Final round is the Pit into podcast-average-but-loud-star, whose initials are reminiscent of a redundant form of selling music.
It's Khador once more, so at least it's a faction I'm reasonably across. It's Sorscha and Zerkova with Man of Wars. Gorten loves the scenario, but without the Siege Crawler to hide behind probably dies to Sorscha and Zerkova laughs with Cloud Walls and unpushable models. And so we end up with:
Thexus1 (Operating Theatre) - 2x Wardens, Subduer, 3x Slavers, 2x Benders, Alexia with Dominator, 2x Overlords
vs
Sorscha1 - Conquest, Widowmakers, Kell, Max WGRC + 3 Rocketeers, Min WGRC + 3 Rocketeers, Orin, Reinholdt, Hutchuck
My local is Sorscha blind alas, so the reps aren't there alas. Will just have to roll with it and see how it goes.
One side of the board has a pair of forests and a defensive wall, then there's a hill smack bang in the zone with a trench to one side of said scenario element. The far side has a small wall around the flag and a hill toeing the zone.
I....win the roll I think? First is picked so I can get up the board a bit before the waves of gunfire come in. I get lumped with the side with forests and a defensive wall, which works for me. The central hill in the zone is going to be my bane for Sorscha's feat no matter what I do, whilst the wall around the Khador flag can hopefully help contesting models at some point.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsb79VqrMlGfwS7k_MWgdAJtTjbMC8amaHPQS72w4S6lIRBOJtvMqStGi0WsvlI_y7lKa5urzLrL2BmuFy2mdZrES3pSv8vvYOIrKDHXTGGcxKDbMsP_UhW3RUZK__Q9_0LnV3PsvvNFLe/s1600/006+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Merc 1: Everything runs forward, the Monstrosities remain clumped around Thexus. I run shy of the Rifleman advance and shoot range, however I am in range of the advance deployed sniping brigade which I have to accept if I want to leave my deployment zone a meaningful distance. Those front Drudges will hardly be the first to die. A Thrall Warrior also spawns and runs up into the forward most forest, keeping three inches of trees between him and said Sniper peoples.
In a shocking turn of events the Overlords run up either flank.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZhkhWMzUQhg2Eir_S8Mb3z5zM8yzz8Y9y7AlEYBdXD48YqKXJZa4MsgYnZ6zpunkANcs3fMvR-ivovPc3dCxMZtJnduxgEN5xTC9BiHvytJRR-xnQelbnFNjK5vWsLogN-yehyv7UF4F/s1600/007+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Khador 1: Sure enough, the sniper patrol advances up a short distance and and shoots down five Drudges. Fiends! Murderers! We were here to negotiate! (In this instance Khador has more similarities to Poland than Russia).
The rifle corp run up behind the Sniper squad, stay relatively compact with a clear "Let's not get Drudged from the side" element going on. Jerks.
The Conquest advances up on the left side of the Khadoran blob, tries a long lob shot that scatters the wrong way, puts out two covering fires in front of the Sniper patrol.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFcBZxSc1d19NwcqaUm0if6z6i09MsAzkSZwrkq8LDcQcnnZxVvrdlSasLr6fZ4gJAWXERceY18vq78Ic-rfE4E0B5chLwOb5tJ0BZNFYzv9YqSJemg6diBJVy99XxfPFGDSgXNonEVA5x/s1600/008+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Merc 2: Two primary concerns this turn, being setting up for Hutchuck (A drifted Brain Damage on Thexus late game would be.....unpleasant.....) and removing that Sniper squad ASAP.
I pop Ambushers on the top right, I need to stress Sorschas position early and threaten that blob of shooting. I expect they'll be dead next turn, hopefully I can get meaningful activation's elsewhere off their sacrifice.
Green/Pink Slaver Drudges run up the centre, as do the five spawned Risen who flop onto the hill.
This creates room for the Monstrosities to move up and Thexus, who feats on the front Khador models, pulling the Widowmakers, Kell and a couple Rifle Corp into the Covering Fire, killing the grunts and putting Bailoch on one box. A Rifle man also gets pushed toward the ambush Drudges.
Thexus then pops Decel and TK's himself back into Sac Pawn range of all the Monstrosities.
Had the Covering Fire not being present the plan was to run up the Subduer and spell the models to death, the feat however does it more reliably and those Snipers have to die.
The left Overlords move up and form a conga line on the board edge, so Hutchuck will only get the back strike bonus on one of them. The unit on the right does similar, with a squad of Benders also facing the edge in the vicinity. The Overlord leader on that right side also advanced to spray a Winterguardsmen, who sadly toughed.
The Ambushers charge in, four of them spinning around in case of Hutchuck. They pop the two WGRC grunts in range, spawning a pair of dudes.
Placement error with the unit leader, he should have been more central so some Drudges could engage Winter Guard and annoy them, as they have to go down in formation.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEin2H9S2ZcBqWFfpdx-ZlKdN9DknMTQ5NNjhEQveHm0GoPZ9YQLnqvXjgbM7km-xuMdbRlf_GRFhdJoVomA_VBSe5rnTw3rKrZn7o2y35U6sthBRWxhbVoo8ysceo-sbrruDXTEEZvwXnkz/s1600/010+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Khador 2: To my surprise, Hutchuck spawns amongst the left Overlords, the less relevant though far less chance of reprisal area. He shoots down one, charges another and misses his melee attack.
Alas, my previous turns smarm was unwarranted. The Overlords should have been facing to the right to deny any backstrikes, I forgot that Hutchuck could shoot prior to moving for an extra attack.
Oh well, the Overlords should hopefully kill the Ogrun then make their way in for the late game.
Sorscha charges a Risen and gets onto the hill, feats on Alexia, Risen, loads of Slaver Drudges, all the battle group bar the back Warden. She then Wind rushes back towards the Khador Flag and Freezing Grips the ambush unit.
See Thexus? See what you could do if you didn't spend so much energy sodding floating?
The Max WGRC sadly make it their mission to kill Alexia. She survives the Rockets, a few rifles eventually polish off some Risen and kill her after a successful tough.
The Min WGRC also do some potshots, they aren't hugely successful from memory.
Orin Lightnings some Drudges on the right, rolls dismally, failing to break armour even on one boosted on the end who wasn't caught in feat by dint of the forest.
The Conquest advances, remains shy of the zone. Puts covering Fire on Stationary Drudges, which sadly bypasses Deflection and is far more efficient than shooting at the blighters. The Big Cannon devastates the Blue Benders, getting the crit win which pops half the unit including the Cephalyx leader. Sigh.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh39vd4ENEwYohtrJ7coIbyeSXTmN7Y84WrvNJpeNTIDJUUEzzvg2atg_KfVn9Uy41QjXahPqp3uSqggZV-_3WRGiap9w62AqYgURU8o4aTpnusHKXzR8gJvIvlFghlZyrTzj9ikHg-nJdA/s1600/011+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Merc 3: Most of my models are stationary, which makes this turn relatively simple. The Drudge Orin failed to kill can get to Sorscha, so let's set that up. He won't kill her, however he should take off about half her health, then I can throw a double boosted Hex Blast at Sorscha for a couple turns and strain her pretty hard.
On the left the Overlords spin and spray at Hutchuck, one misses alas so he only loses half his health.
Drudges in Covering Fire die. Oh well.
The Subduer runs up to do some sweet arcing, keeping shy of the Conquests charge range. Thexus does TK's on Sorscha, burns through Orins remaining tokens, gets a boosted TK that misses. Well, that's annoying.
The right Overlords move around, spray down a Riflemans.
The Purple Benders Adrenal a Green Drudge up, he then charges Sorscha, due to the failed TK needs an 8 (MAT 10 sometimes ain't enough), misses.
We'll call this the turn of non-achievement then.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5aXfhWWGmy8VaPwv2jwfJH7Va2k-VCPiO420WMq7bbP1qGG9iLjzD9gc5mGNe-HDsBksCjoo-5GUk0S6CbACauL-xJzOmLZ9oEOaG3udcLoQhanDUmFsteqI9ivn5SnR5VhZOPF6Dd5b6/s1600/012+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Khador 3: The Conquest toes the zone, uses its right side guns and main cannons to kill more Blue and Pink Drudges. He throws out some covering fire from his left arc to close the lane the Drudge on Sorscha used.
The Rifle Corp advance a bit, start shooting the Subduer who advances off the first damage roll onto the hill and engages a Grunt. After that they kill the most forward Overlord on the right and some Purple Benders/Yellow Ambushers.
Sorscha Freezing Grips the Ambush Drudges and falls back.
Hutchuck hits an Overlord. The Club is twice the Caphalyx' size, so he appropriately becomes a successful high school experiment as he goes from a solid to a liquid state.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEij513c4IVDsIepqhNQhYgCPKPag6srs95Fumzy-2iFgSNf_fJzSrCauRxJiX-_OR4xPZazZCw_Gji41JiYbsNTkLF71_RdeOmW18okfRQ_0fRDC4BGfu0y1w1PeuiDvCa2K6ol_fZlfLbp/s1600/013+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Merc 4: Alright, threatening assassination didn't work, have to even up the attrition now.
Purple Benders and the remaining two Overlords on the right advance and spray, killing loads of the Rifle Corp.
The Ambushers, being lazy layabouts, stand there frozen.
I contemplate using TK's to have the Subduer slam a WGRC grunt into Sorscha, however I don't think I have sufficient attacks to meaningfully bust through her camp.
Instead Thexus TK's a spot for the Subduer to get into the Conquest. The Agitator advances, said Monstrosity then charges the Conquest. I was hoping that a free charge and 3 bought attacks would take out one side so that the Wardens could kill it next turn (They will certainly be sans the exposed Agitatir). Alas, the Subby rolls poorly, doing about 12ish damage I think. Hmmmm....
The left Overlord continues his epic struggle, spraying Hutchuck down to 2 boxes.
The Wardens stay hanging around Thexus, toeing the zone.
Screw up Warden placement here, I'd intended to put one forward enough to go into the Conquest next turn.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyaYsJKZJUSWp7TKGesJHthlx_1kJwEKx-5iP-7DEopbEKDI_qIgEJvyTL0PexFTOdPXbZUXAdK5sjUUiTRvJpl7otE7o__A8nAzxvVseeLatVA72l1vw1KKmQ-fTxo5pUQiE6vlq0YS5m/s1600/014+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Khador 4: The Conquest pummels the Subduer, it's painful to watch.
The Instigator and right side Overlords die, as do all the ambush Drudges who aren't facing the board edge, still prepping for Hutchuck. They've been comatose a while.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg01NIH1LScogbOwUfQ5X9R1eFi97nMxhuhsvG1JfnV7jGcBoeCLqTBTv4rD2TmHVBbeD7ruOrGmGgrhGOft96VXMJHuoKNKpP687zl-qVruNKeW9R53KlAbjq1BYZDlfRVeQ1dWd7IFZiP/s1600/015+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Rounds 5 - 8: Under 15 minutes for both sides, we speed round a whole bunch of rounds.
After another two rounds, Hutchuck finally loses to the Overlord. If only he hadn't been on two boxes, I would have stabbed him anatomically instead of fail spraying a couple times.
Thexus runs to my flag and starts scoring, Purple Benders contests. The Rifle Corp eventually win that battle of attrition with only a few survivors left. Kell dies to an Influenced Rocket shooting him in the back of the head.
I send the Wardens in one after the other on the Conquest, they fall well short, leaving it alive on 8 boxes. I then throw what Cephalyx I have left (The Pink Slaver leader and the left Overlord) into trying to kill it. Even Thexus tries boosting Hex Blasts to kill.
I score on the Khador turns, we end up at four all. I have Thexus and those two Cephalyx left, versus the 8 box Conquest, Reinholdt, Joe, a Rifle Man and Sorscha.
I start with 3 minutes, desperately try to map out a way to contest Sorschas flag to win. I fail to work it out, clocking back to Sorscha worth 30 seconds left, having left the Conquest on 2 boxes from despair attacks. We both go to 5 CP on my turn, then Reinhold turns to contest and Sorscha goes to 6.
It immediately gets pointed out the Cephalyx engaging the Conquest could have run to contest, risking a freestrike from the crippled side of he Conquest which would have needed a 6 to hit. Doh!
Great game, great opponent, don't think I disgraced myself to badly. Number of small activation's I definitely could have improved, though I think my biggest issue was a fixation on killing that conquest that I couldn't see my way past. Hopefully I'll get another stab at the title next year.
