First round of the campaign
So, we have 10 player ASOAIF Campaign running and playing my brand new Targaryen faction. So far I've played total of four games with them (Night's Watch, Baratheon, Starks, Baratheon) and I've won twice and been tabled twice! So it's a rollercoaster at the moment, but I think I'm getting the hang of it! Here you read about my first campaign game...
Building the army
As starter boxes always, also Targaryens have their limitations on army building options. Luckily there are neutral units able to boost them and Stormcrows in a Targaryen army is also a "fluff consistent choice"... unlike Flayed men.
My WIP "Targaryen Archers" aka Stormcrows
with a lieutenant
On the first round of our campaign I ended facing Mika and his Starks, combining our most experienced ASOIAF player and a mature and very strong faction. Even if (or just because?) I'm a Starks player too, I was terrified of these prospects and decided to spend my 3 gold dragons to boost my army with 3 points. As I was the challenger, I had the option to decide on the game size and mode. So I chose 50 points (53 for me) and Dance of Dragons...
My Army composition and battle plan
Out of the starter box commanders I like Jorah's cards far far more than Khal Drogos, well at least they are easier to play! And for example "Martial Superiority" felt like a great insurance against aggressive and terrible Stark units like Umber Great Axes, "Superior Flanking" is an awesome card for a fast cavalry army and finally "Bravery in the face of Death" brings much needed healing.
My combat units are a combination of SB Targ units and some mercenaries. My Mercenaries are here to...
Stormcrows
- Deliver chip damage from a distance
- Walk and stay on an objective once Targs have cleared enemy from around it
Flayed Men
- Hard hitters with staying power, so a versatile unit to both charge, hold the line and hold an objective, if needed
My NCUs are also a combination of Targs: Daenarys for added movement and fluff and then Neutrals: Petyr to deny Crown from enemy Walder Fray AND to use what I actually need and my Walder to shut down Stark monsters.
So my plan was as follows: lure / let the (slower) enemy take objectives and hence immobilise themselves, then combine my assets to destroy enemy units one at a time, while their resources are stuck on objectives.
Battle 1. Dance of Dragons
Our deployment
Both of my flanks were anchored by super units (Veterans - Flayed Men) and it seemed I had split my force into two "divisions", which seemed to do the trick as Starks also deployed table wide. This indeed was a trick, as I had no intention to fight Great Axes any time soon!
My deployment from left to right: Veterans - Stormcrows - Screamers - Screamers - Flayed Men
Stark deployment from left to right: Direwolf - Bowmen - Flayed Men - Tully Sworn Shields - Great Axes - 2nd. Tullies - Dire Wold
View from my left flank position
Initial moves
Starks started the game and my early moves (after claiming stuff from the Tactics Board of course) were to move my two screamer units into the centre of the battle field. Starks tried the first charge of the game as Robb Stark led his unit of Tullies forward... well, I guess Tullies didn't really get the idea, as they failed the charge and proceeded to drastically loose an entire rank in a failed morale test!
Stark continued their reckless aggression and a charge from FM hit home... but I was prepared for this and played Jorah's TC Martial Prowess, which really blunted the attack!
On my right flank also my FM turned left and galloped toward the centre, as the entire Stark left flank watched in dismay and prepared for a long slog cross the battle field!
Targaryen onslaught
Second round started with my Screamers first making Robb Starks unit Vulnerable with the Order from the other Screamer unit with an Outrider KO and then slamming into them! As this ended the unit on top of one of he objectives, I claimed it too! Unfortunately Robb was left standing!
In the meanwhile my Veterans and the second Screamers unit had managed to destroy Mika's FM and now only faced a Bowmen unit and a Direwolf - I (and Mika too) started to feel, that the game was in the bag!
One shot murders!
My success continued; FM had again turned, and as Stark units from their left flank had moved towards the centre, they were able to position themselves on round 3 for a great charge position for me starting round 4. There was an unfortunate Direwolf standing in their way and my FM charged this speed bump and swatted it without breaking their stride (I played an Overrun TC, I had thrown TCs away just to get it!)... and continued to crash in to the rear of Tully-boys!
Famous Tully 3+ save was nothing against this devastating Superior Flanking attack with amazing 6 Crits and a total of 16 hits! Tullies were no more! I felt the sweet taste of victory in my mouth... but then!
Starks are a stubborn lot, whom refuse to understand, that they are defeated (even if Mika seemed to realise it)... Bowmen, whom had just moments before been threatened by two Dothraki units, destroyed my Veterans in two consecutive shots! And destroyed one of my Screamer units too (I think the Direwolf helped in this one)!
Suddenly the situation looked like this: a Direwolf had crabbed an objective dropped by the dead Screamers, my seriously mauled other Screamer unit was trying to escape from Great Axes with it's 2" move and my Stormcrow archers were wondering, what the hell just happened to the victory that had just been in their crasp (and the heavy purse, that goes with it...). And the FM were sitting on an another objective in the far right flank.
The inevitable happened and Great Axes ripped the last Dothraki Screamer apart, seizing it's objective...
...but The Stormcrows were still eager to earn their pay from the Khaleesi and shot both the lone Direwolf dead and significantly depleted the Bowmen (some crown zapping helped too). They even managed to crasp the objective dropped by the Wolf!
FINAL SCORE: 12-8 for House Targaryen
Conlusions - why did I win?
- Mika deployed too wide and gave me the opportunity to focus to the left flank
- I was able to wipe out 2 key units early on (FM & Robb with Tullies)
- All of my charges hit home I think, while couple of MIka's did not
- My Panic tests were more successful
- I managed to get enough VP early on to secure the victory, even if Starks were gaining on rounds 3-5
- I did got stuck on objectives sooner than, what I had planned, which caused me problems
- MVP on Starks army: Bowmen
- MVP on Targaryen army: several, all of my cavalry units performed well and SC Archers managed to defend the victory in the end
Stay tuned for the Round 2. AAR!
Excellent battle report. Always good to have a close game!!!
VastaaPoistaThanks Brian! I loved the sensation of sudden dramatical turns!
PoistaMika here: good battle-rep, and I have nothing much to add. My deployment was far from optimal (for multiple reasons).
VastaaPoistaFor any future readers, this was with 1.5.0 rules and Units (in 1.5.1, Flayed Men lose the Critical Blow, ability which definitely enabled to one-shot the left-flank Tullies).
Should never give up, the game could have turned in turns 4 to 5, just with a bit better luck (and a lot better planning from me, could have moved a bit differently on the right-flank, to make your life a bit more difficult on those last rounds).
Mika, totally agree. Nerf to FM is significant... and I think I won the game or at least got a huge advantage due to your deployment. Mika, please do follow my blog.
VastaaPoista