"Avenged Sevenfold" - 661st Helsreach Guard

[Deleted]

+++661st Helsreach Guard+++
++A continuing army creation diary, Battle Reports included++
+Logged by Synyster of the 661st Helsreach+

This will be a continuing report on the collection of my urban warriors of the 661st Helsreach, or as they like to call themselves "Avenged Sevenfold". This entire format is based on the WD articles where the gamers create their armies from the very start. This will record every battle I have with my Regiment, as well as every model bought and painted, as well as lots of pictures! We shall begin with the regiment's beginnings, as that's where everything starts.

The hive world Helsreach was wrested control of from barbaric Chaos worshipping tribes before the Dark Age of the Imperium. Its warriors have a lengthy and illustrious history as always being available to fight for the good of the Imperium. One of the most glorified and honoured regiments in Helsreach’s magnificent history are the 661st Helsreach, or as they have become known, Avenged Sevenfold. They have fought across thousands of planets, won battles and lost them, but the most notable of all these battles was during the Oberon wars, on the planet Persei 8. The Chaos had taken deep root in the hive world, and the White Consuls requisitioned the assistance of the 661st Helsreach to aid them in the landing assault. Their leader at the time of the battle, General Hans “Hammerblow” Svenson met with the Consuls on the Regiment’s capital ship, the Magnum Puritan, and planet fall was to be made at dawn. When the Guard landed on the planet and set to rendezvous with the Consuls, a massive Chaos wave assault of barbaric cultists stormed the landing position, as if they knew exactly when and where they were attacking. Unperturbed, the 661st fought the cultists in the city, through the habs and pushed them back towards the Prime Spire. Assaulted on all sides with no sign of the Consuls and the chaos forces slowly making incisions into the defences, the 661st called for support. Progress towards the Prime Spire was torturous, with the cultists literally creating walls of corpses that they defended. The guard were spread dangerously thin, and so General Svenson called both wings to fold behind the main force and rush forward, denying the cultists their wave assaults. They rushed forward, smashing aside cultist battalions and assaulting the gates of the Prime Spire itself. As the guns of the regiment’s Lemans pounded the ceramite defences of the Spire, the guardsmen bravely gave their lives to the cultists pummelling their lines from behind the spire. Finally the gates were smashed asunder, and from them emerged the lost Consul battalion. The guardsmen rejoiced, until they were cut down in their hundreds by traitor bolter fire. The Consuls had turned against the 661st, and as a last ditch option Svenson rushed what remained of his men directly into the firing line of the traitor marines. In what can only be described as an utter miracle, the right-side guard tower of the Spire’s gates collapsed with a lucky miss from a battle cannon, and crushed half of the traitors mere seconds before the doomed guardsmen made contact with the enemy lines. Svenson himself was said to have slain an entire tactical squad of traitor marines with his mighty blade, Deathspitter, gifted to him by the governor of Omega 11, Lord Callus Enduron. The Consuls were broken, and their captain, Lord Argelmach, was put to the sword personally by Svenson. The 661st did not stop there however, and charged up the hive, smashing aside Cultist defences and soldiers in equal measure. As they reached the doors of the hives throne room, they began to see the pure forces of chaos emanating from the room. Several guardsmen turned on their comrades, and were cut down mercilessly. They burst through the throne room, and there sat a mighty Daemon of Tzeench. It was birdlike in appearance and spewed daemonic forces from its form. The guardsmen raised their rifles and prepared to fire the final volley before Svenson gestured for them to lower their weapons. The Daemon spoke to him, yet none of the guardsmen in the room recalled hearing anything. The Daemon spoke words of malice to the captain, and finally placed a curse on him and the entire regiment, that they were destined to be at every conflict, and any soldier in their regiment that was slain was to be avenged sevenfold, that is every man that fought under the regiment’s banner would never age, and become immortal to the creeping death of bodily decay. However when their death came, the pain of it would be felt throughout the entire regiment and the soldier himself would literally writhe in pain, even though life had left his corpse. And as if that was his final wish, the daemon burst into flames, and no traces that he was ever there was left. And so to this day the 661st Helsreach fight all over the galaxy, searching for that same daemon, in the hope that they may find away to redeem themselves of the suffering they experience every day. And every soldiers death is another telling blow on the regiment, as every new recruit they take must be indoctrinated to the truth of the regiment, and forced to guard the secret with his life.

And to this day they still search for the answer, that daemon that damned them for eternity.

And thats the story of the 661st Helsreach. More will be added in the coming months so keep an eye out! But for now, here's what I have so far, not including a Basilisk, Leman Russ Standard, Leman Russ Demolisher as well as a second Chimera, and 15 or so Stormtroopers, as well as Ratlings, although I probably won't use them! This is an overview of my starting 500pts, undercoated. Also included is my priest, the second model I painted for this force.



The beginnings of the 661st in all their undercoated glory!



Priest Henkel, I felt like paining some character, although I haven't even determined if i'm using the doctrine!

PAINTED PICS OF SQUAD I:



Sergeant Zimmermann and Squad I


I used a black undercoat and then drybrushed the armour, gun and helmet with Boltgun Metal. Then I painted all the cloth fatigues on the model Shadow Grey, and dotted it with alternating Kommando Khaki and Black. Then I painted the skin with 3 coats of elf flesh highlighted with Kommando Khaki. This is a fairly decent example of a colour scheme that looks decent without needing a billion paints. I also only used 3 brushes, some fine handiwork for budget materials As you can see at the back one of the models has a camo helmet. When seen on the same level as the other models it kind of looks like too much fatigue not enough variation. Oh well. Post your thoughts!

I also need to get my hands on a Codex, I mail ordered one with my card but I'm not sure it had exactly $38 on it so it might not work. I just have the basic 1 HQ 2 Troops currently as you can see

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That's all for the introduction of the 661st Helsreach Guard. Come back next month for more painted goodness. (No new models until month 2, I have a LOT of painting to do, ie everything pictured, a Russ, a Russ Demolisher, another Chimera, another squad of Steel Legion and a Basilisk.

[Deleted]

Month one will be built up over time.

This is my first army list, having recently aquired a Codex. My doctrines are Light Infantry and Iron Discipline, and that's all I am concerned with at present. Battles are on the way!

661st Helsreach Guard Strike Force

HQ

Command Squad
Colonel Hans Svenson (Senior Officer)
-Power Sword, Bolt Pistol, Carapace Armour, Frag Grenades
Retinue of 4 Guardsmen, 2 with Flamers, one with Standard.
[Light Infantry, Iron Discipline]
-109 points

Troops

Blue Platoon

Blue Command
Lieutenant Gassner (Junior Officer)
Bolt Pistol, Frag Grenades
Retinue of 4 Guardsmen with CCWs.

Blue Squad I
Autocannon, Plasma Gun
[Light Infantry]
Blue Squad II
Autocannon
[Light Infantry]
246 points

Armoured Fist Squad
Chimera with Heavy Bolter and Multi Laser
145 points

Total: 500 points

Most humble beginnings.

More painting, more pics! Finally


One of my two Autocannons. (Best HW imo )


The second of the Autocannons.


Command Squad, nothing special


My Chimera, I think it turned out well.

That's all for the pics at the moment folks, more will be added, ie the Armoured Fist squad and the Command HQ. Happy gaming!

Ok boys, today I fought my first round in the 500point Tournament v. Jim's Raven Claws SMurfs. He had a solid list, 6 Marines with CCWs in a Rhino, Commander kitted with a power weapon and termi honours, 5 Jumppackers and 6 Bolter marines with a Lascannon. I had the same list as I had before, look on the Army list page. Deployment looked something like this

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|Chimera| | Squad II | | Squad I | |Com.HQ|








|Shooty Squad| |Rhino| |Assault Marines|
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I started by making a pincer shape with my Chimera and my HQ to invite Jim to attack my centre lines. Never one to turn down bait, he rushed his rhino out with his assault marines straight for my platoon. He also took a potshot at my Chimera, a silly idea when he could have been moving into Bolter range. He rolled a 1 on his damage so nothing happened thankfully. I then dismounted my AF squad, and moved them with the Chimera on foot within 6" of his Rhino. Then I moved my Lieutenant out from my lines next to my command HQ, within charging range of his Assault marines. My melta vaporised the rhino, scoring a Vehicle Destroyed, and the marines hopping out unscathed. I then opened up on them with my two Platoons and Chimera, and the Sergeant was left standing. The Sergeant with a Power weapon >_<. Then I charged my Commands into his Assault marines, who didn't have Frags fortunately, and shredded four of them, the Sergeant being the only one left, with a Powerfist and 3 attacks. 3 Guardsmen were left dead, 2 flamers and one lasgun. Things were looking up though, with most of his army neutralised in turn 3, he decided a suicidal rush was the answer, as Jim often does. (I don't actually know this guy but that's what his friend said lol.) His sergeant and his Commander rushed in against my AF boys, and ripped 6 of them apart. Thankfully, they managed to pass their LD test, and hold them there for one more turn. My HQ failed to bring down the Assault sergeant, despite 4 Power weapon attacks and 2 CCW attacks, and in turn the bastard smote my HQ in one fell blow, insta-killing my 2 wound commander with his power fist. I turned my guns in my next turn to his last remaining shooty squad, but of every shot failed to even touch the Marine's flesh. I think I rolled 30 dice, and not one passed through armour. However somehow my fleeing Junior Officer rallied and brought the Assault sergeant down with a Bolt Pistol round. Jim could do nothing but shake his head, the heroic Sergeant that had brought down so many of my men and my commander, dead in one pistol shot. The assault phase was grim. My final four AF men were ripped apart, Emperor rest their brave souls, and he they rushed forward to my Guardsmen. My Chimera then saved the game, 6 shots from a multilaser+HB combo killed five of the 6 marines in the shooty squad, with the Lascannon trooper fleeing from the board, whereas the rest of my squads could only kill the Sergeant with a lucky Plasma shot. I prepared for the final assault, a five attack non-charge commander versus a platoon of Guardsmen and a Chimera. It would be bloody. He rushed squad II and killed 4 of them, but thankfully they held their positions. It was judgement day and my men needed to make it over one of two pieces of difficult terrain to be within charging range. I needed to roll a 5. The dice came up four and Jim started rejoicing, believing if he was not swamped he could win it with his Commander alone. But in a flash of memory I remembered I rolled an extra dice for the Light Infantry doctrine. It came up two, and my men were within charging range! I shouted my warcry, "And they shall be Avenged!" as I heroically placed all of my models within 2" of his commander. Out of 20 dice needing 5+ to hit, fate was fighting on my side and 15 hit, with 12 wounds. Jim couldn't believe it. What was even funnier was the look on his face when he rolled every save bar two, which was enough to kill him. Long live the Emperor, on this day my first victory has been achieved! Long live the 661st!

[Deleted]

As per last month, I will begin with my current Army List. The Paintoff has really inspired me to get a LOT of painting done, so I have more here to show you. Currently, my entire force looks something like this



I have a fair share of ground troops, decent anti-armour and best of all a Battle Cannon! I made a small change to my vehicle's style, adding a mottled camo effect, as you can see here on this Leman Russ:



My Stormtroopers didn't work out exactly as I wanted them, but I figured being the best troops in the army they would have kept their armour cleaner than the line troops. They are pictured here:



I used Steel Legion models for my Armoured Fist squad, I plan on adding a Missle Launcher as soon as I can get a large base for it. They have more camo than stnadard men, but when I did the ink-wash the Black dots wore off as I am using water colour paint for it.



I like the way the colour scheme is going, although in future I plan only to ink-wash certain areas on the model, the fatigues will be left untouched, as I like them brighter rather than dark as you can see the detail. My 750 points list follows, it works very effectively against SMurfs:

661st Helsreach Guard Battalion

HQ

Command Squad
Colonel Hans Svenson (Senior Officer)
-Power Sword, Bolt Pistol, Carapace Armour, Frag Grenades
Retinue of 4 Guardsmen, 2 with Flamers, one with Standard.
[Light Infantry, Iron Discipline]
-109 points

Elites

7 Stormtroopers, 2 with Meltaguns, all with Deep Strike.
97 points

Troops

Blue Platoon

Blue Command
Lieutenant Gassner (Junior Officer)
Bolt Pistol, Frag Grenades
Retinue of 4 Guardsmen with CCWs.

Blue Squad I
Autocannon, Plasma Gun
[Light Infantry]

Blue Squad II
Autocannon
[Light Infantry]
246 points

Armoured Fist Squad
Chimera with Heavy Bolter and Multi Laser
145 points

Heavy Support

Leman Russ Battle Tank
Sponson Heavy Bolters, Hull Heavy Bolter
155 points

Total: 750 points

The deepstriking Stormtroopers will really bring the pain on fire support vehicles and whatever else they can get within rapid fire range of. The Leman Russ provides so much worth, as I have changed my deployment and tactics following my first battle which I was EXTREMELY lucky to win. Deploying first, I put my Chimera in the centre of my board edge, and when my opponent places a unit closer to either flank, I place the Russ in the opposite edge corner. This maximises its 14 AV on front, as well as giving it a commanding view of the battlefield. I then deploy the rest of my forces in front of it, and Deepstrike my Stormtroopers, who the AF squad moves to support. This gives me a strike force in enemy territory of 17 men and a tank, and can usually dish the pain on vehicles with 3 Meltas and generally rip through tough squads for those same reasons. With support from my Russ, my Platoon can hold my positions very well, and if required can take table quarters as they can stay alive easily. failing that, my HQs can take quarters easily as they are deployed behind my Platoon for leadership and banner. I think it is a balanced list capable of knocking over even the most potent assault.

BATREP: 500 Point 661st Helsreach Strike Force v. 500 Point Rhakneth's Betrayers (Khorne)

Army Lists (I stole his from the tournament round two printout)

HQ

Chaos Lieutenant
Power Sword, Mark of Khorne, Feel No Pain
-70 points

Troops

6 Chaos Space Marines
4 with CCW and Bolt Pistols, one with Meltagun, Rhino Transport
-144 points

6 Chaos Space Marines
4 with CCW and Bolt Pistols, one with Meltagun, Rhino Transport
-144 points

6 Chaos Space Marines
4 with CCW and Bolt Pistols, one with Plasmagun, Rhino Transport
-144 points

502 points

This is quite a balanced list, the Meltaguns can deal with armour as well as light troops, and his Commander was an absolute bit[/i]ch to kill, the Feel No Pain just sucked hard, almost as hard as fighting this army. I couldn't bring any firepower to bear unless I disabled his Rhinos early on, and even this would require a huge amount of luck. My list went fairly unchanged:

661st Helsreach Guard Strike Force

HQ

Command Squad
Colonel Hans Svenson (Senior Officer)
-Power Sword, Bolt Pistol, Carapace Armour, Frag Grenades
Retinue of 4 Guardsmen, 1 with Flamer, Missle Launcher, one with Standard.
[Iron Discipline]
-99 points

Troops

Blue Platoon

Blue Command
Lieutenant Gassner (Junior Officer)
Bolt Pistol, Power Sword, Frag Grenades
Retinue of 4 Guardsmen with CCWs, one Veteran.

Blue Squad I
Autocannon, Plasma Gun

Blue Squad II
Autocannon, Plasma Gun
246 points

Armoured Fist Squad
Meltagun, Chimera with Heavy Bolter and Multi Laser
155 points

Total: 500 points

I removed Light Infantry as I decided I would refuse him a flank. I deployed my Chimera in the centre, and he put one of his Rhinos on the board edge, maybe he had gotten wind of Madman's tactic. I positioned my Platoon on the opposite board edge with my Command HQ, and his other two Rhinos went on my flank. Well that would give me at least one turn extra. I had first turn, and I took my Chimera off to face his lone Rhino, hopefully I could maybe stun it or something. The rest of my platoon's lasguns were useless, and out of range anyway, so the Autocannons picked a Rhino each. A miracle happened. Four hits, three penetrating hits, one six two fours on the damage chart. The Rhinos were dead. I couldn't believe it. I kissed my Autocannons I was that happy. The vehicle that exploded inflicted no less than five wounds on the passengers, and some shocking rolling left the squad at half strength and pinned. The other squad piled out and failed their pinning test on LD 9! I was ecstatic. I could actually win this. But what happened next was just unbelievable. The Chimera fired at the lone Rhino, scored a single glancing hit, and I hoped for a crew shaken to delay them for a turn. I got an Immobilised! I danced around the table for a while while Karl just shook his head. This poor guy, seeded number 1 to win the contest had all his troops out of their Rhinos on the first turn of shooting. His turn came, he failed to repair his Rhino and so his boys piled out for the long trek across the table whilst being sniped at by my Guard. His other squad passed their pinnning test and stood still, while his other squad moved within Lasgun range of my troops. To make matters worse for him his Melta was one inch short of my Chimera! Having nothing else to do, my turn came. I shot up his lone squad quite well, killing two Marines, and they passed their 25% casualty test. My Chimera devastated the squad that had already been decimated by the Rhino explosion, killing two with the last guy failing his Last Man Standing test and rolling a double 6 on his Leg It test and coming withing a few inches on the board edge. His Commander unfortunately was still alive and ready to move in his next turn, but I figured I'd deal with him in my next turn. In his turn he began by running his Last Man Standing off the board, and then proceeded to advance his last full-strength squad towards my lines, and his other squad within 6" on my Chimera. He thought he could destroy it. Not much you can destroy with a 1 to hit. His squads, although on different flanks, were about 18" from my main body of men. I decided to get rid of the three man squad, and piled the men out of the Chimera. My platoons fired first, not causing a single wound between 18 lasguns and 4 Autocannons, which was pretty abysmal but hey that's karma. My AF squad and my Chimera did me proud however by killing all three of them with rapid firing lasguns, Meltagun and Chimera fire. This left him with 7 men and a disabled Rhino on the board, and I hadn't taken a single casualty. That's what he gets for not having any shooting! In his turn to my utmost surprise he repaired his Rhino, which charged headlong towards my Chimera and squad, probably looking for a tank shock. His other men advanced towards my lines. Not he had weapons in range. 4 wounds from Bolt Pistol fire resulted in my first casualties in the game, as well as a single casualty from his Rhino's combi-bolter. My turn came, and I closed what I dub the "mini-pincer" on him with my Command squads, who brought their flamers to bear on him. My AF squad in danger from the Rhino piled back into the Chimera, and it returned fire on the Rhino, to my utmost surprise again Immobilising it and destroying its Combi-bolter. My line troops drew a bead on him last squad, bringing down a whole two with about 30 shots. Looks like I was going to get charged after all. His turn came and that bastard Rhino repaired itself again, I mean wtf is it? A Necron? And with the rest of him turn moved his men into contact with my depleted squad, wiping them out with about 12 wounds. He consolidated into my second platoon, but at the moment it didn't matter. My turn came and first I moved my Chimera over in support of the units, the AF squad attaching bayonets, ready to charge if they were required. My Multi-Laser swivelled and fired back at that stupid Rhino, finally killing it. I then moved everything I had into contact with his Lieutenant and 4 SMurfs around him. In a heroic display of skill and valour, my Commander scored zero hits on he enemy, and I promptly asked for a bucket to roll the rest of my attacks with. 6 wounds resulted in 3 dead marines, and left his commander with one wound. They hit back hard, wiping out 5 guard from my second platoon, who hit back and killed his final marine. I passed my morale check thanks to the Banner. The final turn came in which his one wound commander faced every model I had left on the board. He died. I think the Banner Bearer killed him. Anyway, he was wiped from the board, and a great cheer rose up from the hall. Long live the 661st! The underdogs have victory! Its safe to say that I have never felt more proud or lucky in my life.

And that was my battle this month. Next week I will post my results from my next battle with Orks, although now the army lists are secret so I don't know what I will be facing, and I won't be able to post his exact list. And with that, good day my readers, I hope I have entertained you thus far.

[Deleted]

[Space reserved - Month 3]

[Deleted]

[Space reserved - month 4]

[Deleted]

[Space reserved - month 5] Just keeping things organised

[Deleted]

why name them after a band?
i'm sorry, but i dont like the avenged sevenfold bit. but other than that, keep it up! i peeped a picture you posted in another bit and saw you wer going with the "urban" scheme? good choice if you are!

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

I'm sure the fluff will justify the name, and beyond that I didnt know helsreach was a band so hey, was beyond me. all I thought was 'oOo sounds like a gothic name for a system in a gothic reality!'

[Deleted]

Haha, no, Avenged Sevenfold is a band! My favourite in fact! I thought of Helsreach on my own, or maybe I saw it somewhere... It matters not. Looking forward to getting started.

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

hah shows how music-savy I am! I like the planet name, almost sounds like a ....DEATHWORLD!!... looking forward to seeing a bit of initial rough draft fluff when something comes to you worth putting down on e-paper as it were.

[Deleted]

Yes, I already have the entire story, and don't you guys worry it's of a professional standard lol.

Now I just have to put e-pen to e-paper!

Edit: I'm thinking of using Steel Legion as my armoured fists. What do you guys think? (All background stories will be determined in fluff)

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

I like the idea of a hodgepodge of different IG miniature lines all in one army. we have the only army that has so many massively different factions all within one army it'd almost be a shame not to accent it! I know I would if I didn't a) love the cadian line soooo much and b ) already have all my infantry pretty much done.

[Deleted]

First beginnings post updated, fluff + pics added.

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

woot! goodstuff

so explain - they're immortal but when one of them dies they all get wracked with insane pain? if they're immortal how do they die? just asking questions in the effort of helping you strengthen your story from a readers perspective - I really like it! also - explain the avenged sevenfold thing a bit more if you could

thanks synyster

[Deleted]

i'll expand on it dont you worry, i wrote that in like 10 minutes haha! they are immortal in that they wont age, but they will still be killed by gunfire etc, they just won't age. The avenged sevenfold thing is the idea is that when one of them dies, he will be avenged seven times, ie. the normal pain of death will be felt x7. a simple equation:

pain = P, living guardsman = G, dead guardsman D

G + P = D(P x 7)

Ok that was just confusing. But you get the idea I hope, that in letting one of their comrades die his revenge on them will be seven times as bad. Basically based around the story of Cain and Able in the bible, the first murder on earth. I'm not a religious person, it just sounded cool.

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

ah ok I see now! too bad they just can't die instead - that'd be cool if they still aged but didnt die so then you could explain why it's the same bunch of guardsmen for each battle eventually they'd have a ton of doctrines from all the combat experience and stuff and yeah that's what I thought you were going for - this is cool too but guardsmen die like well...cannonfodder..that sounds like quite the cruel curse!

[Deleted]

I like the colour scheme, my mate did the same thing with his cadians when he used to play. Quite refreshing i think. I like the idea of steal legion models as armoured fist squads.

[Deleted]

Yes, it is. I'm not sure how to doctrinate it though. And cheers madman, I thought the khaki would blend better than the white

[Deleted]

Currently working under 1st platoon under the command of Lieutenant Gassner. Looking forward to next month, I'll get posting about half way through.

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

sweet lookin chimera! have you painted the armored fist squad for it yet or is that coming soon?

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

join the paintoff '06 syn!

commissar.proboards22.com/index.cgi?board=picpost&action=display&thread=1162935387

[psycho]

cool fluff and pix but i dont like the name as i dont lyk the band lol
im more of a disturbed, papa roach, limp bizkit man my self lol
ads

[Deleted]

muhaha . i love Avenged sevenfold there awsome. your troops look pretty good, like the paint sceme.

[Turtleboy(AWOL)]

while it's nice to see ol' synister's army again, this thread has been dead and buried for a year and a half. sometimes it's best to leave dead threads buried as the members who posted them no longer frequentiate the forum.

don't worry on it any though, you're new, so by all means, welcome! now you know our unofficial policy on "threadomancy" (the raising of dead threads).

by all means if you have a critical piece of advice that merits resurrecting an old thread then by all means do so, but in this case, probably wasn't waranted based on the content of your post.

again, don't worry any over it, you're new and we're happy to have you visiting the forum and sayin' 'hey' but it's my responsibility to state the above as a modissar so yeah. carry on!

[Commissar]

Wow, I really like the kasrkin and the armoured fist squads, they look great!