I've decided to express my Freedom of Will and individual rights by forgoing all that and making a poll to tell me what to play. The selected option was "Caster I've panned for years".
So really, I have no one to blame but myself.
Skip italics to get to actual warmachine batrep stuff!
Things I thought about before the tournament:
* Ashlynn, you are assembled and painted for the tourney, but there is no way in hell you are keeping that banner. Snip Snip. Alt sculpt being better sentiment be damned.
* Based on the presented evidence, the ending of Drag Race Allstars Season 2 isn't great. Not as bad as when Violet Chachki was victorious, but there you go
* Getting back into Europa 4 is extremely difficult after putting time into DLC ridden Crusader Kings 2. Plus letting Random Nation roll determine Norway and going with it is silly, I know full well they are a bad starting nation. I then tried again with Bavaria, but really dislike it's present shade of blue when it used to be a nice cream colour in EU3. Totally an important gameplay distinction.
* I now hate the word "Dank" more than "Swole". Moist remains fine.
* Where the sod is my Sylyss Wishnailer model? Disappeared like my Eiryss1 :-(
* Sleeping for 15 hours really mucks up your schedule for later in the week. Go down before tourneys instead of binge watching stuff
* Love the Luke Cage call out to the original costume. Excellently done. Then it was correctly discarded.
* I was totally burnt out on Sunless Sea at 199 hours, the Zubmarine DLC has definitely re-added enthusiasm for that. I'll probably get another 25 hours, or another 100 if I finally pull the trigger and pop my captain to replaced by his inexperienced child.
Alright, I'm not going to pretend this is a coherent or worthwhile list:
Ashlynn1 - Gallant, Rocinante, Sylyss, Rorsh w/Brine, Dahlia w/Skarath, Aiyanna + Holt, Harlen Versh, Tinker, 2x Kayazy Eliminators, Precursor Knights (Min)
Objective: Bunker
Yes, I know, it's bad.
Basically I took the things I love (Ninja Pig, Snake Lady, Eliminators), things the net says are great (Gallant) and models I've panned without trying this edition (Ashlynn, Rocinante, Precursor's).
Note for the Precursor's: I didn't read the Accumulator rule properly beforehand, sadly assumed it triggered multiple times. It does not.
Basic plan was to put Ashlynn into terrain safety with Admo up and do a single Arcane Secreted Gallows or Distraction each turn, then camp a couple focus.
Round 1, we got their eventually!
The unfortunate victim of my sleep deprived, coughing lunacy is having his first Mark 3 game at the tourney. Alas poor Hard Wood.
Joyfully, like myself they also neglected to bring two lists, so the orange-not-red version of borrowed Cygnar plonks down in the following format:
Jakes2 - Thunderhead, Rowdy, Firefly, Thorn, Junior w/Firefly #2, Stormlancers, Laddermore, Runewood
It is only in hindsight that I realise there was no squire. There you go.
Opening scenario is outflank, I lose the roll and get given first, though as both sides had a wall I could hide Ashlynn behind I honestly didn't investigate the logic of that choice.
My side has a long wall and obstruction, centre of the board has a small hill (More a hillock really) with a forest to the far right while the swan side has a couple walls and a forest positioned at the top edge of a zone.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnMMtVoRcjr8nFWYmJi_cU8wPHTHF2VQV1XZRgyd7tBzCKplyRUN1HSanlb3tZQZG2NWi1phDXyT4jR1pE3RyYzmy131Tyvz676a5AJliy8tWd9LprIu1SG2N9BTG04FYAYp_jyfdhyphenhyphenA7s/s1600/001+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Merc 1: True story, I had no idea what to put Quicken on (I said I didn't think this through dammit!) until Aarwood asked Brine's threat range with it. Bam! Doing that now! (The answer was 18).
Brine gets quicken, Ashlynn gets Admonition, Dahlia puts up Haunting Melody.
Nearly everything goes to the right side where the wall is, Kayazy go out as a forward line for threatening things. Big exception is Dahlia and Snake go out left, intent being to force the Stormlancers to do an awkward redeploy or end up in a losing situation on the left zone.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGcqxp5h3BLtyBkM2jCcXySNvsYm1dAzC8gNGPnPVqXKOAsjOrBN0FrF4CZ_za2Yo1F6Er6tVZo-vqAqvfNCNc9iKZn7qn7c-OZiwNtqqwjVIzbRtFnWtalW3NAGCd8_rphaJjqVxPdfFd/s1600/002+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Cygnar 1: The Jacks move up the middle for the most part, Jakes pre-measures to be out of my threat ranges. Jakes' Firefly goes far right. Pathfinder goes on the Stormlancers, who to my surprise run to the left edge of the left zone. Dahlia ignorance sighted! (Have to enjoy that when it happens, only lasts for one game). Rowdy gets Arcane Shield, Jakes has Escort up.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4Ud886BwRe3eQWRDlsJP-gVbBRp9qrmtnvmk7A1M5j-NfvzKYnBIVHrDfHuAlWQuX_oDmCnNUdl279AtViK6BE2eKESn1J_nVPz8zsIMfSf6aghfOyjuodji8iCwjOceFmN6pbkeNN1RA/s1600/004+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Merc 2: Simple enough, use the Snake lady to contest the left zone, put my other stuff in the right zone. Hold feat as I don't want to use it defensively and most of my stuff should be pretty safe.
Dahlia runs to the bottom left edge of the left zone, getting the Storm Lancer unit leader in Haunting Melody range. Skarath slithers behind her, a Stormlancer could walk over and whack him but that's fine by me. Aiyanna and Holt stealth up and go behind the Obstruction, rounding out the left zone crew.
One unit of Eliminators runs to engage and annoy Jakes, I stupidly trigger Rowdy's Counter charge which blats one.
The other Eliminators run to the right, one engages the right most Firefly.
Otherwise some Precursor's move up on the hill, Ninja Pigs and Gallant behind them, Ashlynn, Tinker and Rocinante go behind the wall.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgTSz6Q0lc-8p66NJwJelpCJzM9SKIUVH4ZJ-NpSWtuFllEJCig_X9KNsTQPK3i7sZzo1_-zymWpNtEmInyflXNZWrhvcNhTLJyWRWnTeIcbIC4xTv37rI0F3-QTNXHu1hRX992YU2jxzfR/s1600/005+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Cygnar 2: Spells all upkept.
Jakes falls back, arcs Positive Charge on Thorn to Reactive Drive him forward. he then charges up and goes into Rorsh, knocks out all his Transfers and puts him on 2 boxes. Brine loses his Mind with the Transfer damage.
The Stormlancers then all fall back to the top of the left zone, one walks across and tries to shoot Thorn in the back for a Lightning leap but misses.
Thunderhead moves to the right back wall, pops his pulse to kill the forward blocking Eliminators.
Rowdy and the freed up Firefly toe the right zone, Juniors Firefly wanders up behind Rowdy.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPKyvAX_lGlLNy91rKI7w6TWGIqbKoXo36kwB5DK5I0GdlkTEuo1KRcFrOk2aw0n5VJj1ZzpZauAEuIyXTHON91Sdwv-B6jmuG07UN_2rlshyzIoRjKOt_acIWFTRJkLCOnX_TzotRM6sW/s1600/006+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Merc 3: Simple enough, feat and clear the right zone for the Dominate.
Ashlynn moves around Rocinante, goes into the zone and feats.
Rocinante/Versh shoot Rowdy, do not much.
Gallant goes into Rowdy, puts him on three boxes, only Movement still up.
Pigs pop Smoke, Brine slams the Firefly at the top of the zone. I failed to cut for one to heal the Mind, so I boost the slam to hit. I miss.
Gallant goes into Rowdy, puts him on three boxes.
The Precursors can't get to Rowdy and the scoring plan is shot anyway, so the remaining three chumps charge Thorn. First one hits for a few points, second one misses, triggers dodge and he saunters away from the remaining Precursor.
Tinker runs to engage and be annoying.
Left side after that, Dahlis runs up to an engaging position on a Stormlancer to be annoying.
Aiyanna/Holt activate way to late and instead shuffle up to harm the Stormlancers. Holt shoots one down. Skarath goes into the zone, sprays a Lancer for a bit and puts Counterblast down.
Jeebles. Ashlynn, the feat is feeling like false advertising at this point.
Aside from not healing Brine's Mind the largest mistake was missing out Aiyanna until late in the turn, she should have Harmed Rowdy.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_mI0Rt3CMwybt2SCKmTIQGgFkw_DcghsdfcHg0P-nsGyn4A5OYelZfgojoEhmgWDqOPgMRX-8ZNMAZJ8UF5BG8XAKnh1zxpbfVn1FXjR9bghvmeubMCz-MPdbxHUjZGfaS7eZCgICbGby/s1600/007+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Cygnar 3: Now the downhill part can start.
Jakes and Junior are far back enough that only Thunderhead gains Power Up, so that was neat.
Left side wise, the Storm Lancers move to try Electro leaping Dahlia. This triggers Counter Blast, which kills the injured compatriot. Dahlia survives without issue.
Jakes moves up a bit, camps pretty hard.
Thunderhead moves up, pulse kills Rorsh. I sadly get a rule utterly wrong, as I thought Thunderhead couldn't buy further attacks after the special action, but he totally can. Haron was cool with it, but still a miserable circumstance to unwittingly inflict (Only an absolute tool would do that on purpose).
Rowdy, Fireflies and Thorn don't achieve much thanks to feat, so that was good.
Laddermore charges Gallant, manages to do a few points.
Arcane Shield moves to the Storm Lancers.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR8ZegToJi2QxKXVZpheChuASGJaEZ8oORMXuLFfCrquMAJV9nA0iSoBKxyfGr5SxeUMCigDONZafFF2QBkftt-KpzaOPXSs5ozTiozH5Pfa-SbrsXFCdTMPB6JdkYCs9P3k7Q7WPfIJ18/s1600/008+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Merc 4: Rowdy might be well hurt, but the right zone is still flooded with Cygnar jacks. Plan is to score on the left and kill the Cygnar heavies, that'll swing attrition to me.
Left wise, Aiyanna/Holt advance, harm the Storm Lancers and shoots down one cav man.
Skarath moves in, eats the other contesting Cav guy, Dahlia then runs back to the zone corner again.
First half has gone without a hitch, now to bungle the right side.
The Precursors charge around, one into Thorn, the other two get into Rowdy but fail to kill him. The one on Thorn should have jsut run, instead Thorn dodges for even more zone contesting.
Gallant wiggles across a little, stays in fist range of Rowdy which again fails to kill him. Sword attacks on Thunderhead knock off an arm. Versh squals in terror, moves up and stabs Thunderhead, then lip wibbles before his impending demise.
Rocinante stayed behind the wall, maybe he shot something? I don't recall.
Ashlynn goes back behind the wall.
Mercs go to 1 CP.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Ku1xJICY5ddGvmUiO6s8GlJFKMP3eDTboM6GDRWT2s0_qCBjtkFUzwRpYx1MtxYpp8APH3HS84I8NlEzor1qlwP4Sz4bjkzc3XENGniumVaAtQTr9YjiDPmrEwoWCEfHFQiOztPUjTW5/s1600/009+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Cygnar 4: The remaining Lancer, Junior's Fire fly and Runewood all go to contest the left zone.
Jakes charges into Gallant, between her, Laddermore, Rowdy, Thunderhead and the Firefly he somehow survives (Def 13 is beautiful on a heavy) with a few boxes of movement spare (The Rowdy situation ironically). Thorn stabs some Precursors to death. Really should have had Rocinante toeing the zone to stop this possibility.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1yjhtGcoE5WKUeRS62KgbhU-6g6nXHkOZLHYtjUG8sur8s8QgYoIG1cLsOqIGD2_WgkA3UXdXwEWhqZvU9l28iLK1CVCYCU_rGZiiwtS19ZB4Lk-kNZA1a0W-A8IsOj25hFvGApKwnfPY/s1600/010+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Merc 5: Slight clock lead, but given the pieces on the board attrition isn't feeling good to me, I have to play for scenario. I thought about just leaving Ashlynn on max Fury and running her up to Jakes, but I know how that plays out (Friendly Slam then Ashlynn gets punched to death).
Left zone wise, I have to accept that I'm not scoring there this turn but have to clear out the Firefly.
Aiyanna/Holt walk to engage, she Harms, he stabs and shoots for some decent damage. I consistently underestimated my damage on the lights, primarily as I kept assuming they were Lancers rather than Fireflies for whatever reason. Dahlia moves back in the zone, gives Mistwalker for Pathfinder to Skarath, who charges and easily eats the Firefly. Enough that I should have Riled for one, but I didn't spot that.
Ashlynn runs toward the left in the open and prays she doesn't die.
Rocinate walks into the right zone, kills the Firefly (This turn is a great day of Firefly mourning I guess?)
Gallant and Harlen do some scratch damage to Thunderhead. Tinker and remaining Precursor do some punches I think?
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzVhkGd8Qp2w0JlqtrZ7I44hlK9OzlCFZSCzMTooDmMqFvF5ZFC3ERhyphenhyphenlZuZLPNs8WcRPXJZIc15VtrY9B6zK1iSHndmfictu-yunR2dquL8LSW-nag5R4W75-eWE7o3UJsA-D7JnCG9Vf/s1600/011+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Cygnar 5: Jakes feats, kills Gallant, moves to the top edge of the right zone.Rowdy charges Rocinate, I kill him with a Defensive Strike. Thunderhead/Thorn kill the Tinker and Precursor. Laddermore charges Rocinate for some damage.
Left wise, the Stormlancer shoots and misses Skarath, Runewood tries to shoot Aiyanna but gets Quick Drawn by Holt.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3gwraZBUH5i_b8dthOjNCv9rErdVZg5im_hJNbKEs-Yy3tLmJd86-S4MFT9he84J0IDyVwUs7TYXAiuKnTdsJjdmLWeMYA4VqTcy-huFHUP87SgT1-IIa-RgBcOpnIyRCg3h-v1Z_EOdA/s1600/012+%2528800x450%2529.jpg [/img]
Merc 6: Keep pressing scenario, go for the left side Dominate.
Clear out the left zone is first mission, Aiyanna/Holt Harm and kill Runewood. Been money this game.
Dahlia puts Mistwalker on the Snake again, he walks across and easily eats the Stormlancer. Casts Counterblast.
Thats mission one, now to hold up the right flank before running Ashlynn across.
I foolishly ran Ashlynn to far to give focus to Rocinante, I luck out with a good damage roll that finishes off Thunderhead.
Swans concede at this point, as even if Rocinante gets killed the pieces don't exist to stop me Dominating to 5on the left zone. I also have an Eliminator far up the board I'd forgotten about most of the game who can run in to be the final necessary contesting piece.
That was a slog. I was expecting quick games with Ashlynn, instead we were the last to finish up and my reserves were drained out already.
Sad about the Thunderhead mistake, but otherwise this was a great game. Definite errors made, but happy overall.
