Post by Arguleon Veq on Dec 23, 2008 20:52:46 GMT -5
Well the Ogre Kingdoms game fell through so I faced off against one of my regular opponents and his High Elves.
Game 5 - Vs High Elves - 2000 Points.
My list remains unchanged.
The opponents list was as follows -
Archmage;
Extra Level,
Anullian Crystal,
Ring.
Mage;
Extra Level,
+1 Power.
Noble;
Great Weapon,
Talisman of Loec.
19 Spears;
FC.
10 Archers;
14 White Lions;
FC, Banner of Sorcery.
14 White Lions;
FC.
Lion Chariot;
Lion Chariot;
Eagle;
Eagle;Bolt Thrower;
Bolt Thrower;
Magic;
He chose Fire on both mages and got -
1,3,4,5.
3,5.
I had Bears Anger.
Pre Game Thoughts;
Again I would have to advance on the enemy, not a prospect my Dogs like. I would also have a VERY tough time beating any of his combat units and his Lion Chariots out ranged all of I disagreeault units.
So my plan is to use the Leadbelchers to try and take out a Chariot. Their 6'' move + 12'' shot outranges his charge move and is one of the few units that can kill it in one turn. I will try to get the other with a Cannon.
I would use my Maneaters on his Noble with Spears, his Spears should have a tough time hurting me, his Noble may kill one but will die in return as he will be on one wound. With my Paymaster nearby this unit should hold, my Paymasters unit will assault White Lions on my left [as he had deployed his 3 units in a tight formation, chariots and eagles on my left flank and archers on my right. Throwers on a hill behind his army]. This would anchor both sides of the melee. My Pikes would have a rough time beating a Lion unit on their own so I would focus on their target unit with my shooting ,giving them a better chance. With my Stubborn units on both sides of this big combat it should prevent any nasty flanking.
My own Cavalry would deploy on both flanks, Heavy Cav on my left with the Belchers and Lord on my right withthe Ligh Cav to take down the Archers. This would mean I would not have my Lords Ld but my main units in the centre had Ld 8 Characters leading them.
I knew this would be a tough task and that I would be hard pressed to stall his magic phase.
The small Estalian coastal city of Erago had long been plagued by Dark Elf corsairs, not once but twice had the entire city been burnt to the ground, the inhabitants not dragged away into slavery having to rebuild upon the ashes of their dead comrades.
In recent years Erago’s fortunes had changed, a new and enterprising family had come to power, opening up lucrative trade routes with contacts in L'anguille. With money flowing into the city its defences had been increased tenfold and corsair raiders had not been seen in over 10 years. Unfortunately the cities painful past never left the mind of it's inhabitants.
When 4 sleek Elven ships were sighted on approach to the city in the dead of night they were fired upon. Erago had been a backwater city, its people, those manning the guns of the city walls, those crewing its ships, knew little of the Elven civil wars, to them an Elf was an Elf and it had been Elves who had brought them so much pain. To them these Elves had come to burn their homes and take their families into slavery.
The High Elves reacted swiftly to the attack, the most senior captain of the 4 ships marshalling a desperate landing from which his men could fight clear of their attackers, incensed as to why these people whom they had come to open up trade with had greeted them with such hostility. The Elven ships burnt and a full half of the Elven crews had perished, the rest, taking whatever supplies they could and carrying away with them a pair of Eagle Claw Bolt Throwers. They fought their way clear into the countryside surrounding Erago.
The rulers of Erago, upon realising their mistake had sent messengers of peace and apology but the Elves would hear none of it, believing these messages a trap. Elven blood had been spilled and they would repay that debt. Erago had no standing army, its people were seamen and sailors, fighters but not soldiers and they could not hope to stand against even the few hundred High Elves who now assailed them. Their city was fortified against attacks from the sea, not the mainland. They needed an army, at any price.
****
Andrak had been on campaign in eastern Estalia, local rulers paying his forces handsomely to deal with the restless dead of their lands. Drinking cheap Estalian sherry in one of the local taverns, a messenger had fell at his feet, exhausted he presented Andrak with a letter. Upon seeing the amount of gold offered for the job Andrak couldn't help but grin and slap the weary messenger heartily on the back,
'I have another message for you to send boy!' The boys shoulders slumped in resignation of what was to come.
'20 Miles west of here a General named Andreas Suthernio is doing battle with the restless dead, tell him that Andrak The Grim has a lucrative offer and to make haste to Erago'
Early Game;
I got first turn and advanced en masse. My Hotpot landed dead on the central Lions unit, their intended target, but misfired and couldn't now fire next turn either. My Cannon landed dead on a Chariot, and rolled a 1 to wound...
The High Elves made a big gamble with the Eagles charging the Heavy Cav shielding the Belchers. Shooting and Magic seen my Fast Cav reduced to 2 models and failing panic, a Maneater dying and some Pikemen also falling.
In the combat the Eagles suffered a lot of wounds, were broken and ran down, leaving a charge on for my Knights against a Chariot.
I thought that charge was a strange move and asked my opponent about it after the game, he reasoned that the Eagles should have only lost by 1-2. Which gave him a 50/50 chance of holding, the Eagles would then die in my turn, leaving the Knights open to a double Chariot charge who would then over run into the Belchers who wouldnt be able to stand and shoot. So in all a risky move that didn't pay off thanks to some nice rolls by my Knights.
My Knights passed their Fear test and charged a Chariot, targetting the inside one of the two to allow my Belchers to fire on the other. My Fast Cav rallied. My Infantry advanced. My Maneaters all advanced more cautiously and opened fire on the central target unit, killing a few. My Cannon also fired on them, killing 2. The Belchers shredded that Lion Chariot whilst my Knights smashed home, winning the combat by 2 and running the Chariot down. It did now though leave their flank for a Bolt Thrower.
Forces Close In;
The High Elves continued to hold their ground, Magic and Shooting killed more Pikemen and the lone Maneater. The Bolt Thrower did miss the flank of my Knights though.
My Maneaters decided now was the time to strike and charged the Spears. My Lord also charged the Archers.
My shooting focussed on the central target unit, my Pistols from the Duellists caused some damage whilst my Cannon also killed a few more, leaving them thin on numbers. My Lord killed 3 Archers and broke them, they fled off the table, I pursued to try and get off the table too to avoid getting shot with Bolt Throwers but got a 6 on 3 dice. Leaving him exposed. My Maneaters lost one of their number to the Noble who was struck down in return my by last Maneater who held thanks to the re-roll for the nearby Paymaster.
My Knights had also turned to face the Bolt Throwers on the hill this turn.
The High Elves continued to use their magic and shooting. The Bolt Throwers both turned and unleashed a hail of Bolts on my Knights, killing all 5!. Each mage managed to cast Burning Head, once on the Pikes, once of the Bodyguard, I lost 7 models but both passed their Panic checks. Conflag killed some more of my men. The Ring killed 3 Duellists and panicked them. The Maneater lost a wound in his combat but killed 3 Elves and held.
Decisive Charges;
Duellists rallied. With their target unit now weakened enough my Pikes hit the central White Lions with Archmage who were now down to only their front rank. My Bodyguard charged the other White Lions on my left, my Ogres also charged the same unit, getting 1 into combat. My Lord turned to face the Bolt Throwers.
My Ogre Leadbelcher that had squeezed into combat on my left failed with its impact hit. The White Lions killed 3 of my Bodyguard leaving the champ and Paymaster to strike back, killing a White Lion each. I easily won the combat and the High Elves broke despite being Stubborn and fled from the board. My Paymaster Bodyguard held their pursuit, not wanting to take the Battle Standard re-roll too far away from my other units. My Belchers tried to hold so as to not get shot in the flank with a Bolt Thrower but failed and exposed their flank.
My Pikes won their combat but the Lions held thanks to Stubborn. My Maneater continued to kill 3 High Elves a turn but lost a wound, he held againg thanks to the Battle Standard Re-Roll.
One Bolt Thrower turned to face my Belchers, the other my Lord. The Belchers got hit in the flank, killing an Ogre and making them panic straight off the table!. The other multi shotted my Lord, killing his Pegasus. The central Lions were finished off in combat with my Pikes and Captain. My Maneater killed 2 more Elves and held again.
My Pikes charged one Bolt Thrower, my Lord the other. My Fast Cav [2 of them] also charged the flank of the Spears to help the Maneater. The Pikes failed to kill or break the Thrower Crew!, My Lord killed 1 of his crew but failed to break him too!. My Fast Cav killed 2 Elves. My Maneater was finally killed though but the Cav held.
I finished off both Bolt Throwers in combat whilst the Elves killed my Fast Cav.
I shot the Spears reducing them below half strength and my opponent had nothing to do in his last turn, having just 8 Spearman left against - Paymasters Bodyguard, all my Characters, Pikes, Duellists, Crossbows and Warmachines.
Result - Win
Massacre for the Dogs of War!
Post Game Thoughts;
I was very pleased with the result, I was expecting a very hard time but it didn't end up so bad. I think the key part of the battle was the action on my left flank. His gamble with the Eagles did not pay off which allowed me to take care of his Chariots who were a big threat. My plan worked great in the centre, Stubborn units with a nearby BS anchoring both flanks of the melee whilst my weakest unit fought the unit I had softened up with firepower.
My Cannon not wounding a chariot with a dead on hit was annoying, I kept rolling 3 on 2 dice whenever I tried to dispel anything and my Hotpot kept scattering or misfiring but my army held together, I did fail a few panic tests but luckily they were not on vital units, had my main blocks failed their panic tests to burning head my plan would have been ruined. The Bolt Throwers killing all the Knights in 1 turn also made it much harder work to deal with them and they further excelled themselves by scaring a whole Ogre unit off the table too.
The combination of the BS and 2 Stubborn units with decent combat winning ability is the key to this force though. It allowed me to face down a force that was much better at shooting, in combat and in the magic phase and still win. The even mix of units helps too, I have my Cav for rolling down flanks, some close ranged fire-power to soften the enemy up before the charge and my Ogres as the heavy hitters.
Game 5 - Vs High Elves - 2000 Points.
My list remains unchanged.
The opponents list was as follows -
Archmage;
Extra Level,
Anullian Crystal,
Ring.
Mage;
Extra Level,
+1 Power.
Noble;
Great Weapon,
Talisman of Loec.
19 Spears;
FC.
10 Archers;
14 White Lions;
FC, Banner of Sorcery.
14 White Lions;
FC.
Lion Chariot;
Lion Chariot;
Eagle;
Eagle;Bolt Thrower;
Bolt Thrower;
Magic;
He chose Fire on both mages and got -
1,3,4,5.
3,5.
I had Bears Anger.
Pre Game Thoughts;
Again I would have to advance on the enemy, not a prospect my Dogs like. I would also have a VERY tough time beating any of his combat units and his Lion Chariots out ranged all of I disagreeault units.
So my plan is to use the Leadbelchers to try and take out a Chariot. Their 6'' move + 12'' shot outranges his charge move and is one of the few units that can kill it in one turn. I will try to get the other with a Cannon.
I would use my Maneaters on his Noble with Spears, his Spears should have a tough time hurting me, his Noble may kill one but will die in return as he will be on one wound. With my Paymaster nearby this unit should hold, my Paymasters unit will assault White Lions on my left [as he had deployed his 3 units in a tight formation, chariots and eagles on my left flank and archers on my right. Throwers on a hill behind his army]. This would anchor both sides of the melee. My Pikes would have a rough time beating a Lion unit on their own so I would focus on their target unit with my shooting ,giving them a better chance. With my Stubborn units on both sides of this big combat it should prevent any nasty flanking.
My own Cavalry would deploy on both flanks, Heavy Cav on my left with the Belchers and Lord on my right withthe Ligh Cav to take down the Archers. This would mean I would not have my Lords Ld but my main units in the centre had Ld 8 Characters leading them.
I knew this would be a tough task and that I would be hard pressed to stall his magic phase.
The small Estalian coastal city of Erago had long been plagued by Dark Elf corsairs, not once but twice had the entire city been burnt to the ground, the inhabitants not dragged away into slavery having to rebuild upon the ashes of their dead comrades.
In recent years Erago’s fortunes had changed, a new and enterprising family had come to power, opening up lucrative trade routes with contacts in L'anguille. With money flowing into the city its defences had been increased tenfold and corsair raiders had not been seen in over 10 years. Unfortunately the cities painful past never left the mind of it's inhabitants.
When 4 sleek Elven ships were sighted on approach to the city in the dead of night they were fired upon. Erago had been a backwater city, its people, those manning the guns of the city walls, those crewing its ships, knew little of the Elven civil wars, to them an Elf was an Elf and it had been Elves who had brought them so much pain. To them these Elves had come to burn their homes and take their families into slavery.
The High Elves reacted swiftly to the attack, the most senior captain of the 4 ships marshalling a desperate landing from which his men could fight clear of their attackers, incensed as to why these people whom they had come to open up trade with had greeted them with such hostility. The Elven ships burnt and a full half of the Elven crews had perished, the rest, taking whatever supplies they could and carrying away with them a pair of Eagle Claw Bolt Throwers. They fought their way clear into the countryside surrounding Erago.
The rulers of Erago, upon realising their mistake had sent messengers of peace and apology but the Elves would hear none of it, believing these messages a trap. Elven blood had been spilled and they would repay that debt. Erago had no standing army, its people were seamen and sailors, fighters but not soldiers and they could not hope to stand against even the few hundred High Elves who now assailed them. Their city was fortified against attacks from the sea, not the mainland. They needed an army, at any price.
****
Andrak had been on campaign in eastern Estalia, local rulers paying his forces handsomely to deal with the restless dead of their lands. Drinking cheap Estalian sherry in one of the local taverns, a messenger had fell at his feet, exhausted he presented Andrak with a letter. Upon seeing the amount of gold offered for the job Andrak couldn't help but grin and slap the weary messenger heartily on the back,
'I have another message for you to send boy!' The boys shoulders slumped in resignation of what was to come.
'20 Miles west of here a General named Andreas Suthernio is doing battle with the restless dead, tell him that Andrak The Grim has a lucrative offer and to make haste to Erago'
Early Game;
I got first turn and advanced en masse. My Hotpot landed dead on the central Lions unit, their intended target, but misfired and couldn't now fire next turn either. My Cannon landed dead on a Chariot, and rolled a 1 to wound...
The High Elves made a big gamble with the Eagles charging the Heavy Cav shielding the Belchers. Shooting and Magic seen my Fast Cav reduced to 2 models and failing panic, a Maneater dying and some Pikemen also falling.
In the combat the Eagles suffered a lot of wounds, were broken and ran down, leaving a charge on for my Knights against a Chariot.
I thought that charge was a strange move and asked my opponent about it after the game, he reasoned that the Eagles should have only lost by 1-2. Which gave him a 50/50 chance of holding, the Eagles would then die in my turn, leaving the Knights open to a double Chariot charge who would then over run into the Belchers who wouldnt be able to stand and shoot. So in all a risky move that didn't pay off thanks to some nice rolls by my Knights.
My Knights passed their Fear test and charged a Chariot, targetting the inside one of the two to allow my Belchers to fire on the other. My Fast Cav rallied. My Infantry advanced. My Maneaters all advanced more cautiously and opened fire on the central target unit, killing a few. My Cannon also fired on them, killing 2. The Belchers shredded that Lion Chariot whilst my Knights smashed home, winning the combat by 2 and running the Chariot down. It did now though leave their flank for a Bolt Thrower.
Forces Close In;
The High Elves continued to hold their ground, Magic and Shooting killed more Pikemen and the lone Maneater. The Bolt Thrower did miss the flank of my Knights though.
My Maneaters decided now was the time to strike and charged the Spears. My Lord also charged the Archers.
My shooting focussed on the central target unit, my Pistols from the Duellists caused some damage whilst my Cannon also killed a few more, leaving them thin on numbers. My Lord killed 3 Archers and broke them, they fled off the table, I pursued to try and get off the table too to avoid getting shot with Bolt Throwers but got a 6 on 3 dice. Leaving him exposed. My Maneaters lost one of their number to the Noble who was struck down in return my by last Maneater who held thanks to the re-roll for the nearby Paymaster.
My Knights had also turned to face the Bolt Throwers on the hill this turn.
The High Elves continued to use their magic and shooting. The Bolt Throwers both turned and unleashed a hail of Bolts on my Knights, killing all 5!. Each mage managed to cast Burning Head, once on the Pikes, once of the Bodyguard, I lost 7 models but both passed their Panic checks. Conflag killed some more of my men. The Ring killed 3 Duellists and panicked them. The Maneater lost a wound in his combat but killed 3 Elves and held.
Decisive Charges;
Duellists rallied. With their target unit now weakened enough my Pikes hit the central White Lions with Archmage who were now down to only their front rank. My Bodyguard charged the other White Lions on my left, my Ogres also charged the same unit, getting 1 into combat. My Lord turned to face the Bolt Throwers.
My Ogre Leadbelcher that had squeezed into combat on my left failed with its impact hit. The White Lions killed 3 of my Bodyguard leaving the champ and Paymaster to strike back, killing a White Lion each. I easily won the combat and the High Elves broke despite being Stubborn and fled from the board. My Paymaster Bodyguard held their pursuit, not wanting to take the Battle Standard re-roll too far away from my other units. My Belchers tried to hold so as to not get shot in the flank with a Bolt Thrower but failed and exposed their flank.
My Pikes won their combat but the Lions held thanks to Stubborn. My Maneater continued to kill 3 High Elves a turn but lost a wound, he held againg thanks to the Battle Standard Re-Roll.
One Bolt Thrower turned to face my Belchers, the other my Lord. The Belchers got hit in the flank, killing an Ogre and making them panic straight off the table!. The other multi shotted my Lord, killing his Pegasus. The central Lions were finished off in combat with my Pikes and Captain. My Maneater killed 2 more Elves and held again.
My Pikes charged one Bolt Thrower, my Lord the other. My Fast Cav [2 of them] also charged the flank of the Spears to help the Maneater. The Pikes failed to kill or break the Thrower Crew!, My Lord killed 1 of his crew but failed to break him too!. My Fast Cav killed 2 Elves. My Maneater was finally killed though but the Cav held.
I finished off both Bolt Throwers in combat whilst the Elves killed my Fast Cav.
I shot the Spears reducing them below half strength and my opponent had nothing to do in his last turn, having just 8 Spearman left against - Paymasters Bodyguard, all my Characters, Pikes, Duellists, Crossbows and Warmachines.
Result - Win
Massacre for the Dogs of War!
Post Game Thoughts;
I was very pleased with the result, I was expecting a very hard time but it didn't end up so bad. I think the key part of the battle was the action on my left flank. His gamble with the Eagles did not pay off which allowed me to take care of his Chariots who were a big threat. My plan worked great in the centre, Stubborn units with a nearby BS anchoring both flanks of the melee whilst my weakest unit fought the unit I had softened up with firepower.
My Cannon not wounding a chariot with a dead on hit was annoying, I kept rolling 3 on 2 dice whenever I tried to dispel anything and my Hotpot kept scattering or misfiring but my army held together, I did fail a few panic tests but luckily they were not on vital units, had my main blocks failed their panic tests to burning head my plan would have been ruined. The Bolt Throwers killing all the Knights in 1 turn also made it much harder work to deal with them and they further excelled themselves by scaring a whole Ogre unit off the table too.
The combination of the BS and 2 Stubborn units with decent combat winning ability is the key to this force though. It allowed me to face down a force that was much better at shooting, in combat and in the magic phase and still win. The even mix of units helps too, I have my Cav for rolling down flanks, some close ranged fire-power to soften the enemy up before the charge and my Ogres as the heavy hitters.