jos1-1
Sergeant
829 Posts
    
 | | 03/05/2006 11:38 PM |
| So i really want to run a Arcane Ballista really badly caz i paied money for it lol. but i really do like it.
So far i used a
Arcane Ballista
coutal
Aspect of kord
healer
fodder
band
and raped a balor band
so guys iam asking for your help to improve the band or chage it around to make it more playable. iam thinking about the combat medic as well. let me know on your thoughts. | |
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Ack
Underboss
1476 Posts
| | 03/05/2006 11:48 PM |
| Ballista and the 7 dwarves?
Arcane Ballista
Battle Plate Marshall
Dwarf Samurai
Dwarf Wizard
Gold Dwarf Soldier
Gold Dwarf Fighter
Tordek, Dwarf Fighter
Hill Dwarf Warrior
I think Im just tired and punchy | |
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Knight of the
Round Table
Thenameless
Warlord
11492 Posts
The Fortress of Solitude
| | 03/06/2006 2:48 AM |
| | jos1-1, your idea of running the Couatl with the Arcane Ballista is the correct one. With its slow ranged attack, you really need to have that Snake's Swiftness on board, or getting it into position will likely lose you a key round of hurting your opponent. | |
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orcmonk220
Underboss
1608 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 8:04 AM |
| Aye, Couatl seems the obvious choice. The problem comes when you:
a) lose Couatl
b) cannot use his CFX on any units because he has to hang back. | |
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ShadowLord XT
Commander
2633 Posts
Plane of Shadow
| | 03/06/2006 8:31 AM |
| | There was a kid at the release I was at was using the Ballista. Before the finals he thought it was the greatest mini ever. When he didn't make the finals it became the worst mini ever. | |
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10425 Posts
United States
| | 03/06/2006 8:52 AM |
| Here's the problem I see with the Arcane Ballista. You really, really need to have either 1) two spellcasters in your band or 2) one uber-spellcaster in your band. And, given the relative lack of any uber-spellcasters in LG, you're kinda stuck with two.
Now, there are lots of clerics and lots of commanders with spells, so they could do the trick. But, this ties that figure to the arcane ballista if it's your only caster (which is why you need two).
So, you do one of these two things.
Band with a Single-Caster Commander
The commander has to sit there with the Arcane Ballista and is tied to its slow speed. And, your commander can't do all the good stuff for the other 6 pieces in your band that you want it to do.
Band with two Spell Casters
You've now effectively tied up 3 of your 8 pieces around this Arcane Ballista. Of the other 5 pieces, you really want your commander to be 1, so, you have room for 4 pieces now. With the Ballista costing about a quarter of your band, these other 4 pieces aren't going to be very tough. So, your opponent is going to slice through them like butter and then play keep-away with your Ballista.
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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Phantasmal Thriller
Sneak
89 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 9:03 AM |
| This weekend I played this band with success. It was fun, not sure how competitive yet:
Couatl 42
Arcane Ballista 48
Mephling Pyromancer 38
Cleric of Yondalla 14
Dwarf Phalanx Soldier 12
Shieldwall Soldier X2 14
Justice Archon 32
I wanted 3 spellcasters for a little insurance. Also, I love the flying Ballista! | |
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Kissmykiester
Sergeant
525 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 10:22 AM |
| I was thinking
1) Ballista
2) Couatl
3) Mephling Pyromancer
4) Aspect of Kord
5) Man at Arms
6) Hill Dwarf Warrior
only 6 activations but with a fireball or two you could even the playing field - activation wise that is. That and you could also make the Ballista fly. You got a solid wall in the Kord (pray he makes MC) and the Couatl could either snake swiffness the Ballista or Kord, depending...You'll never win the map of your choice but hey...it's fun to just blast away. | |
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Wrackspawn
ChristopherGroves
Warlord
6093 Posts
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rhane
Underboss
1412 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 10:56 AM |
| I think the only way the Ballista can shine is to take the focus off of it. It needs to be paired with something that is a bigger threat/concern.
I like the core of Couatl, Marut, Ballista. Both the Couatl and Marut are spellcasters, and both the Ballista and Marut can benefit from the Couatl's spells.
The clear problem here is that with the Ballista, you really want to define which map and side you play on, and I don't see a way to add a decent commander and still maximize activations. | |
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ktatroe
Sergeant
571 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 11:10 AM |
| This past Friday, we ran an unsanctioned event so we could all experiment with pieces we didn't think were tier 1 out of the new set before relegating them to the RPG boxes (some people didn't get the memo, of course; hi Felagund, hi sienar [:)]). I ended up running:
Warforged Battalion
Warforged Captain
Warforged Hero
Warforged Bodyguard
Warforged Fighter
Warforged Wizard x2
Warforged Scout
Arcane Ballista
Map: Teleport Temple
Obviously, a total theme band, but it also plays to the strengths and weaknesses of the siege engine -- two fairly resilient spellcasters, a way of moving around and firing (teleporters rule), and enough beef in the rest of the warband to hold the line while the Ballista pounds on things.
My favorite moment was during the Cave of Pain plus Assault round (we were playing the new Triad), and my opponent exposed his Sword Archon. Being totally Johnny that night, I ticked off both the fire and cold checkboxes and lobbed everything at him. It hit -- for 60 points -- and the Warforged Fighter did as well, to clean 82 points off the board in a single phase.
I'm still not sure of it in 200, but I'm certain it can be used to good effect in Epic games. Even if it dies immediately after, a single shot at +20 for 55 damage (all the eggs in one basket) can have a huge impact, especially at less than 50 points.
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H/W: http://www.hordelings.com/frontend/profiles/profile.php?user=ktatroe | |
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10425 Posts
United States
| | 03/06/2006 11:11 AM |
| Marut/Ballista: nice.
You've got to get around the Marut to get to the ballista, and the ballista's attack bonus is high enough that it's a threat to the high-damage Chaotic pieces even with the -8 penalty.
With the Couatl, things get even goofier. But, of course, then you've got a greater challenge in keeping the Marut alive than you do with other Marut bands.
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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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10425 Posts
United States
| | 03/06/2006 11:21 AM |
| Spellcaster options that seem like decent options (either because they are cheap enough, or because they have sight range spells, or for some other reason):
Aramil
Cleric of Corellon Larethian
Halfling Wizard (from a Yondalla halfling)
Cleric of Lathander
Cleric of Order
Mialee (if you have a backup, this gives her something else to do)
Protectar (he's cheap and has Flight, you could put two in the band and then keep one out of harm's way as your backup)
Standardbearer (Countersong right by the Ballista is nice)
Stalwart Paladin (see Protectar above, take out flight, put in good AC)
Sword of Heironeous (if you want the commander 7 rating, this isn't such a bad thing to do with her)
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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taliesin
Underboss
1113 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 11:30 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Vrecknidj
Spellcaster options that seem like decent options (either because they are cheap enough, or because they have sight range spells, or for some other reason):
Aramil
Cleric of Corellon Larethian
Halfling Wizard (from a Yondalla halfling)
Cleric of Lathander
Cleric of Order
Mialee (if you have a backup, this gives her something else to do)
Protectar (he's cheap and has Flight, you could put two in the band and then keep one out of harm's way as your backup)
Standardbearer (Countersong right by the Ballista is nice)
Stalwart Paladin (see Protectar above, take out flight, put in good AC)
Sword of Heironeous (if you want the commander 7 rating, this isn't such a bad thing to do with her)
Dave
How are you getting a Cleric of Corellon into LG? And you left off Jozan. 4 pt spellcasters have a use! | |
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orcdoubleax
Sergeant
694 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 11:34 AM |
| | Eberk and the artificer are obvious choice simply because they have little other use after round one. | |
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Hero of Skirmish
doubtofbuddha
Commander
3371 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 12:04 PM |
| | Don't forget the Cleric of Yondalla. | |
I am not gone. | |
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Vrecknidj
Warlord
10425 Posts
United States
| | 03/06/2006 12:09 PM |
| The Cleric of Corellon was an oversight (not enough coffee, or maybe too much).
I did forget about the Cleric of Yondalla, even though I remembered the Halfling Wizard (did I already use the coffee excuse?).
I thought about Jozan, and, if you've only got 4 points to spare, he's a good choice. But, I like Mialee better because I like her spells better.
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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jgsugden
Commander
4320 Posts
Walnut Creek, CA
| | 03/06/2006 12:32 PM |
| | I will point out that the Arcane Ballista was features in a limited band that won one of the three release day tournaments at Game Kastle in San Jose, CA. It can be very effective if protected and facingt he right foes ... | |
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wicked cool
Underboss
2122 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 12:34 PM |
| | seems to me that ballista needs several medium hitter to protect it from being based. it suffers from slow attack. If based it cant attack? seems very risky to base a band around it | |
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juice
Warrior
175 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 1:05 PM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Kissmykiester
I was thinking
1) Ballista
2) Couatl
3) Mephling Pyromancer
4) Aspect of Kord
5) Man at Arms
6) Hill Dwarf Warrior
only 6 activations but with a fireball or two you could even the playing field - activation wise that is. That and you could also make the Ballista fly. You got a solid wall in the Kord (pray he makes MC) and the Couatl could either snake swiffness the Ballista or Kord, depending...You'll never win the map of your choice but hey...it's fun to just blast away.
More fun when ur opponent pulled out the Hellspike battlemap after u lost init [:D] | |
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jos1-1
Sergeant
829 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 4:31 PM |
| guys dont forget about the Combat Medic and her Sacred Healing:
Combat medic 28
Arcane Ballista 48
Couatl 42
Aspect of Kord 65
Arcanix Guard 9
Hill Dwarf Warrior 4
Hill Dwarf Warrior 4
ballista stays 6 squars behide with the medic while the kords beats with the arcanix guard sneaking up and adding a possible 10 damage.
Iam thinking the ballista is strong enough to make them rush to you so you can block with the kord.
also has anyone seen the ghoast for LG yet? its very very good, Sacred Watcher. iam thinking it might run well in this and aswell. | |
Poor student looking for minis =D | |
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erisco
Skirmisher
28 Posts
| | 03/06/2006 6:06 PM |
| I am not in favour of the ballista in 200pt play... or really in 500pt play either, though it is more useful then. For 48pts, you can easily get a more versitile creature taht does not involve complicated maneuvers. Remember the KISS rule...
(K)eep
(I)t
(S)imple
(S)tupid
Obviously the ballista is too much of a hastle. You will be too focused on trying to protect it from being based (thus making it useless). Also it is difficult to get the right shot in with cover, and melee cover. Not to mention it's slow range attack. | |
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