Malifoolery One - Game One
Posted by winter on Tuesday, April 12. 2011 in Wargaming
I travelled to Sydney weekend before last to play in the Maliffolery One tournament. 3 games over one day with a 50 point list each game escalating by 5 points (25, 30, 35). It was a very fun day, with some good games and some fantastic players. I also got to meet Lord Shaper and we managed to get in a "Lady J Off" in the final game! Unlike Cancon, instead of Neverborn, Neverborn, Neverborn, the theme of this tournament was Lady J, Lady J, Lady J. There were 3 Guild players, all of which had Lady J, Outcasts lead by Viktorias and Von Schill, Arcanists led by Rasputina and Gremlins led by Somer Jones.
Game 1
Shared Contain Power for the first game with my Guild forces led by Lady J versus the Viks and Von Schill controller by Roy. I am still slightly confused as to what constitutes a "leader". For the game we had both Viks and Von Schill being a leader, however from reading the new rules you pick one person as your leader out of the possible leaders (masters and henchmen). Not sure how it works for Contain Power....Regardless I knew I was going to be up against it as I had Lady J (first game with her) against 3 leaders, 2 of which I knew fairly well. I capitalised on the low minion count of Roy's forces by picking the 2 Guild Specific schemes (kill all minions, have more minions at the end of the game).
I deployed as far forward as possible and proceeded to move up to get into position. Nino tried to get a shot off from beside the tower but was just out of range. The Outcasts moved up cautiously except fro Von Schill, who Roy quickly taught me was super awesome sauce by flying him around like a hawk. Roy really used Von Schill well in this game, maximising his flight, free move and cover to wear down my models with unanswerable pistol shots.
As he had no targets, Nino wasted a lot of time getting to the top of the tower (at least he looked cool:
I pushed forward the Death Marshal and the Judge before the Gun Viktoria moved up to accept the challenge. She put a few wounds on the Death Marshal before Lady J came in to help, taking her down to a single wound remaining (because I stupidly forgot to cast sword style first! 1st game with Lady J, though I did do it a few more times 
). 
Sword Vik then swapped places with her sister and took out both the Marshal and Judge! Looks like the replacement for the Executioner was continuing his tradition of being basically useless. I forgot to use Judge's Slow to Die action too (lots of mistakes this game for me).Next turn I needed to burn a soul stone to win the initiative which I thankfully pulled off. Lady J then schooled Viktoria in the way of the sword, taking her down in a single swing before charging down and despatching the Desperate Merc.
The remaining Vik and Von Schill of course took this opportunity to shoot at Lady J whilst she stood out in the open. My Austringer was sending his Raptor to peck away at the Korpsman who moved away from annoying bird, to join in the gunfire aimed Lady J's way. The Librarian showed her worth by healing the remaining Vik back up to full wounds! Nino did nothing as he had no targets in range.Next turn Lady J charged at both the Librarian and the Korpsman taking down both with one attack each.
This completed both my Schemes, but left her hanging in the wind and she was promptly shot to death by the remaining Vik and Von Schill. There was some minor movement and lame attempts to get at Von Schill but the game pretty much ended there.Wrapping Up
Roy had completed both his Schemes (Bodyguard is very good on Von Schill!) as had I, however Lady J was dead so Roy ended up winning 8-4.
Judge was largely useless; like the Executioner he also needs Melee Expert or some way to move around more easily. At least he is faster and has Flurry. He is also harder to wound, but I do like Love the Job.
Nino did nothing, however that was my fault. I should have castled up and used his superior range and the threat of headshot to better effect.
I would have been far better off with Perdita as she is fast enough to have a chance at Von Schill and would have dealt much better with all the shots flung her way. Still Lady J is a beast in combat so I am sure I will use her again.
I made quite a few mistakes with my new models, and made poor tactical decisions (throwing my forces forward wasn't necessary). It was however a good game against a great, friendly player I'd happily play again.
I also ordered the Von Schill box
2011-04-12 19:10 at 19:04 The old adage of "if you can't beat em, join em" holds true I see!
I've not yet had the misfortune of playing against Von Schill, but you were really unlucky to get stuck with Contain Power against him. Slow to Die makes him one of the two hardest masters in the game to put down! Not only that but it sounds like he did a fine job of harrying your crew throughout the game.
Looking forward to hearing about the rest of the tournament!
Mike
2011-04-12 22:27 at 22:04 Of course it does! I had always wanted to get the Von Schill box as I really like the models, but now I know they look cool and are awesome so I couldn't resist any longer
Yeah he seems very hard to kill. You can't lock him in combat and he is so mobile! Slow to Die and then make a healing flip? Nasty!
Liking your blog by the way, the tables you play on look fantastic!
2011-04-12 19:27 at 19:04 I noticed I'm in one of those photos!
I'm not thinking we should have got a group shot.
The Von Schill/Vikkies combo is really nasty... I had them in the second game which I got stuck with facing them on a Rubble board where I had to get into his deployment zone... the Trapper giving his Scout kicked me around.
Will you be back down for more?
2011-04-12 22:29 at 22:04 Yeah a group shot would have been a good idea. Next time.
Rubble over the whole board and forest over the whole board are really quite horrible IMO. I played a rubble game with Ramos... 1.5" move! I just sat there as there was nothing he could do. Thankfully everything else had Arachnid or float!
I will most definitely make the trip again if I am able to, was a heap of fun!
2011-04-12 22:43 at 22:04 Heh my first game was forest over the whole board and second was rubble.
Forest wasn't that bad with Lady J as I was playing chess to enable charges and since Lady J doesn't need line of site she was fine.
Austringer was also nice that first game heh
2011-04-12 23:31 at 23:04 The whole rubble thing is very nasty!
We have only used it once (one of the video battle reports) and got rid of it half way through as I was Dreamer it was too horrible to the other crew!!
Look forward to the next posts!! Maybe Lord Shaper could do from his point of view on his blog? maybe?