This Christmas in Immoren: Fresh Starts

I hope you are all had a great Christmas. I know I am, I got this:

Full faction baby!

I've been in a bit of a gaming slump recently. I blame Ben and Sam for this. They've been busy with one thing or another, as have I, but they haven't been waiting in the corner of my house on standby for those free couple of hours to play a game. 

The other day this was rectified as I tried out one of the lists I'm planning to take to my first Warmachine/Hordes tournament in March next year. The Tournament is called Fresh Starts and is being hosted by The Outpost in Sheffield. The rules details can be found on their website here.

The game was 35 points and I used Grissel2 with Ben using Cygnar's Kraye. Both casters were new to us so I don't think either of us quite knew what would happen. 

Instead of a straight out slugfest we decided we needed to get in to the habit of playing scenarios, and not having the Steamroller rules to hand, we played No Man's Land from the Rulebook. We had discussed having an auto loss for Caster Kill during the week beforehand and whilst this wasn't strictly in effect, I was going to try to abide by it to fully concentrate on scenario. 

The full list I used was As follows:

Grissel Bloodsong, Marshal of the Kriels - WB: +6
- Trollkin Runebearer
- Troll Axer - PC: 6
- Slag Troll - PC: 6

Fell Caller Hero - PC: 3
Fennblade Kithkar - PC: 2

Trollkin Warders - Leader & 4 Grunts: 8
Krielstone Bearer & Stone Scribes - Leader & 3 Grunts: 3
- Stone Scribe Elder - Elder 1
Trollkin Fennblades - Leader & 9 grunts: 8
- Fennblade Officer and Drummer - Officer & Drummer 2

Ben's list was:

Captain Jeremiah Kraye - WJ: +6
- Squire
- Hunter - PC: 6
- Defender - PC: 9
- Cyclone - PC: 9

Gorman di Wulfe, Rogue Alchemist - PC: 2

Black 13th Gun Mage Strike Team - Lynch, Ryan & Watts: 4
Stormblade Infantry - Leader & 5 Grunts: 5
- Stormblade Infantry Officer & Standard - Officer & Standard Bearer 3
- 1 Storm Gunner's: 1

Now to be honest, it wasn't until I started putting out my models pre game that I realised that the Krielstone was the min unit, and I was a little concerned that it wouldn't play a big enough part to justify its inclusion. However, since the main role was more about buffing my precious two Warbeasts and the Warders than the Fennblades, it wasn't as bad as I feared, and caused Ben a bit of trouble by pushing the light beasts to armour 20. 

The list was intended to be a jam list and it really did do that. Admittedly I didn't use my list to its full potential, but then nor did Ben with his own. 

I think that with a few tweaks, this is a strong contender for Fresh Start in March, but my main concerns are that with only two Warbeasts, the loss of just one will seriously hamper my late game as soon as one goes pop. As such I'm looking for a way to shoehorn in a third light beast, or possibly even a heavy. 

I was very impressed by the Trollkin Warders as they really soaked up a lot of attention. I think with a better thought out list with a few buffs I can really make them a solid base for the list.

As for the second list, I'm a little unsure. I was looking for a list for Calandra, but to be honest I'm unfamiliar enough with Grissel, let alone taking on a second new caster. As such I keep going back to Borka. 

A Tuffalo list with a heavy warbeast or two will give me something that the above Grissel list lacks: heavy hitters. Also, and let's be honest, it reduces the numbers I need to get painted. 

But painted I must get them, as I want to ensure at least one of my lists is fully painted by March.