The Roost of Turkadactyl

A couple of weeks ago I participated in a local Edmonton event called Onslaught.  It’s been a few years since I’ve attended Onslaught.  It was Fifth edition to be exact.  The stars aligned with my shift work schedule and I was able to attend this year.  My big motivation for attending events is to see how my army will fair in the best painted.  I will never win best general.  I make stupid mistakes just about every game nor do I take a win at all costs list.  I prefer a more relaxed game personally and pit my painting talents against the rest.

I used my Inner Circle list from earlier on in the year.  I lost to the store winner by a point.  I was curious to see how the list would fair at a different event.  My list included the Triumvirate of the Imperium- Belisarius Cawl, Inquisitor Grefax and Saint Celestine.  With a max of three detachments I was set.

I like my list but in the future I will not use it for a tournament.  I had too many special rules activated in different phases.  I came with a sheet of paper outlining what I have to do every phase so I wouldn’t forget.  Thank you to all my opponents for their patience.  It was a good day.  I go into these events with a bit of trepidation because I usually end up playing one person who has to argue everything.  That wasn’t the case this time.  All my opponents were aces.

I finished with a 2-1 record with a couple of really close games.  I won 6-5 in the first game.  We both dominated one side of the board but had it gone the distance I think I would have lost the match.  Cawl was about to die but the Saint was rolling over all the Primaris Marines she came into contact with.  The problem for me is I had some Primaris Characters moving towards me and my Ad Mech gun support was eliminated.

My second game was against Grey Knights.  I lost that one but had it gone the full five I most likely would have won.  My opponent did an alpha strike that put a big dent in my forces.  I was able to recover and once his elite units started to fall the game tipped towards my favour.  Time was not on my side though.

The third game was against Dark Eldar.  It was a convincing win for me.  The high volume of fire from the Ad Mech proved to be too much along with the Saint destroying everything in her path.  She and her Geminae bodyguard are a great bargain at 250 points.  In past editions I would use her to halt the advance of another unit as I found her assault abilities sub par.  She is amazing in close combat now.

Here are some photos of from the day.

This Tau army was one of my favourites.

The Primaris Marines army I faced in the first game.

And for the top three for Best Presentation.  Drum roll please…

I finished third with my Triumvirate list.  Not your typical tournament list as you can see.  Every unit was unique with the exception of two Exorcist and two units of Acolytes with hot shot lasguns.

Steve Lind finished second with his Ad Mech.  Steve always places top three at Edmonton events.  He’s a fantastic painter and look out for him at the LVO.  I thought my matrix screen on the Kastelen Robots was cool.  Steve took it one step further.

And this years winner is Matthew Corless and his Ad Mech.  If you recall I lost Inner Circle to a white Ad Mech army.  Well, I’m 0-2 now to white Ad Mech.  Third times the charm maybe?

I know I missed some armies.  Some people were still playing when I was walking around and I didn’t want to get in the way.  Some armies were packed up during lunch.  There was a strong turnout with the event being sold out.  Ad Mech was the most represented army at Onslaught and I am certain Cawl was in every single Ad Mech list.  The venue was great.  Will was playing some Ninth Age and shared some scotch with me.  That was a nice treat.

Thank you Ward for organizing the event.

Thanks for reading.