bshugg
Underboss
1775 Posts
    
 | | 07/17/2006 9:58 AM |
| Not really my idea as it was one of the demo bands they showed off at Dreamblade day. I tweaked it a bit though to try to make it a bit more aggressive and still last into the late game.
Janus Warpstrike
3 SpellWarped Scissors - Janus
1 Runetagged Brawler
1 Pearlthorne Castle
2 Jack in the Box - Janus
2 Sir Glorious - Janus
2 Mirror Man - Janus
3 All Seeing Mage- Janus
1 Chrysalis Spinner
1 "open" slot
- good options to fill it:
Chrysalis Spinner - to reincarnate dead mages and add a hitter
Jack in the box - another fast hard hitter that fits in Janus
Pearlthorne castle- another to help control movement and protect the mages on turns you lose init by yanking them back to safety.
Inscribed Axebeast - Big hitter that is Janus as well
Scarab Warcharm - useful utility figure
Inspired Samurai - Bodyguard useful to protect the mages
Unspeakable Freak - Another warpstrike figure to soften juicy targets from a safe position
The concept is to get a lot of Janus guys out and use double warp strikes to clear the board. It should be reasonable to get warp strike 5 off twice with each mage. Use the warp strikes to clear out their advancing hordes, then pick off the big guys with large attacks from the Jack in the Boxes and 3 power guys.
First game: I played it with a second Runetagged brawler in the open slot and won the game 5-4 by eliminating every figure my opponent had. It was a tough match up for him as he was playing 3 Appease figures and I was able to go crazy killing off all his fodder. This forced him to appease bigger guys just to get them out. A lone Eater of hope had a shot of wiping out the majority of my guys, but me winning 2-3 inits in a row and him getting fairly low damage rolls kept him out of the game.
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DarkAngel
Skirmisher
1 Posts
| | 07/17/2006 11:49 AM |
| I'm pretty sure I'm the guy who had to face off against that strong warband. :) This was my first Dreamblade game ever. You can see my warband on dreamblade.tcgplayer.com, it's the Fear/Valor band called Death Eaters.
I've changed it a bit since then, removing the Knights in order to reduce the Appease costs, and adding a Sultan as a mid-range utility figure as well as Castle for faster fatty deployment. Also made a few changes to the fodder pieces, like putting in a Runetagged Brawler to help with aspect costs for the Castle. I'm still messing around with it so I'm not posting any changes until I'm satisfied with the band.
Warpstrike is a pretty strong ability, and Janus Warpstrike doubly so because of the synergy between the Janus pieces. I've actually fought another similar band since then, and lost again. Jack-in-the-box is harsh. And the Fade and Regen pieces allow this band to shine late game, when they can still spawn pieces while my reserve is empty. Jack-in-the-box can often take out a piece, and sometimes more by teaming up with the All-Seeing Mage and a couple of other Janus pieces (and was it necessary to make the best 2 spawn cost fodder piece a Janus piece? ;)) | |
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Janos M.
Underboss
1015 Posts
Hamburg / GErmany
| | 07/19/2006 4:09 AM |
| Interesting...
I thought about a these 16 figures just yesterday:
3xSpellbound Scissors
2xJack in the Box
2xAll Seeing Mage
Inscriped Axebeast
2xMirrorman
2xSirGlorious
Pearlthorn Castle
Brighthammer Avenger
2xKnight of Strife and Joy
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bshugg
Underboss
1775 Posts
| | 07/19/2006 11:33 AM |
| After playing the band, I remembered the Knight of Strife/joy was janus as well. One of those definatly needs to be in there to fill in the extra "slot":
Janus Warpstrike 1.1
3 SpellWarped Scissors - Janus
1 Runetagged Brawler
1 Pearlthorne Castle
2 Jack in the Box - Janus
1 Knight of Strife and Joy - Janus
2 Sir Glorious - Janus
2 Mirror Man - Janus
3 All Seeing Mage- Janus
1 Chrysalis Spinner | |
Looking for someone to cosponser a midwest DDM event. let me know if your interested!
Check out my brand new blog:
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bshugg
Underboss
1775 Posts
| | 07/19/2006 11:38 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Janos M.
Interesting...
I thought about a these 16 figures just yesterday:
3xSpellbound Scissors
2xJack in the Box
2xAll Seeing Mage
Inscriped Axebeast
2xMirrorman
2xSirGlorious
Pearlthorn Castle
Brighthammer Avenger
2xKnight of Strife and Joy
I considered using the Axebeast in place of the Chrysalis Spinner. The reason I choose not to is because of how fragile the mages can be. You really want to always have one or two mages out on the board, and since they need to be in combat they can die fairly easy. The Spinner gave me a chance of getting one back and worked as a hitter as well. If I could fit a 17th figure in the band it would be another Spinner most likely just to recur more mages. | |
Looking for someone to cosponser a midwest DDM event. let me know if your interested!
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Wrackspawn
ChristopherGroves
Warlord
6093 Posts
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DaemonKain
Warrior
312 Posts
| | 07/19/2006 2:40 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by ChristopherGroves
Can you have two Sir Glorius?
Not in play at the same time, I assume that's just in case the first one dies... | |
-DaemonKain
Proud Mascot of Team Amish | |
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striderlotr
Commander
3370 Posts
| | 07/20/2006 8:23 AM |
| | I'm not sure I would use the other slot for a 2nd Sir Glorious. I might try and get another beater in there instead. You never know, 12s happen for init... and for me often. Get some different big guys in there to support the mages. | |
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Shivan Darkeyes
Warrior
266 Posts
| | 07/20/2006 1:29 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by striderlotr
I'm not sure I would use the other slot for a 2nd Sir Glorious. I might try and get another beater in there instead. You never know, 12s happen for init... and for me often. Get some different big guys in there to support the mages.
Usually I'm a HUGE fan of every army including at least 1 11 or 12 spawn creature, but in THIS army's case I think it is a bad idea. Normally you can generate lots of spawn points off dead creatures but in this warband the fodder pieces are:
x3 Spellbound Scissors
x1 Runetagged Brawler
x1 Pearlthorn Castle
x2 Jack-in-the-Box
Often the Jack-in-the-Box will FADE rather than die meaning you won't get spawn points for him, the Scissors will regenerate, and the Castle is a location so it never dies basically. Only the only the lone Runetagged Brawler is kicking around to generate spawn. Thus its probably not worth the slot to include a huge 12 cost piece like in most bands. | |
13th Place at the 2005 DDM Championship in GenCon | |
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bshugg
Underboss
1775 Posts
| | 07/21/2006 8:27 AM |
| | The band has some holes for sure. If I rolled 12 on spawn, I would rather get a mage and 2 fodder or 2 jack in the box + fodder or something. I think this band needs more warm bodies than a big nasty hitter. | |
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XAos
Underboss
2358 Posts
London
| | 07/23/2006 10:27 AM |
| A warpstike warband really wants a darkheart cottage to increase the warpstrikes power. And if it uses "blade" powered warpstrikes (instead of the "Unspeakable Freak") Then it needs "Lure" to drag single enemy units into the stack of warpstrikers.
I thought of a better (i.e. more reliable) alternative to "lure", use Voodoo pactitioners or Thunder Sultans & position so they can push an enemy creature sideways into the warpstrikers.
I don't think the base set has enough strong Janus creatures to justify using the All Seeing Mage. That unit may become stronger as more expansions increase the choice of Janus creatures to support it. But for the moment, I would not play it. | |
Don't worry about the current metagame. It doesn't matter if it's ugly, bad, or the best ever. In 2 years time, set rotation will ban everything. | |
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Shivan Darkeyes
Warrior
266 Posts
| | 07/23/2006 11:55 AM |
| | I think the Janus Warpstrike band is on the cusp of being playable right now. It is the most playable of any of the linages, but I also agree that it is probably not a "Tier 1" functional band quite yet. Maybe next expansion... | |
13th Place at the 2005 DDM Championship in GenCon | |
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XAos
Underboss
2358 Posts
London
| | 07/24/2006 6:40 AM |
| Question on possible "tier-1" Janus creatures.
Can anyone think of a way to use the Knight of Strife & Joy effectivly.[?]
Skirmish:2 is abviously a strong ability (on a power:4 creature) But "Defender" seems to make it nearly unusable. You can't attack, you have to wait till your opponent walks in and attacks the knight. Which they presumably won't do unless they think they will win. You can get round that with Lunar Handmainden or some other ability to move the knight. But that makes the knight part of a fairly expensive combo. And the same combo could move much nastier units.
Also spawning strife&Joy turn:1 would be OK if you win initiative turn:2, but very bad if you don't.
The "Defender" ability, looks as if it restricts the creature to (for want of a better word) "Defense"... [:p] (ugh, spitty concept).
Having creatures to defend a Warpstriker is OK. But I'd much prefer a Fleshless Reaper. | |
Don't worry about the current metagame. It doesn't matter if it's ugly, bad, or the best ever. In 2 years time, set rotation will ban everything. | |
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Shivan Darkeyes
Warrior
266 Posts
| | 07/25/2006 1:49 AM |
| | I've found the Knight of Strife and Joy to be very powerful and best when combined with the Scarab Warcharm, Hawk-Eyed Instigator, and Lunar Handmaiden. | |
13th Place at the 2005 DDM Championship in GenCon | |
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XAos
Underboss
2358 Posts
London
| | 07/25/2006 4:52 AM |
| | So what tactics do you use to work around the restrictions immposed by "Defender". | |
Don't worry about the current metagame. It doesn't matter if it's ugly, bad, or the best ever. In 2 years time, set rotation will ban everything. | |
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lynchpt
Sergeant
922 Posts
| | 07/25/2006 8:01 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by XAos
So what tactics do you use to work around the restrictions immposed by "Defender".
The glossary definiton for Defender:
Defender: An ability name. When you shift, you can’t move a creature with an active Defender ability into a cell that contains one or more enemy creatures.
Note that it specifically calls out "shift" as the time you can't move the Defender piece into a cell containing enemy creatures. You are not prohibited from using blade abilites like Skirmish or Spawn activated abilites (like that of the Pearlthorne Castle or Lunar Handmaiden) to move the Defender piece into contact with the enemy.
So, the strategy is to use the Pearlthorne Castle to suck that Defender - saddled piece into a contested square where it can fight effectively. Either another battle or the Defender piece's own can possibly somebody's Skirmish ability to optionally move the Defender-piece into yet another square. And so on :)
Pat Lynch | |
Dreamblade Rules Advisor | |
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XAos
Underboss
2358 Posts
London
| | 07/25/2006 8:42 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by lynchpt
So, the strategy is to use the Pearlthorne Castle to suck that Defender - saddled piece into a contested square where it can fight effectively. Either another battle or the Defender piece's own can possibly somebody's Skirmish ability to optionally move the Defender-piece into yet another square. And so on :)
Pat Lynch
Thanks, I suspect my origional guess is valid; i.e. I'm better off using "Assault/Skirmish" to move nastier creatures then the knight (e.g. Brighthammer Avenger)
I'd really like Strife&Joy to be a playable unit. Skirmish:2 being so obviously usefull in various combos. But my guess is the Defender ability drops it below tier-1. | |
Don't worry about the current metagame. It doesn't matter if it's ugly, bad, or the best ever. In 2 years time, set rotation will ban everything. | |
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Hellbred_Sorcerer
Skirmisher
5 Posts
| | 07/29/2006 6:53 AM |
| Here's the band I'm fielding right now.
Spellbound Scissors x3
Jack in the Box x2
Darkheart Cottage
All-Seeing Mage x2
Chrysalis Spinner
Doomsinger
Pearlthorn Castle
Inspired Samurai
Knight of Strife and Joy
Sir Glorious
Hawk-Eyed Instigator
Inscribed Axebeast
I'm certain it can be tweaked and I want to play a few variations before Gencon, but it's shaping up. I love the Doomsinger: I pulled off 3 warpstrikes for 13 dice with him and a mage earlier, which was incredible. | |
My blade and your nightmares shall combine to conquer the Dreamscape. | |
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XAos
Underboss
2358 Posts
London
| | 08/04/2006 6:55 AM |
| Possible Janus warstrike warband;
3 Spellbound scissors
3 Jack-in-the-Box
3 Cannibal pariah
2 Inspired Samurai
All seeing mage
Unspeakable Freak
Darkheart Cottage
Thunder Sultan
Voodoo Manipulator
I tried a varient of that warband, and while it won, it took a long time to do so (about 20 turns and well over an hour of play)
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Don't worry about the current metagame. It doesn't matter if it's ugly, bad, or the best ever. In 2 years time, set rotation will ban everything. | |
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bshugg
Underboss
1775 Posts
| | 08/06/2006 5:45 PM |
| | I really haven't returned to this band after the first few games. Been trying to much other neat stuff and playing sealed. I still like that there is a faction "theme" band prebuilt in the first set. Especially one that plays fairly strong. Hellbred and bloodcut aren't really that strong with just the first set. | |
Looking for someone to cosponser a midwest DDM event. let me know if your interested!
Check out my brand new blog:
http://bshugg.blogspot.com | |
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Shivan Darkeyes
Warrior
266 Posts
| | 08/07/2006 2:45 AM |
| | I agree with Brad. Janus is the only playable lineage as of the first set. I bet other lineages will get a boost in the next few sets though. | |
13th Place at the 2005 DDM Championship in GenCon | |
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Janos M.
Underboss
1015 Posts
Hamburg / GErmany
| | 08/07/2006 3:14 AM |
| I tested this warpstrike band:
3xSpellbound Scissors
2xJack in the Box
2xAll Seeing Mage
2xRunetagged Brawler
Crysalis Spinner
2xSirGlorious
Pearlthorn Castle
Brighthammer Avenger
2xKnight of Strife and Joy
last weekend in 7 games.
2x against Valor/Fear
2x against Valor/Passion
1x against Valor/Madness
1x against Madness/Passion
1x against Madness/Fear/Passion
I only lost one game (against the 3xcolor band). I think against low life opponents you have to bring the mages as fast as you can in. Against high defense/life it's better to bring the Knights and the Avenger and later your warpstrike. And in all my 7 games I only lost the Sir Glorious once. He is strong standing in the back, while your Jack-in-the-Box or Mages go into the Brawl.
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Proud Owner of the "Aura of cursed dice" | |
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Lachlarlan_the_Mad
Sergeant
470 Posts
| | 08/17/2006 7:58 AM |
| What's a good sub for Jack In the Box? Also, can someone tell me why Brighthammer Avenger is a good piece? | |
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