ASOIAF: Polish Nationals

 Largest Song Tournament in the World so Far!

With some mates from the club we had already discussed for some time, that visiting a tournament in Central Europe and specially in Poland (as they've had several large tournaments) would be cool. After a very positive experience in visiting Swedish Nationals in May, three of signed up for Poland. We expected the tournament to exceed 100 players, but it eventually 171 players from 7 countries battled it out. Many of the pictures are a courtesy from Warfactory Poland.

The Loot

Preparations

After summer holidays we started practicing for Poland; this included 3 tournaments at our club and several one off games. 

I was contemplating whether to play with Martells, which was my original idea, or with Night's Watch, which seemed to the strongest faction after Season 3 patch in August. I played 2 / 3 practice tournaments with NW and won 5/6 games (including games against top notch players from Finland) and so the decision was made: Nights Watch it is!

Last practice game was played with a team mate Pasi on Friday night, already at the venue-

"All this shall be mine!"

Lists I took to Poland:

Commander: Jon Snow - 998th Lord Commander - Played 6/7 games with this list, stone thrower was the key! Points: 40 / 40 Activations: 7 Combat Units • Ranger Hunters ( 7 ) Jon Snow - 998th Lord Commander ( 0 ) • Shadow Tower Spearmen ( 7 ) Othell Yarwyck - Spotter ( 1 ) • Builder Stone Thrower ( 8 ) • Coldhands - Mysterious Ally ( 5 ) Non Combat Units • Lord Varys ( 4 ) • Petyr Baelish ( 4 ) • Donal Noye ( 4 ) Faction: Nights Watch Commander: Cotter Pyke - Eastwatch Commander Points: 40 / 40 Activations: 7 Combat Units • Sworn Brothers ( 7 ) Cotter Pyke - Eastwatch Commander ( 0 ) • Ranger Vanguards ( 7 ) Coldhands - Former Crow ( 1 ) • Conscripts ( 5 ) • Ranger Hunters ( 7 ) Non Combat Units • Lord Varys ( 4 ) • Qhorin Halfhand ( 5 ) • Donal Noye ( 4 )

We all got these cool tournament trays when we arrived. See rest of my Night's Watch here.

Maybe I've should have played one or two more games with this list, as Qhorin is so powerful, but many of

my opponents (several Lannisters) and many Game Modes favored the other list. See below explanation

of each game and list used.

Monsters from the North - dressed to kill!

Of course we wanted to have team shirts and a clun mate Johannes used his graphic skills to design 

this "Monsters from the North" -shirt. Unfortunately too late for him to get one for the London GT.

(Pasi in the picture)

In addition to the team shirt, I also took part of my "Jon Snow kit"

- I got lot of positive feedback for this "Lord Commander cosplay".

Tournament head honcho Marek from Warfactory seemed to like our shirts too!

DAY 1

Opening Ceremonies

 TOs Marek, Zofia and Michal - THANK YOU!

Developers had made a video greeting us, very nice!

Game 1. Table: 56 - Game Mode: A Dance with Dragons

Opponent's list:

Faction: Martell Commander: Doran Martell - Lord of Sunspear Points: 40 / 40 Activations: 7 Combat Units • Golden Company Swordsmen ( 7 ) Areo Hotah - Captain of the Guard ( 0 ) • Sand Skirmishers ( 7 ) Spearlord ( 1 ) • Starfall Outriders ( 6 ) • Stormcrow Mercenaries ( 5 ) Daemon Sand - Bastard of Godsgrace ( 1 ) Non Combat Units • Doran Martell ( 5 ) • Ellaria Sand ( 4 ) • Arianne Martell ( 5 ) My list: Jon Snow

Me and Łukasz (Nuno) 

Game was more or less decided already on R1 as a combination of 2 X stone thrower shots, 3 hits from a Varys token and a one failed panic test destroyed Nuno's Sand Skirmishers, whom were on their way to shoot at my ST.

This was the only game, where the enemy actually charged my ST! Badly damaged Outriders failed to destroy it and the crew actually finished of them, giving me a wipe out victory (VPs 10-3). I lost Jon Rangers and Coldhands

Game 2. Table: 16 - Game Mode: A Feast for Crows

Opponent's list:

Faction: Targaryen

Commander: Khal Drogo - The Great Khal

Points: 40 / 40

Activations: 6

Combat Units

 • Drogo's Bloodriders ( 8 )

     Khal Drogo - The Great Khal ( 0 )

 • Drogon ( 7 )

 • Rhaegal ( 7 )

 • House Bolton Flayed Men ( 8 )

     Rakharo - Bloodrider ( 2 )

Non Combat Units

 • Illyrio Mopatis ( 4 )

 • Daenerys Targaryen ( 5 )

I was a bit surprised to see just 2 NCU, especially as both of them have replace effects.

I used my Cotter Pyke list, as my stone thrower would not work against solos (2 dragons)

Me and Mateusz Kulba (Midian) 

Deployed heavily on my left flank and my vanguard also moved in from the left. Rhaegael moved on to the objective - I managed to cause 6 wounds on it from 2 Varys tokens, as my opponent played Swords.

Khal Drogo and Drogon moved aggressively forward and Khal charged my Brothers on the beginning of R3 with Assault Orders.

I decided to kill Qhorin to freeze Drogon for R3, as I had my hands full fighting Khal Bloodriders and Flayed men with Rakharo.I used a lot of resources to blunt Khal's charge and started smashing him with Cotter & brothers - Khal had to retreat!

Cotter was positioned to charge Drogon into flank at the beginning of R4 and so he did. I think it took the attack and a Pyke aggression card to finish the Dragon off. Later my Cold Hands Vanguard made a Sentinel move and got a surprise charge on Rhaegals flank, finishing it off - my opponent had never healed it, he was too bust keeping Khal alive!

Game ended 10-4 for me with only Khal alive from Targaryens. On the field I only lost one unit.

Game 3. Table: 6 - Game Mode: A Clash of Kings

Opponent's list:

Faction: Lannister Commander: Kevan Lannister - Protector of the Realm Points: 40 / 40 Activations: 7 Combat Units • Golden Company Swordsmen ( 7 ) Kevan Lannister - Protector of the Realm ( 0 ) • Lannister Crossbowmen ( 6 ) Bronn - The Sellsword ( 1 ) • Knights of Casterly Rock ( 8 ) • Poor Fellows ( 4 ) Non Combat Units • Pycelle ( 4 ) • Lord Varys ( 4 ) • Tywin Lannister ( 6 )

I used my Jon Snow list - I needed the ST to dwindle Lannisters (and GC Swordmen) from the distance.

Me and Part time Villain

Got a palisade as one of the terrain pieces, but didn't het to place it, so I had to deploy my units to protect the stone thrower. I really felt pressured by the Knights, Golden Company and Crossbows approaching me. Poor fellows soon claimed the central objective. Jon Hunters had to move forward to dance with the knights, they also took some shots on the Poor Fellows, whom where later destroyed by the ST. I was also able to cause enough damage on GC, so that they dared not to charge my spearmen, especially as the GC charge would have been through the low wall.

Knights and Crossbows destroyed Jon (I think Tywin had something to do with it, even if his once per game effects were played too late, as my opponent stated) and CH had to engage the knights to buy me more time to destroy his units with the stone thrower... and so it did! I managed to pull a wipe out victory from the jaws of defeat, as Lannister were leading the game whole time!

VPs for my opponent 6-3, but a crushing victory to me!

Game 4. Table: 2 - Game Mode: Fire and Blood

After facing three Poles I faced Erik (Gromtex), a fellow Nordic player from Sweden, 

another Lannister list with Keva, Tywin & co:

Faction: Lannister

Commander: Kevan Lannister - Protector of the Realm

Points: 40 / 40

Activations: 7

Combat Units

 • Golden Company Swordsmen ( 7 )

     Kevan Lannister - Protector of the Realm ( 0 )

 • Knights of Casterly Rock ( 8 )

 • Lannister Crossbowmen ( 6 )

     Bronn - The Sellsword ( 1 )

 • Gregor Clegane - The Mountain That Rides ( 4 )

Non Combat Units

 • Pycelle ( 4 )

 • Tywin Lannister ( 6 )

 • Lord Varys ( 4 )

With this scenario, it was an obvious choice to play with Jon list again... that stone thrower

So were now playing on top tables...

After 3 intensive games we were both a bit tired already, luckily Erik was probably a bit more tired, as Team Sweden had arrived very late to their hotel near the venue (we had arrived already on Friday morning). This showed, we both started deploying units as the deployment would have been 10", when it's 18" in this scenario! This obviously suited me just fine - more time to bombard those Lannisters!

I marked his mountain and crossbows, he marked my Cold Hands and Spearmen.

Game was intense and fast, my memories of it are quite blurred... I remember destroying the 2nd rank of his knights with a stone thrower and a failed panic test. Jon then destroyed Crossbows with a coin on them, they were marked so I got an early 3-0 lead. Only thing I lost was CH, giving him 3 VP. 

I then proceeded to wipe him out... don't remember the details, I asked Erik and this was his recollection:

"Well yes, we deployed 10" instead of 18" since we both forgot it.(I only moved my knights up as last deployment) then the stone thrower lit up the skies and smashed my crossbows/GCS and getting 3/4 wounds from 3 panics. And round 2(?) When Jon charged Kevan(GCS) It was basically over because i forgot about tywin... After that it was just me trying to earn some kind of points while jon charged and executed crossbows, thats most of how I remember it. But I've tried to forgotten it"

Game ended in 4 rounds I think.

Then I bought him a beer. It was quite brutal.

Situation at the end of Day 1. 

I was leading the tournament!

This is what I posted to social media:

"Great first day in #polish Nationals for #asoiaftmg here in #warszawa #varşova Players from almost 10 different countries and 171 players altogether! I’ve totally surprised myself by taking crushing victories from all of my 4 games… and I’m leading the whole tournament after day 1. Three more games tomorrow, let’s see how it goes , but I’ve already exceeded my own expectations! Good times!"

Evening continued with dinner and after games Team Finland and Team Sweden coming together, we even sang some schnapps songs! I did hit the bed quite early, as wanted to charge my batteries for the second day... the night didn't go so well, woke at 3 AM and spent almost 2 hours contemplating about my games and about the coming day - brains on overload!

DAY 2

Game 5. Table: 1 - Game Mode: Here We Stand 

vs. Raul (Palmerno) from Spain / Catalonia with his terrifying Greyjoys (a faction I'm not that familiar with):

Faction: Greyjoy Commander: Baelor Blacktyde - Lord of Blacktyde Points: 40 / 40 Activations: 7 Combat Units • Golden Company Swordsmen ( 7 ) Baelor Blacktyde - Lord of Blacktyde ( 0 ) • Silenced Men ( 7 ) Asha Greyjoy - Captain of the Black Wind ( 1 ) Qarl - Asha's Champion ( 1 ) • Drowned Men ( 4 ) • House Harlaw Reapers ( 6 ) Daario Naharis - Reckless Mercenary ( 1 ) Non Combat Units • Rodrik Harlaw ( 4 ) • Lord Varys ( 4 ) • Balon Greyjoy ( 5 )

I decided to go with Jon Stone Thrower -list again... and I think it was a mistake, I would have needed Qhorin. And GC Swordmen with Baelor nor Silenced men just wouldn't die...

I gave myself the instruction: hold back and keep shooting, they will come to me...

...and then I got For the watch to my hand for R2, where I was the starting player...

At the end of R1 Jon Hunters had moved to shoot Silenced men into their flank, I used a Donal Noye -token for rerolls and scored a decent amount of kills. Golden Company had lost a rank and played this card:

It proved to be deadly...

So I thought, that I had a chance to really do significant damage to GC and so Jon charged. My attack combination reduced GC to 4 wounds and I took 2 wounds from Lash out. He obviously used his defensive order. GC then charged me with 6 attacks hitting on 2+, I used a Qhorin token and played Shields to keep Jon alive. He survived the first attack, but not the second from "We do not sow"... that he probably found with Rodrik Harlaw's ability... I saw that coming, but couldn't stop Jon from dying on a failed panic test with +2 extra wounds! Terrifying combo!

In the mean while I had destroyed Reapers with Daario and actually destroyed them a second time, as they redeployed with Balon's ability. I think this was the only game, where I lost my Spearmen. 2+ armour save was not enough against Silenced men with 2 pillage in my flank and a vulnerable token.

At least I managed not to be wiped out as Raoul was rapidly scoring points from quarters.

Still a crushing victory to him 11-4. So it's like to play against opponents with ELO very close to 2000p.! The game even gathered some audience...

Game 6. Table: 5 - Game Mode: Honed and Ready

vs. Rafal (Kosa220) and another Lannister army:

Faction: Lannister

Commander: The High Sparrow - His High Holiness

Points: 40 / 40

Activations: 7

Combat Units

 • The Warrior's Sons ( 7 )

     The High Sparrow - His High Holiness ( 0 )

 • Gregor Clegane - The Mountain That Rides ( 4 )

 • Golden Company Swordsmen ( 7 )

     Tyrion Lannister - The Giant of Lannister ( 1 )

 • Lannister Guardsmen ( 5 )

     Barristan Selmy - Kingsguard ( 2 )

Non Combat Units

 • Pycelle ( 4 )

 • Kevan Lannister ( 5 )

 • Lord Varys ( 4 )

Enemy Attachments

 • Turncoat ( 1 )

Luckily I didn't know, that Rafal's ELO is 2000+p.!

I chose to play with Jon -list again... as the other list didn't really have anything, that would want to be sitting on objectives taking arrows...

I deployed so, that my spearmen were on the left, ready to move on to an objective, while CG was ready to take and objective on the right. Jon Hunters and ST were in charge of destroying anything closing in or going for the centre objective.

Game started cautiously and proceeded in even VPs. Lannister GM moved forward to challenge Jon, but he was protected by CH and not much happened. I think on R3 I got Watcher on the wall on CH and charged Mountain on his flank, whom had already taken a wound from a panic test or from the wall arrows. I played Sword in the darkness and felt good about killing Mountain... I would have, but for this card:

I think Tyrion had searched it with his Battle plan order. Mountain then struck back, causing CH 3 wounds... hanging in there.

On R4 Mountain was killing CH and I played this card:

I also played a card to give me rerolls and I had 7 attacks to Mountains flank (Rafal had forgotten to re-align mountain)... deja vu!  Father protected the Mountain again and he survived, what as swing! If Mountain would have died, CH would have stayed alive and I would have won the game.

End of R4

As we had about 10 minutes left we didn't start a new round... speculating what would have happened: I would have deployed CH in the rear of GC, whom only had 4 wounds left. I think I would have had a good chance to kill them, or at least deny a point from them. I think playing round 5 would have been to my favor...

Game ended 6-5 for Rafal, only thing killed in the game was Coldhands

Game 7. Table: 11 - Game Mode: The Winds of Winter vs. Adrian (AdrianM) 

- a NW mirror!

Faction: Nights Watch

Commander: Cotter Pyke - Eastwatch Commander

Points: 40 / 40

Activations: 7

Combat Units

 • Golden Company Swordsmen ( 7 )

     Cotter Pyke - Eastwatch Commander ( 0 )

 • Ranger Vanguards ( 7 )

 • Coldhands - Mysterious Ally ( 5 )

 • Builder Stone Thrower ( 8 )

Non Combat Units

 • Donal Noye ( 4 )

 • Qhorin Halfhand ( 5 )

 • Lord Varys ( 4 )

And again I chose to play Jon. I'm not sure why... as Adrian had Qhorin in both of his lists, I should have had Qhorin. After Game 6, I was 21st and needed to win this game to reach my goal on ending in top 20. Adrian was one of the nicest opponents I faced in the tounament.

Deployment. Adrian left his Vanguard in reserve. I protected my stone thrower on  my left flank with a palisade to block outflank and the Spearmen.

Jon Snow was bombarded with Adrian's ST and I shot at GC. He rolled more 4+ then me... 1-1 after R1

Vanguard then appeared and Adrian played 2 VP's from killing the enemy commander secret mission. Qhorin sacrifize then freezed Jon (good combo!) and Vanguard charged (now I would have needed Qhorin too). Using Donal Noye tokens, CH's order and Shields I managed to keep Jon alive with just 3 wounds. On R3 I used Swords zone to attack with Jon and then retreat, causing a decent amount of damage on Vanguard... but too late I realized my mistake - using Swords was a risk, because Adrian still had Varys tokens! I could have used Petyr to claim a different zone! And of course I failed all 3 5+ saves and Jon Hunters died. 

So exhaustion from 6 previous games started showing: in the picture above Cotter has failed his charge with GC and then been demolished with some stones... if he had used Reckless Heroism he would automatically succeeded and probably killed CH. I think I managed to destroy Cotter GC and his Vanguard ran away.

In the last round I bombarded his Vanguard at least twice, but missed too much and they survived on few wounds. My CH then charged his CH sitting on the centre objective (we were scoring objectives), but As I know too well, the reindeers are hard to kill. He then retreated and moved to another objective, winning Adrian the game 7-5 on VPs. So close! If I would have destroyed Vanguard or his CH, I would have won instead!

I got 12 kill points, so I must have killed 7p. + 5p. Adrian got 7 kill points from Jon.

So, with 4 crushing victories from day 1 and 3 losses from day 2 I ended on 41st position. It was so close, that I could have won my 2 last games on day 2... maybe next time!

Final ceremonies

Raoul won the tournament

Everybody got some parting gifts:

Team Finland and Team Spain joined forces to celebrate Raoul's victory in the evening

- what a feast at Podwale Kompania Piwna in Stara Miasto

Painting competition