Day 1 results for BikeStar at ATC

Iron Priest Chukk took down two Stompaz today in close combat ! Overall record at end of day one for BikeStar is 2-1... The one loss was versus the top ranked team Chicago Kamikaze - they are tough. We have our work cut out for us tomorrow.

Highlight of the day was the Iron Priest rolling two 6s to pen the second Stompa... Then rolled another two 6s for a total of eight hull points !!! Kuh fucking boom !

The new BikeStar

I'm going to take a break from playing White Scars after Texas WarGamesCon this weekend. That said there is an even more Killy BikeStar now...

Iron Hands Supplement:
Chapter Master - Gorgon Chains - Artificer Armor - Power Fist - Lightning Claw - Auspex
Command Squad - Bikes - 5x Stormshield - 3x Grav Gun - 2x Thunderhammer - 3x Meltabombs

Librarian Conclave:
3x Librarian (all Level 2) - 3x Bike - 3x Force Axe - 3x Meltabombs

Blood Angels:
Sanguinary Priest - Bike - Valor's Edge

Librarians roll on Telepathy and Biomancy looking for Endurance and Invisibility.

Chapter Master has 2+ FNP with Endurance up and running.

Most unkillable unit in the game now.

Long War Video Batrep - BikeStar vs. Chaos

A special guest appearance...

LONG WAR VIDEO BATREP

Last Ride of the BikeStar • Texas WarGamesCon

Hi all !

With the new codex right around the corner this will be my last opportunity to play my favorite army at a competitive event. More details to follow soon.


Here is my list...

White Scars CAD

Chapter Master
Bike - Artificer Armor - Auspex - Power Fist - Shield Eternal

Librarian
Level 2 Psychic Mastery - Telepathy
Bike - Force Axe - Meltabombs

Command Squad
Bikes - 4x Stormshield - 4x Meltabombs - 4x Grav Gun - Thunderhammer
Apothecary

5x Biker
2x Grav Gun
Attack Bike - Multi-Melta
Sergeant
Combi-Grav - Meltabombs

5x Biker
2x Grav Gun
Attack Bike - Multi-Melta
Sergeant
Combi-Grav - Meltabombs

Space Wolves Champions of Fenris

Wolf Lord
Thunderwolf Mount - Runic Armor - Stormshield - Thunderhammer

Rune Priest
Level 2 Psychic Mastery - Divination
Bike - Force Axe - Meltabombs

Iron Priest
Thunderwolf Mount - Cyberwolf

Iron Priest
Bike - Cyberwolf

9x Grey Hunter
2x Meltagun - 9x Chainsword
Wolfguard
Stormshield - Power Fist Drop Pod

BikeStar list for Texas WarGamesCon

- White Scars - CAD

Chapter Master
Bike - Artificer Armor - Auspex - Shield Eternal - Power Fist

Librarian
Level 2 Psychic Mastery
Bike - Force Axe - Meltabombs

Command Squad
Bikes
Company Banner - 4x Stormshield - 4x Grav Gun - Thunderhammer
Apothecary

5x Biker
2x Grav Gun
Sergeant - Combi Grav - Meltabombs
Attack Bike - Multi-Melta

5x Biker
2x Grav Gun
Sergeant - Combi Grav - Meltabombs
Attack Bike - Multi-Melta


Space Wolves - Champions of Fenris

Wolf Lord
Thunderwolf Mount - Runic Armor - Stormshield - Thunderhammer

Rune Priest
Level 2 Psychic Mastery
Bike - Runic Armor - Force Axe - Meltabombs

Iron Priest
Bike - Cyber Wolf

Iron Priest
Thunderwolf Mount - Cyber Wolf

9x Grey Hunter
2x Meltagun - Power Axe - 9x Chainsword
Wolf guard - Stormshield - Power Fist
Drop Pod

Texas WarGamesCon

I've registered and will be bringing BikeStar for their final hurrah !

40k Batrep: BikeStar vs. Rogue Space Wolves and Chaos Daemons (ATC Mission)

The Inquisition has sent an Imperial decree to Chapter Master Kadorr of the Storm Lords that a rogue detachment of Space Wolves have been located within their sector and must be terminated with extreme prejudice. Wolf Lord Arn of the Iron Wolves Great Company will join them in the hunt with his personal cadre to assist. The rogue element has been reported consorting with daemons from the warp. A swift message must be sent to serve as an example for all !

Yesterday I had a practice game for the ATC fielding my BikeStar...

Storm Lords CAD - White Scars chapter tactics
Chapter Master - Bike - Auspex - Artificer Armor - Power Fist - Shield Eternal /Warlord

Librarian (Level 2) - Bike - Force Axe - Meltabombs

Command Squad
Bikes - 4x Meltabombs - 4x Grav Gun - 4x Stormshield - Company Banner - Thunderhammer
Apothecary

5x Biker - 2x Grav Gun
Attack Bike - Multi-Melta
Sergeant - Combi Grav - Meltabombs

5x Biker - 2x Grav Gun
Attack Bike - Multi-Melta
Sergeant - Combi Grav - Meltabombs

Iron Wolves Detachment Company of the Great Wolf
Wolf Lord - Thunderwolf Mount - Runic Armor - Thunderhammer - Stormshield

Rune Priest (Level 2) - Bike - Runic Armor - Force Axe - Meltabombs

Iron Priest - Bike

Iron Priest - Thunderwolf Mount - 2x Cyberwolf

9x Grey Hunter - 7x chainsword - 2x Meltagun - Power Axe
Wolf Guard - Stormshield - Power Fist


Here is my opponent's list to the best of my memory:

Space Wolves CAD
Rune Priest (Level 2) - Rune Axe /Warlord

Rune Priest (Level 2) - Rune Axe

Rune Priest (Level 2) - Rune Sword

Rune Priest (Level 2) - Rune Staff

8x Grey Hunter - Plasmagun
Rhino

x Grey Hunter - Meltagun
Rhino

x Grey Hunter - Flamer
Rhino

Chaos Daemons CAD
Lord of Change (Level 3) - Staff (+2S) - Grimoire of True Names

Bloodthirster

13x Horror - Icon

13x Horror - Icon

BATREP - White Scars & Space Wolves (w. Thunderwolfs) vs. Eldar & Dark Eldar

Here's a mini Batrep from my first round at a local rtt versus a really good eldar-dark eldar player. Sorry but no pictures. :(

My list...

- White Scars
Chapter Master - bike - artificer armor - shield eternal - power fist - auspex

Librarian - Level 2 (telepathy) - bike - force axe - meltabombs

Command squad - bikes - chapter banner - power fist - 4x stormshield - 4x grav gun
Apothecary

4x SM biker - 2x grav gun
Sergeant - meltabombs
Attack bike - multi-melta

4x SM biker - 2x grav gun
Sergeant - meltabombs
Attack bike - multi-melta

- Space Wolves (CoF)
Wolf Lord - Thunderwolf - runic armor - stormshield - thunderhammer

Rune Priest Level 2 (divination) - bike - runic armor - force axe - meltabombs

Iron Priest - Thumderwolf - Cyberwolf

Iron Priest - bike - Cyberwolf

9x Grey Hunter - 2x meltagun - power axe
Wolf Guard - stormshield - frost axe
Drop pod


My opponent's list:

Spiritseer - Level 2

5x Wraithguard
Wave Serpent - holofield - scatter laser - shuriken cannon

5x Wraithguard
Wave Serpent - same as above

Wraithknight

Wraithknight

5x Talos (Corpsethief formation)

I roll up Invisibility and Perfect Timing... :D

I got Master of Ambush for my warlord trait but decided not to use it.

Deployment is Dawn of War and I go first. Mission is kill points with FB, StWL and LB. Opponent fails to seize.

Deathstar is all the characters attached to the command squad. I deploy 12" up in the middle and hide my two biker squads behind LoS blocking terrain.

Opponent deploys both WK and the Talos all hugging terrain.

First turn drop pod comes and I place it back in my deployment zone... They'll have a picnic this game... :D

Deathstar moves up 12" towards closest WK. Biker squads chill behind terrain.

Psychic phase I successfully cast Invisibility and Perfect Timing. Command squad grav guns unload into WK and smoke it for FB.

Talos move up to attempt a charge but fail by a couple inches... :D Remaining WK shoots the drop pod stripping one hull point.

2nd turn deathstar backs away from Talos just inside of grav gun range. Biker squads continue to chill. I successfully cast Perfect Timimg again but not Invisibility. Command squad unloads grav guns into Talos dropping two.

Serpent with the Spiritseer arrives from reserve. Wraithgusrd disembark to shoot their cannons at my deathstar. Chapter Master tanks all the wounds. Talos try to charge again but fall short by an inch this time... :D Remaining WK wrecks the drop pod.

3rd turn deathstar lines up to multi chsrge Wraithguard and serpent. Biker squads come out from hiding turbo boosting up to midfield. I successfully cast Invisibility then try to shriek tue Wraithguard but it's denied. I fire tue bolters into the Wraithguard dropping a couple then charge in and wipe them all out picking up StWL.

Second serpent fails to arrive. Talos are about 18" away from my deathstar... Opponent decides not to go for the assault. Remaining WK picks off one Grey Hunter.

4th turn bikers and deathstar all converge on Talos. Again I successfully cast Invisibility and Perfect Timing. Grav guns followed by the assault finish off the Talos.

Second serpent auto arrives and makes a move across the table for LB (turbo boosting). WK picks off another Grey Hunter.

Fifth turn my opponent concedes after taking out tue Grey Hunters with combined shooting from serpent, Wraithguard and WK.

So I end up winning 8-2. The Wolf Lord and Iron Priest on Thunderwolves did awesome - the S10 was huge versus both the WK and Talos in assault. I'm really digging this list.

Using multiple detachments

I had a fun game this past weekend versus Astra Militarum and ran the following 1850 point list:

- White Scars CAD -
Chapter Master - bike - artificer armor - shield eternal - power fist - auspex

Librarian - bike - armor Indomitus - force axe - meltabombs - level 2 (telepathy)

Command Squad - bikes - chapter banner - 4x Stormshield - 4x Grav gun - 4x meltabombs - power fist

5x Biker - 2x grav gun
Sergeant - combi grav - meltabombs
Attack Bike - multi-melta

5x Biker - 2x grav gun
Sergeant - combi grav - meltabombs
Attack Bike - multi-melta


- Space Wolves Champions of Fenris Detachment -
Wolf Lord - runic armor - stormshield - power fist

Rune Priest - bike - runic armor - force axe - meltabombs - level 2 (divination)

Iron Priest - bike

Iron Priest - bike

5x Grey Hunter - meltagun - power axe
Wolf Guard - Stormshield - frost axe
Drop Pod

It was a really fun list to play and as you can see I fielded more Space Wolves. This is just one of endless examples showing what you can do with more than one detachment. I enjoyed playing the army and might test it again. I ran three mini stars attaching the two Psykers to one bike squad, Chapter Master to the command squad and the two Iron Priests to the other biker squad. The Psyker biker squad was my MVP... Which had good old Invisibility plus I got Master of Ambush for my warlord trait.

Death Jesters Beware - It's time to break out the Chaplains and Wolf Priests !

So Phil Kelly done did it again - the new rules for Harlequins Death Jester cause a break check at -4 leadership and the eldar player can choose what direction they fall back. This sounds like the bane of any non fearless biker army... Non fearless being the caveat. If the new Harlequins make a big splash then it's time to break out your Chaplains and Wolf Priests again... Hello Ulric ! Besides making your BikeStar fearless these characters have other really cool abilities such as preferred enemy for the Wolf Priest which is really good for all those grav guns in your command squad. Chaplains and Wolf Priests basically do the same things but in different ways.

I always take a company banner in my command which lets all friendly units within 12" re roll failed leadership tests. So it's not a big deal with some simple adjustments and bikers are actually the bane of Harlequins. If Harlequins get a bad rep on the Internet who cares? They are expensive for what you get with mostly subpar units in terms of what they can do.

Chaplains and Wolf Priests are spiritual leaders in a game that plays heavily on psychic powers. If the Death Jester does become popular you'll see a shift towards these types of characters and the rules may have been driven solely to increase sales while divesting the meta. In a way it could be a deflowering of the current meta which happens from time to time for whatever reason. Maybe it's a good time to completely divest from psychic powers as a cleansing of the game which would be a backfire for Games Workshop and it doesn't have to be a bad thing. Spirituality opens doors. It is all about picking the right ones.

Last two games at Crucible GT

So day 2 I'm 1-2 going into the fourth game... Not good but like I said the tables were extremely sparse on terrain and the two armies I lost to had plenty of ignore cover high strength armor ignoring ranged shooting. The fourth game is versus eldar with allied Tau so again I'll be facing another army with ignore cover and again the table is light on terrain. I get Stealth in Ruins for my Warlord Trait - there are two pieces of terrain that look like ruins to me but my opponent disagrees... Whatever. It turned out to be a very close game - I was winning the secondary objective which was Maelström, ahead on kill points and it all comes down to my BikeStsr versus his Wraithknight and Riptide which are both down to 1-2 wounds each. BikeStar is depleted though and the Chapter Master whiffs versus the Wraithknight. Another loss but could have easily gone the other way.

So now I'm 1-3 with my favorite army. The final match is versus Tau with Tau allies featuring two big sniper drone teams. Again another table with no line of sight blocking terrain. I get three breaks this game though:

My Warlord Trait is Master of Ambush

My Librarian rolls Invisibility

My opponent deploys the bulk of his army on one side of the only line of sight blocking terrain on the table (DoW deployment)

I deploy one bike squad far back in table quarter away from the Tau gun line. I attach the Rune Priest and Iron Priest to another biker squad to use as bait. The other bike squad I deploy centrally. I attach the Chapter Master and Librarian to the command squad and infiltrate them beside the Tau gun line with the intervening line of sight blocking terrain so he can't see them.

First turn the drop pod lands in the line of sight blocking terrain - Grey Hunters disembark behind the terrain as well. Over the first half of the game I lose two bike squads to the sniper drones - wow it takes like ten minutes at least each turn for these squads to shoot... Roll to hit, re roll missed hits, set aside the precision hits, roll to wound then pick out the precision shots that wounded. It's brutal. Over the second half of the game BikeStar gets stuck into the Tau gun line and quickly dismantles everything including a Riptide then they hunt down whatever else is left. So I end up winning the last game by a massacre.

So I finish 2-3 but taking into account the terrain on the table and my match ups it's really no big surprise. Of the the three GTs I attended in February this was the least fun and usually I enjoy playing at Crucible. Oh well this is not the last time I'll take my BikeStar to a GT this year - there will be some redemption for sure ! I have contacted two of my opponents I lost to for the rematch so expect some awesome Batreps next month!

Round 2 @ LVO

How round 2 at LVO went down yesterday... I was paired up against Steve Sisk, the BAO champion... So two top biker armies slugging it out with Purge the Alien for the primary. I had the lead on kill points going into the final turn. BikeStar concussed his Knight with a Grav gun bringing it down to 2-3 hull points then I charge. Chapter Master swinging five attacks with the power fist, command squad biker swinging 3 attacks with a thunderhammer and two Meltabomb attacks hitting on 3+... BikeStar comes up empty inflicting no damage... Aaaaarghhhhh ! The Knight in turn takes out my Chapter Master and that's all she wrote. Oh well it was a great game indeed.

The LVO is a W - L format so I dropped out for today to hang out in Vegas.

My LVO Championship army list

Here is my list (I have no illusions about winning the championship btw):

White Scars (look like Storm Lords) - primary detachment

Chapter Master:
bike - artificer armor - shield eternal - auspex - power fist

Librarian (Level 2):
bike - force axe - armor indomitus - meltabombs

command squad:
bikes - chapter banner - 4x stormshield - 4x grav gun - thunderhammer - 4x meltabombs
Apothecary

4x biker - 2x grav gun
Attack Bike - multi-melta
Sergeant - combi-grav - meltabombs

4x biker - 2x grav gun
Attack Bike - multi-melta
Sergeant - combi-grav - meltabombs

4x biker - 2x grav gun
Attack Bike - multi-melta
Sergeant - combi-grav - meltabombs

Space Wolves (looks like Iron Wolves) - allied detachment

Rune Priest (Level 2):
bike - runic armor - force axe - meltabombs

Iron Priest - bike

9x Grey Hunter - power axe - 2x meltagun - chainswords
Wolf Guard - stormshield - power fist - meltabombs
drop pod

Pretty much an all biker list except for the podding Grey Hunters... Hits like a ton of bricks !

Iron Priest biker

40k Batrep • BikeStar vs. Flyrant Spam (1850 pts)

BATREP

Introduction
Hi everyone. I was up north last week and had the opportunity to play two games with my BikeStar versus the new hotness Flyrant spam. I have made some tweaks to my list to adjust for the current meta. These changes are as follows:

Double Psyker
This is something I've wanted to change for some time now. To me the psychic phase is a bit of a gamble but can pay off with huge dividends. Psychic powers can give your army an edge. Sure there are some armies that can shut you down but in a tournament environment you most likely will only face off against such an army once or twice. Space Marine Psykers have good overall stats all around too especially when you consider what you get for the points and come equipped with force weapons which are the bane of many evil things such as daemon princes and other monstrous creatures.

I now run both a Librarian and Rune Priest. The lore I choose for the Librarian depends upon what I'm up against and my go to choice is Telepathy. You can't count on rolling Insta Gizz (Invisibility) but Shrouding is awesome for the 2+ jink save and the Primaris power Psychic Shriek is really good for sniping tough enemy units such as Wraithknights and Dreadknights. I always choose Divination for the Rune Priest as this is the true go to lore for BikeStar. I gave up the Wolf Lord for the Rune Priest with a good chunk of points left over.

Air to Air
The proverbial Achilles Heel of BikeStar is versus flyer or FMC heavy armies - snap shooting grav guns is better than nothing but I found a way to include both a Stormfang and Stormtalon at 1850 points which is pretty awesome IMO . The Stormfang is the new hotness for Space Marine flyers... Much stronger than a Stormraven. The Stormtalon is also arguably a better choice than the Stormraven too - especially when we consider the points saved. By including two flyers the BikeStar becomes much more tactical all around and they compliment each other due to the inherent mobility.

So like I said I was able to play two games which is a good test. Flyrant spam features five Flyrants and is currently being promoted as one of the new top meta internet lists. My general philosophy in both games was the same - be very aggressive and put the pressure on the Tyranids right at the start.

Flyrant Spam is put to the test with my new list... Read on for army lists and the battle report - very exciting game !!!

Canadian batreps • BikeStar vs. Flyrant Spam

Hi everyone. I was up north last week and had the opportunity to play two games with my BikeStar versus the new hotness Flyrant spam. I have made some tweaks to my list to adjust for the current meta. These changes are as follows:

Double Psyker - This is something I've wanted to change for some time now. To me the psychic phase is a bit of a gamble but can pay off with huge dividends. Psychic powers can give your army an edge. Sure there are some armies that can shut you down but in a tournament environment you most likely will only face off against such an army once or twice. Space Marine Psykers have good overall stats all around too especially when you consider what you get for the points and come equipped with force weapons which are the bane of many evil things such as daemon princes and other monstrous creatures.

I now run both a Librarian and Rune Priest. The lore I choose for the Librarian depends upon what I'm up against and my go to choice is Telepathy. You can't count on rolling Insta Gizz (Invisibility) but Shrouding is awesome for the 2+ jink save and the Primaris power Psychic Shriek is really good for sniping tough enemy units such as Wraithknights and Dreadknights. I always choose Divination for the Rune Priest as this is the true go to lore for BikeStar. I gave up the Wolf Lord for the Rune Priest with a good chunk of points left over.

Air to Air
The proverbial Achilles Heel of BikeStar is versus flyer or FMC heavy armies - snap shooting grav guns is better than nothing but I found a way to include both a Stormfang and Stormtalon. The Stormfang is the new hotness for Space Marine flyers... Much stronger than a Stormraven. The Stormtalon is also arguably a better choice than the Stormraven too - especially when we consider the points saved. By including two flyers the BikeStar becomes much more tactical all around and they compliment each other due to the inherent mobility... You have an army that can compete with the likes of eldar and dark eldar.

So like I said I was able to play two games which is a good test. Flyrant spam features five Flyrants and is currently being promoted as one of the new top meta internet lists. My general philosophy in both games was the same - be very aggressive and put the pressure on the Tyranids right at the start.

Batreps to follow soon.

1850 pt Full BATREP • Thunder & Lightning ver. 2.0 vs. Serpent Spam

I have been wanting to revise my list so it has an anti-air component after playing in the GT down in Miami last month. Snap firing grav guns while better than nothing isn't all that great. I have also decided to go double psyker dropping the Wolf Lord instead for a Rune Priest. While some say the psychic phase is a big letdown it can give you the edge and most armies I see are rather light in this regard so why not beef it up some ?

Here is my new list:

* White Scars *
Chapter Master (Warlord - Master of Ambush)
Bike - Artificer Armor - Shield Eternal - Power Fist - Auspex

Librarian
Bike - Indomitus Armor - Force Axe - Meltabombs
Level 2 Psyker
Telepathy:
Psychic Shriek - Dominate - Hallucinate

Command Squad - Bikes
4x Grav Gun - 4x Stormshield - 4x Meltabombs - Thunderhammer - Chapter Banner
Apothecary

4x Biker
2x Grav Gun
Sergeant - Combi-Grav - Meltabombs
Attack Bike - Multi-Melta

4x Biker
2x Grav Gun
Sergeant - Combi-Grav - Meltabombs
Attack Bike - Multi-Melta

Stormraven
Twin Linked Assault Cannon - Twin Linked Multi-Melta - Extra Armor


* Allied Space Wolves *
Rune Priest
Bike - Runic Armor - Force Axe - Meltabombs
Level 2 Psyker
Divination:
Prescience - Perfect Timing - Scryer's Gaze

Iron Priest
Bike

9x Grey Hunter
2x Meltagun - Plasma Pistol - Power Axe - 7x Close Combat Weapon
Wolf Guard Pack Leader - Frost Axe - Stormshield - Meltabombs
Drop Pod

BikeStar =
Chapter Master + Librarian + Rune Priest + Iron Priest + Command Squad

Psychic powers are good overall - Psychic Shriek to handle Wraithknights, plus Prescience and Perfect Timing is very helpful for those grav guns versus wave serpents and Wraithknights.


My opponent was running a mechanized eldar army with Wraithknights:

Autarch (Warlord - Stealth in Ruins)

5x Dire Avenger
Wave Serpent - Scatter Laser - Shuriken Cannon - Holofield - Ghostwalk Matrix

5x Dire Avenger
Wave Serpent - Scatter Laser - Shuriken Cannon - Holofield - Ghostwalk Matrix

5x Dire Avenger
Wave Serpent - Scatter Laser - Shuriken Cannon - Holofield - Ghostwalk Matrix

5x Fire Dragon
Wave Serpent - Scatter Laser - Shuriken Cannon - Holofield - Ghostwalk Matrix

5x Fire Dragon
Wave Serpent - Scatter Laser - Shuriken Cannon - Holofield - Ghostwalk Matrix

Wraithknight (stock)

Wraithknight (stock)

Gun Emplacement - 2x Twin Linked Icarus Lascannon (Skyfire - Intercept - BS2)

Gun Emplacement - 2x Twin Linked Icarus Lascannon (Skyfire - Intercept - BS2)

This is a slight variation of Tony Kopach's NOVA winning eldar list with the gun emplacements switched in place of the artillery. I have fought serpent spam before at the GT in Miami so I've got the experience. My opponent has fought my BikeStar army before at a 1250 point local RTT. I felt I had the advantage overall in experience since my opponent hadn't dealt with my full list including allied Space Wolves. He is a good player though so it won't be easy.

We both have excellent warlord traits - my opponent's skimmers have a 2+ cover save in ruins if they jink and the Wraithknights have a 3+ cover save in ruins. Depending on how he employs I can get in some good shooting the first turn.

We played the ATC mission:

Primary 1 - Scouring (4 objective markers)
Primary 2 - Emperor's Will
Primary 3 - Purge the Alien

Secondaries:
First Blood (FB) - Slay the Warlord (StWL) - Line Breaker (LB)

Deployment - Vanguard Strike

There are lots of ruins on the table which is good for both us but better for my opponent - luckily I have Perfect Timing which negates the 2+ cover save for the serpents in ruins.

No Night Fight.


- DEPLOYMENT ZONES -
Most of the objective markers are placed over in one corner. I win the roll to choose my deployment zone picking the side with the majority of the objective markers... No need to make it easy for my opponent... The more he has to think about the better chance he'll eventually make a mistake.


- DEPLOYMENT -
My opponent wins the roll to deploy first and takes it. He spreads out starting with the serpents deep in his deployment zone and the two Wraightknights placed aggressively up front. Gun emplacements are deep in his corner and have line of sight across the entire table.

I use infiltrate to push up one biker squad as bait behind a ruin. The other biker squad hides behind a building deep in my deployment zone as I'll need them for late game objective grabbing. BikeStar is deployed centrally using a big ruin for some cover. Grey Hunters and Stormraven start in reserve.

I fail to seize the initiative.


- PRE GAME ANALYSIS -
I pretty much always abandon my Emperor's Will marker and play that objective for a draw, going for my opponent's... This game though I need to hold mine since that area is where most of the Scouring objective markers are located - so he will have to come to me to have a chance at the Scouring - I predicted he would make a fifth turn push to grab them so I need to make sure I'm in position to go after the surviving serpents when the time comes.

I was sad to see the two gun emplacements - Stormraven probably won't last long. Oh well... Let's see what it can do.

Grey Hunters are my disruption unit and loaded for bear !! They always cause some mayhem. If they take some heat off the rest of my army that alone is quite useful and having an objective secured drop pod is a good counter to the plethora of serpents.

The eldar are super shooty and super fast - I am too though plus I feel I have the advantage in mėlee which is the best way to pop serpents and drop the Wraithknights. BikeStar will have to do the heavy lifting but the rest of my army needs to support them well to win.

I should theoretically have the advantage in kill points as overall my army has less units... Have to make sure I don't get shot off the table though. Every surviving squad will count !!


1st Turn - Eldar
The serpents shuffle while one Wraightknight moves up beside my baiting biker squad. My opponent fires the other Wraithknight at BikeStar - one shot goes through. The Librarian is closest. Instead of Look Out Sir I decide to pop his armor for the 2++ invulnerable save and roll a one, giving up First Blood like a dummy. There goes my chance to see how twin psykers could perform. Note I rolled lots and lots of 1s and 2s this game - it was very disappointing to say the least. The rest of his shooting can do nothing though. The first Wraithknight charges the bikers but only manages to kill two plus I drop a couple wounds - one with Overwatch from a grav gun and another from the sergeant's meltabomb. I pass my break check and then successfully hit and run out of combat... Had I failed the leadership test they probably would have broke off the table... So some good luck for me there.

1st Turn - BikeStar
Grey Hunters come in with a precise drop landing on top of a Scouring objective marker and disembark getting one meltagun behind a serpent out of cover. The forward biker squad moves behind a ruin while BikeStar moves and flatout towards the heart of the eldar line... I want them in position next turn to wreak havoc and apply pressure right away. The other biker squad holds its ground hiding behind the building.

Psychic phase is a wash which will become a common occurrence this game.

The first meltagun fired by the Grey Hunters gets past the eldar cover save but only manages to stun it. The other meltagun can't get past the cover save but the plasma pistol glances it. The first biker squad targets the wounded Wraightknight and drops another wound.

Not a great first turn but it could have been a lot worse plus I'm playing for a pivotal second turn.

Eldar - 1 KP FB • BikeStar - 0


2nd Turn - Eldar
Fire Dragons disembark from the stunned serpent drawing a bead on the Grey Hunters. The wounded Wraithknight moves to counter BikeStar - I think he should have gone after my forward biker squad to finish them off. The other Wraightknight follows suit and the mobile serpents all line up for shots on BikeStar or Grey Hunters as well.

My opponent focuses the vast majority of his shooting versus my Grey Hunters and BikeStar as noted. My Chapter Master takes one wound and all that remains of the Grey Hunters is the lone Wolf Guard. Gun emplacements strafe the drop pod but come up empty.

No assault this phase.

2nd Turn - BikeStar
I need to make something happen this turn looking to inflict maximum damage. Stormraven comes in from reserve headed straight towards the exposed Fire Dragons. BikeStar moves up to multi-assault one Wraithknight and the stunned serpent. Wolf Guard moves into position to assault the Fire Dragons. The forward biker squad drops back away from the eldar line going into survival mode. The full biker squad comes out from hiding to target the wounded Wraightknight.

The eldar gun emplacements manage to strip two hull points from the Stormraven blowing off the multi-melta; I don't jink though so it's still fully functional for shooting its remaining weapons.

BikeStar unloads into the healthy Wraightknight stripping three wounds (note it was in cover). Stormraven and drop pod only manage to kill two Fire Dragons who pass their break check. The full biker squad causes no wounds on the wounded Wraightknight.

Again the psychic phase is a wash.

BikeStar makes the multi-assault with the Iron Priest targeting the stunned serpent. The Wraightknight can't get past my stormshields and the Chapter Master finishes it off while the Iron Priest pops the serpent. Wolf Guard charges the Fire Dragons... One Xenos manages to hit firing Overwatch but then fails to wound. They swing first inflicting a wound but the Wolf Guard passes his save and pops two more - the lone Fire Dragon holds.

Eldar - 1 KP FB • BikeStar - 2 KP


3rd Turn - Eldar
The four remaining serpents shuffle again while the last Wraightknight drops back into a more defensive position.

Shooting see the full bike squad brought down to just the sergeant and attack bike... Ouch ! BikeStar takes no wounds. Drop pod loses one hull point from the gun emplacements and one of the serpents blasts the Stormraven out of the air (he rolled a six for the shield having first hit with only one scatter laser shot).

The Wolf Guard then botches the assault phase but manages to make another save.

3rd Turn - BikeStar
Both biker squads drop further back but can't completely hide away. BikeStar surges towards the remaining serpents.

Yet again the psychic phase is a wash.

BikeStar manages to immobilize the closest serpent with grav guns.

BikeStar then just makes the long charge (10") and destroys the serpent - amazingly all of the Dire Avengers die in the explosion. Wolf Guard passes yet another save then finally manages to drop the last Fire Dragon - he then consolidate behind the wrecked serpent tucked away out of sight.

The tide has turned just a bit in my favor but I'm quickly running low on the support units.

Eldar - 2 KP FB • BikeStar - 4 KP


4th Turn - Eldar
Two of the three remaining wave serpents move and flatout away from BikeStar while the third moves into position to target one of my biker squads. The lone Wraithknight move back as well out of any potential grav gun range.

Combined shooting drops one of the biker squads and the other to just the sergeant (passes his break check) thinning out my line even more. Gun emplacements fail to inflict any damage on the drop pod.

No assault this phase.

4th Turn - BikeStar
The remaining eldar units are all located on one side of the table where there is one objective marker for the Scouring and one for Emperor's Will. One of the Wave Serpents will have to move over to my side next turn if my opponent wants a chance to win. I move BikeStar into the center of the table so they can react to any movement. The lone biker sergeant finds a ruin to hide behind and sticks. Wolf Guard keeps his head down as well.

No shooting or assault for me this turn as I simply position for the next turn.

Eldar - 3 KP FB • BikeStar - 4 KP


5th Turn Eldar
As predicted one serpent sticks its head out moving and flat outs onto a Scouring objective marker on my side of the table. Wraithknight jumps on his Emperor's Will objective marker and another serpent claims the one Scouring objective marker on his side of the table.

Shooting drops one of the command squad and the gun emplacements drop one more hull point on the drop pod.

No assault this phase.

5th Turn - Bike Star
I decide to play as if this will be the last turn. I am in the lead but in a tenacious position as another turn the game could swing back in favor of the mighty eldar. Better to keep applying the pressure with the planned follow up from the previous turn of nothing but movement for positional dominance (as jy2 likes to say).

BikeStar drops back to go after the forward serpent while holding one of the Scouring objective markers and the Emperor's Will objective marker on my side. Lone biker sergeant pops out to grav the same serpent. Note my drop pod is holding another Scouring objective marker.

Finally the Rune Priest manages to successfully cast Perfect Timing !!!

I just manage to immobilize the forward serpent with one grav gun shot from the command squad. The lone biker sergeant then fires his combi grav and rolls a 6 to glance and claim the two remaining hull points wrecking the serpent. The Dire Avengers spill out of the wreck maintaining as much distance as possible from BikeStar.

BikeStar attempts to charge first but fails to reach the Avengers (10") - this was actually a feint as I was hoping my opponent would fire Overwatch at BikeStar and they are holding two key objective markers plus I'm ahead on kill points by a fair margin of 2. The lone sergeant then goes in and passes two rending wound saves via his jink and ties up the Dire Avengers.

Eldar - 3 KP FB, LB • BikeStar - 5 KP LB (Wolf Guard)

We then roll to see if the game ends and up pops a 2 ! I've got the Scouring, Purge the Alien and draw on Emperor's Will for a strong win.


- POST GAME ANALYSIS -
It would have been interesting to see how the game played out if it had gone another turn or two. It's safe to assume my opponent would have probably popped my drop pod but I don't think he could haven't gotten Purge the Alien. The other two primaries could have possibly gone either way depending upon my opponent's decisions and good old Lady luck.

This was a really really bad dice game for me... I rolled more 1s and 2s over the course of the entire game it seemed. Fortunately for me the key rolls went my way when I really needed them most.

BikeStar really had to carry the game for me which I don't feel was nearly as much the case when I was running three biker squads in support.

I'm not totally sold on the Stormraven but this game it was outmatched by the eldar gun emplacements. While it's only one flyer it's better than no air support - I need to play some more games before I make a final decision in that regard.

Losing the Librarian to the first shot of the game was very frustrating to say the least and the Rune Priest only came into his own the final turn. Still I'm liking double psyker and really like having Divination again for BikeStar - it can really give them that extra edge like the fifth and final turn which was a key event.

SoFlo (Miami) GT Round 5 - BikeStar vs Speed Freaks • End Game

Turn 5 - Speed Freaks
Jon finally decides to make his move. The Warbikes turbo boost right up in front of my BikeStar (2++ jink save) and all the trukkz surge up. Again a few potshots from the last couple Lootas for no wounds.

Turn 5 - BikeStar
Well I've got my work cut out for me now. I decide to take the warbikes head on with my BikeStar and use the rest of my army to wall off his trukkz so it will be hard for them to join in the coming mosh pit of death. BikeStar moves up and spreads out for the charge. Grey Hunters flank to the right while two biker squads flank to my left.

My Librarian successfully casts Fire Shield which potentially could be huge. I then cast the Primaris (heavy Flamer equivalent) and actually manage to toast a couple Warbikes (ignore cover - template).

Chapter Master then calls down his orbital bombardment - it scatters a couple inches - nukes three more warbikes and pops one trukk. Grey Hunters melta down another Trukk and the ensuing explosion takes out half the squad and they break. Bikers focus fire on more Trukkz - popping another (more dead Boyz but they pass their check) and immobilize then wreck another with grav.

BikeStar then charges into the Warbikes - after the smoke clears I win combat by a good number of wounds punking out most of the remaining Warbikes and landing a few wounds on some of the Ork characters while only taking one wound on the Chapter Master... My saves and FNP were on fire... Wulfenstone also was a big help. The Warbikes stick though and I decide not to hit and run out of combat.

KP: Orks - 0 BikeStar - 5
BikeStar - First Blood

We roll to see if there is a 6th turn and it's on like Donkey Kong ! The Orks will get their counter assault.


Turn 6 - Speed Freaks
Here comes the pain ! The remaining Trukkz move into assault range and out piles all those Boyz... I really hate power klaws !!! :( This could really hurt. My Grey Hunters are in terrain and close to the Librarian - remember that Fire Shield is up. Two bike squads are also in charge range too but also sitting in cover. Not much shooting this turn as the Speed Freaks are eager to punch me in the face and lots of other nasty things. Some of the Boyz bite it due to Fire Shield (causes dangerous terrain check) but the Eavy armor helps them out. Both of the biker squads are breached but Overwatch drops a few more Boyz and the Orks fail to reach my Grey Hunters. I get off fairly light as both biker squads manage to survive but unfortunately neither manage to hit and run out of combat. BikerStar really puts a hurting on the last of the Warbikes snuffing them out along with the Pain Boy - again my saves are red hot and BikeStar successfully hits and runs out of combat. It's a thin line but things definitely could have turned out a lot worse.

Turn 6 - BikeStar
This will be the last turn as time is winding down. I move into position to contest Line Breaker and we add up the points... I win by a very slight margin of 2 victory points - it was that close.

This puts me at 3W - 2L going into the final round and I'm still up there in the upper bracket... One more win and I can make the top 5 plus should the award for best Space Marine player which a lot of people there want to walk away with at the end of the day.

- POST GAME ANALYSIS -
I knew it would be a tight game and really it all came down to my Chapter Master and Wolf Lord tanking a phenomenal number of saves in the latter part of the game. I was able to thin out the Boyz enough before they finally got stuck to even out the odds for the bikers.

I think Jon's Speed Freaks list is one of the more competitive builds I've seen for Orks in 7th edition so far. The Forge World War Boss definitely brings a lot to the table. Jon ended up ranked fifth so he did very well overall. I think his one mistake was waiting too long to make his move but I know that the BikeStar can be a bit intimidating.

Pyromancy is definitely the go to psychic lore versus Orks as practically all the spells are Warp Charge 1 to cast - the Primaris and Fire Shield are both strong versus horde. I really love the Grey Hunter pack and most every game they performed well.

BikeStar RTT Report • Part 2

My next game was versus the one army I knew could give me some problems - dark eldar with venom spam... Can match my speed and the venoms are really bad news versus a low model count.


Round 2 vs Dark Eldar

The Baron

Succubus - assorted weapons

5x Wyche haywire grenades
Venom - double splinter cannon - Flickerfield

5x Wyche - haywire grenades
Venom - double splinter cannon - Flickerfield

5x Wyche - haywire grenades
Venom - double splinter cannon - Flickerfield

10 Warriors - splinter cannon
Raider - Lance - Flickerfield

Ravager - 3x Lance - Flickerfield

Ravager - 3x Lance - Flickerfield

Beast Pack - 3x Beast Master - Khymeras & Razorwing

Mission - Crusade
Four objective markers this time.

Deployment - Dawn of War

I won the roll to go first and got Master of Ambush for my Warlord Trait. My Librarian got Prescience, Foreboding and Forewarning. My opponent got the Warlord trait for +1 to seize.

NOTE - I chose the wrong psychic lore (Divination) for my Librarian... Honest mistake there... Didn't matter much.

I deployed my HQ with command squad behind a big piece of terrain for LoS blocking. My opponent deployed back against his long table edge then I infiltrated my two biker squads 18" away on one of his flanks. My opponent failed to seize.

1st Turn - White Scars
I move and flat out my HQ and command squad out from behind the terrain into the heart of the Dark Eldar putting lots of pressure on the enemy and relying upon the storm shields, FNP and my 2+ armor to weather the coming storm of PAIN. The two biker squads move into range of a venom and Ravager. Shooting is focused on the two skimmers and I manage to drop two hull points on the Ravager immobilizing it with the grav weapons but it shrugs off the second glance with Flickerfield which would have destroyed it for First Blood. I also shake a venom. Not a great turn but everything is where I want it to be - I'll just have to take my licks.

1st Turn - Dark Eldar
My army is out in the open now and have big bulls eyes painted on them. The Baron and his posse move up to assault then the dark eldar guns open fire. Amazingly the HQ and command squad only lose a couple veterans and one biker squad is intact. The other bike squad is cut down to two bikers and they pass their leadership test. The Baron and beasts then charge - Overwatch manages to clip one Beast Master. My Chapter Master issues a challenge and proceeds to crush another Beast Master and I only lose another veteran. Combat is drawn and we both hit and run. I push over towards a flank while the Baron and beasts drop back forming a semi shield.

2nd Turn - White Scars
I make a major blunder here. I should have charged all my units into the BeaStar but I got greedy and focused on taking down the skimmers. I move my bikes into position to multi assault as many skimmers as possible and forgo shooting so that all primary targets remain. I take out the immobilized Ravager for First Blood, the shaken venom and stun another Ravager.

2nd Turn - Dark Eldar
One squad of wyches disembark to charge the two bikers then the dark eldar unload on my HQ and command squad again. I lose a couple wounds on the Chapter Master and one wound on the Librarian. In assault I lose the two bikers to the wyches and the Librarian. I then roll a 6 to hit and run out of combat with the a Chapter Master and what's left of the command squad - huge... So they remained locked in with the BeaStar. I am slowly losing the war of attrition.

3rd Turn - White Scars
The full squad of bikes moves into position to shoot the wyches and multi assault them and another venom. I blow away most of the wyches - they hold - then I just miss hitting the other venom by less than inch. The wyches die to Hammer of Wrath. In the other combat my Chapter Master tanks a lot of wounds and is left hanging with only one last veteran (thunderhammer). I dished put seven wounds with the two hammers but my opponent only loses two dawgs and the BeaStar barely passes it's break check - huge again for dark eldar. The BeaStar then hits and runs.. I do too and move to the edge of my opponent's long table edge.

3rd Turn - Dark Eldar
This is the beginning of the end... The bikers are whittled down to two and in assault I roll two snake eyes on four armor saves losing my Chapter Master and then the last veteran.

4th Turn - White Scars
So I only have two bikers left. They suicide into a venom, destroy it and four out of five wyches onboard are toasted by the explosion - too little too late.

4th Turn - Dark Eldar
The two bikers are blown away... Game over.


Post Game Analysis
I felt my opening gambit was the right move. I had to go in big for the alpha strike. I probably should have also infiltrated the command squad too. The dice favored the dark eldar for the key rolls... You know that story. Losing the Chapter Master on four wounds with two left on a 2+ armor save was tough. If I could have broke BeaStar they would have most likely broke off the table as I was right up against it the last two turns. I gave it my best and came up short. Like I said this was my worst matchup but I did manage to make a game out of it. If a couple key rolls had gind my way I think I could have squeezed the win. My opponent (Thor665 from Dakka Dakka) has been playing dark eldar for a long long time so his experience was a big factor but I do think he made a couple mistakes but the dice let him off the hook. I look forward to a rematch.

The next round was versus Astra Militarum. I drooped down a bit in the overall rankings so probably a better matchup for me.

BAO Top Eight Armies

1. White Scars Bikers 1 Knight (Steve Sisk)
2. Drop Pod Ultramarines
3. Eldar
4. Triptide Tau Formation
5. White Scars Rhino Rush (me)
6. Necrons
7. Necrons
8. Drop Pod Ultramarines

Looks like the top army was running BikeStar.
Kor'sarro Khan (150)
Moondrakkan

Command Squad (220)
Company Standard
3× storm shield
power fist
Space Marine bikes
Apothecary

Chapter Master (260)
Space Marine bike
The Shield Eternal
digital weapons
artificer armour
thunder hammer

4x Space Marine Bikers (184)
2× grav-gun
Biker Sergeant
combi-grav
meltabombs
Attack Bike
multi-melta

4x Space Marine Bikers (174)
2× meltagun
Biker Sergeant
combi-melta
meltabombs
Attack Bike
multi-melta

4 Space Marine Bikers (174)
2× meltagun
Biker Sergeant
combi-melta
meltabombs
Attack Bike
multi-melta

4 Space Marine Bikers (189)
2× plasma gun
Biker Sergeant
plasma pistol
meltabombs
Attack Bike
multi-melta

Stormtalon Gunship (125)
Skyhammer missile launcher

Knight Errant (370)

1,846 points