Leadership 2

Game 3 at the Battle on Beale this year had me facing off against a list which received a lot of attention due to an article in Tales of Battle.  The list, now referred to as the DogStar or Doggie Death Star is any variation of the following:

• Vamp Lord: Lv3 + frostblade + red fury + infinite hatred + steed
• Vamp: Lv 2 + steed + book of arkan (kit varies)
• Vamp: Lv 2 + steed + 2xDS
• Wight King: BSB + Steed + Drakenhoff banner
• 1x16 Dogs
• 3x20 Zombies
• 1x6 Blood Knights
• 1x6 Wraiths + 1 Banshee

The list is nothing short of heinous, the fast cav deathstar combined with Danse Spam in almost undeniable.  I have a very mobile Dark Elf army which would allow me to mitigate much of the power of the DogStar but in most games lining up against this list I would be gunning for a draw. I will quickly outline my list and then get on to the report:

• Surpreme Sorceress: Lv 4 + pegasus + 2xDS + tomb of furion + seal of ghrond
• Sorceress: Lv 2 + steed + DS + Darkstar Cloak
• Master: BSB + steed + Hydra banner
• Master: Steed + Caledor's Bane
• 3x5 Dark Riders, all w/ RXB's, one with standard
• 2x5 Harpies
• 1x6 CoK, full command, banner of hag graef
• x2 Cold One Chariot
• 1 War Hydra
• 2xRBT

The Game:
My opponent in this game was named Will (no last names for the sake of quasi-anonymity).  He and 2 of his friends had decided to bring the DogStar to Beale.  I have been informed that Will is a recent convert from 40k and that actually makes it easier to parse the outcome of our rendezvous.  I will cut straight to the chase and say that a lucky first round of shooting on my part made this game into a win for me.  I have no doubt that w/o that happening, this game would have been far different and perhaps Will and I would not have been so contrary towards each other.

Deployment:
The DogStar has very few drops and can be totally out-deployed, here's what it looked like for us (I'm going to present this game from Will's table side because I am actually going to point out 2 or 3 instances where he could have won this game):

The first point of contention arose when he deployed his wraiths about 2" apart to screen the BK's and the DDS from magic and shooting.  I informed him that he didn't have enough space to do this and he disagreed.  12 calvary models wide (6BK's + 6 frontage on the DDS) is 300mm and 7x20mm bases + 5"(@25.4mm/inch) total distance between models is only 267mm.  I let him have it.

Will won the roll for first turn but decidedly to let me have it...he REALLY didn't want his BK's or DDS touched in the first turn.  I think it was a mistake, but I was more than happy to get the first move, it allowed me to set up my army for the necessary plan of action(s).

The DogStar only has 3 units worth a damn.  Given my mobility and Will's central deployment I pretty much stacked flanks and decided to make him split up his 3 effective units.  My assumption was that he planned to throw the wraiths to the left (because he asked several times where the magic weapons were in my list and I stacked them all on the other flank) and bring the BK's (Blood Knights) over to the right get into my CoK's.  I didn't know what he would do with the DogStar(DDS) but my plan was to feed it chariots and a unit of harpies if it came towards my CoK flank while I baited the BK's into a forced frenzy charge w/ Dark Riders (in order to set up a flank charge with the Hydra).

My intent from the outset was to run my CoK's straight through the zombie block on the right flank and hide behind the forest for the rest of the game.  Will knew I was trying to do this and most of the action over the 6 turns would involve him trying to keep the zombies alive.
You can see how I began these machinations in my first turn moves:

Then in my shooting phase something happened which is pretty outrageous.  My 12 shots from RBT's scored 7 wounds on the Blood Knights and Will missed all his saves...GONE.  I was not gloating about this retarded luck.  I actually told him it was pretty fucked up. He was decidedly bummed out and I think it more or less soured the game.  My magic phase put a wound on a wraith.
His turn pretty much set the strategy for the game...we would have a huge argument over the use of my dispel scrolls later in the game so I have decided to chronicle his magic phases and my reactions on the pictures below:
http://i36.photobucket.com/albums/e27/halcyonut/Bottom1.jpg

As you can see, he commits the DogStar to the right (I now know that I have to tie it up with Dark Riders and the hydra in order to give my CoK's time to eat through the zombies).  The banshee's go central (conveniently collapsing the 2" between models to about a 1/2") and actually end up w/in a Danse distance of my Supreme Sorceress...that's got me sweating.
You can read for yourself what happens with the magic phase.

My Turn 2:
Things start off with a CoC going stupid, but it doesn't mess up my plans too much.  Let the Elf Antics begin, I charge the CoK's into the zombies (He has 37 in there and I've got my work cut out for me).  The Dark Riders cut off the flank charge from the DDS (The Master with S7 lance bails from the unit, he knows they are not destined for a good ending) and the Hydra backs up behind the hill, I'm prepared to charge the Hydra in for a suicide run on a vampire in my Turn 3.
On the other side I drop harpies behind his zombie blocks and start shooting the one closest to the objective. My magic drops 3 more wounds on wraiths.
Here's the scoop:

VC Turn 2:
Here's the first instance where Will could have taken the game.  He could have charged 2,3, or even all 4 characters out of the DDS and into the flank of my CoK's...The Frostblade lord alone would have done the deed. Instead he bites on my Dark Riders, who decided to book it.  However, it turned out to be a short book, they didn't run far enough and the DDS penned the final chapter with a decisive run-down, ending up about 3" from my hydra.  In the spirit of friendliness I mention to Will that I might actually consider running my hydra into his DDS despite the inevitable doom, but Will feels confident that his regeneration saves are up to the challenge.
Here's the poop:

On the other side, the wraiths took a charge on the stupid chariot, easily defeating it and running it down as well.
I was especially relieved when his Book of Arkan burned out this turn, it would most certainly make the final outcome easier for me.  He was really trying to buff the zombies up (and doing a good job of it, d6+4  zombies per dice gets his 17!).  In the end I actually burned a scroll to stop an IoN he rolled on one dice.
The CoK's continue to grind, they have the zombies down to 9 at the end of the turn and I'm feeling positive about the outcome, but I REALLY needed my Hydra to go to work and take out a caster

My Turn 3:
Some harpies and dark riders are due for a terror check, the harpies decide to bail but the Dark Riders are chill.  The Hydra charges into the DDS, its massive balls leading the way as a signal to all that in Karond Kar they just don't give a fuck.
Magic burns on the wraiths, they're down to three models, and the shooting continues to light up zombies.  I position my remaining chariot for what would eventually be a hellacious flank charge.  I can't rightly remember why Will gave me the charge, I might have been pressing the front with dark riders.

Notice the lone Master swinging in behind the DDS...this guy would do something wickedly elf-y in the next turn.
The Hydra takes 4 bites out of the Lv2 Vamp with only a 6+ AS.  The dice obey statistics and the regen only saves him twice...fuck yes.  The Frostblade makes short work of the hydra but at least he died with a full stomach.  Will's actually admitted that he wasn't phased by the combat.  On a point for point basis it was probably an even trade (a little in my favor), but in terms of meta-game dynamics, getting rid of the extra caster/dispel dice would be pay huge dividends in the remaining turns.

VC Turn 3:
Will turns his DDS around w/in Danse distance of the CoK's, the wraiths charge an RBT, will eventually overrun and force the harpies into a final flee move off the table:

I finally killed off the zombies and was free to move during my turn(though I was march blocked).

My turn 4:
I take a chariot into the side of a zombie unit only containing 5 or 6 zombies.  My CoK's advance the full 7" forward and my Lone Master comes marching into the path of the DDS, preventing a full on charge.  Will tries to tell me that a lone character on a steed is a skirmisher, but I disagree and he seems to accept my argument w/o consulting a judge or the BRB.

I concentrate most all of my shooting and magic on the unengaged zombie unit, I desperately need to bring it down to less than 10 models so that my chariot has a chance of busting it on the overrun-charge.  I take out about 14, which is fantastic.  I'm very concerned about what Will is going to do with his banshee, if he brings her back across the hill to wreak havoc I might end up losing some serious points to terror checks.
The Chariot busts through the one unit of zombies and into the flank of the next.

VC turn 4:
Another instance where charging his characters out of the unit would have won Will the game.  Instead he charges the lone master...excellent.  Then he makes another blunder in his magic phase, IMO, when he attempts to raise dead in front of my CoK's, essentially giving me a nice speed bump to propel myself to safety.  the pictures don't show the actual nuance of the positioning, but with 2 turns of movement and my CoK's march blocked on the side of the forest, he could have easily retracted the DDS from the woods (after their overrun) and declared a charge on my CoK's...instead he seemed to want a race off through the woods to see who could get to the other side.  Fine by me.  I dispelled his first attempt in order to goad him into trying it again, which he did.  I let the second one go through.  Then he casts Wind of Undeath and I throw four dice to stop it, at which points he says "you only have the one scroll left right?"...and I said "Actually I have two, I used one on turn 2 and you miscast last turn."  We get into a huge debate whereby I recount the magic phases to him verbatim 3 times (even including the number of zombies he raised and how many I had subsequently killed in the ensuing combats) and he concludes by saying "Well, I think you're mistaken."  It got rather heated because he was unable to construct any remembrance that made sense.  He actually had himself casting four successful IoN's on four single dice throws in turn 3 and then miscasting on the 3 dice Danse, which is simply unbelievable.  In the end I concede to a dice off that turns out in my favor (thank you karma).

The DDS blows through the Master and into the woods, actually going MUCH furthur than I thought...it appears the race is actually on.
My chariot in the flank of the last unit of zombies kills enough to res out the unit and gets an overrun move because they counted as charging.

My Turn 5:
I take the freebe on the zombies.  the DDS went so far into the woods than I'm concerned they may actually be able to wheel through the woods and Danse out of it into the side of my CoK's after they overrun the zombies (Will's plan was working).  So instead I just move my CoC up into a spot where the DDS can't wheel past it, forcing another charge that will redirect them away from the CoK's.
Then the best part of the game.  My harpies gently lift off and alight next to the objective, prepared to enter the building in the 6th turn and take the scenario with what is my ONLY unit capable of doing so.

I get greedy with my supreme sorceress, going after the wraiths again in hopes of finishing them off with magic.  Instead she miscasts, takes a wound, and suddenly I'm afraid that Will will decide to to bring the wraiths and come force a terror check on my Lv4.  I decide to leave the wraiths alone in the next turn in order to discourage any such thoughts.
My CoK's blow through the free zombie-bump and land safely out of the woods.  I'm pretty sure I'm in the clear and I start counting points, deciding if I should just clear out on Turn 6.

VC Turn 5:
Will plays it cool with the wraiths about the same time i decide that I will call off the wraith hunt and go for half points on the dogs with my magic phase in turn 6.  Will charges the chariot, gacks it, and runs clear of the woods.  I see immediately that the entire game will come down to his two chances at Danse'ing the DDS into my CoK's on turn 6 after he remforms.

My Turn 6:
I grab table quarters, declare the harpies entering the building, and reform my CoK's to face the front of what I know will be Danseing DDS.  My magic rips apart dogs, giving me half points on the unit and leaving me assured that my point margin is good for a win unless he gets IR on his Danse.

VC Turn 6:
Will reforms, tries to cast Danse on two dice and fails, throws three dice at it and succeeds, at which point I use MY LAST SCROLL to deny it.

We count up points, I figure my total on the board to be 1252 and then we do table quarters, of which I have 3.  Will counts up his list at just over 1100 points .  Will double checks my math and verifies it.  So it's settled that I have won the game.  Will then asks me if he can attempt to summon undead with the 2 dice he hadn't used in turn 6 in order to contest a table quarater (and draw the game).  I agree (because it was the right move to make during the game anyway) and Will rolls his two dice, I quickly set out the 6 dispel dice I would of had and rolled three to dispel it.   I fill out the score card, giving him the worst comp score and the middle sportsmanship score.  I honestly had to admit that they game was intense and we had some big disagreements but it wasn't completely unfun.  The quote for that sportsmaship ranking was "I would play this player again."  Honestly I would.

I turn in the score card and when I get back Will says he likes to talk to the opponent about the scores they give each other before they fill out the card.  I told him I had already turned mine in but that I had given him the middle sports score and the worst comp score.  I preemptively added that I felt it necessary to do that to his comp score because his list was patently abusive.  We then get into another heated exchange about his list, with his argument mainly being that previous opponents had all given him either the middle score or even the upper middle score.  I told him that he had maxed out vampires, a deathstar fast cav unit, and a almost 800 points in rare selections alone.  I think told him that I could think of only one other list that would authoritatively bring real game against his list, that being the steamroller with 12 flamers.  He didn't know what the steamroller was but said that thought there were much harder lists out there.  I thought about it for a bit and decided to go and change the comp score I had given him as a show of solidarity.  I rationalized it by saying that there could have been a few more abuses in the list (i.e. power stones for the Danse Spam, etc) but honestly I don't see where he could free up the points for them.

He would later claim that I had never declared my harpies taking the objective and that he had no intention of reminding me about it...this show of great sportsmanship just minutes after he had requested a "post-game magic phase" to raise zombies.