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 271: Vyros2 vs Xerxis2

Game 271– Vs Alun Barfoot – Skorne – 7/10/18

My list:

Vryos, Incissar of the Dawnguard (Forges of War)

-Sylys Wyshnaylrr, The Seeker

-Griffon

-Griffon

-Griffon

-Griffon

-Griffon

-Aspis

-Discordia

-Manticore

-Manticore

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

House Shyeel Arcanists

House Shyeel Arcanists

His List:

Xerxis, Fury of Halaak (Imperial Warhost)

-Agonizer

-Basilisk Krea

-Basilisk Krea

-Desert Hydra

-Desert Hydra

-Titan Gladiator

Feralgeist

Min Paingiver Beast Handlers

Min Paingiver Beast Handlers

Round 5 of the UK Nationals and once again I'm faced with something I have no idea how to play against, so I'm dropping Vyros again. As suspected I get the double Hydra list, which I must admit absolutely terrifies me. Thankfully I win the roll to go first and we get moving.

Step 1 of “having no idea how to play a matchup” is to run as fast as I can up the table, keeping out of the significant 14” threat range of the Hydras.

Hydras move up followed by the support staff, staying out of threat of more than one or two Griffons each. Between the Krea animus and Sandstorm my shooting is going to be pretty ineffective.

I have a really tough turn of positioning ahead of me, as I need to tempt the Hydras in with enough firepower left over to take them out afterwards. I can get a Griffon to the Agoniser, and if this game goes long taking that out would be vital, so I build Synergy and send it in to take it out. I Feat with Vyros, and jam, hoping that something will come up next turn.

Alun plans out his turn really impressively, coming up with a way to deliver a Hydra into my heavies. Unfortunately he makes one mistake. After slamming the blocking Aspis out of the way with the Gladiator he buys attacks to take it out, allowing me to Feat move a Griffon in the way, saving the 2 Heavies. I end the turn having lost the Aspis and 3 Griffons, which under Xerxis' Feat seems reasonable. More importantly, I'd been able to move around the scenario elements, allowing me to score 2 unanswered CPS.

All I need to do to win is shoot off the Feralgeist and run Vyros to the flag. I get it done and win 5-0 on scenario

VICTORY

This was an odd feeling victory, whilst it was great to win the game I didn't particularly feel like I'd earned it. Alun played the game really well and one mistake cost him the game. Even so, I don't think I would win this game on any other scenario, and only how live Spread the Net is saved me. Still, with one round to go I was sat on 4-1, guaranteeing me a positive result. The Best in Ret award was also hotly contested, and that was my focus going into the final round.

Game 261: Vyros2 vs Rasheth

Game 261 – Vs Lukas Neuhauser – Skorne – 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:

Dominar Rasheth (Winds of Death)

-Agonizer

-Basilisk Krea

-Cyclops Raider

-Cyclops Shaman

Siege Animantarax

Siege Animantarax

Extoller Soulward

Extoller Soulward

Mortitheurge Willbreaker

Swamp Gobber Chef

Venator Dakar

Min Paingiver Beast Handlers

Venator Flayer Cannon Crew

Max Venator Reivers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

Min Venator Slingers

Here we go then, my first ever WTC. Round one we are drawn against Germany Walsterben. Not the team we would have chosen this early in the event, but it promised to be a great challenge. The matchup process went pretty well, with us getting some good matchups but the Germans getting to pick tables, meaning that I had to play into Skorne on a pretty open field. We both knew the match would be Vyros2 against Rasheth, and with me winning first turn we got moving.

I’ve learnt in other games against Rasheth that it isn’t worth hanging back out of gun range on turn 1 as it just gives up too much board presence, so everything runs up, with Deceleration put up by Vyros.

Lukas moves up, casts Blood Mark onto one of my Griffons on the right and moves up to start shooting. I probably Shield Guard too much damage, and should have just left the Griffon to die a lot sooner, as with the turtles and Sniped Reivers it did go down pretty comfortably.

I get to feel pretty clever this turn as I cast Lock the Target on the left Turtle, limiting it’s melee threat to 10”. The Manticores and Vyros shoot off the rest of the Slinger unit (this is key to do as quickly as possible, as the list really needs them for contesting and Arcing) and I push up to just outside the 2 turtles’ threats. 2 Griffons go on a flanking move up the left side of the table and Vyros takes cover behind the central building.

Blood Mark is cast onto one of the flanking Griffons, but Lukas can’t get as many shots into it and it survives on a handful of boxes. More shots go into the central mass of jacks, again dealing some chip damage to Force Fields that is starting to add up. We both score our zones to start scoring at 1-1.

I looked at the table at the start of the turn and realised that winning was well within my grasp. The central and right flags were uncontested, and only the Dakar was contesting the left. Manticores went into the objective to destroy it and build Synergy allowing the untouched Griffon on the left to take out the Dakar. Solos ran to flags and I score 5CPs to win 6-1.

VICTORY

I will admit to having felt really nervous in the build up to this game, and my hands were visibly shaking as I played through my last turn. I cannot describe the relief at getting a win on the board at the WTC, knowing that I was capable of playing and winning at this level. The game naturally finished very early in the round, and after reporting the win to my teammates I took myself off for a drink. Unfortunately as the round progressed we couldn’t quite bring it home, with the Germans winning the round 3-2. We were disappointed to lose so early, but knew we had given all we could and lost to a really strong team. After lunch it was time to bounce back and get on the board.

Game 222: Vyros2 vs Rasheth

Game 222 – Vs Ryan Longthorne – Skorne – 14/07/18

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

This weekend was the North West Team Championship which I attended with the England Roses Team (playing Trolls, Cryx, Menoth and Crucible Guard). The tournament was run as a 16 team 3 round event before splitting into round robin groups on the Sunday. For the first round we played against the Merseyside Mammoths, a local team that I play against regularly, with me matched up against Ryan Longthorne. We both knew it was going to be Rasheth vs Vyros2 and with me winning the first turn we get moving.

Deceleration and run. It isn’t complicated.

Ryan moves up and arcs a spell into Lanyssa, taking her out. He puts some shots into my jacks, dealing minimal damage.

I take out the remaining slingers with my guns and a single Griffon, using the rest to dance around the Skorne threat ranges, knowing that Ryan would have to come in and contest the scenario soon.

Ryan is able to take out my forward Griffon, but it essentially takes his whole army to do so, with just a few shots going into my other jacks. 1-0 lead to Ryan.

I decide to go for a strong scenario push, hoping that Vyros’ sheer bulk can keep him alive the next turn. I take clear both zones and take out 2 of the lights, scoring 3 to lead 3-1.

Ryan recognises his position as assassinate or but so Feats, Blood Marks Vyros and starts laying into him with his guns. It feels really close with just the turtles left but they roll the 6 shots they need and take him out with the last one.

DEFEAT

-      Assassination was pretty much a coin flip, and I feel that I needed to leave it on to get the attrition play that I needed, could possibly have had another shield guard in range though

-      Team won the round 3-2 so the loss didn’t change things too much, but it was a stressful hour between my finishing (and another team mate losing) and the rest of the guys pulling through

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 199: Vyros2 vs Zaadesh2

Game 199 – Vs The Lazy Hase – Skorne – 20/05/18

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:

Lord Tyrant Zaadesh (Imperial Warhost)

-Desert Hydra

-Agonizer

-Agonizer

-Archidon

-Basilisk Krea

-Rhinodon

-Titan Gladiator

-Titan Sentry

Orin Midwinter, Rogue Inquisitor

Max Paingiver Beast Handlers

For round 6 I face my 3^rd opponent from the French contingent who had made the trip over. I am currently 3-2 and really need to get 2 more wins on the table for a chance at Best in Retribution. Hase dropped an intriguing Zaadesh2 list with a Hydra, with my dropping Vyros as I always do into Skorne. I win the first turn and we get moving.

Deceleration, Fleet on the Griffons, run up the table. I’ve done this enough times now the muscle memory is getting it pretty slick. Lanyssa sits herself on the right flank behind a wall.

Hase moves up with his forces being careful not to stray into any of my threat ranges. He puts up Inviolable Resolve on the Hydra and his beasts use their respective defensive Animi. Zaadesh puts up Battle Charged and moves up behind the line.

With Zaadesh camping nothing I spend a few minutes planning out a brilliant (if I say so myself) assassination on him. I move up for step 1 of putting Hunter’s Mark on the Hydra, and Orin cancels it. Ah. So I make a new plan of threatening the zones and prepairing for next turn, putting an Aspis up to tempt him in under Vyros’ Feat.

Hase looks at killing the Aspis with the Sentry before pushing through with the Rhinodon and taking out 2 more Griffons, but after the Aspis dies I push one of the 2 forward, removing the opportunity. Hase decides that going in on one isn’t worth losing the Rhinodon so backs off instead, whilst just holding ground on the right flank. We both score our zones to start at 1-1.

Big turn. A Griffon on the left runs round to engage Counter Chargers and I build up Synergy with Griffons on the right before using a Manticore to take out the Sentry and a Concentrated Power Griffon to hit some serious dice spikes to remove the Gladiator. I feel pretty good at the end of the turn, and the score ticks over to 2-2.

This is Zaadesh’s Feat turn and after Enraging the Beasts with Pain Handlers he starts to fight back. The Hydra goes full beast mode and takes out all 3 Griffons, allowing the Archidon to move into a position of safety for a later turn. The Rhinodon takes out a Griffon and damages another, but I’m still feeling ok about the left flank. The score goes to 3-3.

The line of battle is really starting to rotate now, so I run my blue unit of Arcanists to the right of the forest to be easy contesting pieces to keep his CPs in control. My aim this turn is to clear out the left zone and score 2, and this is successful with the Manticore taking out the Rhinodon and a Griffon finishing off the Krea. Hase only really has the Hydra and Archidon left but I’m not particularly confident. I do move into a 5-3 lead though.

Zaadesh charges in and finishes off an injured Griffon before Sprinting away. The Hydra continues moving round, this time taking out my objective, whilst the Archidon moves aggressively to the centre of the table. Hase closes to 6-5.

With the Krea gone my guns are suddenly a lot more potent, and the 2 Manticores and Vyros himself reduce the Archidon to just 3 boxes. I think that he’s going to survive the turn but a Magno Bolt from the Artificer finished the job. A pretty badly injured Griffon walks up and takes out the objective. I score 2 to lead 8-5.

The Hydra moves up and kills off the Manticore and Artificer. Hase spreads his remaining units to contest as much as possible. The score moves to 9-7.

There is a chance of an assassination here, but it feels much more dicey than I would like. 3CPs will win me the game and I have the left zone locked down already. The Manticore kills 2 of the Paingivers in the right zone, before Vyros Charges and kills a Paingiver, Quick Works a shot into Orin, and removes the last contesting Paingiver with an Arcane Secrets boosted Twister. I score 3 more CPs to win 12-7.

VICTORY

This was an absolutely incredible game. It is always great to play an opponent who is taking an unusual choice but clearly knows exactly how to use it, and that was absolutely the case here. I got the dice when I needed them, and the one small mistake from Hase in not positioning the Archidon within an inch of the building for cover probably made the game. Similarly, after my stupid assassination attempt I should have run at least one of my right Griffons over to the left, as that was always where the battle was going to be won or lost. I had dragged my way to 4-2, which was the same score as the other top Ret players, so the target was still possible.