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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10445 Posts
    
United States
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10445 Posts
United States
| | 11/14/2005 10:46 AM |
| I've run a single Sword Archon band, and it won. It had a Couatl and some JAs. But, I won because I spent most of my time healing the Sword Archon. After playing it and winning, I realized that I didn't win because I was so smart or so clever. I won because I happened to get a few lucky rolls and I could keep healing the SA.
The single attack makes him too expensive for his cost. He'll win you some matches, but not quite enough, I'm afraid.
I think the idea of the Gith Monk is a good one; that can be a strong addition to the band. I don't have a Rikka yet, and, while she has her own advantages, I don't know that she provides the right kind of synergy for this band.
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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Puggins
Sergeant
622 Posts
| | 11/14/2005 11:47 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Vrecknidj
The single attack makes him too expensive for his cost. He'll win you some matches, but not quite enough, I'm afraid.
If it weren't a commander, I'd sorta agree (although the Marut has a roughly equivalent attack at almost the same cost and is considered pretty efficient). But:
1) You get a commander 4 in addition to the damage.
2) His commander effect has the potential to add damage on top of what his fists produce.
I think the Sword Archon's main problem is his squishiness- the rest of the package is great. | |
References: http://www.maxminis.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7231 | |
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Chairman7w
Sergeant
484 Posts
| | 11/14/2005 1:19 PM |
| What Vrecknidj said. Too squishy.
Played him in a band last night and he gets off a good hit, but then sits there and you pray he makes his Morale Save.
Healer is a MUST in a Warband with him. (Cool sculpt though!) | |
Dr. Simon: A phrase that's encoded in her brain, that makes her fall asleep. If I speak the words, "Eta...
Jayne: Well don't say it!
Zoë: It only works on her, Jayne. | |
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Puggins
Sergeant
622 Posts
| | 11/14/2005 2:05 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Chairman7w
What Vrecknidj said. Too squishy.
Played him in a band last night and he gets off a good hit, but then sits there and you pray he makes his Morale Save.
Healer is a MUST in a Warband with him. (Cool sculpt though!)
Sword Archon is fearless, but yeah, the squishiness makes him questionable. | |
References: http://www.maxminis.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=7231 | |
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IanB
Commander
3112 Posts
| | 11/14/2005 2:08 PM |
| | I've played that exact band and had some success with it. It plays pretty much exactly like the marut build people are touting, so I don't think it is a terrible choice. I wouldn't bother with it in a tournament until we go to 8 activations though. | |
Anson on WotC boards | |
| Hero of Skirmish
doubtofbuddha
Commander
3371 Posts
| | 11/14/2005 2:14 PM |
| I think the Sword Archon is a bit worse than the Marut on several levels, the most instrumental of which is his sheer fragility compared to the Marut. The Marut has a better armor class, a high degree of protection from high-variance abilities (he is immune to paralysis, critical hits, stuns, etc.) and, most importantly, he can be affected by the Couatl's commander effect which is huge with the rising prominince of Lawful Evil builds based on things like the Helmed Horror, Gauth, and Chraal.
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I am not gone. | |
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rhane
Underboss
1412 Posts
| | 11/14/2005 2:28 PM |
| Its not just that he has relatively low hit points for such a high cost...its also that at 82 points, you pretty much need to get him committed to the battle early. So that means that even in a timed event, you're going to lose him more often than not. Making up the 82 points, even with his nasty damage is difficult to pull off.
With the additions of the Half-Orc Paladin and Battle Plate Marshal (who mimic the Archon's commander effect), I think he goes from a dubious choice, to a just-for-fun one. Sure, he'll definitely win in some favorable match-ups, but over the long haul, he's just not a good gamble. | |
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IanB
Commander
3112 Posts
| | 11/14/2005 2:38 PM |
| The three points of AC are the big difference, yeah. On the other hand, the SA has a better speed, can charge over your own guys in extremis, and gives the JAs +5 damage, and you end up with a bit of an initiative advantage compared to the CoY's +3.
A SA and JA can kill a chraal in one round after moving (with a snake's swiftness from the couatl on the SA) - 70 damage from the SA, 15 from the JA. A marut and JA only get to 70 total damage.
A SA crits for 5 points more total. :)
These are obviously minor points, but I don't think the difference is really all that large. | |
Anson on WotC boards | |
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