"Must I do everything by myself?"

Two 50 point games of Warmachine from a couple of weeks ago.

Asphyxious the Hellbringer & Vociferon
- Kraken
- 2x Stalker

Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max)
2x Necrotech
Scrap Thralls
Warwitch Siren


First game opponent played with:

Tyrant Xerxis
- Tiberion
- Titan Gladiator
Cataphract Cetrati (max)
Nihilators (max)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (max)

Scenario in both games was... I don't know what it was. A reminiscent. Friendly flags gave one point for dominance, enemy flags one for control and two for dominance. Center zone one for control and two for dominance.

First game was a historical one.

I approach carefully, but not carefully enough. Five Cetrati one-rounded my Kraken under Xerxis' feat. Those damage rolls... 6,6,6,6,4. 6,6,6,4,4. Lowest roll was only slightly above average. Fortunately for me opponent sent Tiberion in to beat some Drudge Thralls - I suppose he didn't expect I'd overcommit Asphyxios, or if I did, it would be his downfall.

Asphyxious had seven extra focus points from Nihilator souls only. This turn he used feat and charged Tiberion. He also killed a nearby Nihilator to cast Calamity on Tiberion. It took nearly all focus he had, but finally Tiberion was dead. Cloak of Ash was on Asphyxious.

Xerxis was slowly grinding scenario points at his flag. Tactical Supremacy on himself made it possible for him to kill whatever I ran to contest flag and back-track for the score. A hilarious happenstance was when Xerxis made a combo-smite at my Stalker, which brought the warjack into contact with Scrap Thrall. Stalker had only one hit box remaining. Either thrall survived collateral damage roll or the explosion didn't destroy Stalker, but surely I was sweating my spleen off there.

Anyway, Gladiator tries to Grand Slam Asphyxious away from the zone, but misses. This causes one Drudge Thrall to remain on the zone, contesting it. All other models had died.

Asphyxious had seven extra focus again next turn. Again he killed Nihilator or something and cast Calamity on Gladiator.

And then.

I had big plans - Asphyxious would become a hero. With Gladiator dead along with some Cetratii, with nicely camped focus he'd be an unstoppable and yet invulnerable force of destruction.

Four double 1's. One 1,2. Plenty of 1,4. Come on, Asphyxious! COME ON!

Finally he came on and killed the warbeast, but had only one focus point left. Only the charge attack roll dealt more than five points of damage in one go. And he was, after all, at dice -1 to damage.

Opponent cleared up some other models of mine, trying to buy some time for Xerxis to grind a few more control points.

Next turn Asphyxious doesn't have that many extra focus points, three, four or something like that. Nonetheless he casts Calamity on Cetrati and kills a bunch of them. Stalker and some Drudges kill the last ones. Main body of Drudges and this particular Stalker had been tied to Legends of Halaak near my friendly flag.

Eventually all models but Xerxis are dead, at which point we conclude that mathematically Xerxis cannot win any more even if I somehow failed to contest his flag. Xerxis then charges last remaining Stalker and concedes.


Asphyxious kill total: Gladiator, Tiberion, three to four Cataphract Cetrati and some Nihilators - roughly 45 points... with that kind of attack and damage rolls. That's close to a personal record - only thing that even remotely compares was this one ancient Mk2 tournament where Venethrax was charged by tons of Circle warbeasts that should have killed him, but somehow did not.

Game 2:

Opponent had:

Master Ascetic Naaresh
- Agonizer
- 2x Cyclops Brute
- Razor Worm
- Tiberion
- Titan Gladiator
Legends of Halaak
Paingiver Beast Handlers (max)

This game was a distracted failure in every aspect at least when compared to last one.

Long story short: I was far too obsessed over Agonizer. First I sent a leaping Stalker at it, leaving it with four damage points or something. Of course Spirit was fine.

Kraken tried to take some random useless shots - I think the grand plan here was trying to get Agonizer under blast damage. Well, Kraken was now easily within Tiberion's charge range.

I didn't feat, which was a grave mistake. I mean - of course opponent would send all of his beasts against Kraken and assorted models. Why did I not. Why.

Tiberion did not break Kraken, which was a relief. Naaresh had used feat, so I was hard pressed to remove Tiberion this turn. First and foremost Asphyxious shot Agonizer with Hellfire. That seemed like a good idea at the time. How many warcasters have Agonizer killed like this? Countless... Asphyxious did use his feat now, though.

Anyway, Kraken and some Drudge Thralls and whatever I could land on it failed to kill. Not by many boxes, but still failed.

Gladiator and Tiberion both trample next to Asphyxious. To my consolation even Cloak of Ash would not have saved me from these attack rolls.

Anyway, Gladiator took one fully boosted swing at Asphyxious, hit and dealt some damage.

Now, if Tiberion only would have healed him back to full health with his Fury points... Tiberion's damage roll dealt 17 points in. Asphyxious3 has eighteen boxes. Much grief and many sadnesses.

Does two Wrong Eyes make a right one?

Two 75 point games of Warmachine from this... month, or so.

Deneghra, the Soul Weaver
- Corruptor
- Defiler
- Erebus

Mechanithralls (min) +2x Brute Thralls

Necrosurgeon & Stitch Thralls
The Withershadow Combine
Iron Lich Overseer
- Leviathan
Necrotech
Orin Midwinter, Rogue Inquisitor
Pistol Wraith
2x Soul Trapper
Warwitch Siren

Opponent had:

Actually I got no idea what opponent had. I don't remember the names of the monstrosities and cannot easily tell the two drudge units from each other. List may have been something like this:

Cognifex Cyphon
- Warden
- 2x Wrecker

Alexia Ciannor & the Risen + Dominator

2x Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges (max)
Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (min)
Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max)
Cephalyx Overlords
Horgenhold Artillery Corps + Dominator
2x Cephalyx Agitator

Scenario was Take & Hold.

This write-up is bound to be brief, as it's been way too long since I played this game and it was a long one.

In the first picture, for example, I forget why there is one monstrosity close to my flag. It was probably something with Leviathan having Stealth from Iron Lich Overseer, so that Cognifex was not able to cast Gallows on the heavy warjack. It's possible that opponent had used feat this turn, too, and when Gallows shenanigans and such went wrong, the benefits of feat were less than impressive.

So was my next turn, too. I really hope Cognifex had used the feat, because otherwise dice rolls must have been exceedingly subpar. I dedicated Leviathan, Iron Lich Overseer, Deneghra, Defiler and Pistol Wraith to kill the monstrosity - and failed. The monstrosity was at one hit box remaining, under corrosion and stationary from Death Chill.

Opponent killed Iron Lich Overseer, because somehow I had thought it more beneficial to take a POW 12 swing at ARM 22 target or something than cast Stealth. I think Erebus took a hit despite DEF 16 and obviously some Mechanithralls died, but other than that I cannot remember. Except, well, there it is in the picture. A daunting swarm of drudges closed in.

I think I used Deneghra's feat next and spammed Mortality all over the board. Corruptor is a nice piece of art when fighting Drudges with a warcaster that can remove Tough.

For some reason I also charged in with Erebus, getting four kills at maximum. Deneghra re-activated Leviathan under her control and used feat souls to fill it with focus. It probably killed monstrosity on the right next.

Of course I lost Erebus, foolish as I was launching him in to the thick of action. Necrosurgeon was steadily bringing in new batches of Mechanithralls - opponent had been extremely unlucky in his attempts to remove her.

Next I figure that if I kill the last monstrosity, Deneghra will have very little to fear. She and Leviathan killed it. From here on game went weird and awkward. We were both trying to dominate the enemy flag. Cyphon was continuously spraying Deneghra with the "cannot cast spells" gun, which meant I didn't have the courage to charge him. Not without Mortality, no.

Eventually Deneghra was more successful in grinding out scenario points. Killing blow was when Cognifex was unable to finish Leviathan that didn't have all that many health boxes remaining.



Game 2:

Second game was played about a week later. My list was:

Lich Lord Asphyxious
- Malice
- Ripjaw
- 2x Stalker
Bane Warriors (max) + Officer & Standard
Bile Thralls (min) + Skarlock Commander
Darragh Wrathe
Scrap Thralls
2x Soul Trapper
Wrong Eye & Snapjaw

Opponent had:

Gorten Grundback
- 2x Ghordson Driller
- 2x Grundback Gunner

2x Kayazy Eliminators
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt
Kell Bailoch
Lanyssa Ryssyl, Nyss Sorceress
Orin Midwinter, Rogue Inquisitor
Savio Montero Acosta
Sylys Wyshnalyrr, The Seeker
Rorsh & Brine
Wrong Eye & Snapjaw


Scenario was Entrenched and Cryx started game.

I had some success in removing some solos and whatnot with surprise SPD 6 Purge sprays from Bile Thralls.

Engaging didn't feel like an option when both had Star Crossed going on for them.

Looked like game would become a scenario grind-fest, but opponent got Savio Acosta into a difficult spot to remove and I didn't feel like I would be able to punch through enemy armor any time soon.

So, assassination attempt it was. All models I had tried to kill Wrong Eye first. It didn't succeed, so Asphyxious walked forward and cast Parasite on Gorten. Then he used feat and got seven thralls back or something. One thrall killed off Wrong Eye, and a four thralls or so succeeded in charging Gorten.

One was a miss, but three other attacks hit.

Last one caused a Tough roll, which obviously succeeded when I couldn't make any more attacks. Maybe with a little bit better positioning from the very start of my feat I could have got five thralls at him... but maybe it wouldn't have changed anything. After all, three 7+'s on two dice out of four attempts was far better statistics than what I have come used to...

Anyway, Asphyxious was butchered up many times over on the next turn. If I had saved up enough focus points for Teleport, maybe I would have played for one additional turn.

Now, Asphyxious3 needs to fail at caster kill because of Tough roll and I have a full set complete.

Deneghra Hard Mode

Played two 50 point games of Warmachine from last Thursday.


Deneghra, the Soul Weaver
- Corruptor
- Erebus
- Nightwretch

Mechanithralls (min) + 2x Brute Thrall
Necrosurgeon & Stitch Thralls
Skarlock Thrall
Necrotech
Pistol Wraith
Ragman
Soul Trapper
Swamp Gobber River Raider
Warwitch Siren

Opponent had:

Jarl Skuld, Devil of the Thornwood
- Dire Troll Mauler
- Troll Axer
- Troll Impaler

Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes (min)

Trollkin Sluggers (max)
Stone Scribe Chronicler
Totem Hunter
Trollkin War Wagon

Scenario was Standoff, and first game Cryx started.

In the first picture Deneghra has just used her feat and cast Mortality all over the place, most notably the objective, krielstone bearers, axer and sluggers. Corruptor succeeded to kill Axer outright, so I didn't want to commit Erebus anywhere just yet. I was fairly certain both warjacks would just die if I wouldn't somehow neutralize Mauler - and I didn't have tools for that. Damage on sluggers wasn't exactly inspiring. Pistol Wraith took out krielstone bearers. Nightwretch took a boosted damage shot at the objective.

Jarl Skuld uses feat next, and Corruptor is gone the instant Mauler takes a stern look at it.

Next turn Erebus dispatches Mortalified Dire Troll Mauler. Opponent doesn't manage to kill Erebus, but War Wagon feels rather oppressive when it blocks me from getting any points from zone closest to my side of the table. I was running out of attacks, and if Erebus would get wrecked I would have pretty much nothing on board except Deneghra.

So I want to assassinate. I collect a couple of souls from here and there, and then charge as far as I can. I couldn't reach Jarl Skuld, but I Deneghra could kill a couple of trolls from Erebus' way. A critical fail happens when Deneghra misses a krielstone bearer, and afterwards the bearer passes a tough check. I no longer had focus to cast a boosted Scourge on Skuld. I succeeded to land Mortality on him, though, but he was still within armor aura of krielstone.

Erebus charges and fails to kill the trollblood warcaster, despite hitting with first attack, making him stationary.

I put all the effort to this assassination, so I hadn't even upkept Grave Wind. Deneghra died easily - I doubt she would have survived even if I would have used her correct DEF stat of 15 instead of 14.

Game 2:

Next game Cryx goes second and we switch table sides.

Corruptor takes a nice shot at War Wagon, but it is compensated for on next turn, when I cast Mortality on Sluggers unit and then go make Burster attack. I would have nailed the entire unit on 6+'s, but only three died. Useless sacrifice of a Corruptor.

To add an insult, the two remaining sluggers make astonishing damage rolls against Corruptor. War Wagon delivers the killing blow. By now both Shield Guard Brute Thralls are dead. Skuld uses feat.

So I don't really have that many targets. Pretty much Totem Hunter and War Wagon.

Skarlock casts Mortality on War Wagon, and Ragman comes to offer Death Field for nearby attackers.

One Mechanithrall and one River Raider do not destroy War Wagon even if it had taken an impressive damage roll earlier. I don't have other options other than to bring Deneghra to the battle engine. Damage rolls are frustratingly low, and charge attack misses with triple 1's. She has to burn a disturbing amount of focus, and is left with two points only to reduce damage next turn. I should have used feat and cast Grave Wind on her.

Pistol Wraith and Erebus seize zone on the right, and that's three control points for Cryx.

Then opponent unleashes everything on Deneghra. Luck was on my side this time around, when Deneghra was left with around four damage points - and impaler had missed her while it had Mauler's +3 STR on.

Well, she was on fire so there was a chance for her to die on my turn anyway.

Which she didn't.

Deneghra uses her feat and gives Mortality everywhere - Axer, Impaler, Sluggers. She casts Ghost Walk on herself and Mechanithralls and Grave Wind on herself. One Ghost Walk may have come from Skarlock Thrall, though. She then retreats, heals herself a little bit. Then Necrosurgeon and Necrotech repair her.

Ragman gives Death Field once more, and Axer is swarmed with Mechanithralls. River Raiders kill a contesting Stone Scribe and shoot a harpoon at Death Chilled Impaler. This gave me quite a lead in control points. Opponent made a valiant effort at contesting zones, but eventually this game became the first scenario victory I've witnessed in Steamroller 2017 CID.

Her indecision

Yesterday I was a rival suitor for a princess for the first time ever.

There were two suitors, and considering how princess sent hearts for both of us, it must have been a tough decision for her to pick her companion for the end of days just on the basis of letters.

After eight rounds the situation was four hearts for both suitors. Fifth heart would be the most important decision.

And fifth heart was not mine.

Clearly there was some foul play going on behind my back, when princess herself was 'out of the game' during ninth round.

edit:

Since another round was played a day later, I'll edit that right in.

This time around I let nothing come in-between me and the princess, resorting to smear campaigns and forcing rival suitor to stay overnight at the church, buying me plenty of time to arrange the delivery of my letters, all the while taking care that no letter of my adversary would reach the hands of our beloved princess.

These lowly methods were prolific in securing me victory this time, but I'm afraid that one day princess will see through my fraud...