Warfaire Weekend Recap: On the Road Again


by Charles Foster III

For many, it’s been a long twenty months since the pandemic began to race across the U.S.  Conventions and gatherings at all levels had been put on hold. This past weekend, however, it was time to rise again!  With a beautiful but cold and rainy morning in Seattle, Privateer packed its bags and headed to the airport. It’s con season once more! Wheels up, and we were off to the greater St. Louis area for Warfaire Weekend 2021, the first convention since the end of 2019!

Like a bear coming from hibernation, we were hungry and ready to go!

This convention was needed at so many levels:  players and staff alike yearned to reconnect and rekindle the fire that has been in a state of embers since everything went on hold. And this was the perfect convention to find our roots in. Demos in the hallways, painting in the classrooms, and tournaments in the main halls.  From the first-time convention goer to the seasoned veteran, you could just feel how excited everyone was to get back to the games they love so much.

Alas, it wouldn’t be a convention if something weren’t left behind.  After a short detainment by the TSA to talk about my “painted toys,” I realized what I had forgotten: in the last few minutes of scrambling around trying to lock in my lists and pack the demo models, I managed to leave behind all of the models for my troop selections.  Nooooo!  Even with this incident, I remained determined to enjoy the weekend.

Friday opened with the exciting Last Chance Qualifier of the weekend.  Sixty-four players dove into the fray to see who could make the cut and join the rest of the competitors in the Invitational.  After four rounds on Friday and two more on Saturday, the players were locked in for the invitational! Thus, another two rounds on Saturday night followed up by four rounds of intense action on Sunday brought all that competition to a head.

All of the coverage from this weekend’s events can be found over at the Minority Report Warmahordes Podcast’s Twitch Page or on YouTube at this link:

https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLhBJuLfLK4wxgGdu3fKUQzwl-PHeGX6N_

After it all shook out, here are the top 4 lists from the Invitational:

1st Place – Conan Jennings – Khador

Theme: Wolves of Winter

Vladimir Tzepesci, The Dark Champion – WJ: +27

–    Ruin – PC: 17 (Battlegroup Points Used: 17)

–    Marauder – PC: 11 (Battlegroup Points Used: 10)

Koldun Lord – PC: 0

Koldun Lord – PC: 3

Void Archon – PC: 9

Void Archon – PC: 9

Thamarite Archon – PC: 9

Doom Reaver Swordsmen – Leader & 5 Grunts: 10

–    Greylord Escort – PC: 3

Doom Reaver Swordsmen – Leader & 5 Grunts: 10

Doom Reaver Swordsmen – Leader & 5 Grunts: 10

Doom Reaver Swordsmen – Leader & 5 Grunts: 10

Greylord Ternion – Leader & 2 Grunts: 0

Greylord Ternion – Leader & 2 Grunts: 0

 

Theme: Warriors of the Old Faith

Vladimir Tzepesci, Great Prince of Umbrey – WJ: +27

–    Dervish – PC: 7

–    Victor – PC: 32 (Battlegroup Points Used: 27)

Champion of the Order of the Wall – PC: 8

–    Champion of the Order of the Wall (Continued)

Champion of the Order of the Wall – PC: 8

–    Champion of the Order of the Wall (Continued)

Menite Archon – PC: 9

Menite Archon – PC: 9

Hermit of Henge Hold – PC: 0

High Paladin Dartan Vilmon – PC: 0

Yuri the Axe – PC: 0

Wrack – PC: 1

Vassal of Menoth – PC: 2

Vassal Mechanik – PC: 1

Kossite Woodsmen – Leader & 5 Grunts: 7

Initiates of the Wall – Leader & Grunts: 7

Initiates of the Wall – Leader & Grunts: 7

Choir of Menoth – Leader & 3 Grunts: 4


2nd Place – Michael Stone – Circle of Orboros

Theme: Secret Masters

Baldur the Stonesoul – WB: +30

–    Woldwrath – PC: 31 (Battlegroup Points Used: 30)

–    Woldwrath – PC: 31

Celestial Fulcrum – PC: 16

Death Archon – PC: 9

Death Archon – PC: 9

Blackclad Stoneshaper – PC: 0

Blackclad Stoneshaper – PC: 0

Hermit of Henge Hold – PC: 0

Chuck Dogwood – PC: 0

Gallows Grove – PC: 2

Swamp Gobber River Raider – PC: 1

Swamp Gobber River Raider – PC: 1

Boil Master & Spirit Cauldron – Boil Master & Spirit Cauldron: 5

 

Theme: Secret Masters

Krueger the Stormlord – WB: +27

–    Woldwarden – PC: 13 (Battlegroup Points Used: 13)

–    Woldwarden – PC: 13 (Battlegroup Points Used: 13)

–    Warpwolf Stalker – PC: 15 (Battlegroup Points Used: 1)

–    Feral Warpwolf – PC: 14

–    Woldwyrd – PC: 8

–    Woldwyrd – PC: 8

Hermit of Henge Hold – PC: 0

Death Archon – PC: 9

Death Archon – PC: 9

Blackclad Stoneshaper – PC: 0

Blackclad Stoneshaper – PC: 0

Blackclad Wayfarer – PC: 3

Chuck Dogwood – PC: 0

Gallows Grove – PC: 2

Swamp Gobber River Raider – PC: 1

Swamp Gobber River Raider – PC: 1

Swamp Gobber River Raider – PC: 1

Boil Master & Spirit Cauldron – Boil Master & Spirit Cauldron: 5


3rd place – Andrew Durso – Skorne

Theme: Disciples of Agony

Lord Assassin Morghoul – WB: +29

-Aptimus Marketh – PC: 4

–    Swamp Horror – PC: 15 (Battlegroup Points Used: 15)

–    Cyclops Shaman – PC: 7 (Battlegroup Points Used: 7)

–    Razor Boar – PC: 3 (Battlegroup Points Used: 3)

–    Razor Boar – PC: 3 (Battlegroup Points Used: 3)

Makeda of House Balaash – PC: 0

–    Agonizer – PC: 0

Paingiver Bloodrunner Master Tormentor – PC: 4

Mortitheurge Willbreaker – PC: 2

Paingiver Task Master – PC: 0

Paingiver Task Master – PC: 0

Maximus – PC: 3

Farrow Slaughterhousers – Leader & 5 Grunts: 7

Farrow Slaughterhousers – Leader & 5 Grunts: 7

Farrow Brigands – Leader & 9 Grunts: 12

–    Farrow Brigand Warlord – PC: 4

Farrow Brigands – Leader & 9 Grunts: 12

–    Farrow Brigand Warlord – PC: 4

Farrow Brigands – Leader & 9 Grunts: 12

–    Farrow Brigand Warlord – PC: 4

 

Theme: Disciples of Agony

Dominar Rasheth – WB: +28

–    Aptimus Marketh – PC: 4

–    Cyclops Raider – PC: 9 (Battlegroup Points Used: 9)

–    Cyclops Shaman – PC: 7 (Battlegroup Points Used: 7)

–    Cyclops Shaman – PC: 7 (Battlegroup Points Used: 7)

–    Cyclops Shaman – PC: 7 (Battlegroup Points Used: 5)

–    Cyclops Shaman – PC: 7

–    Battle Boar – PC: 6

Makeda of House Balaash – PC: 0

–    Agonizer – PC: 0

Hutchuk, Ogrun Bounty Hunter – PC: 5

Hermit of Henge Hold – PC: 5

Swamp Gobber River Raider – PC: 1

Void Archon – PC: 9

Void Archon – PC: 9

Efaarit Scouts – PC: 4

Efaarit Scouts – PC: 4

Mortitheurge Willbreaker – PC: 2

Mortitheurge Willbreaker – PC: 2

Paingiver Task Master – PC: 0

Paingiver Task Master – PC: 0

Paingiver Bloodrunner Master Tormentor – PC: 4

Paingiver Bloodrunners – Leader & 5 Grunts: 6

Paingiver Beast Handlers – Leader & 3 Grunts: 5


4th Place – Nate Magnan – Legion of Everblight

Theme: Children of the Dragon

Kryssa, Conviction of Everblight – WB: +31

–    Azrael – PC: 17 (Battlegroup Points Used: 17)

–    Neraph – PC: 12 (Battlegroup Points Used: 12)

–    Zuriel – PC: 16 (Battlegroup Points Used: 2)

Blight Archon – PC: 9

–    Raek – PC: 6

Incubus – 5 Incubi: 0

Virtue Champion – PC: 6

Blighted Nyss Shepherd – PC: 1

Blighted Nyss Shepherd – PC: 1

Craelix, Fang of Everblight – PC: 0

Blighted Nyss Legionnaires – Leader & 9 Grunts: 13

–    Captain Farilor & Standard – Farilor & Standard: 0

Virtue Host – Leader & 2 Grunts: 8

Virtue Host – Leader & 2 Grunts: 8

Spawning Vessel – Vessel & 4 Grunts: 4

Boil Master & Spirit Cauldron – Boil Master & Spirit Cauldron: 5

 

Theme: Oracles of Annihilation

Bethayne, Voice of Everblight – WB: +22

–    Belphagor

–    Archangel – PC: 35 (Battlegroup Points Used: 22)

Thagrosh Hellborne – PC: 0

–    Naga Nightlurker – PC: 7

Yssylla – PC: 0

Blight Archon – PC: 9

–    Mekanoshredder – PC: 4

–    Neraph – PC: 12

The Wastelander – PC: 5

Spell Martyr – PC: 1

Spell Martyr – PC: 1

Blighted Nyss Hex Hunters – Leader & 9 Grunts: 15

–    Bayal, Hound of Everblight – PC: 0

Farrow Valkyries – Leader & 2 Grunts: 8


Congrats to the winners from this past weekend!

There were so many great games played this weekend! I even managed to sneak in a few games of Riot Quest!  Check out these awesome painted models by Thomas Grable, who stopped by to show off his beautiful-looking team and stomp me in a game.

I snuck in as many games as I could and tried to peek in on everyone hobbying in the painting areas.  There was just so much that it was hard to even focus on one thing.

The weekend sadly had to draw to a close eventually. So, here, I want to take a second and congratulate our champions of the weekend!

Dan Wasmer – Warcaster Championship Tournament

[Photo Provided by Warfaire Weekend’s Twitter Page]

Conan Jennings – 2021 WARMACHINE/HORDE’s Invitational

[Photo provided by Warfaire Weekend’s Twitter Page]

Hunter Domingue for Monsterpocalypse

[Photo provided by Warfaire Weekend’s Twitter Page]

As a personal note, this weekend saw the passing of the torch.  James Moreland, otherwise known as “AK,” stepped down as the main tournament organizer for Warfaire Weekend.  James has been organizing events of the St. Louis area for over a decade.  My first WARMACHINE convention was at Diecon back in 2009.  I wouldn’t be where I am today if it weren’t for the amazing experiences I had while playing in the events that he ran.  And while his contributions to running events will be missed, he is looking forward to returning to the tables as a player soon.  Thank you, AK, for all that you have done to grow and shape this community.  I hope I have the pleasure of rolling dice with you soon!

Special thanks to all the new folks that came up said hi, let me ogle their beautiful paint jobs, or wanted to roll some dice. With that being said, it’s time to pack it up and head back to the office to keep making more cool stuff!

I look forward to seeing everyone at the next event!

The post Warfaire Weekend Recap: On the Road Again appeared first on Privateer Press.