Testing some decks for my boy Elathain

 The second week in a row (and the final time this year) I can get to play Underworlds - I forgot to make pictures last week for a report, but it was two wins for my Shadeborn.

 

And as I unexpectantly can make it to the Halle event the coming weekend, it was time to try out some decks for my boy Elathain and his Soulraid, to see what I will be taking.   

 

Though I'm not going there for the win and connected Cogfort price, but to discuss and plan some things with the TO, who will be my ceremonial master at the wedding.

 

The first game was against a pale reflection of myself, as Peter also brought Elathain's Soulraid, using the same Blazing Assault with Pillage and Plunder deck that got second place at the worlds last year.  I fielded the deck that I wanted to take had I gone to them this year, namely a tuned version of the deck my Blood of the Bull has been running, Emberstone Sentinels with Pillage and Plunder, as I no longer needed to take into account the slowness of the Helsmiths compared to the very fast Idoneth, allowing me to play the game now on either my or his half of the board.

 

Both bands deployed, Spinefin and Duinclaw ready to scuttle onto some objectives as soon as the first activation takes place. 

 

Tammael missed his attack though, while Peter immediatly took out Duinclaw with a Trapped Cache followed by a succesful attack of his thrall. 

 

However, Spinefin "swam" over, and delved down one of the treasure tokens in my half... before being taken down itself.  So I lost both my little animal friends, which isn't something I worry to much about in this deck to be honest, they did their job in the opening stages, and every attack you draw onto the GOAT is a bonus as it doesn't go on the Idoneth.  Spinefin might not be the bad-ass anymore he used to be, but he still puts up that dilemma of drawing away attacks to prevent him from delving unchecked.

 

I started taking the fight to the enemy, even though I didn't roll to many succesfull attacks, but managing to work to the objectives I needed to score none the less.

 

And after round one, my Soulraid took the lead with 5 to 4 compared to the pale imitations.

 

The second round started with Tammael charging to his Elathain, but he saved the attacks and no damage was inflicted.  This wasn't really the plan, so far I had only injured Duinclaw for two and that was it, maybe just a bit to less.

 

As his leader moved off, my Elathain gave chase, but he also defended against that, sometimes you just don't get through the opponents armour it seems, even if it is made from conches!  In return he charged his against mine and injured mine for 2...

 

His troops where starting to invade my half now, but at least I had taken down Duinclaw, bringing the bodies to the same amount left, but his where in a healthier state compared to mine.  But I had obtained my goals, and scored Supremacy as well as Iron Grasp and extending my lead to 11-6 and probably game if I can keep him from scoring Strip the Realm... which I still had from my opening hand.

 

His Fuirann charged over, taking down my leader in a flurry of swift strokes, even while on guard and the whole shennanigans.  Fickle dice, cruel dice!

 

I had to do some damage now really fast though, before I would run out of models to complete some other goals, and Fuirann wounded his Tammael, drawing out his Healing Potion. 

 

My Tammael, now charged out after wounding his Elathain earlier with Great Strength, attacked his leader again after surviving the return blow, and taking down his leader now at last. 

 

Both Thralls where now on objectives, but his warband was still in a slightly better condition.   

 

When he took down my Fuirann, I knew I couldn't score my Strip anymore, so it would just be a matter of not allowing him to score his in the final moments of the game. 

 

 He went for the occupying of one token to at least get Desolate Homeland, as I dug up the one under Tammael again, taking away his chance for his Strip the Realm, and the game ended in an 18-14 for my Soulraid.  While the result was rather close, I never had the feeling the win was threatened.  If some attacks had damaged a bit earlier, I would have been able to play around for Strip the Realm, but as it stood I could still navigate and score passively without ever coming behind after the opening moment of the fallen Duinclaw in the game.  The deckbuild is solid, though not exciting to pilot.

 

And that brings us to the second game of the evening, facing Wouter and his Thyrielle's Zephirites running Hunting Grounds with Nexus of Power.  Guess it's a duel between a fish, and a fox that does what the design team said at the beginning of edition 2 they couldn't do with that fish anymore in the new mechanics.  In other words, it was personal!  I went tot run a first draft of a highly experimental deck, coupling Deadly Synergies to Countdown to Cataclysm for a lot of passive glory scoring and defensive bonusses, while being a loose cannon on the offensive side as this has no solid attack plan build in.

 

I deployed wide and open, gambling on getting first turn, but not to spread out should it be a problem if I didn't.  I did get it though, allowing Duinclaw to pull back to a moving Elathain and create my "United" box.

 

His leader had advanced forward, and this game my attack rolls fell better then the first, charges of both Tammael and Fuirann taking her out halfway round 1, even with the aid of one of his spearman Sirikith, because united is just awesome.

 

Orieth came forward in an effort to inspire and do some damage, but in return Sirikith was wounded by Elathain as the Soulraid ganged up on his models.  No matter who would go first in round 2, he would be able to save only one from a surrounded attack...

 

With his leader down and Aggressive Unity scored, this meant I already took a hefty 7-1 lead after round 1.   This deck might actually take off, as long as I stay to my mantra of "I will succeed, because I am insane!".

 

He pulled out Sirikith first in the second round, after I wounded Orieth in the brawl as I had first turn.  I didn't go for the finisher yet, as at one life left, he would be fair game to both Elathain and Tammael, both now inspired and hosting ensnare's on their weapons.  As does Spinefin, but it is a bad day for the Soulraid if it comes down to that...

 

With Fuirann having first charged and wounding Anara, I would be able to score Wreckers this turn, and when Duinclaw scuttled over as an Army of Two and kneecapped Sirikith, it was as good as over, especially since Tammael had also taken down Orieth.  The second round ended with a complete Soulraid facing an archer left on two wounds, and a 14-6 lead.

 

This meant the hunt was on, and soon Anara was eliminated, tabling the Zephyrites for no loss of my own.  This did mean I couldn't score 3 out of my remaining 5 objectives anymore, as there was nothing to attack of be attacked by, so some focussing later, a 20-7 victory was on the board for the Soulraid.  So this deck is insane, it worked really smoothly, but it felt like it could swing anywhere all at once, and I have no clue about how consistent it will be.  Guess that needs some more playtesting and finetuning to find that out.

 

Still, I'm inclined to keep Wreckers in though, just because no sane person plays that card anymore, and "I will succeeed, because I am insane!".   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Haul Report 446: Gundam Assemble has landed

 Yes, it is here, and it get's of course it's own weekly episode!

 

Because Gundam Assemble has arrived, and now it's time to dust of those brushes and get back to the painting desk, as these mecha need loving!

 

I'll upload my unbox later this week to the YouTube channel, as I didn't have the time to edit in the past week, but expect more of the game as more and more comes out and gets finished.

 

But that isn't the only big arrival this week, as I got my new year pass for Bobbejaanland this week sorted as well... toegther with some merchandise from the park while we where there past weekend for Halloween. 

 

I also went to collect a little bulk pile from a wargame buddy, who had them just lying around anyways, so better to sponsor his plastic addiction for my card addiction.  Quite sure this will generate enough to grab me some more Weiss Schwarz cards for my private collection.  It'll be sometime before everything will be sorted, but first I'm sifting through it to see if there are no cards in there from the sets I collect for myself before the whole process begins. 

 

And next week, we travel to the stars in the Haul Report... 

Dandadan

Okay, sometimes you get to watching certain anime's due to weird reasons.

 

And in this case, it was because cosplayers doing the OP dance on my YouTube reels, so I wanted to check out what this came from and was all about.

 

And what a weird and wonderfull trip I was in for, with lovely animations and great humour.  The premises of the story is an unlikely friendship starting between Momo, a girl who believes in ghosts, and Ken, who believes in aliens, as they want to work together to see who is right.  Which pretty soon turns out to be the both of them...

 

Soon into their investigations, Ken becomes cursed with the spirit of Turbo Granny, which allows him to transform and gives him great speed, before they are abducted by aliens, proving both their hunches right.  Add in a crazed grandmother for Momo who is an expert on ghost hunting and you get the idea of the motley ensemble for the series.  What follows from there on is a series of hunts on both ghosts and aliens, while they are besieged by them as well, looking for amongst other things for Ken's "banana", which is a very hilarious dialogue sounding in japanese.  Because no dubs for me thank you.

 

The team is later joined as well by Aira, who first bullies Ken but when she is saved by the duo, and possessed by the essence of her long missing mother, joins their team, as well as Turbo Granny who has a large part of her essence transferred into a lucky cat doll.

 

A great, hilarious and at times over the top series, I can understand where all the hype came from, as this is truly some good stuff to watch, so go check it out.  

 

Just beware of the earwurm of an opening song, it will stick with you for weeks... 

 

 

The Haul Report 445

 Time for another juicy pile of stuffsies for the collection this time round!

 

So let's have a look at all the things we grabbed, draining bankaccounts for that plastic and cardboard crack! 

 

 

Which starts with the goodies from the Hyperia City prerelease me and Noshi went to play.  As well as two additional boosters price support for my placing, and three boosters of The Hobbit I bought for my collection. 

 

I also got my sleeves to match my Tinker Bell deckbox for Lorcana, so now we can lose in Disney style.

 

As well as some smaller and normal binders, which I'll be using mostly for "deck build purposes", adding cards to them until I got a deck completed and then sleeve and box those up. 

 

So that's it for this episode, next time, there will be another prerelease for one, so check back then! 

 

Spirited Away

 Still feeling craply ill and bedstuck, so time to catch up on some more Studio Ghibli that for some reason kept being put on the long road.

 

And this time, it's probably the biggest grossing movie until the Mugen Train movie from Demon Slayer came along.

 

Having won numerous awards, it was written for the 10 year old daughter of the writers assistant-producer friend.  Travelling to a new home in the country side, Chihiro and her parents stumble across a mysterious tunnel.  They come in a mysterious town, and Chihiro's parents start eating like mad.  She encounters spirits as the evening falls, and suddenly the town is locked off by a river and her parents have become pigs.

 

Together with a boy named Haku, she learns what she must do to remain in this spirit world for now, and how to go about and break the spell that binds her and her parents to this place, reigned over by the witch Yubaba.  Together with a spirit named No-Face, and Yubaba's son Baby, she goes to look for the witches's twin sister at her request, to bring back a seal Haku seemingly stole.  While she has worked up herself in the esteem of the other spirits, she still longs for her old life, and manages to get the curse lifted and find the true name of Haku, who she kept remembering from the past in a certain way.

 

This is a fantastic movie, dealing with friendship, resolve and loyalty.  Gorgeously drawn, it is also a really pleasant experience on the eye, blending modern style with classic drawing.  I especially loved the details on Yubaba for one, and really recommend this movie to anyone wanting to see some "Disney Japanese style"...

 

A true masterpiece for certain! 

Chained Soldier season 2

 Some shows are a real shitshow and you just have to force yourself through.  Some are good and enjoyable, and this falls in that second category.

 

And it has the big benefit in my book of also being a titshow hehehe... 

 

Due to the fact his rewards are getting ecchier and ecchier, and clothes fly off at every moment for this. 

 

The story continues where season 1 left off, Yuki working menial tasks in the dormitory of the 7th squad.  But 6th squad, and later others, arrive as well, including the supreme commander Ren, and they all want to have a go at Yuki's slave power.  Except Ren who wants to make him her pet instead of an asset like the others.  During the trials, the Azuma Banquet takes place, meaning some of the squad members must fight it out to appoint the new leader of their family, and fubuki eventually becomes the new matriarch.

 

But the Shuuki haven't been sitting idle, and the demom lords launch an attack on the squads as one of them, Kussetsu, infiltrates the base, sexually assaulting Yuuki.  Thanks to Mira they fend her off, but she only evolves further and overcomes her eventually.  Tpgether with Kyouka he attacks her again, eventualy defeating her and freeing Mira from her clutches.  But this causes the remaining Eight Thunder Gods to forge a plan and lead a huge attack on the squads and their commander...

 

So yeah, it has action galore, but also ecchi a plenty, far more then the first season had.  Which isn't a bad thing, if you aren't looking for a seriously deep series with a strong storyline.  Fan service eyecandy with some gorey demon battles on the other hand, and this will be right down your alley!

 

Now to wait for the third season... 

Blood Bowl match report: Only Fangs versus Nuffle's Numberous Nurglings

 After moving the date three times, we finally got to play this match in the final weeks of the qualifying period.  

  

As I would be going to the QF's just by showing up, I get to play know to determine my starting position and potential opponent in those.

 

And if all goes well, assassinate some key pieces of other qualifiers before they start, if I can keep my own team in a good condition.  To that end, as I faced a heap of nurglings with a lot of high strength reinforcements due to a MILLION in petty cash, I brought along some friends of my own.  

 

Or I would have, hadn't I pushed accept to fast on the TourPlay app, so no Grashnak Blackhoof for my needed muscle.  He on the other hand took, hold your breath: 3 Prayers to Nuffle, Team Mascot, Bribe, Rioutous Rookies, Dodgy League Rep, Morg N Thorg and Kreer Rustgouger.  So that would mean four S5, a S6 and a S7 on the opposing side, ouch...

 

Now, the question would be, who would transmit the most diseases, Nurgle or Slaanesh? 

 

Unfazed, I decided to meet this collection of big baddies head on though on the line of scrimmage, and of course the ball scattered to the worst possible place to start a game...

 

The fanatical ratogre started bashing left and right, while snotlings tried to make fouls and escaped the scrutiny of my referee.  But the first casualty fell from my side, as Val Steele badly hurt his Stilty Runna.

 

 

As I went to collect the ball in the far corner, the line of scrimmage kept turning out to be a pushing to and for of big guys and heavy armoured ladies.

Sabrina Sabok added another notch to her casualty list, with a snotling being pummeled of the field by a well placed heel to it's tiny appendage, doubling the little guy over moaning.

Soon after, Tanya Virago followed suit on another snotling, and the point for 3 casualties caused at least was already secured by turn 3. 

  

What then followed was a hilarious situation.  His bombardier tossed a bomb to my ball carrier, who caught it only to throw it back.  But his pump wagon intercepted this, and his return throw knocked over my ball carrier instead.

 

Shortly after, Sabien DeMonia intercepted another bomb, tossing it amongst his players and injuring a snotling lineman in the proceeding explosion.  And more importantly, it knocked the rat ogre unconscious.

  

A bit later, Sofi VonDoom tried to foul another of his big ones, but his bribed referee was way more at the lesson, and she was duly sent off by him.  But she did take out Mogg 'N Thorg, forcing his apothecary's hand.

 

A late break out of the snotlings was however thwarted, as I managed to take the little runner to the KO box right before the end zone after some dodging plays to blitz him. 

 

The half ended with Katty West injuring yet another snotling, but in all honesty to much of those little buggers kept surviving, I had hoped to have 6 or 7 down by now but I needed to add to much assists to keep the big guys and the star players in check.

 

The second half started with more tug of war around the middle line, my girls going all in on the line once again.

 

Morg 'N Thorg seemed to kill one of my ladies, but the apothecary luckily intervened and saved her from harm.

 

But it was not to be, as not much later one of his Pump Wagons rode over Raven Black, and the fiery vixen remained motionless on the pitch.  That's two casualty rolls he made over the whole game, and both resulted in a killed result, hmmmm... snotling sneaky trickery going on here?

 

As the game kept going up and down without any break outs and some fouls left and right, Sabrina Sabok badly injured another snotling in the final closings of the half to help her in her quest for most casualties.  

 

But alas, one of the snotlings managed to get through in these closing stages, as I started running out of bodies to stop the twitchy creature, snatching a last turn victory for the snotlings.

 

As I did last match against the vampires, now it was the snotlings that dealt me this closing stage loss, but in the end I can't complain.  Sure, with block and tackle I lost a good piece with Raven Black, but this could have ended much worse with all the big guys.

 

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For her role in bashing and trashing it out in the middle of the field, Kleio Valentien was elected MVP by our fans, bravely standing up against all those higher strengthened monstrosities that they brought.

 

So still, 2 points, but no skills gained this match.  Raven Black was replaced by Siri Dahl, who will bring rookie enthousiasm to the team right before the quarter finals.  And to be honest, it looks like the QF might be the hardest huddle to take on the road to eternal exstacy though.

 

But first, we have a final game to close the league phase coming up next friday normally, which is against the other, and higher ranked, Vampire team with it's two monsters of Vampire runners.  That will be a very hard game to bring to a success, but if we can hold the line and sneak through once or twice... maybe a dodging passing approach might be an option to consider for that game instead of my usual "grind down in the first half" approach...

 

We'll see how it'll go!