This was my second game of 8th edition, my first having been a narrow win against the same player Paul (here).

Dwarves of Karak Khazgorm

Runesmith (General, MRoBalance, RoSpellbreaking, GW)
Thane BSB (MRoGromril, RoResistance, RoFire)
Thane (RoStone, RoResistance, RoFire, RoCleaving, Oathstone, SH)

20 Quarreller Rangers (GW, SH, Musician, Standard)
29 Warriors (GW, SH, Musician, Standard) (Thane here)
10 Quarrellers (GW, SH)
12 Troll Slayers
13 Ironbreakers (MRoGrungni, Musician, Standard) (BSB and RS here)
8 Miners (Musician)

Bolt Thrower (RoBurning, RoSkewering, Engineer)
Bolt Thrower (RoBurning, Engineer)
Grudge Thrower (RoBurning, RoPenetrating, RoAccuracy)

Wood Elves

Spellweaver (General, L4, Talisman of Protection 4+ Ward) (Dwellers Below, Stone to Flesh, Throne of Vines, Damage Spell)
Noble on Eagle (Shield of Ptolos, Sword of Might, Dragonbane Gem)
Noble BSB (Asyendi’s Bane, Hail of Doom Arrow)

19 Glade Guard (FC) (BSB here)
5 Glade Riders
5 Waywatchers
10 Dryads
6 Tree Kin
Treeman
5 Wardancers (L4 here)

The scenario was Battle for the Pass (sideways deployment). The only scenery that made a difference to the game was a venom wood in the South-West corner which was dangerous terrain with poison attacks.

Deployment

The Warriors, IBs and Slayers deployed in a line to the North, hoping to march forward and get to grips with the elves. The warmachines went on a central hill with the Quarrellers guarding their flank. The elves deployed in a line with their heavier troops to the North and their faster units to the South, with the Glade guard and BSB on a central hill.

I could have done something useful with my Rangers but ill-thinkingly placed them centrally, ready to fire at the unit of my choice. In retrospect they could have positioned to shoot or attack the weak L4 and Wardancer unit. The Waywatchers deployed to threaten the warmachines.

Diagram: Deployment

I won the roll to go first.

Dwarf Turn 1

The combat units advanced at a march and the Quarrellers turned to face the Waywatchers. I was hopeful for the shooting phase – last battle a burning rock had taken out the Treeman with its first shot. It was not to be. The GT misfired and the BTs missed. The Rangers took out 5 Glade Guard with some slightly sub-par shooting.

Wood Elf Turn 1

The Dryads, Glade Guard and Noble on Eagle positioned to charge the Rangers while the Treeman and Tree Kin advanced. Shooting took out a few slayers. Magic increased the Dryads’ toughness but nothing else got through.

Diagram: End of Wood Elf Turn 1

Dwarf Turn 2

I forgot to roll for the Miners’ arrival. In their absence the Quarrellers got carried away and instead of shooting the Waywatchers decided to charge them, forgetting about the poisonous forest which lead to the death of one dwarf. Stand and Shoot claimed another. The battle line continued its advance, the warriors reforming to gain extra ranks. I forgot to roll dice in my magic phase – I could have dispelled the buff on the Dryads.

Shooting was again appalling, probably aided by some poor target selection. I don’t think anything died, as the Tree Man managed to evade or shrug off the flaming rocks and bolts which headed his way, suffering a few wounds which were healed back over the next few turns. The Tree Kin were not bothered by the crossbow bolts. This was starting to look bad. In combat the Quarrellers died fast to the Waywatchers (it might have taken two rounds), who then headed towards the war machines.

Wood Elf Turn 2

The Glade Riders and Dryads declared a combined charge on the Rangers, who chose to stand and shoot at the cavalry, wiping them out! The Tree Kin successfully charged the Warriors but the Treeman failed his charge and only moved a couple on inches towards the IBs. Throne of Vines was cast successfully despite my attempts to dispel it with dice, and I used up the Spellbreaker against a five-dice Dwellers Below. A couple more slayers fell to arrows.

In combat the GW Warriors and fiery Thane gave the Tree Kin a surprise, killing two of them and winning combat, although the forest spirits held. The tough Dryads rampaged through the Rangers, breaking them and running them down.

Diagram: End of Wood Elf Turn 2

Dwarf Turn 3

Glad not to have been engaged by the Treeman, the IBs charged into the flank of the Tree Kin. The Miners came on and headed towards the Waywatchers, losing three of their number to the venomous forest. Ouch. I dispelled the Toughness buff on the dryads (too late). Shooting again did nothing – that Treeman had learnt something since the last battle. In combat the Thanes with their flaming weapons and the warriors did for the Tree Kin, winning combat by about 7. The Tree Kin broke and were run down by the warriors who pursues into the Treeman. The IBs ended up near the middle of the board and reformed to face the Glade Guard. Here the battle was still in the balance, and the Treeman was to be decisive.

Diagram: End of Dwarf Turn 3

Wood Elf Turn 3

The Waywatchers charged the GT, and the resulting combat would go on for the rest of the game without either side being wiped out. The Dryads advanced and the Noble positioned to shoot at the Slayers. Magic buffed the Treeman’s toughness and healed another of his wounds (he was back up to 5 now from a low point of 2). Paul also got Dwellers Below off, but only managed to kill two IBs. Shooting eventually wiped out the slayers in a hail of arrows from the Glade Guard and Noble. I was impressed that they had managed to survive that long, T4 and the MRoGrugni had done a good job.

Combat was the turning point of the game. The warriors and Thane couldn’t hurt the toughened Treeman, and his various attacks killed many warriors. With only two ranks left and a standard I thought they needed a four…

:dwarf: Oh No! I’ve just realised in writing this that they should have been steadfast…

Anyway, after failing the break test and re-roll they were run down by the Tree.

Dwarf Turn 4

The IBs managed to charge the Glade Guard, who killed nothing with their stand and shoot. Magic dispelled the buff on the Treeman and a bolt thrower hit and wounded him. I needed a 3 on a D3 to kill him but it came up a 2, leaving him with 1 wound. The Miners trudged slowly towards the action. In combat the IBs won but the Elves held.

Wood Elf Turn 4

The Noble on Eagle charged a BT, the dryads got close to the artillery, and everything else ambled around looking like it was time to go home. Magic did nothing. In combat the IBs and BSB killed the Wood Elf BSB and broke the Glade Guard, but they failed to catch them.

I conceded as the Warmachines looked lost and it was getting late.

Diagram: End of Wood Elf Turn 4 - end of game

Final VPs – Wood Elves win 1115 to 751. 🙁

Lessons learned:

The scenario was harsh on Miners. They would have been better off deploying normally.

I need to remember to always dispel buffs in my own magic phase.

I threw everything at the Treeman and he didn’t die (Three turns of shooting from 1GT and 2 BTs). The Lore of Life was critical in healing him.

Sending the Rangers against the L4 from behind would have been a good idea, rather than wasting them against the buffed dryads.

Slayers served well as a distraction.

I have written a grudge against that Treeman in my book.