Crusade 4. Death Tempters Vs Genestealers.

I found myself with a bit of time free while the family was playing at other things so got to do another sweep and clear. I really wanted to use the Genestealers as they are falling behind in the crusade. They are still short of a lot of options notably in acolytes but they should get an outing. 

 I was short on time so grabbed a bit of carpet and quickly chose some forces. 

The GSC took the only formation they can field at 25PL with a Primus (4pl) leading two neophyte squads, one of ten (4PL) one of 17 (cos of ebay and conversions) (7PL). 5 Purestrains (4PL) and 5 acolytes just armed with pistols (3PL). I was trying to remember my list from memory so forgot DJ Dave the clamavus (3PL) to take it up to 25 Power level. 

 The Death Tempters tried something new. 

 A dual HQ techmarine (4PL) and LT (4PL) a 5 man bolt rifle squad of Intercessors (5PL) a stalker Intercessor squad (5PL) and a Reiver squad (5PL). I was short 2 PL but at the time thought this would be okay as I knew my GSC force was not up to much. 

 I deployed the stalker squad holding the rear objective supported by the tech marine Gamma-One-Four. The rifles went next to them to push on objective 2 and the Reivers with their LT, Kilo Two Six went up the middle looking for objective 3. I also sent with a bit of a narrative deployment with a narrow deployment as if the marines were entering the area from a jungle path. 

 As I was short on time I didn't really go through the whole GSC deployment tricks and just put the Genestealer purestrains underground. As it's just me playing its hard for me to fool myself. The big blob of neophytes went on the home objective and the 10 man went toward objective 2.

T1

T1 Genestealers

Advanced with acolytes and neo 1. Neo1 on to objective 2

Acolytes moved towards objective 3 but held behind the dense cover hoping to survive to jump on it next turn. Neo 2 held back with its heavy weapons so it could get clear shots at the Reivers. 

 Nothing did any damage

T1 Death Tempters. 

 The Reivers advanced straight up looking to sieze objective 3 but only rolled a 2. Kilo followed slightly slower ready for counter charging if required his new pistol in his hands. 

 Gamma moved behind the rifle Intercessor squad who had moved up to shoot neo 1.

 Everything but the Reivers shot into Neo1 wiping them out with the last shot from Kilo. The Reivers killed the acolytes in one salvo. 

 

 T2 genestealer 10vp

 Purestrains come in from reserve  near obj 3 and the guvnor moves out from behind the mass of neophytes to get his pistol in range next turn. 

 The neophytes shoot at the Reivers hoping to do some damage to help the Genestealers but only succeed in putting a wound on one. 

 The Genestealers go in with a 9 and overwatch does nothing. 15 attacks rip two Reivers apart and one down a wound. The Reivers strike back but the Genestealers make every save and continue their attack into next turn. 

T2 Death Tempters VP 20. 

 The Reivers back out of combat and the Space marine line opens up. 

 5+ saves seem so OP as the Genestealers dodge left and right leaving just 1 left staring down the Space marine characters. 

  Kilo amd Gamma go in  even though they will be targeted next round. Gamma stomps and clashes but his attacks go wide and then Kilo strikes finally cutting the beasts throat. 

 Kilo consolidates towards the objective hoping to survive to hold it in his turn. 

T3 Genestealers VP 20.

 There is no coming back even if we kill the Reivers and the LT the Space Marines the rest will rip through the remaining Neophytes. So I go for broke. The Govanor moves up on the LT and the Neophytes move forward and hope their big guns will hit. 

 The LT takes everything from the Neophytes and only takes a wound from a krak grenade. The needle pistol strips two more off and the LT is in trouble. 

 The Guvenor is desperate and attempts a charge from 10 inches away. And gets a 12! 

 He rips in with his injector claw but fails to beat the Power armour and Kilo hangs in there. 

 In return he beats the Primus down to 2 wounds. 

T3 Death Tempters VP 40

 The rifle Intercessor squad move around the crates to get a line on the second squad of Neophytes the Reivers move up to the jungle to do the same and the LT back flips into the jungle on the right to clear the lines of fire. 

 The techmarine guns down the GSC Primus in a splatter of gore as the forge bolter inflicts two wounds and 4 damage with no save comes slicing in. 

 After a good start marine shooting goes down hill with everything else only inflicting five casulities on the Neophytes. Two more run as they realise they are out matched. 

T4 Genestealers VP. 30

 It's down to pride. The GSC look to take down something and I forget you can target characters in ninth if they are not within 3" of a  3+ unit and thought I had to chew through the 5.wounds on the Reivers.

 The mining laser missed but the seismic cannon was in its 12" profile and burned through two marines leaving just the Sarge. 

 Everything else just bounces off of him and the neophytes shout their definance as the noose closes in. 

T4 Death Tempters VP 50

 The rifle squad closes to rapid fire range and the Reiver Sarge pushed through the jungle into grenade range. Gamma stomps forward to clear his line of sight. 

 I make a mistake and shoot with the Stalkers at the back killing a couple of neophytes and dropping the squad to five. Now when the grenade goes in from the sarge there it D6 rather than D6 minimum 3. Opps. He gets four shots and blows another away anyway. The rifles open up and there is but one remaining which gamma blows apart with his forge bolter. 

Conclusion

 Well I don't know how to fight with GSC. I made so many mistakes. Firstly throwing the Neophytes and the Acolytes forward was a mistake. It just got them closer to the marines to be shot. I was hoping the neophytes would survive a turn and hold objective 2 and the acolytes would be available to support the purestrains. As it happened they just got shot for no return. I should have put the Acolytes in reserve with the purestrains and dropped them on the objective in 9" then they could have fired as well as try and charge. The neophytes should have held back probably near the other squad and tried to use their firepower or at least then had the numbers to move up.

 The Primus was a good beatstick and should have been further up the field sooner. That lucky charge got him marked for greatness even if it was a complete wash and he did nothing. 

 From the Space Marines side it was an easy match up. I liked the bolter fusilades and Kilo did well. It was well worth giving him the relic.