Shadows of the Retribution, Ossyan vs Operating Theater Cognifex Cyphon

Theme: Shadows of the Retribution

2 / 2 Free Cards     74 / 75 Army

Lord Arcanist Ossyan - WJ: +28

-    Hypnos - PC: 18

-    Banshee - PC: 18

-    Gorgon - PC: 9

-    Gorgon - PC: 9

Mage Hunter Assassin - PC: 4

Mage Hunter Assassin - PC: 0

Narn, Mage Hunter of Ios - PC: 0

Arcanist Mechanik - PC: 2

Arcanist Mechanik - PC: 2

Mage Hunter Infiltrators - Leader & 9 Grunts: 13

-    Eiryss, Mage Hunter Commander - PC: 6

-    Soulless Escort - PC: 1

Mage Hunter Strike Force - Leader & 9 Grunts: 16

-    Mage Hunter Strike Force Commander - PC: 4

-----VS-----

[Theme] Operating Theater

(Cyphon 1) Cognifex Cyphon [+29]

 - Warden [10]

 - Wrecker [14]

 - Wrecker [14]

 - Wrecker [14]

Cephalyx Agitator [3]

Cephalyx Agitator [3]

Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges (min) [7]

Cephalyx Mind Bender & Drudges (max) [11]

Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (min) [8]

Cephalyx Mind Slaver & Drudges (max) [12]

Cephalyx Overlords [0(8)]

Cephalyx Overlords [8]

This was actually my second game in the order of the day. The CoC game I would have dropped my other list, if I had the option. But I just wanted to play the one all day.
A little explanation behind the list is that I ran it in theme to test out the RFP and no tough. I ran a Gorgon because I think they have a new life in mk3. Kinetic Grip on the gun is pretty good, especially when you can exploit it with Ossyans gun effect and force lock is still a thing, I ran 2 Gorgons because I didnt want to proxy a second unit of Strike Force or the Spears of Scyrah.

I won the roll and went first.

Retribution turn 1

Quicken on the Infiltrators and Shatter Storm on the Strike force. For lack of anything better to do Fortune went on a MHA.

Cephalyx turn 1 

He put Perseverance on a Wrecker and everything ran up.

End of round 1

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Ret turn 2

Ossyan upkept everything. Strike force cleared out 9 Drudges by using mini feat on the right side. The grey Goron advanced and shot a Wrecker, it Hyper Aggressived forward. Then the other Gorgon shot a Warden which also Hyper Aggressived, then Hypnos shot it Warden causing Shadowbind. Ossyan then advanced and put Admonition on a Gorgon and hit the central Wrecker with his gun, reducing it by 4spd. The Infiltrators charged in and cleared out about 4 Drudges.

Cephalyx turn 2

Cyphon feats. One wrecker comes in and wrecks the blue Gorgon. The other threshers and clears out about 3 Strike Force and beats up the grey Gorgon. The Overlords come through the forest and clear out most of the Strike Force, as I had expected to happen. The unit gets reduced to about 4. 5 Infiltrators fall to the other Overlords and the Wrecker giving Cyphon a Sacrificial Pawn target.

End of round 2

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Ret turn 3

 Ossyan Charges the Wrecker which has Perseverance on it and with his Sword dispells the ARM buff. Then Hypnos puts some damage on it. It takes a Mage Hunter Assassin to finish it off. The Banshee advances into the other Wrecker and puts enough damage on it to finish it off. The 4 Strike Force go for the Overloards but only kill one. The grety Gorgon Charges into the Warden but does minimal damage. The Mage Hunter Assassin with FOrtune charges the Wrecker near his Warcaster and puts some minimal damage into it, not crippling any systems.

Cephalyx turn 3

The Warden kills the Gorgon. Ossyan is sitting pretty exposed on one Focus so Cognifex goes for a Gallows assassination, he needs to roll anything but a 1 to get Ossyan into range of his Wrecker.
This turn he Ambushes and a flood of Dredges come into his zone heavinly engaging the Infiltrators, they kill Eyriss.

• Cognifex Cyphon lands the Gallows and pulls Ossyan 5 inches. Ossyan uses a focus to mitigate the damage. 
• The Wrecker charges in.
•  After the dust settles Ossyan is still alive.

End of round 3

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Ret turn 4

Assassination

The Banshee Charges up to kill the Warden and put damage on the Wrecker. Then a MHA charges the Wrecker finishing it off. The Infiltrator engaging Cyphon walks away and dies for the greater good. Ossyan Feats, Aims and lands a shot on Cyphon, reducing his defense, then Arcantrik bolts him 3 times. Then Hypnos advances and and Shoots Cyphon landing Shadow Bind, thankfully ignoring cover. This was enough to finish Cyphon off, the Mage Hunter Assassin with Fortune, was still waiting for her chance but was not needed.

So about the theme force.
I concluded after 4 games that it felt pretty good. Although I would want a bit more heavy hitting in the list. I did very much miss my support pieces, namely the Artificer. I did think in the end that an Ossyan Defenders of Ios list with Shatter Storm on Riflemen could almost be as successful.

I would be tempted to not use the Strike Force at all and take 2 or 3 units of Infiltrators with a different caster if I really wanted to make the most out of the theme force benefit.

In conclusion however I will not be looking into this Theme Force any more, as I don't want to double up on units I wont use outside of theme.

Enjoyed new Ossyan however!