Battle 1: Dark Elves vs. Dwarfs (1500 points)

Today's battle featured my Dark Elves against Mike's Dwarfs. It was a very fun and close game. Mike is a great general and it was enjoyable to have a player like him across the table. We fought a 1500 point pitched battle. My strategy was to counter the dwarf anti-magic by bringing none to the table. That's right, no sorceress or spell casting at all. I went for maximizing shooting, mobility and number of models with only one magic item: a Banner of Murder for the Corsairs to give them Armor Piercing.

The Armies:

Dark Elves:
Dreadlord
2 Reaper Bolt Throwers
2 units of 5 Harpies
2 units of 5 Shades
2 Assassins
16 Repeater Crossbowmen
20 Corsairs with Banner of Murder
12 Spearmen
6 Cold One Knights

Dwarfs (sorry if I messed this up):
Lord with Dwarf Warriors
2 units of Thunderers
Ironbreakers with champion, BSB and Runelord
Grudgethrower

Terrain:
The terrain included three hills in the center of the battlefield and some small forests on each side.

Deployment:
Mike won the deployment, so I deployed first. My Shades, having scout, deployed last. From his left to right, Mikes deployment: Thunderers, Warriors, Grudge Thrower, Ironbreakers, and Thunderers again. From my left to right, Dark Elf deployment: Cold One Knights, 5 harpies, Crossbowmen, Corsairs, Spearmen, Reaper Bolt Throwers, 5 Harpies, with the Shades in the Dwarf deployment zone on either side.

The Game:
The battle lasted 5 turns and was very combat heavy and bloody on both sides. With no magic, it was pretty much a straight up fight. My Shades, Crossbowmen, and Reaper Bolt Throwers did a good job of wounding, as did one unit of Harpies. The Dwarfs took out the second unit of Harpies at the start. The Grudge Thrower lobbed a rock and killed some Corsairs. By turn two the Grudge Thrower tried to fire on the flanking Cold One Knights, but misfired and blew up. Whew! The Corsairs and Spearmen rushed toward the Dwarfs, but then Mike charged in and combat was joined. The elves struck first but had a difficult time wounding. We were locked in close combat for a good three turns. Mike's Lord was a tough dude! He challenged my Dreadlord and ultimately killed him. But in the end, my numbers and flanking helped win the day. By Turn 5 the remaining Warriors and the Dwarf Lord were completely surrounded. They lost the final combat, failed their leadership test, but with Druchii on all four sides and nowhere to run, the Dwarfs were wiped out to the last. I have to say, Dwarfs are a tough nut to crack!