Epic Recon (Slightly adjusted)
Scenario slightly modified by current SR2018 CID, just shuffles the flags to the inner corner of the rectangle zones. Didn't really affect this game a massive amount, so lazy regular report it is.
Lists basically dictated by what we felt like playing or had available.
Minion Army - 75 / 75 points
[Theme] Will Work for Food
(Arkadius 1) Dr. Arkadius [+32]
- Battle Boar [7]
- Gorax Rager [7]
- Gorax Rager [7]
- Razor Boar (2) [7]
- Razor Boar (2) [7]
- Razor Boar (2) [7]
- Road Hog [16]
- Road Hog [16]
- War Hog [15]
- War Hog [15]
- Targ [0(4)]
Gatorman Witch Doctor [0(4)]
Hutchuck, Ogrun Bounty Hunter [0(6)]
Orin Midwinter, Rogue Inquisitor [0(5)]
Swamp Gobber Chef [1]
Swamp Gobbers Bellows Crew [2]
Into the local proven jank caster:
Khador Army - 75 / 75 points
[Theme] Legion of Steel
(Malakov 2) Kommander Andrei Malakov [+28]
- Destroyer [14]
- Juggernaut [12]
- Kodiak [13]
- Kodiak [13]
Iron Fang Kovnik [0(4)]
Iron Fang Kovnik [4]
Kaptain Sofya Skirova [0(5)]
Orin Midwinter, Rogue Inquisitor [5]
Uhlan Kovnik Markov [7]
Battle Mechaniks (max) [5]
Black Dragons (max) [17]
- Black Dragon Officer & Standard [4]
Great Bears of the Gallowswood [9]
I win the die roll and pick first, both sides select the pathfinder granting objective.
I get a large defensive trench and a hill beside my objective. Both zones have a splash of water.
There's a forest out on the left.
Khador gets a forest that partially shields their objective and a house positioned on the right zones corner.
Have to ensure that Malakov feat doesn't pop and allow Jacks to threaten Arkadius. Otherwise not a super amount of opposing ranged, so Arky can drain most of his Fury playing via the rule of cool.
By dint of lending out some models, Hutchuck is proxied by an Ogrun Bokor and the Witch Doctor is a Gatorman Bokur. O's and U's may be wrong, such is the wind from the east.
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Minion 1: Stuff runs up.
Mostly evenly split my stuff, Battle Boar ducks out to the right opposing the advanced move Black Dragons. I Force Evolution the rightmost Road Hog.
Aggravator is put up, basically out of habit.
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Khador 1: Stuff runs, without any major redployments.
Malakov hangs waaaay back in safety range. He holds his feat at present, which is unfortunate. Means I'll need to feat pretty well as I'll lose the waiting game versus scenario pressure.
Destroyer goes out left, the Kodiaks divide to have one in the open and the other behind the forest, a mighty Counter Charge blob of Great Bears, Sofiya and a Kovnik behind them.
Right wise, ye old IFP triangles pop up, the Black Dragons Shieldwalling and popping Iron Zeal. One triangle goes into a Veil of Mist between the Khador forest and house, with Markov and a Kovnik behind waiting for more Counter Charge goodness. Jugger runs up to that area as well.
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Minion 2: I get two plans of Arkadius activations and prevaricate for two long, which produces several errors. It's definitely feat turn and I want to send a War Hog up to try to kill the Destroyer and left Kodiak, however I also want to stick Crippling Grasp on the IFP to enable a Battle Boar run. These two plans do not mix positioning wise.
Left wise, things go alright.
A Razor Boar runs up, drawing out Sofiya and on Great Bears Counter Charges. I lose the Razor Boar, but now Heavies can move around a bit more freely.
Arkady jabs a needle in a pigs butt to get it's heart pumping, I think I throw out an ineffectual Primal Shock off a Razor Boar because I am the fool Mr T and his gymnastics team needs to pity.
Feat moves clear fury off the Goraxes, the Razor Boars do some ineffectual attacks, the War Hog and Road Hog pop up this side, one with pathfinder from teh objective and the other given Ghostly by the Witch Doc Croc.
The Road Hog then backtracks a little bit into the water terrain to flame out a Great Bear yet to Counter Charge and Sofiya.
Hutchuck Rusts the Destroyer and gives it a whack with his mace.
The War Hog is already Primalled and Raw Adrennaled, alas he isn't in walking distance of where he needs to be so buffs for more strength and charges the Kodiak. This draws the Kovnik Counter Charge, which thankfully doesn't take out anything. The War Hog kills the Kodiak without issue, Overtakes to the Destroyer and promptly struggles. Manages to take out the gun, wasn't what I was hoping for.
Centrally, Razor Boars shuffle around with their Counter charge Animus up and make ineffectual attacks on the Pikemen.
The Forced Evo Road Hog flames out some of the IFP.
Right wise, the Battle Boar had already been Primalled so goes into the Pikemen and kills a few, but it isn't a string of awesome against the arm stack of 21.
Targ toes the flag, a necessity for Herding to be on the Battle Boar. Gobber chef chills in the background waiting to replace him when he dies. The remaining War Hog toes the zone here waiting for his chance to eat some delicious pikies.
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Khador 2: Malakov moves up to toe the killbox and pops his own feat.
Leftwise the Destroyer and the Kovnik put the forward War Hog on a single box. A pair of battle mechanics charge in, because it turns out they have attack stats. Alas, their heroism is for nought and the Great Bears have to come in and get the job done.
The Kovnik behind the forest walks forward and gets in on the left side Road Hog. Ah. That's not good.
Burns it's full stack, leaves the Road Hog knocked down and one two boxes. Malakov actually gets this done himself with a hand cannon shot, because he's a git and saw my eager stare of hope.
Markov had also popped through the forest to engage Razor Boars and mess shit up.
Between the forest and house, the three IFP, Kovnik and Jugger kill the pair of in the way Razor Boars, though it was harder than it ought to have been.
Out on the right, the other IFP move up and jab at the battle boar. The standard bearer stays hidden next tot he house contesting the zone like a cheeky bugger.
Operational necessities meant no Khador solo got to their flag and nothing got up to my own, so I score on Khadors turn. 1-0.
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Minion 3: The loss of the Road Hog was problematic. There was a good few minutes where it was at on a couple boxes knocked down with sod all activations remaining that I dared to dream of it standing, getting Primalled and Forced Evo'd, then throwing the Kodiak out of Malakov's control range/feat and basically getting a free heavy to kill. Alas, he fired that accursed Hand Cannon....
Alright, Malakov feat means a conservative turn of not attacking Warjacks.
Extreme left, Hutchuck moves up toward the Khador board edge, planning on being a nuisance. A grenade kills the left most pair of mechanics.
Regular left, my Orin sees the moment of gold. Lighting on the left Kovnik will get the remaining Great Bears and either Malakov or a mechanic. He dreams of boosting damage, so I try to hard roll the five to hit and promptly miss. Curse you ambition! Classic overreach.
Arkadius is within eight inches of a Khador Heavy I can't kill this turn. HOW ABOUT NO. He puts Crippling Grasp on it, then falls back into the trench.
Swamp Gobbers clouds up in front of the good doctor. Alright doctor. FIne, insane loonybin wearing a bikini instead of underwear for comfort reasons.
Centralwise, the Road Hog moves backward out of Juggernaught range and sprays down the right side Kovnik and an IFP. He then gets jabbed by Arkadius with Adrennaled and Ancillaried by Targ to spray Markov, though the damage rolls are not great. The remaining Razor Boars also go all out on Markov, he sticks around with a few boxes remaining. Well, that wasn't impressive, maybe fire will get the job done.
Rightwise, the Gorax out this way moves forward onto the hill where he will hopefully draw the Jugger in to be killed by the War Hog, who minces to the back of the zone in safety land. The Swamp Gobber Chef runs to be the piece scoring the flag. The Battle Boar frenzied ineffectually on an IFP.
Hmmm. Definitely had better turns than that.
I score my flag again if nought else, so go to 2-0.
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Khador 3: Markov survives the fire. Grumble.
In extreme left Hutchuck land, he sadly draws the ire of the Great Bears and is tragically cut down in his prime before further nuisance efforts can be made. This is after the Destroyer tries a bombard shot after walking into the left zone and missing, because crippling Rat 4 ain't good yo.
Malakov moves up to the Khador flag with a circle of Mechanic Sucker targets. He hand cannons my gambling Orin away. Traitorous Khadoran Orin sidles up to Malakov all friendly like, but I know what he's really like once the chips are down and the strippers are coming for you.
The Kodiak comes forward and steams the two Swamp Gobbers to death.
Around the centre, the remaining Kovnik, Markov and a lone IFP kill the second last Razor Boar, now only one survives.
Rightwise, the Jugger moves up and sure enough blats that flanks Gorax to death. The IFP shuffle around the Battle Boar and kill it, the standard bearer stays hiding in his contest hole.
Khador now score their own flag, up 2-1 to me still. My flag sadly now has a Khador heavy in the way.
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Minion 4: Aggravator drops as it's doing nothing for me. Much as I loathe it, Guardian Beast would have been the right choice. One day I'll use that spell effectively.
Plan is to just chip at the Khador stuff at this point, long Khador planning turns mean I'll likely win on clock without to much trouble.
Leftwise, the Gorax Primals itself and charges the Kodiak, spikes to do some impressive damage.
The Road Hog then walks in, happily munches it and maxes Fury to sprint to the left the Swamp Gobber runs to be in front of the Gorax, otherwise it might frenzy into Arkadius which...yeah....lets not do that please.
The Witch Doctor runs up to contest the Khador flag.
The last Razor Boar is stuck in a land of Counter Charge so just flails at Markov. He lives on, powered by spiting me.
Arkadius chills out in the back trench. Just enjoys life. Primal shocks an IFP to death. Camps one in case of opposing Orin lightning trickery.
Out on the right Targ goes to the flag, the War Hog goes in and cleans up the Juggernaught and an IFP.
I score my flag, now up 3-1.
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Khador 4: I win on clock this turn, we play it out further to see how it goes down.
Markov finally burns to death! Happy days!
Leftwise, Malakov comes down from his previous excitement and backs up a little bit.
Orin takes up the flag position. He lightnings and does some damage to my remaining beasts.
The Great Bears return from their Ogrun murdering adventure to kill the Gator Witch Doc.
This frees up the Destroyer to charge the remaining Road Hog, Forced Evo does some good and the beast lives sans Mind and Body.
The last Kovnik finally kills the final Razor Boar. Good piggy, you've earnt some rest. And to be turned into some form of meal.
Rightwise, the Ifp move up to contest my flag and takes out the War Hogs mind. Stupid Precision strike.
Khador score their flag, now 3-2.
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Minion 5: The Gorax frenzies towards the Kovnik, but doesn't make it.
I *really* want to Primal shock the IFP standard to death, however if the Destroyer survives and kills the Road Hog I'm screwed. Down to five models after all. For similar reasons Primal on the 'hog isn't an option, I can't afford a beast to be out of action on a predetermined frenzy.
Thus, out on the left Arkadius Crippling Grasps the Destroyer and pops Psycho Surgery.
The Road Hog then kills the Koadiak and sprints to the edge of the left zone, outside of Great Bear charge range.
Arkady stays chilling in the trench.
Rightwise, the War Hog kills the four pokey stick IFP, only the cowardly standard bearer remains. Targ chills on the flag.
Both sides score their flags, now 4-3.
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Khador 5: The Great Bears come in and kill the Gorax, freeing up the Kovnik to charge over to my flag and stab the War Hog a bit.
Standard Bearer hides.
Malakov goes back to his flag, Orin moves into the centre of the board and lightnings the Road Hog for some damage.
The Battle Mechanics start running across in the backfield to deal with contesting the right zone.
Khador score, get to 4 all.
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Minion 6: Closing stages andI lack the pieces to contest. I NEED to clear out the zones and get some last minute points.
Left wise Arkadius puts Crippling Grasp on the Great Bears, heals the remaining pair of beasts again chills out.
The Road Hog aims and sprays the contesting Great Bears. Alas one of them toughs, so that scoring doesn't happen.
Targ Ancillaries the War Hog to cleaver the Kovnik down, he then walks up to allow a non-cover Primal shock in teh future on the IFP standard bearer.
Sadly both sides score flags, 5 all.
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Khador 6: Fire on the Crippling Grasped Great Bear goes out. Damn, the elements are not working with me here.
Malakov stays chilling on the flag, he hand cannons and does his crappy magic nuke to leave the Road Hog on three boxes. Orin tries a lightning that does nothing.
Mechanics run around, one charges and misses Targ, another toes the zone. One hangs back to be a sac pawn target for Malakov, lest a single flame thrower shot seal the end of the game.
Khador score their flag, now 5-6.
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Minion 7: Damn, this turned on me at some point.
Left side isn't hard, the Road Hog gets healed and assaults in to kill the Great Bear, then sprints to contest the Khador flag.
Right wise though.....Arkadius Primal shocks the sodding IFP down, however I now need to deal with the two mechanics who are towing considerably apart. I opt for the War Hog to go in and munch a line of dudes, eventually popping Orin. That was only done, however, because Targ failed to kill the Mechanic he was in melee with and that was that.
I equal it out to 6 all, in Khador's turn Malakov has no issues charge and dispatching the super wounded Road Hog to score the zone and win, re-positioning back to his flag for that extra point.
Trying a more organised approach to the batrep oh-god-I-play-like-an-upside-rock-trying-to-swim thing:
Warlock powers underutilized: Mostly used nearly all of his abilities, aside from continued ineptness regarding Guardian Beast. Arkadius also didn't make melee attacks, which is nearly always the way it should be and holds for this game where he needed to do other things.
Late Game: A few boo-boos here. Most importantly was the sudden obsession with Crippling Grasp, a spell I rarely use but for the previous phases had been the right choice. Psycho Surgery essentially precluded multiple boosted blasts, what I needed to identify in the final rounds was that I didn't need to boost. It could have killed both the mechanic and IFP standard, allowing he War Hog to trample backwards and kill the mechanic on Targ netting me the required points. Well, would have a higher chance of success anyway.
Mid Game: Strategic flaw was not changing games to push scenario, contest with a narrow point lead and just exchanging pieces. At no point, courtesy of the Jugger being scary, did I threaten the Khadoran objective which feels both like a big fail and the correct play at the same time.
My actual biggest mistake was the Road Hog being left in a position for the Kodiak to walk up and kill it. Would have been the height of ease to measure the walking threat range and position it outside of that and still spray down Sofiya and the relevant Great Bear.
I also missed a Witch Doc activation, he could have run to the middle and been a better reactive piece.
The Swamp Gobbers were also a waste, the cloud wasn't really needed. They should have copied the IFP standard or run in one at a time and been Sac Strike models fo rhte Witch Doc, maybe could have killed sodding Markov earlier.
Early Game: Contest with feat timing decision, however the Battle Boar was a potentially vital piece that was wasted. The IFP should have been ignored outside of some flame throwerness on the Iron Zeal turn.
Other mistake was not cycling Forced Evolution to the War Hog I was sending into two Khador Heavies where every damage buff needs to be leveraged.
Deployment/Unpack: Only real error here was putting Forced Evo on a Road Hog instead of a War Hog. That's a failure to read the important matchups, which are the heavies not the infantry.
This is less about skill on my part and more that Will Work for Food going first is super forgiving to any redeployments or changes you want to make.
List Selection: Ostensibly paired with Jaga, I don't think the Croc list wants to see this overly. The IFP vaporize, but it had a hard time stopping Malakov's feat giving him the positional edge to win out on Piece trades with Veil of Mists being able to counter Floodwaters.
List changes: Still happy with the list, I don't feel the need to tinker with it. Probably a sign that I've missed something egregious, however the only thing that I could see is putting Kwaak in, but solo slots are at a premium and the current selections have specific uses.
Oh, I missed a week of gamez. Change the below picture text from a five to a four.
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