We were fighting over a table with a large tower on a hill right
between the two deployment zones, slightly offset to the right (if you
were facing it from the Wood Elf side, like I was :-)). You got 500
victory points (VP 100, of course) if you ended the game with a unit in
the tower.
There was a clear lane from Ron's deployment zone to mine down
the right side of the tower. Further to the right on Ron's side was a
forest. Further to the right on my side were buildings. There was a
small patch of woods right behind the tower on my side. To the left of
the tower was a wide open space broken only by a wall that ran
perpendicular to our table edges. There were a couple of houses on Ron's
side to the extreme left of the board.
Ron set up his Sorceror/CW regiment facing down the right side
attack lane next to the tower, supported by a Chariot. The Marauder Unit
set up right behind the tower, no doubt with the intent to go in. The
General/CK unit set up to attack down the right side of the tower, and
the other chariot set up to the right of them, setting up to sweep down
the other side of the wall.
I set up Glade Riders to the right of the houses. My Chariot set
up slightly to the left of the houses. My Treeman set up behind
the woods. The Wardancers set up to the left of the Treeman, intending
to seal the flank of my assault from the onrushing Chaos Knights. Dryads
were to the left of the Treeman and well back of the Wardancers, the
better to back up the Wardancers when they died. Two archer units went
way out on the left, and one set up with a good fire lane down the right
side of the building. The Eagles and my General set up in the back of
the deployment zone, waiting to fly high. My Mage set up begind the
Treeman. The Scouts set up in the houses to the extreme left of the
board and my Waywatchers set up in the forest on the extreme right.
The idea was to attack en masse down the right side of the tower
and break the unit of Chaos Warriors. I would then follow up into the
Marauders before they entered the building and destroy them.
Archers would immobilize the Chariots; the Wardancers and Dryads would
hold up his big unit of Chaos Knights until I either 1) Got a chance to
attack the unit with some of my heavy hitters or 2) Destroyed it with magic.
Turn 1 (Chaos): Chaos Gifts. I hate Chaos Gifts. Fortunately Ron rolls
a "4" and I don't have to suffer through the whole deck of them. The Chaos
Lords mutate my Wardancers so that they have -1M, and as if that wasn't
enough, they kill two of them just out of spite. Ron must have had
ugly encounters with Wardancers in the past. Sorry guys.
Ron moves his Chaos Knights and left-side Chariot up full
gallop. The Marauders move towards the tower. The CWs and right-side
Chariot inch forward but have to respect the 18" Charge range on my chariot.
Magic Phase: Ron casts "Blades of Death" on my chariot, I need a
2+ to dispel. Naturally I roll a one. Fortunately for me, however, the
spell only does two wounds to the body and one to the crew. No steed
damage! Dodged a bullet there.
Turn 1 (Wood Elves). Move the Glade Riders up past the houses into
charge position out of the charge arc of the CWs. Move my chariot
forward and out of the way of my archers. Treeman moves up behind the
tower but still with a view to the CW unit. Waywatchers move up in the
forest to the flank of the CW unit. Wardancers spread out and ready
themselves to recieve the CK's charge. Scouts move up to firing positions
in the building. General and Great Eagles fly high.
Shooting Phase. Shoot both crew and one steed out from the
right-side chariot, shoot one crew and one steed out from the left side
one.
Magic. Only thing that goes is "Hand of Glory" on my mage.
Turn 2 (Chaos): Chariot with no crew moves randomly but rolls doubles so
is taken off the board (it could easily have hit Ron's Warrior or
Marauder unit, which it was ensconsed between). Ron plays the "Eternal
Battle" Chaos Gift to bring the other Chariot up to full wounds. I use
my wounds to bring the Wardancers back to full strength (the Chaos Gods
giveth, and the Chaos Gods taketh away :-)).
Ron is forced to charge my wardancers with his frenzied Khornate
Knights. No other charges declared as no one has the range. The
Marauder unit spends a turn getting ready to enter the building; the lone
remaining Chariot moves forward and the Chaos Warriors prepare themselves
for a charge.
Wardancers do "Shadows Coil," no combat. Ron doesn't get any
spells off either.
Turn 2 (Wood Elves): Chaaaarrge!!!! I hit the Chaos Warrior unit with:
my Glade Riders and Chariot in the front; a Treeman in one flank; and the
Waywatchers in the other. Wizard moves up so she's within 12" of that
combat and the combat between the Wardancers and the CKs. Dryads
position themselves to block the ugly unit of CKs assuming that all the
Wardancers will be killed. Decide to keep flyers in the air another turn
to see where they'll be most needed.
Shooting. Killed both Steeds and one crew off the remaining
chariot, shoot the Hail of Doom arrow into the Marauder unit with very
little effect (I think two wounds . . . the arrow didn't do a whole lot
for me in this tourney, unfortunately).
Combat. Many Chaos Warriors killed, one Glade Rider dies. Win
combat by double digits . . . break unit, run down sorceror, but can't
quite follow up into Marauders with improperly angled troops. :-( Too
bad frenzied troops can't panic. Wardancers die a heroic death at the
hands of the Chaos Warriors.
Magic: Hehe, I can't cast anything even with the Sorceror dead;
Ron is master of dispels. Oh well.
Chaos (Turn 3): Ron charges my Chariot with his Mauraders, it runs away
and he redirects into the Waywatchers. Chaos Knights charge the Dryads.
Combat: Waywatchers get worked, they all die. Panic tests
passed automatically due to "Hand of Glory" wielding wizard within 12".
Dryads also get worked, although not to the same extent . . . they hold
as well, "Hand of Glory" works for them too.
Magic: None. ;-)
Wood Elves (Turn 3): Nobody has a charge arc to the Marauders, so while
I rally the chariot and turn around the Glade Riders/Treeman I charge in
with my Great Eagles. My general charges the Chaos Lord from on high . .
. Sword of Heroes do your thing!
Not much to shoot at in archery . . . straight to combat. Eagles
win combat but can't break the Marauders . . . general causes two wounds
(pre-d3ing) on the Chaos Lord but he saves both (!!) with the Armor of
Protection. Chaos Lord strikes back and does 2 wounds to my general, who
is driven off despite passing his break test. Dryads lose combat but are
within 12" of the wizard: autopass.
Magic: Alethia, shocked at the beating the Despoiler just dealt
out to Aewyn 1) Drops a hill on his unit (Assault of Stone), and 2) hits it
with Fiery Convocation. All but one Chaos Knight dies :-). Take that
Chaos scum!! There is no messing with Alethia in this battle. :-)
Turn 4 (Chaos): Marauders move into closer contact with the Eagles, the
Chaos Knights charge my archers, who flee rather than face the "burning"
(haha) anger of the Khornate lord. Remaining Chariot crewman hoofs it
into the tower.
Combat: Marauders kill two of three Eagles but last Eagle passes
his break test and is only driven off.
Magic: Fiery Convocation kills the last Chaos Knight and wounds the
general.
Turn 4 (Wood Elf): Can't rally archers (!!) and they run off the board.
Chariot, Treeman, Glade Riders, and Remaining Eagle charge the Marauders.
Combat: Marauders destroyed to a man.
Magic: Fiery Convocation kills off the General. Assault of
Stone kills the remaining Chariot crewman.
FINAL SCORE: Wood Elves: 3100, Chaos: 685
After-Battle Notes: Well, there are few things more satisfying than
destroying a Chaos Army to the man (and I use that term loosely, the
mutated gits :-)). My plan worked out very well: Ron's drive to occupy
the tower caused him to split his army into two wings which I was able to
destroy in detail. Note to Chaos players: never do this! :-) Such a
small army is easy pickings on unit by unit terms, even if the
individuals in the unit are awesome fighters. Nevertheless, Ron is a
good general and I feel fortunate that I was able to secure a victory . .
. I'm sure that next time he will have even more nasty, evil chaotic
tricks up his sleeve!
I hope you enjoyed the report, please feel free to comment or
drop me a line (thacker@fuller.edu).