MKI comes to a close... is it the end of Broken imbalances?

I have been playing Hordes now for around 2-3 years, sticking mainly with Trollbloods the vast majority of the time.

With the finalization of the MKII rules eminent and the fact that MKI will most likely never ever be played in our LGS again it is time to retire my MKI numbers and start up some MKII stats. The MKII stats will be more inclusive, there will be a column just for me but I will be collecting stats from around ten other Troll players as well. It is sad to step away from this being a personal thing, but in the future the blog will be better for all the Troll players not just me. It appears the broken imbalances will be erased in MKII, but for now we will have to wait and see.

So here they are in all their glory... the numbers!

The first set of numbers is my overall win/loss percentages with each Troll Caster since the first day I picked up the Troll battlebox. In the first months of playing, my poor Trolls almost never ever won, unless you count 8 tough rolls in a row against rKaya on my third or fourth game when my Impaler then moved in and one shot her. Since that time the numbers have been better putting most my averages at almost 70% win. Here is the list.

Army	W	L	D	PCT
Cygnar	19	8	0	70.370
Cryx	10	19	0	34.483
Khador	14	3	0	82.353
Protectorate of Menoth	13	3	0	81.250
Mercenaries	3	0	0	100.000
Skorne	15	9	1	60.000
Trollbloods	6	1	0	85.714
Circle of Orboros	9	5	0	64.286
Legion of Everblight	14	4	0	77.778
Warmachine	60	33	0	64.516
Hordes	44	19	1	68.750
Totals	101	51	1	66.013
	STRK		W7

As you can see I struggled against Cryx ALOT, but there at the end my winning streak of 7 was the second longest streak of my MKI career, then best streak I had was with Grissel, Horthol and Longriders with 11 in a row.

The next set of numbers I started collecting was killing blows. This stat was to keep track of which one of my models ended up with the caster kill. I started collecting them about the time of the release of the Hero and you don't caster kill every win so the numbers are smaller. Here are my results.
Warcaster/Warlock Killing Blows (top 10)

* Trollkin Hero - 10
* Earthborn Dire Troll - 9
* Borka Kegslayer - 7
* Grim Angus - 6
* Troll Impaler - 5
* Trollkin Champions - 4
* Madrak Ironhide - 4
* Grissel Bloodsong - 3
* Dire Troll Mauler - 3
* Mulg The Ancient - 2

As you can see, the Hero took some names. His MKI incarnation was downright brutal the turn after I sacrificed a few Champs to get the Hero into position. My Earthborn also seemed to always get a caster dead or get him close enough for a few Champs or Grim to pick it off afterword. MKII has killed the Heroes assassination capabilities making him more of an infantry killer but the Earthborn and nowadays probably Mulg will gladly fill those shoes.

My last stat was the caster win stats, mainly because I wanted to see how my goto casters did AND because I can't help myself.

Caster	W	L	D	PCT
Borka Kegslayer	9	2	0	81.81
Calandra Truthsayer	6	5	0	54.55
Grim Angus	29	12	0	70.73
Grissel Bloodsong	19	7	0	73.08
Hoarluk Doomshaper	1	4	0	20.00
Hoarluk Doomshaper, Rage of Dhunia	3	5	1	33.33
Madrak Ironhide	26	10	0	72.22
Madrak Ironhide, World Ender	5	2	0	71.43

While Borka owns the best percentage, by and large my favorite two casters to play were rMadrak and Grim. These two presented each end of the spectrum for Troll playstyle in MKI and were usually the best options to keep my opponents on their toes. If they planned for a Brick they had to hope they didn't see Grim. Grissel needs mention as I won a lot with her and she and Borka are my only two first place tourney finishes.

The new numbers should be bigger, better and more inclusive. Some won't be on the blog for a bit, but they will get there. We will have what was there before, but this time we will include not only each caster's win percentage, but their percentages against each faction.

On a side note I am looking for a way to setup on online form where those giving me numbers can input them on their own instead of sending them to me, then I can just open the inputs and update the blog. If anyone has that expertise they are willing to lend it would be fantastic.

Also I would like to welcome a few new authors to the Scrum. The ever popular and insightful Sevwall is a very experienced Troll player and is quite active on the PP forums. Kaptain Von is a newer Troll player than spends much of his time on the dark side of the game over in Cryx land and will provide an excellent point of view about Trolls. I have always thought Cryx to be the army that is most like Trolls, though many will say it is Menoth or Khador. And finally Josh Gardner a.k.a General Nemo from the PP forums, he has typically been what I would refer to as 'The Voice of Reason' on the forums. I am still looking for a couple more to contribute here if anyone wants a place to post Troll musings AND announce upcoming events in their local LGS.

Escalation Rounds 1 & 2

Riding up to Grissel, Horthol scowled as he gave his message to her from Madrak, "He asks to you take your force as quickly as you can to the other side of the plains. If we can get there quickly we can secure a cache of supplies and weapons deposited there by some Circle of Orbos folk as they moved on. It is rumored there are some relics of great power among them..." Grissel frowned, "You know that means we will likely encounter many groups of Warcasters and Warlocks looking for them as well right?" Horthol knew the truth as well as she did, this would be a dangerous mission.

I went into the shop an hour before the tournament started and showed the shop owner my three escalation lists, rMadrak to eMadrak, Grissel and Grim. I just could not decide which to bring and so the shop owner rolled a D3 and came up with Grissel.

ROUND 1
Put me up against Khador

My list
Points: 319
Grissel Bloodsong, Fell Caller Points: 70
Pyre Troll Points: 68
Slag Troll Points: 70
Dire Troll Mauler Points: 111

His list
Points: 197
Kommander Sorscha Kratikoff Points: 71
> Beast-09 Points: 126

He gambled on his list and it nearly paid off.

Our Terrain was a small forest on the left side of each of our deployment areas and a huge fargin rough terrain hill that got up to 3" high in the middle. I rolled highest and opted to deploy and go first.

Deployment
Trolls - I decided on the left side of the hill and deployed there.
Khador - He deployed almost right in the middle of his side.

As Horthol rode off to gather up some reinforcements Grissel, a Slag Troll, her favorite Pyre Troll, and the Mauler that was indeed smart for a Dire went off to claim this 'cache' for Madrak. It didn't take long for them to encounter a dimiutive Warcaster from Khador with a Particularly battle work jack by her side.

Turn 1
Trolls - Everything moved up 10"
Khador - He advanced forward with Beast and left Sorscha moving forward a hair but staying behind Beast in his Deployment zone.

Turn 2
Trolls - I feated and ran everything and made a huge mistake. I got the Mauler and the Pyre into Melee range of Beast. My Slag went straight towards the forest on the edge closest to Beast. and Grissel went for the forest left behind the slag barely putting my other two beasts in her control.
Khador - He moves Sorscha up to the hill base in between the Pyre and Slag and feats, also casting the spell that makes her def a ton against ranged. Beast moves back on the Mauler and Pyre to get out of thier melee and threshers hurting them both.

Sorscha was indeed suprised at the speed in which the Troll woman and he beasts set upon her, she had no doubt at all that Beast-09 could handle the two that were on him. She sneered at Grissel, "you will feel the bite of cold steel, or run for you life when I am through with you."

Turn 3
Trolls - Since Grissel can still use her calls while stationary I use cacophony taking away all of Sorschas spells. I try to zing a spell at Sorscha (he says I can still cast them while stationary) but cannot hit her high def.
Khador - Beast takes the Mauler and Pyre apart then Sorscha goes after the Slag for the win. She manages to make him stationary with a crit but cannot finish him off.

Still angry and even a little despondant from going on this mission in the first place, Grissel had little patience left for the cocky human in front of her. The woman looked suprised first that she couldn't focus enough to freeze her again, then more suprised again that the Slag Troll was able to brush off her attack. Grissel rushed into the Khadorian weilding her hammer and with a battle cry bashed in her head.

Turn 4
Trolls - Grissel charges Sorscha hitting the charge and the last attack ending her.

ROUND 2
I found myself facing Menite Jon from Lost Hemisphere and his Harby list.
My Grissel list I decided to add only five more model to bring me to 500 keeping her feat and my mobility in mind.

My List
Points: 498
Grissel Bloodsong, Fell Caller Points: 70
Pyre Troll Points: 68
Slag Troll Points: 70
Dire Troll Mauler Points: 111
Horthol, Long Rider Champion Points: 66
Trollkin Long Riders [4] (1 added) Points: 113

His List
Points: 489
Harbinger of Menoth Points: 107
> Hierophant Points: 19
> Fire of Salvation Points: 113
> Reckoner Points: 126
High Paladin Dartan Vilmon Points: 38
Paladin of the Order of the Wall Points: 19
Wrack Points: 5
Doc Killingsworth Points: 19
Lady Aiyana & Master Holt [2] Points: 43

The Harbringer was a little afraid to face this Troll woman that had caused so much trouble for the PKA. She was confident in her ability to destry her though, and set out to pin her army between the lone farmhouse and one of the walls near it.

Our Terrain was a 4x6" farm right in the middle with a low wall on the right side and a few inches up from each of our deployment zones. I rolled highest and once again opted to go first.

Deployment
Trolls - I Spread the Longriders out from the middle to the right with Horthol going up the table edge. The Mauler took the gap between the farm and the Wall with my two lights and Grissel right behind the wall.
Menoth - H&A deploy across from Horthol. The Paladins directly across form my wall and a wrack on the empty side of the farm house to prevent me from circling around it with my LR and flanking him. His jacks deployed across from the Mauler with Harby behind them with Doc and the Heirophant behind her.

Turn 1
Trolls - Each LR went forward 7", the Mauler ran straight up 10" and the lights and Grissel hit the left edge of the wall in front of me and I was done.
Khador - His wholy army pretty much did the same moving up about 4".

Horthol rejoined the fight with Grissel along with a few Longriders, "More is on its way but I fear they will not be here to help us in this fight." Horthol reported. Grissel shook off her weariness and sang to her Trolls wathching them all sprint accross the field catching the young floating woman and her army before they could prepare a charge of their own.

Turn 2
Trolls - Grissel Advanced 6" forward and feated. Mauler runs and hoofs it to engage the Reckoner. The LR run up and hoof it two of them get around and behind to engage harby, one gets behind the Paladins and engages them and the Leader puts himself behind A&H, Horthol runs with them and puts himself behind the Paladins and the Reckoner. The two light beasts take up positions in front of Grissel by about 1".

Her suprise at the speed in which the nomally slow Trolls caught up to her was short lived. She reacted by blowing apart the ones nearest to her with a cataclysm of holy fire. She then used her connection to her jacks to have them mop up what she had not finished already.

Khador - So I didn't know about Harby's Spell cataclysm, it friggin rocks. He takes out the two closest Longriders with it. A paladin turns to hit Horthol and dies to a Free Strike from a LR now behind him, but the other pally hits him for a litte. The FoS finishes off Horthol, the Reckoner takes down another LR and Holt pins the leader down.

Turn 3
Trolls - Aiyana dies a horrible death and that LR is done. Grissel Rages the Mauler and the Slag Troll then takes away the spells via Cacophony from Harby. The Mauler then throws the Reckoner into Harby knocking the Reckoner down and getting a PS15 off on the Harbster, the Mauler proceeds to beat up the Reckoner leaving it with a coule points in movent and cortex. Slaggy beats the FoS pretty good too leaving it armless as well. The Pyre Troll then burns the Paladin to Ash.

Power flowing through her she reacted instantly to each new threat and dealt with it, but for some reason the Troll witch's song made it to hard for her to concentrate on spell casting. Unable to rely on spellcasting she moved in on the big troll to deal with it herself, which she did easily, slicing it to piecies with a grace and power that defied her size and age.

Khador - Holt tried again to pin down the LR who could have a lane to Harby but acutally misses one attack. Harby moves around to take out the Mauler which she easily does, with no spells though she is finished with her activation. He bashes the Slag for some damage and is done.

Though the small female's performance against her Mauler was impressive Grissel's fuse had grown shorter still. Leaning over to the Pyre Troll she held out her mace. The Troll grinned and spit on it covering it with burning pitch. Grissel once again let out a warcry that split the ears of those remaining on the battle field as she sent yet another human woman home with a headache they would remember each time they fought against her Kith and Kriel.

Turn 4
Trolls - Grissel once again takes matters into her own hands, the Pyre Troll gives her his animus and she charges Harby, hitting on the charge then missing a couple. One last attack to see if I can get her and Grissel rolls just enought to hit and then again just enough damage to box her.

Synopsis - Against Sorscha I really screwed up running both my beasts to base Beast09 when the Pyre Troll could have done the job himself hopefully giving the Mauler one more round of survivability.

Against Harby was a fun game, I almost lost it because I didn't know her very well, but once again getting up into their face with my feat finds my opponent in melee and makes it to hard for them to get the position they want allowing me to caster kill.

Round 3 and the last tourney finds me fighting to first place against Cryx and eDenny I think. That should be interesting for sure. I will take the camera for this game and have at least one pic per Troll turn for you.

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...

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.