Training Mission

Imperial Fists vs Ultramarines

In keeping with the Codex, Marines undertake training missions to keep their skills sharp. To me, this is the only way to explain the volume of Marine on Marine games in 40K. Otherwise, the heresy is out of control.

Crusade (CA 2019)

1500 points

A scaled down version of my Imperial Fists mechanized list, vs Guilleman and a bunch of UM infantry, since they know better than to bring vehicles to an Imperial Fists party.

Deployment

The "Murderball"

The "anti-drop pod full of grav cannon" deployment.

Scouts infiltrate onto Obj 1.

Bobby G surrounded by new Marines.

Turn 1 - Ultramarines

Ultras get first turn, Fists fail to Seize. Devastator Doctrine is active.

Intercessors (and Scouts) ready to claim Obj's next turn.

Hellblasters move through the ruins to support the Scouts.

Drop Pods of Grav Amp Devastators and Sternguard, with
a Captain and Lt in support engage the Fists armour...

...and make the Crusader disappear. The Captain, Librarian
and Master of the Forge disembark.

The Ultras used the Stratagem to re-roll failed wounds and damage rolls for the grav cannons...and then forgot to actually do it, which we didn't realize to the end of the game. This probably had a significant impact on the rest of the game since the Ultras fired the Grav Devs, the Sternguard and the Scouts into the Crusader to make it die.

Turn 1 - Imperial Fists

Devastator Doctrine is active.

This is the end result of the Murderball shooting at the Grav
Devs, Sternguard, Cpt, Lt, and 2 drop pods. That's the Lt, and
he's JUST in range of the Obj.

The Murderball benefitting from +1 BS to vehicles, reroll 1's
to hit, reroll 1's to wound (ranged only). The Thunderfire
deleted the Scouts from Obj 1 in one volley, and then killed
some Sternguard.

5 Tac marines hoping to hold the objective for just 1 turn.

Turn 2 - Ultramarines

Tactical Doctrine is active.

Score Obj 3.

Hellblasters move to high ground to put out the hurt.

Primaris marines on the move.

Intercessors and Hellblasters only manage to kill 4 Marines.

The other Hellblaster squad also manages to kill 4 Marines.

The Lt fell back, allowing the Intercessors down the street
to kill 2 Marines, and he claimed the Obj this turn as well.

Score

Ultramarines: 3 (First Strike, Obj 3, Obj 4)

Imperial Fists: 0

Turn 2 - Imperial Fists

Devastator Doctrine is active.

One of those Predators targeted these Hellblasters, killing 1.

The other Predator killed 3 Intercessors.

The Thunderfire only managed to kill 3 Intercessors, even
with 2 volleys.

Surviving members of the Tac squad do the firing squad
on the Lt, and move to claim the Obj next turn.

Score

Ultramarines: 3 (First Strike, Obj 3, Obj 4)

Imperial Fists: 2 (First Strike, Obj 5)

Turn 3 - Ultramarines

Tactical Doctrine is active.

The Hellblasters return fire at the Predator.

Guilleman moved toward the single Marine holding Obj 5, while hiding behind a ruin.

Score

Ultramarines: 4 

Imperial Fists: 2 

Turn 3 - Imperial Fists

Devastator Doctrine is active.

Librarian scored Obj 6, lone Tac marine still holding Obj 5, and
3 Tac Marines holding Obj 4.

Predators killed both squads of Hellblasters, and the Thunderfire left one Intercessor standing on Obj 3.

Score

Ultramarines: 4 

Imperial Fists: 5 

Turn 4 - Ultramarines

Tactcal Doctrine is active (not that it mattered much).

With one Intercessor and Bobby G left on the board, Guilleman goes in for the charge.

Guilleman ate 2 Autocannon rounds, but only managed to
get one Fist blow past the 4+ invul. He does manage to
prevent the Deredeo from scoring the Obj though.

Last man standing scores a VP.

Score

Ultramarines: 5 

Imperial Fists: 5 

Turn 4 - Imperial Fists

Devastator Doctrine is active.

Score Obj 4.

Score Obj 2.

Score Obj 6.

Deredeo backs out of combat, and Bobby G goes down
to the Assault Cannon from the Ven Dread, and the
Thunderfire finished off the last Intercessor.

Score

Ultramarines: 5 

Imperial Fists: 8 

Turn 5 - Ultramarines

Tactical Doctrine is active.

Guilleman fails to rise from the dead, probably because there was little chance of him being able to pull off the clutch last turn win. Discretion being the better part of valour, and all that.

Score

Ultramarines: 5 

Imperial Fists: 8 

Turn 5 - Imperial Fists

Devastator Doctrine is active.

I really only took my 5th turn because he rolled to see if Bobby G would get up, so I thought it fair I collect my VP's.

Imperial Fists claimed Obj's 2, 4, 5 and 6 this turn.

Score

Ultramarines: 5 

Imperial Fists: 12 

Summary

Thunderfire Cannons are less effective against Primaris, but still keep stripping wounds. Predators and the Deredeo just pour out gobs of shooting, and it's a good thing he nailed my Crusader, or it would have been even worse. I didn't measure to ensure my Crusader was deep enough in my zone, and I paid for it. Other than that, he came at me in waves, and I was able to deal with each wave as it came, so it worked out well! Fun game!

Until next time, happy gaming!