Time for the Corsairs

 I broke out the NPO rules again, this time to try my hand with the Corsair Voidscarred kill team versus NPOs of heavy brawlers and marksmen.

The Eldar Fatedealer and Heavy Gunner try to own high ground while the rest of the team run forward...

... but the Black Storm have more and higher high ground. Eek!

In hindsight, the Breach mission which is just an "eliminate the other team" mission in which the NPOs get a 9 inch deployed zone gave the NPOs access to too much high ground, an unfair advantage.

The heavy gunner with wraithcannon dealt 12 damage to a heavy brawler even in light cover.

But the heavy marksmen in the tower took care of the fatedealer in light cover even more easily. I should have deployed him with conceal in heavy cover to avoid this.

The Kurnathi hunter sends the Falchu to Seek out the wounded marine and finished him off while another heavy marksmen wounds the Kurnathi beside him.

After one turning point things are not looking too bad.

The wraithcannon proves its worth again killing the marine in the tower and throwing more smoke to stay safe.

The tide begins to turn as a heavy brawler charges and kills two Eldar before they do anything. The heavy NPOs get 3 action points and the heavy brawlers can fight twice while the heavy marksmen can shoot twice.

The Wayseeker finished off the marine for revenge with some well placed lightning.

A heavy marksmen used that double shoot to zero in on the wraithcannon gunner and eliminate him.

The Felarch tried to lure a heavy brawler into a door fight which would allow the Eldar warrior to strike first since he was in the stronghold while the marine was outside and maybe kill the marine, but the die rolls were against me and the Felarch fell while the marine survive with 2 wounds left.

I conceeded for the Voidscarred when there was just two left, the Kurnathi blademaster and the soulweaver.

In hindsight, the extra high ground and the 98 wounds of heavies proved to be too much, plus I made some rookie mistakes with the Eldar. I decided to try again with a more equitable board layout and one fewer marine (3 heavy brawlers and 3 heavy marksmen instead of 4 and 3).

The high strongholds are in the middle, and while the marines start 3 inches closer the Eldar are faster moving.

After one turning point, already the Eldar are leading. The two heavy marksmen on the high ground were baited out of conceal with some bait Eldar to shoot at and the wraithcannon, fatedealer, and wayseeker lightning made them both pay for it dearly. A heavy brawler on one flank killed an Eldar but was killed by fusion gun fire in return, a favourable exchange.

The Shaderunner got to slice the throat of a wounded marine and put him out of his misery with a slicing attack. The marine was mortally wounded by the wraithcannon, who is quickly becoming my MVP versus elites.

The Felarch again tried to bait a charge but this time was successful. He has a once a game ability to interupt an action to fight or shoot the operative he is interrupting, so the heavy brawler charged, I interrupted to fight meaning I could strike first. AND the Felarch had a warding sheild from the Wayseeker so could ignore the first damage. And I rolled decently so I was able to apply 12 damage before the first 5 damage from the brawler got through, and then had one more hit to kill him.

The finish the game, the duelist used the fusion pistol to finish off the last brawler.

Heavy NPOs are much tougher opponents than the light NPOs. The 14 wounds and 3+ armour save definitely makes them more survivable, coupled with 3 APL and double fight/shoot. Going to try a mixed NPO team next time.