Game 59 - Thexus1 vs Vlad2

Last game of the night, meaning I got to rock out all three lists I bothered to unpack. Woot!

It's my current favourite jam:

Thexus1 - 3x Wrecker, 3x Warden, Subduer, 3x Agitator, 2x Dominator + Eliminators
Objective: Stockpile

Into Edwood, turning back from his brief journeyman affliction of hippy lovin to try out his old MK 2 favourite again. Which, for the Squidhead list, is a damn nightmare.

Vlad2 - Grolar, Rager, War Dog, Uhlans, Markov, 2x Drakhun, Outriders, Eliminators

Fast models, magic sprays, boosted damage rolls, superior threat range. Thexus wants nothing to do this.

How cold this possibly go wrong?

Scenario is Outlast.

I lose the roll and get given second, I take the side with a wall to cower behind.

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Khador Deploy: Berserker sitting in for the Mad Dog, Vlad being a superhero who disdains the no capes rule he is instead the small sized proxy base.Alexia2 is repping the second Drakhun, because those arbiters of bunkum are FA 2 in this new world that has clearly gone mad.

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Merc Deploy: Wall of man meat. Left one Domiantor at home, so Aiyanna is subbing in.

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Khador 1: Drakhuns/Eliminators go left, Grolar/Vlad stay central. Uhlans pile into the forest just in front of the right zone, Outriders (That, for the whole game, I referred to as Uhlans. S-M-R-T.) go on the right flank.

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Merc 1: During the opening Red tide's turn I'd been doing some threat range math, come to the conclusion I was screwed. With feat, all the opposing models threat way to far.
I concluded my best bet was to avoid Thexus dying to the Outriders and attempt to limit Monstrosity casualties to 2 on Vlads feat turn, if Eassius pops three then I have no chance of pulling ahead on attrition.
Ergo the oddest Cephalyx first turn I've done thus far. I hand focus out, leaving a pair on Thexus in case there's a long range magic attack I've missed.
Eliminators do some stabbing, then 90% of the list pelts off to the left side of the board, including Thexus (yellow Proxy base). On Warden with max focus and an Agitator go to the right side of the board to contest that zone in the future.

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Khador 2: Vlad wonders vaguely toward the left, sticks outside of my threat range. He feats, sadly rolls max, picks the Eliminators, Drakhuns and two of the Uhlans.
The feat models all charge my pair of Wardens, the extra point of armour wasn't enough to save them. Uhalans move to the centre back of the board with the Jacks.
I'm actually really happy with how this panned out. The results aren't good, but I predicted the likely actiosn and results to a tee. Whether or not that will save me I had my doubts, now watch my planning get considerably worse from here!

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Merc 2: The unfortunate result of playing into skilled Vlad2 is that the majority of my options involved attacking feated models which is...like....totally hard man.
Given the minimal contesting, plan is to score in both zones, kill the Drakhun/Eliminators and tie up the Uhlans.
To do these plans, I first need Thexus to move up and feat enemy models to where they need to be. My fear of side stepping Vlad Kayazy caused me to put two heavies in front of Thexus, so the Wrecker of the two gets out of the way to move up and kill one of the feated Uhalans over the wall (Just prior an Agitator wandered into the middle of my mob and Instigated).
Thexus then moves up, gets everything bar one Overlord and the Doge (With Vlad not being affected) in feat, things get pushed around. Important moves are the Outriders back in general, Markov out of the right zone, Uhlans back far enough for a Wrecker to get over the wall and the Eliminators into the Drakhun. Thexus then heals and TK's the Monstrosity that is on Uhlan murder duties.
Red Eliminators go, fuel up some heavies.
Subduer aims, hits one of the Drakhun, kncking down the Eliminators.
Left Wrecker goes in, Thresher kills the Eliminators, dismounts both Drakhun, then leaves one dismounted Drakhun alive.
The Dismounted Drakhun is an issue, I want to score and get him away from charge range on Thexus. I end up compromising with the last Wrecker, who walks up and kills the Drakhun clearing the zone, but only engages the feat boosted Uhlan and fails to kill it.
Remaining Elimiantors run to try to Shield Thexus, far right Warden touches that zone.


Mercs go to 2CP.



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Khador 3: My compromises prove to be my downfall.
Grolar goes in, eats the forward most Wrecker.
Markov charges the Wrecker next to Thexus, crits knocks him,, an Eliminator and Exulon down then ponies back.
Uhlans get hand of fate, three charge Exulon, takes only two to punch through the focus camp.


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Me on the left.


Foiled! Got greedy with Thexus' feat, should have just got to touch the nearest Outriders, push back then means they aren't in their 16 walk and spray range. Thexus' stack should have been burnt on TK'ing two of the Uhlans around, then the Eliminators take up a flank spot on either wall to stop their bases getting in.
Khador probably still gets me, but I definitely can make it more difficult.


Note to self: Thexus no likey Khador. Or at least the murder pony variant, basically anything with speed and magic ability attacks.


Cephalyx version of Orin, come on down! PP come to this thread right? They need model ideas yeah? Ah. No. That's the drugs again.


My Suss is calling. Must resist urge to play Legion. Find a way to make Hyper Aggressive effective in game. Look within myself and find if I really want to try the Duren list with two Siege Crawlers. Somehow find the will to paint Drudges I'm not enthused for so that I can then paint Trencehrs to trry Mags 2 in kingmaker.

Game 58 - Gorten1 vs Jakes2 65pt Journey

Game 2: When Journeymans become less Journeylike as they near the destination.

I threw in Aiyanna/Holt and Alexia2, continuing the trend of models I like.

Gorten1 - Basher, Driller, 3x Gunner, Blaster, Sylyss, Dahlia w/Skarath, Eiryss1, Orin1, Taryn1, Aiyanna/Holt, Alexia2

Sudden desire for either Aiyanna or Holt 2, created when half the pairing dies. Because people totally permanently die in this games fluff (Vinter died and he has a model! Totally counts! Technically correct is best correct!).

Anyway, we continue our beleaguered attempt at practicing assassination, seeing how a single Blaster goes, pondering the value of Orin or Alexia in our regular Gorten shenanigans.

This time its Aledon, the sky reminiscent swans changing up a little as Jakes goes from Junior to loads-better-than-Malakov full Warnoun status.

Jakes 2 - Ironclad, Stormclad, Minuteman, Lancer, Junior + Firefly, Arcane Tempest solo tool, Arlan strangefella, min Trenchers, min Stormlancers

Min Stormlancers surprised me. That's some good will save there to not increase those gits.

It's The Pit again, same table, so most important terrain is one side of he zone has a wall and the other has a hill. There's also some rando forests around the edges of the zone, with a trench on the hill side.

I win the roll, recalling my last Gorten games errors I take second to claim the side with a wall, which is the most effective anti-Gorten feat terrain on the board.

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Cygnar 1: The settings protagonists advance, forming a cloud wall in combo with the forest to hide all the Jacks. Ironclad gets Arcane Shield, Jakes puts up Escort. The Storm Lancers go out to the right flank, hiding behind one of the forests for now.

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Merc 1: The plan is standard simplicity, Gorten and battlegroup will go to the flag, though this time stubby walks after that Ossrum assassination attempt shenanigan. The Swans can't really match that, but they advanced slowly turn one to stay behind the cloud wall so I'm in no rush to engage, a longer game is to my advantage.
I've got Dahlia and the Snake in the right forest, they should matchup well against the Stormlancers. Lightning onto Dahlia could be an issue, so she'll have to keep three transfers going forward.
Aiyanna/Holt, Alexia and Eiryss all move to the right. Eiryss to be out of range of the Gun Mage solo capping her face, Alexia for future soul grabbing , Aiyanna and Holt I just want to keep safe until Jakes expends her feat.
Taryn is out of pic, having run to the north side of the obstruction to the left of my flag. I didn't really have a certainty on what she would be doing here.

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Cygnar 2: Lazy sitting down pic. Sitting down in games is a skill I am eternally failing to develop in games.
Desiring to keep behind the cloud wall, the Jack advance is limited by the front rank of Trenchers.
On the left, the Gun Mage Adept walks into the Trench, tries a shot on Taryn and misses. She doesn't dodge, because that would involve taking Rutger Shaw, who is still garbage without being 0 points like Stannis.
Right side, the Neighers move up, the leader touches the Cygnar flag for giggles.

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Merc 2: To my surprise only Trenchers have advanced into the zone, so game plan is pop the damn Trenchers, ride to an easy two points and see what Cygnar do after that.
The Gunners, Alexiaand Blaster, between them, lands hits on every Trencher model.
They all pass their tough rolls.
Thankfully Orin Lightnings like a champ, popping the left trencher, ignoring the Firefly for leaps to zap the two in line. Eiryss and Skarath then polish the two other front line Trenchers off, leaving, just one chump behind the smoke cloud knocked down.
Positioning wise, Taryn pelts up far left, mainly to see if the Gun Mage gets distracted killing her or lets her be a pain in the amoeba.
Gorten puts up a wall in front of the Bunnies, then sits surrounded by his battlegroup with Orin and Eiryss on their right side. The jacks are all based to base, in the event of lightning the solos should live barring some unseen cleverness, which can very well happen.
Alexia is placed so she could nab the Trencher souls (Opposing souls being in short supply). I fully expert her to die to a jack, but that'll hopefully give nearby Skarath some good options.
Dahlia has run far enough up that she just catches the leader of the Storm Lancers in Haunting Melody, glorious.
Aiyanna and Holt run so far right they aren't in the picture. Literally.

Mercs go to 2 CP.

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Cygnar 3: Everything moves forward into the zone.
The Gun Mage chap aims, blats poor sacrificial Taryn.
The Minuteman and Stormclad, both recipients of Jakes focus, spring into action. Minute guy advances, leaps, kills Alexia. Oh well, to be expected.
Stormclad kills the Blaster, Storm Lancers drift gently toward the middle zone. Jakes goes into the zone too, I'm not quite sure why.

Mercs go to 3 CP.

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Merc 3: Cake and eat it time. I was lining up the Basher slam of death, this time without ignoring Side kick rules misplay, when we remembered the Stormclad had Sprint and could move up, which it did. Minor aggravation.
Plan is to move Gorten to the far end of my flag, feat push everything four inches toward the Cygnar deployment. I'll only get the nearest three jacks, but it'll put the Stormclad in perfect slam distance to get the Basher throwing down Jakes. With an Eiryss Disruption shot, even if I can't find the attacks to kill things will be pretty slinky.
I drop the wall (Ingeniously I left Sylyss out of upkeep range. Good thing I needed to get rid of the wall anyway).
First off, the Gunners move up to make room for Gorten. They each have a slim line of sight to Jakes, so they take pot shots, shes camping one.

She dies.

Huh.

So much for that plan. Accidental glory!

Game 57 - Fiona1 vs Skaverous1

Employing some Neck Like A Toilet(© Hungerford Productions) principles, I rejigged my Fiona list to give her another chance.

Fiona1 - 2x Mules, Sylyss, 2x Steelhead Halberdiers, Alexia1 + Risen, 2x Eliminators, Commodore Cannon, Eiryss1, Piper, Orin, Acosta
Objective: Bunker

The issue I've generally had is Fiona gets up, does well, then dies on her feat turn anyway. Typically this is from either guns that are from outside her control area or channeled spell assassination.
Theory being that against a gun list I can stab myself in the thigh with a Steelhead model, because THAT IS NOT WHEN YOU DROP FIONA. I guess she could also hide behind the Mules.
Against magic kills the Risen can form a Spellward barrier (like one of those join hands for the good of the world/trees protest things, but for an evil lady with a moral compass on the wrong side of the neutral point).

There's also a nifty assassination run deal Robane show cased,of popping up a Risen, get it slammed by the Commodore using Nonokian then using other attacks to finish off the knocked down chump, though that wasn't my primary intent with the combo.

The Steelheads functionally take the place of the Nyss, which really was just me being Affliction greedy and taking a list with far to many expensive/fragile pieces.

I'm still not sold on the battlegroup, but barring new releases I doubt there'll ever be a Fiona specific bunch of Jacks I'll be happy with.

Managed to get in for an early game, went into Rusaine, challenged into a rematch with the list that pantsed my awful Mags2 all the lessers junk.

Skaverous1 - Barathrum, 2x Bitey Nodes, Withershadow Combine, Satyxis Raiders + UA, 2x Machine Spirits, Wrongeye + Snapjaw, Necrotech, Croes Cut-throats
Objective: Fuel Cache

Scenario rolled up is the baseball diamond (Extraction). Principle difference in sides is one gives a hill, one gives a wall.

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Cryx 1: I win the roll, take the side with the hill. I fully expect to feat bottom of 1, I'd rather have the opportunity to score first and have the extra avenue of finishing up ahead.
Barathrum gets Death Ward, lurches up on the right, Croes spread out in a wide Skirmish bracket.
Statistics Raiders hang around behind that front rank with the Crocs and other support bits. Skavy is no where near the action, per the usual.

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Merc 1: Fiona feats, puts Telgesh on a Kayazy and Nonokian on the Commodore, then moves up next to the objective.
Risen then created a couple lines in front of her, Alexia hanging back. The Eliminators and Steelheads run up and spread out, hoping to inflict maximum annoyance.
Piper puts concealment on the Risen, which feels so wrong, but with the hill means aiming Croes auto miss them under feat. Tough a model who is there to block line of sight doesn't help.
The Commodore slams Barathrum for a mighty inch, which was annoying. Does eleven damage, so that was nice.
Eiryss could disrupt Barathrum or kill the Machine Wraith, I forego both of these appealing options to take the saner approach of hitting the Bitey Node on the right, after a careful rulebook check that it does in fact stop it channeling.
Orin sidles up to be in Arcane Vortex range of Fiona.

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Cryx 2: There's a lot of measurement and weighing up the odds, enough that the assassination attempt becomes the only option or I'll win the grind out on clock anyway.
Gorman moves up, throws an auto missing Corrosion bomb to pop a couple Risen. Fiona is still blocked, but the opening line is definitely less happy looking.
A Machine Wraith then runs to the now cleared up spot, ready to receive a Feast of Worms to clear line of sight to Fiona. The plan after that is to TK Fiona forward, then have Croe's pop shots in and kill her.
Due to one arc node being disrupted (Target selection choices for the win) the other needs to get to a particular spot to get in TK range of Fiona. This involves killing an elimiantor and steelhead that are engaging a Croe. The Croes have to activate last, so the Satyxis tries to move in and kill the Croe, opening up other ranged attacks to kill the blocking halberdier while Snapjaw slams a model to kill the Eliminator.
Fiona's feat causes the pair of Statistics Raiders to fail to kill the Croe. There's some futzing around, then Remo concedes.


An early game end, but means I'll get some more war dollies in, so that's something.


Rolled out the assassination set up, Fiona does indeed end up getting TKed to be shot by Croes. Didn't roll the Croes out, though I don't hate my odds (aiming with backstrike, 7's to hit, two dice at -4, camping 3, at most 6 shots doing that, maybe two more unaimed, Croe himself is tussled up with an Eliminator).

[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvtV3xjZF6hi7r-Z2o0Kx5h5HrLUclA17TUUVwj4JTr8rTbWT9qBjrMD94bvOE8Niuhd3tYkR-bWDul2gKEvYRmDfsb6dAsCthFNEOw8vAHs7xR5C9A_K6YG8BigFC4iut64GJw7_VioQ/s1600/006+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Me on the right.


Happier with this version of Fiona thus far, limited though the experience was. Actually nice to play some infantry swarmness. Usual battlegroup bemoaning here.

Game 56 - Gorten1 vs Ossrum 1 50pt Journey onwards

Last minute journeymans,well behind in the 50 point games played alas.

Still this nonsense:

Gorten1 - Basher, Driller, 3x Gunner, Blaster, Sylyss, Dahlia w/Skarath, Eiryss1, Orin1, Taryn1

Going into some Dwarves piloted by Niallus, whomaintains faith witht eh Dwarven nation in a way I'm to lazy to do.

Ossrum1 - Basher, Driller, 2x Blaster, 2x Gunner,  Hammer dorfs, TAC, Herne + Jonne, Ogrun Bokur (Ossrum is client)

Scenario these days is the pit, table basically defined by forests on the outer edges of the fight area with a trench and wall in the zone.

I go second and pick the side with a trench, in hindsight this was the wrong call, particualrly given the way the wall messes with the Dwarf Heavies melee weapon ranges.

Ossrum significantly out threats me, as well as his jacks being immune to my feat shenanigans. I'm more likely to be assassinated than vice versa, it'll be all about how the feat trade goes.

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Round 1: Dwarfs run at each other.
I charge Gorten up and hide him behind the Gunner wall, alongside Eiryss who disrupts the opposing Basher who is leading the charge.
Taryn runs out far left, the Snake goes out right. Dahlia has the unenviable position of needing to be more than 22 inches away from the Gun Bunnies to be safe, shes so far back that the photo doesn't capture her.

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Ossrum 2: Ossrum moves up, Energizers, feats, the assassination attempt goes in.
The Basher goes to Slam the Gunner into Gorten, misses that glorious defence 12. A Gunner and Blaster move up, the spray kills Eiryss, Gorten burns his focus camp. Herne then does a shot at Gorten, doing another five damage.

That's it for the assassination run, I wasn't particularly worried. Even if the Slam lands the disruption stops the Basher from moving and doing attacks, which is what was needed for the run to be credible.
Still poor positioning on my chart, there was no reason for Gorten to charge bottom of 1, he could have just walked and been in range to get to the flag in my next turn. Oh well.

The Driller and Bokur stay behind the wall, the TAC advance out left and head toward Taryn. They cloud up. On the right the Hammer Dwarves, with a Gunner/Blaster behind, run up to the forest, staying shy of Counterblast range on Skarath.

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Gorten 2: I'm going to have to Counterfeat, it won't be very impressive.
On the right, Dahlia runs up to be hiding from most of the guns with the right side forest and get the Hammer leader in Haunting Melody range. The Snake back pedals to be out of range of their walk and swing range, sprays to corrode four of them. The Blaster has a go as well, though fails to break armour.
Centre wise, the Basher runs back behind Gorten to get out of the way, allowing the Drillerto charge the opposing Basher and kill it to the box. The Gunners then huddle around and do some shots, taking out the movement of one of the opposing bunnies. Taryn aims and pops a pair of TAC.

Good enough recovery, even with Energiser the Driller can't get to me and the Hammer Dwarves are essentially wasted space against the Elf and Snake combo.

Gorten goes to 1 CP.

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Ossrum 3: Corrosion does its job, all four corroded Hamerererers melt Wicked Witch style.
The Ogrun Bokur runs forward, every gun in the list shoots my Driller. The rolls are appalling, he loses a chunk of armour points but has no issues. The Hammer Dwarves move up in general and are dismayed.

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Gorten 3: Push the advantage time, I want to polish off the Bunnies in front of my and pop the enemy Driller.
The Gun Bunnies struggle to remove one, so Taryn shoes them how it's done and kill the Bunny blovking my Driller, who goes in and easily polishes off his evil twin.
The Basher slams the Bunny in front of him and misses. Apparently that's how Bashers slam these days. He buys an attack, but rolls badly.
On the right the Snake sprays more hammer dwarves and otherwise lives the dream. Dahlia goes into the forest.
Orin walks up, lightnings Herne and Jonne, puts the Ogrun on 3 boxes and the Dwarf on 1. Imph.
The Bashers failure means Gorten can't score, so he falls back into the forest.

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Ossrum 4: The TAC advances, hits Gorten with boxcars to set him on fire. Blergh.
Herne and Jonne shoots Gorten, a focus point renders that null.
The Driller gets charged by the Bokur, then Ossrum kills it. Ossrum then Energises back.
The last Hammer Dwarf goes into Skarath, hits him for some damage.
A Gun Bunny shoots Orin, hits, then embarrassingly fails to kill him. Can't keep a good 60 year old Inquisitor down....

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Gorten 4: Keep removing pieces!
Blaster pops the last Hammer Dwarf, Skarath then charges and eats the Bokur. 
Orin moves up, finishes off Herne and Jonne.
The Gunners and Basher finish off the contesting Gunner at last, Taryn pops the final TAC.
Gorten heals for a couple, advances to my flag.

Gorten goes to 2.

[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2qOkXR6xlToNCuIsM7ahsgGVTNFLK-xgREA6UH02NlMCkZwhZX0f24wL7N1QzSjOxjz301SP0E5yISQm8OPifNVVINr4uCczID9Tet3wpgIjiPBb-8K_q22ETEVnJb5yS6PaV53kdXFI/s1600/012+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Round 5: The opposing Bunnies fail to kill Dahlia, Ossrum uses Strangle hold on Skarath.
At the end of Ossrums turn I go to 3, then use all my guns to finish off the Bunny contesting the zone to run Gorten in and get the final CP's.


Ossrums feat is so much more interesting to play into then use. That's probably just me though.

Assassination goal never happened, giving that wall away was the height of foolishness.
Orin Lightning was amusing, as was Taryn pew pewing things, though neither was sufficiently amazing at this point to warrant going full time with Gorten.

Struggling with my next Journeyman list inclusions starting tomorrow, I suspect my interest in Journeymanship has probably run its course. If I'm going to play near 75 points level lists, I'd rather use my normal stuff then work with the Journeyman constraints. I expect newer players will want to keep going so I'll keep the models on hand, but for now I'm more invested in getting back to the normal game limits.

There is also a lols Legion list I'm contemplating (Rhyas + tentacle monsters), might start working toward that.

Game 55 - Gorten1 vs Syntherion1 50pt Journeys

Sickness alas caused me to miss the opening week's usual rounds of punchbuggies, so we instead travel to the more recent present for a another There and Back Again deal.


And......I've flipped to Gorten. Cause I suck.

For a long time I avoided Ossrum in Mk2. There were a number reasons put forward, such as a general loathing for most Rhulic/Ogrun models rules, inability to make a satisfactory list, that sort of thing. Most likely the actual reason is my snowflakenesss can't handle that Robekaar, the other regular Merc Player, enjoys him and plays him reasonable regularity.

Now that I've played him a bunch, I can happily conclude a valid reason with table time.
I find him as boring and pointless as non-Quicksilver characters in X-men Apocalypse.

He's good, don't get me wrong. Snipe is always great, Energiser and feat really counters the traditional plodding nature of his race (species?) and their stubby legs. Fire For Effect has uses. Bullet Dodger makes him die a lot less when you don't screw it up. Stranglehold is a great gamble.

Doesn't keep me awake in my turns during games.


Ergo, I last minute flipped from Ossrum to Gorten in this, our glorious fourth week of pushing Journeymen's together. Internally, I've dressed this up a an experiment in going for assassinations over other win conditions and to see what models are worth finagling in my regular list.


I now own a pair of Drillers, with the current intent to cycle one into the regular 75 pter (At present it's Gorten w/2x Basher, 3x Gunner, 2x Blaster, Tinker, Acosta, 2x Eliminators, Wrongeye w/Snapjaw, Rorsh w/Brine).
Plan is to drop a Basher/Tinker, add one Driller. Theory is that with Strength of Granite it'll threaten opposing colossals. Won't necessarily kill them, but that fits with my current Gorten play anyway. That leaves me with a free point, so in theory I can drop a Blaster and can pick up some other bits and pieces (everything else in the list has clicked so well I can't really contemplate changing them).

Journeyman goals:
1 - Look for and attempt assassinations
2 - Weigh up if one Blaster is sufficient against 20 off infantry lists
3 - Test the viability of Eiryss1, Taryn1 and Orin1


Right, onto the Batrep that is the supposed point of the thread nowadays!


My list ends up as:
Gorten1 - Basher, Driller, 3x Gunner, Blaster, Sylyss, Dahlia w/Skarath, Eiryss1, Orin1, Taryn1

Additions are one Gunner (I find three to be the sweet spot), Taryn (Was Kell for a while, then the "Go for assassination" goal cropped up) and Dahlia/Skarath because I love them, have an addiction to Lesser Warlocks and lent the others out to stop me consistently putting them in lists.


It's into the Chriseth, arising from his Palanquin to scatter some clockwork disguised by a nasty Art Deco aesthetic.

Syntherion1 - Corollary, Diffuser, Galvanizer, Modulator, Cipher, 2x Monitor, ODO? (Whatever the solo arc node guys name acronym is)

I find this interesting in that he's taken all the heavy Vectors that I looked at and think are garbage (Well, weakest in their respective types). I see the logic of the choices with Syntherion, it's most certainly playable, you just wouldn't see me doing the same (Monitor/Modulator specific, I'm down with the Cipher).

Scenario these days is flipped to The Pit, table set up by Haidexeris which appeals to my spirit animal. Key points are one side has a wall near the flag, a forest in its side of the zone and a hill, countered by the other side having a lot of water with a particular piece in the zone and a forest placed inconsequentially near the flag (Barring flanking ploys, unlikely with our battlegroup heavy lists).

I win the roll, pick second and the good side (the one without water). Gorten can add his own wall around the friendly flag to bunker up, the forest can be negotiated by Dahlia and Syntherion only has his feat for pathfinder (Bemused note about floating things not having flight/pathfinder here).


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CoC 1: Convergence run up, the Monitors are out on a flank each, Cipher is the central anchor, lights are to the left, Modulator to the right. Syntherion is pretty much back in the centre line rather than placed to score off the CoC flag.


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Merc 1: Right off the bat the assassination planning isn't happening. Had Syntherion been placed to obviously go for the friendly flag score, then Gorten deploys opposite with Eiryss, Snake and Driller going up the foresty guts to ensure there isn't a safe placement in the zone.
Instead, Chriseda has placed Syntherion central, which gives him easy leeway to say in the kill box and edge off to the left if needed.
The net result is I've gone for the scenario push deploy and move out, Gorten lines up to get to my Friendly flag, a line of Gunners shielding him. The Spray Bunny goes far right, ready to be a disposal piece for contesting. Driller/Snake move up behind the forest. I didn't really have a location I wanted to put the Basher, the forest constraining his useful a bit to much in the matchup, so he hangs a bit further back prepped to replace the Sprayer on Contesting duties later in the game.
Orin runs to be in Arcane Vortex range of my heavies and the Gunners, in the event the ODO runs up to flick out a Magnetic Hold, which once in place I can't get rid of.
Taryn and Eiryss hide behind the metal wall.

[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg09BpcWt2w13f-92w1LDYiu9e2a2nR0Ac5OfV4x_fm-Ol-iukbgYJAkbdNgsoCmhI-FegoO2jHuxZZYZkB9V9IjYeGPG1F72ItlnPzM6OB6N3GUrdJh9VIJcfVfwgd2UF91ZvHmkfaDjk/s1600/076+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
CoC 2: I'm not in the Vector's threat ranges for the most part, so generally everything advances up. The left most Monitor shoots the Driller, doing 5 points to column 3 (Noteworthy in that usually that sort of detail flees my mind, leaving a disproportionate amount of notes that end up being "Takes lots/little/preferential/unknown amount of hurtyness").
The Modulator moves up, pings the Spray Bunny, does 9 points. Being an amazing Rhulic jack with a nonsensical point cost and optimal grid lay out, it retains all systems.
The Galvanizer moves way up on the right side of the zone, the Cipher stumbles up last and throws down some out of range difficult terrain that scatters to locations that are sadly pretty useless.

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Merc 2: In theory I could throw Gorten, drag in Syntherion and try to kill him. I cower out, last time I tried that Syntherions natural hardness proved a step beyond what the Gunners could do and the Snake will have issues getting into melee with the Heavy Vectors blocking the path.
Go for assassinations plan is a failure, not helped by the fact Gorten loves this scenario like a toddler loves their raggedy teddy bear, which is doomed to be abandoned in later life and stare at them from the shelf with lifeless, glassy eyes as they grow older and move onto drugs.
Um....anyway....
It's fairly simple, start the scoring train, bunker up Gorten. I don't need to throw the Spray jack away this turn, though he's not liable to survive another round anyway. POW 10 is wowing anyone this match anyway.
The Bunnies and Gorten form a wall up around the flag, using their handcannons and some sweetastic rolling to demolish the Diffuser. The dice were hot, but doing the math the only uncertain part is Gorten's shot, if he hits then on average a light CoC Vector dies. He missed this round, but that's not the point!
Gorten plonks a wall up in front of the Gunners.
Around the same location, I run the Basher past my other Heavies and leave it flapping in the breeze. He's the most expendable heavy, I'd rather get rid of him and prevent further shots on the Driller, which sidles up behind him (Yes, its still a Juggernaught, should be the last game unless I feel very lazy for the next couple days, so 50/50).
Dahlia puts Mistwalker on the snake and walks backward, Skarath then slides into the zone/forest and sprays down the ODO (Was hiding behind the Modulator). Also corrodes that auto repairing jack. Woo.
The spray bunny goes up on the right, pings the Galvanizer for a few points.
Last, Taryn runs way up the left as an annoyance piece, optimism being either the Corollary moves somewhere awkward or she shoots it up, allowing a sacrificial Gunner to finish it off.
Extra last, Eiryss sits behind the metal wall and regular wall, shoots the left most Monitor and disrupts it.
Extra extra last (Crikey, not doing well here) Orin moves into Arcane Vortex range of all my heavies.


Mercs go to 1CP.

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CoC 3: Syntherion tries to get to the CoC flag but is sadly short. He (it?) feats.
Cipher trundles up, throws out some Flare templates, the first hits both the Rhulic heavies, the next tries to land on the stealthy snake but scatters astray and hits the same Rhulic jacks again.
Right side Monitor charges and easy slaughters the Blaster, tries a shot on Orin (Damn you True sight!) but misses the boosted 9. This was some forwarning for the rest of the turn.
The world then mostly tries to kill the Basher, the Disrupted monitor moves up and pew pews him, the Galvanizer and Modulator both charge in which full focus stacks from Induction.
Basher survives, all systems active.
For some more salt the Modulator tries a pair of unboosted shots on Orin and misses both.


Mercs go to 2 CP.



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Merc 3: Well, the scenario game is looking pretty good versus the assassination which involves dice rolls so......
My plan is to clear off the models in my grill, mess up the Monitors activations and Basher slam the Cipher away, using Grand Slam to get well past the shallow water. Probably out of Gorten's control range, but given I'd given up the Basher for dead anything he does is a bonus.
The Driller, with Strength of Granite and a full focus load goes into the floaty heavy, only needs a single focus spend to dust it (Def 11 aye? That's....uh.....well, it's better than Skorne titans!)
The Gunners all aim and shoot the Galvanizer, they all land the boosted 8's to hit but roll poorly on damage, taking about half its health off.
I spend some tank time trying to line up Gorten's shot, each time having to slap myself upside the head regarding the Gunners blocking Line of sight.
The Snake needs to do other stuff, so the Basher gives up its Slam dreams for the greater good, walks in, with Flak Field and a boosted damage attack easily polishes off the light.
Dahlia moves, gives Mistwalker to Skarath, who slithers across, staying in the forest, to start jabbing at the right Monitor. I loath dice-3 for damage, like 7's to hit it's the painful part of the curve where I don't want to boost but risk enough low rolls to make it not work. I end up boosting damage and spend a Fury point shy of max so Dahlia can transfer if needed. I fall just shy off knocking off the right arm, not that auto repair makes that a meaningful distinction.
Orin ducks into the forest, Eiryss disrupts the left Monitor again, Taryn runs across in the back field.


Mercs go to 3 CP.



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CoC 4: The right Monitor tries the assassination, cops a Freestrike from Skarath for sod all damage, but can't get line of sight past the forest.


Chraanesh concedes, which is fair enough.


Well, I love Gorten and he's great, but this scenario is probably to good for him. Definitely not following Utilitarian practices with that move. Ironically it'd be better if we followed the Journeyman scenario for this time period, which negates the friendly flag scoring deal.


Trying to work out the Convergence options, they feel pretty bad. Overall the CoC heavies are better than mine, but my tool pieces, Eiryss in particular, allow me to slow up what I need to. Disliking the CoC heavies here, I tried throwing together my own CoC journeyman lists briefly, that 10 point week is a killer if you want good games that week. It's a junky light, Corrolary or Modulator, if you take into account it didn't need to be battlegroup for this journeyman iteration then you still have Syntherion who does sod all if you aren't a Vector. Ick.


Obviously the assassination gameplay didn't happen, so nothing useful to emerge from that one.
Eiryss1 - Was excellent. Effectively stopped a heavy being meaningful every combat turn of the game, forced Syntherion to leg it as well which Eiryss2 would not have done.
Orin1/Taryn1 - Both nice, but didn't get up to much this game. Once the arc node is popped, which happened ASAP, I'm content for Syntherion to advance for Magnetic Hold as he'll then be brutally killed.


More games required!

Game 54 - Ossrum1 vs Maddox1 25pt There and Back Again

Nabbed a quick Frodo-ism, last day before we swap from 25pts to 50.

It remains:

Ossrum1 - Driller, Basher, 2x Gunners, Blaster, Orin, EIryss1, Sylyss Wyshnearnadfar

Its a rematch into Grand Ali with the most vile of the Warmachine factions:

Maddox1 - Ironclad, Firefly, Lancer, Jakes1 + Minuteman, Min Stormlancers

Take and Hold for the final time (I think we're swapping to The Pit for the next couple weeks). One flank of the table has a couple forests, then the middle of the table is dominated one side having a hill/trench combo versus Obstruction/Rough Terrain.

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Deployment: I win the roll, select mighty first, get the side with a rock rather than a hill.

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Merc 1: Energize, advance!
Bullet Dodger on Ossrum, Snipe on Eiryss, everything runs up. Basher end up the most forward next to the Rock.
Yeah yeah, Driller is still a Juggernaught model.

[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTqeQ8ngDb2SwdO4kLZrRtWeKNt9t1m6er9ESRvoRgv3Q4A3pxZPXVTQEJkckMPcLHk2R5HF97rXkgG7B9T6oLGNtsdrLD-GXR4sDh-o7TBzZCfqvyjSG1XWv_tFisWLolDdkSJ96Npx8/s1600/003+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Cygnar 1: Maddox and Jake spend their mojo on buffs, Storm Lancers duck around the forest, the Jacks all start legging it toward the hill.

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Merc 2: I have an assassination lined up and the last time we slogged it out my lower hitting power saw the odds plunge, so lets go with the slammy shooty murder time.
Ossrum feats, Energizer, falls back a bit in fear.
Basher then slams the Minuteman, lands the 10 to hit (Had Jakes' def buff), knocks him over Jakes and Maddox. Follows up, Flak Field kills Jackes. I didn't really go all in on the assassination, as I loaded up the Driller to kill the Stormlancers as my back up plan. Oh well.
Eiryss shoots Maddox, then the Gunners advance, hot dice leave Maddox in the ground.

Well, that happened. Doubt that'll ever work again.

Game 53 - Ossrum1 vs Kozlov1 25pt Journeymans

That epic out of the way, fit in a nice, short, enjoyable Journeyman. Well, it was enjoyable anyway.

Glorious 25 points, with the list I strongly regret failing my will save against waaaaaaay to many support pieces.

Ossrum1 - Driller, Basher, 2x Gunners, Blaster, Sylys Wyshlanyrr, Orin Midwinter, Eiryss1

Its worked thus far, but each game has been a very real struggle with some considerable luck on my part.

Into either the Greatest or the Great Spring, I know only the short iteration. Must mean Gre.

Kozlov1 (urk) - Demolisher, Juggernaught, Drakhun, Uhlans (Min), Mechaniks

This Journeyman sure loves Khador around here this time. Damnable snow blows.

Their was a pre-set up table, so we lazily swirled over to it and put down the dollies.

Take and Hold obviously, because that's how we roll (I think next week it becomes The Pit?).

Table is defined by some mean forests, one side gets a hut obstruction that's in the way, the other gets a nice wall that covers a safety corner of the killbox.


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Deployments: I won the roll and got glorious first, thus leading to possessing the inglorious table side. The handy thing about a list of solos and jacks is that the awkward terrain is still navigable.
I still have a Juggernaught repping my Driller because I suck (it'll show up at the store one day!). Across the way the Mechaniks are mostly Rocketeer models, though at first I mistook a joke for a....questionable...rules ruling.
My stuff is just a block across from the one gap that'll let me get to the middle of the board.
Opposing us the Uhlans are on the left, everything else on the right.


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Merc 1: Checking my mental notes, there was a giant hovering billboard things with an attached subwoofer playing dramatic themes. It read "OSSRUM DIES. BULLETDODGER HIM."
So I did that. I Snipe Eiryss, Energizer, everything moves up. Ossrum ends up slogging through the forest Eiryss hangs with the jack (Range 16, don't really need her to move up very far).
Orin runs way to the left, if Avalancher starts being relevant he can run back and we'll see if the Uhlans move to a bad spot to threaten him.


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Khador 1: Zero bait is taken. Genuinely none of it.
The Uhlans move to be shy of Gun Bunny range, Drakhun goes out right in range to threaten Eiryss, jacks, Kozlov and mechaniks move up at maximum speed (So....slowly) to get between the wall and opposing hut. Kozlov throws out all the upkeeps.


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Merc 2: Maintain hold pattern!
Eiryss shuffles across, disrupts the Demolisher. She then gets a wall of Jacks around her, placement intended to allow Energizer moves into the forest then charge through with Ossrum feat pathfinder (The Blood Runner Manoeuvre).
Ossrum hangs back, Orin moves up on the far left again and does stealth out of habit.


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Khador 2: Photographic evidence of a vile attempt to hide Kozlov. He's behind the wall behind the hand.
The Uhlans trot up to be near the khadoran flag, Drakhun runs to be next to the Merc hut. the Demolisher hangs with Koslov, mechaniks behind him. The Juggernaughts runs up and to the right, ending up exactly where the Drakhun was.


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Merc 3: Plan is to control the Jugger with a Disrupt, deal with all the cavalry and throw the Basher away as a distraction effort as I score a point, opening moves with the intent to get a scenario win given how far Khador has held back.
I load up the Basher and keep the spells going.
Ossrum feats, Energizes. It takes all three handcannon or equivalent shots in the list to kill the centre Uhlan, the Spray Bunny then has a go without the Wall of Steel buff and does nothing, Orin lightning's him in the back in retribution. he manages to roll boxcars to do a point to the Bunny, then hurts but fails to kill either Uhlan. The scoring plan  is off the table and Uhlans will be in my grill.
Eiryss gets things slightly back on the rails by hitting the mighty Defence 9 Jugger with a Disrupt bolt.
Driller walks over and dismounts the Drakhun.
Lastly, the Basher slams the Demolisher, killing a couple Mechanics. He then follows up, takes a glancing freestrike from Koslov. he buys and boosts attacks, knocks off the Cortex and Right arm. So that was nice.


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Khador 3: Uhlans charge a Gunner, take away it's Head system, then reposition back.
The Disrupted Jugger walks into the open.
Koslov puts Fury on himself, turns around and stabs the Basher , stripping most of the boxes. Demolisher also has a go, stabbing with its Gimpy arm. basher lives with three boxes and just the Movement system going.
Drakhun charges the Driller and embarrasses himself.


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Merc 4: Kozlov has no focus, Fury and is showing his back to me. Wing him and see what happens?
Eiryss aims, shoots. A high dice roll ameliorates my mid roll realisation that the Basher was alive and therefore giving Kozlov the combat defence bonus.
I only have a couple shoddy Handguns, that's not killing Kozlov even with no camp. The upkeeps and stuff will go away and the jacks won't be gaining focus, so should be fine?
Orin kills the Uhlans amazingly, then all three Bunnies fail to kill the remaining mechanic. Yay bellcurve.
Ossrum legs it to the Khadoran flag.
Driller pops the dismounted Drakhun in the face and mulches him.

Mercs go to 2 CP.

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Khador 4: Mechanic repairs the Demolisher's arm and Cortex, between it and Koslov the Basher dies.
Juggernaught runs to contest the Khador flag and stop the auto loss. Foiled!
The Khador position looks a lot better when I stare at the photo and forget the Jugger on the Merc flag is my Driller.


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Round 5: Missed the Merc turn photo. This game was loooooong.
In my turn Eiryss missed Koslov. Had my head been attached I would have done a combi slam/Unstoppable force with a Bunny to get the Demolisher away and go to 4 CP.
Instead, when Eiryss missed the Bunnies killed the remaining Mechanik and failed to hurt the Demolisher, so Ossrum ran back toward my table edge.

In reploy, Koslov charged up, I think this is when he popped his feat? Might have been earlier. Nobody knows.
Regardless, he kills the Driller. The Demolisher crunches the Spray Bunny to dust.
The Jugger tries to engage Eiryss but falls short.


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Round 6: Alright, time to kill Koslov! This is a round picture rather than a turn by turn, so you already know this failed!
Anyway, he's sitting there with no focus. Eiryss shoots him with a Disrupt bolt just to be sure. Gun Bunnies move up and do a tiny bit.
Ossrum gets Arcane Assisted, aims, shoots, does sod all. I then do a stranglehold, do six points.
Obviously he lives, Ossrum is next to a Juggernaught...

Kozlov doesn't gain focus, so I have a chance! He's confoudned by Stranglehold (That B-man had to remind us about. I completely forgot Stranglehold had text beyond "Not high enough POW to do what you want right now"), so moves up and engages Eiryss.
The Jugger moves up to Ossrum, misses, I dodge and live! Sweet sweet life! Demolisher is far enough away that it settles for shooting and killing the damaged Gun Bunny.

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Merc 7: Third time's the charm!
Eiryss, for the sake of novelty and the 2 minutes 13 seconds we spent mocking her melee weapons, walks in and.....well, she hit.
Orin then walks around the Juggernaught, to my horror the first time in Mk3 when I spend his power tokens is boosting melee attacks on my last ditch assassination. Misses the first swing, second connects but is an amazing P+S of 9 so does nothing.
Tiring of this debacle, Ossrum charges Koslov. I boost the to hit, land the crit decap and removes the Khadorans head.

I regret many many many things.