Battle Reports

[Aluinn]

I just wanted to say thanks for posting all these reports. They've been very fun to read and you do an excellent job of illustrating them and writing them up clearly. Moreover, your group's armies are all looking very nice, which definitely makes the pictures much more pleasant to look at!

The VC games especially have been educational for me as a VC player. Your Vamps opponent seems to be a good tactician, and his army is pretty similar to mine.

My only suggestion is that you find more players for your group so we can see more variety in armies .

[tarrym]

Thanks for the positive feedback. These reports do take quite a while to prepare in this format - so it's good to know it gets a positive reaction.

The Clan Skrit vs Wood Elf report is now complete. See the opening post for a link.

My only suggestion is that you find more players for your group so we can see more variety in armies .

The group is primarily just 3 of us. From time to time others have come along for the odd game, but as we mostly play at each others houses it's not that often.

I think between us we currently have the following armies:

• Tomb Kings
• Skaven
• Warriors of Chaos (mono Slaanesh)
• Daemons of Chaos (mono Slaanesh)
• Vampire Counts x 2*
• Wood Elves
• Orcs & Goblins
• Daemons of Chaos (mono Khorne)

* = both of my regular opponents have these.

Out of the above list, only 4 of the armies have been revisited to bring them up to anything like an "8th edition" list - hence the games are usually Skaven (Clan Skrit), O&G, WE and VC.

I think the second VC army might be getting some attention soon, and my other opponent has commissioned someone to sculpt/convert him a DoC army so looking forward to seeing that.

Also as soon as I can get my Skaven 2500pt list fully painted I will be moving back to the TK as I quite like the new book (and obviously models). So keep watching this space - even though the time I spend on these reports is time not spent painting lol!

[Malorian]

even though the time I spend on these reports is time not spent painting lol!

Haven't you learned yet?

Paint at home and internet during work

[tarrym]

So it's been a little while. To be honest I've not really been doing much hobby wise recently, and within our little group we have had several rumblings around starting to play Necromunda (again*).

17th July 2011 : 3000pts Clan Skrit vs Orcs & Goblins

* = we have all played it before, but many many moons ago and never against each other.

[tarrym]

Well another month has gone by, and only 1 more game to share. I'll admit I have been a little distracted with playing Dragon Age II

On the plus side I've got some time off work coming up so should have plenty of opportunity to get some painting done - hopefully including one of two of those big grey pieces of scenery that keep appearing in the battle report photo's

In the meantime, here is the latest battle report for a game I played last weekend against some Vampire Counts:

13th August 2011 : 2250pts Clan Skrit vs Vampire Counts

It was a slightly different list to what I've been trying up to now, and I have to say I was quite pleased with how it played. My Warplightning Cannon still managed to do diddly squat though!

[tarrym]

So we decided to pick out a 2000pt army and play through all 6 of the scenarios from the BRB to trial out the strengths and weaknesses of our various units.

We've completed the first two of these games, and you can find the reports here:
Watchtower - 5th September 2011 : 2000pts Clan Skrit vs Vampire Counts
Meeting Engagement - 15th September 2011 : 2000pts Clan Skrit vs Vampire Counts

The plan is that our lists are fixed. So no tweaking to suit the scenario or to expose any weaknesses we learn about each others lists! Once we have completed all 6 scenarios we will have a go at a Storm of Magic game to finish things off in a suitably "epic" finale!

Watch this space for the remaining reports - which may be a couple of weeks before we get around to them all!

[sssk]

Morning Tarrym,

Just thought I'd pop by to say I'm currently writing a report which is sucking my life away (seriously, start writing around 8 in the morning, finish about 10 in the evening, rinse and repeat), but your reports make fantastic coffee breaks. Normally I don't really like written reports (since the invention of youtube, I've become very lazy), but yours are really well written, very engaging, have lovely photos, and very helpful maps. The only problem I have with them is that every time I read one I get strong urges to play some warhammer rather than do the work I need to!

One small observation I have made though, is that monsters seem to play a very small role in the battles. The arachnarok seems to vanish in a puff of smoke, or else spend vast portions of the game hunting down the warplightning cannon (which I love by the way, never take it out of your list!), and the HPA takes a step forward and then gets hit by a hail of arrows and falls over. So I was just wondering what your thoughts are on how useful the monsters are? Do you think another unit of infantry (while a bit dull) would be a more successful replacement?

Anyway, as I said, fantastic reports, keep it up

[tarrym]

One small observation I have made though, is that monsters seem to play a very small role in the battles. The arachnarok seems to vanish in a puff of smoke, or else spend vast portions of the game hunting down the warplightning cannon (which I love by the way, never take it out of your list!), and the HPA takes a step forward and then gets hit by a hail of arrows and falls over. So I was just wondering what your thoughts are on how useful the monsters are? Do you think another unit of infantry (while a bit dull) would be a more successful replacement?

Anyway, as I said, fantastic reports, keep it up

Many thanks for the feedback, much appreciated. I also find that a report can take some time to put together - although not a whole day

You've made a good observation, and potentially one I hadn't really considered too much before now...

To be honest there are 2 different answers given the units you mention:

1) Arachnarok Spider's are nasty. However if they lose combat by even 1, they need a below average roll to pass a break test - Ld6 makes it pretty fragile. So it tends to run away more often than it gets killed.

Some may say because of this it needs to be kept closer to the general, but given the sheer size of the model this means something else (likely an infantry unit) is pushed further away from the general. Swings and roundabouts!

Personally I suspect the Arachnarok may prove better supporting O&G infantry units in fighting enemy infantry - rather than going off hunting it's own target. But we'll have to wait and see as my regular O&G opponent has dusted off his Vampire Counts army again.


2) The Hellpit Abomination (like the Giant) is pretty random. You don't quite have control of when it makes it into combat, nor do you know exactly what it will do when it gets there - it could easily win a combat single handed if it gets the right type of attack, or it could bodge the whole thing, and I've seen it do both! When it works it's deadly - an example of which was in my recent Watchtower report where it chomped through 10 Black Knights, a Corpse Cart and a unit of Skeletons. However my opponents have learnt how nasty it can be and so focus their archers/poisoned attacks at it to ensure it's down ASAP.



I think there is one common answer that can apply to both - your opponent doesn't like what a big monster will do to their plans! So it quickly becomes a focal point of whatever destructive nasties they can bring to bear. In some ways this is good as it may distract them from the real danger, but of course in others it means your beautifully painted centre-piece spends far less time on the table than your unpainted horde of 100 Goblins/Slaves

All in all, I've not yet questioned keeping the Hellpit Abomination in my Skaven list. It's potential for destruction is worth the pts - not to mention the look on my opponents face on those rare occasions when it comes back to life! Even if it fluffs, it's a great distraction/psychological piece to keep my opponent worried during the initial turns.

Hope that helps (or even made sense!).

[tarrym]

We played the 3rd game in our mini-series this week. Blood and Glory was one scenario where the Skaven list started with an advantage (fortitude 6 for Skaven VS 5 for the VC).

Blood and Glory- 22nd September 2011 : 2000pts Clan Skrit vs Vampire Counts

[tarrym]

Another battle report from the fourth game in our mini-series.

Battle for the Pass : 2000pts Clan Skrit vs Vampire Counts

[tarrym]

And here is the fifth game:

Dawn Attack : 2000pts Clan Skrit vs Vampire Counts

[brother_maynard]

your game 5 in this series was the first of your reports that i read and... it is a gateway drug, i am hooked! great reading, awesome photography and i hate both of your armies so no matter who loses, i win well done! keep churnin em out!

[tarrym]

your game 5 in this series was the first of your reports that i read and... it is a gateway drug, i am hooked! great reading, awesome photography and i hate both of your armies so no matter who loses, i win well done! keep churnin em out!

Thanks. I'm glad you like them.

Although I should point out that you also lose when one of us wins

[tarrym]

The battleline report is now being uploaded:

Battle-line : 2000pts Clan Skrit vs Vampire Counts

If it's not quite complete by the time you view it please bear with me - I may just have popped into town to buy some paints

[tarrym]

So, the final game in our mini-series is scheduled for tomorrow. I've set up a placeholder thread, with a little poll just for fun to see if anyone wants to state who they think the overall winner will be.

Storm of Magic - 23rd October 2011 : 2000pts Clan Skrit vs Vampire Counts

I'll get the report written up as soon as I get chance after the game - likely Tues. Hope you enjoy!

[tarrym]

So after a long break (on holiday), we decided to get together for a days gaming. Three players, three armies, three games (two each). Here are the reports...

20th December 2011

• 2000pts Clan Skrit vs Wood Elves
• 2000pts Vampire Counts vs Wood Elves
• 2000pts Clan Skrit vs Vampire Counts

Hope you enjoy.

[tarrym]

Here is the first battle report of 2012:

9th January 2012 : 2000pts Clan Skrit vs Vampire Counts : One Final Showdown

It was also our last battle report with the, soon to be old, VC rules and my last battle, for a while at least, with the Skaven.

Don't worry, there will be plenty more battle reports to come. My two regular opponents are both planning revisions to their VC armies, and I have some TK reinforcements due any day now

Hope you enjoy!

[tarrym]

New rumours are spreading from the South of an ancient power that has awoken from its slumber...

23rd January 2012 : 2500pts Tomb Kings vs Vampire Counts


First game with the new Tomb Kings in 8th Edition. Not trying out the new units yet - as my models hadn't arrived in time to play the game. But they are here now...so keep watching for more games.

[tarrym]

Another game with the Tomb Kings, up against some more Vampire Counts - not the same opponent as last time.

3rd February 2012 : 3000pts Tomb Kings vs Vampire Counts

[tarrym]

A rematch against the VC player that my TK had smashed apart in our last game...

12th February 2012 : 2500pts Tomb Kings vs Vampire Counts