Warmaster Revolution: Daemons v Dark Elves

Andy and Alan came over to the Soldier Shack once more for Monday Night Warmaster. Alan is now the proud owner of a shiny new (or should that be slimy new) Nurgle Daemon army that he wanted to test out so the Dark Elves of Naggaroth would take them on. I would be filming and photographing and offering tactical insight ineptitude.

The Dark Elves won the scouting and began the deployment.

Malekith led the way on his dragon.

Very lovely, in a somewhat icky way

Sadly Alan only had six units of Daemon troops - a proper hobbyist would have had Nurgle's sacred number of seven.

It was clearly harvest time in Naggaroth.

The Dark E;f harpies landed behind the massed chariots. But unfortunately they must have been off or something as they just attracted some very large flies.

The massed ranks of Dark Elf infantry went to help with getting the corn harvested.

The forces arrayed after a turn of manoeuvre.

 

Pretty soon the Gribbly monsters were crashing home.

As the flies began to feat on harpies.

Papa Nurgle wasn't having it all his own way though.

The cavalry however hung around.

Nurgle's boys had pushed up.

The Dark Elf on her Cauldron tried to doombolt everybody, but clearly hadn't turned the taps on in her blood bath.

The Dark riders suffered as Daemons re-materialised.

The Nurglings rather bravely charged the huge block of Dark Elves.

Taking plenty of fire as they closed in.

Magic bought one stand back.

On the flank the Beasts crashed home.

Unsurprisingly the Nurglings bounced off.

The left flank of the Daemon force had been hosed clear of life.

But the battle would reach a climax on the other side of the field.

See, everyone's dead.

The charge of the Beasts was held and repelled!

However, as they died they dragged Witch Elves down with them which broke the Dark Elf force and left the field to the Plague God!

Great fun to watch - the Daemons are tough and Andy wasn't able to exploit greater mobility to run them to ground.

For those seeking 21st century thrills here is the battle in video format:

Warmaster Revolution: Chaos v. Dark Elves

After a summer break Andy and Alan returned to the Soldier Shack for some more Warmaster. Andy reverted to the Dark Elves and I stuck with the Chaos.

Early deployments - I think I lost the scouting role.

I had a big wide block of Warriors backed with Marauders.

And a dragon commanding the Knights on my left.

The Dark Elvses had plenty of shooting. And some snow.

I had high hopes for this guy.

I also had more marauders, this time on horseback, backing up some chariots.

My general was in the centre.

Sadly my left flank didn't go according to plan.

Though my right raced forward.

And the lads stopped off to worship the Changer of the Ways in a handy nearby temple.

The knights suffered the consequences of a poor advance when Malekith urged the Cold Ones home! 

On turn one!

Rude.

To audible gasps (from Alan) in the Soldier Shack, Malekith the General joined the fight.

On Turn One!

Bold.

The dragons faced off.

With the advantage of the charge the Cold Ones easily murdered the Marauder horse.

But found the Knights somewhat tougher to chew on.

In an attempt to claw back the initiative the Charits rumbled and squeaked home.

Turns out charging Blot Throwers can be a bit painful.

Meanwhile the Warriors caught the Dark Riders and the harpies swooped to form The Buttocks of Death!

The Dragon Ogres decided to try and rescue the Knights.

But sadly failed to live up to their reputation and the Cold Ones moved to try and close the trap on the Knights.

Unfortunately for the forces of Naggaroth, Cold One Knights are not as resilient as the Chaos variety and so they were soon cut down and their General with them, gifting the game to Chaos!

A jolly good fun game that I rather felt Andy lost than I won. I did offer to play the King is Dead! rules to continue, but as he pointed out he was only a single unit away from breaking anyway, so it was unlikely to go much farther. 

Chaos are tough and simple to use and I'm beginning to remember why they are the army I used to play "back in the day"

Warmaster Revolution: Empire v Dark Elves

Monday night is now Warmaster Night. This time Andy was able to join us, so he took his Dark Elves, I dug out the Empire and Alan looked on, proffered occasional advice and also helpfully looked stuff up.

Another 2,000 point pitched battle. I took the list I had at Wormaster last year

• 4 Halberdiers
• 2 Handgunners
• 4 Crossbowmen
• 1 Flagellants
• 4 Knights
• 2 Pistoliers
• 1 Helblaster
• 2 Cannon
• 1 Steam Tank
• 1 General
• 2 Hero, 1 Griffon, 1 Sword of Might
• 1 Wizard

Break Point: 11

The Empire army stood firm to repel the slaver force

The Slaver Force in question.

Cold Ones, screened by Dark Riders held the Dark Elf right flank.

The Empire lost the scouting roll and so pushed up, looking to claim favourable terrain.

The White Wolves held in reserve.

On the Empire left more White Wolves with the Knights of Sigmar's Blood

Andy had added two commanders to the flank as bitter experience told him one was never enough.

The Dark Elf centre looked pretty formidable.

The Dark Elf left was also covered in Cold Ones and Dark Riders.

On the Dark Elf right the cavalry pushed up.

The Empire horse rode to meet them, but failed to charge home!

The Empire Infantry decided to hide in a swamp.

The knights awaited their fate.

Desperately more cavalry headed over to secure the flank.

Spearmen, casting a long shadow over this part of Middenland.

Empire gunnery had broken up the flank. But there remained a fearsome force.

The Knights inevitably took it in the face!

The unengaged White Wolves were shot off the rear by repeater crossbows.

More knights could only look on.

Incredibly the pistoliers fought back savagely and it turned out the Knights had bought their armour from ACME of Naggaroth Inc.

The flank had held!

In the centre the Elves came on.

And occupied the ancient Chaos Shrine too

Meanwhile the Elven flank was crushed.

Flagellants versus Witch Elves went to the Ladies, but at some cost.

Still in the swamp

The Steam Tank, which has previously proved less than reliable for the Empire, was making a steamy nuisance of itself in the centre.

The Elves infantry in the field prepared to take out the halberdiers.

Finally the right flank felt the wrath of the Cold Ones.

Poop-poop! Clank, wheesh, grind went Tomasz der Dampfpanzer 

The Elf infantry was showing their vaunted cavalry how things should be done.

Though the second pistoliers could not match the heroics of their brethren.

Crossbow Elves ground underfoot, Tomasz pulled back ready to railroad the spear elves.

The Empire infantry had been driven back to the woods.

Well, the ones that weren't enjoying swamp life that is.

Fresh from destroying the flower of Naggaroth cavalry the Empire knights turned toward the centre.

The Steam tank, supported by the swamp vacating infantry wiped out some spear elves.

As the knights caught the hydra looking the wrong way with all seven heads.

With the death of the spear elves the Druchii courage deserted them and they took tail for their Black Arc.

Victory to the Empire!

A well fought game that really hinged on the heroic defence of the flank by the pistoliers. Five casualties tipped the fight and it was me wiping out the flank, rather than having mine rolled up. Very unlucky dice for Andy.

Apart from that the Steam Tank had a rare good day and caused all manner of problems in the middle. Elsewhere the Dark Elf infantry proved superior to their Empire opponents and Andy learned that avoiding cannon is a good plan.

Hoping for another game next week, when it'll be my turn to observe and look up rules!