First, thanks Tom and Rich for more fun a rip roaring good time.
Everyone that was there had their armies and egos in check. Well
done. I liked the scoring, although it was tough as hell scoring in
the end. Sorry this is late, but the week's been a busy one.

Hombre Battle Report

As the sun set on the little town of Killeen, Hombre's could be seen
riding in from all points of the compass…

After a nice steak and a drink with fellow HAWGS, it was back to the
room for my duel with the Dauphin. The self proclaimed despot had
been exuding insults our way long enough.

My Sylvanian army:
Vamp Lord, lvl3
Vamp Thrall
Mounted Vamp Thrall
Militia x24, full cmd
Militia x24, full cmd
Militia x24, full cmd
Levy x18
Wolves x5
Wolves x5
Wolvex x6
Drakenhof Guard x20, full cmd
Black Knights x5, champ

Friday night matchup with Mr. Bowman. I scan his list, and hope for
the best. 3 level 2s and 7 lances of knights make me wish I had a can
opener… I deploy with terrain holding my right flank. I probably
should have stayed put and let him come to me, but I can never seem to
do that. With only 4 dispel, and 2 damsels able to cast howler wind
and marsh mistress, I couldn't dictate anything, magic wise or
movement wise. Then, in turn 3, when I was close enough to get a key
charge, my Lord went stupid. David picked his charges well and used
the errant's impetuousity well. I couldn't do a wound that he
couldn't save and couldn't seem to save a wound. He wiped me out to
the man in the bottom of 6. The only choice moment of the game was
his lord wiffing against the grave guard. The champ got to fight back
and killing blowed his general. However, the only other thing I
managed to kill was a unit of mounted peasants and the odd knight. It
was a great learning experience David. Knowing that I was the
underdog going in, I chaulked it up to experience, and went to sleep
with the worst behind me. Another time Dauphin. Another time.

Saturday: The fog clears and standing across from me is Tom O'Brein
from the SAGW clan. I knew this was going to be a challenge, Tom had
descimated my Empire army as a previous RTT down in San Antonio. He's
got a greenskin list that's got a little of everything…. Bigunz,
boyz, goblins, night goblins, chukkas, chariot, snotlings, fanatics,
and a giant. 2 orc characters and 2 lvl2 shamans. My general never
went stupid this game, which was a bonus. Again, I used terrain to
protect my right flank. The left flank I loaded with wolves and
knights to try to get to the machines. He countered with wolf riders,
shooting, snotlings, chariot. I didn't get there. The other blocks
tried to go one on one with orcs and lost. He got a bunch of my
stuff, I got his giant, a unit of gobs, and a unit of boyz. Major loss.

After a ham sandwich and a half hour to clear the mind it was back to
the tables to face Tom Nipper and his lizardmen. I've had good luck
and bad luck against lizardmen with my list, so I didn't know what to
expect. Tom had a casting free saurus heavy list. One or two marks
of Tepok? for the 4 dispel dice. 3 blocks of saurus, 2 krox units,
and 3 skinks. An excellent list that got high marks from me. I put
the mounted thrall in with a unit of wolves this time. So, we used
them, black knights and another unit of wolves to threaten (and
finally break and run down) a unit of skinks and krox on the left
flank. A lone wolf got off that edge (breakthrough scenerio).
Another unit of wolves danced with some skinks, and then another lone
wolf got off the table. In the center, I basically avoided his
general's unit, setting up a trap with my grave guard. If he flanked
my units, I'd get a flank with the guard. The other krox and lizzie
block ate thru a unit or two skellies. Dang those lizards get a lot
of attacks. In the end, the 2 units off the board pulled a draw .
Great game Tom. A nailbiter to the end. Draw!

A short intermission to catch up on how the other HAWGS were doing and
it's back to the table. I drew Marc Tomlinson and his tomb kings.
Excellently composed, well painted. I could have told you from the
beginning that this was going to be a tarpit. Classic undead/undead
slugfest. I don't remember all the specifics, but a few memorable
things: carrion bouncing off wolves, skull catapult aiming for my
generals unit, measured right on his head, misfire, poof! Then the 6
unit slugfest with a total of 4 flank charges. The dust settles and
it's a draw! Hope to get another chance at you Marc. Well played!

Whew! 3 great games. I thought my list would have done better, but I
later find that Tom O'brien is 3-0 at this point, so at least my loss
was against a decent opponent. A run to Ryan's buffet and it's back
to shoot the bull and see what else comes our way. I throw in for
the first round of Hold'em. Brian Ching, I don't know where you are
hinding the horseshoe, but the 10 on the river was the death of me.
It did convince me not to play any more games for the evening and just
vegetate.

Sunday. New day, new opponent, Tornado. I was matched with Steve
Plagman and his infantry dark elf army. It's a sweet looking army and
the biggest elf army I've seen in a long time. A lone scorceress, 2
bolt throwers, 2 xbow unit, the rest foot troops. The general was a
killer, but I managed a few decent charges. The tornado avoided us
and was never a factor. The mounted thrall abandoned his buds when
they were getting shot up and ran behind the line. He saved a unit of
skellies with a charge into the witch elves and helped to breaking and
run down 2 units. I couldn't save the grave guard and a skellie unit,
but was able to get a key charge off in the bottom of 6, got their
banners back, snagged another. Steve took it all like the fine
gentleman that he is. It was a great game and I'd go out of my way to
play Steve anytime. Solid win.

With a win under my belt, I was feeling much better heading into the
last game. I drew Cody B. of the SAGW clan. It was the first time
playing the Cult of Slaneesh list, and a good one. The game was the
least serious, and probably the most fun of the five. Cody and I
threw both our armies in the middle and let `er rip. I got my zombies
into the big demonette unit, but right on a marker. It was raise,
grind, raise, grind. MEAT GRINDER! The other blocks basically went
one on one. The biggest victory was keeping my general away from his
hero on slaneeshi beast. We broke him on the second turn and ran him
down. After that, we both killed stuff. I got one more quarter
(worth 250 in this one), and it was another win. I can't wait to see
what they look like when you get them painted up Cody. An awesome
game to end the tourney.

I knew I didn't have a shot at anything when the awards started to
roll, but they were pleasing indeed. Congrats to all the other
winners as well. They were all well earned and couldn't go to a
better group of guys. I'm proud that a fellow HAWG took home the Best
Sports (Way to Go Luke!). May you be an example to us all. Dan F'in
Norris, congrats. You know I'm not a big fan of the chant, but here's
to you:

SAGW! SAGW! OI! OI! OI!

We'll see y'all at the Hillbilly, Bayou Battles, and the Alamo this
year. Can't get away for any more.