YECATS LIVE STREAM OF SOUTHERN GRAND TOURNAMENT
* The above is happening 9th February, check it out*
(You can always read my blog between rounds)
Greg "Greggers" Deane organised an 18 player, three game event at Justplay in Liverpool, all in the space of six weeks, and featuring the cream of the North-West A song of Ice and Fire players on 2nd February...
and Tim Whitney!!!
With a fair few Wardens of the
North-West playing, Greggers made us use different club affiliations so that those
travelling could avoid playing their regular mates. This allowed Colin "Kolco" Deane
and Ste "Psycho-Ste" Connor to be drawn together first turn, two of my pre-event
favourites alongside Andy "Lord Robbo" Robinson and Ray "Mr Ray " Grieves.
They are the best four players in our club...
I opted to run my Thoros list first as I'd enjoyed playing him the most so far.
With hindsight, I was giving my opponent lots of attachments to assassinate...
King's Men with Thoros of Myr - The Red Wizard (C)
Peasant Levy with Gendry - The Bull
Peasant Levy with Tom Sevenstrings
Brotherhood Archers with Edric Dayne - Loyal Squire
Brotherhood Sworn Knights
NCU's
Ghost of High Heart
Catelyn Stark
GAME 1
"A FEAST FOR CROWS"
JOHN "Johnw" WALL
HOUSE TARGARYEN
Drogo's Bloodriders with Khal Drogo - The Great Khal (C)
Dothraki Veterans with Rakharo - Bloodrider
Dothraki Outriders
Jorah Mormont - The Wandering Knight
NCU's
Mirri Maz Duur, Daenerys Targaryen & Lord Varys
John is one of the trio of London Gamers Old Guard that go to a lot of events in the UK, and lives in North Liverpool. He wasn't running his Nights Watch, and opted for an all cavalry Targaryen force
RANDOM TERRAIN & DEPLOYMENT
Terrain: Wall, Stakes, Hedge, Hedge
Targaryens: Drogo in Bloodriders, Outriders, Veterans, Jorah behind
Brotherhood: Knights, Peasants, Thoros's Kingsmen, Archers, Gendry Peasant
ROUND 1
I opted to go first and took the Letter with Lady Stoneheart, influencing Jorah...
I had a good variety of cards, and with the Forgotten Fellowship was surely gonna throw something up for the Targaryens to deal with
John took the Horses to move up Drogo's Bloodriders, so I marched Tom's Peasants up on my right. John had Varys take the Crowns and zap my Peasants
And I passed with so no wounds taken
I had advanced up my archers, then dd their order to cover the right side pretty effectively, so John swung onto my left, and I swung back to my right. Drogo marched right up to threaten my Knights
Board End of Round 1
ROUND 2
I played the Forgotten Fellowship and Marched Thoros and the Kingsmen up into threaten the flank of the Veteran
Drogo failed a War Cry start of turn, before taking the horses to move his Veteran back and out of a potential Kingsmen charge
I moved my Archers up to support Thoros and control centre with a range threat.
The cavalry were unsure how to use their manouverability, and Gendry had stakes supporting his flank...
Jorah was healed off bags last turn, so the influence of Lady Stoneheart meant he didn't use his cavalry move when he marched up to take the objective on my left. I had tried a crown zap on him too, but he easily passed it.
But the Veterans moved across and shot up the Kingsmen's flank, who had to turn to face. But they passed their panic for a faith token
I decided I should really get the drop on Drogo so charged home with my Sworn Knights, dropping one rider and narrowly missing out on killing a second (5 wounds)
The Hag took the bag after my Knights were attacked back
I didnt like the way my forces were strung out at end of Round 2, but I had the Veterans cornered and Gendry's bold advance up was to threaten Jorah. I just needed my Knigths to tie up the Khal for a few turns...
Board End of Round 2
END OF ROUND 2
HOUSE TARGARYEN 1 VP (1 objective)
BROTHERHOOD 1 VP (1 objective)
ROUND 3
Activating first, I had Lady Stoneheart take the Swords and the Knights cut down a rank of Bloodriders, while influencing them. John then had Mirri Maz Duur heal the Bloodriders by taking the bags.
I then activated Thoros to charge into the Veterans
With Critical blow, I scored a stonking eleven hits with sundering!!!
Eight went through, and John wasn't chuffed when he failed the morale check, leaving the unit of Veterans on two wounds
Thoros in Kingsmen is a nice combination!!!
The lone Veteran used swift retreat, then moved and charged the Archers, rolling a one on the way in!!!
John played Unstoppable Advance for re-roll, and then rolled another one!!! Oops...
I took the Hag on the Horses t retreat the Archers out of combat, healing as they went with Edric Dayne
I then had my Archers shoot down the lone Veteran
My Knights "Took up the Sword" on activation, healing to get a rank back before attacking
But the Bloodriders had found their armour saves, and on attacking back cut me down a rank again
They then attacked again off of Assault orders. But I survived with two wounds!!!
Then John remembered Khal Drogo's auto wounds from expert duellist, so I took them for each attack and died, allowing Drogo to surge forth back towards the battle
Gendry's "Resilience" had meant hey had survived some Outrider shooting with just one rank down. But with Drogo galloping towards them, the Peasants backed off towards their own lines...
BOARD END OF ROUND 3
END OF ROUND 3
HOUSE TARGARYEN 3 VP's (1 unit, 2 objectives)
BROTHERHOOD 3 VP's (1 unit, 2 objectives)
ROUND 4
John took the bags, to heal up Drogo. I took the Horses, moving Gendry back. John used a Varys token to move Drogo up before he took the swords and shot into Gendry. I didn't use his order, as I was hoping he would die so I could take the objective from a corpse pile.
Sadly, I didn't and Gendry was left alone feeling rather foolish!!! So I had the Archers activate and cut a rank down from the Outriders!!!
The tactics board filled out quickly, with the Hag on the Crowns failing to inflict more damage on teh Outriders
But a Swift Reposition put the Khal in striking distance of the Archers
And strike the did, barrelling into the lightly armed missile troops and cutting them down to three.
I moved Tom's Peasants out of the way and back to facilitate a retreat next turn.
But John had other ideas, charging into Gendry with the Outriders, killing him and over running into the Archers. The unit did eventually provide the corpse pile but Gendry was saved with "The Last Kiss" and joined Thoros in the Kingsmen. And Lady Stonehearts influence dropped a wounded Outrider...
Unfortunately, Edric Dayne survived!!!
With the last activation, Thoros, Gendry and the Kingsmen swung up to take the objective and turn to face the last Outrider. And John wailed out loud as the objective revealed healed one wound plus one for each destroyed rank (so three went back on the Archers)
END OF ROUND 4
HOUSE TARGARYEN 5 VP's (2 units, 3 objectives)
BROTHERHOOD 5 VP's (1 units, 4 objectives)
ROUND 5
I played Regroup and Reform, healing up the Archers a further four before charging in with the Kingsmen...
I cut down the Outrider with ease, and dropped back
John had Daenerys take the Swords, attacking the Archers and killing five but I survived. I retreated and healed again...
With Drogo's Bloodriders down to one rank, I had reformed to face
John healed up the Bloodriders, then charged the taunting peasants
They were massacred, creating a second corpse pile which my archers moved onto.
BOARD END OF ROUND 5
HOUSE TARGARYEN 7 VP's (3 units, 4 objectives)
BROTHERHOOD 8 VP's (2 units, 6 objectives)
Khal Drogo's Bloodriders activated, I played Loved by the Smallfolk which made Drogo's unit vulnerable, before they charged in and wiped out the Archers (only just, as survived the panic with one man left, before John remembered Khal's expert duellist), taking the objective. I took the Horses and turned to face. I then charged home against the ten wounds Bloodriders...
With Critical blow again doing me proud, I scored ten hits...
And John only made two 5+ armour saves, before I used the vulnerable token, with john failing them both. Drogo died with his Bloodriders...
END OF ROUND 6 (& GAME)
HOUSE TARGARYEN 9 VP's (4 units, 5 objectives)
BROTHERHOOD 10 VP's (3 units, 7 objectives)
Such a close game, felt it was harsh on John as his dice weren't good (ones on charges, armour at the end) and my sixes were on fire for the Kingsmen. Despite that, the game was neck and neck 'til the very end. We circled early on and then when we got stuck in, it ebbed and flowed. Great game!!!
GAME 2
"HONED & READY"
ANDY "LORD ROBBO" ROBINSON
HOUSE GREYJOY
I opted to run Thoros again, as I had won and I enjoy using him. Andy's force was, well, pretty tough, with double Iron Victory Crew and Victarion and Nute. I had to try and avoid those units and pick on the weaker ones...
Iron Victory Crew with Victarion Greyjoy - The Iron Captain (C)
Iron Victory Crew with Nute - The Barber
Ironborn Bowmen with Baelor Blacktyde - Captain of the Nightflyer
Ironborn Reavers
Ironborn Trappers
NCU's
Beron Blacktyde, Asha Greyjoy & Balon Greyjoy
RANDOM TERRAIN & DEPLOYMENT
TERRAIN: Stakes, Bog, Bog, Corse pile
GREYJOYS: Trapper's, Reavers, Iron Vic crew, Iron Vic crew, Bowmen
BROTHERHOOD: Knights, Thoros's Kingsmen, Tom's Peasants, Archers, Gendry Peasants
CARD HAND
Oooh, Fiery Charge and the Forgotten Fellowship makes for a Turn 2 long charge if Andy elects to go first...
ROUND 1
Andy chose to go first, taking the Letters, weakening the Archers, who I then advanced up using the Horses. And then a further 3" start of Andy's next turn with their order, "Deceitful Reposition"
Andy took the bag to deny me them as I moved units on my right, but then the Swords to get his Bowmen a shot in at my Archers.
That's a good lot of misses!!!
A crown zap cost the Ironborn Bowmen two more, after losing one to Lady Stonehearts influence. Thoros had been set up for a march before a charge, but Victarions unit had blocked it (unintentionally I felt). My Knights could go either way, but the Archers and Peasants would support one another.
BOARD AT END OF ROUND 1
ROUND 2
I played The Forgotten Fellowship and marched Thoros into Victarions face!!!
Going first, I had Lady Stoneheart influence the Ironborn Bowmen, then shot them with my Archers. Andy healed them off of the Bags. I took the Horses and moved Thoros to give him charge options.
Andy took the Letters. Result!!!
Thoros and the Kingsmen used Fiery Charge to make the Bowmen panicked and the simply overwhelmed them with their Critical blows and the corpse pile for the resulting panic check
Oh, and I also realised I had two pass tokens to use!!!
And in a rush of blood, and undoubted stupidity, I followed a wonderful charge with a decision to move onto the objective on the stakes, taking 3 wounds, before destroying them and taking a further 4 wounds. And then took the Crowns, swapped it out for shots and caused two wounds. And then, as the round ended, I took two more. So two wounds left...
Victarion's charge into Tom's Peasants had cut down six before I retreated out. The Trappers took the far left objective, while my Peasants took the right (I lost four to shots from the wall) and Kingsmen far right
BOARD END OF ROUND 2
END OF ROUND TWO
GREYJOYS: 2 VP's (2 objectives)
BROTHERHOOD: 4 VP's (1 unit, 3 objectives)
ROUND 3
Andy activated Victarion and charged into Tom's Peasants, destroying them before over running into my Archers.
I retreated the Archers using the Horses. Andy then made a 4+ charge into my remaining Knight, easily despatching him and claiming the near left zone, With Nute safely ensconced on the centre, Andy had taken control of the board.
My Archers did shoot up some of Victarions unit, but I had to do more
A Fiery Charge by Thoros and the Kingsmne into the flank did not managed to destroy Victarion's Iron Victory Crew. And I had given up the objective...
BOARD END OF ROUND 3
Tactics Board End of Round 3
END OF ROUND 3
HOUSE GREYJOY 7 VP's (2 units, 5 objectives)
BROTHERHOOD 5 VP's (1 unit, 4 objectives)
ROUND 4
The Ghost of Heart Hill took the Swords, allowing the Kingsmen to attack
They cut down the Iron Victory Crew, but What is Dead may Never die appeared.
Sadly, they failed the panic check and still died.
Only to have Balon resurrect them, to come on and claim the far right objective. After changing out a zone to finish off my Peasants. This won Andy a spot prize...
We passed the game out as I could not contest the four objectives the Greyjoys had secured. The Trappers did die to shooting off the wall after scoring.
END OF ROUND 4 (& GAME)
HOUSE GREYJOY 12 VP's (3 units, 9 objectives)
BROTHERHOOD 7 VP's (3 unit, 4 objectives)
Damn, that was stupid. I wasted a good opportunity after destroying the Ironborn Bowmen, when I should have defended my right and instead I wasted my Knights and gifted Andy the upper hand with the Reavers having an easy picking on the one remaining Knight while the Trappers and Nute just sat on objectives. Oh well, fortune doesn't always favour the bold...
The top three tables (Andy had me beaten inside an hour)
The lower end (as Andy adds his points up)
Andy also won the spot prize, called Honed and Ready Salted. Free bag of crisps to first person to destroy a unit by shooting off the wall. He felt so guilty he had Greg donate them to me...
GAME 3
"A DANCE WITH DRAGONS"
Elliott "EJ6023" Jones
HOUSE BOLTON
Cutthroats with Steelshanks Walton (C)
Blackguards with Dreadfort Captain
Blackguards
Flayed Men
Dreadfort Archers with Sour Alyn - Bastard's Boy
NCU's
Walda Frey & Ramsay Snow
A fellow Warden and now running Boltons instead of those sneaky Martells, always have a good game with Elliot and with both of us having already lost to Mr Ray and Lord Robbo respectively, who were on top table, we really didn't have much to play for but fun... so I opted for my Lady Stoneheart list:
Stark Sworn Swords with Catelyn Stark - Lady Stoneheart (C)
Peasant Levy with Gendry - The Bull
Peasant Levy
Brotherhood Archers
Brotherhood Sworn Knights
NCU's
Ghost of High Heart, Ravella Smallwood & Thoros of Myr
RANDOM TERRAIN & DEPLOYMENT
TERRAIN: Stakes, Corpse Pile, Weirwood, Wood, Wood
BOLTONS: Cutthroats with Steelshanks, Blackguard, Archers, Flayed Men, Blackguard
BROTHERHOOD: Peasants, Sworn Swords, Sworn Knights, Archers, Gendry Peasants
TACTICS CARD OPENING HAND
ROUND 1
Elliot elected to go first, taking the Letters, before I took the Horses to move my Archers up, using their order to move a further 3"and cover a swathe of the right and centre.
Ravella caused two casualties on the Dread archers before Ramsey healed them of the bags, leaving the swords open for Thoros
The Archers kept everyone at a respectable distance as the Boltons advanced in a left echelon formation
Thoros took the Swords allowing my Archers to drop three Dreadfort Archers
BOARD END OF ROUND 1
I was planning to delay on the right and hit hard on my left
I started with the Ghost taking the Swords and having my Archers shoot up their Dreadfort counterparts
I rolled well, Elliott didnt and this dropped them to three men
Elliot then activated his Flayed Men, charging into the Archers and doing six wounds
This allowed me to play Vengeance in Blood and Catelyns Sword Swords moved to the Flayed Men's flank
I then took the Horses to move Gendry's Peasants up to pinch the right objective, turning to face the Flayed Men as the Black Guard were just out of charge range. Elliot took the Crowns but despite the Initmidating Presence from the Flayed Men, my Archers were resolute...until the Dreadfort Archers killed them. The Flayed Men couldn't pivot due to the Peasants on their flank
Being the first to successfully charge with an objective holding unit, I won the third spot prize, a Dance with Donuts... Classy events in Liverpool!!!
Even better, the Flayed Men's armour was full of holes as Elliot rolled triple two's
The Black Guard marched up ready for next round. So I flanked the Flayed Men with the Sworn Swords. And finiding the Critical Blow is something need in all my armies!!!
Eleven hits in the flank...
And no more Flayed Men...
I surged forth up in front of the Dreadfort Archers, ignoring the Blackguard closing in on the Peasants
The Archers shot at me, with Elliot taking Sour Lyn's Critical Blow. Good Choice!!!
I lost five Sworn Swords, and then played Regroup and Reform to heal back
On my left, I thundered into the Cutthroats with my Knights killing eight men, including three to a poorly rolled panic check
The central Blackguard took the centre then turned to face before the Cutthroats ineffectually struck back. This allowed me to play Sudden Retreat.
Board End of ROUND 2
With the Deid Catelyn in the midst of the Boltons, and Cutthroats seriously depleted, I was feeling confident. My plan of hitting the left still stood, but taking out the Flayed Men was an opportunity I couldnt turn down.
Elliot's first activation saw his central Blackguard turn to face the Stark Sworn Swords. This allowed me to charge in again with the Sworn Knight against the Cutthroats. Critical blow again, awesome...
Having activated, I surged forth over to the left...
Elliot healed up his Archers, before I took the Swords and destroyed the Stakes with the Knights.
I could tell you it was to save the Peasants, but really, it was just petulant revenge from Game 2...
I dropped the Sworn Swords back to give the Blackguard on the right a better option than going after Gendry's Peasants who were in a Wood. The Dreadfort Archers shifted up and dropped a few...
The Blackguard made the easier charge, but lost a rank due to deid Catelyn's Horrific Visage and Intimidating Presence...
END OF ROUND 3
HOUSE BOLTON 3 VP's (1 unit, 2 objectives)
BROTHERHOOD 6 VP's (2 Units, 4 objectives)
BOARD END OF ROUND 3
I had plenty of Thoros tokens and with Ravenna, felt I could keep the Sworn Swords alive
Activating first, I had the Old Hag take the Swords to allow the Sworn Swords to attack. They passed their Horrific Visage check, after using Regroup and Reform. And again, with the Critical Blow...
This left the Blackguard on two wounds
The Dreadfort Archers opened up on me, cutting down by six. But then Elliot failed his panic on the Blackguard, taking one wound plus one for Catelyn's Intimidating Presence
I used Ravenna on Bags to heal up the Sworn Swords
And also had Thoros take Crowns and heal a further four with all his tokens...
Elliot did manage a charge against the Sworn Swords, passing his Horrific visage but only killed two Sworn Swords
This allowed me to play Vengeacne in Blood to march my cavalry across
Before barrelling into their flank, cutting them down to a single rank, stealing the objective.
BOARD END OF ROUND 4 (& Game)
HOUSE BOLTON 3 VP's (1 unit, 2 objectives)
BROTHERHOOD 10 VP's (3 units, 7 objectives)
Elliot had no luck. Again my Critical blows were awesome as were my panic checks but Elliot really suffered from some poor dice. Losing my archers were a blow but it was a fair trade for Flayed Men in the end and with my healing from Ravenna, Thoros and Regroup/Reform, yeah, this went pretty well. Some nice Catelyn cards too...
Three games, two wins and still feel losing to Andy was really self inflicted. Not a bad day's gaming all told.
TROPHIES
Most Sporting Opponent
John Wall
First Place
Andy Robinson
Second Place
Ste Connor
Third Place
Paul Aden
(With a genuine look of shock)
BEST PAINTED UNIT
TIM WHITNEY
Dirtiest Player
Andy Robinson
AVERAGE JOE
(9th of 18 players)
Brian McGonigle
(Me)
LAST PLACE
Barry Williams
PAINTING GALLERY
WINNER
And a dozen of the attendees went out for pizza and a few bevvies after the event (alas, I couldn't make it as had a concert to attend. Greg didn't even make the photo and he organised the event!!!)
UPCOMING
EVENTS
March 1st/2nd 2025
(Sold out, reserves being taken)
Pontnewynydd, Pontypool, UK
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(I'll be there with other Wardens of the North-West)
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4 weeks later, March 29th/30th 2025
and needing no introduction...
ASOIF STATS INVITATIONAL
(I'll be there with other Wardens of the North-West)
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Spring Showdown!
Board In Brum West Midlands Gaming Centre, Walsall, Willenhall, UK
Sat Apr 05
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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, LEEDS
Links and tickets
(TICKETS NOT ON SALE AS YET)
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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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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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Autumn War!
Board In Brum West Midlands Gaming Centre, Walsall, Willenhall, UK
Sat Oct 18
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RIBBLE RUMBLE
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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