Another step closer to Clash

Things are going better than expected! With the exception of the trolls, I’ve now decided to go full model count on all my bases. Admittedly the Iron Beasts were already there, and I’ve now managed to complete the Braves (and there’s still enough space for one more plucky little dude), Wild Lancers and one regiment of Juggers. I’ve just got four Jugger models left to finish for a second regiment.

Ambition has been spurred, and I have even bigger dreams for what I can achieve in my dwindling time. I’m hoping to put together an alternative command crew for the Pride of the Shires that will make the army 100% Mantic, but that’s really dependent on when the models get printed and it won’t be the end of the world if they don’t arrive in time. A random visit to a charity shop also turned up a very cheap and appropriately sized picture frame, which means I’m suddenly trying to squeeze in a basic display board as well. This project has definitely grown wings, and I’m quite excited about it.

Whilst things are going pretty well on the hobby table, I’ve also been able to fit in a couple of practice games. On Sunday I faced off against a particularly punchy Trident Realms force with loads of toads, a couple of frogs and some absolutely beautiful titans. We played the Raze scenario, which was a great change of pace as I’ve played it for ages.

There were plenty of standout moments. In particular the Troll Gunnery Captain played a pretty pivotal role. His shooting contributed to a turn one waiver of the Coral Giant, the giant shrimp thing in the pictures below, and he managed to keep a toad mounted champion grounded for a couple of turns. All in all, he proved useful, but I’m not sure I’m quite getting the most out of him at the moment (six games on the trot next weekend should fix that though).

I think it’s fair to say the poor coral giant certainly didn’t have the best game, following up the first round waiver with a round of combat that would have been worthy of a sleeping regiment of goblins. Given the opportunity of stomping all over an injured Greedyguts and then being able to trash a regiment of grenadiers, all in the same turn the poor creature manged to roll a double one for extra attacks and then proceed to miss with all of them except one. Greedyguts shrugged off the damage and held the giant in place giving the troll captain, Juggers and The Pride of the Shires a flank charge which polished off the hapless creature.

Not everything went the Halflings way. A horde of trolls got devoured by a Kraken in the process of securing an objective. Meanwhile the units deployed on the right-hand side of the table got tied up in an extended combat that saw most of them leave the table, denying them the chance to grab an objective carefully guarded by some Gigas.

Whilst the Halflings managed to sweep away many of the creatures of the sea the game still came down to a tense final couple of turns as Dambuster toad riders and Gigas valiantly held onto two objectives in the centre. By this stage the Trident Realms had collected three objectives, and the Halflings held two. When the coral giant fractured and collapsed the momentum of the victory crashed into the toad riders sending them running, securing a third objective, but could they take a fourth to win the day.

It would all come down to the roll for turn seven… alas there was to be no victory for the halflings that day and the game ended at the end of turn six, denying the halflings a win and making them share a well fought draw with their opponents. An absolutely great outcome.

With two test games under my belt and a final one this Sunday, I’m rapidly reacquainting myself with the little people and thoroughly enjoying it.

Have a great week.

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