Masha Shingai vs Blasts/Glads

Highways and Dieways
Glyphs: Defense +1, Initiative +8
500 Points

Astro: Masha Shingai, Raelin, Tagawa Samurai Archers x5 (495)
Leo: Blastatrons x2, Gladiatrons x3, Evar Scarcarver, Kira Jax (500)

Which Units Survived?
11 Gladiatrons, 4 Blastatrons, Evar Scarcarver (0 wounds), Kira Jax (0 wounds)
~420 Points

Game Summary:
The Tagawa Samurai Archers rushed out after an early initiative win to try and claim the defense glyph, but they absolutely missed every attack and made a poor show. They couldn’t keep up with the massive mobilization of an excellent army that Leo so rudely decided to take against the TSA. After the initial squad was cleared out, they couldn’t get away from Masha’s aura of terror, bringing them down to 1 attack (or 2 on height) as a result, which was devastating.

With 7 range, the Blasts were able to easily stay out of Masha’s aura, and with being able to move 8 figures per turn, the TSA could never manage to escape his aura again. Masha did manage to take down 2 Blastatrons with him thanks to Burning Spite, but did not get the chance to avenge his fellow Samurai. Masha lasted longer than expected thanks to Raelin’s aura (which he was always in), but Aura of Terror was never a benefit for the army, only a detriment.

After Masha finally fell in the third round, everything continued to go downhill for the TSA. Leo consistently rolled 3 or 4 shields for every Blastatron attacked, leaving them with little recourse as they were whittled away. Masha failed to make a big enough dent in the opposing army to sway things in favor of the poor archers.

Usefulness of Powers:
Aura of Terror subtracted 3 dice from my army and 0 dice from Leo’s.
Burning Spite activated 2 out of 4 times (19, 10, 1, 7), killing 2 Blastatrons. The first two successes only cost him 1 wound, the next attack dealt 2 with a failed roll. The next wound killed him without an activation.
Masha got in 1 attack. 3/5 against a Glad on height (blocked).

Masha was definitely the strongest part of the army, but he was unable to carry the Tagawa Samurai Archers to victory against Blads/Glasts. He would’ve got in another solid attack if not for Leo being able to easily hold both glyphs thanks to the 8 figures moving per turn and the starting zone exits being so limited, which led to him taking a lot of fire as soon as he tried leaving the starting zone. Raelin also helped him a lot, letting him last longer and roll for Burning Spite 4 times (without her aura, he probably would’ve only been able to roll 2 or 3 times), and his 5 attack would’ve been a nice asset against the Gladiatrons boosted with the Glyph of Gerda (Defense +1) if his first attack hadn’t been blocked and led to him being promptly surrounded.

Burning Spite felt very nice as a power. While the cost of losing some of his life wasn’t taken lightly, it felt like the only thing that could be done against the Blastatrons (especially since they easily skirted his aura and the TSA only had 2 attack which proved unable to kill even a single Blastatron). I would’ve liked to use it more on the TSA themselves (since it wouldn’t come at a cost to Masha himself), but I doubt that Leo would’ve targeted them instead of Masha in that case, since there would only be a 1 space difference.

Leo’s Comments:
Masha is ineffective against ranged figures, although Burning Spite seems potent. Seems like he needs to be used really aggressively in order to work.