"They dare to defile New Barbarus with their cowardly presence?! We will drown them in a lake of their own blood!!"
-Ghrodd the Slaughter Lord, Praetor of the World Eaters _th Company
Background
This is the second battle in the final phase of the campaign for the Xhorik System during the Horus Heresy. (See the M31 Campaign Summary Page for links to all the battles.) Knowing the system is already lost, the White Scars are making an attempt to disrupt and decapitate the Traitor forces, ostensibly to weaken them and delay their march to Terra, but mostly to claw back a scrap of their honor by killing the enemies that defeated them.
They had become Sagyar Mazan and renamed themselves the Brotherhood of the Broken Blade. Now they would seek to claim blood for blood, but with a special focus on killing the most hated leaders of the Traitors.
This battle was fought over the central square of New Barbarus. The Loyalists had struck deep into enemy territory, hoping to draw out their leaders. They knew that the Traitors could not ignore the symbolism of the Loyalists controlling the central square of their capitol, as it might encourage rebellion against the Traitors in conquered regions all over the planet.
Scenario: The Heart of Battle
The second core scenario from the Siege of Cthonia book:
Prior to deployment, a single objective marker is placed at the center of the battlefield. At the end of each of their player turns, the Active players scores 3 Victory Points if they control the objective marker.
Secondary Objectives:
Slay the Warlord: 1 VP + 1 VP if the warlord is a Primarch
Giant Killer (Destroy super-heavy, knight or titan): 2 VP
Last Man Standing (have more units at the end of the game): 1 VP
Break Their Ranks (destroy a unit first turn): 1 VP + 1 VP if it was an Elites or HQ choice
Game Length: 4 Turns
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| The Heart of Battle: both sides must fight to control the single central objective. |
Belligerents:
World Eaters - The Crimson Path (Pete)
Praeotr Ghrodd the Slaughter Lord
Chaplain
Rampagers
Red Butchers in a Land Raider Proteus
Apothecary Detachment
Tactical Squad [Tactical Squad]
Despoiler Squad in Rhino [Line]
Recon Squad [Line]
Contemptor Dreadnought
Predator Squadron
White Scars - Legion Recon Company (Phil)
Praetor Khan Muqal
Recon Squad in Rhino [Line]
Scout Squad with sniper rifles
Scout Squad
Tactical Squad [Line]
Tactical Squad [Line]
Contemptor Dreadnought with Gravis Fist and Chainfist
Ebon Keshig
Sicaran Arcus Squadron
Legion Outrider Squadron
Skyhunter Squadron
I used the Recon Company Rite of War again because I find it really fitting for White Scars, who began as the recon company of the Great Crusade, when they were known as the Star Hunters. I also like the way the rules interact with the V Legion rules to determine first turn and Seize the Initiative. And of course, I have always loved Scouts and Recon marines and took three squads (!) for this city battle, even though Scouts without sniper rifles seem very underwhelming in 2nd Edition. Speaking of underwhelming, I also left out the Sicaran Omega after yet another disappointing outing last battle. After having no melee strength in the last game, I decided to bring the Ebon Keshig to give me a little punch in the brawl over the central objective. I knew I would need something that could hang around for a turn or two in the big kill zone in the center. That is why I also decided to test out the Sagyar Mazan Contemptor with dual melee weapons here for the first time (the reincarnation of my former Warlord, Khan Turan Jorma). Finally, I took the Outriders to complete the feel of a fast, stealthy raiding party. This force was intent on decapitating the World Eaters command or dying in the process of seeking their redemption.
My strategy was to grab the objective right out of the gate with my Recon Squad with Line. The tanks, Skyhunters, and sniper Scouts would put down a withering hail of covering fire while the Ebon Keshig met the (hopefully weakened) World Eaters in melee. Finally, the Tactical Squads would arrive behind the front line to hold the objective again at the end. The other Scouts and Outriders would cover the flanks and try to prevent the World Eaters from encircling my center.
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| The field battle, the central square of New Barbarus. |
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| The White Scars approach from the north. Ebon Keshig and their Contemptor form the center, backed by tactical squads. |
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| Outriders on the right wing and Sicaran Arcus tank squadron on the left. |
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| The World Eaters center consists of tactical marines, a Contemptor, the Red Butchers in the Land Raider, all backed by Ghrodd and his Rampagers. |
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| Both sides converge on the crucial central monument. The V Legion Recon Squad in their Rhino infiltrates close to the objective. |
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| On the east side of the square, the Sicarans face off against a lone Rhino. |
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| White Scars Scouts take up elevated firing positions overlooking the square. |
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| Scout Squad Chono, the Wolfpack, creeps forward of the main line, using the cover of the rubble. |
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| Outrider Squad Anchin advance along the right flank. |
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| Across from the White Scars Scouts and Outriders, two blood-splattered Predator battle tanks rumble forward. |
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| The World Eaters mass most of their forces in the center for a push to the statue. |
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| The Butcher's Eyes infiltrate into the upper stories of a ruined building for better firing lanes. |
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| The White Scars have the initiative and more forward en masse. |
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| The Recon Squad disembarks from the Rhino, which moves to support the right flank against the Predators. |
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| The Recon Squad claims the central statue. |
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| The Sicaran Arcus tanks make short work of the World Eaters Rhino. |
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| The Outriders charge the Magna-melta Predator, but cannot destroy it with their krak grendades. |
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| End of White Scars Turn 1. They claim the objective! |
Victory Points:
White Scars: 3
World Eaters: 0
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| The World Eaters tactical squad has taken some casualties from V Legion shooting before they can move. |
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| The World Eaters advance in the center and on their right. The Skyhunters seem to use a reaction to jump between the advancing Despoilers and the vulnerable Sicarans. |
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| Scout Squad Chono run toward the Predators, eager to get to grips. But before they can get close enough to use their melta bombs, the squad is gunned down by the tanks! |
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| The Butcher's Eyes rain sniper fire on the Loyalists from their covered position. |
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| The Red Butchers disembark from the Land Raider to face off against the Ebon Keshig. |
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| The depleted tactical squad moves forward aggressively and charges the Contemptor Turan Jorma! |
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| The World Eaters waste no time closing with their foes, eager to cleanse the square with blood. |
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| I cannot remember, but it looks like the Ebon Keshig used a reaction to move back from the approaching Butchers in order to stay out of charge range. |
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| End of World Eaters Turn 1: The tactical marines contest the objective while the elite melee units advance in support. The Predators wipe out the scouts in the west for Break Their Ranks! |
Victory Points:
White Scars: 3
World Eaters: 1
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| The Skyhunters drop back into prime firing positions while the Sicarans move toward the scrum in the center. |
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| The Sicarn Arcus squadron takes aim at the World Eaters Contemptor. |
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| White Scars tactical marines join the melee to support their Contemptor and former Khan. The World Eaters welcome the new foes! |
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| The Ebon Keshig charge into the Red Butchers, power glaives gleeming blue. |
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| It is the cursed (Red Butchers) vs the Damned (Ebon Keshig)! |
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| End of White Scars Turn 2. The objective is contested. |
Victory Points:
White Scars: 3
World Eaters: 1
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| Melee rages around the monument. |
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| Khan Muqal and his Skyhunters whittle down the Despoilers. |
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| The few survivors fall back before the storm of fire from the Skyhunters. |
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| White Scars snipers overlook the raging battle below, aiming to slow the incoming Rampagers. |
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| The battle on the western flank. I think the Predators destroyed the Scout Squad and a few Outriders. It looks like the White Scars Rhino destroyed one Predator while the Outriders fail again to destroy the other. |
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| Ghrodd leads the Rampagers to join the central scrum. |
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| The Contemptor advances toward the tanks. |
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| The White Scars slowly gain the upper hand against the outnumbered World Eaters. |
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| But before they can finish off the last Traitors, the feared Rampagers enter the fray! |
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| The Contemptor Dreadnought rips one Sicaran Arcus apart with his chainfist. |
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| Ghrodd and his Rampagers leap into the melee, eager to spill blood. |
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| Contemptor Turan Jorma brings down a few more of the hated Traitors. |
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| The badly damaged World Eaters Contemptor follows up toward the other Arcus. |
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| The Rampagers make short work of the White Scars Tactical marines, leaving only the wounded Contemptor to stand against them. |
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| End of World Eaters Turn 2: The mighty Rampagers begin to clear the Loyalists from the monument, but the objective is still contested by the Recon Squad. It looks like the Ebon Keshig finished off the Red Butchers. |
Victory Points:
White Scars: 3
World Eaters: 1
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| Khan Muqal and his Skyhunters line up and take point blank aim at the damaged Contemptor. |
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| A hail of heavy bolter and volkite rounds are enough to finally bring down the mighty war machine. |
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| The last of the Ebon Keshig makes a desperate attempt to damage the Land Raider! |
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| Jorma stands alone, defending the monument against overwhelming odds. |
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| End of White Scars Turn 3: The casualties mount for both sides, especially in the central melee. The monument remains contested. |
Victory Points:
White Scars: 3
World Eaters: 1
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| The Rampagers pile in and engage the White Scars Recon Squad. |
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| The Rampagers prepare to clear the monument of Loyalists. |
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| The wreckage continues on the western edge of the field. The magna-melta Predator has now obliterated the Scouts, Outriders, and Rhino! |
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| The Rampagers easily dispatch the Recon marines and finally bring down the mighty Contemptor. |
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| End of World Eaters Turn 3: It looks like the Rampagers now control the objective! Can anyone challenge this powerhouse unit? |
Victory Points:
White Scars: 3
World Eaters:
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| A second White Scars tactical squad approaches the monument. |
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| The White Scars line up all their remaining guns on the Ghrodd and his Rampagers. |
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| After softening them up with shooting, everything charges the Rampagers! |
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| End of White Scars Turn 4: Most of the Rampagers are brought down, including the mighty Ghrodd himself! |
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| The White Scars took massive casualties (and this complicated combat took ages to work out) but they finally defeat the nigh-unstoppable Rampagers. The objective remains contested, but the White Scars Slay the Warlord! |
I guess we called the game here rather than play the bottom of Turn 4 because I cannot find any more photos. Or maybe we played it and the last Rampagers were finished off. In any case, the White Scars would earn Last Man Standing for having more units left at the end, which tips the scales to the Loyalists. Sadly, I cannot find the notes from this battle and it was so long ago, I cannot remember much, other than the White Scars were declared the winner so I think I have the VPs close enough.
Final Victory Points:
White Scars: 5
World Eaters: 4
Post-Game:
Wow, this was a fun one to re-live. A very close battle, where the White Scars finally get one over on Ghrodd and his Rampagers!
This was a much better balanced army than the last game, where I was too heavy on tanks and too light on front line troops. Dropping a few tanks and brining more bodies and the Ebon Keshig really helped to give the Scars enough staying power to hang around the objective all game.
The recon squad was essential for getting those early VPs; an infiltrating Line unit is super helpful for objective-based missions. Sadly, the melee scout squad is just awful in this edition: too weak to do anything, a liability to give up an easy VP for a first turn kill, and not Line, which I think is crazy! What exactly are they for? I tried them for tank hunting here and they were gunned down by the heavy bolter sponsons with ease due to 4+ saves. I had high hopes for the sniper scouts, who had a perfect firing position. They made a few kills but never assassinated the enemy characters.
The Sicaran Arcus squadron was more effective in this game due to having some better firing lanes. The Ebon Keshig are effective in a block of ten but they generally underperform their points cost. They did edge out the five Red Butchers (barely) but they cost significantly more. The Outriders used their speed to engage the Predators from turn 1, but their limited numbers, plasma, and krak grenades could not destroy one. In fact, I seem to remember killing themselves with Gets Hot! yet again. They are another unit that is super fun, but I have not found them to be very effective in 2nd Edition.
The Skyhunters had a much better game, using their mobility and shooting to control their flank and then swooping in on the last turn to defeat the (severely weakened) Rampagers, although they lack the punch to inflict many casualties. Finally, the humble tactical squads did what was needed: contest the objective and provide the final push in the last turn.
Through two games, the Recon Company Rite has proved quite fun. Stacking the mechanic with the V Legion trait means you can basically choose to go first or deploy second with a great chance to steal the initiative. The strategy worked here. I got to deploy the first infiltrator and so grab the objective forcing Pete to deploy his unit in a building. Then I got to take the first turn to get those essential VPs for controlling the objective and get the first round of shooting.
Pete's Rampagers with Feel No Pain, a Praetor, and Line(!) are still the baddest, scariest unit on the table and he used them well by screening them from shooting until they made their charge. They cleared the objective like they always do, and scored him 3 VPs. But by that time, I had whittled down most of the rest of the army and could concentrate all my remaining guns and assaults on them. The White Scars have nothing that can come close to matching them in melee and they still struggle with eliminating tanks.
A well fought battle by both sides and very close. The White Scars did what they do and went fast. The World Eaters did what they do and won the melee. Regardless of outcome, it was fun to have a really close game that was not essentially decided by turn 2 like so many of the previous games in this campaign. I think we finally have some better balance in the armies, which makes the games a lot more exciting. And the White Scars accomplished my secret objective of killing Pete's HQ as a tiny bit of revenge for all the Khans of mine he has killed over the years.
Well, I think only two more Horus Heresy battle reports before the big campaign finale! And then I will be caught up from the 2025 backlog and can start publishing our Rynn's World battle reports as we play the games so I do not forget all the details.
