Alamo GT 2031: Round #4 - High Elves

For the start of Day 2, I would be facing off against Shayne Wharton and his High Elf army. Shayne's army was a pretty standard High Elf list - not fully optimized, but also not weak. His list included:

• Loremaster of Hoeth (330 pts) (General, Armor of Caledor, Dawnstone, Dispel Scroll, great weapon, heavy armor)
• Archmage (295 pts) (Level 4, Lore of High Magic, Book of Hoeth, Gem of Sunfire)
• Noble (346 pts) (Battle Standard Bearer, Ring of Fury, Golden Crown of Atrazar, Enchanted Shield, lance, dragon armor, Griffon)
• Spearmen (341 pts) (34 models, full command, Gleaming Pennant)
• Silver Helms (146 pts) (6 models, musician and standard bearer)
• Silver Helms (146 pts) (6 models, musician and standard bearer)
• White Lions of Chrace (336 pts) (22 models, full command, Banner of the World Dragon)
• Frostheart Phoenix (240 pts)
• Frostheart Phoenix (240 pts)
• Great Eagle (50 pts)

Alamo GT 2013: Round #2 & Round #3

I have already made mention that I wouldn't be doing full battle reports for these two rounds. One reason, is that the pictures from Round 2 and the notes/everything from Round 3 are fuzzy and didn't provide enough for me to do full re-caps. Second, the games themselves were very boring from a playing/generalship sense which means that the games don't lend themselves to full write-ups. Thus, I feel these shorter re-caps do a little bit better job of setting out the games and what happened.

Alamo GT 2013: Round #1 - Chaos Dwarves

How do you properly start a tournament? By playing Chaos Dwarves of course! For my Round 1 opponent I played Michael McGuire. I snuck a picture of him when he was too busy looking at his army for deployment.








I don't have a copy of his army list, but from what I remember (and what the pictures tell me) he had the following models/units:

•  K'dai Destroyer
• 2 Units of Chaos Dwarves with Fireglaives
• Large horde of Chaos Dwarves
• Level 4 Spellcaster
• Battle Standard Bearer
• Magma Cannon
• Death Rocket
• Hell Cannon
• Iron Daemon

Now that is a lot of firepower to bring to bear on a poor hapless Dark Elf army like mine. How did the game go, let's dive in and see how it progressed.

Alamo GT 2013: Results

Alamo GT results are up and be check out here if you so desire. With this post, I want to breakdown my score for this year, as well as compare it to my performance last year.

This year, I placed 18th, a surge of about 30 spots from last year's more middling finish.

I ended up with a total score of 203, broken down as follows: 64 battle points (out of 100), 61 points in sportsmanship (out of a possible 80, but highest sportsmanship this year was 72), 68 in paint (out of a possible 80, but highest paint score this year was 76), 10 "seguin" points for turning in my army list on time and making it to all of my games on time, and no fluffy votes. I want to take a closer look at each category and see how I ended up with each score.

Alamo GT 2013: Army List

Here is my official army list for the 2013 Alamo GT taking place in San Antonio, Texas. After finding out that I get to use the old Dark Elf army book for one last time, I decided to play something disgusting and ridiculous. I expect to play all the worst army lists at the tournament, including I am sure, several ugly Daemon armies and Empire all cavalry builds. I expect to lose gloriously, drink profusely, mock the attendees indiscriminately, and above all, have a great time. When I get back, don't be expecting any posts about me winning any awards. It's just not going to happen this year with how much of a rock-paper-scissors this list is, and how low I expect to be comped for the first couple rounds. This is the list I devised and turned in to tournament personnel, it is similar to the list I took to Quake this year, but with the changes I wanted to make after losing two games:

Alamo GT 2013: Scenario Review

The Alamo GT is almost upon us (Yay!). Today, I will be going over the Alamo GT scenarios and explain my plan to get the bonus points from each scenario. Let's dive in.

Standard rules for all scenarios: Normal 12" deployment with 100 victory points to win. A win net's 16 battle points for the scenario, a draw nets 8, and a loss 4. Each scenario has a bonus objective worth 4 battle points. So, if a person wins all their games and gets all the bonus points they will recieve 100 battle points. Looking at the scenarios, I don't expect this to happen. Actually, I don't expect anyone to even get all of the bonus objective points. They are just that difficult to get.

Alamo GT Update

So with lists due only a few days away, I received an e-mail that the old Dark Elf army book would be used at the tournament to give the Dark Elves a final going away party. With that, I need to start working on an army list from the prior book and wipe my mind of all the awesome new rules the Dark Elves got. I hope to have a first run army list up and ready for review tomorrow.

I know that it will be similar to the army I took to QCR 2013 (as it is already painted, but will have some minor item changes on things I found to be less useful, and include some unit changes to make the army fit more of a specific play-style rather than the mishmash I had at QCR with a combination of fight, shoot, and flight.

Dark Elf Army List (Update #2)

Here is the most recent army list that I am beginning to tinker with:

Lords: (601/625 points)
Dreadlord (291 points)

• Lance, Heavy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Charmed Shield, Cloak of Twilight, Dawnstone, Dark Pegasus

Supreme Sorceress (310 points)

• Level 4, Lore of Death, Dark Steed, Talisman of Preservation, Dispel Scroll

Heroes: (560/625 points)
Death Hag (290 points)

• Cry of War, Cauldron of Blood

Master (157 points)

• Battle Standard Bearer, Ring of Hotek, Heavy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Shield

Master (113 points)

• Heavy Armor, Sea Dragon Cloak, Shield, Lance, Dragon Bane Gem, Potion of Foolhardiness, Repeater Crossbow

Core: (745/625 points)
Witch Elves (375 points) (30 models with full command, Banner of Swiftness (+1 movement))
Dark Riders (110 points) (5 models with musician, shields and repeater crossbows)
Dark Riders (110 points) (5 models with musician, shields and repeater crossbows)
Darkshards (150 points) (10 models with musician, standard with Banner of Eternal Flame)

Special: (1244/1250 points)
Executioners (336 points) (28 models with full command)
Shades (108 points) (6 models with great weapons)
Cold One Chariot (115 points)
Cold One Chariot (115 points)
Reaper Bolt Thrower (70 points)
Reaper Bolt Thrower (70 points)
Reaper Bolt Thrower (70 points)
War Hydra (180 points) (Fiery Breath)
War Hydra (180 points) (Fiery Breath)

Rare: (375/625 points)
Bloodwrack Medusa (90 points)
Doomfire Warlocks (125 points)
Kharibdyss (160 points)

Right now with my beginning first list of models that I like, I am well over points (but at least with appropriate ranges). Putting everything I want puts me at over 3500 points so I still need to cull about 1000 points from the list. I don't want to drop the two combat blocks, and because I am taking witches I want to take the Cauldron. I really like the Doomfire Warlocks (and they let me get away with not having a Level 2 mage). I am looking at dropping the core to exactly 625 points and the two chariots which frees up some points. The medusa is good against some armies, broken against others, and useless against others. But it is only 90 points, so who knows? I could easily make up the points by dropping the Dreadlord, but then the Leadership monsters also have to go as none of them are Immune to Psychology and I really like them.

I could switch to a heavy shooting build that drops the witches, but then the executioners will get all the focus. I just need to sit down and test lists to see what works and what doesn't.

Dark Elf Army List (Update #1)

With this progression of posts I will show what I am currently adding to my army list for the Alamo GT at the start of November. Each update will include new units, changes, and reasons why I felt the need to add or drop items, units, etc.

Here are the units that I am currently planning on bringing to the Alamo GT:

Alamo GT 2012 - Armies, Models, and Tournament Scores

Well, as is no surprise after reading my battle reports, I pulled a middling place in the 2012 Alamo GT. My overall score was 189 points out of a maximum 270 points. The highest overall total this year was 227 points and the lowest was 125 points. Thus, my performance pretty much right in the middle of the pack when the points spread is taken into account. A full list of results is available here. As no one actually got all 270 points I don't feel as ashamed in my performance, but this was not one of the better tournaments for me. Let's take a look at my overall performance and breakdown.

In total I got 189 points. 47 of those points were Battle Points from my game. This is easily the area where I could have, and should have picked up some more points. Even picking up 12 more points from winning two of the other games (assuming I only won by 100+ and not 500+) would have moved me into top 25 territory (a place I am much happier with). But alas, it was not to be this tournament.

I picked up 65 points for sportsmanship. The maximum was 80 points and everyone started with 64 points which means that I managed to get a best opponent vote from one of my opponents and did not get any bad game votes during the entire tournament. I am always pleased to be some one's best game of the tournament and getting at least 1 vote makes me feel good about my game interactions. Now I can work on getting 2 best opponent votes next year!

I managed to walk away with 66 points for army appearance. This was awesome! I am not a great painter and I know that I won't be getting any additional appearance votes so I was stoked to get this score. Especially as the painting score maxed at 72 and the remaining 8 points are gained from fluffy bunny votes. I got 1 fluffy bunny votes (for bringing a spear to a tank fight) from my opponents. I won't be getting much higher score than this in tournaments to come so I can't make up points here in the future.

Finally, I got all 10 of my Alamo points for providing my army list on time and playing all games in a timely fashion. I don't think anyone lost these points this year.

So all in all, an okay showing. But the easiest place to make up points would be to win more games and get the bonus objectives. If I can accomplish that, I can see a much better placing next year. Bring it on 2013 Alamo GT, I will be ready!!!

And without further ado, to finish out my 2012 Alamo GT wrap-up. Let's take a look at some of the amazing armies and models I was able to catch pictures of throughout the tournament.

My Wood Elf army for the Alamo GT 2012.

Some of Ed Phillips', from Leadership 2, amazing Skaven models.

Plague Furnace!

Lots and lots of conversions throughout the army.

Leadership 2's Jeff Seuss' Dragon Princes unit converted as White Lion Princes of Chrace.

And his Griffon riding lord!!!

Leadership 2's Michael Scaletti's all converted (and heavily greenstuffed) Chaos Trolls.

So creepy looking. I would not want to come across this unit in an alleyway at night.

Can someone say 16" Hell Cannon, because that it what this giant, acid-spitting, worm-like hellbeast operates as in Mike Scaletti's army. This conversion is real masterpiece.

The army BSB!!! The freehand on the banner is absolutely amazing and I am afraid that my poor camera work just does not show of its majesty in enough detail.

Front view.

A nice looking empire unit that was entered in the best painted unit category. I like how there were several different unit fillers of different sizes and model count.

Leadership 2's Tony Pacheco's Vampire Lord entered into the best painted single miniature category. His whole army was contrasted in the purple and cream with silver armor and was quite a sight to behold.

Tony's Terrorgheist in the same army colors.

And his unit of Crypt Ghouls entered into the best painted unit category. I like his large unit fillers in the back which gives the entire unit more depth as it makes the back of the unit look like it is coming up over the top of the front rank.

A lone dwarf entered into the best single miniature category. The non-metallic metal work on this model was phenomenal.

A brightly, and nicely painted slann that showcases good use of yellow highlighting.

A fantastic Aracnarok Spider. This thing is just absolutely beautiful. The eyes are glazed over and make it look like there is really a creature there staring at you.

Finally, I found this great painted Ogre army that I just had to take pictures of and show off. The Ogre's hides showcase a real talent for layering and good color composition.

 

Well there you have it. The 2012 Alamo GT all finally wrapped up. Now I can't wait to start working on army projects for next year and have a better showing. And next year it won't take a month and a half to get everything up and posted.

Alamo GT 2012 - Round 5: Lizardmen

For Round 5, my final game at the Alamo GT 2012, I played Mathew Swinney and his solid Lizardmen army. This was a fierce and tactical game where I played as best I could, minimized my mistakes, capitalized on my opponent's mistakes, and was eventually destroyed by one turn of unlucky dice rolling. Seriously! I went from a draw to over a 500+ loss in a single turn from one magic phase. Read on to see how.

Alamo GT 2012 - Round 4: Empire

For the start of Day 2, I played Leadership 2's very own Michael Hengl. Michael is an excellent Warhammer Fantasy player (currently ranked #1 in the United States) whom I have had the pleasure of playing multiple times as we both travel to the same tournaments on the West Coast. Michael also helps run the Quake City Rumble tournament in San Francisco, CA. For this tournament, Michael was playing his brand new Empire army known as the "Witchhunters of Vargheim."

His list for the Alamo was as follows:

Alamo GT 2012 - Round 3: Ogre Kingdoms

For my final game of Day 1, I played Sean Bright and his Ogre Kingdoms army.

This is Sean. And he was a blast to play. He would eventually go on to win the Best Sportsman award for the tournament with a total of 4 Best Opponent votes (one of which was mine)!






Somehow I managed to lose his army list. So I don't actually have the magical items that he took with each unit. But I do remember the gist of the army. His Ogre Kingdoms army included the following:

Alamo GT 2012 - Round 2: Vampire Counts

For Round 2 of the Alamo I got to play Kevin Hopkins. I took a picture of him but it came out too blurry. Kevin, if you are reading this, I am sorry. I will try and take better pictures in the future. But the pictures of our game came out much better, so there is that.

Kevin is a nice, younger player, who was travelling for his first ever large GT-style tournament. Though travelling for him was a quick drive south as he lives and plays in Texas. He told me this was also his first five-game tournament so he was really looking forward to playing a lot of games against people he wouldn't normally have a chance to play (which I think is one of the best aspects of Warhammer tournaments).

Kevin was playing what I expect to become a pretty standard Vampire Counts list after the new FAQ, meaning that it had good units that could tie up other combat blocks while the two (yes, two) Terrorgheists screamed their undead hearts out. When I designed a similar army I went a little more scream heavy, and did not take the ghouls or a Strigoi, but for an all-comers list, I liked Kevin's design.

I also really enjoyed talking to Kevin throughout this game about tournaments, Warhammer, and other general nerd stuff. The start of Round 2 was when the beer maiden started making her rounds so Kevin and I were able to get in some drinking throughout the game which made us both a little bit more congenial and talkative. At one point I remember I was shouting at the Terrorgheists for their amazing luck (as you will soon see). As such, this game was the antithesis of my Round 1 game, and for that I was eternally grateful.

This was Kevin's Vampire Counts list:

Alamo GT 2012 - Round 1: Warriors of Chaos

I woke up a little tired (and possibly still a little drunk after the Friday night party bus) for Round 1. As such, I was looking forward to a relatively lighthearted first game which I thought I would receive because I was under the impression that the pairings were based on army composition and I had brought a relatively fluffy list. I was mistaken. Round 1 was relatively random unless you brought a completely over the top list in comparison to the other army lists around the room. Thus, Round 1 I played this Warriors of Chaos list:

Alamo GT 2012 - Overall Thoughts

I know that you, my avid readers, have anxiously been awaiting my thoughts on the Alamo GT. This post has taken a little longer than normal because I wanted to take a little bit of time to decompress and really focus on my experience at the tournament. Plus, work has kept me rather business with playing catch-up for missing two days.

When thinking about blogging about the tournament I had a hard time finding a good way to proceed. After a little consideration, I decided to break down the tournament into various categories so you can see my thoughts on each aspect of the tournament, as well as the tournament as a whole.

I'm Back

I have returned to the real world and am now back at home and also back at work (blah!). This past weekend was a whirlwind and I will be letting you in on my thoughts about the tournament itself, the scenarios, the armies, and my battles. But right now I am just too tired and too far behind at work. I only got back into town late last night so it will take me a few days to get pictures updated, sort through my notes, and then write and review my battle reports.

With that being said, I know you are interested in how I did overall. Although the exact scores are not posted yet (so I don't know where in the overall rankings I fell), I can tell you I did not win any awards. In fact, I managed to barely win a single game. Yes, that's right. After 5 games my record was a disappointing 1 win and 4 losses with the all fast cavalry army.

Without having my notes in front of me I know some of that is because of a few mistakes that cost me points when I didn't need to give any up. But, in reality, the biggest issue was that I brought a sharpened stick to a tank battle. The army lists this weekend (not only the ones I played, but the vast majority of them) were lists I would only ever expect at an 'Ard Boyz style event.

The army lists I saw can easily be broken down into this type of build mentality:

• If one unit of something was amazing, then two was even better.
• There is no such thing as maximum unit sizes anymore. If an army didn't have at least two units with 50 or more wounds in it then there was no point in bringing them at all.
• Combat, Combat, Combat!
• More Combat!!!

Looking back at my army design, I just wasn't prepared for this type of tournament play. But I lived and learned. And next year things will be a little different for the Wood Elves.