I played in another tournament at Tower Games this past Saturday, and as always, it was a lot of fun. I ran Makeda 3 and Makeda 1 this time around.
Despite the best of intentions, I didn't actually play any practice games on Friday. Instead, I ended up playing Warhammer Diskwars with some friends I don't see nearly often enough (which was a lot of fun). Anyway, that means I've had a total of 1 game's worth of experience with the Makeda 3 list, and 0 with the Makeda 1 list. But that's ok. A tournament is a great environment to crash test a new list or two if you don't take it too seriously.
Anyway, list 1 was
Archdomina Makeda (*5pts)
*Mammoth (20pts)
*Cyclops Raider (5pts)
*Basilisk Krea (4pts)
6 Cataphract Cetrati (11pts)
10 Nihilators (8pts)
4 Paingiver Beast Handlers (2pts)
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew (1pt)
Extoller Soulward (2pts)
Mortitheurge Willbreaker (2pts)
This is the list I haven't played. I tried pMakeda with a Mammoth once, and it was effective. Then I saw this list on the Skorne forum, and decided to give it a try. It's been a few months since I've played Makeda 1, but I learned the game with her, so I always like playing her.
List 2 was
Makeda and the Exalted Court (*2pts)
*Molik Karn (11pts)
*Bronzeback Titan (10pts)
*Titan Gladiator (8pts)
*Cyclops Brute (5pts)
*Cyclops Brute (5pts)
*Cyclops Savage (5pts)
*Basilisk Krea (4pts)
4 Paingiver Beast Handlers (2pts)
Agonizer (2pts)
I played a nearly identical list (the Savage was a 3rd Brute) a couple of weeks ago. It fit together very smoothly, and had a strong attrition game. Makeda 3 is also a really fun warlock to play in general. Win or lose, I've never regretted putting her on the table.
On to the reports!
Round 1 Against Tom's Khador
Tom was running Butcher 3 and eSorcha. Makeda 1 has a pretty decent game against both of them, and more importantly has some shooting in the list to clear out all that Khador infantry. So I took her. Tom went with the Butcher.
Kommander Zoktavir, the Butcher Unleashed (*4pts)
*Beast 09 (11pts)
*War Dog (1pts)
10 Black Dragon Iron Fang Pikemen (8pts)
*Officer and Standard Bearer (2pts)
10 Black Dragon Iron Fang Pikemen (8pts)
*Officer and Standard Bearer (2pts)
Greylord Ternion (4pts)
Alexia, Mistress of the Witchfire (4pts)
Ogrun Bokur - Client: The Butcher (3pts)
Eiryss, Angel of Retribution (3pts)
Iron Fang Kovnik (2pts)
Iron Fang Kovnik (2pts)
Kell Bailoch (2pts)
Saxon Orrik (2pts)
The Scenario was Incursion. Three flags, and one of them disappears. Control a flag for 1 point, dominate a side flag for 2. Tom won the roll off, and decided to go second.
I predeployed the Mammoth in some woods near the right flag, Makeda and the Cetrati in the middle, and the Nihilators on the right. The Mammoth's pit crew went near it, and the Beast Handlers went behind the beasts.
Tom deployed a unit of IFP and Kovnik behind each flag, and put Butcher, his dogs, the Bokur, Alexia, and Beast 09 in the middle. Kell and Eiryss Advance Deployed on the right behind a low wall.
Turn 1
Makeda put Savagery on the Cetrati and Defender's Ward on the Nihilators, then charged up. The Mammoth and Nihilators ran, while the Cetrati wentinto Shield Wall, and walked. The Raider put Snipe on the Mammoth, and the Willbreaker gave it Ancillary attack to shoot Eiryss. The shot scattered onto her, but failed to kill.
Tom ran with just about everything in the list. The Greylords put clouds on the Butcher's Argi and Beast. The Butcher put Silence of Death on the left unit of IFP.
Turn 2
Makeda upkept her spells. The Nihilators charged the IFP on the left. Raider sniped the Mammoth again. The Mammoth shot and killed a couple of the IFP on the right. The Cetrati Shield Walled up the table again. Makeda walked up behind the Cetrati, and used her Feat (troopers destroyed in her CTRL will come back in her next maintenance phase. They must be placed in her CTRL, in formation, and within 3" of another model in their unit).
Tom didn't waste any time. Beast 09 got out of the way. Butcher swapped Silence of Death onto himself, and charged one of the ends of my Cetrati brick. Then he Energized for 2, and cast Impending Doom to suck Makeda in. Then he Feated to get his Focus back, and killed Makeda.
Victory to Khador!
That was the silliest mistake I've made in a while, and I don't even have the excuse of never having gone up against Butcher 3 before. I knew his threat range - it's very reliable. I just completely forgot that meant I had to keep Makeda out of it! :-P
Tom played a pretty solid 2 turns, although I wish I could have given him just a little more to think about.
Round 2 Against Luke's Khador
Luke was running eSorscha and pIrusk. In either case, the Mammoth list was probably better, and after that last game, I really wanted a chance to play it for more than a turn or 2. Luke picked eSorscha.
Forward Kommander Sorscha (*6pts)
*Beast 09 - Bonded (11pts)
*War Dog (1pt)
10 Cylena Raefyll and Nyss Hunters (10)
*Koldun Kapitan Valachev (2)
5 Greylord Outriders (9)
Lady Aiyanna and Master Holt (4)
4 Widowmakers (4)
Harlan Versh, Illuminated One (2)
Orin Midwinter, Rogue Inquisitor (2)
Saxon Orrik (2)
Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist (2)
Raluk Moorclaw, the Ironmonger (2)
Widowmaker Marksman (2)
Koldun Lord (2)
Gobber Tinker (1)
The scenario was Destruction. There's a 12 by 6 control zone in the middle of the table, and a destructible objective for each player holding down two opposite corners. Destrying the enemy objective is worth a point (and necessary to control the zone), controlling the zone is worth a point, and dominating it is worth 2 points.
I won the roll off, and chose to go first. I again deployed the Mammoth near some troublesome terrain on the right side of the table. The Cetrati went on the left, and the Nihilators went in the middle this time. The Mammoth's buddies clustered up around her.
Luke deployed the Outriders on the left and the Nyss on the right. The solos, merc units, and Sorscha mostly went in the middle along with Beast 09. The Widowmakers and Saxon deployed a bit ahead of the center gaggle of solos.
Turn 1
I ran and Shield Walled my way up the table (Defender's Ward on the Nihilators and Savagery on the Cetrati), and took my turn 1 Mammoth shot at the Widowmakers, but it scattered wide.
The Nyss ran up, but left one of their number a bit back for Sorscha to target. Sorcha walked up, and put Iron Flesh on the Nyss and Shatterstorm on the Widowmakers. The Widowmakers advanced and killed a couple of the lead Nihilators. The Outriders and most of the solos ran, though Aiyanna and Holt walked and used Stealth.
Turn 2
I upkept both spells, and had the Nihilators charge an Outrider and the Widowmaker Marksman. The Marksman died, but the Outrider lived. The Cetrati advanced in Shield Wall, and killed another Outrider. The Raider advanced, and Sniped the Mammoth, while the Krea advanced, and used Paralytic Aura. The Gobbers advanced, and popped some smoke into play. Makeda ducked around behind the Krea and Gobbers, and camped 4. No more living on the edge for her.
The Mammoth advanced, and took one shot at Gorman and the Widowmakers (hit a Widowmaker, but rolled a 3 for damage) and 2 shots into the Nyss, who could easily kill it if they were left intact. The shots accounted for Cylena and about 3 other Nyss. Then the Mammoth used Counter Blast. The Willbreaker used Ancillary Attack on the Mammoth to kill 2 more Nyss. The Paingivers walked up and got my Fury down to manageable levels.
Luke dropped Iron Flesh, but upkept Shatterstorm. Sorscha advanced, used her Feat (damage done to enemy models in her CTRL without Immunity: cold above their Arm is doubled for a turn), and cast Cyclone to engage my leading Nihilators and kill all the ones she could reach. The Nyss charged the Mammoth, but it triggered Counter Blast to kill 2. The 2 remaining Nyss did 24 damage.
The Widowmakers dropped some more Nihilators, and managed to kill some of both Swamp Gobbers and the Extoller. Most of the remaining solos and the Outriders took aim at the Cetrati, but only killed 2. Gorman walked up and pitched some Black Oil at a Nyss Hunter right in front of the Mammoth. I hoped it would scatter onto Sorscha, but it just scattered into the center of the Mammoth's base. Beast ran up to support Sorscha.
Turn 3
Sorscha was awfully exposed, so I decided to try to kill her. I placed my returning Nihilators to finish off the Outrider who might be in some of my charge lanes, and the Cetrati to attack other Outriders, then upkept Savagery.
The Willbreaker used Puppet Master on the Krea to let her reroll bad dice in her attack roll, then the Krea aimed and shot her Paralysis shot at Sorscha. She hit, and Sorscha was reduced to base Def 7. The Nihilators killed the Outrider they needed to kill along with 3 other Nihilators.
The Raider aimed, and shot Sorscha for respectable damage. Finally, Makeda charged Sorscha, and killed her with a Combo Strike.
Victory to the Skorne!
I played a pretty decent game this time. At the very least, I made no outrageous mistakes. Luke made a mistake moving Sorscha so far forward, but he was camping 4, and didn't expect the Krea to be able to paralyze her.
Round 3 Against Bryant's Cryx
Bryant was bringing Scaverous and Asphyxious 3. Both my lists seemed decent against both of his, so I decided to play Makeda 3 because she's loads of fun. Bryant went with Asphyxious 3.
Asphyxious the Hellbringer (*4pts)
*Nightmare (10pts)
*Leviathan (9pts)
*Vociferon (-)
10 Bane Thralls (8pts)
*Officer and Standard Bearer (3pts)
10 Satyxis Raiders (8pts)
*Sea Witch (2pts)
10 Satyxis Blood Witches (6pts)
*Blood Hag (2pts)
Bane Lord Tartarus (4pts)
Saxon Orrik (2pts)
The Scenario was Into the Breach. There's a 12" circular zone on one side of the table, and a flag on the other. Controlling the Zone is worth 1pt, dominating it is worth 2, and dominating the flag is worth 1. There are also destructible objectives a few inches ahead of either player's AD zone. Destroying your opponent's objective is worth 1pt.
Bryant won the roll off, and chose to go second. I set up my beasts in a tight line in the center of the table with the Beast Handlers behind them. I was ready to contest the Zone with my Savage and one Brute, while the other Brute was going to contest the flag. The Heavies and Makeda went right in the middle for support, with the Bronzeback in the center-left, and the Gladiator in the center-right.
Bryant deployed both 'jacks near a hill on the left, put Tartarus on the right, and deployed his Bane Thralls in front of his Blood Witches in the middle. The Raiders Advance Deployed in the middle, with Saxon Orrik to their right.
Bryant declared that the Nightmare's Prey would be the Bronzeback.
Turn 1
I basically ran up. Makeda and the Gladiator did some Rushing before charging up, and Makeda also cast Vortex of Destruction, and put a fury on the Agonizer. I got the right Brute and Savage to the edge of the zone.
Bryant also basically ran up. The Satyxis Raidrs jammed my line, while the bulk of the infantry ran up to 8-10" behind them. The 'jacks ran into position to charge and/or shoot me from a hill. Asphyxious cast Scything Touch on the Bane Thralls, and Ashen Veil on the Satyxis Raiders.
Turn 2
I had little choice but to un-jam myself. The Cyclops Savage killed a Raider engaging the right Brute. The left Brute killed a Raider too. Molik spent about 4 Fury to kill just one Raider. The Bronzeback used Train Wreck to kill 2. Makeda and her unit made up for the lackluster showing by killing 3 Raiders with melee attacks, and 2 more with Ground Zero, then Makeda cast Fate Walker. The Sea Witch and last Raider passed their Cmd check for massive Casualties. The right Brute charged Tartarus, but failed to kill him. The Paingivers advanced, and ensured I wouldn't be taking many Frenzy checks. Makeda took her Fate Walker move, and retreated behind my objective.
Asphyxious let Ashen Veil drop, but upkept Scything Touch, and allocated 3 Focus to the Leviathan. Tartarus advanced, Cursed Molik, and took a swing at my Brute to little effect. The Bane Thralls charged in. Only 2 could reach Molik, and 3 charged the right Brute. The rest ran into the center of the table. The ones engaging the Brute did a little damage, and the two who had charged Molik did some serious damage to him, but didn't take out any aspects. The Blood Witches ran up behind the Banes, and used their mini-Feat to gain Incorporeal.
Asphyxious put Ashen Veil on himself, then used his Feat to gain a Soul Token for every time I spent Fury, Forced a beast, or cast a spell in his CTRL. The Leviathan aimed, and shot at the Krea for a little damage. Nightmare advanced cautiously to stay out of my Beat Back threat range. Vociferon ran to the center-left just behind the Banes.
Turn 3
My right Brute was just outside my CTRL after that Fate Walker move, but it passed its Frenzy check. I leached Fury, upkept Vortex of Destuction, and was good to go.
Makeda went first. She used her Feat, and her unit killed a couple of Bane Thralls, She cast Fate Walker, and then cast Eliminator on a Blood Witch. She killed the Witch, and backed off 2 inches. Molik and the Savage both killed a bunch of Bane Thralls, and Molik cast Fate Walker to back off. The Brute on the right finished Tartarus, and the Brute on the left finished the Raiders engaging it.
The Paingivers Enraged the Bronzeback, and Conditioned the others. The Bronzeback charged, and took out Vociferon, the Sea Witch and another Bane Thrall. The Thralls were down to the Standard Bearer and the three engaging the Brute. The Agonizer used Spiritual Affliction, and ran to stop Focus Allocation to the Leviathan. Makeda and Molik Fate Walked out of harm's way.
Asphyxious' Feat had been loading him down with souls this whole time, and he started the turn with 27 Focus. Yikes. He dropped Ashen Veil, and allocated 3 to Nightmare. The remaining Banes charged. The 3 in contact with the Brute hurt it a little, and the Standard Bearer ran into melee with the Bronzeback. The Blood Witches charged in, damaged the Krea, and killed 2 Paingivers.
Asphyxious cast Mobility and Carnage, then cast Scything Touch on himself, and charged the Bronzeback. He killed it pretty easily, and had 18 Focus left to spend. He elected to cast Ashen Veil on himself again, and camp at Arm 31 rather than take any risks with offensive magic. Nightmare changed its Prey to Molik, and charged the right Brute, murdering it. The Leviathan walked up to the Agonizer, and swung with its claw, but missed.
Turn 4
Makeda upkept Vortex of Destruction, and leached in her Fury. Makeda activated first again. Her unit advanced into the Blood Witches. Her Guardians killed a few, and she killed one with her initial attack, and 3 more with a Blood Booned Eliminator. She advanced, and moved into melee range of Nightmare, and cast Fate Walker. The Savage charged one of the 3 remaining Thralls in the zone, and killed it and one other.
The Paingivers Enraged Molik, who charged Nightmare and scrapped it, then finished off the remaining Thrall and Saxon, and cast Fate Walker. The left Brute killed the Bane Thrall Standard Bearer and another Blood Witch. I took my Fate Walker moves, getting Makeda as far from Asphyxious as possible, and screening her with Molik.
I now dominated the zone, and scored 2pts.
Bryant decided after some thinking that he couldn't kill Makeda, and had nothing close enough to contest the zone. Since I'd score 2 points on his turn, and to more on my next one, he decided to concede.
Victory to the Skorne!
That was a very clean game for me. The list played very smoothly, and I stuck to my attrition plan. I focused on wiping out Bryant's army in manageable chunks, and ended up scoring a decisive scenario win. Bryant didn't make any huge mistakes, and generally played a tight, conservative game. I do think he overextended his Satyxis on turn 1. They were too far ahead of the Bane Thralls for an effective counter charge, and I was already in the zone, so there was no scenario pressure to make me move forward. If he'd engaged with 2-4 Raiders, and held the rest back, I would have been in a much trickier position on my second turn, and would likely have had to sacrifice at least a beast or two to the Banes.
This brings us to the final round, and I'm currently in the running for 3rd on SoS and Scenario points (my round 1 opponent was undefeated so far). Without further ado...
Round 4 Against John's Trollbloods
John was playing pDoomshaper and eMadrak. I was a little worried about Troll armor cracking, but I still wanted to play Makeda 3, and Makeda 1 had a lot of eggs in one basket with the Mammoth, a target I knew Mulg could take out in a good round, so I went with Makeda 3. John went with pDoomshaper.
Hoarluk Doomshaper, Shaman of the Gnarls (*7pts)
*Mulg the Ancient (12pts)
*Earthborn Dire Troll (10tps)
*Troll Axer (6pts)
*Storm Troll (5pts)
*Trollkin Rune Bearer (2pts)
10 Trollkin Fennblades (8)
*Officer and Drummer (2)
6 Kriel Stone Bearer and Stone Scribes (4pts)
*Stone Scribe Elder (1pt)
Janissa Stonetide (3pts)
Stone Scribe Chronicler (2pts)
5 Whelps (2pts)
The last scenario was Supply and Demand. A 12" round zone in the center with 2 objectives placed diagonally across from each other. Controlling the zone is worth one point, and dominating it is worth 2, but it cannot be dominated while the opponent's Warlock/Warcaster is in your CTRL. Destroying the enemy objective is worth 1 point.
John won the roll-off, and decided to go second. I deployed in my customary brick, with the heavies and Krea in the center, and the Cyclopes holding down the flanks.
John deployed in a wide line, with Mulg and the Axer on the right, the Earthborn and Storm Troll on the left, and Fennblades everywhere. The second line had Doomie, the Kriel Stone, and the support.
Turn 1
I ran up to my side of the zone, put 4 Fury on the Agonizer, and cast Vortex of Destruction with Makeda. The Cyclopes were a few inches into the zone, and the heavies were not too far out.
John ran up with the Fenns, getting them into a good charge position, and kept his Warbeasts back a little. Doomshaper cast Fortune on Mulg for rerolled attacks, and diverted the rest of his Fury to the Kriel Stone, which put up its +2 Arm aura.
Turn 2
Makeda upkept Vortex of Destruction. I advanced, and made some attacks against the Fennblades with my Cyclopes, but didn't do a whole lot else. The Brutes cast Safeguard to prevent slams, and the heavies made sure they could charge out to avenge the Brutes if the Mulg and Earthborn killed them. The Agonizer used Gnawing Pain, and ran to the center of my force. Makeda topped it off with Fury to maximize its bubble.
John had Doomshaper drop Fortune. The Rune Bearer used Harmonious Exaltation on Doomshaper. Doomshaper activated, cast Purification to remove my upkeeps and Animi, popped his Feat, which deals 1d6 damage to enemy models for each Focus or Fury point they spend or gain, and recast Fortune on Mulg.
The Storm Troll shot my left Brute, which caused lightning to arc through one of Makeda's guardians and the Agonizer. The Agonizer took 5 damage, and the Brute and Exalted Guardian took 3. The Fennblades charged in, and did a little damage to my left Brute and Savage. The Earthborn charged the left Brute, and killed it with its last attack. Mulg charged the right Brute, and killed it far more handily. The Chronicler put Hero's Tragedy on the Fennblades, so that any warrior model who killed any would be knocked down.
Turn 3
After a little thought, I had Makeda risk a free strike from a Fennblade to try to get out of Doomshaper's CTRL. The Fenn hit and did 6 damage. Makeda walked into melee with the Earthborn, and cast Vortex of Destruction on herself. She ended up being in Doomshaper's CTRL by the tiniest of margins, and took 7 more damage from the Feat. Booo! She took a swing at the Earthborn, causing it to spawn a Whelp in the Bronzeback's path. The Exalted Guardians killed a single Fennblade between them. The Agonizer was supposed to walk out of Doomie's CTRL, and then use Gnawing Pain, but I forgot, and it died to Feat damage. Whoops.
The Paingivers Enraged the Bronzeback and Molik, and Medicated the Savage. The Savage bravely walked in front of Mulg, and killed a Fennblade. Molik charged the Whelp, and killed it, then caused another Fennblade to Tough with his second initial attack. The Bronzeback took a free strike for minor damage, and charged into the Earthborn. It hit with both its war gauntlets, but missed with the Chain Attack Grab and Smash Headbutt, and had to buy 3 attacks to finish the Earthborn, damaging itself severely in the process. The Gladiator simply walked forward a bit.
The Fennblades made some Vengeance attacks, but didn't do much, and Doomshaper upkept Fortune. Then the Fenns charged in, and did a little more damage to the Bronzeback, a little to Molik, and killed an Exalted Guardian. Doomshaper topped up the Kriel Stone. The Kriel Stone Bearers gave the Trolls +1 Str with their Aura. Janissa popped up a wall, and the Rune Bearer tried to Rampager the Gladiator, but missed.
Mulg smushed the Savage, and Goaded into Karn, damaging him pretty badly with his one remaining attack. The Storm Troll charged the Bronzeback, and killed it on its last attack.
Turn 4
It was going to be do or die. I had to drop Mulg, and protect Makeda as well as possible. Makeda upkept Vortex of Destruction, and started things off. She popped her Feat, and her remaining Exalted Guardian killed a Fennblade. Makeda tried to kill the Storm Troll quickly, but had to spend 5 Fury to do it due to atrocious luck on attack rolls. She Blood Booned Ground Zero to clear off the Fennblades, and waited for her Beasts to fill her up on Fury.
The Paingivers Enraged the Gladiator and Karn, and the Gladiator blasted Mulg with everything it had, leaving him barely alive. Molik chopped through a few Whelps to load Makeda up on Fury, then finished Mulg off.
The Fennblades took some Vengeance attacks. John had noticed that Molik was my only open transfer target since the Gladiator was loaded up, and knew that if he could kill Molik, he had Makeda dead barring terrible luck.
Doomshaper put Fortune on the Fennblades, knowing that they might need the reroll with their Mat of 6. He also cast Rampager at the Gladiator, forcing it to advance on Molik and hit him for significant damage. Finally, the Axer charged Molik, and finished him off.
It was all down to the Fennblades. They charged Makeda. The first one hit, and did the 3 damage it took to finish her off.
Victory to the Trollbloods!
Not my best showing, but definitely my closest and most fun game of the day. Sometimes playing 3 games in a row makes me tired and easily discouraged. This game, I was just having fun the whole time. It was an epic grindfest, and John was a great opponent. I hope to see him around for the next tournament, and there's a chance I'll be able to make it to his LGS in Duluth for their first tournament in May some time.
I did make a couple of key mistakes I'll remember in the future. First, I got the Agonizer killed, when I really shouldn't have. If it had lived, there was a decent chance the Bronzeback would have survived the Storm Troll, and that Molik would have been in better condition on that last turn. Alternately, if I'd remembered, I could have used Molik's last kill to take a Fury off the Gladiator rather than put it on Makeda. Then I would have had the Gladiator's whole life spiral open for transfers, and still been camping 3 Fury. I would still have been in the game, though it would still have been an uphill battle. He wouldn't have had any armor crackers left, but I would have been counting on Makeda and the Gladiator to take down everything he had left.
John played a very solid game. He had a similar approach to mine - try to pick apart the opponent's list while they slog through your jam - and he pulled it off quite well. Doomie's Feat in particular was brutal against my list. All the Beasts want to be forcing consistently, and Makeda really wants to be spending Fury every turn, and she was close enough to be burned badly.
Overall Thoughts
I really need to be doing these more often. I always have a ton of fun, and I get a lot of good practice with my lists. My opponents were great, and I'm looking forward to seeing them across the table sometime in the near future. I especially want to give my pMakeda list an honest run at Butcher 3, since I did take it partially to save Makeda 3 from that matchup.
I'm pretty pleased with the lists I used. I need to try them both out some more. I'd probably prefer Makeda 3 with a 3rd Brute instead of the Savage, but Savages are good, and I'll play it both ways. I might also consider swapping in a Tyrant Commander and Orin Midwinter. This would give her a little more depth and security with increased full advances (including those from Fate Walker), and a little more flexibility with matchups, since Orin's Lightning is good spot removal in a list that doesn't have much, and Null Magic lets her clean out Butcher 3 and keeps other spell-reliant opponents honest.
I didn't give the Makeda 1 list much of a working over. Both the games I played with it were pretty short. It was fun though, and the Mammoth looks great, and plays well against a lot of lists, and Makeda offers some very good support for it. I'll definitely be trying this list out more, and maybe seeing if I can tweak it up to my preferences.
Thanks for the great games, opponents, and thanks again Jamie for running the event!
More reports to come next week...
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