Spearhead - Vengeance of the Sylvaneth

While entering our most recent Warhammer Quest adventure in Board Game Geek, I noted the sharp drop in game plays on the Logged Plays calendar for September (only two games played in September, so far, versus eight in August and six in July) and realized it's been two and a half weeks since I last got in a game of Spearhead.

In previous years I've done Game-A-Day Challenges in September - because game playing usually fell off during the summer and, while September is usually VERY BUSY (as it has been this year) I thought it was important to making a habit of FINDING TIME for some games in the new schedules of things, lest they be entirely forgotten and no games get played all through the fall and winter. 

I was starting to feel like that's what's happened this year.... maybe... 

So I brought up the idea of playing some Spearhead sometime this week and Amanda suggested Wednesday after her singing lesson. 

(I also arranged to play a game with Orion on Friday, while she's in town, and we are scheduled to play the next episode of What We Do in the Realm of Shadows on Sunday! So things are looking up!) 

After their previous defeat at the hands of the Hedonites of Slaanesh, the Sylvaneth response was swift and devastating... They weren't sure if the Hedonites knew they'd stumbled onto their Soulpod Grove, but couldn't just wait to see what they did! The Soulpods needed to saved! 

Detecting the approach of another band of Sylvaneth, the Blissbarb Archers screened ahead in the center and on the left flank. The Slickblade seekers spotting another Treelord, readied themselves to charge, but found they were impeded by strage vines grasping at their steeds legs and were held up!

On the right flank the Slaangors thought they were quietly sneaking up through the forest towards the Treelord, oblivious to the fact it fully knew they were there and that the Slaangor were walking straight into a trap! 

The next thing they knew the Treelord was somehow behind them and roots and vines dragged two of the Slaangor down into the earth, never to be seen again! 

As swiftly as it had appeared behind the Slaangor, it turned and charged the Slickblade Seekers, destroying one instantly and seriously injuring a second. 

The Slickblade seekers piled in and tried to bring the Treelord down, but without the momentum of a charge (or the Shardspeaker weakening the will of the Treelord) their attacks against this one, were not so effective... 

And as quicck as it appeared... the Treelord disappeared into the forest and the next they saw of it, it was far behind the Sylvaneth lines.. 

Undaunted, the Slickblade Seekers Charged after the Treelord, seeing it as the main threat to be removed. this time they had their speed up... but without the distractions of the Shardspeaker, it was definitely a tougher nut to crack... 

The Shardspeaker had initially charged he Branchwych, thinking that taking her out would be vital to prevent the Treelord from healing too quickly... 

But then hearing the battle and the roars of the Treelord and thinking it was close to being defeated, the Shardspeaker turned to aid the Slickblade Seekers... alas... they could not take it down... 

Tree-revenants joined in this fight, killing more of the Slickblade Seekers. 

The Kurnothi Hunters, having dealt with the Blissbarb Archers in the centre, turned to move on the last of the Slaangor.

After destroying the last of the Slickblade Seekers and the Shardspeaker of Slaanesh, the Treelord dipped into the trees and reappeared behind the last of the Blissbarb Archers. 

Another unit os Blissbarb Archers arrived as reinforcements, and shot down the Branchwych that they caught out in the open... 

But they were quickly charged down and destroyed by the Kurnothi Hunters... 

All was quiet for a moment... 

Another group of Slaangor appeared... 

In a desperate bid to deal some damage to the Sylvaneth they charged the Treelord... alas, the treelord had regenerated to full health and there was nothing much they could do... 

Two of the Slaangor died at the claws of the mighty Treelord and the third quickly fled back into the woods to see if it could regroup with any other survivors... 

Would there be enough for the conflict to continue...? Or would the few surviving Hedonites flee the region - or even the Realm!? 

So... Amanda's Sylvaneth won (25-16!?) 

The Hedonites of Slaanesh really are glass cannons. The success in the previous game was entirely due to a LOT of things all going right at the same time... The Shardspeaker's Twisted Mirror worked (reducing the Treelord's save by one - which is a HUGE difference - it didn't in this game)... The Slickblade seekers were all able to charge with a full strength unit (they were down one this game - that's a lot of attacks)... They were supported by two full units of Archers, one of which also charged into melee - as well as the Slaangor (this game it was the Slickblade Seekers on their own - and the Shardspeaker... but she isn't much help...). Amanda learned and did her best to NOT let all of those things happen and thus a disaster ensued for the Hedonites.  

Also, she's figured out that leaving a unit with the Reinforcements keyword with only one member alive, is generally more beneficial than killing them all off earlier in the game (because then they can come back as full strength reinforcement units!) 

Next time I'll have to try out the Stormcast Eternals or Blades of Khorne against her... Stormcast Eternals feels weird to fight against the Sylvaneth, being allies and all... I do hope we'll get another game in next week and make it a regular thing. I don't think I'll have a new one done by then, though... (unless the Dreadscythe Harridans show up, as they would be quick to paint and are the only unit I need to finish off the new Nighthaunt spearhead!) 

I have another game of Spearhead planned for Friday with Orion!