Battle Report #92: Maddox vs Rask

I get another game against Minions in their new Blindwater theme force, this time it's Maddox vs Rask!

Major Beth Maddox (75 points)

Theme: Storm Division
Objective: Bunker

Major Beth Maddox (Maddox1)
* Squire
* 2x Charger
* Ironclad
Journeyman Warcaster
* Firefly
Captain Arlan Strangewayes
Major Katherine Laddermore
Stormblade Captain
2x5 Storm Lances
6 Stormblades
* Stormblade Infantry Officer & Standard

Rask (75 points)

Theme: The Blindwater Congregation
Objective: Fuel Cache

Rask
* 2x Blackhide Wrastler
Wrong Eye
* Snapjaw
Bog Trog Mist Speaker
Totem Hunter
3x5 Gatorman Posse
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew

Deployment

I win the die roll and go for a balanced setup.

Round 1

I run up outside his run to engage ranges.

Rask move up, walls and feats. I think feating this early might be a mistake. Possible skewing the setup a bit so that Lances on one side cannot get vision and doubling up gators on the other side might allow him to feat in round 2 instead.

Round 2

I respond by pulling back. Going first gave me so much space!

Gators are now forced to run up towards me, or just allow me to shoot turn after turn.

Round 4

Storm Lances charge in and start killing Gators.

Gators make a fort in the center, kill a few models, but I am clearly up on attrition.

Fort Rask!

Round 5

A Wrastler admonitions and I fail to kill it. I block as many lanes to Maddox as I can, just in case.

I lose a few Lances.

I run out on the clock, but in friendly games we just keep playing! The Ironclad moves in, knocks Rask down, and kills him.

Post Mortem

This hard for Rask, especially where the scenario is so dead! I think it is vital that Rask does not feat bottom of 1.

Battle Report #91: Maddox vs Maelok

I go visit the other miniature games club in Oslo, called OMSK (Oslo Miniatyrspillklubb). The club is kid friendly and open to all miniature games systems. It also has much worse lighting conditions, so I apologize in advance for the quality of the photos! The other tables were mostly people playing Age of Sigmar, Kings of War, and X-Wing.

I am playing my future team-mate in an upcoming team tournament at 2D6, Merete. It's the first game we play against each other.

Major Beth Maddox (75 points)

Theme: Storm Division

Major Beth Maddox (Maddox1)
* Squire
* 2x Charger
* Ironclad
Journeyman Warcaster
* Firefly
Captain Arlan Strangewayes
Major Katherine Laddermore
Stormblade Captain
2x5 Storm Lances
6 Stormblades
* Stormblade Infantry Officer & Standard

Maelok the Dreadbound (75 points)

Theme: Blindwater Congregation

Maelok the Dreadbound (Maelok1)
* 2x Blackhide Wrastler
* Blind Walker
* Bull Snapper
* Swamp Horror
2x Gatorman Witch Doctor
Swamp Gobber Chef
2x5 Gatorman Posse
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew

Deployment

We are playing incursion. I go first and just line up, weighted towards the left since that forest could be a pain the ass for Maelok. Maelok puts one Posse on each flank and the heavies in the middle.

Round 1

I move up so that I am a bit outside run-to-engage range. Maddox casts Onslaught, since the center is full of scenery.

Maelok flanks wide with both posse. I think that is a mistake against a more maneoverable list like mine that also shoots harder. Better to go in and force the issue, rather than risk several turns of gunfire and/or have units far away from the action. Left flank Posse get Death Pact.

Round 2

I think that I maybe can take out the left hand Wrastler without feating, but I leave it at two boxes. I kill all the Posse I can reach, and jam in a few Lances (which is pointless, due to Maelok's feat).

In hindsight I should either have feated and ensured the Heavy kill, or just stayed a bit back and taken a round of shooting.

Maelok feats. The left flank Posse are blocked out by their own forest, and without Posse the attack volume is too low. I lose most of the left side Lances but have a ton of stuff left and the right hand side.

Round 3

I feat. The Ironclad goes in and slams the right hand Wrastler and Maelok to the ground. Together with some Charger shots both the heavies die. On the right hand side, Lances and Stormblades clear out almost everything. The Captain caps the center flag.

2-0

Maddox is outside the threat ranges and there is not much Maelok can do at this point. Maelok spends all his fury doing as much damage as he can.

3-0

The Chargers take aim and execute poor Maelok.

Post Mortem

This was a new list for Merete, and she forgot to use Mortality (and Venom sprays are great against Stormblades)!

I think this matchup is in Maddox' favor. I outthreat the list both in range and melee, and my feat punches through Maelok's feat. I would think the list is better against other Cygnar lists that rely more heavily on shooting. Removing 8 box ARM 16-20 Posse is not easy at range, and Minions punch really hard when they get in with the +5 POW swing from Rage + Mortality.

Battle Report #22: Haley2 vs Rask

Last game of the evening - it's time for a rematch against Rask. My opponent has a much stronger Rask list now, ditching the bog trogs for all the crazy lesser Warlocks.

Major Victoria Haley (75 points)

Major Victoria Haley
* Squire
* Stormwall
* Ironclad
* Thorn
Journeyman Warcaster
* Firefly
Ragman
Lanyssa
3 Storm Lances

Rask (75 points)

Rask
* Targ
* 2x Blackhide Wrastler
Bog Trog Mist Speaker
Lanyssa
Wrong Eye & Snapjaw
Rorsh & Brine
Dahlia & Skarath
Feralgeist
Totem Hunter
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew

Deployment

Let the broken throw rule shenanigans begin.

Turn 1

Rask moves up. I move up. Some shots go into a Wrastler.

Turn 2

Rask has been misplaced and is too far away to cast his spells on Skarath. This a really bad misplay. Skarath goes up and sprays away a Storm Lance instead of being able to alpha my Ironclad. Rask does not feat.

I take the alpha and kill Skarath, and feat.

Turn 3

Rask tries to disrupt my Ironclad. He feats, but I am too close for it to matter now.

I murder the Wrastlers, which are key to being able to punch through my armor.

Rask gets hit but survives.

Turn 4

I ahve won the attrition game and Rask has no way to get into Haley. The end.

Cygnar wins by attrition!

Post Mortem

This game got completely screwed by Rask due to the first turn mistake. We really should have reset.

Battle Report #5: Caine2 vs Rask

Rematch time against Halvor! After my sad loss on scenario against Rask I was ready for revenge. I am currently painting my Stormwall, and I wanted to take it for a spin. Yes, I am actually a Stormwall virgin, and even if it's my first time I am sure Rask will not be gentle with me.

Captain Allister Caine (75pts)

Captain Allister Caine (+27)
- Reinholdt (4)
- Stormwall (39)
Journeyman Warcaster (4)
- Firefly
Captain Arlan Strangewayes (4)
Gun Mage Captain Adept (5)
Lanyssa Ryssyl (3)
Ragman (4)
Rhupert (4)
6 Rangers (9)
6 Trencher Infantry (16)
- 2 Trencher Infantry Rifle Grenadier (4)
Stormsmith Storm Tower (4)

Rask (75pts)

Rask (+27)
- Backhide Wrastler x2 (32)
- Swamp Horror (14)
Wrong Eye & Snapjaw (17)
Bog Trog Mist Speaker (4)
Lanyssa (3)
Maximus (4)
Saxon Orrik (4)
Farrow Slaughterhousers (11)
Gatorman Bokor (11)
Swamp Gobbers (2)

Deployment

I put my Stormwall up the centre with the goal of preventing him from daring Rask to stand anywhere near his flag. Solos spread out

Turn 1

I win the roll. Since Rask has no shooting I decide to go first and run like an idiot. Fire for Effect goes on GMCA, Arcane Shield on Stormwall, and Caine puts Heightened Reflexes on himself, since I am most worried about throw shenanigans. I can't wait for PP to fix those laser guided missile throw rules.

Invisible Rangers move up

 I makes spaces in my front line to give space for the solos to move.

Purple Cygnar are in position

Fairly passive play by my opponent. Rask feats in turn 1 and keeps mostly outside my threat ranges.

Rask moves up, but not very far

Turn 2

I can't do much under the feat. I drop a pod outside the Storm Tower's range. But hey, why premeasure when you can herp derp. Rangers move up and shoot a few Shamblers and I pick off a Slaughterhouser. Covering fire goes down to pin his infantry in. Rangers get Tough from Rhupert.

Waiting for the alpha

Tactics discussion about whether feating turn 1 is good or not

Gators go! The Swamp Horror tramples in, and it and the Wrastler and Maximus clean off some Trenchers and Rangers. Again a bit passive, I feel. Don't give me any more shooting turns than strictly necessary!

Turn 3

Some infantry died

But worse, Rask is 16" away from Caine. The assassination run seems almost impossible to fail.

Within 19" of Caine2? Oh yes.

Rangers move up to Mark Target on Rask. GMCA puts Flare on Rask, so that's +4 to hit. Caine feats and moves up, using Trick Shots on Rask to clear out his sacrificial Bog Trogs at double time.

Rask dies while Caine2 still has 3 rounds in the chamber.

I had forgotten about the Bog Trog sacrifice, actually! It did not come up in the previous game since I never went for Rask then. Halvor was kind enough to allow me to take the Trick Shots I should have had, but even without those three I had plenty shots left, and all the shots from the Stormwall to go.

Yes we Caine! Cygnar wins on assassination!

Post battle thoughts

I had explained how Caine2 works before we started the game, but the Caine2 usually has to be seen to be believed.

I am sure that Rask has game into Caine2, but I think he must play much more aggressively. His melee threat ranges are way longer than mine. Rask must move up and force the issue, he cannot give me extra turns of free shooting stuff.

I have game here due to my 19" threat keeping Rask away, but if I lose my Stormwall I will have great problems dealing with any armor. There is no armor cracking plan B in this list.

Rules errors

It got pointed out to me later that Rask's Call to Sacrifice doesn't work against Caine's Grievous Wounds shot, since it's a remove damage ability. Thanks Nicholas!

Battle Report #2: Haley2 vs Rask

For my second Haley2 game I face Rask, played by Halvor. I haven't played him before. His threat ranges are long, but I mine are a bit longer. My plan is to get up quickly, deploy smoke, engage and feat. I should by then be so close that Rask's feat has little effect.

The Lists

Haley2 Rookie Squad (75 points)

I adjusted the list slightly. With my long threat ranges I think that both Lanyssa and Centurion are overkill. I swap them for Ragman and Defender, for a better ranged game and more armor crushing.

Haley2 (+25)
- Squire (5)
- Defender (16)
- Ironclad (12)
- Thorn (13)
Journeyman Warcaster (4)
- Firefly (8)
Jakes1 (4)
- Thunderhead (20)
Arlan (4)
Ragman (4)
6 Trenchers (10)

Rask (75 points)

Rask (+27)

- Backhide Wrastler x2 (32)

- Swamp Horror (14)

Wrong Eye & Snapjaw (17)

Bog Trog MIst Speaker (4)

Lanyssa (3)

Maximus (4)
Saxon Orrik (4)

Farrow Slaughterhousers (11)

Gatorman Bokor (11)

Swamp Gobbers (2)

Deployment

We play Incursion.

Turn 1

I win the roll-off and decide to take as much space as possible by going first.

I deploy Thorn on the left to contest / take the left flag, planning to take the other flags with my brick. I then ignore the left flag completely the whole game. As we will see, ignoring scenario is bad bad bad.

Trenchers run up. I cast Telekinesis on 4 jacks.

The rest of the army bricks up behind the clouds.

Rask advances and clouds. Saxon Orric runs up on the left.

Haley2, what to do.

 Turn 2

Thunderhead moves up and the left but fails to do much damage. Defender kills Maximus. I move my jacks up and feat, catching everything.

Rask cannot do much under my feat. He moves up to get his beasts into position.

I ignored the left objective and Saxon scores. 0-1.

In position

 Turn 3

Wrong Eye has gotten to close to Thunderhead, I trample across some Slaughterhousers and punch him to death, removing Snapjaw,

I make a crucial positioning mistake with Jakes. He cannot safely go within 8" of Thunderhead to give focus the next turn. This means I should have kept him way back instead of hanging him close to the front. I cloud up but forget that a minion solo can hand out Eyeless sight.

The Ironclad moves up to the right side Wrastler but fails to kill him, leaving him at 3 boxes.

Thorn tries to kill the Swamp Horror but has no chance, even with Ragman helping.

Again, I ignored the objective. 0-2.

He fails to kill the Ironclad in return.

Saxon scores again 0-3.

 Turn 4

I have killed much of his stuff but the Gator that ate Jakes is very close to Haley. I plan out that I have to cast Telekinesis on Thorn to contest... but focus all on killing the Wrastler and forget to do so during my turn.

So, I have basically killed almost his entire army and lost 2 models! But Saxon scores again!

0-5

Saxon Orrik MVP

Cygnar loses by stupidity (I mean, scenario).

Post game thoughts

My three major blunders were not paying attention to Saxon and the scenario, losing Jakes by keeping him too far forward, and of course forgetting to make a crucial move on the last turn.

I should have focused more on making sure that Warbeasts die. I got a bit too greedy with that right side Wrastler, he would have died if I had focused more firepower on him.

Except for that, the game went well. I like the changes to the list. With a better play on my part I think Rask will have big troubles surviving my double alpha.

Thanks to Halvor for a great game!