30 Possessed go unbeaten at the Birmingham Teams Tournament.

Sometimes the best way to measure a unit is not from your experiences but from your opponents. After asking my brother post game if he felt I was better off with a extra Possessed brick or the Haarken Raptor brick I got a rather blunt "If you had used the extra Possessed squad I'd have refused to play you." 30 Possessed it was then.

CSM meet Ork threat head on in the largest brawl I've ever been in with over 100 models fighting or dying in combat this turn.

So for you following the blog for the last two events - this was the tournament I was building towards a team event with my Fire and Dice mates. On our team we had myself, Denis and Byron (all from the same event last year with same armies) Doug who had captained our B team last year and captained us this year (although I nearly ended up captain despite a 4-1 vote in Dougs favour, which in election season would have seemed like an excellent reflection of the recent political climate) and Peter. I hadn't met Peter before and upon meeting him he described himself as a long time follower of Slaanesh (as in a follower of excess) and showed his devotion over the course of two nights at the hotel getting worryingly close to trying all the food on the menu and drinking the bar clean of bottled ciders.

Back on the 40k side - Denis and Byron with Necrons and Deamons were two easy early lock ins - both long time players and faction experts. This did leave us with the slight issue that Peter was also naturally a demon player and ended up taking TS - party due to easy access, partly as we hoped to shield them in bad match ups and push big scores in favourable ones. With two Chaos lists taken I went between DG and CSM - either way the idea was to take a brawler style list to go head to head with the likes of Orks and Necrons fighting over the middle of the field. Up until the recent balance dataslate DG had the edge but after rediscovering my love of Possessed the extra damage potential from CSM won me over to use as an anti-stat check type of army. Doug rounded us off with Grey Knights giving us a very different style to our other lists.

As for me - I wanted Brawlers that could take on 3 things in particular - Ork Meganobz/Boyz and Necron Wraiths which had let me on the path to Possessed as none of the above could clear them with any great efficiency and 3 units of 10 made up the bulk unit of the list - the last unit replacing the Raptors + Haarken I had in my GT winning list. I went with two Undivided units to make use of the re-roll wound strat to combo with their dev wounds and one Slaanesh unit to give me a more mobile threat. Behind them 3 Nurgle Vindicators and a Predator lurked behind to try and soften up anything that the Possessed couldn't easily with (C'Tan/units with damage reduction were the hope that the tanks could just power through them via weight of dice. The rest of the units were all small trade pieces to screen/provide action monkey and murder small units. Literally the last add was the Master of Possession - partly for his synergy with Slaanesh Possessed to make them quicker/more durable, mostly because I needed a HQ and given how lacklustre he is in the new Codex felt like a good excuse to have one last run with his 'good' rule still in effect. The CSM book was released on the day of the tournament it used the Index and with 30 Possessed/MoP all getting worse in the book felt like a really good excuse to give them a send off. List in full below:

Last march of the Possessed (2000 points)

Chaos Space Marines

Strike Force (2000 points)

Slaves to Darkness

CHARACTERS

Master of Possession (80 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh

• Warlord

• 1x Bolt pistol

1x Rite of Possession

1x Staff of possession

BATTLELINE

Cultist Mob (50 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle

• 1x Cultist Champion

• 1x Autopistol

1x Brutal assault weapon

• 9x Chaos Cultist

• 9x Autopistol

9x Brutal assault weapon

Legionaries (80 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh

• 1x Aspiring Champion

• 1x Chaos Icon

1x Close combat weapon

1x Heavy melee weapon

1x Plasma pistol

• 4x Legionary

• 2x Astartes chainsword

4x Bolt pistol

4x Close combat weapon

1x Heavy melee weapon

1x Lascannon

Legionaries (80 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh

• 1x Aspiring Champion

• 1x Chaos Icon

1x Close combat weapon

1x Heavy melee weapon

1x Plasma pistol

• 4x Legionary

• 2x Astartes chainsword

4x Bolt pistol

4x Close combat weapon

1x Heavy melee weapon

1x Lascannon

Legionaries (80 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh

• 1x Aspiring Champion

• 1x Chaos Icon

1x Close combat weapon

1x Heavy melee weapon

1x Plasma pistol

• 4x Legionary

• 2x Astartes chainsword

4x Bolt pistol

4x Close combat weapon

1x Heavy melee weapon

1x Lascannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Chaos Predator Destructor (130 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle

• 1x Armoured tracks

1x Combi-weapon

1x Havoc launcher

2x Lascannon

1x Predator autocannon

Chaos Vindicator (175 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle

• 1x Armoured tracks

1x Combi-weapon

1x Demolisher cannon

1x Havoc launcher

Chaos Vindicator (175 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle

• 1x Armoured tracks

1x Combi-weapon

1x Demolisher cannon

1x Havoc launcher

Chaos Vindicator (175 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Nurgle

• 1x Armoured tracks

1x Combi-weapon

1x Demolisher cannon

1x Havoc launcher

Possessed (260 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh

• 1x Possessed Champion

• 1x Chaos Icon

1x Hideous mutations

• 9x Possessed

• 9x Hideous mutations

Possessed (260 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided

• 1x Possessed Champion

• 1x Chaos Icon

1x Hideous mutations

• 9x Possessed

• 9x Hideous mutations

Possessed (260 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Chaos Undivided

• 1x Possessed Champion

• 1x Chaos Icon

1x Hideous mutations

• 9x Possessed

• 9x Hideous mutations

Raptors (85 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh

• 1x Raptor Champion

• 1x Plasma pistol

1x Power fist

• 4x Raptor

• 2x Astartes chainsword

2x Bolt pistol

2x Close combat weapon

2x Meltagun

Warp Talons (110 points)

• Mark of Chaos: Slaanesh

• 1x Warp Talon Champion

• 1x Warp claws

• 4x Warp Talon

• 4x Warp claws

(Minor aside - I meant to have Cultists as the ranged option with Flamer/Grenade/Stubber and autoguns but I kept switching them in/out and forgot to re-add the weapon. Its was a shame less than ideal, but given I felt if I ever really felt that I needed a heavy stubber Cultists to claw back into the game, it was probably already too late to come back into the game.)

Round 1 v The B Staff - Scorched Earth/Chilling Rain/Dawn of War

Opponents team had Orks, Necrons, Leagues of Votaan, Salamender and Adepta Sororitas. I most wanted to go into Orks/Necron but only wanted to avoid the Votaan list - as much as anything due to unfamiliarity with it. As such with only one bad I got put forward as defender and ended up choosing to go into Sisters (think Salamender or Votaan was other option.) My damage doesn't line up well into Sisters, but the Sisters list didn't seem like it had enough damage to deal with my Possessed. Rest of the match ups went (Ours team v B Staff)

Grey Knights v Orks

Thousand Sons v Necrons

Necrons v League of Votaan

Chaos Daemons v Salamanders

Opponent - Belle Davies - Adepta Sororitas

For May (1990 Points)

Adepta Sororitas

Hallowed Martyrs

Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Dialogus (30 Points)

• 1x Bolt pistol

1x Dialogus staff

Imagifier (60 Points)

• 1x Bolt pistol

1x Boltgun

1x Close combat weapon

• Enhancements: Litanies of Faith

Junith Eruita (90 Points)

• 1x Mace of Castigation

1x Twin Ministorum heavy flamer

Morvenn Vahl (145 Points)

• Warlord

• 1x Fidelis

1x Lance of Illumination

1x Paragon missile launcher

Palatine (75 Points)

• 1x Palatine blade

1x Plasma pistol

• Enhancements: Blade of Saint Ellynor

BATTLELINE

Battle Sisters Squad (100 Points)

• 1x Sister Superior

• 1x Bolt pistol

1x Close combat weapon

1x Combi-weapon

1x Power weapon

• 9x Battle Sister

• 1x Artificer-crafted storm bolter

1x Artificer-crafted storm bolter

9x Bolt pistol

7x Boltgun

9x Close combat weapon

1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Battle Sisters Squad (100 Points)

• 1x Sister Superior

• 1x Bolt pistol

1x Close combat weapon

1x Combi-weapon

1x Power weapon

• 9x Battle Sister

• 9x Bolt pistol

7x Boltgun

9x Close combat weapon

1x Meltagun

1x Multi-melta

1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Battle Sisters Squad (100 Points)

• 1x Sister Superior

• 1x Bolt pistol

1x Chainsword

1x Close combat weapon

1x Combi-weapon

• 9x Battle Sister

• 9x Bolt pistol

7x Boltgun

9x Close combat weapon

1x Ministorum flamer

1x Ministorum heavy flamer

1x Simulacrum Imperialis

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Immolator (115 Points)

• 1x Armoured tracks

1x Heavy bolter

1x Hunter-killer missile

1x Twin multi-melta

Immolator (115 Points)

• 1x Armoured tracks

1x Heavy bolter

1x Hunter-killer missile

1x Twin multi-melta

OTHER DATASHEETS

Castigator (140 Points)

• 1x Armoured tracks

1x Castigator battle cannon

3x Heavy bolter

1x Hunter-killer missile

1x Storm bolter

Dominion Squad (110 Points)

• 1x Dominion Superior

• 1x Bolt pistol

1x Close combat weapon

1x Plasma pistol

1x Power weapon

• 9x Dominion

• 9x Bolt pistol

5x Boltgun

9x Close combat weapon

4x Meltagun

1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Dominion Squad (110 Points)

• 1x Dominion Superior

• 1x Bolt pistol

1x Close combat weapon

1x Ministorum hand flamer

1x Power weapon

• 9x Dominion

• 9x Bolt pistol

5x Boltgun

9x Close combat weapon

4x Ministorum flamer

1x Simulacrum Imperialis

Exorcist (180 Points)

• 1x Armoured tracks

1x Exorcist missile launcher

1x Heavy bolter

1x Hunter-killer missile

Mortifiers (55 Points)

• 2x Heavy bolter

1x Twin penitent buzz-blades

Mortifiers (55 Points)

• 2x Heavy bolter

1x Twin penitent buzz-blades

Paragon Warsuits (170 Points)

• 1x Paragon Superior

• 1x Bolt pistol

1x Heavy bolter

1x Paragon storm bolters

1x Paragon war blade

• 2x Paragon

• 2x Bolt pistol

2x Multi-melta

2x Paragon storm bolters

2x Paragon war blade

Penitent Engines (55 Points)

• 1x Penitent flamers

1x Twin penitent buzz-blades

Penitent Engines (55 Points)

• 1x Penitent flamers

1x Twin penitent buzz-blades

Seraphim Squad (70 Points)

• 1x Seraphim Superior

• 1x Close combat weapon

1x Plasma pistol

1x Power weapon

• 4x Seraphim

• 4x Bolt pistol

4x Close combat weapon

4x Ministorum hand flamer

Zephyrim Squad (60 Points)

• 1x Zephyrim Superior

• 1x Plasma pistol

1x Power weapon

1x Sacred Banner

• 4x Zephyrim

• 4x Bolt pistol

4x Power weapon

My Secondaries - Assassinate/Bring it Down

Opponents Secondaries - Tactical

Pregame thoughts - So the plan could be described in one word - Violence. As if the secondary plan didn't give it away. It was absolute all in rush aggression game plan, nothing subtle or otherwise with this one. Belle put Vahl's unit in reverse and as such there wasn't much on the board I had to worry about threatening a Possessed blob. Combined with winning first turn roll and a forgiving primary it was simple - move up aggressively and murder any Sister unit that dared to get into the middle.

CSM deployment - Possessed squad in each ruin with few extra units opposite objective 5 on the given its easiest for Sisters to hide on.

Right of Sisters deployment with few Suits in the open to contest objective T1.

CSM reserves - with Vahl in reserve for Sisters plan was to keep Vindicator back until she arrive and counter attack her.

Left side of battlefield as Sisters start scouting up - I'd wanted to go second to have end game scoring on my side but going first did lean into the "more violence" game plan. Only long range shooting Sisters had was in Castigors on right flank so could use the centre ruins to hide Vindicator and place it in a more aggressive position.

Left side of Sisters deployment.

I advance and charge Warp Talons into a Seraphim squad. They lose a couple to Pact/Overwatch but take them the Seraphim and consolidate into the Immolater to keep it pinned back.

Possessed try a long charge into Dominion squad that scouted up but can't manage it as they stage for next turn.

Vindicators blast a couple of walkers apart to cap a reasonable turn for CSM.

Sisters start to move up to counter CSM advances, Castigor deals 9 damage to its corrupted twin as Predator takes some early blows.

Warp Talons are taken out by Palatine, whilst Mortifier charges the Possessed but they take the already injured machine out in combat easily enough and slingshot upfield a little.

On the left flank Penitent engine takes out 2 Possessed via tank shock and attacks the Legionnaires.

CSM had taken the Sisters punch and dealt a similar damage back in Sisters turn and I'm now in position to attack.

On the right flank Possessed charge in and murder the Palatine's squad (who can't come back as Sisters are out of CP.) Sisters pull of a nice trick, using a miracle dice to deliberately fail a save against MoP's bolt pistol and shooting back with meltaguns.

Possessed take the fight to Sisters home objective leaving only Junith on the objective.

The Dominion squad had taken the objective, but Possessed take it back for CSM. I'd had to keep the Legionnaire squad still to respect the overwatch and planned to charge them in if Possessed failed to charge/had left space for them.

Immolator is tagged again as Battle Sisters take only a couple of attacks from Possessed and survive undamaged.

Situation on Sisters home objective is very precarious as Sisters are denied any primary points.

Overview of centre right side of battlefield going into Sisters turn 2.

Sisters fall back from the Possessed, however they can't do much damage with their remaining firepower or contest the objective.

Vahl's squad enters the fray and unleashes its Melta into the Possessed.

Zepherim teleport into my backfield - I hadn't screened (again, going all aggression) but they fail their charge into the cultists.

Possessed take a battering, mostly reduced to molten slag by various Multi-melta shots...

....but there's another Possesed squad mostly unhamred and all CSM tanks are alive.

Overview of battlefield going into CSM turn 3.

Blurry shot - my outflanking Vindicator can't line up on Vahl so comes back to attack Zepherim instead.

CSM have complete control of midboard and prepare to keep attacking.

Possessed keep fighting on the right corner

Legionnaires take out the battle sisters that tried to contest the objective on the right flank.

Possessed kill Junith (she revives via miracle dice.) Raptors move and start burning the objective - I learnt later they actually need to be within 1 of the objective itself, not within 3 so they shouldn't be able to burn it, but end up being killed regardless before completing it.

Vindicators mostly focus on shooting upfield taking out Vahl (who also ressurects) and Zepherim only take a few shots. Cultists charge in to deal with them as they've already sticked the objective.

Sisters still around on the back left flank so Possessed charge in.

For the only time in weekend Cultists kill a model as they make their most of their time in the sun!

Overview of battlefield going into Sisters turn 3.

Sisters only exist in their deployment zone with CSM firmly entrenched in the middle.

Shot from right side of deployment.

Resurrected Sisters characters move in to deal with Possessed.

Its a slog for the Slaanesh Possessed to get through the tank but they keep chipping away at it and the battle Sisters.

Possessed in the middle are exterminated as Valh takes a measure of revenge.

But Possessed clear out the Sisters left flank in response.

On the right Possessed still fighting but its a battle Sisters can't win.

CSM turn 4 - I can't get to Sisters objective so I stage for next turn. If they leave the objective/charge the Possessed 3 Vindicators will blast into Vahl.

Possessed clear up the right flank and I start to burn an objective midfield.

Sisters hide away in the their turn. Possessed move up, burn the objective and various tanks manage to table Sisters and end the game.

Final Score - CSM win 100 - 25, teams differential 20-0.

Postgame thoughts - Well I wanted to bring violence and I certainly managed that. Sisters managed a few tricks but couldn't deal enough damage to stop Possessed running around with Sisters only managing a single primary score over the game perhaps the best way to highlight the game with most of battle fought around the edge of the Sisters deployment line if not behind it. Excellent to start the event with a big win.

Rest of team results went well as we ended up winning 78-22 winners on differential with 4 wins and a draw.

Round 2 v Low Expectations - Purge the Foe, Chilling Rain, Crucible of Battle

Opponents team was Necrons, Aeldari, Grey Knights, League of Votaan and Thousand Sons. My ideal match up was Necrons, but did want to avoid LoV/TS and not great into Aeldari and ended up with my neutral pick of Grey Knights. The other matches were

Grey Knights v Necrons

Thousand Sons v Aeldari

Necrons v Leagues of Votann

Demons v Thousand Sons.

Opponent - Alex Watson's Grey Knights

It's raining men! Hallelujah!

It's raining men! Amen!

I'm gonna go out to run and let myself get

Absolutely soaking wet!

It's raining men! Hallelujah!

It's raining men! Every specimen!

Tall, blonde, dark and lean

Rough and tough and strong and mean

(2000 Points)

Grey Knights

Teleport Strike Force

Strike Force (2000 Points)

CHARACTERS

Brotherhood Librarian (120 Points)

• 1x Combi-weapon

1x Nemesis force weapon

1x Purge Soul

Brotherhood Librarian (120 Points)

• 1x Combi-weapon

1x Nemesis force weapon

1x Purge Soul

Brotherhood Librarian (120 Points)

• 1x Combi-weapon

1x Nemesis force weapon

1x Purge Soul

Kaldor Draigo (125 Points)

• Warlord

• 1x Scourging

1x Storm bolter

1x The Titansword

BATTLELINE

Brotherhood Terminator Squad (210 Points)

• 1x Terminator Justicar

• 1x Nemesis force weapon

1x Storm bolter

• 4x Brotherhood Terminator

• 1x Ancient’s Banner

1x Incinerator

1x Narthecium

4x Nemesis force weapon

2x Storm bolter

Brotherhood Terminator Squad (210 Points)

• 1x Terminator Justicar

• 1x Nemesis force weapon

1x Storm bolter

• 4x Brotherhood Terminator

• 1x Ancient’s Banner

1x Incinerator

1x Narthecium

4x Nemesis force weapon

2x Storm bolter

Strike Squad (120 Points)

• 1x Justicar

• 1x Nemesis force weapon

1x Storm bolter

• 4x Grey Knight

• 1x Close combat weapon

1x Incinerator

3x Nemesis force weapon

3x Storm bolter

OTHER DATASHEETS

Interceptor Squad (130 Points)

• 1x Interceptor Justicar

• 1x Nemesis force weapon

1x Storm bolter

• 4x Interceptor

• 4x Nemesis force weapon

4x Storm bolter

Nemesis Dreadknight (195 Points)

• 1x Heavy incinerator

1x Heavy psycannon

1x Nemesis daemon greathammer

Nemesis Dreadknight (195 Points)

• 1x Heavy incinerator

1x Heavy psycannon

1x Nemesis daemon greathammer

Nemesis Dreadknight (195 Points)

• 1x Heavy incinerator

1x Heavy psycannon

1x Nemesis daemon greathammer

Purgation Squad (130 Points)

• 1x Purgator Justicar

• 1x Nemesis force weapon

1x Storm bolter

• 4x Purgator

• 4x Close combat weapon

4x Incinerator

Purgation Squad (130 Points)

• 1x Purgator Justicar

• 1x Nemesis force weapon

1x Storm bolter

• 4x Purgator

• 4x Close combat weapon

4x Incinerator

My Secondaries - Tactical

Opponents Secondaries - Tactical

Pregame thoughts: So some interesting pro/cons here. On the positive side - nothing on Grey Knights side can stand head on to a Possessed charge, Grey Knight is a match up I'm very familiar with and my tanks are excellent as taking out Dreadknights even if they use Truesliver armour. On the downside - at a massive mobility disadvantage as always playing Grey Knights, its hard to build up much of a primary lead on the mission, Heavy Psycannons are a great profile for dealing with Possessed and they should have an edge on secondaries. Plan was similarish to Sisters (violence in midfield, stop primary) but with knowledge that I couldn't be as reckless - have to try and bait out Mists and try and allow myself a plan B if my planned/ideal charge target teleports away.

Reserves for both sides - it was going to be easier having angles to shoot Dreadnights from reserve and I wanted options for secondaries so 2 Vindicators, Raptors and Legionnaire all off the table.

I'd have rather gone second, but failing that its back to aggresive stance with Possessed heading for each objective (Slaanesh unit on right going for one thats harder to see for my tanks.)

GK deployment means no early damage, but I do score some awkward positional secondaries. As they don't have any big guns on table happy to be abit reckless with my advances and try and start a brawl as early as possible in the middle.

I drew investigate signals so moved my Cultists towards the corner and forgot to screen against T1 deepstrike...so Grey Knights take the chance to teleport across to my objective. I had a spare unit of Legionnaires just beyond the wall doing nothing who should have screen them out.

Grey Knights move up to attack the Slaanesh Possessed squad.

Draigo teleports in to help deal with Possessed with his nasty antideamon 2+ attacks.

Possessed take a double charge - they end up losing enough to the terminators + Dreigo that the Inceptors can't get to attack and take a terminator out in response.

CSM turn - the blue Undivided Possessed move up able to charge a Librarian (who Mists away) and Interceptors, so whichever does go they always have a charge target. The Green squad at the top moves up to threaten GK home objective. I can't match Grey Knights mobility, but I can threaten the saftey of anything that might pop onto an objective.

Typically the MoP's shooting is irrelevant- but against Grey Knights its very useful. He softened up Dreigo with Precision attack and the blue Possessed Squad ended up charging in and exactly killed him.

My tanks move back and take out a couple of terminators on my objective, Legionnaires charge in to take out last one or two to ensure its safety.

However I can't screen out the backfield and more GK's teleport in

With their own backfield under pressure 2 Dreadknights teleport back to sure up GK lines.

Legionnaire unit is torn apart, as is a Vindicators to the Librarians MW output but the GK fail their charges (including a re-roll) and Cultists hold the objective.

GK leave the midboard alone and focus on either deployment zone.

Lose a couple of Possessed to shooting but they still remain a threat going into CSM turn 3.

Reinforcements arrive for CSM. I don't give GK any chance to mists away and the tanks take out the Dreadknight and both Librarians.

Not much happening in midfield as I secure the objectives and the Green Possessed squad push upfield.

Sadly they take a nasty overwatch and can't take out the Grandmaster as a result which rather ends my chances of taking GK's home objective.

GK turn 3 - they teleport into my deployment again and try to start taking out my Vindicator.

Cultists held there ground admirably last turn, but are repulsed from the objective easily enough in this.

Possessed slowly ground out by the DK.

DK fails its charge after softening the tank up with some shooting.

CSM turn four as remaining tanks start to line up shots.

Pretty poor turn for CSM - Vindicators only scratch the DK abit, and in the end the only unit killed is a Librarian from a Warp Talon charge.

Middle is devoid of fighting- I shuffle a few units between objectives, score lots of primary and a few secondaries.

GK on my objective prove annoyingly stubborn only losing two. Predator charges in, killing 2 from tank shock and having a real crack of dislodging the last one but it survives (denying me overwhelming force.)

GK can't contest the middle, but keep scoring around the edges proving annoying to stop.

GK keep popping up behind my lines!

Finally some action in the middle as GK charge onto my objective. Raptors fall back (using a strat to be able to shoot) and plant a teleport homer in GK deployment zone.

"Hows the battle going?" "Yeah ok just chilling on the objective without a GK in sight over here."

DK make a charge from DS to nab some late primary.

GK only have two models left by the end but both DK's have scraped hard and kept points ticking over for GK.

Final score - 98 -70 win for CSM 15-5 teams differential.

Postgame thoughts: Teams kept this a very interesting game. Broadly my plan worked - got an early brawl in the midfield and dominated the middle dealing some very heavy early blows to Grey Knights and got myself in a position to win the game. However from their Grey Knights took their early blows, learned there lessons and just scrapped. Were-as the Sisters game broadly happened in their deployment, this game mostly happened in mine after the initial hammer blow Grey Knights took. What this meant was even after it was obvious I was going to win and I kept scoring well, Grey Knights were able to stem the bleeding and keep points ticking over in a way I struggled to stop as they clawed back the differential slowly - not enough to threaten the win, but enough to keep things in check for the team.

Team results - Thankfully Grey Knights limiting differential didn't matter much - Denis pulled out a 20-0 v Votaan and Doug's Grey Knights also scored a 15-5 win. Byron's Demon lost a close game 8-12 whilst Peter sadly lost 20-0 v Aeldari - not helped by his Vortex beast blowing up turn 1 and dealing 24 mortal wounds to his army via deadly demise. Still we pulled out a 58-42 score overall to take the win.

Round 3 v Warmasters A - Priority Targets, Hidden Supplies, Search and Destroy

Fun fact - at same event last year we also had ended up playing Warmasters A in round 3. So up against Tau, Sisters, Grey Knights, Blood Angels and Orks. I very much wanted to get Orks which we managed to arrange, whilst feeling ok about most of the rest - although given the forgiving primary I didn't want to play the GK list on this mission and BA's fight on death did make me much more scared of the fight than I initially thought I would be. Rest of pairings were:

Grey Knights v Tau

Necrons v Sisters

Chaos Demons v Grey Knights

Thousand Sons v Blood Angels (none of us really wanted to fight BA, TS getting tossed to the wolfs and hoping to make up difference elsewhere.)

Opponent: Niklas Ek's Orks

backwiththeboysaga.in (2000 points)

Orks

Strike Force (2000 points)

Green Tide

CHARACTERS

Boss Snikrot (85 points)

• 1x Mork’s Teeth

1x Slugga

Painboy (70 points)

• 1x Power klaw

1x ’Urty syringe

Painboy (70 points)

• 1x Power klaw

1x ’Urty syringe

Painboy (70 points)

• 1x Power klaw

1x ’Urty syringe

Warboss (65 points)

• 1x Attack squig

1x Kombi-weapon

1x Power klaw

1x Twin sluggas

Warboss (65 points)

• 1x Attack squig

1x Kombi-weapon

1x Power klaw

1x Twin sluggas

Warboss (65 points)

• Warlord

• 1x Attack squig

1x Kombi-weapon

1x Power klaw

1x Twin sluggas

Weirdboy (55 points)

• 1x Weirdboy staff

1x ’Eadbanger

Weirdboy (70 points)

• 1x Weirdboy staff

1x ’Eadbanger

• Enhancement: Bloodthirsty Belligerence

BATTLELINE

Boyz (170 points)

• 19x Boy

• 17x Choppa

2x Close combat weapon

2x Rokkit launcha

17x Slugga

• 1x Boss Nob

• 1x Power klaw

1x Slugga

Boyz (170 points)

• 19x Boy

• 17x Choppa

2x Close combat weapon

2x Rokkit launcha

17x Slugga

• 1x Boss Nob

• 1x Power klaw

1x Slugga

Boyz (170 points)

• 19x Boy

• 17x Choppa

2x Close combat weapon

2x Rokkit launcha

17x Slugga

• 1x Boss Nob

• 1x Power klaw

1x Slugga

Boyz (170 points)

• 19x Boy

• 17x Choppa

2x Close combat weapon

2x Rokkit launcha

17x Slugga

• 1x Boss Nob

• 1x Power klaw

1x Slugga

Boyz (170 points)

• 19x Boy

• 17x Choppa

2x Close combat weapon

2x Rokkit launcha

17x Slugga

• 1x Boss Nob

• 1x Power klaw

1x Slugga

OTHER DATASHEETS

Battlewagon (160 points)

• 2x Big shoota

1x Deff rolla

1x Grabbin’ klaw

1x Lobba

1x Wreckin’ ball

1x ’Ard Case

Gretchin (40 points)

• 10x Gretchin

• 10x Close combat weapon

10x Grot blasta

• 1x Runtherd

• 1x Runtherd tools

1x Slugga

Kommandos (135 points)

• 1x Bomb Squig

1x Distraction Grot

• 9x Kommando

• 1x Breacha ram

1x Burna

7x Choppa

1x Close combat weapon

7x Slugga

• 1x Boss Nob

• 1x Power klaw

1x Slugga

Stormboyz (65 points)

• 4x Stormboy

• 4x Choppa

4x Slugga

• 1x Boss Nob

• 1x Power klaw

1x Slugga

Stormboyz (65 points)

• 4x Stormboy

• 4x Choppa

4x Slugga

• 1x Boss Nob

• 1x Power klaw

1x Slugga

Warbikers (70 points)

• 2x Warbiker

• 2x Close combat weapon

2x Twin dakkagun

• 1x Boss Nob on Warbike

• 1x Close combat weapon

1x Power klaw

1x Twin dakkagun

My Secondaries - Tactical

Opponents Secondaries - Tactical

Pregame thoughts - So up against Green Tide on forgiving primary. I still wanted to be aggressive - I was going to need to need all the damage I could throw at Orks as early as possible to push through. I don't need much incentive to be aggressive - but especially when Orks started deploying somewhat conservatively I was happy to put my army on the line to try and contest the objective right from the start. This is also were the difference in teams and singles really took effect, Orks had a defensive posture and were happy to settle for a 10-10 draw whereas given some of the other match ups I felt the need to push and take some risks to try and force a differential.

I put the further right Vindicator down early and Orks were very respectful of it keeping back which allowed me to deploy the rest of army aggressively to the line again.

Ork deployment huddled against the walls hiding back.

Orks win first turn, move up some bikers and a few units around the side and thats turn.

Battlewagon moves up against the wall, not the most exciting turn.

CSM turn 1 - so in a singles enviroment I'd throw forward the Legionaires, maybe move up Predator to get some shots on bikers and call it a day. But I want to push differential, so I take a different route.

Turn one and the first brawl breaks out. Warp Talons move up to attack the Kommandos (yellow rings) and maybe get assassinate and are heroically intervened by the white squad. Possessed had move up to charge bikers, but end up counter charging the white squad (having to use a CP re-roll to make it in.)

Possessed take out a chunk of flesh and Warp Talons take our Kommandos, but Snikrot lives. The Boyz and Snikrot take out the Warp Talons in response.

Possessed had move up without a screen on the right flank, Orks call the Waaaagh and Orange squad advances from the battlewagon.

White squad falls back as Red squad and Stormboyz move up. Well I was getting that brawl I wanted.

Orks teleport to the left flank and line up a charge into Legionnaires

Ork turn 2 after charge before fight phase.

70-odd Orks of various types smash into CSM lines.

At this stage was certainly wondering if mistakes were made with the course chosen!

Orange squad takes a hefty chunk out the Possessed, Legionnaire tank the Stormboyz charge well enough and take most of them in response.

Green Possessed get a chance to interrupt against Red squad and tear a hefty chunk out of them.

Unsurprisingly the Boyz overrun the Legionnaires and tag the Vindicator. In my turn I fall back, allow the Vindicator to shoot via strat and unleash 3 Vindicators worth of firepower into the squad killing all the Boyz but leaving the Characters alive.

CSM turn 2 - the blue Possessed squad go in to try and rescue their Slaanesh brethren from Orange squad.

Green Possessed squad keep fighting their way through the red Boyz squad leaving only the Warboss alive, who sadly is the only model doing any real damage to them!

Orks turn 3 as White boyz squad comes back to the fray.

Orange squad had taken a the Possessed charge well and the battlewagon came in to join the fray.

The Wagon did virtually no damage, but kept 5 Possessed busy for the turn who did manage to kill it.

Possessed and Boyz continue to battle it out as the Warboss smashes its way through most of the Possessed.

Warboss charges the Vindicator, it doesn't do much damage and is blown away in my turn but keeps me pinned back.

Its been an absolutely mad scrap for the middle, but the Undivded Possessed finally free themselves up and look to go after the Boyz unit (then threaten the Orks home objective) but the Boyz bloodsurge in and the wall means neither side can attack much, pinning the Possessed in place.

Legionnaires come in from reserve but I can't get on the objective for primary.

The scrap has been brutal but Orks have taken a hell of a pounding and Vindicators clear up the middle. 18ish Boyz fighting the Possessed from behind the wall teleport away

Sadly we were scrambling for time here and I didn't get many shots of the last Boyz unit making a unholy neuscence of itself!

Last ork turn, and they draw Capture enemry outpost as the Boyz unit teleports in, makes its charge and I can't dislodge them.

Grots at the back cower as Possessed make a last ditch charge to do likewise back to Orks but can't make the 9 inch charge as the bloodbath finally ends.

Final Score - 91 80 win for CSM - teams differential 12 - 8

Postgame thoughts - Well if Orks are the dominent megagame force at least the games will be fun. Always great to have a midboard fight, and boy(z) did that happen. Compared to the last Ork list I underestimated the damage the Warboss's brought and it felt for awhile that Orks were going to win the midfield brawl and I had been over aggressive. However that started to change and I started to establish some level of dominance in the midboard and Niklas managed to find ways to slow me down. This was where the difference between singles and teams shone, in singles I'd have been delighted here and happy to shut up shop, instead the last Boyz squad managed to make a huge pain of itself and with the the last teleport/charge allowing for late game primary, denial and capture enemy outpost as the worst time for me it caused a 3 point swing in differential which looked at one stage like it was going to be the difference between the two teams. Very happy to great the win in a brutal scrap, some regret that I couldn't push the differential more but Orks played well to stop that.

Teams result - Byron's Demons managed a huge win over Grey Knights whilst Tau and Grey Knights fought to the slimmest of wins for Tau. BA ran over TS but we at least managed to score a few points - however Sisters absolutely ran through Necrons 20-0 them to everyone's surprise (Denis 's dice refused to roll any 4+ saves) meaning Warmasters took the round 58-42.

Round 4 - Probable Caws - Scorched Earth, Chilling Rain, Crucible of Battle.

Up against Black Templars, World Eaters, Drukari, Death Guard and Adeptus Custodes. I wanted to avoid Black Templars Ironstorm as they did have the guns to really threaten me. My ideal match ups were World Easter/Custodes and maybe DG as they didn't have the guns to clear me and whilst both sides had some nasty combat threats I had enough screens and ranged damage to have threats in multiple phases whilst mitigating theirs. In the end I got paired into Drukari - not my worst match up, not my preferred either.

The rest of the matches

Grey Knights v Black Templars

Necrons v World Eaters

Chaos Daemons v Death Guard

Thousand Sons v Adeptus Custodes.

Opponent - Darren Chapman

Kabal of the Final Breath. (2000 points)

Drukhari

Strike Force (2000 points)

Realspace Raiders

CHARACTERS

Archon (75 points)

• Warlord

• 1x Blast pistol

1x Huskblade

Beastmaster (105 points)

• 1x Beastmaster

• 1x Agoniser

1x Splinter pods

• 1x Clawed Fiend

• 1x Clawed Fiend fists

• 2x Khymerae

• 2x Khymerae talons

• 3x Razorwing Flock

• 3x Razorwing feathers

Lelith Hesperax (85 points)

• 1x Lelith’s blades

BATTLELINE

Kabalite Warriors (110 points)

• 1x Sybarite

• 1x Phantasm grenade launcher

1x Splinter rifle

1x Sybarite weapon

• 9x Kabalite Warrior

• 1x Blaster

9x Close combat weapon

1x Dark lance

1x Shredder

1x Splinter cannon

5x Splinter rifle

Kabalite Warriors (110 points)

• 1x Sybarite

• 1x Phantasm grenade launcher

1x Splinter rifle

1x Sybarite weapon

• 9x Kabalite Warrior

• 1x Blaster

9x Close combat weapon

1x Dark lance

1x Shredder

1x Splinter cannon

5x Splinter rifle

Wyches (90 points)

• 1x Hekatrix

• 1x Blast pistol

1x Hekatarii blade

1x Phantasm grenade launcher

• 9x Wych

• 9x Hekatarii blade

9x Splinter pistol

DEDICATED TRANSPORTS

Venom (70 points)

• 1x Bladevanes

1x Splinter cannon

OTHER DATASHEETS

Court of the Archon (85 points)

• 1x Lhamaean

• 1x Shaimeshi blade

• 1x Medusae

• 1x Close combat weapon

1x Eyeburst

• 1x Sslyth

• 1x Shardcarbine

1x Splinter pistol

1x Sslyth battle-blade

• 1x Ur-ghul

• 1x Ur-ghul talons

Cronos (100 points)

• 2x Cronos

• 2x Spirit syphon

2x Spirit vortex

2x Spirit-leech tentacles

Cronos (50 points)

• 1x Spirit syphon

1x Spirit vortex

1x Spirit-leech tentacles

Mandrakes (65 points)

• 1x Nightfiend

• 1x Baleblast

1x Glimmersteel blade

• 4x Mandrake

• 4x Baleblast

4x Glimmersteel blade

Mandrakes (65 points)

• 1x Nightfiend

• 1x Baleblast

1x Glimmersteel blade

• 4x Mandrake

• 4x Baleblast

4x Glimmersteel blade

Reavers (60 points)

• 1x Arena Champion

• 1x Agoniser

1x Bladevanes

1x Cluster caltrops

1x Heat lance

1x Splinter pistol

• 2x Reaver

• 2x Bladevanes

2x Splinter pistol

2x Splinter rifle

Reavers (60 points)

• 1x Arena Champion

• 1x Agoniser

1x Bladevanes

1x Cluster caltrops

1x Heat lance

1x Splinter pistol

• 2x Reaver

• 2x Bladevanes

2x Splinter pistol

2x Splinter rifle

Reavers (60 points)

• 1x Arena Champion

• 1x Agoniser

1x Bladevanes

1x Cluster caltrops

1x Heat lance

1x Splinter pistol

• 2x Reaver

• 2x Bladevanes

2x Splinter pistol

2x Splinter rifle

Scourges (110 points)

• 1x Solarite

• 1x Close combat weapon

1x Shardcarbine

1x Solarite weapon

• 4x Scourge

• 4x Close combat weapon

4x Drukhari haywire blaster

Scourges (110 points)

• 1x Solarite

• 1x Close combat weapon

1x Shardcarbine

1x Solarite weapon

• 4x Scourge

• 4x Close combat weapon

4x Dark lance

Scourges (110 points)

• 1x Solarite

• 1x Close combat weapon

1x Shardcarbine

1x Solarite weapon

• 4x Scourge

• 4x Close combat weapon

4x Dark lance

Talos (160 points)

• 2x Talos

• 2x Talos gauntlet

2x Twin Drukhari haywire blaster

2x Twin liquifier gun

Talos (160 points)

• 2x Talos

• 2x Talos gauntlet

2x Twin Drukhari haywire blaster

2x Twin liquifier gun

Talos (160 points)

• 2x Talos

• 2x Talos gauntlet

2x Twin Drukhari haywire blaster

2x Twin liquifier gun

My Secondaries - Tactical

Opponents Secondaries - Tactical

Pregame thoughts - So initially confident about this, despite not having played against Drukari this edition. This was the fourth mission (and final) were you could only score 10 on primary so I really needed to target the bottom right objective to stop Drukari from being able to score primary and getting a lead on secondary. Drukari's haywire/Lances were a threat to my tanks, which I needed to be wary of otherwise I didn't really rate their output into Possessed (this wasn't correct) so I wanted to keep with my aggressive pushing plan.

CSM deployment - similar to other games one squad of Possessed as close as they can be to the 'shielded' objective.

Again want some secondary options so Raptors + Legionnaire unit in reserve and Vindicator for counter attack/trying to fish out Drukari from extra angles.

Drukari deployment - Talos/Cronos in the open rest hiding away (or prepared to scout away.)

Reverse shot of Drukari home objective.

I had wanted to go second in every game so far, sadly won the roll off for turn one. Vidicator/Preadtor picks up two Talon as Legionnaires advance and charge into Mandrakes before consolidating back towards objective.

Drukari move up in response with Chronos on either flank they could use their pain tokens aggressively helped by the fact they couldn't seem to roll less a fail on regenerating them!

On the south flank Reavers and Talos move up to challenge Possessed.

Drukari worried about Nurgle strat making my tanks lone opp so push Scourges up. As it turns out I'm so hungry for CP in this list I didn't end up using it once at the tournament.

Warrior squad, Court and Archon tear apart Legionnaire unit.

I was warned pregame about Lelith but still wasn't that worried. When she dealt 17 damage (before saves.) That was the moment when I realised I had been too aggressive.

Beastmaster squad rips through Warp Talons to take my objective.

Cronos consolidate up as Scourges fire and fade forwards to Screen against blue Possessed.

CSM position going into turn 2.

Decision time for blue Possessed - I can take out the Scourges and Wytches or go for longer Charge into Talon. In the end I decide Lilith is the bigger threat so go into the 3 squishier targets.

Archon's unit behind the wall has fights first, thankfully there isn't much space to base the Chronos so I charge it, can only base with a couple and get to pile into the Archon's unit and hit them.

I managed to kill the Drukari units around bottom of shot (save one Scourge) and all the Warriors in the Archon's unit but the Chronos, Archon and Court all survive denying my area denial draw.

Talos are a big threat to Possessed and are essentially untouched going into Drukari turn 2.

Drukari move much quicker than CSM, which is why you can make out the CSM tanks clearly, but not the speedy Drukari units.

Talos start lining up Possessed as Drukari surge back into the middle.

Things suddenly go very wrong when a Scourge unit split fires into my tanks and kills the Predator and a Vindicator that would have been at top left of shot in a single salvo. It was learning towards this anyway, but this was the moment I switched from a 'lets kill Drukari' game plan to 'lets scrap for every point at the expense of damage' game plan.

Archon's unit falls back to allow Venom + Warriors to unleash a bunch of anti-infantry shots into Possessed and Raptors - softening up the later in particular.

Big moment to keep in the game - I was ahead on primary but had drawn some horror secondaries early on. The Legionaries in shot had rapid ingress 9 away from the bikers, then after I drew Capture enemy outpost I advanced and charged onto the objective clearing it of Mandrakes (also stopping Drukari secondary options.)

Possessed battle court of the Archon, just about holding the middle.

Possessed and Vindicator clear the objective of Talos, but another wave approaches.

Time was running out - so struggled to get photo's from here (Blasted through rounds 3 + 4 in about 5 mins each as we tried to finish.) Drukari move up to claim the central objective.

Scourges and bikers combined to take out my Legionaries - although they need to overwatch me in my turn to finish them off after Legionaries kill Reavers in combat.

Last shot I have of the game - Drukari turn 3 and we rushed through round 4. Drukari take the middle, the Legionaries at the top of shot on objective run to far side of objective and Drukari run and charge onto it but can't claim it.

Final result victorious draw for CSM's 58 v Drukari 56s - teams differential 10 - 10

Postgame - So first up disclaimer, we only manged to get 4 turns in and in singles the winner comes down to whoever draws better secondaries in final turn with Drukari going to struggle on damage ones, whilst I struggle on positional ones (looking at secondaries I think I can score 6/9 left, Drukari 7/9.) From a teams perspective thankfully the extra turn wouldn't have affected the result, although its always nicer getting the victorious side of the draw. I vastly, vastly underestimated how well Drukari could deal with the Possessed. I think seeing Realspace Raiders and judging them on reputation was a horrible start, I didn't even think to question how much anti-infantry keywords Drukari had despite being aware of their poison in past editions. Whilst I probably had more output than Drukari, my profile didn't go as well into them and tricks like Fight First on two units kept me struggling to really connect any meaningful blows, not to mention the screening stopping me from Possessed taking on their Talos and having to tank the charge from them instead instead. It was a real scrap this one - some bad secondary draws put me behind early, my primary difference pushed me back in and we were both running on fumes at the end having taken most of each others list out.

As for the rest of the team Grey Knights destroyed Black Templars - this was a relief seeing this wrap up early on the table next to me as I struggled to push through Drukari. Custodes managed to beat Thousand Sons and Necrons drew with World Eaters and Byron's Deamons win over Death Guard ensured we took the round with a hard fought 56-44 win.

Round 5 v Mega Knob Meta - Take and Hold, Chilling Rain, Take and Hold.

So up against Chaos Knights, Black Templars, Orks, Aeldari and Necrons. I wanted to avoid Black Templars and go into Orks/Necrons with CK as third choice and ended up fighting CK. Rest of match ups were:

Necrons v Black Templars

Grey Knights v Orks

Thousand Sons v Aeldari

Chaos Daemons v Necrons.

Opponent: Peter Duff's Chaos Knights

ARMY NAME: ck.rotting.dogs

KEYWORD: CHAOS KNIGHTS

TOTAL POINTS: 1995

------------------------

DETACHMENT: Traitoris Lance

Rotigus [230pts]

War Dog Stalker [175pts]

- WARLORD, Daemonbreath Spear, Slaughterclaw, Havoc Multi-launcher, Aura of Terror

3x Nurglings [40pts]

War Dog Brigand [170pts]