Ste "Psychoste" Connor, Greg "Greggers" Dean and I headed up the North-East of England for the Dead Meta Gaming lads inaugural Northern Grand Tournament. It was hosted at Gathering Point Games in Darlington.
Aaron and Alan did most of the work, but all the various Adam's and a few others whose names don't start with an A also pitched in for a cracking weekend of gaming. If you've been to some of the larger regional events in the UK, and even some of the smaller one-dayers, you'll definitely have run into some of the DMG guys, as they are hard to miss and harder not to hear.
I've spent most of April adding to my Baratheon's but couldn't get a list together I was comfortable with so resorted back to a dual Mance with a 6/3 and 6/2 activation split.
LIST 1
Free Folk Trappers with Mance Rayder - King Beyond the Wall (C)
Free Folk Raiders with Raid Leader
Free Folk Raiders with Raid Leader
Spearwives with Jarl - Advance Raid Leader
Frozen Shore Bear Riders
War Mammoth
NCU's
Craster & Lady Val
LIST 2
Free Folk Trappers with Mance Rayder - King Beyond the Wall (C)
War Mammoth
Free Folk Raiders with Raid Leader
Free Folk Raiders with Jarl - Advance Raid Leader
Spearwives
Spearwives
NCU's
Craster, Lady Val & Ygritte
GAME 1
DOUG "DOUG 117" GORDON
Never played Doug but know him from the two Scottish GT's and LGT so it was good to
go head to head, especially as he is a decent Lannister player. Fortunately,
this was a new build list he was trying. And fortunate too, cos I tapped him up for some
of his pictures as he is a professional...
SEE DOUG'S PICTURE GALLERY
FOR THE EVENT HERE.
I'd go here first, for the feel
and flavour of the event. It's worth it
You can get my games anytime...
LANNISTERS
A GAMES OF THRONES
House Clegane Mountain's Men with Roose Bolton - The Leech Lord (C)
House Clegane Mountain's Men with Ramsay Snow - Sadist & Theon Greyjoy - Reek
Red Cloaks with Preston Greenfield - Kingsguard
Red Cloaks
Non Combat Units
Joffrey Baratheon, Pycelle & Petyr Baelish
I opted for list 1 with 3 NCU's and the random terrain generated three pieces: a wall, bog & some stakes
LANNISTERS set up with two Cleganes at the front and two Red cloaks in rear, centre and left of centre
FREEFOLK: Spearwives centre, raiders, Mammoth, Spearwives, Trappers behind. Jarl's Raider off board
TURN 1
Doug opted to go first Turn 1, so I brought on my Raiders on outflank to seize the left side objective. Baelish took bags and used letters, I took crown with Val and swapped for a move on right, Joffrey took letters, Ygritte passed and Pycelle too horses. Craster bided his time
On the actual battlefield, I sped up the right side with the Spearwives as the Lannisters edged forward
I suppose its worth mentioning that I thought the Red Cloaks panic was anywhere on the board rather than long range. But then I am an idiot (at times). Doug had advanced cautiously, while I was positioned to steal the two right objectives end of Turn 2 as well as the left, while hopefully contesting the centre.
Board at End of Turn 1
TURN 2
I took Ygritte and influenced the centre spearwives so the bog would not hinder them. Then I took the crown to panic bomb them...
That dropped three of them, so I was well chuffed...
After they advanced up to take the centre, I played surrounded and exposed...
And as Joffrey was on the tactics board "controlling" the Crown, Doug could counterplot it easily... Or not as it turned out!!!
As Doug concentrated, I spread out to the objectives. Doug also used Bags to heal up the three wound.
END OF TURN 3
FREEFOLK 3 VP's (3 objectives)
LANNISTERS 0 VP's
TURN 3
Doug was in a bit of a quandry as to where to bring the Lannister's to bear
As Doug looked to activate an NCU on the tactics board, I played Predictable Manouver's but Doug outsmarted the card play and scored damage to the spearwives which allowed the Cleganes to heal up
I countered start of my turn with regroup and reform to also bring in the Raid leader
And attritional grind was building around the centre...
And the Clegane's got stuck in.
My saves were quite good though...
But the spearwives were outnumbered and being hit by the Red Cloaks moving too so I played Co-ordination tactics to make them insignificant
So having moved the Mammoth to protect my right side units, the Red Cloaks by passed the big guy and hit the Raiders. But I survived with 1 wound.
I then played my second co-ordination tactics on the spearwives
And was passing my panic checks too...
They did eventually succumb to the pressure and the Cleganes though and gave up a VP. My Raider retreated...
My other units were sitting on three of the four flank objectives though
And the failure to kill one Raider meant he had to be dealt with...
END OF TURN 3
LANNISTERS 2 VP's (1 unit, 1 objective)
FREEFOLK 6 VP's (6 objectives)
Board at END of TURN 3
Lannisters control the centre
The Redcloaks lost 3 men to Wildling diplomacy as Doug took to the tactics board
Think it was for the horses to move up and panic Mance and his trappers ahead of a charge
But I passed the panic quite well.
Doug sent the other Redcloaks into the Mammoth on seven wounds
and caused five, and I finally failed a panic that mattered! When my spearwives also suffered from a Red Cloak lannister justice I used Regroup and reform to heal it up and bring Mance into them
The other Clegane moved up and over to the wall to try and threaten my left as my three remaining units were closed in upon by the Lannisters. But I still controlled 3 objectives and Doug had had to abandon the centre
END OF TURN 4
FREEFOLK 9 VP's (9 objectives)
LANNSISTERS 3 VP's (2 units, 1 objective)
The Redcloaks engaged the spearwives, but I healed up
The trappers were hit badly but survived before Roose went in against Mance. Mance survived but the objective was contested.
Ramsey also got in on the left to contest but with my Trappers surviving, I was able to retreat out of melee and still secure the right side objective
END OF TURN 5
FREEFOLK 10 VP's (10 objectives)
LANNISTERS 3 VP's (2 units, one objective)
Cracking game to start off with, with Doug and I sledging each other from the get go. I wouldn't have survived Turn 6, but got far enough ahead with objectives to defend and extend my control in VP's and resisted the Lannister Justice well with my lucky dice rolls. But a tense and exciting game to get the show on the road...
GAME 2
ADAM "HARBO1993" HARBINSON
As a DMG member, see Adam at a lot of event but only played him once (at Stirling where I planked a unit of Greyjoys in front of his Stark bowmen to obliterate due to my stupidity in thinking the palisades were actually stakes and I could charge through them!). So I was looking for revenge and was pleasantly surprised to see no Doran NCU...
MARTELLS
A FEAST FOR CROWS
Martell Spearmen with Harmen Uller - Lord of Hellholt (C)
Dune Vipers with Bronn - The Sellsword
Starfall Outriders with Glory Seeker
Starfall Knights with Fortune Seeker
NCU's
Oberyn Martell, Petyr Baelish & Ellaria Sand
I kept the same List 1 with 3 NCU's
Chatting with Adam I forgot to take pictures until the end of TURN 1. To summarise, Adam feinted with cavalry on set up then charged towards me. The Dune Vypers were tasked with holding up my right heavy hook led by the Mammoth and Spearwives, with trappers behind
Tactics board end of Turn 1
I wasn't holding back with the Mammoth though...
TURN 2
With Adam to go first, I brought on my Jarl's outflanking unit. Adam had some choices to make now. But as he activated an NCU, I played Wildling Diplomacy...
I targeted the Dune Vypers and killed 4
Four dead as Adam took the letters...
I had Ygritte take the swords and used charging volley to drop the Vypers further
We played out the tactics board with the Vypers being healed up to two ranks
I passed panic checks from the crown too as the battle got into full swing.
The Mammoth failed to wipe out the Vypers, killing 3 on the charge. I also charged the Spearmen, dropping them down to five men but losing several men on the way in and then being wiped out in the return attack...
I survived both cavalry charges but barely...
BOARD END of TURN 2
Have to say. the cavalry was worrisome on my flank as my hard hitters were tied up with the Vypers
Activating first, I had my spearwives attack the Vypers of the swords, scoring two hits...
Fortunately, I had "Theres Too Many" which saw Adam roll just high enough to get rid of the pesky net wielders!!!
As Adam finished off a unit with his cavalry, my mammoth charged and took 6 wounds from the set for charge though!!!
I did pass the panic check though...
The Starfall Knights had been freed up but I had dropped an Outrider. I also got an Endless Horde unit on due to the demise of the left side spearwives...
And then came the highlight of the game!!! I activated the Spearwives, shifted up and launched spears at the remaining four Martell spearmen. Adam didn't need me to reroll the attack with the weakened as they all missed!!! Except they didn't as the struck the mammoth, who died due to a failed panic check!!! Still, it landed on the Spearmen killing 3 and leaving Uller on his own!!!
I charged in, losing two ladies to Hot tempered from Oberyn influence... And with no re-rolls due to the corpse pile, failed to kill Harmen!!! Ach well it happens....
I was desperate now, so charged Mance and the Trappers into the Outriders
The Raiders died to a panic attack from the Crown. So I marched up my Endless Horde raiders to block the Starfall Knights from flanking Mance...
And block they did, surviving the ten attacks with help of another panic check pass...
Sadly, i was close enough to the spearmen which allowed Adam to play "Spiteful Truce" and heal up four. Harmen then attacked with six dice, scoring three hits...
Oh, it may not seem like much when your on the back foot, but I was cock a hoop in saving them all!!!
The Outriders turned and attacked killing four Trappers. Not enough to take the objective from me!
Board at End of TURN 3
FREEFOLK 2 VP's (2 objectives)
MARTELLS 2 VP's (2 units)
TURN 4
Going first, I played regroup and reform to beef up the Trappers. I took the swords and attacked the Outriders.
I managed to kill one, but it was a tough ask given the Trappers are not melee fighters. I lost the Raiders to a crown attack, exposing my Trappers flank.
I attacked the Outriders again, but failed to kill them. I lost the Spearwives to the spearmen
And then, with the thunder of hooves, the Starfall Knights charged... I did save one!!!
My horde was down to the last Mance standing!!! But the failed his panic check....
END OF TURN 4
MARTELLS 6 VP's (2 objectives, 4 units)
FREEFOLK 2 VP's (2 objectives)
That was a real fun and frenetic game as Adam's right flank cavalry just swept my left flank aside before trampling my force into the ground. My right flank got bogged by the Dune Vypers and then couldn't finish off those pesky spearmen. Some bad luck to boot, but I had more than my fair share of good luck in the first game, so no complaints, Adam just totally destroyed me.
Doug managed a mid-game snap of me that sums it up nicely. Thanks mate!!!
Still, in the interest of no one, Greg was getting sneak pictures too
GAME 3
LEE "SQUIG" PARKIN
Another DMG stalwart, whom I have had the pleasure of playing a good few times.
Always fun to play against, though this time he was running Baratheons rather than Starks or Freefolk. Tough armour but no Melisdandre and I know he hates my Mammoth
BARATHEONS
WINDS OF WINTER
R'hllor Queen's Men with Stannis Baratheon - The Rightful Heir (C)
R'hllor Lightbringers with Red Priestess
Baratheon Wardens with Bryen Farring - King's Squire
Baratheon Sentinels with Red Priestess
NCU's
Davos Seaworth, Cressen & Petyr Baelish
I opted to run my 2 NCU list for the Bear Riders armour opening ability and less waste if cards gave zone claim points to Lee.
TERRAIN: Corpse pile and bog on the left, palisade central and Weirwood far right to me.
BARATHEONS: Stannis in Queens Men, Sentinels, LightBringers, Wardens
FREEFOLK: Raiders, Bear Riders, Mance's Trappers, Raiders, Mammoth. Jarl Spearwives offboard
TURN 1
I opted to take first turn so my Spearwives could come on against the relatively static Baratheon forces.
I took the letters and weakened the Lightbringers which Baelish removed. I had Val swap swords to move the right side Raiders up...
I wasn't sure I'd win attrition but wanted to hit the right hard and hopefully hold the left while trying to win off card objectives.
BOARD AT END OF TURN 1
I'd lost four Raiders to the fire arrows but my line was good and I had a cunning plan
Tactics board at End of turn 1. Stannis was at the palisade due to taking horses last.
TURN 2
I brought on my spearwives on behind the Wardens with the Jarl. Lee had Cressen activate so I played Wildling Diplomacy. Lee still had Cressen take the crowns and used Will of the One True king on my recently arrived spearwives. Having the crown also gave Bryen Farring re-rolls on defence
I rolled 3+1 wounds on the Wardens from Wildling diplomacy and panicked them.
Lee charged my Raiders with the Wardens but only killed three.
As I passed my panic check...
I decided to leave the swords open and charged in the rear of the Wardens but it wasn't as impressive as I hoped due to weakened and Bryen's reroll ability...
Still, I did have room for the big guy so in he went...
All seven attacks hit (due to Raid Leader)
My Bear Riders moved up into spear toss range, dropping a few Sentinels before charging in with teeth and claw, decimating the Sentinels who failed their panic check too.
The Trappers retreated away after being Firebombed by the Lightbringers. I also regrouped and reformed to bolster the Raiders engaged with the Wardens. And then in a sneaky FreeFolk way, I stopped Stannis activating by playing Predictable Manouvers which would have given me an attack (with bear riders probably) and so he was stuck at the palisade.
END OF TURN 2
Lee cashed in some tokens on my units to earn 2 points while I had two units engaged with fewer ranks than mine. I nearly cashed in two tokens on the wardens, but stopped myself. I would have went 3-2 up, but that would allow Lee to play the card to take the first turn which I wanted to avoid. So against my natural Scottish inclination, I declined to get the gold!!!
TURN 3
We had to have the TO settle an conundrum as we select cards start of turn but Lee wanted to get Cressen to go first. It was ruled I would play my card (score points if Lee took objective first) then Lee could do Cressen giving me a point before playing the same card meaning anyone taking a zone now would give two points. That seemed logical but we just wanted make sure we did it right as it was important
Lee didn't play Cressen so I took the first activation and activated the Bears to destroy the Sentinels and could fit in the gap the left (just)
The Light Bringers set a few Bears alight
The Spear Wives activated and wiped out Bryen's Wardens.
The Lightbringers were now in deep trouble, with me using co-ordination tactics to allow the Raiders to charge and give vulnerable...
This dropped them a rank without using the Vulnerable
END OF TURN 3
FREEFOLK 4 VP's
BARATHEONS 2 VP's
Board at start of Turn 4
Lee played take 1st turn if behind to use it up, I used score point for each objective you control hence why Mance had moved away and the other Raiders were heading away from the centre
TURN 4
Lee activated Cressen at start of round to take the swords and destroy the palisade, then got to activate as he was first anyway, so Stannis charged the Bears, beating them to a bloody pulp...
I played Endless Horde on Raiders before having the spearwives attack and extinguish the Light Bringers.
Stannis had moved back to the centre while I brought the Mammoth up and took 3 objectives
END OF TURN 4
FREEFOLK 8 VP's
BARATHEONS 5 VP's
TURN 5
I played score 2 VP's if unengaged unit in enemy deployment zone while Lee played score 2 VP's from centre objective.
I simply out activated Lee until Stannis had been, then charged into melee and contested the objective in the centre, denying Lee any VP's while I took 2 with the Spearwives...
END OF TURN 5 (& Game)
FREEFOLK 10 VP's
BARATHEONS 5 VP's
Another action packed game, with Mance's cards delaying Stannis from getting in the fight. In fairness to Lee, who plays FreeFolk but not since the new update, he'd forgotten the Bear riders could do charging volley and that really scuppered his battle plan. Bryen Farring in Wardens is certainly a tough cookie, I had 3 units on him and it took me a while. But good concentration of forces while keeping Mance well back out of trouble worked well...
GAME 4
KIERAN "SCADDMAN" SCADDAN
Been seeing Kieran regularly at events and chat quite a bit online, so great to finally play him. Sadly, no Jon Snow (who he knows inside out) for my FreeFolk to face as Kieran had switched to sunnier climes...
I opted for the Bear Rider again and 2 NCU build as wanted the Spearwives outflanking. I planned to out objective this game and prevent Doran impacting...
MARTELLS
HONED & READY
Martell Spearmen with Harmen Uller - Lord of Hellholt (C)
Sunspear Royal Guard with Spearlord
Sunspear Royal Guard
Starfall Knights
NCU's
Doran Martell, Oberyn Martell & Ellaria Sand
SET UP: 2 Wall, Weirwood, Bog, Hedge & Weirwood
Martells: Royal Guard, Spearmen with Harmen Uller, Royal Guard. Starfall Knights far right
FREEFOLK: Raiders, Mance Trappers, Mammoth, Bear Riders, Radiers far right. Jarl's Spearwives outflanking
TURN 1
TURN 1
Kieran was wily enough to go first so I couldn't delay Doran in turn 2 sadly. On my left, we both advanced up at speed, with both Sunspear Royal Gaurd to the front with Uller's spearmen at rear to supply aid. Kieran had put the Starfall Knights out far right to take the objective there, so I held back on the right to avoid his toughest unit. My Bears took the centre and could go left or right...
Tactics board end of turn 1
TURN 2
I brought on my spearwives with the Jarl behind the spearmen. Kieran took the Water Gardens stopping me from activating an NCU next.
So I activated the spearwives, spear tossed and charged, dropping six spearmen but losing two to Oberyn's influence. I also had Rising Temperatures so couldn't use any cards on this unit
I then played Predictable Manouvers to target Doran and the Spearmen.
Kieran activated Ellaria and took the swords so the spearmen could attack, so I got to attack first with the spearwives.
I lost two spearwives to Oberyns influence hits, killed two spearmen and dropped another few spearwives from their attack. I failed a charge into the Royal Gaurd nearest centre with the Mammoth...
The spearmen gave up their activation for a cunning ploy card, allowing the other Royal Guard to turn and flank my spearwives
I charged my left side raiders into the Sunspear Royal Guard but got hit with set for charge card. However, I rolled well and Kieran badly, including a very bad morale check thanks to There's Too Many
I decided against moving up the Bear riders, keeping the centre and both objectives on my side
END OF TURN 2
FREEFOLK 3 VP's (3 objectives)
MARTELLS 2 VP's (2 objectives)
TURN 3
With me going first, Kieran used the spearmens order to get the two remaining Royal guard to shift off the objective and out of the Mammoths charge arc. I had played Endless horde on the spearwives. My first ctivation was Val on the bags to prevetn Kieran healing and moving the Trapper to allow my Endless horde Riaders (when they came on) access to the two Royal guards and also prevent them escaping...
Kieran took the swords, and finished off my spearwives with the other Royal guard, after suppling aid to heal up the unit nearest me. That left Uller alone so I crown zapped him and killed him. Kieran then charged the Starfall Knight into my right side raiders (who were reduced from shooting off the wall).
And then I got a spear toss and flank charge into the Royal Guard and mauled them severely.
My Endless Horde Raiders charged the one rank Royal Guard, after they had charged Mance's Trappers but performed poorly.
END OF TURN 3
FREEFOLK 5 VP's (1 unit, 4 objectives)
MARTELLS 4 VP's (1 unit, 3 objectives)
Tactics Board End of Turn 3
BOARD AT START OF TURN 4
(Note the Starfall Knights lost six wounds over two rounds of shooting 😀 )
Kieran looked to activate Ellaria but I played Wildling diplomacy, so Kieran passed.
I had Val take the swords and the bear riders wiped out the rear Guard, before surging forth into the rear arc of the other Guards
On activation, they charged in and wiped them out, consolidating back onto the left side objective
Kieran healed up his Starfall Knights off the bags but I'd crushed his left side and the Trappers marched onto the centre to secure that...
Board at End of Turn 4
END OF GAME
FREEFOLK 10 VP's (3 units, 7 objectives)
HOUSE MARTELL 7 VP's (1 unit, 4 objectives, 2 Doran tokens)
Great day of gaming, with four games on the Day 1. I really enjoyed this battle as will soon be using Martells and Doran can be a real winner for them. Kieran is only just getting used to them. I'd taken the Bears as a counter to the Starfall Knights given what Adam had done to my infantry earlier in the day, but we agreed Kieran deployed them badly as they would have been really useful in taking out my unit rather than objective sitting. However, it was a no win choice, as had he kept them on the left, my spearwives may have popped up on the right and taken out whoever had deployed there instead of the Knights.
So after a frenetic 4 games on day 1, I was currently sitting in fifth with 3 wins and 1 defeat. Greg had won two and lost two. Ste on the other hand ended up sitting in the street... He had drawn 2 games (winning 1 and losing 1 with points on board) and won 2.
We had had a good meal with a dozen or so lads, before five stalwarts headed out to Darlington. About 0400 a few of them returned, including Ste, who was well and truly hung over!!! Being tee-total I made sure everyone knew to keep the noise down around him on Sunday...
PAINTING
I DIDNT TAKE ANY PICTURES AS DOUG SHARED THEM WTH ME
ALL ON DISPLAY ARE HERE
A few teasers...
GAME 5
DAN "SPACE MONKEY" MCDONALD
Dan is a painter first and foremost, with a magnificent bog trotting force. He's also real good fun to play against and I'd played his his trap happy Howland force at the ELO event in London (where my giants and Mammoths had chased him all over the board). His usual opponents are mickey and Carlo so he knows the game well and I have to admit I was worried about how I could defeat him more than I worry about most opponents
STARKS
A DANCE WITH DRAGONS
House Bolton Bastard's Girls with Howland Reed - Lord of the Crannogs (C)
Crannogman Trackers with Rickon Stark - Prince of Winterfell & Osha -
Shaggydog
Crannogman Bog Devils
Crannogman Trackers
NCU's
Arya Stark, Petyr Baelish & Catelyn Stark
I opted for the 6/3 list for the extra activation
Setup: Corpse pile, Weirwood, stakes palisade
CRANNOGMEN: Osha's Trackers, Bog Devils, Howland's Bastard Girls, Trackers, Shaggydog
FREEFOLK: Mammoth, Mance Trappers, Spearwives, Raiders, Spearwives. Jarl Raiders in outflank
TURN 1
Dan went first but I kept the Jarl's unit off board. Baelish took the horses but drew from letters using a token. i took the letter with Ygritte, before Arya killed two of my right spearwives off the crown.
We both sped forward, with Dan not activating Shaggydog as I'd played Predictable manouvers...
We were both right in each others face at the minute, but I knew the Bogmen would have some tricks to play
TURN 2
I took the swords but before I did Dan use Arya to get his Bastard girls to move out of shooting range of the Spearwives.
So I took the swords anyway and fire from the Trappers at the Bog Devils
killing two. They then used their Scout opening order on the Mammoth and charged it, which I wasnt expecting....
I then healed up some on the Mammoth before charging into the bastard girls with Mance and the Trappers (Dan wasnt expecting that but I couldnt let him charge)
He shot at me first using Bog Devil Ambush as Mance failed his Counterstrategy roll but I saved three of the five hits...
And despite disrupt, I managed to kill 5 of the Bast'rds...
The tactics board was filling up and Arya on the crown allowed an attack using assault orders. (Catelyn had gotten the bog devils to retreat)
This allowed the Bastard girls to attack and drop the Trappers to half strength...
I regrouped and reformed to get Mance out of trouble...
But the Crannogmen had taken one objective and got me chasing shadows again on the left
So on the centre and right, I'd have to fight smarter. A 4+ charge? Well, the trackers trapped me for hits rather than -1 move...
And I made three of the four saves... and failed the charge by an inch!!!
I repositioned the Mammoth as the Bastard Girls killed the Trappers
Shaggydog manouvered up and charged my spearwives, killing six and seizing the objective as the Raiders looked on.
Battlefield at End of Turn 2
I elected to retreat from combat with shaggydog melee so I could get a spear toss in against him
CRANNOGMEN 3 VP's (1 unit, 2 objectives)FREEFOLK 1 VP (1 objective)
Dan was first activation, so I brought on my Raiders behind his left Crannog trackers with Osha d Rickon. Dan was going to use Baelish but I used Wilding Diplomacy so he passed. The Crannog tracker Trapped me and I lost two spearwives on the way in, having activated off the swords with Ygritte with one throwing spear finding its mark
3 hits hit home and Dan saved one, but I spent the vulnerable and Shaggydog died giving me the right objective and strengthening my right side
Dan activated an NCU so I activated Mance and the Spearwives (only to find out teh Crannogs had trapped the Weirwood making it difficult terrain. I lost wives and movement but javelined the trackers flank killing 3 (fortunately I passed my panic check on the Raider raid leader)
I then successfully charged in causing an awesome seven wounds!!!
With Endless horde on the Raiders, their demise wouldn't have bothered me that much. But as Dan pointed out, they were on the Weirwood so would die this turn anyway. Dan retreated the two trackers away...
I activated the Raid leader who died and replaced them with a new full strength unit to hem in the Bog Devils that were giving my Mammoth a hard time!!!
But then I took the Crown and panicked the two Trackers...
Good old Lady Val...
I'd cleared out the right side, and had reinforced the left. The bog Devils couldnt escape a Mammoth charge
So they charged the beast instead, doing a horrific number of wounds
Though none through panic!!!
I finally got around to doing something with my Jarl's unit. Dan and I both had so many more things we needed to do. I charged in but rolled a 1. Dan did trap them for 3 wounds on the way in
Despite needing 4+ without rerolls the boys done me proud and scored five hits
killing five plus one more from the failed panic... Dan retreated them away. I was now in a quandry. Leave Mance exposed to a Howland flank shoot and charge or use Craster to take horses and move out of arc. Problem was I needed Craster to heal the Mammoth as he had one wound left and would die on activation from the poison!!!
I sacrificed the Mammoth, as we could always eat it's carcass anyway
I then failed a 2+ charge into the Bog Devils with the Endless horde Raiders... Aaargh!!!!
Both our forces were feeling the pressure at the end of Turn 3
END OF TURN 3
FREEFOLK 5 VP's (2 units, 3 objectives)
CRANNOGMEN 5 VP's (2 units, 3 objectives)
Mance couldn't outrun Howland, even with first activation. So I'd have to attack!!!
Board at End of Turn 3
TURN 4
I shifted up, fire my spears and charged in dropping Howland to two men, all from the swords and after placing Endless Hordes on Mance.
I then played Predictable Manouvers on Howlands unit and Baelish... So Catelyn healed them up. I attacked again, all or nothing but sadly only killed one leaving the unit alive on a single rank.
I charged the Bog Devils, seizing the objective from them as Osha's unit moved up from the horses...
They then charged Mance in the flank and wiping the unit out for 3 VP's...
I used Val to move up my Jarls Raiders for a long rear charge
But Dan shifted and got set up so when I activated he could use Bog Devil Ambush to shoot, then used charging volley to smash me utterly... Very nicely set up and executed, I have to say
The Bog Devils attacked my Raiders but didn't drop the ranks and I passed the panic so held the objective...
Until Howland activated and charged in, wiping them out and taking the objective...
Board at the End of Turn 4 (and Game)
CRANNOGMEN 10 VP's (3 units, 5 objectives and 2 for Mance)
FREEFOLK 6 VP's (2 units, 4 objectives)
That was a cracker, and it could have went either way. It was close and so many what ifs... Mance's Boisterous charisma stopped his units being "trapped" and Howlands disrupt saved him when I got the two attacks on him start of turn 4. Another great game against Dan, very tense but damn fun!!!
GAME 6
JOHN "quina2525" CRAIG
John runs the Scottish GT so met him a few times, but first time facing him and he was running an irregular Targayen list...
TARGAYENS
A CLASH OF KINGS
Stormcrow Archers with Daario Naharis - Stormcrow Captain (C)
Stormcrow Mercenaries with Unsullied Officer
Stormcrow Mercenaries with Unsullied Officer
Stormcrow Mercenaries with Unsullied Officer
Jorah Mormont - The Wandering Knight
NCU's
Daenerys Targaryen, Illyrio Mopatis & Tycho Nestoris
I switched back to the Bear list, so I'd played each list 3 times and also as wanted the speed...
Set Up: Palisade far left, corpse pile and woods
TARGARYENS: SC Mercs, SC Mercs, SC Archers, Jorah, SC Mercs
FREEFOLK: Trappers with Mance, Raiders, Mammoth, Bear Riders, Raiders. Jarl Spearwives offboard
TURN 1
John opted to go first so I brought on my spearwives to add to my right hook plan...
I thought this would discourage John but obviously I dont know how he plays!!!
John used the Horses to advance up, and though I was tempted to charge he'd left them out of spear toss range...
So it activated an NCU, and John declared a charge playing Reckless strike. Three sixes caused me 3 wounds and 5 more hits!!!
I dropped to half strength, then attacked back, allowing the Unsullied Officers relentless to kick in...
And the result was simply awful for me!!! I just, well, I just cocked up...
BOARD AT END OF TURN 1
I was definitely on the back foot so decided I needed to get stuck in but felt the Stormcrows were baiting me...
TURN 2
I had Val take the bags to deny it to the Mercs and used horses to advance up my Raiders onto the right objective
I was hoping to entice a charge...
But when that didn't happen, I Bear spear tossed and dropped five with the failed panic from Theres Too Many before I charged in. The SC Mercs survived and then healed up with Sells word Negotiations and later Illyrio...
I made a long charge into the archers on a 5+ as I had to be aggressive...
I scored six hits with the critical blows
But they survived on a single rank and I was flanked by another SC unit that did three wounds to the Mammoth. I'd also lost a rank on the bears from attacks back and archers before I'd engaged them...
John did weigh up a long range charge into Mance on the left but then realised I could trap him and make it impossible.
I played Predictable Manouvers on the remaining NCU and unactivated SC Mercs, so John passed with the NCU.
As I would have attacked with the Mammoth...
My Trappers moved more central and the SC's on the left seized the objective there. Oh, and Jorah flanked the Mammoth and did another three wounds!!!
END OF TURN 2
TARGARYENS 2 VP's (1 unit, 1 objective)
FREEFOLK 1 VP (1 objective)
TURN 3
John was first activation and took an NCU for the swords. I played Wildling Diplomacy but John decided to take the risk and let me play it. I decided to do D3+1 wound on the Stormcrows but rolled 1. And then when the mammoth died, rolled another 1...
The Stormcrows then killed the Bears!!!
I threw my Raider up in the centre to try and buy some time...
But in the centre Mance could be trapped, so I used regroup and reform to shift him to the right side Raiders (as the SC mercs there had activated)
And I tried my best to kill the StormCrows...
But they simply wouldn't die
Jorah even went looking for a scrap and took a wound from my Trappers traps...
If I shifted across and shot him with the Trappers I could get him... And I was first next turn!
END OF TURN 3
TARGARYENS 6 VP's (3 units, 3 objectives)
FREEFOLK 3 VP's (3 objectives)
TURN 4
I used Val on swords to kill Jorah...
Predictable Manouvers was played but I always come of worse when I attacked so John ignored it...
and killed my central Raiders before Overrunning into my central Trappers. The death of those Raiders did trigger an Endless horde replacement unit...
Again, Regroup and Reform was played to jump back to my Trappers as the SC on the right hadn't activated yet...
Then changed my mind and went into the Endless horde unit. It felt safer!!! I retreated my Trappers and right side Raiders to try and survive the turn.
They didnt as the SC on the right wasted my Raiders there
END OF TURN 4
TARGARYENS 8 VP's (3 units, 5 objectives)
FREEFOLK 4 VP's (1 unit, 3 objectives)
TURN 5
It's fair to say I was beaten... Badly!!! John charged the trappers and wiped them out securing the centre!!! I took the Horses with Craster and Mance ran away...
John actiated on the left and did nothing, so Val took something and Mance... ran further away. We just activated out as Mance kept on running. An ignominious end to a great weekend of gaming for Mance!!!
END OF TURN 5 (and Game)
TARGARYENS 12 VP's (4 units, 8 objectives)
FREEFOLK 4 VP's (1 unit, 3 objectives)
I just got badly beaten up. And with one unit sat on the left the whole time, john did it with ease. I wasted my Spearwives, and had forgotten the Relentless doesn't give you an extra move or attack, its every time you attack. And its not like I didn't know, i had a Watch Captain in my NW at Stirling ELO... I just was a bit dim and the SC Mercs just went through me. Even Jorah gave me a kicking!!! John was a deserved winner and also took top Targaryen player with a Stormcrow list...
The Trophy tables...
FIRST AND SECOND PLACE TROPHIES
BEST IN FACTION, PAINTING AND SPORTING
PLAYERS AND ADDITIONAL PRIZES
Additional prize support, primarily from YACHEW and Gathering Point Games
DOUG HAS ALL THE PRIZE GIVING PICS HERE
BUT FIRST PLACE WENT TO A RELATIVE NOOB CALLED CARLO
AND SECOND PLACE (and BEST STARK) WAS A PISSED UP SCOUSER I KNOW...
A fantastic event with nothing to improve on for me, the four games on day 1 and two on day 2 worked well, the venue was great for 32 players, the Dead Meta guys were hilarious company as always and I had a simply brilliant weekend. Even provided free water which was a good idea. (I have to admit I still paid 50p for the really cold ones out of the fridge, but its still a very good idea)
I ended up 17th of 32 players, winning as many as I lost so fair enough. Six great games and really great to have rematches agaisnt previously played player s and three new foes to record in my blog of grudges!!! I also have to eat humble pie and congratulate Ste (again) on a magnificent second place and being Top Stark player, all the more so for ripping on him all morning for his hang over and general state of pishiness... And at the end of the day, yeah, it was brilliant!!!
(Thankfully, Greg and him both slept for most of the 2.5 hour drive back to Liverpool)
FULL RESULTS ON ASOIF STATS
TICKETS FOR 2024 ARE NOW ON SALE
GET IN QUICK AND HELP IN OUR CHARITABLE GOAL OF GETTING 40 TICKET SALES BEFORE AUGUST...
AND DONT FORGET DOUG'S PICTURE GALLERY AS IT CAPTURES THE "FEEL" OF THE EVENT. I just capture my games...
Paul Whitehead and Thomas Whitworth are running a cracking looking 50pt one dayer over a Leodis Games in Leeds on June 4th
(YES, 50 POINTS)
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I missed the CYMRU GT last year but is allegedly on a par socially with Scotland, so Greg and I are going.
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A Song of Summer - ELO
Bad Moon Cafe, Great Dover Street, London, UK
SUNDAY 24th JUNE
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Battle of the Bannockburn Bastards 2023
Common Ground Games, Cowane Street, Stirling, UK
SUNDAY JULY 29th
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Unbowed Unbent Unbroken
Battlefield Hobbies, South March, Daventry, UK
Saturday July 15th
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And there are The Circuit Events run by ASOIF Stats and Carlo should be well supported.
The three events are as follows:
London Open – April 15TH/16TH
Birmingham GT – May 27TH/28TH
Leeds GT August 5TH/6TH
You can find a joint rules pack – including information on how to purchase a ticket - for the events here:
THE LONDON GRAND TOURNAMENT
Saturday 30th September & Sunday 1st October
Paul Winter has taken over running this event and its the biggest one!!!
I WILL BE RUNNING THE RIBBLE RUMBLE AGAIN THIS YEAR. IT'S GOING TO BE
DECEMBER 2nd/3rd 2023
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