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.

Epic Thagrosh vs Strakhov - Diversion

Legion of Everblight vs Khador - Diversion, 50 Points

   It's been a while since I posted a report against my friend Birch, so we had at it over at his place. It turned into a long and brutal game.

Army Lists

Thagrosh the Messiah
Carnivean
Ravagore
Scythean
Throne of Everblight
Blighted Legionnaires - Leader and 9 Grunts
Captain Farilor & Standard - Legionnaires Unit Attachment
Strider Deathstalker
Strider Deathstalker
Shepherd

vs

Kommander Strakhov
Spriggan
Decimator
War Dog
Iron Fang Pikemen - Leader and 9 Grunts
Officer and Standard - Iron Fang Unit Attachment
Doom Reavers
Grey Lord Escort - Doom Reaver Unit Attachment
Widowmakers
Greylord Ternion
Great Bears of Gallowswood
Koldun Lord
Eiryss, Angel of Retribution

Scenario

Diversion

   This is a Radial scenario and is played from corner to oppposite corner. Two 8 inch zones are placed 16 inches in from both sides of the board in the same corners as the deployment zones. Two flag markers are then place 16 inches in from both side of the board in opposite corners.

   Each player can score only by controling the flag on his right. To control the flag a model must be touching it and no enemy models can be within 4 inches of the flag. Additionally, units controling the flag must have 50% of their starting number, at least one member must touch the flag, and the rest must be within 4 inches of it. In order to score a point you must control the flag and be contesting the opponents zone.

   At the end of each players turn starting on the second players second turn, either player can earn one control point for controlling his designated flag. The first player to earn 2 control points and have more control points than his opponent immeadiately wins the game.

Set up

   Birch won the roll and elected to go first. I had to pre-deploy the Throne, so I deployed it on the flank towards his flag. That way any of his units running in would hopefully get chewed up.

   Knowing Strakhov was immune to most of my ranged weapons thanks to his immunity to fire Birch put him front and centre, with the War Dog behind him and the Koldon Lord close by. The Decimator went on his left flank, my right, while the Spriggan went on his right opposite the Throne. The Ternion set up centrally behind the Spriggan and Strakhov while the Iron Fangs took his far left flank.

   I then set up. Epic Thagrosh was in the centre as well, with an eye to moving towards the wall on the left. The Ravagore was set up between him and the Throne, with the Scythean on Thagrosh's right and the Carnivean holding the right flank. The Legionnaires were set up in gaps between all the beasts with Farilor in the centre. The Shepherd was back behind the Ravagore.

   It was then time for advance deploy units. Birch put the Widowmakers on my far right with the Iron Fangs while the Doom Reavers and epic Eiryss were put ahead of the Spriggan. I put the Deathstalkers ahead of the Throne opposite the Doom Reavers.

Turn 1

Khador

   The turn began with Strakhov assigning the Spriggan 1 focus. The Koldun Lord was the first model to activate and advanced then Power Boosted to put a focus on the Decimator. The Iron Fangs then activated and ran.

Strakhov activated next and put Occultation (model/unit gains Stealth) on the Iron Fangs and Superiority (target jack gets +2 SPD, MAT and DEF and can't be knocked down) on the Spriggan. He then charged the Scythean to get some extra movement. After this the Doom Reavers, Spriggan, Ternion, Widowmakers, Decimator Great Bears, epic Eiryss and War Dog all ran, moving up the field and spreading out.

Legion

   The Ravagore activated first and advanced forward to a wall. It used it's animus Dragon's Fire (Target friendly faction warbeast's ranged weapon gain Continous Effect Fire. Dragon's Fire lasts for 1 turn) and shot the Spriggan, boosting to hit then damage, but only doing a single point to column 4. Death Stalker 1 advanced and shot a Doom Reaver, which didn't make it's tough roll, and then Swift Huntered back 2 inches. Deathstalker 2 advanced up behind the same wall as the Ravagore.

   Epic Thagrosh then activated, putting Unnatural Aggression (if damaged it may make a full advance during the maintenance phase towards the nearest enemy model) on the Throne and Dragon's Blood (target friendly model/unit gets +2 ARM and if disabled in melee the attacker suffers 1 point of damage on a roll of 5 or 6) on the Legionnaires. He then cast the Carnivean's animus Spiny Growth (+2 ARM on target model and warbeasts/jacks suffer a d3 damage if they hit but don't kill the target) on the Scythean before advancing up behind the Ravagore.

   The Throne, Legionnaires, and Scythean ran forward, while the Carnivean put Spiny Growth on itself and advanced.

Turn 2

Khador

   Birch upkept Superiority and Occultation and assigned the Spriggan 2 focus. The Koldun Lord advanced and Power Boosted the Decimator. The Spriggan then advanced, put a Flare down on Deathstalker 1 which got rid of its Stealth, and then killed it with a boosted hit and damage shot. First kill Birch.

   The Iron Fangs, Ternions, Great Bears, Doom Reavers, Widowmakers and Decimator all ran and spread out some more, while Strakhov and the War Dog advanced up the middle.

Legion

   I upkept Dragon's Blood but not Unnatural Aggression. It didn't seem like the Throne was going anywhere at the moment. The Legionnaires activated first, Farilor used his mini-feat Iron Zeal (once per game unit gets +4 RM and cannot be made stationary or knocked down), and they ran/ charged in to kill two Iron Fangs. The Carnivean advanced behind them to spray and kill another Iron Fang before putting spiny Growth on itself. The Scythean ran up behind the Legionnaires to the centre while the Ravagore advanced to behind the Legionnaires and killed 2 more Iron Fangs with a long ranged shot.

   Epic Thagrosh then advanced up to the wall and cast Spiny Growth on the Throne and himself before camping 2 fury. At this point the nearby Deathstalker realised his lord was a horrific Abomination and failed a Panic check. The Shepherd then advanced but wasn't quite in range to take the fury off the Ravagore. The Throne just sat there, not wanting to get murdered by the Spriggan and Doom Reavers.

Turn 3

Khador

   Birch dropped Occultation off the Iron Fangs since they were now close in and assigned 2 focus to the Spriggan. The turn began with Strakhov advancing and casting Ovverun (if target model kills another model, a member of the battlegroup may make a full advance) on himself. Rolling two shots for his gun he manages to kill a Legionnaire with a boosted damage roll (with Dragon's Blood and Iron Zeal they are effectively ARM of 22), and used the Overrun move on the Spriggan, whcih advanced towards the Throne.

   The Iron Fangs then use their mini-feat Reform, and declare the Shield Wall order (+4 ARM while in base to base), but thanks to their high ARM only a single Legionnaire died and the Officer doing it tooks a wound from Dragon's Blood. The Widowmakers advanced and managed to kill two more Legionnaires thanks to their auto-wounding Sniper ability. The Koldun Lord used Power booster on the Decimator, which advanced and managed to kill one more Legionnaire with a damage boosted shot from its' gun.

   Epic Eiryss's activation was next, and she advanced forward and shot the Spiny Growth off the Throne with her Arcane Interference. The Spriggan then advanced and pounded on the Throne, knocking it down to 7 wounds. After this the Doom Reavers, War Dog, and Great Bears ran forward into position, while the Ternion advanced and placed down smoke clouds.

Legion

   It was now my go and I had a problem. Both my flanks had a lot of pressure bearing down on them and the only thing on my left that could deal with the Spriggan was Thagrosh. But if he went over to deal with it my beasts would be left out of control. So at this point I abandoned the idea of taking my point for now and decided I would just have to stop Birch from scoring before pushing my way back into the battle. Accordingly I dropped Dragon's Blood on the Legionnaires since epic Thagrosh was going to need all the fury he could get. After Leeching I also still had a fury on the Ravagore, but fortunately it made its' frenzy check. The Legionnaires then made their Vengence moves and attacks, but bounced off the Shield Walled Iron Fangs.

   Epic Thagrosh activated first, cast Manifest Destiny (While in this model's CTRL area, models in battlegroup gain an additional die on melee attack and damage rolls, then drop the lowest), and charged the Spriggan. He hammers it badly but fails to kill it, although he does destroy the Lance and Cortex. He then used his feat Dragon Storm (After all friendly models have completed their activations the warbeasts in Thagrosh's battlegroup in his CTRL area may advance and make a melee attack).

   With the Spriggan's Lance broken I decided to risk a free strike on the Throne. With Flight it can move over the Spriggan and it charged a Doom Reaver. The Spriggan took the free strike with its Lance, but Birch rolled a one and it missed. The Throne hit the Doom Reaver but it was tough. The second attack auto-hit as the Doom Reaver was now knocked down and killed it, getting the Throne a Corpse Token. This set off Battle Wizard and I cast Spine Burst at Epic Eiryss, which I obviously wasn't thinking about since I used the POW 10 Spine Burst spell rather than the POW 12 Frostbite. Even so my boosted to hit roll (from Corpse Token) managed to hit her, and she died from the POW 10, with the extra hit bouncing back into the Throne for no damage. The final attack hits another Doom Reaver, but it also makes its' tough roll.

   I now redeployed my three heavies. The Scythean ran forward beside Thagrosh. The Carnivean advanced back into Thagrosh's control area and put Spiny Growth on itself, then shot a Doom Reaver which made its tough roll. And the Ravagore advanced and killed the closest Great Bear with its Blight Blast. The Legionnaires went next and Farilor charged in to one shot the Iron Fnag Officer and used Cleave to kill another. The other Legionnaires used Combined Melee Attack to kill another Iron Fang. Lastly the Shepherd advanced and used Condition to draw the fury off the Ravagore. The Deathstalker passed its command check and was now back in the game.

   With all the models done Dragon Storm went off. The Scythean advanced and killed a Doom Reaver while the other two beasts moved up to screen Thagrosh.

Turn 4

Khador

   Birch upkept Superiority but assigned no focus. The Spriggan attacked but missed the Throne and bounced off Thagrosh. The Iron Fangs activated next, advanced and Shield Walled, and killed 2 Legionnaires. The Ternions then advanced and cast Frostbite, killing another Legionnaire and the Standard. Next up were the Widowmakers who continued to pile on the Legionnaires, killing Farilor and another Legionnaire, leaving one left.

   The Koldun Lord Power Boosted yet agains to give the Decimator a focus while the last couple Doom Reavers stood up and attacked. The first killed the last Legionnaire and the other did 7 points of damage to the Scythean. The Grey Lord Escort attacked the Throne and bounced off. The next activation was Strakhov, who cast Superiority on the Decimator and advanced towards Thagrosh and the beasts, then used his feat Iron Fist (Friendly Faction models can charge or slam models in Strakhovs CTRL area for free, and get +4 inches movement on there slams and charges).

   With the feat giving them the needed movement, the final two Great Bears came charging through the Ravagore's Scather template at the Scythean, each taking a point of damage from the Scather. The first did well, smashing into the Scythean and hitting with its second attack to leave the Scythean at 8 health with its Spirit and Body gone. But then disaster struck as the second Great Bear missed its charge attack, and then rolled low damage on the backswing and bounced off.

Legion

   This was my moment to turn the tide. All of Birchs' really hard hitters, except for the Decimator, were gathered in one spot. Not that Iron Fangs are soft, but they aren't weapon masters. Epic Thagrosh started things off by upkeeping nothing, healing the Scythean for two points, casting Manifest Destiny, and then scrapping the Spriggan. The Throne then advnaced and beat on the Doom Reaver UA. He made a couple of tough rolls then died, This set off Battle Wizard and I killed another Doom Reaver by targeting the Frostbite spray at a different target and catching him in it.

   With his animus Slaughterhouse (prevents tough rolls and removes from play) and Manifest Destiny the Scythean had no trouble killing the two remaining Great Bears and another Doom Reaver. The Carnivean continued this trend, Assaulting the last Doom Reaver, boosting to hit and kill a Grey Lord with the spray and tearing the last Doom Reaver apart in melee. The Ravagore advanced, used its animus Dragonfire, and boosted to hit a shot at the Koldon Lord, killing him and a Widowmaker caught in the blast.

   Lastly the remaining Deathstalker advanced to get back in the fight and the Shepherd advanced and took the fury off the Ravagore with Condition. I ended my turn feeling pretty confident.

Turn 5

Khador

   Birch upkept Superiority on the Decimator and assigned it three focus. The remining two Grey Lord Ternions advanced and threw Ice Cages on the Ravagore pushing its DEF down to 7. Measuring carefully Birch saw that Strakhov was just out of range of being charged, and since he Strakhov is immune to fire didn't have to worry about being shot either. So he aimed at the Ravagore, rolled for number of shots, and got 3. Strakhov hit all three times with his POW 12 gun and boosted the damage on each getting solid rolls.

   The Decimator advanced and also shot the Ravagore, putting two boosted damage POW 15s into it, with the final shot causing it to keel over dead. That was unexpected since the Ravagore should have survived on average, and it also brought Birch back into the game.

   The Widowmakers capped off the turn by killing the Shepherd while the Iron Fangs repositioned.

Legion

   Thagrosh leeched fury off the beasts, but the Scythean is left at 1. I did the Frenzy check but fortunately it passed. I started the turn simply and advanced the Deathstalker up to kill a Widowmaker. The Throne advanced and cast Spine Burst at the War Dog, hurting but not killing it. A nearby Grey Lord was not so lucky and was killed by the  Burst, but the final member of the Ternion passed his CMD check.

   I now tried to get sneaky and advanced the Scythean forward, spent a Fury, and did a Push power attack to get the Carnivean in charge range of Strakhov. Unfortunately it is a contested STR check, and the Scythean failed. Epic Thagrosh then advanced and cast Dragons Blood and Spiny Growth on the Carnivean, and Spiny Growth on himself. Keeping the pressure on the Carnivean ran to engage Strakhov.

Turn 6

Khador

   Birch upkept Superiority again and put three focus on the Decimator. Since the War Dog was alive and well Strakhov was immune to free strikes, so he bravely ran away from the Carnivean, as did the War Dog. The final Grey Lord advanced and threw an Ice Cage on the Carnivean lowering its DEF by 2.

   The Decimator then unloaded on the Carnivean, but with Spiny Growth and Dragons Blood it was effectively ARM 22 and he only did 2 points of damage to spiral 4. He also used the guns Beatback ability to shove the Carnivean and move himself back so the Decimator was well out of the Carniveans charge range.

   The Widowmakers advanced, missed the Deathstalker, and did a point on the Carniveans 5 spiral. The Iron Fangs ran into position.

Legion

   Thagrosh leeched and got his final Fury thanks to the Anthac granting him one per turn. I upkept Dragons Blood. The Throne charged and killed the Iron Fang Standard bearer, then used Battle Wizard to throw a Spine Burst into the Decimator which killed a nearby Widowmaker and the last Grey Lord Ternion. The Deathstalker then killed the last Widowmaker and put a point on the Decimators 4 column.

   Thagrosh then advanced and put Spiny Growth on the Throne and himself, and healed the Carnivean for 1 point. The Scythean then ran to take cover behind the Throne, while the Carnivean put Spiny Growth on itself, advanced, and sprayed the Decimator for 3 points of damage.

Turn 7

Khador

   The pressure was on but Birch stayed the course, keeping Superiority up and giving the Decimator 3 focus. The Decimator unloaded on the Throne, but the combination of Spiny Growth making it ARM 21 and poor damage rolls meant that he only did 2 points of damage, before using Beat Back to back up an inch. Strakhov also shot the Throne, but did no damage. Finally some Iron Fangs charged in on the Throne, but again poor rolls and high ARM meant they only did 3 more points of damage.

Legion

   While before I had been playing not to lose by holding Birch's scenario, at this point I felt I might be able to win by scenario as I pushed Birch back. Thagrosh upkept Dragon's Blood and leeched to full. The Deathstalker advanced towards my flag and shot the War Dog, and thanks to the earlier damage from the Spine Burst killed it. But then it made its Tough roll to my annoyance. The Throne held tough and ate the two Iron Fangs that had charged it the turn before.

   Thagrosh continued to act as a buff bot, tucking himself in behind the Throne, then putting Spiny Growth on the Throne and Carnivean before healing the Carnivean for another point. The Carnivean Assaulted an Iron Fang, missing it with the shot, but hitting the Decimator for 1 point of damage. It then killed the Iron Fang in melee, finishing off the unit. The Scythean simply advanced and riled.

Turn 8

Khador

   Once again Birch upkept Superiority and gave three focus to the Decimator. He began with Strakhov, casting Overrun, then advancing to within 5" of the Deathstalker. Unfortunately both his shots miss and so Overrun was not triggered. The Decimator was angry about being denied its charge, and so advanced and shot the Deathstalker with a boosted to hit roll, which turned it into salsa.

Legion

   The Throne charged the Decimator, but with Superiority and a bad to hit roll the charge attack missed. It did a bit of damage with the other two melee attacks. I now made one of two crucial mistakes this turn. First I had the Carnivean Assault the Decimator, rather than simply advance and cast Spiny Growth on itself before shooting. As I expected it was short of melee, so only the spray hit the Decimator, which was hurt but still hadn't lost any systems.

   Thagrosh advanced up behind the Throne and put Spiny Growth on it and the Scythean before healing the Carnivean for another point.

   The Scythean advanced forward and I then made my second mistake, and riled the Scythean for a point too much of fury, somehow thinking the Carnivean only had 2 fury on it rather than 3.

Turn 9

Khador

   Superiority is upkept and three focus is given to the Decimator. Strakhov backed up and shot the Carnivean for some decent damge while the War dog moved up nearby. With no Spiny Growth to hurt it the Decimator attacked the Carnivean. The first attack hit, and with the Decimators Sustained Attack meaning it automatically hit with the rest of its melee attacks, it just kept pounding away on the Carnivean, killing it with the final blow. I stupidly reaved all the fury onto Thagrosh.

Legion

   Having lost the Carnivean things went from bad to worse. The extra fury on the Scythean meant that I had to take a Frenzy check, which it failed. With the Throne right there the Scythean attacked it, and with a great boosted damage roll thanks to frenzy, killed it with one blow. So now with the Throne dead and the Scythean unable to activate, all I had left was Epic Thagrosh.

   Luckily he is a bad, bad, man. I cast Manifest Destiny and charged the Decimator, Thagrosh's Flight enabling him to ignore the rough terrain. He promptly wrecked it and I awaited the counter attack camping on 2 fury.

Turn 10

Khador

   It was do or die time for Birch. Strakhov charged Thagrosh, smashing into him for big damage. I was forced to transfer to the Scythean, killing it, and Thagrosh still took 2 damage points from over flow. Strakhov hit Thagrosh for another 9 points of damage, which produced a once per game lesser beast. I chose a Shredder and placed it so the War Dog couldn't also charge Thagrosh. Strakhov smacked Thagrosh again for another 7 points of damage, which I transfered to the Shredder with his last fury point. Strakhov did 2 more points of damage and was done. The War Dog then charged the Shredder but missed.

Legion

   The Shredder was hurt but hadn't lost any aspects, which was a big piece of luck. As it was I cut Thagrosh until he was at 1 health to fill him with fury, and then still needed the Anthanc to top him up. The Shredder activated first, went Rabid, and ate the War Dog, which was crucial since while it was alive Strakhov was DEF 17. It's second attack missed the now DEF 15 Strakhov. Epic Thagrosh then activated and cast Manifest Destiny. He then managed to miss with the first two attacks, but the next two hit, and with that monstrous POW 18 weapon of his that was all it took to do Strakhov in.

Afterword

   I think this game is a good example of how small mistakes can snowball into large problems. It also made Birch decalre he wasn't going to play without a time limit of some kind ever again. I, on the other hand, found it refreshing not to lose because my time had run out.

   Birch made the first error when he only gave 2 focus to the Spriggan the turn it charged the Throne. As he said afterwards, he should have given it three, had Strakhov shoot with unboosted damage, and if he didn't kill the legionnaire and set off Overrun he could have stood pat. He had the threat range advantage on that side of the field. And if the the Ovverrun did go off and the Spriggan had killed the Throne with the last attack it would have been worth it. Thagrosh still would have clobbered the Srpiggan, but without the Throne he and his beasts would have been far more vulnerable to the Doom Reavers coming in like Weapon Master missiles.

   With the Throne not dying he was unable to do that, and instead the Throne killed epic Eiryss and started to chew through infantry like a boss.

   I in turn made the mistakes of not using Spiny Growth on the Carnivean and miscounting my fury, which put me from being in a commanding position to nearly getting Thagrosh killed. A pretty massive shift.

   I was happy with all my units this game. The Legionnaires performed solidly, even though the Widowmakers took their toll. Farilor isn't a unit attachment I would take all the time, he really needs some extra support to push the buffs he gives to the high level. Fortunately Epic Thagrosh has that with Dragon's Blood, making the unit a solid ARM 18 all the time and a genuinely hard to kill ARM 22 once Iron Zeal is used.

   The Throne did its job as well, beating up on infantry and giving Thagrosh something to shelter behind as he moved up. With its base ARM 19, the highest in Legion, it can also make a very good hard point with Dragon's Blood and Spiny Growth stacked on it.This game it worked as it usually does, going up the flank killing infantry before moving towards the centre in the mid to late game.

   The heavies all performed thier roles as well, with the Carnivean acting as the lynchpin due to Spiny Growth. That +2 ARM buff is a very big deal in this list and armies that can get rid of it are real trouble.

   Epic Thagrosh also came through. Games like this where he is able to strut his stuff, which he certainly did by wrecking the Spriggan and Decimator, and killing Strakhov, usually go my way. Often the hardest part about playing him is trying to get him into play while at the same time not exposing him to counter attack. This army also plays a bit differently than most other Epic Thagrosh forces I see. Rather than emphsising his feat with things like Shredders, I have a more conventional army and use the feat more to redeploy rather than jam in and attack.

Epic Vlad vs Haley

Khador vs Cygnar - Outfight, Outflank, Outlast, 50 Points

   I've been mainly playing Legion this year, but with my Storm Strider fully painted I wanted to get a game in before I put it back on the shelf. My friend Birch was free so we had a throw down.

Army Lists

Cygnar

Captin Victoria Haley
Squire
Thunderhead
Ol' Rowdy
Storm Strider
Stormguard - Leader and 9 Grunts
Stormblades - Leader and 5 Grunts
Stormblade Weapon Attachment - 1 Stormgunner
Journeyman Warcaster
Arlan Strangeways
Storm Smith
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord

vs

Khador

Vladimir Tzepesci, The Dark Champion
Drago
Doom Reavers - Leader and 5 Grunts
Doom Reaver Unit Attachment - Greylord Escort
Assualt Kommandos - Leader and 9 Grunts
Assualt Kommando Weapon Attachment - 3 Flame Throwers
Man O' War - Leader and 4 Grunts
Widowmakers - Leader and 3 Grunts
Greylord Ternions - Leader and 2 Grunts
Man O' War Drakhun
Manhunter
Manhunter
Saxon Orric

Scenario

Outfight, Outflank, Outlast

   Mark two 12" diameter circles on the board, each one 24" from the player edge and 14" from the side. At the start of each players turn, starting on the second player's second turn, a player earns 1 control point for each zone he controls.The first player to earn 3 control points and have more control points than the opponent immeadiately wins the game. If time runs out the player with the most control points wins. If control points are tied, the player who has the most army points within the zones wins.

Setup

   Birch won the role and decided to go second to go second, probably so he could try and score first. I pre-deployed the the Storm Strider front and centre, and then began setting up. On my left I had the Stormguard and then Rowdy behind the Storm Strider. Rhupert Carvolo went behind them. The Journeyman set up behind the Storm Strider with Haley and the Squire to the right side of it. The Thunderhead was placed to her right with Arlan Strangeways behind it. The Stormblades took the right flanks with the Storm Smith behind them.
   Birch set up the Drakhun and Assault Kommandos on my left opposite the Stormguard. Epic Vlad and Drago held the centre with the Man O' War beside them and the Ternions behind the Man O' War. The Widowmakers advnce deploy on the left opposite the Stormguard, while the two Manhunters, Saxon Orric, and Doom Reavers advance deploy in the woods on the right.

Turn 1

Cygnar

  Haley assigns 1 focus to the Thunderhead. Haley activates first and puts Arcane Shield on the Thunderhead, then advances. The Stromguard, Stormblades, Stormstrider, Stormsmith, Thunderhead and Ol'Rowdy (thanks to Aggressive) all run. Arlan Strangewys moves up behind. Rhupert Carvolo moves up behind the Stormguard and plays Heroic Call, giving them Tough and Fearless. The Journeyman advances and puts Arcane Shield on the Storm Strider.

Khador

   Epic Vlad assigns nothing. The Widowmakers advance into the craters and shoot a Stormguard, who makes his Tough roll and falls down. Vlad casts Hand of Fate, which gives an additional die and then drop the lowest to attack and damage rolls, on the Assault Kommandos. He then casts Transference, a self upkeep that lets warrior models in Vlads control area spend his focus to boost their attack or damage rolls. Vlad then advances. Saxon Orrik advances and uses Reconnaissance on the Doom Reavers. The Assault Kommandos, Man O' War and Doomreavers all run, with the Doom Reavers really spreading out. The Manhunters advance up to the back of the Doom Reaver unit. The Ternions advance and put smoke clouds on the Man O' War while Drago moves up behind them.

Turn 2

Cygnar

   Haley upkeeps the Arcane Shield on the Thunderhead while the Journeyman upkeeps the one on the Storm Strider. Haley draws a focus from the Squire. The Stormblades begin the turn by advancing and shooting a Doom Reaver, but it makes its Tough roll. Haley advances a bit, casts Temporal Barrier which gives -2 DEF to models in her control area and prevents them from running or charging. Then she casts Deadeye on the Storm Strider which adds an additional die to its next ranged attack. The Storm Strider advances and shoots a Man O' War teice, killing it and inflicting 2 points of damage on anothers and 3 on a third. Rhupert edges forward and again uses Heroic Call on the Stormguard. The Stormguard run into the left zone with Ol' Rowdy close behind. I'd forgotten to asign the Thunderhead a focus so Araln Strangeways advances to give it one using Power Booster. The Thunderhead runs around the front fo the Storm Strider towards the left zone. The Storm Smith advances to Single Strike a bolt of lightning at a Manhunter, but I roll too high and it doesn't work.

Khador
   Epic Vlad up keeps both Hand of Fate and Transference. Saxon edges forward and uses Reconaissance on the Doom Reavers again. The Doom Reavers run, staying spread out, and one engages the Stormblades. The Stormblades soil their armour and fail the Abomination check. The Manhunter that was nearly electrocuted then backs up. The Man O' War can't run anyway due to Temporal Barrier, so they advance and Shield Guard, managing to also kill a Stormguard with a Shield Cannon. The Ternions put Smoke on them and Drago. The Widowmakers then swing into action and aim at the Stormguard, killing two, and knocking two down due to Tough. The Assault Kommandos Assault and Battery, and with Hand of Fate manage to kill three Stormguard and knocking down two more with their shooting. The following charges engage the Stormguard and Ol' Rowdy. They kill the two knocked down Stormguard, and in a burst of luck, the two that had charged into Rowdy each rolled triple six on their charge, doing 14 damage, which was unexpected to say the least. The Drakhun and Drago run forward.

Turn 3

Cygnar

   Haley draws a focus from the Squire and upkeeps Arcane Shield on the Thunderhead. The Journeyman does likewise on the Storm Strider. The Storm Smith is the first to activate, using Single Strike to blast the engaging Doom Reaver off the Stormblades.Haley activates next, casting Temporal Barrier, and advancing around the back of the Storm Strider.She then uses her feat Blitz, which lets all friendly faction models that activate in her control area have an additional attack, regardless of ROF.Rhupert advances the opposite way over to the Stormblades. Using Herioc Call on them they rally before activating, meaning they will still be able to act as normal this turn. He is Cygnar's best unit attachment.

   The Thunderhead advances towards the Assualt Kommandos and Man O' War, with the Drakhun sitting there frustrated becuase Temporal Barrier was preventing its counter charge. It Pulses and kills 6 Assault Kommandos, and does 9 damage to the Darkhun with that and the follow up attack. The Storm Strider then activates, killing the Drakhun, with bounces killing another 2 Assault Kommandos and a Widowmaker. Rowdy backs up while Arlan Strangeways runs over to be in position to fix it next turn. The remaining Stormguard advance and manage to kill an Assault Kommando, forcing a morale test which they pass. The Journeyman advances but her two boosted damage Handcannon shots bounce off Man O' War. The Stormblades charge/ run, spreading out and killing a Man O' War.

Khador

Vlad allocates no focus and upkeep both Hand of Fate and Transference. The Assualt Kommandos advance and Shield Wall, with their sprays and shots killing 2 Stormguard and setting another on fire, and doing a point of damage to the Thunderhead and setting that on fire as well. The Widowmakers aim and put 3 points on the Thunderheads 4 coloumn. Saxon gives the Doom Reavers Reconnaissance again. Vlad shifts over a bit and uses his feat Blood Legacy. This gives 3+d3 friendly faction non character warrior models +3 to their SPD, STR, MAT, RAT, DEF, ARM, and CMD for one round. He rolls a 2 for five models, giving it to three Man O' War two Doom Reavers. He then puts Hand of Fate on the Man O' War.

   The Ternions activate next, advacing and each hitting the Thunderhead with an Ice Cage, making it stationary. The Man O' War advance in Shield Wall. Each one auto-hits the Thunderhead, boosting the damage with Transference. Since I'd been playing Legion this year I forgot Rowdy has counter charge and failed to send him in. Between that and Hand of Fate the Thunderhead is reduced to 1 box in movement. With its cortex smashed it won't be able to shake off stationary next turn. In the centre Drago advances while on the other flank the Doom Reavers advance and kill 2 Stormblades, while the Escort advances and kills another with his Frostbite magic spray.

Turn 4

Cygnar

The Thunderhead is stationary and doomed so I don't bother upkeeping Arcane Shield, but Haley does assign two focus to Ol' Rowdy. Haley then drags the last focus from the Squire. Rhupert Carvolo starts the turn by playing Heroic Call once more to make the Stormblades Tough and Fearless again. Haley then activates next, putting Arcane Shield on Ol' Rowdy and casting Temporal Barrier once more, before sliding back towards the right side of the board. The Storm Strider then aims and kills 2 Ternions, who pass their CMD check, and a Doom Reaver. The Storm Smith follow up by killing the Doom Reaver Escort, which also means no more tough rolls for them. The Stormblades then run charge, with one missing a Doom Reaver, while the other puts 8 points on Dragos 5 coloumn. Arlan Strageways advances and tries to fix Rowdy, but fails his Repair roll. Rowdy goes charging in on the Man O' War, but Vlad's feat comes through and it only does 5 points of damage to one Man O' War.

Khador

   Vlad upkeeps Transference and Hand of Fate for the jack beat down MK. 2. The Widowmakers actiate first, missing the Thunderhead since its one box was in movement, and doing 2 points to a Man O' War in the back. They also put 2 points on Arlan Strageways. The remaining Ternion tries to spray the Stormblade off Drago but misses. Saxon Orrik then shoots a Stormblade, while the Doom Reavers advance and kill another one. The Man O' War again Shield Wall and beat on Ol' Rowdy with boosted damage rolls thanks to Transference, but even with Hand of Fate are unable to cripple any systems thanks to Arcane Shield. Vlad then advances and puts Hand of Fate on the Assault Kommandos, who then activate and between their guns and sprays set Rowdy on fire and destroy the Thunderhead while killing Arlan Strangeways. Drago then kills the annoying Stormblade on him. The turn ends with Birch running a Manhunter into the right zone, thereby taking control of it and getting a point.

And at that point time ran out and the game ended. No warcasters were dead, we each had a point, so it came down to models in the zone. I had Ol' Rowdy worth 9 in the left zone, nothing in the right. He had the Man O' War at over 50% worth 9 in the left zone and the 2 point Manhunter in the right, so he won by 2 points.

Afterward

   This was a pretty fun game for both of us. I was able to counter his melee threat ranage advantage with Temporal Barrier, but he in turn was able to counter that with his feat and Transference. Also, with the two spread out zones Haley was only ever able to cover one side or the other, letting him move in on the unprotected side.

   The Storm Strider was very solid this game, holding the centre and blasting away. On reflection I should have put the Journeyman's Arcane Shield on Ol' Rowdy instead of the Storm Strider though. I was concerned that he might come up the centre and use his feat and Transference to beat it to death, but Rowdy was going into action first and had the more immediate need. And if Rowdy or the Thunderhead fell both Haley and the Journeyman were within range to then put it on the Storm Strider as needed.

   I was a little disappointed in the Thunderhead. I'd gotten too used to playing him with Nemo and putting the 5 focus on it, and was expecting it to blow the Drakhun off his saddle. Having to finish it with the Storm Strider was a bit of a shock. And how I wished that last box was the cortex. With Strageways nearby it could have walked over and blown away the rest of the Assualt Kommandos.