Hi,
on the last weekend of September, Nino had planned to go to Zeist in the Netherlands, and I decided to join him on short notice. It was a good opportunity to play four games with the new update. With that, we continued our series and will likely play at nine tournaments over the next twelve weeks. Since we were at an event last weekend and the one before that as well, I’m a bit behind with my battle reports—but the ones from before the update are probably not as interesting anyway, compared to this one here from the quaint town of Zeist. So, four hours’ drive to Zeist, two nights of accommodation, and a look at what our neighbors are playing.
I myself was undecided for quite a while about what I wanted to play—mainly because my four big Windbirds are still unpainted. After going back and forth for some time, I finally decided to play Mono Fire Sorcerer Kings again. I love the look of the models, and the update was pretty much a death blow to my W’adrhun lists.
Glutherz [2040/2000]
Sorcerer Kings
== (Warlord) Maharajah [165]: Shu'laat, Court of Fire, Court of Water, Recorder of all Deeds
* Efreet Sword Dancers (3) [170]:
* Efreet Sword Dancers (3) [170]:
* Ghols (3) [110]: Court of Fire
* Ghols (3) [110]: Court of Fire
== Raj [120]: Court of Fire
* Ghols (3) [110]: Court of Fire
* Efreet Flamecasters (3) [170]:
* Mahabharati Initiates (3) [160]:
== Raj [135]: Court of Fire, Bound to the Elements
* Efreet Flamecasters (3) [170]:
* Efreet Sword Dancers (3) [170]:
* Efreet Sword Dancers (3) [170]:
* Ghols (3) [110]: Court of Fire
As you can see, there were only a few changes compared to the list before the update. I had tried Fire and Wind, but wasn’t happy with it and ended up going with this version on the spot. I was a bit worried in case the opponent brought a lot of shooting, or if they managed to hold most zones by round two. The first was covered by Fiery Dominion, the second by including Recorder of All Deeds and Mahabharati. I liked the models, and at worst they could just fail. And before anyone asks—yes, with that many cards I barely won any Supremacy throughout the entire tournament, and most of the time I only got to go first when my opponent kindly gave me the chance in the first two rounds… which, of course, was exactly when it was a disadvantage for me.
Game 1 – Head to Head with Sam and Old Dominion
In the first game I faced Sam, who had already come to Germany a few times to play. Up to now I had only played against his brother Fin. When I saw that we would be playing on a desert board with palm trees, I was doubly excited.
The Old Dominion [1995/2000]
== (Warlord) Mounted Strategos [185]: Aventine Armor, Skofnung, Eternal Discipline
* Kataphraktoi (4) [255]: Hetairos
* Kataphraktoi (5) [320]: Hetairos
* Centaur Prodromoi (3) [150]:
* Athanatoi (3) [170]:
== Xhiliarch [100]:
* Legionnaires (3) [100]:
* Varangian Guard (5) [310]:
== Hierodeacon [105]: Devoted to Hazlia
* Legionnaires (3) [100]:
* Legionnaires (3) [100]:
* Legionnaires (3) [100]:
That was a lot of cavalry, and the hindering terrain wasn’t where I would have liked it against such an army. Once again, all those test games against the “Pommesmann,” who regularly fielded large blocks of cavalry against me, paid off.
Round 1: Sam had no lights, and I deployed three groups of Ghols with a Maharajah and a Raj on the board. On top of that, I started a Fiery Dominion and placed six tokens on it.
In the second round, we both drew three medium cards. Sam chose all Legionaries, while I went for Mahabharati, Sword Dancer with Raj, and one Flamecaster. Deck-building was more or less irrelevant. I just needed to make sure my nine cards would give me 9 to 10 tokens.
Our troops advanced onto the battlefield. Sam’s three Legionaries formed a nice line from the center to the left flank. I decided to threaten the large zone on the right with Mahabharati and Sword Dancers, while holding the center with Ghols and Flamecasters. By the end of the round, I had a Fiery Dominion and a Call Forth the Deep in my deck, and a Fiery Dominion with a few tokens on the board.
It didn’t get much more exciting in Round 3 either. Our ranges were limited, and we were content just to get troops onto the battlefield. I drew everything except one Sword Dancer, Sam got everything except one Kataphraktos. He chose not to play them with his Warlord, planning to bring them in later via a flank. With five more cards than Sam, I could afford to tuck my right flank deep into the deck. Two Ghols and a Flamecaster instinctively went far back as well.
Fairly early on, a broad line of Kataphraktoi appeared in the center, with Athanatoi and Prodromoi alongside, and on the far left the Varangians, who clearly intended to attack my small zone. Since the path there was long, I decided to invest few resources on that side. If I could kill the horses in the center, I could swing over and slow—or perhaps even stop—the Varangians. I also didn’t want any Ponies or Athanatoi in my flank.
Most of the Legionaries advanced cautiously, and with his last regiment he leapt into the center with a Move Charge right in my face. I was surprised, but with the Ghols and Flamecaster not yet activated, two Stands went down.
On the right flank, the Legionaries stepped back again when I placed my Mahabharati into the zone, and the Sword Dancer and Flamecaster there just took positions for the next round.
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In Round 4, the last cards went into the deck, and I mentally prepared for some real action. I decided to tuck my mages up into the deck, followed by the rituals. I wanted to wait as long as possible before taking any decisive action, which worked out well because Sam didn’t dare advance. With the Ghols, I killed the last Stand fairly early, while otherwise our armies mostly just glared at each other.
Once he was done and his Warlord unit appeared behind the Legionaries on the right, my Mahabharati moved into the activated Legionaries with a Move Charge. My Flamecaster dealt two to three damage to the Legionaries, and my Sword Dancers with Raj positioned themselves eleven inches from the currently blocked Kataphraktoi with Warlord. The plan for the next round was clear. To prevent a nuisance charge from the second Kataphraktoi next round, I also sent a Ghol unit with a Charge against a Legionary unit, and with Molten Blades they took down two Stands. This allowed me to score alone in the large zone again, still holding three rituals in my deck, and although I had an 8-point lead, I didn’t feel safe at all.
For the next round, my deck-building was greedily focused on the right flank, while Sam opted for the center. He started cleaning up the Ghols near his Legionaries and cleared some units in the middle. I could have intervened there, but I preferred to eliminate the Legionaries and the Warlord on the right side. I almost succeeded on the first attempt, and additionally moved my water marker onto the remnants of the Kataphraktoi with Warlord. With only Clash 1, they no longer posed a threat.
In the center, I fought my way free with shooting and melee, and after an uninspired Clash, I immediately sent a Sword Dancer unit into the back of the Athanatoi. Another Sword Dancer unit used Move Charge against the second Kataphraktoi, and my Flamecaster took out another Pony on the flank. Overall, things went well, and when Sam botched the Move Charge with the Varangians, the outcome was essentially decided. I stepped back a bit, ensuring that in the next round they couldn’t perform any Charge Clash on anything.
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I held the right zone for the rest of the game, gradually sending troops against the Varangians until they finally fell after three rounds.
That gave me a strong start in the tournament. Next, I would face Jaime with his Hundred Kingdoms on Off Balance—not exactly my preferred matchup for this scenario, but anything is better than Spire.
Game 2 – Off Balance with Jaime and Hundred Kingdoms
This time, instead of the desert, we played on lush meadows with pretty forests and fields. Once again, there was nice 3D terrain, which I really appreciated. I couldn’t say the same about Jaime’s list, though.
A total of 15 cards, Order Imperial. Could almost be one of mine—if it weren’t for the five characters. Four would already give me a headache, but in principle, I find the list interesting. For reinforcements, he only rolls for the Lights; the rest arrive automatically. This means that by Round 2, he’s almost guaranteed to be in both zones, and he can likely hold them in Round 3 as well unless I make a big effort or get extremely lucky with my reinforcements. Very annoying.
The Hundred Kingdoms [2000/2000]
== Imperial Officer [90]:
* Steel Legion (3) [160]:
* Hunter Cadre (3) [160]:
* Militia Bowmen (3) [80]:
* Hunter Cadre (3) [160]:
== Imperial Officer [120]: Armor of Dominion
* Gilded Legion (5) [240]:
* Militia Bowmen (3) [80]:
== (Warlord) Priory Commander (Crimson Tower) [120]:
* Order of the Crimson Tower (3) [210]:
* Order of the Sealed Temple (3) [200]:
== Chapter Mage [80]: School of Water
* Mercenary Crossbowmen (3) [110]:
== Chapter Mage [80]: School of Fire
* Mercenary Crossbowmen (3) [110]:
In the first round, we both rolled for reinforcements; I missed one Ghols unit. Generously, he let me go first, even though he had won the initiative roll. I placed the first Ghols on the left in the forest. Then came his two characters, and I positioned the Maharajah Ghols behind the first unit, while placing the Ghols with Raj just out of double Move-Fire-Dart range. Maybe a bit paranoid, but I’ve already killed so many units with exactly that move that I preferred to play it safe. I was prepared to not really get actively involved until Round 4 or 5 anyway. For a ritual, I again started a Fiery Dominion and placed 5 tokens on it.
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Round 2: the last Ghols arrived, along with Raj with Sword Dancer, a normal Sword Dancer unit, and a Flamecaster unit. One character came on top, followed by regiments so that the Water ritual could get its 6 tokens, and additional characters. I wanted to at least collect ritual tokens if I couldn’t really do anything else.
On his side, the Bowmen activated first, followed by the knights on the far right flank and the Hunting Cadre. None of these went into a zone. Later, Jaime mentioned he had been worried I might try to take out his units early. Would I have tried? Maybe if I could have reached them, but they were simply too far away.
I positioned my Sword Dancers with Raj far left, opposite a Hunter Cadre, and the Flamecaster behind the Ghols. I saw the left flank, with a healer and the Hunter Cadre, as my best chance to break through. I expected the Gilded Legion there, and I was confident that the Sword Dancer block could crack them with Intrusive Thoughts and Deadly despite their Pike Formation—or at least I hoped so if the Gilded Legion hadn’t activated yet. That wasn’t the case yet, and in the end, I was glad that neither of us scored in this round.
Slowly, Round 3 began. I drew everything except one Sword Dancer. I considered how to build my deck: rituals on top, then characters, and a few regiments to deploy onto the board. He continued to keep his distance, which suited me. If I had known that earlier, I would have played the Mahabharati in Round 2, but this worked out fine too.
On the right flank, his Bowmen and Crossbows advanced, with the Crimson Tower appearing behind them. I placed my Water marker right in the middle, mainly to slowly kill the Crossbows with the Geyser.
On the left flank, both of his Legions arrived, and eventually his Hunter Cadre pushed through. I decided to shove my Sword Dancers with Raj into the left zone. Then the Ghols with the Maharajah did a small reform, and the old man killed a Stand of Hunter Cadre with a nice Burn to Cinders. Jaime had nothing in the right zone, giving me a two-point lead. On top of that, three neat rituals went into my deck.
Round 4. The score stood at 17 to 15 cards, and I might soon draw a Hunter Cadre. I considered playing greedily but quickly dismissed the idea. Playing conservatively was better than relying on lucky initiative rolls. So I built my deck more for patience, while anticipating that he might push into me on the right flank. That’s why I placed a few Sword Dancers at the bottom of the deck to counter.
Besides the usual “alibi” activations, the Geyser dealt six damage to the Crossbows, and Burn to Cinders from the Maharajah killed the damaged Hunter Cadre. They had done a bit of damage to the objective beforehand, but that was fine.
Then something happened that I would later use as leverage. Jaime sent his Bowmen to the edge of the right zone, but positioned so that the regiment that would charge would be standing in the zone. This would become important later.
Before that, the left side was the focus. His Gilded Legion used Move Charge against the Ghols, and thus entered the left zone. I dealt some damage with strikes and the Flamecasters, but most of the models were healed back up.
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In the picture, they appear further away, but that was just because the Stands and the Ghols didn’t fit well together, so we left a small gap. That gap became irrelevant when Raj with the Sword Dancer, as the last activation of the round, struck into the flank and bypassed the Pike Formation. A solid 20 hits later, Jaime was kind enough to roll enough sixes that the regiment was dead from Morale exactly.
But back to the right flank, where something important had happened a few activations earlier. Since he had hardly any cards left—essentially only the two knights were still relevant—I decided to take a small gamble. Thanks to the double Fiery Dominions, the Mahabharati had Juggernaut and could charge the Bowmen. His Crossbows had already activated, and in theory, only the Crimson Tower or the Sealed Temple could charge the Mahabharati. If that had happened, my Sword Dancers with Molten Blades could have intervened, and the Flamecasters would have finished off the rest.
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Since he only had a few cards left and I was about to get two Sword Dancers, I hoped the Crimson Tower would be positioned ahead of the Sealed Temple. If that hadn’t been the case, it would have been an expensive trade, but I still had two Sword Dancers and a Ghols regiment with Raj, so I considered it acceptable. As it turned out, the Crimson Tower appeared and chose not to charge the Mahabharati in the zone, instead positioning themselves in front of the Crossbows. Perfect—this allowed my next Sword Dancers to perform a Move Charge exactly one activation before the Sealed Temple. The damage was modest, but I denied the zone, and the Sealed Temple stood helplessly by.
Round Six. I put Raj and a Sword Dancer on top, then planned to place a Water marker, followed immediately by the Mahabharati. The rest of my deck was again built for patience and counterattacks. Jaime went first, triggering his Commander’s Supremacy and opting for the uninspired Clash. A brief moment of tension, but the Sword Dancers survived with a few wounds or a single Stand. After that, I had no more hurry. I activated the Sword Dancers with Raj, took a Charge into the Crossbows with the Water Mage, killed them, and thus avoided the Charge from the Hunter Cadre.
After that, nothing much happened for a while. His Steel Legion got to hit the Ghouls and lost models, and the Flamecasters with the Ghouls wiped out the Steel Legion. The Crossbows behind the Crimson Tower went down in the second Geyser, and then I waited. Eventually, the lone Sword Dancer activated, was healed by the Fiery Dominion, and together with the Flamecasters nearly killed a knight. I placed a Water marker behind the knights to soften their attacks and moved the Ghouls in front of the Mahabharati.
On the right flank, the Sword Dancers took out the last Bowmen and prepared to Move Charge into the back of the Sealed Temple next round. I was scoring alone again.
The game was nearing its end, and I put a Fiery Dominion and a Sword Dancer on top of the deck. The chances of going first were slim, but I had other options. Jaime went first, and the Sealed Temple turned around and almost killed the Sword Dancers. So far, so bad—but I still had more. My Sword Dancers at the Crimson Tower were healed, and the two models dealt six damage, enough to break the regiment. Jaime rallied them, but they were subsequently killed despite Water and later by the glorious Charge of the Raj Ghouls.
On the other side, I lost my Raj with Sword Dancer to the Hunter Cadre, which was then devoured by the Ghouls. I held all the zones, and we called it a game, since Jaime had nothing left except the Sealed Temple.
That completed Day 1. Some of the other tournament participants joined us, and we went together to a Korean restaurant. There, we learned that the South African language is very similar to Dutch and ended the evening with beer and Conquest discussions.
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