29dec2001: In the last game of 2001, I tried out the new order of the Amazon battle line. The Spear General, 2 more Spears, 3 Chariots, 3 Shooters, and 3 Riders were arrayed for combat. I was set to roll across the table (which conveniently had an Impassable Volcano in the center) and destroy Darkhost's Medieval army. Oops! Another defeat for the naked ladies, but not due to any poor planning on my part. I think I did a fine job deploying the army this time. However, instead of impetuously charging my General forward as I usually do, I built a line that could be easily re-deployed to counter threats against my flank. In the end, I think that Darkhost is simply better with his army than I am with mine. I will, however, keep trying to win.

8dec2001: Today, I tried out the Riders for the first time against Darkhost's brand new Ork army. I was the defender, and although my terrain placement was certainly fair to both forces, it did nothing to help me pull out a victory. And so it was a miserable 3-2 defeat of the Amazons, brought on early by the loss of the General. I tend to like to use my Chariots as a sort of mobile strike force, and having the General in one often means an early demise for the army. I think if I learned anything today, it's that the sixth element of Spears that I have been considering should be an alternative General element. The Riders, in light of the sudden death end of the game, were not very effective at all, with one of two being defeated by goblin wolf-riders with double overlaps. In the post-mortem, we discussed my deployment, and perhaps it would have been better to have the Chariots and Riders together in a group on the right flank, Shooters to the left flank, and Spears in the middle, blocking the Stronghold. Of course, it would have to be seen to be understood. And maybe, as defender, I should have let him come to me instead of brashly attacking with Chariots and Riders.

16oct2001: OK so today I had my day of vengeance (well, not really, but that was the original plan) with the Amazons defending their home turf against the lizard-dudes. And they lost again! I think this is a sound army, I just have a string of mediocore luck with it. I drew first blood this time, and before we knew it we were both three elements down. It looked like I was going to pull off the big win, but I lost my General in one ill fated bound, final score 6APs lost to 8APs (including General) lost. Bad day for warm blooded two leggers everywhere.

17sep2001: A rematch against the Lizard-dudes, this time with their Flyers replaced by Shooters. I deployed my Spears as a front rank, chariots behind them, and Shooters holding a woods to the left of my line. A few more chariots on the far side of the woods as a flanking reserve.. My right flank was anchored by a volcano and lava flow. It looked perfect. My dice hated me. I lost again. I MIGHT have been able to pull off a win, but at a crucial momenyt I decided to break my flanking Chariots from their position, and I think that cost me the game sooner rather than later. What was I thinking? The crowning achievement of my army this outing was that once again his Behemoth General was embarrassingly easy to push back in combat. Darkhost was defender this game, so next game I will be defender with the same armies used, We'll see if terrain on my side will make a difference. Probably not, my dice hate me! I still think this is a damn fine army, I just need to learn to use it and train my dice to roll better.