nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
    
Wadsworth, OH
 | | 12/14/2005 10:58 AM |
| So I'm going to 500 point tournament tomorrow. I've played no more than four 500 point matches total so far. I'm trying to decide what sort of warband to take with me, and I have a couple ideas. Right now my decision is between:
Ghaele Eladrin x2
Clay golem x2
Aspect of Kord
Crow Shaman x2
Greycloak Ranger
-wolf
and a band that uses a Storm Giant instead of 2 Ghaeles. The type of warband I like to play is one that can shoot from range and has melee support. Both bands would meet this criteria. I know more than anything there will be underark Epic figures at this tournament. I expect to see epic Balors, Iron Golems, Elminsters, Maybe some beholders, maybe some archmages. I would really like to run the Ghaele band, but I am not sure how to handle those high AC figures that their archery won't hit very well. Iron golems in particular scare me, though potentially I can run away from them. That is why I am tempted to run the Storm Giant as she has the HP and damage to slug it out with the enemy big hitters while being able to whittle them down well at range.
Also the format of the tournament favors big damage. There are usually only 2 or 3 rounds and then those who are still undeated go to tie break criteria based on the total amount of skirmish points scored. The inability of the Ghaele's to take down the high point/high ac figures will hurt there. What do you guys think. | |
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Richard II
Commander
3663 Posts
| | 12/14/2005 11:34 AM |
| How about this:
Inspiring Marshall x2
Epic Aspect of Kord
Archmage x2
Eberk
Satyr
Wild Elf Raider
The archmages are your ranged fire support, the EAoK is your melee whacker, the satyr gives you the +4 to init to win the crucial one and get off some aggressive Kord action as well as getting rid of inconvenient commander effects like the couatl, and the marshalls give you superb mobility and the ability to completely rearrange the field of battle. Also, the way I read the card, in order to benefit from GMA the unit has to be under command, it doesn't have to be undercommand of the marshall that's using the GMA, so the independent archmages that are always undercommand can always benefit from the GMA to get them outta trouble. | |
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10445 Posts
United States
| | 12/14/2005 12:02 PM |
| The dual Ghaele band can do very well. There are some bad matchups, but, against those, you'll have to work on making sure you can get enough points to cover the losses of your other pieces (like the Clay Golems and Crow Shamans). The Storm Giant band can deal out more consistent damage, but you're risking a lot because if she falls, you're almost sure to lose that match. You could lose one Ghaele and still have an excellent shot at winning.
Dave | |
Knowledge Arcana editor issues 5-9, Phoenix Lore Magazine editor, assistant editor for Rite Publishing;
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nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
Wadsworth, OH
| | 12/14/2005 8:23 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Richard II
How about this:
Inspiring Marshall x2
Epic Aspect of Kord
Archmage x2
Eberk
Satyr
Wild Elf Raider
The archmages are your ranged fire support, the EAoK is your melee whacker, the satyr gives you the +4 to init to win the crucial one and get off some aggressive Kord action as well as getting rid of inconvenient commander effects like the couatl, and the marshalls give you superb mobility and the ability to completely rearrange the field of battle. Also, the way I read the card, in order to benefit from GMA the unit has to be under command, it doesn't have to be undercommand of the marshall that's using the GMA, so the independent archmages that are always undercommand can always benefit from the GMA to get them outta trouble.
I like this warband as well. But now i have three warbands to choose from. ARG!!
Just to clarify, my Storm Giant warband would probably look like this:
Storm giant
Clay Golem x2
Valenar Commander
Crow Shaman x2
Mialee
Aramil
I suppose i could drop a clay golem and sub a Medium Astral construct to help shield from beholder rays. Could do something like this:
Storm giant
Moon elf Fighter
Crow Shaman x2
Clay Golem
Medium astral construct
Greycloak Ranger
-wolf
Wand Expert
With tactics thats a lot of damage that can be dropped at once if you really need to get rid of a figure.
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Balrog
Sneak
169 Posts
| | 12/14/2005 9:19 PM |
| i like archmage a lot, and not as much ghaele if it were me i would go with arhmage kord. Storm giant is vulnerable to the dreaded save=10 and 65 Hp for ghaele can be a huge problem.
just my 2 cents
cheers! | |
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Champion of Raistlin Majere with Epic card
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kgradert13
Sergeant
909 Posts
| | 12/14/2005 9:39 PM |
| I don't know if I'd feel comfortable running a single commander in Epic, especially a Valenar. There are so many pieces that could force a morale save or outright kill that mini in one hit, it's a huge risk in my mind. If that happens, you pretty much lose the clay golems (only confused, but ooc and confused. Hard to reach anything that way).
I am also not a huge fan of the single titan type build like the Storm Giant bands. With the prevelance of Archmages, it makes the single titan risky.
Something with dual Inspiring Marshalls and multiple Archmages, Archmage/Elminster builds etc, can quickly bring the single titan down unless you can surround him completely. Even then, it's not a fun matchup by any means.
I like the dual Ghaele band, that piece seems to be coming into it's own in the 500pt arena. I'm not sure both Clay golems are needed even then though, due to their incredibly low speed compared to everyone else. (F12, 10, 8, then the golems at 4). A pair of frenzied beserkers might work out just as well. Better threat/damage range, although can't screen beholders like a clay golem can.
All of them look fun, and keep in mind I'm looking at these based on my own play styles :) | |
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nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
Wadsworth, OH
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jos1-1
Sergeant
829 Posts
| | 12/14/2005 11:08 PM |
| | What happens if an Epic Iron golem pop up? | |
Poor student looking for minis =D | |
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nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
Wadsworth, OH
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bshugg
Underboss
1833 Posts
| | 12/15/2005 12:49 AM |
| | You may need to tweak the crow shamans. They can't cast snake swiftness on Ghaele with out having to make a morale save from the gaze effect. I would keep 1 at most and use the points from the other one for something else. | |
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Jasbury
Sneak
70 Posts
| | 12/15/2005 1:28 AM |
| I am playing in my first 500pt tourney this sunday but i don't know really what to expect and i don't have a large mini library to pull from. Here's three ideas i was playing with
Band 1
Greenfang druid ..............50
Fiendish T-rex x2 ...........244
Behir.........................75
Dire Bear.....................44
Griffon.......................28
Fiendish Monstrous Scorpion...25
Fiendish Giant Praying Mantis.33
Total........................499
Band 2
Beholder......................83
Large Blue Dragon.............68
Warforged Titan..............151
Fire Giant...................117
Mordenkainen The Mage.........69
12 points of filler
Total........................500
Band 3
Mordenkainen The Mage.........69
Fomorian x2..................238
Boneclaw x2...................90
Ravenous Vampire..............58
Timber Wolf x2.................Minions
Ettin Skirmisher..............40
Timber Wolf....................5
Total........................500
Any Suggestions on any of this? Basicly my Minis collection consists of almost all the deathknell and some aberations and GoL | |
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Darkash
Sneak
75 Posts
| | 12/15/2005 4:11 AM |
| Just to point out you would not be able to run 2 Ghaele as she is unique and thus only 1 per army
Other than that it seems like a viable army and would be fun to play, think of all those possible acivations. | |
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nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
Wadsworth, OH
| | 12/15/2005 9:35 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Darkash
Just to point out you would not be able to run 2 Ghaele as she is unique and thus only 1 per army
Other than that it seems like a viable army and would be fun to play, think of all those possible acivations.
This is the second time ive run into this. She's not unique. Despite the fact that her name looks like the name of a person, its not. Eladrins are CG celestials and Ghaele is the type of Celestial. You also have the Bralani Eladrin that hasn't been made into a miniature yet... | |
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nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
Wadsworth, OH
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nycfarmkid
Underboss
1210 Posts
Wadsworth, OH
| | 12/15/2005 11:46 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by nycfarmkid
Well all this discussion, while fun, has been for naught. My buddy who was gonna let me borrow the extra figures for the Ghaele or LSD bands forgot to take them with him to work, so I've got to try to put a warband together without a second Coautl, Kord, Ghaele, or Crow Shaman.
EDIT: That being said, here is what I am considering running.
CG 500
Storm Giant
Clay Golem x2
Crow Shaman
Valenar Commander
Warchanter
Mialee
Medium Astral Construct (tile grabber)
Or I could try this:
LG 200
Large Silver Dragon x2
Coautl
Aspect of Kord
Iron Golem
Cleric of Dol Arrah
Dwarf Wizard x2
Any thoughts now? I think the second one has the best chances.
EDIT: Here is another interesting warband that I could run.
Ghaele Eladrin
Clay Golem x3
Frenzied Berserker x2
Crow Shaman
Centaur Hero
Centaur and Ghaele would snipe from afar with ranged attacks after being buffed by the crow shaman, Clays would set up a perimiter for the Archers to fire from, Frenzied would be the melee hitters once the enemy closes. The melee to-hit bonuses of this band aren't great, but with flanking and legion's magic weapon it should be alright. The Ghaele and Centuar can lay down some impressive archer fire. After MW and Cats grace the Centuar would be at +19/+14 for 15 magic with precise shot and the Ghaele would be at +14/+14, not too bad in my opinion. The aura of fear of the berserkers goes well with the morale save ability of the ghaele. The healing of the Crow Shaman and the Ghaele lets you counter burnout for a time as well. Once the enemy gets into melee with the berserker the Crow Shaman can continue to Snake's Swiftness the Centaur or get the Berserkers for some decent attacks.
EDIT again: Alternatively I could put in a second crow shaman and a second centaur hero if I had them, or an Aspect of Kord and an Evermeet Wizard instead of the two frenzied berserkers. | |
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One_Wing
Sergeant
494 Posts
London
| | 12/15/2005 12:50 PM |
| | I rather like the LG one, because it can kill both titans (LSDs) and survive the inevitable beholders. | |
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Champion of the Dragon Disciple | |
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muselindeman
Sneak
133 Posts
USA
| | 12/15/2005 12:57 PM |
| LG 200
Large Silver Dragon x2
Coautl
Aspect of Kord
Iron Golem
Cleric of Dol Arrah
Dwarf Wizard x2
I like this band the best. | |
Larry Lindeman
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