I gathered for my usual Thursday night Privateer Press gaming with friends at Drawbridge Games, and managed to face off against a faction that I’m very familiar with: Legion of Everblight. Rico kept his Rhulic Mercenaries on the shelf and instead pulled out his amazingly-painted Legion forces. They’ve got a great bone paint scheme which really makes them pop more than a lot of Everblight schemes. We faced off in a 35-point match with a three-objectives scenario. His Warlock was Thagrosh, while I fielded Void Seer Mordikaar at the helm of my Skorne army.

Thagrosh’s force was a Scythean and a Carnivean for the heavy lifting, along with a Naga Nightlurker, a Shredder, and a unit of Legionaires. He was also accompanied by a Beast Mistress that was running three Shredders of her own. My own list was not a particularly great one for Mordikaar, but just one that worked for the points value while I’m working on painting all the parts of my new Skorne experiment. I brought a Bronzeback and a Gladiator, and a Basilisk Krea, a unit of Cataphract Cetrati, and the usual complement of supporting Skorne solos and units.

The forces largely clashed over the center and left objective. On the left flank, the Beast Mistress and her horde of Shredders turned their attention to the Cetrati. They made a fair mess of them, as the sheer amount of dice that the Beast Mistress gives them is bound to make an impact even from a low strength model like a Shredder against the high armored Skorne heavy infantry. Then once one gap appeared in the shield wall, the surrounding isolated models got further assailed by the gnashing teeth of the annoying beasts. In the center, I was luckier in that the Scythean fell just short of the Gladiator in its charge, while the Carnivean tried to control the objective that lay in the center. Most importantly to my eye was that Thagrosh decided to use all of his Fury that turn. I’m relatively new to Void Seer Mordikaar (only my second game with him, and I’m relatively new to Skorne as a faction overall), and he has an ability that I’ve been wanting to pull off for some time: Essence Blast.

Essence Blast is an attack that sacrifices a model to generate a spray from its location using the model’s Strength. It seems custom-fit to use one-wound infantry models for this, as Mordikaar can replace them and they’re expendable anyways. Despite my Titan Gladiator being entirely undamaged, I saw that the opponent’s caster was open and without fury. Pulling off the maneuver proved to be a case of perfect timing and rolls. It began with the Bronzeback clearing some of the path of advance with a throw, and then the Gladiator doing what he does best: slamming a foe. It had to suffer a free strike from the Scythean to do it, but the damage was inconsequential. The Gladiator slammed the Naga Nightlurker, who flew backward and hit Thagrosh–leaving the warlock knocked down.

I took a few swipes with the Gladiator at the Naga just in case of retaliation, and also advanced up the Agonizer in case the Titan didn’t get the job done and I needed to Essence Blast from the mewling, tortured baby elephant as well. Turns out I didn’t need it: Mordikaar cast the spell, completely destroying my Gladiator but also delivering a fearsome spray that combined with the bit of collateral damage to slay Thagrosh before he knew what hit him. I was shocked that it actually worked that easily (expecting to need a shot from the Agonizer and maybe even some whip-wielding charging Paingivers to make the gambit finish him), and my opponent was shocked that hit happened so quickly.

While we were busy with exploding elephants, the other table saw a clash between Retribution and Trollbloods–I snapped a picture of their battle too because the Glacier King was just too cool to not discuss.

And discuss him we did… to the point where I talked myself into starting (yet) another faction. I’ve always had my eyes on Trollbloods (even had a Madrak2 model that I bought a long time ago and never built around but never got rid of). I’ve loved the look of the trolls for a long time, and I’ve always found them to be tough foes… well, not too tough (someday I’ll tell the tale of an old battle where my Lich Lord Venethrax decided that taking out a Mountain King himself was the plan). But the discussion of trolls got my own troll-blood flowing, so you can watch for them to begin to appear on this blog as I finish a few.

Battles (Privateer Press):
Overall Total 2015: 20 (Win/Loss: 17/3/0)

Skorne:
10 Wins (Fiona, Sorscha, Morvahna2, Ossrum, Borka, Kaelyssa, Stryker, Venethrax, and Butcher, Thagrosh)
2 Losses (Kromac, Kaelyssa, Kaya)

Protectorate of Menoth:
3 Wins (Morvahna2, Kaelyssa)
0 Losses

Legion of Everblight:
4 Wins (Caine2, Kaya, Sorscha)

1 Loss (Fiona)

As I mentioned in my prior post, the collapse and demise of Warhammer Fantasy has prompted a lot of interest in Warmachine/Hordes across multiple gaming stores in my area. This past Sunday I stopped out at Phantom of the Attic to join some others in some good Privateer Press battles. Both games were on the smaller side at 25 points, and we used the three objectives scenario both times. First I faced Charles’ excellently painted Cryx, then Mike’s classic-look Khador army.

I was nervous about the game against Cryx, because Charles was fielding Lich Lord Venethrax–a model who is custom-made to give Hordes armies fits. His force had a lot of infantry for 25 points, from Bloodgorgers with their champion to a unit of Mechanithralls with three of their brute models. Two Helldivers, a crabjack, and the Bloat Thrall rounded out the force. For my part, I went with Lord Arbiter Hexeris and my usual complement of warbeasts: Bronzeback, Aradus Sentinel, Cyclops Brute, and the Razorworm (sexy Hexy’s bonded warbeast). The match was tough but things swung my way with relative luck. The Bloodgorgers were the only living models on his side, but they were in a spot that made sense for my Aradus Sentinel to advance deploy closest to them–his Poison shot, plus Hexeris2’s Black Spot made short work of them. The Bronzeback also proved how massive Trainwreck plus Smash and Grab is, as he beat his way into the midst of the Mechanithralls and ended up killing one of their Brutes with the thrown crabjack. And Hexeris2’s channeled spells through the Razorworm proved to be the icing on the cake for stopping any Cryx threats that got too close. 

With my side inflicting heavy losses on the Cryx forces, Venethrax had to get the job done himself. He rushed forward and easily cut down the Cyclops Brute, but it was too little and too late. Hexeris moved up and landed a fair amount of damage on Venethrax himself before he had his Aradus Sentinel charge in and finish the job. 

For game two of the day, Mike’s Khador force was a classic specimen: a wall of Man-O-War Shocktroopers, with a line of Man-O-War Bombardiers behind them, a massive Decimator Khador warjack, and the Butcher of Khardov with a War Dog. My force was the same as the prior game, but I was grouped somewhat differently due to a house that dominated the center of the battlefield. I saw that it would extraordinarily difficult to make a play for all three objectives, so I focused on getting the center and the right objective. 

When Khador arrives, they hit hard, so I did my best to keep them at range so I could manage the first strike. The Aradus Sentinel and Hexeris2’s Black Spot again proved to be a central asset, as it blasted holes in the armored line of Man-O-Wars. Even their Shield Wall orders could not stop the Poison attack from wreaking havoc. Still, three wounded Man-O-Wars reached my Razorworm and the objective–however only one of them managed a hit on the defensive beast. I was able to clear the rest out with Hexeris2’s own melee attacks, having broken their Shield Wall thanks to the Razorworm eliminating the center model of the group. The Bronzeback and the Decimator went blow for blow, with the Bronzeback finally destroying the beast but left mostly crippled in the process. 

I still had to be careful, as the Butcher can win a game solo if he starts too close to the opponent’s Warlock. I was able to be at just the right range to discourage charging, which allowed my Aradus Sentinel to get a shot in to damage him and the Cyclops Brute to use its speed and reach to connect a charge and finish off the deadly Khadorian foe.

Overall it was two good games against two foes. I’ve definitely gotten the knack for my Skorne force, as these were two very different styles of armies that I had to play different despite using the exact same force. That’s my general test for effectiveness with a force–being able to keep the same models and run them in varied fashion to cope with quite different threats. I’m looking forward to rematches against the armies of the Dead and the Cold.

Battles (Privateer Press):
Overall Total 2015: 19 (Win/Loss: 16/3/0)

Skorne:
9 Wins (Fiona, Sorscha, Morvahna2, Ossrum, Borka, Kaelyssa, Stryker, Venethrax, and Butcher)
2 Losses (Kromac, Kaelyssa, Kaya)

Protectorate of Menoth:
3 Wins (Morvahna2, Kaelyssa)
0 Losses

Legion of Everblight:
4 Wins (Caine2, Kaya, Sorscha)

1 Loss (Fiona)

Warmachine/Hordes has taken off among my local gaming groups, in large part due to the complete demise of Warhammer Fantasy. I looked back at my old Warhammer blog recently, at a post where I was prognosticating about Warhammer 9th edition and saw just how wrong I was about the Warhammer Fantasy change. Yet it worked out relatively nicely, as there was a whole assortment of players who wanted to do tabletop miniature wargaming within a fantasy-ish setting, who decided to check out Privateer Press’ offerings.

The photos in this post are from my most recent outing to Drawbridge games where one local gaming community is getting into the game. I squeezed in another game against Dan’s Retribution force, and then taught a relatively new player how to play the game. Battle report and comments about both follow.

For the 50 point battle against Retribution of Scyrah, I decided to bring Lord Assassin Morghoul. I’m pretty happy with how I painted him, and I like his play style if only because it runs really, really fast. Until you commit with him, you’re not really weighing what spells to cast. It becomes three quick questions: which (if any) animi you’re doubling by having him cast them, how much fury are you banking in the Agonizer, and how much fury are you sitting on should a surprise attack reach him and he needs to transfer damage?

The battle started as usual when facing Kaelyssa: the elves rushing forward and my forces having to struggle to contest the objectives with all the limits on running and charging. This game ended with a caster kill, but was much closer in objectives than my previous matches against Kaelyssa. Before I’ve achieved the caster kill in the nick of time, being dreadfully behind in objective points. This time the game ended much closer in points, thanks in large part to my warbeasts.

The Bronzeback’s Trainwreck animus and the Gladiator Titan’s Rush animus were the two critical elements. The first let me push foes off of objectives, and the second let me get the two inch speed boost that helped me reach the front faster. I had forgotten in past games that the Warlock can also cast the animus, so two models with Rush instead of one makes a huge difference. The Bronzeback was able to roll up and get its Smash and Grab to activate and throw a Phoenix off the central objective. The speed of the Cyclops Brute on the right flank also helped me get to and contest objectives more effectively.

Kaelyssa was a cagey foe, so it took a fair amount of luck to take her down. By closing with a Rushing light warbeast and Morghoul2 up on my feat turn, Kaelyssa was left with bad options. The force tried desperately to hurt Morghoul, but his defense 19 on the feat turn was too tough a nut to crack. He took some hits, transferred some damage, and survived. With Morghoul2 close, and the ability to heal the nearly dead Bronzeback at least a point in the crippled aspects, it was curtains for the elf caster. All in all it was the closest game I’ve played against Retribution.

I also got in a demo game against a new player who wanted to try out the game. I fielded my Legion of Everblight force, and he borrowed the Trollbloods starter set from the game store. 

It’s actually the very first time I’ve fielded Lylyth and her starter box. While I’m a long-time Everblight player, I jumped right to Absylonia and Vayl as my casters of choice. Lylyth is a lot like Morghoul2: it’s pretty clear what to do every turn. There’s a bit more nuance than he has, but not much. Especially with the starter box. It’s about sending the little Shredder missiles out for free to targets she’s hit with her bow, and biding time to come sweeping in with the raw might of the Carnivean. 

The game was a good one, as I think Trollbloods are the best starter box army for players to learn Hordes with. They have a reason to do everything: shoot, charge, animus, spells, feat, boost, and more. While my force won the game (I don’t count demo sessions in my record, note), it was more about getting the player familiar with the system. He said that he picked up Cryx, so the next game it’ll just be a matter of learning the Focus mechanic instead of Fury for him.

Battles (Privateer Press):
Overall Total 2015: 17 (Win/Loss: 14/3/0)

Skorne:
7 Wins (Fiona, Sorscha, eMorvahna, Ossrum, Borka, Kaelyssa, and Stryker)
2 Losses (Kromac, Kaelyssa, Kaya)

Protectorate of Menoth:
3 Wins (eMorvahna, Kaelyssa)
0 Losses

Legion of Everblight:
4 Wins (eCaine, Kaya, Sorscha)

1 Loss (Fiona)