dolcet
Sneak
61 Posts
    
 | | 05/28/2006 1:33 PM |
| I recently got a zombie white dragon & would love to use him in a upcoming local 200pt tournement. My problem is I mostly only have Underdark & Wardums with a few Angelfire and select individual pieces (such as Tiefling captain) from other sets.
Any suggestions are needed to help me out here thanks. | |
I reject your reality & subsitute my own.
An object at rest can not be stopped! | |
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Pegasus Knight
Sergeant
896 Posts
| | 05/28/2006 1:56 PM |
| (Re-edit: Gee, today's just not my day. Making mistakes left and right. Point reference fixed, though.)
First off, congratulations on a lucky or fairly rare acquisition; Zombie White Dragons (ZWD from here on) are a tad hard to find these days. To answer your question:
The ZWD is primarily a blocker. You will notice it has little offensive potential; it's F6 speed combined with Slow Attack and modest damage mean it won't be contributing much in this regard. Instead, the ZWD is meant to be a fairly affordable way to block off parts of the battle-field. CE has few pieces that require a specific Blocker to protect them, so it's more Battlefield Control than anything else.
Most opponents will not do battle with a ZWD. They will take the AoO just so they can go on to fight something else, as it's usually not productive to fight a 130 HP point that will only yield 37 points when it's killed.
Another valuable use for the ZWD is "Closest Target." You can use it as a mobile 'wall' for everyone else to hide behind as they advance. Various 'tech' options like ranged Stun/Fear effects bounce right off this undead piece, which is very helpful. This admittedly slows down the rest of CE on the approach to the fight, but it can be worthwhile.
The ZWD definitely requires thought before use. What sort of opponents do you expect at your tournament? If you have reason to believe you'll need high HP on a Large base with Undead immunities, by all means bring the ZWD. But this must be weighed against other possibilities; would a hard-hitter like a Blood Ghost Berserker (in the same point range, even) be a better choice? | |
- Irrationally Fanatical Champion of Pegasus-mounted cavalry
- Proud member of Team Low Tier Beasting: I play CG as my main faction!
- Garland, TX 2006 Qualifier Champion
My trading thread: http://www.maxminis.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19725 | |
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10288 Posts
United States
| | 05/28/2006 2:06 PM |
| You can include a cheap cold-immune piece so that the ZWD can target that piece and line up the cone with maximum effectiveness.
You can include spellcasters that have area spells and then target the ZWD--it has so many hit points, it might be worth using him as a mobile target.
The traditional blocker, hp sink, anti-Beholder role isn't a bad choice--but, as has been mentioned, your opponent is fairly likely to just navigate around it.
Dave | |
Knowledge Arcana editor issues 5-9, Phoenix Lore Magazine editor, assistant editor for Rite Publishing;
My Trade Thread and My Reference Thread; Winner of WBC IV, IX and XIII; Rule #0: bshugg is always right! | |
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Pegasus Knight
Sergeant
896 Posts
| | 05/28/2006 2:15 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Vrecknidj
You can include spellcasters that have area spells and then target the ZWD--it has so many hit points, it might be worth using him as a mobile target.
Humor me on this; I don't play CE much at all. Can you name a few pieces (And spells) that would be a good choice for this use of the ZWD? This is genuine curiousity, I simply don't know CE well enough to quite catch what specific combos you're suggesting here, even though I think the overall theory is sound. | |
- Irrationally Fanatical Champion of Pegasus-mounted cavalry
- Proud member of Team Low Tier Beasting: I play CG as my main faction!
- Garland, TX 2006 Qualifier Champion
My trading thread: http://www.maxminis.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19725 | |
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10288 Posts
United States
| | 05/28/2006 4:39 PM |
| I'll have to really think about it to come up with many spellcasters that could work. Off the top of my head, I'm coming up with Drow Wizard and Mordenkainen. Neither of which, in my opinion, are strong enough casters for this trick.
I think the Half-Fiend Ogre (another not-enough piece) has a spell that he could target on the ZWD.
There aren't many spells with line, cone, or radius 4 in CE.
But, the idea is nice. Fly out the ZWD, move the caster so that he can't see anyone else, and blow up the ZWD (oh, forgot that middle step--wait until there are enough enemy pieces nearby to make it worthwhile). He'll live through the blast, with all those hp.
Dave | |
Knowledge Arcana editor issues 5-9, Phoenix Lore Magazine editor, assistant editor for Rite Publishing;
My Trade Thread and My Reference Thread; Winner of WBC IV, IX and XIII; Rule #0: bshugg is always right! | |
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Master of the
Awesome Sauce
Teflon Jeff
Warlord
7146 Posts
Idaho. Yes, we have Gamers in Idaho.
| | 05/28/2006 7:10 PM |
| ZWD is quite a bit harder to use in these days of mobile fliers. It's much harder to block off passage's now, and map's make him a potential liability. try running him with Red sam's as a hot cold combo.
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Official Delegate, Wizards of the Coast
Against The Giants Called Shot: Huge Green Dragon
Icons Called Shot: Gargantuan Prismatic Dragon
"Rejoice, for bad things are about to happen." | |
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True_Blue
Underboss
2385 Posts
| | 05/28/2006 7:13 PM |
| | Its too easy to just ignore him most of the time. And you've sunk enough points in him, that you are missing out on another hitter for taking him. So it sucks if someone just ignores him, and goes after everything else. | |
Champion of a Knight of Takhisis/Knight of Neraka | |
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Falster
Skirmisher
21 Posts
| | 05/28/2006 8:54 PM |
| | Guys, think of all the Sacred Watchers we see today. They will gladly eat a ZWD any day. | |
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Pegasus Knight
Sergeant
896 Posts
| | 05/28/2006 8:59 PM |
| | Are you sure? It'll take even them a while to chew through 130 HP. Not as long as most pieces in their cost range, but I'm not entirely convinced this is a worthwhile trade, when you compare the time taken to do it versus points gained. Of course, if you're right...it's just one more reason Sacred Watchers are frickin' everywhere these days. | |
- Irrationally Fanatical Champion of Pegasus-mounted cavalry
- Proud member of Team Low Tier Beasting: I play CG as my main faction!
- Garland, TX 2006 Qualifier Champion
My trading thread: http://www.maxminis.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=19725 | |
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Knight of the
Round Table
Thenameless
Warlord
9034 Posts
The Fortress of Solitude
| | 05/28/2006 10:59 PM |
| | ZWD was at its best when countering chaotic good's ranged support for its Inspired Frenzy warbands. They just don't have the damage output to fight some of the new pieces. | |
Over 270 successful online DDM trades. | |
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dolcet
Sneak
61 Posts
| | 05/29/2006 8:03 AM |
| To help you guys help me build an efective band i am posting things I have in CE.
Commmanders:
Tiefling Captain
Drow Wizard
Flind Captain
Bugbear Champion
Orc Wolf Shaman
Death Slaad
Drow Arachnomancer
Hill giant chieftain
Tiefling Blademaster
Mordenkainen
Hitters (things that do 15 or more damage)
Dragoloth
Grimlock Barbarian
Mounted Drow patrol
Hunched Giant
Winter Wolf
Blood Ghost Berserkers
Chimera
Hil Giant Barbarian
Howling Orc
Oger War Hulk
Orc Mauler
Quagoth Slave
As a side note i have a an Orc Wardrummer
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I reject your reality & subsitute my own.
An object at rest can not be stopped! | |
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Gloom_
Sergeant
583 Posts
| | 05/29/2006 11:08 AM |
| The ZWD can be used in a more proactive role, by agressively basing things. The creature based then either has to eat an AOO, or waste time attacking the Dragon, allowing it to attack back. A tactic I used to like using was to fly it in and base as much as possible (squishy spellcasters and commanders are a favourite). If they attack it, you win, if they take an aoo and move, you win. Also moving it in so far generally means it becomes the closest target for special abilities, spells, and range attacks. Which is fine..
Use in a blocking role was better with tiles.. much better. Kings road map might not be a bad choice for blocking. Although I find the blocking tactic is of less use these days.. there are too many viable fliers to rely on a creature blocking a ground line of advance (I'm thinking of Sacred Watchers, Helmed Horrors and Death Slaads chiefly here). | |
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dolcet
Sneak
61 Posts
| | 05/29/2006 12:09 PM |
| Here is what I decided to build. Hope you all like it. Please give me feed back.
Death Slaad x2
Zombie White Dragon
Orc War Drummer
Mounted Drow patrol
Timber Wolf x2
199 & activations | |
I reject your reality & subsitute my own.
An object at rest can not be stopped! | |
|
Master of the
Awesome Sauce
Teflon Jeff
Warlord
7146 Posts
Idaho. Yes, we have Gamers in Idaho.
| | 05/29/2006 3:15 PM |
| | I like that build. ZWD flies in as far as possible each round, basing as much as possible, and basically just playing in the opponents backfield. The MDP can be useful in assassination, and the wardrummer obviously has it's benefits. Just count on playing on someone else's map, and you'll be fine. I do think that HGB's will eat this band up. | |
Official Delegate, Wizards of the Coast
Against The Giants Called Shot: Huge Green Dragon
Icons Called Shot: Gargantuan Prismatic Dragon
"Rejoice, for bad things are about to happen." | |
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g3n
Warrior
184 Posts
| | 05/29/2006 6:57 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Teflon Jeff
I like that build. ZWD flies in as far as possible each round, basing as much as possible, and basically just playing in the opponents backfield. The MDP can be useful in assassination, and the wardrummer obviously has it's benefits. Just count on playing on someone else's map, and you'll be fine. I do think that HGB's will eat this band up.
You are missing the Slaads Chaos Hammer, ZWD is immune to it and it has Radius 4 :) | |
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Luisjoey
Underboss
1704 Posts
Caracas Venezuela
| | 05/29/2006 9:40 PM |
| you could use WZD as blocker for Dragon Totem Hero Warbands, keeps the theme and well helps a lot blocking attacks being fearless and inmune to many effects.
But sure is an expensive blocker. | |
Knight of the Quori
Champion of King Kaius III of Karrnath
 Purple Knight of Venezuela
Venezuelan Site For D&D minis Calabozo Criollo Venezuela
Venezuelan Site for SW minis VeneMinis.com | |
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g3n
Warrior
184 Posts
| | 05/29/2006 10:03 PM |
| | WZD isnt a dragon, is an undead | |
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