F) Human Blackguard 6 / Rakshasa 4
Human Blackguard (Captain)
Rakshasa (Sergeant)
Duergar Champion
Chraal
Zakya Rakshasa
Warrior Skeleton
Kobold Miner
Goblin Skirmisher
Map: Frostfell Rift

Strategy:  LE does not have countersong and in a multi-commander environment, that really sucks.  The solution is to try to take advantage of the multi-commander environment with the Rakshasa.  The Rakshasa has double the normal chance to provide a beneficial commander effect.  Any time the commander effect is useful, it should be abused as much as possible.  With a high commander rating (6), initiative should be common.  The map gives the Rakshasa a chance to be a "fourth hitter" by sliding enemies into pits.  The Blackguard should assure that all three hitters fight until their last
breath.  Biggest problems include Fire Giant Forgepriest and Storm.  In the former case, the Chraal needs to blast him early and base him before dying.  In the latter case, Storm needs to be a priority kill to get rid of countersong (this goes for any other countersong unit as well).  The multi-beater aspect of the warband is pretty standard and standard strategies apply.  Lead with the least susceptible to opponent's tricks or least important if all are equally susceptible.  Try to base opponent's figures with multiple beaters to make Slapping Hand more effective.  Avoid basing Chraal with own beaters when Chraal is near death.  Bring in Blackguard to be a 4th beater when other units have made morale saves already (or if it is otherwise necessary), but definitely AFTER Chraal has died (or is very near death).

Match 3: A v. B

A) Urthok 5 / Snig 0
Urthok (Captain)
Snig (Sergeant)
Goblin Skirmisher minion
Goblin Warrior minion
Fire Giant Forge Priest
Duergar Champion
Large Duergar
Acheron Goblin
Greenspawn Sneak
Map: Hailstorm Tower

Strategy: Set the Greenspawn in the Victory Area thats not a Sacred Circle. Melee in a formation to protect my sneak inside the building. Kill Stuff

B) Inspiring Marshal 4 / Free League Ranger 2
Inspiring Marshal (Captain)
Free League Ranger (Sergeant)
Archmage
Gnome Trickster
Graycloak Ranger
Wolf (minion)
Xeph
Gnome Recruit
Map: King's Road

GENERAL TACTICS: In the first couple rounds, put magic fang on the wolf and move into a good firing position while the wolf tile-grabs, supported if necessary by the Xeph and ultimately the Gnome Recruit. This warband has three ranged threats (Archmage, Free League Ranger, Graycloak Ranger) which can do significant damage at range. When the time is right (usually once the enemy approaches or crosses the center of the map), use the Gnome Trickster to make the Archmage and other nearby pieces invisible; the Archmage then moves in (using the Inspiring Marshal's GMA if necessary), puts the mordy's swords on one or two key enemy pieces, then flees the next round. The Free League Ranger's initiative surge significantly boosts the chance of the Archmage going first in a key round and fleeing, possibly doing further damage first.
 
Assuming this band plays on its map (or another map with Forest), the Archmage can keep to the trees, allowing it the benefit of cover while not affecting its mobility. Once the swords are off, the rest of the band plays point denial while they do their work, hammering the enemy into a pulp.
 
SPECIFIC MATCHES:
Vs. Archmage (mirror match) - the Gnome Trickster's invisibility should give this band the ability to get the first strike in against the enemy Archmage, which hopefully should be enough of an advantage to win the battle more times than not.
 
Vs. Titan builds (CODA/Marut, Marilith, Fire Giant Forgepriest, Ghaele Eladrin, etc.) - Titans are highly vulnerable to Mordy's swords, even with Spell Resistance. With the Grant Move Action, the Archmage should be able to find an opportunity to get them on the desired target and get out of there. Again, invisibility means the Archmage should be able to get his swords off before the enemy can respond effectively.
 
Vs. LE and CE mixed quad hitter bands - The placement of the swords depends on the threat level of the various enemy hitters. Priority threats are those that are highly mobile (speed 8+, or those that fly 6+), those that have a decent attack bonus for lots of damage (e.g., Ogre Ravager), and those that have Blindsight. The commander also might be a viable choice, particularly if most of the hitters are not fearless and have saves of under 8 or 9 (including any bonuses from other sources).

No matter which warband is faced, consideration should be given to putting a sword on the enemy Captain if possible, as +20 victory points may well be worth it.

Match 4: C v. D

C) Rakshasa 4 / Red Hand War Sorcerer 3
Rakshasa (Captain)
Red Hand War Sorcerer (Sergeant)
Duergar Champion
Mezzoloth
Chrall
Greenspawn Sneak
Dire Rat
Goblin Skirmisher
Map: Frostfell Rift

Strategy: Use the Chrall's Breath and/or the Mezzoloth's Cloudkill to eliminate fodder and gain Activation control. Once engaged, keep the Red hand close enough to drop bombs on my immune troops and give the enemies -2 save making Bigby's slapping hand effectively DC22 and just pound anything into oblivion with tons of AoO's in a Commander effect stealing beatdown frenzy. Dire rat and Goblin can provide flanks of backup tile grabbers if the greenspawn goes down. Frostfell provides some pits for sliding folks into as well.

1. F

This is an interesting matchup. In the early game, H has a definite advantage with all the ranged threats from the Pit Fiend and Red Hand War Sorcerer. But what this basically amounts to beyond range 12 is fireballs and snowball swarms, and F can protect from the first by putting the Zakya up front and having the Rakshasa commander steal the Pit Fiend's CFX to make it fire-immune. The Pit Fiend band also has to worry about not getting slid into the pit by the Rakshasa. Once range is closed, F's hitters are fast enough to be able to base the Red Hand War Sorcerer and take him out, and with the Human Blackguard should make most morale saves. While Drow Outpost favors H enough to swing that battle in its favor, the relative commander ratings make Frostfell the more likely battle map to see play.

 

2. G

The liches' immunity to stun, coupled with the fact that the E's warband is vulnerable to the liches' spells, gives G an early advantage. Drow Outpost actually favors G more than E, to my mind. E does have more hitters, but they don’t do the kind of damage needed to take down the liches fast enough before a failed paralysis save will doom them.

 

3. B

Warband A has no ranged threat, which gives B an early advantage. Warband B should be able to get swords off on the FGFP; once it is gone the rest of the warband won’t be able to chase the Archmage down. Again, the invisible commanders will be hard to chase down and take out before the FGFP is lost from Mordy's swords. Hailstorm Tower is slightly more likely, but I don’t think it favors A enough to make a difference.

 

4. C

The Red Hand War Sorcerer and Mezzoloth between them can do enough damage against the archer band to hold their own even on Dragondown Grotto. Once battle is joined, C has a definite hitter superiority; even with the Valenar and Bralani using their mobility to move back and take out the RHWS, the hitters should be able to mob and kill them, then sweep up the remaining warband. On Frostfell Rift, C also has the option of trying to slide enemies into pits, or basing an enemy and hitting them with a Bigby's slapping hand.