Crucible Guard is on the move again. The Liael radicalised youth is attempting to use the Orgoth invasion to stir unrest in the territories. The Empress has ordered Kapitan Ekatrina Baranova to stop Baldwin Gearhart. Curcible Guards tend to use all sorts of chemical tricks to mess with Khador armour. This battle is bloody, fast and fun.
Historical, I have had issues with Crucible Guard. Not only have every single model more rules that the entire Khador army, they are also quite adept at dealing with heavy armour. Yet, this is MK IV, so things might have improved. This Gerhart list contains a lot of medium based dudes, three Assault Troopers and one Storm Trooper. Thus, Baranova is summoned to deal with the radicalised youth of Liael. The two lists facing off are:
| Khador - Winter Korps Kapitan Ekaterina Baranova - Avenging Force - Fog of War - Puissance - Mastodon [34] HEAD - Fire Support RIGHT SHOULDER - Heavy Cannon LEFT SHOULDER - Heavy Cannon RIGHT ARM - Great Axe LEFT ARM - Grinder Fist AC-2 Bison [10] AC-2 Bison [10] Battle Mechanik [2] Battle Mechanik [2] Magziev Zariyah Volkova [4] Winter Korps Officer [2] Winter Korps Officer [2] Winter Korps Officer [2] Arkanists [4] Man-O-War Wrecking Crew [10] Man-O-War Wrecking Crew [10] Winter Korps Snipers [4] - Winter Korps Hunting Dog [1] Winter Korps Snipers [4] - Winter Korps Hunting Dog [1] Command cards - Blessing of the Gods - Break Through - High Alert - Old Faithful - Power Swell Total Points 102/100 | Crucible Guard - Crucible Guard Marshal General Baldwin Gearhart - Mr. Clogg Vulcan [28] Ascendant Mentalist [4] Aurum Ominus Alyce Marc [5] Crucible Guard Mechanik [1] Crucible Guard Mechanik [1] Doctor Alejandro Mosby [4] Hutchuk, Ogrun Bounty Hunter [5] Rocketman Ace [3] Rocketman Ace [3] Rocketman Stinger [3] Rocketman Stinger [3] Trancer [2] Crucible Guard Assault Troopers [7] Crucible Guard Assault Troopers [7] Crucible Guard Assault Troopers [7] Crucible Guard Storm Troopers [9] Dragon's Breath Rocket [4] Dragon's Breath Rocket [4] Command Cards - Careful Reconnaissance - Hit & Run - Old Faithful - Power Swell - Sapper TOTAL POINTS 100/100 |
Please not that I accidentally played this list with 102 points! Goring forward, I'm removing one Officer. krjugamer on the SFG discord has been nice and pointed it out.
Initial Thoughts
In some way, the approach from both lists are similar: only one 'jack, but a rather large one. Gearhart brings a Vulcan and Baranova brings a Mastodon. I guess that on paper the Mastodon is better. However, Crucible typically has more support spells and weird abilities.
There are also four of the flying men, who tends to be quite mobile and generally a nuisance. The core of the infantry are the Assault Troopers. I remember them as slightly better than old Khador Man-O-Wars. So, this will be interesting. They should probably just be shot, fast. The Rockets does not worry me too much. I seem to remember that they can do some annoying cloud effects. But, I'll probably manage.
Gearhart and Vulcan is a dangerous partnership. Not only can he cast Deceleration, which is always annoying to face, he can also cast Snipe on a Vulcan and upkeep Hot Shot. That makes for a pretty dangerous rocket and two quite annoying sprays. Mr. Clogg can also helo his master with several different guns, where I find the Catapult most annoying. It has Shadow Bind; and Baranova only has one 'jack.
I think the plan will be something along the lines of kill as much infantry as possible with the Mastodon and the AC2-Bisons. Kill the Vulcan in close combat with the Mastodon and/or the Wrecking Crew. Snipers of objectives and normal annoyance. What could possible go wrong?
Deployment
We are playing Steamroller 2024 Scenario Battle Lines. Gearhart wins the roll-off and opts to go first. Baranova picks the side with a cloud she can hang out behind.
Gearhart deploys everything in a huge brick in the middle of the board. The Vulcan is to the left of the bulk of the army.
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| The situation after deployment |
Baranova deploys like she always does. The Mastodon, more or less in the middle, with all the support and herself next to it. Each flank is occupied by a unit of Snipers, A Bison, a unit of Wrecking Crew and an Officer. She kind of misses the four units of Shock Troopers. But, the Wrecking Crew must suffice.
The picture above depicts the situation before the battle commences.
Round 1
Round 1 is usually rather boring. However, Baranova has a Mastodon. So it might be fun. Who knows?
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| End of turn 1 |
Gearhart advances all of his troops. Snipe goes up on Gearhart along with Deceleration. Deceleration and Assault/Shock Troopers is an unfortunate combination. This gives them +6 ARM against shooting. Boo hiss! That is it.
The picture above shows the result of Gearhart's advancements.
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| End of round 1 |
Baranova is in a good mood. She casts Avenging Force, and with Invocation of Wrath (IoW) and Superiority on the Mastodon, it can walk into shooting distance of the Assault Troopers. So, why waste a present? The combined shooting with a AC-2 Bison and a bit of help from the Arkanists and Volkova, three Assault Troopers, one Shock Trooper and a Dragon Rocket unit disappears. Is is, so far a good day to be a Mastodon.
In addition to the lovely display of fire power, the remaining parts of Baranova's army just advances. The two units of Snipers spread out. Everybody else just enjoy the show.
The picture above depicts the situation and the end of round 1.
Round 2
Round 2 is where the action typically happens. Gearhart is a bit annoyed that he did not pick up the measuring tape and just eye balled distances. He is now a bit wary of the Mastodon.
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| End of turn 1 |
The main event is the movement of Gearhart and some of the Assault Troopers move into the rough terrain in the middle. This obviously makes them somewhat more difficult to shoot. Not only do they get a better DEF but also the +6 to ARM. Quite disappointing, I have to say. Oh, and Gearhart shoots the Bison to the left with Shadow Bind.
A second group of Assault Troopers clutter up to the left. There was some idea behind this, that I forgot. The good doctor does his drug things, probably to make them tough. On the left, a Trancer runs up to the objective.
Finally, on the right, the Vulcan advances outside the charge range of the Mastodon. The remaining Dragon Rockets move up and shoots a rocket and the Wrecking Crew. The main effect is that they get Vengeance. Hutchuck also joins the party on the right side. Along with a dudess on a rocket, they take out the unit of Snipers (and the dog. Nobody likes dogs!)
The picture above shows how the battlefield looks after Gerhart's response to the Mastodon shock.
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| End of round 2 |
OK. Gearhart is getting twitchy. Baranova wants to get stuff moving. She does not like the looks of the Vulcan. So, she moves to the left. Casts IoW and feats. The Mastodon assumes that the Vulcan can't kill it and moves forward to the middle of the board. It keeps hammering on the unit in the middle hiding Gearhart.
On the left, the Snipers just hang back to score the flag. The Bison can't move due to Shadow Bind. So it just hangs back and enjoys the view. The Wrecking Crew moves into the woods to be ready for the next turn.
On the right, the second Bison hammes away at the Vulcan, whilst staying near the objective to hopefully score at some point. The Officer charges Hutchuck but can't manage to kill him. The second Officer runs sideways to be ready to assist. The Wrecking Crew moves forward to be ready for the Vulcan and perhaps be a little in the way.
The picture above depicts the end of round 2. Scenario score is 2-2.
Round 3
Round 3 is typically where battles get decided. Let's see which way the wind blow. Gearhart needs to put the metal to the pedal.
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| End of turn 1 |
On the right flank, Hutchuck attempts to retaliate agains the Officer. Luckily, with out any effect. The two flying men moves towards the objective and the Bison; mostly, to be annoying - like little flies. The Dragon's Breath moves forward and hits the Bison with Withering Humor (-2 DEF and no tough).
The left flank is rather uneventful. The last flying dude moves to the objective and the Trancer already hanging around there. I assume the Trancer was suppose to move to my Snipes. But apparently, it was napping.
The main action is in the middle, where the Mastodon learns that it is not particularly good at maths. A Vulcan filled up with focus and all the bells and whistles that Gearhart can do, can actually kill a Mastodon. It was not a overkill. But, nevertheless the Mastodon crumbles.
The picture above shows the sorry state of the battle field after the Mastodon has been reduced to scrap. Scenario score is now 4-3.
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| End of round 3 |
This is unfortunate. I was assuming that the Vulcan would make a move on the Mastodon. But, I did not expect it to kill it. On the bright side, most of the remaining army is untouched. Nevertheless, Baranova needs to step up and be creative. I do thing she feated at a good time. It is only the Vulcan that is in her battle line.
On the left flank, the Bison haven't got anything better to do than move to the left and kill the Trancer. Second shot goes into the Vulcan that really needs to go away. The Officer moves behind the Bison for Cover and gives Pathfinder to the Wrecking Crew.
In the middle, the Arkanists lost their 'jack so it is spray time. They move up and spray the Vulcan. Obviously, Baranova has activated first to cast IoW. Next up is the Mechanik who moves up, shoots and spray the Vulcan. The second Officer gives the other unit of Wrecking Crew Pathfinder as well. It is wrecking time.
The left most Wrecking Crew charges the Vulcan a brings a lot of hurt. We like Puissance. They are followed by the second unit of Wrecking Crew who thinks this looks like fun. They charge, and when the smoke settles the Vulcan is no more.
Nothing significant happens on the right flank. Stuff attempts to hit stuff with no real effect.
The picture above demonstrates the result of Baranova getting her act together. Scenario score is now 6-5 in Gearhart's favour.
Round 4
Both armies are now left with only the infantry (and tanks in Baranova's case). Let's see how Gearhart retaliates.
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| End of turn 1 |
Gearhart starts by sending the flying dude on the left down behind the house with the flag to contest the point. Another flying dude move to the middle objective and kills some Arkanists. On the right flank, it is business as usually, people hit each other to no effect.
The real party is in the middle. Obviously, killing the Vulcan did provoke some negative sentiment among the remaining Crucible Guards. They decide to take their anger out on the Wrecking Crews.
The Assault Troopers charge the Wrecking Crew and manage to take out two members of the unit to the right. Some of the other models also attempts to take out the second unit, without any luck. This inspires Gearhart to join the party. He charges the last Wrecking Crew member of the rightmost unit. Luckily, he did not have a full breakfast and is to weak to kill the model.
Gearhart's revenge was surprisingly weak. No units disappeared. The turn ends with a scenario score of 8-5 in Gearhart's favour. The picture above depicts the situation and the end of the first turn of round 4.
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| End of round 4, end of game |
Baranova is getting behind on scenario point. So, she really needs to either get some points or just kill Gearhart. Luckily, Gearhart got greedy and manage to place himself in the middle of the board with four annoyed Wrecking Crew members nearby. So, killing Gearhart is the plan.
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| Kumbaya my lord... |
The picture to the left shows Gearhart surrounded by a bunch of Wrecking Crew singing Kumbaya my lord just before Gearhart leaves the party.
This ends the game in round 4. The picture above depicts the end of the game. Scenario score ends at 10-5 in Gearhart's favour. He would have won if he did not get greedy.
Final Thoughts
Fun game with a lot of cool stuff happening. On the less cool side, I clearly underestimated the robustness of the Mastodon. It does a lot of work. Yet, it is not as survivable as it looks. Also, I still need to be better at scenario. They are very important in Steamroller.
I think I'm getting better at piloting this list. I think that Snipers might have found their place. Park them near a flag and forget them. Bisons are cool. They are quite robust but not really dealing a lot of damage.
Until next time.
For the Motherland!
For the Motherland!
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