Sunday, March 17, 2024

A Spoiled Gaki in Every Adult

A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Wedge Cloak and Dagger

Schemes: Death Beds, Sweating Bullets, Espionage,  Power Ritual, Hold Up Their Forces

My list:

Kirai, Envoy of the Court & Ikiryo
Datsue Ba
Lost Love
Goryo with Grave Spirit Touch
Goryo
Gwisin with Grave Spirit Touch
Gwisin
Seishin

Pool: 2
Schemes: Power Ritual, Espionage

Opponent had:

Nekima, Broodmother & Blood Hunter
Hayreddin
Mature Nephilim
2x Young Nephilim
Lilitu
Black Blood Shaman

Pool: 4
Schemes: Espionage, Death Beds (corpse)

Turn 1:

A scary bunch of Nephilim discouraged Urami to fly across the board. Fortunately there were corners to secure for both Espionage and Power Ritual. Ikiryo placed one scheme marker in the bottom-right corner and Lost Love in another. Seishin walked Ikiryo a bit forward, within interact distance to rightmost strategy marker. Goryo with Grave Spirit Touch received the same treatment towards center-right marker.

Goryo went and picked up intel. By now Nephilim had summoned a Terror Tot a bit past the centerline, spammed some Focused with Black Blood Shaman, shot off a part off Mature Nephilim with Hayreddin, and eventually grew a Lilitu into another Mature. Former Lilitu proceeded to charge my intel claiming Goryo.

There were still fast Nephilim models left to activate, so Kirai activated and walked into front of wedge, and started swirling some spirits, a non-touched Gwisin closer to Terror Tot and Goryo away from melee. Gwisin charged past Terror Tot and managed to pop Enslaved Spirit out of it and Mature Nephilim. In the picture, tough, the spirits are the scheme markers. Kirai2's summons are not ideal when dealing with Black Blood models for sure.

Hired Mature went to pick up intel and screen Nekima, and my other Goryo went to pick up intel from the same marker. Datsue Ba startled the Mature by shouting things only grandmother knows.

A Young Nephilim went to stalk the same strategy marker Ikiryo was going for, and another Young took center.


Turn 2:

Oh my, looks like I forgot to take picture from the most important and eventful turn of all. Last turn picture everyone is still on board, next turn picture everyone's gone. Ah well.

What I do remember is that Seishin gave a walk for Ikiryo, who went to stand on strategy marker. 

Hired Mature Nephilim charged towards Datsue Ba and Goryo, pushing ghosts here and there with Shove Aside. Gwisin and Kirai were able to kill former Lilitu with great trouble. After that, killing a baby was too much of a task and Terror Tot was able to grow into a fully fledged Lilitu that kept trying to lure grave spirit touched Gwisin. In the end Gwisin was forced into melee with Mature Nephilim that later charged the granny. Gwisin's activation was wasted with missing a Threaten and disengaging to guard Kirai. 

Before Mature Lilitu had died, Nekima had darkly bargained it to place a scheme marker on the centerline. Gwisin engaged by the Mature Lilitu scraped off the scheme marker, feeling proud of himself thus ruining Espionage for Neverborn. With the free walk went to engage the new and improved Lilitu. 

Well, he was just about to die, though. Young Nephilim in the middle was able to just slap a scheme marker next to Gwisin, and models around the Urami bodygoard failed so hard that Gwisin died and scored Death Beds for the opponent.

Goryo with Grave Spirit Touch went to place a scheme marker on centerline, and as last activation for the round Young Nephilim charged it and nearly killed the ghost, bringing it down to one health remaining.

Ikiryo had ran to top-right corner to bring Lost Love there to drop scheme markers for both of my schemes.

Datsue Ba started tickling hired Mature with skinning knife, steadily making weak progress that in total damaged my models equally much. 

Both players scored strategy, Neverborn got Death Beds and Resurrectionists took Espionage for a 2-2 tie.


Turn 3:

Nephilim got the initiative, and Mature Nephilim banished Goryo that still had an intel on it, invoking a blast of Adversary condition. This at least gave an activation for the touched Goryo, regenerating back to three health. It brought itself back down to one. It was likely Young Nephilim that killed my fragile ten point investment.

Someone managed to summon an Enslaved Spirit out of Lilitu, who was then able to chain gang Datsue Ba out of melee. The grandmother charged through Mature Nephilim, managing to get two summons out of the beast first by getting a Gaki from moving through, and then Onryo from  scoring a kill with Weigh Sins. 

Hayreddin had used Life From Blood, and Blood Hunter charged Gaki. Gaki would have proven to actually be a Terror Tot if it wasn't for moderates on damage with negative modifiers.

Onryo and Seishin tried to deal with Blood Hunter, but weren't up to the job. Seishin even managed to die somehow, although I forget how. 

Ikiryo and Lost Love played their own game next to Neverborn board edge.

Black Blood Shaman had been sneakily collecting intel last round and this, thus giving a point for Neverborn. They also got their own Espionage, while Resurrectionists revealed Power Ritual for a 4-3 lead for Neverborn.


Turn 4:

Both players started to run low on significant, non-summoned models. I was thinking of trying to go for a strategy point until Young Nephilim managed to kill remaining Gwisin. That was a marking point where granny chose violence, again. Unfortunately Young Nephilim endured grandmother's wrath. 

Kirai was able to pull off another Gaki from Blood Hunter with Onryo, and Gaki even killed the puppy. Onryo was free to go and place a scheme on centerline so that there was no realistic way to deny me at least that line of Espionage. 

Ikiryo went to pick up Neverborn scheme marker from their deployment zone. Young Nephilim went to place one on mine, though.

No additional points were scored this turn.


Turn 5:

ome excitement left for the last turn. Onryo was able to engage Black Blood Shaman, but the bugger was able to disengage and place a scheme with Nekima's Dark Bargain. 

Ikiryo placed a scheme to enemy deployment and went to act as a Lost Love homing beacon for last corner of Power Ritual. 

Datsue Ba and Kirai were swirled by the spirits on top of two strategy markers, and both were able to pick intel. Nekima, however, ruined that plan by stealing Kirai's intel. 

So, it looked like both players were going to get both scheme ends and nothing else. But Resurrectionists still had a chance for a draw - Gaki would have to disengage and get at least 3" of movement to gobble up one corpse from Death Beds end condition, and come back to engage Young Nephilim so that it would not be able to go and scheme with the respectable numbers of corpses around, considering that one of the teams weren't dropping any markers on death...

So, a 6-5 victory for Neverborn.

Friday, March 8, 2024

Destinies Galore

 Since the longest of time, I played a three player game of Talisman. 

My character was the Scavenger, and the other players were the Alchemist and Totem Warrior. 

Early on in the game Totem Warrior found the Cataclysm Blade and went to wreck face in the Highlands. The Alchemist "found" a Flail in the city and went to wreck face, well, kind of nowhere. All manners of enemies seemed determined not to encounter him, or if they did they were of such high level that the battle turned into a stand-off. 

Scavenger was just fooling around without accomplishing much by herself, but Auctioneer encountered by other characters gave her a Greatsword and a Spiked Shield. A notable find for her was the Magic Wand.

As Scavenger's game didn't seem to be going anywhere, she made the drasic desicion to go to Woodlands and chose the Path of Fortune. And what a fortune it was to get the Alchemy spell from magic wand! However, Scavenger did n't rush to cast the spell and waited intead until she was closer to meet with her destiny. 

However... in the particular corner space where you draw cards equal to the difference between two die rolls, she managed to land on the maximum of five cards. And what an excitement it was. First Oberon robbed Scavenger of her fate and lives, and Urdr filled the lives back. Then it was time for Baba Yaga to torment her, but fortunately she did not turn into a toad. And then Leprechaun - again one opportunity to turn into a toad! Fortunately no, this Leprechauns was rather nice and gifted Scavenger with six gold. 

Scavenger had twice lost all of her fate during her time in the woodlands, thus being Fateless a tad too often. Nonetheless, I pushed my luck and was finally gifted with the destiny of The Champion.

Around that time Totem Warrior had come back from the Highlands, and entered Woodlands, too. His journey there was miserable, as right near the end of it with Path of the Wyrd he got turned into a toad. Heroically the little ribbit survived whatever the trees threw at it, and even landed on his stuff right after turning back into Totem Warrior. And his luck did not end there - he had a successful encounter with Queen Mab, gettinga free destiny before managing to score another destiny from Path of the Wyrd. One of them was the Wealthy, and the other one was one to replenish a fate whenever another player replenished fate, I think?

Throughout the fateful ordeals of Totem Warrior and Scavenger, Alchemist had played a weird game. He had not exactly had bad luck, no, not like that... at least in the way it is usually meant. He had nice items and a few followers, spells and stuff, but actual stat ups had evaded him all through the game. 

Totem Warrior had scary enough base strength via stats and items, so my Scavenger was in a hurry to go to Crown of Command before he'd come out of the woods. With ease she beat the Eagle King, managed to find the Arnkell, forced the lock of Portal of Power, ditched Arnkell after finding the Ageless Talisman from Plain of Peril, and teleported to the space before Crown of Command. Then, she won the game. Right? Nope. 

She only managed to cast the Command Spell two or three times, failing every time, before Alchemist attempted to play the kingmaker and summoned Scavenger away from Crown of Command with the Gongs of War. 

It was time for Totem Warrior's gambit of power. 

He shuffled about in the outer region until he managed to land on Woods space for a raft. With ease he passed the Portal of Power, and didn't have much of a problem in the inner region, having more than enough followers to feed to the Lich. Scavenger was following him just behind his steps, but got an unlucky roll in mines or wherever and got teleported to Crags.

So, Totem Warrior was able to reach Crown of Command without anyone opposing. However, once there, Scavenger opposed him indeed, as now her stats went through the roof due to Ageless Talisman.

Easily enough Scavenger passed the first two spaces of the Inner Region. However, even all the Totem Warrior's followers had not fed the appetite of Lich. Scavenger was to lose six lives even after trying to haggle to price with fate.

And, as a cruel twist of fate, that was Scavenger's last Bright Fate. I didn't take into account that Scavenger had Death Pact spell - by using that fate to redirect the loss of lives to Totem Warrior would have almost certainly won me the game.

Oh well. Scavenger died there, and Alchemist defied Totem Warrior by dying to a random enemy rather than the Command Spell.


Sunday, February 25, 2024

Some soaked fabric

 A 50 point game of Warmachine Mk4 over War Table.

My list:


Horruskh, The Thousand Wraths
-Inviolable Resolve, Hex Blast

Jackal 1
-Arc Node, Hunter Rifle, Clawed Fist

Jackal 2
-Bloodthirst, Flamethrower, Pneumatic Spike

Tyrant
- Relentless Charge, Shredder, Claw

Assault Reavers + Standard
Strike Reavers + Standard
Warwitch Coven

Command Cards: Infiltration, Old Faithful, Power Swell, Sentry Duty, True Inspiration


Opponent had:

Kapitan Ilari Borisyuk
-Avenging Force, Superiority

Dire Wolf
- Evasive, Long Axe, Plow-Shield

Great Bear
-Slammer, Battle Mace, Blasting Fist

2x Battle Mechanik 
Arkanists
Shock Trooper Gunners
Winter Korps Infantry  + 2x Rocketeer & Standard
Winter Korps Infantry + 2x Auto Cannon

Command cards: Break Through, Careful Reconnaissance, Infiltration, Old Faithful, Power Swell

Steamroller 2024 scenario. Khador started and advanced with Auto Cannon group from the left, and Shock Trooopers plus Rocketeers from the right. Everything else spearheaded from the middle, with Superiority cast on Dire Wolf.

Assault Reavers went to greet Auto Cannon Korps, holding position behind scenario house. Strike Reavers were holding line in the middle, with arc node Jackal and Tyrant with Inviolable Resolve a little behind. Forest on the right masked Warwitch Coven. Flamethrower Jackal ran deep to the forest, ready to fry some Shock Troopers and Rocketeers. 

Second turn Great Bear relocated to contest scenario terrain in case Auto Cannon Korps wouldn't be enough. 

Dire Wolf, Shock Troopers and Rocketeers and Arcanists all stormed right, managing to shoot all but one Strike Reaver and the flag down. Pity, since Horruskh's feat was coming next. 

Despite Auto Cannon Korps being Assault Reaver's prey target, Reavers were able to remove only three of them. Scenario terrain was left unsecured. 

War Witches had loaded up Orgoth warjacks. Hunter Rifle Jackal shot one Mechanik off the board. Flamethrower Jackal walked out of the woods, shocking one Shock Trooper by setting him on fire, and killing the second Mechanik behind Dire Wolf.

Tyrant made a slight overkill with pow 16 shredder cannon by shooting a single Arcanist. That one was contesting center-left objective, though, and I wanted to score control points. 

Turn three Great Bear charged Horruskh anyway while Ilari kept sniping Orgoth warcaster. Attack rolls weren't that impressive, so game did not end. 

Dire Wolf mauled Jackal and Rocketeers shot at the thing, but failed to destroy the light warjack thanks to +3 armor from Horruskh.

Remaining two Shock Troopers, however, removed what was left of Strike Reavers with ease. 

Orgoth turn started, and there was Great Bear that required attention.

Assault Reavers killed remaining Auto Cannon Korps and tossed their flag into acid bath for that -1 Arm aura. War Witches came to help with Dark Shroud. Horruskh managed to wreck the Great Bear, and even have focus left for damage mitigation. He used Vanish to get to safer position.

Tyrant didn't do much to superior Dire Wolf, but at least one Shock Trooper died to gore attack.

I took a two point lead. 

Fourth turn I decided to try to go for scenario victory. Remaining Assault Reavers went to take center-left objective, while arc node Jackal and Horruskh went to take scenario terrain to the left. Tyrant kept flailing Dire Wolf fruitlessly, but by now it just needed to buy time.

And surely enough, Khador Winter Korps were not able to contest all my point scoring areas and get two points themselves in the process. Was it first victory for Horruskh? Not sure. 

Sunday, February 18, 2024

Different Perspective

 A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Wedge Raid the Vaults

Schemes: Let Them Bleed, Information Overload, Outflank, Espionage, Ensnare

My list:

Hamelin & 3x Stolen
Nix
Catalan Brawler
Disease Containment Unit
Obedient Wretch
Prospector
Rat Catcher
Catalan Rifleman
Winged Plague

Pool: 1

Schemes: Ensnare, Espionage

Opponent had:

Kaeris & Eternal Flame
Elijah Borgmann
Firestarter
Carlos Vasquez
Fire Golem
2x Firebranded
Fire Gamin

Pool: 0

Schemes: Espionage, Ensnare

Turn 1:

So, this time to shake things up, I decided to take pictures from across the table.

Nah, I'm kidding. I didn't have my camera with me, so I had to rely on my opponent for pictures. And the quality of pictures is certainly a compelling argument for me to finally get  smartphone. 

So plague bid their time, making low-impact activations such as Stolen, Obedient Wretch and Prospector. This might have been a mistake, as Wildifre had all the time in the world to lay down an oppressive carpet of fire to difficult bottlenecks near the center strategy markers. Uh oh. 

Firestarter, Kaeris, Eternal Flame and a Firebranded were nearing one of the center strategy markers, while Elijah, Fire Gamin, Fire Golem and Carlos were going to the another. 

To open my game, Hamelin lured Firebranded to him. I  hoped to kill him with an attack from Catalan Rifleman, two bite attacks from Nix, two axe attacks from D.C.U, and even a few spittles of vomit from a Stolen kid. Alas, Firebranded survived with one health remaining. 

Catalan Rifleman set up a Condor Security area for Nix and D.C.U.

Winged Plague is attempting to flank behind the tree near river, and another Firebranded is doing kind of the same top-left in the picture. 


Turn 2:

Besieged Firebranded opened turn by trying to cause as much havoc as possible. Which wasn't much. 

Winged Plague ran to one of the Arcanist side strategy markers. Kaeris managed to scorch the vermin down and make two additional pyre markers. 

Disease Containment Unit was able to contain Firebranded in the middle, which enabled Hamelin to make a headlong charge to Firestarter. Results were not that impressive, but at least a point of injured was delivered. Firestarter replied, pretty much wasting his action if it wasn't for the last action... He set light under Hamelin's feet, and the piper was being played away from the vicinity of walking life insurances that are Stolen.

I couldn't figure a reliable way to deliver a kid to Hamelin, but to help Hamelin survive a turn, Nix went to bite Firestarter for a bit, getting Hamelin within Cruel Disappointment range. 

Fire Golem came to beat the heck out of Hamelin, but Hamelin clang to his heck rather effectively. He was still one point above half health even after resolving Burning at the end phase. 

Elijah charged Disease Containment Unit, who survived the greatsword. She defied Catalan Brawler's Toss in the Mud just as heroically, wearing her Burning +6 with pride instead.

Firebranded ran past the river, and was greeted by flying rats and sharp pickaxes from Obedient Wretch and Prospector.

Carlos put a sixth pyre marker on board and controlled one center marker with Fire Gamin. Nix, Rat Catcher and Disease Containment Unit were doing the same at the other marker.

Scores went 1-1.


Turn 3:

Kaeris placed a scheme marker and charged Nix, eventually even taking flight with the dog, throwing it away. What a cruel disappointment it was, when Nix charged right back in and chewed Firestarter dead. 

Hamelin was able to weather Fire Golem, which then teleported to Nix. However, fancy tricks by Carlos just were too much for Hamelin to bear. 

Because of... reasons... Catalan Brawler charged Elijah Borgmann and missed. He tried to toss D.C.U. to mud again, failing at that. Such a disgrace for Condor Security! Well, his sacrifice at least was... just that. A sacrifice. Instead of Disease Containment Unit, I lost self-healing Catalan Brawler.

Firebranded disengaged from Prospector and placed an illegal scheme marker to centerline, touching board edge. This left Prospector free to run to Arcanist side strategy marker, but he failed to drop a scheme marker to Arcanist deployment with bonus action. To make matters worse, Fire Gamin came to contest the strategy marker, too. 

Obedient Wretch managed to kill Firebranded with a tossed rat. Disease Containment Unit, a couple of Stolen and Catalan Rifleman were quite not so successful with Elijah. He was brought down to two health, though.

Rat Catcher, engaged by Kaeris, placed a scheme marker near her and took a walk as far as possible from Kaeris in preparation of some ensnaring.

However... no player revealed schemes. No player scored strategy. Scores remained 1-1.


Turn 4:

So turn four started still at 1-1. 

Fire Golem nearly killed Nix, and I figured the dog would die to Kaeris unless I activated and healed him. But, if Nix healed and Kaeris activated, I would not get Ensnare. So I decided to sacrifice Nix and score Ensnare by planting a scheme marker with Rat Catcher. 

Kaeris activated sure enough, but surprisingly she did not kill Nix. Instead, she went to Plague side strategy marker that I wouldn't be able to contest. Oh well. Nix activated, drank some spirits and killed Eternal Flame and was back at full health. 

Disease Containment Unit failed it's attacks on Elijah, but succeeded in pushing Nix close enough to an Arcanist side strategy marker. Elijah then killed Disease Containment Unit, and nobody killed Elijah.

Carlos went to contest Nix's marker and even placed a scheme marker, looking very much like a set-up for Ensnare. 

Obedient Wretch went to place a scheme marker on the centerline.

And Prospector... I had done everything to get a high enough Crows to my hand throughout the turn - even charging a Malifaux Rat dead with Stolen. Prospector tried to appraise an Arcanist scheme marker. But, no crows turned up. And flip from the deck for Malifaux Mining Law's scheme marker was... not crows. So I missed Espionage.

Arcanists scored strategy, but Outcasts missed out on that. They, however, had received Ensnare so scores went 2-2.


Turn 5:

Nix and Rat Catcher went to contest the Arcanist side strategy marker, but Fire Golem came to bulk Arcanists up. It didn't exactly help, either, that Carlos scored a severe with his breath of fire. 

Kaeris placed a scheme marker to my deployment zone, and finally Prospector managed to land crows on Malifaux Mining Law for a scheme marker in enemy deployment zone. 

Elijah went to control one of the center markers. Catalan Rifleman picked up a scheme marker it had planted earlier, walked a bit closer and dropped another scheme marker with bonus action, this time within 3" of Elijah instead of 3.1"

Obedient Wretch ran to control another Arcanist side strategy marker. 

Both players scored strategy, Ensnare and Espionage for a close fought 5-5 draw.

Sunday, February 11, 2024

Palm Beaches or Lava? Everyone chooses lava!

 Strategy: Wedge Plant Explosives

Schemes: Ensnare, Take Prisoner, Let Them Bleed, Death Beds, Hold Up Their Forces

My list:

Dr. McMourning, Insanitary & Zombie Chihuahua
Sebastian
Carrion Emissary
Kentauroi
Nurse
Bone Pile
Guild Autopsy
Canine Remains

Pool: 4
Schemes: Let Them Bleed, Death Beds (Corpse)

Opponent had:

Lucas McCabe & Luna
Sidir Alchibal
Desper LaRaux
2x Rough Rider
2x Ruffian
Tanuki

Pool: 4
Schemes: 

Turn 1:

I got to choose deployments, and decided to force opponent to split his crew. However, this didn't work quite so well, as opponent had three ride-with-me's and chain gangs available, as well as Desper's unparalleled mobility. 

Carrion Emissary opened my game by bringing zombies on board, which Canine Remains chewed to bits, and the bits were built into another Canine Remains that went to chew even more zombies. All in all, shuffling about like that gave me a Flesh Construct that had Emissary's Rot and Rend attack on the first turn, and extra legs for Kentauroi. 

All this took quite a few activations, and after Rough Rider and Ruffian had moved Sidir to mid-field behind center lava pool, I decided to launch Kentauroi missile to engage Sidir and maybe damage an already activated Ruffian. Well, it did not only that, but killed Ruffian with a single blow. I figured Kentauroi would survive at least one round with Sidir. It could have charged somewhere, but with second action it instead placed a scheme marker for possible Death Beds later on.

Tanuki and Luna had already activated, and Rough Rider in the right had shot summoned Canine Remains dead and dealt some damage to Flesh Construct, too. However, I had completely failed to take into account  that Lucas was able to charge over Luna without needing to resort to call his dog on the horse. So... Lucas severely damaged Kentauroi with two attacks, armed with Timeworn Blade. Which was then tossed for a fast Sidir. Two attacks was enough to beat the dead horse off the board even after Bone Pile had ran to toss a bone for heals. 

Sebastian had been shot by Ruffian and another Rough Rider, but was healed by Nurse. Flesh Construct was able to land a Rot and Rend on Sidir, but no blast over Lucas. Boo.

Desper relocated to center, ready to dominate left side. 


Turn 2:

Intense turn ensued. Ten Thunders won the initiative, and Tanuki was able to heal Sidir for a bit. That was the only move that deterred me from walking and charging him with Carrion Emissary with heal denying aura on. 

In the hindsight I probably should have done that anyway, but Emissary next to unactivated Lucas and Sidir seemed like a bad idea when removing Sidir most likely would need at least a few activations.

Instead, Flesh Construct walked and charged. It missed the first attack, parried by Sidir. The construct was now at three health remaining - it might actually die to second parry! It attacked anyway, and Sidir actually would have parried if I didn't cheat my highest card in. And look at that, Red Joker for damage. Unfortunately Sidir managed to block three of the six damage. 

Worried about Carrion Emissary's aura, Sidir was quick to activate and heal himself back to eight. He killed the Flesh Construct and started to shoot around, dealing two points to Carrion Emissary and two to Sebastian. 

Ruffian and Rough Rider to the left began to drain my soulstones away by shooting Sebastian repeatedly with success. Situation got so dire that Zombie Chihuahua had to blast Sebastian for all of his four Poison, and even Nurse was forced to open her bottle of painkillers for him. The Rough Rider even had the audacity to go and heal Sidir back to full with a lucky trigger for Ride With Me. 

Nurse did what nurses do best, and went on a killing spree. Ooops. That doesn't look quite right, but I can't figure what's wrong. Anyway, she walked and assisted McMourning's distractions away, charged Sidir, even catching fire. Sidir was stunned and pushed into lava. 

McMourning had, by the way, earlier walked on top of rocks and summoned another Flesh Construct. He grafted rusty bone saw for the Construct and pushed Carrion Emissary forward with Desperate Plot. 

The reason I didn't commit Carrion Emissary to heal and soulstone denying activities was that I was waiting for Desper to activate first. If Desper would engage Sebastian, I would be able to place strategy with Emissary. And if Desper would not, well, all the easier to score with Sebastian and kill Sidir at my leisure. 

However, that was a recipe for disaster. While good news were that Ten Thunders had to use all of their soulstones to block damage, bad news were that the damage blocks were never less than two. Flesh Construct with bonesaw managed to only trickle one point of damage in at a time.

Then, much to my horror, Rough Rider charged Carrion Emissary and Bone Pile that had walked to heal Emissary and shoot Sidir with a bone javelin. Now I had one attack to Sidir and the chance to plant a strategy marker.

But, I still had my hopes up to at least score Let Them Bleed even if Desper engaged Sebastian. Which he didn't. Instead, he went to place a strategy marker and concentrate.

Carrion Emissary flew to Sidir to take its one and only peck, and scored an impressive hit with double poison. Would've been nice to actually get that poison in, because Black Joker turned up at damage. Ah well. At least it managed to surround Tanuki with Mindless Zombies. Wait... why was Tanuki surrounded by zombies? Don't they crave fresh brains?

Lucas charged Nurse. So let's add nurses to Lucas' whipping portfolio of children, grandmothers, doctors and geishas. Or maybe not. Nurses probably were there already. Sadistic as only Lucas can be, he didn't even kill the Nurse, leaving her to slowly burn alive.

Sebastian was in range to charge Sidir, but Sidir was still at five health. To score Death Beds, both attacks needed to hit and deal at least one moderate or critical strike. Failing that I was looking at possibility of not scoring strategy this turn and Sidir dying to poison and burning, thus me not getting Death Beds. 

I deemed Sidir-removal important enough to not score strategy on first turn. But when Blood Poisoning missed Sidir, I just couldn't take the risk and charged Rough Rider instead, and placed strategy marker. Moderate damage and double poison on the Rough Rider helped a little. 

Canine Remains had walked to place a scheme and corpse marker to close right table edge for Death Beds end condition. 

So, both players did score strategy and no reveals were made. Scores went 1-1.


Turn 3:

Well, it was Resurrectionists that got the initiative. Carrion Emissary activated Aura of Decay just in case, and proceeded to butcher Sidir - failing at that. But he was now down to one health remaining. 

Lucas removed Sidir from Emissary's aura, killed a Nurse and dug up a Phantasmal Mask for Sidir. 

This was not enough to save Sidir, as Sebastian charged him and killed the henchman, scoring Death Beds. He also managed to saw some damage in to Rough Rider.

And just like that game turned rough for Ten Thunders. And it didn't exactly help that Resurrectionists kept passing their defensive flips with impunity. Luna dug up a Timeworn Blade for Rough Rider, who went to pick up my only explosive on the enemy table half, and charged Sebastian, managing only to remove my soulstones. 

Ruffian set himself on fire attacking Sebastian, and another Rough Rider on the right rode away from melee, shot Carrion Emissary with his rifle, and charged back.

First Mindless Zombie that Carrion Emissary had summoned last turn traumatized Tanuki down to one health remaining. Second Mindless Zombie felt pity for Tanuki, as the poor furry imagined itself as a teapot. 

Guild Autopsy scored a lucky severe against Desper, which looking back now was a bit of a game-changer. Now I had the option to reach for Let Them Bleed. 

And as I had pretty much lost the strategy for this turn, McMourning removed Flesh Construct from melee range of Lucas, and took a double walk to centerline far right.

Bone Pile charged Rough Rider that was engaging Carrion Emissary, but failed to do damage. In shame, it buried itself with second action point. Flesh Construct came charging in next, and succeeded in slapping the two required points in. Just for giggles the Flesh Construct attempted a Projectile Vomit over Ruffian engaging Sebastian, and managed to land two blasts, injuring another Rough Rider and Lucas McCabe. Drats. I could have just killed the melee target, but I was afraid to, because I needed one of them alive with half or less health remaining.

Desper went to place a strategy marker. 

Ten Thunders got the lead when both players scored both schemes, but Resurrectionists missed on strategy. A 3-4 lead for Ten Thunders.


Turn 4:

Sebastian butchered a horse and took its explosives. Tanuki was able to smash a Mindless Zombie dead, but Carrion Emissary came to avenge Mindless Zombie. Oh, what am I talking? Emissary for sure didn't come to avenge Mindless Zombie, it just wanted to peck Tanuki dead. Which it did. Dead. Tanuki died to death. Hahahaha. Ha.

Anyway... Luna dug a Timeworn Blade for Lucas, and the Ten Thunders master started whipping a hunchback for a bit before he got bored and went to place a third explosive for Ten Thunders. He tossed Timeworn Blade for Desper LaRaux. Guild Autopsy went to see if it would luck out a second time in a row against Desper, but no such luck.

Flesh Construct was able to kill another Rough Rider, and went to place it's explosive deep into Ten Thunders territory. McMourning did the same, and so did Bone Pile that emerged from Mindless Zombie. 

Both players secured strategy for a 4-5 lead for Ten Thunders. However, it was clear from the board state that Resurrectionists had won anyway, and we didn't play the last turn. While there was a desperate possibility for a fourth strategy point for Ten Thunders, schemes were unlikely. Resurrectionists, however, had three points 99% secured. 

Saturday, January 20, 2024

Anger Issues

 A 50ss game of Malifaux over Vassal.

Strategy: Corner Raid the Vaults

Schemes: Let Them Bleed, Hold Up Their Forces, Protected Territory, Death Beds, In Your Face

My list:

Ensouled Jack Daw & Lady Ligeia
Montresor
Auguste Hart
Midnight Stalker
Malifaux Child
Hanged
Crooked Man
Guilty

Pool: 3
Schemes: Protected Territory, Death Beds (Corpse)

Opponent had:

Tomb Delving Lucas McCabe & Luna
Sidir
Koji
Kara
Huckster
Cryptologist
Tanuki
Ruffian

Pool: 4
Schemes: Death Beds (Scrap), In Your Face

Turn 1:

Montresor gave Hanged a little walk and lumbered towards center-left strategy marker along with Malifaux Child. Auguste was speeding to top-left strategy marker and for a long time seemed uncontested, until Ruffian that had Fast from Timeworn Blade took a full run towards top.

After Sidir had activated Jack Daw felt bold enough to hide behind a forest at the center, almost contesting center-right marker. Lady Ligeia and Crooked Man were lazily following him.

Hanged attempted to connect some Forbidden Knowledge to Kara, but the cat was just damn too menacing. Guilty ran to Hanged, and Midnight Stalker joined to form a trio that could seize bottom-right strategy marker next turn.

Lucas and Sidir were holding the middle behind center forest. Kara and Koji reinforced Sidir with claims to center-right strategy marker. Huckster was kind of everywhere, at the moment of picture she was inside the building near bottom-right strategy marker. Cryptologist was also jogging there, but with Mv 4 it was going to take a while.

Tanuki and Luna acted like the animals they were behind Lucas' back. 


Turn 2:

I was hesitant, because I was quite aware of the risks involved. But nonetheless, when I won the initiative, Montresor activated and ran into forest. Luna dug up artifacts-to-be, and then - Jack Daw charged and landed hazardous terrain aura on Sidir. Two Draw Them Ins later both Kara and Koji were engaged by Jack Daw and were staggered,

It was an oppressive move for sure, but now my master was next to Sidir, Koji, Kara and even within easy charge range of McCabe.

McCabe, however, didn't charge Jack. Instead, he tossed Phantasmal Mask for Sidir and went to contest center-left strategy marker. 

Lady Ligeia moved to complete the unholy trinity of Montresor, Jack and her. 

Huckster used secret passage to deliver a scheme marker below Kara and near Jack Daw. Death Bed mirror seemed likely. So, Guilty came to plant a scheme near Kara. Guilty received some consolation from Sidir after sharing his guilt. Sidir was staggered below the burden.

Sidir tried to give shielded for Koji and Kara with Phantasmal Mask, but didn't want to cheat to succeed. I guess it was the guilt. Or, maybe not, because he had no qualms about cheating attacks against Jack Daw. Jack received only three damage in total, but this drained all of my soulstones. 

Koji and Kara went berserk and tried to kill Jack Daw, to hell with hazardous terrain! Too bad none of the actions scored a hit. But Koji and Kara were down to three health both. Ouch. At least Crooked Man didn't manage to land earthquakes on Huckster. 

Malifaux Child came to wrestle center-left strategy marker from the clutches of McCabe. This, however, prompted Russian to shoot the kid with derringer and then walk a little closer after he failed to score a kill. Tanuki ran to secure the vault for Ten Thunders. Oh well. At least it wasn't healing Koji or Kara.

Auguste went to control top-left strategy marker and began an interview with no-one. That's his thing. 

Hanged went to place a scheme marker near bottom-right strategy marker, and after Midnight Stalker failed to leap, he ran to at least secure the marker.

Cryptologist went to provide his aura to the troubled lot near middle. 

Both players scored strategy, and neither revealed schemes. But the situation was rapidly turning sour for Ten Thunders. However, Jack Daw was vulnerable now. They had their chance.


Turn 3:

Unfortunately Jack Daw won initiative. While opponent passed admirably Draw Them In checks even while the models were staggered, there were just too many checks. Only Koji died, though. Lucas whipped up another Timeworn Blade for Sidir and went to whip a kid to death. 

Guilty was only guilty of compassion. He tried to pet the kitty. Kitty died. Tenderly Guilty dug up a pretty Death Bed for the kitty and scored a scheme for Outcasts. 

Sidir tried to remove Jack Daw, but managed to bring him down to two health remaining. As a final act of defience Sidir did Blade Storm, prompting tests for Montresor, Lady Ligeia, Guilty, Jack Daw, Huckster who was at one health and Cryptologist who was at one remaining, too. 

It would have been cool to lose Jack Daw this way, but it was not to be. Only Huckster died.

Montresor activated and did his things, killing Cryptologist. It started to look like game over, so Ruffian tried to make the unlikely shot that would kill Jack Daw, who got both concealment and friendly fire.

Attack did not land, and we did not continue the game. My gambit paid off in a brutal manner. 


Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Changing Plans

 A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Standard Stuff the Ballots

Schemes: Protected Territory, Deliver a Message, Ensnare, Let Them Bleed, Power Ritual

My list:

Seamus & Copycat Killer
Madame Sybelle
Mortimer
Bete Noire
White Rabbit & Co.
2x Rotten Belle
Dead Dandy

Pool: 4

Schemes: Ensnare, Power Ritual

Opponent had:

Colette DuBois & 3x Mechanical Doves
Carlos Vasquez
Cassandra Felton
The Firestarter
Angelica Durand
Coryphee Duet
Showgirl

Pool: 2

Schemes: Ensnare, Protected Territory

Here's the thing.

We got presidential elections coming up in Finland. So I printed out the candidates and put them into strategy markers, and randomly distributed the markers over the board. So now we just wait and see if Malifaux matches are a reliable way to predict these things


Turn 1:

Power Ritual in standard deployment, so I placed a scheme marker to both of my corners. White Rabbit & Co. placed it right, and then pushed itself forward a little by tossing a hat to Bete Noire. A Rotten Belle did the same left, except no hats. 

Mortimer managed to dig up a zombie while going far left to offer his votes. Dead Dandy put a scheme marker next to my left strategy marker and begun to wait for the ballots to open.

In the middle Rotten Belle advanced a little and lured Seamus forward. Carlos, also going to middle, put a pyre marker blocking Seamus from using his gun unless he would take some burning in the process.

Madame Sybelle went mid too and activated Undivided Attention. I wanted opponent to activate the dreaded Coryphee Duet, but for some reason he just wouldn't. So I had to offer a bait. Bete Noire. 

Colette and Angelica had moved Coryphee forward, so it charged Bete Noire. Fortunately it failed the first attack with Black Joker, but second had Bete Noire fade away. Coryphees split their duet. 

Copycat Killed transferred Seamus to right wing, and from there he dismantled a piece of destructible terrain, took aim and shot the activated Coryphee. Blam. And now it's a mannikin! Severe 8.

Remaining Coryphee seemed much less threatening until it walked and charged Madame Sybelle, dealing moderate damage even with two negative fate modifiers. Damage block was one. Whee. 

On the performer side of things, Showgirl was waiting in performer-left strategy marker. Carlos and Colette were center-stage, while Angelica, Firestarter and some birds were holding right. 


Turn 2:

Dead Dandy placed a couple of votes on my left strategy marker, while Mortimer went to place one on the far-left. A Mechanical Dove attempted to peck him, but didn't feel that murderous today. A Rotten Belle on the left took a double walk to a corpse that had been dug up by Mordimer prior to his vote. Showgirl also placed two votes on performer-left strategy marker.

Those were the easy parts of the turn, but then there was a sort of cluster copulation in the middle. Coryphee attacked Madame Sybelle twice, dealing moderate damage both times despite having negative modifiers. Three times in a row. Madame Sybelle was burning through my soulstones rapidly.

To offer Madame a degree of protection, White Rabbit & Co. walked and charged Coryphee, and tossed a fancy bullet sponge hat for Madame Sybelle.

This prompted Colette to secure vantage point for her spectacular tricks. She placed a vote to the center ballot, and presto-changoed... changod? White Rabbit & Co. for a Mannikin. Madame Sybelle was not grateful for her hat, but when she lashed where hat crafters had been, a Mannikin fell dead in their place. 

Two murderbirds, Angelica and Carlos ganged up to beat up White Rabbit & Co., or maybe they just wanted new clothes and demanded them rather forcefully. Miraculously White Rabbit survived, but with two health and Burning +1. Rotten Belle lured them away from their way too enthusiastic customers. 

Seamus ran to place a vote far-right, while Firestarter flew to my right corner to place a scheme. 

Copycat Killer tried to shoot Coryphee, but results were not impressive. 

Bete Noire popped up from zombie dug up by Mortimer earlier. She charged and climbed to the stage to place a scheme marker, with the marker and her hat easily within 3" of Colette.

Both players score strategy, but no schemes were revealed. Scores: 1-1.


Turn 3:

Mortimer wrecked Mechanical Dove and moved as far forward as close as possible to performer top-left corner while still being able to vote. However, he wasn't able to dig up a homing beacon for Bete Noire this time around. 

Carlos, Andgelica and a bird are able to finish what they started with White Rabbit & Co., but not until they were able to offer their most magnificent hat to Rotten Belle. Well, not all of their resources went into killing the merchants. They were also able to score Ensnare with Madame Sybelle.

When Colette activated, Resurrectionists scored their Ensnare. Colette removed Coryphee from melee with Madame Sybelle, and went to strike Bete Noire with distracting illusions. Well, most distracting illusion probably was that Bete Noire faded away. 

Rotten Belle on the left walked and tried to lure Showgirl away from top-left strategy marker. It kind of worked, just not the way Belle meant. Lure attack failed, but Showgirl walked in to melee to strike Rotten Belle with a hairpin.

Coryphee nimbled and walked to Dead Dandy and struck him. The puppet was distracted, but still hit. And again the thing scored moderate wound with two negatives on damage flip! Ouch.

Bete Noire popped up from a corpse Mortimer had dug up earlier and charged Showgirl. She was quite distracted, and managed to land one hit of moderate damage. 

Firestarted went to place a vote to bottom-right marker and flew as far from Seamus as possible. 

Carlos had placed a spectacular fire show next to ballot on the far right. Seamus had to make his run through the flames to reach top-right corner with his four actions.

Both players scores strategy and Ensnare, but Resurrectionists got the lead by also scoring Power Ritual. Scores went 3-4.


Turn 4:

Rotten Belle on the left killed Showgirl. Mortimer's decay and Dead Dandy's cane finally killed Coryphee and the ensuing Mannequin. 

Firestarted planted a scheme and went to bottom-right strategy marker, where Dandy had spammed three votes. 

Carlos managed to drop a pyre near the center ballot and. shuffle himself to far-right strategy marker and even place a vote there. I had two there, though. Seamus placed another scheme to top-right corner and went to vote on top-right strategy marker.

Madame Sybelle kept lashing at Mechanical Doves while engaging Angelica. Angelica was trying as hard as she could to cane Madame Sybelle dead. 

I don't remember why Colette walked down from top of the building in the middle, perhaps to place a scheme for Ensnare and/or Protected Territory.

Hatted Rotten Belle started to climb closer to center ballot.

Bete Noire popped up from Showgirl's corpse and went to place two votes to top-left strategy marker. Copycat Killer was speeding towards top-left corner.

Performers failed to score strategy, but got Protected Territory instead.  Ressers got third strategy, for scores of 4-5.


Turn 5:

We didn't play fifth turn past Angelica's activation where she failed to cane Madame Sybelle's hat off and Rotten Belle's vote to center.  This ensured Ensnare end condition for me and tied Colette's hands to come back to center and claim the strategy marker back.

It was apparent that I'd get Power Ritual and Ensnare end conditions, while opponent would get Protected Territory end and strategy for a grand total of 6-7 for Resurrectionists.

Now. One question remains. What did Cassandra do during this entire game? I don't know, somebody has to go and ask her at her slot in carrying case.

Saturday, January 13, 2024

Infiltraitor

A 50 point game of Warmachine on War Table.

My list:

Horruskh, The Thousand Wraths
Spell rack: Inviolable Resolve, Second Sight
10          Jackal 1, Arc Node, Hunter Rifle, Assault Shield
7           Jackal 2, Bloodthirst, Mace, Assault Shield
17          Molok

3           Reaver Commander
7+2       Strike Reavers &  Reaver Standard
4           Warwitch Coven

Command Cards: Careful Reconnaissance, Grave Robbing , Infiltration, Old Faithful, True  Inspiration

Opponent had:

Khador - Winter Korps
Kapitan Ilari Borisyuk
Spell Rack: - Avenging Force, Fog of War
11          Dire Wolf, Pathfinder, Long Axe, Plow-Shield
14          Great Bear, Reposition, Heavy Cannon, Blasting Fist

2+2   2x    Battle Mechanik
7       Shock Trooper Gunners
6+1       Winter Korps Infantry, 2x Rocketeer & Standard
6+1       Winter Korps Infantry, 2x Auto-Cannon & Standard

Command Cards: Blessing of the Gods, Break Through, Careful Reconnaissance, Infiltration, Old Faithful

Scenario was Invasion

Khador started and advanced with a unit of Winter Korps on both flanks, with everything else in between. Ilari cast Fog of War and Avenging Force.

Horruskh cast Inviolable Resolve on Molok and Second Sight on Jackal with rifle.
Melee Jackal was almost the sole contender to zone on the right. Horruskh, Molok and Jackal with rifle were in the middle, with Strike Reavers and their solo advancing behind a forest. Molok also played Grave Robbers already 

Khador wasn't able to do much else than positioning next. Great Bear that went to contest rectangular zone missed its cannon on Reaver Commander, but Ilari was able to snipe that solo off. Winter Korps unit went to contest circular zone one left with half of their strength, with Shock Troopers backing them up in a trench nearby.

Dire Wolf went to contest circular zone on the right, supported by Auto-Cannon group of Winter Korps and a singular Mechanik.

Orgoth also wasn't in a position to dish out that much damage, but it was in position to endure it. Strike Reavers popped True Inspiration on them, walked into the forest and managed to kill one of the three contesting Winter Korps.

Molok and ranged Jackal were filled with focus by Warwitches, and Molok took Pathfinder card to charge a single Winter Korpsman. It certainly died to a 17-point beatstick with three focus. The grunt became a +3def buff for Molok.

Ranged Jackal shot the last contesting Winter Korps, thus giving Orgoth point advantage.

Horrusks used his feat, turning that Molok into a dreadful Def 14, Arm 24 monstrosity that cannot be knocked down!

Melee Jackal just went to contest circular zone, staying within charge range of Dire Wolf. I wanted to believe my light warjack would be able to take some Long Axe into face with Arm 22. 

Khador turn was painful to watch. That +3 armor messed up a lot of things, when opponent's highest rolls were just about the average. Dire Bear was able to deal a few points of damage to melee Jackal, but not enough to destroy systems. Shock Troopers were able to kill two Strike Reavers - that's it. No more killing today, folks.

Warwitches filled melee Jackal and ranged Jackal with focus, and went to Dark Shroud the Dire Wolf. Jackal wasn't able to do much, especially considering that there was a Mechanik nearby. Even if it had hit with all of its attack, I doubt systems would have broken anyway, because I rolled columns poorly.

Molok removed two Winter Korpsmen that had ran to block easy access within 1" of Great Bear. That probably saved Great Bear, because even five P+S 18 attacks that all hit, plus a POW 13 rifle shot and whatever Strike Reavers were able to do didn't bring the bear down.

I didn't consider Horruskh was in that bad of a position, and so didn't even consider playing Infiltrate on him. 

Then... Old Faithful repairs Great Bear for five. On its activation Great Bear also uses Breakthrough to gain Unstoppable which it already had to move away from melee. It scores a critical shot against Horruskh. No damage, though, thanks to the only point of focus camp.

Ilari advances next and shoots Horruskh with his rifle, but doesn't score a crit and is able to remove only four of Orgoth warcaster's health.  Next shot, though... Is a critical, Horruskh is already knocked down and damage roll is exactly 15 points in.

That's what you get for not infiltrating around.