Having learned earlier that Haley is the better drop into Ghost Fleet, I was eager to meet Cryx again in the finals. Magnus, my opponent, had crushed people left, right and center to make it here. It was time to truly test out this matchup, and boy did we get a game!
:: Lists ::
Cygnar:
Cygnar - Technical Death Metal v4
[Theme] Heavy Metal
(Haley 2) Major Victoria Haley [+25]
- Charger [9]
- Hammersmith [12]
- Stormwall [39]
- Thorn [13]
- Squire [0]
Captain Arlan Strangewayes [0]
Journeyman Warcaster [0]
- Charger [9]
Lieutenant Allison Jakes [4]
- Stormclad [18]
Opponent:
:: Pre-Battle Thoughts & Deployment ::
+1 to start doesn't matter when I roll a '6' and Magnus rolls a '1'. I elect to go first. I believe that with these 2 casters getting table space is a biggie. We were playing Recon. My idea going into this was that it should be possible to clear a zone and maybe get Haley towards a flag. To do that I weighed slightly on the right since I anticipated Deneghra would go left due to an obstruction there. It proved to be right.
:: Game ::
I run stuff up.
Deneghra wastes no time: One Stalker has the 'wall within its threat range. Arc Node runs up, parasite goes on me, Stalker hits me for ~15-20 ish boxes.
I don't want to over-extend so the idea this turn is to grind and consolidate. How? By having Jakes' Stormclad deal with the Stalker I could have the 'wall and Chargers shoot the Arc Node. Screw the infantry, we can deal with that later. The plan worked out and Haley killed a pistol wraith with an arcane bolt as well. I upkept Force Field because Scourge plays are scary.
The infantry keeps advancing and take some pot shots. Some of them reach Arlan with their shots but it's not enough to kill him. The Wraith Engine marches up on the left flank.
I could conceivably have cleared the zone here and taken a big lead, but I fear an ensuing Deneghra feat simply drowns such an effort since I have to extend so much to get such a play off. Instead I see an opportunity to establish myself on the left flank: Send in the Hammersmith and have the 'wall start shooting up the Wraith Engine. I cover this play with Haley's feat and put up TA on the 'wall, but sadly it's not enough to kill the infernal machine. I take out the last pistol wraith with an Arcane Bolt and the 'wall keeps thinning out the incorporeal raiders.
The Wraith Engine keeps flanking me and Magnus tries to scramble towards the middle zone to prevent me from scoring big, however it's simply not that many dudes left who can reliably do so following two turns of the 'wall shooting the incorporeal dudes.
My play comes into fruition on the left flank: The aggressive play from the Wraith Engine allows Haley to charge it. Contrary to popular belief Haley is no joke in melee, PS13 with RNG2 and TK allows for all sorts of shenanigans. I kill it and TK myself onto the hill. Jakes' Stormclad kills the objective and the Stormwall + Chargers clear the zone. Thorn runs towards Haley again and the Hammersmith tramples a lot of Revenants to death. 2-0 and I have an amazing position!
As predicted Deneghra feats this turn, hitting basically everything. There's no assassination play available so she tries to deal with Jakes' Stormclad. There's no Crippling Grasp however so Sidekick and its high armor holds true.
From here on out it's a very tight game so unfortunately my pictures stop. To make a long story short I score on the left flag and keep clearing the revenants there. The Stormwall and Stormclad hold the middle so Magnus has to desperately try and contest both pieces all the time to avoid me winning. I gradually shift more and more jacks towards the left flank and even Jakes and Junior get into positions where they get work done without fear of retaliation.
The scenario play is too strong and eventually the Cryx recursion dies out. I score my 5th control point and take the win!
:: Evaluation ::
I am so glad I got to face Ghost Fleet earlier in the Masters event to learn that Haley2 would be my best drop. Magnus made sure to keep "anchors" for each of his units so that I couldn't completely wipe one out like I did in game 2. What I managed to achieve in this game was to claim a lot of table space, deal with threats one at a time, grind down the ones who take forever (Raiders) and convert the ensuing local advantage on the left flank to a scenario play which proved unstoppable. Given my lack of experience against Ghost Fleet I think this is the best game I've played in a long time and it could not have come at a better time. I'm very happy and proud to have taken this game down the way I did, especially because I had such annoying technical mistakes in the semi-finals against Torbjörn.
The Wraith Engine aggressive play was a game changer. It allowed me to create the momentum I needed to get into the left part of the table. I was right in my prediction that Deneghra would go left, however I was wrong about the fact that I thought it would be easier for me to score on the right. Perhaps Magnus simply saw this and deployed more heavily there though, the way the game evolved it certainly was impossible for me to really clear out the right flank.
Last year I won the Swedish Masters with a Haley2/Haley3 pairing in Mk. 2. Back then I felt the lists carried me a great deal. This year I managed to defend my title and all 5 of my games were indeed close(ish). I've evolved and improved a lot as a player and the game is in a way better state now than it was then. That makes it even more rewarding to come out on top!
Theme: The Ghost Fleet
3 / 3 Free Cards 75 / 75 Army
Warwitch Deneghra - WJ: +28
- Stalker - PC: 8 (Battlegroup Points Used: 8)
- Stalker - PC: 8 (Battlegroup Points Used: 8)
- Deathripper - PC: 6 (Battlegroup Points Used: 6)
- Deathripper - PC: 6 (Battlegroup Points Used: 6)
Wraith Engine - PC: 15
Captain Rengrave - PC: 0
Pistol Wraith - PC: 0
Pistol Wraith - PC: 0
Blackbane's Ghost Raiders - Blackbane & 9 Grunts: 17
Revenant Crew of the Atramentous - Leader & 5 Grunts: 9
- Revenant Crew Rifleman - PC: 2
- Revenant Crew Rifleman - PC: 2
- Revenant Crew Rifleman - PC: 2
Revenant Crew of the Atramentous - Leader & 5 Grunts: 9
- Revenant Crew Rifleman - PC: 2
- Revenant Crew Rifleman - PC: 2
Revenant Crew of the Atramentous - Leader & 5 Grunts: 9
- Revenant Crew Rifleman - PC: 2
- Revenant Crew Rifleman - PC: 2
- Revenant Crew Rifleman - PC: 2
:: Pre-Battle Thoughts & Deployment ::
+1 to start doesn't matter when I roll a '6' and Magnus rolls a '1'. I elect to go first. I believe that with these 2 casters getting table space is a biggie. We were playing Recon. My idea going into this was that it should be possible to clear a zone and maybe get Haley towards a flag. To do that I weighed slightly on the right since I anticipated Deneghra would go left due to an obstruction there. It proved to be right.
:: Game ::
I run stuff up.
Deneghra wastes no time: One Stalker has the 'wall within its threat range. Arc Node runs up, parasite goes on me, Stalker hits me for ~15-20 ish boxes.
I don't want to over-extend so the idea this turn is to grind and consolidate. How? By having Jakes' Stormclad deal with the Stalker I could have the 'wall and Chargers shoot the Arc Node. Screw the infantry, we can deal with that later. The plan worked out and Haley killed a pistol wraith with an arcane bolt as well. I upkept Force Field because Scourge plays are scary.
The infantry keeps advancing and take some pot shots. Some of them reach Arlan with their shots but it's not enough to kill him. The Wraith Engine marches up on the left flank.
I could conceivably have cleared the zone here and taken a big lead, but I fear an ensuing Deneghra feat simply drowns such an effort since I have to extend so much to get such a play off. Instead I see an opportunity to establish myself on the left flank: Send in the Hammersmith and have the 'wall start shooting up the Wraith Engine. I cover this play with Haley's feat and put up TA on the 'wall, but sadly it's not enough to kill the infernal machine. I take out the last pistol wraith with an Arcane Bolt and the 'wall keeps thinning out the incorporeal raiders.
The Wraith Engine keeps flanking me and Magnus tries to scramble towards the middle zone to prevent me from scoring big, however it's simply not that many dudes left who can reliably do so following two turns of the 'wall shooting the incorporeal dudes.
My play comes into fruition on the left flank: The aggressive play from the Wraith Engine allows Haley to charge it. Contrary to popular belief Haley is no joke in melee, PS13 with RNG2 and TK allows for all sorts of shenanigans. I kill it and TK myself onto the hill. Jakes' Stormclad kills the objective and the Stormwall + Chargers clear the zone. Thorn runs towards Haley again and the Hammersmith tramples a lot of Revenants to death. 2-0 and I have an amazing position!
As predicted Deneghra feats this turn, hitting basically everything. There's no assassination play available so she tries to deal with Jakes' Stormclad. There's no Crippling Grasp however so Sidekick and its high armor holds true.
From here on out it's a very tight game so unfortunately my pictures stop. To make a long story short I score on the left flag and keep clearing the revenants there. The Stormwall and Stormclad hold the middle so Magnus has to desperately try and contest both pieces all the time to avoid me winning. I gradually shift more and more jacks towards the left flank and even Jakes and Junior get into positions where they get work done without fear of retaliation.
The scenario play is too strong and eventually the Cryx recursion dies out. I score my 5th control point and take the win!
Tournament Victory to the Swans!
:: Evaluation ::
I am so glad I got to face Ghost Fleet earlier in the Masters event to learn that Haley2 would be my best drop. Magnus made sure to keep "anchors" for each of his units so that I couldn't completely wipe one out like I did in game 2. What I managed to achieve in this game was to claim a lot of table space, deal with threats one at a time, grind down the ones who take forever (Raiders) and convert the ensuing local advantage on the left flank to a scenario play which proved unstoppable. Given my lack of experience against Ghost Fleet I think this is the best game I've played in a long time and it could not have come at a better time. I'm very happy and proud to have taken this game down the way I did, especially because I had such annoying technical mistakes in the semi-finals against Torbjörn.
The Wraith Engine aggressive play was a game changer. It allowed me to create the momentum I needed to get into the left part of the table. I was right in my prediction that Deneghra would go left, however I was wrong about the fact that I thought it would be easier for me to score on the right. Perhaps Magnus simply saw this and deployed more heavily there though, the way the game evolved it certainly was impossible for me to really clear out the right flank.
Last year I won the Swedish Masters with a Haley2/Haley3 pairing in Mk. 2. Back then I felt the lists carried me a great deal. This year I managed to defend my title and all 5 of my games were indeed close(ish). I've evolved and improved a lot as a player and the game is in a way better state now than it was then. That makes it even more rewarding to come out on top!
Good Job Man, Love reading your reports.
SvarSlettThanks, glad you enjoy it :)
Slett