Forgetting how to play

I am SO rusty at this game.
Malakov 2
- Destroyer
- Juggernaut
- Wardog
Forgeseer
- Decimator
Nyss Hunters
Alexia & the Risen

I didn't want to change my list from last time too much, but I didn't feel like playing Butcher so I cycled back to Malakov. The idea behind the list was to use Risen as Sucker targets to keep Malakov safe early game, then use the Wardog to knock stuff down late-game. I would push the jacks forward and keep them safe with the feat. Destroyer shooting with Open Fire could thin down enemy infantry.

I decided not to make any changes to the list I made for Speedy last time:
Vlad 1
- Juggernaut
- Spriggan
- Berserker
- Adjunct
Croe's Cutthroats
- Valachev
Doomreaver Swordsmen
Kayazy Eliminators (proxied)


Pre-Game:
I considered trying to play a Steamroller scenario for the first time, but those things are so damned complicated for new and rusty players, they have like 5 scorable elements at minimum. It's too much hassle. So I just threw a couple of zones on the table and tossed some flat terrain on top. I won the roll and chose to go second.


Deployment:

Round 1:
Speedy advanced his Cutthroats aggressively and put a cloud on Vlad (we were too lazy to actually put the template on him so we just left it lying around nearby).

Malakov cast Repo on the Decimator, Escort on himself, and put a cloud next to the forest. The Decimator trampled and repo'ed, while the other jacks just ran up. The Nyss Hunters moved to claim the zone on my right, while the Risen just clustered around Malakov protectively.

Round 2:
So it turns out Cutthroats can just walk into a forest and shoot at my guys without any issues. I probably would have known that if I had ever played Warmachine before. I mean, it's not like this is my favourite miniatures game and these are MY flippin' models! God I'm so rusty. Anyway, Speedy walked the Cutthroats up and focussed down Alexia first before starting on the Risen. The Eliminators ran to engage my Nyss. The Spriggan flared my Juggernaut then actually put three points of damage on him with a boosted POW 10 grenade attack. The Adjunct clouded Vlad who walked up and cast Wind Wall.

I was not happy about those Cutthroats being so close to my caster. I've honestly completely lost my sense for distances in this game. I didn't really have enough attacks on that side to deal with them, so I decided to buy time and back away. I dropped the cloud but upkept Escort and Overrun, and allocated two to the Juggernaut and I think one to the Destroyer. The Risen charged into the Cutthroats, doing nothing. The Decimator was close enough to aim and use Strike True to kill two Cutthroats. Andrei Feated and walked away, followed by the dog. The Forgeseer empowered the Destroyer, who aimed and shot the engaged Nyss Hunter in the back. I killed the two Nyss caught in the blast but boosted damage rolls against the Eliminators only killed one...

Then my Juggernaut walked up to Vlad and rolled hot on every single attack and damage roll to take him out with three completely unboosted attacks (meaning I had two focus left).

Post-Mortem:
Ugh, I forgot everything. I forgot to remind Speedy about the Cutthroat's Prey, I almost forgot Stealth, I might have forgotten to give my Nyss Hunter the engagement bonus, I DEFINITELY forgot to give him the defensive bonus for being in the trench, I forgot the Cutthroats have Pathfinder... I dunno man, my brain is just fried these days.

I felt Speedy already has a much better grasp of what the models can do, taking good advantage of their mobility. I guess he underestimated Vlad's resilience (although to be fair my Juggernaut's dice were very hot), either that or he wanted the game to end sooner as it was a little late and he seemed quite tired.

We discussed whether Blood of Kings would have been better than Wind Wall on Vlad. Obviously it would have seriously cut down on my Juggernaut's chances of killing him; needing 11's instead of 8's to hit is a big difference. I would have been able to put a lot more shooting into him then of course. Perhaps the best thing to do would have been to just hide behind a clouded Spriggan?