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.