I got in a bunch more games, to keep trying out various Warlocks in preparation for some team tournaments I’m attending in early Spring. But first, painting: I completed my first full Gatorman Posse unit.

I’m still pleased with the look of these models. There’s more work in getting the scales just-so than I thought, but it’s worth it. I’m pretty pleased with the results so far. 

For games, I’m still tracking my different Warlock experiences to kind of get a sense for how deep I’m going in the faction. After this set, I’m at six different warlocks at least hitting the table–but certainly some more than others.

(Clockwise from Left) First up, I played Maelok into Cornelius’ Kryssa list in Legion. Thanks to the pressure that the Gatorman Husks put on his list, I was able to get far too sizeable a lead early on for him to catch up in a meaningful way. Second, it was Maelok again–this time into Steve’s Helynna list. I didn’t crack much armor (especially on Feat), but the scenario pressure was enough to get my the win. Opponents really seem to need to adjust their game plan against Maelok–avoiding the scenario getting out-of-hand seems critical. Third game was my first outing for Dr. Arkadius. I faced Jonas’s Irusk2 Khador list in the Winterguard theme. Arkadius’ threat ranges and silly feat are something I’m going to need a lot of practice with, but I won this game largely due to Jonas being a relatively new player. I’m sure soon enough that Irusk2 list will be causing fits for my force. 

(Clockwise from Left) More Dr. Arkadius games! I faced Ben’s Protectorate running an odd Amon list (two units of Idrians rather than all battlegroup). After my alpha strike, he killed four of my five heavies, which made me have to go for an assassination with the fifth. I managed to do so, which was good. It was a game marked by poor plays be me–need to sort out all the bits of the Doc’s technicalities (while also thinking about opponents’ abilities). Next I got in a game against Ryan’s Madrak3 list with my Arkadius force. This list was a real solid one, and while I did a good job clearing the infantry the durability of what was left was a real struggle to get thru. We were tied on control points at the end of 7 turns (8 each!), and it came down to army points destroyed where he hedged me out by 7 points. What a close game! Finally I played Rask into Larry’s Krueger2 in Bones. Was a pretty fierce game, and I expect that if I had gone first it would have come down differently. It was a clear loss on scenario for me. 

(Again, clockwise from Left) My final two games to report on were both against Larry and his Circle forces. First against Krueger2 again, then against Iona–the new warlock. I dropped a Barnabas1 list that I wanted to at least try out in both lists. I learned a few things. First, I’m unsold on Underchief Mire, the Minions lesser. Free animus distribution is good, but keeping him safe and keeping the warbeast relevant gets much harder to manage. Second, while I like Will Work for Food, I don’t know if Barnabas brings exactly what I need. I’m thinking that Rask is where I want to spend a bit more of my time and thought (though I did have a Jaga-Jaga in WWFF flash of insight that I’m going to at least try). 

Overall a great set of games, and definitely feeling like each one I play I’m learning more and more about the faction’s strengths and weaknesses. I definitely am feeling more connected to this faction than others I’ve played. Not sure why. But yeah, I think this is a groove that will last a while.

Primary Warlocks	Games	Secondary Warlocks	Games
Maelok	4	Midas	2
Rask	4	Jaga-Jaga	1
Dr. Arkadius	3	Barnabas1	2

365 Points Challenge Progress (2018):

356/365

Battles (Privateer Press):

Overall Totals 2018: 109 (Win/Loss 67/42); 2017: 120 (Win/Loss 86/34): 2016: 123 (Win/Loss: 74/49); 2015: 43 (Win/Loss: 29/14)

Minions: 

9 Wins (Vlad1, Issyria, Kromac2, Maddox, Magnus2, Kryssa, Helynna, Irusk2, Amon) / 7 Losses (Venethrax, Ossrum, Syvestro, Madrak3, Krueger2 x2, Iona)

Convergence of Cyriss:

3 Wins (Haley3, Vlad1, Caine2) / 11 Losses (Heretic, Rask, Kaelyssa, Xerxis, Siege2, Testament, Bradigus, Vyros2, Ossrum, Stryker2, Vlad2)

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:

10 Wins (Anamag, Sorscha3, Kolgrima, Gaspy2, Feora1, High Reclaimer, Vlad1 x2, Haley2, Skarre3) / 5 Losses (Rahn, Magnus1, Denny1, Haley2, Syvestro)

Protectorate of Menoth:

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

Progress continues on my Blindwater side of my Minions project, both in painting and list creation. I’m fiddling with three different Warlocks to begin my serious inquiry into the faction: Jaga-Jaga, Maelok, and Rask. I think each of them bring some solid tools and effective play styles for me to work with.

On the painting side, I am working toward a fully-painted core of a force, and exploring the various types of model that I’ll be fielding. To that end, here’s some progress:

Maelok the Dreadbound is the first Minions warlock that I’ve finished. He was an intimidating model to paint, as there’s a lot going on with him. But I think it turned out really nicely–special bonus Mr. Meeseeks voodoo doll in his pouch to torment any Trollbloods with. 

This Blackhide Wrastler shows a lot of what the faction will be looking like from an alligators side. Red cords, two-tone skin “top” and “bottom”, slight trend toward yellow on the more prominent spikes and scales. I’m really pleased with this one!

The Boneswarm was honestly pretty easy. My technique for painting bone is quick enough, so he went fast. Maybe I should play some Barnabas2 just because I could get his kit painted faster than most everything else!

The Bullsnapper painted up pretty easy as well. He doesn’t have quite as many sharp scales, so is a more simple thing with a bit less yellow along the top (it’s very fait, just on his head and tips of the darker spine scales). 

Despite focusing my painting efforts on Maelok first, I started experimenting with Rask and Jaga-Jaga as well in my first two games. But quickly broke out Maelok as well.

(Clockwise from left). First took Jaga-Jaga vs Savage’s Kromac2. Managed to survive two rounds of assassination attempts due to mostly luck and some positioning mistakes, won on scenario after that. The new Circle Thunderbird is a scary piece to face! Then took on Steve’s Issyria with a “Neomodern Rask” list (all credit to Matter of Pact Minions Podcast for coming up with the list). Managed to win on scenario with this one as well. Finally dropped Maelok into Larry’s Ossrum list. He forfeited near the end of the game due to needing to run to an appointment, but it was going to be an assassination kill of Maelok unless the dice were exceptionally poor–so I’m going to count this one as a loss. 

 

(Again, clockwise from left) Fielded Maelok vs Mike’s Cygnar and Major Beth Maddox. Was a good learning game, and while Maddox got a shot to assassinate Maelok she came up a bit short and he was able to finish her off personally. Next took Rask vs. Larry IV’s Mercenaries Magnus2 list. Managed to stave off scenario pressure with some key placements and ambushing husks, which let me get to the point where I was able to assassinate Magnus2. Finally took Rask into Syvestro, which taught me that I definitely need more practice into Crucible Guard and more experience playing into infantry swarms with these lists. Was a solid scenario loss for me. 

 

As I was doing with Skorne, I am going to sorta do with Minions as well. I’m going to track number of games I get in with my chosen focus warlocks leading up to the America’s Team Championship (ATC) and Ontario Team Championship (OTC) coming up at the start of the year. Hoping to hold myself to 30 games played of each of the two warlocks that I end up bringing to those events.

Primary Warlocks	Games	Secondary Warlocks	Games
Maelok	2	Midas	2
Rask	3
Jaga-Jaga	1

365 Points Challenge Progress (2018):

340/365

Battles (Privateer Press):

Overall Totals 2018: 101 (Win/Loss 63/38); 2017: 120 (Win/Loss 86/34): 2016: 123 (Win/Loss: 74/49); 2015: 43 (Win/Loss: 29/14)

Minions: 

5 Wins (Vlad1, Issyria, Kromac2, Maddox, Magnus2) / 3 Losses (Venethrax, Ossrum, Syvestro)

Convergence of Cyriss:

3 Wins (Haley3, Vlad1, Caine2) / 11 Losses (Heretic, Rask, Kaelyssa, Xerxis, Siege2, Testament, Bradigus, Vyros2, Ossrum, Stryker2, Vlad2)

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:

10 Wins (Anamag, Sorscha3, Kolgrima, Gaspy2, Feora1, High Reclaimer, Vlad1 x2, Haley2, Skarre3) / 5 Losses (Rahn, Magnus1, Denny1, Haley2, Syvestro)

Protectorate of Menoth:

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