Thursday, June 11, 2015

Pythos IV: Top of Turn 2

Top of Turn 2 Summary

Battle has been joined!



The hive mind appears to have miscalculated the thread posed by the other forces on Pythos IV, dividing its forces to consume the biomass of the planet. In doing so, it has left its forces vulnerable to attack.

Sensing an opportunity for battle, the Ork warlord Fork has driven his mob into a forced march to catch half of the tyranid force unprepared.

Captain Morrelis, suspecting that the Tyranids would be tempted into pausing to feed has sprung his trap, using the recently captured power network to rapidly redeploy his army against the main body of the tyranid force thatthe main synapse creature of the tyranid swarm believed to be leading.

Meanwhile, the eldar have positioned themselves to strike at the Ork HQ unopposed and have seized an additional starport.

Player Income and Spend Orders


Faction teamID numberOfTerritories totalIncome
Crimson Fists 2 4 90
Eldar 5 4 80
Orks 3 4 80
Tyranids 4 6 100

  • Crimson Fists spend 18 points on second in command wargear (needle pistol and servo skull) and 62 points to expand army 1
  • Eldar bank 80 points
  • Orks spend 80 points to expand army 1
  • Tyranids spend 75 points to expand army 1 and bank 25 points

Armies


Faction planetID territoryName armyName hasSupremeWarlord hasSecondaryWarlord hasBodyGuard armyForceMarched2ndTile armyForceMarched3rdTile pointsValue
Crimson Fists 1 17 1 Yes Yes No No No 2012
Orks 1 32 1 Yes Yes No Yes No 2055
Tyranids 1 17 1 No No No No No 1075
Tyranids 1 32 2 Yes No No No No 1000
Eldar 1 31 1 Yes No Yes No No 1000
Eldar 1 35 2 No No No No No 1000

Battles

GetArmyPositions.planetID GetArmyPositions.territoryName army1Faction army1Name army1Size army2Faction army2Name army2Size
1 17 Crimson Fists 1 2012 Tyranids 1 1075
1 32 Orks 1 2055 Tyranids 2 1000

Tuesday, June 9, 2015

A Brief History of Pythos IV


Discovery and Early History

Located by the Empire’s explorator fleets relatively early during the great crusade, the Pythos system was located near several major stable warp corridors and was deemed to be a suitable location to establish a resupply base for the fleets of the great crusade.

The system’s fourth planet, Pythos IV was found to have a habitable biosphere and was rapidly transformed into an agriworld with facilities to resupply the Emperor’s forces with all the war materials they would need to unify the galaxy. Pythos IV was discovered to be an eldar maiden world about fifty years after colonization when forces from an unknown craft world attacked imperial forces without warning. Fortunately for the imperium, several ships of the XVIII legion were resupplying in orbit, the embarked space marines rapidly deployed from orbit and drove off the xenos in a short but brutal campaign.

Afterwards, Pythos IV was permanently garrisoned by a small force of space marines of the IV legion to discourage further eldar raids. The planet’s defenses were immediately strengthened with the installation of several shield generators on the planet and the construction of a formidable defense battery on Pythos IV’s moon. It’s security thus ensured, Pythos IV continued to prosper throughout the rest of the great crusade, its orbital docks becoming a major waypoint of the emerging Segmentium Tempusts.

Loss during the Horus Heresy


All that changed during the Horus Heresy. During the traitor’s advance on Terra, Horus dispatched forces to capture several systems both to resupply his forces and to deny critical materials to the Emperor’s forces. Securing Pythos IV and its large stockpiles of materials fell to the Word Bearers. In his arrogance, Lorgar dispatched only a tolken force, assuming that the Iron Warriors garrisoning the planet would follow their primarch into forsaking the Emperor. The approaching fleet soon learned that was not the case when several of its lead ships were obliterated by the planet’s defenses. Over the course of several weeks, the Word Bearers were able to destroy the orbital defense platforms ringing the planet at great cost, but the surviving ships could not bring enough firepower to penetrate Pythos IV’s shields.

Enraged by the defender’s defiance, Lorgar withdrew his forces and summoned a warp storm of tremendous power to seal off the system, declaring that if Horus could not control the Pythos system, no one would. Thus Pythos IV faded from memory as the terrible events of the Horus Heresy ran their course.

Pythos IV is Rediscovered


The Pythos system was rediscovered in M41.980 by the rogue trader Van Buran when his fleet found itself blown off course by a warp squall. Emerging in the abandoned system, the rogue trader encountered the wreckage of an ancient battle throughout the system. Pythos IV appeared to be untouched, though no signs of inhabitants on the planed were found. While the planet’s moon was found to be wrapped in an impenetrable shield, landings were successfully made at the various starports on Pythos IV. Planet side exploration found massive stockpiles of war supplies and other advanced technology waiting to be claimed.

Van Buran likely would have kept his discovery a secret to exploit for his own gain had misfortune not befallen. The rogue trader’s fleet had been infiltrated by a brood of genestealers which had quietly infected the crews of several ships. 

The genestealers attempted to seize control, which resulted in a pitched battle between those ships were not taken over. Van Buran’s personal astropath was able to send a frantic distress call before being torn apart by several tyranid monstrosities. In the end, all of the ships were lost either to the guns of their former comrades or when their plasma drives were overloaded. Some crew members managed to escape to Pythos IV, but they were eventually hunted down by the genestealers that managed to make planet fall.

Pythos IV sits waiting to be claimed once more.

Pythos IV: Turn 1 Summary

Armies have made their first moves and the battle for Pythos IV is now on! Armies have made their first moves after planet fall and are headed towards the first battles.

The Crimson Fists, Orks and Tyranids all are jockeying for position near the hive city.

The Crimson Fists

Captain Morrelis has also largely avoided weakening his force, though he has dispatched battle brothers to secure the manufactorium and recently added power generator in his territory.


Da Orks

Fork has kept his boyz nearby (possibly because he doesn't trust them to fight right an proper without superviz'in)

Hive Fleet Megladon

The hive mind has divided its forces, sending half towards the hive city while a second tyranid swarm looks to threaten the Ork's recently captured power generator after a forced march. (Note that this army cannot force march for another two turns but may still move as normal)

The Eldar

Meanwhile, the Eldar appear to have split their forces to pursue their own mysterious objectives. Below is the summary of army positions and income.

Current Army Positions


Monday, June 8, 2015

Pythos IV Opening Dispatch and Initial Setup


My Lady,

Per your instructions, I have been monitoring communications related to the Pythos system. I have intercepted several troubling reports of Xenos activity in and around the Pythos system that I believe are of interest to you.

As my lady are no doubt aware, the Pythos system was recently rediscovered by the rogue trader Van Buran sometime within the last 60 standard years. My research has uncovered that Pythos IV was a major naval way station used by the emperor’s fleets during the great crusade prior to its disappearance during the Horus Heresy. I believe there is a strong possibility that significant supplies of advanced war materials are believed to still be present on or in orbit of the planet, some of which you may use to your advantage

Intelligence suggests that several Xenos races have also made planetfall on Pythos IV. I have summarized the most significant information below:

Long range auspex scans have detected elements from a Tyranid hive fleet, code named Megalodon, diverting towards the Pythos system. Analysis of Van Buran’s last transmission suggest that the rogue trader’s fleet may have been overcome by genestealer infestation, which may account for the hive fleet’s actions. After action reports from battles fought against this particular hive fleet indicates that it favors infiltration and terror tactics when practical.

Imperial Navy patrols across the segmentum tempestus appear to confirm  early reports of increased Ork naval activity from around the Octarius sub sector. Signal intercepts speak of twin greenskins referred to as Fork and Spork having already made planetfall somewhere on Pythos IV.

Finally, we have received intelligence from another inquisitorial cell suggesting that the Eldar may also be planning an incursion into the Pythos system. Regrettably, our ally reports that their source of information expired before any specific information related to the xenos’ plans could be extracted.

I have forwarded my analysis of the orbital signum feed that you sent me. I have been able to ascertain the locations of your and all hostile forces planet side, but unfortunately I am not able to determine the size of each force due to signal interference.

My lady, I do not believe that a single strike cruiser bearing an under strength astartes battle company will be sufficient to secure the Pythos system. I strongly urge you to dispatch deathwatch assets or barring that a significant force of the astra militarium in order to return Pythos IV to the emperor’s light.

Your humble servant,
Interrogator Slate,
Thought of the day: Suffer not the alien to live

Pythos IV


Pythos IV Luna




Factions of Pythos IV



Crimson Fists (Team Blue)


Supreme Warlord


Captain Matteo Morrelis (Space Marine Captain)
Equipment: 

  • Artificer Armour
  • Jump Pack
  • Iron Halo
  • Relic Blade
  • The Shield Eternal

Warlord Trait: Tenacity


Second in Command

Inquisitor Adriana Zao (Ordo Xenos Inquisitor)
Equipment:
  • Power Armour
  • Tome of Vethric
Warlord Trait: Xeno Hunter



Orks (Team Green)

Coming Soon

Tyranids (Team Red)

Coming Soon

Craftworld Eldar (Team Yellow) 

Coming Soon

Tuesday, June 2, 2015

Pythos IV campaign maps


Initial maps of Pythos IV are now up and labeled. Just a reminder that all players that won't be able to make it in person on Sunday will need to email me their top 3 starting hex choices on Pythos IV. Territories will be assigned in random order.

I've also updated the main campaign rules with images of each of the hex tile features. Check the shared drive for the latest file.

Pythos IV



Pythos IV's moon