I was thinking that it might be an interesting exercise to setup mid game scenarios and discuss what the best next steps would be. Something like newspaper chess puzzles ( http://www.standard.co.uk/staticpage/chess/ ). I'm thinking something like: Code: Situation: Your Turn 3 Battlefield: http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-AhHaubLzZ9A/UbzuOAx7IaI/AAAAAAAAAIs/VnGCKB-a8YM/s640/20130612-chaos_dwarfs-16.jpg Opponent: Chaos Dwarfs with a big block of Bluderbusses with General, BSB, and Wizard. 2 Hobgoblins on Wolfs and a bunch of war machines in the back. You: (old book) 3 Stegadons (1 engine) + a heavily wounded Mazdamundi (with lore of Life). Block of Saurus Warriors, depleted Skrox unit and some Skink Javs What would you do? (clickable link: Battlefield) Or maybe even a more specific scenario like: "Give where all the units on the board are and you just won a combat, would you pursue or reform (and how would you reform)." At my local game shop we often discuss key points in the games we play and talk about (usually) what I did wrong, why it didn't work, and what the (demonstrably) better players would have done. It's helped my game immensely and I know I'd learn a lot from seeing how other people would attack specific situations. Anyone interested in these kinds of puzzles/discussions? I could get some snapshots of "I don't know what I should do here" points in my games (I have a lot of these) And I know I'd like to see the types of situations that better players find themselves in.
Im a fan of this concept! Just to be clear: he only have what you list? the models in the corner are casualties? If so: MOVEMENT Engine: I would put the Engine on the left of that block (from our perspective) out of charge arc Saurus: move saurus up close Stega1 (green) normal move north a couple of inches and pivot to face the block, out of charge arc Stega2 (ankylosaurus) normal move close saurus- right back flank, covered from charge Skrox: get them as far away as possible, preferably out of LoS. No need to hand the last points. skink javs: into the Forrest for stubborn and cover Mazda: move close to Saurus left back flank, covered from charge MAGIC *as an engine couldnt be taken in the old book without a priest, I take it that he has the Signature spell, as you havnt stated what else he has. Try magic in this priority order 1.cast Flesh to stone on saurus, heal Mazda with attribute 2. Dwellers, heal Mazda 3. Engine 4. Iceshard 5. Awaken the woods SHOOTING Steg1: go for flank shot + skink fire Steg2: normal shot + skink fire Jav-skinks: shoot COMBAT non MY THOUGHTS he has one unit, wear it down one turn then let the stegs impact hits finish the job. hopefully Mazda will be combat ready for next turn to join. If he goes for killing the skrox, its worth it to attract his attention (thus no regrowth) If he charges or shoots the saurus they will withstand it with Flesh to stone, if he dosnt he has to shoot through them with penality.. His magic phase..again..I dont know what he has. Combat...as above. Next turn everything charges... and GG.
The models in the corner are two rocket launchers and a dread quake mortar. And they are alive and well. (this was his original deployment: More like Turtle Dwarfs (That's a K'Dai Destroyer) Something else I didn't notice originally is that there is a unit of 3 Terradons that had charged the exposed Rocket Launcher (I played this game 6 months ago). Indeed. A Priest with Iceshard and a Dispel Scroll. I like the restraint of your plan. I think I tend to charge too early (demonstrated by how many charges I fail). I'll get some pictures from my next game (Tuesday night) and post that with some better details about what the situation was. Is this a good topic for the Discussion board, or would you guys rather see it on the Tactics board?
dont know how I misread them to not be there...brainfart...anyway, them being live and kicking complicates things. But on the other hand: after that block is down that corner wont be able to hold up.... I dont know..terrible at warmarchines... maybe what I would do was to get the Engine close between the block and the corner to hit everything with the Burning Allignment. I think it should go under tactics indeed, as it matches the "how do you deal with" scenarios people tend to post Im looking forward to it! its a nice idea.
Charge the steggadon that's blocked into whatever that thing is in his path. March the saurus up point blank in front of the blunderbusses. March the other 3 monsters around his flanks, angled in so that you can see his flanks, and the warmachines. Back up with the depleted cohort and screen the retreat with the skirmisher skinks. Use whatever you can in lore of life to heal up Maz. With the saurus being deep, you'll be steadfast against the bunderbuss should they charge, and you should weather the shooting fine, if they shoot. That leaves you charging into the flanks with steggadons, and possibly charging into the warmachines in the backfield as well. Aren't the chaos dwarfs stubborn from the attached hero? If not, I'd throw everything I could into the front and count on impacts and stomps racking up a ton of kills, and the deep block of saurus breaking steadfast. Then with 3-5 over-runs, I should be close enough with something to charge into the warmachines. It's tough to see from the angle on the photo, but about how far out are all the units from the blunderbuss?
I like the idea a lot. But I want an overhead shot, with distances labeled, and all possible info of unit equipment and spells etc as possible. I haven't used them, but a battlereport drawing program would do good. In this situation I see little reason not to charge with everything, unless the opposing block has the Crown of Command. Right most Steg charges, the opponent has to hold and it looks like it is the flank arc to me. Charge the Saurus into the leftmost point of the Horde. Clip with the EoTG. Bastilo-steg into the Spawn creature (Hobgoblin?) There is nothing to be done with Mazdumundi but cast Throne of Vines and Regrowth to try to survive any artillery attacks. The Skrox will similarly seek cover and take any excess heals Mazdumundi generates. The Javs have nothing useful to do. Move towards the artillery. Fight the Bastilo-steg combat first as it may overrun into the other combat. Against the horde 4d6 +2 automatic hits occur and they require double 1s to pass. If the opponent DOES have the crown of command... I guess I would do the same. But I really want to know more about the character holding the crown of command. T5? 1+ save? Ward?
A few years ago, someone on the Empire site played a series of battles (online) with opponents having a common opposing army. he would play the battle out over a series of days where he would stop the game at points in each of his turns and show in separate posts the movements and outcomes of certain phases and final positions of the units and their current status (including zooming in to a part of the battlefiield) with posted jpg images from his online or computer images. It allowed one to see how the battle was was progressing in detail and debate the odds. He then posted options at certain points in phases and pollied participants to see what to do next. It sometimes took a week to pay a game out but was extremely useful and helpful in understanding the then new Empire book and the strengths and weaknesses of the army and different lists.
They still do team vs. team matchups with threads composed of the entire team's thought process. Very exciting stuff.
Overhead shots are easily created with Herald (see the link in my sig). I love this sort of thing, so would be excited to see more (but I think it belongs in the Tactics forum).
Interesting. Maybe once my in-laws move into their new house (I'll get my garage back), I'll set up a virtual game. Lizards vs Vampires, turn by turn overhead shots, and major decisions made by the respective forums. Actually, I think it might be fun to throw a forum vs forum contest in. The major problem would be keeping my kids from messing with the table for the week or two it would take. -Matt
There are online programs available one could use I believe Empire uses Battlescribe or a similar program. They also use an online dice roller.
I just posted a Turn 3 did-I-already-lose-the-game scenerio in the Tactics board: http://www.lustria-online.com/threads/tactics-puzzle-1.13764/ I'm interested to see if anyone can come up with a better plan than I did (my plan didn't work too well, so probably any plan will be better!)