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.

Big SLC Tourney

She looks like a Troll right?...

So a few of us from Logan went to SLC for a big tournament. I took my Trolls, McCryx came with Cryx of course, and as expected Cygnar Brian brought Cygnar. We played a Steamroller4 format and had four rounds.

It started off great for Trolls, I managed to roll over my first opponent who brought the new Skorne caster. It was a great game and the new Skorne caster is awesome, I managed to overwhelm his flank with my Longriders and Grissels feat ate up Molik Karn with Champs giving them a lane through his Shaman and then into his Krea and caster. VP of the Round, Champs for sure killing three times their points to bring.

Second round went badly but Grissel managed to squeeze one out by getting some extra fury from a dieing beast. Making Terminus fail his assasination run and dieing with a Mauler in his back. VP Grissel for being tough as nails.

Third round was epic, it was against Saeryn with Typhon and all that Legion crap. I brought Caladanra and a mess of troops and it was spectacualar. Giving and taking dice from Legion kept alot of my stuff alive much longer than it should have been. My minimum unit of Scattergunners did an awesome job of clearing out his swordsmen. I rerolled a hit against Typhon with my Impaler hoping for a crit slam that would have devastated him and probably won me the game. Instead he was able to clear a lane with a lucky throw distance roll of six from Typhon, which he needed a six to hit Calandra and knock her down. Close game and I don't think he expected Trolls to give him so much trouble. VP Scattergunners.

Fourth Round was against eGoreshade, the air was let out of my sails when Grissels first longrider died to a countercharge on my first turn. He outplayed me in everyway, and my list ditch effort to toss a hero into his caster failed from another countercharge taking out the Maulers Spirit and the Pyre missing a throw. VP Slag Troll for actually killing something.

Win/Loss
2-2
Wins - Terminus and Mordikarr
Loss - Saeryn and eGoreshade

Fun tourney and it was nice to play some other people, I learned a few tweeks for my lists and also learned that I missed rMadrak horribly in Steamroller4.

Horthol's Debut Match vs Lylth

Horthol rode into the small clearing to report to Grissel, "My patrol ran into one of the biggest denizon's of Everblight I have ever seen, it picked up one of the riders and ate him and his bison whole while we tried to escape. It is dangerous Grissel and the three headed beast comes right for us."

Last night I faced off against Typhon and Lylth. Needless to say, Typhon is a pig and scares my shorts off. We played 500pts, and the armies looked something like this.

My Trollblood Army
Points: 498
Model Count: 10

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 Legion Army
Points: 496
Model Count: 8

Lylyth, Herald of Everblight Points: 62
Shredder Points: 23
Shredder Points: 23
Shredder Points: 23
Seraph Points: 80
Carnivean Points: 124
Typhon Points: 143
Shepherd Points: 18

Our Terrain had a large forest on the left side of the table closer to him. On my right side of the table there was a large rough terrain hill. I rolled highest and opted to deply and go first.

Deployment
Trolls - I spread my LR about 4" apart in the middle left of the table with Grissel in between the right two, the Mauler and Slag spread in between the LR in the middle, Horthol back and left a little and the Pyre Troll behind Grissel.
Legion - His Seraph lined up behind the forest on his right side with the Carni in the middle and Typhon on his left middle side, the Shredders, Lylth and Shepard were behind the Carni.

Grissel thought she was even scared a little looking at what shew knew to be a Carnivean, those were bad enough until she looked over at the three headed monster with it. To make matters even worse a diminutive looking woman seemed to be in control of them meaning they had a Warlock to guide them. She found herself wishing for that Hero that had taking a liking to her, though she wasn't sure about his motives, he seemed to have a knack for taking out enemy leaders.

Turn 1
Trolls - I move my LR 7" straight forward keeping them spread out with Horthol 1 " behind the left two, my Mauler and Slag run 10", Grissel moves up regularly with the Pyre Troll right in front of her.
Legion - His Seraph hits the forest where I can't get to it, the shepard goes over to play with Typhon and the rest of his army walks up the middle waaaay out of range for me to charge him.

Turn 2
Trolls - Pyre Troll moves up to screen for Grissel, Grissel moves up behind him and Hoof Its the LR. LR run 14", then use Hoof it to move around him Putting one in melee with the shepard and just out of Typhons melee, another in melee with the shredders, one based with Lylth and the Leader back in counter charge range. Horthol runs up towards the forest and the Mauler and Slag move over closer to Grissel.
Legion - Typhon proceeds to throw the LR engaging his shredders but only rolls 1" so it doesn't hurt me, then proceeds to destroy the now KDed LR with spray attacks. All three shredders move around and paste the LR engaging Lylth putting their back to Grissel. His Carni charges Horthol making short work of him mounted, then does the same unmounted. Lylth hurts the LR engaging the Shepard a little and the Seraph wiffs his attack.

Lylth sneered over to the young Shepard, "Witness the might of Typhon and pray you do not get in the way or I allow him to do the things to you that are in his mind." The Shepard swallowed hard but steeled her resolve and stayed with the three headed beast to lend support to it when needed.

Turn 3
Trolls - Grissel moves up a little a feats, then casts rage on the Mauler and the LR leader, she shoots at the Shepard with her gun boosting to hit and gets her dead. The Pyre shoots at the shredders, misses and hits nothing on the deviation, so he runs crying back to Grissel. The Mauler moves up to the Carni and after pushing him to 4 fury kills him, he then hoofs it back towards Grissel. the last two LR slam Typhon using followup to lay down some pain, with rage on one of them they have just enough in them to paste Typhon. They then hoof it to engage the shredders and Lylth. The Slag runs into the forest and hoofs it towards the Seraph nearly getting to him.
Shepard, Carni, and Typhon all dead in one turn... "That'll do donkey, that'll do"
Legion - His shredders gang up on my LR, killing one but he tough rolls, they hurt the leader a little. Lylth feats moves away taking a free strike for 11 damage, hurts the LR leader for it but can't kill him. Seraph moves in on the Slag leaving one box in his spirit and body and his mind is unhurt. So here is where I noticed that Legion beasts are tough, but they don't have as many attacks as Trolls beasts, with 5 fury and two open fists my Dire Trolls really hurt enemy bigs.

Grissel perferred the smaller Pyre Trolls over the other beasts, the way hers seemed to almost fawn over her was endearing. Though she was uncomfortable around the Dire Trolls, this Mauler seemed to know exactly where to be and how to help his surrounding Troll brothers fight with barely controlled rage. She began to use her link to instruct it, when she felt... reassurance from the Mauler that it had things under control. With a wicked smile as the Mauler looked the Carnivean over, Grissel felt something so primal come through the bond it made even her shiver a little...

Turn 4
Trolls - Pyre frenzies into a shredder pasting it. Grissel moves up to Heroic Ballard the LR. The Mauler rages the Slag and moves to block los to Grissel. The LR kill a shredder and leave the last one hurting. The Slag tries in vain to hurt the Seraph but only lands one good hit in for about 11 damage.
Legion - Seraph turns the Slag into goo. His Shredder kills the near dead LR twice, but he tough rolls twice. Lylth kills the LR leader but he toughs, she moves away towards the middle back.

Turn 5
Trolls - Grissel moves up to hit Lylth with Calamity but misses, she does Cacophony her though. Mauler and Pyre do some defensive posturing to keep Lylth from getting to Grissel and the LR try to take Lylth down... they don't.

"I have had enough of this Troll wench," Lylth muttered under her breath. "I will personally present her head to Everblight" She hefted her bow and let fly a deadly barrage of arrows watching them un-erringly catch the Troll Whore in the shoulder, and another buried itself in her ribs. Un-cannily the Troll turned to look at her with a look that made her shiver... for the first time this fight Lylth though she might have underestimated that Troll.

Legion - Lylth moves around to shoot a Grissel and gets her twice reducing her to three wounds. The Seraph moves in on the LR Leader killing him but he again tough rolls. Not sure I got them all in there right, but that is two tough rolls on the LR leader and four tough rolls on the other LR.

Watching Grissel snap the arrow hafts off, spit and then glower at the enemy caster, the Longrider felt a sense of Pride. He knew that from this day on he was Grissels man as he turned to charge into the ugly woman of Everblight.

Turn 6
Trolls - Grissel Heroic Ballads the LR, Pyre Troll uses his animus on the reg LR. The LR then Bull Rushes Lylth beating her face in.

Synopsis - Horthol's Cohort abilities are friggin awesome.

350 T&C Borka vs Saeryn

"I will feed you to my Angelius for your insolence Troll!" the witch said, her obvious disdain for Borka almost intimidated him... almost.

For all the marbles and my first chance at being a tourney victor was against Saeryn and Legion of Everblight. The map was a pretty straightforward map with a few small elevated hills and no rough terrain. My list

Faction: Trollblood
Points: 330
Model Count: 5
Victory Points: 12

Borka Kegslayer
> Pyg Keg Carrier
Slag Troll
Troll Impaler
Dire Troll Mauler

his list

Faction: Legion of Everblight
Points: 343
Model Count: 6
Victory Points: 13

Saeryn, Omen of Everblight
Shredder
Shredder
Shredder
Seraph
Angelius

Being an all medium or large-based army the Angelius has always posed a significant threat to me. I was reasonably certain I could deal with everything else and if his caster got too close I'd have been able to toast her.

Turn 1 Trolls - I run but not my full distance, trying to get off the first attack. Borka casts mosh pit and plans to Bum Rush himself for the rest of the fight.
Turn 1 Legion - He plays more conservative than I thought advancing in a similar manner to myself with his Angelius in front of his caster on one side his Seraph on the other and shredders spread out from the middle to each flank. Casting the resurrection spell on the Angelius

Turn 2 Trolls - Impaler moves up to try and Critslam the Angelius over Saeryn... missing horribly to bad as a KDed Saeryn would have been extremely vulnerable to a flying Borka. Slag has luck hitting but not enough damage to do much.
Turn 2 Legion - Seraph spam rolls a 5 and he proceeds to dish out minimal damage to my Slag. The Impaler takes a good hit though. He feats and moves up some shredders into good counter-charge positions. Not being able to melee attack him was just rude.

"Comon boys, if you can't hit sober then get some ale in ya," Borka's voice clearly rang in the night air. Saeryn just chuckled as Borka found that neither he or his army was able to advance.

Turn 3 Trolls - Not being able to hit I try my hand at some ranged attacks not doing much... again. In order to keep the Impaler alive I move the Slag up by the Angelius and a Ravager taking away their charges. Impaler is back further but also chargeable by some shredders but Borka and the Mauler are comfortably back from anything but a Seraph Spam attack. Upkeep mosh pit, and bum rush Borka.
Turn 3 Legion - He bites on the Slag Troll sending in the Ravager first. It hits but doesn't take out a spiral, then gets pushed back from mosh pit and gets promptly killed. Then the Angelius moves up on the Slag killing it in one hit. Realizing the Impaler has reach a Ravager charges it and nearly kills it leaving it with about six health, mosh pit does nothing. Searaph spams but is unable to finish off the Impaler only doing three more damage to it. Final shredder moves up for a counter-charge and gets Bum Rushed by Borka hurting it bad but not killing it.

Turn 4 Trolls - Not knowing what to do with an Angelius I can't kill I decided to try and get rid of the rest of his army. Kenny LQ's Borka and then he feats, Slamming the shredder over into his pal in front of the Impaler killing one and knocking down the other. He then turns on the Seraph who is in range and kills it in a few hits. Borka's high MAT is making him about the only thing in my army able to hit the danged Blighted crap heads. Impaler being able to throw because of the downed shredder finally hits on the Angelius pushing it back four inches and knocking it down as well. Mauler moves up to block LOS to Borka.
Turn 4 Legion - Having both his beasts KD he knows how sqishy his caster can be so he moves her back runs the shredder into melee with the mauler to prevent him from charging and uses the Angelius to blast the Mauler with a ranged attack. Impaler wiffs on the Freestrike and the shredder is in the Mauler's back arc so no mosh pit.

Turn 5 Trolls - Borka moves up and kills the Shredder, Mauler Rages and moves in on the Angelius and Weapon locks its tail with an excellent boosted to hit roll. Saeryn too far away to hit with the Impaler the Impaler tries to block LOS to Borka again.

Glaring at Borka Saeryn is taken aback at the intelligence posed by an otherwise stupid looking, albeit gigantic Troll. "Aye, see Gug, with enough ale even a Mauler can be smart," Borka chuckles.

Turn 5 Legion - A STR 10 Angelius has no chance at all to break a weapon lock against a raged Mauler so he shoots his Angelius with Blight or something, only hitting the Mauler for three.

Turn 6 Trolls - Mauler realeases the Lock and tries to kill the Angelius the first time hoping Borka or the Impaler can finish it off when it respawns. Boosting to hit each time he hits thrice and kills it outright. It respawns three inches away so the Impaler throws at it but only doing one damage. Borka moves in a uses cooler and not only hits but Crit-hits making it stationary, which is good because he did only one more damage to it.
Turn 6 Legion - He is pretty upset at my antics against his Angelius taking it out of the fight three turns in a row but is still out of position to kill anything with his caster. So he recasts the Respawn spell and moves back.

Turn 7 Trolls - you may ask why I didn't go for his caster at all. Its becuase at 16 Def I had a much better chance at just killing his beasts. Which I did with a charging Mauler and then a LQed Borka.

Seeing her last beast fall, Saeryn flees the battlefield leaving the same stone Borka was looking for on the ground behind her. Underestimating her opponent is not a mistake she will make a second time when she faces those ugly drinking beasts.
(storytelling in the battlereports is something I am bad at, but it looks so good over at Losthemisphere I had to try it.)

My first tournament win against a good Cryx and two good Legion players was very rewarding indeed. First prize = very discounted paint job on my newly aquired Mulg from the best painter in the shop (the shop owner's wife)

Tooth & Claw/Mangled Metal Tourney.

For this tourney I opted for the Borka Bomb instead of my usual Grim list. The list I brought was;
Faction: Trollblood
Points: 330
Model Count: 5
Victory Points: 12

Borka Kegslayer
> Pyg Keg Carrier
Slag Troll
Troll Impaler
Dire Troll Mauler

Our leagues is used to seeing Grim and rMadrak, most of them have heard of the Borka Bomb but never seen it. Figured it was time to give it the old college try.

ROUND 1 - CRYX
So first round I got paired against Tremshaun from Misc.BrainPurge. I think he Brought;
Faction: Cryx
Points: 350
Model Count: 4
Victory Points: 12

Warwitch Deneghra
> Cankerworm
> Defiler
> Deathjack

TURN 1 - This board was the forest board featuring three forests and some high grass. He moves up with the Cankerworm on one side in the forest the DJ on the other side and the Arcnode in the middle. My turn I advance up Farstrike and boost hitting the Arnode for 9 damage taking out the node.





TURN 2 - Cankerworm pretty much finishes the Impaler who was out front but his caster moved up to deliver the finishing blow. My turn LQ and Rage Borka, Mauler tosses him at the Arcnode, Borka then Charges his caster and kills it in one hit. So in a game this small the Borka Bomb was much easier to pull off than I thought, but with such a low model count there just wasn't enough to get in the way.

ROUND 2 - Legion of Everblight Championed by Jefferson.
He brought
Faction: Legion of Everblight
Points: 347
Model Count: 6
Victory Points: 13

Thagrosh, Prophet of Everblight
Shredder
Shredder
Shredder
Seraph
Carnivean

For me Legion is hard for all the same reasons. This game turned out to be a bit harder only because he is soo much quicker than me and hits just as hard. This game I got to go first this board had lots of blocking terrain.
Turn 1 - I run up to some blocking terrain and sit back. He moves up into excellent counter-charge range and stops.
Turn 2 - I stay pretty much where I was but throw with the Impaler Crit-Slamming the Carnivean back. His turn the Seraph moves up and shoots me alot but doing little damage past the initial hit to the Mauler. A Turkey runs to engage the Impaler.





Turn 3 - Mauler attacks Seraph and hurts it good but misses the chain attack. Slag hangs back with bum rush on and Imp stabs the turkey. His turn the Seraph flies over to try and shoot Borka but the Slag Bum Rushes him. Carni and Turkey attack Mauler nearly killing him Thagrash moves up a bit to keep his beasts in his control area.
Turn 4 - Mauler engaged by the Cani casts rage on Borka after the Keg carrier LQs him. Slag takes a free strike from the Seraph to Throw Borka. Borka charges Thagrosh hitting him twice, killing a turkey on the second hit and reducing Thagrosh to 1 wound... CRAP. Thagrash can't do spells and crap but he is good in melee and proceed to swing at Borka miss, miss, miss, boost to hit, boost to damage = dead Borka BUT Borka rolls his tough. He moves a Turkey back to have a transfer target but is out of Fury anyway.
Turn 5 - Borka finishes what he started and Thagrosh goes POOF.

So that puts Trolls and the other Legion army in the final Showdown. I have never played against the other Legion player, but he must be either pretty good or pretty lucky to Beat McCryx in Round 1 then CygnarBrian in Round 2. Those two don't lose very often. Final round next Wednesday, let us hope his premature boasting about how easy Trolls are to beat comes back to haunt him. Current Standings posted on the left sidebar near the top.