Aden and I met up at Justplay in Liverpool for another Invitational Brotherhood practice game, and we were also joined by Greg "Greggers" (Lannisters) and Ray "Mr Ray" (Baratheon)
Aden has a typically hard Greyjoy list led by Baelor, and we had randomly selected Winds of Winter
Ironmakers with Baelor Blacktyde - Lord of Blacktyde (C)
Drowned Men
Iron Victory Crew with Victarion Greyjoy
Iron Victory Crew with Drowned Prophet
NCU's
Wendamyr, Balon Greyjoy & Moqorro
I stuck with the same list I played against Ste earlier in the week, as I think its a good list (as found out when I faced Connor "Squigy666" Reece in Wales)
Brotherhood Archers with Catelyn Stark - Lady Stoneheart (C)
Brotherhood Sworn Knights
Riders of Highgarden
Golden Company Swordsmen with Gendry - The Bull NCU's
Ghost of High Heart, Thoros of Myr & Jaqen H'ghar
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CHOSEN TERRAIN & DEPLOYMENT
TERRAIN: Stakes, corpse pile, corpse pile, bog
GREYJOYS: Iron Victory Crew with Victarion, Iron Victory Crew with Drowned Prophet,
Drowned Men, Ironmakers with Baelor
BROTHERHOOD: Catelyn's Archers, Gendry's GC Swordsmen,
Sworn Knights, Rider of Highgarden
ROUND 1
I took the first activation and had the Hag take the letters, with Aden taking the Horses
We played out the tactics board, with Aden not passing an NCU activation...
My card hand was pretty good
The Sworn Knights and Golden Company got the Realm Remains cards
Victarion marched right up in between the objectives, my GC Swords marched up the centre with the Ironmakers doing the same. the Rider of Highgarden swung out far right. Archers stayed on my left, threatening Victarion.
The Drowned Prophet's unit marched up and I move the Knights up bit pivoted to avoid being charged
BOARD END OF ROUND 1
ROUND 2
MISSION CARDS
I played score 2 VP's if unengaged unit in enemy's deployment after Aden played if take Swords or Horses opponent scores 1 VP.
Aden activated the Ironmakers and charged the Golden Company scoring nine hits due to critical blow. I used Gendry's Resilience, but rolled well and only three were unsaved
Sadly, I failed the panic check losing three more.
But I played Vengeance in Blood and killed three Ironmakers
I had Thoros take the Crowns, to improve Gendry's Swordsmens save and panic checked the Ironmakers...
But they passed, so Aden took the Swords after playing The Krakens Wrath card. (In taking the Swords, it scored me a VP)
One Precision and two failed saves saw me drop a rank (I again resisted the defensive Adaptive style order) but did play Lash Out to kill two Ironmakers.
I then took the bags and healed three, before Aden took the Letters and played
We Do Not Sow, allowing a third attack. But with a 3+ save, I still didn't use my order as I was saving it for the attack. Eight hits needing 3+ to save!!! Well, I passed the panic but was back to a single rank
I activated my Sworn Knights and charged into the Ironmakers flank, all attacks hitting
And Aden failed one save, needing 4+'s
Aden moved the Drowned Men up, so I activated the Highgarden Riders and put them in Aden's deployment, threatening the drowned men's flank
My Golden Company activated, healing two with Taking up the Sword card, attacking the Ironmakers after moving away from the incoming Iron Victory Crew (s). I managed four hits after choosing their adaptive attacking order with Sundering and Critical blow, re-rolling and even had Jaqens (Ravenna card) Precision...
It did kill three Ironmakers though
Victarion was out on the left, having chopped up the stakes with his big old axe. I passed an NCU on taking the horses, as did Aden
BOARD END OF ROUND 2
END OF ROUND 2
BROTHERHOOD 3 VP's (3 mission)
HOUSE GREYJOY 0 VP's
ROUND 3
I was due to have first activation and so played score a VP if take Swords or horses, as Aden played take first turn, scoring a point too.
So Aden took the Crowns to deny Gendry it later and played Assault Orders while also giving Blacktyde Resentment to Baelor. I used both Gendry's Resilience and the Adaptive Style defence for the attack and lost a few men. But then I played Lash Out to kill four Ironmakers
I took the bags and healed three Golden Company, before they were flanked by the Drowned Prophets Iron Victory Crew, losing the three I'd healed. This allowed me to play
Sudden Retreat
I then took the Letters but healed up the Golden Company by swapping it out
The GC had retreated and turned to face the Iron victory crew.
After passing with an NCU, I activated my Riders of Highgarden who got nine hits on the charge of into the Drowned Men who got trampled under hoof, surging back towards the flank of the Ironmakers. They had turned and attacked my Sworn Knights rather ineffectually, due to good armour rolls, before
I played Vengeance in Blood. I decided not to move with Catelyn, but rather attack the Drowned Prophets unit with arrows in the rear. (Vengeance in Blood is insanely good, with no range and no target specific instruction i.e. the attacker who attacked the friendly unit)
Using the Prophets Resilience order only dropped three models
And despite a rear vicious corpse pile, Aden aced the panic!!!
Which was nice until I then activated the unit, and did the same again with no Resilience, leaving the Drowned prophet on his own. (actually, I think I took the Swords too, giving Aden a second VP)
Victarions unit marched up towards the centre, before I made the 3+ charge (due to being on a bog) with the Golden Company into the Drowned Prophet
The Prophet knew what was coming and died, although Aden did roll rather a lot of saves
END OF ROUND 3
BROTHERHOOD 5 VP's (2 units, 3 Mission)
HOUSE GREYJOY 2 VP's (2 Mission)
ROUND 4
Going first again, I played score 1 VP for each objective while Aden played score 2 VP's if control centre.
Aden started by taking the Swords and attacking with Baelor. I healed up the damage by taking the bags. Aden took the Horses to move Victarion up, I then activated my Archers and moved into the flank and out of charge arc.
I had planned to contest the centre with the Riders, but Aden popped Balon and brought back the Drowned Prophets Iron victory crew, so I got my Riders out of their charge arc
I moved the Golden Company back, and had also retreated the Sworn Knights away as Baelor with Blacktyde resentment also had Hardened and was just blocking my one rank hits. I did use Thoros to heal up the Sworn Knights
This allowed Baelor to score three VP's from centre , while I scored one from far right
BOARD END OF ROUND 4
END OF ROUND 4
BROTHERHOOD 6 VP's (2 units, 4 Mission)
HOSUE GREYJOY 5 VP's (5 Mission)
ROUND 5
Aden to play first, played score a VP if take a tactics zone before you. I played the same.
I played Forgotten fellowship to go after Baelor with the Sworn Knights
Aden's first activation was to flank my Riders of Highgarden with the recently resurrected Iron Victory Crew
Scoring six hits with sundering and in flank, I was only saving on 6+.
Swords and Dice on fire!!!
I activated the Archers, having moved 3" at start of Aden's turn, then shifted up and shot down Baelor. But he spent a token. Then failed the panic. So spent another token.
Out of options and To the Last tokens, Aden didn't hang about
He charged in, with all sorted of bonuses and abilities and cut me down to five wounds! I failed the panic and would have taken four from that but for playing Azor Ahai! (Maximum of one wound)
I attacked back but Hardened prevented damage, so Aden played Lash Out. I passed the morale check to cancel with Knights of Hollow Hill
Victarion charged in against my Golden company but I saved all the hits
Unsurprisingly, we did not taken any tactics zone!!!
I retreated out with the Highgarden Riders as I was first next turn. I also shot down five of Victarion's crew with the Archers
BOARD END OF ROUND 5
END OF ROUND 5
BROTHERHOOD 6 VP's (2 units, 4 Mission)
HOSUE GREYJOY 5 VP's (5 Mission)
ROUND 6
I played score if claim Swords or Letters, Aden had choice between killing enemy commander (err, no) or for each objective claimed
I activated the Riders of Highgarden and went into the back of Baelor. He died...
But tried staying with What is Dead but failed the panic. And died properly...
The Rider fell back onto the centre objective
Aden took the Horses, and sent the new Iron victory crew over to the far left objective. I took the Crown and healed up with thoros. Aden did the same with the bags
I activated my Archers, shooting into the rear of Victarion who blocked one with resilience
I then lost three to the panic, or rather one as I played Azor Ahai!! Aden had Victarion attack but didnt kill anything
But I did retreat out with Sudden Retreat, taking the objective
My cavalry did the same, as Aden took the far left
BOARD END OF ROUND 6 (and Game)
HOUSE GREYJOY 6 VPs (6 Mission)
BROTHERHOOD 10 VP's (4 units, 6 Mission)
Aden's first time against Brotherhood allowed him to see the healing and tricks, more than against Ste as Vengeance in blood wreaked havoc. I couldn't fight fair, Brotherhood are so like Free Folk in that respect. But again, never even saw Regroup and Reform. I just stopped attacking Baelor as didn't want the Ironmakers coming back. Sometimes it's better to retreat than punch a harder opponent. A difficult match for Aden, but good practice for the coming event...
THE
ASOIF STATS INVITATIONAL
(I'll be there with other Wardens of the North-West)
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OTHER EVENTS
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Spring Showdown!
Board In Brum West Midlands Gaming Centre, Walsall, Willenhall, UK
Saturday April 5th
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30 Oxford St, Harrogate HG1 1PP
Matthew Thicket-Ward is running a small ASOIF event on Sunday 27th April.
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SUNDAY 27th APRIL
SOLD OUT
(RESERVES LIST UP)
The Battle of the Chained Stag II - Vengeance of the South
Daventry NN11 4PH, UK
(I'll be there with other Wardens of the North-West, defending my title with my trusty squire)
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MAY 11th, Leodis Games
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The next tournament for the Wardens of the South is here
1 Day - 3 Games - 24 Players
What are you waiting for?! Sign up now and come and compete.
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Aftermath Gaming Club
Saturday MAY 24th
Lazar House, Sprowston Road, Norwich, UK
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DEAD META GAMING
NORTHERN GRAND TOURNAMENT III
24th & 25th MAY
Pro-Tech Games, Stockton-On-Tees, TS18 2PN
Tickets/Stats Sign Up
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Ironborn Uprising - Outpost Sheffield
Kingfisher Works, Neepsend Lane, Neepsend, Sheffield S3 8AU, UK
FIRST OUTING FOR ASOIF AT THE OUTPOST
ASOIF STATS LINK (and ticket info)
SATURDAY 14th JUNE
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70 Player, two day event
28th/29th June
Best Western The Thurrock Hotel, (on site accommodation)
Ship Lane, Aveley, Purfleet, UK
Sign Up ASOIAF Stats
I'll be there to represent the Wardens of the North-West
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Board in Brum Summer Bash
Board In Brum West Midlands Gaming Centre, Walsall, Willenhall, UK
Sat Jul 19
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Always Winter 2025
Common Ground Games, Stirling, UK
AUGUST 23rd/24th
Got my ticket!!! Definitely one of the best events around...
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Autumn War!
Board In Brum West Midlands Gaming Centre, Walsall, Willenhall, UK
Sat Oct 18
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RIBBLE RUMBLE
"Never Forget What You Are"
NOVEMBER 29th/30th
ELEMENT GAMES, STOCKPORT
(TICKETS NOT ON SALE AS YET)
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Winter Has Come!
Board In Brum West Midlands Gaming Centre, Walsall, Willenhall, UK
Sat Dec 13
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Duke's Gaming
& Yecat's Miniatures present
WELSH GT 2026
March 7th & 8th
