6/17 @ Chicago Battle Bunker
Wednesday night was the new incarnation of veterans night at the Chicago Battle Bunker. Listening to the grievances about the earlier store closing hours, current manager and all around great guy, Jeff W. extended the wednesday hours to accommodate veterans or any and all whose work schedule or life prevents them from getting there before 6pm. I just had to make an appearance at the opening night, although honestly given my own bi-weekly club night with guys from our local store I can't see myself getting out there more than once a month. I made the trip out without a game set up in advance which is something I never usually do, but figured there be enough folks there so I would find someone to play. Luck had it that Brian (who posts as Elvenrain over at IWFB.org) was in the same boat.
In my opinion Brian has the best looking High Elf army in the Chicago metro that I've seen to date, so the camera was coming out for this one. Brian was running his list for November's Core Competency tourney, I had a list that met Core Comp rules so a game of classic warhammer was to be had, I was glad we both had low power lists as this only my second WFB game since Adepticon and Brians 1st..so I am sure we were both pretty rusty.
Empire vs High Elves 2250
High Elves
Noble w/Dragon Armor, Great Weapon, Shield, Reaver Bow
Noble w/ Dragon Armor, White Sword, Talisman of Loec
Lvl 2 Mage w/ Seerstaff of Saphery, Dispel Scroll
Lvl 2 Mage w/ Silver Wand and 2x Dispel Scroll
20 First Among Equals Spearelves w/ Full Command and Lion Standard
20 Spearelves w/Full Command
20 Spearelves w/Full Command
10 Lothern Sea Guard w/shields
10 Archers
10 Archers
5 Shadow Warriors
5 Ellyrian Reavers w/Bows and Musician
5 Ellyrian Reavers w/Bows and Musician
2 Repeater Bolt Throwers
2 Great Eagles
The Empire
General of Empire- Full Plate, Great Weapon, Rod of Command, Holy Relic, Barded Mount
Captain of Empire- Battle Standard Bearer, with Imperial Banner, Full plate, Barded Mount
Warrior Priest- Great Weapon Armor of Metoric Iron, Icon of Magnus
Battle Wizard- Lv2, Dispel Scroll, Wizards Staff
24 Swordsmen Full Command with War Banner
- 9 Free Company Detachment x 2
10 Handgunner, Marksman w/ HLR
12 Knights of the Blazing Sun, Full Command, Banner of Valor
20 Flagellants
19 Greatswords Full Command
- 9 Swordsmen Detachment
5 Pistoliers Musician/ Outrider with Repeater pistol
Great Cannon x 2
Deployment- Standard Deployment with 5 pieces of terrain, 2 hills, 2 forests and a building, I won placement and put the building close to my lines with full intent to use it. My Army setup was infantry up the center with cavalry on the flanks with my handgunners and wizards near the watchtower for turn 1 entry. Brian was spread out a bit with infantry and Fast Cav on both flanks with his bolt throwers and archers up the middle.
Turn 1 Empire - The Empire won 1st turn and I tried to put it to good use. I captured the watchtower with my Handgunners and Wizard pretty much ensuring that I had 250 ish points survive the game and at a minimum contest the quarter, unfortunately I didnt think about the damage I could inflict on myself- but more on that later. My troops advance. My Wizard can't get a spell off due to my low casting rolls being easily dispelled. Shooting is the high point for me as my Cannons knock out both Bolt Throwers turn 1..can't hope for better than that 1st turn..unfortunately that was my shooting high point of the game.
Turn 1 High Elves- Brian advances cautiously, he wants to maximize his shooting and magic phase. One his wizards has the lore of metal and he gets to choose his spells..so of course he takes spirit of the forge..the bane of Empire knights...I use my scroll to counter his first one turn 1. His shadow warriors go visible to shoot me up, and I take some minor casualties from his archers. My Pistoliers, always a first turn target, lose two from the Reavers bows and I fail my panic check and they rout but are still on the board.
Turn 2 Empire- My Knights move forward to engage one Brians blocks of Spearmen containing a level 2 wizard, he also has some Reavers and Eagle there that I know he's going to use to march block and bait me..the forest on that side of the table is going to force me to commit my Flagellants to that side of board...my 6 wide block of cavarly is problematic here as my frontage is bit wide to have the manevuerbility I need..so I know I need to engage the bait crush it get past the danger of getting flanked and bring the Flagellants in to hold up the block and either re-engage the block or leave it move toward across the table..nice plan...but execution is the tough part. My other troops move ahead the shadow warriors are going to keep my
swordsmen detachment from helping out my Greatswords in there soon coming melee..my General and his troops move toward the rest of Brian's army. Shooting comes up empty.
I roll a misfire with one of my cannons..but roll a 5 ..so just lose the turn..other cannon overshoots or does nothing notable. My handgunners shoot up the Reavers on my left side and they run..but not off the board. My Pistoliers have rallied as well. My Wizard again fails to get spell off.
Turn 2 High Elves. Brian sets up the bait on my Knights with his Reavers. So I'll need to charge him next round and if I dont stick I'll get flanked charged for sure by his block and his eagle..if he runs I can catch him and escape the flank with a good roll. My guess is he'll stick and gamble on my bad dice somewhere to get me at the disadvantage. His other block of Spears sets up for a charge with my Greatswords. Always strikes first with Elven Spearmen you want to be charged..so I am going to oblige. Greatswords with a priest can hang with the best with average dice...I could sure use my detachment here but its going to be blocked by the shadow warriors who shoot me up. I make a critical error here in not moving one my detachments from my Swordsmen block over to the help the greatswords, instead choosing to leave them with my largest block. Magic and shooting for Brian are minor this turn.except Archers can see my Pistoliers and I take another two kills routing again this time off the board. Brian flies one of his eagles behind all my troops to march block and is braced to charge a cannon next turn. His Routing reavers rally
Turn 3 Empire- Turn 3 is usually the game decider, and this game follows suit. My Knight charge his Reavers who elect to take the charge, My Greatswords charge his Spearmen and my Swordsmen charge his shadow warriors. The rest of my troops move ahead toward the
the Spearmen and archers on that other side. I kill the eagle with a nicely placed cannon ball from one cannon, the other cannon again misfires and this time blows up. My handgunners shoot up the Reavers on that side, killing two...but the lone one makes the panic check. My Wizard this time Miscasts..I roll a 1 so he loses a level and take a strength 8 hit...I take the wound but can still cast my regular fireball...it doesnt go off. In Close combat my Knights crush the Reavers as expected but I roll a freaking "6" on 3d6 on the overrun and do not escape the flank charge on top of that I didnt move my Flagellants far enough on the preceding turn so even if I survive the turn I don't think I am close enough to get in help at the top of turn 4..not good. My swordsmen draw with the shadow warriors, and my Greatswords win a very close /close combat (by 1 I think) with the other group of Spearmen containing a killy High Elf Noble, But Brian makes
the Leadership Test..they hold.
Turn 3 High Elves- Brian of course flank charges my Knights with his Block of Spearmen and remaining Eagle, he's trying to bait my other large block with the 10 Sea Guard for a similar flank on the other side. The magic phase is nail in coffin for my knights as brian rolls an irresistible spirit of the forge and 4 of my knights go POOF before the combat even starts
(Spirit of the Forge was FAQ that it can be cast in combat making it even more painful) The High Elf Archers fire is directed at my General and his block and its detachments..I take a few casualties but nothing major. In close combat again my Knights I shocking dont lose a model due to kills and even do a couple back..but the static res and flank I still lose by 5..making me need a three on the break test, I roll a "4" and we recalculate to double check..I run and the eagle of course catches me..and my Knights are done and Brian captures a Banner. My Swordsmen beat the Shadow Warriors this time but the make their break test, My Greatswords lose this round of Combat against Brian's Spears but I am Stubborn 8 so I make my test and stick.
Turn 4 Empire
My Flagellant charge the Spearmen that killed my knights, Charging ASF spears with Flagellants is nothing but a two to three turn tarpit..I know I will never get a chance to strike back..all I can do is keep them out of the rest of the game. Again bad placement with these guys.I could have used them on the other flank of something where they would have been an arrow magnet or more of a threat, here they were basically useless. With everyone otherwise engaged I ignore the Seaguard bait and move my General and his block ahead toward the other large block of spearmen. My Wizard now a level 1, throws a 3 dice fireball (wizards staff) at the Sea Guard..It goes off but a low roll, Brian scrolls it away as my magic options are nerfed. In the shooting phase my Cannon tries to take out a bunch of Spearman infantry..I manage to get a full rank, and my handgunners get a few more plus putting 1 wound on his other noble..courtesy of the Hochland Long Rifle. In Close Combat my Greatswords are losing the war of attrition against Brians Spearmen and my Flagellants are getting crushed but holding, my Swordsmen kill the shadow warriors..and there is a chance I can get the in to help my greatswords -I'm hanging on but by my fingernails.
Turn 4 High Elves
Brian is trying to position his Seaguard and Spearman in a way to make sure he gets the flank in when he engages my General. In the shooting phase Brian starts shooting at my loose detachments and swordsmen..I take a few hits but at this point I need even man I have. The High Elf Level 2 wizard with the Lore of Metal crushes my hopes for last minute aid to my Greatswords by landing a spirit of the forge on my swordsmen detachment whom ran down the shadow warriors. Not only does brian roll another irresistible but he rolls 11 hits they are strength 3 but he rolls enough 3+ to kill the 8 guys left in the unit. my Greatswords finally fail there stubborn 8 with a "10" break and get run down and My flagellant take another bunch of
causalities leaving a lone guy holding up the unit..the right side of the board for me has evaporated the High Elves are taking the battlefield.
Turn 5 The Empire
Seeing the 15+ man strong unit of Spearman and his killy Noble is now on the loose after killing my greatswords and heading toward my rear My General and his charge the other unit of Spearmen containing Brians General. I know its close but not close enough its 8.5 inches so I am short not good. I now try to move my out of position detachments to block the flank charge from the Seaguard, but since they are march blocking the detachments I can't get close enough. Sigmar is not with Empire this day as in magic phase my wizard rolls his second miscast of the game again with "10" and dies then is the shooting phase my other cannon bearing down on the Spearmen heading toward my rear MISFIRES and blows up!..damn I just gave brian 250 points in my own damn turn with shit dice rolls. In Close Combat my last Flagellant goes down..things are looking grim.
Turn 5 High Elves- Brians General finally charges bringing in 10 Seaguard on the flank, he moves his other unit of Spearman in for the kill,Shooting and Magic continue to be directed at my detachments but brian hits a little of his own bad dice luck and I survive unscathed
My General and his swordsmen have some close combat luck and despite the flank and some losses I win the combat thanks to a large static res and some overkill wounds from my General in a challenge, I wasnt worried as my General had the Rod of Command if I needed it, I can now get my Detachments in the next turn.
Turn 6 Empire. My detachments pile in on the rear and flank of the flanking Seaguard. I think I have this combat for sure but we will see, if It holds another turn and with the other now free and mobile unit of Spearmen is heading straight at the rear of my block and that will be end of me for sure. The combat ends up a winner for me as My General kills his General in a challenge but my General does take two wound fails 2- 5+ armors save and 2- 4+ ward saves, it doesn't matter as he breaks and I run down both units and pick up a banner..a big point swing pulling me out of total massacre territory. I know Brian had it won at this point but by how much.
Turn 6 High Elves
Brian charges the closest detachement with his remaining Spearmen. despite some bad luck..his static res is enought to break them even with my generals leadership and a reroll. They break thru and kill them and the game had ended.
Scoring- all Additional points were a wash and it became a straight points battle..I still has decent amount of points on the table due to my General and BSB being alive and 1/2 point for the unit, plus my Handgunners in tower were unscathed. Brian had 3 heros, 2 units of Spear
2 units of archers, 1 eagle and 1 Reaver left on the table. End result was High Elves by around 600 points Result- High Elf- Solid Victory
Great game to Brian, I had a bit of bad luck backed up by a few poor decisions and I think he played it pretty much perfectly, and without his bolt throwers all game. Props to him and his kick ass looking army..this a great example of why I play this game, I look forward to the rematch!.
