Iron Warriors vs Imperial Fists

1850 point Bunker Assault between Andy's Imperial Fists and FATMAN's Iron Warriors

By FATMAN
HTML/CSS Monkey: Andy

FATMAN - Iron Warriors Introduction

This month my friend Andy and I got to throw down for a battle report. I was excited to play with my new camera and have a good slug out with my arch enemies, the Imperial Fists. I decided to play the list I've been playing for quite a while, mostly because I was too busy fiddling with my Alpha Legion to go playing with my Iron Warriors list and it's so much easier to play with a list you have memorized. Andy always puts me and my army to the limits but we all know it's better to be favored by the studio than the Emperor.

Andy - Imperial Fist Introduction

Excellent! Another 40k Fluff Grudge-match between my Imperial Fists and FATMAN's Iron Warriors.

I normally play a relatively shooty force, based on ten-man Tactical Squads with a couple of squads of Devastators (one usually containing 4 Plasma Cannons, the other 4 Missile Launchers) for Marine bashing. For my last RTT, I switched over to a very mobile force including a squad of Assault Terminators in a Land Raider Crusader; it worked out pretty well for me, so I decided to break with tradition and try a similar list against the hated Iron Warriors. Frankly, I can kind of see where Dorn was coming from on that whole Gauntlet unpleasantness. Hopefully I can manage things better than he did.

Army Lists

Iron Warriors 3rd Grand Company

Warsmith Joram - 105
Dark Blade
Combi-Flamer
Bionics
MoCU

Troops

Trench Command and Control 1 - 188
Chaos Space Marines x 9
Mark of Chaos Undivided x 9
Lascannon
Plasma Gun
Bolters x 6
Aspiring Champion Luthor
Powerfist

Fire Support 1-1 - 115
Chaos Space Marines x 6
Mark of Chaos Undivided x 6
Lascannon
Plasma Gun
Bolters x 4

Breaching Squad 1-1 - 241
Chaos Space Marines x 9
Mark of Chaos Undivided x 9
Meltagun x 2
Bolt Pistol and Close Combat Weapon x 6
Aspiring Champion Mephaath
Power Fist
Rhino
Extra Armor
Smoke Launchers

Trench Command and Control 2 - 183
Chaos Space Marines x 9
Mark of Chaos Undivided x 9
Lascannon
Plasma Gun
Bolters x 6
Aspiring Champion Kith
Powersword

Fire Support 2-1 - 133
Chaos Space Marines x 6
Mark of Chaos Undivided x 6
Infiltrate x 6
Lascannon
Plasma Gun
Bolters x 4

Breaching Squad 2-1 - 233
Chaos Space Marines x 9
Mark of Chaos Undivided x 9
Flamer x 2
Bolt Pistol and Close Combat Weapon x 6
Aspiring Champion Sammael
Power Fist
Rhino
Extra Armor
Smoke Launchers

Heavy Support

Fire Support 1-3 - 188
Chaos Havocs x 6
Mark of Chaos Undivided x 6
Tank Hunters x 6
Autocannons x 4
Bolters x 2

Fire Support 2-3 - 188
Chaos Havocs x 6
Mark of Chaos Undivided x 6
Tank Hunters x 6
Missile Launchers x 4
Bolters x 2

Artillery Support 1-1 - 125
Corrupted Basilisk
Indirect Fire

Artillery Support 2-1 - 148
Corrupted Vindicator
Demonic Possession
Dozer Blade
Smoke Launchers

1850 points

Imperial Fists, 3rd Company 1st Platoon

Force Commander Tanis - 110
Power Weapon
Storm Bolter
Terminator Armour
Purity Seals

Elites

Divine Might - 210
Terminator Assault Squad x 5
Duel Lightning Claws x 3
Thunder Hammer and Storm Shield
Sergeant with Power Weapon and Storm Bolter x 1

Revered Aquinas - 143
Dreadnought
Heavy Flamer
Twin Linked Lascannon
Extra Armour
Smoke Launchers

Troops

Hammer of Justice - 268
Tactical Squad x 10
Bolter x 7
Heavy Bolter
Meltagun
Veteran Sergeant Jorvik
Bolt Pistol
Powerfist
Melta Bombs
Rhino APC
Extra Armour
Smoke Launchers

Anvil of Faith - 259
Tactical Squad x 10
Bolter x 7
Heavy Bolter
Flamer
Veteran Sergeant Vasquez
Bolt Pistol
Powerfist
Rhino APC
Extra Armour
Smoke Launchers

Gaze of Victory - 171
Tactical Squad x 10
Bolter x 8
Lascannon
Plasma Gun

Fist of Retribution - 171
Tactical Squad x 10
Bolter x 8
Lascannon
Plasma Gun

Heavy Support

Storm of the Emperor - 258
Land Raider Crusader
Extra Armour
Smoke Launchers

Pillar of Fire - 185 Pts
Devastator Squad x 7
Bolter x 3
Missile Launcher x 4

Downtown - 75
Whirlwind Battery

1850 points

Pregame

Andy and I quickly discussed mission before the game and decided on Bunker Assault because it would allow us to use some cool Bunker and Fortification terrain and it just feels right to play my Iron Warriors versus his Imperial Fists in this kind of mission. I offered Andy the choice of Attacker or Defender and he chose to attack since he has been playing around with a more assault oriented Imperial Fist force.

Iron Warriors Deployment

The Defender deploys first in a Bunker Assault and only deploys the Troops and HQ of the army. Ouch, no Heavy Support starting on the table for me. Reserves missions that leave my Heavy Support off of the table are definitely the most challenging thing for my army besides a Night Fight. But, on the bright side I would be deploying my whole army behind hard cover. This would really give me the shooting advantage and protect me somewhat when the assault finally came.

Knowing that without my Heavy Support I wouldn't stand much of a chance at stopping the rush completely, I setup most of my units in the center where they could support each other. So both Trench Command and Control Squads deployed against the wall in the center with the Trench Command and Control 1 on my right and Trench Command and Control 2 on the left. I then deployed Fire Support 1-1 on top of the center Bunker for better line of sight and because it looked cool. I didn't want to leave a blind spot in my fire lanes for Andy to advance behind so I placed Fire Support 2-1 on the far left flank to cover the blind spot created by some trees and to protect the far left bunker. Finally I place Breaching Squad 1-2 just right of the center bunker with the Warsmith and Breaching Squad 1-1 just left of the center bunker.

Imperial Fists Deployment

Andy deployed his army spread out along his table edge with the fire support on the outside and the assault punch in the center. On my far left he deployed Fist of Retribution with their Lascannon and Plasma Gun. A similarly equipped Tactical Squad, Gaze of Victory was deployed on the hill on my far right. Behind this squad and the hill Andy deployed the Devastator Squad Pillar of Fire with line of sight to the bunkers on the far right and in the center. The Whirlwind was placed behind the trees in the center of Andy's deployment zone. The Land Crusader Raider, Storm of the Emperor, with Divine Might and Force Commander Tanis was deployed just left of center. Anvil of Faith was deployed in their Rhino just to the right of the trees in the center. Hammer of Justice was deployed left of those same trees. Finally the Dreadnought Revered Aquinas was deployed next to the Whirlwind behind the trees in the center.

Iron Warriors Turn 1

Luck was with me for now, I got the first turn and Andy's Preliminary Bombardment did absolutely nothing. I didn't really want to get anything closer to Andy's forces so nothing moved. Fire Support Squad 2-1 missed the Land Raider Crusader and Fire Support Squad 1-1 bounced its Lascannon off of the hull. Trench Command and Control 2 missed the Anvil of Faith's Rhino on the right but Trench Command and Control 1 made up for it by immobilizing the same Rhino.

Imperial Fists Turn 1

Storm of the Emperor advanced up the center to hide behind the trees in the center of the table. Hammer of Justice's still mobile Rhino advanced behind the Land Raider Crusader using it as cover. The Dreadnought moved forward just to the front of the trees that it was hiding behind. The Fist of Retribution on the left damaged the center bunker. The Dreadnought Revered Aquinas then proceeded to stun the center bunker. However, Gaze of Victory finished the job by collapsing the bunker and dropping Fire Support Squad 1-1 to the ground. Their misfortune wasn't over as Storm of the Emperor opened up on them with the Hurricane Bolters and killed one member of the squad. Pillar of Fire only managed to shake the Bunker on my right.

Iron Warriors Turn 2

My luck continued as I managed to get all four of my Heavy Support choices in from Reserves. The Basilisk moved onto the table next to the bunker on the far left. There was nowhere to really hide it so I tried to keep it as far as possible from the assault and most of Andy's firepower. The Vindicator moved on to the table just left of the remains of the center bunker and Breaching Squad 1-1's Rhino. Breaching Squad 1-1 then moved over the wall straight for the Land Raider Crusader. Breaching Squad 1-2's Rhino than moved laterally to where Breaching Squad 1-1's Rhino was a moment before. Fire Support Squad 1-2 with the Autocannons moved onto the remains of the center bunker and Fire Support Squad 2-3 moved onto the table just right of the center bunkers remains.

My luck promptly left as my shooting failed to accomplish anything but blowing the Multi-Melta off of Storm of the Emperor with Breaching Squad 1-1's Meltaguns fired from the top hatch of the Rhino.

Imperial Fists Turn 2

Storm of the Emperor advanced onto the rocks and dumped out the Divine Might and Force Commander Tanis right in front of my lines. Hammer of Justice's Rhino moved up behind it and ended right up against Breaching Squad 1-1's Rhino. Revered Aquinas continued to move up the center of the table.

The Whirlwind guessed 48" to the Basilisk but came up a few inches short and scattered off into nowhere. Anvil of Faith's Rhino managed to remobilize itself. The Heavy Bolter inside managed to kill one Marine from Trench Command and Control 1. Revered Aquinas picks on the same squad and kills one with his Lascannon. Fist of Retribution showed Andy affinity for Lascannons by completely missing the Basilisk. Pillar of Fire finished the shooting phase by destroying the bunker on my right with their Missile Launchers.

In the Assault Phase the Force Commander and Divine Might rushed Trench Command and Control 1. All of my troops except for Aspiring Champion Mephaath got to go first because of the cover. But they proceeded to do nothing against Andy's Terminator Armor. The Force Commander and Lightning Claw wielding Assault Terminators then killed everyone in their kill zones. The remaining two Chaos Space Marines remembered that they had left the oven on at the other fortress and went to make sure everything was okay. The Force Commander and Terminators consolidated into the remains of Fire Support 1-1 that was still standing in front of the bunker that had been shot out from under them. Fortunately for me only the Force Commander and a couple of Assault Terminators managed to get Engaged.

Iron Warriors Turn 3

Assault Terminators in my firebase just wouldn't do so the Warsmith and Breaching Squad 2-1 disembarked and moved to intercept Divine Might. Their Rhino moved back a little to give the Vindicator a clear shot at the Land Raider Crusader. The Basilisk aimed for between the Whirlwind and the Rhino next to it. The shot scattered to hit Gaze of Victory and still clipped the Rhino. The shot killed two Space Marines and shook the Rhino. The Vindicator and Fire Support Squad 2-2's Missile Launchers bounced off of Storm of the Emperor. Fire Support Squad 1-2 didn't fail. They hit with 7 shots, glanced with 3, and blew Storm of the Emperor back to the Emperor. Trench Command and Control 2 fired at the unengaged members of Divine Might. They failed to kill any, but the Plasma Gunner did manage to kill himself.

The Warsmith and Breaching Squad 2-1 charged into Divine Might and Force Commander Tanis. The Warsmith killed two of the three remaining Terminators. The Force Commander managed to take out one Chaos Space Marine but it didn't save him from Sammael's Powerfist. The last remaining Terminator took some revenge in the form of two wounds on Warsmith Joram before fleeing back towards his lines. The Iron Warriors consolidated back into position behind the wall.

Imperial Fists Turn 3

Hammer of Justice's Rhino drove around the dead Land Raider Crusader. Anvil of Faith's repaired Rhino advanced up the same path. The Dreadnought Revered Aquinas pulled back to get a clear shot at the remaining bunker. The last Terminator moved to hide behind the advancing Rhino of Hammer of Justice.

The Whirlwind targeted the Vindicators rear armor but it scattered off and killed two Chaos Space Marines from Trench Command and Control 2. Pillar of Fire's Missile Launchers only stunned the Rhino of Breaching Squad 1-1. Fist of Retribution hit the Basilisk but only managed to immobilize it. Revered Aquinas only managed to stun the remaining bunker on my left.

Iron Warriors Turn 4

Fire Support 1-1 moves right to be able to screen Fire Support 2-2. Trench Command and Control 2 moves to the right to help in the coming assault. I forgot to move the Rhino that was just sitting out in the open like a sitting duck.

The Basilisk's aim is right on. It kills two Devastators and pins the squad. Fire Support Squad 1-2 killed Hammer of Justice's Rhino with their Autocannons. They apparently forgot the roll bars on that Rhino as 3 Marines died trying to get out. Fire Support Squad 2-2 only managed to stun Anvil of Faith's Rhino and blow off its Stormbolter. Fire Support Squad 2-1 killed one Space Marine from Fist of Retribution

Imperial Fists Turn 4

Anvil of Faith's Rhino moved up next to the destroyed Rhino of Hammer of Justice and the troops get out to shelter behind the Rhino. Hammer of Justice and the last Terminator of Divine Might also hid behind the Rhino. It was awfully crowded behind that Rhino. It's at this point that Andy told me it's okay because he's going to destroy my Basilisk and I told him that he's just guaranteed it's survival.

The Whirlwind destroyed Breaching Squad 2-2's Rhino that had been lurking near my table edge. Gaze of Victory managed to stun Breaching Squad 1-1's Rhino that'd just been sitting out in the open. Fist of Retribution destroyed the Demolisher Cannon on the Vindicator. Revered Aquinas than managed to immobilize the Basilisk, again.

Iron Warriors Turn 5

Both the Trench Command Control 2 Squad and Breaching Squad 2-1 shift to the right to better prepare for the assault. Breaching Squad 1-1 moves to the right behind some tree for cover. The Basilisk launched a shell high into the air aiming for the clump of troops hiding behind the Rhino. The shot scattered and hit a few troops and the Rhino.

The Basilisk only kills one Space Marine from Hammer of Justice, but it pinned that squad, and it completely destroyed the Rhino with an Ordnance 6 meaning that the Rhino was removed from the table. Fire Support Squad 1-2 killed the last Assault Terminator of Divine Might with its Autocannons. Fire Support Squad 2-1 fired its Lascannon at Revered Aquinas, who had come into line of sight to shoot the Basilisk, but the shot bounced off.

Imperial Fists Turn 5

The Imperial Fists decide they can't win out in an assault and start to do the victory points shuffle. The squad Anvil of Faith, who were hiding behind the Rhino and unhurt, moved behind the dead vehicles that were still on the table. Revered Aquinas advanced up the middle of the table and managed to get out of line of sight of all of my anti-tank weapons. Pillar of Fire shuffled left from behind their hill and screen so that they could see my firebase.

The Whirlwinds shot deviates off of the table. Fist of Retribution missed the Basilisk again. Revered Aquinas did manage to destroy the last remaining bunker. Gaze of Victory on the right killed a member of Breaching Squad 2-1 with their Lascannon.

Iron Warriors Turn 6

Breaching Squad 2-1 jumps the wall and rushes for Anvil of Faith. Breaching Squad 1-1's Rhino drives out from behind the trees and drops them off behind Anvil of Faith who are in some rocks behind a dead Rhino.

The Basilisk kills one Devastator from Pillar of Fire and pins them, again. Breaching Squad 1-1 kills 2 members of Anvil of Faith. Breaching Squad 2-1 and the Warsmith manage to kill 1 member of the pinned squad, Hammer of Justice. Fire Support Squad 1-2 kills 4 members of the same Tactical Squad, leaving one member left. Fire Support Squad 1-1 accomplishes nothing but getting it's Plasma Gunner killed. Fire Support Squad 2-2 did manage to kill the last Space Marine from the pinned Hammer of Justice.

Breaching Squad 1-1 assaulted Anvil of Faith behind the destroyed vehicles. The Imperial Fists struck first but inflicted no damage. The Chaos Space Marines returned the favor.

The Veteran Sergeant Vasquez did crush a Chaos Space Marine with his Powerfist. Aspiring Champion Mephaath one-upped him by crushing two Space Marines. The Imperial Fists easily held.

Imperial Fists Turn 6

The Dreadnought Revered Aquinas moved up the table towards the assault. The Whirlwind hits on target but I passed a lot of saves and ignored it. Fist of Retribution immobilized the Basilisk again. Revered Aquinas' Lascannon destroyed the Vindicator. In assault both Space Marines and Chaos Space Marines prove useless. Veteran Sergeant Vasquez killed two Chaos Space Marines and Mephaath one-ups him again by killing three. Once again the Imperial Fists held easily.

Iron Warriors Turn 7

I decided to use the Imperial Fists special rule and force a turn 7 because I wasn't sure I was winning and I was pretty sure I could eliminate the Tactical Squad in assault and possibly the Devastators. The only movement was the Warsmith and Breaching Squad 2-1 moving towards the assault. The Basilisk killed one more Devastator from Pillar of Fire. Fire Support Squad 2-2 mange to kill one more Devastator, leaving one alive. Pillar of Fire retreated, but automatically regrouped. Unfortunately the rest of my squads couldn't see that lone Devastator and so they fired at Gaze of Victory, killing two.

The Warsmith and Breaching Squad 2-1 rush into the ongoing assault. They kill all but two of the Space Marines. I get a combined 7 Powerfist attacks between both Aspiring Champions. I get four hits, and proceed to roll four ones to wound.

Imperial Fists Turn 7
Revered Aquinas moved towards the ongoing assault, but there are rocks between it and the assault. The Whirlwind hit the Havocs again but I once again made a lot of saves. Fist of Retribution killed the remaining Rhino with their Lascannon.

The Dreadnought Revered Aquinas attempted to get into the assault, but its difficult terrain test was short. Breaching Squad 1-1 loses another 2 members to the Veteran Sergeant Vasquez's Powerfist, but managed to finish off the rest of the squad.

Results

Iron Warriors - 1198 Imperial Fists - 659 + 450 = 1109

89 Points

Draw!

FATMAN's Conclusion

This was definitely an exciting game! When the bunkers where collapsing all around me and the Crusader was at my lines and unmolested I knew that I really had to dig myself out of the hole. So when the game started to swing my way in turn 3 I just tried to keep the momentum. I was pleasantly surprised and shocked at my Basilisk surviving out where it could and did get shot. Also, getting lucky and having all four of my reserve units show up on turn 2 probably helped. Finally, the Basilisk removing that troublesome Rhino that was shielding two Tactical Squads and an Assault Terminator within assault distance of my lines was surely the blessing of the fickle Chaos Gods.

I did make a couple of mistakes. I forgot about my Rhino sitting in the middle of the table for two consecutive turns. I'll really have to be more attentive in the future since that squad was crucial later and their ride could easily have been shot up. I also should have turned the Vindicator to face the only Lascannon that could see it after it had lost its cannon and was worthless anyway.

My battle plan worked out pretty well but I still ended up with a tie. If I had to do it over again I probably would have deployed my assault forces farther forward and tried to engage Andy's assault forces in the middle of the table. Even if I lost I would hopefully have had dead vehicles blocking line of sight to the bunkers and some breathing room to shoot up the remains of Andys' assault forces. Or at least that's the way I tell myself it would have happened.

It was a great game and I look forward to more yellow colored bodies littering my battlefield in the future.

Andy's Conclusion

An 89 point draw in a seven-turn game wherein my Imperial Fist special rules both helped and hurt me AND the game was against one of my favorite opponents... it's hard to imagine a better game of 40k!

I was pleasantly surprised to find I had weaseled out a draw. During the game, it felt as if I was bouncing off the Iron Warriors so I was prepared to take a loss. The 450 point bonus for popping the 3 bunkers clearly made all the difference.

On the positive side, my Terminators did well; too well unfortunately. I was expecting the squad they lacerated to hold (re-rollable Morale makes for few routs) and that I'd see some support from a Tactical Squad; instead, the Heretics successfully drew me into the gauntlet and then fell back. Hopefully, I've now learned my lesson on the dangers of advancing Terminators beyond support range. This was the second game FATMAN has schooled me on that particular point... that, and on the inherent Evil of Tank Hunting Havocs with Autocannons ;-)

If I had it to do over again, I think I would hold back with the LRC and allow the two Rhino-born Tactical Squads to advance in parallel and assault simultaneously. I was worried that the Vindicator and Basilisk would wreak havoc with them, but if I had focused my Lascannons on them and saved the bunkers for later on I might have been able to pull it off. A less entertaining option would have been to sit back and snipe the bunkers, and force FATMAN to bring to fight to me to recoupe Victory Points; naaah, too wimpy!

Thanks for the great game, FATMAN. I have one last thing to say -- REMATCH!!

See high-res images here

Back to 40k Batreps