Not a shutout -- despite the score

Game 2: Don’t call it a Crusade (played on May 17, 2013).

Despite prudent Eldar deployment, the Space Wolves were able to squeeze a drop pod behind Eldar lines after the space elves repulsed a similar deep strike during turn 1.  The turn 2 pod contained a troop squad, who shot ineffectively at the Eldar backfield.  Then, at the bottom of 2, Eldrad and his squad of guardians, along with a few other units, fired on the deep striking troops – and in what some would call the key role of the game, these brave Space Wolves failed their morale and ran 11 inches.  Eldrad, his allied Archon, and a parade of Guardians, chased the Space Wolves around the Eldar bastion for the next 2 turns, eventually, earning the Archon a pain token.

At the top of 4, Eldrad’s unit was the subject of extreme firepower, the Archon’s shadow field earned it’s points value as save after save was made, and those that were missed were Fortuned by Eldrad.  After over 30 wounds, snake eyes finally struck and the shadow field was lost.  With 3-4 more wounds left, both FNP and Look Out Sir were forgotten, and the Archon fell.  Before you groan at the 30 wounds absorbed, the statistical average should be 36 (1:36 is the chance of rolling snake eyes, required to fail a fortuned shadow field save).

Seeing the Archon fall inspired a different Space Wolves troop squad to charge – crossing the 10 inches that separated them from Eldrad’s unit.  The 10” charge was ACTUALLY the key role of the game.  Had that charge failed to go the 10, Eldrad’s unit could have withdrew to a safe location and the SW troops would have walked thru another turn of Eldar shooting.  Alternately, had the Eldar general not failed to remember FNP or Lookout Sir to save the last wound on his allied Archon, the charge could probably have been absorbed without the loss of Eldrad.

At the top of 5 with Eldrad dead from assault, the surviving melta-packing troops at the foot of the Eldar bastion opened up.  Detonation (7) was rolled on the Building Damage table.  Kaboom.

Full loss for the Eldar. 0-21.

I hope that Josh will agree that the game was actually much closer than the score would indicate.  Until the charge on turn 4, things were looking very good for the Eldar.  The detonation of the bastion was a suitable punctuation (exclamation mark!) for the end of the battle.

I truly enjoyed myself despite losing.  At several points during the game, Josh’s shooting roles left a lot to be desired (unfavorable scatter, etc).  He was a great sport about the occasional unlucky roles.

Until next time, GAME ON!