Continuing along with our interviews pre-Worlds this year I sit down with Jack, a relative newcomer to the AoS scene but also a local, friend, and rival (if you ask him anyway) of mine. He got back into AoS a couple years ago and we’ve been playing a couple times a month in that time. Jack really likes to win with an army that’s “bad” but I’ll let him tell you all about that. I’m very excited to see him off to the Worlds event!

Golden Ticket Winner Profile

Player Name: Jack Higgs

Age: 27

Country of Origin: England

Where you won your ticket: Goonhammer Open UK

Little Fish Entering a Big Pond

Let’s start with the basics. When did you first get into Age of Sigmar? How often do you get to play and what sort of level, typically? 

I started getting back into Age of Sigmar in 2021, I got back into it when my brother made me aware that he was going to teach his two boys to play, and asked if I wanted to join. It was a good way to re-connect with my brother after not speaking to each other for years. We would play once every two months or so, the four of us using one small table. It wasn’t the correct way of playing but we enjoyed it regardless.

After a while, I was looking for a place to play a bit more, and I found my local club, First Founding when I just played casually. My first game at the club was against Pointyone (occasional Goonhammer author) 12 January 2022. Definitely a highlight of my Age of Sigmar journey. From there I would play every Friday night at the club, casually, until I was introduced to tournaments by a fellow club member. I took Kruleboyz to my first ever tournament and went 1 – 4, (Later, I would go 4 – 1 with Kruleboyz, in my last tournament of 3^rd Edition). As I got more into competitive play I would generally go to a one-day tournament once every 2 months, my most visited would be Pubhammer in Faversham.

You’re taking Fyreslayers to the event and without any (cowardly) allies like Callis and Toll that see a lot of use, what’s behind this decision? Run us through your list!

My lists consist of:

Fyreslayers | Warrior Kin band
Drops: 4
Prayer Lore – Zharrgrim Blessings
Manifestation Lore – Magmic Invocations

General’s Regiment

Auric Runefather (160)

• General
• Ash-cloud Rune

Grimwrath Berzerker (110)

Regiment 1

Auric Runemaster (190)

Doomseeker (90)

Vulkite Berzerkers with Bladed Slingshields (300)

• Reinforced

Regiment 2

Auric Runesmiter (120)

Auric Hearthguard (260)

• Reinforced

Hearthguard Berzerkers with Flamestrike Poleaxes (280)

• Reinforced

Regiment 3

Auric Runeson (120)

• Blood of the Berzerker

Grimwrath Berzerker (110)

Hearthguard Berzerker with Berzerker Broadaxes (240)

• Reinforced

Faction Terrain

Magmic Battleforge

My blood, sweat, and tears have gone into this list. Many a time I would chew my friend Steve’s ear off about it but I am now comfortable with my list and I know it works, as long as, as you say like to say Zach, I don’t roll 1s!

To break it down: general’s regiment is just the Runefather with a Grimwrath Berserker, this give me two options in the deployment phase for the season’s rules, dependent on what I am up against it either going to be +1 rend (making them -3 rend on the charge) or -1 attack. The auto-includes are a Runemaster (for enhance runes) and 20 Vulkite Berzerkers with shields; they work as a solid anvil, especially with -1 to wound and ignore a point of rend. They also double up as a hammer if needed during the game with with crit mortals, -2 rend, 3+ to hit (all out attack) and 2+ to wound if you stack all the buffs right. A Doomseeker, a cheap hero, exists for those objectives and help with battle tactics, and getting a +1 to hit/wound on a target can give you a bit of a punch on the right unit. Plus, when he’s damaged, going to 3 or 4 damage a piece can be tasty, especially when you have the crit mortals around.

Runesmiter goes into reserve every game taking either Hearthguard Berzerkers with poleaxes or Auric Hearthguard for surprising you opponent, or to get the behind enemy lines. Sometimes, you only put him in deep strike, for the late game battle tactic, and to grab that objective. What I really like about the Fryeslayers is that in my deployment phase I can make any unit my Runefather’s Royal Retinue; giving the AHG+1 to hit in shooting can really damage or even possibly delete units. Just roll well! Finally, which may surprise a few people, is the Runeson. This guy has done some work! Giving him Blood of the Berzerker you have a +1 to charge as long as units are wholly within 12”, this guy is the first one charging as he gives an additional +1 to charge as long as you are wholly within 18”. Deep striking some poleaxes near the Runeson with an enhanced run and charge and you are getting +3 to charge on an otherwise slow army. Now watch those oiled up little dwarfs fly! In addition, when he fights a nearby non-Hero unit fights immediately after which seriously damage or delete a unit before your opponent can attack. The reason I haven’t added a Regiment of Renown is because as much as they can be helpful I don’t think you are truly representing what an army can do, having to get help from another faction. Unless it’s Gotrek, because he is a slayer, and so it works. However, they have made the legend himself killable, which for a Dwarf who survived the end times is a bit off, and whoever wrote the rules for fourth ed Gotrek should go in the Book of Grudges for his dishonour to the original slayer.

I do agree that Regiments of Renown are the coward’s choice. So which matchups do you feel confident about and which ones are you hoping to avoid? Are there any armies you simply haven’t had the chance to practice against that you’re worried about?

This is an incredibly good question; personally I would feel confident up against armies like Ogors, Gloomspite Gitz, Nurgle, Seraphon, and Flesh Eater Courts. I mean I could go on to say I’m confident about any army, but personally, I think it’s the battleplans and how the dice go. As I’ve said to many people in the past you could be the best player at a tournament but if your dice don’t play ball then your army and tactics mean absolutely nothing! I’ve managed to play against quite a few armies already this edition. I haven’t played against Ogors or Slannesh but I feel like I have the toolbox to do what I need to do to sway the game in my favour. However, Lumineth, and Stormcast will be extremely tricky. I have an upcoming practice game on Monday against Lumineth that will show me what they can do, so I can prepare myself and change tactics if that comes up. Stormcast on the other hand, if there are 12 Longstrikes, then I don’t like odds at all; seriously, how does this unit exist? Just insanely powerful, worst thing I’ve played against this edition. I will try to counter by protecting my units with the Ash-cloud Rune, however on a small base with the Runefather, and having to be wholly within 12”, I’m going to have to really castle up which could cause me to become trapped. But time will tell. I’ll be going into every game, and give it my best shot, and play to the best of my ability!

As mentioned it’s not just the army matchups that matter but the battleplans! Of the battleplans in this General’s Handbook are there any you’re trying to avoid? Which ones do you think are the easiest for you to tackle? With your slower-moving army, without mid-game teleports, how do you plan on scoring Battle Tactics?

I really like the battleplans in this GHB, and favour most of them, even with the underdog rules, some of them can really help the Fyreslayers. For instance in Jaws of Gallet the underdog gets to remove an objective. Perfect for me, I’ll remove the ones in my opponent’s territory and bring them closer to me. I feel there is two that I would really like to avoid: Star strike and Limited Resources. These are the ones I would hate to get, with Fyreslayers I need to get up the board and fight/charge from objective to objective. Battle Tactics are a fun one with Fyreslayers and round one can be bit more tricky due to slow movement. Seize the Centre, Reclaim the Realms, and Take Their Land are the most likely ones I’ll choose, but will save the others for later game if needed. 95% of the time I’ll write off Take the Flanks, as I just don’t have the movement; if it comes up and is easily achievable I’ll take it but only if it doesn’t leave me in a bad spot. Mid-game battle tactics are Do Not Waver or Attack on Two Fronts, but even having Slay the Entourage and Slay the Tyrants are really appealing, especially if there is a squishy hero nearby or a heavily damaged unit.

How often do you attend events and how have you gotten on so far at them? How have they affected your list running up to Worlds?

I’ve attended five fourth edition events; two Pubhammer RTTs, one of which I won with Fyreslayers two weeks after the release of the new edition. Then Pubhammer Open, a two day GT, Warhammer world which was also a 2 day GT, and my own RTT which I ran at my local club First Founding in Chessington. I have had a lot of mixed results with the tournaments: 4 – 1 – 1 at Warhammer World, 2 – 1 – 2 at Pubhammer Open, Pubhammer RTTs I’ve gone 3 – 0, and a 1 – 2, and at my recent tournament I went 0 -3. I know for many people with results like this you’d wonder why keep taking Fyresalyers? My answer to them is this: I have always enjoyed playing the army that, in the current meta, isn’t doing well. I want to be good with them because I believe it’s a testament to the player and there’s way more satisfaction when you win a tough match up and difficult game. I have toyed between all infantry Fyresalyers or having a Mag Daddy (Editor: that’s a Runefather on Magmadroth but I wasn’t going to remove “Mag Daddy” from the article). There is a list at Worlds which is running a very similar list to what I was running, having the Mag Daddy, and making him a priest with the Ash-Cloud Rune. This is all good until you go against some Longstrikes. (Hence, why I earlier, why I said it’s BS). The most recent games that I’ve had with the all infantry Fyresalyers is that I find it works better. As you know Zach from when we played on Friday, it can work and can get people on the back foot.

This is your first time in the US and competing on an international level, any concerns or thoughts about entering a larger international meta and how that might differ from what you’ve been seeing in England?

Yes, this will be my first time in the US and first time competing at international level. I think this is a testament to myself (not trying to be big headed, or blow smoke up my arse) within just 3 years of playing going from very, very, casual to competing at the WCW is an amazing achievement, and I will not be having that taken away from me. From what we, all the players, have been supplied from AoS Coach and Goonhammer’s Competitive Innovations is that people are leaning towards Stormcast, Bonereapers, Nighthaunt, Slaves to Darkness, and Tzeentch. It will be interesting to see how players use theses lists and their play styles. Anyone can pick up a meta-army and expect to win most games but if the playstyle is not there nor is forward thinking, it will be interesting to see how these meta armies perform. I have seen some lists that have made me question their lists but all of these players are Top Tier and are representing themselves and their country so there must be a reason for it.

My own concerns about playing at this level is that players will forget that it’s a game and will lose the fun in it. Yes, we all want to win. Yes, we all would love to lift the trophy and be World Champion. I just feel that with the clock rules, maybe abused, players may try to slow the game right down when things aren’t going their way. I just hope that everyone remembers that this is a game and that it’s supposed to be fun and enjoyable! When things aren’t going your way you just need to laugh it off. Failed a 3” charged? Maybe in your previous turn or game you made that 12” charge! It’s a game of dice, sometimes it goes your way, and times it doesn’t.

What are you hoping to achieve across the event, what score are you aiming to walk out with?

I would be lying to you if I said that I don’t want to win. Of course I do and very person there does! I’m hoping to get to the knockout stages, round 16, that would be amazing and a dream come true! Even further than that and I will be a very happy man! If that doesn’t happen then a positive result will make me smile. At the end of the day, I’ve made it this far, and would of never thought I’ll be where I am now with Age of Sigmar. Just the whole experience is amazing and something that I am proud of!

How is this GHB and edition shaping up in your mind?

In my mind, this GHB and edition works really well. At my local club, I’ve seen a lot of die hard 40k players turning to AoS (it is a beautiful sight) because it’s a good and fun game. The interaction in your opponent’s turn can impact the game; who doesn’t love a good ol’ counter charge and rolling a 12! A few things that I dislike is the Obscuring terrain rule, being able to shot out of them but not into is just a bit OP (bring back the third edition ruling for that please!). I dislike how it was said about rend being toned down, when I think its through the roof. Rend should max-out at -2 and only really like a Bloodthrister with a BOOM stick. But other than that I am really enjoying the new edition and the GHB. And it’s  great to have the terrain layout for battle plans! That I really like!

What are your hopes for future battletomes and any balance passes for the edition?

I hope for future Battletomes they slightly re-write some of the factions that are not doing well. Personally, Fyresalyers could do with some of their old third edition abilities, they weren’t doing well in third and now seem to be doing worse. I would like to see the Fyreslayer heroes to go to 6 wounds or at least have a 4+ save. Maybe bring back the 3+ ward (for a phase) artefact, and the Grimwrath Berzerkers fight on death, which would be the icing on the cake! For balance patches, I feel that point reductions on the unit(s) that aren’t worth their cost they are currently *cough* ALL MAGMADROTHS *cough*. I hope that all battletomes make the game different and enjoyable across the board. Bear in mind these tomes must last the edition, and I don’t want the same meta throughout this edition otherwise it will become dull and boring very quickly.

Anything else you want to tell us all?

Personally, I just want to say a few thank you(s) to a lot of people that I have meet through playing Age of Sigmar. A big thank you to all those at First Founding, for making the club what it is today, every single player at that club are amazing people and I am proud to represent every single one of them, especially, Rob, Ryan, and Steve. A big thank you to yourself Zach, and everyone at Goonhammer, for making this experience possible! And Zach, for all the arse whooping you’ve given me. To all those at Pubhammer and South London Legion, you guys have taught me a lot, and I have made a lot of good friends through this hobby that we all share! A thank you to my brother and nephews, because if it wasn’t for them I wouldn’t be back in this hobby! And the amazing Kruleboyz that sit on display in my living room that my brother painted for me.

After WCW, I’ll be stepping away a little bit from AoS, as I get ready for my first newborn of which me and my wife have been blessed with, but I will still TO my tournaments at First Founding and Co-TOing Bloodtithe with two amazing players and people: Seb and Rob!

Once again,

Thank you for this amazing experience.

Will you be attending the WCoW ‘24? Let us know in the comments below. Have any questions or feedback? Drop us a note in the comments below or email us at contact@goonhammer.com. Want articles like this linked in your inbox every Monday morning? Sign up for our newsletter. And don’t forget that you can support us on Patreon for backer rewards like early video content, Administratum access, an ad-free experience on our website and more.