Continuing preparations for
PAW 2019 tournament, today sees a battle with my Brotherhood against Dave's dwarf army. I was planning to try to use some Forsaken Beasts in my list this time. After the game against Sam's Elves I decided I might need some Crushing Strength in my list. The rough idea being that if I didn't completely destroy my opponent on the first charge then the monsters should be able to win the second round of combat when my Knights had all lost their Thunderous Charge, maybe, it's a theory anyway. It also means I'd have less Villein Initiates to paint!
We rolled Ransack for the mission. This has 7 objectives all together, one 3 point objective in the middle and then you and your opponent both place one 2 point objective and two 1 point objectives.
Brotherhood
Dwarfs
Deployment
Well the main thing I wanted to test out in this game was if my new beasts (proxied by Sam's 2 Roman god models all in gold) could multi charge with my cavalry and see if I could smash through my opponents anvils.
With this in mind I set up my flyers on the wing and set 2 offensive blocks together on the left and the centre. Each consisting of a Knight regiment, a Forsaken Beast and a Villein Initiate regiment, supported by an Inspiring source.
 |
| I tried to spread out the objectives, coz dwarfs are slow! In a moment of madness though I put my 2 pointer on the hill. In retrospect I should have put it as far away from the centre 3 points as possible. |
 |
| Not very clear |
 |
| Yep.......cleared that up :) |
BroHood Turn 1
So with no shooting I just moved everything forward so it was out of his charge range and in mine, while doing my best to try and avoid getting hosed down by those Organ (nee Gatling) Guns.
 |
| Setting up my ranges and eyeing up a multi-charge on the Bulwarker horde, while trying to keep the Brock Rider regiment out of range. |
 |
| Setting up my Flyers to sweep up the flank and try and shut down those guns, while trying not to get shot up by them. |
Dwarfs Turn 1
In true camping slow dwarf style, Dave shuffled some stuff around. He decided to move his guns to try and get some better angles for later in the game. The Steel Behemoth (which we refer to as Panzer Bear) and Berserker regiment on the right shuffled about to deal with the Flyer squadron next turn. On the left the Brock Riders moved back a bit and the mastiffs shuffled around refusing to crest the hill and to give a path out for the Bulwarker regiment behind them. No shooting this turn!
 |
| Spot the difference? |
 |
| March of the Panzer Bear! |
BroHood Turn 2
So I survived a turn of shooting so I decided now was the time, this was the hour! I charge a Villein Initiate and a Brotherhood Knight regiment with a Forsaken Beast in to the Bulwarker horde. On the left I move the Villein Initiate and Brotherhood Knight regiment in charge range of the Brock Riders for next turn. I move the other Forsaken Beast behind my centre charge in case they need reinforcements and move the last Villein Initiate regiment up on the centre hill just in case something breaks through.
On the left the Forsaker flies round the back of the Dwarf line ready to cause mayhem and the Pegasus Knights move behind the keep ready to pounce on Dwarfs that try to advance.
At the point I pick up my dice Dave reminds me that the Bulwarkers have Big Shield AND Phalanx. I did not realise that. Should of read his list better. When will I learn! :)
 |
| All three units smash against the Bulwarkers and only do 9 wounds. Well that did not work! |
Dwarfs Turn 2
On the left Dave moves his Mastiffs over to protect the flank of his Brock Riders and allow his Bulwarker regiment a flank charge on the Villein Initiates in the centre. The Berserkers and Heavyhand also pile in on that charge. The Bulwarker Horde decides not to counter charge the Brotherhood Knights so all the guns can fire on them instead.
Responding to the Forsaker jumping behind there lines, the King and the Warsmith about turn and charge him. Dave did some weird stuff with his Flame Belcher here because he did not realise that it was a Breath Attack and didn't have Reload, live and learn! So the Flame Belcher turned around to face the Forsaker to melt his face next turn.
On the right Panzer Bear turns to join in shooting at the Brotherhood Knights and the Berserker regiment advances to contain the Pegasus Knights flanking action.
 |
| All these guns offend me on a deeply personal level. |
 |
| Vengeance for the Dwarfs! |
 |
Knights with more holes than Swiss cheese, then roasted over Bear fire.
This isn't Dwarf shooting, this is M&S Dwarf shooting. |
 |
| The Knights did not survive. |
 |
| The King does 6 wounds to my Forsaker. |
 |
| The side charge from the Bulwarkers only manages 3 wounds due to the Villeins high defence 5 and lack of Crushing Strength on the Bulwarkers part. |
 |
| Berserkers and Heavyhand mange another 6 wounds (Heavyhands Warp Hammer with Crushing Strength 3!) putting them on 9 wounds, but Dave rolls a strong 3 on the Nerve check and the Villeins live another turn. |
BroHood Turn 3
Well I did not want to lose a regiment of Brotherhood Knights so soon but c'est la vie, it could have been worse. In the centre my Forsaken Beast and reserve Villein Initiate regiment side charge the exposed flank of the Bulwarkers regiment. The Villein Initiate regiment counter charges Heavyhand with the other Forsaken Beast in support, maybe if I get lucky I could run in to the units behind and do some more damage.
On the left the Villein Initiates charge the Berserker Riders, but thanks to some good flank protection play by Dave, the Brotherhood regiment could not get in to their side and had to charge the Mastiffs next to them. At this point I'm hoping to roll this flank up and get across to the centre.
On the right my Forsaker counter charges the Warsmith, hoping to kill him and run through to the Flame Belcher behind. The Pegasus Knights hop over the keep ready to support the Forsaker if needed and to escape the approaching Berserker regiment.
 |
| Scrap for the centre. |
 |
| Goats, dogs and horses. |
 |
| Surrounded Forsaker on the left. |
 |
| The Devoted casts Martyr's Prayer and takes 5 wounds away from the Villein Initiates. |
 |
| The Bulwarker regiment is smashed without their Big Shield and Phalanx to protect them from side charges. |
 |
| Meanwhile Heavyhand laughs at my Villeins and Beast who only manage 1 wound. |
 |
| The Mastiffs are slaughtered by the Brotherhood Knights, the Brock Riders take 9 damage but survive the charge from the Villeins. |
 |
| My mighty Forsaker on Gryphon manages a fantastical 2 wounds on the piddly Warsmith who wavers under the stupendously high number of wounds he received (definitely no sarcasm here). |
Dwarfs Turn 3
So I've done a little damage, here comes Dave's counter attack. The Beserker regiment on the left (acting very un-Berserker-like) advance towards the centre 3 point objective, away from any of the enemy. The Panzer Bear about turns ready to flame the Forsaker, the dwarf King ignores the Forsaker and charges, through a needle, at the Pegasus Knights.
In the centre the Bulwarker horde charges the Forsaken Beast, while the Berserker regiment and Heavyhand charge the Villein Initiates that are already damaged.
On the left the Mastiffs charge the other Forsaken Beast to slow him flanking the units in the centre while the Brock Riders counter charge the Villein Initiates.
Then the guns open fire.....
 |
| The twin flames of Panzer Bear and the Flame Belcher cause 4 more wounds putting the Forsaker on 10 wounds. |
 |
| And promptly burns to ashes leaving barely a scorch mark. |
 |
One Organ Gun causes 5 wounds on my Brotherhood Knights.
The other fires on the Devoted but with a 6 to hit due to Individual misses all his shots and she lives to not fight at all another day! |
 |
The Bulwarkers cause 4 wounds on the Beast and Dave rolls an 11 to waver it :((
The combined attack by Heavyhands and the Berserkers cause 8 wounds on the Villein Initiates. |
 |
| The Initiates figure that's enough and flee the field. Dave advances both his units into the Initiates vacated space. |
 |
| The Brock Riders slap the Initiates for 4 wounds then bounce off ready for the retaliation. |
 |
| The King manages 2 wounds on the Pegasus Knights, but more importantly they're now Disordered, no Fly and no Thunderous Charge for them now. |
BroHood Turn 4
So this is the turn. I need to clear the Brock Riders and the Mastiffs on the left flank then start swinging back to the centre to claim the one 3 point objective and the two 2 point objective. Then I can deal with Dave's units coming from the right on my own terms using my faster speed and longer charge ranges.
On the left the Villeins counter charge the Brock Riders and the Brotherhood Knights flank charge them. The Forsaken Beast charges the Mastiffs who were blocking a side charge on the Berserker regiment in the centre.
In the centre I'm a bit stuck. The Forsaken Beast on the right is useless while wavered, I had nothing else to do but charge the Villein Initiates back in to the Berserker regiment.
On the right I was a bit stuck too. The Pegasus Knights couldn't escape the King or the incoming Panzer Bear, so they counter charged the King and hoped to at least slow the Dwarfs down and keep them busy.
 |
Then this happened!!!
I caused 23 wounds and rolled a double 1 for the Nerve check.
I guess if anyone was going to get Insane Courage the Berserker Brock Riders should....I guess.....grumble......grumble.....muttered expletive. |
 |
After the Devoted did a bit more Martyr's Praying, the Villein Initiates managed 10 wounds on the Berserker regiment with a little Bane-Chant help, but I fluffed the Nerve roll and bounced back off.
To add to my misery the Forsaken beast only managed 1 wound against the Mastiffs. |
 |
| The Pegasus knights get 3 wounds on the King without Thunderous Charge and brace themselves for the retribution Dwarfs are famous for. |
So at the end of all that my left flank wasn't coming to the centre any time soon. The Brock Riders stand strong so the cavalry forces were not able to reform and face back to the centre and the Mastiffs had held up my Beast so he was stuck scrapping with them for another turn at least......
Dwarf Turn 4
So Dave's doing what dwarfs do best, grinding out the win. My knights are stuck in prolonged combats and that's not were they want to be.
On the left Dave's lucky Brock Riders counter charge my Villein Initiates. The mastiffs charge my Forsaken Beast, chaffing it up nicely.
In the Centre The Berserker regiment charge my Brotherhood Knights and the horde of Bulwarkers and Heavy hands decide to gang up on my other Forsaken beast.
On the right the King and the Mounted Bear double charge my Pegasus knights and I prepare for pain.
Dave's Berserker regiment on the right move to stake claim to the 3 point objective in the centre to the board. The Organ Guns moved to claim perfect firing arcs to protect any approach to the 3 point objective.
Victory looked to be getting further and further away.
 |
| Dwarfs flanking??? |
 |
| I'm still mad / gutted about these Brock Riders. |
 |
| The grind in the centre continues. |
 |
| Bears, Goats and Pegasi. |
 |
| Never seen Organ Guns move so much. |
 |
| Those damn Brock Riders! Kill my Villein Initiates, then turn and face the Knights. |
 |
| Mastiffs cause 2 wounds on my Forsaken Beast, doing more damage than it received! |
 |
| Berserkers do 3 more wounds on the centre Knights. The Beast takes 7 more wounds but Dave rolls a 3 for the Nerve check and it's only wavered. |
 |
| Panzer Bear does 6 wounds. |
 |
| King adds on 2 more. Dave rolls high on the Nerve and the Pegasi die. |
 |
| The King moves out the way so the Bear can face towards the rest of the battle. |
BroHood Turn 5
Time is running out. I have a lot of ground to cover and two maybe three turns left. I'm also running out of units. This turn I need to clear the left flank and get my Knights and Beast across to the centre to threaten the Bulwarker and Berserkers flanks before my units in the centre all die and Dave's units manage to turn and face me.
My Knights charge the Brock Riders to finally finish them. The Forsaken Beast counter charges the Mastiffs to finally remove the pests. The Villein Initiates counter charge the Berserkers and if I'm lucky finish them off as they have taken 11 wounds so far.
 |
| Time is running out to win this. |
 |
| Reinforcements for the Dwarfs from the right are coming. |
 |
| Devoted manages to take 2 wounds of the Beast. Only 2. |
 |
| Oh my God! Another Insane Courage. These are some hyper-bred super mastiffs! Best 65 points ever spent. |
 |
| The Knights kill the Brock Riders and turn to face the centre. The Villeins finish the Berserkers and turn to face the Organ Guns. |
Dwarf Turn 5
Dave just has to hold out now. He has the 3 point objective.
The Bulwarker horde charges the wavering Forsaken Beast to finish it off. Heavyhands charges the Devoted and the Organ Guns start whirring ready to fire on the Villein Initiates. The Mastiffs charge my other Beast. The king rushes over to the centre to help the fight.
 |
| Ignored side of the board. |
 |
| Charge of the Light Brigade! |
 |
| Organ Guns do 12 wounds.... |
 |
| ...and the Villein Initiates promptly die. |
 |
| Forsaken Beast takes another 5 wounds from the Bulwarker horde, needing a double 1 to live another day. |
 |
| Bulwarker horde changes facing to counter the threat from the left and my chance to flank them has gone. |
 |
| Garrek Heavyhand, does 4 wounds to my Devoted. |
 |
| And kills her. Maybe that's how he got his name? His pimp hand is strong! |
 |
| The Mastiffs tag another wound on to my Forsaken Beast. |
BroHood Turn 6
Wow! It's all gone wrong. I've pulled out some dodgy draw/wins before but god knows how I'm going to pull this off.
I move my Brotherhood Knights over sideways so I can try and contest the closest to me 2 point objective, while holding a 1 point objective. The Exemplar charges the Mastiffs to clear them off the other 2 point objective. The Forsaken Beast charges the Bulwarker horde to keep them away from the objective. Dave still holds the 3 point objective.
If the Mastiffs die and the Beast lives and the game ends turn 6, we will have 3 VP's each.
 |
| Scraping a draw plan. |
 |
| So many more Dwarfs. |
 |
Exemplar does 2 wounds, but those bloody Mastiffs Insane Courage again!
I'm out....
Taxi! |
 |
| After combat with the Forsaken Beast the Bulwarkers are on 12 wounds but hold firm. |
 |
Well that's all I could do.
Current Score: Brotherhood 2-3 Dwarfs |
Dwarfs Turn 6
Well I think we all can see the writing on the wall here! Dave moves to protect his lead. The Panzer Bear on the far right couldn't quite reach one of the 1 point objectives on the right this turn, but can if there's a turn 7. the Berserker regiment move in front of the 3 point objective to stop me getting in range. Heavy(pimp)Hand moves to block my Knights. The Mastiffs charge my Adjutant and the Bulwarker horde counter-charges my Forsaken Beast. The King occupies the centre to screen the objectives.
 |
| Surrounded! |
 |
| The Beast takes 4 wounds and the Adjutant takes 1 wound. Both pass nerve checks. |
 |
1-3 = Turn 7
4-6 = Game Over
That's a 6 BTW. |
End of Game - Dwarf Win!
Well that went sideways really quick! I have never played a game with so many crucial double 1's. The guys playing in the Bloodbowl league downstairs were laughing as I screamed my fury at Nuffle and all the dice gods! My howls of despair at another double 1 echoing across the streets of Plymouth! Dave even said to me at one point he couldn't look me in the eyes anymore! :) While smiling!
In all serious a good game. I learned that the Forsaken Beasts may very well help my Knights win longer combats, as long as its not against Bulwarkers! I also need to pay attention to lists! I'm to keen to get on with the game!
I also think I should stop trying to get flanks with my flyers. Just stick them behind the line and let them multi-charge with the cavalry and punch through that way. Then look for flanks after that. They get too isolated and die too easy.
The rough game plan I feel was OK. I needed to spread the objectives out more. No idea what I was thinking then! So I'm going to get game ready and plan better before a game and go from there. Read the opponents list properly, place objectives smart, deploy in formation to make a scalpel cut in the opponents line, then roll it up.
Next time will be better. I have a plan...... I think.
BoBW - Jacko
