Andy Carr and I headed down to BOARDS & SWORDS for a 1500pt three game event of Conquest: Last Argument of Kings. Hard to believe its been 9 months since the last event we went to back in May 22 LINK 10 players were signed up, but three late drop outs meant we had odd numbers, so one of the locals (David Amos) kindly dropped out to allow an even playing field. Good lad (even though he had Spire)
Given the rules upgrade to 2.0 was only ten days old, we were all looking forward to trying the new rules and have to say they are a real improvement, not enough to change the game, but positive tweaks to make it that bit better. So we end up with two OLD DOMINION forces, which were quite different, two similar 100 Kingdoms forces (including mine own), a Spire force WITHOUT healing and a Nords beast heavy list
CHRIS LOBODZINSKI'S OLD DOMINION PRAETORIANS
(WINNER OF BEST PAINTED)
The Hundred Kingdoms
In overall Command (Warlord) Noble Lord Ulric the Rash, The "Black Wolf" armed with The Flesh Cleaver leading
5 stands of Household Guard with Standard Bearer and Armsmaster
4 Household Knights with Standard Bearer and Tourney Champion
Officer of the Empire, Captain Hindsight in his Steel Legion with his pet, Spot
5 stands of Steel Legion with Standard Bearer and Drillmaster
6 stands of Men at Arms with Standard Bearer and Seasoned Veteran
3 stands of Mercenary Crossbowmen
Father Thomas de Douter, A Theist Priest leading the Militia
4 stands of Militia Bowmen
GAME 1
SCENARIO: HEAVY DUTY
Aaron Edwards
OLD DOMINION
Aaron had travelled down from Blackburn, not a million miles away from Andy up Preston way and had took a small elite bunch of Undead Romans led by a bloody GOD!!! And in this mission, his two heavy units would score double points on objectives...
Fallen Divinity
4 Kanephors (large animated statues with big lumps of marble on chains)
Hierodeacon leading 4 stands of Legionnaires
Archimandrite leading 5 stands of Legionnaries
3 Bone Golems
TURN 1
I elected to bring on my Priest in the Militia Bowmen, and Aaron only had the one... Cant believe its classed as light!!!
TURN 2
I brought on my Household Guard and Noble Lord as my choice, and rolled the crossbowmen too.
Aaron brought on his Legionnaires with Hierodeacon
TURN 3
The Kanephors turned up as the Bone Golems were chosen by Aaron, while my whole force was now on.
TURN 4
Aaron was killing his Legionnaires to boost his dark power and make his God slightly more rock hard!!! While I moved up ready to charge the Fallen Divinity if I got the drop in Turn 5
My Knights had sped past the Militia Bowmen as the 100 Kingdom closed in on the smaller Old Dominion force
I had a good solid line, with the Steel Legion nicely in support of the Household Guard on my right
I was in range to charge or be charged, but I also had the Household Guard holding the centre. Aarons second Legionnaire unit appeared with the Archamandrite...
A solid line ready to give the foe death... Again!!!
First Blood was drawn by the Militia Bowmen...
With three arrows striking the Fallen Divinity, doing two wounds...
My Household Knights advanced up to threaten a long range charge to the centre or at the Bone Golems
END OF TURN 4
OLD DOMINION 4 VP's (2 heavy units on objectives)
ONE HUNDRED KINGDOMS 5 VP's (Centre objective, heavy unit, and also previous turn)
TURN 5
All important dice roll....
It went Aaron's way and the Fallen Divinity crashed into my Household Guard and Noble Lord and Broke them in one mad, frenzy of bloodletting...
On my left, I made a long charge into the Bone Golems
And taking half their wounds, although not enough to break them. Being dead, no resolve was nasty!!!
Still, the Priest and his Militia were sniping at the Deity and plinking the odd wound
The Household Guard did their best and dropped a few wounds but as the Dark Power increased, the Fallen Divinity could re-roll failed saves (once per round). And being Hardened stopped my cleave from reducing the armour down.
And one of the other characters could heal it!!! 3 wounds I think it managed, so all my efforts had done a sum total of 1 to date. Only one thing for it! My Noble Lord lived up to his name and rashly issued a challenge...
And unsurprisingly, the Fallen Deity devoured the silly little mortal...
Ulric the Rash became the Late Ulric the Rash...
END OF TURN 5
With a heavy unit of Kanephors sitting near an uncontested objective, Aaron sneaked ahead 6-5.
His smaller unit of legionnaires had moved out to support the Bone Golems while his larger unit came to fend off the Steel legion, who had failed a long range charge on the God. My Men at Arms had moved into a long charge range too
In Andy's game, his Clone Marksmen were shooting up the White wolves as his Avatara and clones engaged...
I won the initiative!!! The Steel Legion charged home
And I wasn't allowed to Inspire because of some Dark Power or Godly thing... Dread I believe... Nasty but nice. Still, 15 hits was good going. Sadly, Cleave was cancelled by Hardened!!!
And with re-rolls for failed saves, the Fallen Divinity lost a mere three wounds down to seven (having lost 2 to the crossbowmen end of last turn)
On my left, the Legionnaires crashed into the rear of my Knights who had taken a wound from the Bone Golems previously
Aaron had told me the Legionnaires weren't that great. Well, neither was my armour saves and resolve tests!!!
The Fallen Divinity declined to cut down the remnants of my Household Guard and got stuck into the Steel Legion...
And the Bone Golems shattered my Knights...
With the damage from the Fallen Divinity, the large block of Legionnaires dropped my Legion to a mere 3 wounds left and the officer
And the God was healed again...
Still, the Men at Arms bravely charged home against its flank (with a 5+)
I get the feeling she likes being the centre of attention
It certainly is cinematic as the mere mortals try and destroy the Immortal...
END OF TURN 6
OLD DOMINION 10 VP's
ONE HUNDRED KINGDOM 5 VP's
With the Bone Golems sat and scoring 2 VP's, Aaron had the game won at the end of Turn 7. The Steel legion were gone but through a few crossbow bolts, a fire dart and an amazing 5 wounds scored on the Fallen Divinity by the Militia Bowmen, the Old God was down to two wounds!!!
TURN 7
I got first activation and it was a no brainer!!! Aaron declared he would use his once per turn reroll against the righteous peasants shooting...
Inspired by the priest, they scored 6 hits...
And with re-rolls, Aaron made 4 of the 6. The last two wounds had been taken...
IT FELT LIKE A VICTORY TO ME!!!!
But at a terrible cost. Mt two elite fighting units were gone!!!
And the Kanephors seemed to get quite animated by the demise of their God
Butchering the Men at Arms with one awesome flank attack!!! The lone member of the House Hold Guard also received a charge by the Legionnaires and was killed
Leaving the Godless Old Dominion in control of the board, with only my light troops surviving!!!
END OF GAME
Aaron's OLD DOMINION 14 VP's
My ONE HUNDRED KINGDOMS 5 VP's
Great game, first time I've faced the Old Dominion and really fancied my chances given how small a force Aaron had. But it had a God and although my Priest survived to help slay it, the Fallen Divinity totally owned me with his Dark Powers. The score was skewed by Aaron's two heavy units to my one scoring but the mission was randomly rolled and it was a cracking good fight
GAME 2:
CHRIS LOBODZINSKI
SCENARIO: HEAD TO HEAD
OLD DOMINION
Chris's list was markedly different from Aaron's, in that it consisted of 1 unit of Legionnaires, 1 unit of Legionnaires with Archemandrite, 1 unit of Legionnaire with Archemandrite, 1 unit of Praetorians with Xhilliarch and 1 unit of Kataphraktoi with Mounted Strategos. No Gods, statues, just lots of Undead Romans with a fair smattering of characters.
HEAD TO HEAD IS A STRAIGHT FORWARD KILL THE ENEMY AND SCORE POINTS FOR EACH ACTIVATION CARD DESTROYED (2 for Warlord)
TURNS 1 - 3
With no lights, Chris didn't get anything on until turn 2 while I got my crossbowmen on early to seize the hill (elevated) with some Men at Arms coming on to support. He did start killing units to get his Dark Power up though...
By Turn 3 I had seized the hill, had Knights and Household Guard
As the Old Dominion sat silently and waited patiently, my forces advanced with a swinging left hook as the Steel legion moved up on the right, with my Militia Bowmen covering them
The Legionnaires sat and practised their Phalanx drill as my forces closed in
The Crossbowmen were in range to target the Legionanires and Praetorians...
They scored an impressive 5 hits on the Legionnaires, as I tried to reduce their numbers before I sent the Knights in...
Only Chris's Kataphractoi were left to come on but they weren't in a rush
TURN 4
The Legionnaires edged up a bit, to stretch their legs while still practicing their Phalanx. The Praetorians held back, to avoid being the target of the Household Knights
As my close combat units closed in, Chris surprised me by bring his heavy cavalry on at my right rather than my left. No cavalry clash, but I was worried about my Militia
I had a solid line and outnumbered my foe. Eerie recollections of Game 1...
My crossbowmen failed to damage the Legionnaires
As my paltry dice rolling managed a few 1's and a lot of 5's & 6's
Still, my cavalry had to go in and they did against the 12 Legionnaires on my left...
Lots of good dice rolls after dropping 4 with Impact hits...
Seven Legionnaires remained, with fifteen hits scored
And Chris saved nine of them...
ONE STUBBORN LEGIONNAIRE HOLDING UP MY LEFT HOOK !!!
TURN 5
I got first activation and charged the Hierodeacons Legionnaires with my Steel Legion
It was Glorious!!!
And the Undead crumbled back to dust
Chris played his Supremacy "Glimmer of a Golden Age" to allow all his units to perform a free reform, allowing the Archimandrites Legionnaires to reform and charge my Steel Legion, which negated any charge by my House Hold Guard
I only lost two Steel Legion though
My Guard advanced up to draw in the Praetorians, or risk me flanking his Legionnaires next turn.
Impressed with the Steel Legions strength of arms, the Archimandrite gave them an unholy baptism that killed five of my valiant warriors.
The Praetorians charged the Household Guard...
And the payback began!!! Broken and shell-shocked, the Noble lord held on desperately
Too far to charge and fight, the elite Kataphractoi simply ran into the Steel Legion, trampling five
My Household Knights advanced around the rea of the Praetorians after the crossbowmen popped the last Legionnaire
The Militia Bowmen fired at the Kataphractoi but only caused a single wound despite 5 hits
My Men at Arms successfully flanked the Praetorians
but the lack of rolling resolve meant the Praetorians barely flinched. The Praetorians were in trouble next turn with the Household Knights ready to charge, but my Steel legion would not last long...
TURN 6
Chris activated first, striking with his Praetorians
and finishing of my Household Guard and with them, my noble Lord
I charged the Praetorians and hit them hard but didn't do enough whereas the Legionnaires finished off the Steel Legion, freeing up the Kataphractoi...
Who took more arrows from the Militia Bowmen
Six hits again
And three failed saves
resulted in a dead dead Katphractoi...
The score was still close, with Chris ahead 5-3 at end of Turn 6
TURN 7
My Men at Arms could not finish of the Praetorians in Turn 6 and my remaining combat troops were locked in with them. The Kataphractoi had failed a charged v the Knights last turn too, while my crossbows moved up to face this new threat
I drew the first activation and activated the Men at Arms
They rolled well scoring an impressive 10 hits
But the Praetorians only lost 4 men to that attack
My Knights were subsequently charged by Archimandrite Legionnaires (just off picture) and were absolutely butchered. I activated the Knight but he had to rally and his attacks were lacklustre
The Kataphractoi then moved and charged, relying on impact hits to trample my troops
My Men at Arms were broken and my crossbowmen were dismayed, rolling abysmally
TURN 8
Still 5-3 to Chris but that was going to change this turn for sure with the Praetorians activating first.
My Knight died, freeing up the Legionnaires as my Militia shot up the Praetorians. One wound left on those buggers, they simply would not die
ONE WOUND!!!
The Men at Arms held as the Kataphractoi failed to make an impact (I'll get my coat). The Legionaires moved to threaten the Militia Bowmen
Chris had moved into a 6 -3 lead going into the second to last turn
TURN 9
I got the first activation, and the Militia went into overkill scoring 7 hits on the lone Praetorian and Xhilliarch
Finally, they succumbed to pretty much everything I could throw at them
And this emboldened the Men at Arms, who managed an impressive defence when the Mounted Strategos hacked at them, saving incredibly well
The Legionnaires charged in to the Militia to avenge their fallen Praetorians comrades
The Priest prayed for Holy Fire to strike the Kataphractoi
And the Archimandrite responded giving the militia an Unholy Baptism, not quite enough to destroy them.
OLD DOMINION 6 VP's ONE HUNDRED KINGDOM 5 VP's
TURN 10
I went first and the Men at Arms went first to get their Bastion up and rolled well
This resulted in a few wounds on the Kataphractoi. Their attacks back were poor and my Men at Arms survived. Sadly, my Priest and his Militia died
The Crossbowmen did manage to score four wounds on the Kataphractoi, leaving them on two wounds. So close, as their death would have tied the game at 8-8
BUT IT WASNT TO BE AND CHRIS RAN OUT A DESERVED WINNER
OLD DOMINION 8 VP's ONE HUNDRED KINGDOM 5 VP's
Aw man, that was so awesome. The silent ranks of undead just waiting, the crushing charge on my forces, good to start, but the Undead Legions Glimmer of a Golden Age supremacy was a masterstroke, turning and moving to engage and deny me charges. Chris played it perfectly. I thought he erred with the Cataphractoi on my right, but guess that's why he won. With my infantry pinned, he simply turned and rode down my flanks... Certainly close and great fun, just wish those Praetorians had folded a turn or two earlier
GAME 3
LYNSEY SWIFT'S "WHITE WOLVES"
ONE HUNDRED KINGDOMS
SCENARIO: BOTTLENECK
Lynsey declined the thumbs up pic, so here are some close ups of her beautiful army...
Lynsey's list was as below:
Priory Commander leading 3 Knights of the Crimson Tower
3 Mounted Squires
3 Household Knights
Noble Lord on Foot leading 5 stands of Household Guard
6 stands of Men at Arms
Chapter Mage leading 4 stands of Mercenary Crossbows
Another length way game, and I was looking forward to this given how close our last meeting was.
TURN 1
I opted for the left hand side as all my stuff was there and there was a hill (I played same table as easier for me and Lynsey wanted a change from her last one). My crossbows marched on to the hill.
Lynsey got both her lights on, with the Squires galloping ahead...
TURN 2
We both rolled well for reserves and the table started to look less desert(ed)
My crossbows were content to sit on the hill as the Men at Arms got in range of the objective. My Priest and Militia guarded my left side with the Household Guard bringing up my right with Ulric the Rash
Lynsey's Squire continued their sprint, as the Household Knights sought to catch up. Men at Arms far side too, with Crossbows advancing centrally and Household Guard near side
The Crossbowmen were feet wet in the oasis trying to cool down
While the White Wolf and his Guard just looked cool...
The Crimson Tower came on at the far side too, and my Steel legion triple timed up. Wow, what's that on the left???
Yeah, those reckless wannabee Knights galloped into my Theist Priest and Militia doing a casualty from impact and another from morale...
Made sense as we were using mission cards too and Lynsey got a Righteous Charge
END OF TURN 3
LYNSEYS WHITE WOLVES 2 VP's
MY BLACK WOLVES 1 VP
TURN 4
The Mounted Squires were the first activation and only three Militia survived
The Militia attacked back for a few wounds. But then the Priest joined in the fray with magic
and mustered all 5 hits
"Yay I say, burn in Holy Fire you impetuous young pups!!!"
Meanwhile, the proper Knights went and charged my Men at Arms, again for Impact only
While I made my Household Guard a tempting target for the crossbowmen... AND LOST 3 STANDS!!! Bloody hell, the Chapter mage was a Marksman woman!!!
END OF TURN 4
LYNSEYS WHITE WOLVES 3 VP's
MY BLACK WOLVES 2 VP's
TURN 5
Well my Noble Lord was in trouble given Lynsey's shooting prowess!!! And my far side was pinned.
And with a few melee's on the boil, activating first would now be vital
I won the roll and had selected my Theist Priest. The Gods truly favour this chap!!! 5 hits saw the last squire fall from his mount
Lynseys activation (after her dead squires) was her Knights who were shockingly bad
Still, she did get some good shooting in against my Household Guard
And I lost 6 wounds!!! 2 wounds left on the unit keeping my Warlord alive...
However, against Lynseys Knights my Men at Arms were inspired
And Lynsey failed 4 saves dropping a Knight
Crossbows on the hill also managed to shoot well
And Lynsey's cavalry Vanguard was left in real trouble
with one knight sitting on 3 wounds...
On my right, I had moved then charged with my Guard to stop the Steel legion from suffering the same fate of being pin-cushioned. I then got to challenge the Mage, who valiantly accepted. She was outmatched and lost 3 wounds, but I had the ignominy of being poked with a wee dagger and taking a wound myself
Ulric the Rash was single handedly holding up the whole White Wolf forces (in his head at least). Lynsey has a solid line, and next turns activation order would be pivotal with my Steel Legion set to strike or be struck
The Crimson Tower Knights were late to the show but would be spoilt for choice next turn while i
was tempted with a charge of my Household Knights into Lynseys.
The impact hits were awesome
And I was glad I shamelessly copied Lynsey's charge in without attacking tactic as it dropped two seven
END OF TURN 5
WHITE WOLVES 4 VP's
BLACK WOLVES 4 VP's
TURN 6
Make or break time!!!
KNIGHTS v MEN at ARMS??? WARRIOR V WITCH???
LEGION V GUARD???
And I won the roll again!!! I had chosen Lord Ulric and played his Supremacy to get the Steel Legion to charge... First time I've ever gotten that off correctly I think.
And the White Wolf Guard crumpled as the Greatswords cut their number in half.
Lord Ulric killed the Witch and gained a point with Defy Witchery (although the chapter mage took another wound off my Lord)
The Guard attacked back, half heartedly having to rally too but my next activation saw the elevated crossbowmen fail to hit and drop the Household Knight...
The Crossbows failed to finish of my Household guard, leaving me on one wound
The real result though was my knight getting an attack before the Men at Arms Bastioned up and the Men at Arms simply collapsed with shocking defence rolls and resolve
So my Men at Arms showed them how to do it!!!
SUCCESS!!!
Ah, hindsight is such a good thing!!! Perhaps I shouldn't have cleared the way for the Crimson Tower boys!!!
My Household Guard activation saw me drop the Crossbowmen to 7 remaining wounds
I may have forgotten to mention how hard the Crimson Tower (and Priory Commander) actually hit. They one-shotted my 6 Men at Arms who had BASTION up)
Still, fire and brimstone would soon ruin their day!!! Ok, so it didn't...
The White Wolf himself challenged my officer and given that Lynsey accepted my challenge with her mage, I could do no less than accept
I managed to save 4 of the attacks that hit home...
END OF TURN 6
WHITE WOLVES 5 VP's
BLACK WOLVES 5 VP's
TURN 7
Lynsey finally got to go first and thundered onto the objective, trampling over my mercenary crossbowmen on the way!!!
In response, my Steel Legion finished off the Household guard while my own Guard despatched the remnants of Lynsey's crossbows
The White Wolf Men at Arms stoically managed to fend off their demise for another turn
And my Militia and Priest combination managed to drop a Knight of the Crimson Tower
Despite my heroics, Lynsey sneaked into the lead by claiming the objective in my half...
WHITE WOLVES 8 VP's
BLACK WOLVES 5 VP's
TURN 8
I won first activation, and had the Theist priest incinerate another Knight before they turned and trampled me under hoof...
I easily finished off the Men at Arms and turned my Knights around. The Steel legion marched towards the Centre while my Lord and his one remaining guard took the far objective. Having left the objective to kill my priest, I had evened the scores up!!!
WHITE WOLVES 8 VP's
BLACK WOLVES 8 P's
TURN 10
The last turn of an epic encounter!!! With my Noble safely ensconced in the enemy's camp and The Priory Commander of the Crimson Tower holding mine own, the Steel Legion and Household Knights took the centre to claim the field of victory and salute the brave remnants of the opposing force
END OF GAME
WHITE WOLVES 11 VP's
LORD ULRIC'S BLACK WOLVES 13 VP's
Another truly epic match!!! When my Militia got crumped early on by those mad Squires and the Marksman boosted Mage and her Merc Crossbows leathering my Household Guard, I really thought i'd had it. But getting the drop on Lynseys three turns in a row turned the game, as did my stoic Men at Arm battering the Knights. I got lucky in that the Crimson Tower showed up a bit late. the Steel legion finally showed their mettle too. I look forward to our third game, Lynsey!!!
SUMMARY
Have to say, the Theist Priest and his bowmen were my unit of the event. Three really great games against brilliant opponents. No rules issues, a shared learning experience of the new set and I certainly made a few interpretation errors. The Old Dominion were resilient and the God terrifying, so glad to face a mortal force at the end that I understood. Thanks to Ian for putting on the event, great fun and well worth the trip down. Trip back was longer listening to, well, the winner...
FIRST PLACE WINNING ALL 3 GAMES: ANDREW CARR
Left to right:
2nd Place Aaron Edwards OLD DOMINION
1st Place Andrew Carr SPIRE
3rd Place and Best Painted Chris Lobodzinski OLD DOMINION
Most Sporting Opponent Nigel Brundson NORDS
MISSING FROM THE HALL OF FAME
LYNSEY SWIFT & BRIAN MCGONIGLE (BOTH ONE HUNDRED KINGDOMS)
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