Warhammer World - Tau Research Station

Whilst J'mingan bridge and Fort Pain are the most impressive tables at Warhammer World, I feel that Tau Research Station has the most character. I just love the buildings, and in particular the building that looks a bit like the shield generator from The Empire Strikes Back. So I was chuffed to bits when we managed to get booked on it.

The game was a 6,000 point Eldar/Dark Eldar versus Dark Angels/Grey Knights affair. Scenario was crusade with a vanguard strike deployment. There were three objectives.

• The Dark Angels mounted a decent attempt to get the objective in the Eldar deployment zone by deep striking a drop pod full of veterans and some Deathwing, and then backing them up with outflanking Ravenwing. This attack forced the Eldar's jetbikes to come back and defend, which turned out to be crucial for the outcome of the game.
• The objective in the Dark Angel deployment zone was never under serious threat and the Deathwing Knights guarding it had nothing to do all day.
• The final objective in no man's land was hotly contested and swapped hands a couple of times. Dark Eldar assault units swarmed the objective and cleared it, but sustained fire from a Vindicator and a Devastator squad occupying a nearby bunker wiped them out. Grey Knight Paladins were then able to foot slog onto the objective and the Eldar were unable to contest with their jetbikes as they were tied up in the rear.

So a Dark Angel Victory and a fantastically fun game.

The Dark Angels Green Wing cower in the corner, whilst one Deathwing  land raider bravely goes out to face the oncoming horde

....and the land raider predictably gets blown up by the wraith knight and the guys inside get cut down

Deployment from the Dark Angels Perspective; Rhinos create a protective wall for the predators to soak up the Dark Eldar Turn 1 lance fire. A Daemon Hunter dreadnought supports the firing line with twin linked, auto cannons (with psi-bolt ammo). Finally the vindicator hides behind the rhino wall and a load of trees. It's the first time it survived all game and its role in the Dark Angel win was pivotal because the final objective was just in the middle of the screen by the generators...

Ravenwing and Grey Knight reserves show up and it all starts to look a bit different for the Eldar