Game 120 - League of Rhordia - 2019/08/31

Greetings!

After a few months break, the best Tournament Organiser I have ever met, Matt "The Apron Boy" was back with a new event! It was named "Return of the King" and rightly so! No wonder then that players responded to the call enthusiastically. Significant number of them drove from interstates, only to be able to participate in what was guaranteed to be a great day of gaming and Kings of War. 

To accommodate popular wish, there were four games to be played and the armies were limited to 1850 points. Black Jack scoring system was used as well. If you are interested in the results of the tournament, here is the link to the final score (you can check the results after each turn as well):

Return of the King - Results

When I learned that my most regular opponent on Universal Battle, Jeff, is going to attend I decided to challenge him to the battle in the first round! I simply wanted to make sure we can finally have a game with real models and do not rely on the respective scores during the event to make it happen.

Jeff usually wins in our games and wins decisively too. However, I hoped that perhaps this time I will be able to come up with a good plan and execute it well to prevail. He also told me that in the most recent interview with the hosts of the Direct Misfire podcast, he was asked to bring League of Rhordia to the tournament. So he did!

Here is the army list he brought to the event:

League of Rhordia - Army List

40 Halfling Archers (HA1), Horde, Infantry, Bows, Stealthy

- Duke on Ancient Winged Alarez (DoA), Hero (Monster), Crushing Strength (2), Fly, Heal (4), Iron Resolve, Thunderous Charge (1), Very Inspiring

40 Halfling Archers (HA2), Horde, Infantry, Bows, Stealthy

- Duke on Ancient Winged Alarez (DoA), Hero (Monster), Crushing Strength (2), Fly, Heal (4), Iron Resolve, Thunderous Charge (1), Very Inspiring

20 Halfling Braves (HS1), Regiment, Stealthy

- Wizard on Alarez (WoA), Hero (Large Cavalry), Fireball (6), Fly, Thunderous Charge (1)

20 Halfling Braves (HS2), Regiment, Stealthy

- Wizard on Alarez (WoA), Hero (Large Cavalry), Fireball (6), Fly, Thunderous Charge (1)

20 Halfling Braves (HS3), Regiment, Stealthy

- Battle Shrine[1] (BS), Hero (Large Cavalry), Lightning Bolt (5), Rallying (2)

20 Halfling Braves (HS4), Regiment, Stealthy

20 Halfling Braves (HS5), Regiment, Stealthy

Night Stalkers - Allies

20 Phantoms (P), Regiment, Crushing Strength (1), Shambling

- Dread Fiend (DF), Hero (Large Cavalry), Crushing Strength (2), Nimble, Vicious

Mortem et Gloriam - Game 39 - 2019/08/17

Hello!

As you have probably noticed by now, Stephen is one of my regular opponents at the moment. We were also both preparing for a tournament in the frame of WinterCon 2019 event. Stephen, inspired by the most recent performance of Cretan Archers, decided to bring any army with his own Skilled shooters - Mamluk Egypitan.

I have never played against such a force. Although I played against armies with horse archers, the Mamluks are different. First, I was about to deal with TuG's of Skilled, bow armed cavalry. It means that Stephen did not have to worry about low break point for the army. And still be able to evade slow blocks of pike armed infantry. Second, Mamluk cavalry can fight too. Especially Superior Royal Mamluks that are Melee Experts armed with Short Spears. 

Here are the details of almost all mounted force I was about to fight against:

Mamluk Egyptian - Army List

Game 119 - Kingdoms of Men - 2019/08/10

Greetings!

I was very interested in getting a re-match against Simon so when he had a bit of time to play again, I took the opportunity immediately!

This time, however, Simon was to bring his army from the mythical city of Dobrensk. Somewhere in the North, where there is snow and there are plenty of Monsters! 

Because of that the people of Dobrensk are hardy folk and had to rely on themselves to protect their families. No wonder then that the nobility is often represented by the regiments of knights while each citizen is well prepared to wield all sorts of nasty weapons to the fight.

Here are the details of the army based on Kingdoms of Men army list at 2000 points:

City of Dobrensk - Army List

40 Bowmen (B), Horde, Infantry

- 10 Pole-Arms Block (Pa1), Troop, Infantry, Crushing Strength (1)

- 10 Pole-Arms Block (Pa2), Troop, Infantry, Crushing Strength (1)

- 10 Pole-Arms Block (Pa3), Troop, Infantry, Crushing Strength (1)

- 10 Pole-Arms Block (Pa4), Troop, Infantry, Crushing Strength (1)

- Siege Artillery (A1), War Engine, Blast (D6 + 2), Indirect Fire, Piercing (4), Reload!

- General on Winged Beast (G), Hero, Monster, Crushing Strength (2), Fly, Very Inspiring

10 Knights (K2), Regiment, Cavalry, Headstrong, Thunderous Charge (2), Pathfinder

- 10 Pole-Arms Block (Pa5), Troop, Infantry, Crushing Strength (1)

- Siege Artillery (A2), War Engine, Blast (D6 + 2), Indirect Fire, Piercing (4), Reload!

- Army Standard Bearer (AS), Mounted, Individual, Very Inspiring

10 Knights (K1), Regiment, Cavalry, Headstrong, Thunderous Charge (2)

- 5 Mounted Scouts (MS1), Troop, Cavalry, Bows, Nimble

- 5 Mounted Scouts (MS2), Troop, Cavalry, Bows, Nimble

- Wizard (W), Mounted, Fireball (6), Blizzard, Individual, Inspiring Talisman

10 Knights (K3), Regiment, Cavalry, Headstrong, Thunderous Charge (2)

10 Knights (K4), Regiment, Cavalry, Headstrong, Thunderous Charge (2)

Mortem et Gloriam - Game 38 - 2019/08/04

Hello!

Once in a while I have an opportunity to play against an army from a completely different historical period. That was the case this time when Steve wanted to try out his Trastamara Spanish army.

I always find it quite interesting to see if any of the historically more advanced weapons would make a difference in the game. It is also kind of a test of the system as well. If armies from different periods can still do well against each other, it means the mechanics of the game is quite flexible.

I must admit that this historical period is not that well known to me, as I usually prefer to read about ancient times. However, I use such games also as an incentive to learn a bit more.

It was quite interesting to see what kind of army Steve is going to use. It was the force comprised of the regiments of different ethnicity and made it even more intriguing. Landsknechts, Italian Knights, Spanish light cavalry etc. Visually, it was relatively similar army to mine, with a main battle line formed by various Pikemen, some cavalry and supporting units.

Here are the details:

Trastamara Spanish - Army List

Game 118 - Trident Realms - 2019/08/03

Greetings!

Some time ago Ed, one of my most regular opponents, asked if we can play a game at 2600 points. He needed some practice before the tournament he was about to attend. I thought it is a great idea to try and upscale the army even further than 2250 points. This is the upper limit I have reached so far, mainly to be able to field the army with fully painted models.

And this is what I did. Instead of building a new army list, I decided to add something to the existing force. I also wanted to stick to the previous condition, i.e. to include models I have already painted. Just in case I have the opportunity to play the game with them, rather than on Universal Battle 2.

Ed used this opportunity to create something quite spectacular. He chose to add an allied contingent of the Herd but used it for the modelling purposes. He used the units from the Herd list to bring the models that are still perfectly in line with his Trident Realm army! Stampede is represented by a giant Kraken, Guardian Brutes are in the form of huge walking Crabs and Centaurs are half women, half snakes creatures. I think it is just an awesome example on how to expand the exiting range of units/models with allied forces that in the end creates a very unique looking army. Ed was kind enough to send a group photo of his units in this army. Well done indeed!

Here are the details of this army list:

Trident Realms - Army List

6 Depth Horrors, Horde, Large Infantry, Crushing Strength (1), Ensnare

- Knucker, Monster, Ensnare, Nimble, Pathfinder, Stealthy, Thunderous Charge (3)

- Siren[1], Hero, Infantry, Drain Life (6), Ensnare, Individual, Inspiring, Siren's Call, Stealthy

6 Depth Horrors, Horde, Large Infantry, Crushing Strength (1), Ensnare

- Knucker, Monster, Ensnare, Nimble, Pathfinder, Stealthy, Thunderous Charge (3)

- Eckter[1], Hero, Infantry, Crushing Strength (2), Ensnare, Individual, Inspiring, Krakenmaw, Phalanx

40 Naiad Ensnarers, Horde, Infantry, Ensnare, Pathfinder, Regeneration (4+), Brew of Strength, Fury (Fury of the Sea Formation)

- Knucker, Monster, Ensnare, Nimble, Pathfinder, Stealthy, Thunderous Charge (3)

- Naiad Centurion, Hero, Infantry, Crushing Strength (1), Ensnare, Individual, Inspiring, Pathfinder, Regeneration (4+), Harpoon Gun (Range 18"), Piercing (1), Banner of Griffin, Fury (Fury of the Sea Formation)

20 Naiad Hearpiercers, Regiment, Infantry, Individual, Inspiring, Ensnare, Harpoon-Gun (Range 18"), Pathfinder, Piercing (1), Regeneration (4+), Fury, Steady Aim (Fury of the Sea Formation)

- Naiad Envoy, Hero, Infantry, Crushing Strength (1), Ensnare, Individual, Inspiring, Pathfinder, Regeneration (4+), Heal (3), Teleport (3)L, Shroud of the Saint

20 Naiad Hearpiercers, Regiment, Infantry, Ensnare, Harpoon-Gun (Range 18"), Pathfinder, Piercing (1), Regeneration (4+), Fury, Steady Aim (Fury of the Sea Formation)

The Herd - Allies

3 Guardian Brutes, Regiment, Large Infantry, Crushing Strength (1), Fury, Thunderous Charge (2)

- 5 Centaur Bray-Hunters, Troop, Cavalry, Bows, Nimble, Pathfinder, Thunderous Charge (1)

- Centaur Chief, Hero, Cavalry, Bow, Crushing Strength (2), Individual, Inspiring, Pathfinder, Thunderous Charge (1)

6 Stampede*, Horde, Large Cavalry, Crushing Strength (1), Pathfinder, Strider, Thunderous Charge (3)