Dblahag's review of his experience in the
"OWNED" Warhammer 40k Tournament (March 15-16,2008)

This is a recount of Dblahag's experiences in the Tournament. A little long... but what can you expect for five Battle reports, with plenty of comments and photos?

- Mordheimer

If you don't know the Owned Tournament was last weekend. Yes, this is the $1,000 prize event with no comp score, so only beat sticks allowed and no tears. Let's go!!!

Its 4:28 AM.

I awake before my alarm even has a chance to sound, its time to battle. Not quite yet, first I have to get to Tampa by 9:00am. Not to worry my ride and fellow gamer Justin is right on time. Were on 75 by 5:10am and arrive at the hotel with 30 minutes to get adjusted and set up.

We were greeted by Rob and some of the judges, while other players rolled in and started setting up. In all there were 12 of us in this event including my self.

• Dblahag [Aaron] (Chaos Glory) -= Member of The Golden Bolter Society =-
• Justin (Blood Angels) -= Member of The Golden Bolter Society =-
• Brian (Eldar)
• Scot (Salamanders Marines)
• Max (Orks)
• Carlos (Raven Wing)
• Alan (Eldar)
• Marc (Orks)
• Hadi (Guard/Demonhunters/Wichhunters)
• Mike (Chaos Khorne/Slaneesh)
• Tony (Civil War Guard)
• Phillip (Necrons)

I think that is right, I am doing this from memory. The first thing I noticed was that I was the only one to bring a display board for my army, so I couldn't get good photos of all the cool armies until they hit the board. Plus, I had my turn counter with wound tracker for my two HQ's. I was the only one to do this and it helped out later.

The next thing I noticed was the tables, they were spaced out, there was room on each side left and right for each player, the terrain looked good and each one had a pile of dice on it including a scatter.

I received my info pack with a copy of my roster and my first opponent's. Along with that was a sheet that described all the terrain (great idea to do this), a comments' sheet and all five scenarios that we would be playing. I greatly appreciated this and the effort that went into making these for all of us.

When it got closer to our first game it became apparent that we were going to be setting up the terrain ourselves. I also liked this and the way it was handled. Players roll off, then take turns placing one major piece in each quarter and scattering it, while minor terrain pieces are just placed. A good way to mix it up and it didn't waste much time at all.

Day One.

Game 1. Recovery
VS. Eldar (Brian)

In this one the objective is Victory Points and to be within 12" of a marker at the end of the game. Sounds easy, wait there's a catch. The marker moves 4D6" each player turn and moves even if a hit is rolled, then stops after three game turns. Deployment is crazy corners at Alpha level, so were all in with the exception of the Greater Demon and Terminators who are needed for quick response once that marker starts moving.

Right off I missed first turn and the objective moved right at the Eldar line, while they marched toward me and unloaded massive fire. Then to make matters worse when I rolled for the marker movement it flew back to his board edge and was buried behind his entire force add to that my return fire was minimal at best. The marker then started to move my way as I took heavy losses. Then in one great last roll I sent the objective to its final resting spot, far, far right and away from the Eldar force. In a last ditch effort the Greater Demon and Terminators played defense and were able to hold back the advance. As a troop of my Marines ran for the marker and were gunned down by two rounds of fire from Dark Reapers. When the smoke cleared my force was almost destroyed yet the Eldar didn't make the goal and were held to a minor victory.

I'll take a few points for my minor loss and concentrate on the next one. This was a great game with a fun player that had a very relaxed attitude about the game. A great start even if I didn't win. We were the first to finish.

Time to get into our room.

What a surprise, these rooms are great! King bed and pull-out in the couch, ¾ size refrigerator, dishwasher, plates and silverware. The price was great with the package and provided more than I expected.

Back to the game, but not before a call to one of my best friends and partner in all things Chaos CJ. He then explained how I needed to put my ear to the phone and listen to a sacrifice. One Chaos hammer (that's a regular hammer with Chaos crosses painted on it) and one Blood Angels Terminator and BAM! I was told it was a success and from what I could here I believed it.

Game 2. Extermination
VS. Blood Angels (Justin)

Well in game 2, I was playing my friend Justin who I had just played the weekend before. I lost 2 games back to back when we practiced for this event and if things go like I expect he will probley get his win this time as well. I couldn't believe the luck of the Blood Angels sacrifice and then drawing Blood Angels in the next round, interesting right! Deployment was 10" L at Gamma level using basic victory points and a marked unit. We each picked one unit from the enemy force that would be worth double victory points if destroyed, I picked the Vet assault squad, and he chose my Chosen. I had infiltrated them in a some what safe spot to start the game in and got first turn.

After moving my troops and Demon Prince, I gave the round over to Justin and noticed I had forgotten to move my marked Chosen… Oops! Then a Land Speeder and Baal Predator with over charged engines had them in full range out of cover. I don't know how it happened but somehow they lived, still scoring and not falling back. The Death Company with Lemartis and Vet Assault squad made a mad dash at my line and I braced a counter charge.

In short, thanks to a 2" roll for an assault by the vet squad the Chaplin and Company went at a unit of Chaos Marines with on there own. Then out killed their range and couldn't sweep, while my Marines passed their leadership and waited for reinforcements. As the Obliterators dropped vehicles, the Terminators and Greater Demon showed up to help the fight. The dice were not in the favor of my opponent at the start and just got worse every turn, as they say when it goes, it goes. By the time it was over a hand full of Devastators stood in the corner facing a mob of Chaos that was still about 90% strong.

Justin was disgusted and went out for a much needed smoke. The sacrifice worked and I took a massacre and all battle point modifiers, one more game to go today. Thanks CJ! And we were the first to finish again, to the best of my knowledge.

Game 3. Sandstorm
VS. Guard/Demonhunters/Wichhunters (Hadi)

Look out! There's a bunch of tanks! This was a tasty list with 2 Leman Russ's, 2 Hellhound's, 2 Chimera's and 2 Landraider's… OUCH! Some who play me will love this one because its nasty payback for some of the tank lists that I was relentless with in my Tau army. (Up to 14 in my 1850 list.)

As I looked at a wall of steel with big massive guns on it I knew I only had one choice. Rely on the Obliterators to drop some tanks and hide everything else until they do. While hoping that the winds of Chaos that moved the marker in game one would kick up some sand this game. At the start of each game turn we rolled 2D6 and added the number of the turn we were in, if it totaled 12 or more every ones BS is at -1 from the blowing sand and all area on the board is difficult. The game was victory points with an added bonus of 225 points for each terrain feature controlled at the end, and alpha level 12" deployment.

My plan did somewhat work, the sand kicked up 3 times in 6 turns! The Terminators dropped in 2" away from a Landraider and with 1 combi melta vaporized it from the board, while the OB's fired nonstop at the armor. By the end I didn't move one of my three Troops, Chosen or Raptors. I played my best defense and won on victory points before modifiers for terrain resulting in only giving a minor win to Hadi and his tanks.

It was a hard, fast game. We both got a lesson on how to fire a Hellhound from the judges and yes one more time we were the first to finish.

Day one is over, beer me!

Day Two.

Game 4. Anarchy
VS. Salamander Marines (Scott)

Finally a mission that didn't use victory points! I love these scenarios because of the randomness and thought that is needed to win. In this one each HQ and Troop that is not fleeing at the end is counted as a point, the points are compared and results are figured.

• One more than your opponent = minor win
• Two more than your opponent = major win
• Three more than your opponent = massacre

The mission was using deep strike, dusk & dawn, and random game length with 15" deployment on the long edge. The pods are hard to deploy against so I did my best to hid everything again and wait for them to make their move. 4 pods in on turn 2 and 1 more in the next, all in a perfect row dividing the table. The marines waited for me to jump out knowing they would get to unleash massive fire and counter assault, I waited for them to do the same. We made it to turn 7 before the random dice stopped the game and left us with both forces at full strength!

The score was the same as when we started, Marines with 6 HQ and Troops and my Chaos with 5. I handed over a minor loss and noticed the other games were in turn 2 or 3. Needles to say, first to finish again but this time we had almost an hour and a half left in game time. My opponent Scott and I agreed that we were having such a good time that we should keep playing just for fun. It was fun and we went 11 rounds before giving in and moving on to game 5. Thanks for a very memorable game Scott.

Game 5. Forge world
VS Raven Wing- Carlos

The last game was here and I had only one massacre and three minor losses, this one looks like a just for fun game since I was most likely out of the running for the top spots. The mission Forge World, deployment quarters, level gamma, my opponent all bikes (with scouts move), land speeders and a whirlwind.

Well the bikers did scout up while a horde of assault cannons and heavy bolters waited in the back. First turn went my way and I made good with some plasma from infiltrating Chosen and a charge with the Demon Prince. The rounds that followed were all in the favor of Chaos. The Demon Prince and Greater Demon fought side by side, Oblits and Chosen blasted plasma all over, Raptors jumped the tank and even my Rhino took down a speeder with a glancing hit. It was a massacre by turn 4, but for the first time we didn't finish first, but second.

It was over. The dice were down and every one waited to find the results.

Results

My Chaos showed up and held their own against some hard lists played by solid players who all went into this event to win. The minor losses I gave up were just enough to push me 2 points over 4th place. And I picked up a box of Spawn for my prize. Then to add to my joy they threw in a Best Appearance prize and were kind enough to turn over another box-o-Spawn! I know the display board and Chaos turn/wound counter helped.

In retrospect, I was pleased with my force and how they handled the missions. To sum up in all five games together I never failed one morale/leadership roll, never had a reserve not in by turn three and massacred in the two missions that allowed infiltrators. I fought against the Empire in four of five games and played the overall winner in game one, only giving up a minor win.

I also want to thank the judges. Thanks Guys! These guys were all over the place and at around 6 at a time each table seemed to have its own. They were all knowledgeable and courteous to every situation I was involved with. I had a great time with every game and would definitely attend this event again. There is talk that another will take place in six months.

Lastly, Thanks Rob for hosting a big money prize tournament and backing it up with a good time.

Game On!
Dblahag [Aaron]
 

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