2013 WTC review: all Trollbloods lists

Jason Flanzer's eMadrak & Co.

There was a misunderstanding when +Robert Lundgren read my previous blogpost - he thought I was collecting all WTC Trollbloods lists in one space, but I indeed only collected the most notable ones. Well, the most notable ones from my totally subjective point of view. Well, without further addo here's the full flying circus with some comments at the very bottom:

Daniel Pawelka, Team Austria White (5th)

Calandra Truthsayer, Oracle of the Glimmerwood
• Dire Troll Bomber
• Dire Troll Bomber
• Troll Impaler
• Slag Troll
• Trollkin Runebearer
Cylena Raefyll and Nyss Hunters Max
Pyg Burrowers Min
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Witch Doc
Feralgeist

Grissel Bloodsong: Blood of Bragg Tier 4
• Pyre Troll
• Slag Troll
• Storm Troll
Kriel Warriors Max
• Kriel Warrior Caber Thrower x3
• Kriel Warrior Standard Bearer and Piper
Kriel Warriors Max
• Kriel Warrior Caber Thrower x3
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Pyg Burrowers Max
Pyg Bushwackers Min
Fell Caller Hero
Fell Caller Hero

Liam Jordan, Team Epic England (9th)

Borka Kegslayer: Family Reunion Tier 4
• Pyre Troll
• Swamp Troll
Greygore Boomhowler and Co. Max
Trollkin Champions Max
• Skaldi Bonehammer
Trollkin Champions Min
Trollkin Champions Min
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Trollkin Champion Hero
Trollkin Champion Hero
Trollkin Champion Hero
Stone Scribe Chronicler

Grissel Bloodsong: Blood of Bragg Tier 4
• Troll Impaler
• Pyre Troll
• Swamp Troll
Kriel Warriors Max
• Kriel Warrior Caber Thrower x2
• Kriel Warrior Standard Bearer and Piper
Kriel Warriors Min
• Kriel Warrior Caber Thrower x2
Kriel Warriors Min
• Kriel Warrior Caber Thrower x2
Pyg Burrowers Max
Pyg Bushwackers Min
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Fell Caller Hero
Fell Caller Hero

Quentin Recour, Team France White (16th)

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Shaman of the Gnarls
• Mulg the Ancient
• Earthborn Dire Troll
• Pyre Troll
• Trollkin Runebearer
Trollkin Fennblades Max
• Fennblade Officer and Drummer
Trollkin Runeshapers
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder Janissa Stonetide
Fell Caller Hero
Stone Scribe Chronicler
Troll Whelps

Hunters Grim
• Dire Troll Bomber
• Earthborn Dire Troll
• Troll Impaler
• Trollkin Runebearer
Trollkin Scattergunners Max
• Trollkin Scattergunner Officer and Drummer
Pyg Burrowers Max
Sons of Bragg
Fell Caller Hero
Stone Scribe Chronicler

Loránd Sövényházi, Team Hungary (25th)

Hoarluk Doomshaper: Runes of War Tier 4
• Mulg the Ancient
• Earthborn Dire Troll
• Dire Troll Mauler
• Troll Axer
• Pyre Troll
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Janissa Stonetide
Troll Whelps

Hunters Grim
• Dire Troll Bomber
• Dire Troll Blitzer
• Troll Impaler
• Pyre Troll
• Trollkin Runebearer
Trollkin Scattergunners Min
• Trollkin Scattergunner Officer and Drummer
Trollkin Scouts
Pyg Burrowers Max
Fell Caller Hero
Troll Whelps

Stuart Gorman, Team Ireland (19th)

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Shaman of the Gnarls: Runes of War Tier 4
• Mulg the Ancient
• Earthborn Dire Troll
• Dire Troll Mauler
• Troll Axer
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Janissa Stonetide

Madrak Ironhide, World Ender
• Storm Troll
• Swamp Troll
• Trollkin Runebearer
Trollkin Fennblades Max
• Trollkin Fennblade Officer and Drummer
Trollkin Fennblades Max
Trollkin Scattergunners Min
• Trollkin Scattergunner Officer and Drummer
Pyg Burrowers Max
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Fell Caller Hero
Fell Caller Hero
Victor Pendrake

Aat Niehot, Team Netherlands (20th)

Borka Kegslayer: Family Reunion Tier 4
• Dire Troll Mauler
• Slag Troll
Greygore Boomhowler and Co. Max
Trollkin Champions Min
• Skaldi Bonehammer
Trollkin Champions Min
Trollkin Champions Min
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Trollkin Champion Hero
Trollkin Champion Hero
Stone Scribe Chronicler

Hunter Grim
• Dire Troll Bomber
• Dire Troll Bomber
• Troll Impaler
Trollkin Fennblades Max
• Fennblade Officer and Drummer
Pyg Burrowers Max
Sons of Bragg
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Fell Caller Hero

Karol Sosnowski, Team Poland White (13th)

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Shaman of the Gnarls: Runes of War Tier 4
• Mulg the Ancient
• Earthborn Dire Troll
• Dire Troll Mauler
• Troll Axer
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Janissa Stonetide

Chief Madrak Ironhide
• Dire Troll Mauler
• Troll Axer
• Troll Axer
• Storm Troll
• Trollkin Runebearer
Trollkin Warders Max
Bog Trog Ambushers Max
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Fell Caller Hero
Saxon Orrik
Troll Whelps

Artem Volik, Team Russia (28th)

Chief Madrak Ironhide
• Mulg the Ancient
• Earthborn Dire Troll
• Dire Troll Mauler
• Trollkin Runebearer
Trollkin Warders Max
Trollkin Warders Max
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Janissa Stonetide

Madrak Ironhide, World Ender
• Dire Troll Mauler
• Troll Impaler
• Trollkin Runebearer
Kriel Warriors Max
• Kriel Warrior Standard Bearer and Piper
Trollkin Warders Max
Trollkin Warders Max
Pyg Burrowers Max
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Fell Caller Hero
Stone Scribe Chronicler

Denis Korzun, Team Prime Sweden (3rd)

Calandra Truthsayer, Oracle of the Glimmerwood
• Mulg the Ancient
• Earthborn Dire Troll
• Storm Troll
• Slag Troll
• Trollkin Runebearer
Pyg Burrowers Max
Pyg Bushwackers Min
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew
Troll Whelps
Feralgeist

Grim Angus
• Earthborn Dire Troll
• Dire Troll Bomber
• Troll Impaler
• Troll Axer
Trollkin Scattergunners Min
• Trollkin Scattergunner Officer and Drummer
Pyg Burrowers Max
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Janissa Stonetide
Troll Whelps
Feralgeist
Feralgeist

Jason Flanzer, Team USA Blue (2nd)

Hoarluk Doomshaper: Runes of War Tier 4
• Mulg the Ancient
• Earthborn Dire Troll
• Dire Troll Mauler
• Troll Axer
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Janissa Stonetide

Madrak Ironhide, World Ender
• Dire Troll Mauler
• Trollkin Runebearer
Cylena Raefyll and Nyss Hunters Max
Trollkin Fennblades Max
• Trollkin Fennblade Officer and Drummer
Kriel Warriors Min
• Kriel Warrior Standard Bearer and Piper
• Kriel Warrior Caber Thrower x3
Pyg Burrowers Max
Fell Caller Hero
Fell Caller Hero
Trollkin Champion Hero

Chad Shonkwiler, Team USA Red (4th)

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Rage of Dhunia
• Mulg the Ancient
• Earthborn Dire Troll
• Dire Troll Bomber
• Troll Axer
• Pyre Troll
• Trollkin Runebearer
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Janissa Stonetide
Troll Whelps
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew

Madrak Ironhide, World Ender
• Dire Troll Bomber
• Troll Impaler
• Trollkin Runebearer
Trollkin Fennblades Max
• Trollkin Fennblade Officer and Drummer
Trollkin Scattergunners Max
• Trollkin Scattergunner Officer and Drummer
Pyg Burrowers Max
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
• Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Fell Caller Hero
Gatorman Witch Doctor
Victor Pendrake

Comments

Contrary to my gut feeling, all teams ranking 2nd to 5th have a Trollbloods player in their ranks. So much for Trollbloods not being competitive. Of course it's always the team effort that counts for a team's rank, yet I believe it's save to assume that the better teams also have the better Trollbloods players because they have to qualify in a tougher meta game.

I shamelessly wanted to steal the statistics from endgamegaming.net, but when I looked through them, the numbers didn't match with the lists I copied from the official WTC results page. Most importantly, I had one Trollbloods player more than endgamegaming, so I figured they must have had some early count and I ran the statistics again:

Warlock	Theme List	Occurences	Percent
pDoomshaper	Runes of War	4	0.18
eMadrak		4	0.18
eGrim		3	0.14
Calandra		2	0.09
pGrissel	Blood of Bragg	2	0.09
Borka	Family Reunion	2	0.09
pMadrak		2	0.09
pDoomshaper		1	0.05
pGrim		1	0.05
eDoomshaper		1	0.05
		22	1

Here the numbers speak a very clear fact - pDoomshaper's Runes of War list is a top pick together with eMadrak. So do you just need to play pDoomshaper with eMadrak to win the WTC? Not really if you have a look at the leader board:

Player	Team	Team Rank	Warlock 1	Warlock 2
Jason Flanzer	USA Blue	2	pDoomshaper	eMadrak
Denis Korzun	Prime Sweden	3	Calandra	pGrim
Chad Shonkwiler	USA Red	4	eDoomshaper	eMadrak
Daniel Pawelka	Austria White	5	Calandra	pGrissel

It's interesting here that the two US players indeed do combine some form of Doomshaper with eMadrak, but then we have Calandra making an impressive show and pGrissel and pGrim - not eGrim - working their way up there, too. Why is it that pGrim is here, but not eGrim? Maybe because pGrim's feat still is better?

What's your call?

2013 WTC review: notable Trollbloods lists

In this final blog post on the WTC I wanna have a closer look at some of the Trollbloods lists I saw at the WTC. Here they come in no particular order.

Quentin Recour (Team France Blanche)

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Shaman of the Gnarls
Mulg the Ancient
Earthborn Dire Troll
Pyre Troll
Trollkin Runebearer
Trollkin Fennblades Max
Fennblade Officer and Drummer
Trollkin Runeshapers
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Janissa Stonetide
Fell Caller Hero
Stone Scribe Chronicler
Troll Whelps

For his pDoomshaper list we almost have the Runes of War tier list, but then he adds Fennblades instead of Rune Shapers to the mix. Why he does that I am not sure except for the obvious benefits that Fennblades bring.

Hunters Grim
Dire Troll Bomber
Earthborn Dire Troll
Troll Impaler
Trollkin Runebearer
Trollkin Scattergunners Max
Trollkin Scattergunner Officer and Drummer
Pyg Burrowers Max
Sons of Bragg
Fell Caller Hero
Stone Scribe Chronicler

What I find intriguing in his eGrim list that it hardly has any CC capacities - it only has the Fell Caller and the Sons of Bragg for that purpose. I assume he is using the Scattergunners to hold zones.

Aat Niehot (Team Netherlands)

Borka Kegslayer: Family Reunion Tier 4
Dire Troll Mauler
Slag Troll
Greygore Boomhowler and Co. Max
Trollkin Champions Min
Skaldi Bonehammer
Trollkin Champions Min
Trollkin Champions Min
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Trollkin Champion Hero
Trollkin Champion Hero
Stone Scribe Chronicler

Aat told me after his game against Botond that he thinks about giving up the Family Reunion list again because he thinks it's too slow. Well, obviously it has its advantages and deficits. I like his list except I'd like to bring Rök for fluff (and heavy hitting) reasons, but I find it really hard to clock that in right at 50pts.

Hunter Grim
Dire Troll Bomber
Dire Troll Bomber
Troll Impaler
Trollkin Fennblades Max
Fennblade Officer and Drummer
Pyg Burrowers Max
Sons of Bragg
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Fell Caller Hero

Very interesting, however, is Aat's eGrim list with the double Bomber, something I am thinking about ever since I started to play pGrim. Many told me double Bombers are a waste of points. You know you should always trust the forums, right? Here is Aat's scoring:

Game 1 (vs. Epic Sweden): Borka vs. eVlad - loss

Game 2 (vs. Switzerland): eGrim vs. eVayl - victory
(as I wrote here, eGrim even survived eVayl's assassination run)
Game 3 (vs. Scotland): Borka vs. pButcher - victory
Game 4 (vs. Team Austria White): eGrim vs. Thagrosh - loss
Game 5 (vs. Team Finnland Blue): Borka vs. Ossyan - victory

So two times out of five he played eGrim, won once and lost once - this calls for more playtesting. :-) In a follow up conversation via e-mail Aat was also so nice to take his time to explain the mechanism behind this list to me. Basically, he told me that you should not be too afraid of seeing eGrim die. Of course you don't want him to die, but eGrim needs LOS and a certain proximity to enemy models to be effective. If you hold him back too much, he won't to any good. Double Bombers and Burrowers on feat turn are simply scary, especially if they also stand and shoot. Fennblades are basically just used to harass the enemy in a not so important flank, together with the Fell caller they form an autonomous module that can handle anything you don't want to waste your main force on.

+Sövényházi Loránd (Team Hungary)

Hoarluk Doomshaper: Runes of War Tier 4
Mulg the Ancient
Earthborn Dire Troll
Dire Troll Mauler
Troll Axer
Pyre TrollTrollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Janissa Stonetide
Troll Whelps

Hunters Grim
Dire Troll Bomber
Dire Troll Blitzer
Troll Impaler
Pyre Troll
Trollkin Runebearer
Trollkin Scattergunners Min
Trollkin Scattergunner Officer and Drummer
Trollkin Scouts
Pyg Burrowers Max
Fell Caller Hero
Troll Whelps

Here we have another pDoomshaper T4 with eGrim combo - we start to see a pattern, don't we? Obviously, pDoomshaper is for heavy hitting and anti-magic, eGrim is for all anti-infantry matchups. Loránd has set up his eGrim list mostly with units that toally benefit from eGrim's feat, Scattergunners being the only exception where they benefits of the +2 to hit roll, but not of the +4" RNG.

Stuart Gorman (Team Ireland)

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Shaman of the Gnarls: Runes of War Tier 4
Mulg the Ancient
Earthborn Dire Troll
Dire Troll Mauler
Troll AxerTrollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Trollkin Runeshapers
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Janissa Stonetide

Madrak Ironhide, World Ender
Storm Troll
Swamp Troll
Trollkin Runebearer
Trollkin Fennblades Max
Trollkin Fennblade Officer and Drummer
Trollkin Fennblades Max
Trollkin Scattergunners Min
Trollkin Scattergunner Officer and Drummer
Pyg Burrowers Max
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Fell Caller Hero
Fell Caller Hero
Victor Pendrake

Stuart is doing something really interesting here. He starts out with pDoomshaper T4 like it's fashionable these days, but then instead of switching over to eGrim he has his ranged weapons run together with eMadrak. His key to success is here to boost the Burrowers in CC with the Fell Caller and eMadrak's Blood Fury spell - after that, warbeasts and warjacks melt like snow in the sun.

Chad Shonkwiler (Team USA Red)

Hoarluk Doomshaper, Rage of Dhunia
Mulg the Ancient
Earthborn Dire Troll
Dire Troll Bomber
Troll Axer
Pyre Troll
Trollkin Runebearer
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Max
Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Janissa Stonetide
Troll Whelps
Swamp Gobber Bellows Crew

Madrak Ironhide, World Ender
Dire Troll Bomber
Troll Impaler
Trollkin RunebearerTrollkin Fennblades Max
Trollkin Fennblade Officer and Drummer
Trollkin Scattergunners Max
Trollkin Scattergunner Officer and Drummer
Pyg Burrowers Max
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Fell Caller Hero
Gatorman Witch Doctor
Victor Pendrake

What we observe here is Chad playing a very balanced eDoosmhaper list that is tooled against a variety of threats by including the Bomber and the Pyre Troll, yet it has still a strong focus on heavy hitting.
As in the Irish example, however, Chad also brings his focused ranged and anti-infantry support to bear with eMadrak instead of eGrim. His focus is a little bit different, but the mechanics are essentially the same.

Daniel Pawelka (Team Austria White)

Calandra Truthsayer, Oracle of the Glimmerwood
Dire Troll Bomber
Dire Troll Bomber
Troll Impaler
Slag Troll
Trollkin Runebearer
Cylena Raefyll and Nyss Hunters Max
Pyg Burrowers Min
Krielstone Bearer and Stone Scribes Min
Krielstone Stone Scribe Elder
Witch Doc
Feralgeist

From Daniel I am showing only one of his two lists which got famous because Calandra, one of the warlocks one rarely sees (at least around here), went 6-0 at the WTC. Could Calandra be an excellent Dark Horse? Could her performance at the WTC even start a new trend? Time will tell, but one thing is for sure: she's less complex to play than eGrim, so I currently consider making her my second list to pDoomshaper rather than eGrim. With Fury 7 she has a comfortable Control Range and her spells and feat simply improve your dice rolls no matter what models you run with her - and she only needs LOS to her own models, it all takes out a lot of complexity. Obviously, mastering her list takes time to learn, too, but I feel it's quicker to master.

Calandra's battle group & Burrowers obviously are a strong firebase, especially on feat turn, whereas starcrossed Nyss Hunters will be hard to break through. The Witch Doctor helps against Cryx matchups and keeps the Burrowers from running, the Feralgeist is there for grabbing scenario points. This list has high firepower and serves as an excellent to pDoomshaper's Runes of War list while being less complex to play than eGrim. Sure, eGrim offers some nifty stuff in addition, but remembering Mirage and Reform plus always having him at that sweet spot where he can do a lot of stuff without being exposed too much is much harder to pull off.

Conclusion

There is no doubt that Doomshaper currently is the most popular Trollbloods warlock, especially when playing his Runes of War tier list. He delivers a lot of heavy hitting power which is necessary in the age of colossals and gargantuans. However, it's not as clear on what to bring as one's secondary list; eGrim is hugely popular ever since his release, but eMadrak continues to be a popular warlock as he is hard to kill, drives the infantry in masses, destroy's the enemy's infantry in masses, and also offers the flexibility to take down the occasional heavy or two - with ranged weapons that turn into CC weapons in the Burrowers' case if there is the need for it.

2013 WTC review: game boards and armies on parade

A French player laminated all his spells and made a custom box to easily draw and store them again.

One of the most amazing aspects of the 2013 WTC definitely was the custom made terrain for the final's tables:

Some Menoth construction yard.

This bridge was simply jaw dropping. The Belgians said they are still eating chips (that would be crisps for the British) from the cardboard tubes they needed. :-D

There are even cages where prisoners can be kept.

I lack the word to describe this Khador tundra (including a small railway system).

You could have these tables for 250€ if you took them right on the spot - a price that is laughably small for the effort required to make them!

I don't know what WM/H faction this toxic system of pipelines can be attributed to, but it looks cool nonetheless.

Peeking through the rock. :-D

I guess incantations on this board pass automatically. :-D

If you love staying in tree houses, Oboros Tours can accommodate you here. :-D

Nothing short of amazing were also some armies, my personal favorite being Quentin Recour's Trollbloods:

He did his bases with GW water effects and cork boards - simple, yet very effective to have his amazing army move through imaginary swamps.

Nothing short of amazing were also Jason Flanzer's Trollbloods:

A special shout out to Franck Primavera who got 3rd place in the painting contest with his Mercenaries army and especially his Galleon:

And here finally some other beauties on in particular order:

Last but not at all least, here you can find masterfully taken photographs by Lars Ekholm, father of one of the players in Team Switzerland. From my point of view, he really caught the spirit of the WTC with his camera!