Game 284: Goreshade4 vs Skarre1

Game 284 – Vs Andrew Devine – Cryx – 2/12/18

My list:

Lord Ghyrrshyld, the Forgiven (Defenders of Ios)

-Chimera

-Harpy

-Harpy

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen

Ghost Sniper

Ghost Sniper

Heavy Rifle Team

Heavy Rifle Team

Min Houseguard Halberdiers

-Houseguard Halberdier Officer & Standard Bearer

Max Houseguard Halberdiers

-Houseguard Halberdier Officer & Standard Bearer

Max Ryssovass Defenders

-Soulless Escort

Max Ryssovass Defenders

-Soulless Escort

His List:

Pirate Queen Skarre (Slaughter Fleet Raiders)

-Satyxis Blood Priestess

-Stalker

-Stalker

-Stalker

-Stalker

Aiakos, Scourge of the Meredius

-Kharybdis

Axiara Wraithblade

General Gerlak Slaughterborn

Misery Cage

Ragman

Min Black Ogrun Boarding Party

Min Black Ogrun Boarding Party

Max Blighted Trollkin Marauders

-Jussika Bloodtongue

Scharde Dirge Seers

Time for the second Steamroller in a weekend, this time off to Sherwood to a fantastic event run by Simon Robinson. There were 2 separate 16 man Steamrollers taking place, with the fields split in an attempt to keep regular opponents apart. Round 1 saw me face Andrew Devine, fast becoming a regular opponent after facing him at both Blood & Oil and the UK Nationals. As per the previous occasions, he dropped Skarre1, with me delivering on my promise to play Goreshade4 more. With me winning first turn, we got moving.

I decide that clouding up is more important than Dauntless Resolve in this match up, mainly for the -2 to hit that the Stalkers would suffer should they jump into my lines. Other than that, everything runs or Shield Walls up the table.

Andrew pushes up with his standard deployed troops, pulling back slightly with the Stalkers to keep them out of threat ranges, preparing to push into my lines next turn.

This is a pretty obvious Feat turn for Goreshade, as Andrew will want to get work done in melee next turn. I move up and take some shots into the Boarding Party, taking out one and dealing some decent damage to others. I have the shooting advantage so can afford to hold back a bit.

I had been pretty careful to make sure Kharybdis couldn’t see anything to charge into Goreshade, but had (not for the first time) forgotten all about the objective. Skarre Feats on a lot of models before sending a fully powered Kharybdis into me. And I got lucky. Andrew rolled the boosted 12 to destroy the objective, and the jack became Stationary. Game on. I think it did bother my opponent a bit as he made a couple of mistakes killing models resulting in 2 stationary Stalkers. Andrew scores 3 CPs to lead 3-0.

Bit close for comfort, but I’ve survived at least, now to deal with the attrition and scenario. I have a lot of souls from Goreshade’s Feat, and so between him and my troops in the centre I am able to take out the Stalker and Kharybdis. Each unit of Ryssovass manages to remove the Stalker on their flank and the guns continue to pick away at the Boarding Party. I score my own and left zones to close to 3-2.

The attrition game swings again as Andrew deals a lot of damage to my right flank with the Marauders. He contests mine and the left zone to move 4-2 ahead.

I have taken the left flank, a feat completed by Skeryth removing the last Stalker, so this turn is mostly repositioning to bring more troops over to win in the centre. I finish off the Boarding Party and make a start on the Cryx support, but miss quite a few attacks, including failing to remove Ragman. 4-4.

Andrew does really well this turn to take out a lot of my central troops with his support, and I’m starting to feel under real pressure. I am still up on clock though, so if I can keep level I think I can grind this game out. 6-4 to Andrew

I remember that Goreshade has clouds, and use them to decent effect, blocking off any charges from the Marauders and leaving them alone to avoid triggering Vengeance. I take out Gerlak and the objective, finally taking a 7-6 lead.

With clocks running down photos start to become a bit ragged, but in summary Andrew simply runs out of contesting models, whilst I am able to keep contesting the right zone and keep Goreshade safe behind clouds. I eventually win the game 14-8 on scenario at the top of turn 7.

VICTORY

Nobody wants a grind like that as round 1 of a 4 round event, but it was such a great game. Andrew was a great opponent and so unlucky not to take me out early with the Kharybdis assassination. I really like this Goreshade list, and it feels like it will reward reps. It is a bit rough on clock due to the sheer number of models and interactions, but I should be able to get used to that. On to round 2 after an incredible buffet lunch. Seriously, go to Simon’s events.