Again it
was time for Inger Helene to test her Dark Elf rooster. Our guest, Ole, eager to learn more, and even
more happy to find out that the new “Warhammer army book Dwarfs” are rumoured
to arrive early in 2014J
This time I
brought along my Skaven. Being one of the older Army Books, but very good in 8th
edition (my opinion anyway), I figure it is a good idea to use it while the
current rules apply. Also, this is perhaps the army I have enjoyed most in
building and painting, so I looked forward to test it against the “new” Dark
Elves.
DEPLOYMENT
The Skaven
army took up position to the east. From north east to south east:
Rat Dart
Warp
Lightning Cannon
40 Slaves
with Engineer (Lv 1)
Hellpit
40 Slaves
35 Clanrats
with Grey Seer (Lv4)
Hellpit
Plague Priest
(Lv1) with Plague Furnace and 40 Plague Monks
-
behind
the unit 23 Clanrats with BSB and Warlord
40 Slaves
40 Slaves
with Engineer
Rat Dart
The Dark
Elves army took up position to the vest. From north vest to south vest:
5 Coldone
Knights
23 Witch
Elves with Hag and Cauldron of Blood (BSB)
- behind the unit 25 Warriors with
Lv4
40 Corsairs
War Hydra
20
Crossbows
19
Crossbows with Lv1
THE BATTLE
The Skaven
went first, the whole of the army moving forwards. Both of the Hellpits surged
forward, a little to fare forward so they where in a forward position without
backup (I must remember to deploy them a little further back). The Skaven move
hindered the Dark Elves in charging the Plague Furnace with the Witch Elves, a
close combat the Skaven where sure they would loose. In short, Ratdart and
Slaves moved against the crossbows, Slaves moved in on the Warhydra
(redirecting), Plague Monks moved in on the Corsairs, Slaves and Hellpit moved
against the Witch Elves, Slaves flanking the advance, and finally the last
Hellpit and Slave unit moved against the knights. It was a brutal magic phase!
“Plague” killed of half of the Corsair, Witch Elf and Warrior unit with the
Lv4! I felt bad for my opponent. However, it was cast with irresistible force,
the magic back clash killing of some Skaven Clanrats, Slaves, a Plague Monk,
and causing two wounds on the Grey Seer! The shooting was – crap. The Warlord
consulted the Greyseer, banners where reviled, and it started raining….
The Dark
Elves managed all of their Panic Tests, and continued their battle plan. The
Witch Elves charged the Hellpit in centre. The Corsairs moved forward towards
the Plague Furnace. The Knights did not managed to control their mounts, which
decided to feed on some grass (stupid). The Crossbow units adjusted their
position. The Skaven was very lucky that the knights did not manage to charge
to lone Hellpit. Dark Magic proved ineffective, but managed to force the Skaven
army to use their Dispel Scroll. Shooting was severely hindered by the pouring
rain, only managing to kill a Giant rat and some slaves! By a miracle, the lone
Hellpit in centre managed its regen saves and where left with two wounds (and
managed its stubborn test). The Dark Elves prepared for the onslaught of living
flesh!
It stopped
raining. To the south the Skaven Ratdart moved close to the Crossbow unit, forcing it
to either charge ore gun them down. The Slave unit with Engineer moved in on
the second Crossbow unit, pretty much doing the same. Slave unit moved close to
the Warhydra in a redirect position. The Plague Monks/Plague Furnace charged
the Corsairs, Slaves charged the Witch Elves and the Hellpit to the North
charged the Witch Elves in the flank. To the far north the Rat Dart and Slaves
moved in on the Knights in a redirect position (away from centre). This turn,
the dreaded 13th spell killed of the Warrior unit with the Lv4 down
to one warrior and the Lv4! The warp Lightning Cannon managed to kill two
Knights. In close combat the Plague Monks and Plague Furnace broke the
Corsairs, run them down and over runned into the Lv4 and her Warrior companion.
The Witch Elves managed to kill one of the Hellpits, but where almost whipped
out, broke and where cut down!
The Dark
Elves despaired! The War Hydra attacked the Slaves, the Knights charged the
Slaves to the north, and the Crossbow units adjusted their position towards
centre. The Lv2 killed the Ratdart to the south with magic, but unfortunately,
but she was killed in the magical backlash from irresistible force! The back
clash also killed of several Crossbow warriors in both the Crossbow units,
resulting in one of the units panicking and fleeing! The Lv4 killed of 11
Plague Monks! The remaining Crossbow unit killed of some Slaves. In close
combat the Warhydra started killing of Slaves, but not nearly enough to break
them. The Plague unit overrun only “clipped” the Lv4, and surprisingly, the Lv4
held her ground! The Knights to the north killed of some Slaves, but they held
their ground (the Knights forgetting to single out the Engineer in close combat
giving the unit high Ld.). The Plague
unit reformed.
The Skaven Hellpit
to the north slammed into the side of the Knights. The Slaves in centre started
heading south to aid in the fight against the Crossbows two turns down the
game…. The Slaves to the south charged the fleeing crossbows, which had to
continue to flee, halted 2 inch from the table edge! Damn, the Slaves failed
their “redirect” roll and so could not charge the other Crossbow unit. Nothing eventful
happened in the magic phase except the Warhydra loosing one in toughness from
“Wither” and the Warp Lightning Cannon misfiring (nothing happened). The Plague
Unit cut down the Lv4. The Hellpit and Slaves to the north killed of the
Knights. The Slaves centre held against the Warhydra.
The Dark
Elf general now only had two Crossbow units (damaged) and the Warhydra left,
facing 4 Slave Units, Plague unit at ½ Strength, 2 Clanrat units and a Hellpit.
The Dark Elf general was hungry, for food, could not find a way to avoid a
massacre, and decided to fold.
Skaven victory!
Comments:
Both
generals control units with fear and terror. It is important to make use of
these assets and to remember to make a point out of them during the game as
they can affect the outcome of a combat. We both forgot this turn two (did
remember turn one and three).
The Dark
Elf general must remember that Engineers "left in the front row" can be singled
out in close combat.
The
aftermath:
The Dark Elf general realized that using her old list, with the current Army Book, is not
an optimal use of the new rules or old units, deciding to “rebuild” the army
with a different setup. The best of luck, and looking forward to our next game!