Apocalypse: The Armies of Tartarus VII

We held an Apocalypse game sometime last Summer, but I never bothered to do a proper write-up on it (or really, any write-up at all). Part of that was because I wasn’t in the mood and because I hadn’t collected all of the various army lists and such (though, I’m pretty sure the guys turned them in–and I’ve since lost them). Procrastination got the better of me, and now I’m here, more than six months later and trying to cobble together things from memory. What I can say for certain is that we all had four-thousand points to build lists with, and

I don’t recall what we called the teams, or even how we picked them. My guess is that we divided things up as evenly as possible ahead of time with pre-chosen teams (but folks didn’t know). This would split apart those folks that habitually play with each other, and then take those people that don’t often win, and spread them around to ensure that at least half of them would count as winning.

But at least I remember who played! That was Dan, Sam, Albert, Simon, Mitch, Tim, Kurt, and yours truly. The teams looked a little something like this…

Team 1: The Victors

(I’m not saying we won, but I’m on the team, so why not just give it a cool name, right?)

Dan’s Imperial Guard

• HQ:
  • Commissar Yarrick
  • 1x Ministorum Priest
  • 1x Ministorum Priest
  • 1x Ministorum Priest
  • Lord Commissar
  • Lord Commissar
• Elites:
  • 5x Bullgryn w/ Powermauls & Shields
  • 5x Bullgryn w/ Powermauls & Shields
  • 5x Ogryn w/ Ripper Guns
  • 5x Ogryn w/ Ripper Guns
  • 5x Ogryn w/ Ripper Guns
  • 5x Wyrdvane Psykers
  • 5x Wyrdvane Psykers
• Fast Attack:
  • 1x Scout Sentinel w/ Lascannon
  • 1x Scout Sentinel w/ Lascannon
  • 1x Armored Sentinel w/ Lascannon
• Fortification:
  • Aegis Defense Line w/ Icarus Lascannon
• Formation:
  • Imperial Sword Heavy Weapon Company
    • Company Command Squad w/ Nork Deddog & Lord Casellan Creed
    • 3x Lascannon Teams
    • 3x Lascannon Teams
    • 3x Lascannon Teams
    • 3x Lascannon Teams
    • 3x Autocannon Teams
    • 3x Autocannon Teams
    • 3x Heavy Bolter Teams
    • 3x Heavy Bolter Teams
    • 3x Missile Launcher Teams
    • 3x Missile Launcher Teams
    • 3x Missile Launcher Teams
    • 3x Missile Launcher Teams
    • 3x Missile Launcher Teams
    • 3x Missile Launcher Teams
  • Emperor’s Talon Recon Company
    • 3x Armored Sentinel w/ Missle Launcher
    • 3x Armored Sentinel w/ Missle Launcher
    • 3x Armored Sentinel w/ Autocannon

Dan has a bunch of different armies he can field, but I’d say he most often plays his IG–followed by Tau. His list consisted of a ton of guns that could help shoot stuff out of the sky.

Rob’s Ultramar PDF:

• Elites:
  • 1x Dreadnought w/ Multi-meta in Drop Pod w/ Deathwind Launcher
  • 1x Venerable Dreadnought w/ Multi-meta in Drop Pod w/ Deathwind Launcher
  • 1x Ironclad Dreadnought w/ Multi-meta in Drop Pod w/ Deathwind Launcher
  • 5x Terminators w/ Thunder Hammers & Storm Shields
• Troops:
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Autocannons
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Autocannons
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Lascannons
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Lascannons
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Lascannons
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Lascannons
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Lascannons
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Lascannons
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Lascannons
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Lascannons
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Lascannons
  • 3x IG Heavy Weapons Team w/ Lascannons
• Fast Attack:
  • 1x Attack Bike w/ Multi-melta
  • 1x Attack Bike w/ Multi-melta
• Heavy Support:
  • Heavy Artillery Carriage Battery w/ Earthshaker Cannon
  • Heavy Artillery Carriage Battery w/ Earthshaker Cannon
  • Heavy Artillery Carriage Battery w/ Earthshaker Cannon
  • Heavy Artillery Carriage Battery w/ Earthshaker Cannon
  • Heavy Artillery Carriage Battery w/ Earthshaker Cannon
  • Heavy Artillery Carriage Battery w/ Earthshaker Cannon
• Lords of War:
  • Knight Errant
  • Knight Gallant
  • Knight Crusader

In 7th (and earlier) editions of the game, I was reluctant to play Apoc with my Tyranids. This is because D weapons just made monstrous creatures evaporate and there was really nothing to do about it. If I’m going to sink that many points into a unit, I’d like it to get some sort of save. So, this being the last Apoc game of 7th edition, I fielded my Imperials “one more time.”

I also wound up painting up my Knights for this game, so of course I was going to field them…

Albert’s Forces of Nurgle (Approximate)

• HQ:
  • Daemonprince of Nurgle
• Elites:
  • 1x Nurgle Obliterator
  • 1x Nurgle Obliterator
  • Hellbrute w/ Lascannons
  • Hellbrute w/ Lascannons (undoubtedly in some sort of formation)
• Troops:
  • 3x Nurglings
  • 3x Nurglings
  • 10x Plague Marines in Rhino
  • 20x Chaos Cultists w/ Autoguns (undoubtedly in some sort of formation)
  • 20x Chaos Cultists w/ Autopistols (undoubtedly in some sort of formation)
  • 20x Plaguebearers of Nurgle
  • 20x Plaguebearers of Nurgle
• Fast Attack:
  • 5x Plague Drones of Nurgle
  • 1x Nurgle Blight Drone
  • 1x Nurgle Blight Drone
  • 1x Beast of Nurgle
  • 1x Beast of Nurgle
• Heavy Support:
  • 5x Havocs w/ Assorted Weapons
  • Forgefiend w/ Plasma Weapons
  • Helldrake
  • Soulgrinder
• Lords of War:
  • Scabbeiathrax, the Bloated

While I’m sure that Albert gave me a copy of his army list, I seem to have misplaced it. I have a photo of what he fielded, so the list above is fairly representative (though it doesn’t take into account specific wargear, or formations). I know he likes to run the formation with the Hellbrute and cultists, so I’m almost positive that’s what they were doing there. The rest of the units? Well, who knows…

Sam’s Adeptus Astartes (Approximate)

• HQ:
  • Space Marine Captain in Terminator Armor
• Elites:
  • Ironclad Dreadnaught in Drop Pod
  • Venerable Dreadnought w/ Lascannons & Missle Launchers
  • 10x Terminators inc. 2x Assault Cannons
  • 10x Sternguard in Drop Pod
• Troops:
  • 10x tactical marines in Rhino
• Fast Attack:
  • 5x Assault Marines w/ Jump Packs
• Heavy Support:
  • 10x Devastators w/ 4x Missile Launchers in Drop Pod
  • 10x Devastators w/ 4x Multi-Meltas in Drop Pod
• Lords of War
  • Knight Crusader
  • Knight Errant
  • Knight Errant
  • Knight Warden

Sam is pretty good about fielding Space Marines in as many drop pods as humanly possible each Apoc game. Oh, and knights.

He didn’t disappoint.

Team 2: The Spoilers

Again, no comments about who won the game (that’ll come in the next post), but if we’ve the victors, it’s only natural that they should try to play the Spoilers!

Kurt’s Fenrisian 14th Kaerl Defense Force

• HQ:
  • Tank Commander in Leman Russ Vanquisher
  • Leman Russ Executioner
• Fast Attack:
  • 1x Hellhound
  • 1x Vendetta
  • 1x Vulture Gunship
• Heavy Support:
  • 1x Leman Russ
  • 1x Leman Russ
  • 1x Leman Russ Demolisher
  • 1x Leman Russ Demolisher
  • 1x Leman Russ Punisher
  • 1x Leman Russ Punisher
  • 1x Hydra
  • 1x Basilisk
  • 1x Manticore
  • 1x Deathstrike
• Lords of War:
  • 1x Baneblade
  • 1x Shadowsword
  • 1x Knight Errant

Kurt’s fantastic about giving his armies colorful unit names and flavor. He also recently purchased this army off of another local gamer, and it looked fantastic on the table-top. Sadly, I don’t seem to have taken a photo of his models before the game (which is weird, because he actually left them over a full day in advance). I suspect this is because he kept them in their case for ease of deployment.

Simon’s Forces of Chaos (Approximate)

• HQ:
  • Abaddon, the Despoiler
  • Chaos Sorcerer
  • Daemonprince of Khorne
  • Daemonprince of Khorne w/ Wings and Axe
  • Daemonprince of Nurgle w/ Wings and Black Mace
  • Lord of Nurgle on Palanquin
• Elites:
  • Hellbrute w/ Multi-melta
  • 5x Chosen in Terminator Armor
  • 5x Possessed (undoubtedly in some sort of formation)
  • 5x Possessed (undoubtedly in some sort of formation)
• Troops:
  • 20x Chaos Space Marines w/ 2x Plasma Guns & Standard
• Fast Attack:
  • 1x Chaos Spawn
  • Kharybdis Assault Claw
• Heavy Support:
  • Defiler
  • Chaos Vindicator
  • Chaos Vindicator
  • Some forgeworldy plasma predator thing

Again, I may be a tad off on the units in this list. Simon’s is one of two that I don’t seem to have copies of (well, technically I didn’t have a copy of Mitch’s complete list either).

Do you think it’s coincidence that none of the three chaos players provided a full list (or at least not one I still have access to)? Clearly, the warp must’ve eaten their homework.

Tim’s Eldar:

• HQ:
  • Prince w/ Shadowfield on Jetbike & Survivor of Endless Darkness
  • Baron w/ Shadowfield on Jetbike
  • Baron w/ Shadowfield & Jet Pack
  • Autarch w/ Jump Generator & Spinner
• Elites:
  • 5x Fire Dragons
  • 5x Fire Dragons
  • 5x Fire Dragons
• Troops:
  • 5x Cloudstrike band w/ scatter lasers
  • 4x Cloudstrike band w/ scatter lasers
  • 6x Reavers w/ Fusion Guns & Exarch in Falcon w/ Scatter Laser
• Fast Attack:
  • 2x Hornets w/ Pulse Lasers
  • Phoenix w/ Kinetic Shroud
  • Nightwing w/ Kinetic Shroud
  • 10x Warp Spiders w/ Exarch w/ Twin Spinners
  • 10x Warp Spiders w/ Exarch w/ Twin Spinners
  • 4x Shining Spears w/ Exarch & Star Lance
  • 1x Crimson Hunter
  • 6x Shadow Spectres inc. Exarch w/ Prism Blaster
• Heavy Support:
  • Lynx w/ Scatter Laser & Kinetic Shroud + Titan Breakers
  • 8x Balestrike Band w/ Dark Lances & Jet Packs
  • 1x Falcon w/ Holo-field & Scatter Laser
  • 1x Falcon w/ Holo-field & Scatter Laser
  • 1x Fire Prism w/ Holo-field
  • 1x Fire Prism w/ Holo-field
  • 1x Skatchach Wraithknight w/ Starcannon

Between Simon, Kurt, & Tim, it’s clear which side had a better looking army. Those guys really know how to paint.

Tim didn’t bring his “usual” eldar and instead went with some spawn of Forgeworld List for Pirates. That meant that most things were units or models that I’d never heard of before, but luckily he provided a detailed breakdown of what it all was, so I’m sure this is pretty accurate.

Mitchell’s Forces of Chaos

• HQ:
  • Daemon Prince
  • Greater Daemon of Khorne
• Lords of War:
  • Greater Brass Scorpion of Khorne
  • An’ggrath the Unbound
  • Scabeiathrax the Bloated
  • Khorne Lord of Skulls

Mitchell’s goal was clearly to bring as few models as possible for this game. His list consisted of 3000 points of stuff that was included, and then was missing 1000 points. My guess is those points were taken up by Scabby and a Bloodthirster. Those have to be reasonably good guesses because that’s what’s in the photo!

….

As I’ve done with previous Apoc games, future posts will cover the missions & the actual battle report (again, to the best of my ability).