My list:
Maelok, the Dreadbound
* Bull Snapper
* Blackhide Wrastler
* Ironback Spitter
Gatormen Posse (Leader and 4 Grunts)
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew (Leader and 1 Grunt)
Croak Hunter
Gatorman Witch Doctor
Thrullg
Totem Hunter
Again, I only have a limited selection. With that said, pre-game, I wished I had owned a second unit of Gatormen Posse (something I feel more strongly about post-game). I'd have no problem dropping a few solos even for a min unit of them.
Ben decided to take Convergence. His list (and I may have some things wrong):
Forge Master Syntherion
* Diffuser
* Mitigator
* Cipher
* Inverter
* Monitor
Obstructors (Leader and 9 Grunts)
Algorithmic Dispersion Optifex
Attunement Servitors
Ben is a little limited on choices as well, since all of the releases for Convergence aren't out yet. I feel like I may have some of the jacks messed up, but I think I'm close. It was definitely 3 heavies and 2 lights.
Ben won the roll, and chose to go first. I chose the side of the board with a wall just inside the Killbox (we were playing the first scenario- Destruction, I believe?). Ben's side of the board had a nice large hill.
My game plan was basically to get the Gatormen stuck in early, pop my feat soon after, and charge the Gatormen past Ben's first line into his caster, hoping for the kill that way. I could use Revive to bring back a Gatormen or two, should they fall, and put them in great position for the feat turn.
Our first turn was pretty boring. Ben ran everything forward and put Reconstruct on his Inverter, and Hot Shot on the Monitor.
I ran forward as well, putting Death Pact on the Gatormen Posse, and Malediction on Maelok.
Ben's Obstructors were a bit concerned about the Totem Hunter facing them (on my right), so spread out to limit here I could go. He spent his second turn taking a lot of shots at the Gatormen, with unfavorable deviations, and did no damage. He also cast Synergy, in preparation for getting engaged.
I start my turn by putting the Totem Hunter into the Obstructors, killing two. My Spitter shot at one of his Light Inverters, hoping to catch the Algorithmic Dispersion Optifex who was standing behind him. I hit the Inverter, and deal a lot of damage, but with the boost, I only manage to get 3 damage on the Optifex (not enough to kill him with the potential Corrosion damage). My Gatormen Posse charge into his lines, dealing pretty minor damage to his jacks, but killing a few more Obstructors (I killed 5 of them this turn).
Overall, I felt like I was in pretty good position. My Gatormen were mostly engaged, as well as Zombified. ARM 20, multi-wound models with Tough- should be tough to get rid of all of them.
Thrullg was in position to charge in as well, and my Bull Snapper and Maelok were right behind as well, spreading out a few Spiny Growths on the Gatormen.
Ben starts off by popping his feat, giving his army Weapon Platform, as well as free charges. He then proceeds to start beating Gatormen down. By the time he's done, he's managed to wipe out the unit. He even had attacks to spare! Not good. After considering conceding, we continue on. His Obstructors kill the Totem Hunter easily, and he shoots some more, to no real effect.
I'm a bit unsure how to proceed at this point. I don't really have a good way to fight his heavies- the Wrastler could kill one, maybe, but I'd lose him next turn. My beasts haven't taken any damage thus far, however, but I decided my best bet was to try for the caster kill.
I start by activating Maelok, who pops his feat, walks forward towards one of this light inverters, kills it with a melee attack, and then casts Venom at Syntherion, dealing a few points of damage. Thrullg then charges through his army at Syntherion, dealing a bunch more. My Spitter activates, walks forward, and shoots at Syntherion as well, dealing even more damage! At this point Syntherion is down to about 6 health, but he's Corroded. Unfortunately, I'm out of attacks to throw at him.
I have my Wrastler charge one of his heavies, hoping to wreck it and keep Maelok safe. I fail to kill him, however, and the systems I knock out just get auto-repaired away.
However, Ben's inverters are really slow, and can't get to Maelok. They do manage to kill the Wrastler without a whole lot of effort, however. He throws the Obstructors around the Spitter and Maelok, trying to tie me up so I can't make another play at Syntherion, while his jacks get into better position.
Well, I'm still desperate at this point, although I'm pleased I have another turn to do try for the win. I start by having the Witch Doctor Sac Strike (using a Swamp Gobber) an Obstructor off the table, giving me room for the Spitter to walk out and attempt a shot at Syntherion. Unfortunately, he misses, hurting my plans. I have Maelok throw a double boosted Venom at Syntherion, bringing him down to about 4 health. With 2 fury left, I debate my options. If I try for the Venom, and fail, there's not much doubt his inverters can kill me. But even with the fury on him, it's looking bleak.
I decide to go for it. I need to roll a 9 to hit, which I get. He's got 4 health, but it's also dice-8 for damage.... but then I roll an eleven on two dice, bringing him down to one! With Syntherion corroded, it's just a hope that the effect doesn't expire...
...which it doesn't. Syntherion dies, and I take the victory.
This is the first time I've ever killed a caster by Corrosion, but yeah, it was a really really long-shot victory. With that said, I did have a lot of fun using Maelok, and I'm genuinely excited whenever I see Convergence on the table.
This matchup was really tough though- I mentioned before the game that I thought this would be a really really tough matchup, which still feels true. I could have definitely played better- when I lost all of my Gatormen, it's because I threw all five up them up into the engagement. Had I kept one back, I could've revived some over the course of the game, which may have dragged the game out longer, but certainly have kept it more even until the end. Next time I put him on the table, I'll keep that in mind.
After this game, we played a game of Hordes: High Command with Rob and Brad. I ended up taking Skorne, and I came BADLY into last place. I'll talk more about that at my LCG blog, Kneel, Exhaust, Corrupt.