Hobby goal month 2 - Rise of the Seraphon doubles campaign weekend, Warhammer World, Nottingham.

Six weeks after attending my first Age of Sigmar event at Warhammer World, I was back for an action-packed weekend of hobby in Nottingham.

My doubles partner was fellow Hammerer Mat (@MatMaslen) who brought his awesome Fire-Cast Eternals to aid my 'malignant' Seraphon led by the ancient Lord Kroak.

   
    
 With just shy of x40 players for the event we were divided into two factions: Order & Chaos. The weekends' games had pre-determined battle plans so each round we would be assigned a table number & given time before each game to read the scenario & discuss house rules with our opponents. There were plenty of varied tables to play on including the incredible 'Fortress of Kah'Rahkel'. 

   
 Each board would be 8' x 6' - meaning we would not be playing on the newly revealed (and personal favourite) 'Ruins of Dras'Shiel' board. 

"The Brief"

Instead of favourite game voting like the Throne of Skulls event, the campaign would be won on the collective results & achievements of the whole faction. (There was still an award for most favourite game votes)

Prizes would be given for the team that slayed the most monsters, or Chaos/Order models, Heroes, or for surviving games, even gaining ground. Many of these targets varied depending on the mission.

There were a lot of chaos players at the event, probably due to the recent releases of Skarbrand & Archaon. In line with the current trends, there were also very few Aelf armies in attendance.

Game 1 - Close the Hell Gate 
 The first of our x4 three hour  games pitted our celestial warriors as the ambushers attempting to close a Malefic Gate defended by a Host of Slaaenesh - and their Duardin worshippers.

   
    
 
Lawrence & Joe gave Mat & I a fantastic opening game that could have gone either way at every turn. Lawrence's models are absolutely stunning to see in the flesh - which is also the design of his armies' bases! Joe also had a fantastic collection of vintage GW Dwarfs including a Lord with Shield Bear! 

  
   
    
   Despite flame-red stormcast descending all around the gate & Kroak pelting the corruptors with comets, the skull-encrusted outpost remained in control of the ruinous powers.

Though the forces of order failed to close the Malefic Gate, our armies achieved victory for the faction by completing the most  objectives, helping to put our grand alliance ahead after the opening battles.

Game 2 - Ambush at Magma Pass

Having been invited to meet the boys for beers (via Twitter) the night before, we were delighted to be facing off against the Warhammer Gaming Club guys for game 2! It's great to meet fellow #warmongers face to face, especially after talking to them online for a while! There were a great number of tweeters, bloggers & batreppers at the event ( and the last ) & it's great to see a strong social media presence in the community.

Prior to game 2, Mat & I had spotted a box of nasties belonging to the WGC earlier in the day, that included Archaon, Skarbrand, Glotkin & a Maggoth Lord!

  Fearing a severe beating for our limited force, our opponents explained that they had simply brought models to the event to deal with any situation, & we quickly set about balancing our respective forces to ensure we had a balanced & fun game 2.

It turned out to be exactly that! 

Fighting a force of Khorne Bloodbound & Forgeworld chaos models, our objective was to wipeout the enemy generals from both armies and blunt the advance of their lines. 

   
    With re-summoned chameleon skinks aggravating Scyla Anfringhamm, Wrathmongers forcing Kroxigor to turn on themselves & Lord Kroak pelting the battlefield with another meteor shower, we created a well fought & almost cinematic last -stand battle.

The Stormcast held firm in reserve until the rampaging Bloodbound were stretched thin across the battlefield, allowing Mat to choose his fights throughout the game.

   
   Kharanak was the first to fall to celestial blow pipe darts, shortly after declaring Lord Kroak as its quarry.

  
Again, the combined forces of order failed to secure the objective, though again we left the battlefield with the lions share of campaign points for our faction.

Game 3 -  Close the Hell Gate pt.2

Game 3 was unfortunately 'that game'. Having been very transparent regarding our armies' total size, (as we once again arrived with only the recommended x30 models each) we were disappointed at what followed. 

Playing the same Malefic Gate scenario as Game 1, this time the Seraphon would be the defenders. Across the table was Archaon, the Varanguard & Gaunt Summoner (deployed using their unique formation) Skarbrand, all the Bloodbound characters, Chaos Dwarf Magma Cannon & dreadquake Mortar, Malagor.......

   
     Despite the overwhelming odds that had drawn the attention of even the GW events team themselves, we gave the enemy a serious run for their money. In the end though, the Grand Marshal of the Apocalypse sealed the Malefic Gate, slaughtering all in his path along the way.

I actually had to use emergency (square base) models from my former Lizardman army just to try & add some balance to the forces arrayed against us. That alone should have signalled to our opponents that we weren't creating a fun & exciting battle.

Such a shame. 

Game 4 - Blockade at Rysh

  
For our final game of the weekend, our army would be assaulting a combined force of Chaos & Orruks attempting to carry a sacred relic to an arcane fulcrum. A unit is nominated to carry the relic in return for protective buffs to help them secure their objective. As the enemy force contained Grimgor Ironhide, 'da Immortalz' were chosen to carry the artefact.

Our main objective was simply to destroy the Black Orruks to earn a major victory for our faction. Also defending 'da Immortalz' was Archaon ( everchosen this time ) the Varanguard, Dragon Ogres, chosen, Orruk boys, a mangler squig, giant & an Araknarok spider.

      
Being a relic himself, Kroak was positioned in defence of the fulcrum.

  
The chaos contingent had held back early in the game that almost cost them the victory as our   forces raced towards the Chosen Orruks. - Including half of Mat's Stormcast that were previously  deployed entirely in reserve.

   
 Despite his defensive back-field positioning, Lord Kroak was clearly a key target for the invaders, fending off the mangler squig & dragon ogres before being slain by the Everchosen & his Varanguard entourage.

  
  
  
The Orruks retreated into a nearby forest after losing 90% of their unit, spending the rest of the battle under a Mystic Shield. Though they never reached the objective, our entire force was destroyed by the last game turn, earning the Chaos team a huge amount of campaign points. 

   
   
A well played, closely fought game that really captured everything that makes the battle plans in AoS so immersive.

Once again it was a fantastic weekend of battles played out with some awesome armies. Especially nice to see lots of familiar faces from the previous months' event too! And the reward for our combined efforts - Best Faction & Masters of Aqshy!

So 2 months in, 2 events attended with 2 completely different armies. Roll on March!

J