So, Privateer Press recently did their Mystery Box promotion. They were clearing out some kits from their warehouses, and offered random deals of $240 worth of product for $60. So I, like many, took a chance on one of them. There was a guaranteed huge base model in each, and I figured it would be neat to see what they sent.

I received the Skorne box, which included a Desert Hydra, the starter box, a unit of Cataphract Arcuarii, and an unit of Cataphract Ceteratii. And I had a friend who also got Skorne with their mystery box buy, who traded me theirs for some of my Protectorate of Menoth backlog. I last played my Skorne army back in April 2017, but getting a sudden influx of models for them (even if not the most game-capable) has suddenly made me wonder if this is a sign to give them a try again.

I’ve been feeling a bit of malaise with the Legion of Everblight, which is probably pretty normal after being 56 games into the faction in this year alone. Some summer complications didn’t help, of course, but I’ve definitely noted that my passion for them has slowed a bit. I’ve been successful with Legion, but there’s just some play style bits that I’m finding don’t exactly suit my interests. So I took the boxes as an omen, and broke out the Skorne for a Champions tournament this past weekend (what better way to play a faction you’re rusty on than limited selections of warlock and theme?).

I did manage to finish two Legion painting projects in the meantime, but I am putting a Skorne piece in my queue next (even if just for a change).

I’m pretty pleased with how Anamag turned out. I like the work I did with a dremel to make her shirtless under her robes (plus drilled the belly button). Think it gives her a good look. She’s definitely a powerful warlock, but I just don’t think I like her play style of empowering medium-based infantry. I left Trollbloods in many ways because of that problem!

Also painted up a Harrier, to serve as a Fury battery for Anamag’s list. It plus the Blightbringer is all I’d run in her beast package. 

So taking the Mystery Box as a sign, it was time to break out the Skorne. I was definitely rusty with them, so I went with choices that I knew pretty well as a Warlock from the options: Hexeris2 and Morghoul1. I built the Hexy2 list in Imperial Warhost, as Black Spot synergizes really well with the Siege Animantarax. The other theme choice for Champions right now was Masters of War. I pretty much ignored the free cards, and ran Morghoul1 with a melee beast brick using Tiberion and getting the theme benefits. Not ideal, but worked for my purposes (ideally to scare people away from armor skews, which Hexy2 would struggle in). I ended up dropping the Hexy2 list all three times, which was pretty much what I hoped–as I felt stronger by far about that list.

Shots from the three games, clockwise from left. First round was against Charles’ Legion, using Anamag. Was pretty funny that he was using the model and faction I likely would have brought to this event. Their ability to crack armor remains very strong, and I started to lose enough models that it was time to make a play on Anamag–I was successful at delivering a Titan thru some traffic to get the job done. Second round was against Justin’s Sorscha3 leading an Armored Corps force. This time I had to play really carefully, as it was a lot of armor to face. I managed to get a good look at Sorscha3 so I took it. Knocked her down with a thrown Man-o-War, got a few spells into her from a channeling Cyclops, and then the arcing poison shot from the Aradus Sentinel ended up cranking the damage and killing her. Final game was against Pat’s Rahn list. I, as usual, played a bit wrong into Rahn. Lost two heavies in a turn when I could have lost only one, and that hurt. I managed to get ahead in points when we got down to very little left (Hexy2 himself ran up and ended the Helios). But I ran out of time trying to stall him from equalizing/gaining with what he had remaining. Was a fun game, and I’m proud of making it to the final match. 

We did this Champions event with a bracket system, where starting spot was decided at random. Was a fun way to do it. Makes it tense to know what’s coming down the line. 

Overall I had a fun time dropping my Skorne back onto the table after over a year of not playing them. I don’t know if I’m going to truly obey the sign provided by the random mystery box. But at least for now I’m going to get a few Skorne games in, and paint at least one Skorne model.

365 Points Challenge Progress (2018):

239/365

Battles (Privateer Press):

Overall Totals 2018: 76 (Win/Loss 49/27); 2017: 120 (Win/Loss 86/34): 2016: 123 (Win/Loss: 74/49); 2015: 43 (Win/Loss: 29/14)

Legion of Everblight:

38 Wins (Denny1 x2, Scaverous x2, Issyria, Wanderer, Skarre1, Sloan, Naaresh, Gaspy2, Madrak1 x2, Strakov2, Kaya3 x2, Helynna x3, Sorscha2, Kaelyssa, Dreamer, Jaga-Jaga, Denny3, Elara2 x2, Thexus, Sorscha1, Maelok x3, Heretic, Strakov1, Borka2, Caine2, Karchev, Baldur2, Gaspy3, Gaspy1) / 18 Losses (Denny1, Krueger2, Dreamer, Sorscha1, Jaga-Jaga, Old Witch3, Caine1, Issyria, Child, Helynna, Gaspy3 x2, Karchev, Vlad1, Barnabas, Heretic x2, Madrak1)

Skorne:

2 Wins (Anamag, Sorscha3) / 1 Loss (Rahn)

Protectorate of Menoth:

8 Wins (Gaspy2, Helynna, Vlad2, Sorscha1, Vlad1, Kraye, Garryth, Naaresh) / 1 Loss (Madrak1)

Convergence of Cyriss:

1 Win (Haley3) / 7 Losses (Heretic, Rask, Kaelyssa, Xerxis, Siege2, Testament, Bradigus)

• Warmachine/Hordes