I'm not even sure where I begin with this one. I will do my best to trim it down for expediency. The original plan was to get some friends I knew from online gaming who lived in Florida to drive up Memorial Day weekend to visit my brother. Then a couple months out I touched base to see how their side of the plan was going and they were forced to drop out. Hooray 17 hour car trip on my own. Although I do have a way station at my friend Adam's place in Va so at the end of the day it wouldn't be so bad (and probably easier than the actual visit). I'm going to leave out the politics and religion that led to my selection of memorial day and bring this back around to the games as quick as possible.
So hey. BK faux is in May. Since I am now solo all I have to do is slide my days off a couple weekends up and I'm gold. Was a good idea until the only guy who could cover me had that weekend scheduled off first. And there is a concert I really wanted to go to in VA Sunday night I could make (in theory) if I drove. So now if this had any chance to work at all, I would have to sacrifice the concert, voluntarily go into an airport on Friday the 13th, take the last flight out, and hope the weather cooperates just to have a chance of making it. I could give you long running history of how I don't get along with airports but trust me when I say I would rather drive 17 hours then fly just on principle. And somehow that went off without a hitch (minus the part where I was out til 2 am).
So without further ado... BK faux!
Sign in: 10 Thunders
Round One:
Deployment: Corners
Strategy: Interference
Schemes: Convict Labor, Exhaust Their Forces, Detonate the Charges, A Quick Murder, Occupy Their Turf
Opponent: The R train.
This is probably hands down the most embarrassing loss I will ever suffer. I grew up in upstate NY. I am better than most at reading maps (before gps was a thing). So I read the directions at 2 am found a subway map and looked for my stop and thought I found it. Since I didn't zoom out of the driving directions and they were not over-layed I found myself in Queens instead of Brooklyn at 10 am. Recorded as as 0-10 loss (i think?)
- As a side note I came ill prepared to record any of these games. I didn't print off more record sheets that I used for previous games. The copier at work wasn't working so I couldn't print off the emissary in case I wanted to put it on the table, and I packed Austringers but forgot to pull the cards and add them to my McCabe section. The only thing I recorded is who I played, the schemes I chose, and the outcome. Everything else is 2 week old memory so this may not be 100% accurate.
Round Two:
Deployment: Close
Strategy: Head Hunter
Schemes: Convict Labor, Show of Force, Search the Ruins, Mark for Death, Take Prisoner
Opponent: Greg (Arcanist)
The Lists:
McCabe w/ Glowing Saber, Badge of Speed, Promises
2 x Austringers
Pathfinder
Torakage
Performer
10 Thunders Brother
Chiaki
Vs.
Rasputina + upgrades
Snow Storm
Blessed of December
Silent One
Wendigo
2 x Ice Gamin
Ice Dancer
Things I learned from this game. I can not show up to a tournament with a master I have never put on the table and expect to do well. My hubris is partially a result of running Lynch well and the crew I run around him functions pseudo independently from him. Even when Lynch is not mixing it up he still draws and cycles cards. The other part being there was no way I was going to place so I might as well try to learn new tools so I can use them better when I really need them.
I must say there are a ton of moving parts in a McCabe list. There are auras and order of operation that don't exist (for the most part) in a Lynch list. While it is easy as day to see on paper it's another thing to have a firm enough grasp to do it calmly in the heat of battle.
Instead of a round by round for this one I'm going to switch it up and list things that went well and things I did poorly. I took Convict Labor and Search the Ruins and Greg took Mark for Death and Search the Ruins.
Things that went well. Austringer plus performer for head hunter = gold. My opponent was somewhat new to the game and was learning the hard way about how engagement and interacts don't mix so I felt a little bad dancing in with the performer and making it look easy. I read somewhere Torakage plus McCabe = amazing. The jury is still out but most of that is the learning curve on positioning. I can see the potential and he did good but I suspect he can do way better with a little more finesse. 10 TB did his thing. Rock solid every time I take him.
Things that went poorly for me. Greg knew how to attack around corners, and generally knew what he wanted everything in his crew to do. Having a faster crew then I did the last time I shut down Raspy I'm embarrassed I didn't send something in to tie her up a turn or two. Also I again failed to consider the scheme pool in greater depth. With Show of Force and Search the Ruins in there I had no business taking the gamble for a battle in the middle. With the double Austringer set up Mark for Death would have been gold. I played it correctly the last time two sources of points were funneling me to the center and stayed outside and this time I got burned. The Austringers could have pulled it off if I did a little better in the battle for the center but Mark still would have been way easier. The Pathfinder and Chiaki did next to nothing in this set up. In general there is nothing in this list that an opponent has to deal with or it's going to drop a ton of damage on you. I know it sounds like blasphemy but I think I need to rethink the Saber. There are a ton of models in 10T that don't need it to be a threat. But I really just need to play more games with McCabe and get comfortable. 5-9 loss.
Round Three:
Deployment: Flank
Strategy: Collect the Bounty
Schemes: Convict Labor, Leave Your Mark, Covert Breakthrough, Catch and Release, Frame for Murder.
Opponent:Jacob (outcasts)
The Lists:
Lynch w/ Woke Up With a Hand, Rising Sun, Recalled Training
Hungering Darkness w/ Recalled Training
Lone Swordsman w/ Recalled Training
Yin w/ Smoke Grenades
2 x Illuminated
10 Thunder Brother
Shadow Effigy
Vic of Ashes + upgrades
Vic of Blood + upgrade
Student of Conflict?
Vanessa
2 x Trappers
Freikorpsmann
2 x Ronin
I will start by saying I feel like I am missing something with his list. Lesson to self. Write down the lists after the game to make sure I have it correct. And this is my first outing vs. the Vics. I took this pic on Sunday (not Saturday after playing) and something feels off on the terrain as well (this is the board and all the elements are present but some buildings feel moved). With all the personal stuff bouncing around my head I fell back to Lynch because I knew I would probably play distracted.
With flank deployment I set up on the right and my opponent on the left with a trapper up top next to the house and the other was near the middle but outside of a turn one charge. I took Convict and Leave Mark, he took Frame for murder on Blood and Breakthrough.
Turn 1. I send the swordsman to deal with the trapper up top and Yin to back him up. He sent Vanessa and the Freikorpsmann off that way in response. Everything else was maneuvering toward the other trapper with Ash hanging back a bit and my Brother waiting to break off and do his thing. Score 0-0
Turn 2. I have an Illuminated charge the trapper near the center (I don't think I killed it). He counters with Blood leaving her exposed. This should have been a red flag and may matter in future games but if I cede 3 points to remove a model of Bloods caliber, I take that action 99 times out of a 100. With the swordsman on the other flank I popped RT, stone for ram for the envelop trigger (I don't think I had the card in hand) and threw Huggy at her and deleted her on the first swing. He ceded me a point for collect bounty which in my opinion was a risky play which ultimately lost him the game. I think he re-positioned the trapper to shoot at Huggy I sent the other Illuminated to charge him (I think I killed him. *We had a slight argument on if I even had the line of effect to pull it off. (LOS laser on the list for my next purchase. Nothing personal as these kinds of disputes are common and I should have the tools on hand to make my case.) Having the proxy base ultimately won my case. The swordsman made it to the trapper and dispatched him remaining completely behind the building forcing to sink AP into closing or taking pot shots at Yin. I think he managed to kill Yin but I don't remember if it was turn 2 or 3. Convict markers down. Score 2-3
Turn 3. Swordsman pops RT, 0 action 2" push to clear of the building and charges Vanessa taking her out. He counters with Ash deleting the swordsman and moving to have range to Lynch turn 4. A Ronin dropped a breakthrough marker, Lynch kills her and picks up the marker. I think Huggy kills the other Ronin. Leave Mark down. Score 5-3
Turn 4. I move Huggy in between Lynch and Ash as a speed bump she kills him and I think she moves to drop a breakthrough marker. The Freikorpsmann also drops a marker. I think Lynch kills the Freikorpsmann. We miss the clause that says reduce to 0 to score on bounty so we didn't count Huggy burying as scoring so the game is reported as 8-5 instead of 7-6
I think Lynch still had RT but I could be wrong and I didn't record final resources to extrapolate possible outcomes for a turn 5. I didn't unbury Huggy due to time but he would also be on the table for turn 5. I finished convict, 1 point left to get on Mark which was unmolested. I think the effigy was just getting over that way as well.
-At this point I wish I had drove because I had a hour+1/2 subway up to the Bronx for dinner with my brother. I could have went straight to the restaurant in 40 minutes and back down in 20 minutes. Had I drove I could have went to the bar with the guys because I would have had time off and not all these tiny windows to do everything. Hindsight is 20/20 and all that BS. Another allergic reaction to something cost me 2 hours sleep and then plans changed so moar subway antics.
I get on the subway just as the doors were closing and arrive to round 4 with maybe 2 seconds to spare. I get paired with the ringer in case I was no show which is fair. There also tends to be a little flux with these longer tournaments with people dropping and I think we had someone take over a slot in this particular event.
Round Four:
Deployment: Close Corner 16"
Strategy: Squatters rights
Schemes: Convict Labor, Hunting Party, Inspection, Neutralize the Leader, Public Demonstration.
Opponent:Andrew (Gremlins)
The Lists:
Lynch w/ Woke Up With a Hand, Rising Sun, Recalled Training
Hungering Darkness w/ Recalled Training
Lone Swordsman w/ Recalled Training
Yin w/ Smoke Grenades
2 x Illuminated
10 Thunder Brother
Shadow Effigy
Somer w/ Family Tree
3 x bayou gremlins
2 x Skeeters
Lenny
Trixibelle
Old Major
Slop Hauler
I'm pretty sure I got this list correct. So in pulling the round Four packet the night before I noticed I wasn't fast enough to hit the corners and do all the things I need to do to score points with my standard set up. With Inspection in the pool I figure I can probably cheat a convict marker towards the inside to score that round 2 and start scoring Inspection round 3. Only Huggy and the 10TB would be fast enough to hit the corner strategy markers in time. Provided I didn't want to try out McCabe again. But the fear there was my opponent would roll over whatever I put in the center and then take out a corner and I would be done. With the subway leaving me 2 seconds the list I know best is Lynch .
Turn One. Hazardous terrain? And I'm not on Vassal? Crazy talk. So I set up in the right with a puddle of acid adjacent and he sets up by the houses. I send the 10TB down the right flank and an illuminated escort to discourage interception. Huggy down the left with the effigy in tow. The swordsman was angling to support Huggy but more toward the center. Lynch, Yin, and the other illuminated pushed up the center. Meanwhile the gremlins were busy multiplying, I think there was a saddle on the pig and it was moving up with Lenny to charge me turn 2. The skeeters moved up behind the fence. Then Trixy 'lured' Lynch and the Illuminated back the way they came into the acid. That bitch! Score 0-0
Turn Two. Yin set up shop in the middle and got his Gandalf on. 'You shall not pass!' and locked the pig down. Realizing my hitters were coming down the left and Lenny's ride now has flat tires he walked Lenny over to hold that flank. Swordsman moves more to the left drops a convict marker and 0 action pushes up to protect it. Effigy tells Huggy to remember the mission since the effigy is to slow to contribute this turn on his own. Huggy moves flips the squat and RTM drops a scheme. the Bro dances to his Squat for a 0 action, flips that, and drops the 3rd convict marker. His escort peel off towards the conflict and he sends a skeeter as a speed bump. The other Illuminated leaves the spa saying 'Oh no she didn't' heals back to full and moves up to support Yin. Lynch follows her up the board and I probably kill a bayou or something. Somewhere in the he did suicide a couple bayou to flip squats. I don't remember what Trixy was up to that turn but I think she was redirecting traffic around the broken pig. Score 2-1
Turn Three. Yin continues to hold the pig. Then Trixy got behind the pig and I'm not sure I want to know what she was doing back there but the pig came flying in at Yin flat tire and all. The swordsman dispatched a bayou and set up out of sight behind dense cover set up to charge next round. Another bayou came up in the dense cover to occupy the swordsman. Huggy came through the tree toward to land in range of another bayou and deleted it. Effigy moved to the corner dropped an extra convict marker in the event I needed it. !0 TB did likewise in defensive stance to lock up inspection. I think the illuminated flayed the speed bump skeeter and moved to the unclaimed squat marker.I don't know why the other illuminated ended up next to Yin but there was some blast exploit going on so I moved her away at the next opportunity. Old major failed to do anything of noted (I blame whatever it was that Trixy did). I think I had Lynch delete Old major that turn. I don't remember if he took convict labor or hunting party. Which ever one it was he scored 1 on it either this turn or next. Score 5-2(or 3)
Turn Four. I think Yin moves up within 8 but outside of 6 and locks Trixy down. The Illuminated from the right flank charges the Slop Hauler. The Swordsman pops RT pushes out of engagement to establish LOS to Lenny but I don't think he dies here. I think Somer kills my Illuminated fresh out of the spa. I think I send Huggy in to finish Lenny. Trixy pushes the Illuminated and the Swordsman away. Score 8-4
Turn Five. Quick mop up turn and Somer moves, focused, and shot Lynch for 3 points on Neutralize (note to self. Misdirection is good yo. Find a spot for it next time that scheme is in there). I flip one of his squats. Score 10-7
And then there was this game. I can't even begin to explain in words why this game went as lop sided as it did.
Round Five:
Deployment: Standard
Strategy: Guard the Stash
Schemes: Convict Labor, Exhaust Their Forces, Leave Your Mark, Undercover Entourage, Set Up.
Opponent:Adam (Neverborn)
The Lists:
Lynch w/ Woke Up With a Hand, Rising Sun, Recalled Training
Hungering Darkness w/ Recalled Training
Lone Swordsman w/ Recalled Training
Yin w/ Smoke Grenades
2 x Illuminated
10 Thunder Brother
Shadow Effigy
Collodi w/Bag of Props, Strum the Threads
Primordial Magic
Mysterious Emissary
Lucky Effigy
Doppleganger
Lazarus
2 x Stitched Togethers
I won deployment and made him set up on the top side. He put the Primordial Magic up top by itself, the Doppleganger and Lazarus off on my right flank, and everything else kind of in the middle. I put 10 TB and the effigy on the left flank and everything else kind of toward the center with Huggy and the Swordsman more to the right. I took Convict Labor and Leave Your Mark, he took Entourage and Leave Your Mark. We played the two light brown area terrain as dense.
Turn One. I was kinda ok with Lazarus getting one shot if he moved up into terrain so I crashed the right side hard. So I sent Huggy through the building toward the center line on the far right. Swordsman came up beside the house. Effigy put remember the mission on the Brother then moved up. One Illuminated went down the left flank but more toward the stash marker.and the other made a bead for the other marker. The Brother moved up to the left centerline edge and RTM dropped the first convict. Yin moved up the center and Lynch right behind him. He moved Primordial Magic up where it would be out of LOS on my left. The effigy went toward my illuminated on the left, the Emissary toward the left stash. Both stitched moved up but didn't participate. Doppleganger moved up and copied Lazarus' launcher to no great effect. But between Collodi taking damage for fast, Lazarus coping Collodis' attack and 3 13's in my opponents hand, My swordsman and Huggy were both slow, down to 1 wound, and the first AP the swordsman was taking was Collodis' to use. Score 0-0
-Right about here is when Lynch probably said to himself 'Wait a minute. I realize you brought a Doppleganger but I am the master of manipulating fate. How dare you have the audacity to use that better than me."
Turn 2 I had my right side Illuminated move up to the stash and in range of the Swordsman and the shoot at huggy who relented to bury heal and remove conditions. I don't remember the order of activations this round but I know a Stitched moved up to the right side stash and failed a gamble for moderate damage (hello Huggy target) Lazarus and the Doppleganger combined for almost no damage but I think he killed the Swordsman out of fear of my 0 action reactivate.Yin double moved up to support the right from the center. My Illuminated on the left dropped a marker and moved up to threaten his effigy. My effigy hid behind the left stash marker. Brother danced dropped the third marker and moved up to set marks next turn. His effigy charged my Illuminated to no effect. His Emissary dropped a land marker and moved up to the stash marker on the left. Collodi moved over to support the effigy and senT my Illuminated into the land marker. Lynch moved up to be in unbury range. paid for blood twice on the stitched and Huggy came back. Then I charge him to occupy Lazarus and the Doppleganger putting damage on the Doppleganger. Score 2-0
Turn 3 With Lynch I never stone for cards. So we flip initiative we both flip moderate cards but I win. He cheats a 10. Normally I wouldn't burn a stone here but with red joker in hand if I win this flip I can probably completely neuter his crew this turn. So I stone and get a 12. Pop RT finish the Doppleganger, then stone for ram and swing at Lazarus for 7 (armor+2 takes 5) no way to remove him this turn and it seemed a waste of the joker there so I held it. Collodi creates a brutal effigy making the Emissary fast. Well that's no bueno. Time for Lynch to shut him down. Activate, pop RT, mulligan, move, stone for ram shoot and hit for 10 damage (cheated the joker)but HTK, then pay for blood and poof no more Emissary. Brutal moved up to the stash The Illuminated charged it got a lucky moderate on the first swing to bring it to HTK then finished it in the second swing. I think the other stitched failed a gamble as well so Yin charged it and occupied Collodi as well removing the stitched. He moved the Primordial magic up to cancel my Convicts but he was in Dance range of the Brother who focused and removed him but denying me Mark. Score 4-0
Turn 4 I never used wicked on Yin in all the games and to score Entourage he had to leave engagement. With all the damage he ate to be fast this finishes him off and we call the game because he is out of things to score points with. Score 9-0 I probably owe this poor guy a drink.
So I'm off for birthday cake, hang with friends from high school I haven't seen in 4/5 years and another trip to the airport. At least I get to drive to May Day in NC the following weekend... Until next time.