I only need to have Gorten stupidly killed so many times, ergo:
Thexus1 (Operating Theater) - 2x Wardens, Subduer, 3x Slavers, 2x Benders, Alexia with Dominator, 2x Overlords
vs
Syntherion1 (Destruction Initiative) - Axiom, 2x Assimilators, 3x Diffuser, Corrolary, 2x ADO, Flare bots, 3x Reflex blobs, Mechanicy chumps
Scenario is ye....not old.....Barbell, with one side dominated by forests with a trench, the other getting a wall and most importantly a nice small obstruction.
I win the roll, pick the table with the terrain that can be used to stop Tow Cables and doesn't slow down the Drudges as much.
I'm finding Syntherion a harder matchup than other Convergence, which weirdly enough I think is a result of an over developed focus on killing TEPs and a slight panic induced by 14 inch threat Axioms. Basic plan is to use the obstruction to keep Thexus safe using Sac Pawn and make a push to score up early, using the lack of opposing units weakness to win out on the long game on the flanks.
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CoC 1: The Gear buts and nuts run up, one Flare bot and ADO chump coming up in the left. Axiom is central with the various other Vectors either side.
Reflex Servitors go all college level experimental, forming up as a big blob on one side of the board.
Hot Shot goes on the Axiom, Synergy on Syntherion.
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Merc 1: The ADO's are there to arc out Magnetic Holds, so I figure it is worth running up the Subduer behind the obstruction for Thexus to arc a Hex Blast out. Alas, he misses. Deflection goes up, Risen/Agitator used to give a focus to the Wardens for them to run up to good spots in Thexus' vicinity. Drudge blobs run up, I spawn a Thrall Warrior to get up into the centre forest to be annoying.
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CoC 2: The Vectors stay clumped centrally like a.....clumpy......thing......
The Reflex Servitor blob on the right split into two groups, the front rank run and engage Drudges, the forward Warden and an Overlord, the back ones fall back a bit.
The Vectors do various ranged shots, their non-Mother ranged limitations leave the Assimilators to random scatters rather than sweet Grounder Pounders. The shooting overall is rather disappointing, blowing up maybe half a dozen Drudges and the Suicide Thrall.
One ADO runs up the right and arcs Magnetic Hold on the Green Slavers, which is a right nuisance.
Reconstruct goes on the right Assimilator.
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Merc 2: So I'd like to Hexblast off Magnetic Hold. Really, that'd be super. Alas, Thexus is to focussed strained for such an activity, as I have an angle to get the Subduer on a Vector but it requires most of his resources. I opt not to ambush, reasoning I'll probably want the troops next round after Syntherion feat devastates mah doodz. Plus what they'd want to do is score the right zone, however I lack the means to get rid of the far Reflex chumps. Stupid floaty orby mines.
Alexia goes first, Risen pop a few of the jamming Reflex dudes and spawn a Thrall.
Risen moving also lets Thexus fall back a little after he feats, which primarily moves CoC models back and pulls forward the Corollary. He TK's the Subduer, pops Decel and sits in Sac Pawn range of Wardens and outside of Axiom maximum threat range (LIVE IN FEAR!).
The Subduer is, alas, to far for an Instigate aura, so he has to try to do things the hard way. He walks forward a bit, boosts and hits the Drag, then whacks the Corrolary down to about half a dozen boxes. Doh, going to have to throw more resources at it.
Continuing on the left side of the board, the Blue Benders Adrenal three of the Pink SLavers, who charge up to kill a flare bot, whack a helmet on an ADO and finish the Corrolary.
The Overlords on this side run to toe the edge of the zone for sweet pointitude.
Centre wise the Green Drudges spew forth obscenities about their over charged Nipple Rings as they shamble in a limited manner and do little.
The Thrall Warrior charges up to engage a Diffuser and pop a Reflex (Trade the free models, hear some white noise, doo doo doo dah)
Right hand/foot/eyeball wise, the Purple Benders pop three of their number to spray down Servitors and this flanks ADO. We are now in an ADO free world, which would be perfect if sodding Magnetic Hold wasn't already tormenting my world.
The Overlords just move around to pop another one, a member of the unit contests the right zone out of old habits not relevant when the only opposing unit is the mechanics.
I get up by one point off the left zone.
While I was content with my successes this turn, the time it took was disappointing. I ended my turn with 29 minutes to go versus 31, so a clock play is on the table, it just isn't as firm as I would like.
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CoC 3: Killing Corrolaries actually tends to be an even effect at best. It's most powerful thing is to tilt your average CoC player, however if they have the mental fortitude to not be sad about losing the ring around pony focus then it super simplifies their game plans as they don't have to worry about forming a focus spend chain. Alas, Abedon is sufficiently proficient as to be content and throw down focus as appropriate, so.....doh?
Syntherion Feats and chills up the back.
A Diffuser on the right pops the offending Thrall Warrior.
The left Assimialtor charges the Subduer, misses the charge attack and ends up only popping half its boxes (Though this does include the Brain alas), plus does a gunshot that kills some Pink Drudges.
The Diffuser on this flank (The left) wonders into my Circular zone as well and shoots a guy.
The Axiom shuffle in the centre, throws out Toe Cables, lands both so manages to bypass Shield Guard and drag a Warden in to easily mulch it.
Right wise Vectors mostly hang back in expectation of ambush, popping Risen and Green Drudges.
CoC score the centre zone, now at one apiece.
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Merc 3: Bought the Ceph digital forces book for a pittance to read the fluff. Was quite good, really makes me wish the relevant fluff novella from Skull Island had been solely Cephalyx perspective. Rutger and Taryn are garbage guys, give screen time to pretty much anyone else, even Sam and the Devil Dogs had a more interesting take.
Plan is to play for time, however in meantime make scenario plays off the circle zones. I decide at this point therere is minimal value in trying to pop the Axiom, stuff can't get to it. I won't be able to score the right side as one Diffuser is to far back, but whatever.
Left wise, Thexus hovers around a bit, keeping the Obstruction between him and the Axiom with a Warden in Sac Pawn Range. He TK's the left Assimilator out of the left zone, pops Decel and Pschyo Surgery to make the Subduer less Garbage.
Continuing in that zone, Overlords spray at the Diffuser, spike for good damage. I left the Blue Benders a bit far back, so instead of channeling the unit leader casts a single manual Adrenal on a Pink Drudges. It's sufficient as the Pinkies pop the Diffuser, clearing the zone.
Agitator advances behind the obstruction (Wait......Agitator has Sac Pawn Monstrosity. HE COULD HAVE EASILY STOPPED THE WARDEN BEING DRAGGED TO DEATH. I'M A MORON.).
*sigh* anyway, Subduer moves across a bit, hits the Assimialtor and does a free hit for piss all.
Alexia charges him, throws some Risen into the centre zone. Burns all bar three of the Risen to kill the Assimilator.
The Green Drudges keep disappointing their adoptive Cephalyx fathers as they amble about, two of them move into Thexus Hex Blast range to get rid of this stupid testicle clamp issue they are having.
Overlords, Purple Benders and Yellow AMbush Drudges get into the right zone, popping a couple Reflex Servitors on the way. I clump up the Yellow Drudges thinking they'd take loads of time with a Grounder Pounder, though really I could have done that with less of them as I had a weird obsession with getting the whole unit into the zone.
I score the left, get up 2v1.
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CoC 4: The Axiom stays central, rolls like Garbage to Accel Spike Pink Drudges. Drags in and kills the Subduer.
A mechanic runs to contest the left zone.
Diffusers and Assimilator contest the right zone, shoots the crap out of the Yellow Drudges, leaving most of the unit dead.
Super low on clock CoC flip the time, they don't score courtesy of the Risen. Good work boys.
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Merc 4: Thexus stays cowering, finally Hex Blasts off Magnetic Hold.
Overlords on the left zone kill the Mechanic, in hindsight I forget to activate the Blue Benders who should have advanced to threaten the Axiom. Oh well.
Alexia, Dominator and Risen make laughably bad attacks on the Axiom. As the saying goes, every little bit gets easily fixed by auto-repair.
Green Drudges get Adrenals off the Pink Benders, they charge up and kill a Diffuser while the Yellow remnants engage the other and that sides Assimilator.
I score the left, get up 3v1.
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CoC 5: CoC make the best of it, using the Axiom to contest the left and centre zone while flailing at Alexia and popping some Drudges. Time out mid Diffuser activation.
Interesting matchup to me, vastly more so than the Axis/Mother stuff I've gone into a lot at this point. I think if both sides play to clock it favours me, now that I've woken up to the Agitator positioning (Such derro-ness. Cogsarnat.).
