Berkeley 2003 Report

By Alan Saunders

 

Saturday

 

Up at 6:30am and away just after 7:00am. I managed one slight navigational error, but still arrived at the hotel just after 9:00am. Met the usual suspects, as well as some new faces, then on with the games.

 

Game 1

 

An unexpected pleasure as, for the first time, I get to play against Richard Crawley. He used his Northern Alliance ( a chaotic mix of element types based on rugby teams), whilst I used my Aborigines. I set the trend for my weekend of defending, which at least made building the stronghold worthwhile.

 

The game was quick. I got my god on early, and, combined with flyers, killed the hero that was leading some riders on a flank march. I then noticed that St. Helena, Richard’s cleric general, had left the protective cover of the glacier she was moving along, and swooped the god into her flank. With a small risk of being driven from the field I won the game if I won the combat. I won the combat. 48-0 to me.

 

Game 2

 

I defended once again, using my main army, the Inuit Inland Dwellers of Etah. Ken chose that perfect army for an Arctic environment, Lizardmen. I laid a terrain that broke up his advance, and picked off his elements one by one with the magician and, when it turned up, the god. With 12AP lost I won 46-2.

 

Game 3

 

With two victories under my belt I drew Richard Bodley Scott for the third year running. I defended again against some goblins with the usual Bodley-Scott shooters and other stuff. The terrain I laid meant neither of us would advance and, after a brief, shooter killing, appearance by my god a draw looked likely. Getting greedy I decided to try an ensorcell his hero for an extra 4 points, despite having already rolled a ‘1’. Inevitably I rolled another ‘1’, frogged my general and lost the game 4-44. This rates as silliest move of the tournament in my mind; I should have just accepted the 24 all draw …

 

Game 4

 

Another tournament first for me – James Ewins. I decided to use the chaotic Number 13 Alliance against his Elves, despite discovering that the had changed since their outing last year. I defended, again, and we fought a battle close against one of the board edges as his line of shooters, riders and a hero went for my stronghold. Throwing my paladin into the fray, with a little support, I dispatched the hero and some shooters. With two lurkers already gone, James had taken quite a few losses, but I was amazed to discover that, in fact he had taken enough to lose him the game. 42-6 to me.

 

End of the first day and time for more games after a browse of the two trade stands. I picked up various figures from Tabletop Miniatures, as well as Star Wars – Epic Duels from Behind The Lines.

 

The first of the evening’s games was Formula 1, with six players. Whilst the lead changed a number of times, James soon dropped to the rear and I used a tactic card on the back straight of the last lap to just slip in front of Declan McHenry and win the race. Whilst I ate I was defeated at Zombies, then we switched to Thunder Road, which, with its little plastic cars and simple rules became something of a hit. The evening finished up with a German chariot racing game the name of which I can’t remember but which I had not a clue about what I was doing.

 

And so to bed …

 

Sunday

 

Up and out for the traditional pre-breakfast stroll. This was along the nearby canal towpath and was extremely pleasant. Then back for the obligatory full English breakfast and off to the first game of the day.

 

Game 5

 

The first game of the day was against Steve Price, who was using his Sci-Fi Colonial British, a mix of blades and dragons. Unable to concentrate on choosing an appropriate army I just went for the Aliens army he had created to go with them – 11 beasts and two lurkers. I defended, threw down some flat bad going, and away we went. My plan was to overwhelm his blades with weight of numbers before the dragons arrived. This worked well; lots of PIPs meant I rushed across the table at him. Then we got into combat and my PIPs dried up. I watched as element after element was overlapped and killed, and, to make matters worse, the dragons appeared and sat behind my line blocking recoils. However my luck turned towards the end. A couple of blades died, then the hero, then Steve tried to kill my general with a direct assault from one of his dragons. Against the odds he lost the combat, and I scored a 38-10 win.

 

Game 6

 

Having secured a victory I had crept far enough up the table to earn a game against another Bodley Scott. I faced Ned, who was using a variant on the goblins his dad had used. I used the Inland Dwellers of Etah, and defended again.

 

I got the god on early, and killed a couple of shooters before he disappeared. With less terrain that the game against Richard I was able to try a cautious advance with the rest of my army. Ned, meanwhile, went for my magician general with his dragon, and lost the combat. This left him 8AP down, and it was noticed that his hero was within bespelling range of my magician. If I could ensorcell him I would win the game. I had, however, already rolled a ‘1’, so this was a risky venture. But it was for the game, so I went for it. Ned rolled a ‘2’, so I only needed a 4 or more to win. I rolled a ‘1’ and lost the game. 8-40 to Ned.

 

Lunchtime gave some of us another chance to play Thunder Road.

 

Game 7

 

Another game against someone I hadn’t played before; Paul Smith. He was using his Hammer Hordes of Horror, and wonderful themed 25mm army with Frankenstein’s Monster, Dracula and other horror favourites and an superb stronghold. I chose some strange Highland Badgers, a mix of spears, rider (on giant birds) and shooters). For the only time that weekend I attacked.

 

Paul hid his hordes and magician behind some bad going, and tried a flank move with his beasts, whilst fixing my attention with a flyer supported aerial hero. The beast flanking moved was nullified by a single spear rolling against the odds, whilst my two shooters chased the aerial elements around behind my lines, picking off a flyer. Disaster struck when my general was hit in the flank by the aerial hero, and destroyed, but I had enough PIPs on my next bound to move up a shooter on one side of it, and a rider to block its recoil. Although one factor down I won the combat, and the 6AP loss was enough for me to win the game 44-4.

 

Game 8

 

The last game of the tournament saw me facing Thomas Bodley Scott’s elves with my Inland Dwellers of Etah. I defended. Somehow I never got into this game; my god appeared and killed a rider before vanishing, my magician rolled a ‘1’ for his first bespelling roll making any further uses a risk, and Thomas just ploughed forwards wiping out the rest of my army as he went, winning the game 46-2

 

My final score was 232 points, and 8th place, having won 5 and lost 3. All of my losses were to the Bodley Scott family. I had only played four of my opponents before, and, of those, only faced two of them at Berkeley before, so I certainly had some new experiences. Stupidest move was being greedy against Richard Bodley Scott, and unluckiest was failing to beat Ned. However, since I also pulled off some lucky combats and moves against other people, perhaps I got what I deserved.

 

The day ended with the presentations. I won a raffle prize, as well as winning the prize for best individual 15mm element – the god from my Inuit army.

 

So away off home for another year, and to discover that at some stage over the weekend I had acquired a streaming cold.

 

Many thanks for the Tudor Arms Lodge for putting up with us, and to Steve for organising everything.

 

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