23 Mar 2013
I've had quite a bit of success and recently won a narrow victory @4k vs DE, but was a bit apprehensive about fighting High Elves after previous experiences using Dwarf / Wood elf armies.
I really didn't have much of a clue how to deal, so here's what I went with:
Skrag the Slaughterer
Bruiser BSB GW HA Talisman o Preservation
Butcher Lvl2 Beasts Ironcurse Icon
Firebelly Lvl2 Dispel Scroll (in a Leadbelcher unit)
8 Ironguts FC Std of Discipline
10 Ogres IF FC
9 Ogres IF FC
6 Leadbelchers B
6 Leadbelchers B
4 Mournfang Cav IF HA Std Mus Dragonhide Banner
2 Mournfang Cav IF HA
1 Sabretusk
1 Sabretusk
Ironblaster
Thundertusk
My basic plan requires:
- Leadbelchers and Thundertusk to whittle down SwordMasters and WhiteLions units asap before we get in combat.
- Mournfangs to roll up 1 flank hard and fast maybe punch thru and take out some archers etc too.
- Sabretusks for placement drops and annoyance, but expecting them to get shot/zapped pretty early.
- Ironblaster for lone Mages, any Griffon /Dragon etc he may bring
- Skrag is just a sound Tyrant/Slaughter Master combo who can deal quite a bit of damage tho sod all save, hoping Bloodgruel can help there.
- Thundertusk should stay close to 3 main blocks in centre between Iron guts and one other for Numbing chill. We won't get to strike first but can at least take their re-rolls away.
His list was approximately:
Lvl4 Mage (Light)
Lvl2 Mage (Light)
Lvl1 Mage (Light)
Prince GW in White lions w pocket bolt thrower
Noble GW in spearmen w 3x S5 shot bow
2x 12 Archers
2x Bolt throwers
2x Lion chariot
24 Phoenix Guard (Lvl 4 and Lvl2 here)
24 Spearmen (Noble here)
24 White Lions (Prince here)
17 Swordmasters (Lvl 1 here)
25 Lothern Sea Guard
Battle report
We played Meeting Engagement, he bunkered up on a hill in the corner. Only 1 bolt thrower and a lion chariot had to come on as reserve.
A top the hill were bolt throwers and archers, then phoenix guard and archers nxt level down. At the base from his left to right were; LSG, Chariot, SM, WL, Spears, Chariot.
In my deployment I had to hold back as 1 unit of Leadbelchers, Skrag, Butcher and BSB were all in reserve (stupid scenario).
I ended up in a long line left to right: LB, 4MFC, Sabre, Ogres(a), Sabre, IG, Ttusk, Ogres(b), LB, IB, 2MFC
The battlefield was largely open except for a large wood directly between the centre of both our lines.
1st turn:
He moved his LSG forward a little but still largely out of range after deploying so far back. Otherwise just brought his 2nd chariot and BT on. Shot at me some, taking a wound off my 4MFC and 1 of the Ttusk with banishment.
I rolled forward with my flanks holding my centre back so that my characters could join.
Shooting with leadies I shaved a few off his spears and lothern, the IB swatted his reserve chariot off the board in one loud boom.....crack. My magic did little but whittle at his LSG some more with fireball (SM out of range)
Turn 2:
He charged my 4MFC with his remaining lion chariot, turned his LSG to face my 2MFC, moved his WL up to edge of woods to threaten a charge later, shot largely inneffectually with archers and BTs, taking 1 LB off my left, but between noble/prince and banishment he killed a LB to my right and took another 2 W off my Ttusk. He also cast Pha's protection meaning my shooting was gonna whiff vs anything but his LSG.
In combat the chariot finished off one MFC but was smashed up good.
I charged perhaps recklessly my 4MFC into his spears and taking 2W on one from his noble's stand n shoot.
I kept my flanks advancing and moved my Sabres forward to redirect any charges from his WL. My core now supplemented with characters crept forward to my side of the woods Just out of his charge range, but setting up for flank and front charge if he went for my sabre.
I killed 1 archer w left flank LB but the rest went on his LSG taking them to about 13 looking a nice target for my 2MFC next turn. I buffed my other MFC with Spinemarrow expecting a close result. Skrag miscast losing a level and taking out an IG.
Combat was close but even with a re-roll his spears did v little and were run down, which took my remaining 2 MFC into the side of his Phoenix guard and blocking the view of 1 archer unit! Major result!
Turn 3:
He didn't move a thing except for charging his archers into my MFC flank and again his shooting did little, took another LB off each flank a lucky bolt took out 8 wounds off my Ogres(right), another W from Ttusk (3 left), but banishment killed off my 2MFC in one shot! He killed the Sabre in front of his WL. He got Pha's protection off again.
In combat I put a bunch of impact hits onto his Lvl2 mage and killed a few PG. I think it was a draw as he failed to cause any W back He passed a test to turn his PG them to face me.
I kept advancing my flanks and repositioned for better counter charges in the centre, moving the remaining sabre right in front of his WL again . It seemed to be a stand-off between WL and Ogres, IG and Ttusk. My shooting and magic wiped out his LSG, the IB moved up and took out the nearest BT. Combat drew on wi archers, PG and MFC a wound myside for a few his. Static CR saw me rolling vs stubborn and passing.
Turn 4:
Very little happened in turn 4 he advanced his SM a little, took a wound off the last Sabre, reduced the LB on my left to 1 and reduced Ttusk to 1W and Ogres on R by a few. Combat with PG and archers continued. I took 1 W and put out a few on both archers and PG, had to pass Ld on Stubborn from Spinemarrow again.
I kept advancing right across the front. Pha's made sure little shooting effect but fireball nailed a few SM. Skrag killed himself with a second miscast taking out a couple IG. Combat ground out further. I lost a MFC in combat and passed my test again using Dragonhide banner to give the PG always strikes last nxt turn and luckily killing his Lvl4 mage.
Turn 5:
He didn't move and used banishment to finish of my Ogres in right, his archers killed the remaining Sabre. BT finished my left LB unit and prince killed the Ttusk. He reduced remaining MFC to 1W who managed to pass with Spinemarrow again after killing a few more archers.
I tried to charge his WL in a gamble with both Ogre(left) and IGs (now containing BSB), both charges failed! I kept rolling forward on my right. Killed 4 WL with IB and fireball killed a couple SM.
Turn 6:
He charged my Ogres(left) with WL and rolled a 3! = fail. His SM charged my Leadbelchers and PG reformed on the hill. Amazingly the LB drew combat with only 3 left plus firebelly using his breath wpn to even things up.
It looked over but a close result, I could lose it all if I charged his WL, so instead my IB and IG charged opposite flanks of his SM and obliterated them to a man with impact hits!
Result:
OK WIN!
Too close for comfort at places. I think luck played a heavy hand, but we take whatever we can get
I really didn't have much of a clue how to deal, so here's what I went with:
Skrag the Slaughterer
Bruiser BSB GW HA Talisman o Preservation
Butcher Lvl2 Beasts Ironcurse Icon
Firebelly Lvl2 Dispel Scroll (in a Leadbelcher unit)
8 Ironguts FC Std of Discipline
10 Ogres IF FC
9 Ogres IF FC
6 Leadbelchers B
6 Leadbelchers B
4 Mournfang Cav IF HA Std Mus Dragonhide Banner
2 Mournfang Cav IF HA
1 Sabretusk
1 Sabretusk
Ironblaster
Thundertusk
My basic plan requires:
- Leadbelchers and Thundertusk to whittle down SwordMasters and WhiteLions units asap before we get in combat.
- Mournfangs to roll up 1 flank hard and fast maybe punch thru and take out some archers etc too.
- Sabretusks for placement drops and annoyance, but expecting them to get shot/zapped pretty early.
- Ironblaster for lone Mages, any Griffon /Dragon etc he may bring
- Skrag is just a sound Tyrant/Slaughter Master combo who can deal quite a bit of damage tho sod all save, hoping Bloodgruel can help there.
- Thundertusk should stay close to 3 main blocks in centre between Iron guts and one other for Numbing chill. We won't get to strike first but can at least take their re-rolls away.
His list was approximately:
Lvl4 Mage (Light)
Lvl2 Mage (Light)
Lvl1 Mage (Light)
Prince GW in White lions w pocket bolt thrower
Noble GW in spearmen w 3x S5 shot bow
2x 12 Archers
2x Bolt throwers
2x Lion chariot
24 Phoenix Guard (Lvl 4 and Lvl2 here)
24 Spearmen (Noble here)
24 White Lions (Prince here)
17 Swordmasters (Lvl 1 here)
25 Lothern Sea Guard
Battle report
We played Meeting Engagement, he bunkered up on a hill in the corner. Only 1 bolt thrower and a lion chariot had to come on as reserve.
A top the hill were bolt throwers and archers, then phoenix guard and archers nxt level down. At the base from his left to right were; LSG, Chariot, SM, WL, Spears, Chariot.
In my deployment I had to hold back as 1 unit of Leadbelchers, Skrag, Butcher and BSB were all in reserve (stupid scenario).
I ended up in a long line left to right: LB, 4MFC, Sabre, Ogres(a), Sabre, IG, Ttusk, Ogres(b), LB, IB, 2MFC
The battlefield was largely open except for a large wood directly between the centre of both our lines.
1st turn:
He moved his LSG forward a little but still largely out of range after deploying so far back. Otherwise just brought his 2nd chariot and BT on. Shot at me some, taking a wound off my 4MFC and 1 of the Ttusk with banishment.
I rolled forward with my flanks holding my centre back so that my characters could join.
Shooting with leadies I shaved a few off his spears and lothern, the IB swatted his reserve chariot off the board in one loud boom.....crack. My magic did little but whittle at his LSG some more with fireball (SM out of range)
Turn 2:
He charged my 4MFC with his remaining lion chariot, turned his LSG to face my 2MFC, moved his WL up to edge of woods to threaten a charge later, shot largely inneffectually with archers and BTs, taking 1 LB off my left, but between noble/prince and banishment he killed a LB to my right and took another 2 W off my Ttusk. He also cast Pha's protection meaning my shooting was gonna whiff vs anything but his LSG.
In combat the chariot finished off one MFC but was smashed up good.
I charged perhaps recklessly my 4MFC into his spears and taking 2W on one from his noble's stand n shoot.
I kept my flanks advancing and moved my Sabres forward to redirect any charges from his WL. My core now supplemented with characters crept forward to my side of the woods Just out of his charge range, but setting up for flank and front charge if he went for my sabre.
I killed 1 archer w left flank LB but the rest went on his LSG taking them to about 13 looking a nice target for my 2MFC next turn. I buffed my other MFC with Spinemarrow expecting a close result. Skrag miscast losing a level and taking out an IG.
Combat was close but even with a re-roll his spears did v little and were run down, which took my remaining 2 MFC into the side of his Phoenix guard and blocking the view of 1 archer unit! Major result!
Turn 3:
He didn't move a thing except for charging his archers into my MFC flank and again his shooting did little, took another LB off each flank a lucky bolt took out 8 wounds off my Ogres(right), another W from Ttusk (3 left), but banishment killed off my 2MFC in one shot! He killed the Sabre in front of his WL. He got Pha's protection off again.
In combat I put a bunch of impact hits onto his Lvl2 mage and killed a few PG. I think it was a draw as he failed to cause any W back He passed a test to turn his PG them to face me.
I kept advancing my flanks and repositioned for better counter charges in the centre, moving the remaining sabre right in front of his WL again . It seemed to be a stand-off between WL and Ogres, IG and Ttusk. My shooting and magic wiped out his LSG, the IB moved up and took out the nearest BT. Combat drew on wi archers, PG and MFC a wound myside for a few his. Static CR saw me rolling vs stubborn and passing.
Turn 4:
Very little happened in turn 4 he advanced his SM a little, took a wound off the last Sabre, reduced the LB on my left to 1 and reduced Ttusk to 1W and Ogres on R by a few. Combat with PG and archers continued. I took 1 W and put out a few on both archers and PG, had to pass Ld on Stubborn from Spinemarrow again.
I kept advancing right across the front. Pha's made sure little shooting effect but fireball nailed a few SM. Skrag killed himself with a second miscast taking out a couple IG. Combat ground out further. I lost a MFC in combat and passed my test again using Dragonhide banner to give the PG always strikes last nxt turn and luckily killing his Lvl4 mage.
Turn 5:
He didn't move and used banishment to finish of my Ogres in right, his archers killed the remaining Sabre. BT finished my left LB unit and prince killed the Ttusk. He reduced remaining MFC to 1W who managed to pass with Spinemarrow again after killing a few more archers.
I tried to charge his WL in a gamble with both Ogre(left) and IGs (now containing BSB), both charges failed! I kept rolling forward on my right. Killed 4 WL with IB and fireball killed a couple SM.
Turn 6:
He charged my Ogres(left) with WL and rolled a 3! = fail. His SM charged my Leadbelchers and PG reformed on the hill. Amazingly the LB drew combat with only 3 left plus firebelly using his breath wpn to even things up.
It looked over but a close result, I could lose it all if I charged his WL, so instead my IB and IG charged opposite flanks of his SM and obliterated them to a man with impact hits!
Result:
OK WIN!
Too close for comfort at places. I think luck played a heavy hand, but we take whatever we can get