WHFB – gaming evenings

With the upcoming new High Elf Amy Book it felt right to end an era with a couple of games!

I am not a typical tournament player, but do like to participate on different forums in order to utilize my army’s in the best way. Personally I think the current High Elf Army Book was great in 7^th edition, but not so much in 8^th edition, despite that the “always strike first” is awesome. Why – the points cost making it almost imposable to field large units! Of course, it is an old Army Book (I guess that is why it is being replaced….), but I think in general the High Elves are overpriced, especially when they are compared against their darker keen. Oh sure – always strikes first – but hey – they have eternal hatred, cheaper armour, shoot harder and field more models (and have cheap monsters). I hope this will balance better with the new Army Book.

Oh well, this was not meant to be a rant. On the contrary, I have enjoyed the current edition of the High Elf Army Book, and most of the time I have had success with it on the battlefield. My last three games then; I am not going to post a full report but make some comments and show some photos.   

First game this weekend was against Inger Helene’s Dark Elves. It started very well (for the High Elves). The Book of Hoeth in combination with powerful spells… well, I wiped out over half a large unit of Wyches turn one…. I also did fairly well with magic turn two, and had the upper hand by the end of turn two. The only unit that did not do anything was a unit of 20 archers (unless they improve in the new Army Book I am going to leave them at home). But then it changed. Poison attacks, Eternal hatred, Sea cloaks and 5+ Ward save from the Caldron, well – the Dark Elves slowly turned the game around for a victory.

Second game this weekend again was against Inger Helene’s Dark Elves. I had changed my list from the day before, fielding a unit I normally do nut use. Out with a unit of Dragon Princes and some other stuff, and in with Sword Masters. Out with archers and in with more spearmen. It was time fore revenge! I “tricked” my opponent castling in one corner whilst the Dark Elves spread out having to spend several turns in order to bring the full weight of their points value against my units. That was the plan anyway… Again the High Elves magic was brutal. First turn cutting down over half a unit of spearmen, and killing the Lv4 Soursorer at the same time! Mid way turn three the High Elves fared pretty good, but then – a turn with bad dice roll in close combat and – history repeating itself. Again a great game, but damn….. Oh well, my opponent is always fun play against, and played a great game rethinking her tactics and turning the game around. I fill face her army again with brand new rules in not a to distant future! Looking forward to a rematch Inger Helene!

Others attended the gaming evening that Dag hosted of course (thank you Dag for hosting the gathering, for lunch and a nice dinner). Here is a picture of Dag´s Daemons facing of against Haakans Beastmen army. In the end, Haakans Beastmen where victorious. I bet Dag will have his revenge once he comes to grips with he’s new Army Book;)

Third game this weekend was against Haakans Beastmen army. With a flying monster, large units in horde formation, tons of buff spells and some great chariots and skirmishers, I dreaded meeting this army. In the beginning it was the Beastmen who had the upper hand, mostly due to the Eagles not performing as well as they should, and my Magic not being to effective. Once the units/battle lines clashed in centre turn three this game became a real nail-biter! Really bloody as loads of models on each side became casualties. Both of the generals tried to use their augment spells in preference to direct damage by this point, making it even more exciting as an otherwise seemingly obvious engagement was turned around. By the end of turn 5 the High Elves somehow had turned the game around, and by turn 6 only one unit of the beasts remained (alongside some skirmishers). But the victory came at a price. Spearmen units where wiped out and all other units had taken HEAVY casualties. I think both me and my opponent enjoyed this game so munch we really did not care who won, because this was one of those games that where so well fought on both sides, in gentlemen style gaming, and with all the excitement one could hope fore. In one turn I thought a unit would win, and then suddenly, that unit had the upper hand next turn, and so it went back on forth all across the battlefield!

I could not have asked to have a better game to end an era with the current High Elves Army Book!

Cheers,

Ørnulv

WHFB Daemons of Chaos vs Skaven 2500p

DEPLOYMENT

The Daemons of Chaos deployed first, to the north. From the North vest: Seekers, Pink Horrors with Lv2 Herald of Tzeentch, Daemonettes of Slaanesh, Blood Crushers of Khorne, Daemonettes of Slaanesh and a Lv2 Daemon Prince. Behind each unit of Daemonettes of Slaanesh, units of Bloodletters of Khorne. 

Skaven deployed to the south. From the South vest: Skaven Slaves with Engineer, Slaves, Slaves with Lv4 Grey Seer, Hellpit, Storm Vermin, Lv1 Plague Priest with Plague Furnace and Plague Monks, Slaves with Lv1 Engineer and the Doomwheel. Behind the lines, two Warp Lighting cannons and in centre a unit of Clanrats with Warlord and BSB. A unit of Gutter runners hides inside a forest to the east.

THE BATTLE

The Skaven army moves towards the Daemon army. The Hellpit rolls low, getting bugged down behind a building exposing has flank in turn 2, meaning he will have to turn around and find another way into battle (damn). The DoomWheele also rolls low (damn). The cannons take out several Blood Crushers (yes). Warp Lightning wounds the Daemon Prince. The Grey Seer fails to cast the 13^th spell. The DoomWheele fails its Ld test and opens fire on the Gutter Runners. 3 gets killed, they fail their Ld test, and falls back! 

The Daemons moves forward, but to the Skaven Warlords grate surprise, does not march at full speed. They keep their distance meaning that the Cannons get one more turn to shoot. The magic phase is uneventful.

The Hellpit turns around and smashes into the centre Slave unit, killing a rank. Oh well, they are only – slaves. The Gutter Runners does not manage to rally! The Slave units adjust their position. Moving one unit into the wood, and close to a building, only one unit from the Daemon army will be able to charge next turn. To the east the DoomWheele drives past the Daemon prince, the Plague Monks and Slaves moving forward. In the magic phase the Grey Seer cast Death Frenzy on the Storm Vermin, killing 5 of them. Again he fails casting the 13^th spell. The engineer fires he’s Doomrocket killing half of the Daemonettes to the northeast. The DoomWheele wounds the Daemon prince 3 times, but it manages all 3 Ward saves (damn). The Cannons fare better, killing another two Blood Crushers.

The Seekers charge the Slaves to the southwest, the Daemonettes charge the Slaves in the forest, and the Daemonettes to the northeast charge the Plague Monks. The Daemon prince Charge the Slaves to the far northeast in the flank. The Blood Crushers fail their charge! Again the Skaven Warlord is Magic missiles kill of several Slaves in the unengaged centre unit. Being Steadfast, all Slave units manage to hold. The Plague Monks kills of the Daemonettes.   

The Plague Monks charge the Bloodletters to the northeast, the DoomWheele charges the Daemon prince (locked with the Slaves). The Grey Seers leaves the Slaves and fly over the table behind enemy lines. The Gutter Runners rally (finally). The Hellpit runs vest in order to get into position later in the game (damn building). The Grey Seer again fails to cast the 13^th spell (he need a big bottle of something…). Nothing eventful in the magic ore-shooting phase. The Doomwheel and Slaves kills of the Daemon Prince. The Plague Monks let loose their Plague Banner and wipes out the Blood Letters. The two Slaves units to the west hold the Seekers and the Daemonettes. Another 5 Storm Vermin dies to the effect of death Frenzy.

The remaining Herald of Khorne on a Juggernaut charges and wipes out the Storm Vermin. Hmmm….. This is the 3 game they fail to get their points value back…. The Blood letters in centre finally turns and moves behind the building towards the Slaves to the east. Nothing to eventful in the magic phase.

The Plague Monks turn around heading west towards centre. The Hellpit goes north into the wood (making its test). The Grey Seer moves past the Pink Horrors, but again fails to cast the 13^th spell. Bad Grey Seer! The Slaves to the east moves past vest to face the Herald of Khorne. One cannon misfires (nothing bad happens) and the other does not manage to kill the Herald. The Slaves kills the Seekers and reform towards centre. The DoomWheele keep its distance.

The Pink Horrors turn around threatening the Grey Seer. The Bloodletters close in on the Slaves. The Daemonettes in centre kills the Slaves and reform towards the next Slave unit. Uneventful magic phase.

The Grey Seer jumps over the Pink Horrors. The Slaves and Hellpit Charges the remaining Daemonettes unit. The Plague Monks charge the Bloodletters in the side. The Slaves to the east charge the Herald. Finally the 13^th spell goes of, and the Pink Horrors are transformed into RATS. The Plague Monks kills the Bloodletters. The Slaves defeat the herald. The Slaves and Hellpit wipe out the Daemonettes.

It is over. The Daemons of Chaos army is wiped out.

Comments:

I am a bit surprised the Daemons of Chaos general did push harder in turn two, and that he did not try to go around the building earlier in the game. I am also surprised that I “clogged” the advance on my own Hellpit resulting in him only entering combat turn 5! I am finished with the Storm Vermin. The only thing they have done the last three games are – dying. And my Grey Seer needs to drink something…

WHFB Daemons of Chaos vs High Elves 2500p

The Daemons of Chaos enters grassy fields of Ulthuan. To the west a Daemon Prince, a unit of Bloodletters. In centre two units of Daemonettes and a unit of Pink Horrors. The eastern flank consists of a unit of Daemonettes on Seekers, a unit of Bloodletters and a large unit of Bloodthirsters (on Juggernaut) with a Herald of Khorne.

The High Elves deploy one eagle on the fare side of each flank, followed by two units of Dragon Princes, two units of Spearmen and in centre, a small unit of archers, and a unit of Phoenix Guard and a large unit of White Lions. The Archmage joining the Phoenix Guard and a Mage joining the Archers.

Both army’s advances, the High Elves sending the Eagles forward to intercept. Magic has little effect the first couple of rounds, and since there is almost no shooting, the battle will be decided in hand to hand fighting.

On the east flank the Bloodthirsters kills of the Eagle. To the west flank the Eagle Manages to redirect a unit into centre in front of the Daemon battle line, slowing the advance of both the Bloodletters and Pink Horrors. The Dragon Princes charge them in the flank bugging the unit down.  The White Lions starts to grind down a large unit of Daemonettes, and a unit of High Elf Spearmen take the onslaught from the Seekers.  Slowly the High Elf units in centre grind down their foe, but the real threat to the Elven battle line has not yet reached battle.

To the fare left the Daemon Prince move around a building deep into the Elf deployment zone backed up by a unit of Bloodletters. Facing them a unit of High Elf Spearmen.  In the Magic Face the High Elf mage gives the unit a 5+ Ward Save, and the Archmage gives the same unit S 8. With Always strikes first S 8 Elves fighting in 4 Ranks kills the Daemon Prince before he could strike, and the unit regroups into centre to intercept the Pink Horrors.

To the east the Bloodthirsters cut down a unit of Dragon princes, and reforms to face the Elf flank. At the same time both the High Elf Spearmen to the east and the White Lions cut down the Seekers and Daemonettes, turning to face them. Again the Mage grants them 5+ Ward Save on the Spearmen, and the Archmage again give them S 8. During close combat the High Elves kills all of the centre part of the Chaos Daemon army. The fare west Bloodletters pursues the last Eagle and goes of the board, not able to engage in battle during the rest of the game. To the east the High Elf Noble issues a challenge that the Dark Lord welcomes. The Spearmen and White Lions cut down the Bloodthirsters.

However, the Noble gets cut down by the Herald, and the Dark Lord in return getting killed by combat resolution.

Ulthuan is safe once again, and The Daemons of Chaos suffers a solid defeat.

Hello world... or 'blogosphere' if you will

I'm writing this as a First Post, to test the format for Ørnulv's new fantasy-blog.

Having spent a few very late hours setting up the first draft of the blog, I figured a distinctive logo was in order. After a bit of googling images and drawings based on old european Coat of Arms, I found, combined and re-coloured a couple of images of a Griffin and a Rampant Wolf.

An EagleWolf, if you will...

A few days later, I've spent a few more hours with Ø modifying the layout and colours more to his taste. We think we have a suitable platform to showcase some of the stunning Warhammer Fantasy armies out there in the Norwegian gaming community.

As I don't play WHFB myself, ("Yet!" ...according to Ø) I'll be restraining myself to a supporting role here.