Empire VS Elves - A Warmaster Report

Hey all
unfortunately I left this awhile to post, resulting in a rather blurred memory of the events which took place at Realm of Legends for the completed Elven army's first outing against the very friendly Dobbsy
On the table were two 2,000pt armies arrayed over a fantasy plateau

The Elves, given the deployment as basis for a little background, moved from their vale to harass the encroaching Empire citizens moving to bring civilization further into the forests. A sort of fantasy Lebensraum, I guess! The table obviously dominated by the village, the Empire keeps quite compact while the Elves aim for some sort of sweeping flank advance.

The first Empire turn seizes the hill and moves the left brigades forth. The Knights are left behind for now

Here is a shot of the Empire hill positions after the High Elves have sent their Eagles to chew, scratch, stab and generally harass their artillery emplacement. Lesson Number One for Dobbsy (and all WM players, really.... - protect your artillery! If the enemy has fliers, chances are grimly high a maneuver among their opening shots will be surgical strikes against the artillery and/or any unsupported infantry flanks. Guaranteed, you learn to guard against it pretty soon....though for the first while it is a stomach-churning experience when the opponent suddenly blazes in from the sky, wreaks havoc among your most expensive units, destroys your artillery emplacements and literally FLIES OFF before you can retaliate. I know, it's been done to me plenty!

 Empire defensive stations regroup with shooters out front as the cavalry and infantry move in for support

The Elves take position atop the hill themselves from whence they fire their deadly volleys - note Elven arrows hit one better in the open and the wizard behind them can cast a spell allowing every stand to fire twice - ie that's a staggering 12 attack dice hitting on 3+ EVERY turn...

If you compare the above photo with the one two photos ago you'll note the Empire troops holding the hill are annihilated while a single stand of High Elf knights lingers before the Empire knights gearing to return the favor! The Elves on both hills, the chaos in the rear elven lines, the Empire advances slowly compact as its command is in shambles this day...

 Elven knight move in to support the infantry's flank as the Empire closes about them.

 The far right Elven charge destroyed two infantry units but essentially ran out of steam before the Empire's might and well arranged lines of defense. On the far left of the table there's a great deal of maneuvering going on which raises the stakes for both players. Alas, though, there's "eff%F&*^"-all maneuvering going on in the Elven rear as command after command is failed, much as befell the Empire in the early turns!

Setting up its strike the Empire opens fire and casts spells on the advancing Elves.

 In go the Empire knights in one...two...THREE successful commanders they charge down the table at great speed bypassing all opposition for the quintessential knightly charge into the Elven ranks. The Elven general, having moved west of the field to smooth out discipline in the rear ranks and the opposite flank, was unable to do anything about Dobbsy's brave charge which almost snatched victory for him!

 The Empire has moved in force all across the board and the fighting is brutal indeed. Their sole shortcoming was the Elves' early advantage in the game when they picked off individual units and wreaked havoc in the Empire's lines so much that even the Empire's current ferocity couldn't even out the score to bear them a victory.

 The General having moved to bring order and discipline upon his subjects, the Elven lines in the East bear the brunt of the Empire charges but move in good order to fight hard and close about the enemy's flanks offering a weakened center

 The Elves repel the Empire and close ranks to chase them forth.

 Realigned Elven lines support one another in a slow advance as the enemy falls back to regroup

What a great game!
I've yet to have a "bad" game of Warmaster. The fact the initiative and command system are so unpredictable means at any time the winds of luck may shift and a victory be snatched from the jaws of defeat. Usually, however, it's the opposite for me as in this game, too, I had early successes bullying the Empire formations that found themselves stranded due to Dobbsy's bad command. Then the God's whims shifted and it was he who started pulling command roll successes from God-knows-where and charged his knights all across the line. It was only good opening moves that had me at an advantage with the Elven archers consistently claiming victims on both flanks and the opening Elven charge that making it so Dobbsy's assault, while claiming a lot of dead pointy-ears, didn't manage the clout to break me from the defended stations my troops held. And from then-on-in it was mopping up, as knights on the defensive are never going to fare well and once the Elven returned advantage returned (being 20% better across the board - if more expensive! - than the Empire BEFORE any modifiers!) and their ranks can close to engage.

Thanks Dobbsy-meister for a great afternoon's gaming and to y'all for reading!
We return to defend the Vale.....
High Elf Valekeeper S.