Path to Glory, Round 1: Kharadron Overlords vs. Idoneth DeepkinThis was the first match between Uncle Tungsten and I for the Path to Glory Campaign we're playing along with Wyddr.
Idoneth DeepkinTidecaster w/ arcane corrosion (Artifact: coral ring) (General)
Soulrender
10 Namarti Thralls
3 Ishlaen Guard
3 Morrsarr Guard
Kharadron Overlord: Skyport Barak-MhornarArkanaut Admiral w/Opportunistic Privateers (General)
Aether-Khemist (Artifact: Aethershock Earbuster)
Arkanaut Company w/ 3x Light Skyhooks
3 Endrinriggers w/ Rivet Guns and Pneumatic Saws
Arkanaut Frigate w/ Heavy Sky Cannon (Artifact: The Last Word)
Mission, Terrain, DeploymentWe rolled randomly for the mission and got Shifting Objectives from the 2019 General's Handbook. 3 Objectives were placed along the center line between our deployment zones, one in each third of the map. Each round the primary objective would shift between the three, netting 3 VP for the primary objective and 1 VP for each of the others at the end of each player's rounds.
We set up a forest in the south west corner of the map. Ruins were set up in the south, southeast, and eastern portions of the map. The northeast and northwest had some ritualistic terrain. In the north there was a small lake and the center of the map there was a small hill. The objectives were placed on fountains in the east and west and on top of the hill in the center of the map. We didn't get any special feature for the Realm and the three of the terrain features had beneficial scenery rules but none of them came up in the game.
Tungsten won the roll off and picked the southern deployment zone. He placed most of his troops and heroes in the forest or at the edge. I deployed all my units in my frigate in the lake in the middle of the northern zone.
Deployment
Deepkin sighted off the starboardTop of Turn 1Uncle Tungsten won the roll off to go first and chose to go first. The central objective is the primary obective this turn. The Ishlaen move toward the primary objective. The Morrsarr head toward the eastern objective along the board edge. Finally the Thralls, Tidecaster and Soulrender move toward the western objective. None of them are within range to score any VP.
Score: Deepkin 0, Overlords 0
Deepkin spread out towards all objectives.
Bottom of Turn 1Admiral Riprock orders all hands to disembark at the top of the round. The Admiral, Khemist and Arkanaut Company deploy in a firing line by the lake while the Endrinriggers and Frigate push toward the center of the board. The Frigate takes control of the central objective to score 3 VP while the Riggers move to assault the Ishlaen Guard. Shooting is relatively ineffective due to the Ishlaen ignoring rend. The Riggers take a wound off one Guard and use a footnote of the Kharadron Code to deal enough Mortal Wounds to the wounded Guard to kill it and the rigger survive the Guards counter attack.
Score: Deepkin 0, Overlords 3
Disembark and engage
Top of Turn 2The Deepkin win the initiative this round, and ever round of the game. The primary objective moves to the western objective, soon to be controlled by the Thralls to score 3 VP for the Deepkin. The Tidecaster casts arcane corrosion on the Riggers and melts one and wounds another. The Morrsarr moves toward the central objective but fails to get more units closer to the objective than the frigate. The Ishlaen finish off the wounded Riggers.
Score: Deepkin 3, Overlords 3
The Endrinriggers are in trouble
No more RiggersBottom of Turn 2The Frigate moves to the top of the hill and fires all guns at the Morrsarr Guards and kills one of them. The admiral chooses the Thralls as the target of his ability allow units near him to re-roll all misses and the Arkanaut Company takes out 2 Thralls with their skyhooks. At the end of the round the Soulrender resurrects one of the Thralls.
Take the high ground and all hands to guns!
Score: Deepkin 3, Overlords 4
Top of Turn 3The primary objective moves to the eastern objective, which neither army controls or will be able to control this round. The Deepkin earn 1 VP from the objective the Thralls held. The Deepkin surge forward to engage The Admiral, Khemist and Arkanaut Company. This is where I held my breath, the game could hing on this combat. The Morrsarr's eels unleash an electric charge on the Admiral dealing 3 mortal wounds to him before combat. The two guard units then unleash on the Admiral but he's made of sterner stuff and only loses 2 wounds, staying alive to bring the pain. He smashes one of the Morrsarr guard in retaliation. Meanwhile the Thralls cut down five members of the Arkanauts but the Admirals Inspiring Presence lets them automatically pass their battleshock test.
Score: Deepkin 4, Overlords 4
Get ready to be charged!
Fight for your lives!The aftermathBottom of Turn 3In the hero phase The Khemist buffs the Admiral so he can get an extra attack with his hammer and then the Admiral uses another footnote to let him fight in the Hero Phase and smashes one of the Morrsarr Guard. Afterward the Frigate moves to support the rest of the Overlords and kills the last Morrsarr with a well placed cannon shot. It also gets 1 VP for still controlling the central objective. The Khemist fumigates the Ishlaen and kills one the Admiral finishes it off in combat. Meanwhile the Arkanauts shoot 3 Thralls but end up falling to the Thralls blades in hand to hand combat.
Score: Deepkin 4, Overlords 5
Hammer Time
The end of the close combat after battleshockTop of Turn 4The primary objective shifts back to the central objective and the Deepkin must regroup after losing most of their troops. The Tidecaster and Soulrender move up and take control of the western objective, scoring 1 VP this round. The Thralls engage the Admiral in combat but his armor protects him while he smashes the Thralls in return.
Score: Deepkin 5, Overlords 5
Only Heroes, and a Frigate, Remain
Bottom of Turn 4The Admiral and Khemist move closer to the Deepkin heroes, as does the Frigate, which still is control of the Central objective, gaining 3 VP. The Firgate misses the Soulrender with its cannon but the Khemist uses his noxious Aether to fumigate the Soulrender. The Frigate assaults the Tidecaster and does 1 wound, which is negated by the Tidecaster's spirit dolphin.
Score: Deepkin 5, Overlords 8
I don't think her spirit dolphin will save her for long
Top of Turn 5The objective stays in place and the deepkin will only gain 1 VP this turn. The Tidecaster casts Arcane Bolt on the Admiral, doing 3 mortal wounds, more than enough to finish off the Admiral. At this point the Deepkin concedes the game.
The final showdown
Final Score: Deepkin 6, Overlords 11
Post MortemDespite the final score, this was a close battle and could have gone the other way. I think it came down to the Admiral making his saves to stay alive with 1 wound through 4 rounds of combat and the footnote that let him make a free attack.
I may, or may not have, made a mistake attacking with the Endrinriggers in the first round. They don't have enough wounds to survive sustained combat but they did delay the Ishlaen Guard a turn from engaging the Admiral and Arkanauts. They may end up being suited for objective grabbing or counter-attacking from the frigate.
Also, playing against the Deepkin was much different from Wyddr's Goblins. One, the Ishlaen Guard are hard to shift due to ignoring rend. Second, only being able to shoot at the closest Deepkin unit can force me to move or have to fire on less than desirable units. Three, they're also fast. I won't have multiple turns to sit and shoot at them before they arrive.
All said, I had a good time and enjoyed the battle. Thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it, and as always, thanks to my opponent.
