Tales of a winner! part 1

Hi all

First things first, just to let my Secret Santa know, I have received a package from you! It is now sitting in da Grotto under the games table waiting to be opened on Christmas morning, thank you in advance.

Now, as you know Rulez and I went to a Bushido tournament recently (and we're still buzzing from it!). We did pretty well considering our relatively newness to the game itself and the tournament scene as well.  I came a respectable fourth place and managed that with a balanced "fluffy" list using my favourite models in the Temple of Ro-Kan faction.  Rulez went even further and topped the leader board.  But you know all of this from my previous post, so why am i banging on about it again? Well I asked Rulez to write up his games for the blog as he had taken notes following each game.  These notes he used to analyse how he was playing and take away with him to see how he could improve, they're also mighty handy for writing up as small AARs! After reading through his reports I was disappointed that I hadn't written up notes for a more detailed report myself, however I do remember the broad strokes of the games and obviously the outcomes as well as having some pictures so what I will do is write up a narrative of the games as a story and let you pick the details out of it if you want. I hope you enjoy them.

First I'll hand you over to Rulez and he can take you through his games.  There is an assumption by Rulez that you know a little about the game although you might not know names etc. The photos are taken from his FB posts regarding the tournie....

Rulez sets up his first game, with a familiar looking Gobbo in the background...

Scenario: Idols

Opponent: Pirates of Jung

Going into the tournament I thought this would be my hardest scenario with three idols in the middle of the board and not normally any cover close by, with only 4 models scoring the first VP would be almost impossible. So here is how it went.

Turn 1

I put the two spirit block tokens on the Temo (a pirate Pygmy with a blowpipe) as I wasn't sure who to put them on as I have never played pirates. I made Bikou souless. I can't remember who won the tactical roll but I did use all my pass tokens up first as the Pirates advanced towards the middle of the table.

By the end of the turn Shizuka was at the base of the idol on my left. With Bikou slightly behind in cover providing ranged support. She had already killed Sho with Hail of Steel. Kouhui had wounded another Pirate but I cannot remember who. The Pirates had a model in BTB with all 3 models. The middle idol had just one model beside it and I was hoping to remove that with Kouhui's hail of steel ki feat in Turn 2. Turn other 2 idols towards me with Shizuki and katsumi and hopefully remove another model with Bikou's Hail of Steel.

Turn 2

Pirates play an event card where no ranged attacks can be used this turn. There goes my plans. He also wins the tactical roll and does the ki feat Lure from Suien(I think thats the models name, I can't find it on the website) on Katsumi, which menas I have to activate him next and move towards her. She runs towards my deployment zone. I then have to move Katsumi towards her. This now means I won't be able to turn the idol on my left. With 3 models in BtB with the idols, Zephr by the left, Korusea by the right and kohanin in the middle, I decide I have to let this VP go the other players way and focus on dwindling the pirates numbers.

By the end of the turn all 3 idols are facing towards my opponent. I have removed a Kohanin and wounded Korusea with Shizuki. Katsumi has moved back towards the centre idol. Kouhui removed the kohanin at the centre idol and was in BtB with it, but not before the Kohanin turned the idol. Took both activations to kill him. Then after turning the idol on left Zephyr went into melee with Kouhui and she was exhausted and surprised, causing 2 wounds.

VP to the Pirates and as all idols had been turned once the Pirates player wisely chose the idol on my left to remove.

Turns 3 & 4

I've put these two turns together, as you can imagine its from memory, as there is no time to take detailed notes due to being on the clock.

A lot happens in these two turns. I lose Shizuki in turn 3, can't remember who killed her. I killed the Korusea and Zephyr in turn 3. Suien dies by Hail of Steel after revealing herself after meleeing one of my ninja's in Turn 4. Temo wounds 2 of my ninja's with his bow but I can't remember which ones. I turn the middle idol towards me so the VP is not rewarded to either of us, as we have an idol facing each other. The middle idol is removed as it has had most interactions.

 

Turn 5

By the end of this turn the remaining kohanin dies leaving Just Temo left. He try's to tie up Katsumi and Bikou with his ZoC but Bikou uses her push attack to push him away and Kouhui and Katsumi Turn the remaining Idol to face me.

Turn 6

With just Temo left facing 3 ninj'as I declare that I'll just tire him out in melee as I won the tactical roll. My oppent says you might aswell kill him then the game ends and you'll still get the VP so tha'ts what I did.

I pulled what I thought was going to be a loss into a 1-1 draw. I was pleased with that. I can tell you. Scoring 5 points a piece.

Game 2

Scenario: Keii

Opponent: ITO using the Lords of Izu theme

Going into this game I was on the 5^th table meaning I was 9^th or 10^th in the standings after my 1-1 draw from my first game. I spirit blocked Satoshi straight away, as he was the main man in Ben's warband. I didn't know at the time that this model has a Ki feat that allows him to refresh 3 of his model's one state better, effectively giving 3 more activations.

Turn 1

Again I start this game using my pass tokens up. I have made Bikou soulless this turn. Shizuki didn't pass a ki test meaning she couldn't use ki feats this turn, which was a bummer as the terrain on this table would let me easily use her Ki feat shadow walk.

The ancestor channels ki to Satushi this turn and he focuses to gain Ki and I see what a bummer it is to play aginst the ki feat “battle stations”. I also realise being outnumbered by 2 models and battle stations effectively gives my opponent 5 more activations than me. I again have to face the reality that I will lose the first VP and decide my best chance like in idols is to whittle down their numbers and sacrifice the first VP. Kouhui lets fly a shuirken and misses and on her next activation uses hail of steel to no effect. I hit but unable to score wounds. My dice rolls were awful. Bikou had no targets as the Ito player moved up my left flank and held back on the left.

I move up the left side of the table, this was always going to be my tactic as with 4 models I can't control all 6 idols but as its prayer 5 tokens I don't need to. Just need to pray at the enemies idols by turns 4 & 6.

smoke bomb!

Turn 2

Kouhui again is useless and Bikou can't use ki feats this turn as she failed the ki test this time around. I make Shizuki soulless this turn. Ben pray's with one of his Ito at my friendly idol on my right. I do not pray this turn just try and whittle down some models. Also going forward I have one more prayer token now so hopefully I get the next VP in turn 4. I'm sure I remove one model this turn from my Ito opponent but I can't remember which one. The ancester also melee's Shizuki this turn and I say I'll mirage away but my opponent points out that his player is soulless too so it'll go to a tie breaker and he will win so I don't and suffer a wound for trying to sidestep away. Bikou moves up the table and shoots a shuriken at Satoshi scoring one wound and as Ben ran his bodyguard model behind satoshi her back was turned towards so couldn't use that to protect him. More positioning goes on this turn.

VP to Ito.

Turns 3

A lot happen's in this turn. Firstly I try to disenage Shizuki from the ancester and I roll one dice in attack and 2 dice in defence. I roll 3 one's!!! Shizuki dies instantly. Kouhui Kill's 2 model's with Hail of steel, the second thanks to poison in the end phase. This is the model that prayed last turn and this turn prays twice at the idol before he dies, scoring 6 scenario points. Bikou again not able to use ki-feats this turn manages to pray at an idol. Katsumi moves to the other enemy idol this turn and Ben moves Satoshi within 2” of him ready for next turn.

Ito Bushi vs Bikou

Turn 4

I win the tactical roll for this one and I make Bikou soulless and Katsumi loses his ki test so can't use Ki feats this turn.

My first action as active player is to put a smoke bomb on Satushi. This allows Katsumi to surprise attack him. With his powerful attack he kills him in one go. Bikou takes out Chiyo with hail of steel and prays again at an enemy idol. Making it 6 scenario points a piece. This makes Ben move to a neutral idol and prays to score 8 points but I run Kouhui to an enemy idol and pray with him.

Scenario points 9 to Ninja's 8 to Ito. VP to Shadow Wind Clan.

Turn 5

Time was running out fast so with Ito only having 2 model's left I pray this turn. Twice. And moved around the board avoiding his models.

Turn 6

Turn 6 starts just before time runs out and we stop play as Ben can't beat or match my scenario points of 6 so admits defeat.

With Kouhui's poor start I thought I was heading for another draw to be honest especially after losing Shizuki so magnificiently. But Kouhui came into his own again and removing Satoshi swung things in my favour and I managed a 2-1 win.

Game 3 and 4 will be in the next post...

hope you enjoy

dGG