Astronomi-con

Carlosthecraven · Initiate Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 7

Hi

I had the pleasure of participating in my first Astronomi-con in Toronto on May 3-4, 2008. What follows is my (slightly editted) battle report to the locals back home.

I attended Astronimi-con this weekend and thought I would give a review of it for the locals to consider for next year.

By way of background info, Astronomi-con Toronto is the largest 40k tournament in Canada, held annually at the battle bunker in Oakville. Its a two day, six round event. What makes it unique is that each and every table has a different scenario, some of which favour different aspects of the game.

Trying to win this tournament is somewhat difficult, because the tournament is as much about drawing the right scenarios against the right opponent and being the attacker or defender where appropriate. Also, the fact every game I played was random game length after turn 5 meant that gettingthe job done as the attacker was sometimes a nearly impossible task.

The event was very well run, although the wait times on day two were very lengthy as Christian and Mike needed to be sure no-one played on the same table twice. Such is the challenge of such a unique approach.

Overall, this tournament is about having fun, not planning to win. You need to be very strong in every catagory to place highly.

The one disappointing thing was the lack of a results sheet.

On to the battles...

My Army
Necron Lord, Orb & Veil
8 Immortals
14 Warriors
10 Warriors
2 x 4 Destroyers
Monolith
(1500 pts)/ 19/30 for painting

Round 1 VS Chris Orr and his Drop Podding Black Templars, led by high marshall Helbrecht
Scenario - Hunt the Baneblade - basically we fought each other while an Apocalypse Baneblade, complete with 10" template of doom, rampaged across the table, and used the fifth ed damage table- which meant that gauss was largely ineffective. Each structure point was worth 150 VPs with the final one worth 200.

The game was a tightly fought battle, Chris removed 2 structure points and killed my monolith and immortals, while dropped Helbrecht's retinue, his dread and predator, with the final result being a draw, which after modifers gave me a slight edge at 9 to 8 (out of a possible 13 per round).
High Point: The lord and his vieling warriors dropped a dreadnought and a predater in turns 4 & 5 and landed in Chris's deployment zone, which was enough to earn the draw and a battle modifer.
Low Point: After I managed to gun down all of Helbrecht's friends Hebrecht charged my immortals, killing one. I figured, "I'm Ld 10, I only lost one guy, I will not pull out of base to base and attack back." Wiffle. Boxed Cards on the break. Ouch.
Back to the Farm: the monolith did nothing. I deep struck it and it got punched by a dreadnought power claw.

Chris was my best opponent for the weekend. We both took off the kiddy gloves and gave it everything we had. Too bad their was no favorite opponent Vote.

Round 2 Vs Lorand's Space Marines in the Power Station

Lorand's Army - a very well rounded marine list, untraited. He had a two wound chaplain with jump pack, a commander without Halo in a rhino with a bunch of marines, some fire support and alarge scout unit. A nice list that did a bit of everything.

I Defended. This was one of those scenarios where the attacker was doomed, particularly against my army. I defended the Power Station (which the attacker had to take to win, which received the city fight bonuses of a 3+ cover save, and it negated frag grenades. I started with both squads of warriors, my lord and my monolith. I deployed the lord and the large squad in the power station, the monolith behind it out of sight and the other ten warriors in a building out aways, but still within 18" of the monolith for cycling. The rest was in reserve. Lorand fell for the bait, deploying very heavily on the wrong side of the board, hoping to focus on phase out. Sooo, on turn one I cycled the small unit of warriors in to the station and proceeded to hammer him with devasting firepower. It was over on turn 4, with me scoring max battle points (13).

High Points: The monolith came through big time, unleashing a particle whip that killed 6 assault marines, crippling any chance Lorand had.
Low Points: None. Everybody did their job in spectacular fashion.
Back to the Farm: Nobody

Round 3 VS Dave Bennett's Necrons

Dave's Army focused on variety.
Destroyer Lord with 3 wraiths
2 x 10 Warriors
5 immortals
5 pariahs
6 flayed ones
3 destroyers
monolith
1 tomb spider

This scenario was a strong point attack, with Dave winning the roll to defend. To win, I needed 100 more VPS on/inside the walls (which were unscalable, but could be detonated if I made it there by turn 4 (and rolled 3+) and entered on turn 5) than Dave. I hammered him, even though the monolith didn't show until turn 5. At the top of turn 5 he had 20 warriors, a destoyer, and a tomb spider remaining, while I had lost 10 warriors. This was the moment of fate. I could have turbo boosted for the walls and claimed the draw (if Dave didn't shoot me to pieces), and would have done so if my monolith had scattered inside the walls as well (at which point my lord and his warriors would have been cycled in as well, providing too many targets). Unfortunately the monolith scattered badly, outside the foritications. So I decided to concentrate on killing off more stuff, and hope that the dice gods would favour my random game length roll... I rolled a 1. Game over, a loss and I was pretty much out of contention.
High: Dropping Dave's monlith with one Gauss volley. Also having my monolith survive 35 dice on the bottom of turn 5.
Low: Failing to play a sixth turn. Break tests really hurt. His Pariahs actually did really well for him.
Back to the Farm: the monolith for not turning up until too late.

Round 4 Vs Dmitry’s Tau

This army was Gorgeous. For example, all his fire warriors were converted Tau Air Caste and he had re-cast his dozen stealth suits with clear resin. A good guy to play, although I knew his list and stats better than he did. He also has 2 broadsides, 2 Remora Fighters (aircraft), 2 Piranhas, and was led by Shadowsun. Notice the lack of crisis suits.

This was the game of horrendous leadership tests for me. The scenario was a take and hold variant with two options for the attacker – destroy the water generator for +200 VPs or have your commander in base contact with the water generator and poison the water supply for +400 VPs. Defender bonuses were as normal. Deployment was from the short edge on an 8” Table.

I deployed all the warriors up one flank, the immortals up the other, both advancing with good protection from fire from the water station. The destroyers deployed out of sight but ready to move to 31-36” from the fire warriors in the water station. My plan was to deepstrike the Monolith into the building and pull a unit of either warriors or the immortals through and clear the area. All in all a good plan…

The scenario allowed Dmitry to roll for reserves on turn one and he rolled very well. He was able to drop 9/10 Necrons from concentrated fire from deepstriking Stealthsuits, fire warriors and Piranhas. I prompty rolled boxed cards for the last warrior, but 4 warriors ended up joining the 14 man squad via we’ll be back. I moved up to assault his drones, the stealth suits, which would have locked him down. I rolled snake eyes (I felt like I was using my orks against my buddy Greg at this point.) Dmitry followed up by dropping another 10 warriors (6 came back) and I rolled an 11 for my morale test. It took until turn 5 to shoot down all the units that were herding the warriors off the table. Basically my left flank sucked out.

However the monolith and the immortals (and the destroyers when they weren’t bailing out the Lord and his boys) cleared out the building very handily. The game lasted 8 turns, and I was able to win solidly with 11 points.

Highlight – the immortals and the monolith rampaged.
Lowlight – the Lord and the warriors sucked hard until turn 6 – the Veil brought them back into the game late.
Back to the farm: my dice rolling mojo in the morning. I always play poorly early in the day.

Game 5 vs Justin’s Orks

You know a game is not going to go well on the soft score side when the first thing your opponent says is “Normally, I refuse to play Necrons.” You know its really not going to go well when you have to call a simple rule on him (difficult terrain rolls) and need to pull the Big Book out. Anyways…

His army: Warboss, weirdboy, 30 boys, 4 X 20 boyz, 12 trukk boys, 10 stormboys, and 15 tankbustas.

The scenario was a cityfight with the objective being to take your opponent’s chosen building. This game was going to be a draw from the outset – there was no way I was going to kill the 100 boys coming for me and dislodge the 47 boys in his chosen building in five turns. Conversely there was no way he was going to withstand my firepower and mobility, especially with a re-roll to wound stratagem and a feel no pain stratagem in play.

The result – a draw. Losses for me – one warrior and one immortal. Losses for Justin between 75-100 boyz. If the game went 7 turns I would have won. He remarked that the game was the hardest ass-kicking he had taken in a long time. I am pretty sure he hosed me on sports and comp.

Highlight: the destroyers owned the orks.
Lowlights: I took two casualties (???)
Back to the farm: nobody.

Game 6 vs Andy Forest’s Eldar.
Andy is a great guy to talk to and play except for two key things: he is a staller and he employs European Movement. Other than that the game was all about manoeuvre and position with very little shooting taking place until turn 4. It would have been fabulous except for the two things mentioned above.

Andy’s list: (a very high powered list, which is fine with me) Eldrad, 10 harlies with all toys, 2 x 6 harlies (with shadowseer, no master) in falcons, 2 x 3 jetbikes with cannon, wraithlord with missile launcher and lance.

The scenario was Err supply – three markers scattered onto the table on turn two, and each was worth 500 VPs. Two happened to scatter into a building in Andy’s deployment zone and he had last turn which meant I had my work cut out for me. The third landed in my deployment zone, which I held with a unit of destroyers.

I made my push on turn 4, which he countered with his big unit of harlies against my immortals – they survived, and I pulled them out through the monolith. I shot the Harlies down on turn the top of turn 5, holding the two objectives going into the bottom of turn 5, bracing myself for the final 12 harlies to assault, hoping to hold OR to play a 6th turn and destroy the harlies in turn 6. Alas, my lord got locked in combat, so the potential for a wipe out was there when I inevitably lost the combat. I needed a 9 to pass… and rolled an 11. The wipe out occurred, resulting in a 1450 point swing on the bottom of the turn. We passed the roll for turn six, but the judges ruled we were out of time. Such is life

High Light: The monolith was incredibly useful, saving my immortals.
Low Light: The stalling and the very questionable movement – one observer watched the second half of my game and thought the guy was averaging 7 ½” per move. Add this extra bit to fleet moves as well and yo-yoing skimmers and he definitely pushed things. But it was the end of the day and I was out of contention so I let it go.
Back to the Farm: nobody.

Cheers,
Nate Stevens

Xian · Posted: Fri May 09, 2008 3:38 pm Post subject:

Thanks for the report, Nate.

Just to let you, and everyone else know, the final standings will be posted on the website tonight!

Cheers,
_________________
Christian Augst
Astronomi-con Co-Organizer
www.Astronomi-con.com

Carlosthecraven · Initiate Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 7

Hi

Excellent. I am looking forward to seeing the results.

Cheers,
Nate

Rough Rider · Alumni Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 123

Thanks for the reports, Nate. Not very sportsman-like of that Ork player though. I wonder how it is that youi only lost two s and he lost 75-100 and you still ended up with a draw? What kind of crazy scenario were you playing? Laughing

andyman1090 · Initiate Joined: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 20

Rough Rider · Alumni Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 123

I've played Astro missions before so I know that they aren't run of the mill scenarios, but still... that casualty disparity is pretty substantial.

andyman1090 · Initiate Joined: 21 Feb 2007 Posts: 20

I'm sure Doc will correct me if I am wrong, but I lost 1 harlequin in the game and I still lost the mission, lol!

Doc · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 3:51 pm Post subject:

Hi Andrew...
Very Happy

Yep, weird, but true - I lost about 60% of my army, but still won the game...
Thanks Mike and Christian!
_________________
Jason "Doc" Dyer
26x GT attendee; Best Painted, and 4x Best Sport
Doc's Projects
A-Club

Rough Rider · Alumni Joined: 22 Jan 2007 Posts: 123

Come to think of it, I normally get my ass handed to me at Astro and still manage to eek out a draw here and there. Laughing

Carlosthecraven · Initiate Joined: 05 May 2008 Posts: 7

Hi

The scenario with the Ork player involved taking each others "base" in a cityfight. Neither of us could successfully accomplish this feat.

The game basically involved me shooting down swathes of boys (thanks in part to the "re-roll to wound" strategem in the building with my large unit of warriors inside it) and losing very little in return. Between 3+ armour, 4+ cover and "we'll be back", there was little Justin could do.

I would have prefered that the scenario awarded a VP bonus for units holding the building rather than necessitating that I take it from him. If the scenario involved a less numerous, power armoured foe, I probably could have gotten the job done, but providing a large number of 6 point orks with 4+ cover made it very difficult to dislodge him, especially when I had to spend the first few turns dealing with the 100 boys racing towards my objective.

Cheers,
Nate

Senekal · Posted: Mon May 12, 2008 7:58 pm Post subject: