Fiona's Lich List

July 2^nd

My local crew goes by the handle, the Cog Collective. Post Lock and Load, one of our more prominent players has decided to turn to Cryx. This leads me to the Quandary Zone!

Todays quandary, how to beat epic Asphyxious with Fiona.

* Rocinante (9pts)
Alexia Ciannor & the Risen (Alexia and 9 Risen Grunts) (5pts)
Dannon Blythe & Bull (4pts)
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt (4pts)
Press Gangers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Press Gangers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Sea Dog Crew (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
* Mr. Walls Sea Dog Crew Quartermaster (2pts)
Bosun Grogspar (2pts)
Doc Killingsworth (2pts)
Eiryss, Angel of Retribution (3pts)
First Mate Hawk (2pts)
Ragman (2pts)
Reinholdt, Gobber Speculator (1pts)

The main weapon here are the Press Gangers. Being able to cycle Banes and Satyxis into Sea Dogs will hopefully help to mitigate their returning on Gaspy's feat turn. Blythe and Bull are there for more Remove From Play (RFP) action.

Even with Killingsworth and Grogspar there to keep the Press Gangers on their feet and in the fight, four plus tough is not forever. Alexia will gather their souls, hopefully denying them to Gaspy, and creating my own private army of the undead.

Between Nonokrion Brand from Fiona and Aiyana giving magic weapons, the Press Gangers and Seadogs should be able to deal with any incorporeal models that try to get in. Mr. Walls gets Telgash Mark so that Fiona can spell sling a bit. Rheinholdt will help make things more dependable if Fiona has to spell something to death.

Normally, I would take a Vanguard with her. However, Shield Guard is unlikely to be needed against Gaspy. Guard Dog from Rocinante may prove more useful to keeping her alive.

Ragman and Eiryss are there for some utility: some armor and kill some upkeeps. It's unlikely that Eiryss will be able to shoot focus off Gaspy, but you never know.

So, just need to get me more Press Gangers and Alexia, then the list is go. I'm comin' for you, lich!

June 24, 2013

Gear Con and the Adeptiquest

Little more than a week and a half remain until Gear Con. I'm pretty excited. The convention experience is sweetest just before getting in line for registration. I'll be demoing both Warmachine and the Iron Kingdoms RPG. On July 6^th of the con, there's going to be a 35 point tournament that I'm planning on playing in.

With any luck, I'll get to do more than just the Privateer Press thing. There's a Victorian era martial arts demonstration. Abney Park, a steampunk band, will be performing. There seems to be a goodly lot of things to do. 

Preparation has added to my painting table. I'm just about finished with my Cryx battlebox. Convergence is up next, and the pirate “battlebox” will follow after that. Hopefully, this will be enough time. Even more hoped for, that I'm not just sitting there with Nathaniel playing battlebox games to pass the time.

With Lock and Load 2013 in the rear view mirror, I find myself pondering the state of war-gaming specific cons in the Northwest. Initially, I can think of only three: Lock and Load, TSHFT (it stands for something like the Seattle Heart of Flames Tournament or something like it), and OFCC Club Challenge. My mind has just dredged up Walpurgis Nacht. Some of the gaming and sci-fi conventions like Game Storm and Orycon allow some space for miniature war-gaming. 

The problem that I have is that none of them approach what I have heard about Adepticon. I've never attended, but the stories that come out of it make me want to attend it. Unfortunately, I don't think that it is a trip that I would be able to make on my own. So, I think that having that level of convention here on the west coast is my best chance to get to attend one of that size.

What Adepticon brings is some of the things that would end up being on the fringe at a smaller convention. The Gladiator, a tournament that allows for any legal army that GW has created, has a solid place with plenty of players; where it would have a much smaller number of players at a smaller con. Vendors come out of the woodwork to sell their products and services to such a gathered mass of potential customers. The increased range of panels and seminars that cover the gamut from hobby to tactics are taught by folk that can only brought in by such a large event. Best of all, swag bags that nearly cover the cost of entry.

I have no illusions that I'm a strong tournament player. I tend to find my place in the middle of the pack these days. Entering tournaments just to confirm that does not seem productive to me, though I still do. Getting something for my money aside from the knowledge that I have contributed to the winner's takings would be a great thing.

There are obstacles for the Pacific Northwest gaming community toward getting our own Adepticon. We have larger distances between communities. There is not a lot of cross culture in the gaming clubs by either system or communication. The giant in our backyard is content with the way things are.

The history of the larger cons is that they developed over years. Perhaps, like myself, they were only seeing what was; the future a mystery. Perhaps they saw what might one day come. Each year, we hope to see more and more things, with more and more players. Only by being ready for somethng big will something big happen.

50 Points of Fiona the Black

Another Lock and Load fades back into memories. Some great times were had. I'll get into more of that at a later date.

It has been a while. Not necessarily by intention. I work full-time, I'm a full-time student, and I recently took up the mantle of Press Ganger. (Recent in terms of months from posting.) Perhaps some re-establishment is in order. Drink your grog and ready yourself, the press gangers are calling.

Nearly half the year is through, and I'm still rocking my Paradox Plunge 2013 pledge. Outside of demo games, I have only played Fiona the Black and Captain Phinneas Shae without the Commodore. The Commodore will soon be taken aboard, but I have some Sea Dogs to finish first.

Let's break down my Fiona list.

• Fiona the Black
• Rocinante
• Sylys Wyshnyalyr
• Full Nyss Hunters
• Full Forgeguard
• Minimum Boomhowlers
• Full Long-gunners
• eEiryss the Angel of Retribution
• Gorman di Wulf
• Ragman
• Dougal MacNaille

In the post-Colossals meta ( or the local meta with all the Khador players), being able to put a serious amount of damage is a concern. This is where Fiona can shine. By making Eiryss an Arc-Node via Telgesh Mark. Arcing Affliction on a heavy target is a necessity. Once Afflicted, the target can be shot down by double shooting Long-gunners and other ranged elements.

Putting Nonokrion Brand on the Long-gunners can be helpful in keeping them alive. By hiding behind the trolls, your opponent has difficulty has difficulty getting them out of the fight. They can still shoot at anything on the other side of the trolls with the upkeep on. Guaging where their 14” range will hit is very important.

The Nyss and the Forgeguard are sweep and clear units. Someone has pushed something in their charge range without back up, then they can charge in and take it off the board. The Nyss can also serve as a back up for Telgesh Mark in the instance that Eiryss is killed, which a lot of players like to make a reality as soon as possible.

In the age of timed turns, it takes a lot of time to do its thing. Twenty plus ranged attacks on a target with a life-spiral or grid takes time. Talking with your opponent about how you might be rolling a column die with the to-hit roll may help reduce this. (Thank you for that bit of tech, Josh.)

Fiona's feat is pretty amazing. With a 14 inch control range, making everything in that range lose one die for attack and damage can be another turn of survival. Even better, if she feats when your ranged units are engaged, then you can often walk your troops out of melee with little fear of a free strike. It also helps keep them in the fight when your opponent retaliates on their turn.

Well, off to practice some unpacking, an issue with such a high model count army.

Putting Fiona Together

System: Warmachine
Faction: Highborn Covenant
Casters: 1/1
Points: 35/35
Fiona the Black (*6pts)
* Rocinante (9pts)
Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters (Cylena and 5 Grunts) (7pts)
Greygore Boomhowler & Co. (Boomhowler and 5 Grunts) (6pts)
Long Gunner Infantry (Leader and 9 Grunts) (10pts)
Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios (3pts)
Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist (2pts)
Master Gunner Dougal MacNaile (2pts)
Taryn di la Rovissi (2pts)

With this as my 35 point list, I ventured down to the shop to test Fiona's mettle.

The first game was against Khador:

Kommandant Irusk (*6pts)
* Decimator (9pts)
* Sylys Wyshnalyrr, the Seeker (2pts)
Great Bears of Gallowswood (5pts)
Kayazy Eliminators (Leader and Grunt) (3pts)
Kayazy Eliminators (Leader and Grunt) (3pts)
Widowmakers (Leader and 3 Grunts) (4pts)
Winter Guard Infantry (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
* Winter Guard Infantry Officer & Standard (2pts)
* 2 Winter Guard Infantry Rocketeers (2pts)
Winter Guard Mortar Crew (Leader and Grunt) (3pts)
Kovnik Jozef Grigorovich (2pts)

I had thought that I might have a bit of a chance.  A large problem that my list had is the min units.  It doesn't take the death of too many of them to make the unit nearly useless.  The Eliminators had their way with the Long-gunners.  Nothing I had was able to really deal with the Winter Guard, as there were just too many.  It ended up with me taking a long-shot assassination run.

I picked up the idea of putting Telgesh mark on Eiryss.  A stealthed arc-node works pretty well.

Next up, Trollbloods:

 System: Hordes
Faction: Trollblood
Casters: 1/1
Points: 35/35
Calandra Truthsayer, Oracle of the Glimmerwood (*5pts)
* Winter Troll (5pts)
* The Mountain King
Kriel Warriors (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
* 2 Kriel Warrior Caber Thrower (2pts)
* Kriel Warrior Standard Bearer & Piper (2pts)
Krielstone Bearer and 5 Stone Scribes (4pts)
* Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder (1pts)
Stone Scribe Chronicler (2pts)

I may be off on points, but this is what I recall. 

Dougal popped his mini feat, which meant a full CRA from the Longgunners on the Mountain King.  Sadly, a single POW 20 is unlikely to crack that thing.  I was able to introduce the Mountain King to the idea of Black Oil, much to the player's consternation.  The Nyss were great on a charge, and even Boomhowler put out some good damage.  In the end, though, the Mountain King turned to a task too difficult.

I'm thinking of dropping the Nyss, moving up to a full unit of Boomhowlers, and adding Ragman for some debuffing.  I really need to get eEiryss.

Well, the Talion 2013 is 0-2-0.  Let's see what lies over the horizon.

Fiona the Black - 2013

For the Pardox Plunge 2013, also know as Turd-Polisher 2013, I'm taking on Fiona as my primary 'caster.  Sure, I would rather have Shae, but it's going to be all about Fiona for now, as she's considered a bit lower tier (well, some would say Bart, but he's amazing with the Galleon, thanks for ruining that, Keith).


To that end, I'm trying to work out what she does that Shae doesn't.  Bear in mind that I am not the world's best general, but I'm trying.

With Shae, I bring table saturation.  I fill the table full of guys that are hard to remove while I move Shae to a position to get the drop on your caster.  It's still a work in progress that I enjoy playing.

For Fiona, I have to put threats on the table.  Since she has access to Highborn mercs (I have more Highborn friendlies than Four Star.), she can bring some of the more threatening pieces that they own. 

Fiona the Black (*6pts)
* Rocinante (9pts)
* Sylys Wyshnalyrr, the Seeker (2pts)
Cylena Raefyll & Nyss Hunters (Cylena and 9 Grunts) (10pts)
Horgenhold Forge Guard (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt (4pts)
Long Gunner Infantry (Leader and 9 Grunts) (10pts)
* Long Gunner Infantry Officer & Standard (2pts)
Sea Dog Deck Gun (2pts)
Eiryss, Angel of Retribution (3pts)
Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist (2pts)
Rhupert Carvolo, Piper of Ord (2pts)
Taryn di la Rovissi (2pts)
More thoughts on this later.

Arrrr, someone be duckin' the Talion crew.

This past weekend was to be the end of Summer Rampage down at Borderlands in Salem.  To help the Oregon-meta (Yeah, it's a thing..., or will be.) get along, I was setting to head the boat down for their first official event. 

Since it was an open play event, I took the opportunity to sleep in.  After spending an night assembling a metal Mule to bring the crew up to the required Warjack compliment for a legal 35 point list for the event (10 Warjack Points for every 5 Warrior points), I felt that getting some rest would be necessary. 

Before heading out, I log into ye olde CogCollective.org to just verify that I'm coming, but late.  Good thing I did, for the organizer cancelled due to lack of interest. 

Now, some would say that they were busy, scuppin' out their basements, swabbin' their yards o' leaves, and pillagin' their local farmer's markets of fresh produce.  I say this is nothin' but the talk of yellow-bellied, scurvy ridden, pox-laden reprobates that ain't fit to send a press gang after.  They heard the call of the press gang, and hid under their beds as the Commodore sounded his displeasure.

Well, come next Saturday, here's hopin' that they avail themselves some liquid courage (Once they get here, and with a driver of a sober nature, of course.), and make their ways up to our Red Castle games for a taste of steel before they know defeat.

The Talion awaits.

Duelcon

The Talion Charter was put away for the weekend for a tournament in Pheonix, AZ; Duelcon 2012.

Well, to get things off on the wrong foot, I don't get to the hotel until 10:00 PM on Friday.  That meant that I missed all the Friday activities, or was unable to join what was left.  The 20 point Mangled Metal looked like a whole lot of fun.

I set my alarm to get up early to get registered for both the con and the Steam Roller tournament.  In the morning I grabbed some breakfast and waited for registration to open.  Then, I waited, and waited some more.  A little bit after 8:00 AM, registration for the con opened, and then more waiting for the tournament registration.  Perhaps it should be Waitcon.

To my wonderment, it's only a two list tournament rather than the 3 list that I was prepping for.

The competition was fierce, leaving me with a 1 - 4 record.  Maybe the Talion will bring it next year.