Slaughtermaster - Level 4 (Maw), Fencer's Blades, Glittering Scales, Earthing Rod
Bruiser - BSB, Sword of Striking, Enchanted Shield
Butcher - Level 1 (Beasts), Hellheart
9 Ironguts - Full Command, Standard of Discipline, Lookout Gnobbler
4 Ogres - Bellower
10 Gnobblers
4 Mournfang - Standard, Bellower, Dragonhide Banner
2 Mournfang - Bellower
Sabretusk
Sabretusk
Sabretusk
4 Maneaters - 3x XHW, 1x Great Weapon, Scout, ITP
Ironblaster
Ironblaster
Dawn Attack - Dave Appleby (Skaven) 19-1
Blood & Glory - Joel ven de Ven-Long (Empire) 20-0
Watchtower - John Tailby (Dark Elfs) 15-5
Meeting Engagement - Tom Dunn (Daemons) 15-5
Battleline - Hamish Gordon (Warriors) 14-6
So while I had 5 wins the games were closer than the scorelines show.
What Did I Learn:
- In future I wouldn't take a Hellheart (in normal situations). I didn't like playing without a Dispel Scroll and while the Hellheart can close down a phase, it is simply too random for me to use as my Magic Defense. It's all about mitigating risk and the Hellheart is not worth a 25 point premium over a Scroll.
- A Level 1 Beasts Butcher is next to useless. The default Wildform spell needs 10 to cast which means 4 dice in reality. A Firebelly gives you the Fireball spell which you can work at getting off on 2 dice. It also gives you some ranged firepower.
- I much prefer Mournfang in pairs rather than in a four. The Dragonhide Banner is good but the investment means that your battleplan seems to centre on its delivery.
Highlight of the weekend was Smelly the Sabretusk killing Joel's Arch Lector, though I always enjoy a good old fail of the Look Out Sir roll against an incoming cannonball.
Disappointment of the weekend was Peter Williamson's High Elfs managing to hide from not only myself but also Tom's Daemons for the second event in a row. Don't make us come and find you!
hover round the middle of the field, then play for big wins in the last day. Then maybe we will play :). Isn't that what you suggest I do?
ReplyDeleteDo you think not having the double ironblasters would have changed the match ups for you? I haven't seen a comp pack that allowed it in a long time, and it looks like people can't handle the full on cheese the ogres can bring.
ReplyDeleteAnd just because it seems to be mandatory:
No skill, point and click, just push it forward etc etc
Oh, and as for your post, yep, lvl1 beasts and hellheart are a waste, firebelly, scroll and a couple of toys is much better. Helps with the chaff battle and the breath weapon is icing on the cake (and the model is awesome). Helps vs those big troll units too. Can't see any reason not to take one.
Mournfang in 2s is going to be better and again, will make the match up against super chaff armies a little easier, but requires a little more coordination.
Run a tyrant and 'give everyone a sporting chance' :P
For the Record, I think I lost the game vs Pete more than he beat me.
ReplyDeleteGoing in, I have had decent success vs Ogres with my Empire, so I was confident of at least drawing the game, or at the worst a small loss.
However, I gave him a charge t1 (needed an 11 on the dice) that if he made it = huge benefit, and if he failed it = no downside. A classic example of the "risk mitigation" of 8th. From that charge I had no counter or come back as my list relies on having 2 or 3 turns breathing space to work its magic (see the other 4 games) + the Hellheart removed my crucial "counter charge" Magic phase. I had all the opportunity in the world to a) deploy my hellblaster back 1.1 inches, or b) move it t1 back 1.1 inches. I didnt, and it cost me the game.
Next time Pete, next time...
I think I was a little bit more involved than rolling an 11 on the two best of three dice.....but it's your story
DeleteOnce your army were in my face t1 I had no room to move. ICKs caught in a combat they didnt charge into, Demigriffs charge with no magic support (thanks hellheart). From then it just a matter of time before the rest of my army crumbled. I could have left the Halberds in the building, but I chanced a flank charge to try pull the game back a bit and save my Archlector (and stop me losing fortitude)....nope. Oh well, despite that it was still a fun game.
DeleteWhat did we learn? Two Ironblasters are good?
ReplyDeleteOr perhaps....Pete is good!
DeleteOr (c) All of the above.
DeleteYou're an excellent player Pete, and double Ironblaster Ogres (with Mournfangs, Gutstar, triple Sabretusks, Slaughtermaster etc) are an excellent army.
I think you'd have been a contender without that army Pete, but with it you're a certainty for a top finish.
Just as well your sweet personality and charm make you such a grand opponent, even as you're ripping faces off.
Somehow I was expecting something nastier from you Pete
ReplyDeleteha ha, I'm not saying your not good Pete! You don't need a double ironblaster crutch!
ReplyDeletedouble ironblaster sounds more like a zimmer frame than a crutch
ReplyDeletePeter, you are bad and you should feel bad.
ReplyDeleteHe is bad, but according to results everyone else is much worse...
DeleteNah uh, they had real armies that require tactics, Pete just had to deploy 2 models and shake their hand. Duhhh!
Delete2 models? not just 1? must be taking it easy...
DeleteDid the best player win? Probably. Did the strongest army win? Definitely. To me that ogre list was by far the strongest one there.
ReplyDeletePersonally I don't see the satisfaction some people get out of continually smashing others with the strongest armies they can possibly field (and from the strongest books too, which I think ogres and skaven are). But each to their own.
Creating the strongest army you can is part of the satisfaction some people get out of this hobby, myself included. Smashing people with it is usually a result of others not keeping up (for whatever reason) and skill.
DeleteI think Pete (and others) taking the best army they can to a tournament is a good thing for the tournament scene. It should help those that want to know how to construct more powerful lists see what works and what doesn't, which should push the overall standard higher.
And Pete, I wasn't knocking you above, most of that was firmly tongue in cheek. But I actually do want to know if the double ironblasters made a big difference in your games vs only having one. Is the comp on 2 justified? I've played a couple of games vs 2 and have found it to be just as frustrating as 1. I could see how if I played different armies they'd be more of a problem though. Also these things aren't cheap. You have to give up something somewhere in the list to get the second one in. Just wondering if you think you could have done as well without the 2nd.