Telekinetic

Since there was one weekend with less of other pressing matters, it could be sanctified for gaming purposes! Yay. Another game of Warmachine on the following day with 50 points.

My list was:

Cryx

Dark Host
Lord Exhumator Scaverous [+27]
 - Deathripper [6]
 - Leviathan [16]
 - Reaper [13]
 - Ripjaw [7]
 - Skarlock Thrall [4]
Bane Lord Tartarus [0(6)]
Bane Warriors (max) [16]
 - Bane Warrior Officer & Standard [0(5)]
Wraith Engine [15]

Opponent had:

Protectorate

Exemplar Interdiction
Grand Scrutator Severius [+28]
- Blessing of Vengeance [13]
 - Crusader [10]
 - Indictor [14]
 - Hierophant [3]
Exemplar Bastion Seneschal [0(5)]
Vassal Mechanik [1]
Vassal of Menoth [0(3)]
Vassal of Menoth [0(3)]
Choir of Menoth (min) [4]
Exemplar Bastions (max) [15]
Exemplar Cinerators (max) [13]
 - Exemplar Cinerator Officer [5]

Cryx won starting roll and chose to go first because I was confident in the disparity between the speed of our forces.

Wraith Engine took one flank, and was to face Indictor and Blessing of Vengeance and an assortment of solos. Both armies had their infantry go in the middle, and one flank was a duel between Deathripper and Crusader. Ouch.

Second turn I was able to start shooting. Reaper dragged one Bastion to its death, and Leviathan managed to kill Bastion Seneschal in one shot. 

Opponent then engaged with most of his army, which was good news for Bane Warriors. I figured that if I don't use my feat on turn 3, I won't have a feat because of Severius' own. Scaverous allocated some focus for Leviathan, and started with casting feated Feast of Worms on Cinerators, and a Telekinesis on Crusader that was barely standing on zone on the right. 

Here we both forgot defensive strike from Bastions. It might not have changed things that much - my warjacks would've needed to dedicate themselves for Bastions, and maybe Feast of Worms would have gone to different direction, saving a couple of Cinerators. But as it happened, both units vanished from the board. Even one Machine Wraith entered the fray. Scaverous netted a total of six souls, which is about on par with Asphyxious3 on feat turn. Go figure.

Opponent removed Wraith Engine as was expected, but most of the Banes survived even after two Ashes to Ashes, which was unexpected. Crusader smashed Deathripper to bits, so opponent would start scoring points from scenario soon. 

There were some options for me to assassinate Severius, some more illegal than others. Fortunately the warcaster fell to shooting, since I had completely forgotten about the fact that Severius had fried Ripjaw's cortex system earlier in the game, meaning it should not have been able to run as far as it did. I had planned to launch Feast of Worms on top of Hierophant, but then I kind of forgot even that and spent my 13 focus spamming some worthless telekinesises... 

Well, at least Severius died. 

Only Misery Remains

 Played a 50 points game of Warmachine few days ago. 

My list was:

Cryx

 Lich Lord Venethrax [+26]
 - Defiler [8]
 - Harrower [16]
 - Helldiver [6]
 - Malice [15]
 - Skarlock Thrall [4]
General Gerlak Slaughterborn [6]
Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist [4]
Misery Cage [2]
Saxon Orrik [4]
Black Ogrun Boarding Party (max) [11]

Opponent had:

Protectorate

Grand Scrutator Severius [+28]
 - Dervish [7]
 - Indictor [14]
 - Purifier [8]
Allegiant of the Order of the Fist [3]
Deliverer Arms Master [3]
The Covenant of Menoth [4]
Vassal Mechanik [1]
Choir of Menoth (min) [4]
Deliverer Skyhammers (max) [13]
Deliverer Sunburst Crew [5]
Knights Exemplar [9]
Temple Flameguard (min) [7]

Scenario was the one from main rulebook that needed to tag all five flags on the board. Protectorate generously gave Cryx the start (this is probably one of better, or even the best, scenario to go second.)

And I don't know what the heck. I knew a big AoE was coming my way via Sunburst crew. Yet I still did not bother to check if my Black Ogruns were not practicing social distancing. Boom! One dead, two on fire. Doesn't matter though. It's not like I was outnumbered over 2:1, right?

But that's not all. One thing I also didn't bother to check was if Saxon Orrik was deep enough in the forest not to be seen at all. Turns out he wasn't. Deliverers took a shot at him and the dice just wouldn't roll 3+ for deviation. Saxon down.

I have to admit I was a bit demoralized by this, but at least Deliverers had packed themselves real tight to shoot that fatal rocket. Defiler ran forward and Venethrax cast Blood Rain on them, killing... two. But at least three more had corrosion.

Venethrax and Skarlock manage to kill some warrior models to trigger Dead Weight on both Indictor and Dervish. 

Black Ogruns miss their harpoon on Purifier, but Rat 5 against Def 15 goes only so far. With Saxon dead, only one Ogrun got in range and, ech. It was going to get ugly.

At least Protectorate wasn't able to do anything productive with his Indictor and Dervish, and opted to clog my warjacks with infantry models. All those souls for Harrower and Malice.

Allegiant neared the flag that had Gerlak sitting next to it. It was either a choice of denying me a point with no Shifting Sands, or letting me have one point and be nigh invulnerable. Sands it was, which is recommended action when you got a Mat 8 murder machine ogling you.

On my turn I'm trying to figure out how to best deliver Malice to Indictor. Only feasible way is to trample to it, buy an attack and... alright, I just slapped myself on the forehead. While writing this I realized I trampled with Malice before casting Terminal Velocity. 

Anyway, Malice triggers Vision and Possession and brings Indictor and it's back arc to face Harrower. Venethrax Dead Weights Dervish and casts Terminal Velocity. Then Harrower charges Indictor and while damage had been okay-ish, the columns were not. Damn. That one missed focus point from Malice could have dealt the few remaining damage points to various systems, say, Cortex.

Helldiver had surfaced to tease Sunburst crew. Gerlak took a free strike from Allegiant to gain back strike bonus, but 8+ wouldn't come.

At least the ratio of our forces had been kept about the same as in start.

Opponent then flooded Malice with attacks, and destroyed despite its Def 13 Arm 20. Protectorate souls don't protect that well, I guess. 

But this had been about expected. But what severely hampered the future of Cryx was when the only damage Harrower took was just enough to break melee hand. I was left with Venethrax, Gerlak, a weaponless Harrower, Helldiver far from anything, and Misery Cage. 

Venethrax butchers Dervish, and Gerlak misses Allegiant again. Harrower gave Indictor a friendly scratch. 

Opponent had steadily collected flag points, and was able to score all five. But that wasn't all.

Allegiant also killed Gerlak, something removed Harrower, Severius beat Helldiver into a wreck with a stick, and a lucky shot from Sunburst crew removed one focus from Venethrax, and still four points came in.

Three remaining Exemplars tore through Venethrax's focus camp and left him dying. Then the last remaining Flameguard charged the warcaster and dealt the killing blow.

Only Misery Cage remained to witness the crimes committed here. 

Asphyxious on Halloween

 

Had a 50 points game of Warmachine about a week ago on All Hallows Eve, which is the reason for a particular piece of scenery.

My list:

Cryx

Lich Lord Asphyxious [+28]
 - Defiler [8]
 - Harrower [16]
 - Ripjaw [7]
 - Seether [13]
Bane Lord Tartarus [6]

Misery Cage [2]
Swamp Gobber River Raider [1]
Bane Warriors (min) [10]
Bile Thralls (min) [9]
Black Ogrun Ironmongers [6]

Opponent:

Protectorate

High Exemplar Kreoss [+29]

 - Crusader [10]

 - Sanctifier [14]

 - Vigilant [9]

Exemplar Bastion Seneschal [5]

Vassal Mechanik [1]

Vassal of Menoth [3]

Choir of Menoth (min) [4]

Exemplar Bastions (max) [15]

Exemplar Errants (max) [16]

Scenario was the one from main rulebook with three flags on the centerline, and five points to win.

First rounds are pretty straightforward. Cryx advances behind Caustic Mist clouds. Exemplar Errants spread out and take random shots, mostly at Bane Warriors who defy death a second time. 

Vigilant with Defenders Ward is contesting middle flag, Crusader flag on the right and some errants the flag on the left. 

Harrower, Tartarus and Bane Warriors maul the Vigilant, but the light jack just refuses to go down. Well, of course there was this ARM 23 thing going on, too.

Bile Thralls, Harrower and Defiler remove all but two Errants. I could have scored a point with Swamp Gobber River Raider, but I had already activated it before the opportunity arose.

Protectorate secures flag on the right. Kreoss uses his feat, and Sanctifier charges Harrower to get through caustic mists in order to attack Seether. Opponent doesn't bother attacking Bane Warriors all that much, as Kreoss had come to a rather vulnerable distance in regards to Asphyxious' feat. 

Bastions charge in, and while Harrower and Seether both are severely beaten up, neither lost Cortex. This was a big turnpoint in the game, because now I was able to remove Sanctifier and what was left of Vigilant. 

However, Kreoss and Bastions were next going to remove both of my warjacks, too, and Crusader was unscathed - at least until Tartarus charged in to die himself in turn. 

Cryx managed to even out the advantage opponent had in scenario, but that likely was too late - I was had a couple of Ironmongers left, plus the feat. Kreoss had cast Defenders Ward on himself, and had been keeping up the Lamentation throughout the whole game - six focus Hellbound sure feels costy.

But.

Kreoss was within charge distance of Asphyxious, and there were six Bane Warriors waiting to take a dive into Caen once more. 

So, Asphyxious used feat and charged the Protectorate warcaster. Asphyxious did well enough, but Kreoss was not dead. Only two Banes got to his back arc, so those went first. First one hits, and Kreoss fell to only a few damage boxes remaining. Another one lost. 

So, next four attempts to score 10 on 2d6 and win the game, or miss them all and go home. So, better hit since we were playing in my apartment.

No Banes hit, so I'm currently looking for a new home I guess... or?

Opponent had to leave to not get a parking ticket so the grande finale was never actually rolled. I added the game to my spreadsheets as a loss anyway, since opponent would be doing damage with -2 to dice, and would be able to do two fully boosted attacks, and one attack with a hit boost.

The oldest adversary

Had a 50 point game of Warmachine at the end of last month.

My list:

Cryx

Master Necrotech Mortenebra [+24]
 - Desecrator [14]
 - Harrower [16]
 - 2x Stalker [8]
Machine Wraith [2]
Misery Cage [2]
Bile Thralls (min) [9] - Skarlock Commander [3]
Cephalyx Overlords [8]
Necrosurgeon & Stitch Thralls [4]

Opponent:

Protectorate

High Exemplar Kreoss [+29]

 - Castigator [12]

 - Vanquisher [17]

Allegiant of the Order of the Fist [3]

High Paladin Dartan Vilmon [6]

Paladin of the Order of the Wall [4]

Vassal of Menoth [3]

Choir of Menoth (min) [4]

Daughters of the Flame [10]

Knights Exemplar [9]

Temple Flameguard (max) [11]

During mk2 Kreoss had been my opponent number one, with games against him more than some factions in their entirety. Curious that it took over one hundred games to face him in this edition. But here it was, the very first game of mk3 against High Exemplar Kreoss.

We had Mosh Pit scenario from main rulebook. Cryx started. Stalkers take both flanks and Bile Thralls start huddling into the middle. Machine Wraith enters mid-field as there doesn't seem to be that many magical weapons around. A lucky deviation puts scather template right in front of Temple Flameguards.

Daughters of the Flame had ran forward far enough for Harrower and Cephalyx Overlords to kill all but one of them. 

Paladin of the Wall managed to tie up some Bile Thralls with Righteous Vengeance and walk, getting to ARM 21 in the process, and the last Daughter removed one Cephalyx Overlord. Protectorate warjacks had been cautious because of Machine Wraith, but after their activations Kreoss got a Cleansing Fire off to kill the Wraith.

Now there were plenty of targets for Bile Thralls to purge over. But first Stalker needed to get rid off of the paladin that was engaging cryxian Thralls. Needed to roll 14 with three dice to kill the solo, and that's exactly what the dice came up.

Harrower triggered Overrun by killing some Knights Exemplar, and a Stalker advanced to make a leap attack against Kreoss. Didn't really do anything, but at least the warcaster was tied up now.

Vanquisher frees Kreoss, who then charges Harrower. Not killing the warjack left Kreoss in a terrible position - repairable Harrower and fully functional Desecrator, plus Mortenebra who hasn't used her feat yet were all staring at the protectorate warcaster with murder in their eyes. 

Inviolable Parasite

Played a ten point game of Warmachine against a new and returning player. As he had played only a couple of games during Mk2, the game was more of an introduction rather than a bloody battle for victory.

My list was:

Lich Lord Asphyxious
- 2x Slayer
- Defiler
Minimum unit of Satyxis Raiders

Opponent had:

Grand Exemplar Kreoss
- Crusader
- Castigator
- Repenter
Minimum unit of Choir of Menoth
Vassal of Menoth
Vassal Mechanik

I started the game, and Asphyxious cast some Caustic Mists to block LoS. There was a building in the middle that acted as a sort of divider. And I decided to do just that - challenge from both sides of the house.

Satyxis Raiders put a dent on Crusader on turn two, and Slayer advanced behind a Caustic cloud on the other side of the building. Far enough that plain old walk wouldn't be enough to engage it.

Opponent put Castigator to act as a bouncer, but Slayer wanted to perform. (Get it? Eh eh.) I mistakenly thought that the helljack was able to knock out the Cortex of Castigator - a mistake that proved fatal, when P+S 19 automatically hitting attacks started pouring in.

Crusader had been finished by another Slayer, but as Kreoss was using his feat now, Repenter engaged in melee.

Then we has Asphyxious personally attacking the Castigator, casting Parasite on Kreoss and using Excarnate to pluck off one choir member. Then he used feat and tried to assassinate Kreoss with Satyxis Raiders. It failed miserably. The lucky critical knockdown had been used already on Crusader earlier in this match. Not a single lacerator was able to score 8+, but two horns did - but didn't do even a single point of damage.

Opponent shoots Cleansing Fire on Asphyxious and scores a whopping eight points of damage. If opponent had been pondering whether to charge Defiler or Asphyxious, I guess this tipped the scale towards my warcaster. Charge attack dealt nine points in, but last attack opponent was to make missed.

Kreoss had both Parasite and Inviolable Resolve on himself. Asphyxious was still rolling damage at -1, and hitting on 8+ required boosts.

All three boosted attacks Asphyxious could do resulted in a hit, and it was the very last attack possible that downed the Menite warcaster.

Reclaimed Bastard

Few days ago I played this 75 point game of Warmachine.

My list:

[Theme] Slaughter Fleet Raiders
Goreshade the Bastard [+27]
- Harrower [16]
- Leviathan [16]
- Nightwretch [7]
- Reaper [13]
- Seether [13]
- Stalker [8]
- Satyxis Blood Priestess [4]
Axiara Wraithblade [0(6)]
Black Ogrun Boarding Party (max) [11]

Black Ogrun Ironmongers [6]
Cephalyx Overlords [8]


Opponent had:

[Theme] Exemplar Interdiction
The High Reclaimer [+32]
- Judicator [34]
Exemplar Bastion Seneschal [0(5)]
High Exemplar Gravus [8]
Scrutator Potentate Severius [0(6)]
- Dervish [7]
Exemplar Errants (max) [16]
- Exemplar Errant Officer & Standard [0(4)]
Exemplar Errants (max) [16]
- Exemplar Errant Officer & Standard [4]
Knights Exemplar [9]
- Knights Exemplar Officer [4]
Knights Exemplar [9]

Scenario was Mirage.

I let opponent start the game, because I didn't want High Reclaimer hiding behind a building.

Early on Judicator nearly shoots Reaper into a smoldering wreck with sprays.

This had Judicator close enough for Seether to charge - as well as the feated unit of Bane Warriors. I just had to clear a few exemplars that were blocking the way. As an extra challenge I wanted to clear my round zone to start scoring points.

This plan succeeded.

Removing Judicator, on the other hand, succeeded too well. Seether was able to destroy it, so it promptly removed three bane warriors with berserk attacks as well. Oh well. At least it was a colossal warjack down in one round. Something I usually have a fair bit of difficulties.

Less surprisingly, exemplars then butchered all of my warjacks except for Leviathan and Nightwretch.

Overlord sprays and desperate attempts had been clearing enemy infantry. From the thirty five exemplars that began the game, I can count only thirteen from the picture. Though the structure might hide someone.

But there was no more game for me once I lost last Overlord, Leviathan, Axiara and a couple of Ironmongers. Opponent had also rocketed too far ahead on the scenario points. It was a loss.

Still, I think there might be something in this theme/caster pairing. Gang + Dark Shroud is an amazing combination.

Memory lapse

Well I completely forgot about this one, didn't I?

It's the traditional small Christmas game of Warmachine, which was played exactly on the 24th.


My list was:

Asphyxious the Hellbringer
- Malice
- 2x Helldiver
Bloat Thrall
Scrap Thralls

Opponent had:

Reznik1

- Crusader
- Castigator
- Repenter
Unit of Knights Exemplar
Wrack

Now, opponent used mk2 card for Crusader so he gained a few extra points. Whoopsie.

But I suppose anything goes on a board that has line of Skinks for a linear obstacle.

Game was short, as 10 point games tend to be. Malice failed to break anything of importance from Crusader, which obviously meant the end of Malice. But it did, at least, require Reznik to come and finish it.

Now Reznik was close enough for Asphyxious to charge, and it was post-feat turn for me anyway. Reznik had three or so focus points to remove damage, so it wasn't a guaranteed kill even if Asphyxious had about 13 focus points.

Assassination was around three damage points short, so even corrosion that Bloat Thrall had managed to land on him wasn't enough.

Asphyxious went all kinds of deader next.

Cryxmas Games

Kuhmo traditions continued with two small Warmachine games. These were played around 24-26th days of December, so they are no longer in fresh memory.

Lists were ten points and first game was:

Wraith Witch Deneghra
- Erebus
- Nightwretch
- Ripjaw
Gorman diWulfe
Bloat Thrall

Versus

High Allegiant Amon

- Crusader
- Dervish
- Devout
- Repenter
Minimum unit of Choir of Menoth
Wrack

First game I kind of wanted to make this super-stunlock maneuver I've been dreaming of. That means a Blind, Shadow Bind, Knockdown and Stationary all on one model.

Well it didn't come to that, but in small point sizes as this it definitely affected matters when you get, for example, 50% of enemy army blinded.

Don't mind the stegadon, by the way. It's an obstacle. Not a proxy.

Arm 21 crusader could have been a great trouble for me to chew through even when it came to have a go at the bonejacks. But Erebus still is only p+s 16. So instead I decided to ignore Crusader altogether and try to score assassination. Amon was behind Devout and there was Repenter blocking Erebus from charging Devout. Deneghra used Dark Banishment on the Repenter and lobbed it some six inches away. But this was an all-out attempt to win. Deneghra was focusless and within Crusader's melee range. Erebus better succeed.

And Erebus did succeed. When the boosted attack against Amon hit, the Protectorate warcaster went stationary. Of course everything hanged on 5+ tough roll once again, because it wasn't until the last possible attack that finally dealt enough damage to Amon. This time tough roll failed.


Second game was:

Asphyxious the Hellbringer & Vociferon
- Slayer
- 2x Helldiver
- Deathripper
Gorman diWulfe
Machine Wraith

Versus

High Executioner Reznik

- Crusader
- Revenger
- Repenter
Minimum unit of Exemplar Bastions

This somehow turned into long fight of attrition. Crusader was trying to flank Cryx, which distracted Asphyxious with twelve or thirteen focus points for a turn. During this time Cryx lost Slayer and Helldiver and what else.

But Cryx gained the upper hand, and finally there was nothing else except a lone Bastion and Reznik on board. Reznik ran to engage Asphyxious and had five focus points for camping.

I think Gorman succeeded to blind him. Asphyxious burned out attacking Reznik, and still Reznik was not dead.

I don't remember if it was Vociferon that finihed Reznik or Deathripper, but whatever the case, Reznik fell after taking quite a beating.

You Just Got Interdicted

Almost a week ago I played these two 75 point games of Warmachine.

After dabbling through summer with Skorne, now that snow has started falling it's only proper thing to switch for my winter based Cryx.

These were my two lists.

Infernal Machines
Goreshade the Bastard
- Harrower
- Reaper
- Slayer
- The Withershadow Combine
Necrotech
2x Pistol Wraith
Saxon Orrik
Warwitch Siren
Bile Thralls (min)
Mechanithralls (max) + Brute Thrall (2)
Necrosurgeon & Stitch Thralls
Soulhunters (max)



Lord Exhumator Scaverous
- Deathripper
- Nightmare
- Reaper
- The Withershadow Combine
Machine Wraith
Necrotech
Satyxis Raider Captain
Saxon Orrik
2x Soul Trapper
Warwitch Siren
Bane Warriors (min) + Bane Warrior Officer & Standard
Bile Thralls (min) + Skarlock Commander
Black Ogrun Boarding Party (max)



Opponent had the same list in both games, and it was:


[Theme] Exemplar Interdiction

Intercessor Kreoss
- Crusader
- Redeemer
- Revenger
Knights Exemplar Seneschal
Vassal of Menoth
Wrack
Choir of Menoth (min)
2x Exemplar Vengers (max)
Idrian Skirmishers (max) + Idrian Skirmisher Chieftain & Guide
Visgoth Juviah Rhoven & Honor Guard

Scenario was same in both games, and it was The Pit II.

First game I played with Goreshade. I didn't realize how difficult Kreoss3 was for Goreshade because of his easy way to get rid of Lamentation. But that's poor excuse for poor play, anyway.

Infernal Machines theme bonus for ambushing Mechanithralls was astounding once more. They tied up and pretty much wrecked Idrians.

I kind of wasted Soulhunters. I wanted to tie up Redeemer and block easy movement for other warjacks and perhaps even kill some Vengers. Well, at least I got Exemplar Seneschal. With my eighteen points of models. Well, of course I also wanted to double-up with the ambushing Mechanithralls, but Soulhunters just gave birth to flies. They didn't tie enemy long enough, so Crusader got easy charge against Harrower.

Redeemer takes a random deviation right on Admonia and rolls enough to kill her.

Deathwalker took a blast, too.

Next turn I try to play a little scenario. Bad dice rolls screw me over on Goreshade's activation. Though honestly speaking, I just wouldn't give up when I should have. I really, really wanted to kill nearby Venger with Goreshade to get a new Deathwalker as an extra insurance against assassinations. Turned out I Goreshade either missed all of his attacks or didn't do any damage at all. I think I left Goreshade with no focus at all, when originally I thought I'd have at least two and Deathwalker.

I do use Goreshade's feat, though to get make opponent's day at least a little more troublesome. But as there was this Venger around, I had to use quite a few Bane Warriors to attack him. In my mind I would have activated Reaper first, dragged Crusader somewhere and then navigating with Bane Warriors a little better than I did. But now I had to charge first with Warriors.

They did their job. But Mk2 associations still made me feel a little too secure behind Bane Warriors. They no longer had Stealth, so were easily shot off the board by Protectorate. If I remember right, it was just one Crevasse from Kreoss that killed Goreshade's only screen. Crevasse clipped Goreshade too, who took a nasty damage roll in. Did some Redeemer blast get through, too? Well I could be remembering incorrectly, after all here are two games spinning in my head when writing these.

Then a Venger charged and killed Goreshade with lance attack. I remember that with one focus point Goreshade would have survived. And Slayer had one Focus point on it that it hadn't used anywhere...

Sour taste. Bitter, almost. But some people like sour and bitter.

Next game!

Scaverous without a theme. With this era of theme lists I felt like purposefully handicapping myself especially when I just played miniatures I wanted to use for a change. I didn't have a super effective "tech" here that would have paid for the loss of theme bonuses. Annoying for sure. It starts to feel like you should have a small perk for daring to play Steamrollers without a theme force. Scale creep, here we (could) come.

Anyway.

And the effects were showing right away, when it seemed like I didn't have other choice than to sacrifice way too much to contest zones, or give a major head start on the scenario for Protectorate. I chose the latter option.

This lead to a situation that opponent would have won the game if he had rolled at least two inches of slam movement with Force Hammer. But he rolled only one.

This left me a chance for assassination, which I managed to screw up entirely because I used unnecessary complexity. I could have: used telekinesis to clear a drag path for Reaper and bring Bane Warrior so that Kreoss would suffer from Dark Shroud once dragged to Reaper. Even Nightmare might have had a charge attempt at Kreoss, though this was unsure.

But here's what I tried: clear a couple of models from the drag path with Telekinesis, and kill a couple with Feast of Worms that would lead to grand total of -4 ARM for Kreoss once dragged.

For an excruciating insult to injury, the last remaining model on the path (Visgoth Rhoven) was left alive with only one box remaining, with corrosion. Though might be I actually re-rolled that one into "no damage at all."

So opponent was able to score the last scenario points at his leisure.

So that's two losses, both mostly because of my own crude mismanagement of important moves. Well, I guess it's consolation of sorts that I did have my chance to win in both games - even in the last one that quickly looked like utter defeat.

All Aboard The Ambush Ship!

This game also dates about a week back.

This time game was 75 points Skorne versus Protectorate of Menoth, and I continued with the ambush madness.

My list was:

Dominar Rasheth
- Agonizer
- Basilisk Krea
- Tiberion
- Titan Gladiator
2x Bog Trog Trawler
Extoller Soulward
Hutchuck, Ogrun Bounty Hunter
Paingiver Bloodrunner Master Tormentor
Bog Trog Ambushers (max)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (min)
Venator Reivers (min) + Venator Reiver Officer & Standard

Opponent had:

The Faithful Masses (War Room version, which means it is missing one free solo)
The Harbinger of Menoth
- Devout
- Templar
- Hierophant
2x Allegiant of the Order of the Fist
Anastasia di Bray
Initiate Tristan Durant
- Templar
The Covenant of Menoth
Wrack
Choir of Menoth (min)
Horgenhold Forge Guard (max) + Attendant Priest

Idrian Skirmishers (max) + Idrian Skirmisher Chieftain & Guide

Scenario was Recon II, and Protectorate started game.

I lose Master Tormentor straight away when I moved her behind a house to take cover from any random shots Idrians might come to commit within 5". Otherwise a sound plan, but somehow I managed to place Master Tormentor just within charge range. Woopsie.

On turn 2 I did get both Trawlers and Hutchuck on board. My plan was to throw knockdown bomb and drag some Idrians away from Martyrdom range. I got their command attachment officer this way, but considering I just threw 12 points to kill two models. Ouch. At least second Breath of Corruption deviation protected Tiberion from charging dwarves almost perfectly. However, those two missed attack rolls did give Allegiant the chance to walk to contest my flag.

Opponent did surprisingly little damage on their turn 3. Hutchuck and one of the Trawlers died, but miraculously one Trawler survived with one hit box remaining.

But yeah, now opponent scored two points and I was still sitting at zero, thanks to Rasheth's Breath shenanigans.

On my turn 3 I get the Bog Trog Ambushers on board. Harbinger had come just a little too close to Tiberion - she was within charge range with Rush. Now, there were quite a couple of enemy models on the way that needed to be removed. I really wanted that charge, because trampling would give me only one or two swings at her. And that feels quite a risky business for assassinations.

Rasheth is one of the first models to activate, and he uses feat. He casts Carnivore on Tiberion plus Rush on it and if I remember correctly, also on Titan Gladiator. I don't remember where the last two fury points went - possibly a random Sunder Spirit against Idrians.

Basilisk Krea manages to kill one Forge Guard, and then Venators activate and use their minifeat. I decided to try and clear Forge Guards from board instead of taking shots against Harbinger who had three shield guards at her disposal. Opponent started rolling some mighty three points of damage from nearly every Martyrdom roll Harbinger had to take. But the two models remained that were causing trouble to me.

Bog Trogs charge but their output was inconsequential.

The few models I still had to activate tried to kill the Tiberion blocker. These were the Extoller and a Beast Handler, as I couldn't figure out a way to get Gladiator anywhere that wouldn't block Tiberion from trampling.

Then Tiberion trampled and had to take two Weapon Master free strikes along the way. With a good roll there might be a spiritless, enraged Carnivorous Tiberion starting furiously at Harbinger. But the damage rolls didn't yield anything meaningful.

Tiberion had to buy attack and boost to hit. Awe + hitting behind a wall were negated by Rasheth's feat and Carnivore. After all the unlucky Martyrdom rolls Harbinger had four damage boxes remaining, which confused me. Also I always overestimate the Mk3 focus camping benefits especially on low armor warcasters. I thought I still needed to roll something a little below average to kill Harbinger, but after all calculations it turned out Tiberion was at dice +1 even after counting in the removal of damage points. So even triple 1's would have done it, or something abysmally low anyway even if I don't remember the involved hit boxes correctly.

Yay. Rasheth did it. Won against Harbinger.

(Though honestly I think I would have lost the game if Harbinger wouldn't have exposed herself.)

Neither -2 arm nor +3 def does the trick

Maybe, then, I am trying the wrong trick?

Alrighty, I'll edit a new game right into this one. The games here have about a week in-between them, but since opponent had exactly same list and I had the same faction, I thought I wouldn't need a new post.

Two 75 point games of Warmachine with Skorne and Protectorate.

Game 1:

My list was:

Dominar Rasheth
- Agonizer
- 2x Basilisk Drake
- Basilisk Krea
- Tiberion
- Titan Sentry [
Paingiver Beast Handlers (max)
Venator Reivers (max) + Venator Reiver Officer & Standard

Ancestral Guardian
Aptimus Marketh

Opponent had:

The Harbinger of Menoth
- Devout
- Redeemer
- Vigilant
Choir of Menoth (min)
Flame Bringers (max)
2x Knights Exemplar
Visgoth Juviah Rhoven & Honor Guard
2x Allegiant of the Order of the Fist
Anastasia di Bray
Nicia, Tear of Vengeance
Hierophant
The Covenant of Menoth
Wrack

Scenario was Outlast and Protectorate started game.

Menite forces parked themselves, contesting both zones and well within Martyrdom range, waiting for me to commit.

And sure I did commit!

I rushed forward with Tiberion and Titan Sentry, and actually with pretty much everything I got. I placed Agonizer so that both heavies would benefit from Gnawing Pain, even if they would be attacked from maximum reach. Rasheth used his feat defensively, so that anything that would try to attack focal point would get -4 for damage rolls. Lucky deviations from Breath of Corruptions screened Skorne forces nicely, too.

Now, it looked and felt quite sweet to be impervious there, with two big guys closing in with opponent unable to do anything to them.

However, it wasn't that sweet when the 22 and 15 point warbeasts were tied up by two Allegiants of the Order of the Fist, with me being unable to do anything to them thanks to way too high defense.

If it wasn't for them, my bold plan of grinding control points from flag might have been a little more feasible. Now I just put Rasheth in the way of continuous assassination attempts, or at least possibilities.

Slowly and steadily Exemplars were clearing zone on the right, so my scenario victory didn't look like it would happen any time soon.

Frustrated, Tiberion trampled forward, hoping to survive long enough to somehow get to Harbinger.

Well, Tiberion was killed. Game had dragged on for quite a while by now, and there didn't seem to be any chance for a win to me, only to prolong the inevitable. I did something most unheard of: I conceded.



Game 2:

Void Seer Mordikaar
- Agonizer
- Aradus Soldier
- Archidon
- Cyclops Savage
- Titan Gladiator

Cataphract Cetrati (max)
Paingiver Beast Handlers (min)
Praetorian Swordsmen (max) + Officer & Standard
Swamp Gobbers Bellows Crew
Paingiver Bloodrunner Master Tormentor
Void Spirit

Scenario was The Pit II, and Protectorate started again.

I figured I had very little options, as Harbinger would have absolutely no trouble at all at removing Hollow from Swordsmen. I did get a couple of souls from the spell when Harbinger chose not to cast Purification, but all in all I think I lost more Fury in upkeeping and re-casting the spell than what I gained from souls.

So I decided to rush in with all I got and hope +3 defense would give a chance to do something, somewhere, preferably via charging, ghostly Archidon at Harbinger.

It kind of worked, except for the charge part. I did manage to navigate in the thick of Protectorate forces for quite a while, and Harbinger went dangerously low on her health thanks to Martyrdom a few times during game. Mordikaar was able to annoy her a bit with Manifest Void, too.

Now, for some reason it didn't even cross my mind during game that I might have tried to assassinate her during those turns of low hit points with Essence Blast targeted somewhere else so that Devout wouldn't be able to protect her. Instead I tried to win Harbinger with attrition and scenario. A choice well made!

But somehow, at the height of my power, I was at 3-0 control points. Then the downfall began and I started to run out of, well, everything, and so I did not contest nor did I score points any longer.

It's nice to know I did have the chance here, even if feeble mind didn't realize it.

Odd feeling I've been in this situation before

A 75 point game of Warmachine from yesterday.

My list was:

Deneghra, the Soul Weaver
- Corruptor
- Defiler
- Harrower
- Nightmare
- Nightwretch

Withershadow Combine

Bloat Thrall
Machine Wraith
Necrotech
Ogrun Bokur
2x Pistol Wraith
Soul Trapper
Warwitch Siren

Opponent had:

The High Reclaimer
- Judicator

Choir of Menoth (min)
Exemplar Vengers (max)
Idrian Skirmishers (max) + Command Attachment

2x Knights Exemplar
Hierophant
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord
Vassal Mechanik
Wrack

Scenario was Take & Hold and Protectorate started game. For some reason the picture quality is even more atrocious than it has been these days.

Anyway. Opponent was juggling Hand of Fate throughout the game like a pro. I had Grave Wind on Deneghra. Nightmare had Judicator for it's Prey target, and Corruptor was the choice of Idrians.

Opponent had uneventful turn 2, when all shots from Judicator either did no damage or deviated off, and even Idrians managed to miss their RAT 11 shot against Defiler. A Venger charged Deneghra and dealt eleven points or something, which was dropped to six by expending a focus point.

My next turn wasn't all that grand either, when opponent was passing Tough rolls on Idrians way too often. Deneghra even missed Mortality on them. But I did get four Idrians and one Venger. Necrotech repaired Deneghra. I was quite alarmed by the Venger attack on Deneghra, so I crammed as many models in front of Deneghra as possible to protect her.

Turn 3 wasn't too bad. Vengers failed at wrecking any of my warjacks, and Idrians got only Soul Trapper and Pistol Wraith.

However, one deviation from Judicator was excessively annoying, when it just managed to clip Admonia a little bit, who received a damage roll of 11, which was just enough to kill her. Boo.

Regardless, I was optimistic.

Maelovus cast Mortality on Vengers after their Battle Driven had worn off. Warwitch Siren seduced a Venger, who galloped right next to a gathering of two other Vengers - all of which were killed from a Thresher attack by Harrower. Quick Work shot tried to kill the last Venger who was sitting in a trench. Attack missed, but deviation still gave POW 6 damage roll, which resulted in two points of damage - unless I forget what Pistol Wraith rolled. It tried to come and finish the cavalry model, and accidentally even scored a hit. Either no damage at all, or the earlier two points actually came from this attack.

Excruciatingly carefully I measured that I would be able to get Deneghra to spray the Venger dead, and then Reposition away from Judicator's charge distance.

Plan was all good, but execution was not. I had written a mental note myself to move Ogrun Bokur out of Deneghra's escape lane, but you can already guess what happened.

"You are safe right next to me, Deneghra, my liege, my generous client!"

"Uh, yeah, whatever. Just move a little so there is no reason for you to protect me at all, you know."

"NONE SHALL PASS!"

Then I pretty much had to run everything I still had left to activate to block Judicator's charge.

Turn 4 Deneghra didn't die thanks to valiant sacrifices made by my troops, but the game was lost anyway. All but Maelovus and Tremulus, Necrotech, Warwitch Siren and Bloat Thrall and Harrower died.

I wanted to take Judicator down with me at least, perhaps some miracle might happen and Deneghra would survive if the P+S gazillion colossal would go down.

So, Deneghra used her feat and spammed Mortality all over the place. And true to her traditions that she seems to hold in high esteem, she missed Mortality at least three times when needing 5+ to hit.

Anyway, then she charged Judicator and mauled it with all but three focus points.

Necrotech repaired Harrower with a LOT of spare parts (shame you can use only one at a time...)

Harrower then charged, but didn't wreck Judicator.

Warwitch Siren attempted to spray Judicator and did some odd points of damage.

Then Bloat Thrall took a free strike and exploded, killing a couple of Idrians. But not getting to land a shot at Judicator.

I suppose a miracle could have happened if Judicator would have died. After all, out of the six or so Idrians that charged Deneghra, four missed. But nope, the witch was dead. Once more.

Tough luck

My list was:

Iron Lich Asphyxious
- Seether
- Slayer
- Deathripper
- Ripjaw
Machine Wraith

Opponent had:

Amon
- Crusader
- Dervish
- Devout
- Repenter
Minimum unit of Choir of Menoth

We had no scenario other than caster kill. Protectorate started game.

Seether with Scything Touch one-rounded Crusader with +2 armor spell. Parasite on Choir of Menoth and Asphyxious' feat killed all but one choir member. That one was shot down with possessed Repenter.

Amon had a camp of five focus points. Asphyxious had cast Parasite on him. Because Crusader died that easily I thought I'd make Amon quite careful if I'd damage him with Slayer. So, Slayer charged Amon and out of a whim I did Combo-Strike. Damage roll was so high that even with damage reducing effect the High Allegiant was one-shot. Oh, wait! No he wasn't. He passed his tough roll.

Next turn what's left of Protectorate wrecks both heavies and one of the arc nodes. But Amon is at one hit box. What could possibly go wrong?

Well, Asphyxious missing three times and scoring only two attacks - both which were prevented by a successful Tough roll. Then one of the arc nodes come to bite with boosted attack roll, but it's a miss. As a last resort Machine Wraith possesses Repenter and the light warjack goes and takes a swing at its master. Missed.

And then Asphyxious was alone in the middle of, albeit smallish, enemy army. And died. As a small consolation Amon was not able to deliver the killing blow. He missed even more attacks than Asphyxious did.

Exhuming the Truth

Quite a while ago I played this 75 point game of Warmachine.

Lord Exhumator Scaverous
- Malice
- Slayer
- Corruptor
- Deathripper
Bile Thralls (min)
The Withershadow Combine
Mechanithralls (max) + Scarlock Commander

Necrosurgeon & Stitch Thralls
Darragh Wrathe
Machine Wraith
Necrotech
Warwitch Siren
Ragman

Opponent had:

Malekus, the Burning Truth
- 2x Reckoner
- Vanquisher
- Revenger
Choir of Menoth (max)
Flame Bringers (max)
Holy Zealots (max) & Monolith Bearer
Wrack
Vassal of Menoth
Hierophant

Scenario was Entrenched and Cryx started.

I opened up the game by dragging a Reckoner to Malice and then possessing it with Machine Wraith. Reckoner moved to take a shot at a choir boy. And then Corruptor and Warwitch Siren wrecked the Protectorate heavy warjack.

Malekus used his feat next. Opponent didn't want to waste any potential damage by committing to terrible overkill. Corruptor got wrecked easily enough, but knocked down Malice somehow survived with at least cortex still functional. Sure, Malice had Death Ward, but it had to make it through a couple of Reckoner shots and automatically hitting bombs from Holy Zealots.

Malekus had only one focus for damage mitigation. Malice shook itself up. Necrotech repaired it. Maelovus cast Telekinesis on Malice and Tremulus gave Puppet Master.

Scaverous activated and used his feat. He cast Telekinesis on some enemy models to move them out of way of Malice. He also cast Feast of Worms and managed to land it on a proper area where I thought it might be possible to drag Malekus. Ragman put up Death Field. Malice dragged Malekus with harpoon gun and punched the warcaster very dead. I would have had some Bile Thralls to make sure even rude dice wouldn't ruin my perfectly executed assassination - but no purge was needed.

Hellbringer vs Wrath of Ages

My list:

Asphyxious the Hellbringer & Vociferon
- Kraken
- Corruptor
- Deathripper

Maximum unit of Bane Warriors
Maximum unit of Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges
Pistol Wraith
Ogrun Bokur
Necrotech

Opponent had:

Reznik, Wrath of Ages
- 2x Reckoner
- Crusader
- Redeemer
- Devout

Maximum unit of Choir of Menoth
Maximum unit of Idrian Skirmishers + Command Attachment

Rhoven & Bodyguard
Vassal Mechanic
Wracks
+5 points of something I can't remember or find from the pictures.

Scenario was Outlast and Cryx started.

It's been almost two weeks since this game was played. So the story is going to be rather short.

Protectorate heavy warjacks took advantage of walls so that Kraken would not be able to get to them. I tried to abuse the terrain the same way and place Kraken so that heavy bases would not fit to charge the colossal, or at least not all of them. I also had a plan to get rid of whole choir, or perhaps with only one choir member remaining, so I was confident Kraken would be able to take the heavies.

However, Cassian or Gius took the Kraken's AoE shot with Shield Guard, which didn't ruin the day all by itself. Of course d3+1 shots from the throat gun rolled only two shots. Corruptor came to shoot it's own AoE to a choir member, but all in all two grunts stayed alive, which was a worrisome prospect for the survival of my colossal.

Turned out I could have pretty much have missed all of my shots against the choir unit - Reckoner missed it's shot against Kraken and then Crusader with Boundless Charge missed most of it's attacks against Kraken and whenever it landed a hit, damage was negligible.

Then opponent had left Reznik with only one focus point. All enemy heavies had been placed so that Kraken would be able to just walk to enemy warcaster.

So that's what I attempted to do.

Asphyxious charged some Idrian and cast Mobility with Blood Boon. Then he spent the rest of his focus point buying attacks against Reckoner, which was later finalized by Corruptor. Crusader was the only enemy jack that would be able to take a free strike, which missed.

Three attacks out of five hit, but rolled damage so poorly that Reznik would have been able to take in three additional attack, at least with that "good" damage rolls.

Asphyxious was dead in less than three figurative seconds.

"But I'm safe from blast damage!"

A while ago I played a 75 point game of Warmachine. Actually, make that two. Or make that one. However you wish. One and a half. One point twenty five. Enough rambling.

Both games (game and a non-game) were with same lists and scenario.

My list was:

Lord Exhumator Scaverous
- Seether
- Erebus
- Ripjaw
- Nightwretch

Maximum unit of Black Ogrun Boarding Party
Withershadow Combine
Aiakos
- Desecrator
Pistol Wraith
Warwitch Siren
Machine Wraith
2x Soul Trapper
Ragman
Swamp Gobber River Raiders

Opponent had:

Severius2
- 2x Reckoner
- Redeemer
- Blessing of Vengeance

Minimum unit of Choir of Menoth
Maximum unit of Idrian Skirmishers + Command Attachment
Rhoven & Bodyguard
Covenant of Menoth
Hierophant
Vassal of Menoth
Vassal Mechanic

Scenario was Recon. I won't bother with the first game too much. I somehow thought it was a very good idea to bring Scaverous that much front. My objective was Bunker, so I was, uh. Safe from blast damage. Whee.

Assassination still comes from rather far away with Severius2. Though I don't think he actually even cast Awareness and blasted Scaverous with two Hex Blasts instead.

Game 2:

Okay, another try.

This time I decided to keep Scaverous a little bit better 'screened', though what the heck does that help against anything that has access to Awareness?

I tried to shoot scather template to block Idrians even a little, plus used arc node to cast Feast of Worms "somewhere", that landed on Idrians, giving Scaverous a soul or something. I think Protectorate started this game and the first picture in the doubled up scene is from the end of Cryx turn 2. Protectorate had shot Seether off the board. I sacrificed Ripjaw to cast Feast of Worms deep in the enemy line of supports. I forget how much actually happened, but quite a few choir members died. Scather falls to a slightly bad position, not doing much against single wound infantry now.

Next Severius uses his feat and everything dies. I lost objective (to shooting, actually. I lost Bunker to shooting.) most Black Ogruns, Aiakos (which made Desecrator inert), Warwitch Siren and Soul Trapper.

When I try to reply to this aggression, everything fails. Even Machine Wraith misses it's back strike attack against Blessing of Vengeance. I decided to launch Erebus forward anyway, both to contest the zone and to act as some sort of a dummy for Protectorate to beat instead of focusing on Scaverous.

Withershadow Combine casts Telekinesis on inert Desecrator and Scaverous comes to re-activate it. He casts Feast of Worms on enemy objective.

Next Protectorate has its fair share of bad luck when Reckoner misses back strike attack against Machine Wraith, and Redeemer fails as miserably against Pistol Wraith. Erebus is slammed out of the zone, though.

Machine Wraith and surviving Black Ogruns make Protectorate over-reach a little; Severius really wants to start playing some serious scenario game and he empties his focus pool relatively close to my troops.

This was my only chance, but it was quite a slim one. Severius had Holy Ward on himself, and he was on top of a hill also.

Admonia upkeeps the Feast of Worms, and then Pistol Wraith advances to shoot the hierarch a little. Wraith does some damage in, but doesn't succeed in Death Chilling its target.

No matter how I try to shuffle things, I can't find any other shot I could make other than from Desecrator, which would need 13+ to even hit in the first place. Covenant had denied spellcasting and I didn't have that many attacks available to deal with it...

So, Withershadow Combine gives Puppet Master for Desecrator, who then advances and shoots the biley cannon forth. I don't remember if I had to use Puppet Master or not, but in the end the attack hit and killed Severius.

Goreshade vs Thyra

So, this game was played a few weeks back. I have to start writing these now.

It was my first real Warmachine Mk3 (or: New Edition) game with actual miniatures.

My list was 75 points:

Goreshade the Bastard & Deathwalker

- Corruptor
- Leviathan
- Malice

Maximum unit of Mechanithralls +2x Brute Thrall + Skarlock Commander
Necrosurgeon & Stitch Thralls
Minimum unit of Bile Thralls
Withershadow Combine
2x Pistol Wraith
Necrotech
Warwitch Siren
Soul Trapper

Opponent had something like this:

Thyra
- Blood of Martyrs
- Vigilant
- Dervish
- Avatar of Menoth

Maximum unit of Choir of Menoth
Maximum unit of Idrian Skirmishers + Command Attachment
Daughters of the Flame
Hierophant
Covenant of Menoth
Vassal of Menoth
Vassal Mechanic?
Wracks
Rhupert

Scenario was good old Incursion, I think. No idea who started the game any more. Pictures are a bit blurry.

Incorporeal Pistol Wraith wanted to seize flag on the right. I don't know what was the deal with flag on the left, nobody seemed to be too interested in that.

Daughters of the Flame flooded Malice and my front line on the left, but Bile Thralls took care of those aggressors. Malice took a few souls in the process, and a bit later Malice just becomes my new favorite cryxian warjack. I mean... Arm 22. Amazing.

Both players score a few control points, Protectorate from the middle flag and Cryx from the flag on right. I remove Idrians easily enough and now when I'm looking at the pictures situation doesn't look that bad for Cryx. I was just terribly afraid of Protectorate warjacks, as none of my own warjacks excelled in Arm 21 removal. I'd need at least two warjacks to charge one target, and then there'd be one Protectorate jack that could easily enough remove both pieces I sent in...

At least that was how I felt.

Next I get a little bit of a spook when I advance Goreshade to cast Bleed on an Idrian Skirmisher. I didn't really pay attention on how far Thyra would be able to launch Blood of Martyrs. Don't know if Bleed attracted Blood.

Thyra advanced and used feat, casts Carnage and what else. Thanks to Lamentation on Goreshade, whatever Thyra did left her at zero focus points. I bet I've never ever gained as much use out of Mage Blight.

Blood of Martyrs then charged Goreshade, and had enough movement to get in to position. I doubt I would've taken such risks with Goreshade had I remembered Carnage and Silence of Death. Most probably that was one dead Goreshade now.

Except that there is this Warwitch Siren that was able to get a free strike against Blood of Martyrs. The attack hit and triggered shadow bind. There had been a lone Daughter of the Flame that could have tried to take her down, but opponent forgot. A bit of an anticlimactic save for me.

Next Thyra is sitting relatively close to Cryx with zero focus.

Goreshade charges some warrior model and pops up a new Deathwalker. He uses feat, too.

Only two Bane Thralls get to Thyra and both miss, but good old Dark Shroud had been delivered. With Deathwalker Thyra had -2 def & arm. Malice got within Thyra's back arc and butchered her up. Shame that Malice had just been errata'd to not be able to use possession on warcaster models.

Well. What can I say.

A most skillful caster bait I guess.

Scaverous vs Reznik in the new edition

Yesterday I played first game of the new edition of Warmachine.

Traditionally we've played a game or two on my summer visit to Kuhmo with another player who's from here, but this time around we weren't present at the same time.

So it was time to blow the dust from Vassal engine and play a 10 point game.

I played:

Lord Exhumator Scaverous 1

- Erebus
- 2x Deathripper

Minimum unit of Bile Thralls

Opponent had:

High Executioner Servath Reznik 1
- Castigator
- Devout
- Dervish

Minimum unit of Choir of Menoth
2x Allegiant of Fist

We didn't use any scenarios in such a small game. Protectorate started. First picture is from the end of Cryx turn 1. So far Death Ward is on Erebus and Ignite is on Castigator (like it needs to ignite things any better...)

Second turn Protectorate advanced under spell shielded warjacks and warcasters, and defense 18 Allegiants of Fists.

Such magic protection was an intimidating prospect. I was afraid I wouldn't get any use out of Scaverous' feat at all until it was already too late. Witch Hound stopped me from planning any kind of an assassination with Erebus (I didn't think I'd be able to pull it off without -2 arm on Reznik) so instead I decided to waste my feat to destroy the Choir of Menoth. Lovely plan, but somehow I grossly overestimated the reach of AoE 4. Oh well. Used my feat to kill three choir boys.

Perhaps it was worth it anyway, since Feast of Worms gives soul tokens nowadays.

Bile Thralls activated next and did some futile sprays. I was sure I'd kill one Allegiant with a purge attack, but damage roll came up as double 1's. My warcaster's new ability, Knowledge of the Damned, came into good use in the first game with him.

I knew that charging Erebus to Castigator might be a very bad idea. Too often Cryxian jacks take an good chunk of health boxes away from an Arm 19 target, but fail to disable any important systems. But this time was different. Perhaps the dawn of new edition, or something. Charge damage roll was 10, second initial 9, first extra attack 6 and last attack 10. This wasn't enough to wreck the jack, but it was stationary now and - most importantly - had lost it's cortex.

Turn 3 Reznik casts Engine of Destruction and charges Erebus. Death Ward acted more like a Death Warrant because of Purgation. But still Reznik didn't destroy Erebus with three attacks. Reznik used his feat. Devout had already activated and had tried to injure Deathripper, but had failed in doing so. Lone choir priest gives extra damage for Dervish, who comes and punches Erebus twice, hitting with both attacks. Last attack scores the kill. Last remaining Allegiant knocked some six points off from Deathripper on the right, or something.

Exactly what I feared had now happened: I had lost Erebus, and opponent kind of nothing. Stationary Castigator without cortex had at least made Reznik commit himself far. So, now Reznik died or Cryx lost. Fortunately Reznik was within charge distance of Scaverous, who had eight focus this turn. Scaverous charged in and would hit with 6+. Scaverous went without attack boosts the whole run, and didn't miss a single time. Damage rolls (which I boosted) were quite excessive. A camp of two didn't help against rolls of 14+ and so.

But this simple and innocent game only led to the true test. I have to start thinking how to engineer my new and improved excel sheets...