[Wargaming] First tournament of 2014 - lists

Tomorrow I'm travelling over to Leicester for my first Warmachine tournament of the year. I've never been to the store there, so it's a bit of a journey into the unknown. But after asking on the Warhammer Forum's Warmachine board it seems that there's no sign up, just turn up on the day. So I thought I would. It's a 35pt, Deathclock, Steamroller 2014 event. Two lists, with each having to be played at least once. 

One of the interesting things about the tournament will be the new Steamroller 2014 rules. I ended up playing quite a few games under the 2013 Steamroller packet, and by all accounts this year's version just introduces a few tweaks to the scenarios here and there. I'm not expecting too many surprises, and I've printed off a copy to browse through this evening just to make sure I'm on top of things.

Anyway, on to the lists I'll be taking (thanks to Forward Kommander). I thought long and hard about this, and decided that although my quest to complete the Lost Hemisphere Challenge 2013 was unsuccessful, I would take Venethrax. I still don't feel that I got the best out of him, and I'm sure that he's got more game than he's given credit for. I have, however, decided to take him out of tier; I'm not sure that the theme force is all that great at 35pts, at least with the model collection I have.

Faction: Cryx
Points: 35/35
Lich Lord Venethrax
* Helldiver
* Helldiver
* Skarlock Thrall
Bane Thralls (Leader and 5 Grunts)
Bloodgorgers (Leader and 9 Grunts)
Satyxis Raiders (Leader and 9 Grunts)
* Satyxis Raider Sea Witch
General Gerlak Slaughterborn
Pistol Wraith
Satyxis Raider Captain
Saxon Orrik

The idea behind this list is t use the Satyxis Raiders as an aggressive, jamming unit. Go after some enemy infantry as soon as possible to get some early souls for Venethrax whilst the rest of the list rolls up the board. The Bloodgorgers and Gerlak are there to take care of remaining infantry, and the combination of Pistol Wraith and Bane Thralls is my anti-armour division. High defense models will be a bit of a problem, but with Gang on the Bloodgorgers and combined-melee on the Satyxis I do at least have a way to deal with them. The Skarlock can cycle Soul Harvester, or throw out a cheeky Hellfire if needed. Saxon Orrik is essential for dealing with one of the theme force's big weaknesses - terrain. 

Since that's a fairly meaty, grinding, scenario oriented list with an assassination back-up plan, I decided to go in the opposite direction with my other list.

Faction: Deneghra - Witching Hour
Points: 35/35
Tiers: 3
Warwitch Deneghra
* Deathripper
* Helldiver
* Nightwretch
* Nightwretch
* Ripjaw
* Skarlock Thrall
Bile Thralls (Leader and 5 Grunts)
Mechanithralls (Leader and 9 Grunts)
* 3 Brute Thrall
Pistol Wraith
Pistol Wraith
Warwitch Siren
Warwitch Siren

This is a variant on a list that I've used several times before at tournaments, with varying success. The multiple arc nodes give lots of possible angles for spell assassination, and the Helldiver adds another layer of trickery. There's fairly substantial crow control here too with the Bile Thralls and various sprays from the Sirens and Deneghra, and with her spell list and the Mechanithralls armour isn't too much of a problem. This version of the list also has numbers on its side, something I've struggled with in the past with this theme force.

So those are my lists. I'm not expecting to do particularly well, given that I expect a lot of the people I'll meet play many more games than me. I'm hoping for middle of the pack, but will settle for not last!