Cryx vs Trollbloods, 25 pts, 10/21/10

Quick battle report from today.

Played Ben again during lunch.  My list was:
Warwitch Deneghra
- Deathripper
- Deathripper
- Nightwretch
- Skarlock Thrall
Bane Thralls (Leader and 5 Grunts)
Mechanithralls (Leader and 9 Grunts)
Pistol Wraith
Pistol Wraith

To me, that's a fairly basic 25pt Cryx list for almost any of my casters.  Deneghra makes almost everything better- especially those Pistol Wraiths.  They are just terrifying on her feat turn.

Ben's list:
Chief Madrak Ironhide
- Troll Axer
- Dire Troll Bomber
Krielstone Bearer and 3 Stone Scribes
Trollkin Champions (Leader and 4 Grunts)
Stone Scribe Chronicler

This is Ben's normal list, partially because he doesn't have a ton to draw from at the moment.

Game terrain was fairly normal for our lunch breaks, mostly a few things around the center (this time with the benefit that some of the terrain caused Ben to forget about two of my models completely).

I started, placing everything close to the line, and sent almost everything directly towards the middle, aside from the two Pistol Wraiths and the Bane Thralls who moved off to the right, hopefully to force Ben to split his forces up. 

Ben doesn't really bite, advancing most of his army towards the center, while setting up his various tools to help his survivability.

I start turn 2 by running a Deathripper forward close to his Champions, and Deneghra begins to screw with it, starting with a Crippling Grasp, followed by 3 Influences, killing a Champion and injuring another.  The Pistol Wraiths follow up, killing a champion and finishing off the damaged one.  The rest of my army advances closer.

Ben decides he has to go on the aggressive now, and pops Madrak's feat.  He then throws his axe at the Pistol Wraiths, killing one, but fails to hit the other one.    The Axer then charges my Deathripper and manages to grab a Bane Thrall in his melee range.  He Threshers, heavily damaging the Deathripper and killing the Bane Thrall.  Overtake triggers, and he kills another Bane Thrall... then again... then again... etc.  He finishes by dropping that Deathripper.  9 points gone in a single activation.  Pretty scary.

He finishes his activation by moving the Bomber up (out of Madrak's control range accidentally) and throws some barrels at the Mechanithralls, killing 3.  I smartly had spread the Mech thralls out last turn expecting this.  Good thing!

My 3rd turn starts with my second Deathripper moving into range of his Bomber, and Deneghra advancing forward, feating, Parasiting the Bomber, and ending with Venom, taking a small chunk of damage from it.  A Nightwretch shot followed by two charging Mechanithralls end the Bomber's life, and since he was too far from Madrak, Madrak doesn't get the fury.  Not good.  The Pistol Wraith ends my turn by Death Chilling the Axer, as well as doing a few points of damage.

Ben takes stock of his situation... SPD 1 Champions on the front of his line, a frozen Axer nearby, and not much way to deal damage beyond that... and concedes. 

My army worked pretty much as expected (good, since I do have plenty of practice with it).  Ben's army just didn't have a good matchup against me, it felt like.  I'm not really sure how to help him there though.  I don't think Trolls have any good way to drop enemy upkeeps (and I really don't know Minions all that well), which would've been a huge help.  I don't think the Bomber really helps much at this point level with Madrak, but beyond that I'm not sure what help I could provide.  I think an Impaler would be a help, because of Critical Smite plus his Animus.  I also think the Mauler serves him better (maybe to replace the Axer).  That would save him two points, which he could use for another utility solo.  Other than that, I have no idea.

Anyone else have any suggestions for Ben?