Adepticon Championships, Game 1

I have a lot to say about the games I played at the Adepticon, both from a generalist and army specific standpoint... I just don't have time to say it all right now!  To that end, I'm going to quickly cover Game 1 and we'll use it as a starting point to the the rest of the conversation.

My opponent was a true gentleman, a very nice dude and sportsman.  This is always good, since I'm usually a wreck for the first round of any event.  (It's a combination of nerves and a bad leg.)

His army is eventually going to be Space Sharks, but he had to quickly paint three colors so he could play it in the event.  It's a fairly standard Marine build.

This is across the board.  This Dreadnought will be moving toward my right flank chasing Horrors the whole game.  Eventually I shoot him from behind, 'cause that's how honorable I am!

Here's the key to my plan: I've dropped the Changeling and his squad, which includes the Icon, on the other side of the large building.  I intend to use it as a base to bring my units in - protected by the large wall - then springboard off to the attack.  I have to last a turn before I can get my assault rolling.

 Here comes the Terminators.  They destroy a Daemon Prince, but there's one left in play...

 ...and another drops in using the Icon.  That's two DP's, a Herald, and two units of Horrors that open up on the unit.  The Daemon Prince that was already on the board moves in and mops up.  His most powerful unit has been taken out of play.

The Land Raider still presents a real problem.  The center of the board, in the crater, represents an objective.  I also need to claim board quarters.  He can park his ride in the center if I can't destroy it at some point.

His shooting takes a toll.

The bulk and sheer number of guns are telling.  The guns start taking out Horrors left and right.  My opponent wisely starts focusing on my Horrors.

Notice a unit of Fiends is in his backfield; the unit you see in the lower left just got there this round, teleporting in on the Icon.

In the upper right quarter his Dread is chasing my Horrors, which are doing their level best to hide.  I've dropped another unit in the lower right quarter.  The Land Raider's Hurricane Bolters continue to chew them up.

The army is rolling now, with Fiends destroying everything they touch.  The only question is if they can take out the LR with Rending hits.

They take out everything else.  By this point the Land Raider is the last threat left.  After a few turns, I finally end up destroying it.

Game 1 was a great matchup for me, since it's the type of list my Daemons army was designed to take out.  Despite the tough loss, my opponent was awesome and I really appreciate his good humor.

Game 2 was a tough matchup...