Admiring only, not contesting

 A 50 point game of Warmachine Mk4.

My list:

Skorne Unlimited
Hexeris2
-Archidon
-Rhinodon
-Agonizer
Unit of Cetrati
Unit of Venator Reiver
Unit of Beast Handlers
Void Spirit
Bog Trog Trawler

Opponent had:

Trollbloods United Kriels
Madrak3
-Dire Troll Mauler
- 2x Trollkin Axer
- Impaler
2x units of Fennblades

Scenario was Recon II.

Skorne started game and advanced with Cetrati contesting zone on left with Hexeris following nearby, then Rhinodon and Reiver in the middle with Agonizer and Beast Handlers behind them. Archidon with Cloak of Ash was holding zone on right with some additional Void Spirit support.

Opponent had a unit of Fennblades coming to challenge zone on left with Axer nearby to control. Dire Troll Mauler was behind their objective, ready to go either way. Madrak was going to flag with Axer and Impaler standing on a hill with another unit of Fennblades.

Second turn Reivers did some good damage on Impaler. Hexeris cast Eruption on the beast to make it less feasible to heal it back to full. Another Eruption thinned down some on the hill and left Hexeris with zero fury points left for transfers.

Bog Trog Trawler ambushed the Fennblade unit on the left and actually managed to shoot one of them dead. Or, more precisely, skewer one of them and punch him dead. 

Archidon with Cloak of Ash was trying to hide for a bit behind terrain, maybe luring something in for a charge. Rhinodon went into middle behind a cloud effect, with Agonizer crying next to it. 

Fennblades on the left, however, didn't pay much attention to Bog Trog Trawler and instead played pathfinder card and charged Cataphract Cetrati, killing one of them. 

The Fennblade unit on top of a hill and Axer removed Reiver unit with some thrown spear help from Madrak. Madrak also used his feat. Dire Troll Mauler was laying in wait for a better day to turn the tides, but Impaler and Axer tried their luck in attacking a Def 16 heavy. There was no luck. 

So, it could have been worse. 

It was time for Hexeris' feat. It wasn't all that impactful, but at least all beasts were able to run full on Fury and remove both Axers. 

It was nearing the end of my turn when I casually measured if one of the Fennblades on the left were within 4" of my flag, and damn that 4" has become difficult to estimate! Yeah, that was two control points for Trollbloods, since the Fennblade had been contesting my flag all along. 

Yay.

Well, that Fennblade continued to do just that. Impaler and fully loaded up Dire Troll Mauler clear the zone on the right while Madrak sits at the flag. So that's a four point lead for Trollbloods.

I try to remove Fennblades from my flag, but only get half of them out. Beast Handler heroically kills last Fennblade from the unit on right and contests rectangular zone. Rhinodon has the ungrateful duty of running to contest both Madrak's flag and rectangular zone. Trollblood lead falls to three points.

Impaler doesn't frenzy, which could have saved my game. But now it was able to go and remove my contesting Beast Handler. Mauler and Madrak are more than able to kill Rhinodon together, and Fennblade gets within 4" of my flag. Game over. 

Kill Stealing Rorsh

 Although games have been a little scarce lately, I still got in one 50 point game of Warmachine.

My list was:

Skorne

Lord Arbiter Hexeris [+27]
- Bronzeback Titan [17]
 - Cyclops Savage [7]
 - Cyclops Shaman [8]
 - Rhinodon [12]
Extoller Soulward [3]
Swamp Gobber River Raider [1]
Venator Dakar [4]
Void Spirit [4]
Legends of Halaak [8]
Paingiver Beast Handlers (min) [5]
Venator Slingers (min) [8]

Opponent had:

Cryx

Iron Lich Asphyxious [+28]

 - Deathripper [6]

 - Deathripper [6]

 - Reaper [13]

 - Slayer [10]

Bane Lord Tartarus [6]

Rorsh [15]

Bane Riders (min) [12]

Bane Warriors (min) [10]

Because of some time constraints, we opted for Annihilation scenario from main rule book - that one has guaranteed six turns, so game wouldn't drag on endlessly.

Opponent deployed in a corner, giving us both a headache on terrain layout - the factory building, corrosion cloud effect and burning difficult ground made the effective board rather tiny.

Opponent brought his warjacks behind the building, Bane Riders behind rubble and Bane Warriors, Tartarus and Rorsh & Brine in the open near the board edge. Asphyxious scorched the mace wielding Legend of Halaak with Hellfire.

Cyclops Shaman positioned itself to serve as an Ashes to Ashes platform, and three Bane Warriors died. Rhinodon had Cloak of Ash and Bronzeback had Banishing Ward to fend off any troublesome Parasites. A couple of slingers took erosion shots at Slayer, but didn't do much. The naginata wielding legend tried to cripple enemy arc node, but failed to land a hit.

At least the Cyclops Shaman ate Cryxian activations - Asphyxious cast Parasite on it, and then Tartarus and a single Bane Warrior that was within charge range failed to kill the warbeast. Rorsh needed to score the killing blow by shooting into melee.

Naginata legend obviously died, but all in all not a terrible second round.

Asphyxious had been left without focus, and I knew I shouldn't try a spell assassination. But that's what I did, anyway. It's all Cyclops Savage's fault! Because I had access to future sight animus, I decided to go for it. The result was a worthless feat that dealt nine points to Asphyxious.

Bronzeback wrecked Deathripper, and Slingers continued to pepper Slayer to season. This time it lost most of its damage boxes - left claw being the only functional system. 

This time removing Bronzeback took most of opponent's turn. Bane Riders with Scything Touch, and Reaper weren't enough to bring it down - Rorsh had already distinguished itself as a finalizer, and dealt the last remaining point of damage.

Bane Warriors and Tartarus took a bit over half of Rhinodon's health away.

Had I not used the feat, I think I might have been able to get Bronzeback to Reaper with two or three Beat Backs. But there is a good chance of a Deathripper not surviving three Bronzeback melee attacks, and worst result would've been Bronzeback engaged in melee and thus not able to act as a channeler.

I would've probably tried to remove the last Bane Warriors with Ashes to Ashes, deal the last remaining points to Slayer with a Hellfire and maybe Black Spot something, or more Ashes to Ashes. 

Turn 4 I have to live with my decisions, and I lose two Slingers to free strikes from Slayer. Looking back now I wouldn't have needed to - the warjack had lost its movement, hadn't it? Remaining Slingers do manage to remove four hit boxes from Slayer, which incidentally was all it had remaining.

Last remaining Legend makes a Christmas miracle and slays Bane Lord Tartarus with a single combo-strike. Cyclops Savage clears Bane Warriors near Rhinodon, and then Hexeris uses Black Spot on Brine.

Beast Handlers enrage Rhinodon, patch it up a little and prod it towards the big pig. Retaliatory Strike fails to destroy any life branches, and things end up with one dead Brine. 

Cryx then removes Rhinodon as was expected, but no other damage was done. Asphyxious had to come and personally finish the warbeast. You know, the thing with minions and all that. 

Turn 5 Skorne has to start racking up some points. Thus Savage charges a Bane Rider, kills it and is then used to channel a Rorsh-killing Hellfire. Slingers fail their activation miserably, and Extoller manages to shoot a boosted pow 13 to Bane Rider only to trigger vengeance with minimum damage. Great job.

At least last remaining Legend removes one other Bane Rider. 

But then it's all too easy for Cryx to kill Cyclops Savage, all but one Slinger and Extoller. 

We didn't need to play the last round. Hexeris, one Beast Handler and a lone Slinger weren't going to give me the 20 points or so I needed for a win.

Lord Arbiter vs the Cursed

Played this 50 point game of warmachine earlier this week.

My list was:

Skorne

Lord Arbiter Hexeris [+27]

- Agonizer [6]
- Basilisk Drake [8]
- Basilisk Drake [8]
- Bronzeback Titan [17]
- Titan Gladiator [15]
- Aptimus Marketh [5]
Thrullg [5]
Legends of Halaak [8]
Paingiver Beast Handlers (min) [5]


Opponent had:

Cryx

Goreshade the Cursed [+28]
- Deathripper [6]
- Defiler [8]
- Desecrator [14]
Bane Lord Tartarus [6]
Pistol Wraith [5]
Pistol Wraith [5]
Wrong Eye [17]
Bane Warriors (max) [16]


Scenario was Hold the Line from main rulebook.

Bane Warriors under Occultation formed a line in the middle of Cryx forces. As Hexeris had Ashes to Ashes at his disposal, I thought I'd be able to remove most of them with Hexeris's feat. Desecrator shot Bronzeback Titan and triggered Hyper Aggressive, which set up for a rather brutal feat turn.

All but one Bane Warrior died to three Ashes to Ashes and two Basilisk sprays. Granted, I did have good luck in rolling additional targets from Ashes to Ashes.

Skorne started scoring points, but that was the only point they ever got. Sure Thrullg has magical weapons on it's tentacles, but that's of no help if it is stationary. Goreshade also used feat to bring a dead pistol wraith to contest flag on the left.

But after such a feat, Cryx was struggling an uphill battle. Last remaining Bane Warrior charged Agonizer and killed it with just one swing. Then Tartarus, who had been knocked down from a flying Desecrator, walked to bring Bronzeback Titan under Dark Shroud. Goreshade charged the titan, but failed to kill. And most importantly - did not take down bronzeback's spirit.

However, Bronzeback was still a little chilly from Voass, so all it managed to do versus Goreshade were seven points of damage.

Basilisk Drake who took an aimed shot against Bronzeback's back, on the other hand, beat all expectations and rolled a damage roll something like 4,5,6 against Goreshade.

Nostalgic Annihilation

Played a 50 point game of Warmachine earlier this week. It was a 50 point game with random scenario from main rulebook. It was Annihilation.

Skorne
Lord Arbiter Hexeris [+27]
- Agonizer [6]
- Basilisk Drake [8]
- Bronzeback Titan [17]
- Tiberion [19]
- Aptimus Marketh [5]
Paingiver Bloodrunner Master Tormentor [4]
Legends of Halaak [8]
Paingiver Beast Handlers (min) [5]
Venator Flayer Cannon Crew [5]

vs

Cygnar
Commander Coleman Stryker [+30]

- Ironclad [12]
- Lancer [10]
- Lancer [10]
Rorsh [15]
Rangers [9]
Steelhead Riflemen (min) [8]
Stormguard Infantry (max) [15]


Cygnar started. And I have to say Annihilation was a great change of focus. It was actually fun to play a simple scenario with no flags, objectives, zones and whatnot.

Sure, it's a poorly balanced scenario for those who want to meticulously calculate their wins at all cost - especially shooty list could have just sniped a single solo from my list and retreat for remaining rounds, in theory at least.

But at least here was a good match up.

Cygnar had a devastating start when I lost not one but two members of Legends of Halaak. I had forgotten about their no-knockdown ability and left one of them standing away from base contact. Earthquake fell, and then rangers started shooting. Def 16 didn't help against Rangers, though, and a lucky hit downed another Legend.

Hexeris used feat next, and I think it was okay turn. Six stormguards, three steelheads and four rangers fell.

Opponent got rid of Master Tormentor and the last remaining Legend and used following turn for positioning. Ironclad and Rorsh & Brine were flanking. Bronzeback Titan was looking scary enough and Brine didn't have the courage to charge him. Hexeris was caught by Ironclad, but used Repulsion to get away.

Stryker had his feat going on after losing one Lancer. Though Tiberion did fine work, even he wasn't able to wreck Lancer with +5 arm buff in one turn.

Brine finally engage with Pig Farm on. And I will probably have nightmares from those damage rolls for times to come, as they were absurd. Second last attack did only two points of damage or so, and last attack scored no damage. In all other damage rolls there was not a single die below four pips, with no shortage of fives and sixes.

Bronzeback was left with something like three hit boxes remaining.

And then Bronzeback frenzied. Well, at least he needed that Unyielding. But this fail check was a disaster.

I could have brought Tiberion to deal with Ironclad after Hexeris would destroy Lancer. Bronzeback could have killed Brine. But not when I wasn't able to activate it.

It was second last turn in game, so I decided to try assassination instead.

Hexeris destroyed Lancer but failed to drop boosted Black Spot on Blurred Stryker.

Then Basilisk Drake failed to hit, too.

Tiberion got a free charge against Stryker, but missed boosted charge attack. And all other attacks too, except for one that dealt five points in. I had three boosted POW 20 coming, hitting on 9+. One could have even had a damage boost. But only a single hit with poor damage. Oh, and obviously shield and tusk attacks missed, too.

And to rub it in, last attack that hit scored critical smite, which would have pretty much guaranteed a POW 14 spray hit from Basilisk Drake... that had already activated.

Earthquake knocked Hexeris down, and then Rorsh came to shoot Lord Arbiter very dead.

Fate Crossed Crossed

Exactly a week ago I played this 50 point game of Warmachine.

My list:

Lord Arbiter Hexeris [+27]
- Agonizer [6]
- Aradus Soldier [16]
- Archidon [10]
- Rhinodon [12]
Maximus [4]
Mortitheurge Willbreaker [4]
Paingiver Task Master [3]
Wrong Eye [17]
Paingiver Beast Handlers (min) [5]

Opponent had:

Calandra Truthsayer, Oracle of the Glimmerwood [+27]
- Dire Troll Bomber [19]
- Dire Troll Mauler [15]
Janissa Stonetide [4]
Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters (max) [19]
Thumper Crew [5]
Trollkin Fennblades (max) [15]


Scenario was Throw Down from main rulebook. Curiously enough both armies had Star Crossed at their disposal, so futile never-ending miss streak for both parties was expected.

It was confusing to be outnumbered this badly against trollbloods. So I tried to be extra protective with my warbeasts. Though I was worried about scenario play.

Fennblades started flanking me, and eventually I found them from my side of the table. Ultimate pincer move. I had made good enough progress in killing Nyss Hunters from zone on right, and put some hurt on the troll heavies, I was scared of the fennblades. Once the two troll heavies hurled themselves at me, I lost Wrong Eye & Snapjaw. I probably could have tried to 'play the long game' and try to remove one dire troll at a time. That might even have been the best, if I'd have dared to give some scenario points for trollbloods from left.

But the flanking fennblades were too scary. Hexeris would have probably been safe with Cloak of Ash, but still almost a full unit of charging P+S 12 models against your warlock had me trying to go in for assassination

.

My plan was to either kill or cripple Dire Troll Mauler's mind with Maximus to free last remaining Beast Handler to go and buff Archidon. Calandra didn't have Star Crossed on, but still I ought to re-name Maximus to Maximiss. Beast Handler had to take a free strike, and died. This is where I should have aborted assassination, but without better judgement I pressed on.

Rhinodon ran close enough to function as a channeler against Calandra.

Hexeris cast Black Spot on Calandra, but missed. This triggered Bullet Dodger, and suddenly Calandra was two additional inches away from Archidon. This is where I really, really should have aborted the plan and hope that Archidon would kill Mauler. And yet I pressed on.

Archidon was able to charge, but with only P+S 15 and the charge took it out of...

Oh.

This is the "not Essence Blasting Void Spirit" all over again. I thought charge took Archidon away from Hexeris' control area, but the beast has Long Leash.

So I could have boosted the charge attack. Bummer. Though it's quite unlikely that would have changed anything. One P+S 15 charge attack doesn't have very good chances of taking out even an ARM 14 warlock with single hit. I would have needed that Beast Handler for +2 str and free charge.

Thanks to Cloak of Ash it took some effort for opponent to kill DEF 17 Hexeris that had a couple transfers. But if I remember correctly, Hexeris had already taken some damage earlier when Wrong Eye landed on him, knocking warlock down. Anyway, it was a loss for Skorne.

Totem vs Hunter

A week and a half ago or so I played a 50 point game of Warmachine.

My list was:

Lord Arbiter Hexeris

- Agonizer
- Aradus Sentinel
- Bronzeback Titan
- 2x Reptile Hound
Saxon Orrik
Totem Hunter
Venator Dakar
Legends of Halaak
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew
Venator Slingers (min)

Opponent had:

Kaya the Wildborne
- Feral Warpwolf
- Pureblood Warpwolf
- Druid Wilder
Lord of the Feast
Rorsh
Totem Hunter
Gatorman Posse (max)
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew

Scenario was from main rulebook, the one with side deployment area.

So we both had Swamp Gobbers and Totem Hunter. I have to give a little spoiler that Swamp Gobbers did not fight each other, but since opponent's Totem Hunter selected my Totem Hunter as it's prey, I felt like I needed to answer the challenge. My Totem Hunter picked opponent's Totem Hunter for prey.

Lord of the Feast was able to reach Venator Dakar early on. Dakar and a swamp gobber got killed in the process, and the solo was engaging Hexeris.

Gatorman Posse and Legends of Halaak (who have Cloak of Ash on them) tie each other up for most of the game.

Reptile Hounds try to attack Feral Warpwolf, but they didn't do anything spectacular. Sure I would have liked some Beast Handlers here. Aradus Sentinel succeeds to shoot a Swamp Gobber dead so it wouldn't score a point from flag. Being an old school scenario, game would end once a player gets fourth point. Oh, and the Ancestral Guardian is the flag on Skorne side of the board.

It takes most (if not all) of Hexeris' fury to kill Lord of the Feast.

Totem Hunters are both hesitant to engage. They're just eyeballing each others' cowardice.

Brine doesn't kill Aradus and Pureblood Warpwolf doesn't kill Bronzeback Titan. And thanks to some miracle, Feral Warpwolf does not kill both Reptile Hounds. But opponent starts scoring scenario points.

Bronzeback breaks Pureblood.

Reptile Hound takes a free strike from Feral Warpwolf, which ends it's life. I tried to get it to gain back strike bonus for channeling Hexeris.

But still. Feral Warpwolf is on maximum fury. Kaya has no transfer targets.

Hexeris charges Brine and receives back strike bonus against Feral Warpwolf. Kaya is within 4" of it and closest target, so Hexeris starts shooting Ashes to Ashes on it. But it's too difficult to land any 5's on two dice. He wasted his feat, and cast Cloak of Ash on himself. With one or two transfers he'd have to take whatever Circle would be able to throw at him.

Aradus takes out Brine, and my Totem Hunter breaks the silence between the two. It charges Feral Warpwolf, now being easily within charge range of Totem Hunter on Circle's side.

Rorsh and Swamp Gobber try to soften up Hexeris before Kaya charges and starts to hit Hexeris with a stick. And many a time he got the stick, but it ain't what broke Hexeris' bones. Feat later Hexeris had three or so wound boxes remaining.

Circle Totem Hunter charges Skorne Totem Hunter and misses with charge attack. Still it was the prey target, and had to survive enhanced buckler attack. Which it did. Now at least Warpwolf needed to take a free strike to get to Hexeris.

Feral Warpwolf warped for armor, which meant that it needed to receive a damage roll of at least 5,5,6 from Skorne Totem Hunter to die from free strike. Which is what Totem Hunter rolled.

... This Skorne luck I've been having has to end one day, but this game was not that day. Druid Wilder and one member of Gatorman Posse still tried to take swings at Hexeris, but either did not reach target or missed.

Hexeris starts sticking Kaya, but returns the favor in not being able to kill opposing warcaster.

Bronzeback smashes the enemy Totem Hunter dead, and Kaya becomes new prey target for the last remaining Totem Hunter, who then charges Kaya and kills her with charge attack.

Different Kind of Skorne

Alright, let's write these two 50 point games of Warmachine up before my Next Big Project.

My lists were:

Lord Tyrant Hexeris
- Aradus Sentinel
- Bronzeback Titan
- Cyclops Shaman

Praetorian Swordsmen (max) + Command Attachment

Venator Flayer Cannon
Aptimus Marketh
Ancestral Guardian
Void Spirit

List 2:

Lord Arbiter Hexeris
- Aradus Sentinel
- Bronzeback Titan
- Basilisk Krea
- Titan Sentry

Venator Reivers (min) + Command Attachment
Ancestral Guardian
Bog Trog Trawler

Notice anything two missing from both lists? Yeah. And did I regret the lack of Agonizer and Beast Handlers. But I wanted to use some models I haven't used yet during Mk3... namely Ancestral Guardian and Aptimus Marketh.

Opponent had:

Father Lucant, Divinity Architect

- Corollary
- Diffuser
- Galvanizer
- Prime Axiom

Perforators (min)
Eradicators (min)

Opponent used same list twice, and scenario was Breakdown in both games.

In first game Aradus Sentinel, Cyclops Shaman and a Sunder Spirit was enough to take down Galvanizer. But this meant Axiom could easily drag Aradus to it's demise. On the other hand I managed to devastate zone on the left. However, I had placed Bronzeback those critical 3 millimeters too far and Axiom could charge it.

There was not much left for me, then. I decided I might stand chance if I would kill the Prime Axiom, and I did quite respectable damage in to it. It did have Parasite cast on it, though.

Now, Ancestral Guardian had zero souls on it and was perhaps about the same distance off from Axiom as Bronzeback had been too close.

A single P+S 13 could have completely wrecked the colossal with a good roll, or destroy some critical systems with a mediocre roll. Or completely fail with a poor roll, of course. But it was not to be. Lord Tyrant Hexeris went splat next turn.


Game 2:

Second game Hexeris had learned from his mistakes and went epic.

I tried to protect the battlegroup a little better against drags this time, and succeeded. This time opponent devastated zone on the left. I did get to score points from the zone on the right first, but damn those servitors from Axiom kept contesting my zone. I was fairly sure I wouldn't be able to grind scenario because of that.

Titan Sentry charges Diffuser during Lucant's feat turn to keep Convergence busy next turn. Of course I would have wanted to deal some damage in, too, but I wasn't blessed with that many hits.

I secure my zone anyway and watch Titan Sentry die. Remainder of Venator Reivers contest enemy zone far longer than I expected. But not long enough.

Then I do some beat back shenanigans with Bronzeback Titan to get to Prime Axiom, but missing two attacks on Galvanizer made the attempt rather pitiful.

Then I watched Bronzeback die.

Krea charges Corollary, but misses. Eventually finishing moves were pretty much the same as in last game: Hexeris tries to charge Prime Axiom in the vain attempt to dismantle it enough for him not to die next. But nothing like that ever happened, at least not in this game.

Hexeris went splat again, and since there isn't Hexeris3 yet we couldn't continue games.

Yeah, that's the reason.

I will never play Skorne again without Agonizer or Beast Handlers.

Not Quite Asphyxious

A 75 point game of Warmachine.

Lists were:

Lord Arbiter Hexeris
- Tiberion
- Aradus Soldier
- Archidon
- Basilisk Drake
- Agonizer

Maximum unit of Venators + Command Attachment
Maximum unit of Beast Handlers
Tyrant Commander
Extoller Soulward
Maximus

Bane Witch Agathia
- 2x Slayer
- Reaper
- Nightwretch

Maximum unit of Bane Warriors+ Command Attachment

Maximum unit of Mechanithralls + Skarlock Commander
Maximun unit of Satyxis Blood Witches
Withershadow Combine
Warwitch Siren
Necrotech

We were trying out a scenario that was stitched out from bits of information about the new steamroller. I think Cryx started game.

Both armies were pretty much just running forward for the first round, and I felt quite tool-less when Agathia used her feat on turn 2. After all most of my volume of attacks was in Reivers, that would be getting engaged right next.

I just did some useless shuffling, and then opponent removed Agonizer from the board and dealt heavy damage to Basilisk Drake, yet not killing it. Satyxis Blood Witches didn't reach all that many Reivers as I had feared.

Damage wasn't overwhelming, but I was intimidated by the sheer number of Cryxians. And as Agathia had used all of her focus on removing Agonizer, I thought that I wouldn't get a better chance at assassination. Maximus tried to clear some Bane Warriors so that Archidon was able to fly into position without taking free strikes.

My warbeasts do random things to get some fury on them, and then Hexeris throws Hellfires at Agathia, uses his feat and throws Hellfires again at Agathia.

Out of four Hellfires three hit, and left Agathia with two hit boxes. Well, bummer.

Next I tried my best at unjamming Venator Reivers, and four or so were able to get within shooting distance and line of sight to Agathia.

A hit was scored and the witch lay dead.

Stubbornness vs Blind chance

Today I played one more game of Warmachine without the camera.

Fortunately main points of this story are easy to sum up. There is also a lesson/reminder there.

It was a 50 point game and my list was:

Lord Arbiter Hexeris
- Basilisk Krea
- Cyclops Shaman
- Bronzeback Titan
- Tiberion

Minimum unit of Beast Handlers
Minimum unit of Venator Reivers + Unit Attachment
Venator Flayer Cannon
Maximum unit of Praetorian Swordsmen + Unit Attachment
Agonizer
Mortitheurge Willbreaker

Opponent had:

ALL THE HALEYS, NOO!
- Lancer

Maximum unit of Horgenhold Forge Guard + Murdoch
Maximum unit of Stormguards
Maximum unit of Storm Lances
Rhupert
Ragman
Stormsmith Stormcaller
+ probably something I've forgotten already.

Scenario was Outflank and Skorne started.

Second turn I got a chance to shoot at Haley prime with Venator Reivers aided by Puppet Master and +2" movement from Tyrant Commander. The attack dealt ten points of damage.

I got completely fixated on getting those few damage points in. There's the lesson/reminder, really. Adjust your game as needed. You know, baskets and eggs and things like that. I got many opportunities to try a lucky shot with Cyclops Shaman, plus I threw both Tiberion and Bronzeback Titan for nothing. Poor Tiberion didn't even get within melee range, despite Bronzeback's animus. I didn't score that many infantry kills at all, though Praetorian Swordsmen did okayish job at dealing some damage to Stormguard. Tyrant Commander and what was left of Venators were trying to remove Storm Lances from the board.

My best chance to kill Haley Prime was when she didn't cast Temporal Flux on one turn and I got Cyclops Shaman to aim a shot at her, requiring 11+ to hit and 13+ to kill, coupled with two hit boosted Hellfire attacks that would hit on 13+ and kill with 11+, on other turns the final few points would have been more difficult, but if I'd only get that one good roll... One good roll... Okay, one more try... (there is a reason why I don't play slot machines or roulette and what else)

But no, not today. And by then I had lost the attrition overwhelmingly and opponent was already scoring points from one of the zones.

Too greedy, me.

Almost a funny match up - how come I can't stop sobbing bitterly?

Every key I press while I write this report is struck with a sweaty finger - sweat that is composed of pure dread and horror, as well as the usual stuff. I shudder as I remember the moments from my 35 point game of Warmachine last Tuesday.

I wanted to take out Lord Arbiter Hexeris out for a spin, and I did. Hey, it's one of the most respected Skorne warlocks, what could go wrong?

My list was:

Lord Arbiter Hexeris

- Bronzeback Titan
- Cyclops Shaman
- Basilisk Krea (bonded)
- 2x Reptile Hound

Minimum unit of Cataphract Cetrati
Minimum unit of Beast Handlers
Tyrant Commander & Standard Bearer
Mortitheurge Willbreaker
Aptimus Marketh

Well, once I took my army out of the transport foam I couldn't really believe that was all. Again I had just slapped models I wanted to play together without much consideration to anything else, and I was baffled once I actually saw my list on the table. So damn few models. But that wasn't a horrifying thing or anything like that, no. To some extent I've used to surprises like this.

Opponent was playing:

Epic Haley
- Stormclad (bonded)
- Thorn

Arcane Tempest Gun Mage Pistoleers + Officer
Black 13th
Storm Blades + Unit Attachment
Squire

Okay, epic Haley, that's bad news always. But still I wasn't suffering from terror and sudden panic attacks just yet.

Scenario we had was Close Quarters, and skorne won starting roll, and again I had a slow list, plus I was facing a serious scenario caster. No other option than to go first, and this time I ran as far as possible. This time there wasn't that much high powered long range shooting around than in last game.

Opponent did the same, and Rufus, my dear Reptile Hound who performs a wide variety of tricks during games, got to do its first trick in the first round of game: Play Dead. Haley cast a damage boosted Time Bomb on it.

Turn 2 I did start feeling these "oh no, whatever I do will bring me doom" -feelings that are quite commonplace when fighting against Haley2. Still nothing too bad.

Cataphract Cetrati shield walled themselves and advanced to definitely contest the friendly flag, and Basilisk Krea followed them with her animus.

Cyclops Shaman advanced and used Krea's animus, too. Hexeris cast a Hellfire on Stormclad through Basilisk Krea, since it was the only target in sight. Hexeris had quit upkeeping Ashen Veil on Cataphract Cetrati, and instead replaced it on Bronzeback Titan, who ran to a really bad position. I have Telekinesis on two of my own warlocks/warcasters, so I deserve what I got there, but still it hurts what happened next.

Thorn advances, Haley activates, casts Temporal Acceleratin on Stormclad and Telekinesis on Bronzeback, repositioning the beast both two inches closer and to direct charge lane. Yes, I had been thinking that Haley can get quite ridiculous threat ranges, but Stormclad wouldn't be able to charge Bronzeback in exact direct line - without reach the charge might have fallen short even with additional bonuses. Yeah, Stormclad has reach in reality, which is very different from my "rainbows and butterflies" make-believe world. I had mostly prepared for a charge from Storm Blades, and Stormclad possibly coming to wreck Cetrati.

So, even if Bronzeback does weather punishment fairly well, a P+S 19 warjack with four focus against Bronzeback's back arc was too much. It did take all four focus to kill it, though. As an added insult, the electro leaps killed last remaining Reptile Hound, meaning I wouldn't be able to do a full feat from my own beasts only.

Nothing else does much, though one of the black 13th rolls triple sixes for brutal damage shot against a Cetrati. And the Cetrati doesn't even die. These are the moments you almost want to raise your Krea from the table and lovingly caress it. Almost.

Turn 3 all but Aptimus Marketh is under Haley's feat.

And Haley makes Hexeris activate first. And this is the moment I will see nightmares about - at this point I realised how especially hopeless match-up epic Hexeris is against epic Haley. By activating Hexeris first there would be no feat for him this turn. Just moments prior I had been wondering if I should try to shoot Haley down with three Hellfires and probably fail, but at least there would have been a chance.

So Hexeris shoots Ashes to Ashes on a nearby Storm Blade instead just out of spite. Perhaps more than two additional hits might have affected the game somehow (which I doubt) but three hits was nothing, really. Then Hexeris tries to walk to relative safety of the rest of the army.

Then Beast Handlers activate, and do nothing, really.

Krea and Cetrati advance, both of which just advance to engage. Krea puts on her animus for no apparent reason.

Once Cyclops Shaman activates, I realize there is actually something I can do this turn - Cyclops Shaman can shoot with his eye! And it does. Twice, thanks to Ancillary Attack from Willbreaker. Both attacks kill a model, one of which was the officer. Sadly Storm Blades don't fail their command check.

Tyrant Commander and Standard Bearer advance to protect Hexeris, and Aptimus Marketh just casts Ashen Veil on Hexeris.

Done.

Hexeris has two Fury left for transfers, and only Basilisk Krea for transfers. Foolishly I had riled the Shaman once to get some Fury next turn. Storm Blades beat Krea down to four boxes remaining, and then Haley clears a clears a path for Stormclad with Telekinesis. Stormclad advances to Hexeris, and hits. And hits. And hits. And dead.

It was a brutal game. Also some critical miss here or there might have kept me in game, but opponent dared to miss only one attack roll during whole game (it was a Gun Mage against a Beast Handler). But I don't think I can actually blame the dice here - worse rolls for opponent might have given me a remote chance of winning by a hail mary assassination, but I don't think amazing rolls were directly responsible for anything in this game. It was a hard match up, and poor planning on my part.

Also, if I hadn't thrown the Bronzback away so haplessly, I might have navigated through Haley's feat turn somehow even without a feat next turn. Whole Bronzeback affair was just sub-par play from me.

A random thing comes into my mind right now for future matches of Hexeris2 vs Haley2 - since I'm not doing anything with my warbeasts anyway, why not leave them full Fury and leach fury from Hexeris himself, and get some sort of feat that way? Funnilly enough, given proper alignment of your beasts, you might actually get a charge in during Haley's feat! After all, frenzy happens before Haley starts playing your turn.

Epic melé of ages

Last Thursday I played a 50 point game with Skorne.

My list was:

Lord Arbiter Hexeris
- Archidon (bonded)
- Bronzeback Titan
- Basilisk Drake
- Basilisk Krea
- 2x Reptile Hounds

Maximum unit of Cataphract Cetrati
Maximum unit of Paingiver Beast Handlers
Maximum unit of Praetorian Swordsmen + Unit Attachment
Aptimus Marketh
Mortitheurge Willbreaker

Opponent had the same list he had in last blog post, the one with Siege.

Scenario was Outflank, and Cygnar started the game. Since I played a game against Siege where my warcaster died straight to the get-go, I was a little bit too afraid of an assassination this time. In the second picture I start to chicken out with Hexeris. Looking back now I probably should have pushed more aggressively with the warlock, keeping a couple of Fury for transfers at all times.

As it happened, Siege just used his feat and destroyed both of my heavy warbeasts. And, well, all but two of Praetorian Swordsmen, too. It was quite apparent that I had lost the game already unless I went all kinds of crazy and the dice just wouldn't fail me.

I try to do the traditional Ashes to Ashes twice so that first Ashes went to Mortitheurge Willbreaker that ran close to Arcane Tempest Gun Mage Pistoleers, and another was to go to back arc of Basilisk Drake. The Ashes to Ashes that was cast on Mortitheurge was quite successful, as it got five additional targets and didn't even kill the original target. The second, however... I didn't boost because I needed only 4's to hit the back arc of Basilisk Drake. Double 1's. Now that was a fine feat, wasn't it?

All in all the turn was quite miserable, but I got a good foothold to the control zone on right, and Siege was engaged by two Cataphract Cetrati. One of them even got a charge against the Cygnaran warcaster, but I don't remember if it did any damage.

Well, Cygnar continues to remove the warbeasts. Rufus the non-character character Reptilian Hound and Basilisk Drake are both destroyed. All the Praetorian Swordsmen are finally gone, too, as is the Mortitheurge Willbreaker. Since the game can't go much worse for me, I charge Hexeris in the middle of Storm Lances and Rangers and threshers them to death. He still has Basilisk Krea for a couple of damage transfers.

Then Defender smashes the blind frog into a paste, and Hunter takes a shot at Hexeris. Two Storm Lances charge Hexeris. I don't remember how much damage was dealt, but enough that Siege felt confident enough to charge in melee personally. Aaaannd...

Hexeris survives.

He was able to cut himself to full seven Fury, and Siege was focusless.

Now this was Hexeris's moment of glory.

However MAT 7, P+S 14 isn't enough to crack Def 14 Arm 20 warcaster (Siege had Arcane Shield on from Journeyman). I guess that's okay, since it would've felt like cheating if Hexeris had pulled off such a weird victory by just standing in the middle of enemy army when every attack made against him just keeps failing. It's good enough for me if Siege just crapped his warcaster armour when he saw that Hexeris just turned around and said something cool like "And you're next."

This was probably the first time ever I saw Siege in melee for two full rounds, and no less than against a warlock/warcaster model.

Rufus performed the Kill and Play Dead tricks in this game.

That's Right - Lay Down, Play Dead, Be Dead

Last Sunday I played another game of Warmachine with my new beloved model, Rufus the Reptile Hound.

Game was 35 points, and my list was:

Lord Arbiter Hexeris
- 2x Reptile Hounds
- Bronzeback Titan
- Archidon (bonded to Hexeris)

Minimum unit of Beast Handlers
Maximum unit of Praetorian Swordsmen + Unit Attachment
Venator Flayer Cannon
Swamp Gobbers Bellows Crew
Agonizer
Aptimus Marketh
Mortitheurge Willbreaker

Opponent had:

High Exemplar Kreoss
- Crusader
- Revenger
- Repenter
- Dervish

Minimum unit of Exemplar Errants
Minimum unit of Deliverers
Vilmon
2x Paladins
Wracks
Vassal of Menoth

Board was interestingly full, but I guess it didn't give either player a big advantage since both of our armies were terrible at navigating terrain. However, we just played a caster kill game. If we'd have had a scenario with two 12" zones and maybe a sprinkling of flags and objectives, their initial placement would have been a pain.

Anyway.

Skorne started game. Kreoss began upkeeping Lamentation, and did this throughout the whole game. I had Ashen Veil on Praetorian Swordsmen. It was a bit annoying that my whole damn army was so slow. On turn 2 I had only brought my army to perfect Kreoss feat position. But better that way than getting your caster knocked down and having multiple blunt traumas with various instruments all over his body. I decided to not take a picture from my second turn as only progress was slowish advancement and a couple of Flayer cannon shots against Revenger.

Second picture is a bad picture, as it leaves out a paladin, rest of the Exemplar Errants and Archidon out on the right. Just try to imagine them there, will you?

Rufus learned a trick this turn - lie down. That was almost a cheat, since I was playing against Kreoss. Kreoss had activated his feat, and everything else but the Archidon, Hexeris himself an standard bearer of Praetorian Swordsmen were inside the control area.

One Dervish and a Repenter wasn't enough to take out a knocked down Bronzeback, however. I guess it would have needed at least Vilmon and Revenger there, too. But if Bronzeback would have survived those even with one box remaining, all three would have been dead on a single activation of that particular warbeast. That is to say - I can understand the hesitation.

Repenter had two shots available thanks to ancillary attack, and one of those attacks scorched Praetorians. Deliverers took shots against them, too, but one of them managed to roll double 1's to attack roll and no blast damage cracked through Arm 14. But even with a little lousy performance from them, all I was left was three praetorians and their standard.

On my next turn I make a serious blunder.

I shake off knock down from all of the warbeasts. I'm going to use Hexeris' feat and get rid of all Exemplar Errants. A couple of beast handlers can forfeit their movement to stand up and enrage the Bronzeback and take fury away from Rufus. Bronzeback then demolishes Dervish in a couple of swings. I think I would have been happier with a little less grand damage rolls, because there wasn't even a remote chance that Bronzeback would get to Beat Back to Revenger. Ah well. Bronzeback throws Dervish to Revenger with Chain Attack, destroying Dervish and knocking down Revenger.

Then Archidon advances and riles a bit Fury.

Hexeris activates and moves forward and I start twirling my evil mustaches and already imagining the wonders I could do with 14 Fury. Opponent says that I just entered Lamentation range. Heh.

Heh.

What would have been an onslaught of flame and cinder turned out to be a couple of heals to Bronzeback and Bronzeback's animus cast upon Rufus.

Valiantly the Reptile Hound charges to Revenger, and really does Beat Back the warjack. Not twice, though, that would have been too much.

Next turn Paladin on the right charges Archidon. I'm sure those knights wondered that why the heck did the beast just come and stare them menacingly. Paladin scored quite high damage, and I was sure Archidon was done for.

Exemplar Errants charge, three get to Archidon and rest go somewhere else. All three missed against Archidon. And to make matters even worse, if I'm looking right at the picture, the two who charged Beast Handler also missed? One who got to Beast Handler unit leader seems to have dispatched his target.

Vilmon goes to Stone and Mortar stance and Impervious Wall. Crusader didn't manage to kill Rufus - it was left alive with one damage box in Mind branch. Revenger backed off and took a free strike from the Reptile Hound, but took no damage. Without Body branch P+S 8 isn't going to do much.

And then some stuff happened.

Bronzeback is enraged by beast handlers and Hexeris casts Trainwreck on it. Then Bronzeback charges Vilmon. Even if it cannot harm Vilmon, it can still Beat Back it. Well, there was this free strike thing, though. Bronzeback had to take a free strike from Vilmon, because I didn't pay attention to the paladin's facing. Damage roll was quite low, though, and Bronzeback lost "only" it's mind.

That did mean that every attack roll had to be boosted, and still hit chances were only about 50%. This time it was enough, and Kreoss was beaten to death by an enraged, mindless Bronzeback Titan on fire.

This was enough for opponent to make a beautiful reaction picture to the situation (used with permission).

I could say it's overreacting, but then I would be lying.

Quarter of an inch

Last Sunday I played a game of Warmachine.

It was a 35 point game of my Skorne vs Khador. We took fancy army pictures just like in the good ol' days...

My list was:

Lord Arbiter Hexeris
- Archidon
- Bronzeback Titan
- 2x Basilisk Drake
- Basilisk Krea

Maximum unit of Praetorian Swordsmen + Unit Attachment
Minimum unit of Beast Handlers
Minimum unit of Farrow Bone Grinders

Khador had:

Vladimir, the Dark Prince

- Drago
- Marauder

Maximum unit of Iron Fang Pikemen + Unit Attachment
Maximum unit of Winter Guard Infantry + Unit Attachment
Widowmakers
War Dog
Kovnik Josef Grigorovich

Scenario was Supply and Demand, which I guess is the 2014 version of plain caster kill.

Khador started the game and first picture is taken from the end of Skorne turn 1. Archidon is Hexeris' bonded warbeast and Ashen Veil is on Praetorian Swordsmen. Oh, and Archidon has Arcane Reckoning on it. Tsk tsk, oh you, Hexeris, why did you do that?

Well, anyway. Vlad uses feat then and on my side of the board I can see only red.

Thankfully my casualties were low, only a couple of Praetorian Swordsmen and Basilisk Drake that was shot down by winterguards and widowmakers. Marauder was quarter of an inch away from Archidon, and Drago could reach only the aforementioned swordsmen.

Iron Fang Pikemen used their minifeat and there I had then a huge blob of p+s 13 shield-walling infantry on the right.

Though I didn't lose too many models, I had quite a few heavy targets to take care of - that I couldn't charge, either.

This is what I tried to do: soften up Marauder and Drago with automatic one point of damage from Swordsmen and then kill the both heavy warjacks with beat-backing Bronzeback. It's just... Well, I had the intention to side-step away from Bronzeback's beat back lane, but somehow I failed in the application of this grand plan. It just happened so that I used side step to move in between the beat back possibility of killin' 'em all.

Drago died just to initial attacks + chain attack so with a bit better brain and placement the Marauder would've needed to survive 5x p+s 19 attacks. But quoth the raven: nevermore.

Archidon tries desperately to get a critical pitch to Marauder with two tries, but fails. Also I fail to remember that Archidon is not in fact a light warbeast and has a Fury maximum of 4.

Basilisk Krea and Drake on the right kill a couple iron fang pikemen, but nothing to write home (blog?) about. Honorable mention goes to one of the bonegrinder grunts who manages to kill one pikeman. It's a bit of a shame it wasn't swamp gobber who did that, because sometimes something happens that should happen more often.

Then it's Khador turn again, and there was a very real possibility of getting Hexeris killed. I had tried to place Archidon so that a slam would clip to Bronzeback and not carry over to Hexeris, but somehow I just couldn't do it. Archidon is slammed 4" back, which is just enough to land it on Hexeris. I didn't even remember about Serpentine on Archidon until opponent asked if it could actually be knocked down. I believe this was the first time Serpentine mattered for me.

Anyway.

Then, despite Ashen Veil, boosted RAT 5 with Signs & Portents butcher up all but one praetorian swordsman. What's left of Iron Fang Pikemen kill Basilisk Krea.

Things look interesting. Not really bad, but not that good either.

On my next turn I (again) waste my feat on scorching up the enemy infantry with double Ashes to Ashes. But that was quite well done, since only the flag bearer is left alive. And he passes the command check.

Bronzeback unsuprisingly wrecks Marauder, but I get to do very little to Iron Fang Pikemen. Yeah, taking a close look on the pictures I manage to kill only one.

Well, there's not much left of Khador, except the heaviest warjack of them all: Vlad himself.

Vlad takes a ballsy move and casts Blood of Kings and charges the Archidon. Archidon is left alive with only two hit boxes, and if I remember anything even mediocre damage rolls should have taken the beast out. War Dog runs in-between Vlad and Bronzeback, and then it's either Skorne kills Vlad or Vlad kills Skorne. The whole nation.

Hexeris charges the War Dog and spends rest of his Fury on attacks against Vlad. Then Bronzeback comes and finishes the job. We had already started picking up models from table so the last picture isn't too exact (unless Bronzeback gained Reach from those tusks...) but it illustrates the situation up there.

Good game, and I wonder how different it could've looked if Marauder would've been 0.25" closer to Archidon on turn 2.

A River Too Far (Warmachine)

Finally I'm getting to write the second game up from last Tuesday. Well, I forced the time to write because next Tuesday is time for yet another game.

It was a 35 point game and my list was:

Lord Arbiter Hexeris
- Bronzeback Titan
- Archidon (bonded)
- Rhinodon

Maximum unit of Praetorian Swordsmen + Unit Attachment

Minimum unit of Beast Handlers
Agonizer
Aptimus Marketh
Bloodrunner Master Tormentor

And opponent had:

Caine the Prime Version
- Ironclad

Minimum unit of Greygore Boomhowler's + Jonas Murdoch
Minimum unit of Arcane Tempest Gun Mages + Officer
- Defender
Arlan Strangewayes
Squire
Junior Warcaster
Ragman

Scenario was Into the Breach.

The board was same as in last post, and again it was quite horrifying divider. Well, I did have Archidon who was bonded to Hexeris, so I though I might be able to clear pretty much all of Arcane Tempest Gun Mages with Ashes to Ashes and try to contest the zone with Archidon and Bloodrunner Master Tormentor. Beautiful plan, but it relied on two easy to kill models.

On the right side of board terrain formed an annoying bottle neck when Greygore's assaulted to my forces. It took way too many turns to break through.

I wasted Hexeris' feat on killing the arcane tempest gun mages, since first Ashes to Ashes scored only two additional hits. Well, at least the feat killed all but one gun mage, and as an added bonus even Arlan Strangewayes bit the dust!

Caine used his feat at some point, too, inflicting some damage on Archidon, who had already taken a little damage from Gun Mages. If I remember correctly Caine did some extra attacks against Archidon, too, and finally Junior Warcaster advanced and shot the dinosaur beast down with his hand cannon.

And there I was. I lost the control zone, and I had absolutely nothing to go and contest it!

Looking back now I see that I did in fact have Paingiver Beast Handlers, who might have had the possiblity of running to contest the zone for one round. But that wouldn't have changed anything, really. I was winning the attrition game on the right - just about all of the trollkin had finally died, as well as Ironclad and everything opponent had thrown against Skorne.

I had, in fact, cleared everything from the right by the time opponent had 3 control points. But SPD 4 warbeast and infantry that's on the other side of the board can only do so much... Now was the time when Beast Handlers ran to contest the zone, and I even managed to run Agonizer there too. And then, risking it all, I even decided to try an assassination at focusless Caine.

Hexeris advanced to the hill and cast Hellfire at Caine. I didn't boost, so Hexeris needed 10's to hit. Well, much to my amazemen results were five and five. Damage roll was rather bad, however, so I needed to succeed at yet another 10+ on two dice. I didn't.

So, in the end situation was that opponent had three control points, and my objective had two hit boxes remaining, and I had only one beast handler and agonizer contesting the control zone, and a furyless Hexeris standing on a hill in middle of enemy (albeit few in number) forces.

Defender shot the objective down, and Caine and Junior Warcaster took the contesters down.

Needless to say, the terrain played a huge role in this game. I think it's interesting to try out different things now and then, but it was a bit bummer that out of all of my factions I was playing with the one that is most screwed by terrain. I guess Skorne can build lists that can navigate terrain a little better than my lists, but I don't really have the models for such. I can only imagine how different these games could have been if I had played Circle, or even Cryx.

Threshold checks already on your 2nd turn?

Well, then there was this funny game that was indeed very enlightening...

It was played during worst hangover I have ever had (I don't usually have any hangover at all, so that's not an excessive statement) but I lucked out as it turned - my opponent wasn't in too shabby condition either!

And for a 35 point HangoverMachine I chose epic Hexeris, since I have played only little against Cygnar with Skorne.

My list was:

Lord Arbiter Hexeris
- Archidon (bonded)
- 2x Basilisk Drake
- Basilisk Krea
- Cyclops Shaman

Maximum unit of Praetorian Swordsmen + Unit Attachment

Maximum unit of Beast Handlers
Agonizer
Extoller Soulward
Bloodrunner Master Tormentor

Opponent had:

Epic Caine
- Ol' Rowdy

Arcane Tempest Gun Mages + Officer
- Defender
Minimum unit of Greygore Boomhowler & Co
Epic Eiryss
Squire
Reinholdt
Madelyn Corbeau

Scenario was randomised to be Process of Elimination. Skorne got to go first, which was good. It'd been horrible to start the game already taking in aimed shots from Cygnaran weaponry. Even like this a lucky shot from a Gun Mage killed off Bloodrunner Master Tormentor on turn 1.

Ashen Veil on Praetorian Swordsmen and two blocks of Paralytic Aura was my attempt at screening my troops from shooting, and I think it worked pretty well. Def 13 warbeasts on a hill had respectable def 17 against shooting while within 2" of Basilisk Krea. Sadly, next turn they would have to go somewhere from there.

Ol' Rowdy and Greygore Boomhowler rushed forward, killing some Swordsmen in the process, and Defender took a solid shot Archidon. But that was all - for now. Greygore's troops had Blur on them, so there would be no Black Spotting them.

Defender and Caine both got magic bullets on them. Hexeris took a disturbing amount of damage in from those two pesky pow 12's. All damage was taken in, because I was confident I'd be able to heal Hexeris somewhat with Vampiric Harvest.

Starting my second turn I picked up 7 Fury tokens from my warbeasts. Was Hexeris a Fury 8 warlock? Nope, no he wasn't. Luckily Basilisk Drake didn't get all angry and decided to play nice for at least another round.

I was wondering if I could actually pull off an assassination. Caine was Focusless and I would be able to get two fully boosted Hellfires in if I could get Archidon into proper position.

First I tried everything I could to get rid of Greygore's. Every other trollkin fell down except the big guy himself - who was right in the way of Archidon. But since I put the plan in motion, why stop here... Archidon put on itself Lightning Strike animus and charged Madelyn Corbeau that was hanging around close to the objective. This would get a free strike from Boomhowler, though. But hey, it's a heavy warbeast. Surely it can take one hit, especially when Greygore has -2 to attack rolls from Ashen Veil?

Archidon lost it's mind. Sight of the ugly trollkin was just too much to bear.

So now, boosted to 2 dice Archidon would need 8+ to hit and if it fails, its channeling abilities would be disabled. Not exactly a good thing. But dice gods were on Skorne's side, 8+ it was and Madelyn fell down. Archidon repositioned itself for better LOS against Caine.

Cyclops Shaman had already tried to take a pot shot at Caine with its evil eye, but failed miserably. I guess it looked at the disturbing trollkin too, not at Caine.

Basilisk Krea put on Paralytic Aura on itself and basilisk Drake tried to fry a couple of gun mages. I don't remember if it did much, but the main point was to fill up some fury for Hexeris' feat.

Then Hexeris activated and launched first boosted Hellfire at Caine. Miss. No 10+ on three dice this time.

This made me reconsider things a little. I wouldn't probably be able to kill Caine with just one Hellfire. Hexeris still used his feat, but used it to cast Ashes to Ashes on Defender instead. Target number was a whopping 6, which smeared plenty of gun mages, Reinholdt and even Squire with an astonishing 5,6 damage roll. Hexeris boosted damage on Caine, but left two Fury left for transfers. Because Caine would probably just go all trigger happy and shoot Hexeris down, despite him having Paralytic Aura on.

Sooo... Extoller Soulward was the only model blocking Caine's LOS to Hexeris. If Greygore could kill the extoller, Caine could just take aimed shots at Hexeris. And Extoller didn't say "no" to Greygore's axe.

Defender tried to shoot at Hexeris, too, but either it missed or rolled very low damage. Situation was then: Caine with RAT 11 and 6 Focus vs a little damaged Hexeris with DEF 17 ARM 18 vs shooting and 2 Fury left for transfers. If memory serves, which probably doesn't, Hexeris had taken 4 damage in at that point (after all healing from Vampiric Harvest.)

Caine shoots once and boosts damage. Hexeris takes it to the stomach.

Caine shoots a second time and boosts damage, and Hexeris has to transfer or die.

Caine shoots third time, and Hexeris takes it to the stomach.

Caine shoots fourth time, misses.

Caine shoots fifth time, Hexeris has to transfer damage away.

Caine shoots sixth and last time, Hexeris is down to 4 hit boxes and shots would come in at POW 16, meaning that Hexeris would go down on 6+ to hit and 6+ to damage. Attack roll results, however, a miss.

So... I will probably wet my bed in horror if I actually want to think that had I not scored lucky kills on Reinholdt and Squire, Caine would have had two shots more... and even now I needed a good dose of luck to survive that feat.

On my turn I thought it'd be best if I just shot an autohitting POW 10 in form of Ashes to Ashes on Defender to Caine and boost damage and finish things up with Archidon if needed.

It wasn't needed. Additional targets from Ashes to Ashes was again full 6, and damage roll against Caine was something like 5,5,6.

I think that Ashes to Ashes really rolls additional targets better when not fighting against Protectorate of Menoth!

Eventually part 1/3 of Turku Fanatic

Okay, it's been almost two weeks since Turku Fanatic tournament was held.

So it's really time for me to write down a small report of sorts.

I somehow ended up writing down these things in reverse order, so first two games are now being written last.

Tournament was 50 points with 1-2 lists and Divide & Conquer [2] and 10 point specialists.

I had never taken my Skorne to any tournament before, and I wanted to try how well they could do without Titan Gladiator or Molik Karn.

My lists were:

List 1:

Epic Hexeris
- 2x Basilisk Drake
- Basilisk Krea
- Cyclops Shaman
- Archidon
- Rhinodon

Maximum unit of Praetorian Swordsmen + UA
Maximum unit of Paingiver Beasthandlers
Minimum unit of Cataphract Cetrati
Agonizer
Aptimus Marketh
Feralgeist

Specialists:
Bronzeback Titan. (I somehow found it hilarious that there was a one huge 10 point beast as a "specialist".

List 2:

Dominar Rasheth
Basilisk Drake
Basilisk Krea
Cyclops Shaman
Bronzeback Titan
Archidon

Maximum unit of Praetorian Swordsmen + UA
Maximum unit of Paingiver Beasthandlers
Venator Flayer Cannon
Agonizer
Extoller Soulward
Orin Midwinter
Thrullg
Totem Hunter

Specialists:
Basilisk Drake
Bloodrunner Master Tormentor
Swamp Gobbers Bellows Crew
Ancestral Guardian


First game was against Circle of Orboros with Mohsar being the warlock.

Both lists opponent had included the Woldwrath and were construct & druid heavy overall. It was a tough choice between my lists, because Hexeris did fire damage with such low POW that it doesn't really interest any of the construct beasts, and Rasheth would be only able to aim for assassination with his feat and no other function whatsoever.

Opposing list was something like this:

Mohsar
- Woldwrath
- Woldwarden
- Woldwyrd

Druids of Orboros + Overseer
Maximum unit of Tharn Bloodtrackers + Nuala
2x Gallows Grove

Judging from the picture I think I got to start the game, and opponent is making his first turn. Ashen Veil was cast on Praetorian Swordsmen.

Well, there isn't much else to tell about first turn.

I advanced slowly, and scored first blood by killing a Druid of Orboros with Basilisk Drake. Whooppiedoo. And during this turn I start to look at my army a little more closely. Something had been bugging me about it, I mean... I had two heavy beasts and two light beasts... I had switched a few light beasts and feralgeist for Bronzeback Titan... but something was amiss.

Then I noticed it. I had not deployed Rhinodon. That was quite a face-palm moment, luckily opponent took it rather well and allowed me to place the beast somewhere in my deployment zone with no strategic elements to its placing whatsoever.

I guess I was a bit rusty with Skorne.

One heavy beast more was exactly what I needed, though, because on opponents next turn Mohsar used his feat Disjunction, and he used Woldwraths animus on himself. Then Druids of Orboros pulled Bronzeback closer to Woldwrath, and shortly after the gargantuan went and made my precious beast go splat.

Thanks to Disjunction Archidon went nuts and ate a beast handler that was standing on a hill, if you wonder that beasts placement.

Thanks to my Hexeris's feat I had a way of regaining Fury, but it was rather lame to use my feat that way.

Praetorian Swordsmen decided it was time for a suicide-run, and they charged whatever they could. Mostly Woldwrath, and then side-stepping for softer targets. This did remove a nice number of Druids from the field, but it was nothing but a piece trade.

Even Cataphract Cetrati charged, but did pretty much nothing thanks to missed hits and low damage rolls. I theoretically could have nailed Woldwyrd, but alas, it was not to be.

Upcoming turn from opponent was suprisingly merciful - I lost only 90% of Praetorian Swordsmen (only one was left standing) and 50% of Cetrati and a crapton of damage everywhere.

Mohsar advanced to dominate a flag to score control points.

That was my moment to try and win the game, because it looked like Rhinodon was within charge + reach distance. The old man did have 2-3 Fury for transfers, but better moment than this would probably not come.

So, Rhinodon became Enraged and Amuck was cast upon it by Hexeris. And then the beast charges and uses Thresher special attack.

I remember scoring one good damage roll that dealt something like 15 damage points in, but they were transfered right to the Woldwrath. Then there were a couple of crappy damage rolls that Mohsar took straight to the stomach muscles. I guess it's just too much for a giant tortoise-like enraged beast to kill a blind old man.

Luckily I still had Basilisk Drake who came to help Rhinodon with that awesome spray of his.

Either I missed or damage was transfered.

So, after trying everything I could I finally had to pass turn.

If I remember correctly, opponent actually won with scenario by killing off my objective marker and controlling & dominating different zones or something.

Anyway, it was quite nice game. And then on to the next one...



Game 2:

Then I was to be shocked once more.

I don't actually remember what opponents "other list" was, but I remember thinking that neither of them was "ok" for Rasheth, and if I ended up with epic Vyros, Rasheth would be all but doomed... I'm grateful I didn't pick him, since this was what I was looking at from across the table:

Epic Vyros
- 5x Griffon
- 2x Aspis
- Banshee

Maximum unit of Invictors + Unit Attachment + Soulless Escort
Sylys Wyshnalyrr
2x Arcanist

Not that the POW 10 damage roll from Ashes to Ashes would interest anyone on that list either, but still I felt a little bit more confident with epic Hexeris.

Scenario was Destruction, and I think opponent won starting roll and went first. Picture is probably from the end of opponents second turn.

I was quite sure that if I did nothing "big", all hell would break loose next turn. So, I charged. And maybe even used Hexeris' feat.

My grand plan in all its futility was to run Agonizer so that every warjack would be under the effect of "no focus allocation" agony and that way mitigate the upcoming crazy damage output.

It actually worked pretty nicely, but what worked even more nicely was absurd magic attack rolls I was able to pull off. Hexeris shot two fully boosted Hellfires to Vyros, and despite him being in melee (stupid me) they hit home and dealt respectable damage in. Not life-threatening, but certainly put up Vyros on his toes. Or his horse on its hooves.

Even without focus upkeeping of Synergy made more than enough damage.

Most Swordsmen were cut down, Rhinodon dead, agonizer released of its agony and plenty of Cetrati damaged. And all of this even when opponent constantly rolled very crappy damage rolls.

Vyros had also put up his feat. Funny thing here was that on my next turn it didn't trigger even once. Though that did mean that I destroyed not even one model in Vyros' control area...

Here is how it went.

Bronzeback Titan hammered one Griffon that was in melee, and threw it with chain attack to another griffon. I wanted to make Vyros burn focus somehow.

One Aspis in melee with Archidon was miraculously destroyed by godlike damage rolls from Archidon and a spray from Basilisk Drake. But that particular Aspis was outside of Vyros' control range.

Crazy damage rolls didn't stop there - I actually managed to destroy one objective marker with Praetorian Swordsmen. Though to be honest, that one had been softened up by Thresher attack from Rhinodon during last turn.

Aptimus Marketh shot a fully boosted Hellfire at Vyros, and the attack hit again. I was really expending all my available "above average attack roll" pool for whole tournament, it seemed.

Next turn opponent made a critical mistake with one of the griffons that Bronzeback had knockced down. Knockdown wasn't shaked off, and I think that was what "gave me" this game. Why?

That Griffon had been given a bit focus and had it been able to come into melee with Bronzeback Titan, there would've been a very real possibility of the Titan to die. After Synergy chain those attacks would've gone in with something like P+S 20-22.

But, instead, end result looked like this:

A couple of Griffons needed to be destroyed a bit first, or, the one in front of Basilisk Krea (black & white) and rightmost that was engaging Cetrati. Hexeris himself had to come and beat the warjack in front of Krea, but otherwise it went just fine. Hexeris even had the Fury to spare to cast Train Wreck on Bronzeback.

Bronzeback then charged one of the Griffons guarding Vyros, and three beat-backs later it was standing next to the warcaster.

It did take Bronzeback to max Fury, but finally Vyros fell down, as well as all the warjacks around him that had been such a pain in the rear.


Story of my Turku Fanatic warmachine tournament continues with part 2/3 here.