Stryker2 vs. Zaateroth1 – Thunderous first Strike

Hello everyone!

That was my first game with Storm Division after the recent changes. I was eager to see how the Dynamic Update improved the theme force and how the additional rules influenced survivability of infantry, I’m looking at you, Gwen 😉 Luckily, just before I left home the parcel arrived and I could use her original model. Bartek decided to go for a fairly classic Infernal list.

Bartek’s Zaateroth1 list:

Infernals
[Theme] Dark Legacy

[Zaateroth 1] Zaateroth, The Weaver of Shadows [+26]
– Foreboder [4]
– Soul Stalker [13]
– Tormentor [12]
– Tormentor [12]
– Tormentor [12]
– Lord Roget d’Vyaros [4]
Alain Runewood, Lord of Ash [0(5)]
Eilish Garrity, the Occultist [0(5)]
Great Princess Regna Gravnoy [0(6)]
Hermit of Henge Hold [5]
Nicia, Hound of the Abyss [4]
The Wretch [4]
Valin Hauke, The Fallen Knight [7]
Cultist Band (min) [5]
Cultist Band (max) [7]
Infernal Gate [12]

My Stryker2 list:

Cygnar
[Theme] Storm Division

[Stryker 2] Lord Commander Stryker [+28]
– Centurion [16]
– Firefly [8]
– Lancer [10]
Grand Master Gabriel Throne [7]
Lieutenant Gwen Keller [0(5)]
Savio Montero Acosta [0(6)]
Sir Dreyfus the Storm Knight [0(5)]
Stormblade Captain [4]
Storm Lances (max) [20]
Storm Lances (max) [20]
Stormblade Infantry [9]
Stormblade Infantry [9]

At first, I wasn’t too satisfied with my battle group, although it played out quite well, especially Lancer and his arc node, I need to think it over. I’d love to play Reliant, but I’m not sure if that’s the right list for him.

We played Split Decision. Now I noticed, that we mixed up position of objectives and flags.

• 

• 

• 

Deployment

Bartek won the starting roll and decided to pick the side without the building on the flank. I got to go first. We discussed that after the game and I believe that in that case Stryker prefers to go first. especially with two full units of Storm Lances.

I deployed Storm Lances on both flanks, Stormblades in the center, together with warjacks and solos.

Bartek deployed his whole army in the center, with Horrors spread equally. The gate took the central position in front of the army.

Round 1 Turn 1

My plan for the first turn was pretty simple: to stay outside the threat ranges and gain as much space as possible. One way is to plan things, the other is to execute them 😛 I positioned a little bit too far and that was about to cost me a couple of models and a slight inconvenience. Both my cavalry units advanced to flanking position. Stormblades ran forward. Stryker ran forward, too. I could have advanced, cast Deceleration and move additional inches by casting Velocity, but I was afraid of lucky deviation rolls. Centurion ran forward, his mighty 8″. Unfortunately, I blocked Lancer and he got stuck behind my lines.

Round 1 Turn 2

As mentioned above, Stormblades were within shooting range of the Gate. I remembered that Gwen gives immunity to blast damage, but I forgot that Force Barrier is +2 DEF against shooting also ;p Fortunately, I remembered that in following turns. I lost two Stormblades and Zaateroth cast Rebuke on the right unit of Storm Lances, ouch. Bartek created Desolator out of a Wretch, and I we agreed after the game, that he shouldn’t sacrifice his only Wretch that early. Soul Stalker stayed in the forest, a Tormentor toed the circular zone with his sharp claw. Most of the Horrors were positioned outside of my threat ranges.

Round 2 Turn 1

With Rebuke cast on my rightmost unit, I could do very little on the right flank. Even shooting and repositioning back was out of the question, because of Zaateroth’s ability that reduced my shooting range by 3″ in her control range. First, the cavalry unit with Rebuke moved forward, one of them engaged two Horrors to stop them from countercharging. I did that simply to increase potential threat count. My friend had limited Horrors and couldn’t deal with every model I put in front of him. Then, both Stormblade units ran forward. Stryker cast Positive Charge on Lancer and moved to the side. Lancer ran forward, but Bartek decided not to counter charge him. Two Storm Lances that had the Tormentor in their reach assaulted him and dealt significant damage. Centurion used his ability and trampled forward, sadly, I moved him outside of 4″ from my objective and he couldn’t gain Pathfinder the next turn. Firefly stayed in the center. Gwen kept most of infantry within her 8″ buff bubble. Gabriel gave Tough to painted Stormblade unit. Drefus moved B2B with the flag. I exposed my models for an Inferna’s alpha strike, but I was pretty sure, that my second line would be able to kill whatever engaged my army. Additionally, I was convinced that Force Barrier will save my models from Desolator’s spray attacks. My models were that close of Infernal front lines, that moving back and forcing me to extend my lines was out of the question, as that would result in a scenario loss.

Round 2 Turn 2

Bartek had so many potential targets that it took him a while to decide what should be the correct order of activation. First, Runewood the Traitor cursed the unit of Storm Lances on the left flank. Then, Soul Stalker dealt with one Storm Lance, Valin killed the other. That freed up one Tormentor that teared off Centurion’s shield arm. The Gate shot twice, but failed to kill any model, thanks to Gwen’s defensive buff. Desolator repositioned and sprayed my models twice. The only model that died was the one providing anti shooting buffs – Gwen. Rest in peace, you did well. Nicia shot off one of the Storm Lances on the right. Tormentor killed another one. Zaateroth changed Wreatch into another Tormentor and feated. Foreboder ran forward to contest my flag. Bartek scored one point, 0:1.

Round 3 Turn 1

I had all the Horrors served on a plate. The only issue was Zaateroth’s feat, as one missed attack could result in Horror surviving my charge and wrecking havoc the next turn. I had to plan it carefully, in stages, so even if I would miss one attack, I would still have more to follow. Acosta moved, thanks to Swift Vengeance, slightly to the left, I didn’t want to trigger countercharge. Stryker allocated 2 focus to Centurion and cast Positive Charge twice, on Lancer and Firefly. He also used feat. Centurion, moved between the two Horrors in the middle and critically hit the one on the left, what meant all consecutive attacks made with the spear would hit. The third attack killed Tormentor. Freed Lancer moved up, closer to the Soul Stalker and obviously missed Valin, Valin repositioned slightly. Fortunately, that wasn’t enough and Storm Lances killed both the Soul Stalker and Valin. The left flank was already mine. Then, Firefly moved between Desolator and another Tormentor, engaging both of them, and hit Desolator once. The furthest Tormentor countercharged Firefly and dealt some damage. Acosta charged the Tormentor (the one in front of the forest) and left him on 1 hp left, with two attacks lol. Gabriel gave Stormblades +2 to melee dmg rolls and moved toward the flag. Stormblades took care of Desolator and barely alive Tormentor. Dreyfus killed Foreboder thanks to flank and cleared the flag. “Silver” Stormblades, with Desperate Pace from SB Captain, assaulted the Gate and dealt some damage. Now the feat attacks 😉 Lancer repositioned to spread the buff to Stormblades, who finished the gate. Storm Lances moved back and scored the circular zone. Gabriel captured the flag. Models in the middle dealt some damage to the Tormentor and Hermit. Dreyfus moved to the flag. Stryker moved back a bit. I scored 3 points, 3:1. That was a devastating turn. I was hoping to get at least 3 heavies, I got 4 and the Gate.

Round 3 Turn 2

Regna created Shrieker who contested the zone. Elish gave Puppet Master to a Tormentor in the middle and teleported himself to the zone to contest the flag. Tormentors in the middle killed Firefly and some Stormblades. Runewood cursed Stormblades I believe. Nicia contested the flag. Bartek didn’t summon a Horror, instead Zaateroth cast Scything Touch on one of Tormentors and gave them the Essence. Right away Bartek realized that was a mistake. Infernals scored one point on their flag, 3:2 to my advantage.

Round 4 Turn 1

Stryker cast Positive Charge on Centurion and the jack, with help of cavalry and infantry, killed both Tormentors. Gabriel, Lancer and the rest of the models I had on the left, cleared the circular zone and the flag. My caster was safe and I had a safe margin on the clock, I scored 3 points, Bartek scored one (I made a mistake marking the points, sorry), 5:3.

Round 4 Turn 2

With little models to work with, Bartek decided to take revenge on my heavy warjack and Zaateroth shot him dead with her powerful range attacks. Regna contested the circular zone, Cultists contested my rightmost flag. I scored the leftmost flag, Bartek scored his flag, 6:4.

Round 5 Turn 1

I had over 4 minutes left, and Bartek remembering that I lost on time last time, challenged me to kill his Infernal Master 😛 I realized what was going on hahah but accepted the challenge nevertheless. After a couple of more or less coordinated charges another Infernal Master bit the dust, and we shook hands.

Afterthoughts

That was an intense game, that could go either way. One missed attack in the wrong moment could have spoilt it all. Fortunately, that wasn’t the case and after a successful charge and melee buffs all around the board, refreshed Storm Division was victorious.

There are some Storm Division improvements that really stood out. The increased defensive abilities of regular infantry especially. +1DEF combined with Gwen’s Force barrier had a positive impact on their survivability. That, plus Horrors’ reduced MAT, resulted in many missed attacks this game.

Desperate Pace on SB Captain, increased Acosta’s P+S and reduced point cost here and there on top of all the changes, really make this theme force pleasant to play with! Obviously, Storm Division didn’t require a total rebuild, just little revision, and that’s exactly what we received. There are models I’d love to field and test, but I cannot do that all at once ;d or do I? Some of them require a specific build that would help them shine. Is that you Nemo3? Stormguard had slept in my case for way too long!

When it comes to Infernals, I believe they would rather play a long game than look for a decisive turn. Their win condition is prolonging the game and delaying the confrontation. There were some mistakes on both parts, but we had fun for sure! Thanks, Bartek, for a pleasant game and until next one!

Cheers,
Piotr