Game 195 - OTC Round 6 Semifinal - Gorten1 vs Ossrum1

Alright, semi finals time into NSW Asian Dad!

I grids into this were better than into team Try Hard, though with a slight higher degree of extreme matchups (i..e more bad and great versus mostly average with hard).
Ended up into Batesinator (The one who can walk at this point in Aussie Warmachine history), running Rhulic Mercs.
I'd rated this a tentative yellow, in hindsight I'd call that willful optimism. Wouldn't call it bad enough to not be in the yellow band, but the players involved make an enormous difference (Which I guess is a lame open ended statement about all Warmachine games, but sod off).

Scenario is extraction, tables are not Thexus friendly. Did have an awkward moment, in that our table number changed between having a look at them and where we ended up, so that was unfortunate but ultimately didn't matter. I'd genuinely prefer to drop Thexus versus Ossrum or have a Gorten off (Thexus loses loads of dudes to Ossrum, but that isn't how he wins that game anyway so it doesn't matter).

Ends up being what I expected:

Objective: Bunker
(Gorten 1) Gorten Grundback [+31]
- Ghordson Driller [10]
- Ghordson Driller [10]
- Grundback Blaster [6]
- Grundback Blaster [6]
- Grundback Gunner [6]
- Grundback Gunner [6]
Gobber Tinker [2]
Ragman [4]
Rorsh [15]
Savio Montero Acosta [6]
Wrong Eye [17]
Kayazy Eliminators [5]
Kayazy Eliminators [5]
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt [8]


Theme: Hammer Strike
Armory - Steamroller Objective
General Ossrum - WJ: +28
-    Wroughthammer Rockram - PC: 14 (Battlegroup Points Used: 14)
-    Wroughthammer Rockram - PC: 14 (Battlegroup Points Used: 14)
-    Grundback Gunner - PC: 6
-    Grundback Gunner - PC: 6
-    Grundback Gunner - PC: 6
-    Grundback Gunner - PC: 6
-    Grundback Gunner - PC: 6
Ogrun Bokur - PC: 0
Thor Steinhammer - PC: 4
Horgenhold Forge Guard - Leader & 5 Grunts: 10
Horgenhold Forge Guard - Leader & 5 Grunts: 10
Horgenhold Forge Guard - Leader & 5 Grunts: 10
Horgenhold Artillery Corps - Gunner & 2 Grunts: 0
Horgenhold Artillery Corps - Gunner & 2 Grunts: 6
Herne & Jonne - Herne & Jonne: 5

I've played a lot of Gorten, and against Ossrum a number of times, but weirdly enough not the actual matchup. In my viewpoint it essentially comes down to whoever feats first falls behind and loses, pending other screw ups.

Die roll happens, I lose it and get to pick table side. I end up with the side with a hill in front of my objective, otherwise the left flag is slathered in rubble and there's an opposing couple terrain blobs. All these weird mini-oval terrain bits that I don't really care for, ended up with one of them as water and the others as rough terrain.

I do resent that a big part of the matchup process involves selecting tables, but that tables aren't pre-designated, would clean up the process a great deal and make it actually work. As far as I know there were no unfun moments from it, would just be nice. Quality of life and all that (Like how instances of but rubbing in games was down this year being an excellent improvement).


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Round 1: Ossrum junk all advances up, reasonably spread out with the Artillery Corp on the left and Hernne/Jonne on the right.
Hernne does a super long range shot, courtesy of Artillerist re-rolls lands a blast on top of an Eliminator unit, killing one and injuring another. Well, balls, that's a bad start.
One of the arty units gets Fire for effect.

I push everything up as a central blob, with Ninja pig running to the left and Crocs to the right. This is an early error influenced by the irrelevant tiny patch of water terrain, the Pigs are on the side of the Arty which is decidedly unhealthy for them.
Gorten puts up a wall and Solid Ground, essentially I'm making a push for the hill hoping to stack it with the wall to make Ossrum want to feat. Yay optimism?



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Ossrum 2: Dwarfs push up around the left flag, while the right has some Hammer Dorf dancing as they hang around it threatening the Ossrum feat charge to murder something I love.
The Rockrams move up as the front pieces, cause....you know.....Rockrams....
Gunners on the left and the artillery have no problems exploding Brine. Sadness.
A few other Gunner shots puts a light scratch on a Driller and about half the health of the Blaster that lacks wall protection.


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Gorten 2: Nothings touching the flags, so no need to waste pieces contesting this turn. I do experience a brief moment of Ennui, the sad regret of Rhulic jacks having Sturdy giving me an overdue comeuppance of a headache.
The wall shifts forward, Gorten and jacks stutter forward. Aiyanna harms the right Rockram, it gets shot up a fair bit but alas, lives on. Cortex is out, so at least there's some kind of effect to its activation after Thor heals it up. More to the point, by eyeball it looks like Thor would need a feat movement boost to get to it before an activation, then it can come in and swing, so hopefully that'll be part of the motivating factor for Ossrum to feat next turn which I dearly want.
Aiyanna and one Eliminator are in visible position to potentially be attacked, which will trigger Acosta's Vengeance so he can get a charge on something big next round.
Rorsh optimistically runs up on the left, he's tough praying for Feign death now. Crocs hang back from Ossrum feated Hammer Dorfs pushing their faces in.


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Ossrum 3:Left flank Gunner shots kill Rorsh. Alas poor piggy.
Cycling Fire for Effect Artillery shots ding some of the jacks, another Gunner creeps forward and explodes Aiyanna.
The healthy Rockram sits on the left flag, the damaged one falls back and gets repaired by Thor.
Unit of Hammerforge claim the right flag, most hang back and continue the threat dance on the crocs. Meanies.
A pair of Hammers come forward and finish off the damaged Blaster.

Ossrum goes to 2 CP.


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Gorten 3: Well, this ain't good. I've thrown away a Lesser lock and am not threatening near enough. I'm going to have to feat and hope this grinds out hard enough for a win condition to emerge for me. 

Acosta Vengeances forward to be behind my Driller.
Gorten and jacks pile on the hill, he throws up a wall to stop the healthy Rockram getting in on my damaged Driller, who gets slightly shined up by the Tinker.
Gorten destroys the damaged Rockram with a Molten Metal, as it had 6 boxes left. I feat on the front line of stuff, not getting the backhalf which against Martial Discipline casters is.....eugh.
Red Kayazy kills the forward two Hammers and contests the right flag, while the behind the wall Driller contests the left.
The crocs fall back to be the late game pieces hopefully, as do the Green Eliminators.
I put the wall down before Acosta could charge the Healthy Rockram and try to be a pain in the amoeba. Sad! He runs up and engages, he's Dodge lucked his way to casters before....


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Ossrum 4: Drops featlike its hot, after the Bokur kills Acosta and Arty pings the Driller a bit more.
Rockram keeps on the left flag, a host of Hammer Dorfs come in, killing the left Driller and slamming the right one over my stuff, plus murdering the remaining blaster.
The contesting Eliminator dies to Herne and Jonne, who also take the right flag.
Ossrum stays at the back with Bullet Dodger on him behind a pair of Rhulic Bunnies.

 Ossrum goes to 4 CP.


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Gorten 4: Have to contest both flags and put things in the way of the objective. Only two of those? maybe. All three? Well, balls.

Eliminators go in and do some sweet anti Hammer dorf work, one sidesteps to contest the left flag. Driller hangs out in front of the objective. Gunners move up, one gets a pot shot at....I genuinely don't recall. There's a lot of Ossrum stuff out there.
The Crocs take the right, eating Hernne.
Gorten throws a shot and Molten Metals at the left Rockram, mucks him up but doesn't kill him.


Ossrum 5: It's a simple matter for Hammer Dorfs to pop a Gunner and a bunny to bulldoze the Eliminator away for the 5th CP on the left flag.


Sweet game, but a disappointing outing for me, too many points of sillyness on my end. My bad Piggie. Will have to pursue a future game of failure against PeB in the Timey Whimey land.


The team went down this round, we took equal 3rd with NZ Ghost (Playing a round to see who lost and came 4th versus starting the drive home wasn't super appealing), loads better than last years 2nd last placing. Drinking game was good first night, weak on everyone's behalf the second night.
Will hopefully get to go again, much as my 3-3 record wasn't inspiring (Lost a Green, otherwise it was a Green win and four yellow games).

Game 194 - OTC Rnd 5 - Thexus1 vs Stryker1

It's the dawn of a new day, and Gary Oldman must yell at Apes. Awful movie.

It's QLD Maroon, if we beat them then we'll both be the 3-2 teams in our pool and Bam, possibly beating up Billy May's we might be.

The scenario is the Pit, which is a bit of shame. I outright love Gorten on this scenario, but every single matchup in this team I preferred to play Thexus. Oh well. I get put into Skanky Anime, using Cygnar lists that are far enough off the beaten path that Thexus can play it as a Yellow matchup.

[Theme] Operating Theater
Objective: Bunker
(Thexus 1) Exulon Thexus [+29]
- Wrecker [14]
- Wrecker [14]
Cephalyx Agitator [3]
Cephalyx Agitator [3]
Alexia Ciannor & the Risen [10]
- Cephalyx Dominator [1]
Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges (max) [11]
Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges (max) [11]
Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max) [12]
Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max) [12]
Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max) [12]
Cephalyx Overlords [0(8)]
Cephalyx Overlords [0(8)]

Theme: Heavy Metal
Stockpile - Steamroller Objective
Commander Coleman Stryker - WJ: +30
-    Squire - PC: 0
-    Stormwall - PC: 39 (Battlegroup Points Used: 30)
-    Stormwall - PC: 39
-    Firefly - PC: 8
-    Firefly - PC: 8
Journeyman Warcaster - PC: 0
-    Charger - PC: 9
Captain Arlan Strangewayes - PC: 0
Archduke Alain Runewood, Lord of Fharin - PC: 0

I pick a table which is one of the few with space on the side for an army tray. I mean.....it has a forest for Thexus to hide behind....yeah......

The roll is made, I lose it. I then get thrown by the Swans correctly picking the side I wanted. Foiled!
I end up with a hill and a small obstruction, there's water in the zone with more mini obstructions on the flank and a forest well placed for the Swans. And an irrelevant hill.

Time to get our Zulu recreation on. I outnumber the Swans 6 to 1, not counting Zombie Recursion, however they are fairly safe from my feat and TK shenanigans and covering fire will do a lot of positioning work.
Weirdly enough the last time I had a go at tearing open Wagon Wheels packets we played Thexus with Monstrosity spam versus Stryker 2 with loads of infantry and jacks. How times change. 


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Merc 1: Were coming for you Michael Caine!
Dudes start running forward. Thexus hides behind the Wreckers. Overlords spread out on either side, that good old anti-leap placement. Alexia spawns a Thrall Warrior who runs up to the right edge of the zone, he'll die which is the point.


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Cygnar 1: Stryker puts Snipe on Junior's Charger and Arcane Shield on one of the Stormwalls. Junior Arcane Shields the other.
The Colossals advance, take pot shots and put down a wall of Covering Fire.
Fireflys run up on the left, the Charger goes up and also does the early game pew pew.
Squire and Strangeways hang out in metallic Gluteus Maximus regions.
Runewood starts going all commando, heads out on his lonesome toward the right side.
Overall I lost a couple of the front line Drudges and the suicide Thrall Warrior.


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Merc 2: So......I'd actually forgotten Storm Walls had Covering Fire. Whoops. Fortunately it's not really an issue, TK and Adrenal movements get Drudges around them and they do negligible damage to Monstrosities. I'll have to swarm up, then it's just a matter of waiting out Strykers feat next turn. Unless he doesn't feat, in which it won't be much of a game.

Drudges advance up as far as they can, forming up into triangles for the sake of absorbing e-leaps.
Both Overlord units run up and spread around.
The Ambushers come in on the right into the Swan backfield, on the way they silence Runewoods Arndold Schwarzenegger impression by throwing a fishbowl over his head.
Alexia spawns a Thrall Warrior, who missiles up into a Firefly, I believe he misses.



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Cygnar 2: The Stormwalls, still both Arcane Shielded, advance into the zone and put down more Covering Fire. They shoot the big guns at the right Wrecker, messing him up a bit, he Hyper Aggressives a little bit forward.
The Firefly stabs and kills the Thrall, so mission success. The Charger and now freed up Firefly shoot down some Drudges.
Stryker feats and hugs the Stormwalls, Strangeways and the Squire with him.
Junior runs to the Cygnar board edge.


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Merc 3: No point futzing around with the Colossals this turn, I'll keep setting up for murdering Junior and try to scratch the lighter jacks. 

The run up both sides, the left ones going further than the right as the Ambushers have that ground covered.
Green Drudges run between the covering fire into the water.
Two of the Pink Drudges get Adrenalled, they charge up into one of the Fireflies, doing some damage. Alexia sends another Thrall missile into the same one, succeeds in knocking out the Cortex and right arm.
Thexus moves to be beside the cover, arcs a Hex Blast through the forward Wrecker to take out Strykers Arcane Shield. If he's putting that back up hes not doing other stuff. Said Wrecker then walks back to Sac Pawn range.
One Agitator runs behind the small obstruction on the right, as an optimistic Swan flag scorer if that opportunity opens up.


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Cygnar 3: The Charger and Junior desperately try to kill the left Overlord unit, they end up popping one and injuring another, it's far shot of what was hoped for.

The Stormwalls advance a short distance, they throw out more lightning pods, one of which clears out the two Drudges and Thrall that messed up one of the Fireflies. The Big Guns hammer the damaged Wrecker, putting him on minimal health. Only one Stormwall remembers to put down Covering Fire, I don't think it'll change much. Stryker puts Arcane Shield back up.
The Fireflies shoot some more dudes.


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Merc 4: I'm killing a colossal this turn, preferably I get Junior, otherwise I have to do a Hex Blast which I'd rather not. Otherwise it's keep Thexus safe and throw dudes around.

The pair of left Overlords go in, after a bunch of screwing around it's worked out I can't get a backstrike, so they just move up and Physic Assault. They successfully melt Junior's brains, the Charger shuts down.

The left Stormwall loses its Arcane Shield, so I send the healthy Wrecker in, he gets a free charge courtesy of the scatter of Stormpods in Thexus' command. He getsmost of the work done but doesn't kill it, per the math. The Pink Drudges get Adrenaled, they charge in and finish off the Stormwall while the Ceph unit leader goes into the damaged Firefly and does a chunk of damage.

Alexia spawns a Thrall Warrior, that missiles into the healthy Firefly and sadly misses.

The Green Drudges get Adrenalled as well, they charge the other Storm Wall for giggles, do some reasonable chip damage.

The Ambush Drudges run in from the back, two get a CMA on Strangeways but fail to take out all his boxes. 

Thexus moves behind the Obstruction, pops Deflection and Psycho Surgery. At this point I realise the healthy Firefly looks a bit to close, so I feat it to push it out of charge range. A weak feat, but not like I needed it for anything else.


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Cygnar 4: It's hail mary time!
Stryker puts Snipe on the Stormwall, moves up forward and Earthquakes down Thexus, his protection Wrecker and a few of the random models around them.

The damaged Firefly cops a Freestrike, it dies.
The other Firefly pings the Wrecker, zapping Thexus with a leap for some damage.
The last available attacks are from the Stormwall, starting with a Big Gun shot that pings to the Wrecker and leaves it on one box. It gets four little shots that go straight to Thexus, poor rolls see them do no relevant damage. The last big shot goes in, Sac Pawns to the Wrecker and blows it up.


Merc 5: Stryker gets surrounded by Adrenalled Drudges, presumably screams as the Fish Bowl descends.

Game 193 - OTC - Thexus1 vs Denny1 Ghost Fleet NSW Try Hards

Round 4, team is at a glorious 2 up 1 down, we win the next one and the odds of getting into the semi's cut are pretty good. It's NSW Try Hards, so....guess we hope they Try to Hard and have a communal aneurysm or something?

Our grids were somewhat.....garbage into this. Yellows and Oranges for days. Scenario is Entrenched, and I correctly guessed the matchup I would go into, though know one seemed that enthused to go into Fundges.

Pretty much every table on the set we had featured one side with a Thexus hidey hole option, so that didn't change anything.

[Theme] Operating Theater
Objective: Bunker
(Thexus 1) Exulon Thexus [+29]
- Wrecker [14]
- Wrecker [14]
Cephalyx Agitator [3]
Cephalyx Agitator [3]
Alexia Ciannor & the Risen [10]
- Cephalyx Dominator [1]
Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges (max) [11]
Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges (max) [11]
Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max) [12]
Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max) [12]
Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max) [12]
Cephalyx Overlords [0(8)]
Cephalyx Overlords [0(8)]

[Theme] The Ghost Fleet
Objective: Bunker
(Deneghra 1) Warwitch Deneghra [+28]
 - Deathripper [6]
 - Deathripper [6]
 - Deathripper [6]
 - Nightmare [18]
Captain Rengrave [0(5)]
Hellslinger Phantom [0(7)]
Pistol Wraith [0(5)]
Pistol Wraith [5]
Blackbane's Ghost Raiders (max) [17]
Revenant Crew of the Atramentous (min) [9]
 - Revenant Crew Rifleman (3) [6]
Revenant Crew of the Atramentous (min) [9]
 - Revenant Crew Rifleman (3) [6]
Revenant Crew of the Atramentous (min) [9]
 - Revenant Crew Rifleman (3) [6]

Sigh. Really? Someone bought the damn Hellslinger already? Bah. Bah I say!

I'm not super confident going in, as the limited test runs have featured Ghost Fleet eventually out attritioning me, as it kneecaps all my own recursion while having a mechanism that I struggle against. Stupid Deathbound. The version here is a little better for me I feel, as I dislike the concept of having to go against Wraith Engines, a thought I'll have to examine some other time.

I lose the roll, because Ghost Fleet and all. I take the side with a defensible forest in the centre of the board, also getting an a tiny obstruction of dubious merit and a hill.
There's a blob of water in the centre of the table and some other terrain bits that don't matter.


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Round 1: The undead come forward, a droob from each Revenant unit is so far back that they're out of shot. There's a left side slant in the formation, though not onerously so. Nightmare PRey's one of the Wreckers. Arc Nodes spread throughout. Blackbanes are out the front.

I run my own dudes forward, Thexus stays hidden in a central spot behind the forest and Wreckers. Overlords flank per the usual.


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Cryx 2: Let the long slog truly begin!
The Blackbanes apparition forward, then charge up, munching two Drudges and toughing another.
Everything else advances up the board, nothing outrageous happens.


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Merc 2: Easy enough planning at this stage. The Blackbanes have to die, otherwise a few charge Thexus on Denny's feat and bam, down the floaty chewed up Red Indian goes. Ambushers also will be appearing, there's an arcnode they can nab, which is nice if I somehow get attacks on the others at some point and get rid of a late run magic pew pew death scream attack on, again, the shrivelled bit of meat that tells the Drudges what to do. Ambushers can then try to get to the damn reserve pirates.

Between Alexia Dominating, spraying Benders and Drudges attacking the Corporeal ones the Blackbanes all pop.
The left most Overlords move up, two of them spray down the most extremely placed Pistol Wraith.
Ambushers go in, a pair of two Drudge CMA's go into the arcnode and botch it, one lot misses ergo it's left with it's movement and arcnode. Alas. The other ambushers are further up, waiting to go into the reserve Revenant smucks hopefully.
Thexus backs up a bit, I don't feel an especial need for him to be up the board at this point.


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Cryx 3: Denny toes her friendly zone and camps it up. Revenansts move around, they kill most of the Pink Slavers and one of the Ambushers. The Hellsligners eats a pair of the Ambush Drudges, the first of many.
Everything else just advances a short distance.

Cryx go to 1 CP.


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Merc 3: I plan out a rough assassination. Thexus can move forward, feat push models aside, then I can ADrenal the remaining pair of Pink Drudges, who can charge into Denny after the out of activation move. The distances aren't quite there alas, I can get one in but not both. In theory I could run a Wrecker over and TK the Drudge into distance, alas I genuinely didn't think of it at the time, it maths out at just shy of 50% assassination. Should have gone for it, my real problem here being besides clock I'm not pushing any win condition, Ghost Fleet attritions better and I'm poorly positioned on the scoring front, an error I fundamentally made in deployment.

Ambushers go forward and kill the left most Revenant crew flunky.
Left side Overlords do some good sprays.
Few remaining Pink Drudges contest the Cryx zone.
The right Overlords try to spray down Revenants and roll......poorly.....the Green Drudges actually have to go in and kills some Revenants to stop the Overlords being immediately killed next turn.


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Cryx 4: Revenants surge forward, the Riflemans pop more of the Ambush Drudges as does the Hellslinger, leaving them just a pair of smucks. They also kill one of the left Overlords and two on the right. Pink Drudges get reduced to just their Cephalyx unit leader, the Green fellas also get chomped on considerably.

Cryx go to 2 CP.


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Merc 4: I've got nothing. It's feat to try to claw something back time.

Thexus moves up behind the Wreckers, feat pushes everything together.
Benders and remaining Overlords do sprays, I wipe out the left Revenant crew. I awkwardly discover that Rengrave has Call to Sacrifice.
After some thinking, I curse my lack of play experience into Ghost Fleet, as after wasting some attacks Alexia goes up, uses her power to move Rengrave out of Call to Sac range and the Pink Cephalyx Slaver charges and kills him off.

The Green Drudges kill some more dudes on the right, the last Overlord on that flank does an average spray.

I forget completely to activate the pair of Ambush Drudges, oh well.


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Cryx 5: Denny moves up a little bit and feats, because she might as well.
Agitators get killed by Revenants, the Hellslinger finishes off the Ambush Drudges and sidesteps to shoot Green Drudges as well, having moved further this game off Sidesteps than his actual Movement score.
Pirates charge and eat my objective.
An Arc Node and Nightmare move to be in front of Denny.


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Merc 5/Cryx 6: I have to go fr a desperate Wrecker assassination.
Alexia stabs a Wrecker and fuels him up, Thexus ends up having to move forward and TK himself, TK the arc node and the Monstrosity forward. I screwed up and allocated one out, which ends up being fatal on the already low odds assassination run. The Wrecker goes in and tries to beat back to Denny, flubbs it then Nightmare kills the Wrecker and Hellslinger kills a contesting Drudge.

Looking at it hindsight, the game is far more winnable than my pessimism at the time was treating it, simply committed a classic flaw of not determining my win condition early. I should have been making the long term scenario play, sending Drudges into the Cryx objective ont eh bottom of two and keeping Thexus less uber protected, but going for the defensive score. The Crux leaned deployment actually would have assisted with such a plan. Doh. At least it was a game into Drewbru, who is a sweet dude.

Alas, our team goes down as well. Fortunately, outside of NSW dominance, most teams are going 2 v 2 and we have a decent amount of game wins (Most wins being 4v1 and losses 2v3) so we have good odds of getting into the semis if we win the next round on the morrow.

Game 192 - OTC - Thexus1 vs Rasheth1 - VIC Batman

Alright, round 3 of OTC, into Victoria Batman.

Big deal for me here is it's Incursion for this round, a scenario that makes me prefer my Thexus matchups over my Gorten ones. El Kapitan manages the matchups well per every round, gets me into Skorne, which in this team is one of the two Cephalyx matches.

The opposing lists are a Rasheth gun based deal and Xerxis with a stack of beasts (Primarily Savages). At the time I wasn't sure what the Skorne drop was as it didn't really change my viewpoint, it ended up being Tubby which is certainly the right choice, I just overwhelm that sort of beast heavy list.

 [Theme] Operating Theater
Objective: Bunker
(Thexus 1) Exulon Thexus [+29]
- Wrecker [14]
- Wrecker [14]
Cephalyx Agitator [3]
Cephalyx Agitator [3]
Alexia Ciannor & the Risen [10]
- Cephalyx Dominator [1]
Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges (max) [11]
Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges (max) [11]
Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max) [12]
Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max) [12]
Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max) [12]
Cephalyx Overlords [0(8)]
Cephalyx Overlords [0(8)]

Theme: Winds of Death
Fuel Cache - Steamroller Objective
Dominar Rasheth - WB: +28
-    Archidon - PC: 10 (Battlegroup Points Used: 10)
-    Basilisk Krea - PC: 7 (Battlegroup Points Used: 7)
-    Titan Gladiator - PC: 15 (Battlegroup Points Used: 11)
-    Cyclops Savage - PC: 7
-    Archidon - PC: 10
Venator Dakar - PC: 0
Extoller Soulward - PC: 3
Venator Dakar - PC: 4
Venator Reivers - Leader & 9 Grunts: 15
-    Venator Reiver Officer & Standard - Officer & Standard: 4
Venator Flayer Cannon Crew - Gunner & Grunt: 5
Paingiver Beast Handlers - Leader & 5 Grunts: 7
Venator Slingers - Leader & 5 Grunts: 8
Venator Slingers - Leader & 5 Grunts: 8
Venator Flayer Cannon Crew - Gunner & Grunt: 0

Our grouping of tables is average for me, each one having a defensive terrain piece for Thexus to bravely sit behind to contemplate the meaning of life. His life that is, Drudges are just a means of production.
Out table has one side dominated by a pair of large forests, a central wall then the opposing side having a wall and water feature.

I win the roll and gamble, picking first. Worst comes to worst I'll just use the Wrecker meat shield and distance, much as I like arcing some spells. It pays off however, and not without reason. The forests will force me to endure some compression annoyances for my large army, should be manageable though.


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Merc 1: Skorne throw down their wall near the water, above the centre flag.
Skorne's deployment is symmetrical, the only noteworthy part of mine is Thexus towards the right for the larger of the two forests.
The Slavers surge forward, Alexia and the Benders compress behind them, spawning a Warrior Thrall. The Overlords go on either flank, intended to be the main annoyance pieces for the respective flanking flags.


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Skorne 1: Skorne move up, four of the Slingers run way forward, intended to arc Sunder Spirits on the Cephalyx leaders of the Slaver units. Alas, the Extoller didn't activate prior to Rasheth shumbling forward, so with no stealth mitigation he instead puts Carnivore on the right Archidon and throws a Breath of Corruption that kills a pair of Green Drudges.
Otherwise Archidons hide behind walls, the Venator unit is on the left with Beasts on the right.


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Merc 2: Nothing to amazing from me here, alas for poor butterpants the Venators have drifted to far to the side and are going to get some fishbowls added to their apparel. I'll also throw a Thrall Warrior forward, probably won't do anything but free missile is free.

The ambushers pop in from the left, they charge and apply Cybermen esque conversions to three Skorne dudes, which spawn in and engage a few more chaps. Finally the multi-coloured spawn models get to come forth and spread some fabulousness.  

Both Overlord units go to their respective flags, one goes base to base while the others hold at the 4 inch mark, I expect the potential scorer to die however they are annoying models to deal with, which usually means good stuff for the evil underworld plastic surgeons (You think all random dudes that get fishbowled start with abs like that?!).

The Pink Drudges go in, eat a pair of the potential arc node Slingers. I screw up my positioning a little bit, so the Green Drudges only get one attack on the third and miss, MAT 5 not being something to run home about.

A new Thrall Warrior spawned, the original played it safe sticking on the left flank intending to be a future scoring piece while the newb lacked the turns experience to realise he shouldn't charge an Archidon and try to punch over a wall. Naturally misses, oh well.

The Risen clump up in the backfield as the Benders group up into triangles of convenience and Thexus stays behind the forest, having finished fuelling up the Wreckers.


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Skorne 2: The Slingers move around to various positions, shoot poorly at some Drudges.
Rasheth Feats, throws out some Sunder Spirits to kill an Overlord on either flank.
The Venators turn and shoot at the Ambush Drudges, popping half a dozen of them.
The left Archidon moves across to the right, stabs a few more Drudges.
Right Archidon goes in on the right Overlords, kills one and sprints to the flag.
A wall of beasts forms in front of Rasheth, the Cyclops having come forth and bopped the suicide Thrall Warrior on the head.

We don't believe in no points around here!


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Merc 3: I dislike that Carnivored Archidon on the right. Rasheth can't speed him up, I'd still rather deal with it now than when Thexus has greater difficulty getting away from it. Also time to get a couple points and ensure that close out option is there should clock get away from me, though that is unlikely given the trouble my list is causing.

Left flag is fairly clear, the Overlords spray down some Skorne infantry as the Thrall Warrior goes in for the score.
The Yellow Ambush Drudges stab at the Venators again, replenishing their ranks.  
Bender units each Adrenal three of the two other Slaver units.  
Pink Slavers, more on the left side, have their Adrenal fellas and a bonus CMA provider chap go into one Archidon. I roll quite well and pop the beast.
One Wrecker runs through the forest, getting a bead on the right Archidon. Thexus arcs a Rampager on him, moving him across and turning him around. Exulon then hides behind the other Wrecker and throws up Deflection.
The Green Adrenalled Drudges go into the remaining Archidon, they do good damage but don't kill it, so Alexia throws up a Thrall Warrior that gets the job done.
Lastly, an Agitator runs to score the right flag.

Mercs go up 2 CP.


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Skorne 3: Slingers try to get a run and line of sight on Thexus, but can't channel with the Wrecker's position.
That avenue closed, Skorne munch on more stuff hoping to score more points, the Krea and Reaper coming forward and munching the centre Drudges. The Dakaars contest a flanking flag each, one of them putting paid to the first Thrall Warrior I made in the game.
Paingivers come in, proving to be the best warriors in the skorne empire at this point, as anatomical does some serious anti Drudge work.
The Venators continue their struggle against the ambushers to little avail.


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Merc 4: Continue the spam!
A horde of Risen arise and swarm forth where the Drudges once stood.
The ambushers chew once again, replenishing once again. The remaining Overlrods do some sweet sprays.
Thexus hides behind his wobbly naked flesh puppets, the last avenue in which I might lose.

I go to 4 CP.

Skorne only have four minutes to my twenty on the clock, they do some half hearted attacks but ultimately clock out.

I'd call this a fairly classic you-haven't-seen-this-nonsense-before game. Enjoyable, but a horrible struggle for the Skorne side.

Game 191 - OTC Rnd 2 (Non-report)

Not going to go in depth on my round 2 game, Gorten into Makeda2 on Two Fronts. The opening turns are slow enough from Skorne that time becomes my win condition, good thing given the scenario is difficult.

I screw up my opening fort, not surrounding Gorten with Jacks as I should have, instead relying on defence/star cross. Makeda feats, manages to land all the attacks on the blocking pieces without issue, Archidon is just in to charge Gorten, I survive on a tough roll.

I then feat, kill a bunch of Ferox. We grind on a few more turns, however I lost to much on the initial wave to kill enough and get greedy scoring on my flag, so eventually Radheim got in with an attack and killed the Dorf in the last 10 seconds of the clock, Skorne not having much else beside. Also failed pretty hard on accounting for the Krea gun.

Had multiple ways to do it better, such is life. Losing the match drops the round for our team as we go down 2 to 3, only game of the weekend I regret playing.

Game 190 - OTC RND 1 - Gorten1 vs Axis1 (DI)

And at last the OTC happens. Gorten with Lessers and Thexus Drudge spam for me.

Our opening opposition is the sweet Tassites. Of note is that scenario/terrain is very relevant for my lists, it wouldn't surprise me if I was the most fluid in my ratings on the day, alas my poor Kapitan.

I have a couple dead matchups (Ghost fleet with double Wraith Engine is a problem, inexperience into Circle), the other three however I put myself as favoured into (CoC, Menoth, Khador). I expected to go into Clockwork Commandos (That's when you go out wearing a partially demolished clockwork in place of undies), sure enough into G-G-G-G-G-Gxis I go!

I pick a table that has some line of sight obstructing terrain, which can give me some options against the TEPs. This is based on the expectation it'll be Axis, which sure enough turns out to be true.

Convergence of Cyriss - Axis OTC
Theme: Destruction Initiative
Armory - Steamroller Objective

Axis, The Harmonic Enforcer - WJ: +30
- Inverter - PC: 15 (Battlegroup Points Used: 15)
- Inverter - PC: 15 (Battlegroup Points Used: 15)
- Inverter - PC: 15
- Conservator - PC: 12
- Corollary - PC: 6

Transfinite Emergence Projector - PC: 19
- Permutation Servitors
Transfinite Emergence Projector - PC: 19
- Permutation Servitors

Reflex Servitors - 3 Reflex Servitors: 0
Reflex Servitors - 3 Reflex Servitors: 0
Reflex Servitors - 3 Reflex Servitors: 0
Attunement Servitors - 3 Attunement Servitors: 0
Attunement Servitors - 3 Attunement Servitors: 0

Optifex Directive - Leader & 2 Grunts: 4

By Gods. I just had to copy paste that and it felt amazing.

Objective: Bunker

(Gorten 1) Gorten Grundback [+31]
- Ghordson Driller [10]
- Ghordson Driller [10]
- Grundback Blaster [6]
- Grundback Blaster [6]
- Grundback Gunner [6]
- Grundback Gunner [6]
Gobber Tinker [2]
Ragman [4]
Rorsh [15]
Savio Montero Acosta [6]
Wrong Eye [17]
Kayazy Eliminators [5]
Kayazy Eliminators [5]
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt [8]

From indistinct and hazy records written by the elder ones (You know, those brain cells approaching 48hours of age), it is suggested that Convergence won the roll and picked first. I pick the side of the board with the building, otherwise there's a blob of rubble smack bang in the centre of the zone while the various evil grandfather clocks have some woods that don't do a huge amount.


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CoC 1: Reflex Servitors move up a bit, spread out and Dig in. A TEP is on either side, having just lazily advanced up. The battlegroup moves up the centre, Conservator out front. Axis puts Iron Aggression on the far right Inverter and forgets to move (Not a killbox scenario, so this doesn't hurt him to bad).



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Merc 1: Everything runs. The Pigs lean toward the left, the intent being for them to kill that sides TEP. The Crocs submerge and go on the right, Wrongeye into the building, Snappy starting his beeline to the right TEP.
Everything else goes up as a blob in the centre, Strength of Granite on a Driller and Solid Ground up.


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CoC 2: It's a quite conservative turn from Convergence, four Reflex Servitors run up to jam, one on Brine, another on a Gunner, two on Snapjaw.
The Conserator toes the very back of the zone as the Inverters wiggle their booties behind him.
Axis makes up for lost time and gets up the board (I think Onslaught was up, but not 100% on that one).


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Merc 2: Pretty simple plan for this turn, hang back, kill the opposing objective, keep conservative on my clock. TEPs take time, while the Conservator feat push for scoring would net me points I'd then get screwed attritionly, so I'm better off achieving little and just waiting.

Brine, Snapjaw and the Green Eliminators all clear out the jam models and essentially don't advance. A spray bunny advances the bare minimum to thread a spray through those Kayazy and kill a Dug in Reflex Servitor. A Gunner moves to above my objective, shoots the opposing iteration, Conservator takes the Shield Guard. Gorten then toes the zone, fires a POW 16 shot at the objectives, boosts the damage and cranks the roll. The other Gunner easily finishes it off. The Granite Driller goes next to Gorten, the other is further back with some of the support pieces.
The Red Kayazy go, the leader runs into the zone just shy of the Conservator threat range as time waste piece. The other runs way out of command into my backfield, intent being as a late game contesting piece as required.
Wrongeye walks around to the back of the building and Submerges, as did Snapjaw.

Mercs go to 1 CP.


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CoC 3: I like to think this pic is how I was seeing the table at the time. Alcoholics go to meetings, so I don't count.

The left TEP advances, shoots down Acosta. Sadness. The right advances, lightly pings a Spray Bunny and kills the Green Eliminators.
The Conservator charges the Red Kayazy in the zone, boosts to hit and bins her hard. The Inverters then move around at the top of the zone in a semi circle.
Various Servitors form a backline behind those jacks, another Reflex Servitor engages Brine, a second goes on Snapjaw, a third goes a few inches from Snappy.


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Merc 3: I really like what's being done here. Gorten can charge the Conservator for feat distance, but doing so draws in Inverter Counter Charges that are going to be awful. I could throw focus out, pull the jacks in and try to kill with my jacks, then only one Heavy needs to survive, get speed with Axis feat and kill the dwarf. 
I opt to go for the scoring play and trying to pop the Conservator.

Aiyanna misses the Harm on the Conservator. Dammit lady, practice zapping Holt until you do this better!
Holt and the in zone Gunner shoot the Conservator, get some damage on him.
The Strength of Granite Driller charges the Conservator, toes the zone. Gets an Inverter Countercharge, which I just had to accept was going to happen, he lands a mild hit (Solid Ground stops the knock down) that takes out no systems. The Driller lands its attacks, rolls well and lands a massive amount of damage that takes the Vector out.
Gorten then advances up in the zone, feat pushes back all the jacks, one Inverter turns into a blue proxy base, another stays in the zone alas. The Dorf then does a couple shots into the Inverter, which gets Shield Guarded to Servitors.

On the left, a Blaster falls back and shoots Brine. This kills a Servitor and does a couple points to Brine, triggering Pain Response. Rorsh then smokes the Big Pig forward, he charges for free, no Counter Charges trigger due to my feat. I go up to three Fury to kill it.

Wrongeye moves up the left side of the house and submerges. Snapjaw tramples, killing a Reflex Servitor and Submerging. The Red Kayazy runs to this side, trying to draw off the annoying Reflex Servitor that Snappy failed to kill.


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CoC 4: Axis Counterfeats and hangs back next to the Corollary, who toes the zone. My outer circle of support/backfield models aren't hit, pretty much everything that matters is.
Two Inverters move up into the zone behind the rubble, the third is further in the backfield and and starts busting a move in Bacon directions.
The TEP moves up and guns down a Blaster and Aiyanna. A Reflex Servitor engages Snapjaw.


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Merc 4: I'm 9 minutes ahead on clock, so my only real plan here is to have a reasonably quick turn and make sure Gorten doesn't die. I've screwed up my Croc Fury, not accounting for the Trample of last time. Fortunately he passes his frenzy roll, Brine however was never going to be able to and Frenzies after Rorsh pulls off one Fury. Axis feat stops the charge, so that was that. I keep the fury on him, Rorsh will be doing some gun shots anyway.

We didn't pick up that my speed should have been debuffed on my models. The Strength penalty didn't come up and we played the no charge deal, completely skipped on the -2 Speed, I've only realised that now looking at the Pics. Ultimately it changes where Gortens wall and battlegroup models end up, I'm in a worst position but think the game is still in my favour quite reasonably. 

I drop Strength of Granite, Gorten walks back, puts down a wall where the Inverters bases could land. Do a boosted POW 16 shot on an Inverter for some damage. The Gunners toe the back of the zone and shoot said Inverter, as does Holt in the backfield. Damage rolls are not mighty alas. Snapjaw submerges and eats the Reflex Servitor. Wrongeye moves back around the house.
Rorsh moves in, shoots the same Inverter for a bit of damage.
Brine and the Drillers make a line of heavies to the left of the zone.
The Red Eliminator runs up to the right side of the board.


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CoC 5: The Inverter I shot somewhat goes into the forward most Driller and kills it.
Back Inverter goes into Brine, misses the charging Macro Pummeler. Hitting with the other harm puts Brine on a handful of boxes. Right Inverter charges a Gunner and misses its attacks, or so I infer from the photo. The TEP goes behind it and messes up the remaining Driller with its sprays.


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Merc 5: Still up on time, otherwise keep attritioning it. Keep Gorten safe. 

Up on the left, Ragman goes behind Brine and Death Field, one Inverter gets a Counter Charge that misses. Rorsh heals Brine, shoots the Inverter in the zone. Brine then attacks the pair of Inverters next to him, kills one and heavily damages the other.

Wrongeye hides behind the house, pops Submerge and Star Crossed. Snapjaw goes in, easily kills the TEP.  

Gorten backs up out of the zone, puts down a safety wall and shoots the forward Inverter. The Gunner toes the zone and shoots the same Vector, as does Holt.
The damaged Driller lost Cortex, so just hangs back and gets Tinkered.

Blaster moves up to Brine, shoots down two of the repair guys.

Red Eliminator runs up behind Axis.


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CoC 6/Merc 6/CoC 7/Merc 7/CoC 8: Not many CoC pieces in the endgame, the Inverters kill Brine and Snapjaw, the Corollary contests.

I then kill the top Inverter with the Driller, shoot the Corollary and kill it with the Eliminator Combo Striking. There's still an Inverter left, so Gorten stays back and I get a point for controlling, going 2 v 0.

Axis runs to the right flag, Inverter walks back. Score is now 2 v 1 my way.

I shoot the Inverter down, contest the flag with the Kayazy and put Gorten in the zone, go up 4v2.

Axis kills the Eliminator with a Battering ram, goes to 2 as I get the zone.


I loved this game, much as the snafoo with the Axis feat is regrettable. Will need to play Hastenon more in the future. I'd call this tied for my favourite game of the weekend. 

Game 189 - Thexus1 vs Fyanna2 (Oracles) - OTC Practice

Last practice game before OTC, AHdude was thankfully willing to heed the clarion call. I thought that hypothetically the Thexus list could handle Fyanna, but wasn't enthused about the prospect of having no practice (Need more local Legion....well, everything really).

It's Thexus with a pair of Wreckers, two Agitators, maximum possible Slavers, 2 units of Benders, double free Overlords and Alexia.

Grabbing one of the OTC lists at random (None of them are that different. Legion things.), it's Fyann2 in Oracles with 3 Neraphs, 2 Angelius, a Seraph, a Raek, 2 Forsaken, 2 Sorcerous, double Shepherd, Spell Martyr.

I hypothesised that Incursion was the more favourable scenario (still SR2016 land) for the featherless birdies, so threw that down with a rough approximation of a Sydney table layout off a random stream.
One side gets water, a central trench and outflanking rubble, there's a hill n the centre line then the other side has a forest and a large building. Not technically legal, but the realities of terrain at tourneys works out that way (Concealment only available on one side).\

I won the roll and had an immediate dilemma. I knew the opposing list was fast and I wanted to get up the baord, however I also really wanted to plonk Thexus behind that building and use other pieces to make him hard to get to and in a position where he can reasonably effect the board. I end up opting for first. I anticipate the matchup to essentially go witht he Legion beasts doing ltos of overtakes and threatening Thexus, who will be hanging waaaay back, while I use Rampager to pops the Forsaken and induce frenzies. Most likely win condition I hope to be the clock if I keep Thexus safe.


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Round 1: Obviously I get the table side with the less relevant terrain, a sensible decision  in opposition alas (though banking on opposing incompetence seems like a bad plan anyway...).
Number of Legion proxies, priamrily a choir member serving as the spell lartyr, a Vassal of Menoth as a Forsaken, a menoth light as the Raek and Scytheans seeing table time as Neraphs.

I advance everything forward, Thexus moves a short distance forward (More to have room to backup than anything else) casting Deflection after throwing focus at the Wreckers. A few Risen also go up between the Slaver mobs as acceptable early casualties if that comes up somehow. Overlords super outflanking as per the usual.

Legion run forward, staying fairly central to avoid the Ambushers getting free attacks. Raek is far left, then it's just a line of the winged beasts. No Fury up as it isn't necessary this matchup, Admonition is on the left most Angelius, Iron Flesh on the right.


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Merc 2: The Legion beasts have come far enough forward that I can get Adrenalled Drudges in. There is an Admonitioned Angelius as well, which is annoying. I decide there is value to Deflection, which leaves me five focus to play around. I opt to deal with Admonition by Rampaging the Angelius into the backfield and killing one of the Forsaken.
The ambush Drudges move onto the board, the opposing list is mobile enough that waiting for models to come in late game is unlikely to be a good plan.

To create room for the Wrecker to arc, Alexia shuffle around to get some Risen out of the way in the vicinity of the trench, she spawns a Thrall Warrior on the right side. The Wrecker then runs up to be in Rampager range of the Admonitioned Angelius.

Thexus activates, boosts Rampager on the admonitions Angelius, who flies into the Legion back ranks and kills a Forsaken. I then cast Decel.

I then do set up and attacks with the left Slaver unit, starting with the leader of the left Overlord unit running forward suicidally, leaving his unit out of command for the +1 to hit bonus  Next the left Bender unit pops out three Adrenal Surges, getting Slaver Drudges into charge range. All three go into the Seraph and kill it.

I had a similar plan on the right, and completely forget to do it, running with the Green Slavers into random spots concerned at how long that left side activation felt. 100% dumb. I end up charging the Thrall Warrior in, he gets lucky and hits a Neraph, spiking to do an excellent damage roll.

The ambush drudges run toward the left flag, intent being to force relevant Legion models to contest.


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Legion 2: Fyanna moves up toward the centre flag and pops feat.
The Raek goes into the Ambush unit, killing the leader and a couople Drudges. A Shepherd is int eh vicinity for forcing. The Admonitioned Angelius goes up on teh hill near those dudes. Support staff and Hellion riders hang near the centre flag, a couple sprays go off that kill some of my mooks.

The Neraphs and Iron Fleshed Angelius go into the Pink/Green Slaver Drudges, with Overtakes and bought attacks they kill about 8 Drudges, the Suicide Overlord, a Risen and the arcing Wrecker. Ouchies. A couple Pink Drudges stop the centre flag score.


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Merc 3: Five Risen spawn. I immediately mark a spot Thexus can walk backwards to and be safe from Neraph/Angelius charges (12 inches without the Seraph). Fyanna has feat up, plan is to surround models and do big CMA's to get some damage out.

Both Bender units Adrenal future CMA leaders. The Pink and Green Slavers each surround a Neraph and CMA off the back, they do good damage but can't one shot (Not even Legion heavies are that soft), though courtesy of the Thrall charge the centre Neraph has only a couple boxes left. The big one I want to kill is the forward Angelius, so I surround it with Risen and charge Alexia in. She ends up burning all bar one Risen for medicore damage, missing about 5 of her 6 attacks (50% theoretical hit ratio). I then charge a Wrecker in, as not killing this Angel means I'm in severe danger of the attrition loss. The Wrecker lands its boosted Intigated Initials, again I leave it on a few boxes. Dangit.

Thexus activates, arcs Rampager on the low Health Angel, sends it backwards where, being feat turn, it misses the Forsaken who dodges away. Urk. Thexus then backs up and casts Deflection.

The ambush drudges surround the Raek, the Admo Angel triggers itself to move forward a bit. three of them then go on the Shepherd. CRA's in the back kill the Shepherd and hurt the Raek pretty badly.

No points scored or likely to be for me at this point.


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Legion 3: A Neraph has a frenzy point, its good Threshold serves it well.

The Forsaken comes up and pulls off the Fury from the frenzy Neraph.
The Raek surroudned by Ambushers makes some attacks, but is out of control and does only muches a couple.  The Neraphs chew up some more Slaver Drudges. The Angels come forward, they kill Alexia and the Wrecker. Fyanna clears off the Drudges contesting the centre flag and sits on it. The right most Neraph uses a Sprint move to get to teh right flag.

Legion go to 2 CP.


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Merc 4: Starting to look super bad. Fyanna is on Fury and a bunch of the Legion beasts have super low health, plan is try to get soem damage on Fyanna, hope the Angels don't take pot shots on Thexus which kill him and try to finangle out a win somehow.

The Ambush Drudges surround the Raek again and position to be able to get the left flag. They CMA in the back and easily finish off the Raek.
The left most Overlords advance, land an Influence on a Sorceress who sprays a Forsaken and sadly misses, which in hindsight is for the best given it wasn't legal (The Spray isn't a Basic Attack).
An Agitator charges the Admo Angelius, who uses it to fly backwards behind a pair of Neraphs.
Strategic Adrenal Surges happens.
Thexus moves up a little, feats to move models out of the way, including having the right Angelius poke out of the Trench. It then gets Rampagered, moves up and kills the remaining Forsaken. Thexus then TK's an Overlord into command for reasons.
The Green Drudge charges and kills the weakest Neraph. This frees up room for the two Adrenaled Pink Slaver Drudges to charge Fyanna. The first one hits and does ten damage. The second misses and she dodges out of the way.

I get a point on the left flag., Legions favour at 2 vs 1.


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Legion 4: The Sorceress' spray down a line of Drudges. The Neraphs kill a bit more stuff. Fyanna goes to the centre flag, the naga runs to the flag.

The Angels then advance and shoot Thexus down. Sigh.

The score would be 4 v 2 at the end of the Legion turn, had I survived the random assassination then I mapped/rolled out a scenario play that gets me the win (Thexus charges, TK's the right Neraph out of contesting range, TK's some otehr stuff out of the way, Agitator runs to score the centre flag, ambushers keep scoring the left, Spray Bender attacks and charging right overlord unit kill the Naga on that side and I go to 5CP.

Things to bear in mind at OTC if the amtchup happens:
* Kill the Angels
* Pull models forward with Rampager
* Keep Wrecker in Sac Pawn range until Angels/Seraph are dead
* Don't bother with Deflection, use a hex blast on a turned around Rampagered Admo'd Angel to then get it killed.
* Fyanna's feat is an Aura, use feat to pull models out of her range to drop Defence/Dodge.
* Overlords hit bonus and CMA's vital in the matchup