GenCon 2008 "Jumpstart" Battle Reports

[Kahrma]

My Army:

Major Q9
Marro Stingers x 3
Deathreavers x 2
Isamu

My intended strategy for “Jumpstart” was to tie up DW9K with rats, and focus more on taking down the opposing army. Order markers were tricky in this event – if you take over DW9K, you can’t get order markers on him until the next round. Lose DW9K, and you're boarded units are similarly left "hanging in the breeze".

Match 1 vs. Spider_poison on “Little Ramparts”. I’d never paired off against SP before – what kinda luck does it take to pull this level of competitor in your first game at GenCon?!? I knew the competition would be tough, but geez!

Spider­_poison played: Skahen, DUND!, Laglor, Krav, Otonashi

My jitters from sitting across from SP were somewhat relieved when he pulled out the Doggin.

I opened with the ‘reavers, creating a rat-roadblock between Vydar’s troops and the Utgar soulborg. Spider moved Dund and Skahen into position.

In the next round Dund payed off, removing the “1” and “X” order markers from my ‘reavers and preventing an early DW9K takeover. Skahen took potshots at my Marro, moving the Krav closer to the central bridge with each kill.

I gambled in round three, placing all order markers on my Stingers. Actually, it was less gamble than oversight – who’s really accustomed to worrying about Crippling Gaze? Luckily, Dund missed his mark and my Stingers were free to attack. I wouldn’t have to worry about the hound again.

My rats did their job, eventually boarding the Deathwalker and tying up Skahen and her fellow agents long enough for Q9 to do his thing. I lost all but one Stinger, and a good number of rats. I came away pretty impressed with how well Spider managed such an offbeat army – and a bit embarrassed for sporting such a cheesy one!

Result – win.


Match 2 vs. Lonewolf on “Turret Rocks”. First Spider_poison, now Lonewolf?!? What a welcome to Heroscape at GenCon!

Lonewolf played: Well, refer back to my army!

Apparently Lonewolf and I had similar thoughts about this event, running identical warbands.

Lonewolf won the opening initiative roll, sending his rats toward DW9K and securing the Astrid glyph. Likewise, I sent my ‘reavers in the same direction to prevent an early Deathwalker grab.

Over the next few rounds, our Stingers battled for the rocky ledge below the “Turrets”. With an extra attack die, Lonewolf’s Marro were mowing down my own at an alarming rate. When there were no Stingers to attack, LW would send a shot or two toward my rats, eventually freeing up the broken down Deathwalker. It wasn’t long before I was out of Stingers and looking toward the Major to carry the day. Unfortunately, Q wasn’t up to the task.

Result – loss and elimination.

Lonewolf would go on to win this event. Between my loss to the champ and our choice of identical armies, in the end I felt alright about my choices for this event!