Granta’s 1000 point list consisted of 1 lord w/an orb of resurrection and a warscythe; two squads of Necron troopers; a squadron of Immortals; and five or six destroyers. A formidable list by someone who is, no doubt, a formidable strategist!
Here is my list reprinted in full:
HQ
• Belial, Master of the Deathwing
(terminator armor)
Troops
• Deathwing Terminator Squad (sergeant with chainfist; assault cannon)
(special, w/Belial in army, Terminator squads count as troops)
• 1 Combat Squad (5) w/Plasma Gun
• 1 Tactical Squad (10) w/Missle Launcher + RHINO
Fast Attack
• Ravenwing Attack Squadron
• Assault Combat Squad (jump infantry)
Deployment & Movement:
Granta deployed first and I took the first movement. I kept the Assault Marines as well as the Deathwing in reserve—special rules allow the latter to deepstrike at the top of round two. I deployed the bikes (Ravenwing) at the far right-hand side of the board with the intent of supporting the Deathwing after the deepstrike The bikes took a scout move and the combat squad w/the plasma gunner moved 6” The strategy here was to have the Deathwing in the thick of the action (with their 2+ saves they could withstand a whole hell of a lot of Gauss blasts) the Ravenwing supporting them and the regular SM combat squad taking up the rear. That way if the destroyers turbo boosted away, they might be in range of the Ravenwing and or the troopers.
The Rhino, which deployed on the far left of the board—to challenge a full squad of Necrons. did not charge up (my mistake).
Battle Highlights:
The photo above depicts the action btw. the Destroyers, Immortals, a squad of Necron troopers and the Deathwing. The Deathwing deepstruck right in front of an entire squad of Necron troopers and a squad of destroyers. They were also well within the range of the Immortals’ firing line (see below).
They stood firm, however loosing only one terminator. They attacked back decimating an entire squadron of Necron troopers (12 in all) thanks to the Assault cannon and their being within assault range of the squad.
By maneuvering out of the firing line of the terminators, Granta shifted the battle to the other side of the board which would prove a very smart move in later rounds of the game. The Deathwing, Belial, and the Ravenwing gave chase.
After this tactic the tide of the battle turned drastically. In subsequent rounds the Rhino continued its trek up along the left side of the board. With the cover of the hills (in this game hills blocked line of sight) and after a volley of shots from the Necron troopers which, eventually, scored a vehicle wrecked against it, the troopers disembarked and ran up the hill to establish a firm firing point. The Deathwing and Ravenwing got tied up in taking terrain tests. Granta’s forces moved to confront the Tactical squadron that disembarked from the now wrecked Rhino. They managed to take out the combat squad and assault squad.
The assault squad deep struck in the third round but did little to change the course of the game. Both the combat squad and the assault squad were whittled down to one marine and rendered ineffective. Granta’s Necron troopers and Immortals as well as his incredibly quick and tactically clever Destroyers managed to win the game for him. What began as a propaganda piece for the Deathwing and Ravenwing ended in a undisputed win for the Necrons.
