Another cog in the wheel! (Guild Ball)

3...2...1...and I am back!

Welcome one and all. This Saturday just gone, our local pundit Rob (@derby_malal) was running a tournament at my FLGS - Phoenix Games, Stourbridge. I was down to play my first tournament and it would be safe to say that I was quite looking forward to it! I even made a goal to enter the competition (because i wasn't going to win the whole thing).

Unfortunately, the dream of having a Saturday when I didn't have a game of a sporting nature was short lived as I got called up for sporting duties meaning that I couldn't make the tournament! Not particularly a great shame, as I wouldn't have offered much in the way of resistance when playing what, in truth, are some very good players! There was a sizeable waiting list willing to take my place and I'm happy that someone managed to put up more of a fight than I would have!

Despite not being able to make the tournament, I did get a 'tournament style' game in. I hoped that I could have fit two games in - One tourney prep and one of my big league fixtures but unfortunately, the big league game suffered so I had to settled for one game with the fixture for the big league being rearranged for next week!

So, into the game - I was trying something completely new - Engineers! There's something about a crossbow wielding captain that just makes it all seem fun. People have said that he wouldn't fit my playstyle but in truth, I don't have a playstyle - I play everyone equally badly!

Admittedly, I'm not a fan of all the Engineer models but I'm certainly a fan of the captain; Ballista and Salvo (another crossbow wielding maniac). What's my playstyle? Shoot them... shoot them hard! I got a game against Si (@irons1de) using the tournament clock - something I've never used before and in the end it proved costly! Disclaimer: This is the first time we have both played on the clock and the first time I played with Engineers - mistakes may have and were made! Don't beat on me too hard, it's not the fact I'm doing it intentionally, I'm just shit!

Here are the teams:

 I went for: Ballista, Velocity, Salvo, Mainspring (yes, he looks like a snake but it's just a clever ruse!), Gutter and Rage.
You may have heard this being talked about on a recent podcast when the US Champ was talkinga bout a build which suited his meta and after listening to it, I thought it would be fun to try!
The simple idea is - move them! This team has the potential to push out unwanted players and drag in those who are weak!

Si has taken a standard Union list - Blackheart, Rage, Gutter, Mist, Coin, Averisse and Greede. So he's looking for out activations and use Rage, Gutter and Blackheart to smash face together.

We deal our cards and I get:

I select:

I tend to go for a more defensive style of card because I guess I know I'm going to get beat on. One day I'll actually go for a more offensive set of cards (and I might actually read them so I know what I'm doing).

On to the game -
Si win the roll off and elects to recieve. I set up pairing Ballista and Rage together so Ballista can benefit from Tooled Up when he unleashes that crossbow shot! Gutter stays in the middle in order to control space and Velocity, Salvo and Mainspring bunch together in order to play football up the right flank.

 Seeing my set up, Si puts Averisse on the left hand side to counter my footballing intentions with Coin, Blackheart, Gutter and Rage in the middle with the intention of clogging up the middle of the board for Mist to come around the outside and get the ball. Now, I'm not entirely sure why Mist is on the right hand side (left if you look at it) because my set up has the ball on the right (his left).

With Velocity, I come forward and kick to place the ball at the very edge of the terrain on the left flank so a slow moving Averisse is probably not going to get there before Velocity!

 As the first turn progresses and the clock runs, Si moves his threats into the middle of the board. It's my intention to play on the right hand flank and get the ball moving!
Gutter pulls Blackheart in in order to get him in range of Ballista who promptly knocks him down and causes 4 damage (using Rage's Tooled Up ability).

 When Mist comes in, she hits Gutter and bounces out again!

 Next turn, Mist bounces across the board to 'relieve' the ball from Salvo and saunters down the board. The 'Super Smash Crew' get involved into Rage and Gutter - Gutter moves out in order not to take a beating!

 As the battle in the middle rages on (see what I did there!), Mist continues down the flank, popping smoke in order to bounce quicker!

 Ballista stays back and lays down some heavy firepower on Blackheart, Gutter and Rage - making them use activations get up and move out of his range!

 Averisse (slowly) comes towards Ballista... but gets knocked down!

 Rage goes down to a heavy beating - 0-2!

 Velocity dashes over to Mist, tackles the ball off him and gets it up to Salvo! Mist however, isn't done! His activation moves him up the board to Salvo and pushes him off!

 0-4! Not a good start!

 Rage and Salvo come back on as Velocity gets towards Mist and tackles him...again. Trying to get away, Velocity gets held up by Blackheart and Mist...

 Averisse moves towards Mainspring and deals enough for it to blow up! 0-6!

 Ballista and Gutter turn their attention to the middle of the board. Already low on wounds, Ballista deals with Rage, then puts in the finishing wounds into Gutter. 4-6!

 Velocity does get away from Rage and Blackheart but eventually the dash for the corner is too late! They catch up and finally push it off! 4-8!

 A team united, the Engineers clean up! Coin and Mist go down! 8-8!
Averisse finally bites the bullet after being down by Gutter - 10-8! I feel that the favour has fully swung in my favour. Ballista and Salvo get Greede down to 1 wound.
Here's the problem... I've run out of time! So every activation now costs me a VP!
...
10-9...
10-10...
Into the final turn... every activation counts. I win the roll off and activate Ballista. I can win in this activation. I'm within range of hitting Greede with two of my character plays. It would go to 11-10 if I didn't hit...
Right, here we go... 2 dice - 5s to hit... double 1. Not a problem, next play... 3 and 2!
Rage takes his charge into my Rage, doesn't cause enough damage so it gets back to me!
This is the part of the story where it got tense. Salvo had to go. His ranged attack was just in after moving and he had one shot to bring Greede down or it would be a 12-10 loss...
He shoots...

He misses!

The game was lost 12-10 in the most awkward of fashion. For me, this was a really disappointing way to finish a game. The system of losing a VP every time you activate is very frustrating, particuarly when turns don't take long! Nevertheless, that is the nature of the game. Si played well and he has learnt a lot since our first game about a month ago in the Big League. He's getting the hang of the Union and understands their character plays and tactics better. A very interesting game and plenty to think about.

Lessons Learnt
- Engineers are best kept together.
- Gutter can be kept wide in order to draw key players away from the centre.
- Don't be afraid to walk Ballista up the board and take down models near to Velocity.
- Protect Velocity more. Nimble is good but she is better on the flank however with the threat of getting pushed off the board, it needs some protection in order to stop that from happening.
- Identify a threat and take that target out - one at a time. Engineers' access to pushes is actually quite good so they have the ability to clear channels on the board.
- Play ball! Passing ability between Salvo and Velocity is quite good, so their ability to generate momentum sets you in good stead for the turn!

Well, a different type of game to ones that I am used to. It was quite an exciting game and a really interesting challenge! I look forward to playing them again in another game! Hopefully with a better result!

Thanks for reading!
I'll see you soon!

@geekphotoguy