As promised, here is my battle report against High Elves (I even had luck and could play another battle against Dark Elves, too, but that's another story).

This battle was against one of my friends in our local store, and we planned a bit the encounter beforehand. The plan was to test Dwarves (he also has dwarves, actually) against some real disadvantage, to try to push them against some real nasty magic heavy scenario to drive them crazy. We decided the generals (Teclis for High Elves and Thorek for Dwarves) before doing the lists and, while I only had this information of the opposing army, he knew that I was including one or two runesmith with magical defence, for a total of at least 700 points worth of nothing against Teclis (as you will see later). This was intentional, because I wanted to test big horde blocks, the Ironbreakers anvil unit and a few warmachines without shooting units against this kind of handicapped scenario.

High Elves (3000 points)

Teclis, Lore of Life (with Phoenix Guard)
Noble with Heavy Armour and Additional Hand Weapon (with Swordmasters +1D3)
Battle Standard Bearer with Great Weapon and 2+ saving (with Swordmasters +1D3)
24 Phoenix Guard, FC
24 Swordmasters, FC (+1D3 Energy dice standard)
24 Swordmasters, FC (+1 Combat Result standard)
29 Sea Guard, Shields, FC
29 Sea Guard, Shields, FC
Lion Chariot
Lion Chariot

Dwarves (3000 points)

Thorek
Master Engineer with Brace of Pistols, RoStone
Runesmith with Great Weapon, MRoBalance, RoSpellbreaking (with Warriors)
Runesmith with Great Weapon, 2xRoSpellbreaking (with Warriors)
Thane with Battle Standard, Oathstone, MRoGromril, RoResistance (with Ironbreakers)
45 Warriors with Great Weapons, Shields, Full Command
45 Warriors with Great Weapons, Shields, Full Command
30 Ironbreakers, RoBattle, RoDetermination, Full Command
Cannon, Engineer with BoPistols, RoForging
Stonethrower, 2xRoPenetrating, RoAccuracy
Stonethrower, RoPenetrating, RoAccuracy, RoFire

I think Lore of Life was one the best choices for Magic, much better than Death with Purple Sun of Xereus. The fact that the spell number 6 affects one unit without needing to place the template and roll the movement randomly (and without possibily sending the spell into yourself if rolling misfire on artillery) is WAY better against almost anything except big horde armies like Skaven or O&G. And, still, is a strength test (so die on 4+ for warriors) rolling for any number of models you have in the unit including characters. Besides, the throne of vines has some great effects boosting the rest of spells (for toughness +4 or regeneration 4+) which is great for the Elves. The elf list looked pretty solid to me, but I think was designed to a more defensive role and suffered for spacing units out.

Look into deployment for more information about this.

DEPLOYMENT

We played Dawn Attack (Battle 2), a variation of pitched battle with random deployment. You have to roll for each unit, which has a chance to deploy on the sides (1 left, 2 right), on the center (3-5) or where you want (6). The first player to go has to deploy ALL his army, but will start the battle unless the enemy rolla a 6 to 'seize the initiative'. The battlefield was generated with the chart (two buildings, a regular hill, some fences, two mysterious forests and a tower of blood (units within 6" have Hatred, if belongs to Forces of Destruction then also Frenzy) and we both didn't like it at all. We were hoping for a lot more of scenery with special rules and magical effects, because a battle between High Elves and Dwarves needs a bit of fantastic and epic narrative behind it.

I had a lot of luck with my rolls, and High Elves had to deploy some units in places they do not want to. Well, it doesn't matter, I think deployment looked pretty well for both sides in the end even if Elves needed to play a bit differently. The unit on the left (SM2) was the one with the war banner, while SM1 had BSB, a Noble and the +1D3 energy dice banner.

I deployed first and, because Elves didn't roll a 6, I went first. Great!

TURN 1 (DWARVES)

I marched with all to the front, and then tried to shoot some elves down.

I didn't know there was an elf item (I don't remember who carried it, though, maybe the Noble) that made me reroll the anvil dice... This first turn I had problems with Thorek (and couldn't use Kraggi because you can't reroll a reroll) but, luckily, only had to wait until turn 3 to make something with my 505 points character. The stonethrower near Thorek had problems, too (and ME wasn't near!) but rolled a 6, while the cannon only caused 2 wounds to a Lion Chariot and the other stonethrower killed 14 swordmasters.

TURN 1 (HIGH ELVES)

The Elves advanced as well, but what I was really fearing was the Magic Phase...

After all rolls, dice stealing and additional dice we had 11 energy and 10 dispel dice. One could think that was an amazing magic defence, but, actually, I couldn't dispel any single spell during the battle (at least in Elves' magic phase). He started rolling with three dice throne of vines, casting IF with double 2 and increasing the effects of all life spells. Next, he rolled another IF on double 1 to protect his other unit of swordmasters of the destiny of their brethren (death under big dwarven rocks), casting +4T on the elves (T7, ouch). Finally, with another IF with double 6's (which ignores because is his first miscast of the turn), the biggest spell of Life (all models in a unit must pass a strength test or be removed without saves of any kind) was cast over one of my big units of warriors. 17 were slain, plus 5 more because of both Sea Guards bows...

TURN 2 (DWARVES)

'I have to charge with all', was my only thinking at the beginning of the turn.

Sadly, my now small unit of warriors had to march to the front while their comrades tried to charge the weakened swordmasters in front of them. The block of warriors failed the charge, but Ironbreakers completed it! In the magic phase I dispelled the throne with all my energy dice, and in shooting I did some damage to the elves. The chariot was destroyed (with 2 wounds again, damned dice) and both stonethrowers killed 16 sea guard and 4 Phoenix Guards. In combat things went a bit bad, but the Ironbreakers mission was to hold at all costs (without a chariot flank charge next turn, suddenly the perspective of that big unit of swordmasters charging wasn't that bad). I losed 8 Ironbreakers and only were able to kill 2 swordmasters back, but hold steadfast without problems.

TURN 2 (HIGH ELVES)

Another turn begins, with the Swordmasters flank charging my unit of Ironbreakers (I dropped the oathstone) and Phoenix Guard moving a bit into a regular, non magical forest (duh).

On magic phase Teclis cast two Irresistible Forces, one to give Regeneration (5+) to the charging swordmasters and the other to kill a lot of poor dwarves from the other big block of warriors. I rolled and he killed 18 models (champion and 17 warriors), while shooting of Sea Guard killed another 4 dwarves from the other unit. In combat I challenged with my BSB (because of the oathstone) and was accepted with his BSB, both doing anything to the other this turn. The brave Ironbreakers (fired up because of their leader behaviour, of course) killed 6 swordmasters, while losed only eight back. I still losed the combat, though (but hold without problems).

TURN 3 (DWARVES)

It was a real pity couldn't be able to charge last turn with warriors, because with near half of the unit destroyed the hitting power wasn't so great.

However, I flank charged swordmasters (I'm a dwarf, disadvantages are my fate) and tried to charge Phoenix Guards with my other block of warriors (rolling double 1). I shooted with my cannon against the remaining chariot, destroying it, and my stonethrowers were able to kill the remnants of the sea guard (I was trying to force a panic test on the big sea guard far from BSB) and 10 phoenix guards. With this incredible shooting phase I feel like the anvil could be of some use, so I tried another charge against that (now) small unit of Phoenix Guards... rolling a double 1 again!! If only I had marched 6 inches and then charge... Damn!

In combat, SM1 losed two models to Ironbreakers, and SM2 losed five to charging warriors. However, they killed 9 Ironbreakers and 3 Warriors so I losed combat even with rank bonuses and charge. However, I hold and was able even to reform the unit of warriors, hoping for steadfast next turns.

TURN 3 (HIGH ELVES)

When that big Sea Guard unit charged my poor warriors I felt like world has ended... until I remembered I had a lot of Great Weapons against T3 (well, at least in theory).

Phoenix guard tried to flank charge Ironbreakers, but failed (luckily). Anyways, the problem was again magic, when Teclis cast with IF the throne of vines, again with IF shield of thorns over SM2 (impact hits against hand to hand combat units at the end of magic phase, killed one Ironbreaker and three warriors) and also cast Regeneration (4+) over the unit and Toughness +4 over the Sea Guard (ouch). With this kind of power I thinked the battle was over for me, really.

However, the results weren't so bad. I losed 5 warriors to Sea Guard only killing 2 back, but hold thanks to BSB reroll. On the other fight, I losed all the Ironbreakers and 6 warriors, but was able to kill 6 swordmasters and do one wound to BSB (hah, 2+ armour save!). I really don't know how I managed to hold both with warriors and my lone BSB, but I did so (sadly, with no Ironbreakers left and my BSB in challenge swordmasters were able to reform, negating my flank charge and going front to front with warriors).

TURN 4 (DWARVES)

My cannon moved because, due to its position, it was completely blind because of the building. My aim was to shoot Teclis down, trying to force as many Look out, sir! rolls as I could the next couple of turns. I had (again) problems with Thorek (I rolled 6, so no major problem here) and one of my stonethrowers scattered badly, while the other only could kill 5 Phoenix Guards. In combat, my BSB was wounded but hold without problems. However, I lost the combat with warriors against swordmasters (I didn't kill anything) and was destroyed after flee a bit. In the other side, I losed only 5 warriors to 3 Sea Guard (holding without needing BSB rerolls!).

By the way, I dispelled all remain in play spells with my energy dice.

TURN 4 (HIGH ELVES)

Here the diagram shows pursue movements for last turn, but not charge for swordmasters. It looked pretty bizarre to me to unify both movements so, until I learn more about this diagram program, I'm going to make some intentional 'mistakes' of this type.

This turn Phoenix Guard moved out the forest, and swordmasters charged my cannon. On magic phase there was three IF, one for throne of vines, one for resurrect (5 phoenix guards) and one for toughness +4 on Sea Guard. He rolled twice a double six (for resurrect and toughness), but first miscast was ignored for Teclis' rule and second was ignored with 2+ because of the throne... Insane. I lost my cannon crew, my poor BSB and my warriors (who fled only 2 inches while elves rolled 12 to pursue).

I think there is no need for additional comments this turn.

TURN 5 (DWARVES)

I cast Dwarves rage upon the elves, shooting with all my army and calling our ancestors powers with the anvil...

One of my stonethrowers destroyed itself, my Master Engineer killed two (two!) swordmasters with his brace of pistols and the other stonethrower and the anvil killed a lot of models (including the Noble in the unit of swordmasters). 13 Sea Guards, a Noble, 3 swordmasters and 5 Phoenix Guards were the vengeance for last turn!!! Death to the elves!!

TURN 5 (HIGH ELVES)

Elves moved with all, and swordmasters charged my ME (who killed one more with his pistols, great warrior he was).

Magic phase only gave elves three dice (two base because of double 1, plus two for objects and I stealed one) but Teclis failed (Yess!!!) the spell and the phase ended. My Master Engineer was slain without beign able to retaliate, poor ME.

TURN 6 (DWARVES)

I had problems with the anvil (but it didn't explode, thanks Grungni) and the stonethrower scattered 10 inches (I was aiming at BSB unit, hoping to kill both models).

End of the game.

CONCLUSIONS

This was a very fun battle to play (playing against a friend in a relaxed way is the best, you can laugh and comment things without feeling that you're ruining some competitive gamer's pride --like in my Dark Elves match, which I'm posting in the next few days). Besides, I learnt a lot (and hope you too reading) about powerful magic against dwarves. I don't think elves were a real match against dwarves at all (if you take into account the handicap thing), and if instead of Thorek I would have included another big block (Hammerers and a Lord for example) the battle problably would have been a dwarven victory. Offensive Magic is nasty, sure (I losed almost half of my units each turn) but it's not an issue when you're in hand to hand combat, when supportive spells play a more important role. Life blessings are one of the best spells I've ever seen in a game, and are a real game changer (because without them I probably would've crushed the elves in combat a couple of turns). My main worries now is how to handle magic at these level in a 2.000 or 2.500 points, where you can't spend so many points in units, and the combination of powerful magic (crazy wizards trying to cast IF at all costs) with artillery and shooting. With all, I think big blocks of warriors are best than small ones (If one spell kills me half my units I prefer 2 blocks of 23 than 3 of 15 every time). In second turn I was nearly able to charge with a block of warriors unharmed that would've been a big problem to the elves if happened. And, even with so few models left, when I failed both charges against Phoenix Guards the elf player relaxed a lot.

I hope you'd like the battle report, and I want you to think a bit about the outcome and how the battle would've been if using three blocks with Thorek, three blocks with the additional unit (instead of Thorek and maybe a Runesmith) and the original list with the additional unit. Do you think you can win a tournament with this? Do you feel big warriors units are worst against heavy destructive magic than small ones? There are already some discussions on the tavern which need some experience behind, and I hope this battle report helps.

Thanks for reading.

PS. Do you like this diagrams more or less than the others?