Massive props to EJ for organizing and running this tourney – everything seemed to go off without a hitch! Nice work! Loved the massive time clock, by the way
“Gatekeepers” turned out to be a fine establishment, and was well suited to a tournament of this size. I’ll have an easier time finding it next time!
My Army:
Sentinels of Jandar
4th Massachussets Line x 3
Marro Stingers x 3
Match 1 vs. Bill on "Arctic Divide" This was the first time I'd played against Bill, and the first time I'd played on "Arctic Divide". It was also the first time I'd played this Army! I was a bit distracted, as we had gotten lost on the way to the tourney - despite 4 guys with a GPS and a map!
Bill played: Q9, Raelin, Laglor, Agent Carr, Guilty McCreech.
I started with all of my order markers on the Stingers, while Bill had his order markers divided between his heroes. One of my Marro found the "Move +2" glyph, which really helped me get the drop on Bill's army. The Stingers were able to get height on Laglor and began pounding away, quickly felling the ape. A second Stinger unveiled the "Defense + 1" glyph, but was hit hard by Carr. Guilty fell with a single well-placed blast.
Q9 began advancing in earnest, and I began to regret not taking more shots at Raelin earlier! Bill did a good job of keeping the Major within Rae's aura, and managed to off my remaining Stingers. I began to move in with my Sentinels and 4th Mass - time to put my "Q9" plan to the test...
I moved one Sentinel to the "Move +2" glyph, another engaged Q9, while the third flew toward the "Defense +1" glyph. Both glyphs were shielded from Q's sight by glaciers, and Q was stuck trying to dislodge my Sentinel as my Linemen got into position. I managed to get 3 Linemen on equal ground with Q, but there was no high ground to be had. A fourth would have to attack from below.
I diverted my attention from the soulborg long enough to fill Raelin full of lead, and Q9 managed to free himself from my first Sentinel. Luckily for me, he only got one or two rounds of Queglix at my Patriots before I engaged with another Sentinel. Even better, my last Sentinel bolstered the other by taking the "Defense +1" glyph! We probably spent
at least 4 rounds (12 turns!) doing the same thing repeatedly - Q9 fires at Sentinel, 4th Mass volley at Q9. Yes, that's 48 shots from my Minutemen - very likely more! We kept this madness up until time was called - Q9 never was able to kill my second Sentinel, and my 4th Mass
never managed to put a wound on Major Q9. Result: Win.
Match 2 vs. Paradox22 on “Spineback Ridge” Dan and I have faced off many times in the past year, and our games are usually pretty close. Neither of us were thrilled about meeting on “Brokeback” (nice one, Dan! gotta use it) – we’ve playtested the hell out of it and were both tired of slogging up that freakin' hill!
Paradox22 played: Krug, Saylind, Marro Stingers x 5
This one got off to a pretty routine start. Both of us sent our Stingers up to the ridge, jockeying for position along the rocky spine. Neither of us seemed to get an advantage, and we were slowly trading Stinger-for-Stinger.
Then IT happened. Both of us had been placing all of our order markers on our Marro, and out of habit I did this once again. The problem? I was down to 2 STINGERS! Whoops
. I won the initiative roll, and was able to take out one of his Marro. He knocked off my remaining Stingers and got his own positioned within range of my starting zone, downing several 4th Mass while my army sat idle.
In the next round I mobilized my Minutemen and began racing for the ridge, blasting a couple of Dan’s Stingers along the way. I made it to the top, but too late - all of our careful maneuvering in the beginning of the game had burned too much time off the clock. Dan finished with a single Stinger, Saylind, and Krug on the board. I had about seven 4th Mass and my Sentinels remaining. Dan wins by 10 points! Incidentally, Dan managed to hand me my first and only other tourney loss at our first KC tournament. Nemesis is right! Result: Loss – 240 losing points.
Match 3 vs. Darkmantle on “Embattled Fen” I’ve faced off with Kyle a number of times, and have a great deal of respect for his gaming savvy. We’ve both spent plenty of time on the Fen, so barring odd luck – this one was bound to be close. Note – the TD had entered my previous game as a “win”, so I (1:1) probably shouldn’t have been paired with Kyle (2:0) for this game. The entry was corrected, but the pairing of course stands.
Darkmantle played: Venoc Warlord, Elite Onyx Vipers, Aubrien Archers x 4.
Kyle’s EOV rushed for the glyph – revealing the coveted “Attack +1” in the first turn! As usual, I moved up my Stingers – only to be cut down by an initial Aubrien volley. Things didn’t look too pretty for me in the first round.
After that, life was peachy! I don’t recall Kyle rolling a single frenzy outside of the first round, and no more than one shield for defense. Road-raged Stingers amped up on height and the oft-contested “Attack +1” glyph were too much for Ullar’s speedy troops. Not much to say here – the dice loved me, and pretty much dumped on Kyle. I lost two squads of Stingers, plus one or two. Result: Win.
Match 4 vs. Dustin on “Marr Highway" I’d met Dustin before, but we’ve never played. Dustin is an experienced gamer, and was at our last KC tournament. Neither of us had experience on Marr Highway – I was glad to finally get to try it out.
Dustin played: Sir Gilbert, Finn, Thorgrim, Knights of Westin x 3, Dumatef Guard.
I sent a single squad of Stingers charging up the road toward the glyphs – “Defense +1” and “Initiative +8”. Dustin moved two squads of Knights up the road, sped somewhat by Sir Gil. Sir Gil took refuge behind a ruin, and with the Knights in position Thorgrim began making the long trip to battle.
The Marro managed to hold on to the glyphs for a round or two, but were booted off by the Knights. Thorgrim camped out on the “Initiative +8” glyph, while Knights took turns trying to holding the “Defense +1” glyph. My Stingers took high ground and began whittling away at the Knights. Finn made his way up the road, and as Knights fell more trickled in.
The Stingers again pulled more than their weight, managing to hold high ground for the remainder of the battle. Gil was the last Knight to fall, put to rest with two Stingers remaining. I sent one Stinger to the “Defense +1” glyph, and the other back toward my starting zone. Dustin began moving his Dumatef up the road, but conceded when he saw my Minutemen being mobilized. Result: Win.
Final Standing: Tied for 3rd, record 3-1
(streak over - now I can relax!)
I’m pretty happy with the result, and with my army choice. My loss was at least in part a result of a tactical blunder – which in my eyes makes it easier to stomach! I’d rather lose to better play or army selection than to rotten luck. I’ll probably try this army again – everything performed as I had imagined, if not better. I had an awesome time (as usual!) and look forward to the next tourney!
) to Hot 
)
)...but it was too late and he fell to a full squad of marro warriors... I then made an error placing all my order markers on Saylind...when I should have place a couple on my 2 remaing stingers... In the end I came away with a loss with 390 loosing points. 
Brutal yet fun battle Spence! 
![[smilie=a_whyohwhy.gif]](./images/smilies/a_whyohwhy.gif "a_whyohwhy")
