AoS Summer League Blog 5: May The Odds Be Ever In Your Favour

The League has reached its finale, and it’s starting to feel like the Hunger Games with only 6 players making it through to this point.

Before the dome closes in completely and the people get the final bloodbath they want (and I exhaust this metaphor), let’s see what happened in round 4:

Leo (Skaven) vs Steve (Seraphon)

Prediction: Leo to win

Result: Draw

An exact draw! Points, battle tactics and the stars aligned for a good-natured tie game here. Leo was left cursing his dice (4D6 shots, all 1s), with some failed casts and countercharges being attributed to him not winning.

Alden (CoS) vs Jamie (DoK)

Prediction: Alden to win

Result: ‘Jamie’ wins

Ross (BoK) vs Dan (SBGL)

Prediction: Ross to win

Result: Dan wins

I’m combining the 2 games here, as their fates are intertwined.

Both Ross and Jamie dropped, so we decided the most efficient option was for Dan and Alden to play each other for their bye games.

Incredibly, Dan kinda battered Alden in this game, with the most annoying cavalry in the game being unexpectedly neutered by the hand of Nagash! 

The one caveat is this was played on TTS which we all know isn’t real warhammer.

Either way, this is Alden’s first loss in nearly 3 leagues, so congratulations to Dan!

Tom (BoK) vs Callum (Chorfs)

Prediction: Tom to win

Result: Tom wins

I’m reliably told my prediction for this game was spot-on aside from the low-scoring part. Tom continues to burn all before him!

Pete (Seraphon) vs Craig (FEC)

Prediction: to win

Result: Craig win

Pete dropped prior to this game so Steve kindly stepped in for an extremely hard-fought game using his pork and cabbage army. The final score was a draw but I won on battle tactics scored because Steve forgot to place a unit in a 4th quarter for his own tactics. Still, an amazingly fun game!

Andy (SBGL) vs ?

Prediction: N/A

Result: Andy Win

Callum kindly stepped with his DoT in for Andy’s bye game and Vhordrai coming back into the list seems to have helped Andy a lot with a smashing win. I think Prince V is where Andy’s heart truly lies (sorry Nagash).

Round 5 Mission: Escape From The Coast

As I write this blog, for the first time I have noticed that this map set up is very similar to What’s Yours Is Ours which we played earlier in the League!

Standard set up here, points are scored for holding 1, 2, or holding more objectives than your opponent.

The underdog rule is as above, they may choose to remove a particular objective from the table in battle rounds 2-5. Players can opt for mutually assured destruction and leave only 3 objectives on the battlefield by the end of the game should they choose.

There are 6 objectives to start with though, which means holding more will be a challenge to deny throughout the game.

Predictions

Pretty much all combinations for the podium are possible for the final round, so we’re going to have 1 big night at Hobby Henchmen to duke it out!

Steve (Seraphon) vs Dan (SBGL)

I think before this week I would have been more confident in Steve to win this one, but Dan is on a bit of a run, and smashing Alden is no mean feat.

That said, Steve has a very different list to Alden’s, with lots of big Kroxigor bodies to aim those crit mortals at, though even he isn’t exactly sure what his list is!

This mission might come down to clever machinations from the underdog, and is likely good to be going 2nd for the extra information and tactical objective removal.

Prediction: Dan to win, I feel like a Leo trajectory is happening.

Callum (Chorfs) vs Andy (SBGL)

Despite having a bit of a tough time with the Helsmiths, Callum scored well in his last game so he’ll be hoping that continues into the final game I’m sure.

The only problem is a big lad on a dragon and his red buddies, who are going to dominate the board in terms of speed/getting round the place.

Callum has some tasty cavalry as well though, and some scary shooting if that crit 2 hits pops off.

Prediction: Andy has a slight psychological advantage having beaten down Callum’s DoT in  his round 4 bye game, I’m going for him to win.

Alden (CoS) vs Tom (BoK) 

This is the big one folks, 1st and 2nd place currently, going for that top spot.

Highly unusually for a HH league, 1st place is actually up for grabs, and Tom on debut could do it here.

Tom’s list is pretty much unchanged since the start, with a huge amount of wounds with ward saves on the board to gum up any opponent.

Alden has pivoted into a Cogfort which seems to have had a detrimental effect on his game plan (caveat again, TTS is not real).

Alden should never be underestimated however, and he is going to sweat hard to try and win this one.

Prediction: Alden to retain his crown, Tom will have to pry it from his cold, dead hands.

Me (FEC) vs Leo (Skaven)

The last time I played Leo’s 18 Rat Ogors I got absolutely battered, so I‘m concerned about this final game.

Last league I needed to beat Skaven to come 2nd, and I’m hoping I can do the same again here.

What I’m sure this game will be, is high scoring. 

Both our armies have tons of recursion, and the ability to be in all areas of the board, so it’s going to be tricky to stop the other side scoring points. That said, Leo often forgets to try and score his battle tactics, so that might help me.

Prediction: Leo to win, those Rat Ogors scare me.

Thanks everyone for taking part in this league, I might do a final blog with a round up and some arbitrary awards after we complete, see you in the next one!