Game 75: Ravyn vs Heretic

Game 75 – Vs Matt Harris – Grymkin – 19/08/17

My list:

Ravyn, The Eternal Light (Defenders of Ios)

-Helios

-Helios

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Stormfall Archers

Stormfall Archers

His List:

The Heretic (Bump in the Night)

-Gorehound

-Crabbit

-Crabbit

-Skin & Moans

Death Knell

Glimmer Imp

Lord Longfellow

Witchwood

Max Hollowmen

-Lantern Man

Max Hollowmen

-Lantern Man

Max Piggybacks

Max Piggybacks

Round 3 of the Steamroller and I was delighted to be drawn against the one Grymkin player at the event. I had planned my Ravyn list out as a potential Grymkin drop and was glad to be able to try it out especially as I had really enjoyed my previous game with her, even in defeat. Matt was playing in ADR and switched out the Weaponmaster Dread Rots for the Piggybacks, and I was interested to see how they played out on the table. I won the roll to go first and we got moving. Matt chose the Shroud and Ill Omens Arcana to go with The Heretic’s Reckoning.

Ravyn puts Snipe on the AFG and puts up a defensive Veil of Mists. The colossals and AFG run up the centre and the Stormfalls head towards the walls on the flanks, hoping to use them as defensive positions for shooting.

Matt runs his forces up the table with the Gorehound on the left flank. He puts out a Wall of Fire to use up Fury. The lines are set.

The 2 Helios run up to form a wall with the building whilst my Stormfalls and AFG start with shooting. The AFG leaves the tree on 3 boxes and I can’t finish it off, and slams down the Gorehound. The left Stormfalls finish the Light Warbeast and kill a couple of Hollowmen who had strayed out of The Heretic’s control. The right Stormfalls used Star Strikes to set many of the Hollowmen on fire so as to not trigger any Arcana. This is the basis of the list into Grymkin: The Stormfalls and the Helios can get so much work done without killing a model, giving him no opportunity to trigger an Arcana until I allow him to. Then his options are either -1,-1 or Stealth by which time the turn is over, or to start the Reckoning chain on a model like the AFG, which even at -2DEF and ARM is far enough back to stay safe.

Matt is not in a position to attack the Helios so continues advancing and attempting CRAs into the Stormfalls, but at DEF17 he needs huge numbers to hit and doesn’t manage to take any out. The Skin & Moans is given souls and hangs back hoping to attack later. We both score our zones to go 1-1

This was the turn where I had to get enough work done to win the game, and so order of activations was vital in not triggering any Arcana before I was ready. The Stormfalls on both sides set most of the remaining Hollowmen on fire, catching Lord Longfellow in the process. The left Helios pulls in and kills the Skin & Moans, removing one of the biggest threats from the table. The right Helios killed off the Tree, before pulling in and killing 2 of the Piggybacks on the right, triggering the Reckoning Arcana. The AFG finishes off a load of the Hollowmen on the left flank with a POW 9 AOE shot. We again both score our zones to make it 2-2. (The below picture is taken after fire rolls)

Fury is upkept on the right unit of Piggybacks, who charge into the Reckoned Helios, followed by the Battle Engine and a Crabbit, leaving it on around 20 boxes. Fury is switched to the full unit who charge and roll very well on the left Helios, leaving it on around a dozen boxes. The Hollowmen continue trying to kill Stormfalls, but with limited success. We continue scoring defensively and go to 3-3.

Time to start tidying up and getting ahead on scenario. The left Helios does a sweep to kill 3 Piggys and tough the other 2, buying 2 further attacks to finish off the unit. The other Helios takes out the Battle Engine and a Crabbit. The Stormfall Archers shoot at the objective but can’t finish it off. We both score our own zones but I have been able to clear the left to finally take a 5-4 lead.

With very little left Matt knows the writing is on the wall. The Heretic casts Fury on himself and finishes off the last Helios. Very little is happening in the right zone as our last remaining models are trapped in melee with each other. I score 2 to Matt’s 1 again, to lead 7-5.

All I need to do is destroy the objective and contest his zone to win. The Stormfalls deal with the former, and the last damaged Helios runs up to finish the game 10-5.

VICTORY

There is little more satisfying in this game than having a plan going into a game and seeing it perfectly play out on the table. This was a great fun game against a top opponent, and it was fantastic to see Ravyn be able to have an impact. Even if she does nothing else, moving Snipe around and feating is a strong enough toolbox to look at. I really enjoyed playing the list again and it took another step towards making my final tournament pairing.