Cancon 2020 Aftermath - Part 6

This is the final part of my report of the recent Clash of Kings Australia tournament that was held as part of Cancon 2020. You can find the previous part of the report here, or go back to the first part here.

Game 6 - Control
Jeff Traish - Forces of the Abyss

• Horde of Abyssal Ghouls
• Regiment of Abyssal Ghouls
• Regiment of Abyssal Ghouls
• Horde of Molochs with Blade of Slashing
• Horde of Molochs with Mace of Crushing
• Abyssal Fiend
• Manifestation of Ba'el
• Abyssal Warlock
• Abyssal Warlock
• Abyssal Warlock
• Horde of Lesser Obsidian Golems (Abyssal Dwarf allies)
• Horde of Lesser Obsidian Golems (Abyssal Dwarf allies)
• Hexcaster with Weakness (Abyssal Dwarf allies)

Well, I had done it again. After my "correction" game dropped me back into the middle tables, I had won two more games and now I found myself on what was probably one of the top 3. I think I was in 5th place coming into the final round. Not really where I had intended to be. And now I was to play Jeff, a man who had actually played more than 2 games of 3rd edition before the tournament, and who clearly knew what he was doing. I resolved that I would try not to throw this game away. Try to focus and play tighter. Well, it was not a bad resolution...

One of the Lesser Obsidian Golem units went hard on the flank, with the Fiend lurking right behind them. I wasn't sure where to put the Halflings, so planted them in the corner where they could sit all game and hopefully contest or control that table segment. This was dumb, of course. I should have put them nearer the join of 2 segments, where they could shift about as needed. This occurred to me just after I declared they were sorted.

Cancon 2020 Aftermath - Part 5

This is a continuation of my report of the recent Clash of Kings Australia tournament at Cancon 2020. You can find the previous part here, or go right back to the start with the first part here.

Game 5 - Push
Angriartists - Goblins

• Troll Horde
• Troll Horde
• Troll Horde
• Troop of Mincer Mob
• Troop of Mincer Mob
• Troop of Mincer Mob
• Troop of Mincer Mob
• Troop of Mincer Mob
• Troop of Mincer Mob
• King on Chariot with Piercing Arrow
• King with Jareth's Pendant (gives him a Headstrong aura)
• Mincer
• Mincer
• War Trombone

OK, so... This list confused me a lot. I admit I had never really read up on what a Goblin Mincer did, and now I was paying the price. I stole my opponent's army list so that I could make sure I understood what I was up against during deployment. Aris explained the general concept of the list as the Mincers being the anvil, and the Trolls the hammer. That made sense. The Mincers are not quick, but they're Defence 6+ from the front. Of course, if they got a clean charge on you, you might know about that too...

What the hell am I looking at? I immediately had guilt about the pile of unpainted pump wagons at home.

Cancon 2020 Aftermath - Part 4

This is a continuation of my report of the recent Clash of Kings Australia tournament that was held as part of Cancon. You can find the previous part of the report here.

So we were onto Day 2 of the tournament, and after the savaging I had taken in Game 3, I was hoping I would be back into a realm of relative safety on the tables. But then I arrived at my table, and this is what I found...

What the hell? We didn't sign up for this!

Turns out the tanks belonged to the 40K player at the other table. Probably for the best, really...

Game 4 - Plunder
Daniel Harwood - Ogres

• Horde of Ogre Warriors with Mead of Madness, Crocodog
• Horde of Ogre Warriors with Brew of Haste, Crocodog
• Horde of Ogre Warriors with Crocodog
• Horde of Ogre Warriors with Crocodog
• Horde of Ogre Warriors with Crocodog
• Red Goblin Blaster
• Red Goblin Blaster
• Berserker Bully
• Berserker Bully
• Grokagamok
• Ogre Warlock with Drain Life
• Ogre Warlord on Chariot with Blade of Slashing

OK, that looks more like a Kings of War list. I admit I was concerned when I saw 2 Blasters in the list. I really had no ranged attacks or expendable elements with which to remove them. Then I discovered they don't blow up like they used to, and have to charge to hurt me. Well, that changes things...

So many Ogre Warriors. I mean, I get it. They're a solid unit. But I was glad none of them were Siegebreakers instead. One of those units had Mead of Madness and the Berserker Bully (character closest to the rock) came with Wild Charge. Otherwise that was a wall of Speed 6, so I had the upper hand in terms of dictating terms.

Cancon 2020 Aftermath - Part 3

This is a continuation of my report of the recent Clash of Kings Australia tournament that was held as part of Cancon. You can find the previous part of the report here.

Game 3 - Invade

Adam Storey - Undead

• Horde of Revenants with Fire-Oil, Undead Giant Rats
• Horde of Revenants with Brew of Strength, Undead Giant Rats
• Horde of Wights with Mead of Madness
• Horde of Wights with Brew of Sharpness
• Horde of Zombie Trolls
• Troop of Wraiths
• Troop of Wraiths
• Cursed Pharaoh with Wings of Honeymaze
• Mhorgoth the Mandatory
• Necromancer with Inspiring Talisman, Drain Life, Surge

I was a bit worried that I was heading for the wrong end of the tournament after 2 wins. I knew I was due for a correction. Well... 

These things (the Zombie Trolls) were just gross. A lot of Adam's models are 3D printed, and he'd managed to complete these ones with bloody streaks as they dragged themselves across the ground... Eww. Anyway, they were hard on my left flank. Next to them were the Revenants, and behind them sat one of the Wight units.

Cancon 2020 Aftermath - Part 2

This is a continuation of my report of the recent Clash of Kings Australia tournament that was held as part of Cancon. You can find the previous part of the report here.

Game 2 - Raze
Brent Rabid - Dwarfs

• Horde of Ironclad with Throwing Mastiff, Hammer of Measured Force
• Regiment of Shieldbreakers with Throwing Mastiff
• Regiment of Shieldbreakers with Throwing Mastiff
• Horde of Earth Elementals
• Horde of Earth Elementals
• Regiment of Berserker Brock Riders with Brew of Sharpness
• Regiment of Mastiff Hunting Pack
• Dwarf Lord on Large Beast
• Berserker Lord on Brock with Blade of the Beast Slayer
• Steel Juggernaut
• Steel Juggernaut
• Stone Priest with Bane Chant

Brent's army was not what you normally expect to see in Dwarf force. No artillery. There was only a small amount of mobile shooting. And no Herneas. I'm so glad he's been retired off to a separate list...

Anyway, I liked Brent's list, but based on my own limited experience I was worried he would suffer for a lack of control over the engagements without much shooting or foot speed. I guess we would see...

That is a pretty compact deployment.

Cancon 2019 Aftermath - Part 6

This is the final part of my report of Cancon 2019. You can find the previous part here. You can find the start here.

Game 6 - Control
Matt Curtis - Elves

• Horde of Kindred Archers with Heart-seeking Chant
• Horde of Therennian Sea Guard
• Regiment of Palace Guard
• Horde of Forest Shamblers
• Horde of Drakon Riders
• Horde of Drakon Riders
• Dragon Kindred Lord
• Mage with Bane Chant
• Army Standard Bearer with Lute of Insatiable Darkness
• Noble War Chariot
• Noble War Chariot

So I had made it to the final round, and I was perilously close to mid-field after my dramatic improvement on Day 2. I had actually been musing with someone prior to this game that I really hadn't run into any shooting all tournament. I would normally have been pleased about that (I really don't like gun lines), but it occurred to me that my list would probably cause a gun line nightmares. Matt's army was certainly not a gun line, however it had significantly more firepower than any of my other opponents. I guess this was my chance to see how my list held up against someone that actually shot at me a bit.

 A Dragon on the flank, with the Forest Shamblers shooting forward with their vanguard move so they could stand in the forest and pretend to be trees.

Cancon 2019 Aftermath - Part 5

This the continuation of my report of the Cancon 2019 tournament. You can find the previous part here.

Game 5 - Ransack
Darren Holmes - Forces of the Abyss

• Archfiend of the Abyss with Wings
• Ba'su'su
• Mau'ti-bu-su
• Succubi Regiment
• Succubi Regiment
• Regiment of Abyssal Horsemen
• Regiment of Abyssal Horsemen
• Horde of Twisted Victims
• Horde of Molochs
• Troop of Gargoyles
• Abyssal Harbinger on mount
• Abyssal Harbinger on mount (this second one might have been someone else)

That doesn't total anywhere near enough points. No doubt there was a Caterpillar Potion on one of the cavalry units and a variety of other items scattered around there.

There are a lot of objective markers in this scenario, worth varying amounts. They were scattered all over the shop, including 2 that Darren put in opposite corners of the field. I didn't think all that carefully about these rocks in front of me. They were Height 4 and impassable. So apart from the flyer, I was going to have real trouble crossing over those, and no way to see. I had rather carelessly isolated the Order of the Abyssal Hunt during deployment. It might not have been that big a deal, but Darren put a lot of flyers across the field from them.

Cancon 2019 Aftermath - Part 4

This is the continuation of my tournament report from Cancon 2019. You can find the previous part here. You can find the first part here.

Game 4 - Raze
Kate Price - Basileans
Holy Lancers (Formation) (I think) (more brackets)

• High Paladin on Elder Dragon
• High Paladin on Griffon
• Horde of Ogre Palace Guard
• Horde of Elohi
• Horde of Elohi
• Gnaeus Sallustis
• Regiment of Paladin Knights with Potion of the Caterpillar
• Regiment of Paladin Knights
• Troop of Sisterhood Panther Lancers
• Heavy Arbalest

I had made it to day 2. The weather had improved a bit, and I was somewhat recovered. The same could not be said of my score in the tournament, however. Of a possible 63 points I had accumulated the princely total of 7. Clearly I was poised to strike. I had one hand on the wooden spoon already!

I have never played the Raze scenario before. I'll be honest, I liked it on paper. Although getting the first turn seemed important if someone had enough fast stuff to pounce on the objectives across the table.

The terrain on my right flank was pretty open, which boded well for large units of cavalry. Kate put her Griffon, Gnaeus, and her Paladin Knight regiments over there to keep the Arbalest company.

Cancon 2019 Aftermath - Part 3

This is the third part of my tournament report from Cancon 2019. You can find the previous part here.

Game 3 - Dominate
Spoon - Forces of the Abyss
Fire Legion (Formation)

• Archfiend of the Abyss with Wings, Lightning
• Mau'ti-bu-su
• Horde of Abyssal Despoilers
• Horde of Tortured Souls
• Regiment of Abyssal Horsemen (probably with Potion of the Caterpillar)
• Abyssal Temptress (may have had Wings and Banechant)
• Regiment of Succubi
• Regiment of Succubi
• Troop of Succubi
• Troop of Succubi
• Troop of Gargoyles
• Efreet with Heart-Seeking Chant

Apologies for how much I'm struggling to get these lists accurate. The further out we get from the event, the harder it is to remember. Honestly this whole game is a bit of a haze for me. It was 40 degrees and the humidity was to the point where I felt like I was in danger of dripping sweat onto the table. Guzzling water will only get you so far. I was really struggling; I didn't really want to be trying to focus on a game at this point. But hey, I survived. So that's something, eh?

Well that's a blurry photo. Anyway, I set up with the intention of using that impassable terrain behind the forest as something of an anchor for my flank. The speed and threat range of the cavalry and Tortured Souls on that flank worried me, so I wanted to see if I could keep them out of the game for a while.

Cancon 2019 Aftermath - Part 2

This is the second part of my tournament report from Cancon 2019. You can find the first part here.

Right, so after an ignominious start, I figured I could probably do better in future rounds. Couldn't go much worse, right? And now I'd had practice and stuff. On to glory!

Game 2 - Plunder
Tony Lee - The Herd

• Horde of Guardian Brutes with Potion of the Caterpillar
• Horde of Stampede
• Regiment of Centaur Longmanes with Brew of Strength
• Regiment of Centaur Longmanes
• Regiment of Centaur Longmanes
• Regiment of Centaur Bray-Hunters
• Regiment of Centaur Bray-Hunters
• Chimera with wings
• Centaur Chief with Blade of Slashing
• Centaur Chief
• Shaman on a mount
• Beast Pack Troop
• Beast Pack Troop

Honestly, that comes to about 85 points short. I don't remember what else was in there. Must have been some items, because I think the models are all accounted for. I'm so good at this...

Cancon 2019 Aftermath - Part 1

Right, it's now been over a week since Cancon, and I've still not had a chance to write up any of my games. I had planned to just do 2 posts - 1 for each day. But given how long this has taken and before the situation gets any worse, here is game 1...

I have written previously about my army list, which was thrown together with the intention of being as simple as possible in order to accommodate my lack of practice and expected difficult weather conditions. I had modest expectations, so let's see how that panned out. Here is my list again in case you can't be bothered going back to the other post...

• Exemplar Forsaker with Blade of Slashing
• Exemplar Forsaker
• Horde of Order of the Brotherhood with Maccwar's Caterpillar Potion
• Horde of Order of the Brotherhood
• Horde of Order of the Brotherhood
• Regiment of the Order of the Abyssal Hunt
• Regiment of the Order of Redemption
• Forsaken Beast with Regeneration
• Forsaken Beast with Regeneration

On with the report!

Game 1 - Push
Trevor Younghusband - Basileans

• Formation - Retribution of the Heavens
• Formation - Holy Lancers
• Horde of Elohi (with Caterpillar)
• Horde of Elohi
• Ur-Elohi
• Ur-Elohi
• Gnaeus Sallustis
• Regiment of Paladin Knights
• Regiment of Paladin Knights
• Regiment of Paladin Foot Guard
• Regiment of Paladin Foot Guard
• Horde of Sisterhood Infantry

That stuff doesn't total 2250 points. I've obviously missed a couple of items. There may even have been a Bearer of the Holy Icon waving the Lute of Insatiable Darkness around. 

This was my first game using my army list. In fact, it was the first time I had ever used Brotherhood. Obviously the first round was always going to be a challenge.

The terrain didn't help me. There's a rocky obstacle in front of the knights over on the right. I needed some time to get some clear charges.

Cancon 2018 Aftermath - Part 7

This is the final part of my report of the recent Clash of Kings tournament at Cancon 2018. You can find the previous part here.

Game 7: Control
Tony Lee, Conquistadors

You what? Conquistadors? I did think I remembered someone asking if you could take Kings of War Historicals in the event, but I didn't realise someone had actually gone and done it! How interesting. I actually looked at Tony's list properly, on account of not recognising a single thing in it...

Hernan Cortez leading an army of Conquistadors with Aztec assistance. I don't know what I was expecting in my final game, but this was not it.

I used Vanguard to start closing the gap using a hill as cover on the left flank.

Cancon 2018 Aftermath - Part 6

This is a continuation of my report of the recent Clash of Kings tournament at Cancon 2018. You can find the previous part here.

Game 6: Scour
Matt Sellick, Elves

Brimming with confidence after actually winning a game, I now ran into Matt, who was also using Elves. Matt was my only opponent whom I had actually played against previously, although I suspect that was all before the switch to Kings of War.

This game was the first time my opponent also had units with Vanguard, and it really threw me. Not only did he have Vanguard, but he had more units with it than me. Unlike in Warhammer, there are no protections in KoW preventing units with Vanguard from getting really close to each other. So I was left trying to work out what to do when we could advance units right up into each others' faces without knowing who was going to get the first turn.

This was the most confusing decision I ran into during the event. Probably the smart thing to do would have been to stay out of charge range even though it would have meant wasting my Vanguard. But I couldn't decide what to do and was acutely aware of the fact that I was starting to waste time with my indecision, so I pushed things forward in a cavalier and foolish action, choosing to hope I would get the first turn. Naturally I did not.

So many things with Vanguard. What am I to do with this?

Cancon 2018 Aftermath - Part 5

This is a continuation of my report of the recent Clash of Kings tournament at Cancon 2018. You can find the previous part here.

Game 5: Eliminate
Kate Price, Basileans

Game 4 was a bit of a low point for me. I had been absolutely smashed at the end of a long day. I arrived on the second day hoping that things would improve. Maybe I could avoid any game-losingly bad decisions. That would be a start.

Game 5 was against Kate's Basileans, featuring a Dragon, 2 units of Elohi and a horde of Knights. What could go wrong?

Well it seems like the first thing that went wrong was that I missed taking photos at the start of the game. Could be worse. I had remembered to Vanguard, but once again I failed to get the first turn. By now I was kind of expecting that, so I had positioned things to receive a charge. Which is exactly what the Wild Guard did.

Cancon 2018 Aftermath - Part 3

This is a continuation of my report of the recent Clash of Kings tournament at Cancon 2018. You can find the previous part here.

Game 3: Occupy
Bridget McGarry, Elves

2 games, 2 losses. I was beginning to detect a pattern. I was the common factor. Maybe it was me (gasp)?!?

I was starting to realise that my army didn't have a very large number of deployments. Bridget was able to hold onto her Dragon until after I was committed. I admit I was a little unhappy to see it arrive hard on my flank. Oh well, if I got the first turn it wouldn't be able to see anything...

I was a little undecided about how I wanted to Vanguard. If I didn't get the first turn, I was certainly going to be charged, and would have preferred not to get charged by both the Stormwind Cavalry and Dragon on the same target. I couldn't easily avoid it though, so was left simply hoping they would be greedy and spread out.

Cancon 2018 Aftermath - Part 4

This is a continuation of my report of the recent Clash of Kings tournament at Cancon 2018. You can find the previous part here.

Game 4: Push
Ed Hamacek, League of Rhordia

I still hadn't won a game, but I guess at least I had no longer lost all of them either. I had points on the board. Surely the only way was up now.

Ed's list made me nervous. A wall of Knights and Honour Guard, and 3 Volley Guns to boot. I knew how tough this list would be - I had used a slightly less focused version of it at a previous Cancon. After the horrors of the War Trombones in the first game, I was really worried about letting the Volley Guns rule the field. And with 24" range, they really could control a large area. I decided once again that the key might be to rush them. 

Ed had stacked most of his stuff in the centre or over on the other flank, so that pair of Volley Guns was relatively exposed. I Vanguarded as far as I could with the Forest Shamblers. Honestly, it was dumb. I should have hung back in the trees and then advanced into the field to hop from cover to cover. I don't know what I thought I was going to do. Surge? What if I didn't get the first turn?

Cancon 2018 Aftermath - Part 2

This is a continuation of my report of the recent Clash of Kings tournament at Cancon 2018. You can find the previous part here.

Game 2: Invade
Nick Prosser, Brotherhood

Well, my first game was a bit of a struggle. But now I had practice and I was heading down the tables to play other people who also got schooled in their first game, so things were looking up. Next up with Nick with his Brotherhood army.

Nick had arranged a screen of Villein light cavalry for his main units, and had lots of flying Forsaken guys on his flanks.

Cancon 2018 Aftermath - Part 1

Cancon is done and dusted for another year, and I survived once again. Honestly survival was one of my key motivators this year - the conditions were pretty oppressive at times in terms of heat and humidity, and despite spending the first day of the convention just wandering around and talking to people, I was exhausted. So I was really worried about how I'd hold up over the next 2 days when I'd also be playing 7 games of Kings of War. Suffice to say I decided I'd be happy with being able to walk out the door at the finish, so I was determined not to exhaust myself over-thinking my games.

As I mentioned previously, I decided to take Elves to the tournament. I had basically never used them before (I did once when the 2nd edition rules were still in beta), and I hadn't played any other games of KoW in a year either. So I was going to be a bit rusty, even if I did want to be competitive. This also contributed to my "take it easy" philosophy. I was there to blow off the cobwebs, play a few games, meet some people, and generally make up the numbers...

This was my army list:

• The Green Lady with 1 Sabre-Toothed Pussycat
• Tree Herder
• Drakon Rider Lord
• Elven Mage with Fireball, Bane Chant
• Horde of Therennian Sea Guard with Chant of Hate
• Regiment of Palace Guard
• Regiment of Stormwind Cavalry with Potion of the Caterpillar
• Green Lady's Wild Guard (Regiment of fancy Hunters of the Wild)
• Horde of Forest Shamblers
• Bolt Thrower
• Bolt Thrower

I had intended to try to paint up a new regiment of Stormwind Cavalry for the event, but ended up being extremely busy in the lead-up and it soon became apparent it wasn't going to happen. I didn't even really finish the Green Lady, but she was usable enough.

Anyway, this is how things went on the day...

Game 1: Scavenge

Tony Winmill, Goblins

Tony was very nice and helpful, happy to explain how the scenario worked and also what this "Blood boil" spell was that he was carrying on his 3 wizards. It was quickly becoming apparent to me that my lack of practice would be exacerbated by my lack of familiarity with the Clash of Kings rules. Oh well, what was the worst that could happen?

The first game was always going to be rough. I had never deployed this army before, and had to try to remember rules and other inconvenient things...