AoS Shorts: Your Essential Guide to Age of Sigmar

Victoria GT Preview

Hey all, today we have a preview of this weekend’s Victoria GT, held in Bendigo, Victoria, Australia. The event is shaping up to be the largest in-person event for Warhammer Age of Sigmar since the Sheffield Slaughter in February 2020.

Check out the excellent Plastic Craic blog for Pete’s preview, with guest commentary from players around the world.


Victoria GT pack

The Victoria GT is a 5 round, 2000 point, GHB20 event. The key points of the event pack are:

  • Battleplans
    • Shifting Objectives
      • 24” deploy – 3 obj – Battleline bonus VP
    • Forcing the Hand
      • 24” deploy – 6 obj – primary objective bonus
    • Knife to the Heart
      • 18″ deploy – 2 obj – instant win condition
    • Total Conquest
      • 18” deploy – 4 obj – Leader bonus VP, retake control bonus VP
    • Battle for the Pass
      • short edge deployment
  • Auxiliary Objectives not being used – so no minor victories or losses
  • Realms
    • Before each game players at each table roll off to see which realm the battle is fought in. Whoever wins the roll off can either fight in the selected realm on their army list, no realm at all, or choose table sides.
  • Scoring
    • Major Victory (10TP)
    • Draw (5TP)
    • Major Loss (0TP)
    • There are no minor wins or losses
  • The new Daughters of Khaine and Hedonites of Slaanesh books are NOT in play.

Victorian GT 2021 Lists!

Check out all the lists for Victoria GT 2021 and you can follow along with results over on Tabletop.TO.


Victoria GT 2021 Alliance and faction breakdown

As with many events, Grand Alliance Order is the most popular Grand Alliance.

  • Order – 32 lists (46%)
  • Death – 15 lists (21%)
  • Chaos – 12 lists (17%)
  • Destruction – 11 lists (16%)

Out of 70 players attending, there are 24 unique factions.

Ossiarch Bonereapers69%
Lumineth Realmlords69%
Idoneth Deepkin69%
Seraphon57%
Kharadron Overlords46%
Fyreslayers46%
Disciples of Tzeentch46%
Nighthaunt34%
Daughters of Khaine34%
Ogor Mawtribes34%
Blades of Khorne34%
Gloomspite Gitz34%
Flesh Eater Courts34%
Stormcast Eternals23%
Big Waaagh!23%
Sons of Behemat23%
Cities of Sigmar23%
Beasts of Chaos23%
Legions of Nagash23%
Slaves to Darkness11%
Skaventide11%
Ironjawz11%
Hedonites of Slaanesh11%
Legion of Grief11%
Total70

Wounds breakdown

WoundsAveMinMaxMed
Chaos11877168111
Death12599191117
Destruction13885205141
Order11684162113
All Armies12277205116

Drops breakdown

DropsAveMinMaxMed
Chaos5.41104.5
Death7.74197
Destruction5.43115
Order7.52158.5
All Armies6.91196
DropsPlayersCum.% same/low% higher
1223%97%
25710%90%
341116%84%
4132434%66%
573144%56%
653651%49%
744057%43%
844463%37%
985274%26%
1086086%14%
1146491%9%
1226694%6%
1326897%3%
1406897%3%
1516999%1%
1606999%1%
1706999%1%
1806999%1%
19170100%0%
20070100%0%

Here is what you can expect at each of the drop levels:

  • 1 drops – Bloodmarked Warband; Changehost
  • 2 drops – Phantasmagoria of Fate; Desolating Beastherd; Vyperic Guard; Auralan Legion; Iron Sky Command & Grundstok Escort Wing
  • 3 drops – Eurlbad; Torrbad; 2xAuralan Legion lists
  • 4 drops – 3 x Akhelian Corps; Iron Sky Command; Auralan legion; Royal Mordants; Mortek Shield-corps; Eurlbad; Supreme Sybarites; Pleasurebound Warband and more.

Triumph / Points Analysis

You are looking in a good spot for a triumph at 1970 or 1980.

PointsLists
200030
199022
19808
19704
19604
19502
Total43

I’ll be covering the event over the weekend on Twitter, and have a full review after the weekend. 

SAGT 2021 Lists & Preview!

Hey all, today we have a preview of the South Australian Grand Tournament 2021 (SAGT). SAGT 2021 is coming next weekend, 13/14 March, in Adelaide Australia. It is South Australia’s premier Warhammer Age of Sigmar tournament. You can also look back at my coverage from the SAGT 2020.

The SAGT is put on by Michael from Doom & Darkness and Mathew “The Wildform” Weiss. Michael is the pretty face while Mathew does the work and gets the important things done.

All proceeds from the Doom & Darkness YouTube channel go to charity so be sure to hit the like button, leave a comment and be sure to subscribe as all of these interactions help promote the video and in turn raise funds for Dementia research.


SAGT 2021 pack

The SAGT is a 5 round, 2000 point, GHB20 event. The key points of the event pack are:

  • Battleplans
    • Total Conquest
      • 18” deploy – 4 obj – Leader bonus VP, retake control bonus VP
    • Shifting Objectives
      • 24” deploy – 3 obj – Battleline bonus VP
    • Forcing the Hand
      • 24” deploy – 6 obj – primary objective bonus
    • The Blades Edge
      • 24” deploy – 6 obj – removal of objectives
    • Focal Points
      • 18” deploy – 5 obj – MONSTER/Behemoth bonus VP
  • Auxiliary Objectives not being used – so no minor victories or losses
  • Realms
    • No realmsphere magic, realmscape features or realm commands
    • Yes realm artefacts
    • Rounds not played in a named realm
  • Scoring
    • Major Victory (200)
    • Draw (100)
    • Major Loss (10)
    • +VPs in game
  • The new Daughters of Khaine and Hedonites of Slaanesh books are in play.

SAGT 2021 Lists!

Check out all the lists for SAGT 2021.


SAGT 2021 Alliance and faction breakdown

As with many events, Grand Alliance Order is the most popular Grand Alliance.

  • Order – 19 lists (44%)
  • Chaos – 9 lists (21%)
  • Destruction – 9 lists (21%)
  • Death – 6 lists (14%)

Out of 43 players attending, there are 21 unique factions.

  • Slaves to Darkness – 4 lists (9%)
  • Ossiarch Bonereapers – 4 lists (9%)
  • Daughters of Khaine – 4 lists (9%)
  • Ogor Mawtribes – 3 lists (7%)
  • Lumineth Realmlords – 3 lists (7%)
  • Stormcast Eternals – 3 lists (7%)
  • Skaventide – 2 lists (5%)
  • Big Waaagh! – 2 lists (5%)
  • Ironjawz – 2 lists (5%)
  • Sons of Behemat – 2 lists (5%)
  • Cities of Sigmar – 2 lists (5%)
  • Kharadron Overlords – 2 lists (5%)
  • Seraphon – 2 lists (5%)
  • Beasts of Chaos – 1 list (2%)
  • Blades of Khorne – 1 list (2%)
  • Maggotkin of Nurgle – 1 list (2%)
  • Death – 1 list (2%)
  • Legions of Nagash – 1 list (2%)
  • Fyreslayers – 1 list (2%)
  • Idoneth Deepkin – 1 list (2%)
  • Sylvaneth – 1 list (2%)

Surprisingly, there are no Disciples of Tzeentch, Flesh Eater Courts, Hedonites of Slaanesh or Gloomspite Gitz and some popular GHB20 armies are in lower numbers than usual (Fyreslayers, Idoneth Deepkin etc).


Wounds breakdown

WoundsAveMinMaxMed
Chaos14094210131
Death127109156126
Destruction133106153141
Order12375205119
All Armies12975210126

Drops breakdown

DropsAveMinMaxMed
Chaos4.9195
Death8.05108
Destruction4.8195
Order7.63128
All Armies6.51127
DropsListsCumulative% same/low% higher
1337%93%
2149%91%
34819%81%
441228%72%
561842%58%
632149%51%
722353%47%
893274%26%
933581%19%
1043991%9%
1124195%5%
12243100%0%

Here is what you can expect at each of the drop levels:

  • 1 drops – Desolating Brayherd; Knights of the Empty Throne Plaguetouched Warband; Jorlbad
  • 2 drops – Eurlbad
  • 3 drops – Fleshmeld Menagerie; Vyperic Guard; Ymetrica; Sylvaneth
  • 4 drops – Blight Cyst; 2 x Sons Triple Mega-Gargants; Iron Sky Command

Triumph / Points Analysis

You are looking in a good spot for a triumph at 1970 or 1980.

PointsLists
200022
199012
19806
19701
19601
19500
19401
Total43

I’ll be covering the event over the weekend on Twitter, and have a full review after the weekend. 

Team Wars 2020 Preview

Down here in New Zealand we are getting super excited for Team Wars 2020, a four person Age of Sigmar team event coming up on 15 and 16 August. Today we cover the event’s pack and all the lists of the event.


Team Wars 2020 Pack

The key elements of the pack are:

  • five rounds
  • 2,000 points per army
  • battleplans from General’s Handbook 2019 (2 battleplans per round)
  • points and FAQs from General’s Handbook 2020
  • Malign Sorcery artifacts are in
  • GHB2020 realm rules are out
  • No team can double-up on allegiances, with exceptions made for the sub-allegiances in Legions of Nagash and Cities of Sigmar.
  • Each team cannot double-up warscrolls across lists.

Read the full pack for more details.

Scoring

  • Major Win – 16
  • Minor Win – 12
  • Draw – 8
  • Minor Loss – 4
  • Major Loss – 0
  • Complete Secondary – 1
  • Deny Opponent’s Secondary – 1
  • Destroyed 1000pts of Opponent’s Army – 1
  • Preserved 1000pts of your army – 1

Each round the total team score is capped at 65 points. The first tie-breaker will be uncapped team score.

Scenarios

  • Round 1
    • Battle for the Pass (2019)
    • Border War (Core)
  • Round 2
    • Take and Hold (Core)
    • Places of Arcane Power (2019)
  • Round 3
    • Knife to the Heart (2019)
    • Blood and Glory (Core)
  • Round 4
    • Scorched Earth (2019)
    • Escalation (Core)
  • Round 5
    • Starstrike (2019)
    • Relocation Orb (2019)

Match-up Process


Team Wars 2020 Lists

And here are all the lists for Team Wars 2020.

Team Nice and Reasonable

  • Ogor Mawtribes
  • Seraphon
  • Gloomspite Gitz
  • Tzeentch

The Hutt Indomitable Competitive Crew

  • Soulblight
  • Ironjawz
  • Slaves to Darkness
  • Gloomspite Gitz

Dazed and Confused

  • Tzeentch
  • Ogor Mawtribes
  • Fyreslayers
  • Nighthaunt

Stream Wargaming

  • Fyreslayers
  • Skaventide
  • Flesh Eater Courts
  • Grand Host of Nagash

Cold Warhammer

  • Ossiarch Bonereapers
  • Flesh Eater Courts
  • Tzeentch
  • Idoneth Deepkin

Sigmar’s Misfits

  • Stormcast Eternals
  • The Living City
  • Nurgle
  • Hallowheart

Grand Host of the Garage

  • Nighthaunt
  • Legion of Blood
  • Ossiarch Bonereapers
  • Grand Host of Nagash

Drinking Culture

  • Stormcast Eternals
  • Kharadron Overlords
  • Ossiarch Bonereapers
  • Tzeentch

Mostly Harmless

  • Anvilgard
  • Ogor Mawtribes
  • Nurgle
  • Seraphon

Auckland Model Citizens

  • Legion of Grief
  • Skaventide
  • Flesh Eater Courts
  • Ossiarch Bonereapers

ACE

  • Big Waaagh!
  • Idoneth Deepkin
  • Tzeentch
  • Stormcast Eternals

Tronhammer+

  • Tzeentch
  • Ossiarch Bonereapers
  • Idoneth Deepkin
  • Nurgle

Cinderfall District GT Preview

Good morning all, we are now back with our first post-COVID-19 event preview: the Cinderfall District GT on 1/2 August 2020. The event is a classic 5 games, 2000 points, individual matched play tournament held in Adelaide, South Australia and hosted by Luke Stone of Cinderfall Gaming. South Australia has a great scene (as you’d see from the annual South Australia GT).

Cinderfall District GT Pack

Here are the key pack details:

  • All games set in Aqshy, the Realm of Fire using all realm rules;
  • Mysterious Terrain is pre-set for the event;
  • General’s Handbook 2020 matched play rules in play;
  • No legacy warscrolls;
  • Battleplans:
    • Total Conquest
    • Scorched Earth
    • Focal Points
    • Forcing the Hand
    • The Blades Edge

You can read the full pack for more details.

Scoring

The scoring system is trying something different, by adding Victory Points Scored to points for a result:

  • Your army list submitted late or incorrectly: -5 points
  • Major Victory: 100 points
  • Minor Victory: 80 points
  • Draw: 50 points
  • Minor Loss: 30 points
  • Major Loss: 10 points

The total amount of victory points scored at the end of the game will be added to your overall tournament point score. Games that do not finish a full five rounds will not be allowed to calculate an estimated amount of victory points, only victory points scored when dice down is called will be added to the total score. All Games are expected to try to be played until the end of turn 5 so that an accurate score can be calculated. For example: If you won a major victory and scored 18 Victory points in the game, you would get 118 Tournament Points.

Cinderfall District GT Lists

There are 20 people coming to the Cinderfall District GT this year. Unfortunately, South Australia closed its borders with NSW and Victoria in the last few weeks being the 20 players travelling from other states could no longer attend. But the South Australian crew are well represented.

Here is the faction breakdown:

  • 3 Gloomspite Gitz (up the gitz!)
  • 2 Blades of Khorne
  • 2 Stormcast Eternals
  • 1 Big Waaagh!
  • 1 Daughters of Khaine
  • 1 Flesh Eater Courts
  • 1 Fyreslayers
  • 1 Hedonites of Slaanesh
  • 1 Kharadron Overlords (Khron, Khron, Khron!)
  • 1 Nighthaunt
  • 1 Ogor Mawtribes
  • 1 Ossiarch Bonereapers
  • 1 Skaven
  • 1 Slaves to Darkness
  • 1 Sylvaneth

You can read all the lists here.

My personal favourites from the lists are:

  • Alex Khron (CanKhron) taking his Barak Zilfin Kharadron Overlords for another spin. This list is a further evolution of his list from pre-lockdown events.
  • Jason Dowley running the 2,000 point version of Shootcast Stormcast Eternals and taking advantage of the points reductions. This build works very well at 2.500 points so it will be interesting to see if it has enough at 2,000.
  • Kris Becker running the Squigalanche – purely because SQUIGS!
  • Kyle Tregloan because he is taking 3 massive spiders, 20 baby spiders and the Troggoth Hag!
  • Luke Doman running an All Stars style Slaanesh build with Chaos Marauders. I can see this list either smashing or flopping depending on the match-up.
  • Doom and Darkness himself running a Junkmob Boulderhead with 2 Scraplaunchers! I remember someone trying to tell me that Scraplaunchers were great in 8th ed and didn’t believe them. Maybe their time is now?
  • Finally, Wayne Buck for running a Skaven list that in some games will go absolutely bonkers! 2 Warp Lightning Cannons, 3 Doomwheels, 40 Acolytes and a whole load of more-more-more Warp Power!

So those are some of my favourite lists. I’ll be back with a wrap up and results from the event.

Tasman Cup 2020 Preview

Hey guys, with CanCon this week it is time for the Tasman Cup 2020! The Tasman Cup is a team event contested between teams from Australia and New Zealand.  Last year was the inaugural year with teams of 5 facing off. This year, with a larger travelling NZ contingent, we now have teams of 9 ready to throw down at Jolt Games in Canberra. In this post I cover the pack, introduce the teams and show their lists. 

If you are interested in reliving last year’s glorious victory for Team NZ, you can check out the coverage here:

You can follow along all the coverage from this year’s event over on my Twitter (@AoS_Shorts).


Tasman Cup 2020 Pack

The Tasman Cup is played as a primer for CanCon, so we are using the CanCon pack with all games being set in Ghyran and using the first round battle plan of Border War. 

We are also using a form of ETC pairings to determine the match-ups.  The pairings are best explained through a diagram. The aim is to try to guarantee the most favourable match-ups for your team, avoiding strong counters and occasionally throwing someone under the bus (taking a bad match-up for the good of the team). 

So lets get to the teams!

Team Aotearoa New Zealand

We are bringing the heat this year with a stacked team of James Page, Shaun Bates, Shaun Tubman, Lee Wilmot, Matt Watkinson, James McGregor, Aiden Nicol, Seth Cook and Regan O’Halloran.

James Page (Tzeentch)

James is the current New Zealand master and stoked to be able to unleash the new Disciples of Tzeentch book on CanCon.  Expect 11 casts a turn, plenty of Destiny Dice rigging, Changehost movement shenanigans, and lots and lots of summoning.

Shaun Bates (Stormcast)

Shaun is the current New South Wales champions (winner of the Sydney GT) and New Zealand’s best Stormcast player.  He also talks shit on the Notorious Age of Sigmar podcast. Shaun is taking his trusty shootcast with the addition of some sushi borrowed from Lee. 

Shaun Tubman (Gloomspite Gitz)

Shaun, the other half of the Notorious podcast, previous NZ master and inventor of the yellow Bad Moon balloon.  Shaun is running a wave of bodies backed up by strong casting and lots of endless spells. 

Matt Watkinson (Tzeentch)

The first of Team NZ’s English imports (seriously, emigrate here people) is Matty Watkinson.  An all-round lovely gent with a beautifully painted army, which you can look at as it burns you off the table.  Matt has brought the fire and, after a great result at Sydney GT too, is expected to do well. 

Lee Wilmot (Tempest’s Eye))

Returning Tasman Cup player Lee is known for his mixed Order collection and obsession with allied choices. Lee is coming off winning Valley Con last weekend and taking the first trophy with Tempest’s Eye anywhere in the world. 

James McGregor (Tempest’s Eye)

James is coming over for his first CanCon and is also bringing a Tempest’s Eye list.  Phoenix Guard, Irondrakes, Endrinriggers, a Phoenix and lots of support. What’s not to like?

Seth Cook (Mawtribes)

Seth, our ass-kicking American librarian, is on a redemption path after his rather short game against Liam Burnett-Blue last year.  Seth is bringing reinforcements this time with a new and improved Mawtribes battletome and a load of angry fat guys. 

Aiden Nicol (Legion of Grief)

The master of horde armies before they were cool (see original Pestilens and now Grief), Aiden is attending his first CanCon and flooding the board with ghosts.  Can’t wait to see those Myrmourn Banshees barrelling around the board. 

Regan O’Halloran (Legion of Night)

Last but not least, is Upper Hunt’s Regan.  Also a CanCon debutant, he is rocking with Legion of Night to surprise some people with things that go bump in the night. 


Team Australia

So who are the random bunch of Australians picked to face off against Aotearoa’s travelling posse?  

Sam Morgan (captain) (Order)

SMorgan, Victorian, former Australian ETC MVP, and member of the Dwellers podcast who 20-0’d an English Master.  Sam is drawing attention with a rather unique Mixed Order list with all the big names.

Mat Tyrell (Nighthaunt)

Mat is the current Australian master, the Australian ETC captain, and the Mayor of Dubbo.  Always a keen Death man, Matt is taking Nighthaunt this year. Despite the new list, not a man to be underestimated. 

Hayden Walker (Mawtribes)

Hayden Walker, the man from Brisbane, personal trainer, committed member of #StormcastStrong and aelf-lover.  However, this year he is running his Jurassic Park themed, 6 model Mawtribes army! Whatever the result, this is going to be a fun weekend for Hayden running 6 big beasties. 

Gabriel Hanna (Ironjawz)

Gabe of Rune Axe Wargaming (and another Queensland man) has abandoned his beloved Legion of Azgorh in order to smash face up close and personal with an Ironjawz lists.  Gabe’s armies always look great so I can’t wait to see it on the tabletop. 

Chris Welfare (Sylvaneth)

Chris, host of the Mortally Wounded podcast and Sydney Slaughter TO, is a perennial Masters podium player.  Chris is on a mission to prove that Sylvaneth are still worth their salt and is taking advantage of the recent points drops, while relying on his trusty old faithful branchwych bomb. 

Dave Hurley (Idoneth Deepkin)

Dave, I must confess, I do not know much about.  Dave is running an eel-based Deepkin list after switching over from Death for Sydney GT.

Ash McEwan (Tzeentch)

Ash, a golden boy of Australian Warhammer, took last year’s CanCon by storm with an unexpected Nighthaunt list.  This year, Ash claims to be running “friendly Tzeentch” (if friendly is defined as generating a large number of Destiny Dice to rig every key roll in the game. 

Liam Burnett-Blue (Bonereapers)

Liam, one-half of the excellent Down Under Sigmar series on YouTube with AoS Coach, is really leaning into his Warhammer Villain status by taking Petrifex Elite this year.  Liam will be looking for his second Tasman Cup victory in two years. 

Nick Hoen (Slaves to Darkness)

Nick, also of the Dwellers, has stepped in at the last minute to run a Slaves to Darkness list for Team Australia.  This list has far more to it than meets the eye and Nick is a great player (finishing high at CanCon 2019).

I’ll be back later in the week with a full report of how the event unfolded. 

CanCon 2020 Lists

Hey all, this week is CanCon 2020! The largest Warhammer Age of Sigmar singles event in the world. 240 tickets sold, 228 lists submitted, the pride of Australia, and coming this weekend! The lists for the event have been released so I have a quick post with some initial comments. A full preview of the pack will come later this week.


CanCon 2020 Pack

Call to Glory 2020: The Jade Kingdoms (to give the event its proper name) is a six round, 2,000 points matched play event, held this year in Ghyran. The realm of life spells are in play. And the Disciples of Tzeentch and Kharadron Overlords books are in use.

I’ll be back later this week to expand on the pack and the challenges it sets for players.


CanCon 2020 Lists

And here is what you are after, the CanCon 2020 lists.

CanCon 2020 Faction Breakdown

Here is a quick faction and sub-faction breakdown.

For full analysis of the lists, popular spells, artefacts, battalions, list design and more you need to check out the great stream the AoS Coach did with Liam (@shadowhammer) and Clint, the CanCon TO. The guys breakdown everything.

Las Vegas Open 2020 – Age of Sigmar LVO Lists!

Hey all, the Las Vegas Open 2020 Age of Sigmar lists have now been released. The LVO is the first US major Age of Sigmar event for the year (and rounds out the previous year’s ITC season). Hosted in Bally’s Casino, Las Vegas, the LVO is a three day, eight round Age of Sigmar event with 130+ players, and a single-day Doubles tournament. You can read all my coverage of the unique event pack, or read on further for all the LVO lists from the event.

And, as always, check out Dark Fantastic Mills for great 3D printed terrain perfect for wargaming.  Its super versatile and light so worldwide shipping is inexpensive.  Use the “aos shorts” discount code for a further 10% off the already decent prices.

Age of Sigmar

LVO 2020 Lists

The Las Vegas Open runs through the Best Coast Pairings app. The team at Best Coast Pairings have kindly agreed to share the list data with me as well as provide a full PDF of the lists. Follow along with the event over the weekend on Best Coast Pairings for live results and lists.

Best Coast Pairings

LVO 2020 Lists – Faction Breakdown

Here is a breakdown of which factions, artefacts and endless spells are being taken at LVO.

And with some additional sub-faction breakdowns.


LVO 2020 Lists – Who to Watch?

So what are the lists that last year’s top 8 are bringing? Do we think they will repeat their great performance from a year ago?

The LVO 2019 top 8 knockout competitors were:

  • Bill Souza (Team America ETC captain) – Flesh-eater Courts
  • Andrew Standiferd (defeated finalist) – Stormcast
  • Jeff Paynter – Stormcast
  • Matthew Pashby – Idoneth Deepkin
  • Joe Krier – Disciples of Tzeentch
  • Roger Barker – Grand Host of Nagash (Team America ETC coach)
  • Alan Bajramovic – Grand Host of Nagash
  • Olivier Gandouet – Idoneth Deepkin

So who is back and what are they running? It turns out only Bill, Joe and Roger are back to defend their spoils so the field is open.

Bill is back running Blisterkin Flesh-Eater Courts this year, Joe has his beloved Tzeentch and a massive pile of endless spells (but no new Tzeentch book in play) and Roger has switched to the crazy green lads with Kunnin Rukk Bonesplitterz.

Now let’s also have a look at some of the other Team America ETC players coming to LVO 2020. They are Greg Goede and Jeremy Veysserie. Greg is running Skaven and Jeremy is running Hermdar Fyreslayers.

Las Vegas Open 2020 Preview

Hey all, I’m back with my first post for 2020 diving into the Warhammer Age of Sigmar Championships at the Las Vegas Open 2020 (LVO), which is coming up next weekend (24 to 26 January). Scott and his team are again putting on a 8 round! 120+ player ITC event in the heart of Las Vegas at Bally’s Casino. The LVO is the showpiece event for Frontline Gaming and the ITC (Independent Tournament Circuit)

In today’s post, I cover the pack and all its unique features. Later this week, I’ll have all the lists. Make sure to follow along the event on the Best Coast Pairings app and with the live-streaming over the weekend on the Frontline Gaming Twitch channel!

If you are interested you can go back and check out my 2019 LVO coverage:

And, as always, check out Dark Fantastic Mills for great 3D printed terrain perfect for wargaming.  Its super versatile and light so worldwide shipping is inexpensive.  Use the “aos shorts” discount code for a further 10% off the already decent prices.

Age of Sigmar

Las Vegas Open Pack

The Las Vegas Open 2019 is running a truly unique format for competitive Warhammer Age of Sigmar – eight rounds over three days, with the last three rounds only being contested by the top eight players! Read the full pack for more information, otherwise I’ll take you through the key points below.

  • 2,000 points matched play, General’s Handbook 2019
  • 5 rounds, with a subsequent 3 round shootout for the top 8 to crown the overall champion
  • Realm artifacts and realm spells in play
  • Limited Realms of Battle Rules (see below)
  • Rules cut-off three weeks before the event (so no new KO and Tzeentch), but FAQs in play up to 2 days before.
  • Pre-set terrain by the TOs
  • Bone-Tithe Nexus’ replace one of the large pieces of terrain on the table (more than 1″ from objectives and 6″ from edge of battlefield and cant be placed right in the very centre of the battlefield).

I’d also recommend you check out the Wide World of Wargaming podcast episode which covered the event pack and scoring.


Las Vegas Open Scoring

The event also has an interesting scoring and secondary objectives system.

  • Major Victory – 17 points
  • Minor Victory – 12 points
  • Draw – 8 points
  • Minor Loss – 5 points
  • Major Loss – 0 points

There are additional points for secondary objectives and painting. Favourite opponent votes are collected separately.

Battleplan secondaries

Each round has one secondary mission that is worth 2 points and can only be scored by one player. Some are scored when they are first achieved while others are scored at the end of the game.

  • CENTER GROUND: You complete this Secondary if you control the objective in the center of the battlefield at the end of the battle.  Count a hero as 10 models for controlling the center objective, only for the purpose of scoring this secondary.
  • SEIZE: You complete this Secondary if you control more the objectives at the end of the battle than your opponent.  Count a battleline unit as double for controlling the center objective, only for the purpose of scoring this secondary. (Note this will not stack with the Might Makes Right allegiance ability of Ogor Mawtribes.)
  • BLOODTHIRSTY: You complete this Secondary if you are the first player to destroy a unit.  If neither player destroys a unit by the end of the game then the one that killed the first model scores this secondary.  Barring that roll off.
  • FINAL WORD: You complete this Secondary if you are the last player to destroy a unit.  If neither player destroys a unit by the end of the game then the one that killed the last model scores this secondary.  Barring that roll off.
  • LINEBREAKER: You complete this Secondary if you destroy more battleline units than your opponent.  If you both destroyed the same number then the player that destroyed more points worth of battleline units scores this secondary.  If that is also equal roll off. For the purposes of this secondary a unit is considered destroyed by the opponent once the last model in that unit is slain for the first time (for any reason).

Army missions

Each army must also pick a mission at the time of list submission to achieve over the course of the entire event. Each round you receive 2 points if you achieve your mission and another 1 point if your opponent does not achieve theirs.

  • CONSERVE: You complete this Mission if at least one-third of the units from your starting army (rounding up) have not been destroyed and are on the battlefield at the end of the battle.
  • ATTRITION: You complete this Mission if at least two-thirds of the units from your opponent’s starting army (rounding up) have been destroyed and/or are not on the battlefield at the end of the battle.
  • INVADE: You complete this Mission if a friendly unit with 3 or more models is wholly within your opponent’s territory at the end of the battle.
  • DEFEND: You complete this Mission if there are no enemy units wholly within your territory at the end of the battle.
  • SLAY: You complete this Mission if the Hero with the highest points value from your opponent’s starting army has been slain at the end of the battle. If two or more Heroes are eligible, slay either of them.
  • OVERRUN:  You complete this Mission at the end of any battle round if you have at least one unit wholly within each of the four quarters of the battlefield, and your opponent does not.

Hidden Agendas

After both armies have been set up, each player picks a hidden agenda in secret. Again you get 2 points each round for achieving it and 1 point for depriving your opponent of theirs.

  • ANCIENT HEIRLOOMS: You complete this Hidden Agenda if any friendly Heroes with an artifact of power are on the battlefield at the end of the battle.
  • DOMINATE: You immediately complete this Hidden Agenda if you control two more objectives than your opponent.
  • OBLITERATE: You immediately complete this Hidden Agenda if you destroy 3 or more enemy units in the same turn.
  • ONSLAUGHT: You immediately complete this Hidden Agenda if a friendly unit that is more than 9” from any enemy units attempts to charge and the charge does not fail.
  • RETAKE: You immediately complete this Hidden Agenda if you gain control of an objective that was controlled by your opponent.
  • SACRIFICE: You complete this Hidden Agenda immediately if the Hero with the highest points value from your starting army, and that is not your general is slain by an attack made by an enemy Hero or Monster.
  • SECRET MISSION: You complete this Hidden Agenda in any battleshock phase if a friendly Hero is wholly within an enemy territory, within 1” of the edge of the battle field, and more than 12” from a friendly territory.  You can remove that hero from play to immediately complete this hidden agenda. 
  • SORCERER SUPREME: You immediately complete this Hidden Agenda if an enemy Hero is slain by mortal wounds inflicted by a friendly wizard.
  • TERRIFY: You immediately complete this Hidden Agenda if an enemy unit is destroyed as a result of failing a battleshock test.

Las Vegas Open 2020 Battleplans

The LVO is using the following battleplans for the first 5 rounds, with the following modifications (the changes are in square brackets):

  • R1: Focal Points 2018 in Ghyran
    • Victory: The player with the most victory points at the end of the fifth battle round (or when the amount of time allocated for the battle runs out), wins a [minor victory]. [If one player has at least 4 points more than their opponent that player scores a major victory instead. If victory points are tied the result is a draw.]
    • Battleplan Secondary – Center Ground: You complete Secondary if you control the objective closest to the center of the battlefield at the end of the battle.  Count Heroes as 10 models when determining control of an objective for this secondary.
    • Realmscape Feature – Lifesprings: Before the battle begins, each player picks a Hero from their army. Add 1 to the Wounds characteristic of the heroes that are picked.
  • R2: Duality of Death 2018 in Ghur
    • Victory: The player with the most victory points at the end of the fifth battle round (or when the amount of time allocated for the battle runs out) wins a [minor victory].  [If one player has at least 4 points more than their opponent that player scores a major victory instead. If victory points are tied the result is a draw.]
    • Battleplan Secondary – Bloodthirsty:  You complete this Secondary if you are the first player to destroy a unit.  If neither player destroys a unit by the end of the game then the one that killed the first model scores this secondary.  Barring that roll off.
    • Realmscape Feature – Reckless Aggression:  Any unit that is within 12″ of an enemy unit at the start of their charge phase suffers 1 mortal wound unless they finish that charge phase within 3″ of an enemy model. In addition, you can re-roll hit rolls of 1 for units that have made a charge move in the same turn.
  • R3: Blood and Glory in Aqshy
    • Victory: Starting from the third battle round, one player immediately wins a major victory if they have control of all four objectives [at the end of their turn]. If neither player has won by the end of the fifth battle round, or the amount of time allocated for the battle runs out, then the player that controls the most objectives wins a minor victory. If both players control the same number of objectives at the end the game is a draw.
    • Battleplan Secondary – Final word: You complete this Secondary if you are the last player to destroy a unit.  If neither player destroys a unit by the end of the game then the one that killed the last model scores this secondary.  Barring that roll off.
    • Realmscape FeatureClouds of Smoke and Steam: A model cannot see another model if a straight line drawn from the centre of its base to the centre of the other model’s base passes across a terrain feature other than open ground and/or hills.
  • R4: Battle for the Pass 2019 in Ulgu
    • Victory: The player with the most victory points at the end of the fifth battle round (or when the amount of time allocated for the battle runs out) wins a [minor victory].  [If one player has at least 3 points more than their opponent that player scores a major victory instead. If victory points are tied the result is a draw.]
    • Battleplan Secondary – Linebreaker: You complete this Secondary if you destroy more battleline units than your opponent.  If you both destroyed the same number then the player that destroyed more points worth of battleline units scores this secondary.  If that is also equal roll off. For the purposes of this secondary a unit is considered destroyed by the opponent once the last model in that unit is slain for the first time (for any reason).
    • Realmscape Feature – Shadow Realm: At the start of your hero phase, pick one friendly unit that has all of its models within 6″ of any edge of the battlefield. You can remove that unit from the battlefield, and then set it up more than 9″ from any enemy units, and with all models within 6″ of a different edge of the battlefield. Then roll a dice for each model you moved; on a 1 the model being rolled for becomes lost in the shadows and is slain. The unit may not move in the subsequent movement phase
  • R5: Starstrike 2019 in Hysh
    • Victory: The player with the most victory points at the end of the fifth battle round (or when the amount of time allocated for the battle runs out) wins a [minor victory].  [If one player has at least 5 points more than their opponent that player scores a major victory instead. If victory points are tied the result is a draw.]
    • Battleplan Secondary – Seize: You complete this Secondary if you control more the objectives at the end of the battle than your opponent. Count a battleline unit as double the number of models for controlling the center objective, only for the purpose of scoring this secondary. (Note this will not stack with the Might Makes Right allegiance ability of Ogor Mawtrimes.)
    • Realmscape Feature – Dazzling Glow: Subtract 1 from hit rolls made for attacks that target units that are in cover.

I’m really excited to see how this pack plays out over the weekend and can’t wait for the final 8 showdown on the Sunday.

As I said at the beginning, I’ll have further posts up this week with all the lists and some exciting news from Best Coast Pairings.

Sydney GT 2019

Hey all, the Sydney GT 2019 is coming on 12 and 13 October 2019! One of Sydney’s premier Warhammer Age of Sigmar events. This year, the Sydney GT is offering something different to the usual matched play Age of Sigmar tournament by setting the points level at 2,500 points. With 500 more points to play with, creative players can unlock whole new lists around little-used battalions or get a super-sized monster out onto the board that they would not usually.


Sydney GT 2019 Pack

The key points of the Sydney GT 2019 pack are:

  • 2,500 points
  • General’s Handbook 2019, Firestorm, Forbidden Power and Malign Sorcery
  • Choosing a realm for your army can grant you access to realm spells and realm artefacts. If your army doesn’t have an allegiance spell lore, you can use spells from your realm. If you do have an allegiance spell lore, you can choose either you allegiance lore or the realm lore.
  • Limited realm rules in play with Chamon for day one and Aqshy for day two
  • Secondary objectives: Before deployment, each player chooses a Hidden Agenda to achieve in secret. Hidden Agendas can only be picked once.
  • Tertiary objectives: The event is running unique tertiary objectives in each battleplan.

Battleplans

The event is using the following battleplans:

  • Starstrike 2019 in Chamon with Adapt or Die, Transmutation of Lead and Steel Rain
    • Tertiary objective: Score 1 point if you control the objective marker in your opponent’s territory at any point at the end of any of your turns. Score 2 points instead if your control the objective marker in your opponent’s territory at the end of the game with a unit with Battleline battlefield role.
  • Duality of Death 2019 in Chamon with Adapt or Die, Transmutation of Lead and Rust Plague
    • Score 1 point if you have a unit wholly within your enemy’s territory at the end of the game that did not start off the table or was removed from the table by any means during the course of the game. Score 2 points instead if the unit described above has the Battleline battlefield role.
  • The Relocation Orb 2019 in Chamon with Adapt or Die, Transmutation of Lead and Irresistible Force.
    • Score 1 point if you slay an enemy HERO by the end of the third battle round. Score 2 points instead if you slay 2 or more enemy HEROES by the end of the third battle round. If your opponent only has 1 HERO, score 2 points if you slay that model.
  • Focal Points 2019 in Aqshy with Firestarter, Fireball and Geysers of Boiling Blood
    • Score 1 point if you control at least 3 of the objectives markers at the end of any of your turns. Score 2 points instead if your control at least 3 of the objective markers at the end of the game & two of them are in your opponent’s territory.
  • Knife to the Heart 2019 in Aqshy with Firestarter, Fireball and Flaming Missiles
    • Score 1 point if you have a unit wholly within your enemy’s territory at the end of the game that did not start off the table or was removed from the table by any means during the course of the game. Score 2 points instead if the unit described above has the Battleline battlefield role.

Scoring

You can read the full player’s pack and check out all the battleplans.


Sydney GT 2019 Lists

The Australian Age of Sigmar community is the home of creative and off-the wall lists. You can find all the Sydney GT 2019 lists here.

The AoS Coach and Down Under Sigmar did a list review show running through the favourite lists from the event. So settle in for two hours with Liam, Hayden and Randy 🙂

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pOPg5eccj6k&w=560&h=315]

Online Voting: Favourite Army

Sydney GT ’19 will be letting YOU, our online Age of Sigmar community, an opportunity to vote for your favourite army at the event.

Online Favourite Army: Judged by an online poll & awarded to the army used at the event with the highest number of votes within a 24 hour period including endless spells / summoned units / allegiance terrain. Display board may be used.

[googleapps domain=”docs” dir=”forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdE90ar7DDdGzBJqDClhw0_weVYDxbSOAWj-TaZaosSDrEAzw/viewform” query=”embedded=true” width=”640″ height=”698″ /]

Facehammer GT Report

Hey everyone, today I have my Facehammer GT 2019 report. The Facehammer GT is one of the premiere Warhammer Age of Sigmar events in the UK. Hosted by the Facehammer podcast, at Element Games (an amazing venue in Stockport), and covered by the Honest Wargamer, it was an epic weekend of wargaming for 81 players. Check out this post for the pack, results, top lists, pictures and coverage.

As always, check out Dark Fantastic Mills for great 3D printed terrain perfect for wargaming.  Its super versatile and light so worldwide shipping is inexpensive. Use the “aos shorts” discount code for a further 10% off the already decent prices.

Age of Sigmar

Facehammer GT Pack

The Facehammer GT has a top quality pack with something for all players and an innovative 20-0 scoring system. The aim being to challenge and differentiate between the top players in an 80 player field. You can read the full pack here but the highlights are:

  • 3 hour rounds
  • 2,000 points
  • General’s Handbook 2019
  • Battleplans randomly selected from the 18 matched play scenarios on the day
    • Round 1 – Shifting Objectives
    • Round 2 – Places of Arcane Power
    • Round 3 – Total Commitment
    • Round 4 – Focal Points
    • Round 5 – Total Conquest
  • Scenery pre-placed by the organisers – mysterious terrain used but you only roll once to determine the applicable terrain table and then all pieces are rolled from that table
  • Realm artefacts in use
  • No realmscape features, command abilities or realm spells

Scoring

Painting and army list scoring.

  • 15TPs – army painted to minimum standard
  • 5TPs – extra effort applied (above average bases, freehand, higher technical standard etc)
  • 10TPs – army is cohesive
  • 5TPs – army list submitted on registration
  • 5TPs – army list is legal and in correct format

Competitive play scoring.

  • Major Victory – 14
  • Minor – 10
  • Draw – 7
  • Minor – 4
  • Major Loss – 0
  • Destroying 1000pts of your opponent’s army – 1 TP
  • Losing less than 1000pts of your starting army – 1 TP

To calculate kill points you did the following:

  • The points value of all units destroyed
  • The points of any warscroll battalion in which all units have been destroyed
  • The points value of any endless spell or prayer model from your opponent’s army not on the table at end of the game.
  • If your opponent purchased a command point and you have destroyed their general, then you also score the 50pts spent on the command point.

Hidden agenda scoring:

  • Agenda Triumph rules are not in play
  • Players select two agendas per game after set-up is complete but before the first battle round
  • Once both players have picked, the agendas are revealed
  • You can only use each agenda once per event
  • 1 TP for each agenda completed
  • 1 TP for each mission your opponent did not complete.
  • Making a pool of 4 points available to both players. So if you achieve both missions and your opponent achieves both missions then you would score 2 points each, however if you score both missions and your opponent fails both their missions then you would score 4

The FHGT Champion is the player with the most “Tournament Points”, if two people are tied then these factors will be considered in this order until a winner is determined.

  • Kill points TP’s > Agenda points > Strength of Schedule > kill points

Sportsmanship scoring:

  • There are 15 TPS available
  • Receiving 1 Best Opponent Nomination +5 TPS
  • Receiving 2 or more Best Opponent nominations +5 TPS
  • Winning the Best Opponent award +5 TPS
  • Receiving 1 Complaints* – 10 TPS
  • Receiving 2 Complaints* – 50 TPS
  • Receiving 3 Complaints* – Disqualification

Players will nominate the two players they had the most fun playing against during the event and the player with the most votes will win the Facehammer GT Herald award. In the event of a tie it will go to the player who had the most tournament points.


Facehammer GT 2019 Results

  • Overall results
    • 1st: Luke Morton – Idoneth Deepkin
    • 2nd: Bryan Carmichael – Slaanesh
    • 3rd: Dan Bradshaw – Skaven
  • Best in alliance – Most Agenda Points
    • Death – Tom Mawdsley
    • Chaos – Dan Ford
    • Destruction – Ritchie
    • Order – Donal Taylor
  • Top 10 players
    • Luke Morton – Idoneth Deepkin
    • Bryan Carmichael – Hedonites of Slaanesh
    • Dan Bradshaw – Skaventide
    • Ben Curry – Daughters of Khaine
    • Laurie H-W – Sylvaneth
    • Mark Wildman – Blades of Khorne
    • JP Stevens – Hedonites of Slaanesh
    • James Tinsdale – Idoneth Deepkin
    • Tom Mawdsley – Legion of Grief
    • Ritchie Mcalley – Gloomspite Gitz
  • Top 10 tables per round.
  • Most sporting – Paul Haley (@loft_hammer)
  • Most bloodthirsty (most kill points) – Ben Curry (@BadDice_Podcast)
  • Best painted
    • 1st: PaintedByG
    • 2nd: Matt Oswald
    • 3rd: Ritchie
  • Coolest army = Luke Morton
  • Best painted competition
    • Best in show – PaintedByG
    • Unit – PaintedByG
    • Hero – Fluffhammer
    • Monster – @Markthebeastman
    • Open – PaintedByG
PaintedByG taking all the hardware.

Facehammer GT 2019 Lists

Lists for the event were submitted on the day. So I’m trying to compile them from the internet and the Honest Wargamer Twitch stream. I’ll update them as I have more information.


First – Luke Morton – Idoneth Deepkin

Enclave: Dhom-Hain

LEADERS
Vulturnos, High King of the Deep (280) General
Isharann Soulscryer (130) Artefact : Cloud of Midnight
Isharann Soulscryer (130)
Black Ark Fleetmaster (40)

Allies 5 x Khinerai Heartrenders (90)

UNITS
3 xAkhelian IshlaenGuard(140)
6 xAkhelianMorrsarGuard (340)
3 xAkhelianMorrsarrGuard (170)
3 xAkhelianMorrsarrGuard (170)
3 x AkhelianMorrsarrGuard (170)
3 x AkhelianMorrsarrGuard170)
3 x AkhelianMorrsarGuard170)
TOTAL: 2000/2000


Second – Bryan Carmichael – Slaanesh

TBC


Third – Dan Bradshaw – Skaventide


Fourth – Ben Curry – Daughters of Khaine

Daughters of Khaine
– Temple: Hagg Nar

Mortal Realm: Aqshy

Slaughter Queen on Cauldron of Blood (330)
– General
– Trait: Devoted Desciples
– Artefact: Ignax Scales
– Blessing of Khaine

Hag Queen (90)
– Catechism of Murder

Hag Queen (90)
– Blood Sigil – Sacrament of Blood
– Martyr’s Sacrifice

Morathi High Oracle of Khaine (480)
– Lore of Shadows: Mindrazor

30 x Sisters of Slaughter (300)
– Barbed Whips and Blade Bucklers

30 x Witch Aelves (300)
– Sacrificial Knives and Blade Bucklers

10 x Witch Aelves (120)
– Sacrificial Knives and Blade Bucklers

5 x Khinerai Lifetakers (80)

5 x Khinerai Lifetakers (80)

Cauldron Guard (120)

Total: 1990 / 2000

Ben has given a run-down on his tournament performance over on TGA.


Fifth – Laurie H-W – Sylvaneth


Painting Competition

The Facehammer GT is known for have both an amazing standard of painted armies, but also an excellent stand-alone painting competition.

There are lots of more great quality pictures on the Honest Wargamer’s Facebook page.

Best painted army nominations

PaintedByG’s excellent winning best painted army.

Other best painted army nominations and painting competition pictures.


Facehammer GT 2019 Coverage

There was full coverage across the weekend provided by the stream team at the Honest Wargamer. The crew for this event were Rob Symes,  Darren Watson, Benjamin Savva and roving reports from Owen Jackson.

All the games are available for free to watch back on the Honest Wargamer Twitch channel and on the Honest Wargamer Twitter account. I’ve also embedded the videos below.

Game 1 – Seraphon vs Nurgle


Game 2 – Gloomspite Gitz vs Stormcast Eternals


Game 3 – Beastclaw Raiders vs Bonesplitters


Game 4 – Idoneth Deepkin vs Slaanesh


Game 5 – Gloomspite Gitz vs Idoneth Deepkin


Facehammer GT 2019 Gallery

A gallery of pictures from across the weekend.