Testament vs Rask

Elliot and I met at the Edmonton Wargame Group club on Tuesday night for our weekly Warmachine fix. This night, Elliot decided to bring out his Minions once again, led by Rask, while I tried a new 'caster and few units I was pretty unfamiliar with (experimentation time!). I brought the Testament of Menoth infantry horde army out for a spin.

The scenario was Into The Breach, Steamroller #9. Here you can see the setup. The control zone is in the foreground (and most of the game's action would take place here), while the flag can be seen in the background.

Elliot rolled to go first (even through I had a +1 tier benefit to the roll with my force). Here you can see Rask's lined up and ready for action. He had two units of Gators, a Witch Doctor, a Spitter, the Wrastler, Swamp Horror, a Bull Snapper, Feralgiest, the little goblin unit that makes smoke (damn them!) and a unit of ambushing Bog Trogs.

I set up second with all of my infantry in advanced deployment position. I've got Testament, the Idrians, Zealots, two min units of Errants, two Reckoners and two Vassals. Unit attachments for just about everything.

Minion turn 1. Elliot shambles forward.

Menoth turn 1. I run from advanced deployment position and gain board position. My strategy is to draw Elliot into a close range fight, feat, and get as many Errants and/or 'jacks directly onto Rask as possible and go for the assassination victory. The Zealots mini-feat for Greater Destiny. The Idrians (which I've never played before, and played incorrectly this game) did a run/charge to move up and use Go To Ground. Testament puts Hallowed Avenger on one 'jack and Ashen Veil on the Idrians. I also used a 'jack and one unit of Errants to screen Testament from the Bog Trogs I knew were on their way in from my left flank.

Minion turn 2. The Bog Trogs ambush and take down a couple of Errants. Elliot engages my line of invulnerable Zealots. He also sends Cold Blooded 'gators into the Idrians. In melee, they are only DEF 15, so my front line went down quickly. Rask puts up rough terrain and feats to stave off some nasty charges from my 'jacks.

Menoth turn 2. A turn of waiting and close combat. The Errants go to work on the Bog Trogs. Remaining Idrians do some damage to a couple of gators. Zealots prepare to die. Testament moves up to collect souls and get ready for his own feat turn coming next round.

Minion turn 3. Zealots and Idrians vaporize. Testament collects over a dozen souls. One 'jack gets damaged. Rask moves up to shoot and disrupt the other. "I have him" I think to myself. Rask is close enough for a feat assassination. I'm happy. Then...at the end of Elliot's turn, a frikin' goblin moves up and lays down a smoke cloud in front of Rask. Damn it! Now the assassination run gets hard.

Menoth turn 4. Testament uses Urcaen's Gate to move up 3". He Revives three Errants in Elliot's backfield and feats. Errant's activate and run/charge. After the second Errant moves into contact with Rask, Elliot triggers Admonition. What!?! Damn, I'd forgotten that Admonition was up. Elliot backs away out of contact. I charge with the 3rd and final Errant that has line of sight past the cloud effect. The rest of the unit runs and surrounds Rask for next turn (if I last that long). The single Errant that gets the charge off rolls a 3 to hit and misses.

The rest of my turn is completely stupid and loses me the game. I decided to dedicate effort to kill the Wrastler. There was no good tactical reason to do this other than to kill a heavy warbeast. If I had laid off, hunkered down, and just tried to survive the next turn, I probably would have won. As it was, I exposed myself unnecessarily. Stupid, stupid, stupid.

Minion turn 5. Though I had killed the Wrastler and a number of gators, the Testament was hanging out in the wind. Elliot brought in a couple of gators and did a chunk of damage to my 'caster. Then he moved up his Swamp Horror and with his 4th and final fury point finally landed a killing blow onto the Testament. Dang, second game in a row where that damn Swamp Horror has killed my 'caster. Elliot ended the game with 48 seconds left on his death clock. Well timed!

Good game (despite the brain fart that had me leave Testament exposed).

'Til next time.