Round 1 is into a serious consideration in the randomness that is my local meta, piloted by the Wand Man.
Gorten1 - Earthbreaker, Siege Crawler, Ninja Pig, 2x Kayazy Eliminators, Eiryss2, Harlen Versh, Anastasia, Thor, Aiyanna and Holt
vs
Iron Mother + Her Squad (Destruction Initiative) - 3x Assimilator, Diffuser, 2x TEP, Repair fellas, 3x Reflex Servitors, Flarebots
Contemplating TEP's without out sweet telekinesis and Adrenalled Drudges is weird. They definitely won't pop until late game, while the Grounder Pounders will be an excellent counter to my solos. I think this gets mitigated by CoC heavies being expensive with trash defensive stats, will just have to chew out a load of solos in the opening rounds before I can threaten meaningful stuff.
Scenario is Epic Recon again (It was already on one of the tables and I endorse lazy/effort efficient running of tourneys).
I believe I won the due roll and picked first? The memories, such blur.
I've got a pair of hills on my side, they aren't super amazing as the TEPs are unlikely to get that far up my side of the board. There's a mixed blessing/curse of an obstruction on my end at the bottom of the left zone, sweet for hiding, in conjunction with my objective outright awful for getting my huge bases anywhere.
Neutrally, there's a wall in the left zone and a central cloud bank.
Convergence have a large forest and a trench to annoy me with.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1M9QHQft1e82gIIYdknEjKqXwvjwiCYDe3X6BdkXSYkfWyw_6pb425phMInaENYisaa4ZZ1WwkZs4ilsmXL9zCFNPRKclYZ2f87ZrHXAR8aVzmcCG5jCf4TOZFn5SXg_OiFVvOgQWFpzu/s1600/009+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Merc 1: My stuff unpacks, my Huge Bases can't really swap sides so it's Crawler on the left and Earthbreaker to the right. The Ninja Pigs go on the far left as well, the Crawler will need more assistance given it'll be a few rounds of killing Shield Guards before it can do much.
Eiryss goes behind the Obstruction, Kayazy split up on either flank.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtcft0R9CpSU41UrMS7bdblqavyA3qMZuNBESE80haeBLLxBtvYpzw1nOmf3npPAg2jqhItNu6gMN_rccTfnXsLT5GOJgaF5LmN5Ovau3_ezO2BCDTSOsAWqcRRZf-MDrVsufBTbSxtF_4/s1600/010+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
CoC 1:The Relex Servitors all move up and dig in, the TEP's go up either side, the right one getting Tactical supremacy.
Two of the Assimilators and the Diffuser head towards the left across from the Siege Crawler, I had an attack of the sillies and have a Kayazy die to a Grounder Pounder. Whoops.
Iron Mother, the remaining Assimilator and the Corrolary go up on the right side.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjB_esmux1lRWslr-20pxxdSMJU2cIzX-03GT9Py36qSp6nesIMqZiSb06yLbSlHSwzpFtQE5FcMApnkhsJYIHPOqmMPTRUrH2eyj8-9r5qeAPRzjvqgXKUE8UU31sgiz_vrr2qSAvvu49O/s1600/011+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Merc 2: This will be a conseravtive turn for me, I have to start popping those Reflex servitors and don't want to give freebie attacks on my Huge bases in the meantime..
Anastasia ambushes from the top right, she advances in and kills a Flarebot.
The Crawler and Earthbreaker both back up, the Colossal using a Torpedo to pop a Reflex.
The Pigs dart out far to the left, sticking them outside of the TEP range.
Eiryss aims, misses a Reflex and repositions backward.
The Kayazy actually do go forward, they kill a few more Reflex Servitors and wait to die.
Aiyanna and Holt cower in the back.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxulBWNSGEgCq6QKikQRvJ4D_CJTCp_wIG_uEnAd5UUHmbARFVdC6TNp-CHOFf5XO4QXtxlHd2nK5i9TymW3zZ-pQYUVYaKN-qY8CkSQGkz7quJqdBZwA7PZkWQ5_RzCqBgu7XXcR7_xHs/s1600/012+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
CoC 2: The left TEP toes that sides zone, sprays down the kayazy. A flarebot runs to the CoC flag next to it.
The Assimilators advance a short way up the guts, Grounder Pounder a Kayazy on the right.
Iron Mother hops into the trench.
Right side TEP advances, sprays down the last Kayazy and Anastasia, then repositions back with Tac Supremacy to the edge of the zone.
CoC scores both zones and their defensive flag to go to 3 CP.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4wZpnlnHyCqNOeIlRPdE3dq8a_RZi93qUpNBDNLhL3XY63ECi-08ttm0FtT6PRw6rRqrvCq47P-jssCFZJ9Ca1bjMQM9Hic2QfU5dZPOX5IZDMKy6nqsAfCizxtJy2ElDJ9jwTMHz5XQE/s1600/013+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Merc 3: Board positioning wise I'm pretty happy at the outset of this turn, however CoC jumping to three points is a problem. I have to counter score and do something about the CoC flag. Obviously I would like to kill Iron Mother, who has no Shield Guards in range. Alas, she is safe by an inch from a direct attack by an Earthbreaker torpedo. Doing the math after the fact, with a three camp it's a low odds assassination run anyway (30% or so, not counting potential other attacks).
Backfield wise, Aiyanna Harms the Diffuser who is probably further forward than he should be. Holt then shoots him a bit.
In the left zone, Brine charges into the zone on a hill and kills a Reflex Servitor. Rorsh hangs back. The Crawler toes the zone, does it AoE's on the Servitor on teh CoC flag, one gets Shield Guarded by a TEP drone, the other misses. His little gun shoots the Diffuser, finishes it off.
Eiryss then toes the zone and shoots the Servitor on the flag successfully.
My intent in putting those three models (Note that Brine isn't the model at this point, it's a Green Proxy Base) in the zone is to stress the TEP, I've found the best way to stymy CoC players is give their Battle Engine two forms of unit that require different Servitor placement priorities (In this case Arm 20 versus Def 16 versus Brine not being something you can ignore).
On the right, Earthbreaker gets Tuned Up, advances into the right zone and next to my flag, he shoots at the nearest Assimilator, knocking down Iron Mother and the Corrolary. This is the point I realise I could put little gun shots into Iron Mother, in hindsight I'm glad I read it correctly and go for the attrition play, as I'm already down a boosted attack on her.
Shooting at the Assimilator is.....dissapointing. I do about half it's boxes, not exactly how I was hoping it would pan out.
Versh moves to my flag, he's going to die to the TEP however I need to score a point or else I lose to my objective dying and CoC scoring on their friendly flag.
Gorten moves behind my Colossal on the right side, I have limited solos on that flank so he'll likely have to be the flag scorer. Thor has other shit to do.
Scores now 1-3 in CoC's favour.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEicl5bXqvQ1k8sMKUvNZR6eBAB_uKuSDeK5VUhcNQoVIGxh03SN-NNJHyXX0fpbUqsmSDzLpIKxNJ4GTy17CKNr7c2SemsZw-2mE506Bb5lobj_voYpm8DRKCGSNC4m8siqu5tAJuLZrGgN/s1600/014+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
CoC 3: Left side wise, the TEP shoots at Brine, doesn't kill him but does knock him down a little. One spawned dude touches the flag for the score.
An Assimilator charges Brine and finishes him off without to much issue, oh well.
One of the few remaining Reflex Servitors (Possibly the only?) runs and engages Eiryss.
The centre Assimilator hangs in the forest, shoots at the Siege Crawler and does some chip damage.
On the right, the TEP moves up, easily sprays down Versh then backs up. Curse you Tactical Supremacy!
The Assimialtor stands up (Corrolary stoof up on teh spot earlier to do the Induction chain), shoots at the Earthbreaker, takes out a column on the right side.
Iron Mother backs up, discontent with being in potential murder range now. She arcs Tactical Supremacy on the left TEP I think.
The defensive flag scores, CoC continue up the ladder 1-4.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqr7oY_Zs5rJNbWe4UEKQ2RwZNb3F9FZ8TOnMNLmsOjfY9MelGhiOcbjjI-bO3sXnrTRbRs_JJYegcgAMcN0zlFmzY_udJcevPPuAvy9O5HBsM4TVPkkVP9-wQmyhXURm5yNkJcGqe9DGt/s1600/015+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Merc 4: Having Eiryss and my huge bases basically unscratched is a lot better than my fears were saying, with Brine and Harlen being perfectly acceptable losses. It's grind it on from here, with the plan being to kill an Assimilator on each flank.
Left wise, Aiyanna and Holt jiggle up, put Kill on the left Assimilator. Between Holt and Rorsh they ding the Vector very badly, leaving it on a third or so boxes. Eiryss stabs the Servitor engaging here, so doesn't add much. The Siege Crawler charges in, getting within 4 of the CoC flag. The charging Bash attack actually finishes the Inverter off to my surprise, leaving the left Cannon no target. The Battle Engine fires its shots into the other Vector but accomplishes little
Right side, the Earthbreaker gets healed by the Objective, Tuned Up then moves up and shoots down the Assimilator it half damaged the round previous.
Gorten runs to my defensive flag.
I score on my flag and the left zone, now trailing 3-4.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj23L-n-zfWoOetXTY6ftBav3PvEJQ-cX5cFCUsZY27kN5I7cZ9j6jE7vD2HvEaeqeSwFbH7YNF43cMvk9Kc39QZus35T_CAG8zymcKx6xJ_LZh2WAVQgf08MB-fTwINejkuEVDUApP9nAy/s1600/016+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
CoC 4: Mother stays back, throws out her bots to Imperil things, hitting the Crawler and embarrisngly missing the Earthbreaker. She puts a gun shot into the battle Engine for some reasonable damage.
On the left the TEP advances, sprays down Eiryss and does a bit to the Crawler. The remaining Assimilator charges it in the back, leaves it on about eight boxes. The right TEP moves up to be shy of the Earthbreakers charge range, does max damage boosted sprays that don't leave as much of an impression as they should.
Gorten scores my flag, scores now equal at 4 all.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzGq1RkpDj7a7WswIfdSZtyPHHGn2LTRYClh6oaiFSeWxT6sq7cqLL79m0DKpNuyo3WRw0J0rzK5YwcOqg-9YrYfgHNZotqzCBnjPjTG-FMy3dEC4tid9yBSP7KXxD60uSO7hgE0Kz6ZST/s1600/017+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Merc 5: This roughly when I realise this will probably be a game decided on the Mercy rule, iron Mother isn;t going to be killed any time soon. That means I have to arrange a points lead, including further scoring on Convergence turns.
I strong Solid Ground, it's value has expired with no Reflex Servitors around.
The Earthbreaker gets repaired by my Objective and Thor, then moves up to threaten the TEP position in the right zone. Does a boosted to hit shot in the back of hte Assimilator fighting the Crawler, knocks it down. shots after that do a good chunk damage but don't kill it.
Gorten camps 3 and shuffles to be behind the Colossal.
Aiyanna and Holt shuffle back to the middle, intending to put Kiss on a TEP late game. In the meantime she does the damage buff on the knocked down Assimilator, shots from Holt and Rorsh (Who toes the left zone) finish the Vector off.
The Crawler moves up, uses his Bash attack and little Gun shots to kill the left TEP's Sac Pawn munchkins, fires his Cannons at the TEP, gets the Crit Stagger. Does some sweet damage as well, though that was just a bonus once the Crit triggered.
I score my flag, get the lead 5-4.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSMxcuQdvHwusu1pdtTwV9zIzjLlBopqqXvJl-CbLjynKbEAuWyZ5qMq9yTSVFxH3gXcxmUbPfVsFcTqKQGTucKveB-BkS5bON2YztW5o2t5wicyOfRFSwanM-uGdZigGAqxa5y9ogyo5F/s1600/018+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
CoC 5: The Corrolary runs to the left zone, toes and enjoys its new roll as a disposable Arc Node. Iron Mother stays backfield, moving to the left to stay away from Earthbreaker murder. A Gun shot and a boosted damage Shrapnel Swarm explode the Siege Crawler.
The Left TEP spawns Dudes and is otherwise sad.
The right TEP moves up, shoots at the Earthbreaker who has been Imperilled, takes out most of the right side.
Both sides score their flag, now 6-5 to me.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSWTvH9pdb8HBoji7NGP89WkxJSPnJl7uw3OGAhI1jqy-EsBImzgmPlaD8LeyaNKBEBhUss6-ZpCip8MOk_S4Ld3x0BPQmLYxVd6CPG2TPNr0O98p-LgdVX1WxEYDJ8KEp5XVX1fil-KMz/s1600/019+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
Merc 6: Carry on, it's looking good.
Left wise, Aiyanna and Holt split in the backfield, ready to run up one a time in teh enxt two round to contests the CoC flag. They harm and shoot the Corrolary, who then gets finished off by Rorsh's Bomb. The Pig then shoots the CoC objective, putting it down four boxes.
Right wise, Earthbreaker again gets repaired by my Obejctive and Thor. The Warjack then charges the rightside TEP and easily squashes it into the dirt.
Both sides score their flags, I also get the right zone. 8-6 to me.
[img]https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkGXEb0LcrgEGua84JKMoYkC5AniFForAquJxQM1e-cw4HrLd9zrlHSK-AYg3i6jBaknIDX2xbVqgKrX9djcuX5XjNscZSdOgcifAkrqJK_v_f5uSJ3RHtR4ii1oB1oUgilwFeZDCNhfaU/s1600/020+%2528800x450%2529.jpg[/img]
CoC 6: Iron Mother goes up behind the forest, whiel the left TEP goes up and starts spraying. First one kills Rorsh, second one targets Holt who Quick Shots it, third one misses Holt.
Seeing the writing on teh wall, Convergence concede, which seems fair enough. I'm ahead on scenario, clock and attrition with no way for Gorten to die.
Liking how this list is panning out, not sure what i'd drop at this point. That's the opening round of Slam done, should seek some targetted matchups and see how it goes.
