[battle report] Warmachine v Hordes - Cygnar vs Gatormen - Battle for the Bloodsmeath Ruins

So another game of Warmahordes, and this time quite a special one for a few reasons.

1. First use of the Gatorman force, as Calaban's theme force.
2. Playing against Alex (a long time listener of Darker Days Radio and Midnight Express), and thus our first meetup.

Calaban's Bad Religion 25 pts

Calaban
Black Hide Wrastler
Ironback Spitter
Gatorman Posse
Farrow Bone Grinders
Croak Hunter

Stryker Combined Arms 25 pts

pStryker
Centurion
Journeyman Warcaster
Charger
Gun Mages
Storm Blades

It was a No Man's Land mission. So moving to the centre and fighting was key. With the advantage of the theme, the Gators had stealth the first turn, and simply ran to the shallow water templates. The Cygnar army swept about the ruins, as the Croak lurked at the ruins looking get some strikes on the warcaster. Calaban put Carnivore on the Posse, and Occultation on the Bone Grinders. Those Gun Mages were going to have to either get close, or try and hurt the Spitter. Next the Charger was hit with Parasite, and the Spitter got a hit with the  corrosive blast, followed by the Bone Grinders hitting with an arcane bolt. Already the warjack was worse for wear. Of course the Gun Mages and Stormblades all had extra defence and armour thanks to Stryker. So the Gators tried to finish off the Charger. Meanwhile the Croak was now facing the massive Centurion, tying it up, but eventually succumbing to the towering machine.

The Stormblades had engaged some of the Gators and hampered their eventual charge - already they had been slowed thanks to Stryker's Earthquake, and now Strkyer had also dropped his feat, and once more hit the Posse and Calaban with the Earthquake.

With Calaban and the Posse knocked down I needed to use Fury well. Calaban got up, having not upkept certain spells, and proceeded to use his fury to heal the Spitter, and then using his magic to cycle Occultation to himself. The Wrastler charged into the Stormblades, cutting through them and powering up Calaban with fury thanks to the feat. Calaban used that in turn to use the Wrastler animus to get two of the Posse up. The Posse then acted, with those up being able to charge, and those in combat just getting up and fighting. Again, killing more Stormblades and punching through the buffed armour dumped fury onto Calaban, who chose to kept it, as I realised my mistake. Calaban was wide open to the Centurion.The Farrow blasted the Charge, reducing it to a smouldering pile of  scrap.

The Gun Mages moved in and fired on the Farrow, killing them all but one. Calaban's Occultation played havoc for Stryker who instead settled for killing the last of the Farrow, while the Journeyman tried to damage the Spitter. The Centurion failed to get close enough to Calaban, and the single hit was channelled onto the Spitter.

With the Gators killing the Stormblades to a man, and locking Stryker in combat, the Wrastler was free to fight. The Spitter frenzied and waded into the Gun Mages, but failed to strike the quick footed gun fighters. The Wrastler engaged the Centurion, and snapping shut on the warjack, pinned it to the ground and continued to wrestle the machine and smash it. Calaban was free to move and fight.

And that was it. We ran out of time. So a draw, tending to a Gatorman victory.

What was great for me was getting the Gatorman army to work with both the feat and numerous other spells. Leached really helped the Gatorman Posse handle the feat and spell buffed armour of the Stormblades. Only needing a single wound meant that the Gators were able to charge up Calaban in the event of the charge against him being worse than it was.

[Battle Report] Skorne vs Everblight - Back into Action

So it has been quite a few months since I have played Warmahordes, and so I organised a friendly game to ease back into things. Both I and my opponent Neil are either learning the rules, or refreshing on the rules.

Of course, our venue was the excellent flgs in Sheffield, The Outpost, and that shop has plenty of gaming space.

With the mission selected from the Steamroller missions, and we were playing Destruction.

I was running my 35 pt pHexeris theme army,

pHexeris
Aptimus Marketh
Titan Gladiator
2 Cyclops Savages
6 Arcuarii
6 Paingiver Beast Handlers
2 6 man units of Praetorian Swordsmen.

My opponent was running with,

Saeryn, Omen of Everblight
Scythean
Neraph
Angelius
Nephilim Bloodseer
Strider Rangers
Strider Deathstalker
2 Blighted Nyss Shepherds

Essentially the game played out with the Angelius and Neraph surging forward into the control zone, perhaps a bit too far forward, while my army march forward, with upkeep spells letting the army surge forward ready to smash into the Everblight who were comparatively out numbered. Early losses were to the Swordsmen, who really just powered up Aptimus (just as you want). With the Angelius engaging the Arcuarii, my counter charge had that beast cut down swiftly by the Arcuarii and one of the Savages. The second savage and full unit of Swordsmen engaged the Neraph and almost cut it down. Aptimus happily fired off Soulfire, while Hexeris used Obliteration to hammer the Nephilim. The death of the Angelius denied Saeryn fury, as Hexeris stole it.

The Titan charged and pummelled the Nephilim in the first hit, but even with these dramatic losses and injuries, the Neraph was able to fly out of combat and pound Hexeris into the dirt.

Looking back there were some mistakes on the rules here and there, but hey, first game in 6 months or so, so not bad really, and great fun.

[Battle Report] Hybrid - The Heroes' Twilight

Laboratory SO25 - Part 2

There are still some surprises in store for Ambrosius as he throws himself hell-for-leather into the exploration of laboratory SO25. AS his troops are setting the charges that will destroy the lab once and for all, he hears moaning in the distance.

Ambrosius uncovers a secret passage, and steps inside. Many old friends and battle companions who he believed were dead are imprisoned there, waiting patiently for someone to free them from their morbid destiny. But still the guards must be vanquished.

So the last mission of the boxed game! Final battle!

The Griffin player (this time me) is limited to a total rank of 7 and 5 models. The Dirz player (Ben) has a total of 8 in rank and models. I'm going to be outnumbered or there is going to be some big monster.

Griffin:
Venerable Ambrosius
Misericorde
3 Purifiers

Dirz:
Aberration
Tiger of Dirz
Keratis Warrior
Neuromancer

Yeah, lots of big monsters!

I start the game with just Ambrosius and Misericorde entering the board from the entrance on the left of the map. The other models are in the cells highlighted blue. They're locked in until a model activates objective 1. Objective 2 will open the exits to the top of the map, through which I need one model to escape.

Taking the lead, Ambrosius enters the board, and quickly makes a direct route to Objective 1, and is soon chased by the Aberration. Misericorde, while a formidable warrior, chooses to ignore the monster in her way, and runs past looking to defend Ambrosius. The other Dirz creatures and clones are on their tail, while the Neuromancer (alone in the chamber to the bottom right, while all the other Dirz fighters started in the top chamber) went to activate the event counter nearby. A swarm of insects filled the laboratory, hampering any attempts at using firearms. Not good for the Griffin.

The Dirz got the lead, and the Keratis warrior chased after Ambrosius and inflicted two wounds upon him (backstrikes!) using his massive sword and the vile tentacle that erupted from the warrior's back. Ambrosius turned to face his opponent and moved back, opening the door before firing his gun. He missed (not surprising with all the bugs and wounds he was suffering from). Ambrosius called upon a holy blessing of Fortification. The Tiger of Dirz stalked off down the corridor, looking to defend the exit from the lab.

Misericorde moved to fight the Keratis warrior. She missed with Hauteclair, but empowered by the aura, she was ready to block the door and so defend the old man. She held her ground as the Aberration roared through the small door and lashed out at her, tearing into her arm. The force should have sent her flying and shattered her bones, but the aura allowed her to stand strong.

Misericorde took the lead and moved about the Keratis warrior, circling him. She had donned a blessed pendant, and with her holy sword smote the Keratis warrior. The Dirz creatures lingered in the dark, seeking to prepare for the Griffin warriors to escape. Ambrosius tried to use a healing aura on Misericorde, but it did not work, and so she shouted for the old man to go release their comrades.

Soon enough the Griffin warriors were free, with Misericorde holding the corridor with her rifle at the ready. Soon enough their released comrades were there, rearmed, providing covering fire for each other. One Purifier rushed off into the dark and found the leaver that would open the exit.

With his comrades covering him, and the growling of the Tiger just beyond the door, Ambrosius called upon the aura of Fortification, and one of the Purifiers ran out, hoping to escape and bring reinforcements. A crossbow bolt missed his head, fired by the Neuromancer that lurked with the Tiger. Escape was so close, and he could hear beyond the large door the hulking Aberration.

Misericorde saw her chance. She raised her blade to the sky and invoked Merin to bless her. Her wound was staunched and she darted out and face the Tiger of Dirz. She raised the sword high once more and flames erupted from it, scorching beast and Neuromancer. And then with the burning blade she cut down the Tiger! A Purifier followed her and rounded on the Neuromancer. The Dirz fighter was now surrounded.

With few options left the Neuromancer tried to fight on, but failed to harm either warriors. Even the foul excretions from his skin failed to harm his opponents, and soon enough Misericorde had slain the cloned psychic. All that remained was the Aberration. And Griffin warriors had plenty of ammo!



Wow. Well that game at first felt really tough for the Griffin. Ambrosius took a beating but Misericorde, combined with the aura, was a rock. Able to face down the Aberration (who easily could have dealt her two wounds in that first hit!). But with only four opponents to face, and keeping Ambrosius alive and focused on releasing the Purifiers, I soon had the team gathered together, making the most of the fighters and their conviction and auras.

In hind sight Ben could see that he needed more fighters to separate and knock out Ambrosius. Also, given the way the mission starts, a fighter could have chased Ambrosius and used a skilled movement to prevent him moving (or even Misericorde) and slow down the race to the objectives, and so give time for other fighters to get in the fight.

Well, that is all for the next few months as I move country. I will blog more about Confrontation and Rag'Narok, and then, hopefully in June, Hybrid will return, as we delve into the missions of Nemesis.

[Battle Report] Hybrid - The Invisible War

Laboratory SO25 - Part 1

The Knights of the Lodge of Hod have uncovered a laboratory that is proving especially difficult to destroy - the lab SO25. For an unknown reason, the warriors created in this laboratory appear to have some form of social organisation and are able to coordinate their attacks to repel intruders. Venerable Ambrosius assembles his finest warriors: time is running out and all this agitation will soon attract the attention of the authorities.

Everything must be destroyed immediately.

This is a show down - last man standing.

Griffin:

Venerable Ambrosius
Knight of the Lodge of Hod
Darkness Hunter
Purifier
Executioner

Scorpion:

Sin Assyris
Dasyatis Clone
3 Hybrid Clones
Dawn Warrior

The warriors of Hod entered the laboratory, while the clones spread out, seeking what resource may aid them.

The Dasyatis, commanded by Sin Assyris, roared and barrelled forward, smashing doors aside, as the elite clone followed.

Having taken up a defensive position, Sin Assyris fired his alchemical pistol, Asp, at Ambrosius, as the old man emerged from the gloom. His shot was true and wounded the old man. Sin knew that more fighters would be on their way, aided by the aura the holy warrior radiated, and so he motioned for the enormous war beast to block the door.

The Knight and Darkness Hunter pushed past the injured Ambrosius, with the witch hunter rapidly firing with his pistols. The cloned war beast bellowed with rage, and was soon attacked by the Executioner. The monk darted before the best, slashing with his consecrated blade. The Dasyatis retreated.

The Knight of Hod was out flanked by the Dawn Warrior, the two swordsmen engaging in mortal combat. The Purifier, perhaps impetuously, though empowered by the holy auras of Ambrosius and the Knight, emerged from the chamber and fired upon the war beast, hoping to slay the monster. But, his shots did not hit home. Sin Assyris took his chance and attacked. One of the Hybrid clones entered the chamber, and a remorseless evil made the creatures eyes blaze with rage. Luminous chemicals were pumping through the Hybrid's veins, causing it to grow in stature. It charged forward and hacked away at the Purifier, and in turn the Dasyatis clone did the same, slaying the holy warrior.

The Knight of Hod landed a series of blows on the Dawn Warrior, slicing the genetically engineered fighter apart. But, as soon as the Dirz clone died a crossbow blot fired from the Hybrid that lurked in the gloom, piercing the blessed armour of the Knight. The Executioner needed to give the Darkness Hunter a clear line of sight, and had already sustained an injury. He stood a better chance against the other Hybrids, and not the beast before him. He charged past the Knight and towards the Hybrid he had just fired upon the Knight, but was unwittingly caught in the crossfire and slain by another crossbow bolt.

The bestial Hybrid charged forth, and in the mass of combat in the claustrophobic chamber, the Knight, and soon after Ambrosius, were dead. The Darkness Hunter, grievously injured had no choice but to flee.




So this was quite a simple mission for Hybrid, but none the less quite a fun one. This game saw a number of new figures used (Darkness Hunter, Sin Assyris, Dasyatis Clone), and quite a few new cards in play turn up, plus some rather deadly combinations of auras and mutations and event cards.

For example, the "Offensive Combat Kit" was a great card used to upgrade Sin Assyris to really make him a threat, boosting both his close combat and defensive abilities. "War Chief" was also a great card for the Griffin, allowing a fighter to activate, and then the next two in the sequence. Such a means to break the turn sequence can be potentially devastating.

The Griffin were also rather lucky with their aura cards. Two figures had access to auras, and they allowed the Griffin to benefit from excellent buffs. To start let's note that only one figure, the Purifier, had the aptitude "Conviction", which gives that model a +1 to the skill level for rolls, if the model is within 8 squares of the leader of the group. But, one of the auras used by Ambrosius was "Aura of Conviction", which gives all models in aura range (2 squares from Ambrosius) the Conviction aptitude, or increases it by 1 if they already have it. Coupled with the "Aura of Bliss" used by the Knight (models in range get a +1 on the skill level for rolls), it made the group, so long as they stayed together, rather powerful.

Likewise, the Dirz force benefited from an event card that turned one of the Hybrid's in to a killing machine, and a mutation that made Sin Assyris very fast moving.

Over all a great game, that again could have gone either way at any moment, and also showcased some of the cool abilities of the models.

[Battle Report] Hybrid - The Scorpion's Venom

Laboratory SO19
The time the laboratory doors have been barricaded on the inside. When they enter the laboratory, the Templars of Hod discover a sickening spectacle; numerous dead creatures frozen in grotesque positions, the terror etched on their faces like an echo of the agony of their demise.

An invisible death prowls these corridors. It must not escape.

So in this mission the objective for the Dirz forces is for a secretly assigned rank 1 warrior to escape through one of the 4 exits. Objective 1, if activated, will releases the rank 0 clones from their tanks. But in doing so, the Griffin player selects one of the exits and it is removed from the game.

Griffin Force;
Venerable Ambrosius
Seneschal
2 Purifiers
Phidias

Dirz Force;
The Aberration
2 Hybrid Clones (rank 1 warriors)
Neuromancer (rank 1 warrior)
4 Pests of Flesh (rank 0 warriors)

The Pests of Flesh were place in the cloning tanks in the most Westerly chamber, while the Aberration and clones started in the North East chamber.

The Seneschal led Phidias and one of the Purifiers into the central chamber, ready to stop whatever clone my pass through hoping to escape. Ambrosius and the other Purifier headed West, and towards the cloning vats, seeking to destroy their occupants while also defending the other exits.

The Aberration charged through the corridors, smelling fresh meat in the air, and tore away the doors, as the Neuromancer followed. One of the clones also followed and took the corridor parallel to the Aberration, and stood waiting at the next door, hearing the enemy beyond.

Near to Ambrosius an explosion shook the lab. A mine had been detonated, and the Purifier called out, reassuring the old man that he was fine.

The Seneschal opened the door and fought the clone, and the flurry of blows, and well timed firing of the gun blades, were thwarted by the parries of the Hybrid clone. More attacks were traded and the Seneschal was seriously injured.

In the cloning chamber, Phidias and Ambrosius began to fire at the tanks. The bullets punctured some of the tanks, but others could spill out the vile creatures at any time.

The Neuromancer reached out with his psionic abilities and burrowed his thoughts into that of the Seneschal. The Griffin warrior was overcome with revulsion, and quaked in terror before the clone, which also landed a further blow. Hideous epidermal blade erupted from the being's back and lashed out at the Griffin soldier. The Seneschal however held on, pressed on by his faith. His pendant glowed, and reinvigorated the warrior, who stepped back and fired at the clone, finally killing it. But the clone's death took both the Seneschal and the Purifier's combined fire to kill it. And in response the Aberration charged forward, and lashed out with the sickle like claws that adorned its hand. The steel talons cut into the Purifier and sent the man tumbling backwards.

The gun fire continued in the cloning tank chamber, as more of the creatures were destroyed before they could be birthed. But then there was a loud simultaneous clank, and the amniotic fluids within the tanks spilt out, releasing the frenzied creatures. One promptly ran at Ambrosius and exploded, and was soon followed by another. The trap had been sprung.

The Seneschal held on, but the Aberration charged him, and head butted the man with it's steel cranium. The Seneschal hurtled backwards, choking up blood. He should have been dead, but his faith gave him one last ounce of strength, with which he charged the Aberration and dealt it a deep wound, before finally giving his last breath and meeting his lord Merin in the afterlife.

With the trap sprung, and the Hod warriors in disarray, the Neuromancer and remaining Hybrid clone made their escape, leaving the Aberration to finish the survivors.

It took the combined might of Phidias and the Purifiers to cripple the beast. Or so they thought. The Aberration fought on, as strong as ever, even having been dealt many wounds. Purple ichor dripped from bullet holes and cut sinew. But glimpsing the clones fleeing, far beyond, Phidias and one of the Purifiers broke off their engagement with the Aberration. Hopefully they could stood the plague carrier from escaping.

Phidias reached the exit, and taking up position before it, fired on the clone before him. The shot missed, and the Neuromancer moved to block any of the Griffin fighters from entering the chamber. It was now just Phidias and them.

The Aberration charged the remaining Purifer before him, and in like a rag-doll the human was slammed against a wall, pulverising numerous bones and organs.

The Hybrid charged forward, preternaturally quickly, and with it's cleaver like sword it dealt Phidias a mortal wound. With no other Griffin warriors close enough to stop the infected clone, it walked out into the wider world, ready to spread the virulent plague.

So another mission down, and two left to play in the core game.

This time, the player of the Griffin was another friend who was new to the game, but he soon picked up how it worked, and even for a person new to the game, it led to a final confrontation which could easily have gone either way. Again, it was clear that splitting up the Griffin is ill advised. The bonus of Conviction is just too important.

The placement of the Pest of Flesh is also important. As it can definitely force the Griffin to fight in a particular way, and make an assumption of which exit you will be using.

Critical this time round to the Dirz win was the use of Defensive combat modes. The parry early in the game prevented the Seneschal getting the upper hand, and eliminating quickly the Hybrid (it stop a critical hit!). Also the Neuromancer is incredibly useful. The same Hybrid was also lucky to get an event card to heal it. One Hybrid essentially bogged down the best fighter in the Griffin camp, doing more than even the Aberration.

The final battle perhaps would have been best for Phidias to have gone into Defensive mode, giving him more of a chance to survive and block the exit until support would arrive.

Battle Report - Hybrid: The Heresiarch's Prison

After an ambush during a routine Syhar prison transfer, Venerable Ambrosius is captured and taken to the city of Tenseth. As the warriors of the Lodge of Hod rally to find their mentor, they discover his captors dead. Worse still, it seems as if the captors were foolish enough to use a recently uncovered Dirz laboratory as a base camp and prison.

The warriors of Hod, including Phidias, an rising star pupil and squire, enter the laboratory, SO9, brandishing their gun blades. The laboratory creaked and moaned, with loose rock falling from the ceiling. The Seneschal gestured for the other temple knights to spread out, for something - something large - could be heard behind the large steel airlock door to their left. They took up positions and waited. If there was some horror waiting to erupt forth from the darkness then they would have the first shot.

In the dank gloom of the laboratory depths Ambrosius waited, tinkering with the lock to the chamber he had been locked in. He could hear echoing outside the moans and growls of the unholy creatures that stalked the dark.

From the shadows a small, clawed, fiend raced forward and gnashed and tore at one of the knights. He let out a cry of shock and kicked the creature back and fought back.

The seneschal knew they had to take the initiative, any advantage they had was now lost given that they had now been attacked. A knight ran forward and open the large airlock door. It slid back - steel grinding on steel - and revealed waiting the enormous form of a Aberration. The titanic beast, made of bone, muscle and metal, dripped viscous saliva from its lipless maw. The knight and seneschal fired. The barrage of gun fire briefly painted abstract shadows across the walls of the laboratory. Each shot hit home, puncturing flesh and membranes. Ichor spattered onto the rusting floor.

The beast roared, barrelling forward, dragging wicked looking steel talons. Medical tables and equipment was sent flying in all directions. It slashed out at the knight, sending the man backwards like a rag doll.

The commotion had alerted more than the foul creatures of Dirz. From the drainage pipes burst forth a horde of rats that swept through the laboratory tunnels and out into the day light of the back desert above.

The Aberration bellowed and crashed forward again, and in a single rending swipe, parted torso from legs, leaving one of the knights a bloody mess. Phidias raised his multi-barrelled pistol, and fired. Each shot cracking into the skull of the foul monstrosity, and finally ending the beasts rampage.

The seneschal aided his knight and brought his gun-blade down on the grotesque tiny creature, and split it in two. Almost as if in response, another of the vile, little, creatures sprang forth from the shadows at the seneschal. The scrabbling creature tore at the seneschal's face and throat. Throwing the creature off the remaining knight returned his captain's favour, and impaled the beast.

The laboratory was once more silent, save from the drip-drip of blood from the remains of the hulking beast. Somewhere Ambrosius was still trapped, and the more time they wasted the more likely their master would die.

In the stillness and inky darkness, cold green eyes flared to life, as spindly fingers worked a sphere of ectoplasm. The Neuromancer reached out with his mind and touched the thoughts of each of the Hybrid warriors. <<STALK. AMBUSH. DECAPITATE.>>

Ambrosius finally opened the door to his cell, and gingerly crept out. He still had his rifle. But without the warriors of his temple, he was unable to use to his full potential the auras - his holy powers. There, sprinting towards him, was the man-machine Hybrids of Dirz. The blank metal faces smeared in bodily fluids. However, this one was different. Even the mask could not hide the maddening frenzy the being was in. It hacked and slashed forward, with Ambrosius barely able to survive. The creature was strange still. Face to face, Ambrosius could see metal plates shifting and locking into place. The monster was almost in full plate armour.

Phidias and the remaining knight had decided to follow one corridor, while the seneschal proceeded down the other. poison dart crossbow bolts fired from the gloom, and Phidias returned fire. The Neuromancer's alchemically attuned mind reached out and forced the wound shut on the injured Hybrid.

The seneschal approached the embattled Ambrosius. Taking aim he fired, but found his shot were deflected by the thick armour on the Hybrid. In reply a crossbow bolt whizzed over his head.

The knight accompanying Phidias, rounded the corner and took aim at the infernal glowing eyes of the Neuromancer, but the shots were not true. The Neuromancer then, almost as if smirking behind its blank metal mask, shut the large steel doors.

Cutoff from the others, the seneschal fought back. The Neuromancer lashed out with his thoughts, causing the seneschal to buckle over. The psychic seeing his chance charged forward and sliced at the warrior. The seneschal tried to fight back, his gun-blades biting into the arm of his opponent. Ambrosius stepped back and took aim, his rifle injuring the Hybrid. But the creature was possessed. It howled from behind the mask and leapt forward, and hacked down the old man.

Phidias and the knight raced through the laboratory to the aid of their captain, and together they laid low the psychic and the Hybrids. But Ambrosius was dead.