The game was epic, chaotic and like any great game, it came down to the very last turn. This is exactly how Storm of Magic games should be.
Gadagutz's orcs were joined by a Lammasu, a Cockatrice and some spiders.
My opponent fielded goblins and brought in two goblin blocks, a big squig herd, two chariots, two bolt throwers, some squig hoppers and spider riders. His army was joined by a Chimera, a giant, Dark Emissary and an Arachnarock.
After deployment. You can see that the SoM deployment rules make a huge difference. The Squig herd and the Chimera are very close to my lines. This being my first SoM game, I did not realize just how much danger my troops were in, right from the get go.
Goblin first turn. No surprises there, the squigs and the Chimera charge Ironskull's Boyz, which also has my BSB. Ouch. And the Arachnarock takes on the Trolls. The boyz fold under the massive barrage, including a very big Thunderstomp and my BSB is off the board. The Trolls manage to wound the Arachnarock, but fail too many regeneration rolls and also flee.
This being a SoM game, massive magic energies abound. The giant is teleported to my rear. Things are not looking good. But Gadagutz has pulled through worse!
Leftooth's Black Orcs hit the arachnarock in its flank and dispatch it soundly, but not before the giant spider eats Gadagutz! At this point, I have lost the BSB and the general. But.. this is a Storm of Magic game, so it's all about the Fulcrums.
Leftooth and his crew get double charged, including a rear charge by a giant! Things are looking mighty grim indeed, however, there's a pivotal battle happening in the back..
My Gigantic Spider has been steadily attacking and wounding the Dark Emissary in his Fulcrum. If I can get him out of the Fulcrum, this battle might be won yet.
I placed the Lammasu into one of the Fulcrums, the Dark Emissary teleports his Fulcrum away, but not quite far enough. The nibbly spider follows and eventually eats him! And with the other Fulcrum teleported closer to my line, the Lammasu is able to Duel and eventually kill the opposing Night Goblin Great shaman. This means I hold all the Fulcrums in the game. Victory may yet be mine.. if I can just hold on.
In the core battle, Leftooth is wiped out, but Madspittle and his Savage Orcs chop up the Chimera. The Giant turns around and storms the Lammasu. If he can't get him out of there, nothing else in the goblin army can..
The end of the game. The Lammasu survives the giant and defends his Fulcrum. Thank you, breath-weapon. Earlier on Ol' Gums, my Orc Shaman, was forced out of his Fulcrum and destroyed but Mooneye, the Goblin Great Shaman, survives waves of attackers defending a building. There is not a single Orc left on the field, and Gadagutz's army has been scattered to the four winds, but I hold one Fulcrum to my opponent's none.
Victory! (even if I have almost nothing left on the table to celebrate with...)
Overall I really enjoyed the SoM game. The extra rules really turn this into a very different game from standard WFHB affair. Fulcrums add a whole extra level of tactical game play and keep things interesting. Magic was powerful, but not as devastating as I feared. I will definitely want to play another SoM game in the future.
