Showing posts with label seamus. Show all posts
Showing posts with label seamus. Show all posts

Friday, April 25, 2025

Farewell to third

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

Strategy: Corner Cloak and Dagger

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

My list:

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

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

Opponent had:

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

Pool: 3
Schemes: Power Ritual, Protected Territory


Turn 1:

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

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

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

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

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


Turn 2:

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

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

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

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

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

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


Turn 3:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Both players scored strategy for a 2-2 tie.


Turn 4:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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


Turn 5:

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

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

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

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


Saturday, October 19, 2024

Richard? Now that's a good boy!

 A 50ss game of Malifaux on Vassal.

Strategy: Wedge Plant Explosives (gg0 version)

Schemes: Power Ritual, Claim Jump, Search the Ruins, Detonate Charges, Hold Up Their Forces

My list:

Seamus & Copycat Killer
Madame Sybelle
White Rabbit Co.
Mourner
Dead Doxy
2x Rotten Belle
2x Dead Dandy

Pool: 4
Schemes: Power Ritual, Search the Ruins

Opponent had:

Clampetts, Fisherfolk & Bruce
Aunty Mel
Uncle Bogg
Sir Vantes
2x Hermits
Buckaroo

Pool: 4 
Schemes: Search the Ruins, Detonate Charges


Turn 1: 

Surprisingly, Seamus did not shoot anyone dead this turn.

Bayou was somewhat bottlenecked by the weird building in the middle. Uncle Bogg, Bruce and one of the Hermits got stuck on each other, and the head count almost included Sir Vantes, too, if it wasn't for the 3" push that ignores models.  Sir Vantes took position at front, ready to charge the plethora of models in his reach. Too bad only Madame Sybelle did not have a disguise.

Aunty Mel and another Hermit rushed behind a rock on right flank. Buckaroo with a bomb was soloing the left flank.

Resurrectionists offered almost a unified front piecemeal. Going from left to right, Copycat Killer had teleported Seamus within 1" of blocking terrain after the master had dropped a scheme marker to top-left corner. 

Rotten Belle with explosive token and a Dead Dandy were also there on the left front, biding their time as their only real threat was the Buckaroo... oh, and the Clampetts. But they were not directing their rage against the pair. They started tossing dynamite on the widow weeping for her recent loss that had overextended her sorrow by trying to feed on Sir Vantes' grief. She didn't succeed at that, but she certainly caught the sizzling dynamites. Mourner even shared the fireworks with Madame Sybelle, taking five points of damage herself, and three to Madame. 

White Rabbit felt uncomfortable around gremlins, so they crafted a hat for Dead Doxy and went into hiding behind a mud house to the right. Dead Doxy admired her hat in front of the hut.

I now realized I forgot to drop the corpse marker from Mourner deployment. That could have been an easy-ish scheme marker to the corner where he instead wasted an actual action point planting marker for Power Ritual.

Explosive carrying Rotten Belle to the right lured the Dandy a little closer, preparing to flank from far right. 


Turn 2:

Surprisingly, Seamus did not shoot anyone dead this turn.

Before opponent would finish what he started with Mourner, she charged the Angler master. Attack did not amount to anything, but Sir Vantes started to feel a little grief. Soon enough Madame Sybelle failed Undivided Attention with a black joker, so she, already injured, decided it's best to die with high heeled boots on. She actually did rather well against Sir Vantes, after she and Mourner were done, the knight in shining coat of snail slime was down to two health remaining.

However, Sir Vantes killed the Mourner, healed himself for two points and stunned Madame. And set Dead Dandy on fire with Bait the Waters. How does that even work out?! Bruce licked the Sir's wounds away, so in the end he was missing just one point of health.

Since situation was about to get tough for Madame, White Rabbit Co. offered her some support with a fancy new hat, and again went hiding, this time inside some fog terrain.

Hermit and Aunty Mel to the right didn't manage to kill Dead Dandy that had exposed himself. Rotten Belle to the right took position to plant a bomb next turn, while Dead Doxy started her long road towards bottom-right corner. 

Buckaroo to the left bonus walked, dropped a bomb and charged Copycat Killer, but did not score enough damage to kill. Clampetts, I think, shot a couple points of damage to Dead Dandy in the middle, leaped to forest on the left and did a scheme marker there at end of activation. She may have tried to attack Copycat Killer too, but there the bugger is still standing in the picture with one health remaining. 

Copycat Killer made a relatively big mistake in trying to shear the creature during live rodeo. He managed only to poke damage to it. Worried about the damage he'd done, he tried to plug the hole with a bullet from his half pint flintlock pistol. While Buckaroo got decent damage out of these attacks, the 6" of free movement was also a problem. 

However, I didn't and wouldn't get strategy points this turn unless Seamus used Secret Passage to get to the weird building in the middle, walk and place both a strategy and a scheme marker. Although now that I think about it, maybe I could have done without a scheme marker for one more turn and shot Buckaroo instead. Oh well. 

Dead Dandy went to place a scheme marker next to a wall, and turned Mourner's corpse into a scheme marker. 

Rotten Belle to the left had taken a double walk to get into contact with enemy strategy marker. 

Scores went 2-1 for Resurrectionists, as they got their Search the Ruins.


Turn 3:

Surprisingly, Seamus did not shoot anyone dead this turn.

Madame Sybelle took some serious beating in the middle by Hermit, Sir Vantes and even Bruce. She lost her hat and used up my remaining soulstones. But still she was standing during end phase, with two health remaining! 

She tried to kill Bruce, but instead damaged Hermits. Two points got through its armor. Second attack hit Bruce, but left the puppy with one health remaining. 

White Rabbit proved to be a bloodthirsty beast when it, too, scored two points of damage to Hermits that had been pushed around by Uncle Bogg to drop a scheme next to terrain. Hermits removed itself from melee with scuttle and charged Sybelle. Uncle Bogg had placed a strategy marker, too, but according to all safety procedures he is sitting on the explosive in the picture. 

Rotten Belle to the right goes to drop a strategy marker while Hermits and Aunty Mal on that flank kills Dead Dandy and nearly Rotten Belle, thanks to a moderate damage with three negative modifiers to the flip. 

 Clampetts kills Coopycat Killer, staggers Rotten Belle and leaps to interact a strategy marker and do a scheme marker with silurid shenanigans. Buckaroo runs to remove a scheme marker from my top-left corner.

Staggered Belle wasn't going anywhere soon, so she just picked the box of explosives from ground and shambled to Bayou side of table. 

Burning Dandy in the middle did a double walk to perhaps make a scheme marker before succumbing to flames. 

Seamus took a secret passage, doubly walked to bottom-left corner and placed a scheme marker there for Power Ritual. 

Both players scored strategy, Bayou got Search the Ruins and Resurrectionists did Power Ritual for a lead of 4-3.


Turn 4:

Surprisingly, Seamus did not shoot anyone dead this turn.

Madame Sybelle, however, did score a kill against Hermits in the middle. First kill for Resurrectionists, yaaay! At least that was what I suspected would happen. Nope, White Rabbit's needle and thread was Resurrectionist's most impressive instrument of death in this game.

Dead Doxy drops a scheme for Power Ritual end and hopes Rotten Belle survives long enough to lure her, as there was now grave concern that top-right corner would be gone during fifth round. She at least had the hat. No such luck, however. Aunty Mel kills Rotten Belle to the right with her bonus action and goes pick up her explosives. Aunty's Hermits had earlier charged past Belle's engagement range to drop their explosives on my side of table. 

Bruce manages to bite off half of what was left of Madame Sybelle, and Sir Vantes carried through with the rest. 

Uncle Bogg went to secure the mud house on my right side, while Clampetts interacted a scheme, stomped almost next to White Rabbit Co. and dropped an explosive. Shenanigans brought up a scheme marker that started to look a lot like Detonate Charges on White Rabbit.

Buckaroo goes to drop a scheme marker in forest in the center on my table edge.

Situation looked grim. Due to less than ideal placement of strategy markers to the left, Rotten Belle was able to squeeze in one strategy marker adjacent to board edge - but she wouldn't be able to drop the second bomb she had with the marker Seamus had dropped earlier.

Seamus dropped a strategy and a scheme to bottom-left corner and took a double walk towards his earlier, misplaced explosive. 

Before burning to ashes, Dead Dandy placed a scheme marker for Search the Ruins end condition.

Both players got their strategy, and Bayou finally got their Detonate Charges for a 5-5 tie.


Turn 5:

Surprisingly, Seamus did not shoot anyone dead this turn.

It looked like I was at Clampetts's mercy with Power Ritual, so Dead Doxy with the hat just ran into contact with a terrain piece, out of sight of Aunty Mel. 

Seamus was able to walk to the troublesome strategy marker, pick it up, move away and drop it again. Most efficient use of 4 AP master's action points, let me tell you!

Rotten Belle was thus able to place my fourth explosive to the ground, and there was exactly enough scheme markers next to terrain to score Search the Ruins.

Clampetts had no trouble in getting to my top-right corner to convert my scheme marker there, so Power Ritual was ruined.

Throughout turn I had been burning through my stash of pass tokens and DAMN wasn't the mobile hat booth of White Rabbit Company more popular than it has ever been! Bruce, Buckaroo, Uncle Bogg and Sir Vantes all trampled over each other to reach the booth. 

Idea behind using up my pass tokens was to wait until everyone had activated, miraculously score masks trigger from Beckoning Call to remove a Bayou scheme marker, and then try to move or disengage if need be away from remaining scheme marker. But eventually White Rabbit got staggered by Clampetts, so now White Rabbit would have to do with 1.5" of movement inside tide markers. 

Well, that plan fell short at the masks -trigger part that never happened.

Bayou had brutally enforced their Detonate Charges end condition, and had more than enough markers for Plant Explosives and Search the Ruins. 

And as Resurrectionists lost their Power Ritual while scoring remaining points, it was still a 8-7 loss for Seamus. 

Also... absolutely mind-blowingly, Seamus did not even shoot at anyone in this entire game. 

Sunday, May 19, 2024

Last Fractures

I played two 50ss games of Malifaux on subsequent days, so they're both in this post. Both games took part in Fractured Futures global campaign. Likely the last campaign games I will be able to play.

Strategy: Wedge Cloak and Dagger

Schemes: Take Prisoner, Power Ritual, In Your Face, Death Beds, Hold Up Their Forces

My list:

Seamus with The Whisper & Copycat Killer
Madame Sybelle
Bete Noire
Corpse Curator
Gravedigger
Mourner
Dead Doxy
Mindless Zombie

Pool: 4
Schemes: Death Beds (Corpse), In Your Face
Wicked Whisper: two corpse markers

Opponent had:

Kaeris & Eternal Flame
Elijah Borgmann
Carlos Vasquez
Firestarter
Fire Golem
2x Firebrander
Fire Gamin

Pool: 0
Schemes: Death Beds (Pyre), In Your Face
Moonshine Madness: Condition on enemy model within 3" of Nia during friendly activation

Turn 1:

My grand plan for Nia was to activate Gravedigger first, go drop a corpse and then get pulled back to safety by Madame Sybelle. However! The plan was more efficient than I had planned by a factor of infinity. I didn't have to spend Madame Sybelle's action points at all, when Kaeris was able to kill Gravedigger in just two shots. Boom! Two corpses right next to Nia. 

Seamus was interrupted by Fire Golem, and I had to spend two soulstones to protect him. Copycat Killer still had not activated, and teleported him to centerline near strategy marker closest to bottom. From there he managed to claim intel and even shoot one of the Firebranded dead,

Mourner and Bete Noire were trying to approach from top, while center was held by superior tanks such as Copycat Killer and Mindless Zombie. Well, Madame Sybelle or Dead Doxy were not that far from action, and Corpse Curator was dangerously close to Fire Golem. 

However, the entirety of Wildifre were standing within about 6" of the center point, with three pyre markers to boot. 


Turn 2:

Three pyre markers, you say? Nah, make that seven!

It was a distressing turn for sure. Fire Golem dropped a scheme marker and charged Corpse Curator. One attack was not enough to kill the thing, so it made haste to drag a corpse marker along next to Nia while it still was able to do so. It also dropped a scheme marker for maybe some Death Beds one day.

And true enough, opponent poured everything they could at Corpse Curator. Kudos for it for surviving the torrent of attacks throughout the turn, until Carlos blew the out-of-keyword enforcer out of the board. 

However, Corpse Curator was not the only model to get beaten up. Seamus tried to shoot a Firebranded, but missed. He also picked up intel, and charged Firebranded, managing some random points of damage. But Kaeris and the minion himself kept attacking Seamus. They didn't even fail their Terrifying checks, so Seamus didn't heal. 

Copycat Killer had to bail Seamus out of there, and Mindless Zombie - who I had hired just for this purpose - was able to assist six points of burning off of Seamus. And yet, Redchapel master was still burning...

Seamus also had about five health remaining, so I decided to reposition Mourner and even Bete Noire closer to middle. Bete Noire tried to soften up Carlos, and did well enough. Mourner's role was to get rid of Elijah's Ruthless if he attempted to attack Seamus. In the picture he's behind Fire Golem. 

Both players scored Nia and strategy this turn, but Arcanists also received Death Beds from Corpse Curator for a lead of 3-2.


Turn 3:

Turn three things got a wee bit intense. 

Seamus was able to heal himself a bit with Terrorize. A moderate shot injured Fire Golem somewhat, but Seamus didn't dare to show his face any longer, escaping behind a house. 

Firebranded healed Fire Golem enough for me not to have any hope of killing it. 

Bete Noire tickled Carlos for a bit and charged Fire Gamin dead. Kaeris and Elijah charged Bete, managing to fade her away with enough burning to kill her while buried. Uh oh. 

Dead Doxy was able to remove Madame Sybelle from melee and pick up intel, but she had also received enough burning to die from it during end phase. 

Mourner and Mindless Zombie both tried to attack Carlos without much of an effect, but finally Madame Sybelle dealt the killing blow, thus scoring In Your Face. 

Eventually Copycat Killer repositioned Seamus back at strategy markers for upcoming turns.

Both players scored strategy, and Resurrectionists got In Your Face for a tie of 4-4.


Turn 4:

Except, uh, three of my models just burned dead. At least Wildfire had been losing models, too, but situation was grim nonetheless. I decided to go all-in. 

Seamus went to take two shots at Fire Golem, connecting both but scoring only a moderate and a weak damage. 

Firebranded healed the Golem again, and - well, I had made up my mind about going all in. Copycat Killer switched places with Seamus and started shooting the Golem. And finally it went down after it ran out of burning to block damage. 

Hooray! Death Beds!

However, before Kaeris went to pick up some intel, Elijah, Firebranded or whoever had killed Madame Sybelle, scoring In Your Face for Arcanists. 

It looked kind of a game over, until an unlikely hero appeared. Mourner shot unactivated Firestarter dead with a Feed on Grief by flipping Red Joker on damage. 

Unfortunately Eternal Flame extinguished Mourner's flame, and Copycat Killer just burned into crisp from conditions gathered throughout the game.

So, although points went to 5-5 tie, a lone Seamus would not be able to turn the tables around... or would he?


Turn 5:

Elijah was able to charge Seamus, but he flipped Red Joker on damage block. Seamus, however, was not in a position to teleport twice to place scheme markers next to corpse markers. Instead, he teleported to top-left corner to flee the scene with two health and three burning.

Kaeris was able to pick enough intel for third strategy point, and there were still enough models to place a couple of schemes next to pyre markers. So, it was a damn bloody 7-5 victory for Arcanists.



Game 2:

Strategy: Corner Plant Explosives

Schemes: Protected Territory, Hold Up Their Forces, Power Ritual, Espionage, Death Beds

My list:

Molly Squidpiddge & Necrotic Machine
Carrion Emissary
Noxious Nephilim
Forgotten Marshal with The Whisper
Rabble Riser
Night Terror
2x Crooligan

Pool: 3
Schemes: Espionage, Power Ritual
Wicked Whisper: Summon a model while within 3" of Nia

Opponent had:

Nekima, Broodmother & Blood Hunter
Hayreddin
Serena Bowman
Mature Nephilim
Young Nephilim
Black Blood Shaman
Terror Tot

Pool: 6
Schemes: Hold Up Their Forces, Death Beds (Corpse)
Parasitic Protection: Heal within 3" of Nia


Turn 1:

Both Crooligans were deployed with an explosive token to the farthest corners of the map and for the first turn, they only concentrated. While it certainly looked a bit like Power Ritual, it was still possible I had chosen Protected Territory or Espionage. 

However, after first turn had passed, a Young Nephilim was threatening both of them, despite opponent only having one of them in his list. Kids sure grow up so fast these days. 

Forgotten Marshal summoned a Night Terror that he launched to my deployment corner - I had messed up the deployment to easily place a scheme marker for Power Ritual. Noo, you wouldn't know, it might still be for Espionage! That's a perfectly reasonable investment in a bluff! Well, at least it served double duty.

Rabble Riser goes running towards top-right corner, with Noxious Nephilim flying about in a forest nearby. Both had explosive tokens, so they were a bit hesitant to enter middle melee that was bound to be saturated with Mature Nephilims and whatnot. 

Speaking of which, Mature took a double walk which prompted damage from Lethe's Caress. Serena later threw some bottles of painkillers down Mature's throat, claiming first fracture token that way. Thanks, Molly. 

Carrion Emissary went to summon zombies within 3" of Nia marker, thus also scoring fracture token for Resurrectionists. 

I had Molly, Emissary, hired Night Terror, Forgotten Marshal and Necrotic Machine contesting the middle along with two Mindless Zombies now. It felt awfully little against Hayreddin, Serena and Mature Nephilim, with Black Blood Shaman and Nekima not too far away. 


Turn 2:

Neverborn got the initiative, and started mauling Crooligans. The one at top-right corner died to three attacks by Young Nephilim. The other one at bottom-left corner was a little too far for another Young Nephilim to fly and charge, so he just needed to dodge one attack. But, he was engaged now, so bye bye Power Ritual for this turn at least.

Hayreddin went to place a strategy marker into outskirts of center forest. Forgotten Marshal disapproved and went to put the henchman in pine box. Later he also acted as a teleport beacon for surviving Crooligan, who jumped to him to pick up Hayreddin's bomb and to toss it to Neverborn side of table right away. 

Molly had activated to try to draw crows for Forgotten Marshal, but no such luck. She went closer to centerline and managed to slow Mature Nephilim as well as damaging it heavily. But then Serena activated, healed the Mature for a bit and removed slow with bottle of painkillers. Ah well, it was fun while it lasted. 

Mature killed a Mindless Zombie and charged Molly, dealing four damage back, which was reduced to two with a soulstone.

I wanted that Nia point this turn, so instead of Aura of Decay Carrion Emissary summoned even more zombies. It also killed a Terror Tot that Nekima had summoned. The Neverborn master charged in and killed a Mindless Zombie while Dark Bargaining a scheme marker nearby.  Black Blood Shaman took interest in Carrion Emissary and charged it. 

Rabble Riser was able to reach Young Nephilim with a charge & flurry attack, not even missing all of his attacks.

Necrotic Machine tried to heal a Night Terror that was hiding in ruins, but failed the target number. As opponent had no cards in control hand, Necrotic Machine took a 3" move in end phase and attacked Mature Nephilim, most importantly scoring two points of poison. 

So, the Crooligan had managed to rob Neverborn of their first strategy point. They did, however, reaveal Hold Up Their Forces. Resurrectionists got strategy and Nia point for a 2-1 lead.


Turn 3:

Carrion Emissary started the turn by slapping on Aura of Decay. It also pecked Black Blood Shaman for a bit. 

Next to activate had to be Rabble Riser. It took all of his actions and a flurry, but fortunately Young Nephilim went down. But he would not be able to power a ritual this turn.

I was indeed worrying about my Power Ritual and Espionage, so after Emissary and Rabble Riser I made it an imperative to deliver Crooligan to where it mattered. Noxious Nephilim dropped a scheme to centerline and walked forward for Crooligan to teleport. He did, and placed his explosive. Good, I guess, but no schemes. 

In the center, Nekima charged Carrion Emissary to block line of sight to Mature Nephilim, and kept healing it while I was busy hurrying up Crooligan. 

Serena had removed Poison from Mature Nephilim, so Necrotic Machine had to re-apply it. But attacking those Black Blood models is stressful with a health pool of four. The machine healed itself for a bit, but still succumbed to Mature's attacks. While it didn't seems such a big deal then, I sorely missed a healer when Black Blood Shaman somehow kept hitting Carrion Emissary, sometimes with moderate damage. After the turn Emissary had just three or so health points remaining. 

A stampeding Blood Hunter was able to wreck both Mindless Zombies, who until then had been quite resilient to Black Blood thanks to Nia's shieldings. Hired Night Terror committed to killing the Blood Hunter with one health remaining, but just couldn't do it. Forgotten Marshal had to summon a Rabble Riser that did a little better job, although only with flurry attack that had me discard black joker from my hand. 

By now summoned Night Terror had spawned two scheme markers on my deployment, and the Young Nephilim from bottom-left corner had dropped an explosive and flew closer to center melee. 

Molly managed to disturb Mature Nephilim dead with her story, walked and placed a scheme marker for Espionage. 

Both players scored strategy but nothing else, for a 3-2 lead for Resurrectionists.


Turn 4:

Nekima activated first, and got a bit greedy. She dropped a scheme marker with Dark Bargain, brought Carrion Emissary down to one health remaining and tried to finish it off with Blood Has Been Spilled. Emissary passed, and was able to disengage for a bit and shoot Nekima with Rot and Rend. It scored moderate damage, which also clipped Black Blood Shaman. As a last act of defiance it summoned two zombies more, as I doubted Aura of Decay would do anything.

But being at one health is... a bit of a hazard against Nekima2. What ultimately fell my ten point enforcer was the Terror Tot that had just been summoned. And it did so by failing terrifying check. It scored Death Beds, gained a grow token and ate the Emissary's corpse token. And 'lo, Young Nephilim. What did I say about kids growing fast, again? 

Young Nephilim from bottom-left picked up the strategy marker Crooligan had stolen on turn 2 and flew away from action. Forgotten Marshal pine boxed Hayreddin again, this time after it had activated. 

Hired Night Terror in the middle was able to kill Black Blood Shaman, and summoned Rabble Riser tried to do the same for terror tot Young Nephilim, but did a whole lot of worse than the hired counterpart top-right. Summoned Night Terror just tried to position itself so it might do something of consequence during last turn of game. 

Serena ran next to the forest in middle, carrying an explosive token. 

Rabble Riser top-right walked to corner and schemed, while Noxious Nephilim walked and schemed in enemy deployment. Crooligan took a double walk towards top-left corner. Molly had no time to search for lost knowledge, and had to do a double walk to place my third strategy marker.

Resurrectionists scored both schemes and strategy, and Neverborn got their Death Beds, strategy and Nia for a 6-5 lead for Resurrectionists.


Turn 5:

Rabble Riser, Noxious Nephilim and Crooligan were able to secure both schemes and fourth strategy point without much of a chance for Neverborns to react. 

They, however, were able to build three pairs of corpse + scheme marker, so it was impossible for Molly to go and discreetly remove a critical piece. 

Serena was able to drop her bomb, and summoned Night Terror just went to die to Young Nephilim left of the forest. 

There wasn't enough high cost models nearby for opponent to engage, so Hold Up Their Forces failed. Game ended in 9-7  victory for Resurrectionists.

Tuesday, January 16, 2024

Changing Plans

 A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Standard Stuff the Ballots

Schemes: Protected Territory, Deliver a Message, Ensnare, Let Them Bleed, Power Ritual

My list:

Seamus & Copycat Killer
Madame Sybelle
Mortimer
Bete Noire
White Rabbit & Co.
2x Rotten Belle
Dead Dandy

Pool: 4

Schemes: Ensnare, Power Ritual

Opponent had:

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

Pool: 2

Schemes: Ensnare, Protected Territory

Here's the thing.

We got presidential elections coming up in Finland. So I printed out the candidates and put them into strategy markers, and randomly distributed the markers over the board. So now we just wait and see if Malifaux matches are a reliable way to predict these things


Turn 1:

Power Ritual in standard deployment, so I placed a scheme marker to both of my corners. White Rabbit & Co. placed it right, and then pushed itself forward a little by tossing a hat to Bete Noire. A Rotten Belle did the same left, except no hats. 

Mortimer managed to dig up a zombie while going far left to offer his votes. Dead Dandy put a scheme marker next to my left strategy marker and begun to wait for the ballots to open.

In the middle Rotten Belle advanced a little and lured Seamus forward. Carlos, also going to middle, put a pyre marker blocking Seamus from using his gun unless he would take some burning in the process.

Madame Sybelle went mid too and activated Undivided Attention. I wanted opponent to activate the dreaded Coryphee Duet, but for some reason he just wouldn't. So I had to offer a bait. Bete Noire. 

Colette and Angelica had moved Coryphee forward, so it charged Bete Noire. Fortunately it failed the first attack with Black Joker, but second had Bete Noire fade away. Coryphees split their duet. 

Copycat Killed transferred Seamus to right wing, and from there he dismantled a piece of destructible terrain, took aim and shot the activated Coryphee. Blam. And now it's a mannikin! Severe 8.

Remaining Coryphee seemed much less threatening until it walked and charged Madame Sybelle, dealing moderate damage even with two negative fate modifiers. Damage block was one. Whee. 

On the performer side of things, Showgirl was waiting in performer-left strategy marker. Carlos and Colette were center-stage, while Angelica, Firestarter and some birds were holding right. 


Turn 2:

Dead Dandy placed a couple of votes on my left strategy marker, while Mortimer went to place one on the far-left. A Mechanical Dove attempted to peck him, but didn't feel that murderous today. A Rotten Belle on the left took a double walk to a corpse that had been dug up by Mordimer prior to his vote. Showgirl also placed two votes on performer-left strategy marker.

Those were the easy parts of the turn, but then there was a sort of cluster copulation in the middle. Coryphee attacked Madame Sybelle twice, dealing moderate damage both times despite having negative modifiers. Three times in a row. Madame Sybelle was burning through my soulstones rapidly.

To offer Madame a degree of protection, White Rabbit & Co. walked and charged Coryphee, and tossed a fancy bullet sponge hat for Madame Sybelle.

This prompted Colette to secure vantage point for her spectacular tricks. She placed a vote to the center ballot, and presto-changoed... changod? White Rabbit & Co. for a Mannikin. Madame Sybelle was not grateful for her hat, but when she lashed where hat crafters had been, a Mannikin fell dead in their place. 

Two murderbirds, Angelica and Carlos ganged up to beat up White Rabbit & Co., or maybe they just wanted new clothes and demanded them rather forcefully. Miraculously White Rabbit survived, but with two health and Burning +1. Rotten Belle lured them away from their way too enthusiastic customers. 

Seamus ran to place a vote far-right, while Firestarter flew to my right corner to place a scheme. 

Copycat Killer tried to shoot Coryphee, but results were not impressive. 

Bete Noire popped up from zombie dug up by Mortimer earlier. She charged and climbed to the stage to place a scheme marker, with the marker and her hat easily within 3" of Colette.

Both players score strategy, but no schemes were revealed. Scores: 1-1.


Turn 3:

Mortimer wrecked Mechanical Dove and moved as far forward as close as possible to performer top-left corner while still being able to vote. However, he wasn't able to dig up a homing beacon for Bete Noire this time around. 

Carlos, Andgelica and a bird are able to finish what they started with White Rabbit & Co., but not until they were able to offer their most magnificent hat to Rotten Belle. Well, not all of their resources went into killing the merchants. They were also able to score Ensnare with Madame Sybelle.

When Colette activated, Resurrectionists scored their Ensnare. Colette removed Coryphee from melee with Madame Sybelle, and went to strike Bete Noire with distracting illusions. Well, most distracting illusion probably was that Bete Noire faded away. 

Rotten Belle on the left walked and tried to lure Showgirl away from top-left strategy marker. It kind of worked, just not the way Belle meant. Lure attack failed, but Showgirl walked in to melee to strike Rotten Belle with a hairpin.

Coryphee nimbled and walked to Dead Dandy and struck him. The puppet was distracted, but still hit. And again the thing scored moderate wound with two negatives on damage flip! Ouch.

Bete Noire popped up from a corpse Mortimer had dug up earlier and charged Showgirl. She was quite distracted, and managed to land one hit of moderate damage. 

Firestarted went to place a vote to bottom-right marker and flew as far from Seamus as possible. 

Carlos had placed a spectacular fire show next to ballot on the far right. Seamus had to make his run through the flames to reach top-right corner with his four actions.

Both players scores strategy and Ensnare, but Resurrectionists got the lead by also scoring Power Ritual. Scores went 3-4.


Turn 4:

Rotten Belle on the left killed Showgirl. Mortimer's decay and Dead Dandy's cane finally killed Coryphee and the ensuing Mannequin. 

Firestarted planted a scheme and went to bottom-right strategy marker, where Dandy had spammed three votes. 

Carlos managed to drop a pyre near the center ballot and. shuffle himself to far-right strategy marker and even place a vote there. I had two there, though. Seamus placed another scheme to top-right corner and went to vote on top-right strategy marker.

Madame Sybelle kept lashing at Mechanical Doves while engaging Angelica. Angelica was trying as hard as she could to cane Madame Sybelle dead. 

I don't remember why Colette walked down from top of the building in the middle, perhaps to place a scheme for Ensnare and/or Protected Territory.

Hatted Rotten Belle started to climb closer to center ballot.

Bete Noire popped up from Showgirl's corpse and went to place two votes to top-left strategy marker. Copycat Killer was speeding towards top-left corner.

Performers failed to score strategy, but got Protected Territory instead.  Ressers got third strategy, for scores of 4-5.


Turn 5:

We didn't play fifth turn past Angelica's activation where she failed to cane Madame Sybelle's hat off and Rotten Belle's vote to center.  This ensured Ensnare end condition for me and tied Colette's hands to come back to center and claim the strategy marker back.

It was apparent that I'd get Power Ritual and Ensnare end conditions, while opponent would get Protected Territory end and strategy for a grand total of 6-7 for Resurrectionists.

Now. One question remains. What did Cassandra do during this entire game? I don't know, somebody has to go and ask her at her slot in carrying case.

Tuesday, August 22, 2023

Last To Speak

 A 50ss game of Malifaux on Vassal.

Strategy: Wedge Covert Operations

Schemes: Public Demonstration, Assassinate, Sabotage, Catch and Release, Breakthrough

My list:

Seamus & Copycat Killer
Madame Sybelle
Bete Noire
White Rabbit Co.
Dead Doxy
Mourner
2x Rotten Belle

Pool: 4
Schemes: Assassinate, Catch and Release (Mourner)

Opponent had:

Nellie, the Voice of Disorder & Printing Press
Phiona Gage
Allison Dade
Auguste Hart
Undercover Reporter
Field Reporter
False Witness
Guild Steward

Pool: 2
Schemes: Public Demonstration, Catch and Release (Field Reporter)

Turn 1:

Probably because of terrain first round was mostly about positioning. Mostly. Well, one accidental shot by Seamus may have one-shotted a False Witness, sure... yeah. When this happens, it always feels a little filthy, using that cannon. Maybe I should remind myself of all the games where the cannon pretty much amounts to nothing. 

Anyway, Doxy, Seamus and Mourner were pacing towards top half of the board, with Mourner keeping its eyes on Allison Dade for a possible Catch and Release next turn.

Madame Sybelle was standing at the doorway to my deployment zone and beckoned Guild Steward a little closer.

Both Rotten Belles were hiding behind the wall near Sybelle. 

White Rabbit had given a hat for Bete Noire, who ran to bottom strategy marker. Copycat Killer held bottom portion of the board for Seamus.

Journalists were mostly in the middle, with Phiona guarding Nellie and Field Reporter. 

Auguste was a little behind, probably going to bottom portion next turn. Allison and Printing Press were holding top. 

Turn 2:

White Rabbit & Co started turn by luring Guild Steward even further. I considered removing the only heal opponent had that important. Oh, and Madame obviously received a fancy hat.

Unfortunately Phiona charged Madame Sybelle and dealt two points of damage in, making Steward's reprisal that much threatening. She even slowed my henchman.

Rotten Belle went to lure the Steward next to herself and Madame Sybelle, and punched two points of damage in. Minimum damage with critical strike would kill Steward now. 

But, Nellie threw a wrench in the plan. She walked a bit forward and started doing cursed translations on Rotten Belle, clipping Madame Sybelle and White Rabbit Co. in the process and making Madame Sybelle distracted.

Screw this, Madame must activate now before even more debuffs rain in. So, she healed White Rabbit, Rotten Belle and herself a little with rams on Undivided Attention, bought a positive card to negate Distracted and bought rams, and swung her lash at Guild Steward. Steward died and dealt six points of damage in return. Solid investment, two soulstones and a lost hat. Oh well, I got an opportunity for assassinate now.

Undercover Reported appeared next to the Rotten Belle that ho was next to Madame Sybelle and poked some holes in White Rabbit & Co. 

Bete Noire walked and charged Nellie, not doing anything. But Auguste did something, yeah. He walked and charged Bete Noire. She also had comfortable hat, so she chose not to fade away. But the comfort of a hat goes only so far when you're dealt six points of damage despite having a negative modifier. White Rabbit & Co at three health, Madame at three health, Bete Noire at three health. Admittedly, situation was concerning.

One of the Rotten Belles who was covertly operating ran to bottom marker, and Printing Press went to make Seamus' life difficult. Oh wait, but it wasn't Seamus! It was some kind of a diminutive gnome. Seamus had been on the bottom portion of the map all along. 

Dead Doxy pushed Mourner around a little and charged Printing Press. She did manage to land one severe damage, but second attack missed altogether. 

Field Reporter ran within 1" of Madame Sybelle. Seamus climbed on top of some rocks at bottom strategy marker and took a concentrated shot at Nellie, who flipped a black joker for defense. Poor Nellie was blasted with eight points of damage, although damage block was a severe, too.

Finally Allison Dade activated and ran to center-below marker. Just outside of Mourner's reach. Well, at least there was Phiona there for Catch and Release. 

Allison scores and Rotten Belle below scores covert operates a strategy, and both players reveal Catch and Release for a 2-2 tie. 

Turn 3:

Auguste managed to land a killing blow to Bete Noire even with Fade Away declared. At least this bought time for White Rabbit & Co. to craft a hat for Madame Sybelle, walk for a bit and beckon Undercover Reporter to Rotten Belle.

Reporter tries to swing at White Rabbit, but failing at that he removes a scheme marker to walk to engage Madame Sybelle. 

Seamus had to activate next and try to deal with Nellie before she triggered her First to Speak. Handcannon hit home, but dealt only four points of damage, out of which three were blocked by a soultone. Seamus walked and charged the Guild master, and managed to deal moderate wound with his bag of tools. My first two activations were astonishingly successful, not a single test failed.

Allison, however, wasn't that lucky. She failed three One More Questions at Mourner despite having a lead of two on stat, and even failed her impassioned defense. Nobody listened poor Allison that turn. 

Madame Sybelle activated, and managed to Black Joker her heal. To make matters worse, when she Red Jokered her attack on Field Reporter, I realized I might at least push her away with masks. That was until we realized that attack was invalid since Phiona was there. So instead, her bleeder lash only tickled Phiona closer to grit (frenzied).

But, Guild continued to receive the short end of the stick. Already being said, Undercover Reporter had missed everything. Allison had missed everything. Phiona missed everything, and only Field Reporter managed to take a shaken photo of Mourner. 

Rotten Belle walked to Undercover Reporter with unassuming demeanor, and dealt impressive four points of damage. Mourner fed on Phiona's grief for a couple of additional damage points. 

Dead Doxy caned Printing Press for whatever reason and dismantled it. 

Opponent kept using pass tokens, so Copycat Killer couldn't do much else than walk for a bit and concentrate. This round Nellie was the last to speak. She disengaged and went to center-top strategy marker and translated a couple of damage points to Mourner. 

Doxy got top marker, and Nellie the aforementioned one. Resurrectionists revealed Assassinate for a lead of 4-3.

Turn 4:

Nellie activated first to give herself a chance of survival. She also removed a potential victory point for me by translating Mourner dead.

Since she had done her worst, I supposed I had time to optimize my attacks. Copycat Killer activated and tried to shoot Nellie, and then delivering Seamus to a more charge-able position.

Then it was time for Madame Sybelle to go down, scythed by Phiona. 

Distracted Seamus charged Nellie, and obviously didn't do much. He then concentrated and took a swing, but this time opponent played Red Joker from his hand, thwarting Seamus' blow. To the last attack Seamus used last soulstone in game and finally assassinated his target.

Allison took a couple of worrisome derringer shots at Seamus, bringing him down to five health remaining, and walking to shield Auguste Hart a little. You got it, champ!

And indeed, Rotten Belle couldn't get through Auguste's defenses.

Copycat Killer, Rotten Belle and White Rabbit Company tried to block Auguste from getting to score any points, but Rotten Belle failed her ghost chasing test, and a line was thus opened. 

Field Reporter ran away, but was caught by Dead Doxy, whose blank stare could have slowed even the wittiest of reporters. 

Both players scored strategy for a 5-4 lead for Resurrectionists.

Turn 5:

White Rabbit created his fanciest hat to-date by sewing one for Seamus. Auguste and Allison tried to kill Copycat Killer but failed. Phiona killed unactivated Rotten Belle and tried to fish Shove Aside from her bonus, but failed. Then there were no real threats for Seamus any longer, so he activated and shot Undercover Reporter into splinters. There we stopped the game, since opponent had had Public Demonstration tied to that barrel. 

Game ended essentially 7-4 for Resurrectionists, with a chance of five for Guild.




Monday, March 13, 2023

Super Secret Meetup (It Just Had To Come vol IV)

 A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Standard Guard the Stash

Schemes: In Your Face, Vendetta, Catch and Release, Secret Meetup, Set the Trap

My list:

Seamus & Copycat Killer
Madame Sybelle
Bete Noire
Carrion Effigy
Bone Pile with Grave Spirit Touch
Dead Doxy
Gravedigger
Dead Dandy

Pool: 5
Schemes: Set the Trap, Secret Meetup (Dead Doxy & Young Nephilim)

Opponent had:

New Broodmother Crew (Neverborn)

Size: 50 - Pool: 8

Leader:

 Nekima, Broodmother & Blood Hunter
Athorak
Serena Bowman
2x Young Nephilim
Black Blood Shaman with Ancient Pact
Terror Tot

Pool: 8
Schemes: Set the Trap, Secret Meetup (Madame Sybelle & Athorak)

Turn 1:

I deployed Dead Dandy, Gravedigger and Copycat Killer far to the right, Seamus and Dead Doxy close to bottom-left strategy marker and more or less everything else in the middle. 

Most of the Nephilim gathered in the middle, too, which was a lot of concentrated black blood right there. Once Gravedigger took a double walk and planted a corpse marker past center line far on the right, the blob was diluted a little when Young Nephilim walked and charged Gravedigger, dealing some damage in.

I only realized how well this sacrificial trick "worked" when Copycat Killer transported Seamus there, and he already had a corpse marker for Cause For Celebration. But, quotations were there for a reason. Terrorize to remove friendly fire penalty? Missed. Concentrated shot at the Young Nephilim? Missed. Even bonus action shot with a boost from soulstone missed. Great job, Seamus. 

Nephilim shenanigans had the Terror Tot to grow into a Lilitu, who then lured Bete Noire nearby.

Madame Sybelle had tried to use Beckoning Call on Bone Pile, but the numbskull just wouldn't take the hint. Later Dead Doxy tried to take Bone Pile by one of its four hands, which also failed. And when the Pile finally activated, Athorak had already blocked any line of sight. Oh well. At least Young Nephilim for my secret meetup was behind my required building.

Turn 2:

It was a big turn for sure. 

Gravedigger miraculously survives attacks by Young Nephilim, and even manages to drop a corpse for Seamus to celebrate Blood Hunter to eat. 

Bete Noire goes to tickle Lilitu for a bit, and Madame Sybelle charges in to tickle Lilitu a lot, killing her. Bete Noire takes too big of a beating and fades away as is to be expected. What was not expected, however, was the attacker to the Young Nephilim from left who was Doxy's planned secret meetup.

Athorak goes hangs around close to his secret meetup building, looking almost as aimless as Dead Doxy, because Madame Sybelle in the middle of every melee on the board. 

Carrion Effigy came to heal Madame Sybelle and failed to activate Aura of Decay. Nekima came and scrapped the useless puppet. 

Black Blood Shaman went to guard top-right marker. I had a difficult choice of taking a point from strategy or from Set the Trap, but not both. I chose Set the Trap by disengaging with Seamus, shooting Blood Hunter dead and transforming Lilitu's corpse to a scheme marker with Dead Dandy.

Bone Pile places another scheme close to Athorak, while Doxy meekly places a scheme marker for at least secret meetup end condition.

Neither player got strategy, while Resurrectionists had Set the Trap for 0-1 lead.

Turn 3:

 Unsung hero of the match proved to be Gravedigger. The reason for no songs was most likely that the only thing he did was to survive time after time attacks by Young Nephilim. He then moved away from melee by digging up a corpse and then going to contest top-right marker. But, in the end, Serena Bowman set the twisted reality where Gravedigger had already stayed alive for far too long right by shooting him. 

Madame Sybelle failed to kill Serena, but at least Undivided Attention was up and running. 

Nekima summoned a Terror Tot and healed models. Seamus was missing shots left and right again. However, his shots were at least tolling opponent's hand... but still it ain't fun missing that big cannon so many times in a game. At least he managed to terrorize Nekima away from strategy marker.

Athorak summons a corpse which grows Doxy's meetup Nephilim into a Mature. Bete Noire pops up in the middle of the melee and finally somebody does something and kills Serena Bowman.

Black Blood Shaman runs to contest center-right marker, so there was two eligible models within 2" of the marker from both sides. Athorak and Doxy were arm wrestling (well, they were not since Athorak didn't take into Doxy's hand when she tried to make him fall from top of pillar) the center-left , so it was up to Bone Pile to open Resurrectionists strategy scores. Neither side reveals additional schemes, so scores go 0-2 for Resurrectionists.

Turn 4:

Otherwise decent enough looking game for Resurrectionists falls apart this turn, when Bete Noire uses Poisoned Fate on Mature Nephilim and succeeds. And then, only after then she tries to disengage. Failing spectacularly at that. I hadn't considered that the damage from Poisoned Fate is damage from an action or ability, so she kind of spelled her own doom. 

"Nyeh nyeh nyeh, imma poison your fate, Nephilim! Noo, I poisoned my own fate!"

Because soon after, Mature Nephilim activates and starts cheating to its heart's content. Bete Noire had ended her activation with three health left, so that was kind of bad news. After it had done cheating, Bete was at one health and Madame Sybelle at six. 

Next, Mature Nephilim casually kills Madame Sybelle with a severe. I still had one soulstone so I could have tried to block damage, but I had a suspicion that Madame Sybelle could be Secret Meetup target, so I let her die.

And if it didn't look horrifying already, Athorak charges Dead Doxy, gets Red Joker on damage and kills her with second hit. So it was something like twisting a knife in wound, when Mature Nephilim had moved near enough that Dead Doxy could have taken it by the hand and scored Secret Meetup.

At least Seamus kills Black Blood Shaman, and Bone Pile scores damage in to Nekima. Copycat Killer tries to kill Nekima (he could have done it with Red Joker and opponent blocking only one damage... if only...!) before she charges Bone Pile. 

Terror Tot grows into Young Nephilim, and the Young Nephilim who had been flocking around Gravedigger took a full double walk and Fly With Me to bottom-right strategy marker.

This turn Resurrectionists score nothing, and opponent gets a strategy for 1-2 for Seamus.

Turn 5:

Neverborns seize most of the strategy markers. I only have Seamus and Bone Pile who were able to get strategy markers, so... 

While Athorak and a summoned Terror Tot manage to bring Seamus down to less than half health remaining, opponent doesn't have enough scheme markers to score both Secret Meetup end and Set the Trap end. This was thanks to Copycat Killer's magnificent performance at killing a Young Nephilim.

Heck, that alone was almost more impactful than anything Seamus did the entire game. Okay, I'm not being fair to Seamus but missing his shots that many times in a game with plentiful extra shots... sheesh... he doesn't deserve any fairness. 

Both players get Secret Meetup end, which is amusing since neither pair actually met in their designated places. 

Neverborn also gets second strategy point.

So...

Yeah. If we're looking strictly at points scored, this may have been the toughest game up-to-date.

I skimmed through the entirety of my Malifaux games on this blog, and out of games that were played in their entirety, ie, not conceded prematurely, with game size of 50 soul stones, I didn't find a single game of 3-3 points or less. Although I didn't read the write-ups where I had not clearly stated the end points, so I may have missed if there ever was one. 

Saturday, December 3, 2022

There is something wrong with my hand

 A 50ss game of Malifaux on Vassal.

Strategy: Standard Guard the Stash

Schemes: Vendetta, Hidden Martyrs, Spread Them Out, In Your Face, Public Demonstration

My list:

Seamus with The Whisper & Copycat Killer
Madame Sybelle
Bete Noire with Grave Spirit Touch
Gravedigger with Killer Instinct
Dead Dandy
2x Bone Pile

Stones: 5
Schemes: Vendetta (Bone Pile on Iggy), Hidden Martyrs (Bete Noire & Dead Dand7)

Opponent had:

Pandora, Tyrant Torn & Poltergeist
Candy
Dorian Crowe
Iggy
Hooded Rider
2x Sorrow
Wicked Doll

Stones: 5
Schemes: Hidden Martyrs (Sorrow & Poltergeist), Spread Them Out

Turn 1:

Game started with me having a card no higher than 10 in hand. Alright, no biggie.

Bete Noire walked near Dead Dandy, Seamus and Madame Sybelle in the middle and put some focus on them and walked towards center point. Pandora was about to stun her, so she had to Fade Away while she still could.

Dorian Crowe pushed most of enemy crew up for a bit and dumped his cigar on Candy. Way to provoke some temper tantrums!

I did some peek-a-boo Seamus things for a change and teleported, took a shot at Candy and teleported away. Opponent was able to play Red Joker from his hand to make the shot miss.

Hooded Rider rides with Candy, moves and charges Seamus and deals moderate damage which he blocks with a stone to one.

Copycat Killer runs from far-right near the strategy marker on my side, but doesn't teleport Seamus anywhere because I didn't want to lose Copycat Killer on the second round.

Grave Digger and Bone Pile were biding time on the left, waiting for Iggy to appear for some Vendetta.

Since Candy was a tad too far for Madame Sybelle to walk and charge, she instead walked, called Seamus from melee into safety and then took a second walk, positioning herself with a Dead Dandy so that Candy would not get my master within 4" of herself.

Dandy had tried to make a corpse for Bete to arrive next turn, but managed only to draw the silhouette of a corpse with a chalk. 

As a last activation for the round Candy got within 4" of Dandy and Madame Sybelle and even managed to Slow them. 

Turn 2:

My hand is kind of horrible, so I use a stone. Still, highest card I had was a ten. Two of them, in fact.

Madame Sybelle opens the turn and is stunned from Candy and then pushed by Pandora. She charges Candy and manages to deal a point of damage, wow! 

Pandora activates next and ruins everything. Seamus becomes Stunned and engaged in melee by a Sorrow that was summoned next to also stunned Dead Dandy. 

Fortunately Seamus manages to disengage, concentrate and shoot Candy that was engaged with Madame Sybelle. But even with two extra cards Seamus misses as opponent is able to cheat Red Joker to save her... again.

Wicked Doll and Dorian Crowe come to contest the middle-left marker along with Pandora so no chances for me to deny points there. 

A sorrow in the middle-left marker charged Gravedigger. While Dead Dandy had managed to make a corpse this turn, Poltergeist just removed it and even tossed Dead Dandy to hazardous terrain where he was then standing with two health remaining, and easily within 4" of a Life Leecher. 

Thus, Grave Digger made a corpse for Bete to appear and the two together killed the thing, which was a Hidden Martyr no less.

Bone Pile managed to land a hit to Iggy, and it was a little worrying that Iggy was reckless and brought himself to three, meaning moderate damage would now kill him next turn. Not good for Vendetta.

Copycat Killer tried to move Seamus to a little more defensible position, and another Bone Pile re-located itself to middle to heal Madame Sybelle. 

Hooded Rider, however, was able to ride, walk and charge Seamus, slapping him with full severe damage which was reduced to three. But after everything Seamus was not at four health remaining. 

Sorrow, Iggy and Wicked Doll had planted scheme markers, I had killed enemy martyr and I did not control any strategy markers, so it was a nasty 0-3 score for Neverborn.

Turn 3:

Well, look at that. Third round in a row with the highest card in my hand being a ten. This is probably some sort of a record for me. 

I had three pass tokens so I played that ten from my hand to cheat initiative. Seamus walked within 1" of building, teleported to another and took a double walk towards enemy bottom-right strategy marker.

Iggy uses reckless and goes to place a scheme marker. That would mean no Vendetta reveal for me. 

Madame Sybelle put on her aura and tried to charge Poltergeist, but the attack didn't really do anything. Activating Madame now was a mistake, I should have instead tried to shoot Iggy with Bone Pile. As it happened, Iggy activated next and went to two health remaining from being reckless. 

Pandora pushes Madame around and turns her into hazardous terrain and makes Bete Noire fade away once more and summons an additional Sorrow. Sorrows kill Copycat Killer, who leaves a corpse marker. Bone Pile could have taken three points of damage to heal two and try to scrape at a summoned Sorrow but I didn't think it was worth it and buried it instead.

One Sorrow went to contest strategy marker where Seamus was. Remaining Bone Pile went to control bottom-left strategy marker but was contested by Dorian Crowe. Grave Digger killed Iggy and left a corpse for Bete to reappear. She did so and went to control strategy marker. 

Hooded Rider and Wicked Doll also spawned some scheme markers, so opponent now had enough for Spread Them Out end condition. Situation was looking grim indeed.

Scores went to 1-4 for Neverborn.

Turn 4:

Woohoo! I got my first severe card to my hand this turn. And it was eleven. And it was the only one. Baffling.

But, opponent wins initiative. Sorrow close to Seamus activates and lands a stun on him and while I manage to dodge one of its attacks with my precious eleven, second attack hit home and would have killed Seamus if not for hard-to-kill. 

But, now Seamus was at one health remaining and Sorrow had Life Leech.

We ended the game there with a quite of a victory for Neverborn.

Sunday, September 25, 2022

Welcome to Greatest Show on Ear... Somewhere

 A 50ss game of Malifaux.

Strategy: Standard Cursed Objects

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

My list:

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

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

Opponent had:

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

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

Turn 1:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turn 2:

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

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

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

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

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

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

Showgirl then lures Dead Dandy into the pyre.

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

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

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

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

Turn 3:

Third round things became even more chaotic.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Madame had probably been attacking Coryphee Duet.

Mortimer charges a dove and digs up a zombie.

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

Turn 4:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Turn 5:

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

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

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

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