How I failed at Zerkova

[Philoclass]

Played a game last night Ossyan vs Zerkova, loads of fun and could have went either way. Here is the battle report

My list:
Arcanist Ossyan
-Discordia

Mage Hunter Strike Force w/UA
Stormfall Archers
Dawnguard Sentinel w/UA
Arcanist
2x Mage Hunter Assassins


His list:

Zerkova +6
-Destroyer 9
-Juggy 7
- Sylys 2

Doom Reavers 6
-UA 2
Great Bears 5
max IFP 8
-UA 2


We were playing Boom and Bust on a large piece of terrain that was like a city or castle courtyard. The best way to describe the board was there were two large brides that spanned most of the table edges. 18 inches from my table edge there was a bridge that ran parallel to my board edge, and 5 inches from the corner of it started another bridge that ran parallel to my right board edge, it was about 10 inches from the right board edge and another one bridge on the opposite side. So a "U" shaped bridge with pillars and different stairs and access points, very neat.

Ok first turn was mine, I deployed like so: Sentinels near the bridge closest to my table edge. Ossyan placed among them. Discordia, Storm falls, both MHA, and arcanist to the right of Ossyan near the main access ramp to the bridge that ran parallel to my board edge. MHSF was further up on my left AD'd.

my First turn
2 focus to Discordia, rest on Ossyan. Activated Discordia, used imprint and ran her up to the corner of the "U" shaped bridge. Activated MHA, Stormfalls, and Arcanist and ran behind discordia. Activated the caster cast Admonition on him self, Quicken on the Sentinels, and moved Ossyan up 3 inches, as the Sentinels were in his way. Activated Sentinels they ran and purposefully 1 ran further to get to get within charge distance of his doomreavers, and the rest were further than 2 inches back.

his First turn
He allocated 1 focus to each jack moved the great bears and his destroyer up to the left access point of the "U shaped bridge". His Doomies were able to get into range of 2 of the sentinels and killed them. His Destoyer, ran as did the IFP with ua (popped mini feat to run and get in sheild wall). Zerkova walked up may have cast watcher.

My 2nd turn,
Vengence was the sentinels, and they moved 3 inches and killed all but 2 of Doomies (this negated alot of my charge lane to the IFP because of freestikes) I upkept my both admon, quiken, and allocated 2 to Disco. Disco imprinted and ran to the left side of the "U" My arcanist and MHA followed. The stormfalls stood still and sniped 1 Doom reaver, and tried to get the UA. I then activated Sentinels they killed the last doomie, and charged the IFP, only 4 or 5 got in range and I killed 2 IFP. The Doomie UA was engaged as well. Ossyan activated and moved up. MHSF moved up the right flank.

His turn 2
He gave 1 to the destroyer, and his force to my left moved up further (now having 3 IFP in shield wall, the great bears, and a destroyer). The destroyer took a shoot at my MHA that wasnt in range of Disco, missed and deviated wildly. Nothing. His Doomie UA, positioned a spray at the line of Sentinels I had. (He was engaged but since its cast as a spell I think he can still cast in melee right?) It cleared some charges for the IFP to finish all but my last Sentinel (which was the UA officier).He ran his juggernaut to the right of the IFP, and cautiously moved zerkova up behind the IFP.

My turn 3.
I assessed the situation and thought well this scenario isnt going to happen, but if I can kill 2 IFP I can get LOS on zerkova with Ossyan and do an assassination attempt. I declared I was going to make an attempt on Zerkova's life, my opponent was shocked. Mind you I also thought I could drag the game out and maybe win, but it would be tough. I decided to go all out assassination. so sentinel UA vengenced and killed one IFP.
Here is the fatal mistake I made I allocated 3 to Discordia. I activated the Sentinel to kill another IFP. Then I activated the Stormfall archers and moved to the left in the middle part of the "U" bridge, and brutal shot the IFP, Killed the 2 that I needed for Ossyan to do his thing. I activated Ossyan checked my Control, I cast Quicken on Ossyan for the extra 2, moved him up feated, Boasted to hit on Zerkova, needing a 10 on 3 dice, and with a silent prayer to Scyrah those dice did glimmer just a little bit and came up a ten! YES! I boasted damage pow 13 Plus 4d6 on Arm 16 Zerkova and bam a monster damage roll knocking her down to 4 health. Now with her minus 2 defence, my MHSF where sure to finish the job. I got 4 within range, 2 hit her and with 3d6 on the attack -5 to the damage I did 1 point of damage getting her to 3 hp and with that I knew this game was over.The others turned their dishearted shots to the juggernaut disabling its cortex. Disco boasted hits on the 3 IFP in front of her killed all 3. A MHA charged and killed a great bear.

his turn 3
He activated his caster cast influence 3 times on my Sentinel, and stabbed Ossyan in the back a few times killing him.

Fun match. Could have gone either way. I dont see why Zerkova is picked on so much, if she were a ret caster she'd by one of my favorites, I guess its just the lack of arcnodes?

[gaminguy]

More a matter of her not conforming to how Khador generally plays. These forums hate non-conformists. (They're not terribly fond of generalists either.)

[TinklingKoala]

I've had much tougher results against Zerkova with Ossyan. I ran a super shooting-heavy army and got absolutely shut down by her feat. It's funny that Khador's worst caster is the absolute anti-Retribution.

[tuttleboy]

ran as did the IFP with ua (popped mini feat to run and get in sheild wall)

Just a heads up, this doesn't work. See these 2 threads in the rules forums.

Thread #1

Thread #2

Z isn't as bad as lots of people make her out to be. I've crushed a Rahn tier list with her in tournament play and her feat pretty much neuters most of the Menoth shenanigans.

[Philoclass]

Question for you guys. Can the Doomreavers UA, use his spray attack in melee? (its counted as a spell i think). Also can a discordia imprint and then run?

[Lord Sessadore]

Question for you guys. Can the Doomreavers UA, use his spray attack in melee? (its counted as a spell i think). Also can a discordia imprint and then run?

Yes and yes. Assuming the UA's spray is a spell, which I believe it is.

Note that Discordia has to imprint before running - she can use the imprint any time during her activation, but you can never interrupt movement to use an ability unless specifically allowed (see Ride By Attack for the only example I can think of) and your activation ends immediately after movement if you run. So after you start running she can't imprint until she ends her movement, but as soon as she ends movement her activation ends so she can't imprint at that point either.