Tabletop: A Return to the Battlefield

 As winter wanes and spring pushes ever closer, the snow in Interior Alaska is melting, covid is subsiding, and that means all the tabletop nerds are emerging from their deep hibernating sleep.  Alas, my readers, for I am one of these hibernating nerds.

This Saturday will be my first real tournament is several months, not since before Christmas.  I have a "tried and true" list of models that I like to use, as it pays homage to both family, and my love for another game called BattleTech.  My friends like to poke fun, call it the "geriatric unit" or "the old folks home field trip" and they mean it in good jest.

To be honest, I do not feel that I am ready.  Five days out is still a good ways away, and I ran this particular formation for over a year, so the tactic is engrained.  Still, I don't feel I'm ready.  Have I stepped away from the game too long?  Has that thirst for destruction of my enemies before me been slated?

I've played some BattleTech and MechWarrior 5 on the PC occasionally over the winter.  I started a second playthrough of Fire Emblem:  Three Houses a few weeks back.  I believe I haven't let my tactical mind rest through the winter, and yet I still feel I'm not ready.

I can't quite put my finger on it.  I've got five days, so I'll figure it out.

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The list itself is fairly straightforward, but before that some lore.  I've had a love for the Ultramarines Chapter, and their subchapters, since the early days of Fifth Edition of Warhammer 40k.  Not sure what exactly it is about these "poster children of the franchise" but their tactics, if I had to compare them to a D&D class, would be the Fighter-Battlemaster, with so much tactical flexibility its downright scary.

With that said, before I state the general premise of the list, I feel I need to explain what a Dreadnought is.  In the lore, when a Space Marine is heavily wounded on the battlefield beyond its super abilities granted by their enhanced form, they are examined by the Company Apothecary who makes two decisions.  One of these decisions is to inter the marine in a "Dreadnought Sarcophagus" for future service to the Chapter.  

A Dreadnought Sarcophagus is just that - a giant cybernetic sarcophagus that the Space Marine is connected to both mind and body.  Some chapters use a VR system to allow their brethren to continue to stay coherent in a lucid dream state, while others keep them in a dreamless sleep.  Meanwhile, the sarcophagus serves as a cockpit where the rest of the Dreadnought is built.  Regardless of the configuration, these Dreadnought components are very rare and highly prized, so selection to be interred is rare.

Several models and formations have been designed and implemented over the years.  Some configurations are geared for heavy anti-tank designs, where others excel at mowing down hordes of enemies, and even some are designed to lay siege to fortresses while taking on anti-tank fire and hero melee combat.  

When it is time for war, the Dreadnought is awoken and prepared by the Company's Techmarine (aka Master Mechanics), given a brief of the mission by the field commander, and deployed, either by aircraft or specially designed Dreadnought Drop Pods, which are even more prized than the Dreadnought armor itself in some chapters.  The Dreadnought goes to war, then if it survives, goes back to its hibernating sleep.  Occasionally, the Techmarine will accompany a Dreadnought or squad of Dreadnoughts to ensure their survival.

Due to its unique Sarcophagus Sleep, a Space Marine can be interred for thousands of years.  Some Dreadnoughts have even been around since the times of the Horus Heresy, when the galaxy was engulfed in Space Marine vs Space Marine warfare.   Thus, Dreadnoughts are some of the most elder and experienced Space Marines in an entire Chapter.  This is where all of my friends' "old man list" jokes come from.

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My list incorporates as many Dreadnoughts as I possibly can within my points limits, and using various configurations to fill traditional infantry roles - fire support, objective capturing, blitzing the enemy, outflanking, etc.  This normally ends up with 5-7 Dreadnoughts, depending on the tournament.

They always deploy in pairs, like the Arc.  I don't feel comfortable with just one Dreadnought configuration on the field without a backup/battle buddy/wingman with a similar configuration.  Two Dreads with Siege Chainsaws/Big Melee Weapons in the Dreadnought Drop Pod.  Two long range anti-tank Dreads in the back.  Two Dreads with anti-personnel guns to deal with incoming hordes.  

Where the tactical flexibility comes into play one sense is the versatility of the Dreadnought chassis.  Similar to BattleTech, a Dreadnought has hard points for a specific list of weapons, depending on the chassis type.  By changing the weapons tournament to tournament over the course of a year plus, I've found the good combination between anti-tank, anti-horde, and melee weaponry.  This then flexes based on the game's "meta" as well as my own analysis/predictions on the upcoming tournament and possible opponents.

The march with the Chapter's "Lead Mechanic" and then some named heroes just for lore value and more specific Chapter strategies to make the Dreadnoughts a bit better.

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All and all, do I feel ready?  Nope.  I have that "I don't know what clothes to wear to Prom" kind of feeling.  I've talked it over with my friends in the group I belong to, and despite their "old man" jokes.

The first of a back-to-back tournament is in 5 days.  Commanding Dreadnoughts is like commanding BattleTech Lances to me, and like riding a kayak.  It's a small enough force where I won't overcomplicate decisions, but its a powerful enough force where I won't get overcomplicated with shenanigans on the table.

Thanks for reading and wish me luck.  I feel I'm gonna need it.