Chris is a ringer for Tin Soldiers after someone pulled out so I popped over to Dave's and picked up his Tomb Kings army to we could have a game tomorrow night so he has at least had one game with them before he plays in the tourney next weekend. Dave suggested he may be able to come over, watch, offer advice... hrm...
I've only played Tomb Kings once (vs Josh). Lost that game thanks to a disastrously failed Terror check on my Warriors (ld10 thanks to the nearby general) which meant that instead of hitting the flank of a much depleted Tomb Guard unit containing both the King and Heirophant which would have almost undoubtedly wiped them all out and crumbled the rest of the army, they fled into some Ushabti and died horribly (and instantly). Bah-humbug. I didn't really do anything wrong but bad luck scuppered my efforts to finish the Guard off. Instead the Guard finished off my Hammerers taking the Battle standard and Hammerers standard, killing my general and then it was all over. Oh man... those Warriors have a lot to answer for.
Memory is a little hazy but it would have gone something like - Battle standard (1), Hammerers standard with Warbanner (2), outnumber (1), rear (Thunderers into the back of a Bone Giant - long story; it was a messy and complicated massed combat) (2), kills (probably 4-5), rank for Warriors in the flank (3) for a total of 13-14 for combat res vs the Tomb Guard standard (1) and kills (probably 4-5). Would have won by around 8-9. That pops the Bone Giant, the Tomb Guard, probably the King, maybe the Heirophant (if he wasn't already dead), a Scorpion... you get the picture.
Instead I get massacred.
Goes back to that game last night - the best laid plans can be royally screwed over by just plain bad luck. I guess the best players are good enough to mitigate poor rolling with superior tactics and strategy, but it sure was frustrating to know that the only thing I did wrong against Josh was fail a Terror check on 11, needing 10, and that lost me the game.
Still - you can't whinge about bad dice (despite the fact that I seem to be right now :p); it's just something you grudgingly have to accept in this particular game.
Friday, May 30, 2008
Game vs Empire
Secretary Nick obtained Carl's army tonight so we organised a game so he at least had some idea of how to make it work at Tin Soldiers (one week to go!).
Warhammer is a funny old thing. I played 5 turns of this game feeling like I was getting thrashed; rolling SO MANY ONES; 2 misfiring warmachines on turn one - shooting on the whole really quite poor - very few partial hits with grudgethrower. Anyway, I never really bothered to look up and take notice of Nick's growing pile of casualties as the Dwarven juggernaught rumbled onwards crushing all before it and suddenly I had a 14-6 win (by Tin Soldiers scoring - a win by about 620VPs). I was so caught up with my occasional poor rolling I hadn't realised how well things were going.
The bad luck was certainly catching though - the two times Nick was able to shoot his Helblaster it misfired on the first barrel and jammed (can't shoot this turn or the next). One cannon misfired and exploded, the other shot every other turn after it was left with one crew member.
Gyro charged the Helblaster crew, lost by one (outnumbered) after failing to cause a wound, broke (on a 9) and landed on some nearby knights. What a disappointment.
Runesmith failed to Rune of Challenge some knights and accompanying Wizard Lord into the Hammerers by a whisker. Grrr!
I deployed in an echelon which is becoming a bit of a habit - worked out ok I guess and I'll be trying it next weekend again.
Nick enjoyed the game and we discussed issues with deployment afterwards (so many detachments!). He played VERY defensively and deployed most of his force almost on the table edge which meant by advancing aggressively I was able to pen him against the edge so he couldn't impose much of a battle plan or contest quarters.
Ended up with 2 banners and a quarter. The accursed Wizard Lord escaped after abandoning his unit of knights to the Hammerers (clever move Nick) but wasn't able to inflict the casualties he hoped to with magic (Lore of Metal).
All in all a great game (even a loss is fun at this point) and of course I'm really looking forward to Tin Soldiers.
Warhammer is a funny old thing. I played 5 turns of this game feeling like I was getting thrashed; rolling SO MANY ONES; 2 misfiring warmachines on turn one - shooting on the whole really quite poor - very few partial hits with grudgethrower. Anyway, I never really bothered to look up and take notice of Nick's growing pile of casualties as the Dwarven juggernaught rumbled onwards crushing all before it and suddenly I had a 14-6 win (by Tin Soldiers scoring - a win by about 620VPs). I was so caught up with my occasional poor rolling I hadn't realised how well things were going.
The bad luck was certainly catching though - the two times Nick was able to shoot his Helblaster it misfired on the first barrel and jammed (can't shoot this turn or the next). One cannon misfired and exploded, the other shot every other turn after it was left with one crew member.
Gyro charged the Helblaster crew, lost by one (outnumbered) after failing to cause a wound, broke (on a 9) and landed on some nearby knights. What a disappointment.
Runesmith failed to Rune of Challenge some knights and accompanying Wizard Lord into the Hammerers by a whisker. Grrr!
I deployed in an echelon which is becoming a bit of a habit - worked out ok I guess and I'll be trying it next weekend again.
Nick enjoyed the game and we discussed issues with deployment afterwards (so many detachments!). He played VERY defensively and deployed most of his force almost on the table edge which meant by advancing aggressively I was able to pen him against the edge so he couldn't impose much of a battle plan or contest quarters.
Ended up with 2 banners and a quarter. The accursed Wizard Lord escaped after abandoning his unit of knights to the Hammerers (clever move Nick) but wasn't able to inflict the casualties he hoped to with magic (Lore of Metal).
All in all a great game (even a loss is fun at this point) and of course I'm really looking forward to Tin Soldiers.
Monday, May 26, 2008
Closed lists!
Dave's just emailed Tin Soldiers players to inform us the tournament is using closed lists (i.e. you don't show your opponent your list at the start of the game, ergo you have no idea what stuff they have beyond WYSIWYG - what you see is what you get).
So, if you are playing at TS and you've read my list below, please at least try and look surprised if you play me!
I fear:
- finding out too late that the Elf is wearing Dragon Armour
- finding out too late that the Treeman Ancient has Netlings
- finding out too late that the Vampire Lord has Red Fury, Infinite Hatred, Dread Lance etc
On the flip side (again, assuming you haven't read my list, lol) I look forward to saying to the Lizardmen player who has cast Rule of Burning Iron on my Lord (and has used Banehead on him too)... "sorry, Immune to Fire" :D Or even better, a Vampire Lord with Balefire Spike fighting him in a challenge! Phil had this happen with his Dragon Armoured Elf Boss down at Runefang - sucks for the Vampire not being able to scratch him!
Or that my BSB has Always Strikes First.
Or that the Longbeards are Immune to Fear/Terror.
Sweet.
Closed lists are probably better for veteran players. I have little enough of an idea of what to do against an opponent whose list I have seen, let alone playing blind. There's a heck of a lot of potential for double double bluff bluffs to happen in this sort of scenario... "hmm... I wonder what that character's packing" (makes accepting a challenge a hair-raising experience!).
I must say I'm both scared and excited about the possibilities!
So, if you are playing at TS and you've read my list below, please at least try and look surprised if you play me!
I fear:
- finding out too late that the Elf is wearing Dragon Armour
- finding out too late that the Treeman Ancient has Netlings
- finding out too late that the Vampire Lord has Red Fury, Infinite Hatred, Dread Lance etc
On the flip side (again, assuming you haven't read my list, lol) I look forward to saying to the Lizardmen player who has cast Rule of Burning Iron on my Lord (and has used Banehead on him too)... "sorry, Immune to Fire" :D Or even better, a Vampire Lord with Balefire Spike fighting him in a challenge! Phil had this happen with his Dragon Armoured Elf Boss down at Runefang - sucks for the Vampire not being able to scratch him!
Or that my BSB has Always Strikes First.
Or that the Longbeards are Immune to Fear/Terror.
Sweet.
Closed lists are probably better for veteran players. I have little enough of an idea of what to do against an opponent whose list I have seen, let alone playing blind. There's a heck of a lot of potential for double double bluff bluffs to happen in this sort of scenario... "hmm... I wonder what that character's packing" (makes accepting a challenge a hair-raising experience!).
I must say I'm both scared and excited about the possibilities!
Sunday, May 25, 2008
Tin Soldiers army list
Here is the list I'm taking to Tin Soldiers in a couple of weeks:
2248pt Dwarf Roster for Tin Soldiers - The City Guard Presidential Army
281 Dwarf Lord (145) – Dawid Stonefist – “President Elect of the City Guard”
Great weapon (6) with Rune of Kragg the Grimm (20), Rune of Fury (25), Rune of Snorri Spangelhelm (25), Rune of Stone (5), Rune of Resistance (25), Rune of the Furnace (5), Shieldbearers (25)
165 Thane (65) – Nyck Theoryhammer – “Secretary of the Guard”
Battle Standard (25)
Master Rune of Swiftness (25), Rune of Cleaving (20), Rune of Fury (25)
Rune of Stone (5)
147 Runesmith (70) – Karyn Goldfingers – “Treasurer of the Guard”
Shield (2), 2 x Rune of Spellbreaking (50), Master Rune of Challenge (25)
303 19 Longbeards (209) – “The Grizzled Old Veterans”
Veteran Old Nobbsy (10), Musician (5), Standard Bearer (10)
Banner with Rune of Courage (30), Rune of Determination (20)
Shields (19)
205 20 Warriors (160) – “The Regulars”
Veteran Lumpy (10), Musician (5), Standard Bearer (10)
Shields (20)
140 10 Thunderers (140) – “Space Marine Fanboyz Club”
110 10 Quarrellers (110) – “Mordheim Appreciation Society”
335 19 Hammerers (228) – “The President’s Bodyguard and Advisory Committee”
Gatekeeper Antony Kitsonsson (12), Musician (6), Standard Bearer (12)
Banner with Rune of Battle (25) and Rune of Stoicism (25), Shields (19)
110 10 Miners (110) – “Warmachine Players Clique”
95 Cannon (90) – “The Voice of Pierre”
Rune of Burning (5)
105 Grudgethrower (80) – “Big Wayde”
Rune of Accuracy (25)
120 Organ Gun (120) – “The Weasel-Fierce”
140 Gyrocopter (140) – “Mad Daemion”
(The names are all 'personalities' from the club).
I'm totally unashamed to say I "borrowed" most of this army list from Andrew Galea (check it out! http://www.irresistibleforce.net/Articles/tabid/67/mid/413/newsid413/102/Default.aspx). The biggest difference between our lists is that where he has Ironbreakers I have Warriors (due to the models I have available) and he has two bolt throwers where I have the cannon and grudgethrower.
The army has been working well for me -and by that I mean I've lost most of the games I've played but I'd like to think that's most because of my poor generalship than any inherent faults in the list. It's taken a while to get used to the lack of mobility (being Dwarfs and all) not that I can compare with other Warhammer armies I've used (=zero) but because I came from Necrons and Eldar in 40k which are (or at least can be) VERY fast armies.
That said, I've some to appreciate the strengths of the army - toughness, armour, leadership and not inconsiderable shooting power. These somewhat make up for the lack of maneouverability but I've also discovered that movement in Warhammer is required to have a decent shot at crushing your opponent and have been told on numerous occasions to not expect significant wins in any given game (looking at draws and minor victories, not solid victories or massacres). It seems strange to say it but I'd find even a minor victory satisfying (I play to crush in 40k; play to play in Fantasy).
...
Anyway, Tin Soldiers...
I'm really looking forward to this - my first Fantasy tournament, a current field of 26 including some very good players - Phil, Dave, Antony, Tony, Pete... these guys (and others) are simply something to aspire to at this point but hopefully if I'm lucky enough to somehow draw a game against them (which could only happen in the opening rounds) I'll give them a decent fight.
2248pt Dwarf Roster for Tin Soldiers - The City Guard Presidential Army
281 Dwarf Lord (145) – Dawid Stonefist – “President Elect of the City Guard”
Great weapon (6) with Rune of Kragg the Grimm (20), Rune of Fury (25), Rune of Snorri Spangelhelm (25), Rune of Stone (5), Rune of Resistance (25), Rune of the Furnace (5), Shieldbearers (25)
165 Thane (65) – Nyck Theoryhammer – “Secretary of the Guard”
Battle Standard (25)
Master Rune of Swiftness (25), Rune of Cleaving (20), Rune of Fury (25)
Rune of Stone (5)
147 Runesmith (70) – Karyn Goldfingers – “Treasurer of the Guard”
Shield (2), 2 x Rune of Spellbreaking (50), Master Rune of Challenge (25)
303 19 Longbeards (209) – “The Grizzled Old Veterans”
Veteran Old Nobbsy (10), Musician (5), Standard Bearer (10)
Banner with Rune of Courage (30), Rune of Determination (20)
Shields (19)
205 20 Warriors (160) – “The Regulars”
Veteran Lumpy (10), Musician (5), Standard Bearer (10)
Shields (20)
140 10 Thunderers (140) – “Space Marine Fanboyz Club”
110 10 Quarrellers (110) – “Mordheim Appreciation Society”
335 19 Hammerers (228) – “The President’s Bodyguard and Advisory Committee”
Gatekeeper Antony Kitsonsson (12), Musician (6), Standard Bearer (12)
Banner with Rune of Battle (25) and Rune of Stoicism (25), Shields (19)
110 10 Miners (110) – “Warmachine Players Clique”
95 Cannon (90) – “The Voice of Pierre”
Rune of Burning (5)
105 Grudgethrower (80) – “Big Wayde”
Rune of Accuracy (25)
120 Organ Gun (120) – “The Weasel-Fierce”
140 Gyrocopter (140) – “Mad Daemion”
(The names are all 'personalities' from the club).
I'm totally unashamed to say I "borrowed" most of this army list from Andrew Galea (check it out! http://www.irresistibleforce.net/Articles/tabid/67/mid/413/newsid413/102/Default.aspx). The biggest difference between our lists is that where he has Ironbreakers I have Warriors (due to the models I have available) and he has two bolt throwers where I have the cannon and grudgethrower.
The army has been working well for me -and by that I mean I've lost most of the games I've played but I'd like to think that's most because of my poor generalship than any inherent faults in the list. It's taken a while to get used to the lack of mobility (being Dwarfs and all) not that I can compare with other Warhammer armies I've used (=zero) but because I came from Necrons and Eldar in 40k which are (or at least can be) VERY fast armies.
That said, I've some to appreciate the strengths of the army - toughness, armour, leadership and not inconsiderable shooting power. These somewhat make up for the lack of maneouverability but I've also discovered that movement in Warhammer is required to have a decent shot at crushing your opponent and have been told on numerous occasions to not expect significant wins in any given game (looking at draws and minor victories, not solid victories or massacres). It seems strange to say it but I'd find even a minor victory satisfying (I play to crush in 40k; play to play in Fantasy).
...
Anyway, Tin Soldiers...
I'm really looking forward to this - my first Fantasy tournament, a current field of 26 including some very good players - Phil, Dave, Antony, Tony, Pete... these guys (and others) are simply something to aspire to at this point but hopefully if I'm lucky enough to somehow draw a game against them (which could only happen in the opening rounds) I'll give them a decent fight.
Ok, first post....
I've been doing this on and off on the City Guard site and having admired Dave Grant's and Phil's blogs (and numerous others) thought I'd give it a shot. No one reads this crap anyway right?
My current gaming revolves around the misadventures of my almost finished Dwarf army for Warhammer - The City Guard Presidential Army (I know... wanky title). This is my first foray into Warhammer (having played 40k for... I dunno... maybe 10 years), and it may very well be my last if I can't convince my wife that Warhammer is as crucial to my survival as food and water.
I've been logging the building progress and what I've learned playing the army on this thread:
http://www.cityguard.co.nz/forum/index.php/topic,806.0.html
This is a dipped army, started after much discussion with my good mate "(other) Nick" (CG club Secretary). It's been slow going but that's more attributable (?) to my inconsistency than the actual technique taking a long time.
Anyway, this blog will record my trials and tribulations on the fields as opposed to the building/painting of the army itself.
My current gaming revolves around the misadventures of my almost finished Dwarf army for Warhammer - The City Guard Presidential Army (I know... wanky title). This is my first foray into Warhammer (having played 40k for... I dunno... maybe 10 years), and it may very well be my last if I can't convince my wife that Warhammer is as crucial to my survival as food and water.
I've been logging the building progress and what I've learned playing the army on this thread:
http://www.cityguard.co.nz/forum/index.php/topic,806.0.html
This is a dipped army, started after much discussion with my good mate "(other) Nick" (CG club Secretary). It's been slow going but that's more attributable (?) to my inconsistency than the actual technique taking a long time.
Anyway, this blog will record my trials and tribulations on the fields as opposed to the building/painting of the army itself.
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