"AoS Battle Report: Pre-emptive Strike" Topic

The last battle in the Realm of Life saw the Stormcasts sweep through a weak Rotbringers line to seize control of the Gates of Dawn, an important Realmgate in Sigmar's war against Chaos as it provided a direct link between the Realm of Life and the Realm of Fire. However, what the Stormcasts did not know was that the Gates of Dawn had been corrupted long ago and now only led to one place – Nurgle's own garden within the Realm of Chaos. Just as the Stormcasts started to create a perimeter around the Gates of Dawn, lest the Rotbringers rally and try to retake it, the Realmgate shuddered and out strode Bolathrax, a massive Great Unclean One, at the head of a horde of Nurgle daemons.

To make things worse, Vermalanx, a Verminlord Corruptor, had been watching events unfold within the Realm of Life and he too was seeking the Lady of Life, Alarielle. He took advantage of Nurgle's horde to launch his own attack against the Stormcast, leading a chittering mass of Pestilens Skaven.

Clearly, the Stormcasts now have a serious battle on their hands. Perhaps a last ditch reinforcement from the Sylvaneth will save them?

Full report and more piccies here: link

Nice looking table you've got there!

Really enjoy the narrative and reports. With the book scenarios you've played, is there a bias towards Chaos and its abilities, or do you find either side has equal chances?

Brucka: That is kinda the beauty of it – with Age of Sigmar, the only bias present is one you add yourself as the forces used are completely up to you. After playing through the scenarios in the starter set (which seemed pretty well balanced to us) you very quickly get a feel of what will work and what won't. We have now played through all the battles in the first hardback (plus a bunch from various Battletomes) and have had no issues with balance. Zero. Nada. None.

We have also had zero rules 'debates' during the games, something we would _never_ have achieved in 8e or 40k!

Plus, there is the added bonus that if one of the players is, umm, less tactically adept than the others, you can seamlessly give them another unit or two to balance things out. And once you start adding the Time of War sheets, a _lot_ tends to start happening in these games, with legions of Chaos daemons appearing, the Stormcasts get reinforced, a slain Chaos Lord calls upon Grandfather Nurgle for last minute aid… Just lining up two armies that have been eyeballed for a vague idea of relative power really does work in this game and has led to some very, very close battles.

Is the first hardback the same book as the softcover in the starter box?

No, there is a lot more background in the hardback, and full blown scenarios that effectively give you three campaigns (one of which leads directly on from the 'training' scenarios in the softback).

Thank you, guess that goes back on the 'Watch List' then!