While it's more fun to write about success, reflecting on failure has value too. After all, as every statistician knows, negative results are still results.
And so to my efforts at last weekend's Masters...
I've been to a couple of Bushido events with mixed outcomes, but was starting to find some success with Descension. At the last 3 game event I attended, I managed 1 draw, 1 win and 1 loss. I decided to run much the same list at the Masters with a couple of tweaks.
THEME - ORDERED FOR BATTLE
Main List
- Naigubu + Pacifism (16 Rice)
- Hiroto, Drunken Master (15 Rice)
- Seibo + Talisman of Grace (16 Rice)
- Qimmiq (14 Rice)
- Oshibe + Finesse (14 Rice)
- Wind Kami A (8 Rice)
- Wind Kami B (8 Rice
- Dawn Eagle (2 Rice)
- Eagle of Ro-Kan (2 Rice)
- War Weary (3 Rice)
- Spiritual Harmony (2 Rice)
- Convocation of Eagles (13 Rice)
- Narahobo (11 Rice)
- Fuwa Eagle (2 Rice)
- Fujin's Breath (2 Rice)
- Wisdom of the Mountains (1 Rice)
- Year of the Risen Sun (1 Rice)
The idea of the list is to use the faction's superior mobility to go for the scenario objectives fast and early, while slowing down my opponent with War Weary. Furthermore, Eagles are permitted to go Elsewhere in the first starting phase and return using Flank straight away (models which gain Flank mid game can come back in ANY turn). I would use this to come on the board close to my opponent's deployment zone and strip off the single activation markers from key opposing models.
For games with scenario points, I had Naigubu with Pacifism to enable me to gain a mark on my opponent. Naigubu is quite challenging to pin down, so Pacifism generally stays in place for much of the game.
I won't deep dive into all of my selections, but Qimmiq and the Wind Kami are incredibly useful for shifting models out of zones and off objectives, Narahobo is very valuable for getting rid of nasty States like Control while Seibo and Oshibe are highly mobile models for carrying out scenario actions.
I figured that I would do well in Scenarios where VPs are scored early and/or ones where Scenario Points accumulate. Essentially I was hoping to see Ichi No Riten, Ryodo, Botoku and Depletion.
I only got one of these.
Game 1 - The Idols. Vs Savage Wave (Escort)
I can sum this game up fairly quickly. I turned 2 of the Idols in the first turn using Seibo and Talisman of Grace thinking the 1st VP was scored in Turn 2 and I could step away from the conflict to regroup. At the end of Turn 1, I double checked the scenario and to my horror, I found that the 1st VP wasn't scored until Turn 4.
As I desperately tried to stay in the fight, I was overrun by Bakemono steered by the very competent Chris Hales (always a pleasure to face a multiple Bushido Grand Master in the 1st round!). I conceded 0-3 at the end of Turn 3.
Game 2 - Depletion. Vs Ito (I think it was No Theme)
With apologies to Dave Mustin (with whom I have enjoyed tournament games in our Guild Ball days that were a bit more relaxed), but I went into full competitive mode for this game.
Bizzarely, I had actually woken up in the middle of the night before the event and had spent 3 hours mapping out how I would tackle this scenario if we got it. The benefits of insomnia.
It went more or less to plan and I was particularly pleased to strand Masunagi on the baseline for the first turn (War Weary plus Eagle) while Seibo and Oshibe racked up 8 Scenario points in the first two turns and Pacifism delivered a further 2.
With a 10 point head start, it was just a question of staying ahead. I soon began losing models but wasn't unduly troubled. I confess that I did lie through omission when Dave asked whether Naigubu was a suitable target for Mizuki's Obey Ki Feat. I highlighted that Naigubu had a Ki Stat of 3 and the Mettle trait, but neglected to mention that doing so would nonetheless remove Pacifism. I'm not sure it would have made a difference, as I was able to defend my back line with Qimmiq and the Wind Kami ...but yes, I wouldn't normally be bothered about concealing that kind of thing. Sorry again, Dave!
We ran out of time at the end of Turn 5 and called it 2-0.
Game 3 - Seigyo. Vs Temple of Ro-Kan (Bastions of the Mountain)
While knocking around ideas for my tournament list, I did wonder about including Buzenbo to tackle what I call the Double Cow list (2 x Kawa No Rojin). In the end, I decided I preferred the Naigubu/Pacifism approach and what were the odds of coming up against Double Cow anyway?
But lo, here I was facing Double Cow in Round 3.
With the 1st VP not scoring until Turn 3 and being outnumbered by multiple villagers with similar place trickery to me (Taiki and Niseru) and those poxy Tireless cows, this game was very similar to the first one. I turned the idols early but then got overwhelmed and started to lose models including my VIM. I once again conceded 0-3, this time in turn 3.
Credit to Gavin Miles. It's a strong list and he plays it very well.
Ironically, by throwing in the towel early, I was first to lose and was awarded Master Po as a spot prize. Honestly didn't hear them announce this before the game started
Game 4 - Osatsu. Vs KKZ (Skirmish Mission)
Another late scoring scenario. Gah! As I was facing only 4 Ninjas, I decided my best bet was to nip up with Seibo, turn the middle idol and then sit tight at the back.
It sort of worked but eventually he decided to come hunting for me and I lost Oshibe to Hail of Steel (really do hate HoS) as Ghost picked off models along the back line.
Seeing the numbers turning in his favour, he elected to turn one of the zone idols which meant that neither of us scored the 1st VP.
He was then able to clear one of the Zones (I stupidly forgot that the Convocation of Eagles are Tireless which may have assisted them in not dying) while Katsumi battled successfully to draw the other. I conceded 0-2 at the end of Turn 5.
I nonetheless quite enjoyed that one and Richard McHale was a fun opponent (despite the use of Hail of Steel - Booo!)
CONCLUSIONS
My main take away from this event was that I had failed to plan adequately for the scenarios that came up (except Depletion, nailed that one) and in Games 1, 3 and 4, I had very few models left on the table by the time the scoring turns came around. Although Descension generally struggle with the long game, I should highlight that the other Descension player at the event managed a 3-1 overall result (3 wins, 1 loss).
I also need to give more thought to dealing with horde factions as I really struggled against the Bakemono and Villager lists. I possibly should have abandoned my early Idol grabbing efforts and focused on thinning their numbers in those games, but my list only had a couple of decent melee options.
Overall it was an enjoyable day but I had hoped to do a bit better. Back to the Iron Mountains for a rethink!
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