Round 3 is up! A lot of really strong bands out there! Who has the better semi final games? NFL or WBC!

In match one we have P and A going at it. After both dominating their last round they face off as the two juggernauts of the week with a classic Clash of the Titans match.  On the other side K or N are closely matched as one titan band versus a strong beater combination of Tordek and Vlaakith. Vote who you would like to send into the finals. You don’t have to be a contestant to vote.  It the words of Puff Daddy,  " Vote or Die!"

Match 1:

P.
Marut - 74
Marilith - 73
Mind Flayer - 35
Mialee, Elf Wizard - 6
Man at Arms x3 - 3(9 total)
Mongrelfolk - 3

Map: Hellspike


Strategy: This warband has two solid beaters that both have blindsight, DR 5, and spell resistance. On Hellspike, the blindsight should give them a solid
edge, allowing them to use their melee reach 2, even while in smoke.
In general, the strategy will be for Mialee to give magic weapon to the Marut and to lead with whichever titan is best suited for standing in front. Thus, against fire damage or lightning damage, Marilith should lead the charge. Against someone trying to do morale tricks (Orc Wardrummer, Mind Flayer, Purple Dragon Knight as an example), lead with the Marut. The Mind Flayer can send his cone through the Marut safely and every effort should be made to use a stun cone every round. Also, the M@A and Mongrelfolk can be used as cone aiming points and should be (having little other use). One M@A or mongrelfolk can get first turn tile points if correctly placed in the 2x2 starting area, and this should be attempted if possible.

Specific Strategies:
Archmage: It is possible for there to be a commander 7 Archmage band. SR
will help a lot here, but even one sword could spell doom for the Marut. Best strategy here is to focus on the support and only waste time with the AM if he becomes a "reasonable" target.
Letter C: The only titan at C is Centaur Warhulk. Still a Centaur Warhulk
with a Crow Shaman, Couatl, and Cleric of Dol Arrah (most likely on Drow
Outpost) is fierce. Be VERY wary of the whirlwind and charge and try to flank the Warhulk to take out the back field as quickly as possible.
Dual Titan: There are a number of possibilities (AoM & AoK, FGFP & AoK, HGB & HGC, etc.). Stun cone is the difference in these battles. Try to get it off on both titans. In general, one should fail a save, and that should swing the battle.

A.
blue 5
crow shaman 26
duergar champ 33
elf warrior 4
fire giant forge priest 84
green spawn sneak 6
healer 12
inspiring marshal 29
map: mushroom cavern

strategy is use crow shaman to beef up ac on giant and doogie, maybe marshal and elf warrior (mainly for ranged bonus). sneak for victory area points,
blue can have a chance for 5 damage each turn for support from the back,
fire giant moves into battle and gets SS from crow shammy, duergar finds a way to fit into the battle, possibly going around to opponents back lines.
healer stands next to FGFP and heals. Elf warrior might move away to shoot at their victory area fodder, possibly with blue as well. marshal GMA is
ussed at critical time to get the 2 hitters into the right spot to kill, and
with melee reach 2 and cleave with a 30 damage attack on FGFP you can get into some nice spots. Crow shammy w/ FGFP should be near 90 damage a round and if he cleaves on his turn and on shammy's turn that would be 150 damage a round, then doogie as a back up hitter means massive damage output. Chastise spirits can be used on SWarm.

Match 2:

K.
Crow Shaman
Dragonmark Heir of Denieth
Elf Warrior
Fire Giant Forgepriest
Greenspawn Sneak
Healer
Inspiring Marshal
Jozan, Cleric of Pelor
199 points
Map: Drow Outpost
Strategy: Use GMA (if needed) to get the Fire Giant up to the choke point on the bridge. Dragonmark Heir will make the Fire Giant immune to Cold, as well as provide his nice bodyguard ability and potentially moving to provide a cover bonus as well. Crow Shaman can buff the AC of the Forgepriest and give extra attacks from Snake's Swiftness. Healer will be able to use heals to keep the Fire Giant and the Dragonmark in the game a little longer. Jozan also has a small heal that may help. Greenspawn sneak is a tile grabber. Elf warrior can be used to plink from range, but more than likely will end up being a road bump somewhere. The Forgepriest will be getting extra attacks form the Crow Shaman as well as an improved AC of 25 due to Cat's Grace, or 29 if you can position Jozan/Elf Warrior to provide cover from reach or ranged attacks.

N.
Quaggoth Slave 10
Regdar, Human Fighter 6
Skeletal Legionnaire 4
Tordek, Dwarf Champion 59
Urthok the Vicious 34
Vlaakith 79
Wolf 5
Xeph Warrior 3
Map: Keep of Fallen Kings I

I figure commander 5 ought to get me my map often enough. The strategy is to get to the central victory areas and hold my own while preventing my opponent from holding his. With Urthok and Vlaakith near Tordek, Tordek is a monster. Additionally, the Quaggoth Slave becomes a terrifying prospect against paralyzed foes. The early fireball could help reduce my opponent's VA grabbers, and the near-guarantee of 30-damage from the disintegrate means I can whittle a titan down to size before Tordek engages.

1. P

On Hellspike, P is a clear winner, with the smoke handicapping the crow shaman's SS, forcing it into melee reach of opposing hitters. On mushroom caverns the bands are fairly evenly matched, so the overall likely winner is P.

2. K
Dagonmark can make the FGFP immune to electricty, nerfing both Tordek and Vaaklith. Despite T's AC bonuses, the FGFP hits hard enough often enough to take out the opposition quickly, especially with cleave.