Feast of Blades: Overcoming my faction A.D.D.

About a month from now I will be attending feast of blades. My intention between Lock'N'Load and now was to refine a 2 and 3 list combination for this event. However, faction A.D.D. prevailed and I found myself playing a lot of Skorne and a few games with Khador, Legion, and Minions. With the event coming up fast it's time for me to pull myself together and focus on 3 lists. Inevitably I am turning back to trolls. My relationship with this faction is akin to Chris Brown and Rihanna (I have some busted models to prove it). So here are the 3 lists I will be playing.

Hoarluk 1, Runes of War
Mulg
Earthborn
Mauler
Axer

Janissa
Full Krielstone w/UA
4 Units of Runeshapers

Grissel 1
Pyre
Storm
Impaler

Horthol
Saxon
Full Longriders
Full Kriel Warriors w/UA and 3 Cabers
Full Krielstone w/UA
Min Champions

Grim 1
Earthborn
Bomber
Slag
Impaler

Full Boomhowlers
Full Bushwhackers
Sons of Bragg
Whelps

Runes of War needs no intro I will likely play it in hardcore and it will be my go to list in other events. The Queen of the Red Sea, she is a fantastic longrider caster and my mindset on Troll pairings is you need 1 beast brick and 1 longrider caster. Grim is hanging out in case I manage to snag a spot in masters. However, he may get swapped in for the 2 list event if I see an overwhelming number of certain factions.

Playing trolls competitively can be a challenge at times, this is largely due to trolls lacking an over-all focus. As a troll player you often find your options to be mediocre at best, to get the most out of trolls you have to position well, know your casters good/bad match-ups inside out, and be able to pass multiple mental command checks.

The challenge of playing the trolls well is what always brings me back. Positioning is an important part of this game, but when you are a medium base synergy faction it is even more important. We also suffer from poor defensive stats which means often times positioning is the only way we can reduce casualties outside of an absurd tough streak. My positioning is not the greatest, to combat this I have chosen lists that each have a denial element that helps cover my deficiencies and I don't have an outrageous amount of infantry.

List chicken and match-ups are a very entertaining portion of the game for me. I like to have balanced lists that can stand a chance even in a bad match-up. Trolls tend to have a hard time against hard denial or board control, this is why Hoarluk is my go to caster. He has the staying power to endure the punishment and eventually push back hard. However even Hoarluk has some terrible match-ups, primarily dude spam which both Grim and Grissel can cover well enough. There are also certain scenario's where trolls have a difficult time competing. Trolls do not enjoy dividing their forces due to their synergistic theme. Grissel has long threat ranges, her feat, and the hoof it fell call to make it very difficult for the enemy to determine where she is going to apply force. Grim brings enough guns that when backed by his feat the enemy has to accept that they will suffer heavy casualties if they want to remain relevant in scenario.

I feel mental command checks are a big portion of this game. We have all had situations where we lose a large portion of our army, or are completely tilted by a feat or ability. It is extremely easy to just give in and scoop. Trolls as a faction have a built in mental command check for both you and your opponent, tough. One thing to keep in mind when you are about to roll your command check, trolls can do a lot of work with a limited number of models, and if nothing else you can grab another scenario point or kill a few more models to help with those tie breakers!

I hope some of you find my ramblings on trolls in the competitive arena helpful in your own adventures. After feast of blades expect to see a Hindsight's 20/20 article where I talk about my failures and hopefully what I learned in the process.

Turn over a new leaf

A few months back I picked up a new faction, Khador, which means trolls have been left in the bag for quite some time now. This has been my first venture into a new faction (I don't count my early venture into Cryx since I only bought a battle box) and it has been a real eye opener. Since playing Khador I have had a growing worry that my Trolls just could not compare to my Khador army.

After playing Khador for a month or two I started playing some pick up games with the Trolls and had a really hard time building a list. Infantry, beasts, solos, I began doubting each piece in the army even our warlock choices. I decided I would need to go back to basics once again and try to re-learn how trolls play. So I deleted all of my old lists in iBodger and turned to the forces of Trollbloods book.

I found myself staring at pGrissel's theme force and I had a thought, Fell Callers are amazing 2 point combat solo's. So I began building some lists based on this theory and am very pleased with what I came up with. After playing the 25pt and 35pt versions I knew I was on the right track to understanding my Trolls in a new and possibly better way.

Blood Of Bragg T1 25 points

God frowns on eMadrak, Grissel wins.

So I was hired to play eMadrak in the dire-bracket playoffs and it went about as well as expected given my experience level with trolls.

So I've not played trolls much before and it really showed in my performance. EMadrak is hands down the best caster in the troll force and he died to the pesky girl troll. I think if I had a few more games under my belt I would've won. I took it to the wire even though I don't think I cast a spell or animus besides War Path the entire game.

I played:

Dire Brackets pDoomy vs Grissel

Grissel and Doomshaper had a long history of being at adds with each other.  Though he didn't like to admit it Hoarluk almost respected her and her unique abilities, it was too bad really that she lacked the ruthlessness needed to help him and his Dire Trolls Survive.  Leaping at the opportunity to show her a thing or two Hoarluk jumped at the opportunity to help her with some Wargames between their forces.  He would teach this so called female fel caller a thing or two once and for all.

She had to admit that Hoarluk was fearsome indeed.  His newfound kinship to the Dire Trolls was both amazing and terrifying.  Needing to understand his ways better and wanting to get some needed experience to her troops she offered up some games with the old Troll.  As they arrayed against each other her heart fell a little seeing her Champion Hero 'Eric The Red' fighting on Horthol's side... she told herself it didn't matter since she would never go down that round again anyway and made special note to walk by Gort the LongRider closest to her to let him know what his first order of business would be.  Eric would learn the hard way it appeared.

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Shaman of the Gnarls (-7)
*Dire Troll Bomber (10)
*Dire Troll Bomber (10)
*Troll Impaler (5)
Fell Caller Hero (3)
Janissa StoneTide (3)
10xKriel Warriors (6)
*3xKriel Warrior Caber Tosser (3)
*Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper (2)
Stone Scribe Chronicler (2)
Trollkin Champion Hero (3)
10xTrollkin Scattergunners (8)
*Scattergunner Officer & Standard (2)


Grissel Bloodsong (*5pts)
* Pyre Troll (5pts)
* Troll Axer (6pts)
Kriel Warriors (Leader and 5 Grunts) (4pts)
* Kriel Warrior Standard Bearer & Piper (2pts)
Krielstone Bearer and 3 Stone Scribes (3pts)
* Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder (1pts)
Pyg Burrowers (Leader and 9 Grunts) (6pts)
Trollkin Fennblades (Leader and 9 Grunts) (8pts)
* Trollkin Fennblade Officer & Drummer (2pts)
Trollkin Long Riders (Leader and 2 Grunts) (7pts)
Fell Caller Hero (3pts)
Horthol, Long Rider Hero (5pts)
Janissa Stonetide (3pts)

Our board had a 6" forest on each side of the table on each players left hand with two walls right in the middle perpendicular to our deployment and about 12" apart.  Grissel rolled highest and chose to go first.

Deployment
Grissel ~ He put his Longriders on his right accross from the forest on my side of the table.  His Kreils right in the middle right and Fenns middle left, Pyre Troll on their right side Axer on their left framing in the Stone and Grissel Directly behind the Kriels His Burrowers he would later AD by his forest accross from my Scattergunners.
pDoomy ~ My scattergunners I put opposite from his LR away from my forest to allow them to try and gain a flank, to my dismay he later AD his Burrowers accross from them..  My Kriels I put in the middle but stretched them to the forest.  pDoomy I also put on my left away from his LR Bombers accross from either wall with the Impaler and support solos spread out in back.

Turn 1
Grissel ~ He would run his Kriels right up the middle.  His Burrowers alos ran but not quite thier full distance.  Grissel would dump it all on the stone and hoof the Kriels.  Long Riders advance and Horthol runs up his right side of the table using the forest on my side to keep him well hidden from my ranged.  Stone activates and moves up behind the Kriels with Grissel and Janissa right in the middle of the table with the axer on their left.

Horthol Chuckled at her aggressiveness, she was good he had to admit.  Though she had misjudged slightly.  One of his Bomber's instantly reacted to his prompting as the Impaler increased its range.  The laughter from the Bomber was eery as his exploding kegs landed amist the Pygs.

pDoomy ~ Wondering what I'm going to do with Fenns and burrowers going up that side I decide to allow him the flank on the Horthol side and commit to trying to take out the Burrowers and Fenns.  Far Striked Bomber does his job by killing a Fenn and Three Burrowers.  My Kriels go for the counter jam and I run four of the way up leaving them rest back as far as I can to counter.  My Fel Caller and Hero move to countercharge the LR and Horthol. My scattergunners Advance. pDoomy puts Banishing Ward on the Kriels and Fortune on the Scattergunners.

Turn 2
Grissel ~ His Fenns Vengeance then the Burrowers Burrow.  The stone pops the aura and his Kriels go after mine but in most cases there are no lanes so its a move to attack killing a few Kriels.  Fenns go next charging a couple of Scattergunners the rest are out of range. Horthol runs around the forest going for the flank.  His LR charge one going for a Kriel the other going for my hero that was just a hair too close.  Kriel warrior lives, Hero and LR reduce each other to one wound.  Grissel puts hoof it on the Fenns and moves up a little Janissa walls and Axer frames her in then feats.  Fenns Hoof it up and engage most the Scattergunners. His Pyre lobs at my bomber and lights it on fire and my Krieltough rolls.

Matching her aggressiveness with his own shouldn't have been so unexpected.  Old Doomshaper was crafty though and seemed to beging to exploit every weakness she presented him.  Stepping up a little closer Grissel begain calling her Cacophony to remedy the situation.  Seeing the old Troll try to shake the buzzing from his ears she knew she had at least taken care of his ability to take over her own beasts.

pDoomy ~ I start with my own Kriels who kill a few Kriels.  Bombers toss some bombs taking out one LR and his Kriels all tough their faces off.  Scattergunners start with the two in back that arent engaged and start spraying freeing up their buddies who then return the favor by spraying some more leveling most of the Fenns. pDoomy can't do much so he shifts to the corner of the killbox behind some Scattergunners and Janissa walls. My Fel Caller charges horthol failing the charge by a hair but getting in Horthols way.

Turn 3
Grissel ~ Grissel decides to be a jerk and calls cacapohony again His Kriels and mine change blows again.  His now popped up burrowers go to town on a Bomber and Impaler nearly killing them both. Then his axer finishes them both off along with a couple burrowers.  Horthol fails to kill my Fel Caller but hurts him and his LR finishes off a Kriel and my Hero. 
pDoomy ~ My Scattergunners move around and clear out nearly all the burrowers.  My remaining Kriels take out some of his and get in his LR way.  My Fel Caller dismounts Horthol. My remaining bomber drops one on Janissa reducing her to 1 wound, then she tough rolls. pDoomy shifts around a little and feats.

More annoyed than anything else about disrupting sonic abilities Hoarluk pulled at the strands of magic connecting to Grissel and her beasts.  He would make her pay horribly for attempting to cast any spells near him.  Looking up at her, he saw that she understood what had just happened.  She just set her jaw and called her disrupting Cacophony yet again in defiance.

Turn 4
Grissel ~ Grissel moves up to try and Calamity pDoomy but misjudges the distance so He decides to go after my bomber with his Axer and hurts it a little.  His Pyre lights a few things on fire and the Kriels continue killing each other.  His stone scribes join the fun and put another small dent in my Bomber but are unable to free up the Kriels blocking his LR.  Horthol finishes off the Fel Caller who tough rolls. 
pDoomy ~ This is it so I give it a go.  Scattergunners lay into Grissel hurting her much less than I had hoped.  Doomy charges Grissel and reduces her to four wounds but she still has two fury left on her.  Bomber takes a free strike from the Axer then punches Grissel twice but through transfers neither of her beasts is dead and she remains standing.

Hoarluk could not believe that so many shots from his scatterguns and even swings from his own Staff had not put her into the ground.  He knew he had hurt her, but she still clung to her chance at victory stubbornly.  Hearing his Bomber howl in rage he knew that luck had been on her side as he looked up at her Axer's upraised axe and her own Maul ready to swing in.

With Grissel and her Axer in pDoomy's face and no fury for transfers I conceded him the match.

Grissel just shook her head amazed at his Audacity.  Even in Defeat that old Troll would not yeild her the victory.   She just hoped that something had been learned by all else involved in the mock battle.  Even Eric The Red Fought off a charging Long Rider to seemingly defy her.  Angrily she stomped up to her tent only to come upon Eric.  Eric said nothing to her just nodded Grimly as he handed her a mug of the best ale available.  No dobt brewed by his Pygmy friends the whelp ale was just what she needed.  As she began to refuse him, Eric walked away not even allowing her to chance to refuse the ale.  Not willing to give him the victory she drank the contents of mug in one large group and aimed it at the back of his head... 

Dire Bracket - Goris - Grissel

So Grissel has been chosen for me to face off against the other mighty warlocks in the Trollblood arsenal and I couldn't have been happier because it gave me the opportunity through vassal to field a tier 4 Grissel army with all the kriels and pygs that my heart so desires!  After a little thought though for the sake of the results I decided a more balanced take all comers list would be preferable.  So instead of 50 Warrior models on the table I will have a little more Balanced approach to this competition.  So, TheGreatBlah, you have been spared a horrible pokey death by 28 Kriel Warriors.

The general consensus about Grissel is that she is a scenario MONSTER, which she is, but, she sufferers in kill box because she is more of a Grind Character then most and has a hard time assassinating things because she doesn't run beast heavy.  I've tried to bring a few heavy hitter in my lists here to help with that deficiency.  This works in theory but you'll see over the coarse of these balanced lists if it works out.

Crushing Crescendo: A Grissel Guide

Crushing Crescendo: A Grissel Guide
by Saerko

When I first picked up my friend’s copy of Primal to see about this “Hordes” jive he was spewing, I was having a hard time deciding what faction to play. I hate elves, so Legion was out immediately, and Circle was never going to fit my aggressive, melee-oriented playstyle. So it came down to Skorne and Trollbloods, and I was on the verge of picking up a Skorne army when I leafed through the Trollblood section again and decided to take a look at Grissel Bloodsong a little bit closer.

There was no turning back.

“Why” you might ask, is Grissel that great? The answer is that Grissel can do everything. With melee ability only out-stripped by Borka and Madrak, support abilities equivalent to anything Calandra, Grim, or Doomshaper can bring to the table, a killer feat, a spell list to die for and denial usually reserved for Cryxian warcasters, there’s no list she can face that she doesn’t have an answer for. If some warcasters/warlocks can be thought of as Swiss Army Knives, she’s a fully loaded Leatherman. She has so much potential, I didn’t really feel up to the task of writing this guide, but I’m going for it anyway and hoping I can give you a glimpse at how I use her. This guide will by no means be exhaustive--it’s a starting point and you’ll have to take it from there.

Crushing Crescendo: A Grissel Guide List Making & Tiers

Crushing Crescendo: A Grissel Guide 
List Making & Tiers
by Saerko

List Building

I play most of my games at 35 and 50 points, so this section of the guide will focus on those two point levels. Rather than cover every single list you could possibly make (there are lots), I’ll just introduce the reader (you) to some of my favorites, say why I think they’re awesome, and also go into an in-depth analysis of her Theme list and the benefits gained at each Tier. I’ve got quite a bit of time in using her with her Theme and and without, and have won several tournaments with the ones I’m going to post. Each list does have weaknesses though, and it’s important to identify other warlocks or build lists to combat those weaknesses when noted, so that you don’t run up against a bad match-up and feel like you’re running uphill.

Bring the Pain!

So here is my shortlist of my new favorites in MKII. Yeah there are some other good and awesome things, Borka and Fenn Blades I'm looking at you two.

rMadrak - I have always loved him and his surefoot defense buffing goodness. Add in some Carnage and Snap fire and good gravy he is better than usual.

Grim Angus - A feat that is to die for, this Troll controls the battlefield better than he ever did in MKI. Now with the ability to grant hunter, a gun that will blow your shorts off, and a netgun that will make you wish you didn't get too close this Troll is the complete package for scenario play.

Sevwall's Fieldtest Thoughts - Warlocks

My thoughts on each model as it is now in MKII, with a list of potential Feedback possibilities if the model fails to live up to my expectations. I will try to evaluate all models as if it were the only rules they ever had, unless I am suggesting feedback, in which case I reserve the right to draw on old rules. I will revisit this later on.

Models I have not played with are left out.

Models rated 1 to 5.
1 = Total Junk
2 = Underpowered
3 = Balanced
4 = Overpowered
5 = Broken


Madrak - 3
Seems quite acceptable. Surefoot is a spectacular defensive spell, and as an upkeep it allows him to send people off under its effects without having to recast it every turn. Stonefall is a poor offensive spell, but really his axe is all he needs to affect things at range.

I am undecided if he needs any changes. I feel like he needs reach, but that may just be wishful thinking. I’m going to say he is probably fine as is.

pHoarluk - 2
Wow, he has really turned into a true denial caster. Purification is a nice ability, especially since it can remove animi now, and there are some nice defensive animi out there. Past that, he seems nice if a little underwhelming. He works well with beasts via Goad, but his offensive potential is very limited, and Death Sentence and Stranglehold are very short ranged for him. One major problem is that he needs to recast his upkeeps when he Purifys, and that he is often out of easy range to recast his spells. So range is a problem, and he is a tad underpowered…..

Possible feedback: Something as simple as a bond that turns a beast into a channeller seems reasonable. It lets him effect the battle without putting himself at too much personal risk. Since his repetoire of offensive spells is limited, this should not swing him over into the ‘too good’ range.

Borka – 2
Borka is a weird one. Obviously Mosh Pit is hugely powerful. He gets an extra fury each turn through the keg carrie. Yet he seems… lacking. Boring maybe. Bum Rush is very hard to pull off, since it is much, much more limited that Counter Charge in that you have to move in a straight line. Cooler may as well be blank for all you will cast it. Yet he isn’t really bad in any way. Just slightly lacking. He seems to be geared towards beasts, yet has such little capability to run them.

Possible Feedback. Forget the pseudo Fury 6 from Keggy, just make him a 6. It helps him run the beasts than his feat and his spell list want. Keggy would lose Top up, and gain nothing in return. This keeps it as a small buff. Keggy would then have a sigular, but important purpose.

eMadrak - 3
Played with him a few times. He seems alright, just fine really. He is one of the two casters who seem to make Mulg a bit over the top. But Warpath is otherwise cool, he threatens nicely in melee with his big axe and even a possible Vortex of Destruction. The feat still rocks.

Possible Feedback: He wouldn’t be broken with reach. If pMadrak gets it, eMadrak would too.

eHoarluk - 3
What can I say? He is fun now, he has a cool but not crazy spell list. Wild aggression is a huge buff, but Warmachine shows how balanced it is. Refuge is simply cool. The only real issue is the feat. If you do not have a turn where you can charge (as happens in games vs fast opponents or opponents with shutdown feats) you do not have a feat…..

Possible feedback: The feat should grant +3” of movement regardless of whether you charge or not. Aside from that it seems fine.

Calandra – 4
We run into a problem here. Calandra is fine. She really is. Not overpowered. But Befuddle is. It is the answer to every problem you can face on the field. Unit? Turn them around to give you backstrikes and prevent them from charging. Or just clump them and send an axer or a scattergunner to wipe them out in a single attack. A possible 20” threat on the spell (Rush + Bonegrinders.. its even further if you charge) is just a little too much for this crazy spell.

The rest of it is fine. Her new feat was a stroke of genius,

Posssible Feedback: Befuddle at RNG 10 is too much. Make it RNG 8 again.



That was the easy part. Tommorrow….. Warbeasts!

Grissel Grows Tired of eIrusk. Sends Hero To 'Deal' With Him.

"The Troll presence has become a nuisance," The Harbringer of Menoth pointed out to her audience. Feroa in her piety pretended not to notice her glare, or was she glaring at The Butcher by her side? "I will send Supreme Commander Irusk to do what others could not," the Harbringer said with disdain, "It seems the task of killing stupid Trolls is too much for some of the PKA's so called elite."

My Army
Grissel Bloodsong, Fell Caller
Dire Troll Mauler
Earthborn Dire Troll
Fell Caller
Trollkin Hero
Trollkin Hero
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes [6]
> Stone Scribe Elder [1]
Trollkin Champions [5]
Trollkin Long Riders [5] (2 added)
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew [2]

His Army (I think)
Supreme Kommandant Irusk
> War Dog
> Beast-09
Manhunter
Yuri the Axe
Great Bears of Gallowswood [3]
Greylord Ternion [3]
Iron Fang Pikemen [9]
> Iron Fang Officer and Standard Bearer [2]
Man-O-War Shocktroopers [4]
Widowmakers [4]
Winterguard Mortar Crew [2]
Gudrun the Wanderer
Kell Bailoch

We played on this map and decided the hills were just elevated and were not rough terrain. I rolled highest and opted to deploy and go first.

Troll Deployment - My deployment zone was on bottom. I put my Longriders along the right side spread out with my EBDT on the right side of the hill with the Mauler on the left. My Champs lined up to run the gap between the forest and the wall with the Heros, Fel Caller, Grissel, Gobbers and KSB behind them.

Khador Deployment - He put Gudrun, Yuri and the Manhunter in the forest with the Greylords on the side of the hill closest to them. Keil and the Widowmakers lined up their AD across from my forest with his Man-O-Wars Behind them, Irusk and the Bears were behind them. His Pikemen were on the other side of the hill from the Greylords.

Turn 1 Trolls - Champs run for the gap with the Brick in tow, Grissel calling Hoof it to the Longriders and Gobbers smoking up the gap. Mauler moves up towards the back right of Grissels group. EBDT Runs right up the middle wall on the right side. Longriders Hoof it up and I use two of them to engage the three in the forest. KSB does the no blast aura.

"Keep your lines boys, we have more discipline than these Trolls could ever hope to gain" Irusk said with Pride, "Let our hard work and military training show them why they do not belong here." His soldiers cheering was enthusiastic, but paled in comparison to the song coming from the Trollblood lines.

Turn 1 Khador - Yuri kills the LR in front of him, thats about all those three manage to do. His mortar flings a shot at the EBDT missing. His pikemen move up to take away the middle lane his Man-O-Wars move up to block their side with the Bears running up along my forest side wall. Beast moves up towards the wall accross from my Champs getting into counter-charge position.

Turn 2 Trolls - I can see that the bulk of my army is out of position and if I keep heading up the left side with my Champs it will be bad news so I feat with Grissel and run up the middle lane leaning right to force him down the left side or into my Champs, maybe a bad use of the feat just for Hoof It on everything but it seemed like a good idea. The Champs almost get into melee with the Pikemen but they have no charge. One of the Hero gets dangled out to Beast for Charge meat and my other Hero and Fel Caller get into countercharge position along with the Mauler. KSB again does the no blast aura. The EBDT gets a charge off on the Greylords killing two of them. The Longriders take out Yuri, the Manhunter, and Gundrun goes down the first time.

Yuri checked to make sure the huge buffalo riding cavalry of the Trolls was far away still. Maybe intimidating to others, Yuri was not impressed. He knew his job and did it well, today would be no exception. He looked down to loosen his weapon from its scabard as he looked back up he was face to face with a Buffalo and an Axe weilding Troll. Maybe they were a little intimidating after all?

Turn 2 Khador - His Greylord hits the EBDT for no damage, the Pikement finagle around the EBDT hurting him bad and not doing much to the champs. His mortar nails my charge bait Hero but doesn't do much damage. Gundrun kills two Longriders. Beast takes the bait and charges the Hero killing it. The Widowmakers and Keil take some potshots missing most of them. The Bears and ManOWars move up to countercharge position behind Beast. My shifting right put his ManOWars and Bears out of position to do much else.

Turn 3 Trolls - KSB goes first doing the +2 Str aura. Grissel hits the pikemen with her upkeep and calls the lone remaining hero to give him another attack and keeps one fury for transfers. The EBDT tramples the last Greylord missing and eating a free strike then stuffs the Mortar Crew in his mouth with some bought attacks. The last few LR try to kill Gundrun reducing him to one wound. Fel Caller Charges Beast rolling friggin awesome on damage and giving much of my army +2 attack. The Mauler rages on the Hero. And then Charges Beast finishing him off. The hero takes advantage of boundless charge +5 Str and +2 Mat to take out two of the three Bears. The Champs kill all but three pikemen including their standard. Pretty good turn for Trolls.

Turn 3 Khador - Seeing an opening and having lost quite a few troops he goes for the caster kill. Feats with Irusk casts the stupid cloud over my Champs and Charges Grissel with the Pikemen leaving her with 5 wounds. He tries to snipe her to death but cannot hit. Gundran kills another LR the ManOWars move into the Champs killing One, and the Greylord charges Grissel missing her. Moves Keil up to block the charge lane from the Hero.

Turn 4 Trolls - KSB does +2 Str again. My Champs kill all but one ManOWar, the scribes Mauler and last LR surround Grissel. The Hero misses Keil and the EBDT snacks on the Wardog.

Turn 4 Khador - Sensing he is near done he uses Irusk and the Widowmakers to kill three Champs and Gundran charges the last LR hurting him.

Turn 5 Trolls - KSB +2 Str aura, Rage on the Hero, War Cry from the Fel Caller, and three dead Champs = Mat 13 PS 21 Hero. The Hero moves around Keil and Beats Irusk to a pulp. Game Over.

The Hero tried not to show off for Grissel. He knew she would no longer take a mate since the unfortunate loss of her last one. But he could hope coulnd't he? He saw the Human commander and knew he could get to him. He could feel strength pour into him from their sacred stone and then felt the rage of a Mauler coursing through his veins. That coupled with the loss of some of his friends told him it was time to do what he did best. Live or die, he would impress Grissel by putting that Human leader into her stewpot.His axe carved deep into the human's side, but his backswing came up flat knocking the human out cold instead of killing him. Upset that his axe did not finish the job he risked a glance at Grissel to see her smiling of all things, "The Mauler's Rage served you well, I am glad you showed enough restraint not to kill him." Gaining courage from her friendliness he decided to ask her to share some Whelp ale with him...

Caine bites the big one to Grissel, Cryx on the horizon.

So that teleporting weenie is a big homer. After killing most his army with all of mine, Caine took out most my army before I finally got him... He is officially on my hate list. Because the game took sooooo long there was no energy left for even a snippet until today.

This Wednesday however, eMadrak or the currently undefeated Grissel army will face off against Cryx. As you can see from my record, they have been previously hard for me to beat.

Grissel and Dhalia list ideas and Strategies.

So I have been tinkering with Grissel lately in my attempt to learn all the Troll casters and found a combo that seems to be working in my local LGS.

Grissel's Grissle vs Warmachine
Points: 743
Model Count: 20
Victory Points: 24

Grissel Bloodsong, Fell Caller
Slag Troll
Earthborn Dire Troll
Fell Caller
Trollkin Hero
Trollkin Hero
Trollkin Champions [5]
Trollkin Long Riders [5] (2 added)
Dahlia Hallyr

• Skarath
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew [2]

Grissel's Grissle vs Hordes
Points: 746
Model Count: 30
Victory Points: 25

Grissel Bloodsong, Fell Caller
Pyre Troll
Troll Impaler
Fell Caller
Trollkin Hero
Kriel Warriors [9] (3 added)

• Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper [2]
Trollkin Champions [5]
Trollkin Long Riders [5] (2 added)
Dahlia Hallyr

• Skarath
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew [2]

I tuned each list slightly different depending on who I was playing against mostly with the beasts but the idea is the same in either one. Use the Longriders on one flank push the Champs and Hero's up the other flank but hug the middle and plant Grissel in the middle leaning on the side of the Champs with the beasts. Dhalia and her snake are the first wave of the assassination attempt and should line up where they can use cover from any part of your army to find a lane to get to the caster.

Going first is ideal so you can do a 2/3 run or full run depending on your enemy. Then feat turn 2 and get your Champs and Longriders engaging their whole front line and as much of their secondary as you can, hopefully getting some attacks but hoof it to move right past and engage everything you can since you are immune to freestrikes. Keep Grissel back and use beasts and even Heroes for support if needed. I found that other than her feat turn and a Hoof it/War Cry she is much more suiting to support until end game.

With the leap the Snake will almost always get the first attack on their caster and most enemies will be scrambling to deal with 84 wounds worth of Champs and Longriders. The Snake should get one or two good hits in and will paralyze the caster making them lose their movement and will most likely hurt them roughly 80%, at least thats how most my games have gone so far (all four of them) The snakes animus is fantasic here as they will have to ensure hitting it unless they want to get hit back. The Beasts in the WM army are there to take out the jacks that deal with your front line. The ones in the Hordes army are there for support to boost damage on a Hero or a nice Crit Slam.

After the Dhalia assassination run there will be something/anything free to finish up the caster unless the dice gods have been unfavorable. For me this has been whats left of the Champs and/or my beasts along with Grissel herself. Once Grissel enters the fight they get no more spells and she increases everyones chance to hit and damge if she can land the spell. If the gobbers are still around most casters will have -2 Mat, and -2 more mat if Grissel has hit them (two games I pulled this off). If the snake is still alive the caster will also be paralyzed and unable to move. It should be game over at this point.

Like I said its a work in Progress, but this latest incarnation of my Grissel lists is actually winning. Something I have struggled in the past to do with her.

Skarath Eats Nemo... reports that he does taste like chicken.

"Why are these humans so eager to spill Trollkin Blood," Grissel wondered aloud to nobody in particular. This errand to find Dahlia Hallyr and her snake Skarath had been dangerous indeed, as it seemed every endeavor for Trollkin Survival had been. Dahlia's strange music was akin to her own and had already been pivotal in their survival. As they prepared to head back they came upon a small band of Kriel's, Longriders, and half a unit of badly damaged Champions being led by a young Fel Caller. "We have been set upon by a Cygnarrian force with them emblem of the 4th flying among their standards. Their leader is a warcaster that looks like the one Cygnar calls Nemo and even Pendrake fights with them," the young caller reported to Grissel as they joined with her force. "I know Victor well," Grissel sighed, "it would be an unfortunate loss to us and Cygnar if he forces us to deal with him."

His army and mine listed below.

Faction: Cygnar
Army Points: 743 (I Think)
Commander Adept Sebastian Nemo 75
Squire 18
Thorn 93
Centurion 113
Sentinel 72
Long Gunners (7/10) 74
Black 13th Gun Mage Strike Team (3) 77
Arcane Tempest Gun Mages (6) 90
Professor Viktor Pendrake 28
Captain Arlan Strangewayes 32
Gun Mage Captain Adept 32
Ogrun Bokur 39

Faction: Trollblood
Points: 750
Grissel Bloodsong, Fell Caller
Pyre Troll
Troll Impaler
Fell Caller
Trollkin Hero
Kriel Warriors [8]
> Kriel Warrior Standard & Piper[2]
> Kriel Warrior Caber Thrower
Trollkin Champions [5]
Trollkin Long Riders [5]
Swamp Gobbers [2]
Dahlia Hallyr
> Skarath

The map was identical on each side with a 3" rough terrain hill to our rights and a halfsquare low wall on our lefts. He rolled highest and opted to go first. Jacks, strangeways, and Nemo in the middle with his gun mages and the B13 on the right longgunners and gun mage solo on the right. Trolls deployed with the Kriels on my left across from the longgunners. Champs, Beasts, Fel Caller, Hero and Grissel in the middle left with Gobbers, Snake chick and longriders on the right.

Turn 1 Cygnar - He advances at a partial run casts a few beneficial spells and waits. Thinking the best I can do is get into countercharge range on my turn.

Grissel knew Nemo had much more experience on the battlefield and winning than almost anyone else. The Battle had just started and already Nemo had made a mistake? That seemed unlikely but Grissel had to do what should could to gain an advantage. Singing a song to lighten the feet of the Kriels they ran to meet the guns of Cygnar.

Turn 1 Trolls - Kriel warriors get the prayer of +2 speed and run, the piper hangs backs to give them all one more inch and hoof it gains them five more ending them in melee with the front ranks of the LGs, Banner minifeats. Main force advances to the wall. Longriders run up and spread out towards the B13 and gunmages and the snake heads for the Bokur.

Turn 2 Cygnar - He feats and Kriel warrior killing commences tough rolls were not on my side all but 3 die. B13 takes down a longrider and the Bokur slams the snake prolly saving its life. His jacks advance up towards my main force with Thorn killing a longrider. His turn ends.

Turn 2 Trolls - Grissel feats the remaining KW kill a few LG and hoof it to engage the ones in back. Pyre buffs the Hero and The Impaler gets a good crit hit taking out the Cent shield leving him open for a charge from the Hero who almost disables him. Champs Charge thorn taking him down. Snakes hops the Bokur and eats Lynch. LR kill the Bokur a few gun mages and hoof it to engage as much as they can. That is all.

"Grissel knows me too well," Pendrake sighed in relief to himself, "she keeps her beasts far out of harms way where my knowledge can help this Cygnar deal with them."

Turn 3 Cygnar - Longgunners and bad in melee only one more KW dies. The Longriders lose one to the B13 and another to gunmages and the Champion on points nearly dies. Strageways repairs the Centurion and it beats on the hero but doesn't kill it, the Hero returns the favor disabling it. Nemo moves up a bit to finish a Longrider and his turn ends.

The song of that Trollkin whore and the eerie flute music of the Iosian buzzed in Nemo's ears making it hard for him to concentrate... not something he was used to having problems with. He shook his head to clear it and as he looked up the biggest Serpent he had ever seen was snapping at him...

Turn 3 Trolls - Snake boy runs up and leaps into Nemo's face almost killing him... almost. The Impaler throws at him but misses then Farstrikes the Pyre who's luck is better and he hits boosting damage a finishing off Nemo.

"Bloodshed ends for today," Grissel called to her force, "We do not murder even our worst enemies." Grissel knew that Nemo's loss would surely only strengthen Cygnar's position to defend and kill her own kind and hoped the old warcaster survived. She also knew she had no choice, it seemed that every turn brought her kin close and closer to their deaths. As her force began to depart Hallyr and her snake came up to her with a human in its mouth and deposited him at her feet, the snakes venom leaving a ruffled but very alive Pendrake paralyzed at Grissels feet. "Ahh Victor my old friend, you place yourself into precarious places more and more of late," Grissel chuckled.

"I have never seen a snake of that species so big," Pendrake panted, "When this paralysis wears off we have much to discuss about how you can avoid some of the other Cygnar contigints on your way back home. It must be quick though, they will miss me and have the wrong kinds of questions for me if my return is too far delayed..."

Grissel Beats Down The Butcher...

Grissel wasn't expecting to see any Khadorians let alone 'The Butcher' himself. She had never seen him on the battlefield but knew his reputation well. Not only did she not expect to see The Butcher, she did not expect him to have with him one of the biggest Warjacks she had ever seen. Having only two small Beasts with her she could only hope her small unit of Champions and the pair of Heroes would be able to take care of business.

Grissel had thought Madrak sent her on a fools errand to meet yet another hireling to help their cause, now she felt this errand foolish indeed. As she picked up a rousing song for her troops an eerie melody joined in and compimented her song. As the large jack opened fire she saw a large Snakelike creature flanking the Khadorians and knew she had found not only a hireling as Madrak had suggested but a much needed ally in the upcoming fight. "Those big jacks cannot hope to catch us, get around them to the living and take them apart," As always Grissels voice carried over even the sounds of fire coming from Khadorian guns.

Their suprise at that shadowed only their shock at the speed in which the Trolls were on them.
"No matter the loss of the Troopers," The Butcher mumbled to the hound next to him, "My Behemoth and Beast-09 will show these wretched Trolls why they do not belong in the Iron Kingdoms"

CerealJon over at Getting Small took pity on me and scheduled in a quick 500pt match earlier today. Grissel vs The Stupid Retarded Butcher of I can kill whatever the heck I want to in one hit.

Okay really Grissel didn't do much. It was dieing Champs and Charging Heroes that took care of Business. I will p0st a battle report detailing the futility of playing Khador when you are really a Menite. Sorry CerealJon... after the whooping you gave me last week, payback feels great.