Farewell to third

 A 50ss game of Malifaux...third edition, maybe I need to specify.

Strategy: Corner Cloak and Dagger

Schemes: Protected Territory, Power Ritual, Outflank, Take Prisoner, Deliver a Message

My list:

Seamus & Copycat Killer
Strange Lady
Batsch & Amalie
Oskar
Gravedigger
Dapperling
Rotten Belle
Dead Dandy

Pool: 5
Schemes: Take Prisoner (A Showgirl), Protected Territory

Opponent had:

Colette DuBois & 3x Mechanical Doves
Carlos Vasquez
Altus Keene
Irena Keene
Angelica Durand
Blackbird
2x Showgirl

Pool: 3
Schemes: Power Ritual, Protected Territory

Turn 1:

Corner deployment saw only limited engagement between the crews. Although there was one cannon shot. Rotten Belle lured Copycat Killer forward for a bit, and Strange Lady obeyed the totem even further. Eventually this led to Seamus teleporting to top-right quarter, walking, picking up intel and shooting Irena, before walking into safer pastures. The attack hit fine, buuut there was this Black Joker that came up on the damage flip. 

Other than Seamus, only Dead Dandy was walking towards top-right quarter, where two strategy markers were. His arrogance was outmatched only by his overconfidence. Irena, Altus, Mechanical Dove and even a Showgirl were going in the same direction. Even Carlos Vasquez was relatively close, although he was closer to center point, where he put a pyre marker next to Seamus.

Prisoner Showgirl, Colette and another Mechanical Dover were hiding behind tall wall sections in a real close proximity. Blackbird and Angelica were with them, too, but not inside blast radius.

Rotten Belle was barely outside of deployment zone - Copycat Killer was inside deployment zone - and Gravedigger was just as clueless as what he should do.

Fungal gang had fully committed to going to bottom-left quarter, with Strange Lady slowly following them.

Turn 2:

Oh, second turn picture is out of focus. But from what I can gather, going from top to bottom, Seamus was transported back to center. Altus and Irena secured an intel point, and Dead Dandy ran to perhaps scheme and pick up strategy markers next turn. 

Altus and Irena had teased Seamus with Pyre markers before he got teleported, so there was two markers scorching Copycat Killer now. Tried as he might, Copycat Killer just could find the right cord to cut from Mechanical Dove that he was engaging.

Seamus tried to utilize his hand cannon to remove models near prisoner-to-be Showgirl, but for the second time in a row Seamus messed up his attack. Carlos, on the other hand, continued to spew pyres at Seamus this time at the center of the board.

Strange Lady, Gravedigger and Rotten Belle figured out how to pick up intel from an informant inside pyre marker, while Colette kept threatening fungal gang with stuns and whatnot. I think it was Seamus' gun that scared off Colette from the board this turn, so in that way there was at least a degree of success to his attack.

Anyway, before that, Colette had sword-tricked Oskar off the board. Batsch & Amalie were slowly dancing through a forest to pick up intel, and succeeded at that. Dapperling went to place a scheme marker for Protected Territory, but I couldn't figure out a way to put another marker.

Scores went 1-1, as both teams got strategy.

Turn 3:

Again from top to bottom, Dead Dandy planted a scheme for Protected Territory and charged to cane Mechanical Dove. Showgirl and Altus removed that marker as well as the Dandy.

Miraculously Copycat Killer survived the onslaught by Irena - although the totem got enough burning going on that he'd die during end phase. But still not quite willing to leave the entire top-right quarter for Performers free to roam, Copycat yeeted Seamus back there to contest. Before getting teleported Seamus had shot Blackbird off the board. My first recorded kill for the match. Yay.

Colette took position quite annoyingly within 2" of my prisoner target. 

I certainly tried to unpack that situation, but Colette was impervious to Rotten Belle's lures, and only a Mechanical Dove failed cordyceps check from Batsch & Amalie, who attempted to impress performers with their power of dance. Maybe anyone else would have been impressed, but after all these were professional performers. 

For the odd chance I'd score Take Prisoner, Gravedigger ran to engage Showgirl, but Colette just would not stop stepdancing. 

Angelica Durand went to remove Dapperling's scheme marker, and Oskar also had been laughed off the stage by Durand. 

Both players scored strategy for a 2-2 tie.

Turn 4:

Seamus finally got his cannon rolling, but that might have came a tad too late. But it certainly gave me some hope when Irena died to just one shot from Seamus' flintlock

But, there were still Showgirl and Altus scheming to no end. However, at least I managed to get Seamus standing on two strategy markers for the next turn.

Center was a mess thanks to Colette's stun shenanigans. 

I tried to launch Strange Lady at Colette in attempt to make her fade away, but that just didn't happen. 

Oskar and Batch & Amalie were busy collecting intel, so they couldn't contribute to trapping the center Showgirl. Dapperling also had to use his actions to push Oskar forward. 

Angelica and Carlos take positions at or near board corners, and there was little I could do to that. 

So, Arcanists scored both of their schemes, while Resurrectionists still got none. Both got their strategy points, however, for a 5-3 lead for Arcanists.

Turn 5:

Seamus picked up two intel and teleported off to place a scheme required for Protected Territory. Dapperling robber prisoner Showgirl of intel, and it was probably Oskar who picked the fourth point for the turn.

Gravedigger had placed a scheme under itself a few turns ago, so that was a check for Protected Territory end condition.

Prisoner showgirl also didn't take any steps away from the centerline, so that was also Take Prisoner for Resurrectionists. 

However, after all this I had ran completely out of activations to deny any points for Arcanists, so the - possibly last game of Malifaux third edition for me - ended with a 8-6 victory for Colette.

Sword Hat Trick

 A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Corner Stuff the Ballots

Schemes: Sweating Bullets, Espionage, In Your Face, Hold Up Their Forces, Take Prisoner

My list:

Ensouled Jack Daw & Lady Ligeia
Montresor
Hans
The Ferryman
Auguste Hart
Crooked Man
Drowned

Pool: 6
Schemes: Sweating Bullets (Montresor), In Your Face

Opponent had:

Colette Du Bois & 3x Mechanical Doves
Cassandra Felton
Shadowlark
Coryphee Duet
Angelica Durand
Blackbird
2x Showgirl

Pool: 0
Schemes: Espionage, Sweating Bullets (Cassandra Felton)

Turn 1:

Performers started performing right off the bat - Coryphee Duet was delivered some 28" inches from one corner of the board to another. While that could have been a relief, there were now two ballot boxes guarded by Coryphee Duet. Not gonna challenge those, yeah.

Shadowlark and a Showgirl were going towards the bottom two strategy markers, while remaining performer troupe were tromping towards marker in the center. 

Blackbird, another Showgirl and Cassandra Felton were out there in the open, however, not quite close enough to Hans' clockwork rifle. Hans just took a little walk to the edge of a cargo container to start shooting next turn.

Jack Daw, however had taken a double walk to inaudibly whisper to a Mechanical Dove. Dove was not impressed, but showgirls beckoned poor Jack's ensouled mind and walked him right next to Cassandra Felton. So, Coryphee Duet was not the only model that was flinged over 24 inches this turn by performers. 

So, at the end of first turn, remaining Tormented models were lagging dangerously far behind. Ferryman had managed to Black Joker its Lost In the Fog against Montresor. This had repercussion for the next turn, so let's go there.

Turn 2:

Cassandra started by nimbling past Jack Daw, suspiciously engaging Tormented master within 6" of center point.

As I did not know opponent had Sweating Bullets on Cassandra, I tried to figure out a way to deliver Montresor to Cassandra. But, if Ferryman used Lost in the Fog to move Montresor close enough to get to Cassandra, I most certainly would not get strategy points this turn. So thanks, Black Joker on turn one. 

In the end, I chose strategy points that Ferryman went to pick. 

Jack Daw, though, managed to land some Anger Issues on Cassandra, and then walz past Blackbird and Showgirl with Burst of Speed. Draw Them In also dealt a point of damage to Showgirl. I had been saving a one of rams from first turn in my hand just for Hans, and he was able to snipe off Showgirl from the board. Let's call that the sniper rifle trick.

However, next Colette did a sword trick on Jack Daw. Well, that only buried Tormented master, but I did groan inside a little when I looked at my Espionage bluff scheme marker - my only scheme marker - on my deployment zone. 

Unfortunately that was not the only trick this turn saw - Shadow Lark Red Jokered a surprise shot trick against Drowned, killing it in two shots. Shadowlark's backup dancer was then able to go and place a vote on center-left box. 

Coryphee Duet was able to place three votes, one to top-right and one to center-right strategy marker. 

Montresor was able to slow and stagger Cassandra with a tossed noose. A Mechanical Dove had flown to block Montresor, but Lady Ligeia, the melee monster we all know and love, was able to remove that blockage. 

Both players scored strategy.

Turn 3:

Montresor started turn by charging Cassandra. She had only three health remaining after that. 

After what had happened to Jack Daw I wasn't exactly feeling secure that Montresor would still stand there, engaging Cassandra in the end phase, so I decided to unbury Jack Daw, take a double walk and charge Cassandra. The only killable cost 8 model died, so I had to take In Your Face as soon as possible.

And, sure enough, soon Montresor was standing next to Colette, and where one Montresor stood was now Angelica Durand. And Auguste Hart was sword tricked off the board before he had activated. This, at least, gave him a chance to remove that failed bluff scheme marker from my deployment zone. 

A Mechanical Dove flew next to Hans and started being Annoying. I was impressed. That was actually effective use of Annoying rule. It just takes an insignificant model with Puny to meaningfully pull off. If Hans wanted +10" range, he needed to concentrate - which would only give him Distracted from Annoying. So, no +10" range. Also, his field guide referencing would be next to useless, too. 

Coryphee Duet walked and charged The Ferryman, and hilariously enough Red Jokered it down to one health remaining. Then the thing just split up into two. Ferryman, who was distracted, had one chance to kill the un-activated Coryphee, and obviously it just failed that. Coryphee killed the enforcer. 

Hans was able to demote one of the Coryphees into a mannequin.

Crooked Man crooked hard against odds against charging Shadowlark and voting Showgirl. It survived, although he did fail every single one of his own actions, though.

Blackbird was speeding towards my deployment corner, so, and Espionage it was. As if that wasn't clear enough from five or so scheme markers in a pool where only one scheme required markers. 

Outcasts had not placed even a single vote this turn, but Arcanists got their second strategy point. Points were still 2-2, though, thanks to killing Cassandra In Your Face.

Turn 4:

If game had not been ridiculous enough as of yet, things were about to change. 

Colette sword-tricks Montresor back to my deployment zone, as Angelica had been able to remove the scheme I had placed in the center to be a homing beacon for Montresor. 

Montresor walked and charged Blackbird, but only managed to drop another scheme marker thanks to Set the Scene. 

I had been carefully waiting for opponent to burn through his control hand so that Hans would have his best shot at injuring Blackbird seriously enough.

So, he took a shot. Attack dealt a point of damage through Shielded +1, but opponent drew Get Off the Stage straight from the deck. So, Hans was teleported near center. He still had LoS to Blackbird, though, so he took another shot. Two points in, and again Get Off the Stage from top of deck. So Hans was taking snap shots at Blackbird while getting teleported from scheme marker to scheme marker. 

Jack Daw couldn't figure out a way to meaningfully contribute to scoring, so he went to kill a Coryphee. At least he managed to do just that. 

Crooked Man crooked even harder than last turn, as neither Showgirl nor Shadowlark were able to kill that Df 4 model who was at three health remaining. Yay! Go, Crooked Man!

However, Outcasts were not able to score any points that turn. Arcanists got a strategy point, as well as Espionage reveal. Points went 4-2 for Arcanists.

Turn 5:

So... Montresor had one turn to run about 38" for In Your Face. I might have a shot at Sweating Bullets, but not at scenario. Arcanists had potential for all three points. We ended the game, as even if I somehow denied all three points from Arcanists and scored my maximum of one, I'd still lose.

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.

Ghost's Horror Show

 A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Corner Plant Explosives

Schemes: Take Prisoner, Information Overload, Hold Up Their Forces, Espionage, Ensnare

My list:

Kirai & Ikiryo
Datsue Ba
Lost Love
2x Shikome with Killer Instinct
Onryo
2x Enslaved Spirit

Pool: 7
Schemes: Espionage, Hold Up Their Forces

Opponent had:

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

Pool: 2
Schemes: Espionage, Information Overload

Turn 1:

Both Shikomes were deployed to different table edges, but their activations were mirrored - place a scheme and walk, and later chain ganged even further and also deadly pursuit in the end phase.

Opponent was also spamming scheme markers to their deployment zone. I was waiting for opponent to activate the dreaded Coryphee Duet, but he just wouldn't do that. So, Kirai had to activate to summon an incentive for opponent to bring models to middle. Goryo did just that, and fortunately neither Carlos or Coryphees were able to kill it. Lost Love had to teleport to Kirai to heal it, though, so that it wouldn't burn off the board.

I had Kirai, Lost Love, Ikiryo and Onryo going to middle, with Datsue acting as a Lost Love beacon a little to the right.

Performers had Cassandra, Carlos and Coryphee there in the middle, iwth Colette a little behind them and Angelica Durand to the left. A Showgirl had been left behind, who was apparently going towards top-right corner. Firestarter was on top of a walkway, biding his time with two explosive tokens.

Turn 2:

Colette activated first and went to sword-trick Goryo off the board. So now there was Carlos and Coryphee Duet with only a little terrain between Kirai and Lost Love. Ikiryo went to sacrifice herself and even managed to deal four points of irreducible damage to Coryphee Duet.

Coryphee Duet healed a bunch of vengeance damage from various models nearby, took a swing at Ikiryo and danced apart to form two Coryphees with two health each. 

Both Shikomes went to place a strategy marker, and both Enslaved Spirits chain ganged Shikomes forward, and one of them even managed to place a scheme marker to center line. 

Angelica, Carlos and even a tiny little dove were beating Ikiryo and managed to bring her down to one health remaining. This was unfortunate, as I had been saving enough cards in my hand for a nasty double-summon this turn. So, Kirai healed Ikiryo a little instead, summoned a Drowned and launched a Spirit Barrage over the unactivated Coryphee. 

Cassandra went to breathe fire on Lost Love, who took one attack and and protected itself from one by redirecting the attack to Kirai. Reason for such over-protectiveness was the fact that I had placed two of my explosive tokens on him. 

Sword-tricked Goryo popped up from one of my scheme markers in my deployment zone and took a double walk. Lost Love was thus able to heal Goryo and Kirai a little. Onryo went to assist Burning away from Goryo. Datsue Ba gave a charge to summoned Drowned, who managed to stun a Coryphee, but not kill. Datsue Ba was able to startle the puppet before walking a little to perhaps become relevant for scenario next turn.

Firestarter flew recklessly into a position to place a strategy marker, so both players were able to score strategy this turn. No reveals.

Turn 3:

Board state looked really good for Urami. But... somehow... things change.

Angelica tried to cane down an Enslaved Spirit but failed to do so. However, she did drop a strategy. 

Datsue Ba and Onryo tried to kill Firestarter, but didn't do much else than receive Burning and giving Adversary to the wildfire henchman. Firestarter disengaged, took fast and went to place a strategy marker, which was an accidental misplay. No interact action after disengaging. 

Presto-Chango brought Lost Love to middle and Coryphee to Kirai.Center was not such a good position for Lost Love, so he had to be activated next, move to Datsue Ba and go place a strategy marker. 

A showgirl took a charge to Lost Love, and just like that poked a hairpin to Lost Love's brain, killing him instantly with a Red Joker on damage. Then she picked up my explosive marker. That was concerning, as I would have to steal one of opponent's markers now to score four from strategy. Maybe next time I shouldn't put 40% of my eggs to an easily killed basket. 

Shikomes continued closing in the enemy deployment zone, but the one one the left got bogged down by a Mechanical Pigeon and Mannequin that dealt four points of damage with just one moderate. Or, more accurately, that was before tits ransition from Coryphee that took a point of vengeance. Dove and Coryphee brought Shikome down to one health remaining. Yikes.

But, at least Hold Up Their Forces was looking good when Angelica Durand had not managed to kill an Enslaved Spirit, who then went to engage her. 

Goryo from first turn killed Coryphee and/or Mannequin that had Colette had shuffled around.

Kirai summoned a Goryo to middle, took a walk and tried to shoot Firestarter off the board, which just didn't happen. Goryo wanted to keep Carlos engaged, so it just walked and tried to use Violent Spirits for damage. Spirits were not so violent.

But Carlos... Carlos on the other hand was. 

He breathed fire on Goryo and scored severe damage, which meant that both Ikiryo and Drowned died. Goryo was beaten down to two health remaining, but had four points of burning. So yeah. Just like that. Twenty-two points worth of models, gone. And to make it a lot worse, I had been counting on Drowned continuing to engage Colette for Hold Up Their Forces. Nope. Not anymore.

Thankfully no-one scored schemes, so scores went 2-2.

Turn 4:

Kirai upkept Adversary on Firestarter, and so Onryo was able to kill the henchman with a charge attack. 

Colette walked, dropped explosive and used Presto-Chango to switch Kirai and Carlos. Or at least their places on board. There was then a brief comical moment when Goryo tried to land Mark of Vengeance on Carlos, which missed and triggered Butterfly Jump. Then it charged Carlos and missed, which triggered Butterfly Jump. Then it charged Carlos and missed, which triggered Butterfly Jump. I hope Carlos appreciated 9" free movement. 

Mechanical Dove failed to kill the Shikome with one health remaining, but Mannequin didn't. 

Kirai was able to summon Ikiryo back, and with a soulstone even an Enslaved Spirit to engage Colette.

Ikiryo shrugged off her slow and charged Angelica Durand that had already killed another Enslaved Spirit. Damage was too weak to affect the last one and a half turn.

Showgirl had walked and charged Enslaved Spirit on top-right, but this was still not enough for Hold Up Their Forces, because the Enslaved Spirit to Colette had been summoned this turn. I had the difficult choice of going to plant a strategy marker with Datsue Ba, or run to engage Colette. Datsue placed explosive, as I might not have the chance to do that next turn.

Then a Goryo and Onryo burned into crisp sheets. 

Both players scored strategy and Espionage for an excruciating 3-3 situation.

Turn 5:

Murder Dove was not able to kill Enslaved Spirit at top-right, and Showgirl went to place a scheme marker instead of poking holes into ghosts with hairpin. Enslaved Spirit walked to engage her.

Colette used Sword Trick on Enslaved Spirit next to her and went to place a scheme marker. I was worried Cassandra and Carlos might remove both of my scheme markers in my deployment zone, Kirai had to walk and charge to summon third Goryo to engage Carlos.

Fortunately Carlos was more into spamming scheme markers to my deployment zones, and Cassandra came to help him.

Ikiryo didn't bother to attack Angelica and went to sit over one of my scheme markers instead. Angelica? Scheme markers!

Datsue Ba and Enslaved Spirit gave me Hold Up Their Forces, and Shikome had prepared Espionage end condition.

Performers managed to overload Urami with information and still get Espionage, too. They had also enough strategy markers to cleave a one point victor, 6-7 for Arcanists.

Anything But Doves!

 Whoops! I completely forget to push the publish button.  This game was played almost a week ago. A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Wedge Cursed Objects

Schemes: Assassinate, Sabotage, Spread Them Out, In Your Face, Catch and Release

My list:

Molly the Chaotic Conductor & Necrotic Machine
Philip & Nanny
Archie
Noxious Nephilim
Rabble Riser
Night Terror
2x Crooligan

Pool: 5
Schemes: Spread Them Out, Catch and Release (Crooligan)

Opponent had:

Colette Du Bois & 3x Mechanical Doves
Carlos Vasquez
Cassandra Felton
Angelica Durand
Coryphee Duet
2x Showgirl
Mannequin

Pool: 1
Schemes: Sabotage (Forest on my side), Catch and Release (a Showgirl)

Turn 1:

I had Red Joker in my hand, as well as total of two 13's, a 12 and one or two 11's throughout the turn after Molly had put up Remember the Lost aura. This time around I remembered to draw cards when I passed with two or more.

But despite all that Archie died on first turn. A Red Joker on damage did its thing. 

I had deployed one Crooligan near each point where centerline meets table edge. Molly, Noxious Nephilim and Philip and the Nanny were all benefiting from Night Terror's concealment aura in the bottom-right quarter. Rabble Riser had to take a long walk from behind the walls thanks to bad deployment and me not wanting to activate Necrotic Machine just yet. So he was in the bottom-left quarter not doing anything useful. 

Performers had more or less even line up going towards center, with both Showgirls, Angelica, Mannequin and Colette with assorted pigeons in top-right quarter, and both henchmen and some birds nearby in the top.left quarter. And the odd Coryphee Duet, of course, scissoring ornamental rows of Christmas elves out of Archie's remains.

Turn 2:

Both Crooligans went to place scheme markers almost on the centerline, with my Catch & Release kid being behind a ruined house and a forest. But that didn't save her from a charging Mechanical Dove, who first managed to deal two points of damage with an attack, and then one more damage plus self detonation. Fun times. 

At least Coryphee Duet didn't make as horrifying activation as last turn, as it wasn't able to kill Night Terror. 

I wanted Remember the Lost early in the turn, and Molly had less than ideal activation, healing Night Terror and parading Coryphee Duet into pyre marker. 

Colette Presto-Changoed Showgirl and Philip & Nanny, using sword trick to bury the pram. Because the Showgirl had curse token, I wanted to score my strategy point from her. Noxious Nephilim charged and killed the girl with just one strike. Little did I know that the showgirl was opponent's Catch and Release target! 

Crooligan on the left had to endure murder doves, and indeed, even this time around some damage trickled in. Bewildered Philip & Nanny appeared from scheme marker on left and it drove over one of the doves. 

Rabble Riser had tried to challenge one of the doves, failing at that. Carlos did not fail in dealing damage to Rabble Riser twice, setting the zombie in flames. 

Performers had gathered in the middle. Encore called Coryphee Duet from pyre marker and Cassandra assisted the burns away. 

Last model to activate for me was Necrotic Machine. Seeing that opponent had no cards in hand, it walked past the pyre marker and charged Cassandra, delivering moderate damage. Then, as turn ended, it took the 2" push and free action to interact a scheme marker in the middle, thus netting me Spread Them Out.

Scores go 2-1 for Resurrectionists.

Turn 3:

Noxious Nephilim was Presto-Changoed and sword ticked off the board. Suddenly Molly was looking rather alone, being mostly just herself looking at Cassandra, Coryphee Duet, Angelica and Colette all easily within 5" of her.

Whoops, another Presto-Chango, and most of those models were in base contact with her. Cassandra and Mannequin were now deep behind my lines. 

Carlos killed unactivated Rabble Riser and Necrotic Machine in one activation, and Cassandra walked back to shuffle Coryphee Duet into a better position, and breathe some fire over Molly. Thankfully that one missed.

Night Terror had ran to offer its auras for the blob of Performers. Angelica tried to cane the bat away, but that champ continued enduring far more attacks than Archie did. 

Before Coryphee activated, Molly pushed herself away from melee by discarding a card and then charged Cassandra. I spent three of my soulstones, and it paid off - two hits with the baton sent Cassandra parading over a corpse, scheme and Mechanical Dove marker with irreducible damage trigger. Hooray, strategy point was secured now.

Mannequin went to place a scheme marker behind the forest in the center of bottom-right quarter. Looked like performers were going to sabotage my forest. 

Coryphee Duet and two murder doves did some four points of damage to Molly after Showgirl had lured Night Terror away, so at least that could have been a lot worse. 

Noxious Nephilim appeared on the centerline at left and charged a Mechanical Dove dead. He also planted a scheme marker, which something removed. Crooligan also placed a scheme and continued to hug left board edge. 

Scores go 3-3 when both get strategy and performers manage to sabotage my forest.

Turn 4:

Looks like I forgot to take a picture this turn. But the important bits were Night Terror and Molly failing to kill Angelica, who had curse token. Angelica parading two Mechanical Doves dead certainly was satisfying. Crooligan had to teleport to Angelica and finish her off - and finally, third strategy point was mine!

Losing Molly to Coryphee Duet was... inconvenient. 

Noxious Nephilim and Philip & Nanny try to attack Carlos, but don't do much. 

Both players get strategy for a 4-4 tie.

Turn 5:

Philip & Nanny had used deadly pursuit to move away from Carlos, planted a scheme and charged Carlos. 

Coryphee Duet kills both Night Terror and Crooligan, and we call it a game. I no longer had realistic chance of of scoring either Spread Them Out or strategy, while opponent got curse token from Crooligan and Sabotage had already been secured on turn three.

Scores go 4-6 for Colette and her troupe. 

5-6-7-7

 A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Flank Covert Operations

Schemes: Public Demonstration, Vendetta, Sabotage, Set the Trap, Catch and Release

My list:

Hamelin & 3x Stolen
Benny Wolcomb
Nix
Catalan Brawler
Midnight Stalker
Malifaux Child
Rat Catcher
Catalan Rifleman

Stones: 4
Schemes: Vendetta (Benny on Cassandra), Sabotage (building in enemy deployment zone)

Colette Dubois & 3x Mechanical Doves
Cassandra Felton
Carlos Vasquez
Angelica Durand
Coryphee Duet
2x Showgirl
Mannequin

Stones: 1
Schemes: Sabotage, (middle shack type building) Catch and Release (one of the showgirls)

Turn 1:

I start to build up the rat factory with Rat Catcher, Malifaux Child, Catalan Rifleman and Nix. Benny manages to turn the tokens into rats just fine and walks for a bit - but too much of a bit already. Colette walks close enough to Presto-Chango Benny inside the industrial ramshackle building for some fun and games with Carlos Vasquez.

And Coryphee Duet was the model that was Presto-Changoed to my front line. That just happened too early to ignore the duet, so Catalan Brawler and Hamelin charged the duo. Hamelin also created a Rat King from Benny's rats. 

While Hamelin wasn't much of a performer (hah), Catalan Brawler punched Coryphees right in the face with severe damage while on negatives modifiers. 

Arcanists had their Catch and Releasing Showgirl coming from the left, and top-right they had Angelica Durand, Showgirl and a couple of birds. 

Midnight Stalker leaped on Showgirl, but apparently it stalks exclusively midnights only and failed to do any damage.

Turn 2:

It appears I have forgotten to take picture from second round. 

But for me Rat Catcher went to claim bottom-left marker while for opponent Angelica scored top-right. 

Nix charged Coryphee Duet and nibbled in some damage, although spreading cruel disappointment was the actual reason.

Carlos beats the heck out of Benny, who burns through my stash of soulstones in an attempt to block damage. After all two of my victory points were tied to Benny. Benny spawned only one rat, though, because soulstone managed to block all received damage.

It was rough turn for Coryphee Duet. Swinging at Catalan Brawler was reduced to moderate damage only thanks to Nix, and cage fighter landed a severe back at the duet. Another attack did respectable damage to Rat King, and then the duet split. 

Rat King killed the un-activated Coryphee and Stolen killed the original model. But then there were additional mannequins that needed to be taken care of. Hamelin and Catalan Brawler did just that. 

While it was likely that Coryphees would die this round, it should not have been this easy. I had a lot of luck when it came to damage flips against the Duet. Because of this I was also able to deal with actually recruited Mannequin, too. 

Cassandra and Colette are able to kill Rat King and profilerate Burning all over my crew. 

On top-right, Showgirl disengages and walks towards Arcanist sabotage building. Two Mechanical Doves don't do much to Midnight Stalker, but Midnight Stalker kills both instead, leaps away and plants a scheme marker for sabotage. 

Last remaining Mechanical Dove was killed by Benny after it had charged in to kill a rat. 

What a turn! Eight models killed from Arcanists. Though they still had six left. However, I still didn't dare to feel confident because Benny was in such a horrible position. 

Both players score strategy for 1-1.

Turn 3:

Midnight Stalker goes to place second sabotage marker. 

Carlos and Cassandra set the world ablaze. Arcanist blast marker and two cobblestone bases are pyre markers. There were two Malifaux rats inside the pyre marker close to strategy marker middle-left that had been scurried forth from the wrecked mannequins. I sacrificed a Stolen for two rats more and created one more Rat King after Colette failed to impress one rat with her illusions.

Where Colette did not fail, however, was pulling off a sword trick on Hamelin, so he was kind of off for a turn.

Rat King brought itself into contact with Cassandra in an attempt to slow her down. Angelica ran towards enemy sabotage building, and Showgirl started to spew out scheme markers for sabotage.

I don't quite remember what models softened up Cassandra so that she had only four health remaining. Possibly Nix with bleeding disease and Stolen with vomit. 

Benny survived his ordeal with Carlos, but he had Burning +4 with four or so health remaining. To keep him alive for a bit longer, Hamelin ran with all three action points to get to do some Unclean Influence. Rat King moved out of melee with Cassandra and assisted three points of burning off. This was a mistake, as Cassandra was a claiming model for opponent. Oh well.

Malifaux Child had to run through a pyre marker to get within claiming range of the very same strategy marker Cassandra was now free to claim. 

Scores go 2-3 for Outcasts when both players get strategy and Hamelin gets Sabotage reveal.

Turn 4:

Cassandra breathed fire over both Catalans and killed one of the Stolen. Rifleman was also now at one health remaining and burning +gazillion since he had been sitting in the pyre marker since turn one. Although doing only one action per turn thanks to getting slowed over and over again.

One Stolen walks and charges Angelica Durand but is promptly caned off the board.

Later, Malifaux Child tries to do the same but this time it is caned off the stage via Angelica's defensive trigger. Fortunately it was of no consequence, as opponent claimed bottom-left corner marker.

Colette Presto-Changoes Nix and Carlos and buries Catalan Brawler with sword trick. I don't actually remember what Carlos did. Did he miss all of his attacks? Maybe, maybe not, but at least he succeeded in placing pyre marker over Benny after Rat King had painstakingly removed distracted and burning from him.

Midnight Stalker placed a scheme marker in contact with Outcasts sabotage target, took a run and leaped to top-right strategy marker. Nix went to drop a scheme marker near Benny. Hamelin lured Benny out of the building, moved Rat King out of Benny's way with unclean influence and went within claim range of middle-right strategy marker. 

Benny took Fast from Nix's scheme marker, concentrated and took a focused shot at Cassandra. And I have to cheat damage down not to kill her. Villainy like this is enough for Benny, who starts tip-toeing away from all action. 

Hamelin took middle-right marker and Vendetta, opponent bottom-left and Sabotage for a score of 4-5.

Turn 5:

Angelica Durand moves with nimble, walks and places a scheme to deny me end condition of sabotage. Nix kills Cassandra to enable Vendetta end condition. Benny runs off into wilderness, and Catalan Brawler walks to place a scheme marker within 2" of Benny. 

Colette kind of ruined all my plans, but isn't that kind of her thing? She used Presto-Chango to switch Hamelin into melee with herself and Carlos up there somewhere. Sword trick buries my scheme-marker eating Rat King.

Carlos then somehow manages to score a severe blast damage to Catalan Brawler with fatal consequences to Benny.

Showgirl plants a scheme for arcanist sabotage end condition and goes to contest middle-right strategy marker. Another Showgirl runs to engage Nix and Hamelin. 

Rat King emerged from my scheme and gnawed away Angelica's denial scheme. 

And well, then I guess the term "throw a game" refers to what happens next. 

It looked like a clean 5-7 victory for me so I did a lazy activation with Hamelin. He disengaged, and as I was taking second move I realized Hamelin had Distracted. My plan had been to move twice and lure Malifaux Child closer to enemy strategy marker to remove the marker. 

Well, I was already doing my second move already and I didn't consider luring Malifaux Child critical enough to ask for a slight backtrack and concentrate distracted away. So Hamelin just did a distracted lure and failed to pass target number. 

The reason I thought it didn't matter was because I could always just run the child to engage Showgirl at middle-right marker. Game ended 5-7 for Outcasts.

Except for when I extracted these pictures and started writing this, I realized that since it was fifth turn, we didn't properly resolve the end phase because it seemed like it didn't matter. Sure, often it doesn't but the kid was burning and at one health. So the showgirl could claim middle-right marker after all.

So it was a tough 6-7 in the end.

Yet now that I reached the last picture I also had the realization that Showgirl is engaging Nix. Opponent had told me that he had Catch and Release and that after Hamelin had disengaged it became impossible to fulfill. 

Yet it avoided both of our attention that there she was, engaging Nix even as we're speaking about the very thing.

So in the endest of all ended ends, game was 7-7 draw. 

Only because of things that didn't matter.

Ornithophobia

 A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Wedge Guard the Stash

Schemes: Public Demonstration, Secret Meetup, Set the Trap, Spread Them Out, Load 'Em Up

My list:

Molly & Necrotic Machine
Philip & Nanny
Rogue Necromancy
Forgotten Marshal with The Whisper
2x Night Terror
2x Crooligan

Stones: 5
Schemes: Public Demonstration (Night Terrors & Crooligans), Spread Them Out

Opponent had:

Colette Dubois & 3x Mechanical Doves
Cassandra Felton
Carlos Vasquez
Angelica Durand
Coryphee Duet
2x Showgirl
Mannikin

Stones: 1
Schemes: Secret Meetup (Carlos, Rogue Necromancy, fountain in middle), Set the Trap

Turn 1:

Resurrectionists advanced in an orderly fashion to middle of board, concentrating on the go. I didn't get any meaningful crows in my hand nor with The Whisper, so there was no summon from Forgotten Marshal this round.

I had deployed both Crooligans close to table edges left and right. Colette came and Presto-ed one of them in the middle of performers. We played this a little incorrectly since the Showgirl certainly wasn't 8" from the Crooligan, but I doubt situation would have been that much different even if the target would have been someone a little closer - Angelica Durand might have actually just been that much closer! 

It somehow escaped me that I could just By Your Side out of the situation and instead hoped I might delay the activations of performers long enough to make a worthwhile death for Crooligan. But Angelica just slapped it dead with one activation. At least the kid stole opponent's only soulstone. 

Other than that Coryphee duet charged Rogue Necromancy after been distracted by the monster's projectile vomit and slowed down by Philip's one more question. Terrifying coupled with Boring Conversation made the only attack a non-issue.

Turn 2:

Second turn mistakes were made...

Forgotten Marshal manages to summon a Rabble Riser on board. Then Colette Presto-Chango swaps Forgotten Marshal and Carlos Vasquez, this time with proper rule interactions. 

Forgotten Marshal barely survives Cassandra Felton's attacks but eventually succumbs to measly Mannikin. And this, this was terrible news. I even wasted Red Joker from my hand in an attempt to save Forgotten Marshal. No more Rabble Risers or even additional Night Terrors or Crooligans to act as decoys or maybe even plant a scheme marker some time along the way. 

And while Philip & Nanny continues to be a nuisance par excellence with Boring Conversation, it was not enough to save un-activated Rabble Riser from Carlos' flaming batons. He even managed to flip tomes from top of deck to create a pyre marker on Molly. 

I had tried to tease Carlos a bit with Night Terror and to get into position to score Public Demonstration, but Carlos just danced away with flames so I was forced to adapt a new plan. A showgirl-engaging Night Terror took a double walk to Colette, thus not placing any scheme markers that turn. Remaining Crooligan had to jump to Molly, not making markers either.

Coryphee Duet was doing sorry job at fighting Rogue Necromancy and decided to split apart. The other Coryphee misplayed a rule and switched positions with Carlos Vasquez.

Both players scored strategy and I had my Public Demonstration. Opponent, however, had enough scheme markers to declare Set the Trap and had conditions right for Secret Meetup.

Scores go 3-2 for Arcanists.

Turn 3:

Colette was in a troublesome position. Nearly all of my models were getting distracted. I was able to circumvent getting stunned a bit with Molly's bonus action, but I could not stop Molly from becoming stunned. At least Molly was able to finally kill one Coryphee with irreducible damage after failing so many times. My models were dying left and right so I had to prioritize removing enemy models, and being stunned left Molly one action point short of going to contest Colette's strategy marker.

I had grand plans of pushing through wall of performers with Philip & Nanny by buying extra card and masks for my attack, but even a 12 was not enough to get through them all. 

Then I tried to seize the middle-right strategy marker by teleporting Crooligan there and finally planting a scheme marker for Spread Them Out. Necrotic Machine was healing itself (it already had Burning +4 from various sources) and trying to land a hit on Coryphee. Night Terror was doing the same, but Df 6 seems to be a tough nut to crack and even when I got a hit I dealt more than one point of damage only on a severe... sheesh...

Colette had used Presto-Chango to remove Rogue Necromancy from the big melee. It managed to land a weak bite on Showgirl, and I had a terrible decision to make. I had severe mask in my hand, which I needed for Night Terror to secure Reposition from bonus action. I decided not to cheat, and the Showgirl then ran to get a strategy marker on my side of the table. 

Since I had not progressed the way I needed, I couldn't keep up with my plan to walk out of melee with Night Terror, reposition to enemy strategy marker and place a scheme marker. My only chance to affect points this turn appeared to be to reposition out of melee, charge Mannikin and kill it with just one attack and then walk back to contest. This way nobody would have got points this turn.

Well, needless to say, the bat didn't kill Mannikin even with two attacks. But what needs to be said is how those bloody damn pigeons became the main damage dealers in performer band again! Two of them single-beakedly removed my public demonstrator and my game looked that much darker.

Performers score strategy while Resurrectionists get nothing. Scores go 2-4.

Turn 4:

Not getting attacks through when I needed them had already been the beginning of the end last turn. Opponent wasn't able to dish that much damage out any more either - miraculously I only lost Necrotic Machine this turn - but contesting and scoring strategy markers with five models against eight models that were able to reposition themselves as well as enemy models proved to be impossible.

And those birds were steadily pecking Philip & Nanny's health down despite them having Boring Conversation on.

Arcanists get their third strategy point for scores of 2-5. 

Turn 5:

Well, there were good and bad news. Good news were that those damn birds were on a killing spree. This time they killed Philip & Nanny. This was good news because now opponent needed to bring Molly down to half of her health remaining to score Set the Trap. 

So, she was the next target then. And Molly made a pretty astonishing last stand and dodged every single attack directed at her. Opponent even brought Coryphee away from the strategy marker on my right side. Molly just needed to take one hit of one damage in to guarantee 50% health. She also had Burning +4, which would tick her below half health.

I had brewed up a plan how I might at least score Spread Them Out reveal condition. The plan was to wait until as many performers had activated as possible, then walk and ambush with Rogue Necromancy within 2" of Molly and assist Distracted away from her. Then she would put the last required scheme marker next to some eligible model with One More Question trigger, but as it happened, I did not take the most direct path with Rogue Necromancy. Assist could not reach Molly.

There was no other game for me left other than point denial, and that Molly did good. She removed required scheme markers for Secret Meetup, had lured away the scoring Coryphee and flipped a severe to block damage from burning with my last soulstone.

So final scores are "only" 2-5 instead of 2-8, for Arcanists.

Welcome to Greatest Show on Ear... Somewhere

 A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Standard Cursed Objects

Schemes: Leave Your Mark, Load 'Em Up, Vendetta, Public Demonstration, In Your Face

My list:

Seamus with Whisper & Copycat Killer
Madame Sybelle
Mortimer
Bete Noire with Grave Spirit Touch
2x Rotten Belle
2x Dead Dandy

Stones: 3
Schemes: Load 'Em Up (scheme), Public Demonstration (Belles & Dandies)

Opponent had:

Colette Dubois & 3x Mechanical Doves
Cassandra Felton
Carlos Vasquez
Angelica Durand
Coryphee Duet
2x Showgirl
Mannikin

Stones: 1
Schemes: In Your Face, Leave Your Mark

Turn 1:

Dead Dandy and a Rotten Belle try to flank from the right where Colette and Vasquez were with Mortimer somewhere in between those two and my main Redchapel blob. Rotten Belle was a little too effective at engaging enemy henchmen and/or leaders - Showgirl lured her a bit forwards, and right next Vasquez beat her down to one health and a ton of burning remaining. 

Copycat Killer was sent in from the left to offer free reign for Seamus on that flank. Well, Coyphee Duet came to butcher the little totem with just one charge attack.

At least Seamus managed to land in a severe injury to Coryphees before they were off to their business. 

My main blob in the middle was Madame, Seamus and Bete Noire farther up the board, followed closely by another Rotten Belle and Dead Dandy. Mortimer was trying to find a purpose for his existence after dropping a corpse marker for Bete Noire's Blasphemous Ritual. But as of now he was just standing alone, not near enough to support middle or right. 

A Showgirl, Angelica, Cassandra and Mannequin were somewhat hindered by terrain, or maybe they were just hiding from Seamus' gun. 

But yeah, losing two models first turn when already being outnumbered was a little worrisome for me.

Turn 2:

Come round two, all hell broke loose. It was like both crews were tossed in a blender and shuffled around the board.

Dead Dandy on the right was first to activate and decided to pick up his shoes and quietly backtrack away from Vasquez. 

I didn't want any foul trickery to cause Mannequin to activate close enough to Coryphee Duet to do any healing, so Seamus activated, walked for a bit, concentrated and shot the thing down and still finding time to plant a scheme marker within 1" of center point.

Colette Presto-Chango'ed Mortimer next to herself and a Showgirl past the centerline, safe from any current threats. A Mechanical Dove casually Red Jokers damage on Mortimer. Damn those birds are terrifying, since this wasn't the first time they were doing serious damage. Soon I will overestimate the threat they offer.

Anyway, Cassandra Felton enters mid-field aided by Angelica, takes away my scheme and places her own. Dead Dandy rushes forward to make that scheme into a corpse. 

Mortimer makes a zombie and tries to attack Carlos with meager results, except triggering Butterfly Jump. Carlos then breathes a pyre marker on Seamus.

Showgirl then lures Dead Dandy into the pyre.

Madame Sybelle tanks Coryphee Duet but not Mechanical Dove. She also lashed a couple points of damage to the Duet.

Bete Noire attacks Angelica Durand and while she makes decent amount of damage, she is thrown off the stage next to showgirl that had originally been placed to where Mortimer started turn.

What a confusing turn, with a lot of scheme marker planted and almost as many scheme markers taken away. Rotten Belle was my last model to activate and she ran as close to Cassandra as possible.

Scores go 0-2 for Resurrectionists from strategy and Public Demonstration.

Turn 3:

Third round things became even more chaotic.

Bete Noire kills showgirl with bonus attack from trail of gore, walks and interacts a scheme. Dead Dandy on the right takes a double walk and uses proper murder mystery on a corpse marker.

Cassandra spent time loaning pyre markers from Vasquez and breathing fire of her own on Dandy and Rotten Belle. Catastrophic news is that Seamus now touches two pyre markers. 

Coryphee Duet moves a bit with Angelica's help, splits itself and the active Coryphee walks behind a wall to lock Seamus in place. 

Seamus must activate, and he concentrates to get rid of distracted. Then he takes a swing at the engaging Coryphee, which results in a kill. And then he has to do it again with the ensuing Mannequin. Finally he is free to deny Performers from scoring Leave Your Mark! Oh wait, no he can't - another Dead Dandy had formed a scheme marker out of a corpse a bit earlier.

Oh well. He then just takes a walk away from the hazardous markers with only Burning +8!

The other Coryphee wrecks Dead Dandy, securing opponent a strategy point.

Colette Presto-Changos Carlos (who I think wasted his activation in fighting Mortimer ineffectually) and Rotten Belle and then uses False Reality to place Mortimer in between those dreadful pyre marker. 

Madame had probably been attacking Coryphee Duet.

Mortimer charges a dove and digs up a zombie.

Opponent reveals Leave Your Mark and both of us had strategy this round, so scores go 2-3 for Resurrectionists.

Turn 4:

Mortimer goes to spawn a scheme marker up there somewhere, but is then Presto-Changoed back to the action and Cassandra goes right next to my precious scheme marker. 

It was either Cassandra of Vasquez who put another pyre marker on Seamus. Will this never end?!

Madame Sybelle kills Angelica Durand for a strategy point and somehow ends up in the forest. 

But at least two .5 pint halflocks later Cassandra is no more. But Seamus sits at Burning +10, which I think is my personal burning record.  Dead Dandy comes to assist some burning off of Seamus and turns a corpse into a sixth scheme marker on opponent's table side. 

Bete Noire takes a deep dive into middle and hits Colette for half of her damage as well as removing arcanist scheme marker that was within 4" of center point.

Carlos and Mannequin had placed scheme markers to secure Leave Your Mark end condition.

Scores go 3-5 since both scored strategy and Resurrectionists also got Load 'Em Up.

Turn 5:

Last turn Seamus got a little too effective. First he shot Showgirl dead for my last strategy point, loaded up a corpse into his gun and shot Colette off the board. Not dead, mind you, just buried. This wasn't especially clever since she had already activated and I would've needed her on board to score Public Demonstration.

Opponent kills Mortimer after Seamus' dubious performance and of course I had brought him close enough for opponent to score In Your Face.

I couldn't remove scheme markers from opponent, but at least Seamus was easily within range of Load 'Em Up.

Scores jump to 6-7, quite a catch-up for Arcanists.

Saving Private Vasquez

 A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Corner Plant Explosives

Scheme pool: Assassinate, Dig Their Graves, Power Ritual, Take Prisoner, Hold Up Their Forces

My list was:

Douglas McMourning2, Insanitary & Zombie Chihuahua
Sebastian
Rafkin
Flesh Construct with Killer Instinct
Gravedigger with Killer Instinct
Guild Autopsy
2x Canine Remains

Stones: 6
Schemes: Dig Their Graves, Take Prisoner on a Showgirl

Opponent had:

Colette Du Bois & 3x Mechanical Doves
Carlos Vasquez
Cassandra Felton
Angelica Durand
2x Coryphee
Mannequin
2x Showgirl

Stones: 1
Schemes: Dig Their Graves, Power Ritual

Turn 1:

I had my suspicion that going McMourning2 without Kentauroi to corner deployment wouldn't be the most effective course of action, but I did it anyway because I thought maybe +2 Mv from extra legs compensated. 

Reduse, Reuse, Recycle seems to be an insane ability, though. It was only first turn and I was already swimming in corpses. Flesh Construct and Sebastian received extra legs, and Sebastian summoned third Canine Remains. 

But yeah, these shenanigans came at a price. By the end of turn I got only Gravedigger (going bottom left), Guild Autopsy (going top-right) and Flesh Construct (going middle) out of the bottom-right quarter. 

Carlos Vasquez got moved all over the board and was finally able to bottleneck my crew with a pyre marker. Angelica seemed to be going bottom-left, and since one Showgirl already interacted one scheme marker to enemy's deployment corner, it was pretty clear opponent had Power Ritual.

Coryphees are speeding towards top-right, carrying explosive tokens and well, the Power Ritual thing too.

Cassandra, Mannequin, Vasquez and Colette are about there in the middle. They placed one scheme marker in the middle, to which Flesh Construct went into base contact with Deadly Pursuit.

Turn 2:

McMourning moves a little, gifts Flesh Construct with a spare head and a Canine Remains with extra skin, or whichever the terrain marker removal upgrade was. 

Vasquez charges Sebastian, and nearly kills my henchman with a 2/3/3 damage track. Pffft. Sebastian lost his new pair or legs right away, and I even used a soulstone to protect him.

Flesh Construct all but butchers Cassandra Felton in two hits. In fact the performer henchman would have died if it wasn't for opponent's only soulstone that blocked three damage. One action went to drop explosives.

Mannequin repairs Cassandra for five points, who then picks up Flesh Construct's explosive. Colette then lobs Flesh Construct away with False Reality. My three action point beater minion was looking a little sad with Stunned (no bonus actions for third action point) and Slow (same), Distracted and Burning.

Sebastian botches his entire activation against Carlos. Opponent forgets all about butterfly jump, which at this point worked to his advantage - I was burning futile action points at the henchman. Canine Remains was actually the only model that managed to do damage - and it was a very decent three points plus two no less. 

Angelica didn't quite get to bottom-left corner just yet, but Gravedigger managed to place a safe strategy marker.

I had charged the hazardous Canine Remains somewhere in an attempt to delay the healing process of Cassandra. Instead, Showgirls lured it away from the middle, right next to a scheme marker. Coryphee then butchers the pup and reveals Dig Their Graves. 

1-2 for Arcanists at this point.

Turn 3:

My biggest mistake was to get completely fixated on killing Carlos Vasquez, who was down to two health remaining. McMourning walked, interacted a scheme and charged Carlos, but failed his attack and now Carlos started sting like a butterfly and move like a bee. All those corpses and not yet even a single extra Flesh Construct... 

Next Gravedigger tries to do the same, interact a scheme and then charge Carlos. Failed again. Blinded by bloodthirst, also Sebastian charged Carlos even if I wouldn't get Dig Their Graves because he had butterfly jumped again away from my scheme. But, Sebastian continued to fail. 

I could have either tried to block the Mannequin train from half the board away with Guild Autopsy, but decided to score second strategy point instead. As a result, Carlos was healed for three. 

Cassandra with Colette's choreographies brought the healer for emergency repairs after stunned, distracted and slow Flesh Construct had projective vomited a little. 

I don't remember what else Colette did other than choreographies. 

Angelica and Coryphee placed schemes in opposite centerline corners, and the other Coryphee went top-right to plant explosives. Situation certainly did not look good when opponent revealed Power Ritual for 2-4 lead for Arcanists.

Turn 4:

McMourning uses Desperate Plot on Sebastian, getting rid of one of my own scheme markers for an extra head. Then he summons a Flesh Construct and starts to walk to a scoring position.

Gravedigger interacts a marker now that there were no 4" limitations, charged Mannequin with a Red Joker and killed it with Accidental Roll Over. Finally, Dig Their Graves! 

Sebastian interacts a scheme next to a corpse marker and walks into the river. Angelica plants another scheme to bottom-left corner and comes to engage Sebastian.

Colette becomes a big meanie when she buries my extra enhanced Flesh Construct with Sword Trick and goes and collects my explosive. 

Guild Autopsy did a rather impressive job at surviving two Coryphees and a Showgirl attack. Unfortunately the Showgirl that charged in was my Take Prisoner target, so looked like no prisoners for me this game. However, summoned Flesh Construct and Guild Autopsy manage to kill one Coryphee in its entirety, Mannequins included. 

My super Flesh Construct takes two walks and charges the other Showgirl. 

Scores go 3-5 for Arcanists, and next turn I'd have one hell of a job to get a draw. At least Carlos died to poison.

Turn 5:

Miraculously enough, McMourning and Sebastian manage to plant their explosives, securing me third strategy point. Rafkin demonstrated how to use lucky knife on an enemy henchman with two or three health remaining, killing Cassandra and removing one enemy strategy marker.

Gravedigger also places one scheme and removes one enemy scheme. 

Colette walks to place fifth Arcanist strategy, so there was little hope for me denying their last point. Unlikely heroic efforts by both Flesh Constructs succeed in removing last Coryphee and its spawns, with deadly pursuit bringing Flesh Construct close enough Showgirl for Take Prisoner.

So in the end it was a tough 6-7 game that Arcanists won.

Undivided Distraction

 A 35ss game of Malifaux with a starting player.

Strategy: Standard Turf War

Scheme pool: Dig Their Graves, Vendetta, Breakthrough, Search the Ruins, Harness the Ley Lines

My list:

Madame Sybelle & Carrion Effigy
Mortimer
2x Rotten Belle
Bone Pile (vendetta on Angelica Durand)
Jaakuna Ubume

Stones: 2

Schemes: Dig Their Graves, Vendetta

Opponent had:

Colette Dubois & Doves
Cassandra Felton
Angelica Durand
Coryphee
Mannequin
2x Showgirl

Stones: 0

Schemes: Dig Their Graves, Search the Ruins

Turn 1:

Rotten Belles took the strategy markers on my table half, while a Showgirl and a Mannequin did the same on the other side.

Jaakuna Ubume and Madame Sybelle try to make a scary aura fortress but as of turn one it accomplishes little.

Angelica and Cassandra push Coryphee around, who then charges Bone Pile and engages Rotten Belle. It punched Bone Pile, like, real hard and brought it down to one health remaining. This was not ideal situation as Bone Pile had vendetta on Angelica... not to mention that Coryphee was less than 2" away from my strategy marker and able to walk on and off melee as it pleased. 

Mortimer had started spewing out corpses to act as homing beacons for Bone Pile. Then we misplayed Presto-Chango and ended up with Colette within one walk away from my deployment zone and Mortimer on roof of the factory in the middle.

Turn 2:

Resurrectionists win initiative so Bone Pile was saved. 

I bring Jaakuna Ubume to discourage Colette from starting to spam her abilities in my backline. Well, se didn't spam her abilities in my backline. She walked deep into my deployment zone and started interacting. Rotten Belle was buried with a sword trick.

Coryphee brings a Rotten Belle down to one health remaining, and most of my remaining activations from then on were spent on raining attacks on Coryphee. Madame Sybelle and both Rotten Belles finally managed to bring down the dancer - well, at least partially, since there still was this Mannequin around.

Mortimer slaps dead one dove on top of the building and digs up a zombie. I don't know, maybe it was suck on the chimney or something? 

Effigy comes and takes a shot at Angelica Durand. It was a couple of points of damage, but Angelica had flipped masks. Effigy was transported right into melee with Angelica and was quickly greeted by both a Mannequin and a Mechanical Dove that pecked it down to one health with a red joker.

So, second turn was nearing end and I had three of my models at one health remaining.

Scores go 1-1.

Turn 3:

Jaakuna Ubume leaves Colette to her own devices and relocates to catch Cassandra, Angelica and Mannequin within her drowning aura. Angelica had managed to activate before that and kill Carrion Effigy, scoring Dig Their Graves.

Mindless Zombie jumped down from the building, nearly getting killed in the process. Bone Pile re-emerges from it and charges Angelica Durand. It managed to score me vendetta, but didn't quite survive a furious attack by Mechanical Dove. No end condition for Vendetta for me now.

People and former people are also dying left and right around Madame Sybelle. Mannequin had died, Rotten Belle had died, and finally Showgirl died to Madame Sybelle, scoring Dig Their Graves for me. 

So, both players score both of their schemes when Colette spawns a few additional scheme markers on my deployment zone, but reveals Search the Ruins instead of Breakthrough. Arcanists also have two strategy markers whereas Resurrectionists sport only one, so scores go 4-3 for Arcanists.

Turn 4:

Mannequin in the middle is blasted off from board, or perhaps drowned off, by Jaakuna. I flip one of the farthest strategy markers neutral, which also takes Cassandra out of action in a way.

Angelica moves away from drowning aura to place scheme markers. This opens up way for Madame Sybelle walk to middle marker and interact it twice. Last remaining Rotten Belle also gets one strategy marker after Colette had interacted one of my first strategy markers neutral.

Mortimer slogs towards Arcanists' strategy marker behind the industrial tower and takes a random charge against Showgirl, not doing anything.

Resurrectionists score second point from strategy, evening out scores to 4-4.

Turn 5:

Neither player manages to wrestle third point from Turf War. Arcanists spawn enough scheme markers to get end condition of Search the Ruins and Resurrectionists do the same for Dig Their Graves. Game is decided with the last activation made by Cassandra, who removes one Resurrectionist scheme. Suddenly there was not enough graves. 5-4 for Arcanists.