It's Game Time, Baby!!!

Hey gang, today's blog is gonna be a few disparate hobby thoughts and some HE gaming discussion, because that's what the internet is for at the moment.

My hobby time this week has been rather alot of Dragon painting time. Its slow going but one wing is done and looking great. Maybe in the far reaches of time the whole thing will be done and I'll have some photos for you guys...

No, Not this Dragon. Painting them would be creepy and weird...

So I've played a couple of games with very different lists this week, and its given me a couple of early lessons, and ideas.

Game 1 was against Ben Wadsworth, the Shirts Off guru himself.

I took a Monster Mash list with:

Star Dragon Lord,
Griffon Hero,
Eagle BSB
Scroll Caddy
4 x Reavers
Silver Helm bus
Frostie
Fiery
Small bunker of Sisters

Game went swimmingly until Turn 3. I killed all of Bens chaff and all Warmachines but 1 doom diver for the loss of only my BSB to a flying Goblin and was in perfect position to clean up the Savages with 4 monsters but the Giant Hairy foot of an Orc God came down and ruined me, killing the Star Dragon and Lord 10/11 Silver Helms (the champ then getting a DD to the face) and most of the Sister bunker sending them fleeing. To top it off the Griffon fluffed against a Boltie meaning he couldnt overrun into the Spider Gobbo with Flaming Ward who then ran down the Flame Phoenix. So I lost about 1200 odd points in one turn and was soundly crushed by T4... Never seen anything like it!

Lessons:
Love the list, and playstyle, it was crazy to have such a high speed army.
Its not as fragile as I thought it might be. Ben had two shooting phases and didn't do much. I can see it being very hit miss in gunline games but I think I can work around it. I like the Flame Phoenix for sitting in front of the other monsters to take the hits and possibly come back to life afterwards.
Frostheart Phoenix isn't a combat monster, its a combat buff. Mine got stuck against a Troll for several rounds because I kept fluffing. Was never in danger of death but it really struggles by itself, and need tos combo with other units. Yes I can see it being amazing with the Star Dragon but I'm just not sure that its worth 240 pts for the buff when you get a decent unit of something else for the same pts. Will continue to play though.
Reaver Core is everything I'd hoped for. Happy James is happy!!! the 4 units pretty much took control of the table and chaff game and still had a spare unit to go after Bens warmachines. Think it may be worth it to get Bows on them for more options though. I honestly see no need for Eagles in a HE army anymore...


Game 2 vs Elliot Yung with Dark Elves

I took a much more balanced army this time:

Level 4 Book of Hoeth
Loremaster
BSB with Reaver Bow/Potion of Strength
Griffon Noble
4 x 5 Reavers with Bow/Spears
20 Archers
19 White Lions
2 x 7 Swordmasters
3 Bolt Throwers
6 Sisters

Elliot had a pretty damn soft army led by Malekith in a horde of Spears and I dismantled it effectively killing everything but Malekith and the BSB, but I think I still learnt some things.

Magic was insane. Loremaster + Level 4 high was nuts. I rolled decently for magic phases and was casting 4-5 spells a turn. Book was a massive failure, as I kept rerolling 1s with 1s etc. but being happy to cast with 1-2 dice for spells I'd generally chuck an extra dice at is ace. I will happily say its pretty much about right for points to beneift though. Its really not any better than Banner of Sorcery/ +1 to dispel though.

Not entirely sure about High Magic over some of the Rulebook lores either. Didn't roll the Augments and had to go Direct Damage heavy. Worked a treat vs armourless elves (Tempest is Crazy vs light armour units for a 12+ cast) but against Monstrous Cav/Heavy armour armies, it will be pretty shit...

Loremaster is a brilliant Swiss army knife and will be the tournament go to choice. The huge range of spells meant he could debuff the world or turn into a gatling gun of magic missiles as needed. keep him cheap with just a Scroll to go with the Level 4 and you're set. No need to waste time on combat stuff or armour imo.

6 Sisters was great. Dirt cheap way to get the flaming shots to go with the Bolt Throwers and basically put the Hydra out of the game with the threat. -2 armour meant they killed a bunch of Cold One knights too.

Reaver Bow/Potion of Strength combo was a bit meh. Turn I used it I missed 2/3 shots. Save the points and just cast Wildform on his unit.

Griffon hero is a winner. Think I'm gonna take one in most lists. Cheap and cheerful, No magic items (or just Charmed Shield?) leave him on a flank and watch him go. Killing chaff and aiming for Mage bunkers; also needs a decent amount of attention from your opponent to deal with.

So thats the thoughts for now, more to come as I get games in.

I have also submitted my list for Rumble in the Bronx. Sadly I'm stuck using the old High Elf book, so I've decided totake a slightly wack job list as trying to play seriously with that shithouse army sounds painful. Can't wait to not take "Archer Core" ever again...

Prince on Barded Elven Steed, Great Weapon, Dragon Armour, Shield, Nullstone

Noble on Barded Elven Steed, Great Weapon, Dragon Armour, Shield, Helm of Fortune, Guardian Phoenix
Level 2 - High Magic, Scroll, Amulet of Light

11 Archers - Flame Banner
10 Archers
10 Archers
10 Archers

8 Dragon Princes Banner of Ellyrion, Potion of Foolhardiness
7 Swordies with Talisman of Loec
6 Reavers

2 Boltthrowers
2 Eagles

So yes, its a bit different and probably shit, but I really don't care... There's gonna be another Nullstone at the tournament too, as Aaron Graham has similar thoughts about the old book :-P Think this must be some kind of record!

Appreciate your thoughts on anything, and catch ya later boys and girls'