I usually don't photograph our games this thoroughly, but we were going at a relaxed pace tonight and I was having fun with the camera. It turned out to be one of our best games in recent memory, and going over the photos afterwards, I was very pleased to see how well they seemed to tell the story! Here's hoping you will agree...
ABOUT THE ARMIES: We draw from a "deck of armies" consisting of 72 different 500-point armies that were in turn composed using a pseudo-random process involving another deck of cards, so these represent our very intentional efforts to avoid the kind of optimal drafts you might see at tournaments or among very competitive players.
![]()
Army 1 -- Matthew (me)
Werewolf Lord (140)
Wolves of Badru x1 (80)
Sonlen (160)
Theracus (40)
Erevan Sunshadow (80)
![]()
Army 2 -- Cathy (the fiancé)
Roman Legionnaires x2 (100)
Ne-Gok-Sa (90)
Shurrak (160)
Arkmer (50)
Syvarris (100)
![]()
The Map!
Two high towers dominate the center, providing extreme height advantage in many instances against medium or smaller figures. A road runs between them and relatively straight across the map, uniting the starting zones. A maze of rock formations and trees provide reasonably good cover against shooters on the ground.
![]()
My Opening
I decide it would be fun to Fey Step Erevan to the top of a tower right off the bat, so I deploy him on my right hand side. One more turn and he can pop up and start blazing away. Unfortunately, I'm not really considering his relatively short range, a mistake that will catch up with me before too long...
![]()
Syvarris Counters
Cathy deploys Syvarris on the same side opposite (let's call this "east" of the road). Fortunately for me, she doesn't anticapate my next move, otherwise she would be more careful to exploit the limited range of Erevan's attack...
![]()
Raining Hate!
...so I get one chance to dump fire on his head and land a couple wounds before Syvarris withdraws. Of course it's just a few short steps to wear he can freely pelt Erevan with arrows, well out of his victim's range. A couple quick wounds drive home the point, so to speak.
![]()
Time to Shake Things Up
Erevan is a sitting duck and I need to run some interference. Sonlen saddles up and Theracus gets him halfway there with in one bound.
![]()
The Fall of Syvarris
One more turn and they are in the mix! Fortunately, Erevan's range was just long enough to keep Syvarris from the best available elevation, leaving it open for Theracus, who is able to make the best of it and finish off the deadly archer!
![]()
Poking the Hornet's Nest
Cathy loses a turn along with Syvarris, allowing Sonlen to step into the breach. Probably not the best idea I will have all night...
![]()
Ouch!
OK, clearly I should have saw this coming. Sonlen and Shurrak trade ineffective blows for a while, but I start to lose my nerve. Thinking that Erevan is now safe in his perch, I conceive an ill plan to extract Sonlen using Theracus.
![]()
Fall Back!
I should know better by now, as this type of maneuver is always difficult to coordinate. For Theracus to carry Sonlen away, I need Archmage to disengaged, so I pull him back. It was risky, but I'm hopeful because there is only one turn marker on Shurrak. Unfortunately uses that turn to carve up Theracus promptly and in the rudest possible fashion. Now it's my turn to lose some turn markers. Meanwhile, Ne-Gok-Sa creeps forward...
![]()
Sonlen's Last Stand
Sonlen has taken some rough disengagements and is easily treed by Shurrak. It's up to Ne-Gok-Sa to ascend the ladder after him...
![]()
Meanwhile...
The Romans have been stirring. Leaving the Ne-Gok-Sa to his quarry, Shurrak decides to join their advance...
![]()
...and wow, do those giants move fast!
I can hardly believe how quickly he is on top of my Werewolf Lord!
![]()
Ne-Gok-Sa's Relentless Ascent
Back at the tower, the Marro Warlord makes the most of his 3 attack dice. Sonlen doesn't have enough left in him to fend him off and soon plummets lifelessly to the ground. Erevan, still bleeding from Syvarris's arrows, sees he is on his own...
![]()
Dueling Giants
The Werewolf Lord takes matters into hand. He is able to scramble up some nearby rocks and gain height advantage on his massive opponent. He lands some solid blows. While a wolf gnaws at his heel, Shurrak feels a strange and sudden fever coming on...
![]()
Full Moon Frenzy!
When he comes to his senses, he sees several of his nearby comrades sprawled lifelessly before him, while Roman blood drips from his own sword! A single Legionnaire remains standing, cowering in abject terror from the unexpected assault of his crazed giant ally...
![]()
The Darklord Triumphant!
While the giant stands dumbfounded, his savage antagonist bounds forward and finishes him off, taking cruel advantage of his disorientation!
![]()
Nothing Left to Lose
The Werewolf licks his chops as he steps forward to finish off the single Legionnaire yet standing against him. He chuckles evilly, raises his claws and...
![]()
HUH?
What the...? Who knew he had it in him?!
![]()
It Aint Over Yet!
Meanwhile, Erevan has managed to stave off Ne-Gok-Sa long enough for a couple wolves to come to his relief. The remaining Romans likewise converge...
[ImageID= 1548785]
"Only one of us is going to climb down this ladder!"
![]()
To the Last Man!
The Marro Warlord receives a fatal blast to the face! It's all for the glory of Rome now! Erevan is standing on one leg... any hit will finish him!
![]()
Victory!!!
ABOUT THE ARMIES: We draw from a "deck of armies" consisting of 72 different 500-point armies that were in turn composed using a pseudo-random process involving another deck of cards, so these represent our very intentional efforts to avoid the kind of optimal drafts you might see at tournaments or among very competitive players.
Army 1 -- Matthew (me)
Werewolf Lord (140)
Wolves of Badru x1 (80)
Sonlen (160)
Theracus (40)
Erevan Sunshadow (80)
Army 2 -- Cathy (the fiancé)
Roman Legionnaires x2 (100)
Ne-Gok-Sa (90)
Shurrak (160)
Arkmer (50)
Syvarris (100)
The Map!
Two high towers dominate the center, providing extreme height advantage in many instances against medium or smaller figures. A road runs between them and relatively straight across the map, uniting the starting zones. A maze of rock formations and trees provide reasonably good cover against shooters on the ground.
My Opening
I decide it would be fun to Fey Step Erevan to the top of a tower right off the bat, so I deploy him on my right hand side. One more turn and he can pop up and start blazing away. Unfortunately, I'm not really considering his relatively short range, a mistake that will catch up with me before too long...
Syvarris Counters
Cathy deploys Syvarris on the same side opposite (let's call this "east" of the road). Fortunately for me, she doesn't anticapate my next move, otherwise she would be more careful to exploit the limited range of Erevan's attack...
Raining Hate!
...so I get one chance to dump fire on his head and land a couple wounds before Syvarris withdraws. Of course it's just a few short steps to wear he can freely pelt Erevan with arrows, well out of his victim's range. A couple quick wounds drive home the point, so to speak.
Time to Shake Things Up
Erevan is a sitting duck and I need to run some interference. Sonlen saddles up and Theracus gets him halfway there with in one bound.
The Fall of Syvarris
One more turn and they are in the mix! Fortunately, Erevan's range was just long enough to keep Syvarris from the best available elevation, leaving it open for Theracus, who is able to make the best of it and finish off the deadly archer!
Poking the Hornet's Nest
Cathy loses a turn along with Syvarris, allowing Sonlen to step into the breach. Probably not the best idea I will have all night...
Ouch!
OK, clearly I should have saw this coming. Sonlen and Shurrak trade ineffective blows for a while, but I start to lose my nerve. Thinking that Erevan is now safe in his perch, I conceive an ill plan to extract Sonlen using Theracus.
Fall Back!
I should know better by now, as this type of maneuver is always difficult to coordinate. For Theracus to carry Sonlen away, I need Archmage to disengaged, so I pull him back. It was risky, but I'm hopeful because there is only one turn marker on Shurrak. Unfortunately uses that turn to carve up Theracus promptly and in the rudest possible fashion. Now it's my turn to lose some turn markers. Meanwhile, Ne-Gok-Sa creeps forward...
Sonlen's Last Stand
Sonlen has taken some rough disengagements and is easily treed by Shurrak. It's up to Ne-Gok-Sa to ascend the ladder after him...
Meanwhile...
The Romans have been stirring. Leaving the Ne-Gok-Sa to his quarry, Shurrak decides to join their advance...
...and wow, do those giants move fast!
I can hardly believe how quickly he is on top of my Werewolf Lord!
Ne-Gok-Sa's Relentless Ascent
Back at the tower, the Marro Warlord makes the most of his 3 attack dice. Sonlen doesn't have enough left in him to fend him off and soon plummets lifelessly to the ground. Erevan, still bleeding from Syvarris's arrows, sees he is on his own...
Dueling Giants
The Werewolf Lord takes matters into hand. He is able to scramble up some nearby rocks and gain height advantage on his massive opponent. He lands some solid blows. While a wolf gnaws at his heel, Shurrak feels a strange and sudden fever coming on...
Full Moon Frenzy!
When he comes to his senses, he sees several of his nearby comrades sprawled lifelessly before him, while Roman blood drips from his own sword! A single Legionnaire remains standing, cowering in abject terror from the unexpected assault of his crazed giant ally...
The Darklord Triumphant!
While the giant stands dumbfounded, his savage antagonist bounds forward and finishes him off, taking cruel advantage of his disorientation!
Nothing Left to Lose
The Werewolf licks his chops as he steps forward to finish off the single Legionnaire yet standing against him. He chuckles evilly, raises his claws and...
HUH?
What the...? Who knew he had it in him?!
It Aint Over Yet!
Meanwhile, Erevan has managed to stave off Ne-Gok-Sa long enough for a couple wolves to come to his relief. The remaining Romans likewise converge...
[ImageID= 1548785]
"Only one of us is going to climb down this ladder!"
To the Last Man!
The Marro Warlord receives a fatal blast to the face! It's all for the glory of Rome now! Erevan is standing on one leg... any hit will finish him!
Victory!!!