Theme Tournament: WITCH HUNTERS!!!
Our FLGS runs a couple of types of tournaments, including what they call a “hobby” tournament. This event disallows abusive lists and marks theme and painting higher than in the more competitive tournaments.
Sounds great, right? I thought so too! The fact that I wouldn’t be faced with fleets of Falcons and mobs of monstrous creatures meant that I could take something fun! So naturally I chose Witch Hunters.
Typically, I’ll take either lots of Assassins or lots of Exorcists in a competitive Witch Hunters army. Since this was a “theme” tournament, I suspected that both would be frowned upon. So instead I went with a Troop heavy build, which looked like it could have some staying power.
Here’s the list:
HQ
Canoness (Frag Grenades, Bolt Pistol, Blessed Weapon, Book, Cloak, Jump Pack)
TROOPS
10-man Battle Sisters Squad (2x Meltaguns, VSS w/Book)
10-man Battle Sisters Squad (2x Meltaguns, VSS w/Book)
Infantry Platoon
— Command Squad (Storm Bolter, Meltagun, Autocannon)
— Infantry Squad (Lascannon, Plasma Gun)
— Infantry Squad (Lascannon, Plasma Gun)
Infantry Platoon
— Command Squad (Storm Bolter, Meltagun, Autocannon)
— Infantry Squad (Lascannon, Plasma Gun)
— Infantry Squad (Autocannon, Plasma Gun)
5-man IST Squad (2x Plasma Guns)
— Chimera (ML/HB, Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers)
5-man IST Squad (2x Meltaguns)
— Chimera (ML/HB, Extra Armor, Smoke Launchers)
FAST ATTACK
Sentinel Squadron (2x Autocannons)
8-man Seraphim Squad (2x Hand Flamers, VSS w/Power Weapon)
HEAVY SUPPORT
8-man Retributors Squad (4x Heavy Bolters, VSS w/Book)
8-man Retributors Squad (4x Heavy Bolters, VSS w/Book)
Leman Russ (Extra Armour, Pintle Heavy Stubber, Hull and Sponon Heavy Bolters)
NOTES:
1. Lots of Troops: I haven’t played a WH+IG list in a tournament in a long time, so I wanted to see how lots of troops choices would play out in 5E. Two units of Sisters allow me to grab nearby objectives, while providing my IG with Book-coverage. Two Infantry Platoons (that’s 6 scoring units), gives me a solid (almost unbreakable) core to hold objectives in my deployment zone. Two mounted IST squads give me the ability to try to claim far objectives.
2. Lots of Guns: This list sports a Battle Cannon, 3 Lascannons, 5 Autocannons, and 11 Heavy Bolters. It also has a decent number of Meltaguns (something like 8) and Plasma Guns (something like 6). Hopefully enough Lascannons to pop vehicles (there should be fewer in a “theme” event) and lots of shots to deal with hordes.
3. Limited, But Decent Counter-Attack: One of the weaknesses of Gunline armies is the trade-off between shooting and assault. If you want lots of guns, you aren’t going to have much in the way of close combat. I decided on a Canoness + Seraphim for my counter-attack instead of Assassins. I figured I’d hear less complaining and I’d get some extra Faith out of it. I’ve also been itching to try the Canoness+Seraphim combo in 5E.
MISSION NOTES:
1. Annihilation: I believe I was sitting on 21 Kill Points, so this was going to be the toughest mission type, by far. I hoped that it wouldn’t be used at all (or at least only used as a Secondary or Tertiary objective — Battleforge uses the PST-mission model for tournaments).
If I drew Annihilation, I would have to use my Books of St Lucius to keep the army intact and deny Kill Points by hiding damaged units. A tough tactic, but it could work.
2. Seize Ground: It’s tough to beat WH+IG in Sieze Ground. With so many immobile scoring units in my deployment zone, it takes a really nasty army to even contest an objective in my deployment zone.
In this mission, I’d group my long-range shooting on my objective. I’ll screen them with my SoB squads (walking tarpits) and push forward with my Chimeras, Russ and Seraphim (flanking if I have to). With (lots and lots of) luck my advance force could grab an objective in my opponent’s deployment zone.
3. Capture and Control: This one is always interesting with a WH+IG army. On one hand, I have lots of scoring units. But on the other, they aren’t very tough.
In this mission, I’d spread out my gunline and try to grab out of the way objectives with my ISTs. Then I’d use my superior shooting to try to sweep enemy forces off of the ones I had a chance of controlling.
At least that was the plan…
