Game 262: Vyros2 vs Kolgrimma

Game 262 – Vs Xavier Adriaens – Trollbloods – 15/09/18

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:

Kolgrimma Stonetruth, Winter Witch (Storm of the North)

-Trollkin Runebearer

-Pyre Troll

-Rok

-Winter Troll

Bog Trog Mist Speaker

Fell Caller Hero

Valka Curseborn, Chieftain of the North

Min Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes

-Northkin Elder

Northkin Bear Handlers & Battle Bears

Northkin Bear Handlers & Battle Bears

Northkin Fire Eaters

Northkin Fire Eaters

Max Trollkin Champions

-Skaldi Bonehammer

After losing Round 1 we were hoping for a slightly easier ride in Round 2, but were drawn against Belgium Sweet Salty and Sexy. Again we feel that the matchup process went pretty well, with me into Trolls, a matchup where I feel pretty confident. The matchup was Vyros2 against Kolgrimma, and with me winning first turn we got moving.

No point messing around here, cast Deceleration and run up the table.

The Fire Eaters are set alight by the Pyre Troll before Assaulting into my lines, dealing a bit of damage and setting some of my jacks, and Vyros, on fire. 2 of them move behind the central building to be available later. I tend not to mind early chip damage from Fire Eaters as most of the Force Field damage can be healed back due to the relatively slow pace of the game into Kolgrimma, and getting rid of some threats early probably ends up working in my favour. The rest of the troops move up, with the majority going to the right of the building.

I leave one Griffon in the right zone to force Kolgrimma to feat if she wants to score it, whilst focussing hard on the left. I stay out ok Rok’s threat and remove all 4 available Fire Eaters.

The Ambushing unit of Bears come on and Kolgrimma does Feat to score the right zone. The Champions flank round the right and the Bear unit on the left. I suddenly have a lot of threats to deal with and the game is hotting up. 1-0 to Xavier

I commit 3 Griffons over to the right flank to deal with the Bears over there and start to push up the centre to threaten his objective and the pocket of zone he’s keeping Rok in. I Feat to make it difficult for the Champions to do too much damage next turn. 1-0

I position pretty well and after Xavier takes out Lanyssa with a Fire Eater I am able to move the most damaged Griffon up to stop the Champions from killing more than one. The Feat move after he did also allowed me to contest the zone to stop him from scoring. 1-0

I have a strong attrition turn, taking out 4 of the Champions and the 2 light Warbeasts, whilst still not having to commit either of my Manticores I shoot at the objective and leave it on 3 boxes, which unfortunately denies me 2CPs. 1-0.

Xavier has an equally successful turn, taking out the 2 Griffons in the right zone and the 2 that had committed to the lights. He scores the right zone again to lead 2-0.

I keep pushing, taking out one of the Bears in the left unit and removing Rok. I toe the Aspis into the right zone. Again, the objective is alive on 3 boxes denying me CPs. 2-0

Xavier up on CPs and on clock but well down on attrition so pretty much just goes on defensive mode. Kolgrimma puts out a few sprays and he spreads out to keep zones contested. 2-0

I finally destroy the objective and take out the second Bear before going for an assassination run. I get 2 Manticores round the back and Vyros in the front all shooting Kolgrimma but nothing lands. 2-1

More sprays, more contesting, he clears the right zone to score again. 3-1.

I only have a minute left and have to clear zones. I manage to do so and score 2, but it is only the top of 6 and I have just one second left. 3-3.

Xavier hits his clock and I lose on time.

DEFEAT

Honestly this was pretty difficult to take. I had the game, his army was gone, I just couldn’t convert it at the end. The assassination attempt was the mistake, and one borne of panic. I should have used the Manticores to shoot off the Bear Handler and Mist Speaker on the left, scored that zone with an Arcanist unit and Xavier would never have been able to contest it. Xavier was an incredible opponent, and this will go down as one of my favourite ever games. He played the game really well, including the selection of table that gave him the best shot. We swapped shirts after the game so I now have an amazing Belgium shirt. Again, disappointingly the team went down 3-2 in an incredibly tight round. This was harder to pick ourselves up from, but thankfully it was only a very short break until we were playing again.