Game 147: Kaelyssa vs Kaelyssa

Game 147 – Vs Paul Garratt – Retribution of Scyrah – 22/02/18

My list:

Kaelyssa, The Night’s Whisper (Legions of Dawn)

-Helios

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Dawnguard Sentinel Scyir

Max Dawnguard Sentinels

-Dawnguard Sentinel Officer and Standard Bearer

-Soulless Escort

Max Dawnguard Sentinels

-Dawnguard Sentinel Officer and Standard Bearer

-Soulless Escort

Min Dawnguard Destors

Min Dawnguard Destors

His List:

 Kaelyssa, The Night’s Whisper (Defenders of Ios)

-Sylys Wyshnalyrr, the Seeker

-Hydra

-Phoenix

Arcantrik Force Generator

Aelyth Vyr, Blade of Nyssor

Arcanist Mechanik

Arcanist Mechanik

Eiryss, Mage Hunter of Ios

Ghost Sniper

Ghost Sniper

Lys Healer

Priest of Nyssor

Max Houseguard Halberdiers

-Officer & Standard Bearer

Max Ryssovass Defenders

Well this is awkward. I wanted to test my Kaelyssa list as an answer into the mirror match (which I have minimal recent experience in) and it turns out that Paul had the exact same idea, resulting in a full mirror match. Paul’s list has much greater assassination threat than mine, whilst mine attritions harder on paper, so the game from my point of view was going to be all about staying safe and grinding the game out. Paul won the roll but favoured the side with the hill to give some protection against Phantom Hunter shooting, so I got moving.

Whilst Paul doesn’t have too much shooting in his list there is definitely enough to make putting Blur on Helios worthwhile, with Kaelyssa putting Refuge on herself as is pretty standard. My forces run up, slightly awkwardly due to the positioning of some terrain, with the Destors flanking on each side, being careful to stay out of the Hydra’s walk and shoot range.

Not careful enough, unfortunately. I had managed to forget about the +2 inches of range that the AFG gives jacks, so after the Battle Engine runs up, a Phantom Hunter boosted Hydra is able to take out one of my Destors on the right. The rest of Paul’s troops move up, with Blur on Kaelyssa herself. The Halberdiers Shield Wall and move up to jam my Sentinels.

A bit of a shame to lose a Destor unnecessarily like that but really nowhere is safe from the range of the Hydra. My plan this turn is to take out the Phoenix and as many Halberdiers as I can get to. Helios moves up into the zone and pushes the Phoenix twice into range of many Sentinels, who charge and destroy it, and 3 of the 4 Halberdiers in front of them. Kealyssa feats and both units Mini-Feat to protect against any blasts from the AFG.

With Stealth up across my army and not wanting to trigger Vengeance on the Sentinels Paul is fairly limited with what he can do this turn. He takes out the Sentinel Scyir, removing Tactician from my forces and puts some damage into Destors on the left but generally just Feats and moves to make my next turn as difficult as possible. Nobody scores.

Paul has jammed me up pretty well and losing the Scyir really reduces the effectiveness of the army. Eiryss shoots out the Halberdier Banner, reducing the bubble of command and allowing the Destors a bit of freedom. The Sentinels take out a handful more Halbs, with 2 running through to engage the AFG. Helios walks up, pulls in the Hydra and kills it, setting 4 Defenders on fire with Flame Burst. I could score this turn but it is quickly becoming apparent that I only lose this game by assassination, so keep Kaelyssa safe instead.

This was the turn I was worried about as finally Paul’s ranged models have a chance to do significant damage to me. He needs to clear out the models engaging the AFG first, and unfortunately the Priest’s spray only kills one, requiring Eiryss and a Defender to take out the rest. The remaining Defenders charge into Helios and deal decent damage including taking off it’s right arm with Precision Strikes. The Halberdiers continue to jam Kealyysa clears out the right zone to move into a 1-0 lead.

With Feats gone and with me in an attrition advantage it is time to get work done. The Sentinels finish off the Halberdiers and put attacks onto the Ghost Snipers, and though all 5 attempts at a 7 fail, at least they are tied up. The rest destroy the objective and swarm the AFG, ready to attack next turn. Helios kills 3 of the Defenders, setting the rest on fire. I score the left zone, objective and right flag for a 3-1 lead.

Despite most of the Defenders burning to death Paul kills a lot of my army here, using the AFG Momentum Shots to clear out a load of Sentinels, clearing up a Ghost Smiper to finish off a Destor. Kaelyssa moves up and kills both Arcanists before Refuging to the flag. Paul scores 2 to close up to 3-3.

Helios walks in to contest the right zone before punching the AFG to death. Sentinels take out the Ghost Sniper and clear out the flag for Eiryss to score it. Score moves to 5-4 to me but attritionally I am well up in the game.

Paul fails to contest my flag, with the remaining Sniper dying to a Free Strike. He settles for killing off more Sentinels, with the clock being his only viable win condition with me on only 5 minutes. I end the turn 7-5 ahead.

I could possibly win this turn but decide that it isn’t worth the time to try and work it out. I run Helios to contest the flag to stop Paul’s scoring, and run my Sentiels to block Eiryss. I score 2 to lead 9-5.

And Paul knows the game is up, with me winning 11-5 on scenario.

VICTORY

Some mirror matches can be a really tedious affair, or simply decided by first turn, but this one actually felt quite interesting. With us both having Phantom Hunter on both our casters and Eiryss there were always threats on the table. I was always going to have a stronger attrition force and kept Kae safe for the whole game whilst grinding out a win.