Lenny and I arranged this game ages ago and I was really looking forward to it. The last time we played was back in June 2017 when we gave Shadow Wars: Armageddon a try. This time out we got to roll a whole more dice with his Crimson Fists taking on my Blood Angels… I suspect some nefarious Inquisitor is to blame for the Imperium’s finest going toe to toe against each other!

Here’s my 50 PL list:

++ Battalion Detachment +5CP (Imperium - Blood Angels) [50 PL, 926pts] ++

+ HQ [12 PL, 208pts] +

Captain in Gravis Armour [7 PL, 134pts]: 2. Artisan of War, Boltstorm gauntlet [22pts], Master-crafted power sword [10pts], Warlord

Primaris Lieutenants [5 PL, 74pts]

. Primaris Lieutenant [5 PL, 74pts]: Master-crafted auto bolt rifle [4pts]

+ Troops [15 PL, 270pts] +

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 90pts]: Bolt rifle, 4x Intercessor [72pts], Intercessor Sergeant [18pts]

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 90pts]: Bolt rifle, 4x Intercessor [72pts], Intercessor Sergeant [18pts]

Intercessor Squad [5 PL, 90pts]: Bolt rifle, 4x Intercessor [72pts], Intercessor Sergeant [18pts]

+ Elites [15 PL, 270pts] +

Primaris Ancient [5 PL, 69pts]: Standard of Sacrifice

Redemptor Dreadnought [10 PL, 201pts]: Icarus rocket pod [6pts], Macro plasma incinerator [31pts], Onslaught gatling cannon [16pts]

. Two fragstorm grenade launchers [8pts]: 2x Fragstorm grenade launcher [8pts]

+ Heavy Support [8 PL, 178pts] +

Baal Predator [8 PL, 178pts]: Twin assault cannon [44pts]

. Two heavy flamers [34pts]: 2x Heavy flamer [34pts]

++ Total: [50 PL, 926pts] ++

Basically it’s just the Dark Imperium toys with a few bits added. My plan was to have a strong core with the troops with the Characters supporting them, but a you’ll see the Open War scenario threw in a bit of a curve ball!

Here’s Lenny’s list:

Battalion Detachment (Crimson Fists), 50PL, 8CPs.

Primaris Captain (6PL) - Plasma Pistol, Fist of Vengeance (Crimson Fists relic Power Fist)

Primaris Lieutenant (5PL) - Power Sword

Intercessor Squad (10PL) - 10 man squad with Auxiliary Grenade Launcher. Sergeant has Power Sword.

Tactical Squad (9PL) - 10 man squad with Flamer and Missile Launcher. Sergeant has Combi-Flamer and Power Fist.

Tactical Squad (9PL) - 10 man with Meltagun and Missile Launcher. Sergeant has Combi-Melta and Power Fist.

Devestator Squad (11PL) - 10 man squad with 2 Lascannons and 2 Heavy Bolters.

So all infantry, but there is some nasty punch in there between Lascannons, Meltas and Power Fists! Here’s what the Open War cards threw at us. Interesting, right?

The deployment means things could end up quite tight, but the objective is pretty straightforward. It’s the twist that really makes things interesting. I had 8 units which meant I could deploy no more than 4 in a single drop. Lenny could only drop 3!

Below you can see what I deployed in Turn 1. The Baal Predator became a focal point in the battle. It came under heavy attack earlier on and backed away, letting the Intercessors mop up the opposing Marines.


Predictably my Intercessors took a lot of damage, but a few managed to hang on. Things were looking dangerous for my captian, so he backed away and hid behind a wood. This proved to be a good position as the enemy moved towards him, hoping to take out the nearby Baal Predator. My Dreadnaught deployed with the enemy Warlord as my closest target and managed to take him down. In response it ws taken out from a mass of shooting and a charge by a unit of Crimson Fists, their red powerfists dealing the final damage.

My captain then decided it was time to finished things. While the enemy Primaris attempted, in vain to take down the Predator he singlehandedly killed the Lieutenant and the accompanying Intercessors over a couple of turns. This was pretty decisive.

The game ended with the narrowest of margins… I won 41 points to 40.

It was an excellent game and such fun. I thought I didn’t stand a chance at the midpoint in the battle (with my Redemptor gone and my Intercessors heavily mauled), but it just goes to show you shouldn’t give up.

Big thanks to Lenny for an excellent game.

Until next time,

Owen