Mortenebra vs Witch Coven

 A 50 points game of Warmachine 3.5.

And with the downfall of Conflict Chamber, these lists might be incorrect.

My list, however:

Mortenebra & Deryliss
-Malice
-Desecrator
-Deathripper
-Stalker
2x 5 Bane Warriors
Black Ogrun Boarding Party
Darragh Wrathe
Gerlak Slaughterborn
Pistol Wraith
Bloat Thrall

Opponent had:

Witch Coven of Garlghast
-Desecrator
-Reaper
-Slayer
-2x Deathripper
2x 5 Bane Warriors
2x 5 Satyxis Blood Witches
2x Pistol Wraiths

Scenario was one from the main Mk4 rulebook. The cluster of 3" templates in the middle are disappearing cloud effects that would go out on 1-2 at the start of every round.

Mortenebra started and advanced in a more or less united front with warjacks in the middle, units on flanks. Witch Coven had more or less the same, except Bane Warriors emphasized left flank more. 

Second round Mortenebra tried to advance under the cover of cloud effects in the middle, and offer some trouble for the opponent by attacking Satyxis near the enemy flag with Stalker who then triggered Overrun for Desecrator. Desecrator then took a shot at Reaper.

I had tried to block a Reaper lane against Desecrator with Gerlak and Bane Warrior, which proved to be a woefully inadequate screen when enemy Desecrator shot Gerlak down with one shot. At least he passed Tough -roll, but then Pistol Wraith just took a clean shot at the general.

Reaper dragged my Desecrator next to two un-activated Bane Warrior units. Turned out just one was enough, however.

Three Satyxis Blood Witches managed to kill Stalker, so it wasn't exactly the trouble for opponent that I wanted. All in all my Bane Warriors were dying left and right and even my Pistol Wraith that had shot enemy Deathripper stationary died to the very same Deathripper after it shaked off the effect.

I guess I severely underestimated threat ranges in this game. I wonder if playing Malifaux somehow skews my range assessment. Oh well, I still had my one chance even after opponent used feat.

My two remaining Bane Warriors ran to engage a couple of Witches and Egregore. Deryliss used Tune-Up on Malice, Mortenebra cast Overrun on herself and killed an enemy Bane Warrior, then Malice advanced and trampled next to Coven. Unfortunately the two attacks by Malice weren't enough to kill all three Witches, so a focus-less Mortenebra had to endure three heavy warjacks worth of various attacks.

Spoiler: she didn't.

Hybrid Warmachine

 Had a 50 point game of... Warmachine, I guess?

With the advent of Mk4, we wanted to give the new ruleset a try. However, available unit cards were few and far between, so we did a sort of a hybrid run. This means that absolutely nothing can be said about the balance of the game, only how the new ruleset feels and plays.

So, we played with the new rules but with old cards. No command cards either. Any AoE attacks would be 2, and blast damage halved rounded up +1. Max unit size 6, able to split a full ten sized unit into two units of five.

Based on this game, new core rules are okay. Game still feels familiar and Warmachiney. Unit movement was the most noticeable change. Lack of facing was the next one on the line, and that's actually the only thing that bothers me. The game has been streamlined so much in other parts that I don't see a reason why facing had to be removed. If back strike bonus was too strong it could have just been removed altogether. Two inches of melee range on a 50mm base is enormous engagement range - let alone on 80mm or 120mm.

But this was just one game with incorrect model rules. This meant that Unstoppable didn't exist at all, which is a rule that certainly mitigates the effectiveness of 360 degree engagement range. 

My list:

Cryx

Asphyxious the Hellbringer [+24]
 - Erebus [13]
 - Inflictor [11]
 - Ripjaw [6]
 - Slayer [10]
Bane Lord Tartarus [5]
Ragman [3]
Swamp Gobber River Raider [1]
Warwitch Siren [3]
Black Ogrun Boarding Party (min) [7]
Black Ogrun Ironmongers [5]
Soulhunters (min) [10]

Opponent had:

Cygnar

Major Beth Maddox [+30]
- Firefly [7]
 - Hammersmith [12]
 - Ironclad [12]
 - Ironclad [12]
 - Lancer [8]
Black 13th Strike Force [7]
Rangers [7]
Stormguard Infantry (max) [15]

Scenario was Reinforcements from the new rulebook.

Cygnar started, and formed a long front with warjacks on the left, Stormguards in the middle and rangers and Black 13th on right.

Cryx was running as a one huge blob in the middle with Soul Hunters and Black Ogrun Boarding Party positioned to flank from right. 

Firefly managed to fry Ragman with electro leap. This was first time I used Ragman in years. Not impressed with him, I must say. Entire unit of Boarding Party was shot dead. Stormguards formed a screen for Cygnaran warjacks. Behind them were the light jacks, with heavies forming the third line.

Cryx loaded all helljacks to full and started carving through Cygnaran infantry. 

Inflictor opens and Asphyxious (who uses feat) open up a charge lane for Erebus to get to Cygnaran light warjacks. Damage and attack rolls are on the poor side, but both jacks are at least stationary. Tartarus joins the fight and evens out the bad rolls of Erebus - Firefly falls to three hit boxes left, with cortex gone. Tartarus kills a Stormguard with last attack as I thought immovable 40mm base essentially acted as a protection for me.

Slayer and Vociferon kill the last Stormguards. Asphyxious received eight souls from the swans.

Soulhunters go incorporeal and charge Black 13th. Incorporeal charges seem a bit obnoxious with the new unit movement rules. People die, and the cavalry repositions to engage as many targets as possible.

Blocking enemy heavies' charge lane with stationary Firefly proved far more effective than I ever hoped for - only Erebus was destroyed, pretty much. Two Soulhunters were also removed.

Much to Asphyxious' disappointment, Cygnaran focus had only amounted to three additional souls. Only eighteen focus to use, boo hoo. So... after Tartarus, Asphyxious, Inflictor, Slayer and Iron Mongers, Cygnar was down to one Ironclad. And that was mostly because Slayer had botched its rolls. 

Asphyxious was in the front, but had a focus camp of seven. He had also cast Cloak of Ash on himself.

Although that didn't help against Ironclad. Who managed to land a knockdown hit. Next came almost fully loaded Beth Maddox raining death on Asphyxious - but thanks to his focus camp he survived with around six boxes remaining. 

Tartarus took Cygnaran warcaster down with just one hit.

Venethrax vs Agathia

 A 50 point game of Warmachine.

My list:

 Lich Lord Venethrax [+29]
- Deathripper [5]
- Erebus [13]
- Leviathan [14]

Necrotech [1]
Black Ogrun Boarding Party (max) [11]
Mechanithralls (max) [9]
 - Brute Thrall (x3) [6]
 - Skarlock Commander [3]
Necrosurgeon & Stitch Thralls [2]
Wraith Engine [15]

Opponent had:

Bane Witch Agathia [+29]

 - Deathripper [5]

 - Kraken [32]

Bane Lord Tartarus [5]

Necrotech [1]

Bane Riders (max) [17]

Bane Warriors (max) [14]

 - Bane Warrior Officer & Standard [5]

We had a steamroller scenario. Looked like I received the short end of the stick when it came to matchup, as I kind of lost: dismember and terminal velocity on Venethrax, had a lousy feat when opponent had just one warjack apart from arc node, and even Wraith Engine wouldn't be making any Machine Wraiths this game.

I started game, and rushed Wraith Engine up from left since nothing there posed a threat for it as long as it didn't lose incorporeal.

Erebus and Black Ogrun Boarding Party were aiming to go right, while Venethrax and Leviathan were ready to go either way. Mechanithralls were spread all over the board to die as needed.

Bane Warriors and their pals were coming from the left, but didn't close the distance to their fullest to leave me without charge targets. Bane Riders did the same on right, and the rest of Agathia in the middle. She used her feat, so all but Kraken were stealthed.

I tried to jam opponent by running everything forward, engaging especially Riders so they wouldn't charge around. Wraith Engine just walked to act as an enormous roadblock. Leviathan decided to come help the situation in left rectangular zone with Bane Warriors, and Erebus hid behind a screen of trash models.

Almost all Mechanithralls died, but what's that when they'd come back soon enough? Erebus received Parasite from Agathia. Bane Warriors charged Mechanithralls, and I decided to counter-charge one Bane with Leviathan - a decision I sorely regretted after another Bane Warrior came charging in towards the crabjack and struck over half of its health boxes away with one gigantic attack.

Machine Wraith removes Tartarus and a couple of Bane Warriors. Erebus, Black Ogrun Boarding Party and some operational Mechanithralls kill all but one Bane Rider.

Necrotech and warjacks on the right score two points.

But then, uh.

I've been playing Malifaux a lot lately, and this was a good reminder how the survivability of models is NOT the same here. Also I thought that opponent might get some Bane Warriors to my warcaster, but not some Bane Warriors and a fully loaded Kraken since "screen" of Mechanithralls was entirely and completely ignorable thanks to apparition on Banes and 4" reach on Kraken.

So... game over for Venethrax.

Damn those meddling fennblades

Had a 50 point game of Warmachine a while ago.

Cryx

 Deneghra, the Soul Weaver [+27]

 - Harrower [13]

 - Inflictor [11]

 - Malice [13]

 - Ripjaw [6]

 - The Withershadow Combine [7]

Misery Cage [2]

Necrotech [1]

Satyxis Raider Captain [3]

Soul Trapper [1]

Warwitch Siren [3]

Satyxis Raiders (max) [14]

 - Satyxis Raider Sea Witch [3]

Trollbloods

 Madrak Ironhide, Thornwood Chieftain [+29]

 - Dire Troll Bomber [16]

 - Troll Impaler [9]

 - Troll Impaler [9]

Janissa Stonetide [3]

Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters (min) [10]

Trollkin Champions (max) [16]

 - Skaldi Bonehammer [3]

Trollkin Fennblades (max) [13]

We had a Steamroller scenario for a change. Trolls started, and their formation was Fennblades-Nyss Hunters-Champions-Battlegroup-Janissa, from left to right in a fairly straightforward line.

I had a bit less of a front, but vaguely I had Ripjaw facing Fennblades all alone, Malice and Inflictor in between Champions and Nyss Hunters, Deneghra and Withershadow Combine behind them. Harrower and Satyxis took positions in trenches opposed by Champions and battlegroup.

Fennblades ran to contest rectangular zone on left. Nyss did the same with middle zone. But perhaps the biggest surprise was Trollkin Champions and Dire Troll Bomber charging in to Satyxis. Only a third of them died, but my plans to seize the zone or at least destroy objective were ruined.

Deneghra, Combine and Malice took down four Fennblades with considerable expenditure of resources.

Trollkin Champions in defensive line and under Sure Foot were a disheartening sight until I realized the new and improved seduction on Warwitch Siren. This broke their Champions' line and allowed Satyxis and Harrower to remove whopping four Champions out of six. 

Then it's Madrak's turn to use feat. The relative kill count for Trollbloods this turn was meager - only a few Satyxis. But that doesn't tell the whole story. Because Deneghra took over half of her health as damage from charging Fennblades and a couple of Nyss Hunters!

As an emergency measure Deneghra cast Ghost Walk on herself and switched Grave Wind from Malice onto her. She flew into safety of opponent's table side. Eh? Well, there was only Nyss Hunters there after Inflictor ran to engage most of Fennblades.

Malice harpoons an Impaler to middle, but doesn't manage to kill it even with help from Harrower. At least all remaining Champions died.

Trollbloods still have trouble removing Satyxis from their zone. But they do not have trouble in removing Harrower with combined efforts of an Impaler, Madrak and Janissa. 

Cryx manages to remove enemy objective, clear left and middle zones and take the flag for a score of 4 in one swoop. Trolls had already scored one point so that wasn't that big of a swing, although still a rather impactful one. 

Fennblades wrecked my objective and even brought Deneghra down to seven health remaining. Other trolls cleared zone on right and contested middle, so points went back to 4-3 for me.

It took everything they got, but Cryx did kill all the Fennblades, clear middle and contest enemy zone for a grand total of 7-3. 

There wasn't much of a game left by then, and game was nearing end via turns anyway. Both players scored one point when opponent lobbed Malice off from their zone and charged an Impaler to contest middle.

Malice walked back to contest enemy zone, and it was game over and a win for Cryx.

And all of it just because of the addition of +2 armor in last dynamic update.

Nemorial Service

Over two weeks ago I played this 50 point game of warmachine.

Scenario was good old Moshpit, and my list was:

Cryx

 Lich Lord Asphyxious [+28]
- Defiler [7]
- 2x Slayer [20]
- Stalker [8]
Darragh Wrathe [7]
General Gerlak Slaughterborn [5]
Machine Wraith [2]
Pistol Wraith [4]
Soul Trapper [1]
Bane Warriors (max) [14]
 - Bane Warrior Officer & Standard [5]
Black Ogrun Ironmongers [5]

Opponent had;

Cygnar

General Adept Nemo [+26]

 - Hammersmith [12]

 - 2x Ironclad [24]

 - 2x Lancer [16]

Rangers [7]

Steelhead Riflemen (min) [8]

Stormguard Infantry (min) [9]

First turn for Cryx was rather standard "block line of sight to important pieces of army and run as fast as possible." In this case warjacks were screened, and Bane Warriors were moving from north, faced by Rangers and a Lancer.

It's been so long that I have forgotten which upkeep spells were on which Cygnaran models, but I think the "no crippled systems" was on Hammersmith.

Turn 2 Banes ran to engage enemy I think a few even managed to get in a charge with the aid of Darragh Wrathe, and Stalker jumped to cause a commotion because it's awesome. While Banes were dying left and right, Stalker miraculously survived as Cryxian heavies were creeping closer to front.

Turn 3 I think for the first time ever Gerlak Slaughterborn got to do his job by murdering a minimum unit of Stormguard with Killing Spree. I screwed up the placement of clouds this turn, but I really wanted Cygnaran Lancer dead. This took the full efforts of Machine Wraith and both Slayers. But the clouds left a Slayer exposed.

Banes were more than clogging enemy gears - they were doing impressive damage against enemy warjacks. But still, there was only so much they could do to a line of three buffed warjacks.

Hammersmith had no troubles in removing one of Cryxian Slayers, but failed at taking down two of them. Pretty much all of the Bane Warriors were dead, yet coming back in not-so-far future.

Because it was time for Asphyxious to use his feat, which finished Hammesmith and the unit of Steelhead Riflemen and destroyed an Ironclad. Darragh Wrathe committed towards Lancer and brought it to low hit boxes, although Bane Warriors had already softened it up.

Since it looked like Cryx was winning by attrition, Ironclad tried to assassinate Asphyxious. That didn't go as planned and in the end, it was a victory for Cryx.

Getting Brined

Had a 50 point game of Warmachine. Scenario was from main rulebook, to kill as many enemy units in six rounds as possible.

My list:

Lord Exhumator Scaverous [+27]
- Nightwretch [7]
 - Reaper [11]
 - Seether [12]
 - Stalker [8]
 - Satyxis Blood Priestess [4]
Misery Cage [2]
Pistol Wraith [4]
Saxon Orrik [4]
Warwitch Siren [3]
Bile Thralls (min) [6]
 - Skarlock Commander [3]
Mechanithralls (max) [9]
 - Brute Thrall (2) [4]

Opponent had:

Baldur the Stonecleaver [+31]

 - Feral Warpwolf [14]

 - Woldwarden [13]

 - Woldwatcher [8]

Rorsh [14]

Gatorman Posse (max) [13]

Shifting Stones [3]

Warpborn Skinwalkers (max) [13]

 - Warpborn Skinwalker Alpha [3]

Woldwatcher and Feral Warpwolf used building in the middle to their advantage. Baldur's forest-on-demand combined nicely with that building to create a large swathe of LoS block.

Gatormen and Rorsh were directly opposed by Cryxian infantry and Pistol Wraith. My heavy warjacks were trying to haul themselves past a rubble. Woldwarden and Skinwalkers looked like they'd be coming their way.

Circle was advancing cautiously and did not commit, so I had to launch the offensive. I used Scaverous' feat on turn 2, which resulted in one dead Woldwarden and Icy Gripped Skinwalkers. Mechanithralls and Bile Thralls tried to flood Gatormen and remaining warbeasts.

Baldur used his feat in response and sniped Pistol Wraith dead with Earth Spikes. Gatormen and warbeasts decimated six Mechanithralls, which is quite acceptable considering that it took the activations of two beasts and pricey unit. 

Bigger loss was when a lucky strike from Skinwalker did blow up Nightwretch's arc node.

Next, Stalker and Seether removed half of Skinwalkers, which was not nearly enough. Mechanithralls killed one Gatorman. As far as turns go it wasn't too bad - at least it looked like opponent wouldn't be able to inflict heavy casualties on me on their turn.

But then those remaining Skinwalkers managed to compromise movement system from both Seether and Stalker as well as killing every and all Mechanithralls. 

With my buffer gone, I tried to drag somewhat injured Feral Warpwolf to Reaper to get it away from Baldur's control zone and maybe even kill it. But as it happened, harpoon missed. At least all Skinwalkers were gone next.

Scaverous moves a bit forward so he'd be more relevant next turn.

I failed to take into account the terrifying threat range of Brine... soon enough the heavy pig beast was next to Lord Exhumator and even scored critical knockdown... twice. Scaverous had the warbeast re-roll its attack roll. 

Two focus points weren't enough. Victory for Circle.

Harpoon contest

 Had two games of Warmachine a while ago. Both were 25 point games of Brawlmachine.

Game 1:

My list:

Cryx

Goreshade the Bastard [+29]
 - Corruptor [12]
 - Leviathan [14]
 - Stalker [8]
Necrotech [1]
Warwitch Siren [3]
Bile Thralls (min) [6]
Mechanithralls (min) [6] - Brute Thrall (2) [4]

Opponent had:

Cygnar

Commander Coleman Stryker [+30]

 - Defender [14]

 - Hammersmith [12]

 - Lancer [8]

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios [6]

Stormguard Infantry (max) [15]

Forest in the middle divided the battle, Bile Thralls and Warwitch Siren approaching from the left, warjacks and warcaster from middle and Mechanithralls from the right. Leviathan inflicted some serious damage on Defender. With a good damage roll Stalker could have removed Defender from the table, but that was not to be. But at least Stalker was contesting enemy  flag.

Cygnar had a good turn where it removed half of Bile Thralls with Stormguard and all regular Mechanithralls with the rest, while having Brute Thralls knocked down. Stalker went down with a single hit from Defender.

As Stryker didn't use his feat yet, it was Goreshade's time to cause as much havoc as possible. Feated Bane Warriors removed Hammersmith, and Bile Thralls did away with the few Stormguards that were contesting my flag. To give opponent something that required immediate answer, Corruptor charged Lancer and mostly managed just to nearly fry its own Cortex.

Opponent tried to assassinate Goreshade and knocked him down with Earthquake. A single Lancer, however, just was not enough to kill the eldritch. Cryx had gained such an upper hand in terms of points, so we just started another game.

Game 2:

Second game was against Cryx.

My list:

Cryx

Captain Aiakos [+29]

 - Harrower [13]

 - Malice [13]

 - Ripjaw [6]

Bloat Thrall [2]

Necrotech [1]

Warwitch Siren [3]

Wrong Eye [16]

Opponent had:

Cryx

Iron Lich Asphyxious [+28]

 - Defiler [7]

 - Desecrator [12]

 - Reaper [11]

Pistol Wraith [4]

Bane Warriors (min) [8]

Satyxis Blood Witches (max) [11]

Bloat Thrall attempted to control my flag, while the rest of my forces advanced to meet enemy on the right side of the forest. Wrong Eye & Snapjaw tried to protect my models from being dragged by enemy Reaper.

Enemy Reaper, then, switched fronts and tried to drag my arc node from the left side of the forest. Harpoon missed, as usual. 

It's funny how badly I manage to mess up my movement next when I only had nine models to start with! Well, the thing is, I replied to enemy harpoon action with my own - and Malice delivered the required hit. Then, however, I realized how I had dragged a heavy warjack to contest my flag! Also, I had moved Necrotech to block the charge lane of Snapjaw. So it was upon Wrong Eye to remove Necrotech from the board. This succeeded, but after Star Crossed he no longer had fury points to use Submerge. Harrower charges Bane Warriors to contest enemy flag, and Ripjaw ran to contest enemy zone.

Bane Warriors and Desecrator make short work out of my Harrower, no surprises there. Satyxis Blood Witches clog up the bottleneck that is between forest and structure. Arc node runs into position, and Asphyxious charges Ripjaw, not doing anything. He uses feat to try to assassinate Aiakos, but after first Breath of Corruption leaves much to be desired, he instead launches the volley on Wrong Eye, thus removing both the warlock and the warbeast.

Grim situation for Aiakos, but I conjure a plan to assassinate. Ripjaw tries to  move into back arc of Asphyxious, but the ensuing free strike cripples Arc Node. Then I spend my activations trying to clear up a lane for Malice to move and drag Asphyxious. Aiakos has to do some acrobatics to get into position to try White Squall Asphyxious - which would throw him into completely wrong direction anyway. But that didn't bother my plans, as the spell never hit. 

It was over for Aiakos. Over.

Asteroid belt

 Had two games of Warmachine. Format was Brawlmachine, and scenario in both games was the new Asteroids.

In first game I had:

Aphyxious the Hellbringer [+24]
- Reaper [11]
- Ripjaw [6]
- Slayer [10]
General Gerlak Slaughterborn [5]
Pistol Wraith [4]
Bane Warriors (min) [8]
- Bane Warrior Officer & Standard [5]

Opponent had:

Commander Coleman Stryker [+30]

 - Hammersmith [12]

 - Ironclad [12]

 - Lancer [8]

Black 13th Strike Force [7]

Rangers [7]

Stormguard Infantry (min) [9]

With Mobility up, my both heavies enter the rectangular zone. They are greeted by Stormguard that are screening enemy warjacks. Rangers on right are opposed to Bane Warriors, and Black 13th is flanking from left. Pistol Wraith tries to relocate itself away from their magical pistols. Nothing especially fancy.

But then... it seems there are some things I never really learn.

One of them is trying to make an initial opening by pulling an enemy warjack with a harpoon drag.

Feels like that misses 75% of the time.

And now my heavy warjack had only exposed itself to enemy charges. I tried to bring Asphyxious to front and use feat in an attempt to deter opponent from wrecking Reaper, or at least pay a price for doing so.

At least Hex Blast from Vociferon did exceptional job, frying three out of six Stormguards.

Ripjaw charges Black 13th and kills their double pistol model.

Stormguards then charge Reaper, and take almost half of its hit boxes away. Ironclad who comes to assist is far less effective, and leaves Reaper standing with cortex and melee arm still functional.

Lancer tries to free Black 13th from Ripjaw, and kind of succeeds. Bonechicken loses its head, meaning it wouldn't hit with free strike even if it rolled a six. Gun mages try to shoot Vociferon, but do not hit or damage. 

Stryker uses feat, making my next turn difficult.

Asphyxious had gained exactly one (1) focus point from his feat.

Ripjaw moves a bit so that it contests cygnaran flag. Bane Warriors destroy enemy objective and bring back all dead Bane Warriors via minifeat. 

Heavy warjacks and Asphyxious deal with the remaining Stormguards. Asphyxious is left with three focus for damage mitigation.

Three focus points just wasn't enough, as Stryker got Earthquake on Asphyxious. Black 13th and even rangers dealt in enough damage to take out two focus points, so there really was no chance for the iron lich when Ironclad parked itself within melee range. Loss for Cryx.

Game 2:

My list in second game:

Lord Tyrant Hexeris [+28]

 - Agonizer [5]

 - Aradus Sentinel [12]

 - Cyclops Raider [9]

 - Titan Gladiator [13]

Mortitheurge Willbreaker [2]

Swamp Gobber River Raider [1]

Thrullg [3]

Venator Slingers (min) [8]

Opponent had:

Kaya the Wildborne [+32]

 - Feral Warpwolf [14]

 - Gnarlhorn Satyr [10]

 - Wild Argus [6]

 - Wild Argus [6]

Gallows Grove [2]

Lord of the Feast [5]

Gatorman Posse (max) [13]

Circle approached with Gatormen, Gallows Grove and Lord of the Feast on the left, and the rest coming from the middle.

My battlegroup was also nearing the rectangular zone while Slingers and Cyclops Raider were bracing against the Gatormen.

Winter Argus managed to freeze Aradus Sentinel for a while. Circle warbeasts did clump up rather nicely there, so Aradus took a walk and sprayed some respectable damage in to both arguses and Feral Warpwolf. Attack on Kaya missed even with a re-roll from Puppet Master.

Gatormen had ran closer, so I though I might try to get some mileage out of Hexeris' feat. 

It didn't turn out so well, as the one and only Gatorman the slingers succeeded to kill passed its Tough roll - no Dark Dominion for me.

Cyclops Raider takes an aimed (and thus stealth-ignoring) shot against Lord of the Feast, and removes the solo single-handedly. Dark Dominion for me. 

Swamp Gobber River Raider tries to act a hero, and harpoons itself to enemy objective, poking in a point of damage into Feral Warpwolf. Hexeris had cast Parasite on it, though.

Gladiator just tries to look menacing, and protect Agonizer that was providing strength penalty.

Turns out Winter Argus is able to spray the lesser warbeast dead, and as a result Wild Argus and Feral Warpwolf butcher Aradus Sentinel. Gatormen remove half of slingers - although only because they couldn't reach for more.

I try to pick the pieces that are left - Feral Warpwolf is left alive with one hit point remaining, despite the efforts of Thrullg and Cyclops Raider. Titan Gladiator charges Gnarlhorn Satyr dead.

Slingers shoot one Gatorman down, and Hexeris charges another. For some odd reason I try to shoot another Gatorman with Sunder Spirits... and didn't even succeed.

Hexeris' downfall was completely unnecessary. Winter Argus could slam him, and then Kaya spammed Spirit Fangs on him until he was torn to shreds - as he had only one transfer available. Loss for Skorne.

Its new and scary

I had two games of Warmachine with the most recent rules update, both with Brawlmachine format.

Lists were same in both games. My list:

Master Necrotech Mortenebra [+28]
 - Malice [13]
 - Ripjaw [6]
- Slayer [10]
Bloat Thrall [2]
Misery Cage [2]
Pistol Wraith [4]
Soulhunters (max) [16]

Opponent had:

Cygnar

Major Beth Maddox [+30]

 - Charger [9]

 - Defender [14]

 - Firefly [7]

Arcane Tempest Rifleman [3]

Black 13th Strike Force [7]

Stormguard Infantry (max) [15]

Scenario was Syzygy. 

Both games played out very similarly. Cryx scored their flag twice, Malice broke enemy objective and either middle zone or flag was scored third time again. Cygnar wasn't able to contest Cryx flag reliably while Soulhunters contested Cygnar flag.

I kind of wonder if Syzygy is a functioning scenario. It seems to boil down to "who can contest enemy flag longest", where ultra fast difficult-to-remove units naturally have advantage. Maybe Soulhunters were a "hard counter" for the entire scenario. But that's not all.

Had we played with the old rules, my list would have been a whopping 12 points less, while opponent would have played only 5 points down. That was seven "extra" points for me, which is a crazy number for this point size. Well, time will tell if the point cost adjustments were spot on but it certainly felt like cheating in these games.

Wraithbane Witches

Had a game of Warmachine. Points were 50.

My list:

Wraith Witch Deneghra [+28]
 - Inflictor [13]
 - Nightmare [18]
 - Nightwretch [7]
 - Ripjaw [7]
General Gerlak Slaughterborn [6]
Soul Trapper [1]
Soul Trapper [1]
Bane Warriors (max) [16]
Bile Thralls (min) [9]

Opponent had:

Bane Witch Agathia [+29]

 - Deathripper [6]

 - Kraken [35]

Bane Warriors (max) [16]

 - Bane Warrior Officer & Standard [5]

Satyxis Blood Witches (min) [8]

Steelhead Riflemen (min) [8]

Scenario was Close Quarters from main rulebook.

My forces run forwards on the first turn - not much else to do with Deneghra2, really. Nightmare took Kraken as its prey target.

Agathia advances with Bane Warriors in the middle, Satyxis inside trenches and Steelheads in front of them. She uses feat to protect her army from my spells.

Next turn Nightwretch advances within Stealth distance of a Bane Warrior in the middle. Deneghra goes incorporeal and advances into an otherwise lethal position to launch a Hellmouth via arc node, killing five or so.

Bane Warriors with Apparition charge a disturbing length on the board, and all but destroy Inflictor. Fortunately it is left alive with a couple of damage boxes, as opponent wouldn't score a scenario point now. A single Bane Warrior charging Nightmare dealt twelve points of damage, removing columns three and four from my character warjack.

Deneghra uses her feat, making at least Nightmare and Inflictor incorporeal. Nightmare charges Kraken, while Inflictor just huddles forward through a sea of Bane Warriors. Bile Thralls then purge the Bane Warrior unit into oblivion. My Banes tie up Steelheads and Satyxis. I was able to score one point.

Kraken removes Nightmare as was to be expected. Enemy Deathripper comes to contest my flag, and incorporeal Inflictor continued to contest enemy - along with my few remaining Bane Warriors.

My Bane Warriors charge enemy Kraken, and then Inflictor - which had cortex and main melee weapon still intact - removes Kraken. Agathia surrendered after this turn, as there were not enough contestants left for Agathia to contest Deneghra from winning via scenario.

Scourge of a Grove

 Had a 50 point game of Warmachine.

My list was:

Cryx

Deneghra, the Soul Weaver [+27]

 - Deathripper [6]
- Nightmare [18]
 - Slayer [10]
 - Satyxis Blood Priestess [4]
Misery Cage [2]
Soul Trapper [1]
Bane Warriors (max) [16]
 - Bane Warrior Officer & Standard [5]
Wraith Engine [15]

Opponent had:

Circle

 Baldur the Stonecleaver [+31]

 - Woldwatcher [8]

 - Woldwrath [37]

Gallows Grove [2]

Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters (min) [12]

Shifting Stones [3]

Warpborn Skinwalkers (max) [15]

 - Warpborn Skinwalker Alpha [4]

Scenario was Most Pit from main rulebook. Nightmare picked Woldwrath as its prey target, and then Cryx started game by rushing forward. Circle played more cautiously, but still brought Woldwatcher and Shifting Stones to contest middle zone.

As Circle didn't make an approach, second turn Cryx was still just running forward and lined up Wraith Engine, Bane Warriors, Slayer with Grave Wind and Nightmare ten inches away from Woldwrath. 

Skinwalkers attempted to screen Woldwrath, and were mostly killed by Wraith Engine and Bane Warriors. 

To get things going, Grave Wind was cycled to Nightmare, who then charged stone-formed Woldwatcher that had Mortality on. The bugger was left alive with two hit points.

I trusted that sweet Def 15 enough to bring Nightmare within charge distance of Woldwrath. But then I learned that the thing has knockdown effect on its melee attacks. Whoops. There went my 18 points. And a bunch of Nyss Hunters charged Deneghra. Four of them, actually. And they were hitting on 9+. Three of them hit, and brought Deneghra down to five hit points remaining. Yikes.

However, there was Gallows Grove within charge distance of Deneghra. And there was Baldur right behind the tree. I sensed a possible assassination, so Wraith Engine ran to Baldur to spread some Dark Shroud. Deneghra charged Gallows Grove and destroyed it with Scourge, which also knocked down Baldur. 

Deneghra had used her feat, and she cast Mortality on Baldur. Deneghra had four swings to cut through automatically hit Arm 12 target. It was more than enough to score a caster kill.

Dual Singularity

 Had a couple of games of Brawlmachine. Scenario was the Singularity.

First game I had:

Cryx

Asphyxious the Hellbringer [+24]
 - Deathripper [6]
 - Seether [13]
 - Slayer [10]
Satyxis Raiders (max) [16]
 - Satyxis Raider Sea Witch [4]

Opponent had:

Circle

Baldur the Stonecleaver [+31]

 - Gnarlhorn Satyr [12]

 - Woldwarden [14]

 - Woldwatcher [8]

Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters (min) [10]

Shifting Stones [3]

Warpborn Skinwalkers (min) [9]

Circle approached with stone-formed Woldwatcher in front, which was promptly wrecked by my heavy warjacks. Helljacks were in a bad position now, in a possible charge range by opposing heavies. Satyxis Raiders that had Cloak of Ash on sacrificed themselves for the protection of Slayer and Seether. 

Somehow opponent kept hitting Satyxis Raiders despite needing 10 to hit. Over half of them died, including Sea Witch. But at least they were only Satyxis.

Vociferon had tried to sneak up to my flag, but suddenly there were a unit of Nyss Hunters there so plan was foiled. 

Woldwarden died to Seether, which was good enough I guess. But since there was a five round limit, casualties inflicted by both sides were too low for either of us to gain a big point advantage.

However, I did have one point advantage from the turn when Cryxian jacks destroyed Woldwatcher. This was the winning point at the end of fifth round. 

Game 2:

Skorne

Dominar Rasheth [+28]
 - Agonizer [6]
 - Archidon [10]
 - Tiberion [19]
Swamp Gobber River Raider [1]
Void Spirit [4]
Praetorian Swordsmen (min) [8]
Venator Flayer Cannon Crew [5]

Opponent had:

Retribution

Kaelyssa, the Night's Whisper [+29]

 - Banshee [18]

 - Chimera [8]

 - Manticore [14]

Mage Hunter Assassin [4]

Mage Hunter Strike Force (min) [10]

Second game was excessively short, perhaps to compensate for the first one.

Shortly put, Tiberion ran to middle field and opponent focused all attacks to kill Agonizer and then Tiberion - but thanks to one double 1 attack roll by Banshee Tiberion survived with two boxes remaining.  Rasheth feated next and Tiberion wrecked two of opposing warjacks - suddenly gaining points from the rectangular zone, all the while Void Spirit & Swamp Gobber River Raider were collecting points from flags. Scenario win.

2x Brawlmachine, Cryx vs Cygnar, vs Cryx

 Two games of Brawlmachine format. Scenario in both was the Binary.

Game 1:

My first list:

Master Necrotech Mortenebra [+24]
 - Harrower [16]
 - Inflictor [13]
Bane Lord Tartarus [6]
Orin Midwinter, Rogue Inquisitor [5]
Bile Thralls (min) [9]

Opponent had:

Major Beth Maddox [+30]
- Avenger [17]
 - Charger [9]
 - Firefly [8]
Arcane Tempest Rifleman [4]
Steelhead Riflemen (min) [8]
Stormblade Infantry [9]

First game is summed up rather quickly. I thought I was the underdog in this matchup because I was woefully outnumbered. But then I jammed Inflictor sitting next to enemy warcaster in a failed assassination attempt - and this is the crux of this matter, really. I went all in, and now Mortenebra was feating in a compromised position. 

Only after I realized that I might have had a real game without the assassination attempt - arm 21 def 13 warjack needs some effort to get rid of when its engaging your shooty warjack and warcaster. But that goes on to the territory of iffing. 

Short story short: Mortenebra was shot to pieces by Cygnaran arms.

Game 2:

Goreshade the Bastard [+27]
- Desecrator [14]
 - Slayer [10]
 - Stalker [8]
Bloat Thrall [4]
General Gerlak Slaughterborn [6]
Misery Cage [2]
Cephalyx Overlords [8]

Opponent had:

Bane Witch Agathia [+29]

 - Deathripper [6]

 - Desecrator [14]

 - Reaper [13]

Pistol Wraith [5]

Bane Warriors (max) [16]

Right side of the board was between Gerlak and Bloat Thrall versus Bane Warriors. On the left side, everything else. 

Opponent ran Reaper to engage Stalker, which brought Reaper within charge range of my Slayer. There was just this wall between them. But Stalker leaped and softened up Reaper a little from back arc. Slayer charged and had no trouble of removing the ranged variant of same chassis.

Deathripper broke Stalker's cortex, and enemy Desecrator came to vivisect Slayer through the wall. It was not very successful vivisection as next to no damage was done. 

Slayer got some job done at wrecking enemy Desecrator, but it wasn't very impressive either. Well, the crabjack had essentially +2 def and +2 arm, so it wasn't completely unexpected.

My Desecrator shot some contesting Bane Warriors off the board, and I was able to leap to +2 control points over my opponent.

Unfortunately, opponent was able to bring Desecrator to contest my circular zone and my flag, thus scoring evening the scores to +1 for Cryx.

It wasn't too bad as long as I can remove already injured Desecrator with feated Bane Warriors and what was left of Slayer. But still, three Bane Warriors and the aforementioned Slayer together didn't put a dent to enemy warjack. Two Bane Warriors missed and one didn't get that many points through armor. Only cannon was broken down.

It all went downhill from there. 

Desecrator contesting my zone and Bane Warriors my flag while controlling enemy circular zone... all this meant that opponent got to +1 points. All in all, I wasn't able to get rid of that Agathia's lead. Five rounds is surprisingly short amount of time.

Brawling again

Had two games of Warmachine at the very end of February. Because of the format they were 25 point games. 

Game 1:

Cryx

Captain Aiakos [+29]

 - Corruptor [14]

 - Malice [15]

 - Stalker [8]

 - The Withershadow Combine [9]

Bloat Thrall [4]

Warwitch Siren [4]

vs

Trollbloods

Madrak Ironhide, Thornwood Chieftain [+29]

 - Dire Troll Mauler [15]

 - Troll Axer [9]

 - Troll Impaler [9]

Janissa Stonetide [4]

Totem Hunter [6]

Trollkin Fennblades (min) [9]

Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew [2]

We rolled off to see which lists we'd play. Why, oh why did the dice gods decide to put Aiakos again against Trollbloods? 

And against Trollbloods with a supercharged sniper Impaler, who removes Malice's Harpoon right away on the second turn?

Oh well. Maybe there was a still game to play. 

Stalker removes Janissa Stonetide from controlling enemy flag, so at least Cryx got the scenario lead. Corruptor and Bloat thrall also were able to remove three Fennblades, so removing their circular zone controllers wasn't that far off.

Sadly I had to sacrifice Warwitch Siren in contesting rectangular zone.

Turn 3 Dire Troll Mauler kills Warwitch Siren, and Stalker is removed by Axer. Totem Hunter charges Corruptor, who has to waste its activation in removing the foreign bounty hunter. What's left of Erebus nearly kills Dire Troll Mauler. I really wanted that troll dead, so Aiakos charged in to finish the job. 

On opponent's turn scenario goes 2-2, and on my turn 2-3 for Trollbloods because Aiakos had left the flag. 

Opponent got easily to 2-5 next, so there was little point in continuing the game, as we still had second armies waiting enthusiastically.

Game 2:

Cryx

 Lich Lord Venethrax [+26]

 - Erebus [16]

 - Ripjaw [7]

 - Slayer [10]

 - Satyxis Blood Priestess [4]

Machine Wraith [2]

Necrotech [2]

Swamp Gobber River Raider [1]

Bile Thralls (min) [9]

vs

Cygnar

Major Beth Maddox [+30]

 - Avenger [17]

 - Cyclone [13]

Alten Ashley [6]

Black 13th Strike Force [10]

Stormblade Infantry [9]

Second game was far quicker than the first. I decided to launch a full-blown offensive against Cygnaran forces and not wait for them to start shooting my forces to bits. 

On second turn Slayer charged a Black 13th member under Terminal Velocity. Then it counter-charged both remaining members into melee with it. 

Erebus counter-charged Cyclone and hit with melee attack, causing Cygnaran warjack to become stationary. 

Opponent breaks Slayer with remaining Black 13th and Stormblades. 

Bile Thralls purge all remaining Stormblades dead, and machine wraith charges Avenger, who tries to take a swing at Alten Ashley, failing at that. But wait, there's more! Erebus finalizes Cyclone and slaps cortex off of Avenger. Who is now without cortex and stationary. 

There was very little opponent could do to prevent Cryx from winning by scenario.

Fury Unseen

 Had a 50 point game of Warmachine a couple of days ago. 

My list was:

Cryx
Lich Lord Venethrax [+26]
 - Deathripper [6]
 - Erebus [16]
 - Helldiver [6]
 - Seether [13]
 - Slayer [10]
Bloat Thrall [4]
Darragh Wrathe [9]
Misery Cage [2]
Warwitch Siren [4]
Black Ogrun Ironmongers [6]

Opponent had:

Circle of Orboros

Iona the Unseen [+28]

 - Pureblood Warpwolf [17]

 - Rotterhorn Griffon [7]

 - Warpwolf Stalker [17]

 - Druid Wilder [4]

Bloodweaver Night Witch [4]

Tharn Bloodtrackers (max) [15]

 - Nuala the Huntress [4]

Tharn Bloodweavers [8]

Bloodtrackers picked Erebus as their prey. I wanted to reposition the character warjack so that it wouldn't be there for easy picking, but I had an annoying bottleneck on my side of the board. Oh well. There weren't any threatening AoE's around, right?

Pureblood Warpwolf sprayed Slayer, dealt some damage in and killed Bloat Thrall, which in turn injured an Ironmonger. 

I tried to offer some threat saturation for opponent by bringing Helldiver up and running arc node to channel some Blood Rains onto Bloodtrackers. Too bad only two Bloodtrackers were essentially killed. If four had died I would've been okay with the results, but six focus for two Bloodtrackers is rather a heavy price tag.

Bloodweavers attempt to take the circular zone on the right, and Bloodtrackers are ogling the one on the left. Rotterhorn Griffon attempts to flank Cryxian forces from the right. Helldiver and Bloat Thrall were acceptable losses, especially when I managed to use Terminal Velocity with Slayer and remove Pureblood.

That was the extent of my casualties inflicted, though. Some three Bloodtrackers and a Bloodweaver died, but tidings were grim.

I had tried to position Erebus so that if Warpwolf Stalker charged Seether, it would counter charge and make the warpwolf stationary. Turns out Bloodtrackers are enough to remove one pesky Seether from the board, and Warpwolf Stalker decided just to run towards Iona.

Bloodweavers dismounted Darragh, and flanking Griffon killed Warwitch Siren. Feralgeist charged an Ironmonger, thus engaging it. Suddenly all my support was severely crippled and I was down to one heavy warjack and an arcnode. 

Circle started to be ahead of the scenario, and when Iona had carelessly entered the charge range of Erebus, I decided it's my chance. And first attack hit the warlock, making her stationary and leaving her to two hit boxes remaining. But Iona had four transfers available, so.

Scenario loss for Venethrax after Circle forces were unable to tear through Venethrax and his focus camp of five. 

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. 

Test brawl

 Had a 25 point game of Warmachine on Vassal. 

Brawlmachine format has been evading me for a while, but this is no longer the case. We played the Ignition scenario.

My list was:

 Asphyxious the Hellbringer [+24]
- Malice [15]
 - Nightwretch [7]
 - Slayer [10]
Machine Wraith [2]
Necrotech [2]
Pistol Wraith [5]
Cephalyx Overlords [8]

Opponent had:

 Bane Witch Agathia [+29]

 - Deathripper [6]

 - Desecrator [14]

 - Reaper [13]

 - Skarlock Thrall [4]

Bane Warriors (max) [16]

I chose to go second to start scoring. I felt the new and improved Bane Warriors of Agathia were oppressing, so as soon as I got the chance I slapped Calamity on them. Worth it? I don't know. I lost Nightwretch and entire unit of Cephalyx Overlords, but hey, Calamity!

Opponent had used feat on turn 2, but this didn't stop me from scoring two scenario points by walking my army far too close to enemy lines. This ended up with Desecrator shooting the cortex off of Malice, the loss of aforementioned models and even six points of damage to Asphyxious after using focus to mitigate damage.

But Asphyxious' forces survived, with fourteen focus on Asphyxious to boot. First Slayer activates to trample, and removes movement from enemy Reaper. Vociferon shoots a Hellfire to Reaper, and even Malice comes to take a focusless harpoon shot at it. And yet the thing survived with cortex and helldriver intact. 

Asphyxious charges to a group of nicely lined Bane Warriors, and manages to kill all five and still ended his turn with six focus. Pistol Wraith had been sitting on a flag, attempting to score points but now there was a Bane Warrior sitting within range to contest. The bane was shot.

It's turn 3, and Asphyxious leads the game by three points.

Now he just needed to survive a shot from Desecrator, three focus worth of attacks from Reaper and whatever Agathia would be able to deliver.

The heavy warjacks bring Asphyxious down to two focus remaining, plus half of his damage grid dusted off. It wouldn't be easy for Agathia to finish him, and eventually she didn't. And since there were no contesting models near Pistol Wraith, game ended in favor of Asphyxious.