Game 265: Rahn vs Ossrum

Game 265 – Vs Wout Maerschalck – Mercenaries – 16/09/18

My list:

Adeptis Rahn (Defenders of Ios)

-Sylys Wyshnaylrr, The Seeker

-Chimera

-Phoenix

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen

Houseguard Thane

Ghost Sniper

Ghost Sniper

Max Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

Min Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

His List:

General Ossrum (The Irregulars)

-Grundback Blaster

-Grundback Blaster

-Grundback Blaster

-Grundback Gunner

-Grundback Gunner

Hammerfall Siege Crawler

Hammerfall Siege Crawler

Ogrun Bokur

Ogrun Bokur

Horgenhold Artillery Corps

Horgenhold Artillery Corps

Max Horgenhold Forge Guard

Max Horgenhold Forge Guard

One of the biggest weaknesses of my WTC pair is that neither of them are particularly good at playing the Standoff scenario. Neither have cheap contesting models to get into my opponent’s zone so I tend to tick along losing a CP a turn unless I can really overwhelm them. Round 5 of the WTC was against Belgium Sensual Chocolate on Standoff, so if there was a bus to throw somebody under, I was going to be the person thrown under it. That but took the form of Wout with his incredibly strong Ossrum list. I mentioned in my last report that some Ossrum lists are better into me than others, and this one on this scenario is as bad as it comes. I drop Rahn in the hope that he might make a small mistake and give me an assassination opening, but really we were accepting this as a loss in order to get better matches for the team. Wout wins the first turn and we get moving.

Dwarves run up either side of the central building, with Ossrum casting Energiser for an extra bit of movement and putting Fire for Effect up on the left Siege Crawler.

There are so many high powered guns on the Mercenaries side so I place as well as I can to protect against them. Both AFGs are TK’s and Polarity Shield goes on the left Halberdier unit.

The Dwarven guns open up and I lose an incredible amount. The left AFG is two-shot by some incredible dice spikes and the Halberdiers all go down to sprays or incidental shots from the Battle Engines. Ossrum Feats to limit my ability to respond. The game is lost at this point so I just look for ways to score some CPs.

I make a plan to take out the objective and do so with the AFG and Phoenix shooting and a Halberdier charge. I lead 2-0 (briefly)

Wout continues relentlessly removing all my forces, leaving me with just a handful of support left. 2-1 to me.

All I need to do is score 4CPs to win the game! I settle for scoring my zone again and essentially concede the game. Wout effortlessly wins in his next turn 9-3 on scenario.

DEFEAT

A really rough one, but I knew that from the start. With first turn I may have made a bit more of a game of it, but it wasn’t to be. Unfortunately the team lost another close round 3-2 to move to 2-3 overall for the weekend. Winning the next round to get to 3-3 was pretty vital at this point, as we didn’t feel that our level of play deserved to place us where we were.

Game 254: Rahn vs Borka2

Game 254 – Vs James White – Trollbloods – 02/09/18

My list:

Adeptis Rahn (Defenders of Ios)

-Sylys Wyshnaylrr, The Seeker

-Chimera

-Phoenix

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen

Houseguard Thane

Ghost Sniper

Ghost Sniper

Max Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

Min Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

His List:

Borka, Vengeance of the Rimeshaws (The Power of Dhunia)

-Trollkin Runebearer

-Earthborn Dire Troll

-Earthborn Dire Troll

-Mulg the Ancient

-Rok

-Troll Axer

-Troll Basher

Northkin Shaman

Troll Whelps

Troll Whelps

Max Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes

-Stone Scribe Elder

The final round sees me up against James White, and produces some pretty serious list chicken. We end up with a Borka2 against Rahn match, which I was pretty happy about. I win the roll to go first.

Polarity Shield onto the right Halberdiers, TK on the Phoenix and both AFGs and everything runs up the table.

Borka feels that he has to use his Feat early, so does so, puts up Counter Charge and gets himself up the table.

I go through a few different plans on this turn, as can happen when you’re playing against Counter-Charge. I start by TKing the Earthborn on the left away from the building, intending to charge and take it out, but then run a model past it allowing it to Counter Charge back to the building. I then start to run and jam with the Halberdier unit but get Counter Charged by Borka, opening up an assassination angle. I shoot with both Snipers and the Phoenix, before charging with Issyen, sadly leaving Borka on a single box. I position the rest of my army to prepare for next turn.

James has a great turn and takes out all of the Halberdiers, Issyen and the Snipers. We both score 1.

I need to finish off the assassination, and do so by TKing Borka forwards, tying up any Counter Charges and walking the Phoenix up to take it out. A tough Check would ruin my day but thankfully it is failed.

VICTORY

-      A bit of an odd game, but it is always fun to play against James, and useful to see this style of Borka list before the WTC

-      I finished the event 4-2, finishing in 10^th with Best in Retribution, so I was overall pretty satisfied.

-      These were my last games in the UK before travelling to Poland. Next Stop, WTC.

Game 253: Rahn vs Rask

Game 253 – Vs Sam Darbyshire – Minions – 02/09/18

My list:

Adeptis Rahn (Defenders of Ios)

-Sylys Wyshnaylrr, The Seeker

-Chimera

-Phoenix

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen

Houseguard Thane

Ghost Sniper

Ghost Sniper

Max Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

Min Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

His List:

Rask (Will Work for Food)

-Gatorman Soul Slave

-Blackhide Wrastler

-Ironback Spitter

-Ironback Spitter

Alten Ashley

Bog Trog Mist Speaker

Dahlia Hallyr

-Skarath

Gatorman Witch Doctor

Rorsh

-Brine

-Battle Boar

Wrong Eye

-Snapjaw

Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew

Needing to drop Rahn at some point in the next 2 games I saw this as a good an opportunity as any. Rask is a pain to play against but it is a matchup that is playable. Sam gets the first turn.

Admonition goes onto a Spitter and Rage onto Brine, and everything runs up, using a Veil of Mists to protect against my guns.

I put up Polarity Shield onto the full unit of Halberdiers, and TK both AFGs forward before running up. I think I’ve positioned well to prevent Rask from getting anything next turn.

I hadn’t though. I missed an angle for Brine to Diversionary Tactics up into charge range of the Phoenix, taking both it and the AFG next to it out. Everything else presses up the board under Rask’s Feat.

I charge my Halberdiers on the right into Snapjaw, but somehow fail to take it out under Minifeat. The situation is impossible and I concede the game.

DEFEAT

-      Going second against Rask you can’t afford to make a single mistake, and unfortunately I did with my positioning of the Phoenix.

-      The game would have been an uphill struggle anyway. Vyros would probably have had a better chance, but I dropped Rask hoping to get through the game and then have the choice of lists in the last round.

-      D&C1 is the worst and has no place in the game.

Game 244: Rahn vs Skarre1

Game 244 – Vs Andrew Mazeika – Cryx – 25/08/18

My list:

Adeptis Rahn (Defenders of Ios)

-Sylys Wyshnaylrr, The Seeker

-Chimera

-Phoenix

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen

Houseguard Thane

Ghost Sniper

Ghost Sniper

Max Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

Min Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

His List:

Pirate Queen Skarre (Dark Host)

-Skarlock Thrall

-Stalker

-Stalker

-Stalker

-Stalker

Wraith Engine

Wraith Engine

Bane Lord Tartarus

Darragh Wrathe

Scrap Thrall

Min Bane Riders

Max Bane Riders

Time for another run at the nightmare match up that is Skarre1, going second, on Spread the Net. My opponent isn’t the most experienced, but any rep into this is going to be useful.

Skarre runs everything up, staying out of threat of the AFGs.

Through some of Andrew’s positioning of Stalkers he’s left one in range of some Halberdiers. I float a couple of AFG AOEs at the stalkers and deal some damage, allowing the right Halberdiers to Mini-Feat and take one out.

Skarre comes into me but without Feating, taking out most of the right and some of the left Halberdiers.

I lost quite a lot this turn but the lack of Feat gives me a chance to strike back. I end up managing to remove all of the Bane Riders, 2 more Stalkers and a Wraith Engine, being careful to keep Rahn safe from any assassination that may come next turn. 1-1 on scenario

Skarre Feats on her remaining models and her army gets as much work done as it can, taking out my Phoenix and a some more Halberdiers. 2-2

I take out the Stalker and Darragh before shooting everything I have at the Wraith Engine, leaving it on a handful of boxes. 3-2 to me.

Skarre scrambles to stay in the game, dealing some damage to an AFG and dismounting Skeryth. 4-2.

I finish the Wraith Engine and shoot Skarre in the face,

VICTORY

-      Satisfying to finally get one over on Skarre, but still think it’s a horrible matchup. A T2 Feat would have left me in an awful position that I don’t think I could have come back from.

-      Ghost Snipers are awesome

Game 238: Rahn vs Skarre3

Game 238 – Vs Becky Red – Cryx – 17/08/18

My list:

Adeptis Rahn (Defenders of Ios)

-Sylys Wyshnaylrr, The Seeker

-Chimera

-Phoenix

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen

Houseguard Thane

Ghost Sniper

Ghost Sniper

Max Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

Min Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

His List:

Skarre, Admiral of the Black Fleet (Dark Host)

-Desecrator

-Leviathan

-Leviathan

Wraith Engine

Bane Lord Tartarus

Machine Wraith

Machine Wraith

Max Bane Warriors

-Officer & Standard Bearer

Max Bane Warriors

-Officer & Standard Bearer

I played 5 games over this weekend as practice for the WTC hots up, starting with another look at Skarre3, this time in the Bane theme. I win the roll to go first.

Polarity Shield on the big unit of Halberdiers, a few TKs thrown around and everything runs.

Skarre moves up and shoots off a couple of Halberdiers and the rest of the Cryx forces run up, with the Banes in front and the Jacks behind.

I start shooting, taking out 2 Banes on the left and, coupled with some Halberdier charger, 6 on the right as well as both Machine Wraiths.

Skarre and the jacks shoot into my Halberdiers, dealing some decent damage. On the left the Banes can’t charge and so just run to engage, whilst on the right they charge some Halberdiers but Set Defence mainly keeps them alive. 1-1

I don’t have a great turn but do take out a lot of Banes and put some damage into the Wraith Engine as well as hitting Skarre with a Disrupter Bolt from Eiryss. I lead 3-1.

With no Focus Skarre’s options are limited, but the jacks continue to get work done and the Wraith Engine charges into the Phoenix, narrowly failing to take it out. 4-2.

I consider trying for an assassination, but feel comfortable that if I can just keep taking models off and scoring points that I will eventually win the game. Eiryss Disrupts Skarre again, Rahn camps most of his stack and I lead 6-2.

Becky realises that she has lost the attrition game and so goes for an assassination but with no Focus it feels like a long shot. It is, and Rahn comfortably survives. I win 8-2.

VICTORY

-      This game felt OK, Rahn’s constant threat on Skarre keeps her honest and with no way to remove upkeeps she struggles to get the melee troops in

-      The Slaughter Fleet list feels a lot stronger than this version, so I still need to plan for that.

Game 236: Rahn vs Arkadius

Game 236 – Vs Adam Jones – Minions – 09/08/18

My list:

Adeptis Rahn (Defenders of Ios)

-Sylys Wyshnaylrr, The Seeker

-Chimera

-Phoenix

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen

Houseguard Thane

Ghost Sniper

Ghost Sniper

Max Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

Min Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

His List:

Dr. Arkadius (Will Work for Food)

-Targ

-Gorax Rager

-Gorax Rager

-Gun Boar

-Gun Boar

-Razor Boar

-Razor Boar

-Road Hog

-Road Hog

-War Hog

-War Hog

Bog Trog Mist Speaker

Gatorman Witch Doctor

Hutchuk, Ogrun Bounty Hunter

Kwaak Slickspine & Gub, Croak Sorcerers

Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew

Casual Thursday night game against my clubmate Adam, using Dr Arkadius, a caster who has always scared me due to his crazy threats and angles. Adam wins the first turn and I pick completely the wrong table side.

Forced Evolution goes onto one of the Road Hogs and everything runs up, respecting my threat ranges.

I realise I have picked the wrong side, tilt, and play like an idiot. I miscalculate the threat range of War Hogs getting into my AFG and so sent too many Polarity Shield Halberdiers forward to block them off. Not my finest moment.

Adam kills off a lot of Halberdiers from the max unit, significantly reducing my damage potential.

I finally get my head in the game and start playing some half decent Warmachine, taking out Hutchuck, both Razor Boars and both Gorax, removing Primal from the table. I score my zone to lead 1-0.

Adam’s number one aim this turn is to take out the Phoenix, so works at clearing a path and uses the Feat to get the threat range needed. Unfortunately with Primal gone and with cover from the building the War Hog can’t take the Phoenix out, and Adam’s dice further abandon him as he can’t take out Skyreth Issyen. 3-1 to Adam.

I press on with attrition as best I can, taking out the War Hog who failed on the Phoenix and the Forced Evolution Road Hog. 3-1.

Adam just has to clear zones to win and succeeds in going so. 6-1.

DEFEAT

-      So many mistakes in the first turn or so, but played pretty well after that.

-      Thought that this would be a good match up but I was definitely wrong as the effective walking threat of the beasts is so far. I think it would have been much better with the other table side though.

-      Thankfully not many people play Arkadius…

Game 235: Rahn vs Sturm&Drang

Game 235 – Vs Andrew Howarth – Minions – 04/08/18

My list:

Adeptis Rahn (Defenders of Ios)

-Sylys Wyshnaylrr, The Seeker

-Chimera

-Phoenix

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcantrik Force Generator

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Fane Knight Skeryth Issyen

Houseguard Thane

Ghost Sniper

Ghost Sniper

Max Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

Min Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

His List:

Sturm & Drang (Will Work for Food)

-Gatorman Soul Slave

-Battle Boar

-Road Hog

-War Hog

Bone Shrine

Dahlia Hallyr

-Skarath

Efaarit Scouts

Efaarit Scouts

Hutchuck, Ogrun Bounty Hunter

Rorsh

-Brine

Swamp Gobber Chef

Wrong Eye

-Snapjaw

Farrow Valkyries

Final game of the SR sees me up against an interesting Minions pair with Sturm (Drang did not feature). I won the first turn.

Polarity Shield on the big unit and everything runs

Vision goes onto the Road Hog and the beasts get up the table, with the Road and War Hogs at the front of the line.

I take out both of the front line beasts with the Halberdiers and some AFG shots. Skeryth flanks hard on the left.

Snapjaw goes into the Halberdiers on the right, killing a few. Skarath’s spray clears the way for Brine to get in to the Phoenix, but narrowly fails to take it out. 1-1

I take out both Efaarit, Snapjaw and Brine, leaving Skarath on a handful of boxes. The attrition is going very well indeed. 3-1

Skarath tries to do what he can but can just take off a few Halberdiers. 4-2

I have a simple enough task to clear the zones to win 8-2

VICTORY

-      Armies with no anti-shooting tech and no upkeep removal will always struggle against this list, and Decel from Sturm is just not enough to stop the AFGs running rampant.

-      I always felt in control in this game, even had the Phoenix died to Brine I would have felt in a pretty strong position.

-      Finished the event in 2^nd behind Mark, and starting to feel very comfortable with this Rahn build.