So, after the drubbing at the hands of Jesse's VC, the locals were filtering in to play their escalation league. One of them had a no-show for opponent, but wanted to play anyhow. Their points level was 750, but he had enough to make 1000 so that's what we went at.

I whipped a list together out of what I had brought-

I had:

20 Warriors, HW&Shield, Full command
25 Warriors, HW&Shield, Full command
10 Thunderers w/shields
Thane, BSB, Rune of Cleaving, MR of Flight, Rune of Stone
Thane, GW, MR of Gromril, MR of Challenge
Organ gun

It was probably a little too heavily weighted towards taking out Wood Elves, but I thought I'd have some fun with it. And the inclusion of the blocks was a concession, given that he would never have to fight them if he didn't want to.

JR's list was something like...

10 Glade guard
5-8 Scouts
5 Wild Riders (full command)
10-ish Dryads w/champ
8-ish Waywatchers w/champ
Branchwraith with extra attack sprites
Waywaytcher noble with hail of doom arrow

I dropped the thunderers in two ranks on a hill, and they drew the glad guard across from them, with scouts in woods slightly closer. In my center went my 20 and 25 strong units of Dwarfs with the thane in with the 20 strong. My BSB deployed attached to the organ gun, next to a woods in my deployment zone, where I was expecting the waywatchers to land.

And land there they did. To the front, the dryads and wild riders headed around/through the woods to give my blocks something to think about.

The wood elves won first turn and we were off.

Turn One

The archers on my left unleashed long range shooting at my thunderers. They happened to be some 28" away, which meant that they were already in the "sweet spot" for shooting me without getting hit in return. Two casualties resulted. On the right, waywatchers managed to kill a single crew member of the organ gun.

In my turn, the thunderers decided this was a bad deal, and turned around to start heading off the hill. Meanwhile, my thane with great weapon started hopping over towards the way watchers to bust out his Master Rune of Challenge (given that it was useless against Wild Riders and Dryads). The organ gun decided to open up on the wild riders, knocking them down to just the standard bearer using 6 hits and the BSB's thrown weapon attack.

Turn Two
The wild rider standard bearer charges my organ gun and BSB, while the waywatchers position to shoot my 25 strong block. Another round of shooting at the thunderers fails to inflict any casualties. Five dwarfs are killed, not forcing a panic check. The wild rider fails to inflict any casualties and is easily dispatched by the BSB.

In my turn, the organ gun turns to face the way watchers, and the thunderers march to safety off the back of the hill. Both blocks position to bracket in the dryads. Organ gun scores 8 hits, panicking the waywatchers and attached noble off the board.

Turn Three
The close out. Dryads charge the 20 strong block at long range, and I flee, rallying next turn. The eventual combat between my general and his dryads (weakened by 10(!) hits from the organ gun) results in a wipe out, and Wood Elves concede in Turn 4.

Conclusion:
I probably gamed this a little too much. The organ gun and MR of Flight were outstanding at low points, and especially against WE. On the other hand, a first turn misfire with the OG would have swung this in the opposite direction.

Not much to say other than my opponent wasn't as familiar with Dwarves (and the organ gun) as you might expect, and it cost him. If he'd hail of doomed the crew, he might have avoided the pounding, and then refused to engage, just shooting me to death.

Regardless, it was nice to pick up a win after four straight (massacre) losses. Onward and upwards!

RZ