This was 2400 vs Lizardmen and my Local Gamming Club. We just opted for a standard pitched battle.
I always struggle vs Lizardmen with their tough big blocks and high re-rollable leadership, but its always an interesting game. Below is my list and the Lizardmens.
Dark Elves:
Supreme Sorceress = 270
Lvl 4
Dragonbane Gem
Ironcurse Icon
Master = 187
Pegasus
Pendant of Khaelth
Dragon Helm
Heavy Armour
Sea Dragon Cloak
Great Weapon
Cauldron of Blood = 225
Army Battle Standard Bearer
20 Dark Elf Warriors = 155
Shield
Champion, Standard, Musician
20 Dark Elf Warriors= 155
Shields
Champion, Standard, Musician
5 Dark Riders = 117
Repeater Cross bows
Musician
5 Dark Riders = 117
Repeater Cross bows
Musician
10 Corsairs = 105
Swap Hand weapon for Handbow
Musician
5 Harpies = 55
5 Harpies = 55
5 Cold One Knights = 143
Musician
5 Cold One Knights = 143
Musician
15 Executioners = 208
Standard, Musician
Banner of Eternal Flame
15 Executioners = 186
Musician
6 Shades = 102
AHW
War Hydra = 175
Lizardmen:
Slann (BSB)(Lore of Light)
Focused Rumination
Focus of Mystery
Cupped Hands of the One Ones
War Banner
Skink Priest lvl2 (Lore of Heavens)
Dispel Scroll
Scar Vet 1
Cold One
Burning Blade of Chotec
Charmed Shield
Dawn Stone
Scar Vet 2
Cold One, Dragon Helm
Amulet of Itzl
Venom of the Fiery Frog
36 Saurus Warriors
Musician, Standard
28 Skinks + 3 Kroxigor
X2 10 Skink Skirmishers
X2 5 Chameleon Skinks
X2 Salamander Packs
20 Temple Guard
FC, Discipline Banner, Iron Cursed Iron
Deployment
The Lizards set up was pretty standard, Slann in the middle and a big unit each side to protect along with small units of flanking Skirmishers to shoot and harass.
I wanted to use the building in the middle to try and divide his army and use my faster troops on the extreme left flank to sweep around the side of his army. I ended up and a sort of refused flank set up.
The Slann had Lore Master of Light so had all spells
Skink Priest ended up with Chain Lighting and Ice Shard
Dark Elves got Enchanting Blades, Glittering Scales, Transmutation of Lead, Final Transmutation.
And the Sorceress joins the Spears 1 unit.
I got pretty much the best spells I could have wanted here, everything had a use and I picked up 2 buffs which could be cast on my tightly compact army.
Lizards won the roll and were off.
Lizards Turn 1
The left skinks run through the ruins (I forgot to show it) along with the rest of the left flank, the right moves more cautiously keeping a tighter formation. The Skinks move towards the Corsairs in the building and the skink priest jumps out of the unit while the Salamander unit moves around the larger building to get into position too.
Magic sees the Slann Cast Sherms Gaze on a IF causing 5 dead DR and a Magical Feedback on himself doing no wounds but taking one of the Skink Priest.
Net of Amynotk is cast on the peg hero.
Everything else is dispelled.
Shooting sees the right Salamander kill 4 Corsairs.
The Right Chameleon and left Salamander both shoot the Remaining DR for 1 wound. The Chameleons try their luck vs a Hydra for no wounds.
Dark Elves Turn 1
Dark Elves open up with some charges on the left. The Hydra Charged the Chameleons who hold, and proceed to get stomped to the ground and the Hydra Over runs past the flank of the Skinks (forgot to change the image again)
The right CoK try a long charge on the other Chameleons who also flee.
DR charge the Left Salamander hoping to tie it in combat for the next combat phase and pull all the lizard lines into confusion.
For movement the centre Elf battle line moves together, the Sorceress and her unit hop into the building for shooting protection and the Knights continue their sweep around the left flank to meet up with the Hydra. Harpies relocate to the centre of the board, behind the Elven Battle line.
The Master passes his test and makes a fly up the board to tempt any lizards fool enough to charge him.
Corsairs leave their building in search of something to practice their bow shots on, and Shades jump into the tower to give them a better vantage point.
Magic sees the winds roll low and with only 3 dice the Sorceress goes for Final Transmutation on the Saurus. 1 Cascade later and 5 Lizards are dead along with 2 Spearmen and a scorch mark on the floor where the Sorceress once stood.
Dropping the +1 attack on the DR from the CoB and forgetting I had shades in the tower we go for combat.
DR do a wound and lose one, the Salamander unit Holds.
Lizards Turn 2
Scar Vet 2 Charges the Rear of the DR.
The Chameleons that fled from the Cok unit rally.
The left Skinks make a run for the forest towards the CoK.
The Temple Guard and Kroxigor shuffle a bit, as neither fancies facing the Peg Master.
Right Skinks and Salamander move towards the Corsairs looking to finish them off.
The skink priest uses Chain lighting on the Right Spearmen, they lose one of their men and it doesn’t bounce. Sherm Gaze and Banishment are both cast on the Shades and both Dispelled.
Speed of light is cast on all units within 12”.
Shooting sees the Right Salamander and Skinks see a few more wounds off the Corsairs but the remaining 4 hold steady.
The left skinks take a few shots on the Executioners to the left of the building, 2 wounds are both saved. Along with the Big Kroxigors units javelins doing nothing to the Peg Masters Elven Armour.
In Combat the DR promptly fail their fear check and are killed to the elf. And the Salamander and Scar Vet reform to face the advancing elven line.
Dark Elves Turn 2
The Elves push right up to the Lizardmen giving them little breathing room.
The Far Left CoK decide to fail Stupidity, while the 2nd unit show how things should be done and recklessly charge the Skinks in the forest not fearing the branches and stumps which could unmounts any of them. Their charge sees them wipe the skinks out and over run, Khaines blessing offering the Knights more attacks ensured no skinks were left alive.
The Hydra moves to the flank of the left Salamander and Chameleon unit and flames 3 Chameleons 3 handlers and puts a wound on the Salamander, the Salamander goes mad with rage at the loss of it’s handlers and gains frenzy and Hatred from then on.
Both Harpies fly from behind elven lines and place themselves to stop Temple Guard from advancing too far.
The right spears help by placing themselves to pull the Kroxigor away from the main battle line.
Seeing the Saurus becoming isolated and a Scar Vet still to be dealt with the Master flies to the deployment zone of the lizards and presents himself for any wanabe hero to test their skill.
Spearmen now without their Sorceress still push forwards, leaving the building they are filled with confidence that the Executioners to their left and right will support them and not give up ground with their Temples Cauldron so close by.
Shades in the Tower make up for their lack of shooting last turn and kill the lose skink priest wondering the field. And the Corsairs use their Handbows and kill a few handlers.
Lizards Turn 3
The right Scar Vet charged the Peg master, along with the Scar Vet and Angry Salamander charging the Central Spear unit.
Kroxigor attempt to charge the Right Spear elves and the Elves hold.
Temple guard Charge the Harpies who flee and them redirect onto another unit of Harpies to flee as well leaving the Temple Guard to stumble forward a little.
Magic sees, Phas Protection on the Kroxigor Dispelled though Speed of Light gets through, along with Light of Battle on the Scar Vet vs Peg Master fight, which causes a Miscast killing the Unit Champion and 5 Temple Guard but the Slann escapes unharmed. With the remaining power he casts Shems gaze killing 1 fleeing Harpie.
The right skinks join in and shoot at the Harpies, killing another. And the Salamander getting a long shot to kill 4 Executioners on the right.
The 2 Chameleons have a shot at the Hydra but scaly skin saves him from any harm.
Combat sees the Spearmen champion challenge the Scar Vet doing no wounds and taking two, the remaining Spears kill the Salamander before it can attack and the Scar Vet holds.
The Master v Scar Vet combat ends in no wounds each and the Master holds.
In then Kroxigor vs Spears fight the Spears lose 7 and only kill 5 and proceed to run away but outpace the Kroxigor.
Dark Elves Turn 3
The Hydra Enraged and being shot at by what it considered as a mere snack charged the Chameleons, killing both on the charge and making a 9” over run into the Saurus.
The Spears are blessed with a 5+ward from the Cauldron
The Executioners seeing the Spears struggle to kill a single lizard charge in and show why they are the most feared killers of all. Even when one of the elves landed a perfect killing blow and some magic saw the blade barely scratch the Veteran the rest of the elves were focused in their resolve and slayed the hero.
The Peg Master wastes no time dispatching his Foe either though takes a wound in the process.
Far left CoK fail another stupidity check, while the other unit hungry for more kills move to the hydras left flank and prepare to flank the Saurus. The left most Executions march through the gap also ready to support the Hydra.
The Warriors and depleted Harpie unit both rally and ready themselves for the next Lizards attack.
Shades still hidden in the tower shoot out and kill the remaining Salamander outright, ending the packs rampage.
Lizards Turn 4
Kroxigor charge the Spears again and the Spearmen hold.
Slanns unit spins around, knowing if he doesn’t support the Saurus they could go.
Slann goes ahead and casts a mass of spells. Speed of light, Phas Protection and Light of Battle, all I manage to stop is Time Warp.
I think here the skinks shoot at the harpies but my notes are unclear.
In the Kroxigor v Spears combat the spears lose to and the Kroxigor lose 6. The spears hold for another turn.
They Hydra continues to hold the line, taking 5 Saurus down and holding the combat for another turn.
Dark Elves Turn 4
Peg Master Charges the Slann hopping to hold the unit out of the following combats.
The 2 Harpie units flee and are gone from the game.
The fastest CoK unit move to join the Battle Line and the other CoK unit continue their flanking advance and prepare for a side charge on the Saurus unit.
Left executioners move to flank the left side of the Hydra ready to charge in with the Knights, Spears also move into position to the Saurus flank ready to disrupt the ranks. Remaining right Executioner unit moves to the side of the building and sets up in such a way that the Temple Guard can’t stop the elven mass charge.
Shooting sees the shades take a few wounds off the skink unit.
In the Hydra v Saurus combat each manage a wound on each other but the Hydra refuses to flee.
The Peg Master Takes a wound and deals 2, breaking from combat but out pacing the Temple Guard. Temple Guard reform to face the Executioners.
The spears lose 4 in the continued combat only taking 2 skinks down and break and are run down.
Lizards Turn 5
Korxigor wheel and move to try and make it back to the fight.
The skinks just wonder around the battle field where they are.
Slanns magic is weak as only Speed of Light is cast on all units within 12”, I saved my dice for Phas Protection but the Slann manages to get it off on a IF, using his Cupped Hands to ignore the affects. Trying Shems Gaze on the Executioners in front of the unit, so I throw all dice to stop it.
In the Hydra fight the beast continues to hold as he takes 5 Saurus down and receives no wounds in return.
Dark Elves Turn 5
Dark Elves go all out on a mass charge.
Knights close in on the left flank of a Saurus, Executioners plough in next to the Hydra and the Spears go into the side to help out. The right Executioners charge the Temple Guard to hold them for as long as possible.
Cauldron moves forward and gives the charging Spears the Ward save and left Knight unit moves in case Kroxigor manage a long charge to direct them away from the main fight.
Shades Jump out of the Building to allow the Kroxigor less targets to charge.
In the Saurus fight the combined charge of Knight Elves and Spears sees 2 Knights killed 2 Executioners and a Spearmen and Hydra both lose a wound. Even with their many buffs the Dark Elves kill 8 Saurus. With the Slann near by the whole unit holds and the elves now find them self in a difficult position.
In the fight with the Temple Guard and the Executioners, the Temple Guard slay 8 Executioners before they get to strike. The remaining Executioner brings down one Lizard for his units troubles. Knowing he must still carry out his duty to hold the line he stubbornly holds within range of the Temples Cauldron.
Lizards Turn 6
The Kroxigor go for a long charge on the Knights and get the required distance, brave knights not willing to flee hold and ready to do their duty.
The skinks have nothing to do this turn so just stay where they are.
The Slann unleashes his magic. Managing to cast Phas Protection, Speed of Light, Light of Battle, and Time Warp. I fail to dispel anything and now the feeling of inevitable defeat sets in.
In the Kroxigor combat the Knights fight valiantly, killing 5 skinks and even their mounts killing a further 2. The skinks strike back all missing their attacks and Kroxigor preform badly only managing 1 wound which bounces off the Knights armour. In a further turn of fate the Kroxigor flee from the combat. Not willing to let them get away Knights run them down and stop at the tower.
In the Saurus combat the buffed Saurus kill 2 Knights 5 Executioners and 3 Spears. The Elves do nothing back. The last Knight pulls away from combat along with the Battered Hydra, the spears Hold in the side along with the Executioners who Stubbornly hold, willing to trade their lives to save their comrades.
The Temple Guard slay the last Executioner in their way with ease. And hold their position.
Dark Elves Turn 6
To try and salvage anything the Peg Master Charges the Temple Guard again. Killing 2 Lizards despite their buffs. And receiving no wounds in return. They pass their Stubborn 10 check and stay.
In the Saurus fight the Executioners lose 6 for no kill and the spear lose 2 of their number adding no kills to the combat either. Ranks of the spears cause them to hold steadfast and the Executioners unwilling to flee with the cauldron so close also stubbornly hold.
Luckily The Hydra and last Knight rally and retain some much needed victory points.
End Game
Tallying up the VP Points at the end Dark Elves lost 1232 v the Lizards 1145. Lizards win by 87 Points. So 10-10 if we were at a Tournament. Not a bad result considering how hard the game was.
So I do know how you felt!
