Turn 1: High Elves
He won first turn and promptly realised he was out of range, so his whole line moved forward 5". The Shadow warriors in the wood stayed put, I was a bit worried about these, given that the majority of my army would take difficult terrain test to attack them. Both eagles flew up to threaten my cannons, trying to keep out of demi's charge arc.
Moving on to magic and I was a bit nervous about facing metal magic... he rolled double 5 for winds!
1st off he rolled 7 dice boosted Searing Doom on my IC Knights rolling Irresistable force (Yes I know 7 isn't allowed, I missed it until after and he rolled three 6's anyway). 2D6 hits at 2+ shredded 5 of the Stirlands finest warriors! This wouldn't have been too bad, except 'staff of solidity' saved him from miscast affects.
He finished the phase with 3 dice Golden Hounds but I three my five dice at it and dispelled. I passed panic test easily
He now opened up with the bows, but the combination of hitting on 5's, 4's to wound and my 1+ armour proved difficult to overcome... only one knight fell.
Turn 1: Stirland
Not a great start, the massacre of over half my IC knight hammer unit kind of put me off my stride. But I figured the best way to take his mage out of action was get into combat, so everything moved forward and the DGK moved into position for flanking. The Pegi parked himself infront of the rear most eagle - hopefully the front eagle would take a cannon ball to the face!
My magic wasn't quite as potent, I rolled 8 but giving him 5. Starting with 4 dice Banishment on the swordmasters, who were just in range and LoS. He threw all five dice to dispel. Leaving me four dice for Burning Gaze but he dispelled it with his scroll (big mistake I think).
In shooting the 1st cannon performed admirably and reduced one eagle to bloody feathers. The second tried for a long range cross board shot at the white lions but bounced short.
Not particularly inspiring so far, kind of wished I'd taken a Hellblaster.
Turn 2: High Elves
I was sort of hoping he'd loose his nerve and attempt a couple of max range charges that could leave him out of position but no such luck. His army stood still and bent their bows. I'm surprised the eagle didn't do something, my Pegi only blocked charge (he could have flown over?). The only movement was his 2nd Shadow master unit, who moved up to screen the White lions.
His magic phase wasn't inspiring and I added an extra dispel dice with channeling, he tried another boosted Searing doom but miscast and lost concentration ... phew
Next he turned the sky dark with a cloud of arrows .... 50 shots but not a single knight fell .... I'm starting to feel a bit better
Turn 2: Stirland
Most of my units are now within longish charge range, so time to get stuck in (might have been a bit optimistic). Knights 1 and the depleted IC Knights declare on his 1st Seaguard unit whilst Knights 2 charge his Shadow Warriors. The IC knights loose another man to the stand and shoot, then to my annoyance fail the distance. Both vanilla knights make the charge.
I thought about charging the Swordmasters with my DGK, but they would have clipped the wood (taking difficult terrain) and I didn't fancy that match up. To prevent a flank charge by his Swordmasters, I decided to sacrifice my Pegi and dropped him by their front corner. The Greatswords moved up and the Archer/Wizard squeezed within 12" of Knights 1.
My magic phase was okay, Timewarp on Knights 1 to give them a fighting chance, Banishment on the 2nd Seaguard unit was dispelled but I got Shield of Sigmar on the Greatswords (on the off chance he charged next turn).
Shooting wasn't ideal, the 1st cannon rolled short of the remaining eagle. The second hit him but clearly it was only a glancing blow that left him with 1 wound.
Combat went pretty well... we both had ASF, but at least he lost the re-roll to hit and the Noble with great weapon wasn't in combat. None of my knights fell and my extra attacks helped me kill 4 in return. I win combat but he stays put on a re-roll.
The 2nd Knights unit also took no looses and skewered 3 elves. He broke, ran a miserable 3"... I over-ran and just clip his White Lions. Which means both his elite units are tied up next turn.
Turn 3: High Elves
He reformed his units into defensive formation (technically the two in combat did it last turn after passing Ld tests). Then charged my Pegi with the Swordmasters. The remaining eagle declared charge on my 1st cannon, but he rolled three 1's for the charge... clearly the cannon blow had crippled it!
Magic wasn't great, he cast Searing Doom on my Greatswords which killed 3 and then shooting dropped 2 more (forgot this on map). The Sword masters shot the Demi-gryph's and bounced off.
In combat I really needed to hold across the table to keep his units in place, but I wasn't optimistic about the Pegasus and I've heard White Lion's dish out some hurt. But it started well, the Pegasus Captain took 7 wounds at -2 save, saved all but two and re-rolled one for Luckstone! Then with the help of his mount he smashed down 3 in return - I actually won combat! He stayed put.
The 1st knights armour was proving effective, even with the added punch of the Nobles great weapon they all survived. I only killed on in return. He had 3 ranks and 2 standards so I lost but held firm. Now we moved to the White Lions and I have to say I was unimpressed, a small handful of strength 6 attacks, two Knights lay dead but I was unimpressed. I killed 3 in return, he won by 1 and I stayed put.
So that sort of went to plan, amazingly the Pegi was still in the fight and his swordmasters where open to multiple charges
Turn 3: Stirland
Demi-gryph's charged the Swordmasters and depleted IC Knights charged their flank. Greatswords where 9" out but with Banner of Swiftness made charge easily! Stand and shoot killed 2 more Greatswords. Finally my Archers moved up to leave the wizard within 12" of both combats.
The magic phase was a dream, I rolled 11 on the winds plus 1 channel! So much choice I didn't know what to do first, but needed to tempt out his dispel dice. Starting with 2 dice Shield of Faith on the Greatswords - 11! He rolled 2 to dispel but failed it - happy day. Next I rolled 6 dice on boosted Birona's timewarp 22+4! I got Shield of Faith on the IC Knights but failed, then Speed of Light on my Greatswords which he failed to dispel. Happy days
In shooting the 1st cannon bounced short of his Eagle (you may be detecting a theme!) but the second clip the back of his base and finished him off.
Now for combat, we started at the left side. Swordmaster's still went 1st with higher initiative, taking another wound from the Pegasus but concentrating on the Demi-Gryphs, killing one and wounding a second. Time for payback... 8 str6, 6 str5, 8 str4, 3 str3 attacks plus stomps brought down 8 Swordmasters leaving him double 1 to stay. He ran and I cut him down
The Demi-gryphs came just short of over-running into the 1st Seaguard combat, otherwise my guys reformed (which generally I cocked up but never mind!)
The Noble in the Seaguard unit clearly wanted payback, he smashed down two of my Knights. I killed two in return but stopped in combat. Then we moved onto the right side, where surprisingly the Knights survived and stayed put - usefully holding the White Lions up for another turn.
Time for the main event. My greatswords, with Hatred, Timewarp and Speed of Light. The Captain and Arch Lector went first killing 3 Seaguard between them. Now I had 23 attacks with my Greatswords - 3's to wound with re-roll and 2's to kill
.... I killed 17 Seaguard leaving only the Archmage who failed to wound, ran and got cut down! That was just plain nasty!
I was surprised he didn't give up at this point, but he's well known for clinging on to the bitter end
Turn 4: High Elves
He had very little choices now, the Shadow warriors moved round to shoot, otherwise everything in combat.
No mage, so no magic. Bizarrely his shadow warriors had another pop at the Demi-gryph's, which bounced off (Pegi would have been far softer target!)
In combat the Noble and Seaguard failed to wound but I still lost and broke from combat. Fortunately I rolled high leaving him just short of my Archers and with IC Knights facing the flank. The White Lions finally finished off my 2nd Knight unit and reformed to face my Greatswords.
Turn 4: Stirland
My fleeing Knight's rallied and reformed. The depleted IC Knights charged his Seaguard unit. I then got a bit confused about the skirmisher reform rules, couldn't be bothered to look them up so ran the wizard clear and kept them put. The DGK moved up (but really should have reformed to face south) and the Pegi flew across to flank the White Lions next turn.
Magic was pretty poor, I got greedy and tried 6 dice boosted Timewarp - but failed to cast. I used my last dice on prayers but he dispelled easily. In shooting both cannons bounced short of the Shadow Warriors
I think my recent combat success went to my head, so I accepted the Noble's challenge with my Priest (mostly for the fun of it!). He scored 3 wounds and I rolled poorly to save... dead priest. The knights killed two spearmen but he won with a musician but I passed the break test
Turn 5: High Elves
His White Lion's predictably charge my Greatswords. No magic and the shadow warriors still have no luck shooting Demi-gryphs!
Combat was fairly messy, his white lions chop up 4 great swords and I kill 6 in return. I win combat but he stay's put on stubborn break test. Neither the Knights or Seaguard take any wounds but I loose combat and run. I end up just short of the wood and his Shadow Warriors but he doesn't catch me.
Turn 5: Stirland
My two IC Knights fail to rally and run straight through the wood and his Shadow Warrior unit - so two lots of difficult terrain test. I roll double 6... then double 1! ahwell shouldn't matter.
Now I get a bit gung-ho and charge his Seaguard with my remaining two Knights and the Archers (Archers have done well for me in the past!). The Pegi charges the flank of his White Lions. My Demi-Gryphs can't see anything so wheel around to face the White Lion flank
Magic was disapointing, I failed both my prayers but I did get Timewarp on the Greatswords.
Shooting - 1st cannon missfires... 2nd cannon bounces short!
(rolled lots of 2's to hit+bounce in this game)
We started with the Seaguard unit. He managed to bring down a Knight and 4 Archers whilst my guys only killed two. So even with the rear charge bonus his two standard beat me and both units fail the break test. He runs me down to grab a few extra points (you might say consolation points!).
His White Lions concentrate on my Greatswords, but only kill 4 and with Timewarp and the Pegi in support I easily finish him off.
At this point he conceded
Hooray for Stirland and glory to the Empire... I 'm on a bit of a roll!
Hope you enjoyed, my memory failed me a bit in late game so the maps are a bit off and details don't seem quite right
Nick
