Shadowborn vs Stormcast - Heralds of the Storm

Back with another battle report today. One of the members of the Escalation Campaign was up for a game, and with the club open early due to a tournament for another game, we were able to get to an early start.
We agreed the night before to play the Heralds of the Storm scenario from the South Coast GT Battleplan Pack. This scenario has the players vying for control of 4 objectives, whoever has the most will be able to push the storm into their opponents territory to win the game. We weren't using the SCGT points/comp pack though, we were sticking with the Clash Comp pool points we've been using to date.

So lets get on with the report.
The Armies
We ended up playing with 16 deployed points each. The next month will be 15 points with 5 in reserve, but my opponent Colin accidentally put down 16. So I just replaced my last deploy (a Chaos Spawn), with a group of 5 more Chosen.

The Shadowborn
Chaos Lord - Zagul Darksoul
Chaos Sorcerer Lord - Argrar Darkblood
Chaos Sorcerer Lord
10 Chaos Warriors with Hand Weapon and Runeshields
10 Chaos Chosen
5 Chaos Chosen
5 Chaos Knights with Glaives
5 Marauder Horsemen with Javelins and Shields
Chaos Gargant
Chaos Warshrine

Stormcast Eternals
Lord Celestant on Dracoth
Lord Celestant
Knight-Heraldor
Knight-Venator
5 Liberators with Warhammers
5 Judicators with Boltstorm Crossbows (and Thunderbolt Crossbow)
5 Retributors
5 Protectors
2 Concussors

The Battlefield

The battlefield

As we can see, we've got 4 objective markers that we'll need to contest (The 4 obelisks and the hut). We decided for the purpose of the Knight-Heraldor, considering that these could be represented as markers that they would not be eligible terrain for the Heraldor to use his Trumpet on. There was plenty of other terrain he'd be able to toot his horn at anyway.

The Battle
The two armies had arrived to the field, a magical storm in the brewing would not stop these forces from engaging. Chaos vs Order, these two armies would stop at nothing to tear each other limb from limb. Quickly Zagul and Argrar conversed and agreed, the storm must be controlled to support the troops on the battle. The order was sent to the two Magi to control the obelisks that could control the storm at all costs. The elite of the Shadowborn were tasked with holding the Northern Obelisk, while the foot troops bolstered by the Chaos Warshrine were tasked with holding the Southern Obelisk, while also to seek out and destroy the Stormcast nearby.

The two armies arrayed on the field of battle

While the Stormcast arrived earlier to the battle, their patience shows through as the Lord Celestant orders his men to hold fast and let the Chaos come to them. And that is what the Chaos forces intend, as the Southern forces march forwards. The Magi casts their spells to bolster the defenses of the two Chosen groups, and the foot troops storm forwards. On the Northern front the elite are more cautious, happy to stay well away from the Dracoth's and hold onto the obelisk.

The Chaos forces march forwards

While the Chaos march forwards to the Stormcast line, the Stormcast are more orderly and less eager to get to grips with the enemy. The lines move slightly to better positions, but for the most part are happy to put a defensive line up in front of both Obelisks controlling the storm.

The Stormcast move position slightly

Then the Stormcast volley is unleashed. The Knight-Venator is ordered to take out his star-fated arrow to take out the Warshrine, and the shot is on target and deals a huge blow to the Warshrine helped by his faithful star-eagle raking at the Chaos Ogors as they hold the Shrine above.

The star-fated arrow deals a substantial blow to the Warshrine

After the shot, the Stormcast again seize the initiative and again are happy to just slightly re-adjust their lines to move into better positions.

The Judicators take place behind the Liberators

The Stormcast at the Southern Obelisk are now in position

This time however, with the Stormcast leaders in position, their shooting can be bought into full force. Not only the Knight-Venator, but the Heraldor's trumpet causes rubble to crash into the oncoming Chaos horde as well as the Lord Celestant throwing in his magical hammers.

The shrine is badly crippled by the shooting while the other units take some minor damage

The Chaos forces can do nothing but surge forward to engage the enemy. The Shrine master, obviously started by the heavy damage the Shrine had taken failed his prayer to the Chaos Gods and could not bless the Chosen. Nearing the enemy lines, Argrar takes the opportunity to reduce one of the Retributors to ashes with an Arcane bolt, while the Marauder Horsemen's javelins find weakness in the Retributor armour and fell another.

Two retributors fall to a surprisingly effective magic and shooting phase by the Chaos

Yet again, the Stormcast were able to seize the initiative. While the northern flank was a standoff, the southern flank prepared for the Chaos forces enroute. The warshrine was finally toppled by the Knight-Heraldor, while Zagul Darkblood strode to close to the terrain and was blasted by the Heraldor's trumpet.

The Warshrine falls

 Still, the Stormcast would not engage the Chaos forces. Happy to stay back to protect the Obelisk. Enraged that the enemy had destroyed their Shrine, the Chaos forces were more than happy to oblige. Additionally, the Lord Celestant on the Northern flank along with his Concussors had finally come forwards somewhat complacently. The small group of Chaos Chosen towards the centre found themselves blessed with Daemonic Power coursing through their veins by the Sorcerer Lord to the North, ordered to take a suicide mission to take out the Lord Celestant.
First though, the Marauder Horsemen were again able to soften up the Retributors before the lines met, another slain by the Javelins of the Horsemen.

Marauder javelins, surprisingly effective

With the Javelins thrown, the Chaos forces enage the Stormcast. Both Warriors and Chosen charge in to engage the Stormcast elite, but a poor charge by the Chosen means they cannot bring their full numbers to bear. The small group of Chosen however, with the pent up Daemonic power urging them onwards surround the Lord Celestant towards the centre.

Chaos engage the Stormcast on their ground

The Chosen launched their attack on the Lord Celestant on Dracoth, their Chaos Glaives raking through the Dracoth's scales and Celestants armour, their muscles bulging with Daemonic energy. However, it was not enough! The Celestant had barely survived, and in return the fury of the Dracoth's was fierce. 4 Chosen were slain instantly while the last survivor fled the battlefield.

The lone surviving Chosen flees the field while the Lord Celestant is lucky to have survived

On the southern side of the battlefield, the Warriors and Chosen were getting more resistance than expected. 2 Warriors are slain by the 2 remaining Retributors, while the Chosen can only manage to slay one Protector. Obviously not too impressed by their Chosen brethren, the Warriors are unable to leave a mark on the Stormcast warriors.

The scrum over the Obelisk

Yet again, the Stormcast remain on the initiative. The Lord Celestant is able to escape, while the Concussors leap forwards on their Dracoths, spitting lightning at the Marauder Horsemen to instantly fry one and burn another.

The Marauder Horsemen are battered by lightning, and not looking forwards to the inevitable charge

Additionally to that, Argrar Darkblood had moved to far forwards and into the range of the Knight-Venator. With lightning arrow and sky-eagle claws, he was battered from afar by the Venator.

The Sorcerer-Lord is battered by Stormcast shooting

In the scrum, neither side was able to make much progress. Another Retributor falls while the Chaos Warriors and Chosen are battered further. The Horsemen though are shattered as the Dracoth's crash into their line, with the sole survivor a wounded banner bearer.

3 More Horsemen fall, while the Banner Bearer just holds on

With the Southern forces in danger of being broken through, the Chaos forces in the north mobilise into action. The Knights and Gargant surge forwards, the Gargant blessed with Daemonic Power from the Sorcerer Lord to the North. The Warriors in the South are tasked with stalling the Dracoths from engaging the wounded characters while the characters retreat back to the far side of the Obelisk.

The Chaos forces to the South in retreat, while the ones in the North go on the offensive

To the North, the Gargant goes first, swiping at the Judicators with his masonry taking out two with huge swipes while Eadbutting 3 of the Liberators in one blow!

The Gargant deals massive damage to the Stormcast infantry

To the South, the Chosen are finally able to finish off the Retributors but cannot bring their numbers to bear against the Protectors.

The last Retributor falls

The Knights swing in their Glaives, felling the remaining Liberators but unfortunately cannot deal any additional damage to the Judicators.

The liberators are destroyed by the Chaos charge

Lastly to no surprise, the remaining Horseman is wiped out by the Dracoths.

The last Horsemen is destroyed by the Dracoths

At long last the Chaos was given the initiative, but this was all to the plan of the Lord Celestant. Eager to keep the Chaos to the north engaged so they could not move after the Lord Celestant on Dracoth. Never the less, seeing the danger the other Dracoth's posed, the Chaos Gargant retreats from the combat to block off the route they might take to the north. The two characters on the Southern Obelisk retreat behind it for cover from the shooting, while the Warriors block the Dracoth's easy path through the rocks. The Chosen are able to fell 2 Protectors in combat, but their numbers are starting to be thinned by the retaliation.

The end of the final Chaos turn, time to see if the Stormcast can pull out a win

In the Stormcast turn, the Dracoths attempt to move the long path to the two Chaos characters. The Knight-Venator surged forwards on his wings, but could not shoot his bow and instead chose to charge into the Chosen. The two Dracoth's spit lightning and fry Agrar Darkblood to the ground, but instead turn to the north to face the Gargant rather than go after the long distant Zagul darkblood.
The Dracoth's easily bring down the Gargant with a combination of their Hammers and Dracoth claws and fangs, the Gargants tough hide no match for lightning forged weaponry.

The Giant falls near the Obelisk

The Chaos Knights to the north are able to crush the last of the Judicators.

The Glaives punch through the Stormcast armour

And the Chosen are battered and broken, but he Standard Bearer stands tall even while surrounded by the Stormcast.

Only the Standard Bearer remains

With both sides battered but not broken, and the storm about to reach it's peak, both sides retreat, neither side winning the day.

The final shot

The Aftermath
So both of us made plenty of mistakes that game. I made some mismeasuring with my Chaos Lord that got him pumped full of mortal wounds around the mid-game which made the game a lot closer than it could've been (Going into the opponents turn 5, both my characters to the South only had a single wound remaining). A lot hinged on me not winning the initiative after my Chosen almost chunked the Lord Celestant. A won initiative likely would've led to the demise of the Celestant, as the Marauder Horsemen could easily swoop in with their Javelins. Unfortunately I lost it, and with no long ranged weaponry he was out of my reach and therefore my chances of winning.
I had one last chance if I had won the initiative roll in the last round, I could've given my opponent the initiative, clean up the Judicators and have the Knights go after him but it was not to be. That being said, with my characters closer to the Dracoths it might've led to both of mine on the South being destroyed.
My character positioning on those guys wasn't the greatest, which led to some excess wounds which I should really be more aware of when my opponent has long ranged shooting (Think overall, they took a few from the Heraldor, a few from the Venator, and perhaps a few from the Celestants flying hammers).

It was only my second time playing against Stormcast, and first against some of the elements in his army, so definitely an interesting and learning experience.

Overall though, it was a good fun scenario and definitely interesting. We played that if the storm didn't move, then it didn't do damage. Not sure if that's how it's meant to be played, but that's what we did. Definitely a cool way to make objectives interesting.

Shadowborn vs Aelves - The Hidden Artefact

Hi guys,
So here's the first of two battle reports from the last Campaign day in the Southern Escalation league. This battle is a rematch between the Aelven forces and the Shadowborn.
So lets get into it!

The Setting
Having pursued the Shadowborn fleeing with the artefact, the Highborn Aelves and the Shadowborn find themselves in the Deadscale Wastes. The Shadowborn carrying the artefact are heading for the pass to escape pursuit.

The Armies
This month the armies are 12 deployed points in the game. The Highborn Aelves can instead of deploying a unit, send a unit to encircle the army. If the general uses the command ability, these units can appear ahead of the fleeing Chaos army to perform a pincer attack.

The Shadowborn
2 Chaos Sorcerer Lords
10 Chaos Warriors with Hand Weapon and Shields
10 Chaos Chosen
5 Chaos Knights with Glaives
5 Marauder Horsemen with Javelins and Shields
1 Chaos Gargant
1 Chaos Spawn

The Highborn Aelves
1 High Elf Prince on Steed
2 High Elf Mages
1 Lothern Sea Helm on Foot with Banner
1 High Elf Prince on Dragon (Encircling)
10 Swordmasters
10 Sea guard
5 Ellyrion Reavers
5 Silver Helms

The Battle
The Shadowborn had crested the hill, the Highborn Aelves in pursuit in the distance. Zagul Darksoul, leader of the Shadowborn hadn't been seen since the swamps. Argrar Darkblood, the Sorcerer Supreme quickly barked orders to keep the Idol safe at all costs. He quickly dispatched his Warriors to rearguard and delay the enemy, and peering into the future saw a lone Prince and Mage had wandered away from the army. Grinning evilly, he sent the warbands Chaos Gargant to add some new corpses to his bag before barking the order to head for the Pass.

The Chaos forces flee the Highborn in pursuit

The two Chaos mages quickly used their powers of wizardry to boost the defenses of the Knights, but the Aelven Mage even with the threat of the Giant looming overhead dispelled the shield over the Chosen right before he was pummelled into the ground with the Gargants masonry.

The mage is pummelled into the wasteland floor

The Chaos Warriors and Spawn moved to delay the remainder of the Highborn force, and were swiftly engaged by the Swordmasters while the Aelven Cavalry swiftly evaded to the north. The Swordmasters made short work of the Chaos Spawn, but the Chaos Warriors would put up a much tougher defense. The Aelven Prince on his mighty dragon also arrived from the north, having been sent ahead of the Highborn army to cut off the Chaos in their retreat.

The rearguard engaged while the rest of the Chaos army flees

The Chaos Gargant finished off the High Aelven Prince, who would join the Mage to be picked clean by the scavengers of the waste for their folly of being too close to the Giant. The battle between the Warriors and the Swordmasters contined, but the stronger toughed Chaos Warriors were starting to take their toll on the Aelven elite.

The Aelven Race dwindles even further under the swords of Chaos

While the rearguard was fighting off the Aelven infantry, the faster elements of the Aelven army looked to engage and stall off the retreating Chaos elements. The Aelven cavalry coming up from while the Dragon looking to engage from the north.

Aelves in pursuit of the Chaos force

The dragonfire was deflected by the Chaos Runeshields, but the Marauder Horsemen were not as lucky, one being shot down by the Ellyrion Reavers who promptly moved closer to the Chaos forces while one of the Marauder Horsemen flee the battle.

One of the Horsemen flee the battle

However, this would prove folly for the Reavers. With it being increasingly obvious who held the artefact, the Horsemen and Chosen turn swiftly to the north. While the Horsemen look to engage and stall the Silver Helms, the Reavers are slaughtered in a bloody mess of horse and Aelf by the great axes of the Chaos Chosen.

The Chosen lord over the dead bodies of the Reavers

With the Dragon being a bit too far away to engage the Chaos Knights, they take this opportunity to head towards the pass. The dragon was still very much a concern though, and could potentially ruin Argrar's plans. He swiftly weaves dark enchantments on the Chaos Knights and offers them his gifts of foresight.

The Knights head for the Pass

However, it's not enough to escape the mighty Dragonlord. The Aelven Prince orders his Dragon to cut off the Chosen, and it swoops in spewing dragon fire while attacking with lance, claws and fang. Even the protection of the Artefact cannot help as one of the Knights is slain while another wounded. The Knights in return without the charge cannot deal much damage in return, barely scathing the mighty Dragon.

The Dragonlord swoops in

Elsewere on the field, the Swordmasters were wiped out by the Chaos Warriors, the Bladelord being the last to fall.

The Sea Helm must face the Chaos Warriors alone

While the Silver Helms quickly dispatched the Marauder Horsemen, but in return were quickly torn to shreds by the Chaos Chosen.

The High Helm falls, with the Mage being the next in the Chosen's sight

But all interest in the battle was on the fight between the Dragon and the Knights. The battle was fierce, with both sides landing blows. But it was becoming evident that the fight was starting to look unfavourable for the Knights. Argrar had the gift of foresight you see, and the future looked grim, someone would need to be expended to ensure the Idol was delivered to the masters.
Quickly he screamed the orders to his Sorcerer apprentice "Delay that Dragon fool!", both of them combining their arcane powers to launch dark bolts of energy that wracked the Dragon in pain. The Knights quickly disengage from the Dragon and gallop into the pass while the two Sorcerers enter into the melee with the Dragon.

The two mages engage the Dragon

The Prince on Dragon could tell the day was lost, the Knights were too far away to catch up. In his rage and fury, he lashed out at Argrar instead of the apprentice who was holding up his beast. While wounded, Argrar smirked quickly before both mages disappear in a cloud of smoke.

The Knights escape through the pass

Finally the battle was over, the forces of Chaos had won the day. The Highborn Aelves had been bloodied, to eager to engage the forces of Chaos and had paid dearly for it.

After Game Thoughts
So my opponent made a big mistake this game was putting two of his characters right on his deployment line. This proved costly as I just plonked my Giant right down into combat with them straight away which is possible in this scenario (no minimum distance between units/territories). He quickly realised this though, and made sure that his general was the Sea Helm instead of the Prince. On the flipside though, the Giant was basically taken out of the game as well. So probably not a huge deal.

The other thing that probably cost him as well is he didn't understand the rules properly that you could have multiple units in reserve, so he only put his Dragonlord in. I think if he had put the Silver Helms also there, it may have helped him out.

Otherwise, I certainly made a mistake or two as well. I put my Chosen into a position to charge either the Reavers or Dragon depending if I made a good roll or not. A good roll on the charge to engage the Dragon would've meant the Knights would've easily got away, but alas I rolled short and they slaughtered the Reavers instead. However, I probably should've still tried to bring them back towards the Dragon to contest it and allow the Knights to escape.
Instead, the Knights had to spend time trying to put damage onto the Dragon while being whittled down themself. My opponent had some pretty poor rolls with his Dragon, and it could've swung in his favour quite easily (even if my forces were slaughtering the rest of the army).

Overall, It was definitely fun and cool to do another different style of scenario. Really enjoyed the game, and it never felt that my opponent was out of the game with the big bad dragon flying around in my backfield.

Southern Escalation - Through the Deadscale Wastes

Another month, and time for another update and campaign day write up.

The previous month I didn't get anywhere near as much painting done as I would've liked. After the last campaign day, I quickly started work on my Chaos Gargant which was meant to be done the previous month. He was a good fun model to use, and I got him painted up pretty quickly.

The Gargant and the Prince

After that though, I really didn't get much time to do hobby due to an unexpected business trip as well as some holiday time around Easter. So I'm basically behind a month again with my schedule getting even busier! Yikes! One of the other problems is I've got another 10 Chaos Warriors I need to paint, and I'm not really sure I'm that motivated to paint them at the moment. Guess the momentum is starting to slow on the Shadowborn, and it's perhaps indicating it's time for a change of pace.

Anyway, onto the campaign day. This month we're using some new time of war rules and had a different battle plan for the day. Those interested can read them here. The battle plan is straight out of Balance of Power, the plan being "The Hidden Artefact". This plan involves an army fleeing with an artefact of power, hoping to escape pursuit. One unit in the army has been tasked with holding the artefact, and it's the job of the rest of the army to protect the unit so it can escape off the board. The pursuing army is hot on their heels, and has even sent some of their army ahead to cut the fleeing army off. In our case, while the forces of Order reclaimed some of the Idols of Power last month, the forces of Chaos and Destruction made off with a few. Hence, the forces of Order are in hot pursuit of Chaos (No Destruction forces this month) to try and reclaim the Idols.

An Aelven Dragonrider encircles the fleeing Chaos force

As with all things, the first game people played was a bit rough. Always little things people miss in the rules. Some people thought you could only bring on one unit with the special command ability, other people had different thoughts. It's definitely a scenario that you probably need to play a few times to figure out what kind of force is good for the scenario. Poor Colin's Stormcast got left behind quite quickly as the Noble Free People galloped off into the distance while some Aelves held up the majority of his army.

The Brettonians looking to make a get away but the Prosecutors look to engage from the South

This time only 5 players were able to make it, but that was quickly sorted with a 2-v-1 game in the first round of games. I don't know whether it's because of the more casual attitude gamers have to Age of Sigmar, but it's very easy to sort out these odd man out situations in Age of Sigmar.

Looking to next month, not quite sure where to take the campaign storyline at the moment. Definitely have some cool ideas for things that can be done in the Realm of Beasts, but just got to figure out how to fit them into the storyline. Plenty of painting to do as well, got my last month figures to paint up and a Chaos Warshrine on the bench as well. Lastly it looks like the Independent UK Pool Choices document will be updated in a few weeks. There was some talk before the day about switching due to the unknown future, but I think we'll stick to the doco for the duration of the campaign. So it'll be interesting to see if that has an impact on how big or small my army is.