Battle 8: Loot and Legends

Both the Undead and the Ratkin had been sighted in the Badlands, and the Regnum Aeternum was wary. Scouts had spotted a massive Undead host on the move nearby. The Ratkin seemed… capricious at best during their first encounter with the Regnum, and the diplomats were dispatched soon after the battle. Perhaps the skittering tribe could be persuaded to take up arms against the Undead?

I was fortunate enough to lock in another game this week, against the same players as last time. We mixed it up a bit from last time though. This time, the Undead player would field 2k, and myself and the Ratkin would field 1k apiece.

TastyBagel’s Scout-errific 1k

Regiment Spear Phalanx

Regiment Mounted Sergeants w/ Mace of Crushing

Troop Knights

3x Troop Mounted Scouts w/ Bows

Army Standard Bearer w/ War-bow of Kaba

Beast of War w/ Light Ballista

The whole point of the list was to test out the Mounted Scouts (I'll have a separate post about what I thought of them soon), and after a few hours on and off playing with numbers, this is where I ended up. The Beast was added because it seemed like it would be a decent anchor/crutch, and would work well with the Spear Phalanx. Sergeants and Knights were there to add some damage… hopefully at a place of my choosing with their decent speed, and with 10 points left over, I bought some magic items.

Ratkin 1k

2x Horde Warriors

Troop Clawshots

Artillery

Mutant Rat-Fiend

Death Engine

Warlock

Swarm-Crier w/ Kevinar’s Flying Hammer

The Rats brought some hordes, monsters, and some fire support units. From my basic understanding of the army, they utilize a combination of Rallying (nearby units boosting the Nerve of other units) and Inspiring to stick around. I don’t know much about the Ratkin yet, but this seemed typical, though not optimized, since we’re still learning what his army can do.

Undead 2k

Horde Skeleton Warriors w/ Giant Rats

Horde Skeleton Archers w/ Fire Oil

Legion Zombies

Horde Werewolves

Regiment Soul Reaver Cavalry w/ Helm of Confidence

Undead Army Standard Bearer

Vampire on Undead Dragon w/ Heal (2) & Ensorcelled Armor

Lady Ilona

Mortibris the Necromancer

I offered up my WIP Undaed units as we figured out when and what to play, but my buddy built his own list, so we got some legendary characters and a big mean dragon. We absolutely did not get all the rules right for the special characters, so they probably weren’t worth their points. Playing at this points-level though, I think my opponent got to explore and learn a lot about his army. Both players did, so this was a good evening.

The board! Hills were Height 1; brown mesas Height 4 and the cluster of tree-looking things were forests.

We set up a pretty basic table and decided to roll for a scenario, and rolled up Loot. Remembering the goof last time I played this game, we set the counters on the center line this time, so all would be in play. To save time, we deployed all our units at once, making a few adjustments here and there. This was their second game, so the goal was to just play and get the game mechanics down, not get bogged down in deployment mind games.

The board with deployments! Astute readers will notice something missing...

From my left to right, the Undead Player deployed a Legion of Zombies, the Army Standard bearer, Horde of Skeleton Archers in front of Mortibris, Regiment of Soul Reaver Cavalry, Horde of Werewolves, Vampire on Undead Dragon, and Skeleton Warrior Horde. He decided to focus on (from my perspective) the Left and Center Loot tokens, leaving the Skeleton Warrior Horde to contest the Right Loot Token, and the Vampire/Dragon to support them or threaten the center as he saw fit.

Yeah, I deployed pretty far back. Here is a second shot of deployment, and the second chance to guess what we missed... 

I opted for a pretty far-back layered deployment. Left to right, I had Regiment of Spear Phalanx with the Beast, and then the ASB, Knight Troop and Mounted Sergeant regiments all screened by the Scouts. I wanted them in front to do double duty as shooters and screeners. I didn’t think my Knights and Sergeants would be good at grinding out the Undead, and would basically be one-use-only units, so I wanted to protect them while I could.

The Ratkin player deployed all the way up, and was apparently eager to see some action. So eager, in fact, that he forgot to deploy one of his hordes of warriors… we’d discover that in a few turns. Left to right he had the Clawshots and Artillery behind a Horde of Warriors, the Crier, the Mutant and the Death Engine.

My ally and I didn’t discuss real plan. We started out with the typical "this is your side; this is my side" approach. Fluff-wise, this makes sense being a little distrustful of one another, but probably not the best call game-wise.

The Undead player rolled a solid 1 for first-turn honors, and was beaten soundly by my Ratkin ally’s 2. Team Painted took the first turn!

Turn 1 Team Painted

My left was pretty static, though I probably should have been more aggressive with the Spear Phalanx to start. The Sergeants canter wayyy up though, and decide to face left, hoping to flank the enemy Soul Reaver cavalry, since that unit couldn't be couldn’t be abused with Surge trickiness.

Go Sergeants go! Set that trap!

I sent a lot of shots into the Skeleton Archer Horde, doing 7ish wounds. We had the ranged advantage, and I wanted to (try and) remove the Undead’s ranged option asap. My Ratkin ally shoot into the super-tanky Vampire/Dragon, but only scored one wound I believe.

Turn 2 Undead

The Zombie Legion scoots up a bit and pivots more towards the center. They are then Surged onto the token, which, in retrospect is cool but they wouldn’t have picked up this turn. Oops.

The Soul Reaver Cavalry scoot up a bit as well, and we turn the area west of the center mesa into a no-go zone for all involved. His Skeleton Archers shoot at my Sergeants, and the Lady Ilona throws some Lightning at them for good measure. …And they are wavered. That’s what I get for playing aggressively with them.

The Werewolves smash into the Ratkin Warriors, and the Skeleton Warriors sit in the forest, daring the Ratkin to make some hindered charges.

The Undead are on the move!

The Vampire Dragon double-times it over to the hill, and cannot use his ranged breath attack. However, in retrospect, this is an illegal move due to the distance and pivoting twice (once to move to the hill; once to face the center). I was not paying close enough attention to that flank. In any event, in our game, he ended up on the hill, staring at the flank of the whole darn battlefield. And that’s not good at all…

I thought that Horde would be tougher... good rolling Werewolves!

The Werewolves roll quite good, deal 12 damage, and then roll 10 for the Nerve check, routing them as the Crier was 7-8” away. Well… that did not go well. In double checking the Ratkin’s Nerve value though, I happen to notice that my ally didn’t deploy his second Horde. So we got that going for us.

Turn 3 Team Painted

We all agree to put the Ratkin latecomers out of charge range of the Dragon. That all seems fair, and they run up near the beast to try and chase it away. But we’re still in a bad spot losing that other Horde… additionally, I forget to take pictures.

The FLGS is looking festive these days. Oh, and Ratkin reinforcements arrive! 

My ally and I chat. I don’t think I have anywhere near enough strength to move that Legion. Contesting that Loot Token seems like a lost cause. I can chaff that side of the table up though while we focus on the other two…

I take a page from Swordmaster’s playbook, and run my ASB up to buy myself a turn against the Legion. He is unfortunately moving too quick to use his War bow now… More fire is directed at the Skeleton Archer Horde in an attempt to Rout it… but the effort is largely ineffectual. Very few hits find their mark, and I honestly don’t remember if we even got into “well I all need is lucky sixes” range in terms of damage done. Unwavering units ftw.  

Pic is actually from the start of Turn 4... but shows you where we sit.

One troop of Mounted Scouts don’t shoot, and instead zip up to claim the Center Loot Token and delay the Werewolves, who had reformed post-victory.

My Wavered Mounted Sergeants change facing to start at the mesa and think about what they’ve done. They were 2” away from charge range against the Skeleton Archer Horde before they were Wavered anyways. Perhaps they’ll survive and be able to charge the Werewolves next turn?

We hope the arrival of the second horde will distract the Dragon, and my Ratkin ally splits his monsters. The Death Engine takes the bait and slams into the Skeleton Warrior Horde, and the Mutant moves to threaten the Werewolves next turn. Meanwhile the Artillery and Clawshots fire at the Werewolves, and soften them up a bit… The Ratkin Warlock starts zapping the Dragon with Lightning. Hey, it might work…

Turn 4 Undead

The Zombie Legion attacks the ASB, and will eventually decide to reform, and the Soul Reaver Cavalry sneak around the Mesa. The Skeleton Archers will shoot and Rout my Mounted Sergeants. Lastly, Lady Ilona and the Werewolves decide to slam into the feisty bait of Loot-carrying Mounted Scouts… and will easily Rout them.

The Skeleton Archers are starting to be Healed now by Mortibris. The dozen or so wounds accumulated quickly start to fade away, and Life Leech starts starts doing work to heal the damage for the rest of the army as well. This is unfortunate…

On the Ratkin side of the board, the Skeleton Warrior Horde dukes it out with the Death Engine and Dragon hops over the reinforcement horde and breathes what I would assume would be terrible undead breath at them.

Turn 5 Team Painted

The Ratkin Warlock continues his personal vendetta against the Dragon, throwing more lightning at it. The Ratkin Warrior Horde moves up to claim the Right Loot Token, and eyes up a potential future charge against the Skeleton Warriors… who are grinding it out with the Death Engine.

One of the few glimpses of the Ratkin side of the table. Sorry.

The Werewolves had reformed again, though the Mutant Rat-Fiend barreled in anyways. Just an average Nerve check would see them off the field, but it was not to be…

It is getting a little desperate on the left…

The Spear Phalanx are fed to the Zombie Legion. They charge in and do some damage, but it is a purely sacrificial action. The Mounted Scouts move up a bit, and the Regnum and Ratkin coordinate fire.

Alright Scouts! Time to probably die.

The Beast fires the ballista into the Soul Reaver Cavalry, joined by a troop of Mounted Scouts and the Ratkin Artillery, and a little damage is done. (They are really strong with Defense 6+…) The Clawshots and the second troop of Mounted Scouts shoot at Lady Ilona… and manage no damage whatsoever; we rolled terribly, and didn’t know she had Defense 6+ as well… In retrospect, I should have charged the second troop into the flank of the Werewolves instead and tried to help Rout them. Oh well.

Turn 6 Undead

The Spear Phalanx are torn apart. The Soul Reaver Cavalry tear into the Mounted Scouts in front of them, and Lady Ilona Lightning Bolt’s away the other Troop with some help from the Skeleton Archers.

On the right, the Death-Engine and Skeleton Warrior Horde contine to duke it out.

No more Scouts. 

The Dragon opts to charge the rear of the Ratkin Warrior Horde and stomps them in one go. The Loot Token is dropped and left there, as the Dragon really wants to continue his rampage. The Werewolves crash into the Mutant Rat-Fiend, dealing 6 wounds…

Turn 7 Team Painted

The Knights have sat patiently all game. Face-palming continuously at the incompetence of the other cavalry. They nod solemnly to the driver of the Beast of War, and together they charge the Soul Reavers, and the vampire cavalry is obliterated. The knights overrun the full 6 inches while the Beast lags behind.

Sweet! We finally killed something! Go Team Painted!

What remains of the Ratkin do their best. The Crier moves to Inspire the Mutant, and the Warlock continues to harass the Dragon. I think the Artillery misses, but the monsters continue to slug it out. Unfortunately, poor dicing and Inspiring again mean the Werewolf menace remains on the board (though I believe it is wavered)…

Turn 8 Undead

The Vampire on the Undead Dragon continues his rampage. Eyeing a long charge, the fiend tears into the rear of the Mutant Rat fiend and shreds it.

Two rear charges from a flyer... the Ratkin had a bit of a rough time against this guy.

The Undead player begins to see some of the nuances of Surge. The Skeleton Archers land a wound on the Beast of War while the the Zombies change facing to eye its tasty, tasty flank. They need 4 hits from Surge to start feasting, and in a lucky break for Team Painted, roll up only 3!

*phew* Run away, Dino! Run away!

On the right, the Skeleton Warriors, benefiting from Life Leech and being a Horde, eventually overcome the Death-Engine… and the Right Loot token is now up for grabs.

Turn 9 Team Painted

After a great deal of measuring, the Knights and Beast, while having a bit of a respite, and running low on options. Range limits what they can do, and they decide to both attack the Werewolves, and the beasts are finally routed! It is a very small victory, however. The two reform, but the situation is dire.

The Werewolves are finally Routed...

The Zombie Legion still has the Left Loot Token, the Center Loot Token is held by the knights but their survivability is low. The Right Loot Token can now only be contested (not picked up) by the two Ratkin heroes….

Turn 10 Team Undead

The Zombies move up, and try for a long Surge against the Beast of War, falling far short.

The Dragon inches back and breathes on the Knights, aided by Lady Ilona's Lightning. Miraculously, only 1 damage makes its way through the armor! They are however, Wavered…

Turn 11 Team Painted

On the Right, the Ratkin Heroes set up to contest the Right Loot Token. If the Skeletons can make it through the (Inspired) Warlock and the Crier, the token will be theirs…

The Knights remember they are headstrong, and manage to shrug off their formerly wavered state, and the Beast moonwalks to hopefully prevent any trouble from the Zombies. In retrospect, the Zombies may have been able to sidestep and surge into the Knights… I don’t think this occurred to anyone at the time.

I think my Ratkin ally and I misplayed here. The Clawshots consider a charge, but instead shoot at the Dragon. That might not have been the best call. They probably should have charged, and the knights tried to get out of sight of the dragon. I honestly don’t remember what we were thinking here. It was late and the shop was closing soon.

The Ratkin Artillery, Warlock and even the Crier with Kevinar’s Hammer unload against the Skeleton Warriors, and mess up their ranks a little. The unit has survived the Death-Engine grind very well thanks to the boosted Life Leech from the Rats upgrade. They are nowhere near to routing.

The Zombie Horde still has the Left Loot; the Knights are about to get crushed by a Dragon, and the Skeleton Warriors are moving to fight for the Right Loot… Things are grim for Team Painted.

Turn 12 Team Undead

There’s no kill like overkill!

-The Zombies charge the rear of the Beast for the fun of it, ready to toss out 120 attacks.

-Lady Ilona and the Vampire on an Undead Dragon pincer the Knights.

-The Horde of Skeleton Warriors attempt to dislodge the Ratkin characters.

-The menacing Mortibris, the Undead Standard Bearer and the Skeleton Archer Horde scoff the dirt a bit… not having done much the last few turns.

We have a good laugh at the ridiculous amount of attacks the Zombies are dishing out, and several minutes later… 5 wounds are dealt to the Beast. He holds, unfazed. Last game, my opponent took way too many spells. This game, he neglected Bane-Chant (opting to Heal and Surge instead), or Brew of Sharpness for the Zombie Legion. I… I think he learned his lesson there. I don’t think he’ll be neglecting those again.

Hold fast! They are upon us!

With the Beast holding, we move onto the combat with the Knights. The Dragon and Lady Ilona deal 7 more damage to the unit…

Nerve check presented here without comment.

It was the dice roll hear round the shop. Apologies to everyone there for all the whooping and shouting... this last turn was pretty bonkerz. The Knights hold against all odd and all manner of foul Undead!

A little dismayed at the sudden reversal of the dice, we move onto the Horde of Skeleton Warriors verses the plucky (if generally unsavory) Ratkin heroes.

The skeletons swipe at the Warlock, and bludgeon him pretty good. However they fail to Rout him! And the Crier cheers on his companion.

In the end, the Zombie Legion retained control of a Loot Token; as did the Knight Troop. The third Token was unclaimed.

Result: Draw!

It was late (the shop was officially closing in just a few minutes), and we decided to call it quits, acknowledging full well that had the game gone another turn… Team Painted would have probably been done for.

While there were plenty of goofs and minor errors to go around, everyone walked away having learned a lot about the game. They got introduced to the scenario-side of Kings of War, as well as got to learn more about their armies. It was a good night.

Thanks to my opponents for a great game! This was an awesome way to end the evening.