First Battle Report! Wood Elves vs Tomb Kings

Joey’s Battle Report: Wood Elves vs Tomb Kings

So this is my first ever battle against another player (rather than GW staff holding my hand through it) and I've been part of the hobby for about a month so my knowledge is not great and mistakes have been made :)

I walked into Games Workshop case in hand and nervous at the realisation that I wouldn’t be playing a staff member who would basically tell me what to do and how many dice to roll, but a real person with more experience than me and the desire to win as much as I did. My opponent was very nice to me and helped me set up and though we were both beginners I was clearly still new to even the earliest preparations required. I shakily took out my dryads and noticed Treevous -My Poor Treevous- hadn’t survived with limbs intact through the journey and I made a feeble attempt to make him whole again. He ended up Threevous. My treekin looked menacing and agitated and I made a point to place them as far forward as possible. “Take that TK chariots- I plan to mess you up” I said... to myself. I also asked for a wood and I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw one was already on the table. I exchanged a quick grateful glance with the manager thanking him for the comfort blanket that was my forest.

With all my units set up in the best way I could manage. We rolled. I won. My turn first.  (I forgot/didn’t write down what I rolled just what happened)

--==THE DEPLOYED ARMIES==--

First turn- Wood Elves
Movement- Dryads moved to the forest. Treekin to the front as my offensive. Glade guard to the left scouts the my other woods in the centre.

Magic- Level 1 Spellsinger casts tree singing; successfully move trees 2 inches forward!

Shooting phase- Took out four skeleton archers with my glade guard that were directly opposite. No wounds from my skirmish guard in the woods to the chariots- toughness was too high.... worth a shot...See what I did there?


Tomb King Turn 1
Movement- His Chariots charged my cavalry. I roll to flee and run 8 inches back to avoid that nasty impact damage... Score!

Magic- His liche tried to cast Ptra’s Incantation of Ricthous Smiting, which not only would give his archers 2x attacks, but regenerate dead solders! He had 7 power dice and I got 6 dispel dice. Since he only had a 1 level 1 wizard, I threw everything I had: double six - DISPELL!!

Shooting- One of my glade guard died- this made me sad/angry and momentary visions of melting my opponents miniatures flashed before my eyes before I regained self control. I did not melt his figures.
A failed charge from his chariots meant they could not shoot.

--== THE BOARD AT END OF TURN ONE ==--

Wood Elves- Turn 2
Movement- Charged treekin into chariots. It was glorious. I failed to rally my glade riders and they fled 12 inches and I lost all respect for them.
I moved glade guard 5inches to get into short range for my strength attack bonus. Boo yah.

Magic- moved the trees 3 inches forward providing more cover. My branchwraith’s (THREEVOUS!) attempt was dispelled. Rage images occurred- I in turn dispelled them.

Shooting- Killed 3 more skeletons with my glade guard.

Combat-  Treekin vs Charots. I got to roll 10 attack dice. as Mossen Chops is an Treekin elder. With this I destroyed one chariot.
Retaliation- 9 attacks failed. Horses Failed- Chariots suck.
TREEKIN STOMP! Oh  :bleep:! Stomp is amazing! I obliterated another chariot which caused the remaining dusty git to crumble due to losing the combat! A thank you!  - I have since learnt that stomp wasn't allowed here... I was miffed.

--== MOMENTS BEFORE THE CHARIOTS WERE DESTROYED BY MY STOMPIN' GOOD TREEKIN ==--

Tomb Kings Turn 2
Apophas- the sneaky sod rose up behind me to rear end my glade guard.
The massive heavy duty skeleton tomb guard moved to my treekin.

Magic- He resurrected 2 skeletons.

Shooting- I lost two glade guard :(

Combat- Viney face Treekin died. In retaliation I killed 2 of his unit and I suffered no further wounds due to ward save.

So this is where it starts to fall apart....

--== SNEAKY APOPHAS APPEARED FROM BENEATH THE SANDS! ==--

Wood Elves Turn 3
I manage to rally my glade guard.
No movement required.
Magic (THIS IS WHERE I SHOULD HAVE USED HAIL OF DOOM ARROW! WHY DID I NOT?! WHY!?!) No... I use tree singing.

Shooting. Kill five Skeleton archers.

Combat. Only 1 killed Tomb Guard with my remaining two Treekin- My elder died and my other one ran. Treekin Gone.

--== HAHA HE HAS MORE DICE THAN ARCHERS NOW! ==--

Tomb King Turn 3
Shooting- Killed one of my skirmish glade guard in the woods.
Apophas’ breath attack killed 5 and ruined me. This made me flee and he cased me down and killed me! The scoundrel! My deep hatred of Apophas begins here. At least I took 3 of his 4 wounds off him!

--== SECONDS LATER THE WHOLE UNIT WAS ENGULFED IN SWARMING SCARABS AND DIED ==--

Wood Elves Turn 4
Movement- My dryads drag their asses from the woods and meet the tomb guard for combat.
Magic- Treesinging Dispelled.
Combat- 4 wounds curtsey of my dryads they take a heavy beating and flee 6 inches. Treevous/threevous in fairness wasn’t on top form that day. I forgive them.

As it stands. I have left;

50% Of my dryads left.
All 5 Glade riders
And 4 skirmish Glade guard.... It’s not looking good.

Tomb king remaining- Massive regenerating tomb guard of 23 including 2 characters. THIS IS WHERE I NEEDED HAIL OF DOOM ARROW YOU FOOL.  :facepalm:
Apophas
6 skeleton archers.

Tomb kings Turn 4
He flew (oh god he can FLY!) Apophas into a gap between my two units.
I dispelled his regeneration attempt.
Shooting- 1 scout gone from  arrow fire. They took a leadership test and aced it. Good boys.

--== APOPHAS SETS THE TRAP ==--

Wood Elves Turn 5
I moved my glade riders in a circle around the tomb guard with the idea of shooting them and running away if they shot me. Sadly this moved them pretty close to the ticking time bomb that was his secret weapon. The biggest mistake of the match here is killing Apophas... because he :bleep: exploded into a cloud of scarabs killing 3 of my glade riders, which ran away in fear and 1 scout, leaving just two who continue to stick it out by passing the leadership test.

--== AND THIS WAS THE SCENE AFTER THE DAMAGE WAS DONE ==--

About here it’s been 4 and a half hours and I have no spellsinger- no treekin- 5 dryads running for their lives and 2 badass scouts left standing proud for me.
So I call the game- I need food. There’s no coming back from this. He beat me. So I shake his hand, give my remaining guys a slight nod of pride and telepathic “it’s ok you tried” speech  and pack them away.

So here it is. My many mistakes and achievements and waiting it out too long and missing opportunities but I bloody enjoyed it and the victor bought me lunch. Well played sir... well played.