Hi folks
A week ago I took part on a small Border Patrol tournament at my local game store. The tournament included 8 players: Empire (me), O&G, 2 Warriors of Chaos, Beastmen, Dark Elves, Wood Elves and Ogre Kindoms. These kind of small tournaments are the most fun, not too long and easy going all-round and this would my first tournament report ever. Hope you enjoy reading
The calm before the storm.
This was my Empire army. Led into battle by my Warrior Priest of Sigmar, Edmund Faltermayer. He rides to battle on his valiant warhorse with barded armor. Edmund's gear included the standard heavy armor of his order, magical Charmed Shield and magical Hammer of Striking. He also had Potion of Speed to give an edge against quicker opponents. With him to help to lead the army to battle was a Battle Wizard with level one Lore of Death and Master Engineer to over see the handling of the expensive volley-gun.
Core of the army was made from the 9 strong Inner Circle Knights of the Blazing Sun order, ready to follow the warrior priest to whatever crusade he would lead them in the name of Sigmar. Supporting them where the soldiers of Stirland, 10 men strong unit of Archers, masters of prowling the wilderness of the unknown lands. With the Blazing Sun order where also the 4 mighty Demigryph Knights and from the Stirland army a Great Cannon. As a last addition to the crusading force where joined by acolytes of the heaven wizard's order, bringing an Celestial Hurricanum war altar to aid the servants of Sigmar and as gift from Nuln, a Hellblaster Volley-gun.
First battle in the badlands of the red desert came, my army facing a formitable Savage Orc and Forest Goblin tribe. The battle was a quick one, my army focusing on the green skins right flank. My Inner Circle Knights charged the middle of the enemy, using impassable terrain formation as right flank cover. The oppositing enemy unit was the fearsome 6 strong unit of Trolls. Archers moved to protect the knights left flank and positioning themselves on the line between Savage Orc Boar riders and the knights. My Demigryph Knights circled around the impassable terrain to find the enemy. Edmund knew that the Trolls would be too much even for the elite knights so he prayed for Sigmar's aid and he answered with the Soulfire blessing, igniting the lances with the holy fire. With guide of the Master Engineer the volley-gun took aim at the Savage Orc Boar riders and fired all three decks, anhilating the Orc cavarly in one turn. Also the Goblin Wolf Charriots crew got scared of this awesome demonstration of gunfire and ran away from the battle, leaving the greenskins right flank open.
While this was hapening the Goblin Spider Riders rushed to the Great Cannon on my right flank and killed the crew, only finding themselves charged by the Celestial Hurricanum and run over by it. My knights plowed their way trough the Trolls and the General of the greenskins could see that the Empire would win this time and sounded the retreat. My losses only included the poor men of the Great Cannon crew and I had won the first game.
Second battle was against Warriors of Chaos. The battlefield was made from narrow bottlenecks of tall impassable stone towers and both armies met on the middle waiting for the other one to make a move.
For my relief the enemy took the iniative and charged with his dreaded Nurgle Knights at my Demigryph Knights but the Knights of the Blazing Sun are tough men and held against the nurgle riders. Now there was an opening for my Inner Circle Knights and they charged Warriors of Chaos unit and my Celestial Hurricanum charged the flank of the Nurgle Knights. the Aura of the Hurricanum reached both of my knight units giving them an edge over the enemy. Both chaos units where destroyed in that turn and Edmund found himself with his knights in the rear of the enemy. The last remaining Chaos Warrior unit charged the Demigryph knights and after a bitter fight pushed them for a retreat from the battle. Thankfully my Inner Circle Knights charged and killed those last enemy warriors and with that won me the battle.
Edmund looked around for his army after, noticing that the Chaos was a great foe that had forced a good deal of my army to leave the battle, including the Demigryph Knights, the Celestial Hurricanum and Archers. But Sigmar was with us, this was proven in battle by the Chaos Sorcerer killing himself with his casting attempts. There is only Sigmar, no luck required.
Third battle was against the Druchii elves in a mace of impassable terrain. This land and last one against Chaos wasn't at all knight friendly terrain and my success would now change.
With most of my army scattered after the last battle, my forces arrived from reserve to this battle. The enemy was nowhere to be seen at first but Archers reported sightings of the dark elves behind the mace of the terrain that give no charge routes to my knights. After bitter arrow and repeater crossbow fire and some magic missiles, I had taken more casualties than the enemy and was forced to lose the the engagement.
This was an hellish field of battle that I lost badly. After rethinking my moves I could have gone for a tie but not anything better.
Fourth and last battle against the Ogre Kindoms. After last battle's bitter loss I didn't know how would I stand with the chances of winning the tournament. Thankfully the Ogre army was very straight forward, unlike the dark elves.
He took the first turn and moved closer, firing the Lead Blechers at my Hellblaster, knowing that it would hail good damage to his army if it got to fire. The volley-gun was destroyed by the massive rain of the Lead Blechers fire. On my turn I got the charge with both of my knights units, my Inner Circle heading against 6 strong unit of Ironguts and my Demigryph Knights taking on the 9 strong unit of Bulls. Both enemy units where destroyed in one turn. During my magic phase my little death mage finally did something in the tournament and sniped off one of the Mournfang cavarly, panicing the rest and they ran away from the battle.
I had gotten an easy victory again, only losing my volley-gun. When all games came to an end and the scores where calculated I had made second place in the tournament. I had only lost with one painting point (my Celestial Hurricanum was unfinished) to the Dark Elf player and he got the first place. The best painted prize was given to the very nicely themed O&G army.
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What's next? There's a new Border Patrol coming in few months and I will go there too. What should I change with this army?
My ideas so far include finding few points for Pidgeon Bombs for the Master Engineer. Against the young players they seem to shy away from the deadly Hellblaster so the Engineer should have a second weapon. Sadly the model that I have painted has only the bird on his shoulder and no pistol on his hand so Pidgeon Bombs would be wysiwyg. Also I noticed that a small str 4 blast would be perfect when picking off small light cavarly units or 5 model strong skirmishers that are hiding out of sight and there's nothing to shoot with the Hellblaster.
The army list was already 5 points away from the 1200 point limit so 15 points would be taken from the Warrior Priest's magic weapon, switching the Sword of Striking to Bitting Blade. The SoS did hit well but the strength 4 hitting power lacked punch. With +1 to hit from the Hurricanum and Hatred the Priest would still hit well enough. I also had a Champion on the Demigryph Knights that was uncessary with it's 10 point cost. All that gives me Pidgeon Bombs, I just need to be carefull not to roll 1's twice
-Bw
