Rhyas vs Irusk - Incoming

Legion vs Khador - Incoming, 50 Points

    Time for my first battle report since 2013. Ironically my opponent Birch, who hasn't played Irusk for ages, dragged him out again just recently so it looks like there will be two Irusk battle in a row. He won the last one vs Stryker, let's see what happened this time.

Army Lists

Legion of Everblight

Rhyas, Sigil of Everblight
Succubus
Typhon
Nephilim Bolt Thrower
Shredder
Blighted Nyss Swordsmen - Leader and 9 Grunts
Abbot & Champion - Blighted Nyss Swordsmen Unit Attachmen
Blighted Ogryn Warmongers - Leader and 4 Grunts
Blighted Ogryn Warspear - Leader and 4 Grunts
Warspear Chieften - Blighted Ogryn Warspear Unit Attachment
Blighted Nyss Shepherd
Blighted Nyss Shepherd
Warmonger Warchief
Warmonger Warchief

   Rhyas was also played using the Rearguard theme list from No Quarter issue 36. The list was Tier 4.The benefits granted are Stealth for the army first turn, a free Swordsmen Unit Attachment, Friendly models/units begin the game with Rhyas's upkeep spells in play and she pays no Fury to upkeep them, and Blighted Ogryn models gain Advance Deployment.

Khador

Kommandant Irusk
Sylys Wyshnalyrr
Ruin
Assault Kommandos - Leader and 9 Grunts
Assault Kommando Flame Thrower x 3- Assault Kommandos Weapon Attachment
Iron Fang Pikemen - Leader and 9 Grunts
Iron Fang Officer and Standard - Iron Fang Unit Attachment
Kayazy Eliminiators
Winter Guard Rifle Corps - Leader and 9 Grunts
Kovnik Jozef Grigorrovich
Iron Fang Kovnik
Alexia, Mistress of the Witchfire
Ragman
Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist

Scenario

Incoming

    Mark two zones (12x6 rectangles). Each one will be 8" from the side table edge and one each will be  24" from each players board edge. Place an objective marker 24" from the side and 16"in from each players board edge. The zone and objective closer to the players side are friendly. Starting on the second players second turn a player earns control points (CP) as follows:
-Friendly Zone: Dominate = 1 CP
-Enemy Zone: Control + 1 CP, Dominate = 2 CP
-Enemy Objective Destroyed = 1 CP

   To Dominate a zone a warcaster/ warlock must be in it with no other enemy models. To control a zone a warjack/beast, unit, or solo must be fully in the zone with no enemy models.Each player had an objective. Birch picked Armoury, while I picked Bunker.

Armoury- DEF 5 ARM 18 Damage Boxes 15
Asset Protection- If this model is disabled, you can choose a non-disabled friendly model within 4" to be destroyed. If another model is destroyed as a result of Asset Protection, remove one damage point from this model.

Firepower- While within 4" of this model, friendly models with light artillery gain boosted attack rolls.

Immobile- This model has no movement or action and cannot be knocked down or moved. Its front arc extends 360 degrees. It has no melee range, cannot engage, and is automatically hit by melee attacks.

Objective- This model cannot be placed, cannot channel spells, and cannot be chosen as a Prey target. This model cannot be targeted or damaged until the second player's second turn, An objective cannot be engaged.

Bunker- DEF 5 ARM 18 Damage Boxes 15
Girded- This model does not suffer blast damage. Friendly models base to base with it do not suffer blast damage.

Immobile- This model has no movement or action and cannot be knocked down or moved. Its front arc extends 360 degrees. It has no melee range, cannot engage, and is automatically hit by melee attacks.

Impervious Flesh- When this model is hit by a ranged attack, the attacker rolls one less damage die.

Objective- This model cannot be placed, cannot channel spells, and cannot be chosen as a Prey target. This model cannot be targeted or damaged until the second player's second turn, An objective cannot be engaged.

Set Up

Birch

   Birch had chosen to go first. Neither of us had predeployment models. Setting up on my left flank he put his Assault Kommandos. The bulk of the Iron Fnags went on the left centre with the Elminaters, Iron Fang Kovnik, Sylys Wyshnalyrr, and Gorman behind them. Irusk was on the centre with Ruin next to him on the centre right, and the rest of the Iron Fangs beside it. Ragman was tucked in behind Ruin. The Winterguard Riflemen were on the centre right with Kovnik Joe behind them. Epic Alexia took the far right flank.

Defenstrator

   I set up with Rhyas on my centre left with Typhon left of her, the Swordsmen to her right in the centre, and the BoltThrower to their right but still in Rhyas 's CTRL. The Shepherds went behind Typhon and beside the Bolt Thrower. The Shredder sat left of Typhon while the Succubus went behind Rhyas. The Warmongers all had advanced deploy thanks to the theme force. I put one Warchief on each flank, the Warmongers centre right, and the Warspears centre left.

Turn 1

Khador

   Irusk put one focus on Ruin. The Iron Fangs began by having to pass a Terror check for being in Ruin's melee range. They passed and then ran. The Rifle Corps passed their test as well. Irusk put Iron Flesh (Target friendly model/unit gains +3 DEF, -1 SPD) on the Iron Fangs and Superiority (Target friendly Warjack gets +2 SPD, MAT, DEF, cannot be knocked down) on Ruin, then advanced. Ruin ran forward. Silas, the Eliminators, the Assault Kommandos, Gorman, and Alexia all ran forward as well. The Rifle Corps ran and put themselves close enough to Ruin that they had to do another Terror check. They passed. Kovnik Jozef granted Fearless to himself and the unit of Rifle Corps and ran. Ragman ran up behind the Iron Fangs.

Legion

   The turn begins with Rhyas having her upkeeps in play due to the theme list, with Rapport (Target Warbeast uses warlocks MAT and RAT, maytransfer damage for free once per turn even if not in CTRL) on Typhon and Occultation (model/unit gains Stealth) on the Warmongers. The Warspears Assaulted the Iron Fangs, killing one. The Bolt Thrower used its animus and flew forward. The Warmongers ran forward. The Shredder puts Tenacity (+1 to DEF and ARM) on Typhon and advanced. Rhyas cast Dash, advanced to behind the forest, and put Tenacity on two Warspears. The Swordsmen and Warchiefs ran, while the Succubus advanced and put Tenacity on Rhyas. The Shepherds just ran up behind.

 Turn 2

Khador

   Irusk upkept Iron Flesh.Wyshnalyrr upkept Superiority. Kovnik Jozef advances first and cried For the Motherland (affected Winterguard attacks are boosted) before shooting and killing a Swordsman. The Rifle Corps then advanced and unloaded, killing six Swordsmen and putting four damage on a Warmonger and gaining Alexia a soul.

   Irusk then advanced, put Battle Lust (Unit gains Fearless and an additional die on melee damage rolls for one round) on the Iron Fangs, cast Inhospitable Ground (While in casters CTRL enemy models count open terrain as rough), and used his feat Undying Loyalty (While in Irusk's CTRL friendly Faction warrior models/units gain Fearless, Tough, +2 to ranged and melee attack rolls, no knockdown, 4+ Tough if in CTRL).

   The Iron Fangs then advanced in Shield Wall, stabbed two Warspears to death, and put five damage on and knocked down another. They then used their unit mini-feat to Reform forward.  Ragman advanced and used Boneshaker to do two damage to a Warspear with the Iron Fang Kovnik advanced behind the Iron Fangs and Assault Kommandos. The Assault Kommandos used the Assault and Battery order allowing them to shoot before charging. They began by hitting two Warspears with a gas grenade, They then killed a wounded Warspear, put four damage on another, and then did three more damage on the charge. Gorman advanced and put up a cloud to block LOS to Irusk, while Silas and Ruin advanced. The Eliminators ran and had to do a Terror check for getting too near Ruin, but passed. Alexia advanced back behind the forest away from a Warchief.

Legion

   Occultation is dropped, Rapport is upkept by the Succubus. Rhyas cast the Bolt Thrower animus Glider (Self, model gains Flight)  so she could advance through the forest and did so up to the Iron Fangs. Her first attack bounced off the ARM 18, a second was bought which she missed. The third bought was a critical though, which killed the Iron Fang with no tough roll thanks to her Critical Decapitation, after which Rhyas Sprinted back behind the trees.

   The Warmongers then charged, but thanks to the feat and Iron Flesh only killed a single Winterguard Rifle Corps. The Warspears also Assaulted and charged and killed one Iron Fang and one Assault Kommando. The Bolt Thrower shot at Ruin, doing two points of damage while shoving it back an inch. The Warchief on the left flank attacks the Assault Kommandos but missed, while the few remaining Swordsmen charged and just sucked out, accomplishing nothing. Typhon moved in and also accomplished nothing with his sprays. The Warchief on the right flank charged, while the Shpeherds advanced. One hid from Rifle Corps shooting while the other one pulled fury off the Bolt Thrower.

Turn 3

Khador

   Superiority is upkept on Ruin  by Wyshnalyrr and Iron Flesh by Irusk on the Iron Fangs. Ruin received zero focus. Alexia advanced forward and created a Thrall. The Thrall then charged the Warchief on the right flank, damaging it for seven of its eight health. Ruin then advanced and killed the Swordsman Champion, received a soul, spent it for another attack, killed a Warmonger, and gained another soul.

   Ragman then advanced and cast Death Field (this model and models within 3" gain Dark Shroud. Models in melee range of a model with Dark Shroud have -2 ARM) while the Iron Fang Kovinik advanced and gave the Shield March order to the Assault Kommandos. The Assault Kommandos activated next and used their sprays, which were effectively POW 14 thanks to Death Field, to kill a Warspear and the Warspear Chieften UA. Irusk activated next and cast Battlelust on the Iron Fangs and Inhospitable ground. The Iron Fangs activated next and moved up in Shield Wall. They killed two more Warspears, a Warmonger, and put five damage on the Bolt Thrower, while blocking the charge lane to Ruin from Typhon. The Rifle Corps activated and accomplished little. They missed the Shephard they fired at and couldnèt do the last wound to the Warchief. Kovnik Jozef then cried tough. The turn ended with the Eliminators running past Ruin and Gorman advancing and putting up Smoke again.

Legion

   Rhyas upkept Rapport for free thanks to the Succubus. The Succubus then advanced away from the Assault Kommandos and cast Tenacity on Rhyas. Rhyas then used her feat Tide of Blood (Rhyas and Friendly models activating in CTRL gain an extra melee attack. The first time a friendly Legion model damages an enemy while in Rhyas's CTRL immediately place it base to base with damaged model) and charged an Eliminator. She killed it, moved to the back of the base, and struck Ruin for two points of damage.

   Then remaining Swordsmen charged and ran to attack the Ironfangs and clear the way for Typhon. The ended up killing three of them. Typhon then charged another Ironfang which made its tough roll, placed behind it which put Typhon in engagement with Ruin, and bought attacks until Ruin was wrecked. With its last attack Typhon killed the Ironfang behind it thanks to its 360 line of sight. The Warchief on the right flank then charged in and killed the newly made Thrall and one Winterguard, before a Tough roll stopped its Beserk. The Warchief on the left Flank just missed and did nothing. The Bolt Throwed then moved up and shot eAlexia through the trees thanks to Eyeless Sight, killing her. The two Shepherds then activated, one removing the Fury from the Bolt Thrower and the other removing one point from Typhon. The Shredder then advanced and put Tenacity on Rhyas. Lastly the reamining Warmonger killed two Iron Fangs and one Winterguard Rifleman.

Turn 4

Khador

   Birch up keeps no spells. Ragman advanced and used Death Field again. The Ironfang Pikemen used the Shield Gaurd order, advanced, and killed the last Warmonger. The Iron Fang Kovnik then advanced and used the Shield March * action (When unit recieves Shield Wall order it gains +2 movement). The Assault Kommandos then advanced and did three damage to a warspear and 6 damage to the Warchief fighting them, mainly with their flamethrowers.

   Gorman then advanced and hit Rhyas with his Black Oil, Blinding her (Model cannot make Ranged or Magic attacks, -4 MAT and DEF, cannot run or charge, must forfiet movement or activation next turn, shakeable thanks to new errata). Kovnik Joe cried For the Motherland and shot Rhyas for three damage. The Winterguard advanced, with one dying to a freestrike to unengage Rhyas, after which they unloaded, doing two more damage to her and forcing her two use her free transfer to Typhon. Wyshnalyrr then activated and used his * action

Arcane Secrets (Rng 3, This models warcaster gains an additional die on its next magic attack and damage roll. Drop the lowest die from the rolls).  Irusk then smacked Rhyas with an Airburt (AOE 3, Target any model in CTRL ignoring line of sight, cover, concealment , elevation, and Stealth. Models  hit take POW 8 blast damage), which smashed her down to two life, but I kept the last transfer. Unable to do a second Airburst or get LOS to Rhyas he then shot the Bolt Thrower for seven damage.

   With Rhyas almost dead but holding one Fury he charged his last model, the second Eliminator. It hit Rhyas and did... no damage. The second attack bounced as well.

Legion

   Rhyas drew in all the Fury on Typhon and one from the Shredder. She then spent one Fruy to shake off the effects of Black Oil, and recent change in the rules as previously this wasn't allowed. The Succubus upkept Rapport for free. The Shredder attacked a Shepherd and killed it. The other Shepherd adcanced and healed two damage on the Bolt Thrower. The Bolt Thrower then advanced and shot Irusk for twelve damage, pushing him back two inches but not knocking him down. Rhyas then charged, boosted attack roll, and criticaled. With her Decapitation going off the amount of damage done to Irusk after ARM was doubled and she did twenty-two damage, killing him.

Afterward

   Birch admitted he messed up his last turn. He had planned to withdraw to the other side of the board, start scoring, and force me to come to him. But once Rhyas was hit with Black Oil he decided to go for it and instead he used Irusk to try and finish Rhyas which left him a bit too close. That said, it was just bad luck he didn't manage to kill her. But if he had decicded this was the turn to kill her at the beginning he could have moved over some Assault Kommandos to try and do so more damage to her instead of the Warspear and Warchief.

   On my side I put Occultation on the Warmongers instead of my Swordsmen, which let the boosted to hit POW 10s of the Riflecore inflict a huge amount of damage on them before they could do anything. The Warmongers ARM 16 and eight wounds would have been a lot better at sucking that shooting up. I was also just lucky that Gorman's Blind has been changed, because before the erratta that would have been game over. Rhyas would have done effectively nothing that turn and would have been waiting to be killed the next one.

Styker vs Irusk - Destruction

Cygnar vs Khador - Destruction, 50 Points

   I haven't played a game of warmachine in over a month so of course the first one I do to get back in the saddle is a battle report. This was against my friend Birch at his house. Last time my Legion triumphed over him, so let's see how Cygnar will do.

Army Lists

Cygnar

Commander Coleman Stryker
Stormwall
Squire
Storm Strider
Journeyman Warcaster
Arlan Strageways
Black 13th Gun Mage Strike Team
Swordknights - Leader and 9 Grunts
Sword Knight Officer & Standard - Swordknight Unit Attachment
Centurion (marshalled to Swordknight UA)

vs

Khador

Kommandant Irusk
Behemoth
War Dog
Iron Fang Pikemen - Leader and 9 Grunts
Iron Fang Pikemen Officer & Standard - Iron Fang Unit Attachment
Great Bears of Gallowswood
Kayazy Eliminators
Battle Mechaniks - Leader and 3 Grunts
Greylord Ternion
Widowmakers
Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters - Leader and 9 Grunts
Koldun Kapitan Valachev - attached to Nyss
Harlan Phineas Versh, Illuminated One

Scenario

Destruction

    Mark a zone (12˝ × 6˝ rectangle) in the centre of the board and place four objectives (Monoliths) at each of the corners. The objectives on Player 1’s side of the board are friendly Faction models to Player 1 and vice versa. At the end of each player’s turn, starting on the second player’s second turn, a player earns control points (CP) as follows:

• Enemy Objective: Destroyed (once per objective) = 1 CP

• Zone: Control = 1 CP, Dominate = 2 CP

   The first player to earn at least 5 control points and have more control points than the opponent immediately wins the game. If time runs out before a player has won the game via scenario or assassination victory, the player with the most Control Points wins. If tied the player with the most army points inside the zone.

   Artifice: Kill Box - Starting on the first player’s second turn, if a player ends his own turn with a friendly warcaster/ warlock completely within 14˝ of any board edge, his opponent immediately scores 2 control points. A player can measure 14˝ from any board edge during his warcaster/ warlock’s activation.

Setup

   We rolled off and I went second. I predeployed the Stormwall in the centre and the Storm Strider on my left flank.

   Birch set up centrally with the Behemoth, Irusk, War Dog, Ternions, and Great Bears holding the middle with the Mechaniks behind the Behemoth. The Iron Fang Pikemen were on my left opposite the Storm Strider with the Elminators behind them. The Nyss led by Valachev held the other flank.

   I put Stryker, the Squire, and half the Sword Knights on the left of the Stormwall, and the other half of the Swordknights and Centurion on its right. Behind the Sworknights were Arlan Strangeways and the Journeyman, while the Black 13th held the right flank.

Turn 1

Khador

   The Behemoth was assigned one focus, after which there was a lot of running. The Iron Fangs ran. The Elmininators ran. The Greylords advanced and put Smoke on an Iron Fang, a Mechanik, and a Nyss. Irusk advanced and put Superiority (Target warjack gets +2 SPD, MAT, and DEF, and can't be knocked down) on the Behemoth and Iron Flesh (+3 DEF -1 SPD) on the Iron Fangs, leaving himself with one focus. The Behemoth ran forward toward the centre. The Nyss ran and the Mechaniks ran. And the War Dog aand Harlan finished the turn by advancing. Those Khador guys obviously like to keep in shape.

Cygnar

   I assigned no focus and began to unpack my army out of the way of the Stormwall. The Centurion ran towards the centre zone. Stryker cast Blur (+3 DEF vs Ranged and MAgic attacks) on the Swordknights, Snipe (+4 Range) on the Storm Strider, and Arcane Shield (+3 ARM) on himself, then advanced. The Squire ran up beside him. The Storm Strider advanced and shot twice at the Iron Fangs, but missed both due to Iron Flesh.

   On the right side the Black 13th ran and toed into a forest, with Prowl now giving them Stealth. The Journeyman advanced and put Arcane Shield onto the Centurion. Arlan advanced and Power Boosted the Stormwall. The Centurion was then Pronto'd forward another 4" by the Sword Knight Officer, and then the Sworknights ran to join it. The Stormwall advanced behind them, doing nothing with its big guns and then laying down two Covering Fire templates in front of the Sword Knights.

Turn 2

Khador

   Irusk upkept both Superiority and Iron Flesh, and assigned the Behemoth two focus to the sub-cortex. The Behemoth advanced and hit and killed a Sword Knight with a boosted Bombard shot. The AOE bounced off a Sword Knight beside the first, even with a boosted damage roll. But then Birch rolled boxcars and killed that one with the Behemoth's second bombard shot.


   The Nyss continued the punishemnt on the Sword Knights, advaing forward to Combined Ranged Attack and kill two, before being Zephyred back by Valachev.

   I had been a bit sloppy placing the Covering Fire templates and a single Iron Fang managed to squeeze through the gap into the zone and engaged the Centurion as they advanced and redeployed centrally. The Widowmakers and Eliminators also redeployed, running back away from the Storm Strider. The Ternions continued the trend by advancing and putting Smoke on two Mechaniks and a Great bear. The Great Bears and Mechaniks ran into position to provide concealment, while Irusk advanced to hehind a small bunch of trees and cast Inhospitable Ground. Harlan Versh ran as well.

Cygnar

   I began the turn by allocating one focus from the Squire to Stryker. Stryker dropped Arcane Shield, upkept Snipe and Blur, and allocated two focus to the Stormwall. The Journeyman upkept Arcane Shield on the Centurion, which it would continue to do for the rest of the game. The turn began with Arlan advancing and putting Evasion on the Centurion. The Sword Knights then activate and charge/run, with three charging the lone Irong Fang. I figure they can do the job at MAT 8 thanks to Flank, but all miss. The Centurion was then Pronto'd forward, but only 2" due to Inhospitable Ground.

   The Stormwall advanced up behind the Sword Knights and dropped a Pod, killing a forward Mechanik.  It then unloads on the Behemoth, but manages to miss both shots thanks to it being at DEF 14 with Superiority and Concealment from the Cloud. It then placed the Covering Fire templates down again, blocking the other Iron Fangs from the zone. No gaps this time.

   The Black 13th advanced out from the forest to do some work, but then missed both shots at the lead Great Bear. Ryans Mage Storm then hit the Storm Pod, which killed 2 Nyss, but the Great Bear was just out. Lastly the Storm Strider advanced and shot at the Iron Fangs some more, managing to kill two.

Turn 3

Khador

   Irusk upkept both spells and assigned two focus to the Behemoth sub-cortex just like last time. The Mechaniks and Harlan Versh both run. The Ternions advance and hit the Centurion with three Ice Cages, making it Stationary with no way to shake it off. Irusk casts Inhospitable Ground (everywhere in his CTRL area counts as ough Terrain to enemy models) and uses his Feat Undying Loyalty to give all friendly models in his CTRL area +2 to hit rolls, 4+ Tough, and can't be knocked down.

   The Nyss, now all pumped up, killed the Black 13th and Zephyred back. The Behemoth aimed and did 3 damage to the Stormwalls 3 coloumn on the right side with its Bombards. The War Dog ran to Irusk while the Ironfangs advanced and Shield Walled, then used their mini-feat to Reform even further over. The Elminators ran to be fully on my left side and the Great Bears ran up my left flank. The Widowmakers finished the turn off by killing two more Sword Knights.

Cygnar

   Stryker drew a focus from the Squire and upkept Snipe and Blur. The Storm Strider advanced up the right flank some more and unloaded on a Mechanik. There were a lot of bounces but with the 4+ Tough from feat turn only two Mechaniks died. The Sword Knights activated next and the free ones charged into the Iron Fangs skirting around the Covering Fire templates. They all continued to not roll an 8 to hit the Iron Fangs engaging them.

   Araln and the Journeyman ran to my left side to take shelter behind the Stormwall, away from the Nyss. The Stormwall put down a Pod but the Iron Fang hit made its Tough roll. It then shot the Behemoth, doing 3 damage on its second hit. lastly it put down the Covering Fire Templates to keep the Iron Fnags back. Lastly Stryker advanced, put Arcane Shield back on himself, and shot at the Behemoth to Disrupt it. Unfortunately he missed.

Turn 4

Khador

   The Khaodr turn repeated itself as Irusk upkept both spells and assigned two focus to the Behemoth sub-cortex. irusk started the turn by continuing to hide behind the trees, and casting Battle Lust onto the Nyss. The Nyss then ran and charged the Centurion, a Sword Knight, and the right objective. The Centurion bounced the Nyss, taking one point to coloumn 5, while the other Nyss missed the Sword Knight. The objective on the other hand was chopped into pieces, scoring Birch a point.

   The Great Bears then sprung into action, with the lead one charging in to kill a Sword Knight and the Swordknight UA. The other two hung back to be in position to counter attack. The Behemoth shot the Stormwall and spiked the damage rolls, doing another 16 points to the right side. The Widowmakers spread out to avoid the Storm Strider and shot at the Sword Knights, missing. With the Centurion now engage the ternions no longer had an easy target for Ice cage and so they ran, as did Harlan Versh, the War Dog, and the Elminators onto my right flank.

Cygnar

   Stryker drew the last focus from the Squire and upkept Snipe and Arcane Shield, but dropped Blur. Two focus were assigned to Stormwall. The Flanking Swordknights yet again rolled no 8s to kill the engaging Iron Fang. Arlan advanced and cast Power Booster onto the Centurion. Stryker then shot the Behemoth, disrupting it, cast Earthquake at three Iron Fangs and their Unit Attachment to knock them down, and then used his Feat Invincibility to give all friendly faction models in his CTRL Area +5 ARM for a turn.

   The Stormwall then advanced and dropped a Storm Pod. The lightning arced between them and killed a Nyss and Valachev, and did 3 damaged to a Great Bear. The Stormwall then unloaded on the Great Bears with its Chain Guns, getting five shots. But even though it managed to hit and wound them all they tanked like a boss and all make their 5+ Tough rolls. The following Cannon shot is also bounced off a Tough roll, and only Volkov died to the last boosted cannon shot. The Storm Strider then advanced and shot the Stormwall in the back, with the bouncing lightning killing three nearby Nyss and an Iron Fang. The Nyss would have had to do a Command check but were still Fearless from Battle Lust.

   The Centurion then shuffled over and killed a Nyss with its shield and the second Great Bear Turovich with a boosted to hit roll. Lastly the Journeyman advanced and killed one of the knocked down Iron Fangs with her handcannon.

Turn 5

Khador

   Yet again Irusk upkept both Superiority and Iron Flesh, but couldn't assign focus since the Behemoth was Disrupted. The Iron Fnags get the Shield Wall order and half sacrifice their action to stand up and advance. The other half poke away at the Centurion they couldn't hurt, and got a lucky Critical to knock it down. Now that it was no longer DEF 15 for being in melee the Ternions advanced and Ice Caged the Centurion again, making it Stationary, again. The Behemoth advanced and lobbed some shots at the Journeyman doing 2 points of damage to her.


   Next the War Dog charged and killed the Storm Pod and jogged back to Irusk. Irusk followed this up with Inhospitable Ground. Harlan and the Widowmakers just ran into new positions. Finally the Elminators put the pressure on by running through the Stormwall and other intervening models to engage Stryker.

Cygnar

    Stryker upkept Snipe on the Storm Strider while the Journeyman continued to upkeep Arcane Shield on the Centurion. Stryker then allocated three focus to the Stormwall. Stryker began the turn by casting Arcane Shield on the Stormwall and took a swing at an Elminator, which missed.

   The Stormwall then activated and moved back over to Stryker, taking three Free Strikes from the Iron Fang Pikemen. This did 7 damage to it and took out the right side. The Stormwall then dropped a Storm Pod and hit both the Eliminators with the lightning arc. I boosted damage on each to be sure and killed them both, while the Sword Knight Standard which was also hit survived as it bounced off. The Stormwall then boosted to hit with its broken right cannon and managed to kill the last Great Bear. The other cannon shot the Behemoth for 1 measly point. The working left Chain Gun then put covering fire down between Stryker and the Iron Fangs.

   The Journeyman aimed and killed another Iron Fang with boosted to hit and damage rolls while the Storm Strider only managed to kill the last Mechanik. The two remaining Sword Knights, still with Flank, yet again missed the one Iron Fang they had been engaging all game. Birch cheered he was so happy. Arlan fixed the Stormwall for one point on the right side.

Turn 6

Khador

   Irusk upkept Iron Flesh and Superiority as he had all game. But now he assigned two focus to the Behemoth's sub-cortex and two to the main cortex. The Behemoth spent a focus to Slam the Swordknight Standard into Stryker and boosted to hit. The slam was successful, killing the Standard, doing 5 damage to Stryker, and knocking him down. With Stryker at DEF 5 both Bombards easily hit, and with boosted damage rolls killed Stryker.

Afterward

   Well at least I made a game of it, which I wasn't sure I was going to be able to do after Birch's turn 3. I made some sloppy mistakes which you can't afford against a decent opponent, which caused me some real problems. The first was not being careful with the covering fire and letting that one Iron Fang slip through. Now I had a bit of bad luck in that I should have killed him at some point, buteven so, it was my own mistake that let Birch get him onto that awkward poaition. The second was advancing the Black 13th out of the woods. For two Nyss I gave away the whole unit, which would have been relatively safe just aiming and picking things off. Having them around to do real work later in the game would have been very helpful.

   The last mistake I made was that I could have done things a bit differently last turn. The Stormwall needed the Arcane Shield to shrug off the damage from the three free strikes it had to take to get rid of the Eliminators. Instead of using Stryker I could have dropped the Journeyman's Arcane Shield off the Centurion and cast that on the Stormwall. Once it killed the Eliminators Stryker would have been free to aim and shoot the Behemoth to Disrupt it once more, and then put his Arcane Shield on the Centurion.  This would have bought me another turn, which meant Arlan could have fixed the Stormwall some more and the Strider would have been shooting up the Ternions and other deep back field stuff.

   The man of the match was definitely the Stormwall, although the Storm Strider was slowly racking up kills. The Centurion only killed a Nyss and a Great Bear, but it absorbed a lot of attacks and firmly blocked the way for the Behemoth to move in on me. As long as it was there the Behemoth couldn't bum rush the Stormwall. Birch, however, did do a good job of showing why dedicated melee jacks aren't very popular jack marshall targets since they have some core vulnerabilites that can be exploited. Then he got to live the dream with the Behemoth slam double bombard move.