Wednesday 26 November 2014

On the Table


Kyrus the Sombre, a Griffin Templar.


Fallen Frontiers on KS

Scale Games have Fallen Frontiers up, with 9 days left.

Since funding, they have altered pledge levels, meaning you can now have a choice of boxed game contents.

The Alpha rules are up, and worth looking at, as they are also doing some different, and not just another 40k.

Plus a review of the resin figures is up, and they do look great quality.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/298260359/fallen-frontiers-reboot




Thursday 20 November 2014

[Battle Report] Hybrid - The Heresiarch's Diaries

The Hod warriors have made a vital discovery: the various laboratories form a network with a special research laboratory at its centre. It is even possible Dirz himself performed experiments within its walls... Invaluable information concerning the Heresiarch's work is surely hidden there.


Griffin - Chris

Venerable Ambrosius
Misericorde
2 Purifiers
1 Executioner

Dirz - Ben

Aberration
Neuromancer
3 Hybrids
2 Pest of Flesh

The Griffin had the initiative, with the Executioner quickly moving to turn off the valve, removing the poisonous gas from the chamber, and so preparing the exit for the team, so long as the valve remains off. Ambrosius and the team took up positions, either on overwatch or ready to dodge the enemy cross bows.

The Dirz forces quickly moved through the laboratory, with the Aberration lurking, waiting, since it stood in the way of the Griffin escape.






The Griffin had the initiative again, and the Executioner and one of the Purifiers quickly made their way towards their objectives, the laboratory notes of Dirz. The remaining Purifier stood ready to defend Ambrosius as both he and Misericorde prepared to lay down gun fire.

The Aberration attacked, charging through doors until it reached the Purifier that stood between it and Ambrosius. Its steel talon sliced through the air but met just the cold stone of the floor [Chris's note - Ben rolled a 9 to hit. If he had hit the knock back would be impeded by Ambrosius and so inflict another 2 wounds, thus killing the Purifier out right... phew!].

The Purifier turned to fight, both driven by is holy conviction, and the Aura of Bliss that Ambrosius had called upon. Merin had blessed the Purifier and his attacks struck home. A Pest of Flesh and Hybrid clone emerged from the gloom, and both were struck with gun fire, and taking the advantage, the Executioner charged into the back of the Aberration, stabbing multiple times and wounding the creature. [Chris - the Executioner has Felon, and gains a hideous +3 on SL checks when making back strikes, perfect when you need to make multiple attacks].







The Aberration attacked the Purifier again, this time injuring him, while ignoring the Executioner to his rear, who continued his attacks. Ambrosius headed forward to give covering fire to the other Purifier who had retrieved the first of the diaries of Dirz. Misericorde saw and opening and strode forward and attacked the Aberration. Her blade, Hauteclaire cut into the beast, crippling it. She then held it high and called upon Merin. Flames erupted from the blade and swept about her, immolating the Aberration and the Hybrid before her, and also injuring the Executioner. A horde of rats now ran through the laboratory, making shooting difficult for the Griffin warriors.

Though perhaps she had acted to hastily. The remaining Hybrids and Neuromancer entered the chamber, surrounding her, and their cruel blades cut into her. Steel clashed and she called upon Merin again, to heal her wounds.






The Purifier had retrieved both diaries now, and was looking to escape the laboratory, but little did he know, the Hybrids had made short work of his compatriot, and were now dealing lethal blows to Misericorde. Very soon both swordsmen were dead, and all that remained were Ambrosius and the Purifier who put up a courageous, but futile, fight for survival.











As far as missions go this one is quite the challenge for the Griffin. A monster can be used which will stand in the way of the exit, and with the need to have both the diaries and the valve turned off, it makes for a few hard choices. Either split the Griffin, and have a fighter go for the diaries, and the rest hold the fort. Or have the entire party move together to get the diaries, and move out as a group, as they block the Dirz from the warrior with the diaries, before making a final move on the valve. Hard, hard, choices, given how well many of the Griffin models work together so long as they remain in range of the leader with Aura e.g. Ambrosius.

What I should have done, is killed the Aberration normally, and held back Misericorde's one use ability for when more of the Hybrids attacked. The only model without Conviction, and so gains no bonus for remaining near Ambrosius, is the Executioner. This was also my fastest model. This model should have been the one getting the diaries.

Also some great event cards drawn in the game. A rat swarm, a card that allowed one extra wound to be dealt to a model on a strike, a head shot, and a booby trapped door that got reversed (it almost took out my Purifier getting the diaries).

Again Hybrid proves to be a far more tightly balance game than appears on first impression.

Oh yeah, it helps not to roll 9s and 10s a lot. Ben was getting terrible rolls at the start. But then he won, so go figure.

Monday 17 November 2014

On the Table

So Deja Vu! What have we here. Yes the Grffin Exorcist repainted after the varnish disaster.


Next, the Red Lioness of the Lions of Alahan



Next, from the same faction, Alahel the Messenger.




The entire Lions cadre for Hybrid, ready to delve into the laboratories of Dirz.


The Griffin Fusiliers will give the Lodge of Hod some much needed ranged support.



And finally some Griffin Conscripts. Poor souls who may not be ready for the terrors of the laboratories.








Tuesday 4 November 2014

On the Table

This week I come with heart ache. I had a varnish disaster. So what you see here is before that happened..... bugger!



Inquisitors and in the middle an Exorcist. See that guy in the middle, he is being stripped and repainted.


Griffin Executioners aka Red Monks. I was lucky with these guys. Not much work to be done. They're not perfect but table top good. Some day when the painting table is empty I will attack them and redo them.


Griffin Thalions. Both are being stripped.


Griffin Templars. These were fine... phew!

Also being stripped are two of my elves. Ugh. So five model to repaint, and 4 in progress (Red Lioness and 3 Fusiliers) and soon 6 Conscripts, 4 Keratis Warriors, Cypher Lukan, Kyrus the Sombre, and Sin Assyris to put together and paint. 

Sunday 2 November 2014

Battle Report - Hybrid: Prowlers!

SO - Nemesis Laboratory

According to the information contained in Dirz's diaries, the SO Nemesis laboratory was among the prototype laboratories that were abandoned along with the Hybrid Project. The buildings are completely outdated, but built in a particularly robust alloy. The Dawnn Ritual that reactivated the Heresiarch's laboratories also brought the So Nemesis back to life, to the extent that even the Syhars discovered its existence.

A small army of Syhar scouts was sent to investigate ahead of a much larger force. They arrived at the same time as a squad of Griffins....

Garrell, "The Redeemer", as he was known to those among the Lodge of Hod, led his cadre of Purifiers, accompanied by a Knight of the Lodge. Swords, gun-blades, and rifle were ready to face all manner of horrors that may lurk in the darkness of the laboratory. Garrell led the warriors, hoping his keen eye would dispatch any creature before it posed a threat to his men.





Elsewhere in the laboratory, Sasia Samaris, "The Desert Rose", and Ysis, "The Viper", kept an uneasy alliance for this mission, tasked with recovering the Gem of Darkness which powered the alchemical apparatus. Behind her concealing mask, Ysis sneered. She detested this Sasia, this traitor. 
But there was the mission in hand. Sasia led the Hybrid clones that they had activated in the laboratory, with Ysis tasked with recovering the Gem.

Garrell took up a sniper position, and opened the airlock door. And explosion went off in the chamber ahead of them, and as the air and flames cleared their enemy stood before them. A Purifier marched forward, taking aim and firing, injuring the clone. Another Hybrid entered the chamber, firing its crossbow. The other Purifiers took up position, but none of their shots found their mark.






Sprinting forward, Sasia took up position, ready to take on the Griffin warriors. Seeing this renowned warrior, here, in the abandoned facility, Garrell raised his rifle and fired, injuring Sasia as the bullet tore into her shoulder. But this was all a distraction as Ysis sprinted off, out flanking the Griffin warriors. Taking up the rear, the Neuromancer stood surveying the fight.

Sasia, enraged, charged at the Purifier, her blade cutting deep into the man's side. The Knight, seeing his compatriot in danger, engaged Sasia in mortal combat. Blades rang out as the two warriors fought, with Sasia cut down in a flurry of blows. But she had the last laugh, as her blood released a virulent disease. The Purifier, Garrell and the Knight, splattered by her blood from the fight, began to heave.
The Hybrids, and in fact all the Dirz warriors, felt energised. Sasia's death and release of the plague had also triggered a chemical reaction within themselves, increasing their strength, with the injured Hybrid increasing in stature. The thing growled and lunged at the Knight, with its cruel sword cutting into the blessed armour.

With his men now fighting for their lives, Garrell took up position and took aim with his rifle. He could not risk his warriors being ambushed. From out of the gloom emerged a pair of Pests of Flesh. These small creatures, known for being able to detonate as a ball of fire, sped forward. Garrell, exhaled. Methodically he fired, reloaded, and fired again, killing both of the creatures.
Ysis made it to the energy chamber, and uncovered the Gem of Darkness. The globe of condensed manna glistened and glowed. It was time to leave.





The alchemically enhanced Hybrids continued their battle, pushed on by the Neuromancer who directed their actions. But as the fight continued, and wounds were inflicted, Ysis was sprinting through the corridors, looking to escape with her prize. As she emerged from the darkness, almost at the exit of the laboratory, Garrell and the Knight too the initiative. They could not risk her escaping with the gem. But, no matter what they did, neither gun nor sword could hit her. Distracted, Garrell and the Knight were in no position to defend themselves, and the brutal Hybrids cut them down. The two remained Purifiers had their work cut out. The first skidded into position, and took aim and fired, threading his shot past the Hybrid and hitting Ysis in the gut. The second Purifier saw his chance, and sped forward, and in a killing blow cracked her mask in two.






Before the Purifier was the Gem of Darkness, risking everything he moved to pick it up while making a series of feints to distract the one Hybrid. But that would not be enough. He turned to see the other Hybrid bring his cruel scimitar down. But it missed, finding nothing but concrete. The other remaining Purifier ran forward, hoping to help his brother in arms flee. The Hybrid once more raised his blade, its eyes glowing. But again, the Purifier sidestepped the swinging sword, and with that ran out the laboratory.

(Notes about this game: Sasia is pretty incredible given her Duellist 3 aptitude. Which basically means on a roll of 1,2 or 3 to hit - she generally will hit on a 8 or less on a d10 - she will cause 2 rather than 1 wound. Coupled with her ability in combat to choose Skilled Combat - get to roll to hit again on a successful hit - she can kill enemies very quickly. However, she is rather fragile. And so needs more support from other warriors.

In this game, Skilled and Expert Movement actions played a crucial part in preventing enemies fighting to their full potential or just getting away. Expert Movement in particular is good as it also reduces the skill roll of enemies. In a scenarios like this one, such an action is incredibly useful. Also Garrell is quite an excellent model choice, given his choice of weapons, and ability to pull off a number of useful shooting actions).