Warmachine Battle Report: Shooting Gallery Showdown(Khador v Cygnar 40 pts)

My son, Gareth(a.k.a. GDogsDog) usually beats me in our Warmahordes showdowns...and today was no exception.  I was able to talk him out of his favorite army(Cryx) so we could change things up a bit...but it didn't change the outcome. 

Pre-Game-Here is a breakdown of our staring forces and deployment:

Cygnar(Gareson) in Blue, Khador(GDogsDog) in Red, Mercs in Green and Orange
Key Terrain Points- 1&3: Rocky Outcroppings(Rough), 2: Forest, 4: Shooting Gallery(Rough)

My Battlegroup Center

Cygnar(Gareson) 40 pts in blue above...

Left Flank: Trenchers & Trencher UA(T), Rhupert Carvolo(R), Grenadier(G)

Center: Alister Caine(A), Ironclad(I), Lancer(L), Hunter(H), Squire(S)

Right Flank: Charger(C), Journeyman Warcaster(J), Gun Mage Captain Adept(G)

Army Observations: I(Gareson) like surgical strike mixed forces...so I brought a bunch of agile lights and toolbox models.  I was risking running a fragile force against his Khador heavies, but hoping for a warcaster assassination opportunity.

Gareth's Center and Left

Cygnar(GDogsDog) 40 pts in red above...

Left Flank: Irusk(I), Destroyer(D), Juggernaut(J), Mule(M), Dirty Meg(D)

Center:Kodiak(K), Man o' War Kovnik(M)

Right Flank: Valachev(V), Croe's Cutthroats(C)

Army Observations: Gareth(GDogsDog) likes "heavies", and his force selection certainly reflects this...bringing four heavy jacks in a 40pt game reflected his "big stick" approach:

My Right Flank Diversionary Force

Early Game: Winning initiative, my first thought was to get to cover(I know the range and power of his heavies!).  My trenchers, with a Grenadier light 'jack in tow, as well as the musical stylings of Rhupert Carvolo(THE Piper of Ord) moved towards a grove of trees(2).  I dug-in early hoping to anchor my left.  Meanhwile, main battlegroup moved into a rocky outcropping for cover(3) while my right flank advanced into the Cygnarian Shooting Gallery(4).  I knew my Charger and Journeyman 'caster were no match for what he was sending my way on my right, but I had to try to divide up his heavies by splitting my forces. 

Mule paves the way with GDog's battlegroup close behind.

GDog pretty much moved as I thought he would early game, with Croe's Cutthroats moving into rocky cover(1) and his main battlegroup moving towards my Charger at the shooting gallery(4).  However, early on I noticed his Kovnik and Kodiak moving there as well which I wasn't counting on(as the old military axiom says "No great plan ever survived contact with the enemy"). Early on things went poorly for me on the right...I expected to take a beating there with my little Charger but I needed to pin him there longer so I could maneuver in my center for a counter-strike.  As it happened, blast damage attacks from his Mule and Destroyer took out my Gun Mage on turn 2 and wounded my Journeyman!  I hated to do it, but I moved my Journeyman to my center, knowing the right was already lost.
 

Mid Game: By turn three it was clear that things were already going poorly for me. My right flank diversion had turned into a disaster and all I had to show for my feint was a shredded light jack and two k.i.a. solos.  More importantly, Irusk was tightly protected by a train of four heavies as GDog had shifted his Kodiak to that part of the field as well.

My Charger is in trouble!

My Charger fought valiantly to the end, but the tide of enemy heavies was too much for it to hope to hold against.

Trencher smoke cover.

On the left flank my trenchers used smoke bombs to shield attacks from the "stealthy" mercs opposite me.  The only real bright spot of this stage of the game for my Cygnarians was my Hunter light 'jack who got off a few pot shots(using Caine's Snipe spell) at Gareth's Destroyer, doing some serious damage with his armor piercing gun. 

GDog owns the shooting gallery.

While my Charger was intact this worked for me,  but once it was gone, his Mule and Destoyer turned their "full attention" to my Hunter.  This wasn't so bad(blur was cast on my Hunter and it was in cover) until drifting misses started crashing down beyond my Hunter...taking out my Squire and Journeyman Warcaster(so much for moving him to safety). 

Late Game:  Gareth's blast damage assault on my center having further deprived me of forces meant that I was going to have to pull off something tricky to win.  At this point he was already moving in with his heavies on my right flank...if he advanced to far, too fast, I might get a shot off at Irusk!

My Trencher force pushes out, hoping for a shot at Irusk(right).

I advanced to the center with my Trenchers, the Grenadier and Rhupert, hoping to flank Irusk.  Even if Gareth moved to block me, he would likely be splitting his assault force to do so, so I further enticed him by engaging with what was left of my battlegroup.

I have his attention!

Now certainly my Trenchers paid for their advance into the open...his heavies(and Croe's coming from behind) decimated my infantry!  However, I had a brief opportunity...the assassination attempt I was hoping for!

My Hunter has line of sight to Irusk!

My Hunter moved back in for a shot at Irusk, his heavies divided between my Trenchers and my engaging warjacks(led by the Ironclad).  GDog is usually VERY protective of his 'casters, so I knew this was likely my one opportunity.  I boosted my attacks with spells and focus, but the Hunter missed repeatedly!

Irusk out of danger...not so much my Ironclad.

Now aware of the danger, GDog tightened up around Irusk.  In the meantime, his Kodiak and Juggernaut had dismantled my Ironclad. 

The End...

End Game: With very little left to fight with, I did my best, but GDog's largely intact army pounded away at my remnants until Caine himself ran out of room to run! 

After Battle Conclusions: Gareth brought a broadsword and I brought a stiletto.  If I was going to win, I had to find an opening and strike swiftly at the right moment or his raw power would overcome me.  The latter happened.  I was hoping for a better opportunity for assassination than my Hunter strike later in the game, but Gareth did a really good job of keeping his guard up.

Bested by my son..once again!(but it was fun!)  I'd love to say I taught him everything I know...but honestly...he's just good!

Epliogue:  Ironically, look at just what arrived in the mail!...

A little late!

Figure Feature: Gun Mage Captain Adept

A great toolbox solo(especially for fighting my son's pesky incorporeal Cryx models), the Gun Mage Captain Adept is a great mini that, I believe, clearly inspired Privateer Press to go back and rework their Gun Mage unit to match the quality of this sculpt.

Here's my take on him...

He was a lot of fun to paint(as is the case with most Warmahordes figures).  I gave him a custom base carved into Vallejo Stone texture.  I hope you like the effect...

On my front burner now is a unit of Kossite Woodsmen....and not being a cookie cutter standard uniform type unit(which look great but are drudgery to paint) I am actually looking forward to doing them!

Happy Wargaming Everybody!

Figure Feature: Allister Caine

Well after playing a bunch of games with Kara Sloan and Coleman Stryker I decided to branch out and get another warcaster ready for battle...thus, Allister Caine is reporting for duty.  I really enjoyed painting up this mini...after going heavy on doing units lately it was nice to focus on a single figure.  I really experimented with my blending and glazing techniques and I'm generally happy with the results.  The face benefitted from a very thin glaze of black(20 water: 1 ink) applied in several coats to create the "Five O'Clock Shadow" effect...
(click on images for larger pictures)

I know sometimes people find their way to the blog who aren't miniature gaming enthusiasts or looking to get started...I thought I'd include a picture next to a quarter for a sense of scale...

Figure Feature: Hunter

Well I'd been eying the Hunter for a while because not only does it have a nice stat line, it has mean, lean look(not unlike the Grenadier).  I decided to paint it up in an alt scheme(Dark Grey) and give it a 'ruined trench' base(barbed wire will be added later- still working on it).  In fact, I am creating an entire Allister Caine force with the same paint/basing scheme as well as a Strahkov Khadoran group with the same basing approach(he and Kommandos are in the mail!).

Anyways, here is my dark grey version of Cygnar's Hunter...

Thanks for taking a look...comments are welcomed as always.

Cygnarian Shooting Gallery(Terrain Tutorial)

Well of course everyone knows that Long Gunners only achieve their marksmanship(RAT) with many hours of training...thus the need for the Cygnarian Shooting Gallery!

The moving paper targets depicting Iron Fang Pikemen, Lich Lords and Helljacks provide the real-world combat situation of trying to hit a moving enemy(artwork by Clayman8 and thevampiredeo)...

 The words above the firing stalls remind the trainees of an important truth: "One shot could save the kingdom"...

 And of course the boulder backstop provides secondary targets in the form of the ever-threatening watermelons and pumpkins!(ever see Mail Call or Lock n' Load on the History Channel?)

 The Watermelon/Pumpkin casualties up close(warning-some vegetarians may be sensitive to these images)...

 The "Target Shack" where fresh paper targets are loaded on to the revolving chain...

 A local villager has contributed a pumpkin for the good of the kingdom(target practice) as a worn-out chain and gear lay abandoned next to the shack...

 If anyone has any questions about the project feel free to post them, or check out the vids where I describe the project in detail...

Warmachine Battle Report: 25pt Stryker v. Irusk

After a string of embarrassing, decisive losses, the chain has been broken; my Khadorians have finally triumphed! GDog played Cygnar and chose Stryker as his warcaster, while I brought Irusk with his red horde in tow.  It was a great game.   From the beginning I was used the nice range of my Winterguard Mortar Crew and Bull to slice up his infantry.  However, once the heavies were engaged, his Ironclad and Mule were getting the better of my Destroyer and Juggernaut.  However, in the end, superior numbers allowed me to give him too many targets, and for me to nip away at Stryker.

See the full video Battle Report below(double click to open in a regular window):

Reporting for Duty: Cygnarian Long Gunners and Unit Attachment

They're not going to overpower your foe, but with their dual shots and impressive range they will, at a minimum, agitate the opponent.  These guys were more difficult to paint that some of the other WM minis that I've done so far but I am pretty happy with the final effect.  Plus, you can take these lads in a Highborn Syndicate Mercenary Army! 

The bases for my Cygnarians are what I call my "Ancient Ruins" effect.  I covered half the base with a standard sand(which became dirt) that was flocked with a Spring colored static grass.  The other half was spackle into which I carved the ancient bricks. 

You can check out some stills below or my Youtube "Figure Feature" on these guys...

Heavy Infantry Support for Khador and Cygnar

I finished my Khador Mortar Crew and Cygnar Chaingun Crew.   The Chaingun was ineffective in the first game I fielded it(see last Battle Report), but now the curse of the unpainted mini is cast off!  I have yet to use the Mortar Crew in battle but I am very much looking forward to it's 20" range!

These were my first Winterguard and Trencher pieces so I experimented a great deal with paints and washes- some of it good, some not so good.  I chose a darker metal(old Ral Partha "Copper") for the Trencher armor and I like the look.  I also went with a blue-grey overcoat for the Khador men.

 

  

These may not look like great paint jobs but I have to tell you, I've become a better mini painter since starting Warmachine.  The sculpts just ooze character- and they deserve my best!  I'll get better in time, but my main advice to beginners is SLOW DOWN.   It pays big dividends to allow yourself at least an entire day, or multiple days to spend on just one model. 

A final note about bases.  All of my Khadorians have a snowy motif to match my Winter Village terrain, while my Cygnarians have an old stone with grass growing over it to match my Ancient Ruins terrain.

The red/grey Khador color combo reminds me of the Wicked Witch of the East's guards' uniforms from the Wizard of Oz- ever see it?.  Sorry, can't resist...

 

Video Battle Report: Cygnar v. Khador 15pt Skirmish

GDog and I(Gareson) had a fun little 15 pt skirmish battle today on our Khadorian Winter Village terrain.

GDog's Cygnarian Force=Coleman Stryker, Ironclad, Charger, Lancer, Eiryss, Gorman de Wulfe
Gareson's Khadorian Force=Kommander Sorscha, Destroyer, Juggernaut, Dannon Blythe and Bull

Observations: In previous match-ups GDog noticed that I had usually split my force and attempted to flank him. Therefore, he decided to keep his army 'clumped' as a single strike force to overwhelm the divided elements of my army. However, I did not diffuse my forces and when I caught him with his models all close together, it created a great opportunity for Sorscha to catch him with her Icy Gaze feat.