40k Battle Report Tallarn vs Black Templars with Space Wolves allies (2000pts)

The second game with my Tallarn would be facing the Black Templars and Space Wolves. Oh, and an Imperial Knight. In all fairness, I told my opponent before the game that I would be bringing a competitive list and that he should bring some extra firepower. He did.

The Lists were as follows (There may be some things missed but hey if I missed it, it clearly wasn't important enough to mention) 😉

My List [12 CPs]

Tallarn (Astra Militarum)

+++Brigade Detachment+++

HQ

(Warlord) Company Commander 'Captain El'Houni' w/ Plasma Pistol, Power Sword, Balls of Steel

Warlord Trait - Grand Strategist - 5+ to recover CPs and a once per game reroll on anything.

Tempestor Prime 'Captain Lamar of the Dune Vipers' w/ Command Rod

Tank Commander 'Captain Idris' w/ Executioner Turret, Hull Lascannon, Sponson Multi-meltas, Hunter Killer Missile, Relic - Kurov's Aquila - Generate CPs on a 5+ when an opponent uses a Stratagem.

TROOPS

Tempestus Scions x5 'Dune Vipers' w/ 2 x Meltaguns, Vox, Bolt Pistol

Tempestus Scions x5 'Dune Vipers' w/ 2 x Plasmaguns, Vox

(2x) Infantry Squad w/ Flamer, Vox

(2x) Infantry Squad w/ Grenade Launcher, Vox, Bolt Pistol

ELITES

Salamander Command Vehicle

Platoon Commander 'Lieutenant El'Aurens' w/ Boltgun, Relic - Laurels of Command - Can issue an extra order to the same squad on a 4+

Veterans w/ 3 Plasmaguns, Vox, Plasma Pistol, Power Sword

FAST ATTACK

Scout Sentinel w/ Autocannon

Hellhound w/ Hull Heavy Flamer, Track Guards

Rough Riders x8 'Reza's Riders' w/ 2 Meltaguns

HEAVY SUPPORT

Leman Russ Conquerors x2 'Tanin' & 'Jahim' w/ Hull Heavy Flamer, Sponson Heavy Flamers

Leman Russ Stygies Vanquisher 'Sayad' w/ Hull Lascannon

Leman Russ Stygies Vanquisher 'Mitraka' w/ Hull Lascannon

Opponents List (from memory) [7 CPs]

Space Wolves

+++Spearhead Detachment+++

HQ

Wolf Lord on Bike w/ Power Fist

HEAVY SUPPORT

Predator w/ Autocannon, Sponson, Heavy Bolters

Predator w/ Autocannon, Sponson, Heavy Bolters

Predator w/ Twin Lascannon, Heavy Bolters

Black Templars

+++Battalion Detachment+++

HQ

(Warlord) Primaris Captain in Gravis Armour w/ Relic Armour for once per game 2++

Warlord Trait - Extra wound, Ignores wounds on 6s

Primaris Chaplain w/ Relic for additional 3" to aura abilities

TROOPS

Intercessors x5

Scouts x5

Scouts x5

FAST ATTACK

Reivers x5 (Grapple Things)

Reivers x5 (Bolt Carbines)

Reivers x5 

Reivers x5

ELITES

Lieutenant

Imperial Knights

+++Super-Heavy Auxiliary Detachment+++

LOW

Imperial Knight w/ Rapid Firing Battlecannon, Avenger Gatling Cannon, 2 Heavy Stubbers

The mission was Kill Confirmed which immediately had me worried as I was running a total of 19 units and my opponent was running 14.

We would have to achieve Tactical Objectives and also claim kills. Sadly in this mission there were no extra points to be gained for killing LOW units.

TURN 1

This was the deployment (Vanguard Strike). The Tanks at the rear of the photo are in fact it reserve, along with all the Scions, the Rough Riders, the Veterans and the Platoon Commander. The Infantry were placed ready to move to objectives and open up on the Reivers in front of them. Another squad was place at the back to prevent outflanking behind my lines.

My opponent deployed as above, with the two Autocannon Preds and the Wolf Lord in the centre and the Las - Pred on the right. Two units of Reivers were in reserve and two were placed in the centre. The scouts deployed on the right and also infiltrated out of sight right behind the Ork-esque fort.

My opponent took first turn and found a small gap within my lines to deploy his Reivers, another unit deployed just outside my deployment near my Hellhound. His army opened fire on my Vanquishers and the Twin Lascannon Predator dealt 10 damage with his main weapon. The tank now only on two wounds was finished off by the Knight, who also opened fire on the second vanquisher and took it down to its next profile. The poor Scout sentinel was blasted apart by the Autocannon predators which deemed the toughness 8 of the Leman Russes too difficult to overcome (The sentinel was a tasty first blood as well). The Reivers failed their Charges. (I apologise for the lack of photos of the first turn).

During my Turn all my reserves turned up. Here the Rough Riders fired their Meltaguns at the most central Predator and dealt 6/7 wounds. They then made their 9" charge on a 12. They then subsequently failed to do anything. (as expected of mere men on horses - again apologies for the WiP nature of the Riders).

The Tanks and Veterans turned up on the left to face the Knight. The combined firepower dealt 20 Wounds (with only 1 successful invun made on the Knight). The scouts near the fort were eliminated. The Scion seen on the top right here arrived and opened fire on the Lascannon Predator dealing 5 wounds. (somewhat poor considering their potential firepower)

Using the Tallarn Tank order to move 6" and then fire and/or charge the Leman Russ Conqueror 'Tanin' dealt considerable damage with its Heavy Flamers before charging in.

The tank charge in order to prevent the Knight charging the other tanks in its next turn. The fact that the Knight can't move over vehicles combined with its considerably diminished movement meant that combat with the Tank Commander was very unlikely.

As a response to the outflanking Reivers, Two Guard Squads opened up with First Rank, Second Rank and followed up with a charge. The Company Commander Captain El'Houni overcharged his Plasma Pistol to kill one Reiver himself. 

TURN 2 

Due to the Tactical Objectives the Knight moved to take the objective just by the fort entrance. My Infantry Squad needed to be wiped in order for him to get the victory point. The Predator Charged the Leman Russ to absorb the overwatch from its 3 Heavy Flamers. Then the Reivers followed alongside their warlord the Captain in Gravis Armour.

My Hellhound charged the Lascannon Predator after wiping a unit of Reivers to lock it down. The Wolf Lord charged the and killed 3 Rough Riders. The rest were brought low by Bolt Rifle fire. The Scions were charged and completely wiped by the Intercessors and their Chaplain.  

In my Turn 2 I destroyed the Knight and fell back with my Leman Russ. There were enough shots to spare to finish off the Predator. Sadly the Captain in Gravis Armour was too resilient to my firepower (granted mostly lasguns).

 TURN 3

Points-wise, my opponent was storming ahead but I had to see if I could pull back a win. The Wolf Lord charged the nearly dead Russ and by its absence from the above photo you'd be correct to assumed he smashed it with his Power Fist.

The rest of the battlefield wasn't very interesting but here you can see that my Tanks tried to kill the Wolf Lord and The infantry tried to kill my opponents warlord. We failed and they stormed over to kill a character and claim an objective as per the demands of the cards.

Here I declared that my Warlord would set an example by firing his Plasma pistol and killing a Reiver. He rolled a 1. I used his warlord trait reroll and it became a 2. It was not very inspiring and amid myself and my opponents laughter at the hubris that had just occured, the Lasguns did their task.The Guard in the centre had managed to clear away the rest of the nearby Black Templars and the Hellhound was still fighting in close combat deep in enemy lines. 

TURN 4 

After mocking my Infantry's Lasguns they opened on my opponent and he rolled enough 1s to lose his warlord. The Wolf Lord, looking eagerly to get a warlord kill on me moved around my Infantry Squad. He failed the charge sadly and could do nothing but wait for his fate next turn...

The Lascannons from the Predator that had been in combat with the Hellhound fired at my Tank Commander reducing him to 1 wound! (some mortal wounds from overcharging the Executioner helped too).

The Chaplain, Intercessors, Lieutenant and Scouts charged the Hellhound but again it stood defiant.

The Company Commander overcharged his Plasma Pistol at the Wolf Lord and readied his Sword for the charge. The shot was deflected by the Wolf Lord Invulnerable Save. The Infantry Squad then opened fire with their Rapid Fire 2 Lasguns and felled the Mighty Wolf.

A Tank Battle Ensued between my 1 wound Tank Commander and the heavily wounded Lascannon Predator.

The Fight continued through my Turn with the Hellhound still untouched.

Here you can see in the distance the Leman Russ Conqueror trying to protect his Tank Company Commander.

The Hellound Exploded gloriously after the Chaplain fired his pistol at point blank range. The explosion dealt 2 damage to the 3 wounds left Predator (I was so close to killing it) and did a number of wounds to the four other units around it.

We played speedily through turn 4 and 5 and this was the battlefield at the end of the game. We knew it would be close and that we had both scored a lot of victory points so the count up was really quite interesting.

The Tank Commander survived  the encounter with just 1 wound left and the Leman Russ Conqueror next to him 'Jahim' had claimed the Imperial Knight and both Autocannon Predators.

Result - Victory 24 - 20
The game was close but over the last few turns I had managed to rack up the score I needed to secure a win. I really enjoyed the game and it made me consider several changes in my army and how to use it.

I am attending several events this year including the London GT and have been using games to optimise my list. After this game I felt the Scions were quite lacklustre and that swapping the Tempestor Prime for a Primaris Psyker would be a good move. I also started considering a Leman Russ Punisher, two infantry squads and second Scout Sentinel to replace the Hellhound and both Scions squads.

I hope you enjoyed the read and feel free to comment 😌