Game 2 of the Campaign

Game two was again set on Beliel IV (my place). Following Game 1 the deployment zones had been predetermined. Eldar had the Northwest and Southwest, Iron Warriors had the Northeast. I was allowed to see the enemy list due to controlling the "Orb of Knowledge" after game 1. The Farseer and Autarch are at -1 leadership (ran away last game)  I decided that because the Iron Warriors had basically been removed from the battlefield, Iron Warrior mission would be the old style cleanse. Each table quarter held by the Iron Warriors at the end of the game was worth 5vp. Because the Eldar had basically won the field in the first game, Eldar vps were determined by kill points. Slay the Warlord and First Blood were also in play...

Iron Warriors deployed first and had first turn

Iron Warrior Deployment.

Eldar Deployment.

Turn 1) Iron Warriors move forward, and turn foot based units head for the Southeast quarter. The Chaos Deadnaught scatters some missile shots off of the lead Dire Avenger squad. This would be a theme for both armies, while no Daemons appeared.. The winds of Chaos blew hard on Beliel IV this night drifting many a scatter shot from both sides. Iron Warrior Havocs did manage to hit a well hidden Dark Reaper in the forest but the trees took the blow instead. 

Iron Warrior first moves.

The Eldar of Antares begin their turn and move out. Eldar score several hits knocking hull points off of several Rhinos. The Eldar Warp Hunter scores an immobilized roll on one Rhino, and The Dark Reaper Exarch uses his power to ignore cover and scores a hit to the Dreadnaught.

Eldar begin their advance.

Turn 2) Iron Warrior guns begin to find their mark. Using some infernal power of Chaos, the Dreadnaught fire frenzies into the Dark Reapers, returning a blow and killing a Dark Reaper. Iron Warrior fire also finds a Wave Serpent and the Warp Hunter removing a hull point from each. 

The Chaos Dreadnaught Fire Frenzies!

The Eldar score First Blood, as a Wave Serpent twin-linked Brighlance destroys the Iron Warrior Predator Tank and taking an Iron Warrior standing near by. The Vyper armed with Scatter Laser swoops in taking the Havoc launcher and a hull point from a Rhino. The Dark Reapers complete the turn with -1 hull point off another Rhino. 

Eldar Wave Serpent scores first blow.

Eldar score 1 vp First Blood, 1 vp kill point. 

Turn 3) The Iron Warrior Havoc squad scores the death blow to Warp Hunter, as Auto Cannons reign fire upon it. Bolter fire begins to target Dire Avengers and the Autarch closing on the Chaos Dread and units of Iron Warrior Marines near the center of the board.

The Iron Warrior heavy weapons team at work.

In the Eldar phase the Autarch, fresh from taking a wound warps at the Chaos Dread scoring a hit with it's Fusion Gun. The Vyper holds the Eldar left flank by destroying a Rhino and pinning the troops inside. The two squads of Dire Avengers now on foot, pepper Shuriken fire into Iron Warrior marines, 2 fall.

Autarch jumps at the Dread.

Eldar score 1 vp kill point.

Turn 4) Iron Warriors adjust as the Havoc squad finds it's no targets for it's deadly Auto cannons. The Squad heads up the Northeast table quarter. Heavy weapons are often placed through out Melkor's troop units and they take down a Wave Serpent. Melkor himself heads towards the Eldar right flank with his chosen squad protected in their Rhino. 

Melkor advances towards the enemy!

The Warp jump generator of the Autarch again comes to life as he reappears next to the Chaos Dread. One shot from the Fusion Gun ends the night for the Chaos Dread. The Dark Reapers use a new 6th edition trick and Focus fire killing 6 in an Iron Warrior squad, leaving the last member to die at the weapons of Dire Avengers (though he saved a volley of  7 wounds from one Dire Avenger squad!)

The Autarch has jumped back in his assault phase.

Eldar score 2 vp kill points. 

Turn 5) Melkor and his Chosen press the Eldar line, disembarking their Rhino and advancing on the remaining Wave Serpent. Their deadly fire immobilizes it. Meanwhile the remaining Iron Warrior squads focus on the Dire Avengers. A combination of Bolters and Havoc missiles kill 9 of them. The Iron Warriors score good damage in the battle at the Eldar right flank.

The Iron Warrior position holds strong.

The Eldar part of the turn includes the now immobilized Wave Serpent returns the favor to Malcore's Rhino. Dire Avengers bladestorm the Chosen squad killing all. The Dark Reaper Exarch destroys a Rhino. And the Autarch assaults a unit of Iron Warrior Marines, doing no wounds with it's power weapon.

The Autarch goes for battle glory, but does no wounds.

Eldar score 2 vp killpoints.

Turn 6) Melkor alone now... fears not, for he casts Hemorrhage on the closest Dire Avengers killing the Exarch. A well placed shot from Iron Warrior troop fire destroys the last Wave Serpent. Now facing 3 Dire Avenger squads the combined fire of the Iron Warrior units kill 7 Dire Avengers. Then, in the close combat the Iron Warriors stand tall, as one falls before the unit kill the Autarch. (my warlord trait was furious charge in enemy deployment, first time warlord trait was semi useful for me in a game!)

Melkor unleashes Chaos psychic power!

Eldar Dire Avengers in their phase kill Melkor. The Vyper destroys another Rhino, and the Dark Reapers destroy 2 from the Havoc squad. Due to a strong center position the Eldar units fan out to contest every board quarter of the table. The game ends.

Eldar 8 vp Iron Warriors 1 vp

I'm not sure if it was a fair scenario, Iron Warriors needed table quarters 5 points per, possible total of 20. I believe they had 13 available kill points. I thought going in that would be fair, but having fought for the middle with 3 troop squads. I found it easy going last, to contest all 4. To me, the game represented Iron Warriors needing to acquire a foot hold on the planet while the Eldar held position on the battle field already. A completely fair scenario? Probably not. But the campaign continues....

Craftworld Antares casualties:  15 Dire Avengers, 1 Dark Reaper, 4 Wave Serpent Crew, 1 Warp Hunter crew and the Autarch, though he regained his honor. All Spirit Stones collected.