Circle at the 2012 UK Masters

[Warcaster Feiss]

There's 13 players representing Circle at the UK Masters this year, and given that the UK Masters is 'The Big One' on the calendar for UK Warmachine & Hordes players, what better reason for folks to come together to share their lists / pre-Masters thoughts / post-Masters game reports / thoughts etc. Plus it'd be awesome to put some forum names to real faces!

LEJKaya has already posted the drafts of his final lists up in the List Discussion forum, but I'll let him post the final versions as they may have changed.

The lists I took to the Welsh Open last weekend are as below. Traditionally the Welsh Open has been the 'proving ground' for the UK Masters, with the deadline for Masters lists being after the Welsh Open, but due to the Queen's Jubilee, the Masters has been pushed back a week, hence no chance to tweak lists! Hence, the lists you see below are the lists I'm taking to the UK Masters;

List 1 - Krueger the Stormlord (Non Tier)

Krueger the Stormlord (+5)
- Warpwolf Stalker (10)
- Pureblood Warpwolf (9)
- Woldwarden (9)
- Gorax (4)
Shifting Stones (2)
- Stone Keeper (1)
Shifting Stones (2)
Druids of Orboros (7)
- Druid of Orboros Overseer (2)
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew (1)
Blackclad Wayfarer (2)
Blackclad Wayfarer (2)
Druid Wilder (2)
Gallows Grove (1)
Gallows Grove (1)
TOTAL = 50pts

Reinforcements
Cylena Raefyll & Max Nyss Hunters (10)

Fairly standard manipulation list, for the 'winnable' scenarios. Struggles with massed armour, but can deal with infantry just by buying time with Lightning Storms / Hurricane. As I learnt at the Welsh Open, don't play it against a Lightning Immune Cygnar army Generally aims to win on scenario.


List 2 - Kromac the Ravenous (Non Tier)

Kromac the Ravenous (+4)
- Ghetorix (11)
- Warpwolf Stalker (10)
- Pureblood Warpwolf (9)
- Gorax (4)
Druid Stoneward & Woldstalkers (5)
Druid Stoneward & Woldstalkers (5)
Shifting Stones (2)
- Stone Keeper (1)
Shifting Stones (2)
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew (1)
Druid Wilder (2)
Gallows Grove (1)
Gallows Grove (1)
TOTAL = 50pts

Reinforcements
Max Tharn Bloodtrrackers (8)
- Nuala the Huntress (2)

This list is my best answer to armour in any kind of sizable quantity, a Stalker and Ghetorix can hit-and-run all day if need be. Woldstakers look for Warpath triggers. I blame skillt for making Kromac-double Woldstalkers renowned, now I look like a netdecker

Many people lament the Pureblood, but I've a newfound love for it's 10" spray, and Wraithbane. Being able to kill that Arcane Shielded 'Jack with Ghetorix, and still have him available next turn is nice!


List 3 - Baldur the Stonecleaver (Tier 4)

Baldur the Stonecleaver (+6)
- Megalith (10) **
- Woldwarden (8) **
- Wold Guardian (8) **
Druid Stoneward & Woldstalkers (5)
Druid Stoneward & Woldstalkers (5)
Shifting Stones (2)
- Stone Keeper (1)
Shifting Stones (2)
Sentry Stone & Mannikins (3)
Druids of Orboros (7)
- Druid of Orboros Overseer (2)
Blackclad Wayfarer (2)
TOTAL = 49pts

Reinforcements
Wold Guardian (8)
Blackclad Wayfarer (2)

This list is something of a signature for me, I've played it unchanged for over a year now. Once the UK Masters is out of the way I'm planning to shelve Baldur1 for a while and play outside my comfort zone for a bit


The main thing I'm already lamenting since going to the Welsh Open is my lack of Krueger1. I opted for Krueger2 since I have more experience with him, but I think Krueger1 would have patched over quite a weakness in my lists in that none of them have a great answer to massed infantry. In a pinch, Kromac can take them, but it's a grindfest with the Warpwolf Staker and Woldstalkers having to really pull their weight!!

The other main weakness to my lists is the Reinforcements. I didn't put a huge amount of thought into them, but particularly for 'A Flag Too Far', I think I'd like my reinforcements to be 'something for 9pts' plus a Feralgeist. Being able to pretty much guarantee a turn of contesting the flag to get a CP in the bag is invaluable.


So, the rest of you Circle players attending the UK Masters... come on you, show yourselves!!

[PG_cheddercaveman]

I think the lists I see here for you are VERY similar to what Will has been playing, except every place you have a Pureblood he ran a Feral. I do know that a Feral + Gallows Grove as reinforcements has apparently been working well for some.

[Warcaster Feiss]

I think the lists I see here for you are VERY similar to what Will has been playing, except every place you have a Pureblood he ran a Feral. I do know that a Feral + Gallows Grove as reinforcements has apparently been working well for some.

I tried the list a couple of times with a Feral or a Gnarlhorn in the 3rd heavy slot, and found they started to get in each other's way, thus the Pureblood was substituted in, generally advancing, spraying something 10" away and then Warpath'ing out of charge lanes. It's also a nice option for taking out things like Shepherds, Vassals and such that the Woldstalkers can sometimes struggle to get at. Like I say, the Pureblood isn't everyone's choice, but he's not let me down yet People also seem to focus on the 10" spray as a threat too, which can draw fire away from the Stalker / Ghetorix

Once the Masters is out of the way, I want to try Kromac + Geomancers for something totally different. Rift is a fantastic spell and screws up 'Jacks so hard it's not even funny! ('Jacks don't have access to Pathfinder as regularly as 'Beasts do). The way I see it, Wild Aggression can only affect a single living 'beast so as long as I've got a Stalker, Geomancers can pull the weight of the rest of Kromac's battlegroup

[Warcaster Feiss]

The Masters has been and gone, with the final results already available to see here. Circle took 3rd place which I was happy to see

I squeaked out 5 wins out of 7 games, losing to Vindictus and Lylyth2 due to some poor choices on my part. Given it's my first time at the UK Masters, I'm happy with the result

A write-up of my 7 games is being done on another forum I frequent, which can be found here. Unfortunately there's no pictures as despite packing a digital camera, I left the batteries at home, fail!

[Jack Hammer]

Question on your Game number 2 using eKrueger vs Vindictus. (From the other review)

You said you missed your 2nd and third Lightning shot on Vindictus after hitting the first. I thought eKrueger had sustained attack on range.

[skillt]

Weird. Your Kromac list is identical to mine except I run a feral instead of the pure blood, and your baldur list is identical except I run a 2nd guardian. Great minds think alike? :-). I do a different reinforcement for Kromac, but still. Creepy. :-)

Will

[Warcaster Feiss]

Question on your Game number 2 using eKrueger vs Vindictus. (From the other review)

You said you missed your 2nd and third Lightning shot on Vindictus after hitting the first. I thought eKrueger had sustained attack on range.

You're right, he does, but Vindictus has 'Sacrificial Pawn [Zealot]', so the shot was considered to have hit the Zealot. As the shot hit the Zealot and not Vindictus, I had to roll to hit him again. Unfortunate, and daft of me not to choose to just shoot the Zealot and then shoot Vindictus! With that said, I made a lot of mistakes that game, that was just the icing on the cake

Weird. Your Kromac list is identical to mine except I run a feral instead of the pure blood, and your baldur list is identical except I run a 2nd guardian. Great minds think alike? :-). I do a different reinforcement for Kromac, but still. Creepy. :-)

Will

I did run Bloodtrackers for a while instead of the Woldstalkers but got fed up of people running their Prey to the other side of the board. Once I got the move / Zephyr / Concentrated Fire 'order of operations' down without having to think about it, I began to realised their flexibility. I'm also familiar with using them (from playing Baldur's Theme force for 18+ months or so) which helps especially with the change from 12 to 10 minute turns

The Pureblood is an unpopular choice, but he works for me, the 10" spray and Wraithbane are options if nothing else. With that said, I was fortunate enough not to come across any massed heavy 'beast / 'jack lists, though I'll acknowledge that it's a weakness of my lists that it'll be an uphill fight if I do come across that kind of heavy list.

I'd like to get a Gnarlhorn in the list if I can, but he'd have to replace the Pureblood (I can't have anything less than 2 'proper' heavy hitters) which is a point of contention. That spare point, along with a Grove / Gobbers also opens up some other options too. We'll see, plenty of time to play around before the next big tournament!

Games 5 through 7 will probably get written up either later tonight (depending on when I get back from the club) or tomorrow evening.

[Jack Hammer]

And that's why you get the nice suit!

Haven't faced off against SacPawn in local meta, so didn't know that it would change the actual target in terms of Sustained Attack.

Does this also apply to Weight of Stone?

[PG_cheddercaveman]

And that's why you get the nice suit!

Haven't faced off against SacPawn in local meta, so didn't know that it would change the actual target in terms of Sustained Attack.

Does this also apply to Weight of Stone?

It would apply to Weight of Stone, if it were on a ranged attack. Sac Pawn lets you shunt the ranged attack to something else. You roll to hit, if you would hit, the Sac Pawn is considered to be hit instead, and then suffers all damage and effects.

[Jack Hammer]

Right, ranged attacks for Sac pawn.

Was wondering because I faced eMadrak with 'Grim Salvation' with Baldur and Megalith... going to have to check the wording on Grim Salvation, because we played it that Weight of Stone didn't transfer.

[Warcaster Feiss]

Wording on Grim Salvation means that Madrak2 doesn't suffer the damage, or effects triggered by the damage from the attack, so he wouldn't suffer Weight of Stone. Some poor soul near him just bites the dust instead

Game 5 posted at the link above Games 6 & 7 to follow tomorrow evening.

[Warcaster Feiss]

All 7 games now written up here

Any Q's etc, do shout!

[Jetty Smurf]

Really enjoyed reading your reports. I honestly think I learned a few things from them.

[PG_mspeedy]

here is my lists i come 3rd

happy with that

List 1

Krueger the Stormlord
Feral Warpwolf
Pureblood Warpwolf
Woldwarden
Druids of Orboros (Leader and 5 Grunts)
Druid of Orboros Overseer
Tharn Bloodtrackers (Leader and 9 Grunts)
Tharn Wolfriders (Leader and 2 Grunts)
Gallows Grove
Lord of the Feast
…………………………
Wolves of Orboros full
Wolf of Orboros Officer & Standard
Reeve Hunter

List 2 tier 4
Kaya the Moonhunter & Laris
Feral Warpwolf
Feral Warpwolf
Gnarlhorn Satyr
Pureblood Warpwolf
Shadowhorn Satyr
Druids of Orboros (Leader and 5 Grunts)
Druid of Orboros Overseer
Warpborn Skinwalkers (Leader and 2 Grunts)
Druid Wilder
………………………………………
Feral Warpwolf
Shifting Stones



List 3 tier 4
Krueger the Stormwrath
Feral Warpwolf
Woldwarden
Woldwarden
Druids of Orboros (Leader and 5 Grunts)
Druid of Orboros Overseer
Druids of Orboros (Leader and 5 Grunts)
Druid of Orboros Overseer
Wolves of Orboros (Leader and 5 Grunts)
Wolf of Orboros Officer & Standard
Wolflord Morraig

………………….
Feral Warpwolf

[Rustoof]

Is there a reason none of your lists have a stalker?

[Warcaster Feiss]

Is there a reason none of your lists have a stalker?

Me and mspeedy have had the Feral vs Stalker convo a few times (I love me a Stalker, mspeedy likes his Ferals). IIRC the main thing is the MAT 7, that makes him take the Feral over the Stalker, as well as the Feral being a point cheaper.

Must admit other than when playing Kromac or Kaya1, I've had my Stalker let me down on some occasions missing multiple attacks by just 1pt. Very annoying!

Barring Kaya2's reinforcements, there's also no Shifting Stones in either of his 3 lists, which is something else I've asked him about too! With that said, mspeedy has consistently better results at tournaments than me, so I've come to the conclusion he's just better with Circle

[PG_Pickles]

Weird. Your Kromac list is identical to mine except I run a feral instead of the pure blood, and your baldur list is identical except I run a 2nd guardian. Great minds think alike? :-). I do a different reinforcement for Kromac, but still. Creepy. :-)
Will

The Baldur thing is the limitations of most Tier4 lists. The Kromac thing is cos everyone copies you