Back in His Element

 A 50ss game of Malifaux 4th edition on Vassal.

Strategy: Flank Informants

Schemes: Reshape the Land, Search the Area, Leave Your Mark

My list:

Jack Daw Ensouled & Jaakuna Ubume
Montresor
Kari Zotiko
Ferryman
Hanged
Crooked Man
Guilty
Drowned

Pool: 4

Opponent had:

Lucas McCabe, Relic Hunter & Luna
Sidir Alchibal
Desper LaRaux
2x Rough Rider
2x Ruffian
Huckster

Pool: 6

Turn 1: Tormented picks Reshape the Land, Wastrels pick Leave Your Mark

Ferryman ferried a Guilty with it to top-left strategy marker, where Guilty dropped two schemes to start bluffing Search the Area. Unfortunately opponent didn't commit to denying imaginary scheme.

I was also stressing out about Sidir, but fortunately I had two 13's in my starting hand. Jaakuna scaled on top of a building, lured Sidir closer and gave him the Rams upgrade. Next she did the special from crew card to yank Sidir to the building too, and used soulstone trigger to also deny him Masks.

So that was a 50% chance to fail any action. So out of three actions Sidir was able to do, he had a good chance of failing at least one. However, he sliced Jaakuna with just two attacks, and did a mortar strike and shot a third time. Well, at least that failed. 

Infuriated, Jack Daw threw curses left and right - specifically, to the Rough Rider center-left, and Sidir to the right. He also lost Tomes, so next turn if  he continues to pass 75% of his actions, someone will suffer. (Spoiler: That someone was Jack Daw.)

Since opponent was so clearly trying to leave his mark, Crooked Man went to crook his scheme markers and even craft up his own. I forget who removed that scheme marker, so Kari had to waste a soulstone to give Crooked Man another interact. Montresor was to do the last required marker for Reshape the Land one pointer, but failed because my hand was empty.

At least Hanged, my second last activation, landed a Rams out of deck on Lucas to remove one scheme from Wastrels. and also pulled Rough Rider from contesting central strategy marker.

Scores went 1-2 for Wastrels, as they were able to get one point from the half mark they had left of themselves. Jack Daw was just spewing bad words in all directions, and failed to reshape anything.

Turn 2: Tormented Picks Search the Area, Wastrels pick Reshape the Land

Guilty placed third scheme for Search the Area, used Onward to get to enemy deployment zone and dropped a scheme marker there, too. Opponent left my three markers alone, and as such I was able to grab the one point from Search the Area. Later Ferryman placed the marker for end condition, walked and charged Rough Rider and McCabe.

Tormented gang is on fire at the center - figuratively. In the center Rough Rider died to Ferryman, Hanged and Kari - and even McCabe went down to five. And that was only after he healed for two and three. 

Montresor charged Sidir and punched in the face for five points as he punched himself in the face for five points. Ouch. That upgrade sucks. Second attack brought Sidir down to two, which sucked even more, because Sidir has hard-to-kill. However, Sidir was also staggered, and Kari had summoned a Drowned on the roof. Even a stat 5 begins to have an effect on a stat 3 defender. Sid went down to one, which was a sitting duck for Jack Daw's automatic damage sprint. Which he did, killing Sidir and dropping right next to already injured Ruffian. He smacked the minion dead, and picked up his litter, too. Meaning, scheme marker.

It was a delight to watch the opponent struggle with Sidir's three Jack Daw upgrades, but Sidir himself didn't seem to bother. He was making his flips just fine, even damaging Jack Daw for three points.

Luna, Huckster, surviving Rough Rider and even Desper were dropping schemes for Reshape the Land. I couldn't remove the markers fast enough, and he had too good schemers anyway. However, I did manage to set up Breakthrough for next turn. 

Because I had chosen violence, I fell behind on strategy points. Scores went 3-5 for Wastrels.

Turn 3: Tormented picks Breakthrough, Wastrels pick Search the Area

Noose was tightening for Wastrels. They fell so much behind on action points.

However, the death train started losing steam... kind of. Breakthrough scored two points just fine after the first activation, but Tormented managed to kill just one model this turn. Though in all honesty, that model was Lucas McCabe. 

To dodge around his horsey-healing tricks, Tormented had do ping him for one point, and only from hazardous terrain and tactical action. I need to savor this turn, because that's exactly what happened. Well, one point of damage came from a Drowned or something, but Lucas didn't proc his heal just yet. Eventually Montresor was cursed to watch as Kari tolled Lucas into hazardous terrain, leaving him at two health. He had taken one point from hazardous already during his own activation, as he rode Huckster to my deployment zone. Jack Daw was then free to either kill Lucas by rolling over him twice, or deny opponent points from Search the Area. I made the scoring-wise incorrect decision to kill Lucas, but in my heart I know it was the right decision for the wrongs he's done against the humanity. Even in this game he trampled a mistreated, crooked miner with several lung diseases under the hooves of his horse.

So, Huckster and Desper were able to secure two points from Seach the Area for Wastrels. Breakthrough scored two for Tormented, who also took the upper hand in strategy. It was still a 6-7 lead for Wastrels.

Turn 4: Tormented picks Public Demonstration on Desper. Wastrels pick Frame Job on Luna.

Desper was the first to activate, and went to bottom-right corner. Now, if I only would receive a soulstone or two from somewhere... like from the Guilty who had just one health left...

... which certainly could have happened, if Jack Daw didn't go and kill the Ruffian a hit away from killing Guilty. 

Unfortunately Hanged went to charge Luna to bluff Assassinate. That he did, but also scored a point for Wastrels from Frame Job.

Me activating Jack Daw that early was mostly to save up lesser minion activations, as well as Kari and Ferryman for their movement tricks. But I certainly didn't need both of those models, or even furthest Drowned. However, no amount of stalling found me an opening to rush two minions to Desper. 

Double points on turn four, however, tied the scores to 8-8.

It Just Had To Come vol whatever

 Two 50ss games



of Malifaux 4th edition.

Strategy: Wedge Informants

Schemes: Assassinate, Harness the Leyline, Runic Binding

My list:

Molly, Harbinger of Havoc & Necrotic Machine
Archie
Philip & Nanny
Night Terror
2x Rabble Riser
2x Crooligan

Pool: 5

Opponent had:

Lynch, Dark Bet & Hungering Eclipse
Gwyneth Maddox
Kitty Dumont
Kara
Mr. Tannen
2x Illuminated
Beckoner

Pool: 4

Turn 1: Forgotten picks Assassinate on Mr. Tannen. Honeypot picks Assassinate on Philip & Nanny.

Eventually Archie leaped, walked and charged to punch a point out of Mr. Tannen. Respectively, same didn't happen for Honeypot, because I wasn't measuring up my distances correctly, and a Crooligan wasn't in fact contesting a marker on my side's quarter after she climbed on top of a building.

In the end, Archie's reckless charge was not a good choice, as opponent was able to remove him from the board. Certainly he disrupted most of the first round for Honeypot, ultimately leading to situation where Honeypot didn't score even a single point this turn. 

Well, not only Archie. There were other choices too, like taking a double walk to contest rightmost strategy marker with Molly, which left her in a precarious position for the upcoming turns.

Also, a Crooligan attacked a contesting Illuminated at the leftmost strategy marker, which didn't do much. But the way the kid shrieked from shadows had the Illuminated jump to Necrotic Machine, letting Crooligan to control the strategy.

From top of my head, I think it was this turn when Kara tried to take the highground, but Molly gave her a walk off from top of building, essentially to the joint corner of the two rightmost buildings in the picture.

Scores went 2-0 for Resurrectionists. Was the Archie gambit worth it? We'll see!

Turn 2: Forgotten picks Scout the Rooftops. Honeypot picks Detonate Charges

I had been playing Scout the Rooftops from turn one forwards, but it still took a lot of work somehow to claim two points from it. Molly and her jinkies were essential in achieving that after Mr. Tannen took a double walk to block my earlier set up.

Kara came to block the marker on my side after shredding up a kid on the roof of a building. Fortunately Philip & Nanny kept pram ramming the cat so hard that during end phase it died to feeling utterly abandoned.

The second kid cheered and ran to Gwyneth to play some exciting new card games, but was beaten to death by a card deck instead. One of the Rabble Risers also died, and the other one at something like two points remaining was moved right next to a bunch of scheme markers for a Detonate Charges.

At least Necrotic Machine was also able to remove one illuminated, so there were losses on both side.

But Forgotten had the heavier toll, so Ten Thunders were able to start collecting strategy points.

Both teams got two from their schemes, so scores went 4-3.

Turn 3: Forgotten picks Grave Robbing, Honeypot picks Take the Highground

... Allrighty, oh-kay'y. 

I mean, once you play this game enough, statistical anomalies are bound to happen.

The turn was a total disaster. My own estimation was that Resurrectionists were struggling in this game, and were rather fighting for a draw rather than victory. But this turn just tilted the scales so far into loss.

The thing was, that I had just a single 13 in my hand. That was from previous turn, by the way. Meaning that I did not draw it on turn three. This is important information.

After we ended the turn, I tallied my discard pile AND my hand. Here we go:

1x 13
1x 11
1x 8
2x 7
3x 6
3x 5
1x 4
3x 3
4x 2
3x 1
Black Joker.

I mean, it was hilarious in its own way. But it did lead to such a one-sided situation, that we could end the game right there and then to a 4-6 victory for Ten Thunder. Sure enough, that point difference wasn't too bad, but Ten Thunders had such an overwhelming majority in contesting models that not scoring two points from strategy was just not going to happen. 

I had the 13 in my hand, and figured that if I just would receive 11+ in my hand, opponent would be able to deny two points for my scheme only with a Red Joker. But that 11 in the stats was not in starting hand. 

So, let's get on to the second game.

Game 2:

Strategy: Flank Plant Explosives

Schemes: Assassinate, Ensnare, Make It Look Like an Accident

Last Breath Seamus & Copycat Killer
Strange Lady
Madame Sybelle
Bete Noire
Dead Doxy
2x Mourner

Pool: 5

Opponent had:

Steel Sculptor Hoffman & Mechanical Attendant
Peacekeeper
Melissa
Warden
2x Hunter
2x Watcher

Pool: 5

Turn 1: Redchapel picks Ensnare, Augmented picks Make It Look Like an Accident

I must admit I was dreading those harpoons. But you got to move some models in this game, I guess. Mourners seem rather good for their extra walk to drop bombs right off the bat. Unfortunately there were mechanical bats doing just the same for Augmented, and also four legged canine/feline hybrids, that the lone Mourner found herself against top-right.

Another Watcher went to place a strategy marker bottom-left. I managed to arrange Bete Noire there doing just the same, but also charging it with bonus from crew card. Damage was good, but most of it was healed by Mechanical Attendant anyway.

Another Mourner went to place a scheme marker near center point, trying to bait either Peacekeeper or Hoffman himself there, but neither seemed to be that interested. Although I think Peacekeeper attacked her once, but she leaped away with concealment token. Strange Lady did the same, and last attack went to Seamus who had been moved there by Copycat Killer. By then Hoffman had already committed to everything but attacking.

I did realize my Seamus shenanigans were off by a large margin, because I could have done what I wanted so easily with just a well placed Secret Passage. Oh well. At least Seamus was able to claim Ensnare with two points.

Opponent couldn't make Make It Look Like an Accident work, but they did claim strategy. So did Resurrectionists for a 3-1 lead.

Turn 2: Redchapel picks Frame Job with Mourner, Augmented picks Breakthrough

I tried to bluff Madame Sybelle as the potential Frame Job target, but I had picked Mourner who had just three health remaining. However, this particular opponent had a history for giving me easy Frame Jobs, so he was really hesitant to attack anything at all near the center. Some non-damage action pulled Madame away, but she just charged right back. Mourner walked away to place a bomb, but charged right back. And in the end, Hoffman refused to frame a job. 

To confuse opponent even more, Seamus wasted his activation by dropping three scheme markers on top of a building to bluff for Search the Area. Well, it wasn't a total waste - I was also building up for Scout the Rooftops next  turn.

Copycat Killer also had teleported on the building, and shot Melissa that had climbed on top to contest Search the Area. He shot Melissa with the monster cannon, and fell from the building, nearer enemy deployment zone to place a strategy marker there.

Fortunately all this also lead to a situation where he couldn't claim Breakthrough, so neither player got scheme points.

Bete Noire managed to slice a Watcher into scraps, but it took every action she had.

Warden, Hunter and Peacekeeper punched through Dead Doxy, who took admirably long before she died. 

With great difficulty both players had managed to drop five bombs. Augmented, however, had placed two of those on my deployment zone, so they received the bonus points, catching up on the scores to 4-3 lead for Redchapel.

Turn 3: Redchapel picks Scout the Rooftops, Augmented kept Breakthrough

Augmented kept Breakthrough. Although I did have first activation, I wasn't in a position to deny it. 

This turn, however, went absolutely horribly for Redchapel in other ways as well. 

My plan had been to discard walk with Mourner to pick up the bomb she had placed earlier, then take a double walk. Later, Strange Lady would give her the interact required to score extra point from strategy. However, I wasn't paying attention to the actual deployment line, and the Mourner scaled a terrain to get on top of a fateful building to receive cover from possible attacks. She did receive those, sure, but wouldn't be able to plant the explosive! Strange Lady did give her at least the interact to place a scheme marker for Scout the Rooftops, but... wait, there's more.

Seamus had to teleport in to save the day, but even that I managed to mess up. He teleported, placed bomb in enemy deployment, walked to scale terrain and placed a second scheme marker for Scout the Rooftops bonus points. Except that he didn't. Instead, he picked up the neutral bomb Mourner had left when she eventually had died.

Last two paragraphs summed up probably my most horrible case of self-sabotage in the entirety of my Malifaux career. First, the Mourner robbed me of a point - I was one strategy marker short of receiving victory point from strategy. Then, I didn't have the models to place enough scheme markers for Scout the Rooftops bonus points. GAH.

Opponent was able to score Breakthrough with ease, and then focus on killing my models and ensure strategy.

Scores tied at 6-6, as Resurrectionists had been able to claw at least the bonus points for strategy. 

Turn 4: Redchapel picks Leave Your Mark, Augmented picks Assassinate on Strange Lady

I had the option to pick either Detonate Charges or Leave Your Mark. Since I already got one next to center point, I thought I'd have my shot at that, because opponent likely would avoid my scheme marker like the plague. 

Opponent was quite sure I had picked Detonate Charges, but decided to drop some scheme markers to the center anyway, just in case. Once that started happening, I tried to redirect what was left - mostly just Bete Noire - to engage models there so they'd not make even more schemes. 

I won't say opponent had easy time killing Strange Lady. She did take some effort for sure, but if Peacekeeper, Hoffman, Hunter and Melissa decide with all their action points that you're getting assassinated, you kind of... are. 

I was passing as much as possible to make my last move, Seamus dropping three schemes for Leave Your Mark. Unfortunately Augmented still had one activation left, and that was Mechanical Attendant, who was able to teleport to Hoffman, walk and drop a scheme. This denied me one point.

Resurrectionists were the worse bombers this turn, too, so opponent got three points and Resurrectionists only one. This ended the game in 7-9 victory for Guild.

Moly cow

Lantern Year 4 Showdown - Butcher Level 1

Senaus, Chybele, Theus and Omena set out to defend the settlement. With great struggle survivors did a point of damage in to Butcher on first turn, and I believe it was second Butcher turn when the nemesis disemboweled Chybele. 

But that was the extent of Butcher's threat. Despite mauling Chybele almost turn after turn, he wasn't able to kill the disemboweled survivor. Survivors got their act together and were able to score two to four wounds per turn. 

It looked like Devour Lantern might become one of the cards left in deck, which certainly could have made things difficult... but even that threat didn't turn real. Relatively clean showdown, if we discount one meager disembowelment.

 Lantern Year 5: Stranger in the Dark

We thought we had a population of fourteen, but there had been a guy who responded to the name of Incognito, all along.

Chybele was nominated for Hands of Heat, and eventually her feet were branded. She really tried to form a tradition, but other people felt more like using branding irons.

Gorm Climate took off some re-rolls, too. We were not keen on losing innovations.

Benoira took the Sleeping Virus Flower.

Endeavors: 

1: Settlement innovates Face Painting
2-3: Face Painting by Gravemind and Hoki
4: Senaus makes a match out of the painted people, Grachio is born.
5: Chybele does the same, and a green savior, Fortuna, is born!
6: Theus attempts augury with no results. 

Lantern Year 5 Hunt & Showdown: Gorm level 1:

Senaus, Fortuna, Omena and Theus hunt the beast. Hunt is uneventful. Survivors manage to ambush Gorm, which already carved four wounds off from the quarry before it had drawn a single AI card. A couple of retches did some heavy injury levels, but that's it. Gorm was a total pushover. However, gained resources matched the challenge.

Lantern Year 6: Open Maw, again!

Returning survivors forget their name with Memory Haze. 

1: We had four survivors with no name, and one guy called Incognito. That was almost 33% of the population, so settlement innovated Family to better structure their names that seemed to get lost.
2: Polly jumps into Open Maw, returning courageous and with Hissing Cockroach and Cyclops Fly. Omena places the fly into her empty eye socket, and doesn't die.
3: Settlement special innovates Citrinitas.
4: Face-Painting for Intimacy
5: Nameless guy did some matchmaking anyhow, Tumbo and Hoki becoming the first family, Fifaly. They were blessed with a baby girl named Yalcapallo.

Lantern Year 6 Hunt & Showdown: Gorm level 1

First two showdowns were played with Tabletop Simulator, but what comes next was live games. Nameless guy with Twilight Sword, Incognito, nameless woman and Theuvo begin hunt. This whole thing was nothing but an appetizer. Gorm chips munch munch.

Lantern Year 7: Slender Blight

Slender Blight was to invert the survival and insanity of departing survivors.

Hooded knight paid a visit, dueling now nameless Twilight Sword wielder. Duel was lop-sided, and ended up with a gaping chest wound for the wielder.

1: Settlement innovates Clan of Death
2-3: Face Painting for Manda and Theus Bo.
4:  Matchmaker for Manda and Theus, Manaus Bo is born.
5: Augury for Manaus Bo, giving her +1 understanding.

Settlement develops Bone Axe and Manda and Theus drink a love potion to give Manaus a little brother, Pentska Bo.

Lantern Year 7 hunt & showdown: Gorm level 1

We just didn't want to give up on Gorm just yet, wanting those sweet pieces of armor instead. So, 

nameless Twilight Sword, Chybele, nameless daggerist and Theus begin hunt. Hunt wasn't big of a deal, but thanks to Slender Blight and a couple of advanced AI cards that got stuck in the last few cards gave an actual challenge no-one expected at this point. 

Lantern Year 8: Gorm Climate out of deck

Gorm Climate took a bunch of re-rolls, because it threatened the loss of innovations.

While Benoira watches the meteor flying up high, Manaus gazes at the dung ball rolling around in the distance.  Not sure if that leads to any sort of camaraderie, though.

1: Settlement innovates Bloodletting
2: Settlement builds Leather Crafter
3: Settlement cures leather
4:Matchmaker, Tumbo and Hoki receive Volibala, little brother to Yalcapallo.
5: Stone Noses.

Settlement develops Leather Cuirass, Dried Acanthus and Rib Blade

Lantern Year 8 hunt & showdown: Flower Knight level 1

Twilight Sword, Benoira, nameless daggerist and Theus begin the hunt.

Which was an emotional rollercoaster of sorts, as twilight sword guy was constantly losing and gaining access to use Twilight Sword. 

Benoira, our luck machine, got the Unlucky disorder just to eventually lose it.

 Flower Knight opened the showdown with an advanced card that pulled two survivors inside the fairy ring, and incidentally those were the worst armored. The knight lopped off Twilight Sword wielder's inner ears, making him deaf.

Although exciting in other ways, that was the most severe setback of the showdown. Eventually the knight calmed down a bit, and became much easier to handle.

Lantern Year 9: Dark Seamstress

Well there sure seems to be a few endeavors this time around. 

1: Settlement innovates Bed.
2: Nameless daggerist sleeps in bed, healing broken rib. 
3: Matchmaker for Mossman and Yalcapallo forms a new family and receives Vega Greenery. 
4-5: Round-Stone Training for Pentska and Benoira, both gain Tumble
6-7:  Shared Experience for Pentska and Benoira
8: Twilight Sword does augury intimacy for Mossman and Yalcapallo - both die despite Mossman's re-roll.
9: Twilight Sword does augury for +1 Understanding.
 10: Twilight Sword does augury for +1 survival.

Settlement develops Skull Helm. 

Lantern Year 9 showdown: Slenderman level 1

Benoira, Chybele, Pentska and Theus defend the settlement from this unknown threat.

It's been a long time since I was against the Slenderman, and I had... almost forgotten how distressing showdown that is. Those dmg 4 hits are scary, and the feeling of powerlessness and futility that comes from not being able to really fight back until the posse is together. It certainly only added to this theme, when the Slenderman opened with the advanced card that pushes everyone to a corner and attempts to ensnare. Survivors had started by tossing a Founding Stone at a location that inflicted two wounds on a critical.

Survivors got only two Dark Water from pod imprisonment thing, and one of those had to be used to clear Benoira's disorders so that she was able to pull Pentska or Theus back from the darkness, because they had three bleed tokens already. Benoira suffered a few nonpermanent injuries, one of which has her skip next hunt.

Slowly survivors grinded through Slenderman's AI cards and were victorious. Reward check was not that thrilling, though, because a one dropped.

Lantern Year 10: Cracks in the Ground

After a few re-rolls, settlement regained the lost Founding Stone.

1: Settlement uses Light Forging to craft gloom arrows. 
2-3: Failed auguries
4: Shared Experience for Incognito

Next it's going to be a level 2 something. Lacking Surge be damned.