A bit of a Christmas miracle, I watched as the expected arrival of my Latari and Uthuk went from Monday, to Saturday, to Friday, to Thursday ... to today! I've now assembled my figures and dials and have some random thoughts.

1) I love how not all the Deepwood Archers have their bows drawn. It's so cool having some reaching for arrows and others having just released their arrows. It's very dynamic, especially the one that just shot.

2) Berserkers are spiky! I'm veey happy about this. The pictures of the painted ones looked like they had pustules instead of spikes. When BattleLore came out, early reviewers commented on how painful it was to assemble the Chaos Lord because its spines were so sharp. I had feared they toned it down for this game. I was thrilled to be consistently pricked by my Berserkers as I assembled them. I wish the Spined Threshers and Flesh Rippers had followed the Berserkers' examples.

3) With Ravos and the Spined Thresher in hand, green stuff mods are looking awfully ambitious.

4) Have you noticed that the thick peg of the dial connectors goes in really easy on the side of cardboard that was cut in the factory for the punch-outs? When you go the other way, it splits the cardboard up. I wish FFG would just flip the front and backs of the command tool plate so that you can push the thick black peg through two openings that were cut in the factory.

Now my collection includes 1 core set, 1 Latari Elves Army Expansion, and 1 Uthuk Y'llan Army Expansion. Over the next few weeks, I hope to post some battle reports of some mixed-faction games where I'll mix 2 factions to make a 200-point list and play some full 6x3 games. I'll probably proxy non-figure upgrades to give Waiqar a boost, since the core set units seem rather abysmal.

I'm so happy for you to now be a part of the swarm. You should have skipped on those elves and just gotten two Uthuk... let's be honest. you want more spikes!

I played my first game with my new toys. It was the core Uthuk vs. core Latari with a few upgrades sprinkled in. I chose 120 as my arbitrary points limit, shuffled all my neutral upgrades together, then dealt those out to each side.

Ravos had Insatiable Hunger and Viscera Goblet. Berserkders had Terrifying Heraldry and Wind Rune. Alianna had Packleader's Spear and Wildcall's Instinct. Scion had Raven Tabadards. Deepwood Archers had Fire Rune.

I'm still learning how to maneuver properly. I accidently put my Flesh Rippers in range of the Deepwood Archers on turn 1. They didn't last long. The Aymhelin Scion acted as a speed bump to keep the Flesh Rippers from engaging the Archers.

Ravos went head-to-head with the Leonx Riders. Although he took a damage from not being at range 1 of anything on the first turn, Viscera Goblet negated that. He took two damage from a Leonx charge and then wiped them out in one turn, getting another wound token on Viscera Goblet. He eventually flanked the archers and did 11 damage! I was very impressed.

At the end of the game, I had Ravos and a Spined Thresher vs. Alianna.

-Raven Tabards is great on the Scions. It helps thrm speed-bump better.

-Viscera Goblet is fun and thematic, but I'm not sure it makes a big difference. Insatiable Hunger, however, is totally worth it!

-Wind Rune didn't work out in this game because of the runes, but I think it's not a bad upgrade for Berserkers. Their Lethal only activated once, but it pushed a damage through on Alianna.

I'm really itching for a real opponent now. Playing alone is fine for learning the cards and templates, but you can't really play the prediction game against yourself.

2 hours ago, Budgernaut said:

I played my first game with my new toys. It was the core Uthuk vs. core Latari with a few upgrades sprinkled in. I chose 120 as my arbitrary points limit, shuffled all my neutral upgrades together, then dealt those out to each side.

Ravos had Insatiable Hunger and Viscera Goblet. Berserkders had Terrifying Heraldry and Wind Rune. Alianna had Packleader's Spear and Wildcall's Instinct. Scion had Raven Tabadards. Deepwood Archers had Fire Rune.

I'm still learning how to maneuver properly. I accidently put my Flesh Rippers in range of the Deepwood Archers on turn 1. They didn't last long. The Aymhelin Scion acted as a speed bump to keep the Flesh Rippers from engaging the Archers.

Ravos went head-to-head with the Leonx Riders. Although he took a damage from not being at range 1 of anything on the first turn, Viscera Goblet negated that. He took two damage from a Leonx charge and then wiped them out in one turn, getting another wound token on Viscera Goblet. He eventually flanked the archers and did 11 damage! I was very impressed.

At the end of the game, I had Ravos and a Spined Thresher vs. Alianna.

-Raven Tabards is great on the Scions. It helps thrm speed-bump better.

-Viscera Goblet is fun and thematic, but I'm not sure it makes a big difference. Insatiable Hunger, however, is totally worth it!

-Wind Rune didn't work out in this game because of the runes, but I think it's not a bad upgrade for Berserkers. Their Lethal only activated once, but it pushed a damage through on Alianna.

I'm really itching for a real opponent now. Playing alone is fine for learning the cards and templates, but you can't really play the prediction game against yourself.

As someone who has also fought themselves, I tried to set my dials for the whole army of one side not thinking about what I will do with the other side but looking at init so I can see what MIGHT happen. Then I set the other side and did my best to not "know" but go off what I think would happen.

I thought Viscera was great. you get one more wound which is great, you also kill one more thing and get another wound. In my game against myself I was within range 1 (barely) of my berserkers killing Ardus and he got a wound on viscera for that and didn't do anything (actually he did once use his wound someone at the end to damage him, but that was just once). By the end of the game he was able to heal 4 wounds (mind you the 4th wound was moot as there were no more units on the enemies team, so maybe call it 3). That's not too shabby even for 7 points.

Personally I liked Fear Incarnate more. With as many morale tests as there were it more than paid for itself as every time I did a morale test they were taking damage. In fact one time I used a 3 morale card instead of the better 2 one, just to cause a wound to the Death Knight I was facing. I didn't have wind rune on my berserkers I had fire rune (waste, didn't use it once) but wind rune would probably be a pretty good one. The mobility of that unit would be scary.

So what'd you think of the Uthuk after your first run?

I like the Uthuk, but I need more games. I was very happy with Ravos and the Spined Thresher because those were thr units I was looking forward to most. Ravod is an offensive monster, but I can tell that he can get cut down quickly if you're not careful.

My Flesh Rippers died too fast, so I definitely need to try them some more, but I desperately wanted Dead Sprint. The Berserkers seemed rather bland. I think you need the Infantry Command to really bring out their flavor. Still, I do like the option to take 2 wounds to cause 2 damage.

I can't wait to get these all painted!

Also, I want to clarify my thoughts on Viscera Goblet. I don't think it's bad, by any means. I said it didn't make a difference, but what I mean is that I only gained 2 health from it but didn't take 7 wounds in the game. In order for Viscera Goblet to be worth its points, you would have to heal wounds that otherwise would have defeated you. So if I had taken 8 wounds total during the game, healing those 2 earlier would mean I was still on 6. I think it's a really fun upgrade and I love it, but I think it'll be rare for it to actually make a difference in your game. I think that's fine, though, because I don't want healing to be over-the-top like Rebel Regen in X-Wing.

On ‎12‎/‎2‎/‎2017 at 4:17 PM, Budgernaut said:

In order for Viscera Goblet to be worth its points, you would have to heal wounds that otherwise would have defeated you.

Or maybe not. If your opponent thinks he cannot kill you because of the gauntlet, he might be shooting/attacking elsewhere. You cannot quantify the value of not being shot, though I'd qualify it fairly high.

On ‎12‎/‎2‎/‎2017 at 6:17 PM, Budgernaut said:

Also, I want to clarify my thoughts on Viscera Goblet. I don't think it's bad, by any means. I said it didn't make a difference, but what I mean is that I only gained 2 health from it but didn't take 7 wounds in the game. In order for Viscera Goblet to be worth its points, you would have to heal wounds that otherwise would have defeated you. So if I had taken 8 wounds total during the game, healing those 2 earlier would mean I was still on 6. I think it's a really fun upgrade and I love it, but I think it'll be rare for it to actually make a difference in your game. I think that's fine, though, because I don't want healing to be over-the-top like Rebel Regen in X-Wing.

I see what you're saying that does make sense. I'd rather take it and not need it than not take it and need it though Especially early on where it's hard to even get 200 points without going MSU heavily. (My list I used was 191 and all of my units had max upgrades).

@Curlycross A very good point!

I'm not going to lie, I'm trying to convince myself NOT to buy a 3rd army expansion... I really want to try a 2x2 of ST w/ Ravos. I figure if I get 3 army's and one ST expansion. I get 5 ST so I can run ravos 3x2. but if I get 2 army and 2 expansion I get 6 so I can run a 3x2 ravos and have one to either put with berserkers or one to be solo. Or do I get 3 and 2 and have 3x2 with ravos, 1 for berserkers and 1 for solo (or two solo). Decisions, Decision (Money, Money).

5 hours ago, Curlycross said:

I'm not going to lie, I'm trying to convince myself NOT to buy a 3rd army expansion... I really want to try a 2x2 of ST w/ Ravos. I figure if I get 3 army's and one ST expansion. I get 5 ST so I can run ravos 3x2. but if I get 2 army and 2 expansion I get 6 so I can run a 3x2 ravos and have one to either put with berserkers or one to be solo. Or do I get 3 and 2 and have 3x2 with ravos, 1 for berserkers and 1 for solo (or two solo). Decisions, Decision (Money, Money).

This sounds like the same argument I've been having when my head hits my pillow each night for the past two months!

@Budgernaut , not that it surprises me but I love that this has for the most part just been a conversation between us. I'm surprised in your lack of commitment to the Ynfearnal though. One Army expansion... and Latari!?!?

@Curlycross Latari are the best , Aymhelin ftw!

@Alicitorte Your Aymhelin wood be so scared they wood not know what to do. They would just stick around the same spot and not leaf . My Spined Threshers then cut you down .

Oh, it's on!

First of all, you pesky Uthuk come from the Ru(dimentary) darklands, where your legendary leader is known to be a Llovar, he couldn't even hurt us even if he tried. Your hero is so fat that he dies from hunger if he doesn't eat anything for a while. You field demon crabs and demon hounds, how pathetic! Our Leonx greatcats will eat them up in a few bites. As your champions describe so accurately, your forces are Grotesque compared to our precision and swiftness, and soon you will run away a Shrieker taken by fear and Panic. Do you know why your horde was named the "locust swarm"? It's because you are insects that we crush by stepping on! (actually, that's kind of against the philosophy of the elves, but whatever, still works)

PS: No harm meant, fun and friendly banter here ;). I actually love the Uthuk and they do look amazing, but I decided to purchase the elves as they are the only faction that I did not get to try in Battlelore 2nd Edition (*sheds tear*)

3 hours ago, Curlycross said:

@Budgernaut , not that it surprises me but I love that this has for the most part just been a conversation between us. I'm surprised in your lack of commitment to the Ynfearnal though. One Army expansion... and Latari!?!?

The Uthuk is my first love, but if I "have to" play elves, I'm plenty fine with that. They were considered weaker in Rune Age and Runewars, so I often played them because nobody else wanted to.

The thing is, I was really looking forward to the Latari in BattleLore, but they never came. One of the things that excited me so much about Runewars Miniatures is that all 4 factions were going to be available. I bought the core early on because I wanted to get familiar with the system and the rules, but I knew I would focus on the Uthuk later. But if I didn't buy the Latari, I'd end up with the same three factions I had in BattleLore. After being elf-deprived for so long, I couldn't say no to the Latari in Runewars Miniatures Game.

Also, I really don't have an easy time finding opponents, so most of my pleasure will come from painting the figures. From that perspective, I'm considering buying the Infantry Command packs and all 4 heroes instead of mustering my Locust Swarm. I'm still undecided about that. I'd like to have a full Uthuk army eventually, but it's difficult to justify at this point in time.

One nice thing is being able to piece an army together over time with not much in required funds per individual purchase.

17 hours ago, Alicitorte said:

Oh, it's on!

First of all, you pesky Uthuk come from the Ru(dimentary) darklands, where your legendary leader is known to be a Llovar, he couldn't even hurt us even if he tried. Your hero is so fat that he dies from hunger if he doesn't eat anything for a while. You field demon crabs and demon hounds, how pathetic! Our Leonx greatcats will eat them up in a few bites. As your champions describe so accurately, your forces are Grotesque compared to our precision and swiftness, and soon you will run away a Shrieker taken by fear and Panic. Do you know why your horde was named the "locust swarm"? It's because you are insects that we crush by stepping on! (actually, that's kind of against the philosophy of the elves, but whatever, still works)

PS: No harm meant, fun and friendly banter here ;). I actually love the Uthuk and they do look amazing, but I decided to purchase the elves as they are the only faction that I did not get to try in Battlelore 2nd Edition (*sheds tear*)

You poor poor mortal. Ravos would probably die if he didn't eat, so too would anyone. Luckily for Ravos there are many tasty elves dying at his hands, he doesn't have to worry about going hungry. As I typed that two more elves died... You couldn't be more afraid or envious of our "Demon Crabs" and "Demon Hounds" Your Leonx great cats are a bunch of female genitalia. While your elves look to be handsome or pretty, our grotesques care not about our looks, but our mayhem. I think you have forgotten who will be afraid and running away. As soon as we step onto the battlefield your whole army is filled with panic, and fear is something you will be come much accustomed to, if you live, before we leave the battlefield. We are called the Locust Swarm, because we are a plague on you, a plague on your people. We are called the Locust Swarm because by the time you see us coming, it is far too late.

I got a second Uthuk Y'llan Army Expansion from my in-laws, along with the Infantry Command Unit Expansion and an Army Painter Quickshade set! I'm so pumped to get this army assembled and painted for store championships!

22 hours ago, Budgernaut said:

I got a second Uthuk Y'llan Army Expansion from my in-laws, along with the Infantry Command Unit Expansion and an Army Painter Quickshade set! I'm so pumped to get this army assembled and painted for store championships!

Good in-laws. I love that they know your nerdiness. My in-laws got me the rest of Smash Up (last 3 expansions).