Game 213: Vyros2 vs Rasheth

Game 213 – Vs Ryan Longthorne – Skorne – 21/06/18

My list:

Vryos, Incissar of the Dawnguard (Forges of War)

-Sylys Wyshnaylrr, The Seeker

-Griffon

-Griffon

-Griffon

-Griffon

-Griffon      

-Griffon

-Aspis

-Manticore

-Manticore

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

House Shyeel Artificer

Lanyssa Ryssyl, Nyss Sorceress

House Shyeel Arcanists

House Shyeel Arcanists

His List:

Dominar Rasheth (Winds of Death)

-Basilisk Krea

-Cyclops Raider

-Cyclops Shaman

-Cyclops Shaman

Siege Animantarax

Siege Animantarax

Extoller Soulward

Extoller Soulward

Mortitheurge Willbreaker

Venator Dakar

Max Paingiver Beast Handlers

Max Venator Reivers

-Office & Standard Bearer

Min Venator Slingers

Back to Forges Vyros2 as the build up to WTC continues. Really wanted a game into Rasheth and Ryan was happy to play it. Neither of us were sure who it favours but knew it was pretty close. I win the roll to go first.

Everything runs up, with Vyros casting Deceleration. I stay out of Trample and shoot range of the turtles, which was probably a mistake, as I should have just taken the shots as at dice-5 they wouldn’t have done too much

Skorne forces move up, staying out of threat range of my Jacks. Reivers put a big CRA into a Griffon, but it is taken by the Aspis, dealing decent damage to it. Tubby arcs a spell into Lanyssa, taking her out.

I need to get up the table, but want to stay out of melee threat of the turtles. I kill 4 of the remaining Slingers, and push hard on the left flank, holding back slightly on the right. Vyros Feats.

Tubby Feats and deals pretty decent damage to me, killing off 2 Griffons and dotting around some other damage. Ryan scores his flag to lead 1-0.

I need to get some work done this turn but can’t get to the turtles. If I can keep both Manticores alive through Ryan’s next turn I probably win the game. I build up Synergy on the right Turtle before taking out a decent number of Reivers on the left. The Manticore goes in and takes out a Shaman and leaves the Raider on a handful of boxes. I shoot the Soulward off the flag to lead 2-1.

Ryan tries to unlock the puzzle but struggles to do so. He does take out 2 Griffons but isn’t able to contest either my zone or flag, allowing me to score 2 more to lead 4-1.

I could end the turn and win but I did want to see how it would play out without a cheap scenario win, so play out the turn as normal. I am able to kill almost all of the Reivers, finish off the Raider, take out the central turtle and leave the right one on only 2 boxes. More than enough to satisfy me that this game can be ground out. I win 6-1.

VICTORY

-      Glad to be back to my standard Vyros list

-      Going second would make this harder, but not hugely so.

Manticores version definitely feels stronger than the version with Imperatus, though Lanyssa is starting to feel like a weakness. I may try switching her back out for a Magister for some Whip Snap plays

Game 212: Vyros2 vs Harbinger

Game 212 – Vs Chris Clare – Protectorate of Menoth – 16/06/18

My list:

Vyros, Incissar of the Dawnguard (Shadows of the Retribution)

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Siren

-Siren

-Siren

-Siren

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Max Mage Hunter Infiltrators

-Soulless Escort

Max Mage Hunter Infiltrators

-Soulless Escort

His List:

The Harbinger of Menoth (The Faithful Masses)

-Hierophant

-Devout

-Sanctifier

Allegiant of the Order of the Fist

Allegiant of the Order of the Fist

Champion of the Order of the Wall

Champion of the Order of the Wall

High Paladin Dartan Vilmon

Paladin of the Order of the Wall

Paladin of the Order of the Wall

Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord

The Covenant of Menoth

Min Choir of Menoth

Max Horgenhold Forge Guard

-Attendant Priest

Max Idrian Skirmishers

-Chieftain & Guide

Final round puts me against Harbinger, a match-up I feel pretty happy into with my usual Vyros list. This game is pretty much the last stand for this shooting version, if it can’t compete here I will be returning to Forges. I go first.

Synergy and run.

Harby moves up, Purifies to upset Vyros. Rest of the Menoth forces get up the table, and use their various stances to up their defences.

Some of the Dwarves aren’t in Harby’s bubble, so I pick them off with guns, moving the rest of my forces up. I forget to feat. I am pretty mentally checked out of this list at this point.

I haven’t positioned some pieces well and lose Eiryss to a Champion (I forgot that she doesn’t have Repo in this theme) and take some damage into my jacks. A decent number of Infiltrators die as well. I would have got a lot of Feat moves…

I have a lot of guns in range of Harby, so I decide to go for the long odds assassination. I need 12s to hit but don’t land enough and leave her on 10 boxes or so. I concede.

DEFEAT

-      Back to Forges. Played Skarre1, Harbinger and Haley3 today and switching the lists didn’t help with any of them, actively making some of the matchups worse

-      Well worth a try, looking at some different lists, but it hasn’t worked out in this case

Game 211: Vyros2 vs Axis

Game 211 – Vs Stuart Esplin – Convergence of Cyriss – 16/06/18

My list:

Vyros, Incissar of the Dawnguard (Shadows of the Retribution)

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Siren

-Siren

-Siren

-Siren

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Max Mage Hunter Infiltrators

-Soulless Escort

Max Mage Hunter Infiltrators

-Soulless Escort

His List:

Axis, the Harmonic Enforcer (Destruction Initiative)

-Corollary

-Diffuser

-Conservator

-Conservator

-Conservator

-Inverter

Transfinite Emergence Projector & Permutation Servitors

Transfinite Emergence Projector & Permutation Servitors

Attunement Servitors

Attunement Servitors

Reflex Servitors

Reflex Servitors

Reflex Servitors

Optifex Directive

Game 3 of SR. Useful practice game into Convergence and I don’t see them often. I win first turn.

Everything runs up, staying out of Feat and shoot range of the TEPs. Cast Synergy.

Convergence run up, with all but 1 Reflex Digging In. Casts Battle Charged.

I manage to clear out reflex Sevitors pretty well with guns and Infiltrators, and push back one of the Conservators. Infiltrators jam and Vyros Feats

Axis gets up the table and Feats, catching the vast majority of my forces. TEP sprays take out about half the Infiltrators on each flank, but he is careful not to trigger Vyros’ Feat. 0-0

Axis’ Feat means I can’t get into melee, so concentrate on shooting instead. I have decent success, taking out one Conservator, and knockdown-disrupting another. More Infiltrators move up to jam the TEPs. 0-0

More clearing out of Infiltrators and the Invertor comes in and takes out one and a half of my lights. 0-0

I finally have a strong turn of attrition, building up a Synergy chain before taking out the Invertor and the right TEP, clearing both outside zones for a 2-0 lead.

I have kept Vyros pretty safe but Stuart still has a long shot assassination on me. The Flare hits but he can’t roll well enough on the other attacks and Vyros is left alive. 3-0 to me.

Axis is right out in the open, camping very little. I take him out, winning 5-0 on scenario at the same time.

VICTORY

-      Useful game into Axis, he always seems to be the Ret drop.

-      The shooting of the list did a lot, but I always felt like Vyros was a bit too vulnerable. The central building certainly helped

-      Relieved to get onto the score card at the event, I really didn’t want the spoon…

Game 210: Vyros2 vs Haley3

Game 210 – Vs Daniel Bearup – Cygnar – 16/06/18

My list:

Vyros, Incissar of the Dawnguard (Shadows of the Retribution)

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Siren

-Siren

-Siren

-Siren

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Max Mage Hunter Infiltrators

-Soulless Escort

Max Mage Hunter Infiltrators

-Soulless Escort

His List:

Major Prime Victoria Haley (Gravediggers)

-Grenadier

-Grenadier

-Charger

Captain Maxwell Finn

Commander Anson Hitch

Patrol Dog

Ragman

Trench Buster

Trench Buster

Max Trencher Commandos

-Officer

Min Trencher Infantry

Max Trencher Long Gunners

-Officer

Lady Aiyanna & Master Holt

-Captain Jonas Murdoch

Round 2 sees me up against Daniel with Haley3, a match up that I’m pretty confident into with my usual Vyros2 list. Time to see if it is any better or worse with my new version. I win the roll to go first.

Vyros casts Synergy and Deceleration and everything runs up the table.

Haley spends her stack on Temporal Flux, Tactical Supremacy and her Echoes. Trenchers all move up, with the Infantry putting down a cloud wall to hold back the Infiltrators.

My main aim this turn is to take out the dog, but am not able to do so. I do take out a few pieces and take the melee arm off a Grenadier, but unfortunately a Trench Buster toughs. Vyros Feats.

The unfortunately alive dog barks and removes Stealth from a chunk of my Infiltrators. Shooting also takes out one of the Harpies, and Feat moves put Vyros into charge range of Haley. Daniel tries to block off the landing spot but fails to. 0-0.

I look at the assassination, but with needing to upkeep Synergy and cast Easy Rider the numbers just don’t add up, so play for attrition instead. I get a decent amount of work done, clearing the left zone and scoring my flag to take a 2-0 lead.

I have overstretched Vyros and he is shot to death by the Long Gunners and Jacks.

DEFEAT

-      Really struggling to keep Vyros alive in this list. Not sure if the issue is the list or me.

-      Standard Vyros list can tank the shooting so much better than this, and the extra 4” up the table really makes a difference.

-      Leaning towards going back to Forges version of the list

Game 209: Kaelyssa vs Skarre1

Game 209 – Vs Mark – Cryx – 16/06/18

My list:

Kaelyssa, The Night’s Whisper (Defenders of Ios)

-Helios

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcanist Mechanik

Aelyth Vyr, Blade of Nyssor

Fane Knights Skeryth Issyen

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Max Ryssovass Defenders

-Soulless Escort

Max Ryssovass Defenders

-Soulless Escort

His List:

Pirate Queen Skarre (Dark Host)

-Skarlock Thrall

-Stalker

-Stalker

-Stalker

-Deathripper

Wraith Engine

Wraith Engine

Bane Lord Tartarus

Machine Wraith

Scrap Thrall

Soul Trapper

Min Bane Riders

Max Bane Riders

Cephalyx Overlords

4 round Steamroller at Element Games, final testing ground for new lists before making a final decision. Round 1 against Cryx, on Spread the Net, never a good combination. Lost the list chicken ending up with Kaelyssa into Skarre. I win first turn to at least make it a game.

Refuge on Kaelyssa and everything runs up.

Cryx run up, pretty aggressive with the Stalkers, and triggering Prowl on the Bane Riders where possible.

I am able to fish out the Stalker on the left with Kaelyssa and Helios, taking it out. AFG tries to shoot out a couple of  Bane Riders, but rolls badly and doesn’t take any out. Kaelyssa Feats.

Mark commits heavily on the right flank, taking out the AFG and scoring the zone, he holds back on the right, staying out of my threat. 3-0 to Mark

I go in for the kill on what I can, but don’t roll well at all and don’t actually take out anything, which is pretty disheartening. 4-1 to Mark

Easy enough for Mark to win the game from this point. He clears both zones to win 7-1 on scenario.

DEFEAT

-      Game pretty much decided along with the match ups. Problem with Cryx is that they force you into horrible list chicken, where if you lose it isn’t a game, but if you win you just get to play a 50/50 game

-      I like Spread the Net as a scenario, but with Incorporeal battle engines it is just so easy for Cryx to win on it.

-      There is nothing positive to say here, I really don’t know what the answer is

Game 208: Vyros2 vs Grim1

Game 208 – Vs Ste Passey – Trollbloods – 13/06/18

My list:

Vyros, Incissar of the Dawnguard (Shadows of the Retribution)

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Harpy

-Siren

-Siren

-Siren

-Siren

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Max Mage Hunter Infiltrators

-Soulless Escort

Max Mage Hunter Infiltrators

-Soulless Escort

His List:

Grim Angus (Storm of the North)

-Trollkin Runebearer

-Dire Troll Bomber

-Dire Troll Mauler

Valka Curseborn, Chieftain of the North

Min Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scrbes

-Northkin Elder

Northkin Bear Handlers & Battle Bears

Northkin Bear Handlers & Battle Bears

Min Pyg Lookouts

Min Northkin Raiders

Min Northkin Raiders

Max Trollkin Champions

-Skaldi Bonehammer

Friendly game vs Ste, using Grim1/Grim2 combo. Vyros feels good into both. Dropped Sylys to upgrade Griffons to Harpies and put Soulless on each Infiltrator unit. I win first turn.

Synergy and Deceleration cast, everything runs up the table.

Ste fills up the stone and runs up the table, taking defensive positions with the Bears (Prowl) and Champions. Some Raiders jam me up with the rest hanging back to try and stay safe.

I need to clear out as much as I can before the Ambushers come in. All but 1 raiders die to guns and Infiltrators, the right Bear Handler is taken out by a Harpy shot. Vyros Feats.

Grim Feats on most of my army but not Vyros, puts Marked for Death onto right Infiltrators. Ambushers come on and take up strong positions. Most of Infiltrators killed allowing Feat moves. Vyros moves into position to threaten Grim forcing Ste to position Champions defensively. 1-0 to Ste.

The assassination isn’t on the table as none of my jacks can get far enough to build up Synergy so I go for some attrition instead. I don’t do too well, taking out a Bear from each unit and putting a load of damage into the Champions, killing 2. 1-0 to Ste.

Ste keeps on with killing what he can but can’t really get to my jacks. The left Siren takes a pretty big hit from the Bear unit and the Bomber shoots one up a bit. 2-0 to Ste.

I consider going into melee mode but not enough can really get in so I just keep shooting. Finish off the Bears on the left and the rest of the Champions, and take out the last of the Ambushing Pygs. 3-0 to Ste.

Ste should be able to close the game out on Scenario, but slightly misplays the turn and realises too late that the Elder can’t get into the zone to score it. 4-0 to Ste.

I need to take advantage of the luck from last turn and build up a Synergy chain. By the end of the turn the jacks have taken out everything except Grim and the Runebearer. 4-2 to Ste.

Ste contests what he can, moving Grim up aggressively. 4-3 to Ste.

I slam the Runebearer out of the zone and run up to score the flags. 7-4 to me.

Ste charges Vyros just to see what he can do. It is very little. I win 10-4. I have 25 seconds left.

VICTORY

-      Didn’t play the game well, needed to score my flag much more than I did, but the list doesn’t really have the solos to do it.

-      Pleased with how I turned it round at the end especially given the time limit I put myself under

-      Vyros definite weakest link, list may be vulnerable to people going for assassination