Going back to my Human Blackguard / FGF combo, i thought i would try to replace the DHoD with a faster, harder hitting ZR.

Human Blackguard (ole reliable), Fire Giant Forgepriest, Zakya Rakshasa, Snig the Axe + 3x Goblin Skirmisher, Greenspawn Sneak, Human Thug, Hobgoblin Warrior; 199/11

Matchup 1 (win): Brandon - Marilith, scorpion clan drow fighter, Gnoll Barbarian x2, Howling Orc x2, Gnoll Skeleton
Map: Hailstorm Tower (my win, my choice)
Side: B (my win, my choice)
He is still new (and young), so I didn't take advantage of his more common mistakes. Instead I focused on forming a good defensive line and preparing to battle the marilith, while minimizing casualties. After round 3, I was up a few points due to fodder kills and an extra round of victory. Time was called near the end of round 4, and we never truly hashed it out ... I think both our titans were untouched. I had killed his gnolls and orcs though, to secure the victory. Let me tell you, that sneak stood toe to toe with a gnoll barbarian for 3 rounds ... that AC 19 is wicked sometimes.

Matchup 2 (loss): JP (Karolar) - Horned Devil, Large Duergar x2, RHWS, DHoD, Kobold Monk, Greenspawn Sneak x2
Map: Hailstorm Tower (my choice)
Side: B (his win, his choice)
He chose the side I didn't want, so I thought I could turtle again. He placed sneaks on both victory, forcing me to lose use of my sneak. He also placed a duergar on the far end of the map. I moved up to turtle in the tower from the back entrance. I had a clear activation advantage, but I wanted to use my true-strike on his close duergar (who he was leading with). I activated the Zak one phase too early I think (trying to hit before the bodyguard closed, as well as blocking his devil from getting too close before I could place my giant). He hit the zak, then lightning bolted it (failing SR thankfully, but killing fodder behind). I recovered gracefully, after missing another attack by failing two conceal 6 checks. With everybody in place, I was ready to start the beatdown. Of course, they called time, his devil killed my zak, and he won by 30 points at the end of round 3 because of that one kill. Sometimes, I hate timed events ... I really need to start counting out my moves before my turn ... Had we gone another round ... I would have evened the score. 5 rounds and I believe I would have had a clear victory. Just my opinion though.

Matchup 3 (win): Tyler - Storm Silverhand, Elf Dragonkith x2, Small Copper Dragon, Steelheart Archer, Wild Elf Raider x2, Half-Ogre Barbarian
Map: Hailstorn Tower (my choice)
Side: A (his win, his choice)
New to our gaming group, so I was a little cautious, not knowing what to expect. And after my previous round loss due to time, I was a bit careless. Again, I moved in to turtle, and then he decided to circle around to the open side to counter my turtle. I pursued him and engaged Storm outside the tower so I could remove fearless from her followers. I made a number of mistakes, but in the end, I managed to pull out the win. Chief among my mistakes was forgetting cleave with my Giant, *twice*. I had to be told I forgot after the match was over! Also, at least once (I can't recal the 2nd, but I remember their being two), my opponent didn't target closest opponent with ranged or breath and I didn't catch it. At least i remembered my Hobgob this round, unlike the first two games of the night (doh!).

There it is ... 3 games: 2 wins, a weak loss ... I would love to play that match again and either drop the time limit or just play faster to see if time was the killer, or if he outplayed me. I really like this build over the Dragonmarked version. Sure, the giant doesn't get immune XXXX. Sure, I don't have 50 more HP to split between the Giant and the Blackguard. In all my 200 point games I played the Giant, I can't recall him dying. Every time I played him with the Dragonmarked, he never had to make a morale check. I figure with +20 (using tyrannical) I can breath easy. Using the Zak makes some core structural changes to the build. I now have speed to engage with archers. I now have blind-fight and true strike for those pesky concealed figs Gnome Trickster. I also have Chill Touch for those damned {Sacred Watchers}. I even used this band to defeat a Storm, Bralani, Valenar build when testing it. I may test some other variants, and possibly toy with some fodder changes.