Southern Ontario Open Recap Part 2

So after our night on the town the alarms woke us up earlier than any of us really wanted. After rocking the free breakfast at the hotel and the mandatory (should be for all convention goers) shower we threw on the Team Spite shirts (except Tim who forgot his) and hit the road for the Canadian Legion that was hosting the event.

Some of the only photos I remembered to take

When we go to the Legion I got to say quick hellos to some of my Canadian buddy like Northblade, Chadi, Boots, and Charles (my partner in crime after the painting class) After the hellos it was time to break out the minis and get the tray ready for the day. It was at this time Tim realized he brought one of his troll cases and didn't have the minis needed for one of his lists :/

This mess is my tray prior to round one. Damn three lists and trolls :)

I don't know about y'all but round one of any event is always the most nerve racking for me and the lead up to pairing is always anxious. All I was hoping for was a match up where I had a clear drop and didn't have to think too much. Lucky for me this came true and I was paired up vs Legion and the scenario was destruction. 

Round1: I was paired up with Fadi from Northblade's meta. I forget what his other two lists were but I was nearly 100% sure he was going to drop eVayl theme force and I was right he did. Fadi's list was as follows (to the best of my memory):

Vayl, Consul of Everblight (*6pts)

* Naga Nightlurker (5pts)
* Raek (4pts)
* Angelius (8pts)
* Angelius (8pts)
* Angelius (8pts)
* Ravagore (9pts)
* Ravagore (9pts)
Spawning Vessel (Leader and 5 Grunts) (3pts)
Blighted Nyss Shepherd (1pts)
Blighted Nyss Shepherd (1pts)

I dropped Runes of War. I was very happy with round one as it was a central scenario I felt very comfortable, the terrain was set up in such a way I could put my wall in great spots plus there was water, and I know the Vayl list pretty well to boot. 

I won the roll and decided to go first. I deployed in a pretty standard runes set up with the Doomie, the beasts, Janissa, and the KSB centralized and two units of runeshapers on each flank. Turn one everything pretty much runs forward. I had a little brain fart in my turn one as I forgot to do no continuous effects from the KSB and on his turn the ravegores set two of my runeshapers on fire....doh! All in all the game went pretty well for me and I feel hes was a little too conservative as I was able to score three scenario point on top of three and then get another two on top of four to win the game on scenario. Out of round one W CP:5 AP 23....1-0

Round2: I was paired up with Andrew who was playing Circle. His three 'locks were eKreuger, pMorvahna, and eMorvahna. I was pretty sure I was going to see eMorvahna so I decided to drop runes of war once again. He did indeed drop the Goatlady and his list was as follows:

Morvahna the Dawnshadow (*5pts)

* Gorax (4pts)
* Warpwolf Stalker (10pts)
* Warpwolf Stalker (10pts)
* Woldwarden (9pts)
Warpborn Skinwalkers (Leader and 4 Grunts) (8pts)
* Warpborn Alpha (3pts)
Wolves of Orboros (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
* Wolf of Orboros Officer & Standard (2pts)
Druid Wilder (2pts)
Gallows Grove (1pts)

The scenario for round two was balance of power which from my experience isn't all that "live". I decided to drop runes once again. Just like in round one I won the roll for initiative and once again elected to go first. This round my side of the table wasn't as favorable to my standard deployment as there was a pretty large obstruction on my right flank that would effect my standard "unpacking" He deployed his skinwalkers across from the runeshapers on my right flank and the unit of wolves across from the runes on my left flank where they could run into a forest. I went with a pretty standard turn one except the two units of runeshapers on my right flank were not able to get as far out as I would normally like them. The next turn we exchanged minis on the flanks and were jockeying for position. I lost the mauler to a primaled stalker on a turn I was considering feating but decided to hold off. I attepted to RFP as many of the skinwalkers as possible but my axer just didn't damage Mulg enough and Mulg was fully healed after eating two skinwalkers. Once he was down to a skinwalker and the alpha he ran them around my right flank and feated putting a lot of pressure on my backfield and swinging the attrition game largely in his favor. Luckily for me he had scales a few too many time and Morvahna was pretty far up the table to get feated skinwalkers into my backfield and she had 2 fury left in her. After surveying the table I felt I had a very solid Mulg assassination run in line if I could get all my orders of activation layed out properly. Janissa advanced and tectonic shifted pushing two skinwalkers off of Mulg and one off of Doomies back arc. Doomie was now un-engaged and I advanced him forward to rampager a beast out of mulgs charge lane, put fortune on Mulg, and feated. I was struggling deciding if, after receiving rush, Mulg was in charge range of Morvhana it was going to be <1/4" either direction. I decided I could afford to charge and fail so I charge a wilder that was a little closer but on the same trajectory I needed. I had to take a freestrike from a gorax but mulg was at full health so it wasn't too scary. Once the charge of the wilder was completed it turned out I would have been able to charge Morvahna....oh well. I killed the wilder with my fist and was able to take my club initial on Morvahna without having to goad. Since Doomie's feat was up she was going to have to take a D6 each time she transferred and between Mulg's dmg and feat dmg she just couldn't hold up. Mulg killed her with two fury remaining. Round 2 W CP:0 AP: 42.... 2-0

Round3: Before the pairing came out I was desperately hoping for some compelling reason to pick one of my other two lists. I was really enjoying runes of war but I needed to get the other lists on the table. Turns out I was paired up with David who was playing Cryx so Grim2 you're up. David was playing Lich2, Terminus, and pSkarre. He ended up dropping pSkarre and the list was as follows:

Pirate Queen Skarre (*6pts)

* Desecrator (9pts)
* Skarlock Thrall (2pts)
Bane Knights (Leader and 9 Grunts) (10pts)
Mechanithralls (Leader and 9 Grunts) (5pts)
Mechanithralls (Leader and 9 Grunts) (5pts)
Necrosurgeon & 3 Stitch Thralls (2pts)
Necrosurgeon & 3 Stitch Thralls (2pts)
Satyxis Blood Witches (Leader and 5 Grunts) (4pts)
* Satyxis Blood Hag (2pts)
Satyxis Raiders (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
* Satyxis Raider Sea Witch (2pts)
General Gerlak Slaughterborn (3pts)
Satyxis Raider Captain (2pts)

Scenario for round three was incursion. The board was pretty fair in regards to terrain with nothing really sticking out except one fag was in a forest. I won the roll to go first and I never like to go second vs Satyxis so I elected to go first. I deployed the SoB and Saxon on my right flank across from the right flag which was in the forest, D&S got deployed on the left flank, and the Hunters Grim/battlegroup/scattergunners/dygs we all centrally deployed. Turn one dygs burrowed, Grim put mirage on the scattergunners, and everything advanced. I tried to keep minis far enough back so as not to get charged by the raiders. I did a pretty good job of not getting charged on his turn but he decided to just run his raiders into my army and start jamming up the scattergunners and the dygs pop up zone.....the flag on my left went away. On turn two I popped my feat and attempted to clear as many raiders and mcthralls as I could but didn't' get as many as I would have expected. Over the next few turns the middle of the was just bogged down with back and forth fighting and David taking the advantage on attrition due to the recursion he had in his list. I really didn't execute a good game plan after engagement was established and felt like I was fighting an uphill battle the entire game. As I was getting very short on time I attempted a last ditch attempt to snatch a win from the jaw of defeat and was able to dominate the right flag to get up to four control points with 20 sec left on my deathclock. He was able to contest on his turn however and I lost on time. This game was very disappointing to me and has stuck with me since it ended. I have replayed it in my head multiple time and I just played poorly and didn't really make it tough on David. I had some terrible dice throughout the game but by no mean was this why I lost. It seems to me that dice tend to favor a well executed game plan and my rolls reflected my play. As I mentioned above I wish the list was a little different from design but I really wish I could play this game again from go. I cannot say with confidence that I would win but I can say I would play a better game. My hopes of an undefeated day one went out the door and the wind was completely out of my sails. I took a while looking at the table and replaying things in my head. Round 3 L CP:4 AP:37.....2-1

Round 4: I was still a little out of sorts and replaying the last round and I don't remember the warlock pairing for this round. I was playing Matt and he had Legion so I was gonna drop runes I figured I could play eGrissel day two if I qualified. The scenario for this round was Close Quarters. He dropped Saeryn. Once again I won the roll for initiative. I don't remember too may details from this game but I ended up winning via assassination on my feat turn as he ended up killing himself with feat dmg. Round 4 W CP:0 AP 75...... 3-1.

So at the end of day one I was 3-1 and had only played two of my three lists. When they did the raffle and announcements for day two they decided all the 3-1 players were invited back to day two and that they weren't going to narrow the field to the top 16. So I was back for day two and after losing round one Tim clawed back to a 3-1 record and was also going to be playing on day two. It was at this time that the announce the top player from each faction for the day and turns out I was the top Trollblood player and got a Trollblood patch and pair of dice for that achievement. I was pretty worn out by this point and while our initial plans were to hit up the town once again I ended up just going back to BWW to grab some food and watch the UFC PPV.

We came back for day two but neither Tim or myself were that into it. I got paired up with Phillip who play with Ze Frenchies out of Quebec I believe. He was playing mercs and was a really good dude. I forget his pairings at this time but know one had an earthbreaker. The scenario for this round was Outflank. I had so much fun playing runes on day one I said screw it I'll play it again. He selected:

Magnus the Warlord (*6pts)
* Nomad (6pts)
* Sylys Wyshnalyrr, the Seeker (2pts)
Kayazy Assassins (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
* Kayazy Assassin Underboss (2pts)
Kayazy Eliminators (Leader and Grunt) (3pts)
Kayazy Eliminators (Leader and Grunt) (3pts)
Steelhead Halberdiers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Steelhead Heavy Cavalry (Leader and 4 Grunts) (10pts)
Lord Rockbottom (2pts)
Ragman (2pts)
Wrong Eye & Snapjaw (9pts)
* Bull Snapper (3pts)

I may be off with one or two of the solos but I am pretty sure this was his list. Turn one prtty standard advances on both side. Top of two I rock hammered a bunch of kayazy and was able to kill one girl from each pair of eliminators so I was pretty happy at the end of my turn with what I killed and amy positioning......well I shouldn't have been. I kinda forgot what Magnus' feat did and after clearing the left zone (a couple of those runeshapers didn't want to die) he got Magnus into his zone and feated. Oh no! I was pretty much locked out and was done at this point. Hindsight being 20/20 I may have been able to throw my axer into the zone to get myself an extra round but I got rolled game over. Since the game ended early we got to chat a but and he was a good dude and I hope to run into him at Templecon next year.

Tim lost his round one game to a guy we know from Buffalo. Seeing as we were both out of the running for anything we decided to drop and hit the road back to the States. The tourney was very well run and I hope they do it again next year. While I would love to say I won and was heading to WMW the best part of these trips is truly the old friends you get to catch up with, the friends to travel with, and the new people you meet.

Southern Ontario Open Recap Part 1

I'm well overdue on writing this post so lets just get at it. Last weekend was the Southern Ontario Open (SOO) which was a masters event which was also a Warmachine Weekend Qualifier. The event was open to 96 players and the final count at the beginning of round one was 88 players! This is by far the largest event I have played in outside of Templecon. I have to apologize ahead of time for the lack of photos as, like usual, I got caught up in the event and forgot to take many pictures. Here are the lists I brought to the event:

Hoarluk Doomshaper (*7pts)
* Troll Axer (6pts)
* Dire Troll Mauler (9pts)
* Earthborn Dire Troll (10pts)
* Mulg the Ancient (12pts)
Krielstone Bearer and 5 Stone Scribes (4pts)
* Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder (1pts)
Trollkin Runeshapers (Leader and 2 Crew) (3pts)
Trollkin Runeshapers (Leader and 2 Crew) (3pts)
Trollkin Runeshapers (Leader and 2 Crew) (3pts)
Trollkin Runeshapers (Leader and 2 Crew) (3pts)
Janissa Stonetide (3pts)

Nothing Earthshattering here just your run of the mill tier 4 Runes of War. This is just a solid all around list and the one I probably felt most comfortable with going into the event. I'm pretty sure this was the drop if I didn't fell I knew the drop....if you follow :)

Here is the old man all ready for the Canadian invasion. I started painting him up two or three days before we were suppose to leave. He is nearly 100% finished in this photo just a couple small detail/touch ups needed. The base was re-purposed from another mini which helped save some time. 

Grissel Bloodsong, Marshal of the Kriels (*6pts)
* Troll Impaler (5pts)
* Dire Troll Bomber (10pts)
Krielstone Bearer and 5 Stone Scribes (4pts)
* Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder (1pts)
Trollkin Champions (Leader and 4 Grunts) (10pts)
* Skaldi Bonehammer (3pts)
Trollkin Warders (Leader and 4 Grunts) (8pts)
Trollkin Warders (Leader and 4 Grunts) (8pts)
Fell Caller Hero (3pts)
Feralgeist (1pts)
Trollkin Champion Hero (3pts)

My version of what MoM calls the Miserable Meat Mountain. I obviously had to drop Mulg out due to character restrictions so I opted for a ranged battle group. I was pretty happy with this list going into the event and felt pretty comfortable with its game play.

Hunters Grim (*4pts)
* Troll Impaler (5pts)
* Dire Troll Blitzer (9pts)
* Trollkin Runebearer (2pts)
Pyg Burrowers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Sons of Bragg (6pts)
Trollkin Scattergunners (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
* Trollkin Scattergunner Officer & Drummer (2pts)
Dahlia Hallyr & Skarath (9pts)
Fell Caller Hero (3pts)
Saxon Orrik (2pts)
Stone Scribe Chronicler (2pts)

This list was the one I was most unsure about and gave me the most anxiety going into the event. This is the list I was play-testing the most going into the SOO and the one that underwent multiple changes in the time leading up to our trip. I was never 100% sold on the list and I was playing with the build whenever I got a chance to think about it. Despite practicing it a fair amount of time I was running tight on the death clock every time I put it on the table which was a little concerning. I was tinkering with the list  all the way up to the time I had to submit it to the TO the day before we left for Canada. This list was going to be my Cryx drop with some Khador cross over in there. I tried to borrow some JBFlanz tech and use Dahlia and her snake but I kinda wish I just dropped her. Hindsight being 20/20 I think I would have dropped D&S and put a slag troll in the battle group and either a champ hero or kithkar to have a commander for the dygs. If I went with the kithkar I would have had a spare point for either a feralgeist, swamp gobbers, or even a sorcerer....IDK. There are parts of the list I like but just didn't get it to that sweet spot I was hoping for. I think in 9 days when Horgle hits shelves I'll drop D&S and slot Horgle and slag troll into that slot and give it some more table time.

I got out of work Friday morning at 0700 and headed home. after putting about an hours into pDoomie to get him to the photo above I grabbed a quick nap. I was heading to the SOO with three of my Team Spite brethren: Scudo (Circle), Tim AKA LordSorrow (Legion), and Nick aka Naseluk (Skorne) so after Tim got out of work I picked up the guys loaded up the mini van and hit the road. We got into Hamilton around 2130 and decided to grab dinner across the street at Buffalo Wild Wings. After some food and drinks (taste so good when it hits your lips) we decided to make a night out of it. We got back to our room at about 0300 Saturday morning. What a way to be rested for day one of a big tourney ;)

This went a little longer than anticipated so I'll get into my games in my next post. Off to bed for this guys.

Blood, Sweat, and Tiers Test Game

I headed out to the FLGS yesterday to try and get a few test games in with my pDoomshaper T4 Runes of War theme force. I have never played the list yet but I have been looking to play it for over two years and have been playing with lists over that time. I really feel the list is optimal at 50pt as you can get all the desired pieces without mush struggle. I have been having a little bit of a hard time at 35pts as I have to drop something I want. The variation comes when filling the last 6pts of minis. The dilemma for me is an axer for rush (Mulg delivery system) or two more units of runeshapers. Yesterday I took option one and the list looked like this:

Hoarluk Doomshaper (*7pts)
* Troll Axer (6pts)
* Earthborn Dire Troll (10pts)
* Mulg the Ancient (12pts)
Krielstone Bearer and 5 Stone Scribes (4pts)
* Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder (1pts)
Trollkin Runeshapers (Leader and 2 Crew) (3pts)
Trollkin Runeshapers (Leader and 2 Crew) (3pts)
Janissa Stonetide (3pts)
With this my deployment is 2" extended, I start with one wall in play and the KSB start with 3 fury.

I was only able to get one game in as people filed in a little later than normal. I ended up playing Scudo and low and behold he too was playing a theme force. He has been playing a lot a minions lately and brought an Arkadius force:

Dr. Arkadius (*6pts)
* Gun Boar (5pts)
* Gun Boar (5pts)
* War Hog (7pts)
* War Hog (7pts)
* War Hog (7pts)
Farrow Bone Grinders (Leader and 3 Grunts) (2pts)
Farrow Brigands (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)

Scudo was having some back issues so the game took a little longer than usual but it was a fun game. Looking at the models one may feel I was a little behind the ball seeing as he was running three heavies to my two but really this was a pretty good match up for eDoomie across the board. I was able to purify his debuffs, have a partial counter to his feat via the scroll picking a frenzy target, and my feat has some serious damage potential if he goes for a big output turn. He tried to take out my heavies on his feat turn but I was able to get one of the war hogs out of the way using the scroll and he could only get one hog onto my EBDT sitting at arm 22 so he lived through it and from there on out he was a sitting duck really. Next turn I destroyed two hogs and a gun boar and just had to whittle away at him there after. Arkadius wants to be good but isn't there yet. Once he gets his node may be a different story (if he gets his node).

I was pretty happy with the list but I am playing with options. I am leaning towards dropping the axer and adding the two units of runeshapers. The runeshapers at 3pts are really a pretty amazing unit. I really have a hard time getting rid of rush however. My other thought (probably a bad one) is to drop Mulg (say it ain't so) for a mauler and one unit of 'shapers. I don't know what way to go. I will be playing some version of this in BS&T if I can get in but need to work on list two. I am thinking either Borka family reunion in some incantation or eMaddy at the T1 level. Time is ticking need to make some choices and get painting.

Templecon: Blood, Sweat, Tiers 1st Thoughts (part 1)

Even though I am on the waiting listed for Blood, Sweat, Tiers at Templecon I have started to look at list options. Since this tourney has basic painting requirements I am trying to decide on two lists early enough so I can focus on painting anything that need to be painted so that both list are eligible. I never anticipate winning any tourney I enter at Templecon so to maximize the chances of winning something I am going to try and have one list be T4 so I am eligible for the drawings.

The first thing I need to do is look over the theme force available for selection and which of those I have a shot at reaching T4. I don't intend to make any purchases to accomplish either of these goals so barring an extenuating circumstances what I currently own are the only options. OK lets crack open the trollblood faction book and see what we have:

·         Grim Angus, Headhunters:

o   Requirements to achieve T4:

§  Dannon Blythe & Bull

§  Two or more units (D&B, scouts, and pygs are only choices)

§  Three or more warbeast (only beast w/ ranged weapons allowed)

Army list:

Grim Angus (*6pts)
* Troll Impaler (5pts)
* Dire Troll Bomber (10pts)
* Dire Troll Bomber (10pts)
Dannon Blythe & Bull (4pts)
Trollkin Scouts (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
Trollkin Scouts (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
Alten Ashley, Monster Hunter (2pts)
OK so the first Warlock I make a list for I break a rule I set forth in my opening statement. If I were to play this list I would have to buy a second bomber. This doesn't really bother me as I have been planning on this purchase for some time now and, to be honest, I not sure why I haven't already bought. Purchasing the second unit of scouts on the other hand....I don't know. I do kinda like this list for some reason. I know D&B aren't the best by any stretch but I like the ranged feel of the list and I like that all three units get AD.

Here is an alt list which would require no additional purchases:

Grim Angus (*6pts)
* Troll Impaler (5pts)
* Dire Troll Blitzer (9pts)
* Dire Troll Bomber (10pts)
Dannon Blythe & Bull (4pts)
Pyg Burrowers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Trollkin Scouts (Leader and 5 Grunts) (5pts)
Alten Ashley, Monster Hunter (2pts)
The guys in my meta will tell you I love me some Dygs (they have been on the shelf a while cause other people hate 'em) but I am a little worried about fielding them in an army where the fell caller is unavailable. The only time they are going to be able to hit reliably is on the feat turn or if Grim snare guns a target. This list is all assembled and all minis are painted or in a partially painted state (meeting basic painting requirements) with the bomber, blitzer and scouts needing completion. Maybe a test game or two is in order I suppose I could proxy the other list as well.

*pBloodsong, Blood of Bragg: Don't own her. Let's move on shall we.

·         pDoomshaper, Runes of War:

o   Requirements to achieve T4

§  Janissa

§  Two or more units of runeshapers

§  Two or more dire trolls

Army list:

Hoarluk Doomshaper (*7pts)
* Earthborn Dire Troll (10pts)
* Mulg the Ancient (12pts)
Krielstone Bearer and 5 Stone Scribes (4pts)
* Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder (1pts)
Trollkin Runeshapers (Leader and 2 Crew) (3pts)
Trollkin Runeshapers (Leader and 2 Crew) (3pts)
Trollkin Runeshapers (Leader and 2 Crew) (3pts)
Trollkin Runeshapers (Leader and 2 Crew) (3pts)
Janissa Stonetide (3pts)
OK I have put together three lists and two of them break the no purchase rule. I would need to pick up one more units of runeshapers to make this happen. I know I can play it with the three units I already own but the list really seems like four is the way to go. Like the bomber the runeshapers have been on the "to buy list” just hasn't happened yet. This is (based on general consensus) the theme force to use and its stock only went up after Flanzer won masters win at Lock and Load. I have want to field this army for a long time but have been resistant. My resistance went up after it became the hotness after LnL. I'd have to paint the four units of runeshapers which will be a massive pain but maybe this is the time to get this puppy in play.....

·         eDoomshaper, Unbridled Fury:

o   Requirements to achieve T4
   §  Two or more units (scouts and champions only)

§  Ten or more whelps

§  Mulg!

I had a hard time with this list and couldn't come up with something I really liked. eDoomshaper is usually fun to play but I feel a little naked not having the axer in there for his rush goodness. There is no way I would buy a second unit of champs at this time. We know the new shield unit of champs is around the corner (next book) and I am sure we will see regular champs going plastic with new sculpts soon after (think bastions/cinerators). I suppose I could always go two min units of champs as I did pick up a second leader via PP parts order years ago but meh. eDoomshaper is one that if he gets the nod will not be going T4. IT looks doubtful for eDoomie.

·         Captain Gunnbjorn, Big Bang:

o   Requirements to achieveT4

§  Two or more units (units with ranged weapons only)

§  Two thumper crews

§  Three or more heavy warbeasts

I have wanted to play Gunnbjorn for some time now but he has never seen play. I think his theme is fun and quirky but I would have to buy some thumper crews. While I am OK with picking up a bomber, unit of runeshapers, or maybe even a second unit of scouts I am not in the market for thumpers at this time. The theme is really close to the Gunny list I want to play but I feel the lack of a few components (krielstone bearer and Rok) hurt me too much. The good Captain will have to sit this one out.

·         Borka, Drunk and Disorderly:

o   Requirements to achieve T4

§  One or more units of scouts

§  Skaldi Bonehammer

§  Two or more winter trolls

I feel the Family reunion theme, from NQ, is superior so if Borka is going to play in blood, sweat, and tiers it will not be this theme.

This has gotten a little long so I am going to cut it short after six theme forces. Next up I will go over the last six and maybe even some of the Blindwater themes.