Abandoned Showgirl

 A 50ss game of Malifaux 4th edition.

Strategy: Standard Boundary Dispute

Schemes: Public Demonstration, Ensnare, Reshape the Land

My list:

Molly, Harbinger & Necrotic Construct
Archie
Philip & The Nanny
Forgotten Marshal
Night Terror
2x Rabble Riser
Crooligan

Pool: 3

Opponent had:

Colette du Bois, Star of the Show & 3x Mechanical Doves
Cassandra Felton
Shadowlark
Irena Keene
Altus Keene
Blackbird
2x Showgirl

Pool: 2

Turn 1: Forgotten picks Public Demonstration on Irena, Performers performed Ensnare.

Showgirls were delivering strategy markers as effectively as you'd expect. On the left, Archie went and charged one of the showgirls, which didn't amount to much. My initial reasoning was to stall one of the enemy strategy markers, but charging and engaging models that can interact in melee is not cost-effective. Especially when Archie went to engage a cost five model that had already placed one scheme marker. Yeah, I was offering Ensnare almost on a silver plate. Altus went to place the second required marker, but Molly forced him to interact it away right next.

However, Cassanda took a Shadowlark leap and charged Archie, punching him down to four or five health remaining. When her activation ended, she copied a scheme marker. I didn't try to deny Ensnare any longer. 

Instead, I was a little worried that opponent was delaying Irena's activation. Forgotten Marshal had been my first activation, and it interacted strategy forward, copied Night Terror's leap and went in contact with the strategy. Peacekeeper failed to keep peace. 

Eventually Colette activated and Presto-delivered Forgotten Marshal way past centerline for Irena to charge. Which she did, and savagely injured the marshal. However, that way at least I was able to get a point from Public Demonstration, and even soften up the sister a little with pattycakes. Crooligan and Night Terror went near her.

Both crews got two strategy markers past centerline. Performers got two points from Ensnare, Forgotten got one from Public Demonstration, so Arcanists took the lead with 3-2.

Turn 2: Forgotten takes Assassinate on Irena, Performers took Frame Job with Shadowlark

Archie leaped and rush-charged Irena with that insane 3" melee tentacle. Damage was decent, and first point was scored. Unfortunately Molly was unable to finish Irena, so she mutilated Forgotten Marshal down to one health, and killed Crooligan with just one hit. Necrotic Machine came to heal him and Archie, before finally Night Terror was able to secure the second scheme point with two subsonic screeches.

I forgot who dealt the damage and Abandoned token, but Showgirl to the right went to move a strategy marker past centerline. Rabble Riser had thrown that marker back so far that the Showgirl was forgotten and died to abandonment.

Other Showgirl, a Mechanical Dove and Shadowlark tried to kill the second Rabble Riser while delivering strategy markers, and nearly did so. The Riser was down to one health remaining. Ten of masks was my last card in hand, though, so he was able to dislodge from Mechanical Dove and Shadowlark to go and even out the strategy marker count.

Philip and Nanny did shenanigans. They charged Shadowlark and scored a lucky masks, pushing through the trio of performers with prams. They were then able to interact one Performer strategy back to their side, and Rambling Man right to it. I just wonder... why didn't I walk?

Unfortunately opponent had Frame Job with Shadowlark, so Arcanists secured a point.

Cassanda just sliced and diced Philip & Nanny to a forgotten level of success.

Against all odds Forgotten Marshal survived with one health remaining, and even Archie was still standing. Scores even tied at 5-5.

Turn 3: Forgotten takes Scout the Rooftops, Performers went avant garde with Public Demonstration

I did a pretty good job at delivering one of my strategy markers and one Arcanist strategy marker to enemy deployment, with one more Resurrectionists strategy within one interact. This did take Molly, Nighterror and the Rabble Riser who had one health. Molly found a clue from top of terrain. That meddling Altus went to investigate, blocking one scheme marker from Scout the Rooftops. 

Still alive Showgirl beautifully killed Rabble Riser by beckoning Philip & Nanny to rush those prams to backstage. Blackbird finished Forgotten Marshal.

Archie that had been yeeted almost to my deployment zone went to place a scheme marker for Scout the Rooftops, and so did Philip & Nanny. 

This was opponent second game of fourth edition, so he goofed up Public Demonstration. He had picked Night Terror, which is already illegal, and tried to score with Mechanical Dove and Blackbird. Whoops, happens. 

This was my... what? Twenty-sixth game of fourth edition? During end phase I was somehow thinking that I had already secured two points from Scout the Rooftops, so I was free to spend soulstone with Necrotic Construct to rob myself a point by running off the building, and taking a walk to guard enemy strategy marker.

Resurrectionists had been able to claw out strategy for this turn, and... one (1) point from Scout the Rooftops as well. A 7-5 lead for Resurrectionists.

Turn 4: Dispute over, everyone just detonates charges

In the end, I got two of my strategy markers to enemy deployment, while Arcanists got only one strategy to my deployment. However, thanks to interacting while ignoring my models standing next to their strategy markers, Performers managed to get their other two markers past the centerline. At least Philip & Nanny had been able to body block Cassandra from getting to a position to push a second marker to my deployment.

However, that left Resurrectionists only getting two scheme markers for Detonate Charges, while Performers had, like, all five. 

It was a narrow 10-9 victory for Molly.