Friday, July 12, 2013

He's Especially Good at Expectorating

A shiny cookie for everyone who now has that song stuck in their heads.

Gaston Crosse

Just a few thoughts on the kickstarter model I am most excited about. He will be in a lot of lists, I'm not quite sure how many yet but even in Cygnar I expect to have trouble with character restrictions stopping him from being in both lists. Sprint with your ranged attack is brilliant.He shoots really well himself, the Vangaurd is the best light in the game at 5 points, at 4 points it's getting to auto include territory.

Galleon?
This is something that is going to require some playtesting. Galleon does not use his moving shadows ability but he does allow you to take a Galleon in Cygnar lists. And Arcane shield it. You can also take Dougal and cast fire group and snipe the damn thing too for range a billion (technically it can only shoot stuff that is 27" away, with +4 to hit from Rangers and Dougal). The major issue with this is it leaves Gaston 14/14, 8" behind the Galleon and if you can kill him the Galleon becomes impassable terrain. You can take Haley2 and he's 16/16 which is better, and you can take Galleon and a Stormwall., deadeye the Harpoon shot or just take Thorn with Haley so you can throw out her spells. It's interesting and someone, somewhere will do it (me, I will do it).

Rocinate
If Gaston has Rocinante no one benefits from Guard dog but I think the Jack is still worth taking. With RNG 14 POW 14 on its gun and it can benefit from either Moving Shadows or fire group it's a handy companion to the man. He can still give it 3 focus in melee as well and let it kill some stuff. It's interesting at least, not an option for Mercs but something worth having a look at in Cygnar.

Mule/Mariner
I'm still down on these jacks, He can't double boost and use fire group and moving shadows so you are still going to have the range problem with the Mule. The Mariner too is very squishy and he really wants to be 8" back from his jack not next to it loading it. Of these two the Mariner is the better option but if you aren't taking Rocinante in any of your lists pay the extra point.

Vangaurds
4 point Vanguards. This will take my head some time to wrap around but I think taking two Vangaurds with this guy is never a bad move. Double Vanguard was my favourite reinforcement option in Mercs last year. They become among the hardest 8 points in the game to remove and they fight really well. On top of that you have shield guard.

No Jacks
He has a RNG 12, POW 12 hand cannon with ROF 2, it's magical and he has 4 focus every turn to boost with. He may only be RAT 5 but that is straight up worth it. At the very least once his jacks have died you still have an awesome model that is going to keep doing work.

Which Casters?
Haley1 is an obvious choice. Haley2 with either single or double Vanguard or a Galleon or fuck it, double Vangaurd and Galleon all seem good. That will however restrict her match ups. You just can't drop that against Irusk or Seige or someone else who can just snipe him out. Gorten is going to love this guy and makes him immune to blast damage (and can put him behind a wall if he doesn't need it). Ashlynn probably wants him too and you can now take a Galleon in a Durgen list. Also in Cygnar it's an option with Nemo1, Seige and either Caine. Time will tell what lists he stays in.

Lastly

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Warmachine Tactics

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/409030043/warmachine-tactics

The kickstarter launched last night. There are 8 models available for warmachine, the sculpts available in the kickstarter will all be exclusive to the kickstarter though there will eventually be regular sculpts of these characters available.

http://files.privateerpress.com/nq/nqplus/NQ_Kickstarter_Special_Edition.pdf

I may have picked up all 8. Also first warcaster to die and come back as a Cryx caster, very excited for the game.

Wednesday, July 10, 2013

Journeymans for Everyone

http://privateerpress.com/community/privateer-insider/insider-7-09-13

Everyone is getting a character journeyman and there will be limited edition sculpts of those models released in the kickstarter. Just in case you weren't going to be a part of that before now.

Tuesday, July 9, 2013

Tournament Wrap GG CBD

Just a quick one:

Game1: Jeff

He played Madrak1 and I played Vayl1. I like Vayl1 against trolls and she showed me why. Whenever I attacked anything important I had Chiller and Incite up. I pulled out a beast with Rampager, killed it and feated to safety then took out another heavy before Jeff could touch anything but my infantry. I also rampaged through his infantry. I was way ahead on attrition and Jeff went for the scenario victory. He had to kill a shredder to clear the flag he had any chance of clearing and sent in an earthborn to do it. All initials and 5 fury later and the shredder was still standing. Madrak stepped up and had to spend 4 fury to kill the thing so I assassinated him.

Game 2: Nathan

Haley2 vs Vayl2. I'm not confident about this match up. My basic game plan from the start is to wait for Haley to spend some focus and be somewhere I can get to her for the double oblit assassination. He even killboxes himself to stop me from getting it but has to move up on his next turn or I just win. I go for the assassination even though Haley is camping 7 focus and pull it off (with a Ravagore shot and an Angel shot as well).

Gamed 3: Other Jeff

He plays Vyros1, I play Vayl2. The game is super close all the way through. It comes down to me having to kill a beaten up Hyperion for the win. I have already hit it with an Angel thrust and two Ravagore shots so it's a bit hurt. I throw everything at it and it ends the turn on 1 damage box. Vyros uses it to flank with my two Angels which I had to refuge into the zone to stop him winning on scenario (He has almost nothing else left and I have 4 heavies). He kills one but leaves the other on a few boxes, mage hunter infiltrators move up and put some more damage on it and again leave it on one box. However he still has Sylys who moves up, rolls a 9 to hit it and an 11 to win the game.

I ended up coming 4th or something on strength of schedule (not third, maybe 5th). The pair up won (and came second) so that was the end of the tournament. It was a great day and I had a lot of fun. I always enjoy the Sydney events and hanging with the Sydney crowd.

City Of Origin Tournament

http://www.wargamerau.com/forum/index.php?showtopic=155810

Town Hall presents…

A Warmachine production…

THE CITY OF ORIGIN

On the 7th of September, Town Hall will be hosting the first ever City of Origin.

Four great cities will engage in a battle, to determine who will take home the inaugural title, and the winner-take-all 1st prize of $700 in store credit. 

The cities partaking in this event include: 
Newcastle, 
Wollongong, 
Canberra; and 
Sydney. 

Location for this series is:
Good Games Sydney – Town Hall
222 Clarence St, Sydney 2000

Format: Round Robin (3 rounds), followed by a play-off between 1st and 2nd, and 3rd and 4th. 
50 points + Specialists (10pts)
2 Lists
Number of players per team: 7
Entry fee per player: $35

Each pairing for each round will be randomised, and timing and scenarios will be as per SR 2013.
The City of Origin will be an ongoing event, and following this pilot run, more cities will be invited to take part.

If you’re interested in being selected to represent your city, please contact the following people: 

Newcastle: Marty at – 
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Good-Games-N...1808089?fref=ts

Wollongong: Anthony at guildgamingsociety@gmail.com or Pat at -https://www.facebook.com/groups/200081743349477/?fref=ts

Canberra: James Moorhouse or Brad Scott at – 
https://www.facebook.com/groups/155381567807773/

Sydney: Jeff Galea at –
https://www.facebook.com/groups/346716685448240/

More details will be made available closer to the date of the event.

Town Hall looks forward to your attendance…


There is a team tournament coming up and Wollongong is invited (Wooo!). If people want to come let me know. I hope we can get exactly 7, I really don't want to turn anyone away or bring in a ringer.

So far I have interest from:

Uli
Harry
Theo (Theo if you are reading this, confirm this)
Ed
Steve
Scott

Which is a team.

The major problem is that this will be on the same day as who's the boss was planned but Eric is talking about moving it due to the interest in this tournament. If the other Wollongong guys who see this can give me their thoughts (in, not in, maybe, if needed to make up numbers) to help me figure this out that would be awesome.

Thursday, July 4, 2013

Pairing for Rask

I want to take Rask to a tournament in the near future (as soon as the shamblers come out), the list I have for him is here:

Minions
Blindwater Congregation
PCs: 50 / 50
32 models

[00] Rask (0 / 6 WB)
[09]  >> Blackhide Wrastler
[08]  >> Swamp Horror
[03]  >> Bull Snapper
[02] Viktor Pendrake
[01] Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew
[06] Gatorman Bokor & Bog Trog Swamp Shamblers
[09] Gatorman Posse (4 grunts)
[09] Gatorman Posse (4 grunts)
[09] Gatorman Posse (4 grunts)

With a possible exchange being made Wrastler for Wrong Eye and Snapjaw. He doesn't need Snapjaw though and he is character restricted. Also I'm finding that I kind of like the Wrastler in his list. 

The issue I'm having is finding a pair that I like. There is Maelok and Barnabas:

Minions
Blindwater Congregation
PCs: 50 / 50
27 models

[00] Maelok the Dreadbound (0 / 6 WB)
[03]  >> Bull Snapper
[03]  >> Bull Snapper
[03] Totem Hunter
[01] Feralgeist
[09] Wrong Eye
[00]  >> Snapjaw (Companion)
[03] Gatorman Witch Doctor
[03] Gatorman Witch Doctor
[03] Gatorman Witch Doctor
[01] Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew
[09] Gatorman Posse (4 grunts)
[09] Gatorman Posse (4 grunts)
[09] Gatorman Posse (4 grunts)

Minions
Apex Predators (Bloody Barnabas)
(Tier 4) 
PCs: 50 / 50
26 models

[00] Bloody Barnabas (0 / 6 WB)
[07]  >> Ironback Spitter
[07]  >> Ironback Spitter
[07]  >> Ironback Spitter
[03]  >> Bull Snapper
[05] Bog Trog Ambushers (5 grunts)
[09] Gatorman Posse (4 grunts)
[09] Gatorman Posse (4 grunts)
[09] Gatorman Posse (4 grunts)

but they all have a very similar composition and very different roles. They both handle infantry really well and ARM stacking or colossals really poorly. It creates a list choice scenario where your opponent doesn't care which list you pick and you really do care what your opponent picks. 

Minions
The Golden Horde (Lord Carver, BBMD, Esq. III)
(Tier 4) 
PCs: 50 / 50
27 models

[00] Lord Carver, BMMD, Esq. III (0 / 6 WB)
[09]  >> Road Hog
[08]  >> War Hog
[08]  >> War Hog
[08]  >> War Hog
[09] Rorsh
[00]  >> Brine (Companion)
[07] Farrow Brigands (9 grunts)
[07] Farrow Brigands (9 grunts)

You gain advance move on all your beasts, you have Mobility and one unit of Brigands advance deploys. It puts you way across the table turn 1. If you go first your war hogs are an inch from the centre line before your opponent moves. 

Minions
Split Decision (Sturm and Drang)
(Tier 4) 
PCs: 50 / 50
20 models

[00] Sturm & Drang (0 / 5 WB)
[02]  >> Targ
[08]  >> Road Hog
[08]  >> Road Hog
[08]  >> War Hog
[08]  >> War Hog
[09] Rorsh
[00]  >> Brine (Companion)
[06] Farrow Slaughterhousers
[06] Farrow Slaughterhousers

I generally do the same thing as Carver here, you can choose +2 SPD for all your beasts first turn (and you can't cast any good spells) or you get your upkeeps out for free. If my opponent has a fast army I'll choose upkeeps otherwise you can again get way up the table (though not as far as Carver, at least with the War Hogs). 

Lastly there is Midas:

Minions
Butcher's Block (Midas)
(Tier 4) 
PCs: 50 / 50
32 models

[00] Midas (0 / 5 WB)
[02]  >> Targ
[09]  >> Road Hog
[09]  >> Road Hog
[08]  >> War Hog
[08] (Dead)  >> War Hog
[04]  >> Boneswarm
[02]  >> Razor Boar
[02]  >> Razor Boar
[02]  >> Razor Boar
[03] Farrow Bone Grinders (5 grunts)
[02] Farrow Bone Grinders (3 grunts)
[06] Farrow Slaughterhousers
[06] Farrow Slaughterhousers

Still not sold on this list. 

So far I think the front runner is Carver because I'm 4 Brigands short of being fully painted in that list. I do like Sturm and Drang and Midas looks like he would take a lot of finesse. 

Monday, July 1, 2013

I should not play Warmachine when I'm not sleeping

There was a warmachine tournament on Saturday up at good games Hurstville and I, Harry, Uli and Theo attended. It was a great event, Eric ran it and did a great job and the Hurstville store is a great store to play in even if they have no Warmachine stock.

I played Stryker2 with Ol Rowdy, Precursor Knights and a Journeyman controlling a Sentinal. I should probably apologise to my opponents for being so out of it during most of the tournament (my Dad just got home from hospital the day before) but at least by the time I played Theo I was getting back into the grove of things. Quick wrap:

First game - against Borka:

I forgot that Stryker gains no knock down when next to Ol Rowdy after moving Ol Rowdy next to Stryker to stop him from being knocked down. Stryker was knocked down and assassinated with Arcane shield and most of his focus.

Game 2 - against Rhyas:

I moved up the sentinal next to Stryker to shield guard the shot from the Carnivean that was the only thing in range. Forgot to use the shield guard, and Eric rolled triple 6s on damage. Luckily I was still alive. Next turn I obliterated his whole army. I measured threat range to Rhyas but forgot about Dash despite the fact that Eric had been casting it every turn. I still would have lived had I had my full health though as Rhyas had to waste an attack on a Precursor grunt to feat to Stryker and Styker had arcane shield making him 16/19 and Eric rolled garbage.

Game 3 - Against Thyra:

I don't think I did anything stupid this game at all. I did ask Theo at least 5 or 6 times about threat ranges with the feat because my brain was having a little trouble absorbing it. I even did something smart having Ol Rowdy knock down the Avatar so Stryker could use his feat movement to get B2B with his flag and dominate without taking a free strike.

Highlight of the tournament - I only got to make one overload roll. Chose to roll 2 dice. Rolled double 1 for my increase in strength and then 5 and 6 for the damage I would take.

For Guild People - In 3 weeks I want to do a Who's the Boss practice session for us. It will use the casters we have available and give everyone a feel of what that format is about. So bring all your casters.