TUF has rebuffed an aggressive move by SIN to establish a military city in the Shardlands, completing one of the biggest siege operations in all of its currently active wars to date. It is also a rare example of how a successful siege can be as much a key defensive stand as it can be offensive.
A screen shot of the current battlefield reveals that the city is gone, with remnants of what are likely TUF forces leaving the scene.
Originally, there were four separate siege camps as well as several blockades. It is unknown how many of those siege camps survived, or who completed the raze, as TUF officials no longer share details with the Times. However, in GC earlier, TUF’s Josh gave a report on the composition of the battle:
[09:05]<HumanResources> Ten Kulch exo’d to Shardlands and filled the town with troops from Den (A player who mentioned he was not gonna rejoin the war) and other players from SIN too
[09:05]<HumanResources> now its dead
[09:05]<HumanResources> woop
[09:05]<Captain Kindly> Oh.
[09:06]<HumanResources> Disappointed?
[09:06]<Captain Kindly> I doubt SIN is impressed. I know for a fact they don’t plan on such cities living for long.
[09:06]<HumanResources> O.K
[09:06]<HumanResources> but its a great victory for us
[09:07]<Ridafal> Over million kobolds in that city I asume
[09:07]<Captain Kindly> It drew forces away from attacking them. Expect incoming soonish
[09:07]<HumanResources> There was about 500k troops in there, maybe more
Josh’s statement of 500,000 troops in the city suggests that there was a major battle to clear the city of troops before razing it. Later in GC, Captain Kindly demurred at the notion that the victory was worthy of celebration for TUF:
[09:07]<Captain Kindly> It drew forces away from attacking them. Expect incoming soonish
[09:07]<HumanResources> There was about 500k troops in there, maybe more
[09:08]<HumanResources> whatever CK
[09:08]<HumanResources> I understand your defensive stance as you are EX-Sin
[09:08]<HumanResources> but can you not be happy for us?[09:08]<HumanResources> BE HAPPY!
Josh also noted that he was against the use of heavy TUF forces to clear the city:
[09:12]<Captain Kindly> I am not pessimistic, Josh. I gave you an insight on how SIN works, thinks and plans. Which is something I shouldn’t have done probably. Enjoy your victory, but consider it may have been a Pyrrhic win.
[09:13]<HumanResources> I didnt move a finger. I advized against it
[09:13]<HumanResources> so maybe my advice was solid
[09:13]<HumanResources> we will find out
While the repercussions of such a battle still cannot be measured, the raze is a major victory for TUF against one of its main adversaries in the Broken Lands. Destroying the city not only robbed SIN of a half million troops, but also a forward base in their hub for launch attacks from close in. Regardless of how GC pundits will try and spin it, TUF finds itself ahead in a war that, if successful, could dislodge SIN from its position as the #1 military alliance in the game. Such a victory could begin to shift the balance of the war in its favor.
The Illyriad Times 
just to summarize the action. it was a quite amateurish and not really managed relocation of a Sin city to our core land. after consolidation of the situation we started softly to engage. own troup losses are on a low amount. enemies numbers i am not interested, you can read it tomorrow in the Herald. Block and siege breaks were amateurishly managed by Bulani. We all expected more, but are absolutely happy that a small alliance like Tuf is able to win battles. Thanks to all comrodes, good teamwork!
LikeLike
lol aian whatever you smoking bro I want some!!
P.S send me goldy next pls
LikeLike
It was a good battle.
I didn’t think that TUF would put up real resistance, so I deferred several procedures for a war wagon landing in a hot zone. What really killed me was not having people pre-launch cavalry clearing armies in a halo around the city. That, and not waiting for bow cover inside the city. TUF did the smart thing by loading multiple squares with catapults, rams, and blockades. It was impossible to build my way out of the trap, and there was just too much time left on the exodus cooldown. Losing the wall really amplified the defensive casualties. By far the biggest mistake was underestimating the TUF response. Casualties were roughly:
400000 kobolds, Ten Kulch [SIN]
100000 kobolds, Den [SIN]
60000 stalwarts, ThorOdin [TUF]
95000 fangs, Elfs Bane [TUF]
5000 Wolfriders, Elfs Bane [TUF]
16500 trueshots, 16000 sentinels, AianNick [TUF]
That being said, Captain Kindly made an accurate comment. SIN does regard war wagons as weapons, to be used the same way as troops. They are forward positions meant to draw fire and project regional force. These kinds of maneuvers are a calculated risk. It just so happens that this time I made some very bad bets, for which I apologize to my comrades. As a SINner I should have planned better than that. However, let’s not get carried away. Losing the weaponized town was a mistake, but it is no more grevious than losing the kobolds inside. By the time I have rebuilt some fresh kobolds, I will probably have prepared a fresh weaponized town as well.
Congrats to TUF on the raze. Their defense was well played. It was superior to the Unbowed response when SIN invaded Newlands and High Hills. I will not underestimate them again in the battles ahead.
LikeLike
Nice of you to actually make a solid and insightful comment I am not used to it, I ll have to respond in kind now not fair!!!!
LikeLike
Hi Ten
thanks for your summary. very well written! The numbers are about very accurate.
From Lou i am used to fight against something too big and overwhelming, looking forward for the future. as we are small we cant win the war but i am very happy to contribute to win some major battles.
best sincerely
LikeLike
This has been a test of the emergency alert system…
LikeLiked by 1 person