Monday, March 23, 2015

Instant promotion, ennoblement and coronation

Last... Thursday, was it? Yes, I think it was Thursday, when I played two 15 point league games of Warmachine/Hordes.

We have a new player here, who has just acquired a small collection of Cryx.

My list was:

Kaya the Wildborne
- Warpwolf Stalker
- Scarsfell Griffon

Swamp Gobbers
Blackclad Wayfarer
Totem Hunter

Opponent had:

Warwitch Deneghra
- Slayer
- Defiler
- Deathripper

Skarlock
Pistol Wraith

We didn't play other scenario than straightforward caster kill.

I'm not sure which one of us started the game, but first picture is from the end of Circle turn X, so it'll be Cryx activating next. Earlier Deneghra had attempted to cast Crippling Grasp on the Warpwolf Stalker, but as it was within a cloud effect and on a hill she'd have needed 11+ to hit. Not impossible with three dice, but it was a miss.

Stalker obviously beat Defiler into scrap metal, but what was a little bit more surprising was that Scarsfell Griffon did the same to Deathripper.

Next turn Deneghra used her feat, and Slayer single-handedly did the same to Stalker what it had just done to Defiler.

Pistol Wraith shot down my league hero model, which was (to my knowledge) first recorded league model kill in history. At least our history.

There was not much to do on my turn, then. I tried to bring all models I could to block a clear charge to Kaya from Slayer helljack, but -2 SPD and no run made for a rather lousy screen. Kaya saved three Fury for damage transfers.

Slayer trampled right next to Kaya, and scored one hit without a damage boost, and still scored nearly ten points of damage. Those were transfered to Scarsfell Griffon, who thankfully didn't break any life branches.

Next there was difficult choices to be made.

I might advance with Kaya first and attempt to score critical knockdown on Deneghra, but that meant a free strike from Slayer. Of course damage would have been transfered to Griffon, but a damage roll of 3d6+3 straight in could very well kill the Griffon.

Having faith in MAT 8 of the Griffon, the bird charged in first. Then Totem Hunter attempted to attack Deneghra, which was done in wrong order now when I think of it. Finally Kaya advanced to attack Deneghra, but all of Kaya's rolls are absolutely atrocitious - she barely hit Deneghra, and when she did, there was next to no damage. I vaguely remember that Kaya had only P+S 9, so perhaps she had Crippling Grasp on herself?

Anyway, Kaya used her feat and spent all Fury on extra attacks, and last possible attack made by her scores critical knockdown effect - and, funnily enough, leaves Deneghra lingering with just one hit box remaining.

That's it, then... oh wait. There is one more model that can make an attack, and now that Deneghra was knocked down, MAT 3 wouldn't be a problem...

Swamp gobber charges one of the most notorious warcasters of Cryx, and needs 10+ to kill. And it rolls exactly 10.

Uh oh.

No matter how well I may perform with my league hero during the remainder of league, I already know who the real hero was... is.


Game 2:

Second game was almost the same list, but Blackclad Wayfarer had rolled -2 arm for injury. I deemed that too bad an injury, and sent Sepoh Thalasland to detoxification treatment. He was replaced by Lanyssa Ryssyll.

Opponent, however, played a very different list:

Warwitch Deneghra
- Defiler

Maximum unit of Mechanithralls
Necrosurgeon & Stitch Thralls
2x Pistol Wraith
Skarlock

First picture from this game is from the end of Cryx turn X.

Totem Hunter had chosen Defiler as his prey, so he charged his prey. He didn't kill, but I think both Cortex and spray gun were destroyed. Warpwolf Stalker also attempted to charge the Defiler, as I saw little to gain from attacking Mechanithralls. Charge failed miserably - 11" carries far, but not that far.

Kaya repositioned Stalker to slightly better position, and that was it.

Cryx just rushes forward, and Deneghra is camping all of her Focus. Pistol Wraith on right scores a lucky hit against Def 17 Lanyssa and kills her.

I want to get rid of the Pistol Wraiths, and Warpwolf Stalker does exactly that to the corporeal wraith. Next one is a bit more challenging, since it is still incorporeal, and only Kaya has magic attacks. She charges Wraith and kills it, and teleports Stalker to screen her from charging Mechanithralls.

Totem Hunter survives a free strike from Defiler, and slams Necrosurgeon dead with his shield. Polearm weapon wrecks Defiler, so all in all it was a pretty good turn.

But then Deneghra uses feat, casts Crippling Grasp and Scourge on Warpwolf Stalker, and Mechanithralls charge Stalker dead. Totem Hunter isn't being charged because none of the thralls had Line of Sight, but when one dies to a free strike, two others turn to engage him.

Next turn Totem Hunter kills the two Mechanithralls and sprints 5" to engage Skarlock.

Kaya stands up and kill three Mechanithralls, and teleports to the relative safety of Scarsfell Griffon. And, well, that's it. Though I think I may have had to use Kaya's feat here, because Griffon has none.

Deneghra then personally kills the Griffon, and Mechanithralls charge to Deneghra. Six attacks later Kaya is still standing, but one thrall scored a hit and made Kaya to fall down to five boxes remaining.

Kaya cuts herself down to one hit box remaining, and even if Mechanithralls have only MAT 5, I didn't dare to risk a free strike with Kaya and go repeat the scene from last game. Instead she kills a Mechanithrall in front of her and attacks Deneghra with Spirit Fang. She scored 10+ for a hit, and some damage, too.

Deneghra was Totem Hunter's prey by now, and he was my only chance now. Though Deneghra suffered -2 DEF from Spirit Fang, I couldn't expect gobbers to have a double kill.

So, Totem Hunter charges and survives a free strike made by Skarlock.

I was rather disappointed when attack roll was 1 and 2. But after counting it about five times or so, it looked like attack was a hit anyway, thanks to prey bonus, back strike bonus and penalty from Spirit Fang. Damage roll was 5, 5, 5, which was more than enough to kill Deneghra.

Well.

The games were both quite close calls. Especially in the last game Deneghra's facing was the determining factor between victory and defeat... or, well, of course I would have had two MAT 3, P+S 5 attacks more it Totem Hunter had missed, if Swamp Gobbers were in range...

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