I'm even happier since the game was a lot of fun and sometimes Justin can get such an advantage that his opponents are just pushing models to a slaughter. Not this time! Great game and a great and skilled opponent.
My list:
Level 4 Life with Black Amulet, Fencer's Blades, Ironcurse Icon
Death Hag BSB with Ogre Blade and Cry of War on Cauldron of Blood
Master on Dark Steed with Heavy Armor, SDC, Charmed Shield, Dawnstone and Sword of Might
Level 1 Heavens with the Ring of Hotek
29 Witch Elves with Razor Banner
2x 5 Dark Riders with Repeater Crossbows, Shields, Banner and Muso
27 Executioners with War Banner (which I forgot about
)2 Reapers
Medusa
Shrine
5 Warlocks
His list:
Level 4 High with Book of Hoeth and 4++
Prince with Giant Blade and 5++
Seahelm with Shield of Merwyrm and Potion of Toughness
Handmaiden with Potion of Strength and Reaver Bow
Level 1 High with Scroll
27 or so Spearelves with flaming banner
15 archers with banner and muso
6 reavers with spears, bows and muso
25 Phoenix Guard with razor banner
2 eagle claws
2 eagles
14 Sisters of Avelorn
Spells:
High elves had
Level 1: Soul Quench
Level 4: Apotheosis, Drain Magic, Arcane Unforging, Fiery Convocation
Really good spell selection aside from maybe Apotheosis
Dark Elves had
Level 1: Iceshard Blizzard
Warlocks
Level 4: Earthblood, Flesh to Stone, Shield of Thorns, Regrowth
Really really bad roll, I rolled Awakening of the Wood twice, dropping one to signature and changing the other to flesh to stone... but shield of thorns and regrowth had to stay... no throne of vines made it unfeasible to pick dwellers below instead of flesh to stone
So with rather bad spells, against his good spells... I wasn't feeling too lucky.
From left to right his deployment:
Eagle - Spears (with the level 1) - sisters (with handmaiden) - archers - phoenix guard (with the prince, bsb and level 4) - eagle claws and eagle behind - reavers
From left to right my deployment:
Warlocks - reapers - executioners - witches - medusa - dark riders with master in one unit.
He won the roll-off to vanguard and moved his reavers a little back. My warlocks vanguarded into eagle charge range hoping to maybe bait it into charging while dark riders moved around the swamp that was separating them from the enemy bolt throwers and the reavers.
Turn 1:
Druchii
Despite High Elves having the +1 to start, I took the initiative with a tactical roll of a 6 for first turn. It was definitely a good thing as Justin could just sit back and shoot me to bits with his superior firepower.
Warlocks marched forward, staying in the eagle's charge arc while getting past the spearmen and the entire high elf line. Their distraction will prove to be essential in my opinion, even if their lifes will soon be cut short. Executioners and Witch Elves moved full speed ahead, Executioners lagging about 1" behind so they don't get into a bad long charge from the phoenix guard. Dark Riders moved further around the swamp, one unit getting in position to suicide charge one of the eagle claws through the uncertain ground, the other taking the longer way around to deliver the master safely. Medusa slunk behind the two infantry blocks.
Shooting wasn't very eventful with both dark rider units managing to kill a whooping two reavers (who passed their panic test) and the reapers killing 5 archers (who also passed their panic test). I think it's worth mentioning here that there was a hill right outside of the high elf deployment zone behind which spears and sisters of avelorn were hiding, granting them hard cover against my reapers.
Magic Phase was poor (and most of them will prove to be as such). I believe witch elves got Flesh to Stone cast on them, Warlocks tried to doombolt the sisters but that was dispelled by overwhelming power dice and book of hoeth.
No combat yet.
Asur
Not surprisingly, the eagle did not take the warlock bait (it would've died a horrible poisonous death) and flew in front of the executioners, planning to divert them away from the large block of spears. It was neccessary as the spears marched forward, allowing the sisters of avelorn a 5" wheel towards warlocks (bye bye warlocks). Archers stayed put and so did the Phoenix Guard (the phoenix guard actually shuffled a bit backwards), none of them keen on facing the Druchii infantry bearing down on them. The second eagle flew away from behind the eagle claws and landed behind the phoenix guard and the reavers moved around the swamp to flank the dark riders who weren't escorting the master.
Magic phase was... well... as usual for this game. While my magic phases generally didn't have more than 7 power dice, Justin didn't roll below 10 until after turn 3. So turn one saw:
Soul Quench destroying one of my reapers
Arcane Unforging attempted to destroy the ring of hotek but I used all my dice to dispel it.
Fiery Convocation landing on Executioners and killing 8 of them (not bad thanks to MR3)
Shooting phase was bad on one flank... and not so bad on the other. Sister unleashed their magical arrows which may as well have been blessed by Slaanesh, doing something around 13 total wounds on the warlocks and killing them all outright. Not surprised there but I think this is where Justin made a mistake as now sisters of avelorn were facing away from the main combat lines and they could not swift reform!. On the other flank it took combined fire of 4 reavers and two eagle claws to kill 5 dark riders, leaving the second unit unscathed.
Still no combat.
Turn 2:
Druchii
The eagle blocking the executioners was just a delaying factor, thanks to execs not being frenzied I could safely charge it, kill it and reform to face a new threat. This was a charge #1. Eagle got terrified of the Shrine (it was close enough to be affected by its aura too!) and fled. Executioners decided to redirect into the overextended block of spears which decided they don't want to stick around and fled as well!. Now the medusa hanging out behind my infantry spotted its chance and declared a charge on the fleeing eagle, making it barge its way through the sisters of avelorn but failing to panic them, oh well.
Both charges failed but executioners were too far from anyone to be threatened (only archers were close enough to reliably charge them... I say bring it!). Witch elves didn't want to take the chance at a long charge (I've played Justin before, he'd just keep backing up every turn so I had to push him against the table edge) and marched their full distance again. Only about 6" separated them from their quarry now!
Dark Riders on the far flank separated from the Master, master positioning himself in a line from the eagle claws so that one machine would give him cover from the other. The dark riders went after the remaining reavers.
Magic was pretty bad again. I rolled a total of 4 power dice... not enough to dispel fiery convocation so I decided for the second best and opted to boost their T with Flesh to Stone. I threw all 4 dice at it knowing that Justin will either have to get lucky, let it through, or use a scroll.
He used a scroll and another 7 or so execs died (level 1 also got wounded). Oh well, winds of magic are definitely not on my side today.
With only one reaper left, I took a long shot at the reavers, killing 3 out of four and hoping the remaining one will die to a dark rider... it wasn't to be so as 10 shots failed to kill a single elf... oh well.
Asur
The spearmen rallied behind the hill but the eagle kept going, fleeing off the board. One redirector less. Sisters of Avelorn were too out of position to be able to shoot anything this turn so they reformed to face my lines. Phoenix Guard backed away a little more again while the eagle flew over them, attempting to redirect my witch elves (and did it with success that eagles usually have, damn birds). The last remaining reaver galloped between my dark riders and the master with a mission of pinging away the charmed shield.
Magic again, again something like 11 power dice for Justin... tough. Another soul quench killed the second bolt thrower (both of them pretty lucky... dammit) and unforging was stopped by my dice again (fun fact: I kept all my dice to dispel unforging as that spell can ruin any battle plan... every time used all my dice, and every time got a double 6, regardless of amount of dice used. I guess my wizards didn't want to see that spell happen). Another round of burny burny death death reduced Execs to about a rank and a half left now.
Sisters could not shoot but the other flank saw a lot more action with the reaver pinging off the charmed shield from my master who was now sweating, staring down two eagle claw bolt throwers. The first one (the one shooting through the other one) missed, but the closer one hit... and rolled 1 to wound! phew!
And guess what? Still no combat!
Turn 3:
Druchii
Witch Elves refused to get baited by the eagle (even though I have failed every single frenzy test on the first roll this game... and passed them all on bsb reroll) while the executioners reformed into deep ranks (there were now 10 Executioners + characters + shrine left in the unit) and faced the archers (who up until now kept shooting at the medusa... which was still alive) and the medusa moved to charge the eagle blocking witch elves next turn (if it's still alive then). Dark Riders went in range of the eagle, hoping that they, together with the medusa, will shoot the bird out of the sky. Master charged the first bolt thrower, he could not be stopped now (yeah I'd call this guy the man of the match, even though witches scored the most points). Finally got into some combat!!!
This was first turn I rolled a big number on my power dice. Used 6 to dispel the Fiery Convocation and the remainign 4 to try Flesh to Stone on my witch elves... it was 4PD to 7DD... I rolled 3x6 and a 5. Woop. Lost 2 levels, Flesh to Stone and Regrowth (which I never cast).
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Edit: Previous turn Justin decided to recast Fiery Convocation on the witch elves, killing a rank of them but also miscasting and losing 2 levels, Fiery Convocation and Apotheosis
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Shooting was important... but disappointing. The medusa managed to land two hits on the eagle! and did only one wound on 4+... then the dark riders managed two more hits (long range, move, multiple shot, and some were shooting through forest because I failed march test and couldn't clear it... it all adds up) and did one more wound... damn eagle was still there.
In combat Master easily dispatched the first bolt thrower and overran into the second one.
Asur
Spearmen climbed the hill and threatened the flank of the executioners while sisters... I actually don't remember what sisters did this turn, they must've taken some shots at my executioners without doing much damage. Archers marched forward to block off my executioners, standing about 1" in front of them.
Phoenix Guard did the Phoenix Guard shuffle... cautious not to get into combat with witch elves. Eagle shifted to keep blocking the girls. The remaining reaver rear charged my master in a delaying action (now engaged by another unit, Master could not allocate any attacks at the machine)
From this point on magic was rather underwhelming and didn't really do anything important. We both had level 2 wizards left. I let his soul quench through which killed a couple execs, I dispelled his arcane unforging again.
Shooting as I said, I believe sisters killed some execs... or witches... Damage was negligible.
In combat master killed the reaver that charged him, won the combat by 2 points and broke the bolt thrower as well (they were just out of range of the general and BSB), giving him a clear view of the phoenix guard flank and the eagle's feathery tail.
Turn 4:
Druchii.
With the eagle still in the way, medusa and master double charged it, reavers ran around the forest to take a shot at killing some phoenix guard and the executioners reformed again, facing the spearelves and using the archers as cover from sisters of avelorn arrows (those things are deadly!). Level 4 bailed and joined the witch elves (yep... his chances of survival were actually better there
)Magic phase was... eh? I don't even remember if I got anything important off... Shield of Thorns on Witch Elves or something like that I guess. Magic was seriously underwhelming this game... at least for me. Fiery Convocation decimated a good half of executioners and it would've been much, much worse without MR3.
Only Dark Riders could shoot, so a futile salvo at the phoenix guard was met with... silence, and a quiet chuckle coming from the prince. No damage done.
Medusa and Master slaughtered the eagle. Medusa's overrun being stopped by the Master, and Master overruning towards the archers... The plan was to overrun in front of the witch elves, causing trouble for the phoenix guard to complete a charge, but at the same time not to overrun too far so I hit the archers and get stuck, effectively blocking the witch elves from charging themselves... and what do I do? I roll 11 on overrun and master merrily slams into the side of the archers, the horse's behind sitting right in front of the witch elves.
Asur.
Spearmen charged into the remaining executioners and the shrine... and this will be a testimony of how resilient this thing can be. Phoenix Guard still not keen to join the fray held back, letting my master mess with my own plans (he had two rounds to get through 10 archers with a banner... steadfast on re-rollable 10s and all)
Magic... again... arcane unforging cast, and dispelled with a double 6 (on 4 dice this time)
Shooting phase saw Sisters of Avelorn have the medusa fall under a rain of flaming arrows... that's ok, the crazy beast did its job by now.
Close combat... well, the master managed to kill an entire 2 archers (despite all the rerolls) and they held, reforming to face him... next round he needs to kill 4 if he hopes to have a chance of breaking them. Spearmen on the other hand killed a bunch of executioners, lost some spears in return and won by 2. Execs held (but that's not the best feat)
Turn 5:
Druchii
Here I think we did something wrong, it looks like we did two rounds of combat between the archers and the master in one phase as at the beginning of turn 5 my witches were free to charge the phoenix guard (yes, the second round of combat Master managed to kill 4 elves with 3 attacks + horse, breaking their steadfast and running them down). Witch Elves issued their cries... Sorcerer Lord tried to imitate them as he joined in the charge. Master turned around, facing both sisters of avelorn and the spearmen block that was decimating my decimated execs, having either one of them ready for a rear charge). Dark Riders tried to move behind my lines last turn... but now they were exposed to sisters fire. At this points some facts are getting blurry. like the fact that I moved dark riders behind witch elves to get cover from sisters... but the following turn the witch elves charged so why didn't I move dark riders? I'm beginning to miss details so I need to finish writing quick
that master may have had actual legitimate two round of combat.Witch Elves received the shield of thorns and iceshard blizzard onto phoenix guard was dispelled.. The shield killed 2 of the hated asur... sadly those wounds don't count for CR. Oh yeah, I got witch elves double frenzied too
Close combat was... interesting. Spearmen managed to kill everyone but my level 1 wizard (who was safely in 2nd rank until all execs were dead), won combat by 5... and I still held! woo!
In the Witch Elves against Phoenix Guard combat on the other hand... Keep in mind that at this point Phoenix Guard were completely untouched... 25 plus three characters... witch elves lost about 7 models so still had full complement of their attacks... roughly 52... that's FIFTY TWO.
I failed to put any wounds on the characters (I didn't bother to attack his fighty guys, but tried to hurt the level 4... he still passed all ward saves. After the dust settled and the blood covered everything in a nice thin film...8 Phoenix Guard laid dead... 8... from 52 attacks. Those guys are super sturdy. Thankfully only 7 witch elves died in return! I won the combat by whooping 3 points (achievement against phoenix guard!) and managed to break them, running roughly 1200 points down in a single round of close combat! victory was at hand!
Asur
Dismayed by the loss of their general... their battle standard... and their archmage... all trampled under the feet of scantily clad girls... sisters of avelorn fired a salvo at the remaining dark riders, killing them to a man.
Nearby the spearmen have finally slain my level 1 wizard, and were stuck in combat with the shrine. They won by 2... but shrine held... they simply couldn't wound it and I kept killing 3-4 elves per turn.
Turn 6:
Druchii.
At this point witch elf horde ran past the sisters and could not charge them so they just turned to face the girls... While Master had a choice... either rear charge the sisters, hope to win and break their Ld9 steadfast
Or rear charge the struggling spearmen, almost definitely win and hope to break their Ld7 (thanks to the shrine in combat) steadfast.
He chose the latter and galloped into the back ranks of the spears.
In magic I tried to give him the shield of thorns but that was dispelled, and both shrine and master were too far away to receive the frenzy blessing.
It proved to be sufficient though, between the kills, the higher ground that Master was on and the rear charge it was enough to win the combat... but the spears remained steadfast. The dice wend down and stopped... 8! Thanks to the Bloodwrack Shrine's aura the spears broke, taking their wizard with them and the shrine rolling right over them as they attempted to flee!
Asur.
At this point Justin Conceded. He only had sisters left and could either get point from the shrine (maybe) or the master (more likely) which would still not be enough to make a difference.
At the end of the game he had 14 Sisters of Avelorn and the Handmaiden left on the table while I still had about 20 Witch Elves with the cauldron and the level 4 staring them down, the master and the shrine rolling away into the distance.
Adding it up, the battle was bloody but the Druchii emerged victorious by about 1000 points difference.
Side note:
Witch Elves did more damage to my level 4 than the phoenix guard champ that he was in challenge with... go figure.
Dalamar uses the bound spell from the cauldron to try and give his executioners Frenzy.