Game 303: Issyria vs Kolgrimma

Game 303 – Vs Byron Liles – Trollbloods – 03/02/19

My list:

Issyria, Sibyl of Dawn (Legions of Dawn)

-Imperatus

-Phoenix

Dawnguard Trident

Dawnguard Trident

House Shyeel Artificer

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Min Dawnguard Destors

Max Dawnguard Sentinels

-Dawnguard Sentinel Officer & Standard Bearer

-Soulless Escort

His List:

Kolgrimma Stonetruth, Winter Witch (Storm of the North)

-Trollkin Runebearer

-Dire Troll Mauler

-Earthborn Dire Troll

Fell Caller Hero

Northkin Shaman

Northkin Shaman

Trollkin Champion Hero

Min Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes

-Northkin Elder

Northkin Bear Handlers & Battle Bears

Northkin Bear Handlers & Battle Bears

Max Trollkin Champions

-Skaldi Bonehammer

Max Trollkin Champions

The final round of the UK Invitational and the first time in the event that I’ve played against a new opponent, Byron with his pair of Kolgrimma and Doomshaper2. We both pretty much knew that matchup would be Kolgrimma against Issyria, and with me winning first turn we get moving.

Admonition on the Phoenix, Inviolable Resolve on the Sentinels and run. I want to be in a position to get a good alpha before the Bears can come on to retaliate.

Byron moves up in a fairly defensive formation, putting down 4 clouds from Kolgrimma to block my lines and force me to Feat. His Earthborn moves up behind the building in the centre of the table.

It has been a long weekend, I’m tired, and I have a long drive home, so when I spotted the assassination here it was too tempting not to go for. With a Slipstream Imperatus can get a slither of LoS to the Earthborn, and with 2 Side-Steps can get to a zero camp Kolgrimma. 2 bought attacks later and Kolgrimma Toughs, but with the right Trident in range I can finish her off.

VICTORY

I couldn’t really resist that assassination, even though the odds weren’t incredibly good. I figured that if the first attack didn’t do much damage I could choose to finish off the Earthborn instead and still had enough models on the table to play a hard attrition turn (the Trident had pretty much left all the left Champions on a box each). I finished the tournament at 3-2 and 9^th place out of 30, a result I was pretty pleased with. This event is a big part of WTC selection, so I think I’ve put myself in a decent place to qualify. Now only time will tell. We also have a new caster to look forward to, and I really can’t wait to get Garryth2 on the table.

Game 302: Issyria vs Morghoul2

Game 302 – Vs Konrad Krolicki – Skorne – 03/02/19

My list:

Issyria, Sibyl of Dawn (Legions of Dawn)

-Imperatus

-Phoenix

Dawnguard Trident

Dawnguard Trident

House Shyeel Artificer

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Min Dawnguard Destors

Max Dawnguard Sentinels

-Dawnguard Sentinel Officer & Standard Bearer

-Soulless Escort

His List:

Lord Assassin Morghoul (Disciples of Aghony)

-Battle Boar

-Blind Walker

-Blind Walker

-Cyclops Savage

Mortitheurge Willbreaker

Paingiver Task Master

Paingiver Task Master

Max Croak Raiders

Max Croak Raiders

Farrow Valkyries

Farrow Valkyries

Farrow Valkyries

Min Paingiver Beast Handlers

Paingiver Bloodrunners

Round 4 and I’m up against Konrad and a Skorne pair of Makeda3 and Morghoul2. There is no way I can drop the 40 infantry Goreshade list into this, and so Issyria it is. Konrad drops Morghoul and with me winning the first turn we get moving.

I run up with everything, with Admonition on the Phoenix and Inviolable Resolve on the Sentinels. This is one of the games where I should have put it on something else, specifically the leading Trident which was sent up to take the initial shots, but auto-pilot took over a bit here.

Konrad moves up with everything, taking shots into an Oiled Trident with his Croak Raiders, rolling fairly well to reduce me to around 10 boxes.

I had a really good plan this turn. Issyria Feats with the plan to Blinding Light the right unit of Croaks, kill most of the left, start picking away at Valkyries and take out a Blind Walker with Imperatus. In reality, none of those things happened. Issyria missed the Blinding Light, I didn’t roll up enough Trident shots to power through the Shield Guards, and Imperatus missed one of his attacks to leave the Blind Walker alive. And Eiryss missed, just to add insult to injury. Not a great turn.

Konrad retaliates pretty well, taking out Imperatus, my injured Trident, 2 Destors and most of my Sentinels. He scores 2 CPS to take a 2-0 lead.

I have definitely lost the attrition game at this point, but can possibly have a shot at an assassination. I take out the blocking Valkyrie, which doesn’t Tough and move up Issyria. She attempts a Blinding Light on Morghoul which needs a boosted 8 but misses, changing the Phoenix from 7s to hit to 9s. I charge him in anyway because what else is there to do at this point. He has his charge attack and 2 bought, with Morghoul then being on fire with a Primal Cyclops attack to go into him. I hit my first 2 attacks, stripping away the focus, but miss the third (would have hit with the -2 Def). Then the fire goes out the the Cyclops misses. I concede.

DEFEAT

I didn’t play this game particularly well and was really punished by some bad dice and good play from Konrad. He has played this list a lot now and it really shows in his positioning. I should have held back my Feat for another turn and gone for a boosted Blinding Light to stop one unit, rushing the game gave too many opportunities for things to go wrong, and they definitely did. Still, I was 2-2 in an incredibly competitive event and still had a good change of a positive result.

Game 301: Issyria vs Vlad3

Game 301 – Vs Jim Gradwell – Khador – 03/02/19

My list:

Issyria, Sibyl of Dawn (Legions of Dawn)

-Imperatus

-Phoenix

Dawnguard Trident

Dawnguard Trident

House Shyeel Artificer

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Min Dawnguard Destors

Max Dawnguard Sentinels

-Dawnguard Sentinel Officer & Standard Bearer

-Soulless Escort

His List:

Vladimir Tzepesci, Great Prince of Umbrey (Jaws of the Wolf)

-Devastator

-Devastator

-Juggernaut

-Juggernaut

-Marauder

-Marauder

Greylord Forge Seer

-Berserker

Greylord Forge Seer

-Berserker

Ragman

Yuri the Axe

Kayazy Elinators

Round 3 of the UK Invitationals took place the next morning, and I was drawn against Jim, who I seem to meet at every event we both play in. Jim was very hungover in this game, and definitely not at the top of his game. I was expecting him to drop Vlad1 with Doomreavers, but instead he went for his “safe place” of Vlad3. Either way, it was going to be an Issyria drop, and with Jim giving me the first turn we got moving.

After a failed experiment last game I go back to putting Admonition onto the Phoenix and, as ever, Inviolable Resolve on the Sentinels. Everything runs up.

Vlad puts up Hand of Fate on himself and casts Wind Wall, moving up a bunker of heavies all completely within 3” of him to be protected from my Tridents. One Jack takes each flank to protect the bunker.

There’s no real way in here, but even with Infernal Machine his Jacks don’t threaten far, so I move up to prepare for a Feat next turn, being aware of Vlad’s personal 14” threat. I take a couple of shots into some jacks, but make sure that my Tridents will be guaranteed 3 Power Tokens for Feat turn. I don’t contest the right zone at all, because I’m great at this game.

Jim accepts my gracious offer of a free CP, also moving a Forge Seer to his flank. The bunker continues to walk up the table. 2-0 to Jim.

Having checked the rules on the Devastators (they can be slammed, they just stay standing) I realise I can deliver Imperatus to Vlad. The Phoenix takes out the Juggernaut behind the Devastator, allowing a Trident to Slam it over Vlad, knocking the latter down. Eiryss strips him of his Focus and a single Side-Step delivers Imperatus, who takes him out.

VICTORY

I think that this Issyria list is extremely difficult to bunker against, with the huge non-linear threat of Imperatus. We discussed the game afterwards as Jim’s hangover was fading and looked at ways he could have stayed safer, and had this game gone long it could have ended up difficult for me to grind through. Either way, I’ve made it to 2-1 and in a decent position for a positive result.

Game 300: Issyria vs Syvestro

Game 300 – Vs Graham Keen – Crucible Guard – 02/02/19

My list:

Issyria, Sibyl of Dawn (Legions of Dawn)

-Imperatus

-Phoenix

Dawnguard Trident

Dawnguard Trident

House Shyeel Artificer

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Min Dawnguard Destors

Max Dawnguard Sentinels

-Dawnguard Sentinel Officer & Standard Bearer

-Soulless Escort

His List:

Aurus Adeptus Syvestro (Magnum Opus)

-Aurum Ominus Alyce Marc

-Vindicator

-Retaliator

-Toro

Railless Interceptor

Ragman

Rocketman Ace

Hutchuk, Orgun Bounty Hunter

Max Assault Troopers

Max Crucible Guard Rocketmen

-Crucible guard Rocketman Captain

-Rocketman Gunner

-Rocketman Gunner

-Rocketman Gunner

Dragon’s Breath Rocket

Round 2 of the UK Invitational and I face the second Crucible Guard player at the event, this time Graham playing Syvestro and Baldwin. He dropped the former, and with me winning the first turn we get moving.

I put Admonition on Imperatus (a mistake, I switch it to the Phoenix on turn 2) and Inviolable Resolve on the Sentinels and everything runs up.

Graham puts up Admonition on the Toro (shock!) and Transmutation on the Rocketmen (double shock!). He moves up and puts some shots into my Tridents, dealing a bit of damage to both

It isn’t Feat turn, but I can pick up a few important pieces from Graham’s force. The left Trident takes out the Rocket and puts some damage into the Vindicator, whilst the right one rolls well to remove the Retaliator. Issyria casts Blinding Light on the Rocketmen

Graham doesn’t have too many options, but needs to remove the Phoenix, and decides that he has to Feat to do so. The Phoenix does go down, and the Tridents take a bit of damage, but I come out of the turn relatively unscathed.

Graham has made a small positioning error with one of the Assault Troopers, leaving a Side-Step to Syvestro. I clear the path with Sentinels, Slipstream Imperatus forward and charge him in, taking out the caster.

VICTORY

Having just played Pat I was well up to speed with which pieces I needed to deal with early, and from there felt pretty comfortable. Had the assassination not been on I still feel that I could have played a really strong attrition game from this point. 1-1 after game 2 and ready to try and push on through day 2.

Game 299: Issyria vs Gearhart

Game 299 – Vs Patrick Dunford – Crucible Guard – 02/02/19

My list:

Issyria, Sibyl of Dawn (Legions of Dawn)

-Imperatus

-Phoenix

Dawnguard Trident

Dawnguard Trident

House Shyeel Artificer

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Min Dawnguard Destors

Max Dawnguard Sentinels

-Dawnguard Sentinel Officer & Standard Bearer

-Soulless Escort

His List:

Marshal General Baldwin Gearhart (Magnum Opus)

-Mr. Clogg

-Retaliator

-Retaliator

-Toro

-Aurum Ominus Alyce Marc

Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist

Hutchuk, Orgun Bounty Hunter

Trancer

Trancer

Trancer

Trancer

Max Crucible Guard Infantry

-Crucible Guard Infantry Officer & Standard

Min Crucible Guard Rocketmen

-Crucible guard Rocketman Captain

-Rocketman Gunner

Dragon’s Breath Rocket

Dragon’s Breath Rocket

This weekend was the UK Invitationals, held in York as a fundraiser for the English and Welsh WTC teams. A five round event with 30 players, guaranteed to be hard games against top opponents. I could go into my pair, but I played this Issyria list all five rounds. First up was Patrick Dunford, who you might have heard of, playing a Crucible Guard pair of Mackay and Baldwin. With him choosing the latter, and me winning first turn, we got moving.

Admonition onto the Phoenix, Inviolable Resolve onto the Sentinels, and everything runs up the table.

Gearhart puts up Snipe on himself and shoots into the Phoenix, dealing slightly more than his Forcefield. He then swaps Snipe onto the Infantry, and everything runs up the table.

I decide to make a Blinding Light play into the Infantry, as they are by far the greatest shooting threat into my list. This allows me to push up fairly aggressively in the centre. Both Tridents move up and take some shots, with the left taking out one of the Shocktroopers with a spiked damage roll.

Pat Shadowbinds my Phoenix (to prevent Admonition) and my right Phoenix, before making a start at shooting into my forces. He takes out 6 Sentinels with his guns and removes my Phoenix with the Toro. Nobody scores, so we start at 0-0.

Feat turn from Issyria, and I need to get a good chunk of attrition done if I want to be in this game. The Sentinels take out the Toro, allowing Imperatus to charge through and remove a Retaliator, Gorman and Alyce (who was in a position where she couldn’t transform). I shoot with both Tridents, and get reasonable, if unspectacular, work done. Again, nobody scores.

Patrick Feats with Gearhart, with the Prey being put onto Imperatus, who is additionally Shadowbound and knocked down. Again, Pat Shadowbinds my right Trident (he does this for the remainder of the game, I won’t mention it again). Imperatus goes down and Prey is switched onto the Sentinels. The unit is finished off pretty quickly, but Pat can’t get to the Soulless, stopping the Feat from passing on. My remaining Destors die and nobody scores.

I don’t have too much left at this point, but I do have both Tridents in play. My right one can’t move so just shoots off a few more Rocketmen, whilst the left charges up to clear the left zone. My mistake here is to not then reposition the Trident further in towards the objective. Doing so would have given me more options following the inevitable Shadowbinding. I score to lead 1-0.

Pat kills everything in the central zone and takes out the objective. The Tridents are both Shadowbound for the rest of time. 1-1

My left Trident clears the left zone again and Issyria runs in to score it. 2-1

Pat continues to push in the centre, moving his caster into the zone to start scoring. There is a relatively small area between my Trident threats, so he packs it full of guys, leaving a few models to contest. 2-2

I clear the left zone again and cast Blinding Light on the remaining Infantry. I no longer have anything to contest the central zone, so the score moves to 3-3

On Pat’s turn 6 he runs and charges his remaining Infantry into the left zone, failing to hit Issyria but removing my opportunity to score. From here, Pat scores the central zone on his 6, my 7, and his 7 to win 6-3.

DEFEAT

This was a really great game, and I’m very pleased with how I played against such a strong opponent. A couple of mistakes on positioning with the Tridents meant they got trapped in suboptimal positions. Had I been a bit less cautious with them and repositioned forwards the turn before each got stuck, my late game shooting would have been far harder for Pat to avoid. A really useful learning game into what is still a fairly new faction and on to round 2.

Game 298: Issyria vs Morvahna2

Game 298 – Vs Paul Sheard – Circle – 13/01/19

My list:

Issyria, Sibyl of Dawn (Legions of Dawn)

-Imperatus

-Phoenix

Dawnguard Trident

Dawnguard Trident

House Shyeel Artificer

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Min Dawnguard Destors

Max Dawnguard Sentinels

-Dawnguard Sentinel Officer & Standard Bearer

-Soulless Escort

His List:

Morvahna the Dawnshadow (Devourer's Host)

-Storm Raptor

-Wild Argus

Tharn Wolf Rider Champion

Lord of the Feast

Tharn Ravager Shaman

Tharn Ravager Shaman

Max Tharn Ravagers

-Tharn Ravager Chieftain

Max Tharn Ravagers

-Tharn Ravager Chieftain

Max Tharn Wolf Riders

The final of the Steamroller is fittingly a matchup between the two players who are 4-0 at this point. Paul is playing a terrifying circle player of Morvahna2 Tharn and Krueger2 Bones. We had spoken about our lists the night before and both knew that the matchup was going to be Issyria against Morvahna. I won the first turn and we got moving.

Admonition on Phoenix, Inviolable Resolve on the Sentinels and get up the table, being aware of the threat of Lord of the Feast.

Paul spreads out across the board with the Ravagers on the left and Wolf Riders towards the right. Morvahna put up Fog of War and Carnivore onto Lord of the Feast. He moves Lord up into an aggressive but safe position.

I can get to Lord of the Feast with the Phoenix and I try to trace out the flow of the game in my mind and decide it is a worthwhile way to start the piece trade. The |Trident Slipstreams the Phoenix sideways allowing it to see the Rider next to Lord, and after charging it with the off hand I can hit Lord with the Thermal Blade, taking him out. That allows me to push up harder on the right flank and hold back on the left a bit.

Paul uses Jump to play around Admonition on the Phoenix, taking it out with the 4 remaining Wolf Riders. One Ravager charges the Trident, dealing some damage. Otherwise he commits a handful of Tharn to contest zones and force me to trigger Vengeance. Nobody scores so we start the scoring at 0-0.

I decide to do a big scenario push this turn to try and force Paul to be more aggressive. Under my Feat the right Trident takes out three of the Wolf Riders with the Sentinels finishing off the unit and the objective. I clear out some of the Tharn in the centre to reduce Paul's attacks for the next turn and try to position in such a way that Paul couldn't get a route around an Admonition Imperatus to shoot Issyria.

And I almost did it too. It took the judge about 5 minutes with widgets to work it out, but there was about a millimetre gap where the bird could be in range and have line of sight past Imperatus. All that was left was the Tharn Champion to kill off the blocking Sentinel and for the Bird to hit the boosted 10 on Issyria to finish the game.

VICTORY

This was a really great game, and a perfect way to close out the tournament. I was gutted that I was so close to closing out the assassination angle and with Issyria a little bit further back I'd have been ok. Paul was a great opponent and a deserving person to win the event. His reports on the game and event can be found HERE. Next up is the UK invitationals and I'm really glad that I have a list pair that I'm really happy with. Really enthused for the faction at the moment, we have so many great options.