Byron's Wrap Up Post

Ee-e-ee-evil and Cunning, Dark Elf Highborn, Byron Harmon, 

with his Scorched Pass Garrison

ARMY SELECTION

Rank and File Models                         720 pts (38%)

                Crossbowmen x 10

                Crossbowmen x 10

    Warriors x 15

                Helldrakes x 5

                Repeating Bolt Thrower x 1

Character Models                                462 pts (24%)

                Level 20 Hero

                Level 10 Assassin

                Level 15 Wizard

Allies                                                    490 pts (25%)

                Level 15 Necromancer

                Death Riders x 5

                Skeleton Warriors x 11

Ethereal or Monstrous Host                220 pts (11%)

                Wight x 1

                Harpies x 8

Baggage Train                                    - pts

                Wagon x 1

                Civilians x 4

                                                       Total: 1892 pts

From Left to Right: ShadowWeaver lvl 15 necrosus, Helkate lvl 15 Death-hood, Kin'Lath lvl 20 Deathcap, and Painelope lvl 10 Goredirker. In front: two cats to be used as familiars.

The First Watch - dark elf crossbowmen x 10

Kin'Lath's Slashers - dark elf warriors x 15

The Second Watch - dark elf crossbowmen x 10

Scorched Pass Sortie - helldrakes x 5

Repeating Bolt Thrower

Bleak Peak Harpies - Harpies x 8

Scorched Riders - death riders x 5

Tarath and His Sentries - wight and skeleton warriors x 11

Baggage Train - wagon and 4 civilians

Reflections

Being largely unemployed made the challenge much easier for me. I imagine that if I were employed and/or had kids that meeting the monthly requirements would have been especially difficult. There were a few periods where I did the bare minimum and just took the month off. But usually, I was tinkering away, thinking of additional doodads I could add or fun conversions. Hence all of the terrain, the baggage train, and the skellies. 

I also learned a lot about army building and planning out an army. Most of the dark elves weren't planned. I had bought random dark elves that were cheap and sorta piqued my interest the year or so before the challenge and then a few during the challenge when it became clear I needed more. After mild play testing and and listening to discussions in the community, I have come to learn that my army is less than ideal. But that's okay. I enjoy them. I had fun developing their backstory and giving silly names to all the characters and regiments.

I have found that my enthusiasm for the hobby depends if I am focusing on the project I am working on. Looking through old dark elf manuals, gawking at the old minis on Stuff of Legends is good for keeping my enthusiasm up on the current project. I often get distracted thinking of other armies I could be sculpting or painting. 

It's been a long 5 months away from my sculpting table. Back to work! Lots of things to sculpt, some hopefully in time for OWAC next year and others wholly unrelated ... tho are space gnomes unrelated now that OWAC can include rogue trader stuff???

Battle Report!

My girlfriend, Betsy, and I decided to play a game with the dark elves to celebrate their completion. This game was a reimagining of the classic Battle for Maugthrond Pass. Only we played the scenario with Dark Elves fending off marauding Skaven. Betsy was still getting the hang of 6th edition, so we only played 500 pts a side. 

Maugthrond Pass Redux.

Brief overview of the factions' objectives - The Skaven were tasked with slaying Kin'Lath and stealing the power of the passage tomb with some minor victory points being awarded for the destruction of the dark elf regiments. Conversely, the Dark Elves were tasked with the Slaying of Theelk with points being awarded for the destruction of the Skaven regiments.

Skaven Force

Theelk the petty Tyrant (Warlock Engineer) with warp blades, power condenser, and skavenbrew.

5 Night Runners with additional hand weapons and throwing knives.

30 Clanrats with spears, shields, and light armor. Accompanied by a warpfire thrower.

3 Jezzails.

Dark Elf Force

Kin’lath, Dark Elf noble, with shield, heavy armor, and dragon cloak.

Shadow Weaver level 2 sorceress with the Tome of Furion and Ring of Hotek.

5 Crossbowmen

5 Crossbowmen

8 Dark Elf Warriors with shield and light armor.

7 Dark Elf Warriors with shield and light armor.

Deployment

Per the scenario, the Skaven enter the battlefield from the east. They are ready to sack the tower and plan to then destroys the elves in detail! 

Warlock Theelk at the head of his clanrat posse. 

Clan Skryre agents to Theelk's left. 

A small band of night runners to Theelk's right. 

Shadow Weaver spies the Skaven vanguard from the garrison.

Establishing shot of the battlefield. Skaven arrayed to the east. Dark elf garrison atop the hill near the center. The passage tomb to the south. And, the stables to the west. 

Sentries man the battlements.

Per the scenario, Kin'Lath's Slashers wait for the beacon fire. 

The Skaven advance quickly! Straight to the tower to silence the sentries.

ShadowWeaver peers over the battlements at the coming tide.

A sentry is sent outside to light the beacon fire!

Disaster! Lighting the beacon fire requires a 4+ on a d6! The sentry failed. [I had painted up an old playmobile fire and made a cloud of smoke for it using polyester stuffing.... but it didn't get to be used... ho hum.]

Undeterred, ShadowWeaver unleashes Arnizipal's Black Horror upon Theelk's posse. >:}

Many of the rats are caught by the vortex!

14 rats are swallowed into infernal regions!

9 on the panic test! Theelk decides that a heroic retreat is in order. 

Undaunted, the night runners storm the garrison.

9 again on the dice to rally. Theelk, decides, again, to continue his brave retreat. 

Theelk cunningly takes his leave of the battlefield. 

The night runners burst past the unguarded door to gank the sentries on the battlement.

The sentry sent outside was shivved. 

With the beacon unlit, and Theelk's timely departure, the focus of the battle is on the night runners as they systematically, battle their way through the garrison. A sentry is gutted and wilhelm screams as he is thrown from the battlement. 

The night runners at the door find their way to the top of the tower where a desperate close quarters fight ensues between them and 3 dark elves. In the first bout a single elf falls to his death. 

Kin'lath's Slashers make their first move, but they halt. Around the corner Jezzails are prepared to shoot them and a warpfire thrower waits to scorch them all should they round the corner. Burn-burn!

The fight atop the top continues as a night runner is slain and the last sentry is dirked. Only ShadowWeaver remains, surrounded, on the parapets. 

The Jezzails scurry into the garrison to gain a better vantage point. 

ShadowWever is stab-stab-stabbed by the nightrunners. 

Elf Turn 4, crossbowmen from the South Tower arrive and shoot the warpfire thrower. 

The North Watchtower Elves arrive and dawdle forward. 

Realizing that Kin'Lath could simply hide out and thereby the Skaven could not reach their mission objectives the Dark Elves won. Though invariably, cleaning the rats out of the tower would be a sordid affair. 

Sneak Peak for next year's OWAC!

I sculpted up some german fairytale peasants based on olde illustrations and romanticized prints. Thinking I might try an oldhammer empire force with them for next year.