The FIRST BOYL 4th Ed Battle!

On Friday Morning Quick Ben and myself headed up the M1 to the Foundry for BOYL2015 (sadly, due to traffic this 2 hour journey was doubled up to 4 hours - D'OH!).

Once there we hastily set about putting together a game of 4th Edition - yup, you read that right, 4th Edition! To the best of my knowledge this is the first time 4th has been played at BOYL and I was a little worried how it would be perceived as there is a large chunk of the community who turn their noses up at anything younger than 3rd Edition and certainly wouldn't dream of bringing a game of "Herohammer" to an "Oldhammer" event.

I really needn't of worried though as anyone who did stumble across our little game seemed to be interested and intrigued. The biggest turn off for many is the Magic system but everyone who watched it was waiting to see the Magic phases and see the big whiz bangs happen. I was so encouraged by the comments we received that I am definitely going to champion 4th Ed at future BOYL's. In fact, I'm hoping to be able to run the Battle for Maugthrond Pass next year replacing the plastics and cards with appropriate lead minis. I'm also hoping to run a little 4th Ed campaign if possible using the 5th Ed campaign rules.

Anyhow, enough bleating, here's a summary the game we played, Empire (Quick Ben) Vs. High Elves (myself) with some nice pictures taken on my ipad, a much improved camera than the one used to take previous BOYL photos in the previous 2 years!

The Empire set up

Pistoliers on one flank

Reiksguard on the other

A centrally placed hill held Crossbowmen, a Grey Wizard Champion and a Helblaster

Next to the hill was a unit of Halberdiers and a Gold Wizard

Lastly, just off centre was Reiksguard Foot, placed to defend a Great Cannon

The High Elf set up

My centre was held by Spearmen and a Repeater Bolt Thrower with a small unit of 6 Archers and another Repeater Bolt Thrower (out of shot)

A unit of Silverhelms lead by my General stand ready on one flank (opposite the Pistoliers)

Pheonix Guard hold my other flank, with a Mage on this side...............

................................ and a Mage Champion on the other

A Great Eagle waits for a signal to take flight behind a copse (so it didn't take flak!)

The Battle went something like this:

After an uneventful first turn (except the Great Cannon smashing one of my Bolt Throwers to bits) the first action is the Pistoliers charging my Silverhelms.

The Halberdiers march towards the Elves who hold back. Two Archers are lost to crossbow fire. My Phoenix Guard edge forward to draw the Reiksguard Knights on. My Mage hides in the woods.

Two Spearmen are lost to the Cannon

Two Silverhelms fall to pistol shot at point blank range

But kill three in return

The Pistoliers flee and manage to out run the Silverhelms. In the next turn they charged the Pistoliers again who flee the battle. The Silverhelms are left in a position where the Great Cannon could blast along their line.

The Phoenix Guard, having lured the Reiksguard Knights on, turn to move behind the safety of the woods, note, due to the turn they only have a frontage of 3. The Mage casts The Sanguine Swords with Total Power. In the first combat turn I attempted to kill the Empire General with little success. In the next two turns I used it to assassinate the two Empire Wizards, except the Grey Wizard used Escape to save his life.

The Great Eagle dives down onto the Cannon to prevent it blasting my Silverhelms. I had wanted to take out the Helblaster but I thought this was a greater threat at this particular moment in time.

The Reiksguard Knights had been cautiously making their way forward, trying not to be charged by my Phoenix Guard or shot up by my Bolt thrower.

The Eagle kills one of the crew who flew. I decide to stay put with my Eagle to stay out of the Helblasters sights.

The Phoenix Guard charge the Hallberdiers and the the Eagle, who charged the fleeing Cannon crew redirects his charge into the Halberdiers rear. If things weren't bad enough for the hapless fellows they also had a Fiery Convocation cast upon them, this coupled with a round of combat reduced their number to just their Standard Bearer.

The Silverhelms cast an ominous shadow as they reform to face the Rieksguard foot.

And look even more ominous from this angle

At this point Quick Ben knew his number was up and fired off his Helblaster into the combat. Killing his Standard Bearer and nine Phoenix Guard - ouch!

The Reiksguard Knights, depleted after Magic and Bolt Thrower bolts faced off against the majority of the High Elf army. The crew of the smashed up Bolt Thrower bravely try to stand between the Knights and their fellows

The Silverhelms crash into the Reiksguard Foot.

The Eagle circles high about the hill,working out where next to strike.

The Empire General stands alone, his brave Knights blasted apart by Magic and Bolt

The Silverhelms rout and catch the Reiksguard Foot, slaughtering them.

It was at this point the Quick Ben conceded defeat. This game was quite one sided but I did get a heck of a lot of luck (I think this was the new dice I bought the week before BOYL). It should be pointed out that Quick Ben is far from a bad General, his plans have given him victory more often than not in our games over the years we've been playing. It just seemed that everything came together for me in this battle. The sweeping flank on one side worked wonders and the fainted attack on the other slowed the Empire's Knights down enough to still draw them on but make them very cautious. Even my unmoving centre drew the Halberdiers out of the battle line. If only all games could run so smoothly.................................