Apoc 2016: The Armies

In our recent Apoc game, we went old school in how we picked teams.  I mean, truly old-school.  Like, line up against the wall and let’s revert to a popularity contest of drafting teams.  Generally I’ve avoided this because nobody wants to be picked last, but we figured that allowing the generals to pick their teams would thereby allow for more balance (or at least more strategy) when it came to dolling out the missions.

For a brief recap, at the beginning of the game, we sought volunteers to be the two team captains.  Those captains then got to read the dossier (seen in detail here) and then chose their teams.  The captain who won the coin flip to start the game got to choose whether they wanted to deploy & go first or to have first pick in the draft.  Brandon and Kurt graciously volunteered.  Kurt tossed the coin (with a  little too much vigor, as it bounced off the ceiling–but to his credit, he did manage to catch it).  Brandon called head’s and wound up winning the flip, then chose to go first.  Kurt began the draft, and the armies went a little something like this…

By the way, this is also the point where I’d normally include photos of all of the forces, but they may be a little lacking.  Everyone put their armies out to display, but I didn’t get photos of many of them (no excuses).  Luckily, Simon managed to snap a few shots before the game, so I’ll include them below.  (Thanks Simon).

Kurt’s Team:

Kurt’s Space Wolves:

• HQ:
  • Harald Deathwolf
  • Canis Wolfborn
  • Wolf Lord (Theldrun) w/ Runic Armor, Belt of Russ, PLasma Pistol, Krakenbone Sword on Thunderwolf
  • Iron Priest (Fengir) w/ Runic Armor, Servor Arm, Thunderhammer, on Thunderwolf w/ 4x Cyberwolves
• Elites:
  • Murderfang in Dreadnought Drop Pod
  • Contemptor Dreadnought (Aldr) w/ 2x H. Flamers, 2x Dreadnought Claws, & Saga of the Black Cull in Dreadnought Drop Pod
  • Venerable Dreadnought (Avgard) w/ Fenrisian Great Axe & Blizzard Shield in Dreadnought Drop Pod
  • Venerable Dreadnought (Arjarl) w/ Fenrisian Great Axe & Blizzard Shield in Dreadnought Drop Pod
  • Siege Dreadnought (Seigl) w/ Flamestorm Cannon & Assault Drill in Drop Pod
• Fast Attack:
  • Canis’ Fenrisian Pack x26
  • Thunderwolf Calvary x6 w/ 4x Stormshields & 2x Powerfists
  • Thunderwolf Calvary x6 w/ 4x Stormshields & 2x Powerfists
  • Stormwolf (Blizzard’s Howl) w/ Hellfrost, Lascannon, Multi-meltas
  • Stormwolf (Blizzard’s Snarl) w/ Hellfrost, Lascannon, Multi-meltas
• Heavy Support:
  • Stormfang (BLizzard’s Wrath) w/ Hellfrost Destructor, Lascannon & Multi-meltas
  • Brethren of the Fell-Handed
  • Bjorn the Fell-handed in Drop Pod
  • Venerable Dreadnought (Borjen) w/ Multi-melta & Powerfist in Drop Pod
  • Venerable Dreadnought (Melurn) w/ Multi-melta & Powerfist in Drop Pod

Kurt is one of the guys in our gaming group that has enough models that he can play a largely unique army each time he plays in an Apoc game.  He can do this while generally playing the same codex (though he has been known to dabble by throwing in some Eldar or IG to supplement his Space Wolves).  In previous games, he has brought lists that consist almost entirely of Titans, or foot troops.  This game he was very heavy on dreadnoughts in drop pods, which was–quite frankly–something I didn’t even know he owned… at least not  in that quantity.

It was interesting to see how they faired, especially because it seemed like most of them were dropped right in my face–but I’ll leave that for the actual battle report.

Dan’s Tau:

• HQ:
  • Commander Farsight
  • Commander
  • Cardre Fireblade
• Elite:
  • 4x xv8 Crisis Bodyguards
  • 4x XV8 Bodyguards (x4)
  • 1x XV104 Riptide Battlesuit
  • 6x XV8 Stealth Battlesuits
  • 6x XV8 Stealth Battlesuits
  • 6x XV8 Stealth Battlesuits
  • 1x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits
  • 1x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits
  • 1x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits
  • 1x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits
  • 1x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits
  • 2x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits
  • 2x XV8 Crisis Battlesuits
  • 1x XV8 Crisis Battlesuit with 1 marker drone
• Troops:
  • 12x Strike Team
  • 12x Strike Team
  • 12x Strike Team
• Fast Attack:
  • 4x Drones w/ marker lights
• Heavy:
  • 1x XV8 Broadside with 2 missile drones
  • 1x XV8 Broadside with 2 missile drones
  • 1x XV8 Broadside with 2 missile drones
  • 7x Sniper Drone Team w/ 2 marksman & 5 drones
  • 7x Sniper Drone Team w/ 2 marksman & 5 drones
  • 7x Sniper Drone Team w/ 2 marksman & 5 drones
• Lord of War:
  • KV128 Stormsurge

I think Dan wins the award for the most distinct units.  It’s apoc and there’s no Force Org Chart though, so it’s a distinct advantage to break up clumps of units into smaller factors.  In talking with him before the game, he was originally going to play another list entirely, but due to time constraints, he grabbed a box of models that he had laying around and turned that into a list.  Yes, it might be odd to think that one just has a box of this many painted Tau ‘just laying around,’ but I’ve seen Dan’s garage and I whole-heartedly believe him.

Sam’s “Imperial Fists”:

• HQ:
  • Chapter Master w/ Terminator ARmor, Iron Halo, Thunderhammer, Primarch’s Wrath
• Elites:
  • 10x Terminators w/ 2x Assault Cannons
  • 10x Sternguard w/ 2x Heavy Flamer, 2x Combi-flamer, inc. Vet Sergeant w/ Powerfist in Drop Pod w/ Deathwind Launcher
• Troops:
  • 10x Tactical Marines w/ Meltagun, Heavy Bolter, inc. Vet Sergeant w/ Powerfist & Combi-melta in Drop Pod w/ Locator Beacon & Deathwind Launcher
  • 10x Tactical Marines w/ Flamer, Heavy Bolter, inc. Vet Sergeant w/ Powerfist & Combi-flamer in Drop Pod w/ Locator Beacon & Deathwind Launcher
• Formations:
  • Imperial Knight Baronial Court
    • 1x Knight Warden w/ Meltagun, Twin-linked Autocannon, Mark of Omnissah
    • 1x Knight Errant w/ Meltagun & STormspear Rocket Pod
    • 1x Knight Paladin w/ Twin-linked Autocannon
    • 1x Knight Crusader w/ Battle Cannon & Ironstorm Missle Pod
  • Skyhammer Annihilation Force:
    • 10x Devastators w/ 3x Multi-melta & 1x Plasma Cannon in Drop Pod w/ Locator Beacon & Deathwind Launcher
    • 10x Devastators w/ 4x Missile Launchers in Drop Pod w/ Locator Beacon & Deathwind Launcher
    • 5x Assault Marines w/ 2x Plasma Pistol, inc. Vet Sarge w/ Powerfist & Plasma Pistol
    • 5x Assault Marines w/ Veteran Sergeant

Sam virtually always brings a drop-pod list because that’s really his shtick.  True to form, they made a bit of a show for our game, but the primary focus was the knight titans that he has been collecting for a while now.  They’ve been collecting dust on a back shelf somewhere, but he kicked things up a notch and got all of the painted specifically for this APoc game.  It’s great to use games like this as inspiration to finally paint something that’s been neglected for a while.

Simon’s Black Legion:

• Elites:
  • Chaos Decimator Engine w/ 2x Butcher Cannon & Dedications of Nurgle
• Troops:
  • 20x Chaos Space Marines w/ Boltgun, Icon of Vengeance, Plasma Gun, Plasma Gun, inc. Aspiring Champion w/ Combi-bolter, Lightning Claw, Melta Bombs, & Veterans of the Long War
• Heavy Support:
  • Chaos Infernal Relic Predator w/ Heavy Bolters, Plasma Destroyer
  • Chaos Vindicator w/ Combi-bolter, Daemonic Possession
  • Chaos Vindicator w/ Combi-bolter, Daemonic Possession
  • Defiler w/ Dirge Caster, Heavy Flamer, & Reaper Autocannon
  • 3x Obliterators w/ Veterans of the Long War
• Lords of War:
  • Khorne Lord of Skulls w/ Daemongore cannon, Skullhurler
• Formations:
  • Cyclopia Cabal
    • Chaos Sorcerer w/  Bolt Pistol, Force Sword, Jump Pack, Power Armour, Sigil of corruption, Spell familiar, Veterans of the Long War (Psychic Level 3)
    • Chaos Sorcerer w/ Bolt Pistol, Force Axe, Mark of Nurgle, Palanquin of Nurgle, Power Armour, Sigil of corruption, Spell familiar, Veterans of the Long War (Psychic Level 3)
    • Chaos Sorcerer on Bike w/ Bolt Pistol, Force Sword, Power Armour, Sigil of corruption, Veterans of the Long War (Psychic Level 3)
  • Daemon Engine Pack
    • Forgefiend w/ 2x Hades Autocannon
    • Maulerfiend w/ Magma Cutters
    • Warpsmith w/ Aura of dark glory, Bolt Pistol, Power Axe, Veterans of the Long War
  • The Bringers of Despair
    • Abaddon the Despoiler
    • 5x Chaos Terminators w/ 2x Chainfist, 3x Powerfist, 1x Lightning Claw, 1x Heavy Flamer, 3x Combi-melta, Gift of Mutation, Mark of Khorne, Veterans of the Long War

Speaking of painting something specifically for an Apoc game: Simon is basically our poster boy for this.  Every game we have he manages to get something new painted.  In this case, I know he did “Dwayne the Rape Train” (his affectionate name for his Lord of Skulls), and I’m pretty sure he did some other units as well, but I can’t think of which ones.    He seemed to take a bunch of formations this game, which is a bit of an oddity–almost nobody else took them.  More power to him though…

Andrew’s “Apocalyptic Blood”:

• HQ:
  • Khârn the Betrayer
• Elites:
  • 11x Plague Marines w/ 2x Flamers & Veterans of the Long War inc. Champion w/ Powerfist & Plasma Pistol in CHaos Rhino w/ Dirge Caster
  • 11x Plague Marines w/ 2x Flamers & Veterans of the Long War inc. Champion w/ Powerfist & Plasma Pistol in CHaos Rhino w/ Dirge Caster
• Troops:
  • 10x Khorne Berzerkers w/ Plasma Pistol, Veterans of the Long War inc. Champion w/ Powerfist & Plasma Pistol in Chaos Rhino w/ Dirge Caster, Warpflame Gargoyles & Havoc Launchers
  • 10x Khorne Berzerkers w/ 2x Plasma Pistol, Veterans of the Long War inc. Champion w/ Gift of Mutation, Powerfist & Plasma Pistol in Chaos Rhino w/ Dirge Caster, Warpflame Gargoyles & Havoc Launchers
  • 11x Plague Marines w/ 2x Flamers & Veterans of the Long War inc. Champion w/ Powerfist & Plasma Pistol in CHaos Rhino w/ Dirge Caster
  • 11x Plague Marines w/ 2x Flamers & Veterans of the Long War inc. Champion w/ Powerfist & Plasma Pistol in CHaos Rhino w/ Dirge Caster
• 10x Chaos Space Marines w/ 2x Plasma Guns, Mark of Khorne, & Icon of Wrath inc. Champion w/ Gift of Mutation, Power Fist, Plasma Pistol, Melta Bombs in Chaos Rhino w/ Dirge Caster, Warpflame Gargoyles & Havoc Launchers
• 10x Chaos Space Marines w/ 2x Plasma Guns, Mark of Khorne, & Icon of Wrath inc. Champion w/ Gift of Mutation, Power Fist, Plasma Pistol, Melta Bombs in Chaos Rhino w/ Dirge Caster, Warpflame Gargoyles & Havoc Launchers
• Fast Attack:
  • 1x Heldrake
  • 1x Heldrake
• Heavy Support:
  • 3x Obliterators
  • 3x Obliterators
  • 1x Defiler w/ Warpflame Gargoyles
  • 1x Defiler w/ Warpflame Gargoyles
  • 1x Defiler w/ Warpflame Gargoyles
  • Chaos Land Raider w/ Dirge Caster, Combi-Flamer, & Extra Armour

Drew is a guy we don’t see nearly enough, but on occasion we can draw him out with an Apoc game.  It’s good to have him over because I used to see him on a weekly basis, and now we’re relegated to once per year.  I was especially happy to see him on the other side of the table because he had all of those rhinos… again, more on that in the actual battle report.

Brandon’s Team:

Brandon’s Salamanders (Flameblade Strike Force Battle Company):

• HQ:
  • Vulkan He’stan
  • 1x Librarian: Psyker (Mastery Level 2)
  • 1x Librarian: Psyker (Mastery Level 2); The Tome Of Vel’Cona
  • 1x Librarian in Terminator Armour: Psyker (Mastery Level 2); storm shield
  • 1x Captain: thunder hammer; thunder hammer; artificer armour; The Salamanders Mantle
  • 1x Chaplain
• Troops:
  • 10x Tactical Marines: Veteran Sergeant (combi-flamer; melta bombs); 9 Tactical Marines; flamer; multi-melta in Drop Pod
  • 10x Tactical Marines: Veteran Sergeant (combi-flamer; melta bombs); 9 Tactical Marines; meltagun; multi-melta in Rhino
  • 10x Tactical Marines: Veteran Sergeant (combi-flamer; melta bombs); 9 Tactical Marines; meltagun; multi-melta in Rhino
  • 10x Tactical Marines: Veteran Sergeant (combi-grav; melta bombs); 9 Tactical Marines; grav-gun; plasma cannon
  • 10x Tactical Marines: Veteran Sergeant (combi-melta; power fist; melta bombs); 9 Tactical Marines; meltagun; multi-melta in Rhino
  • 10x Tactical Marines: Veteran Sergeant (combi-flamer; melta bombs); 9 Tactical Marines; flamer; missile launcher
• Elites:
  • 5x Veterans: Company Champion; Apothecary; Company Standard; 1 power weapon; 1 power fist; 2 × plasma gun in Drop Pod
  • 5x Terminators: Terminator Sergeant; 4 Terminators; 1 chainfist; 1 heavy flamer 190
  • 5x Assault Terminators: Terminator Sergeant (thunder hammer and storm shield); 4 Assault Terminators; 4 × thunder hammer and storm shield
  • 7x Sternguard Veterans: Veteran Sergeant (power fist); 6 Sternguard Veterans; 2 × combi-melta; 1 combi-plasma; 1 heavy flamer in Drop Pod
• Fast Attack:
  • 5x Vanguard Veterans: Veteran Sergeant (storm shield; relic blade); 4 Vanguard Veterans; 1 lightning claw; 1 storm shield; 2 × power weapon; 1 lightning claw; 1 thunder hammer; jump packs
  • 10x Assault Marines: Veteran Sergeant (power weapon; melta bombs); 9 Assault Marines; 2 × flamer
  • 10x Assault Marines: Veteran Sergeant (thunder hammer; melta bombs); 9 Assault Marines; 2 × flamer
• Heavy Support:
  • 10x Devastator Marines: Space Marine Sergeant; 9 Devastator Marines; 4 × missile launcher
  • 10x Devastator Marines: Space Marine Sergeant; 9 Devastator Marines; 4 × lascannon

Brandon doesn’t Apoc much.  Apparently he’d done so a bit back in the days of 4th edition, but that was long before I knew him.  We’ve talked it up a bunch, and he even hosted a game earlier this year.  He’s done a great job of finishing up a painted battle company of marines for Apoc, and that’s become his defacto standard army to play.  One of these days he’s going to surprise everyone by busting out his Chaos forces though… I can’t wait…

Rob’s Forces of Ultramar:

• HQ:
  • 1x Captain in Terminator Armor w/ Stormshield
  • 1x Librarian in Terminator Armor w/ Stormshield (Prescience, Perfect Timing, Precognition)
• Elites:
  • 5x Terminators w/ Thunderhammers & Storm Shields
  • 1x Ironclad Dreadnought w/ Heavy Flamer & 2x Hunter Killer Missiles in Drop Pod w/ Deathwind Launcher
  • 1x Techmarine w/ Thunderfire Cannon
  • 1x Techmarine w/ Thunderfire Cannon
  • 1x Techmarine w/ Thunderfire Cannon
• Fast Attack:
  • 1x Attack Bike w/ Multi-melta
  • 1x Attack Bike w/ Multi-melta
  • 1x Storm Talon w/ Twin-linked Assault Cannon & Twin-linked Lascannon
  • 1x Storm Talon w/ Twin-linked Assault Cannon & Twin-linked Lascannon
  • 1x Storm Talon w/ Twin-linked Assault Cannon & Skyhammer Missiles
  • 1x Storm Talon w/ Twin-linked Assault Cannon & Skyhammer Missiles
• Heavy Support:
  • 1x Whirlwind
  • 1x Whirlwind
  • 3x Centurion Devastators w/ Grav Cannons & Hurricane Bolters inc. Sergeant w/ Omniscope
  • 3x Centurion Devastators w/ Grav Cannons & Hurricane Bolters inc. Sergeant w/ Omniscope
  • 1x Heavy Artillery Carriage w/ Earth Shaker Cannon
  • 1x Heavy Artillery Carriage w/ Earth Shaker Cannon
  • 1x Heavy Artillery Carriage w/ Earth Shaker Cannon
  • 1x Heavy Artillery Carriage w/ Earth Shaker Cannon
  • 1x Heavy Artillery Carriage w/ Earth Shaker Cannon
  • 1x Heavy Artillery Carriage w/ Earth Shaker Cannon
• Fortifications:
  • Aegis Defense Line w/ Icarus Lascannon
• Formations:
  • Skyhammer Annihilation Force:
    • 5x Assault Marines w/ 2x Plasma Pistols
    • 5x Assault Marines inc. Veteran Sergeant w/ Power Axe
    • 10x Devastators w/ 2x Lascannons & 2x Multi-Melta in Drop Pod w/ Deathwind Launcher
    • 10x Devastators w/ 2x Missile Launchers & 2x Heavy Plasma in Drop Pod w/ Deathwind Launcher

My Apoc list doesn’t seem to vary all that much from game to game.  The biggest change this time was a lack of fortifications and the addition of some flyers.  I had wanted to paint up some Storm Ravens too, but time got the best of me.

Next Apoc, I should strive to make things a little more varied and put things like Tactical marines into the list…

Sean’s Eldar:

• HQ:
  • Wraithseer w/ D-Cannon (Warlord)
  • Eldrad Ulthran
  • Autarch w/ Banshee Mask, Eldar Jetbike, Fusion Pistol & Shard of Anaris
• Elites:
  • 5x Wraithguard w/ Wraithcannon in Wave Serpent w/ Holo-fields, Shuriken Cannon, & Twin-linked Starcannon
  • 5x Wraithguard w/ Wraithcannon in Wave Serpent w/ Holo-fields, Shuriken Cannon, & Twin-linked Starcannon
  • 5x Wraithguard w/ Wraithcannon in Wave Serpent w/ Holo-fields, Shuriken Cannon, & Twin-linked Starcannon
• Troops:
  • 6x Windriders w/ Shuriken Cannon
  • 6x Windriders w/ Shuriken Cannon
• Fast Attack:
  • 3x Hornet w/ Holo-fields & 2x Pulse Laser
• Heavy Support:
  • Fire Prism w/ Crystal Targeting Matrix, Holo-fields & Shuriken Cannon
  • Lynx w/ Holo-fields, Sonic Lance, Star Engines & Starcannon
• Lords of War:
  • Avatar of Khaine
  • Revenant Titan w/ 2x Pulsar
  • Wraithknight w/ Suncannon & Scattershield

He was on my side, and his list seemed small, but I had no idea that he had under 50 models in the entire force.  That means his average cost per model was upwards of 80 points each.  Egads… In comparison, I had nearly twice as many models and Mitch… well, Mitch is special…

Albert’s Chaos:

• HQ:
  • Typhus
  • Sorcerer (level 3) w/ Spell Familiar
• Elites:
  • 10x Chosen w/ 2x Lightning Claws, Melta Bombs, Mark of Nurgle in Rhino
  • 10x Terminator w/ 1x Heavy Flamer, 1x Reaper Autocannon, 2x Chainfist, 4x Powerfist, 1x Combi-melta w/ Mark of Nurgle in Land Raider
  • 5x Terminator w/ 2x Powerfist, 1x Reaper Autocannon, w/ Mark of Nurgle
  • 1x Hellbrute w/ Twin-linked Lascannon
  • 1x Hellbrute w/ Twin-linked Lascannon
• Troops:
  • 15x Plague Marine w/ 2x Plasmagun & 1x Power Weapon
  • 15x Plague Marine w/ 2x Plasmagun & 1x Power Weapon
  • 10x Chaos Space Marines w/ Plasma Pistol, Heavy Bolter, Powerfist w/ Mark of Nurgle in Rhino
  • 10x Chaos Space Marines w/ Plasmagun, Meltagun, Power Axe w/ Mark of Nurgle in Rhino
  • 20x Cultists w/ 1x Heavy Stubber, 1x Flamer, 1x Shotgun & Mark of Nurgle
  • 20x Cultists w/ 1x Heavy Stubber, 1x Flamer, 1x Shotgun & Mark of Nurgle
• Fast Attack:
  • 1x Helldrake
• Heavy Support:
  • 1x Forgefiend w/ Extra Ecto Cannon
  • 1x Landraider
  • 2x Obliterators w/ Mark of Nugle

Pretty standard Albert Apoc list.  We’re gonna have to get this boy a few new toys so he can include them into his army.  It’s all decent (as decent as his codex gets), but you’d think he’d like to mix it up a little more…

Mitchell’s “Corruption Rupture”:

• HQ:
  • Typhus
  • Herald of Nurgle w/ Greater Reward, Lesser Reward, Exalted Locus of Contagion, Palanquin of Nurgle, Psyker level 2
  • Herald of Nurgle w/ Greater Reward, Lesser Reward, Exalted Locus of Contagion, Palanquin of Nurgle, Psyker level 2
  • Herald of Nurgle w/ Greater Reward, Lesser Reward, Greater Locus of Fecundity, Palanquin of Nurgle, Psyker level 2
  • Herald of Nurgle w/ Greater Reward, Lesser Reward, Greater Locus of Fecundity, Palanquin of Nurgle, Psyker level 2
  • Necrosius the Undying
  • Chaos Space Marine Sorcer w/ Terminator Armor, Force Axe, Combi-bolter, Mark of Nurgle, Sigil of Corruption, Spell familiar, Vets of the Long War, Psyker level 3
• Troops:
  • 18x Plaguebearers of Nurgle w/ Icon of Chaos & Plagueridden
  • 18x Plaguebearers of Nurgle w/ Icon of Chaos & Plagueridden
  • 25x Plague Zombies inc. Champion
  • 25x Plague Zombies inc. Champion
  • 25x Plague Zombies inc. Champion
  • 25x Plague Zombies inc. Champion
  • 25x Plague Zombies inc. Champion
• Fast Attack:
  • 6x Plague Drones of Nurgle w/ Deaths’ Head, Instrument of Chaos, Icon of Chaos, Plague Banner, Plague Bringer, & Rot Proboscis
• Heavy Support:
  • Defiler
  • Maulerfiend
• Lord of War
  • Scabeiathrax the Bloated

Between Mitchell and Albert we actually had two copies of Typhus on our side of the table.  Albert’s version was slightly less protected as he wasn’t hiding behind nearly 200 various zombie & demon models.  If Sean wins the “least models on the table rule,” Mitchell definitely walks away with the most models (177 total for anyone that’s counting–which is more than three times as many as Sean had).