I only got to play one game last week in the local Warmachine league. It was a Cygnar versus Cygnar shootout that I lost. Well, perhaps I should say that officially I lost the game (more on that latter). I ran a good ol’ Victoria Haley with a unit of Trenchers, several lancers, an Ironclad, and a few other odds and ends. My opponent, Gilbert, played a Markus 'Siege' list with some Longgunners, a Lancer, several Hunters, and a few solos. It was an extremely weird game for two Cygnar forces. This was mainly because of the fact that the scenario discouraged shooting because it gave every model stealth for the first two turns. I made my largest mistake of the game by letting Gilbert go first, which meant that all of his forces got to shoot first on turn three when it became “daylight”. My forces we greatly damaged so I made an assignation run on Siege. I was almost there and then he used his feat. Unfortunately, I misunderstood how it worked so Haley was easily killed. Latter I discovered that Haley should not have been killed and that I likely I would have one the game (Siege was down to 5 hit points standing next to a heavy Warmachine…and if that did not get him I think Haley would have). So once more I loose a game that I should not have.
Warmachine is much more complicated than most of the miniature games that I have played before (especially GW games). All I can say is to play this game well you need to know the rules well, know your army very well, and read your opponents cards about three times or so. It’s not that people cheat in this game it’s just that it is so easy to forget things. I find something that I have either forgotten to do or played wrong in almost every game. Not to say that I do not like Warmachine, I do (its complexity does lead to a great amount of strategic options). I do miss the army scale of GW games and sometimes I miss the simplicity of those games (Remember simplicity does not mean dumb). Oh well. I’ll just have to practice more. I have planed on a 1,200 point game this week and hopefully I’ll remember my camera so I’ll have some pics to post.
Tuesday, October 7, 2008
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Caspia-Sul Tour Week One Standings
Each Call to Arms tour has four award medals. While the Warlord medal always goes to the player with the most league points at the end of the league, the other three medals (Eliminator, Relentless, and Strategist) have different victory conditions for each Call to Arms tour. Here is a list of the conditions and the leader board of the Decks & Duels league after week one.
Eliminator :
The Player who reaps the most VP's from Units will win the Eliminator medal (This includes Attrition - 1 VP for a unit that is below half its starting number at the end of the game)
1)John (8pts)
2)Gilbert (4pts)
3)Chris (2pts)
Relentless:
The Relentless medal will go to the player with the Longest winning streak with different factions (can't play same faction twice in a row).
1)Gilbert (2 game winning streak)
Strategist :
The Strategist goes to the player who wins the most games using the same faction.
1)Chris (2 wins with Cryx)
Warlord :
The Warlord medal goes to the player with the most league points at the end of the league.
1)Wil (12)
1)John (12)
3)Chris (11)
Eliminator :
The Player who reaps the most VP's from Units will win the Eliminator medal (This includes Attrition - 1 VP for a unit that is below half its starting number at the end of the game)
1)John (8pts)
2)Gilbert (4pts)
3)Chris (2pts)
Relentless:
The Relentless medal will go to the player with the Longest winning streak with different factions (can't play same faction twice in a row).
1)Gilbert (2 game winning streak)
Strategist :
The Strategist goes to the player who wins the most games using the same faction.
1)Chris (2 wins with Cryx)
Warlord :
The Warlord medal goes to the player with the most league points at the end of the league.
1)Wil (12)
1)John (12)
3)Chris (11)
Tuesday, September 30, 2008
Monday night Zombies
Yesterday John, Nate, and I sat down for another late afternoon of gaming. Right now everyone wants to be done playing by about 8 PM so that we can watch Heroes and Chuck. As a result, we’ve been trying to play more “light” fast games (also known as beer and pretzel games). Last night we gave Zombies!!! 4: The End a try (I've been avoiding zombie games for years, but I figured what the hell). http://www.twilightcreationsinc.com/zombies/zombies4.php
Zombies!!! 4: The End is the forth in a series of games in which players run around an “ever changing map” trying to defeat “an always hungry pack of undead dogs” (100 ZOMBIE DOGS!!!). Players are attempting to make it to the “cabin” and perform a spell that would put an end to the zombie infestation. We played this game as a stand-alone expansion but it can be combined with any of the other zombie games for a larger more complex game (how can you not want to Send in the Clowns). Not to say that this game could ever be very complex, the game mechanics are relatively simple. In fact, After looking over the 4 page rule book I had my doubts about this game but after ten minutes we were all laughing, making smartass comments, and having a good time. We only had one rule question and that was about how many zombie dogs get removed from play when you die.
At the beginning of each turn players place one new game tile and multiple new zombie dogs. This mechanic slowly builds the game board. Next players get to move d6 spaces fighting zombie dogs whenever they come across them (Bring your “dog repellant” and “rolled up newspapers”). Finally a player gets to move d6 zombie dogs two spaces each (preferably away from you but next to your opponent’s guy). We likely played this game with a lot more of a co-opt style than it was designed (“I got your back Nate…you go first”). In fact none of our guys ever even died and by the end of the game about 50 of the zombie dogs had been moved in a corner of the board away from the cabin. Next time we will all likely play this game a lot more cutthroat. We all had a great time and plan on playing a zombie game the next time we meet. On a side note, my buddy Derek told me about this game around two years ago and I frowned on the idea of even playing it (“I’m not playing a zombie game”). Well I was wrong (I really should start keeping a more open mind when it comes to this stuff). This is a fun game and it will likely get a large amount of play at John’s and Nate’s apartment. Now if someone will just bring the beer and pretzels.
Zombies!!! 4: The End is the forth in a series of games in which players run around an “ever changing map” trying to defeat “an always hungry pack of undead dogs” (100 ZOMBIE DOGS!!!). Players are attempting to make it to the “cabin” and perform a spell that would put an end to the zombie infestation. We played this game as a stand-alone expansion but it can be combined with any of the other zombie games for a larger more complex game (how can you not want to Send in the Clowns). Not to say that this game could ever be very complex, the game mechanics are relatively simple. In fact, After looking over the 4 page rule book I had my doubts about this game but after ten minutes we were all laughing, making smartass comments, and having a good time. We only had one rule question and that was about how many zombie dogs get removed from play when you die.
At the beginning of each turn players place one new game tile and multiple new zombie dogs. This mechanic slowly builds the game board. Next players get to move d6 spaces fighting zombie dogs whenever they come across them (Bring your “dog repellant” and “rolled up newspapers”). Finally a player gets to move d6 zombie dogs two spaces each (preferably away from you but next to your opponent’s guy). We likely played this game with a lot more of a co-opt style than it was designed (“I got your back Nate…you go first”). In fact none of our guys ever even died and by the end of the game about 50 of the zombie dogs had been moved in a corner of the board away from the cabin. Next time we will all likely play this game a lot more cutthroat. We all had a great time and plan on playing a zombie game the next time we meet. On a side note, my buddy Derek told me about this game around two years ago and I frowned on the idea of even playing it (“I’m not playing a zombie game”). Well I was wrong (I really should start keeping a more open mind when it comes to this stuff). This is a fun game and it will likely get a large amount of play at John’s and Nate’s apartment. Now if someone will just bring the beer and pretzels.
Friday, September 26, 2008
Call to Arms Thursday, week one
Proof that I need to paint moreFirst game of the new Warmachine season (yes we are a week behind) and I have officially experienced the most embarrassing defeat ever. The night started off innocent enough, a simple 500 point game, my Kreoss led Protectorate of Menoth versus Chris’ Mortenebra led Cryx. The first two turns were all about maneuvering for position (in fact the only casualty occurred when my Exemplars Errant squad shot up a pistol-wraith). Then on turn three both High Paladin Vilmon and the Avatar of Menoth charged and beat down the Deathjack. In response Chris came up with a great plan that would have won him the game if it had succeeded. Unfortunately for him it failed but he did end up killing off my Exemplars. On turn four I would finish of the Deathjack and destroyed his Seether, it was looking bad for Chris. Soon I had killed everything but Mortenebra. I decided to go for the major victory condition so I basically passed up a chance to kill Mortenebra. Chris made me pay! I was not aware that she had pathfinder so imagine my surprise as she charged Kreoss through rough terrain and killed him. What an embarrassing sight…Mortenebra alone on the table and completely surrounded by Protectorate of Menoth pieces. My wife puke it best when she said, “Honey, if you can go for the kill, do it!”
How do you defeat Epic Vlad? With a sledgehammer ... A real one!
The other game of the night was John’s Cryx against Josh’s Khador. They played a 750 point game that turned into an absolute slugfest. In nothing else their game looked much cooler than ours when you compared their fully painted armies to our table full of naked metal and primer colored models (What’s that? The Avatar…without arms). To be honest, I did not pay to much attention to this game but I do know that John won on victory points and that the warcasters were Epic Vlad and Mortenebra. It is looking like we may have to only play 500 point games on Thursday night due to time restraints (especially when you consider how slow I play). I was going to start updating the league standings tonight but I think I’ll wait until next week when everyone has had a chance to get some more games in.
The Killing fields
Wednesday, September 24, 2008
My Marvel Heroes story...and I have not even played it
Monday I was wondering around the stores that surround the Sandford Mall and I came across a game that I had quickly dismissed when it first was released, Fantasy Flight’s Marvel Heroes. It simply looked to similar to Wizkid’s Heroclix and there were other board games that I would rather spend $60 on. Now, almost two years latter I find myself rediscovering Marvel Heroes on the Books-A-Million discount shelf for a mere twenty dollars. I picked up the relatively heavy box and flipped it over to examine the back of the box. Was this game worth $20? Well, it is a Fantasy Flight game and in my experience they make high quality games, which play great and contain superior components. It comes with 20 pre-painted superhero miniatures…I could always give those to my son if this game just stinks. Despite these thoughts I place the game back on the shelf and continue browsing the book store. Soon I returned to the discount shelf and reexamined the game. No I really don’t want this game. Once more I put the game down and walked away. After repeating this process three or four times I finally decided, “What the Hell, 20 bucks isn’t even a half a tank of gas”.
After buying the game and making my way to John’s apartment we opened my new treasure. The components were the highest quality (as expected). My only complaint is the hero’s are designed all wearing costumes strait out of 1983 or so. Then I began to scan the rules as we began our Risk game. My first thought was “Great! A Fantasy Flight rule book that is under 50 pages” (It is only 16) but hen I began to read it. Worst written rulebook ever! Apparently this game was originally designed in Europe (French?) and I’m sure that it is a great game however; I think the rulebook was translated by drunken monkeys. I believe that John wants to play this game relatively soon but, It is extremely unlikely that we will play this game anytime soon simply because I cannot get past page 4 of the rules (this with the first two pages being credits and a list of components). At least I have a great looking box to add to my game shelf (read as pack rat happy). It can really make your week to get a great deal on a new game.
After buying the game and making my way to John’s apartment we opened my new treasure. The components were the highest quality (as expected). My only complaint is the hero’s are designed all wearing costumes strait out of 1983 or so. Then I began to scan the rules as we began our Risk game. My first thought was “Great! A Fantasy Flight rule book that is under 50 pages” (It is only 16) but hen I began to read it. Worst written rulebook ever! Apparently this game was originally designed in Europe (French?) and I’m sure that it is a great game however; I think the rulebook was translated by drunken monkeys. I believe that John wants to play this game relatively soon but, It is extremely unlikely that we will play this game anytime soon simply because I cannot get past page 4 of the rules (this with the first two pages being credits and a list of components). At least I have a great looking box to add to my game shelf (read as pack rat happy). It can really make your week to get a great deal on a new game.
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
Another Monday night
Last night at Nate’s and John’s we played what I consider one of the most balanced three player board games, Original Trilogy Star Wars Risk. Most three player board games quickly become two versus on affairs that are not particularly fun for the guy that ends up fighting against two opponents. This is not true in Original Trilogy Star Wars Risk because each player has a unique victory condition that prevents the dreaded two on one match-up. To win the game the Rebel Alliance player (Nate) has to find and destroy the Emperor, the Empire (John) has to destroy every last solder in the Rebel, and the Hut player (Me) has to take control of 10 out of the 13 resource planets.
Like most games of Risk this was a quick and violent game (What else would you do in a game only about war). Nate secured the Outer Rim in the first turn and I conquered a small sector at the bottom of the board. We both made these areas strongholds that we could use as bases of operations. Meanwhile John took over the core world zone and began to viciously attack Nate. It seemed like John would get a quick win but he overextend his forces and Nate was able to launch a counter attack that about knocked John out of the game. Meanwhile, I slowly built my empire by conquering one territory a turn from both Nate and John. Eventually, I saw my chance and was able to take over the last resource planet that I needed when Nate did not notice that I could make a chain of attacks to take it (in a roundabout way). It was a good game overall and is a great excuse to use all of those Star Wars quotes that you know. My only complaint is that I’m ready to play as either the Empire or the Rebellion in one of these games.
After we were done with Risk we began to play Magic. We only got in one game that John easily won (Revenge for star Wars?). I was killed first and never really stood a chance but I was hoping that Nate would be able to pull out a win (Sorry John but I hate your Magic Decks….yes ALL OF THEM).
Like most games of Risk this was a quick and violent game (What else would you do in a game only about war). Nate secured the Outer Rim in the first turn and I conquered a small sector at the bottom of the board. We both made these areas strongholds that we could use as bases of operations. Meanwhile John took over the core world zone and began to viciously attack Nate. It seemed like John would get a quick win but he overextend his forces and Nate was able to launch a counter attack that about knocked John out of the game. Meanwhile, I slowly built my empire by conquering one territory a turn from both Nate and John. Eventually, I saw my chance and was able to take over the last resource planet that I needed when Nate did not notice that I could make a chain of attacks to take it (in a roundabout way). It was a good game overall and is a great excuse to use all of those Star Wars quotes that you know. My only complaint is that I’m ready to play as either the Empire or the Rebellion in one of these games.
After we were done with Risk we began to play Magic. We only got in one game that John easily won (Revenge for star Wars?). I was killed first and never really stood a chance but I was hoping that Nate would be able to pull out a win (Sorry John but I hate your Magic Decks….yes ALL OF THEM).
Saturday, September 20, 2008
The Calm before the Storm
It’s been a slow few weeks for gaming (the closest thing to gaming I’ve been able to do is play fantasy football), but it looks like starting next week things will really be picking up. Monday should be another board-game night down at Nate’s and John’s place and Decks & Duels is starting the newest campaign season for Warmachine. Hopefully I’ll be able to give weekly updates on the campaign for the next eight weeks. If you want to learn more about Privateer Press’ upcoming campaign season check it out here:
http://www.privateerpress.com/dispatch/08-tours/main.php?tour=4&week=1&lang=en
Without anything else to report, I’ve decided to list my top three podcast. With all the driving that I do I have become quite the podcast aficionado (you can only listen to FM radio so much) and I would suggest anyone with access to iTunes check these out.
1) The d6 Generation – This is the best all-around (and possibly most entertaining) gamer podcast. It covers all types of gaming but tends to focus on board games and (to a lesser extent) miniature war-games. The podcast is full of great information and reminds me of listing to a few of your gaming buddies talking about what they think about the latest games. I would actually suggest people go back and listen to this podcast from the beginning of the series.
2) Podhammer – The first and best Fantasy Warhammer podcast. This show is based out of Australia and is basically a couple mates getting together and talking about their favorite pastime. Jeff and crew are very entertaining and give out great information about how to play the different armies in the game along with basic game strategies. Just like the d6 Generation listening to this show reminds me of overhearing conversations that you might hear down at your local gaming store (as long as your local gaming store is in Australia). I sugest that you skip the first four episodes of this podcast because the sound quality in them is horrible. The highest compliment I can play to this podcast is it makes me want to go out and play Warhammer.
3) Real Time with Bill Maher – I know that this is not a gaming podcast but it is very entertaining. By know means does this show provide a balance view of current events and politics (read as very far left) but it is very funny. It is especially nice for people who do not have HBO (as the podcast is free).
Honorable mention:
a) This week in wargaming – A similar format as the d6 Generation but it is not as entertaining or as well put together. Still worth listing to just not on the level of my first three.
b) Fell Calls! – Has great information on the Privateer Press miniature games but the hosts seem to be surprisingly uninterested in what they are talking about most of the time (making it a hard listen at times)
http://www.privateerpress.com/dispatch/08-tours/main.php?tour=4&week=1&lang=en
Without anything else to report, I’ve decided to list my top three podcast. With all the driving that I do I have become quite the podcast aficionado (you can only listen to FM radio so much) and I would suggest anyone with access to iTunes check these out.
1) The d6 Generation – This is the best all-around (and possibly most entertaining) gamer podcast. It covers all types of gaming but tends to focus on board games and (to a lesser extent) miniature war-games. The podcast is full of great information and reminds me of listing to a few of your gaming buddies talking about what they think about the latest games. I would actually suggest people go back and listen to this podcast from the beginning of the series.
2) Podhammer – The first and best Fantasy Warhammer podcast. This show is based out of Australia and is basically a couple mates getting together and talking about their favorite pastime. Jeff and crew are very entertaining and give out great information about how to play the different armies in the game along with basic game strategies. Just like the d6 Generation listening to this show reminds me of overhearing conversations that you might hear down at your local gaming store (as long as your local gaming store is in Australia). I sugest that you skip the first four episodes of this podcast because the sound quality in them is horrible. The highest compliment I can play to this podcast is it makes me want to go out and play Warhammer.
3) Real Time with Bill Maher – I know that this is not a gaming podcast but it is very entertaining. By know means does this show provide a balance view of current events and politics (read as very far left) but it is very funny. It is especially nice for people who do not have HBO (as the podcast is free).
Honorable mention:
a) This week in wargaming – A similar format as the d6 Generation but it is not as entertaining or as well put together. Still worth listing to just not on the level of my first three.
b) Fell Calls! – Has great information on the Privateer Press miniature games but the hosts seem to be surprisingly uninterested in what they are talking about most of the time (making it a hard listen at times)
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
