WHFinal2003 - page 1 of 1

TOURNAMENT FINAL

2003

Mike Brandon’s Empire

Vs Simon Gray’s Dwarves

+ + WEDNESDAY 20th AUGUST .PM

Mike: All I can say about the Tournament so far is, SURPRISE. I wasn’t really

expecting to do so well but a solid victory over the feared Tomb Kings and a massacre of the

High Elves has already made this a great Warhammer Tournament for me. However the

greatest test is set to come with Simon’s Dwarves. In the previous game my knights

impressed so I hope to have them sweeping his exposed flanks again this game, and have

them backed up by the Griffon as well. The centre of my army being the Spearmen,

Swordsmen and Handgunners are more for whittling down the enemy and well, dying. The

Empire troops are fairly useless even in large numbers and they all get hacked apart, I

especially need to keep away from that Hammerers unit (especially after it routing both my

infantry combat units after they charged last battle!) and the only real way I can deal with

their unusually long beards is to put the Helblaster opposite with the Mortars acting as cover.

Finally the job of the cannons is primarily to take out there Dwarven counterpart. I have other

units but again they are of little us….2 wizards but then 6 enemy dispel dice. The huntsmen

however will make a useful speed bump. To Battle!

Simon: I really have to get my hammerers into combat with

the Evil One’s Knights, focussing my crossbow fire and the

cannon on them as well should help to demoralise the

Empire. The other Empire are puny Gareth Gates style

whelps and will easily fall victim to my sturdy dwarves. The

Empire artillery will be problematic to say the least, so my shooting will have to deal with

any of these that don’t misfire. A recap on the plan:-

Kill the knights

Kill the artillery

Win!!

Dwarf Turn 1

The road to this battle had been long and exhausting for the dwarven army but the

spoils of victory were now oh so near. The dwarf frontline stood arrayed across the open plain

facing their Empire opponents. The Lord of the dwarf forces commanded that the army stay

put, hoping to frighten the Empire attackers with a show of resolute strength. As activity

began to buzz in the Empire battle line the dwarfs wasted no time. The Lord watched as a

cannonball crashed into a unit of hand gunners crushing beneath it, while the crossbow unit

manage to put several deep scratches into some of the Empire artillery. The dwarves waited

for the Empire response.

Empire Turn 1

Somewhat off put by the show of strength by the dwarves the Empire battle line did

not venture forwards, the knights on the other hand, sickened by the lack of bravery

disappeared in a march move through the woods. The wizards now saw it time to release their

deadly art, but every attempt to unleash their magic failed, and then they caught sight for the

reason of the resistance, a dwarf Runesmith stood proud in the dwarf lines.

The Empire artillery then opened up the

Mortar hitting the hammerers slaying a quarter

of their number, however the dwarves stood resolute,

taunting for another shot. However two cannonballs

through towards the unit both striking the Dwarf Lord

knocking him to the ground, the dwarves stood

back gasping at the shock of losing their leader so

early, however the grunting dwarf then rolled to his side,

muttering a curse and thanking his luck. Incredibly Simon

failed two Look Out Sir rolls and then passed both ward saves to save his commander!

Dwarf Turn 2

Convinced that the Empire artillery no longer posed any threat, the dwarves

continued their patient wait, expecting the Empire to arrogantly come charging across the

battlefield to meet their end by way of axe very soon. The crossbowmen once again open fire,

wounding both the Griffon and its mount while a cannon has its wheel hinges broken by

crossbow bolts on the other side of the battlefield.

Empire Turn 2

As the knights continue their flanking manoeuvre Mike forgets the magic phase, the

wizards giving each other a confused glance as the winds of magic seemingly cease to exist.

The huntsmen, carefully making their way through the woods, come to a sudden halt, hearing

a strange and mad shouting. The source soon comes clear as a slayer emerges swinging his

axes about in a frenzy, screaming for death. The huntsmen waste no time, lowering their

bows, several punch through the frenzied warriors body, but the dwarf remained standing. A

very angry griffon suddenly besets upon the dwarf cannon crew, rushing around trying to

reload, the creature looms above them but is suddenly snapped back as its rider attempts to

regain control. The dumbfounded crew suddenly pick up axes and prepare to

fend off he enormous creature.

This proved to be another amazing

feat by the dwarf cannon crew who

held up a huge squad of Tomb King

chariots led by a Tomb King

himself, earlier in the Tournament!

Dwarf Turn 3

The dwarves begin to grow restless but still the Lord holds them back, refraining

them from charging off into the Empire firetrap. Two of the cannon crew end up in the

Griffon’s mouth but still the stubborn remainder holds. (Note that like the battle with the

Tomb Kings, the dwarves should have fled last turn due to losing combat to a terror causing

creature – an excuse for Mike at least)

Empire Turn 3

The knights manoeuvre to a position north of the wood flanking the dwarf lines,

meanwhile close by in the trees the huntsmen

finally bring down the Slayer with their

bowfire. The Celestial wizard mutters an

incantation of Forked Lightning but suddenly

the power to use the spell is ripped from him

as it is literally eaten by a magical dwarf

banner! Meanwhile, fire from the Mortars

cause another casualty to the Hammerers

and the Elector Count skewers the survivor

of the dwarf cannon crew.

Dwarf Turn 4

The dwarf battle line finally begins to move as the hammerers and their warrior

vanguard move to a more defensive position against the threat of the knights. The other unit

of Warriors charges the Griffon, which,

spying its inevitable doom at the edge of

Dwarf great weapons, turns tail and flees……….

Straight into the path of the crossbowmen

who waste no time in blasting the Griffon

with a myriad of bolts felling the creature

and impaling its rider.

Empire Turn 4

The shock of the loss of their leader seemed to lay heavy across the Empire army as

all attempted magic failed and not a single handgun, mortar, cannon or longbow shot hit their

targets. The knights also found themselves in a difficult position, facing a narrow pass

blocked by over 30 dwarves!

Dwarf Turn 5

The dwarf warriors on the dwarves left flank charge into the huntsmen responsible for

the death of the slayer, and duly break them from combat. The dwarf crossbowmen inflict

more casualties upon the artillery crew, while the dwarf lord taunts the Empire knights in an

attempt to trap them between two powerful units with no escape.

Empire Turn 5

With night drawing near and with the loss of their leader, the Empire were at a loss.

The huntsmen continued to flee while the knights attempted to get into a position to face the

dwarf warriors without being charged by the hammerers as well. The helblaster and the

handgunners manage to inflict heavy casualties upon the unit of dwarves responsible for the

death of the Count.

Dwarf Turn 6

As the battle drew to a close the dwarves launched a last assault, the warriors charged

the knights and breaking them,

while the other dwarves made a move

to try and capture some of the Empire

territory.

Empire Turn 6

The knights halt their retreat

But it is far too late for them to do

anything, meanwhile the helblaster

volley gun succeeds in blowing itself up.

However,

another

deadly

fusillade from the handgunners succeeds in breaking the

d dwarves in side the Empire half of the table.

FINAL SCORE

DWARVES 860 - 545 EMPIRE

Dwarf minor victory

Simon Gray - OGC Warhammer Champion 2003

I win! I win! La-lala-lala-la!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Now onto a more accurate appraisal of the Final. My battle plan

w went out the window when Mike (quite wisely) deployed his n

k knights almost as far away from the hammerers as they could be,

a and as a result, the poor little fellows never made it into combat.

However, I was really pleased with the great weapon unit, as these claimed the banner

of the knights in place of the hammerers. Our earlier battle resulted in a draw, and a

minor victory in my favour in this battle was a true reflection of how close it felt

whilst playing. It was only really a Misfire by the hellblaster resulting in its own

demise that made me come out on top by enough to claim a victory. Kudos to my

cannon crew for again showing their staying power in close combat. They get my unit

of the match award. As for my opponent, I can only commend him for such a

masterful battle and for doing so well against me (let’s face it, he is using the worst

army in the Warhammer world), so a second place for him is a brilliant result, though

I’m sure that he would have preferred first place…

…So there we have it. My first OGC tournament, and I have won first place. May I forever

be known as the first Champion of WFB in Ormskirk! All hail the god of the dice rolls!

………..SOD!

Lousy cheap Empire crap! I put forth my list of reasons (certainly

n not excuses!) why I faced defeat today.

I forgot my Magic phase

I forgot terror causing creature auto –break outnumbered

opponents

I never charged my knights

Bloody helblaster misfired

I was using elves to represent huntsmen

Goblin sabotage

Well, excuses, I mean reasons beside, Simon demonstrated why it

doesn’t matter that dwarves are slower than mopeds. They are deadly at shooting, as poor old

Griffon found out, becoming an instant kebab to the bearded bastards. Also my Knights

charge is essential, yet the only opportunities I had would have been folly as I would have had

a Hammerer unit up their, ahem, side. This was clever and patient manoeuvring by the git, or

is that Simon?, which left my knights getting a good kicking, oh the shame. I also left my plan

too late, I hoped to get a last turn charge off the knights breaking the dwarf warriors, also I

did not bank on the Helblaster exploding, which overall would have roughly given me the

minor victory over those razor ignorant fools. Well fair play to Simon, it was generally a

boring battle to look back on, but it was tactically challenging and tense to play in. And so I

also have a lift of reasons why I don’t care;

Second’s not too bad

I had fun

No I didn’t

I should have won

Cheating git!

Yeesh, there’s always next year……