My list:
Arch Lector Armour of Meteoric Iron, Great Weapon, White Cloak of Ulric
Battle Wizard Lord Level 4, Talisman of Preservation, Dispel Scroll
Captain Full Plate, Shield, Pistol, Battle Standard, Standard of Discipline
2 Engineers
6 Knightly Orders w Musician
6 Knightly Orders w Musician
3 Demigryphs
3 Demigryphs
2 Cannons
2 Mortars
2 Hellblasters
60 Spearmen Full Command
Det 20 Halberdiers
10 Archers
Det 5 Archers
Det 5 Archers
Steam Tank
Luminark
Dark Elf List (approximate)
Level 4 and two level 2 wizards (Dark Magic, Shadow and Metal lores)
Cauldron of Blood with Hag BSB
10 Cold One Knights plus Hero on Cold One
30 Spearmen plus Lord and Assassin
30 Corsairs with Frenzy Standard
Hydra
10 Dark Riders
10 Shades and Assassin
12 Crossbowmen
The DE general picked the table side and started (and finished) deployment first.
I placed the spearmen, halberds and archers in a sort of Griffon formation in my centre, supported by the Luminark and Steam Tank. The Cavalry elements formed flanking forces. I placed the hellblasters in the ruins in my battle line on one side, and the other artillery in an enfilading position on the corner hill - neglecting to remember Dark Elves have scouts!
He refused a flank, opting for a solid centre of infantry and keeping his cavalry on my flank away from the artillery. The shades appeared right by my artillery, the dark riders took a vanguard move up the flank.
DE won the first turn. There was a general advance except for the Cold Ones who hung back from the artillery threat. A few archers got shot.
My first turn... The cavalry advanced, the centre stayed still. One cannon killed 4 shades with grapeshot. The other missed. The steam tank missed. One mortar missed, the other exploded. The hellblasters killed 5 dark riders and failed to kill any Cold Ones (who had an item that halves BS shooting at them).
DE second turn... the shades charged a cannon, wiping it out. The dark riders found a gap to charge one hellblaster (I didn't block it properly with the demigryphs), wiping it out. The centre advanced right on top of my griffon formation.
My second turn... I dicked about for 20 mins trying to get my archers placed "just right" in the confined spaces. On the artillery flank, my knights chased off the crossbowmen and the Demigryphs wiped out the shades, saving the second cannon. On the other flank, the demis swung inside and I placed the knights as sacrificial blockers to keep the Cold Ones off their flank. I moved the Steam tank forward and almost wiped out the Spearmen with the steam gun and the surviving hellblaster.
The cannon missed and the second mortar blew up...
Dark Elf turn 3... The cold one knights charged my knights, winning the combat and chasing them down, but carrying them away from the battle, as I'd hoped. The frenzied corsairs charged the misdirecting archers and overran, keeping them away from my spears. The remaining few DE spears charged the central archers and but couldn't quite overrun into the spear block, while the hydra advanced on the halberdiers and killed half with its breath weapon.
Oh, this was the only turn in which magic really had an impact - the Luminark fell into an irresistible Pit of Shades, while the sorceress who cast it lost her levels.
My 3rd turn... The spearmen charged the few remaining DE spears, only to find that the DE Lord had the Amulet of Ridiculous Unkillability - so the combat stood. The halberdiers, archers and steam tank all engaged the Hydra, causing 3 wounds but losing the combat, which didn't matter as all the infantry died and the tank is Unbreakable. The demigryphs on the far flank moved to present the corsairs with a threat, the other unit tried and failed to charge down the sorceresses stood in the open, who both fled.
Dark Elf turn 4... the corsairs charged the Demigryphs, caused no wounds and were broken and wiped out. The hydra scored 3 wounds on the tank. And the Dark Elf general conceded defeat, leaving me time to pack up and drive home in time for Manchester Utd vs Swansea on Sky
Survivors:
Dark Elves - Cauldron BSB, 9 Cold One Knights and Hero, 5 Dark Riders, Hydra, 3 sorceresses
Empire - Arch Lector, Wizard, BSB, 55 spearmen, Steam Tank, Cannon, Hellblaster, 6 Knights, both units of Demigryphs
Overall, the list worked okay against the army that I fought. I don't know how it would do as an "all comers" list. I was disappointed by how little all the artillery did - killed 5 dark riders and 4 shades. The second cannon killed 1 dark elf in close combat and none by shooting! A poor return on 800 points. The only contribution of the Luminark was to give an extra dispel dice - that was useful I suppose.
I'd be tempted to drop the Luminark and a couple of artillery pieces and pick up another unit - perhaps another solid infantry unit.
