Another outing, another learning experience.

Good news, I have another game under my belt for 40K, this time with 75 power worth of Dorn's Wolves.
The list I used was a Battalion Detachment

HQ
Librarian
Power axe, combi-plasma

Tech marine
power axe, plasma pistol.

Elite
Dreadnought
2 x twin autocannons

Dreadnought
2 x twin autocannons

Apothecary

2 honour guard
Relic blades

Troops
10 Scouts
sarg- plasma pistol, pistol
4 with shotguns
5 with combat blades and bolt pistols.

5 tactical marines
sarg- combi plasma, power sword
3 with bolters
1 with heavy bolter

5 tactical marines
sarg- combi plasma, power sword
3 with bolters
1 with missile launchers

Fast Attack
5 Assault marines with jump packs
Sarg- plasma pistol, power sword, combat shield
3 with chainswords, bolt pistols
1 with flamer

Heavy Support
5 Devastator marines
Sarg - combi plasma and cherub
4 with missile launchers

Stalker
2 x Icarus autocannons, hunterkiller missile, storm bolter

Whirlwind
Castellan launcher, hunterkiller missile, storm bolter

So in this list, I was trying to go against the conventional wisdom, that you cannot out shoot the Tau. But with these types of lessons, I like to learn them myself. In a game of Empire V(28mm Napoleonic wars), I once charged a battalion of 16 Prussian conscripts into the teeth of a battery of six French 12 pounders, to see why it was bad. Here is a hint it was bad.

Marks List.
HQ
Shadow sun with drones
Ethereal with drones
Fireblade with drones

Elite
6 stealth team suits with drones and advanced targeting system
6 stealth team suits with drones and advanced targeting system
1 Ghostkeel with fusion collider , multitracker, shield generator

Troops
12 man strike team with mp turret drone
12 man strike team with mp turret drone
12 man strike team with mp turret drone

Fast Attack
5 path finders
3 with rail rifles
2 with markerlight, pulse carbine

5 path finders

3 with rail rifles
2 with markerlight, pulse carbine

Mission: Big Guns Never Tire
Set Up: Spearhead Assault

Mark stole the Initiative and proceeded to slaughter my scout squad that was set up for a first turn charge against a strike team and a fire blade that was close to it.
I downed the ghost keel in my first turn, mainly in part due to Smite inflicting 5 mortal wounds.

In the end I called it on turn five with my techmarine, stalker and whirlwind was all that was left.

Victory points
Mark- 8vp (3 objectives, linebreaker and first blood)
Me- 0 vp

What have I learned.

1. Do not forget to fire my pistols when the enemy is one inch away.
2. Smite is a nice power, mortal wounds are good, when they work.
3. Against a fire power army like the Tau, 5 man marine squads do not last long.
4. Tau drones purchased with a character, after deployment count as separate units, which can be targeted and charged separately.
5. You cannot out shoot the TAU.
6. The Tech marine healed my dreads and tank well this game, but in a game with lots of movement, then perhaps i would mount him on a bike.
7. For 2 power honour guard are cheap, but by themselves they do not last long at all.
8. Remember what equipment your models have.
9. 75 power is fun, but a tad to large for a quick game during the night for me at the moment.

Having established that marines cannot out shoot the Tau, it is time to start putting more speed and assault elements into my lists. That is enough of a ramble for now, time to start working on a new 50 power list.