Preparation for XP Constructed Leading up to the first U.S. Constructed Qualifier at XP, I had predominantly played with and had great success with Jesse’s Storm, VNC, Dual Bralani and Shadowdancer warband on both Frostfell Rift and Dragondown Grotto.I really liked the flexibility of the warband but when I determined that I needed to play on Grotto in case I faced Shadowdancers, I needed to figure out what to do with the Shadowdancer since I didn’t believe it was the best piece given my change in map.I was leaning towards the Gnome Tricksters as a replacement but never completely settled on it as I turned my attention elsewhere. Outside of Markdragon, who was always playing either LG or LE constructs, it seemed liked CG warbands on Dragondown Grotto were rampant on Vassal and I came to the decision that I really didn’t want to follow the “pack” and I’m not fond of mirror matches.I tried Markdragon’s constructs and other variations but never came to love them.I really liked the FGFP in sealed and knew that others were thinking of playing it, but I was concerned about the slow speed on Grotto.(Note that 2 of the Top 8 warbands were FGFP so my concerns were overblown.) I had a Vassal discussion with my friend Alepulp and he suggested that a Ghaele or Archmage warband would do well in a CG heavy meta, which is what I predicted to show up at XP (Again, I was mistaken—while CG held 5 of the top 8 spots, I don’t believe CG was more than 25% of the warbands, at least from what I saw).I’m an aggressive player so neither figure had ever shown up in any of my constructed warbands.I had read John05’s post regarding Ghaele and figured that playing it might “teach” me how to be less aggressive since if I made a mistake with the Ghaele, it was likely game over.I also figured that playing Ghaele might help me better use Bralanis from range instead of engaging in melee (darn aggression!). I played a couple games with or against a Ghaele and really didn’t like it’s ranged attacks which I found to be too inaccurate.I then recalled the Archmage which had auto damage and with which I could combine with Storm to make fearless.Storm also had her awesome Silver Fire line and up to 3 heal 20 spells to support the Archmage. My first StorMage warband was simply Storm, Archmage, GCRx3 and Wolfx3.Another friend, Bleys, is an avid CG player and I discussed with him the power of StorMage.He suggested a more varied warband that included the Xen’drik Champion, Wild Elf Raider, Timber Wolf, Ialdabode and 2 Xeph Warriors for support.This happened about 2 weeks before XP.After a game against Bleys using his StorMage versus a FGFP warband I was running and two games of me running his version of StorMage I was on the verge of taking a warband to XP that I had had little practice with and which needs to be played in a style that is polar opposite of my normal style of play. Bleys wasn’t able to go to XP so I liked the idea of taking his warband so he could see how it might have done if he had played it—of course I also didn’t want to disappoint him with a poor showing since I don’t play Archmage nearly as well as he does.I also had a conversation with Tried on Vassal and he told me that if he could play in the XP Qualifier that he’d take an Archmage warband.At the time he didn’t know how his judging duties would interfere with his gaming.Little did I know that our Archmage warbands would be sitting next to each other at the Top 8 table . . .. In any case, I believe that my conversation with Tried sealed the deal—I felt like someone had to take the Archmage to XP and for better or worse, I was the person that was going to carry Pat Ellis’ Archmage mantle. Game 1 Opponent-John Fanjoy (Fry) Warband-Ghaele, Rikka, GCRx3, Wolfx3, Dragondown Grotto Result-Win Summary:This was a very fast game.No map roll since we both had Grotto.We both kill fodder in round 1 and fail to get tile points so it’s 5-5.In round 2, my Archmage routs a GCR to put me up 30-15 as we both get tile.At the end of the round, Fry makes the aggressive move of double moving his Ghaele to base my Archmage.IIRC, my last move of the round was to base his Ghaele with my flying Storm and to hit him for 15 damage, bringing the Ghaele down to 50 hit points.Fry wins initiative and the Ghaele takes two swings at my Archmage in the forest and misses both attacks!Not sure it would have mattered even if the Ghaele had hit as the Archmage was fearless next to Storm.I think Fry forgot that and was hoping to rout my Archmage.I quickly returned the favor by forgetting the Ghaele’s gaze when I sent up a line for my Silver Fire through both Ghaele and Rikka.Storm made the MC roll and then the Archmage finished off the Ghaele with 2 acid arrows.With an injured Rikka against an uninjured Archmage and Storm, Fry conceded. 1-0 Game 2 Opponent-Neil McLellan Warband-Storm, VNCx2, Bralani, Trickster, Xephx3, King’s Road Result-Loss Summary:This too was a fast game although with opposite result.Neil pounded me with his flying Valenar Nomad Chargers and then his two lines.We were playing on his map King’s Road.The first 2 rounds were close although he had the lead 16-10 and 26-20 as he had killed my Wild Elf Raider in the first round and we both collected tile.On this map, my problem was getting LOS to any of his figures without exposing my Archmage.So I expose my Archmage and try to keep him in CE of Storm.Unfortunately, that just sets up lines for his Bralani and Storm.Although we both have the same commander, Neil wins every initiative and kills my Storm in round 3 and then routs my Archmage.Game over as I concede. 1-1 Game 3 Opponent-Declan Lynch Warband-FGFP, Urthok, DCx2, Dire Rat, other fodder, Mushroom Cavern Result-Win Summary:Declan gets his map, Mushroom Cavern.I rarely play on this map but know that I must play keep away to survive his FGFP.I also want to get activation control and get a lead.My plan works great as I am able to take out 3 of his fodder pieces, get tile points and deny him tile points to go up 23-0 after round 1.In round 2, I take out Urthok and another fodder piece so he’s down to his FGFP and his two Duergar Champs.I still have 7 pieces as he only takes down a Xeph Warrior, putting me up 70-3.In round 3, Declan closes the gap as he takes down my Xen’drick Champ, Wild Elf Raider and Ialdabode.I continue to get tile while he gets none so it’s 80-37.I play keep away from the FGFP, focusing my attacks and spells on the DC’s.On several occasions, Declan double moves and is able to get off aoo attacks as I move away my Archmage.IIRC, his FGFP rolls a 1 and only one of his DC’s is able to put any damage on the Archmage.During round 6, I finally kill one of his Duergar Champs as it succumbs to a Mordy Sword.This put me up 143-42.In round 7, I am able to EMM and rout his last DC and his FGFP is not even close to catching my Archmage.Time runs out. 2-1 Game 4 Opponent-Ian Bell Warband-FB, Rask, Brass Samurai, Gnome Trickster, Tavern Brawler, Xephx3, map? Result-Win Summary:I win my map but he wins side and takes the green forest side while I get the dead forest side.Ian, of course, spends the first round making everyone invisible.He then sends his fodder and Brass Samurai down along the bottom path while his FB and Rask enter the Grotto from the top.Using the Archmage’s blindsight, I am able to take out one of his Xeph Warriors to go up 13-0 as I get tile and he does not.I don’t recall the exact sequence but during round 2, I sacrificed my Wild Elf Raider to Silver Fire through Ian’s Brass Sam and kill 3 of his fodder pieces.I think my Xen'drick Champ hit the Brass Sam with 2 arrows to get him down to 40 and then I used the Archmage to double acid arrow him.Ian killed off one of my Xeph Warriors but I was up 89-16 as we both got tile.The next several rounds Ian’s Rask and FB were chasing my flying Storm and Archmage.After routing his Gnome Trickster in round 4, he was unable to get tile points and chase so my lead continued to grow.Ian was hoping to win an initiative, but that didn’t happen until round 6, when I was up 156 to 26.The Mordy Sword on the FB finally did it’s job as she fell in round 7 and I went over 200 before Ian got to use her deathstrike. 3-1 Game 5 Opponent-Stephen Hagan (AesophDarkfable) Warband-Kord, CoDA, Couatl, Bodyguard, Wolf, Azer, MAA, Human Commoner, map? Result-Win Summary:Stephen is a good friend and we play often on Vassal so he knows my aggressive tendencies.Luckily I was able to keep those tendencies in check and even more importantly, I won my map.Stephen won side but I think he deferred—in any case, I got the live forest side.In the first round, neither of us was able to get tile points.Stephen sent most of his forces down the bottom path around the Grotto.I don’t know if he was trying to set a trap, but he had Kord, CoDA, Couatl and the Bodyguard all set up in a line and I couldn’t resist hitting them all with Silver Fire.I threw all my fodder in front of my pieces trying to deny him access to either Storm or the Archmage.While I killed his Bodyguard, he killed my Xen’drick Champ and got tile points, giving him a 33-32 lead.Stephen increased his lead in round 3 by killing a Xeph Warrior and getting tile while I continue to hunker down with all my fodder “protecting” my key pieces.IIRC, I am able to get off one Mordy’s Sword on his Kord before he sends him north through the Grotto to try and flank my Archmage.In round 4, he brings in his Kord and his Couatl in a pincer attack but I am able to take out his Couatl and take the lead 74-64.I don’t recall what happened to CoDA—I may have killed it and forgot to write it down—but I was able to get my Archmage and Storm out of Dodge and his Kord was unable to keep up.Stephen determined that he could not catch my Archmage or Storm before time ran out or the Mordy’s Sword did it’s work so he conceded. 4-1 Game 6 Opponent-Jerry Damage Warband-Sword Archon, SWx6, WF Scout, King’s Road Result-Loss Summary:I won map but the Grotto wasn’t has helpful as I thought it would be.Jerry won side and took the dead forest side.He kept his Sword Archon hidden near the top of the map while he sent his hordes of Sacred Watchers after my figures.In hindsight, I wasn’t aggressive enough as I needed to go after his SA.Instead, his SWers decimated my fodder while beating on my main two figures.I Mordy Sworded 2 separate SWers and then Jerry brought his Sword Archon into battle.I finally kill my first SW in round 5 and am only behind 62-56.But in round 6, Jerry takes out my Xen’drick Champ and gets tile while I do not to extend his lead to 95-56.I close the gap in round 7 as I finally take down a second SW and get tile to be down 105-84.With time running out, I make a move to try and Banish the Sword Archon but Jerry makes the save and that’s game. 4-2 Game 7 Opponent-Jamie Armel Warband-Marut, Arcane Ballista, Couatl, CoO, Mialee, MAAx2, Frostfell Rift Result-Win Summary:Going into this game I’m sitting in the 8th spot so I know I have to win to make top 8.Jamie wins map and sets up on the left side of the map.I win round 1 init and move my Archmage down from my center starting area to EMM his CoO, the only figure I can see with walls, etc.The Cleric of Order fails his MC and routs right off the board.I also get tile points while Jamie is only able to kill a Xeph Warrior so I’m up 34-3 and he has lost his commander and all the CoO’s buffing spells.Jamie is missing frequently with his Ballista so I think he gives up on it and sends both his Marut and Couatl after my figures in my starting area.I send my Wolf and Wild Elf Raider around the top so that I can base the Ballista in round 3, forgetting about the electricity sphere.He takes out my fodder with the Ballista but I take out his Mialee and I’m up 60-29 at the end of round 3.His Marut and Couatl engage my Archmage, Storm and Xen’drick Champ, but his Ballista is left without the ability to shoot.I am able to get off both Mordy Sword’s on his Marut and although he bases my Storm, I simply Silver Fire both Marut and Couatl and take the aoo.I then move in my Xen’drick Champ to hit and block the Marut.At some point I’ve either hit his Marut or gotten an acid arrow on him since Jamie concedes knowing that his Marut dies when it activates and his Couatl is 1 hit or spell away from a MC. 5-2, good enough for the 6th spot with tie-breakers and I have achieved my goal of qualifying! Top Eight Opponent-Jerry Damage Warband- Sword Archon, SWx6, WF Scout, King’s Road Result-Win Summary:I had just lost to Jerry two games back and both Jerry and I had accomplished our goals of qualifying so we both discussed dropping.However, when we were told that we would be given losses, we both decided to play it out.Jerry got his map so from the start things would be different.I made a concerted effort to be more aggressive and go after his Sword Archon as playing defensive in our previous game hadn’t worked.We both get tile in round 1 so it’s a 10-10 tie.Jerry takes the lead by routing or killing (I think he routed my Timber Wolf but am not sure) a 5 point fodder piece in round 2 and we both get tile so I’m down 25-20.I take the lead 38-35 in round 3 by routing or killing his WF Scout.I believe this is the round where I move my Archmage into a forest square next to his Sword Archon and get off my Mordy’s Swords, hoping to win initiative and escape.IIRC, the SA gets off one attack and the Archmage is down to 45.I don’t win initiative and I guess I get hit again by the Sword Archon because I know I’m down to 15 hit points most of the game.I do recall his SA missing an attack but I’m not sure when it was.In any case, I’m able to extract my Archmage from being surrounded by his SA and pack of Sacred Watchers and am leading 48 to 45 at the end of round 4.The rest of the game, Jerry is chasing my Archmage and my Storm, who he also knocks down to 15 hit points, hoping to win initiative.When the Sword Archon falls to the Swords in round 5, I go up 140-58 as he takes out a Xeph.I take out a Sacred Watcher in round 6 and continue to win inits in rounds 7, 8 and 9.Jerry has me on the run but I do get enough breathing room to heal both Archmage and Storm back up to 35 hit points each.I’m leading 198-103 when we enter round 10 and there is no way Jerry can take out my Archmage or prevent me from getting tile and going over 200. 6-2 Top Four Opponent-David Wintheiser (Pauper) Warband-Storm, Shadowdancerx3, Gnome Trickster, Wizard Tactician, Fodder, Dragonshrine Result-Loss Summary:David has an excellent description of the match in his tournament report but I’ll add my take.Losing map hurt.Shadowdancers aren’t nearly as scary when they don’t have walls to jump to and even invisible, my Archmage can hurt them from range.Add in the forest and well, you get the picture.Still, I wasn’t going to allow David to advance without a fight.We’re even after 1 round as we both just get tile points.I pack my figures into a human castle to protect my Archmage and to a lesser extent Storm from getting flanked by the Dancers.That plan got ruined when David’s Storm became invisible to cast Confuse on my castle and I basically lost control of all my fodder pieces.I responded by hitting Storm with an arrow from the Xen’drick Champ and then forcing MC with an acid arrow and a EMM but he made his roll.David also killed 2 fodder pieces, got tile and so was up 30-10 at the end of round 2.Continuing my aggression in round 3, I moved up Storm to Silver Fire his Storm and then finished off Storm with my last acid arrow, giving me a momentarily 67-46 lead.However, I’m exposed and David takes full advantage of it.In round 4, he returns the favor and takes out my Storm and regains the lead 113-105, although I do take down one of his Dancers so he’s down to two.He increases his lead in round 5 to 146-115 when my attempt to rout his Wizard Technician fails (he makes his MC) and he is able to kill off my Xen’drick Champ and a Xeph Warrior.In round 6, I close the gap a bit by finally taking out his Wizard Tactician.I get off a Mordy’s Sword on one of his Dancers—I think it was in round 7—but in any case, it was too late to be effective as time runs out before his Dancer has to make a MC.It was a relatively close game but David made the right moves and got the right rolls to ensure that he was moving on to the finals.Congrats David!And of course, congrats to my Team Amish brother Aron for winning it all! 6-3—4th out of 44 Qualifier participants (that number came from a Judge so I believe it’s correct)—pretty darn good using a warband and a strategy (shoot and scoot) that was more or less unfamiliar to me!Hopefully this will encourage me and others to play new and different warbands and styles. |