Helzapoppn
Warrior
258 Posts
    
 | | 03/30/2006 12:06 PM |
| Used the Umber Hulk in six competitive games over the past two evenings, as part of this band:
Cleric of Gruumsh
Eye of Gruumsh
Orc Wardrummer
Umber Hulk
Orc Warrior x 2
Red Samurai x 2 (don't start with the Orc Champions, that's so not the point here)
Overall the band went 4-2, and the two losses were both to similar CG builds (Aspect of Kord-Brass Samurai-Crow Shaman-Rikka-Elf Stalker-2 Xephs and Wemic-Crow Shaman-Cleric of Garl Glittergold-Rikka-Mephling-Steelheart Archer-Mialee).
But this isn't a tournament report; just a quick post on the Umber Hulk's effectiveness.
SUMMARY OF GOOD/NOT SO GOOD/DOWNRIGHT BAD POINTS:
Good: Thanks to the Wardrummer, it only failed one morale save.
Not so Good: When it failed Morale it was gone, thanks to Difficult 7.
Good: The Confusion effect actually worked in each game I got to use it (victims...an Aspect of Hextor(!), Duergar Champion, Rikka and a Hell Hound prevented from grabbing tile points).
Not so Good: Confusion is great fun when it works, but the target made its save more than half the time, and even a Confused creature can act normally at the worst possible moment. Worse, when confused Rikka routed, she stood still for three turns rather than exit the board, meaning I never scored the points for her!
Good: Was actually effective in melee once it got there. +11/+11 for 15 damage is respectable...
Not so Good: ...but not for a CE beater band.
Not so Good: AC 18 is high for CE, but it has no resistances and no DR. One game it died from fireballs and ranged attacks from beyond Range 6.
Downright Bad: Speed 4. Brutally slow, even with Burrow.
SUMMARY:
The Umber Hulk is a fun piece, much improved now that speed 2 is gone and the Wardrummer's around, but still not Tier 1. Confusion's a gimmick, not worth the reduced melee power vs. a fourth CE beater.
SIDE NOTE:
The Cleric of Gruumsh, despite his extreme squishiness, was more effective than the Tiefling Captain would have been.
Bear's Endurance on the Eye came in handy, Doom was effective (despite the DC 13 save) on two occasions, got to use the Cleave CFx once, and the reduced Commander Rating never made a difference on Morale saves (even against a Khumat who forced SIX Morale Saves with Jaws of Doom before finally going down). | |
Champion of Iconics & the Apparatus of Kwalish (Constructs with Drivers? Brilliant!)
Dungeons of Dread Called Shot: Yeah, right | |
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iluvxtina
Underboss
1500 Posts
Spain
| | 03/30/2006 4:03 PM |
| | Umber hulk is one of the best creatures in this moment.With the new rules it can make a forever-confusion each turn.If you combined it with a troglodyte thats one of the most fearsome attacks in this game (I have seen rivals retreating when an orc champion become confused in one turn).In adition to this,for its abilities,the umber hulk is one of the most well balanced creatures.With the wardrummer (an absolutely must) you,ll have a very fearsome warband and your rival depends of her luck more than ever to avoid tha gaze attack. | |
LOVE THIS GIRL | |
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Helzapoppn
Warrior
258 Posts
| | 03/30/2006 5:33 PM |
| Luck, or a warband with Constructs, Undead, Creatures with Blindsight/Blindfight, or a CE band with its own Wardrummer boosting its own saves.
Perhaps the key is to throw in some Trogs, but in exchange for what? I don't want to lose activations, reduce my hitters or go to an even cheaper commander like the Drow Sergeant. | |
Champion of Iconics & the Apparatus of Kwalish (Constructs with Drivers? Brilliant!)
Dungeons of Dread Called Shot: Yeah, right | |
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DinoBen
Sergeant
412 Posts
Based outta Games of Berkeley, CA
| | 03/30/2006 5:45 PM |
| | I'm surprised you didn't have your Wardrummer hammerin out an Intimidating Beat allowing your Umber Hulk's confusion to be that much more effective. | |
Champion of all things Athasian
"Don't sing it - Bring it!" | |
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kgradert13
Sergeant
909 Posts
| | 03/30/2006 5:53 PM |
| Intimidating only works on enemy Morale saves.
Resistance works on all members of your warband, for all saves. | |
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XAos
Underboss
2395 Posts
London
| | 03/31/2006 7:43 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Helzapoppn
Luck, or a warband with Constructs, Undead, Creatures with Blindsight/Blindfight, or a CE band with its own Wardrummer boosting its own saves.
Most of the wardbands using those (except the wardrummer) are LG/LE. So combining a Slaad(Chaos Hammer) with the Umber Hulk should help. | |
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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Sean-Khan
Commander
2720 Posts
| |
Low Key
Underboss
1231 Posts
| | 03/31/2006 9:33 AM |
| quote:
Originally posted by Sean-Khan
Ouch. Just come to my mind - what if CE sometimes gets Mystra's curse (or similar effect) or CG gets access to Umber hulk - that's something that would be downright evil...
Heh, might be highly unlikely, but if your lucky and can afford/find it, use one Harbringer and one Underdark booster in a draft. [:D] | |
Champion of the Sarrukh | |
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Arnminster
Warrior
296 Posts
| | 03/31/2006 9:41 AM |
| | You mention the Kord/Brass Sam/Rikka/Crow Sham band. How did it do? I play this about a week ago in a pick up game and did great but was wondering how well it did against other tourny bands | |
Champion of the Rust Monster
Proud Member of Team Amish | |
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Helzapoppn
Warrior
258 Posts
| | 03/31/2006 10:07 AM |
| That band went 3-0, against myself on the Drowpost, a GAS band (I think there were on the Hellspike map, and I don't know the third.
Having both the Crow and the Brass Sam made the difference. I tried really hard to maneuver pieces to prevent a Whirlwind, but in the critical round he won initiative and led with the Crow Shaman instead of Kord (forgoing the Aspect's special ability). One Snake's Swiftness eliminated my damaged Red Sammy blocker, and then Kord activated, took one step and Whirlwinded, routing the Umber Hulk and killing the Eye. Game over. | |
Champion of Iconics & the Apparatus of Kwalish (Constructs with Drivers? Brilliant!)
Dungeons of Dread Called Shot: Yeah, right | |
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