Thursday 30 July 2015

Games 42, 43 and 44

 First of all remember WTC Attendees that you can get your BATTLESHORTS!!!

I got a few more games in recently, two against the mighty Pat Dunford, scourge of tournaments everywhere and 1 much need Cryx practise game.

Game 42/100
Caine2 Vs Stryker1
Opponent: Pat Dunford
Scenario: Two Fronts
Pat's List:
Commander Coleman Stryker
* Sylys Wyshnalyrr, the Seeker
* Stormwall & Lightning Pod
Storm Lances
Stormblade Infantry
* Stormblade Infantry Officer & Standard
* 2 Stormblade Infantry Storm Gunner
Journeyman Warcaster
Stormblade Captain
Black 13th Gun Mage Strike Team
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord
Eiryss, Angel of Retribution

I think Pat had 1 more Storm Gunner on the table or I've messed up the points costs.



The game was a long grind and I lost on clock but then we played it out and I managed to win on Scenario after Rhupert made 3 tough rolls so I'm counting it as a win!

SCENARIO WIN!

Game 43/100
Caine2 Vs Denhegra1
Opponent: Merlin Goss
Scenario: Close Quarters
Merlin's List:
Warwitch Deneghra
* Skarlock Thrall
* Defiler
* Nightwretch
Warwitch Siren
Satyxis Raiders
* Satyxis Raider Sea Witch
Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters
Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist
Master Gunner Dougal MacNaile
Aiakos, Scourge of meredius
* Leviathan
Pistol Wraith
Pistol Wraith

This game was a very long grind and it came down to just Denny chasing Caine around whilst I scored points and eventually won on scenario.

SCENARIO WIN!

Game 44/100
Caine2 Vs Haley3
Opponent: Pat Dunford
Scenario: Destruction
Pat's List:
Major Prime Victoria Haley
* Squire
* Charger
Storm Lances
Tempest Blazers
Trencher Infantry
Black 13th Gun Mage Strike Team
Alexia Ciannor & the Risen & Thrall Warrior
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord
Stormblade Captain
Journeyman Warcaster

Haley3 proved dominant once again and the cloud wall stopped any real early damage or assination potential onto Haley.


I managed to clear the Blazers completely but revived Stormlances started to grind me down and his Alexia is better for being hidden behind clouds.
I went for a last ditch kill things with Caine but I was very far down and he was finished by yet more revived Stormlances.

ASSASSINATION LOSS!

Haley3 is awesome, she came out last week but our local shop somehow failed to get her in (or order her it seems), it was my birthday on Friday and I didn't get her, I'm still waiting and I'm not at all bitter about the fact that she isn't in my possession.

Also Frozen Forge have just released the lovely expansion sets of tokens for Reckoning so I'll be picking mine up at the WTC or beforehand, I can't recommend them enough.


Also 50 days left and 56 games to go, at least I have 1 scheduled for tonight but I think the 100 is out of reach now, real life always gets in the way!

Friday 17 July 2015

Games 40 and 41 also BATTLESHORTS!

Played a couple more games last weekend.

The first was against the same Circle list as last week, this time with my Caine2 list.

Game 40/100
Caine2 Vs Morvahna2
Opponent: Phil Doogan
Scenario: Close Quarters
Phil's List:
Seasons of Fate - Tier 4
Morvahna the Dawnshadow
* Warpwolf Stalker
* Warpwolf Stalker
* Gorax
* Druid Wilder
Tharn Bloodtrackers
* Nuala the Huntress
Tharn Wolf Riders
Tharn Ravagers - Min
* Tharn Ravager Chieftain
* 1 Tharn Ravager Shaman
Gallows Grove
Gallows Grove


I was going second so I chose the side with a wall. 


Turn 1 Phil ran everything forward and jammed into me. I was able to move up and remove a number of models with shooting but not able to make much of a dent.


The Boomhowlers soaked some charges and toughed a fair bit. I was then able to reduce all of Phils units down but only able to finish off the Wolf Riders, not having enough attacks to get rid of everying, due to positioning I had caught Caine.
Phil then feated back a lot of models leaving Morv on 1 health but I was unable to get to her although I was up on Attrition, unfortunately making so many attacks meant I clocked out.

CLOCK LOSS!

Looking at the game in the last couple of turns we realised a Magic Bullet on the Hunter would have been able to get Morv dead easily, unfortunately I forgot about parry and didn't go for it.

Game 41/100
Siege Vs pVayl
Opponent: Mike Porter
Scenario: Recon
Mike's List:
Vayl, Disciple of Everblight
* Scythean
* Seraph
* Typhon
* Raek
* Raek
* Shredder
Blighted Nyss Hex Hunters
* Bayal, Hound of Everblight
Spawning Vessel
The Forsaken
The Forsaken
Fuel Cache

My List:
Major Markus 'Siege' Brisbane
* Squire
* Stormwall & Lightning Pod
Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator
Journeyman Warcaster
Black 13th Gun Mage Strike Team
Tempest Blazers
Rangers
Gastone Crosse
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord
Viktor Pendrake
Arcane Wonder

The next game was against Mike and his Vayl list, I went first.
I messed up turn one and Gastonne was caught outside of the foxhole due to my sloppy planning.

Look at Gastonne standing out of the AoE!

Mike was able to capitalise and Hoarfrost him down also getting Reinholdt and a Ranger, a pretty big start, although he did feat to keep Vayl safe and when moving the first Hex Hunter into the dirged Blazers they broke.
I was able to start to remove models and got all but 2 of the Hex Hunters and also put a couple of Big Gun shots into the Scythean.
Mike was then able to use a Raek to get Aiyana and Holt and kill off a couple of Blazers and some rangers.
I managed to remove the Scythean and take out one of the Raeks but it took a lot more attacks than I wanted.
Mike Killed the Objective and cleared my zone, scoring 2 points.
I committed the Stormwall to the zone and finished off the second Raek and feated and removed Typhon from the board leaving the Seraph, Pot, Vayl and 2 Forsaken left.
Mike runs to the left flag to dominate and goes up to 3 points, he jams in two forsaken.
I try and trample the Stormwall to contest but don't get close enough so the pod has to do it, I run to the other flag and try and kill the objective but fail.
Mike kills the pod and scores again.
I move the Stormwall up to contest and send the squire in as well, I forget to pod.
He kills the squire and with Insight and damage previously done to the Stormwall is able to remove it with the Seraph, we both have less than a minute left on our clocks at this point.

SCENARIO LOSS!

In hindsight I should have kept Arcane Shield on the Stormwall, I also should have put it into the zone on turn 2 and made sure to not give away those 2 points for nothing.
I also played foxhole badly and that cost me Gastonne and Reinholdt which is huge in this list.


In other news you can now get hold of some exclusive WTC BATTLESHORTS this year if you or someone you know is attending the WTC in Killarney, details below.


Thursday 9 July 2015

Games 38 and 39, almost half way there.

Got a couple more games in last weekend using my 2 list WTC pair, Haley2 and Caine2.

These lists are:
Captain Allister Caine
* Squire
* Hunter
Journeyman Warcaster
Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord
Rangers
Arcane Tempest Gun Mage Pistoleers 
* Arcane Tempest Gun Mage Officer
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt
Greygore Boomhowler & Co.
Horgenhold Forge Guard
Viktor Pendrake
Alexia Ciannor & the Risen & Thrall Warrior
Effigy of Valor

Major Victoria Haley
* Squire
* Stormclad
Journeyman Warcaster
Stormblade Captain
Storm Lances
Stormblade Infantry
* Stormblade Infantry Officer & Standard
Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters
Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist
Eiryss, Angel of Retribution
Anastasia di Bray
Harlan Versh, Illuminated One
Effigy of Valor


First game is against Circle and Morv2, I drop Haley2 but Caine may have been a better choice.

Game 38/100
Haley2 Vs Morvahna2
Opponent: Phil Doogan
Scenario: Incursion
Phil's List:
Seasons of Fate - Tier 4
Morvahna the Dawnshadow
* Warpwolf Stalker
* Warpwolf Stalker
* Gorax
* Druid Wilder
Tharn Bloodtrackers
* Nuala the Huntress
Tharn Wolf Riders
Tharn Ravagers - Min
* Tharn Ravager Chieftain
* 1 Tharn Ravager Shaman
Gallows Grove
Gallows Grove

Phil wins first turn and runs up, forcing me to feat on turn 1 with a charge.
Even under feat with fast Wolf Riders and Bloodtrackers he's able to get up and jam my models.


I spend the next turn trying to get unjammed but it proves difficult.
Phil is able to feat back a bunch of stuff and score a couple of CPs as I wasn't really contesting.
I come back and try and grind him down whilst getting unajmmed and I am bale to do so successfully but then I have to suffer a charge from his second wave and he is able to clear me off the flags and score to 5 and win.

SCENARIO LOSS!

The next game is against Dave and Skorne.
I drop Haley2 again.

Game 39/100
Haley2 Vs Zaal
Opponent: Dave Burlison
Scenario: Close Quarters
Dave's List:
Supreme Aptimus Zaal & Kovaas
* Cyclops Brute
* Basilisk Krea
Nihilators
Nihilators
Tyrant Zaadesh
* Scarab Pack
Ancestral Guardian
Ancestral Guardian
Ancestral Guardian
Hakaar the Destroyer
Paingiver Task Master
Gatorman Bokor and Bog Trog Swamp Shamblers
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew

I go first and run up, Dave does the same.


I am able to feat and trigger Anastasia and clear lots of models off the board.
Dave isn't able to do much and I am able to take another turn, I get super up on attrition and kill most of his models.
He has a pretty good feat turn and whittles me down but I am able to start scoring and hide Haley up the back.
The pressure means he has to go for an assassination that fails and I am able to kill Zaal.

ASSASSINATION WIN!

39 games down, 20 Wins and 19 Losses, pretty shocking but at least it's positive. At least I have my team to carry me!

Friday 3 July 2015

35, 36, 37 Pairing test.

I played Three games last weekend and I've  managed to get some write up done now.

The first game was against the person I think I've played the most games with, my brother Mike.

We decided to play Haley2 into Vayl2

I was trying out a list that leaves my other pair to deal with Cryx and this works on being a Bradigus and general all things drop.
My List:
Major Victoria Haley
* Squire
* Stormclad
Journeyman Warcaster
Stormblade Captain
Storm Lances
Black 13th Gun Mage Strike Team
Stormblade Infantry
* Stormblade Infantry Officer & Standard
* 1 Stormblade Infantry Storm Gunner
Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters
Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist
Anastasia di Bray
Effigy of Valor

Game 35/100
Haley2 Vs Vayl2
Opponent: Mike Porter
Scenario: Two Fronts
Mike's List:
T4 Machinations of Shadow
Vayl, Consul of Everblight
* Angelius
* Angelius
* Harrier
* Ravagore
* Ravagore
* Scythean
* Shredder 
Spawning Vessel - Max
Blighted Nyss Shepherd
Blighted Nyss Shepherd
Blighted Nyss Legionnaires - Min
Spell Martyr

Mike won the roll to go first and opted to do so.
I picked the side that blocked me the least.

Mike deployed his Flying beasts, Vayl and the Scythean centrally with the Ravagores and Shepherds on the flanks and the legionnaires fairly centrally.
I positioned the Lances on the left, threatening his zone, the Blades centrally with Haley, Stormclad and Gorman slightly to the right followed by the B13th and Nyss, Anastasia opted to ambush.


Turn 1 Mike ran everything far forward and hid behind the central forest. I responded by running up aggressively and charging with Haley to feat on all but the rightmost Ravagore.
Under feat Mike was able to use the Oraculus to get an Obliteration onto Gorman and kill him, he then consolidated his position whilst leaving an Admonition'd Angel up front.
The next turn for me was a bit poor as I committed the Lances to kill pretty much nothing although I was able to clear his zone and score a point, in hindsight I really should have pulled the Lances back and forced the line of engagement on my terms.


The game continued with lots of my stuff dying but not a huge amount of his, Anastasia was able to ambush and charge and engage a Ravagore which meant it wasn't getting the aiming bonus, she managed about 3 points of damage to it per turn.
I was quite low on clock but up 2 points on Scenario and still had the Stormclad fully functional in my zone, so Mike went for an assassination on Haley and didn't manage to kill her, a full loaded Stormclad was able to charge her and seal the deal.

I should have lost if Mike had played for time and I had basically run out but I'm still counting it as a win!

ASSASSINATION WIN!


The next game was my 3rd against EE, I still think 11 free points is crazy good, especially when it has AD and loads of boxes, grumble grumble.

This was the list I played, it's intended to pair with the Haley2 list and be a drop for Cryx, especially B&S hence Eyriss.
My List:
Captain Allister Caine
* Squire
* Hunter
Journeyman Warcaster
Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator
Eiryss, Angel of Retribution
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord
Rangers
Arcane Tempest Gun Mage Pistoleers
* Arcane Tempest Gun Mage Officer
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt
Greygore Boomhowler & Co.
Horgenhold Forge Guard
Harlan Versh, Illuminated One
Viktor Pendrake
Effigy of Valor

Game 36/100
Caine2 Vs Calandra
Opponent: Pat Long
Scenario: Outflank
Pat's List:
Evolutionary Elementalism - T4
Calandra Truthsayer, Oracle of the Glimmerwood
   - Trollkin Runebearer
* Pyre Troll
* Pyre Troll
* Pyre Troll
* Slag Troll
* Slag Troll
* Slag Troll
* Slag Troll
* Winter Troll
* Storm Troll
* Storm Troll
* Storm Troll
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 5 Grunts
   - Stone Scribe Elder

I won the roll to go first and opted to do so.
I deployed Caine centrally with the Boomhowlers and Forge Guard interspersed. Rangers, Gun Mages, Eyriss and support were left of centre.
Pat put his trolls across the board and looked scary.


Turn 1 I ran everything forward, being sure to stay out of advance and shoot range of the trolls, Blur went onto the Rangers and Heightened Reflexes on the Boomhowlers. Arcane Shield and Tough went on the dwarves.   
Pat advanced and took a couple of pot shots with his Pyre trolls but the scatters went away from me, the rest of the stuff ran up.

I was able to run up the Boomhowlers and engage his front line after taking a few shots with Caine at some trolls and Kissing one with Ayaina and doing some damage to it.   
Pat then feated and removed most of the Boomhowlers and a couple of dwarves, he was aslo able to get an e-leap onto Holt, Ayaina and Eyriss (Holt managed to snake eyes his quick draw) killing them.

I retaliated with Forge Guard and Caines feat to clear the right hand zone and jam up his models, I scored a point.
The grind continued but the Forge Guard and Rangers were able to hold up the centre of his line whilst Caine moved into the far side of the right hand zone and cleared it again.
Pat was unable to get anything across to contest and I was able to win on Scenario

SCENARIO WIN!

Game three is against Pete and I decide to throw down the same Caine2 list as before.
   
Game 37/100
Caine2 Vs pVayl
Opponent: Pete Croft
Scenario: Destruction
Pete's List:
Vayl, Disciple of Everblight
* Typhon
* Scythean
* Ravagore
* Seraph
* Shredder
Blighted Nyss Shepherd
The Forsaken
Spell Martyr
Blighted Nyss Hex Hunters
Spawning Vessel


I lose the starting roll and end up going second, choosing a nice safe wall to cower behind.
Turn 1 and Pete runs forward, using Leash and Slipstream to pull his Ravagore forward that takes a shot that misses.
I run forward as well and get Heightened Reflexes on the Boomhowlers.
Pete charges in with the Hex Hunters and Harlan gets to Witch Hound a couple of Battle Wizard shots, they have chiller on them so he gets Purgation.
He is able to strike hard and then feat to retreat, I'm not really capable of coming back once a lot of my models are dead and can't chew through all his beasts even with Caine and Aiyana.
Eventually he grinds me down and I try and kill a couple of beasts with Caines feat and the Forge Guard but can't clear enough. A Seraph charges in and bops Caine on the head.

ASSASINATION LOSS!

After these few games I came to realise that Haley2 really misses Eyriss, also Caine has such a tough time into Legion.
I think that I'll put Eyriss back into Haley as well as Harlan, cutting out the B13th and a Gunner. 
I'll probably put Alexia1 into Caine instead of those two and perhaps swap Vicky P for another solo which could be Taryn, Lanyssa, Rockbottom or Madelyn.