075 - GT 2012 Round-Up

So after another period of neglect at the end of last year, it seems I’ve got a bit of catching up to do. I’ll try to bash out a few posts in the next couple of weeks and get up to speed with all the recent goings off in the Malifaux world.

 I did start writing an in-depth post about my game results from the GT in November, but only got half way through and now I feel like it’s too long ago to fully remember the remaining games in the same amount of detail. Therefore here’s a condensed tournament report, although it’s probably a bit late for anyone to care any more….!

 
GAME 1
Pandora vs Misaki (Ian Brocklebank) – 25ss Treasure Hunt

My first experience of playing against anything from Storm of Shadows, and Ian was also relatively new to Misaki, so the game progressed slowly. I think we only got to Turn 3 before time was called, and through copious use of the Downburst spell in that final turn, Ian had made sure my models were far enough way from the treasure for Misaki to be able to leap in and pick it up in the final activation. I was disappointed that we didn’t get into subsequent turns, because I felt my crew was in a better position overall (Pandora had taken care of a few minions and Misaki was in the centre relatively unsupported) and later turns might have produced a different result.
Score: Loss 7-2

 
GAME 2
Pandora vs aSonnia (Matt Ledgerwood) – 35ss Slaughter

I made several silly mistakes in this game, starting as early as crew selection, where even though I had a feeling I’d be facing Sonnia, I steadfastly stuck with Pandora (and hired some handy blast-able Sorrows to boot!). Tuco took out a Witchling early on, but ended up getting turned into a Witchling himself who then provided a handy target to bounce further blast markers onto Pandora. When Sonnia fulfilled her manifest requirements (in a single turn!), I realised how much of a hard counter to Pandora she is, and I lost my Master by Turn 4 after getting chased around a bit by some Flame Pyre markers. On the other flank, Lelu & Lilitu were gunned down by two Austringers and several Death Marshalls before they even made contact, despite a terrain heavy board. This will be the last time I underestimate a gun-line crew. Matt played excellently though, and I look forward to another run-in at future events.
Score: Loss 8-0

 
GAME 3
aPandora vs Pandora (Rich Baker) – 40ss Claim Jump

Mirror matches are always interesting to play, because often they mean that your Master’s main advantages are perfectly countered by your opponent. They usually make for very cagey games as nobody wants to make the first move and leave themselves exposed. In the case of Pandora, their competing aura’s meant that even casting Pacify with Pandora was risky, as at the end of the duel *somebody* would be losing a Wd, and it might be you! Rich brought several models that I rarely use myself, including Teddy and Iggy, and both crews pretty much demolished each other piece for piece until there were few survivors left to contest the Claim. Luckily, I’d brought the Avatar of Insanity which comes paired with Candy, an extra significant model, who swung the model count in my favour in the final VP tally.
Score: Win 6-4

GAME 4
Pandora/Collodi vs Zoraida/Collodi (Ade Mills) – 30ss Destroy the Evidence

Another mirror match of sorts – we both chose Collodi and we both chose the same schemes! Neither of us wanted to commit Collodi to capturing objectives too early, as it would open that player up to a hefty retaliation. Ade’s Collodi pounced on my Tuco who was guarding an evidence marker and wiped him from the board, but that allowed Pandora to strike and kill a couple of the Marionettes, hampering his further movement. I kept Pandora back to deal with Collodi (although in my enthusiasm to chase him down I forgot to stand her on an evidence marker which he snagged in the last turn for 2VPs! D’oh!), and sent the rest of my crew forward to try and score Breakthrough. Unluckily for me, Zoraida managed some impressive casting of Repulsive in the final turn which meant that I was forced out of her deployment zone, and with the final cast of the game Ade clinched a narrow victory.
Score: Loss 6-5

 
GAME 5
aPandora vs Seamus (Wesley Decloedt) – 40ss Recon

It was nice to get another game against another person I’d not met before – Wesley had come from Belgium to attend the tournament. Unfortunately due to a misunderstanding of the terrain rules for woods, his mis-deployed his crew behind a large wood (thinking he could step into the back of the wood and cast Lure through 8 inches of trees, as I believe you can in Warhammer 40K) and it hampered his movement, forcing him to come at me in two waves. Seamus over-extended himself, and got sent packing by Pandora and Lelu, but a timely Copycat Killer swap saved him from dying early. Having placed Kill Protégé on Tuco, Wesley spent most of the game trying to Lure him closer, only for him to Regenerate and run away again every activation. I think Wesley expended a little too much effort trying to nail down Tuco (who eventually fell in Turn 6), but by that point I had spread out enough to claim more quarters than his survivors. Once again, the last minute extra significant model of Avatar Candy came in very useful for an area capture game.
Score: Win 5-3

My final result was therefore 2-0-3, with 6TP and -10VPD, putting me in 40th position out of 54 players. I have to say I was disappointed with my placing, but the score reflects my performance on the day. Too many silly and preventable mistakes!

My game performance aside, it was an excellent weekend, packed full of fun - I got to play Malifaux against a few new people, the extra-curricular activities put on by Jo were top-notch. I wouldn’t hesitate to recommend the GT2013 to anybody with a weekend to spare!

I should also mention that I was pleased but surprised to win the fancy dress competition against some excellent costumes. Thanks to everyone that shouted loudly for me! It just goes to show that when it comes to fancy dress, having a brilliantly made and accurate costume isnt as important as making yourself look as ridiculous as possible!