Brief Summary of Tournament - 4 Rounds – 50pt SR2014 – Divide and Conquer

First event of 2014, at Travelling Man Leeds, one of my regular tournament venues. 2 lists and knowing that there is usually a high proportion of Menoth, Trolls, Legion and Cygnar I needed answers for all of them. List one was going to be pSorscha, current list based on work I did late last year and the “new tech” of Croe’s, this should give me some game against Cryx, Trolls, Legion and most general lists. The movement of the flags in Incursion has made the Kossites awesome!

Kommander Sorscha (*5pts)
* Spriggan (10pts)
* Sylys Wyshnalyrr, the Seeker (2pts)
Alexia Ciannor & the Risen (Alexia and 9 Risen Grunts) (5pts)
Croe's Cutthroats (Croe and 9 Grunts) (10pts)
Iron Fang Pikemen (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
* Black Dragon Officer & Standard (2pts)
Kossite Woodsmen (Leader and 5 Grunts) (4pts)
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt (4pts)
Winter Guard Infantry (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
* Winter Guard Infantry Officer & Standard (2pts)
* 2 Winter Guard Infantry Rocketeers (2pts)
Kovnik Jozef Grigorovich (2pts)
Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator (1pts)

 I now needed to be able to deal with Menoth and Cygnar, my best bet was probably a pVlad list similar to Jamie Ps, I removed the Spriggan and the 2 sniper solos for Boomhowler, eEiryss and Valachev who I added to the TAC. This would increase the jamming capacity of the list, provide more movement for the TAC (potentially Zephyring back out of the clouds), and allow them to benefit from SnP.

Vladimir, The Dark Prince (*5pts)
* Behemoth (13pts)
Great Bears of Gallowswood (5pts)
Greygore Boomhowler & Co. (Boomhowler and 9 Grunts) (9pts)
Greylord Outriders (Leader and 4 Grunts) (9pts)
Tactical Arcanist Corps (4pts)
* Koldun Kapitan Valachev (2pts)
Winter Guard Rifle Corps (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
Eiryss, Angel of Retribution (3pts)
Koldun Lord (2pts)

Game 1 – Mark Peyton – Trolls – Balance of Power

Grim Angus (*6pts)
* Troll Impaler (5pts)
* Dire Troll Bomber (10pts)
* Earthborn Dire Troll (10pts)
Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters (Cylena and 9 Grunts) (10pts)
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew (Leader and 1 Grunt) (1pts)
Trollkin Fennblades (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
* Trollkin Fennblade Officer & Drummer (2pts)
Trollkin Scattergunners (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
* Trollkin Scattergunner Officer & Drummer (2pts)
Janissa Stonetide (3pts)

I won the first turn, deployed the WGI centrally, Croes on my left with Alexia between, IFP on the right and Sorscha and Spriggan to the right of the WGI. He deployed Nyss to my right, Scatter Gunners right of the centre, Fennblades in the middle, Janissa, Grimm and the battlegroup to the left. It was a pretty standard pSorscha game, killing a unit a time with Freezing Grip, the IFP and Kossites tied up the Nyss in melee, Croe’s and WGI firing into units/beasts. The game ended with a Boundless Charged Alexia getting into Grimm with about 18 risen in play. Assassination victory.

Game 2 – James Boosey – Legion of Everblight – Close Quarters

Kallus, Wrath of Everblight (*5pts)
* Shredder (2pts)
* Ravagore (10pts)
* Ravagore (10pts)
Blighted Nyss Hex Hunters (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
Blighted Nyss Legionnaires (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Blighted Nyss Raptors (Leader and 4 Grunts) (10pts)
Annyssa Ryvaal, Talon of Everblight (4pts)
Blighted Nyss Shepherd (1pts)
Blighted Nyss Shepherd (1pts)
1 Spell Martyr (1pts)
Strider Deathstalker (2pts)

I have played Boosey a couple of times in the past and chat to him at most events we go to. He dropped the Motherland last year for Legion and the current score was 1-1, who would take the lead? I won the first turn again, and chose the Vlad list, crucially forgetting that legion beasts ignore clouds, which would be pivotal later in the game. I deployed the Boomhowlers on my left, WGRC in the centre left, Vlad, Behemoth, TAC, GBs centre right and the Greylords right. He then deployed HH & Deathstalker opposite Boomhowlers, Kallus, Battlegroup and support in the centre, Legionnaires centre right, with Raptors and Annyssa on the right, prey on the outriders.

Both advanced in first turns, my second turn I set up vlad and Behemoth behind my cloud wall (after behemoth managed to do about 20 damage to a Ravagore using 2 focus), Boomies ran to engage the HH, Outriders came forward and killed a few legionaires. It was at this point I remembered that legion beasts ignore clouds and Vlad was pretty close to being in range of both Ravagores, with only one focus, this could be over very quickly! Boosey looks at the board and figures only one Ravagore is in range and sets about killing a bunch of stuff. Over half the Boomhowlers go down, couple of rifle core, 4 of the Outriders, a single TAC, prey transfers to the Great Bears. He shoots the one Ravagore at vlad, misses and deviates over 2 legionnaires and a TAC, setting both legionnaires on fire! Kallus Feats. Having earned a reprieve I decide to make the most of it, Boomhowler Rage Howls, causing a Sheppard to flee, and forcing one of the Ravagores to have to move to escape the -2.  Vlad puts up SnP and Windwall and feats, sends Behemoth into the closest Ravagore with one focus from the Koldun. Practicaly cripples the Ravagore (But doesn’t kill it). TAC kill some legionnaires, WGRC kill some hexhunters, incubi and a shepherd. Boosey is eying up behemoth wondering if he can get enough to it to kill it, but without committing Kallus he isn’t sure. So the Raptors come in and kill the Outriders and switch prey to GBs, Annysa kills one GB, another TAC dies. Hexhunters continue to be frustrated by the 2 remaining Boomhowlers, kill a couple of WGRC. Ravagore in melee with the Behemoth wrecks both arms, but leaves the movement and cortexes intact. My turn Vlad puts up Boundless charges a GB, charges a Raptor kills it, puts SnP up and uses the bloodboon to cast windall, putting him in B2B with the flag. GBs charge up and kill the Ravagore engaging Behemoth, who then repositions and shoots, kills shepherd. TAC charge and fail to kill the last Raptor who is contesting my flag. Boomhowler Rages again and kills a HH, more skirmishing on that side with the HH and WGRC. Boosey now needs to kill both GBs and then send in the Ravagore to kill Behemoth, he will then be pretty safe to dominate his flag and start to score. The upshot of this turn is that tough can be a really nightmare when it goes against you, he dedicated a whole pile of stuff to killing the GBs and tough blocked it all. Meaning I could kill his Ravagore if it killed Behemoth, and then the GBs would threaten Kallus. In my next turn the GBs charged and killed Annysa, the TAC killed the last Raptor, Behemoth repositioned for a charge on the Ravagore, I score 1 point. Just as Boosey starts his turn Dice Down is called and I win on 1 CP. Not the way I wanted to win the game, but a win none the less. Win by Scenario.

Game 3 – Tom – Retribution of Scyrah - Incursion

Adeptis Rahn Shyeel (*6pts)
* Banshee (10pts)
* Phoenix (10pts)
Dawnguard Sentinels (Leader and 9 Grunts) (9pts)
* Dawnguard Sentinel Officer & Standard (2pts)
House Shyeel Battle Mages (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
Stormfall Archers (Leader and 3 Grunts) (5pts)
Stormfall Archers (Leader and 3 Grunts) (5pts)
Arcanist (1pts)
Arcanist (1pts)
House Shyeel Magister (2pts)
Madelyn Corbeau, Ordic Courtesan (2pts)
Mage Hunter Assassin (2pts)
Mage Hunter Assassin (2pts)

I selected Sorscha and won the roll to go first again, this being a running theme of the day. I deployed IFP on the left then Alexia, WGI, Sorscha, Spriggan, A&H, AD Croe’s. He deploys Stormfalls and Assassins on each flank, Banshee, Arcanist, Magister left, Rahn, Madelyn, Sentinels, Battle Mages centre, Pheonix, Arcanist, right. So both advance on the first turn, right side flag disappears. Kossites come on the left and kill the Assassin and 2 Stormfalls! Sorscha advances, freezes the Sentinels, Wind Rushes back. Croes advance on the right and kill 3 more stormfalls an a couple of sentinels, WG put the pain on the sentinels killing about 7-8, Alexia advances into the centre, catching most of my models in her command. BDP advance Iron Zeal and Shield Wall onto the flag. With his centre fairly decimated he advances and starts to thin out my troops, setting 6 BDP on fire, Assassin charges and misses Croe. Battlemages and Rahn slam the Spriggan around like a pinball killing some WGI, narrowly missing Alexia. Looking at the position on the board I check Sorcha’s control and it looks like I can cap Rahn with her feat, so I charge a WGI, pop feat, put a wind rush into Rahn for about 8 damage, wind rushes back to safety. Croe’s advance down the flank and 3 get in range of Rahn and 2 finish him off. A pretty quick game, and one that highlighted the lethality of attacking stationary targets, and the massive range of Sorcha’s threat. Win by Assassination.

Game 4 – Paul Gibbon – Mercs – Fire Support

Drake MacBain (*6pts)
* Galleon (18pts)
* Sylys Wyshnalyrr, the Seeker (2pts)
Alexia Ciannor & the Risen (Alexia and 9 Risen Grunts) (5pts)
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt (4pts)
Press Gangers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Press Gangers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Sea Dog Crew (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
Bosun Grogspar (2pts)
Doc Killingsworth (2pts)
First Mate Hawk (2pts)
Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist (2pts)
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord (2pts)

So I found myself on the top table playing Mercs for the final! Hi lists where the above and a Madhammer list with an Earthbreaker, Kayazy, Nyss. I knew that the Vlad list wouldn’t be able to handle the Drake list, too many unkillable models would push me out of the game. So I opted for Sorscha and he dropped MacBain. The game went pretty much as I hoped with him feating first turn, (I won first turn again). My counter feat locking him in place while I sprayed over them into the back lines. In the following turns it turned into a massive grind, with freezing grip being the deciding factor, essentially eliminating one unit at a time. I killed the Galleon over 3 turns with Kyss of Lyriss and BDP. The Alexia’s filled the centre of the board with thralls for about 4 turns. I managed to push him back enough to score 2 CPs, my next turn I cleared the flag near Sorscha and scored 3 to take the win. It was a tough game and a couple of errors on my opponent’s side in a pivotal turn allowed me to close the deal earlier than I probably would have done. Win by Scenario.

So Sorscha proves that she can take many opponents and I am glad I have spent time learning her threats and manoeuvrability. The small unit of BDP where much better than I thought, they where able to deal enough damage to key targets and it’s a lot easier to get 8 guys within 4 of a flag than 12. The Kossites proved kings of jam and surprise! Incursion really is the scenario for them, coming on to threaten the flag that has remained.

Vlad did some work, my mistake nearly cost me the game, but I am confident I won’t make the same one again. Great Bears with SnP are amazing, as are Outriders. Rifle Core do not like stealth units, means they have to get way too close.