Aprils Club Day Round Up and Avacyn Restored in Hove

Once more we find ourselves at the end of the month club day. This time as promised we were also running the Avacyn Restored Prerelease. This was the view after set-up...

But it quickly turned into this....

We had a massive Warhammer Fantasy Battle Magic game on the go at the top of the hall, featuring club veterans Swifty and Kevin.

 

 

At the same time, the Red Dust Planet was being fought over by a Space Marine Force and Chaos in a 'Dawn of War' 'Capture and Control' game.

We also had a large contingent of 'Young Guns' fighting over a battle wrecked outpost.

In the rumble of a lone church on the eastern fringes of the imperium we find Scott's Eldar led by Eldrich taking on Pete's brand new Tau force.

 

Eldrich is taking on a
whole squad of Kroot!
Apparently he kills 3 and
the rest run of the board!

On the next table we find Mike and Colin preparing for the coming 40k Doubles against a..... army in a time warped medieval village.

Aaron found himself in the catering core this month giving Zoe back up.

After Eldrich had dispatched the greater good they then formed an uneasy alliance to take on a singular yet twice as strong 'Young Gun'. Giving onlookers a possible hint as to plans for the previously mentioned 40k doubles and Rob and Micheal took on Battle Tech once more. (pictures unfortunatly missing)

War Machine kept the battle raging on the village board.

 

That is unfortunately all I can show you of the day as I spent the rest of my time engrossed in the prerelease tournament, sorry. It was a very good tournament though. Gary has previously mentioned a little of what happened. We had a large amount of players new to our prerelease's and indeed new to the game in general. A few of the regular faces were unable to attend which was a shame, but we shall see them again. So without further a do, tournament details....

As per usual each prerelease is different, some people thought it would be a slow event but actually the amount of little creatures and the new 'Soulbond' mechanic meant that games were on the whole a lot quicker, at times a little to quick. I had a couple of games in which I didn't get enough land and by the time I was able to get back in the game it was all over.

The tournament was slightly over shadowed, literally rather than figuratively by this thing
...

The cardboard monolith stood ominously over the battlefield, players watching and waiting in anticipation. It would only open when players performed enough challenges during the day.

After the forth round what would be the final check of achievement cards showed that enough challenges had been completed. The momentous task of breaking the final seal fell upon Ryan. 

'The young Cathar approached the colossal shard of silver. His heart was still yet his soul was restless, for he knew that inside lay both the planes salvation and its destruction. He steeled himself, knowing that every battle he had fought that morning had led to this moment.'

'The final seal had been broken. Both hope, and despair, had been unbound.'

'The Helvault opened and there was much rejoicing.'

Inside were double sided tokens one side showing a 4/4 Angel with flying the other, depicting a 5/5 flying Demon. The Helvault also contained 20 sided die and a 'Commander' sized army of Grislebrand, Avacyn and her angelic lieutenants.

After all that excitement players were then focused once more on the task of victory and for the final two rounds the table chopped and changed, overall victory could have quite easily been in one of six different players grasps, but this is the final standings.....

1. Nathan
2. Craig
3. Tom
4. Dom
5. John
6. Andrew
7. Robert
8. Olly
9. Chris Sisley
10. David
11. James
12. Nick
13. Chris Sherrin
14. Darren
15. Gary
16. Becky
17. Richard
18. Gareth
19. Richard Cooley
20. Will
21. Matt
22. Joshua Sisley
23. Ryan
24. Martin
25. Charlie
26. Josh Mongomery
27. Rakesh
28. Katie

Congratulations are in order for Nathan, but all players as well, as everyone played exceptionally well and fairly through out the day.

 

This was not the last of the day however, a break for dinner, then a Magic draft. The battles in the rest of the hall fell quiet, tables were being collapsed although the draft continued till late the club as a whole was done.

I hope this fills in most of what happened this club day, I'm sure we've missed something so if you want to add anything; info/ bragging/ photos, stick it in the comments or the facebook and we'll see you next time.

Roaming reporters John and Olly :D

P.s join the mailing list, you have been told!

The Round up of March's Club Day

I want to start by firstly thanking all those who came down, I had the most fun gaming I think I've had in a long time. My own personal highlight was... hmm, I'll come to that in order, I think. Just a quick point this post is very long, you may need to click on it's title to view the full thing.

So, in as much of an order as I can remember...

This was the hall at the break of dawn on Sunday, with the first demo already underway.

Redakai is a brand new game and with regular attenders already playing a few different card games it is already creating waves, (or at least multiple stax'). Gary posted a preview video a few days back, it includes some basics and technical bits of the game.

Closely followed by what I have now named the 'Battle of the Bald' (although Paul right, didn't actually take part, Colin did, it is still mostly accurate). It was 40k, Michael Russell with Chaos v. Michael Pike and Colin Capelin's combined Imperial Guard and Space Wolves force. It was an objective based game, objectives in this instance are gambling chips.

 

 

 

As promised Aaron and myself were demoing Necromunda. Plonked in a pretty much central table, it was hard to not know that this was happening. Below are pictures from the first game.

My leader shooting Aarons
Heavy off a building, this sparked a
trend that would feature *cough* heavily
through out the rest of the day.

Baz' back providing sufficient contrast
to pick out the charging heavy
and juve on the open gantry

 

Another victim tries out Redakai.

Once more Scott n' Pete are found in a game of 40k, this time however the once allied factions of Eldar and traitor Ultramarines are at each others throats over the Mars-esque landing platform and knacked neighbouring structure. Coins on the table have doubled as objective markers and dinner money.

 

Another month and still the
Dreadnought has not learnt to use it's legs!

It wasn't long before Magic the Gathering happened and on the next table the Blood Bowl Card Game got an airing.

 

 

The third 40k game of the day featured Baz an Paul Given. It was a clash of marine legions in an all out annihilation game.

 

Necromunda again, and this time a doubles game hit it off, Sam White and Josh Montgomery took on Aaron and Nick Lewis.

It didn't start off amazingly well for the team of Sam n' Josh, with both heavies jamming their guns and some... not great dice rolls.

But when their leader entered the fray, dice rolls reversed for both teams and Aaron and Nick eventually failed their leadership test and had to flee, making Sam and Josh the victors.

Back to the boardgames table, and this time a Zombie infestation was breaking out. It of course was Zombies, the tile laying game of running to safety and trying to stitch up your fellow humans. Zombies is a bit of a favourite of the club and this game featured pretty much Zombie novices, who all enjoyed their experience.

 

 

Once more back into the under hive, were we find Aaron teaching a complete first time war gamer, Glen. At the end of the day it seemed asthough Glen thoroughly enjoyed his experience and with a smiling face said 'I'll see you next month then?', yes you will mate, we'll be there.

Fantasy also saw an outing, Simon and his Tomb Kings were taking on Paul V's Chaos. Lots of fool proof plans were about to be tested on both sides, it wasn't going to end well for someone on the muddied temple board.

 

We also tried out another new game for us, Star Trek Hero Clix. Members have played different versions of the 'Clix' format before, myself playing Halo Clix. Anyone interested in taking up this game, have a check at Kids Dreams, as they have a few copies of the started set in stock (their online store isn't really up and running, go to the shop).

 

The Next picture is of a bit of a purchase for the club. In the future we are intending on playing more Mordheim and Pirates. These modular buildings are going to provide a chunk of our required scenery.

A couple of the guys took over the village board with Anima, it's not something I've personally played before but from talking to them it sounds like it could be quite interesting. It takes a lot of it's ideas from Japanese anime.

 

 

A further spot of Magic the Gathering and Redakai.

Back to 40k and the red dust planet boards. This time we find a horde of chaos trying to claim the landing pad. Unfortunately for TJ he messed up some crucial rolls at the start and the majority of his force did not arrive, he did try to give them a good *cough* licking.

Underground car park of the 41st milenia

On the trench boards we find our youngest player of the day, Jake Cambell-Smith learning some basic 40k form his old man.

Back to the under hive once more, this time a 1 v 1 v 1 free for all was in full swing. Unfortunately at this point in the day my camera batteries were on their last legs and I wasn't able to capture to much more. I did manage to get this little gem. Sam had tried to grenade a man a top a near by building, but instead it missed and bounced down onto Aarons leader. This was my highlight of the day. All players including Aaron were in hysterics, was very funny to watch.

Once more we find ourselves on the dusty red moon with a battle between Grey Knights and Ultramarines, I'm not sure what the significance of this location is, but so many races are via for it. Both armies seem to be borrowing quite a mass from the machine god, this battle should be a good one.

 

As the evening drew in the 40k results started coming through, the under hive grew quiet, I played Redakai, and some Warmachine tutorials started happening on the desert boards.

 

I think that's about all the old memory bank is giving me about the day, if there is anything else anyone wants to add feel free to stick something in the comments, on Facebook or drop us an email.

If you missed it and want a better chance of getting to the next one why not join our mailing list and we'll give you a heads up nearer the time.

So from me, I've been Olly for Team Gambit :D

P.s MTGers don't forget the next club day is also the Avacyn Prerelease, tickets are going on sale soon. Everyone else, don't worry there will be plenty of space in the hall and lots of tables for your continued enjoyment :D