Wednesday 29 January 2020

Clash of Kings Australia 2020 - Introduction - 2020/01/29

Greetings!

Welcome to the introduction to the series of battle reports from the games I played during Australian Clash of Kings 2020! Traditionally, Clash of Kings takes place in Australia in January and is the first big tournament of the year, during a three day gaming convention CanCon. 

I did not attend Clash of Kings in 2019 so I was very excited about getting back, catching up with players who often travelled from far to participate, meet new players and play some games of 3rd edition Kings of War. That excitement grew even higher when it was announced that Ronnie himself is going to pay us a visit!

Clash of Kings would not be the same if not for the best Tournament Organiser in the Southern Hemisphere - Matt aka "Apron Boy" and his trusty legion of helpers! I would like to take this opportunity to thank Matt and everyone who contributed to the organisation of this fantastic event! You are all Legends! 

Matt and Ronnie wearing famous Aprons!

We played six games during Australian Clash of Kings at 2000 points. If you are interested in the details, here is the link to the Players Pack:


This post is intended as an introduction to the series of the battle reports from my own games. However, it is going to take same time for me to prepare them. Because of that I decided it may be a good idea to tell you a bit about the army I took to the event and provide army lists of my opponents, maps representing deployments and scenarios as an appetiser! 

I would also like to give you a challenge to predict the results of each battle based on the deployment maps and army lists! 

If you would like to check the results already, as well as the results of the battles in each round, here is the link:


If you do, I would like to ask you to keep the information to yourself for time being so that those who would like to predict the outcomes would not have the answers revealed too early! 



It has been only around 3 months since 3rd edition of Kings of War arrived and I have not played many games since. What is more, the few games I had did not end well, as you may have already noticed based on my previous battle reports! But I knew that if I want to properly test my army and learn how to use it, Clash of Kings is one of the best opportunities to do so. What is even more important, I simply did not want to miss such a great event!

I thus decided to take exactly the same army list I have played with for a few last games and see what I can learn during the tournament. I came to the conclusion it would be a testing ground for many players anyway, so I would not be alone in an attempt to make my army work on the battle field. Here are the details of the army I took to Australian Clash of Kings 2020:


Outcasts (Elves) - Army List

Stormwind Cavalry Regiment (S), Cavalry - 215
Palace Guard Regiment (PG1), Infantry - 160
Palace Guard Regiment (PG2), Infantry - 160
Kindred Archers Regiment (A), Infantry - 120

Drakon Rider Regiment* (DR1), Large Cavalry - 165
Drakon Rider Regiment* (DR2), Large Cavalry - 165
Forest Shamblers Regiment* (FS1), Large Infantry - 120
Forest Shamblers Regiment* (FS2), Large Infantry - 120

Silverbreeze Cavalry Troop* (SB1), Cavalry - 130
Silverbreeze Cavalry Troop* (SB1), Cavalry - 130

Lord on Drakon (DL1), Hero (Large Cavalry) - 170
Lord on Drakon (DL2), Hero (Large Cavalry) - 170
Elven Archmage (M), Hero (Infantry), Inspiring Talisman, Lighting Bolt (5) - 115
Army Standard Bearer (AS), Hero (Infantry) - 60

This is my current version of Multiple Small Units army and the one that is based on combined arms principle. In short, what I would like to achieve with this army is to be able to equally participate in all phases of the game. I would also like to rely on speed and manoeuvrability in such a way that would allow me to gain temporary local superiority. I hope that engineering situations where a few of my own units would attack a single of my opponent, would help me to overwhelm even the most powerful units.

The tournament was very much one big experiment for me so I did not make any assumptions and did not have any particular expectations. I wanted to use the opportunity and test any idea I may have at the time simply to see what would be the result. The experience I hoped to gain I planned to use to evaluate my army list again and see what changes (if any) I would like to make.

And now I would like to introduce my opponents, their army lists and show you maps of the deployments, in the order of the games I played during the tournament:

Game 1 - Forces of Basilea - Trevor

Elves vs Forces of Basilea - Smoke and Mirrors

Deployment of the Armies
In my first game I played against Trevor who commanded the army of Basilea. We played Smoke and Mirrors scenario and here are the details of his army list:

Paladin Knight Regiment (PK1), Cavalry, Aegis Fragment - 215
Paladin Knight Regiment (PK2), Cavalry, Aegis Fragment - 215
Paladin Foot Guard (PFG), Infantry, Aegis Fragment - 155
Paladin Foot Guard (PFG), Infantry, Aegis Fragment - 155

Elohi Horde* (E1), Large Infantry, Wine of Elvenkind - 310
Elohi Horde* (E2), Large Infantry, Brew of Strength - 310

Gur Panther Troop (GP1), Cavalry - 85
Gur Panther Troop (GP1), Cavalry - 85

Ur-Elohi (UE), Hero (Large Infantry) - 200
Gneaus Sallustis (GS), Hero (Large Cavalry) - 180
Dictator (D), Hero (Infantry) - 90



Game 2 - Forces of the Abyss - Jonathon

Elves vs Forces of the Abyss - Raze

Deployment of the Armies

In the second game I played against Jonathon who commanded the Forces of the Abyss. We played Raze scenario. Here are the details of his army list:

Moloch Horde (M1), Monstrous Infantry, Despoiler Champion - 245
Moloch Horde (M2), Monstrous Infantry, Despoiler Champion - 245

Abyssal Horsemen Regiment (AH1), Cavalry, Maccwar's Potion of the Caterpillar - 260
Abyssal Horsemen Regiment (AH2), Cavalry, Sir Jesse's Boots of Striding - 260

Succubi Larvae Horde* (SL), Infantry - 150
Tortured Souls Regiment* (TS), Large Infantry, Blade of Slashing - 125

Gargoyle Troop* (G1), Heavy Infantry - 85 
Gargoyle Troop* (G1), Heavy Infantry - 85

Archfiend of the Abyss (AotA), Hero (Titan), Brew of Haste - 330
Abyssal Warlock (AW1), Hero (Large Infantry), Bane Chant (2) - 110
Abyssal Warlock (AW1), Hero (Large Infantry), Bane Chant (2) - 110


Game 3 - Orcs - Matthew

Elves vs Orcs - Invade

Deployment of the Armies.

In the third game I played against Matthew who commanded the army of Orcs. We played Invade scenario. Here are the details of his army list:

Gore Chariot Legion (GC), Chariot, Sir Jesse's Boots of Striding - 290

Ax Horde (AH), Heavy Infantry - 215
Troll Horde (T1), Large Infantry - 190
Troll Horde (T2), Large Infantry - 190

Longax Regiment (L1), Heavy Infantry - 155
Longax Regiment (L2), Heavy Infantry - 155

Skulks Troop* (SO1), Heavy Infantry - 85
Skulk Outriders* (SO2) - Cavalry - 105
Orclings* (O), Swarms - 60

War Drum (W), Monster - 80

Godpeaker (GS), Hero (Heavy Infantry), Heal (2), Shroud of the Saint - 115
Krusher (K), Hero (Cavalry) - 75
Flagger (F), Hero (Infantry) - Lute of Insatiable Darkness - 75
Gakamak (G), Hero (Cavalry) - 230



Game 4 - Undead - Andrew

Elves vs Undead - Plunder

Deployment of the Armies

In the fourth game I played against Andrew who commanded the army of Undead. We played Plunder scenario. Here are the details of his army list:

Soul Reaver Cavalry Regiment (SRC), Cavalry, Sir Jesse's Boots of Striding - 265
Revenant Cavalry Regiment (RC), Cavalry - 165
Soul Reaver Infantry Regiment (SRI), Infantry - 250
Revenant Regiment (R1), Infantry - 125
Revenant Regiment (R1), Infantry - 125

Wight Horde* (W1), Large Infantry, 260
Wraith Troop* (W2), Infantry - 120
Wraith Troop* (W2), Infantry - 120

Revenant King on Undead Great Flying Wyrm (RK), Hero (Titan) - 250
Mhorgoth the Faceless (M), Hero (Infantry) - 230
Necromancer (N), Hero (Infantry), Inspiring Talisman, Bane Chant (2) - 90


Game 5 - Dwarfs - Brent

Elves vs Dwarfs - Push

Deployment of the Armies

In the fifth game I played against Brent who commanded the army of Dwarfs. We played Push scenario. Here are the details of his army list:

Ironclad Horde (I), Infantry, Hammer of Measured Force, Throwing Mastiffs - 215
Earth Elemental Horde (EE1), Large Infantry - 220
Earth Elemental Horde (EE2), Large Infantry - 220

Shieldbreaker Regiment (S1), Infantry, Throwing Mastiff - 140
Shieldbreaker Regiment (S1), Infantry, Throwing Mastiff - 140
Berserker Brock Riders Regiment (BR), Cavalry, Brew of Sharpness - 230

Mastiff Hunting Pack Regiment* (MHP), Swarms - 65

Dwarf Lord on Large Beast (DL), Hero (Large Cavalry) - 200
Steel Juggernaut (SJ1), Hero (Large Infantry) - 150
Steel Juggernaut (SJ2), Hero (Large Infantry) - 150
Stone Priest (SP), Hero (Infantry), Bane Chant (2) - 110
Berserker Lord (BL), Hero (Cavalry), Blade of Beast Slayer - 160


Game 6 - Forces of Nature - Ken

Elves vs Forces of Nature - Control

Deployment of the Armies

In the sixth and last game I played against Ken who commanded the Forces of Nature. We played Control scenario. Here are the details of his army list:


Naiad Ensnarers Horde (NE), Infantry, Hammer of Measured Force, Frenzied Otter - 255
Earth Elemental Horde (EE1), Large Infantry, Mace of Crushing - 225
Earth Elemental Horde (EE2), Large Infantry, Mace of Crushing - 225

Centaur Bray Strider Regiment (CBS), Cavalry, Frenzied Otter - 165
Centaur Bray Strider Regiment (CBS), Cavalry, Frenzied Otter - 165

Woodland Critter Regiment * (WC), Swarm - 80

Greater Fire Elemental (GFE), Titan - 175

Tree Herder (TH), Hero (Titan), Hann's Sanginary Scripture - 270
Forest Warden (FW), Hero (Large Infantry), Inspiring Talisman - 110
Unicorn (U1), Hero (Large Cavalry, Wings, Lightning Bolt (5) - 165
Unicorn (U1), Hero (Large Cavalry, Wings, Lightning Bolt (5) - 165


I am very curious about predictions and comments on any aspect of the tournament and upcoming battle reports! I will do my best to get the report from the first game ready in a few days.

Stay tuned! 

6 comments:

  1. I'll bite.
    Game 1 win (haven't read it yet).
    You have better control of the battlefield. Not sure which token is which though.

    Game 2 win, your opponent has a lot of hitting power stuck in that corner, getting in each other's way.

    Game 3 loss, don't think you can stop his centre.

    Game 4 could go either way. I think you might have a slight edge in speed though.

    Game 5 win, he's got nothing to stop you scoring all 3 while you can hold the dwarfs up.

    Game 6 win, I think you can overwhelm the right flank and your opponent is slow on the left

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Thanks for your reply and predictions! You should have the results for half of the battles by the end of this week!

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  2. After so many years of enjoyment reading this blog, the least I can do is take you up on your challenge :)

    Game 1- Basiliea: Win. He is as mobile as you (quite similar lists) but I think you can cover more of the tokens better, and while he has Iron Resolve, you have an edge in shooting to wear down units.

    Game 2- Abyss: Win. He’s quite dispersed and vulnerable to your combo charges especially in the centre. The Molochs on his left flank won’t be in the game much.

    Game 3- Orcs: Loss. You rely on shooting to wear him down and then combo charges to finish off units. I think his units are too resilient to fall to that, and will essentially dozer their way through you. Failing to kill a unit on the charge will see you flanked and reared. I can’t see you winning this one, but will be ecstatic if you do :D

    Game 4- Undead: Win. I think by declining your right you have enough mass to overcome his right/your left. The Rev King and SR Cav might make it into the battle, but the Wraiths and Revs will struggle

    Game 5- Dwarves: Win. He can’t stop your Archers getting double points, and you should win the race to the middle token, to get an unassailable lead.

    Game 6- Nature: Win. This was hard to pick, as his anvils are very resilient. But I’m guessing you will focus on the Centaurs and other hammer units, and with them gone, he loses the ability to get you easily.

    I look forward to seeing how you went :)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Hi Tane!

      Thank you! I am really happy to know you have been following the blog for many years, that's fantastic! I will do my best to provide some entertaining content for years to come :)

      Thanks for the predictions, I do appreciate you took the challenge. You can now check games 1 to 4 to see how accurate you were!

      Let me know when you do so that we can discuss the games in more detail.

      Cheers!

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  3. It was great to finally meet you in person your reports are fantastic and your games against Jeff are great keep up the great work cheers Alan

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    Replies
    1. Hi Alan!

      I was really happy to meet you in person! Thanks a lot for taking time to find me in the crowd :)

      Thanks a lot for kind words! I do hope I will be able to organise sufficient time for the games, reports and painting this year. Also against Jeff, as he is such a fantastic player and I learned a lot from him.

      Cheers!

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