Anvalor Session

[Old Dwarf]

Preview:
I've set up The Rise & Fall of Anvalor for a Solo Game &
randomly got the Free Guild as defenders & the Skaven
of Charlk's Folly as the AI Enemy.

Reviews of the Game have commented that the Solo Game
is really hard as you roll for Enemy Forces each turn. This
means that often Assaults are triggered before the Defenders
have a chance to prepare a defense (not being able to place
enough Units on the Board ) The designer has suggested
modifying the Enemy Prepare d6 roll to d8/d10/ or d12
& rolls over 6 have no effect. I'm using d10 for this Session.

This Session in order to give a better flow to the story doesn't
show the behind scene actions as the buying of the Defenders
Units-you basically start by drawing 5 Units which have a cost
in resources & a resource available which can be used to trade in
to pay the cost of other Units. It's a cool mechanic but doesn't
translate well in a Story based Session Report. When the Report
mentions Gathering Resources for the Guild it means no Units
Placed as the Pass Option is used draw new Unit Tiles.No Actions
noted for the Skaven means the Prepare die roll is above 6.

For this Game I randomly generated "The Coordinated Attack"
Aspect for the Free Guild & the "Protect Me" War Cry difficulty
for the Skaven.

To give the Session Report some structure I added Age of Sigmar
months & each turn proceeds as Early Month/Mid Month/Late Month.

OD

[Old Dwarf]

Struggle for Anvalor-The Free Guild

Azyr's Gleaming Mid Month-Brightspear City

The Free Guild city guard is restless as the city has become more
established & secure.The Guild's ranks had become bloated over the
years causing tensions with the civilian authorities. The Free Guild
had seen its Influence wane against the local Stormhost Garrison
causing further discontent within its ranks.

Finally, a few of its senior officers proposed a daring plan to
regain the Guilds Influence & prestige.They advocated for sending
an expedition to rebuild the city fortress of Anvalor in the
Great Parch.

Many previous attempts to build a lasting fortification at Anvalor by
the forces of Order have failed.Its strategic location on The Great Parch,
is of supreme importance. However, each previous attempt to establish a
significant foothold has also irked the minions of Choas & Destruction, a
new enemy that rises to the challenge of destroying the attempt. Yet,
whoever can dominate the new stronghold will also dominate The Great Parch,
therefore significantly strengthening their Influence in all the Mortal Realms.

Azyr's Gleaming Late Month-Brightspear City

After much discussion the Free Guild votes to accept the Anvalor proposal
& an expedition is formed that sees half of the Free Guild's forces march of to the
Great Parch & the ruins of Anvalor.

Golden Harvests Early Month-Anvalor

The Free Guild arriving at Anvalor decide to start rebuilding the Cities NW District
they send in a Witch Hunter to explore the District.
No Enemy is found

Golden Harvests Mid Month-Anvalor

The Free Guild sends in an Archer Company to support the Witch Hunter
Still no Enemy activity is noticed.

Golden Harvests Late Month-Anvalor

The Free Guild works to obtain resources to rebuild the City.
No Enemy has taken notice of the Guilds activity in Anvalor

Thesh-Early Month-Anvalor

A Free Guild General arrives to command the Units in the City
Skaven Scouts have notice the activity at Anvalor & report back to
Charlk's Folly. A Skaven pack gathers on the West edge of the City.

Thesh-Mid Month-Anvalor

The Free Guild continues to compile resources.
Another Skaven pack joins the gathering at the Cities Western edge.

Thesh-Late Month-Anvalor

The Guild recruits Flagellants from the desert tribes to reinforce the City.
The Skaven packs continue to observe.

Wyndsal-Early month-Anvalor

The Free Guild restores a catherdal
The Skraven add another pack to the West & the combined 3 packs prepare to Assault
the City.

The Free Guild Units prepare to defend themselves.

Onslaught The Warlock Engineers,Warlock Jezzail & a Stormfiend advance.

The Flagellants destroy the Warlock Engineers,with support from the Witch Hunter.
The Witch Hunter destroys the Warlock Jezzail in a Coordinated attack with the
Flagellants & a Guild Generall.The Guild General takes down the Stormfiend with
support from the Witch Hunter

The Skaven Onslaught is broken it's packs shattered.

Wyndsal-Mid month-Anvalor

The Guild gathers new resources for the City's defenses.
The Skaven word reaches Charlk's Folly of their defeat.

Wyndsal-Late month-Anvalor

The Demigryph Knights reinforce the Free Guild
No Skaven activity observed.

Darkening-Early month-Anvalor

An Archer Company arrives in the City
Still no Skaven activity,perhaps they gave up once their
Onslought failed?

Darkening-Mid month-Anvalor

The Free Guild turns to gathering new resources as things
remain peaceful.
Skaven newly arrived from Charlk's Folly gather to the South
of the City.

Darkening-Late Month

With rumors of Skaven Sightings a Guild Guards Unit arrives.
No further Skaven activity sighted.

Evenswinter-Early month-Anvalor

A Warrior Priest Unit joins the Defenders.
The Skaven bide their time.

Evenswinter-Mid month Anvalor

The Free Guild finds the Districts Well.
The Skaven remain quiet.

Evenswinter-Late month-Anvalor

Guild recruits another group of Flagellants to the City's defenses.
Another Skaven pack gathers in the South.

Coldbane-Early month-Anvalor

A Company of Handgunners plug up the remaining hole in the City's defense.
The Skaven no longer can delay & onslaught from the South.

The GUild attacks the screaming packs. The General takes on the Warp Lighting
Cannon with the support of an Archer company & destroys the Cannon.The Archer
Company sends a volly into a pack of Acolytates, but it falls short.A Skaven
Stormvermin pack occupies the Districts Well & the Acolytates pack overrun
an Archer Company in spite of the General's Rally attempt.
The Guild Guards supported by the Archers & blessed by the Warrior Priest
take out the Stormvermin.In a Coordinated Attack the Witch Hunter supported by
the General & Handgunners take down the Acolytates & end the Onslaught.

Coldbane-Mid month-Anvalor

The Guild erects a Barracks for the Districts defenders.
The shattered Skaven packs regroup South of the City.

Coldbane-Late month-Anvalor

The Guild increases efforts to increase resources.
No further Skaven activity noted.

Silverbright-Early month-Anvalor

Guild builds a Stronghold in the Southern part of the District.
The Skaven seeing the Guilds preoccupation with the Southern
defenses attack from the Eastside.

The Guild responds, the Warrior Priest supported by the Guards attack the
Warplock Jezzial pack but the attack fails & the Warrior Priest is taken down.
The Stormfiend advances & destroys the Barracks. The Guards attack the Arch
warlock & eliminate him.The Warplock Jezzals advance but run into the Demigryph
Knights supported by the Guards & are taken out.The Guards turn to the
Stormfiend & eliminates it.The Onslought is stopped.

Shiverbright-Mid month-Anvalor

Another Archer company joins to booster the Guild's defenses.
The defeated Skaven regroup on the Western edge of the District.

Shiverbright-Mid month-Anvalor

A Guild General on his Griffon arrives to shore up the Northern part
of the District. The Skaven maddened by the setbacks throw themselves into an
onslaught from the South.

The Warp Lighting Cannon bombards the Cathedral to no effect.A Guild General
unsuccessfully attacks a Warplock Jezzial pack.The Warp Lighting Cannon
advances & destroys the Cathedral but the Warplock Jezzial pack attack on the
Guild General is smashed.The Vermin Lord Deceiver takes out the Guild's Stronghold.

The Guild Forces attempt to close their ranks.The Witch Hunters attack the Verminlord Deceiver
supported by the General & a Handgunner Company but do no damage.The Handgunners fire next
supported by the Witch Hunters & the General but again the Verminlord Deceiver shrugs
the volley's off. The General now makes a last desperate attack with the support of the
Handgunners & Witch Hunters but it also fails & the Verminlord Deceiver takes the General Down.
The Guilds Guards supported by 2 Archer companies manage to take out the Warp Lighting Cannon

The Verminlord Deceiver now alone advances on the Handgunners easily overrunning them.

The Witch Hunters backed by 2 Flagellant companies makes another attack on the raging
Verminlord Deceiver who has nearly breached the District's defenses. This time they succeed
but the defeated Verimlord Deceiver has caused a massive hole in the Guild's battleline.

Hope's Renewal-Early month-Anvalor

The Guild throws its efforts into gathering resources to replenish its forces.
No Skraven activity detected.

Hope's Renewal-Mid month-Anvalor

Guild erects a Shrine to Sigmar to lift moral.
Clanrats join the packs that have gathered at the West side & prepare to attack.

Flagellants attack the Arch Warlock & are beaten back but the power of the Shrine
of Sigmar causes the Arch Warlock to flee.

The Skaven Clanrats destroy the Shrine of Sigmar & their Warlord advances.

A Flagellant Company attacks the clanrats supported by the Witch Hunters & another
Flagellant company taking the Clanrats down.The Witch Hunters turn to the Skaven
Warlord but their attack fails & they are destroyed.

The Warlord continues to advance.

The Guild Guards attack the Warlord supported by 2 Archer companies but that
attack also fails smashing the Guard company.

A lone Guild Archer company volleys on the warlord to no effect.

The Warlord destroys the Archer company & then rampages unopposed
out of the District. The Onslaught has ended but more causalities inflicted on
the Guild forces continues to mount.

Hope's Renewal-Late month-Anvalor

The Guild erects a large Inn to accommodate the Districts growin garrison.
Skaven packs gather to surround the District & prepare to attack from the North.

The Guild forces strike first,A Flagellant Company attacks a Stormvermin unit
with support from another Flagellant company & take out the Stormvermin.
The Flagellant companies then turn an a Verminlord Warbringer but the attack
fails destroying the attacking Flagellant company.The Demigryph Knights
attack & take down the Arch Warlock supported by the remaining Flagellant
company & the Guild General riding a Gryphon.

The Skaven Verminlord Warbringer takes down the remaining Flagellant company.
The Demigryph Knights supported by an Archer company then manage to take out
the Verminlord Warbringer ending the Onslaught.

Rainstay-Early month-Anvalor

The Guild pauses to bring in more resources.
The Skaven regroup on the North edge of the District.

Rainstay-Mid month-Anvalor

The Guild in spite of its losses thinking, they have broken the Skaven turn to reinforcing the District's
infrastructure & build a Stable.
The Skaven forces have been seriously depleted in their attacks on the Anvalor
decide on one last desperate attempt to overrun the District-a Final Assault from
the East side.

The Guild General on his Griffon attacks the gathering Clanrats striking them down.
The Skraven Doom Wheel roll over the Guild's Archers & then destroys the Inn.Skaven
Acolytes advance towards the Stable.

The Demigryph Knights attack & destroy the Doom Wheel with the Support of the General & his
Griffon.& move to defend the Stable.
The Skaven Acolytes however reach the Stable first & destroy the building. The Demigryph Knights
in return take down the Acolytes & end the Onslought.

Rainstay-Late month-Anvalor

The last Skaven Assault has cost the Guild the progress they made in rebuild & securing Anvalor's
Northwest District. The Free Guild suffering a loss of manpower, resources & with the desertion
of the desert tribes decide to abandon Anvalor & return to Brightspear City.

The Supreme Verminlord of Charlk's Folly smiles at the news that the returning Skaven packs bring
that the man things have left Anvalor. The cost in Pack losses have been immense but breeding nests
will some replenish his forces & Great Parch is again free of Sigmar's interference.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

So close to victory & then the Doom Wheel.

I used the d10 variant but if a City Building was placed on the Board & switched back to d6 as
long as a city building was on the Board. I was caught up in placing Units to defend the City
that by the time I needed to place city Tiles the only spaces left were next to the Enemy #
squares.The d10 variant did let me get the Board populated with Units so I could withstand
most Onslaughts.

However, in the last several turns my ability to roll a 1 was remarkable which cut down
my Units quickly.The Solo Game requires at least 1 City Building to be placed & survive to win
so when I got 2 placed I thought that the Free Guild could withstand the Final Onslaught.
As luck would have it the Final Onslaught occurred on the Guild's weakest side & the
Skaven Doom Wheel turned up & took out my safest city building. So at the end of the Game
only 2 Guild Units were left neither of which were a city building.

Looking forward to seeing how the other factions play.

OD