I played a small faction mirror match last night, however, and I realized something that has escaped me for a long time.
I used to dislike mirror matches because I just didn't like getting outplayed with my faction. That's really just a confidence issue. But last night, I played a really fun mirror match, and I realized that now that I've really dug into Khador, mirror matches can actually BOOST my confidence instead of erode it, because I know really, really well what the other army can do, better than I can remember any other faction. I've never really had that experience before, and it really made the match a lot of fun. I hope my gracious opponent, Martin F., enjoyed it also!
His list:
Butcher3 + Arguses
War Dog
Demolisher
Madelynn Corbeau
Winterguard Infantry + UA
Kovnik Joe
Aiyanna & Holt
eEiryss
My list:
pVlad
War Dog
Conquest
Great Bears of Gallowswood
Winter Guard Mortar Crew
Kovnik Joe
Martin's strategy was the "Butcher Party Bus", as he called it, supported by WG Spray-tec(TM). Aiyanna and Holt didn't have too much of a role in this list, but everything was pretty solid.
My strategy was: long-range bombing, following by short-range pounding. My list worked together well.
A quick overview of the match:
Martin's army moved forward turn one. Eiryss threatened the middle of the board from behind cover; Martin cast Grievous Wounds on the Butcher; the party bus energized then charged to take a forward position. WG B&W forward, and Joe made them tough and fearless.
My turn, Vlad cast Signs & Portents. The WG mortar popped the War Dog and landed 5 damage on one of the Arguses; everything else was immune to blast due to B2B with the Demolisher. Then I was really mean: Conquest advanced, and shot at the Demolisher, and landed a Critical Devastation, with a boost and S&P active. Everything thrown back; Madelynn hurt but not killed; the other Argus hurt, the first wounded Argus killed, and Butcher generally pissed off. The Great Bears run, and two of them manage to engage Eiryss at the center of the board.
Martin's turn. Martin shakes Butcher and Demolisher. He actives Joe and buff the WinterGuard, and Joe takes a pot-shot at the Great Bears, hoping for box cars, but no such luck. WG Bob and Weave up, and then it's *lots* of Spray-tec(TM) against the Great Bears, who are engaging Eiryss. The WinterGuard manage to kill one of the Great Bears, and put a lot of damage into the others. Aiyanna missed her Magic attack again the Bears, and Holt misses both pot shots. Martin Energizes to move the Party Bus forward a bit, because he had blocked them with A&H by mistake.The Butcher charges one of the Great Bears; the other Argus advances but can't charge because it was knocked down. Butcher easily kills the Great Bear; he then feat, the cast Impending Doom, and then bought another attach to finish off the other Great Bear, ending the Butcher's activation with 3 focus. Eiryss, who is no longer engaged, advances and shoot Joe, but doesn't quite kill him.
My turn. Vlad loads up Conquest with 3 points, casts S&P, and then feats (side note: The Feat only occurred in my head, because I forgot to say it outloud. Martin graciously allowed me to correct this later, because my entire turn was based on that). Joe buffs the WG, then advances and takes a retalitory shot at Eiryss, killing her. The Mortar Crew lands a shot on the Butcher, and puts 5 damage into him, even with the stacked armor. Conquest charges Butcher and starts punching, and... misses. With S&P, I need to roll 8 on 3d6-drop-lowest, so I unwisely choose not to boost so I could buy additional attacks. That was a mistake, and I missed the charge attack. Then I missed my second initial, and then I bought an attack and missed that. Then I finally hit; I was rolling 3D6-drop-lowest, plus one, and I managed to sink 13 points of damage into the Butcher, leaving him with one box.... so, now it came down to the next roll, because any damage would kill him. I needed 8, and I rolled.... 9. So GG to Martin, and a lot of fun playing the Mirror Match.
