, it as if they are striking the air. And when we concentrate our might, what in nature can stand against the tornado, the cyclone, the tsunami? 

Bat Rep 10: Da Blitzdreg Boyz vs. Hive Fleet Tarasque: 850 Points

ARMY SELECTION: 850 Points

Da Blitzdreg Boyz: Battle Forged Combined Arms Detachment (Phil)

• Warboss Grimsmak: 'Eavy armor, shoota, power klaw, boss pole
• Painboy
• 'Ard Boyz: 12 boyz with 'eavy armor. Nob with boss pole and power klaw
• Trukk with rokkit launcha
• Shoota Boyz: 14 boyz. Big shoota. Nob with boss pole and klaw.
• Meganobz: 3 Meganobz
• Trukk with rokkit launcha
• Bikes x 7. Nob with boss pole and power klaw.
• Warbuggy with twin-linked rokkits
• Skorcha Trakk

Hive Fleet Tarasque: Unbound (Bill)

• Broodlord with rending claws and 9 Genestealers with scything talons
• 10 Genestealers
• 5 Warriors with 3 deathspitters, 1 devourer, and 1 barbed strangler. All have scything talons.
• 2 Zoanthropes with Warp Blast, Warp Fields, and one that never got used 
• 10 Termagants 
• 10 Termagants
• 10 Termagants
• 10 Termagants
• 11 Hormagaunts

PRE-GAME

Mission: Purge the Alien

Primary Objective: 1 VP for each unit destoryed

Secondary Objectives: Slay the Warlord, First Blood, Linebreaker

Random game length.

Deployment Type: Long table edges

Roll for deployment and Tyranids win, opting to deploy and go second

We decided not to roll for night fighting.

Warlord Traits: 

Boss Grimsmak: Units within 12" of Warlord can use his Leadership

Broodlord: Gains Outflank.

Horus Heresy White Scars - First Model

Pete got me interested enough in Horus Heresy that I decided to start a legion. I have always been a huge fan of Genghis Khan and the Mongols so without reading any of the books or thinking too much about it, I went straight for the White Scars... Mongols in space!

First test model. I wanted to add some significant weathering and battle damage without it being overpowering.

Horus Heresy Death Guard

Here's a few pics of my Horus Heresy era Death Guard models. My camera phone isn't the best, but you can more or less see what I'm trying for.

The Devastation of Worlds

To represent the cataclysmic, world-ending conflicts of the Horus Heresy, I wanted the bases for my legion to be a shattered city, reduced to rubble by a ceaseless war of attrition.

Feeling the Base

Did I just spend an evening and a half making bases? Am I crazy? It appears so. But when the hobbying urge grabs you, you just have to follow where it leads. So I made some urban rubble bases for my next project: the White Scars Legion.

The hex tile streets came from a basing kit. I added some more pipes, wires, I-beams, plates, rubble, etc.

Hopefully I can find a place for the model to actually stand on some of these!

First Squad of Xhorik 87th Drop Troops

The first squad of the Xhorik 87th is ready for deployment!

The sergeant (far right) directs the advance. The trooper to his immediate left has a grenade launcher.